World AIDS Day Noted, Transgender

NCTE Press Release - World AIDS Day Noted, Transgender
People Remain at High Risk for HIV

Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 17:19:06 -0500

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mara Keisling

December 1, 2004
202-639-6332
mkeisling [at] nctequality.org

World AIDS Day Noted

Transgender People Remain at High Risk for HIV

Washington, DC –December 1 is World AIDS Day. The following can
be attributed to NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling:

Today, the world pauses to think about HIV/AIDS, the impact it
has on
lives around the globe and what actions we might take to help
end the
continuing crisis. Unfortunately, in the U.S. and throughout the
world, transgender people are among those most at risk for
contracting HIV/AIDS.

Numerous studies of urban populations in the U.S. have shown
astronomical HIV infection rates for transgender people. For
example,
according to a Washington, DC transgender needs assessment
survey,
32% of transgender people surveyed had an HIV-positive
diagnosis.
While transgender women are especially hard hit, even
female-to-male
transgender people face an infection rate (3.3%) many times the
rate
in the general population.

Clearly transgender people face this reality for many reasons—
we are
fired from jobs, denied an education, discarded by our families
and
refused coverage of trans-related health care by private and
government health insurance and other programs. Additionally,
there
are countless governmental policies at all levels that can make
living as one's gender identity nearly impossible. Transgender
people experiencing multiple oppressions, such as racism and
classism, and young transgender people, are especially at risk.

These factors translate into higher HIV infection rates in
several
ways. Denied access to trans-related healthcare, transgender
people
may share needles to inject hormones acquired without a doctor's
prescription. Systemic employment discrimination and
abandonment by
families can push transgender people onto the street with no
other
option than to engage in unsafe, criminalized commerce such as
sex
work to pay for housing, food and healthcare. And unsafe sex
pays
better than safe sex. Other transgender people contract HIV by
injection drug use aimed at alleviating the pain caused by the
rejection, disrespect and discrimination our community faces too
often.

Families must stop putting their transgender children out on to
the
street. Educational institutions must eliminate harassment and
discrimination against transgender youth. Employers must stop
discriminating against transgender people. Government agencies
must
eradicate barriers to transgender people being able to live
their
lives—they must eliminate unreasonable requirements for changing
identification documents to reflect a person's chosen name and
lived
gender.

Until these things happen, until transgender people are given
equal
opportunities to live in our society, we will continue to die
from
HIV/AIDS at disproportionately high rates.

Please stop to think today about what can be done in your
community
to reduce the risk of HIV transmission and what can be done to
help
support transgender people who are already living with HIV/AIDS.
-30-

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Founded in 2003, the National Center for Transgender Equality is
devoted to ending discrimination and violence against
transgender
people through education and advocacy on national issues of
importance to transgender people. By empowering transgender
people
and allies to educate and influence policymakers and others,
NCTE
facilitates a strong and clear transgender voice for equality in
our
nation's capital and around the country.

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Article quote: Girl Scout leaders and Jefferson County Public
School officials are criticizing what they say are misleading
radio ads opposing an ordinance banning discrimination based on
sexual orientation and gender identity.