Victory for gender defiance

Transgender organizers and anti-racist activists scored an important victory July 3 when the National Organization for Women (NOW) passed two resolutions broadening the group’s support for transgender inclusion and for lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of color. NOW, founded in 1966, is the largest U.S. feminist organization, with half a million mem bers in 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The resolutions, approved by nationwide delegates at NOW’s annual convention, stressed a commitment to “ending gender stereotypes for transgender people as well as anyone who does not conform to gender stereotypes.”

The group emphatically “opposes any piece of legislation that intentionally or unintentionally targets the transgender community or anyone that does not conform to gender stereotypes, such as the federal ‘Real ID Act.’ ”

Congress passed this anti-immigrant act in April as part of a $81-billion war appro priations bill. It criminalizes discre pancies in documentation and will also negatively affect transgender people as well as people fleeing from domestic abuse.

NOW also committed to fighting for the trans inclusion currently omitted in other federal legislation, including the Family Medical Leave Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act—the so-called 1968 national “hate crimes” act.

Additionally, the resolutions acknowledged the special oppression and struggle of lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of color, saying that in their lives “homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are compounded by race and sex discrimination.” The solidarity call included support for LBT women of color in immigration issues and marriage equality.

Historically, NOW has lagged behind grassroots organizers in fighting the oppres sion of lesbians, bisexuals and trans gender people. In 1969, Betty Friedan, then national president of the organization, denounced lesbian participation as a “lavender menace” threatening feminism.

Lesbian issues were not seen as “real” women’s issues, and NOW expelled some openly lesbian members. Thus began a decades-long struggle to broaden the organization’s narrow definition of who a “woman” is. (Barry Adam, “The Rise of a Gay and Lesbian Movement,” 1987)

Recent grassroots initiatives by trans people of color have put pressure on more reformist groups to take action on transgender and people of color issues. On June 24, TransJustice, the trans and gender nonconforming people of color project in New York City, called the first annual Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice. On that day a thousand people rallied and marched to bring attention to the needs of transgender, gender defiant and working people. TransJustice is a part of the Audre Lorde Project, a New York City organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit and transgender people of color.

Imani Henry, a transman of color and International Action Center organizer, said of the NOW resolutions: “This is a significant victory for all people who face gender and sexual oppression in the U.S. For a major women’s organization to finally take this step publicly is based on all the work that’s been done at the grassroots level over the past 10 years.”