The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest American transgender-led civil rights organization in the United States. They were originally California's first "fully staffed, state-wide transgender legal organization" and were initially a fiscally sponsored project of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.[2]
 | |
| Formation | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Focus | transgender law |
Area served | United States |
| Method | Campaigning, advocacy, lobbying, research |
Key people | Shelby Chestnut (executive director)[1] |
| Website | transgenderlawcenter |
Since launching in 2002, TLC has held over 250 transgender law workshops providing legal information to more than 3,250 community members, attorneys, social service providers, and business owners, as well as collaborated on public policy initiatives designed to improve safety in schools and prisons and safe access to public restrooms for transgender people in San Francisco. TLC helped to revise San Francisco's "Regulations to Prohibit Gender Identity Discrimination" in December 2003, making them more inclusive of people who do not identify as strictly female or male, and to pass legislation in the City of Oakland banning gender identity discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodation, and city services.
History and legal work
editThe Transgender Law Center was launched in 2002 in San Francisco by law school graduates Dylan Vade and Chris Daley with funding from the Echoing Green Foundation.[3] The stated mission of TLC is to connect transgender people and their families to technically sound and culturally competent legal services, increase acceptance and enforcement of laws and policies that support California's transgender communities, and work to change laws and systems that fail to incorporate the needs and experiences of transgender people. TLC uses direct legal services, public policy advocacy, and educational opportunities to advance the rights and safety of diverse transgender communities.[4]
The Transgender Law Center helped to revise San Francisco's "Regulations to Prohibit Gender Identity Discrimination" in December 2003,[5] making them more inclusive of people who do not identify as strictly female or male, and to pass legislation in the City of Oakland banning gender identity discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodation, and city services.[6]
In 2015, the TLC joined a lawsuit filed against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that resulted in a settlement that established a precedent of the state providing gender-affirming medical care.[7] In 2016, the TLC and co-counsel filed a suit on behalf of a transgender high schooler who was prohibited from using the boys' bathroom.[8] In 2017 the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled in favor of the student, finding that the school's policy violated Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.[9]
On May 21, 2018, members of the TLC and the Transgender Education Network of Texas were denied service at an IHOP restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee.[10][11] The IHOP issued an apology.[10][11]
Transgender economic health
editThe survey Good Jobs NOW!, conducted jointly by the Transgender Law Center and the San Francisco Bay Guardian in 2006, provided data on the economic reality experienced by transgender people and their families.[12][13] The team surveyed 194 self-identified transgender people living, working, or looking for work in San Francisco. Survey findings included:
- Nearly 60% of respondents earned under $15,300 annually[12]
- 40% did not have a bank account[12]
- Only 25% were working full-time[12]
- 10% were homeless[12]
A statewide survey, "The State of Transgender California Report", was conducted in 2008. Findings included that respondents were more than twice as likely to live under the poverty line as the general population.[14]
References
edit- ^ Ferrannini, John (February 21, 2023). "New Transgender Law Center ED 'humbled' to lead organization". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Transgender Law: Overview". Nclrights.org. July 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ Engardio, Joel P. (June 12, 2002). "Legal Precedent: A transgender Stanford grad and his colleague are set to open the first-ever law center for transgender issues". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ Worthington, Kriss (October 1, 2013). "Proclamation in Honor of Transgender Law Center and its 11th Annual Celebration "SPARK!"". Letter to Mayor and Members of the City Council. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014.
- ^ "Compliance Guidelines to Prohibit Gender Identity Discrimination". Human Rights Commission. City and County of San Francisco. December 10, 2003. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ Laird, Cynthia (December 18, 2003). "Oakland OKs gender identity ordinance". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved May 27, 2016.[dead link]
- ^ Stahl, Aviva (November 9, 2017). "Transgender Prisoners: What an Inmate's Surgery Means for Trans Rights". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ "Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District". Transgender Law Center. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ Brown, Emma (May 30, 2017). "Appeals court sides with transgender student in Wis. school bathroom case". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ a b McGauthy, Lauren (May 22, 2018). "Transgender activists say they were gawked at, denied service at Nashville IHOP". Dallas News. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Allison, Natalie (May 22, 2018). "Transgender activists with service dog say they were denied service at Nashville IHOP". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Good Jobs NOW!". Transgender Law Center. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Szymanski, Zak (July 7, 2006). "TG job, health efforts get funding". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ Hemmelgarn, Seth (October 29, 2009). "Report: Even with protections, transgenders in California". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved May 27, 2016.