ABSTRACT

Overall harassment, discrimination, violence, and human rights aside, transgender people are uniquely affected by national and state policy regarding healthcare, education, employment, the legal system, and bathroom use. Transgender people seek a voice and a place in their communities that recognizes them as equals entitled to the same rights and protections as all Americans. What are the federal and state governments doing to provide equal rights? Are current efforts effective? What else can be done? What are the concerns of any organization when enacting new guidelines? This paper does not answer all of these questions, but it looks at how several government and special interest groups are responding to social change through the lens of transgender policy.