Almost 10 years ago, The Dispatch published a story about Blossom Brown, a openly transgender student at Mississippi University for Women.
In the story she revealed that she had always been drawn to interests and actions common to females – everything from painting her nails to playing with dolls to girls’ clothing. She never had any interest in “boy things,” she said, but she was aware enough, even at that early age, to hide her feelings and preferences.
By the time she had arrived at MUW in her mid-20s, Brown had embraced her transgender identity.
In addition to studying public health, Brown had also started volunteer work with the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for LGBTQ rights.
Brown lived in a campus dormitory and described her life as fairly normal, thanks she said, to MUW, which she described as being very LGBTQ friendly.
“You are able to be yourself here,” she said. “It is very welcoming.”
Although it was the first time The Dispatch has published a story about a local trans person, it didn’t create a backlash. The general attitude seemed to be that Brown wasn’t a threat to anyone and should be free to live as she pleased.
This week, Gov. Tate Reeves took to social media to crow about signing into law the latest anti-LGBTQ bill passed by the legislature, a law that restricts access to restrooms, changing facilities and dorm rooms based on what it calls “biological males and females.”
The bill was cynically titled the “Securing Areas for Females Effectively and Responsibly Act” or the “SAFER Act.” It’s mean-spirited, petty and potentially dangerous. It signals the state’s endorsement for someone to express hate and prejudice toward a small, powerless, maligned and misunderstood group of people. Sen. Chuck Younger (R, Columbus) is a co-sponsor of that bill.
We have long known that transgender teens are at greater risk of sexual assault at schools that deny them access to restrooms or locker rooms that match their sexual identity.
In a 2019 study, researchers analyzed data from 3,673 adolescents in the LGBTQ Teen Study, an anonymous web-based survey of kids ages 13 to 17. Students who reported being told by teachers or staff that they could not use restrooms or locker rooms consistent with their sexual identity at school were classified as having “restrictive access.” The study reported that 36% of transgender teens who were subject to restroom or locker room restrictions had been victims of sexual assault in the previous 12 months. Previous research had shown that restrictive policies draw unwanted negative attention to trans teens, but until this study, it wasn’t clear whether there was a connection to sexual violence. The study demonstrated that sexual harm is done to – rather than by – trans students.
So who is really “safer” now, Chuck?
What has the legislature accomplished and why has our attitude to transgenders shifted so dramatically since the day The Dispatch shared Blossom Brown’s story? What else could it be aside from culture war politics fueled by ignorance, hatred and suspicion? We should know more, not less, than we did 10 years ago.
What this bill is telling the world is that Mississippi does not believe in the legitimacy of transgendered people – they are just people playing dress-up to practice a perversion.
When you take away a person’s legitimacy, to say that a person’s identity is a deception or, worse, a perversion, you are creating a dangerous environment.
That’s pretty much on-brand for our state, though. It can be a dangerous thing to be different in Mississippi. Minorities are an easy target here. Always have been. Now it’s transgender people’s turn to feel the wrath.
We know that is the intent of this legislation because it tells us so:
“This neutral policy…simply treats equally those of the same and opposite biological sex determined solely by a birth, without regard to the fluidity of how someone acts or feels.”
So there you have it. The legislature asserts that transgender people are not legitimate. It’s a fluid thing, devoid of sincerity, something done on a whim, likely for evil purposes.
Here’s what I think: You have to have a helluva lot of courage to live as a transgender in a state where people openly despise you. One transgendered Mississippi kid living his/her life openly has more courage than the entire Mississippi legislature and probably a lot more basic human decency, too.
Some day, a trans kid is going to be assaulted as a result of this legislation.
When that day comes, Chuck, will you be appalled? Will you regret the role you played in creating that dangerous environment?
Might want to give it some thought.
Because it’s only a matter of time now.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
