2015 was the most momentous year in trans history. From scattered events in trans prehistory - Lili Elbe (The Danish Girl) , Christine Jorgensen, Sylvia Rivera, and Renee Richards - the community finally entered the historical mainstream in 2015 with the splashy "outcoming" of Caitlyn Jenner. She changed the cultural landscape, for better and worse, and gave us all a platform we never had. We're not quite to the status of "just another American minority group," but we're on our way.
I was asked what I thought were the three most momentous events for the trans community for the final Queerview segment on HuffPost Live last week, but I want to start with what I consider the most momentous event for the LGBT community as a whole - the Obergefell decision in June. Not only was the Supreme Court ruling important for trans persons who want to marry, so that they never have to worry again how any given state views their legal sex, but the language of dignity used by Justice Kennedy in writing the majority decision will have a cascading effect for both the trans and gay communities in the future on a host of issues. To put it in crass terms that are very relevant to today's political events - there is no dignity in forcing trans men and women to use the wrong bathroom. The repercussions of the SCOTUS decision will be felt from employment law to family issues, so the decision is even more important than just legalizing same-sex marriage; it impacts all of us profoundly.
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