By Kimberly Palermo

Have you ever noticed that the biggest racists and bigots in America are those with the least exposure to the group they’re maligning? As it turns out, most people who openly slander those in historically marginalized groups, do not have a single close friend who fits the category they so recklessly defame. Is this a coincidence?

I assure you it is not.

Because transgender Americans do not meet cultural expectations for gender identity, they are more likely than others to die prematurely of unnatural causes. The fact is, people who are born transgender are more likely to be murdered and more likely to attempt suicide than almost any other historically oppressed group in the nation.

This week, a federal court temporarily blocked President Trump’s attempt to ban current and future transgender people from serving in the U.S. military. The judge boldly called out Trump saying that his policy, “does not appear to be supported by any facts.”

In July of 2017, the lives of 15,000 Americans were turned upside down, with Trump’s announcement, via social media, that he would not allow transgender men and women to serve in, “any capacity” in the U.S. Military. Undermining the Obama era rulings, Trump’s tweets came as a surprise to many since a year-long department of defense study done from 2015-2016 had previously concluded that it was in the best interest of our nation that “transgender Service members may serve openly …”

Without a shred of research to back his bigotry, Trump’s plan would destroy 15,000 American jobs, putting an end to their military careers and livelihoods. Think about the incredible obstacles these Americans have had to endure, defending our nation with their lives, only to come home and be told that they will not be afforded the human rights that they defended while on active duty abroad. With zero evidence to back his claims, the only logical conclusion is that the Trump policy is either being shaped by ignorance and fear or out of calculated divisiveness. In either case, Trump has essentially opened up the floodgates of hatred even more. He has taken the next step in empowering his ignorant and fearful constituents, perpetuating their biases and discrimination without a shred of evidence to back it up.

People do not understand what it means to be transgender and Trump’s bigoted policies only serve to add to the stigma, unscholarliness, and complete lack of understanding. Please keep in mind, these are individuals who have been deemed fit for military service. Most have been serving for years. Sadly, this arbitrary (or calculated) bigotry handed down by the most powerful man in the nation, speaks volumes to the ignorant public. Even if the ban is overturned permanently, the damage has been done.

Let me explain… widespread misunderstanding and illiteracy surrounding what it means to be transgender has rendered this group one of the most stigmatized in the nation. Transgender people are not “confused.” They know who they are. Actually, it is the bigots who are confused… very confused. They have the arrogance and ignorance to in many cases, be judge, jury, and executioner (sometimes, literally).

Of the LGBTQ population, transgender people are the most likely to be murdered, the most likely to be ostracized, and the most likely to attempt suicide due to our society’s bigoted hatred. Up to 40% of those who identify as transgender have attempted suicide. Despite these appalling statistics, Trump announced early on in his presidency, that he would revoke the Obama guidelines on transgender bathrooms in public schools.

This may come as a surprise to many Americans but the only danger there is surrounding bathrooms when it comes to transgender folks is that it is THEY who are most at risk to be beaten up or killed in one. “Transgender individuals experience extremely high rates of harassment and violence when forced to use restrooms that accord with the sex assigned to them at birth,” Chase Strangio, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT & HIV Project, tells SELF.

Let’s put it this way, if you are a cisgender female, how would you like to be forced to use the men’s room? Would it feel strange, maybe feel kind of unsafe? This is how transgender people feel too.

It is arrogant and sanctimonious to believe that if you personally haven’t experienced something than it must not be true or “real.” When someone is born transgender, it is “… relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.” Many would be shocked to know that transgender people have been recorded throughout history over time. This is not a new phenomenon.

This brings us full circle. If you don’t know anyone who is transgender, and if you haven’t researched it on your own, your opinion is formed based on a societal standard of ignorance. It is unfortunate, this standard is not currently based on science but is based on fear of that which is not familiar to us. Americans need to start facing the facts: Just because YOU personally have never experienced something or just because you are not close personal friends with someone who doesn’t share your biases, does not mean you are correct and justified in your hatred. Hatred leads to discrimination and the perpetuation of stereotypes, misinformation, and complete lies.

So, if you have no experience, expertise, or knowledge of what it means to be transgender in America I have a challenge for you. Instead of forming a strong opinion based on absolutely nothing, I ask that you either do some research to educate yourself or stand aside to let those who do care about our fellow humans lead the way out of ignorance and hatred. Hating because you are too lazy or scared to find out the truth doesn’t just hurt the quality of life for people it contributes to their deaths. In other words…. Your hate kills!

I have a few simply questions for you to ponder: 1. who are you to say that you know what is “real” and what is not “real” when it comes to someone else’s person feelings about their personal identity? How do you know how they were born?

When did you decide you were going to be straight? And lastly, do you remember where were you when you decided to tell your parents you decided to be straight?

Let me guess, about the same time you decided that being transgender, is a lifestyle choice. With the greater chance of being shamed to death by society, who would ever CHOOSE to be transgender? Stop the hate/ educate.

[si-contact-form form=’3′]