#knowyourix

Content Notice: Discourse on anti-transgender violence and reclaimed use of q slur. End of Content Notice. Image Description: A White Ken doll is wearing a suit and is donning beaded necklaces, as a sash, and a tinfoil crown. End of Image Description. Credit: "Cissexism in Brevard County" by Tena Gordon (@reformistrevolutionaryrose), a student at Eastern Florida State College. End of Credit. Part 3: In July 2015, Billy Rettinger, the region director for Florida LGBTA and the state president of the Democratic Disability Caucus of Florida, submitted a human rights ordinance proposal to the Palm Bay City Council that would include gender identity as a protected class in nondiscrimination codes (Neale, 2016). The proposed human rights addendum did not get the required number of votes to be instated by the Palm Bay City Council. Mayor Capote, Council member Santiago, and Council member Bailey voted “no.” Sadly, the crowd was full of opponents to the proposed ordinance. Senior Pastor Myers of the First Pentecostal Church of Palm Bay, Pastor Tom Walker of the Centerpointe Church, and Senior Minister Randy Nash of the Palm Bay Christian Church had encouraged their parishioners to attend the meeting and voice their hate to the council. In interviews with Florida Today, Council member Bailey claiming transgender beings are already federally protected is false in theory and practice. Title IX covers sex, not gender identity. Moreover, 1 in 8 transgender beings are evicted due to cissexism (Trans Student Educational Resources). Former Brevard County resident Gina Duncan attests to the discrimination the transgender community faces, especially when not protected on a county or city level (Kennerly, 2016). Hence, gender identity is a needed inclusion in Palm Bay’s Fair Housing ordinance.            End of Part 3. Hashtags: #fairhousing #housingdiscrimination #palmbay #knowyourix #protecttranslives #FloridaLGBTA #tser #hateisnotareligion End of Hashtags.

As a survivor it is your right under #titleix to not be forced into contact with your assailant. #knowyourix #supportsurvivors #weneedtitleix #titleixtuesdays

What are schools responsibilities under #titleix to protect students after a complaint has been made? #titleixtuesdays #knowyourix #weneedtitleix #supporttitleix

Your education cannot be discouraged by the university because of a #titleix complaint. #titleixtuesdays #knowyourix #weneedtitleix #paceuendrape

Today feels a little bit like defeat. Today is a day of not being prepared for class because of having spent a large portion of the night on my bathroom floor. Recently I stopped taking my medications that prevent me from having nightmares as a result of PTSD per request of my therapist in order to track and analyze them in attempt to lessen or stop them without relying on medication. This was a decision we made knowing it was going to be really difficult but ultimately prioritizing to work towards healing. This means that there are going to be some really intense days like today where the anxiety and the panic prevent me from being able to complete all of my school tasks and responsibilities and that’s okay because I know I’m supported. I got up, showered, got coffee, made it to work and am functioning. I know that missing a homework assignment or two is not the end of the world because I am protected by Title IX. All of my professors receive e-mails at the beginning of the semester informing them of my situation and gently reminding them it is the responsibility of the university to support me and remedy any aftermath. This often includes extensions on assignments so during nights like last night I can focus on myself, my wellbeing, my mental health, and my healing instead of panicking about getting all of my homework done. I would not have been able to pass my classes without this help and it is still something I rely on today. I know that with communication with my professors days like today will be received with empathy, support, and flexibility. Title IX literally allowed me to stay a student and the recent acts of Betsey Devos are devastating to me. I’m proud to be from a university that realizes the importance of supporting students protected by Title IX and works to ensure that we are properly protected and cared for. I’m grateful for the overwhelming support I receive from both school and my treatment team and want to work to ensure that others can receive the same support. Rolling back the title IX guidelines and support is not something that is beneficial and will hurt survivors far more than it will help. Healing can not be achieved alone and getting rid of Title IX brings nothing except isolation. I stand with Title IX and want to fight to keep it accessible to survivors especially on college campuses.

College activism, I've come to learn, is psychologically exhausting - and not in the way activists would encourage. Theories of resistance are profound examinations of our present condition but in their enormity and scope seem to reach too deeply into the malleable minds of young academics, beyond reasonable boundaries of mental health. Too many of my activists friends seem crushed by the weight of their own politics. Of course there's a million ways to dissect this and assign blame for this observation. I'm just thinking out loud.