r/transgender

“Disparities persist in cancer screening across various sexual orientation and gender identity populations, a study published July 6 in Cancer found. 

“Women who identify as gay, bisexual, or transgender are less likely to have their breast and cervical cancer screening compared to heterosexual and cisgender women, reported a team led by Lorenza Arena, MD, and colleagues from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.”

“Gender identity minority (such as transgender) status was tied to a 76% and 42% lower likelihood of breast and cervical cancer screening, respectively, with no differences for colorectal cancer screening compared to cisgender patients.”

“Read the full study here.”

“Two North Carolina school districts, Buncombe and Cabarrus, are the subject of US Department of Education Title IX investigations due to reported concerns of ‘biological males’ being permitted to use women’s facilities, despite legal precedent set by a US Court of Appeals’ 4th Circuit decision that allows transgender students to utilize the facilities aligning with their gender identity.

“The department said in its announcement of the investigation into Buncombe that a ‘concerned parent reported to (the department’s Office of Civil Rights) that girls in the District are being forced to share their female-only restrooms with biological men.’”

“The investigations into transgender bathroom use could result in the districts losing federal funding, but experts say the move is more realistically an attempt to force ‘involuntary compliance on school districts to align with the department and President Donald Trump’s own interpretation of Title IX.”

“Senior attorney for Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization focusing on LGBTQ+ issues, Nicholas Hite told CPP the nature of the transgender bathroom use investigations is intentionally vague and sweeping, though that hasn’t always been the norm.

“It’s also important to note that the complaints cited by the department, such as the ‘concerned parent’ referenced in the Buncombe County investigation, can come from virtually anywhere, Hite said. That means sometimes they rely on unsubstantiated, anecdotal evidence.

“‘Many of these investigations start because of complaints from third party interest groups who are not residents in the district but know that there are policies in place because they heard through the grapevine or on Facebook or on social media,’ Hite said.”

“Kansas’ latest “bathroom bill” is sending a message to transgender people: You have overstayed your welcome. Some folks in Lawrence are on their way out.

“‘I don’t feel like I’ll ever be safe in Kansas at this point. And I do not feel like this is a place where I belong. I do not feel like this is a place where I can grow and flourish and be me,’ said Kansas Campbell, a Black trans woman and drag artist. &But then again, where else in the United States can I go right now that is going to fully affirm me?’”

“Certainly, not every trans person in Lawrence is packing their bags, and not every cisgender Kansan wants to see their neighbors leave. But whether or not trans Kansans can produce examples of harm that satisfy a county judge, some people are considering a hasty exit rather than courting potential disaster.”

“[Public school teacher Sylvie] Althoff and her wife are planning to flee Kansas in 2027. Leaving any sooner, she said, would deplete their emergency savings.

“‘Every morning we wake up and hope that things won’t get any harder for us to live our lives in Kansas,’ she said. “It’s exhausting, having to live in a constant state of fear that our government will choose to make our lives worse because of immutable aspects of our identities.’”

“Raine Toxtle Flores-Peña, Nahua, is a transmasculine Native guy. Like Campbell, he expects that Black, Brown and Indigenous folks will be put under a uniquely intense magnifying glass.

“‘That already has been happening in the background for, you know, a bajillion years since colonialism,’ he said, especially to those trans folks who don’t conform to white, European beauty standards.

“He continued, saying ‘I think there’s more wiggle room with white transgender folks to be ‘gender-zany’ … People of color tend to be more scrutinized.’”