You know, as if trans people didnt feel unsafe enough in this world, as if minorities or low-income folks unable to get out of New Orleans before the deluge also had any sense of personal safety, relief workers could, at least, treat evacuees with respect.
Transgendered evacuee, Arpollo Vicks, and her 16 year old cousin were arrested last week for using the women’s shower facility. Though Vicks has finally been released, jail was certainly not the safest of places for her to have been, nor a men’s bathroom in a cramped shelter. And these are just basic safety and well-being issues; there are numerous identity arguments against forcing trans people to use gendered facilities not of their choosing. Significant also, that Vicks has been the only evacuee arrested, even in light of shootings? I love priorities…
