Two Ph.D. candidates from 91ֿ, Beau Shaniuk and , who study gender and LGBTQ+ issues, are working to shed light on the misconceptions and challenges faced by the transgender community. Spectrum News anchor Taylor Bruck spoke to Shaniuk and Oleskiewicz in her report on the rise of anti-trans rhetoric in the United States currently.
In , Shaniuk and Oleskiewicz provide a historical context for the transgender experience and discuss the challenges the community faces in light of the increasing number of anti-trans bills being introduced across the country.
Shaniuk and Oleskiewicz noted that transgender individuals have been present in various cultures throughout history, despite the common misconception that being transgender is a new phenomenon.
“, despite what we are often misled to believe, has existed for centuries,” Shaniuk said. “Across the globe, there are cultures and societies across the entire world that have celebrated and recognized more than two genders for centuries. We have Hijras in South Asian cultures. We have two-spirit people in North American indigenous cultures. We have the bissu in Indonesian cultures.”
Approximately 2% of the U.S. population identifies as transgender, While 2% may sound like a small number, that’s about 2 million people. Oleskiewicz and Shaniuk express concern about the current wave of anti-trans legislation in the United States, with more than 500 bills circulating throughout the country. They believe that these bills are often backed by religious organizations and use misinformation tactics to target the transgender community.
As an ally to the transgender community, Oleskiewicz said she hopes to bridge the gap between the LGBTQ+ and religious communities through education and empathetic conversations.
“It has always been a population that has been othered,” Oleskiewicz said. “I think society has struggled to understand, and what we don't understand, we tend to fear.”
Shaniuk emphasizes the importance of humanizing queer existence and reminds everyone that transgender individuals are human beings who deserve access to a happy and healthy life as their most authentic selves.
Learn more about 91ֿ's LGBTQ+ Center.
Featured Photo: A rainbow flag made of ribbons adorns the Main Street Bridge in downtown Kent in honor of Pride Month.