North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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K. W. – Interviewed 6/20/04
My discrimination experiences have occurred throughout a broad range of areas in my life.
A male-to-female transgender American Indian from the Standing Rock Lakota Tribe, I returned to North Dakota in 1984, and moved to Bismarck in 1990.
Police Interaction
On several occasions, people have acted out from cars while passing me walking down the street (this included several instances of verbal harassment as well as someone shooting a pellet gun at me). When reported to the police, I have frequently been told, “we can’t do anything unless you have the license plates and a description of the vehicle”. On the other hand, officers “profile” Native Americans, including me, walking down the street by driving by us multiple times (e.g. turning around and driving past us again and again).
My home has been vandalized, as well as my vehicle (the window was broken out by vandals). Police investigators did not attempt to gather fingerprints or witnesses, and later returned saying there was “no evidence”.
Housing
When calling to inquire about rental properties advertised in print media, I would be greeted by friendly landlords over the phone; however, in person, upon setting up a showing, I would be told there were no properties available or that the landlords did not want anyone with children renting the properties (I have a daughter who is in third grade).
Employment
When applying for a job with an international organization that claims to “preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination”, discrimination against me was covered up by organizational employees telling me that my four-year degree from Northern State University wasn’t worth anything.
Shopping for Groceries
An ex-military police officer, I am often followed around grocery stores by security staff because I’m an American Indian and I’m transgender. This draws public attention to me and is very embarrassing.
U.S. Mail
U.S. Mail carriers have blatantly refused to deliver my mail. I live with my brother and his wife. Mail carriers have accused us of having our dogs out and have refused to deliver mail to the house for this “reason”. They have also given notices stating that the snow needed to be shoveled from our sidewalks before they would deliver mail to the house. Neighbor’s sidewalks have often been completely covered with snow and carriers still deliver their mail, without posting any notices of this kind.
Mail carriers have often either delivered my mail to the same house number on completely different streets (e.g. delivering a letter addressed ### 18th St. to the same house number on 19th St.) or have returned mail to the sender. I have often received these letters much later with the “Return to Sender” stamped on them.
I also have a post office box at the post office in the mall near my house. For three years the staff at the post office treated me horribly when I’d go in to retrieve my mail. Eventually, I had to go to the main post office, voice my complaints before upper management, and threaten a formal complaint so that they would address the way I was being treated at the mall location.
Dining
Restaurant employees (eat-in and fast-food alike) have often seated my family and me, but neglected to send a waitperson to take our orders. Once, at a restaurant in Bismarck, my family and I were seated by the hostperson and had to wait two hours before ordering. On several occasions, I have had to send my Caucasian sister-in-law to retrieve waitstaff so that the family could order.
Education
After completing my bachelor’s education at Northern State University, I attended Mankato State in a graduate-level counseling program. I took some time off before finishing and, later, applied for the Masters of Social Work program at the University of North Dakota. UND admissions would not accept my application, records, or transcripts from Northern State or Mankato State because I had legally changed my gender on my records in 1997 (so although my former school records listed me as male, all of my current identification paperwork, birth certificate, social security information, etc. identified me as female). When I contested UND’s decision not to admit me, they told me the reason I would not be accepted was that “[I didn’t] have a B.S.W. (bachelor’s of social work)”. The application into the graduate program stated the option to waive the B.S.W. requirement in the case of a student possessing a bachelor’s in Sociology, since many undergraduate schools do not offer a B.S.W. I possessed a bachelor’s in Sociology and was still denied acceptance based on the B.S.W. requirement, or at least that’s what they told me their reason was.
Medical
Being an American Indian person who is transgender, I would often sit in the waiting room at the VA clinic for hours before being seen, watching several others pass in and out, walking in after me and being treated before me. Since the military has adopted the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, I am also required to appear in a male role in order to be treated at the VA. The only female attire I’m able to wear when going to see the doctor are my glasses.
Other Discrimination
I have a daughter who is in the third grade. My daughter has experienced discrimination due to the fact that she is Native American, as well as the fact that she is the daughter of a transgender person. I have had to talk to my daughter’s teacher regarding the way the other children treat her in class; however, in the summer program, my daughter was prohibited from participating in the school relay fundraiser on a certain team because she’s native American and because the other children and the staff see her walking to the summer program everyday with her transgender parent. Whereas the problems in the classroom are addressed by the teachers when I talk to them, the problems with the summer program persist.
(This concludes the narrative provided by K. W. on Sunday, June 20, 2004) Michael Brown, Jr.
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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