Death of Jennifer Gale Brings Austin’s Transgender Homeless into Spotlight
(equalitytexas.org) Jennifer Gale, a 47-year-old transgender homeless Austin woman was found dead Wednesday morning. She was lying in an outdoor walkway at the First English Lutheran Church.
Her death points to critical problems faced by the homeless, and especially by homeless women and the transgender homeless. “Jennifer most nights slept outdoors,” said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. “Jennifer, we believe, is the 136th person who has died sleeping on the streets (of Austin) over the last 12 months.”
A perennial candidate for public office in Austin and Dallas, Jennifer’s notoriety came through years of putting herself in the public eye. She took a shot at nearly every city office, from council seats, to the mayor’s office. She never won, but in 2004, Gale came closer than ever, winning more than 38 percent of the vote for a seat on the Austin ISD School Board.
Marti Bier, policy aide for Austin City Council Member Randi Shade, said, “Something Jennifer would never talk about, but was a reality for her, is that she is a transwoman living in a transphobic society. Homelessness in the trans-community is a really big problem, and one that goes ignored. There are no laws in Texas protecting transgender people, whether from job discrimination, housing discrimination or hate crimes. There was really nowhere for Jennifer Gale to go to protect herself from the cold last night.”
Equality Texas, the Transgender Education Network of Texas, and City of Austin officials are now working together to address changes in policy, or enforcement of existing policy, that might prevent another tragic loss of life. The City of Austin’s non-discrimination ordinance is inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity with regard to employment and public accommodations. The ordinance includes certain religious and private club exemptions, which will be reviewed for applicability to the delivery of shelter services for the homeless.
I met her once in passing I think at Austin Cable Access Center; she was desperately trying to use the shower to get clean. People were shunning her and making snide comments under their breaths. She smelled really bad, but what can you expect when you are forced to live on the street. It was three minutes that have haunted me ever since and now to hear she is dead is not surprising.
Her plight inspired me to stay in the closet longer and more seriously consider suicide. I had a sense that she was going to end badly and I am sorry to see I was right, and even more disgusted with a humanity that makes no allowances for TG or TS people. It seemed to me that she tried to make her journey following the legal path. Most TG/TS people either commit suicide or do many illegal acts to cover the high costs of transitioning and just surviving. A society that forces its people to commit crimes to simply afford the therapy, surgery and medication they require is inherently evil in my opinion.
But rather than simply complain I think a suggestion for a solution would be better. I don’t know if anyone will ever see this but I will offer one anyway.
What about if we had a program established where people needing transgender related financial assistance could work in social services in exchange for the help in costs of hair-removal, surgery, medications and therapies much like when doctors complete residencies to give back for their education costs.
As a transgender person myself I know I would love the chance to help other people while helping myself.
It seems sad to let even more of our children to grow up without help or hope and a waste of a human life if we don’t make some progress or change towards a positive solution.