COC the Netherlands, an organization that advocates for the rights of lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals and transgenders, is calling on the government to take additional measures to advance transgender emancipation. The call is a response to the worrisome conclusions from the report Transgender persons in the Netherlands, by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP).
'This has to change'
The SCP report states that the social-economic position of trans persons is low. Transgenders are more likely to have a below-average income (53 percent for trans people, 30 percent on average). Transgenders also rely on unemployment benefits or other state benefits three to five times more often. Prejudices about trans people are possibly an explanation for the situation, according to the SCP.
"Very worrisome," says COC chairwoman Tanja Ineke about the SCP statistics. "The disadvantage on the labor market shows that the prejudices and discrimination are still prohibiting trans people from full participation in society. This has to change."
Corine van Dun of Transgender Netwerk Nederland (TNN) is shocked and concerned about the conclusions of the research. She says there is a "downward spiral" in which many transgenders find themselves.
"Only when social acceptance improves and when transgenders will feel truly welcome in the workplace, at schools, at sporting activities and going out, this will change," says Van Dun.
According to Bregtje Visser, chairwoman of GenderTalent, it is good that the SCP report raises awareness on the problems transgenders face at work. She finds it important that municipalities, businesses and the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency) work together to address these issues. GenderTalent offers municipalities specialized job coaching for transgenders and helps businesses and trans people with their transition in the workplace.
Prohibition to discriminate
The COC and TNN advocate for a specific inclusion of a legal prohibition to discriminate against transgenders in the General Law on Equal Treatment. The two organizations also want a legal right to "paid transition leave." Such a leave will make the transition for transgenders employers easier.
Additionally, COC and TNN want shorter waitlists for transgender care and compensation for all treatments. This will increase the well-being of trans persons and will help to reduce societal exclusion. Both organizations want mandatory classes at schools on sexual education and more attention paid to the acceptance of transgenders.
Unsafe & lonely
The SCP research also shows that transgenders endure more unsafe situations, loneliness, psychological problems and suicidal thoughts. Transgenders often do not have a relationship (50%, against 17% on average) and are more often unmarried (44%, against 14% on average).
The SCP states that the situation of trans persons in the Netherlands can be better researched when the subject is taken into account in large-scale population research, such as the Security Monitor and the Health Survey. The COC is calling on the government to answer to this request.
Optimize transgender law
SCP research furthermore shows that there is an explosive increase in the amount of people who officially change their gender: from about 80 persons per year in the period 2007-2014 to 770 per year in 2015.
SCP says that this can be explained by the introduction of the transgender law, which was pushed for by COC and TNN and introduced in 2014. This made changing gender registration much easier.
The COC is happy that so many people make use of the new law. COC and TNN do advocate for a removal of the minimum age for altering the official gender. Currently, only trans persons of 16 years or older can change their registered gender, while there is also a need for younger transgenders.
COC and TNN also advocate for the abolishment of the so-called expert declaration, which is currently needed for an alteration of gender registration. The organizations say that transpersons are perfectly able to decide which gender registration fits them best. Both COC and TNN ultimately want to see official gender registration abolished entirely.
