6 Questions: Why RI is a good place for transgender people

By: John DeLuca

jdeluca@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  It’s been almost a year and a half since Diane Sawyer interviewed Caitlyn Jenner on ABC, and in the time that’s passed, the question remains: how much has changed for Transgender people?

To answer that depends a lot on what part of the country you’re talking about.

In Thursday’s 6 questions I have a candid conversation with a member of the state’s growing Trans community.

We talk about Jenner’s impact, and why Rhode Island is a good place for Trans people.

Topics like: is being Trans a choice, and what is it about Transgender people that get others so upset?

Jaye Watts is our guest for this edition of 6 questions.

In April of 2015, Diane Sawyer interviewed Caitlyn Jenner, truly a groundbreaking moment in television.

Much had been predicted about the impact it would have for Transgender people.

Jaye Watts, a social worker and member of the Transgender community sees a positive impact from it.

"The main part of her story…I think in really getting into people’s living rooms has provided making some conversations easier to be had."

Conversations like coming out to family and friends, which can be incredibly difficult.

People don’t just wake up one day ready to announce they identify with a gender different than the one on their birth certificate.

"It’s often preceded by years of struggling with identity in private…in silence and coming to terms with it on their own before ever reaching out to others to say…’here’s who I am.. and I want you to support me’."

I asked, “what would you say to people who think being transgender is a choice?”

“Transgender identities have existed throughout history. This is not something that is new or we are just discovering. There have always been transgender people on our planet…that have been either erased from the history books or not included," Jaye added.

According to Watts, violence against Trans people is growing.

From 2004 to 2014 there weas an average of 12 hate crime murders of Trans people a year in the U.S.

Last year there were 23 hate crimes, and so far in 2016 there have already been 20.

"What do you think people are afraid of…what is that makes people so aggravated and mad about this? I asked Jaye.

“I think people are afraid of difference. I think people are afraid of what they don’t know and understand."

Watts tells me there are 4200 Trans adults in the state and that Rhode Island has been on the forefront of non-discrimination laws for at least 15 years.

"I think sometimes people are surprised to learn how accepting we are. I don’t know of people who are moving here because we are affirming but I think people get here and then may be surprised to see how we’ve really been able to systematically remove a lot of the barriers that transgender people can face."

Part of that is getting quality health care, and by that I mean finding doctors who know how take care of people who are Transgender.

Watts is the Trans health program manager at Thundermist, a community health center in Rhode Island.

For people who are thinking about coming out or have questions this is a place to consider.

"People can come for primary care and say this is a question that I have and I want help to process and work through this…people don’t have to only come in when they say ‘I’m trans and want to be part of this program’."

If you would like to reach out to Thundermist health center, you can call them at 401-767-4100 or go to their website at thundermisthealth.org

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016