Why We Listen
“The people most affected by these policies have a right to share their input and to have said input applied to policy. That is a democracy at its core, and it is why we listen to and uplift historically marginalized voices. ”
Virginia Community Voice’s mission is to equip neighbors in historically marginalized communities to realize their vision for their neighborhoods, and to prepare institutions to respond to those visions effectively. We envision a Commonwealth where decisions are made equitably. We know that our goals are lofty, but with this month being focused on LGBTQ History and Disability Employment Awareness Month, we thought it would only be right to share why we do what we do with marginalized communities in the first place.
You may have heard that Governor Youngkin has established a school mandate that forces all children regardless of transgender status to use the bathroom of their gender assigned at birth; this is an outrage and a disrespectful way to go about being inclusive. LGBTQ+ history is a powerful testament to the fight for human rights, and provides a model of centering those with lived experience in creating laws and policies. The people most affected by Youngkin’s policy are transgender youth who already face increased risk of depression and suicide directly related to discrimination. Yet, we can take steps to combat this outcome. Studies involving transgender youth who grow up in social situations where they feel supported in their gender identity show that these youth have improved mental health outcomes. Further research shows that almost 80% of their peers, students aged 14-24, believe bathroom use by transgender people should not be restricted. While there may be families that support Governor Younkin’s mandate, it goes against the equitable way of centering those most affected. Listening to young people’s wants and needs, and implementing their ideas, should be prioritized in designing inclusive school policies.
In this year of our Lord 2022 it is still legal for employers to pay folks with disabilities less than minimum wage for their labor. That’s right! Read it again, the minimum wage is not guaranteed for a disabled neighbor. The underlying assumption is that people with disabilities are less capable of full employment than folks without disabilities. Furthermore, disabled employees who are part of the subminimum wage program are not granted the same protections or opportunities that are available to people working at or above the minimum wage. In an article for Teen Vogue, Kayla McKeon, a manager of grassroots advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Society, who herself has Down syndrome, shared, “Subminimum wage impacts more than just how much we get paid. It impacts our ability to reach our goals and fullest potential. When people with disabilities are not paid what they deserve, it makes it much harder for them to do things like get married, live independently, participate in their communities, and so much more."
Again, what majority is voting for such things? And if it didn’t come to a vote, why not? These policies are clearly made paternalistically for, and not with, these communities. The people most affected by these policies have a right to share their input and to have said input applied to policy. That is a democracy at its core, and it is why we listen to and uplift historically marginalized voices.
This post was written collaboratively by Peace Bowles and Dana Kiernan. Learn more about them on VACV’s Team page.
