“Walking While Trans”
An Interview with student activist Monica Jones
Two years ago Jones was arrested and convicted under Arizona’s controversial “manifesting prostitution law” that allows police to stop and arrest people who participate in such acts as chatting with passersby on the street. The American Civil Liberties Union has called the law overbroad, vague, and unconstitutional. At the time of her arrest, Jones had been actively speaking out against Project ROSE, a controversial program that is offered to suspected sex workers in order to avoid jail. Jones’ case drew national attention, and celebrities Laverne Cox and Janet Mock spoke out in her defense. The phrase “walking while trans” garnered national attention.
What does “walking while trans” mean?
“Walking while trans” is the bias and discrimination that trans people face at the hands of the police and passersby and everyone else. I knew there was an issue with me walking down the street. There was no word for it — it was just what I had to deal with, walking being trans. I’m on-guard. I’m always worried, thinking, Oh, my God…Are they going to stop me?
When did you become an activist?
The first time I became an activist was at Phoenix Community College, where I was being discriminated against for using the female bathroom. They were not allowing me to use the female locker room to change for the fitness center. And so what happened was, I had to let people know that this was a big issue and we needed to solve it.
What kinds of activism work are you doing now?
In Arizona, you have to get gender reassignment surgery in order to get your birth certificate changed. And the gender reassignment surgery is $15,000 to $25,000. Not everyone can afford that. The average income of a trans person of color is less than $10,000. Insurance needs to cover that. We’re working on that. When Kandis Capri was murdered here in Phoenix, we held a vigil for her name and her honor. So that’s a lot of what I’m doing. I’m talking with the United Nations about sexual rights, traveling, and just getting better educated on issues surrounding trans women, especially the community of trans women of color.
What are the most pressing issues facing trans community?
Access to healthcare, unemployment, economics, housing, and education. Those are the biggest things, I think. Police violence too, and the prison industrial system, the justice system. The laws have not caught up with trans rights; the prison system has not caught up with trans-specific things. Now we have trans individuals who are trans female, who are serving prison sentences in male prisons, where they face harassment and rape. And they don’t have access to education programs or job programs.
What are some significant historical moments for you?
Stonewall. Stonewall was credited to be started by trans women of color — Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major Gracy — this incident started the gay rights liberation. But we’re seeing them whitewashed out of history through things like this new Stonewall movie. I want people to know the real Stonewall, our Stonewall history, that trans women of color were at the tipping point of so many revolutionary rights — the Harlem riots, the riot in San Francisco. Trans women of color have been at the forefront of every movement.
Many folks aren’t taught this history, and so it’s become obscured. How did you learn about it?
I was taught about Stonewall as an older trans teen. I knew about Stonewall, but I didn’t know that it was started by trans women of color. What we need to do is take that back,teach that, and make sure that people understand that it was started by trans women of color. We need to teach people why it’s history, and show them how our history is being whitewashed, or told through a male cis point of view.
Did you hear about how the white statues at Stonewall were repainted?
Yes! The black revolutionaries, the women of color. I love it.
When you heard about that, how did it make you feel?
I was so happy — I’ve got to pay a visit to Stonewall now.
Do you think it’ll last?
Yes, we’re going to make it last. We’re going to keep on painting it; we’re going to keep on. And what we’re going to do now is we’re going to go paint a big ol’ trans flag!
Read more personal accounts of the trans activism movement.
Interview by Andy Wright. Parts were omitted for clarity and brevity.
