Transgender debate not a matter of rights

I was interested in Dr. Jennifer Madden’s recent letter (April 3: “Transgender bill vote brought her to tears”) in which she expressed dismay that she had fewer rights than most of her medical colleagues. I’m not clear what rights she feels she is lacking.

Can her home or office be entered and searched without a warrant?

Can she be stopped in public and searched without probable cause?

Can she be forced to testify against herself in court?

Is she not entitled to due process and a jury trial by her peers?

Is she being somehow prevented from living or practicing medicine anywhere she wants?

She also expresses dismay that transgender persons are not included in the “hate crimes” legislative category. She feels somehow less safe.

I suggest that as a woman she probably is less safe. I believe the most recent statistics show that she faces a one in four chance of being sexually assaulted.

The magnitude of crimes against women in this country is astonishing. Logically, women could be considered for “hate crime” legislation.

In my opinion, “hate crime” legislation is problematic. Why is it more heinous to commit a crime against or murder a transgender person than a baby or a pregnant woman or a 95-year-old man helpless in a nursing home? Assigning relative life value to categories of human beings seems immoral to me.

Supposedly “marginalized” people who become successful in this country obviously have the qualities of intelligence, perseverance and hard work. In addition, they have the privilege of living in the freest and most tolerant society in the world that values those very qualities.

Unfortunately, many of these people continue to view themselves as victims of an unjust system. I believe their success shows precisely how well our society, imperfect as it may be, really works.

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