Digital Transgender Archive

Janice Covington Allison oral history interview 4, 2021 June 16

In this fourth of several interviews, Janice Covington Allison, a transgender woman and political activist for transgender rights in Charlotte, North Carolina shares her reflections on gender expression and identity, personal and societal acceptance, and her political outlook for the future. [All times approximate]. [00:00] Introductions. [03:00] Ms. Covington Allison discusses her lifetime journey to become comfortable with her gender expression. She talks about her underlying drive to connect with people in order to advocate for them. She identifies herself as gender fluid and defines what this means to her. [10:00] Reflects on major issues currently facing transgender people. Discusses politicization of gender expression and conservative Christian prejudice against transgender people. [13:58] Relays her own experiences of how white supremacists view transgender people. [17:30] Challenges transgender people to avoid making assumptions which may put them in a negative light. [19:51] Discusses violence against transgender people, and in particular against sex workers. [23:00] Discusses discrimination against transgender people in the workforce and particularly in certain professions. [28:40] Talks about the politics of re-asignment surgery and the significance of physical appearance to career success. [32:00] Discusses the importance of acceptance for transgender people, the different challenges that transmen and transwomen face respectively, and gives a message to transgender people to accept themselves. [35:50] Discusses non-acceptance within the LGBTQ community of transgender people and the tendency for other groups within the LGBTQ community to represent transgender people politically. [37:00] Discusses the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA). [32:16] Discusses House Bill 2 (HB2) and House Bill 142, and the impact of the Dillon Rule in North Carolina on restricting municipal powers. [44:40] Discusses her outlook on future progress for transgender rights in North Carolina and continues to discuss the complexity of HB2. [50:00] Details the incident in the Charlotte Government Center in 2016 when she was arrested during the City Council meeting to amend the city's Non-discrimination Ordinance after people complained about her (legitimate) presence in the women's bathroom.