Summary Of Chrysanthemum Tran's Poem 'Vampires'

Chrysanthemum Tran recounts her life as a transgender woman, displaying raw emotion and pain in her poem “Vampires,” as recites the following lines: “Maybe I was born dead. Or even worse, undead. I am an undying thing, refusing to rot. Even when this world wants me burned.” The astounding reality of the hate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people face has been a common theme throughout history. They have stood ground against a pedestal of contempt that pervades every aspect of human existence; the most fragile being economic stability. LGBT poverty is an ongoing issue that reflects the worst of humans as the needs and rights of LGBT people are blatantly ignored. Democracy and freedom are heralded as the basis of the United States, but these
First, the discussion of poverty demands the recognition of the complexities of those who experience it. The LGBT community represents a myriad of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds that are subject to ostracization. However, when the ostracization of identity occurs the result comes in the form of ineffective aid and slow progress. In this instance, demographics are of chief importance because the financial struggles that a single LGBT person faces are likely to be completely different from what another LGBT person faces. LGBT youth experience a much more harsh life than that of older members of their community. Of the 1.6 million homeless youth living in the United States, between 20 and 40 percent identify on the LGBT spectrum (Sears and Badgett). Under the danger and trauma of poverty, LGBT youth may resort to prostitution or crime, both of which carry serious legal risks, in order to survive. However, despite this there are few resources available for LGBT youth in urban areas that become even more sparse in rural