Fort Worth Texas to Consider Transgender Protections

Source Dallas Voice FW to consider trans protections

"FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth Human Relations Commission this week voted unanimously in favor of a resolution calling for the city to amend its anti-discrimination policy to include protections for transgenders."

"The resolution now goes to the new City Manager’s Diversity Task Force, and then on to the City Council for final approval."

Original full story at Dallas Voice FW to consider trans protections

How The Religious Right Wing Distorts Legit Research

Found on Pam House Blend "How religious right groups distort legitimate research to demonize the gay community (+) "
by: Alvin McEwen Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 07:23:46 AM EDT

"The religious right have skillfully crafted a body of inaccuracies about the lgbt community backed by misinterpreted studies. And this body is easily transported to almost every other so-called traditional value groups across state and country lines. It can also be used by legislators who already have anti-gay biases but are looking for "justification" for their prejudices."

Read more.....at Pam's How religious right groups distort legitimate research to demonize the gay community (+)
by: Alvin McEwen

Nine Weeks For Equality

By Kelli Busey, planetransgender, July 28, 2009

The National Center for Transgender Equality campaign 'Nine Weeks For Equality' provides us an effective, timely roadmap for advocacy. This program will help facilitate our movement towards passage of an inclusive ENDA. One of the first of the nine actions listed is writing a blog article. Each time we place our agenda on the Internet it contributes to an understanding of who we are and what we need.

I started writing planetransgender in 2007. I was furious with Congressman Barney Frank's incomprehensible dissection of transgender people from the equality movement during the 2007 ENDA debacle and HRC's despicable acquiescence.

Early on in my rage, I was fortunate to befriended by the writer of Queers United blog. Under his tutelage, acclaim and admonishment he nurtured my raw desire for effective advocacy. I began to concentrate on attracting and integrating with the larger communities, LGBTQI and straight. Now occasionally new understandings are sometimes discovered and nurtured here. If I am successful our new allies will continue to be interested in our mutual needs as we continue finding new ways to communicate, constantly increasing our diversity and strength.

There are nine other actions listed and who knows, next week I might even try another one.

The National Center for Transgender Equality 'Nine Weeks For Equality'

Inclusive ENDA Campaign

A message from Dr. Jillian T. Weiss
Co-Chair, Inclusive ENDA

Thank you again for being part of this campaign to educate Congress about the importance of job equality. Here is some information about the status of the bill and what you can do. If you want to hear my discussion of ENDA's chances, click here for a podcast from WFHB Radio (July 20, 2009)

**STATUS OF THE BILL**
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, HR 3017, is pending in the House of Representatives, and has the public support of 164 Members of Congress. Another 40 are likely to vote yes, but have not yet made their support of the bill public, as far as we know. This makes a total of 204 in the yes column. 218 are needed for a majority in the House. Passage is likely, but we're not yet clearly there as of today. You can get the specifics on our spreadsheet If you're in one of the swing districts (highlighted in yellow), call your Representative. (There is a link to contact info on the spreadsheet on the top right.)

The bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate. Our estimates suggest there are currently 58 likely yes votes, and there are a few Democrats whose support is unclear, and a few fair-minded Republicans who may be willing to cross party lines in favor of job equality. You can get the specifics on our Senate spreadsheet

Legislation will probably be introduced in the Senate soon, and we will want to ask our Senators to co-sponsor the legislation when that happens. Hearings will probably held in the House in early fall, featuring testimony for and against the bill, followed by a vote in the House, if party leaders determine there are enough "yes" votes for passage. If and when passed in the House, the bill will hopefully go to the Senate for a vote shortly thereafter. Whether or not it gets to a floor vote depends again on party leaders determining that there are enough yes votes for passage. If and when passed in the Senate, it will go to President Obama for signature.

**WHAT YOU CAN DO**
The most effective means of ensuring there are enough "yes" votes for passage is meeting with your legislator in your home district during the August recess. Of course we're all busy with other things, but if you want them to say "yes," you must say "yes." You can sign up for a meeting here

Telephone calls from people in the legislator's district are the next most effective means. You can find contact info for unconfirmed US Reps here, and contact info for unconfirmed US Senators here and Full contact info can be found here

You should put your legislators' phone numbers on speed dial, and make friends with the office aides. Call early and often. Put information about your legislators' position on our Wall at Inclusive ENDA so we can update the spreadsheets.

Acting together, we have made great strides toward passage. I believe that ENDA will pass, if we continue to be smart and targeted in expressing our support to our legislators by means of meetings and phone calls.

Thank you for your work in supporting an inclusive ENDA.

Jillian T. Weiss
Co-Chair, Inclusive ENDA

Queers United Protest Dr. Phil Continues Anti-Queer Crusade by Picking on "Gender Confused Kids"

Update: We have pervailed!! [From Twitter] queerunity Dr. Phil agrees to pull transphobic show, good work guys! http://bit.ly/vBFUN

Please check out Queers United Dr. Phil Continues Anti-Queer Crusade by Picking on "Gender Confused Kids"
Our campaign to get Dr. Phil to stop his anti gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender programming has been going on for several months. His shows continually promote topics such as "gender confusion", "rebellious bisexuals" and "discussion on ex-gay therapy".

Hundreds of people through this blog [Queers United] have joined in demanding Dr. Phil stop this anti-queer programming. Nonetheless this Wednesday July 29th another transphobic show is set to air titled "Gender-Confused Kids"

Thank AAA South for Recognizing Equality!

Send AAA South a thank you!

http://ga4.org/campaign/thankAAA

During a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, July 21, between Equality Florida and AAA South, top management at the 4th largest AAA affiliate in the country committed to recognizing all spouses, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The policy allows gay married couples to receive spousal discounts under AAA's Associate Membership program.
Tell me more

Tweeted by nasmith25 at http://twitter.com/nasmith25

Kim Petras "Worlds Youngest [post op] Transsexual"

'TV interview of German transgirl Kim Petras on the Morning Show. The interview draws a more realistic picture of Kim than in the CBS show "The Insider" on April 30, 2009. Kim speaks about her past as a boy and the latest single she has released: "Die for you".'

Interview télévision de la jeune transfille allemande Kim Petras dans l'émission "This Morning". L'interview donne une image plus réaliste de Kim que dans l'émission "The Insider" sur la chaîne américaine CBS le 30 avril 2009. Kim parle de son passé en tant que garçon et de sa dernière chanson publiée : "Die for you".

Fernseh-Interview mit dem Transmädchen Kim Petras in der "Morning Show". Das Interview zeichnet ein realistischeres Bild von Kim als der Bericht in der CBS-Sendung "The Insider" vom 30. April 2009. Kim spricht über ihre Vergangenheit als Junge und die neueste Single, die sie veröffentlicht hat: "Die for you".

Houston's Transgender Foundation of America Prepares for Hurricane Season

Following some disastrous hurricanes in the past years the Transgender Foundation of Houston is holding meetings to help it's members prepare for the coming season. As we well know in the transgender community, we are the first most adversely affected by natural disasters.

Host: Transgender Foundation of America
Type: Meetings - Informational Meeting
Network: Global
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009
Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: TG Center
Street: 713 Fargo
City/Town: Houston, TX
View Map
Google
MapQuest
Microsoft
Yahoo
Phone:
7135208586
Email:
cristan@tgctr.org
Description
The last two hurricanes took the Houston TG community by surprise.Many of us had a hard time finding places to evacuate to and there were even a few of us who were arrested for staying in emergency shelters. We need to be prepared this year!On Monday, July 27th at 6:30 PM (before the HTGA meeting) we will have the first in a series of TG Community Hurricane Preparedness meetings. Please come out and help the community get ready for hurricane season!

Episcopalians officialy Support LGBT Rights

TransEpiscopal: Transgender Episcopalians/Anglicans and Allies

Press Release:

Anaheim, CA (July 17, 2009): For the first time in its history, the Episcopal
Church has taken official actions in support of transgender civil rights and inclusion at its 76th General Convention.

"It was a true privilege to participate in the legislative process of this Church, to bear witness to transgender lives and experiences, and to urge the Episcopal Church to fully include and to stand in solidarity with us," commented the Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge, a member of TransEpiscopal and Integrity USA. "I am thrilled to be able to say that the General Convention voted overwhelmingly to put the Episcopal Church on record in support of such legislation as the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Act and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and analogous efforts at municipal and state levels. But I am even more moved to say how many people spontaneously shared with us how their eyes have been opened, their hearts turned, by our presence and stories here. To have someone stop me in a coffee line to say, `I had never thought about this issue before, and I'm going to take what I have learned here and share it with my little congregation in the Ozarks' means more than I can say."

Today the Convention completed approval of resolutions supporting the enactment
of anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation protecting transgender people at
local, state and federal levels. The House of Deputies passed these resolutions overwhelmingly on Wednesday, and the House of Bishops then approved these resolutions today in near-unanimous votes.

These actions took place as the United States Congress debates both the Matthew
Shepherd Hate Crimes Act and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which respectively address hate crimes and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as well as gender identity and expression.

Testifying in hearings at various levels of the Convention were representatives
of the organizations TransEpiscopal and Integrity USA, including the Episcopal Church's first openly transgender Deputy, Dee Tavolaro of Rhode Island.

In addition to today's actions, earlier this week the Convention approved two
other resolutions.

The first adds "gender identity and expression" to its nondiscrimination policy
for hiring lay employees, while the second calls for the revision of church paper and
electronic forms to allow a wider range of gender identifications.

"As we celebrate this moment and give thanks for the amazing allies walking with
us, particularly Integrity USA and the Consultation, we look forward to progressing
further toward full inclusion of transgender people —and, indeed, all people -- in all areas of ministry in The Episcopal Church."

Fort Worth TABC Supervisor steps down in wake of Rainbow Lounge Raid

Source Dallas Voice;

"FORT WORTH — The administrator of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said this week that two TABC agents involved in a raid of the Rainbow Lounge on June 28 committed multiple “clear violations” of agency policy."

"In an exclusive phone interview with Dallas Voice on Wednesday, July 15, TABC Administrator Alan Steen also said the supervisor directly responsible for the two agents — a sergeant in TABC’s Fort Worth district office — announced his retirement last week in the wake of the raid and amid an ongoing internal investigation. Steen didn’t identify the sergeant or the agents by name."

Click here for Dallas Voice Article Administrator Steen acknowledges his agents violated policies, says FW supervisor has stepped down

Canadian's Outraged and Protest Lu Pharmacy!

Source: Questioning Transphobia: Protest of Lu Pharmacy

THIS IS ALMOST TO MUCH TO BELEIVE! A Vancouver BC Pharmacy has taken it upon themselves to deny service to black men, white men, well ok any man. Transgender woman with or without vagina, cisgender woman with addiction issues of any kind also need not apply. Presumably all potential customers will face a rigorous physiological and physical examination and a backgroud check prior to being accepted.

by kelli Busey
planetransgender

Rainbow Lounge Raid Rally at Tarrant County Courthouse

UPDATE!!

Please be advised that part of I30 between Dallas and Fort Worth is closed. I20 and 183 are better alternatives. You can find a map here with info on the closure.

Rainbow Lounge Raid Rally

Tarrant County Courthouse

100 E Weatherford

Sunday, July 127:00 PM

Almost two weeks after the raid on the Rainbow Lounge we are still left with lots of questions and very little action by city, police and TABC officials. We are pleased that that TABC officers involved have been placed on desk duty and that calls for independent investigations have been made, but this is not nearly enough. On Sunday, July 12 the LGBT community of N Texas will stand together to call for answers from the Fort Worth Police Department, the TABC and an independent third party.

We demand swift action condemning homophobia and violence against LGBT people!

Dr Stephen V Sprinkle associate professor of practical theology at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Chuck Potter witness to the raid at the Rainbow Lounge raid and Rick Vanderslice local radio and television personality are some who are set to speak. This brief but powerful event will recount the raid at the Rainbow Lounge, illustrate the injustices behind this incident and call out for action.

For more information please visit our website at http://www.queerliberaction.org/

El Paso man Arrested in murder of Transvestite

Source: Renee Narvaiz/KFOX News Producer
Posted: 7:10 pm MDT July 10, 2009

Updated: 7:25 pm MDT July 10, 2009
"EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso police may be one step closer to solving the city’s latest killing.
Michael Herrera, 26, has been booked into the El Paso county jail and charged with murder in the death of Cesar Torres, 39. He was being held in lieu of $125,000 bond, police said."

"As we reported first Thursday - people who live in the neighborhood on West Missouri Street tell us Torres was a transvestite and would often go out in women's clothes."

http://www.kdbc.com/global/story.asp?s=10672333

Contact Your Senators About Hate Crimes Bill

Join the Final Push to Protect All People from Hate Crimes

From: Mara Keisling ncte@nctequality.org

We have good news: The Senate is likely to vote on the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, S.909, as early as next Wednesday, July 15. As you may remember, the companion bill, H.R.1913, already passed the House of Representatives this past April after NCTE's successful lobby day. With a final push, you can help to make this important bill become a law. This bill expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include crimes not only based on race, color, religion, and national origin, but also bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual pr perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

TAKE ACTION
Call your Senators on Wednesday. On Wednesday, July 15, call your senators toll free at 866-659-9641 between 9am and 5pm ET. It is vital that they hear from you since they will also be hearing from those who oppose this bill. Urge your Senator to vote in support of S.909, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Please take this important step to help address the violence faced by transgender people.
WHAT THE BILL SAYS
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, S.909, would:
Extend existing federal protections to include "gender identity, sexual orientation, gender and disability"
Allow the Justice Department to assist in hate crime investigations at the local level when local law enforcement is unable or unwilling to fully address these crimes
Mandate that the FBI begin tracking hate crimes based on actual or perceived gender identity
Remove limitations that narrowly define hate crimes to violence committed while a person is accessing a federally protected activity, such as voting.The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is supported by nearly 300 civil rights, education, religious, and civic organizations. The bill is also endorsed by virtually every major law enforcement organization in the country-including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Sheriffs Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, and thirty-one state Attorneys General.
For more information:
Read the specifics about this legislation from the Library of Congress, go to their website and search by bill S.909

View our fact sheet about the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (the House version of this bill) and read additional information about hate crimes on our website
Thank you!Thank you for taking action on this vital issue as we work together to make our world safer for transgender people.

North Texas LGBTQA Coalition - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Beau Heyen
beau_heyen@hotmail.com

Elizabeth Pax
elizabethpax@gmail.com

Community Collaborative Projects Gains Momentum

North Texas LGBTQA Coalition Meets July 13

DALLAS - July 7, 2009 - After the events of the past year, from the passing of Proposition 8 to the recent raid on the Rainbow Lounge, the LGBTQA community of North Texas is primed and ready to stand together and coordinate their efforts. Building on past projects, including a community calendar initiative, these organizers hope to bridge the gap between organizations and throughout the community.

Whether you are a part of an established non-profit or new to the North Texas scene, Elizabeth Pax and Beau Heyen, moderators of the newly forming coalition, invite you to attend a strategic planning meeting on Monday, July 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. This meeting will be held at AIDS Arms, Inc located at 219 Sunset Ave, Suite116-A in Oak Cliff.

"We see a great need for people within our community to be able to find resources, events and volunteer opportunities," says Pax, organizer of the recent "meet-up" event after the 25th Anniversary Edition of the Dallas Voice. "With the Voice providing a short list of 'Future Pioneers' I figured now was as good a time as any to get us all together and talk. I was pleasantly surprised at the interest and energy from individuals throughout the community."

Plans for the coalition include online community calendar, resource database and volunteer match features. The coalition, still in the process of creating a name, will use this first official meeting to develop a mission statement and leadership structure. Although Pax and Heyen are moderating the event they have no plans to lead the newly formed organization.

"It is important that new leadership emerges for this organization. With the long history of the LGBTQA community in North Texas we feel that a new leader, or group of leaders, will be best to represent the numerous organizations and community members in the fairest way possible," Heyen stated. "We hope that this meeting will provide some ideas on how to organize this new endeavor for optimal success."

To aide in speeding up the process and effectively using time, discussion boards have already been started on the group's Facebook page. People are encouraged to use the Facebook Group, named North Texas LGBTQA Unity Coalition, to begin the vital conversations about the coalition's future.

"For over 5 years members of the North Texas LGBTQA community have voiced a need for more collaboration throughout the non-profit sector," says Heyen. "We hope to provide an outlet for organizations and interested individuals to merge, but we need as many voices at the table as possible. Now is the time to be heard."

# # #

Forth Worth Criminal Injustice / Queer LiberAction Today

Queer LiberAction Soap Box TODAY! Air your views on the Raid at Rainbow Lounge.

According to a letter sent by Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief in response to the TABC FT Worth joint actions the Fort Worth police do not have a reputation of heavy handedness, intimidation, inciting criminal behaviour, brutality and false arrests. Mayor Moncrief then go's on to state that although he is confidant that the investigation being pursued by his cities police force into the joint TABC Rainbow Lounge raid is in fact impartial and fair, just for good measure he is calling in the Federal Attorney Generals office now to make sure they do live up to all his expectations.

I say we can not leave this insurance up to the politicians and law enforcement agencies.
Anyone who has come into contact with the Fort Worth police department and announced that a act of civil disobedience was a possibility was informed by the local police that unlike anywhere else in our country, our actions would be pursued to the uppermost possiable level, by law enforcement!

In other words, in Fort Worth the police will trump up the charges, and escalate an incident in order to imprison and fine an individual to the fullest extent of the law. What occurs while one is in the custody of police is often obscured by societies acquiescence to brute force.

Sometimes our countries law does NOT satisfy the Fort Worth's police's desire to enforce it's own version of American justice.

Who else knows this? Evidently Fort Worth Mayor Moncrief does.

Source: Pegasus News content partner - Dallas Voice
by Taymme Nash

"This letter was sent out by Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief on Friday:"

"We all join in wishing Mr. Gibson a speedy and full recovery."

"Currently, two investigations are underway to review the circumstances and events that took place at the Rainbow Lounge early Sunday morning. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) is conducting an investigation and the Fort Worth Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is conducting its own investigation."

"I join Police Chief Jeff Halstead in encouraging any eye-witnesses to the events under review to come forward and share their observations."

"Members of the City Council and I have confidence that Chief Halstead is leading a thorough and professional investigation. Once the Fort Worth Police Department’s examination is complete, I have asked the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to independently review the findings of the Fort Worth Police Department’s investigation to ensure the department has thoroughly and impartially carried out its obligation to all the citizens of Fort Worth. I encourage the TABC to follow the same course."

"Fort Worth has a history of inclusiveness, and the Fort Worth Police Department has a history of responsible and professional service to our citizens. The police department’s internal investigation and the outside review is meant to ensure all citizens are professionally and responsibly represented by our police department. I am most appreciative to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for assisting us in this effort."

INTERFAITH COALITION FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY : Support HB 1728 / SB1687

DECLARATION OF RELIGIOUS AND FAITH-BASED SUPPORT FORMASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION,

AN ACT RELATIVE TO GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION AND HATE CRIMES

DRAFTED BY THE INTERFAITH COALITION FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY
AFFIRMING A MORAL VISION

No society is truly just when its members face persecution. Justice requires that a society stand by its moraal vision and act against that persecution. The signatories of this letter ask that the Commonwealth act upon its moral vision of a just society by passing An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
The signatories of this letter are persons of faith, clergy, congregations, and organizations of faith. Some of us are transgender persons. Others are allies and loved ones. Some of us directly serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Others serve indirectly. In our support for An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes we speak with one voice. We speak on behalf of those who are vulnerable to violence and persecution because of their gender identities or gender expressions.
Transgender people and others who do not conform to gender stereotypes face persecution in essential areas of life. This legislation adds "gender identity or expression" to the Commonwealth's hate crime laws and non-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, and credit. Violence and persecution on the basis of gender identity or expression often stem from the belief that people who do not conform to gender stereotypes are unworthy of protection by the law and are outside of the Commonwealth's moral vision. By passing An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes, the legislature would speak out against such persecution.

OUR CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
People of all gender identities and expressions, including transgender people, are born into, enter into, or are called to many faiths. Our faith traditions help to ground and support us in our lifelong quests for fulfillment and responsibility to one another. All of our traditions respect the dignity of each and every human being and recognize our connection to one another.
Because of this connection, the persecution of a person on the basis of gender identity or expression is an injury, not only to an individual, but to everyone connected to that person: to the person's family, friends, and spiritual community. The oppression of one person indelibly scars all of us. It calls all of us to take account of our moral duties, stand in unity, and take action.
Yes, please add my name in support of the ICTE Declaration!
http://www.interfaithcoalition.org/

MILK BOX~FT Worth~Responds to Rainbow Raid

Milk Box
Hosted by: Queer LiberAction
Queer LiberAction MySpace
Queer LiberAction.com

When:
Sunday, July 05, 2009 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CDT (End Time Estimated)
Where:
Sundance Square, Houston and 3rd St. FT Worth Texas Google Map

In response to the raid at the Rainbow Lounge, Queer Liberaction is set to take its Milk box to Sundance Square in the heart of downtown Fort Worth this coming Sunday, July 5th at 7:00 PM. Those that were at the Rainbow Lounge Raid will speak on the events they witnessed.

Ambassadors and leaders from the Queer community will be setting up Queer Liberaction's Milk box outside of the gayborhood as a way to engage the public in a discussion on GLBT equality. Named in honor of Harvey Milk, our public free speech event is a fun and engaging way which encourages dialog regarding homophobia and the civil rights denied to GLBT people. Join Queer Liberaction as we stand up and speak OUT to our neighbors about how discrimination