Dallas Activists, Out and Equal, Stonewall Democrats urge Dallas Commissioners to include the T

At stake, one eight million dollar convention.

I was aware of a sense of urgency in the drafting of the letter by Out and Equal urging the Dallas County Commissioners to include transgender protections in their newly amended non discrimination policy.

My take on it is that Out and Equal is very concerned about holding their LGBT workplace summit in a county that expressly does not have equal protections for the entire LGBT population. I think it would be prudent for the Commissioners to consider how serious this matter is for OUT and Equal. I would also hope they make a performance based decision when they consider the 8 million the OUT and Equal gathering generates.

My testimony April 5th 2010:

Good Morning Commissioners, My name is Kelli Anne Busey. I am a former resident of Dallas County now living in Tarrant County. I am a nationally recognized blogger and activist. I would like to commend you on amending the Dallas county non discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. However, it has come to my attention that gender expression and identity was not added to to recent amendments.

It has also come to my attention that the reason transgender people were not included is because you thought transgender people and gay people are the same and transgender people would be protected by adding sexual orientation. That is simply not true.

So I am here to help you to understand who we are are in hopes that you will include transgender expression and identity in the Dallas county non discrimination policy.
I will address some areas that transgender people have been recognized.

Transgender people have steadily increased the number places we have protections in. Currently there are 13 states + DC plus 109 counties and cities for a total of 122.

A couple of common arguments that transphobic people use to defeat our efforts to be included in protections is that we are relatively new as a minority and the bible condemns us. Both are falsehoods.

In the Old testament transgender people were recognized as Eunuchs as we still are in the subcontinent of Asia.

Old testament in Isaiah 56 The lord promises a special place for eunuchs.

Mathew 20 Jesus tried and help his disciples understand who transgender people are and promises a place in heaven for us.

Acts 8:26 An angel summons a successful minister to leave his conjugation to travel on a desert road south of Jerusalem. The purpose becomes clear when the minister is brought to a Eunuch who had been rejected by the church in Jerusalem and was later baptised by that same Minister.

There are numerous Professional transgender people in Texas working in law enforcement, medical, legal, and many more like myself a former business owner now religated post transition to poverty.

The question your are wrestling with, the definition of transgender, the one you have asked your legal office has been asked over and over again while we struggle for equality.

The truth is a definition of transgender people is as allusive as a simple definition for humanity in general. I can suggest this to you though. In the cities, counties and states where transgender people have been included in non discrimination policies there have been no instances of any transgender people abusing these rights.

What there has been is a increase in the city's county and state revenue as transgender people are allowed to live up to there potentials.

I hope the Commissioners Court acts quickly to amend its non discrimination policy to include Transgender people.

Thank you,
Kelli Anne Busey

Judge adds Sexual Orientation but not Gender Expression to Dallas county nondiscrimination policy

Time for the T to Step UP!

Judge Jenkins who won his job as chair Dallas County Commissioners Court on a promise to include sexual orientation and gender expression now says a definition of transgender needs to be established before gender expression can be added to the county's non discrimination policy.



Source Dallas Voice

"The Dallas County Commissioners
Court voted earlier today to add sexual orientation to the county’s employment nondiscrimination policy.

However, the amendment adding “sexual orientation” to the policy does not include gender identity/expression, meaning it covers gay and lesbian employees but not transgender workers.

County Judge Clay Jenkins, who chairs the Commissioners Court, and Commissioner Elba Garcia told Instant Tea they were under the impression that sexual orientation includes gender identity/expression, which it does not. Jenkins and Garcia, both Democrats who took office in January, spearheaded the proposal to add sexual orientation to the policy."

Those of us who helped with the emancipation of Dallas's "Miss T Dart" know that when a politico claims ignorance to the definition of transgender it is a usually just a excuse for non inclusivity.

Rafael McDonnell, a trusted ally, communications director of the Resource Center of Dallas has informed me that there was no communication between the Commission and any North Texas LGBT groups during the drafting of the amendment.

We can call and email the Commissioners using the list below or you can make a immediate impact by attending the next meeting. Here's the lowdown:

You must call 214-653-7886 and register with the clerk to speak.

The Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays in the County Administration Building, 411 Elm St. in Dallas. Google Map

County Judge Clay Jenkins – 214-653-7949
Email: Clay.Jenkins@DallasCounty.org

Dist. 1 Maurine Dickey – 214-653-7552
Email: Maurine.Dickey@DallasCounty.org

Dist. 2 Mike Cantrell – 214-653-6100
Email: MCantrell@DallasCounty.org

Dist. 3 John Wiley Price – 214-653-6671
Email: John.Price@DallasCounty.org

Dist. 4 Dr. Elba Garcia – 214-653-6670
Email: Elba.GarciaDDS@DallasCounty.org


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