Immigration detainee Alexis Cortez-Reyna held in solitary "so you can learn not to be a faggot"

Source Chiacgo Tribune:
WASHINGTON— For 22 hours a day, Alejandro Cortez-Reyna, who is transgender, was confined to a 5-by-9-foot cell in Immigration custody. Eventually the time out of the cell was reduced to about 45 minutes.

When Cortez-Reyna once asked why dayroom time for gay or transgender immigrants at the Theo Lacy facility in California was cut to less than two hours, a guard responded, "Because you need to learn not to be a faggot."

The guard's response is part of a civil rights complaint filed Wednesday on behalf of Cortez-Reyna and 12 others. It alleges systemic abuse and neglect of gay and transgender immigrants while in custody at facilities owned or contracted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Chicago-based Heartland Alliance National Immigrant Justice Center filed the action with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Inspector General's Office.

Sandy Rawls Interview "I'm Glad HB235 is Dead"

"Equality Maryland can't just keep on with what they've been doing, they have to reach out to the transgender community." says Sandy Rawls.

Ashley Love of Trans Forming Media (TFM) talks with Baltimore transgender leader Sandy Rawls founder and director of Trans-United who initially supported HB235. Miss Rawls later became a outspoken opponent of the 'anti-discrimination bill' without public accommodations protections after hearing from her membership.



Sadly Equality Maryland the proponent of HB235 is not reaching out. Conversely they are continuing to censor the transgender community by not allowing the majority of people who voice dissenting opinions from commenting on their facebook page all the while trumpeting a fully inclusive meme .

Sandy Rawls and Ashely Love are the people Equality Maryland Should be listening to not their transgender doctor and another wealthy member who stated the only way their lives could have been effected by the omission of public accommodations was the possibly they might have a harder time reserving a room at the ski lodges.

For Better or Worst Gay Marriage is the Best!

For Better or Worst


My good friend Terry Denson publishes a non profit site called "Theology Degrees" a place where anyone may search over 65 Schools Offering Theology Degrees Online. I think that is a wonderful effort and made better by his most recent post For Better or For Worse: Top 10 Gay Marriage Blogs


God it feels GREAT to work freely again for our entire community. Thank you Terry!

HB235 Killed in the Eleventh Hour! WE WON!

Our hard work and determination killed the "anti-discrimination bill" without public accommodations provisions! The Maryland transgender groups Transmaryland and Trans-United members, the past Equality Maryland Board President, current EQMD members and allies lobbied legislators so passionatly to oppose this bill apparently made a impression connecting with there need to "Do the Right Thing" in this desperate eleventh hour.

To thank try and individualy the trans people in Maryland who accomplished this I would have to leave someone out and that would be sad so I will just say JOB WELL DONE! We took down Goliath.

Some of the blogs that directly empowered this effort taking on the seemingly overwhelming media power of HRC's media platform: Monica who sounded the alarm on TransGriot , Kat at Enda Blog, Ashley on her blog Trans Forming Media (TFM), USA, The Transexual Menace, Woman Born Trannsexual, She Wired, Know the Neighbor, TransAdovcate.

Twitter advocates who's passion drove the tweet world informing and educating about this terriable bill, Angel Dallare, metalmujer voz latina, ernesto olivo, whatsername, D Ruth Bavousett, Desiree Arceneaux Also belonging in our Hall of Fame is Maryland Senator Madaleno who is pre filling a anti discrimination bill for the 2012 that includes public accommodations.

Unfortunately when there is a epic battle between the underdog tweeter and bloggers fighting for equality there is a villain. In this case its Equality Maryland. After Equality Maryland's role in HB235 was exposed they panicked and sought to hide, deceive, lie, pressure, intimidate, and mislead. Instead the truth is being laid bare here, and everywhere freedom of speech is honored.

Also belong in this hall of shame is the lone national blogger who paroted Equality Marylands lies and deceptions, Autumn Sandeen at Pams House Blend. Autumn, I would be PROUD to be placed next to Ashlely Love in your sidebare of intimidation. Trans people only ask for what ALL other minorities demand, FULL EQUALITY. Nothing less is acceptable.

Maine Governor Paul LePage "You have to be insane to allow transgender children in the schools"

Another attack on transgender rights is taking place now in Maine.


Paul LePage the 75th Governor of Maine who took down the mural of Baths Ironworks Rosi the Riveter from the Department of Labor headquarters will undoubtedly sign LD1046 into law based on his campaign statements.

"You know, our children are being used as pawns," he said then. "I just don't understand how people, at least sane people, would want to allow transgender in our primary schools and our high schools."

LePage then pledged to oppose legislation for transgendered students. "If I claim I'm a woman in my philosophy and my thinking, I can play on the girls' hockey team or the girls' basketball team. I think it's absolutely insane, I think it's gone too far and we have to push back. As governor, I would never allow that to be signed into law," he said. Maine Public Broadcasting Network

The Senate will hold a hearing on a bill that could repeal the 4-0-1 MHRC ruling allowing transgender people to use the restroom which aligns with our gender expression.

If you can't attend in person the hearing on An Act To Amend the Application of the Maine Human Rights Act Regarding Public Accommodations LD1046 which is scheduled for a public hearing on Apr 12, 2011, 1:00p Room 438 State House you can also Listen Live here

"Photos of Angie" Indie film of Angie Zapata premiers

Angies life forever changes how we view being transgender and her death redefines the punishment for hate crimes.


Trailer description:
"This haunting yet hopeful documentary tells the story of Angie Zapata, a transgender teen who was murdered in rural Greeley, Colorado in 2008. The film moves between the trial of her killer, Angie's brief life and self-discovery told through family and friends, and the fruition of national hate crime legislation with Angie's case very much in the foreground as it was the first time that a transgender murderer was successfully prosecuted under hate crime laws."



"Told in five movements, one per day of the trial of Angie's killer, the film features a classical score by Mackenzie Gault of the national touring band The Flobots and additional music by L.A.-based band Ozomatli. The film reveals Angie's simple life in the context of a complicated struggle juxtaposed with her violent death at the hands of a man whose true nature is finally revealed."

Source Westword.com

Equality Maryland Morgan Meneses Sheets "welcomes criticism" Oh no, you didn't say that!

OK, so this was too much to stomach. For prosperity I need to document the evil underhanded tyrannical being that is the executive director of Equality Maryland. !Please sign the petition against HB235

First lets take a trip with Metro Weekly into revisionist gay fantasyland which paints Morgan Meneses Sheets as a champion of transgender people who welcomes criticism.

I have documented the campaign of censorship led by Morgan Meneses Sheets. !Please sign the petition against HB235

On February eighth a Baltimore transgender woman journalist Danna LaRocca was banned from Equality Maryland's facebook page for questioning Equality Maryland's obvious lack of racial diversity.

Why does Equality Maryland not mention the racial minority transgender group Trans-United anymore since Sandy Rawls withdrew her support? Why does Equality Maryland blog not have any entries from Maryland advocate groups?

Numerous other transgender and cisgender advocates myself included are banned from commenting on the Equality Maryland facebook page. There are dozens of documented instances when rational respectful comments have been deleted by Equality Maryland.

Equality Maryland's note FAQ – Censorship, HB 235 and the EQMD Facebook page. stated that the censoring of opposition to HB235 on their facebook page was done because there were physical threats of violence made against her, the Equality Maryland Staff and the lead sponsor of HB235 Del. Pena-Melnyk.

That note which written in defence of EQMD's censorship was quickly disputed by those of who were not banned. Those who did comment had some of there comments deleted including the past president of the EQMD board.

!Please sign the petition against HB235
In fact Del. Pena-Melnyk has endeavoured to silence her critics by calling the Executive Director of TransMaryland, myself and others screaming threats that if "you people" show up at hearings she would pull all support for transgender people!

Equality Maryland held one unannounced 'transgender meeting' with its staff to get input from the Baltimore community. The next transgender meeting was attended by a local transgender advocate Robyn Webb who was shouted down by the Equality Maryland staff and gender queer shills.

Transmaryland held a protest after that meeting and the next day Equality Maryland cancelled all further meetings until the end of the legislative sessions with the transgender community claiming “scheduling conflicts” as the reason.

Sheets is to far into this lie to have any hope for redemption so in desperation fearing the inevitable membership upheaval she makes preemptive strikes hoping to cover her lies with so much regurgitated vomit most courageous journalistic crusaders would be repulsed by the stench alone. Not me Sheets.

Trickle Down Civil Rights? Not on my Life!Please sign the petition against HB235

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

Protest Julie Bindel and Reparative Therapist RCP Conference!

**UPDATE! The conference has been Cancelled! Trans advocacy WORKS!! Note to Julie Bindel, where ever you are scheduled to speak as an authority on transsexualism I will be there like a thorn in your transphobic side.***

A planned conference of the most horrific anti transgender 'experts' has got the London Transgender community up in arms!

Hosting the conference the Transcultural Special Interest Group a component of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Mental Health Special Interest Group, Royal College of Psychiatrists which offers this mission statement:

"TSIG supports policy and practise to improve the care of socially excluded and marginalised groups where culture is influential in the expression and management of mental distress. We also need to continue work in teaching, training and curriculum development to ensure that cultural competency remains an essential component in the assessment of the clinical competencies of all psychiatrists"

The speakers: Particularly distressing is the inclusion the vehemently anti transgender feminist Julie Bindel who's tirades have denigrated transgender social standing in the UK and worldwide. Conference presenter Julie Bindel view of transexuality:

"I don't have a problem with men disposing of their genitals, but it does not make them women, in the same way that shoving a bit of vacuum hose down your 501s does not make you a man.

Equally distressing is the inclusion of reparative therapist Dr Az Hakeem who published view is:

“The experience of many psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and psychotherapists working with transsexual patients is that they are individuals who, for complex reasons, need to escape from an intolerable psychological reality into a more comfortable fantasy. By attempting to live as a member of the opposite sex, they try to avoid internal conflict, which may otherwise prove to be too distressing.”

Join the protest!!! Email the Royal College of Psychiatrists to be true to there mission statement! sranger@londondiv.rcpsych.ac.uk; Then join the planned Protest! And on Facebook

Equality Maryland "Takes the Gloves off" to Bare knuckle fight Maryland Transgender

Equality Maryland is promoting a bullying tactic tyrants always resort to when all other means of intimidation Fail. They ether threaten to or do beat up their opponent.

Recent EQMD tweets suggesting violence against Maryland Transgender people and one slanderous retweet disparaging Maryland Sen. Frosh.



I find this extremely offensive and I am calling them out for this tactic. Of all the 'civil rights' groups Equality Maryland should know that words do kill.

MIA Hates Gingers

Equality Maryland HB235 Transgender Killing BULLDOZER knocked down a Notch

Maryland Transgender community has become accustomed to staring at this bulldozer the past few months, as the riders grew in numbers so did our diminutive stature become more evident.

We are the poor. The disadvantaged. The blacks. The Italians. The Irish. The Jewish. The Hispanic. The transgender people from the city. In despair we began to doubt that we could ever stop HRC's funded federation member equality Maryland as they ran us over again and again.

But at the last minute a saviour appeared as if god sent. Bloodied but not beaten westare in amazement! A politician has stood up to the machinery of gay.com and announced our existence! Finally someone with power who would record our calls, our emails our pleas for help.

After these months of being afraid if we called your office again you would return our calls to SCREAM and THREATEN us again Del. Pena-Melnyk the shoe is on the other foot ain't it? Yeah.

I WAITED A WHOLE HOUR FOR SENATOR FROSH!!Boooooooooo

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


Also in the The Dallas Morning News

Maryland Senate: NO Trans-Crow Law! NO Slavery!

The time has come for the Transexual Menace to rise up.

The Maryland Judicial Proceedings Committee is now considering a "transgender anti discrimination" bill stripped of public accommodations provisions. What does that mean to you and I, the average trans person? It means you would be allowed workplace protections but none for public accommodations.

You may soon be existing in a society much the as it was during the Jim Crow era. Transgender people could work at but would be subject to arrest just for being in or using a"Place of public accommodation" which is defined as an inn, hotel, motel, restaurant, cafeteria, lunchroom, lunch counter, soda fountain,a motion picture house, theater, concert hall, sports arena, stadium, or other place of exhibition or entertainment.

The majority trans peoples income is lower than 18,000 which indicates most of us work in public service jobs, with public accommodations the only option.

Or fired by your employer for not following the enhanced dress code. Or thrown out of emergency shelters if you demand to be housed with the gender congruent with your expression. HRC is calling on its entire membership to enslave transgender people. HB235 would make you a second class citizen living at the whim of the ruling class.... In other words, a slave.

Regardless of where you live this bill is a threat to you because it is being pushed by HRC.

Every Maryland transgender group opposes this bill, but our voices have been censored so the Senators will never know how much we were against this legislation, unless you act. Equality Maryland as it has all but banned dissension from its Facebook page while simultaneously lording over us their victory in Maryland's House.

The Washington Blade, like most gay publishers deletes most dissenting opinions to its articles pimping Equality Maryland's dis empowerment and assimilation of transgender people.

We must take action now. The Senate hearing could take place as early as Wednesday the 30th.

Please call these Senators and tell them No to Trans-Crow. No to HB235.

Brian E. Frosh, Chair (410) 841-3124, (301) 858-3124
Lisa A. Gladden, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3697, (301) 858-3697

JAMES BROCHIN Democrat, District 42, Baltimore County (410) 841-3648, (301) 858-3648 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3648 (toll free)

JENNIE M. FOREHAND Democrat, District 17, Montgomery County (410) 841-3134, (301) 858-3134 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3134 (toll free)

JOSEPH M. GETTY Republican, District 5, Baltimore County Carroll County (410) 841-3683, (301) 858-3683 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3683 (toll free)

NANCY JACOBS Republican, District 34, Cecil & Harford Counties (410) 841-3158, (301) 858-3158 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3158 (toll free)

VICTOR R. RAMIREZ Democrat, District 47, Prince George's County (410) 841-3745, (301) 858-3745 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3745 (toll free)

JAMIN B. (JAMIE) RASKIN Democrat, District 20, Montgomery County (410) 841-3634, (301) 858-3634 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3634 (toll free)

CHRISTOPHER B. SHANK Republican, District 2, Washington County (410) 841-3903, (301) 858-3903 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3903 (toll free)

NORMAN R. STONE, JR. Democrat, District 6, Baltimore County (410) 841-3587, (301) 858-3587 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3587 (toll free)

ROBERT A. (BOBBY) ZIRKIN Democrat, District 11, Baltimore County (410) 841-3131, (301) 858-3131 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3131 (toll free)