QueerToday.com Organizing HRC Protest in Boston

Cross posted from QueerToday.com click title for full post

Boston – QueerToday.com activists and allies will protest the annual Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Dinner at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on October 25 at 5pm.

The group is working to build a coalition of trans and queer activists, anti-war activists, and women’s rights activists to protest HRC’s lack of grassroots coalition building, support for pro-war and anti-choice candidates, and support of a non-inclusive version of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).

“It’s time to show HRC what real solidarity looks like,” said Trevor Wright of QueerToday.com, “transgender and labor activists united in San Francisco to build the largest protest ever of HRC, and we plan to show the country Boston can too!”

HRC and Youthfirst Texas

An article posted in the Dallas voice by Wayne Arnold Jones titled "Where your Money Goes" may be read by clicking the title.

Mr Arnold's article first draws to attention what one benefactor of the Dallas Black tie, Youthfirst of Texas where I volunteer at, must do in order to be a recipient of the $38,000 dollars(US) it received in 2007 from the Dallas Black Tie.

He next draws attention to the salaries that Joe Solmonese and the seven highest paid HRC executives received last year.

YouthFirst must Generate (tabling) $14,500 dollars to receive $38,000 dollars.

Joe Solmonese compensation was $259,096 in 2007.

The seven highest-paid officers received $1,274,989 in 2007.

The 2007 Dallas Black Tie generated 1.27 million .

Is it just coincidence that the salries of these rich people = the gross of the Dallas Black Tie?

Is everyone ok with this?

Queers hither and yon!!!

Call For Papers: “Queering Anarchism”

Radical queer politics and anarchism have much in common. Queer theory argues against traditional identity politics, recognizing the social construction of “sexuality” and identity categories.

Read on.......

Cross posted from Queers Without Borders Please click title for link:)

Transgender Protest at Crews Inn

For Immediate release
Friday August 1, 2008

Transgender and allies protest discrimination

Contact Kelli Busey
Tel. 214.226.7080
kellibusey@yahoo.com
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com

Protest
Tuesday evenings at 10:00 pm
Crews Inn
3215 N Fitzhugh Ave
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 443-9350

Why
Unfair and discriminatory actions of David Moore, co-owner Crews Inn.

Dallas Transgender advocates and allies have committed to a continuing a protest at Crews Inn, a Gay bar in Dallas Texas, in response to the expulsion of transgender woman from the bar on Tuesday July 15, 2008.

According to protest leader Celeste Williams, "We will let David Moore co-owner know that LGBT people will not abide with discrimination, especially from within our own community and that there are many other Gay bars close by that have publicly announced and displayed a non discriminatory policy towards the LGBT population".

A opinion that David Moore has displayed a random disregard towards transgender entertainers, guests and woman is reinforced by experiences of Sierra Nicole Standridge, who performs as Sierra Nicole Andrews,
"I was kicked out three years, he does this every so often for no reason".
Bar patrons who stopped by after seeing the protesters said he "gets into one of his moods" and acts unpredictably.

Robert Clawson, a dancer at Crews Inn who stopped by the protest on his way into work said,

“David is set in his ways,” Clawson said. “I think it is just awful, but I have to make my dollar.”

The protests have been joined by Patti Fink of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Daniel Williams of the Dallas Peace Center, allies and friends.

The protest which has gained local TV and national media attention, has highlighted the need for legal protections in the workplace which transgender people have been excluded from recently in the 2007 ENDA defeat.

Rea Carey, Leading Task Force, Sees Opportunities

Cross posted from Gay City News. Click title for link.

Rea Carey, the new executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, isn't given to superstitious musings, but a telephone interview with her certainly suggested the notion that the gods are smiling on the LGBT movement.

The Task Force is playing an integral role in one key battle on the political landscape, the California referendum on gay marriage. Even before the Supreme Court in that state approved marriage equality, social conservatives had proposed an amendment to the California Constitution barring same-sex couples from marrying.

Regarding the division of our community over the ENDA issue Ms Rea had this to say;

NGLTF draws the line on "pursing legislation that leaves members of our community behind."

One community. United. Thank you NGLTF !

'Left Out' protesters throw counterparty outside HRC gala

Solomese hosts another million dollar baby inspite of the queer

When Joe So speaks the lemmings listen

The bruises suffered by a LESBIAN woman at the hands of HRC GOONS at the S.F. Black Tie. DO YOU SUPPORT THIS?
Cross posted from Boycott HRC Blog click title for original post

Some from Joe Solmonese (HEad Dick of HRC) speech at S.F. black tie;

"Has it been without sharp disagreements about how best to move forward?" referring to the entire San Francisco GLBT community protesting, "No, as evidenced by the people protesting outside tonight."

FYI solmonese "those people" you are dismissing as "those" IS US THE QUEERS!

He went on to say;

"In any struggle for civil rights in this country, there have been occasions when different groups of people have marched down different roads. What is important to our ultimate success is that each of those roads ends at the same place"

You know this fool is really pissing me off. We QUEERS REJECT you solmonese. Yo are a charlatain and have lied and mislead us for long enough.

We have asked YOU solmonese, we have PLEADED with you Solmonese and now we are TELLING you Solmonese WE REJECT YOU AND YOUR HOMOPHOBIC AGENDA.

Unitarian Universalist

To locate a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship click the title




The sanctuary of the Denton Texas Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was filled and the voices sad but proud. We sat and listened as person after person recalled the wonderful life experiences that they had with the victims of the shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
The one sentiment expressed by all was that if the perpetrator had just once came to learn who we are, just once asked with a open mind, he would know he is loved. His hate would melted like ice and love over fill his cup.


Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Our Principles

Guiding Principles and Sources

We covenant to affirm and promote:


The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of Conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

and Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition we share and the tapestry of sources upon which we draw for our communal and personal religious life emerges from:


Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mission statement of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

We, the members and friends of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, join to declare the following purposes:



To affirm the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association;

To create a loving fellowship, caring for each other across generations and through joys, sorrows, and concerns;

To inspire and nurture personal growth for all ages in their search for meaning and a loving, joyful life;

To be an open community, practicing tolerance and respect for diversity;

To encourage ethical action in both individuals and the Fellowship as a whole, by supporting responsible beliefs and values, and by fostering commitment and courage, in service to our larger communities;

To grow creatively toward greater truth and beauty, while respecting the value of tradition;

To deepen our love of the earth and our understanding of interdependence.

Protesters Among the Gay Tuxedoed Crowd

Cross posted from BeyondChron click title for original post
by Tommi Avicolli Mecca‚ Jul. 28‚ 2008


This is one for the history books,” said Robert Haaland, a longtime San Francisco transgender activist. He couldn’t be more on the money. A coalition of groups, including Pride at Work, And Castro 4 All, and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, called a boycott and managed to get not only local politicians, but also the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) dinner’s keynote speaker to cancel at the last moment. In the end, HRC, the national gay group that last Fall dropped transgenders from coverage in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), learned the power of the queer and transgender communities in San Francisco.

Queer issues take a global stage at the United Nations

By Emily Geminder

29 July 2008 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: Of the more than 3,000 non-governmental organizations holding consultative status to the United Nations, only a handful address gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex issues. This week saw an incremental but significant step towards change: two groups, COC Netherlands and the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals of Spain (FELGTB), gained admittance to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The impact of United Nations policy bears far-reaching implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals everywhere, and the community’s marginalization within the international framework has come under increasing scrutiny. According to South Africa based Gender Dynamix, Africa’s first transgender rights organization, discrimination against individuals who do not conform to conventional gender expression places them at high risk for HIV infection, compounding the impotence of national and global policies that fail to take sexual and gender minorities into account.

Peace One Day

Peace One Day - A Short Video Explaining Peace One Day.

Jeremy Gilley is an actor turned film maker, who in the late 1990's became preoccupied with questions about the fundamental nature of humanity and the issue of peace. He decided to explore these through the medium of film, and specifically, to create a documentary following his campaign to establish a day of ceasefire and non-violence.

In 1999, Jeremy founded Peace One Day, a non-profit organisation, and in 2001 Peace One Day's efforts were rewarded when the United Nations unanimously adopted the first-ever day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September annually - Peace Day.

In 2007 according to the UN, over 100 million people were active on Peace Day, in 192 countries. There were life-saving initiatives in 14 countries, and over 80 activities in Afghanistan alone where 1.4 million children were vaccinated against polio.

WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE PEACE
ON 21 SEPTEMBER?

Make your commitment now click title for
www.peaceoneday.org

Protest ROCKS Human Rights Campaign Nationwide

Documented HRC protests since the 2007 ENDA catastrophe.

Chicago 2007
D.C. 2007
Austin 2008
Atlanta May 2008
Chicago 2008
Philadelphia 2008
San Francisco 2008
Houston 2008
New Orleans 2008
New York City 2008


There will be a public show of outrage at the Dallas Black Tie 2008

Austin TX 2008
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2008/02/dallas-voice-tact-takes-message-to.html
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_7922.php

Transgender Advocates of Central Texas participated in the recent Human Rights Campaign Austin Black Tie Dinner by staffing a table at the event intended to give attendees the opportunity to learn about and discuss gender expression issues, according to TACT officials.

Austin Texas is the first protest I Kelli Busey participated in against HRC. Prior to that I volunteered at HRC events.

Windy City Times
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=16647

Last week there was a wide range of events calling attention to transgender issues, from a protest held at an HRC-Chicago event, to a vigil for victims of anti-trans violence, to a rousing trans celebration, and a forum following the screening of the film The Gendercator at the Reeling festival. Images here, of the vigil Sunday night, are by Kat Fitzgerald. Protesting outside the HRC Chicago event, and the HRC panel inside. Photos by Amy Wooten
=================
Activists from all across the US descended on the HRC fundraising dinner in Washington DC on Saturday, October 6 2007. They were protesting the HRC decision NOT to oppose a newly introduced version of the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" (ENDA) that was stripped of the language which would have protected transgender people.
IFGE
http://www.ifge.org/Article351.phtml

=============
Gay.com

http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007/10/09/5

A Human Rights Campaign gala Saturday in Washington, D.C., didn't turn out quite as planned as transgender activists rallied outside and trans guests turned their backs in protest of HRC's evident behavior toward a trans-inclusive rights bill in Congress.
=======================
http://transgendernews.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/transgender-activists-protest-hrc-dinner/
Between 50 and 75 transgender activists and their supporters protested outside of the Washington, D.C., convention center on Sat., Oct. 6,—the site of the Human Rights Campaign’s ( HRC’s ) annual dinner—in response to the HRC’s strategy on the inclusion of transgender rights in the recent ENDA ( Employment Non-Discrimination Act ) legislation currently being considered in Congress.
=========================

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2008/04/houston-hrc-protest.html


Phyllabuster: HRC goes petty: directs security to escort educators out

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) just got more petty and immature in responding to protests of its actions last fall that clearly divided a once united GLBT community.

As we arrived at the site for the Houston protest of the HRC fundraiser this Saturday, April 12th afternoon (reposts below for those new to this saga), we were told by hotel security that HRC had changed its mind about our attempts to educate.

We would be allowed to enter (without signs or banners, which we had never planned to bring inside). If we went directly to the event located on the second floor, we could hand out our lapel stickers that read, "GLBT & ENDA: United, Not Divided: I Support FULL Transgender Inclusion." And we could engage in conversation and educate those people who wanted to listen and learn.

So we walked around, outside the hotel for over an hour, carrying signs and visiting with each other. It was very festive.

====================
Transadvocate
http://transadvocate.com/uncategorized/equality-through-intimidation-the-houston-hrc-dinner-protest.htm
====================
L. A. Observed
Mayor backs out of gay rights event
Kevin Roderick
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/07/mayor_backs_out_of_gay_ri.php

I received an email statement from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa this morning that announced he would skip tonight's banquet in San Francisco for the Human Rights Campaign, a mainstream gay community group that raises and donates a lot of money for gay-friendly candidates. Villaraigosa was supposed to be the keynote speaker, but cited a boycott of the event by the San Francisco Labor Council. That seemed kind of curious. Now an AP story has moved reporting "intense lobbying from transgender activists angry over the group's stand on a federal gay rights bill." The labor council had planned to picket, and future candidate Villaraigosa tries to avoid crossing picket lines. Here's the mayor's statement:
The Human Rights Campaign is on the frontlines of the fight for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights and I fully support its important mission at this critical moment in history.
It has come to my attention that the San Francisco Labor Council has voted to formally boycott HRC's annual fundraising gala and regretfully, I cannot attend this years event.
As Mayor of the largest city in California, I am committed to creating a world in which no member or group in society is denied full and equal rights. It is my hope that this time next year will find us all united by victory in the fight against Proposition 8 and ever more determined to establish equal rights, with no exceptions, for every one of us.
Here's also a release making the rounds of gay media that claims Villaraigosa was successfully pressured.
==============================================
http://www.queerty.com/la-mayor-pulls-out-of-hrc-dinner-over-enda-debacle-20080726/
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http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10008073

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http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/07/sf-queer-activists-protest-hrc-gala.html?showComment=1217142480000#c6855600090674657500

On July 26 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, there will be a party and protest in front of the HRC Gala.

HRC has a long record of endorsing war-mongers and republicans like Joe Lieberman, weak and shameful support of transgender, genderqueer/gender variant communities, and focusing their attention and money on the needs and desires of the most well-off members of the LGBT community.

As queer activists it is our responsibility to let the donors to HRC know just what they are giving to. They are contributing to an organization that endorses pro-life, and anti-war candidates. And an organization that does not fully support the trans community.

There are thousands of good hearted contributors to HRC who simply need to be made aware.

Join us on July 26, to demonstrate in front of the Westin St. Francis, San Francisco."
=====================
Marraige Equality Blog
http://marriageequalityblog.org/2008/06/hrc-still-under-fire-san-franciso-also.html
The self proclaimed largest gay rights organization in the United States continues to draw fire from LGBT people around the nation.
Andrew Sullivan, one of the most respected and most read gay bloggers slammed them in his post: HRC Busted.
Log Cabin Republicans issued a statement denouncing the HRC's YouTube video of John McCain.
Organizers of Atlanta pride refused money from the HRC.
Forget about political maneuvers and electoral games; ignore the platitudes and moralisms of extremists. Leaving members of our community behind isn't acceptable, and that's what most people remain upset about.

What else can go wrong for them? Plenty! This is hot off the press:

As gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people prepare to celebrate gay pride in San Francisco this weekend, many of them also are organizing a boycott and protest of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Activists plan to be on the streets during the festivities to inform people of the boycott and protest of the Human Rights Campaign's annual fundraising dinner in San Francisco next month, a major event that raises tens of thousands of dollars for the organization.

Similar actions took place at fundraising dinners in Philadelphia and New York City earlier this year.

The controversy stems from the Human Rights Campaign's decision last fall to support a bill in Congress that would bar employers from firing a person because of his or her sexual orientation. The bill, which passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, did not include the same protections for transgender people. More than 370 gay rights organizations condemned the bill for that reason.

On Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisors Tom Ammiano and Bevan Dufty introduced a resolution at City Hall calling for a bill that includes transgender people and recognizing the boycott.

"The Human Rights Campaign should not be human rights cowards," Ammiano said at a news conference at the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center. He said the organization seems uneasy with transgender issues.

Dufty said he will skip the fundraising dinner for the first time in 23 years and instead will make dinner at his home for people protesting outside the event.

The city's two LGBT Democratic clubs support the boycott, as does the San Francisco Labor Council. Assemblyman Mark Leno and state Sen. Carole Migden, both of San Francisco, also are not attending the event.Matt Foreman, who was executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force when the congressional vote took place, called the actions of the Human Rights Campaign "a monumental betrayal."

Foreman said it raises questions about the effectiveness of the organization, which raised $28 million last year.

"What is going on here is an emperor-has-no-clothes moment," said Foreman, who said he will be outside protesting but is "pained" to be doing so. "We still don't have one single federal law that protects gay people, let alone transgender people."

Theresa Sparks, who is president of the San Francisco Police Commission and is transgender, said she returned an award she received from the Human Rights Campaign.

Sparks, who attended the news conference with Dufty and Ammiano, noted the contributions of transgender people to the LGBT movement. The 1969 Stonewall riots in New York that sparked the modern LGBT rights movement were promulgated by transgender people, she said.

She dismissed the political argument that the nondiscrimination bill was more likely to pass Congress if it didn't mention transgender people.

"To me, this is less about strategy and more about integrity," Sparks said.
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Queer Today
http://queertoday.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2057108%3ABlogPost%3A5001
=========================
Bay Area Reporter
http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3095
===========================
Queers Without Borders
http://queerswithoutborders.com/wpmu/blog/category/hrc-watch/
==========================
What do the fat cat publicity hounds and fund raisers of the HRC have in common with Bill O'Reilly and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? They all got nominated to recieve a Pink Brick by the Bay Area Reporter. And, they’ve all added notes to the steady drumbeat of hatred and bigotry.
================================
Trevor A gay mans blog
Sadly, I'll be out of town. But that shouldn't stop you from heading down to the Westin St Francis and joining my friend Mark Snyder @ QueerToday.com:
http://www.trevorhoppe.com/blog/archives/2008/07/sf_hrc_dinner_p.html
=================
My Husband Betty
http://myhusbandbetty.com/community/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2008-7-27&e=432&c=1
OPINION On July 26, the Bay Area's gay and lesbian elite will gather at the posh Westin St. Francis to raise money for the Human Rights Campaign in the name of securing and protecting LGB rights.
==========================
Queer Today
Channel 5 CBS TV
Left Out coverage

http://queertoday.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2057108%3ABlogPost%3A5961

==================
San Fransico Bay Guardian

Outside the HRC dinner
HRC's failed strategy on ENDA has needlessly divided our community at a time when we are poised to make great gains in civil rights
BY SF PRIDE AT WORK
Wednesday July 23, 2008

http://www.sfbayguardian.com/entry.php?entry_id=6798&catid=4&volume_id=317&issue_id=388&volume_num=42&issue_num=43

==================================
Boston Edge

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has confirmed that he will boycott the Human Rights Campaign’s gala dinner scheduled for July 26.

http://www.edgeptown.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=77254

=================================


http://www.edgeptown.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=77254
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http://www.tsroadmap.com/notes/index.php/site/comments/protest_vigil_outside_hrc_annual_dinner_2_9_in_philadelphia/


Vigil to be held for LGBT Rights and to protest the actions of the Human Rights Campaign at the HRC Annual Dinner.
Where: Outside the Lowes Hotel on the corner of Market & 12th Streets in Philadelphia.
When: Saturday February 9, 2008 at 5:30 pm.
Why:
We will be holding a vigil outside of the dinner to focus attention on the exclusion of transgender Americans from the federal Employment Nondiscrimination Act and on the Human Rights Campaigns’ reversal of policy in agreeing to accept a bill that does not cover the entire LGBT community. The HRC not only worked towards this exclusion of the transgender members of the LGBT community from this bill, they misrepresented their intentions in this matter to Philadelphia’s LGBT leadership and to the transgender community on this extremely important issue.
Transgender people are the most vulnerable group in the LGBT community. Transgender people experience employment discrimination at rates that are orders of magnitude higher than the general population. In Philadelphia – over 60% of transgender woman are unemployed as are over 30% of transgender men (Kenagy 2005 – in Health and Social Work). The human and social costs resulting from such levels of discrimination negatively effect the entire community. The Baltimore Homeless Census released this September reported that 7% of homeless children identified as transgender. These children are often forced to leave their homes after their gender identity becomes known. The Southern Poverty Law Centers Special Report on Transgender Hate Murders “Disposable People” notes: “While the FBI reported a total of 11 U.S. murders motivated by racial, religious, or sexual-orientation bias in 2002, the Intelligence Report has documented 14 murders of transgendered people in the U.S. in that one year.”
Our common goal is passage of a fair and inclusive employment nondiscrimination statute. Any version of this law that fails to securely protect the LGBT community against workplace discrimination is a law not worth having and we urge you to oppose it. Several elected officials are being asked to help educate HRC on transgender issues and the need for legislation that covers the entire community.
We ask you join us at 5:15pm to show your support for equality for the entire LGBT community. Please consider wearing the attached sticker to the vigil and to the HRC Dinner if you will be attending. It can be printed on a standard Avery name badge (Publisher file for printing labels and JPEG for printing on standard paper) – or just printed and pinned to your clothing. They will also be available at the vigil.
Signed,
Kathy Padilla
Co-President, OutFront!

Stephen A. Glassman, Chairman
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Michael Hinson
Michael P. Williams, Esq.
Co-President, OutFront!
Stacy L. Sobel, Executive Director
Equality Advocates Pennsylvania
Rue Landau, Co-Chair
Liberty City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Club
Ray Murphy, Co-Chair
Liberty City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Club
=========================

Hudson Valley Gay News
Faced with a boisterous picket line that drew a crowd of more than 50 and with the absence of every lesbian, gay, and bisexual elected official from New York City -- indeed, every other prominent city Democrat as well
http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19328072&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6

=============================

Boy In Bushwick

Roskoff added he and others plan to ask members of New York’s Congressional delegation to withdraw their support of the current version of the bill.

"HRC has taken away the fight and drive for equality by compromising our goals and selling the community short," he said

http://boyinbushwick.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-york-activists-plan-protest-outside.html

==========================================
Pams House Blend
Why do Trans people hate HRC
Monica Roberts
In 1995 Elizabeth Birch took over as Executive Director of HRC at a time when there was an epidemic of gays and lesbians cutting transpeople out of civil rights legislation.

In many cases gay people who sat on various HRC boards either nationally or regionally led the efforts. In 1999 Dianne Hardy-Garcia, who was the executive director of the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby (now Equality Texas) at the time and an HRC board member, led the successful effort to cut transpeople out of the James Byrd Hate Crime Bill (to mine and TGAIN"s vehement opposition). That bill was eventually killed in the GOP-controlled Texas Senate but passed in 2001 as a GLB only bill and was signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry.

Elizabeth Birch for a while eclipsed Janice Raymond as Transgender Public Enemy Number One when she was quoted at a Chicago GLBT event as stating that transinclusion in ENDA (the Employment and Non Discrimination Act) a top legislative priority of transgender leaders would happen ‘over her dead body’.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3229

====================================
Citizen Crain

Pink Brick
The Human Rights Campiagn is taking hits on both coasts for its decision to support Barney Frank's gay-only version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In both cases, the extremism of the critics only reinforces how removed these intolerant ideological purists are from the real lives of lesbian and gay Americans.
http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2008/02/hrc-lays-a-pink.html

==============================

Wahington Blade

HRC spokes idiot Luna contends that HRC is working for full inclussion

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=14507

=============================
wrote a letter to HRC telling them to get stuffed and they sent me a reply telling me that they were fully behind the trans community... rubbish.
http://www.topix.com/news/gay/2007/11/two-transgender-members-quit-hrc-2


===============================
Boston Edge

Roberts Provides A Brief History of the Trans / HRC Schism
by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Contributor
Tuesday Oct 9, 2007
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=2358

=============================================

Boy In Bushwick

Roskoff added he and others plan to ask members of New York’s Congressional delegation to withdraw their support of the current version of the bill.

"HRC has taken away the fight and drive for equality by compromising our goals and selling the community short," he said

http://boyinbushwick.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-york-activists-plan-protest-outside.html

=======================

We have a big problem here
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_8794.php

=====================

Bolycott HRC

In a fine show of solidarity, several gay and lesbian members of the Chicago Gay Liberation Network joined our small but sincere cadre outside of the hotel where this lavish affair was about to commence


http://boycotthrc.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/thats-the-chicago-way-by-cyndi-richards/

AZ Transgender Alliance shares their feelings about HRC's stance on ENDA and failure to join the rest of the LGBT community in standing united for an inclusive ENDA (version 2015)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTraJPeGnU0

=======================
Bolycott HRC

In a fine show of solidarity, several gay and lesbian members of the Chicago Gay Liberation Network joined our small but sincere cadre outside of the hotel where this lavish affair was about to commence


http://boycotthrc.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/thats-the-chicago-way-by-cyndi-richards/

AZ Transgender Alliance shares their feelings about HRC's stance on ENDA and failure to join the rest of the LGBT community in standing united for an inclusive ENDA (version 2015)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTraJPeGnU0

"Security" goons oust older lesbian from HRC dinner

Cross posted from Happening Here Blog
pleaseclick title for link

Shooting At Unitarian Universalism Church

Please click title
Cross posted from NGblog

Church services were disrupted today at a gay-affirming church in Knoxville when a lone gunman opened fire in a sanctuary of Christians.

http://www.uua.org/visitors/index.shtml

On Saturday, July 26, the Human Rights Campaign held a stuffy dinner auction and fundraiser at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. In a show of solidarity with trans folks, the local LGBT community threw a "Left Out Street Party" for everyone who got left out of the HRC's Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Lawrence King I will remember you

There is a strong movement which is being supported by our most staunch advocates and allies to lessen the punnishment that Brandon McInerney, the killer of Lawrence King may receive.

IN memory of all hate crimes I offer my life experience,

I opened my eyes not knowing where I was, where I lived, or even my name. All I knew was absolute terror and my nearly dead body’s unrelenting scream of agony.

For hate crime survivors the world becomes a place where you hold all your life experiences in comparison to being beat to death.

A rose, a sunrise, a friends hug.

That’s what it is like to "survive" hate crime.

I pray that Lawrence’s experience was not as horrific. I pray as he transitioned to life with our creator, he found love and peace.

Brandon McInerney is among us on this planet, sharing our lives's in my opinion Brandon should willingly ask for the maximum penalty to dissuade others from parroting his life.
This action would set into motion for Brandon a process that will allow him to forgive himself and eventually find freedom that no prison bars can contain.

Teen's killing a hate crime, Police Searching For Her Car

El asesinato de 18 años Angie Zapata - who' el nombre del nacimiento de s era Justin Angie y vivido pues una mujer - era probablemente un crimen de odio, dijo a un portavoz para la familia de Zapata. La policía cree que el sospechoso ha robado Zapata' coche de s, un crucero oscuro 2003 de Chrysler pinta del verde de bosque con el número de matrícula de Colorado 441-ORN.
Hay un hubcap que falta en el neumático delantero del pasajero-lado, y hay pintura que falta en el tope delantero en el driver' lado de s, debajo de la linterna. Cualquier persona con la información sobre el coche se pide llamar la policía de Greeley en 970-350-9600. Angie' la vida de s snuffed hacia fuera en un acto violento del odio. Ella sufrió heridas múltiples a su cara y cabeza. Detenga por favor a nuestra hermana en usted corazón y ofrézcala en rezo y la meditación. La encontraron asesinada por su hermana en su apartamento. Angie' la familia de s está pidiendo que nuestra comunidad ayudara a encontrar a los autores de este crimen atroz. Las donaciones en el honor de Angie Zapata hecho quizá en el banco de la academia en Wal-Mart, el carril de 60 W. Bromley o los cheques hechos pagaderos a Mónica Murquia se pueden enviar al programa de la Anti-Violencia de Colorado, caja de P.O. 181085, Denver, CO 80218.

The murder of 18-year-old Angie Zapata — who's birth name was Justin Angie and lived as a woman — was probably a hate crime, said a spokesperson for the Zapata family.

Police believe the suspect has stolen Zapata's car, a dark forest green 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser with Colorado license plate number 441-ORN. There is a hubcap missing on the front passenger-side tire, and there is paint missing on the front bumper on the driver's side, under the headlight.

Anyone with information about the car is asked to call Greeley police at 970-350-9600.
Angie's life was snuffed out in a violent act of hate. She suffered multiple wounds to her face and head. Please hold our sister in you heart and offer her in prayer and meditation.
She was found murdered by her sister in her apartment. Angie's family is asking our community to help find the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Donations in Angie Zapata’s honor maybe made at Academy Bank in Wal-Mart, 60 W. Bromley Lane or checks made payable to Monica Murquia may be mailed to Colorado Anti-Violence Program, P.O. Box 181085, Denver, CO 80218.

July 31, 2008

Transgender victim referred to as "it"

Cross posted from the Denver Times


Article Launched: 07/31/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT


Angie Zapata's murder may be prosecuted as a hate crime, prosecutors say. Related Articles
Jul 30:
Date arrested in Greeley transgender murderJul 24:
Kin believe transgender teen's killing a hate crimeJul 25:
Transgender teen's murder possibly a hate crimeGREELEY — Allen Ray Andrade never referred to his alleged victim as a she or he. Just "it."

That alone speaks to the brutality of the crime committed against 21-year-old Angie Zapata, said a group that has been speaking for Zapata's family.

"You get the sense that maybe he wasn't seeing Angie as a person," said Crystal Middlestadt, director of Training and Education for the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. "Then you get an idea of the violence behind this act."

Zapata, a transgender woman, was born a male named Justin Zapata. Police allege that an enraged Andrade beat Zapata with his fists and a fire extinguisher after he discovered Zapata — who had performed a sex act on him the day before — was physically a man, Greeley police said Wednesday.

Andrade told a Greeley police detective that he thought he "killed it," referring to his alleged victim, a police affidavit said.

Andrade, 31, was arrested in Thornton early Wednesday and faces a charge of second-degree murder and aggravated motor-vehicle theft in connection with Zapata's death.

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said Wednesday that a review of the case will determine whether Zapata's death will be treated as a hate crime. Regardless, the case against Andrade will be pursued aggressively, Buck said.

"It doesn't matter who the victim is," Buck said, ". . . a crime like this cannot be tolerated at any level."

Zapata's family is relieved that an arrest was made, said Kelly Costello, family spokesman and director of victim services for the Colorado Anti-Violence Program.

"There is a whole range of emotions they are dealing with," Costello said.

Zapata's body was found July 17 in her Greeley apartment by her sister. The discovery of her stolen car led to Andrade, police said.

Andrade told detectives that he met Zapata on the Mocospace website and that they were in regular contact before the slaying. Zapata drove Andrade to her apartment July 15 and later that day, Zapata performed oral sex on him, the affidavit said.

"However, victim Zapata did not allow him to touch Zapata sexually or otherwise," the affidavit said. They slept in different rooms that night.

The following day, Zapata left the apartment and Andrade stayed there by himself. Andrade saw photographs in her apartment and began to question their encounter, police said.

That night, Andrade confronted Zapata about whether she was male or female. Andrade told police that Zapata responded, "I am all woman."

Andrade then grabbed Zapata's genital area. Angered, Andrade struck Zapata with his fists, police said.

She fell to the ground, and Andrade grabbed a fire extinguisher in the apartment and hit her twice in the head. He covered Zapata with a blanket and began cleaning up the apartment. After he noticed Zapata sitting up, he hit her again with the fire extinguisher, police said.

Andrade gathered Zapata's purse, keys, cellphone, the fire extinguisher and his personal belongings and fled in Zapata's 2003 Chrysler PT cruiser.

A early-morning noise complaint from the Thornton neighborhood where Andrade lived led officers to find him sitting in Zapata's car on Wednesday.

Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com

Protest at Crews Inn Dallas a show of UNITY

July 24th 2008 was another of a dozen 100+ Texas scorchers turned frigid 90 deg. evening. The dozen protesters gathered together to support the two "drag queens" David Moore, co-owner of the Crews Inn, described as offending his clubs ultra high moral standards were flabbergasted to meet Celeste(R) and Sierra(L) the "offending" transgender woman.
I had attended this protest as because I wanted to support a part of our culture and stand up for "Drag Queens", well honey I struggle by with only 1/4 of the charms of these gals!

This show of support quickly became a matter of passion as we began to know our lady friends and listen to the sincerity in there voices.

The shouts from our community turned many around as they walked towards the Crews Inn entrance. We became more emboldened as our community waved and happily walked over to ZIPPERS where owner John Miles welcomes everyone, even on Trashy Tuesday!

We have decided to return to our little stonewall on Tuesday until such a time as the offending words are amended and reconciliation begun. As Michael Doughman Director of the Dallas Tavern Guild noted, "I have never known David(Moore) to be prejudiced toward any group of people, so I can't imagine that it is just because they are guys in drag."

Daniel Williams, operations Director of the Dallas Peace Center composed his signs from his heart and they best represent the "back story".
Among our group of protesters were Straight allies, Lesbians, Gay men, Transgender and MANY members of HRC. These HRC members did not come to grandstand or steal the spotlight. I did not even known they were HRC members until I asked them.
This is Indeed is a community solid in commitment, willing and able to sacrifice for the common good.

By Kelli Busey
July 24,2008
planetransgender

A Jihad for Love

In Western media, the concept of 'jihad' is often narrowly equated with holy war. But Jihad also has a deeper meaning, its literal Arabic being 'struggle' or 'to strive in the path of God'.

In this film we meet several characters engaged in their personal Jihad's for love. The people in this film have a lot to teach us about love. Their pursuit of love has brought them into conflicts with their countries, families, and even themselves. Such is the quandary of being both homosexual and Muslim, a combination so taboo that very little about it has been documented.

In a time when Islam is under tremendous attack from within and without, "A Jihad for Love" is a daring documentary filmed in twelve countries and nine languages. Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma has gone where the silence is loudest, filming with great risk in nations where government permission to make this film was not an option