President Obama, Bishop Robinson and Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA)

HRC email received 01-17-09

"Dear kelli,

Tomorrow, in one of the most humbling honors of my life, I will deliver an invocation at the first event of inauguration week.
Though many of us were deeply upset when President-elect Obama chose Proposition 8 supporter Rev. Rick Warren to speak at his inauguration, the fact that he also invited me – a proud gay man – is a hopeful sign of our president's commitment to reach out to all Americans.
Now it's up to all of us to capitalize on this moment and ensure that President-elect Obama works for equality.
Join me in asking Obama to take the next step by supporting HRC's Blueprint for Positive Change – a roadmap for LGBT equality."~Bishop V Gene Robinson

I support HRC's roadmap to equality because it is in the best interest of the entire GLBT community.

What brought bishop Robinson into this picture above with the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies(DTAA) is the gulf of misunderstandings and ignorance of the established church about transgender and Queer issues and sensibilities. The Dallas Black Tie inc. which was hosting Bishop Robinson and presenting him with the Elizabeth Birch Award later that evening was ironically named for a former president of HRC who is credited with saying she would "include transgender people in ENDA over her dead body" .

The Dallas Black Tie Inc. presents HRC with roughly $400,000 dollars annually from this event alone. I protest HRC for inexplicably blindsiding Queer and transgender people in a backroom deal, removing us from ENDA (HR)2015 and assenting to Congressman Frank in dividing our communities human rights movement in 2007. The words Bishop Robinson and I spoke during or conversation were often foreign and left unresolved misunderstandings. In my heart of hearts
I still beleive and have personaly witnessed in our own church's how transgender people because of our highly visible hacking, beating and shooting deaths are being used by HRC as sympathy garners and a method of raising money to party at "Gala Events".

A despicable and unchristian practice.

Yes Joe Solomese and Bishop Robinson, others have also noticed.

HRC will have to prove to me by being a loyal and trustworthy advocate over time you are a worthy ally. This is a demand, not a request and is nonnegotiable.

The fact Bishop Robinson attended the Dallas Transgender event speaks volumes of the progressive nature of our Episcopal Diosese of New Hampshire and we should give accolades to Bishop Robinson for this great achievement, however we cannot assume Queer and Transgender concerns are being voiced at the table with the same passion and equity as Gay and Lesbians are by Bishop Robinson.

I personally feel that the Transgender Community has an opportunity and an obligation to step up and let ourselves be heard NOW. We can not rely on ANY central group to secure our place in history. It is up to you and me everyday in small and large ways to be the change.

Kelli Busey
Jan. 17, 2009
planetransgender

planetransgender
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies(DTAA)

Honduran Transgender Community Terrified After Third Murder

By On Top Magazine Staff Published: January 16, 2009 Honduran Transgender Community Terrified After Third Murder

The violent murder of a prominent transgender rights activist in Honduras has left the transgender community stunned and terrified.

Cynthia Nicole, a prominent transgender rights activist, was fatally wounded by three shots in the chest and one in the head in a violent drive-by shooting in the district of Barrio Guaserique in Comayaguela during the early hours of January 9.

Her death comes on the heels of two additional killings against transgender sex workers in the Central American country. Yasmin was attacked and killed on November 20, and Noelia was stabbed to death on December 17

Complete article at On Top

"Equality For All Texans Support HB 538"

"Equality For All Texans Support HB 538" A Facebook Group which is seeking to inform and gain support for the introduction and passage of a Sexual and Gender workplace non discrimination bill in the present session of the Texan Legislature.

House Bill 538 prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.(Click here for HB538 Text)

The bill will incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity/expression into all existing labor code sections dealing with nondiscrimination, treating them equally with race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age

GET INVOLVED:
1) Call your state representative directly and inform him/her know that as their constituent this bill is very important to you as well as why it is important. And ask your friends and family call their representatives.
Click here to find out who your State Representative is.

2) Pass this information to everyone you know whether or not they are gay.

3) Post this information on your MySpace, Facebook or any other online community that you belong to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW A BILL GET'S PASSED AT A GLANCE!

1) A State Representative files the bill in the house (in this case it has been Bdone)

2) In a few weeks the bill will get assigned to a committee.

3) A hearing is then scheduled in which any one (including you) can go before the panel and state your case. (Once the bill get’s to this step everyone will be informed so that we can all caravan up to Austin to state our
case.)

4) The Committee will vote on whether or not it will go before the House of Representatives and if the bill is approved by the committee:

5) The bill then goes to the Calendar Committee which schedules the bill for a vote. (This is a process that we as a community need to monitor closely because
not all bills get scheduled. If a bill does not get scheduled then it dies.)

6) At the time determined by the Calendar committee The House of
Representatives will then vote on the Bill. If the bill passes:
7) The State Senate will vote whether or not the bill goes before the Governor.
If the State Senate approves the bill:

8) The Governor will then have final say as to whether or not the bill becomes
a law.


By Kelli Busey
Jan. 15, 2009
planetransgender

National Freedom to Marry Day

National Freedom to Marry Day
Feb 12, 2009

On National Freedom to Marry Day, all Marriage Equality USA® Chapters and Member Organizations will participate in Marriage Equality USA's National Freedom to Marry Events. Marriage Equality USA® has also partnered with Join The Impact for this national event. Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.



Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA® chapters have engaged in these annual marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else. Everyone who supports marriage equality is welcomed to attend and support this event.

By Kelli Busey
Jan. 15, 2009
planetransgender

TEXAS to decide fate of Gender inclusive "ENDA" HB508

By: Villarreal H.B. No. 538

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prohibition of employment discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 21.002, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Subdivisions (9-a) and (13-a) to read as follows:
(9-a) "Gender identity or expression" means having or
being perceived as having a gender-related identity, appearance,
expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance,
expression, or behavior is different from that commonly associated
with the person's actual or perceived sex.
(13-a) "Sexual orientation" means the actual or
perceived status of an individual with respect to the individual's
sexuality.
SECTION 2. Section 21.051, Labor Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 21.051. DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYER. An employer
commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color,
disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual
orientation, or gender identity or expression the employer:
(1) fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges
an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an
individual in connection with compensation or the terms,
conditions, or privileges of employment; or
(2) limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or
applicant for employment in a manner that would deprive or tend to
deprive an individual of any employment opportunity or adversely
affect in any other manner the status of an employee.
Full bill at www.legis.state.tx.us

Please contact Representative Michael Villarreal and tell him that you support his efforts.

By Kelli Busey
Jan. 14, 2009
planetransgender

Tell Pepsi THANK YOU For Supporting Our Families!

Last week, the American Family Association launched a boycott of PepsiCo. The AFA boycott is based, in part, on the PepsiCo Foundation's support of PFLAG’s Straight for Equality in the Workplace project.

Please let Pepsi know that you appreciate their support for our families and will support the company when you are shopping.

Please call PepsiCo's customer relations line at 1-800-433-2652 today.

When you call, please be brief in your comments. Politely tell the operator that:

You are a PFLAG member and want to thank Pepsi for its support of your family;
You plan to purchase Pepsi products whenever possible to show your support for the company’s welcoming policies; and
You support Pepsi and your area bottlers and will refuse to participate in the boycott.


For more information on Pepsi’s generous gift to Straight for Equality, click here.

Thank you for your support of PFLAG, Straight for Equality and PepsiCo. Then, forward this alert to all of your friends . . . ask them to support PepsiCo . . . and remember when you shop to buy Pepsi products, like Tropicana, Frito Lay, Quaker and Gatorade.

New York Civil Liberties Union-President Obama CLOSE GITMO AND END THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS

“As President, I will close Guantánamo, reject the Military Commissions Act, and adhere to the Geneva Conventions”
– Barack Obama 8/1/07

Tell President elect Obama you support the restitution of American justice and social equality by signing this letter by the New York Civil Liberties Union!

Dear President-elect Obama,

I was deeply moved by your recent affirmation that you will close the Guantánamo detention facilities and shut down the military commissions, which have been a stain on America here, at home and abroad.

Nothing would make me prouder than to see you act on your first day in office to restore America's moral leadership in the world.

With one stroke of your pen, you can close Guantánamo Bay prison, shut down military commissions, and ban torture.

The Bush administration created a prison camp at Guantánamo - a place where they claimed the law didn't apply. They detained hundreds of men without charge or trial, authorized torture, and prosecuted some prisoners in military commissions that violate our Constitution and international law.

We can't let the system of injustice George W. Bush put in place stand - not for a single day.

I want you to know that I will support your leadership on this vitally important issue in every possible way. And I will stand by you every step of the way to resist those calling for you to "go slow" or "wait for the right time" to act in defense of American freedom.

New York Civil Liberties Union.

Transgender and Gay Ordinance in Kalamazoo under Attack

Kalamazoo's new Gay and Transgender city ordinances are being challenged and the Kalamazoo Alliance says your Help is Needed to Keep the new Equal Rights Ordinance in Kalamazoo.

"Join us at City Hall on Monday, January 12 at 6pm for the City Commission Meeting on the second floor of City Hall."

Kalamazoo news " The commission unanimously approved amendments Dec. 1 making it a civil infraction to discriminate against gay, lesbian or transgender individuals in housing, public accommodations or employment."

"But a petition drive spearheaded by the American Family Association of Michigan collected more than enough signatures in the 20 days after the new ordinance language became effective to bring the issue back to the commission and potentially to a public vote."

"Regardless of the action commissioners take Monday night, the expanded protections will not be enforceable, at least in the short term, says City Attorney Clyde Robinson."

A direct vote in May could decide whether Kalamazoo will remain the 17th Michigan city to extend human rights to Gay, Lesbian and Transgender people.

By kelli Busey
Jan. 11, 2009
planetransgender

Dallas DOMA Protest January 2009

There were aprox. 35 protesters attending the rally on the square at 509 Main St. to bring attention to the incoming Obama administration of the inequities being suffered by the GLBT community under DOMA.
We did however attract group of hate mongers who after being escorted across the street by the police proceeded to yell hate inspired slogans as we peacefully continued our rally. After a while of this they knelt and began to pray, I presume asking for forgiveness for being such huge bigots. I also prayed for them. God please forgive these mislead disciples. They have been taught to hate and spread violence enabling vicious lies. Please help them to love their neighbours. Amen.


By Kelli Busey
Jan. 10, 2009
planetransgender

Gainesville Fl : Misleading Anti Transgender Ad Exposed

A Florida based Hate Group has unleashed a propaganda campaign insinuating that if Gainesville Fl transgender protective laws are allowed to stand men will follow your childern into bathrooms.

According to Fox News Gainesville City Commissioner Crag Lowe, the leader of a group called Equality is Gainesville's Business, has called the ads from Davis' group a grossly distorted attempt to whip up fears.



The train of thought which would lead to the conclusion that enacting human rights to protect a vulnerable class of people would embolden pedophiles to commit crimes when previously the lack of same laws prohibited them is beyond me. The group "Citizens for Good Public Policy", who produced this video were called on to answer for this misleading ad after citizens learned of the deception and would not return calls from FOX News.

This video is a attack against me. The last thing a transgender person wants is to offend anyone much less assault anyone. Quite the opposite. Transgender people are the ones being victimized.

The only thing missing from that video was men dragging this man out of the ladies room and lynching him.

I live in a city where transgender people are protected by laws similar to Gainesville. There has been no increase of crime targeting children attributable to enactment of gender protective laws in this city or any other city or state.

Queers United: Dr. Phil Playing Into Transphobia Once Again!

Queers United: Dr. Phil Playing Into Transphobia Once Again!

MassEquality Trans Focused in 20+09

Bay Windows : "MassEquality, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), and their coalition partners have made passage of the trans rights bill - which would add protections based on gender identity and expression to the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes laws - their top priority this session...."

Marc Solomon, executive director of MassEquality, said the organizaton would hold its own community forums across the state in an effort to convince people who were active during the marriage fight to get involved in pass the transgender rights bill. Solomon said he will ask MassEquality’s gay and lesbian supporters to fight for the bill both as a matter of social justice and because the bill will offer protections to the entire LGBT community.

"It’s not that difficult to get people to that place because gay and lesbian people are discriminated against for their gender identity and gender expression," said Solomon.

US Ad Campaign Teaches Students to be Word-Wise about Sexual Orientation

Voice of America news:US Ad Campaign Teaches Students to be Word-Wise about Sexual Orientation

A recent survey of more than 6,000 middle and high school students in the United States found that a majority of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students surveyed said they experienced harassment at school in the past year.

Often, harassment comes in homophobic remarks, which is why The Ad Council of America has teamed up with GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network to try and change students' vocabulary, or at least make them more conscious of it.


By Kelli Busey
Jan 08, 2009
planetransgender

Thomas Hammarberg Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights: Trans discrimination must no longer be tolerated

pinknews.co.uk: Thomas Hammarberg is the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights released this comment on trans rights on his website yesterday.

“Discrimination against transgender persons must no longer be tolerated”

"My discussions with non-governmental organisations defending the rights of transgender persons indicate that a number of such hate crimes go unreported – even in serious cases. One of the reasons appears to be a lack of trust in the police."

"I have been struck by the lack of knowledge about the human rights issues at stake for transgender persons, even among political decision-makers. This is probably the reason why more has not been done to address transphobia and discrimination based on gender identity. The result is that individuals are discriminated against all over Europe, in areas such as as employment, health care and housing."

Connecticut To Consider Transgender Anti-Discrimination Proposal

Hartford Courant, CT, USA Connecticut To Consider Transgender Anti-Discrimination

Transgender activists believe this is the year they will gain equal protection under the state's anti-discrimination laws.

"We feel good," said Jerimarie Liesegang, who leads the Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition. "We've done the groundwork, we've done the education and we know we have the votes."

A proposal, to be introduced in the legislative session that begins Wednesday, would prevent people who in any way blur gender lines from being discriminated against in the workplace or while seeking housing or obtaining credit. More than a dozen states, including California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Rhode Island, have enacted similar laws.

Queers United: Keep Up Pressure on APA Over the Gender Identity Task Force

Queers United: Keep Up Pressure on APA Over the Gender Identity Task Force

Jon Stuart asks Gov. Mike Huckabee "Why gay people?"

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

From Courage Campaign

"Usually, discussions of political issues wind down after elections, but Prop 8 is not about politics. It is about love, equality and civil rights.

We all need to talk to our family and friends about the importance of restoring marriage equality to California.

That is why I am asking you to watch the video and join me in thanking Jon Stewart for continuing this conversation."

Courage Campaign.org

Dallas Defense of Marriage Act Protest

For Immediate Release

Nationwide Defense of Marriage Act Protest
Queer Liberaction
Blake Wilkinson
405-535-5406
lgbtliberaction@gmail.com
January 10 at 11:30 am

Historical Plaza behind Records Building
Historical Plaza behind Records Building
509 Main St. in downtown Dallas

Just ten days before Barak Obama will be sworn in as the next president of the United States Queer people across the country will be protesting against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Let's send a message to the future president that the Queer community is resolutely opposed to this discriminatory piece of federal legislation. We will also demand that the purportedly most GLBT friendly president-elect in history use his new political weight to repeal DOMA along with taking other pro-Gay and pro-equality action.

The Defense of Marriage Act is an anti-Gay piece of federal legislation which does two things. First, it legally excludes GLBT families from marriage benefits by defining marriage on a federal level as between a man and a woman. All the federal benefits that accompany marriage, such as immigration rights and tax breaks, are denied to non-heterosexual couples. DOMA also states that a marriage between two people of the same sex does not need to be recognized outside of the state where that marriage took place. Because of this, same-sex marriages that take place in the two states with marriage equality, Massachusetts and Connecticut, are not required to be recognized by other states.

On paper Obama is for the repeal of DOMA. We can't make the mistake of sitting back and expecting Obama to act on our behalf by taking on pro-Queer initiatives while we sit idly by. Let's hold Obama to his word by keeping the fight for our civil rights unapologetic and in the streets. While the president-elect might be on record as being on our side on the DOMA issue, he still asserts his opposition to marriage equality by saying, "I do not support gay marriage. Marriage has religious and social connotations, and I consider marriage to be between a man and a woman". We can do better. From day 1 of his presidency we will be demanding that Obama stand up for full marriage equality.

Queer Liberaction is an organization dedicated to struggling for the civil rights of GLBT people. We use direct action activism to directly, visibly and publicly confront homophobia along with organizations, institutions, groups or individuals who support or promote discrimination toward the GLBT community

Austin "TRINIDAD" Screening to Benefit (TENT) Transgender Education Network of Texas

Trinidad Screenings and Locations

Screening Jan 4th 5pm, 7:30pm
Special guest cast member Sabrina Marcus Sabrina Marcus will be in attendance along with filmmaker PJ Raval to benefit (TENT) Transgender Education Network of Texas.


About Sabrina:
Sabrina founded the transgender-focused Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta and is an active member in the International Foundation for Gender Education and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Sabrina worked for nineteen years as a Space Shuttle engineer, until 2003 when she was dismissed after announcing she had begun transitioning from male to female. Sabrina completed her GRS with Dr. Bowers in 2004. In 2005 she moved to Trinidad to open Morning Glow with Dr. Laura Ellis. Sabrina is an active member in Trinidad’s Holy Trinity Church: “Without my faith I’d never have had the strength to transition to a woman.

Alamo Draft House
Showing: Sunday, January 4 - 5:00 pm
Theater: (MAP) Alamo Downtown - 320 E 6th Street Austin Texas Purchase Advance Tickets: TRINIDAD with Special Guest!