2/28/10
Do you recognize the suspects in pipe beating of SF transgender Woman?
Images of suspects released by the San Francisco Police Department
A press release by the SFPD reports that on Jan. 31, 2010, and about 2 a.m., a transgender female and her male companion went to eat at a restaurant on the 3000 block of 16th Street in San Francisco.
Two suspects started to harass the transgender female and one of the suspects took a swing at her. The male friend of the victim then defended her and the fight was broken up by the restaurant owner.
When the victims stepped outside the restaurant at about 2:35 a.m. and tried to hail a taxi cab, the suspects from the earlier fight ran up behind the victims and yelled "remember me now?!" and then started beating them both with a chrome pipe, causing both victims to lose consciousness. The suspects fled on foot westbound on 16th Street to Northbound on Guerrero Street.
Both victims were transported to the ER.
The SFPD is asking for the public's assistance in the investigation by identifying the suspects in the photos and contacting the police.
The first suspect is described by investigators as a Latino male, 5'6" tall at 150 lbs., black hair, tar marks on his lower teeth. He was last seen wearing a black button-up dress shirt and black pants.
The second suspect is also described by investigators as a Latino male, 5'6" tall at 150 lbs., black hair, last seen wearing a black coat, dress shirt, dark pants, black glasses with thick frames.
Anyone with knowledge about the identity of the suspects is asked to call the SFPD Hate Crimes Unit at 415-553-9163 or SFPD Operation Center (after hours) at 415-553-1071 or the anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or SFPD Text-A-Tip at 847411 type: SFPD + msg and reference SFPD case no. 100 100 990.
Texas LGBT Advocacy Organizations Call on DART to Amend It's Nondiscrimination Policy
Contact
Latisha McDaniel
Equality March Texas (EMT)
Info: equalitymarchtexas@yahoo.com
Web Site
Kelli Busey
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA)
Web Site
972-693-1988
Info: kellibusey@yahoo.com
Co sponsors
Transgender Foundation Of America (TFA)
http://tgctr.org/tfa/
Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)
http://www.tentex.org/
LULAC 4871 - The Dallas Rainbow Council
http://www.lulac4871.org/
LULAC4871@aol.com
Legacy of Success Foundation (LOSF)
http://www.losf.org/
losfjai@yahoo.com
Equality Texas
http://www.equalitytexas.org/
Texas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender advocacy organizations call on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board members to amend DART's non-discrimination policy to include gender identity/expression.
Next DART Board Meeting: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Board Room
DART Headquarters
1401 Pacific Ave. (Akard Station)
Dallas, TX 75202
Map
• DART Customer Response Center
214-749-3333
Customer Service Feedback Form.
These organizations, being fully committed to equality and fairness, are commencing a email campaign and attending DART board meetings in their respective cities to express their desire that DART amend its non-discrimination policy to become more thoroughly reflective of the people and culture in the region that it serves.
Since 2002 the city of Dallas and as of 2009 Fort Worth have instituted nondiscrimination policies that include Gender expression/identity. Dallas, because of it's longer history being gender inclusive has enjoyed increased commerce because of its reputation as a LGBT welcoming city.
DART is the transportation provider of the future in the DFW. But DART is much more than that, it is also the wind which on its currents carry our diverse culture. We ask DART to be true to it's mission statement that calls for it to improve the lives of it's patrons and employees.
2/27/10
Did San Antionio COP Rape a transgender MAN or Woman Confusion abounds
Initially Feb. 26 news accounts indicated the victim identified as male
"woaitv San Antonio -- "A San Antonio Police officer was arrested and is accused of sexually assaulting a transgender man."
Is the victims correct gender being used by the media?
In this Feb. 27 article mysanantonio.com questions what sexual reproductive organs the victim possess.
"While police identified the alleged victim as transgendered, a spokeswoman could not confirm if the complainant had undergone male-to-female sex reassignment."
This article leads me to beleive the transgender victim is a transwoman and has been maligned by articles that incorrectly identified her as male.
2/26/10
San Antonio Police Officer Arrested For Sexual Assault of Transgender Man
**********
Feb.26 woaitv San Antonio -- "A San Antonio Police officer was arrested and is accused of sexually assaulting a transgender man.
The man claims officer Craig Nash [pictured left] picked him just south of Downtown early Thursday morning, handcuffed him, and told him to lay down in the back seat of a patrol car. He told investigators Nash then drove to a nearby location, un-handcuffed him, and sexually assaulted him.
The alleged victim said after the assault, Nash dropped him off at a nearby school. He then took a bus to a police station to report the assault. According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by News 4 WOAI, the alleged victim told officers Nash "wasn't going to get away with this"
Police arrested Nash after the alleged victim identified him in a photo line-up, and police linked his patrol car to the alleged scene using a GPS tracking system.
Nash has been charged with sexual assault and official oppression. He has been with the San Antonio Police Department for 6 and a half years."
2/25/10
DART Questioned over unethical treatment of Transgender employee
Read the latest on the Dallas Voice article DART asked to add trans protections
Call CW Network: Object to the word Tranny used as a insult
Please call the CW network and ask to speak to "Dawn Ostroff" and tell her you're offended with them using the derogatory slur "tranny" as an insult in the trailer for the upcoming show "High Society"
Good news! According to Queerty The CW network has pulled the offending trailer after receiving feedback from the GLBT community condemning the racist innuendos and transphobic slurs.
2/24/10
HUD invites Transgender community for input on housing discrimination Study
Please join us and a host of other organizations and elected officials at a first-of-its-kind town hall meeting with officials from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to discuss HUD's ground-breaking national study of housing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and families in the rental and sales markets. The purpose of the meeting this Friday, February 26th will be to discuss the nature of HUD's study and to receive comments from interested groups and individuals. It is essential that members of the transgender community attend to provide input into this important process. We hope to see you on Friday.
Date: Friday, February 26th, 2010
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 West 13th Street, Room 301, Manhattan (map)
Please RSVP to Jasmin Varjavand at Jasmin.Varjavand@hud.gov if you plan to attend.
This event is hosted by HUD Assistant Secretary Raphael W. Bostic with the offices of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, along with Council Member Erik Martin-Dilan, Council Member Rosie Mendez, Council Member Danny Dromm, and Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.Additional town hall meetings will be held in the near future in San Francisco and Chicago.
Weather-related information - Any weather-related contingencies or cancellations will be sent to you by email if you RSVP to the email address listed above. We will also post any updates on our web site and on our Twitter feed. In order to keep email traffic to a minimum, we will not be sending out any additional messages about the event. Thank you for your understanding.
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression, and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, community organizing and public policy efforts. Help Shape HUD's Study on LGBT Housing Discrimination
2/23/10
Deaf Trans Conference March 2010 Toronto Canada
This first of its kind conference aims to bring together the Deaf and Trans communities in North America and shed light on both communities. It will provide an opportunity for individuals and their allies in the Deaf and Trans communities to unite and share common experiences, regardless of language barriers, and to gain a greater understanding of both the Deaf and Trans experience.
Don’t miss panel discussions by medical professionals, workshops by Deaf and Trans individuals, and our special guest presenters: Drago Renteria, Jennifer Mantle, Austin & Eliza Greenwood.
The conference will be presented in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English with ASL-English interpretation.
Click here for confrence and Registration Information
http://www.the519.org/
2/22/10
ENDA March crucial Lobby Day | Fired or unemployed? | Scholarships available
On Tuesday, March 16, there will be a lobby day specifically for ENDA in Washington, D.C.. LGBT people and allies from around the country who support ENDA will be there. I will be there. Will you?
It is particularly important to ENDA that people attend from the eight states in which Senators are on the fence. If you live in one of these states, you hold the fate of ENDA in your hands.
•Alaska
•Arkansas
•Florida
•Indiana
•North Carolina
•Ohio
•West Virginia
This is too important to be limited to only middle or upper class people who can afford a ticket. If you are from one of these eight states, and you are a currently-unemployed LGBT person who is unemployed because of job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, I would like to help you get there. Read on at Bilerico and how you can get to Washington DC
NCTE Lobby day registration.
EX gay con artist thankful for skills honed in 80's bond Swindling Scheme
According to the South Florida Gay News after being exposed for his past and present predatory practices Goldman became defensive claiming he is being attacked unfairly as he is only the ex gay messenger.
Goldman's dangerous present day con serves as a illegitimate source of income for self serving people who have no true concern for the welfare of others. Unfortunately ex gay organizations also provide a platform for various pseudo religious and right wing organizations that need to legitimize their crusades against the human rights movement in America.
Goldman's ex gay message condemned by the American Psychiatric Association
"The potential risks of reparative therapy are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient. Many patients who have undergone reparative therapy relate that they were inaccurately told that homosexuals are lonely, unhappy individuals who never achieve acceptance or satisfaction.
In December of 1998, the Board of Trustees issued a position statement that the American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as "reparative" or conversion therapy, which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that a patient should change his/her sexual homosexual orientation (Appendix 1). In doing so, the APA joined many other professional organizations that either oppose or are critical of "reparative" therapies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, The American Counseling Association, and the National Association of Social Workers (1)."
Ex-ex-gay
2/21/10
Lori's Revival: Transgender Kids on the Dr. Oz Show: The Video
Kim Pearson of Transgender Youth Family Allies (TYFA)calls this episode "the best 15 minutes" you will ever see about transgender children. So head over to Lori's Revival and watch Dr. OZ!
"The Times of Harvey Milk" Full Length You Tube
2/19/10
Dallas Area Transit (DART) Attorneys Pressure Judge to Reverse Transgender Women's Gender Marker Order
By Kelli Anne Busey/Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies
Found in the Dallas Voice "DART stands accused of bigotry and transphobia after attorneys for the local transit agency intervened in family court last year to challenge a gender-marker change granted to an employee."
"According to court records, a transgender DART employee obtained a court order in February 2009 directing all state agencies to correct their records by changing her gender-marker from male to female, including on her birth certificate."
"But DART’s attorneys objected to the gender-marker change and responded by filing a motion seeking a rehearing in court. DART’s objections prompted 301st Family District Court Judge Lynn Cherry to reverse her order granting the gender-marker change."
Is it legally permissible for a publicly funded service agency to employee it's attorneys to influence a family judge's decision in a private matter which results in that persons entire life ruined?
That is tyrannical. !Notice! The DFW LGBT community will not accept this.
This jeopardizes all transgender people in Texas.
Ironically the DART mission statement says one of the purposes that DART was formed was to "improve the quality of life'. That statement should be rewritten DART "will subjectively elect which citizen it will tyrannically oppress and reserves the right to use public funds to accomplish this goal.
DART Mission Statement
DART's mission statement defines the purpose for which the Agency was created:
The mission of Dallas Area Rapid Transit is to build, establish and operate a safe, efficient and effective transportation system that, within the DART Service Area, provides mobility, improves the quality of life, and stimulates economic development through the implementation of the DART Service Plan as adopted by the voters on August 13, 1983, and as amended from time to time.
2/18/10
Barney Franks optimistic on ENDA or prepping for Transgender Exclusion?
Barney Frank feels that ENDA is on track to be passed in the House in March but he is unsure about it's prospects, regardless of gender issues, in the Senate.
Regurgitation of HR2015?
Congressman Frank has reversed his lifetime stance on transgender participation. Might we have a unified political coalition that is essential in passage of ENDA? Or not.
February 5th Frank responded angrily and defensively on the Michelangelo Signorile Show when questioned about LGBT participation in the political proccess calling us whinny and lazy and that we have never lobbied congress and that now we are ultimately to blame for ENDA potentially failing.
Barney Frank since has dramatically abandoned his time proven scapegoat for the democratic party's political pandering and backsliding on ENDA telling the DC Agenda on Feb 17 that transgender lobbying efforts are now "supportive".
According to Frank everything is in place for ENDA to move out of the Education committee to a full house vote except that;
“There has always been a problem with the question of people who are
transgender in situations where people are totally or partially
unclothed.”
Are we a unified team, win or lose or is Barney "Lucy" Franks and his political backers setting up the ENDA football? Again?
2/17/10
Texas Instruments Hosts Enda Discussion
Support existing non-discrimination policies without adding a financial burden
Eliminate inconsistency across operations, business clients and suppliers
Reinforce corporate reputation
WHEN: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 8am - 9:30am CST
WHERE: Texas Instruments South Campus
12500 TI Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75243
Map
TI Entrance/Gate 1, Parking in Lot I
Enter building through the South Lobby (South Lobby and Auditorium)
TIME: 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Continental breakfast will be provided
RSVP: It is important to RSVP for this event by February 19, 2010. Please send your RSVP to political@hrcdfw.org
We are honored to have the following individuals contribute as panelists:
Rebecca Solomon (Bank of America)
Ken Upton (LAMBDA Legal)
Tony Vedda (North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce)
Cece Cox, Associate Executive Director, Resource Center Dallas will facilitate the panel
2/16/10
Ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
They are the only governments worldwide refusing to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children. Only two nations in the world have yet to join the global community in ratifying this agreement: Somalia and the United States. Urge President Obama and Congress to ratify the convention without delay.
"We, the undersigned, support US ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We urge President Obama to submit the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to the US Senate for its advice and consent without delay. We further call on the US Senate to move swiftly to approve this convention.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children by defining their basic human rights. It is the most comprehensive, accepted international agreement on basic protections for children. 193 countries have committed to support it.
Only two countries have failed to ratify this UN convention - Somalia and the United States of America. US failure to ratify the convention is an embarrassment.
Americans cherish our children and are generous in aiding boys and girls in need around the world. Now, with the advent of the 20th anniversary of the Convention, it is time to act. 2 countries in the world have yet to ratify. Let’s cut that number in half.
Sign the petition now so that children no longer pay the price for the United States' delay.
http://www.alternet.org/
2/13/10
Brittany Novotny Representing Keith Kimmel Lawsuit to have a Oklahoma 'IM Gay' License Plate
Transgender lawyer Brittany Novotny is also the political Challenger to Sally Kerns for state representative after Kern's homophobic tirade made her infamous among LGBT people everywhere.
Brittany has made it clear that she does not wish gender issues to cloud the race for 2010, but the topic now will be unavoidable in her pursuit of liberty and justice for all.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Keith Kimmel,
405.886.5095,
http://tinyurl.com/otcplatecase
Oklahoma City, OK – An Oklahoma taxpayer has filed a civil lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court against the Oklahoma Tax Commission, continuing a battle for freedom of speech on vanity license plates. The suit seeks to have part of the Commission's rules regarding the issuance of personalized license plates declared unconstitutional.
Keith Kimmel, who filed the suit through his attorney, provided the following statement: "The Oklahoma Tax Commission is continuing to subject Oklahomans to a subjective decision making process in issuing personalized vanity license plates. Under our state Constitution, all Oklahomans enjoy the right to freedom of speech and an equal opportunity to express their viewpoints. Previous testimony in the administrative proceedings held on this matter have shown that the Commission is selectively granting and denying applications based on Commission employees’ own personal prejudices and viewpoints. The Constitution requires that state rules are viewpoint neutral, with an objective standard that puts the taxpayer on notice of what is legal and what is not. This suit is intended to put an end to the Tax Commission’s unconstitutional practice of subjecting taxpayers to the whim of individual employees."
The case is Keith Kimmel v. State of Oklahoma, ex rel, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma County Case No. CJ-2010-1072.
OCIS Case Summary Kimmel, Keith , Plaintiff
State of Oklahoma, ex rel., Oklahoma Tax Commission , Defendant
Facebook Keith Kimmel - Oklahoma 'IM Gay' License Plate Litigant
ENDA Whats the HoldUP? Bathrooms Again!?!
I find Mara to be spot on about the reasons that ENDA have not been moved for a full committee vote.
However, the wordsmithing of Enda is only a glitch and easily amicably remedied. The real issue once again is bathrooms.
Religious and run of the mill right-wing zealot fearmongers fortelling the end of humanity if a transgender person is allowed into a bathroom and warning if the trans inclusive ordinance is passed it will open the door for predators to attack ciswoman and children while they are most vulnerable.
I can only speak from my experiences helping to pass city trans inclusive ordinances.
Tell congress to grow a pair. In city councils nationwide transgender inclusive ordinances are being proposed and passed by us and our allies as people realize that this isn't about pooing and peeing. It's about human rights
2/11/10
Garden State Equality invites You to Help DEMOLISH THE DiViDE!
Next week marks the three-year anniversary of one of the worst public policy failures of our time, New Jersey's civil union law. Many hospitals and employers still reject the law because it is not marriage. At the recent state Senate hearing and floor vote, even legislators who oppose marriage equality admitted the civil union law has failed.
New Jersey's civil union law took effect on February 22, 2007. Through waivers of the waiting period, the first couples got civil unioned on February 19, 2007.
DEMOLISH THE DIVIDE! To mark the three-year anniversary of the civil union law, join Garden State Equality at marriage equality rallies, marches and free dinners from Wednesday night, February 17, 2010 through Monday night, February 22, 2010. New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, a great champion of marriage equality, is our special speaker at the Thursday night, February 18 event in Montclair.
No tickets, no RSVP required. Just show up and please spread the word by emailing your friends and colleagues and by posting on list servs, blogs and Facebook. Questions? Press, contact Chair Steven Goldstein at Goldstein@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (917) 449-8918. Members, contact Field Manager Troy Stevenson at Stevenson@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (405) 802-8229.
The schedule for DEMOLISH THE DIVIDE:
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Collingswood. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike. We'll then do a candlelight march through Collingswood, ending at Cafe Antonio in downtown Collingswood for a free pizza dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Jim Beach, who abstained on the marriage equality bill.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Montclair. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, 99 South Fullerton Avenue, with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver. We'll then do a candlelight march through Montclair, ending at the Lower Lounge in downtown Montclair for a free pizza dinner.
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Asbury Park. Meet at 7:00 pm in front of Garden State Equality's Asbury Park office, 658 Cookman Avenue. From there we'll do a candlelight march through downtown Asbury Park, past the law office of Senator Sean Kean and then onto the Brickwall restaurant for a free dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Sean Kean, who voted no on the marriage equality bill.
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm, Trenton (note time). Meet at 6:00 pm in front of the Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, where we'll hold a candlelight vigil on the plaza. From there we'll do a candlelight march through Trenton, ending the evening at Covello’s Pizza in downtown Trenton for a free pizza dinner. Note: This event is in the district of Senator Shirley Turner, who voted no on the marriage equality bill.