4/24/11

TRANSFOBIA EN EL McDonald's Documented history of Hate under the Arches since 2006

Videos dating back to 2006 document the rampant transphobia of McDonald's management that has resulted in the near death beating of this transgender woman.

*Breaking* According to Justin Fenton Crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun the police have just identified one of the suspects as 18yo Teonna Monae Brown and charged her with assault. Brown is one of the teens who accosted Polis saying she was a "man" using the women's restroom. He's not sure why police are just now releasing her name as she was arrested Friday.

The Empowered Kitty tells of her cries for mercy "Where am I supposed to go?" These were the plaintive cry of a transwoman in between savage beatings as two teen girls in Baltimore respond to her mere presence with extreme violence. It seems this individual, who is clearly presenting as female, regardless of her personal identity or legal sex, attempted to use the bathroom deemed socially appropriate for her at the time.”

 
This is not the first time that a Maryland McDonald has displayed intense transphobia as documented by the next three You Tube videos. The transphobic behaviour of their employees has without a doubt influenced those who assaulted Chrissy Lee Polis.

Uploaded on Jan 27, 2011 a transgender woman in a Maryland McDonald's was denied access to public accommodations by a man she said represented the restaurant as a security guard.



"EN ESTE ESTABLECIMIENTO ESTE HOMBRE QUE DECIA SER EL SEGURIDAD DEL ESTABLECIMIENTO NO ME DEJO ENTRAR AL BANO DE MUJERES CUANDO OBVIAMENTE YO VIVTO COMO MUJER Y ESTOY EN PROCESSO DE CAMBIO Y SOLO PORQUE SE LE ANTOJO NO ME DEJO ENTRAR AL BANO Y PASO POR ENCIMA DE LA AUTORIDAD DE LA MANAGER."

Translation: In the restaurant, this man was claiming to be the security of the facility would not let me in the ladies' room when obviously I'm presenting as a woman and I am in the process of transition. Because he won't let me use the bathroom, I had to step above his authority and involve the store manager.


On July 10, 2009, 17-year-old Zikerria Bellamy applied online for a job at McDonald's. On July 28, after one of McDonald's managers learned that Zikerria is transgender, he left her this message about her job application. "We do not hire faggots"

In 2006 Christina Sforza was beaten senseless by a New York city McDonald's manager with a STEEL PIPE for using the restroom! Unbelievably the police arrested this transgender woman but according to Amnesty International press release latter dropped the charges. However according to a follow up Amnesty.UK press release no police investigation or actions were taken against the McDonald's manager or the corporate office!




I received these two twitter responses from Corporate McDonald. To there credit they did reply to me but I feel their response to transphobia in there workplace will be equal to our protest. Sandy Rawls of Trans-United said there will be at least 100 people at the Monday protest at the Baltimore McDonald's.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Stop the hate. I encourage all transgender folk and our allies to attend.

You can donate to her via a paypal account set up by a friend I will personal vouch for at Transowned.biz

If you want to tell McDonald’s that you are not “loving it,” please call in your comments to 1-800-244-6227, the lines are open 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm CST.

4/22/11

Executive Director of EQMD, Morgan Meneses-Sheets FIRED by Board of Directors


Washington Blade reports that the board of director fired executive director, Morgan Meneses-Sheets.

I have personally lobbied for Morgan Meneses-Sheets removal. She has personally rode herd on this organizations deceptions censorship and intimidation of the transgender community. Equality Maryland under Morgan Meneses-Sheets slandered trans and cisgender activists alike lowering themselves so far as to claim we made physical threats of harm against them and Maryland legislators, just to justify the campaign of censorship.

According to the Blade: “This past Sunday, the Board of Directors of Equality Maryland, in executive session, voted to remove her from her position, essentially telling the organization’s staff, volunteers, supporters, funders and general community that the organization will now move in a different direction,” Thorn said in his statement."

Of course the Washington Blade spun her departure to make her look like a blameless victim.

The Washington Blade goes on:
“In particular the past few months have been tough to bear,” she said. “Not because of the hard work which I welcome and felt honored to be part of, but because of the forces within the organization and external politics that created additional and unnecessary obstacles to our forward movement and success.”

She added, “As I move on, I will not focus on the negative or destructive forces that created this untenable situation; instead I will look back at the many proud moments along the way.”
I have been unable to post comments on the Washington Blade ever since I called them out for enabling Equality Maryland's horrendous tactics but that seems to be changing too.

My comment on the Blade which remains for now:

Kelli TrANNsAction Busey April 22, 2011 at 8:40 pm Submitted 7:38 PM CT 4/22/2011
Whats not addressed by this article is the real reason Sheets was fired. As a “Equality” organization’s leader you can not mistreat and ignore the people you say you represent. I believe firing her was the first and only thing Equality Maryland needed to do to get back in the communities good graces.
I seriously hope Equality Maryland now allows all of its members to comment. I hope they stop making false claims against there members.
And Washington Blade I hope you publish this comment by me. I am sure you are aware by now some key people are aware of your censorship and misrepresentation of the transgender community as well.


I was severely tempted to embed the 'wicked witch is dead' song from the Wiz but that would be too celebratory. Instead lets take a trip of hope over the rainbow together.