From sex worker to teacher a Turkish Trans woman is forced back to the streets

From sex worker to teacher to sex work Sinem Kuzucan kept her dream alive.

Trans woman Sinem Kuzucan knew she was different from the other students in high school and so did they. It was very bad but she persevered with the help of a math teacher.

"I finished high school with his help and I went to Istanbul. I worked as a sex worker in Istanbul for two years. You do not have any other choice as a runaway child. You don’t have any other example either, all trans people do this. This was 20 years ago, so there were no rights or any recognized organizations. Your existence or non-existence is barely noticed. It is a dead-end."

This was before the Internet so communication between trans people was limited to personal conversations and long before the world became aware of the inhuman conditions that the Turkish government forces on their transgender citizens.

After two years of living on the street Ms Kuzucan decided she had enough, cut her hair and was accepted to a university. But even with her attempts to physically conform to the gender binary her academic studies were difficult as it was apparent to students she was transgender. They would not sit with her at the lunch table.

Her teachers were even worse. Calling her weekly to meet and slamming the door in her face. Literally.

Eventually she graduated and was employed as a teacher but this was only the beginning of her struggles..

We are taught by society that there is either man or woman. In my teaching job, even though I am a trans person, I was forced to tell the same story about the nuclear family to my students. This is how it was taught to us as well. Egalitarian legal regulations are important for transforming these discriminative attitudes. If this society is in its current situation due to monotypic laws and regulations, then it can be transformed through new regulations. We should start with the law. When it comes to trans murders, they reduced penalties on the pretext of provocation for years. In the past, trans murderers would be sentenced to two years or they would not be punished at all. Now at least they are sentenced to fifteen years. As laws become more egalitarian, society will have to adapt with time. Temporal periods are never easy.

By reading her full heart wrenching yet inspiring story here you are committing a powerful act of advocacy. You are helping to bridge the link, making sure our Turkish trans family is no longer cut off from the world by linguistics, religions or governmental oppression.

Audio: Transgender 11 year old, Wren Kauffman sister and mom talk about his coming out

Wren, a female to male (FTM) transgender youth has at eleven, begun talking puberty blockers and begun his life on our shared road less traveled.

Wren's sister and mother share a delightful moment with cbc.ca/news Canada talking about their shared experiences transitioning with Wren.

Wren and his families understanding of transsexualism is a triumph to those of our community who have preceded him. Be proud. You have the right to be.

Click here to listen, opens to the CBC player

Watch a tribute to Murdered Texas Trans woman Konyale Madden

Denton County sheriff’s deputies continue to investigate a possible homicide that occurred in a community-style development off U.S. Highway 380 during the weekend.

Konyale Madden, 34, was found dead in her home on Hayden Lane in Savannah Estates by friends shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Sgt. Larry Kish said.

Friends told the Denton Record that Ms. Konyale a Longview Texas native was a warm, lively and loving person and will miss her dearly.



Ms. Konyale's death strikes home for this blogger as she lived in the same county as I.

R.I.P Konyale Madden.

Those with information on Madden or information leading to the death are asked to contact Sgt. Larry Kish at 940-349-1665.

NY court denies Catholic schools request to dismiss fired Transgender teachers lawsuit

Victory In Queens!

Marla Krolikowskii, 60, was fired after 32 years of teaching at St. Francis Catholic high school in Queens.

She was summarily dismissed after coming out as transgender to school officials.


St. Francis Prep Attorney Phil Semprevivo claimed  in court "She was fired for appropriate non-discriminatory reasons. She was insubordinate" asking that the judge dismiss her lawsuit.

The judge did not buy it.

"Insubordination after 32 years of teaching? And the insubordination seems to coincide with the expression of being transgender?" Judge Hart said.

Judge Hart then rejected a separate motion by the school that Krolikowski's was essentially a minister, and that religious institutions have the right to hire and fire those employees without court interference.

Her firing...



Her Victory.....

Berlin Trans man gives birth, Seine ein großer Tag für Trans-Menschen!

Officially the child has only a father as there is no mother registered. The transgender man has been on male hormones but retained his reproductive organs. He was impregnated by a donor and according to Das Bild the child was born in April at his home in the Neukölln area of Berlin.

The childs parent does not wish to have his identity revealed.

Seine ein großer Tag für Trans-Menschen!

15 year old transgender teen missing in Silver Springs Md

Police in Montgomery County are looking for a missing teen who family members describe as transgender.

Montgomery county family crimes division are asking the public for help in finding Nathaniel Martin-Malone, 15, who was last seen Saturday just before 6 p.m. in the 2700 block of Norbeck Road in Silver Spring and may be presenting as either gender.

Martin-Malone is described as an African-American male, approximately 5'03" tall and 160 pounds was last seen wearing black pants with a black shirt over a leopard print shirt.

Police and family are concerned for Nathaniel's well being. Please call the Montgomery County police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

Nathaniel, if you read this, know the trans community is only concerned about your well being. You have the rest of your life to enjoy your true gender, If I misgendered you, as I probably did, I deeply apologize. Please message me on facebook email me at kellibusey@yahoo.com or mention me in a tweet.

Source:  WTOP  Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

Source: WJLA
Follow @ABC7News on Twitter | WJLATV on Facebook

Trans student Cassidy Lynn Campbell among top ten contenders for Homecoming Queen

Update! Great News!! 

Cassidy won Prom Queen last night!!


Cassidy Lynn also has a very popular video channel with millions of views...

How do Russians view the LGBT Witch Hunt? #Russia4Love

It's critical we learn about the cultural differences between Russia's people and the west. When Pussy Riot held their artistic disobedience the target was the Russian people. The message was not meant for consumption by the the west. Their plight kick started the wests interest but unfortunately we superimposed our cultural perceptions over their message. This only serves to alienate us from the Russian people regardless of our intent.

This video is a great place to begin understanding and could influence our advocacy in a positive way. #Russia4Love



For slower internet speeds (like mine) you can watch the abreviated You Tube version

On Tuesday, Russian LGBT activists were invited to meet with President Obama at this week's G20 summit in St. Petersburg. With Putin's anti-gay laws in place, will Obama's presence make a difference? How are Russians reacting to the witch hunt?

Originally aired on September 3, 2013

Hosted by:

• Dena Takruri

Guests:

• Scott Wooledge @Clarknt67 (New York, NY) Writer & Activist
• Wes Hurley @weshurley (Seattle, WA) Filmmaker; Author of "Growing Up Gay In Russia"
• Yelena Goltsman @RUSALGBT (New York, NY) Founder & Co-President of RUSA LGBT

#Russia4Love: Global Speak Out - a set on Flickr http://t.co/tBL3vsKxkq
— Drool4Scandal (@Drool4Scandal) September 5, 2013

Section 28 UK's "Gay Propaganda" School Rule Reappears

Yesterday Pink News ran what basically amounted to a rewrite of story by the Barnsley Chronicle about admittance questions being asked 16 year olds by a local school. Some of the students were reportedly in tears after being asked, somewhat offhandedly, if they were LGBT in a section that included questions about ethnicity, age and the like. One person commented asking if Pink News fact checked the Chronicle.

The Barnsley college online application equality and diversity statement:

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

Barnsley College’s Single Equality scheme covers all aspects of College life. It aims to ensure equality of opportunity for all members of the college and provide an environment in which individuals are treated with respect and dignity. It aims to ensure that all members of the college community irrespective of disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex, sexual orientation, or age, are able to fully take part on an equal basis in work, education, training and any other aspect of college life. Barnsley College will challenge any discrimination which denies equal status and value to any member of its community.

Barnsley College is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all learners. The College has a Safeguarding Scheme which outlines how we will do our best to make sure that everyone who is part of the College community is safe and well whilst at College.

So whats the big deal? This seems fairly innocuous and well meaning? We have been working for that sort of information gathering in the states for some time now.

It turns out in the UK it is a big deal. There is a huge fear of a return to a darker day of Section 28, the UK's Version of Russia's "Gay Propaganda" laws.

Source Wiki: "Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 caused the controversial addition of Section 2A to the Local Government Act 1986 (affectingEngland, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland), enacted on 24 May 1988. The amendment stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in anymaintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship" It was repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland as one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the new Scottish Parliament, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of Great Britain by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003."

"As it did not create a criminal offence, no prosecution was ever brought under this provision, but its existence caused many groups to close or limit their activities or self-censor. For example, a number of lesbian, gay and bisexual student support groups in schools and colleges across Britain were closed owing to fears by council legal staff that they could breach the Act."

The UK Goverment is looking into the schools that have re instituted section 28.

The British Humanist Society identified 45 schools that continued to have section 28 like policies. After the society confronted these schools, they say many  have removed section 28 like language but there apparently remains some schools who have refused to do so.

So who are the worst offenders?

Benali Hamdach of London, United Kingdom is petitioning for the removal of section 28 like language from these institutions:

Mrs R Robinson, BA, Headteacher of Swindon Academy, Mr A Perry, Headteacher of Colston Girl's School, Peter Mulholland, Principal of WHGS Academy, Frank McCarron, Principal of Stockport Academy E-ACT, Executive Principal Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education.

Top Russian human rights lawyer comes out as transgender

Russian lawyer and the Chair of Association of Russian Lawyers for human rights Evgeny Arkhipov announced officially that she is a transgender MtF and her name is Masha Bast.

Masha Bast will continue her advocacy activity, civic and political career in Russia. Also Masha Bast plans to develop next organization and unions: Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights , All-Russian Anti-Corruption Center CLEAN HAND, civic union " Socialistki", All-Ukrainian Union " Sobornaya Ukraine" and scientific projects "For progress" and re-created GIRD .

Masha Bast reminds, that she is the lawyer of Alexander Kamensky in Bolotny case, Manezhnaya case , “primorskie partizany”, "about the attempt on Putin’s life" and other political cases. Also Masha Bast continues the protection of transgender Roman Sorokin, who had asked political asylum in France.
Currently, Masha Bast officially married. Masha Bast is undergoing hormone therapy and plans a series of operations.
As Masha Bast told, everybody may follow news about her life and family: Masha Bast and Julia Guseinova will keep a diary of their life on facebook



Published on Sep 5, 2013
Маша Баст рассказывает о своей жизни и планах, работе и политической карьере.
Masha Bast says about her life, plans, work and political career.

Masha posted this to her timeline:

Masha Bast

September 5 at six thirty-two am ·

• To say the truth, I've never been Evgeny Arkhipov, always since the birth can be said, since the three years as I remember myself, I consider myself Masha, I was just forced in the past to use the man's name Evgeny Arkhipov and to Achieve Certain goals and not much else, I note I was Born A woman.

Gay.ru news reports that

"Bast, who is undergoing hormone therapy and plans to implement a number of surgical gender reassignment, is married to Julia Guseynovoy, head of the press service of the Russian Association of Lawyers for Human Rights. According to the couple, they are not going to give up, though, after a legal change of sex marriage will terminate. However, as reported Gay.Ru Huseynov, after receiving the documents for Maria girl's name, the marriage will be renegotiated abroad - in one of the countries where it is legal. On her coming-visite Maria Bast said on the social network Facebook, and promises her wife to lead blog, talking about the events of his life and work."

Victory in San Antonio! LGBT protections adopted, Transgender exclusionary language removed!

The San Antonio City Council has just passed a municipal Nondiscrimination Ordinance that prohibits discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status in employment, housing and public accommodations.

The ordinance passed on a vote of 8-3, with Council Members Elisa Chan, Carlton Soules, and Ivy Taylor voting against the measure.
The ordinance is an update of existing city code, and for the first time adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status as protected classes.

Specifically, the ordinance prohibits discrimination:

in municipal employment (city employees),
by municipal contractors (third party contractors with the city),
on city boards and commissions,
in citywide housing, and
in citywide public accommodations.

Objectionable language dealing with transgender bathroom access was removed from the ordinance. The language had previously been added to a draft version of the ordinance last week. Council member Rey Saldana successfully offered an amendment from the dais removing the objectionable language.

 Lauryn Farris, who is on the Alamo Area Board of Directors for the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) and a member of the San Antonio Gender Association (Saga) said this about what she called a "fully inclusive ordinance":

I am blessed to be able to be here and work with the most awesome LGBT community anywhere. To an individual or organization when we agreed that we were all in it together they never wavered.

Send a letter of thanks via Equality Texas to Mayor Castro and our fair minded council members.

Councilwoman Elisa Chan! Calling for integrity and transparency! Are you serious Chan? I guess you have no where to go but further down your hole since your lies and derailing were exposed in that secret recording. You have no shame.

Have you faced heath care discrimination? HHS is accepting comments on health reform

Via email from the Trevor Project:

Facebook Twitter Forward

We Need Your Help! Share Your Stories About Discrimination in Health Care Dear LGBTQI reader, The Affordable Care Act, often known as Obamacare, includes important provisions to protect patients from discrimination in health care, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Right now, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is in the process of deciding just how robust those protections will be. To help understand the experiences of our community, HHS is asking for examples of the kind of discrimination that LGBTQ people face in health care settings. No one can tell your story better than you can, so today we are asking you to share your health care discrimination experiences with us.  We will collect your stories and submit them to HHS to be part of the official record considered as they move forward in deciding how best to implement these important nondiscrimination provisions. For example, this could include times that you felt disrespected by a provider because of your LGBTQ identity, times that you received substandard care, or times when the identity-specific care you needed was not covered by your insurance. These nondiscrimination provisions will apply to all kinds of providers, so please think about your experiences receiving both physical and mental health services.  Help us tell HHS why robust nondiscrimination protections are so necessary to ensure LGBTQ people have equal access to health care! Very truly yours,   Alison Gill Government Affairs Director The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. For more information visit TheTrevorProject.org

	If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call The Trevor Lifeline: 866 488 7386		MAKE A DONATION

Watch: Denver Wrangler gay bar Deny Entry To a Drag Queen Telling Him He's Not Transgender

Got this message via Facebook from Jed Rosenberg of the Denver Wrangler demanding I take a picture down which was being used under the "Fair Use"  exception to the copyright law. New images courtesy of the creative geniuses at Transadvocate where this is cross posted.

Fair Use:
Commentary, Criticism, Parody. 

                                                                                           

My name is Jed Rosenberg and I'm an online marketing consultant for the Denver Wrangler. I couldn't find an email for you, so I'm writing you today via Facebook to request the removal of an image that appears on the blog site, http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/, specifically on your authored blog article, "Watch: Denver Wrangler gay bar Deny Entry To a Drag Queen Telling Him He's Not Transgender" (http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2013/09/watch-denver-wrangler-gay-bar-deny.html). The name of the file is "lugg.png"

The Denver Wrangler did not give you permission to use the image on your blog and violates their legal rights. Could you please take it down? I wanted to ask you first before submitting a report to Blogger.

Also, this image appears in your Facebook images and timeline in a related post on September 3, 2013. Can you please remove that image as well?

As time goes on more people people are speaking up about the Wranglers history. This is a screen grab from the Wranglers website from around 2007 according to Daniel Gonzales who posted it to Boycott the Denver Wrangler facebook page. This image has since been removed from the Denver Wrangler website.

Update 9/12/13The Denver Wrangler has pressured You Tube into sending a privacy statement to Vito, threatening to take the video down. ANYONE who has tried to get youtube to respond to a request to review videos knows what it means to be frustrated.

Vito posted this to the Boycott Denver Wrangler Facebook page:

Vito John Marzano

The Wrangler is shaking! I just got a YouTube Privacy Violation threat. Even though they knew they were being videotaped, even though it was on a public sidewalk, even though I clearly state I'm uploading the video, even though it has been up for days, it seems that as this people become aware the Wrangler continues its systematic policy of retaliation.

Facebook is not letting me post this on saying it is a 'security' risk. Out of the 2100 blogspot articles I have posted on facebook THIS ONE post is a security risk?



Now back to the original story......



Drag artist Vito John Marzano was denied admittance to the Denver Bear bar the Wrangler because according to the manager his license did not match his gender expression. This was in direct violation of the Colorado Department of regulatory agencies (Dora) Public Accommodations Discrimination policy posted below.

This was not the first time the Wrangler has been called out on transphobia. Autumn Sandeen posted about this bar while while trying to find a trans friendly watering hole for a upcoming visit to Denver on Pams House Blend in 2008.



The Wrangler has since removed that discrimination policy from their website but obviously they still adhere to it in thought word and deed.

Vito John Marzano posted this to the facebook group "Boycott the Denver Wrangler":

"The Denver Wrangler has a well documented history of discriminating against people whose perceived gender identity on their ID does not match how they present."

"I did not know this until the night of 8/31, when I went there in Drag after a drag pageant at Hamburger Mary's. I was denied entry for the above stated policy by General Manager Phil and the Assistant Manager Pat."

The Denver Wrangler managed to get Youtube to take the video of them ejecting Vido :(


 

But you can still watch it on Vimeo :)


Wrangler Video from Vito Marzano on Vimeo.

Vito John Marzano continues:

"I pointed out that Colorado has an anti-discrimination law against transphobia, their response is that I am not trans. I asked how would they know the difference and they tried to say the first step for any trans individual is to get a new ID from the state. I then got into a four minute argument with them (all on video) about this discriminatory policy. Their response was very clear: no drag queens, no trans (unless your ID matches your gender identity), and nobody who doesn't adhere to their myopic view of masculinity. I also want to point out that after this incident, I went into three different bars (two of which are straight) with my ID and asked the bartender if they would serve me. They were shocked I was even asking and more shocked that a gay bar on Denver would do this. Then women started telling me how they are discriminated and treated horribly by the Denver Wrangler when they have gone with their friends."

"This entire policy is bullshit. Not only is drag an integral part of LGBT culture, our trans- and genderqueer kin should not be denied entry into an established whose primary function is to take money from the LGBT community. I am also going to point out that that Denver Wrangler has been previously challenged. Their "policy" was taken off their website. It may not be on their website but it is still going strong and it is enforced by the bar staff."

"The LGBT community needs to come together and fight any form of discrimination, even if it comes from our own community. Boycott the Denver Wrangler until they treat all of their patrons equally."

Update 9/5/13 

The Wrangler Retaliates and threatens allies and boyfriends on the Rush Rugby Team. A email forwarded to me by Vito John Marzano.

Colorado Law prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on certain protected classes (characteristics). Examples of prohibited discriminatory practices include: terms of service; denial of full and equal service; intimidation; failure to accommodate; access; conditions; privileges; advertising; and retaliation. A place of public accommodation can be a: bar; restaurant; financial institution; school or educational institution; health club; theater; hospital; museum or zoo; hotel or motel; public club; retail store; medical clinic; public transportation; nursing home; recreational facility or park; and library.

Colorado law prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation based on actual or perceived sexual orientation. By legal definition, sexual orientation means heterosexuality, homosexuality (lesbian or gay), bisexuality, and transgender status. Transgender status means a gender identity or gender expression that differs from societal expectations based on gender assigned at birth.

Denver Wrangler on Facebook and on Twitter.

Obama to сохранить надежду keep LGBT hope alive at St. Petersburg G20

"Four Russian non-governmental organizations told BuzzFeed Monday they had been invited to the meeting, scheduled for this Thursday at St. Petersburg’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. The groups include veteran human rights activists Lev Ponomarev and Lyudmila Alexeyeva, legal aid NGO director Pavel Chikov, and Coming Out, a St. Petersburg-based LGBT organization."

 Coming Out St Petersburg just won a district court battle annulling a lower court ruling finding that the organization is a 'foreign agent'. The director would have been fined 300,000 Rubles ($9,000 US Dollars) if the ruling stood.

"Another local LGBT group, the LGBT Network, is believed to be attending, though director Igor Kochetkov declined to comment to BuzzFeed, saying that he had been “asked not to say anything.” 

The LGBT Network Russia is promoting "Keep Hope Alive" on facebook which is a "campaign asking world leaders to challenge Russia on the deteriorating human rights situation and escalating clamp down on civil society in the context of the G20 meeting taking place in St Petersburg on 5-6 September."

Keep Hope Alive from Keep Hope Alive on Vimeo.

"Election monitoring group Golos is also believed to have been invited, though BuzzFeed could not reach its director or deputy director to confirm. Russia’s justice ministry forced Golos, which used to receive funding from USAID, to disband this summer under a law on “foreign agents” that many believed was created specifically to target the group."





"Obama’s trip to Russia for a summit of the Group of 20 industrialized nations comes amid a deep rift between the US and Russia, not least over the countries’ competing stances on Syria. Obama was due to hold a one-on-one meeting with Putin in Moscow before heading to the summit, but abruptly called that off last month in the wake of deteriorating relations and Russia’s sheltering of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Putin has repeatedly accused members of Russia’s civil society as being in the pay of the U.S. State Department."

Not you mothers Prairie Home Companion

Via Transadvocate
A poe is someone who parodies fundamentalism in such a way that it is ridiculous yet simultaneously difficult to tell if the media is real or a parody. The “radio show” mixes absurd reality with absurd comedy to make a deadly serious point.

Enjoy!