News and views for Saturday, November 29th and Sunday, November 30th …

[FL, USA] “In tight-knit groups of few or many, 1,500 Broward school children marched through downtown Fort Lauderdale to tell the world that they were tired of bullies and strong enough to stop them. ”No more bullying, no more bullying, no more bullying,” thundered a unified chant from 15 school contingents, parents, teachers, community activists and school officials … Denise King, mother of Simmie Williams, 17, who was gunned down last year in Fort Lauderdale, said she was forced to remove her son from public high school because of the humiliations he suffered daily from students because he was gay. ”I hope now that something like that won’t happen again to anyone anymore and anywhere,” King said.” — Broward students march on bullies in Fort Lauderdale

[ME, USA] From Jenny Boylan, “I knew, before we left the house, that someone was going to call me by the wrong pronoun, because someone always calls me by the wrong pronoun. This little slip-up happens virtually every time I am out with friends from Colby College, where I have worked for 20 years now. I know full well that most of these slip-ups are unconscious, and not intended as hurtful. But they hurt, maybe because they are unconscious. The ol pronoun slip is an issue we’ve talked about ad nauseum, over at MHB/community, as well as on my own site. I’m not trying to plow any new ground here. I understand the reasons people mess up, sometimes, and I accept that most people who do so mean well, most of the time.
But it still hurts, god dammit.” — The ol’ pronoun glitch

[GA, USA] “As the Atlanta Police Department’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Liaison, Officer Darlene Harris has served as a symbol assuring fair treatment and greater protection since 2005, when she was appointed to this post. When she disclosed she is intersex in July 2008, Harris garnered attention for her bravery and for drawing focus on the subject of intersex identity and experience. Her story was first featured in Southern Voice magazine on July 4. The Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper also ran a story about Harris on August 31. She has increased local and national discourse about intersex and other minority gender constructs in a forthright and professional manner.” — Atlanta’s Intersex Police Officer Seeks Awareness

[NY, USA] From Professor Arthur Leonard, “Rejecting a trial judge’s objection that a gendered name-change would cause “confusion,” a unanimous panel of the New York Appellate Division, 3^rd Department, ruled on November 26 in _Matter of Earl William Golden III_, No. 504992, that the trial court should have ordered the name change, but should include in its order a statement that the name change could not be used as proof of a change of sex. Franklin Romeo of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project represented Golden on the appeal.” — NY Appellate Division Rules on Transsexual Name-Change Petition

[NY, USA] “The origin of Rena Dunsworth might be traced to fall 2006, when a small woodworking company in Denver modified its discrimination clause, for that was when Stanley Wilcox started wearing pink nail polish to work. Then 51 and a maker of custom wooden doors, Mr. Wilcox had sensed since he was 6 years old that he was meant to be female, and he had also sensed for about as long that this was not a feeling for which he would be rewarded. “I would often fantasize about becoming different women I knew,” Ms. Dunsworth — formerly Mr. Wilcox — says now. “Then I would kind of clamp down really hard, afraid people would see the girl in me.” When his workplace put in writing that the sexual orientation and dress of its employees did not matter, Mr. Wilcox was heartened. But after the nail polish, he noticed that his colleagues treated him differently. Then, one day in February 2007, he overheard a co-worker allude to his imminent dismissal. “Turns out it did matter,” Ms. Dunsworth says.” — Road to a New Identity Is Not Without Its Hazards

[USA] From Monica Roberts, “Since some peeps make tons of money off pre-op transgender images with their adult films, magazines and various websites, and transgender people of color are the ones disproportionately bearing the brunt of the anti-transgender violence, when you ask Eddy’s question in that context, somehow it doesn’t seem as insulting as it did at first knee-jerk glance. So did shemalewhatever.com and its like minded cousins black out their website for the day? Did they stop filming the latest epic adult transgender film for release? Did they cancel that trip to Thailand or Brazil looking for poor or young transpeople to take pictures of? Did any of the adult transgender stars or the young transwomen participating in the destruction of our images show up at the TDOR events in West Hollywood, New York or elsewhere? Did they even stop to care? Come to think of it, Eddy’s question is one that we all deserves an answer to.” — Does The Transgender Porn World Celebrate The TDOR?

[USA] From Helen Boyd, “Some things you just never expect. NPR recently did a show about a crossdressing husband & father that was about as off the mark as Dr. Phil usually is. Pathologizing, full of the embarassed & shamed comments by the wife and commentary of the narrator, it was rife with ignorance and misunderstanding, and seemed to equate this person’s other mental health issues with his need to crossdress. Wow. I wish I were more often pleasantly suprrised by the media, but I really never expected this kind of crappy story-telling from NPR. Just one opinion that offset all the negativity would have been nice. That the story is about someone who is deceased makes it all the more sickening. There is no one to represent Doug/Donna to explain what crossdressing is all about. You can listen to it here – all of 12 minutes & nothing redeemable! – & narrated by a family “friend.” Feh.” — Crossdressing Husband & Father on NPR

[Canada] “The B.C. Federation of Labour has passed an emergency resolution supporting a new high school course called Social Justice 12 and accusing the Abbotsford board of education of “homophobic and transphobia behaviour” for its refusal to offer the elective course this year.” — B.C. Fed backs course

[International] “We are proud to announce that the Organisation Intersex International has its website in Chinese thanks to the tremendous efforts of one of our Chinese speaking board members. The site already contains our Official Positions, our mission statement, information on Intersex Solidarity Day, a translation of 10 Misconceptions about Intersexuality, videos and a news service containing articles related to intersex issues.” — OII now available in Chinese

[Ireland] At The Irish Independent, a “conversation” with an Irish transwoman: “I am what you call a ladyboy, or a pre-op transsexual. I have breasts but I still have meat and veggies too. I’m not going to have the full operation — I want to stay this way for good because I want to be special. If I had the full operation, people would just categorise me as female, and I want to be different. You can have the best of both worlds.” — Dale Belino

[Ireland] An upcoming screening in December at the Irish Film Institute: “Fresh from its world premiere at the Cork Film Festival, where it was greeted with laughter, tears and warm applause, Identities, Vittoria Colonna’s new feature-length documentary, is this month’s Ireland on Sunday selection. Identities is a sensitive and compelling documentary which explores the multicoloured, multicultural transgender community in Ireland. Five personal stories give shape to the different but parallel worlds of transvestism, transsexualism, drag, sexual identity and gender dysphoria. Documented in a series of revealing black and white interviews, each narrative is preceded by a colour performance art piece, and more abstract self-representation. At its heart, this is a film about the human spirit and overcoming stereotype and categorisation. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Vittoria Colonna and producer Rachel Lysaght.” — Ireland On Sunday: Identities

News and views for Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th …

[CA, USA] “Trans-Latina migrants are slowly discovering the asylum option in San Francisco and California. A steady stream of transgender applicants has been showing up in what immigration attorneys say are open-minded asylum offices and immigration courts that have become acquainted with gender-identity–based claims. Exact numbers of how many transgender women have gotten asylum are hard to come by since the government doesn’t track the reason for awarding asylum status. Yet such cases almost seem like a sure thing because of the severity of the alleged discrimination. “You almost gotta try to loseWeight Exercise it,” attorney Robert Jobe says. In fact, none of the 12 immigration attorneys interviewed for this story could remember any trans clients being denied some sort of protection. Even if applicants can’t get asylum, they may still be eligible to stay via other international treaties that offer haven from persecution. And, as many trans-Latina prostitutes have learned, even a lengthy rap sheet in this country won’t seriously threaten their chances of receiving protected immigration status.” — Border Crossers

[GA, USA] “As the 31 names of transgender people killed around the world during 2008 were read aloud at Atlanta’s Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil, each of the deceased’s biographies ended with “Remember me.” A crowd of more than 100 braved wind and cold temperatures Nov. 20 outside the State Capitol to do just that. A bell chimed for each person and trans activist Sir Jesse McNulty played “Taps” after the names were read. Many of the dead included transgender women of color — a “holocaust” that can no longer be ignored, according to Dee Dee Chamblee, executive director of LaGender Inc. “There is a holocaust of transgender women of color. Many of them are prostituting [because they can’t get jobs] and are in danger. But when you are African American and transgender, well, you can’t get lower than that,” she said. “These women are killed out of meanness, hatred. And all they want is to eat, a place to stay. They put their life on the lines. Everybody should be outraged.”” — Transgender activists, allies rally at Capitol

[MI, USA] “Nearly 70 people filled the rows at Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit on the bitterly cold evening of Nov. 21 to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance … “We are here to remember our transgender brothers and sisters who have been killed just for being transgender,” said Rachel Crandall, executive director of TransGender Michigan. “If you ask me how I feel about that, I’ll say I’m really pissed off.” Crandall’s anger is not difficult to understand. According to a letter read by Transgender Detroit’s Michelle Fox-Phillips from Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Smith, a transgender person has a 1 in 12 chance of being murdered due to anti-transgender violence or prejudice. “I wish to remind each of you (that) the most basic right we have is the right to exist,” Fox-Phillips read. Currently no transgender-inclusive hate crimes legislation exists in Michigan or at the federal level.” — Community gathers for 9th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance

[NY, USA] “A midlevel appeals court ruled Wednesday that a transgender individual can change from traditionally male to traditionally female first and middle names, regardless of potential confusion. The case involved Earl William Golden III’s petition to change names to Elisabeth Whitney Golden. A lower court had concluded the proposed change was “fraught with possible confusion.” The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court noted that people can change their names “at will,” provided there is no fraud, misrepresentation or interference with the rights of others. Done in court, the switch can be “speedy, definite and a matter of record.” While confusion can be one reason for a judge to reject someone’s name change petition, “that factor is not, standing alone, a basis to deny a petition inasmuch as ‘confusion is a normal concomitant of any name change,”‘ Justice Anthony Cardona wrote.” — NY court removes bar to transgender name changes

[NY, USA] “And so Syracuse mirrors in painful fashion the national schizophrenia of a people determined to push the boundaries of possibilities while insisting on denying others the freedom to be who they are. On the night that America celebrated the election of Barack Obama, millions watched in disbelief as the people of California voted to ban gay Americans from enjoying the delights and anguish associated with the institution of marriage. This is the great contradiction that presents itself in the current chapter of American history. What is it about this country, and about our community, that still causes some to cling to the idea that we can decide for other people how to live out their sexual lives? What is it about the idea of someone loving someone of the same sex, or realizing that their mind and their body are at odds on the question of gender, that some in this freedom-loving country find so offensive? Many will say this is just a problem of the individual who pulled the trigger. You can think that if you choose to, but it only makes the problem persist, and makes you part of it. That man pulling the trigger learned somewhere along the line that there is a right way and a wrong way to love somebody, and that his anger against those who are different is somehow justified. He learned that people like him get to decide the fate of another person. He learned that those people should learn to be like him. A gun, a few drinks, a dare later, and Teish Cannon lay bleeding in her brother’s arms.” — A Nightmare on Seymour Street

[USA] From Kelley Winters, “Psychiatric incarceration and abuse of gender variant youth and adults has for generations been facilitated by diagnostic nomenclature that equates difference with disease: nonconformity to assigned birth-sex with mental disorder and sexual deviance. It is time for the American Psychiatric Association and other mental health organizations to repudiate the practice of gender-reparative therapies, as they have renounced reparative therapies for sexual orientation. It is time for the APA and the mental health professions to extend an apology to all who have been imprisoned or traumatized in the course of these treatments. In drafting the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, it is time for the APA to remove the classification of Transvestic Fetishism and revise that of Gender Identity Disorder to serve constructive rather than destructive purposes. It is time for new diagnostic nomenclature consistent with the medical principle of “First, do no harm.”” — The Gender Gulag: Voices of the Asylum

[USA] From Vanessa Edwards Foster, “Typically I must admit a slight bias towards moms in allowing their children to be who they are innately – who they were meant to be. Much of this comes from my upbringing and my own dad’s notice of my natural feminine tendencies and his insistence that I “be the man” from the age of five onward, urging me into football and other masculine pursuits. Men have a harder time dealing with anything resembling emasculation. But in an unusual twist, Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher may well be doing the right thing, while his son’s mom, Tyna Robertson, is in the wrong. It’s Robertson who is claiming that Urlacher is feminizing his three year old son Kennedy, and seeking to remove Urlacher’s visitation rights.” — Pro Linebacker’s Child Used As A Football In Tabloidesque “Gender Confusion” Custody Battle

[USA] “Shame on you, Dr. Phil. As a man who’s own personal mantra is urging people to “get real,” Dr. Phil was decidedly unreal in his approach to transgender rights on a show that aired last month. (You Tube clip at the bottom of this post.) Allison Steinberg’s latest post takes Dr. Phil to task for allowing a phony doctor with ties to Focus on the Family to be an “expert” on his show regarding to transgender issues … Dr. Stanton, in fact, is no doctor. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of West Florida and is known widely as one of the foremost defenders of evangelical family values. He is a fellow at James Dobson’s organization Focus on The Family, which boasts a Christian mission, “To cooperate with the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible by nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide.” The show angered the parents of transgender children that were guests on the show as well as the larger LGBT community.” — Dr. Phil Misrepresents Transgender Identity

[Australia] “The Australian Department of Health has come under fire for appointing two men’s health ambassadors who were allegedly involved in writing a document that espoused homophobic views … The paper entitled ’21 Reasons why Gender Matters’ was published by the Fatherhood Foundation two years ago and Mr Marsh and Mr Williams were among 34 authors who contributed to the document. Amongst other things, the paper describes homosexuality as ‘gender disorientation pathology’ and suggests that gay people are more likely to abuse children, be unfaithful or violent in relationships and abuse drugs.” — Australian government ‘health ambassadors’ in gay hate controversy

[Australia] “Australia’s Health Minister Nicola Roxon has dismissed one of the new Men’s Health Ambassadors for co-authoring an anti-gay, anti-transgender report. Warwick Marsh, president of Fatherhood Foundation, was one of 34 co-authors of 21 Reasons Why Gender Matters, a report which calls homosexuality a mental disorder. Ms Roxon announced today that Mr Marsh would no longer be an ambassador on the panel. “Mr Marsh has not repudiated his offensive comments. This makes his position as an Ambassador untenable and I have made a decision to dismiss him from this role,” she said.” — Health ambassador sacked for standing by anti-gay comments

[Australia] “A bitter feud has erupted at a prestigious golf club after it was revealed a leading member was undergoing a sex change. Male members of Wynnum Golf Club in Brisbane were disgusted when they learned married dad-of-one Don Asher, 52, had begun hormone treatment to become a woman. They forced Mr Asher to quit the men’s team after he turned up for a tournament wearing a dress. Following an emergency meeting at the club, Mr Asher was given permission to play for the ladies team. Yesterday he said he has never been happier– despite the hostile reaction of his former friends. “It feels as though everything is right at last,” he said.” — Sex-change golfer now a birdie

[Australia] “Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes sent a solemn message last week, calling on Australians to remember the “horrors and difficulties” that discrimination still inflicts on people who are gender diverse. The comments were made to mark the 10th International Transgender Day of Action and to announce the impending release of a report which will give recommendations on how to tackle trans discrimination in Australia. “It is sobering to think that this day of action was established as a reminder of those who have been killed as a result of anti-gendered hatred or prejudice,” Innes said. After same-sex entitlement reforms, the Commission has now set its sights on the rights of the trans community and has been researching and consulting on issues faced by gender diverse communities over the last year.” — Innes pushes for trans law change

[Thailand] “The ever increasing turbulence of the anti-government protests notwithstanding, a demonstration of a different nature was taking place yesterday in Bangkok. Unaffiliated to any political party, a group of transgender ‘ladyboys’ paraded past central Police Headquarters in Bangkok to protest at the lack of AIDS awareness in Thailand. Glamorously dressed in brightly coloured ball gowns and feathered head-dresses, the group struck a contrasting pose to the increasingly militant demonstrations … While observers hope the increasingly fraught situation in the country will end peaceably, the ladyboys, with their stylish parade of singing and dancing showed the world how peaceful yet fabulous protest is all about.” — ‘Ladyboy’ protests amid Thailand’s political chaos

[Malaysia] “While the causes of gender identity disorders are still disputed, one thing is certain – these patients need care and compassion, rather than discrimination.” — Gender poser

News and views for Friday, November 21st through Sunday, November 23rd …

[AZ, USA] “Namoli Brennet’s name is inspired by the word “anomaly,” meaning an exception to the rule. She is that, and also a singer-songwriter with keen talent … in 2002 she released the album “Boy in a Dress.” The title of the album hinted at a larger life issue Brennet was grappling with: Brennet was born male but identified as a female. Sometime after 2002, Brennet started the transition to living her life as a female … Despite her unique life journey, Brennet’s lyrics are accessible and capable of speaking to shared experiences. Although she doesn’t often refer directly to gender transition, the theme of self-discovery informs her work. “I feel like a lot of people go through a process like that, where they sort of have to buck other people’s expectations,” Brennet said.” — Brennet’s life transition sparks musical growth

[FL, USA] “Simmie Williams Jr., the gay teenager slain nine months ago on Sistrunk Boulevard, will be remembered at a pair of events over the next couple of days. Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance around the country, and a ceremony is planned for 6:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church’s Sunshine Cathedral. The church is at 1480 SW Ninth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? – Click Here.. The day is aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes against the transgendered community. Also, a vigil to mark his birthday will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the corner where Williams was shot: Sistrunk and 10th Avenue. It will include a cake and candlelight march down Sistrunk. Williams was dressed in women’s clothing when he was shot to death Feb. 22. His murder remains unsolved.” — Fort Lauderdale: Events to remember slain gay teenager

[NY, USA] “Dwight DeLee’s family doesn’t believe that DeLee shot and killed Moses “Teish” Cannon and doesn’t buy the motive police have announced for the shooting – DeLee’s dislike of Cannon’s sexual orientation … Dwight DeLee was on parole for a drug conviction and had about three more weeks to go in a halfway house before his release, Williams said. Some family members believe that DeLee was set up as a fall guy for the shooting because he was on parole. “He’s the easiest to hold because he’s on paper (parole),” said Harry Washington, an uncle. Dwight DeLee didn’t catch too many breaks growing up, family members said … ” — Dwight R. DeLee could face hate crime charge in fatal shooting of transsexual

[OH, USA] “[The Cleveland] City Council is considering measures to make this the third Ohio city with a domestic partner registry and the fifth to protect transgender citizens from discrimination … [the] second ordinance that will come before council was introduced quietly by Santiago in August. That ordinance will add gender identity as a protected class every place in city law where other categories such as race, religion, sex and sexual orientation are currently included.” — Cleveland to add TG non-bias and partner registry

[USA] Kit Yan of the Good Asian Drivers has a video response to the Human Rights Campaign’s TDoR video. — Trans Day of Remembrance – Response to HRC

[Belgium] “Attitudes towards gays and lesbians in much of Europe and around the world may have made remarkable advances over the last 20 years, even if some regions of the EU are more hospitable than others. But for transgender people, discrimination, marginalisation and outright hostility remain part of daily experience. Transsexual people are often fired from their jobs when undergoing gender reassignment procedures. They are turfed out of their apartments, refused insurance and confronted with bigotry within the health community. Gender non-conformity is still used as an excuse for harassment, violence and even murder … [According to Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner] “Ignorance seems to be the main reason [behind the discrimination] and this lack of knowledge has led to prejudices which in turn have opened for discrimination and even hate crimes,” he said. “But it also stems from traditional concepts of what it means to be masculine or feminine in our society. We tend to shy away from discussions about sexuality and gender identity, but we need to deal with these issues head on.” There is hardly any area where discrimination does not take place, he believes.” — Transgender people face fear and hate across Europe

[Europe] “The correlations of this polymorphism with various endocrine and phenotypic features of men have been exhaustively studied. Many, though not all of these studies, demonstrate inverse correlation of the repeat length with androgenicity, suggesting that men with longer repeats have weaker overall androgen action. The phenotypes found to correlate directly with the CAG repeat length include poor spermatogenesis and male-to-female transsexualism.” — Increased Estrogen Rather Than Decreased Androgen Action Is Associated With Longer Androgen Receptor CAG Repeats (Abstract)

[India] Life has recently become even more difficult for hijras in Bangalore: “Shortly after, police claimed they had rescued a teenage boy from a “gang of hijras” who had allegedly castrated him without consent. They claim they have broken up a racket, but there are many unanswered questions about the case, which is still under investigation. Nothing has been proved yet but this hasn’t stopped the authorities from using the incident to vilify the community and justify its harassment. As Jenny (name changed) puts it, “After this case, everybody is looking at us as if we are monsters out on the prowl. If this abusive and discriminatory atmosphere prevails, I am worried about what the future holds for us.” To make matters worse, two weeks ago, at least 100 hijras were forced onto the streets in Bangalore’s Dasarahalli locality. “We are living in a constant state of tension. People are being arrested every other day. It was never like this before,” an activist said.” — Life in dire straits

[Japan] “Who said bras are only for women? A Japanese online lingerie retailer is selling bras for cross-dressing men and they’ve quickly become one of its most popular items.” — Bra for the boys an online bestseller in Japan

[Japan] “Takeshi Shimozato, a third-year student at Haebaru Nansei Middle School in Okinawa Prefecture, was awarded the H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy on Saturday after winning the 60th All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest … Shimozato began his speech by explaining his gender identity disorder condition, about which he was sometimes teased during primary school days. One day as a fourth-grader, Shimozato saw one of his female friends playing the piano at his school, surrounded by others. “They all looked so happy. I wanted to be able to smile like her,” he recalled. “More importantly, I wanted others to smile at me.”" — Okinawan boy wins English speech contest

[Mexico] “Attaching flowers to a ribbon headdress, pulling a lace slip under an embroidered skirt and draping a necklace of gold coins over his head, Pedro Martinez puts the finishing touches on the traditional costume of Zapotec women in southern Mexico. “When I get all dressed up like this my father always says, ‘Oh Pedro! You look just like your mother when she was young,” beams Martinez, 28, gluing on fake eyelashes in front of a mirror. Martinez spent two hours in the hair salon he owns getting ready for this weekend’s festival of the “muxes,” indigenous gays and transvestites in the town of Juchitan who have found a haven of acceptance in Mexico’s macho society. The muxes (pronounced moo-shes), mostly of ethnic Zapotec descent, are widely respected in the southern town where a dance and parade that crowns a transvestite queen and celebrates the harvest has been held annually for the last 33 years. Anthropologists say the tradition of blurring genders among Mexico’s indigenous population is centuries old but has been revived in recent decades due to the gay pride movement.” — Mexican transvestite fiesta rocks indigenous town (Photos)

[Netherlands] In the December 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, an article on new research by Madeleine Wallien and Peggy Cohen-Kettenis: “Conclusions: Most children with gender dysphoria will not remain gender dysphoric after puberty. Children with persistent GID are characterized by more extreme gender dysphoria in childhood than children with desisting gender dysphoria. With regard to sexual orientation, the most likely outcome of childhood GID is homosexuality or bisexuality.” — Psychosexual Outcome of Gender-Dysphoric Children

[New Zealand] “”JOBLESS BEYER EYES AUSSIE,” trumpeted Wellington’s Dominion Post back in August. “Former Labour MP Georgina Beyer plans to move to Australia because she cannot find work,” the bleak article began. Yikes – is New Zealand really in danger of losing its highest profile transgender activist?” — She’ll be right – Georgina Beyer keeps it Kiwi

[Uganda] The GayUganda blog comments on the beating and arrest of Fatuma Segiyirira: “What crime has this lady committed? Daring to dress like a woman. Deceiving her acquitances. Those seem to be the most heinous crimes, according to the article. And what has been the punishment, which the community meted out fast and furiously? A not so public check to confirm the genital sex. A public beating. Paraded naked, for 5 good kilometres. Jailed. Was there any mention of bail or police bond? To court soon, charge- impersonation. Of a woman. (Any woman!!!) The police commander is not happy. Second time offender, so more charges, he adds grimly. The price of ignorance. Why should a man dress as a woman? Why would one risk one’s very life to do that? As a gay man in Uganda, I realize that I am fine in a way. For a long time, and at great cost to myself, I have learnt to hide. It is simply a necessity of survival. I hide so well that I can get lost in my own deception. A trans person in Uganda is more disadvantaged. Much more disadvantaged, and Segiyirira has paid the price. It could as easily have become a lynch mob.” — A Trans in Uganda

[UK] “The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Children, Young People and Families has said that new guidance is being developed for schools on gender and gender identity. Baroness Morgan was speaking at the pre-launch event for LGBT History Month last night … She later told PinkNews.co.uk that plans for the guidance are well-advanced.” — Education minister reveals new guidance for schools on gender identity

[UK] “People who are undergoing a sex change will be allowed two cards – one in each gender. But they will also be forced to pay twice – landing them with a £60 bill. The Home office said it had been giving careful thought to how it would deal with the cases of ‘transgender’ people. It has decided they will have to hold a card in their current sex, which can be used for travel in the EU. But they will also be able to apply for a card – with corresponding picture – in the name and sex they are undergoing treatment to become. In other words, they will dress and appear as they will once the sex change is complete. This will not be valid for travel but can be used to prove their identity in a second gender reliably and securely and reflects a different name, signature and photograph, the consultation paper says. Finally, when the change of gender is complete, they will hand the card in their original sex back. The one in their new identity will then become fully usable.” — One for each sex: ‘Transgender’ individuals to get two ID cards

[UK] From The Observer on London’s Portman Clinic, which is 75 years old: “But Ruszczynski did give me a copy of an audit showing the reason that patients were referred to the Portman. Most were there because of ‘compulsive sexual behaviours’ – fetishism, transvestism, transsexualism – and some for sexual and criminal offences, including exhibitionism … These days, the clinic is often visited by transvestites and transsexuals, and people who practise bondage and other sexual fetishes. ‘They come here because the desired effect of those things, what they were intended to do, has started to break down, usually when they’re in their thirties,’ Davies says. ‘The papering over the cracks that those practices fulfilled is no longer working. Some patients who are just post-operative can be despairing.’” — Porn addicts, sex offenders, rapists, paedophiles…

I woke up tired this morning, after a really restless night of sleep. I dreamed I was in a hostage situation, and because I had to go to the restroom, the hostage takers were going to likely discover I was trans — it was pretty clear to me in the dream that if those folks found out I was trans that I would be considered an spiritual abomination, and would be killed.

But it was only a dream.

For the 30 individuals on the Transgender Day Of Remembrance list, being found brutally killed because those who killed them did it because of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.

One of the last names added to the list this year was Lateisha Green. She was previously referred to by mainstream media by the name Moses “Teish” Cannon — the headline read Syracuse man was killed for being gay, police say. But as Rod McCullom of Rod 2.0 filled us in, the Syracuse murder victim has now been identified as transgender.

Was she killed because she was gender variant in appearance? — was it that Latiesha Green was a trans woman killed because she was perceived to be gay by her killer, ? From the articles, that’s what appears to have happened:

Dwight R. DeLee shot and killed [Lateisha Green] with a .22-caliber rifle Friday night because he didn’t like that Cannon was openly gay, Syracuse police said.

Thinking from a Matthew Shepard Act point of view, it’s important to point out Teich was trans, and to point out she was perceived to be gay. If we leave either sexual orientation or gender identity and expression out of the Matthew Shepard Act…well, one of the lessons of Teish’s death is that being trans or gay isn’t distinguishable in the perceptions of those who would harm us — sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are functionally the same thing.

I guess changing the focus a little, do I need to mention Teish was a double minority? Of the thirty names to be remembered this year, listkeeper Ethan St. Pierre tells me that three of the names are for caucasian victims, and the other 27 are of those who would be members of ethnic minorities. I’m not 100% sure his ethnic breakdown is 100% accurate, but it is clear that we most of the 30 names will be reading tonight will belong to non-whites.

In 2005 I wrote a poem for a victim whose story I found while archiving for transgendernews. GLAAD, in their blog, they have that poem up — for their series “What Does the Transgender Day of Remembrance mean to you?”

The stories mentioned in the poem are all real cases — there actually are two three-year-olds on the list. The three year olds were killed because of gender-variant behavior.

Below the fold is the poem.

If you haven’t thought about going to a Transgender Day Of Remembrance service already, please think about going to one this evening. Dyssonance provided a link in her diary to find out where individual local events are being held, worldwide. In San Diego tonight, we’re having a candlelight march at 6:00 PM, and a service beginning at 7:00 PM — both at our LGBT Center. I’ll be there.

Read the rest of this entry »

News and views for Thursday, November 13th …

[CO, USA] “A week after Aimee Wilcoxson was found dead in her north Aurora home, her friends say they still have questions about the transgender woman’s death … Police aren’t releasing many details about the case, but said investigators believe Wilcoxson took her own life. “Detectives feel that all the evidence in the case points to a suicide,” said Aurora police spokesman Detective Bob Friel … But Wilcoxson’s friends say she was a happy person with a lot to look forward to and wouldn’t have killed herself. They say she was murdered. “We think there was foul play,” Latif said.” — Friends reject police’s take on transgender woman’s death

[NY, USA] “A contentious battle initially involving four – but later just three – State Senate Democratic rebels has left control of the Legislature’s upper chamber in doubt, more than a week after the election. At first blush, the November 4 results seemed to have given the Democrats control, by at least a 32-30 margin, for the first time in 43 years. Given the intransigence of the longtime Republican Senate leadership, Democratic control has been deemed essential to progress on the marriage equality law and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), a transgender civil rights measure. Only this past summer did the GOP signal a willingness to finally end the logjam on school anti-bullying legislation that would include gay and transgendered youth in its protections. The resistance of the remaining three Democratic holdouts in getting on board with Queens Senator Malcolm Smith becoming the new majority leaders is further complicated by the fact that gay marriage has become the focal point for the public volleying on the issue.” — State Senate Control Iffy

[MA, USA] “On Nov. 20 transgender activists and their allies will gather in Allston to remember Rita Hester, a woman whose murder 10 years ago shook the local trans community to its core and transformed the way people across the country respond to anti-transgender violence.” — Remembering Rita Hester

[USA] “In what is being viewed as a strong signal to activists nationwide, the transition office of President-elect Barack Obama has issued a non-discrimination policy including sexual orientation and gender identity. “The Obama-Biden Transition Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law,” says the website of the Office of the President-elect, Change.gov.” — Obama transition team is transgender-inclusive

[USA] “Thomas Beatie, the controversial “pregnant man” who gave birth to a daughter earlier this year, reveals to Barbara Walters in an exclusive interview that he is pregnant again with his second child.” — Barbara Walters Exclusive: Pregnant Man Expecting Second Child

[USA] “Christa Hoisington can barely utter her birth name. It still bothers her to this day. “It just didn’t feel right,” she says. It didn’t make sense to her. Gary is a boy’s name. And Christa says she knew, even as a child, she wasn’t a boy … Christa felt trapped, until she began to transition from male to female. “I’ve never been happier. I can be who I am,” she says. She began psychotherapy and hormone replacement to reduce testosterone levels, body hair, and make her feel more feminine. In 2003, she got breast implants. She expects to have complete SRS– or sexual reassignment surgery– next year.” — Becoming, Part 2: The Mental and Medical Sides of Transgender

[UK] Zagria at Gender Variant Biography profiles musician-singer Antony Hegarty. — Antony Hegarty (1971 – ) musician

[Finland] “Olli Aalto, the Lutheran Vicar of Imatra, says that he has struggled with his gender identity for almost all of his 54 years. The struggle is now coming to an end. Aalto will take a leave of absence at the beginning of 2009, during which time he will undergo surgery and other procedures to become a woman. Aalto says that the matter has been a cause for concern “ever since I was a little girl” … Aalto decided to come out in public after extensive reflection. “I decided that because of my position, it would come out at some point”, he says. Aalto wanted to raise discussion and promote understanding about the transgender phenomenon. “Keeping it a secret and living a double life are terribly heavy burdens.”” — Transgender Lutheran vicar wants to continue his pastoral work

[Finland] “The number of those wishing to change their sex has multiplied in recent years. In 2003-2006 around 40 people per year sought treatment from the relevant clinics in Helsinki and Tampere. Last year’s corresponding figure was about 90, and this year even more patients have called at the clinics dealing with transgender issues. The congestion has caused queues for corrective operations. At the moment the waiting time is about a year. “If the number of referrals remains this high, our capacity will be stretched”, explains acting specialist doctor Marja Kautto from the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Issues relating to correcting one’s gender became topical in connection with Imatra vicar Olli Aalto’s announcement, according to which he would return from his leave of absence at the beginning of 2009 as a she, Marja-Sisko Aalto … The Aalto case, in which questions were asked about the suitability of the vicar’s return to the position after changing gender, has prompted a response from labour legislation experts. While the Bishop of Mikkeli Voitto Huotari has said Aalto’s continued pastoral work may “contain problems”, the law as it stands does not present any formal obstacles to a transgender person returning to a job in a different sex after a leave of absence. Since female clergy are an established part of the Finnish Lutheran Church, there can also be no grounds for dismissal on that score.” — Number of transgender cases has increased severalfold in recent years

[India] “As India’s gays, lesbians, and gender nonconformists struggle for legal recognition of their civil rights and the end to their criminalization, an ugly two-day incident of police violence against hijras – as the transgenders are known – and LGBT activists in the south-eastern city of Bangalore, the nation’s third largest, illustrates their continued tenuous position in the world’s second most populous country.” – Trans Indians Under Assault

There’s an article out today, published by Eyewitness News, Memphis, Tennessee. It’s entitled Homicide Victim Identified as Transgendered Person, Duanna Johnson.

Her name may be familiar to you. Duanna was the Tennessee transgender woman who was shown on surveillance tape being beaten by Memphis Police Officers — it was reported on just this past June.

From today’s Eyewitness News article on her homicide:

Memphis police say it happened just before midnight at Hollywood near Staten Avenue, Sunday, November 9, 2008.

According to detectives, when officers arrived at the scene, they found the body lying in the street. Police say a witness heard gunfire and then saw three people running away from the scene. Investigators do not have any suspects at this time.

Lawyer Murray Wells confirmed to Eyewitness News that the person who was killed is his client Duanna Johnson. He says Johnson was often in the area where she was killed.

Murray says Johnson was trying to leave Memphis and go back to her hometown of Chicago. According to Murray, Jonson was just about homeless trying to live in Memphis. He says the apartment where Jonson was living did not have power. Murray says he was helping Johnson buy a bus ticket to Chicago.

Johnson was the subject of an alleged video taped beating that happened in June of 2008. Johnson, who had been arrested on a prostitution charge, said former Memphis Police Officer Bridges McRae beat her after making derogatory remarks about her sexuality. Johnson said another man, Officer J. Swain, held her down during the beating. Both officers were fired from the department.

Duanna was suing the city of Memphis for $3.1 million for that past beating — so why I don’t have a lot of faith now in the Memphis Police solving Duanna’s homicide?

I’m trying to keep this all in perspective, but it’s hard. Thousands of people have been marching over Proposition 8 passing in California; who remembers — who marches for — our dead?

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

Update: The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition‘s statement on Duanna Johnson’s homicide (select the image below to enlarge as a PDF document):

~~~~~~
Related: Pam’s House Blend tag: Duanna Johnson

News and views for Thursday, November 6th …

[Australia] “Dr Hamid, of Glenroy, is standing trial in the Victorian County Court for eight sex-related charges including rape, sexual penetration of a cognitively impaired person by a provider of medical services and indecent assault.” — Doctor ‘raped suicidal transsexual’

[Turkey] “Discrimination: The legislation about discrimination does not include the sexual discrimination. The lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and transvestites still face the charges of the “indecent exposure” and the “acts against public morality.” Lambdaistanbul, the organization that embraces individuals with sexual preferences other than heterosexuality, was closed by the Istanbul Governor. The discrimination against the gays in the military service is still strong. Transsexuals suffer attacks. The homophobic violence easily turns into sexual violence. Investigations are needed in these areas.” — The European Union Report Points To Lack Of Reforms In Turkey

[Canada] Toronto Sun fashion columnist Derick Chetty takes singer Kate (“I Kissed a Girl”) Perry to task for “ugly behavior” at a charitable benefit: ” … the pretty chanteuse who when on the red carpet, exclaimed rather loudly when she saw Enza “Supermodel” Anderson, “Oh, you’re a man!” The popular transgendered columnist for Metro and a fixture on the social scene in Toronto, said his heart sank when he heard her. “I felt like a freak of nature at this gay event,” he said. “Did this woman not know that there were going to be transgendered persons, drag queens, gays and lesbians at this event?” — Fashion Cares at Monster’s Ball

[Canada] A feature in The Martlet (the independent weekly student newspaper at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia) on the Transgender Day of Remembrance: “Turje emphasizes that the more we interrogate the ways gender controls our lives, the more we will be able to imagine a world where we will have the freedom to express all sides of ourselves without fear. If there is a message that the bodies of the 237 speak, a lesson in this long history of gender violence, then surely this is it. History needs to claim no further souls to make its message clear. By the light of the candles on Nov. 20, may a prayer be said and a determination made for the 237 to rest in peace at last.” — Remembered and celebrated

[USA] Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Joe Solmonese “said hate crimes legislation, which passed in the House and Senate last year but was dropped from a defense authorization bill before final passage, would potentially be an easier victory in the short term, since lawmakers in both chambers have passed it and Obama has announced his support for the measure. ENDA would require more work, Solmonese said; last year the House passed a non-transgender-inclusive version of the bill, and the Senate has not yet voted on it, so there would be more work needed to build support for it in both chambers.” — What can we expect from an Obama administration?

[USA] The Washington Blade runs down the “mixed” results of Tuesday’s election. — Polis becomes 3rd openly gay member of Congress

[USA] An interesting item of (trans)Americana, “The Female Teamster – a girl in men’s attire was taken from the Bowery Theatre, New York – on her examination, it appeared she had been driven from home by her step-father’s cruelty and changed her dress to make a better life – lived out in the capacity of a servant boy, clerk, followed boating on the canal, driving team, etc – she states that situated as she is, without friends, she prefers her present dress as she is far more healthy than she formerly was and is enabled the better to gain her livelihood.” — New TG Archive Acquisition: 1828 TG Newspaper

[IL, USA] Reeling 2008 (The 27th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival), the second oldest gay and lesbian film festival in the country, starts today. Among the festival’s showings — Trinidad, SqueezeBox!, a collection of shorts including Playing with Gender, and Out Late.

[FL, USA] From Palm Beach County, Florida, the county school board “is seeking to exceed the requirements of a new anti-bullying policy, mandated by state law, to specifically prohibit harassing students who believe they were born the wrong gender and those who may be perceived as being too masculine or too feminine for their gender.” — School board to expand protections for gay students

[TX, USA] In the San Antonio Express-News today, “4.67 implies that federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlaws employment decisions based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The fact is Title VII does not outlaw employment decisions based on sexual orientation or gender identity. However, one unelected person has issued an edict to protect sexual orientation, a decision far beyond what is required by law.” — City manager overstepping her bounds

[MI, USA] Zoe Brain comments on election day in Hamtramck, Michigan: “”We don’t want any group to get special freedom and discriminate ourselves,” said Akm Rahman, co-chairman of Hamtramck Citizens Voting No to “Special Rights.” “This is unnecessary. We have a lot of other things that need to be done (such as) taxes, crime and economic development. Those are more important issues.” And yet it’s important enough to get a ballot specifically to remove existing Human Rights. We understand. Michigan, by the way, voted 57:41 for Obama. Some issues transcend Blue and Red.” — In Other News…

[USA] From Jillian Weiss, “Personally, I am strongly committed to moving ENDA forward, as workplace equality is my area of professional expertise, and a subject about which I have profound feelings. I am putting aside my hard feelings and concentrating on catching the ball. I hope that advocates of marriage equality do the same. Yes, we got dinged. Now let’s pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off and get back to work.” — ENDA, marriage equality and moving the ball forward

[USA] Via Curtis Hinkle of OII, OII is launching its site in Chinese as part of their commemoration of Intersex Solidarity Day. For more information on activities worldwide to celebrate Intersex Solidarity Day, November 8th, see here.

Kathy Padilla sent me a link to an article from the Philadelphia Gay News entitled Killer of trans woman sentenced to 5 years. She prefaced her email about the sentencing of Alexis King’s killer by sending me the link with this statement:

I suppose I should feel grateful any sentence was imposed at all.

Since a panic defense was raised, I suppose Kathy, our transgender peers, and I should feel grateful that Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Minehart didn’t, in this bench trial, acquit the now convicted killer.

Inside his car, Oates discovered that King, a biological male who dressed like a woman, had a penis.

He then shot King twice near Bott and Kerbaugh streets in Nicetown about 6 a.m.

Oates was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and weapons offenses in August by Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Minehart after a nonjury trial. The judge yesterday also sentenced Oates, an Olney man who had no prior record, to five years’ probation following his prison sentence.

The judge had acquitted Oates of murder.

At the trial, Feeney, who sought a murder conviction, had passionately argued that malice was behind the shooting, according to the Philadelphia Gay News, which covered the trial.

Defense attorney Brian McMonagle had contended that the shooting occurred during “pandemonium” in the car after Oates felt King’s penis, after the two struggled for Oates’ gun and after King moved toward Oates, according to the newspaper’s report.

Oates told police in a statement that he didn’t realize King was a man until King grabbed Oates’ hand and placed it on King’s penis.

To add insult to injury, Alexis King’s murder is listed on the Philadelphia Homicide Victims in 2006 as “Brandon King”:

At least the Philadelphia Gay News article wasn’t prefaced with an offensive headline — like the article on the sentencing was by the Philadelphia Daily News:

5 years in jail for killing a woman who wasn’t

[Below the fold: Filling out the story from the Philadelphia Gay News; as well as information on California's Gwen Araujo Justice For Victims Act that addresses defendents using "gay panic" or "trans panic" defenses.]

Read the rest of this entry »

On August 9th, a memorial service was held for Angie Zapata.

The Greeley Tribune covered the service in their article Friends, family gather to say goodbye to slain woman.

My friend Donna Rose was there, and wrote about it in her blog entry Angie Zapata Vigil. She’s been collecting photos of the service, and has posted these in a slide show.

Angie Zapata Vigil – Greeley, CO – Aug. 9, 2008

[Below the fold: Donna Rose describes the service; the effect of hate crimes.]
Read the rest of this entry »

From horrible reality:

Denver Post: Transgender victim referred to as “it”:

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.”

~~
From GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide:

DEFAMATORY TERMINOLOGY

…Defamatory: “she-male,” “he-she,” “it,” “trannie,” “tranny,” “gender-bender”

These words only serve to dehumanize transgender people and should not be used.

To horrible press coverage:

UK’s Metro: Duped lover kills transsexual with fire extinguisher:

A furious dupe has been accused of murder with a fire extinguisher after discovering a woman who gave him oral sex was born a man.

Allen Ray Andrade allegedly battered Justin Zapata to death in a fury after discovering the truth.

He had believed the partner he picked up online was a woman known as Angie Zapata.

~~
From GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide:

DEFAMATORY TERMINOLOGY

Defamatory: “deceptive,” “fooling,” “pretending,” “posing,” or “masquerading”

Gender identity is an integral part of a person’s identity. Please do not characterize transgender people as “deceptive,” as “fooling” other people, or as “pretending” to be, “posing” or “masquerading” as a man or a woman. Such descriptions are extremely insulting.

With regards to Angie Zapata’s killing, there’s just not much to add to the GLAAD Media Guide’s indirect commentary on the alleged killer’s dehumanization of Angie Zapata, and the Metro‘s insulting coverage.

~~~~~
Related:
* Arrest In Killing Of Angie Zapata
* Murder in Colorado

Some of the trans people and happenings in the news the past week or so …

People …

• Former British paratrooper Jan Hamilton
• Transgender teen Rika Navarro
• Trans activist Jenn Burleton
• California administrative law judge Victoria Kolakowski
• Race-car driver Terri O’Connell
• British surgeon James Barry

Law, legislation …

• Philippine woman will have to remain a ‘he’ in birth certificate
• Legislation to bar discrimination in employment, housing or public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity was introduced in the Ohio legislature.
• Legislation to add sexual orientation to the state’s Human Rights and Fair Housing acts advanced in West Virginia.
• In Georgia, an anti-bullying bill, one which does not specifically address bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity, advanced, while a hate crimes bill (which includes gender identity and sexual orientation) remains stalled.
• Council Bluffs, Iowa is considering adding the protection of sexual orientation and sexual identity to the city’s civil rights code.
• In Massachusetts, advocates turned out for a hearing on a transgender civil rights bill.
• In Montgomery County, Maryland, election officials have cleared the way for voters to decide whether to uphold broad protections for transgender individuals passed by the County Council in the fall. Proponents of the trans rights legislation said they expected to file a lawsuit to overturn the petition and stop the referendum.
• New York has a new governor, a man who has been supportive of trans rights.

Arts & media …

• The Lambda Literary Foundation announced its nominees for the 20th annual Lambda Literary Awards.
• “She’s a Boy I Knew” documents the transformation of Steven Haworth into Gwen Haworth.
• Out magazine focuses on trans lives and culture in the April issue.
• Mercedes Allen continues her series on trans history at the Bilerico Project.

Features …

• “Is society ready for this pregnant husband?” in The Advocate.
• “Transgender people step out” in the Dayton Daily News.
• “When Girls Will Be Boys” in the New York Times.

Remembering our dead …

• Luna

Perhaps I’m a bit too sensitive, but I would have preferred (though not expected, since I’m familiar enough with the New York Daily News and the New York Post) that the headline editor chose a more seemly and respectful term than “tranny” here …

Fooled john stabbed Bronx tranny

A transgendered prostitute was stabbed to death in the Bronx Saturday by a customer who was apparently surprised by the hooker’s true sex, police sources said Saturday.

The victim – a 25-year-old man who dressed like a woman – was identified by sources as Talib Stewart, who often went by the feminine nicknames of Nesha or Sanesha.

Stewart was stabbed multiple times inside a Belmont apartment building about 6 a.m. Saturday, police said.

A 37-year-old man was later arrested inside the second-floor apartment, police said.

Though the suspect’s identity was not immediately released, the sources said he was the prostitute’s john who became enraged when he learned his partner was not a woman.

Stewart, more than 6 feet tall, was known to wear stylish, provocative outfits with towering high heels, neighbors said.

Stewart also apparently had undergone surgery to give him larger breasts and other female characteristics, neighbors said.

“She looked like a girl but when she turned around, you knew it was a man,” a 17-year-old neighbor said. “She had a big jaw and an Adam’s apple.”

Neighbors said Stewart was a friendly and flirty presence on the block and was rarely hassled for his appearance.

“She’s always been Nesha to me,” said a friend who just gave her first name, Janelle. “She’s funny and outgoing.”

“It’s a shock – nobody should do something like that,” said another neighbor who asked not to be identified. “She never had any problems here.”

Stewart’s relatives visited the crime scene Saturday afternoon and angrily declined comment. Neighbors said they didn’t know if Stewart was turning tricks but they had noticed frequent male visitors to her home.

The suspect remained in police custody last night as the Bronx district attorney was determining which charges to file, officials said.

By the way, I don’t believe New York has a law (apparently nothing so far came of this) like California’s Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act — if it doesn’t, surely it’s time it should.

~~Article 1 of two on transgender outing today~~ 

From Australia’s GenQ, the article Transgender woman bashed because of police breach:

Garrick Jacobson was unaware his girlfriend had a sex change, until the police told him he was “sleeping with a guy”, a court heard yesterday.

“The officers were, like, paying me out,” Jacobson recalled in a subsequent police interview.

“Just laughing their heads off, (saying) she’s a bloke. You’ve been sleeping with a guy, ha ha ha.”

The revelation pushed him “over the edge”, Downing Centre Local Court heard, and just hours later he assaulted his then girlfriend Brigitte Fell at her inner Sydney home.

Jacobson, 26, gave evidence at a hearing for Constables Tyrone Stacey and Brendan Ritson, who are accused of breaching privacy laws over the incident on September 24, 2006.

…”I felt deceived … because the female I’d been with was a male, had a sex change,” [Jacobson] said.

It was in 1993 when police outed Brandon Teena to the Falls City Journal he was first raped, and then he was killed.

Brandon Teena, whose birth name was Teena Brandon, was originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, and moved to nearby Humboldt in 1993, shortly after beginning to live full-time as a man in preparation for eventual sex-change surgery. Brandon passed easily as a man in Humboldt, but was discovered to be biologically and legally female by local police following his arrest on a misdemeanor check forgery charge two weeks prior to his slaying.

Police publicly released this information to the local newspaper, the Falls City Journal. One week later, on Christmas Day 1993, Brandon was raped and assaulted at a Christmas party by two men, whom he identified to local police as Nissen and Lotter, despite the fact that they had threatened to kill him if he reported the incident to the police.

…According to Tammy Brandon, Sheriff Laux responded to her inquiry by telling her that “he didn’t need [her] to be doing his work.” Laux has also been quoted as saying “you can call it ‘it’ as far as I’m concerned” when describing Teena.

…Local authorities have denied that their outing of Brandon Teena in any way contributed to his killers’ motives…

You would think that police training across the western world would emphasize that outing people can, and does result in violence. Obviously, the two officers involved in outing Brigitte Fell either never watched, or never learned lessons about appropriate police behavior from the film Boys Don’t Cry.

~~~~~Update~~~~~

The language of the letter was updated at some point after the intitial publication, specifically to clarify what “fully inclusive” means. The change in italized, with the previous language lined out the updated language included in blue:

We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We’re going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

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

Sen. Clinton wrote a message to Super Duper Tuesday LGBT voters today that’s over at OurCharts. Pam included the entire text of Sen. Clinton’s message here, so y’all can look at it and evaluate it yourselves to see what she says or doesn’t say about LGBT issues you personally may place high value on. Y’all probably know by now what my high value LGBT issue is — it’s a fully inclusive ENDA.

Here’s the paragraph from her statement that included what she plans to do about ENDA:

We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We’re going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

That’s Sen. Clinton’s emphasis on fully inclusive, not mine.

I double-checked with a non-transgender, Clinton supporter who’s on the LGBT Americans For Hillary Steering Committee to really clarify what I read. When Sen. Clinton wrote fully inclusive, was she specifically referring to transgender inclusion in ENDA?

The answer was that I was correct — Sen. Clinton was stating that she strongly supports a version of ENDA that included protections for gender identity; a version of ENDA that specifically includes transgender people (note the Sen. Clinton underline as to the strongly of strongly supports).

I really, really wasn’t expecting that. My eyes actually welled on hearing that what I thought Sen. Clinton wrote is what Sen. Clinton actually meant. My peers need that workplace protection, and knowing now that Sen. Clinton supports that kind of workplace protection for transgender people now is extremely significant to me.

Donna Cartwright, the Communications Director of Pride at Work, and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center For Transgender Equality, is a little more skeptical than I am. She commented in an email:

I did find the following phrase: ” We’re going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people” intriguing and perhaps hopeful, it is not as clear and explicit as Senator Obama’s pledge. Although I might be accused of being overly suspicious, the failure to mention “transgender people” or “gender identity” specifically (combined with her evasive response to Jason Bellini) does cause me some concern. Unfortunately, the last six months or so have given trans people and their allies good cause to be suspicious. Do “fully inclusive” and “all people” really include trans people? That depends on whether we are considered fully human.

Donna reminds me that last September, sitting in the audience at Southern Comfort, I was extremely hopeful when Joe Solmonese said a lot of nice words about transgender inclusion in ENDA. I was extremely disappointed in him and the HRC by December.

But, I choose to be hopeful; I prefer to believe that Sen. Clinton is saying what she means when it comes to “full inclusion” in ENDA.

As of tonight, I really don’t know which Democratic candidate I’m going to vote for tomorrow. The single reason that would have stopped me from voting for Sen. Clinton has been removed as of tonight.

I have a lot of thinking to do. My gut is leaning towards totrusting the judgment of my friends Babs, Melissa, and Dr. Dana.

Ain’t That A Shame that Pat Boone finds blame and disgust in and outside the entertainment industry. He has a weekly column at WorldNetDaily, probably because of his rants against the Dixie Chicks back in 2004 and 2006.

This “Christian celebrity theory” is born out in Pat Boone’s mini-bio on WorldNetDaily — the one found at the bottom of all of his articles. The mini-bio states:

Pat Boone, descendant of the legendary pioneer Daniel Boone, has been a top-selling recording artist, the star of his own hit TV series, a movie star, a Broadway headliner, and a best-selling author in a career that has spanned half a century. During the classic rock & roll era of the 1950s, he sold more records than any artist except Elvis Presley.

What WorldNetDaily mini-bio left out, perhaps as another source of “expertise” on a host of issues (per IMDB) is that Pat Boone’s recording of “A Wonderful Time Up There” (1958) became the first million-selling record with religious lyrics.

So what does Christian celebrity Pat Boone and “expert” comment on? Well, also per IMDB:

In 2006, Boone penned an article for WorldNetDaily in which he argued that Democrats and others who are against the Iraq War cannot, under any circumstances, be considered patriotic. He was interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News, where he expressed his outrage against the opponents of George W. Bush — namely the Dixie Chicks — and said that their criticisms of the President showed they did not “respect their elders“. Another article defended Mel Gibson after the actor was recorded making an anti-Semitic rant during a DUI arrest. In early 2007, Boone wrote two articles claiming that the scientific theory of evolution is an “absurd,” “nonsensical,” “bankrupt false religion”.

What caught my eye this week was a paragraph in his latest piece — where he was attacking the socialized medicine of Canada and Western Europe — was where he showed his distain for transsexuals like me.

How about having your request for a special drug treatment needed to save your life rejected because it’s “too expensive”? Yet your health plan covers sex-change operations that can run more than $35,000! And, more nightmarish, your plan also covers tattoo removal for a sex-change patient – at almost the same cost you need to save your life – so he might look more attractive in sleeveless dresses!

(May I point out that even though I served 20-years in the U.S. Navy, I — a transgender veteran — have no tattoos. Even if a single-payer healthcare system were to come to America, your tax dollars wouldn’t pay for tattoo removal so I might personally look more attractive in sleeveless dresses.)

This past November, Boone played the “gay card” for the Kentucky Republican Party — where he specifically singled out transgender people with an emphasis of “even” in arguing against “special rights” for LGBT people — in hawking for Republican incumbent Governor Ernie Fletcher via a robo-call:

…Now, as an American and a Christian I am very conservative about the upcoming governor’s election. Ernie Fletcher is a typical Kentuckian, he’s worked long and hard for the state, its people, and its traditions. And, of course, he has come under attack by political opponents and now he faces a man who wants his job who has consistently supported every homosexual cause: same sex marriage, gay adoption, special rights, to gay, lesbian, bisexual, even transgender individuals.

The problem (inaudible) gay advocacy groups (inaudible) enthusiastically endorse Beshear, knowing he’s their guy. Kentuckians have already voted to amend the state constitution to prohibit same sex marriage. Now, do you want governor who’d like Kentucky to be like another San Francisco? Please reelect Ernie Fletcher.

What qualifies Pat Boone as an expert commentator on evolution, single-payer healthcare, public education, immigration, “lazy kids,” etc.? Who knows — he doesn’t cite many references in his articles, and his mini-bio quoted above doesn’t seem to identify him as an expert on anything but perhaps entertainment issues — It appears his authoritative view on a variety of subjects apparently comes from being an entertainer and a direct descendent of Daniel Boone.

I probably care a bit too much about Pat Boone’s spurious commentary, I know. You see my Dad, Jack Sandeen, was the male costumer for the entire run of the Daniel Boone Show — a serial, fictionalized account of Pat Boone’s ancestor Daniel Boone. It’s a tenuous link to be sure, but Pat Boone’s “expert” opinions seem to get under my skin a little bit more than the average Christian Rightist/Christian Fundamentalist specifically because of that tenuous link.