Judy Shepard: Back Up HRC On Press “Misinformation” About Leaving Transgender Behind!

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

This week has been wild … far too many things to write about – not enough time. On top of it, my dad and Sally were in from Oregon the past two days – monopolizing my time since we rarely see each other. On the subject of parents, Matthew Shepard’s mom, Judy Shepard was in town as the keynote speaker at Houston’s HRC banquet. I missed out on getting a chance to touch base with her again. We met in ... Read More

Categories: ENDA, HRC, civil rights

NCTE Lobby Days: Where’s Waldo, HRC, or Barney Frank?

by Marti Abernathey

Last October Representative Barney Frank said: "It's partly because some of the people who are now lately to this fight weren't there helping us through the lobbying. " and then said: I have been pleading with people in the gay and lesbian and bisexual and transgender communities to lobby for us. Instead, they want to strategize, many of them. Some, no. Some have done a very good job. But many of them weren't there. Hearing those words, I assumed that the lobby day events would get ... Read More

Categories: Barney Frank, ENDA, HRC, NCTE

Equality Through Intimidation? The Houston HRC Dinner Protest

by Marti Abernathey

I just recieved this from Phyllis Frye: By calling the Houston Police, national HRC deliberately set in motion a police over response. HRC used government and taxpayer monies to intimidate the hell out of TG and gender variant people who drove in to participate, but were scared away. I hope the Advocate or Blade or Voice do a freedom of information act request to determine how much money was used to cover the HRC "false alarm." I think the City of Houston should ... Read More

Categories: HRC, Transpolitical, Uncategorized

The Many Faces Of Mara Keisling: The Death of United ENDA?

by Marti Abernathey

Is one of the key players in the United ENDA movement, Mara Keisling, signaling its death? Recently Keisling said: 'We have to show Barney Frank 220 votes,' she said. 'If we show him 220 votes, nobody is going to work harder on this. The same with HRC... It's going to happen again next year. '- After ENDA, the Fighter's Resilient According to Donna Rose's blog : 3/1/2008 - They're currently planning to hold hearings in Congress specifically about transgender workplace issues in ... Read More

Categories: ENDA, HRC, NCTE

Love Ya! Mean It!

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

“These vagabond shoes Are longing to stray And make a brand new start of it New York, New York!” — New York, New York, Frank Sinatra You gotta love New York! Seriously, these folks know how to speak out against what is wrong, organize and create a disturbance that’s worthy of the biggest city in the nation. I’m writing in response to the Gay City News.com report coming from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Banquet in the Big Apple. They organized not just ... Read More

Categories: ENDA, HRC, Trans, Transpolitical, civil rights, gender, gender identity, in the media, sexual orientation, words mean things

Protest, HRC, and My Investment Portfolio

by Marti Abernathey

I like to think of my advocacy/political work in much of the same way as I think of how to invest my money. I see activism as an investment in my community and my future. With that in mind, I have to say that I don’t see the benefit in protesting the Human Rights [...]

I like to think of my advocacy/political work in much of the same way as I think of how to invest my money. I see activism as an investment in my community and my future. With that in mind, I have to say that I don't see the benefit in protesting the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). There are so many national organizations that support transgender people and support gender identity in ENDA (National Stonewall Democrats, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ... Read More

Categories: Barney Frank, ENDA, HRC

HRC3 ≠ Bright Future For Transgenders

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

“This is a story of the lives and loves, and hopes and dreams, of young Batswana [sic] in the context of the changing cultural norms and values of modern times. Each of the dancers are shaped and challenged by the forces upon them: love, power, money, lust, and authority. They must choose their [...]

“This is a story of the lives and loves, and hopes and dreams, of young Batswana [sic] in the context of the changing cultural norms and values of modern times. Each of the dancers are shaped and challenged by the forces upon them: love, power, money, lust, and authority. They must choose their destiny by making difficult choices and search for what they truly believe in.” — plot summary for the documentary, Re Bina Mmogo (2004) It’s been a ... Read More

Categories: ENDA, HRC, Transpolitical, gender identity, hate crimes, politics, transgender needs