Activism Leaders Leading Towards the Door

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

“We’re setting sail to the place on the map from which no one has ever returned ….”  — Ship of Fools, World Party
It was just Tuesday that I read in the press that Gay/Lesbian/Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) founding executive director Kevin Jennings was stepping down. He announced he will be back from [...]

“We're setting sail to the place on the map from which no one has ever returned ….”  — Ship of Fools, World Party It was just Tuesday that I read in the press that Gay/Lesbian/Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) founding executive director Kevin Jennings was stepping down. He announced he will be back from his current sabbatical as planned on Feb. 1, but will step down on August 1, 2008 after thirteen years. According to another organization source, he isn’t ... Read More

Categories: ENDA, HRC, NCTE, Transpolitical, politics

Being Hypocritical About Hypocrisy

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

“Facta Non Verba”, Latin phrase translated to “Deeds Not Words”
A good friend of mine, longtime national trans activist Courtney Sharp sent me something amusing she got in her Email box from the Human Rights Campaign. It was an Action Alert letter with a title at the top saying “2008, the Year To Win”:
“Should a leading [...]

“Facta Non Verba”, Latin phrase translated to “Deeds Not Words” A good friend of mine, longtime national trans activist Courtney Sharp sent me something amusing she got in her Email box from the Human Rights Campaign. It was an Action Alert letter with a title at the top saying “2008, the Year To Win”: “Should a leading presidential candidate get away with ignoring the facts and going back on his word? Not on our watch. Last month, Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee stood by ... Read More

Categories: ENDA, HRC, activism, homophobia, sexual orientation

Fallout From The MTCP HRC Grant Continues

by Marti Abernathey

The fallout from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition acceptance of a grant from the Human Rights Campaign continues. This press release comes from the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA).
Massachusetts Chapter of TAVA breaks ties with local advocacy group
January 11, 2008
Transgender American Veterans Association
Contact: Monica F. Helms
President@tavausa.org
www.tavausa.org
In a decisive move today, Michael West, the Chair of [...]

The fallout from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition acceptance of a grant from the Human Rights Campaign continues. This press release comes from the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA). Massachusetts Chapter of TAVA breaks ties with local advocacy group January 11, 2008 Transgender American Veterans Association Contact: Monica F. Helms President@tavausa.org www.tavausa.org In a decisive move today, Michael West, the Chair of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (MATAVA,) informed the new Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Gunner Scott, and another board member, Holly ... Read More

Categories: HRC, MTPC

Stanton Speaks Out

by Marti Abernathey

Susan Stanton has finally responded publicly to the fallout to horrible St. Petersburg Times article. Lou Chibbaro Jr. of the Washington Blade interviewed Stanton, saying:
‘Susan has said all along that she’s not like other transgender people,’ feature writer Lane DeGregory wrote in the St. Petersburg Times article. ‘She feels uncomfortable even looking at some, “like [...]

Susan Stanton has finally responded publicly to the fallout to horrible St. Petersburg Times article. Lou Chibbaro Jr. of the Washington Blade interviewed Stanton, saying: 'Susan has said all along that she’s not like other transgender people,' feature writer Lane DeGregory wrote in the St. Petersburg Times article. 'She feels uncomfortable even looking at some, "like I’m seeing a bunch of men in dresses," ' DeGregory quoted her as saying. That quote triggered a firestorm of criticism from transgender bloggers, who said Stanton appeared ... Read More

Categories: HRC, Stanton

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Accepts HRC Grant

by Marti Abernathey

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTCP) announced today:
MTPC is buttressed by milestone grants, including a $25,000 Civic Engagement Grant from Boston Foundation and $25,000 total in four phases from Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), including $10,000 immediately as a challenge grant to urge other organizations to follow suit. Other contributions are being made by [...]

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTCP) announced today: MTPC is buttressed by milestone grants, including a $25,000 Civic Engagement Grant from Boston Foundation and $25,000 total in four phases from Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), including $10,000 immediately as a challenge grant to urge other organizations to follow suit. Other contributions are being made by MTPC's legislative partners MassEquality, Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association (MLGBA), Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc. (AAC). Considering the ... Read More

Categories: HRC, MTPC, Massachusetts, NCTE

Unfortunate Comments, Unfortunate Volleys and Unfortunate Silence

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

by Vanessa Edwards Foster
Words in papers, words in books,
Words on TV, words for crooks …
Eat your words but don’t go hungry.
Words have always nearly hung me. — Wordy Rappinghood, Tom Tom Club “I’d rather be hated for what I am than loved for what I’m not.” — rapper Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys
For the [...]

by Vanessa Edwards Foster Words in papers, words in books, Words on TV, words for crooks … Eat your words but don’t go hungry. Words have always nearly hung me. — Wordy Rappinghood, Tom Tom Club "I'd rather be hated for what I am than loved for what I'm not." — rapper Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys For the record, I was one of the folks Meredith Bacon wrote to regarding National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) ever working with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) again. ... Read More

Categories: HRC, NCTE

Desperately Seeking Susan

by Vanessa Edwards Foster

by Vanessa Edwards Foster
I traveled round the world looking for a home.I found myself in crowded rooms feeling so alone. — Substitute For Love, Madonna
Baby, although I chose this lonely life it seems it’s stranglin’ me now.All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic cars; they’re all laughin’ at the lie. Oh, I’ve been used Ooo-ooh. [...]

by Vanessa Edwards Foster I traveled round the world looking for a home.I found myself in crowded rooms feeling so alone. — Substitute For Love, Madonna Baby, although I chose this lonely life it seems it's stranglin' me now.All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic cars; they're all laughin' at the lie. Oh, I've been used Ooo-ooh. I've been a fool – oh, what a fool!I broke all the rules – oh, yeah! But I must let the show go on — The Show ... Read More

Categories: HRC, NCTE, Stanton