LGBT High School discrimination in Fulton MS Demands we support HR 4530

Why must we wait for the next tragedy to arouse our passions sufficiently that we act to protect our LGBT children?

kdvr.com WESTMINSTER - Congressman Jared Polis introduced H.R. 1450, known as "The Student Anti-Discrimination Act", in January, two months before anyone outside of Fulton, Miss. knew the name Constance McMillen.

But McMillen's story, that of an 18-year-old lesbian who wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom and the school district that canceled the prom for the entire school, has gotten national attention -- and, Polis said, highlighted anew the need for his bill, which would extend civil rights protections to students who are discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.


"What a shame that the school district said no prom for anybody," Polis said. "No one's going to have any fun, just because they didn't like the date one girl was taking. I mean, what a ridiculous example of why we need to protect kids from this kind of thing -- and, obviously, there's a lot more serious cases than that. In other cases, gay and lesbian kids are getting beat up and even killed."

Learn about HR 4530 "The Student Anti-Discrimination Act".

Click here to write your Congressional representative in support of HR 4530

LGBT Task Force Marches On DC For Immigration Reform

MEDIA CONTACT:
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications(Office)
646.358.1463(Cell) 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org

Task Force: Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform this year

National LGBT rights group to join thousands at this Sunday’s
national march on Washington, D.C., to demand Congress pass
comprehensive immigration reform

WASHINGTON, March 17 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a longtime advocate for comprehensive and humane immigration reform, is joining thousands of people from across the country for the March 21 mass mobilization on the nation’s capital to demand Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform this year. The Task Force is an official endorser of the March for America and will be marching behind its banner at the event. (For those wishing to march with the Task Force, meet at 12:30 p.m. at 12th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Just look for the Task Force banner).

During her annual State of the LGBT Movement speech just last month, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey vowed the Task Force would continue to “stand with our allies in the immigration reform movement, come what may.”

“If we are truly a community and a movement committed to freedom, justice and equality then reforming our nation's cruel and broken immigration system must be on our agenda for action. Today, there are 12 million undocumented immigrants, including at least half a million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who are forced to live in the shadows of our society,” she said, later adding, “And, of course, there are at least 36,000 binational couples who cannot live together here in this country because federal law bans recognition of their relationships. So, yes, immigration reform is an LGBT issue.

”The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund is advocating for the inclusion of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) in any comprehensive immigration reform. The measure would end discrimination against LGBT binational families and provide Americans in same-sex relationships the same opportunity to sponsor their partners for residency in the United States. It’s estimated that more than 36,000 such couples are facing separation, or currently living separately or abroad, due to existing discriminatory policies that UAFA’s passage would end.

Complete press release here

Black market hormones put trans folks’ lives in danger

Cross posted from McGill Daily

A couple of summers ago, I met a transwoman in New York City who was planning on ordering estrogen and an anti-androgen over the Internet. She had conducted meticulous research and claimed to have figured out the proper dosage, given her weight, her medical history, and other factors.

My reaction: “Isn’t that dangerous?”

Hormones produce sweeping effects on the body. In addition to encouraging the development of secondary sex characteristics, hormones also affect one’s libido, alcohol tolerance, and behaviour. Testosterone affects heart functioning and can increase the risk of sleep apnea. Estrogen generally produces sterility in transwomen in under a year.

Many buyers lack the information to determine the correct dosage, which varies from person to person. And without the help of medical providers, most people either cannot or do not monitor their hormone levels – which is necessary to prevent harmful effects.

The way you take hormones can produce additional risks. Hormone pills strain the liver, which has to process the hormones that one’s body produces naturally and those delivered by the pills at the same time. Hormone injections necessarily involve needle use – without safeguards, some people use unclean needles or share them with other people, increasing the risk of spreading HIV and other infections.

The black market also leaves buyers without legal protections. Unscrupulous sellers can scam them by providing impure dosages or substituting the wrong substance without legal repercussions.

Despite all of these risks, I never had to wonder why she chose that way to transition. For her, the other options were extreme depression or suicide. When those are the alternative, dangerous choices make sense.

Continue reading at http://mcgilldaily.com/articles/28604

ENDA Now or Never Trans-Advocates March on DC

The not so distant beat of war drums is a irrefutable reminder, the republicans relentlessly attack, culling the herd of the weakest and unwary. Meanwhile the dithering democrats, afraid to publicly hold our hands are throwing away the only opportunity transgender people may ever have to pass ENDA.

And the Drums go on

March has arrived. One calendar year after the last of two House Education and Labor hearings unequivocally illustrated the need transgender people have for work place protections
.

One year after the House Education and Labor chairman George Miller stated for the second time after the second consecutive hearing that he fully supported a gender inclusive ENDA.

One more year of congressional excuses, vacations and other priorities. One more year that house representatives enjoyed exorbitant salaries and incredible publicly financed health care.

One more year of high unemployment and underemployment desecrating the ranks of transgender people helplessly victimized by tyrannical employers.

And the DRUMS go on.

One more year of our people suffering and dieing because we can't see a DOCTOR.

MARCH on Washington. No more excuses Speaker Pelosi. MOVE ENDA NOW.

Punch these buttons 202-225-4965. Call Speaker Pelosi's office and demand she move ENDA NOW!

http://www.facebook.com/kellibusey#!/pages/Let-Constance-Take-Her-Girlfriend-to-Prom/357686784817
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