5/17/10

Belarus and Slavic Gay Pride Marchers Hunted Down and Jailed By Police.

Live updates about the human rights violations being committed by police against the Belarus and Slavic Gay Pride marchers. As of Sunday 8 remain in imprisoned for holding our flag and walking down the street. Via tweeter MizzM2_bi
Belarus: gay pride march violently attacked: http://bit.ly/cv2iCX via web



Blogging from Belarus and Slavic Gay Pride

5/16/10

Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amended to Include Gender Identity

Changes to will go into effect November 1, unless Congress disaproves.

source the Leadership Confrence: The U.S. Sentencing Commission recently adopted changes to the federal sentencing guidelines to permit crimes in which the victim is intentionally selected on the basis of gender identity to be eligible for sentencing enhancements.

The federal sentencing guidelines are rules that set out a uniform policy for sentencing people convicted of felonies and Class A misdemeanors in federal courts. The new rule will apply to every federal crime and is designed to align federal guidelines with the recently enacted hate crime law, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which authorizes the federal government to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

Many civil and human rights organizations supported the proposed changes, including Human Rights Campaign, the Anti-Defamation League, and The Leadership Conference. "This is the first time gender identity has been included in the sentencing guidelines – and another ancillary benefit of enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act," said Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the Anti-Defamation League.

The commission has submitted the changes to Congress and if Congress doesn't disapprove them before November 1, they will go into effect. Source The Leadership Confrence, May 14, 2010

Also from HRC:


Source HRC Back Story: "The U.S. Sentencing Commission has promulgated amendments [PDF] to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines after receiving public comment, including comment submitted in March by the Human Rights Campaign, along with the Anti-Defamation League, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the National Council for Jewish Women. In our public comment, we wrote to ensure that amendments were promulgated to make the Guidelines conform with the recently enacted Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act."

"The amendments promulgated by the Commission broaden the Guidelines to include the new hate crime offense in the criminal division of the Guidelines that applies to “offenses involving individual rights.” The Commission’s amendments also expanded the definition of a hate crime in its penalty enhancement provision to include victims who were targeted because of their gender identity (the penalty enhancement provision of the Guidelines already accounted for hate crimes based on sexual orientation). These amendments are an important step towards fully implementing the federal hate crimes law passed last year, and HRC remains committed to seeing that the federal hate crimes law is well-implemented and firmly enforced."

"The Commission submitted these amendments to Congress on April 29th and they will be enacted if they are not disapproved by Congress before November 1st." Source HRC Back Story may 11, 2010

Great work HRC. Thank you!

5/15/10

TO Transfolk

Dear Q Cinema Patron, please consider this handout especially if you decide to view "Ticked off Tra**ies With Knives" (TO*WK)

**THIS MOVIE GROSSLY MISREPRESENTS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE**

Transgender people lack adequate representation in legitimate cinema. Therefore, TO*WK's potential for negative stereotyping damage is exponentially multiplied in that:

1) The film, its title and its marketing misrepresent the lives of transgender women and glorifies grotesque, exploitative depictions of violence in ways that make light of the horrific brutality they all too often face.

2) Although TO*WK positions itself in the transgender narrative, it isn't really even about transfolk as a whole.

3) “Tranny” is a pejorative word. This movie suggests the caviler use of the word is acceptable.

5) TO*WK has been billed as a revenge fantasy mixed with camp humor. Most movies suspend reality for the viewer, but because the transgender community more commonly experience violence, this movie fails to be humorous.

The real transgender woman or man is a blessing. We are loving, considerate, intelligent and most of all, we are not expendable or violent caricatures. Please bring that knowledge home with you when you leave and the next time you chance to meet a transgender person may you regard her or him differently.



Pamela and I feel the meat of our message is contained in this handout. With the correct font it will convey our talking points well.



If you agree I will send this and our longer statement to Stephanie Stevens for word checks.

--- On Sat, 5/15/10, Pamela Curry wrote:



From: Pamela Curry
Subject: Re: Hand out
To: "Kelli Busey"
Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 12:28 PM


Looks great; enlarge the fonts for impact make sure it just fills the page

On 5/15/2010 12:24 PM, Kelli Busey wrote:
Dear Q Cinema Patron, please consider this about "Ticked Off Trannies With Knives"(TO*WK).

**THIS MOVIE GROSSLY MISREPRESENTS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE**

Transgender people lack adequate representation in legitimate cinema. Therefore, TO*WK's potential for negative stereotyping damage is exponentially multiplied in that:

1) The film, its title and its marketing misrepresent the lives of transgender women and glorifies grotesque, exploitative depictions of violence in ways that make light of the horrific brutality they all too often face.

The number of Transgender Deaths had doubled in 2009 since the previous TDOR. As of November 2009 there had been 101 deaths, calculated for the same time frame the year before there were 47 http://bit.ly/aEqSxm

Satistics: Transgender Day of Remberance
http://www.transgenderdor.org/?page_id=4

The National Transgender Center for Transgender Equality Discrimination Survey conducted with The Task Force, found that 97% of the respondents had been harassed or mistreated on the job and 26% had been fired. http://www.transequality.org/

2) Although TO*WK positions itself in the transgender narrative, it isn't really even about transfolk as a whole.

3) “Tranny” is a pejorative word when used in a defamatory manner. This movie suggests the caviler use of the word is acceptable.

5) TO*WK has been billed as a revenge fantasy mixed with camp humor. Most movies suspend reality for the viewer, but because the transgender community more commonly experience violence, this movie fails to be humorous.

The real transgender woman or man is a blessing. We are loving, considerate, intelligent and most of all, we are not expendable or violent caricatures. Please bring that knowledge home with you when you leave and the next time you chance to meet a transgender person may you regard her or him differently.


******************************


Pamela and I feel the meat of our message is contained in this handout. With the correct font it will convey our talking points well.



If you agree I will send this and our longer statement to Stephanie Stevens for word checks.

--- On Sat, 5/15/10, Pamela Curry wrote:



From: Pamela Curry
Subject: Re: Hand out
To: "Kelli Busey"
Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 12:28 PM


Looks great; enlarge the fonts for impact make sure it just fills the page

On 5/15/2010 12:24 PM, Kelli Busey wrote:


Dear Q Cinema Patron, please consider this about "Ticked Off Trannies With Knives"(TO*WK).

**THIS MOVIE GROSSLY MISREPRESENTS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE**

Transgender people lack adequate representation in legitimate cinema. Therefore, TO*WK's potential for negative stereotyping damage is exponentially multiplied in that:

1) The film, its title and its marketing misrepresent the lives of transgender women and glorifies grotesque, exploitative depictions of violence in ways that make light of the horrific brutality they all too often face.

2) Although TO*WK positions itself in the transgender narrative, it isn't really even about transfolk as a whole.

3) “Tranny” is a pejorative word. This movie suggests the caviler use of the word is acceptable.

5) TO*WK has been billed as a revenge fantasy mixed with camp humor. Most movies suspend reality for the viewer, but because the transgender community more commonly experience violence, this movie fails to be humorous.

The real transgender woman or man is a blessing. We are loving, considerate, intelligent and most of all, we are not expendable or violent caricatures. Please bring that knowledge home with you when you leave and the next time you chance to meet a transgender person may you regard her or him differently.

5/14/10

Chanel Larkin Milwaukee Trans Woman Murdered

Another Transwoman of color stolen from us.

Pride Fest Milwaukee "FORGE is deeply saddened to report the death of Dana A. Larkin (also known as Dade and Chanel), 26, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Larkin was killed on Friday, May 7, 2010, in part because of anti-transgender hate bias."

"While we are grateful that the suspected killer has been caught, we urge the District Attorney to consider adding a hate crime charge to the current charge of first-degree reckless homicide. We also note that some media outlets have been inaccurately characterizing Larkin's gender and pronouns; we encourage the respectful, consistent use of feminine pronouns to refer to her."

"FORGE sends its condolences to Dana's family and friends. We also note that when anyone is killed or harmed in a hate-motivated crime, those who share the victim's identity are harmed as well, and may react with the same fear, anger, and despair as other crime victims. We ask our community members to be caring, compassionate, and supportive of each other as we all try to cope with this terrible crime."

Despite assurances from NCTE Barney Frank say's there will be Gender police.

Full disclosure by Washington transgender groups demanded. Talk about the real reason ENDA is failing transgender people.

Washington Post "Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., the chief whip for the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate House Democrats, says he opposes voting on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act this year. Shuler also said he "can't imagine" the bill will make it to the House floor. Meanwhile, some Democrats on Capitol Hill say while a vote is still expected, they worry that Republicans will try to derail the bill by offering motions that could weaken its transgender provisions."

"Frank says he understands why moderate Republicans and politically vulnerable Democrats have "some uneasiness" about the issue. He has addressed two of the bigger concerns: workplace bathroom use and the appearance of transgender employees."

"People aren't going to be disrobing" in the bathroom in front of colleagues "with the opposite set of genitals," Frank explained. To that end, he said, the bill would seek to protect employers from lawsuits."

"The other issue, he said, is the "mustache and dress" (ick) factor involving transgender employees and the reactions of clients and customers. Employers would be able to enforce what Frank called "consistent gender presentation." Washington Post 5/13


I'll be a monkeys aunt if that ain't the penis police.

Pussy cops?

Frank, you will have make sure there ain't no pussies in the men's room. I mean, gender expression swings both ways. No smooth faces or effeminate sissies. Only knuckle dragging neanderthals allowed in this men's room by golly. We're grabbing crotches and you better have a working package and a face full of stubble or your OUT'a HERE!

Who's the deputy dog? It's your boss. UNBELEVIABLE!

ENDA up in the crapper again.

5/13/10

TELL your Congressperson a FULLY Inclusive ENDA or Nothing!

There has been firestorm generated by Congressman Barney Franks statements recently reported by Roll Call.com that essentially said Frank has bargained away the rights we are granted by common decency to appease 'moderate' Democrats in order to get votes to move ENDA.

Since ENDA HR(3017) remains in committee and the exact wording has not been released it is only conjecture that the bill will have a harmful affect on our lives but why wait untill it is TOO LATE to ADVOCATE?

Tell Frank and your Legislators you will not accept "Human Rights" legislation that dehumanizes you.

A link provided by Dr, Julian Weiss, co chair Inclusive Enda provides a one click link to your congressional representative, and I would recommend copying and pasting the following message to personalize the one provided by Julian to make your ENDA message gender inclusive;

Copy this, then click the link below to the Inclusive ENDA letter, paste it there to make your message unambiguous that you demand full rights even when we pee.

Transgender people have in the absence of the final wording of ENDA been given information that our rights to use the correct restroom are being bargained away in order to get votes to pass the House version of ENDA. This is unacceptable.

We demand full equality especially from legislation that portends to be a human rights bill.

Do not include stipulations that segregates transgender people or disallows pre SRS transgender people from using the correct restroom whether it is a multiple stall facility or not.

Do not include language that allows a employer to make a subjective judgement about the stage of our transitions.

Representative, if you can not create a bill that at least allows us the privilege to life that we enjoy now do not include transgender people in ENDA!


Then click Enda123 to send your message!