11/27/12

Carnival To Drag Stars At Sea: Caribbean Adventure - Revenge of the Wench Queens: Dressing In Drag Is Not Allowed

Just 6 day before the biggest gay drag cruise of the year Carnival Cruise sent a email to all the queens who purchased tickets on this cruise. Ticket vendor "Al and Chuck" posted this on their facebook wall in response:

Dear Valued Guests and Friends,

We hope that this brief note finds you well.
By now, we are sure that most of you traveling with us on the upcoming Drag Stars At Sea: Caribbean Adventure - Revenge of the Wench have received Carnival's letter regarding their regulations concerning costumes and masks (under which traditional "DRAG" falls under).

We are sympathetic to your sentiments that you have ...expressed via email and social media. As a gay man who has been partnered for 25 years, I have suffered many forms of discriminations because I am part of the GLBT community. But please take note, Carnival's regulation is NOT an example of discrimination. Carnival is an ally of the GLBT community. Please understand that this cruise could not even be happening on the GLORY if Carnival was not an ally of our segment of society. When they say they are a "family friendly" cruise line they mean it in both the traditional and metaphorical sense of the phrase.

Carnival's "no costumes rule" is NOT meant to be an insult to the gay community. As a gay business, we would not have organized this cruise if they were prejudiced against gay people. This rule goes for both GAY and STRAIGHT passengers that travel on all Carnival cruises. It is in response to the post-911 world we live in. It is meant to protect passengers and guests - NOT to marginalize a few.

Additionally, we know that transgendered (note to al, it's transgender) members of our community will be aboard with us during this event. Please do not worry, Carnivals rule is not meant towards you. Your right to live your identity is always supported.


Finally, Drag Stars At Sea is a cruise venue for you to meet the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. Just as you would not go in costume (other than on Halloween) to a club to see them perform, neither should you on the GLORY. Again, our desire was always to bring this incredible talent together in one place for you to enjoy along with all the other benefits of the VALUE of a mixed guest cruise. We pointed out to you that a private charter (and they are excellent cruises) can be DOUBLE what you are paying for this experience. This is an opportunity for your favorite entertainers to shine for YOU! We will of course, still have our parties and events aboard (the rules of which are outlined in your travel package) for you to join in on the fun.

Ultimately, let's use this opportunity to set an example so that all the world can see that the GLBT community can follow rules and regulations just like everyone else. Finally, I want to say from the bottom of my heart, we have done our absolute best in creating this event. We have tried to communicate effectively and bring you the best possible experience, which we believe would not be available to you any other way. At the end of the cruise, I hope you will agree with my sentiment humbly expressed here.

Chuck and I look forward to meeting you on board....we promise you the best time of your lives!

Sincerely,
Al Ferguson"
Al and Chuck are still selling tickets to this cruise even though you are not welcome. I am though Queens unless I'm mistaken for one of you. They made that exception for transgender people's identity.

"....family friendly" cruise line they mean it in both the traditional and metaphorical sense of the phrase.
Wait, wait-y just a trans/gay/cis/drag intersectional moment. WHAT? So by Al's good graces and his interpretation of Carnivals discriminatory rules I am not so metaphoricaly freakishly threatening to national security I can cruise authentically? Sweet!  Oh oh..But what happens when I show up in my brand new string bikini Al? That will send the kiddies running for the national security stun gun for sure and I'll be walking with the queens. splash.

Carnival needs to rename this adventure. "I smell the wretched stench of neoconservative bible throwing bitches cruise"





11/25/12

Stacie Laughton, First Transgender NH Lawmaker A Convicted Felon

 
Only one person in the Granite State knew of the criminal history of the first transgender legislator elected in New Hampshire.  But it wasn't for sure any of the pro LGBT writers like me as I scrambled to applaud her win.

Evidently Laughton served 4 1/2 months for 2008 for conspiracy to commit credit card fraud. Laughton's probation ended on November 22, 2010. She was ordered to pay $1,991 in restitution, of which $1,706 remains unpaid. And the rap sheet goes on and on....

Stacie Marie Laughton posted these two statements on her Facebook page this weekend.

"I am sorry for the people that can't let my past go. I have made mistakes just like everyone else. No one is perfect. I don't want to talk about my past nor do I care about my past. I live for today and my future. If you want to talk about me please by all means do so. At least your leaving someone else alone. That is all I have to say about it."

1588 voters voted in the most recent election I thank them for their vote of confidence in me. Over the years I have worked hard to change myself to better myself so that I may be a better servant to my community. While I work hard everyday to better my community republicans from across the state have nothing better to do then to dig into my past to use it against me from this moment on all that m...
atters is the hard work and dedication that I will show for the citizens of my district. We all have things in our past that we are not proud of and that we can not erase, but we are all human beings and human beings are capable of change. So please keep an open mind as we move forward together."
Read the lowdown on Laughton at the Laconia Daily Sun. It ain't pretty.

I really don't know if Laughton broke any laws in New Hampshire but I do know she broke a scared bond of trust. By not making her past public knowledge before running she has compromised all transgender peoples integrity especially other politicians. There won't be a Radfem, anti trans politician or hater of any kind that will not use this to the fullest extent they can.

I mean as a transgender blogger and advocate am I supposed to run a criminal history check on our community's icons before I write about them? Oh course we all have history, some more than others but....if you are going to run for office and use my communities good standing to do so you better be forthcoming about any felonies.



11/24/12

Russian Judge Exonerates Madonna But Threatened to Eject Journalists

...for laughing. You remember the Moscow and St Petersburg concerts this summer when Madonna stood up for Pussy Riot and gay people. She was slapped with a 10 Million dollar lawsuit by Christian hate mongering fundamentalists much like Illinois Family Institute. They claimed this performance basically emasculated a entire generation of Russians.

That sent the typically stoic machismo Russian media present into fits of laughter because really, Madonna was pretty fucking hot. Really hot. Well, in case you haven't heard the Judge tossed the lawsuit.





November December's Frock and Roll for Your Pleasure:)

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Uganda Kill Transgender Bill Is Up For A Vote. AGAIN


The kill gay bill  is on the way to the Ugandan Parliament, again.

"They beat her to a pulp". Not a totally uncommon tragedy worldwide for transsexuals but what makes the situation untenable for transgender Ugandans is receiving medical care afterwards is nearly impossible.This is how bad the situation is for trans Ugandans before a draconian Kill LGBT bill.

For a trans or gay person thats just One Day In Uganda

The bill in it's previous versions included language demanding the death penalty but according to Melanie Nathan  that provision might have been removed. However it would still mandate life in prison for people convicted of "Aggravated Homosexuality". Important to note, footage of the LGBT people in the below video is old and totally out of context to the current situation in Uganda.



SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda) Statement defines what this means:
This Bill's provisions are draconian. Among them, the Bill states that:

“Any person alleged to be homosexual would be at risk of life imprisonment or in some circumstances the death penalty”

“Any parent who does not denounce their lesbian daughter or gay son to the authorities would face fines of $2,650 or three years in prison”

create a gif
“Any teacher who does not report a lesbian or gay pupil to the authorities within 24 hours would face the same penalties”

“And any landlord or landlady who happens to give housing to a suspected homosexual would risk 7 years of imprisonment”

Similarly, the Bill threatens to punish or ruin the reputation of anyone who works with the gay or lesbian population, such as medical doctors working on HIV/AIDS, Civil Society leaders active in the fields of sexual and reproductive health; or even religious leaders providing guidance and counseling to people who are unsure of their sexuality or any other consultations. There are claims that the bill has been watered down, however we reiterate our position that we condemn this bill in its entirety.

The existing law has already been employed in an arbitrary way, and this Bill will just intensify that effect. Since it’s first reading, increased campaigns of hate have continued uncontrolled. The violence directed at homosexual Ugandans has resulted in the unwarranted arrests of many people and closure of educational workshops for LGBT persons. We have documented about 17 cases in and outside various courts all over Uganda. These acts of violence have now resulted in murder and suicide of LGBT Ugandans. SMUG’s Advocacy and Litigation Officer David Kato who was brutally murdered at his house in January 2011.

We've Stopped This Bill Before and We MUST AGAIN! Please sign the Petition AND Share

The reality is the Government with the encouragement of American Christians are using us as scape goats to distract and encourage a willing disgruntled majority to hate on our minority while they profit from the rape of their own county's children.



We are acting globally again but without your voice we are one less. Please sign the Petition AND Share.

I love you for doing that. Thank you family.




11/23/12

TransWoman Donna R. Perry A Person of Interest In Three Spokane Cold case Murders

1989 photo of Perry who was then in his late 30's
Convicted felon, post-op Donna R. Perry AKA Douglas is being held on unrelated weapons charges is now a person of interest in the 1990 cold case slayings of three prostitutes in Spokane.

*Update 12/24/12 Police find 22 caliber rounds, the same kind used to murder Sapp, Lowe and Brisbois in a car previously owned by Perry.

According to a 1990 LA Times article Yolanda Sapp, Nickie Lowe and Kathleen Brisbois "were all heroin-addicted prostitutes whose bodies were left along the Spokane River. They had been shot and dumped from a car."

Source: Spokesman.com "The case broke wide open on Sept. 14 when the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory technician found a database hit on Perry, who was arrested in March in Spokane and was in federal custody in Carswell, Texas."
"Perry was arrested here after a retired detective saw her buying ammo and a pistol magazine at the White Elephant store in Spokane Valley. The detective knew Perry is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms."

Its not all about impersonal 'cold cases' that happened perhaps before many readers were born. its about family. I found this on a Spokane reporter Chelsea Kopta facebook  wall:


The press release from the Spokane County Sheriff Dept:

Detectives would like to speak with (maybe one of us?) any known associates of each of the three victims, as well as anyone who may have had contact with Douglas Perry during the late 1980's to early 1990's. In particular, detectives are searching for anyone that may have purchased a firearm from Perry, during this period of time.

Anyone with any information that may assist detectives with these cold cases are asked to contact SCSO Detective Jim Dresback at 509-477-2714 JDresback@spokanesheriff.org or SPD Detective Mark Burbridge at 509-625-4262 info-mburbridge@spokanepolice.org.