1/9/13

SPACE ‘Society for People’s Awareness, Care & Empowerment’ Fights Back India's Rape Culture

India's Eunuchs responding to the recent Bus Gang Rape take the battle against the country's rape culture to the streets.

 In what could only be described as cast breaking advocacy the 'Society for People’s Awareness, Care and Empowerment’ has posted  this number 011-65647105 for victims of sexual harassment and rape to call.

They will then send a contingent of transgender people or 'Chhakka Squad’ to the perpetrators house perform skits and sing songs making this offense public knowledge.

This Incredibly powerful transgender advocacy makes me want to move to Delhi. Proud of you sisters!

Source Hindustan Times "Moved by the gruesome rape of a 23-year-old in a moving bus, eunuchs— a section of society ridiculed and abhorred by the majority, have formed a force that sarcastically calls itself ‘Chhakka Squad’. Its motive: to counter sexual harassment against women in the Capital. With brooms, jutis and play cards with hard hitting slogans, they plan to go from one locality to another and stage skits and sing songs to publicly ‘embarrass’ those who sexually harass women."

What makes this such powerful advocacy? Transgender people in India are playing it forward despite belonging to one of the country most discriminated cast.



"The 900 eunuchs, who are member of SPACE — ‘Society for People’s Awareness, Care & Empowerment’ — a human rights organisation, have also set up a helpline. Women can call on 011-65647105 to register their complaints. “If we get to know that a guy has sexually offended a girl, we will stage a dharna in front of that person’s house, follow him wherever he goes and force him to apologise,” says 24-year-old Sonia, a member of the hijra community."

“Many insult us by calling us chhakkas, but we have respect for women. Ab hum batayenge chhakke kya kar saktye hain. Hum auraton ki beizzati nahi hone dengi,” says 22-year-old Mallika." Read more at Hindustan Times







1/8/13

Uganda TransMan Pepe Julian Onziema Speaks At Scott Lively Hearing

Minister Scott Lively the 'family' point man in Uganda is spending much of his time now in American defending himself in a lawsuit charging him with crimes against humanity.

My personal hero, Pepe Onziema spoke after the motion to Dismiss hearing at Hampden Federal Courthouse, Massachusetts. The judge will issue a ruling at a later date.



Read more at Oh-blog-de-oh-blog-da.

Catholic School Fires Transitioning Teacher For Being "Worst Than Gay".

Sister Mark Krolikowski fired illegally after beginning her transition at the workplace. NYC has no religious exclusions in it's EEO laws pertaining to trans people but there is a disconcerting omission of gender expression in one crucial paragraph.

ABC news reports in a problematic story, about Mark, misgendering the her and making unverified statements about her SRS status.

ABC's story only serves to add fuel to the fire of hate mongers such as Vanguard News, the "No Jews Just Right" Network with there high google ranked story Tranny Teacher Mark Krolikowski - Fired for being Fagulous - Sues Catholic School .

ABC news, you need to fact check and present news in a unbiased manner.



1/7/13

Video Tells Viewers If Your Wife is Trans Then "Its a MAN?!? Kill IT"

A You tube video called "Its a man?!"  published December 8th 2012 by "JustKiddingNews" channel violates You Tubes community standards by using hate speech towards trans people.



The video uses language witnesses have reported hearing when trans people are murdered. The video is intentionally demeaning and dehumanizing alternately describing the victim, who was beaten by her husband  as a her, it, him and shim.

You tubes Hate speech community guidelines.

•We encourage free speech and defend everyone's right to express unpopular points of view. But we don't permit hate speech (speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/gender identity).



One click on the You Tube video BUTTON ABOVE ^ go to the You Tube site look for the little flag just below the video on the right side, click it and report them. Every click adds power to our complaint.

Hate speech directed towards trans people can come under many guises, political, religious and in this case, comedy. It's not funny to us when the last thing we remember hearing before losing consciousness is "Kill IT". Ask me I know.



1/6/13

Monika Kowalska Interviews Transgender Screen Icon Aleshia Brevard

ABC's 2002 video interview below of Aleshia Brevard sets the stage for today's byline: "We've come a long ways baby".

However interesting the ABC's piece is it doesn't delve into the real issues that define our community's experiences or do Aleshia Brevard justice. For the inside story of the first US trans screen star ever, check out Monika Kowalska's amazing blog, My Transgender Heroines.



Aleshia Brevard.com.



Al Jazeera America. How does That Effect LGBT People?

At first I was elated having used Al Jazeera often in posts. The network has proved itself to me for its unbiased worldly reporting. But then a twitter friend told me Al Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar.

Qatar, a Muslim country living under Sharia law outlaws homosexuality. Transsexuality in the gulf state is problematic at best. As best as I can tell there seems to be a culture of don't ask if you can "pass" in Qatar . However if you are stopped by the police and they decide you don't pass all bets are off.

So does Al Jazeera report about LGBT issues as well as it does other news? Depends if you are viewing the Arabic channel which has no LGBT news or the English channel which has recently begun reporting LRBT stories.

Source: IGLHRC:Al Jazeera English regularly reports on gay issues. In recent months, its coverage included segments about the gruesome murders of close to 100 gay men by al Mahdi Shi'ite militias in Iraq in 2009, the killing of gay youths in a Tel Aviv club last summer, and India's court decision to decriminalize gay sex.

But Al Jazeera's Arabic network "is not interested in covering gay rights issues the way Al Jazeera English does," says Alizadeh. Comparing Al Jazeera Arabic with Al Jazeera English "is like comparing apples and oranges." Al Jazeera Arabic is geared towards a Middle Eastern audience and does not challenge cultural values or orthodox religion, he says.


Al Jazeera America. How does That Affect LGBT People?