3/14/14

Transgender woman Monica Jones stands trial today for walking while trans and refusing Catholic "Project Rose"

Monica Jones was arrested one night after protesting Arizona's failed religious anti LGBT legislation for 'manifesting prostitution" while walking while trans.

Since Jones hadn't been previously charged with similar 'crimes' Ms. Jones was offered a deferral if she enrolled in the Catholic "Project Rose" and successfully completed it.

However, Ms. Jones is fighting back refusing the plea and religious programming despite being repeatedly harassed by police.

Moskal-Dairman is certain her friend was profiled, saying Jones was stopped multiple times after the initial run-in with the undercover officer and that SWOP-Phoenix has video of police profiling Jones and using discriminatory language against her.

“She was profiled as a sex worker because she’s a trans woman of color. She is not guilty,” Moskal-Dairman said.

Jones has sequentially becoming a local and national icon for the woman previously targeted by this program with it's 70% fail rate.

The programs co founder was recorded in the video below saying she believes that once a woman prostitutes herself she will forever remain burdened with shame.

Once you have prostituted yourself,  having so many body parts in your body, and doing so many weird and freaky things you can never have not have not prostituted.

No argument there. Once you become indoctrinated with Catholicism you will be forever shameful.

Monica isn't the first one to suffer the consequences of speaking up. Al Jazeera reporter Jordan Flaherty was fired and his 2013 article "Arizona's tenacious laws against sex workers US state's initiative that aimed to improve prostitutes' lives has brought "no real reform" as harsh penalties persist" was deleted. You can still read Jordans article here.

Update!
Monica's trial has been postponed due to a constitutional challenge to the Manifestation of Intent to Prostitute’ Statute. Read about it at here


Sex Work In Phoenix from news clips on Vimeo.

Al Jazeera has since published a watered down version of their original article but RT has taken up the slack by publishing Sex workers in Arizona given choice of therapy in church or arrest.

The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian brake it down, jail or church.







3/13/14

Commission's study finds no reason to ban transgender people from military service

A study on the feasibility of transgender troops in the military was released today by the Palm Center. The commission co-chaired by former US Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders and former Coast Guard Director of Health and Safety Alan Steinman found that the ban on transgender service was not only unreasonable but empirically unsound.

The Palm Center study which was funded by a billionaire transgender woman from Chicago, retired colonel Jennifer Natalya Pritzker, reported that the commission.....

"..[] finds no compelling medical rationale for banning transgender military service.."
The Military has changed many of it's regulations to reflect the updated DSM but hasn't done this regarding transgender service even though the DSM no longer classifies gender diversity as a mental illness.

Brynn Tannehill, Advocacy coordinator for Sparta an organization advocating for LGBT inclusion in the US military issued this statement:  
"The Elders Report validates some of the things we have seen from our transgender service members in SPARTA. Transgender people have served, currently serve, and will continue to serve - Marines, pilots, medics, foot soldiers, intelligence specialists, submariners, in every field - with honor and distinction. We are more than capable."

The United States Military ranks number 40 out of 103 countries studied by The Hague Commission  regarding LGBT inclusion. The survey found the United States low ranking was mainly due to the exclusion of transgender people.

Retired Brigadier General Thomas Kolditz, a former Army commander and West Point professor on the commission, said he thinks allowing transgender people to serve openly would reduce gender-based harassment, assaults and suicides while enhancing national security.
"When you closet someone, you create a security risk, and we don't need another Chelsea Manning," Kolditz said, referring to the soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning who came out as transgender after being sentenced for leaking classified documents to the website WikiLeaks.
Source SF Gate

The findings by the Palm Center and the Hague studies will undoubtedly be challenged by the likes of the Center for Military Readiness. Although founded by a woman the center has opposed woman in combat roles and recently derided Chelsea Manning's transition.


3/9/14

Manoj Shahi Monika may become the first transgender person to successfully climb Mount Everest

Manoj Shahi Monika, a third gender from Kailali, Nepal could be the first documented transgender person to climb Mount Everest, but to do that the 35 year old must first make summit. The climb made famous by the book Into Thin Air is fraught with dangers that have maimed and killed many who have tempted fate.

There is a saying in mountaineering "Getting up is optional and getting down is mandatory."

“I cannot afford to miss the opportunity to make the record for climbing Everest as the member from the LGBT community,” said Monika, who wants to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

"Third Sex" photo Blue Diamond Society

Monika dreams to flutter the national flag together with a banner of Blue Diamond Society, an organisation working for LGBT community in Nepal, at the top of the peak.

However, Monika isn't the first transgender person to be on Mount Everest, not by a long shot. Nineteen years before Hillary and Norgay successful summit, British climber Maurice Wilson attempted and possibly reached the peak. Little is known or written about Wilson's 1933 climb because she was transgender, or mad, as gender diversity was deemed then.

A transgender woman, Jan Morris, known at the time as James, had the coveted role as the sole reporter on the mountain when Hillary and Norgay made the first known successful climb.

I haven't been able to locate any further information about Monika's expedition but being the Mount Everest aficionado that I am I will certainly update this when I learn more.

The highest peak in the world 


Pussy Riot horse whipped, pepper sprayed by police in Sochi and attacked in a McDonalds


Russian punk group Pussy Riot is attacked by Cossack militia as they try to perform under a sign for the Sochi Olympics.

Cossack militia attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with horsewhips on Wednesday as the group staged an impromptu performance under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics.
Six group members — five women and one man — donned their signature ski masks and were pulling out a guitar and microphone when at least 10 Cossacks and other security officials moved in.

One guard appeared to use pepper spray, another whipped several group members while others ripped off their masks and threw the guitar in a rubbish bin.

Police arrived and questioned witnesses, but no one was arrested.

Source: APTN

"No one was arrested" even though the attack on Pussy Riot violates Federal law adopted by the Duma "ensuring the implementation of the Constitution of the Russian Federation established the rights of Russian citizens to assemble peacefully without arms, hold meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets."



Then in March Putin's murderers attacked Maria and Nadia while they were eating in a McDonald's after visiting prisoners in the stalag they were jailed in. Western soldiers, take a good look at the thugs attacking these woman. Its a very good possibility the next place you see them will be on the battlefield. Be ready.

3/8/14

Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center

The Southern Poverty Law Center has decreed The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) a hate group.

The lawyer group that failed to undo California marriage equality and transgender student fairness laws, costing taxpayers millions defending their citizens have earned a just(ice) reward for their efforts.

The petition drive to force a public vote on transgender student's rights as unconscionable is it was, wasn't what earned them the lowest of designations.

Although the PJI was largely responsible for soliciting money to fund the professional signature gathers, that wasn't the reason for their new moniker. Nether was it unto it self the fear mongering by the signature gathers who prodded Californians into unwittingly endorse the petition.

PJI's tactics as despicable as they were, probably wouldn't have spurred the SPLC to action, it was what the PJI did outside of California that rendered them a hate group.

The PJI unable to find a single instance where a transgender student violated personal space inside the state found a vulnerable transgender student in Colorado to target. Armed with fictional 'proof' the PJI unmercifully hounded the girl until she was near suicide.



The PJI discredited by Cristan William's fact checking didn't admit lying instead proceeded to use a wider bigot's brush and continued to attack this child.

Cristan Williams has documented her magnificent part in #JD4PJI: The downfall of the Pacific Justice Institute and the sweet victory of trans youth at the TransAdvocate.

That's why the PJI is rightfully denoted as an active hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

This grass roots defense of California transgender students by the trans community and our allies is a major victory. We didn't ask for this fight, but let it be known, if you want to do battle, we are ready.

SPLC designated Active Hate Group


3/7/14

Transgender woman Chloie Jönsson sues Crossfit for 2.5 Million after being told she had to compete with men

Chloie Jönsson is suing for Rebox CrossFit for 2.5 Million dollars after receiving a letter reeking of cisgenderism and transphobia telling her she could not participate with other woman in the March Cross Fit Games.

In a letter obtained by TMZ Sports  from CrossFit to her she was told "We have simply ruled that based upon [Chloie] being born as a male, she will need to compete in the Men's Division."

CF argues ... "The fundamental, ineluctable fact is that a male competitor who has a sex reassignment procedure still has a genetic makeup that confers a physical and physiological advantage over women."


But in the letter, CF gets aggressive -- saying, "Our decision has nothing to do with 'ignorance' or being bigots -- it has to do with a very real understanding of the human genome, of fundamental biology, that you are either intentionally ignoring or missed in high school."

Crossfit goes on in the letter saying that they 'embrace' transgender athletes. But obviously not enough to allow a trans woman a chance at the $250,000.00 prize money.