5/1/14

Debunking MDPetition.com Neil Parrott falsehoods for opposing the Fairness for all Marylanders Act

Maryland Republican Neil Parrott has launched an online petition drive to force a vote on the states new transgender inclusive bill, Fairness for all Marylanders Act of 2014.

During the conference Del. Parrott and House Minority Whip Kathy Szleiga said they oppose SB 212 saying it "opens bathrooms to predators, not necessarily transsexuals, but predators as they will take advantage of this bill and use the opposite gender bathroom and owners of those restrooms, like the one right behind this wall, would have no legal recourse."

In 2011, Parrott and Szleiga voted against HB235, which was much like this law  except it didn't include public accommodations. Their contention that they oppose this bill because it includes 'bathroom' provisions and would have supported legislation without it is a lie. It's especially odious that they say they are doing so because they are concerned with children's safety citing fictitious or irrelevant incidents.

"The most egregious part of this bill will require businesses to open up their public facilities (bathrooms, saunas, shower rooms, locker rooms, etc.) so that men can use the ladies’ room and women can use the men’s room."
This statement from the MDPETITION.com website is not just fear mongering, its also unequivocally false.

From the bill's text: "The bill does not apply to a private facility in a place of public accommodation, if the place of public accommodation makes available, for the use of persons whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth, a space that is functionally equivalent to the space made available to users of the private facility. The bill defines “private facility” as a facility (1) that is designed to accommodate only a particular sex; (2) that is designed to be used simultaneously by more than one user of the same sex; and (3) in which it is customary to disrobe in view of other users of the facility.




There is a well-organized coalition supporting fairness for all Marylanders. One of which is TransMaryland whose leader Jenna Fischetti is working to educate the public. She explains the meaning of “gender identity” in this bill:

“Gender identity,” means the “gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth.”

The Act provides that a person’s gender identity may be demonstrated by the “consistent and uniform assertion” of their gender identity or any other evidence that the gender identity is “sincerely held as part of the person’s core identity.”

So, the Act’s definition of “gender identity” said Jenna "only includes an identity that is sincerely held as part of a person’s core identity." 
"This definition was proposed by Republican Senator Joseph Getty, and is consistent with the definition adopted in 17 other states that have enacted gender identity protections, including Delaware, Connecticut, and Massachusetts."

Legislative efforts to include transgender people has taken place nearly every year since 1997. The effort to define the language that allows transgender people the same rights as everyone has been a arduous journey contrary to what Neil Parrott have you believe.



WBAL reports thst in 2011 and 2012, MDPetitions.com gathered enough petition signatures to put the DREAM Act, congressional redistricting and the same sex marriage law before voters in the 2012 General Election.

Voters overwhelmingly approved all three issues in the 2012 election defeating referendum efforts.

However given Parrott's tactics its important that the truth be known. Maryland should remain a fair place for all.


4/28/14

Transgender Sailor Landon Wilson discharged for transition tells his story

Landon Wilson
Shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 7, when a superior tapped him on the back and summoned him outside, one of the secrets that mattered most to Wilson began to unravel.

“This Navy record says female, but this paper says male,” the grim-faced sergeant major noted, displaying two sets of personnel records. “So, what are you?”

After an awkward pause, Wilson, who joined the Navy as a woman but who has long felt like a man, provided the answer that set in motion the end of his military career: “I am male.” Read more at The Washington Post




4/26/14

Drag Queen Armani Nicole-Davenport may face silicone injection murder charges

Armani Nicole-Davenport performed in this years Diamond of the south

Larry Tremell Bernard, 32, who goes by the drag name Armani Nicole Davenport was originally charged with one count of negligent injuring in the death of Brenisha Hall after the coroner, unable to define the toxic substances in her blood determined she died of natural causes.

Bernard, a drag queen from Dallas is accused of injecting Hall and another person with silicone on Oct. 24. These injections called "Pumping" are a cheap but often fatal alternative to cosmetic surgery. Hall later complained she couldn't breath and was taken to the hospital, where she lapsed into a coma and died.

Five months later on April 25th the Orleans Parish Coroner's office has ruled Hall's death a homicide. However, it may be harder to get a conviction because the original cause of death was said to be of natural causes.
While prosecutors decide on additional charges Bernard remains free on the original bond of $25,000


Protest for transgender 15-yo imprissoned in solitary draws 50 DCF in Hartford and NYC

Jane Doe, a 15 year old transgender girl of color remains in solitary confinement at the York Correctional Facility in Niantic CT. Jane hasn't been sentenced or guilty a crime. Jane is seving time for being transgender after committed in a extremly biased buacracy.

Joette Katz, commissioner of the Department of Children and Families in defensive op-ed explained her rational for sending a child to solitary confinment, argubedly the most inhuman incarceration legaly allowed by law. citing her being a danger to female staff and residents of DCF facilities 13 times. Katz never once acknowlaged that Jane is transgender but she does see as a danger to woman.











Transgender woman Çağla, slain in Istanbul, wounded friend said medics wouldn't touch her

First responders refused to carry Çağla's to the ambulance or even
close her eyes. Photo KAOS GL
Çağla Joker 21, shot in her heart, cried out to her best friend, Nalan, who tried to help and was stabbed in the back. The April 22 attack, considered a hate crime by most, is the latest in an ongoing onslaught on Turkey's transgender community.

Other transgender friends also heard her cry from her living room window. They came running but all they could do was cry and carry her lifeless body to the ambulance after attendees refused to.


Video captured two youth running from the crime scene in Istanbul’s Tarlabaşı neighborhood towards Istiklal Street. The police arrested two suspects, one a 17-year-old has reportedly confessed saying he shot her because she is transgender.

“They did not want to touch the dead body of our friend, we carried her”
Attitude of the police and health staff came as no surprise: “The police came and did not do anything. Just looked around a bit. They did not even question anyone properly. And the ambulance did not want to carry our friend. We took her down the apartment on our own.”

Protesters carrying signs which say state killers. The Turkish government has driven the LGBT population to the fringes of society with unrelenting persecution.

One person commented that the only way to end this will be solidarity. No truer thing has ever been said.

Translation: LGBTI News Turkey

4/25/14

Fox News reports that a Phoenix 'transgender man' has been charged with conspiracy to commit bestiality [updated]

Donald Waelde



According to Fox 10 KSAZ News this is the Craigs List posting by Donald Waelde which resulted in the arrest:



Mr. Thomas, who anchors and reports for KOLD 13 and FOX 11 in Tucson cross posted the Fox article on his facebook page but  has removed references about about Donald Waelde's alleged transgender status, after some pointed out that had nothing to do with the alleged crime.


Fox news habitually misgenders transgender people making fact checking that much more difficult. This problematic article has remained unedited on Fox. I am not faulting Thomas for including this persons trans status in this article, if indeed it is true, I'm just asking for verification that this is a 'transgender man'. I commend Craig Thomas for responding so quickly.