Stonewall Democrats Honor National Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today, the National Stonewall Democrats released the following statement in commemoration of the Transgender Day of Remembrance:

"Today, our community remembers the those among us whose lives were lost because of the bigotry shown towards their expression of gender. Transgender Americans are routinely asked to employ a level of courage which few of us maintain. Where ignorance responds to that courage with a display of violence, our community must reward courage with a demonstration of commitment.

Violence towards transgender Americans can be dramatically reduced by affirming individual dignity through equal enforcement of employment and hate crime laws. If we are serious about reducing violence towards transgender Americans, then we must proactively work towards providing all of our community equal protection under the law. It is our actions, rather than words, which which will demonstrate our tribute.

Stonewall Democrats take our own name from an historic catalyst, the Stonewall Inn riots, an event largely created under the leadership of transgender members of our community. Today, transgender Democrats continue to demonstrate their contribution to LGBT advancement within our organization as chapter presidents, board members and officers of individual state Democratic parties.

Whenever transgender citizens are told that their inclusion hinders the advancement of the LGBT movement, our own history is ignored and strategic lessons forgotten. As we remember the lives of those we have lost, we must work to secure equal protections for our entire movement. We owe a special duty towards those whose contributions have already led to legal protections for many in our community but not for themselves. If we are to reduce violence against transgender citizens, we must reduce attempts to marginalize transgender Americans within the law and, when necessary, within our own community."

Jon Hoadley, Executive Director

The Day of Remembrance is a tribute to the lives of transgender Americans who have lost their lives as victims of hate crimes targetting individuals based on gender identity. It is marked on November 20. Begun in 1998, the day was first organized as a vigil in San Francisco to remember the life of Rita Hester following her murder the year before. Today, the LGBT community marks this day with vigils and events across the country.

NCTE: Take Action to Support Inclusive ENDA Now!

From the National Center for Transgender Equality

(Washington, DC) - This has been an extremely busy week here as we've celebrated the historic victory of the hate crimes bill, the first transgender-inclusive legislation to pass both houses of the U.S. Congress. At the same time, we have had to respond to the extremely disturbing news that the sponsors of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act are moving to split the bill into two new pieces of legislation - one for sexual orientation and another for gender identity.

We oppose any version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that does not include both sexual orientation and gender identity. Transgender people are among the most marginalized and vulnerable groups within the LGBT community. In a 2006 survey of transgender people conducted by the Transgender Law Center, 57% reported being discriminated against in employment and 60% earned less than $15,300 per year. The entire country has an interest in seeing the transgender community thrive in the national economy. Without protection against discrimination, that is nearly impossible.

Members of our community have been busy all week taking a stand for our civil rights through our calls, e-mails and networking. We made a difference with the hate crimes bill and we can't stop yet on ENDA. We are asking you to sign a petition right now urging the House leadership to keep a transgender-inclusive ENDA. Click here to sign. It only takes a minute. We need to have our voices heard together on this critical issue. NCTE is co-sponsoring this petition with the Transgender Law Center.

We will keep you updated in the coming days about other steps you can take to help pass ENDA, legislation that is vital to the well-being of the transgender community. Thank you for all that you've done ... we must keep going until we have our civil rights.

The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. The National Center for Transgender Equality is a 501(c)3 organization. For more information, please visit www.nctequality.org.

ENDA: Straight Acting Only?

After many years working as a bartender for Harrah's Casino, Darlene Jespersen was fired for failing to conform to the Casino's new 'personal best' grooming policy. As a female bartender, Jesperson was required to have her hair "teased, curled, or styled," and to wear stockings. Jesperson was also suddenly required to put on makeup everyday: lipstick and nail polish mandatory.

It was a regimen she found burdensome and demeaning, and while sexual orientation was not an issue in her case, I know quite a few lesbians who might feel the same way. What would Ellen Degeneres do if NBC decided she needed to wear skirts on her show everyday? What would KD Lang do if her record label demanded she adopt a 'less masculine' haircut?

While this may not have happened to Ellen or KD, this kind of discrimination happens all the time. Darlene Jespersen lost her job because she did not live up to the female-specific requirements of her new dress code. And when she fought her termination in court, she lost.

Congress is now looking at two different versions of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. One would make this type of discrimination illegal. The other would not.

Congressman Barney Frank has chosen to introduce a straight-acting-only version of ENDA which bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation but not gender identity and expression. This version may protect gays and lesbians based on their sexual orientation, but it won't protect gays and lesbians who don't adhere to society's view of what men and women should be.

It won't protect the gay guy who dresses up in drag on halloween. It won't protect the lesbian who doesn't want to be forced to wear a skirt as part of a company uniform. It won't protect any gay man who can't live up to society's standards and "act more like a man". It won't protect any lesbian who can't live up to society's standards and "act more like a woman."

We should be outraged that Barney Frank is considering a bill that excludes the transgender community, but let's be honest, the transgender community are not the only ones being thrown under the bus. Some may argue that we should start protecting straight-acting gays and lesbians, and then come back for the rest of the LGBT community later. As the Task Force other organizations have documented by looking at state laws, this simply does not happen. It is always easier to stand strong and stand united and pass an inclusive bill than it is to go back later and try and pass protections based on gender identity and expression.

Make no mistake, a straight-acting-only ENDA ais a hollow victory one that is not worth achieving because it takes us further, not closer towards the goal of protection from employment discrimination for all of us.

NCTE Launches Manual on Responding to Hate Crimes

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) has released a resource designed to help communities respond effectively in the aftermath of hate crimes against transgender people. "Responding to Hate Crimes: A Community Resource Manual" will be widely distributed to local advocates organizing Transgender Day of Remembrance vigils around the country later this month. The Day of Remembrance is annually observed on or around November 20. NCTE"s "Responding to Hate Crimes" manual represents a holistic, community-based approach to responding to hate violence in a way that aims to curb the number of attacks faced by transgender people.

"The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a solemn time to reflect on those who have been murdered because of their gender identity or expression," said Mara Keisling, NCTE Executive Director. "The National Center for Transgender Equality and our allies have made great strides advocating for federal Hate Crimes legislation to explicitly include crimes based on "gender identity and expression""the language that covers transgender individuals, but we will need to continue educating policymakers about the rampant violence targeted at our communities."

Studies estimate the murder rate of transgender persons as high as 16 times the national average. Approximately one murder is reported each month in the U.S.; however, experts believe hate crimes against transgender individuals are significantly under-reported because of pervasive doubts that authorities will treat victims with respect or fairly investigate the crimes. Despite the frequency of hate violence against transgender people, the FBI does not track or keep statistics on attacks that target transgender individuals.

Recognizing the level of violence facing transgender communities, ten states explicitly cover transgender people in their hate crimes laws with "gender identity or expression" language (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Vermont). While no transgender-inclusive federal law has been enacted, in 2005 the National Center for Transgender Equality was instrumental in passing an inclusive federal hate crimes bill through the U.S. House of Representatives"the first time a transgender-inclusive bill was passed in either chamber of Congress.
The causes of transphobic violence are often more complex than discrimination based on gender identity or expression alone. Employment discrimination, high unemployment rates, and economic and social marginalization put transgender people in higher risk situations for violence. Race also plays a significant role in who is targeted in attacks, with young transgender women of color the most frequently victimized.

"The news is all too familiar to our community"a transgender person violently attacked because of another person"s hatred or fear," said Justin Tanis, NCTE"s Program Manager and a principle editor of the manual.

"Hate crimes have a devastating impact on victims and survivors as well as on the larger transgender community," said Richard Juang, co-editor of the new book Transgender Rights and co-chair of NCTE"s Board of Advisors. "Our goal in developing this manual was to share practical ideas for working with crime victims, family members, law enforcement, and the media so local organizers responding to hate crimes have the information they need at their finger tips."

A wide range of community leaders and professionals contributed to "Responding to Hate Crimes: A Community Resource Manual", including people with expertise in anti-violence work, law enforcement, mental health, media relations and community organizing.

To download a free copy of "Responding to Hate Crime: A Community Resource Manual," please click here.

FEMA Sex Change Charge Fabricated & Fraudulent?

The following is an NTAC press release reprinted in it's entirety

Last month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified before a House Homeland Security subcommittee to spotlight $1.4 billion fraudulent waste of Emergency Assistance Funds (EAF) to Hurricane Katrina victims. The unprecedented level of Federal Emergency Management Agency fraud was blared over television newscasts and emblazoned on newspaper headlines: "FEMA funds paid for a sex change."

However, the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) is now publicly calling the media and authorities on this claim, demanding proof that this occurred and calling the press on this claim "fabricated" and "fraudulent." In reviewing both House subcommittee testimony and the GAO report that uncovered the fraud there was no reference of a sex change, nor any surgery of any type being paid for by FEMA funds.

"It appears [the sex change] story was prime red meat for conservatives looking to turn attention away from the President, and onto Katrina victims and FEMA," said NTAC President Vanessa Edwards Foster. "It also appears there's no veracity to the story that EAF funds were used for gender reassignment surgery. These press claims are what's fraudulent."

Drag King Dreams

I've read hundreds of books over the years, but I have a very short list of books that have truly changed my life. These include: Savage Inequalities, Queer Spirits, and A History of God.

And without a doubt, Leslie Feinberg's first novel Stone Butch Blues will forever be on my top 10 list. It should be required reading for the universe.

That's why I was thrilled when the publisher sent me a copy of Leslie's latest book, Drag King Dreams, I could not wait to read it, and I was not disappointed.

This book is fiction, but set in post September 11th New York City, the stories are painfully familiar. If you attended one of the anti-war rallies prior to the invasion of Iraq, if you know an Arab American that was unjustly detained by the Bush Administration, if you spoke out against the Patriot Act, well then you will find your story in the pages of this book.

And true to our experiences, there's no one hero to save the day in this story, but rather a small group of concerned people doing what they can; a group of wonderfully flawed and often frail humans who somehow find the power of their collective voice.

Leslie Feinberg, much like fellow visionary Harry Hay, holds political views far left of what most of us consider the mainstream. Don't let that stop you from opening yourself up to the experience of this novel. Drag King Dreams made me weep for our most recent past and gave me hope for our future. It is a triumph and I encourage you to get a copy.

Dana Beyer Featured in the Sun

Check out this great article about Dana Beyer's Campaign from the Baltimore Sun:

Beyer's foray into politics places her in a small but growing company of transgender people who are running for office - and getting elected - here and abroad. New Zealand has had a transgender member of Parliament since 1999, and a transgender woman was elected to the Italian Parliament in April. In this country, Michelle Bruce, a transgender woman, joined the City Council of Riverdale, Ga., in 2004, and Jessica Orsini was recently elected to the Board of Aldermen in Centralia, Mo.

Find out how you can support Dana at www.danabeyer.com.

Congrats to Babs, Again!

On Sunday May 21st the Trenton Gay and Lesbian Civic Association (TGLCA) presented The Trenton Triangle Awards to nine individuals who help to make Trenton, Mercer County and New Jersey a better place for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and intersexed (GLBTI) community.

Among those honored was our own Babs Casbar. Barbra Casbar was recognized for for her leadership with the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats, work with the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition and Garden State Equality.

Others honored with the award include 15th District Assemblywomen Bonnie Watson Coleman for her support in early 2004 of the landmark New Jersey Domestic Partnership Law; Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes for his support of the GLBTI community; and Garden State Equality (GSE) Chair Steven Goldstein for his work with both Lambda Legal Defense and GSE in the groundbreaking marriage equality town hall series.

Congrats to all the award recipients.

Congrats to Mara Keisling

Just one month after Harvard University added gender identity to it's non-discrimination policy, Mara Keisling has been named LGBT Person of the Year by the by the GLBT and Supporters Alliance at Harvard University.

If you don't know Mara, she is the founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). A Pennsylvania native, Mara came to Washington after co-chairing the Pennsylvania Gender Rights Coalition. Mara did her graduate work at Harvard University in American Government.

Put a Doctor in the House!

I'm thrilled to share with you that Dana Beyer is a candidate for the State Delegate seat in Maryland 18, my home district. This seat is currently held by marriage equality advocate Rich Madaleno, who has announced his plans to run for the State Senate Seat.

Dana and I first met at the 2005 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards last year, and in the past year I've learned what an incredible advocate for our community she is. Dana currently serves on the Board of both The National Center for Transgender Equality and Equality Maryland.

Dana writes on her campaign website: "As a physician and surgeon, I am trained to welcome a challenge, to analyze thoroughly and compassionately, to reach a decision, and then to act boldly and effectively. I will bring those skills to Annapolis to work on your behalf."

Find out more at www.danabeyer.com.

This article filed under Maryland and Transgender.

Congrats to Phyllis Frye

Transgender lawyer and advocate Phyllis Randolph Frye as one of the grand marshals of the Houston Pride Parade. You can read more about it in the Dallas Voice:

Frye is a transgender lawyer and GLBT activist who, for nearly 30 years, has worked to change laws that discriminate against GLBT individuals. She was instrumental in changing clothing laws during the 1980s that prohibited women from wearing zippered pants and men from wearing anything but pants.

She also helped establish the “Wick Marriage,” which allows same-sex transgender couples to marry; worked to convince high courts in Maryland that gender is more than chromosomes; and endeavored to change laws against same-sex marriage.

Frye was a founding member of the Transgender Law Conference and the Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston. In 2005, she worked as a leader of the Houston Futures Conference and edited and published the “Gay Agenda” document that resulted from the conference.

New Jersey Stonewall Democrats News: Congratulations to Babs!

Edison NJ – New Jersey Stonewall Democrats has reorganized and elected a new Executive Board. The new board members are a team of seasoned LGBTI and civil rights activists and community servants with a wide range of experience.

Barbra Casbar has been elected President. Ms. Casbar is the Political Director of the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey (GRAANJ), a Vice Chair of Garden State Equality and an Executive Board member of National Stonewall Democrats. In 2004 she was an At- Large Delegate for New Jersey to the Democratic National Convention and was a recipient of the New Jersey Personal Liberty Fund Honors Award. She served on the Labor and Workforce Development Advisory group for the Corzine Transition Team.

"I am proud and excited to be part of a superlative team of advocates and activists” said NJSD President, Barbra Casbar. “We have a bold and exciting agenda that will energize LGBTI participation within the NJ State Democratic Party and that will help elect fair minded and common sense Democrats at all levels of government throughout New Jersey. Come join us!"

NTAC on DNC Platform

Here's the NTAC Press Release on the DNC Platform that provides more information...

Transgender Inclusion in Party Platform Falls Short

The transgender community's efforts to be included in a political platform fell short this past Saturday. The National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) and other transgender community leaders described the news as "disheartening, but not surprising."

With an unprecedented seven transgenders participating in the national level delegation process, hopes were high that one of the two major party platforms would add language affirming the need for supporting equality for the transgender community. The party platform holding the most promise for the transgender community was the Democratic National Committee (DNC) platform.

To date, there have been no publicly declared transgendered delegates in the Republican national convention, nor indications of addressing issues of equality within the Republican National Committee (RNC) platform.

Will the Transgender Community be Excluded from the DNC Platform?

The hot topic on our OFD Delegates Yahoo Group today has been the draft version of the DNC Platform. Scott Safier from the Steel City Stonewall Democrats said it all:

Transgendered people are not mentioned at all in the draft (or at least, I haven't found the language yet).

Needless to say, this is a great disappointment. This DNC convention will have more out and proud transgender delegates than ever before. Sadly, the trans community and their allies, may be the one group in attendance whose needs are left out of the platform entirely.

It is not enough for the Democratic Party to oppose employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and ignore employment discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

It is not enough for the Democratic Party to say "Lesbian and Gay", and not "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender".

We must stand with our transgender brothers and sisters and assure they are included in the Democratic Party's vision for a Country where everyone is valued and respected, and nobody is left behind.

If you are a delegate: Please join our OFD Delegates List to connect with transgender delegates and their allies.

If you know a delegate: Please make sure they know that you stand in solidarity with the transgender community.

Tell the DNC to Stand up for the Transgender Community: Post your comments here on the DNC Interactive Platform Site

Transgender Activists Meet With DNC and Kerry Campaign

On Thursday, April 29th, a team of Transgender activists and allies met with representatives of the Kerry Campaign's GLBT Outreach as well as Eric Stern, DNC Director of GLBT Outreach.

It was the very first time a meeting between a group representing the interests of Transgender Americans and the leadership of a major American political party and their Presidential nominee's campaign staff has ever taken place.

Our team consisted of some of the finest political minds of the Transgender Community and our allies, the majority of whom are OutForDemocracy-Transgender members, including:

1. Rebecca Juro, OFD-TG Moderator, representing Out For Democracy -
Transgender.

2. David Mariner, OFD-TG Moderator, representing Out For Democracy

3. Chris Cooper, OFD-TG Moderator, representing Out For Democracy

4. Stephanie Heck, OFD-TG Member, representing the Transgender Americans
Veterans Association.

5. Barbra Casbar, OFD-TG Member, representing the Stonewall Democrats

6. Michael Woodward, OFD-TG Member, FTM activist.

7. Phyllis Randolph Frye, noted TG lawyer and legal expert.

8. Vanessa Edwards Foster, OFD-TG Member, representing the National Transgender Advocacy
Coalition.

9. Ethan St. Pierre, OFD-TG member, hate crimes expert.

10. Mara Keisling, legislative expert.

11. Katrina Rose, OFD-TG member, legal expert.

I'm pleased to be able to report that we made some significant inroads in increasing the level of inclusion and support of Transgender Americans and our issues within the Democratic Party.

For some of the results and much more, please read on...