Mixed-race transgender person sues Appleton nightclub

Ah, Appleton

I don't know what it's like right now, but when I lived there, it was a pretty freaky place: the hq of the John Birch society are there, and it was extremely conservative in all sorts of ways.

Come to think of it, I had my life threatened several times while I was there.

I'm only a click away.

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by: JulieWaters @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 03:55:12 AM CST

Safety Issue?

Just how in the world is using a bathroom a safety issue?  And, whose safety?  My head hurts.

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by: catspaw @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 04:00:26 AM CST

well,we're totally unsafe, y know

We endanger women in the women's restroom, which brings men in, who endanger us then as well, and we are at risk in men's bathrooms, because, I mean, women never go in there, ya know, might get raped by all those totally uncontrolled male sex drives.

*holds up to fingers of left hand8

No, really!

http://www.dyssonance.com  Breaking all the rules...

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by: dyssonance @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 04:16:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

As a straight woman

I feel terribly and totally threatened by you even writing that, dyssonance... Eeks!! ;)

Seriously- as horrible, ugly and infuriating as these stories are, they are extremely important.

Until coming to the Blend, I had no idea whatsoever how difficult or potentially dangerous simple daily life frequently is for a transgender person. How embarassing, humiliating and degrading, as the "rest of us" simply go on with our lives.

OMFG- just last week, Autumn was concerned about getting freaking dental care! WTF is wrong with this world, that any person (let alone an utter love like her!) is SCARED of being refused treatment???

I wish I could apologize for every straight person out there who has been an utter ass for lack of knowledge, as well as smack the heads of those who DO have knowledge and choose to hate.

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by: Louise @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 07:28:01 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Now you know why I write about this stuff so much...

To be honest, most people just don't know what trans people experience, and exactly how stigmatized we really can be. And, I'm even talking about when trans people are post-operative, or completely "passing" in our target sex.

My job here at PHB is in large part to explain T to LGB -- any education I get to do here to straight folk like you, Louise, is just bonus.


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~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau

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by: Autumn Sandeen @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 12:42:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Safety issue in the restroom?

It may, in fact, be  a safety issue in the restroom - but how is that Sierra's fault?

If other customers attack Sierra, why aren't they thrown out instead of punishing Sierra?

Unfortunately, no legal protection means this nightclub can likely do what they want.

I am confused, though -- The management says they won't let Sierra in because she is transgender, where does the mixed-race come in? Do they refuse admittance to mixed race or non-white people who are not transgender?

Perhaps, she's claiming both because race is a protected status and gender identity isn't?

ALSO - It that correct? Is "gender identity" the correct category?

Liz

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. -- John F. Kennedy (inspired by Dante's Inferno)

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by: oldbrit @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 06:33:51 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

How is it a safety issue for her to go into the women's bathroom?! FFS!

Mina.

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by: mina.magpie @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 08:47:25 AM CST

Safety issue?

Sounds more like the same old ignorance issue to me.

You may not be gay, but you may be next.

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by: LeslieK @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 09:04:04 AM CST

I can attest that it is a safety hazard.

As a lesbian who has "shared" with trans people for years, I have been poked in the eye by elbows, stepped on by spike heels and sprayed with sweet perfume while in the "ladies" room of many a gay bar. As if the ladies room isn't crowded enough! I think the MEN should have to "share" too. All bathrooms should be set up the same and have DOORS. Then who cares who uses what. Just make the damn mirror area big enough to accommodate all the primpers.

lol

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by: plantwomyn @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 11:26:04 AM CST

Ya, kinda in my back yard

It doesn't surprise me that this could happen in Appleton.  Wisconsin protects sexual orientation but not gender identity or gender presentation, so the case will be weak.  The bar owner will probably get away with it because of the gender identity issue with the bathroom, unfortunately that's not protected by Wisconsin law.  I work in Wisconsin and I have the same issues.  I'm not allowed to present myself as Amber while "on the clock" because there's no legal protection for trans people in Wisconsin and my boss fears the loss of business because of objections to my presentation.  There has already been one complaint against me, which led to this situation.  Because of the lack of legal protection, there's nothing I can do about it.

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by: amberb_57 @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 12:44:23 PM CST

Appleton's race issues

Appleton has had a significant history of active exclusion of blacks (see table below). This mixed-race transwoman may also be facing the "all POC transwomen are sex workers" stereotype, with the bar manager wanting to "keep a high-class establishment" (exclude the cheaper prostitutes and lousy tippers, in other words).

From James Loewen's research website, related to his book about Midwestern segregation, "Sundown Towns"
Census data for Appleton WI
Year   Total  Black
1870 4518 16
1880 8005 19
1890 11869 13
1900 15085 18
1910 16773 10
1920 19561 4
1930 25267 0
1940 28436 1
1950 34010 5
1960 48411 1
1970 57143 45*
1980 59032 47
1990 65695 163
2000 70087 695

* In 1970, 37 of the 45 blacks reported were college age and 2 were most likely in retirement homes and therefore probably not residents.

http://www.uvm.edu/~jloewen/su...

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by: NancyP @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 16:12:09 PM CST