Takes On Hate Crimes Legislation Passing The House & Senate

by: Autumn Sandeen

Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 08:00:00 AM EDT

"I am pleased that today we were able to move the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 a step closer to passage this afternoon.  But I'm disappointed that Senate Republicans have decided that defeating hate crimes legislation takes precedent over supporting our troops.

"It is outrageous and unacceptable that Senate Republicans would vote against pay raises for our troops, battlefield equipment upgrades and increased funding for veterans' health care as we continue to fight two wars.  And they decided to do this all for the sake of stopping passage of landmark legislation that will bring justice to those who commit violent crimes based on bigotry and prejudice.  What message does that send to our country and, more importantly, to our troops?"

~Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

The bigotry and prejudice Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid mentions is against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Some of us are servicemembers; some of us are, like me, veterans; some of us are, like me, are actually LGBT disabled veterans. The Republican votes against this bill, when one condiders that there are LGBT veterans and disabled veterans, really  was "outrageous and unacceptable."

As many of us trans folk know, we often get erased from the coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) federal legislation. I watched yesterday as Rachel Maddow wonderfully mentioned "gender identity" in the passage of The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act:

Well, to keep the reality in focus for trans people, The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is the very first piece of federal legislation that includes gender identity. Let me say that again: this is the first piece of federal legislation that specifically includes transgender people.

And, President Obama has promised he will sign the bill, and that will likely happen next week.

I talked to Adam Bass -- Senior Media Strategist with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) -- on the phone today about the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I worked with him closely during the coverage of the Angie Zapata...we were both deeply affected by covering that trial. Today I'm thinking of Angie as I think of this bill, so naturally I thought of Adam. I asked for his comments on the House and Senate passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and this is what he said:

As we await President Obama's signature on the recently passed hate crimes bill, I can't help but think of Angie Zapata Last April, I sat in a court room with Angie's family and friends and listened about the horrific last few hours of her life - when she was brutally beaten to death, simply because another human being hated that she was transgender.  Angie was a young, vibrant, beautiful sister, aunt and daughter.  She's someone I would have loved to have known.  It is remarkable to think that in a very short time we will see the nation's first gender-identity inclusive bill signed into law by the President of the United States.  It is an incredible signal of respect for Angie and all the other transgender and gay people who have been taken from us through hate violence.

I couldn't agree more with Adam.

Below the fold is a collection of what leading transgender civil rights organizations have said about passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Please take a read -- what they have to say seems pretty important to hear.

Obama Administration's HUD Policies Would Ban Discrimination Based On Gender Identity

by: Autumn Sandeen

Thu Oct 22, 2009 at 10:15:00 AM EDT

Housing is a basic right and a basic human need and these numbers show just how blatant the discrimination is that transgender people face every single day. Today's actions by HUD will make a difference in a tremendous number of lives.  We are so pleased that the Obama administration continues to express through both action and words that it is committed to making sure that all federal government programs are accessible to all people.

~Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center For Transgender Equality

Words mean things. Words Matter. Actions backing words matter.

From the National Center For Transgender Equality's press release:

The National Center for Transgender Equality praises the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its announcement today that it will ensure that its programs are available to all, including LGBT people. Today's announcement is historic, since HUD is the first federal agency so far to officially propose guidelines that would explicitly address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

"The evidence is clear that some are denied the opportunity to make housing choices in our nation based on who they are and that must end," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "President Obama and I are determined that a qualified individual and family will not be denied housing choice based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

The proposals announced today include:

• Requiring that all who participate in HUD's programs comply with all existing local and state non-discrimination ordinances;

• Specifying that Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgage loans are given based on the credit-• worthiness of the applicants, and not on other factors, such as sexual orientation and gender identity;
Clarifying that in the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher program, the use of the term "family" includes all eligible lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, couples and families; subsidized housing would be made available to all who need it, without discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Also vitally important is today's announcement by HUD that they are commissioning a national study of the discrimination that LGBT people face in housing, the first of its kind. To date there have been no federal studies to evaluate the extent of the problem.

Housing is an iffy, splintery thing for trans people who will be covered by this change in policy. From a forthcomming study of 6,500 transgender people by NCTE and The Task Force:

Among the findings:

• Only 32% of our sample reported home ownership, compared to 68% of the general population;
• 19% report being denied an apartment or home because they are transgender;
• 19% have become homeless at some point in their lives.

This is why these new actions by the Obama Administration is so urgently needed for trans people.

When others in the LGBT community complain that the President Obama has not doe enough for community, I'm going to remember what he done administratively to this point for transgender people, including gender identity protections for transgender people in the federal workforce.  I want him to do more for broader community, and I'm not satisfied at the current progress, but at the same time I'm going to remember this president's administration has done more for trans people than any other president has.

~~~~~
Related:
* Obama Admin to ensure inclusion of the LGBT community in HUD programs
* NCTE And NGLTF: Documenting Transgender Discrimination
* The Words The President (& Others) Won't Speak: "Transgender" & "Gender Identity And Expression"
* Where Is The Executive Order For Federal Gender Identity & Expression Based Employment Protections?
* ENDA: Waking Up Too Early To Possible Trans Subcommunity Erasure
* ENDA: Libertarian Gay & Lesbian Thought Vs. Progressive LGBT Community Thought
* Pam's House Blend tag:

We Get The LGBT Diversity Of Media Contact Lists

by: Autumn Sandeen

Mon Oct 12, 2009 at 15:30:00 PM EDT

I added a few lines to the piece to clarify this earlier in the piece.
~~Autumn~~

My weekend was incredibly busy. I went to a Equality California Trans Mixer on Friday night, the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center (as the guest of Equality California), and gave a speech for the Annual Scouting For All Rally. So, pardon my delay in getting this diary up.

In between all these events I attended this past weekend, I watched a lot of cable news regarding President Obama's speech at the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC's) annual gala in DC, as well as the National Equality March.

When I watched who the cable news chose from the LGBT community to give commentary: What I saw in the chosen community spokesmodels (which is a colorful way of saying spokespeople) was a sea of gay, white, male commentators. There were exceptions, but those were exceptions.

And, this is a problem. This isn't the problem of the gay white men who are being tapped for commentary, but instead a problem of network and cable news not recognizing the LGBT community is significantly more diverse than just gay white men.

The white gay males I saw speaking for the broad LGBT community included Joe Solmonese, Cleve Jones, Michelangelo Signorile,  Wayne Besen, Corey Johnson (Towleroad), Charles Moran (Log Cabin Republicans).

Exceptions I saw included Daniel Choi, Hillary Rosen, Sherry Wolf, Pam Spaulding, and the two LGBT teens I highlighted earlier. However, I saw each of these folk just once each, while most of the white gay males I listed (with the exception of Corey Johnson) I saw more than once. And, the only African-American LGBT community member I saw interviewed on cable news -- Pam -- got one spoken line in that CNN piece.

Now don't get me wrong here. Gay white men are integral part of the LGBT community, and should be represented in giving cable news commentary on LGBT news stories. The problem is that gay white males are the majority of the "go to" guys on LGBT stories; we're getting the LGBT diversity of the cable news producers' contact lists.

And, the amount of diversity that these contact lists are providing is completely inadequate. I won't speak to lesbian and bisexual representation, but I will speak to transgender voices cable news could have tapped.

For example, Kim Coco Iwamoto, an elected State Board of Education member for Hawaii, is an Asian-Pacific-Islander woman who is also trans -- she spoke at the National Equality March Rally. So did Babs Siperstein, the only transgender member of the Democratic National Committee. Trans people were visible and findable at the rally, but they weren't tapped by the cable news producers.

Outside of DC, cable news networks could have tapped many trans community people who could have spoke to LGBT and trans specific issues:

• Monica Roberts,  the African American blogger/2008 Weblog LGBT Award Finalist of Transgriot

• Masen Davis of the Transgender Law Center

• Drian Juarez of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center's Transgender Economic Empowerment Project

• Author Jamison Green, who is a longtime transgender and transsexual workplace advocate.

• Cecelia Chung, Former Deputy Director of the Transgender Law Center, and Chair of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission

• Prof. Jillian Todd Weiss, the Associate Professor of Law and Society at Ramapo College who is running a campaign Facebook for an Inclusive ENDA

• Internet Podcasters Mila L-Pavlin and Jayna L-Pavlin of Trans-Ponder

• Vicki Estrada, A prominent City Planner/Landscape Architect in San Diego -- part of the California Transgender Leadership Committee (a group whose current focus is California trans employment issues)

• Internet Broadcaster Ethan St. Pierre of TransFM

• Allyson Robinson, the HRC's Associate Director of Diversity and faith blogger at Crossing The T

• Kim Pearson, the Executive Director of TransYouth Family Allies

And, of course, the National Center for Transgender Equality was out and visible at the march.

The erasure of bisexual and transgender experience was furthered by cable news this weekend by their frequent use of  "gay" and "gay and lesbian" instead of more encompassing LGBT terminology. With the notable exception of the writers for Don Lemon on CNN's Newsroom, the news writers at CNN and MSNBC didn't use lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) as the descriptor regarding either the HRC gala or the National Equality March. In fact, in all the hours I watched MSNBC this weekend -- as well as this morning -- I never heard any of the on air reporters use the terms "bisexual" or "transgender." The B and the T were erased by not only by the producers of the cable news networks, but erased by the language the cable network writers used to define our broader community.

And too, by primarily going to gay white men for interview commentary on the LGBT issues, the ethnic diversity of our broader community was ignored as well.

So, in a nutshell, the cable news networks completely failed with regards to LGBT diversity.

When white gay men are the primary "go to" folk for the longer form interview commentaries at mainstream broadcast and/or cable news networks, then mainstream broadcast and cable news networks are not showing the world what our broader LGBT community actually looks like, and what those of us who are erased actually think and believe about our broader LGBT community.

If this were a twitter tweet instead of a longer form commentary, I'd give cable news networks coverage of the HRC gala and the National Equality March the hashtags of #lgbtfail and #diversityfail. The broadcast and cable news organizations need to broaden their contact lists of LGBT spokespeople to represent the actual diversity within the LGBT community.

Why Mara Keisling Really Did Just Say That

by: Autumn Sandeen

Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 14:45:00 PM EDT

We have seen that the media and public preoccupation with transition-related surgeries has had demonstrable negative impact on policies that affect transpeople. It should not be acceptable to us or to society that people's human rights or access to appropriate ID documents or ability to live safely be dependent on their ability to be able to afford surgery which most transpeople cannot. And the preoccupation with our surgeries and the assumption that we all have surgeries or want surgeries makes these bad realities acceptable to the public.

As our collective work to make medical care more available to transpeople succeeds, the numbers of surgeries are likely to rise, but we have an obligation to discuss the realities of transgender lives in ways that are true to who we are and also help advance humane and useful policies.

~~Mara Keisling, in the National Center for Transgender Equality's (NCTE's) T-Equality Blog

Last week, I complained that I believed Mara Keisling gave the wrong message about trans people's healthcare when she was quoted by CNN in their article entitled Sonny and Cher's child transitioning from female to male -- the one on Chaz Bono's female-to-male transition.

Now, I'm less sure.

Mara Keisling's article commenting on the correctness of her original statement is reprinted in entirety below the fold (by permission).

I'm ready to be persuaded I'm wrong. It seems to me though that the CNN reporter either took the message that NCTE was trying to send and boiled it down to something that NCTE wasn't trying to communicate, or I filtered what NCTE was trying to say about the healthcare of trans people through my own biases and saw something in the original CNN article that wasn't really in the NCTE statement.

Let us know in the comments what you think -- especially if you're not trans. Since the CNN article wasn't directed at a trans audience, your thoughts about what message you were and weren't sent by the original CNN piece is probably the more important viewpoint than Mara's or mine.

The Words The President (& Others) Won't Speak: "Transgender" & "Gender Identity And Expression"

by: Autumn Sandeen

Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 15:45:00 PM EDT

The Memorandum will also direct OPM to issue guidance within 90 days to all executive departments and agencies regarding compliance with, and implementation of, the civil service laws, which make it unlawful to discriminate against federal employees or applicants for federal employment on the basis of factors not related to job performance.

So, I was on the call this afternoon where the Office of Personal Management's director, John Berry, talked about the memorandum President Obama was going to sign prior to its signing at 5:45 PM EDT. Alex Blaze, from Bilerico, asked a question about whether transgender people -- the term gender identity and expression -- would be included in the proposed regulations. Berry's answer wasn't clear to me in his original answer, but in answering a question from John Aravosis on exactly what was changing with this memorandum, Director Berry stated:

Gender identity is a non-work-related factor, and in the guidelines [to federal agencies] we will be making that clear. [...] I made it very clear [in my answer to Alex Blaze] that gender identity will be added and made very clear in our guidelines.

So why didn't the President say "gender identity" in the fact sheet?

Below the fold is the entire fact sheet on the memorandum. Note that the words lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender are not in the fact sheet. Note also in signing ceremony, the President used the abbreviation LGBT, but didn't use the words "transgender," "gender identity," or "gender identity and expression" therein either.  (In fact if you're bisexual, you no doubt notice the President's reticence to you that term as well.)

Since the President has only used the term "transgendered" once previously I can document (here), and the term "gender identity" once previously I can document (here) -- and both of these times were in response to direct questions.

The President and his staff seem to me to be intentionally avoiding use of the terms "transgender" or "gender identity and expression" on camera. If you were transgender and noticed this lack of using community related terminology for your identity, what conclusion would you draw?

And hey, thinking about it, Did you see Joe Solmonese on Keith Oberman....

...or Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Rachel Maddow...

...speak the words in question? What words did you not hear spoken by our LGBT "leaders"? (Added note from Autumn: I missed it in the first couple of listenings, but Joe Solomese mentions "gender identity" at about the 4:28 minute point in the Keith Oberman video. It wasn't mentioned in the HRC press release of the memorandum; however, but in my mind I believe saying the words on television were probably more important then getting it in the press release. I would have preferred to have seen the phrase used in both the TV appearance and the press release though.)

I would say -- and even John Aravosis of Americablog would agree -- that the biggest change for LGBT civil rights the memorandum heralds is federal workplace protections for transgender employees; the addition of federal employment protections based on gender identity and expression.

Which of our LGBT civil rights groups' "leaders," or our lesbian, gay, or ally political representatives said the word "transgender," or the phrase "gender identity and expression"? Which ones spoke of the "gender identity and expression" changes to federal employment regulations that the memorandum heralds?

From the media releases from the organizations below, take a look and see 1.) who says the words "transgender" and/or "gender identity and expression" and 2.) who mentions the transgender employment protections that this memorandum is to add. I'll give you a hint -- the only time the word "transgender" is used is in the phrase "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender," and that is only used by three of the organizations' in the statements listed below. And, no one but the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) -- who's media release is linked to in the graphic near the top of this piece -- and The Task Force mention employment protections for transgender federal employees.

• Council For Global Equality
• Family Equality Council
• Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)
• The Gay & Lesbian Task Force

Frankly at this point, I don't doubt at all Director Berry's commitment to adding federal regulations regarding transgender people -- I think we're going to see specific language on "gender identity" is going come to pass. That's the good news for federal employees who may are transgender...transsexual. And, as many would guess, not mentioning gender identity and expression by our politicians (links to two politicians statements as examples -- the statements of Representatives Baldwin and Leiberman -- are found by selecting two press release graphics included within this blog article) and LGBT civil rights organizations means conservative "Christian" organizations -- such as Focus On The Family, also don't mention transgender people when discussing the impact of this memorandum. I would say this is small consolation as they will be discussing this when the new federal regulations are submitted within 90-days.

However, on the 30th of June we'll really know how serious the President is about transgender civil rights; the 30th of June is the last day that the Department of Justice can file an appeal to the Diane Schroer case. If the Department Of Justice appeals this case, then we will know that just like the Obama Administration on DOMA, what the Obama Administration says in speeches and signing ceremonies won't be followed through with "fierce advocacy" by our President and his administration.

The message I get from the words "transgender" or "gender identity and expression" not being spoken is that transgender people and issues are very secondary to lesbian and gay issues, and that it's considered dangerous politically to say the words. In my opinion, this failure to use transgender related terminology doesn't bode well for transgender people and civil rights. Who doesn't remember ENDA 2007/2008?

As for our politicians and LGBT civil rights organizations: Speak the word transgender, or the phrase gender identity and expression, when you speak of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's civil rights. And, speak these transgender subcommunity words on television. Transgender people deserve better than the silence on our subcommunity's terminology -- on our subcommunity's issues -- that we're receiving from the Obama administration, progressive politicians, and LGBT non-profits/civil rights organizations.

Don't message transgender people out of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights movement -- it's just not acceptable.

Oh No, Mara Keisling Didn't Really Just Say That, Did She?

by: Autumn Sandeen

Sat Jun 13, 2009 at 20:00:00 PM EDT

But oops, it looks like the National Center For Transgender Equality's (NCTE's) executive Director Mara Keisling bumbled an answer. So, let's take a look, eh?

From CNN's Sonny and Cher's child transitioning from female to male:

Someone's decision to transition does not necessarily mean they are undergoing gender reassignment surgery, and in many cases they do not, said Mara Keisling, executive director of the Washington-based National Center for Transgender Equality.

"The whole media fixation on surgery is kind of misplaced," she said. "Almost no transgender people ever have surgery. We don't have any idea how many do."

At a time when trans folk and our allies want to see health care benefits provided by the workplace increased for trans people -- including genital reconstruction surgery that has been determined to be good for the health and wellbeing of many transsexuals -- Mara's phrasing for CNN seems at best unfortunate, and at worst actually damaging for increasing health benefits for those of us trans folk who actually identify as transsexual.

In other words, for me it would be nice for me if the Veterans Administration would do genial reassignment surgeries, but her comment "Almost no transgender people ever have surgery" makes it sound like my peers and I don't want those surgeries for ourselves -- so in the personal sense it sounds like she's saying to the general public that I don't want or need the VA to cover it.

The reality is that insurance doesn't often cover genital reconstruction surgeries, so most transsexuals can't afford the $15,000 to $60,000 for male-to-female genital reconstruction surgery, or the $30,000 to $150,000 for female-to-male genital reconstruction surgery out of their own pockets. Economics are often the main reason why the transgender people who identify as transsexual don't have genital reconstruction surgery. Some transsexuals actually do identify as non-operative transsexuals, but my experiece is that those folk aren't how most transsexuals identify -- most who haven't had genital reconstruction surgery identify as pre-operative even if they anticipate never being able to afford surgery on their genitalia.

I believe that what Mara was trying to say was that for transsexuals, when we are born what's between our ears doesn't match the genitalia usually associated with that gender. However, having genitalia that doesn't match one's gender identity shouldn't be used by media or politicians to say that trans men aren't really men, or trans women aren't really women -- Genitals don't trump identity.

And too, not everyone who identifies as a transgender person is a transsexual person -- there are crossdressers, genderqueers, and such that may identify as transgender, but not as transsexuals.

But, this isn't what she actually said -- or worse, what she actually implied -- with how she worded her response to Chaz Bono's transition.

Engh, I know that trans activist leaders are going to be quoted when "big news" transitions take place, and gaffs will occur when talking to the press. I just wish Mara would have thought about how to answer that standard question about gender and genitalia a bit more than she appears to have for this occasion; I hope she thinks through a "standard blurb" for that standard question on gender and genitalia for future interviews regarding high profile transitions.

And too, I certainly hope no one takes what Mara Keisling said this time and attempts to use it as an argument against insurance companies paying for genital reconstruction surgeries, or even covering other services for trans people -- such as hormone therapy and psychological counseling. That would be tragic.

NCTE gets a monthly donation from me, and that certainly won't change. Gaff's happen; we all move forward. I do hope NCTE clarifies what Mara meant very early next week though, as this statement she made for CNN really is a gaff that could hurt trans people's quest for a future thst includes more inclusive medical care.  

California Transgender Leadership Summit: "Like, A Totally Inclusive ENDA," Dude.

by: Autumn Sandeen

Mon Mar 30, 2009 at 11:00:00 AM EDT

Autumn Sandeen, from Pam's House Blend, interviews Mara Keisling of the National Center for Transgender Equality (nctequality.org).

The discussion between Mara and Autumn covers Transgender Lobby Day, how Mara is 28th from the top of the list of most "well paid"  members of the LGBT related Non-Profit community, the upcoming 3rd Annual Transgender Religious Leaders Summit, and the "new" crossdressed/transgender bathroom predator meme  --  a meme to used to stop and/or repeal civil rights and protections for the entire LGBT community.

The headline for this post is how we go all Southern California about the word totally for a "totally inclusive ENDA." So like, y'know, totally, dudes!

From the interview, here's an excerpt from Mara on the "ficticious" crossdressed/transgender bathroom predator meme:

Mara Keisling: I'm going to be focusing today on a really nasty trend we're seeing which is all these lies that are coming up about...

Autumn Sandeen: The Bathroom!

Mara Keisling: Bathrooms, yes...

Autumn Sandeen: Which is my little pet peeve...

Well, you can even speak [Mara] to what happened in New Hampshire this past week. What they actually retitled a transgender civil rights bill -- the "Bathroom Bill," and well, it didn't pass out of the legislature during the vote this week. And, in Gainesville we saw the bathroom bill defeated...

Mara Keisling:It's something that's going to be a real focus of a lot of the work that a lot of us do over the next few years...

She then talks about the religious right, and about what not just trans people, but the LGBT community is going to need to do ove the next years to battle this meme.

Frankly, I didn't edit down Mara answers, and she gave really good assessments of trans issues -- and the answers are most often framed within the context of broader community. So this video interview is a little bit long, but this is a has more "meat on the bones" then most other interviews I've done.

And, if you're interested in joining going to Washington DC as a part of NCTE's Lobby Day on Tuesday, April 28th. There's going to be a related summit where about 60 to 80 of trans-affiliated spiritual leaders will be meeting together In DC for the annual Transgender Religious Leaders Summit on April 26th and 27th. This, the 3rd annual Transgender Religious Leaders Summit, is realized because of the incredible percolation and support of the Pacific School of Religion.

See if you can spot all the places where Mara corrects me -- I'd like to point out that I'm not perfect, and that I'm not on the top of everything. I'm certainly not the single voice of trans people in America.

And, I believe that's a pretty important thing to know -- It's really important to note that not one single trans person holds the entire knowledge of the trans civil rights movement, nor is their anyone who holds the perfect and right viewpoint. In other words, not everyone thinks exactly the same about the exact same things.

There is a diversity of thought in our community, and that's something to celebrate and embrace -- certainly not to dismiss or ignore. As Mara says in this interview:

Not one of us has a view of the whole thing.

So, of course, you may believe I'm wrong on an issue, and you may be correct that my opinion on something is wrong. This is the wonder and beauty of having a broad community of individuals that embrace their diversity -- I strongly believe that the sum of our parts is greater when we become parts of broader movements.

Not Outing Myself In A VA Healthcare Setting When I Probably Should Have

by: Autumn Sandeen

Sat Jan 17, 2009 at 20:30:00 PM EST

It's really unlikely that there are any significant intersecting health concerns with my toothache and LGBT status -- but in the past I would always out myself to healthcare providers "just in case."

Yesterday (January 16, 2009), I didn't. Even being as out as I am about my sexual orientation and gender identity to just about everyone, I didn't out myself to the unfamiliar, new dentist. I didn't because I was concerned someone would invoke their right of conscience and decide not to treat me because I'm transsexual...because I'm transgender.

It's a real worry. Folks who aren't even trans are already suing the federal government because they believe the regulations were written way, way too broadly. From the Washington Post:

Seven states and two family-planning groups yesterday asked a federal court to block a controversial new federal regulation that protects health workers who refuse to provide care that they find objectionable.

In three lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, the states and groups sought an immediate court order preventing the regulation from going into effect Tuesday and a permanent decision voiding the rule.

"On the way out, the Bush administration has left a ticking political time bomb that is set to explode literally on the day of the president's inaugural and blow apart women's rights," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who filed one of the suits on behalf of his state, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island. "This midnight rule is a nightmare for hospitals and clinics, as well as women."

Blumenthal's lawsuit challenges the regulation on several grounds, charging that it is too vague and overbroad and conflicts with other federal laws and state laws...

[More below the fold.]

NCTE And NGLTF: Documenting Transgender Discrimination

by: Autumn Sandeen

Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 21:00:00 PM EDT

So with those thoughts in mind, it really is no small thing that the National Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE)and The Task Force have announced the launch of a National survey on transgender discrimination. According to the Benefits section of the survey's prelude:

The results of the survey will be part of an important report on discrimination against transgender people by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to help create better opportunities for transgender and gender non-conforming people.

Penn State University is the agent conducting the survey.

NCTE's Mara Keisling states this about the survey:

This is an absolutely critical national effort. We urge all transgender and gender non-conforming people to take the survey to help guide us in making better laws and policies that will improve the quality of life for all transgender people. We need everyone's voice in this, everyone's participation.

To the transgender readership here at Pam's House Blend, as well as those who identify as being of any sort of trans history, I join with NCTE and The Task Force in requesting your participation in this study. Please take the time to fill out the survey: the documentation will be of assistance to not only those of us who identity as being trans or as being of trans history, but will be of help those who come out in the future as transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, crossdressers, etc.

To fill out a survey form, please follow the link found here.

Shannon Minter And Mara Keisling On Gender Identity Platform Language And Marriage Equality

by: Autumn Sandeen

Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 08:48:12 AM EDT

Shannon Minter, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), responds to gender identity being included in the Democratic Party Platform, as well as talking about what it's like to be a female-to-male transgender man working on LGBT issues (he was the NCLR's key attorney who argued the freedom to marry case before the California Supreme Court, from which Californians won the freedom to marry):

Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), responding to the how gender identity is for the first time, included in the Democratic Party Platform:

These were conducted right after August 25th's LGBT Caucus meeting.

Okay, We'll Call Today A Sucktastic Dry Run

by: Autumn Sandeen

Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 22:00:00 PM EDT

My flight today to cover the U.S. House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions scheduled hearing on discrimination against transgender employees in the workplace was a no-go.  And wow, what a craptacular story goes with that failure to take flight!

To begin with, I had two different itineraries from Travelocity for this trip. The first one had me leaving today -- but apparently Travelocity changed my travel day, and sent a second itinerary I thought was a duplicate of the first one. So basically, I was actually scheduled to travel on the 25th (tomorrow) per the second itinerary, vice today as I thought.

Good thing too, as I lost my wallet this morning!

Here's this story -- I went to my local 7/11's ATM this morning at a quarter of four to get some cash (again, thought I was flying today) for tips and such. Following that stop I drove directly to a long term airport parking lot in plenty of time to make it for the 6:30 AM flight. I got in the shuttle bus with my two pieces of luggage, and off the driver and I went to the appropriate terminal.  

When I was checking my handbag for a tip for the shuttle driver, I found I had no wallet in my handbag --  my wallet wasn't on the floor of the shuttle either.  We drove back to the lot: My wallet wasn't in my car, and it wasn't under my car.  I started freaking out.

I took my luggage out of the shuttle, loaded the pieces back in my car, and then drove back to the 7/11.  There I found out my wallet wasn't at the 7/11 where the ATM was located either. Now I was really freaking out, and actually tearing.  

At 7:00 AM, the manager was going to be in, and then could check the surveillance tapes to see if anyone grabbed my wallet -- assuming I left it accidentally by the ATM. I left the clerk my cell phone number to call me with what they discovered when they reviewed the surveillance tapes.

So, I drove the block-and-a-half back to my apartment and called up Travelocity to explain my travel problem.  After talking to them on the phone for a half-an-hour, I found out about that second itinerary -- at least no $150.00 fee for changing my flight for a later flight.

I started destressing. I called up all of my credit card and banking card holders, and cancelled all my plastic. Then I crashed on my living room couch for three hours.

I checked my cell phone messages when I woke up.  After a surveillance tape at the 7/11 clearly showed that I'd placed my wallet into my handbag after getting the cash, I got confused. So, I drove back to the parking lot, -- my wallet wasn't under the car in the space I'd parked in this morning, but it was well under the car that was parked next to where I'd parked in the long term lot that morning -- it was far enough under that other car that I had to lay on the ground to reach my wallet.

* Whew. * The morning sucked sucktasticly, but it could have been much, much worse. The only lasting frustration is I'm traveling now without plastic. However, my credit union has branches in DC if I turn out not to have traveled with enough cash on hand -- but it means I have to go to a branch in person during bank hours if I need to withdraw cash. :(

But hey! Tomorrow, my friends, is a brand new day! Tomorrow, I fly!

~~~~~
Related:
* Permanent Guest Barista Autumn On The Road This Week

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Permanent Guest Barista Autumn On The Road This Week

by: Autumn Sandeen

Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 14:41:15 PM EDT

My roundtrip airline ticket has been arranged by the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA), and my housing has been arranged by the National Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE). Besides TAVA and NCTE, the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and some individuals within the transgender community also offered to contribute to financing this trip -- I directed TLC and these individuals to coordinate donations for the trip with NCTE, as originally they were going to be the single organization to cover my trip related expenses.

My personal agenda issue of civil rights and protections for transgender people --as well as others for whom society deems as not conforming to societal gender norms -- is shared by TAVA, NCTE, and TLC, as well as many, many individuals within the broader LGBT community, and of course within the more narrowly defined transgender community. Frankly, I'm very concerned about what the future will look like for transyouth, as well as for transgender adults who haven't yet come out of the closet. These hearings really do need to be covered by someone from the transgender community that has a personal perspective -- a personal stake -- regarding transgender legislative issues. Apparently, TAVA, NCTE, and TLC, as well as a number of individual, trans identified folk feel strongly enough about this need for trans-positive coverage that they're sponsoring my trip to DC.

I'm going to be sticking to the GLAAD, NLGJA, and Associated Press guidelines for covering transgender people -- as well as for transgender terminology -- as much as possible. I stick to these guidelines most of the time, actually, but am pointing this out for Blenders who want to know whether I'm referring to a person's natal sex or to a person's target sex when I use terms like transwoman or transman (always by target sex of the individual referenced, by the way), and for those who think I'm blurring gender lines in inappropriate or unacceptable ways in the choice of terms I use to refer to people of trans experience.

Anywho, I expect I'll have a lot to write about from DC. I'm hoping to get in some interviews with DC based activists and "non-profiteers" this week too -- my guess is that it'll take me a few weeks to post all of the stories I gather during this trip.

~~~~~Update~~~~~
NCTE's T-Equality Blog has been activated for the hearing. The first entry of the hearing related posts is here.

ENDA Passed Without "Real Or Perceived Gender" Protections

by: Autumn Sandeen

Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 20:12:57 PM EST

My own experience of being sexually harassed in the Navy for gender expression -- behavior that was interpreted as gay behavior by my subordinate and my Executive Officer --  tells me this passing of the "substitute ENDA" leaves too many people behind.  I also strongly feel that passing this "substitute ENDA" sent the wrong message to our LGBT youth on who is valuable in the LGBT community, and who is not.

Mara Keisling of NCTE had this to say in an E-Blast sent out after ENDA passed on a 235-184 vote:

Today, The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3685 the substitute Employment Discrimination Act by a vote of 235-184.

The staff and board of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) are deeply disappointed by today's action in the U.S. House of Representatives in forcing through a flawed, divisive civil rights bill that virtually no civil rights organization wants and that has virtually no chance to pass into law.

NCTE pledges to continue our efforts to educate Congress and the public around issues of both sexual orientation and gender identity.

We praise the efforts of so many who worked tirelessly to protect all LGBT people, including the members of Congress who stood strongly with LGBT people in asking for protections for all LGBT people. We also express deep gratitude to the more than 350 LGBT organizations who are part of the United ENDA coalition. Transgender people should be comforted in their disappointment today knowing that the preponderance of the LGBT movement has stood with us absolutely rock solidly.

United ENDA sent out this message:

[United ENDA's message after the break]

Notes From The ENDA "Sidelines"

by: Autumn Sandeen

Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 03:33:54 AM EDT

Christine Daniels posted a blog entry yesterday where she made a revelation about her employment that, well, shocked me. I posted back in April:

Christine Daniels' story is an example of what a law protecting people against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity can do for LGBT employees. The Gender Nondiscrimination Act of 2003 (AB 196) changed the employment climate in California; the Los Angeles Times didn't fire her. The Times may have accommodated her transition without legislation, but as it is they don't really have a legal choice whether or not to accommodate her -- they are required by law to accommodate her transition.

You are reading this [blog] right now, in no small part, because in 2003 the state of California passed its version of ENDA, the Gender Non-Discrimination Act (AB 196). Back in early March, I scheduled a meeting with a person in The Times' human resources department to do some exploratory research about transitioning at The Times. I was told, "Well, The Times cannot discriminate against you because California has a law in place."

Well. That was worded somewhat more bluntly than I wanted to hear. But it was also comforting. I had protection. I could be myself, and I could continue to draw a paycheck. From those crude beginnings, I was able to work with HR and my editors to formulate a transition strategy that enabled me to not only change my byline and keep my job but boost my career to an all-time personal fulfillment level. Today, I am writing 3-4 columns a week for the Times Sports section along with two blogs, including this one.

I realize I am lucky. California is one of about a dozen states with such protection for transgender employees. My friend Susan Stanton did not have that kind of backup in Florida and lost her job as Largo city manager in February despite a long and outstanding record of public service.

(more stories, NCTE newsleter started -- after the break)

Question At The Marriage Chapel: "Are you a transsexual?"

by: Autumn Sandeen

Sat Dec 23, 2006 at 23:38:58 PM EST

"Do you solemnly swear you are not a transsexual..."

...That might seem surprising in an age when the political spotlight is on gay marriage. In 2004, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment declaring marriage a union between one man and one woman.

But this section of Clark County's marriage oath dates back to 1987. That was the year Stark County Probate Judge Denny Clunk wrote a landmark opinion denying a marriage license to a woman and her fiancé, who was born female but had a sex-change operation to become male. The ruling held that chromosomes, not genitals, determine sex.

Under Ohio law, the sex noted on the birth certificate is what counts when marriage licenses are considered. And that part of the birth certificate can't be changed. So in the Stark County case, both applicants were considered to be women.

David Mattes served as Clark County Probate judge at the time of Clunk's ruling. He said he figured he'd nip any potential problems in the bud by adding a line to the oath.

"It's been there ever since," Mattes said.  (emphasis added)

But when the article mentions one can't change one's birth certificate, that's true in Ohio.  The article doesn't mention that in about half of the states in the United States, one can change one's birth certificate if one has sex reassignment surgery (SRS).  If one does have a changed birth certificate then, does Ohio under the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution recognize the sex on the birth certificate, and thus recognize one can enter into a relationship with one man and one woman as a transwoman or transman?  I don't know.

Quoting Mara Keisling of NCTE:

Every trans person who's in a relationship, regardless of what their gender is or ever was they're either in a same-sex relationship or in an opposite sex relationships that somebody could claim was a same-sex relationship.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine Signs Trans Civil Rights Bill

by: Autumn Sandeen

Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 04:32:56 AM EST

Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth), the bill's principle sponsor, said of the bill signing:

"Transgender individuals de serve the same rights and privileges we extend to all of our citizens, and this goes a long way to ensure that their rights will be protected from the prejudices of an ignorant few.  New Jersey has been at the forefront of civil rights issues in the past, and we will continue to lead the way, to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to succeed in life."

The NCTE reported previously that:

New Jersey joins California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Washington in legislating statewide transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination protections. These state-level laws in addition to similar transgender-inclusive protections in the District of Columbia and in over 80 cities and counties now protect one-third of the US population based on gender identity or expression.

For transpeople like me, this is something to celebrate! 

Blocking LGBT Websites On Public School Computers

by: Autumn Sandeen

Sun Dec 17, 2006 at 00:49:17 AM EST

One of the things that has become a boon for the transgender community was the coming of the internet. I've no empirical data to back up that belief, but the reality that my transgender peers and I can go online and find out about transgender people and issues has allowed community building. Previously, the relatively small number of out transpeople, and lack of interconnectivity between geographically separated transcommunities made it difficult for transpeople to learn of each others' existence.

Not only has the internet provided means for transpeople to interconnect, it's also provided transpeople access to accurate information regarding transgender issues to a wide audience. Examples include TS Roadmap, Psychology of Gender Identity and Transsexualism, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Transgender Law Center.

This is equally true for LGBT people and community organizations, like the Ex-Gay Watch and Truth Wins Out, that seek to counter the lies spread by ex-gay ministries. Without the internet, Michael Johnston would never have been exposed. We would never know about Kyle and the other kid being confined at LIA/R. The claims made by Alan Chambers and others in small town newspapers throughout the nation would never be tracked and exposed. And the real life stories of those who have gone through ex-gay ministries and survived -- or didn't -- would never have a voice.

These kinds of non-pornographic websites are ones many want to keep out of high school students reach.

Florida's Palm Beach County School District did just that with LGBT related websites. In May, the Independent Gay News reported that an Inlet Grove High School senior -- Joe Dellosa -- writing for his school’s online news publication (Iiletspin.com), found: (more after jump)