AND

Beck’s Cafe supporter and fellow coffee swiller, June, will be in the ride making her butt sore for this great cause.   Who’s June?  Why none other than Fenway Women’s Dinner Co-Chair that ‘s which June!   So here’s what I need my loyal and long-suffering readers to do:  Sponsor Her.  Yep, crack open those wallets boys and girls!  Here’s the link to get to her sponsor page and support a great cause: June’s Harbor to the Bay Sponsor Page

Abuse is no joke among trans-women and their partners.  Indeed, organizations like The Network La Red started partially because this kind of abuse, though not talked about, is a real.   One research who has done work in this area is Mona Rae Mason.   Our long-suffering readers might remember our previous posts on Ms. Mason here at Beck’s Cafe regarding her work on The Transgender Project.  Part of what came out of that work were two research papers and Ms. Mason has been kind enough to let us publish them here at Beck’s Cafe.  The first is “”Psychiatric Impact of Gender-Related Abuse Across the Life Course of Male-to-Female Transgender Person”

In this paper, the author’s cover:

The psychiatric impact of interpersonal abuse associated with an atypical presentation of gender was examined across the life course of 571 male-to-female (MTF) transgender persons from the New York City Metropolitan Area. Gender-related abuse (psychological and physical), suicidality, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision) major depression were retrospectively measured across ?ve stages of the life course using the Life Chart Interview. Among younger respondents (current age of 19–39), the impact of both types of abuse on major depression was extremely strong during adolescence and then markedly declined during later stages of life. Among older respondents (current age of 40–59), the impact of both types of abuse on major depression was strong during adolescence and then marginally declined during later stages of life. The effects of both types of abuse on suicidality were weaker but more consistently observed across the life course among both the younger and older respondents. Gender-related abuse is a major mental health problem among MTF transgender persons, particularly during adolescence. As these individuals mature, however, the consequences of this abuse appear less severe, which may represent the development of moderately effective mechanisms for coping with this abuse

You can download the full study by clicking to this link here at Beck’s Cafe, “Psychiatric Impact of Gender-Related Abuse Across the Life Course of Male-to-Female Transgender Persons“.

That being said, it would be good for everyone to know the current language in the bill and what Barney Frank’s clarifications of it are. First, what is some of the current language and then, what Representative Frank’s thoughts are.

Rebecca Juro reported, on May 4th in The Billerico Project:

• Employers will not be permitted to force a transgender employee to use a bathroom that is opposite of their gender identity, but they also will not be obligated to allow that employee to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, as long as (currently undefined) reasonable accommodations are made.
• These rules may only be applied to transsexual employees who are currently transitioning, and those who have already completed the transition process will not be affected. What we don’t yet know here is what will be the requirements to be considered as fully transitioned.

Those are pretty powerful statements in terms of how ENDA is being drafted.  The key however, as Rebecca Juro writes in her piece, is that “none of this is written in stone”.   There may be changes yet.  Many thanks to local gal turned educator of our congress, Denise Leclair, for her unearthing this text from the ENDA document.

Congressman Barney Frank gave his views on the transgender piece of ENDA in a May 10th report in “Roll Call: the newspaper of Capital Hill since 1955“.  In the piece, “Backers Say Gay Rights Bill will Pass in House” Representative Frank stated that:

• Regarding Transgender protections remaining in ENDA, he said, “There’s no chance of doing it without it.”  He believes that at the base level, it’s about discrimination plain and simple.

Representative Frank noted in the Roll Call piece that alot of work went into the bill to meet moderate’s concerns such as:

• Transgender people with “one set of genitals” would not be able to go to a bathroom for people with another set of genitals.
• Transgender people would have to have a “consistent gender presentation” in order to be able to sue for discrimination.  “They can’t sit there with a full beard and a dress,” Representative Frank said.

So, the push isn’t over for ENDA yet.  Passing ENDA in the House of Representatives would be at least a step in the right direction to get the pins set for equality and protections in 2011.   I’d encourage our readers to check the following resources as well:

1. The comments section of Rebecca Juro’s post are vital to understanding and interpreting what is happening now.  You can reach that story at the Billerico Project at this link: “Current ENDA Language Regarding Transgender Revealed, Concerns Mount“
2. Wikipedia article on ENDA which contains a good number of reference links for those wanting to read more: Wikipedia article on ENDA

Unbound By Body Party at Club Cafe, Boston MA

• What: Unbound By Body Launch Party
• When: June 3rd, 6:30pm-10:00pm
• Where: Club Cafe, Moonshine Room, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston

Funnest part of the party? Their 2011 Calendar featuring trans-identified community members from across the state of Massachusetts.
This event is free but bring some change to get your own calendar!

For those of you who can’t make the party, the calendar will be on sale online and at various events throughout the year after the party. For an idea of who is in the calendar, check out the blog of their photographer, Jess Dugan: http://jesstdugan.blogspot.com/2010/04/transgender-emergency-fund-calendar.html

If you have any questions, feel free to Jesse at jessep@aidsprojectworcester.org

• Boston City Council passed a unanimous resolution supporting the transgender civil rights bill
• The Episcopal diocese of Massachusetts voice their support for the transgender civil rights bill
• A summary of what the bill’s purpose is

Click to Bay Windows coverage at their site at this link: Transgender Rights Bill receives more support, extended deadline

Of particular note for supporters of the bill is to note that it’s still in the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary and it’s been given an extension to early June 2010 for consideration.   If the bill receives a favorable recommendation from the Join Committee on the Judiciary, the bill moves through the legislative process to both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and, if passed, to the Governor’s desk for approval, veto or to return it back to the legislature for changes.

The Transgender Emergency Fund is a great idea started by two social entrepreneurs, Tanya and Jesse.   It started out as a small initiative really but has truly expanded over the past two years having raised thousands of dollars through small donations mainly from the transgender community.   That money then went right back into the transgender community in Massachusetts in small grants to help low income trans-persons.   The money is most often used for medical care, to avoid becoming homeless, and help with food and heating.   This kind of communities helping themselves is really neat to see and a great example really of what can be accomplished when an entrepreneurial spirit is put with a desire to see social justice action put in place.

They are holding a kick off fund raiser at Club Cafe on Thursday, June 3rd at 6PM and the kick off includes their new calendar!  Calendars are $10 each and feature the photos of many of  Massachusetts leading trans-persons.  Pretty fun stuff!  You can get more information by dropping some mail to Jesse at jessep@aidsprojectworcester.org

May 14, 2010 Correction:  Tanya emailed us here at Beck’s Cafe to let us know that while Tanya is a volunteer for the fund she did not start it.  Jesse was the visionary who created it.

• Access to Healthcare: This is a biggie.  The transgender community has a poverty rate as twice the national average. In a recent survey of over 6,000 transpersons by NCTE, 26% had been fired just for being transgender. While COBRA helps, eventually that runs out so having access at all to health care is a big help.
• Cannot be Denied Coverage or Dropped: Very important.  While transition coverage is not mandated; you can’t be denied standard health care solely because you have a pre-exisiting condition or have been receiving treatment.

Read more at NCTE’s web site news, “Health Care Reform and it’s Impact on Transgender People” and another post at the NCTE blog, “Being a Transgender Person is no Longer a Pre-Existing Condition“

Here’s a bit of news coverage to bring you up to speed here:

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/22/health.care.main/index.html?hpt=T1

Foxnews: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/21/house-leaders-make-impassioned-pleas-final-health-care-vote/

On both the Democrat and the Republican side there were many facts and many non-facts.  We’ve got some reading for you to hopefully steer your way through the morass of fogginess at FactCheck.org Among their findings:

• Premiums? Some health care premiums will increase and some will decrease.  Basically, for those who get insurance through their employer, it does not appear as though it will change; for those who can afford to buy their own insurance, it may change 10 to 13%
• Government  Run? When the BBC asked a Republican House Member today on an interview if this was in fact a Government  takeover for the U.S. Healthcare he said, “well, it’s about where we are going with healthcare”.   So what is the deal?   Well it is not government run nor aimed in that way.  And that fact made alot of liberal Democrats angry as a caffeine addict being served de-caff coffee here at Beck’s Cafe.   See Fact Check for the straight perk.
• You Can Keep Your Old Plan? Well President Obama really didn’t give it to us straight on that one.  Under this plan employers may drop employees and plans (as they can today anyway by the way); but there’s a safety net here that let’s people dropped from their employers roles buy their own plans.  See Fact Check for the inforama.
• Some plans are taxed: And what is up with THAT?  Well here’s the scoop – there’s a 40 percent tax on the value of plans above $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families, starting in 2018. The tax falls on insurers, but would be passed along to policyholders one way or another.  The tax would affect mainly nonunion workers, according to an analysis partly authored by a former Bush adviser.”  See Fact Check for the full report on this one.

Here is the link to Fact Check’s coverage:  A Final Weekend of Whoppers? Health care legislation coverage.

There’s alot we need to sit down and understand over way more coffee than this.  What about women’s reproductive rights?  What about breast cancer screening?  Are trans-persons helped or at least not-hindered by this legislation?  Lots of questions and we’ll have some follow up in the coming days.

• 60% of the worlds chronically hungry people are women and girls
• And yet 8 out of 10 people involved in farming in Africa, and 6 out of 10 in Asia are women
• In one of three households in the world, women are the sole breadwinners
• Babies born to hungry mothers are 20% more likely to die in infancy and those who survive face a childhood of continual malnourishment and being victims of diseases
• A woman or girl will re-invest 90% of her income into her family while a man will only re-invest 30% to 40%

So a strategy is being rolled out, selectively and by hunger program, to target the women and girls. The data seems to support this as the best way to positively effect the whole problem. I’m not sure this is a universal approach, but, given the extent of the problem it appears to be a new angle in process that might make a real dent.

You can read more at Causecast at the article: Empowering Women as an Effective Way to Fight Global Hunger

Photo courtesy of Pulguta’s Photos

Room to read, from their web site:

Over 300 million children around the world do not have access to education and most likely will never learn to read or write. Room to Read believes that all children, regardless of gender or background, have a right to education. By empowering children through this lifelong gift, we see a world in which people are able to realize their full potential.

Room to Read had its humble origins in Nepal in 2000, where we began bringing donated books to rural communities. Today, we are a global organization dedicated to promoting and enabling education through four core programs.

The importance of reading, according to the University of Michigan, for children is that:

• It improves their chances for success in school itself and in working
• It’s a fun and imaginative activity for children (so it exercises their brains)
• It’s an important way to use language and to communicate

Those are all great goals to help kids anywhere certainly; but helping them in some of the most impoverished places on the planet can be important to start seeing the changes that make for a better world.  Sadly, 2/3 of the 770 million illiterate people in the world are girls and women and Room to Read is an important part in changing that terrible statistic.  You can learn more about this terrific program at their web site Room to Read

That’s a great thing since Mona Rae Mason from the Transgender Project has noted that the percentage of homeless kids who are transgender is very high (see her post, “The Coming Out Party is Over“).  Places like Waltham House are safe places that help protect and nurture some of the kids.

But they often need money to do their job so Waltham House is sponsoring a Casino Night Fund Raiser on April 27th starting at 6PM at Club Cafe in Boston.  Sounds like a good cause doesn’t it?    You can learn more about this fund raiser so you can attend and have fun at this link, “Waltham House Casino Night“

The most current hot and public issue in the transgender community though on discrimination is the Capone’s of Peabody MA vs. SISTERS discrimination affair. To bring our readers up to speed, SISTERS, a Boston area Social and Support Group visited Capone’s on several occasions until one day, they attempted to visit to have a few drinks and dance and then there were told they could not come in and that they were not welcome. If it had been a private club that would have been that. But it was an open to the public venue and so, such behavior by Capone’s, really sounded like discrimination. SISTERS pushed the issue to the Peabody licensing board, in a professional and non-confrontational manner, and now the issue is in mediation. This whole thing might seem like a small issue but it’s not. It’s discrimination. Do all persons have to like all other persons regardless of race, gender, sex, or nationality. No, this isn’t about thought police. But people do have to treat each other with respect. And that’s what this issue is about.

Kudos to Ashley Bottoms and the SISTERS FAMILY for pushing this issue the right way and the professional way to bring about positive change.

You can catch up on all the back story at:

1. The Salem News
2. Boston.com
3. Peabody Lynnfield Weekly News
4. Urban Alternatives
5. Matt Kailey at Examiner.com

Update
2-26-2010: MTPC has issued a statement regarding the incident.  The last paragraph of their statement is imporant to note,

“MTPC calls upon the transgender community to rally behind the pending H1728/S1687 Transgender Civil Rights act that would finally establish clear legal guidelines and remedies for situations such as the one at Capone’s. There is no good reason why any good citizens of our Commonwealth should be treated in a demeaning fashion, and the law should reflect our state’s broad consensus in this.”

Amen to that!

As I heard Diego Sanchez say once in a meeting,  “We aren’t looking for any special rights; just the ones we somehow lost because we are trans”.   Well put and precisely the point of the outing.   So here are the details for all of you who can join in:

• Date: Thursday January 21
• Time: 2PM-5PM
• Location:  Nurses Hall, Massachusetts State House

More details are at MTPC’s site, “Transgender Lobby Equality Day, 2010“

Sometimes the best way to get out of the dumps and pick up some energy to move forward is by expending some energy in volunteering.  It makes you feel good, helps you stay out and about, and who knows but a career door may open you hadn’t considered.  But where to volunteer?    That seems like an easy question to answer since today almost any non-profit organization might use any number of skills that  you have.  But, if the idea of picking up the phone and calling your local shelter, nursing home or school seems daunting  Volunteer Match can be of help.  Volunteer Match actually posts listings for volunteer opportunities in your area.  Just plug-in  your city and state and bingo you get a list.   A nice feature is that the volunteer listings tell you in many cases what they need so you don’t have to figure it out before you call.   Another nice bennie?  They have listings for on-line volunteer help too!  That’s right, keep those slipper socks and jammies on and you can volunteer from behind your keyboard as well.   This might be a great option if  your in a time crunch but still want to put some of your time out to a good cause.

I’m getting another cup of coffee from Beck’s Cafe and going to peruse Volunteer Match why don’t you come along for the fun

Ahh yes, indeed, Father Time is soon to close the books on 2009 however, the facts remain that this is still 2009 and our readers might like to know about our transgender heroes; many of whom are actually from the Boston area.

First, many of our coffee clutching readers might need to remind themselves of or learn for the first time, what Stonewall was.   Its not mainstream history so you might not actually know, so, jog on over to Wikipedia and read on The Stonewall Riots.

Now, onto Stonewall Trans-Heroes 40.  This list is sponsored by The Imperial Court System and by The Task Force.   Readers, when you go through this list you’ll likely know some of these men and women personally.   Next time you see them say, “congratulations” and “thanks” for all they are doing with each of us to make all our lives just a little bit better.

Now we need your help please. Please tell your Representative to make
this a priority now! Transgender Civil Rights cannot wait any longer.

Right now, An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate
Crimes is being held in the Judiciary Committee, with no set date to be
released for a full vote in the legislature. Please take a moment to
call or  email to your Representative asking them to call on House
Speaker DeLeo to make H 1728 An Act Relative to Gender Based
Discrimination and Hate Crimes a priority this year.

Representatives and their staffs tell us that calls and emails make all
the difference!

- To get your Representative’s phone number go to
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm

- To find out who your Rep is and their email address go to
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php and whom
ever is listed for “Rep in General Court” is your rep.

**** some sample text and scripts you might use *****

Here is a sample script you might use when calling:

My name is _____ and I am a proud resident of (your city). I am calling
to ask you as my Representative to contact House Speaker DeLeo ask him
to make H 1728, the transgender rights bill, a priority this year. I can
be reached at _______ (give your phone number). Thank you.

Here is a sample script you might use when emailing:

Dear Rep _____

I am a constituent in your district and I am writing you to ask you
as my Representative to contact House Speaker DeLeo urge him to make
H 1728, An At Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate
Crimes, a priority this year. Transgender rights cannot wait any
longer. Thank you.

Sincerely (your name)

************

Call or write using your legal name if you wish; no one is asking any of
us to out ourselves; but, contacting our government officials is going
to help all of us here in Massachusetts.

Ashley, Paula, Joan C., Michelle, Sally, Dana, June, Gunner, Nancy,
Gordene, Ethan, myself and so many others have done little things here
and there to help move this important legislation along.  With a
little more work from our community we can all see our civil rights
returned to us!

To see Ashley and Sally interviewed by Fox News on this bill and it’s
importance, please click to Fox News here:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/071409_Transgender_equity_bill_fuels_fight

To learn about Michelle, Becki and Paula’s experience in the community lobbing our state reps, please click to this article here:
http://beckscafe.com/2009/06/21/trans-civil-rights-lobby-day-roundtable-with-michelle-paula-rebecca/

Thanks to everyone for their support!!

Opening statement by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

• NCTE hosted the meeting and it was kicked off by their Executive Director, Mara Kiesling
• The key message of the entire call? Time to get moving. We might actually be able to get the Federal inclusive ENDA bill passed in 2009.
• A Vote may come in the house in the next few weeks and the GLBT community, and particular the transgender group have to show we have the votes to get a vote! Many members have never even talked to a trans-person and don’t know if ENDA is a real issue for THEIR votes [ed: see Beck's Cafe article from June 2009, "Trans Civil Rights Lobby Day: Roundtable with Michelle, Paula & Rebecca" to see a glimpse of just such an exchange.]

So what’s up with ENDA (HR 3017) in the U.S. House of Representatives?

• HR 3017 is the designation for ENDA in our House of Representatives
• The Education and Labor Committee will discuss the bill in September but there is no solid date. Where there is a date they will publicize it
• The hearing will have at least one transgender discrimination victim and one gay discrimination victim
• Various experts on both sides will testify
• After this hearing, the committee will poll the house to see if the votes are there to pass ENDA in the house; if there are, then there will be a vote in 30-45 days!!
• NCTE has hired a new part-time person to help get new sponsors on board for ENDA
• Lots of meetings are happening now but the U.S. Representatives need to hear from us, their constituents! They need to hear “Thank You” if they are supporters and “Pleaes Support Us” if they are not supporters. By communicating with them we let them know we are here [not unlike the Who's strategy in Horton Hear's A Who]

So how about the ENDA (S. 1584) in the U.S. Senate?

• S. 1584 is the designation for ENDA in our Senate
• Kennedy, Snow, Collins, Merkley are all in
• Not on a fast track as the House bill is. Currently it appears that late this year or early Spring 2010 a Senate vote will take place on ENDA
• Mara, “We have to do work here. We really have to step this up big time.”
• Our late Senator Kennedy was the LGBT community’s biggest supporter. He Felt transgender rights were VERY important. He knew that while he was ill and focusing on health care reform he needed to hand the lead on inclusive ENDA to someone he could trust, and so he found the right lead sponsor in Senator Merkley. Senator Merkley in Portland has two bills in his office that protect transgender people from discrimination. He iS GUNG HO supporting the an inclusinve ENDA. He needs the LGBT community to do our work to get ENDA voted in. It’s CRITICAL the entire LGBT community act
• NOW is the time! Our congressmen and women want to listen to us. They want to meet people. They want to meet transgender persons. Maybe your past transition but they want to meet you. Mara shared how Senator Sshumar called NCTE to tell them “Senator Schumar’s office is going to be doing advocacy for transgender people, can you please bring some by so we can meet them” so Mara did just that setting up a special meeting to do so.
• Congress WANTS to hear from us they want to know we are real

Mason Davis of the Transgender Law Center

• The truth is ENDA will not happen without the action and compassion from us to the political folks.
• THIS is the watershed moment for TG people. This will divide our need from what is now to what will be and Mason urged everyone to take ownership of this moment for TG equality
• Be creative, persistent and pro-active in contacting your representatives. Reach out to community leaders, local leaders and let policy makers hear about the importance of ENDA.

John Williams – National Center for Lesbian Rights(NCLR)

• John is the Transgender Equality Organizer for NCLR. He was an intern with Mara at NCTE. He works daily in congress on transgender rights and inclusive ENDA
• Nothing changes the minds of our Senators and Represenatives better than hearing directly from each of us and they want to hear from us
• How do you create connections with those reps?
  * Lobby visits are nice and encouraged when you can.
  * Meet with the representative or their staff; both count!
  * Getting to know the staff personally helps!
  * NCTE has created an ENDA specific lobby visit tool [ed: visit NCTE's Resource site and scroll down to the Political Advocacy section to see the links to prepare for a visit]
  * Postcards works
  * Education events help and inviting congressional staff to such events are helpful too.
  * The Task Force has a helpful ENDA Kit too. [ed. - see The Task Force's ENDA Kit by clicking here]
  * Writing letters and emails to congress person also is good. NCTE has a link to do that go. The more personal the letter, the bigger the impact…go to your senators web site and write to them right then and there…Tell them WHY ENDA is so important to you and your family.
  * Visit member’s web sites and get their DC phone number and call; they want to hear from us and that we’d love their support.
• John is available to help you, email him at jwilliams@nclrights.org

Diego Sanchez, Senior Legislative Adviser to Barney Frank

• We believe we have the votes to get this passed in house and senate; we have to be prepared though for those who don’t want this passed
• Jillian Todd Weiss, of the Trans Workplace Blog, has the legislator of the day on her twitter page…take action and call or write that person if they are in your district and not on board
• How do we talk to people who are against ENDA? We can say this is about rights, fairness, and equality. Third Wave language works too … talk about inclusion…this welcome LGBT people into what already exists (or what was lost)
• Expect this BILL to hit the floor and senate THIS YEAR.
• Everyone is back in session in D.C.! All the cafeteria’s are open. Staff and legislators are back. Our issues matter. We aren’t tabling ourselves for other matters. Our lives are important and matter. We are real.
]]> http://beckscafe.com/2009/09/13/enda-2009-hr-3017-s-1584-conference-call-update/feed/ 0 http://beckscafe.com/2009/09/05/september-8th-8pm-est-enda-update-conference-call-hosted-by-ncte/ http://beckscafe.com/2009/09/05/september-8th-8pm-est-enda-update-conference-call-hosted-by-ncte/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:55:54 +0000 Rebecca http://beckscafe.com/?p=955 The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is hosting a general conference call on September 8th, 8PM Eastern Time, to bring listeners up to date on the ENDA legislation and let listeners know how they can help get the U.S. Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed.

What is ENDA? As NCTE notes:

• This legislation would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote an employee simply based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. It would reinforce the principle that employment decisions should be based upon a person’s qualifications and job performance.
• ENDA closely follows the model of existing federal civil rights laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are treated in the same way as other groups protected under law – no better, no worse.

To join the NCTE conference call update on ENDA please click to their site to register ahead of time: NCTE ENDA CON CALL LINK

To learn more about ENDA please link here: GovTrack on ENDA and at Wikipedia’s ENDA article here.

One would think our existing laws are enough. Just enforce what we have to protect all Americans in accordance with the spirit of our Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. However, existing laws, such as Title VII may not protect trans-persons from discrimination (see why here) and note the Diane Schroer case with the U.S. Library of Congress here.

It stinks that we can’t just take the Declaration of Independence and existing laws as is but, when we don’t, as well as the rest our laws, then we need to strengthen protections (which adds costs and burden to our economy but let’s not go there right now). An interesting historical parallel/aside on the topic of the necessity of new laws that on the surface don’t seem necessary is the issue of slavery in the U.S., as reported in Newsweek in July of 2008. “The 13th amendment passed in 1865 made slavery unconstitutional. There was no federal statute that made it a crime to hold a black person as a slave.” Slavery was unconstitutional and immoral but legal! You can read that full story at Newsweek’s site here.

We covered ENDA here at Beck’s Cafe extensively in 2007 and for some of the back stories please see:

• Enda Fallout Constricts Title VII Claims
• ENDA Baldwin Amendment, will you please call?
• Representative Tammy Baldwin – Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize (ENDA Statement)
• ENDA: Barney Frank backs down, HRC Commits, time bought
• ENDA, Time to make some phone calls
• Continues coverage on ENDA: Sean Hannity, ADA and James Byrd
• Continued Coverage on ENDA: Robyn’s Story
• Petition Drive to support complete ENDA
• Transgender Rights Hail Storm
]]> http://beckscafe.com/2009/09/05/september-8th-8pm-est-enda-update-conference-call-hosted-by-ncte/feed/ 0 http://beckscafe.com/2009/06/23/irans-unrest-blogged-live-on-twitter/ http://beckscafe.com/2009/06/23/irans-unrest-blogged-live-on-twitter/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:54:12 +0000 Rebecca http://beckscafe.com/?p=800 I work with quite a few Iranians.  The women are kind souls and the men can be comically bellicose.   But, to a person, they all want to see a revolution in their country.  That means something different to them than to us I think.  They seem to be okay with the violence if it means that the current regime is ousted.  They don’t want Iran back…they want Persia back.   The live story of this historic moment is happening at http://iran.twazzup.com/

It’s pretty amazing using Twitter.  Since Twitter can work via SMS messaging, the Iranian government can’t shut down the communications network that has popped up to support the unrest revolution that is happening.   Go take a look at http://iran.twazzup.com/ and, if you are on Twitter, don’t forget to make your icon green in support of Iran Freedom by visiting http://helpiranelection.com/

(photo courtesy of Rob & Ale Photostream)

]]> http://beckscafe.com/2009/06/23/irans-unrest-blogged-live-on-twitter/feed/ 0 http://beckscafe.com/2009/06/21/trans-civil-rights-lobby-day-roundtable-with-michelle-paula-rebecca/ http://beckscafe.com/2009/06/21/trans-civil-rights-lobby-day-roundtable-with-michelle-paula-rebecca/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:35:42 +0000 Rebecca http://beckscafe.com/?p=767 “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” has been re-introduced for the 2009 legislative session in the House by Representative Carl Sciortino and Representative Byron Rushing (HB 1728) and in the Senate by Senator Benjamin Downing (S.1687).

The hearing date July 14, 2009 and you can submit your testimony by July 10th by clicking to MTPC’s site here.  But alot has been going on to get us to this point and let’s hear from just three of our community on this.

Back on April 7th, 2009 MTPC led a lobby day that had large attendance and many key speakers. To say it was a moving experience is an understatement. While the facts of the story have been covered at Pam’s House Blend, on a post at MTPC, on a post at the Interfaith Coalitions Website, and finally at Boston’s Bay Window article here, what about putting another face to the story? Well, that’s just what Michelle, Paula and Rebecca did, while enjoying salad and calzone together after the lobby day. Let’s listen in to their discussion; the results may enlighten you to a more human side of this story:

- One question we have to ask each other (queue diet cokes being sipped) is, why did we attend the lobby days in the first place?

• Michelle: While I’m not particularly politically active, I find myself very motivated to do what little bit I can to help fight for trans rights. I’ve been fortunate enough so far that my path has gone pretty smoothly, but I realize that this could turn in an instant, and with our current laws could leave me without much recourse. I have so many wonderful friends in the trans community that I am happy to do this one small thing to help.
• Paula: I attended Transgender Lobby day for the first time in April because as a transgendered person I am always concerned about my safety when I go out alone as well as for the safety of my friends in the transgender community when we go out in a group.a
• Rebecca: Like Michelle, I’m not really politically active. I’m a conservative really. But for me, this whole topic hit close to home when I lost a mid-level management position due to discrimination for bring transgender. Suddenly, my eyes were open that even in high tech, transgender people were at risk regardless of if they were doing a great job or not. That really angered me.

- I think we all had different expectations going into this, but, what did you hope to accomplish?

• Michelle: I wanted to make the issue real for my state representative by spending some time with her in person.
• Paula: Because of the stigma out there in society we transgendered persons have to be very careful. There are many persons who accept and respect us for who we are but there are others who do not and would think nothing of using violence against us because of simply who we are.  Ask a gay person about hate and violence. They will concur with what I am talking about. Gays and lesbians are now covered under hate crimes legislation. It took a long time for this to happen but society finally realized gays and lesbians are people like you and me and deserve protection under the law like anyone else. We transgendered persons only ask for the same protection everyone should have under the law. Violence against anyone for no reason should not be tolerated.
• Rebecca: My reps have all signed on, so at one level, I just wanted to thank them. So I made little gift bags filled with chocolates and a cute card that said, “thanks for supporting us”. It’s a small gesture but one that I hope let them know their support meant alot to us.But, my other hope in attending was to have dialogue with my reps and others who may have never met a transperson. To show them we weren’t all that different.

- [between bites of wonderful Ceaser Salad comes another question] Was this your first time at this or had you attended before?

• Michelle: This was my second time. I participated in the first Mass Transgender Lobby Day in 2007.
• Paula: This was my maiden voyage in this.
• Rebecca: This was my second time as well. I attended in 2007 too. I think at that point in my life I was still trying to figure out how to latch my bra correctly but I knew this was important so I went.

- So, what were your first impressions?

• Michelle: I’m just perpetually impressed by Gunner’s leadership, and what he is able to accomplish. I found the first lobby day to be an incredible event, but this one topped it in every way. It was great to be sitting right in the center of the State House, with so many inspiring speakers addressing the challenges that we all face.I forget his name – the African American co-sponsor of the legislation. He blew me away. First, he melted my heart with his warm smile and warm welcome to the crowd. Then he got me riled up as he drew comparisons between our current struggle for protection of our rights with that of African Americans in the 60s.
• Paula: [quietly munching on her calzone, deep in thought]
• Rebecca: I was completely surprised and delighted at the support we received. Particularly from the faith community. What a great group of preachers; unafraid of being men and women of faith, and unashamed to stand up to say that discrimination of transgender people is wrong. That really had a big impact on me.

- What were the results of some of your conversations with our representatives and senators?

• Michelle: I was thrilled with how our conversation went with Representative Polito. She seemed to show sincere interest in starting to understand who we are and the challenges we face. She mentioned that we were the first trans people she had ever (knowingly) met. This is why I pushed so hard to get face-to-face communication with her – I figured that without knowing the human side of the transgendered rights issues, it would be just too easy for her to dismiss it as some left-wing issue. It will be a long effort to get support from reps such as her, but it seems totally worth our time to at least help her understand our interests. Probably the best part of our chat was being joined by Becki and Paula, who are both Republican (as is Rep. Polito). They were able to help make a connection that I could never make with her, since my political views are so different from hers.I was disappointed that I was the only constituent who visited my rep on the lobby day. While she listened openly, I realized that as far as she is concerned right now, this is an issue that only effects one member of her constituency. I really hope that we can get more residents of her district to reach out to her.
• Paula: My first and only encounter with a representative was with one who was a Republican. I don’t remember her name [ed: Representative Polito] but my friends Michelle, Becki and I had a lengthy conversation with her. She listened to us intently. I think for this representative it was her first look into the life of a transgendered person. I watched the expressions on her face closely.  When Becki and I told her we were married and had children and were Evangelical Christians there was a look of surprise on her face.  Michelle told this representative of her life as a transgendered person being married with a young child and a professional business person in the community.  I don’t think this representative ever met a transgendered person before our visit or at least one she was aware of.  I could see her eyes open wide because now maybe for the first time in her life she got to see what transgender is.  She saw the faces of three real people who live, work, pray and love just like everyone else.I don’t know how she will vote on the Hate Crimes Bill but I bet the next time she is out in public she will see people in a new light.
• Rebecca: One result that almost moved me to tears was the response from Senator Karen Spilka’s staff. When they heard my story about issues I had faced their immediate response was, “call us next time, we will help you”.   That was so empowering.The other result was the conversation with Representative Polito that Michelle, Paula and I had. I loved the look on her face when she said, “Well, I don’t really know much about your world, I’m just working here at the state, taking care of the kids and so on”. When we told her about ourselves she was truly surprised. I’m not sure what she thought of us before, but afterwards, I can say we gave her a new perspective!

As we finished up our chat, slipped our dirty dishes into the garbage and got ready to head home, Paula had one last thing to say to finish up our roundtable discussion, Paula capped our discussion by saying, “Even though we are transgendered we are people too!  That is all we ask is to be treated like people and be protected under the law as all citizens are entitled to”.

Amen sister!

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