7/28/08



On Saturday, July 26, the Human Rights Campaign held a stuffy dinner auction and fundraiser at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. In a show of solidarity with trans folks, the local LGBT community threw a "Left Out Street Party" for everyone who got left out of the HRC's Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

7/26/08

Lawrence King I will remember you


There is a strong movement which is being supported by our most staunch advocates and allies to lessen the punnishment that Brandon McInerney, the killer of Lawrence King may receive.

IN memory of all hate crimes I offer my life experience,

I opened my eyes not knowing where I was, where I lived, or even my name. All I knew was absolute terror and my nearly dead body’s unrelenting scream of agony.

For hate crime survivors the world becomes a place where you hold all your life experiences in comparison to being beat to death.

A rose, a sunrise, a friends hug.

That’s what it is like to "survive" hate crime.

I pray that Lawrence’s experience was not as horrific. I pray as he transitioned to life with our creator, he found love and peace.

Brandon McInerney is among us on this planet, sharing our lives's in my opinion Brandon should willingly ask for the maximum penalty to dissuade others from parroting his life.
This action would set into motion for Brandon a process that will allow him to forgive himself and eventually find freedom that no prison bars can contain.

7/25/08

Teen's killing a hate crime, Police Searching For Her Car



El asesinato de 18 años Angie Zapata - who' el nombre del nacimiento de s era Justin Angie y vivido pues una mujer - era probablemente un crimen de odio, dijo a un portavoz para la familia de Zapata. La policía cree que el sospechoso ha robado Zapata' coche de s, un crucero oscuro 2003 de Chrysler pinta del verde de bosque con el número de matrícula de Colorado 441-ORN.
Hay un hubcap que falta en el neumático delantero del pasajero-lado, y hay pintura que falta en el tope delantero en el driver' lado de s, debajo de la linterna. Cualquier persona con la información sobre el coche se pide llamar la policía de Greeley en 970-350-9600. Angie' la vida de s snuffed hacia fuera en un acto violento del odio. Ella sufrió heridas múltiples a su cara y cabeza. Detenga por favor a nuestra hermana en usted corazón y ofrézcala en rezo y la meditación. La encontraron asesinada por su hermana en su apartamento. Angie' la familia de s está pidiendo que nuestra comunidad ayudara a encontrar a los autores de este crimen atroz. Las donaciones en el honor de Angie Zapata hecho quizá en el banco de la academia en Wal-Mart, el carril de 60 W. Bromley o los cheques hechos pagaderos a Mónica Murquia se pueden enviar al programa de la Anti-Violencia de Colorado, caja de P.O. 181085, Denver, CO 80218.

The murder of 18-year-old Angie Zapata — who's birth name was Justin Angie and lived as a woman — was probably a hate crime, said a spokesperson for the Zapata family.

Police believe the suspect has stolen Zapata's car, a dark forest green 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser with Colorado license plate number 441-ORN. There is a hubcap missing on the front passenger-side tire, and there is paint missing on the front bumper on the driver's side, under the headlight.

Anyone with information about the car is asked to call Greeley police at 970-350-9600.
Angie's life was snuffed out in a violent act of hate. She suffered multiple wounds to her face and head. Please hold our sister in you heart and offer her in prayer and meditation.
She was found murdered by her sister in her apartment. Angie's family is asking our community to help find the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Donations in Angie Zapata’s honor maybe made at Academy Bank in Wal-Mart, 60 W. Bromley Lane or checks made payable to Monica Murquia may be mailed to Colorado Anti-Violence Program, P.O. Box 181085, Denver, CO 80218.

July 31, 2008

Transgender victim referred to as "it"

Cross posted from the Denver Times


Article Launched: 07/31/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT


Angie Zapata's murder may be prosecuted as a hate crime, prosecutors say. Related Articles
Jul 30:
Date arrested in Greeley transgender murderJul 24:
Kin believe transgender teen's killing a hate crimeJul 25:
Transgender teen's murder possibly a hate crimeGREELEY — Allen Ray Andrade never referred to his alleged victim as a she or he. Just "it."

That alone speaks to the brutality of the crime committed against 21-year-old Angie Zapata, said a group that has been speaking for Zapata's family.

"You get the sense that maybe he wasn't seeing Angie as a person," said Crystal Middlestadt, director of Training and Education for the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. "Then you get an idea of the violence behind this act."

Zapata, a transgender woman, was born a male named Justin Zapata. Police allege that an enraged Andrade beat Zapata with his fists and a fire extinguisher after he discovered Zapata — who had performed a sex act on him the day before — was physically a man, Greeley police said Wednesday.

Andrade told a Greeley police detective that he thought he "killed it," referring to his alleged victim, a police affidavit said.

Andrade, 31, was arrested in Thornton early Wednesday and faces a charge of second-degree murder and aggravated motor-vehicle theft in connection with Zapata's death.

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said Wednesday that a review of the case will determine whether Zapata's death will be treated as a hate crime. Regardless, the case against Andrade will be pursued aggressively, Buck said.

"It doesn't matter who the victim is," Buck said, ". . . a crime like this cannot be tolerated at any level."

Zapata's family is relieved that an arrest was made, said Kelly Costello, family spokesman and director of victim services for the Colorado Anti-Violence Program.

"There is a whole range of emotions they are dealing with," Costello said.

Zapata's body was found July 17 in her Greeley apartment by her sister. The discovery of her stolen car led to Andrade, police said.

Andrade told detectives that he met Zapata on the Mocospace website and that they were in regular contact before the slaying. Zapata drove Andrade to her apartment July 15 and later that day, Zapata performed oral sex on him, the affidavit said.

"However, victim Zapata did not allow him to touch Zapata sexually or otherwise," the affidavit said. They slept in different rooms that night.

The following day, Zapata left the apartment and Andrade stayed there by himself. Andrade saw photographs in her apartment and began to question their encounter, police said.

That night, Andrade confronted Zapata about whether she was male or female. Andrade told police that Zapata responded, "I am all woman."

Andrade then grabbed Zapata's genital area. Angered, Andrade struck Zapata with his fists, police said.

She fell to the ground, and Andrade grabbed a fire extinguisher in the apartment and hit her twice in the head. He covered Zapata with a blanket and began cleaning up the apartment. After he noticed Zapata sitting up, he hit her again with the fire extinguisher, police said.

Andrade gathered Zapata's purse, keys, cellphone, the fire extinguisher and his personal belongings and fled in Zapata's 2003 Chrysler PT cruiser.

A early-morning noise complaint from the Thornton neighborhood where Andrade lived led officers to find him sitting in Zapata's car on Wednesday.

Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com

7/24/08

Protest at Crews Inn Dallas a show of UNITY


July 24th 2008 was another of a dozen 100+ Texas scorchers turned frigid 90 deg. evening. The dozen protesters gathered together to support the two "drag queens" David Moore, co-owner of the Crews Inn, described as offending his clubs ultra high moral standards were flabbergasted to meet Celeste(R) and Sierra(L) the "offending" transgender woman.
I had attended this protest as because I wanted to support a part of our culture and stand up for "Drag Queens", well honey I struggle by with only 1/4 of the charms of these gals!

This show of support quickly became a matter of passion as we began to know our lady friends and listen to the sincerity in there voices.

The shouts from our community turned many around as they walked towards the Crews Inn entrance. We became more emboldened as our community waved and happily walked over to ZIPPERS where owner John Miles welcomes everyone, even on Trashy Tuesday!

We have decided to return to our little stonewall on Tuesday until such a time as the offending words are amended and reconciliation begun. As Michael Doughman Director of the Dallas Tavern Guild noted, "I have never known David(Moore) to be prejudiced toward any group of people, so I can't imagine that it is just because they are guys in drag."

Daniel Williams, operations Director of the Dallas Peace Center composed his signs from his heart and they best represent the "back story".
Among our group of protesters were Straight allies, Lesbians, Gay men, Transgender and MANY members of HRC. These HRC members did not come to grandstand or steal the spotlight. I did not even known they were HRC members until I asked them.
This is Indeed is a community solid in commitment, willing and able to sacrifice for the common good.

By Kelli Busey
July 24,2008
planetransgender

7/23/08

A Jihad for Love

In Western media, the concept of 'jihad' is often narrowly equated with holy war. But Jihad also has a deeper meaning, its literal Arabic being 'struggle' or 'to strive in the path of God'.

In this film we meet several characters engaged in their personal Jihad's for love. The people in this film have a lot to teach us about love. Their pursuit of love has brought them into conflicts with their countries, families, and even themselves. Such is the quandary of being both homosexual and Muslim, a combination so taboo that very little about it has been documented.

In a time when Islam is under tremendous attack from within and without, "A Jihad for Love" is a daring documentary filmed in twelve countries and nine languages. Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma has gone where the silence is loudest, filming with great risk in nations where government permission to make this film was not an option

7/22/08

Petition Asking Bishop Robinson Not to Attend Dallas Black Tie.


WE, a coalition of gender diverse people who identify as Transgender or Intersex people (including people who are also known as transgender, transsexual, intersex, and several other terms used to classify people based on being born with a condition where the gender of their mind, psyche, or soul differs from their anatomical sex at birth, or, their anatomical sex at birth was ambiguous) hereby ask that you do not lend religious credence to HRC's discriminatory and violence enabling agenda by attending or accepting the Elizabeth Birch award at the Dallas Black Tie 2008.

Petition asking that The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire, not attend the Black Tie Dinner Dallas Texas on November 22, 2008.
It is he belief of the signers that the discriminatory policies of the main benefactor of the Dallas Black Tie, the HRC, propagates violence against all of Womankind, Intersexed and gender diverse to include but not inclusive of, Transgender Men, effeminate gay men, masculine presenting Woman, Natal Woman and Transgender Woman.

It has been documented that gender discrimination has placed the United States among the leaders of gender bigotry world wide. Sexual Violence is enabled by a conception of the perpetrator that the consequences of rape and murder committed against the gender diverse is minimal or non existent.

This perceived vulnerability in the United States recently was reinforce by HRC's inexplicable and morally reprehensible betrayal as the self proclaimed advocate of the of the gender diverse during the ENDA debacle of 2007.

HRC's position, which has not been amended constitutes a daily reinforcement of this horrific policy.

It begs a question in these days of failing church attendance and disconnect, what can people of faith do to help?

By your not attending you will signal loudly to HRC that policies which are beneficial solely because of monetary gains and political expediency at the expense of the most vulnerable, are not acceptable.

By your not attending you will elevate the Anglicans standing in the eyes of the GLBT community and the entire world.

By your not attending you will contribute to the fight against violence transmitted
AIDS/HIV and other STD.

By not attending the self esteem of the gender diverse will rise and the need to validate threw risky sex will decrease.

By you not attending, those who have been cast aside by their faith will be given a ray of hope.

By not attending you will signal lawmakers to take courage and follow their moral consciousness to enact laws to protect the entire Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, Bisexual, Asexual and Transgender community.

By your not attending the Dallas Black Tie the world's diverse community will recognize your commitment and sigh in relief and bask in the glow of an affirmative, welcoming and loving Anglican Church.

Bishop Robinson, The weight of social progress now rests on your shoulders.

TO SIGN CLICK THE POST TITLE