3/12/10

DVTV Video of DART Meeting: Equality Texas Weighs In

Israel Luna of DVTV attends the DART board meeting in which the GLBT community voiced it's concerns over the regional transportation providers reaction to a transgender woman's need to transition.

Texas Heavy Weight Equality Texas Weighs in on DART Advocacy

Equality Texas Joins with Resource Center Dallas and Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies in Calling for DART to Amend its Nondiscrimination Policy to Include Gender Identity/Expression
Discrimination, harassment, and violence against people with nonconforming gender identities/expressions must be prohibited.

Classrooms, communities, and workplaces should be safe for every person, regardless of whether or not the person fits expectations for masculinity or femininity. From workplaces to homes, to just walking on the streets, people who do not conform to stereotypical gender identities/expressions face widespread discrimination, harassment, and even violence.

While DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) has long been recognized for having a diverse workforce, its internal Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity (DEEO) policy does not currently include gender identity/expression in its nondiscrimination language.

Adding gender identity/expression to DART's nondiscrimination language would remedy this inequity.

Equality Texas Foundation's Workplace Project, a public education program on the economic and social benefits of comprehensive workplace non-discrimination policy, joins with Resource Center Dallas (RCD) and Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies in asking DART to amend its DEEO Nondiscrimination Policy to add the words gender identity/expression so that it has a fully inclusive diversity strategy.

RCD is to be commended for their exemplary efforts, which will result in discussions with DART human resources and diversity staff on this issue. You will be called upon in the next ten days to two weeks to assist in this effort with a coordinated and targeted advocacy campaign. Please join in this effort.


Equality Texas news letter March 11, 2010

Go here to read John Wright’s latest story on the situation.

Many thanks to Israel Luna for doing such a great job.


President Obama at Int'l Women's Day praises our "gay and lesbian brothers and sisters"



President Obama "The story of America over the past 200 years -- past 233 years is one of laws becoming more just, of a people becoming more equal, of a union being perfected. It’s a story of captives being set free and a movement to fulfill the promise of that freedom. It’s a story of waves of weary travelers reconsecrating America as a nation of immigrants. It’s a story of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters making the most of that most American of demands –- to be treated the same as everybody else. And it’s a story of women, from those on the Mayflower to the one I’m blessed to call my wife, who looked across the dinner table, and thought, I’m smarter than that guy."

Complete remarks by the President and the First Lady at International Women's Day Reception at Whitehouse.gov

Following Mrs. Obama as only a brilliant orator could, President Obama captured the spirit of International Women's Day as he adoringly spoke of his wife and what incredible sacrifices and contributions have been made to bring Womankind to where we are now in society.

Suddenly my chest swelled with pride and I stood and applauded as our president proud of our efforts included LGBT people in his woman's day remarks! God, I am so proud to have Mrs. and Mr. Obama guiding our country.

3/11/10

CNN invites Transgender people to Picture Yourself Here!


Transgender and questiong gender diverse people CNN wants you to share your life in a picture, as little or as much as you are comfortable with. Maybe this is you....


or perhaps you may also be....
What ever or when ever you are in your transgender quest, express yourself. CNN invites you to picture yourself here....

3/10/10

Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 4806) Important Adoption and Foster Care Legislation

Today Representative Pete Stark (CA-13) introduced Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 4806), a child welfare bill that takes into consideration the best interests of children in the foster care system. The bill would open up permanent homes to more foster youth by working with states to eliminate laws, policies, practices and procedures that exclude potential adoptive and foster parents because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.

As the House Ways and Means Committee begins to review and analyze this bill, we need you to urge your representative to co-sponsor this critically important legislation that will help give foster children permanent, safe and supportive homes.

E-mail Your Representative TODAY!

Tragically, approximately 125,000 foster children across the US are waiting to be adopted. With only 50,000 adoptions each year, there is a clear shortage of adoptive parents. The result is that children, especially minority and special needs children, languish in foster care and bounce from placement to placement. The 25,000 youth who never find a permanent family and "age out" of the system each year are more likely than nearly any other group to experience poverty, homelessness, incarceration, early pregnancy or suffer with mental illness or substance abuse.

Despite the need for more adoptive and permanent foster homes; some states have enacted discriminatory bans that prohibit children from being placed with qualified parents due to the parent's sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. The result is less children being adopted and more children bouncing around the foster care system with no permanency and no security. In some cases these bans have resulted in a grandparent having to go through costly litigation in order to care for their own kin who are in foster care. This kind of discrimination does a disservice to many children who need a permanent, safe and supportive home. It robs far too many young people of a family, a core value that many Americans hold dear, and it's time to take a stand.

Click here to e-mail your representative to co-sponsor and pass the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 4806). Loving homes are on the line for far too many children seeking a permanent, safe and supportive home to call their own.

LGBT Activist Take DART to TASK over it's Intervention in Family Court

Dallas Area Rapid Transit board members sat quietly during the public comment time. Alternately seemingly attentive and distracted mainly depending whether the speaker was suggesting a legal inquiry about the propriety of DART's interference in family court or a measure to correct it's nondiscrimination policy to include gender expression/identity.

When comments focused on DART's nondiscrimination policy and proposed meetings to rectify it the Board members at best feigned interest but when confronted with the Resource Center of Dallas response to DART's letter justifying it's legal wrangling in civil court the Dart Board members attention was suddenly undivided.

[Click to Enlarge]

3/9/10

Kelli Busey comments to DART Board Members Feb. 9, 2010

Dear chairman Velasco and board members,

Thank you for you unselfish commitment to bettering the regions public transportation system. As time progresses America will come to highly appreciate the work you are doing now.

I am kelli Busey. Co administrator of the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies. I also author a Dallas positive blog, planetransgender.

A lot has already been said about what has filled this room with people so passionate about fairness and equality. I wish to focus on the present and the future.

The Dallas Fort Worth region has long enjoyed robust prosperity and growth which in part is brought by a perception people have. A vision all people have before they even depart for a convention or Gala event in the DFW. People think of the DFW as a safe place for visitors. A place that companies when consider moving here, take into consideration that Dallas is a city that will welcome all of there employees, LGBT included.

This perception held by residents and visitors alike is due in part to the commitment the city of Dallas has to LGBT human rights.

I beleive that vision is our reality, but our reputation as a welcoming city for all GLBT people is receiving negative press worldwide which would lead one to beleive otherwise.

The Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies have encountered a situation not unlike the one DART finds it self in today. A situation that nothing positive could possibly result.

However there is a option. I would like to invite you Chairman Velasco, and Board members, to attend a meeting that may very well be the answer that we mutually seek.

The Dallas Office of fair housing which is tasked with enforcing the Cities gender inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance has graciously offered to attend such a meeting in a educational role. The North Texas chamber of Commerce would also like to contribute it's experiences and share with you what it has done to make equality truly Dallas's business.

I will leave with you my contact information and I would like to arrange such a meeting at your convenience.

Thank you,

Kelli Anne Busey
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies