4/12/11

HB235 Killed in the Eleventh Hour! WE WON!

Our hard work and determination killed the "anti-discrimination bill" without public accommodations provisions! The Maryland transgender groups Transmaryland and Trans-United members, the past Equality Maryland Board President, current EQMD members and allies lobbied legislators so passionatly to oppose this bill apparently made a impression connecting with there need to "Do the Right Thing" in this desperate eleventh hour.

To thank try and individualy the trans people in Maryland who accomplished this I would have to leave someone out and that would be sad so I will just say JOB WELL DONE! We took down Goliath.

Some of the blogs that directly empowered this effort taking on the seemingly overwhelming media power of HRC's media platform: Monica who sounded the alarm on TransGriot , Kat at Enda Blog, Ashley on her blog Trans Forming Media (TFM), USA, The Transexual Menace, Woman Born Trannsexual, She Wired, Know the Neighbor, TransAdovcate.

Twitter advocates who's passion drove the tweet world informing and educating about this terriable bill, Angel Dallare, metalmujer voz latina, ernesto olivo, whatsername, D Ruth Bavousett, Desiree Arceneaux Also belonging in our Hall of Fame is Maryland Senator Madaleno who is pre filling a anti discrimination bill for the 2012 that includes public accommodations.

Unfortunately when there is a epic battle between the underdog tweeter and bloggers fighting for equality there is a villain. In this case its Equality Maryland. After Equality Maryland's role in HB235 was exposed they panicked and sought to hide, deceive, lie, pressure, intimidate, and mislead. Instead the truth is being laid bare here, and everywhere freedom of speech is honored.

Also belong in this hall of shame is the lone national blogger who paroted Equality Marylands lies and deceptions, Autumn Sandeen at Pams House Blend. Autumn, I would be PROUD to be placed next to Ashlely Love in your sidebare of intimidation. Trans people only ask for what ALL other minorities demand, FULL EQUALITY. Nothing less is acceptable.

4/11/11

Maine Governor Paul LePage "You have to be insane to allow transgender children in the schools"


Another attack on transgender rights is taking place now in Maine.


Paul LePage the 75th Governor of Maine who took down the mural of Baths Ironworks Rosi the Riveter from the Department of Labor headquarters will undoubtedly sign LD1046 into law based on his campaign statements.

"You know, our children are being used as pawns," he said then. "I just don't understand how people, at least sane people, would want to allow transgender in our primary schools and our high schools."

LePage then pledged to oppose legislation for transgendered students. "If I claim I'm a woman in my philosophy and my thinking, I can play on the girls' hockey team or the girls' basketball team. I think it's absolutely insane, I think it's gone too far and we have to push back. As governor, I would never allow that to be signed into law," he said. Maine Public Broadcasting Network

The Senate will hold a hearing on a bill that could repeal the 4-0-1 MHRC ruling allowing transgender people to use the restroom which aligns with our gender expression.

If you can't attend in person the hearing on An Act To Amend the Application of the Maine Human Rights Act Regarding Public Accommodations LD1046 which is scheduled for a public hearing on Apr 12, 2011, 1:00p Room 438 State House you can also Listen Live here

4/9/11

"Photos of Angie" Indie film of Angie Zapata premiers

Angies life forever changes how we view being transgender and her death redefines the punishment for hate crimes.


Trailer description:
"This haunting yet hopeful documentary tells the story of Angie Zapata, a transgender teen who was murdered in rural Greeley, Colorado in 2008. The film moves between the trial of her killer, Angie's brief life and self-discovery told through family and friends, and the fruition of national hate crime legislation with Angie's case very much in the foreground as it was the first time that a transgender murderer was successfully prosecuted under hate crime laws."



"Told in five movements, one per day of the trial of Angie's killer, the film features a classical score by Mackenzie Gault of the national touring band The Flobots and additional music by L.A.-based band Ozomatli. The film reveals Angie's simple life in the context of a complicated struggle juxtaposed with her violent death at the hands of a man whose true nature is finally revealed."


Source Westword.com

4/7/11

Equality Maryland Morgan Meneses Sheets "welcomes criticism" Oh no, you didn't say that!

OK, so this was too much to stomach. For prosperity I need to document the evil underhanded tyrannical being that is the executive director of Equality Maryland. !Please sign the petition against HB235

First lets take a trip with Metro Weekly into revisionist gay fantasyland which paints Morgan Meneses Sheets as a champion of transgender people who welcomes criticism.

I have documented the campaign of censorship led by Morgan Meneses Sheets. !Please sign the petition against HB235

On February eighth a Baltimore transgender woman journalist Danna LaRocca was banned from Equality Maryland's facebook page for questioning Equality Maryland's obvious lack of racial diversity.

Why does Equality Maryland not mention the racial minority transgender group Trans-United anymore since Sandy Rawls withdrew her support? Why does Equality Maryland blog not have any entries from Maryland advocate groups?

Numerous other transgender and cisgender advocates myself included are banned from commenting on the Equality Maryland facebook page. There are dozens of documented instances when rational respectful comments have been deleted by Equality Maryland.

Equality Maryland's note FAQ – Censorship, HB 235 and the EQMD Facebook page. stated that the censoring of opposition to HB235 on their facebook page was done because there were physical threats of violence made against her, the Equality Maryland Staff and the lead sponsor of HB235 Del. Pena-Melnyk.

That note which written in defence of EQMD's censorship was quickly disputed by those of who were not banned. Those who did comment had some of there comments deleted including the past president of the EQMD board.

!Please sign the petition against HB235
In fact Del. Pena-Melnyk has endeavoured to silence her critics by calling the Executive Director of TransMaryland, myself and others screaming threats that if "you people" show up at hearings she would pull all support for transgender people!

Equality Maryland held one unannounced 'transgender meeting' with its staff to get input from the Baltimore community. The next transgender meeting was attended by a local transgender advocate Robyn Webb who was shouted down by the Equality Maryland staff and gender queer shills.

Transmaryland held a protest after that meeting and the next day Equality Maryland cancelled all further meetings until the end of the legislative sessions with the transgender community claiming “scheduling conflicts” as the reason.

Sheets is to far into this lie to have any hope for redemption so in desperation fearing the inevitable membership upheaval she makes preemptive strikes hoping to cover her lies with so much regurgitated vomit most courageous journalistic crusaders would be repulsed by the stench alone. Not me Sheets.

Trickle Down Civil Rights? Not on my Life!Please sign the petition against HB235

Dallas Activists, Out and Equal, Stonewall Democrats urge Dallas Commissioners to include the T

At stake, one eight million dollar convention.

I was aware of a sense of urgency in the drafting of the letter by Out and Equal urging the Dallas County Commissioners to include transgender protections in their newly amended non discrimination policy.

My take on it is that Out and Equal is very concerned about holding their LGBT workplace summit in a county that expressly does not have equal protections for the entire LGBT population. I think it would be prudent for the Commissioners to consider how serious this matter is for OUT and Equal. I would also hope they make a performance based decision when they consider the 8 million the OUT and Equal gathering generates.





My testimony April 5th 2010:

Good Morning Commissioners, My name is Kelli Anne Busey. I am a former resident of Dallas County now living in Tarrant County. I am a nationally recognized blogger and activist. I would like to commend you on amending the Dallas county non discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. However, it has come to my attention that gender expression and identity was not added to to recent amendments.

It has also come to my attention that the reason transgender people were not included is because you thought transgender people and gay people are the same and transgender people would be protected by adding sexual orientation. That is simply not true.

So I am here to help you to understand who we are are in hopes that you will include transgender expression and identity in the Dallas county non discrimination policy.
I will address some areas that transgender people have been recognized.

Transgender people have steadily increased the number places we have protections in. Currently there are 13 states + DC plus 109 counties and cities for a total of 122.

A couple of common arguments that transphobic people use to defeat our efforts to be included in protections is that we are relatively new as a minority and the bible condemns us. Both are falsehoods.

In the Old testament transgender people were recognized as Eunuchs as we still are in the subcontinent of Asia.

Old testament in Isaiah 56 The lord promises a special place for eunuchs.

Mathew 20 Jesus tried and help his disciples understand who transgender people are and promises a place in heaven for us.

Acts 8:26 An angel summons a successful minister to leave his conjugation to travel on a desert road south of Jerusalem. The purpose becomes clear when the minister is brought to a Eunuch who had been rejected by the church in Jerusalem and was later baptised by that same Minister.

There are numerous Professional transgender people in Texas working in law enforcement, medical, legal, and many more like myself a former business owner now religated post transition to poverty.

The question your are wrestling with, the definition of transgender, the one you have asked your legal office has been asked over and over again while we struggle for equality.

The truth is a definition of transgender people is as allusive as a simple definition for humanity in general. I can suggest this to you though. In the cities, counties and states where transgender people have been included in non discrimination policies there have been no instances of any transgender people abusing these rights.

What there has been is a increase in the city's county and state revenue as transgender people are allowed to live up to there potentials.

I hope the Commissioners Court acts quickly to amend its non discrimination policy to include Transgender people.


Thank you,
Kelli Anne Busey