1/29/14

WW2 Vet Transgender widow Robina Asti, 92, is fighting for her SS survivor benefits

Lambda Legal is representing Robina Asti, a 92-year-old transgender woman who was denied survivor benefits by the Social Security Administration (SSA) after her husband’s death. The agency denied her benefits after it determined that she was “legally male” at the time of their marriage despite all the legal documents to the contrary.

"I hope Lambda succeeds not for the money but for the act of humanity that is absolute necessary here." ~ Ms.Robina

Dru Levasseur, Transgender Rights Project Director, said:

Robina’s husband passed away over a year-and-a-half ago, and at 92 years old, she should not have to wait another day for the benefits to which she is entitled. The government has recognized Robina as a woman for over thirty years, including on her passport, FAA pilot’s license and her driver’s license. For the federal government to deny her survivor benefits now is inexplicable. This remarkable woman should not have had the grief of losing the love of her life compounded by the insult of having her gender and marriage disrespected.



In a 2004 ceremony in an airplane hangar in Orange County, NY, Robina, a World War II veteran and pilot, married her longtime sweetheart, Norwood Patton. In June 2012, Norwood passed away at 97 years old. On July 27, 2012, Robina applied in person for survivor benefits through the SSA. Though Robina already receives Social Security benefits, being able to claim survivor benefits would increase her monthly check by about $500. On April 24, 2013, the SSA notified Robina that her survivor benefits under Norwood’s Social Security record were denied because “her marriage does not meet the requirements under Federal law for payment of Social Security widow’s benefits,” stating that her marriage was not valid because she was “legally male” at the time of their wedding.

In June 2013, Lambda Legal filed a request for reconsideration on Robina’s behalf. After more than six months, there is still no word from the Social Security Administration.

Said Robina:

I am so insulted that the Social Security Administration refused to recognize me as a woman and treated my marriage to Norwood in such a disrespectful way. I have lived a very private life, but the SSA is forcing me to speak out. I don’t want other people to have to experience this.




Also at sdgln.com


Zimbabwe trans woman arrested, stripped by police for using the ladies room

Source The Huffington postsRicky Nathanson,(pictured left) has been detained by Zimbabwe's police, forced to strip naked and charged with "criminal nuisance" for using a female toilet at a city hotel.

48 year-old modeling agency director, Nathanson, from Bulawayo, was seized at the Palace Hotel on Thursday last week, by ZANU PF party youth leader Farai Mteliso who later handed her over to the police.

The reports which only emerged late last week, indicate she was then humiliated at the police station, forced to strip naked, without a court order, so that police officers "could confirm" her gender.

She was then sent to a hospital for "further physical examinations" which determined she was transgender and spent two nights in a police cell before appearing in court Saturday, when a magistrate remanded out of custody and reprimanded the police for their mistreatment.

Farai Mteliso did not attend the court session and a warrant of arrest was issued against the youth with the magistrate warning him in absentia not to interfere with Nathanson.

The Zimbabwe Heald headline "Gay shemale causes stir in court" is just a preview of the transphobic content:

In court, Nathanson’s lawyer Tanaka Muganyi told magistrate Abednico Ndebele that the charges laid against his client were non-existent according to law.

“There’s no crime here. If nothing is done by the State on the next remand date, we will apply for refusal of remand,” said Muganyi.

“The State had indicated that it would further investigate or decline to prosecute because the charge is non-existent but nothing has been done.”

Muganyi claimed that Nathanson had also left his place of residence in Barham Green to an unnamed house because “he was threatened with unspecified action by the complainant within the court premises.”

A warrant of arrest was issued against Farai Mteliso, who effected a citizen’s arrest, for defaulting and Ndebele also warned his friends not to interfere with the trial.

Nathanson, will return to court on February 4 and is out of custody.





1/28/14

Protest Thursday One Police Plaza demanding NYCPD account for negligent Islan Nettles murder investigation

Transgender woman Islan Nettles was savagely beaten on August 17th, 2013 in Harlem and died from her injuries five days later. The case has gained national notice but justice is, yet again, elusive, for another trans* woman of color.

Let's change that.

Protest to demand that Police Chief William Bratton and the NYPD explain failures to fully question witnesses, gather evidence, check the victim's condition, and retain surveillance footage for FIVE DAYS!!!

Protest to demand the NYPD explain why the mother of the assailant seen attacking Nettles was not charged with obstruction of justice, even after she coerced a falsified confession from another inebriated individual!!!

Protest to demand that D.A. Cyrus Vance update the community fully on its 2-month homicide investigation!!!

Protest to demand that Bratton and the NYPD audit all precincts for their capacity to conduct unbiased investigations of all transphobic crimes!!!

This protest was organized by a coalition of social justice groups, including:

The Transgender/Cisgender Coalition
ACT UP NY
Luz's Daughter Cares
TWOCC: Trans Women of Color Collective of Greater NY
STARR: Strategic Trans Allliance for Radical Reform
LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent

BRING YOUR SIGNAGE, CHANTS, AND VOICES:

Thursday, January 30th 2014, 4 p.m.
One Police Plaza, Manhattan MAP

Take the 4,5,6, J, Z trains to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall, walk on Chambers St. straight through the
One Centre Street building, past the large red sculpture, to the front entrance of One Police Plaza.

NYC Human Rights Coalition Demands Transparent Investigation of Brutal Transphobic Murder of Islan Nettles


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2014 Luzs daughter cares

CONTACT: E. NARIKO WRIGHT

EMAIL:  Luzs.Daughter.Cares@gmail.com

On Thursday, January 30th, 2014 at 4 p.m., a coalition of representatives from New York City human rights organizations (including transgender and cisgender [non-transgender] activists) will protest the NYPD’s negligence in the immediate aftermath of the brutal beating death of transgender woman, Islan Nettles. The protest at One Police Plaza demands an explanation by incoming NYC Police Commissioner William Bratton and the NYPD for its initial malfeasance and demands a report on the current status of the felony investigation by NY County District Attorney Cyrus R.Vance, Jr. Members of The Transgender/Cisgender Coalition, ACT UP NY, Luz’s Daughter Cares, Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC), LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent, Harlem Pride, Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform (STARR), Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand, Ali Forney Center, Lambda Legal, Everything Transgender New York City (ETNYC), VOCAL and Make the Road have all endorsed the action.

Several glaringly obvious breaches of procedure stand out about this case. At midnight, August 17, 2013, Paris Wilson, accompanied by friends, flirted with Islan Nettles in Harlem, directly across the street from Police Service Area 6 at 2770 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, between West 147th and West 148th Street. (Public Service Area 6 covers the 24th, 26th, and 32nd Precincts.) Upon realizing Nettles was transgender, Wilson became enraged and began to harass Nettles and her transgender companions with transphobic slurs. Wilson began punching Nettles vigorously in the face until she fell to the pavement, slamming her head on concrete, according to the NYPD. Notified by one of Nettles’ friends, police officers arrived at the scene and pulled Wilson off of Nettles, according to DNAinfo.com. Nettles was then transported to Harlem Hospital and admitted with severe head trauma. Officers at Police Service Area 6 did not question Nettles’ companions thoroughly and never checked on Nettles’ condition after her admittance to Harlem Hospital, law enforcement sources have confirmed. Officers at the scene never obtained DNA evidence from Paris Wilson’s hands. Investigations were halted until August 23rd, when the D.A.’s office learned that Nettles was declared brain dead and removed from life support. When asked about crucial footage from the ten surveillance cameras located on the PSA 6 edifice and on surrounding structures, the D.A.’s office said all cameras were broken and no footage existed.

After the assault, Simone Wilson, mother of Paris Wilson, coerced an inebriated friend of her son to confess to the crime but he later denied the allegations, according to the NYPD. Shockingly, Simone Wilson was never held accountable for falsifying evidence or for hindering the investigation. Nettles’ friends and family also report that Simone Wilson aggressively photographed them at Harlem Hospital, as if threatening them if they filed charges. Following a misdemeanor charge of third degree assault, Paris Wilson was immediately released from jail on a mere $2,000 bail and on November 19th even that charge was dropped due to “lack of evidence.” The D.A.’s office has since said it is “aggressively investigating the crime as a homicide,” but no suspect or statement on the progress of the investigation have been presented in the two months since the investigation began.

The Jan. 30 protest calls for the NYPD to explain its failure to immediately and adequately investigate the crime scene, question witnesses, retain DNA samples and surveillance footage, and check on Nettles’ condition, even if the crime was initially misperceived as merely an assault. We call for the NYPD to explain why Simone Wilson has never been charged with obstruction of justice. We demand that D.A. Vance provide a status report on the investigation. Finally, we call for the NYPD to audit the 24th, 26th, and 32nd Precincts and all city precincts for their capacity to conduct timely and unbiased investigations of this and all transphobic violent crimes.

“The transgender and cisgender communities together call on William Bratton and the NYPD to set an example with the Islan Nettles case by committing to seeing justice served, for Islan Nettles and all victims of transphobic violence in New York City,” said Brooke Cerda Guzman.
PROTEST: Thursday, January 30th 2014, 4 p.m., One Police Plaza, Manhattan


1/27/14

Who murdered Trans woman Kyra Cordova?


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) - December 1, 2012 -- Dawn Maher says her daughter, Kyra Cordova, was trying to make a difference in her community.

Being both transgender and biracial, Krya - who also went by Krya Kruz - did not want other young people to suffer the same indignities she had.

"Racism, discrimination, not being able to get a job, a whole gamut of things," Dawn said.

Source Crime Commission.org Philadephia:

$25,000 Reward

For information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Kyra Kruz Cordova

On Monday, September 3, 2012 at approximately 5:00 am, 15th District police responded to a call in the 1100 block of Adams Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of Kyra Cordova in a wooded area off of Adams Avenue with a fatal gun shot wound.

The Citizens Crime Commission is administering a $5,000 reward posted by the Justice4Kyra Coalition and the City of Philadelphia is posting up to a $20,000 reward for any information that would lead to individual(s) responsible for Kyra's murder.



Anyone with information is urged to call the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS (8477) H/T "Unsolved Transgender Murders" facebook



Kuwait police arrest of yet another transgender woman makes seven in two weeks

Alwatan.kuwait reports that Kuwait police are continuing there persecution of transgender citizens. Last week an unnamed transgender woman who had been frequenting a Kuwait city hair salon was arrested after another patron reported her to the police.

The Huffington Post is reporting that there were six other transgender woman arrested the previous week and charged with "imitating the opposite sex".

Transgender people in Kuwait are tortured and sexually abused by police according to a 2012 Human Rights Watch (HRW)report "They hunt us down for fun" as reported by ahram.org.

Source: alwatan.kuwait [google translate] what seems to be a celebratory post:

"Wrote Abdullah joyful: referred Men Investigation fovea citizen Michbha women to the public prosecution yesterday after it revealed a citizen of the salon lady area around a fully decorated and found that the frequency on the saloon times and did not recognize him one. in details: Submit salon owner feminine area around a complaint to the police station fovea said it that working in the salon told him that there Michbh women inside the salon that I have met one of the customers, and it gave the Director of Investigation Hawally Colonel Abdulrahman neighing instructed the men Detectives fovea to adjust the perpetrator and take legal action against him and formed a task force for this purpose led submitted Ammar Al-Muhanna and Lt. Hamad Al-Kandari and headed accompanied salon owner to adjust the accused and when they enter the salon were surprised by the full Onotth b «Mickey August», hair and at the request of demonstrable sure as a man and not a girl, and it was referred to the competent authority. security source said: it shows in the investigations that imitating frequency at the salon several times not detected by one and that He used to come and work Milesmh of things cosmetic, adding that operating the saloon said that he accepted and their customers more than once as a girl. , and it was a necessary right and recording «cocktail» of the cases against him, including indecent assault and entering a place dedicated to women and is similar to other sex and referred to the prosecution General to take legal action against him."


1/26/14

Top Cop transitions to Laura in the most deadly of countries for transgender people, Brazil

Deputy General Delegate of the Civil Police, Daniel Felipe Diniz Adorni told Globo.com To colleagues, Laura de Costa Teixeira is brave. "We see it as a personal act, hard to do, but we understand as courage. For us, the problem is corrupt, missing police. The case of Laura's no problem, "said Adorni.
He points out that her work has always been valued within the force and that it should not change. "From now on, Laura will continue with the same character of service. Her functional life remains the same, so we did not change anything."

The Trans respect update shows reports of murdered trans people in 26 countries in the last 12 months, with the majority from Brazil (95), Mexico (40), the USA (16), and Venezuela (15), followed by Honduras (12), Colombia (12), and El Salvador (5). While Brazil, Mexico, and the USA have the highest absolute numbers, the relative numbers show even more worrisome results for some countries with smaller population sizes. Honduras, for instance, has a rate of 1.5 reported trans killings per million inhabitants, for El Salvador the rate is 0.71, while for Brazil the rate is 0.49, for Mexico the rate is 0.36, and for the USA the rate is 0.05. In Asia most reported cases have been found in India (8), and in Europe in Turkey (5) and Italy (5).