4/25/14

Fox News reports that a Phoenix 'transgender man' has been charged with conspiracy to commit bestiality [updated]

Donald Waelde



According to Fox 10 KSAZ News this is the Craigs List posting by Donald Waelde which resulted in the arrest:



Mr. Thomas, who anchors and reports for KOLD 13 and FOX 11 in Tucson cross posted the Fox article on his facebook page but  has removed references about about Donald Waelde's alleged transgender status, after some pointed out that had nothing to do with the alleged crime.


Fox news habitually misgenders transgender people making fact checking that much more difficult. This problematic article has remained unedited on Fox. I am not faulting Thomas for including this persons trans status in this article, if indeed it is true, I'm just asking for verification that this is a 'transgender man'. I commend Craig Thomas for responding so quickly.




4/23/14

SF Pride Honorary Grand Marshal is Chelsea Manning legally as of today.

San Fransico Pride  Honorary Grand Marshal Chelsea Manning will share the honors with Community Grand Marshell Jewlyes Gutierrez the trans student who was persecuted for defending herself.


April 23, 2014. By Chelsea Manning.
Cross posted from Chelsea Manning.org 

Today is an exciting day. A judge in the state of Kansas has officially ordered my name to be changed from “Bradley Edward Manning” to “Chelsea Elizabeth Manning.” I’ve been working for months for this change, and waiting for years.
It’s worth noting that in both mail and in-person, I’ve often been asked, “Why are you changing your name?” The answer couldn’t be simpler: because it’s a far better, richer, and more honest reflection of who I am and always have been –a woman named Chelsea.
But there is another question I’ve been asked nearly as much, “why are you making this request of the Leavenworth district court?” This is a more complicated question, but the short answer is simple: because I have to.
Unfortunately, the trans* community faces three major obstacles to living a normal life in America: identity documentation, gender segregated institutions, and access to healthcare. And I’ve only just jumped through the first one of these hurdles.
It’s the most banal things –such as showing an ID card, going to the bathroom, and receiving trans-related healthcare –that in our current society keep us from having the means to live better, more productive, and safer lives. Unfortunately, there are many laws and procedures that often don’t consider trans* people, or even outright prevent them from doing the sort of simple day-to-day things that others take for granted.
Now, I am waiting on the military to assist me in accessing healthcare. In August, I requested that the military provide me with a treatment plan consistent with the recognized professional standards of care for trans health. They quickly evaluated me and informed me that they came up with a proposed treatment plan. However, I have not seen yet seen their treatment plan, and in over eight months, I have not received any response as to whether the plan will be approved or disapproved, or whether it follows the guidelines of qualified health professionals.
Bl6m-qzCUAE21fl.png largeI’m optimistic that things can –and certainly will –change for the better.  There are so many people in America today that are willing and open to discuss trans-related issues. Hopefully today’s name change, while so meaningful to me personally, can also raise awareness of the fact that we trans* people exist everywhere in America today, and that we have must jump through hurdles every day just for being who we are. If I’m successful in obtaining access to trans healthcare, it will not only be something I have wanted for a long time myself, but it will also open the door for many people, both inside and outside the military, to request the right to live more open, fulfilled lives.
Thank you,
Chelsea Manning

*Note: Chelsea prefers “Trans*” (with an asterisk) to denote not only transgender men and women, but also those who identify outside of a gender binary.
For a better understanding of transgender people and the issues important to them, we recommend checking out GLAAD’s “Transgender 101″ blog.
For instructions on writing to Chelsea to tell her of your support, please see our “Write Chelsea Manning” webpage.




4/22/14

Transgender woman shot in the back in Rondonópolis, Brazil

Srini Ribeiro Oliveira Brito, 42, known as Valkyrie, was shot in the back, in the early hours of Sunday (20), near Praça dos Paths, in the Centre of Rondonópolis. According to the military police (PM), the victim had an open arrest warrant for shoplifting.

Yet as the PM, a witness said that the crime took place by back from 1:30. Minutes before, Perry was talking with a man of about 45 years, between the intersection of Avenida Amazonas with the Rua Dom Pedro II, where the body was found.

The case will be investigated her Civil Judicial Police. [Bing Translate] Source primeirahora.com


4/21/14

Rose City T Girls discrimination case update: The Twilight Room Annex shuts doors after the DOJ seizes assets

The Twilight Room Annex formally known as "The P Club".  
All the Rose City T Girls wanted was an apology from Chris Penner, the owner of the P Club, after he left this voice message for the group:
"Hello, my name is Chris. I'm the owner of the P-Club Bar and Grill. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm going to have to ask for you, Cass and your group, not to come back on Friday nights."

"People think that A.) we're a tranny bar, or B.) that we're a gay bar. We are neither. People are not coming in because they just don't want to be here on a Friday night now."
After being summarily dismissed by Penner the Rose City T Girls took their complaint to Oregon's Labor Commissioner, Brad Avakian, who investigated the complaint and found that Penner had violated the states non discrimination law.

The girls asked for a mediated settlement with Penner, saying it wasn't about the money, they just wanted a public appolgy. Penner declined and filed an appeal, but he did not appeal the monetary penalty. Last week the DOJ begun seizing Penners property and bank accounts  to the tune of $400,000 dollars which will then be split by the Rose City T Girls.




4/19/14

Robin Williams, a Mrs Doubtfire sequel is a very bad idea.

Fox to mock with Mrs Doubtfire sequel? Nico Lang at the Daily Dot thinks its a very bad idea and for very good reasons. The 'jokes' and transphobic  misogyny that FOX cashed in on in the 90's won't be tolerated by our segment of society.

Mrs. Doubtfire came out long before I began transition, but it was during a time of introspection. When I finally did begin transition nearly ten years afterwards the images of Williams in that movie played a part in my life, all bad. Every piece of feminine attire I bought during those years came with the caveat that they weren't reminiscent of the Mrs. Doubtfire image.






Uncharged Transgender child incarcerated in high-security adult solitary confinement tells her story.

York Correctional Institution, no place for a child.
There are numerous accounts of what led to a child being imprisoned, without being charged of a crime, in a high-security facility, in solitary and most have one thing in common. They repeat the version told by DCF to validate their attempted murder of this transgender girl.

Yes, murder. DCF tried to incarcerate her with adult men. A transgender child so decimated by the hand dealt her probably wouldn't have survived this ordeal. Obviously, DCF does not respect gender diversity or have a viable system in place to help her.



"No other girl in DCF custody has been endangered in this way. The result, if not the intent, is clearly discriminatory." —Sandra Staub, legal director of the ACLU of Connecticut

What DCF would have you believe:
The transfer was initiated following an incident at the teen’s previous facility in Massachusetts, where she was involved in an altercation with a staff member that temporarily left that staff member blind. Her record bore multiple other assaults on peers and staff at several programs, according to a written statement from the DCF.

"DCF asked for and the court approved a plan to treat this girl as if she were an adult and a criminal, although she is neither." —Sandra Staub

What really happened in Massachusetts in January that was the 'final straw' according to Joette Katz, the Commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families? Source voices on the square:

The teen was arrested at a juvenile facility in Needham, MA, but the assault charge was not pursued by prosecutors. No evidence related to the injuries or the incident has ever been presented. No criminal charges are pending against the teen, who had been placed in the Needham facility by Connecticut DCF. The Massachusetts police report on the assault states that it resulted in “apparent minor injuries.”

The incident report filed at Needham’s Meadowridge Academy says the youth had a violent outburst, was upset and insubordinate, and was attempting to walk off the campus when confronted by two staff members. One of the staff members attempted to "bear hug" the teen around the chest, which the teen resisted. After breaking free, the youth punched the staff member "multiple times," bit the staff member on top of the head, and kicked the staff member several times, before the staff member was able to move away. One of the staff members reported he was 'blinded' during the incident. After an internal review of the incident, one of the staff members involved was fired.
 
Although 'blinded” the staff member in question wrote a narrative about the incident 35 minutes after the incident. 
Before DCF sent the teen to Needham, she was arrested for assaulting a "safety officer" at the Bridgeport juvenile detention center and committed to DCF as a juvenile delinquent. The judge who signed the order transferring her to York agreed with the DCF assertion that she was "a danger to herself and others."

DCF responding to public outrage have acknowledged the child may not be in the best environment, but offered no plans to remove her anytime soon from the York facility.

Unloved and uncared for by drug addicted incarcerated parents, raped by DCF facility staff Jane Doe talks about what happened to her. This affidavit that will be presented in federal court as advocates appeal her incarceration at York.



Commissioner Katz says she has received hate mail since Jane Doe was imprisoned. She says the criticism she endured is "abusive" especially since of her recognition of these issues when she was on the supreme court before it was fashionable to do so. Katz says anyone who says she has targeted Jane Doe because of her being transgender is insulting and wrong and should stop.



What can we do? You could email Commissioner Katz commissioner.dcf@ct.gov and call her office at 860-982-9600, but please remember as outragous as this is to keep it civil.

You nan also sign a petition calling for her release from York.

Across the web:

New Haven Register Editorial: Connecticut wrong to imprison transgender teen

Mew Haven Current Talks Begin Privately To Move Transgender Youth Out Of Prison

CT Mirror Advocates seek investigation into DCF treatment of court-involved youth

CALL TO ACTION: 16-year-old Transgender Teenager Incarcerated Without Criminal Charges

CT News Junkie OP-ED | An Open Letter to ‘Jane Doe,’ The Transgender Girl in an Adult Prison

CT Mirror Op-ed: One girl’s tragedy reveals flaws in state care

New Haven Independent Transgender Teen Decries Solitary Confinement