7/27/09

Inclusive ENDA Campaign


A message from Dr. Jillian T. Weiss
Co-Chair, Inclusive ENDA

Thank you again for being part of this campaign to educate Congress about the importance of job equality. Here is some information about the status of the bill and what you can do. If you want to hear my discussion of ENDA's chances, click here for a podcast from WFHB Radio (July 20, 2009)

**STATUS OF THE BILL**
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, HR 3017, is pending in the House of Representatives, and has the public support of 164 Members of Congress. Another 40 are likely to vote yes, but have not yet made their support of the bill public, as far as we know. This makes a total of 204 in the yes column. 218 are needed for a majority in the House. Passage is likely, but we're not yet clearly there as of today. You can get the specifics on our spreadsheet If you're in one of the swing districts (highlighted in yellow), call your Representative. (There is a link to contact info on the spreadsheet on the top right.)

The bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate. Our estimates suggest there are currently 58 likely yes votes, and there are a few Democrats whose support is unclear, and a few fair-minded Republicans who may be willing to cross party lines in favor of job equality. You can get the specifics on our Senate spreadsheet

Legislation will probably be introduced in the Senate soon, and we will want to ask our Senators to co-sponsor the legislation when that happens. Hearings will probably held in the House in early fall, featuring testimony for and against the bill, followed by a vote in the House, if party leaders determine there are enough "yes" votes for passage. If and when passed in the House, the bill will hopefully go to the Senate for a vote shortly thereafter. Whether or not it gets to a floor vote depends again on party leaders determining that there are enough yes votes for passage. If and when passed in the Senate, it will go to President Obama for signature.

**WHAT YOU CAN DO**
The most effective means of ensuring there are enough "yes" votes for passage is meeting with your legislator in your home district during the August recess. Of course we're all busy with other things, but if you want them to say "yes," you must say "yes." You can sign up for a meeting here

Telephone calls from people in the legislator's district are the next most effective means. You can find contact info for unconfirmed US Reps here, and contact info for unconfirmed US Senators here and Full contact info can be found here

You should put your legislators' phone numbers on speed dial, and make friends with the office aides. Call early and often. Put information about your legislators' position on our Wall at Inclusive ENDA so we can update the spreadsheets.

Acting together, we have made great strides toward passage. I believe that ENDA will pass, if we continue to be smart and targeted in expressing our support to our legislators by means of meetings and phone calls.

Thank you for your work in supporting an inclusive ENDA.

Jillian T. Weiss
Co-Chair, Inclusive ENDA



Queers United Protest Dr. Phil Continues Anti-Queer Crusade by Picking on "Gender Confused Kids"

Update: We have pervailed!! [From Twitter] queerunity Dr. Phil agrees to pull transphobic show, good work guys! http://bit.ly/vBFUN

Please check out Queers United Dr. Phil Continues Anti-Queer Crusade by Picking on "Gender Confused Kids"
Our campaign to get Dr. Phil to stop his anti gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender programming has been going on for several months. His shows continually promote topics such as "gender confusion", "rebellious bisexuals" and "discussion on ex-gay therapy".

Hundreds of people through this blog [Queers United] have joined in demanding Dr. Phil stop this anti-queer programming. Nonetheless this Wednesday July 29th another transphobic show is set to air titled "Gender-Confused Kids"

7/25/09

Thank AAA South for Recognizing Equality!


Send AAA South a thank you!

http://ga4.org/campaign/thankAAA

During a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, July 21, between Equality Florida and AAA South, top management at the 4th largest AAA affiliate in the country committed to recognizing all spouses, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The policy allows gay married couples to receive spousal discounts under AAA's Associate Membership program.
Tell me more

Tweeted by nasmith25 at http://twitter.com/nasmith25

7/24/09

Kim Petras "Worlds Youngest [post op] Transsexual"



'TV interview of German transgirl Kim Petras on the Morning Show. The interview draws a more realistic picture of Kim than in the CBS show "The Insider" on April 30, 2009. Kim speaks about her past as a boy and the latest single she has released: "Die for you".'

Interview télévision de la jeune transfille allemande Kim Petras dans l'émission "This Morning". L'interview donne une image plus réaliste de Kim que dans l'émission "The Insider" sur la chaîne américaine CBS le 30 avril 2009. Kim parle de son passé en tant que garçon et de sa dernière chanson publiée : "Die for you".

Fernseh-Interview mit dem Transmädchen Kim Petras in der "Morning Show". Das Interview zeichnet ein realistischeres Bild von Kim als der Bericht in der CBS-Sendung "The Insider" vom 30. April 2009. Kim spricht über ihre Vergangenheit als Junge und die neueste Single, die sie veröffentlicht hat: "Die for you".

7/19/09

Houston's Transgender Foundation of America Prepares for Hurricane Season


Following some disastrous hurricanes in the past years the Transgender Foundation of Houston is holding meetings to help it's members prepare for the coming season. As we well know in the transgender community, we are the first most adversely affected by natural disasters.


Host: Transgender Foundation of America
Type: Meetings - Informational Meeting
Network: Global
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009
Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: TG Center
Street: 713 Fargo
City/Town: Houston, TX
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Phone:
7135208586
Email:
cristan@tgctr.org
Description
The last two hurricanes took the Houston TG community by surprise.Many of us had a hard time finding places to evacuate to and there were even a few of us who were arrested for staying in emergency shelters. We need to be prepared this year!On Monday, July 27th at 6:30 PM (before the HTGA meeting) we will have the first in a series of TG Community Hurricane Preparedness meetings. Please come out and help the community get ready for hurricane season!








7/17/09

Episcopalians officialy Support LGBT Rights

TransEpiscopal: Transgender Episcopalians/Anglicans and Allies

Press Release:

Anaheim, CA (July 17, 2009): For the first time in its history, the Episcopal
Church has taken official actions in support of transgender civil rights and inclusion at its 76th General Convention.

"It was a true privilege to participate in the legislative process of this Church, to bear witness to transgender lives and experiences, and to urge the Episcopal Church to fully include and to stand in solidarity with us," commented the Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge, a member of TransEpiscopal and Integrity USA. "I am thrilled to be able to say that the General Convention voted overwhelmingly to put the Episcopal Church on record in support of such legislation as the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Act and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and analogous efforts at municipal and state levels. But I am even more moved to say how many people spontaneously shared with us how their eyes have been opened, their hearts turned, by our presence and stories here. To have someone stop me in a coffee line to say, `I had never thought about this issue before, and I'm going to take what I have learned here and share it with my little congregation in the Ozarks' means more than I can say."

Today the Convention completed approval of resolutions supporting the enactment
of anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation protecting transgender people at
local, state and federal levels. The House of Deputies passed these resolutions overwhelmingly on Wednesday, and the House of Bishops then approved these resolutions today in near-unanimous votes.

These actions took place as the United States Congress debates both the Matthew
Shepherd Hate Crimes Act and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which respectively address hate crimes and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as well as gender identity and expression.

Testifying in hearings at various levels of the Convention were representatives
of the organizations TransEpiscopal and Integrity USA, including the Episcopal Church's first openly transgender Deputy, Dee Tavolaro of Rhode Island.

In addition to today's actions, earlier this week the Convention approved two
other resolutions.

The first adds "gender identity and expression" to its nondiscrimination policy
for hiring lay employees, while the second calls for the revision of church paper and
electronic forms to allow a wider range of gender identifications.

"As we celebrate this moment and give thanks for the amazing allies walking with
us, particularly Integrity USA and the Consultation, we look forward to progressing
further toward full inclusion of transgender people —and, indeed, all people -- in all areas of ministry in The Episcopal Church."