10/14/10

To Bowling Green With Love from the world's Transgender people!

Transgender led response to the attack on non Ohioans with the hateful misleading mailer being sent to area residents. Pictured are some of the 200 activists of the 5000 member group "TranAction ConVergence" and we would like to introduce ourselves to you with our facebook profile picture. You may recognize some of us as your next door neighbours, and maybe some as state residents but most of us live out of state with some far away as India and Australia! All the pictured are transgender, lesbian, bisexual, gay and allies participating in our TransAction ConVergence event "Picture Yourself in Bowling Green Action Countering Group's Hate Mailer".


We hope all Bowling Green voters see that no matter where we live are just like you. We are the worlds working citizens, just like you. Many of us are fortunate becuse live in places of equality, but sadly avatars sometimes replace photos, true idenities hidden out of fear, because some of us are persecuted becuse we are still living in inequality.
Because like bowling green's "BG Citizens Voting NO to "Special Rights" Discrimination" there are people worldwide who would exclude us from all that society offers. So we want you to know, TransAction ConVergence stands with you, the good people of Bowling Green Ohio with love and ask that you vote yes on Ordinances 7905 and 7906 and vote YES for equality!



Don’t be fooled by lies and distortion. Get the facts on 7905 and 7906
YES on 7905 and 7906
Means that everyone in Bowling Green is treated fairly and equally.


YES on 7905 and 7906
Means that everyone who does their job well has the right to earn a living and provide for their family without fear of being fired.

YES on 7905 and 7906
Adds gay and transgender people, among others, to the current housing and employment laws that protect our residents based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, military status, ancestry and age (replaced by familial status in housing).

YES on 7905 and 7906
Means religious and fraternal organizations and schools can continue to abide by deeply held religious beliefs.

YES on 7905 and 7906
Means we can take action locally to protect all people who live, work and go to school in Bowling Green.

YES on 7905 and 7906
Because everyone wants a safe and private restroom.

Want to learn more? Get the facts and how you can help at onebowlinggreen.org


TransAction ConVergence is utilizing Facebook, the world's largest social network, as a tool to share news and ideas and to advocate.

Utilize this group to connect to other advocates and to inspire change. We are here waiting for you!

Second Anniversary of Jennifer Gale's death yet Austin Transgender remain out in the Cold

Two years have passed since transgender woman and former mayoral candidate Jennifer Gale died on the steps of a Austin Church. Jennifer's serenades often preceded council appearances and her notoriety spurred a outcry and a memorial was held. It was so very, very cold at her memorial on that grey Austin day but sadly her death has yielded no concrete results. The publicly funded homeless city shelter the ARCH, still offers no overnight accommodations to transgender woman.

Please watch at least a few minutes for Jennifer.



In a email response Charles Kemp, Office of the Director, Austin/Travis County HHSD stated that the city funded homeless shelter ARCH does not allow transgender people to overnight, have a transgender written transgender policy or separate facilities to insure safety of transgender people should they take advantage of the 'day sleepers' program.

According to Natasha Ponczek, Homeless Program Coordinator at City of Austin to the best of her knowledge there are no plans to make facility changes at the ARCH to accommodate transgender people. Phone calls to Helen Varty Executive director of ARCH were not returned.

Salvation Army Shelter only hope.

The only place for a transgender person faced with deathly cold would be the Salvation Army's Austin Shelter for Women and Children which receives funding from the city. According to shelter director Cathey Ridings the Austin shelter does have '....a policy against gender discrimination including sexual orientation and gender identity.'

Licence verifying your stated gender required.

According to Ridings there is no written policy defining the procedures staff would follow should a transender person request overnight accommodations, but said a licence or similar documentation would be required that aligned with the persons stated gender expression prior to admittance to the women's shelter.

When I commented that the Salvation Army nationwide has a reputation for turning away transgender people. Ridings said things were different in Austin and people were a little more accepting.

I applaud Cathey Ridings for her powerful love of people but without written policy there is no standard of care.

Lisa Scheps of the local transgender group TENT replied when questioned about the lack of transgender homeless facilities "We have been working with local homeless shelters since Jennifer died. Currently the only agency with beds for single women is the Salvation Army and I have been working closely with them to try to get them to be a bit more trans inclusive… they are trying. But currently there are only 47 beds for single women… So we continue to work. And, yes, it IS discriminatory and we are working on changing things."

Two years past and many cold nights.

It is a travesty the cities 100% funded shelter remains without a written policy and
ongoing training of staff. This is a disastrous combination for transgender people especially queer youth. Because of traumatic circumstances that lead them there all ways leave emotional unstable and a misgendering, even innocently intentionally by staff could push the transgender person out the safety of the shelter seeking the shameless anonymity of a church walkway and death like Jenifer Gale on that starry, starry night.

I cry for the unnecessary senseless lose of you Jenifer and am shameful that we have not done better since your death. RIP dear Jenifer.

10/6/10

Bowling Green Anti transgender Political Mailer Campaign Slanders nonresidents

Bowling Green Ohio political action group "BG Citizens Voting No to Special Rights Discrimination" mass mailing being sent to area voters

Click mailer for ABC11 video
The mailer's intentional misgendering and slandering of non resident transgender people is crafted to instill fear, distrust and transphobia in hearts of local Bowling Green voters.

But there's a even more insidious malevolent intent.

This campaign is meant to cow transgender people nationwide. Its purpose is to isolate us individually making us hope for safety in obscure anonymity. They wish to make us subservient to there extremist right wing agenda, fearful of intimidation.


This pseudo political hate group has obtained enough petition signatures to put to vote the Bowling Green human rights ordinances passed by the city council last August.



The BG hate group methods mirrors in many ways mirror the failed recall campaigns waged by local hate groups and defeated by popular vote spearheaded by Michigan's One Kalamazoo and Florida's Equality Gainesville and Equality is Gainesville's Business.

Truth Wins Out!

One Bowling Green responds and is validated as the hateful lies disappear in the presence of truth! There have been no discrimination complaints filed since Kalamazoo ordinance vote or instances of anyone's privacy or safety being compromised by equality in Gainesville.

Kinetic Playground nightclub Cancels "Burn Queers" performer Capleton

CANCELED

Source: Cody Maxwell Meltzer thekineticplayground.com
"The Capleton show has been canceled at The Kinetic Playground. I have spoke with Andy Thayer and Roger Fraser to inform them of such. This show many still happen somewere else but as far as The Kinetic Playground is concerned this show will never happen at our venue. We supported your organization, now we would hope that the LGBT community would come support ours. Come out and have a drink the Oct 9th at theKinetic Playground!"
Andy Thayer organizer for the GLN has confirmed that this Chicago venue which was persisting on hosting this vehemently anti LGBT Jamaican performer has canceled the Capleton show.

Source: Andy Thayer GLN Organizer Facebook page GLN: Chicago-Area LGBTQA Liberation Network :
"Once Again, Public Pressure Delivers the Goods!"

"Please THANK "The Kinetic Playground" Nightclub for Doing the Right Thing!"

"Through a series of negotiations this week and last and with the threat of a demonstration, Gay Liberation Network (GLN) and other community activists were successful in persuading management at Kinetic Playground nightclub, 1113 W. Lawrence Avenue, to cancel "Kill Gays" dancehall performer Capleton for a show originally scheduled for late this Saturday night, October 9th."

"In human rights circles, Capleton's Jamaica has one of the worst reputations for anti-LGBT mob violence in the hemisphere, with Jamaican police openly tolerating it. In 2004 the country's leading gay rights campaigner, Brian Williamson, was stabbed multiple times in an apparent anti-gay hate murder. The constant threat of violence has forced other gay rights campaigners to flee the country."

"Capleton is one of a small group of Jamaican performers who have gained international notoriety for openly calling for the murder of lesbians and gays in the lyrics of their songs. As recently as last December at a concert in Jamaica, Capleton called out congratulations from the stage to those who commit violence -- "All who a bun battyman and sodomite, hand up!" ("All who have burned queers and sodomites, put your hands up!")."

"We are big supporters of free speech, having had our own threatened on numerous occasions. But only a fool would say that calls to lynch people – whoever the targets – is "free speech," any more than is yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. Nor is Capleton's right to spew hate from the stage compromised by GLN's right to protest his presence on that stage. He has a right, within limits, to say what he pleases; he has no right to the stage he wants to say it from, it doesn't belong to him."

"The cancellation of Capleton is a victory that all human rights supporters should savor. The Gay Liberation Network, which initiated the campaign against Capleton in Chicago, commends Kinetic Playground management for putting human rights principles above dollars by canceling the show."

"Please put an exclamation point on this victory by buying a drink or two this Saturday night at Kinetic Playground, 1113 W. Lawrence Avenue, so that the management and staff there know that Chicago is willing to stand behind those who follow their conscience."
Outside the Windy? Please Email The Kinetic Playground and thank them!