5/2/12

ABC STOP Commercializing Transphobia

I would call ABC out for transphobia, again.

When does placing a trans person in a contrived over the top situation preying on unsuspecting peoples emotions accurately represent the trials and tribulations we face in the workplace? Since ABC said it does, that's when.

In the latest episode of "lets elicit emotional reactions" ABC's guinea pigs are patrons in a restaurant flipping out over the way a dinner is treating his waitress. Not since ABC's transphobic Work It was Axed have they been able to express their transphobia. Now like Work it they want to frame this awfulness as a learning experience. But ultimately its transgender people who will pay the price.

WE do not need ABC producers to stage a act where we are kicked lower than dirt so unempowered we must rely on a stranger to drag us back up above ground!! And seriously folks, one of these times someone is going to get really pissed off and hurt someone.

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player


Here's the real deal. When I work my part time job as a cashier at Walmart no one gives me a second glance, anymore. Why? Because I don't have anything they want. Its a low paying service job like being a wattress and like a waitress I would never flaunt my gender expression becuse that is not what I am paid to do.

But let me go in there dressed in my primary workplace attire and I get jealous hateful stares because in their minds I represent a threat, having obtained something that's rightfully theirs by using my transgender status as a unfair advantage.

Now that's the flip.

4/30/12

Asking WREG News 3 for Clearification about Memphis Transgender Victim's Gender



The WREG broadcaster in her opening statement identifies the victim of the Saturday attack as a male who transitioned to female. This has resulted in a uproar by our community because the video later identifies the victim with male pronouns.



Is this a case of simple ignorance that could be remedied by a correction being published? But if the victim was female, it could be a sign of something much worst. Many in our community including myself were quick to think the worst, since Memphis and Tennessee in general has earned such a bad reputation regarding transgender people.

So I put in a call to WREG. The first person I spoke to would not offer a statement so I left a voicemail and this email with Channel 3 News asking director Bruce Moore for clarification.
I called WREG this morning about the story about the transgender person who was attacked Saturday. The broadcaster originally identified the victim as female and then for the rest of the story identified the victim as male.
This has caused quite a uproar in our community. Was it a simple mistake or was it intentional misgendering a sign of systemic transphobia so prevalent throughout Tennessee?
I spoke with Richard who would not offer a statement and was directed to Bruce Moore's voicemail.

I will be at work most of today and unable to answer phone calls but if WREG would email a clarification I would appreciate that every much.

Thank you,

Kelli Busey
planetransgender


WREG story Teen Charged With Beating Transgender Person



4/28/12

Paddy Power? Powerless To Transmit Transphobia Says Irish Authority

Its been a while since the British authorities banned the vile Paddy Power "Ladies Day" advert in which racing fans and inadvertently the world's population was invited to split from the pack the Stallions or transgender people, and Mares or cisgender females.


the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland has ruled "The advertisement should not be broadcast again."



The Transgender Network of Ireland press release:

"This is great news for the transgender communities in Ireland, the UK and America," said TENI Director Broden Giambrone. "Trans voices and their allies were heard: transphobia is not funny, and it's not acceptable. On behalf of TENI, we'd like to thank all those who supported and campaigned with us to have this ad removed."

As the founder of the The Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies I will add that we applaud this decision. The advert invited not only horse racing fans but the world's people to focus on the physical differences between cisgender people and transsexuals. This would have led to increased ostracization , discrimination and violence directed at transgender people.

The reasons Paddy Power used to argue its campaign should be allowed to continue only serve to illustrate its intentions, to propagate transphobia.
This will set the bar higher for commercial enterprises wishing to stereotype and commercialize transgender peoples in a demoralizing way, worldwide.



4/26/12

Not in My Wildest Dreams: Tittle VII Covers Transgender, Gays Left Behind?

ENDA Now?

I stood outside of countless Human Rights Campaigns extravagant Black Tie Dinners with our community and allies, as outcasts. Luxury cars with occupants eyes averted or looking with disapproval, would enter the valet parking the passengers jumping out moving quickly so not to acknowledge our existence.

We stood outside with our signs asking for one thing. We needed the HRC to confront Congressman Barney Frank and ask him to resubmit the ENDA bill as it was before he tore transgender people off and made and two separate bills.

We were desperate. Transgender people have always felt to be the underdogs in the LGBT movement and HRC's aqquencence and complicity with Barney Frank just added the explanation point to our pain.

The tables have turned!

Now that transgender people have been covered under Tittle VII of the civil rights act, where does that leave gay people?

Out in the cold, apparently, unless gays object to discrimination on the basis of, you guessed it, gender expression says Ari Ezra Waldman at Towleroad.

There was a lot of angst over the failure of ENDA and according to Waldman, some gays were angry that transgender people were not thrown completely off the bus because these gays felt they had so much of a better chance getting it passed, without us.

Now two question remain for the transgender agenda. One do we need Enda. Two should we 'go back' for gay people now?

This must read from the Metro weekly quotes  Masen Davis, head of the Transgender Law Center (TLC) as saying that "the EEOC's decision doesn't reduce the need for ENDA — particularly as the decision has no impact on sexual-orientation discrimination — but Minter acknowledges, at least as to gender identity, that this decision could shift the ground somewhat."

Yeah, the ground shifted, like a earthquake it shifted. So should we go back for the gays?

I also remember United Enda which although was inconsequential at the time was the glue which bound every LGBT organization including my Dallas Advocates and Allies together. You would find us there except for Mara Quisling hatred of me she has continued to remove my organization from the rolls.

I think we should take the high ground and never forget our allies. We should continue to fight for ENDA.

I think we should continue fighting for ENDA while recognizing that it's HRC left standing outside.

4/25/12

Could The Next Miss Singapore Be Born a Man? No, But Maybe Transgender

The Jakarta Post headline.....


"Next Miss Universe Singapore could be born a man" makes me cringe...Reading further..
"It is an event designed to celebrate the country's most beautiful women."

"But next year's Miss Universe Singapore could be won by somebody born
a man, after organizers revealed that they are considering accepting
contestants who have had a sex change."

As far as we have gotten they still just don't get it or perhaps it was a intentional gaff to draw attention attention. Transgender and transsexual people are born in the gender expression you see us now. Often I have people ask me "when did I know"? I always answer that with "when did you know?"

But as testimony to our progress the article is very forward looking but it also makes me laugh. We now have a advantage according to many Cis woman because we don't have to battle celleote and have "undergone the knife". Is Sexual reassignment Surgery an advantage or is it the boob jobs and other cosmetic surgery? I can't imagine having SRS being an advantage and without a doubt most contestants have gone "under the knife" for cosmetic surgery too. Nope, no advantage there.

Perhaps our advantage is the negative context mainstream media portrays us in. Like a hooker being murdered?

Reading further in the POST:
Student Marla Bendini, 26, said transgender contestants could lead to a more positive representation of the community in society.

“A few weeks ago I was approached by a television crew to play a transsexual sex worker who had fallen to her death out of a hotel room,” she said.

“There's a fascination with transgendered people but we tend to be portrayed in a negative light.”
Agreed Maria. And the truth is its a uphill battle for transgender beauty contestants. Transgender people have no advantages other than the inner truth and beauty from being born, naturally female.

Read the full article "Next Miss Universe Singapore could be born a man" at the The Jakarta Post

Next Miss Universe Singapore could be born a man? No Maybe Transgender

The Jarkata Post headline.....

"Next Miss Universe Singapore could be born a man" makes me cringe and do strikethroughs. continuing on the article...

"It is an event designed to celebrate the country's most beautiful women."

"But next year's Miss Universe Singapore could be won by somebody born
a man, after organizers revealed that they are considering accepting
contestants who have had a sex change."
As far as we have gotten they still just don't get it or perhaps it was a intentional gaff to draw attention attention.

Transgender and transsexual people are born in the gender expression you see us now. As any cis person will confirm any operations they may have had did not define their gender. Often I have people ask me "when did I know"? I always answer that with "when did you know?"

But as testimony to our progress the article is very forward looking but it also makes me laugh. We now have a advantage according to many Cis woman because we don't have to battle celleote and have "undergone the knife". Is Sexual reassignment Surgery a advantage or boob jobs and other cosmetic surgery? I can't imagine having SRS a advantage and without a doubt many beauty contestants have gone "under the knife" for cosmetic surgery too. No advantage there.

Perhaps our advantage is the negative context mainstream media portrays us in. Like a hooker being murdered?

Reading further in the POST
Student Marla Bendini, 26, said transgender contestants could lead to a more positive representation of the community in society.

“A few weeks ago I was approached by a television crew to play a transsexual sex worker who had fallen to her death out of a hotel room,” she said.

“There's a fascination with transgendered people but we tend to be portrayed in a negative light.”


Agreed. And the truth is its a uphill battle for transgender beauty contestants and we have no advantages other than the inner truth and beauty from being born naturally female.