Topic: Law

Friday the 13th of August was a Black Friday for Civil Liberties in Oz.

With an Election looming, the Prime Minister finally got his wish and forced the Parliament, with the support of a supine Opposition, to pass the US Free Trade Agreement, an anti-terrorism bill that further increased the grounds on which citizens could be held without trial, and his pet desire; the same-sex marriage bill.

In a historic first, the Democratic National Convention will see transgender participation like never before. For the first time ever, there will be more than a solitary transgendered delegate in national political process. No less than five delegates, and two committee members will be attending the Convention on July 26-29, 2004 in Boston - four of whom are current or former board members of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC).

Austin became the 3rd city in Texas and the 71st municipality in the country to add gender identity as a protected class to its human rights ordinance. On Thursday, June 10, 2004 by a unanimous vote, Austin?s City council voted to amend the Austin City Human Rights Ordinance to include gender identity as a protected class in employment, housing, and public accommodation. Austin joins Dallas and El Paso as the only cities in Texas to extend equal rights to its Transgendered citizens. Houston added gender identity to its nondiscrimination policy in public employment in July of 2001.

On June 24th 2004 the law society of upper Canada, the 207 year old association of lawyers in Ontario held a public forum/ workshop on gender identity issues in Toronto. The forum had two trans identified persons speaking and two human rights lawyers and covered issues that trans identified people deal with. After the panel discussion (of which I was one of the presenters) the mayor of Toronto gave an address to the law society with regards to Pride Week a model policy paper on, Sexual Identity and Gender Orientation: Creating an Inclusive Work environment.

Info can be found along with a press release at: http://www.lsuc.on.ca/pics/subtopic.jpg

Lindsay Smith

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) initiated a post card campaign this past PRIDE Week in Boston protesting the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). MTPC is opposed to HRC?s support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), because it fails to include transgender people. 1,000 pink post cards were filled out at The Dyke March Friday night, and at the Pride Parade Saturday, which will be mailed directly to HRC?s Executive Director Cheryl Jacques.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #105, Spring 2004.

by Lisa Mottet

We now have four states ...and more than 60 cities and counties with transgender protections clearly written into the law.


It has been an amazing two years in transgender civil rights! At the beginning of 2002, only 6.5% of the country (by population) was covered by anti-discrimination law with language clearly covering the transgender community. Two years later, we find ourselves with more than 24% of the country covered. Wow! We now have four states (California, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Rhode Island) and more than 60 cities and counties with transgender protections clearly written into the law.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #105, Spring 2004.

Local Efforts Underway to Open Homeless Shelters to Transgender People

by Lisa Mottet
Legislative Lawyer,
Transgender Civil Rights Project
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force


Ann remembers vividly having to stay at a men?s shelter in downtown Manhattan. Men would bang on her door. She knew if they got through they would try to kill her again. Staff would rifle through her and other transgender women?s belongings and take away their women?s clothing. ?I don?t know what they did with it, threw it away, burned it, whatever. Regardless, we couldn?t get it back.? Latina and transgender in New York, Ann has been unable to keep a roof over her head by herself for over six years. At her most recent job at a factory, her female boss fired her after a week for something she didn?t do, her boss indicating she ?didn?t want people like you working here.?

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #105, Spring 2004.


by Vanessa Sheridan


It doesn?t take a rocket scientist to see that many obstacles confront trans people as we work toward achieving greater acceptance, respect, and legitimate civil and human rights within society. For example, it?s a fact that along with gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons, the spiritual lives and concerns of the transgendered have traditionally been relegated to the back burner or, even worse, to the trash heap by most mainstream religious denominations. It?s sad to be marginalized by society, but it?s even more troubling when it occurs within the paradigm of religion, an institution that is supposedly built around the ideas of love and acceptance.

Announcing: the FIRST Public Hearing o­n Intersex Issues before a government body in the USA!

The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is conducting a public hearing to explore human rights concerns associated with intersex issues. This groundbreaking event is the first time that a governmental entity in the USA has addressed intersex issues. The San Francisco Human Rights
Commission is the city department responsible for enforcing San Francisco's nondiscrimination laws.

WHEN: o­n Thursday, May 27, 2004, 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Rm. 416, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, 4th floor, San
Francisco.

Call for participation:

The Commission invites people to share their personal experiences regarding medical, social, and legal aspects of their experiences, regarding potential human rights aspects of intersex issues. The
Commission encourages the participation and attendance of intersex people, parents and family members of intersex people, and providers. The public is strongly encouraged to attend!

Written testimony from people who can't make the hearing, or who may wish to offer an anonymous contribution are also needed. Please send your testimonies (preferably by May 17, 2004) to the address below.

Please distribute this announcement widely through your public and personal networks.

For more information contact, and to send written testimonies:

Marcus Arana
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94102-6033
(415) 252-2519
marcus.arana@sfgov.org

The New Mexico Hate Crimes Bill passed the New Mexico House of Representatives today, and Gov. Bill Richardson has pledged to sign the legislation. The Bill establishes increased penalties for acts of violence against many groups, among them sexual orientation and gender identity. Representatives of New Mexico Gender Advocacy Information network(NMGAIN), a transgender advocacy organization, had lobbied the NM legislature for over four years, to see the protective legislation pass.