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Copyright © 1995-1998 PlanetOut Corporation. This item was posted on their site October 26.
The meeting took place soon after the first stage of Japan's first legal sex reassignment surgery, and that transman patient provided a written statement demanding recognition of post-surgical sex on official registration documents. The main panel discussion featured four speakers, a feminist activist, a lesbian "queer theorist," a transgender who presented as masculine, and a male feminist professor of gender studies. There was general agreement that the groups could provide mutual support in breaking down sex role stereotypes and social distinctions. A transgender support group had developed a glossary and other materials to assist the non-trans participants in learning about differences among cross-dressers, transgenders, and transsexuals, as well as about difficulties they face in their daily lives. |
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Via Gender Advocacy Internet News(GAIN), at gain@gender.org, a free
Internet news service brought to you courtesty of American Educational
Gender Information Service and It's Time, America!
Beyer, who attended a private boys' school and served as a prefect, underwent SRS at age 24. Recently, she was re-elected -- garnering 90 per cent of the votes -- mayor of the rural town of Carterton. Speaking of her decision to enter national politics, Beyer said that "You could say I'm a small-town girl with a global vision, who's committed to Carterton." Beyer's former sex industry colleagues have criticized her for her political aspiratiions, she says, adding that "what I did 18-odd years ago and what I do now are two completely different things" |
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A press release from LLEGO.
LLEGO Endorses January 6 Hate Crimes Act Lobby Action
LLEGO joins the renown Whitman Walker Clinic, American Catholic Church Maryland Diocese (not Roman Catholic), Inter-Faith Working Group, HERO magazine, Seattle Gay News, on line glbt news server Gay Today, the main-stream Washington DC InTowner newspaper, and more than a dozen other organizations who have already come out in support of the January 6, 1999 congressional hate crimes act lobbying action. Now officially known as the Be Seen! Be Heard! National Lobby Congress Day, the grass roots, originated movement's goal is to encourage American citizens to come to Washington on January 6 to personally lobby their representatives and senators for the immediate introduction and enactment of hate crimes prevention legislation. Be Seen! Be Heard! National Lobby Congress Day is not an organization and its leaders have no titles. Rather, the effort is a people-generated, nation wide movement to place ever increasing constituent pressure on members of congress to extend coverage of federal protection from hate crimes legislation to victims selected for violence because of their sexual orientation. The grassroots effort, believed to be the first political action of its magnitude to originate and organize on the Internet, was sparked by the 105th Congress's failure to enact hate crimes legislation, and by the recent murder of 21-year-old, gay college student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. January 6 is the 106th Congress's opening day and marks three months to the day from when Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, tortured and left hanging from a fense on a Wyoming prairie. Shepard died as a result of his injuries six days later. Supporters of federal hate crimes legislation will arrive on Capitol Hill during the morning hours of Wednesday, January 6 to call on the offices of their respective representatives, senators and members of the Republican leadership. Many people are expected to seek meetings with Speaker of the House New Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. Those seeking to meet with their congress member or senator are being encourage to call well in advance to schedule an appointment. Those who can, are being asked to return to their legislators' offices on the following day, Thursday, and again on Friday to press their message. "We are simply encouraging Americans who recognize the need to include
sexual orientation under the federal hate crimes act to exercise their
constitutional right to petition their elected representatives," said
Jennifer DeWalt, a lead organizer. "We are not organizing a march or a
demonstration, or a weekend feel-good rally on the mall that will wind
up being about as productive as a huge group hug."
The Be Seen! Be Heard! information page at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2047/march.html is updated on a daily basis. Those interested in learning more about the January 6 Hate Crimes Act lobbying effort should visit the web site or contact lobbycongress@hotmail.com. |
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A November 11 press release from TGAIN.
"We have a huge stake in the Texas version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act," said Sarah DePalma, Executive Director of TGAIN. The Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby (LGRL) of Texas already had the language for this bill and volunteered to include transgenders. Our goal is to let legislators see us as we really are and get this bill passed." The second piece of legislation would also impact on the employablilty of transgenders because it would streamline the way transgendered people change their names and gender marker on their drivers license. " The current procedure is often subject to the whim of judges." said Ms. DePalma. We have seen some truly terrible rulings inflicted on transgenders which were made on the basis of ignorance and prejudice. We must get this name/gender marker process accomplished in a more acceptable manner." The Texas Gender Advocacy Network was originally started in 1985 as It's
Time, Texas! and operated as the Texas Chapter of It's Time, America!
the national transgender rights organization. Although planning to
remain affiliated with the national group, the name was changed to
TGAIN in 1998 to makes its mission more clearly understood.
For further information about the state Transgender Lobby Day or TGAIN, please contact rhost@flash.net or call 713-778-1416. |
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From InYourFace on-line news. For prior press releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org
[Washington, D.C.: 11 Nov 98] The wrongful death trial of transwoman Tyra Hunter opened on Monday. Hunter's mother, Margie Hunter, brought the $10 million suit against a city Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a doctor at D.C. General Hospital for contributing to Tyra's death in 1995. Hunter was riding in a car that was involved in an accident on 7 Aug 95. The suit alleges that, as Hunter lay critically injured in the street, EMT Andrian Williams stopped administering first aid when he discovered Hunter's male genitals. "This ain't no bitch... He's got a dick and balls," Williams allegedly said and backed away from Hunter, joking and snickering for 5-7 minutes, while horrified onlookers implored him to treat Tyra. The suit also alleges that the doctor treating Hunter at D.C. General was not properly certified and failed to get Hunter to surgery to stop her internal bleeding. Both sides made opening statements on Tuesday. The trial resumes on Thursday. This case is being closely followed by national gay and lesbian groups as well as the transgender community. |
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From UKPFC-NEWS, of Press for Change, the UK's trans rights campaign. Info & online-archives: http://www.pfc.org.uk/pfclists/
by Katrina Fox
The move comes after a controversial first draft included suggestions that transsexuals should not be allowed to work with children or in professions which involve certain kinds of physical contact with the public, for example airport security or home helps. The paper also suggests that during the time of transition - where a transsexual undergoes hormone treatment and surgery- employers could demand which toilet they use. The draft document, Legislation Regarding Discrimination on Grounds of Transsexualism in Employment, was condemned by lobby groups when it was published earlier this year. "No other group in British society has been singled out in this way in living memory," said Christine Burns, vice-president of pressure group Press for Change. "Ironically, many of the proposed special provisions would be inconceivable were it not for the unworkable legal gender status imposed upon transsexuals following reassignment. It is a case of legislation being proposed to alleviate the discrimination problems created solely by the discriminatory interpretation of other legislation." The consultation paper proposes to introduce specific regulations to amend the sex discrimination legislation in the light of P v S and Cornwall County Council, IRLR 347, ECJ. The European court held that dismissing an employee on the basis of gender reassignment was sex discrimination under the Equal Treatment Directive. Press for Change set up a Parliamentary Forum on this issue and was asked by the Department for Education and Employment to submit revised guidelines. Lynne Jones MR who is on the forum, said equal opportunities minister Alan Howarth realised there was a lot of work to do on the document. "I think the original consultation document was written by civil servants who did not understand the issues." The group submitted its revised guidelines to the DfEE at the end of September. The document may be a statutory instrument or a code of practice for employers. Robert Hart, HR policy manager at supermarket chain Sainsbury's, which has had several transsexuals go through transition, said he would find a code of practice useful. "If it was practical and could be translated into Sainsbury-speak, it would help me a lot." |
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GenderNews Headlines GenderNews Index List of Community Notices |
Page prepared by Beth Lewis.
Transgendered and transsexual people met with feminists in Japan this past weekend to discuss possible cooperation based on their common experiences of gender role oppression. According to a Kyodo News Service report, there were 136 people in attendance.
According to an October 31 Associated Press news story, Georgina Beyer, 40, a former drag queen and transgender professional sex worker, is thought to be the world's first transsexual mayor. Now, according to the story, she has been convinced to enter national New Zealand politics. Beyer has confirmed that she has accepted an offer to stand for the Labor Party against New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech in election, next year.
On November 5, the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization (LLEGO) became the first national gay/lesbian organization to endorse the Be Seen! Be Heard! January 6 Congressional hate crimes act lobbying effort.
Transgender rights activists from virtually ever major city in the state
of Texas will be attending the first "Transgender Lobby Day" sponsored
by the Texas Gender Advocacy and Information Network (TGAIN). This event
is scheduled to take place on January 27, 1999 in conjunction with two
bills which could have great impact on transgenders across the state.
Civil liberties and pressure groups are helping to rewrite a paper which bans discrimination against transsexual staff.