Read the story here http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525869,00.html

 

and remember to send your support.

 

-Dana

 

DANIELLE KING
Friday, May 23, 2008

Megan Wallent's interview will air tonight at 8:00 on the Radical Trannies - Tune in to Ethan and Megan discussing her transition, life and other cool stuff.

 

Here's the link...

 

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 

-Dana

As I read this extremely moving memorial about Bill Clayton a bisexual teen who passed back in 1995, I was reminded that we still have such a tremendous journey ahead of us before we are safe from hatred and predjudice.

 

Focus your efforts on possitive change. 

 

Support equality and eliminate hatred through positive example.

 

Can we wait any longer?

 

-Dana

 

By Daryl Hannah. Date Posted: March 07, 2008

 

For most, coming out at work is not an easy task. You can't be sure
how your company or peers will respond to your revelation. And despite
recent reports that the workplace is growing increasingly accepting to
LGBT employees, people often don't know how to welcome a colleague who
recently came out the closet.

PricewaterhouseCoopers executive Stephanie Peel's history is a
corporate America coming-out success story. When she came out
professionally nearly 10 years ago, she was welcomed by her
colleagues. "I came out personally in 1997 and came out professionally
in 1999. Fortunately, I never heard anything not positive," says Peel.

Peel now serves on the company's LGBT-partner advisory board, which
consists of 10--12 leaders in the firm who are LGBT, and provides
guidance to the management committee to help further advance
initiatives and activities. PricewaterhouseCoopers is No. 12 on The
2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity(R) list and No. 2 on
the Top 10 Companies for GLBT Employees.

"I often tell people who ask me about this [that] it's not just about
what you can't say or shouldn't say because sometimes I find that
colleagues feel stymied in that they shouldn't say anything at all.
There is a lot of room for the things you can say to give clues to
people that you are inclusive and culturally sensitive," warns Peel.

So what are 10 things should you NEVER say to your LGBT colleagues?
Here's what GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network),
Out & Equal Workplace Project, and Peel suggest:

No. 1: "I suspected you were gay."

Although it is a common response, it's insensitive and plays into stereotypes.

No. 2: "I'm sorry."

Why should you apologize for a colleague's orientation? This implies
judgment and can make the situation more difficult. Would you
apologize for a person's ethnicity or gender?

No. 3: "Why did you tell me that?"

It's important for people to bring their "whole selves" to work, and
coming out of the closet is certainly a part of who one is. "The
notion of leaving a big part of your self at home and walking into
work is like walking around with two types of shoes on," says Selisse
Berry executive director of Out & Equal, an advocacy organization that
provides services to companies, human-resource professionals,
employee-resource groups and individuals.

No. 4: "Which bathroom do you use?"

Transgender people often are asked what gender they are. Such
questions are inappropriate, warns Out & Equal. It is important to
remember that gender identity is becoming an increasingly sensitive
subject.

No. 5: "We are not close enough for you to share that information with me."

Not all employees are interested in their coworker's personal lives.
If you feel a colleague may have shared too much information, you can
simply say, "Thank you for telling me that," says Peel.

No. 6: Referring to coworkers as "she-male."

There has been a lot of uproar these days over this phrase.
Transgender employees often are the brunt of culturally insensitive
jokes and comments.

No. 7: "What do you like to do in bed?"

Sexual questions and comments are always off-limits. Not only do you
run the risk of offending a colleague, you are also teetering the line
of sexual harassment. It's important not to be confused between trying
to understand someone's personal life and inappropriate sexual
harassment, warns Kevin Jennings, executive director of GLSEN.

(c) DiversityInc 2008 (R) All rights reserved.

by Marti Abernathey | March 7, 2008

 

 

Is one of the key players in the United ENDA movement, Mara Keisling,
signaling its death? Recently Keisling said:

'We have to show Barney Frank 220 votes,' she said. 'If we show
him 220 votes, nobody is going to work harder on this. The same with
HRC… It's going to happen again next year. '- After ENDA, the
Fighter's Resilient

According to Donna Rose's blog :

3/1/2008 - They're currently planning to hold hearings in Congress
specifically about transgender workplace issues in April. Whereas
original plans were to tightly control those hearings, Rep. Frank has
largely turned over control of gathering the stories to NCTE/Mara
Keisling (who's home in DC with pneumonia). Mara has been diligently
working with many of us to identify potential speakers who can come to
Washington DC to speak and I expect she'll be finalizing that to give
to Barney shortly.

Frank later emailed Rose and said:

3/5/2007 - "…at the request of Mara Keisling, I agreed to meet
with her to discuss the hearing. In fact, my office has met with
several groups for input, but Ms. Rose's assertion that I "largely
turned over control of gathering the stories to NCTE/Mara Keisling" is
wholly baseless. In fact, the Committee on Education and Workforce has
jurisdiction over this bill and therefore, the "control" was never
mine to turn over. And while the blog referenced NCTE, the fact is,
several groups have been working to identify potential witnesses –in
fact, the ultimate decision about who is ultimately selected rests
with subcommittee Chairman Rob Andrews and full committee Chairman
George Miller, after consulting with me.

On a later entry, Rose said:

During our conversation today HRC came up several times. Joe (Racalto,
Barney Frank's senior policy adviser) went out of his way to
assure me that HRC is taking the lead in these hearings in many ways.
As far as our community is concerned I'll take his word for it and let
it all unfold….

It's interesting to timeline Keisling's comments about the Human
Rights Campaign (HRC):

05/23/2007

(concerning the Matthew Shepard Act)

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) did an incredibly skillful and
professional job as a lead organization on lobbying for the bill.Their
work and efforts were absolutely everything that any LGBT person could
hope for–they really did ALL LGBT people proud. And they as
individuals and as an organization are putting their hearts into
transgender work and we should be very appreciative. - (posted to TGv
Advocacy)

In that same post she said about ENDA:

Our Allies: Years ago, we didn't have too many. We had to educate
and, yes, fight our way back into the LGBT movement. I know there are
still imperfections and I know that some trans people are still
skeptical. Yet, I can tell you without hesitation that the entire
organized LGBT movement is with us now. Our education worked. Our
indignation worked. It is our moral responsibility now to embrace the
people we asked and demanded to be our allies. If we do not believe in
education, in persuasion, in redemption, we have
no right being in civil rights. Why educate if not to win over?
Why win over if not to embrace and move forward together? HRC really
is an LGBT organization now and getting a lot of great work done for
us all. Congressman Frank and Senator Kennedy too. Let's move on
together. - (posted to TGv Advocacy)

7/1/2007

(concerning protesting)

Anyone (and again I am not saying you are suggesting this) who
would still hope to positively impact ENDA or LLEHCCPA by protesting
allies who are really getting the job done for and with us–allies like
HRC, Rep. Frank and Sen.Kennedy–in my opinion, simply would not be
seeing or else not understanding what is going on. - (posted to TGv
Advocacy)

10/10/2007

We consider this action a kind of 'family intervention'. We
believe that HRC is misguided in their response and lack of action on
the ENDA legislation. While we appreciate the support that HRC has
given us in the transgender community, we are disappointed with HRC at
the moment, - Transgender Activists Protest HRC Dinner

10/13/2007
(concerning HRC's "brokering" of the inclusive ENDA [2015] putting it
off to be heard in the future "when it has the votes to pass.")

HRC's 'new deal' is entirely spin meant to undermine the
unprecedented grassroots efforts of hundreds of organizations and tens
of thousands of individuals in order to allow movement of their vanity
bill that no one including Speaker Pelosi or Congressman Frank says
they really want. - NCTE's Daily Update

01/24/2008

'Our official position right now is we are extremely disappointed
and angry at HRC. … The real bottom line is right now NCTE will not do
anything that will rehabilitate HRC as a legitimate spokesman for
transgender people … until they stop actively hurting trans people',
said Keisling. She characterized HRC's advocacy of the sexual
orientation-only version of ENDA in the House, as well as its expected
lobbying to pass the bill this year in the Senate, as hurting trans
people.

As for NCTE's future plans for ENDA, Keisling said that after the
election she expects advocates to lobby a new Congress and a new
president in favor of passing a trans-inclusive ENDA bill.

'It is our expectation that in 2009 Congress is going to hear from
a very united LGBT movement,' said Keisling. 'Whether that includes
HRC I have no idea.' - Trans-HRC schism widens

3/5/2008

'We have to show Barney Frank 220 votes,' she said. 'If we show
him 220 votes, nobody is going to work harder on this. The same with
HRC… It's going to happen again next year.' - After ENDA, the
Fighter's Resilient

As recent as yesterday, HRC was lobbying for a non-inclusive ENDA.
In an email from Cuc Vu to the HRC Steering Committee, she writes:

Lobby ask:continue to build support in the House for HR 2015;
request the Senate to take action to prohibit workplace
discrimination.

Since the non-inclusive bill (3685) has already passed the House,
asking the Senate to take action to prohibit workplace discrimination
is asking them to support 3685. Essentially it's business as usual for
HRC. Nothing has substantially changed in their lobbying efforts.
They've had no "rehabilitative" moment or change of heart. If you take
Keisling's words to heart, the only other conclusion that seems
logical is that United ENDA is dead.

Here's an essential public hearing everyone should know about in terms
of making sure Massachusetts is a state that truly stands for civil
rights for all.

Transgender rights activists are preparing to state their case for
legislation that would protect transgender people from discrimination
and hate crimes as a bill moves through the State House.

The bill, scheduled for public hearing March 4, follows the model
of 13 other states that have legislation specifically protecting the
civil rights and safety of transsexuals, said Daniel Glasser, aide to
Rep. Carl Sciortino, a Medford Democrat who sponsored the bill.

The transgender rights bill is the first piece of statewide
legislation to address transgender rights, though some Massachusetts
towns and counties have ratified similar anti-discrimination laws,
Glasser said.

Rep. Byron Rushing, who introduced the bill with Sciortino in Jan.
2007, said it is important for Massachusetts to explicitly include
transgender people in the state's anti-discrimination laws.

"Transgender people represent a category of people who have been
discriminated against, but are not always covered by the existing
discrimination laws," he said. "This bill is a way to make sure
Massachusetts maintains its record of consistently protecting people
who are victims of discrimination."

Unfortunately, since the election I'm working on is actually on
Tuesday, I won't be able to attend this - but it's imperative the bill
passes, so I urge everyone to a) call their state reps and senators
and b) if you can, show up to the hearing, which is public and likely
open for public comment. Mass Resistance and their folks will very
likely be at this event, so it's important that we show a strong show
of force so our elected leaders know this is an issue that
Massachusetts citizens care about deeply. It's very important that, in
Massachusetts, no one is left behind.

 

We were anxiously hoping they would do so, and today they did. Hillary
Clinton and Barack Obama have released statements regarding hate-crime
slain Lawrence King. King was murdered in his Oxnard junior high
classroom for being openly gay. All of the country has been outraged
over the incident, and the two Democratic presidential candidates have
finally spoken about the atrocity.

 

"I was deeply saddened by the recent death of 15-year-old Lawrence
King who was killed at his school in Oxnard, CA. No one should face
intimidation or violence, particularly at school, because of their
sexual orientation or the way they express their gender identity. We
must finally enact a federal hate crimes law to ensure that gay,
lesbian and transgender Americans are protected against violent,
bias-motivated crimes. We must send a unified message that hate-based
crime will not be tolerated."

 

"It was heartbreaking to learn about Lawrence King's death, and my
thoughts and prayers go out to his family. King's senseless death is a
tragic example of the corrosive effect that bigotry and fear can have
in our society. It's also an urgent reminder that we need to do more
in our schools to foster tolerance and an acceptance of diversity;
that we must enact a federal hate crimes law that protects all LGBT
Americans; and that we must recommit ourselves to becoming active and
engaged parents, citizens and neighbors, so that bias and bigotry
cannot take hold in the first place. We all have a responsibility to
help this nation live up to its founding promise of equality for all."

 

 

Source: Equality Maryland

 

by Rona Marech
Thursday, February 21, 2008

A Montgomery County measure intended to protect transgender people
appears headed to a voter referendum, setting up a potentially
divisive debate over how far anti-discrimination laws should extend.

The recently passed law protects transgender people from
discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, and
taxi and cable service, and was supposed to go into effect
yesterday. But it is on hold after opponents gathered 32,000
signatures in a bid to put it on the ballot this fall.

Citizens for a Responsible Government, the group that paid for
thousands of computerized calls to county households to further the
petition drive, says the measure infringes on the privacy of most
citizens while protecting just a few.

"Our primary objection is the impact this has on every other citizen
in Montgomery County," said Michelle Turner, a spokeswoman for the
group. "This legislation affects or was written for less than 1
percent of the population, with total disrespect for the safety,
well-being and rights of everyone else." Public restrooms, for
example, will no longer offer real privacy for each gender, the
group says.

But officials say the new law, which the County Council passed
unanimously and County Executive Isiah Leggett signed, does not
force changes at public restrooms. Furthermore, they say the
bathroom issue is an old scare tactic that unfairly takes attention
away from the measure's point: to protect people whose internal
sense of gender and biological gender at birth do not match.

"Have you ever heard of this being a problem anywhere? No, because
transgender people are going to use the bathroom where they're going
to be the safest and where they're going to blend in the most.
They're used to being subjected to discrimination and violence. And
they have no interest in making other people uncomfortable," said
Dan Furmansky, director of Equality Maryland. "It's a common-sense
bill about helping people live their lives."

Once viewed as a relatively straightforward matter of biological
category, gender has evolved into a far more complicated subject.
Transgender is an umbrella term that can include transsexuals as
well as people with a fluid identity that transcends traditional
gender categories.

Montgomery County and Baltimore City are among about 95
jurisdictions and 13 states that have passed laws protecting
transgender people, and the General Assembly has considered
extending the protections across Maryland.

Such a state bill failed by one vote in a Senate committee last
year; the Maryland Commission on Human Relations is working to
introduce a similar bill this year, Furmansky said.

Since last spring, three states have passed transgender anti-bias
laws, and Gov. Martin O'Malley has issued an executive order that
protects state employees from discrimination based on gender
identity and expression.

In 2002, when O'Malley was Baltimore's mayor, the City Council
unanimously passed its own version of a transgender anti-bias law.
About a dozen people have filed complaints with the Baltimore
Community Relations Commission since then, according to commission
director Alvin O. Gillard, but the bathroom problems that Montgomery
County critics have forecasted have not come to pass.

"If you're committed to fairness and equality, you can find a way to
accommodate everyone and protect their privacy," Gillard said. "It's
disappointing to know that you're refighting battles that you
thought that you'd already won."

Last year, the House of Representatives approved a bill barring
discrimination against workers based on sexual orientation, but
backers removed a provision covering transgender persons to help
pass the measure.

New York and San Francisco are among the cities that have adopted
such protections for transgender persons, and students at some
colleges have pushed successfully for gender-neutral restrooms that
do not have urinals.

The Montgomery County Council removed more explicit wording
addressing the issue.

The law now reads that the requirements do "not apply to
accommodations that are distinctly private or personal."

Turner says the language addressing access to restrooms or locker
rooms is too vague, but Patrick Lacefield, a Leggett spokesman,
disagreed. In the county's view, the bill provides an adequate
exemption that would allow businesses or other entities to restrict
the use of facilities, he said.

To spur interest in a referendum, the group sent messages to most
Montgomery County homes in recent days, said Turner, an effort that
cost more than $10,000. They need 25,000 signatures -- a goal that
appears within reach based on the percentage of signatures that have
been certified.

The measure's sponsor, County Council member Duchy Trachtenberg,
said she is "disappointed" by the opponents' campaign.

"I think it's really unfortunate that a campaign of misinformation
and bigotry has found its way into this wonderful community and
county," she said. Jim Morris of Kensington helped collect the
signatures.

"It's basic common sense," Morris said. "I wouldn't want a guy
dressed as a woman in the same bathroom as my daughter. That's not
so much to ask."

But people such as Maryann Arnow, a transgender woman who lives in
Germantown, sees such rhetoric as inflammatory.

"The scary part to me is there is no current federal or state
legislation that provides people like myself any recourse
whatsoever," she said. If the measure is overturned, she added, "it
has the possibility to continue to make things more difficult for
people like myself."

 

 

Hi all,

 

Dana here; does the Christmas season depress you? 

 

If it does, then you're not alone.  Many of us feel the blues this time of year and it's OK. 

 

As for me, Christmas is a season of mixed emotions.  The excitement that my daughter displays as the jolly bearded wonder's visit approaches is powerful enough to heal the deepest wounds, yet it is also a time of deep reflection for me.  I've been told time and again that I'm way too introspective.  Both personally and professionally, I really think being a transgender and all the associative years of "living in my head" is likely to blame for this. 

 

Either way, that's where I am tonight.

 

When I was younger... much younger actually, Christmas was a wondrous time for forward thinking.  I am, unfortunately, one of those folks who can pretty easily recall not only memories of days long gone but also minutest emotional details that often are much better left to disintegrate gracefully with time. 

 

During these earlier Christmas's I would silently ponder those questions that I think we all asked ourselves...

 

What will I be when I grow up? 

 

Where will my life bring me? 

 

Am I truly able to become anything I want?

 

I remember the years past where those questions where answered with such unrealistic enthusiasm.  I remember the years when the answers contained little hope for any future at all.  Somehow, I made it through all of these times.  And I'm glad I did.  I also remember the more recent times when the fears of my approaching challenge had me fast frozen.  Coming to the agreement with ourselves that we are "what we are" I feel is perhaps the most important revelations that we can have.  I know I spent years hoping that I would be able to evade those challenges...

 

Living here, on the other side of transition, I feel somewhat "aged".  And if anyone glances back up at my photo and agrees with me, well I'll get even; trust me!  Seriously, somewhere over the years and throughout transition my perspective changed.  I no longer seem to look to the future with a predictive disposition but  rather a retrospective one.  I try to make sense of it's direction and their intermediate destinations. 

 

This year, I am hopeful and perhaps with any luck this will become a persistent trend.

 

I'll ask this question of you again...  Does the Christmas season depress you? 

 

Write me if you'd like to chat, no-one should feel alone during the holidays.

 

Love always,

Dana

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is intended to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn't perform. Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice (trans-phobia).  Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of transgender people who might otherwise be forgotten. Through this vigil, we express love and respect in the face of national indifference and hatred.  Day of Remembrance gives transgender people and their allies a chance to step forward and stand in vigil, memorializing those who have died by anti-transgender violence.

The event was founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco, California candlelight vigil in 1999.  Since then, the event has grown to encompass memorials in hundreds of cities around the world.

Rita Hester's murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender, each was a victim of violence based on bias or prejudice against transgender people. The list of deaths which is posted on this site only contains those deaths known to the transgender community or that have been reported to the media.

I would like to remind my trans brothers and sisters that this year's event is being held at the Arlington Church in Boston at 7:00pm.  I hope to see you there! 

On a personal note:  This year, I will be lighting a candle in remembrance of and speaking out for a friend of mine who took her own life after being attacked and brutally beaten while out with a gay/lesbian support group.

-Dana

 

The House Education and Labor Committee passed a version of the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act ( ENDA ) that protects only sexual
orientation and not gender identity on Oct. 18. The full House is
expected to take up the measure this week.

The bill passed the committee with the support of 23 of 27 Democrats
and 4 of 22 Republicans. The Democrats voting "no" did so because it
did not include protection for transgender persons. They were Rush
Holt ( New Jersey ) , Yvette Clarke ( New York ) , Linda Sanchez (
California ) and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich ( Ohio ) .

Social conservatives on the committee offered four amendments to
further weaken the bill, but they went nowhere.

Earlier in the week, on Oct. 16, the only open lesbian in the House,
Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., announced that the Democratic leadership would
allow her to offer an amendment on the floor that would restore the
gender identity provision.

"I have never wavered from my conviction that the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act must include protections base on sexual
orientation and gender identity," Baldwin said in a statement released
by her office.

"We are greatly disappointed that the committee chose to move forward
with a bill that is not endorsed by a single LGBT organization," said
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for
Transgender Equality. "It is historically unprecedented that Congress
would pass a civil rights bill that the civil rights
community€  ’·including those it is meant to protect€  ’·does not want."

"This process has put members [ of Congress ] in the position where
they think they might have to vote against the first piece of pro-gay
rights legislation ever. That's the tragedy of this situation." said
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force, in an interview with CBS News on Logo.

"We oppose this legislation; we hope it never comes up for a vote
without transgender inclusion," he continued. "We are putting our
allies in a situation; we should not be here. The answer is either
yank the bill or pass an inclusive bill."

"Two weeks ago, our community was told that gender identity would not
be included in any version of ENDA. Congressional leadership expected
our community to acquiesce," United ENDA said in a news release. The
coalition of about 300 national, state, and local LGBT groups had come
together as a result of that attempted fiat by the Democratic
leadership. "It is because of our unprecedented efforts that new
options, such as the proposed amendments by Rep. Baldwin are able to
come before Congress."

"Now our community must focus our full attention on the upcoming floor
vote on ENDA and building support for Rep. Tammy Baldwin's amendment
that would make this bill fully inclusive of the entire GLBT
community," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights
Campaign.

National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jon Hoadley said, "We
appreciate that Congressional leaders like Congresswoman Baldwin
continue to share our commitment to pass an inclusive bill, and we
expect Speaker Pelosi and the House leadership will actively support
the Baldwin amendment."

Foreman said the Senate is not going to pass the bill this year, and
George Bush is not going to sign it. "We've put our community through
this wrenching, divisive debate over the last three weeks for an
absolutely nothing but a symbolic vote."

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=16427

Of Course!

 

In its first statement on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
which would protect gays and lesbians in the workforce the White House said
Tuesday the bill is likely unconstitutional and that if it passes in
Congress the president's senior aides would recommend vetoing it.

"[The bill] is inconsistent with the right to the free exercise of religion
as codified by Congress in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA),"
the White House said in a statement.

The House is expected to vote on ENDA, along with an amendment that would
extend protections to include gender identity on Wednesday.

The White House raised what it called two examples of how ENDA would violate
the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

"For instance, schools that are owned by or directed toward a particular
religion are exempted by the bill; but those that emphasize religious
principles broadly will find their religious liberties burdened by H.R.
3685. A second concern is H.R. 3685's authorization of Federal civil damage
actions against State entities, which may violate States' immunity under the
Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."

The administration also said that ENDA was result in unnecessary litigation.

For instance, the bill establishes liability for acting on "perceived"
sexual orientation, or "association" with individuals of a particular sexual
orientation. If passed, H.R. 3685 is virtually certain to encourage
burdensome litigation beyond the cases that the bill is intended to reach."

In addition the White House said that provisions of ENDA "give Federal
statutory significance to same-sex marriage rights under State law. These
provisions conflict with the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage
as the legal union between one man and one woman. The Administration
strongly opposes any attempt to weaken this law, which is vital to defending
the sanctity of marriage."

The threatened veto is the latest in a series of problems ENDA has
encountered.

It originally included all members of the LGBT community, but the bill's
author, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) removed gender identity fearing the
legislation might not get out of committee.

The move angered most LGBT rights groups, many of whom accused Frank of
selling out transsexuals.

Nevertheless, the revised bill passed the House Education and Labor
Committee last week on a 27 - 21 vote.
(story)<http://365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101807enda.htm>Several
committee Democrats, including presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich refused to support the measure without the inclusion of protections
for trans people.

Following the vote Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) proposed an amendment that
would reinstate gender identity and secured the support of House leadership
to introduce it Wednesday when ENDA reaches the floor.
(story<http://365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101707enda.htm>
)

Frank and Baldwin are the only two out members of Congress.

Friday, Frank announced he would support the amendment and said he would
lobby for its passage. (story<http://365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101907frank.htm>
)

ENDA, as currently worded, would make it illegal for employers to
discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting
or paying an employee.

There are, however, some notable exceptions. It does not cover small
businesses, churches and the uniformed members of the armed forces.

The White House concerns suggest that ENDA could be used against faith-based
agencies and to seek domestic partner benefits from employers.

The threatened veto is the second against LGBT legislation before Congress.
The other is the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act.

That legislation has passed the House. The Senate version passed as an
amendment to a military spending bill. The two versions are now in
conference.

URGENT – IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS CONGRESS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER WORKERS IN THE FINAL ENDA.

 

TELL REP. McDermott TO SUPPORT THE BALDWIN AMENDMENT!

I need your help in the next 48 hours.

Congress will vote Wednesday on H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) plans to offer an amendment to ENDA to add protections based on gender identity.

This amendment is crucial! This is our last chance to get gender identity back into the bill. We need your help right away to make sure your representative supports the amendment. We've called and emailed, but now we're sending faxes to show we mean business.

Send an automatic fax to Rep. McDermott in support of the Baldwin amendment to ENDA, to make sure gender identity is included in the bill.

There is not a moment to spare – this is your last chance to speak out on behalf of each and every member of the GLBT community.

Once you've taken action, please forward this message to your friends and family to help us get the word out.

This is a historic vote. For the first time ever, the House of Representatives is poised to vote on employment protections for the GLBT community. Help us make sure every member of the GLBT community is included in those protections.

Fax your representative to support the Baldwin amendment, before the vote happens, and go to HRC.org to follow ENDA's progress through the House this week!

Thank you for all that you do.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

Here is a partial list which I will update with 2007's victims as I find the time...

As always, our gratitude goes to Gwen Smith for her herculean efforts!!

Edna Brown
Tyra Hunter
Huriell Lockett (David King)
Unknown New York City, 1972
Rhonda Star (Ronnie Dean Lyles)
Cynthia Coffman
Felicia Coffman
Harvey Aberles
Unknown Atlanta, 10/29/91
Jamie Ford
Jean (Woodrow) Powell
Unknown, Atlanta 12/20/92
Anthony Swain
Derry Glenn
Quincy Favors Taylor
Lynn Therrett
David A. Perez
Michelle Maree
Rev. John “Gypsy” Prowett
Chanelle Pickett
Brandon
Logan Smith
Robyn Brown (James Brown)
Maxwell Confait
Giuseppe Mandanici
Marsha P. Johnson
Alan Fitzgerald Walker
Jae Stevens
Stella Essie (Jerome Brent)
Debra Forte
Unknown, Madrid, 1997
Jose Angel Osuna
Mara Duvouw
John
Sigfrilda Shantall
Pastor Arguelles
Fitzroy “Jamaica” Green
Luana (Junior de Silva Lago)
Chanel Chandler
Rita Hester
Unknown Santa Ana, 11/20/88
Harold Draper
Richard Goldman
Monique Rogers
Jessy Santiago
Cameron “Tina” Tanner
Robert Woefel
Thomas Hall
Maria “La Conchita”
Palencia
Rene “Michelle” Ouellet
Tasha Dunn
Terrie Ladwig
Chrissey (Marvin) Johnson
Steven Wilson
Christian Paige
Vianna Faye Williams
Johanna Langer
Unknown Guatemala City, 1997
Robert H. Jones
Stacey Estupinian
Unknown Los Angeles, 1991
Diane Delia
Marcela (Sergio Arias)
Lisa Janna Black
Janice Ricks
Dianne Aubert
Deanna Wilkinson
Larry Laverne Turner
Karla (José Alexis) Barrahona
Mocha Celis
Shawn Keegan
Keooudorn Phothisane
Castro Nova Estabon
Gracie (James) Detzler
Felix Abarca
Nikki
Jerrell Williams
Venus Xtravaganza
Donald Pierce
Monique (Rufus) Thomas
Lauryn Paige (Donald Fuller)
Carlos “Tasha” Santiago
Lazaro Comesana
Peggy Santiago
Carmen Marie Montoya
Rafael Sanchez Ayala
Jody Susan Ford
Steve Dwayne Garcia
Grayce “Candace” Baxter
Robert Eads
William Battles
Unknown Philadelphia, 1995
Anna Francisco
Lynn Montana
Patrick Calvert
Gisele Gaga’
Tarayon Corbitt
Stephan “Stephanie” Chapman
Unknown Houston, 2/25/99
Ashley-Ann Summers (Eric Farrow)
Cam (Camilla) Lyman
Chantal Gillade
Ernest “Ernestine” Murray
Unknown Oakland, 7/10/95
Gordon Tuckey
Regina Haskins
David F. McLaughlin
Unknown Bronx, 2/8/92
Donnie O. Osby
Larry Venzant
Leslie Re’Geanne
Alanna Kella
Reynaldo “Reyna” Sandoval
Unknown Washington, D.C., 1/4/82
Rosando “Crystal” Sanchez-Reyes
Tracy Thompson
James “Tatiana” Rivers
Tara O’Hara
Ruby Bota
Philip Robert Filshie
Daniel A. Castro
“Midnight” (Kenneth Dale Robinson)
Christiaan D’Arcy
Jacqueline Julita Anderson
David Edward Wigley
Unknown San Antonio, 03/29/91
Unknown Akron, 09/17/94
Emmon Bodfish (Margaret Bodfish)
Carol Wright
Unknown San Diego, 6/22/94
Valerie Hill
Shannon Elroy Clay
Derrick “Miss Tess” Hampton
Unknown Miami, 1984
Barbara (William) Brodie
Jean Shelley
Boushard Fox
Toni (David) Lowry
Martine Bohn
Chiron Collins (Allen Kenneth Byrd)
Jonathan “Tanya” Streater
Faustino “Tina” Arroyo
Diane (Anthony Ellsworth) Carter
Sherri Ransom
Tianna (Timothy) Langley
Steven Hernandez
Samantha York
Eduardo Lora Vasallio
Michelle Byrne
Juaquin Jiminez
Linda Williams
Vernon Sivills
Maurice E. Murray
Lim Yeow Chuan
Jessica (Gerardo) Castillo
Phyllis Olson
“Benderella”
Cortez Morris
Clyde Massie
Terry Wilson
Charles Albert Lizotte
Felix Benitez
Terri Williams Moore
Jane Golden (James Boyd)
Ramon Baez
Victor Hugo Castillejos
Rita Sellers
Carla Leigh Salazar
Perry Young
Unknown Boston, 1979
Vanessa (Barry) Lane
Rodney D. Neadeau
Ali He’shun Forney
Unknown Santa Ana, 7/10/93
Dion Webster
Adele Bailey
Kevin Freeman
Pfc. Barry Winchell
Yancey-Lisa R.
Yamile (Jorge) Lee
Barbarella (Joe V.)
Kareem Washington
Barretta Williams
Marvin Ball
Chareka Keys
“Tiny” (Robert Howard Gibson)
Quona R. Clark
Tacy Raino Ranta
Lindsey Alexander (Todd Alexander Asay)
Unknown Dallas, 12/8/99
Toni Lee
Alina Marie Barragan
Christine Chappel
Jill Seidel
Delores Mack
Ihok (Hugo Yonathan)
Vanesa-Lorena Ledesma (Miguel Angel Ledesma)
Curdell James III
Michelle Lynne O’Hara
Carla Natasha Hunt
Stephanie Yazum (Frank Yazum)
Toya Charlton
Andre Vacarro
Tyra Henderson
Amanda Milan
Julie Birchall
Unknown New York City, 1975
Déjà (Dondre) Johnson
Astrid La Fontaine
Dayana (Jose Luis Nieves)
Keith E. Jackson
Julia Carrizales
Beverly Lineth
Dinh Van Vo
Brandi Houston
James Jerome Mack
Ana Melisa Cortez
Billy Jean Lavette
Antonio Johnson
Francisco Javier Luna
Robert Martin
Sissy (Charles) Bolden
F.C. Martinez, Jr.
Jamie (James) Jackson
Loni Okaruru
Joanne Lillecrapp
Willie Houston
Alexandra
Unknown Rome, 9/12/98
Carlo Enrique Teixeira
Marzia De Melo Rosa
Antonio Texera Dos Santos
Antonia K.
Terrianne Summers
Faye Urry
Bibi Barajas (Hugo Cesar Barajas)
Marquita (Martin) Johnson
Michelle Paz
Unknown Indonesia, 5/17/02
Gary “Brazon” McMurtry
Unknown Japan, 2/26/02
Arlene (Hector) Diaz
Aretha “ReRe” Scott (Franklin Freeman)
Alejandro Ray Lucero
Della Reeves (Lester Childress)
Amy (Raymond) Soos
“Walquiria” (aka “Walter”)
Paola Matos
Leonela Valero Parra
Chris Muzett (Eddie Matthews)
Anjie Milano (Andy Rafael Milano)
Nicole Lee Anderson (Thomas Shrom)
Deasha (Gerald Andrews)
Ukea Davis
Raymond Nonato
Stephanie Thomas
Victor Pachas
Pilar (Vladimir)
Ibáñez Carrasco
Sidnei Geber Aguila
Daniel Phillip “Danielle” Redding
Raimundo Rocha Alves
Nguyen Bui Linh
Ontwon Curtis
Ediviana Lopez da Cruez
Joseph Moran
Porfiro Mejia
Gwen Araujo
Roberta Nizah Morris
Georgina Matehaere
Timothy “Cinnamon” Broadus
Nikki Nicholas
Danisha Victoria
Principal Williams
Chandini, aka Nazir
Mimi Young
Tanesha Starr
Luciana D. S. Oliveira Mazza
Tamyra Michaels
Shelby Tracey Tom
Ze Galhinha
Ronald Andrew Brown
Merlinka (Vjeran Miladinovic)
Amanda Jofré
Unknown Columbia, 03/06/03
Cinnamon (Kendrick) Perry
Nireah Johnson
Brandie Coleman
Ericka (Erick David) Yáñez
Jessica Mercado
Unknown Brazil, 04/02
Fernanda Covarrubi
Jorge Rafael Cruz
Marcelo Cesar Goulart
Selena Álvarez-Hernández
Bella Evangelista
Emonie Kiera Spaulding
Michael Charles Hurd
“Amirilis”
Dayana Valverde
Rogelio Jiménez Cortez
Cassandra “Tula” Do
Enrico Taglialatela
“Sindy” Cuarda
Rider Orcero
Erika Johana
Lee “China” Zainal
Adrian Torres de Assuncao
Stanley Van Dyke Traylor
Unknown New Zealand, 2/9/04
Reshae McCauley
Mickey Ward-El Smith
Precious Armani
Unknown India, 6/7/04
Unknown Puerto Rico, 7/11/04
Augusto Flores Munoz
Cedric Thomas
Pedro Cruz Ramos
Unknown Puerto Rico, 7/11/04
Darryl Fearon
Gennaro Rizzo
Tony “Delicious” Green
LeandroÊBispo Estavao
Rivera Rene
Divas B
Joel Robles
Bella Martinez
Andre
Unknown Long Beach, 11/06/04
Unknown Peru, 11/26/04
Ryan Shey Hoskie
Penny Port
Karlien Carstens
Felicia Moreno
Alejandra Galicio
Luana
Unknown Argentina, 1/12/05
Phool Chand Yadav
C. Hernández
Unknown Argentina, 2/22/05
Eddie Chung Chou Lee
Timothy Blair, Jr.
Amancio “Delilah” Corrales
Ashley Nickson
Robert Binenfeld
Kasha Blue
Julio Argueta
Marisa
Ronnie Paris, Jr.
Mylène
Noleen Jansen
Irene
Lisa D.
Christina Smith
Kaaseem Adalla Juanda
Donathyn J. Rodgers
Unknown Malaysia, 11/11/05