Tag: transgender

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Atlanta: Transgender women beaten on train as passengers watch

Disturbing news from Atlanta as a video recording shows two trans women being harassed and beaten on a MARTA train.  Not only does the video capture the violent attack on the women, but the fact that no one on the train moved to help.  Instead, many stood by recording the attack on their phones.

The altercation began when the two trans women were verbally abused by men on the train.  The exchange quickly escalated into kicking and punching, leaving one of the women stripped and completely naked.

From the Advocate:

“[They] just kept of asking us was we real,” Janell Crosby, one of the women involved in the attack told WSB TV. “Like really trying to get us. ‘Are you real?’ ‘Are y’all this or that?’ Just trying to embarass us.”

“They were trying to find out if we are men or women,” Tyra Woods told reporters, noting that the verbal harassment began while the women were waiting for the train to arrive. “I shouldn’t have to disclose who I am to an innocent person who I’m not even interested in talking to.”

“Nobody tried to help. They were all standing up on chairs videotaping,” Crosby told the GA Voice. “That’s how it ended up on so many [web]sites. I told one cop who was following us to the gate. He acted like he didn’t want to hear from us. He didn’t write any statement or anything.”

According to transit authority spokesman Lyle Harris, an investigation into the incident is under way, albeit with less than full cooperation.

“We will not tolerate this kind of behavior on MARTA,” said MARTA spokesperson Lyle Harris. “We are now taking this under investigation. The MARTA Police Department is looking at what happened on that tape to see if we can determine who was involved and what happened and we will take every action.”

The viral exposure of the video has apparently led to the arrest of one of the men, 34 year old Luther L. Thomas.

I really urge people to watch the original unedited version of the video, which can be seen here. While disturbing, it’s important that Americans understand the degree of humiliation transgender people face every day.

Watch the WSB TV report below.

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Ryland Whittington: “I am a transgender kid”

The Whittington family

The Daily Mail shares the story of Ryland Whittington and his family, who allowed Ryland to be who he is.

When Jeff and Hillary Whittington, of San Diego, got the news in 2007 that they were having a daughter, the couple had no idea that in a few years’ time they will be raising a son instead.

Last Thursday, the family were honored at the 6th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, accepting the Inspiration Award after presenting a stirring video showing their daughter Ryland’s female-to-male transition.

The six-year-old dressed in a smart suit and tie, his hair cut short, stood next to a podium and read his prepared remarks from a sheet of paper, declaring to the audience: ‘My name is Ryland Whittington. I am transgender kid.’

At the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Jeff Whittington had this to say: ‘One of the most inspiring things that Harvey Milk had done as far as our family is concerned was to encourage people to come out; to let their voices be heard; break down the walls, break down the barriers and start allowing people to see them for their authentic selves and be true to themselves.”

I realize that the world of transgender is new for many people, and that it may be difficult to understand.  I don’t pretend to be able to answer every question on the subject, but as a gay man who has heard the words “you could be straight if you want to” (when that is no more real than my ability to fly unassisted), I understand the gravity of being who you are born to be.

I also understand how important it is to allow people to live their own lives.  Without judgement.

Bravo to the Whitington’s for paying attention, and for loving Ryland for who he is.

(h/t JMG)

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Laverne Cox covers TIME Magazine – “The Transgender Tipping Point”

Look for Laverne Cox, star of Netflix series “Orange is the New Black,” on the cover of the June 9 issue of Time Magazine.

Today is Laverne’s birthday, so what a present this must be!

The article discusses the increased visibility and awareness of transgender people.

We are in a place now where more and more trans people want to come forward and say ‘This is who I am.’ And more trans people are willing to tell their stories. More of us are living visibly and pursuing our dreams visibly, so people can say, ‘Oh yeah, I know someone who is trans.’ When people have points of reference that are humanizing, that demystifies difference.

You can read the Q&A at Time.com.

Check out a short “behind the scenes” video with Cox from Time Magazine below:

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Rochester radio hosts for 98.9 “Breakfast Buzz” spend 12 minutes mocking transgender people on-air

The city of Rochester, New York has announced that it would be adding transgender health benefits for employees and their families in the city medical plan.

The Democrat & Chronicle reported: “Under the new coverage, effective Jan. 1, city employees will be eligible to receive services related to gender reassignment surgery, such as medical and psychological counseling, hormone therapy and cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.”

Kimberly and Beck – the hosts of 98.9 ‘Breakfast Buzz’ – read the news on air and spent almost 12 minutes mocking transgender people, and insulted a caller who dialed in to tell them how offensive they were.

Just a few of the radio hosts comments:

“Transgender or gender nonconforming. What the hell does that mean? Like you’re not a woman or a man??

“Does that mean then if women want a boob job they’ll pay for a boob job because that’s only right.”

“The services that will be paid for under the new coverage – gender reassignment surgery, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, because you’re probably a NUTJOB to begin with!”

“It’s a slippery slope. Then if some woman can go to a doctor and it’d be proven that she’s got mental issues because her rack’s not big enough then you know what? she deserves a boob job, Right Kimberly? Or she deserves liposuction.”

“Right, IF YOU CAN PROVE YOU’RE A NUT, I guess.”

At one point, the hosts discuss transgender athletes, including at a local school:

“When he steps up to the plate, doesn’t he have two bats?”

When a female listener called in to say “it’s incredibly disrespectful towards transgender people. Please don’t spread any misinformation especially when you’re joking about it.”

One of the hosts replies: “Thank you, SIR” as the others laugh.

“

(via Towleroad)

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Music video: Andrew Garfield stars in Arcade Fire’s “We Exist”

For their new music video for “We Exist,” Arcade Fire calls on “Spiderman” star Andrew Garfield for the lead role in a tale of gender identity and the struggles that transgender people endure.

In the video, Garfield shaves his head, dresses in drag and tries to socialize at a local bar, eventually bring harassed and bullied. Garfield eventually escapes into fantasy where he walks through a crowd of thousands of fans finding some peace.

Watch this.  Very powerful.

In the 1960s, the TV series Star Trek featured the first interracial kiss between William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols. That kiss opened the door for many people to see interracial relations for the first time.

For the past 30 years, society has slowly learned to see what “gay life” is like through TV shows like “Will & Grace” and “Brothers & Sister.”

Most recently, a media firestorm began by seeing a young openly gay NFL hopeful – Michael Sam – kiss his white boyfriend in celebration, captured by ESPN, once the weight of the world was lifted from his shoulders as the NFL draft ended with him being picked by the St. Louis Rams. But as honest an exchange as that was, he and ESPN have been accused of being “calculating” and “over the top.”

All of this, too, will pass once the world has a chance to see things for themselves, and process it.

In much the same way, this video may well help educate some folks in the world about what those who are transgender go through and endure.

Transgender people do exist.  The LGBT community knows and sees them.  And now, a whole new audience does too.

Arcade Fire — ‘We Exist’ off the album Reflektor

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US Department of Education says Title IX protects transgender students from discrimination

The U.S. Department of Education today issued new guidance that makes it clear that Title IX law protects transgender students from discrimination.

An excerpt:

Title IX’s sex discrimination prohibition extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity and OCR accepts such complaints for investigation.

Similarly, the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the parties does not change a school’s obligations. Indeed, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth report high rates of sexual harassment and sexual violence.

A school should investigate and resolve allegations of sexual violence regarding LGBT students using the same procedures and standards that it uses in all complaints involving sexual violence.

The fact that incidents of sexual violence may be accompanied by anti-gay comments or be partly based on a student’s actual or perceived sexual orientation does not relieve a school of its obligation under Title IX to investigate and remedy those instances of sexual violence.

The ACLU issued this statement:

“This guidance is crystal clear and leaves no room for uncertainty on the part of schools regarding their legal obligation to protect transgender students from discrimination,” said Ian Thompson, ACLU legislative representative.

“The Office for Civil Rights must now take the next step and issue comprehensive guidance on Title IX and transgender students.”

The guidance released today builds on numerous court decisions and a landmark ruling from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission establishing that transgender people are protected under existing prohibitions on sex discrimination.

Nearly 80 percent of transgender students report experiencing harassment as a result of their gender identity at school, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

(source)

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Texas substitute teacher told not to return to school when discovered she’s transgender

Laura Jane Klug, a substitute teacher at the Lumberton Independent School District in Lumberton, Texas, was told not to return to her classes after parents complained about the fact that she is transgender, 12 News reports.

One father, Roger Beard, had this to say, “There’s some things that we can accept in society that children are not going to accept the same way that we do…It’s a very big distraction…I really don’t want them teaching, especially this age group. They can do many things in life but if it affects our little children and their ability to learn and grow naturally I think there’s an issue with that.”

Klug released a statement: “I have always conducted myself in a professional manner and would never discuss my gender identity in school.”

Watch the 12 News report below:

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Maryland House of Delegates passes transgender rights bill

Today the Maryland House of Delegates passed SB 212: Fairness for All Marylanders Act with a vote of 82-57. The bill, previously passed by the Senate in an overwhelming 32-15 vote, will extend employment, housing, and public accommodations protections to transgender people in Maryland.

The Human Rights Campaign’s Chad Griffin issued this statement:

“Today, the Maryland legislature brought this country one step closer to the promise of its founding documents by recognizing that everyone should be treated equally, including transgender Marylanders. Being free from discrimination on the job is one of the things that makes our economy thrive and our nation succeed. It’s long past time for these essential workplace protections to extend from coast to coast and everywhere in between.”

Gov. Martin O’Malley has stated he intends to sign the bill into law.

(source)

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Maryland state Senate approves ban on transgender discrimination

By a vote of 32-15, the Maryland state Senate has approved a bill that would put in ban discrimination of transgender people in the state.

From the Washington Blade:

“I just hope people realize this is a fairness issue,” said state Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-Howard County).

“It is not our job to discriminate,” added state Sen. Delores Kelly (D-Balitmore County) before the vote. “The bill is carefully crafted. The definitions are clear”

State Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County), who introduced SB 212, applauded its passage.

“Today marks a historic milestone in the continued fight to advance equal rights for all Marylanders,” he said in a statement. “The Senate’s passage of the Fairness for All Marylanders Act sends a reaffirming message throughout our state that regardless of whom you are, prejudice and discrimination will no longer be tolerated or exempted from law. With these new anti-discrimination protections for transgender persons one step closer to full passage.”

The bill now moves to the Maryland House of Delegates which approved similar legislation in 2011.

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Jared Leto dedicates Oscar win to those fighting injustice for who they love

Last night, one of the first awards announced at the Academy Awards AND one of the best acceptance speeches of the night was by Jared Leto who won Best Supporting Actor for his role of HIV+ transgender woman named “Rayon” in Dallas Buyers Club.

Leto began  with acknowledgements to his mom and band mates, but what really touched hearts was his dedication to “the 36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS and to those of you out there who have ever felt injustice because of who you are or who you love.”

Here’s Jared Leto’s full acceptance speech at the 2013 Oscars:

“Incredible. Ellen, I love you. To my fellow nominees, I’m so proud to share this journey with you. I’m in awe and have so much respect for you all. To the Academy, thank you.

“In 1971, Bossier City, Louisiana, there was a teenage girl who was pregnant with her second child. She was a high school dropout and a single mom, but somehow she managed to make a better life for herself and her children. She encouraged her kids to be creative, to work hard, and to do something special. That girl is my mother and she’s here tonight — and I just want to say, I love you, Mom. Thank you for teaching me to dream. To my brother, Shannon, the best big brother in the world, you’re a true artist. Thank you so much for sharing this insane and amazing adventure that is 30 Seconds to Mars, and for being my best friend. I love you. Thank you.

“To all the dreamers out there around the world watching this tonight in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela, I want to say we are here and as you struggle to… to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible… We’re thinking of you tonight.

“And this is, is incredibly special as well because there’s so many people that helped me get here. And I just want to say thank you to Focus Features, to Mick Sullivan, to Jim Toth, to Jason Weinberg, to Emma Ludbrook, to Kelly Adams, to the entire Dallas Buyers Club team. Matthew, I love. Jean-Marc.

“And this for the 36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS and to those of you out there who have ever felt injustice because of who you are or who you love, tonight I stand here in front of the world with you and for you. Thank you so much and goodnight.”

(source)