Upcoming Traditional BGB Madness
BGB Monthly Meeting Saturday, February 20
We=ll be meeting at First Unitarian at 8PM, Saturday, Feb. 20. The convention will be the major topic of discussion, particularly the final agenda for the conference, volunteers needed, and reports from the Convention Board Members. Time to make a battle plan, and we need YOU! It=s brass tacks time!
BGB March Monthly Meeting Date Change: Sat., March 13
Our normal meeting date for March falls on March 20, which is Saturday Night of the convention. Because of this, our March meeting will be held March 13. It will held at a different site than normal, to be announced, and will be just an evening to relax and unwind together before the convention, with no particular agenda. Please pencil in the date change (not an eyebrow pencil, girls)
BGB April Meeting -Annual Business Meeting
Saturday, April 17 will be our annual business meeting. Dues are due in March and April, and we will be discussing the organization of BGB. We have grown very quickly, and there is now a need to add people to the board, and divide jobs differently. In addition, a couple members of the board wish to take on different jobs. Until now, board positions have been volunteer, but it is now time to elect board officers and vote as a group on an organizational chart. We will discuss how boards of other TG groups and other organizations are arranged. Be prepared to make proposals and give ideas. This is your group, and we want to keep growing stronger and do more of what you want done, so come prepared to help.. In May, we will publish the new organizational chart, candidates may publish a campaign letter in this publication, and we will vote on the new board at that time. You will have to be a dues-paid member to run for office or vote. If you are unable to attend the meeting, a procedure for voting by absentee ballot will be available. If we organize now, we can have more fun and the people on the board will not suffer burnout.
Fairness Passes In Louisville With Some TG Protections
On January 26, the Louisville Board of Aldermen voted 7-5 to pass the Fairness Amendment, which provided protection against workplace discrimination for some transgendered people, mostly post-transitional TSs. Members of BGB worked with Fairness after our January meeting, having fun and talking about Fairness at Score and the Connection. Additionally, Angela, Dawn, and Anne all worked in support of Fairness. Mayor Armstrong signed it into law on February 3, so it is now the law in Louisville. Similar legislation is being studied and proposed for Jefferson County, Lexington/Fayette County, and the State of Ky. This is a major victory for Fairness, for BGB, and for It=s Time, KY., but the language is imperfect and needs some changes, plus it does not cover housing or public accommodations, so we are not finished yet. Aldermen Bather, Meeks, Bentley, Unseld, Ward-Pugh. Allison, and Magre deserve your thanks for seeing the light and taking the criticism that they withstood.
With No Apologies, By Dawn Wilson
The Worth Of A Person
Last night was my last UK-LAMBDA meeting, although I will be back to speak on TG issues. I will miss all of the young people involved. UK-LAMBDA is a GLBT student group on campus that has grown over the years I have been involved. I have watched the group grow from 30 to a constant 67-70 per meeting. Many were saddened to hear that I was leaving them, including many of the adults who had come to support the students because QUEER Faculty and Staff have not been there to do so. They now have local high school seniors attending, as well as students from UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY, EASTERN KY. U, MIDWAY COLLEGE, LEXINGTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, and Shelby County High School.
The highlight of the evening was when one of the lesbians asked me for my old Black Trench coat. When I asked why, she replied:@ I like to remember my heroes.@ I promised to keep in touch and come back when I could. As I left the restaurant I stopped into the bar, where many of my friends were very happy to see me move on to better opportunities, but are still saddened to see me leave Lexington. It=s sad to leave but I will be back. They now know that.
How do you measure the worth of a person? Is it by deeds or words? Is it by esteem or respect? Or is it how much their essence will be missed? I believe it is the latter.
As you can tell from this, I=ve taken a new position in the Louisville area. You should now email me at dwils00@hotmail com. Just because I no longer live in Lexington does not mean we are ignoring Lexington=s importance to this group - I return there frequently for family and church matters, and Marj still lives at Vertigo and Regina=s....just kidding. We will still maintain contact with Lexington Fairness, the RSICK, and the rest of our friends in Lexington, so if you=re a Lexington resident, we still wuv ya....
Catch My Act..Images of Blackness
This is a press release from my friends at Ebony Male.
Ebony Male presents...........
The Fifth Annual Images of Blackness: The Unity Show!
Wednesday, February 24, 1999 at The Bar complex
Admission $5.00 - Show time 9:00 With Hostess and MC Miss Lexington Supreme, LaToya Bacall and featuring: Angel, Leigh Angelique, Natashia Colby, Roxanne Cole, Clarissa Cumberland, Tuesday & Sunday DeLarouge, Kanal, Karen Kolett, Devon Lee, Raynna Starr & Dawn Wilson.
Proceeds to benefit Moveable Feast and Ebony Male.
DON'T MISS IT!
Louisville Board Of Aldermen Passes Fairness Amendment
Transgendered people now have employment rights in Louisville, Ky - sort of
By Angela Bridgman, Anne Casebeer, and Dawn Wilson
In a landmark decision January 26, the Louisville Board of Aldermen passed what is popularly known as the Fairness Amendment...at least, part of it. Three previous failed attempts sought protection from discrimination in housing, public accomodations, and employment, based on sexual orientation.
This time, the Amendment was split into three separate Amendments, one each for Employment, Housing, and Public Accomodations. All three also included, for the first time, inclusive language for the transgender community. The employment bill passed, the other two were tabled, and sent back to committee for further review. A bill can live for six
months in Committee, so our struggle is not yet finished here.
While the language for gender identity, in it's final form was far from perfect, it is, at least, in the bill...ITKY regards it as a good start, one that can be used to build on. We will continue working with the Fairness Campaign, the Board of Aldermen, and the Chamber of Commerce to meet the needs of the transgendered community and the concerns of the business community
ITKY would like to commend the Fairness Campaign for their support of gender-inclusive language in the Fairness Amendment this time out. They have worked very hard on this for fifteen years, and did not allow transgendered rights to be removed.
The Fairness Campaign acknowledged in their victory celebration tonight that, without the help of the transgender community, no one there would have had anything to celebrate last night, and they vowed to continue the struggle for better, fairer transgender inclusions.
"This is amazing, the victory, and the unity which has been achieved in so short a time, between the trans-community, and the rest of the queer community", said Angela Bridgman, chairwoman of It's Time, Kentucky!, "Just two short years ago, who thought that we would be here tonight? "I personally have lobbied, fought and struggled for transgender rights for six years now...but only for a year and a half in Louisville...the Fairness Campaign has struggled for fifteen years. We have just eradicated thirteen and a half years worth of work...I am quite pleased."
AI well understand the concerns of business, and support the need of my fellow businesspeople to have a dress code and require a consistent gender presentation,@ said Anne Casebeer, who is a VP of It=s Time, KY, and a member of the Okolona Business and Professional Association. AMy concerns are that the post-transitioned TS may work with no fear of discovery of their past; that transpeople who have been diagnosed TS by a reputable professional be able to transition without fear of losing their jobs, and that a crossdresser whose transvestism away from work is revealed to his employer cannot be fired for it. This bill takes care of #1, and we have a basis from which to work on #2 and 3 I believe that once employers realize that we aren=t fighting for the right to sporadically crossdress at work, and don=t support the abolishing of corporate dress codes or uniforms, they will support us .@
Our work is not by any means done. ITKY will not abandon the struggle until ALL people, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, and race are no longer discriminated against... we have the same pledge from Fairness. What a difference two years makes. It=s a pyrrhic victory, to be sure, for the Louisville transgender community, and ITKY, for we did not get the language we needed, and wanted, but we got something...and it took us one and a half years to do it. That shows what can happen when the GLB and T communities unite, and stand together, all for one, and one for all!
ITKY Press Release
Our Time In Eden, By Anne Casebeer
Leaving The Shoreline At Full Throttle
So, as you push off from shore,
Wont= you turn your head once more,
And make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay will live just one more day,
To do the things you should have done.
And as you cross the wilderness,
spinning in your emptiness,
You feel you have to pray,
Waiting for a sign that the Universal Mind
Has written you into the Passion Play.
ASkating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day@ - Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
This year has truly stated out in a most interesting manner, like a 36 Scarab offshore racing boat with twin 510 Roush Fords, firewalled and heading for the Bahamas. My mind has been heading for the Bahamas lately, between work, political activism, and convention planning. I=ve had people calling in sick right, left, and backwards at work; I was sick myself for 2 weeks in late January with the worst flu I=ve had since I was in grade school; the Fairness Campaign was truly a high-speed rocket ride; and then there is this convention...... Well, let=s just catch you folks up on the life and times of BGB. AStanding United@ IFGE >99, Fairness, and other passion plays that are coming down the pike.
First of all, I=m typing this on February 16; tomorrow morning, this convention will be only 30 days away. By the time you read this, the countdown will be on. Our meeting=s on the 20th, and it=s time to commit to attending this convention. I hope that everyone who belongs to this group will be there, at least for part of the convention. It is time to commit to attending, so contact Kristine James now at skristinej@aol.com and get registered for this. I need to point out at this time that BGB members only get comp=ed for the conference (in part) if they are presenting seminars or volunteering. There are volunteer slots open, and we=ll talk more about that on Saturday night (20). Later on in this newsletter, I=ve reprinted the seminar matrix; you=re seeing it before the general public, so lucky you - I think Marjorie did a fine job of gathering the seminars and requirements of presenters, so congratulate her when you see her. Cindy Lee=s doing a spectacular job of arranging for vendors and advertising for the event, and her help has been a godsend. The Wednesday Night Comedy Show is set - Angela=s done a good job of arranging this with the Caravan, and getting the hilarious and thought-provoking humor of Jami Ward for the show was a stroke. A master stroke. Friday night=s Derby Party/Variety Show with our friends in the Royal Sovereign Imperial Court of All Ky has been arranged by Angela and Marjorie, with the trollop handling the emceeing duties, and looks like a lot of fun. Saturday Night=s Awards Banquet is underway, with Mistress of Ceremonies Cori Farrell and IFGE Board Member (and experienced party-thrower) Jennifer Marquette from Cross-Port in charge. It=ll be good. The speakers are all in place, the audio/visual equipment has been arranged for, and the booklet is under construction. By the time this is read, we=ll have spoken to the hotel staff about TG issues, so no hassles come up during the con, and the fubars in the website will be corrected (see http://www.trangender.org/tg/bgb/IFGEcon.html and see it for yourself.
Please note that the March newsletter is, well, in your hands now. There won=t be any time to get a March newsletter out before the con. Sorry, there is only one of me and that hasn=t been enough to go around lately. In fact, I now remember well why I came out, because I haven=t crossdressed since last year, and really need to get out. Lack of time, not lack of courage or destination.....
Also note that the March meeting will be held a week early, on March 13. Our normal meeting date and time will find all of us (I hope) in the Grand Ballroom at Holiday Inn Downtown.....April, we=ll get back to normal for group business, whatever normal is for this group, by discussing the organization and business of the group in preparation for Board elections in May. To vote in May for the Board, you must be dues-paid for the year, so March and April are dues-paying months. Dues are $24 annually, and if you=ve joined since June >98, you may get a small break due to the pro-rating of the incomplete year. Erica will elaborate on that in April, and prepare individual bills for those involved.
While we=re on the subject of the Board and leadership of this group in general, I need to bring up a couple topics. We=re a growing group, and to continue this, we want to provide more, do more, meet more needs, and utilize more of the ideas that members generate. Problem is, we have other duties, and we have to make a living. Spreading the work is the only way to do this. I see a need for a person on the board who has the job of arranging meeting speakers/subjects, and another person (a vice-chair) who can step in for anyone on the board who needs help or emergency relief. The business of this group can=t and shouldn=t stop just because I have a minimum wage employee faking sick on a meeting night, the treasurer has a child-care problem, Dawn has family conflicts, or....you get the idea. The present board is volunteer, but it=s time we elected one, along with a basic organization plan. Also, Dawn intends to step down as CEO and run for a different job on the board, and that signifies the need for new blood on the board. There are many in this group that can serve, including many of you who=ve joined very recently. Frankly, I=d like to run for a different office, too, but I feel that newsletter is vital and will run again for that post if nobody else wants it. Can you do a newsletter? I know there=s several of you that could. I=ll train you.......So think about it between now and April 17.
There are other oncoming trains. Lobby Days will probably be held in early May, and it=d be nice to see a BGB contingent returning to DC again. I probably won=t be able to make it this year for employment reasons, but I can only encourage you to do so. Our elected officials need badly to see us annually, to remember that we exist, and to know that we aren=t going quietly into the night.
For those who want to make another convention, the Be-All is being held in Cleveland June 2-6 (http://www.beall.org/) and Trans-America will be held in Charlotte, NC May 13-16 (http://www.q-notes.com/transamerica.com). Of course, you should also note that Southern Comfort will be held a week earlier than usual, September 22-26 (http://www.sccatl.org/), so mark your calendars and save your money. Another out of town shopping trip is in gestation, this time to Indiana=s outlet malls, and possibly a visit to our friends at IXE. Crystal Club is having their 10th anniversary party, and they=re not that far. The Vals always have fun bubbling on the stove in Nashville. And, of course, baseballs will soon be pitched in major league parks....anybody game for a BGB night at the ballpark? Of course, your suggestions are wanted.
I=d also like to acknowledge the amazing number of new contacts for the group. I=ve counted 8 myself, from what Dawn and Angela have reported to me. I know you new people are fearful; the unknown is something to be feared. But, being a transgendered person is not something to fear, but something to embrace, to celebrate, and to share. Joining BGB isn=t unlike joining a Lions= or Kiwanis= club; we socialize a lot and have some group business to do. Where we differ is in the issues covered, but that=s the fun part. I used to belong to a club in Orlando for owners of customized mini-trucks; we socialized a lot, talked about group business, had a speaker or discussed stuff pertaining to our trucks, and then went out afterwards. Sound familiar? Sure, but I=d say discussing what=s in your head is a lot more important than discussing how to cut the roof off a Mazda B2200 or lowering a Nissan Hardbody. So, give it a try. We aren=t waiting to judge your presentation; we just want to meet you and welcome you to the world of transgenderism, a growing world of people who are really in touch with their inner selves as few others are and can be.
Fairness Passes: A Time To Embrace
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck what has been planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.
A them to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away.
A time to rend and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Okay, I admit it. I=m nearly 40 years old. I still have the copy of the Byrds= Younger than Yesterday album that I bugged my mother to let my buy when I was 6 years old. I remember the Apollo moon missions, Richard Nixon, Rowan and Martin=s Laugh-In, and Jim Morrison getting kicked off The Ed Sullivan Show for singing AGirl, we couldn=t get much higher. I watched Huntley-Brinkley every night at dinnertime, and my parents forced me to take interest in the affairs of the day. So, I remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and the killings of Dr. King, Sharon Tate, the Kent State students, and Bobby Kennedy. I also remember the Vietnam War, and the many protests and demonstrations, the body count given on the air as if it were a football score. I always asked my parents why we sent our soldiers to fight and die in Vietnam, and how anybody could possibly disagree with the words of Dr. King. These were questions my parents could never answer satisfactorily, probably because they asked the same questions themselves. Later in my teens, I spent 2 summers in my house, watching the destructive drama of Watergate unfold, and later studied Political Science at Louisville, in a further attempt at learning why and how government works. It does? Sure....
In life=s attempt at making a living, not to mention the lack of a compelling cause celebre, I=d left politics behind. I voted twice for Reagan, once for Bush, and once for Perot, and had settled into a bored Republicanism, uncomfortable with the encroachment of the Religious Reich. I=d been passed over for promotion once due to not being a fundie, but moved onward and took my skills elsewhere. I fought some local battles of political interest to my business, but never was an activist.
Then something rather drastic happened. I came out as transgendered. I met Dawn Wilson. I learned about the struggle for GLBT rights and hate crimes protection, and found the cause celebre that never existed for me before. 3 months= later, I was on Capitol Hill, lobbying Senators in drag (well, I don=t exactly like expressing it that way). I did it again 2 months= after that. Met a bunch of intelligent, committed people. Then Angela Bridgman came to town, and we became intertwined with the Louisville Fairness Campaign, and we became involved up to our eyeballs. This as in 1997, gender was included, but was removed, and the Fairness Amendment was voted down.
Nothing was again the same. I had become an activist. I watched for ways to get the message out about rights for TG people, and used every local opportunity to educate local officials and people of influence about TG issues. We started It=s Time, Kentucky for purposes of political action, but knew right off that our chances hinged with gaining the support of Fairness. We knew the Fairness Amendment would be introduced again in 1999. A major turnover in the Louisville Board of Aldermen signaled that change was possible, and Dawn Wilson and I participated in an educational meeting with 5 of the Aldermen in November 1998. They understood. The people at the Fairness Campaign understood. The only remaining question was when?
So, January 14, I found myself sitting in a meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Metro United Way Building in Louisville, surrounded by a roomful of energetic young people, passionate about a cause, just like the civil rights and antiwar protesters of 1968. It rubs off on a person. On January 12th, to our utter shock, the Fairness Amendment, the effort to pass employment, housing, and public accommodation rights for GLBT people. was introduced in the chambers of the Louisville Board of Aldermen, and was co-sponsored by 5 of the 12 aldermen, as the first order of business of the new Board of Aldermen for the 1999 session. Angela Bridgman and I had advance notice, and while I couldn=t go, she managed to get her mug on a local TV news station, opposite local Religious Reichist Dr. Frank Simon and 2nd Ward Alderman (my ward) and opponent Barbara Gregg. The next day, Angela called Alderman Gregg, who is our alderman, and engaged her in a 15-minute phone debate that concluded in Angela, who=d never uttered a profanity, getting an earful of the profanities starting in F and S from the mouth of a 70-something Alderman - you had to be there. 2 nights later, after our monthly\ BGB meeting, many BGB members did bar outreach, having patrons of the Connection and the Score sign cards of support for Fairness; it was a fine opportunity for people to see TG people out and working for the community.
We had known that Fairness was to be reintroduced, but the timing took up totally by surprise. That was by design. Fairness supporters wanted to capitalize on the Alicia Pedreira case (the local case of an open lesbian who had been fired directly from her job for being a lesbian), the Matthew Shepard murder, and catch Dr. Frank Simon=s Know-Nothing followers flatfooted. Initially, it worked, and the publicity for the first week after the introduction was uniformly positive. The main opponent was Jerry Stephenson, an African-American minister from Southern Indiana, who used false, inflammatory rhetoric (the usual Agay men are pedophiles) argument) to try to light up the community. Fine, We have Louis Coleman, Mattie Jones, George Unseld, Denise Bentley, and Paul Bather on our side. Fairness entered 6 autos (including my Windstar) in the Martin Luther King Day parade through the West End of Louisville, and this was simply a gas, gas, gas. My van was covered with the yard signs that are a common sight throughout Louisville that state AFairness Does A City Good@, along with portraits of Dr. King. Despite doing this before work on a Monday morning in AC mode, I wished I=d had a camera with me, because the Lyles Mall gathering point at 26th and Broadway was colorful, with a very friendly atmosphere. We were welcome. A middle-aged lady struck up a conversation with me about Dr. King, whose speeches I clearly remember from the nightly news; she=d met Dr. King, and was absolutely certain that he=d have been supportive of our efforts. We=d discussed jobs we=d held (I had once managed an auto parts store in that same mall) our families (she also had parents in a nursing home, and had a daughter working in the one my parents were in), and the notion that the culture gulf between the mostly white East End and mostly black West Ends could be bridged if we=d just focus on our similarities. I=ve scheduled her youngest daughter for a job interview. Later that night, at the Braden Center on West Broadway, a rally was held with Mattie Jones and Louis Coleman in attendance, along with many of the local clergy; Dawn Wilson spoke forcefully and dropped in on me at the video store walking in the clouds, thrilled with the encouragement and friendships she=d made there amongst the local African-American civil rights leadership. These quality people saw right through Jerry Stephenson=s pseudo-Christian twaddle.
Up >till this point, we were happy to see that the gender-inclusion part of the legislation hadn=t come in for much notice yet. It changed that same day. Dr. Frank Simon aired his local cable-access show, in which he took shots at Fairness and threatened people with the notion of having their children taught by AMen In Dresses.@ When I heard that, I thought of the many distinguished TG people who are employed in our institutions of higher education. Tuesday the 19th, the ad-hoc aldermanic committee held its first and only public discussion (public was not allowed to speak) of the Fairness Amendment, and the gender inclusive language had been gutted overnight by former Alderman David Banks, I couldn=t attend, but Dawn Wilson and Angela Bridgman were there, and listened to the proceeding in horror. . The changes were requested by the Chamber of Commerce; in particular, they wanted assurance that (1) businesses were given the right to establish a dress code or uniform, and (2) Aoccasional and sporadic@ crossdressing at work was prohibited. Attorney and former Alderman David Banks set forth to changing the language, did a hackneyed job that ended up requiring that the TG person be Alegally a woman@ and Ahave proof of sex change@ to have the protections illustrated. Dawn and Angela had to sit there, helpless, as a lawyer with no knowledge of gender rewrote our dream, ignoring suggested language that would have addressed these issues and yet left the most important details present.
Angela attempted to work with Fairness to get the proper language inserted to both satisfy the C of C and gender activists, including obtaining excellent language from Phyllis Frye, but it was little use; Aldermanic President Steve Magre had heard of all the changes he wanted to hear, and wanted it laid to rest. Magre is a skilled parliamentarian, and the Louisville Board of Aldermen is a body notorious for smoky back-room deals. Next time out, we will make an appointment early-on to get the language that Magre desires in the bill up-front. I spoke for a few minutes with Alderman Bill Allison, as supporter, at First Unitarian on Sunday the 24th, and he promised to try, but could promise no results. You can only do what you can do. At the same time, we heard that the now-discredited Jerry Stephenson was planning possible violence at the demonstrations planned for outside City Hall after the Tuesday 26 vote. I would have hoped society had progressed passed that by now.
Tuesday, January 26, the portion of the the Fairness Amendment pertaining to employment rights was passed by the Board of Aldermen 7-5. The matter of housing and public accommodation will come up later, and we shall be trying to use the time (we were told that they would not consider those parts for 4-6 months) to have the language in the original amendment repaired somewhat. This was signed into law by Mayor Dave Armstrong February 3.
So, in Louisville, Ky., it is now illegal to consider an employee=s sexual orientation when making personnel decisions. Transgendered people are protected if they are already legally Awomen@ by name, or have had SRS. It does not protect the TS who is attempting to transition in the workplace, nor the crossdresser, but we weren=t sold out; it was an omission of haste and misunderstanding. The legislation is not perfect by a long stretch. Still, on an intellectual level, we won; just a few short years ago, having any mention of gender would have been inconceivable in Louisville, KY., let alone passing the bill. We now will be turning our attention to Jefferson County and Frankfort. Then, after some time passes, we=ll go back to win housing/public accommodation, and at that time, the Fairness Campaign promises they will help us attempt to fix or amend the language. And, I believe them. They are young people of spirit and intelligence, people with great work ethics and no fear. They believe in us, we=ve proven ourselves to them and they to us. We=re a team now, we don=t win without them, and they don=t win without us. It=s a good feeling.
While I=m at it, I want to congratulate our friends from Texas who organized a Lobby Days event in Austin, TX. Vanessa Edwards-Foster said in the TATS newsletter that they had 52 people lobbying! Now, Texas is a big state, but 52 is a very impressive number, probably more than lobbied in DC in 1998. With that level of support, they are destined to affect the wording and passage of legislation favorably. It is a model we can follow in Kentucky, and should model ourselves after, although we should continue to work closely with Fairness at every turn. Of course, way we=re growing, maybe soon we can get 50 TG people to Frankfort to lobby. We=d better plan on it early in the 2000 General Assembly.
There are a number of people who may fear becoming activists. I understand, you do have to out yourself to some degree to do it, and be prepared to make a strong argument for your issues. But, it really isn=t that hard; it=s the most rewarding thing you can do as a transgendered person, and you really come home with the feeling that you=ve accomplished something - not to mention the fact that it makes me feel 20 years younger. Y=know, it really is a time for peace, I swear it=s not too late....
Southern TG Anthology
By Katrina Rose
I'm seeking submissions for an anthology specifically about transgendered life in the South, entitled "Southern Stars."
What I'm looking for are thoughts on any and all aspects of life as a transgendered person in the South. You don't have to be originally from the South or be currently living in the South - just simply have lived here at some point in your life while you were, in some manner, dealing with your gender issues (anything from closeted crossdressing to transition and beyond), either internally or externally (my parameters for 'the South' : below the Mason-Dixon Line, which is the southern border of Pennsylvania). These thoughts can take any form that your wish - a biographical bit, a political rant, or even poetry. Just be yourself.
I have received several submissions and indications of willingness to submit, but, so far only one has been from an FTM. I'd really love for there to be a few more guys in the book. I do have an agent but no publisher yet. Consequently, I have no set deadline, but sooner is certainly better. Preferred submission format is MSWord 6.0, but generic e-mail text will work as well.
If you wish to submit a piece and/or have questions, contact me via e-mail at TexKatrina@aol.com or voice at (281) 835-0355.
Katrina Rose, Esq.
16207 Rosenridge
Houston, Texas 77053
Coming March 14 - Faux Oscars '99
Now in it's 3rd successful year, the Faux Oscars was started on a lark. The Court was offered theatre space and had to figure out what to do with it. An awards show style theme was suggested, and it just took off. Now, it is considered, by some, to be the single largest drag event in Kentucky. I know there may be some contention about that but, I speak the truth.
Performers are clamoring to be in the show cast. The audience is diverse and the venue is terrific (the Classic Kentucky Theatre on Main Street, Lexington). The final line-up is still being decided, and the awards committee is meeting for the final nominations and voting.
You can count on the Faux Oscars to deliver a prime triple feature. A first rate Drag Show, awards, and a feature film all for one low price. Tickets WILL BE available within the next few weeks at the Kentucky Theatre Box Office. Remember this is an All Ages show, so the under 21 crowd can finally get to attend a premiere drag show. The YWCA Spouse Abuse center is a coordinating charity for this event. Fabulous prizes will be raffled off that night as well.
On March 7th, at Regina's Club Café on Upper Street, the court is having another Spaghetti Dinner. For one low price you will have a good dinner and help out the local charities of the Imperial Court as well. There is a term called "Check Book Activism" well these dinners are almost like "Stomach Activism". Because everyone needs to eat A nice side line is
getting to meet and greet people in a more casual atmosphere. Also featured that night will be some games and events. Details are still being worked out, but I wanted you to mark your calendars for March.
Press Release - Royal Sovereign Imperial Court of All Ky.
TG Sea Anemone Denounced As ABase And Depraved@ By Clergy
HUNTSVILLE, AL--A coalition of Baptist clergymen spoke out Monday against the Telia felina, a transgendered sea anemone they are decrying as "base and depraved."
"This filthy anemone, which exhibits both male and female characteristics, is turning our oceans' intertidal zones into dens of sin and perversion," said Rev. William Chester, spokesman for the Save Our Seas Coalition, a Huntsville-based
activist group dedicated to "the preservation of aquatic decency and morality." "For God knows how long, this twisted sea creature has been running rampant in our oceans, spreading its unnatural, bisexual lifestyle. And it's high time somebody took a stand."
The controversial anemone, common to warm-water reefs and basins worldwide, has been practicing its alternative sexual lifestyle at least as far back as 1859, when Charles Darwin first catalogued its phylum and species. Since then, over 40 subspecies of Telia felina have been identified as dually gendered.
The Baptist group also strongly denounced the anemone's reproductive habits and family structure. "Unlike so many respectable, God-fearing creatures, the Telia felina reproduces asexually, openly mocking traditional family values by giving birth to and raising its young in a single-parent
William Chester of setting," Chester said. "This anti-Christian anemone, which has the audacity to think that a child can grow up properly without the benefit of two loving parents, is truly the Murphy Brown of the deep." Added Chester: "If you still doubt the pain and suffering wrought by this undersea abomination, just look into the eyes of a young anemone child
forced to grow up wondering why Mommy and Daddy live in the same body. This, my friends, is not natural."
As part of its campaign against the invertebrate, Save Our Seas is calling upon Greenpeace and other environmental groups to cease their defense of endangered species and regions that fail to uphold high moral standards. The group is also threatening a boycott of aquariums that display the Telia felina or any other creature of questionable character. "Is this the kind of marine invertebrate we want our children to see on their school field trips to the aquarium?" Chester asked. "By putting
this sort of filth on display in our nation's aquariums -- aquariums that are often federally funded with your tax dollars- we send our children the message that the transsexual lifestyle is not merely to be accepted, but encouraged."
"It is truly sad to see what could have been an upstanding Christian creature cross over to a life of depravity and abasement," Pastor Kenneth Boyle, director of the Loaves And Fishes Academy Of Christian Marine Biology, said of the Telia felina. "Just look at its flamboyant bright green and gold coloration. And its hundreds of effeminate tentacles, which
sway back and forth temptingly in an effort to lure the spiritually weak. The Bible says that on the fifth day, God filled the oceans with living creatures, but surely this is not what He intended."
January 1999, Onion, Inc..
Note: The Onion is an online magazine of satire - Anne
TRANS-MURDER IN AUSTIN
Austin, TX: 14 Jan 99 - THE BODY OF DONALD FULLER, 18, also known as Lauryn Paige, was found murdered last
Friday in a wooded area of southeast Austin. Two men in a white van were seen earlier that morning near the spot where the victim's body was found. A description of the two men led to composite sketches that were shown on television.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that one of those men, Frank Santos, called police when he saw his picture. He told them he had last seen his brother-in-law, Gamaliel Mireles Coria, and Fuller drive off together Friday morning. Coria's girlfriend subsequently told police that he had confessed the murder to her. Coria, 28, was arrested Wednesday and
remains in jail under $1,000,000 bail.
The victim was dressed as a woman. Said his father of Donald's cross-dressing, "He's been that way all his life. We always knew he was a little different, and we pretty much accepted it, but we didn't allow it around the house. We just knew he wasn't happy unless he dressed up."
As Lauryn, the victim had often been seen walking along South Congress Avenue, an area where police regularly conduct prostitution raids. Before Coria's arrest, Police Commander Gary Olfers had said, "We are dealing with sadistic killers. There was more than one [stab] wound, and they were brutal in the application of those wounds." The autopsy revealed a cut across Lauryn's throat 9 inches long and 3 inches
wide.
"The police description of this murder is heartbreakingly familiar," said Riki Anne Wilchins, of GenderPAC. "Sadistic killers, multiple stab wounds, bludgeoned and/or shot repeatedly... it's a familiar litany of brutally violent acts done to gender-different people: Chanelle Pickett, Brandon Teena, Christian Paige, Deborah Forte, Vianna Faye Williams,
Jamaica Green, Jessy and Peggy Santiago, Tasha Dunn...
and the list goes on."
(c) 1999 InYourFc
Totally.....By Angela Bridgman
Recently, I was involved, for the second time, in the struggle to pass the Fairness Amendment. This time, we achieved a modicum of success. While not perfect, the Fairness Amendment which did pass is a step, and gives us something to work with...but I still cry tears of blood for the most vulnerable in our community, and the most harmed by this legislation, the pre-operative transsexual.
As the law is currently written, only post-operative transsexuals seem to be covered. This, to me, seems rather absurd, since, once an individual has gone through a sex-reassignment surgery, it would seem to me that they then would be entitled to protections on a Federal level, under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. On a more philospohical level, though, I know that it is much easier to amend bad legislation than it is to get good legislation passed in the first place. As an old hand at the activist game, I know this from personal experience.
I grieve, however, for those who have been left behind. The law permits an employer to enforce a dress policy, "which policy may restrict employees from dress associated with the other gender." Therefore, it seems to me that this law is problematic, since "the other gender" is not clearly defined here. Do they mean "gender" in this case to refer to one's biological anatomy? If so, it would seem to me that an employer could force an already transitioned, pre-op TS to un-transition. It would also seem to prevent the individual who wishes to begin transition from transitioning, thus making it impossible for the individual to ever become a candidate for sex-reassignment surgery, the one thing which would afford them legal protections.
Sadly missed, also, was protections for crossdressers. There is no provision to protect "recreational crossdressers" from facing repercussions at work, due to an activity which is undertaken on the employees' own time, and off company premises! However, on a more positive note, we did get "gender identity" into the bill. So, what's next?
I think, at this point, the first thing we need here is to understand exactly what this new law is and does. Firstly, it does not open up a means to sue an employer...rather, it gives the Louisville Human Relations Commission an administrative option in dealing with cases of discrimination. The Human Rights Commission remains the first court of appeal. Since this is an administrative option of the HRC, it seems to me that interpretation of the new law is up to them.
Our course of action now must be to pursue talks with the HRC, to advise them of the harm caused to pre-operative TS;s and recreational crossdressers. It remains to be seen whether this shortcoming in the Fairness Amendment can be dealt with administratively, that is, having the HRC interpret it in a way which protects the pre-op, and the crossdresser...or do they not have the power of interpretation? Do they have the power to physically change the wording of this, or will another Aldermanic action be required to do that? These are the things which we must find out.
While we are doing that, it would be helpful to arrange to speak before the various local Chambers of Commerce, since they are the ones who will, or will not employ us...and the ones who will enforce dress policies. It is important to remember that the business community is not necessarily an enemy, most of them really do not have a moral issue with GLBT people, although some charter members of the Religious Reich, locally, do also hold membership in the Chamber of Commerce.
It would behoove us to remember that most businessmen and woman worship at the altar of the God-Almighty Buck. They are fearful of any disruption in the workplace, for this could cause them to lose profits. They see this as a potential disruption...and it is up to us to show them how our needs can be met, without interfering with their business operations.
The way to do this, then, is to educate our business community as to our needs, and how this is dealt with by other employers...as well as the advantages of having a well-adjusted, happy employee, who is not burdened down with emotional trauma due to having a gender-identity disorder. I think, that if we speak before them, and appear as professionals, we will convince some of these businessmen and woman to try things our way, in spite of the law, which gives them the leverage to be harsher with us. Then, if we can have them report back on their experiences with us, and how their operations were not harmed, it may convince other businesses to try it our way...and may win us the support of a majority of Chamber members.
Meanwhile, we must continue to educate the HRC, and show them the damage which could be done to the pre-op, and to the recreational crossdresser. If we can then get HRC on our side, as well as a majority of the local business community, we can, perhaps, go back to the Aldermen with this support...and expect very little trouble getting the changes we need...and since the bill has already passed, the emotion is out of it, and we can work quietly, behind closed doors, rather than out in the open, and battling the Reichers.
Where does this leave us as a community? We still need to have protections for housing and public accomodations. We need to educate the Aldermen and HRC regarding these issues. And it doesn't stop there, we have Jefferson County to deal with, the State of Kentucky to deal with..and finally, Southern Indiana, since many Kentucky residents work in Southern Indiana, I feel that Southern Indiana is a vital area of concern for ITKY.
And what about the state? Rep. Kathy Stein plans to pre-file a bill for the 2000 Legislative Session, which would ban discrimination in employment, based upon sexual orientation. Gender identity has been left out completely. It reamins to be seen as to why that is...but, were I to advance a guess, I would say that there is an element out there which feels that the bill cannot pass with gender inclusion...this sounds way too familiar! I do not know yet, whether the Kentucky Fairness Alliance is responsible for this omission (not to be confused with the Louisville Fairness Campaign - which did see fit to include us), or if, perhaps, some politicians are responsible for the omission, or if it was an oversight. I find the oversight theory hard to buy, since Kathy Stein knows many of us in the trans-community.
I believe that this bill will fail, whether or not gender is included in it, our Legislature here is still a "good 'ol boys network", and I do not think we will have enough support for such pro-active legislation. So, I think the flag should be run up the pole, with gender inclusion...and let's find out who salutes! Those who so not, we must work to reverse, or replace!
So, where does this leave Louisville? I am not so naive as to believe the Fairness Amendment truly will protect any of us from discrimination; if an employer wishes to discriminate, he or she will...but, they may have to be a bit more creative in how they go about discriminating. On a more positive note, though, I have lived in five metro areas that are bigger, more populous, and considered to be more cosmopolitan than Louisville, those being Chicago, Orlando, Austin, New York, and Philadelphia...and none of those cities, as of yet, have gender identity language anywhere in their civil-rights bills. So, on that level, I am amazed that Louisville does.
I currently find myself unemployed...and I am not having too easy a time regaining employment, in spite of the Fairness Amendment which just passed. I went to a temp agency, TRC Staffing, who told me my skills and qualifications were exemplary, and they have submitted my resume to a company for an executive secretary's position, and an administrative assistant to the company president's position! Now, because of that, I understand that I am good, and possess great skills, experience and qualifications. Therefore, I have to believe that if I do not get a job I set out to get, then discrimination had something to do with why.
I possess an IQ of 160, and so far have a 4.0 GPA in college, yet, so far, the only job I have been able to find is a Courier-Journal delivery route. I think there is something wrong, when a person with my skills, experience, qualifications, and intelligence can manage to find nothing but a newspaper route! I am given to wonder how many of our brightest, most talented and intelligent people are shunted aside by our society, for mean motives. And I am given to wonder how many more of us must suffer, and remain un- or under-employed, for no better reason than the fact that we are transgendered.
That takes us to another battle which we must fight, and they are inter-related. In 1991, Louisville passe a Hate Crimes Bill, which covers Hate Crimes against GLB, but not T! We must seek to get the T added to this Hate Crimes Bill, because, as long as discrimination in employment exists, it sends a message: It is okay to hurt and kill these people, they are worth less than other people! That is the message discrimination sends. And that is why we must work to end discrimination against all people, in all areas.
I will not rest until comprehensive anti-discrimination laws are passed, protecting all people from the hate and bigotry of the minority, who mask themselves in the cloak of the majority. I remain committed to that goal, and I also know that the Louisville Fairness Campaign remain committed to that goal. I am not entirely sure, however, that KFA is completely behind us, witness the trans-exclusion of the state-wide bill. Now, I am not saying that KFA specifically excluded us, but that possibility does exist. And I mean to clarify that, since I know that certain people within KFA are not opposed to us...people like Maria Price. I am just not entirely unconvinced that there is not an element within KFA that, as yet, still does not want to include trans-people. Or could it be a political thing? Are we, the trans-community, once again to be used as a pawn by politicians? Or, could it have been oversight? At this time, I am not willing to draw any conclusions. But it seems to me we need to get to the bottom of this matter, and do so quickly, if we wish to build unification and coalition amongst this state's GLB and T communities. If the political pawn theory turns out to be the correct one, then we must find that element which seeks to divide us. So, there remains a lot of work to do.
And, let us not forget that, while we have employement protections now, in Louisville, we cannot let down our guard...not even for a minute. We must remain ever-vigilant to be sure that we keep the rights which we have seemingly gained.
Until next month, Luv ya lots, like, fer sher!
January 99 Notes
By Marjorie Demaille, Secretary
At approximately 7:50pm Dawn called the gathering to order. After acknowledging a number of new faces, a couple announcements followed, namely she, Dawn, will be moving to Louisville when her job starts there 1 Feb 99. Then Dawn called for more contributors to the newsletter, encouraging new writers. In fact the January 1999 newsletter was handed around, as well as the tri-fold pink 'Standing United' IFGE flyer.
This latter initiated discussion of the convention. We need to get registrations going. Comparing to Toronto, where the IFGE was held last year, we heard they had under a dozen signed up by late January, while we have two confirmed as of meeting time. More heartening to hear is that by mid-February last year, the registrations came in heavily. Still we are advised to talk the convention up, and each of us promote it in our own way. Dawn called for assistance at the convention itself to help all things go smoothly; no doubt many little things need to be attended to. Right now it looks quite unlikely BGB members will be compensated for the convention. BGB will have a suite at the hotel, however. Some friction with the organizers was mentioned. One particular was the lack of funding for scholarships. Despite such trouble Marjorie urged the members to attend for the opportunity to learn more about themselves as transgenders.
The Fairness Amendment of Louisville was introduced in mid-January. Right now support among the alders looks quite good. The measure is drafted with TG-inclusive language. Regrettably it has been split into three separate bills, one each for employment, housing and public accomodations. Bar outreach, i.e. promoting the Fairness Amendment to club patrons, was held out as a means for us to become involved as supporters for the measure. Dawn expanded on this as an opportunity for us to make ourselves known and perhaps catch a few transgenders at the bars, ones we might not see otherwise. Angela suggested those interested get coaching at the Fairness headquarters at 10pm that evening.
Next came a surprising and touching ceremony with Evelyn and Terri. Evelyn sang the Clay Walker tune 'Hypnotize the Moon' and gave Terri a ring for their engagement. Wow. Saff ran the video camera. That was hard to follow, of course. As this meeting marks a new year, Dawn asked the group for ideas, and tossed in some herself. These included another out-of-town shopping venture; an image/makeover workshop; have some person come talk about hair; conduct another dinner meeting along the lines of the one we once did at Tumbleweed; have a night we get together and watch TG theme videos; do a Superbowl party.
One other announement pertained to media training coming the weekend of Feb 20-21, probably at the Fairness office. Interested folks should sign up ahead of time. We broke to talk less formally. During this time, Angela circulated the sign-up list for the TG comedy show. This is happening Wednesday, March 17 at 10pm(?), which would be the opening night of the IFGE convention. Signing up in advance gets you a price break: $15 versus $20 at the door. She needs to receive the advance ticket money by March 1, however. We departed somewhat after 9:30, rather earlier than usual, because some needed to see the Fairness folks about outreach.
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