
From our fabulous News Hawks!
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Greek Groom Caught In Gown
Contributed by Rachelle Austin and Elizabeth Parker
via Australian Associated Press
August 12, 1998
A bride-to-be suffered a nervous breakdown the night before her wedding on the Greek island of Crete
when she discovered the groom, dressed in her wedding gown, in the arms of his best man. The future husband and wife were
celebrating at separate parties when the bride's friends asked to go to the couple's new home to take a peek at the wedding
dress, the semi-official Athens news agency reported. When they arrived, they found the gown-clad groom locked in a
passionate embrace with the best man. The young woman has been treated at a clinic in Iraklion since the incident. The wedding
did not take place.
Drag Doesn't Help Robber
Contributed by Rachelle Austin
via Reuters
August 12, 1998
MAITLAND, Fla. - A Florida businessman was under
arrest Wednesday for allegedly robbing a bank after tellers saw
through his disguise of a woman's wig, red lipstick and pale
foundation make-up, police said.
Douglas John Patak was arrested at his home in Maitland, in
central Florida, Monday and charged with the armed robbery of
the First Federal Savings Bank of Live Oak in Live Oak, Florida,
earlier that day.
Though he disguised himself with a black wig and make-up,
bank tellers told police they recognized Patak as one of their
customers before he left the bank in his red Mercedes car.
Patak had moved to Maitland from Live Oak two weeks before
the robbery.
Sgt. Ron Colvin of the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office told
the Orlando Sentinel he had met Patak last week when he called
police about money reported missing from his family's business.
After Patak was implicated in the bank robbery, Colvin
phoned him, and Patak called back, thinking he wanted to talk
about the money. The Sheriff's Office took Patak's telephone
number off a caller-ID device and used it to get his address.
Trans Protests At Gay Games Opening
Contributed by GAIN News Remailer
via GAIN News
August 14, 1998
AMSTERDAM-- The Gay Games have drawn 14,000 participants and 200,000
visitors to the Dutch capital, but the festival is already running into
some problems. Local organizers in the Netherlands have banned mixed-sex
couples from competing in the ballroom dance competition. The goal, they
say, is toopresent the event as a kind of intrnational showcase for gay
athletes, men dancing with men, women with women. That lmeans a lesbian
schoolteacher from Brooklyn and her gay male dance partner will not be
allowed onto the floor.
Another drawing even more fire is a requirement that athletes who have
changed their sex provide proof of what the rules call "completed gender
transition." Organizers say that concerns over fairness and legal
liability have made it imperative that transgender athletes be put into
the proper category, especially so that men, with their greater body
strength, whether born or created, do not compete unfairly or perhaps even
dangerously against women. "The Gay Games were formed because gay
athletes could not compete openly; how ironic that they are now forcing
another group of athletes to go back into the closet or face a barrage of
stigmatizing obstacles," said Riki Anne Wilchins, the executive director
of GenderPAC, a public advocacy coalition for the transgender community.
Ice-skaters in the Gay Games are saying they will wear masks when they
compete in same-sex partnerships after being threatened with expulsion
from their ruling body, the International Skating Union, for taking part.
The International Skating Union has refused to recognize the gathering as
an official event, so skaters, referees, and officials who take part in
the figure-skating contest will be expelled from future competition. The
European Gay and Lesbian Sporting Federation has called on the
participants to skate wearing face masks in protest.
W.Hollywood Passes TG Ordinance
Contributed by GAIN News Remailer
via GAIN News
July 20, 1998
The ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of Gender Identity
passed unanimously July 20, 1998. Mayor Martin's recommendation of
sensitivity training is being provided by the Center for Gender Sanity.
The sensitivity training is for the employees of West Hollywood and does
not include police and fire because they are contracted out. The Center
for Gender Sanity consults with employers who have transgender workers and
provides transgender sensitivity and diversity training in the work place.
Michele Kammerer and Janis Walworth are partners in this business and
partners in life. Michele transitioned in 1991 in the Los Angeles City
Fire Department. Janis has worked with the Transgendered community for
several years as an activist, advocate, counselor, and writer. Janis has
written the book "Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide."
For further information, please contact:
Transgender Menace Southern California:
Shirley Bushnell (323) 962-9162 shirley@earthlink.net
Jacob Hale (323) 665-1130 ZeroboyJH@aol.com
Center for Gender Sanity
Janis Walworth merkins@cris.com
Michele Kammerer Firewomon@aol.com
The Ordinance added gender identity as a protected category for
provisions prohibiting discrimination. Gender Identity is defined as:
"Gender Identity refers to a person's actual or perceived sex, and
includes a person's identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that
identity, appearance, or behavior is different from the traditionally
associated with the person's sex at birth."
The City of West Hollywood recognizes that the practice of
discrimination against persons on account of sexual orientation and/or
gender identity deprives the City of the full utilization of its capacity
for development and advancement, and substantially and adversely affects
the interest of the City and the public in general.
It is now unlawful for any person to discriminate against a person on the
account of a person's gender identity in housing, public accommodations,
use of city services and facilities, and in contracting or subcontracting
with the City.
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