Transgender

Forum













xpand(nclude(D:\http/ads/ads0.html))


TGF News Briefs

From our fabulous News Hawks!

Have you seen a TG-related news story online or in your local paper? Send it in to TGF and become a News Hawk! Don't assume we know everything that's out there, because you are our eyes and ears. To file a story, send it in to Cindy.

ICTLEP Elects New Exec

The Transgender Law Conference announces that it has elected Sharon Stuart/Thomas Heitz as its new Executive Director. Stuart/Heitz, a bi-gendered activist of long standing, was an original Director of ICTLEP when it formed in 1991 and has her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas Law School. Her new position begins on 15 March 1998. She replaces Phyllis Frye.

Stuart/Heitz sees her job as providing a year-long transition from a "founder-driven" organization (which began in 1991 when its founder was the only, totally out and totally active, TG lawyer in the United States) to one with more structure and a deeper organizational base. "Today, with so many TG lawyers and TG law students being out or coming out, there is a growing pool of folks who can take on the miriad of bar-association-styled committee work that needs to be done," states Stuart/Heitz.

Out-going ED and founder, Phyllis Randolph Frye, told her Board three weeks ago that she had had enough. "Being an activist for over two decades is one thing, but being on the point for all of those two-plus decades is more than enough. And six years as Executive Director of this organization with six annual conferences and six annual, bound Proceedings was also enough." Frye was asked by Stuart/Heitz to remain as a Director in order to provide historical perspective and continuity, and she agreed.

ICTLEP remains ready to serve the Transgender Community and to work in harmony with the inclusive LGBT Community. Stuart/Heitz asks, "If you are a legal professional, won't you please contact me and see how you can help to take TG legal work from this plateau into the next? My Directors and Moderators need you!"

If you are a current financial contributor, please continue. If you are not yet, please consider helping out. Check out the ICTLEP web page at www.abmall.com/ictlep (and the AOL keyword ICTLEP). Also find ICTLEP information on www.tgforum.com.

Coleman Booted

Contributed by Elizabeth Parker

Former child star Gary Coleman, from the Victoria's Secret fashion show in Manhattan earlier this week. He had shown up in drag (a black plastic raincoat and Marilyn-style blonde wig) and reportedly demanded to be able to walk down the runway. The stunt was said to be part of his upcoming HBO "Comic Relief" special, but security guards were not amused.

--Via the Reuters

Eddie Holds Own News Show

Contributed by Elizabeth Parker

Transvestite comedian Eddie Izzard tonight brought a touch of colour to the BBC's flagship current affairs programme Question Time.

The stand-up star, known for his preference for skirts over trousers, kept the 200-strong audience at Broadcasting House in Glasgow enthralled by his sharp wit.

Gracing the programme for the first time, Izzard chose a conventional pinstripe suit -- but no shirt -- to accompany his trademark red lipstick and gaudy purple nail varnish.

He appeared at ease in his new "straight role" as social commentator alongside Transport Minister Gavin Strang, the Scottish National Party's education spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon, and Donald Findlay QC, a Conservative Party member who led the unsuccessful `Think Twice' campaign in September's Scottish devolution referendum.

Izzard answered a variety of topical questions, ranging from the Iraqi situation to the National Lottery, nurses' pay and Tony Blair's Downing Street receptions.

When asked whether the inquiry into the events on Bloody Sunday would, as Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble fears, re-open old wounds, the comedian said the initial investigation "seemed to have been a whitewash", and that now was the time for "truth and justice to come out".

On Iraq, he said the United Nations had to stand firm against the "brinkmanship" of Saddam Hussain, whom he likened to Hitler and branded "a dickhead". --Via the PA News

Your Help Needed
in a Tough CA Battle

For several months representatives of Lambda Letters and LIFE Lobby have sought to persuade one or more legislators to introduce a bill to provide penalties for hate crimes against transgendered people and to require police departments to report the numbers of such crimes to the State Attorney General. It has not been finalized yet, but we are hopeful that such a bill will soon be introduced. If so, we will need your help in getting letters to legislators from the residents of certain key legislative districts.

If the bill is introduced, it would probably first be heard and voted on in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, probably in March. It would have to be approved by that committee to remain alive. The following table lists the committee members (column 1). It also shows the scores they received from Lambda Letters, in 1997, for their votes on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (L/G/B/T) issues (column 2) and indicates the number of Lambda Letters' members who live in their districts.

If the bill is introduced, we will need to persuade 5 members of the Public Safety Committee to vote for it. One of the most effective ways of doing that is to flood them with mail from the residents of their legislative districts. However, Lambda Letters has the most members in the districts of those committee members who are least likely to vote for the bill under any circumstances. And the bill would be on a cutting edge issue. It would take a lot to persuade even those legislators with good voting records to vote for the bill. Thus, we need to assure that even the good legislators get plenty of mail from their constituents.

Please help us find supportive individuals and groups who live within the districts of the legislators on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, particularly the districts where we currently have few or no Lambda Letters members. We need to have a list of groups and individuals ready to sign letters by the beginning of March.

The following table shows the cities represented by each of the legislators. If you have friends from those cities, or contacts with groups from those cities (such as an MCC, a PFLAG chapter, etc.), please put them in touch with us as soon as possible. You or they may contact us at (916) 965-6851 or send us an e-mail at LambdaLP@aol.com.

The Districts and the cities within them are as follows:

Assembly District 10, Larry Bowler

Acampo, Carmichael, Clements, Elk Grove, Galt, Herald, Linden, Lockeford, Lodi, Mather AFB, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, Sloughhouse, Stockton, Thornton, Wilton, Woodbridge

Assembly District 16, Don Perata

Alameda, Emeryville, Mills College, Oakland, Piedmont

Assembly District 25, George House

Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Big Oak Flat, Catheys Valley, Chinese Camp, Chowchilla, Coarsegold, Columbia, Coulterville, Denair, El Portal, Fresno, Friant, Groveland, Hickman, Hornitos, Hughson, Jamestown, La Grange, Long Barn, Madera, Mariposa, Mi Wuk Village, Midpines, Moccasin, Modesto, North Fork, Oneals, Oakdale, Oakhurst, Pinecrest, Raymond, Riverbank, Sonora, Soulsbyville, Strawberry, Tuolumne, Turlock, Twain Harte, Waterford, Wishon, Yosemite National Park

Assembly District 40, Robert Hertzberg

Canoga Park, Encino, North Hollywood, Northridge, Panorama City, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Winnetka Assembly District 47, Kevin Murray

Culver City, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey

Assembly District 52, Carl Washington

Compton, Gardena, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Paramount Assembly District 58, Grace Napolitano

Cerritos, El Monte, Los Angeles, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier

Assembly District 75, Jan Goldsmith

Alpine, Borrego Springs, Boulevard, Campo, Del Mar, Descanso, Dulzura, El Cajon, Escondido, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Julian, La Mesa, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, Santee, Spring Valley

Please give this important bill the maximum possible push through the Assembly Public Safety Committee by helping us find supportive people and groups in the above cities.



Back to
TGF's
Home Page