
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 .
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IFGE Founder Suffers Stroke
Contributed by JoAnn Roberts
via IFGE
July 17, 1998
BOSTON - IFGE Founder Merissa Sherrill Lynn suffered a stroke about 10
days ago, which left her right side partially paralyzed. At this time she
is resting well in Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA. To date, she has
recovered partial use of her right hand, but remains without the full use
of her right leg. She is able to get around with a little help from her
friends. Fortunately, her speech and strong will are unimpaired. We all
wish her a full and speedy recovery.
Merissa would love to hear from friends, and welcomes visitors,
especially if they bring SmartFood Popcorn. She can be reached at P.O. Box
367, Wayland, MA 01778, telephone 508-358-5919.
Christian Coalition Marshalls Opposition To Bias Order
Contributed by Hayley Rogers
via Christian Coalition web site
July 14, 1998
The following text is from the Christian Coalition web site:
HEFLEY AMENDMENT: On May 28, 1998, President Clinton signed Executive
Order 13087, which includes "sexual orientation" as a protected class
entitled to "affirmative action" in federal government employment. Rep.
Joel Hefley (CO) will offer an amendment which prohibits funding for the
administration, implementation, and enforcement of President Clinton's
Executive Order. Here are the facts on the President's Executive Order:
The Executive Order fails to define "sexual orientation." Therefore,
ANY type of
sexual behavior, including
bisexuality, transexuality, bestiality and even pedophilia could be
protected
under federal law.
The Executive Order goes far beyond existing civil rights law, which
only
protects individuals with immutable
characteristics such as race, color, sex, age, disability and
religion. This order
provides protected status to people on
the basis of behavioral characteristics, and invites costly
litigation. Private organizations who contract with the federal
government are usually
required to adhere to federal labor and
affirmative action policies. Therefore, all organizations, even
religious
organizations, who provide social services
would be in legal jeopardy if they refused to adhere to this new
Executive
Order.
Executive Order 13087 is an outrageous form of governance. It effectively
creates sweeping new law by circumventing the voice of the American people
through Congressional legislation.
TS Sues Over School Records
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
via UPI
July 16, 1998
SAGINAW, Mich.-- A 33-year-old man who used to be a
woman is suing a Michigan school district that refuses to change his
high school transcript to reflect the sex change. Vic Hrinik
(RIH'-nihk) says before undergoing a gender-switch operation he
graduated as a female, Vicki Hrinik, from Birch Run High School near
Flint in 1983. Now Hrinik fears he'll be the target of discrimination
unless his school records are amended. He needs the transcript to apply
for a college program in Spokane, Wash., where he lives with a wife and
stepson. But the school district is fighting the suit. District
attorney Michael Eschelbach of Lansing says in today's Detroit Free
Press the transcript is accurate because it reflects Hrinik's gender at
graduation. The suit is apparently the first of its kind in Michigan.
Hrinik says he is a transsexual and was treated for a mental and
physical condition called gender dysphoria. His doctor has affirmed
Hrinik as a male, and claims the high school misidentified him as a
female. Hrinik tells the Free Press, "I'm married. I have a stepson. I
have a good job. I have two wonderful dogs. I have a normal life....I'm
the person I wanted to be." The lawsuit claims the district denied
Hrinik's rights to an accurate school record and privacy, causing
emotional distress and other injuries. He is seeking more than $25,000
in damages.
Anti-Gay Ad Draws Fire
Contributed by Rachelle Austin
via Reuters
July 14, 1998
WASHINGTON - A full-page newspaper advertisement
by conservative Christian groups on Monday that said homosexuals
could ``overcome'' their sexual identity by accepting God
sparked outrage among gay rights supporters.
The Christian Coalition and other conservative groups took
out the advertisement in the New York Times. It is to be
followed by similar displays in the Washington Post and USA
Today later this week.
The advertisement features the testimony of Anne Paulk, a
self-described ``wife, mother and former lesbian'', who says she
was able to change her identity through a commitment to
religion.
``Leaving homosexuality was the hardest thing I've ever had
to do,'' Paulk says in the advertisement.
``As I grew in my relationship with God, I knew He had
changed me forever. Gone was the hardness. Gone was the hurt.
And gone was the shrill cry inside, replaced by God's still,
small voice,'' the advertisement quotes her as saying.
Tracey Canaty of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,
said her organization viewed the advertising campaign as a new
attack on homosexuality.
``The bigotry, hatred and intolerance that this ad
represents is the real perversion,'' she said.
Homosexuality has recently become a hot political issue
after Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott compared it
to alcoholism, sex addition and kleptomania.
Asked in a television interview if he believed homosexuality
was a sin, Lott replied, ``It is.''
Barricaded TG Dies In Siege
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
via Reuters
July 15, 1998
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - A 13-hour siege at a house
booby-trapped with pipe bombs ended Wednesday when police found a man
thought to be holed up inside dressed in women's clothing and dead on
the floor.
The bizarre standoff in a quiet residential area in the Fort
Lauderdale suburb of Pembroke Pines began at 2:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday
when police and fire crews were called to douse a fire in a pickup
truck outside the home, authorities said. When police looked into the
house, they believed they saw the body of a dog on the living room
floor, and nearby the body of a woman. Special weapons teams
surrounded the house, thinking the homeowner, who was well known to
police, was still inside. They had been called to his home 14 times
in the past 10 years. Small explosions were heard inside the home,
leading police to believe the man was either firing a weapon or
setting off explosives. Neighbors were evacuated and SWAT officers
entered the house and spent hours going through it room by room,
ignoring the bodies of the dog and the woman as they cautiously
searched for explosives and the resident, police said.
They found at
least a dozen explosive devices from the ground floor to the attic,
including pipe bombs and others fashioned from gasoline, some
attached to timers. "There were explosive devices placed within that
residence ... that could have caused grave bodily injury," SWAT team
Sgt. Brad Ostroff told reporters. When the home was finally cleared
about 13 hours after the siege began, officers took a closer look at
the body and found it was a man, dressed in a "cowgirl" outfit.
Neighbors said cross-dressing was not unusual for the homeowner, whom
police identified as Thomas Whelan, 42. "I'm glad he's gone. He was
very troubled," said neighbor Olga Hidalgo. "He use to dress up like
a woman, put makeup on and drive by. He tried to hit my husband with
a two-by-four." The victim, who had a massive chest wound, was
thought to be Whelan, police said, but a positive identification was
pending.
"Southerners on New Ground"
People of Color LGBT Leadership Retreat '98
via NGTLF
July 14, 1998
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
It's our pleasure to tell you that our second annual SONG
People of Color LGBT Leadership Retreat will be held August
14th though 16th at the Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center
in Little Rock, Arkansas which will bring together lesbians,
gays, bisexuals and transgenders of color from across the
South.
Part of the work of SONG, now in our 5th year, is to hold
retreats for lesbigaytrans organizers and cultural workers to
talk about their lives and work and how to expand our organizing
work and cultural work for social justice. Our goal is to help
shift work against racism, sexism and economic injustice into
lesbigaytrans organizing and to integrate work against
homophobia into freedom struggles in the South.
This People of Color LGBT Leadership Retreat will embrace
ethnicities and communities of color for a time of work,
developing strategies, networking and socializing. Much of the
work is about sharing our truths and building bridges that
connect our fragmented communities. And all of the work is about
working together to create a movement that cuts across issues
and creates a world where all of us know justice and can live our
lives in peace with freedom and equality.
Please share this information with other lesbigaytrans organizers
and cultural workers of Asian, Pacific Islander, Latin, Native,
Middle Eastern and African descent who may want to attend.
Participation is limited to 33. We hope you are able to join us.
You can e-mail us back the Application Form.
In the Struggle,
Mandy Carter, Coordinator
POC LGBT Retreat '981
(919) 682-8094
Aida Rentas, Co-Coordinator
POC LGBT Retreat '98
Vernon Stokay,
SONG Board Member
For more information:
E-mail: MandyC1997@aol.com
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