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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.

UK Pilot Wins Discrimination Case

Contributed by Sabrina Robb and Elizabeth Parker
via News Planet
June 1, 1998

Transsexual Kristina Sheffield, whose case against Britain is awaiting judgment by the European Court of Human Rights, has won her employment discrimination claim before a British industrial tribunal. Despite more than 34 years' experience, Sheffield was not given an interview when she made two applications to pilot for Easyjet when it was recruiting in 1996; she received no explanation of the rejection at the time or in repeated attempts over months afterwards.

In its defense, Air Foyle Charter Airlines (which had held the operating license for Easyjet at the time) presented recruiting officer Captain Michael Veal, who had worked with Sheffield at another airline a decade before, and based on that experience said that Sheffield, "tended to be very forceful and...flaunted her femininity which made people feel uncomfortable" and that she "was unable to work in a team, was hazardous to safety, that she flaunted her femininity and that pilots were unable to fly with her."

The tribunal rejected that testimony, finding there was nothing in her work history to make her unsuitable for an interview, and concluded that, "It follows that the applicant has been treated less favorably on the ground of her transsexuality and that this amounts to less favourable treatment on the ground of her sex." A financial settlement in the case is still to be determined. It's been a challenge for Sheffield to find employment as a pilot since she left Brittania Airways in 1986 following her sex reassignment surgery -- Sheffield says she was fired, Brittania says she left by "mutual agreement" -- even though Sheffield had been under consideration for promotion to a command position.

Sheffield's EuroCourt case, which was brought in conjunction with Rosa Horsham and argued in February, challenges Britain's policy against issuing new birth certificates following sex reassignments as a violation of privacy rights. Britain is the only European nation which will not issue new birth certificates showing the new names and genders of those who have undergone sex reassignment.

Ginger Spice sings on in Thailand's "Spice Gays"

Contributed by Jodie Miller
via Reuters
June 4, 1998

BANGKOK - Fans of the Spice Girls need not despair over the departure of Ginger Spice.

The pop star, whose real name is Geri Halliwell, may have quit Britain's famed all-girl quintet but she's still very much with them in the Thai version -- a group of transsexuals known here as the Spice Gays.

Akanit Ratanavich, or "Pretty," mimics Ginger Spice in a red wig, black hot pants and low-cut gown over a pair of breast implants as the group lip-syncs Spice Girls' numbers at a Bangkok theater.

"Pop fans everywhere might be disappointed with Ginger's decision to quit the group, but here this Ginger will be with the show for good to make up for the loss of the real one," Pretty said after a recent show before a packed audience.

"Its very funny...to act as someone famous that you always like to be," said the 24-year-old singer, who underwent a sex change operation five years ago.

"It was sad news, but I knew that one day, they would come to this point since they are so famous," Pretty added.

Among the group's renditions, "Spice Up Your Life" and "Wannabe" were the two Spice Girls numbers that drew the most applause from a visibly spiced up audience.

"People always ask if we are really women. The answer is we are better than men and we are humans of all seasons," said Pretty.

TG Candidate Challenged

Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
via Associated Press
June 4, 1998

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Kern, also known as Bobby Scott Hidalgo, wants to put a dispute over his name behind him and get on with running for Congress.

A state commission on Monday rejected efforts by the state's Democratic Party to remove the convicted felon, whose given name is Hidalgo, from the party's side of the November ballot because of the different names he has used.

State Democratic Party chairman Joe Andrew said he is prepared to appeal.

Kern, a former gas station attendant, faces incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Burton in the fall. The district includes much of the Indianapolis suburbs and is one of the safest GOP districts in the nation.

The Democratic Party says Kern defrauded voters by using that name only for the purpose of the May 5 primary. Among other things, they argue that the Anglo-sounding name of Kern and its alphabetical appearance first on the ballot gave him an advantage over his Democratic opponents, Carrie Jean Trammell and R. Nag Nagarajan.

However, Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy said Kern met the requirements of being a candidate, partly because the name on his declaration of candidacy matched that on his most recent voter registration.

Kern was sentenced to two years in prison in a 1987 theft and forgery case.

In addition, newspaper reports have described him as a cross-dressing female impersonator. He says the only time he cross-dressed was as an undercover agent in a sting operation for the Marion County Sheriff's Department, which the department denies.

First Open TG
On NGLTF Board

Contributed by Jessica Xavier
June 4, 1998

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has named L.J. Irving of Oakland to its board of directors. Irving is the first openly transgendered person appointed to the board of a national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization.

Irving, a drug counselor and case manager at Jelani House in San Francisco, has a long history of activism. A former member of supervisor Tom Ammiano's staff, she was a founding member of Lesbians and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action (LGADDA). She has also been involved with the Harvey Milk Democratic Club and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center.

"I'm really looking forward to increasing the visibility of people of color and to reaching out to those who can't afford the high ticket events," Irving told the Bay Area Reporter. She emphasized that she intends to advocate for people of color, youth, and people with low incomes.

"We need to reach out, instead of expecting them to come to us," she added, stating that she plans to work with NGLTF to meet people "in the clubs, in the churches, in the families."

Irving recently returned from her first board meeting, and was very impressed and enthusiastic about the group's openness to inclusion, commenting that "they're not some big national highbrow group." She sees the board becoming a new and very enthusiastic group, and noted that additional board members will be added this fall. One of her goals is to recruit board members under the age of 30.

Irving is reluctant to describe herself as a leader in the transgender community, because she feels that the Bay area has so many "trailblazers" more worthy of recognition. "I have an enormous amount of humility, and pride for the trailblazers" she told the B.A.R. "I'm not in a position to take a lot of credit for leadership." Irving said that she would go to local transgender leaders for guidance on transgender issues.

This humility is typical of Irving's approach, which she describes as being about service and not politics. "My goal is for people to be visible, empowered and connected."

"I'm not a leader, just a worker." Irving said. "I'm more like a doorman, holding the door open so that others can come in."

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