Yet, although one of their primary functions is their MediaWatch for Gay Cable Network, apparently GLAAD-NYís new Managing Director, Mr. William Waybourn, has other ideas.

Apparently Mr. Weybourn has been spiking all stories that are trans-related . This includes a story about Safe Space, which aids queer & trans teens, and the disgusting Tula "Life is harsh - Sheís a he" ads for Sauza Tecquila.

Mr Waybourn has indicated that GLAAD does not endorse a "laundry list" of identities, but also that "gay and lesbian" is preferred (as apparently non-laundry list identified???... We donít makeëem up, folks, we just report ëem). In addition, he reportedly stated that the Sauza ad was not offensive (?), and that it was not GLAADís responsibility to deal with it, but the transgender communityís.

Interestingly, the GLAAD-SF MediaWatch led with the very story spiked by Mr. Waybourn, noting that "Transgendered people do not make life ëharshí - transphobic people do." The board of GLAAD-NY was apparently aware of Mr. Waybournís transphobic actions, which indeed make our lives a little more harsh, but as of this date has taken no action. We are informed that a Board meeting has been scheduled to discuss the matter.

Funding for TransActivism?

Well, one of the major national funding organizations for queer-related activism, the Funding Exchange, has beheld this sight, and let me tell you, it wasn't very pretty.

Nonetheless, the board of the Funding Exchange met, and following some dialog, changed their mission statement to include the transgendered.

Overjoyed at this turn of events, local Menacites quickly doffed their suits, donned their black t-shirts, burned the immaturely-scrawled posters they had hastily scribbled for the expected rejection, and applied for a grant just like regular citizens.

No word is due for a couple of months, but finger, toes, arms, and (only occassionally) legs are crossed. In the meantime, Menacefolk are working to gather all the necessary paperwork to help other trans-activist apply for funding, both at the Exchange as well as other queer-friendly funding sources. Interested parties can contact Lynn Walker care of IYF. (Beware, itís a lot of work just to apply. There are no free lunches, just free hormones.)

Shrinks Expand!

Our own Jean Marie Stine, newly minted head of The Tapestry, was at the national meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA) when she noticed that all the workshops that were queer-related were les/bi/gay, but... you guessed it, no "trans."

Not a shrinking violet, no, Ms. Stine went straight to the heads of the APA divisions responsible for the workshops. In the meantime, local Menacequeers ironed black t-shirts (these are *professionals*, folks: we wanted to look *nice*!) and generally watered the old phonetree for a little friendly demo.

We shouldnít have bothered. Ms. Stine procurred promises from both division heads for followup phone consultations, and transinclusive panels for next year's APA national hoedown.

It was not immediately clear to this reporter if the promised "phone consultations" were related to Mr. Stineís political requests, or were in the nature of a professional consultation related to her apparently overwhelming compulsion to confront authority figures.