September | 2012 | THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT by Lexie Cannes

September 29, 2012 • 11:58 AM 1

[UPDATE] Gallaudet University honorary degree nomination suggestions: Frances M. Parsons

“Peggie” Parson takes a question during a lecture (Photo: vad.org)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — I’m not so sure I buy the whole honorary degree thing, BUT, if we are going hand them out, we ought to make sure recipients don’t go around actually using the title “Dr.” Chiropractors don’t do heart surgeries for a reason, likewise, a honorary degree doesn’t give one a mandate to enact policy.

That said, I nominate two highly esteemed individuals more than worthy of this honor. These people faced the wrath of the deaf community during their heyday at Gallaudet yet their achievements exceeded many of those who were awarded honorary degrees in the past 20 years. Despite the oppression of their voices by many at Gallaudet and in the deaf community, many of the things they advocated a couple decades ago came to be realized in this new century.

UPDATE, 10-9-12: I’ve been informed that Larry Stewart is ineligible for a honorary degree because the rules state recipients must be alive at the time of nomination.

1) Dr. Larry G. Stewart, (posthumously) professor of clinical psychology at Gallaudet and outspoken advocate of education and rehabilitation rights for deaf children. Stewart graduated from Gallaudet, then embarked on a career that took him to numerous highly regarded institutions of the deaf, including California School for the Deaf, and Texas School for the Deaf as it’s superintendent before coming to Gallaudet. Stewart died of cancer at age 55.

2) Prof. Frances M. Parsons, a retired Gallaudet professor of Art History. Her pioneering travels around the world spreading the value of sign language and bringing the Gallaudet name to places where either oral methods had taken hold, or there was no education of the deaf at all, started Gallaudet’s international draw of deaf students. Not only has she visited more schools for the deaf around the world than anyone else, she was the first deaf woman to travel across China solo, during the height of the Communist era, all the while visiting deaf schools along the way. She was also a Peace Corps volunteer. Two of her most well-known books are “I Didn’t Hear the Dragon Roar” (about her China adventure) and “I Knew Elizabeth Peet: Queen of Gallaudet”.

What about this oppression they faced, you asked? Both Stewart and Parsons were vocal supporters of the importance of English in a deaf child’s education during a period when many considered English secondary to the importance of American Sign language (ASL). To sum up the tense atmosphere at the time: During the funeral of Dr. Larry Stewart (who died from cancer), in the early 1990s, a Gallaudet professor turned to Parsons (who also had cancer) and said: “hurry you die next.” Parsons, of course, is still alive, now some 20 years later. Both Stewart and Parsons were then frequently subject to verbal harassment and even physical abuse for their beliefs.

Over time, of course, ASL activists have had to yield some ground to other methods and emerging technologies — a ASL-only Deaf utopia solving all the problems of deaf education has now revealed itself to be an illusion — or as Dr. Larry Stewart put it back then: “A snow job!” For their foresight in the face of adversity, Stewart and Parsons both deserve this honor.

So, how about it? Hmm?

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This is the Press Release from Gallaudet:

Gallaudet University calls for honorary degree nominations for Commencement 2014

Gallaudet University is currently collecting honorary degree nominations to be awarded at its 145th Commencement in May 2014, a special year in Gallaudet’s history as the university celebrates its 150th anniversary. With these awards, the University seeks to recognize deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals for exemplary service to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Nomination procedures and a nomination form are available at
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Academic_Affairs/Honorary_Degrees.html.
The deadline for submission of nominations and supporting documentation is Friday, November 30, 2012. For more information, please contact the Office of the Provost at (202) 250-2411 or email provost@gallaudet.edu.

Gallaudet University calls for honorary degree nominations for Commencement 2014 – Gallaudet University.

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A wowie factoid: A.G. Bell received an honorary degree from Gallaudet!

“Peggie” Parsons holding three of her books (Photo: vad.org)

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Filed under: Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Deaf, ASL, American Sign Language, Deaf Education, frances m parsons, gallaudet, honorary degree, larry g stewart

September 28, 2012 • 10:41 PM 12

ACLU appeals judge’s “You can’t change what God gave you” order for transgender name change

Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves (Photo: examiner.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Sounds familiar? That’s because he’s the same Bible quoting, “DNA-expert” Oklahoma judge I wrote about a few weeks ago.

The American Civil Liberties Union has stepped in appealing Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves’ refusal to allow trans woman Angela Renee Ingram to make her name legal in the state of Oklahoma.

At Ingram’s hearing on Aug 30, Judge Graves told her: “You can’t change what God gave you.”

ACLU of Oklahoma’s Ryan Kiesel: “A person’s name is a fundamental part of their identity, and it is indefensible for a judge to rob someone of their legal right choose their own name.”

The ACLU filed the appeal on Sept. 27th. An earlier case which the judge quoted the Bible at length to deny another trans person a name change is already in front of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals.

Graves: “If you’re born male, you stay male, according to the study I’ve done on DNA. If you’re born female, you stay female.”

ACLU files appeal of Oklahoma judge’s order denying name change | NewsOK.com.

Angela Renee Ingram’s name change request interrupted by Bible quoting judge (Photo: newsok.com)

Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves (Photo: examiner.com)

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Filed under: Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, aclu, Angela Renee Ingram, appeal, bible, District Judge Bill Graves, oklahoma, Ryan Kiesel

September 26, 2012 • 10:41 PM 7

Gov. Patrick, it’s not about sex reassignment surgery or the cost . . .

Inmate Michelle Kosilek, Mass. Gov. Deval Partick

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — I’m not going to speculate on the specific reasons why Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick decided to appeal U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf’s ruling on transgender inmate Michelle’s need for SRS, other than to point out the decision was most likely based on politics or emotions — probably both. It most certainly wasn’t rational thinking.

The ONLY thing on the table here is cruel and unusual punishment. Not the fact she’s transgender. Or that she needs SRS. Or that it’s expensive. Or that lawyers are expensive, too.

Wolf ruled that what was happening to Kosilek in prison was cruel and unusual punishment. If an inmate racked up tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills trying to prove she is being subject to cruel and unusual punishment in prison and succeeds, of course she is going to be reimbursed. By ordering that her legal expenses be repaid, the judge is saying that the prison authorities failed to tend to her well-being — a responsiblity they’re entrusted to provide for all prisoners.

The appeals court will be looking at only one thing when the case comes before them: Is Kosilek enduring cruel or unusual punishment? They will then decide either yes or no.

The cost for the surgery and legal expenses, politics, emotion appeals, the lack of health care for non-prisoners, the fact that she’s a convicted murder — all these things will not be considered by the appeals court.

Gov. Patrick knows all this because after all, he’s a grad from Harvard Law School and was appointed Assistant Attorney General to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division by then President Bill Clinton.

So basically Gov. Patrick, with only one tool left in your toolbox, you’re saying Kosilek is NOT enduring cruel and unusual punishment. Right?

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I previously reported on this story: “By now, everybody and their neighbor have called for the Massachusetts judge’s head on a pike for ordering that a trans inmate get SRS (sex reassignment surgery) while in prison.”

Read the entire story here:
http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/transgender-inmate-srs-saga-dont-second-guess-judge-unless-prepared-to-deal-with-onslaught-of-marbles/

Inmate Michelle Kosilek, Mass. Gov. Deval Partick

Gov. Patrick to appeal transgender inmate’s sex change ruling | Metro News – WCVB Home.

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Everything else, Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, appeals court, cruel and unusual punishment, Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Gov. Deval Patrick, Harvard Law School, Michelle Kosilek, President Bill Clinton, srs, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf

September 26, 2012 • 8:45 PM 5

Boca Raton, Florida prefers trans people discrimination over taking county money

Palm Beach County Commission Chairwoman Shelley Vana (Photo: examiner.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — That’s what this has boiled down to. The county of Palm Beach, Florida has offered to give the city of Boca Raton $235,000 to upgrade the city’s hazmat emergency response preparedness, providing the city includes ‘gender identity or expression’ in its anti-discrimination standards. The county already provides protection for transgender people, the city of Boca Raton does not.

If the city of Boca Raton decides to keep trans people protection language off the books, they will have to pay out of their own pockets to respond to hazmat emergencies — in other words, they’ll be paying to keep trans people an unprotected class in their city.

While the city has offered up a number of reasons for balking at the deal, the bottom line however, the money is being dispensed by the county and the agreement was drawn up by the county commissioners who are elected officials representing the citizens of Palm Beach county — their families, friends and neighbors — not a faceless government entity.

Commission Chairwoman Shelley Vana: “As a county we have stood for equal opportunities for everybody and that means everybody.”

So, Boca Raton, what is it going to be?

Boca Raton balks at county’s anti-discrimination standards – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.

Palm Beach County Commission Chairwoman Shelley Vana tells city of Boca Raton: ‘take it or leave it!’ (Photo: examiner.com)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Boca Raton, Chairwoman Shelley Vana, florida, palm beach county commission

September 26, 2012 • 2:04 AM 13

Asylum panel in Denmark apparently reopens trans woman seeking refugee case

Fernanda Milan (Photo: lgbt.dk)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — There is no English news account of the apparent decision by the Danish asylum panel and I’m working from Danish-to-English translations. Apparently there is good news. First the back story from my earlier report:

Fernanda Milan left Guatemala after a police officer held a gun to her head threatening to kill her if she didn’t stop her advocacy work. While it is not clear how she ended up in Denmark, but the organization LGBT-Denmark is providing the Danish asylum panel with evidence of the circumstances in Guatemala. Milan says she fears torture and death if she was to return.

Full story here: After death threats from police in home country, trans woman seeks refugee in Denmark « The Guerrilla Angel Report by Lexie Cannes.

Since that story, I was told that a decision was already made to send Milan back home. However, trans and LGBT advocates were working to get the Danish asylum panel to reopen the decision. Apparently this effort has succeeded.

Here’s a summary of the English translation of an article posted Sept. 23, 2012 on LGBT Demark’s website:
http://www.lgbt.dk/111/?tx_ttnews[year]=2012&tx_ttnews[month]=09&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=3487&cHash=4d54e9bbb6
,

[Condensed summary:] Fernandas asylum procedure reopened

Important decision from the Refugee Board’s page.

. . .

The Refugee Board has received several inquiries in the matter, inter alia from ILGA Europe, and they have now chosen to reopen it.

“It is a happy decision, and the only right decision,” says Søren Laursen [LGBT advocate]. “It is my view that Fernanda throughout the case has been improperly treated.

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I’ve posted the entire English translation in the comments section. I’m not sure what happens next. If I’ve misread the translation, please feel free to comment in this blog’s comment section so I can make corrections.

Fernanda Milan (Photo: lgbt.dk)

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Filed under: Law Enforcement, Police, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, asylum, denmark, Fernanda Milan, Guatemala, LGBT-Denmark

September 25, 2012 • 11:20 PM 8

New Hampshire transgender third grader to pee in peace

Nashua School Superintendent Mark Conrad (Photo: Nashua Telegraph)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — It’s settled. The battle between the parents of a transgender third grader and the Nashua, NH school district over the child’s clothes and restroom use at school has ended with an agreement between the two parties. Reportedly, the agreement allows the child to dress as she chooses and she can use the girl’s restroom.

Neither party has yet to comment on the specifics of the agreement.

Janson Wu, the family’s attorney: “I think that as the environments become more and more welcoming to transgender and gender variant youth, we’re going to see a lot more students coming out. And that’s something that schools and parents will need to be prepared to deal with. Children often have difficulty having schools respect them for who they believe they are.”

Nashua School Superintendent Mark Conrad: “We don’t have a specific policy on transgender students, but we do have policies in place that prevent discrimination against students and bullying, and we regularly review those policies.”

While this is a good outcome for the child, I do wonder if future trans students of this school district have to make an “agreement” before they can dress or use the restroom of the gender they present in? Never mind the cost for attorneys, but I don’t feel the school should have a default policy to make case-by-case decisions. I believe a clear trans policy is in order. Supt. Conrad, how about it?

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/09/25/report-transgender-3rd-grader-will-be-allowed-to-use-girls-bathroom/

Nashua School Superintendent Mark Conrad — comes to agreement with trans child (Photo: Nashua Telegraph)

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Filed under: Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, bathroom, Janson Wu, Nashua, Nashua School Superintendent Mark Conrad, new hampshire, school, third grader

September 25, 2012 • 8:19 PM 1

Man arrested in NYC McDonald’s knifing of trans woman’s partner

Keith Patron arrested for the knifing of trans woman’s partner

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — A Bronx man whose surveillance photo was distributed by NYPD police following a brutal knifing of Jamar McLeod, a man defending his trans woman partner at a NYC McDonald’s, has been arrested. Police identified him as Keith Patron, 44, of Morrisania. There is not much additional details from the police at this time.

I reported on the story 2 days ago: “Yup, another vicious attack resulting from a trans person’s use of a public bathroom. This time it was the trans woman’s boyfriend who was knifed by an irate customer at a Greenwich Village (NYC) McDonald’s after he became angry when trans woman Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen attempted to use the women’s restroom. A melee with anti-gay slurs ensued and Griffen’s boyfriend was cut severely in the face by a razor.

The arrested man’s sister is reportedly giving a different account of what happened. She refused to give her name but she supposedly said it was self-defense: “Someone kneed him and hurt him and he was trying to defend himself. The girlfriend was edging on the boyfriend to defend her.”

I’m not so sure about the reliability of this report and/or the sister, but you can read about it here:
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120925/greenwich-village/family-of-alleged-anti-lgbt-mcdonalds-slasher-disputes-bias-charge#ixzz27Xb6KRVS

Keith Patron arrested for the knifing of trans woman’s partner

Jamar McLeod shows his facial knife wounds (Photo: NY Daily News)

Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen (Photo: NY Daily News)

(Tip of the hat to Robyn!)

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Filed under: Law Enforcement, Police, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen, Jamar McLeod, Keith Patron, mcdonalds, nyc

September 24, 2012 • 12:47 AM 6

Bar under state investigation for booting group of transgender patrons changes name, format

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian (Photo: KATU-TV)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — A Portland, Oregon bar under state investigation for booting out a group of trans people who met at the bar for 2 years, changed the 50-year old name of the club — the Portsmouth Club, also known as the P-Club to the Twilight Room Annex.

In the booting incident, the owner, Chris Penner, saying he was concerned about the tran group’s presence driving patrons away, left a phone message for the group telling them not to come to his bar anymore. You can read about that incident in this article I wrote in August:
http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/state-investigates-bar-after-owner-tells-transgender-patrons-told-not-to-return/

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian himself filed the complaint against the bar and the investigation is on going. An anti-trans discrimination law been in existence in the city of Portland since 2001, state-wide since 2007. One of the reasons the commissioner filed the complaint himself was because he said “there may be barriers to the individuals filing the complaint themselves” because some were still in the closet.

Beth Allen, lawyer for the trans group: “You can’t just kick people out of bar because they’re an unpopular class of people. I think he thought because perhaps some of his patrons have a negative view of transgender individuals, that gave him the right to kick them out. . . .”

Bar owner Chris Penner on the voice message he left for the group that prompted the investigation: “I put my foot in my mouth. … I’m not a lawyer. I was trying to explain.”

But Penner still thinks he did the right thing. He recently stated: “Most [people in the group booted out of the bar] are in-the-closet, straight men, but they’re using the women’s restrooms, they feel they have a right to use those restrooms because on Friday nights, they are women.”

As everyone awaits the outcome of the state investigation, Penner says he’s making changes to ensure the place makes money and the name change was part of that.

Stay tuned.

Portland club changes name, labor bureau investigates its treatment of crossdressers | OregonLive.com.

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian files complaint against the bar on behalf of transgender group (Photo: KATU-TV)

Bar owner Chris Penner (Photo: KATU-TV)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Beth Allen, Brad Avakian, chris penner, oregon, Oregon Labor Commissioner, P Club, portland, Portsmouth Club, Twilight Room Annex.

September 23, 2012 • 12:29 AM 6

[UPDATE: Slasher arrested] Trans woman’s boyfriend knifed by McDonald’s customer after she uses restroom

Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen (Photo: NY Daily News)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE: See below.] Yup, another vicious attack resulting from a trans person’s use of a public bathroom. This time it was the trans woman’s boyfriend who was knifed by an irate customer at a Greenwich Village (NYC) McDonald’s after he became angry when trans woman Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen attempted to use the women’s restroom. A melee with anti-gay slurs ensued and Griffen’s boyfriend was cut severely in the face by a razor.

I pieced this together from several sources — some of them containing varying degrees of errors.

The McDonald’s where the attack took place is supposedly crime-plagued with a number of recently occurring attacks, including one supposedly caused by an employee.

NYPD says the slashing victim was taken to a hospital and survived. The suspect, however, got away. The NYPD also says they’re investingating it as a hate crime and has released a photo of the suspect.

The police is looking for the suspect: between the ages of 35 and 40, 5’10″ and between 300 and 350 pounds. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.

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There has been an arrest in the case:
http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/man-arrested-in-nyc-mcdonalds-knifing-of-trans-womans-partner/

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Earlier I wrote about another trans woman beaten for her use of a McDonald’s restroom:
http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/19-year-old-attacker-sentenced-to-5-years-for-beating-transgender-woman-in-mcdonalds/

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http://gothamist.com/2012/09/21/nypd_village_mcdonalds_slashing_was.php

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/09/22/transgender-woman-slashed-at-mcdonald-s.html

[Trigger warning] Man defending his transgender girlfriend slashed by 350-pound man at Greenwich Village McDonald’s – NY Daily News.

Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen (Photo: NY Daily News)

NYPD released this photo of the suspect

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Filed under: Law Enforcement, Police, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, bathroom, Greenwich Village, Jalisa “JoJo” Griffen, knifing, mcdonalds, nyc

September 21, 2012 • 10:46 PM 2

Indie filmmakers of transgender film say: “We’re toast. We’re done.”

Not me. Erica Hayes and Madisun Leigh shouldn’t be either.

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — I believe I know a thing or two about the film business — it’s brutal. If “competition” causes one to throw up their hands and exclaim “we’re toast, we’re done,” then perhaps they’re not cut out for the film business anyway.

I’m referring, of course, to indie filmmakers Erica Hayes and Madisun Leigh who are working on “iTran”, a documentary about the transgender experience. After Hayes and Leigh learned singer Janet Jackson signed on to produce a transgender doc titled “Truth,” they whined about their quote “little bitty effort” unquote being overshadowed by Jackson’s money and fame.

Hayes and Leigh, I’ve got news for you — nobody in the film business has a monopoly on topics. Likewise, if you think your film is a “little bitty effort”, perhaps it shouldn’t get made at all.

Films have to stand on their own. It does not matter how much is spent making the documentary — only the contents matter. You cannot BUY good content, you have to earn it. Therefore Hayes and Leigh, you’ve an equally good chance of coming up with an excellent film as Jackson has. True, money makes things easier to cover up the lack of compelling contents with show and flash, but if you two have what it takes to be filmmakers, you’ll pull it off.

Besides, high dollar productions have a good chance of falling apart before completed. An additional bonus: multi-million dollar turkeys are the NORM in the business. Odds are Jackson’s film will be less than satisfactory.

From the viewers point of view, we’ve two chances at seeing one hit in a medium where no-hit innings are the norm. The other thing to think about — there are likely other trans films already in production.

My advice to you two, Hayes and Leigh, forget Janet Jackson and make your damn film. And make sure you add closed captioning if you want to get a thumbs up from me.

PrideSource – Janet Jackson’s Trans Film Called Into Question.

Not me. Erica Hayes and Madisun Leigh shouldn’t be either.

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Filed under: Lexie Cannes (the movie), Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, documentary, Erica Hayes, filmmaker, itran, janet jackson, Madisun Leigh, truth

September 21, 2012 • 12:36 AM 11

[UPDATE] After death threats from police in home country, trans woman seeks refugee in Denmark

From the Facebook page “Save Fernanda Milan”

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE: See below.] There is no question that trans people in many countries around the world face violence, torture and death — even from the police. In my opinion, requests for asylum to live in a more civilized country should be automatic — especially if they face death upon deportation back to their homeland. Such is the story of transgender Guatemalan woman Fernandina Milan who is now in Denmark hoping her asylum application is approved.

Milan left Guatemala after a police officer held a gun to her head threatening to kill her if she didn’t stop her advocacy work. While it is not clear how she ended up in Denmark, but the organization LGBT-Denmark is providing the Danish asylum panel with evidence of the circumstances in Guatemala. Milan says she fears torture and death if she was to return.

This is pretty much all we know. A search for more English-language information on this story came up with nothing. Here’s hoping the panel makes the right decision.

Sadly though, Milan isn’t the only trans person in Guatemala. Likely there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, who will have to continue to live under the dire circumstances there as Milan described — some to be tortured and killed. The big transgender story isn’t the one going on in Denmark, but rather, the ones occurring in backward countries around the world.

Denmark to reconsider transgender refugee – UPI.com.

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UPDATE: Sept. 21, 2012 – I found a Facebook page about Milan (thanks to Johanna Marseille):
https://www.facebook.com/savefernandamilan.fernanda.1

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UPDATE: Sept. 25, 2012 -Danish asylum panel to reopen Milan case:
http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/asylum-panel-in-denmark-apparently-reopens-trans-woman-seeking-refugee-case/

(Photo: Facebook/Ramona Macho)

Fearing the police — a fact of life for many trans people around the world

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Filed under: Deaths, Murder, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, asylum, denmark, Fernandina Milan, Guatemala, LGBT-Denmark

September 20, 2012 • 10:33 PM 2

Courtney O’Donnell: Thanks, Sam (Portland, Oregon, Mayor Sam Adams)

Portland, Or. Mayor Sam Adams (Photo: Just Out)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — (I wrote this for Just Out. You can read the entire article on the Just Out site: In Transit: Thanks, Sam )

From behind the scenes during the era of Mayor Vera Katz and later, to the front line as a city commissioner and mayor, Sam Adams was someone at City Hall who was watching out for transgender citizens — a peace of mind for many, knowing no misfortune was going to sneak up on us in the city of Portland, Oregon.

While it is true that a personal decision or two by Adams left many Portlanders with their mouths agape, it doesn’t erase the fact that it may be some time before many of us feel as comfortable again as we are feeling right now.

Many transgender sisters and brothers easily relate to Adam’s upbringing — a rough road lined with bullies and distant dreams. Success, when it came, didn’t rid us of bullies and haters — only Adams knows how this feels. Portland’s next mayor will certainly be our ally, but will never have worn our shoes.

Highly regarded trans-friendly cities like Portland are rare and the occupants of city hall determine where the bar is set. I have a large presence on social media and Portland’s reputation as a trans haven is stated over and over again both by people living here and those that have lived here at one time or another. I’ve never hesitated to say “yes” when asked if Portland is safe for trans people.

While violence is a threat for all LGBTQ citizens, transgender people are especially targeted. In Portland, the instances of violence are relatively low. Furthermore, trans people here generally do not fear calling the police, as is often the case elsewhere; trans people feel the police will not protect them from being harassed or beaten, or they fear being harassed, bullied or beaten By the police. One can sense Adams is attuned to this in the way he’s handling the Ronald Frasnour firing (Frasnour was fired for shooting Aaron Campbell, who was unarmed, in the back on Jan. 29, 2010). No trans citizen should fear their own police force.

Trans-friendly, low-violence, police attuned to our needs, and strong allies at City Hall doesn’t seem to be ask- ing for much, but sadly, in most large American cities, the lack of two or more these conditions is the norm. I’m grateful that the current and past mayors and commissioners wisely molded Portland into the great city that is for trans people today.

Now with the era of Sam Adams ending, I have an uneasy feeling that I’m sure is likely shared by other trans people in the area. Will someone still be watching out for us? In a way we are fortunate. Both mayoral candidates Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith appear to be very strong allies of LGBTQ people. Both Hales and Smith have actively worked on campaigns or projects in the past that directly improved our well-being and both appear to support recent transgender-specific policies.

Indeed, after viewing the material from both campaigns, I’m looking at two very impressive trans allies. Choosing the better candidate may involve a bit of hair splitting.

Both Hales and Smith agreed to provide a statement for transgender readers of Just Out at Courtney O’Donnell’s request. (Edited for length.)

CHARLIE HALES

I am proud to have been involved in the LGBT movement for years. When I was City Commissioner, I joined my colleagues in establishing one of the nation’s early domestic partner registries. This was at the time when the first anti-gay ballot measures were sweeping our state around issues of local anti-discrimination laws. I volunteered on both the first Measure 9 and Measure 13 op- position campaigns. I have long supported marriage equality. In addition, I fully support the City Council’s action last year to extend health benefits to city workers to include sexual reassignment surgery.

Looking forward, I will be an active part of the public education campaign and advocacy campaign to bring marriage equality to our state, and will be an outspoken advocate as Mayor for the freedom to marry for all caring and committed couples. I will take steps to combat HIV-related stigma — we still live in a city where 1 in 4 people living with HIV don’t know they are infected, in large part because of attitudes attached to a positive diagnosis. I will use the public nature of the Mayor’s office to bring awareness and help direct the public towards available testing ser- vices. I will advocate for continued state fund- ing for state health programs that support HIV/ AIDS patients.

I will also work with our public safety bureaus to continue to better reflect our community, including LGBT members of the force. We need to continue to ensure safety of openly gay couples and social interactions by acting definitively when hate crimes have been committed, threats are issued or safety is at all in question. The City, as an employer and a provider of services, will be a welcoming culture for GLBT persons where workplace discrimination will not be tolerated and high quality customer service will be provided to every resident alike.

JEFFERSON SMITH

Look to the issues (where we’ll both be pretty good) and to who’s been in the trenches with you for the last decade. I stood with the LGBTQ community in my work in the house, supporting anti-bullying legislation. The organization I founded, the Bus Project, has knocked on tens of thousands of doors for marriage equality, supported safe spaces on college campuses & trans- inclusive health care. Leaders I’ve mentored & developed have gone on to service in local and national LGBTQ advocacy organizations and campaigns. I’ll be more than a supporter for your community – I’ll be a champion.

via In Transit: Thanks, Sam.

Portland, Oregon Mayor Sam Adams (Photo: bikeportland.org)

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Filed under: Judicial, Courts, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Charlie Hales, city of portland oregon, Jefferson Smith, mayor, mayor vera katz, Ronald Frasnour, sam adams

September 20, 2012 • 1:01 AM 38

Coming to the Sydney Opera House: “Trannie,” an exploit/hate musical-comedy

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — It’s one thing to share a laugh at our expense behind closed doors, but it’s an entirely different ballgame when one creates an entire theater production for the sole purpose of making money by utilizing the hatred or disdain some in our society have for transgender people and exploit it for the purpose of making money.

The production of “Trannie” is coming to the Sydney Opera House (yes, that iconic building). The following is a description of the production from the SOH website:

“It really is a hard-knock life for ten year old little orphan Fannie. His parents left him in a basket on the doorstep of the Sutherland Shire Children’s Orphanage with nothing but a bracelet and a bottle of Stoli. Now he is desperate to get his long-overdue gender reassignment surgery, but there’s so much standing in his way: including that boozy matron Miss Trannigan who has just been listed on the sex-offender registry, and is bitter from years of Logie losses. Thank God Fannie has a bunch of foul mouthed orphans and his/her trusty ex-sniffer dog to help him/her survive.”

Miss Trannigan? Sex-offender registry? The person who is behind this production is Trevor Ashley. We’re not likely going to stop him from making money exploiting us, but we can try to put a Shroud of Shame over the Sydney Opera House.

bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com

Switchboard: +61 2 9250 7111

Box office: +61 2 9250 7777

Tours: +61 2 9250 7250

Fax: +61 2 9251 3943

Fax International:+61 2 9251 3843

Mail: Sydney Opera House
GPO Box R239
Royal Exchange
Sydney NSW 1225
Australia

Trevor Ashley in Trannie – An Adults Only Panto.

(Thanks to Indi Kelley Edwards for the tip!)

While this photo has been photoshopped, it is factually correct.

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Filed under: Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, australia, exploit, hate, panto, sydney opera house, trannie, Trevor Ashley

September 18, 2012 • 10:46 PM 3

Where to pee? New app for transgender people

The daily dilemma

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Where’s the nearest bathroom we can safely use? That’s THE question we’d like to ask nearly every day when we’re out and about, but we just mumble in silence instead and look for the lessor of the many evils out there. Now there’s an app for finding a gender neutral, safe and trans friendly place to pee.

Disclaimer: I’ve not tried the app and cannot comment on how well it works and/or if the data shown is accurate.

A well developed trans-friendly public bathroom locator app would not only be a handy, stress-relieving tool, but it could potentially be a necessary application to have at all times to remain safe.

It’s called TransSquat and is available from Apple. I’m not sure if there is a Android version. It supposedly utilizes the Safe2Pee database of over 4,000 locations — it’s community driven so users can add to the directory. The closest bathroom to you is found via GPS.

Developer Billy Bolt created the project to help fund his SRS. Bolt has a Facebook page and can be contact there:

http://www.facebook.com/TranSquat

New App For The Transgender Community | Passport Magazine News.

I do not know Mr. Bolt personally nor do I have anything to do with his app.

Screenshot of the TranSquat app (Photo: facebook/transquat)

————-

Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, app, billy bolt, gender neutral bathroom, public bathroom, transquat

September 18, 2012 • 9:09 PM 4

Mayor on transgender rights bill: ‘sex perverts will invade women’s showers’

Maplewood Mayor Jim White

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Fear and hysterics. This is what Maplewood, Missouri, Mayor Jim White used to mark his opposition to a trans and LGBT anti-discrimination bill being considered during a city council meeting.

White said: “Under this ordinance you can have a male by birth, he could be a convicted sexual pervert, he could, under this ordinance as written, go into the women’s bath area at the pool and simply by saying, ‘I feel like I’m a woman today…’

If anyone tried to move this individual out of the women’s bathroom, out of the shower stall, as he goes by opening all the curtains, saying he was looking for something open. If one of our residents…push this person out of this…bathroom, under this ordinance they could be convicted of a hate crime.”

White said this after reading a legal opinion from the city attorney. When asked by the news media for a copy of the attorney’s report, White said: “I have talked with the City Manager and he indicated we will not release this document based on Client and Attorney confidentiality.”

Of course.

Hysterics aside, White failed to stop the bill. It has now passed two readings and the final reading will occur soon.

I do wonder though what the mayor plans to do about actual sex perverts — the ones that prey on little boys and girls — in our parks, schools and malls — the ones that make the headlines every day and fill our prisons.

(Tip of the hat to Robyn Carolyn Montague)

http://maplewood-brentwood.patch.com/articles/quiktrip-sexual-orientation-discrimination-food-trucks-at-maplewood-council

Maplewood, Missouri Mayor Jim White (Photo: patch.com)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, bathroom, Maplewood, mayor james white, Mayor Jim White, Missouri, showers

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Coming to the Sydney Opera House: “Trannie,” an exploit/hate musical-comedy

Where to pee? New app for transgender people