Trans activist in Kuwait: ‘transgender an “epidemic” that politicians say the country must get rid of’

(Photo: oleuanna.co.uk)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — “. . . gender identity is increasingly talked about by politicians and the media as an “epidemic” that the country must get rid of’ says a trans activist in Kuwait.

With six trans women arrested by Kuwaiti police in recent weeks and five already in prison, the government of Kuwait continues their oppression of transgender people through the use of a 2007 law that ‘imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex’.

A Human Rights Watch report published in January outlined the arrest, abuse and torture of trans people in Kuwait. I wrote about that here: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/u-s-should-force-kuwait-to-repeal-law-against-imitating-the-opposite-sex-which-allows-abuse-of-trans-by-police/

The Gay Star News published this statement from a trans activist: ‘The situation here is getting worse. . . . The authorities are using the article prohibiting “imitating the opposite sex” to violate our freedom of expression, and as a political weapon. So transgender people have to be in disguise all the time, we can’t even leave home or walk among the society, we have to remain hidden for our safety and we’re treated as criminals. . . . Our country is regressing both legally and socially, sexual orientation and gender identity is increasingly talked about by politicians and the media as an “epidemic” that the country must get rid of.’

As I noted in my earlier report, the world community, especially the United States government, ought to denounce these conditions in Kuwait.

More: Eleven trans arrested in Kuwait | Gay Star News.

(Photo: oleuanna.co.uk)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Legislative, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, human rights watch, imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex, kuwait, oppression

Vice President Joe Biden: ‘trans discrimination is the civil rights issue of our time’

Vice President Joe Biden

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — A volunteer at an Obama campaign office asked the visiting vice president if he could help get civil rights for transgender people and Biden replied that it’s the “civil rights issue of our time.”

Biden made the comment in Sarasota, Florida on Tuesday after talking with Linda Carragher Bourne, the mother of Miss Trans New England.

Bourne later told a reporter: “A lot of my friends are being killed, and they don’t have the civil rights yet. These guys are gonna make it happen.”

Biden, of course, nailed down Obama’s stance on LGBT marriage earlier this year and has historically been one of our strongest allies in Washington.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/10/biden-says-transgender-discrimination-civil-rights-147761.html

Vice President Biden tells Linda Carragher Bourne ‘trans discrimination is the civil rights issue of our time’ (Photo: Facebook)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, civil rights issue of our time, joe biden, Linda Carragher Bourne, Miss Trans New England, vice president

Trans women murdered in Puerto Rico, and Dallas, Texas

Janette Tovar killed in domestic dispute (Photo: Facebook)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — A transgender organization in Puerto Rico reports the death of Malena Suarez who lived in Carolina, a suburb of San Juan. Transexuales y Transgéneros en Marcha (TTM) said that Suarez was a volunteer with the organization. She was found stabbed to death in her home when her friends became concerned of her whereabouts.

Sophia Isabel Marrero Cruz, TTM’s spokeperson: “The transgender community in Puerto Rico is extremely terrorized by this violence, we fear for our lives, and our government is not taking action to protect us.”

(I was unable to find any photos of Malena Suarez.)

In Dallas, Texas, apparently over a week ago, Janette Tovar was murdered by her domestic partner, Jonathan Stuart Kenney, in an apparent domestic dispute at their residence. Police found Tovar unresponsive at the scene following a 911 call.. An autopsy revealed that Tovar died from blunt force trauma to the head and the death ruled a homicide.  Kenney has since been arrested.

A manager living below them stated that the couple was always fighting. Police say Kenney slammed Tovar’s head onto concrete just prior to arriving home. They also stated that Kenney admitted to assaulting her.

Stay tuned.

More on Malena Suarez: Transgender murder 30th anti-LGBTQ homicide in Puerto Rico in decade – 901 – Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News – Windy City Times.

Janette Tovar: http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/rip-janette.html

Memorial for Janette Tovar: https://www.facebook.com/InLovingMemoryOfJanetteTovar?fref=ts

Thanks to Kelli Anne Busey.

Janette Tovar

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Filed under: Deaths, Murder, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Violence, Hate, carolina, Dallas, Janette Tovar, Jonathan Stuart Kenney, Malena Suarez, puerto rico, Sophia Isabel Marrero Cruz, texas., Transexuales y Transgéneros en Marcha

Ten trans people a month are killed in Brazil — the stoning of ‘Madona’ is the latest

Trans woman Madona stoned in Brazil

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT –Brazil, a country that is home to a large transgender population has reported over 100 transgender death so far in 2012. The latest is Madona– a popular and well-liked woman living in Aracaju. (Some reports have her name spelled Madonna.)

Reportedly an unknown group of people attacked her with stones and she died 4 days later in a hospital of head injuries.

Madona’s neighbor Maria Livia Vieira told infonet:  ‘She was a very funny, happy person, who loved to dance and be playful, she didn’t hurt anyone.’

National Counsel to Combat Discrimination of the Secretary of Human Rights to the President of Brazil’s Keila Simpson (Some reports have the name Keith Simpson), told GayStarNews: ‘Trans people are the smallest and most vulnerable part of the LGBT Brazilian communities, making up a mere tenth, yet we suffer from the highest incidence of violence and murder. Since January we have had over 100 transgender people murdered here – that means over 10 people murdered every month.

‘Contrary to popular belief, most of the murders are not crime of passion at all, but the murderers are people who didn’t know their victims.  . . . ‘People here in Brazil think that if they don’t like someone, like a trans person, they have a right to murder.

Simpson went on to say this is the main reason trans people in Brazil seek to leave the country — most move European countries.

I put this together from several sources and the gist I get from reading those reports is the situation for transgender people in Brazil is quite dire. It is interesting that I found no notation of what police action were being taking regarding Madona’s murder.

Trans woman Madona stoned in Brazil

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Filed under: Deaths, Murder, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Violence, Hate, Aracaju, brazil, Keila Simpson, madona, madonna, Maria Livia Vieira, National Counsel to Combat Discrimination

Transgender director Lana Wachowski mesmerizes audience following HRC award

Lana Wachowski

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Filmmaker and trans woman Lana Wachowski, who (along with her brother Andy) directed the The Matrix series films, accepted the Visibility Award by the Human Rights Campaign and rewarded attendees of the event with a truly emotional — sometimes humorous, sometimes gut wrenching — speech about her transition into Lana.

A private person, somewhat shy and unaccustomed to giving a speech in front of a large audience, Lana Wachowski pulled off the impossible — she had the audience hanging on to every word, mesmerized for the entire 25 minutes she spoke.

Lana Wachowski clearly did not make this very public speech for herself, but rather, felt compelled to do it on behalf of all her transgender brothers and sisters. With one 25-minute speech, she impacted the lives of many struggling trans people through personal inspiration or heightened positive awareness of trans people in society.

Trans role model extraordinaire.

I really liked this bit Lana shared about what her brother said when reporters during an earlier interview began to ask ‘gender questions’:  “if somebody asks something or says something about my sister that I don’t like, understand that I will break a bottle over their head.”

A captioned version of the HRC speech can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crHHycz7T_c

(Thanks to Liz LaVenture for the push!)

Lana Wachowski giving acceptance speech

Lana Wachowski

Lana Wachowski

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Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Cloud Atlas, director, film, human rights campaign, Lana Wachowski, the matrix, visibility award

Another trans woman’s throat slashed and killed in Antalya,Turkey

Turkish trans woman Serap murdered

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Information put together from two sources indicates another Turkish trans woman had her throat slit open and bled to death. EMTs were called but 25-year-old Serap was dead at the scene. Police plan to begin a murder investigation, starting with an autopsy.

Disturbing is that Serap’s death follows the July throat slashing of Secil Anne — both of these victims were living in Antalya, Turkey.

Here’s what I wrote about the July killing: “Secil Anne’s murder however, is especially ominous as it comes a month after a group of about 100 neighbors in Antalya protested the transgender sex workers in the area that were “disturbing” to them. While the police say they do patrol the area and charge sex workers when caught, however, the group of neighbors said then they would be ‘patrolling the area with bats.’”

Read more about the July killing: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/trans-woman-disfigured-stabbed-to-death-in-turkey/

I’ve no idea if these murders are related, or connected to this neighborhood group.

Working from a Turkish to English translation, a trans activist, Michelle Demishevich, said there were other trans people with Serap during the attack who were also injured, but survived. They were also pepper sprayed after being attacked.

Information from a transgender activist in Turkey, Kemal Ordek, confirms a number of the facts in the news report.

Anybody with further details about either of these murders, please post in the comment section.

http://www.marksist.org/haberler/8691-antalyada-transfobik-nefret-cinayeti

http://www.facebook.com/TransRightsEurope/posts/459738267401759

Thanks to Jasmine Emily Seymour for the tip.

Secil Anne and Serap — both trans women living in Antalya, Turkey, throats slashed and killed 3 months apart

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Filed under: Deaths, Murder, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Violence, Hate, Antalya, Kemal Ordek, Michelle Demishevich, Secil Anne, Serap, turkey

San Francisco mural honors transgender activists — see before it gets tagged over

Artist: Tanya Wischerath (Photo: Caitlin Donohue)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — This is such a cool project deserving of wider exposure, even though this type of art is lacking in permanence — but then, that’s part of the mystique. If I were anywhere near SF, I’d go down and take a look-see.

Artist Tanya Wischerath painted the mural of 4 trans activists; Mia Tu Mutch, Alexis Rivera, Janetta Louise-Johnson, and Tamara Chingover, in 9 days — just in time for the Clarion Alley Block Party. Clarion Alley is known for street art and community activities. It is located between Mission and Valencia Streets and 17th and 18th Streets.

(If anyone wants to help me match names to the photos, leave a comment below and I’ll add them.)

Read more about the project here:  Trans activists honored in Clarion Alley mural | SF Arts.

Artist: Tanya Wischerath (Photo: Caitlin Donohue)

Artist: Tanya Wischerath (Photos: Caitlin Donohue)

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Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Alexis Rivera, Clarion Alley Block Party, Janetta Louise-Johnson, Mia Tu Mutch, mural, san francisco, Tamara Chingover, Tanya Wischerath, trans activists

Legislator tries end run around federal judge’s transgender “cruel and unusual punishment” ruling

Mass. State Rep. John H. Rogers tries end run around federal judge’s “cruel and unusual punishment” finding

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Michelle Kosilek, the transgender Massachusetts prisoner who a federal judge said the denial of her doctor’s recommendation of sex reassignment surgery amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, has found yet another twist in her legal pursuit of getting medical care. A Massachusetts legislator wants to run an amendment through the legislature to block payment of a federal judge’s order to have the surgery.

The state of Massachusetts apparently denied Kosilek’s attorney’s offer to drop the $800,000 in legal fees awarded if they let her have the surgery and are instead filing an appeal of the decision. State Rep. John H. Rogers, a Democrat, however, wants to go further and block her medical funding through legislative action unless the U.S. Supreme Court tells them otherwise.

The legal ramifications of this could return to haunt the legislature. Deliberately doing an end run around a federal judge’s ruling that the state is engaging in cruel and unusual punishment is unwise on any level.

Not much about this case is making sense, including Rogers’ actions — stay tuned.

More on the federal judge’s ruling for Michelle Kosilek’s SRS: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/gov-patrick-its-not-about-sex-reassignment-surgery-or-the-cost/

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

Zack Ford gets into the specific legal ramifications here: Anti-Trans Massachusetts Lawmaker Attempts To Circumvent Federal Court Ruling | ThinkProgress.

Mass. State Rep. John H. Rogers tries end run around federal judge’s “cruel and unusual punishment” finding

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Filed under: Judicial, Courts, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, cruel and unusual punishment, Massachusetts, Michelle Kosilek, prisoner, Rep. John H. Rogers

Jenna Talackova, transgender Miss Universe contestant becomes trans activist

Jenna Talackova

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Jenna Talackova shot to fame as a Canadian beauty contestant and along the way she became a de facto spokesperson for the trans community simply because she had the attention of the media. She did a splendid job and brought loads of positive PR to trans people around the world — the kind of PR one can’t buy.

Now with the pageant behind her, Talackova has stepped up into the role of trans activist. She’s following the lead of the American Psychiatric Association’s plan to remove gender dysphoria as a mental disorder and is petitioning the World Health Organization to follow suit.

Talackova writes: “I’m not sick. In fact I’m great! I’m a woman that had to undergo transgender medical procedures to become who I really am on in the inside.”

If you want to help, you can sign Jenna’s petition and watch her PR video here: https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/world-health-organization-trans-people-aren-t-sick

I last wrote about Jenna Talackova here: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/lgbt-rights-activist-says-jenna-talackova-doesnt-deserve-pride-parade-grand-marshal-honor/

I wrote this for The  Huffington Post: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/courtney-odonnell-why-i-did-an-about-face-and-boarded-the-jenna-talackova-pr-train/

Miss Universe contestant petitions World Health Organization to remove transsexualism as a mental disorder.

Jenna Talackova as she appears in a PR video about petitioning the WHO

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Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, American Psychiatric Association, Canadian Miss Universe, Gender Dysphoria, Jenna Talackova, pageant, petition, World Health Organization

Two weeks until election day 2012 — two things trans people need to know

Mitt Romney isn’t going to be playing Battleship with President Obama again anytime soon

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — For many of you, the time to vote is now. The ballot came in the mail and it is sitting on your kitchen table.

Set aside for a moment the promises, the debates, questions about trust, and consider this: You are a trans person — only two things really matter when choosing a presidential candidate.

1) When a bill crosses the president’s desk for his signature, will he sign into law legislation that helps brings trans people equal parity with the rest of the citizens of the United States? Or will it be the signature of legislation placing hurdles in the way?

Likewise, will your president use his veto power to prevent legislation detrimental for trans people from becoming law?

2) Long after your president has completed his term, the Supreme Court justices he has appointed will remain on the bench for decades to come.  The Supreme Court is the final arbitrator of laws passed in the United States. Will the justices your president appoints ensure equal parity for trans people?

The current members of the Supreme Court recent ruled that ‘corporations are people.’ Yet, here we are, trans people in America, still second-class citizens. Clearly, Supreme Court appointees matter! Legislation enacted in the next couple of decades favoring transgender people will most certainly be challenged in court — with many of these cases ending up in the hands of justices appointed by the president we elect just two weeks from now.

If you’re a trans person, the choice isn’t a difficult one to make.

Mitt Romney isn’t going to be playing Battleship with President Obama again anytime soon

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Judicial, Courts, Politics, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, battleship, Election 2012, Mitt Romney, Obama, president, supreme court justices

Finally! Convicted VRS fraud felon Larry Berke is in jail

Larry Berke is in the federal BOP database (composite image)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — According to a federal inmate registry, Larry Berke is actually in jail. Mr. Berke’s tiresome dodging game with the justice department appears over. I won’t repeat the delaying tactics he used to stay out of jail after his conviction very early this year, but you can follow the story in my previous articles on Larry Berke here: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=Larry+Berke

Federal prison inmate database indicating Berke’s inclusion: http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Larry&Middle=&LastName=Berke&Race=W&Sex=M&Age=&x=82&y=16

You can get a couple hours worth of VRS (video relay service) fraud reading in these articles: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=vrs+fraud

VRS Justice’s blog has a nice wrap up of what transpired at Mr. Berke’s last sentencing hearing with the judge. Links to court documents can be found there as well: L Berke Final Update | VRS Justice.

For those of you new to this topic, Mr. Berke is one of about 2 dozen deaf people who defrauded the federal government of upwards of $25 million dollars, possibly even more, by diverting funds earmarked to help deaf people use the telephone and pocketing it for themselves.

While sentencing of some of the minor VRS fraud players are set to occur in the next few week, the next major players — Bridget Bonheyo and Jerome Bonheyo — sentencing is apparently still set for Dec 17.

Larry Berke is in the federal BOP database (composite image)

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Filed under: Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Deaf, ASL, American Sign Language, Deaf Education, Bridget Bonheyo, jail, jerome bonheyo, Larry Berke, prison, video relay, VRS, VRS fraud

Courtney O’Donnell: In Transit — “Austin Unbound” documentary

Austin Richey, Eliza Greenwood

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — The filmed-in-Portland transgender documentary Austin Unbound premiered last November at Portland’s Hollywood theater. the film documents trans man Austin Richey’s choice to undergo sex reassignment surgery (SRS) — in this case upper surgery. Austin now identifies as a straight male. he is also deaf, giving the film the status of encompassing two different cultures.

[I wrote this for "Just Out". The entire article can be read on their website: http://www.justout.com/columns/voices/in-transit/in-transit-austin-unbound ]

Since its premiere, Austin Unbound has been a hit on the film festival and college lecture circuit. Both Austin and the filmmaker, Eliza Greenwood, were able to attend a number of these showings. I recently caught up with Eliza and fired off these questions:

Courtney O’Donnell: In your role as a doc filmmaker, what things did you learn about trans people that you hadn’t known prior to starting the project?

Eliza Greenwood: Before I met Austin I came from a place of judgment, assuming that people should own and accept the bodies they were born with. You see, body image and ownership of my gender and sexuality had come so easily to me. Austin’s insistence that he is a straight male totally challenged my beliefs, but it resonated with me. I was inspired to ask if we could make this documentary because I wanted others to be able to meet him, too.

CO’D: Are there aspects of trans people (or being trans) that ought to be more widely known about in the LGBTQ community?

EG: The community should be aware that there is an inclination in the media to tell surgery stories about trans people, and that leads to harmful assumptions that, “all people who are trans want surgery.” I admit Austin Unbound is a “surgery” film.

CO’D: Did you face any resistance from the LGB or T communities in trying to get the film made?

EG: Our community really embraced this project as many people already knew and were inspired by Austin’s story. We were pleased to realize that the LGBT community had more sources for grants and private donors than our deaf community offered. We were awarded grants from the Pride Foundation, the Equity Foundation, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to help get the film made, for example.

CO’D: Did the filmmaking-friendly, LGBT-friendly town of Portland work to your advantage?

EG: Portland not only has a strong LGBTQ culture, but also a thriving film community. I’ve found both to be helpful and engaging.

Eliza tells me that on October 18 there will be another screening of Austin Unbound at Portland’s Clinton Street Theatre (2522 SE Clinton). It will be a fundraiser to help provide SRS for a community member.

It has been a long journey for Austin Unbound. The years spent in post-production are now paying off handsomely for the filmmakers. My congrats to them. As for Austin, he continues to live in Portland, still the quite cool guy we met in the film.

austinunbound.org

via In Transit: Austin Unbound.

Austin Richey, Eliza Greenwood

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Filed under: Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Deaf, ASL, American Sign Language, Deaf Education, Lexie Cannes (the movie), Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, austin richey, austin unbound, documentary, eliza greenwood, sex reassignment surgery

[UPDATE: trans policy rescinded.] Hate group pushing Illinois school district to drop new “perverse” transgender student inclusion policy

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE: Trans policy rescinded. See below.] And the school board is actually considering it. Earlier this week the East Aurora, Illinois School Board unanimously adopted a pro-trans policy, but after receiving pressure from a trans-hate group, the Illinois Family Institute, the board is calling for a special meeting Friday to “review” their decision.

Clearly, the hate group has the board running scared. In their press release, they’ve called for the removal of the entire board after the trans policy is rescinded.

Illinois Family Institute: Apparently, all that’s needed for school personnel to be compelled to participate in a fiction is for a student to pretend “consistently” at school that he or she is the opposite sex.

The school board is now imposing non-objective, “progressive” moral, philosophical, and political beliefs—not facts—aboutgender confusion on the entire school. This feckless school board has made a decision to accommodate, not the needs of gender-confused teens, but their disordered desires and the desires of gender/sexuality anarchists who exploit public education for their perverse ends.

Among the things this hate group insists the board adopts was this:

Teachers, counselors, and coaches should not be legally required to participate in a fiction by, for example, being required to use pronouns that do not conform to the objective biological sex of students.

But the real agenda of this hate group comes near the end:

If this policy is allowed to remain in place, it will embolden activists all over the state and country. Conversely, if the school board is forced to repeal it, conservatives will be encouraged by a rare victory.

The school board was quick to back pedal on their decision, seemingly blaming it on “recommendation” from the Illinois State Board of Education. It was only later after hearing from hate groups and “sleeping” on it, did some on the board ‘come to realize’ what they passed.

This school board needs a backbone, contact them and urge they don’t back down: boardofeducation@d131.org

Board members:

Ignacio Cervantes: icervantes@d131.org

Karina Myrtil: n/a

Mary Anne Turza:  turza.mary@sbcglobal.net

Raymond Hull: raymondhull@comcast.net

Annette Johnson (President): ajohnson@ciprianispasta.com

Richard Leonard: rleonard@d131.org

Miguel Sanchez: n/a

Stella Gonzalez (Vice-President) slg081404@sbcglobal.net

Anita Lewis (Secretary) alewis4244@msn.com

[Trigger Warning!] http://illinoisfamily.org/education/aurora-east-high-school-board-of-education-adopts-radical-policy-on-gender-confusion/

Illinois School Board May Cave To Hate Group And Rescind Trans-Inclusive Policy | ThinkProgress.

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UPDATE: Oct. 20, 2012:

EAST AURORA, Ill. (CBS) — Four days after approving a policy protecting transgendered students, the East Aurora District 131 school board voted Friday night to rescind it.

The vote was 4-0, with two members absent and out of the country.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/10/19/east-aurora-school-board-rescinds-transgender-support-policy/

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Policy, Administrative, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Violence, Hate, East Aurora, hate group, Illinois Family Institute, Illinois School Board, Illinois State Board of Education

Swedish high court overrules lower court ‘no vagina, no rape’ acquittal of man who raped trans woman

Swedish Göta Court of Appeal (Photo: Jon Koping)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — The man who violently raped a trans woman has been found guilty by the Swedish Göta Court of Appeal and sentenced to 15 months in jail. The court reversed an earlier ‘no vagina, no rape’ ruling from a lower court.

Prosecutor Eva Grandestedt: ‘This ruling shows that you can be convicted for attempted rape regardless of the gender identity of the victim.’

The previous lower court ruling left the trans community in an uproar over the seeming lack of logic in the decision but Swedish legal experts hinted that a higher court would likely convict the man.

While the Swedish system of justice may appear to be unusual, in the end, justice was served on behalf of the trans woman who was raped.

I wrote about the lower court ruling for The Huffington Post last July:

At first glance this appears to be something right out the tabloids, but Örebro District Court Judge Dan Sjöstedt ruled that the planned rape by the attacker would have been impossible to carry out in the absence of a vagina. The attacker was instead charged with a considerably lesser crime.

According to a Swedish news report translated into English, the attacker brutally beat the victim and ripped off her pants in an attempt to rape her. A witness rushed to the scene and intervened. The police came and arrested the attacker.

While the Örebro District Court is convinced that the man was actually trying to rape the woman, they ruled that it was in fact a (cisgender) woman the man wanted to rape, not a “physical man,” and although the court considered the fact that the victim had undergone hormone therapy to change gender, it still ruled that there was no completed rape.

Read the rest of the article here: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/courtney-odonnell-swedish-judge-rules-man-not-guilty-of-attempted-rape-of-trans-woman-because-she-has-no-vagina/

Justice serves in Swedish trans rape case | Gay Star News.

Swedish Göta Court of Appeal (Photo: Jon Koping)

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Filed under: Judicial, Courts, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Violence, Hate, Örebro District Court, Eva Grandestedt, Göta Court, Judge Dan Sjöstedt, sweden

Meteor cell phone television commercials mocks transgender people

Meteor Mobile Communication television commerical

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — An Irish transgender advocacy group is taking on a cell phone provider Meteor Mobile Communication for exploiting trans people in television commercials promoting their products.

Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) say these commercials are dehumanizing and are being used for cheap laughs. The commercial has reportedly been widely shown on both satellite and terrestrial TV. TENI has filed a complaint with Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland and YouTube and have begun a public awareness campaign to get the commericials off the air.

TENI’s Broden Giambrone: “Ireland’s trans community should not be used for cheap laughs. In a recent health survey, 40% of trans people in Ireland had attempted suicide at least once. . . . Trans people are among the most marginalised people in Ireland. They are Irish residents and taxpayers, and are still not recognised by the State in their true gender. They are not accorded their basic human rights.”

TENI was a force in getting another trans exploitation commercial banned earlier this year in May. I wrote about that here:  http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/uk-ad-watchdog-bans-spot-the-stallions-from-the-mares-tv-commercial/

More about the TENI campaign: http://www.teni.ie/news-post.aspx?contentid=647

[Trigger warning] View the commerical here: Trans used for ‘cheap laughs’ in Irish TV advert | Gay Star News.

Meteor Mobile Communication television commerical

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Filed under: Exploitation, Dehumanizing, Other Health, Policy, Administrative, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland, asa, Broden Giambrone, ireland, Meteor Mobile Communication, TENI, Transgender Equality Network Ireland