TLC pushes Missouri school to reverse ‘special education lock down plan’ for transgender student

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — After being approached by a social worker, the Transgender Law Center was able to free a 9-year-old transgender boy who was isolated from the rest of the student body under a ‘special education lockdown plan.’

The boy, Trace, was initially suspended from that unnamed Missouri elementary school in late 2012 after he announced to his classmates that he was a boy. After 3 weeks, the school let him return, but he was under strict supervision, segregated from the entire student body into a special education classroom, where he spent the entire day, including lunch and recess.

After contact from the TLC, the school backed off most, if not all of the restrictions placed on Trace.

From the TLC:

“The school’s actions were plainly discriminatory, in violation of his right to an appropriate and equal education under federal law—both under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, and under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Special education classrooms have historically been used to isolate minority students. As a result, stringent standards have been implemented under federal law to prohibit this unfair and discriminatory treatment of targeted students.”

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Although this issue is supposedly settled, I’d be considering a lawsuit. The ‘special education’ stigma isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. I also shudder at the thought that taxpayer dollars were used to “lock down” this kid.

Victory for 9-Year-Old Transgender Student! | Transgender Law Center.

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Exploitation, Dehumanizing, Stupidity and Dubious Achievements, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Transphobia, lock down, Missouri, special education, Transgender Law Center

Calif proposes transgender rights bill for students; Nevada considers hate crime listing

California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Nevada state Sen. Pat Spearman

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Both California and Nevada state legislatures are considering pro transgender bills — in the former, a trans student rights bill, and in the latter, trans protection legislation.

California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced a bill that allows trans students a right to use the restroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity. It also extends to sports — allowing trans students to play on teams corresponding with their gender identity.

The Transgender Law Center’s Masen Davis noted that this bill would make restroom or locker room use state law, as opposed to a policy — a method used by other states.

In Nevada, state Sen. Pat Spearman’s bill adds gender identity to the list of hate crimes in that state — Spearman hopes the bill’s severe penalties for hate crimes classification reduces violence against trans people.

California: Calif. lawmaker seeks rights for transgender students.

Nevada: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/04/nv-xgr-transgender-hate-crimes/#ixzz2Me9P2gM0

California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Nevada state Sen. Pat Spearman

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Filed under: Legislative, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, california, Masen Davis, Nevada, Pat Spearman, Tom Ammiano, Transgender Law Center

UN report says forced transgender reparative therapy, sterilization, is torture

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — While this may seem like stating the obvious, surprisingly, this type of thing still occurs around the world, and until recently, even in certain European countries.

In a recent report, the United Nations labeled these practices as torture and called for an end to this abuse of trans people. With the UN now officially on board, there are now diplomatic tools to pressure governments in ways they were not able to before.

From the Transgender Law Center:

The [UN] report calls for repealing laws allowing “genital-normalizing” surgery on children with intersex conditions, and ending practices whereby LGBT patients or those with intersex conditions are subjected to unethical experimentation or made a subject of medical display without consent. The report also condemns the practice of so-called “reparative therapies” or “conversion therapies” that purport to change an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation.

Especially notable for transgender people was the Special Rapporteur’s call for ending forced or coerced sterilization of transgender people as condition of recognizing their gender identities. . . .

Section 39 of the [UN] report says, “…Medical care that causes severe suffering for no justifiable reason can be considered cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and if there is State involvement and specific intent, it is torture.”

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I’d like to thank the Transgender Law Center for bringing this to our attention — apparently this story flew under mainstream media’s radar.

Full story from the TLC and link to the UN report:

UN Report: Forced Sterilization of Trans People “is Torture” | National Center forTransgender Equality’s Blog.

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This is an article about the end of sterilization for trans people in Sweden I wrote in January of this year: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/forced-sterilization-of-trans-patients-following-sex-reassignment-surgery-ends-in-sweden/

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Filed under: Exploitation, Dehumanizing, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, reparative therapies, sterilizations, torture, Transgender Law Center, united nations

[UPDATE -- this new ruling went into effect May 21st!] EEOC rules on-job gender ID discrimination violates LBJ-era Civil Rights Act

JFK proposes Civil Rights Act, Johnson strong arms it into law.

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT –

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UPDATE – May 21, 2012 – Masen Davis, Executive Director [of the Transgender Law Center], celebrated today saying, “This is a historic day for human rights in the United States. . . . starting today transgender and gender non-conforming people now have legal recourse if they face discrimination on the job. We no longer have to be silent when we are fired or not hired . . . If you think you are being targeted with harassment or discrimination at work, I urge you to contact your local EEOC office and file a complaint.” More info from the Transgender Law Center:   http://transgenderlawcenter.org/cms/blogs/552-24

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LBJ’s Great Society finally helps transgender people — this is a MAJOR federal-level anti-discrimination break for trans people. We’ve entered a new era and I believe we have Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson to thank for this, so I’m going to take a moment to do just that.

It was Kennedy who initially pushed for a Civil Rights bill but upon his death, it fell to Johnson see that it became law. LBJ, who had previously served as a powerful Congressional leader called in IOUs and strong armed Congress into enacting the law.

Johnson: “No memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor President Kennedy’s memory than the earliest possible passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought so long.”

After the Civil Rights Act became law, LBJ pushed his Great Society program, targeting, among many other things, poverty and racial injustice. Progress was made, but his misadventures in the Vietnam war caused much to be left undone and some laws not as strong as they ought to be.

We have to remember LBJ knowingly gave up a lot of political capital to get these civil right laws enacted — a large part of the country, Democrats included, didn’t want to see black people, women and others afforded equal rights, but Johnson wanted to do the right thing for society. We need to be grateful for this. I can’t imagine any kind of sweeping civil rights laws passing today. Indeed, TG people obtained job anti-discrimination protection today as a result of a law passed in in 1964.

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From an article by Chris Geidner of MetroWeekly: An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person’s gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation. . . .

[the decision] comes on the heels of a growing number of federal appellate and trial courts deciding that gender-identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, whether based on Title VII or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws.

The EEOC decision, issued without objection by the five-member, bipartisan commission, will apply to all EEOC enforcement and litigation activities at the commission and in its 53 field offices throughout the country.  . . .

Transgender Law Center’s Masen Davis: ”Given the incredibly high rate of employment discrimination facing transgender people, this is incredibly significant for us” . . .”Given that transgender people do not have employment protections in the vast majority of states, this creates a whole new fabric of legal support for our community.”

Read the full story:  Transgender Breakthrough: EEOC ruling that gender-identity discrimination is covered by Title VII is a ”sea change” that opens the doors to employment protection for transgender Americans: News section: Metro Weekly.

JFK proposes Civil Rights Act, Johnson strong arms it into law.

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Civil Rights Act of 1964, EEOC, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, gender identity, great society, JFK, LBJ, Lyndon Johnson, Masen Davis, prohibition on sex discrimination, title vii of the civil rights act, Transgender Law Center

[UPDATE] New LAPD trans policy includes respect, housing trans arrestees separately

Transgender Law Center's Masen Davis (Photo - abclocal.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE - Trans arrestees will be housed separately. See below.] Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announced a new policy for its officers to follow when dealing with the transgender community during stops and searches. The policy states officers are not to question the person’s expressed gender and cannot engage in questioning or frisking for the purpose of finding out their anatomical gender.

With minor offenses, trans people are allowed a bit of leeway in choosing gender of the officer handling them. When removal of prosthetics or wigs is required, the policy states the LAPD must handle trans people consistent with the requirements for handling non-transgender people.

Transgender Law Center’s Masen Davis: “This is a huge victory for transgender people who may interact with the police, and for transgender inmates.”

Knowing of trans people being harassed by police or first hand experience is something that many trans people have in common and with the LAPD joining a number of larger law enforcement agencies having such policies there may come a time when trans people may not fear interaction with the police.

More: LAPD has new policy on transgender stops, searches – AP State Wire News – The Sacramento Bee.

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UPDATE — April 12, 2012 From the LA Times:

The Los Angeles Police Department will begin housing arrested transgender men and women in a women’s jail by the end of the month, making it what administrators believe is the first police department in the country to do so.

The announcement came Thursday night from Capt. Dave Lindsay, commander of the department’s jail division, speaking to a meeting in Hollywood of transgender people with police Chief Charlie Beck and members of the city’s Police Commission.

Capt. David Lindsay said: “This is a major change that will allow for “an environment that’s safe and secure, as there’s been a history of violence against transgender people” in jail.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/lapd-jail-transgender.html

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Transgender Law Center's Masen Davis -- was concerned about the harassment of trans people by police. (Photo - abclocal.com)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, angeles police department, Capt. Dave Lindsay, Chief Charlie Beck, LAPD, Masen Davis, trans rights, Transgender Law Center, transgender policy, transsexual

Esteemed trans advocate Alexis Rivera dies from health complications

Alexis Rivera (Photo: LezGetReal)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Most recently as policy advocate for the Transgender Law Center providing leadership training for trans people in California, Alexis Rivera advocated for over a decade in the area of health care for trans people and trans equality. Her numerous awards and honors serves as a testament to her accomplishments and inspiration for the rest of us.

Rivera died on March 28, 2012 in San Francisco at age 34 from illnesses related to HIV.

Transgender Law Center’s Masen Davis: “She understood that we are stronger together, and she kept organizing until the very end. Alexis’ death is a reminder that the fight for equality — and against AIDS — is far from over.”

I noticed one news report referred to Rivera as a pioneer in the area of trans rights. I agree with this. She was young, but the era of trans people having the things she fought for is young too. Her place in transgender history is assured of being prominent.

Alexis Rivera, Transgender Rights Advocate, Dies In California.

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Filed under: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, advocate, Alexis Rivera, hiv, Masen Davis, policy advocate, trans equality, trans health, trans rights, Transgender Law Center, transsexual

[UPDATED-2] Anti-trans “Police the Potty” bill withdrawn — Tenn. state rep. calls trans people “perverts” and would ‘stomp them.’

Tenn. state Rep. Richard Floyd (R): "I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry."

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT –  [UPDATED-2 - Transgender Law Center says Floyd guilty of hate speech - see below.] “Don’t ask me to adjust to their perverted way of thinking and put my family at risk,” said Rep. Richard Floyd, a Tennessee House Republican who sponsored a bill in the state legislature that would force trans people to use public restrooms and dressing rooms of their birth gender. Fortunately a state Senator withdrew his co-sponsorship of the bill placing it in limbo. It is said Floyd drew up the bill after reading about the Macy’s dressing room incident late last year.

More from Rep. Floyd:

“I believe if I was standing at a dressing room and my wife or one of my daughters was in the dressing room and a man tried to go in there — I don’t care if he thinks he’s a woman and tries on clothes with them in there — I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry.

“Don’t ask me to adjust to their perverted way of thinking and put my family at risk. We cannot continue to let these people dominate how society acts and reacts.”

Now, this is a man full of vile hate and I’m holding him accountable for his actions.

My post on the Macy’s incident: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/thumbs-up-to-macys-for-firing-employee-who-pulled-christiany-card-on-trans-customer/

via Watson withdraws Senate version of bill affecting transgender use of restrooms, dressing rooms | timesfreepress.com.

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UPDATE – Jan. 16, 2012: It appears we have the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition to thank for getting the ball rolling to get this bill killed.

From KNOX-TV News: “The measure caused a stir on blogs around the nation after the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition sent out a news release declaring “the bathroom harassment act” a direct attack on “the transgender community” that would also impact many others, including plumbers, cleaning personnel and others who work in restrooms as well as parents taking their young children into a facility. The release also questioned how the measure would be enforced, given that few persons carry a birth certificate to visit restrooms.”

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/16/legislative-notebook-bathrooms-subpoenas-and/

Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition website (has not been updated in a while): http://ttgpac.com/

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UPDATE-2  Jan. 19, 2012 – Masen Davis, executive director of  the Transgender Law Center says Floyd’s comments amount to hate speech and called for him to apologize for “threatening violence.”

Davis: “Representative Floyd’s threats send the message that it is OK to attack innocent people based on their gender identity and expression.” This type of hate speech incites violence and fosters a dangerous and discriminatory environment for transgender people in Tennessee.”

http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2012/state-rep-floyd-guilty-of-hate-speech-transgender-advocate-says/

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, dressing room, hate speech, house republican, macy's, Masen Davis, police the potty, public restrooms, Rep. Richard Floyd, state legislature, stomp a mudhole in him, Tennessee, Transgender Law Center, transsexual

[UPDATED -- Bill postponed] CA state legislators considering bill to allow trans students to play on opposite birth-sex school sport teams

The state capitol of California (City of Sacramento photo)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE: The Transgender Law Center reports this bill has been postponed -- see below.] Supposedly, this new bill (or amendment to an existing one) also allows for transgender youth to use opposite sex locker rooms and bathrooms. Very scant details here, but word is California state legislators set a date for hearing in the next few weeks.

I searched the California legislature database and there are a couple of transgender-related education bills in various stages of progress, however, I was not able to confirm which bill it is. I was also unable to find a date for this hearing.

I will update this when more details surface.

Meanwhile, KTXL-TV  reported this statement from Ben Hudson,  the Executive Director of Sacramento’s Gender Health Center: “This is about youth whose gender identity is outside of what their body is, so this allows them full access to sports and other sex-segregated activities inside of schools, which is important as they go through school.”

UPDATE Jan 7. 2012: Kristina Wertz of the Transgender Law Center informed me that the bill is not going forward this year. They want to want to take time to do more education and make sure they are putting forward the best possible bill. She said the Transgender Law Center is deeply committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to schools  and is definitely something that they’ll be working on this year, but not via legislation at this time.

My thanks to Kristina for the update!

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Ben Hudson, California legislature, california state legislators, education bills, Gender Health Center, Kristina Wertz, school sports, trans related bills, Transgender Law Center, transgender-related bills, transsexual

Transgender student gets kicked out of college for gender “fraud”

Domaine Javier -- identifies as female. (Photo credit: Chris Ercoli-pe.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — California Baptist University expelled Domaine Javier, after she revealed on MTV she was biologically male. Javier has identified herself as female since she was a toddler. Cal Baptist reportedly stated they kicked Javier out for “committing or attempting to engage in fraud, or concealing identity” when she checked “female” on her application form.

Javier: “I didn’t do anything wrong, they said, ‘On your application form you put ‘female.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s how I see myself.”

Mark Wood of the Transgender Law Center: ”California law prohibits employment, housing, government, insurance and other types of discrimination based upon gender identity. But private universities generally are not covered by the law.”

University spokesperson Mark Wyatt: “California Baptist University does not comment on student disciplinary matters . . .”

From the Press-Enterprise:  “Cal Baptist’s written policies do not explicitly bar transgender students. But it has generally socially conservative rules, including a prohibition of social dances on university property and a requirement that applicants sign a form agreeing not to engage in homosexual behavior or to cohabit with someone of the opposite sex.”

Cal Baptist is in Riverside, CA. Read more from the Press Enterprise:

http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20111028-riverside-cal-baptist-expels-transgendered-student.ece

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Cal Baptist, California Baptist University, Domaine Javier, expelled, Mark Wood, Mark Wyatt, Transgender Law Center