3/4/14

Another assault on a transgender student at Hercules High

*Update: ABC is reporting the transgender male student recanted his story and has told police there was no attack or rape.

A male transgender student attending Hercules High school was admitted to the hospital Monday after three boys, 16 to 17 raped and beat him in the boy's bathroom. The condition of the transgender student is unknown. No arrests have been made at the time of this posting.

Last November Jewlyes Gutierrez was the only one charged after defending herself against three girls who had been bullying her.

Source San Jose Mercury News: The school's principal, Jennifer Bender, could not be reached for comment late Monday. Last month, 94 percent of the school's teachers supported a vote of no-confidence in Bender, saying she had created a toxic environment for students and staff.



West Contra Costa Unified School District board president Charles Ramsey said the kind of violence alleged in the attack will not be tolerated, and he hopes the subject will be addressed at next week's board meeting.

"It's a tragedy," Ramsey said. "We ... extend our sympathies and apologies to the victim. You hope that he is feeling better."

"Obviously things are running amok at Hercules," Ramsey added. "We have to do better. This is all escalating and starting to accumulate. Really, it's an unsafe environment at the school and a lot of people are concerned. "

Tiffany Woods, a Pinole native and transgender programs manager at Tri-City Health Center in Fremont, said Contra Costa has long struggled to address issues pertaining to transgender youth.

"I know Contra Costa from the fact that I went to high school there. Contra Costa is just a much more conservative district," Woods said. "I can't imagine this kid has a whole lot of support out there. Where are they going to get it from?"



3/2/14

We're not going to talk about "Dallas Buyers Club" at the 2014 LGBT journalist convening.

Yes we are.

I really tried to get recognized waving my hand to indicate I had input to be considered. However, Matt Foreman moderating the first panel "Understanding and deconstructing the attack lines of the anti LGBT industry" looked past me as if I didn't exist. I finally got his attention, but he just grimaced and looked away.

I wasn't the only one to notice this. Someone commented later about it but I shrugged it off. The convening was just kicking off and I had all day to speak up.

Second panel: "What we don't talk about: Radical methods for greater diversity in Queer Journalism."

The second panel, "What we don't talk about: Radical methods for greater diversity in Queer Journalism." I tried to get the moderator's attention during the Q and A, this time waving my hand a little more vigorously. I had something I really wanted to say, and this panel needed to hear it. Moreover, the journalists in attendance needed to hear what I had to say. However, moderator Erin Rock just ignored my gestures.

Last panel: "Airing our dirty laundry: Best practices in writing about touchy subjects"

The last panel was a flawless fit for my question. As a minority in the greater LGB media and even more so in mainstream media "Airing our dirty laundry: Best practices in writing about touchy subjects" was a perfect fit for my question.


This time, frustrated I raised my hand as soon as the moderator Sara Blazucki began inviting questions. Blazucki wouldn't even look in my direction even as I was ferociously waving both arms in the air. As she began to close the final panel, I shouted "I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY." I knew in my heart if she didn't call on me I was going to stand in front of the panel and have my say anyway. If they were that determined to shut me down completely they would have had to do it with law enforcement.

Looking at me in exasperation she invited me to speak. I made a comment on how GLAAD was giving  "Dallas Buyers Club"  a free pass on its inaccuracies regarding the history of HIV/AIDS and talked briefly about it's transphobic content, hoping others would become engaged in the conversation.

Now totally exasperated at this fucking tranny who had the audacity to demand equal time she inquired condescendingly 'Well, what's your point? Do you have something to say? Do you have a question"? Then totally frustrated she stated "Well, we're not going to talk about that here".

Bad move ace. We sure as fuck were going to talk about it.



So I turned around and looked at all of my fellow LGB bloggers and journalists. I asked them why they had been silent about the problematic content of that movie.

Why did it take  who wasn't even in the room to begin the conversation with "Don’t Applaud Jared Leto’s Transgender ‘Mammy" ?

Then looking directly at the ones who had written articles praising "Dallas Buyers Guide" I asked them why had done this. I asked if they understood that they were stomping on the graves of our fallen. Did they understand they were digging holes for transgender people with HIV/AIDS?

Not one person would look up. Not one. The ones who were looking in my general direction averted their eyes as I glanced at them

Yeah have a nice fucking day.

What will they talk about at the LGBT Journalist Convenings in the future? They will talk about understanding and deconstructing the attack lines of the anti LGBT industry, radical methods for greater diversity in Queer Journalism and Airing our dirty laundry: Best practices in writing about touchy subjects. They will talk about a lot of great topics just as long as the question and comments don't come from the fucking tranny kelli Busey.

Rest assured that won't happen again.

2/27/14

Obama-nation's white homos are stealing black men from black woman

Dr James David Manning, a NYC preacher has finally figured out what President Obama and the LGBT agenda is really after. He figured us out, kinda.

It's an Obama-nation. Yes, we really are the Obama Nation pastor, great job. But the stealing part? That's just you trying to hide from from some really harsh truths.

But it pisses me off that transgender people weren't mentioned specifically by pastor Manning. I mean all that we have done to push the gay agenda in front of our needs and he doesn't think we aren't stealing black men as much as those white gay men are? That's gratitude for ya.





Yes slide is actually on the ATLAH website


Meet Transgender model Sarina Thai who went bare-breasted in Grand Central Station for equality

Standing like a statue in the middle of Grand Central Station this topless transgender woman is making a statement for equality.

Sarina Thai braved the stares and comments long enough for these pictures to be taken. In the process, a cis woman went to the police hysterically complaining about a 'naked woman."

Many were surprised to see photographer Allen Henson's return to a public place for a shoot like this since he is being sued for a million dollars after photographing a bare-breasted woman on the empire state building earlier in the year. It is legal for a woman to go topless in New York but it's a subjective law, defined by an officer's perception of lewd behavior.

I wondered what makes a person bare themselves in such a way, so I contacted model Sarina Thai who graciously answered my questions. Sarina, thank you for this is opportunity to interview you.

I would like to open up by asking about you, the person inside the model. You are originally from Bangkok? Please tell us about growing up there.
"Yes , I grow up in Bangkok since I was 8 years old. I was born in the city called Phrae in North of Thailand. In Bangkok I was in a private all-boy boarding school for 10 years. Even though I have a lot of male friends I was not desired to be male. I wanted to be female when I was young."

Sarina, you are a gorgeous woman who has traveled the world doing amazing work. Please tell us about your favorite project.

My favorite project is NYFW Fall/Winter 2014 I had a chance to collaborate with up and coming designers and artists. It was a great time great experiences.

I am a huge fan of the feminist group "Femen." Their topless advocacy has made an indelible statement as yours has too.

Your shoot at the Grand Central station is amazing and courageous. What inspired you to go topless. Is there a statement you would like to make about that shoot?

Sarina Thai on Pin it

"I am standing up for a demographic that has been marginalized. Given that I am publicly promoting LGBT equality, especially Transgender."

Putting a explanation point on her reasons for showing her magnificent curves alfresco to New Yorkers Sarina said:
"I really disagree with Tim Gunn  ( Project Runway Mentor )'s opinion about trans women modeling women's clothing."

Gunn, a gay man doesn't embrace gender diversity in the way most trans and enlightened cisgender people do, instead he embraces the gender binary on the runway. Although Sarina has the body any cis woman would envy its not those curves that make her the model she is. Its what's inside, what motivates, what inspires. Transgender people are so lucky to have this courageous beautiful woman to model and advocate on our behalf.









Minnoji from modaCYCLE on Vimeo.





After two year battle transgender woman Robina Asti at 92 finally gets survivor benefits

Robina Asti, married her life-long sweetheart Norwood Patton in In a 2004 ceremony at an airplane hangar in Orange County, NY. Robina had previously changed her legal documents to indicate she was female so her marriage was recognized by the state.


 
However, when Robina filed for Social security survivor benefits after the passing of her husband, her request was denied. The SSA claimed that she was “legally male” at the time of their marriage despite all the legal documents to the contrary.

The SSA without saying as much as a word deposited Robina's first payment into her bank account February 14th after Lambda legal filled a lawsuit on her behalf.

When I saw that the money was in my account, I was so happy. I felt like it was my husband Norwood’s Valentine’s Day gift to me. I’m glad that Social Security finally came to its senses. I hope this means that other people won’t have to experience this.

The issue of survivor benefits remains murky for transgender spouses according to Lambda Legal. "The SSA has an unfortunate policy of referring all claims for spousal benefits to its regional counsel offices for review. This policy often results in unnecessary delays and errors as the counsel’s office evaluates the validity of the marriage."






2/26/14

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer tweets a picture of her vetoing the anti LGBT bill

The bill that would have not only allowed, but encouraged people to discriminate met a righteous demise as this afternoon as Arizona Governor Brewer put a stake through it's heart.

After her tweet meet Rocco DiGrazia, the pizza joint owner who put a face on whom the bill would have hurt. Of all the people who opposed the bill, the Republican senators, the  business owners the corporations, Rocco's voice spoke the loudest from his heart straight to Jan Brewers ears. Thank the stars she heard.





Editor's note: Rocco DiGrazia describes himself as a "failed anthropologist and thwarted musician, but a decent father and passable pizzaiolo." He owns Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria in Tucson, Arizona, and is married with two children.
(CNN) -- On Wednesday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer rightly vetoed the state bill that would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay people on religious grounds. I had a bet with a friend that she wouldn't sign it -- and wonder why it took her so long. She won't take a hit to the pocketbook -- she's too savvy for that.
In the days leading up to this, I put a sign in the window of my pizzeria that said: "We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators." The reaction was vastly and overwhelmingly positive, with only a few people telling me they wouldn't ever eat at my restaurant again. Mainly, we have received many, many messages of support; phone calls, e-mails and texts, from people who live in Tucson, across the state and even from outside the United States.
Arizona pizzeria owner Rocco DiGrazia says he can\'t condone discrimination against one group of people.
Arizona pizzeria owner Rocco DiGrazia says he can't condone discrimination against one group of people.
The sign is part of a tradition we have. When I moved into the supposedly cursed restaurant space on Broadway in Tucson, Arizona, 15 years ago, I found a box of letters -- the kind you put on a marquee sign out front. By the end of the day, I had a message on the sign. We've been changing it every day since. I am often told people plan their routes to see what we have to say each day -- even if just for a chuckle.
Sometimes we put up song lyrics, or a snarky comment about someone in the news, such as Anthony Weiner. One day we put up "Free Pussy Riot." Some people get their knickers in a twist about our messages, but we do it for ourselves as much as anything.
Then I learned that the state Senate once again passed an appalling bill that attempted to save me from my fellow Arizonans. I thought, "Oh no, not again." If anything seemed ripe for parody, this was it.
It was irresistible. I instantly typed a comment on my Facebook page, saying that the busybodies in the capital of Phoenix were not allowed to come in and sit at my table. Minutes later, one of my followers supplied the sign that so eloquently expressed my viewpoint. I laminated it, and by that afternoon it was on my doors.
Since then, a lot of similar signs showed up in the windows of Tucson businesses saying "We reserve the right to serve anybody." Tucson is a little more liberal than Maricopa County and Phoenix: We're a university town. People here just don't care about things like that. At restaurants, we just serve you and smile.