9/7/13

Trans student Cassidy Lynn Campbell among top ten contenders for Homecoming Queen

Update! Great News!! 

Cassidy won Prom Queen last night!!


Cassidy Lynn also has a very popular video channel with millions of views...

How do Russians view the LGBT Witch Hunt? #Russia4Love

It's critical we learn about the cultural differences between Russia's people and the west. When Pussy Riot held their artistic disobedience the target was the Russian people. The message was not meant for consumption by the the west. Their plight kick started the wests interest but unfortunately we superimposed our cultural perceptions over their message. This only serves to alienate us from the Russian people regardless of our intent.

This video is a great place to begin understanding and could influence our advocacy in a positive way. #Russia4Love



For slower internet speeds (like mine) you can watch the abreviated You Tube version



On Tuesday, Russian LGBT activists were invited to meet with President Obama at this week's G20 summit in St. Petersburg. With Putin's anti-gay laws in place, will Obama's presence make a difference? How are Russians reacting to the witch hunt?
Originally aired on September 3, 2013
Hosted by:
  • Dena Takruri
Guests:
  • Scott Wooledge  (New York, NY) Writer & Activist
  • Wes Hurley  (Seattle, WA) Filmmaker; Author of "Growing Up Gay In Russia"
  • Yelena Goltsman  (New York, NY) Founder & Co-President of RUSA LGBT






Section 28 UK's "Gay Propaganda" School Rule Reappears

Yesterday Pink News ran what basically amounted to a rewrite of story by the Barnsley Chronicle about admittance questions being asked 16 year olds by a local school. Some of the students were reportedly in tears after being asked, somewhat offhandedly, if they were LGBT in a section that included questions about ethnicity, age and the like. One person commented asking if Pink News fact checked the Chronicle.

The Barnsley college online application equality and diversity statement:

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

Barnsley College’s Single Equality scheme covers all aspects of College life. It aims to ensure equality of opportunity for all members of the college and provide an environment in which individuals are treated with respect and dignity. It aims to ensure that all members of the college community irrespective of disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex, sexual orientation, or age, are able to fully take part on an equal basis in work, education, training and any other aspect of college life. Barnsley College will challenge any discrimination which denies equal status and value to any member of its community.
Barnsley College is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all learners. The College has a Safeguarding Scheme which outlines how we will do our best to make sure that everyone who is part of the College community is safe and well whilst at College.


So whats the big deal? This seems fairly innocuous and well meaning? We have been working for that sort of information gathering in the states for some time now.

It turns out in the UK it is a big deal. There is a huge fear of a return to a darker day of Section 28, the UK's Version of Russia's "Gay Propaganda" laws.

Source Wiki: "Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 caused the controversial addition of Section 2A to the Local Government Act 1986 (affectingEnglandWales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland), enacted on 24 May 1988. The amendment stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in anymaintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship" It was repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland as one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the new Scottish Parliament, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of Great Britain by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003."

"As it did not create a criminal offence, no prosecution was ever brought under this provision, but its existence caused many groups to close or limit their activities or self-censor. For example, a number of lesbiangay and bisexual student support groups in schools and colleges across Britain were closed owing to fears by council legal staff that they could breach the Act."

The UK Goverment is looking into the schools that have re instituted section 28.


The British Humanist Society identified 45 schools that continued to have section 28 like policies. After the society confronted these schools, they say many  have removed section 28 like language but there apparently remains some schools who have refused to do so.

So who are the worst offenders?

Benali Hamdach of London, United Kingdom is petitioning for the removal of section 28 like language from these institutions:

Mrs R Robinson, BA, Headteacher of Swindon Academy, Mr A Perry, Headteacher of Colston Girl's School, Peter Mulholland, Principal of WHGS Academy, Frank McCarron, Principal of Stockport Academy E-ACT, Executive Principal Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education.


Top Russian human rights lawyer comes out as transgender

Russian lawyer and the Chair of Association of Russian Lawyers for human rights Evgeny Arkhipov announced officially that she is a transgender MtF and her name is Masha Bast.

Masha Bast will continue her advocacy activity, civic and political career in Russia. Also Masha Bast plans to develop next organization and unions: Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights , All-Russian Anti-Corruption Center CLEAN HAND, civic union " Socialistki", All-Ukrainian Union " Sobornaya Ukraine" and scientific projects "For progress" and re-created GIRD .

Masha Bast reminds, that she is the lawyer of Alexander Kamensky in Bolotny case, Manezhnaya case , “primorskie partizany”, "about the attempt on Putin’s life" and other political cases. Also Masha Bast continues the protection of transgender Roman Sorokin, who had asked political asylum in France.
Currently, Masha Bast officially married. Masha Bast is undergoing hormone therapy and plans a series of operations.
As Masha Bast told, everybody may follow news about her life and family: Masha Bast and Julia Guseinova will keep a diary of their life on facebook



Published on Sep 5, 2013
Маша Баст рассказывает о своей жизни и планах, работе и политической карьере.
Masha Bast says about her life, plans, work and political career.

Masha posted this to her timeline:

  • To say the truth, I've never been Evgeny Arkhipov, always since the birth can be said, since the three years as I remember myself, I consider myself Masha, I was just forced in the past to use the man's name Evgeny Arkhipov and to Achieve Certain goals and not much else, I note I was Born A woman.

Gay.ru news reports that
"Bast, who is undergoing hormone therapy and plans to implement a number of surgical gender reassignment, is married to Julia Guseynovoy, head of the press service of the Russian Association of Lawyers for Human Rights. According to the couple, they are not going to give up, though, after a legal change of sex marriage will terminate. However, as reported Gay.Ru Huseynov, after receiving the documents for Maria girl's name, the marriage will be renegotiated abroad - in one of the countries where it is legal. On her coming-visite Maria Bast said on the social network Facebook, and promises her wife to lead blog, talking about the events of his life and work."


9/5/13

Victory in San Antonio! LGBT protections adopted, Transgender exclusionary language removed!

The San Antonio City Council has just passed a municipal Nondiscrimination Ordinance that prohibits discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status in employment, housing and public accommodations.

The ordinance passed on a vote of 8-3, with Council Members Elisa Chan, Carlton Soules, and Ivy Taylor voting against the measure.
The ordinance is an update of existing city code, and for the first time adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status as protected classes.

Specifically, the ordinance prohibits discrimination:

in municipal employment (city employees),
by municipal contractors (third party contractors with the city),
on city boards and commissions,
in citywide housing, and
in citywide public accommodations.

Objectionable language dealing with transgender bathroom access was removed from the ordinance. The language had previously been added to a draft version of the ordinance last week. Council member Rey Saldana successfully offered an amendment from the dais removing the objectionable language.

 Lauryn Farris, who is on the Alamo Area Board of Directors for the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) and a member of the San Antonio Gender Association (Saga) said this about what she called a "fully inclusive ordinance":
I am blessed to be able to be here and work with the most awesome LGBT community anywhere. To an individual or organization when we agreed that we were all in it together they never wavered.


Send a letter of thanks via Equality Texas to Mayor Castro and our fair minded council members.

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Councilwoman Elisa Chan! Calling for integrity and transparency! Are you serious Chan? I guess you have no where to go but further down your hole since your lies and derailing were exposed in that secret recording. You have no shame.

Have you faced heath care discrimination? HHS is accepting comments on health reform

Via email from the Trevor Project:






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We Need Your Help! Share Your Stories About Discrimination in Health Care


Dear LGBTQI reader,


The Affordable Care Act, often known as Obamacare, includes important provisions to protect patients from discrimination in health care, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Right now, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is in the process of deciding just how robust those protections will be.

To help understand the experiences of our community, HHS is asking for examples of the kind of discrimination that LGBTQ people face in health care settings. No one can tell your story better than you can, so today we are asking you to share your health care discrimination experiences with us.  We will collect your stories and submit them to HHS to be part of the official record considered as they move forward in deciding how best to implement these important nondiscrimination provisions.

For example, this could include times that you felt disrespected by a provider because of your LGBTQ identity, times that you received substandard care, or times when the identity-specific care you needed was not covered by your insurance. These nondiscrimination provisions will apply to all kinds of providers, so please think about your experiences receiving both physical and mental health services. 

Help us tell HHS why robust nondiscrimination protections are so necessary to ensure LGBTQ people have equal access to health care!

Very truly yours,  
Alison Gill
Government Affairs Director
The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide
prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
For more information visit TheTrevorProject.org