9/30/13

The Mayor of Thessaloniki Greece meets with Transgender community reports σωματείο υποστήριξης διεμφυλικών

After suffering for years the Thessaloniki transgender activists are  reporting improving conditions. They are saying there will be a transgender day of remembrance, possibly the first public vigil for our fallen in that city. The Mayor has said he wants to present the opening remarks.

This is such a huge improvement.  It was just this June when I reported on Greek Transsexuals being rounded up, arrested and threatened. Just a few months ago it was common practice for the police to break into the homes of trans people, drag them out and jail them without charges with other newly designated 'undesirables'. And only one year since the Mayor, albeit begrudgingly, allowed the first Pride celebration the the city. It was a dark and foreboding time but possibly things might be improving. Finding employment in Greece is especially hard for trans people so the Mayor said he plans to employ a trans person in his office as an example for others to follow.

Cross posted from the Greek Transgendered Support Association press release:

Representatives of the Transgender Support Association meet with Thessaloniki Mayor

The Transgender Support Association (S.Y.D.) with this press release informs the meeting representatives of SYD with the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Boutari on issues facing the trans community of Thessaloniki.

The meeting was held Tuesday, September 24, 2013, with the following agenda items: the pogrom against trans women took place in Thessaloniki in previous months, the disadvantage and discrimination experienced by trans people - especially in the workplace, and concession hall of the municipality to make the World Day of Remembrance transgender to be held for the first time this year in the second largest city on 30 November.

Thessaloniki Mayor accepted the arguments of the representatives of SYD and condemned the practice of massive afferent followed by the police in Thessaloniki, while told us he would come in contact with the police chief Thessaloniki on this topic.

Recognize multiple discrimination and wall exclusions faced by trans people, particularly in the workplace and stated his intention to help as Mayor for the isolations, particularly on the issue of exclusions from the workplace said they would do every effort to recruit trans to service through programs municipality of Thessaloniki.

Accepted our request for assignment to make room for the World Day of Remembrance Transgender in Thessaloniki on 30 November, which will even support it in practice with his inaugural speech.

The meeting was in excellent climate, the Mayor of Thessaloniki showed his support to the problems of trans community, and said he wants the constant contact and cooperation with our community.

The Transgender Support Association (SYD) wishes and seek to strengthen cooperation to overcome discrimination and disadvantage faced by the trans community is placed at the disposal of the Mayor to carry out his promises, and thanked him warmly for his support he needs the trans community of Thessaloniki.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Transgender Support Association (SYD)

Jean Moreas 17 Koukaki Athens.

www.transgender-association.gr

transgender.support.association@gmail.com

**********

Natacha posted this email she received via TGEU from a trans person living in Thessaloniki on her blog UnCommon Sense.


"As a follow up of the situation of last months in Thessaloniki (systematic pogrom against trans women from police), we would like to give you some info.

Until 21st of July that we managed to have a meeting with the head of police of Thessaloniki, the pogrom have stopped. We had only sporadic persecutions (at the beging of September) of 2 trans women, but it was not in the systematic way of massive detentions, and the attitude of the police has totally changed.

Also yesterday, two representatives of Greek Transgender Support Association had a meeting with Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr Boutaris.

We had a totally agreement with Mr. Boutaris about the persecutions of trans women. He said that it is not acceptable, and that he will talk with head of police of Thessaloniki.
The other subject was the discriminations and exclusions that transgender people face - mainly in work and employment.
He promised that he will do his best in this directions, and also, he promised that he will do everything he can for the employment of trans people in Municipality (to be more specific he told us word for word: "I will employ a trans person in my office as an example of good practice to be followed").
At the end he told us that he wants to have the open speech of our TDoR event that we will do for first time this year in Thessaloniki, and that he is determined as long that he's a Mayor to be advocate to transgender issues, and to start a constant contact with us.

We hope that Mayor will keep all his promises."



Thessaloniki Pride[Wikipedia]

Thessaloniki staged its annual pride event for the first time in 22–23 June 2012, following Mayor Boutaris's promise to back a public LGBT event in the city. The firstThessaloniki Pride festival enjoyed massive popular support[14] from the city, its periphery and the region, which was a heavy blow for the city's metropolitan Anthimos, who had called believers to react.[15] One year later, in one of his announcements just a few days before the pride event of 2013, he stated that once more, the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki would have to tolerate the sad and unacceptable "festival" of the homosexuals who want to "celebrate their sickness in a carnival sort of way". He also asked parents to keep their children and themselves away from "such pointless and unnatural celebrations". However, many families were present and the two-day festival ended in a great atmosphere with many parties, galleries and celebrations all around the city.[16]




Six year old becomes the youngest (known) transgender person to amend Birth Certificate

Source GNN: A six-year-old- Argentinean girl has taken advantage of Argentina’s gender recognition laws to officially change her gender.

The little girl, known as Lulu, is believed to be the youngest person to take advantage of the new laws.

Lulu, who was assigned male at birth has identified as a girl from an early age. Her birth certificate and Argentinean ID (known as the DNL) will now reflect her identity as a female.

Lulu’s family had first attempted to get her documentation changed when the laws came into effect in December but the government initially refused to comply as they believed Lulu too young to be able to decide on her gender identity.

This decision was overturned however following a letter from Lulu’s mother, Gabriella, pleading her daughter’s case in which Gabriella said Lulu had identified as a girl since she could talk.

Argentina's Children, Youth and Family Secretary had also ruled in favour of allowing the documentation to be changed, stating that they believed not doing so could be in breach of a UN resolution supporting children's rights.


9/29/13

#Eurogamer Xbox One Presenter on behalf of Microsoft called Transgender Journalist Laura Kate Dale "IT, Thing and He" on stage

The presenter for Microsoft XBox One at Eurogamer Fraser Millward went out of his way for a laugh asking a transgender woman to join him on the stage then called her a "IT, Thing and Him";

He was probably trying to get a rise from the machismo gamer people in attendance. But instead of getting a laugh comedian Fraser Millward will look forward to being investigated for his awful transphobic tirade..

Pure XBox Gamer Ken Barnes described the stage show as annoying, overbearing, immature, and offputting to most of the attendees but his post about the last day he began with a question Sexism, misogyny, and giveaways?  Barnes said he saw "clearly underage gamers taking part in a "twerking" contest in order to win a t-shirt, in front of a crowd of fans." I wonder if any of those kids parents knew of this? Embarrassing for Microsoft and maybe even costly too.

Fraser Millward would do himself a world of good by apologizing for his comments and actions.


mscom

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Employees at Microsoft

GLEAM is the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) employee resource group at Microsoft.

Microsoft has been a pioneer in workplace diversity. It was one of the first companies in the world to offer employee benefits to same-sex domestic partners and to include sexual orientation in its corporate nondiscrimination policy. Since 1989, Microsoft has supported and sponsored gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues at Microsoft. In 1993, the employee resource group—Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees at Microsoft (GLEAM)—was organized. GLEAM now has more than 700 members.









read more at kotaku.com

Google and Microsoft have formed InterTech to promote the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in technology field.




Facecrook


Why Star Ledger do you continue to misgender a murdered transgender woman despite receiving emails confirming her trans status?

As reported earlier this week by planetransgender, The Brunswick Patch and The Advocate Eyricka Morgan a transgender woman was murdered in New Brunswick NJ.

*Update! Immediately after posting this Sue Epstein begun reaching out to our community. See the tweets at the end of the story for updates.

All of the before mentioned news sources used the most basic tools in confirming the trans status of the victim. In the trans community and the greater mainstream media as a whole, this procedure is paramount. It is considered and rightfully so a serious breach of protocol to incorrectly identify someone as transgender or cisgender.

Sue Epstein at the Star Ledger originally reported on this crime but has yet to follow these basic principals of journalism by failing to properly investigate and worst yet, by ignoring information on the victims transgender status that she herself  requested.

Like some mainstream media have done in the past the Star Ledger is adhering to a editorial policy of ignoring social media. But when it becomes s so apparent that they are ignoring the facts they asked for from the community one begins to question if this behaviour is transphobic in nature.

So for the Star Ledger it time to be edified.




GLAAD Blog Sept 27

Star Ledger Jornalist Sue Epstein posted this comment on the original article on the 28th of Oct

Sue Epstein's confusing comment first seems to acknowledge that there have been people who contacted her confirming Eyricka Morgan's trans status then she says that no one has contacted her at all in contradiction to GLAADS statement.

There seemed to be a missed connection as many of the trans community tweeted to the @StarLedger and not directly to Sue Epstein's.

I will now put Sue Epstein in contact with Janet Mock and Darnell L. Moore who personally knew of the victims transgender status and Glaad for information on how to write her updated article.







Action Required: Ask Susan Epstein to Respect Eyricka Morgan’s Identity + Life

Today, I sent the following email to Susan Epstein of the The Star-Ledger about her report of the murder of Eyricka Morgan, a young trans woman of color who was murdered in her boarding home.
I’m heartbroken about the death of someone I knew, and shocked by the fact that Ms. Epstein chooses to carelessly erase Eyricka’s identity as a woman and her life as well, telling our community that she needs confirmation or proof that Eyricka was a trans woman.
Please email (sepstein@starledger.com), tweet  or call the reporter at (732) 249-5670 about misgendering Eyricka Morgan in . The point of this action is not to vilify Ms. Epstein, it’s to set the record straight on our lives.
Feel free to use my email as a template:
Hi Susan,
I will go on record, as an activist who knew the victim, Eyricka Morgan. She was a transgender woman of color and an advocate in the community. She went by she and her, and her identity should be respected even after her passing, despite what records may or may not say.
As a journalist who worked for mainstream media (I previously worked for People.com), I know that reflecting the truth of people’s lives is vital. The misgendering and erasure of Ms. Morgan’s identity does not only hurt her life and legacy, it also hurts an entire community of marginalized and often stigmatized people who are grappling with discrimination on many levels in our country.
Please fix this careless error and stop requiring that our lives need proof. We are who we say we are.
Thanks,
Janet Mock

Moments after posting this article and mentioning Susan Epstein on twitter she responded. You can call the timing serendipitous if you want too but I'll call it advocacy and that's my story and I'm stickin too it :) In any case we are moving forward.








9/28/13

Hollywood Trans Woman Unique McKenzie victim of Hit and Run on Santa Monica Blvd

Fiday morning around 3:20 transwoman Unique McKenzie, 22, was standing with some friends at a bus stop after a night out. Her friends say reacting to a joke Unique accidentally slipped onto the street where she was then struck by a white or grey colored Ford Thunderbird.

The accident turned into a felony after Unique was carried on top of the car for 30 feet and the driver "didn't even slow down". Los Angeles is in the middle of a crisis with over 14,000 hit and run incidents this year alone. There are 51 hit and run incidents everyday in LA.

Click here to watch opens in new window