1/17/14

Federal Appeals Court rules transgender murderer will have publicly funded sexual reassignment surgery


BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a judge’s ruling granting a taxpayer-funded sex change operation for a Massachusetts transgender inmate serving a life sentence for murder.

Michelle Kosilek was born male but has received hormone treatments and lives as a woman in an all-male prison. Kosilek was named Robert when convicted of killing his wife in 1990.

Kosilek sued the state Department of Correction after prison officials refused to grant her request for sex reassignment surgery. A federal judge ruled in 2012 the surgery is the “only adequate treatment” for Kosilek’s gender identity disorder.

Prison officials appealed the ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled Friday the 64-year-old Kosilek is entitled to the surgery.
Prison officials argued there are legitimate safety concerns over protecting her in prison if she has the surgery.





I know some will disagree with me but if that were you in prison how would you feel if you were denied medical care simply because someone felt you weren't entitled to it?


Belize Transgender woman's murder hate crime says family

El Guardian reports that police are investigating the January 12th murder of Joseph Sanchez, 18 as a robbery even though no money or personal items were taken as recorded by a video camera on a nearby school.
" Police found Sanchez motionless body on Elston Kerr Street, behind Gwen Lizarraga High School. He had a single stab wound to the chest. They’ve since reviewed camera footage of the attack which reveals that Sanchez was walking on the sidewalk when two men on bicycle rode up to him. He realized that the men intended to rob him, so he threw his phone away. At knife point, they frisked him, and he didn’t resist them in anyway. After taking what they wanted from him, the man with the knife inexplicably stabbed Sanchez in the chest. Investigators are puzzled as to why the assailants decided to murder Sanchez, since he cooperated completely."

That version is refuted by members off her family who say Sanchez has been afraid for her life after her boyfriend broke up with her. United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) reports that:
"Sanchez’s family is disputing the police’s theory that his death is as the result of a robbery, however. They say that that theory does not hold water because his cell phone and money were not stolen. They believe that the well-known cross-dresser was killed simply because he liked to dress as a woman."

"She said that he had been receiving death threats, and had been told on several occasions that he would be killed."

" Abner Sanchez, Joe’s brother, said that his brother was frequently harassed and threatened because he dressed in women’s clothing."

"Abner said that when he saw his brother at the morgue, he saw marks on his hands and face which made him believe that Joe fought with his attackers. He believed his brother was lured out of their house, and that whoever did so intended to kill him. He said that his brother’s phone had been handed over to police."



One report states that she used to be picked up at her house by men who conspicuously  never walked with her. in public.

Belize human rights advocates recently challenged the constitutionality of the Belize anti sodomy lays which carries a 10 year imprisonment and outlaws entry of LGBT people into the country. That effort was defeated  thanks to the efforts of Scott Stirm, a Texas evangelical who rallied local churches to keep this law.

*Note I am addressing Ms. Sanchez with female pronouns out of respect for her dress when she was murdered. R.I.P. Joseph Sanchez.


1/16/14

DA caught persecuting a transgender teen for defending herself may look for a non judicial resolution

Looks like a way out for the DA caught using his office to persecute a transgender teen for something that happens nearly every day in school yard somewhere in America.

After years of bullying and the schools inaction on confronting it Jewlyes Gutierrez, a transgender high school student finally snapped and struck back. The incident, where she was attacked by three students in the schools court yard gained national attention after a video cell phone video went viral.

After the fight all four girls were suspended and later made public apologies to each other, which in nearly all other cases would have meant a resolution was found.

But not in this case where a transgender student5 was involved.

 The DA decided to press assault charges against Ms. Gutierrez shocking her friends, family and even the District school board president. They all wanted to know why and a online petition was began by her sister. It now has now has over 138,00 signatures making it the fastest growing petition in California and quickly becoming one of the most signed petitions ever for Change.org.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel Cabral told the Times Hearld public pressure did not drive the discussions.

"Whenever cases are pending like this, the attorney and the district attorney meet and talk about ways of handling the matter," he said. "And that's what we're doing."

Cabral and deputy public defender Kaylie Simon said late Wednesday afternoon that they were considering enlisting the help of the National Center on Crime and Delinquency to possibly facilitate a "restorative justice circle" for all students involved, which would allow them to accept accountability for their roles in the bullying and the fight, and learn from the process. But they said they weren't sure whether charges would be dropped.


1/15/14

Nigerian Trans woman Iris Sahhara Henson on the new anti LGBT law "DIRTY HYPOCRITES!"

Expat transgender woman  Iris Sahhara Henson responded to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signing the draconian Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013 into law only to become a target of hate.

The Act reads in part:

“A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage."
“The registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, their sustenance, processions and meetings is prohibited."
“The public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly is prohibited.”
The Act also provides details of the sanctions awaiting the violators of the new law.
It adds: “A person who enters into a same sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.
“A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly makes public show of dame sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

Gay Star News is reporting 11 allegedly gay men have already been arrested.


The law also criminalizes LGBT by association:

“A person or group of persons who administers, witnesses, abets or aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage or civil union of supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

Shortly afterward posting this





1/14/14

Michael Douglas Mincing at the Golden Globes has gay people crying foul over "Dallas Buyers Club"??




Leto awarded for transphobia
How offensive is the word "Mincing" to gay folks? Honestly? I mean, Douglas use of it in his acceptance speech was in the context of self discovery and enlightenment over his own homophobia. Is it so offensive you would willingly let your're history be destroyed?

The question I'd really like answered is this.

 Why did it take Douglas's use of that word to finally get gay people talking about the transphobic nature of Leto's part in the "Dallas Buyers Guide"? After the ad nauseum interviews stroking Jared Leto for his "courage" in taking the part of a low life tranny hooker we finally get some recognition because of Douglas saying "Mincing"?

It wasn't Leto's acting, or his effort to portray my community, or even his acceptance speech that offended. It was the part he was handed in the Dallas Buyers Guide and the movies misinformation about the HIV/AIDs epidemic in the 80's that made us ill.

My friend Pamela Curry commented on one such article on Solon:

"Jared Leto and Michael Douglas’s homophobic Golden Globes speeches show the worst of Hollywood"

The "Dallas Buyers Club" and "Behind the Candelabra" stars get awkward laughs at gay folks' expense.

Ms. Curry commented about that article on facebook.....

"As I have been saying the movie was an ugly affront to trans women. In reality there was no Trans woman that character was written in apparently for the transphobic jokes. I attended a showing with a friend Kelli Busey were afterwords she wrote "Dallas Transgender people ain't buying "Dallas Buyers Club".




 We were both disgusted by the movie full of ugly jokes about transwomen, inaccuracies regarding hiv medication. The character railed against AZT with boxes in the background labeled zidovudine, which is btw AZT!


 They were more interested in making fun of trans women than portraying accurately the true story, while purportedly telling a story based on a historic person."

"This award validates hate speech."






1/13/14

al-Qaeda in Syria leader captured cross dressed doesn't mean he's transgender

Epic fail by David Horowitz's publication "Front Page for their headline "Transgender Emir of Syrian Al Qaeda Captured in Women’s Clothing" as they attempt to link a designated terrorist with transsexualism.

It needs to be clear that this unverified story first published by raymondibrahim.com is not about a transgender person, but about a terrorist who purportedly donned woman's clothing to escape to Lebanon.