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LGBT ORGANIZATIONS MOURN THE LOSS OF TRANSGENDER VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
OIA Newswire
10th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Recognized Throughout California
SAN FRANCISCO – Community United Against Violence, Equality California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Transgender Law Center mourn the loss of our brothers and sisters on the 10th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
This year, we remember the tragic deaths of Ruby Moreno, Lawrence King, and so many others in our communities who have lost their lives to violence and abuse. Ruby Moreno, a 22 year-old transgender woman, was killed this September, and found floating in the American River near Sacramento, CA. Lawrence King, a 14 year-old gay student who often wore make-up, jewelry and feminine clothing, was shot and killed at school by a classmate in Oxnard, CA. Ruby and Lawrence are painful reminders that violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people is a persistent, everyday reality for many in California. From 1970 to the present, California has had 55 documented murders of transgender people, the highest number in the country. These numbers do not begin to reflect the systematic discrimination and targeting that transgender and gender non-conforming people-particularly those who are also low-income, people of color, and immigrants-face in their daily attempts to access basic safe housing, employment, education, and public benefits.
"We receive calls every month from transgender people who have been victims of hate-motivated violence," said Masen Davis, Executive Director at the Transgender Law Center. "On the Day of Remembrance, we reflect on the effects of violence on our lives and look to the hope and strength of our community. We remember Ruby and Lawrence and work even harder for transgender civil rights in their names."
"As we mourn our transgender brothers and sisters who lost their lives to senseless acts of violence, we also honor those who live their lives with courage and integrity, often against great odds," said Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California. "On this day of remembrance, we redouble our commitment to ending violence, injustice and discrimination everywhere that targets the transgender community."
"Today, NCLR stands in solemn solidarity with our transgender brothers and sisters," says Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "The deaths of Ruby and Lawrence are unthinkable tragedies and as we mourn their passing, we stand committed to honoring their legacy by continuing to fight for full dignity, respect, and equality for all LGBT people."
"CUAV recognizes that we must confront the devastating cycles of poverty, illness, and criminalization that leave transgender communities-in particular low-income transgender women of color-vulnerable to such high rates of and abuse," said Jovida Ross, Executive Director of Community United Against Violence. "As we honor those we have lost, we must rededicate ourselves to the task of building safe, powerful communities in which we all can thrive."
Locally organized events are taking place all over California today, November 20, through Saturday, November 22.
Fresno
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
633 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA
Sacramento
Saturday, November 22th at 6:30 PM
A Church For All
721 North B Street, Sacramento, CA
San Diego
Thursday, November 20 at 6:00 PM
3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA
San Francisco
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
TRANS:THRIVE
815 Hyde Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA
Friday, November 21st at 7:30 PM
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav
290 Dolores Street, San Francisco, CA
San Jose
Thursday, November 20th at 7:30 PM
The Billy DeFrank Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center
938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA
Santa Barbara
Thursday November 20th at 6:00 PM
Corner of Anapamu and Anacapa Streets, Santa Barbara, CA
Watsonville
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
Watsonville City Plaza, Watsonville CA
West Hollywood
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
Plummer Park's Fiesta Hall
7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
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The Transgender Law Center is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities through direct legal services, education, community organizing, and policy and media advocacy. www.transgenderlawcenter.org
Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.nclrights.org
Community United Against Violence (CUAV) works to end violence against and within gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities through peer-based counseling, emergency crisis intervention, education and outreach, grassroots organizing, and policy advocacy. www.cuav.org [11/21/08]
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT GRANTS REVIEW IN PROP 8 LEGAL CHALLENGES
(San Francisco, California, November 19, 2008)-Today the California
Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which
passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued
today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing
schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay. > Full Story. [11/20/08]
GAY & STRAIGHT CELEBS JOIN BID 2 BEAT AIDS, BEGINS DEC. 1
December 1, 2008 (World AIDS Day) -- Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Sports fans can bid on a meet and greet with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or a signed baseball from Cal Ripken, Jr.; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet & greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Estelle or Michael Feinstein; TV lovers can bid on tickets to see The Letterman Show followed by a meet & greet with Paul Shaffer; and Broadway fans can visit backstage with Hairspray star Harvery Fierstein. There's even a tour of the Howard Stern Radio Show studio to bid on! Proceeds benefit LIFEbeat, the Music Industry Fights AIDS to support its ongoing AIDS/HIV programs nationwide. Sponsors of this 10-day eBay auction include MTV and Borders. > Full Story. [11/19/08]
EQCA CALLS FOR END OF ATTACKS ON GOVERNOR FOR SUPPORTING EQUAL RIGHTS
SACRAMENTO – Equality California calls on leaders of the Yes on 8 campaign to end their attacks on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for saying he believes Proposition 8 should be overturned. Prop 8 eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. > Full Story. [11/17/08]
GAYS, LESBIANS, TRANSGENDER, THEIR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS UNITE – LARGE SCALE NATIONAL PROTEST PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 15
Over the last week, tens of thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)community and their Supporters have taken to the streets of California to show their outrage with the outcome of California Proposition 8. Prop 8 provides for a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage rights; Similar amendments and propositions were passed in Arizona and Florida. The outcome of these propositions has angered the national gay community and their supporters. Many feel as if they are now second-class citizens, but, according to the No on 8Campaign, the fight is not over. The final statement released by the No on 8 Campaign stated,"Victory was not ours today. But the struggle for Equality is not over." > Full Story. [11/14/08]
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PRESIDENT URGES SUPPORTERS TO WAGE A STRATEGIC AND PEACEFUL BATTLE AGAINST PROPOSITION 8 THIS WEEKEND
WASHINGTON- In advance of protests against California's Proposition 8 to be held in cities across the nation this weekend, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, has released the following statement calling for renewed commitment to coalition-building between all oppressed groups. HRC is the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization. Solmonese's statement, which also urges respect and civil behavior during the Join the Impact rallies, was sent to HRC's 750,000 members and supporters.
Good afternoon, > Full Story. [11/14/08]
L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER’S WWW.INVALIDATEPROP8.ORG DISTRIBUTES FUNDS RAISED TO PROTECT MARRIAGE EQUALITY
LOS ANGELES, November 13, 2008- The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center announced today that its InvalidateProp8.org Web initiative has raised more than $60,000 to support the effort to overturn Proposition 8. More than 2,300 postcards, one for each donation, are being sent to Mormon church President Thomas Monson, acknowledging that a donation has been made in his name to invalidate Prop. 8 and restore fundamental civil rights to all Californians. > Full Story. [11/14/08]
JOIN THE IMPACT - NATIONAL PROTEST PROP 8 ON NOVEMBER 15TH!
THIS IS A NATIONWIDE EVENT - ALL US STATES HAVE AT LEAST 1 PROTEST LOCATION!
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Location: Nationwide
Street: Your City Hall - Check the Site for Locations-
http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon for Locations
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Be part of the next Civil Rights Movement - Be part of history - Join the National Protest / March for Equality on November 15th!
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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Now is your chance to be a "community organizer"! Go to the website and post if you are willing to volunteer to help get out the word in your city. We need 3 or 4 dedicated volunteers in each town to contact the clubs and organizations in your area and to print/distribute flyers to get a turnout in your town.
This is not a California issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard. Visit the website www.jointheimpact.com.]
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SATURDAY NOV 15TH -
10:30AM WEST COAST
11:30AM MOUNTIAN TIME ZONE
12:30PM CENTRAL TIME ZONE
1:30PM EAST COAST
PRINT OUT THE SIGNS - TAKE THEM TO THE PROTEST
Prop 8 Protest: A Call to the LGBTQ Community, Friends, & Family
I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still, Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pundits and bloggers alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge swell of support for equality elsewhere. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what? There is truth in each argument.
As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from mobilizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in 1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street, to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage, and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in ways this country had never seen before! And what happened? The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people had to once and for all accept that we are human too!
Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party, but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE! Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQUAL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends, families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!
November 15th
1:30 PM East Coast
10:30 AM West Coast
> Full Story. [11/11/08]
NO ON PROP 8 CAMPAIGN LEADERS CALL ON COMMUNITY TO STAND TOGETHER
Top leaders from the NO on Prop 8 campaign today issued the following statement urging leaders in the community to stand together following the passage of Prop 8. > Full Story. [11/7/08]
GAY MEN'S HEALTH CRISIS CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OBAMA; LOOKS FORWARD TO DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY
November 5, 2008, New York, NY - Today Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) expressed optimism in response to the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Throughout the campaign, President-elect Obama spoke out on issues of importance to the HIV/AIDS community. As can be seen in GMHC's Presidential Candidates report, President-elect Obama supports a number of GMHC's key federal policy priorities, including:
> Full Story. [11/5/08]
STATEMENT BY GLAAD PRESIDENT NEIL G. GIULIANO ON 2008 ELECTIONS
NEW YORK, November 5, 2008 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today called on the nation's media to examine the intersection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and issues, the results of the 2008 elections and the post-election landscape. > Full Story. [11/5/08]
SPORTS OUT LOUD CHANGES NAME TO COMPETE, THE GAY SPORTS MAGAZINE
Tempe, Arizona-November 4, 2008-- Sports Out Loud, the world's only gay sports magazine, announced today that the groundbreaking magazine will re-launch as Compete, beginning with its January February 2009 issue. > Full Story. [11/5/08]
GLAAD ANNOUNCES $50,000 CONTRIBUTION TO NO ON PROP 8 IN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, October 23, 2008 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today announced a recent $50,000 contribution to NO on Prop 8 and urged its members to support NO on Prop 8 – the campaign to defeat Proposition 8, which if passed would eliminate marriage for gay and lesbian couples in California. The contribution, authorized by GLAAD's National Board of Directors, is in addition to a $100,000 contribution made in August and continuous in-kind services donated to the campaign. > Full Story. [10/23/08]
ELLEN URGES CALIFORNIANS TO VOTE NO ON PROP. 8
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, LOS ANGELES – The NO on Prop 8 campaign, Equality for All, today thanked Ellen DeGeneres for releasing a video message urging Californians to vote no on Proposition 8. Ellen released the public service announcement to confront the false and misleading scare tactics being used by the proponents of Prop 8. > Full Story. [10/15/08]
TRAILBLAZING MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR ALLAN SPEAR HAS DIED
WASHINGTON – Allan Spear, who served as a Minnesota State Senator for nearly 30 years, eight of them as president of the Senate, has died at age 71. Spear was the first openly gay state legislator and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the nation. > Full Story. [10/13/08]
CALIFORNIA COURT OF APPEALS UPHOLDS $300,000 AWARD TO BULLIED PAIR OF GAY AND LESBIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
(San Diego, October 10, 2008) --- In a 3-0 decision, the California Court of Appeal (Fourth District) today upheld a jury decision that found that Poway Unified School District officials took minimal or no action at all when two Poway High School students were subjected to relentless harassment because they are gay and lesbian. The ruling upheld an award of $300,000 to Megan Donovan and Joey Ramelli under the state education code. > Full Story. [10/13/08]
OVER 50,000 LATINOS/AS IN SAME SEX COUPLES; RAISING NEARLY 25,000 CHILDREN
LOS ANGELES - Today, the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law released a
new research study providing demographic and economic information for the
more than 200,000 LGB Latino/a individuals and 52,410 Latinos/as in same-sex
couples living in California. > Full Story. [10/9/08]
GAY COUPLES OFFERED UP ON THE ALTAR OF ABSTINENCE AT CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
(RSM News, Oct 1, 2008) The Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM) issued the following statement concerning Jamie Soto, the coadjutor bishop of Sacramento, who addressed the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Outreach Ministries conference in Long Beach, California on September 18, 2008 concerning his opposition to Gay Marriage. > Full Story. [10/2/08]
BASIC RIGHTS OREGON TO HONOR REGIONAL EQUALITY CHAMPIONS AT 26TH ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER
Basic Rights Oregon has announced the recipients of the 2008 Equality Champion awards. The awards recognize local efforts toward ending discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Oregonians. Honorees from seven regions around the state will be presented honorees will be presented with the awards at the 26th Annual Basic Rights Oregon Dinner and Auction in Portland on October 11, 2008. > Full Story. [10/2/08]
PEPSICO, GOLDMAN SACHS AND WILLIAM C. THOMPSON, JR. RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP ON LGBT WORKPLACE EQUALITY
AUSTIN, TX and SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 15, 2008 – PepsiCo, Goldman Sachs and New York City Comptroller and longtime ally William C. Thompson, Jr. received Out & Equal Workplace Awards (commonly known as "Outies") on September 12 from Out & Equal for advancing fair, safe and equitable work environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. > Full Story. [10/2/08]
GOVERNOR SIGNS CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 2008
Laird Measure, Sponsored by EQCA and NAACP, Helps Ensure that Californians Have Nation's Most Comprehensive Civil Rights Protections > Full Story. [10/2/08]
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