December

NCTE Announces Washington, DC Lobby Day for 2005

December 10, 2004 - The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) announces the first NCTE-sponsored Washington Lobby Day, to be held on March 14, 2005. This day will provide an opportunity for transgender people and allies to visit members of Congress to educate them on transgender issues.

Washington Lobby Day will be preceded by a day-long training and strategy session on Sunday, March 13. On this day, experienced professional advocates will train participants to effectively educate Congress on transgender issues. Participants will also be briefed on trans-related federal policy. This session is open to everyone who wishes to learn how to educate Congress on transgender issues.

Mara Keisling, NCTE Executive Director, spoke on the significance of the Washington Lobby Day and training session: “Transgender people can be included in important legislation to be introduced next year, but first we must educate members of Congress on the necessity of such legislation and its impact on our communities. The only way we will be successful is if transgender and allied constituents meet with their members and put a face on discrimination and violence.” Read More Here

Last Chance to Become a Founding Member of NCTE

December 10, 2004 - December 31, 2004 marks the last day you can become Founding Members of the National Center for Transgender Equality. Founding Members hold a special place in the transgender movement by supporting initial efforts to build the only Washington, DC based organization focusing on issues of national importance to trans people.

To become a Founding Member go to www.nctequality.org/donate.asp.

When you become a Founding Member of the National Center for Transgender Equality, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to fight discrimination and violence against transgender people. Every donation ensures that transgender voices will be heard in Washington and around the country.

Solidify your commitment to trans rights. Go to www.nctequality.org/donate.asp by December 31, 2004

Air Travel Tips for Transgender People

December 10, 2004 - Many trans people may be anxious about utilizing air travel this holiday season because of heightened airport security. NCTE hopes to lessen this anxiety with its recently released Air Travel Tips for Transgender People, a great resource for holiday travelers. Topics addressed in this guide include identification issues, dealing with airline and security personnel, luggage and clothing, and security expectations.

NCTE was motivated to provide travel guidelines following the implementation of a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policy directing agents at security checkpoints to pat-down passengers wearing bulky clothing items. TSA policy regarding pat-downs is included in the Air Travel Tips guide, as well as instructions on how to report misconduct by a TSA agent. NCTE urges trans people to properly prepare for air travel and to be aware of their rights as passengers.

You can view NCTE’s Air Travel Tips at www.nctequality.org/travel.asp.

New IRS Policy Allows for Surgery Write-Offs

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently concluded an individual may deduct expenses for sex reassignment surgery as a necessary medical expense.

December 10, 2004 - In 2001, Rhiannon O’Donnabhain underwent surgery after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. O’Donnabhain sought to claim this surgery as a tax deduction but was initially denied. The Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders represented O’Donnabhain in her successful IRS appeal. The implications of this decision, and the recognition of surgery as medically necessary, are promising for members of the trans community who pay for necessary medical treatment out of pocket. NCTE applauds O’Donnabhain and GLAD on this victory.

It is important to note that, while some trans people do elect to undergo medical transition, many within the trans community do not. Still, this decision is about more than legitimizing surgery. This ruling is another step forward to providing trans people equal treatment under the law. Such a decision has the power to positively influence other policy areas, within the government and private spheres, as well as public opinion.

Spring Internship Opportunities

December 10, 2004 - NCTE has internship opportunities for Spring ‘05. We welcome applications from both students and non-students. We will work with a student’s university to assure college credit is received. It is best if interns are based in the DC-metro area.

NCTE interns will be responsible for: writing and editing press releases, OpEds, and newsletters; organizing trainings and town hall meetings around the U.S.; scheduling speaking engagements and trainings conducted by NCTE staff; creating organizing and educational materials; tracking local and federal legislation; providing assistance to transgender activists in both in-district and DC lobby visits; and general office support. Read More Here

November

How the Election Results Will Impact Transgender People

Many transgender people are probably devastated with the outcome of last Tuesday’s election and many are, no doubt, pleased. In this way, we mirror our non-transgender neighbors.

However, because our lives and needs are somewhat different from these neighbors, the election will impact us in different ways. The current administration has not been overly accessible on transgender issues. In fact, the administration has been dismissive, even hostile, on most human rights matters. The President’s comments since the election regarding a conservative mandate and aggressively pursuing his agenda portend that working with the administration will not be any easier this next four years. Additionally, Congress seems to have veered even further from a trans-supportive majority; we are not likely to see much, if any, pro-LGBT legislation pass for at least the next two years.

But after emotions settle and we regain perspective about our political system and our fight for equality, what are the positives? Read More Here

NCTE Announces National Lobby Day for 2005

NCTE will hold our first National Lobby Day in Washington, DC this March, 2005. NCTE encourages all those in the trans community, as well as our allies, to join us in visiting our members of Congress and educating them on trans issues. NCTE is committed to getting trans issues on the national agenda and views education as the best way to accomplish this goal. Read More Here

An Update on Transgender Political Candidates

In 2004, we saw an increase in openly trans people running for political office. Amanda Simpson of Arizona and Robert Haaland of California are two of those candidates. NCTE commends these inspirational individuals for speaking up and living openly as transgender people while seeking public office. Read More Here

Conference Announcement and Call for Proposals:Trans Politics, Social Change and Justice

NCTE is very pleased to be working with the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS) on their conference “Trans Politics, Social Change and Justice” to be held May 6, 2005 in New York City. This conference will provide a venue to strengthen activist and research networks, incite dialogues, share research, and create resources central to creating social change for trans people. CLAGS invites proposals for workshops, panels, papers, poster presentations, films and performances for this conference. Proposals are due December 15th, 2004. Read More Here

November

Overcoming Voting Obstacles: Resources for Transgender People

Washington, DC, October 26, 2004 -- The National Center for Transgender Equality released a guide to help protect the voting rights of transgender people. “Overcoming Voting Obstacles: Resources for Transgender People” explains and provides solutions for the most common voting problems that transgender people face.

According to Mara Keisling, NCTE Executive Director, “This is a very significant election to trans people and it is important that every qualified voter be allowed to vote. Our new guide is meant to help people advocate for themselves at their polling place.”

The guide covers the most common issues trans people may face: 1) having identification documents that don’t match the name and/or face of their current gender identity, 2) facing transphobia or discrimination and 3) being inappropriately asked for multiple forms of ID that may not be consistent.

The guide also provides referrals for other types of discrimination or intimidation that transgender people might encounter including language barriers, dealing with past felony conviction, racial discrimination, voting while homeless, and more.

The guide is available on NCTE’s website at http://nctequality.org/Vote.asp.

Keisling strongly urges transgender people to resist being intimidated. “Transgender people have as much right to vote as anyone else and our votes are vital in this election,” she said. “Bring appropriate ID and if anyone tells you that you can’t vote for any reason, ask for a provisional ballot and immediately call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) for assistance.”

1-866-OUR-VOTE is a non-partisan voter assistance line provided by the Election Protection Coalition.

NCTE has asked that transgender, LGBT and other organizations disseminate this important information as widely as possible.

NCTE Releases Voting Guide October 26, 2004 - The National Center for Transgender Equality released a guide to help protect the voting rights of transgender people.
Read More Here

Hate Crime Legislation Dies in Committee

October 8, 2004 - The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA) has died in conference committee. In June, the Senate passed LLEEA as an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. The bill then went to conference committee which is a joint House and Senate committee that works to eliminate differences between the House and Senate versions of the same bill. In the case of the hate crimes bill, the Senate included the hate crime amendment and the House did not. The conference committee decided the hate crime language would not stay in the Defense Authorization Bill which means the bill is dead for the year.

NCTE has already begun conversations to improve the language of the bill so that trans people are more explicitly protected in it next year.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

October 8, 2004 - November 20, 2004 marks the sixth year the Transgender Day of Remembrance will be observed throughout the US and around the world. The Day of Remembrance began in San Francisco in November 1999 to honor the life of Rita Hester, who was murdered the previous November, and the lives of other victims of anti-trans violence, who all too often go unnoticed by the rest of our society. Besides bringing awareness to anti-trans violence to others, this day is set aside to mourn as a community those who have been victimized throughout the past year. Traditionally, candlelight vigils are held and the names of our fallen brothers and sisters are read aloud by those gathered.

We urge trans allies to participate in Day of Remembrance memorials alongside the transgender community. According to Gwendolyn Smith, creator of the Day of Remembrance website, "Anti-transgender violence and murder does not affect only transgender people. It affects our loved ones, our friends, and our families. Not only can a transgender person be a target, but anyone who supports us faces the threat of violence simply for standing with their transgender friends and family. Because of that, Day of Remembrance is important for not only transgender people, but all those who call themselves allies."

To find out if a vigil is being held in your city, visit http://www.gender.org/remember/day.

For more information on Day of Remembrance or victims of anti-trans violence, visit http://www.rememberingourdead.org.

Intersex Awareness Day

October 8, 2004 - The first Intersex Awareness Day is being organized for October 26, 2004 and marks the 8th anniversary of the first public intersex demonstration that took place on October 26, 1993 in Boston, MA.

Intersex Awareness Day is the international day of grassroots action to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children. Intersex Awareness Day is a way for allies worldwide to call attention to the issues faced by intersex people in their own community. Sponsors of the day include Bodies Like Ours and the Intersex Initiative as well as the GLBT Resource Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Boulder County Public Health, Queer Bodies, the GLBT Student Services at Ohio State University, Working It Out (Australia), and Organisation Internationale des Intersexués (Québec)

Intersex is commonly defined as “a series of medical conditions in which a child's genetic sex (chromosomes) and phenotypic sex (genital appearance) do not match, or are somehow different from the ‘standard’ male or female.” Currently, it is believed that about one in 2,000 babies are born visibly intersexed. Surgical reconstruction to alter these bodies to make them appear more “normal” is a common medical response, although these procedures have come into question. Adults who underwent these “treatments” are speaking out about the physical and emotional harm these surgeries cause.

To get involved in Intersex Awareness day go to http://wwww.intersex-awareness-day.org. To find out more about intersex issues go to http://www.bodieslikeours.org or http://www.intersexinitiative.org.

Transgender Political Candidates

October 8, 2004 - 2004 marks a great year for trans people in the political arena. In addition to the coordinated participation of five openly trans delegates to the Democratic National Convention, there has also been an increase in openly trans people running for political office. Amanda Simpson of Arizona and Robert Haaland of California are two of those candidates. (see http://www.nctequality.org/July04Newsletter.pdf for NCTE’s story on the DNC delegation)

Amanda Simpson, head of advanced and special programs at Raytheon, is running for the Arizona House of Representatives. Simpson became the first openly trans candidate nominated for state office by a major political party on September 7th when she won the Democratic primary. Simpson joins three additional candidates in the race for two seats in District 26, two of these candidates being incumbent Republicans. Simpson’s platform includes affordable healthcare, managing AZ’s population growth, and improving education.

Robert Haaland is running for District 5 Supervisor for San Francisco. Haaland has been active in the community for a number of years as a tenant-rights activist, an organizer with the Service Employees International Union and president of one of San Francisco’s democratic clubs. Haaland’s platform covers a wide range of social issues including making the San Francisco police department more effective and accountable, moving the city towards renewable energy sources, and giving the public greater access to information regarding governmental policy decisions.

At this time, as far as NCTE knows, there are only two openly trans elected government officials in the country. Last November, Michelle Bruce became Georgia’s first openly trans elected official when she won seat on Riverdale’s City Council. And Tom Murphy, Rapid City South Dakota Alderman, came out as being transgender last spring (go to http://www.nctequality.org/April04Newsletter.pdf to read more about Murphy at).

NCTE commends these individuals for speaking up and living openly as transgender people while in the public eye.

LGBT Student of Color National Summit

October 1, 2004 - The U.S. Student Association (USSA) Foundation presents the LGBT Student of Color National Summit hosted at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio January 15-17, 2005.

If you are an LGBT student of color and an up-and-coming or current campus leader, then this cutting-edge National Summit is for you. The summit will draw 30 to 50 college students from across the country and will focus on capacity building and organizing LGBT students of color locally while also providing opportunities for resource sharing nationally.

This summit is for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, transgender, intersex, queer, same gender loving, and questioning college students of color (including but not limited to Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, Latina/o, Middle Eastern, and Native students of color). USSA encourages applications from students of color with disabilities, women, genderqueer, and transgender students of color.

Contact Nicholas Sakurai at 202.347.8772 or lgbt@usstudents.org to apply.

September

University of Oregon amends its Equal Opportunity Statement

September 16, 2004 - University of Oregon amends its Equal Opportunity Statement to include the phrases “gender identity” and “gender expression.”
Read More Here

May

Connecticut Adds Trans Protections

May 25, 2004 - Connecticut adds disability and gender identity and expression to the current statewide hate crime statute.
Read More Here

Chapel Hill Adds Trans Protections

May 10, 2004 - Chapel Hill, NC adds sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to town's employment non-discrimination policy.
Read More Here

January

Oakland Adds Trans Protections

January 7, 2004 - Oakland, CA Passes a Gender Identity and Expression Ordinance
Read More Here