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Injected silicone suspected in third death Houston TX, August 21, 2003 ---- A third person has died from what police suspect are silicone injections, alarming investigators that many in the transgender community are not heeding warnings about the dangers of such body enhancement techniques. David Harold Reese Jr., 31, died Sunday at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, two days after receiving silicone injections to enhance his buttocks, said Houston Police Department Homicide Lt. Steve Jett. Reese, of the 4300 block of Sherwood Lane, lived as a woman and went by the name "Coco," friends said. Police believe Reese asphyxiated, Jett said, but the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office has not determined the official cause of death. Investigators are looking for the person who gave the injections and who could face criminal charges. |
Anti-transgender violence hits D.C. again Washington D.C., August 21, 2003 ---- For the second time in less than a week, a transgender woman was brutally killed in Washington D.C. on Thursday. Police found the victim's partially nude body in a field early Thursday morning, the Associated Press reported. The victim, Emoni Spaulding, had been shot but also had severe head wounds. Hours earlier, another transgender woman, Punani Walker, was shot in Washington and had to be hospitalized in critical condition. Police reportedly said the two attacks were not related. No arrests have been made in the two incidents. On Saturday, transgender performer Bella Evangelista was fatally shot in what police are investigating as a potential hate crime. A suspect for the shooting is in custody. |
Transgender Community Alarmed by D.C. Shootings Washington D.C., August 22, 2003 ---- Attacks during the past week against men who live as women, including two shootings Wednesday night and yesterday morning, have left two dead in the District and alarmed activists of the transgender community. D.C. police said the two latest shootings, which occurred five miles apart, did not appear to be connected. They also said there was no link to the fatal shooting of a transgender person Saturday, a case that has resulted in an arrest. Activists in the transgender community, who have held several vigils in the past week, said Washington has emerged as one of the most dangerous places in the country for men who live as women. There have been five killings since last summer, most unsolved, police said. "Our lives are being taken by the simple fact that we are who we are," said Ruby Bracamonte. |
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San Diego City Council Gives Final Approval for Transgender Protection (July 28, 2003) -- Today in a historic vote, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to amend the city's Human Dignity Ordinance (HDO) to protect the civil rights of transgender people. "We as a community have worked hard to achieve this goal," said Amanda Watson, co-chair of the HDO Amendment Coalition, which formed early this year to press for passage of the measure. "It has been an honor working with such a diverse group. I am proud to be a part of this and to live in a city where I know I have rights too." The amendment adds "gender
identity" to the current language, defined as "having
or being perceived as having a |
Pennsylvania Governor broadens
protection against gender-identity bias The order applies only to the 80,000 employees in the governor's cabinet agencies and bans discrimination based on "gender identity or expression." "I am proud today to emphasize my conviction that this state will treat people fairly and with personal respect as long as I serve as the chief executive," Rendell said in a statement released with the order. He called it "an important step for the recognition of personal dignity and freedom." |
California law bans gender identity bias (Sacramento, August 4, 2003) -- Embattled California Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill on Saturday to outlaw bias on the basis of gender identity and expression, revising the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act. The bill, introduced by openly gay Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, was sponsored by Equality California and formally supported by more that 50 other local, state and national organizations. "Every day, I am contacted by transgender people who have lost their jobs or their homes, simply because of who they are. It is long past time that California and other states put an end to this devastating and costly discrimination," said Chris Daley, an attorney with the California-based Transgender Law Center. |
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Transgender Leaders Laud Unified Voice of GLBT Community in Federal Legislative Efforts The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the Transgender Law & Policy Institute (TLPI) hosted a conference call on Tuesday, June 17 for GLBT media to discuss recent efforts to include transgender people in federal non-discrimination legislation. Also covered was the recently developed consensus and solidarity around transgender inclusion in all aspects of the LGBT movement. Paisley Curruh, Board member of TLPI said, "As you all are well aware, trans activists from all over the country have been aggressively lobbying for years to get gender identity and expression included in ENDA. ... But this year marks the first time that virtually the entire community spoke with a unified voice in asking Congressional sponsors to amend ENDA to include transgender people." |
A new approach on ENDA: Currah said that transgender activism is at a “watershed moment... We believe it is only a matter of time before any federal legislation dealing with gay rights will as a matter of course also include transgender people.” |
California Senate passes bill outlawing bias against transgendered residents Associated Press, Thursday, July 24, 2003 ---- In a sign of growing tolerance for transsexuals, the California Senate agreed Thursday to ban housing and job discrimination against residents whose "perceived gender characteristics are different from those traditionally associated with the individual's sex at birth." The Senate voted 23-11 to add "gender identity or expression" to the dozen characteristics already protected under the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act. If the governor signs the bill, California would become the fourth state to make it illegal to deny someone a job or place to live on that basis. Although the law would also apply to heterosexual men and women whose appearances do not conform with masculine or feminine norms, its passage is widely viewed as a victory for the transgendered community. |
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Peoria Passes GLBT Civil Rights Ordinance PEORIA, IL, April 22, 2003 ---- Opponents who call gay rights the province of politically liberal cities may have to change their tune after the Illinois city known as America's archetypal home of mainstream values outlawed anti-GLBT discrimination April 22. "Now gay rights does play in Peoria," said Douglas Drenckpohl, president of the Men's Network, a gay group based in the Downstate city, after the Peoria City Council voted 8-3 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. Drenckpohl's group led the campaign to add GLBT protections to Peoria's human rights ordinance, beginning last October with overtures to the city's Fair Employment and Housing Commission. |
Covington, KY Expands Human Rights Ordinance Covington KY, April 29, 2003, ---- "In yet another victory for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, Covington, Kentucky city commissioners last night voted unanimously (5-0) to expand their existing human rights ordinance by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the already protected classes of the ordinance," said Lorri L. Jean, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Executive Director. "The broad coalition of activists led by the Kentucky Fairness Alliance are to be commended for their hard work in ensuring fair and equal treatment for all Covington residents " Last night's vote expands the city's human rights ordinance to include disability, place of birth, and marital, parental and familial status in addition to sexual orientation and gender identity. |
ENDA and the Transgender Community. Op-Ed by Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director of HRC June 16, 2003 ---- One of the most intricate, important and challenging issues to ever face the Human Rights Campaign is how to grapple both legally and authentically with the issue of "gender identity and expression." Transgender people have always been part of our community. We have marched together, been brutalized together and embraced each other in the hardest of times. Usually, it is transgender people both transitioning individuals and gender nonconforming gay and lesbian folks who are on the front lines. They are the first to be fired, the first to be rolled into a ditch for kicks, the first to be humiliated in ways large and small each day. |
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Transgender father loses court
fight for custody In denying the father custody, Bender cited case law that says a child's best interest should be the controlling factor in determining visitation rights |
City of El Paso amends ordinance on discrimination El Paso, April 9, 2003 ---- The City Council expanded its anti-discrimination ordinance Tuesday, unanimously voting to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, which refers to people who have undergone sex changes. Originally set to add only "sexual orientation" to the ordinance, the council also included "gender identity" after Lisa Turner, a council candidate for District 8, requested the addition. West Side Rep. Jan Sumrall, who had been "wanting to do this for years," faced no opposition to her amendment, the culmination of several years of support for the gay and lesbian community in El Paso. |
Monroe County, Florida Enacts Protections for Transgender People TAMPA, April 16, 2003 ----Civil rights activists across the state are applauding the Monroe County Commission's unanimous decision to amend its local nondiscrimination law to include transgender people. In passing these protections, Monroe County joins Key West in specifically protecting transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommo- dations and lending. Monroe County joins a growing number of municipalities across the country to add such protections, becoming the 58th jurisdiction to expand its law. |
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New Mexico Hate Crime Bill
Passes; Antidiscrimination Bill Set For Vote |
Minnesota Senate tables civil rights repeal March 21, 2003 ---- A bill that would have repealed civil rights protections for GLBT citizens in Minnesota was withdrawn from the state Senate on Friday after widespread criticism. The bill, SF 545, would have eliminated references to sexual orientation and gender identity -- in place since 1993 -- in the state's nondiscrimination laws. "After most members of the Senate Judiciary Committee had identified the numerous flaws in SF 545, it was apparent that the proposal was doomed," said Monica Meyer, public policy director for OutFront Minnesota. |
New Mexico Human Rights Bill
Goes to Governor The measure approved late Friday will extend anti-discrimination protections to gays and lesbians to make it illegal to discriminate against them in matters of employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and union membership. Richardson wanted lawmakers to send him the anti-discrimination measure. The legislation would broaden the state's Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. |
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Illinois Senate Executive Committee Passes GLBT Rights SPRINGFIELD, IL February 27, 2003 - The most conservative committee of the Illinois Senate voted to pass a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The 8-5 vote was along party lines with Democrats casting yes votes and Republicans voting no. The bill, which has been around since 1974, now goes to the full Senate for consideration. The bill's sponsor is optimistic about its passage. "This is the first time that the Senate Executive committee passed this bill. We are ecstatic," said Rick Garcia, political Director of Equality Illinois. "For years this civil rights legislation was bottled up or stopped in this committee and today's vote is a huge step forward." |
Transsexual police officer in Cincinnati wins discrimination case CINCINNATI (AP) -- February 28, 2003 -- A federal court jury has awarded $320,511 to a transsexual police officer who said the city discriminated against her. The jury on Wednesday ordered the city to pay back wages and damages to Philecia Barnes, formerly Phillip Barnes, a police officer for 22 years and a former Marine Corps sergeant. Barnes, 43, said yesterday that she will request a court order to force the city to reinstate her as a police sergeant. She became a probationary sergeant for six months in 1999, then was demoted to officer. |
CAPE-Sponsored gender non-discrimination bill passes key committee SACRAMENTO, March 19, 2003 --
The California State Assembly's Labor & Employment Committee
today passed a historic civil rights measure to prohibit housing
and workplace discrimination based on gender characteristics.
The bill now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. |
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Florida Court Issues Historic Marriage/Custody Decision for Transgender Dad TAMPA, FL, Feb 21, 2003 ---- In a groundbreaking decision, Florida Circuit Court Judge Gerard O'Brien ruled today that Michael Kantaras, a transgender man, is legally male and was legally married to his former wife Linda Kantaras, stating that "the Court has carefully reviewed all the pleadings, record evidence, expert medical testimony, lay witness testimony and the appropriate statutory authority for marriage in Florida and concludes the overwhelming weight of evidence favors declaring the marriage valid." The court also awarded Michael primary custody of the two children he and Linda raised together during their marriage. |
Gender Identity Protection Bill Advances in Hawaii Senate HONOLULU (AP) — February 25, 2003 — A person's sexual orientation often is disguised and private, but switching gender identity through dress or mannerism is likely to attract attention and expose the person to public ridicule or worse, according to a key lawmaker. To help protect transgender individuals from violence, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved a measure to add "gender identity or expression" as a class covered by the state's have crimes law. It goes next to the full Senate for consideration. |
New Mexico close to passing protections Santa Fe, NM, February 27, 2003 -- The New Mexico senate on Wednesday voted 22-18 for a gay rights bill that mirrors a version passed two days earlier by the house. The legislation does not go to the governor's desk because the same bill must pass both houses. But the senate vote --after about four hours of debate--sends a strong signal that the legislature is prepared to enact the antidiscrimination measure after years of lobbying by activists. The legislation would broaden the state's Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. It would make it illegal to discriminate in matters of employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and union membership. |
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Peter Oiler Ends Court Fight Oiler, citing recent Republican gains in Congress and President Bush's re-nomination of Charles Pickering to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where his case would be tried, told the Associated Press: "I'm afraid I would have done more harm to the cause than good." |
Shelters bar trans homeless ATLANTA, Feb 15, 2003 ----"As of 14 Dec. I'm one of the homeless. Shelters don't take transsexuals and I'm not changing back. Looks like I'm a goner. Thanks for the support over the past few years. Hugs, Alice." Alice Johnston, 52 ... died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Dec. 15 along the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Fulton County. But if Atlanta homeless shelters, most of which receive federal money, did not discriminate against transgendered people, Johnston would "probably still be alive," Monica Helms, executive director of Trans=Action, a transgender advocacy group, told the city's Commission on Homelessness last month. click here for more |
Hate-crime law in Hawai'i may add category to cover 'transgender' HONOLULU, Feb 22, 2003 ----Hawai'i's hate crime law would be expanded to protect transsexuals, transvestites and other "transgender" people under a bill expected to be approved by the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. The current Hawai'i hate crime law establishes tougher penalties for offenders who pick their victims based on hatred for a particular race, religion, disability, national origin, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Supporters of Senate Bill 616, which would add a new category of "gender identity or expression," told the committee yesterday that transgenders have been targeted in verbal and physical attacks and that such acts should not be trivialized. |
Key West Enact Protections for Transgender People TAMPA, January 8, 2003. Civil rights activists across the state are applauding the Key West City Commission¹s unanimous decision to include transgender people in the local nondiscrimination law. Key West¹s ordinance is now the most inclusive in Florida, and the first in the state to protect transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, accommodations and lending. "Key West¹s slogan is 'One Human Family', said Scott Fraser, Director of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Key West. "The City Commission demonstrated that those words are not hollow." |
Springfield IL and Key West Vote in Transgender Rights Tuesday night, January 7, 2003, Key West became the first jurisdiction in Florida to enact legislation protecting the human rights of transgender and intersexed people. At about the same time, the Springfield, IL city council passed a similar ordinance covering both sexual orientation and gender identity. The Springfield vote was 8-1 in favor of the ordinance, with one abstention. The measure in Springfield includes gender identity under the definition of sexual orientation as "having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one's biological maleness or femaleness." |