Carolyn Lochhead: Frankly Upset

Sparks are flying on Capitol Hill between gay rights activists and their leading champion, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. As gay lobbyists work frantically to stop Frank’s plan to drop transgender people from a landmark bill forbidding job discrimination, Frank is fighting back, announcing a press conference tomorrow to discuss the matter in no uncertain terms.

“The subject will be the obligation of the Democratic Party to govern responsibly when confronted by a demand to react emotionally by a deeply committed, single-issue faction insisting on putting ideological purity over achievable advancement of our values,” Frank’s press release announced.

“The specific example discussed will be the current demand that the Democratic leadership kill the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which has been the prime legislative goal for gay and lesbian people for over 30 years, because we do not have the votes to include people who are transgender,” the missive stated.

Frank’s move has infuriated gay rights activists, who face the prospect of dropping the “T” from the GLBT moniker they adopted to represent gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender interests. The issue has split the gay community and now opens a major breech between liberal Democrats and one of their chief constituencies.

Transgender prostitute slain in Memphis

Read the article:  http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/270492.php

Advocates urge council to pass anti-discrimination law

Measure would apply to employment, housing

By Connie McKinney

BINGHAMTON — Miller Hoffman knows what it’s like to be hassled for being a transgender person.

“Discrimination against transgender people is part of our daily lives,” she told Binghamton city council on Monday night.

The Binghamton resident was one of 11 people who spoke in favor of a local law that would make it illegal to discriminate against transgender individuals. The proposed law would also protect against discrimination because of height and/or weight as well as age, race, religion, national origin and sexual orientation.

The proposed law would apply to employment, housing and public accommodations. Council members may vote on the proposal on Dec. 15.

Lin Hill, a transgender person and Binghamton University graduate student, praised the council for considering the law and said it’s needed to protect against discrimination.

A few people spoke in support of overweight people being protected, including Amanda Jones of Endicott. Overweight people are often yelled at on the street, she said.

“What does matter to people of all sizes is that they’re treated with dignity and respect,” she said.

Lawrence Parham asked the council to add formerly incarcerated people to the groups seeking protection against discrimination. He chairs a task force to help former inmates re-enter society.

Edward Crumb, a Binghamton attorney, was the only person who commented against the law. He said he supports the purpose of the law but was concerned about some “legal loopholes.” For example, the law doesn’t include educational institutions that are under the supervision of the state Regents, which would include Binghamton University and may include local schools.

Day of Rememberance: Transgender

According to the HRC, transgender people have a 1 in 12 chance of being murdered in their lifetime.  This number has come under dispute, with the police authorities placing the chance of murder 10 times the rate of the average population.  In 2007, thirty names were added to the growing list with four of the murders occurring within 20 days of each other.

As part of the campaign to raise awareness, November 20th of every year has been designated as a “Day of Rememberance” for transgendered persons who were murdered.  The event was formed following the murder of Rita Hester in 1998, and now includes candlelight vigils held throughout the world.

For more information:

http://www.gender.org/remember/day/

http://www.transgenderdor.org/