This And That In The News – Trans Issues

"This And That In The News" is about articles in the news that have caught my eye and I want to share or comment about. These are the articles that caught my attention last week.

First off this week is an article from Maine about the student who was discriminated in school…

Maine judge hears arguments in transgender case
NECH News
September 20, 2012

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge will decide whether a lawsuit filed by an Orono family over the school district's treatment of their transgender child's will go forward.

The family and the Maine Human Rights Commission sued the district in November 2009. They are seeking damages, claiming the mother and identical twin boys were forced to move to Portland to find a more supportive school environment. The father remained in Orono.

The lawyers for the case are from GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) and in a press statement that they released said…

Every transgender girl has the right to be treated like other girls.

GLAD Senior Attorney Ben Klein was in Bangor, Maine, yesterday, with Transgender Rights Project Director Jennifer Levi, arguing just that point on behalf of our client Susan.* 

Susan is a transgender girl whose elementary education was disrupted when her public school did an "about face" by excluding her from the girls' bathroom.

Maine has a statewide law prohibiting discrimination against people based on gender identity and expression in all areas, including public education and public accommodations, plain and simple.

Susan's school initially did the right thing and treated her just like any other girl. But after a male student repeatedly harassed her, the school not only excluded Susan from the girls' bathroom - treating her differently than all other girls - it forced her to use a completely separate facility - treating her differently than all other students.

That's not right. GLAD is committed to fighting until Susan - and all other transgender students - are treated fairly and with respect.

One of the lawyers on the case is Jennifer Levi and she was one of the key players in passing the Connecticut gender inclusive anti-discrimination law.

The next story is about a town hall meeting in Michigan where a trans-woman speaks at a forum about the bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the state’s anti-discrimination law.

Watch transgender speaker push for LGBT protections in state civil rights law
Michigan Live
By Matt Vande Bunte
September 19, 2012

Bacon [a trans-woman who tried to become a foster parent but was turned down because she is trans] was among a handful of speakers at a Michigan Department of Civil Rights hearing this afternoon at Grand Rapids Community College. With funding from the Tides Foundation, the state agency is holding five hearings across the state. The state’s Civil Rights Commission expects to get a report on the public comments later this year.

In Grand Rapids, all but one speaker voiced support for adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

“I’m not a homophobe or a bigot, but I don’t believe that amending the state discrimination policy is the right thing to do,” Kevin Rahe said. “I get the feeling it’s much more part of an agenda to encourage acceptance of homosexual activity and relationships than ending real discrimination.”

Yup, the ol’ gay agenda and I’m not bigot but I think I should be able to fire these people.

What do these two stories have in common?

It is that those who are opposed to say that they are not against us, but they do not want us in the bathroom or at work or in a restaurant or all of the above. Notice how all oppressors say that they don’t understand why we need “special rights” because they are not discriminating against anyone. While at the same time they are firing us (you make the other employees uncomfortable) or throwing us out of a bar (you make our other customer uncomfortable).

The last subject is Don’t Ask Do Tell (DADT), it has been one year since the military allowed gays and lesbians, but notice who is missing…

One Year Later, Military Says Gay Policy Is Working
NY Times
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: September 19, 2012

WASHINGTON — Every Tuesday and Friday morning in a dining area tucked behind Dunkin’ Donuts in the Pentagon’s main food court, a gay coffee group meets to talk, do a little business and tell a few jokes.

Started quietly by a handful of Air Force officers in 2005, the gathering has grown to as many as 40 people since the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy last September. The crowd is a testament to the openness in the military now that gay, lesbian and bisexual service members no longer have to keep their sexual orientation secret or face discharge — and also to how such gatherings are still needed.

Local transition smooth after repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Dayton Daily News
By Mary McCarty
Sept. 21, 2012

Mirroring trends across the country, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has reported a smooth transition during the first year since the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the 1993 law that banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

“It has been the first year we would have hoped to have had,” said spokesman Daryl Mayer. “Our policy is based on treating everyone with respect, dignity and complying with Air Force core values.”

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, we are missing. In the Huffington Post, Lila Shapiro writes…

Thursday marked the one year anniversary of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," and to honor the occasion, President Obama tweeted "All Americans can now serve their country without hiding who they are." However, there are still service members who can be discharged for coming out of the closet. Transgender men and women are not allowed to serve in the military, and some gay-rights advocates are saying that the time has come to change this.

"The gay community has thrown the transgender community under the bus," said Aaron Belkin, the author of "How We Won: Progressive Lessons From the Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" Belkin allowed that not much is known about the issue apart from the fact that these troops exist, but he called the fight for transgender inclusion in the military the "next big struggle."

Gays and lesbians are slapping one another on the back saying “We won!” and giving high fives as they walk away. Donations are drying up, the same way they did when Connecticut when marriage equality was achieved. The organizations that promised they would come back for us closed their doors and folded.

One time I attended a town hall meeting the Sen. Lieberman had for DADT and in the Q&A I asked a question about trans service members. Afterward when I posted my question and his answer on a national LGBT I got stepped on for “highjacking” their issue again… that you transgender people always come in try to take over. So let me get this straight when they demand their rights it is OK, but if we demand our rights we have to wait our turn. Now they have moved on to the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).