Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Trans-woman Brutally Beaten in Queens NY

This is from a Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund press release (photo and more details)...
We're sad to bring you the news of another brutal attack on a transgender woman, this one coming during the height of LGBT Pride month. On June 19, 2009, at approximately 2:30 am, Leslie Mora was walking home from a nightclub on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens when she was accosted by two men who brutally beat her with a belt. They stopped only when a passing motorist threatened to call the police.

Throughout the attack, Leslie’s assailants called her a “faggot” in Spanish. The attack left Leslie with multiple injuries, including bruises all over her body, and stitches in her scalp. Police called to the scene found Leslie nearly naked and bleeding on the sidewalk. They also recovered a belt buckle from the assailants that was covered in blood.
...
Her assailants, Trinidad Tapia, 19, and Gilberto Ortiz, 32, fled the scene but were arrested by police soon after the attack. Both were charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, a felony, and released on their own recognizance. The Queens County District Attorney has declined to investigate the attack as a hate crime.

Monday, June 29, 2009

New York City Pride Parade – To Hell and Back

OK, OK, I have to admit I am not a big fan on parades, any type of parades. My father use to drag me kicking and screaming to parades. However, I did march in last year’s Trans Pride parade and it did give me a sense of empowerment. Since this year is the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, I felt that this was a momentous and that the trans-community should have a strong showing, I over came my reluctance and marched.

We all meet at the New Haven train station and piled on the 8:32AM train to Grand Central Station. There was three friends and myself who at the time did not realize that we were about to take a journey into the Twilight Zone (Cue in theme song).
The trip began innocently enough, we all met at the train station and we bumped into two groups of friends who were also going down to Pride. (Cue Rod Serling voice over). As we were pulling into the South Norwalk station, there was a bright flash from atop of our railroad car and sparks bouncing on the ground outside. The lights in the car went off and the car came to a stop. An announcement came over the intercom saying that there was a problem and they were “looking into the problem”… 2 ½ hours latter, we were on our way again in another train. We were schedule to arrive at 10:12, but it wasn’t until 1:00PM that we arrived at Grand Central station. The problem was with the pantograph that shorted out.

We had miss our 11:00AM muster with the group that we were going to march with, the “Sons and Daughters of Sylvia Rivera”, so we just joined up with the first group that passed by the corner (42nd St. and 5th Ave.) where we were standing, “The Gender Project.”The sun was out and it was hot, but not oppressively hot, every once in awhile there was a cooling breeze when we past a cross street. However, it was LOUD! People screaming, blowing whistles, and floats with music blaring. It was so loud that you had to talk into the ear of the person you were talking with. The sun became brutal as we marched, so I took out my umbrella to give me shade.

The parade went down 5th Ave and turned eventually on to Christopher Street (Stonewall Place) and went by the Stonewall Inn, where the LGBT movement began. Then parade ended. One moment you were in the parade and the next you weren’t.
We found a Bar and Grill and went in and had dinner. when we finished we looked for a taxi but none of them wanted to cross the parade route and take us up to Grand Center station. So we started walking back along the parade route, the parade was still going. When the end of the parade past by, it was 5:30 and they had about an hour to go before they got to the end of the parade route.

We then continued on walking back to Grand Central station, we walked about 10 ½ miles (12,900 steps) and we took the 6:34PM train back to New Haven (Cue the Twilight Zone theme song) which was scheduled to arrive at 8:18PM.
We had just left the Harlem 125th Street station when there were two loud bangs and railcar shook violently, knocking all the soot and debris from the overhead. We sat there while they “looked into the problem.” This time we only sat there for forty-five minutes. They moved us out of the last two railcars and disconnected them from the train. The cars that we moved to didn’t have air-conditioning and we sat there sweltering until we got to Stamford where they had another train waiting for us. The problem… the pantograph broke! We speculated that it was same railroad car that we were in, in the morning; did they fix it hap hazardously and put it back in-service? We arrived in New Haven at 9:00, 45 minutes late.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Saturday Six - Episode 272

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six - Episode 272

1. If you know someone who is interested in you happens to be high maintenance, are you as likely to date them anyway?

Yes, I would, because there was something that attracted me to them in the first place

2. Do you get more frustrated by your home being in a state of disarray or your workplace being in a state of disarray?

My home, since I live alone, the only one to blame is myself.

3. You decide to go to the grocery store where you don’t expect to run into anyone you know. How dressed up are you likely to get?
Not very, jeans and a tank top just like I normal dress

4. Take the quiz: Are You High Maintenance?




You Are Low Maintenance



Compared to most people, you are incredibly easy going.
To be honest, you are truly a breath of fresh air.

You are open minded about trying new things, and you're not upset when things don't work out.
You are willing to go along to get along. And your attitude helps you truly enjoy life!



5. How important is it to you that the person you would date would be roughly “in your league” lookswise?
Not important, I believe that a person’s heart more important than their looks.

6. Do you prefer spending more on a birthday gift for a close friend of having them spend more on a gift for you?
I’m not a big fan of birthday gifts, I like their company more then what they give me.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Saturday 9: I Want You Back

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: I Want You Back



1. Where were you when you heard that Michael Jackson died?
In the kitchen, making supper.

2. How do you think that he will be remembered?
Talented but strange

3. What was your favorite Jackson tune?
I never was a fan of his

4. Did you watch the original Charlie’s Angels?
Of course. I had a crush on Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan)

5. Did someone you know have that poster of Farrah?
Nope

6. Did you consider her battle with cancer heroic?
I think everyone who has cancer is heroic

7. Were you a fan of The Tonight Show Starring Johnnie Carson?
No, it was way past my bed time. I had to be at work at 7:00AM

8. Did you like Ed McMahon on the show?
He was OK

9. What else will you remember McMahon for?
The ads for the sweepstakes.

Friday Fill-Ins #130

Janet’s Friday Fill-ins #130

ffi

1. She had a great _part in the play_.

2. _My family_ is by my side, always.

3. I know this: _the answer is 42_

4. _It is raining_ still.

5. These words apply to me: _”To thine own self be true”_.

6. _I wish_ the sun was shining.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _going to the coffeehouse_, tomorrow my plans include _cleaning_ and Sunday, I want to _go to New York City to march in the Pride parade_!

The Fun Of Small Town: Politics! Or The Never Ending Saga Of Garbage

The tale begins last fall when the Town Council began looking into automated trash collection as away of saving the town money. After several council meetings where the public could attend, the council decided to go ahead and sign a contact. In February, they signed a contract that was to begin in July, when the old contract expired. The new automated system would be a saving to the town over the old manual system.

Fast forward to the May Town Council meeting where a group of people thought it would be an inconvenience to have to wheel down to the curb the garbage cans. They said that they were going to start a petition to stop the new automated garbage collection from going into affect.

This past Tuesday, we had the referendum, out of over 13000 voters only 3680 voted. The vote was 1,964 on favor of the old manual garbage collection system to 1,716 in favor of the new automated system.

As a result of the vote, the Town Council said at an emergency meeting last night that we should plan on taking our garbage for at least 2 weeks to the town garage. Because it will take that long for the bidding process. The town council said that so far they have not heard from any garbage companies that are interested in bidding.

The Town Council also is setting aside $1,000,000 for the lawsuit that is expected for breach of contract and the mill rate will probably go up by a half mill.

Meanwhile, I have a brand new 95 gal. garbage can sitting in my garage.

# # #


This is why I am against ballot initiatives. It makes for bad government. We elect our public officials to make decisions and if we do not like what they do, we can vote them out of office.

The council spent several months researching the issue and held public meetings that practically no one attended. The opposition started a petition drive a little over a month before the contract went in to effect and were able to collect enough signatures to call for a referendum. They then mounted a slick campaign where they never mentioned the fact that there was a signed contract and we might be sued. Their estimate of the cost of the contract was questionable and they pushed the fact that you had to wheel these “big” cans down to the street. The voter succumbed to the propaganda and voted to overturn the signed contract and got us into the mess that we are now in.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Farrah Fawcett succumbs to cancer at 62

Farrah Fawcett, the “Charlie’s Angels” star whose feathered blond hair and dazzling smile made her one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1970s, died Thursday after battling cancer. She was 62.

The pop icon, who in the 1980s set aside the fantasy girl image to tackle serious roles, died shortly before 9:30 a.m. in a Santa Monica hospital, spokesman Paul Bloch said.

Ryan O’Neal, the longtime companion who had reunited with Fawcett as she fought anal cancer, was at her side, along with close friend Alana Stewart, Bloch said.

“After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away,” O’Neal said. “Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30072275/ns/entertainment-celebrities/

Once Again We Are Thown Under The Bus

The Delaware legislature passes and Anti-Discrimination bill that has only sexual orientation...
Long Title:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6, 9, 18, 19, 25, AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTING, HOUSING, EQUAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE INSURANCE BUSINESS.
Synopsis:
This Act adds the term “sexual orientation” to the already-existing list of prohibited practices of discrimination. As such, this Act would forbid discrimination against a person on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment, public works contracting, public accommodations, and insurance. In addition, this Act would establish that the Superior Court, in the first instance, would hear and adjudicate alleged criminal violations under the Act of equal accommodations, fair housing and employment discrimination.
http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LIS145.NSF/vwLegislation/B39629232C080EE3852575B50071E9C0?Opendocument

How many times have we seen this where gender identity and expression is not added to the bill and the trans-community is told, "Do not worry, we will work to pass a trans-bill." However, instead they go off and focus their attention on marriage equality. Then once they get marriage equality they fold up shop and mone on.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

(Update 11:18 - The bill number is: H.R. 2981 and the language is already posted at www.thomas.gov)

From United ENDA
ENDA is being introduced tomorrow (Wednesday June 23rd) in the House! Our next step is to call our Representatives and ask them to cosponsor of ENDA. Below is a script to use. It is essential that we flood their lines to let them know how many of their constituents support ENDA! Once you’ve called, let United ENDA know what the staffer said by emailing laura.hart@unitedenda.org. Then ask all of your friends and family to call their Representative too.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and have them connect you to your Representative (based on your zip code). Tell them:

I am a constituent and I would like you to please tell Representative _______ that I would like him/her to become a cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ENDA would ban discrimination against all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the workplace. Can you tell me whether or not Representative _______ has cosponsored the bill?

Just go ahead & do it. Find your House Rep at www.house.gov. (On the upper left side, put in your zip.)
From NTCE
A Message from Mara Keisling

I have no doubt we can pass a transgender-inclusive ENDA this year if we all do the work now to educate Congress and the public. In an interview last fall, Rep Barney Frank (D-MA) agreed saying:

"The more Democrats we have, and obviously, not every Democrat votes with us, the better we'll do. If we can pick up 15 Democratic seats, then I think we are in good position to pass a transgender-inclusive ENDA." (Barney Frank on 365Gay.com)

Of course he's right, not every Democrat votes with us and not every Republican votes against us. That's why the best work we can be doing now to get us in position for winning our rights in 2009 is the work of building relationships and educating all of our lawmakers - whoever they are, where ever they are.

When I'm visiting lawmakers on Capitol Hill one thing I hear far too often is that lawmakers don't think they have transgender people in their districts. You and I know that is impossible - we are every where. I can visit your representatives everyday up on the Hill, but they really need to hear from you and to meet you face to face. It does make a difference!

What is ENDA?

Key features of the bill include:

* This legislation would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote an employee simply based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. It would reinforce the principle that employment decisions should be based upon a person’s qualifications and job performance.
* ENDA closely follows the model of existing federal civil rights laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are treated in the same way as other groups protected under law – no better, no worse.

Who supports equal employment:

* Most of America’s smartest business minds understand that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity has nothing to do with their job performance. That is why 200 Fortune 500 companies include gender identity in their nondiscrimination policies.
* Federal law has also been outpaced by the actions of state and local leaders. Thirty-seven percent of the country, including thirteen states, the District of Columbia and more than 90 cities and counties, have passed protections for the transgender community.

Why ENDA Must Contain Explicit Protections for Gender Identity

* ENDA should protect the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community from unequal treatment in the workplace, especially those of us who are most vulnerable to discrimination.
* The LGBT community is one community, and we want to move forward, together, in one bill.
* Including explicit protections against discrimination based on gender identity not only helps transgender people; it also strengthens ENDA for the rest of our community by ensuring that an employer cannot fire or refuse to hire a gay employee for an “effeminate” walk or a lesbian employee for dressing “too butch.”
* Despite advances in protecting transgender people on the state and local level, as well as in the private sector, it remains perfectly legal in 37 states to fire someone solely based on his or her gender identity.
* Recent national surveys have found that 65% of people believe it should be illegal to discriminate against transgender people in employment.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Swedish parents keep 2-year-old's gender secret

From the "Local News, Swedish New in English"

Meet Pop, a two-and-a-half-year-old Swedish child whose parents are refusing to say whether the apple of their eye is a boy or a girl.

Pop’s parents, both 24, made a decision when their baby was born to keep Pop’s sex a secret. Aside from a select few – those who have changed the child’s diaper – nobody knows Pop’s gender; if anyone enquires, Pop’s parents simply say they don’t disclose this information.

In an interview with newspaper Svenska Dagbladet in March, the parents were quoted saying their decision was rooted in the feminist philosophy that gender is a social construction.

“We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset,” Pop’s mother said. “It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead.”


Footnote: Pop is not the child's real name but is the name used in Svenska Dagbladet's interview with the child's parents from March 6th.

NYC Pride March

I am going down to New York City this Sunday to march in the Pride Parade. This is the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. I am going with some friends and we are taking the 8:32AM train from New Haven and arriving at Grand Central Station at 10:12. We will be marching with the "TG Fund on behalf of: Sons & Daughters of Sylvia Rivera (NTAC)" We were told to meet at E. 56th St. between 5th Ave. & Madison Ave. and we will be up near the front of the Parade in Section 1, Group 13.

This will be the first Pride parade that I have been in and I am looking forwarded to marching. It suppose to be in the upper 80's or the low 90's and humid...ugh. I hope to take plenty of photos to post next Monday. So stay tuned.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Manic Monday #173

Lisa’s Manic Monday #173



Do you usually wear perfume/cologne? If so, what's your current favorite?
No, too many of my friends are allergic to perfume and besides the smell get to me after while.

What's the last book you've read that you thought was really good? If you don't have one, what looks promising on your to-be-read list?

For the last nine months I have been reading textbooks, I tried reading for pleasure and I find that I am not interested in reading right now. Maybe I have to decompress first.

Fill in the blank: I wouldn't be caught dead…
Wearing the wrong “Days of the week panties” (I must confess that I couldn’t think of anything creative, so I googled the phrase.)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Pride

Yesterday, I went to the Fairfield county Pride. I was a little upset to put it mildly, the Pride itself was OK but they had signs that they put up around the area. The signs were of notable people and events in the LGBT history, the sign in front of our table was about the Stonewall Uprising.

The title of the sign was “Gays and Lesbian Riot at the Stonewall Inn,” a red flag went off when I read that. As I continued reading, the sign went on to say “the gays and lesbians” rioted against the police. By this time, my blood was boiling and I grabbed one of the Pride officials over to read the sign. I asked him to read the sign and as he read the sign, he immediately realized the omission and he sheepishly said that there was no mention of the trans-community’s involvement. He brought over the person who made the signs (his partner), who apologized for the omission and said he would correct it before the signs were hung in the community center.

Over and over I see this all the time both in articles and in “scholarly work.” I believe it is done because the lack of cultural sensitivity and ignorance. They just don’t think. They have to learn to look at the issue from our perspective, one of the reasons Stonewall was raided was to check if the males had on at least three items of male clothing. Sylvia Rivera was one of the founders of the “Gay Liberation Front” and she was kicked out because she didn’t portray the imagine that they wanted, the same was true for our attempts to march in the first Pride parade. Likewise, for the first ENDA march on Washington, we were not welcome.

Saturday Six - Episode 271

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six - Episode 271

1. You’re invited to a get-together with friends, and you’re asked to bring a tasty treat: what are you most likely to bring?
For parties, I like to make…

~~ Cream Cheese Tortilla Roll ~~
* 1 PKG Tortilla - Burritos Size
* 2 PKG 8 Oz Cream Cheese
* 1 PKG Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
* 1/2 8 Oz Can of Black Olives
* 1 Can 2 Oz Chopped Green Chili Peppers
* 1 Jar 2 Oz Chopped Pimentos
* 2 Scallions

Slice the Black Olives and Scallions. Soften the cream cheese. Mix all the ingredients except the Tortillas. Spread the ingredients onto the tortillas and roll it up.Cut in bit size pieces.
Can be refrigerated before serving.
Variation: Instead of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix and green Chili peppers, use McCormick Taco Seasoning for a Mexican Flavor and Jalapenos peppers.

2. Considering your answer to the previous question, are you more likely to buy something already prepared, or prepare something from scratch on your own?
Make

3. Where is the last place you met a close friend for coffee or a meal?
Hmm…that is a hard questions answer because I usually go out with several friends for a meal and if I met a friend for coffee, it is usually over business. I would have to say the “Olive Garden” with a friend who doesn’t get many opportunities to go out.

4. Take the quiz: What Mexican Food Are You?




You Are a Burrito



You life large, and you're happiest when you're the center of attention.
You are popular and appealing. You are charming and naturally flirtatious.

You are a trendsetter. You're always trying something new, and you never get stuck in a rut.
You are open minded and adventurous. You love to mix seemingly random elements together.



5. How many local restaurants have some special sentimental significance for you because of time you’ve spent there with family or friends?

None, I am more interested in going to a restaurant that has good food more than for sentimental reasons.

6. If you had a local restaurant that you liked, but that was a hangout for you and a close friend, and that friend moved away, would you find it hard to go back how hard would it be for you to continue going to that restaurant?
No, I don’t think it would. Good food wins out over emotions any day.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Saturday 9: Never Say Never Again

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: Never Say Never Again



1. Do you like James Bond films? If yes, what’s your favorite?
I liked all the old classic, later they got kind of hokey.

2. Are you daring enough to go snorkeling in the water fountain at the mall?
No, somehow I think I am past that stage in my development.

3. Do you sometimes hate everything and everyone around you?

Nope

4. Do you secretly or openly believe the world revolves around you?
Nope, these are like some of the questions my psychologist would ask.

5. Would you rather buy a moped or a Harley Davidson?
Neither, I would rather have 2 thousand pounds of steel around me with six airbags.

6. Do you water ski or ice ski?
Neither, I use to snow ski. (I haven’t the foggiest idea what is ice skiing)

7. Tell us about the last time that you tailgated.
Never, I have never been to a sports event

8. What was the last concert that you attended?
Oh, about 40 years ago. I think it was a Grateful Dead concert at Dillon stadium. I don’t remember much about the concert, my mind was in a different reality.

9. What’s the most exotic food that you’ve ate?
An under cooked steak. I am not big on exotic foods.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Friday Fill-ins #129

Janet’s Friday Fill-ins #129

ffi

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting _to do something really crazy like you did when you were a teenager_.

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a _a person who knows how to play the game_.

3. _A pound of cherries_ is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time. (I just bought a pound of cherries and I have been sitting here at the keyboard eating them one cherry at a time.)

4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy _trying to get re-elected_ and _covering their ass_.

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine _oil_ and _water_.

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without _salt_ or _pepper_ in it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _going down to New London and visiting some friends_, tomorrow my plans include _going to Norwalk Pride_ and Sunday, I want to _visit some friends up in Springfield MA_!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

KRXQ Update - Apology

Last Thursday, the “Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show” was devoted to the response to the comments that they made on May 28 about trans-children. Their guest were Autumn Sandeen a trans-activist and Kim Pearson a mother of a trans-child and the founder of Trans Youth Family Allies and the program was devoted to education. They had a frank discussion about how words can hurt and I think that the DJs now realize that they crossed line.
You can listen to the show here…
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I think that the purpose of the whole up roar over the show was to educate and I think that purpose has been met.

My blog entries,
Stop The Hate – KRXQ
KRXQ – Hate Speech Apology

Monday, June 15, 2009

Manic Monday #172

Lisa’s Manic Monday #172



What is the last song that was stuck in your head and how did you get rid of it?
I thought and thought all day and I can’t remember the last song that got stuck in my head. Maybe it is because my subconscious is blocking it out.

If you had to say what one thing in your life best represents your freedom, what would it be?
Being able to be myself.

If you were invited to the White House for dinner tonight, what would you wear from your current wardrobe?

I have a sleeveless green print dress that I just bought, that I am dying to wear.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Everyone Who Is Left-Handed, Please Raise Your Hand -- Your Left Hand

OK, I want to ask all of you lefties out there a few questions…

When did you choose to be left-handed?

Why did you choose to be left-handed, isn’t life harder for you?

Well, if you didn’t choose to be left-handed then what causes left-handedness?

Kind of silly question to ask or say, but those are all questions that are asked of me if you substitute transgender for left-handed. And the answers are all the same whether you are left-handed or transgender.

I didn’t choose to be transgender, I always knew that I should have been born a girl.
Yes, life is harder, but it beats the alternative of not to be able to be yourself and living a life that is a lie.
Just like the causes of left-handedness is not known, neither is the causes of gender identity disorder. However, just like left-handedness it is believed that it is a result of pre-natal brain development.

Here an interesting article that I found as I researched this entry…
This is from a LA Times article entitled, “What does gay look like? Science keeps trying to figure that out.”

Left hand vs. right hand. The hand you use to sign your name might have something to do with what gender you are drawn to.

The numbers: More lefties -- or at least more somewhat-ambidextrous folks -- crop up in the gay population than among straight people, several studies have shown. An analysis* of more than 23,000 men and women from North America and Europe in 2000 found that being non-right-handed seems to increase a man's chances of being gay by about 34%, and a woman's by about 90%.

What it might mean: One guess is that different-than-normal levels of testosterone in the womb -- widely theorized to play a role in determining eventual sexual orientation -- could nudge a fetus toward brain organization that favors left-handedness as well as same-sex attraction.

Another theory is that development of a fetus might be disturbed by factors such as a mother's illness, steering the fetus into being less than strictly right-handed -- and, in some cases, less than strictly heterosexual.


*From a Science Daily article, “Canadian Scientists Find More Homosexuals Left-Handed

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Saturday Six - Episode 270

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six - Episode 270

1. What is the dominant color in your bathroom? Have you coordinated rugs, towels and the shower curtain to match this color?
Grey, right now my towels are brown

2. What part of the bathroom needs the most attention from a cleaning crew?
The sink and shower stall

3. How many rolls of unused toilet paper are waiting in the closet?
Ten, I just bought a new 12 pack.

4. Check out the linen closet: which do you have fewest of: bath towels, hand towels or wash cloths?
I have two sets of towels, blue and brown. The brown set is hanging on the towel rack and the blue set I just washed.

5. Take the quiz: What Bathroom Product Are You?




You Are a Comb



You are expressive and outgoing. You like to experiment with your personal style.
You are imaginative and very visual. You like to look good, and you're attracted to beauty.

You are creative and design oriented. You redecorate often, and you like to make yourself over.
You are inventive and extremely original. You do things differently just because it feels good.



Hun? How do they even attached attributes to a comb?

6. Of the products in your medicine cabinet, which brand have you used the longest?
The tooth paste, it is the store brand that I have always used.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Saturday 9: Games People Play

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: Games People Play



1. What was your favorite active game as a child?
Cops and robbers, hide and seek.

2. What was your favorite board game as a child?
Monopoly

3. Tell us about a friend you played these games with in your youth.
They were all neighbors kids.

4. What is your favorite card game?
Hearts

5. What board games do you enjoy now?
Backgammon

6. Do you play video games? Which ones?
I liked Pacman

Pac-Man made by Neave Games


Use the arrow keys to move
Pause game – P
Quit game – Q
Lower quality – L
Mute sound – M

7. Tell us about the friends you play games with now.
They are all friends from here in Connecticut and we play cards up at the cottage at night.

8. Do you play any sports now?
Nope, not into sports

9. What’s your favorite sport to watch?
Ditto

Up At Our Cottage

I was up at the family cottage in New Hampshire in the land of the dial-up internet and the wireless dead zone painting the hallway. However, I took a few minutes to take these pictures; I didn’t take too many photos because of the mosquitoes. The incessant buzzing of mosquitoes in my ears drove me inside.


Foggy Morning 1


Foggy Morning 2

Come in to my web said the spider to the fly (or in this case, mosquitoes)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Friday Fill-ins #128

Janet’s Friday Fill-ins #128
http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/

ffi
And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking _that something’s were impossible_. (Oh, this is a tough one to answer, the first thing that popped into my head I can’t use. It’s not vulgar, but not politically correct, If you want to know what I said that embarrassed me, contact me on Facebook)

2. _Pam’s House Blend_ was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you _put your umbrella over in the corner_? (it was pour when I got home.)

4. _Listening to the Eagles_ helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the _memories_.

6. _Crude language_ very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _three guess and the first two don’t count – going to the coffee shop to listen to folk music_, tomorrow my plans include _going to my cousin’s 40th birthday party_ and Sunday, I want to _go walking_!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Stonewall Lecture At CCSU

I went to a lecture last Thursday at the Burritt Library at Central Connecticut State University that was about the Stonewall uprising* that happen 40 years ago this month. The professor that gave the talk is an associate professor of Sociology at CCSU. Her lecture was one of the best talks that I have heard on the Stonewall uprising. I have heard three or four lectures on Stonewall and she did a better job of explaining the mood and culture of the LGBT community back in the 60’s. In addition, she covered the trans component of Stonewall which was something no other lecturer has done. One lecturer actually only talked about gays and when questioned afterward he said that he used the term “gay” to mean the LGBT.

On the library’s blog they wrote,
“This June will mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969 members of the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn located on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. This time, unlike previous raids, the gay community fought back. Rioting broke out and continued for five days ending on July 2nd.

The New York Times thought so little of the raid they buried the story on page 33 the following day. Probably no one realized at the time that this event would become the iconic symbol of the gay civil rights movement. This uprising marked the beginning, as the Advocate stated, “of a movement to decriminalize, demedicalize, and devillainize us ( i.e., gays and lesbians).”

To mark this anniversary, materials will be on display during the month of June, from Burritt Library’s extensive collection of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender books, newsletters, periodicals, ephemera and archives.”

The exhibit was very good, except that it was heavily Gay weighted, about 75% was gay, 20% lesbian and 5% trans. Due to the fact that this was a display of the library’s collection of LGBT materials, I am incline to give them the benefit of the doubt. There is probably more gay historic material than lesbian or trans or bisexual (I would hazard a guess and say there is almost no bisexual material). However, the Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition and the Connecticut Outreach Society has been bringing material over to the library to archive. In addition, have a large box that I have to sort and bring there.
*I prefer the word “uprising” over the term “riot” Your Dictionary.com defines “riot” as “wild or violent disorder, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; uproar.” While it defines “uprising” as “the action of rising up; specif., an outbreak against a government; revolt.” What happened at Stonewall was a revolt against government oppression and a demand for equality.

This video is from PBS show from KQED four part documentary “The Question of Equality.” This is from part 1 "Outrage ‘69" "This important movie tells our story upfront and out-front through interviews and archival footage. Outrage ‘69 speaks from within and without our movement with issues ranging from the multi-issue Gay Liberation Front, the split and the forming of the GAA by those ... Read Moreinterested in a predominately white single issue movement, Sylvia Rivera’s response to the denouncing of drag queens at the 1973 PRIDE, the founding of the NGTF, a discussion of White Power within the GAA and much more."

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

KRXQ – Hate Speech Apology

Last week I wrote about how the two morning radio shock jocks condoned child abuse (“I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him.”) and called the mentally ill, freaks ("They are freaks. They are abnormal," he said. "Not because they're girls trapped in boys bodies, but because they have a mental disorder that needs to be somehow gotten out of them.").
As a result of their tirade, ten (update 3:27p: the counter is now at 11) sponsors pulled their ads from the radio station. The shock jocks have now seen the light and issued the following statement…

UPDATED JUNE 7TH, 2009, 11:50AM

TO OUR LOYAL ROB, ARNIE AND DAWN FOLLOWERS,

WE HAVE FAILED YOU. AS A SHOW, AS PEOPLE, AS BROADCASTERS, WE HAVE SIMPLY FAILED ON ALMOST EVERY LEVEL.

WE PRESENTED OUR OPINIONS ON A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN A HATEFUL, CHILDISH AND CRUDE FASHION; AND THEN, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETRACT THOSE REMARKS, WE DEFENDED THEM.

SINCE THEN, YOU, OUR LOYAL LISTENERS, HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WE WENT TOO FAR. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. NONE OF YOU SAID THAT WE COULDN’T HAVE OPINIONS, YET SO MANY OF YOU SAID THAT THE WAY WE GAVE THEM CROSSED THE LINE. FURTHER, YOU SAID THAT OUR ATTEMPT TO MASK OUR COMMENTS AS “JOKES THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR AUDIENCE,” WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD SAY NOW THAT IT WAS WORSE THAN THAT, IT WAS COWARDLY. YOU HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS GROUPS AND ASKED FOR A CHANCE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT; TO RESPOND, WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION, TO THE EDUCATION THAT OUR AUDIENCE HAS PROVIDED US. THAT OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY GRANTED THIS THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 11TH. AT 7:30 A.M.

THE WORD APOLOGY APPEARS NO WHERE IN THIS LETTER FOR A REASON. WE ALREADY HID FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING ONCE AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. APOLOGIZING IN A WRITTEN, POSTED STATEMENT IS A FORM OF COWARDICE. WE WILL SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID THIS THURSDAY.

ON A FINAL, PERSONAL NOTE, AS THE LEADER AND OWNER OF THE SHOW, I HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE NEED TO REFRAIN FROM BROADCASTING NEW EPISODES UNTIL WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ON THURSDAY . WE WILL RETURN TO THE AIR AT 7:30 A.M. JUNE 11TH.

ROB WILLIAMS
ROB, ARNIE AND DAWN

Thursday, Autumn Sandeen a trans-activist and Kim Pearson a mother of a trans-child and the founder of Trans Youth Family Allies will be the guest on their show. What the DJ’s said on their show was hateful and I have mix feels as to what action would be appropriate.

Speech like theirs leads to bullying in schools and violence in the streets. 3 year old Ronnie Paris was beaten to death because his father didn’t want him to be a sissy. On the “Social Workers” web site they write,

“In families where parents highly pressured their children to conform to gender expectations, young people were five times more likely to report symptoms of depression, nearly four times as likely to attempt suicide and to use illegal drugs, and twice as likely to be at high risk for HIV infection, compared with those who parents did not pressure them to conform.”

In study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its "Report on the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide" they found that a LGBT child is 2 to 3 times more likely to commit suicide.

The recent report “Harsh Realities Finds Transgender Youth Face Extreme Harassment in School” by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) showed…

# 90% of transgender students heard derogatory remarks, such as "dyke" or "faggot," sometimes, often or frequently in school in the past year.

# 90% of transgender students heard negative remarks about someone’s gender expression sometimes, often or frequently in school in the past year.

# Less than a fifth of transgender students said that school staff intervened most of the time or always when hearing homophobic remarks (16%) or negative remarks about someone’s gender expression (11%).

# School staff also contributed to the harassment. A third of transgender students heard school staff make homophobic remarks (32%), sexist remarks (39%) and negative comments about someone’s gender expression (39%) sometimes, often or frequently in the past year.


It is time to end all hate speech on the radio, go and read this Opinion piece in the Seattle times, "The man who shot Dr. George Tiller didn't act alone"

Monday, June 08, 2009

Manic Monday #171

Lisa’s Manic Monday #171



If you joined the circus, what act would you most want to perform?
I can honestly say, that is something I never thought about. I can rule out some acts that I wouldn’t want to do, like high wire acts, animal acts, fire eaters and other dangerous acts. I would not want to be a clown (even through one of my technicians was a clown… no literally a clown. He did it for charity.) I guess I would like to be a magician.

Would you generally be overdressed or underdressed at a party?
I overdress, I feel it is better to be somewhat overdressed than underdressed.

Do you feel that children should be sheltered from unhappiness?
I do not feel that children should be shelter from life’s unpleasant experiences. They should be told in age appropriate manner.

Driving Test

A local television news program had a story on the DMV driving test. Connecticut is 42 in the number of drivers who can past a retest of the motor vehicle drivers test.
I took the test (It is only 10 questions) and I passed with a “100,” can you past the test? Here is the link.

I posted a poll on the upper left where you can record your results (anonymously).

More versions of the test, including a sample California drivers test is here.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

June Is LGBT Pride Month

This is the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

Many Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people believe that President Obama is dragging his feet on LGBT reform. They want “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) repealed NOW!
In Politico, Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin write,

Gay groups grow impatient with Barack Obama

President Barack Obama’s promises of change are falling short for one core Democratic constituency: gays and lesbians, whose leaders say Obama’s administration isn’t keeping up with the times.

Gay rights campaigners, most of them Democrats who supported Obama in November, have begun to voice their public frustration with Obama’s inaction, small jokes at their community’s expense and deafening silence on what they see as the signal civil rights issue of this era.

His most important campaign promises repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the military ban on openly gay and lesbian service-members have not been fulfilled.
My comment (Besides the fact that the article only talks about Lesbians and Gays, not LGBT) on this is what president has done as much as President Obama? For LGBT Pride month President Obama issues a proclamation…
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

__________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA



What president has issued a presidential proclamation before that included transgender?

The White House EEOC non-discrimination policy includes sexual orientation and gender identity, what president has done that?

Had talks with the National Center for Transgender Equality (NTCE), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (The Task Force) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), what president has do that?

Have a lesbian and a trans-women on the Presidential Commission on Women, what president has done that?

The focus on groups that say the president has not done enough is on DADT and DOMA and I think that is wrong. The focus should be on the Hate Crime bill and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). I am in favor of repealing both the DADT and DPMA, but I feel that our safety and jobs should be the top priority.

President Obama has done more for the LGBT community than any other president has. If there is one thing that I have learned in my short stint in politics is that change does not happen overnight.

Hartford Pride ‘09

I went to the Hartford Pride festival yesterday. The festival was held at Bushnell Park in Hartford behind the state capitol. There was another event going on at the same time as the Pride festival, a “Run for the Cure” was being held on the other side of Bushnell. The festival was the largest that I have seen in a while in Hartford, there must have been close to fifty vendors there and during the day, I would estimate that well over a thousand people pasted through. They had live entrainment through out the day, including Tiffany, Betty, and Sister Funk. There was a mime that was performing on the lawn in front of the state capitol who was miming taking a bath.

For the first time; there were four transgender group that had a table at the Pride. I knew most of the people at the trans-booths so I spend time visiting them, but I spent most of my time at the COS booth. I was out in the sun a little too much, my back was sunburned when I got home. It was a sunny day with a light breeze and the breeze was enough that so that I didn’t feel the sun. I was sitting under a tent and as the sun light started shining under the tent I had to keep moving, however, my back must have been out in the sun more then I thought.

I am planning on attending the Pride parade in New York city on June 28, it will be the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Saturday Six - Episode 269

Patrick's Place Saturday Six - Episode 269

1. In what grade of school did you feel the happiest? What can you remember that made you feel that way?
I do not think that I was happy in school at all. I was not a happy child, I was a troubled child who was struggling with an identity problem through out my early years.

2. In what grade of school were you least happy? What can you remember that made you feel that way?
There wasn’t any particular bad year, but there wasn’t a particular good year either.

3. Of the jobs you’ve had over your career so far, do you feel that you’ve been getting generally more or less satisfied over time?
I loved my job up until the last few years before I retired. When we were bought out and they told us that they were going to close the shop within the next few years, the fire went out of me. I just marked my time until my retirement.

4. How close are you to reaching any sort of major goal for where you want to be in life, personal and/or career-wise?
I think I found meaning in my life since I retired and when back to school for my Master’s in Social Work. I found that I can make a difference in the quality of life for many people.

5. Take the quiz: What Do You Need to Be Happy?




You Need Friends to Be Happy



You are a friendly, social person. You seek out connections and relationships.
Being close to others is very important to you, and you don't like discord.

You feel great when you're cooperating and working with others. You enjoy belonging to a group.
Nothing makes you feel worse that feeling alone or alienated. You want to be liked by those around you.



6. In you response to the quiz, which single line least applies to you?
In a broad sense, they all apply to me. I think that statements are so general that it applies to most people.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Saturday 9: It's My Party

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: It's My Party



1. Do you prefer to host or be a guest at a party?
Host, I love to give parties. However, going to a party is just as fun.

2. Would you rather go to a large party or a small dinner party?
Small dinner party, I don’t like crowds.

3. What is you worst flaw?
I have a hard time getting motivated to clean around the house.

4. What is you best character trait?
When I say I will do something (other then cleaning the house), I’ll do it.

5. What habit in others annoys you?
Not doing what they say they will do.

6. What qualities in others do you admire?
Being able to walk up to strangers and start a conversation.

7. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
See question #6

8. Do you tend to be shy with strangers?
See question #6 again. It is funny, I can stand up in front of a hundred strangers and give a talk, I can be on a radio or television show. However, get me in to a room of strangers and I am shy.

9. Do you prefer to lead or follow in a group of people?
It depends, if the group is doing something that I like, and then I will follow. But, they are all sitting around doing nothing, then I become the instigator. I usually am the one who will organize a trip to Newport or Mystic Seaport or going to the theater.

Friday Fill-ins #127

Janet’s Friday Fill-ins #127

ffi

1. _The Mountain Laura is in full bloom around my_ home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been _grilled chicken or pork chops_.

3. _All that my next door neighbor’s dog does all day is_ bark! bark! bark!

4. A nice long walk _settles my mind _.

5. _What I really need now is_ some good news.

6. When all is said and done, _it is what you do is what is important_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _going to the ‘ol coffee shop to hear some folk singers_, tomorrow my plans include _going to the Hartford Pride festival_ and Sunday, I want to _go for a walk_!

Thursday, June 04, 2009

The Gender Equality Bill Is Another Victim Of This Legislative Session

Once again, the gender inclusive anti-discrimination bill is a victim of politics. Back in September, we were told that this will be “our year,” however, we got sided tracks by politics. The marriage bill to codify the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality was pushed ahead of our bill. The Judiciary Committee’s vote on the marriage equality bill was dragged out by a few Republicans on the committee who tried to add silly little amendments to the bill. As a result our bill was never voted on by the committee. In a last minute attempt by the Democrats to add the bill as an amendment to the CHRO bill failed because of Republican filibustering to run out the clock by trying to add amendments to the amendment.

We had hopped to have our bill attached as an amendment to another bill, but that never happen because of delaying tactics by the Republicans. The Republicans tried to add amendments to any Democratic backed bill; a bill that could have passed with little debate was dragged on for hours by the Republicans. On the CT News Junkie web site there is a blog by Christine Stuart that mentions the bill to ban exotic animals and how the “Republican lawmakers filed a number of amendments on the bill including one which would have owners of the dangerous animals drop them off at the Attorney General’s office in Hartford.” As a result of this tactic, the legislature was bogged down and many bills were never brought up for a vote this session.

An additional factor was the large budget deficit that ate up much of the legislators’ time in committees trying to work out a bipartisan compromise. As a result many good bills died by the wayside, including ours.

We will come back next year and as long as it has to take to pass a gender inclusive non-discrimination law. It took eight years to sexual orientation to the non-discrimination statutes.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Six Down, Forty-Four To Go

New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

By ABBY GOODNOUGH
Published: June 3, 2009

BOSTON — The New Hampshire Legislature approved revisions to a same-sex marriage bill on Wednesday and Gov. John Lynch promptly signed the legislation, making the state the sixth in the nation to let gay couples wed.
Only Rhode Island of the six New England states does not have marriage equality!

Stop The Hate – KRXQ

Once again morning radio sick jocks spew forth hate. This is from the Huffington Post...

KRXQ Sacramento Radio Hosts Encourage Violence Against Transgender Children

Even by the flexible moral, ethical, and professional standards of American talk radio, the May 28th segment of KRXQ 98.5 FM Sacramento's Rob, Arnie, & Dawn in the Morning radio talk show makes for a sickening half-hour of ugliness and cruelty. For once, the focus was not LGBT adults, but minors. The hosts, Rob Williams and Arnie States, devoted the segment in question to a vicious diatribe against transgender children, some as young as five, focusing in particular on the case of one Omaha family raising a gender dysphoric child, and their decision to support her transition from male to female.

Williams and States took turns referring to gender dysphoric children as "idiots" and "freaks," who were just out "for attention" and had "a mental disorder that just needs to somehow be gotten out of them," either by verbal abuse on the part of the parents, or even shock therapy.

"Allowing transgenders to exist, pretty soon it becomes normal to fall in love with the animals," they said.

For his part, States bragged that if his own son were to ever dare put on a pair of high heels, States would beat his son with one of his own shoes. He urged parents whose own little boys expressed a desire to wear a dress to verbally abuse and degrade them as a viable response. "Because you know what? Boys don't wear high heel shoes. And in my house, they definitely don't wear high heels.

GLAAD Action Alert: KRXQ

TAKE ACTION: Demand that KRXQ Radio Hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States Apologize for Encouraging Violence Against Transgender Children

June 2, 2009— In a lengthy May 28 tirade on the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning radio show heard in Sacramento, California on KRXQ 98.5 FM and Reno, Nevada on KDOT 104.5 FM, hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States verbally attacked transgender children. While discussing a recent story about a transgender child in Omaha, Nebraska and her parents’ decision to support her transition, the two hosts spent more than 30 minutes explicitly promoting child abuse of and making cruel, dehumanizing and defamatory comments toward transgender children.

You can listen to the entire segment beginning at 4:48 by clicking this link:
http://robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/a…%20America.mp3.

Among the comments made by the hosts:
ROB WILLIAMS [11:12]: This is a weird person who is demanding attention. And when it’s a child, all it takes is a hug, maybe some tough love or anything in between. When your little boy said, ‘Mommy, I want to walk around in a dress.’ You tell them no cause that’s not what boys do. But that’s not what we’re doing in this culture.
ARNIE STATES [13:27]: If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him. Because you know what? Boys don’t wear high heels. And in my house, they definitely don’t wear high heels.
ROB WILLIAMS [17:45]: Dawn, they are freaks. They are abnormal. Not because they’re girls trapped in boys bodies but because they have a mental disorder that needs to be somehow gotten out of them. That’s where therapy could help them.
ROB WILLIAMS [18:15]: Or because they were molested. You know a lot of times these transgenders were molested. And you need to work with them on that. The point is you don’t allow the behavior. You cure the cause!
ARNIE STATES [21:30]: You got a boy saying, ‘I wanna wear dresses.’ I’m going to look at him and go, ‘You know what? You’re a little idiot! You little dumbass! Look, you are a boy! Boys don’t wear dresses.’
ARNIE STATES [29:22]: You know, my favorite part about hearing these stories about the kids in high school, who the entire high school caters around, lets the boy wear the dress. I look forward to when they go out into society and society beats them down. And they end up in therapy.

To her credit, co-host Dawn Rossi stood up to Williams and States during the segment. Despite her apparent lack of familiarity with transgender issues, Rossi repeatedly defended transgender people and made an on-air apology for her colleagues’ defamatory remarks.

TAKE ACTION NOW!
Please contact KRXQ management in Sacramento, California, where the show is produced and demand that radio show hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States publicly apologize. Call on KRXQ to hold Williams and States accountable for their remarks and establish clear standards to ensure their media platform will not be used to condone or promote violence against any parts of the communities they serve.

John Geary
Vice President & General Manager
KRXQ-FM
(916) 339-4209
jgeary@entercom.com

Arnie States
On Air Personality
KRXQ-FM
(916) 334-7777
rad@robarnieanddawn.com

Rob Williams
On Air Personality
KRXQ-FM
(916) 334-7777
rwilliams@entercom.com

Please use the share page functionality at the top of this page to alert any of your friends and others who may also wish to take action. When contacting KRXQ, please ensure that your emails and phone calls are civil and respectful and do not engage in the kind of name-calling or abusive behavior.

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.
My suggestion is to write the sponsors of the show and complain to them, and ask them if they want to be associated with this hate speech. The station probably welcomes all this attention while the sponsors will not.

Where is the public outrage? When shock jocks Imus called the Rutgers women's basketball team "Nappy Headed Ho's" there was a huge outcry from the public. It was all over the news media but when the hate is directed against the LGBT community there is barely a peep out of them. In other posts I talk about bullying in schools and how it must be stopped not only on the schools but in the community, I said

“I came away with a clearer understanding on how bullying affects everyone, how the key to ending bullying is to bring about a change in culture that must begin at the top. Not just the teachers or the school administrators, but in the community, in the churches, and in the families. Having a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) is a step in the right direction, but there has to be a zero tolerance on name-calling, calling a person a faggot or using the expression “That so gay.” Churches have to tone down their inflammatory rhetoric. Families cannot throw their sons or daughters out in the street because they are gay, lesbian or transgender.”


We all must show by words and deeds that we will not tolerate this hate.


STOP THE HATE


Update 1:37

While I was listen to the garbage that they were saying to justify their hate speech and so called apology, I jotted down these sponsors. The only sane person on the show was Dawn, at least she was trying to understand while the two guy were just CYA...

AT&T Go Phone - "Media Inquires" I am using the "Corporate Citizenship" email address
BMI Mortgage & Realty - "Contact us"
AM/PM Stores - "Contact us"
Hooters - "Contact us"

I not going to even bother to email Hooters, this is their type of audience

Update 6/4 9:04pm

Snapple, Sonic & Chipotle Pull Advertising From KRXQ. The email campaign to the sponsors is working, here is list of their sponsors...

CARLS"S JR. (CKE RESTAURANTS):
pr@ckr.com Press Room

TOBACCO REPUBLIC:
trcigar@aol.com

ALBERTSON"S:
Christie Wilcox
christine.wilcox@albertsonsllc.com

FLEX YOUR POWER
enewswire@fypower.org Editor
info@fypower.org

NISSAN:
Darryl Harrison - Media
Darryll.harrison@nissan-usa.com

BANK OF AMERICA:
joseph.l.goode@bankofamerica.com
AT&T
John Britton
E-Mail: john.britton@att.com

VERIZON:
Debra Lewis
908-559-7512
Debra.Lewis@VerizonWireless.com

McDONALDS:
Walt Riker
Vice President, Corporate Media Relations
walt.riker@us.mcd.com
Heidi Barker
Sr. Director, Corporate Media Relations
heidi.barker@us.mcd.com

SONIC:
Christi Woodworth
Director of External Communications
SONIC, America's Drive-In
(405) 225-5602
christi.woodworth@sonicdrivein.com

Rachel McKenney
Barkley Public Relations
(816) 423-6482
rmckenney@barkleyus.com

WELLS FARGO:
Media Relations: corpcsf@wellsfargo.com

GRIFFIN & REED EYECARE:
info@LASIKworld.com

PRO CITY MORTGAGE:
procity@procitymortgage.com

Update 7:45pm 6/6

The score as of now:
* Chipotle
* Snapple
* Sonic
* Bank of America
* Verizon
* Carl"s Jr (CKE Restaurants)
* Wells Fargo
* Nissan North America

Update: 10:52
AT&T and Mc Donalds just pulled their ads

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Making A Man Of Me

I have tried to make a man out of myself all through out my lifetime, but in 1999, I gave up. In high school, I use to hang out with the gear heads and that didn’t work. In college, I took up skeet shooting, fishing and backpacking (Left - Hiking up Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks State Park, New York. Thanksgiving weekend, 1974). I grew a beard and became a hippie. After college, I took up hang gliding (Right - a friend showing me how to use my hang glider, 1978). I dated girls, thinking having a girlfriend would make me a man. However, nothing worked, there was always that nagging feeling that I just didn’t fit in. That I was a square peg in a round hole.

My father was a masculine figure in my life and he loved working with his hands, and he was a positive roll model. My brother played little league baseball and high school football, I on the other hand did not like team sports and I was a member of the science club in high school. In other words, we were a typical middleclass suburban family.

There are a number of doctors who believe that Gender Identity Disorder can be cured, such as Dr Zucker, however, they are in the minority. The majority of researchers believe that GID is caused by something pre-natal. There have been many articles about the difference in brain structure between normal brains and brains from transsexuals. In an article in Neuro-Science entitled “Central Nervous System Dimorphisms Related to Reproductive Behaviors” they say that…

“This same group has also reported a dimorphism that may be related to gender identity. In comparing male-to-female transgendered individuals to heterosexual males, they found that another hypothalamic structure, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, is smaller in transgendered males, being closer in size to that of females.”

While the actual cause of this difference is not known, researchers are looking into several possible causes. In a blog by A. E. Brain entitled “Brain Gender Identity - a presentation by Dr Sidney Ecker, MD FACS” Zoe reports on a paper that was presented by Dr. Ecker and in that report the Abstract states in part…

“Transgenders are atypical and “think” as the opposite gender. Certain areas of the brain have been shown to be sexually dimorphic. They are different in structure and numbers of neurons in males versus females. Protein Receptors for the sex hormones in different areas of the brain (limbic and anterior hypothalamic) must be present in sufficient numbers to receive those powerful hormones. There are androgen receptors (AR), Estrogen Receptors (ER), and Progesterone receptors (PRs). ARs or ERs are predominant at different times in different parts of the human brain. Hormone receptor genes have been identified in humans, which are responsible for sexually dimorphic brain differentiation in the hypothalamus. The groundwork in brain gender identity is gene-directed and takes place by forming male and female hormone receptors in the brain before the gonads and hormones can influence them. Multiple genes acting in concert determine our sexual identity.”

Dr. Zucker believes that you can cured GID in the case of a male to female transsexual child by butching up a child, by taking away all things feminine and forcing the child to do masculine thing only. Conservative columnist Leo Shishmanian writes in a column called “Life, the 60's, transgender tots, and parental abdication” that…

“Dr. Money “pioneered” new definitions of “gender roles” based on his belief that gender was not innate but could be assigned to a child before age 3. In other words, your DNA, [SRS - I deleted the original graphic description and substituted SRS] and hormones (to name a few things) don’t have to determine your sex. If Dr. Money got to you early enough in your childhood, he could help you choose your sex. Not surprisingly, Dr. Money also was a strong advocate of sex change operations while working at Johns Hopkins University.

To prove his theory, Dr. Money experimented in 1967 on a set of young twin boys, one of whom had had a botched circumcision... With the parents’ consent, Dr. Money removed the boy’s
[genital - I deleted the original graphic description and substituted genital] and put him on an aggressive hormone regimen so he could be raised as a girl. The result? An epic tragedy that ultimately led to the boy unsuccessfully reversing Dr. Mengele—sorry—Dr. Money’s plans several years later, the boy’s suicide in 2004, and his twin brother’s drug overdose in 2003. Ruined lives, broken relationships, a devastated family and generational lines lost.”

I say the exact opposite, that this does prove that gender is inborn. Dr. Money tried to force a gender on the boy and he knew that something was wrong, that resulted in life long incongruity that ended in his suicide. Dr. William G. Reiner, a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma and Johns Hopkins and a leading specialist in the treatment of children with the intersexual condition said in the New York Times article “Declaring With Clarity, When Gender Is Ambiguous” by Claudia Dreifus that…

Q. How do you know what constitutes gender identity?
A. As part of a research study, I've personally seen and assessed 400 children with major anomalies of the genitals. Of those, approximately 100 might be called "intersex." Our findings have been many and complex. The most important is that about 60 percent of the genetic male children raised as female have retransitioned into males.

We also found that of this group there were some genetically male children, who despite genital anomalies were raised as males, and they continued to declare themselves as male.

Q. What conclusions can you draw about the eventual sexual identity of an intersex child?
A. That you can castrate a male at birth, create a female genital structure, raise the child as a girl, and in a majority of the cases, they'll still recognize themselves as male. Now many of the children I've seen are still young. I don't know what will happen as they get older.


Nature is not in black or white, male or female, but every color in between. I wrote this poem when I was considering transitioning,

Colors
It is neither black nor white, but it all the shades of gray.
It is neither day nor night, but it is twilight.
It is neither hot nor cold, but a pleasant warmth.
It is neither truth nor a lie, but half- truths and white lies.

We are neither male nor female, but all that lies in between.
We are neither red nor blue, but like the colors of a rainbow.
We are like a bridge that spans male and female.
We are like the spices added to a meal that gives it variety and flavor.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Manic Monday #169

Lisa’s Manic Monday #169



Imagine you're packing a picnic lunch. What would be in your basket?
Well it depends on whether there is a grill or not. If there was not a grill, I would pack a cold lunch; chicken salad, pasta salad, crackers, cheese and maybe a summer sausage.

Chicken Salad Recipe:
* 3 cups diced cooked chicken
* 1/4 cup dried cranberries
* 1/2 cup diced celery
* 2 to 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
* 1/2 cup diced apple
* 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
* 4 to 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 2 teaspoons lemon juice
* 1/8 teaspoon curry powder, or to taste, optional
* 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
* 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* lettuce leaves

Pasta Salad
* 2 cups uncooked orzo pasta
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
* 1/3 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
* 1/2 Greek olives, chopped
* 3/4 cup feta cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

If there is a grill, then I would substitute chicken for the chicken salad.

Pineapple Marinated Chicken
* 1/2 medium ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, coarsely chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
* 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 1 teaspoon grated lime peel
* 8 chicken breast halves (with skin and bones)
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 tablespoons honey

Of course, I would also pack a bottle of May wine, back in my college days I developed a taste for May wines that I use to take on picnics. It is light and has a fruity taste that goes good with food in the afternoon.

If your life were a weather vane, which direction would it be pointing right now?
East, towards the rising sun that brings a new day in my new life.

What's something that people do in traffic that really annoys you?

There are so many thing that annoy me while I am driving, but I think the number thing is people entering and exiting a highway. People, that is what they make acceleration and deceleration lanes for! I hate it when someone pulls in the highway doing 40 mph, you should be going with traffic by the time you pull onto the highway. The same goes for exiting the highway, you shouldn’t slow down to 40 mph a mile before the exit, the exits are designed so that you can slow down on the exit ramp. [end of rant]


P.S. This is my 1401 post!!