Saturday Six #486

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six #486

1. Which charity or organization would receive the first donation you make?
True Colors, CWEALF and GLAD. Plus some national organizations and maybe a scholarship endowment to UConn SSW.

2. Which bill would you be most likely to pay off first?
My mortgage that is my only real debit.

3. What practical, needed thing that you haven’t had the money to buy would you purchase first?
Probably a new refrigerator to go along with expanding the kitchen.

4. What completely impractical, but fun, product would you purchase first?
A Maserati or a Lamborghini. 

5. Where is the first place you’d be likely to travel?
I would buy a RV, grab a few friends and head out west. I would like to visit all the national parks west of the Rocky’s. I don’t have a strong desire to see the rest of the world, I would rather see the U.S. first.

6. How far from your current home would you be most likely to relocate, if you’d relocate at all?
I wouldn’t relocate, but I would buy vacation homes in Key West, Maine, Santa Fe, maybe San Francisco and definitely one in Hawaii.

Saturday 9: I'm a Believer

Crazy Sam’s  Saturday 9: I'm a Believer


Thanks to Cie for recommending the Monkees

1) This song is about a guy who fell in love when he saw her face. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes, but you both need that spark to make it last.

2) "I'm a Believer" is the best-selling Monkees song. Can you name another one?
There was Daydream Believer that also reached #1 on Billboard. Peter Tork use to live in Connecticut and once in a while dropped in to a local bar and jammed with the band.

3) On their TV show, the boys competed for the same girl. Have you and a friend ever been romantic rivals?
Yes and I lost. I got stood up on a date, she had a last minute “babysitting” job but I saw her latter at the local McDonalds (Actually it was the only McDonalds in the state at the time) with a football player.

4) In another episode, the Monkees visited the circus. If you were confident there was a good strong net beneath you, would you walk across the high wire?
No way! I have a hard enough time walking across a bridge.

5) The Monkees show originally aired on Monday nights. Do you have a favorite day of the week?
Not really, on Monday nights I watch Major Crimes, Tuesday night I watch Rizzoli & Isles and the other nights I usually do not watch TV. However, I have been watching “Orange is the new Black” on Netflix.
After I have a couple cups of coffee I reread the question.
No I don't have any favorite days of the week, I'm retired so every day is a weekend.

6) Davy Jones guest starred on an episode of The Brady Bunch. The plot revolved around Marcia's efforts to get him to perform at the prom. Share one of your memories from a school dance.
I didn’t go to that many school dances because I ended up standing in the corner drinking cokes trying to get up an enough nerve to ask a girl to dance.

7) At the height of their popularity, the Monkees' faces and logo appeared on a lot of merchandise, including lunch boxes. Which would you rather have for lunch -- chicken salad, tuna salad or egg salad?
Chicken salad.

8) You have an afternoon all to yourself. Would you rather spend it at the mall, checking out what's new in the stores and people watching, or walking through the forest, observing the birds and trees and leaves?
Walking in the woods, which I will be doing latter this morning.

9) Do you have a good memory for names?
I am horrible and here I was trying to lobby for a bill and I couldn’t remember the legislators names.

A Trans-Woman Who Lives As A Woman

That was what Lt Colonel Cate McGregor in the Australian army used to describe herself and it resonated with me. Because that is how I identify; she goes on to say that she knows that she will never be “a woman” and that she will always be transgender.

I sometimes say that “I am a woman with a unique history” I believe that no matter how much you pass and assimilate into society you will always know your history others might see you as a woman, but you will know your history. I was talking to a friend today and the topic about scouting came up; I said that I made cattail pancakes in the scouts. Now we both knew I meant the Boy Scouts, but if she didn’t know my history she probably would have thought Girl Scouts.

I was talking to a trans-woman at a conference who was saying she was talking to the woman next to her on the plane who was noticeably pregnant, when the other passenger saw a picture of my friend’s daughter she asked her if she had a difficult labor. What would you say if you were asked that question, no I’m really her father?

At a support group meeting once there was a woman crying that I had never seen at a meeting before and I thought she was a spouse of a member. When we did our check-in it turned out that she was in deep stealth and had transitioned over 30 years before and was married with adopted children. They went to buy a house and the credit check came back AKA John Doe and the husband wanted to know what that meant; when she told him he threw her out of the apartment, changed all the locks and filed for divorce.

So when I hear a trans-woman say that “I’m a woman” I think “really?” Would a woman have to think twice what say about childbirth? Would a woman have to think twice before saying that she was in scouting?

That is why I like what Lt Colonel Cate McGregor said, “A trans-woman living as a woman” and I would add that before I transitioned I was a trans-woman living as a man.

I don’t really care if you say “I am a woman.” But I would say ask yourself, really?

Not Everything Is Negative

All you hear on the news is how this minister condemns trans-people as perverts or a priest lobbies against an anti-discrimination bill calling it a “bathroom bill", but you usually don’t hear anything good about religion and trans-people.

Protestant group hires trans man as ED
Bay Area Reporter
By Chuck Colbert
August 1, 2013

An LGBT advocacy organization within one of the nation's foremost Christian denominations announced its new executive director, Alex McNeill, who, in making history, becomes the first openly transgender leader of a mainline Protestant group.

"I'm honored to join More Light Presbyterians, which has always been on the forefront of the Christian tradition of fostering acceptance for the most vulnerable among us," said McNeil, 30, in a press statement announcing his appointment, which takes effect later this month.
[…]
Within his denomination, moreover, McNeill worked to secure ordination equality for Presbyterians and celebrated that success by becoming the first openly transgender ministry candidate from his home presbytery in western North Carolina.

Just so you don’t think that this is like the outcast Catholic group Dignity, More Light Presbyterians is working within the Presbyterians church to bring about change…

It was in July 2010 when Presbyterian activists succeeded in dismantling a gay ordination ban – dating back to 1978 – during a meeting of the 2.1 million-member's general assembly, a gathering held in Minneapolis. There, the denomination's highest governing body voted to approve Amendment 10-A, which deleted language in the denomination's Book of Order that in effect barred the ordination of non-celibate gay candidates by requiring them "to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and woman or chastity in singleness."

There is change in mainstream religions, more and more are becoming accepting of LGBT people, yes, there still more religions that hate us than those that accept us but their numbers are shrinking. I like to say that our secret weapon in passing the gender inclusive anti-discrimination law and marriage equality was support we had from the religious community. For every religious leader who spoke out against us, there was a rabbi, priest or minister who spoke for us. We even had a bishop testify on behalf of the anti-discrimination bill. Just so you know, I don’t believe in organized religion, I believe it is more important on how you live your life and treat others than being a member of a church.

He Got That Right

We live in a patriarchal culture,” said Rushsam, who is a transgender woman. “So as a group, you are going to find gay men doing better than the lesbian community. And behind them, the trans community is lagging well behind the gay and lesbian community.”

This is not something that we didn’t know; being trans is not like being gay or lesbian, it is kind of obvious when you change gender and for trans-women the change in status is even more obvious.

The fragile financial world of transgender people: Costs of coming out
PennLive
By John Luciew
July 31, 2013

Want to feel the swift hand slap of discrimination and the sting of devastating economic consequences? Go from living your life as a man to coming out as a woman.

Perhaps no other group experiences the level of overt discrimination and direct adverse economic setbacks as do transgender people. And it all begins when they come out.

As John Luciew writes we live in a patriarchal culture and when a trans-woman transitions she gives up “his” male privilege and that is on top of discrimination of being transgender. For some it is too much to bear, some detransition and other go into depression and suicide.

The article then points out,

“We’ve seen a lot of transgender people who were making a very, very good living before they came out who lost everything,” said Goropoulos. “And not because they lost their skills overnight.”

I have a friend who have masters in computer science and could not find jobs in her field and I know of another person who has a PhD who cannot find work at her level of expertise.

John Luciew goes on to write that when trans-women do find jobs it is often for less money while trans-men usually find jobs that pay more. While that reflects what is seen in the general population; however, it is even more pronounced for the trans-population because of discrimination.

Why Should We Spend $1.35 Million To Study Trans-Servicememebers

…and take years of research, just go and ask Canada, Britain and Australia, "Hey can we borrow your manuals?" They seemed to have it figured out.

Research institute receives $1.35 million to examine transgender service in U.S. military
The Transgender Military Initiative will be the most comprehensive research project on transgender service to date
Salon
By Katie Mcdonough
July 31, 2013

The Palm Center, a California-based research institute that examined issues associated with the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for more than a decade, received a $1.35 million grant to study transgender service in the American military, according to a report from BuzzFeed.

The Palm Center’s Transgender Military Initiative, led by project director Indra Lusero, has commissioned 11 studies that will investigate “whether and how the U.S. armed forces could include transgender troops without undermining readiness.”
[…]
“This academic research will inform an important public conversation by providing facts and evidence about transgender military service and gender expression in armed forces,” Lusero told BuzzFeed. “Militaries around the world are updating their policies, and we are already conducting research in Canada, Britain and Australia to learn whether their trans-inclusive regulations have impacted readiness.”

Don’t forget there are no laws keeping trans-people from serving in the military. Even though I welcome the research initiative, I think there will be more studies and then follow-up studies, followed by more studies. I think this will be dragged out longer than DADT. I hope I am wrong, but in the meantime take a look at video about Lieutenant Colonel Cate McGregor in the Australian army.

I’m On My Way Home

I’m heading off into the sunset…

I have been up at the cottage for the last four day and now I am heading home. I leave you with this family portrait…

The little one was off on another part of the lake while mom and dad went fishing. There were two baby loons but one disappeared, according to the lake association website, “a bald eagle and osprey were viewed circling the lake” around the time of the chicks disappearance. Last year's loon census found a total of 492 adults, 17 immature loons and 73 chicks in New Hampshire.

Then we have this very, very big bird on the lake...

It lives down the other end of the lake in a cove and you can hear its mighty roar all the way up this end.

The New ENDA Coalition

There is a new coalition with a two million dollar war chest to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Advocates launch campaign to bar workplace discrimination against gays
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin
July 30, 2013

A coalition of civil rights groups is launching a $2 million campaign aimed at mobilizing support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has languished on Capitol Hill for nearly two decades.

The coalition, called Americans for Workplace Opportunity, is targeting 13 senators in 11 states in hopes of replicating the strategy gay marriage advocates have used to push successful state ballot initiatives.

The effort includes gay rights groups such as the Human Rights Campaign and the GOP-leaning American Unity Fund, as well as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Service Employees International Union.

The coalition is headed by Matthew McTighe who lead Maine’s marriage equality campaign and that is what worries me, that once again we will be tossed aside in order to get the bill passed. The coalition is heavily weighted with gay and lesbian marriage equality organization with only the National Center for Transgender Equality representing the trans-community.

I think the conservative opposition said it best,

Within the gay movement, Lafferty [Traditional Values Coalition President] argued, transgender people “are kind of like the crazy aunt at Thanksgiving. They put up with the crazy aunt at Thanksgiving, but they don’t want to be seen with her in public.”

Will we find a new set of tire tracks when ENDA comes up for a vote?

One Lovely Blog Award

How this "One Lovely Blog Award" works:

1. Add the “One Lovely Blog Award” image to your post
2. Share seven things about you
3. Pass the award on to seven nominees
4. Thank the person who nominated you and add a short blurb about them.
5. Inform the nominees by posting on their blogs

I received this award from Kwizgiver, she writes the blog “what if this is as good as it gets?” and is a high school social studies teacher in a town which is probably the northern most town in New England. We have been blog friend since I started my blog in 2006 and we started playing the same memes. She is an avid reader and enjoys knitting.

Seven Things About Me;

1. I am a romantic, I love happy endings.
2. I love photograph and when I have my camera in hand time stands still.
3. I am dyslexic, all my life I have been struggle trying to keep the letters from dancing around.
4. I am a Type 2 diabetic but I am able to control my blood glucose with a proper diet.
5. I would love to travel the U.S. but I doubt I will get to do it and I would like to travel the Maine coast in a windjammer.
6. I went back to college when I was 58 and got my master's in Social Work
7. I would like to teach. I am going to be a guest lecturer for a class in the fall and I am looking forward to teaching it again this year.

I am going to cheat and nominate the other blogs on Saturday.

Are We Blessed?

To continue today’s theme on religious, there was an opinion yesterday in the Bangor Daily News
Rev. Marvin M. Ellison asking are trans-people blessed.

Thank God for transgender persons and their families, who exemplify the amazing beauty of the divine creation in all its complexity and rich diversity.

It is a blessing to share community with our transgender sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and fathers and mothers and to work alongside them to assure that each and every person, including each and every transgender person, has what they need and deserve: respect and a secure sense of personal dignity and worth, a fair share of resources, a life without fear, and the freedom to live in the world as one’s authentic self.

One thing that we often forget, not all religions have the same beliefs; we tend to lump all Christians together, all Jews together, and all Muslims together. However, in reality all the religions of the world have different sects within each religion with their own unique set of beliefs. Some sects are more tolerant, the Episcopal are more tolerant than Baptist, the Reform Jews are more tolerant than Orthodox Jews ad so on with the other religions.

The news media tends to blow religions out of proportion. When I read a the Hartford Courant when the Supreme Court ruled on DOMA the article interviewed LGBT activists and they interviewed an ultra-conservative religious organization; however, nothing was written from more moderate religious organizations. The article creates the us against them attitude, it created the impression that all religions are against LGBT rights.

The author in the opinion in the Bangor Daily News goes on to write,

As a Christian ethicist, I have often reminded seminarians and myself that it is wise, in the midst of social change, to slow down and avoid “premature clarity,” or what might be called rush to judgment. Before giving any kind of ethical evaluation, we ought to take the time to understand as fully as possible the reality before us, in this instance transgenderism. The best way to gain understanding is to listen to and learn from transgender persons.
[…]
Extending a respectful, hospitable welcome to transgender people and their families is fully in keeping with Jesus’ mandate to love thy neighbor. Standing within the prophetic tradition of his community, Jesus called for a new moral order constructed on the basis of biblical justice or the principle of right relatedness.

We hear “nature doesn’t make mistakes” from many conservative religious leaders and I agree because I am not a mistake. I believe that there was a purpose that there are gays, lesbians, bi and trans-people and it is what Rev. Ellison said, “keeping with Jesus’ mandate to love thy neighbor.” If we are all the same there it would be very easy to “love thy neighbor” but with diversity there is discrimination and it takes work to “love thy neighbor.” It takes work to love the black kid with a hoody walking through your neighborhood. It takes work to love a person in a wheelchair and it takes work to love a trans-person.

Is It A New Leaf?

Is it a new leaf or is it the same ol’ bull?

I am not anti-religion, I just don’t believe anyone has a right to tell me who I am or who I can marry. And now two religious leaders have softened their stance against LGBT people, the Pope softened the churches stance on gay priests and Pat Robinson said that being transgender is not a sin.

Time had this to say about the pope’s statement,

Pope Francis Says He Does Not Judge Gay Priests
His comments were short, subtle, but unmistakably direct: “If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized.”
By Elizabeth Dias
July 29, 2013

Today the Pope stated that he does not judge gays—a statement that will send shockwaves through the church. His comments were short, subtle, but unmistakably direct. “If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized,” he told reporters on his return flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome. “The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem … they’re our brothers.”

The Pope also criticized journalists for reporting on allegations of homosexuality within the Vatican, saying those matters concerned questions of sin, not crimes, like the sexual abuse of children. He said when someone sins and confesses, God both forgives and forgets. “We don’t have the right to not forget,” he said.

But when you tell someone not of your faith who they can marry and who they can’t you are marginalizing them. I have no problem with you telling people of your faith who they can marry, but I have a very big problem when your priest lobby against marriage equality.

Pat Robinson said that he doesn’t condemn trans-people, but he “doesn’t understand that,”

Pat Robertson Says Being Transgender Is Not a Sin
The televangelist issued an unexpected response to a viewer's question about recognizing transgender coworkers as the gender with which they identify.
Advocate
BY Sunnivie Brydum
July 29 2013

On Sunday's episode of the Christian Broadcasting Network's question and answer forum, "Bring It Online" with televangelist Pat Robertson, the right-wing pundit had some surprising things to say about transgender people.
[…]
"But I think there are men who are in a woman's body," the 83-year-old former Baptist minister continues. "It's very rare, but it's true. Or women that are in men's bodies. And they want a sex change. And that is a very permanent thing, believe me, when you have certain body parts amputated, and you have shot up with various kinds of hormones, it's a radical procedure. I don't think there's any sin associated with that — I don't condemn somebody for doing that."

He goes on to say to the person who asked the question, “It's not for you to decide, or to judge,"

One More Time: US DOJ Agreement

I wrote about the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education agreement with the California's Arcadia School District twice before but not about higher education. The blog Inside Higher Education had this to say about the agreement,

Equal Access at All Levels
July 29, 2013
By
Allie Grasgreen

Last week's settlement between the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights and a California school district may have been issued at the K-12 level, but the newly clear message that federal laws prohibit discrimination based on gender identity applies to colleges too, experts say.
[…]
The settlement is also a first in that it deals with access to educational programs, facilities and activities -- which is really what Title IX is all about -- whereas the 2010 letter [the "Dear Colleague" letter] related more to school climate, harassment and bullying. The issue is not hypothetical; colleges report that they are enrolling more transgender students who are requesting various services and policies -- anti-bias rules, access to bathrooms, ability to join athletic teams -- and at some institutions, they haven't been satisfied with the response.

The author goes on to say what I said, while this in not a policy like the EEOC policy on employment discrimination it does show is that the Departments of Justice and Education believe that the laws do cover gender identity and expression and that the laws also cover sex-segregated facilities.

"It actually is groundbreaking," Erin Buzevis, the law professor at Western New England School of Law who runs the Title IX Blog, said in an e-mail. "By taking one such case, OCR signals its willingness to take similar cases in the future, and there's no reason to think those cases wouldn't also include college students."

The actual agreement between the U.S. DOJ & Ed also requires the Arcadia School District to provide training

Finally, OCR required the school district to hire a consultant with expertise in child development and transitioning youth to help address these issues and make sure the changes are thorough and lasting. Colleges might want to do something similar, Orr said.

Just remember that the Departments of Justice and Education agreement with the Arcadia School District is not a court order but an agreement between two parties and a court could have a different ruling or the next President could put an entirely different Attorney General and Commissioner with their own interpretation of the law. 

Thrown Under The Bus Again.

First the good news about marriage equality in Australia…

New South Wales gay marriage report pushing reform in other states
A report by a New South Wales state parliamentary committee that found that Australian states can make laws in regard to same-sex marriage may lead to same-sex couples being able to wed in South Australia and in the nation’s capital of Canberra
Gay Star News
29 July 2013
By Andrew Potts

South Australia may vote again on same-sex marriage, but this time it is likely Opposition MPs will be given a conscience vote on the issue – meaning the bill may pass.

Last week South Australian Opposition leader Steven Marshall told The Australian newspaper that he would allow his MPs a conscience vote on the issue if a New South Wales (NSW) state parliamentary inquiry found that states could legislate for same-sex marriage – and on Friday the committee did just that.

Now for the bad news…

NSW marriage equality bill excludes trans and intersex
Gay News Network
Author Cec Busby
29 July 2013

A NSW parliamentary report released on Friday saying state-based marriage law was not unconstitutional was cause for celebration amongst the LGBTI community, but when news surfaced that a new marriage equality bill would exclude trans and intersex, LGBTI activist groups were alarmed.

That is OK, just another set of tire track over our bodies.

The article goes on to state…

Community Action Against Homophobia immediately sent out a release condemning the marginalisation of trans and intersex people in the proposed bill.

CAAH Co-Convenor Cat Rose said “The exemption of trans and intersex people's rights shows they haven't shifted nearly far enough. Our campaign has been for full equality for everyone, we don't settle for concessions and we won't stand for this transphobia and the invisibilising of intersex people."

Um… did CAAH call for the bill to be voted down or pulled? Ah… no, but don’t worry we’ll come back for you.

Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary H. 1589/S. 643

Three weeks ago Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on H. 1589/S. 643, the Equal Access Bill, a bill to add public accommodation to the gender identity and expression anti-discrimination statute. When the law was passed a couple of years ago public accommodation was dropped from the bill at the last minute, this law will add public accommodation to the law.

Legislature to reconsider bill protecting transgender access to public accommodations
Boston.Com
Posted by Jeremy C. Fox
July 8, 2013

Levi [Jennifer Levi, director of the Transgender Rights Project at GLAD] said access to housing is often an issue for transgender people, and finding a safe place to stay is especially important because LGBT young people are disproportionately likely to become homeless.

That’s one reason Levi and other transgender advocates hope this will be the year the state Legislature will pass a bill that would protect the access of transgender people to public accommodations, including “hospitals, public transportation, nursing homes, supermarkets, retail establishments, and all other places open to the public.”

Of course the opposition were posturizing that it was the “bathroom bill” all over again,

Opponents of the bill say it would improperly give men access to women’s private spaces.

“We believe in the safety, the privacy, and the modesty of all citizens, and we believe this legislation would violate that,” said Kris Mineau, president of the Woburn-based Massachusetts Family Institute.

They always preach doom and gloom of rapists and perverts using the bill as an excuse to use the women’s bathroom. The first gender inclusive anti-discrimination law was passed in 1975 in Minneapolis and since then there has been no cases of anyone using the law to commit a crime.

Boston mayor said,

In a letter to the chairs of the Judiciary Committee, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said he signed a similar ordinance guaranteeing access within the City of Boston in 2002 and asking them to support the current bill.

Here is Jennifer Levi’s testimony…

UN Fights For LGBT Equality

This week Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) started a campaign for LGBT equality, Rights List News reported…

At a press conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was joined by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Justice Edwin Cameron of the South African Constitutional Court to announce the year-long project. A statement of support was read out on behalf of renowned South African singer and UNICEF and Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises a world in which everyone is born free and equal in dignity and rights – no exceptions, no-one left behind,” said High Commissioner Pillay. “Yet it’s still a hollow promise for many millions of LGBT people forced to confront hatred, intolerance, violence and discrimination on a daily basis.”
The Free & Equal campaign hopes to begin legal reforms and public education to counter homophobia and transphobia.

The United Nations Human Rights Council in 2011 voted on a resolution convened a panel to study discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The vote cumulated years of progress in Human Rights for LGBT community. Back in 2008 a Dutch/French-initiated, European Union-backed statement presented to the United Nations General Assembly and 66 nations voted in favor of the statement (it is now up to 85 nations). Unfortunately, the United States was not one of the signers because of President Bush. However, President Obama did sign the statement.
UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity

Presented to the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2008.

We have the honour to make this statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity on behalf of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Guinea-Bissau Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome et Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela.

We reaffirm the principle of universality of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose 60th anniversary is celebrated this year, Article 1 of which proclaims that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights";
We reaffirm that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, as set out in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 2 of the International Covenants on Civil and Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as in article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
1. We reaffirm the principle of non-discrimination which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity;
2. We are deeply concerned by violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity;
3. We are also disturbed that violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatisation and prejudice are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity, and that these practices undermine the integrity and dignity of those subjected to these abuses;
4. We condemn the human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity wherever they occur, in particular the use of the death penalty on this ground, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrest or detention and deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health;
5. We recall the statement in 2006 before the Human Rights Council by fifty four countries requesting the President of the Council to provide an opportunity, at an appropriate future session of the Council, for discussing these violations;
6. We commend the attention paid to these issues by special procedures of the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies and encourage them to continue to integrate consideration of human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity within their relevant mandates;
7. We welcome the adoption of Resolution AG/RES. 2435 (XXXVIII-O/08) on "Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity" by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States during its 38th session in 3 June 2008;
8. We call upon all States and relevant international human rights mechanisms to commit to promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity;
9. We urge States to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention.
10. We urge States to ensure that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are investigated and perpetrators held accountable and brought to justice;
11. We urge States to ensure adequate protection of human rights defenders, and remove obstacles which prevent them from carrying out their work on issues of human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Saturday Six #485

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six #485

1. What’s the most exotic animal you’ve actually been able to touch in person?
A 5’ Boa constrictor that someone had in the dorm when I was an undergrad.

2. Was it dead or alive at the time you touched it?
Alive and hungry.

3. What’s the most exotic animal you’ve gotten closest to without touching?
It was probably was in a zoo

4. What’s the most exotic animal you tend to enjoy watching most at a zoo?
Wow, that was so long ago that I don’t remember.

5. What’s the most exotic animal you’ve seen in the wild in your neighborhood?
A Copperhead coiled up on my back step in the sun.

6. If you could hold any exotic animal (or have a one-on-one encounter if it’s too big to hold) and you knew there was no danger of being injured, which animal would you choose and why?
I’m not really into exotic animals and I don’t even like that you can own an exotic animal. There are so many invasive animals and plants in this country that are not only deadly but forcing out the native species. About 20 years ago we actually have piranha start taking over a local pond and the DEP had to come in a poison the whole pond.

Saturday 9: So Much to Say

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: So Much to Say



Thanks to Kelly for recommending The Dave Matthews Band. (Hear it here.)

1) The lyrics refer to a baby's "one year of crying." When was the last time you cried ... felt weepy ... or at least teared up?
It probably the last emotional movie that I watched.

2) Let's lighten it up a little. When was the last time you laughed really hard?
It was when I watched this…


3) Do you have "so much to say" that hasn't been said yet? Tell us if you owe someone a phone call, note, email or text.
No, I’m up to date with my calls and phone calls. I almost answer emails immediately, phone call might take a little longer.

4) Earlier this summer, Dave took a bike ride before a show and his tire blew out. He didn't have a cell phone with him and was afraid of missing that night's performance. Fortunately two fans -- driving to see Dave Matthews Band in concert -- recognized him by the side of the road and gave him a ride to the show. Share a recent act of kindness you either did, or received.
The last kindness that I received was the same as Dave’s except the flat tire was on my car. I was changing my tire on the side of the road and no one stopped. I had the car jacked up and all the nuts removed but I couldn’t get the tire off the axle. I pulled and pulled and kicked but nothing would loosen up the tire. Finally a car pulled up and a young black man in a hoody and asked if I needed help. He just removed the tire from the axle like it weight a pound. He took out the spare and put in on, put away the flat tire and lowered the car and stored the jack. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

5) Before he hit it big, Dave Matthews was a bartender. What job did you have right before the one you have now?
Hmmm… I’m retired, my last job was a supervisor of an electronic test department.

6) The Dave Matthews Band recorded an album live at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, in the mountains near Denver. Is there a trip to the mountains in your future?
Yes, tomorrow to New Hampshire

7) Do you suffer from hay fever or allergies?
Nope.

8) What's in your pocket right now?
Nothing, I have no pockets

9) American Express promotes "Small Business Saturday," and encourages us to shop at local, independent retailers. Is there a shop, boutique or restaurant in your town that you're particularly fond of?
Yes, the Blue Lobster. I usually go to dinner there once or twice a month.

Pushback On DOJ Agreement

The conservative world is in a tizzy over the Department of Justice and the Arcadia, CA School District agreement. Our favorite “fair and balanced” news media outlet Fox News said this about the agreement…

DOJ ripped for making transgender restroom use new front in civil rights battle
By Michael Roppolo
Published July 26, 2013
FoxNews.com

The U.S. Department of Justice's latest cause - fighting for a transgendered California ninth-grader's right to use the boy's room at school - has conservative groups wondering just how far Washington will go in the name of civil rights.
[…]
Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com, said Attorney General Eric Holder is off-base in pushing the case as a matter of civil rights.

“Eric Holder needs to reread the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and find out that civil rights are based on an unchangeable, immutable characteristic,” Thomasson said. “You cannot change your genes or your gender. You have chromosomes and they are either XX or XY. This is a girl who has been environmentally warped to believe she is a boy, and, instead of coddling this confused child, her parents should have gotten her into counseling with an expert on gender confusion.”

There we go again; that chromosomes are only XX or XY and totally ignoring intersex conditions, just a simplistic 1950 view of sex. We'll just use a little reparative therapy and everything will by okay again. Hey maybe just a few jolts of electroconvulsive therapy and it will straighten them right out.

Then the article goes on to say,

But several conservative groups said the federal agency has no business getting involved in the issue as a civil rights matter, and in doing so, trampled on the rights of other students.

Um… where to even begin with that logic. Have they even heard of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? They is a whole series of federal court case going all the way back to the 1989 Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins Supreme Court case that ruled that sex discrimination can also be the way a person looks or dresses. That case was followed by numerous other court cases that ruled that gender identity and express are covered Titles IV and IX.

Using their logic about trampling the rights of other students you could say the same thing about segregation; there are people who feel their civil right trampled on being forced to integrate or be in the same class as non-Christians.

P.S. 7/28/13

“Eric Holder needs to reread the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and find out that civil rights are based on an unchangeable, immutable characteristic,” Thomasson said. “You cannot change your genes or your gender.

Some more thoughts about "unchangeable, immutable characteristic;" the best legal challenge to this logic that I have heard was from a judged who ruled (I believe from a court case in Georgia) sex discrimination covers transgender people because it is still "sex." The judges used the analogy that if a person changed their religion it is still religious discrimination and it is still sex discrimination if a person their sex.

United States Reaches Agreement with Arcadia, California, School District to Resolve Sex Discrimination Allegations

There are a number of Facebook and blog postings declaring to the effect that the agreement (see my blog post yesterday morning) was “Hugh win for trans-students” or “All schools must allow students to use the bathrooms of their gender identity” well that is not quite true. It was a great victory but the agreement only covers the Arcadia, California, School District. This was not a ruling like the EEOC last year on employment nor was it a court case so it doesn’t have broad coverage; it just covers the Arcadia, CA School District. It does not affect all federally funded schools nationwide.

However, what it does show is that the Department of Justice believes that the laws do cover gender identity and expression and that the laws also cover sex-segregated facilities. There have been a number of schools in Connecticut that refuse to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their gender identity and require them to use a staff bathroom or a gender neutral bathroom. The CT law is vague about sex-segregated facilities; the CHRO takes the position that sex-segregated facilities are covered under the law but some school districts point out that there has never been any court ruling to back-up their opinion. This agreement between the DOJ and the Arcadia, CA School District will make those CT school district rethink their policy.

I’m Off To Attend A Workshop…

There is a workshop that I’m going to now that is being facilitated by a friend; the workshop is “What Can You Do to Fight Intolerance?” at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford.

Racism, xenophobia and intolerance are prevalent problems.  Prejudice and discrimination are reflected throughout United States history from European-American exploitation of Native Americans and enslavement of people of African descent; job discrimination against the Irish; World War II internment of Japanese Americans; state-sponsored racial segregation of Mexican Americans; Jim Crow laws, and the War on Drugs that results in mass incarceration of African Americans.
[…]
To encourage conversation and solution-building, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center presents What Can You Do to Fight Intolerance?, a free workshop on July 25 from 5-7 p.m., facilitated by Dr. William A. Howe, CT Department of Education. Reservations are encouraged: 860-522-9258, ext. 317 or Info @ StoweCenter.org.

I've never been to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center but I have driven by the house and I believe the center is right behind the house and next to the Mark Twain house.

Update 8:30
It was a great workshop, great interaction with other attendees and I came away with somethings that I can use in my workshops. One of the things that I can use when I teach culture competence is a good icebreaker; "What are you proud of your culture?" and "What do you wish they wouldn't say about your culture?" we had two minutes to give your answer the person next to you and then they had two minutes to tell you their answer.