This weekend marks the fourtieth anniversary of Stonewall.  The birth place of the gay movement. 

It was a year later that the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) took over and had their first pride march in New York.  It was at this point that the gay movement pushed out the transgender community and left us behind in the quest for equality.  Forgetting the queens of stonewall started it all.  They were fearful that alligning with the transgender community they will not be able to acheive thier get their civil rights.  Today 40 years later it is still happening.  In 2007 with the blessing of HRC they stripped out gender identity in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Last week Barney Frank introduced ENDA in the House.  H.R. 3017.  Right now we  need to have 218 votes for this to pass,  right now we have 197 votes.  We need to be strong and talk with our representatives get this bill done.  In Augest the house will be on summer break giving you a chance to meet with your representative.  Call your representative now to set up your appointment to talk with them face to face.  Be positive and tell them your story and how many of us have been fired for transitioning.  How many of us are also under empolyed or not working at all.  On facebook join the group Inclusive Enda.  We are not going to get our civil rights sitting around and thinking someone else will do it for me. 

One reason the gay community is so powerful is that so many have come out of the closet.  People are leaning more about the gay community because they are learning that they know someone who is gay.  If more of us come out it will give society a chance to know us and maybe know someone who is transgendered.  When they begin that process they will be more of an allie and be more tolerant.

Shalom

Last month a radio station in Sacremento Calf. two DJ’S were talking about abusing transgender children.  Because of that show there was a grassroots movement to have the The DJ’S Rob and Arnie apoligize for their remarks.  Because of their stupidity many advertisers pulled their ads from the show.  Last Thursday morning to atone for there sins.  They devoted 2 1/2 hours on their program on how wrong they were and to get an educaton on the transgender community.  They had two outstanding guests on the program.  Kim Pearson from Transgender Youth Families and Allies (TYFA) and Autumn Sandeen a trans activist from San Diego.  From what I have heard on the program Arnie and Rob were sympathic and sincere in what they had to say.

On the other hand here on the local front I felt I was slapped in the face by some in the LGB community.  About a week and half ago Triangle put out a news release about the Foxy and other shootings in the Detroit area.  They received feedback from some of their members about how it is the fault of the victims.  They mentioned that if they were not sex workers they would not be in that position.  This shows how much work needs to be done in the Detroit area to educate people. 

We need more of us to come out of the closet and be proud of who we are.  The more of us who come out the more people would be accepting of our community.  We also need to have the greater LGB community come out and support us in every way they can.  The LGB community needs to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.  They tend to forget that forty years ago at Stonewall it was our community the trans people who started this rebellion and the gay rights movement.  We as a community cannot let them forget it was us that started it all.  In 2007 when the ENDA bill came for a vote in the House they decided with a major LGB lobby orgaization to strip out gender identity from the bill.  The backlash was swift and courageous from many other LGB orgaizations.  Thus United ENDA was organized and the other orgainzation felt this backlash and agreed to work closely with trans comunities to make sure they fully support us.

One way to be a more visible force is in October.  Cleve Jones who worked with Harvey Milk is organizing a march on Washington D.C. for October 10 and 11th.  The website is www.nationalequalitymarch.com.

POWER TO THE TRANGENDER COMMUNITY.

First to remind everyone this Sunday is Motorcity Pride in Ferndale it will run fromm 11am.-7pm.  I hope to see many of you there.  On Saturday at 11am. at Ferndale city hall there will be a mass commitment ceremony.It was forty years ago this month that the drag queens and crossdressers started the riots at the Stonewall Bar in New York City.  Unfortunantely many in the LGB community do not remember that we started the gay movement toward equality.  June is pride month so be proud of yourself.

Last week the California Supreme Court upheld the same sex ban.  It also created a new minority within a minority.  The 18,00 people who were wed will be able to stay wed.  Alot of people think it does not effect the trans community, but it does.  There are many male to females who for some reason cannot have surgery and they find themselves in a committed relationship they will not be able to benefit from marriage.  The same will go for the female to male.  The transgender community needs to get more involved to help pass legislation or by ballot the right to marry.

Next Monday June 8th will be the third anniversary of our co-founder Jamie Phillips-Fox passing.  To rmember her there will be a memorial at Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit.  Rev. Mark Bidwell will officiate.  It will be held at 7pm.  I hope many of you who knew her and those that have not be there.  She was a remarkable young women who was taken suddenly when she was 52 yrs. old.  She has worked with many TLGB orgaizations and has dome outreach to educate people about the transgender community.

Have a safe week and see you on Sunday