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AEGIS Internet News, Nov. 1995 – July 1996

AEGIS Internet News, Nov. 1995 –  July 1996

In May, 1995  when I was Executive Director of the nonprofit American Educational Gender Information Service, I compiled and transmitted what I believe was the first transgender-specific online news feed. It was called AEGIS Online News. The News initially went out to several hundred AEGIS members and other subscribers as a plain text file over the fledgling internet.

In those days there wasn’t much news to repost. Consequently, the News was initially distributed every other month; it took that long to compile enough material to create a newsletter. Within two years, however, there was almost too much news to handle.

I posted material as I came across it, both from primary sources and from other newsfeeds. Rex Wocker’s LGBT newslist was a valuable resource. Soon, subscribers were sending me material.

In November I moved the News to a majordomo automated list which kept track of subscribers; before that I handled subscriptions, unsubscriptions, and address changes manually and sent out the news via blind carbon copy. The name was changed to AEGIS Internet News and the introductory material about AEGIS was removed because it was available to readers on demand from the server. The list, initially hosted by my ISP (Mindspring) was eventually moved to a server hosted by Kymberleigh Richards, the publisher of the magazine Cross-Talk. This enabled me to send e-mails to the server as I came across news items, yet distribute them as a digest once per day– sometimes twice or three times daily if there was a lot of news. This was easier on both me and the readers, who had been receiving up to eight e-mails a day.

I stopped publishing AEGIS Internet News in mid-1998.

On January 1, 2000 AEGIS was repurposed as Gender Education & Advocacy. Under the supervision of the late Penni Ashe Matz, news went out as Gender Advocacy Internet News.

Many posts have been lost, but we preserved several hundred. Here are issues of AEGIS Internet News from November 1995 – July 1996:

1995, 15 November

Subj: Excerpt from SIECUS Advocates Reports Date: 95-11-15 10:35:00 EST From: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com

From: aegis@mindspring.com (Dallas Denny) Sender: owner-aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com Reply-to: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com (From SIECUS Advocates Reports) Fall, 1995

FYI: SIECUS and NEA Under Attack

The conservative group Concerned Women for America (CWA) has launched a campaign against the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States and the National Education Association (NEA). As part of a fundraising appeal to its members, CWA grossly misrepresented SIECUS’ positions and alliances. CWA requested their members to send a pre-printed letter to their representatives in Congress which contained patently false representations of SIECUS’ positions, a request that SIECUS receive no federal or state funds, and a plea that Congress investigate SIECUS.

The group is attacking the NEA for passing “Resolution B-9: Sexual Orientation Education.” The NEA’s text reads, in part, that it recognizes “support for the celebration of a Lesbian and gay History Month as a means of acknowledging the contributions of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals throughout history.” CWA misrepresented the NEA resolution as a proclamation that “October is Gay/Lesbian History Month” and falsely claimed that NEA would use federal funds to do “special trainings,” programs, hallway displays, and film showing as part of ‘Gay/Lesbian History Month.”

The Christian Action Network has targeted the National School Health Education Coalition (NaSHEC), which was listed last year in the Congressional Record (during the debate on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) as opposing restrictions on services for gay and lesbian youth in the public schools. Christian Action Network members are writing letters to the national organizations belonging to NaSHEC to encourage them to withdraw from the coalition.

National Far Right organizations continue to distort statistics and misinform their constituents in an effort to remove accurate, effective sexuality education programs from the public schools. The Christian Coalition’s September 1995 issue of Christian American includes arguments that condoms don’t work, people won’t use condoms even if they did work, and that young people prefer an abstinence-only approach. The article also comments that “These [sexually transmitted] diseases and the devastation they inflict, serve as a biological judgement upon the sexual revolution.”

— One of these days the Right Wing will turn on transgender organizations.

— Dallas Dallas Denny, M.A. American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation / Publisher of CHRYSALIS

(770) 939-2128 Business / (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals) (770) 939-1770 FAX / E-MAIL aegis@mindspring.com

To be on our electronic distribution list send e-mail to majordomo@lists.mindspring.com on the first line of the body of your message, include the following:

subscribe aegis-list <gallae@azstarnet.com>

Visit the AEGIS FTP Site: Host: ftp.mindspring,com / User ID: anonymous Password: (your email address) /Directory: /users/aegis

One is not born a woman [or a man]– One becomes one.

— Simone de Beauvoir

1995, 17 November

Subj: Re: FTM autobiographies Date: 95-11-17 17:03:01 EST From: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com

From: aegis@mindspring.com (Dallas Denny) Sender: owner-aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com Reply-to: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com The following is from Stephen Whittle <S.T.Whittle@mmu.ac.uk>:

>Dear Dallas – you mind want to post this to the Aegis list. >———————————————————— > >I thought people might be interested to hear that there have been 3 >FTM autobiographies printed over here in teh UK this year. They are: > >Raymond Thompson with Kittey Sewell: `What took you so long: a girls >journey to manhood’, Penguin Books ISBN 0-14-024645-2 > >Paul Hewitt with Jane Warren: `A self-made man: the diary of a man >born in a wmona’s body’, Headline Books, ISBN 0-7472-7819-9 > >Both are ghost written which is perhaps unfortuante in the way they >have been edited, and the way the emphasis is. However Ray Thompson’s >book is an excellent account of being a FTM who has a hard time, and >ends up on the wrong side of the law, in prison etc. Pauls is much >more a diary account of the actual process of transition. Both are >members of the UK FTM network. > >The third book – due out in December is by one of the pioneers over >here in the UK. Its Mark Rees’s story, he was the first TS in the UK >to go to the European Ct of Human Rights, also he is one of the >founders of Press For Change the campaign and lobby group on behalf >of TS/TG rights over here, and is a great campaigner on behalf of the >cause with a very public profile over here. He is also a leading >figure in the FTM network. The book is: >Mark Rees `Dear Sir or Madam’, to be published by Cassells, in >December. > >All are well worth adding to your library. > >Stephen Whittle > > Dallas Denny, M.A. American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation / Publisher of CHRYSALIS

(770) 939-2128 Business / (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals) (770) 939-1770 FAX / E-MAIL aegis@mindspring.com

To be on our electronic distribution list send e-mail to majordomo@lists.mindspring.com on the first line of the body of your message, include the following:

subscribe aegis-list <gallae@azstarnet.com>

Visit the AEGIS FTP Site: Host: ftp.mindspring,com / User ID: anonymous Password: (your email address) /Directory: /users/aegis

One is not born a woman [or a man]– One becomes one.

— Simone de Beauvoir

1995, 19 November

Subj: Some News Items Date: 95-11-19 00:50:56 EST From: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com

From: aegis@mindspring.com (Dallas Denny) Sender: owner-aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com Reply-to: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com Donald McCloskey, a University of Iowa professor who told his wife he wanted a divorce because he planned to become a woman, was invountariliy committed for a psychiatric evaluation on 2 November. He was released the next day. His wife initiated the action which led to the commitment.

 

Drag Candidate Loses Bid to Restore Resort to Glory

If Ktty Cole had been elected mayor of Palm Springs, CA, the desert resort town would be on its way to becoming once again “the playground for mobsters and movie stars it was intended to be.” Cole, a 6’5″ former modeling agent and self-described drag queen, ran on a platform of reversing years of family-oriented tourist marketing under past mayors like Sony Bono, the former entertainer now in Congress. Cole’s other proposals included marking no-parking zones with red or gold glibber, sponsoring celebrity croquet tournaments on city golf courses and reopening Palm Springs to cllege spring break revelers. But the bulk of Cole’s platform was more mainstream– speeding up city bureaucracy, loosening sign and vendor regulations and putting abandoned buildings to use as youth and music centers. Despite such positions– and campaign donations of two $3000 wigs– Cole was defeated on 7 November.

— Etcetera Magazine, 17 November,1995, v. 11, No. 46.

1995, 20 December

Subj: (Australia) Brother Sister News – 14/12/95 Date: 95-12-20 02:11:29 EST From: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com

From: aegis@mindspring.com (Dallas Denny) Sender: owner-aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com Reply-to: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com >From: Brendon Wickham <leto@werple.net.au> >Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News – 14/12/95 >X-To: QUEERPLANET@abacus.oxy.edu, submit@qrd.org, > yvain@bizo.biz.usyd.edu.AU, > Wayne Scott <94023301@reggie.riv.csu.edu.au>, > AbFag <kate.fiske@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>, > bcs41@aol.com, lambdacom@tde.com, dbrons@ViaNet.on.ca, > shawn g fawcett -Dive Magazine <sfawcett@direct.ca> >To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS <GLB-NEWS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>

(Australian) Democrats back tranny lesbian

>DEMOCRATS BACK TRANNY LESBIAN > >*The Australian Democrats recently announced male to >female, transgender lesbian Julie Peters as their candidate for >the federal seat of Batman in the next election.* > >The Batman electorate is a safe Labour seat, taking in the >Northcote and Fairfield area, that will be contested by the >former ACTU leader Martin Ferguson for the ALP and >independent socialist Irene Bolger. > >Peters told ‘Brother Sister’ that she chose to join the >Democrats after becoming disillusioned by the lack of >differences between this country’s two major parties. > >Peters : “I like the Democrats because I feel that they >recognise that political situation is in need of urgent >attention more so than other parties.” > >Although aware that her transgenderism and sexuality will >be issues in the election campaign, she sees the main issue as >poverty and other across-the-board problems such as >domestic violence. > >”It is necessary to take gay issues into a broader arena,” says >Peters. “Poverty affects the gay and lesbian community too. >All issues are gay and lesbian issues as well.” > >She also accepts that she will not immediately win the gay >vote in the area, “If I have the right policies I will get the vote >of gays and lesbians but I don’t deserve them immediately >just for being a lesbian.” > >The subject of transgender lesbians has torn much of the >lesbian community in recent years, something that Peters is >well aware of, having addressed many lesbian groups about >the subject in the past. > >Peters : “I’m talking a more conciliatory approach to that. I >can understand why some lesbians don’t want us in their >space if our presence is not conducive to a group of women >who may be trying to work through some personal subjects >such as incest. But on a social level I should be accepted,” >Peters adds though, “Since I came out publicly as a >transgender I have had a lot more lesbian friends.” > >She also points out that a recent survey by Sydney >researcher Roberta Perkins shows that one third of male to >female transgenderists identify as lesbians (another third >identify as bisexual). > >To critics that claim changing gender to lead a homosexual >lifestyle is illogical or an act of denial (ie. a male’s inability to >accept his ‘feminine’ side) Peters has an answer ready. > >”People think that transexuality is about sex,” says Peters. >”It’s not. It’s about identity and who you want to be. Roles in >culture are about more than sex.” > >Peters says that her fight to being a transgender and getting >recognised as a lesbian has prepared her to be a fighting >politician. > >Peters : “Becoming a transgender seems such an impossibility >that I’m not intimidated by the size of any problems that a >political career can offer.” >GLAD ACCUSED OF DISCRIMINATION > >*Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination Inc. (GLAD) >have been accused of dropping a scheduled drag >performance from a weekend benefit after saying members of >the group found drag to be offensive.* > >Management of Melbourne drag artist Tracey Twat allege >their client was approached to host a GLAD benefit being >held at the Glasshouse Hotel this weekend only to be >informed earlier this week that his services were no longer >required. > >Peter Robinson, who manages Tracey Twat, claims the >organisers of the benefit contacted him on December 12, >saying it was the general opinion of the group that a lot of >the gay community found drag offensive. > >Robinson told Brother Sister that Twat had agreed to host >the charity event, wavering his normal fee for the night’s >three hours work. > >David Feighan, male co-convenor of GLAD, says his group >would not discriminate against drag performers in such a >way, although he is aware Twat was initially scheduled to >appear but was no longer on the bill. > >For any members of GLAD to discriminate goes against a >policy statement that was approved at a GLAD meeting in >October. > >The statement reiterates the group’s fight against >discrimination and says that it will not be tolerated “in any >form”. > >It goes on to state that: “Any members found in breach of >this policy, may be fined under regulations on of the model >rules of GLAD Inc.” > >Andrew Mast

1996, 27 June

Posted 27 June, 1996

This is the first post on aegisnws.

Date: 27 June, 1996 From: ElaineP1@aol.com

[Please note: the term transvestite is used rather liberally here–Dallas]

BANGKOK (Reuter) – The members of Thailand’s top all-transvestite volleyball team say they have been kept off the national men’s team because of their sexual preferences rather than a lack of skill. The popular team of 12 men, who have had plastic surgery, grown breasts and wear heavy make-up, represents northern Lampang province. Last week, against most odds, they won the gold medal in men’s volleyball at the national games. “Although we act and look like women, I think we have every right to play on the men’s team since we have not yet changed our sexual organs,” Patphong Srinutham, the team’s coordinator, told Reuters. Patphong said when his players went to the recent national men’s team try-outs in Bangkok at the Volleyball Association of Thailand, they were teased by other players. None of the transvestites was picked for the national team. “Winning the gold medal proves that we are second to none for volleyball in the country, but it is a real pity that we are never selected to play in the national men’s team,” he said.

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

Visit the AEGIS FTP Site: ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/users/aegis/ User ID: anonymous Password: (your email address)

ASK US FOR INFO ON OUR ELECTRONIC MAILING LISTS!

1996, 30 June A

Original Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 03:30:33 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

Date: 27 June, 1996 From: : Riki@pipeline.com Subject: InYourFace – News Roundup — Court Holds Korean Transexuals Cannot Be Raped — Transgender Murder in Cleveland — CT Gov: No Pride for Transpeople — LA TransPeople on the March

============================================== Court Holds Korean Transexuals Cannot Be Raped ==============================================

[SEOUL, SO KOR – June 14, 1996] from Reuters News Service

South Korea’s highest court has ruled that two men who sexually assaulted a female transsexual cannot be convicted of rape.

The decision by the Supreme Court on Wednesday hinged on whether a man who has had a sex-change operation is legally a woman. South Korean law recognises rape only against women.

“Though the victim in this case behaves as a female the person cannot be recognised as one because, among other things, his chromosomes remain unchanged and he cannot get pregnant,” Justice Chong Kwi-ho told the court.

Chong upheld a lesser charge of sexual assault against the men who attacked the 37-year-old transsexual in April, a court official said on Thursday.

The two were each jailed for 2 and 1/2 yrs.

=============================== Transgender Murder in Cleveland ===============================

[June 13, 1996 – CLEVELAND, OH]

On Thursday, June 13th, the body of Janice Ricks was found near E. 105th St. and St. Lukes Hospital. Janice had been shot twice, once in the neck, and again in her abdomen. While there are reports that she was seen with someone earlier that morning, there are no suspects at this time. No motive for the shooting has been disclosed. Notably, the location where her body was found is not a safe area.

Police have so far neglected to return calls from local gender activists seeking details about the Ricks killing. Local newsmedia have carried little coverage of her murder, one station briefly mentioning that a man who went about in women’s clothing had been killed, although Janice Ricks was reportedly living full or nearly fulltime as a woman.

Said Emilia Lombardi, a spokestrans for Transexual Menace Cleveland/Akron: “Janice’s death reminds us how many people there on the margins of society, often overlooked and forgotten. Many of these are people who are isolated and alone, having little or no contact with trans and queer communities which could help and support them. How many others must die alone, or suffer in silence? We must continue to reach out to *everyone* in need.”

Contact: Emilia Lombardi – CherRed@en.com

================================ CT Gov: No Pride for Transpeople ================================

[HARTFORD, CT – June 20, 1997] from the Hartford Courant

Governor John Rowland has turned down a request by Connecticut PRIDE ’96 to have the month of June declared as “Gay Pride” month.

The proposed proclamation include references to lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals, as well as “people who do drag and transgender people.”

Protecting Second-Graders ————————-

Nuala Forde, spokeswoman for the governor said the governor will not sign any proclomation that he would have trouble reading to a second-grade class.

“This proclamation is not a question of equal protection. It’s a question of endorsing drag queens and transsexuals, and he simply won’t do it”, Forde said.

============================ LA TransPeople on the March ============================

For the first time, on June 23, 1996, an openly transgender contingent marched in the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade, which annual draws over 300,00 participants and spectators.

The Transgender Menace – Southern California contingent included 15 marchers (most in black “Menace” t-shirts) and one sun-bonneted (and possibly genderqueer) dog.

It’s About Freedom, Mary! ————————-

Carrying placards reading “TS SM Queen,” “Dyke2Fag,” “Freedom to Vary,” and “Freedom to Be Mary” (tweaking the thousands of “Freedom to Marry” signs) Menacers received a variety of reactions including blank stares, wild cheers, obvious confusion, and kisses from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

“My personal favorites were the leathermen who took a few moments to figure out who we were, and then applauded quietly,” said Jacob Hale, who organized the contingent along with Shirley Bushnell. “I think that they realized that transfolk and leatherqueers are queers among queers, marginalized and stigmatized by more ‘respectable’ gays and lesbians, and felt kinship with us.”

Contacts: Shirley Bushnell – shirley@earthlink.net Jacob Hale – jacob.hale@email.csun.edu Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

Visit the AEGIS FTP Site: ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/users/aegis/ User ID: anonymous Password: (your email address)

ASK US FOR INFO ON OUR ELECTRONIC MAILING LISTS!

1996, 30 June B

Original Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 03:51:55 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

From: “ita@phoenix.phoenix.net” <ita@mail.phoenix.net>

Many people have contacted me to say they have never actually read ENDA. So, here it is. Note the lack of tg inclusion. That of course is what we are all working to change.

Sarah

*********************************************************************

FILE h1863.ih

HR 1863 IH

104th CONGRESS

1st Session

To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual

orientation.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 15, 1995

Mr. STUDDS (for himself, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. TORKILDSEN, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. FLANAGAN, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GUNDERSON, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. BEILENSON, Mr. HORN, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BONIOR, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CLAY, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. COLEMAN, Miss COLLINS of Michigan, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COYNE, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. DICKS, Mr. DIXON, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FARR, Mr. FAZIO of California, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Ms. FURSE, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. HOYER, Ms. JACKSON-LEE, Mr. JEFFERSON, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. LOFGREN, Mrs. LOWEY, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. MATSUI, Ms. MCCARTHY, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. MEEHAN, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MFUME, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. MINETA, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. MORAN, Mr. MOAKLEY, Mr. NADLER, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Ms. NORTON, Mr. OLVER, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. REED, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. RICHARDSON, Ms. RIVERS, MS. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SABO, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SAWYER, Mrs. SCHROEDER, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. STARK, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. TORRES, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WATT of North Carolina, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. WYNN, and Mr. YATES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, and in addition to the Committees on House Oversight, Government Reform and Oversight, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL

To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. [Italic->] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, [<-Italic]

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1995′.

SEC. 2. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED.

A covered entity, in connection with employment or employment opportunities, shall not–

(1) subject an individual to different standards or treatment on the basis of sexual orientation,

(2) discriminate against an individual based on the sexual orientation of persons with whom such individual is believed to associate or to have associated, or

(3) otherwise discriminate against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation.

SEC. 3. BENEFITS.

This Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits to an individual for the benefit of his or her partner.

SEC. 4. NO DISPARATE IMPACT.

The fact that an employment practice has a disparate impact, the term `disparate impact’ as used in section 703(k) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(k)), on the basis of sexual orientation does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act.

SEC. 5. QUOTAS AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROHIBITED.

(a) QUOTAS- A covered entity shall not adopt or implement a quota on the basis of sexual orientation.

(b) PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT- A covered entity shall not give preferential treatment to an individual on the basis of sexual orientation.

SEC. 6. RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act shall not apply to religious organizations.

(b) FOR-PROFIT ACTIVITIES- This Act shall apply with respect to employment and employment opportunities that relate to employment position that pertains solely to an organization’s for-profit activities subject to taxation under section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

SEC. 7. NONAPPLICATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES; VETERANS’ PREFERENCES.

(a) ARMED FORCES- (1) For purposes of this Act, the term `employment or employment opportunities’ does not apply to the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces.

(2) As used in paragraph (1), the term `Armed Forces’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

(b) VETERANS’ PREFERENCES- This Act does not repeal or modify any Federal, State, territorial, or local law creating special rights or preferences for veterans.

SEC. 8. ENFORCEMENT.

(a) ENFORCEMENT POWERS- With respect to the administration and enforcement of this Act in the case of a claim alleged by an individual for a violation of this Act–

(1) the Commission shall have the same powers as the Commission has to administer and enforce–

(A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), or

(B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, 1204), in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title or of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, respectively,

(2) the Librarian of Congress shall have the same powers as the Librarian of Congress has to administer and enforce title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title,

(3) the Board (as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat.3) shall have the same powers as the Board has to administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act,

(4) the Attorney General of the United States shall have the same powers as the Attorney General has to administer and enforce—

(A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), or

(B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, 1204), in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title or of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, respectively, and

(5) the courts of the United States shall have the same jurisdiction and powers as such courts have to enforce–

(A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title,

(B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, 1204) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, and

(C) the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act.

(b) PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES- The procedures and remedies applicable to a claim alleged by an individual for a violation of this Act are—

(1) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title,

(2) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202(a)(1)) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such section, and

(3) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such section.

(c) OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISIONS- With respect to claims alleged by covered employees (as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3)) for violations of this Act, title III of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 shall apply in the same manner as such title applies with respect to a claims alleged by such covered employees for violations of section 201(a)(1) of such Act.

SEC. 9. STATE AND FEDERAL IMMUNITY.

(a) STATE IMMUNITY- A State shall not be immune under the eleventh article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States from an action in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this Act. In an action against a State for a violation of this Act, remedies (including remedies at law and in equity) are available for the violation to the same extent as such remedies are available in an action against any public or private entity other than a State.

(b) LIABILITY OF THE UNITED STATES- The United States shall be liable for all remedies (excluding punitive damages) under this Act to the same extent as a private person and shall be liable to the same extent as a nonpublic party for interest to compensate for delay in payment.

SEC. 10. ATTORNEYS’ FEES.

In any action or administrative proceeding commenced pursuant to this Act, the court or the Commission, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee, including expert fees and other litigation expenses, and costs. The United States shall be liable for the foregoing the same as a private person.

SEC. 11. RETALIATION AND COERCION PROHIBITED.

(a) RETALIATION- A covered entity shall not discriminate against an individual because such individual opposed any act or practice prohibited by this Act or because such individual made a charge, assisted, testified, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Act.

(b) COERCION- A person shall not coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his or her having exercised, enjoyed, assisted, or encouraged the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this Act.

SEC. 12. POSTING NOTICES.

A covered entity shall post notices for employees, applicants for employment, and members describing the applicable provisions of this Act in the manner prescribed by, and subject to the penalty provided under, section 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-10).

SEC. 13. REGULATIONS.

The Commission shall have authority to issue regulations to carry out this Act.

SEC. 14. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

This Act shall not invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, or procedures available to an individual claiming discrimination prohibited under any other Federal law or any law of a State or political subdivision of a State.

SEC. 15. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall not apply to conduct occurring before such effective date.

SEC. 17. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Act:

(1) The term `Commission’ means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

(2) The term `covered entity’ means an employer, employment agency, labor organization, joint labor management committee, an entity to which section 717(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(a)) applies, an employing authority to which section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202(a)(1)) applies, or an employing authority to which section 201(a) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) applies.

(3) The term `employer’ has the meaning given such term in section 701(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(b)).

(4) The term `employment agency’ has the meaning given such term in section 701(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(c)).

(5) The term `employment or employment opportunities’ includes job application procedures, hiring, advancement,discharge, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment.

(6) The term `labor organization’ has the meaning given such term in section 701(d) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(d)).

(7) The term `person’ has the meaning given such term in section 701(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.2000e(a)).

(8) The term `religious organization’ means–

(A) a religious corporation, association, or society, or

(B) a college, school, university, or other educational institution, not otherwise a religious organization, if– (i) it is in whole or substantial part controlled, managed, owned, or supported by a religious corporation, association, or society, or

(ii) its curriculum is directed toward the propagation of a particular religion.

(9) The term `sexual orientation’ means homosexuality, bisexuality, or heterosexuality, whether such orientation is

(10) The term `State’ has the meaning given such term in section 701(i) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(i)).

****************************************************** It’s Time, America! It’s Time, Texas!

Sarah DePalma National Director, It’s Time, America! Chair, It’s Time, Texas! Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 30 June C

Original Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 10:54:36 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

The following is reprinted from Southern Voice, 27 June, 1997, p. 23.

Britain’s Phaedra Kelly has written often and passionately about the desperate situation for transpeople in Turkey. Demet Demir and others have been imprisoned and tortured by police.

— Dallas

Turkish police muscled into Istanbul’s drag bars June 10 to warn Turkish transgenders not to set up a booth at this month’s international United Nations city summit. Instead the booth, decorated with gay rights slogans, sat empty among the hundreds of other booths. “We could not come because of…” says a single banner that activists left deliberately unfinished. Demet Demir, a spokesperson for a Turnkish transgender group of 3000 members, claims police have torched the homes of three transgenders in an effort to make the community– in the words of the police–“disappear” during the conference. Many members of the community have left the city or are hiding at the homes of friends, Demir said.

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 1 July A

Original Date: Mon, 01 Jul 1996 23:59:13 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

Excerpted from and used with permission:

============================================= = INTERNATIONAL NEWS #112 – Jun 19, 1996 = = Rex Wockner = =============================================

—————————————————————- Do not publish, broadcast, or cybertransport without permission. —————————————————————- << ISTANBUL HARASSES TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE >> *** umlaut on u in Suleyman

Istanbul police harassed transgendered people before and during the Habitat II summit, reported the local gay group Lambda. Transvestites and transsexuals were beaten, arrested, forced to remain in their homes or prohibited from entering their homes, the group said. One transsexual’s house was torched by cops, Lambda charged. Habitat II brought together world leaders to study the future of cities and human settlements. Lambda urges activists to fax Turkish President Suleyman Demirel at 011-90-312-427-1330, Interior Minister Nahit Mentese at 011-90-312-418-1795, Istanbul Governor Kayri Kazakcroglu at 011-90-212-512-2086, Istanbul Police Chief Kemal Yazcioglu at 011-90-212-636-1832, Istanbul-Beyoglu Police Commander Suleyman Ulusoy at 011-90-212-251-9942, and the Anatolia News Agency at 011-90-212-511-6039. << AUSSIE ‘TRANYS’ WIN RIGHTS >> *

The parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales (where Sydney is) passed legislation June 5 banning discrimination against transgendered people and granting transsexuals the right to correct their birth certificates, reported Capital Q, a gay weekly. Sporting organizations were exempted from the laws, which were championed by state Attorney General Jeff Shaw. “The days of institutionalized bigotry and punishing those who do not adhere to so-called gender norms are over,” said Nadine Stransen, co-convener of the Transgender Lobby Coalition. “This has taken five hard years of lobbying, so we are feeling ebullient.”

-end- Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 1 July B

Original Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:21:26 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

A figure of 320,000 attendees for the Pride weekend was given from the Stage of Atlanta Pride Sunday evening to cheering G/L/B/T folks. Last year’s attendance was given at 150,000. The Olympics, the presence of the Indigo Girls, and hot, dry weather, and the natural growth curve of Pride were given as reasons for increased attendance.

Transgender activist Riki Anne Wilchins spoke from the stage at 2 pm on Saturday.

Coretta Scott King, the widow of the late Reverend Martin Luther King, spoke on Sunday. On Monday morning, PBS declared King’s speech a milestone, as it forges an alliance between the black and G/:L/B/T communities.

The Indigo Girls were fabulous, ending with a rousing rendition of Neil Young’s Southern Man.

The temperature was in the 90s, and dust covered vendors’ merchandise by the end of the day, kicked up by so many people moving.

Atlanta’s transgender community had a strong presence, with a large booth and a presence in the March, which numbered 65,000 people. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 2 July A

Original Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:23:19 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

The Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) Support Group provides peer support to those affected by AIS, including adults with the condition as well as parents of AIS children. AIS, also known as testicular feminization syndrome or male pseudohermaphroditism, is a rare condition (1 in 20,400) in which an individual with XY chromosomes and testes has either complete or partial resistance to the effects of androgens. In complete AIS, the affected individual will develop a completely female external appearance and gender identity. The group will be holding its first North American meeting on September 7, 1996. For more information, please write to: Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group, 4203 Genessee Avenue #103-436, San Diego, CA 92117. Telephone (619) 569-5254. e-mail: aissg@aol.com. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 2 July B

Original Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:26:01 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

From: CyberQueen@cdspub.com (JoAnn Roberts) Subject: WorldWide TG Support Group List Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 07:44:22 -0400

** WorldWide TG Support Groups **

This list is provided as a community service and is a joint project between 3-D Communications, Inc., and the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE). It may be reposted on any computer system or reprinted in any publication **provided** this attrubtion header remains intact. An HTML version of this list is also available. Please inquire.

Details about each organization may be found in the 1996 edition of the “Who’s Who & Resource Guide to the Transgender Community” published by CDS= or in the “Directory of Organizations” published within each issue of IFGE’s “Transgender Tapestry” magazine.

For groups in North America, please see our North American TG Group List.

For additions, deletions, or corrections to this list, send email to groups@cdspub.com

Updated: June 26, 1996

—————————————————————————-= –

** Organizations by Country, State or County, City Name, Address, Postal= Code **

Africa

* Nigeria o Transformation Second Self, c/o Jane Enuneku, KM 4 Idiroko Road, PO Box 1006, OTA, OGUN State, West Africa. * South Africa o Phoenix, c/o Desiree’ Dexter, PO Box 1332, Springs, 1560, Gauteng. Phone: +2711 362 5247. o SATRU, (S. African Transexual Research Unit) PO Box 87283, Houghton, Johannesburg 2041.

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Australia

* New South Wales o Boys Will be Boys (F-t-M TS), PO Box 1349, Strawberry Hills, 2012; Tel: +61-02-319-2034. o Gender Centre, PO Box 266, Petersham, Petersham, 2049; Tel: +61-02-569-2366. o Les Girls CD Group, c/o PO Box 504, Burnwood, 2134. o Seahorse Society NSW, PO Box 168, Westgate, 2048; Tel: +61-02-569-6239 (Thu. eve.), email to: kim@seahorse.cv.com. o Sex Workers Outreach Transgender Support Project (SWOP), PO Box 1453, Darlinghurst 2010. Phone: +61 – 2 – 212-2600; Fax: 212-3978. o Transgender Liberation Coalition (TLC), PO Box 208, Kings Cross, 2011. Phone: +61-02-358 5664. * Queensland o Aus. TransGenderist Support Assoc Inc. (ATSAQ), PO Box 212, New Farm, 4005. Phone: +61-7-846-3787 (24 hr helpline), 236-2400, Fax: 236-2398. o Boys Will Be Boys (FtM), PO Box 212, West End, 4005; Tel: (07) 846-3787. o Gender Clinic, 484 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, 4000; Tel: +61-07-839-8262. o Seahorse Club of Queensland, PO Box 574, Annerley, 4103. o Self Health for Queensland Workers In the Sex Industry (SQWISI), PO Box 689, West End 4101. Phone: +61- 07- 844 4565, Fax: 844-8840. * So. Australia o Carousel Club of South Australia, PO Box 721, Cowandilla, 5033. Phone: +61-08 -388-3644, Lana Allen; 281-6190, Michelle. o Chamelons Group, PO Box 907, Kent Town, 5071. Phone: +61-08-362-1611 o South Australia Transsexual Support. Phone: +61-08-362-3223 (Gayline) or 362-1611 (Jenny). * Victoria o Boys Will Be Boys (FtM), PO Box 328, Northcote, 3070. o Elaine Barrie Project, PO Box 405, Altona, 3018. Phone: +61-369-2613. o Gender Dysphoria Clinic at the Monash Medical Medical Centre, Clayton Campus, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168. Phone: +61- 03-95501437 (ask for Dawn). o Seahorse Club, Victoria, Box 2337V, Melbourne, 3001 o TLC (Transgender Liberation & Care), PO BOX 174, South Preston, 3071. Phone: +61-03- 94704154 (Sharon), or email to: janie@natasha.apana.org.au. * W. Australia o Chameleon Society, PO Box 367, Victoria Park, 6163. Phone: +61-15-771753 (8 pm to 10 pm). o Gender Council of Australia (W.A.) Inc.,PO Box 58, Victoria Park 6110. Phone: +61-09 -362-5447. o WATS Support Unity & Pride (WATSUP), PO Box 771, Doubleview, 6018.

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Austria

* TransX – Verein f=FCr TransGender, PO Box 331, A – 1171, Wien.

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Belgium

* Franjepoot, Postbox 53, B-2100 Deurne 1 * Genderstichting (Belgian Gender Foundation), Pluimstraat 48, B-8500 Kortrijk. Phone: + 32-56-21-9541, Mon-Fri 9 – 11.30 am, & 1 – 4:30 pm, Mon and Wed to 8 pm.

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Denmark

* FPE-NE Denmark, Box 170, DK-2670, Greve. Phone: + 45-42-13-9032 Mon-Tue 6 – 9 pm (CET). * Transvision, PO Box 280, DK – 1502, Copenhagen V.

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Estonia

* GENDY, Angerja 13 – 27, EE – 0004 Tallin. A small organization, with mostly FTM members.

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Finland

* Dreamwear Club, Box 159, FIN – 80101 Joensuu. * SETA c/o Trans Center, Box 135, FIN – 00251 Helsinki. Phone: +358- 0- 2411-135, or email to: ekt@seta.fi.

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France

* Assoc. Beaumont Continental (ABC), BP-3, F-68350 Didenheim

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Germany

* Body and Soul (No mailing address available), Hannover. Phone: +49-201-786999. * ChelSI e. V., TV/TS Treff SachsenR=F6sslerstr. 9, D – 09120, Chemnitz. Phone: +49-371-50094 (Friday only); Fax: +49-371-55867. * Club Neues Leben NOVA, PO Box 710232, D – 81452, M=FCnchen. Phone: +49= – 89 – 3113260 or 616808, 6 – 6.30 pm (CET), please speak German. * FPE – Frankfurt, c/o Kr=F6cher & Surhoff, PO Box 800442, D – 65904, Frankfurt am Main. * GEREDE e. V., TV/TS Treff Sachsen, Wiener Strasse 41, D – 01219, Dresden. Phone: +49-351-46-40220 (Friday only). * IKV (Informatins-Kontakt-und Vermittlungsstelle f=FCr Transsexuelle Menschen inBaden Wurttemberg e.V.), c/o AOK Karlsruhe, Kriegstr. 41, D – 76133, Karlsruhe. Phone/Fax: +49-721-62-3382. * Lebensberatung F=FCr Transsexuelle Menschen Im Saarland, c/o Dr.= Waltraud Schiffels, Schloss Strasse 6, D – 66117, Saarbr=FCcken. Phone: +49-681-583912. * Selbshilfegruppe f=FCr transsexuelle Menschen in T=FCbingen, contact: Dagmar Kaltenmark, c/o Sozialforum T=FCbingen e.V., Paulinenstr. 25, D= – 72072, T=FCbingen. Phone: +49-7472-6048, or email to: 100740.1235@compuserve.com. * Selbsthilfegruppe Stuttgart, (No mailing address available), Stuttgart. Phone: +49-7143-33502. * Sonntagsclub e. V., Rhinover Strasse 8, D – 10437, Berlin. Phone: +49-30-448-2184 or 208-2035 (every Friday 6-8pm (CET), or email to: kasimir@inf.fu-berlin.de. * Transidentitas, Postfach 10 10 46, 6050 Offenbach. Phone: +49-69-800-1008. * Transsexuellen-Arbeitskreis, c/o HUCH!, Westring 278, D – 24116, Kiel. Phone: +49- 431-17090; Fax: 431-17099. * Transsexuellengruppe In Der Sekis Berlin, c/o Uwe Klaassen, Albrecht, Achilles Strasse 65, D – 10709, Berlin. Phone: +49-30-345-3681. * TSH Essen, c/o Claudia Peppenhorst, Caesar Strasse 34, D – 45130, Essen. Phone: +49-201-786999. * TSH M=FCnster, (No mailing address available), M=FCnster. Call Claudia Scholz at +49-251-3240. * TV – Selbsthilfegruppe, Herwarthstrasse 2, D – 48143, M=FCnster. * TVV, PO Box 1148, D – 65780, Hattersheim. * VIVA TS-Selbsthilfe M=FCnchen e. V., c/o Peter Reidel, Hirschbergstr.= 14, D – 80634, M=FCnchen. Phone: +49-89-134681, 6 – 6.30pm (CET), please speak German; Fax: +49 – 89 – 162324.

—————————————————————————-

Japan

* The Elizabeth Club, 5-32-18 Kameido, Koto-Ku, Tokyo 136. Phone: +81 – 3 – 3683 – 6092. Osaka address: 1-1-9 Kujo, Nishi-Ku, Osaka 550. Elizabeth Nagoya Shop: 1-13-15 Noritake Nakamura-Ku, Nagoya-shi 453. * FTM Nippon, Adachi-Ku, Adachi-nishi-post office, Tokyo 123. Phone: +81 – 3 – 3683 – 6092 (Kameido Club).

—————————————————————————-

Netherlands

* De Stichting Reborn, Maria Danneelserf 10, 2907 BD Capelle a/d IJssel. Phone: +31-10-458-3469, or email to: immanuel@euronet.nl. * Genderteam Amsterdam, Prof.dr. L.J.G. Gooren, Dept./ Endocrinology/Andrology, Free University Hospital, PO Box 7057, NL – 1007 MB, Amsterdam. Phone: +31-20-548-9111, ext. 199; Fax: 548-7502. * Het jongensuur (FtMs), Binnenkadijk 178, 1018 ZH Amsterdam, Tel: 020-6221710 * LKG T&T (Landelijke Kontaktgroep Travestie en Transseksualiteit), Postbus 11575, 1001 GN Amsterdam. Phone +31 (10) 453 18 93 or email to R.Hengeveld@inter.nl.net (Rosalind Hengeveld). * Nederlandse Vereniging Humanitas, PO Box 71, NL – 1000 AB Amsterdam. Phone: +31-20-626-24 5; Fax: 622-7367. * Stichting Ede (FtMs), Bennekomseweg 160, 6871 KJ Renkum, Tel: 08373-18890. * Stichting Nederlands Gender Centrum, Borssenburg 24, NL – 1181 NV, Amstelveen. Phone:+31- 20-612-4099. * Stichting Omd, PO Box 24, NL – 4844 ZG, Terheijden (NB). * Vereniging L K G T & T, PO Box 11575, NL – 1001 GN Amsterdam. * Werkgroep FACET, Rode Kruislaan 61, NL – 5628 GB Eindhoven. Phone: +31-40-241-5475.

—————————————————————————-

New Zealand

* New Zealand Gender Dysphoria Foundation (NZGDF), PO Box 2827, Auckland. * Transsexual Outreach Project/Transsexual Education Welfare and Health Organisation (TOPs/TEWAHO), PO Box 11-412, Manners Street, Wellington.

—————————————————————————-

Norway

* FPE-NE Norway, Box 1968 Vika, N – 0125 Oslo * EuroFantasia, Box 442, N – 4301 Sandnes. Phone & Fax: + 47- 51-66-24 22, or email to : jennys@transgender.org

—————————————————————————-

Pakistan

* Khusra of Pakistan, c/o Muhamid Aslam Khusra, PF-34 Abbotabad Hockey Stadium, Abbotabad. Phone: +92 – 5921 – 6158 (leave message) or 5921 – 2858.

—————————————————————————-

Sweden

* Benjamin [TS], PO Box 9083, S – 102 71, Stockholm. Phone: + 46- 40- 611 -9923, Tuesdays between 7 – 9 pm (CET) * FPE-NE Sweden, Box 49029 S – 400 64 Gothenburg. Phone: + 46-8-34-1316 * Phi Pi Epsilon – Sverige, Box 529, S – 101 30 Stockholm

—————————————————————————-

Switzerland

* Kontakforum Femme Travestie, Postfach 6788, CH-8023 Zurich * TS-Selbsthilfe Gruppe (TS-selfhelp group), Postfach 92, CH-9008 St. Gallen

—————————————————————————-

United Kingdom

* England o Beaumont Society, Old Gloucester St., London WC1n-3XX. Phone: +44 -1582-41-2220. Partners Group — Phones: +44-1223-441246 (South); 44-1203-717528 (Central & Wales) o Beaumont Trust, BM Charity, London WC1N 3XX o Friends Merseyside, 36 Bolton St., Liverpool, L3-5LX. Phone: +44-151-709-3181, Fridays 7.30 – 9 pm (GMT) o FTM Network [also Press for Change], BM Network, London WC1N 3XX. Phone: +44 -161-432-1915 (8pm to 10.30 pm Wednesdays G.M.T.), or email to: s.t.whittle@mmu.ac.uk o The Gender Trust, BM Gentrust, London WC1N 3XX. Phone: +44 -1305-269222, before 10 pm (GMT) o International Gender Transient Affinity, Box 2, 1 Banks Bldg., School Green Rd., Freshwater, Isle of Wight, P040-9AJ o Mermaids (a group for children and teenagers with gender dysphoria and their families.) BM Mermaids, London WC1N 3XX o Northern Concord, PO Box 258, Manchester M60-1LN. Phone: +44-161-236-1311 o OUSU Transgender Group, Oxford University Student Union, Little Clarendon Street, Oxford Tel. +44 1865 270777 o Phoenix Centre, 12 Barnsbury Rd., Islington, N1-1NB o Rose’s Club, 29 Roundel St,. Sheffield, S9-3LE. Phone: +44-114-261-9444, or email to: roses@argonet.co.uk o The Seahorse Society, BM Seahorse, PO Box 6093, London WC1N 3XX o TransEssex, PO Box 3, Basildon, Essex, SS14-1PT. Phone: +44-12-68-58-3761, Wed./ Sun. eves 7 – 10 pm. o Trans-Net, c/o R. Floyd, 3 St Augustines Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 2SF. Info services. Phone: & Fax: +44-1246-275799, or email to: 100764.27@compuserve.com (R. Floyd) o TV Self Help Group (TSHG), Box 3281, London E1 6JG. Phone: 24-hour helpline +44-171-289-5240 * N. Ireland o Belfast Butterfly Club, PO Box 210, BT1-1BG Belfast. Phone: +44 – 585 – 430408. * Scotland o Crosslynx c/o SGLS, PO Box 38, Glasgow, G2-2QF. Phone: +44 – 141 – 221 8372 o Trans-Trap, c/o Miss Julie Bradshaw, 30/1 Halmyre Street, Edinburgh EH6 8QD. Phone: +44- 131-555-6416 * Wales o South Wales TV/TS Group, c/o Martina Rees, 56a Kinross Ct, Ridgeway Rd., Llan-Romney, Cardiff, VF3-9AE

———————————————————-

copyright1996 by 3-D Communications, Inc. & IFGE

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation =20 P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 =20 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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Original Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:30:22 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

Media Watch

The June 1996 British Elle has a profusely illustrate article by Graham Uden about Bangkok’s Kathoeys. The article, unsurprisingly, focuses on Kathoeys who work as prostitutes, unsurprisingly, since most Kathoeys are sex workers, and since those who sex workers are the most visible.

There is also, I understand, a tg-related article in the current issue of Utne Reader. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 2 July C

Original Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:30:22 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com>

Media Watch

The June 1996 British Elle has a profusely illustrate article by Graham Uden about Bangkok’s Kathoeys. The article, unsurprisingly, focuses on Kathoeys who work as prostitutes, unsurprisingly, since most Kathoeys are sex workers, and since those who sex workers are the most visible.

There is also, I understand, a tg-related article in the current issue of Utne Reader. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

1996, 5 July

Original Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 23:04:33 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

5 July, 1996

GLCF WENDY CHOSEN AS AOL “VIRTUALEADER’S CHOICE”, TORCH BEARER

>From a field of 2,000+ remote staffers on America Online, and a nominated body of nine, Transgender Community Forum coordinator “GLCF Wendy” (aka Gwendolyn Ann Smith) was picked as VirtuaLeaders’ Choice, and as a member of the VirtuaLeader community to be honored in AOL’s Virtual Torch area.

Outstanding online Community Leaders are being recognized for their contributions to the AOL Community through the Virtual Torch Relay. Each day one online Community Leader will carry a *Virtual Torch* across AOL.

Just as the Olympic Torch Bearers represent leaders from their home communities, AOL’s Virtual Torch Bearers represent the best from AOL’s online community. Each day another community leader is featured at Keyword: VIRTUAL TORCH with a colorful online profile, and at 8:00 PM that day’s honoree meets AOL’s members in a special presentation in AOL Live. GLCF Wendy will receive her honors on July 8th.

What makes GLCF Wendy’s honor unique that it was chose from such a large body of AOL staffers, and on an on-line service that up until mid-1994 did not allow transgender discussion.By receiving this honor, she not only represents the transgender community, but the entire body of America Online volunteer remote staffers.

In the Nominating speech, the following was said of GLCF Wendy:

“GLCF Wendy’s committment to making the GLCF’s Transgender Community Forum the best it can be is second to none.

There isn’t a thing here on AOL that Gwen doesn’t know about <g>. She keeps current on everything that’s going on in every area and with the continual growth of AOL that amazes me. Wendy’s committment to excellence makes her a stellar selection for VirtuaLeaders’ Choice.”

In a statement given to members of the TCF Mailing List, GLCF Wendy said: “It amazes and awes me that — in the space of three short years — I have been able to help a company the size of AOL move from a complete refusal to allow transgender discussions on their system… (to) seeing an openly transgender AOL staffer get publicly recognized for her efforts to bring awareness of TG issues “out into the light.””

A biography and profile (and a picture that they haven’t put on-line yet) are currently available at keyword VIRTUALTORCH, and (as mentioned above) will be their main screen for the day of the 8th. You do need to use the America Online service to be present.

************************************************* . . . . /\\//\ Gwendolyn Ann Smith *** GLCF Wendy@AOL.com /\\//\ > () < Area Coordinator and Conference Hostess > () < \/()\/ Transgender Community Forum (AOL – Kw: TCF) \/()\/ “I want this to be a harmony of voices” – Lauren D. Wilson TCF Info Page: http://members.aol.com/glcfwendy/tcf/ Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 7 July A

Original Date: Sun, 07 Jul 1996 22:14:57 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com> New Book Title: COUNSELING IN GENDERLAND:A Guide for You and Your Transgendered Client by Niela Miller, MS, LCSW, LMHC. ($29.95 plus $3 shipping and handling to Different Path Press, Box 123, State House, Boston, Ma. 02213) Here is the first guide written for mental health professionals who work with transgendered clients or who would like to do so and lack the background and training in this fascinating field. The book is humanistic, anecdotal and practical in its approach and contains a full resource section, personal histories and creative counseling approaches. To contact author, e mail Niela@world.std.com.

 

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 7 July B

Original Date: Sun, 07 Jul 1996 22:14:53 -0400

Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: Jason Cromwell <titmouse@u.washington.edu> Subject: Labour and sexual diversity – paper call (fwd) ———- Forwarded message ———- Date: Thu, 04 Jul 96 14:25:00 PDT CALL FOR PAPERS:

ORGANIZED LABOUR AND SEXUAL DIVERSITY: A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT

 

Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people throughout the world have become more and more assertive in their demands for equal treatment in a variety of settings, including the workplace. This volume will explore the particular response of organized labour to the issues and concerns raised by sexual minorities relative to such things a non-discrimination policies in hiring and promotion, protection from harassment and violence, same-sex partner coverage for benefits and pensions, and political action.

Authors from around the world are invited to submit abstracts for consideration in this volume titled, “Organized Labour and Sexual Diversity: A Comparative Assessment”, tentatively to be published by Temple University Press. Authors should consider the following points when preparing materials:

a) abstract submission deadline is November 30, 1996. Accepted authors will be required to submit a draft of the complete paper by December 31, 1996. Submissions may be sent by mail, fax, or e-mail. Preferred communication mode is e-mail if available.

b) abstracts should be about 1,000 words; final papers should be between 20 and 30 typed pages.

c) final papers will be published in English, and should be accessible to a wide audience.

d) prospective authors should include their name, affiliation, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address.

e) articles using any combination of the following will be acceptable: surveys, interviews, archival material, personal experience, case studies, and literature reviews.

f) each article should begin by providing a brief overview of organized labour in the country being discussed (size, ideological roots, influence, history, stability, mandate, goals, etc.).

g) key questions to raise for each country include:

-What are the particular issues/concerns that gay and lesbian activists have raised in the country in relation to sexual diversity, and what could organized labour do to address these concerns? -To what degree are these issues/concerns being addressed by organized labour? How exactly are they being addressed (for example, policy development, action within political parties, union activity, collective bargaining activity, educational activity, action on AIDS, etc.) -What factors might account for these trends? -How influential/important is labour in addressing gay/lesbian issues in this country, and what might the future hold?

h) final decisions regarding acceptance and articles will remain with the editor.

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO:

Dr. Gerald Hunt Assistant Professor School of Business and Economics Nipissing University North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7 CANADA

Telephone: 705-474-3450 Fax: 705-474-1947 E-Mail: GERRYH@EINSTEIN.UNIPISSING.CA

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 7 July C

Original Date: Sun, 07 Jul 1996 22:15:01 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

A group of transgender women and men in Alameda, Ca won the two top trophy’s for the July 4th parade. They won the Majors Trophy for best float and then another plaque for the best presentation. This is not a liberal city. In fact three years ago was the first time a single gay person marched in the parade.

They are on the front page of the Alameda paper. A very nice picture of them also. There were over 95 floats in the parade and only several awards given away.

Heather Jean Lamborn heather@creative.net built a six foot high heeled pump as a part of the float. It was her idea to enter the parade. You can ask her for the details.

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 7 July D

To: aegis@mindspring.com (Dallas Denny)

From: hval@usaor.net (Valerie) Subject: UUA Same-Sex Marriage Resoulution Date: 7 July, 1996

This is a resolution of the

RESOLUTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS in support of the right to marry for same-sex couples

BECAUSE the first Principle of Unitarian Universalism is to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person; and BECAUSE marriage is held in honor among the blessings of life; and WHEREAS many states, the Congress, and the President of the United States are acting to void the recognition of same-sex marriages and to deny “full faith and credit” to such marriages formalized in Hawaii or any other state that sanctions them; and WHEREAS the debate about extending legally recognized marriage to same-sex couples has focused on the objections of certain religious communities; and WHEREAS the Unitarian Universalist Association has adopted numerous resolutions over the last twenty-six years supporting equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, including support for Ceremonies of Union between members of the same sex; and WHEREAS the Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association have voted their support for the right to marry for same-sex couples; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association adopts a position of support of legal recognition for marriage between members of the same sex; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association make its position supporting legal marriage between persons of the same sex known by means of press and other public media; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the Unitarian Universalist Association urges its member congregations to take an affirmative position in support of the value of marriage between any two committed persons, whether of the same sex or opposite sexes, and to make their positions known in their home communities.

Presented at UUA GA, Indianapolis, June 1996.

Best wishes,

Valerie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Valerie J. Harvey “For it is surely a lifetime work, this learning to be a woman” (May Sarton) Email: hval@usaor.net; the other mail: PO Box 901, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0901

Original Date: Sun, 07 Jul 1996 22:14:49 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: riki@nyc.pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)

TRANSPEOPLE LEFT BEHIND ON HATE CRIMES AGAIN ============================================

[Washington, DC – July 4, 1996]

President Clinton has signed the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 passed by Congress on June 26, which reauthorizes the Hate Crimes Statistics Act. The HCSA, originally enacted in 1990, mandates FBI collection of data on hate crimes based on “race, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity.”

Despite the fact that the HCSA does not cover transgendered persons, GenderPAC helped a broad coalition of civil rights organizations urge Congress to reauthorize the HCSA after its original mandate expired in 1995.

Limited Coverage —————-

In effect, HCSA will cover genderqueers if, and only if, they can demonstrate the assault on them occurred as a result of their being “perceived” as gay or lesbian. The difficulty of this can be can be gauged by the recent brutal slayings of transpeople like Brandon Teena or Deborah Forte. Even in such horrific cases, local officials have been notoriously reluctant to label them “hate crimes,” while correspondingly eager to blame the victim’s alleged gender “deception” as the cause.

GenderPAC’s Response ——————–

Said Riki Anne Wilchins, GenderPAC’s Executive Director, “In the face of the terrible incidence of trans murders in the past few years, including Brandon Teena (NE), Christian Paige (IL), Deborah Forte (MA), Chanel Picket (MA), Janice Ricks (OH), Harold Draper (NJ), Cameron Tanner (CA), Marsha Johnson (NY), Jessy Santiago (NY) and her sister Peggy Santiago (NY), it is simply unconscionable that people *still* haven’t gotten the message that hate crimes against gender people *must* be tracked.”

Declared Dana Priesing, GenderPAC’s Congressional Advocacy Coordinator who had worked hard for trans-inclusion: “This is a bittersweet event for transgendered people. We’re glad to see the Hate Crimes Statistics Act reauthorized and for our gay, lesbian and bisexual brothers and sisters who are once again covered by the Act. And we’re pleased to have contributed to the reauthorization process.”

“But Senator Mosely-Braun stated on June 27 that reauthorization of HCSA facilitates ‘a better understanding of the magnitude of hate crimes nationwide.’ Reauthorization won’t have that effect for crimes against transfolk, because it doesn’t identify or count them.

“So we’re also frustrated that our coalition partners and elected representatives don’t recognize it’s past time to include transgendered people in HCSA. And we’re outraged by the knowledge more transgendered people will be harassed, attacked and killed because of their gender identities and these crimes will go unrecorded and unrecognized for the hate crimes they are.

“That is why a keystone in GenderPAC’s 1997 Congressional agenda will be to change get coverage within HCSA for all of us in the queer community.”

[END] Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 8 July

Original Date: Mon, 08 Jul 1996 23:33:12 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: GLCFWendy@aol.com

**PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY**

Northern California Transsexual Suffers Civil Rights Violation

On July 6th, a sacramento-area transsexual visited the “Water World” water theme park in Sacremento and got more than she bargained for.

It began as a normal enough day. “Mary”,* her son, a female friend and her daughter decided to escape the summer heat at “Water World”, a water theme park here in Sacramento. While at the park, she tried on and bought (with the assistance of a “Water World” sales clerk) a bikini, and join the fun with every other attendee. “Mary”, though, pre-op is passable, and has had all of her california and other identification changed to reflect the female gender.

At around 4:10 pm she was confronted by three park rangers, one sheriff deputy, and three park employees including the general manager, and was told that there had been a complaint and that I had to leave. The sheriff referred to her as “a guy in drag,” told to leave the park, and accused of lude conduct for using the womens restroom. All these accusations were made in the public eye, and in front of her son and friends.

When the sheriff was told that her California driver’s license states her to be female, his response was “well, we’ll just take you into the restroom and have one of these ladies check you out” and that “whoever issued you your driver’s license didn’t check you out good enough” The lady who lodged the complaint in the first place was asked if “Mary” appeared to be male and female, and her response was ” I don’t know”.

Most individuals involved, including the woman who lodged the complaint, refused to give their names, except for the sheriff. The sheriff did not take any formal statements in this case, including the information of the lady who lodged the complaint.

At the moment we are collecting information on all possible avenues to bring justice in this case — No one deserves to be publicly (and in front of their own child) humilated.

For contact information write to “glcfwendy@aol.com.”

*name chaged to protect identity

==Posted in the Transgender Community Forum on America Online== Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 9 July A

Original Date: Tue, 09 Jul 1996 22:05:53 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: GLCFWendy@aol.com To: aegis@mindspring.com Subject: POV Article, N.Y. Times THE NEW YORK TIMES Tuesday, July 9, 1996 “POV – THE TRANSFORMATION” – LIFE AFTER DRAG By JOHN J. O’CONNOR The world of the drag queen might look glamorous these days. Chic research projects have included Mike Nichols collecting information on the international club circuit for his film “The Birdcage” and Mick Jagger preparing for a transvestite role in his next film, which apparently needs an Estelle Winwood look-alike. But as this “POV” presentation, “The Transformation,” makes abundantly clear, the real world of transvestites is far more complicated and unsettling than the glitzy images being cleverly marketed by RuPaul. The title refers to how Sara, a homeless HIV-positive transvestite, became Ricardo. The film makers, Susana Aikin and Carlos Aparicio, found Sara while making “The Salt Mines,” their portrait of young drag prostitutes living in a Manhattan lot used to store the Department of Sanitation salt for de-icing winter streets. When they later heard that the wistful Sara, who was born in Cuba, had become Ricardo and was marrying a woman in Dallas, they got out their camera again. As Aparicio puts it, “I freaked out.” It turns out that Ricardo was converted by Terry, who devotes his life to “saving” drag queens or, as he calls them, eunuchs. Patrolling the West Side of Manhattan, Terry offers financial assistance and the support of his church congregation in Dallas. In turn, his recruits renounce their homosexuality and agree to join Terry’s church fund-raising efforts. He talks about before-and-after brochures with photos of both Sara and Ricardo, and he exults, “Is that going to blow people away or what?” Warning signals for Ricardo appear early on. Because of his past, he is not allowed to marry in church even after he’s gone through what he calls “born again and all that.” Then his wife, a jolly woman clearly willing to give the situation her best shot (“It’s hard to believe you’re my husband”), concedes that “sex is not in our lives” and the marriage is “probably a little bit of a disappointment.” When Ricardo’s converted friend Hugo, formerly Gina, comes to visit, carefully maintained facades begin to crack. “I know you still have problems with all this,” Hugo says. Ricardo concedes how he “loved immensely” the carnal aspects of his gay past but adds that “I also suffered immensely.” What gradually emerges is the portrait of a lost soul who, after becoming HIV-positive, would do anything to escape dying alone on the streets. And he, or she, is not alone. Ricardo is seen returning twice to New York, the first time with Terry distributing posters offering money to new recruits. “Everybody on the street is going to see the dollar sign,” he says confidently. A salesman at heart, Terry is especially impressed with the “enormously charismatic” Ricardo because “he could sell tennis shoes to a paraplegic.” But Ricardo’s old street friends aren’t buying Terry’s “salvation.” Gigi, just out of prison that morning, toddles off with her Carlos saying: “I refuse to change. How could you repress something so strong?” Giovana, the film’s most spirited character, has been rescued from the street and drug abuse by his sister. She explains: her brother is “not a fake.” “She has been like this since she was a kid,” the sister says, “dressing as a woman. That’s her life.” Accepted by her family, Giovana simply lives as a transvestite without apology. Seen a year later, Ricardo is enfeebled by AIDS. “I’m on the way out,” he says. He has repented for his past life but can’t help adding that “the real truth is, I enjoyed it.” If he had a choice to do it all over again? “I would choose to be a woman.” The film offers no conclusions. Its unusual excursion into murky worlds of self-deception and dizzying gender confusion remains fascinating to the end. A postscript notes: “In memory of Ricardo. 1960-1996.” BROADCAST NOTES: “POV: The Transformation” Tuesday night on PBS (Channel 13, New York, at 10 p.m.) Susana Aikin and Carlos Aparicio, co-producers and co-directors; Ms. Aikin, editor; Aparicio, videographer. For POV: Suzanne Singer, executive producer; Lisa Heller, producer. POV is produced by the American Documentary Inc.; Ellen Schneider, executive director; Marc Weiss, director of special projects; Ward Chamberlin, chief executive officer. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations including KCET/Los Angeles, WGBH/Boston and WNET/New York. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 9 July B

From: Mike Mills <mills@Colorado.EDU> Subject: Rights group slams Atlanta on eve of Games Date: 9 July, 1996 (approximately)

NEW YORK (Reuter) – A scathing human rights report timed for the start of the Atlanta Olympics accuses the state of Georgia of racial discrimination, intolerance of gays and lesbians, undermining freedom of expression and police abuses.

The nongovernmental group Human Rights Watch said its researchers found that state officials and public policies contradicted Georgia state law, U.S. federal law, the U.S. Constitution and international human rights law.

Human Rights Watch, privately-funded and established almost 20 years ago in the United States to monitor and promote observance of human rights accords worldwide, said those responsible for abuses frequently went unpunished.

The organization said it focused on Georgia to illustrate abuses that also occur in many other parts of the United States and because Atlanta had trumpeted its human rights record as a reason for gaining the summer Olympics.

“Just as Georgia embraces the international sporting system, it should uphold the international system for protecting human rights,” Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said in a statement. “The same standards of fair play and justice that we applaud on the playing field should be applied to our streets, homes and prisons.”

Atlanta beat favourite Athens and several other cities to host the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, the Centennial Olympic Games, between July 19 and August 4. It will be the biggest Games ever, with more than 10,000 athletes from 197 nations taking part.

Human Rights Watch cited Atlanta’s application to host the Olympic Games in which it described itself as “for many the modern capital of human rights” and equating itself with the ”justice and equality inherent in fair play.”

The group said the “poor, racial minorities, gays and lesbians, and virtually anyone jailed or imprisoned in the state, might well disagree.”

Its 224-page report “Modern Capital of Human Rights? Abuses in the State of Georgia” charges Atlanta police officers with having used excessive force, including unjustified shootings and severe beatings.

It said Georgia’s death penalty law had led to capital punishment primarily for black people and drug laws were applied disproportionately against black cocaine users even though more whites were cocaine offenders.

In its research of Georgia prisons, Human Rights Watch said state-run jails are overcrowded, women suffer sexual harassment, intimidation and sometimes rape by their guards.

Minors in custody were subjected to “cruel restraints and punishment forbidden by international standards”, it said. It said rehabilitation, one of the goals of juvenile detention, was virtually ignored.

Georgia had an anti-sodomy law that led to hostility and harassment of gays and lesbians and firing by state officials and others, the human rights activists said.

They charged that freedom of expression was undermined by local school boards’ decisions on reading material and state Assembly resolutions regulating the Internet. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 16 July A

Original Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 01:18:28 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: “ita@phoenix.phoenix.net” <ita@mail.phoenix.net> Date: Sat, 13 Jul 1996 09:38:27 +0000 Subject: Help needed in San Diego

 

I am not an attorney but I thought this was great stuff. If anyone on this list can giver her a hand, please contact her directly.

Sarah ***********************************************************************

Subject: Stonewall II in San Diego To: ita@mail.phoenix.net Date sent: Sat, 13 Jul 1996 01:09:47 -0700 (PDT) From: “Cissy Caprice” <cissy@cts.com> Copies to: prfrye@aol.com

Good evening Sarah! Thanks for placing me on It’s Time, America!’s mailing list. I thought I’d let you know what we are working on here in San Diego.

Beginning in May of this year, my paralegal firm, Justice After Dark, has been assisting TransAction, the local TG Poli Action group, in its battle against San Diego’s crossdressing ordinance. Passed in 1966, it forbids dressing in “apparel customarily worn by the opposite sex, with the intent to deceive another person for the purpose of committing an unlawful act.” As you might imagine, the law is primarily enforced against TG sex workers, but by its wording ALL TG ppl are at risk. In other words, if you jaywalk while crossdressed, you’ve technically broken SDMC 56.19.

After three months of California Public Records Act (CPRA) battles between my firm and the Police Department and the City Atty’s office, we obtained documents showing 52 arrests under the ordinance in the last two years alone. My legal team has been joined by Ms. Bridget Wilson, Esq., a local lesbian atty with extensive experience in Constitutional Law and we are now preparing to file suit against the city to overturn the ordinance. I will be a named plaintiff in the action and will hopefully be joined by a variety of other individuals and groups in the area.

However, in order to educate the Court about the situation we will need

outside assistance — and this is where I would like to utilize your “good offices”. Specfically, we will need Amicus Curiae (“Friend of the

Court”) briefs on a variety of issues as well as experts willing to testify via written declarations. I would greatly appreciate it if you would inform your members about our situation — while the litigation is still in the planning stages, we’ll be at trial sooner than anyone would like and the earlier we get our “ducks in line” the greater the probability for success.

Sarah, I remember when I started on this crusade just a few months ago.

At that meeting, I told an 18-year old TG that “this ordinance’s days are numbered.” I’ll never forget the way she looked back at me with hope and faith. It’s in the spirit of that hope and faith that I turn to you.

Hope to hear from you soon — and till then,

“Freedom is never given by the oppressor; it is always demanded by the oppressed.”–Martin Luther King

Cissy Caprice Justice After Dark

P.S. Feel free to give my e-mail address (cissy@crash.cts.com) out. ****************************************************** It’s Time, America! It’s Time, Texas!

Sarah DePalma National Director, It’s Time, America! Chair, It’s Time, Texas! Representing transgenders of all colors and sexual orientations.

“When decorum becomes repression, the only dignity free people have is to speak out.” Abbie Hoffman ****************************************************** Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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–=_pbsmosohhgisbibexnugwjppnsohhqgx Content-type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary

Hi Jennifer here is the wording of the San Diego ordinance that I promised to send to you. It isSan Diego Municipal Code Section 56.19. The wording is as follows:

56.19 – Appearance in Apparel Customarily Worn by the Opposite Sex Prohibited

(a) Purpose and Intent. To protect the public from deceit and improper influence.

(b) No person shall appear in a public place, or in a place open to public view, in apparel customarily worn by the opposite sex, with the intent to deceive another person for the purpose of committting an unlawful act.

That is the wording. It is very brief.

Love,

Boyce

–=_pbsmosohhgisbibexnugwjppnsohhqgx– Original Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 02:24:00 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

Dear Friends,

Please post and circulate:

The following article was sent to the Bay Area Reporter by Vicki Kolakowski at vickykol@ix.netcom.com.

It is her report about the 5th TG Law Conference sponsored by ICTLEP.

It is nice to know what others are saying and writing.

(Note: the actual attendance was over 80. Both Green’s and the p-o-c’s comments are true, but ICTLEP is proud that these workshops were held, plans to continue in both areas next year, and invites other tg events to explore ftm and p-o-c issues. Finally, the very last paragraph refers to the *Proceedings* which we hope you will push you local university libraries to purchase and shelve for the use of all students interested in tg legal issues. Contact ICTLEP at ictlep@aol.com or PO Drawer 35477, Houston 77235-5477, phone 713/777-TGLC (8452).)

Phyllis Randolph Frye, the phyllabuster

PS Thanks, Vickie!

#################### In a message dated 96-07-12 03:32:29 EDT, you write:

>Subj: Re: Transgen ’96 — The Best One Yet >Date: 96-07-12 03:32:29 EDT >From: vickykol@ix.netcom.com (Victoria S. Kolakowski) >To: PRFrye@aol.com >CC: DeeMcKellr@aol.com, ictlep@aol.com, MelindaMW@aol.com > >Dear Phyllis: > >The article I wrote appeared in today’s Bay Area Reporter on pages 14 and >25, along with a photo of Shannon Minter with a caption of the quote in the >article (hey, the guy’s well-known and local!). I will be sending along a >copy in the next day or two. I know that Shannon liked it a lot, and my >partner Cynthia was very pleased with its balanced presentation. They noted >that I am Chair of BATLAW as a trailer at the end. > >The text that I submitted follows. I believe that it pretty much ran with >minor edited for their style (for example, I had to drop mtm, since it >confused them). I apologize if I got anything less than perfectly correct, >and I’m sorry that Jamison was unhappy, but I had to include it. > >I enjoyed myself immensely, and am very glad that I came. Thank you so very >much for supporting me. > >Vicky > >_______________________________________________ > >FIFTH INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER LAW CONFERENCE HELD IN HOUSTON >by Vicky Kolakowski > > More than 55 transgendered, and supportive non-transgendered, attorneys and >activists from three continents gathered in Houston Texas for the annual >Transgen legal conference, sponsored by the International Conference on >Transgender Law and Employment Policy, Inc. (ICTLEP). This year’s event was >the largest and most diverse in the conference’s five year history. > > Over a half-dozen of the conference’s attendees were from the Bay Area, >including a number of the leaders of the Bay Area Transgender Law >Association and Workshops (BATLAW), which gave a report at the conference on >organizing local transgender legal organizations. BATLAW is the first and >only such local transgender legal organization in the world. > > In addition to the usual reports on the development of the law in subjects >relevant to transgender people, such as insurance law, medical law, and >international law, the conference for the first time held specific panel >discussions on issues regarding female-to-male (ftm) transgendered people, >transgendered people of color, and non-transsexual members of the >transgender community. > > Shannon Minter, an ftm and a staff attorney for the National Center for >Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, presented a moving report on legal issues >regarding abusive psychiatric treatment of transgendered minors, as well as >gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, under the diagnosis of “Gender Identity >Disorder.” Minter also spoke on other issues related to health care for >transgendered people. > > Lesbian feminist law professors Mary Coombs of the University of Miami, and >Elvia Arriola, of the University of Texas at Austin presented the opening >and closing plenary speeches, respectively, focusing on issues regarding the >connection between lesbian feminist analysis of gender and that of >transgendered theorists about sex and gender. Each argued that issues of >gender, sex and sexuality are connected, and should be addressed by lesbian >feminists and transgendered people alike. > > “Just as Adrienne Rich noted the compulsory nature of heterosexuality,” >argued Coombs, “transgendered people have experienced the compulsory nature >of gender. Those compulsory rules are intertwined, as dykes and effeminate >men know, and all our communities — gay, lesbians, feminists, transsexuals >and other transgendered people have a common struggle to free ourselves from >these compulsions.” > > Even the conference’s social events had a political edge. The conference’s >annual dinner recognized British law professor Stephen Whittle, an ftm >attorney and activist, as well as transgender lobbyists Sarah DePalma of >Texas and Jessica Xavier of Maryland, who head local affiliates of the >national transgender political group It’s Time America! In addition to the >annual dinner, a ritual declaring a Declaration of Gender Liberty was held >on July 4th during Houston’s annual fireworks display. > > “This year’s conference was an outstanding success” exclaimed Texas >attorney Phyllis Randolph Frye, founder and executive director of ICTLEP. >”Our workshops on the concerns and needs of people of color and ts men (ftm) >in the transgender community resulted in unprecedented >participation in numbers and content by people of color and men. I >certainly also learned things I didn’t know before, especially about the >legal needs of the non-transsexuals, that is the heterosexual crossdressers >and the gay drag, even though I’ve been providing advocacy or legal services >and education in the transgender community for over two decades.” > > Minter echoed Frye’s enthusiasm, advocating a vision of solidarity of the >diverse communities both inside and outside of the transgender community by >moving toward full inclusion within the transgender community. “I was very >happy to see this vision being made real at the conference through the >inclusion of voices that are often silenced and ignored — voices of ftm’s, >people of color, and tg youth” Minter told the Bay Area Reporter. > > However, the response to the attempts at inclusion were not all as positive >as Minter’s. “It’s depressing to think that after five years of transgender >community activism, this three hour session is the first block of time >Transgen has devoted to ftm issues” panelist Jamison Green told the Bay Area >Reporter. Green is president of FTM International, which is based in >Oakland. > > “Even sadder is the fact that we could barely scratch the surface of topics >pertaining to law — we had to spend the majority of the time explaining the >basic reality of ftm existence, so ignorant were the majority of attendees,” >Green noted. > > Similar frustrations were expressed by several of the people of color >attendees who spoke with the Bay Area Reporter. Nevertheless, most >attendees viewed the workshops as a positive first step for a community >which has historically ignored its need for addressing its broad diversity.

> > Green in particular acknowledged that the conference meets a vital need in >the international transgender community for sharing of information and >resources. The collection of conference’s annual extensive Proceedings, a >record of the meeting which ICTLEP publishes and markets, is recognized as >the most comprehensive collection of resources on legal issues related to >the transgender community. > > >

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 16 July B

Original Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 01:18:21 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: “ita@phoenix.phoenix.net” <ita@mail.phoenix.net> Date: Sat, 13 Jul 1996 09:32:55 +0000 Subject: An article from Louisiana

I received this today from Nancy Sharp in Louisiana. I hope you also find it interesting.

Sarah ******************************************************************** From: StressGone@aol.com Date sent: Sat, 13 Jul 1996 00:41:46 -0400 To: ita@mail.phoenix.net Subject: Fwd: Defense of Marriage Act

Sarah,

I sent this to the local G & L paper. It is intended to educate them about the natural variablity of sexuality and gender by using issues brought to light by DOMA as a” vehicle” to get the message out. ITA may like it, hate it, disagree with it or whatever. In any case, if you view any of the message as being worthwhile, you are free to edit, revise, improve, etc. upon it and work it into a better, more improved form. I am going to change the last sentence to be :” real people” instead of” fellow travelers in the theme park of life.” Other chapters may use it under their own name.

I know it does nothing to clarify issues about transgendered and intersexed people. All it does is increase public awareness that the situation exists and opens the door to further educational efforts.

Nancy ——————— Forwarded message: Subj: Defense of Marriage Act Date: 96-07-13 00:05:38 EDT From: StressGone To: kyle_scafide@eor.com CC: StressGone

The Defense of Marriage Act May Destroy Millions of Existing Marriages

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) could potentially nullify or prevent millions of supposedly heterosexual marriages. Why? Because the legislation would grant official recognition only to marriages between a “man” and a “woman”. Today there is no legal definition for “man” or “woman”. It will be extremely interesting to see how our legislators and courts arrive at the legal specifications for defining what constitutes a “man” or “woman”. Whatever the definition, many individuals will not meet the legal or medical definition of being a ” man” or a “woman”. To make matters worse, most of these individuals will not be aware that they are not legally a “man” or a “woman”. Furthermore, the exercise of arriving at these definitions will open a large “pandoras box”. This issue goes beyond extremely oversimplified concepts that there are definitions which would define a “man” and a “woman” without acknowledging that there are biological minorities who will end up being without any legal status because they were born “non-man” or “non-woman”. What will happen to these “non- people”? Today they are loosely considered to be of one gender or the other, however, this is possible because very stringent specifications have not been developed. They live happy productive lives in their assumed and, in some cases, assigned gender.

Between 3 million and 10 million Americans were neither male nor female at birth. Additionally, as adults they may be genetically of the opposite gender from that which they and their parents believe them to be.

Jamie Lee Curtis is one individual in a heterosexual marriage which could be affected by the passage of DOMA. I will add that she very couragiously revealed her status and thus opened the doors to educating the public about intersexuality. Realize she did this without having an organized support system or ” community” to support her. Reportedly, she was assigned to be female at birth, is psychologically well adjusted as a female, is a partner in a heterosexual marriage and has adopted children. Your neighbor, the person sitting next to you at church, or possibly even your legislator could have been born in similar circumstances and choses not to publically disclose this. Children are born with many physical defects and do not focus on the past defect as they develop; therefore, these differences are only of importance to others. They are “normal” because society has conferred upon them, either intentionally or unintentially, the ability to live “normal” lives.

The current legislation bases marriage on gender and not sex. There are important distinctions between male and man and female and woman. The difficulty in determining a clear -cut specification for gender arises because there are at least three ways to define it. As we learn more ,other definitions arise. Two ways are biological and one is cultural.

The first biological definition defines gender in terms of chromosomes. The second defines gender in terms of male or female genitalia. Third is a cultural definition; males are people who look and act “male”, females are people who look and act “female”.

There is a continuum between someone being 100 percent male and 100 percent female with many possiblities in between. When we polarize sexes and genders into two categories, we ignore biology and common sense. Unfortunately, public ignorance affects the lives of people who biologically or culturally do not “fit” their stringent,narrow,and misguided concepts.

Legislation based upon “assumed” natural truths and moral obligations is always dangerous and hurtful to the minorities who defy, by their existence, the “natural truths”. Those who choose to discriminate against these minority groups on the grounds of their “rightousness” could benefit from education. Historically, many people have been oppressed because laws and social institutions have been built upon “natural truths” which are eventually disproved.

The defense of Marriage Act is touted as protecting marriage; however, it is nothing more that a mean-spirited ploy to create an election issue using the public fears and misconceptions about gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. The issue is not about protecting heterosexual marriage as an American instition; it is about using hatred to get votes. While it targets gays ,lesbians, and bisexuals, it will hurt many Americans in unintended and possibly far-reaching ways.

I will also point out that legal same sex marriages exist in the U.S today! A few transsexual individuals entered into legal marriage contracts and have had fulfilling marriages and have had children. The love relationship was so strong and so meaningful that they chose not to dissolve the marriage while one partner legally became reassigned to the other sex. Hence, you have a legal marriage between two loving couples who happen to be legally of the same sex. The institution of the family is not treatened by these marriages. These marriages are not immoral.

Sometimes legal issues which appear to affect one minority group affects others.In this case, we have a bill that would affect straights, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals. It would do the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community a service to increase their awareness of common issues that affect other minority groups.

Maybe, we can strive for a world without hate: A world in which the value of a person is not determined by biological factors beyond their control. As June Jordan has said,” There is difference and there is power. And who holds the power decides the meaning of the difference.” While gays , lesbians, and bisexuals are attacked, vilified , and ostracized by people who ” do not understand” homosexuality, I have witnessed members of these very groups attack, vilify, and ostrasize others. In some cases, those attacked were transsexual, transgendered, or possibly intersexed people because they are not “understood” by some gays and lesbians. We can begin by understanding that they are human and possibly should be extended human rights. It’s a concern to me when I see members of the community using their power to define the meaning of other peoples lives. Politics based upon internal “identitity” issues leads to the many separatist movements. Instead of focusing on the issues which make us all human, these separatist movements lead us to drive artificial wedges between humans .It does not allow us to view each other as we truly are: fellow travelers in in the big theme park of life.

Nancy Sharp

 

 

****************************************************** It’s Time, America! It’s Time, Texas!

Sarah DePalma National Director, It’s Time, America! Chair, It’s Time, Texas! Representing transgenders of all colors and sexual orientations.

“When decorum becomes repression, the only dignity free people have is to speak out.” Abbie Hoffman ****************************************************** Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 16 July C

Original Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 01:18:33 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

I’d like to thank Gennefer Grant for pointing out to us that San Diego has a crossdressing ordinance.

— Dallas From: Lambdalp@AOL.COM Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 13:42:43 -0400 To: jennefer.Grant@tube3.com Subject: San Diego Cross Dresser Law Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary=”=_pbsmosohhgisbibexnugwjppnsohhqgx” X-UIDL: 46745dccf119b6cf7846733ff740bb41 Status: U

–=_pbsmosohhgisbibexnugwjppnsohhqgx Content-type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary

Hi Jennifer here is the wording of the San Diego ordinance that I promised to send to you. It isSan Diego Municipal Code Section 56.19. The wording is as follows:

56.19 – Appearance in Apparel Customarily Worn by the Opposite Sex Prohibited

(a) Purpose and Intent. To protect the public from deceit and improper influence.

(b) No person shall appear in a public place, or in a place open to public view, in apparel customarily worn by the opposite sex, with the intent to deceive another person for the purpose of committting an unlawful act.

That is the wording. It is very brief.

Love,

Boyce Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 16 July D

Original Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 01:18:28 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: “ita@phoenix.phoenix.net” <ita@mail.phoenix.net> Date: Sat, 13 Jul 1996 09:38:27 +0000 Subject: Help needed in San Diego

 

I am not an attorney but I thought this was great stuff. If anyone on this list can giver her a hand, please contact her directly.

Sarah ***********************************************************************

Subject: Stonewall II in San Diego To: ita@mail.phoenix.net Date sent: Sat, 13 Jul 1996 01:09:47 -0700 (PDT) From: “Cissy Caprice” <cissy@cts.com> Copies to: prfrye@aol.com

Good evening Sarah! Thanks for placing me on It’s Time, America!’s mailing list. I thought I’d let you know what we are working on here in San Diego.

Beginning in May of this year, my paralegal firm, Justice After Dark, has been assisting TransAction, the local TG Poli Action group, in its battle against San Diego’s crossdressing ordinance. Passed in 1966, it forbids dressing in “apparel customarily worn by the opposite sex, with the intent to deceive another person for the purpose of committing an unlawful act.” As you might imagine, the law is primarily enforced against TG sex workers, but by its wording ALL TG ppl are at risk. In other words, if you jaywalk while crossdressed, you’ve technically broken SDMC 56.19.

After three months of California Public Records Act (CPRA) battles between my firm and the Police Department and the City Atty’s office, we obtained documents showing 52 arrests under the ordinance in the last two years alone. My legal team has been joined by Ms. Bridget Wilson, Esq., a local lesbian atty with extensive experience in Constitutional Law and we are now preparing to file suit against the city to overturn the ordinance. I will be a named plaintiff in the action and will hopefully be joined by a variety of other individuals and groups in the area.

However, in order to educate the Court about the situation we will need

outside assistance — and this is where I would like to utilize your “good offices”. Specfically, we will need Amicus Curiae (“Friend of the

Court”) briefs on a variety of issues as well as experts willing to testify via written declarations. I would greatly appreciate it if you would inform your members about our situation — while the litigation is still in the planning stages, we’ll be at trial sooner than anyone would like and the earlier we get our “ducks in line” the greater the probability for success.

Sarah, I remember when I started on this crusade just a few months ago.

At that meeting, I told an 18-year old TG that “this ordinance’s days are numbered.” I’ll never forget the way she looked back at me with hope and faith. It’s in the spirit of that hope and faith that I turn to you.

Hope to hear from you soon — and till then,

“Freedom is never given by the oppressor; it is always demanded by the oppressed.”–Martin Luther King

Cissy Caprice Justice After Dark

P.S. Feel free to give my e-mail address (cissy@crash.cts.com) out. ****************************************************** It’s Time, America! It’s Time, Texas!

Sarah DePalma National Director, It’s Time, America! Chair, It’s Time, Texas! Representing transgenders of all colors and sexual orientations.

“When decorum becomes repression, the only dignity free people have is to speak out.” Abbie Hoffman ****************************************************** Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996 17 July A

Original Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 02:23:47 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

 

Today GenderPAC, the 2 year-old organization dedicated to “gender, affectional and racial equality,” announced a National Mobilization Meeting for the entire community. The Meeting will be held October 12-13 in Chicago, IL at a retreat just outside the city. Scheduled for the Meeting are *all* aspects of launching, organizing and sustaining a formal national campaign for gender activism that will finally impact the national agenda and improve our lives, including: Congressional Lobbying Employment Discrimination Child Custody Policies Hate Crimes Fundraising Media Response Public Relations National Research Racism & Gender People Membership National Gender Lobby Day Transgender Kids Medical Coverage & Health Care Legal Defense Fund

Joining in the announcement were longtime community activists Alison Laing, JoAnn Roberts, Abby Zapin, Angela Gardner, Dallas Denny, Jamison Green, Jane Ellen Fairfax, Lynn Walker, Dawn Wilson, Tonye Barreto-Neto, Sarah DePalma, Dana Priesing, Sheila Kirk and Riki Anne Wilchins. (Add your name if we’ve gone ditzy and left it out.)

Interested parties should contact Angela Gardner <bensalem@cpcn.com>or call Renaissance, 610-975-9119. The Mobilization Meeting is free to all comers, all you need is attitude and a dream. [END]

I’ve made a couple of changes from the original. Let me know if I should send it out. I’ve asked Dana to draft a Lobby Days release and send it to the board. Keep an eye open for it and get me feedback asap.

James Green won’t be able to attend the organizing meeting and Yvonne thinks we should have some organizing commitees before the actual meeting. Thoughts? Angela

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996 17 July B

Original Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 02:24:00 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

Dear Friends,

Please post and circulate:

The following article was sent to the Bay Area Reporter by Vicki Kolakowski at vickykol@ix.netcom.com.

It is her report about the 5th TG Law Conference sponsored by ICTLEP.

It is nice to know what others are saying and writing.

(Note: the actual attendance was over 80. Both Green’s and the p-o-c’s comments are true, but ICTLEP is proud that these workshops were held, plans to continue in both areas next year, and invites other tg events to explore ftm and p-o-c issues. Finally, the very last paragraph refers to the *Proceedings* which we hope you will push you local university libraries to purchase and shelve for the use of all students interested in tg legal issues. Contact ICTLEP at ictlep@aol.com or PO Drawer 35477, Houston 77235-5477, phone 713/777-TGLC (8452).)

Phyllis Randolph Frye, the phyllabuster

PS Thanks, Vickie!

#################### In a message dated 96-07-12 03:32:29 EDT, you write:

>Subj: Re: Transgen ’96 — The Best One Yet >Date: 96-07-12 03:32:29 EDT >From: vickykol@ix.netcom.com (Victoria S. Kolakowski) >To: PRFrye@aol.com >CC: DeeMcKellr@aol.com, ictlep@aol.com, MelindaMW@aol.com > >Dear Phyllis: > >The article I wrote appeared in today’s Bay Area Reporter on pages 14 and >25, along with a photo of Shannon Minter with a caption of the quote in the >article (hey, the guy’s well-known and local!). I will be sending along a >copy in the next day or two. I know that Shannon liked it a lot, and my >partner Cynthia was very pleased with its balanced presentation. They noted >that I am Chair of BATLAW as a trailer at the end. > >The text that I submitted follows. I believe that it pretty much ran with >minor edited for their style (for example, I had to drop mtm, since it >confused them). I apologize if I got anything less than perfectly correct, >and I’m sorry that Jamison was unhappy, but I had to include it. > >I enjoyed myself immensely, and am very glad that I came. Thank you so very >much for supporting me. > >Vicky > >_______________________________________________ > >FIFTH INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER LAW CONFERENCE HELD IN HOUSTON >by Vicky Kolakowski > > More than 55 transgendered, and supportive non-transgendered, attorneys and >activists from three continents gathered in Houston Texas for the annual >Transgen legal conference, sponsored by the International Conference on >Transgender Law and Employment Policy, Inc. (ICTLEP). This year’s event was >the largest and most diverse in the conference’s five year history. > > Over a half-dozen of the conference’s attendees were from the Bay Area, >including a number of the leaders of the Bay Area Transgender Law >Association and Workshops (BATLAW), which gave a report at the conference on >organizing local transgender legal organizations. BATLAW is the first and >only such local transgender legal organization in the world. > > In addition to the usual reports on the development of the law in subjects >relevant to transgender people, such as insurance law, medical law, and >international law, the conference for the first time held specific panel >discussions on issues regarding female-to-male (ftm) transgendered people, >transgendered people of color, and non-transsexual members of the >transgender community. > > Shannon Minter, an ftm and a staff attorney for the National Center for >Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, presented a moving report on legal issues >regarding abusive psychiatric treatment of transgendered minors, as well as >gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, under the diagnosis of “Gender Identity >Disorder.” Minter also spoke on other issues related to health care for >transgendered people. > > Lesbian feminist law professors Mary Coombs of the University of Miami, and >Elvia Arriola, of the University of Texas at Austin presented the opening >and closing plenary speeches, respectively, focusing on issues regarding the >connection between lesbian feminist analysis of gender and that of >transgendered theorists about sex and gender. Each argued that issues of >gender, sex and sexuality are connected, and should be addressed by lesbian >feminists and transgendered people alike. > > “Just as Adrienne Rich noted the compulsory nature of heterosexuality,” >argued Coombs, “transgendered people have experienced the compulsory nature >of gender. Those compulsory rules are intertwined, as dykes and effeminate >men know, and all our communities — gay, lesbians, feminists, transsexuals >and other transgendered people have a common struggle to free ourselves from >these compulsions.” > > Even the conference’s social events had a political edge. The conference’s >annual dinner recognized British law professor Stephen Whittle, an ftm >attorney and activist, as well as transgender lobbyists Sarah DePalma of >Texas and Jessica Xavier of Maryland, who head local affiliates of the >national transgender political group It’s Time America! In addition to the >annual dinner, a ritual declaring a Declaration of Gender Liberty was held >on July 4th during Houston’s annual fireworks display. > > “This year’s conference was an outstanding success” exclaimed Texas >attorney Phyllis Randolph Frye, founder and executive director of ICTLEP. >”Our workshops on the concerns and needs of people of color and ts men (ftm) >in the transgender community resulted in unprecedented >participation in numbers and content by people of color and men. I >certainly also learned things I didn’t know before, especially about the >legal needs of the non-transsexuals, that is the heterosexual crossdressers >and the gay drag, even though I’ve been providing advocacy or legal services >and education in the transgender community for over two decades.” > > Minter echoed Frye’s enthusiasm, advocating a vision of solidarity of the >diverse communities both inside and outside of the transgender community by >moving toward full inclusion within the transgender community. “I was very >happy to see this vision being made real at the conference through the >inclusion of voices that are often silenced and ignored — voices of ftm’s, >people of color, and tg youth” Minter told the Bay Area Reporter. > > However, the response to the attempts at inclusion were not all as positive >as Minter’s. “It’s depressing to think that after five years of transgender >community activism, this three hour session is the first block of time >Transgen has devoted to ftm issues” panelist Jamison Green told the Bay Area >Reporter. Green is president of FTM International, which is based in >Oakland. > > “Even sadder is the fact that we could barely scratch the surface of topics >pertaining to law — we had to spend the majority of the time explaining the >basic reality of ftm existence, so ignorant were the majority of attendees,” >Green noted. > > Similar frustrations were expressed by several of the people of color >attendees who spoke with the Bay Area Reporter. Nevertheless, most >attendees viewed the workshops as a positive first step for a community >which has historically ignored its need for addressing its broad diversity.

> > Green in particular acknowledged that the conference meets a vital need in >the international transgender community for sharing of information and >resources. The collection of conference’s annual extensive Proceedings, a >record of the meeting which ICTLEP publishes and markets, is recognized as >the most comprehensive collection of resources on legal issues related to >the transgender community. > > >

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 18 July A

Original Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 01:22:26 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — REDISTRIBUTE WIDELY VIA GENDER NEWS CHANNELS

CONTACT: Valerie Lambert Confluence Publications confluence@savina.com

CONFLUENCE PUBLICATIONS ANNOUNCES IMPROVED TRANSSEXUAL HORMONE THERAPY INFORMATION

MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA — July 10, 1996 — The world’s most complete and popular source of transsexual hormone therapy information just got better.

The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): Hormone Therapy for Transsexuals document, a distillation of hundreds of anecdotal and medical articles, has been dramatically improved for the first time in over two years. There are now separate F2M and M2F versions for improved readability, comparisons of competing treatment philosophies, justified ranking of drugs, updated drug entries, wholesale pricing data, endogenous hormone level data, an online book nook (as an Amazon Books associate), links to other technical hormone web pages, and various other updates.

The new document sports tables for web browsers that appreciate tables, and ascii tables for other web browsers and ftp. The correct format is selected automatically by the smart Savina Communications web service when the browser connects.

There is also a clarified redistribution policy stipulating that old public virtual copies must be removed, or updated with the new version at least once every month to be sure all readers have the latest information.

Finally, there is opportunity to place sponser advertizement billboards to help offset research and publishing costs. The previous version of the hormone document has already received more than 50,000 hits from over 25,000 domains (excluding polite mapping robots) since the beginning of 1996.

The web version is now at http://www.savina.com/confluence/hormone; the flat file is at ftp://ftp.savina.com/users/confluence/hormone. Please update your links. This document has grown too large to be published on USENET news, but monthly notices will be posted to news:soc.support.transgendered and news:alt.transgendered specifying the web and ftp locations.

—– end Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996 18 July B

Original Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 01:20:12 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

Holcomb, T. (1996, 16 July). Groundbreaker for ALTA: Group clears player who had sex change. Atlanta Journal/Constitution, D3. Erin Swenson, a transsexual who last year failed to persuade the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta to recognize her as a clergy member, is now having trouble winning acceptance on the tennis court in a league for women.

The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association ruled Monday to allow Swenson to play in tonight’s Senior League city finals at DeKalb Tennis Center as a member of her women’s team from Embry Hills Club in Chamblee, rejecting an appeal submitted Friday by a team Embry Hills defeated in last Thursday’s playoff semifinals.

The protesting team, Hope Hollow of Loganville, contended that Swenson is a man and asked ALTA to declare her ineligible and to have the playoff replayed. Included in the protest was a copy of a Journal/Constitution story of Sept. 2, 1995, that profiled Swenson, a former local Presbyterian minister, and her decision last year to undergo hormonal treatment and sex-reassignment surgery. The surgical procedure was completed last March.

ALTA president Scott Vinson said he contacted Swenson by phone Monday and asked if she had completed the surgery and if she had ad river’s license that indicated she was female. Given a yes on both counts, ALTA officials concluded that a person the State of Georgia recognizes as a woman is eligible for its women’s leagues.

“I’m very disappointed,” said Elaine Bratcher, the captain of the Hope Hollow Team. “It’s not a personal thing at all. We’re senior women, and a lot of people in our league play the senior women’s level exclusively because the level of pace is slower and they don’t like the pace of mixed doubles.”

Embry Hills captain Marge Davis declined comment.

Swenson, 48, says she’s not surprised ALTA supported her eligibility, “considering physically and legally I’m a female,” but admits she’s disappointed the complaint was made.

“I’d really like to say I’m so completely healthy that I can go on and not let it bother me,” said Swenson, who was unsure she could play in tonight’s final due to an illness in the family. “I really love my team and feel a lot of regret that it may damage their experience of the season.”

Swenson, who had never played a league or tournament match before joining her current team this spring, won two of her four regular-season doubles matches and both playoff contests while playing at the lower end of the lineup. “I’m probably one of the worst players on the team, so it’s really kind of funny,” she ———————————————————————— said. Her team plays at B-3, the seventh highest of eight flights in ALTA’s league for 45-and-over women.

Though this was a first for ALTA, the eligibility of transsexuals in women’s tennis had a precedent in the case of Dr. Ren=E9e Richards, who was excluded from the 1976 U.S. Open because the U.S. Tennis Association required women to pass a chromosome test to play the Grand Slam event. Richards, an eye surgeon named Richard Raskin before her sex-change surgery in 1975, filed suit and won, and she played the 1977 U.S. open at age 43 under order of the New York Supreme Court.

“We all live in such rigid confines of male and female, like there’s a great divide that separates us,” Swenson said. “Men who are feminine and women who are masculine suffer because of it. I’m really sorry that this is an issue in the date and time.”

Ordained in 1973, Swenson holds a doctorate in pastoral counseling from Columbia Pacific University and two master’s degrees from Columbia Theological Seminary. Last summer, she won the support of the local Committee on Ministry to have her clergy status recognized, but the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta rejected the committee’s recommendation.

Swenson currently is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in gender-identity issues.

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

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1996, 22 July A

Original Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 00:16:19 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

The following items appeared in Southern Voice, 18 July, 1996

Transvestites Kept Off Thailand Team

Members of Thailand’s top all-transvestite volleyball team are claiming they’ve been kept off the national men’s team because of their sexual orientation rather than lack of skill. The 12 born-male transgenders, who’ve had plastic surgery, born breasts and wear make-up, represent the northern Lampang province. Two weeks ago, the team won the gold medal in men’s volleyball at the national games. “Although we act and look like women, I think we have every right to play on the men’s team since we have not yet changed our sexual organs,” said team coordinator Patphong Srinutham. According to Patphong, when the players went to the recent tryouts for the national men’s team in Bangkok, they were teased by other players. None of the transvestites were picked for the national team. “Winning the gold medal proves that we are second to none for volleyball in the country,” he added, “but it is a real pity that we are never selected to play in the national men’s team.” Officials from the Volleyball Association of Thailand were unavailable for comment.

Australian State Bans Transgendered Discrimination

Last month, the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales, where Sydney is, passed legislation banning discrimination against transgendered people. It also granted transsexuals the right to correct their birth certificates. However, sporting organizations were exempted from the laws, which were championed through the parliament by state Attorney General Jeff Shaw. Sydney will be the site of the Summer Olympics in 2000. “The days of institutionalized bigotry and punishing those who do not adhere to so-called gender norms are over,” said Nadine Stransen of the Transgender Lobby Coalition. “This has taken five hard years of lobbying, so we are feeling ebullient.”

Japan Urged to Legalize Sex Reassignment Surgery

A Japanese medical ethics committee has urged the government to legalize sex-change operations as a justifiable treatment for people uncomfortable with their gender. The committee, at Tokyo’s Saitama Medical College, said legal and other medical experts should encourage Japan to finally lift the ban on this type of surgery. Japan’s Eugenic Protection Action prohibits “senseless” operations to go abroad. The committee stressed that sex-change operations were permitted in most Western countries, Taiwan, and South Korea. >From the Dish column: The Lady Chablis Fries Chicken

And not a minute too soon, Georgia’s sweetest peach, The Lady Chablis, has a new book about her life hitting the streets this month. The tome, entitled “Hiding My Candy,” features Chablis’ long struggle from poor little drag queen dancing at Club One in Savannah, Georgia, to world-famous star of the must-read and still best-selling book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” by John Berendt. Chablis’ book features vivid photos of “The Doll,” including a fabulous photo of Chablis glamorously frying chicken that opens the recipe section. Yes, it’s a tell-all and a cook book! Dish’s favorite Chablis story comes from Columbia, SC, where someone asked “The Bitch” if she at pussy. To which Chablis replied, Girl, I don’t even know how to cook it!”

>From the Dish column: Goin’ to the Chapel?

The drama continues surrounding the would-be nuptials of local drag diva Kitty Litter and her partner Frank as orchestrated by the morning bets on Atlanta’s 99X radio. After MARTA refused to let the show marry Kitty and Frank at one of its stations, both Tower Place (Buckhead’s neon atrocity) and our own Ansley Mall (gasp!) similarly have declined. Tower Place even threatened to bring out rent-a-storm troopers to break up the show– to which former convict and groom Frank said, “Ok, I’ll bring my gun.” The Ritz-Carlton downtown has offered the couple a honeymoon suite, but at press time, no ceremony venue was available. Meanwhile, rednecks call in to say how sickened they are by a gay wedding, man. All Dish can say is “Ansley Mall, what ARE you thinking?” Do you think we all WANT to shop at Woolworth’s and Radio Shack? That concrete strip could be a ghost mall if y’all choose to slap the hand that hands your tenants money. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 22 July B

Original Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 00:16:19 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

The following items appeared in Southern Voice, 18 July, 1996

Transvestites Kept Off Thailand Team

Members of Thailand’s top all-transvestite volleyball team are claiming they’ve been kept off the national men’s team because of their sexual orientation rather than lack of skill. The 12 born-male transgenders, who’ve had plastic surgery, born breasts and wear make-up, represent the northern Lampang province. Two weeks ago, the team won the gold medal in men’s volleyball at the national games. “Although we act and look like women, I think we have every right to play on the men’s team since we have not yet changed our sexual organs,” said team coordinator Patphong Srinutham. According to Patphong, when the players went to the recent tryouts for the national men’s team in Bangkok, they were teased by other players. None of the transvestites were picked for the national team. “Winning the gold medal proves that we are second to none for volleyball in the country,” he added, “but it is a real pity that we are never selected to play in the national men’s team.” Officials from the Volleyball Association of Thailand were unavailable for comment.

Australian State Bans Transgendered Discrimination

Last month, the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales, where Sydney is, passed legislation banning discrimination against transgendered people. It also granted transsexuals the right to correct their birth certificates. However, sporting organizations were exempted from the laws, which were championed through the parliament by state Attorney General Jeff Shaw. Sydney will be the site of the Summer Olympics in 2000. “The days of institutionalized bigotry and punishing those who do not adhere to so-called gender norms are over,” said Nadine Stransen of the Transgender Lobby Coalition. “This has taken five hard years of lobbying, so we are feeling ebullient.”

Japan Urged to Legalize Sex Reassignment Surgery

A Japanese medical ethics committee has urged the government to legalize sex-change operations as a justifiable treatment for people uncomfortable with their gender. The committee, at Tokyo’s Saitama Medical College, said legal and other medical experts should encourage Japan to finally lift the ban on this type of surgery. Japan’s Eugenic Protection Action prohibits “senseless” operations to go abroad. The committee stressed that sex-change operations were permitted in most Western countries, Taiwan, and South Korea. >From the Dish column: The Lady Chablis Fries Chicken

And not a minute too soon, Georgia’s sweetest peach, The Lady Chablis, has a new book about her life hitting the streets this month. The tome, entitled “Hiding My Candy,” features Chablis’ long struggle from poor little drag queen dancing at Club One in Savannah, Georgia, to world-famous star of the must-read and still best-selling book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” by John Berendt. Chablis’ book features vivid photos of “The Doll,” including a fabulous photo of Chablis glamorously frying chicken that opens the recipe section. Yes, it’s a tell-all and a cook book! Dish’s favorite Chablis story comes from Columbia, SC, where someone asked “The Bitch” if she at pussy. To which Chablis replied, Girl, I don’t even know how to cook it!”

>From the Dish column: Goin’ to the Chapel?

The drama continues surrounding the would-be nuptials of local drag diva Kitty Litter and her partner Frank as orchestrated by the morning bets on Atlanta’s 99X radio. After MARTA refused to let the show marry Kitty and Frank at one of its stations, both Tower Place (Buckhead’s neon atrocity) and our own Ansley Mall (gasp!) similarly have declined. Tower Place even threatened to bring out rent-a-storm troopers to break up the show– to which former convict and groom Frank said, “Ok, I’ll bring my gun.” The Ritz-Carlton downtown has offered the couple a honeymoon suite, but at press time, no ceremony venue was available. Meanwhile, rednecks call in to say how sickened they are by a gay wedding, man. All Dish can say is “Ansley Mall, what ARE you thinking?” Do you think we all WANT to shop at Woolworth’s and Radio Shack? That concrete strip could be a ghost mall if y’all choose to slap the hand that hands your tenants money. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 22 July C

Original Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 00:16:41 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — REDISTRIBUTE WIDELY VIA GENDER NEWS CHANNELS

CONTACT: Valerie Lambert Confluence Publications confluence@savina.com

CONFLUENCE PUBLICATIONS ANNOUNCES IMPROVED TRANSSEXUAL HORMONE THERAPY INFORMATION

MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA — July 10, 1996 — The world’s most complete and popular source of transsexual hormone therapy information just got better.

The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): Hormone Therapy for Transsexuals document, a distillation of hundreds of anecdotal and medical articles, has been dramatically improved for the first time in over two years. There are now separate F2M and M2F versions for improved readability, comparisons of competing treatment philosophies, justified ranking of drugs, updated drug entries, wholesale pricing data, endogenous hormone level data, an online book nook (as an Amazon Books associate), links to other technical hormone web pages, and various other updates.

The new document sports tables for web browsers that appreciate tables, and ascii tables for other web browsers and ftp. The correct format is selected automatically by the smart Savina Communications web service when the browser connects.

There is also a clarified redistribution policy stipulating that old public virtual copies must be removed, or updated with the new version at least once every two months to be sure all readers have the latest information.

Finally, there is opportunity to place sponser advertizement billboards to help offset research and publishing costs. The previous version of the hormone document has already received more than 50,000 hits from over 25,000 domains (excluding polite mapping robots) since the beginning of 1996.

The web version is now at http://www.savina.com/confluence/hormone; the flat file is at ftp://ftp.savina.com/users/confluence/hormone. Please update your links. This document has grown too large to be published on USENET news, but monthly notices will be posted to news:soc.support.transgendered and news:alt.transgendered specifying the web and ftp locations.

—– end Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July A

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 11:52:07 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: alice webb <75377.1141@CompuServe.COM> To: Dallas Denny <aegis@mindspring.com> Subject: Mailing to HBIGDA members

Dear Dallas,

I am mailing out this letter to the [HBIGDA] members tomorrow. Included in the mailing is your letter, and also letters from Leah Schaefer, Randi Ettner, Tina Wheeler, Gianna Israel, Kim Stuart and James Green.

July17, 1996

An Open Letter to the members of HBIGDA from Alice Webb, former Executive Director of the Association, regarding my “resignation.”

Dear Members and Friends:

I am requesting reinstatement as Executive Director of the Harry Benjamin Association. A grave injustice has been done and I want to set the record straight. On February 17, 1996, in London, England, at a meeting room in Charing Cross Hospital, the Board of Directors of the HBIGDA voted to terminate my position as Executive Director of our organization. Doctors Brown and Meyer did not attend that meeting, nor were they given an opportunity to vote on the issue. Since that time, there has been much gossip about my so called “resignation,” which was reported in a letter to the members of the HBIGDA from Dr. Friedemann Pfafflin in March, 1996.

Many letters have been written to the Board of Directors by members of The Association and by individual members of the transgender community and the heads of transgender organizations protesting the action of the Board (I have included copies of some of those letters with this mailing). I feel that the membership as a whole, however, is unaware of the problems that led up to that meeting and what occurred during that meeting.

The reason I am writing this letter now, after all these months, is that the conflict has not been resolved with my forced resignation as the Executive Director. It has continued with the apparent blacklisting of me by Dr. Pfafflin from serving on The Standards of Care Revision Committee. This has happened despite the fact that I was recommended to serve on that committee by Dr. Leah Schaefer, a Board member and the last President of the Board.

I feel this has got to stop somewhere and, therefore, I would like the Board to reconsider their action of February 17 when I was terminated, and ask that I be reinstated as the Executive Director of our Association, rather than the Board hiring another person for that position. I believe that I am the best qualified person to continue to serve in that position. The job description which was sent out is simply a description of the job as I structured it. Before I assumed that position, in October, 1992, there was no structure, no records, no files, no directory and no money in the treasury. All of the work I have done, literally building from scratch and computerizing a new administrative structure and communications network, as well as a viable budget and accounting system, and increasing the membership more than threefold, is now the only tangible thing available to guide anyone else who might take over that job. I even set up the directory that was just sent out and redesigned the stationary. Additionally, I am a clinician, having had a successful psychotherapy and sex therapy practice for many years, and am an expert in the field of gender dysphoria

What follows is a true rendition of what really happened that led to this sad state of affairs. I’m hoping that when you, as a member of The Harry Benjamin Association, understand what really occurred, you will, in fairness and in light of how I improved the organization during my tenure , request the board to rescind their action and reinstate me as the Executive Director of The Association.

On September 22, 1995, I returned from Europe, exhausted from helping with the planning of the XIV Symposium, doing all the typesetting and mailing of the brochures, and the myriad other things that have to be done to put on even a small symposium such as ours. After Irsee, which ended September 10th, I spent another two weeks in Europe, first in Ulm, Germany, and then traveled to two other conferences in Utrecht and Amsterdam, Holland, with Dr. Pfafflin, at his invitation.

During our last day in Amsterdam, he briefly asked me what I thought about publishing a “yearbook” of the Irsee proceedings. I said it sounded fine to me. One week after I returned to the United States, my brother was fatally injured . I contracted an encephalitis-like virus about a week after my brother’s memorial, and I developed neck spasms and very painful headaches which lasted for nearly two months.

It was during this time period (from October of 1995) that Dr. Pfafflin started contacting me and the Board to request their approval to sign a contract with a specific publisher, and to have the Association underwrite the costs of publishing a proceedings “yearbook” to distribute free to our 300 plus members. He proposed that we use the proceeds from the Irsee Symposium; or in the event that there was not sufficient money from that source, that we use money from dues. I asked him, correctly I thought as the Executive Director, for an estimate of the cost of printing and mailing out 300 free copies of this proposed book, and for an accounting of the proceeds from the Symposium. We had not received any figures at all from him concerning the Symposium, which ended September 10, 1995, and I had not been included by him on the bank account he established in Germany for this venture nor did I have any access to money figures during the registration period and after the Symposium.

After I requested an estimate of the book costs and an accounting of the funds from the Symposium, Dr. Pfafflin became angry and wrote to me that he would have to look for another Executive Director. All of these letters he started writing to me about this issue came at a time when my emotional reserves were depleted, and I tried to explain to him that I was trying to cope with some serious medical problems as well. I explained to him about the terrible headaches I was having and that I could only get out of bed for an hour or two during the day. Despite this, he continued to send me what I consider abusive letters stating that I shouldn’t be so suspicious, and that the money was in a safe in the bank. He stated that he was too busy making a living to provide me with any figures, and then he threatened to find my replacement.

While all this correspondence was occurring, I developed hypertension and myocarditis. I felt that I was under such emotional stress caused by Dr. Pfafflin’s letters, that I injudiciously submitted my resignation when I became aware that he was calling a board meeting in Europe just to get me fired. I made an emotional decision because of the stress I was experiencing at a low point in my life that was a tactical mistake on my part. The Board knew that I was physically unable to travel at that time, but they went ahead with the meeting plan.

I had some concern that Dr. Pfafflin, instead of confining the discussion to the costs and symposium proceeds that were legitimate business topics, would discuss very personal matters between the two of us that had no relevance at a business meeting. My concern that this might happen was sufficient that I asked the Board to keep the discussion in the realm of business matters that were in dispute between Dr. Pfafflin and myself. Instead, the entire meeting was a discussion of his version of personal matters that had arisen between him and myself. I had made it clear to the Board members that I had submitted my resignation at a time of great personal stress, that I felt that I was coerced into submitting it, and that I did not want them to accept it at that time. But I was not there to represent my views in person, and Dr. Pfafflin insisted that the Board vote not only to “accept” the ill-advised resignation, but to fire me . Only Dr. Leah Schaefer cared enough and had the personal integrity and courage to tell me what really happened at the meeting.

The Board has never officially asked me for any information or explanation regarding this most unbusinesslike set of circumstances, nor even tried to verify any of the wildly untrue statements that were made about me by Dr. Pfafflin at that meeting. I was, in effect, summarily fired and notified of that decision by telephone that day.

When I finally learned the true nature of the completely false accusations that Dr. Pfafflin had made against me at that meeting, I let various Board members know that I felt I had been slandered, and that I had written documents to prove it. Dr. Pfafflin had accused me of professional misconduct and of sexually harassing him. Those Board members attending, with the exception of Dr. Schaefer, were not willing to challenge Dr. Pfafflin. Rather, they seemed inclined to wash their hands of the matter and none seemed inclined to correct the very unfair act of my termination without even hearing my side of the story. Again, with the exception of Dr. Schaefer, the Board has made no effort to alleviate my confusion and grief over this undemocratic action. I made a tactical error at a time when I was under great physical and emotional distress, but I carry no burden of blame for this situation. I did nothing wrong; but the discrimination continues. I am being blacklisted for important work within the organization for which I am highly qualified and my letters are ignored.

I recently sent a letter to the Board with respect to an erroneous announcement that was sent out regarding 1996 dues (all members are paid up through 1996) and also the need to amend the By-Laws before the dues can be increased; but no one on the Board has responded, even though I followed up with a second letter to the Interim Executive Director.

The work that I did to restructure and expand our Association was ignored when my termination was discussed at that meeting in England. It is difficult for me to understand how a Board that had done nothing but praise me, collectively and individually, for improving the organization and had expressed nothing but respect and admiration of me as a person, could so casually turn its back on me based on very personal and unsubstantiated allegations that had no connection with a business meeting.

I worked very hard to move the organization away from an oligarchy, and turn it into one that was democratic. At all the Board meetings, I raised the issue of using individual members on standing committees in order to obtain more input from the membership, but I was never successful in achieving that goal. I kept the members informed through a quarterly newsletter, and I worked very hard to have an honest and open nominating and voting process that eliminated individual political maneuvering by Board members. A good example: I was deliberately omitted from the ballot in 1989 as a candidate for the Board, even though I had been nominated in person by several members at the Cleveland members’ meeting, including a Board member, Dr. Satterfield, and in follow up written nominations to the Board.

At the 1989 Cleveland Symposium members’ meeting I got up and related what I had been told over the years about the frustration of members concerning the lack of communication from the Board and the Executive Director, and the deliberate exclusion of the members, other than the Board, from participating in planning future goals of the Association. There was a standing ovation. More recently, 1992, European members of HBIGDA formed their own network of providers and began having off year symposiums in Europe and fully planned to secede en masse from The Association, because of the same problem of exclusion. I worked hard to resolve this problem and did, as the European network was disbanded and the off year symposiums were canceled and we gained many new European members and Board members. I am hopeful that this new Board will remember their own complaints about the way things were before I became Executive Director, and which they gave me credit for resolving.

I am once again stating that I wish to be reinstated as the Executive Director of the HBIGDA, rather than have someone else hired for that position. I am a charter member of this organization; I signed the incorporation papers along with Dr. Paul Walker and Dr. Walter Meyer in 1979. I remain strongly committed to the worldwide importance of The Association, and I still believe that our primary mission is to promote The Harry Benjamin Standards of Care and the biennial symposiums. There remain goals that I have had for the continuing reconstruction and modernization of the Association’s administrative branch: revision of the By-Laws, and further stabilization of an administrative office that I established which encouraged people to contact us and receive accurate, respectful and timely answers, regardless of their status.

My health continues to improve, and I have been assured I shall be completely healed in the next few months. I am now quite capable of doing all the work I performed in the past from the office in my home in Sonoma, California, which has been the HBIGDA office for the past two years.

If you wish to communicate your ideas about this matter to the Board, I am including their individual addresses at the end of this document. Recent letters have not been disseminated from the Interim Executive Director’s office to the Board, so it is best if your letters are sent to each individual Board member.

I would very much appreciate hearing any comment you have, either by e-mail, telephone, fax or postal service.

I am appending letters that have been sent to me up to this date. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this rather long letter.

With my sincere best regards,

Alice Webb, LCSW, Ph.D. (c) Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July B

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 11:52:17 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: Mike Mills <mills@Colorado.EDU> Subject: Scalia’s Incivility: This Time, It’s Personal

The Los Angeles Times 19 July 1996

Scalia’s incivility: This time, it’s personal

by David M. O’Brien

When the U.S. Supreme Court ended its term July 1, Justice Antonin Scalia was more vindictive and isolated than ever.

As the court’s most publicly confrontational justice, he repeatedly berates his colleagues. “The court must be living in another world,” as he put it. “Day by day, case by case, it is busy designing a Constitution for a country I do not recognize.”

Disagreements, even occasional lack of civility, on the high court are not new. The anti-Semitic Justice James McReynolds left the conference room whenever Justice Louis Brandeis spoke.

In the 1940s, a quarrel between Justices Hugo Black and Robert Jackson broke open when the latter made public a telegram attacking Black that he had sent to the Senate, because he feared his rival might become chief justice. When Justice William Douglas got angry at Chief Justice Earl Warren, he refused to talk to him for a year.

Still, no justice has matched Scalia’s dogged determination to publicly and personally challenge colleagues’ views at every turn. Certainly, no other current justice shows as much contempt for colleagues. Notably, when responding to Scalia’s broadsides, they remain civil, rebutting his arguments without engaging in similar personal insults.

The lack of cordiality was heightened as crucial rulings last term did not go Scalia’s way or as far to the right as he wanted.

Contrary to the courts decisions, he would have kept the Virginia Military Institute an all male preserve. States could still forbid localities from enacting laws protecting the rights of homosexuals. Elected officials would continue dealing in political favoritism, hiring and firing public employees at whim.

Moreover, Scalia would have gone much farther than more moderate conservative centrists, Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy, on a number of other issues.

Those justices, also appointed by President Reagan, have been upbraided publicly by Scalia for refusing to overturn Roe vs. Wade; to ban unequivocally all affirmative action; and absolutely to deny legislatures the power to favor minorities in political gerrymandering.

When Scalia was named to the court 10 years ago, commentators predicted that his intellect and charm would help forge a conservative consensus.

Instead, his embittered rhetoric and sarcastic humor drove away the others, except for fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas.

Demonstrating no interest in consensus building, he revels in dissent.

Even when siding with the majority, he cannot resist writing separately to underscore the problems he sees as obvious in his colleagues’ reasoning.

Unrepentant, he confesses his castigating opinions are “an unparalleled pleasure.”

Kennedy, who most often votes with the majority in cases decided by a 5 to 4 vote, has been singled out for Scalia’s self-righteous brow-beating.

When Kennedy wrote for the court that the First Amendment’s bar against government support for religion forbids public schools from having prayers at graduation ceremonies because of the “coercive” effect on students, Scalia countered this was “psychology practiced by amateurs” and “not to put too fine a point on it incoherent.”

Even. Chief Justice William Rehnquist was not spared from ridicule last term.

In the Virginia Military Institute case, Scalia brushed aside Rehnquist’s terminology as imprecise. He dismissed as “simply wrong” the court’s ruling that the creation of a separate all female program at a private college was unequal, and hence violated the 14th Amendment. Concluding, he called the chief justice’s reasoning “a great puzzlement.”

Besides biting personal rhetoric, Scalia’s opinions sound certain constant refrains. Positions he disagrees with typically are derided as “demonstrably false,” “incoherent” and “terminal silliness.”

They are invariably debunked as acts “not of judicial judgment, but of political will.” He is just as likely as GOP presidential contender Patrick Buchanan or the expected nominee Bob Dole to decry the Supreme Court’s ‘judicial dictatorship”, — in spite of the fact that seven justices were appointed by Republican presidents.

Almost as predictably, Scalia casts himself as the defender of “tradition” against principles “favored by the personal (and necessarily shifting) philosophical dispositions of a majority of this court.” Colleagues are attacked for engaging in “judicial activism.”

Scalia’s dissent in the gay-rights case thus opened by lamenting the court’s participation in the “cultural war” over homosexual rights. He then defended “tradition” and derided the court’s view that “animus” toward homosexuals was behind forbidding localities from protecting gays and lesbians.

The “only sort of ‘animus’ at issue here,” in his words, was “moral disapproval of homosexual conduct.” Such animus was no less enforceable, according to Scalia, than animus directed toward murderers, polygamists and animal abusers.

In short, when the court departs from his way of thinking, Scalia gets nasty and sounds the old alarm of judicial activism.

Yet he is a steadfast judicial activist for causes he champions – namely, strong presidential power, political patronage, lowering the wall between church and state and ending all affirmative action. What he detests is the court’s promotion of the quest for equality and certain kinds of liberty, such as religious freedom for minorities.

Beneath the rhetoric, clearly every controversy is highly personal for Scalia. He gives no quarter. He relishes standing alone. He delights in pointing out his colleagues’ wrongs and doing battle with the forces of evil.

In all this, he appears too full of himself. He thus dismisses criticism of his domination of oral arguments with questions from the bench, by explaining, “It is the academic in me. I fight against it. The devil makes me do it.”

Scalia’s stubbornly acerbic outspokenness earned him the nickname “Ninopath” when he served on an appellate court, before coming to the high bench. During the last decade on the Supreme Court, that trait cost him the votes of more moderate conservative justices.

But more than that, he places self-importance above the court’s prestige as a governing institution — an institution above petty, personal bickering.

The time is long past for Scalia to practice what Justice Felix Frankfurter called “judicial lockjaw.”

[David M. O’Brien, a professor of government at the University of Virginia, is the author of several books on the U.S. Supreme Court. From the Los Angeles Times.]

July 19, 1996 Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July C

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 11:52:39 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: f2mlist@tantalus.clark.net (American Boyz) Subject: Munch Schedule

The American Boyz support and social group for gender variant people born female but who feel that is not an adequate or complete description of who they are, including tomboys, butches, f2ms, intersexuals, drag kings, and transmen, along with their significiant others, friends, families, and allies, will be meeting for dinner as usual.

The August munch falls on Sunday, August 4th, 5 pm, and will be hosted by the BAD Boyz, info courtesy of Gary:

City Cafe Eager Street Baltimore, MD

(near the former Lammas Bookstore, one block west of Charles Street)

The September Munch falls on Sunday, Sept 1, to take place in PA, possibly the Lancaster/Reading area, more info when I have it.

At the BAD Boyz munch Jessica Xavier of It’s Time Maryland will be present to brief us on the current situation regarding change of gender on driver’s licenses. Specifically, the fact that the material returned by our Freedom of Information Action was not in accordance with information given out by the MVA. We will be discussing strategies to resolve this issue, and those interested in working on the issue should volunteer.

Naturally, we will have our usual fare of personal conversation, information exchange, mutual support, networking, silly jokes, and so forth. We have have had people from as far away as Virginia, DC, and PA pledge to attend, it should be a good turn out.

Gary Bowen, Coordinator

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July D

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 20:42:17 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: GLCFWendy@aol.com Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 10:36:45 -0400 Message-ID: <960723103644_243752136@emout17.mail.aol.com> To: aegis@mindspring.com Subject: Serial killer hunted in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuter) – A serial killer who is setting fire to his victims appears to be on the loose in Minneapolis, officials said Monday. Mayor Sharon Belton told a news conference that “based on investigations” three recent killings seem to have been the work of one person. All three victims were beaten and burned by somebody using a chemical accelerant. The murders took place in the Theodore Wirth Park on the western edge of the city. Belton said the city would use all available resources to find the killer and that police were working with other police and sheriff’s departments and the FBI in the investigation. The latest victim found in the park was discovered Saturday night. The body was so badly burned police originally thought it was that of a woman, as were two other burned bodies found there since June 3. Further investigation showed the latest victim to be a 21-year-old male transvestite. A fourth body found in the park in May is not believed to be related to the other three killings, police said. The mayor said general public is not at risk because investigators believe the victims may have had at least some involvement with illegal activities such as drugs and prostitution. Police said they have a good description of the alleged serial killer. Neighborhood children say they saw a man leaving the park Saturday with a gasoline can in hand, just before the latest body was found.

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July E

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 20:42:27 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: MstrSpence@aol.com Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 12:10:20 -0400 I thought you might be interested in publishing the following. Its my report from ICTLEP. James Green is also publishing it but I’d like it to see as wide an audience as possible.

Warm Regards, Spencer

CONFERENCE REPORT 5TH INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER LAW CONFERENCE FTM PANEL

BY SPENCER BERGSTEDT, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW JULY 6, 1996

 

NOTE: WHAT FOLLOWS IS AN ADAPTATION OF THE REPORT GIVEN BY SPENCER BERGSTEDT TO THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER LAW CONFERENCE HELD IN HOUSTON OVER THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND, 1996. PANELISTS WERE: STEPHEN WHITTLE, PROFESSOR OF LAW, UNITED KINGDOM; JAMISON GREEN, WRITER AND PRESIDENT OF FTM INTERNATIONAL, SANDY KASTEN, ESQ. AND SPENCER BERGSTEDT, ESQ. On July 5, 1996, for the first time in the five year history of the Law Conference sponsored by ICTLEP, a three hour period of time was devoted to the discussion of the issues faced by the Female to Male Transgender (FTM) community. While three hours is a start, it is only a start. Only a fraction of the issues facing transmen could be covered in that time period. It is our sincere hope that this will not be a token event, but one that will be repeated in the future.

MARGINALIZATION OF FTM’S

Transmen have consistently been marginalized within the Transgender community. A common misperception both inside the trans community and outside it is that TS/TG equals MTF. As everyone has hopefully learned here this weekend, this is not the case.

There has been precious little visibility for transmen and our issues. FTM’s are often nothing more than an afterthought – if we are included at all. But transmen are stepping forward and becoming active and visible. But it is time for the entire trans community, particularly the women, to recognize the presence and contributions of transmen.

Look at the available literature about TS/TG communities and people. Look at the media coverage of TS/TG communities and people. Look at the stereotypes about TS/TG communities and people. Look at the images presented of TS/TG communities and people. Listen to the way in which TS/TG issues are discussed or presented when you attend conferences, workshops, and speeches. Do you see and hear the language of inclusion? Are transmen mentioned at all?

Look at the Benjamin Standards of Care – are they written to address FTM’s at all?

Look at the lack of basic education about transmen and our issues that exists within the trans community and which was so abundantly in evidence during the FTM panel workshop on July 5.

MARGINALIZATION appears within the stereotypes held within the MTF community which presumes that transmen gain massive amounts of male privilege upon transition and that FTM’s gain great economic transition along with their facial hair. That is patently false. As Jamison Green noted, “One must be born into the old boys club to be part of the old boys club.” While no doubt some transmen find more socio-economic success after transition, the vast majority do not.

Many transmen were marginalized prior to transition because they were perceived as women, often as lesbians or masculine-appearing women or gender variant in some way. As such, FTM’s are often on the bottom of the economic totem pole. This situation may not, and most often does not, improve upon transition.

Further MARGINALIZATION can occur for those FTM’s who identify their sexual orientation as gay or bi-sexual. Doctors may not treat them or provide them with certain services. Socio-economic success can also be hindered, sometimes severely. And in the case of the TS/TG community there still exists an appalling lack of basic education which marginalizes queer transmen – witness one audience members assertion that it makes no sense for transmen to transition if they are going to be gay identified – i.e., what’s the point. As we should all hopefully know by now, gender identity and sexual orientation are separate, yet linked, issues.

Another way in which MARGINALIZATION rears its ugly head is in the creation and/or use of terminology to define transmen and the FTM community. In overwhelming numbers, TG/TS men prefer the terms simply men/man. But if that isn’t enough then the terms transmen/transman when referencing themselves and FTM when referencing the community. MTM is not a term that is preferred, is seldom, if ever, used and was in fact, a product of the MTF community.

A minimal starting point then of the greater TS/TG community addressing the issues and needs of the FTM community then is:

1. To utilize the language and terminology favored by transmen themselves; 2. To use the language of inclusion to help eliminate the MARGINALIZATION of transmen within and without the trans-community; 3. To recognize that FTM issues will at times be different from those of MTF’s, even as they may regard similar topics such as health care; 4. To ensure that all TS/TG people get basic educational information about who FTM’s are, what medical treatments and procedures are available to us and what community resources exist for FTM’s.

HEALTH CARE AND FTM’S

A primary area of concern to transmen relates to health care. These concerns can be broken down into 4 main categories:

1. Definitional issues related to the Benjamin Standards. 2. Treatment options. 3. Access and availability to health care. 4. Accessibility to legal resources.

 

1. Benjamin Standards

The Harry Benjamin Stands of Care related to the treatment of transsexuals do not specifically reference medical treatment for FTM’s. Given that the Standards are often a focal point for medical service providers, many issues of great concern are raised for transmen.

For example, should FTM chest surgery be equated with genital surgery for MTF’s and thus the surgery restricted in terms of availability, ease of access, and insurance reimbursement? For many FTM’s, the possibility of successful cross-living has already been crossed and many have lived as men full-time or part-time for quite some time prior to ever seeking access to formal medical transition. Should their surgery be delayed? For other men, successful cross living will NOT be possible without having chest surgery at the outset of formal medical transition – either because their breasts are so large that they cannot easily be bound to a passable size or because the binding itself may cause serious medical problems. Should these men have their surgery delayed by application of standards written to apply to the MTF community and to MTF genital surgery?

2. Treatment options

Medical options for transmen present further problems.

A) Surgical options are limited and inadequate; I) Chest:

Often this surgery is done locally by surgeons who do not have the knowledge or skill to create a male-appearing chest instead of simply removing breast tissue.

There is a vast disparity in the skill of surgeons in dealing with nipple tissue, to the point where some men have been left without any nipples at all.

II) Hysterectomy: A costly, complicated, invasive procedure that is not done on demand (contrary to some popular beliefs expressed at the workshop). Further, if the surgery is done by a surgeon who does not understand the available genital surgeries for FTM’s, a transman’s ability to choose certain options may be eliminated due to the placement of incisions by the surgeon.

III) Phalloplasty: Is costly, fraught with complications and inadequate in many transmen’s eyes. While it may yield a phallus, the phallus will not look like a normal penis, will likely not have sensory function, has no erectile capability, has a high probability of tissue necrosis and may have other surgical complications associated with it. In addition, as the tissue to create it is often taken from the inside of one of the man’s forearms, his arm will be permanently scarred, and possibility disfigured or rendered wholly or partially disabled. Some men have had their clitoris’ removed by the surgeon, leaving them with no sexual sensation at all.

 

IV) Metaoidioplasty: Is for many transmen, the best choice to date. The neo-penis (former clitoris) is released, the inner labia used to extend the shaft and the outer labia used to form a scrotal sack into which testicular implants are placed. Most men having undergone this surgery report satisfaction with the surgery as they generally maintain sexual function and sensation, however, some doctors refuse to do the surgery as they believe that it yields an inadequate penis.

V) Urethroplasty: This surgery lengthens and re-routes the urethra to allow the transman to urinate in a standing position. Success varies and many a man has ended up permanently catheterized or wearing Depends because of the uneven results.

B) The costs of most surgical options is exorbitant;

Chest surgery can run anywhere from $3,500- 6,000. Hysterectomy -$5,000-7,500 plus 3-4 days hospitalization and at least 2-3 weeks away from work. Metaiodioplasty – $7,000-10,000. Phalloplasty – $50,000-150,000. Urethroplasty – $3,000-5,000.

These costs severely limit the ability of FTM’s to access these surgical options, especially when combined with the low socio-economic status that plagues many FTM’s.

C) Often, because of the inadequacies of the surgical options, serious complications may result and often multiple surgeries that are required, FTM’s end up incurring additional and overwhelming financial, emotional and physical costs. E.g., fistulas, tissue necrosis, permanent catheterization, paralysis, loss of use of arms and/or hands, and permanent disability are all possible. All for the sake of fulfilling the cultural imperative, enforced by the medical community, to create a penis since it is presumed by many that the size of the dick equals the masculinity of the man.

D) Often the surgical options for transmen are more invasive – e.g., hysterectomy – and require longer hospitalization and recovery time periods that equivalent surgery for MTF’s.

As such, many men live the bulk of their adult lives as men but may never be legally male because of their inability to access medical treatment. (Each country and each state within the US decides what requirements a transman must meet – if it is possible at all – to have his gender status legally changed.)

3. Accessibility and availability of heath care services can depend on a number of things: Costs of services; Barriers created by the Benjamin Standards; Women’s Free Clinics not wanting to treat transmens gynecological needs; and the place where the transman lives and the skill, knowledge and acceptance of his local medical community.

4. A final barrier can be found in the inaccessibility for FTM’s (particularly in the US) to seek redress in the courts to gain access to treatment or to seek compensation when treatment leads to mutilation, disability, permanent damage or death. This is directly linked to the costs of litigation and the unavailability of public funding for potential litigants.

FTM’s in Canada and the EEC may have greater access to their courts and administrative review processes, but still may not elect to utilize those option because of fear, embarrassment, depression, potential employment discrimination or stigmatization. WHEN DOES AN FTM LEGALLY BECOME A MAN?

This varies from place to place and is of primary concern to transmen. In some places, no surgery is required to have the transman’s gender status changed – merely living full time and being treated by a doctor or psychologist is enough. In other places, chest surgery may be required. In still others, chest surgery and hysterectomy. In still others, genital surgery must be done and in yet others, no amount of surgery at all will be enough.

Yet, despite these requirements, no where is there to be found any legal cumulative definition of what is a man, what is a woman? So the question remains as to whether a uniform rule on what is necessary to make a transman legally male should be created? Is it necessary? Is it desirable? These are questions which are currently in their infancy. The discussion will likely continue for some time to come.

VIOLENCE AND FTM’S

On the whole, 20-30% of all couples experience domestic violence. Yet the figures related to domestic violence and FTM’s are very low – likely due to vast under reporting. In part this stems from the lack of shelter services available to battered FTM’s and lack of anger management services for FTM’s who batter.

Rape is a similarly under reported crime perpetrated against FTM’s – often as “punishment” for their transgendered status. Rape crisis centers do not know how to adequately treat the unique needs of FTM’s and police response and sensitivity can be appallingly lacking. Witness the treatment received by Brandon Teena by the Sheriff’s office in Nebraska. After his rape, Mr. Teena was doubly victimized and marginalized by an insensitive Sheriff’s department which not only did not properly investigate his rape, but arguably contributed to Mr. Teena’s subsequent murder by his rapists by treating the investigation in a lax manner.

JAIL AND FTM’S

If a pre-operative FTM is convicted of a crime – he will go to women’s prison, where he may be denied medical treatments for his transition – e.g., hormones.

Further, different standards of the law seem to apply to FTM’s. Witness the trial of Sean O’Neil who was essentially convicted of having consensual sex. Mr. O’Neil was under 20 years of age but over 18 when he had sexual contact with at least two women under the age of 16 (the age of consent in Colorado). Had Mr. O’Neil been a non-transsexual it is doubtful that his “crime” would ever have been reported. He faced numerous charges with potentially long jail time. Although Mr. O’Neil was lucky to have a Judge come up with creative solutions to incarcerating him, he is left with an exorbitant list of probationary restrictions. Witness further the similar case of Jimmy nee Jennifer Saunders in England. Mr. Saunders was also convicted for what was consensual sexual activity because of his transgendered status. Mr. Saunders received a sentence of 6 years in prison. After legal appeals were instituted, the sentence was changed to 9 months. When Mr. Saunders left prison, he had served over 10 months.

APPROPRIATION OF FTM’S BY THE LESBIAN COMMUNITY

The final point of discussion related to the appropriation of transmen by the lesbian community. History rings out with the names of transmen who, upon their deaths, have been heralded as lesbian heroes despite the blatant facts that the men, though born into female physiologies, lived their lives as men. Billy Tipton, Alan Hart, Brandon Teena, Jack Bee Garland, amongst others. The history of transmen’s lives must be recognized as being that of transmen To do otherwise further marginalizes an already marginalized community.

CONCLUSION

While the inclusion of the workshop at this conference is a start, it is only a start. We managed to cover but a fraction of the issues facing transmen today, in part because we spent an inordinate amount of time doing basic education about FTM’s and our community. The issues of transmen will sometimes be the same as others in the trans communities, sometimes they will dovetail and still others will be uniquely ours. Care should be taken that the concerns of transmen are considered and included in discussions regarding the TS/TG community, not as an afterthought, but on equal footing. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July F

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 20:42:21 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

Please note that under this act, heterosexual marriage of post-operative transsexual men and women would be prohibited.

— Dallas From: Bruce Amsbary <hba@empnet.com> Subject: OCA 1998 Initiatives/The Family Act

New from the Oregon Citizens Alliance! The folks who brought us 1992’s anti-gay Ballot Messure 9 and 1995’s Ballot measure 13

>Permission to forward: > >THE FAMILY ACT > >BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OREGON > >The Constitution of the State of Oregon is Amended adding to Article 1, >Section 3., what shall be known as the Family Act and shall read as follows: >(Italicized portion is existing language of the Constitution) > >Section 3, Freedom of religious opinion. NO law shall in any case whatever >control the free exercise, and enjoyment of religious (sic) opinion, or >interfere with the rights of conscience. > >1. The People recognize that the family is the foundational unit essential >for social health and the good order of society and, therefore, establish as >public policy that the concept of family shall be limited one man and One >woman in a marriage covenant and their children, if any , generationally, >both natural and adopted, or the surviving members thereof. Government, >therefore, as an inherent duty to protect the family while >recognizing its own limitation in that government cannot fulfill the role or >perform the duties of the family. > >A. A man and a woman who have conceived a child, not having entered into a >marriage covenant, and who remain unmarried to one another, are nevertheless >in their individual relationship to the child, family; and therefore, are >responsible for the child, unless or until such responsibility is >terminated by a court of proper jurisdiction. > >(1)With regard to the concepts of subsections, l and 1A. circumstances >involving minors and illegal acts are to be governed by statute, provided >that the provisions of this section are not violated. > >B. With reference to the term one man and one woman, the People further >recognize and, therefore, establish as public policy that the concept of the >male/female relationship of sexual affection is that which is natural to >mankind and that male/female gender is determined at the moment of conception. > >(1)All state and local governments are, therefore, limited in that the may >express approval of, promote, sanction or otherwise make acceptable only the >will of the people as established in this section > >(2)The concept of this subsection shall not be construed to preclude laws >regulating immoral conduct between the two genders. > >2. These concepts are consistent and compatible with natural law, millennia >of moral teaching, self-evident truth, conscience and Almighty God. > >3. Though subsection 1 is established and in effect, no licenses, permits >,services or benefits shall be denied any person otherwise due under >existing statute; nor shall the holding or exercise of any rights guaranteed >by the Constitution of the State of Oregon or of the United States of >America be deprived, nullified or diminished. > >4. Though subsection 1 is established and in effect, with regard to public >employees, it shall he generally considered that a person’s private lawful >sexual behavior is a non- job related factor, provided such consideration >does not violate any provision of this section. > >5. Though subsection 1 is established and in effect, the extent of its >authority over public libraries shall be subject to present U.S. >Constitutional precedent as well as local community standards established >through the library review process for books, literature and materials. > >6. The Courts, Legislature and Government are to most strictly protect the >intent of the concepts, and stringently apply the limitations established in >this section, resolving any doubt in favor of the concepts and in enforcing >the limitations. > >7. The PEOPLE INTEND that if an part of this enactment be found >unconstitutional, the remaining parts shall survive in full force and >effect, This Act shall be in all parts self-executing. For the purposes of >this Act, every Oregon resident and non-profit entity doing business in the >State a Oregon has standing.

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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Original Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 19:09:28 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

The following is from Contemporary Sexuality, the newsletter of the American Association of Ssex Educators, Researchers, and Therapists– s/he language is verbatim.

Norfolk, England

Arguing that his client had been discriminated against on the basis of sexual identity, attorney Ramby de Mello won the right to challenge the Royal Air Force (RAF) firing of a 26-year-old transsexual. The attorney for “M” seeks to declare unlawful a Ministry of Defence polisy that forbids recuitment of those who undergo gender reassignment and allows such individuals to be dismissed. Nine months after M joined the RAF in 1990, s/he was diagnosed as having a gender identity disorder. Had s/he owned up to being a transvestite, s/he could have stayed in the RAF. But upon M’s decision to have gender reassignment surgery, s/he was requested to take sick leave and later dismissed on the grounds that s/he represented a “permanently reduced” standard of employment. De Mello says that M’s dismissal breaches a directive by the European Union regarding equal treatment on the basis of gender. On May 1, the European Court of Justice found that a fired transsexual was the victim of discrimination under that directive. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July G

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 20:42:50 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

Oops! I missed this item in Southern Voice, 18 July, 1996

South Korea Says It’s Not Rape

The Supreme Court of North Korea ruled last month that two men who sexually assulated a male-to-female transsexual cannot be convicted of rape. The court decision hinged on whether a man who has had a sex-change operation is legally a woman; South Korean law only recognizes rape against women.

“Though the victim in this case behaves as a female, the person cannot be recognized as one because, among other things, his chromosomes remain unchanged and he cannot get pregnant,” Justic Cong-Kwi told the court. Chong did uphold a lesser charge of sexual assault against the two men, who attacked the 37-year-old transsexual in April. The two were each jailed for 2 1/2 years. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 23 July H

Original Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 20:42:37 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

I *believe* transgender and transsexual people are protected in the current version of ENDA.

— Dallas From: James Yorton <jjy@xnet.com> Subject: ACTION ALERT: ENDA in DOMA

________________________________________________________

URGENT ACTION ALERT from the Human Rights Campaign

1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 1996

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO PASS BILL PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM JOB DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Urge Your Senators to Support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act As an Amendment to the Defense of Marriage Act

 

This is a critical moment in the drive to end job discrimination based on sexual orientation, so everyone who cares about fairness should contact their U.S. senators immediately. Urge your senators to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA, S. 932) as an amendment to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA, S.1740), and tell them to oppose DOMA itself. DOMA, the anti-marriage bill, is rocketing through Congress, and a Senate vote is fast approaching — so right now is the time to make your voice heard.

Background

Since the House passed the anti-gay marriage bill July 12, the Senate is our only hope for something positive to come out of this election-year spectacle. The bad news is that DOMA is virtually certain to pass the Senate. The good news is that it can at least deliver some basic fairness in the workplace if we each do our part to have the Senate pass the ENDA amendment to it.

The so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” would allow states to ignore gay marriages performed in other states, and would create an unprecedented federal definition of marriage to exclude gay unions from all federal benefits should any state decide to legalize same-sex marriage.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would protect Americans from job discrimination based on sexual orientation. President Clinton endorsed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last October.

With your help, the ENDA amendment has a decent chance of succeeding in the Senate. ENDA has 30 Senate co-sponsors, including two Republicans. ENDA also enjoys the support of major corporations such as Eastman Kodak, Quaker Oats and Bethlehem Steel, and Republican Govs. William Weld of Massachusetts and Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey.

Gay marriage is not legal in any of the 50 states. However, it is legal in 41 states to be fired from your job simply because you are gay. Congress should focus on the real problem of job discrimination against gay people that affects Americans right now. A Hawaii court case that has sparked the same-sex marriage debate is not expected to be decided for approximately two years.

Act Now

Contact your U.S. senators immediately and urge them to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S. 932) as an amendment to the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (S. 1740), and also express your opposition to DOMA itself. Use the sample letter below as a guide for what to say. Refer to each bill by its appropriate number. Write, call, fax, and e-mail your senators. You can also contact them through the Human Rights Campaign’s World Wide Web site at http://www.hrcusa.org. Finally, you may want to schedule a meeting with your senators’ staff at one of their local offices in your own state — call the Human Rights Campaign’s field team at (202) 628-4160 to find out how.

To call your senators, you can dial the Capitol switchboard, even if you aren’t sure who they are. Just ask the switchboard operator and you will be connected. Ask for their fax numbers and e-mail addresses as well:

Call: U.S. Capitol (202) 224-3121 Write: The Honorable __________ U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 _________________________________________________________________

Sample Letter to Your Senators

Dear Senator _________:

I urge you to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), S. 932, as an amendment to S. 1740, the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA). DOMA is nothing more than gratuitous election-year gay-bashing, and is most likely unconstitutional. Should S.1740 reach the floor of the Senate, ENDA will be offered as an amendment to DOMA. I strongly urge you to support the ENDA amendment and oppose DOMA.

Even proponents of DOMA claim not to be in favor of discrimination — so just about anyone can easily support the ENDA amendment. ENDA would protect Americans from job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Though it is not legal for gay people to marry anywhere in the United States, in 41 states it is still legal to fire good workers just for being gay. Until ENDA passes, there is no federal law to protect Americans from this pervasive unfairness.

ENDA is a very reasonable bill. It would prohibit job discrimination, quotas and other forms of preferential treatment in the workplace based on sexual orientation. It would not apply to religious organizations, small businesses or the military, and it would not require domestic partner benefits.

Americans overwhelmingly believe that lesbian and gay people should not lose their livelihoods to discrimination. According to the latest Newsweek poll, 84 percent of Americans support equal rights for gays in terms of job opportunities.

Furthermore, a recent poll by the Mellman Group found that there is no clear consensus among Americans on DOMA, and that 73 percent feel that other issues are much more important.

I oppose DOMA because I believe that marriage is a basic human right. The decision of whom to marry is a deeply personal one that should not be interfered with by the federal government. Despite the rhetoric of the religious political extremists, one can honor the relationship between a man and woman without attacking lesbian and gay people or their relationships.

Again, since gay marriage is not legal anywhere in the land, but anti-gay job discrimination is widespread and legal just about everywhere, I urge you to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act as an amendment to the Defense of Marriage Act, and oppose DOMA itself.

I look forward to hearing your views on this matter.

Sincerely,

_________________________________________________________________ Ask all of your friends to help out, too. For more information on how you can help, please contact the Human Rights Campaign at (202) 628-4160 and ask to speak with the field team.

– 30 – Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 24 July A

Original Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 19:09:21 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

From: riki@nyc.pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)

New Book Alleges US Spends Millions “Treating” Gender-Variant Children ===================================

“Most of My Friends Are Dead”

[New York City – July 21, 1996] According to Phyllis Burke’s new book <und>Gender Shock<und>, for almost three decade the US government has been funneling millions in taxpayer dollars to locate, diagnose and “treat” scores of children for being gender-variant.

Only The Tip of the Iceberg —————————

States Burke, “Government records indicate that, since the early 1970’s, at least 1.5 million dollars was awarded from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) alone.The institutions that received these funds include UCLA, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, the Roosevelt Institute in New York City, Fuller Theological Seminary, and the Logos Reassert Institute.”

Noting that many of the NIMH records on these grants have since been destroyed and that tens of thousands of additional funds have been awarded from other agencies to a variety of individual researchers, “[this] leads me to believe that 1.5 million dollars awarded to institutions is probably the tip of the iceberg.”

The diagnosis most often used against genderqueer children was “Gender Identity Disorder. GID, well-known for its application to transexuals seeking sex reassignment surgery, is still also routinely applied to diagnose and treat non-complaining crossdressers, transgendered people, and children suspected of homosexuality or homosexual behavior. The protest group Transexual Menace picketed the American Psychiatric Association at their national meeting in New York City in May, demanding an end to GID and pathologizing gender-variant behavior.

UCLA’s Feminine Boy Project —————————

Burke states that the largest documented governmental case involves UCLA researchers O. Ivar Lovaas, George Rekers (who claimed to have been funded himself for over a half a million dollars by NIMH), and Dr. Richard Green. Green, whose work on genderqueer boys was detailed in his 1987 study <und>The Sissy Boy Syndrome<und>, was the “principle analyst” at UCLA’s feminine boy project.

4 years Involuntary Commitment for One Genderqueer ——————————

“Treatment” across programs has run the gamut from basic psychotherapy, to round-the-clock reward/punishment regimes of behavioral modification, to forcible institutionalization in a psychiatric ward — sometimes complete with thorazine, haldol or other psycho-active drugs.

Daphne Scholinshi is one such child who was involuntarily committed by her parents at 14, after being diagnosed by doctors with GID. “.She was athletic, she did not want to wear dresses and she refused to be submissive. After the first three months, Daphne attempted suicide by drinking Sea Breeze, a facial astringent.”

Daphne would not be released until 4 years later when she was 18. “Most people die after they get out. The recovery from the system is what gets people in the end. Life expectancy of my friends is pretty low. Most of my friends are dead.’ [END] Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1997, 24 July B

Original Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 19:09:28 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

The following is from Contemporary Sexuality, the newsletter of the American Association of Ssex Educators, Researchers, and Therapists– s/he language is verbatim.

Norfolk, England

Arguing that his client had been discriminated against on the basis of sexual identity, attorney Ramby de Mello won the right to challenge the Royal Air Force (RAF) firing of a 26-year-old transsexual. The attorney for “M” seeks to declare unlawful a Ministry of Defence polisy that forbids recuitment of those who undergo gender reassignment and allows such individuals to be dismissed. Nine months after M joined the RAF in 1990, s/he was diagnosed as having a gender identity disorder. Had s/he owned up to being a transvestite, s/he could have stayed in the RAF. But upon M’s decision to have gender reassignment surgery, s/he was requested to take sick leave and later dismissed on the grounds that s/he represented a “permanently reduced” standard of employment. De Mello says that M’s dismissal breaches a directive by the European Union regarding equal treatment on the basis of gender. On May 1, the European Court of Justice found that a fired transsexual was the victim of discrimination under that directive. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 27 July

Original Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 20:04:53 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

The following is from Southern Voice, 25 July, 1996:

Transsexual Fugitive Returned to South Caroline to Face Murder Charage

Gaffney, SC police are now holding a suspect who they say fled the scene of a kiling 17 yearsa go then later had a sex change operation. Freddie Lee Turner, 40, was charged on a 1979 warrant with the murder of Billy Marshall Posey at a Gaffney motel. A Los Angeles court recently determined that Turner is now Valerie Nicole Taylor, who has lived in California since 1991. Taylor pleaded innocent in a Los Angeles court last month and initially fought extradition to South Carolina. However, she dropped that effort and was turned over to Gaffney authorities last week. Gaffney Police Chief John O’Donald said late last week that no special arrangements had been made to accommodate Taylor at the jail; she has been placed in a single cell in the women’s section, awaiting the outcome of a bond hearing.

Tracking Litter

After much drama, Otherside drag queen regular Kitty Litter finally married her ex-con partner, Frank, live on the 99X morning radio show. The bride wore a vintage bone white gown designed by Lilly Diamond of California and jewelry from the Suzanne Sommers collection. The groom declared he was “about lit” from drinking beer during the ceremony. Several venues, including MARTA, Towear Place, and Ansley Mall, had refused to host the ceremony. Eddie’s Attic in Decatur welcomed the party at the 11th hour, but technical problems forced the morning hets to move the ceremony to the 99X station. Kitty thanked all the hets and their listeners, especially those who brought gifts. Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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1996, 30 July

Original Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 21:36:31 -0400 Originally From: Dallas Denny <aegis@atl.mindspring.com>

Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 17:05:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Jacob Hale <hcphi002@dewey.csun.edu>

Subject: Connie Norman Dead at 47 (fwd) Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.91.960729165648.3673F-100000@huey.csun.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-UIDL: a2bd46a793db42392d74a3856b8e2c93 Status: U

There are apparently plans in the works for an anthology of Connie’s essays to be published.–cjh

***********************************************************************

CONNIE NORMAN died on Monday, July 15, 1996. Appended is the L.A. Times Obit.

Obituary in the L.A. Times Thursday, July 18, 1996 page A18

Connie Norman; AIDS Activist, Radio Talk Show Host

By MYRNA OLIVER TIMES STAFF WRITER

Connie Norman, a nationally known transsexual AIDS activist who pioneered commercial radio talk shows focusing on homosexual issues, has died. She was 47.

Norman, a gay youth who underwent a sex-change operation in 1976 and became HIV-positive in 1987, died Monday in Los Angeles’ Chris Brownlie House of the complications of AIDS.

“Connie Norman worked tirelessly with AIDS Healthcare Foundation to fight for AIDS services and was a prescient and powerful voice in the community,” said Michael Weinstein, president and co-founder of the foundation. “Her outspokenness frequently made people uncomfortable, but she said things that needed to be said. Her efforts on behalf of gay and lesbian youth, the tranegendered community, and people living with HIV and AIDS were extraor dinary.”

Norman began “The Connie Norman Show,” an innovative Monday through Friday evening talk program on XEK-AM (950) on Nov. 25, 1991.,

“The gay and lesbian community has, to date, had to depend upon the kindness of others,” Norman told The Times at the outset of the program. “If we’re going to have an argument, it should be amongst our family. It should not be a heterosexual person having the token argument or the token discussion for us.”

Sometimes called “the AIDS Diva,” Norman championed reform of federal AIDS funding formulas, routine offering of HIV tests by medical providers, testing newborns for HIV and better treatment of those who have HIV or AIDS.

In addition to the radio show, Norman co-hosted a weekly cable television show, wrote a column called “Tribal Writes” in the San Diego gay and lesbian newspaper Update and a monthly column titled “Notes on Life” in the publication Stonewall Speaks. As an actress, she appeared in the film “Wrecked for Life,” gave a show “An Evening with Connie Norman,” at Highways Theater in Santa Monica, and was part of the cast of “AIDS Us Women.”

“I often tell people that I am an ex-drag queen, ex-hooker, ex-lV drug user, ex-high risk youth, and current postoperative transsexual woman who is HIV-positive,” she said recently. “I have everything I ever wanted, including a husband of 10 years, a home and five adorable longhaired cats…. I do, however, regret the presence of this virus.”

Norman’s advocacy earned her awards from the Los Angeles chapter of ACT UP and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, as well as proclamations from the state Senate and Assembly, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles City Council.

Born in Texas, Norman ran away from home at 14, lived on the streets in Hollywood and became addicted to drugs. In 1976, after therapy and becoming drug-free, she had a sex-change operation.

In addition to her husband, Bruce Norman, she is survived by her grandmother, Mable Murphy, and an aunt, Barbara Potter.

 

 

 

Dallas Denny, M.A., Executive Director

American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033-0724 (770) 939-2128 Business (770) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (770) 939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com E-Mail

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