What follows is Charles Kaiser's "Last Word" column from the November 7th,
2000 issue of The Advocate. Think what you like about that publication's
position on transgendered issues.... on this issue, they're dead on. Kaiser's
column is important and is a call to action.
The future is ours for the taking, folks. We can go out and vote for the
party that has offered us a seat at the table, or we can abdicate responsibility
to the conservatives who WILL go out and vote. If you think having the father
of a lesbian as the Vice-President means that we'll have a friend at the
table.... well, think again.
The Aurora Case has made our group much more visible and they would like
to show that there is support here in the Cleveland area. Karen believes
it will be good to publicize the group. They will be careful not to show
the outside of the house or give any hint of where the meeting is held. Also,
they would only interview those who are interested in participating; no
one has to do this.
Since our group has done this with 2 or 3 other camera crews and had good
results, Karen thinks we could try it again. Karen says "I think this would
be very important as there are more and more trans folks contacting me everyday
looking for support! Many in the Cleveland area - telling me how hard and
long they have searched to find a support group such as ours." Ms. Prinz
is hoping the story will air before Thanksgiving.
If you are inspired to cook up an entrée for this month's meeting,
please indulge yourself.
Call or email Karen and find out what you can do to help TransFamily continue.
Ted Celeste is running against incumbent Republican Mike De Wine for the
U.S. Senate. I was extremely delighted by the answers Celeste provided to
questions important to our community. I'm placing my support and dollars
behind Celeste's campaign and I strongly urge all members of the Ohio GBLT
community to do the same. Where Ted Celeste is concerned, the phrase "family
values" INCLUDES our community.
Although this is Celeste's first run for public office, he is hardly a newcomer
to politics. His father served as the mayor of Lakewood for many years, and,
of course, his brother is the former Governor of Ohio.
Along with supporting the Democrat platform, which includes the formation
of a real Patient's Bill Of Rights and affordable prescription drugs, Ted
Celeste strongly supports the following issues important to our community:
While Celeste served as a trustee at Ohio State University, he supported
offering domestic partnership benefits to the OSU faculty, staff, and students.
Additionally, he believes that the Senate should "advise and consent" to
judicial nominations in a timely manner, rather than playing partisan political
games. His candidacy has been endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of Central
Ohio.
To contrast Ted Celeste, in 1996 Republican Mike De Wine voted against S.
2056 (ENDA), which would have made sexual orientation a protected class under
the Civil Rights Act. As ENDA was rejected by a vote of 50-49, De Wine's
negative vote was pivotal. On other issues:
It's time to put an end to Mike De Wine's work against our community. De
Wine is not representing US. On election day, I strongly urge you to vote
for Ted Celeste for the U.S. Senate. For more information, please visit the
Celeste website at
www.celeste2000.com.
WASHINGTON (AP) - September 29, 2000 - This year's election could be the
most important in a century because of the Supreme Court justices the next
president may appoint, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson said Friday
at the opening of the coalition's annual convention.
He said voters will determine whether the nation will have "more liberal
judges after the model that is there now with justices (Ruth Bader) Ginsburg
and (Stephen G.) Breyer,'' or whether there will more conservatives such
as Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. "If you care about the moral fiber
of this nation, which in my opinion has been undermined consistently by Supreme
Court decisions, this election can be the most important in the last 100
years,'' he said.
Robertson also expressed concern about the Food and Drug Administration's
approval on Thursday of the abortion pill RU-486. "Coming as it does, just
weeks before the election, it has political overtones,'' Robertson said in
an interview. Also noting the administration's decision to open the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve after Al Gore urged the action, Robertson said, ``These
things just look like ploys to foster his candidacy and cast suspicions on
the credibility of the FDA.'' He said there are still safety questions about
the pill and more studies should have been conducted. "It's obvious it's
going to make abortion more common,'' he added. ``I don't see why people
can't use birth control so this whole thing doesn't come up more often.''
Robertson, who estimated the next president would appoint three justices,
addressed a crowd of several thousand members of the organization that
hopes to help Republican George W. Bush to the White House. "We plan to play
a big role this year,'' Roberta Combs, the executive director of the Christian
Coalition, said Thursday.
The organization's source of power lies in its 70 million voter guides. Coalition
members also have been key in establishing voter registration drives and
mobilizing churches. But while Republicans in past years have counted on
the Christian Coalition to help get out the vote across the country, Bush
has yet to woo the organization, choosing instead to court moderates and
swing voters.
Bush, who was instrumental in pushing the organization into the background
at the Republican National Convention this summer, also turned down a chance
to address several thousand members at the group's annual convention this
weekend. Lynne Cheney, wife of Bush running mate Dick Cheney, was speaking
instead.
Earlier this week, Robertson called Bush's decision to skip the convention
``very risky,'' but Combs said she was confident "our people really know
where he (Bush) stands on the issues. He's very conservative.'' Bush
aides said he would be too busy preparing for the first presidential debate
Tuesday.
Political analysts figure he doesn't need to attend. "Where else are these
people going to go?'' said John Kenneth White, a politics professor at Catholic
University of America. "If there are to be three straight presidential
losses, that would be very frustrating for the Christian Coalition,'' he
said. "They (Republicans) lost two to Clinton and they want the presidency
back.'' The Christian Coalition has been plagued in recent years by
leadership changes and internal strife that has hurt the group's ability
to raise money.
A Pew poll taken earlier this month found that about 22 percent of registered
voters consider themselves ``evangelical Christians.'' The same survey reported
about 63 percent of voters said they had a favorable view of evangelical
Christians. That's up from 41 percent who had a favorable view in 1996. Six
in 10 Democrats and independents had a favorable view, while three-fourths
of Republicans had a favorable view.
GOP Ducking Hate Crimes Bill
By Anne Gearan, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - September 27, 2000 - President Clinton accused congressional
Republicans Wednesday of ducking a gay-rights bill out of fear it might anger
some of the party's bedrock supporters.
"The Republican majority does not want a bill that explicitly provides
hate crimes protections for gay Americans,'' Clinton said at the White House.
``I think they think it will split their base or something.'' Clinton is
pushing an anti-hate-crimes bill that would define crimes against homosexuals
in much the same way as racially motivated crime.
Clinton said the legislation is not complicated, and could be attached to
any number of bills now moving through Congress. "So if it doesn't get on
(some bill) it will require an effort of the leaders to keep it off,'' Clinton
said before leaving for a fund-raising trip to Texas that will include a
speech to a gay audience. "In other words, minority rule, not majority rule
in the Congress.''
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott angrily denounced Clinton's
remarks as ``demgoguery (sic) at its worst.''
"Pitting one group against another in order to gain personal electoral advantage
is bad even for President Clinton,'' Lott spokesman John Czwartacki said,
adding that it ``is certainly not our inclination'' to put the bill to
a vote. "We do not have an interest in telling the families of some
crimes that their sons or daughters are less important in the eyes of the
federal government than the victims of other crimes,'' Czwartacki said.
Clinton's plan would add crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender or
disability to the list of offenses already covered under a 1968 federal law,
and allow federal prosecutors to pursue a hate-crime case if local authorities
refuse to press charges. The legislation also provides assistance to local
law enforcement agencies in investigating hate crimes.
Earlier this month, the House, in a nonbinding 232-192 vote, agreed to make
hate-crimes legislation part of a defense appropriations bill. The Senate
voted 57-42 in favor of the hate-crimes provisions in June.
"All the surveys show that over two-thirds of the American people believe
that no one should be subject to crime because of who they are,'' Clinton
said. ``I just hope and pray we can do it. If we can't do it, what did that
Senate vote mean? Was it just some stunt?''
Transsexual NASA Physician Steps Into The Limelight
Houston Voice, from Staff and Wire Reports, August 18, 2000 - DALLAS - A
physician and former Navy pilot who has served as part of the ground medical
crew for NASA missions has revealed that she is a transgender lesbian preparing
to undergo gender-reassignment surgery, the Dallas Voice reported.
Dr. Christine McGinn, 31, has served twice as part of the team that would
go into space in case of a medical emergency during a space mission. McGinn's
process of coming out began in her home town of Philadelphia, where her therapy
group was approached by MSNBC to create a documentary on transsexuals. McGinn
felt a responsibility to come forward as the documentary went forward. "They
were interviewing all these people and the people they were picking weren't
really what I would call a good representation," she said. McGinn's surgery
was scheduled for Aug. 9, and the documentary is slated to air on MSNBC this
fall.
Out And Accomplished: TG People Provide Positive Role Models
By Li Anne W. Taft
"I didn't know you were male. I couldn't tell" must have been a frequent
response heard by Dr. Christine McGinn, a NASA physician, after she revealed
to her colleagues that she is a transgender woman and a lesbian. Dr. McGinn,
31, a former Navy pilot and NASA medical emergency crew member, 'outed' herself
in her hometown of Philadelphia because she 'felt a responsibility to come
forward' as a good representation of the TG community. Like many of us who
have come out, she probably has many days when she regrets her decision to
go public.
To come out or not to come out is a question that tears at most TG men and
women. The results can be rewarding yet devastating. Dana Rivers, a California
teacher, was soon fired after she came out during her transition. Now, she's
an activist fighting to get her job back and encouraging others to come out
of their 'closets'. Very 'out' about her gender change and outspoken about
the biased treatment she's received, Dana has made a network of new friends,
gained support from all over the US and is helping to build a community of
Trans-folks who are standing up against discrimination.
In a recent article she wrote, Rivers stated that "it is especially important
that trans-people. who have made their transitions successfully, (to) be
out and visible and put an end to hiding and living 'stealth' ". Ms Rivers
believes that TG people are an oppressed group that would find unity and
strength by being 'out', that we would have safer and more collective in
"our collective energy".
Phyllis Frye, a well-known TG lawyer respected nationally for her work with
TG rights and social justice, wrote recently that "discrimination (from others)
starts with full-time transition". She further stated in a recent commentary
posted on the Internet that harm and loss of rights of TG people comes from
others as soon as we identify ourselves as changing or having changed our
gender. Hearing that is probably enough to keep most TG people in the closet.
Yet in the eye of this 'storm', many TG people continue to 'out' themselves
to help stop the harassment, the open discrimination and to return dignity
to their lives and others. Lauren Manzano, a international championship woman
cyclist, announced at the age of 36 that she had sex change surgery as a
teen and now hopes to provide encouragement to young people struggling with
TG issues. NYPD office Janet Ailleo and St. Petersburg county sheriff Tonye
Barreto-Neto provide another amazing example of 'self-outing ' and successful
gender transitions. They both are now very visible members of TOPS (Transgender
Officers Protect and Serve) a national advocacy group for TG military, police,
paramedics, firefighters and others in public service.
Though accomplished and proud, many transgendered men and women in Hawaii
shy away from coming out. Those who find full integration in our society,
one that is not always so accepting of differences, try to just fit in. A
good friend of mine, a successful leader with a [ADD-human] service agency,
advised me while I was searching for willing participants for this story.
In her opinion, there are many TS people in the islands who, several years
after transition, blend well into society and now don't want any exposure.
She pointed out that such people who have worked very hard to achieve a good,
average life are not very willing to go public and put everything they have
at risk. However, they still may quietly mentor other people, one on one,
who are struggling with gender issues and not necessarily be known to the
larger population.
Her last remark struck at the heart of the issue when she said that political,
judicial, business, professional and artistic communities have all known
and accepted TG people for generations. Personally I know of a college lecturer,
a therapist, a PhD student, a halfway house director and a bank officer,
all of who are transgendered and have found full integration in our island
society.
Personal accomplishments and pride aside, to be out or not is a very personal
choice for those who have changed gender. And whatever their choice, they
deserve respect and privacy from both TG and non-TG folks alike. I encourage
the more secure TG folks that they 'come out' and demonstrate the wonderful
diversity in human existence that we exhibit. It is good when TG folks can
show that many of us are successful, functional. loving people - real human
beings just like the rest of the world!
My hope is that TG people who are in situations and places that present little
or no threat to their lives, family and livelihood would come out to be positive
role models. Their collective presence would certainly encourage others to
accept gender variances more readily. Perhaps then our society could truly
begin to appreciate the inner strength and deep human spirit of transgendered
people and not focus on nor fear our unique differences.
As published in Honolulu's 'DaKine' magazine, GENDER SPECTRUM column, Oct,
2000 issue
Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Littleton Case
By Planet Out
October 5, 2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court on October 4 declined to review
a Texas ruling voiding a male-to-female transsexual's marriage to a male.
The U.S. Supreme Court generally does not give reasons for rejecting cases,
but because marriage laws are almost entirely at the discretion of the states,
their issues do not often arise in federal courts; therefore there are not
currently conflicting views among federal appeals courts on the issue of
transsexuals' marriages that the high court might be motivated to resolve.
In the case of transwoman Christie Lee Littleton, there was nowhere else
to turn after the Texas Supreme Court twice refused to take up her appeal,
and now there is nowhere to turn at all. She is stuck with one state appeals
court's erasure of her happy seven-year marriage, one which had been recognized
by both the federal and state governments -- including the state requiring
her to make support payments for her husband's children when he became too
ill to work.
It was when Littleton tried to sue her husband's physician for malpractice
that the defendant successfully challenged her standing to sue on the grounds
that her marriage was a prohibited "same-sex" marriage. Her legal marriage
certificate and her legally revised birth certificate meant nothing in the
eyes of a court which proclaimed that "chromosomes, not genitalia" forever
determine gender in its jurisdiction. This ruling was contrary to the expert
testimony the judges heard, and in fact no test was ever made of Littleton's
chromosomes. Texas issues marriage certificates without reference to either
chromosomes or genitalia, but only to drivers licenses and birth certificates,
as has now been shown by two transwomen with female partners who obtained
marriage licenses within the jurisdiction.
Littleton's Texas transsexual attorney Phyllis Frye and her Maryland co-counsel
Alyson Meiselman were devastated by the high court's denial and its implications.
Frye wrote that "everyone in the U.S. who is transsexual or who is intersexed,
plus all of our spouses, future spouses, children and future children, have
an attackable legal sex, an attackable marital status, and an attackable
parental status." The number of people whose chromosomes may not match up
with their appearance could run from 2 to 16 million in the U.S. She warned
heterosexual crossdressers that, "If the conservative legal gatekeepers can
take a twenty-year vagina and make it male, then what legal craziness will
they do next to you crossdressers who have children, spouses and jobs to
protect? It is just a matter of time." She renewed her call for transmen
with gay lovers and transwomen with lesbian lovers to come from all over
the country to San Antonio and obtain legal marriage licenses.
There have been only a handful of related cases so far, one of the more notorious
involving a transwoman's inheritance being challenged by her late husband's
son in Kansas, but their numbers are bound to increase.
Brockton MA Court Rules In Favor Of Transgender Student
GLADD - Boston, October 12, 2000 - A Massachusetts Superior Court in Brockton
ruled yesterday that a middle school may not prohibit a transgender student
from expressing her gender identity even if that expression does not conform
with the sex ascribed to her at birth. In a case brought by Gay & Lesbian
Advocates & Defenders ("GLAD") on behalf of a 15-year old student who
was born male but has a female gender identity (known in court records only
as Pat Doe), the court ruled that disciplining a biologically male student
for wearing girls' clothing would violate her First Amendment right of free
expression and constitute sex discrimination.
According to GLAD Staff Attorney Jennifer Levi who argued the case, "As the
first reported decision addressing the rights of a transgender student to
express her gender identity in school, it is tremendously important. We know
that a large number of transgender students face serious hostility from teachers
and administrators who lack a basic understanding about gender identity.
This case confirms that a school may not exert its authority over a student
simply to enforce stereotyped ideas of how boys and girls should look. Nor
can a school's discomfort with the fact that a biologically male student
has a female gender identity, justify enforcing a dress code in a discriminatory
way."
The case was brought against the Brockton School Department when the school
prohibited Pat from attending wearing what the principal considered to be
girls' clothing. This exclusion from school followed nearly two years of
disciplinary action against Pat for wearing girls' clothing, starting from
the time she began to identify as transgender. The term transgender is used
to describe people whose gender identity, meaning a person's internal, deeply
felt sense of being either male or female, is not consistent with their
anatomical sex at birth.
Despite acknowledging that girls who wore the same clothes Pat did were not
prevented from attending or otherwise disciplined, the school tried to justify
its exclusion of Pat based on other students' discomfort. The court rejected
this argument, holding that prohibiting Pat from wearing girls' clothing
was akin to "the stifling of plaintiff's selfhood merely because it causes
some members of the community discomfort."
The court affirmed that transgender students need the same support and protection
for their safety that other students need. It further recognized that "exposing
children to diversity at an early age serves the important social goals of
increasing their ability to tolerate differences" and teaches "respect for
everyone's unique personal experience."
DeKalb IL Passes Gender Inclusive Legislation
It's Time, Illinois!
DeKalb, IL --- September 26, 2000 ---- At the end of 1998, DeKalb City Council
passed an amendment to the DeKalb Human Rights Ordinance to add the category
of sexual orientation. In August of this year, another amendment was introduced
into DeKalb City Council which would provide protection for transgender and
gender variant people. Last night at the DeKalb City Council meeting, that
amendment was passed unanimously.
The amendment came about through the dedication and lobbying of the local
GLBT human rights organization (CMAD, Community Members Against Discrimination).
The impetus to get the gender amendment introduced came from Kathie Hankins
and Molly Judd, residents of DeKalb and members of both CMAD and It's Time,
Illinois. Molly Judd had been working for a long time with the DeKalb Human
Relations Commission to educate them on the issues. Kathie Hankins really
got the ball rolling a few months ago when she galvanized CMAD into action.
The members of CMAD worked tirelessly for months to introduce and provide
testimony which eventually led to the passage of the ordinance.
According to Norden Gilbert, Director of the DeKalb Human Relations Commission,
the vote was unanimous and there was very little opposition. "On a vote of
6-0 (one alderman absent) tonight, the De Kalb City Council added gender
identity as a protected class under its Human Relations Ordinance without
any special restrictions. Two negative letters in yesterday's local newspaper
urged opponents to come out to the council meeting, but the opposition simply
did not materialize. A motion by one alderman to send the proposal back to
the Human Relations Commission to take another look at the wording of the
definition of gender did not receive a second, and that alderman ultimately
voted in favor of the ordinance [Molly Judd and Kathie Hankins] spoke eloquently
and most effectively before the Council."
The wording for the DeKalb ordinance was suggested by It's Time Illinois.
The ordinance amends the Human Rights Ordinance by replacing the category
of "sex" with the more inclusive category of "gender". The change guarantees
that the group comprising "gender" is inclusive of a person's actual or perceived
gender identity, appearance, or behavior regardless of whether they differ
from those traditionally associated with one's sex at birth.
DeKalb joins Champaign-Urbana and Evanston as the only jurisdictions in Illinois
with ordinances providing protection based on gender identity.
RSI Acquires Outreach Institute Library
CHICAGO, IL - More than 30 years of trans community history collected by
Ariadne Kane, Ph. D., Executive Director of the Outreach Institute of Gender
Studies, have been added to the Rikki Swin Institute Library and Archives
in Chicago. This significant acquisition joins the collections of Virginia
Prince, the late Betty Ann Lind and the complete library from the International
Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) to establish what is possibly the
largest collection of trans community resources in the world.
"This collection is a significant addition to our library," Rikki Kay Swin,
founder of RSI, said in announcing the acquisition. "What I thought might
take years to accomplish is being done in just a few short months as so many
leaders in the trans community are seeing the wisdom in housing important
resources in one secure and openly accessible environment. Thanks to Ariadne
Kane and the OIGS Board, this important new collection will soon to be available
to professionals and the general public for study. Along with our other
collections, it will be far-reaching in helping to promote better understanding
of the trans community and to ensure that trans persons become an equally
acceptable and fully understood lifestyle in our society" Ms. Swin said.
"There is no better place to house this collection than RSI," Ari Kane, widely
known long-time leader, teacher, counselor and activist in the trans community
said. "What I have collected over the years includes not only important
professional research but also everything from academic treatises to complete
sets of newsletters from trans social groups all over the world. All of the
historical materials, including many video tape interviews from twenty-five
years of Fantasia Fair are also included and I am delighted that all of this
will now be catalogued (sic) and accessible for study in such a stimulating
facility as RSI," Ari said. The 26th Annual Fantasia Fair, founded by Ari
Kane in 1974 and still one of the most popular trans events in the country,
will be held again this year in Provincetown, MA from October 15 - 22.
"I'm so excited about what we've been able to accomplish in less than a year,"
Ms. Swin said. "Our new building is being readied and furnished, our acquisitions
are being catalogued (sic) and work is beginning on our educational digital
video series, that will serve to enhance outreach efforts regarding trans
persons. As a relatively unknown and not so well understood group, we have
a lot of catching up to do and my excitement continues to grow as more and
more people become interested in learning more about trans issues. The mission
of RSI is to "Improve the social and cultural acceptance of trans persons",
and the materials contributed by OIGS will go a long way in helping to expedite
our work" Rikki added.
RSI is located at 22 West Ontario Street in downtown Chicago. Its official
opening is scheduled to coincide with the 2001 Conference of the International
Foundation for Gender Education in March. Special events are being planned
including a gala reception at the facility. RSI is also sponsoring well-known
professionals from the United States and abroad who will be presenting at
the conference.
Visit the RS Institute Web Site at:
www.RSinstitute.org for
more information about the RS Institute.
Same-Sex Union an Issue in Vermont
By Ross Sneyd, Associated Press
WILLIAMSTOWN, Vt.- A cluster of demonstrators waited for Gov. Howard Dean
outside Williamstown's 167-year-old library. "Are you bisexual?" one of them
asked. The protesters' signs - "Take Back Vermont" and "Remember in November"
showed their opposition to the state's pioneering civil unions law, which
grants gay couples many of the rights of marriage.
As Dean seeks a fifth two-year term, civil unions seem to dominate no matter
how hard the Democratic governor and his two chief rivals try to focus on
other issues. Recent polls show that slightly more than half the voters oppose
the civil unions law. Dean's favorable ratings have plummeted from 63 percent
in February, before the law was enacted, to 41 percent last month.
The governor's opponents, whose other complaints include a school funding
law and Dean's environmental policies, have been emboldened by the turmoil
over civil unions. "You people are forcing us to teach tolerance and diversity,"
Mike Farnham complained when Dean waded into the group of protesters in
Williamstown.
"What's wrong with that?" Dean responded. The governor ignored Farnham's
subsequent question about his sexuality, but the exchange illustrated how
much of his campaign is spent dealing with civil unions.
Although he signed the measure into law, Dean was not an early champion of
what has become the closest thing to gay marriage in the United States. The
Vermont Supreme Court ruled in December that gay couples were unconstitutionally
denied the rights and responsibilities of marriage. Directed by the court
to remedy the problem, the Legislature drafted the civil union act, which
closely parallels marriage law.
Dean's Republican rival, Ruth Dwyer, is adamantly opposed to civil unions.
But as the governor's encounter in Williamstown illustrates, she doesn't
need to remind anyone of the issue. So she reaches out to voters in both
parties who she believes agree with her on civil unions but may need persuading
on such issues as education, taxes and health care.
Dwyer, a former state representative who lost to Dean two years ago, has
tried to play down her links with strident civil union opponents in the Take
Back Vermont movement. Yet during the campaign she has assailed the National
Education Association for promoting a ``homosexual agenda'' and accused Dean
of ``bribing'' legislators to support the civil unions bill.
She tried to tackle other issues during a recent visit to the Ellison Surface
Technologies factory in North Clarendon, where turbine blades for aircraft
engines are coated. About 20 workers gathered around her on the factory floor
as she discussed school choice, one of her favorite topics. The conversation
turned to civil unions and the widespread opposition to the law, expressed
in a nonbinding referendum in some towns last spring as the Legislature was
debating it.
"Didn't we vote on that?" Kathy Tribioli asked Dwyer. ``He's bowing out of
responsibility,'' she said, referring to Dean, who had visited the factory
a few weeks earlier.
"I do think the governor's trying not to take responsibility," Dwyer said.
Dean leads the race 48 percent to 33 percent, according to a poll of 401
likely voters conducted last week for the Rutland Herald, Barre-Montpelier
Times Argus and WCAX-TV. The poll had a five-point margin of error.
Complicating the scenario is a challenge from Dean's left by Progressive
Anthony Pollina, who qualified for $300,000 in state campaign funding. Last
week's poll showed Pollina's support at just 6 percent, but that could be
enough to deny Dean an outright majority. Under Vermont's Constitution, if
a gubernatorial candidate doesn't win at least 50 percent of the vote, the
new Legislature picks a winner.
The current Legislature is controlled by Democrats, but Republicans are running
strongly. Dwyer's campaign hopes Pollina draws enough votes to put her within
a few points of Dean so the outcome can be decided in the Legislature.
Dwyer criticizes Dean for high health insurance rates, for what she says
is a bad business climate, and for an education initiative that boosted taxes
in some wealthy towns. Her references to civilunions are often oblique. "I
believe you have to listen to lead," she says in a television spot, alluding
to criticism that Dean and the Legislature adopted civil unions against voters'
wishes.
Dean, trained as a physician, tries to stick to education and health-care
themes, but a lot of Vermonters won't let him. "We elected you in good faith
to represent us," Al Day of Williamstown told Dean outside the town library.
"I don't care about your conscience or what you have for breakfast. That's
not what we elected you to do.
The West Wing Takes It To Dr. Laura
By Cynthia HUebscher-Scott
On October 18, 2000 NBC-TV's "The West Wing" made a very public response
to Dr. Laura's ongoing tirade against the GBLT community. There was very
little advance warning that this remarkable piece of television was going
to happen. As far as I can tell, none of the television listings knew about
it. But, considering the viewership of the program, a considerable portion
of the viewing public saw it.
In the final act of this evenings program, entitled "The Mid-Terms," President
Bartlet (Martin Sheen) attended a "meet and greet" White House gathering
of talk radio hosts. Among the guests was a woman who was obviously intended
to be a "Dr. Laura" like character. As President Bartlet is conversing with
this talk radio host, the notion of homosexuality being "an abomination"
comes up. The President responds with the following;
"I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned
in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always
cleaned the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be?
"My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill
him myself or is it okay to call the police?
"Here's one that's really important cause we've got a lot of sports fans
in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus
11:7 If they promise to wear gloves can the Washington Redskins still play
football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point?
"Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother, John,
for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small
family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?
"Think about those questions, would you?"
Now, most of us will recognize that this material comes from the famous "Dear
Dr. Laura" email that made the rounds a month or two ago. Coming out of Martin
Sheen's mouth, on prime time TV, one of the highest rated shows on television,
however, it had a lot more power and authority. Bravo to NBC, Warner Brothers,
and Aaron Sorkin for taking a stand.
Dr. Laura Apologizes to Homosexuals
By Lynn Elber, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - October 11, 2000 - Laura Schlessinger used the Jewish
Yom Kippur holiday _ the Day of Atonement _ to apologize to gays and lesbians
for ``poorly chosen'' words she said have been perceived as hate speech.
"On the Day of Atonement, Jews are commanded to seek forgiveness from people
we have hurt,'' the radio and TV talk show host, who is Jewish, said in a
newspaper ad. ``I deeply regret the hurt this situation has caused the gay
and lesbian community.''
The ad, in the form of a letter signed by Schlessinger, was included in a
special ``Gay Hollywood'' edition of the trade paper Daily Variety. The Wednesday
issue examines progress by gays and lesbians in the entertainment industry.
Yom Kippur, during which Jews fast and seek forgiveness for sins, was Monday.
Schlessinger has been criticized by gay rights activists for referring to
homosexuality as a ``biological error'' and ``deviant.'' In March, she said
she was sorry her radio comments have hurt people. Her words of contrition
then and now failed to placate her critics. "Laura Schlessinger once again
blames others for the impact of her rhetoric, refusing to take responsibility
for her precisely chosen, scientifically inaccurate descriptions of gay and
lesbian lives,'' said Joan M. Garry, executive director of the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "The anger Schlessinger's words have
caused is too great and too profound to simply go away after a qualified
admission of some guilt,'' Garry said in a statement.
Incensed by her characterization of homosexuality, gay rights activists tried
to stop television stations from broadcasting her new ``Dr. Laura'' TV talk
show, which debuted in September. In the controversy's wake, several top
advertisers dropped sponsorship of the show. Although Schlessinger's radio
program is popular, her TV show has earned lackluster ratings so far. Last
month, production was briefly halted in order to retool the show.
The tart-tongued Schlessinger, who holds a doctorate in physiology
and offers her listeners advice and lectures on morality, headlined her Daily
Variety ad, ``A heartfelt message from Dr. Laura Schlessinger.''
"While I express my opinions from the perspective of an Orthodox Jew and
a staunch defender of the traditional family, in talking about gays and lesbians
some of my words were poorly chosen,'' the ad says. "Many people perceive
them as hate speech. This fact has been personally and professionally devastating
to me as well as to many others,'' she said.
Paramount Television Group, which is syndicating the ``Dr. Laura'' TV show,
has said it is committed to presenting social issues without creating or
contributing to an atmosphere of hate or hurt.
Four Canadian TV Stations Axe Dr. Laura
By Melissa Grego, Variety
"Dr. Laura" is going off the air on four Canadian TV stations: CFCF-12 in
Montreal, ONtv in Ontario, BCTV in British Columbia and CKRD in Red Deer,
Alberta. The moves by CFCF-12 and ONtv were expected (Daily Variety, Oct.
4).
BCTV's Roy Gardner, who heads up programming for all four stations, confirmed
Wednesday that the program's run will wrap on the stations on Friday.
The stations are all owned by CanWest Global Communications. Statements released
by each station cited poor ratings for the show. CFCF, ONtv and BCTV have
been airing the show at 3 p.m., and CKRD-TV has been showing it at 3:30 p.m.
"Our audience has voted and, unfortunately, they've cast a 'nay' ballot for
'Dr. Laura' on television. The latter part of the afternoon is very important
to us because it forms the lead-up to our evening news programming and 'Dr.
Laura' just isn't delivering the viewers," Gardner said.
A spokesman for Paramount Television Group declined to comment.
"Dr. Laura" has been protested since its outset by members of the gay community
who have taken issue with comments the show's host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger,
has made on her radio show, calling gays "deviant" and "biological errors."
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued a statement Wednesday
in support of CanWest's decision. "We urge U.S. stations to follow CanWest
Global's responsible example and drop this show," GLAAD exec director Joan
M. Garry said.
What's The Difference Between A Psychiatrist And A Psychoanalyst?
They both reduce the contents of your wallet as much as they shrink your
head. But only one, the psychiatrist, can be found in a light bulb joke.
(How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one, but
it has to really want to change.)
In the spirit of the reality principle, however, a psychiatrist is a medical
doctor who has specialized in problems of the mind. He or she is likely to
use a variety of approaches, including drugs, to heal patients.
Psychoanalysts do not need a medical degree, although they may have one,
and they must have undergone analysis themselves. They are the ones who,
in classical analysis, put their patients on a couch. These patients tend
to have deep problems. With four to five sessions a week the norm, they also
had better have deep pockets.
(Source: DICTIONARY OF MISINFORMATION by Tom Burnam)
The following corporations deserve your support for their commitments to
the GBLT community.
AT&T
American Airlines
American
Express
Anheuser Busch
Ben &
Jerry’s Ice Cream
Coors Beer
Disney
Corporation
IBM
Kodak
Levi Strauss
Miller Beer
NAYA Spring
Water
Neiman
Marcus
Starbucks
Coffee
Subaru
Toyota
SSAFE
News
SSAFE meets Eliot Ness at the Cleveland Playhouse on Sunday, November 5.Join
us for a special fund-raising program that includes a noon hors d’ouerve
reception followed by a matinee performance of the new musical "Eliot Ness
in Cleveland". This is the new musical about the infamous unsolved torso
murders. The reception will also feature Cleveland crime writer John Stark
Bellamy II who will be on hand for a book signing. The cost for reception
& play is $35.00, which is $2.00 less than the box-office price of the
play alone. Call to reserve your seats today!
SSAFE is looking for an Intern to provide clerical and program support. This
is a paid position.
SSAFE and TransFamily
SSAFE
Coalition has voted to accept TransFamily as one of the collaborative
groups. Our name will now appear on all SSAFE brochures along with
GLSEN, PFLAG, and Gay Lesbian Center. We need many of you to volunteer
to help with their projects. Please call the center (216-522-1999) and Judy
Maruszan, identify yourself as a member of TransFamily, and ask what you
can do to help. Their biggest project is the annual fund raiser, which is
held in either March or April (at the Cleveland International Film Festival).
Let's have many of our members available to help with the project. In the
fall, there will be a need for many of our members to speak at area schools.
Please let the center know if you will be available.
Trans information is being required more often at some of the SSAFE seminars.
It is really important to have a transperson represented at some of these
programs. Please help schools better understand how to help trans youth and
take part in these programs!
Call The Center for the location and date for the next SSAFE meeting. And,
for more information on any of the above events, please contact The Center
at 216-522-1999.
Community Calendar
Courtesy of The
Center
November
November 2 TransFamily Of Cleveland, meeting at our usual location,
6:30 pm
November 5 SSAFE Night Out at the Playhouse for "Elliot Ness in Cleveland"
a new musical about the gruesome torso murders. Reception and book signing
before the show with John Stark Bellamy II. Proceeds will benefit the SSAFE
program. Call 216-651-5428 to reserve tickets.
November 7 Election Day Don't Forget to VOTE Today! Then come to The
Center for our election returns party from 7pm-10pm.
November 11 Adoption Network is offering a workshop for anyone in
the lgbt community interested in the adoption process. 10am- noon at The
Center 6600 Detroit Ave. For more info call 216-651-5428.
November 11 Veteran's Day Give a vet a hug and say "Thank you." They'll
appreciate it.
November 14 Reel Lives- three evenings of films followed by discussion.
The first film is "Edge of Seventeen" at 7pm. Then stay for the discussion.
Event co-sponsored by The Cleveland Psychoanalytic Society and the Lesbian/Gay
Community Center. For more info call 216-651-5428.
November 23 Thanksgiving
December
December 7 TransFamily Of Cleveland, meeting at our usual location,
6:30 pm
December 21 Hanukkah
December 25 Christmas
December 31 New Year's Eve
The American Boyz 5th Annual True Spirit Conference
The American Boyz, Inc., a national organization for people who were born
female but who feel that is not a complete or accurate assessment of who
they are (FTMs) and our significant others, friends, families and allies
(SOFFAs), will host its 5th annual True Spirit Conference (TSC) in Washington,
D.C., February 16-19, 2001.
The conference, co-chaired by Mike Sanders and Tynan Power, will feature
interactive workshops and caucuses presented and faciliated by leaders within
the trans+/SOFFA community. Workshops and caucuses will range in subject
from health and wellness; identities; SOFFA issues; legal, political and
activism topics; "out" in the world; relationships; sexuality; spirituality;
and much more. Each night will culminate in entertainment and keynote speeches
from trans+ people and SOFFAs.
The True Spirit Conference is open to all who wish to attend and covers issues
of interest to a broad spectrum of people, including significant others,
friends, families and allies (SOFFAs).
Registration for TSC 2001 will be $60 for advance registration before January
1, 2001 and $90 after January 1. Student registration is $45 at all times;
work scholarships are also available.
The True Spirit Conference will be held in the Washington Plaza Hotel at
10 Thomas Circle, NW. This central location is convenient to public
transportation via the Washington, D.C. subway system and metropolitan bus
routes.
For more information about the conference and to obtain a registration form
for TSC 2001, visit http://www.amboyz.org/TSC/TSC.html or contact Mike Sanders
at hoobieone@aol.com.
To make a hotel reservation, call the Washington Plaza Hotel at (800) 424-1140
or (202) 842-1300; use group #9840 when you make reservations. For travel
arrangements, please call Bruce Forchheimer at 703-522-3777 ext.3106, or
email him at bruce@rttl.com.
Feeling Creative??
Hey folks, we need some input. This family newsletter is for the whole group.
Please share! Turn in articles and ideas as soon as possible so that they
may be included in the next newsletter. Also, don’t forget to inform
us of the date, time and place of upcoming events.
If you have any ideas, articles, poems, etc. for the next newsletter, please
get them to Karen or Cindy at the next meeting, or calling (216) 691-HELP
(4357) or e-mail Karen at
karen_gross@transfamily.org
or Cindy at
cindy.scott@transfamily.org
Promoting Awareness
TransFamily of Cleveland was founded to provide support and education for
transgender persons, their families, friends and significant others. We hope
to form an outreach group to promote awareness of transgender persons and
their issues through PFLAG and to bring awareness to our school systems,
through their principals and counselors, by offering literature, speakers,
consultation and support.
Notice
Organizations, health care providers, gender clinics, etc. If you have a
web site or e-mail address and would like to have us put a link to you on
our web site, please contact Cindy Scott at
cindy.scott@transfamily.org
