Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 2

Texas apologizes for foisting George W. Bush and Rick Perry upon us

Yes, an apology is sorely needed from the Lone Star State. This one is fabulous:

Dear America...

NOM's marriage pledge includes a 'witch-hunt' against the gay community

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

While there is a lot of noise being made over the National Organization for Marriage's pledge to supposedly "protect marriage," a passage in that pledge is escaping some much deserved scrutiny. Amongst other things, those presidential candidates who signed the pledge, should they get elected to the presidency, has promised to:

Appoint a presidential commission to investigate harassment of traditional marriage supporters.

In the world of the jaded gay community who has reputedly seen it all from the religious right, even this sentence should raise alarms.

First of all, who would be on this committee? Maggie Gallagher, Brian Brown? Or how about Peter Sprigg or Tony Perkins? Or even worse, Matt Barber? I would say Peter LaBarbera but even I'm not that crazy.

And just what would they investigate or rather how would they investigate certain matters? Remember during the Clinton Administration, how investigations of Whitewater "magically" pivoted to other matters having absolutely nothing to do with legal matters but more about Clinton's personal life?

Whose to say that this "commission" wouldn't turn into a fishing expedition determined to undermine and destroy pro-gay organizations?  And I haven't even mention bloggers. Imagine being called before a committee and forced to give personal testimony about some false claim (which will no doubt be played up heavily by Fox News, conservative bloggers, and religious right groups) simply because you published a fact as to how religious right groups lie. And knowing the folks who suggested the committee in the first place, it certainly isn't a farfetched notion.

No doubt, a list of pro-gay organizations and bloggers to be "investigated" is already forming in the minds of NOM and its allies.

The gay community would do well for itself to lose its jaded pose and get itself into the game of the 2012 election. We already seem to have a huge target on our back this election cycle - as unfortunately we always do every election cycle - so it seems to me that the best thing to do is to stop griping about being targets and start establishing a few targets ourselves.

Uh oh. Now maybe I will be investigated for saying that.

Note - To all of you religious right folks reading the Blend (and you know who you are), I meant targets in a figurative sense. Don't start comparing me to Sarah Palin  PLEASE!

 

WaPo: Obama Admin Should Halt Binational Spousal Deportations

Today the Washington Post weighs in on the dilemma of Bradford Wells and John Anthony Makk, calling it a illustration of the "profound injustices meted out by DOMA" in an editorial today. The Editorial Board's opinion reads:

[Attorney General] Mr. Holder asked an immigration court to determine whether Mr. Dorman should be considered a "spouse" under New Jersey law and thus entitled to stay in the country. Mr. Makk's deportation should also be put on hold, as should those involving anyone in legally recognized same-sex relationships whose only infraction involves immigration status.

It is not easy to win a reprieve from deportation based on marriage to a U.S. citizen. All who make such a claim must not only show proof of their lawful relationship but also that removal would cause an "extraordinary and extremely unusual hardship." But the law at least allows heterosexual individuals to make their cases; that opportunity should be extended to those in same-sex relationships also. Immigration agents enjoy broad discretion and should make it a priority to remove foreign nationals who have committed serious crimes - not those, like Mr. Makk, who are otherwise law-abiding, contributing members of society. Common sense and common decency will go a long way toward avoiding indignities, but true justice will not be achieved until DOMA is wiped from the books.

This is at least the second time the Washington Post has called on the administration to perform this action. Back in May 2011 WaPo, in an editorial implored the administration, "Don't penalize undocumented gay immigrants in civil unions with U.S. citizens," saying:

The attorney general has vacated the court decision and asked the Board of Immigration Appeals whether Mr. Dorman's civil union makes him a "spouse" under New Jersey law and whether, absent DOMA, he would be considered a "spouse" under immigration law. Mr. Holder should erase any confusion by declaring a moratorium on removal of foreign nationals in state-recognized same-sex unions until federal courts determine DOMA's constitutionality. He should ensure that the government is not focusing on breaking up otherwise law-abiding families.

If the administration were to heed the call of the Washington Post to deprioritize the expulsion of all non-citizens in same-sex marriages, it would reap benefits beyond Wells and Makk. Another couple, Sujey and Violeta Pando of Denver, Colorado, face a hearing this Friday that may determine the fate of their five year relationship.

Sujey and Violeta's situation has received considerably less attention, but they face a more immediate threat of deportation than John Anthony Makk. A key hearing that may decide their fate is scheduled for Friday. There are only three days left to save Sujey and Violeta's marriage. Their story after the fold.


Sujey and Violeta Pando (l to r) on their wedding day, Iowa, November 15, 2010.

From Stop The Deportations:  

My name is Violeta. I am a 27 year old American citizen. I live in Denver, Colorado where I was born. I hold a degree in Criminal Justice and work as a Correctional Case Manager. My wife, Sujey, and I, are one of the many same-sex couples who are threatened with being torn apart because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Because of DOMA, I cannot pursue the most obvious solution which would be to petition for her as my spouse; instead we are fighting for asylum due to her past experiences of extreme harm that she suffered in Mexico and her fear of returning there. All our hopes are on this asylum application--a long, difficult and painful struggle for Sujey, who has had to re-live traumatic incidents of physical and sexual assaults--but there is no guarantee that it will be granted. What is so obvious, is that we should never have had to fight in this way at all. We have been together for almost 5 years as a couple and we are married. No American citizen should have to beg for protection for her spouse; the right to sponsor my spouse for a "green card" should be automatic for me as it is for all other American citizens.

The couple moved in together in 2006, and share responsibility for their large brood of pets;  4 dogs, 2 cats, and a red tail Boa. Violeta talk about how grateful she was for the support of Sujey when she was working to get her college degree. Sujey would stay up late with her as she studied and read her term papers.

After a two year engagement, the couple wed in Iowa in November 15, 2010. (Heh, also a red-letter day for this author, coincidentally.)

Sujey's life in America is a respite from an awful childhood in Mexico. There she suffered abuse at the hands of her grandmother who raised her:

Sujey was the victim of extreme cruelty and abuse because she was a "tom boy." One family member in particular was determined to show her "how to be a girl" and raped her repeatedly. No one could protect Sujey. Even the Mexican authorities refused to intervene.

As a little girl, Sujey loved sports. At school, however, she was often in too much pain from her abuse to play sports which would result in dismissal from class. At home, Sujey would get in trouble for being dismissed and would get beaten up by her uncle. Sujey has lasting physical injuries resulting from the physical and sexual abuse she suffered growing up in Mexico. Her history makes me want to cry when she talks about it, but I can't cry in order to support her, I have to be strong and be as optimistic as possible. Some days it is very difficult to keep a positive attitude. I can see the fear in her eyes, sometimes she thinks that her tormentor will come to the United States to look for her. I have to calm her down and reassure that I am here for her and that she is safe.

A heartbreaking history of betrayal from Sujey's family, she is one of many "throw-away kids" who was rejected by her family for being gay. In Sujey's case, not once, but twice:

Once, when she was 16, Sujey was thrown out of her house in Mexico and was forced to hide at a neighbor's house for a few days. Desperate, she decided to call her mother, who by then resided in the United States. Her mother was married, but had never told her husband that she had left a daughter behind in Mexico. On the phone, Sujey's mother refused to help her, but her mother's husband intervened, to his credit, and forced Sujey's mother to go to Mexico to get her. And that is how Sujey was brought to the United States, where for the first time she met her three American-born brothers.

Things were not great in her new American home though. Sujey tells Outfront Colorado of life under her mother's and stepfather's roof:

While her brothers were enrolled in school, Sujey took on household duties. She was the proverbial maid. She was charged with cooking and cleaning.

"It was like living with strangers."

In what little spare time she had, she took odd jobs for her neighbors. She had work, but no support system, no friends. As she learned English, one of the neighbors connected her with a job. There she met co-workers who were like her: lesbians.

They helped her get to and from work. Showed her around Denver. Worked on her English.

And just as Sujey, then 17, was becoming more accustomed to her new life in Denver, she returned home from work to find she was locked out.

From Stop The Deportations:  

A few months after Sujey was brought to the U.S., her mother discovered that Sujey was gay and threw her out into the street. Even though her mother was a green card holder she refused to sponsor Sujey.  Sujey was left to fend for herself and find a way to survive in the United States without any support.

Sujey's undocumented status came to the attention of authorities during a routine traffic stop in 2008. The couple has been struggling ever since. If she is deported she will be barred from re-entering the US for ten years. Violeta says:

"There are no words to describe the anguish we feel as the days countdown to August 19th. We hope and pray for a miracle."

The cruelty of splitting this couple up is compounded by the threat of returning Sujey to a country where she has not lived in since she was just 16, where she has no supportive family and likely no friends. Nothing good can be accomplished by this act.  

This is the sort of situation that Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) was referring to when he introduced the Uniting American Families Act this year saying:

"It is this kind of injustice, this kind of gratuitous cruelty, that motivated me to introduce - and continue reintroducing - the Uniting American Families Act. Gay and lesbian Americans in loving, committed relationships deserve the same rights as everyone else."

This is definitely not the sort of situation that President Obama was discussing when he assured supporters in El Paso, Texas this May what his administration's deportation priorities were:

"But I want to emphasize we're not doing it haphazardly.  We're focusing our limited resources and people on violent offenders and people convicted of crimes -- not just families, not just folks who are just looking to scrape together an income.  And as a result, we've increased the removal of criminals by 70 percent."  (Applause.)

The United States has fallen far behind the rest of the our allies in recognizing the moral imperative to extending immigration rights to LGBT families. Until Uniting American Families passes, or DOMA falls, there are administrative remedies that can be taken to ease these families' burden. And they should be taken.






SAVE THE MARRIAGE OF VIOLETA & SUJEY PANDO:

CALL ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

TO STOP ALL DEPORTATIONS OF SPOUSES OF LESBIAN AND GAY AMERICANS



U.S. Representative Diana DeGette: (202) 225-4431 Denver (303) 844-4988 E-mail

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet: (202) 224-5852 Denver (303) 455-7600 E-mail

U.S. Senator Mark Udall: 202-224-5941 Denver (303) 650-7820 E-mail

Sign The Petition Here.

Amber Yust Settles Her Suit Against The California DMV And Thomas Demartini

Remember Amber Yust? She was the transgender woman who, following California's DMV policy, went to change her name and drivers license gender marker -- only to later receive a letter from the DMV employee who processed her request telling her that she made a "very evil decision."

Amber sued both the DMV -- and the DMV Clerk Thomas Demartini -- and the case has now settled. From the San Francisco Chronicle's Transgender Woman Settles DMV Suit:

A transgender woman who went to the Department of Motor Vehicles in San Francisco to record her sex change - and then got a letter from a DMV clerk saying homosexual acts were "an abomination that leads to hell" - will receive a $55,000 legal settlement, her lawyers said Monday.

Attorneys said Amber Yust's settlement includes $40,000 from the state and $15,000 from Thomas Demartini, who was suspended with pay by the DMV shortly after the incident and quit his job in December.

"This suit promotes the privacy rights of all Californians by ensuring that confidential information retained by our government stays confidential," said attorney Christopher Dolan, who filed the Superior Court case in December.

The Transgender Law Center is also playing a part:

The department also agreed to work with the Transgender Law Center on staff training, said Kristina Wertz, legal director of the center.

Good for Amber; and good for California's trans community. We trans Californians deserve government employees that doesn't harass or discriminate against its trans citizens.

Amber Yust is a hero of mine for standing up to abuse at the hands of a DMV employee, and then creating a positive outcome not just for her, but for her whole community.

~~~~

Related:

* Transphobia As An Apparent Government Function

* California DMV Employee Tells Trans Woman In Letter She's Made A "Very Evil Decision"

* Amber Yust Suing California DMV -- And DMV Ex-Employee Thomas Demartini

* CNN: DMV Employee Resigns Over Letter Condemning Customer To Hell

NCTE: "Yes Medicare Covers Hormones"

From the email blast from the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) entitled Yes, Medicare Covers Hormones:

We often hear from transgender people and doctors who are confused about what Medicare benefits do and don't cover. To address these questions, we've created a new resource that transgender beneficiaries and doctors need to see.

The new resource explains that, while Medicare does not cover sex reassignment surgery, it does cover medically necessary hormone therapy and routine preventive care, regardless of the gender marker in one's records. It also details how to navigate the appeal process if you are denied coverage.

As part of our ongoing federal aging policy agenda, NCTE will continue advocating for sex reassignment surgery coverage in Medicare and ensure that transgender needs are fully addressed in all public health programs.

But what your doctor doesn't know can hurt you. Download and share this resource with doctors and providers to make sure you are getting the coverage you need.

Sincerely,

Mara Keisling

Executive Director

National Center for Transgender Equality

For those of us trans people who are of, or near that age -- or are of that disability level -- to be enrolled in Medicare, this clarification regarding whether hormones are covered under Medicare is significant, and on a very basic level is just a good thing to know.

Adam Carolla: "When Did We Start Giving A Sh** About [Transgender] People?"

This past weekend I went searching the blogosphere for Bert & Ernie related stories, and discovered Adam Carolla had done a podcast that mentioned not only trans people.

There's a particular segment that many be of interest to many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) people where Adam Carolla, and his news partner Alison Rosen, discuss the Change.org petition asking the PBS consider Bert and Ernie's getting married. The segment is about 8-minutes long -- it has some very explicit language in it (begins at about the 1:19:00 mark in the audio):

If you're transgender-identified, this quote may interest you:

When did everybody get fucking lumped in with the gays? Really? What percentage is transgendered? When did we start giving a sh** about these people?

If you're a transsexual who doesn't identify as transsexual, you'll still likely find his comments about penises and surgery pretty offensive.

Maybe some will do the classic antitrans derail that trans community should be able to take a joke.

Well, Adam Carolla doesn't like you much either. If you're in the gay subcommunity LGBT community, you may not particularly like his take on gays and anal sex found in the audio.

And if you're identified with the LGBT community, you may not like that he says that the LGBT community should drop the acronym in favor of "YUCK." And if you listen to the tone of his remarks, this isn't from some scripted jokes, this is him saying what he believes in what he hopes is a funny manner. His audience is yucking it up in the background, so this stuff is funny to some folk, apparently.

Oh yeah, really funny stuff. That is, unless you're part of the trans community -- part of the human race -- that are among those people not worth "giving a shit about."

[More below the fold.]
Well, after listening to the audio, I contacted Jennifer Finney Boylan. She the transgender member of the GLAAD board of directors. She in turn contacted staff at GLAAD, and after their investigation they created a GLAAD entry on this incident entitled GLAAD Taking Action Against Adam Carolla's Anti-LGBT Remarks. Not a glaadBLOG, entry, but an entry on the main website.

From the GLAAD Entry:

GLAAD will be reaching out to its allies in the entertainment world to let them know about Adam Carolla's history of racist and homophobic remarks, following an incident last week.

On his podcast last Thursday, the former "Man Show" host spent several minutes of his show railing against, among other things, the idea of teaching people to respect the transgender community. In his rant, he also told LGBT people to "shut up" because by speaking out about equality, they are "ruining his life" and said that members of the LGBT community should stop using the letters "LGBT" to describe themselves, and should instead use "YUCK."

Carolla at one point asked: "When did we start giving a sh*t about these people?"

Wow, what a great joke.

....This is not the first time that GLAAD has taken issue with statements Carolla has made, and, as evidenced above, LGBT people are hardly the only community about which Carolla has made ignorant remarks. In the past, Carolla has called the people of Hawaii "dumb," "stupid," "in-bred," and "retarded" people who are among the "dumbest people we have." Last year, Carolla referred to a Filipino boxer as being illiterate, having brain damage, and someone who prays to chicken bones - and stated that this boxer was 'all the people of the Philippines have.'

Speaking about LGBT people, Carolla has said that 'all things being equal' - gay parents are 'not as good as' straight parents. This, despite virtually every credible authority on child health and social services (including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Welfare League of America) having determined that a parent's sexual orientation has nothing to do with the ability to be a good parent. Kids of gay parents are just as healthy and well-adjusted as other children. Carolla said himself after he insulted Filipino people, "I try to be provocative [and] funny but I crossed the line and I'm sorry." So it's clear that this type of ignorance is a part of his act, and maybe he thinks that homophobia and transphobia make him 'edgy.' Carolla should own up to the harms of his words and educate himself about the hardships and disrespect the transgender community faces every day. Unfortunately, based on his track record, that may be a lost cause.

Well, here's a partial list of entertainment and news related sites covering the story:

TV Guide





The Hollywood Reporter





Entertainment Weekly





Perez Hilton





TMZ





The Advocate





E! Online

Adam Carolla, according to E! Online, TMZ, and The Advocate has -- in E! Online's words -- "kinda apologized" for his comments:

"I'm sorry my comments were hurtful. That being said, I'm a comedian, not a politician."

I have two points.

The first is that I covered the Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial from the courtroom. People who no doubt still "giving a sh**" about Angie are her family members, her fiends, and her peers trans community. And, of course, there are many other trans people who've died at hateful hands who family, friends, and community peers care about.

And there are many who don't give a sh** about trans people who, like Adam Corolla, probably should care a bit more about trans people than he did.

The second point I'd like to make is that it didn't have to be me to send that email off to GLAAD. Anyone in community could have done the same thing, and had GLAAD respond exactly in the same if they were the one who contacted GLAAD instead of me.

I'm back to quoting Bayard Rustin:

"[T]he job of the gay community is not to deal with extremists who would castigate us or put us on an island and drop an H-bomb on us. The fact of the matter is that there is a small percentage of people in America who understand the true nature of the homosexual community. There is another small percentage who will never understand us. Our job is not to get those people who dislike us to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights movement to get prejudiced white people to love us. Our aim was to try to create the kind of America, legislatively, morally, and psychologically, such that even though some whites continued to hate us, they could not openly manifest that hate. That's our job today: to control the extent to which people can publicly manifest antigay sentiment."

~Bayard Rustin; From Montgomery to Stonewall (1986)

And Roz Kaveney's Six Axioms Of Transgender Activism (emphasis added):

1.) Display solidarity with all our trans brothers and sisters.

2.) Build alliances by getting involved as ourselves in other areas of politics.

3.) Refuse to let journalistic and intellectual attacks on our community go unanswered - we can have and keep the moral high ground.

4.) Be creative, be smart, be ourselves, and don't let anybody tell us who we are and what we do.

5.) Refuse the pathological model - we are not sick, just different.

6.) Refuse those politics - heterosexism, body fascism - that work against all of the above, but especially #1.

We, in LGBT community, have the opportunity to control anti-LGBT sentiments -- if we make an effort to highlight anti-LGBT sentiments spoken by public figures. The benefit is that in holding people -- especially public figures -- to account for their anti-LGBT sentiments, we create the kind of America where legislatively, morally, and psychologically, even though some people continue to hate lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, they will not be able to, without consequence, openly manifest their hate...their contempt.

And, any of us can that holding to account for anti-LGBT sentiments.

 

WA: Attorney General Rob McKenna makes special exception for anti-gay candidate

Washington state's Attorney General Rob McKenna tipped his anti-gay hand last year by endorsing many of the most virulently anti-gay candidates in the 2010 election.  After the election McKenna went the extra mile and used his own campaign email list to rustle up supporters to do ballot rehab for two such candidates.

So far this year Mr. McKenna has focused on his own gubernatorial campaign to the point where he has neglected to promote candidates in other races on either his Facebook or Twitter page.  With one notable exception: Mike Hope.

Rep. Mike Hope (R-Lake Stevens) was elected to the Legislature in 2008 to represent LD 44.  But now he's running for the position of Snohomish County Executive.  Here is how he voted on key LGBT civil rights legislation since being sworn into legislative office:

Nay: Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill of 2009 (SB5688)

Nay: Out-of-state marriage recognition bill (HB 1649)

Hope's campaign lags 2-to-1 behind that of his Democratic rival, Snohomoish County Executive Aaron Reardon, in funds raised.  And, the announcement of Hope's candidacy in local newspapers (here and here) generated no interest on those websites.  In other words, Mike Hope is not likely to win the election.  Yet McKenna not only tweeted and Facebooked about his participation in a fundraiser for Hope's campaign for county executive, he posted the above picture of himself speaking at the event.

Other pictures that McKenna has posted of himself during the run up to the primary election place him in the company of those he clearly wants to be associated with for the benefit of his campaign.  Given that McKenna made an exception to his primary campaign "rule" about only promoting his own campaign, and given that he only appears to post pictures of people and events he wishes to be associated with, it would seem that Mr. McKenna is proudly going out of his way to support and associate with a proven anti-gay politician.

Although Washington is closely divided along party lines, the electorate has proven itself to be fair-minded on issues like a woman's right to choose, the right of terminally ill people to choose to die with dignity, and civil equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families.  McKenna is clearly cognizant of this because he labors to project a moderate image.  But McKenna's unusual support for Mike Hope would seem to confirm what we observed last year, that Rob McKenna harbors deeper anti-gay convictions than he will admit to.  As such he is out of step with the majority of the Washington electorate.

Related:

* Attorney General Rob McKenna's moderate facade hides an anti-gay plotter

* Attorney General Rob McKenna promotes ballot rehab effort for anti-gay candidates

GLSEN issues cease-and-desist letter to Family Research Council

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

This morning, GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) issued a cease-and-desist letter via its attorneys to the Family Research Council "demanding that FRC cease distribution and publication of a video clip containing false and defamatory statements about GLSEN, as well as any other similar false and defamatory statements that may be contained in a longer video associated with that video clip."

 The cease-and-desist letter has to do with the video below in which Tony Perkins, head of FRC, and Brian Camenker, head of the Massachusetts anti-gay group Mass Resistance claimed that GLSEN and the Massachusetts Public Schools distributed an explicit safe-sex guide called The Little Black Book to fifth to ninth graders at a conference in 2005:

But this claim has been debunked several times.

Most specifically, the group Media Matters conducted a detailed debunking of this claim in December 2009.

In a May 19, 2005, article, The Boston Globe reported:

Fenway Community Health officials yesterday said they left about 10 copies of the ''Little Black Book" on an informational table they rented at a conference sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network of Boston. The annual event, held on April 30 at Brookline High School, was aimed at high school students, educators, counselors, administrators, and parents. The ''Little Black Book," produced by the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, is targeted at 18-and-older gay men, according to the committee. The book uses vivid descriptions and colloquial terms to describe the ways HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases can be prevented and spread.

A Fenway Community Health employee brought the pamphlets along with other materials and put them on the table by mistake, said Chris Viveiros, a spokesman for Fenway Community Health.''

Fenway Community Health regrets accidentally making available a small number of copies of the Little Black Book, an HIV-prevention publication for gay and bisexual men over the age of 18, at an event where young people were present," said Dr. Stephen Boswell, Fenway Community Health's president and CEO.

 

Furthermore:

From the Globe article:

Sean Haley, executive director of the education network (GLSEN), which sponsored the conference, added: ''We have very clear policies that sexually explicit material of any kind will not be made available at the conference. Had I seen the book, I would have asked them to put it away.

At the start of the event, Haley said, network officials scanned each of the 10 tables it had rented, for $35 apiece, to outside groups. He said nobody saw the pamphlet at the time. ''We're just going to have to be more rigorous in our review of materials," he said.

Haley said that about 500 people attended the conference, roughly half of them students. He said only ''a handful" were younger than high-school aged.

On May 18, 2005, WHDH 7News Boston's Sean Hennessey reported that Brookline Superintendent of Schools William H. Lupini says that "none of his students, he believes, took the [Fenway] book home."

 

In its cease-and-desist letter, GLSEN said the following:

The false statements in the FRC video can do real and lasting harm to our work. FRC has made those false and defamatory statements in an obvious effort to raise money, undermine GLSEN’s work and maintain the status quo: school systems where LGBT students face unacceptable levels of harassment and violence and where anti-LGBT bias is a weapon of choice for bullies. We must respond forcefully and aggressively to defend our ability to fulfill our mission, and to protect ourselves and our partners in this critical work – the countless people in school communities across the country who work with GLSEN and our chapters to ensure safe and affirming schools for all students, utilizing our resources, attending our trainings, advocating with us for urgently needed change to make a positive difference in schools.

Both the FRC and Mass Resistance have been designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as anti-gay hate groups due to what SPLC calls an intentional spreading of demonizing propaganda against the gay community and pro-gay organizations.

Taking the conversation where critics aren't allowed to follow

A vigorous debate was sparked by my recent diary about the anti-trans letter that Cathy Brennan and Elizabeth Hungerford submitted to the United Nations.  However neither Brennan nor Hungerford were willing to participate in a meaningful dialog on Pam's House Blend.  Instead they've opted to post a response to some of the criticisms their letter has generated at Radfem Hub, a blog with the following rule:

The Radfem Hub has a woman-born-woman and female-identified commenting policy (both!).

This rule prevents men and trans woman -- the target of their letter to the UN -- from posting a comment.  I believe this makes Radfem Hub what is called an echo chamber.  It indicates that Brennan and Hungerford believe that they cannot make a convincing argument to those not already in full agreement with their views.  It is a capitulation.

Related:

* Cathy Brennan & Elizabeth Hungerford take their anti-trans activism to the UN

* No Matter Who Expresses The Sentiments, Antitrans Sentiments Are Antitrans Sentiments

Remembering Christina Santiago

At least four people were killed and dozens more injured yesterday at the Indiana State Fair when a storm caused a stage to collapse. CNN has more coverage and video here.

Among those lost was Christina Santiago, manager of programming for the Lesbian Community Care Project at Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago, IL. The Chicago Sun-Times has more coverage here.

She is survived by her partner Alisha, who was seriously injured in the same accident. Our thoughts are with all who mourn the loss of Christina. Their grief is personal, but the whole LGBT, Latino and progressive community will clearly be poorer for Ms. Santiago's absence.

A statement from Howard Brown after the fold.
From Howard Brown Health Center:

CHICAGO (August 14, 2011) - On Saturday, Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) lost a treasured colleague and a community champion for women's health, Christina Santiago, manager of programming for the Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) at HBHC. Santiago died tragically with four others when a concert stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis.

"The sudden and devastating loss of Christina has left the entire community, including her Howard Brown Health Center family, heartbroken," said Jamal M. Edwards, President and CEO of Howard Brown Health Center. "Christina was an amazing woman - one of our very brightest stars - who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of women, particularly lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Christina's friends and family, and her beautiful partner Alisha Brennon, who is also a dear friend of HBHC and was severely injured, but not killed, in the accident."

"Santiago was our manager of the Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) at Howard Brown Health Center, and worked at the health center for nearly six years. She has been a leading and driving force in the expansion of our women's health services division and a powerful advocate for all LGBT women," continued Edwards.

During her career at HBHC, Santiago was quickly recognized as a rising star. She recently received HBHC's 2010 Spirit Award; the highest staff honor. With a list of honors from outstanding employee recognitions to being named to the Windy City Times' "30 Under 30" list in 2007, Christina was an instrumental figure in the expansion of our women's health services division as the manager of LCCP and a strong advocate for the LGBTQ women's community.

Santiago was helping lead HBHC's new women's health initiative for LBTQ women through the LifeCycle Project, a healthcare initiative designed to meet the growing needs of the entire LGBTQ community throughout the entire lifecyle.

"Her passion and leadership for caring for others will be deeply missed by the Howard Brown family and the LGBTQ community.  Her star is irreplaceable both at HBHC and in the community" added Edwards.

HBHC and Amigas Latinas are hosting a short vigil to mourn Christina and pray for her partner, Alisha, on Sunday at 5pm at HBHC's Sheridan Road Clinic.