10/19/13

Philippines Viral hit "That's my Tomboy" reclaiming defamation or network profiteering?


The Association of Transgenders in the Philippines posted this comment about Yahoo OMG post "Can ‘That’s My Tomboy’ raise equal rights? Almost but not quite, says activist:
"....it's noticeable that ABS CBN have been releasing news and feature articles about transgender people with incorrect pronouns.
We just hope that the launch of That's My Tomboy was to promote the rights of people with non-conforming gender instead of making them a laughingstock while it rakes king's ransom to the network's coffer."




Being totally ignorant I found this in Wiki: about "Tomboy"

"In the Philippines, the term gay is used in reference to any LGBT person. For Filipino gays, the Tagalog phrase paglaladlad ng kapa ("unfurling the cape"), or more commonly just paglaladlad ("unfurling" or "unveiling") refers to the coming-out process. Tibo, T-Bird and tomboy are derogatory terms for butch lesbians just as bakla is for effeminate gay men. Some lesbians, both butch and femme, use the terms magic or shunggril to refer to themselves. Neutral slang terms for gay men include billy boy, badette, bading, and paminta (straight-acting gay man)."

"While many of these terms are generally considered derogatory, they are sometimes used casually or jokingly within the Filipino gay and lesbian community. For example, gay men often refer to their gay friends as bakla when talking to each other."

There was a conflagration within the US trans community about the word 'tranny' that tore at the fabric of our community. A survey albeit unscientific, showed most trans people found the word offensive. Since that debate the "T" word has been generally accepted as defamation. I am curious if "Tomboy" is the same as "tranny" in that regard.

planetransgender has a growing number of visitors from the Philippines. Please share with the planet how you feel about this.


10/18/13

Florence Colorado Transgender student singled out again

The second day I begun my current job I was told about a rumor that was seen using the men's room. It was devastating to me this being the first full time job I had since beginning transition four years before. That rumor cut me so deeply since I had worked as a cashier for years at the Walmart just a few miles away in that small town. Whenever I entered a restroom or existed a stall for months afterward there was utter silence. People would star at my crotch. Whole tables would get up if I sat down at the lunch room.

I brought this to the management's attention and ended up with a department wide meeting that only served to spread that rumor. That was two years ago. Now I am more or less accepted. I have received over three dollars a hour in raises and am looking forward to my next advancement.

But for a young person with no previous life experiences to fall back on these rumors started by Pacific Justice Institute and amplified by Fox Nation are life threatening. The latest 'press release' from the PJI makes no mention of the child specifically but tries to reframe their intent with a wider brush. Curiously there was no mention of 'harassment' in there latest statement only a promise to bring wittiness forward. Again.

Trigger warning! The following video suggests that a transgender student is at fault.

The talking head begins with "Florance high school students say they are uncomfortable with sharing there bathroom with a transgender student." but this statement is not backed up by any of the students. It is a rumor. One propagated by the PJI.



Cristan Williams debunking the PJI lies.



Further exposing lies and rumors a excellent article cross posted from the HRC Blog:

Colorado School District Defends Transgender Students’ Rights

Earlier this week, conservative media outlets, including Fox Nation, circulated now debunked reports that bolstered a bigoted campaignagainst a transgender student at Colorado's Florence High School.
To its credit, school administrators have defended both the school’s policy and the transgender student victimized by extremist attacks.
“This is one parent basically bringing their view point about this situation to the media because they weren’t getting the responses that they hoped they would get from parents, from students at the high school or from the board and myself, “said Florence High School Superintendent Rhonda Vendetti in an interview with The Transadvocate’s Cristan Williams, who uncovered the truth behind conservative media reports.
Superintendent Vendetti continued, "I think it’s just an attempt to elevate the situation to a point where maybe some more attention can be drawn to that in the hope of having a different outcome. There’s not been any incident of harassment or anything that would cause additional concern.”
The Colorado Education Association has also come out in support of Florence High School and the student. The CEA has been working with local affiliates on issues important to LGBT youth and their families, including professional development for educators.
“Our promise to our students is that the Colorado Education Association will lead the way in guaranteeing every student access to the best public education," said CEA President Kerrie Dallman. "As educators we all have a responsibility to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment for every student.  No excuses.”
In August, California passed legislation – the first of its kind – to protect transgender students from this exact form of bullying.
The School Success and Opportunity Act (AB1266) addresses the exclusion of transgender students from classes and activities to ensure all students are provided the same opportunities.  
Under this law, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed on August 12, California public schools must honor the students’ gender identity and expression, including the ability to use the appropriate bathroom.
The discriminatory National Organization for Marriage and other extremists have fought this effort – and any attempt protect transgender rights – using scare tactics around “privacy” and fictional stories of harassment like this one.   
HRC applauds Cristan Williams for debunking the media reports and the Colorado school district for continuing its efforts to provide a welcoming learning environment for all students. 
For more resources on creating learning environments that allow all students to thrive, check out HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schoolsproject and the upcoming Time to Thrive conference.


Attorney Todd Kincannon former South Carolina Republican boss Tweets "trannies should be locked up"



This is a couple of days old but quite honestly I had bigger fish to fry than Todd Kincannon. Now its Kincannon's turn and the girdle is still hot. Good old boy Tod obligingly tweets his self right on in and cooks us up some old fashioned south Carolinian republican hate.... sorry about the stench.

It all began somewhere about here:


Kincannon's Linkedin profile says that he was a former executive director of the South Carolina GOP, but he fails to mention he was only in that position for three months before resigning.



Kincannon is truly small fry and hardly deserving anyone's attention especially since he told a disabled vet he wished he had come home in a body bag.



Kincannon defended this racist tweet on Huffpost live.





We can learn one thing from this. Do not allow yourself to be baited by the likes of lawyers Kincannon or Cathy Brennan. They both seek the same results, its just Kincannon admits to it. It's curious that ether are still practicing law given the American Bar Associantion's stand on transgender inclusion.

South Carolina's Bar Association policy on personal views:

Section 6.3 Personal Views of Mem­bers. Any member who, when making public ut­ter­ance, permits ­himself to be iden­ti­fied as having an offi­cial con­nec­tion with the Bar or one of its divisions, sec­tions, com­mit­tees, boards, task forc­es, or com­mis­sions shall, if the pol­i­cy of the Bar on the subject matter of the utterance has been de­ter­mined by the House of Del­e­gates or Board of Gov­er­nors, fairly state that pol­i­cy and, if he ex­press­es views at vari­ance with it, clear­ly identify the vari­ance as his per­son­al views only. If there has not been, or if he has no knowl­edge of, any such policy de­ter­mi­na­tion, he shall nev­er­the­less identify his ut­ter­ance as his per­son­al views.




10/16/13

Fox News article about a Colorado transgender student 'harassing' girls in the bathroom is a lie

Fox News article "Girls 'Harassed' In School Bathroom By Transgender Student Told His Rights Trump Their Privacy" remains up even though the daily Mail  took down the article and the Examiner retracted their article and offered an apology to the student for not fact checking.

The Christian Broadcasting article about a Florence High School transgender student harassing cisgender girls in the bathroom which started all of this remains up even though it has been revealed as a total lie.

The Christian Broadcasting video:




Cristan Williams posted this interview with the town’s school superintendent.




Petition drive to force a vote on San Antonio's New Lgbt inclusive Ordinance fails



The petition drive to force a referendum on San Antonio's new LGBT inclusive ordnance led by pastor Pastor Gerald Ripley of Abundant Life Church failed to collect the 61,046 signatures needed.
MySA noted that the Cornerstone  was the only mega church that participated. I was part of Soulforce's 2009 effort to reach out to pastor Haggee at Cornerstone.

Evidently we failed at Cornerstone so at risk of sounding to smug I would like to dedicate this version of "Onward Christian Soldier" to Pastors Gerald Ripley and Haggee:

Onward, Fundie soldiers, kill a queer for Christ.
Wait! They are protected — Lord that burns our rice!

Once we ran the government, threw them to the cops,
Now we cannot do a thing but fume and grind our chops!

Slog on, Fundie soldiers, peddling hate and woe —
Now the mainstream shuns us, our lives really blow!

10/15/13

Anonymous #OpMaryville seeks #Justice4Daisy 14yo raped by high school football star

Raped by small town high school football players Daisy was dumped drunk on her front yard on a 20 degree night to die, the two perps confessed with video evidence. You would think this would be a open and shut case.

But charges were dropped and the court case sealed. Then after enduring the hate of the small town the family puts there house up for sale only to have it burned to the ground.




MISSOURI LT. GOV. PETER KINDER CALLS FOR GRAND JURY IN DAISY COLEMAN CASE


Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder
Just received this via email from the office of Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder:
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder today released the following statement urging Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and the Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice revisit a controversial alleged rape case in Nodaway County.
“Since Sunday I have read with growing dismay the media accounts of the Daisy Coleman case in Nodaway County. I make no claim to knowledge of all the facts. Still, facts revealed in exhaustive media reports, including the 4,000-word piece in the Kansas City Star, raise all kinds of questions that it is now clear won’t be put to rest. These questions will fester and taint the reputation of our state for delivering impartial justice to all.
“I am disappointed that the Attorney General would wash his hands of the matter through a brief statement by a spokesman. The appalling facts in the public record shock the conscience and cry out that responsible authorities must take another look. I call on Attorney General Koster and Prosecutor Rice to join me in asking that the Circuit Court convene a grand jury to review all the evidence, hear all witnesses, and issue a decision as to whether charges should ensue.
“I hope that responsible officials will join me in this call for a grand jury to make the final call on whether criminal charges should or should not be filed.”
Everyone save a few media outlets have forgotten the events of this year except one.

Everyone except Anonymous



What can you do?
Courtney Cole the Executive Director at Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus, Executive Director at MO Senate Democratic Campaign Committee and Owner and Manager at MO-Political is coordinating a protest on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at 10:00am they will meet at the Nodaway County Courthouse in Maryville, Missouri. Details can be found on facebook here.

Ms Cole also asks that we "put pressure on Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice who is responsible for closing the case without it being heard. Contact his office at (660) 582-8285 and ask for the case to be reopened or for Rice to turn it over to the Attorney General's office. You may also email Rice at prosatty@embarqmail.com You may also send daisies to the courthouse at 305 N. Main, Maryville 64468. Hold Rice accountable for the decision he made that has created a true injustice."

Two young girls have been raped in the town of Maryville, Missouri. Another high school football star, the grandson of a Missouri state official, has walked free. The people of Maryville turned their backs on these victims and one family has been forced to flee the town. After they left, their house was burned to the ground. On January 8th, a 14-year-old girl named Daisy and her 13-year-old friend were both raped in Maryville. Evidence of this assault was captured on film. Daisy's unconscious body was later dumped into her family's yard, left alone for hours in freezing weather. One of Daisy's attackers was initially in police custody, where he admitted to having sex with her while she was under the influence. He claimed it was consensual. The hospital states the young girl's blood alcohol level was almost twice the legal limit and they discovered three tears inside of her body, 2-4 inches in length. This suspect rapist is Matthew Barnett, a student at the University of Central Missouri. He's the grandson of Missouri state Representative, Rex Barnett. We demand an immediate investigation into the handling by local authorities of Daisy's case. Why were the suspects initially arrested and then released? How was video and medical evidence not enough to put one of these football players inside a court room? What is the connection of these prosecutors, if any, to Rep. Rex Barnett? Most of all, We are wondering, how do the residents of Maryville sleep at night? We have heard Daisy's story far too often. We heard it from Steubenville, Halifax and Uttar Pradesh. In some cases, action meant nothing because it couldn't bring them back. Both Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons, girls not much older than Daisy, took their own lives after the adults, the police and the school system, failed to protect them. If Maryville won't defend these young girls, if the police are to cowardly or corrupt to do their jobs, if justice system has abandoned them, then someone else will have to stand for them. Mayor Jim Fall, your hands are dirty. Maryville, expect us. We Are Anonymous. We Are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Join us. Press: Nightmare in Maryville (via @duganarnett at @KCStar) http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/12/... Timeline of the Maryville Rape: (Peggy Lowe at @kcur) http://kcur.org/post/sexual-assault-m...

Sexual Assault In Maryville: A Timeline

1 a.m. — Daisy Coleman, 14, and a 13-year-old girlfriend sneak out of the Coleman’s home after texting with Matthew Barnett, 17. They go through a basement window at the Barnett home and begin drinking out of what is referred to as the “bitch cup.” Including Barnett, present were Nick Groumoutis, Cole Forney, Jordan Zech and a minor boy.
2 a.m. – Daisy Coleman and her friend are returned to the Coleman home, the younger girl told by the boys to go in and let Daisy stay outside and “vomit.” Daisy is propped up beside the house.
5 a.m. – Daisy Coleman discovered on the front porch of the family home.  She’s wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, her hair wet and frozen. Her shoes, purse and cell phone are later  found by a Nodaway County sheriff’s investigator in the yard. The temperature was 30 degrees.
6:05 a.m.  — Deputy Ian Myers sent to Coleman home on sexual assault complaint. He finds Daisy Coleman incoherent and discovered five plastic bottles that had contained alcohol. Myers also takes as evidence Daisy’s clothes and cell phone. Texts from Matt Barnett are found on Daisy’s phone.  Daisy is taken to St. Francis Hospital. While there, Melinda Coleman tells Myers that Daisy’s friend was also assaulted. She is taken to the hospital, too.
9 a.m. – Among other injuries, Daisy Coleman’s rape exam shows three tears, 2-4 inches in length, which is positive for rape. Her blood alcohol is .14. (.08-.10 blood alcohol level is considered legally drunk.)
7:50 a.m. – Melinda and Daisy Coleman are interviewed at the hospital by Sheriff’s Capt. David Glidden.
9:30 a.m. – The minor girl’s mother is interviewed at the hospital by Glidden. The underage boy, who admits to having sex with the girl, was taken into custody at his home and later taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in St. Joseph, Mo.
10:25 a.m. – Sheriff’s investigators take photos of vomit in the grass outside Coleman home.
11 a.m. – Barnett is interviewed by Glidden at the sheriff’s office. He admitted he knew Daisy had been drinking before he had sex with her, but that she was only “buzzed” at the time and later drank more. He said he used a condom, which he later threw out of his car window as he was taking the girls home. Daisy was crying on the ride home, Barnett said. Barnett’s cell phone is seized. Groumoutis and Forney are taken to the sheriff’s office for interviews. Zech refuses to make a statement.
1:25 p.m. – A search warrant is served at the Barnett home and evidence (bedsheet and blanket, Gatorade bottles, a bottle of Bacardi “Big Apple,” panties, boxers and red plastic cup) was taken.
2:10 p.m. — Groumoutis is interviewed by Glidden. He said his iPhone was used by Zech to video Barnett and Daisy Coleman. The video was 5-10 seconds long and he had already deleted it from his phone, Groumoutis said. The phone is seized.
January 9, 2012
11:15 a.m. — Warrant for arrest of Barnett is served while he was in custody at the Nodaway County Jail.
11:30 a.m. — Trevor Schafer, a friend of Barnett, is interviewed by Glidden. Barnett called him to ask to drive Daisy Coleman and her friend home, he said. Schafer said he drove Barnett, the girls, and the minor boy back to the Coleman’s home. He said Daisy was crying and seemed drunk. Once the girls were dropped off, the minor boy and Barnett had a conversation about how Charlie Coleman, Daisy’s older brother, would “kill them for having sex,” then talked about telling Charlie they found Daisy drunk at a party and dropped her off at home, Schafer said.
January 13, 2012
10:20 a.m. — Zech is questioned at the sheriff’s office by Glidden, at first exercising his right to remain silent. He then decides to talk and admits that he used Groumoutis’ phone to take the video of Daisy Coleman and Barnett, though he said he didn’t think they were having sex. He said Groumoutis then deleted the video. He was arrested while in custody.
February 16, 2012
12 p.m. – Zech is interviewed by Glidden, with his attorney present. He said Daisy Coleman and Barnett went into the bedroom twice and that she drank several-- five to 10 shots of vodka. He admitted to videotaping the two kissing, naked from the waist down. Zech said he didn’t notice if Daisy Coleman was crying, but that she was very drunk and could not walk.
March 13, 2012
Sexual assault charge against Barnett is dropped. Sexual exploitation charge against Zech is dropped.
Sources: Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office; Nodaway County Circuit Court; Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice; Coleman family; St. Joseph News-Press.