thomascwaters.com

I’m disappointed to see ignorance win over equality, but I think two things are clear:

• The opposition to anti-discrimination laws (who are the same as those who oppose gay marriage, and any other gay rights-type legislation) has no interest in allowing ANY legislation that would seem to give any protection to GLBTQ people.
• As fewer people know a transperson, the lies and exaggerations are easier for the general public to accept.

Consider this:

Peyton Hinkle, a Merrimack Republican said the bill would provide an invitation for predators to enter bathrooms and, when confronted, say they were “just having a transgender experience.”

This displays a number of things. First is a total lack of understanding about transgendered people. If I put on a dress and went into a women’s room, I wouldn’t be having a “trans experience.” I’d be a guy in a dress who is someplace he doesn’t belong. Hinkle’s comment was challenged:

“A sexual predator in a dress is a sexual predator and subject to prosecution just as any other sexual predator is subject to prosecution,” said Walpole Democrat Lucy Weber.

But fear is a strong motivator!

So I have a few thoughts or questions?

What do we  (not even sure who we is) do to educate the public about transgendered people?  Will that make any difference?

Our opponents always  seem to focus on MTF transpeople. Do they even realize there are FTM transfolk?

And what about public restrooms? As a kid I don’t remember stores and other public spaces having public access restrooms, yet today, they seem to be everywhere. Although the trend seems to be at having unixsex restrooms, where only one person can enter, and lock the door at a time. What is the social and political responsibility to the average person in terms of restrooms? Sometimes these changes seem to accompany changes to restrooms to make them handicap accessible. Will this type of issue become irrelevant as restrooms continue to change?

The issue of transgender is complex. I have been working to understand transpeople for over 10 years. I can totally grasp and accept that some people experience themselves as born into the wrong gender. Sometimes these are folks who were gender ambivalant at birth and the doctor or parents made a choice (that turned out to be the wrong one). but for the average straight person, who thinks in terms of male or female- to get their head around transgender takes some work.

Anti-discrimination laws tend to be worded to protect people in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Would we get further if we stopped seeking this broad protection, and sought only housing and employment? My gut says, it wouldn’t matter. The bigots will still be against it, but what do you think. No matter, the ease at which fear wins out when it is an issue of transpeople, demonstrates we have a lot of education to do for us to begin to make more headway.

N.H. House rejects transgender rights bill.

A few days ago I began to gather together content about PA HB 300, especially the myths and exagerated stuff being published by opponents. Today’s addition is neither a myth nor an evocative misrepresentation. Nope. This is just downright stupidity.

PA HB 300 adds language to the state’s existing anti-discrimination law to provide protection in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It adds the terms, “Sexual Orientation” and “Gender Expression.”

Stupid (his or her name is not listed) writes:

If a gay manager fires a transgender employee or if a lesbian manager fires a heterosexual employee, would these firings be considered discriminatory? Maybe yes, maybe no. The language in HB 300 assumes that since gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders are within the same identity group (sexual preference or expression), then it couldn’t be discrimination.

I hope intelligence is not merely biological, because I feel sorry for Stupid’s kids!

This legislation provides protection based on sexual orientation. so a person (Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Heterosexual) can not be fired based solely on their sexual orientation. If I was Stupid’s boss, I would sure want to fire him/her, but if I did it because s/he was straight, I couldn’t. If I fired the person for not doing their job, that is fully within my rights as a manager. All businesses have a right to expect their employees to meet a level of work performance. But they do not have the right to hire or fire baed on a number of factors already in law within the state, and when PA HB 300 passes, based on sexual orientation and gender expression.

Stupid continues:

However, in the second example, the heterosexual being fired by the lesbian manager would not protect the heterosexual on an equal basis because they are outside each other’s group definition.

Here is where I think so often conservatives and those who oppose equal rights get it wrong. They are so obsessed with how people are different, ad try to place people into groups and determine who is inside and outside, that they miss the truth, and how we are all alike and how we deserve the same thing. They often operate from the perspective that we want special rights (which we do not) and so from this vantage point of “difference,” the miss the reality of what this legislation and the whole equal rights movement is about.

In both of Stupid’s examples- the sexual orientation of the manager is irrelevant. The employee is protected against being fired based solely on their sexual orientation. This includes heterosexuals as well as gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.

Stupid concludes:

A law that does not apply to all people equally is unfair and unconstitutional.

Actually, this is the smartest thing Stupid has said so far! Got that right- a law that does not apply to all people equally is unfair. PA HB 300, by adding sexual orientation and gender expression allows PA’s existing anti-discrimination legislation to apply to all people bringing a greater level of fairness to employment, housing, and public accommodations.

The last thing I want to say is that this legislation doesn’t provide protection from being fired. A person can be fired, and can claim discrimination. But the employer would have to demonstrate the reasons behind the firing, and that reason could not be because of the sexual orientation. The State’s Human Relations Commission is there to assist anyone who feels they have been wrongfully treated.

http://pittsburghblogazette.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2009/3/23/4130963.html

The first link is to a newspaper article detailing how there has been a rise in anti-gay hate crimes. Of the total hate crimes reported in 2007 and 2008, the anti-gay hate crimes increased by 39%

According to Kaplan, at the Mercury News:

A hate crime is defined as a criminal act committed in whole or in part because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim: race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or association with a person or group with one or more of these characteristics.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11921999?nclick_check=1

The next link provides an interesting counter point to this. California Prop 8 supporters are appropriating queer language to describe how Christians are being treated.  Specifically Christian Bashing.  The first link below is a blog entry and video which explores this. Very worth watching, even if it is a bit hard to watch at places.

Yes on 8 = Yes to hate crimes « .

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) supports amending the PHRA to include protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The PHRC enforces the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.  The Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.  The PHRC opposes discriminatory acts against all individuals, including those who belong to classes not currently protected under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

Provided by the
Value All Families Coalition
For more information, contact
Jake Kaskey at
jkaskey@equalitypa.org or
(215) 731-1447 ext. 14.

Too many of our citizens are not covered by their employer’s policies or their municipality’s laws.

Discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, effectively denies qualified individuals equality and opportunity.  The lack of uniform policy across the state leads to confusion for employers and employees and protects only those Pennsylvanians who work in one of the municipalities that prohibits these types of discrimination. Based upon 2000 US Census Data, 79% of Pennsylvanians are not covered by a non-discrimination ordinance.

Provided by the
Value All Families Coalition
For more information, contact
Jake Kaskey at
jkaskey@equalitypa.org or
(215) 731-1447 ext. 14.

Pennsylvania has already taken steps in this direction.

In 1975, Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp issued the first state executive order banning discrimination in state employment on the basis of sexual orientation.  This executive order has been reissued by each of Governor Shapp’s successors and now also includes gender identity or expression.  The following Pennsylvania municipalities prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or both: Allentown; Easton; Erie County; Harrisburg; Lancaster; Lansdowne; New Hope; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Scranton; State College; Swarthmore; West Chester and York.

VALUE ALL FAMILIES COALITION

Contact:
Jake Kaskey, Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, 215-731-1447 x14 (o) 215-407-5313 (m)
Andy Hoover, ACLU-PA, 717-236-6827 x13 (o), 717-514-2747 (m)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2009

House State Government Committee Passes Legislation to End Discrimination

(Harrisburg, PA) – Members of the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee today passed legislation out of their committee prohibiting discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in housing, employment, and public accommodations by a vote of 12 to 11.

“Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people across Pennsylvania thank members of the State Government Committee for their commitment to basic fairness,” said Jake Kaskey, policy and outreach coordinator of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania.  “This legislation has broad support from all corners of Pennsylvania, so we look forward to the bill moving to the floor of the State House for a vote.”

Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny County) introduced the bill, House Bill 300, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” as protected classes, on March 4 with a record 79 co-sponsors from both parties and from across the commonwealth.

“I’m very pleased committee members took the first step in providing basic protections for all Pennsylvanians,” Frankel said. “Pennsylvania is at a competitive disadvantage when it does not protect all of its citizens against discrimination, and I look forward to the entire House voting to pass this important legislation.”

House State Government Committee Chairperson Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia) held public committee hearings on similar legislation in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie last session.  “I’m excited that the committee has finally passed this important legislation,” Josephs said. “Ensuring every citizen of this state has the opportunity to work, and retain housing, is a core principle of fairness for all Pennsylvanian.”

House Bill 300 will now move to the entire House of Representatives for a vote.

“We are very encouraged to see this important legislation successfully passed through the State Government Committee,” added Andy Hoover, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. “We hope the full House takes up this bill quickly and deliberatively.”

Current Pennsylvania law provides basic legal protection against discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, handicap or disability, education and the use of a guide dog. Thirteen Pennsylvania municipalities have already enacted civil rights laws including protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, but nearly eighty percent of the state’s twelve million residents live or work in communities that do not provide these protections. Twenty states in the country have similar laws, including our neighboring states of New Jersey, Maryland and New York.

Pennsylvanians from every corner of the state are meeting in the Capitol Rotunda at 1:00pm on Tuesday, March 17, to rally in support of House Bill 300.

The Value All Families Coalition is comprised of diverse statewide, regional, and local organizations that support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians.

Business Has Lead the Way

Many major businesses in Pennsylvania have employment policies prohibiting such discrimination. More than 100 employers, including some of the largest corporations, in Pennsylvania have non-discrimination policies including sexual orientation and/or gender identity.  462 Fortune 500 companies, including all 27 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Pennsylvania, prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation. These companies recognize that attracting and retaining the best workers is critical, and that employers with a reputation for respecting diversity are at a competitive advantage with these protections.

Pennsylvania Headquartered Fortune 500 Companies with Non-Discrimination Policies including sexual orientation:

• Air Products & Chem.
• Alcoa
• AmerisourceBergen
• Aramark
• Cigna
• Comcast
• Crown Holdings
• Erie Insurance Group
• H.J. Heinz
• Hershey Foods
• Ikon Office Solutions
• Jones Apparel Group
• Lincoln National
• Mellon Financial Corp.
• PNC Financial Services
• PPG Industries
• PPL
• Rite Aid
• Rohm & Haas
• Sunoco
• Toll Brothers
• UGI
• Unisys
• United States Steel
• Universal Health Svcs.
• Wesco International
• York International

Provided by the
Value All Families Coalition
For more information, contact
Jake Kaskey at
jkaskey@equalitypa.org or
(215) 731-1447 ext. 14.

We are Not Leaders, but Behind Many Other States

Many states have already amended their state civil rights laws to protect against this kind of discrimination.

Twenty states: California, Colorado, Connecti- cut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia have laws protecting gay, lesbian,  and bisexual people from discrimination.  Thirteen states also prohibit discrimination against trans- gender people through legislation or case law.  Almost 300 municipalities in the United States, including 14 in Pennsylvania, have civil rights protections based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, or both.

Of the places within Pennsylvania that already offer these types of protections, Pittsburgh, has had it on the books for almost 20 years. Opponents often suggest horror stories if such a law is passed, however, there is no proof to support these exagerated fear-tactic claims. Yet, without such protections on a larger level than the city, it is possible to live where there is protection, and work, where there isn’t. This creates a lack of safety and corrodes a sense of security. At a time when we need to be bringing young productive and creative people into our state, many choose to leave or select other more welcoming states.

This change will make Pennsylvania  competitive with our neighbors

Our neighboring states of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York already have laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Today starts a multi-day series looking at the talking points about why the changes, HB 300 would bring to Pennsylvania are important. A link to the legislation is below.

#1 Current Law Provides Basic Protections

Current Pennsylvania law provides basic legal protection against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, handicap or disability, education and the use of a guide dog, but not sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Amending the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression would provide basic protection to ensure fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians.

But not only does it provide protection to GLBTQ pennsylvanians, but to those people who are not GLBTQ, but who are perceived to be. Many hate crimes, some that end in death, are perpetrated against people, not based upon a known identity, but baased upon a split second perception. This was the case in a recent Neww York hate crime that resulted in the death of a man from South America. Here, legally, and working to send money home to raise his family, a man was targeted because he had his arms around another man. The men turned out to be brothers, and were trying to keep warm in the cold. Today, a man’s widow and children, already very poor, are without their breadwinner because of a false perception.

Perceived to be GLBTQ or actually identified as GLBTQ, all residents of the state deserve these basic protections.

PA HB 300

PA Rock the Dome Rally