Thomas Waters | thomascwaters.com

Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia

Received an email today about the upcoming Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference, May 31st- June 2nd. The 11th Annual Philadelphia Trans Health Conference is nearly here! May 31st through June 2nd at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia we will be offering over 200 workshops and many other activities and events over the 3 days. Visit our website www.trans-health.org to see our new look and get all the information. http://hosted.vresp.com/621626/30005d033c/316969457/0cc6541050/

April 12, 2012 — 1 comment — general, Transgender Discrimination & Issues

Trans Voices for a Trans Solution.

Trans community leaders are pulling together a comprehensive policy that can be presented to Pitt for consideration. This is, if I understand it, a policy that has been used at a number of other Universities. I don’t have all the details, but I want to express that Trans voices are out there and ready to participate in the solution. This is essential for a real solution.

April 10, 2012 — 5 comments — Activism, general, Transgender Discrimination & Issues

Follow-up: Pitt’s SAC and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

But the point that I want to make is that more can happen when people are willing to talk to one another. There are times when this doesn’t happen: one party refuses to talk, or the other party is all about making demands rather than talk. There are real times for loud demands too. but underneath all of it, is a need for people to talk and change what needs to be changed, once it is understood what that may be.

April 10, 2012 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general, Transgender Discrimination & Issues

University of Pittsburgh and Transgender Discrimination

I may at some point write commentary about the policy, but my real interest is illustrating what I am doing, as both an employee as well as an activist/advocate towards this issue of discrimination towards Trans persons at the University of Pittsburgh.

April 10, 2012 — 20 comments — Activism, general, Transgender Discrimination & Issues

Corporate sponsors quit ALEC; Keystone Progress urges PA legislators to do the same

In the past few days, major corporate sponsors of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have indicated they will not renew their memberships to the controversial conservative organization. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Intuit and Kraft Foods announced their departure amid mounting criticism over ALEC’s backing of “Stand Your Ground” gun laws, which have been implicated in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

April 10, 2012 — 1 comment — Activism, Election, general

Hate Crime? Does it Matter?

A Hate Crime is a crime committed against a person or persons with the intent to create fear and intimidation within a group of people, such that the crime is one against persons as a group, for example, against Jews, or Blacks, or Queers. It isn’t clear if this crime meets that criteria or not, and in many ways it doesn’t matter (at least in my book) That a young man was beaten to a point that his friends feared for his very life is the same, no matter if this was a hate crime or not.

April 9, 2012 — 3 comments — general

Scott Brown doesn’t understand progressives.

Scott Brown translation: I might vote for your equality sometimes and I might not vote for your equality at other times. Is that good enough for you? Not good enough for me.

April 5, 2012 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, Election, general

School Vouchers, Charter Schools, and Discrimination.

The linked story is at Pam’s House Blend and deals specifically with a Louisiana bill, but it has ramifications for Pennsylvania, as we debate school vouchers and the rise in charter schools. So check out the whole post. It isn’t that vouchers are theoretically bad. The basic premise sounds as if it is a good thing, and the same holds true for charter schools. There is nothing about them in general which should be al[Read More…]

April 4, 2012 — 1 comment — general

Boston Appeals Court Hears Gay-Marriage Law Case

Saw this on NPR. Does anyone know how the congressional group seeking appeal is called “bipartisan”? I thought it was all GOP? Leave a comment and fill me in on the missing details. In 2010, a federal judge in Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal, declared a key section of the law unconstitutional. Judge Joseph Tauro found that the law interferes with the right of a state to define marriage and denies married gay couples[Read More…]

April 4, 2012 — Comments are Disabled — general, Same-Sex Marriage

REPORT: Philadelphia Courts among “best in country”

Note: While only about 15% of my readers are from the Philadelphia area, I wanted to pass along this press release I received today. Attacks on Philadelphia could soon be attacks on Pittsburgh/Allegheny County. Becoming aware of how myths are used to destroy faith in the system is important if we are to combat those who see to take our government away from us. New Report Shines Light on Philadelphia Courts, Exposes Myths PHILADELPHIA, PA[Read More…]

April 2, 2012 — 1 comment — Election, general

Articles by: Thomas Waters

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