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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Follow the link below to see the whole story attached to this headline: KANSAS SPENDS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS DEFENDING ANTI-ABORTION LAWS Imagine what could have been done with half a million dollars for direct patient care or disease prevention. Instead it went to lawyers to support big intrusive government. This is not the GOP of yesteryear, but more like Big Brother. via Kansas Spends Half A Million Dollars Defending Anti-Abortion Laws | ThinkProgress.
See the folks who oppose our equal rights are loud, well funded and organized, but they are small in number. There are many many who might vote against our rights because they hear the lies and misinformation, but all it really takes is shining light against the lies, and these folks become our supporters. Men like these beautiful dancers , through their genuine willingness to be themselves educate the masses and increase the ranks of those who stand with us and see why we deserve full equality.
Additionally, Equality Pennsylvania endorsed five openly gay candidates seeking state legislative offices this year. Adrian Shanker, President of Equality Pennsylvania, stated, “In a state that has never seen an openly gay legislator, it is encouraging to see five well-qualified openly LGBT candidates seeking the opportunity to serve, and all in the same year!” The five candidates are: Roy Christ (Dauphin County), Jeff Dahlander (Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming), Chris Dietz (Dauphin), Kelly McEntee (Dauphin), and Brian Sims (Philadelphia County). Pennsylvania has never had an openly gay state legislator.
As I see it, you homophobes are pretty loud and viscious, but there aren’t that many of you given how big this country really is. Try as hard as you want, and while you may get more signatures, it won’t be enough to really impact the bottom line at Starbucks (and it really is all about the bottom line). But what you will accomplish, is getting one or more homophobes outta line so I can get my morning coffee just a bit quicker! Sounds like a winner for me!
150 Pennsylvanians to meet with Administration officials to discuss issues WHAT: White House Community Leaders Briefing WHEN: Friday, March 23, 2012, 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM WHERE: The White House, Washington, DC. (participants will be departing from points across the state) WHO: Keystone Progress leadership, partners and local community leaders,Thomas C Waters (Pittsburgh PA)—Thomas C Waters, has been invited by the White House to participate in a delegation of Pennsylvanians for a Community Leaders Briefing[Read More…]