The more frightening part of bills like this however, is considering the door it could open. We know that underneath the anti-same-sex marriage facade is just blatant rejection of gay people- of being gay as an acceptable sexual orientation. If wedding providers can be considered for exclusions and allowed to discriminate, what is to stop restaurant owners, employers, health care providers…
It is one thing to discuss nondiscrimination as a concept, but how does that change when put into practical situations like shower facilities, locker rooms, prisons, etc. Maybe nondiscrimination is the same, and a concept can be equyally applied everywhere. Maybe not.
In this case, the Pitt Administration wants to see a comprehensive policy in place that treats all students, staff, and faculty, fairly, respectfully and trans-positive.
it is true that today, Pitt doesn’t have a good comnmprehensive policy regarding a wide assortmnent of trans issues. They have added “gender identity” to their non-discrimination policy, and they are working through the usual channels to write and then adopt a real and good policy . Life will be better for everyone, once that process is completed, and then, Pitt will have a policy consistent with it’s stated intentions as expressed in their non-discrimination policy. So the progress contihnues.
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/
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.
Is hypocrisy a Biblical principle?
A Texas pastor who has repeatedly called Mitt Romney’s religion a cult is now endorsing the former Massachusetts governor because President Barack Obama “opposes biblical principles.” Dallas pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress first said in 2007 that Romney was not qualified to be president because “Mormonism is a cult.” “Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise,” Jeffress told his congregation. “Even though he talks about Jesus as his Lord[Read More…]