Reporting on Day 9 of GLBT History Month

Today is day 9 of GLBT History Month. In case you live in a closet and don’t yet know: GLBT is a popular acronym for gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender. We’re also now known as LGBT. I have no preference between these two acronyms. We used to be just GLB. Then came T.

Some folks wish to tack on an I for intersex and/or a Q for queer. That’s fine with me too. There’s more.

Such as another Q for questioning.

U for unsure.

A for ally.

Another A for asexual.

P for pansexual or polyamorous.

O for omnisexual.

If you’re S for straight, I guess you’re SOL, LOL. Unless you’re straight but not narrow AKA an ally.

Although so many letters together seem damn ridiculous, they’re A-OK with me as well. I’m pretty sure I don’t know all the acronyms that exist in attempting to be inclusive. I’m sure the acronyms and other labels will increase for those of us who are LGBTIQUAPOSBCDEFHJKMNRVWXYZ123…

GLBT’s have a rich and diverse history. S’s have a rich and diverse history too. H’s for humans also have a rich and diverse history. But let’s take some time to focus on GLBT history. Our history has been much ignored. When not ignored, it’s too often been maligned. We need to reclaim our history and to educate others about it.

Read the rest at julesjoyce.blogspot.com.

Action Alert: Don’t Cry for Me Argentina

After the La Matanza town council in Buenos Aires Province unanimously approved an ordinance requiring staff at county hospitals to call trans, travesti, or transsexual patients by their chosen names, Mr. Juan Pablo Incocciati, the La Matanza County Health Sub-Secretary, rejected it. This prevented the administrative changes needed to implement the ordinance from going ahead. Responding to pressure from activists, Mr. Fernando Espinoza, the La Matanza County Major, has overruled Mr. Incocciati and promised to implement the ordinance.

Among the rights involved in this case are:

The right to be free from discrimination
The right to freedom of expression
The right to an adequate standard of physical and mental health
Action

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) joins Movimiento Antidiscriminatorio de Liberación (M.A.L.) in asking that you send emails or faxes thanking La Matanza county authorities for their commitment to adopting the ordinance stipulating that travestis, transsexual and trans people should be called by their chosen names at public health centers.

Please send your letter to:

Mr. Fernando Espinoza, La Matanza Major
Telephone / Fax: +54 11 44413551
Electronic mail: fernandoespinoza@lamatanza.gov.ar
Mr. Juan Pablo Incocciati, La Matanza Health Sub Secretary.
Telephone / Fax: +54 11 4651-0740 or 4441-6788
Electronic mail: saludpublica@lamatanza.gov.ar
INADI - National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism
Address: Moreno 750, 1º piso, C1091AAP, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Telephone: +54 11 4340 9407
Electronic mail: inadi@inadi.gov.ar
Mrs. Gina Dinardo, Human Rights director La Matanza County
Telephone: +54 11 4441 9130
Electronic mail: gdinardo@lamatanza.gov.ar
Mrs. Silvia Caprino Alejandra Dulce Martines, Ombudsmen of Partido de la Matanza
Telephone / Fax: +54 11 4482 6229
Electronic mail: defensoriadelpueblo_lamatanza@yahoo.com.ar
Dr. Jorge Pueyo, HIV/AIDS Program of Partido de la Matanza
Lic. Gabriela Fernandez
Telephone / Fax: +54 11 4651 1381
Electronic mail: provihlama@yahoo.com.ar
Diana Sacayan, Movimiento Antidiscriminatorio de Liberación (M.A.L.)
(Representative for ILGA-LAC South cone)
Electronic mail: amancaylafe@yahoo.com.ar
Please also send a copy of your letter to:

IGLHRC Latin American and the Caribbean Program
Electronic mail: fdelio@iglhrc.org
Background

Until very recently, travesti people and their families have faced extremely discriminatory, and often hostile treatment at public health centers. Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel have habitually taunted them and made offensive comments about their gender identity, even in cases of severe illness.

In an attempt to promote basic dignity and respect for travesti people, activists from the Movimiento Antidiscriminatorio de Liberación (M.A.L.) and other organizations raised their concerns to the Buenos Aires Minister of Health, Claudio Mate and obtained his support for Resolution 2359, stating that in concurrence with law 13.175 relating to equitable access to health services, “the agreement of public hospitals regarding travesti and transsexual people identifies the need to adopt measures to respect their feminine and masculine identities.” The Resolution also advised health center personnel to use patients’ chosen names. It was ultimately passed and signed on June 5, 2007.

Mr. Edgardo Lobos, a Councilman and member of the Civic Coalition Party in La Matanza, promoted a similar ordinance that was unanimously approved by the La Matanza town council.

However, Mr. Juan Pablo Incocciati, the Health Sub-Secretary for La Matanza, refused to approve the ordinance requiring workers and professionals at hospitals in the county to respect gender identity by calling trans, travesti, or transsexual patients by their chosen names. His refusal meant that the administrative changes needed to implement the ordinance couldn’t go ahead.

IGLHRC and M.A.L. issued an action alert on September 26, 2008, asking people to write to La Matanza county authorities requesting that they adopt without reservations the ordinance stipulating that travestis, transsexual and trans people should be called by their chosen names at public health centers. That same day, several local organizations, including Miser, M.A.L. and Youth for Diversity, held a demonstration against Health Sub-Secretary Incocciati’s position.

The following day, La Matanza Mayor, Mr. Fernando Espinoza expressed his disagreement with Mr. Incocciati to a local newspaper: ” I was unaware of what had happened. Incocciati is an excellent Health Sub-Secretary, but obviously does not understand anything on this topic. I had not seen his opinion, but it is total madness. I fully agree with Mr. Lobos’ project.” To confirm his support for the ordinance, he added, “I have already contacted the councilors of the ruling block to express my opinion. In the course of the next two meetings the project will be approved as ordinance. If not, I myself will present a project from the Executive. Travestis know that they can count on me, like when I was a councilman. What they claim is logical and I am already studying what was done in Rosario City to use it as model.”

Local activists claim that the September 26 demonstration in front of La Matanza City Hall and the action alert issued by IGLHRC and M.A.L. were fundamental to opening a dialogue with civil servants.

IGLHRC and M.A.L. would like to thank everyone who responded to their September 26 action alert. To view that alert and learn more about the issue, click here:

Please Don’t Leave the T out of LGBT

According to a post on planetransgender.blogspot.com:

The Orginal ENDA 2015 submitted in April of 2007 included laungage which afforded protection to transgender people and GLB people regardless of how gay you are.Unfortunately it is of our opinion that political mistakes were made based on incorrect interpretation of history and a skewed sense of political expediecy..Barney Frank is of the opinion that transgender people are new to the advocacy arena and therefor not to be allowed to enjoy the same status as the rest of the GLB community.Transgender people have been in the forefront at the Compton Cafateria and Stone wall riots.The LBGT community has voiced it’s discontent via UNITED ENDA’s 7 million..

Read the rest here.

Survey: Americans Favor GLBT Rights at Work

It has been reported in a recent national survey that seven out of ten heterosexual adults agree that how an employee performs at their job should be the standard for judging an employee, not whether or not they are transgender. The survey also showed eight out of ten heterosexual adults strongly or somewhat agree that an employees performance, not their sexual orientation, should be the determining factor in the employees rating.

The survey also revealed that;

– Three out of four (75%) heterosexuals feel that spouses of married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian employees both should receive leave when they lose a spouse/partner or close family member.
– More than two-thirds (68%) of heterosexuals feel that spouses of married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian employees both should receive leave rights for family and medical emergencies as outlined in FMLA.
– And, almost two-thirds (64%) of heterosexuals feel that spouses of married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian employees both should receive untaxed health benefits under federal law.

Find out more at marketwatch.com.

TransFaith On-Line is Dedicated to Education and More

TransFaith on-line is dedicated to

* educating churchfolk about TransFaith, TransFolk, and OtherWisdom
* supporting Transfolk in our sacred role as OtherWise
* nurturing the expression of the sacred OtherWise

TransFaith on-line seeks to be inclusive of Transexuals, Intersexuals, Crossdressers, Transvestites, and all other Transgender individuals however they may be defined.

TransFaith on-line seeks to be inclusive of all spiritual traditions and orientation — while placing a particular emphasis on support and education within the Christian tradition and Christian communities.

Visit the site here.

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