On Wednesday, August 19th, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) opened the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey (USTS), the follow-up to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, in attempt to gather a more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of transgender people in the United States. The 2015 US Trans Survey is expected to be the largest, most extensive study ever undertaken of trans lives in America.
The USTS will cover a wide range of topics that reflect the lives and experiences of transgender people today. More specifically, the USTS will assess transgender people’s experiences including in employment, housing, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, disabilities, immigration, sex work, and police interactions. Participants will have at least one month to complete the survey. Results are projected to be released in Spring of 2016.
“We’re at a critical moment for trans people in America, but there is basic, fundamental knowledge that we do not have,” said executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, Mara Keisling. “While we’re aware that trans people face extraordinary challenges, we cannot discern how frequent or widespread they are without up-to-date data. The survey will provide us with robust, fresh data, which will translate into significant knowledge about the trans community.
“This is a survey for all trans, genderqueer, and non-binary people. It is for us, about us, and by us," continued Keisling. “Just like the first survey, the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey will help expand our understanding of trans experiences in the U.S., and inform life-saving laws and policies that meet the needs of our communities. It will help us develop the information we need to understand the realities of our lives. Because this is the community’s study, the results will be available to community members, organizations, and researchers for years to come.”
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
'No Kiss List' to Donate Percent of Pre-Sales to The Trevor Project
The filmmakers and talent behind the upcoming film Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List have joined forces with The Trevor Project
to both drive awareness of the organization and provide donations
through a commitment of 10% of all preorders of the film. The Trevor
Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people
ages 13-24.
Based on the novel by the authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Victoria Justice (“Victorious,” “Eye Candy”) and Pierson Fodé (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) star in the coming of age story, Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List, available exclusively on iTunes September 18 and additional digital platforms on October 2.
Additionally, information about The Trevor Project will be distributed on the No Kiss List social channels, featured on the film’s website and disseminated to the No Kiss List Club; cast members Victoria Justice, Pierson Fodé and others will also be supporting the program with social posts and personal appearances at upcoming Trevor Project events. The Trevor Project will also be supporting the collaboration through their social channels.
“The Trevor Project is near and dear to my heart and I am very happy that we can use the launch of our film Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List, of which I am so proud, to support the organization,” said Victoria Justice.
Added executive producer, Skip Klintworth, “This is a wonderful way to give back and support The Trevor Project, which does so much good in a world where things do ‘get better,’ but still have a long way to go.”
“We welcome the tremendous support and contributions that Skip, Victoria, Pierson and others connected to No Kiss List are making,” said Steve Mendelsohn, Deputy Executive Director, The Trevor Project. “When young influential people such as these get involved and help to carry our message of crises intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth, it makes a huge impact.”
Based on the novel by the authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Victoria Justice (“Victorious,” “Eye Candy”) and Pierson Fodé (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) star in the coming of age story, Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List, available exclusively on iTunes September 18 and additional digital platforms on October 2.
Additionally, information about The Trevor Project will be distributed on the No Kiss List social channels, featured on the film’s website and disseminated to the No Kiss List Club; cast members Victoria Justice, Pierson Fodé and others will also be supporting the program with social posts and personal appearances at upcoming Trevor Project events. The Trevor Project will also be supporting the collaboration through their social channels.
“The Trevor Project is near and dear to my heart and I am very happy that we can use the launch of our film Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List, of which I am so proud, to support the organization,” said Victoria Justice.
Added executive producer, Skip Klintworth, “This is a wonderful way to give back and support The Trevor Project, which does so much good in a world where things do ‘get better,’ but still have a long way to go.”
“We welcome the tremendous support and contributions that Skip, Victoria, Pierson and others connected to No Kiss List are making,” said Steve Mendelsohn, Deputy Executive Director, The Trevor Project. “When young influential people such as these get involved and help to carry our message of crises intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth, it makes a huge impact.”
Bad Excuses For Misgendering Transgender Victims Of Violence
Transgender
homicide victims are frequently misgendered in local media reports about
their deaths. Though some news outlets may be motivated by transphobia
and bias, others -- like The Kansas City Star -- have justified the practice of misgendering transgender people by using shoddy appeals to journalistic integrity.
On August 15, Tamara Dominguez became one of the transgender woman of color to be murdered in the United States when she was repeatedly run over by an SUV. According to local reports, the Kansas City Police Department identified Dominguez using both her birth name and her preferred name, Tamara.
The Kansas City Star identified Dominguez as a "man" in its initial report on the murder - violating GLAAD and Associated Press guidelines and contributing to the widespread problem of misgendering transgender victims of violence in local news reports. In response to criticism from the LGBT community, The Kansas City Star eventually removed the problematic language from its report.
On August 18, Kansas City Star's Public Editor Derek Donovan published a defense of his paper's initial report, which exemplifies the problematic ways that local media outlets can justify the practice of misgendering transgender victims of violence.
That kind of reporting is important beyond merely respecting the victim. Ignoring a victim's gender identity can hamper police investigations, and it makes it harder for the public to understand the nature and frequency of violence against transgender people.
But that isn't an argument for refusing to acknowledge the way they prefer to be identified, especially after their deaths. The legitimacy of a transgender person's identity isn't contingent on a passport or birth certificate.
News outlets don't ask for legal documents when they talk about cisgender people. Reporters don't ask for passports or birth certificates to verify the names and identities of cisgender news subjects. Forcing transgender people to legally prove their identities before being taken seriously isn't tied to a widely-accepted journalistic norm, and it trivializes trans people by reinforcing the idea that trans identities shouldn't be taken seriously.
In those cases, the solution is to avoid using gendered terminology to describe the victim, as several outlets did in their reports of Dominguez's death. Using gender-neutral descriptors, and then amending reports once the victim's gender identity is confirmed, allows local media outlets to avoid making harmful or lazy assumptions in their coverage.
2015's unprecedented streak of homicides of transgender women has brought renewed attention to the problem of misgendering in news media. But journalists have been grappling with how to identify trans people, and specially trans victims of violence, for years. As the trans community continues to gain visibility, ethical journalism will require that reporters let go of their excuses and do the necessary work of figuring out how to accurately and responsibly identify trans people from the very first draft of any article.
On August 15, Tamara Dominguez became one of the transgender woman of color to be murdered in the United States when she was repeatedly run over by an SUV. According to local reports, the Kansas City Police Department identified Dominguez using both her birth name and her preferred name, Tamara.
The Kansas City Star identified Dominguez as a "man" in its initial report on the murder - violating GLAAD and Associated Press guidelines and contributing to the widespread problem of misgendering transgender victims of violence in local news reports. In response to criticism from the LGBT community, The Kansas City Star eventually removed the problematic language from its report.
On August 18, Kansas City Star's Public Editor Derek Donovan published a defense of his paper's initial report, which exemplifies the problematic ways that local media outlets can justify the practice of misgendering transgender victims of violence.
'We Can't Know For Sure'
Central to Donovan's defense is his argument that news outlets can't know with certainty if a victim of violence is transgender, especially when the victim is deceased:Police directly told the reporter they did not know whether Dominguez identified as male or female. And as the victim is deceased, it's now impossible to get a firsthand answer to that question.But as Donovan notes, other local media outlets, including KSHB and KCTV, reached out to Dominguez's social circle, including her roommate, to confirm her identity. Other reporters have used social media to confirm victims' gender identities. In other words, when faced with a question about how a subject identified, they did actual reporting rather than just making a snap judgment about Dominguez's gender identity.
KCTV interviewed the victim's friend, who used female pronouns. The Star didn't have that (as of this writing at least). I've spoken to the newsroom, and they're following through on the story.
That kind of reporting is important beyond merely respecting the victim. Ignoring a victim's gender identity can hamper police investigations, and it makes it harder for the public to understand the nature and frequency of violence against transgender people.
'Reporters Shouldn't Assume'
Donovan also argues that gender identity isn't always clearly defined, so journalists' attempts to define a victim's gender identity would require them to make a "journalistically unsound" assumption:[T]here are also people who fall somewhere else along a continuum. Some identify as both genders simultaneously -- or even neither. Some identify as female but have male alter-aliases, and vice versa. Some continue to identify as their birth gender while cross-dressing. Sometimes even those closest to these people don't know exactly how to answer the intensely personal questions of gender identiy. [sic]It's important that Donovan acknowledges the fluidity of gender expression and identity, especially for people who identify as non-binary. But that isn't an excuse for intentionally ignoring a news subject's gender presentation and preemptively choosing "male" over "female." According to Donovan, the police could not tell his paper "whether Dominguez identified as male or female," so when the Kansas City Star called Dominguez a "man," it made a "journalistically unsound" assumption about her gender identity, too. Rather than respecting gender fluidity as Donovan suggested they should have, they failed to determine how the victim would want to be identified, substituting a news subject's chosen identity with a reporter's own assumptions and biases, based apparently on nothing more than the name "Jesus."
The police report was succinct, identifying the victim as Jesus -- the only legal name known, according to police, and noting the alias. It would have been premature, and ultimately journalistically unsound to make any assumption.
'We Follow The Victim's Legal Gender'
Donovan claims that identifying Dominguez as a woman would ignore "basic reality," distinguishing her gender identity from her "legal identity":And it's wrong to ignore a basic reality: This issue is inherently confusing and tricky. Legal identities do matter, both in trans people's lives and in reporting the news. Despite what one may glean from the always black/white world of Twitter, trans activists speak at great length about the murky details of names, passports, and birth certificates that are serious issues trans people deal with -- financial and social barriers to changing one's legal identification, for example. Pretending they don't exist is absurd.It is true that it's often difficult for transgender people to have their gender identities legally recognized.
But that isn't an argument for refusing to acknowledge the way they prefer to be identified, especially after their deaths. The legitimacy of a transgender person's identity isn't contingent on a passport or birth certificate.
News outlets don't ask for legal documents when they talk about cisgender people. Reporters don't ask for passports or birth certificates to verify the names and identities of cisgender news subjects. Forcing transgender people to legally prove their identities before being taken seriously isn't tied to a widely-accepted journalistic norm, and it trivializes trans people by reinforcing the idea that trans identities shouldn't be taken seriously.
'It's Hard To Correctly Identify Victims'
Donovan concludes by explaining that properly identifying transgender victims of violence can be difficult, even for reporters who make an effort to reach out to the victim's loved ones:You could argue the story shouldn't have run at all until this detail was known, via an interview with a family member or someone who can be verified as a friend of Dominguez. And no, self-proclaimed "friends" in social media don't count. Dominguez does not appear to have had a public social media presence under the name Tamara or Jesus -- both rather common names, complicating matters.It's a sentiment that's been echoed by other journalists -- determining someone's gender identity can be burdensome, especially when law enforcement misgenders a victim in initial press releases. In local news environments that prioritize quick, breaking news reports, stopping to investigate a victim's gender identity is a lot to ask. And journalists don't want to incorrectly identify someone as transgender if they aren't sure.
[...]
[A]ctivism is too often hijacked by loud, irresponsible voices, even from people who mean well. I've heard from some today criticizing The Star for being behind on this story, yet ironically using terminology that transgender people generally consider offensive. It's impossible for everyone to be on the same page.
In those cases, the solution is to avoid using gendered terminology to describe the victim, as several outlets did in their reports of Dominguez's death. Using gender-neutral descriptors, and then amending reports once the victim's gender identity is confirmed, allows local media outlets to avoid making harmful or lazy assumptions in their coverage.
2015's unprecedented streak of homicides of transgender women has brought renewed attention to the problem of misgendering in news media. But journalists have been grappling with how to identify trans people, and specially trans victims of violence, for years. As the trans community continues to gain visibility, ethical journalism will require that reporters let go of their excuses and do the necessary work of figuring out how to accurately and responsibly identify trans people from the very first draft of any article.
Auraria GLBT Student Services Hosts Fall Welcome Back Event
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The Gay Vegans: Let's just attack each other.
A lion was stalked and killed.
A trans woman was beaten to death.
A four year old boy was killed by a stray bullet.
Supporters of #BlackLivesMatter met in Cleveland to discuss strategy.
These are the news items I paid particular attention to in the last week or so. Not in any particular order.
The story that hit me the hardest was a couple of weeks ago, and that is the story of Sandra Bland being pulled over in Texas for not using a turn signal. She was jailed and died in her cell three days later. She had been unable to pay the $5,000 bond to get out of jail. For not using a turn signal (and for what I think, knowing her rights).
Each of these news items touched off debate, conversation, and unfortunately, judgment.
Before I could get to my second coffee, people in different groups were attacking others for not seeing things as they see things, not taking the correct kind of action, or condemning people who could not possibly help or relate.
Oh my.
My activism is not neatly boxed into one issue. I give a shit about many issues and I try to use my voice to make the world a better place for all living beings. I have been a fighter of injustice since I was a kid.
Yes, a white gay guy living in privilege who gives a shit about others, and I'm not alone. I'm not into fighting and being told I don't belong. There are definitely discussions I stay out of when I think it's not my place, but there are so many issues where my voice can be powerful. I don't write that just because I think my voice is stronger than yours. I write it because I believe everyone's voice can be powerful.
When we use it.
I Periscoped earlier this week with the title "Talking about Sandra Bland" and most folks were not interested, a couple had no idea who she is is, and one said it was funny seeing someone living in white privilege talking about Sandra Bland. Yep.
It is so easy for activists, or humans, to attack other activists rather than asking questions, having a conversation or opening one's mind to learn something about an issue that is equally as powerful as yours, but one you might not know much about.
But it's not impossible.
This post originally appeared on Dan Hanley's website The Gay Vegans. Republished with permission.
Good Chemistry – Denver’s Gay-Friendly Dispensary
Good Chemistry, Denver’s gay-friendly dispensary, is guided by four core principles:
SCIENCE – Good Chemistry believes that Cannabis has significant therapeutic benefits and work to support and expand its study.
ACCESS - Good Chemistry believes that many barriers exist which fundamentally restrict access to safe reliable medical grade cannabis and search for meaningful ways to remove them.
DIGNITY - Good Chemistry believes in the fundamental and inalienable right of a person to choose their medical treatment. Recognizing that often patients who take cannabis are subjected to unfair treatment under the law, Good Chemistry is committed to defending and protecting the rights of their patients.
COMPASSION - Good Chemistry recognizes that medical cannabis is a potent and effective medicine for many patients who cannot afford it and is dedicated to providing for those in need.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Call it Out: RNC Quietly Passes Anti-LGBT Resolution
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released the following statement after media reports that the Republican National Committee (RNC) passed an anti-LGBT resolution in support of the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). Going far beyond protecting the rights established in the First Amendment, this anti-LGBT legislation would undermine the rule of law and promote taxpayer-funded discrimination.
"The right to believe is fundamental, but the right to use taxpayer dollars to promote discrimination is not," said JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs for the Human Rights Campaign. "It's no wonder the RNC attempted to keep quiet its support for a reckless and irresponsible bill that would promote discrimination with taxpayers’ money and reward discriminatory actions by federal employees with taxpayer funding. Those Republican candidates who choose not to speak out against this RNC resolution should not be shocked when LGBT Americans choose to not give them the benefit of the doubt next November.”
FADA would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married same-sex couples as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. “Adverse action” is broadly defined to include the denial or revocation of a federal tax status or deduction; denial of a federal grant, contract, loan, benefit or employment; or any other act of discrimination. The bill provides individuals and organizations the right to sue the federal government for monetary damages in federal court.
If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation. It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple's paperwork appears on his or her desk.
This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people. It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married same-sex couples, to file a lawsuit and potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.
"The right to believe is fundamental, but the right to use taxpayer dollars to promote discrimination is not," said JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs for the Human Rights Campaign. "It's no wonder the RNC attempted to keep quiet its support for a reckless and irresponsible bill that would promote discrimination with taxpayers’ money and reward discriminatory actions by federal employees with taxpayer funding. Those Republican candidates who choose not to speak out against this RNC resolution should not be shocked when LGBT Americans choose to not give them the benefit of the doubt next November.”
FADA would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married same-sex couples as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. “Adverse action” is broadly defined to include the denial or revocation of a federal tax status or deduction; denial of a federal grant, contract, loan, benefit or employment; or any other act of discrimination. The bill provides individuals and organizations the right to sue the federal government for monetary damages in federal court.
If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation. It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple's paperwork appears on his or her desk.
This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people. It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married same-sex couples, to file a lawsuit and potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.
Anti-Gay Masterpiece Cakeshop Baker In Tears On Fox News
So the Masterpiece Cakes dude was on Fox News the other day crying (2:28) because he's being oppressed and persecuted and people are saying mean things about him. The irony is sweeter and more delicious than any cake he ever baked.
Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted For Denver's Best Gay Blog!
Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?
MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.
These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.
If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.
Nice To See StevieB: Dog Sitting
Last weekend my best friend spent his precious time off dog sitting. He was amazingly dedicated to the task as well. When I urged him to just toss a Swanson's Frozen Sliced Beef Dinner through the back door and come cruise for boys with me, he would hear nothing of it. I got a raised eyebrow when I suggested giving the dog, whom he was assigned, no dedicated, to care for, some Benadryl so it wouldn't notice that his temporary caretaker was off putt-putt golfing. Some people take their jobs so seriously.
I was asked to dog-sit three times in my life. Each time hilarity ensued.
Back in 1994, I was asked to watched the dog of an elderly gay guy, well I thought he was elderly. Looking back he was probably the age I am now. He had one of those fluffy yappy dogs. I took the two week job, because I needed the money. Also, my roommates at the time, decided that it would be better if they never saw my face again. So staying at a strange man's house, whom had a dead kitty taped to his head, was the best option. It wasn't a real dead kitty. It was just that his toupee was so cheaply done, it looks like a cat had died upon his head. The two weeks of dog sitting; however, went exceedingly well. well... the one tiny thing was that I jimmied open the locked cabinet where the unused dead cats were stored and fluffy attacked some of them. Guess he thought they were filleted felines as well. I came home late one night to find dead, dead kitty bits all over the house.
I was never asked to dog-sit again.
I was asked by a friend to come over to his house and meet his partner and their dog. They would be gone one week and wanted me to stop over twice a day to feed, and let the black lab out into the back yard. Seemed simple. The first day after happy couple left, I let myself into the house to check on the aging lab. As soon as I entered the house, all memory of our meeting was gone. Kind of like some dates I've had lately. Suddenly, I was a complete stranger entering the house to utter shock and horror. Kind of like some dates I've had lately. The lab freaked. It then proceeded to hide in a closet. Every day. All week. It didn't eat. It wouldn't go out side. When I was gone it would release its evil upon the antique area rug right in front the closet. If I attempted to dislodge the terrified creature from the closet, all sorts of terror, filled with biting and deep growling would ensure. Again, not unlike my dating life. The happy couple returned to find their dog, ten pounds lighter and a family heirloom rug destroyed.
I was never asked to dog-sit again.
The last story of my dog sitting trilogy still gives me shivers. I spent ten days watching a Basset Hound in an upscale townhouse in Dallas's Turtle Creek neighborhood. The owner of the dog, was a friend, and Cadillac Salesman whom adored his Basset, named Dudley. One afternoon, as one does when one has the keys to a brand new Cadillac and upscale townhouse, I went to cruise for boys. After bringing home, and playing with the found boy ass; I mindlessly toss my condom onto the floor. Dudley gulped it up. Without going into dramatics I had to reach my hand into a Basset and grab hold of a used condom and yank it out, before the dog swallowed. With a slimy dog slobber enhanced grasp I pulled out the filled condom. Somehow the rubber exploded. Dudley... swallowed.... I still can't see a Basset hound without thinking that one... uh... my.... okay...
I purposely never asked to dog-sit again.
And this is why you don't ask Steve to dog sit.
This post originally appeared on Steven Bennet's website Nice to See StevieB. Republished with permission.
HIV & PrEP: Denver Brings It Up
Since talking about HIV in the heat of the moment can be a buzz kill, why not bring it up before you get it up? By bringing it up, everyone wins.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Anti-LGBT County Clerk Gets Time to Appeal Judge’s Decision Over Her Opposition to Marriage Equality
Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, responded to the news that U.S. District Judge David Bunning temporarily stayed his order requiring Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis of Kentucky to immediately begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as she appeals his decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has firmly established that every person has a fundamental right to marry the person they love,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “No public employee should have the right to deny or delay that right to loving, committed same-sex couples who have already waited far too long for marriage equality. We urge the Sixth Circuit to rule swiftly and unequivocally that gay and lesbian couples must be treated equally under our laws."
"The U.S. Supreme Court has firmly established that every person has a fundamental right to marry the person they love,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “No public employee should have the right to deny or delay that right to loving, committed same-sex couples who have already waited far too long for marriage equality. We urge the Sixth Circuit to rule swiftly and unequivocally that gay and lesbian couples must be treated equally under our laws."
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