A Dahl's House

Liss at Shakeville has some good words and a summary list of the more than 100 trans people (that we know of) who died violently during the last year for being who they were. That’s nearly 1 person every three days. Each individual and their story has also been memorialized at the TDOR site.

It’s a list that’s far too long — as is the equivalent list at Rainbow Memorial — and it elicited tears and expressions of sympathy from a number of the cisgendered Shakers. Which is appreciated.

But more than tears and hugs, what we need some ass-kicking anger channeled into changing things.

For example, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — which would ban job discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity — has gotten held up in the House, with no word on when it will get back on track — and passage is still uncertain in the Senate.

In 29 states, it is still legal to fire someone because they’re gay; and in 38 states, it is legal to fire someone because they are transgender. The wingnuts have been reportedly been flooding Congress with calls arguing that it’s a “special right” not to be fired for who you are. Your Congress critter needs to hear that there’s a lot of their constituents who feel it’s time to overturn the “special right” of being able to fire someone out of bigotry.

We need your help in lobbying for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA) — a bill that protects everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, from losing their jobs just because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity/gender expression.

(Yes, it’s perfectly legal in 29 states for someone to fire you for your sexual orientation and in 38 states for your gender identity or expression — and yes that includes straight people too. Appellate courts have ruled it’s legal to fire a woman for not wearing make-up at work.)

We are coming into the second week of August, and support for ENDA among legislators is slowly inching up. Here’s the status as of today.

In the House, where we need 218 yes votes, there are 172 confirmed yes, and another 35 who will probably vote yes, though they have not yet confirmed this, making a total of 207 likely yes votes. Not enough. 76 Representatives are unconfirmed either way, and these need to be persuaded by you. Here’s a spreadsheet with the latest updates about where people stand.

In the Senate, where we need 60 yes votes because of the likely Republic filibuster that requires 60 votes to stop, there are 47 confirmed yes votes, and another 11 likely yes votes, making a total of 57 likely yes votes. Not enough. 52 Senators are unconfirmed either way, and these need to be persuaded by you. This spreadsheet shows who’s wavering.

What you can do:
The key fight is going to be in the Senate. Please take whatever time you can to call the Senate swing votes, which you can find here.

• Sign up to meet with your legislator in your district in August. You will need your Representative’s name, which you can find at http://votesmart.org.
• Call your Senators and Representative to request their support of an inclusive ENDA that protects sexual orientation and gender identity from job discrimination. Contact your legislators by giving your zip code to the U.S. Capitol operator at 202-224-3121.
• Contact other unconfirmed Senators and Representatives by email, telephone or fax. Contact links for the Senate and for the House.

Useful Links:

• NCTE’s toolkit for talking to legislators (PDF).
• PFLAG has a tidy letter to send to your legislators — although I’d suggest updating it to point out that ENDA protects all Americans.
• Inclusive ENDA Facebook group, which has updates on how things are going.

This is important folks. PLEASE DO THIS.

Join the Great Nationwide Kiss-In is scheduled for Aug. 15 at 11 a.m. Pacific time (2 p.m., Eastern). Events are planned for at least 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the San Francisco area, meet at Union Square. We’ll have 10 drag queens doing songs about kissing and a portable birthday boy kissing booth.

Why a kiss-in?

After incidents in San Antonio, TX, El Paso, TX and Salt Lake City, UT – where different gay and lesbian couples were harassed or detained by law enforcement or other people for the simple act of kissing in a public place – we need to make a strong statement to everyone everywhere: kissing is not a bad thing, nor has it ever been. It’s not vulgar or inappropriate. It’s a sign of affection that is as old as time itself. And it’s a beautiful thing that we share with our loved ones every single day.

Not gay, but like kissing? Perfect. Straight allies, never fear! Come support your commitment to equality and public displays of affection, and smile at your neighbor to let them know its 2009 and that you’re happy we’re able to live our lives.

More info and locations at http://www.GreatNationwideKissIn.com

OK, work has been crazy so I’m late on this, but Obama’s fierce urgency of “don’t call us, we’ll call you” on LGBT rights is important enough that I didn’t want to let it go uncriticized unnoticed.

For those of you who don’t follow LGBT issues, the short version is that two weeks ago the Justice Department issued a brief defending the Defense of Marriage Act, which is the law that protects the right of states to not recognize same-sex marriages and denies same-sex married couples federal benefits. Now maybe the Obama administration is obligated, as it argued, to defend the law — although critics quickly found examples of other instances where the Obama administration (like numerous previous administrations) is choosing not to defend or enforce laws they dislike. But they didn’t have to go out of their way to parrot incorporate numerous right-wing talking points including, arguing that same-sex marriages are no more legally valid than than incestuous ones between an uncle and neice. Oh, and Teh Gays aren’t really discriminated against because they can marry any person of the opposite sex they want. onus points for doing so on the anniversary of the Loving vs. Virginia Supreme Court decision — you know the one that allowed Obama parents to get married.

For many LGBT people, it was the last straw in a series of disses from the Obama administration, which — despite promises to be a fierce advocate on our behalf — has clearly been wishing we’d just go away. I’m not a big fan of AmericaBlog, but one of their writers astutely diagnosed the problem: political homophobia.

Political homophobes aren’t gay-hating in the traditional sense. In fact, publicly, most are strong supporters of LGBT equality. But, behind closed doors, many Democratic leaders, consultants, Hill staffers and the rest will vociferously argue that there is no political benefit to actually supporting LGBT rights. Political homophobia is rampant among some Democrats. In some ways, it’s worse than blatant homophobia, since we think most Democrats are on our side. And outwardly, they are.

Political homophobia dictates policy in DC more than we’d like to think. I believe it’s happening in the West Wing right now. I’ve been told by several people that while the president’s chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel, isn’t a homophobe in the traditional way (he always voted the right way when he was in the House), he is always the first person to suggest that his colleagues (and now boss) avoid gay issues. He’d rather not deal with them because he thinks they’re bad politics.

Now, maybe in 1993 that was true. But Rahm, if he truly is the problem behind the throne, doesn’t grasp the change in society over the past two decades. He also doesn’t understand that the American people think Obama is a different kind of politician — one who will do what he says because it’s the right thing to do.

Predictably, Obama defenders came out of the woodwork to tell LGBT people to STFU because “there’s more important things to get done first” — privilege anyone? Or to argue that it’s all part of Obama’s 11th dimensional chess strategy and not to worry our pretty little heads.

On the LGBT side there was definitely some over-the-top vitriolic rhetoric, but people are pissed. Myself, as Jere says, I’m angry, but I’m not burning an effigy (yet).

The thing is… Yes it has only been five months since Obama took office, but it’s been 40 years since Stonewall, 35 years since the first queer non-discrimination bill was introduced in Congress, 16 years since Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was enacted as a “compromise,” 14 years since the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was introduced in Congress (yes folks it’s perfectly legal in 38 states to fire someone for being LGBT), 12 years since marriage discrimination was enshined in federal law, and 7 years since the Matthew Shepard Act to extend federal hate crime protections to LGBT people was introduced in Congress (yes folks, in 18 states there’s no penalty for beating the shit out of targeting someone because they’re gay or bi, and in 39 states there’s no penalty because they’re trans or gender variant).

When a number of bloggers organized a campaign to cut off the gAyTM for DNC fundraising — and resulted in the boycott of a major LGBT DNC fundraiser that reportedly caused a major drop-off in money raised — that the Obama administration hastily started throwing us crumbs: moving expenses for the partners of federal workers, woohoo! As usual Stephen Colbert said it far better than I can. Money quote: “See, he’s giving you things, just not your rights.”

Since then there’s been more crumb-tossing. Such as not appealing the $500,000 judgement in a job discrimination case filed by a trans woman, whose Library of Congress offer job was withdrawn the day after her interviewer found out that she was transitioning. Oh, and a bunch of A-list gays were invited to the White House for a 40th anniversary of Stonewall cocktail party (but no politics please… and no trans peeps of color.) All well and good.

But Mr. Obama the ATM is closed until we see some results. Promises to keep promises aren’t enough.

If you’re an ally, as Jere says, it’s time to step up to the plate.

[D]on’t tell me to calm down. Don’t tell me to be patient. Don’t tell me to trust that the Democrats will get around to my issues. Instead, listen to what we, the actual victims of legal inequality, are concerned about and help us.

And sometimes being an ally means more than just expressing a general belief in equality. Sometimes it requires you joining us in contacting lawmakers, writing blogs, writing letters to the editor, withholding your donations and volunteer hours for politicians and parties who stall on LGBT equality, speaking out, and telling your stories. We need you to make an effort for LGBT equality. The time is now. No more excuses, no more delays, no more empty promises.

–

Postscript: my irony-meter broke watching the very same white, well-to-do, well-connected (often conservative) big-name gay bloggers — who told trans people to STFU and sit on their hands quietly when we were dropped from ENDA two years ago — be so full of righteous outrage when they were told the same thing by Obama apologists supporters.

At least 150 locals in Silverton, OR showed their support for the first openly transgender/gender queer person elected major – Stu Rasmussen, who sees himself as male but who had breast implants and presents himself as a woman — drastically outnumbering the quartet of Westboro haters who had come to protest and get their media fix.

Best sign of the day: “My love is bigger than your hate.” And there was this heart-warming encounter:

A woman pushing a baby jogger past City Hall did a doubletake on her run, backing up to question 16-year-old Victoria Phelps, whose family runs the small Kansas church.

“I’m a Christian,” Lesley Brighton said, clearly perplexed by the girl’s “God Hates Fags” sign. “This is some kind of joke, right?”

No, it’s deadly serious, Phelps replied. Electing a transgender mayor, she said, was an abomination.

“I don’t expect for it to sink in but it’s our duty to come out here and preach to these people because they’re so proud of having a transvestite mayor,” Phelps said. “It’s disgusting. And where was it? Was it Isaiah? Deuteronomy? About it being an abomination?”

Brighton shook her head. “I’ve read the Bible cover to cover,” Brighton said. “Bottom line: love beats hate.”

Even the comments about the newspaper story — which are all-too-often seem to bring out the haters whenever it’s a trans-related article — were a pleasure to read.

Finally, one of the locals gives his account of the counter-protest (and thanks for showing your support Barry!). As he put it: “[T]he good guys won. And we did a good thing.” That you did, that you did.

* For those who didn’t get the headline reference, here’s an explanation (be sure to read the plot outline).

Today is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, where the trans communities remember those of us who died violently almost 40 this year. Given the relative sizes of the LGB and T communities, it’s probably comparable to 400 gays and lesbians being killed annually. (Huuuullo… Mike Huckabee.) Not all identified themselves as trans — i.e. a transsexual, crossdresser, transvestite, drag queen/king, gender queer, etc. The best known of the victims — Lawrence King — may have been on his way to growing to be a trans woman, or as an femmy gay man. But thanks to his killer, we’ll never know. But those who hate us don’t bother to draw the distinctions that those of within the LGBT communities can be so insistent on making.

Some of them died in “classic” hate crimes. Others died as a result transphobia and homophobia that put them at risk — such as those who ended up as sex workers because they couldn’t find work elsewhere  — it’s legal to fire someone for being LGBT in 31 states. In some cases, hate crime charges could not be filed, since LGBT are excluded from them in a number of states.

But words fail me, so I’ll let the dead speak for themselves.

Elly “Sayep” Susanna
Location: Jl. Latuharhari, Central Jakarta, Indonesia
Cause of Death: During a police raid, I was pushed into a river by police, who threw stones at me until I drowned.
Date of Death: November 2007

Brandon Griffin
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Cause of Death: I was 17 when I shot several times and found lying face down in the bushes. Police say the alleged killer was angry because he believed I was telling people that he slept with transsexuals.
Date of Death: November 8, 2007

Thanawoot Wiryananon
Location: Patong, Thailand
Cause of Death: I was strangled, stabbed in the neck, and hit in the head with a blunt object, and then dumped in the woods.
Date of Death: November 16 2007

Sally (Salvador) Camatoy
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cause of Death: I was a Filipina transsexual who performed in drag shows, and featured in the documentary “Paper Dolls.” I was found dead in the street with my head bashed in.
Date of Death: November 19, 2007

Kellie Telesford
Location: Thornton Heath, UK
Cause of Death: I was strangled with my own scarf, which was so tight around my neck that it needed to be cut off. My accused killer Shanniel Hyatt, was acquitted — despite being the only person seen entering and leaving my apartment, and having stolen some my possessions.
Date of Death: November 21, 2007

Brian McGlothin
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Cause of Death: I was 25 and dressed as a woman when I shot in the head with an automatic rifle by Antonio Williams who is serving a six year sentence after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Date of Death: December 23, 2007

Gabriela Alejandra Albornoz
Location: Santiago, Chile
Cause of Death: I was attacked and stabbed. Police suspect a group of neo-Nazis were responsible.
Date of Death: December 28, 2007

Patrick Murphy
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Cause of Death: I was a drag performer and icon in the local LGBT communities. I was 39 when I was shot several times in the head and found dressed in women’s clothes.
Date of Death: January 8, 2008

Stacy Brown
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cause of Death: I was 30 when I was shot in the head
Date of Death: January 8, 2008

Adolphus Simmons
Location: Charleston, SC
Cause of Death: I was 18 when I was shot to death
Date of Death: January 21, 2008

Fedra
Location: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Cause of Death: I was a “known transvestite” in my 20s when I found lying in an alley in a pool of blood, my cause of death was not reported.
Date of Death: January 22, 2008

Ashley Sweeney
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Cause of Death: I was shot in the back of the head and dumped on a vacant lot. In a press release I was described only as a young transgender woman.
Date of Death: February 4, 2008

Sanesha (Talib) Stewart
Location: Bronx, NY
Cause of Death: I was 25 when stabbed to death. In reporting my murder, the New Yorker Daily News referred to me using masculine pronouns under the headline: “Fooled john stabbed Bronx tranny” — despite any actual evidence that I was a sex worker and denials from my neighbors that I engaged it.
Date of Death: February 10, 2008

Lawrence King
Location: Oxnard, California
Cause of Death: I was 15 when shot twice in the back of the head by a classmate because I liked to wear girl’s shoes and clothes, called myself Leticia at times, and had a crush on him.
Date of Death: February 12, 2008

Cameron McWillams
Location: Doncaster, England
Cause of Death: I was 10 when I hung myself after telling my mother that I wanted to be a girl. I had been bullied in school after having been caught wearing girl’s clothing.
Date of Death: February 18, 2008

Note: 11-year-old Cameron MacDonald died that same month in what police described as a copy-cat suicide. There was no indication of whether MacDonald was LGBT.

Simmie “Chris/Beyonce” Williams Jr.
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Cause of Death: I was 17 when I shot to death and found wearing women’s clothing.
Date of Death: February 22, 2008

Luna (no last name reported)
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Cause of Death: I was brutally beaten to death and tossed into a dumpster.
Date of Death: March 15, 2008

Karrie Bone
Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
Cause of Disappearance: I was a 36-year-old sex worker who got into a semi-trailer and was never seen again.
Date of Disappearance: March, 2008

Lloyd Nixon
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Cause of Death: I was 45 when I was beaten to death with a brick while dressed as a woman.
Date of Death: April 16, 2008

Felicia Melton-Smyth
Location: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Cause of Death: I was an HIV activist on vacation from Wisconsin when I was brutally stabbed to death by Francisco Javier Hollos, who claimed he killed me because I would not pay for sex.
Date of Death: May 26, 2008

Silvana (Valjdet) Berisha
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Cause of Death: I was 19 when I was stabbed to death in my home.
Date of Death: June 24, 2008

Ebony (Rodney) Whitaker
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Cause of Death: I was 20 when I was shot to death while wearing women’s clothing.
Date of Death:July 1, 2008

Rosa Pazos
Location: Sevilla, Spain
Cause of Death: I was found in her apartment, stabbed in the throat. In the months before my death, I had demonstrated daily outside the local courthouse protesting the “police mafia” in the city.
Date of Death: July 11, 2008

Juan Carlos Aucalle Coronel
Location: Lombardi, Italy
Cause of Death I was 35 when I was severely beaten causing fractures to my head and face before being run over by a car.
Date of Death July 14, 2008

Angie Zapata
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Cause of Death: I was 18 when I was found in her home with my head beaten in with a fire extinguisher. Alan Ray Andrade, who told his girlfriend that “I killed it” and that “gay things need die” has been charged in my murder. His defense attorney argued that Andrade was provoked by discovering Zapata was biologically male and because Zapata smiled at him.
Date of Death: July 17, 2008

Jaylynn L. Namauu
Location: Makiki Honolulu, Hawaii
Cause of Death: I was 35 when I was stabbed to death
Date of Death: July 17, 2008

Samantha Rangel Brandau
Location: Milan, Italy
Cause of Death: I was 30 when I was beaten, gang raped and stabbed numerous times before being left for dead.
Date of Death: July 29, 2008

Nakhia (Nikki) Williams
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Cause of Death: I was 29 when I was shot and left by a dumpster next to my home. Newspaper accounts used masculine pronouns to refer to me, even though I had been living as a woman.
Date of Death: August 20, 2008

Ruby Molina
Location: Sacramento, California
Cause of Death: I was 22 when my naked body was found floating in the America River. Police say my drowning occured under “definitely suspicious” circumstances. Newspaper accounts used masculine pronouns to refer to me.
Date of Death: September 21, 2008

Krissy “Lil’ Romeo” Pye
Location: Browns Plain, Australia
Cause of Death: I was a 25-year-old popular drag king when I was stabbed multiple times during a robbery.
Date of Death: August 24, 2008

Aimee Wilcoxson
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Cause of Death: Undetermined (police have yet to reveal cause)
Date of Death: November 3, 2008
Aimee was found dead in her bed. She was 34 years old.

Duanna Johnson
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Cause of Death: I was 42 when I was shot “execution style” and found dead in the middle of the street. At the time I was suing the Memphis police department for a videotaped incident in which I was beaten while in police custody. I had been living in a house without water or power after they had been shut off because I was unable to pay the bills.
Date of Death: November 9, 2008

Dilek Ince
Location: Ankara, Turkey
Cause of Death: I was shot in the back of the head with a shotgun. I had testified against the suspects who were accused of a series of attacks against transvestites and transsexuals living in Eryaman neighborhood of Ankara, forcing them to flee the area. These suspects were subsequently set free by the court a few weeks before my death.
Date of Death: November 11, 2008

Teish (Moses) Cannon
Location: Syracuse, New York
Cause of Death: I was 22 when I was shot point blank with a rifle while sitting in a car with my brother, who was wounded. Police accuse my murder of getting the gun after “making profane and vulgar comments in regard to the sexual preference of the two victims.” News accounts initially described me as a gay man, my family telling them that I lived as a woman.
Date of Death: November 14, 2008

Ali
Location:Iraq
Cause of Death: After an interrogation, which police recorded on their cell phones for their amusement, I was executed for living as a woman. I had been living in a safe house after receiving death threats.
Date of Death: 2008, Month is Unknown

2 other Iraqi trans woman, names unknown
Location:Iraq
Cause of Death: We were executed at the same time as Ali. Seven gay men were also executed.
Date of Death: 2008, Month is Unknown

Also worth noting… On August 18, 2008 a Philadelphia judge acquitted Terron Oates of murdering of Alexis King and instead convicted him of voluntary manslaughter, apparently accepting his “trans panic” defense, i.e. he was provoked by discovering that King was biologically male (even though the area he picked up King was a known district for transsexual prostitutes). Oates defense attorney argued that King was shot while fighting Oates for his gun — even though she was shot in the back and side. The lesser charge meant Oates could be release after only 30 days because of credit for time served. Also, in Yuma, AZ the killer of Amancio Morales plea bargained down an attempted manslaughter charge. Morales, was a 23-year-old female impersonator, who was dressed in as a women when he was killed by what police called “violent trauma” from numerous stab wounds and was found floating in the river. Court records said Morales killer became enraged when he realized the Morales was biologically male.

Also, a number trans people were attacked in apparent hate crimes, including: an unnamed “man dressed as a woman” in Miami was the victim of a drive-by shooting on Sept. 29. He survive the attack; in Sacramento on May 27, a man described by police as a skinhead attacked two transgender homeless people, stabbing one of them.

Finally, while this is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, let us also remember our LGB brothers and sisters who have been beaten and killed during the past year. This includes 37-year-old Randolph Hunter who was brutally beaten to death in Washington D.C. and several others. (My apologies for not having a complete list of LGB victims.)

A poll today shows that Proposition 8 — which would repeal California’s marriage equality — is now leading. Not coincidentally there’s been tens of millions of dollars sent from out-of-state by the pro-bigotry Christianist forces.

Don’t let Prop 8 pass! Donate now to No on Prop 8. If you want to be idealistic, do so because it’s the right thing to do. If for no other reason than self-interest, do so — because you can be sure that if the fundies are successful in turning back marriage equality, it won’t be the last anti-discrimination protections they’ll try to take away.

The National Stonewall Democrats have a page for trans people and allies to donate to Barack Obama’s campaign. This is a great opportunity to raise our visibility. So if you’re trans, or a trans ally, and are would like to see the Democrats retake the White House, why not donate to Obama’s campaign through the site today (whether it’s a little or a lot). Then tell your friends and ask them to do the same, as well as spread the word on your blog or message boards that you post to. Let’s see if we can move up a few notches on ActBlue’s list of top online donors.

From a right-wing rag that I won’t dignify with a link:

A Christian civil-liberties organization announced on Thursday it is representing an alliance of residents, congregations and businesses against Hamtramck, Mich., to overturn a city law privileging homosexuals and cross dressers.

The Thomas More Law Center’s clients are targeting an ordinance that permits males who profess to consider themselves women and wish to use women’s bathrooms in businesses and public buildings. Facility owners and managers who prohibit a cross-dressing male from entering a women’s lavatory can be fined $500 for each day they enforce that policy and could face civil litigation.

On Tuesday, the coalition rallied in front of Hamtramck City Hall and reported they had gotten over 1,000 city residents to sign a petition placing a measure on the November 2008 election ballot to strike down the law.

And once again, while the “virtual normal” crowd can talk themselves blue in the face about how the LGBs have nothing to do with the Ts, the haters don’t bother to distinguish… This seems to be concerted tactic, since the specter of “men in women’s bathrooms” is some that’s raised in LGBT rights repeal efforts in Florida and elsewhere.

The other day I was listening to “Fresh Air” interview with an author of book on Cold War politics and I think there’s a number of lessons to be learned from that in the current tensions between much of the trans communities and the Human Rights Campaign. Especially in light of discussions about a potential meeting between HRC senior staff and director and trans activists.

The author talked about how through the Cold War there was an on-going tension between some conservatives, whose POV was that the Soviet Union was inherently evil, so any negotiations with them were pointless (Barry Goldwater even opposed negotiations during the Cuban Missile Crisis!); vs. other conservatives who thought that while the Soviets were untrustworthy adversaries with goals that differed and even conflicted with ours, engagement still made sense, as well as negotiations in areas where there were shared interests.

In a related vein, American diplomacy has had a weakness in assuming that one is either fighting or talking, whereas other countries have no problem with simultaneously fighting and talking.

What does this have to do with HRC and a possible meeting? I don’t think HRC is an axis of evil, though I do think they’ve got their own agenda and proven that they’re promises can be broken. Nonetheless, I think is still makes sense to engage them.

The meeting is a bit of a no-win situation. Refusing to meet only plays into HRC’s hand because they can say that they tried to bridge things and the trans communities refused. OTOH, HRC wants to meet privately with only a handful of people, leading to concerns that they’ll stack the deck with the few trans activists who are supporting HRC, which isn’t ideal either.

But given the Hobson’s choice, the former is the worse outcome. If trans leaders do meet with HRC they can make the list of attendees an issue, i.e. meeting with friendlies isn’t exactly getting feedback from the people who are pissed off. They can also make clear that any discussions will be on the record and they will share publicly what’s discussed.

I also think it’s perfectly reasonable for trans activists to demand moving the purposed date of the meeting — which is in the middle of the Southern Comfort Conference, one of the largest trans conferences in the country, which many trans leaders will be attending. After all we wouldn’t expect Joe and company to meet during one of their fundraising dinners. If HRC refuses, then raise hell about that. Frankly, flexibility about the date is no different that the sort of “trust building” over minor points that’s a routine step in many difficult negotiation settings. I.e. if HRC isn’t willing move the date out of respect to the trans community, then that casts into doubt sincerity of the whole meeting itself.

As far as any promises HRC might make this meeting, I’ll refer to one of the few points where I agree with Ronald Reagan: “trust but verify.” I.e. hold HRC’s feet to the fire to provide detailed criteria about how they plan to fulfill those promises — criteria that is specific enough that they can be held accountable. (FWIW, I think it’s only fair for HRC to ask the same of the trans communities.)

On a related note, we shouldn’t demonize people who choose to attend this meeting, nor folks like Diego Sanchez who cross the picket lines to address HRC events, merely for doing so. Diplomacy means meeting with your enemies as well as your friends. Talking to one’s enemies may not convince them to change their positions, but not talking to them is almost certain to fail to do so. That said, we can certainly hold these individuals accountable for the positions they espouse. If we don’t feel like they’re representing our POV, we should let them and others know.

None of this precludes the trans communities from also continuing to urge boycotts of HRC’s fundraisers etc. until HRC’s actions demonstrate that they’ve changed in ways that are satisfactory. But as part of that, I think it’s important for trans activists not just say “don’t support HRC” but also to provide alternatives. The “Left Out Party” protest outside HRC’s recent fundraising dinner in San Francisco did a good job of this. Sure there was a protest, including the traditional picket line, but we also presented Human Rights Hero awards and had our own party — which we pointedly noted was inclusive of everyone, including any HRC members who choose to cross the street. That said, there’s been some criticism about the protest hurting fundraising efforts to fight Prop. 8. Which could have easily been countered by the “Left Out” organizers pointing out where else people could donate money that they would’ve otherwise given at the dinner.

We also need to be able to present a clear, concise story to the vast majority of LGB people who aren’t familiar with the ENDA debacle. As well as why gender identity/expression affects everyone, not just trans people. When I’ve done so, I’ve generally found people understand why we’re pissed off and are supportive. Likewise, being about to provide the 60-second education about how T people have been involved in LGBT activism for decades. My quickest version of that is pointing out that California gays and lesbians are enjoying marriage equality thanks to the efforts of trans man Shannon Minter, the lead attorney in the case — and what if he’d decided not to get involved because of the LG (OK mostly gay men) activists who argue T issues have nothing to do with LGB issues?

(FWIW, I think there’s also a story to be presented about how HRC’s attitude and actions on ENDA are reflective of similar issues with the larger LGB communities, i.e. their treatment of local LGBT organizations, their focus on presenting LGB people as “virtually normal” and shying away from LGB people who aren’t straight-acting, etc. Again, it’s a matter of making people realize our fight has things in common as their fight.)

The fact of the matter is that the PR war does matter. HRC has proven itself to be pretty inept at it — at least among those who know the full story (and what does that suggest about the effectiveness of their lobbying efforts?) — we don’t want to be equally inept.