Tag Archive for "transgender rights"

Posts Tagged transgender rights

A sea change in transgender rights

The past month or so has been incredible for transgender rights victories, and I want to acknowledge this moment. We’re seeing the kind of movement on trans issues that I’ve dreamed of – our community is finally winning the protections we need. I think this has a lot to do with the ways trans folks have shared our stories and organized for our rights, including at online spaces like Feministing.

On Sunday, Nok Yonlada, who is trans, won a provincial election in Thailand. This means a lot in terms of visibility, to have an out trans woman representing constituents as an elected official. Argentina made trans health care a human right and gave folks the right to legally change their genders without ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

It’s Equal Pay Day: A Round-Up of Reads

It’s Equal Pay Day, y’all! We’ve got a round-up of reads and other tidbits to check out:

David Futrelle has a pretty comprehensive rebuttal to any of those wage gap “mythers” you may come across today.

Transgriot reminds us that the wage gap for women of color and trans women makes 77 cents look like a treat.

Good to see the President’s proclamation acknowledge some of this as well.

In the meantime, Romney still can’t say whether he would have signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) released data today showing how wage gaps vary in different states.

Add any other goodies you’ve found in comments!

It’s Equal Pay Day, y’all! We’ve got a round-up of reads and other tidbits to check out:

David Futrelle has a pretty comprehensive rebuttal to any of those wage gap “mythers” you may come across today.

Transgriot ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

What Argument Against The Renewed ERA Could Feminists Face?

This is a guest post by Autumn Sandeen of Pam’s House Blend and LGBT Weekly. Her full bio is after the jump.

Recently Rachel Maddow ran a segment entitled Equal Rights Amendment Sees Renewed Interest on her MSNBC show. In the segment, she indicated that the ERA has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and the Senate by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) as a response to the recent Wal-Mart decision by the Supreme Court of the United States.

The plain language of the ERA, in the 1970’s and now, is as follows:

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or ...

This is a guest post by Autumn Sandeen of Pam’s House Blend and LGBT Weekly. Her full bio is after the jump.

Recently Rachel Maddow ran a segment entitled Equal ...

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

Appeals court says transgender inmates have right to medical care

On Friday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision striking down a Wisconsin law that banned transgender inmates from accessing necessary medical care while in prison.

Wisconsin is the only state with a law expressly banning medical care for trans inmates. However, according to Injustice at Every Turn, the national trans discrimination survey, 12% of trans inmates in the US have been denied routine health care and 17% have been denied hormones. Dr. Jill Weiss runs through some other cases over at The Bilerico Project.

The 7th Circuit rightly called cutting off an inmate’s hormone treatment “cruel and unusual punishment,” recognizing the severe side effects, including mental health side effects and “muscle wasting, high blood pressure, ...

On Friday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision striking down a Wisconsin law that banned transgender inmates from accessing necessary medical care while in prison.

Wisconsin is the only state with a law ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

Connecticut: They really ARE full of surprises

When one thinks of the state of Connecticut, there’s often a semi-boring vision that arises: lots of colonial houses, Yale University, George W. Bush was born there — as was Foxwoods Casino. But not only is the state becoming more diverse in population and geography, but has been pretty bad-ass when it comes to progressive legislation — hello, gay marriage! — but also this week in particular.

Saturday morning, the state senate voted for final approval of legislation that will protect people from being discriminated against in the workplace or while seeking housing or obtaining credit based on gender identity and expression. I love what Sen. Eric Coleman, co-chairman of the legislature’s judiciary committee, had ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

White House to host first-ever meeting with trans activists

Tomorrow, the Office of Public Engagement at the White House is hosting a meeting with a number of transgender activists and leaders working on federal policy around trans issues — for the first time in American history. Via the Washington Blade:

[White House spokesperson] Inouye said the meeting will be the first ever for the Office of Public Engagement where transgender issues are the sole focus of discussion.

“While transgender issues have been covered in previous OPE meetings, and transgender leaders have been included in other OPE meetings, this would be the first time OPE has held a meeting solely focused on transgender issues,” Inouye said.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center ...

By Courtney • 13 years ago

Getting married in New York just got easier for transgender sweeties

This just in from the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund:

The City of New York’s Marriage Bureau has taken steps to ensure that transgender people have equal access to marriage licenses. New transgender sensitivity trainings have been implemented and a written policy has been distributed to all staff in the wake of an incident in which a transgender couple was denied a marriage license.

Thanks to the Office of City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, and most of all, the two brave souls–who have preferred to stay anonymous–for creating the momentum necessary to get this policy in place. Many people will be able to make their union official because of their bravery and ...

This just in from the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund:

The City of New York’s Marriage Bureau has taken steps to ensure that transgender people have equal access to marriage licenses. New transgender sensitivity trainings have ...

By Jos Truitt • 13 years ago

MD’s flawed transgender anti-discrimination bill

On Wednesday, March 9th, a Maryland House of Delegates committee is scheduled to have a hearing on a trans anti-discrimination bill that is stirring up controversy. House Bill 235 would ban discrimination based on gender identity in housing and employment. Unlike versions of this bill introduced over the past few years (none of which passed, of course) HB 235 does not include protections against discrimination in public accommodations.

What exactly is a place of “public accommodation” and why is this a big deal? It includes places of lodging like hotels and motels, restaurants and bars, entertainment venues, places for public gathering and shopping, transportation stations, stores, schools, gyms, shelters… I could go on. Basically, this is about whether ...