CineMark CEO and Prop 8 Sponsor Got our Milk Money. Now it's our InLaws & OutLaws Cash Too.

***Update 8/15/2011 We have succeeded in securing the following statement from Bob Shimmin, Vice President, Food & Beverage Cinemark USA, confirming CineMark is offering same sex partner benefits. As proof Mr. Shimmin is offering the cover of their 2010 benefit package.

Mr. Shimmin wrote "I have included the cover page of the 2010 Benefits Packet that was distributed to all employees in the fall of 2009 which clearly highlights the fact that domestic partner benefits were added for 2010"

Mr Shimmin offered no further proof that CineMark has gender identity and sexual orientation policies other than the ones publicly available previously published in this article.

I appreciate that a ranking CineMark executive finally responded. I just wish it hadn't taken all this to get it done.

****************************************

Original article

A few short years ago in 2008 information gleaned by legal actions it was discovered Plano Texas's CineMark CEO Allen Stock had made a donation of $9,999 dollars to support the passage of Prop 8.

It seemed to me then by making the maximum donation allowable Stock wanted to make it clear that he unequivocally supported Prop 8. I also wondered at that time how many other donations he had made against TBLG causes we didn't know about. However not everyone in the Gay and Lesbian community are as curious.


Disappointingly, immediately following the stripping of Californian marriage equality, CineMark in Plano Texas featured Harvey Milk the film. And despite local and nationwide protests by a minority of our community they profited from it. It was made clear to me at that time exactly how willingly a majority of our community will turn a blind eye to injustice, for convenience sake.

So just how invested is the Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance (CCGLA) in the success of CineMarks Harvey Milk and its current joint project, the InLaw OutLaws? It turns out the local LGBT paper's coverage of the Plano milk protest in 2008 so incensed the CCGLA you probably won't see anything questioning CineMarks employment policy again there or in any other Gay for profit North Texas publication for that matter. Seemingly inexplicitly at the time, the CCGLA website Prop 8 announcement simultaneously featured a picture of the Dallas prop 8 protest and a apologist letter from the CineMark vice president distancing his company from his CEOs hate money.

Fast forward to 2011. I received a Email from Equality Texas announcing the premier north Texas screening of InLaws/OutLaws a gay movie which according to its plot summary "..... weaves together true stories of couples and singles, gay and straight to celebrate what we have in common: we love." And of all places it is to be screened at CineMark!

I wondered, what had changed since 2008? So I posted this facebook status update that was quickly responded to by Jeanne Rubin, the InLaw OutLaw event originator.



Despite being put off by the authoritative tone of the comment, it seemed that everything is better and there is no reason for concern but given the gravity of situation and my personal investment in equality I wanted to find this out for myself.

I wondered , had the CineMark CEO made personal reparations to the LGBT community? What interactions had Stock had with our community to show he had a change of heart? At this time I have not found evidence of that. Then I wondered if CineMark has made changes in its employment policy to include equality for transgender people and partner benefits? Now that could be a game changer!

So I followed up on that meeting that took place in Plano with numerous Gay and Lesbian leaders and CineMark following Prop 8. I was assured by this source as was the Dallas Voice that CineMark would include partner benefits, sometime in the future meaning now. Curiously when I called those people who were in attendance none of them would go on record confirming they had even attended the meeting, let alone comment on CineMarks Partner Benefit policy. Why not?

Is it all about a dollar?

Well it turns out that the Vice President of the CCGLA is Jeanne Rubin who responded initially on Facebook and the man whom she represented only as a 'friend' at CineMark is now president of the CCGLA Bob Shimmin and also a Vice President of CineMark!

Still, I wanted to write a up beat positive article and I'd rather hear it from a Texas horse's mouth so I continued asking my contacts this time reaching further out about the state.

I called Equality Texas (EQTX) who would not comment on the CineMark event or its employment policy. The only thing they would offer was the showing was not an official Equality Texas event even though it appears on there web site, they promote it other places and they are the ones to benefit financially from ticket proceeds.

And like all the others I talked to EQTX directed me back to the event sponsor Jeanne Rubin.

So back to Jeanne Rubin I go.

After repeated requests to Rubin to provide me with the documentation that was promised to her and the CCGLA at the 2009 meeting between Gays, Lesbians and CineMark she relented, but only after I told her I will be publish regardless. Rubin offered this on the record about there partner benefit policy "You can say I understand that they do. However I am sorry this is the article you are choosing to write."

No Jeanne, I don't choose to write this. The Texas Gay and Lesbian Community rocks behind transgender causes every time we need you. The last thing I want to do was write this incriminating negitive article, but I have been left with no choice.

And since CineMark has not returned any of my phone calls from this mighty blogger, how about the USA's riche$t gay advocacy group, HRC?

As it turns out CineMark also refused to return there inquires according to Liz Cooper, Coordinator for the HRC Workplace Project which compiles the Corporate Index. She told me because CineMark has not responded to there inquires they based the employer information shown here on publicly available information, which she emailed to me.



This is nice, but a employment application does not confirms the company's employment policy toward transgender people and it says nothing at all about partner benefits. And it is not a employee handbook that the HRC website says it uses as confirmation.

Then I asked Cooper how they knew that CineMark was offering partner benefits since 2010 as she had stated since HRC's inquires were ignored? That report she said was based on word of mouth because "someone had heard" they had. Really, like someone named Jeanne or Bob perhaps?

Really? HRC could not verify any of those policies and there assurances reek of cronyism. And really, Jeanne, given your 'friendship' with CineMark's VP don't you think you could have another 'meeting' with him and confirm that CineMark does indeed have partner benefits like you 'heard'? Like they promised to do in 2009?

Or is it just to convenient to ignore it?

There was much debate if CineMark corporation should be held accountable for the private actions of it CEO in 2008 and I am sure there will be again given these revelations.

I didn't attend the 2008 protests of CineMark because I felt they were inappropriate at the time however I'm not so sure the time isn't right for protest now.

Jeanne Rubin, I do appreciate your invitation to come to the InLaw OutLaw showing and I will bring a friend if I do. And Signs. Cronyism sucks. Corporate money mongering on our graves sucks. Or something like that.

***Update! The following comments were posted on my Facebook after I posted a link to this article.



This person has not friended me so I do not have access to her facebook profile but since she identified as a employee of CineMark I presume this is her on Linked In Lynn Wolfe, Executive Assistant at Cinemark


No honestly I do not know why she thinks there is anger involved or that as a transgender woman I am not aware of what it means to live in this red Lone Star.



I'll be looking forward to receiving the conformation of CineMarks employment policy that Lynn Wolfe has promised though for the life of me, I can't understand why would take more than a day to send me a PDF file or link to it.

Prague PRIDE under attack by…the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

The Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate, the leader of the ultra conservative Ukrainian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church has attacked the Prague Pride with a open letter to the people of the Czech republic.
.

From Prague PRIDE – "you’d think it would be a “piece of cake” but all sorts of underlying stories are emerging and according to Czeslaw Prague PRIDE’s director, the evidence is that attitudes to LGBT people are getting worse in the Czech Republic. And with the office of the Czech President joining in, Petr Hajek used language such as “homsexuals are deviants”and when asked to distance himself the right-wing Czech Presdient Vaclav Klaus chose to endorse them."

Something you CAN do: write a blank email to the patriarchate and FILL their inbox

Suggested Title: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Russian: “Отец, прости их ибо не ведают, что творят” Лука­­23:34 (if you think they might not speak English)
or
Ukrainian (assuming you didnt want to offend them!) Отче, відпусти їм, бо не знають, що чинять вони Лука­­23:34

*********************************

The letter using Google translate

*********************************


Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate (BCP), 3 Hemlock Wed, Lviv, Bryukhovychi, 79491, Ukraine

tel / fax: +38 (032) 234-63-41,

www.community.org.ua, www.uogcc.org.ua;

Public call the Czech nation

Passed through the press report that the Vice Chancellor Peter Hajek termed the forthcoming Prague-pride. “Coercive means deviants”. This boldly expresses the truth. Mayor Svoboda and certain CSSD party members and VV pressured the President to distance himself from his true statement of his Vice-Chancellor. Even require a public apology. Everyone knows that gay pride is a coercive means, and in all countries of the world. Moreover, everyone knows that during these marches is a very undignified expressions perversion (deviance).

Statistics concerning homosexualism (sic) are shocking:

- Homosexuals are more than 50% of known AIDS cases in the United States. (Ed: but overwhelmingly heterosexual around the world, including in Ukraine and Russia)

- Homosexuals are involved in the disproportionate number of hepatitis cases: 70-80% in San

Francisco, 66% in New York, 56% in Toronto, 42% in Montreal. (Editor Sources? Incidences in other populations?)

- 39-59% of homosexuals are infected with intestinal parasites like worms, flukes and amoebae (Editor and the figure for heterosexuals would be?)

(Amoeba).

- Approximately 67-80% of homosexuals or licks its tongue inserted into the rectum of its partners (the

“Rimming”, anilingus, fecal sex, etc.) and biologically swallows a significant amount of feces, which is between homosexuals main cause of hepatitis infections and parasites. (Editor: Which homosexuals does this include female homosexuals? Reputable source?)

- 17% of homosexuals eating or rubs the feces of their partners. (Editor: Reputable source? Does this include Female homosexuals?)

- Urinating on himself (“golden showers”) and mutual torture of gay men from the 40th of the 20century. doubled and increased fisting astronomical degree. (Editor: Reputable source? Does this include Female homosexuals?)

- By 1992, gay bondage known as a disease and only under duresswas removed from the WHO list of diseases.

(Editor: FANTASY the accurate description is that the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed “homosexuality” from the list of mental disorders, the wording is very specific and it definitely was NOT “gay bondage” that assertion is pure fantasy)

- 43% said they had a life of 500 or more partners, 28% admitted for Life 1000 or more

(Editors: Reputable source? Male Homosexuals? Female homosexuals? Which survey, where?)

- A number of gay sexual contacts occur when they are drunk, stoned, or on venues orgy. Editor: a number certainly do but a number are also tender and cherishing and outside the influence of any alcohol and within the context of a loving relationship) Lack of a reputrable source in fact any source at all.)

- John Martaugh, Chief Police Judge Criminal Court of New York, said,

(Editor: we’ll contact him and see what he really said)

“Homosexuals in large cities contribute to half of all murders.” (Editor: Reputable link?)

- Homosexuals is attributed to 50% of suicides. (Editor: Reputable link?)

- 37% of gay sado-masochism runs, resulting in many deaths. (Editor: a full description of the statistic?)

- The homosexual is 100 times more likely to be murdered (usually by another homosexual) than the average person. (Editor: Reputable source?)

- To murder, suicide or traffic accident dies 534 times more lesbians than normal women. (Editor: Reputable source?)

- About 50% of women on death row in the U.S. are lesbians. (Editor: Reputable source?)

- 33% of homosexuals are pedophiles. Their motto is “sex before eight years THAN LATE. ”

(Editor: men who prey on children below the age of 16 are overwhelmingly heterosexual and include a significant number of Catholic priests)

The fact that Mr. Hajek called this perverse “lifestyle” only “deviation” is not an insult or exaggeration. Czech parents do not want their children to school and przněny převychovávány on homosexuals to get AIDS and die as suicides. Mr. Hajek and not with the President apologizing for what! Conversely, the citizens of Prague and the whole nation is obliged to apologize to the Mayor Liberty and those members of political parties and VV CSSD, who betrayed the truth and democracy and demoralize nation. Protecting the nation from homosexualismem is good not only for society but also for themselves homosexuals. It is a known fact that homosexuals are oppressed minority.

Practice proves that a small handful of whole society discriminates against homosexuals, changing laws and raises homodiktaturu. Brandishing the phrases about freedom of speech and democracy, but both exploits and destroys! Gender-gay ideology introduces new thinking, based on irealitě and loss of reason and discernment. Woman which asserts that man must be under the new laws in the Republic considered a man. This ideology Czech state makes Gotham. Shame on the church hierarchy in the CR, nor to defend the laws of God or human rights! This hierarchy proved zrádnická structure of God and the nation. The Word of God calls homosexuality a heavy sin and an abomination. An example, the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire. Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate calls on all religious leaders, especially Catholics, that even with his faithful have taken a clear and biblical position on homosexualismu. Invites them to at least additionally oppose Prague-pride and support the President and his Vice-Chancellor in their position of defending the moral and spiritual values ​​of the nation.

(Editor: For an alternative look at the Bible’s attitude to “homosexuality” please read Reluctant Journey by a heterosexual Methodist priest who is also a Biblical expert.)

For Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

+ Elijah

Patriarch

+ + Methodius OSBMr Timothy OSBMr

Secretary-bishops

Lviv, Ukraine, 08.06.2011

Cc:

- Parties CSSD and VV

- Parliament of the Republic

- President and Vice-Chancellor

- Representatives of the Church

- Mass media

Dallas response Rick Perry's "Response" a Political Capitol Catastrophe

Rick Perry's Day of Prayer with the AFA was seen as most as effort by the Texan ultra right govoner to kickstart the donations for a presedental bid. Undoubtly conseritive fundies watched carefully for polititians willing to take the stage with Perry.

 




Forbes

Dallas Voice

Cathey Brennan UN letter: Toxic Transphobia Death

Equality Marylands Radfem angel of death.

Equality Maryland's lead protagonist, propagandist and disruptor Cathey Brennan has once again stuck her head up from the cesspool of transphobia to lash out.

This time its on a global scale with a sickening letter to the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women . A transcript of the letter can be found here
.

For the uninitiated a quick recap. Maryland being my childhood home I could not stand by idly early this year as the indigent transgender population was blindsided by "Equality" Maryland (eqMD).

eqMD without informing or including the transgender community had sponsored a "equality" bill with a fatal flaw. This bill did not include public accommodations provisions which would give transgender people the legal right to be in public places such as buses and restaurants. Public accommodations provisions allows transgender people the legal right to be in restrooms that are congruent with there gender presentation.

When we responded on Equality Maryland facebook page Brennan banned us. Although Brennan denied any connection with emMD the posts hidden behind eqMD's logo commentary stunk of Brennan. When we wrote blog posts Brennan would attempt to discredit and belittle our efforts. Gay media never published a article fairly presenting our views extending eqMD's censorship by deleting trans peoples comments.

And when we tried to connect with the political sponsor of HB235 we were intimidated and threatened by her.

I banned Cathey Brennan early on after trying unsuccessfully to hold a public conversation about this issue in a facebook note after Maryland Delegate Pena-Melnyk CALLED ME AND SCREAMED IF >>YOU PEOPLE<< SHOW UP AT THE HEARING I'LL PULL MY SUPPORT!!!!!.

So I formed a now defunct "secret" group that would allow space for us to formulate a response. Now it seems that groups actions were not so secret as one of our members was promoted to editor of the local gay paper and has alowed Brennan space to spew her feminist brand of toxic transphobia .

Now Brennans disgusting motivations are revealed as she lashed out against Mercedes Allen in a unsigned post that reeks of Brennan intentionally misgendering her and pulling out of context one line of Mercedes post.

Brennan's letter to the UN seeks validates misogyny and undoubtedly will be referenced as the UN commission realigns its advocacy for womankind.

Brennan wrote:

"the proliferation of legislation designed to protect "gender identity" and "gender expression" undermines legal protections for females vis-à-vis sex segregated spaces, such... as female-only clubs, public restrooms, public showers, and other spaces designated as "female only."

and Brennan's letter suggests that transgender usage of restrooms endangers females because:

"... we recognize the legitimate needs of transgender and transsexual women to operate in the world free from irrational discrimination. However, we cannot deny the implications of this legislation - and the radical shift in priorities it represents for females. Female reproductive vulnerability has a long history of exploitation by males in the form of sexualized violence...."

And Mercedes wrote:
"In other words, they claim to recognize that we need basic human rights, but actually granting those rights harms women and constitutes sexualized violence by males."

Take action! Sign the petition

Video of Texas Gov Rick Perry presentation at the AFA Response Day of Prayer

“I’m so humbled to be in the midst of men and women who have answered the call to prayer and fast for our nation. I want to especially thank brother C.L. Jackson who’s standing here with me and a great man of God, and Alice Patterson. They both have been with me and praying with me and supported me through the years. And pastor, we stood in your church one day and we got on our knees in a moment of powerful prayer and I just thank you both for being here with me.

“Like all of you, I love this country deeply, thank you all for being here. Indeed the only thing that you love more is the living Christ. But our hearts do break for those who suffer, those afflicted by the loss of loved ones, the pain of addiction, the strife that they may find at home, those who have lost jobs, who have lost their homes, people who have lost hope. Those that cannot see the light in the midst of all the darkness. Because we know a loving God, we know the greatest darkness comes just before the morning. We know, we know a loving God and we know the darkness that he takes care of and wipes away. We know that there is hope for those who trust in him who fills our hearts with joy and gives us life. This God who knows our imperfections, he didn’t leave us to live a life in our sins, but paid the price for them. He who knew no sin, he gave his life in ransom for me. This loving, this loving and perfect God is also a personal God. He desires not a show of religion, but a deep connection with our innermost being.

“His agenda is not a political agenda, his agenda is a salvation agenda. Brother C.L., you and I have had this conversation. He’s a wise, wise God, and he’s wise enough to not be affiliated with any political party, or for that matter, he’s wise enough to not be affiliated with any man-made institutions. He’s calling all Americans, of all walks of life, to seek him, to return to him, to experience his love and his grace and his acceptance, experience a fulfilled life regardless of the circumstances. I want you to join with me as I share his word with you:”

(Perry then read from three Bible passages: Joel 2:12-17; Isaiah 40: 28-31; Ephesians 3:14-21.)

“As I finish I want to ask each of you to bow your head in prayer, or go to that position of prayer, and pray with us. Lord, you are the source of every good thing, you are our only hope. And we stand before you today in awe of your power, and in gratitude for your blessings, in humility for our sins. Father our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see angers in the halls of government. And as a nation we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us, and for that we cry out for your forgiveness. We pray for our nation’s leaders, Lord, for parents, for pastors, for the generals, for governors, that you would inspire them in these difficult times. Father we pray for our president, that you would impart your wisdom upon him, that you would guard his family. We pray for our military and the families who love them. Father especially, for those special operators who lost their life yesterday in defending our freedoms. You call us to repent, Lord, and this day is our response. We give it all to you. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. And amen.”



And,….Dear God: thank you for large megapixel cameras to capture my 3/4 pose in soft Rembrandt lighting so that it may be splashed across newspapers and websites all around the voting United States of America. If it is your will that I organize a phony self-centered and self-righteous event for the purpose of furthering my political ambitions, then I am but a servant of your will. And.., God, if I think I heard you right …you also want me to promote and protect all of my wealthy white benefactors. Right? If I’m wrong, just give me sign. No sign? OK, I guess I’m cool. Drinks for everyone at the country club! Only the “more equals” allowed.

By Patricia



Perry address to his AFA sponsored and began with him praying for the United Staes and those who have not seen the light and remain in darkness. By that I assume he refered to anyone not Christian or politicaly affilated with the right. Christians supporters

Dallas Protest of Rick Perry's Prayer Event. ALL are Welcome!

Protest Gov. Rick Perry's Inappropriate and Hateful Prayer Rally


Dallas, Texas, August 6, 2011 — This is a peaceful demonstration in front of Dallas City Hall, from 10:00am - 5:00pm, to protest "The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis," an event initiated, endorsed, and promoted by Texas Governor Rick Perry and the American Family Association.

For those who are not yet aware of the AFA's attitude on gays, please experience this:

Anyone who values the separation of Church and State is welcome to join-- non-theists, non-Christians, Christians. Please be aware that we are NOT trying to convert or mock anybody's religion. We are also not trying to prevent the prayer event from happening. If it doesn't happen, we will have no picket. This is about a picket, not an effort to stop an event from happening.

Four reasons to protest:

1. The event itself is being promoted by Gov. Perry in his official capacity as an elected official.

2. Gov. Perry has repeatedly and proudly violated church/state separation on several issues, all throughout his time as our governor.

3. The prayer event is being endorsed by the American Family Association, which is considered to be a hate group. Lately, the AFA has thrown out so much hate speech against gays, Muslims and state/church separationists.

4. I don't believe that any of the other 49 states' governors, whom Perry invited to his rally, are as devoted to flaunting their disregard for the diversity in their respective states' populations. This is while our state budget is in a mess, public education is underfunded, and our most popular politicians are riding on a wave of popularity, such that they can easily avoid any responsibility for explaining themselves and their actions to the public.

For more information about this demonstration, please contact Jessica Chong (817) 495–3993 or

MarySue Foster (972) 741–1592 or e-mail us at fedupwithperry@yahoo.com.

Also, visit our : Facebook event page

Thomas Beatie Opens Stockholm Pride Talks of His Child Bearing, Family and Love

In Sweden transsexuals must be sterilized before a sex change operation. American Transman Thomas Beatie has carried three children. His three lovely babies and family are testament to the inhumanity of that draconian gender cleansing law.

NY Marriage Equality, now What? Empire State Pride Agenda Wants You to tell Them

Get involved.

I know there's a lot of anger after being left behind so long but we have a ally and New Yorker Transgender peeps its up to you to light the fire.

Empire State Pride Agenda proved they can get it done with marriage equality and now they are asking for your story. Your guidance.

Email there transgender rights organizer, Christopher Argyros, at cargyros@prideagenda.org.

Are they honestly going to push as hard for trans rights as they have for gay issues? There's only one way to find out. Get involved.

Pride Agenda.org Transgender Civil Rights

Rick Perry Lone Ride out of Politics on the Third Rail to the AFA Day of Hate

The Third rail of Hate.

As noted by the Times Record News of Wichita Falls Texas Governor Rick Perry political gamble that others would embrace hate disguised as Christianity has failed.

No one disputed Mr. Perry's right to pray, it is the company that he chooses to keep that offends. At least that's the sentiment of most Americans and the overwhelming majority of politicians.

The "response' event has only confirmed 10% of the seating available at Reliant Stadium.

Only Kansas Governor Brownback and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana of the 49 governors invited have agreed to ride with Perry on this Third Rail. This is in despite of Perry's invitation and political muscle having been the Chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2009.

Even Perry has downplayed and backpedaled his involvement a fact not unnoticed by the AFA. Obviously becoming aware of the political suicide by association with the AFA Perry has distanced himself saying he may not speak and may only usher at the event. How humble. How ridiculous! Christs love is not political expediency or populism.


There are many third rails, and the lord knows as a Christian transgender woman I am a rider on many, I pray I will never buy a ticket on the rail to hate.

Years ago I joined with Soulforce to visit one of the "response" pastors John Hagee, trying to bring Christs message of radicaly inclusive love to his Cornerstone Church.

Even though we have made a substantial impact its not time for Texans to rest on our laurels. We must take to the streets in Houston on the 6th. Lets make sure other would be political hate mongers know where riding that third rail will take them.

Transgender Cleansing on Social Media Facebook and Google+ You may be next

Are you on Facebook or Google+ and using a pseudonym instead of your legal name. Most transgender and transsexual people do and have very valid reasons none of which include malicious intent.

Most of us free to do so online and remain blissfully unaware of any ramifications.

Until now.

Katie Glover the transgender editor of Frock magazine was deleted Facebook for allegedly using a "Fake" profile. Many ask 'why is we have never heard of this happening before?'

Well, you are hearing about it now! I am outspoken advocate (loudmouth) and have never had a close personal friend who also happens to be my editor deleted before! Maybe as suggested by other transgender people, this has happened before, but the victims just disappeared.

So I asked my friends as a birthday wish to tag me in a facebook with pictures like the one to the right.

Why can't we pretend its not happening? After all I'm still on facebook asks Ima Anione?

Just like cisgender womankind, transgender woman can be some of the hardest to convince of our vulnerability and the requirement of action.

A timely example of this is TransDIYer's (left) Youtube slamming me for my simple birthday wish while embracing ignorance pandering to those who would embrace her faux brand of populist activism. Just for the record TransDIYer followers, by her own admission, she repeatedly commented' trolled on my profile and that is why I banned her.

"I have a hard time believing that this is a a real issue. I hate frivilous BS"- TransDIYer-Youtube rant.

But TransDIYer's screed does beg a valid question, if this is real and not some "friviolious BS" from some attention starved peep why haven't we already heard about it?

No one wants to acknowledge it's happening.

The sad fact is woman both cisgender and transsexuals are equally capable of being dismissively misogynistic and even cruelly inhumane to there own gender.

"Transgender cleansing" is a new social construct and the idea that Transgender cleansing could or is happening is naturally further buried in media's patriarchal hierarchy.

But in truth on a devastating level it is happening now in Sweden where it is law transgender people must me sterilized prior to sexual organ alignment surgery.

Defining "transgender cleansing". Lets further our understanding of ethnic and sexual cleansing to include the ongoing social media cleansing of the gender diverse.

Now on to Facebook and Google Plus.

Google plus TOS requires all to requires you "use your full first and last name in a single language." Failure to do so makes you subject to deletion.


Facebook TOS 1.You will not provide any false personal information on Facebook, or create an account for anyone other than yourself without permission.

Nowhere do ether TOS state or imply Transgender people may self identify or are exempt from these rules.

Jillian York's excellent article A Case for Pseudonyms explores our marginalization and potential for apparent arbitrary deletion as she writes: "Nevertheless, policies requiring "real" names are nearly impossible to enforce at scale, and as several examples have demonstrated, enforcement tends to be skewed against individuals who are well-known or have enemies, a result of community reporting mechanisms."

So why was Katie Glover's profile deleted at that moment?

Perhaps it happened because she choose to make a social statement and stand up for us?


Just prior to her deletion Katie published an in depth interview with Peter Tatchell in FROCK about the injustices being done to the LGBT Moscow Pride participants.

Perhaps my "Grass Roots" interview of Russian gender queer Anno Komarov about his trials as a leader of that same Russian Pride upset the Russian government so much they used their political muscle to push Katie off facebook!

I know the morning Katie sent me the email about her deletion my profile had been suspended for a couple of hours. Maybe facebook was checking me out, however I being a minority among us I enjoy the benefit of using my legal name.

Kelli Anne Busey. Gender: Female. You can look it up.

Fantasy? No, its not. That same thing has happened to me a few years ago. planetransgender was deleted by google after I exposed the correlation between the public revelation of Congressman Barney Franks 10 year rent boy relationship and his first utterance of the transphobic phrase describing transgender people as "men with penis's in the ladies room". It was obvious to me he was using our lives to deflect interest and condemnation of his young prostitute/boyfriend.

And I did piss him and his ilk off!

The only thing that saved planetransgender was a fellow blogger called NG. He asked why enough and one day a few weeks later my blog mysteriously appeared although sans the article about Franks.


So it happens. You are asking what can I do about it. You are saying to yourself if I remain silent and invisible no one will notice. Maybe like TransDIYer pointed out there are drag queens and nothing has happened to them. Well nothing against drag queens but how many do you know that are making a public statement other than to say hey look at me I got ladies undies on? I know of one or two. They too, like you will be overlooked until the time when "there is no one else for them to come for."


So, Facebook and Google are not transgender inclusive. What can we do?

For one you can talk about it. Whether you agree or not our conversation elevates our concerns to cisgender ears. And you can be proactive:

There is a reason 40,000 people have joined the NCTE cause Tell Facebook to recognize transgender people. Many of those who joined that cause are aware of the consequences should if we continue not being allowed to self identify.

You can sign and share the Change.org petition Tell Facebook You are NOT a Transgender FAKER!

Working on Facebook is not a answer to this problem, They just ignore you.

I started a facebook event eventually leading to the creation of TransAction ConVergence calling on Facebook to Include Transgender in Profile Options". We eventually had over 20,000 participants and I was sure we would be considered in the changes they were initiating at that time. They ignored us and as you can tell by clicking the plancast link the event is no longer available for viewing. I did not cancel it and unlike all the other previous TransAction ConVergence events, it was not archived.

Believe this! Gender cleansing on social media is real, its happening and we must stop it.

Gun Hill Road Papi Esai Morales on CBS "The Talk"

CBS The Talk hosted Esai Morales who's latest film “Gun Hill Road”, directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green will premier Aug 5th in LA and NYC. “Gun Hill Road” is a drama based on a true story, which explores the dynamic in a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx when its father, played by Esai, returns home from prison after a 3-year absence and discoverer's that his child who he thought of as his son when he left, is now his daughter.

Gun Hill Road Director and Actors True Transgender Metal

The New York Times ran an amazing article "When They Play Women, It’s Not Just an Act" By Erik Piepenburg about the phenomenal new release "Gun Hill Road"


"What sets this movie apart is it has transgender actors playing transgender roles" Erick explains "but this hasn't always been true."

Indeed there have been a multitude of cisgender actors cast in movies which misrepresented and in some cases where problematic for transgender and transsexual people.

Gun Hill Roads transgender lead actress Harmony Santana a NYC native was precisely who director was looking for. He understood from experience trying to cast cisgender gay actors there was a intangible ingredient missing. He learned from trial and error he needed a sister who shares our road less traveled and finding Ms. Santana was a gift from above! She was early in transition having come up the hard way still living in a homeless shelter for LGBT youth even as the movie was being filmed living the experience.

And complementing the metal of the movie is the NYT author's grasp on our issues as he as he explores the results that drag and exploative movies have had on the Transsexual and Transgender community by interviewing another well know transgender actress Laverne Cox.

My heart went to my throat as the author's article went further examining transgender roles by interviewing Israel Luna director of the movie "Ticked Off Tra##ys With Knives" which was intensely protested by the transsexual and transgender community.

It is a sad commentary that TO#WK movie would be held as a standard for transgender movies but in truth Erik did us a solid in contrasting that movies problematic senseless violent exploitation of transgender people with the true transsexual metal Gun Hill Road.

Hopefully in the future we will see many more movies like Gun Hill Road on our shared road less traveled.

Read the NYT article in full HERE.

Washington Blade article: Dear Moms So Sad your Daughter was killed Where the Tranny Whores Hang out

Its been just months ago that I called out the Washington Blade writer Lou Chibbaro Jr for erroneously presenting our opposition to HB235 as being led and organized by transphobic and homophobic hate groups.

The Washington Blades intent was to ignore the local poor transgender community and maliciously stigmatize us "out of state bloggers" as the enemy of equality, undesirable and unworthy. We were the only voice against gay oppression of trans people then and well, he's at it again.

Now they might have just as well called a slain transgender sister a whore in the same article they documented the mourning of her family and mother.

And the DC Trans Coalition is pissed. They are calling for fair minded people to respond with there article Fighting Biased Reporting After Tragedy

"Like many of you, we’re still reeling from last week’s tragic killing of Lashai Mclean. We were then especially appalled when we reviewed The Washington Blade’s coverage of the vigil held in Lashai’s memory, in which the reporter suggests — based on no evidence other than location — that Lashai was engaging in sex work at the time of her death."

They are asking for members to write and call the Washington Blade editor and express your dismay.

Kevin Naff
Editor, The Washington Blade
knaff@washblade.com

Video: Ashley Love takes over NAACP LGBT Town Hall "Sorry for the Misrepresentation of Trans people".

NAACP LGBT Town Hall Los Angeles CA: Activist Ashley commandeers the microphone after sending this mobile upload telling us "Wow, CNN's Don Lemon just said transsexual and transgender people are really just "gay" and are the "same thing as gay". Unbelievable!"

Don Lemon (far right) obviously aghast at having his gay assimulist patriarchal misrepresentation of transsexuals blown up by Ashley looks on at NAACP's former director Julian Bond in horror as to say HEY I thought it was an unspoken agreement, no transsexuals or dogs?



Ashley is humble in victory latter telling us "Julian Bond was kind and fair enough to let me speak at the end, though Don Lemon interrupted me and made excuses for his misinformation."

This episode of transsexual educating gays would have been completely unnecessary had the transgenders communities request for a transsexual panel member been heeded. Instead, it was this adacious act of advocacy that saved the day.

Ashley on her facebook page explained her frustration "Its amazing that Don Lemon, a man who"s been out for only a few months, has the audacity to tell me, a woman who has been seeing a doctor about her transsexual & intersex condition for FIFTEEN YEARS, who I am, & that I'm the "same thing as gay". Sorry Don, women like me are not here to drag impersonate singers on a gay club's stage for you to laugh at. I'm a woman, deal with it. And stop the miseducation, its harmful."

NAACP Holds First Lesbian Gay Town Hall Without a SINGLE Black Transgender Panelist!

Transgender and Bi community beware. You have been excluded from presenting as a panelist at the first ever LG(bt) NAACP conference despite concerted efforts by our sisters of color.

The NAACP is committing the same crimes perpetrated against us, not with physical violence but by dismissing us and ignoring our sisters as they attempted to stand up and be counted! Just like the police do.

Black transgender people are being slaughtered. Police ignore us. The NAACP ignores us.

A REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS found in comparision to cisgender Lesbian and Gay people that 44% of LGBTQH murder victims were transgender women, transgender people of color were 2 times as likely to experience assault, 1.5 times more likely to experience intimidation, were almost 2.5 times more likely to experience discrimination.

Transgender survivors experienced higher rates of serious injuries (11.8%) and that 75% of transgender men and 20% of transgender women did not receive needed medical attention for their injuries compared with a overall avg of 15% of Lesbian and Gay people.

Transgender women were the least likely to report to police. 25.4% of transgender women did not make a report. Transgender people of color reported higher rates of indifferent police attitudes. 48.3% of transgender people of color reported that police attitudes were indifferent, compared with 7.7% of non-transgender white survivors.

Police were more likely to arrest offenders when survivors were gay non-transgender men. People who identified as gay, largely gay non-transgender men, made up 69% of the total amount of people whose offender was arrested.

Non-transgender men were majority of offenders (NOTE: sexuality of offenders NOT defined). Non-transgender men were 76.1% of offenders in 2010, and 23.8% of offenders were non-transgender women. There was only one transgender hate violence offender recorded in 2010 (0.1%).

Who's committing these crimes? The demographic speaking for us and assimilating our culture at the NAACP Gay town hall!!

Candlelight Vigil for murdered transgender woman of color Lashai McLean

Yet another transgender woman of color slain.

A candlelight vigil will be held at Saturday, July 23 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm at the corner of 61st and Dix street NE.

From the facebook vigil page:

"Unfortunately, yet another senseless act of cruelty against a member of the LGBT community has happened again in DC. This time the victim was identified as 23 year old Lashai McLean of Northeast, DC.

McLean was gunned down on the 6100 block of Dix Street, NE in the early morning hours. There was a second person with her, but all accounts have this person escaping the attack. Police state that they are still trying to determine a ...motive. However, the LGBT community believes that the attack was based off of the fact that McLean identified as a transgender woman.

McLean was highly active within the LGBT community. She spent many days on the premises of Transgender Health Empowerment (T.H.E.) and was known by most of the staff. It is coincidental that the site of her murder was in the same neighborhood T.H.E's Wanda Alston House.

Mayor Vincent Gray issued a press release which condemned the murder of a member of the LGBT community. He also was quoted as saying "if the investigation concludes that this shooting was the result of bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity, MPD and my administration will work with this community to see that there is an appropriate response to this kind of violence, which cannot be tolerated."

A candlelight vigil will be held at the corner of 61st and Dix street, NE on Saturday, July 23rd at 7:00 PM. Please come out and pay your respects to this young woman lost. This event is being organized by Transgender Health Empowerment."

Facebook Vigil page.

The DCTC press release

Interactive World Map Showing Transgender Murders Since 2008

Screen shot of a map showing all reported transgender murders since 2008 updated in May 2011.

Click the map to open another window for the interactive map.



To the casual observer it would appear transgender people must have it pretty good in Russia and other places. This is because in those countries transgender murders go unreported.

link to the interactive map

Reading the Vancouver Pride Guide I could not find the word transgender or transsexual. Gay, queer, lesbian and drag out the ying-yang but transgender was not mentioned. Not even once.

This fact has has not escaped the notice of a outspoken transgender Vancouver resident, Tami Starlite, who then organized a "Trans Celebration & Liberation March"in protest of trans exclusion by the Vancouver Gay pride.


Seemingly ignorant of the Vancouver Gay Pride's elitist's dismissive exclusionary assimilation and of the transgender community Scott Blythe, general manager of the VPS when informed of the separate transgender event announced a transgender BBQ would be held. And what better place to show hide your solidarity with the transgender community than to have the BBQ inside the premise of the VPS offices!

Blyth told straight.com “We wanted to provide some sort of framework and some support for the trans community, to say, ‘We want to show that visibility’—on their our terms, not on our their terms,” Blythe said by phone.

No BBQ on the patio for TAMI.

Tami was vivid about this. She replied to my inquiry:

"The BBQ is more tokenism. People do not understand that by definition we are not part of mainstream society. GrrrrrOWL! We should not be - as I stated in my reply to the article. PRIDE has a history and it is all political and
VERY personal. I have a great admiration to those who do not work within the system. The
system is patriarchy....capitalist and very ...unequal. Enough of giving this shit show our energy.....time to move forward as a society....stagnate as we wallow in our privilege. Shame on the Gay & Lesbian community for allowing the trans and bi people to be token and erased.!!!!"

It may be just as well because transgender people might not have been allowed to march under there sign anyways. It seems any signage slightly political in nature will be a No NO.

Cross posted from The Transexual Menace

Kelli Busey PodCast on Forward Blitz Radio talks about Rick Perry AFA Day of Prayer

From BlogTalk Radio recorded July 11th "On August 6th, Governor Rick Perry will be holding a prayer event called The Response. Now...we don't care that a bunch of fundamentalists are getting together to pray for the country - that's the freedom that makes us unique. What we DO care about is the fact that he has teamed up with the American Family Association and a bunch of bigoted hateful people who are anti-gay and anti-every other religion.

Listen to internet radio with ForwardBlitz on Blog Talk Radio

In response to The Response, a protest will be staged - bet on it. Our guest on Monday will be Kelli Anne Busey, a journalist for Planetransgender and one of the organizers of this protest.

Rachael's Cafe Just a little place in Indiana free of Prejudice

Rachael's Cafe is a play that needs our help.

Why this play?
RACHAEL’s CAFÉ is first and foremost an intelligent, daring and entertaining piece of theatre, that brings to the theatregoing public a normally taboo subject in a refreshing and enlightening manner.

One thing that this play shows so clearly is that no matter how different some people may look or seem to us, our needs, our fears and our dreams are just the same.

With your support we hope to give the GLBT community an accessible platform to increase public awareness and understanding of Transgenders, gender dysphoria etc.
















Rachael's Cafe - The Play

ARE YOU A FACEBOOK TRANSGENDER NAME FAKER? Your account may be suspended too!

Is Facebook engaging in gender cleansing? The editor of Frock Magazine and founder of Gender Society believes she is a victim of Gender Cleansing!

You may know my editor, a trans woman by the name of Katie Glover? Well, her personal Facebook account was disabled on July 12th 2011. After inquiring as to why Facebook informed her by email she she was kicked off because she is a "faker" for not using her "real" name presumably meaning the name on her birth certificate! Whats more, there appears no way for Katie to contest her being deleted!

RU A FACEBOOK Transgender FAKER TOO?

Not using your legal name? Then you might also see this next time you try and log on to Facebook:

Katie posted this on the Gender society forum this morning:

"July 13, 2011 10:28:23 AM BST

I tried to post a status update yesterday evening and discovered that I was logged out of Facebook. Upon attempting to log in I received a message that said my account had been disabled. The reason given was that I was a faker because I had not used my real name. They didn't mention my birth certificate but they obviously meant that I had not used my official male name (ie the one on my birth certificate).


No warning was given and there was no way to appeal. In fact, I could not find any way of contacting Facebook at all.


I have done nothing wrong. My only crime is being a TG person. It took me years to build up all the contacts I had on Facebook and I used it every day to communicate with them as part of my work for this community and also for Frock Magazine. Losing Facebook is akin to losing my hard drive and everything on it. This is yet another serious blow for me and I'm not happy.


However, it could just be the thin end of the wedge. I would guess that the vast, vast majority of TG people who have Facebook accounts use their femme name rather than their male name. What are the implications of this for them? This action raises a lot of questions...


Have Facebook set a precedent by kicking me out?

Will we now see the bulk cleansing from Facebook of all trans people who refuse to use their male names?

Does this mean that Facebook is transphobic?

Have they just declared war on the worldwide trans community?

Over to you...

Hugs, Katie x


This post was edited by Katie Glover at July 13, 2011 10:28:23 AM BST"

As we all are aware many trans people do not use the name on our birth certificates. Many of use use pseudonyms or preferred names on facebook. Its just part of the transitional experience. Some find ourselves unable to transition past a certain point, some are happy at a transitional point that does not include legal name changes.

These are personal reasons and not are not offensive or illegal!

Take Action!

Join the Facebook page demanding they reinstate Katie Glover's personal account!

Sign the Change.org petition telling Facebook to reinstate Katie's facebook account.

Half Hour Drama Latino Trans Teen Caught Between. Kick Start THIS!

All that Makes or Brakes!

Love, adolescent hormones, church, family, politics and a trans persons NEED to BE Real.

What is Chris/tina? A Idea. A dream. A KickStarter project about OUR world that needs OUR money to become OUR lives for others to know!

From first time film maker Jorge Ortiz: Registered and copyrighted, "Chris/tina" is a scripted, half-hour dramedy series that I've created and developed.

"A teenage twin living in a machismo, middle-class thinking, Catholic based Latin neighborhood with his college all-American athlete brother and his politically ambitious mother is caught between the expectations of that world and with who he really is inside...a woman."

Help make this real by contributing to this KickStarter project.

Kelli Busey on Rick Perry AFA Prayer Meeting >>> The Blitz 7:00 PM Central

RICK PERRY - YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE LAST OF THIS

Source forward blitz: On August 6th, Governor Rick Perry will be holding a prayer event called The Response. Now...we don't care that a bunch of fundamentalists are getting together to pray for the country - that's the freedom that makes us unique. What we DO care about is the fact that he has teamed up with the American Family Association and a bunch of bigoted hateful people who are anti-gay and anti-every other religion.

In response to The Response, a protest will be staged - bet on it. Our guest on Monday will be Kelli Anne Busey, a journalist for Planetransgender and one of the organizers of this protest.

From Kelli's blog:

Jewish, Muslim, Buddhists, atheists, liberals, and LGBT people, the AFA says YOU are NOT invited to pray with Texas Governor Rick Perry!

This is a clip from an AFA email explicitly disinviting all non Christians from the religious and political process.

"This is an explicitly Christian event because we are going to be praying to the one true God through His son, Jesus Christ. It would be idolatry of the worst sort for Christians to gather and invite false gods like Allah and Buddha and their false prophets to be with us at that time. Because we have religious liberty in this country, they are free to have events and pray to Buddha and Allah on their own. But this is time of prayer to the One True God, through His son Jesus Christ, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life."

You can bet that Dennis, Nicole, and Kelli will have a lot to say about Governor Rick, those attending, and those excluded.

Listen on line at blogtalkradio.com/forwardblitz

The number to call is 424-675-8317 - join in the conversation, show your support, or just tell us how outraged you really are.

Some say we are radicals, leftists, communists, socialists, and anti-American because we believe in social justice, taking care of those less-fortunate, universal or single-payer health-care and the protection of human rights. But, as the radical right imposes its agenda upon the people of this country, we know that what we stand for is not only right - but the only thing that will stop the demise of the United States of America.

GUN HILL ROAD the BEST Transgender FILM you may ever SEE!

Nitty gritty real life ghetto transgender reality.

Source: imdb.com Starring Esai Morales (La Bamba, "Caprica") and Judy Reyes ("Scrubs"), and introducing Harmony Santana, Gun Hill Road will open theatrically on August 5, 2011.

SYNOPSIS: After three years in prison, Enrique (Esai Morales) returns home to the Bronx to find the world he knew has changed. His wife, Angela (Judy Reyes), struggles to hide an emotional affair, and his teenage son, Michael (Harmony Santana), explores a sexual transformation well beyond Enrique's grasp and understanding.

Unable to accept his child, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by protecting Michael. Still under the watchful eye of his parole officer (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), Enrique must become the father he needs to be or, once again, risk losing his family and freedom.

Can a fathers fierce love for his family overcome his street-hardened ideas about manhood and end the vicious cycle controlling his life? Writer/director Rashaad Ernesto Greens first feature film is an intricate portrait of a family divided told with sensitivity, gentle humor, and a deep understanding of the environment that shapes its people.

Coming Soon: Easy standardized DMV Gender Marker Changes?

The clip to the left is from MOVE which is published by The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) a non-governmental, educational association representing the state and provincial officials in the United States and Canada who administer and enforce motor vehicle laws.

AAMVA states it's mission is to "facilitate communication and foster standardization among member jurisdictions concerning traffic safety, titling of motor vehicles, and licensing drivers."

Personally I think this is a wonderful concept! Imagine being able to renew a Texas license without having a clerk question your gender marker at the top of her lungs!






It would be nice next time I renew if that same loud clerk did not take offense like she did last time when I graciously asked to be served by someone else after having those experiences with her in previous years!

After seeing the above paragraph from the TX DPS communications director in "MOVE" and reflecting on the difficulties I have renewing my licence showing my correct gender I decided to tweet our office and see if they were reading MOVE. I'd also like to suggest the Texas DPS accept the NCTE/AAMVA educational offer.

I'll keep you posted.

AFA Email Confirms: Not Christian? Stay Away from Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Day of Prayer

Jewish, Muslim, Buddhists, atheists, liberals, and LGBT people, the AFA says YOU are NOT invited to pray with Texas Governor Rick Perry!

This is a clip from an AFA email explicitly disinviting all non Christians from the religious and political process. And don't presume to be a part of the prayer process that according to Rick Perry in the following video is a integral component of the political process.

Gov. Perry's Invitation to The Response from The Response USA on Vimeo.

The AFA would have you believe by prayer on August 6th you can identify exactly who is to at fault for our country's problems. And non Christian are not invited by Rick Perry to join in finding out whom to blame for this perceived imminent demise of our country. This same sort of exclusive fear mongering, a threat of the "END DAYS" was also used to motivate people to convince Pontius Pilate to crucify Jesus.

Many, like myself believe Christ's message was one of inclusivity and a eternal invitation to salvation. There is no prerequisite to 'belong' to any religion or political party to join with humanity in faith.

This is why the AFA has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The American Family association believes all non Christians are guilty of idolatry which is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god. Rick Perry by inviting the AFA to host this event is promoting that philosophy and inviting you to transform American into a theocracy .

Contrary to what Rick Perry and the AFA would have you believe, YOU are welcomed, loved and as important to the political process as any anyone else is, including hate groups.

You can help voice that belief by being among our numbers outside of Reliant Stadium protesting on August 6th 2011.

planetransgender post Protest Rick Perry

For gender diverse people atheist or of any belief the AFA has a especially toxic message. You are invited to protest with the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies .

Send Kelli Anne Busey to the Moscow Pride 2012

Send Kelli Anne Busey to the Moscow Pride 2012

I am author activist Kelli Anne Busey. I am fundraising for a trip to participate in the Moscow Pride Parade 2012 in support for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community.

What is significant about the Moscow Pride Parade?

Since 2006 the Moscow government has ignored the Russian Constitution and has outlawed Pride Parades beating and arresting the participants. This year the participants were once again mistreated but because of our efforts to publicize the event, and the attendance of international gay advocates, the actions of the government received international attention.

This year was expecially significant for transgender people because one of our own came to the forefront as a leader.

Equally distressing are the murders of the reporters of Novaya Gazeta, the only remaining free press in Russia. One of their contributors Elena Kostyuchenko attended the 2011 Pride on the day she came out as a lesbian. She received special attention from the police being the only one hospitalized this year with a concussion.

What do I hope to accomplish by attending the Moscow Pride Parade?

I have been writing about the Moscow Pride since 2008. My previous year’s efforts were rewarded as I friended and interviewed their transgender leader, Anna Komarova. He invited me to next year’s Pride Parade to become the first transsexual author activist from another country to attend.

What do you have to gain by contributing to this effort?

Russia lags behind the world in acceptance of LGBT people but gradually with time their struggle has found its way to people’s consciousness both inside and outside of their borders. The amount the LGBT people of Russia benefit by international involvement is directly proportional with our involvement. And conversely the same holds true. We grow by leaps and bounds as a community when we stand in solidarity with each other regardless of international borders.

The transgender community sadly lags behind gay and lesbian advances in equality. We will receive an injection of worldwide pride as I step up to pay it forward in Moscow.

How much overall will this cost?

I need to raise $1500.



Do I get a refund if money for the airline ticket is not raised soon enough or I don’t travel?

Yes. You will be refunded in full in the event I do not go to Moscow in May 2012.
What guarantee do I have my donation will be used or refunded as promised?

I stake my reputation as a blogger, founder of the Dallas Transgender Advocates and activist on it.

You have my word on it.

Kelli Anne Busey

St. PetersBurg Pride Parade People Beaten Today, Arrested and Tweeting from inside a Jail Cell

Мент говорит: "сейчас посадим к черномазым с блохами"~ Nikolai Alexeyev.

Nikolai is live now at 6/25 9:00am CT live Tweeting from inside a St Petersburg jail cell as he and 14 others are being charged by the police for having this years Pride.
Nikolai Alekseev posted to Slavic Gay Pride, St.Petersburg. 2011 June 25 "14 Gay Rights Activists including Nikolai Alekseev, Yury Gavrikov, Anna Komarova, Anton Sutyagin arrested today while staging a Gay Pride March in St. Petersburg (Russia). The event was banned by the city hall."
Photos from the 3r Slavic Gay Pride which take place in St. Petersburg on June 25, 2011. 14 Participants were arrested by the police. As the photos showed, one participant was attacked and beaten by a homophobe. In all, 20 people took part to the Pride which was banned by the city hall. Last year, a similar attempt in St. Petersburg was also banned. This year activists gathered near the statue to Peter the Great as the pictures show, but also used a boat which passed in front of the statue on the river neva and another group attempted to protest in front the Constitutional Courts which is located opposite to the statue.
. More on the AP