MURDERED : Ebru Soykan Turkish Transgender Human Rights Activist

Turkey: Another Transgender Activist Murdered
Government Should Prosecute Violence, Prohibit Discrimination

Ebru's murder was the second this year of transgender activists in Turkey. She was a leading figure in an organization that worked to end police harassment and ill treatment of transgender people. She was stabbed in her home in spite of having notified the police of the dangerous man who they presently have in custody in connection with her murder.

Many people in Turkey feel that the police if not committing the violence, turn a deaf ear to warnings and a blind eye to crime if it is committed against transgender people.

The Human Rights Watch published the report "A Social Hell: State Violence, Abuse, and Harassment against Transgender People" in 2008 which describes Turkey as a place that “We Need a Law for Liberation”.

by k.a. Busey
March 13, 2009
planetransgender

Related on the web

Pink News U.K. "Transgender activist murdered in Turkey"

Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey attends White House Forum on Health Reform

MEDIA CONTACT:
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463
(Cell) 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org

“In the coming months, the macro themes and issues raised at the summit will work their way through to concrete policy and funding decisions that will affect the day-to-day lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.”
— Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

WASHINGTON, March 6 — National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey was among those participating in yesterday’s White House health-care reform summit convened by President Barack Obama.



Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

“The White House Forum on Health Reform was a powerful start to reforming health care and how our country views health generally. With Sen. Ted Kennedy in the room, people couldn’t help but be inspired to focus on solutions. In the coming months, the macro themes and issues raised at the summit will work their way through to concrete policy and funding decisions that will affect the day-to-day lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The Task Force will be working to make sure our needs, lives and families are not left behind. For example, how families are defined will be critical to ensuring full coverage of LGBT people, our partners/spouses and our children. The days when we must pay taxes on domestic partner health benefits must end.

“Other issues of great concern to LGBT people are the need for inclusive services; quality health care for those who are not employed; funding for community-based health centers with culturally sensitive services; addressing the ‘preexisting conditions’ barriers that far too many in our community face by having to move from job to job due to lack of employment protections or barriers faced by transgender people; and the racial and economic disparities that have plagued the existing system.

“Our community has a great deal at stake in the outcomes of this process but we also have a lot to offer in terms of solutions, creativity and engagement — after all, our community created an entire infrastructure of HIV/AIDS care when the government was unwilling to take action in ways that addressed the scale of the problem.”

Top Task Force staffer on hand as President Obama signs executive order creating White House Council on Women and Girls

March 11, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT:
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463
(Cell) 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org

WASHINGTON, March 11 — President Barack Obama signed an executive order today creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. The council is designed to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronting women and girls, and to ensure that all cabinet and cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Deputy Executive Director Darlene Nipper attended today’s signing at the White House.

The White House Council on Women and Girls will be chaired by Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president, and the day-to-day operations will be run Tina Tchen, currently director of the White House Office of Public Liaison.

Statement by Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force


“Women and girls have made great strides in the United States, but challenges clearly remain. The highest echelons of government need to be aware of and actively engaged in finding solutions to critical issues affecting women and girls — issues like pay equity, threat of violence, work-life balance for working women, and access to affordable health care and child care. Women and their families are particularly vulnerable on all these counts during an economic downturn. Lesbian, bisexual and transgender women face additional obstacles because they are unprotected by most nondiscrimination employment laws and family recognition laws. This new council will hopefully ensure the voices of women and girls are heard and that these issues remain front and center in the White House.”

Senator Renfroe : Respect Justice During Angie Zapata's Murder Trial

Ask Senator Renfroe of Greeley to Respect Justice During Angie Zapata's Murder Trial

By Kelli Busey
March 12, 2009
planetransgender

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 25, 2009
Contact: Jeremy J. Shaver
Work: 303-733-4089
Cell: 303-324-7923

Interfaith Alliance of Colorado challenges harmful rhetoric in debate over Senate Bill 88

DENVER – The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado is concerned and saddened by the inflammatory rhetoric and disregard for the boundaries between religion and government displayed on the Colorado Senate floor on Monday.

The disturbing comments came during debate on Senate Bill 88 – legislation that would provide health benefits to the same-gender domestic partners of state employees. Sen. Scott Renfroe, of Greeley, quoted Bible verses to argue that the state should not condone homosexual relationships. He went even further by saying homosexuality is an “abomination” and an “offense to God.”
Continue reading press release "Interfaith Alliance of Colorado challenges harmful rhetoric in debate over Senate Bill 88"

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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies with religious convictions and atheists alike are equally upset. Take Action and contact Senator Renfroe.

Sample Statement
[written by kelli Busey, feel free to cut and paste]

Senator Renfroe,

As we are sure you are aware, there is on going murder trial in Greeley CO. where impartiality of Justice could not be of more importance.
In respect of Angie Zapata's murder trial, family, friends and allies of the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Transgender community respectfully ask that Senator Renfroe contain his comments to those that do nor disparage LGBT people.

As this Murder trial will be directly affected by a State Senators comments that reflect his religious convictions and not the legislative mandates of Colorado, we ask Senator Renfroe to respect justice for this period of time and join the state of Colorado, the United States and indeed the world in efforts to find common ground.

Respectfully,

Contact Senator Renfroe and voice your opinion!

By phone:
303-866-4451

By e-mail:
scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us

By mail (for official business):
Senator Scott Renfroe
State Capitol
200 E. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80203

By mail (for campaign business):
Scott Renfroe for Senate
3201 Grandview Drive
Greeley, CO 80631

On Twitter:
On Twitter

On Facebook:
Facebook

Amnesty International : Say No to Internet Censorship on March 12

World Day against Cyber Censorship is this Thursday, March 12. It is a day to advance and celebrate a free Internet as an open window to the world and denounce the attacks made on the free flow of information online. Urge Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft not to censor any of their search engines or blog platforms anywhere around the world on this day.

Take Action With Amnesty International

Angie Zapata Trial : Andrade's Murder Confession Thrown Out

March 12, 2009 by k.a. Busey

Weld District court Judge Marcelo Kopcow has ruled that defendant statements made after 39 minutes of questioning while be dissallowed after Andrade told Greeley detective Greg Tharp ‘I’m done. Yeah, I’m not talking right now’ [that] "... is a clear statement of the defendant’s request to remain silent and cut off further questioning.."

Also disallowed is evidence possibly increasing the severity of sentencing due to Andrade's alleged gang membership in which sexual activities outside of the heteronormative is punishable by beatdown, expulsion and even death making killing of Zapata seem as imperative to Andrade.

What is not known is the content of the confession prior to the 39 minute point.

According to the comprehensive article by the Greeley Tribune the evidence that will be allowed at the trial scheduled to begin on April 14;

"Statements to police admitting to stealing Zapata’s car.
Recorded phone calls Andrade made from jail to his girlfriend.
Evidence from a friend saying Zapata looked convincingly like a woman.
Evidence and photos from Andrade’s cell phone (though some pictures are out). The cell phone notes 670 separate communications between Andrade and Zapata between July 1-16, 2008."

Related articles on the web;

Greeley Tribune by Sharon Dunn "Andrade's murder confession thrown out"

bird of paradox "Judge to rule on confession in Angie Zapata killing"

planetransgender Jan 01,09 "Angie Zapata's Life and Death : changed how we are treated"

planetransgender Sept. 19,08 "Angie Zapata's accused killer to be tried for for 1st degree murder"