Transgender Woman Raped and Beaten In Trinidad Colorado

By Kelli Busey
planetransgender

Long regarded as a haven for people consulting and recovering from sexual reassignment survey (SRS) the Trinidad Motor INN was the scene of a brutal rape and attempted homicide according to the Pueblo Chieftain.

According to the victim a man who's advances were turned down in the hotel lobby forced his way into the victims motel room later that evening. The perpetrator allegedly then forced the victim to perform sexual acts all the while yelling hate slurs at her. Afterwards the perpetrator used a wooden coat hanger to sodomize the victim and attempted to murder her first by drowning and failing that, electrocution.

The police have been questioning a person of interest who matched the victims description and are waiting on the crime lab to return the results.

Marci Bowers a surgeon who performs Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) in Trinidad Colorado web site had this posted. "Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - A Note from Dr. Bowers Office and Staff
Some of you may have heard about the alleged rape and assault of a transgender individual in Trinidad in July."

"It's all pretty horrific no matter which way it reads, but it's a complicated situation. This woman was not in town for surgery or to accompany someone else - she came to town with no money, no plan, fairly desperate for surgery - the local homeless services put her up in a hotel and Dr. Bowers scheduled a consult because she came all that way. The fact that the alleged perpetrator has not been arrested at this point indicates that the police are not exactly sure what happened."

"Robin just wants to pass along that, even though she and Janet at the office are pretty upset and shook up about this, that it's not a simple "random act of violence" - that there may have been some history here (the alleged perpetrator may have connected with the victim in Denver). Bottom line - it's been pretty difficult to sort out what actually happened."

"So if you are headed out to Trinidad - please do take standard safety and travel precautions. But do know that this is not something that has happened in town in recent memory, nor is it something likely to recur."

Also on the web

examiner.com Transexual Woman Brutally Attacked In Colorado

Anyone who has experienced hate violence can report it to the Colorado Anti-Violence Program at 888-557-4441.

Texas Driver License Gender Marker Change

Transitioning visibly in Texas.

Going 'full time' and competing a year long 'real life experience' as required by some surgeons before surgically correcting your genitalia to properly reflect your gender (SRS) is nearly impossible without your driver licence first being corrected to indicate your proper gender.

The proper gender marker allowed me the peace of mind to use the correct restroom which despite my anxiety and preconceptions turned out to be a true blessing.

I changed my name and gender marker in 2007. I did this in Fort Worth which is in Tarrant County. I needed to be a resident of Tarrant county and have a letter from my therapist and a supporting letter from my endocrinologist stating I was on HRT.

I retained a lawyer for my change. I have since successfully walked another MTF threw this painless process.

I have friends in Austin and Houston who have had similar experiences. I have friends who reside outside those counties who have been allowed the name change but denied the gender marker change.

It is imperative to do it right the first time. I have heard people say that second attempts to change there gender marker after a name change meant meeting additional requirements.

What a person was born with between their legs is a sexual organ. You were born with a gender identity that can not be surgically operated on and needs to be the focus during your driver license gender marker change.

If you would like help or if you have questions please feel free to email me and I will try to give you helpful advice and contact names.

Good luck,
Kelli Anne Busey
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA)
kelli@yahoo.com

LGBT LiberAction's QUEER LOVE FEST 2009

DALLAS KISS IN!

ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15th AT I PM THE DALLAS LGBT COMMUNITY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL KISS IN. THE KISS IN WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE WEST END AT LAMAR AND ELM IN THE ROSA PARKS PLAZA.

Set for 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 15 our Queer love fest is to include women kissing women, men kissing men, free queer hugs, signs, placards and even a Queer kissing booth!

If you haven’t met that special someone yet, maybe lady luck will smile upon you when you win one of our fabulous prizes while playing our Queer kiss-in games, and of course meeting the love of your life too! There will be something for everyone whether it’s sporting the wonderful Queer kissing booth, smoochin’ yo honey or handing out flyers and Queer chocolate kisses to passers by.

So often our voices are silenced because of our sexuality. We are bullied and beaten into the closet. By holding a queer kiss-in we are asserting our right in a very celebratory and fun way to unabashedly love someone of the same gender.

So come OUT, and Share some LOVE!

For more info please visit: www.queerliberaction.org
Queer LiberAction lgbtliberaction@gmail.com

Boss Demanded Pictures of Genitalia Employee Refused and Fired!

This almost to bizarre to be true.

Unfortunately for transgender people this is the profanity of reality.

A transgender woman was fired after refusing to show pictures to prove she had sexual reassignment surgery {SRS) to her employer.

Lets brake this down to digestible bites.

You go to work a Xtra Mart Monday morning and John the station owner tells you to give him pictures of your Virgina or Penis or whatever is between your legs.

"OK" you respond "No problem" and go into the bathroom and snap some pictures on your Cell phone.

I Don't think so. Not just hell no but Huck No.

Full story at the PGN-The Philadelphia Gay News. Phila gay news.http://bit.ly/rYDkA

Center For Artistic Revolution~Arkansas Contact Our Legislators

A message from the Center for Artistic Revolution.

Arkansas is a key state in the fight for ENDA!

There are three votes in play here. Please call them today to ask for their support.

Senator Mark Pryor, a Democrat, though fairly conservative on many issues, voted for the hate crimes bill. Please call him at 501-324-6336 to support S 1584.

Senator Blanche Lincoln, also a Democrat, has cosponsored a previous bill with sexual orientation and gender identity, and voted for the hate crimes bill. Please call her at 501-375-2993 to support S 1584.

Representative Vic Snyder, also a Democrat, voted yes on the hate crimes bill and on ENDA in 2007. According to Wikipedia, while in the Arkansas legislature, Snyder stepped into one of his earliest legislative controversies when he attempted to repeal the state's aged "Sodomy Laws". Ultimately, however, his efforts failed, and the sodomy laws stayed in effect until the state Supreme Court struck it down in Jegley v. Picado in March 2001. Please call him at 501-324-5941 to support HR 3017.The other three Arkansas Representatives, Marion Berry, John Boozman, and Mike Ross, all voted against ENDA in 2007.

Representative Marion Berry (D - 01) 202-225-4076 Representative John Boozman (R - 03) 202-225-4301 Representative Mike Ross (D - 04) 202-225-3772

Thanks to The Bilericio Project

ENDA For The Record : Key Senate Supporters and LGBT Statements

Kelli Anne Busey
August 13, 2009

Transgender people have come to dread/rejoice the nearly annual introduction of gender inclusive ENDA bills.

Like Charlie Brown we have ENDA'ed up on our backs the past decade after Lucy steals the Football. Immobile we were then compelled to endure the attempted revisionism and assimilation efforts by the same organizations and politicians who had made grandiose statements of support only to stand by and quietly as we lay bleeding on the sidewalk of life.

Graphic but true. So here are some statements of the key people involved in introducing and supporting S. 1584 in 2009.

Just for the record.

Senator Kennedy;

"The promise of America will never be fulfilled as long as justice is denied to even one among us. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act brings us closer to fulfilling that promise for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens. I'm proud to join Senators Merkley, Collins and Snowe in introducing this important legislation," said Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

HRC;
"We are thrilled the Senate has introduced, for the first time, an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that will protect the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We applaud the leadership of Senators Merkley, Collins, Kennedy and Snowe and look forward to working with them to pass these critical protections," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

LCCR;
"The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights strongly supports ENDA. We believe that civil rights should be measured by a single yardstick, which means that workers should be hired or fired based on performance and qualifications, not on immutable characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For too many Americans, this principle has little meaning, and this long overdue legislation will finally close a major gap in our nation's civil rights laws," said Wade Henderson, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR).

NCTE;
"We are so pleased that Senators Merkley, Collins, Kennedy and Snowe continue to take a lead role in advancing the rights of LGBT people. This bill will ensure that protections against workplace discrimination are extended to all Americans including the transgender community. There is no reason why people should lose their livelihood because of who they are. This bill is a major step toward fairness," said Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

NGLTF;
"ENDA reflects the core US values of fairness and ensuring everyone is allowed to participate on a level playing field in the workplace. People recognize that our nation as a whole benefits when everyone is allowed to contribute their talents and skills, free from discrimination, which is all ENDA seeks to do," said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund.