1/14/12

ABC Work It is Axed! WE WIN!


ABC PULLS WORK IT AFTER TWO EPISODES!!

We can't take all the credit for Work It's demise, it was just god awful. But we will bask in this victory. Work It's problematic transphobia inspired people internationally to consider our shared humanity and after reading our petition they signed by the thousands in solidarity.

People came from all corners of the globe to stand shoulder to shoulder with us making our planet just a little more friendly to everyone.

We couldn't have done this alone. We were stagnated around 200 signatures until a article written by Emerson Whitney was published on Huffington Post. That kick started our petition and coupled with the Dallas Transgender Advocate and Allies event and a Care2 guest post I was so graciously invited to write, our cause began to gain some legs.

Then HRC and GLAAD stepped in and added their support but sadly without mentioning the grass roots advocacy that had preceded their involvement.

But our victory highlights just exactly what transgender people can do when we take possession and responsibility for our condition. We can change the world!

Now I hope that the president of ABC Paul Lee is a little more understanding of what made Work It so very offensive. Paul Lee stated it's in his contract he's obligated to produce "cross Dressing" shows. If he attempts a show about gender diversity again lets hope he does it with intelligence, insight, compassion and reality.

The reality is Paul Lee, the world demands it.

1/13/12

Rep. Richard Floyd, Tennessee Legislator Promises To "Stomp A Mudhole" In Me


The face of hatred of all that is gender gifted, Rep. Richard Floyd author of the Tennessee house transgender hate bill HB2279 is quoted as saying:

“I believe if I was standing at a dressing room and my wife or one of my daughters was in the dressing room and a man tried to go in there — I don’t care if he thinks he’s a woman and tries on clothes with them in there — I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry,”


The same day that Floyd's threat was made public Tennessee Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson who had sponsored the Senate version of the house hate bill abandoned Floyd, withdrawing the bill. Watson said he sponsored the bill as a standard courtesy to local House members, but there was more pressing issues and he didn't want to get "Side Tracked". The truth is Watson agrees with Floyd, he's just trying to say his pathetic political ass.

What does Stomp a Mudhole and walk it dry" mean? The Urban Dictionary defines it as: "To tear someone a new ass, to beat them to near death or to otherwise hurt someone to the point that they can not fight back."

This threat by a Tennessee Representative towards people he was in trusted to protect must not go unpunished let alone dismissed as unimportant as Senator Watson wishes. When this article went to press the people of Tennessee have voted in a poll by a margin of 88% in favor of letting transgender people use the public accommodations that are in line with our gender presentation.

To do otherwise for transgender people would be to invite beatings as Tennessee Legislator Rep. Richard Floyd promised he would do to me.

This is personal. Floyd, I live in Arlington Texas. I am a transgender woman. I will be at a dressing room of your choice at a time you designate. Just a friendly invitation to the Yellow Rose.