6/21/13

Trans woman settles for $7G For being illegally removed from Iowa Court House ladies room

Back in march planetransgender reported about transgender woman Jodie Jones winning a judgement by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission after she complied with a Deputy's illegal order to leave the Court house ladies room in 2011 because of her gender expression.

Ms. Jones tried to explain to the deputy that transgender people are legally entitled to use public accommodations in Iowa by state law but much to her astonishment and dismay was told by the deputy 'she didn't care about the law'.

Jones had said she wouldn't sue if a public apology was given. Ms. Jones' updated facebook status:


Apparently none was offered but instead of becoming in entangled in losing litigation the county settled with her for $7,000 and a promise to clarify its non discrimination policies and train their law enforcement officers so perhaps in the future they would care about the law.

Press-Citizen reports that "Under the agreement, the county’s Board of Supervisors will pass a motion reaffirming its policy that people are permitted access to restrooms in county buildings based on their gender identity, and regardless of their gender at birth."

"In addition, the Johnson County Attorney’s Office will provide 30 minutes of in-person training to deputies assigned to work at the courthouse. And by February 2014, all deputies will receive two hours of training on civil rights and public accommodations with specific emphasis on gender identification and sexual orientation issues. That training will also be made available to officers from municipal police department annually."

6/20/13

Ben Levin Group's Live Studio Performance of "Goddess" a tribute to a transgender person



Published on Jun 19, 2013
www.BenLevinGroup.com

The members of Ben Levin Group are all allies and supporters of LGBT rights. This song is a portrait of a courageous transgender person's experience and is inspired by Neil Gaiman's Sandman story "A Game of You."
Lyrics:

No pretending no secrets
No more wondering if I am sick
No more hiding no more masks
No more lying when people ask
I'm a goddess in the sky
You can't see me, sun's to bright
Thunder clouds blow 'round my soul
Through this fog I'll come out whole
Singing.
I wear mascara and my stockings high
Look so beautiful in this dim light
And they cackle and they yell and they follow me
And they say that I'm freak when they call to me
A hormone tablet in a glass of wine
Funhouse mirror flash of what's inside
And I fight with my dreams and I barely breathe
And the razor tip's slowly lowering
Oh my lover tells me that he's gonna leave
Father tries to beat it out of me
But I am who I am and I need to be
More than contradictions fictions and atrocities
Singing.