Friday, June 08, 2012

Netroots Nation Blogging For Transgender Equality Panel Today

After a nearly two month wait, the day and the moment has arrived.  At 10:30 AM EDT I will be taking part in the first ever trans themed panel discussion at Netroots Nation along with GLAD's Transgender Rights Project Director Jennifer Levi; bloggers Autumn Sandeen, and Jos Truitt; and moderator Dr. Jillian T. Weiss for a look at the role of blogging and online advocacy in the movement for transgender equality.

Transgender advocacy has exploded in recent years. Online organizing has been crucial to creating a visible transgender community. It's also been crucial to creating offline change on the ground. One example is the outcry against the 2007 stripping of gender identity protections from the federal Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA), which was reversed in 2009, demonstrating this community's online power.

The panel will talk about the role of online activism in securing a place at the table for the transgender community, despite the prejudices, and how trans bloggers and activists translated their online efforts into offline political and policy results, despite the political forces in opposition. We will also explain why political allies should connect with trans issues in their blogging and activism.

Presenters will share examples of the powerful role this online community plays in moving progressive rights forward, while also examining what is missing from the conversation.
If you're at Netroots Nation, hope you'll check us out.

No comments: