Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Centennial

With the coordinated attack on unions by the GOP conservafools underway, thought you peeps might need a reminder of why unions exist, why we have all the workplace laws and safety regulations in effect and why they are necessary in the first place.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City in which 146 people died.   Many of the 500 people employed there were Jewish and Italian immigrants and women and children as young as 13 and 14 years old.



On the afternoon of March 25, 1911 as the workday was winding to an end, a fire broke out in the factory that was located on the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of what is now known as the Brown Building.   Because the managers locked the stairwells and doors, many people couldn't escape the burning building and jumped to their deaths.

Of the 146 people who died, 129 were women.  max Blanck and Isaac Harris, who survived the fire by fleeing to the building's roof.were tried for first and second degree manslaughter in December 1911.   They were acquitted, but lost a subsequent civil suit in 1913.

It is also described by Frances Perkins as "the day the New Deal began."

The Brown Building became a National Historic Landmark as a result of the tragedy and the events that it triggered in its wake.  .

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire fueled the growth of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, improved work safety standards, tougher fire codes and the enactment of progressive labor laws in New York State.

On the anniversary of the fire members of the ILGWU read the names of the fallen in a memorial service in front of the building    During the 50th anniversary memorial service of the Triangle fire, ILGWU President David Dubinsky said, “We want a fitting memorial to the martyrs we honor today.  No better one can be found than to increase the respect for and the safety of workers.”

We are now at the centennial anniversay, and we now have Republican governors such as Wisconsin's Scott Walker wanting to take us back to the bad old days of laissez-faire capitalism, workers rights being trampled and lax or nonexistent rules and regulations for businesses.   

The centennial anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire is a warning and reminder of the type of work world we'll have if we allow that to happen.  

New York City Adopts Equal Access Policy For Marriage Licenses For Trans People

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund announced that the city of New York has adopted a new policy that took effect on February 7, 2011 that ensures trans people equal access to marriage licenses.

Transpeople in New York City have had issues interacting with the City Clerk's office when trying to obtain marriage licenses.   There was the highly publicized case of Jason Stenson and transwoman Kimah Nelson who legally obtained a marriage license, were married ten days after doing so on May 26, 2009 but when news broke that Kimah was trans the license was retroactively revoked.

A few months later in December 2009 a trans couple who wishes to remain anonymous tried to get married in the Bronx    According to TLDEF they fulfilled the requirements for receiving a marriage license in New York City and presented their government-issued photo identification – the only identification required by the City Clerk’s office.  Rather than issuing the marriage license, the City Clerk refused and instead demanded that Jane and John produce their birth certificates before they could be married – something not required of other marriage license applicants.

In order to settle legal action, under the terms of the new policy, once a marriage license applicant produces the required photo ID, the City Clerk may not request additional proof of sex.  Moreover, City Clerk employees are forbidden from considering  the applicant's appearance or preconceived notions related to gender expression when deciding whether to issue a marriage license.

The City Clerk also apologized to Jane and John as well and initiated training for all city clerks so that the new policies can be properly implemented.

And thanks to TLDEF for all their work in ensuring fair treatment of transpeople who seek to get married, and Jane and John for being tough minded enough to fight the injustice
.

New York's Greenwich Village Halloween Parade

As much as I traveled to New York during my Air Marshal days, I never got a chance to actually see live what has become a Halloween tradition, the Village Halloween Parade.

It was founded in 1974 by Ralph Lee, with assistance from George Bartenieff and Crystal Field of the Theater of New York and coordinated by the trio for its first two years.

The spectacle of people in over 100 masks, street performers, giant puppets and others winding their way through the narrow streets of the Greenwich Village neighborhood from West Street to Washington Square not only took the neighborhood by surprise, but many people joined in the festivities.

The open participation to anyone in a costume who wishes to march has helped it grow to become a wildly popular event in New York to the point where a non profit corporation was formed in 1976 to help coordinate it
Even after the 9-11 terror attack, when events were being canceled all over the city, this parade was one of the few events held in New York during that time period at the insistence of then Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and actually gave birth to another tradition, the Dancing Skeletons puppets that lead the parade.  



It was even used a a rallying point in 2005 for New Orleans Katrina evacuees staying in the area.   That parade featured a New Orleans style jazz funeral, secondliners, the Rebirth Jazz Band and lanterns depicting New Orleans landmarks and the Magnolia housing project in the Ninth Ward.

So what will the theme be this year?    You'll have to tune in to find out.

.

GENDA Gets 32nd NY Senate Vote Committment

The old saying is the third time's the charm, and that finally may be applicable to GENDA, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act.

If passed, GENDA would add the category of ‘gender identity and expression’ to existing New York State human rights laws that protect residents against discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

New York would become the 14th state to have those protections if GENDA becomes law in the state. Gov. David Paterson has stated he will sign it if passed.

GENDA has passed by wide margins in the New York State Assembly, but failed to get out of the more narrowly divided 62 member NY State Senate. It now has a 32-30 Democratic majority.

It passed the General Assembly for the third time back in March by a 100-43 vote, and according to Housing Works on May 27, NY state senator William Stachowski became the latest member to commit to supporting GENDA. It brought the total number of 'yes' votes to 32, enough to pass it.

While that is good news, local activists are not relaxing until they see the New York senate actually cast those votes.

Let's hope that our New York state transbrothers and transsisters long wait for coverage under their state's laws may finally be coming to an end.

NY LGBT Center Replaces Torched Rainbow Flag

On the morning of April 14, 2010 New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center staff arrived to find a torched rainbow flag draped on the front of their building.

They responded to the ignorance by unfurling an even larger rainbow flag during a 5 PM EDT ceremony yesterday.

This is a statement about the incident from their website:

Acts of hate must not be tolerated! Actions like this are menacing to our community and, if not addressed, can lead to an environment that allows more heinous acts, such as verbal attacks, property damage and physical violence. Showing our solidarity now will empower our community and send a message to the public that we will not be intimidated or threatened.

The Center is a beacon of safety and hope for LGBT New Yorkers and our building stands as an emblem of our community's presence in the city. The Center is visited over 300,000 times every year by people in search of support, safety and transformation. More than 1,000 young people come through our doors annually searching for acceptance and a place where they feel comfortable expressing their true selves.

Cowardly acts of hateful speech must be responded to with acts of courage and unity.


This is the desperate, and despicable act of people who know they are on the wrong side of the moral arc of the universe and history. It is beginning to bend toward justice for GLBT people.

It's our job to make sure its momentum doesn't get blunted by the Forces of Intolerance.

Ticked Off Transpeople With Signs Protest Movie

The controversial movie 'Ticked Off Trannies With Knives' was hit with a protest coordinated by MAGNET, Media Advocates Giving Equality to Trans People in New York last night.

Transpeople and allies gathered outside the theater to express their displeasure about the film and creator Israel Luna’s problematic use of the murder of Colorado trans teen Angie Zapata to promote it

The protest was coordinated by Ashley Love of MAGNET and included IFGE Executive Director Denise Leclair, Laverne Cox and Melissa Sklarz

“People are telling us to lighten up,” Love stated, “but I heard reports of two more trans women murdered this morning. It’s not a laughing matter. We’re not laughing at all.”

“We’re not calling for censorship — anyone can make whatever film they want,” said Denise Leclair. “We’re protesting Tribeca for putting this film in a competition for an award because that will make people look at this as an example.”

NY Protest Of 'Ticked Off Trannies With Knives' Tonight

Protest/rally Against Tribeca's Decision to Premiere Transphobic Film "Ticked Off Trannies With Knives"

What: A protest/rally demanding that Tribeca Film Festival remove the transphobic film "Ticked Off Trannies With Knives (TOTWK)". Melissa Sklarz (Director of New York Trans Rights Organization) , Ashley Love (Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Trans People), Denise Le Claire (Exec. Director of International Foundation of Gender Education), celebrities, & LGBT activists will be speaking. A candle light vigil for trans victims of hate crimes will also be held.

When/Where: Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 6:30-8:00pm @ Tribeca Cinemas @ 54 Varick Street, NYC

Why: The movie makes light of violence and rape against trans women, exploits the high-profile murder of teenager Angie Zapata, includes the pejorative term "trannies" in its title, inaccurately depicts trans women's identities as drag queen "performers" and "caricatures" and misrepresents the lives of an extremely disenfranchised group who suffer violence at alarming rates.


TransGriot Note: Here's a ciip of the movie and Alexandra Billings' take on TOTWK from her blog



Kim Pearson, Executive Director of Trans Youth Family Allies, says "Negative and stereotyped media portrayals of transgender people hurt the community because Americans still need more education on transgender issues. The images in this film (TOTWK) make a mockery of their lives. I want more for my child and all transgender people."

"The transsexual and transgender communities are all too often the victims of violence, marginalization and discrimination as a result of inaccurate media depictions like this film, which is offensive, dehumanizing and misogynistic and causes further misunderstanding and harm to an already dangerously oppressed minority group", states Ashley Love, Organizer of Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Trans People (MAGNET).

MAGNET had a meeting with staff at Tribeca Center on Friday, March 26, educating them about why this film is extremely problematic and dehumanizing. They refused to remove the film or make a statement that they don't endorse the oppression of transsexual and transgender women, so MAGNET is now organizing a protest/rally, in association with Families United Against Hate, International Foundation For Gender Education, New York Trans Rights Organization, and Remembering Our Dead, to demand that they remove the film, and to draw attention to injustices trans people face in everyday life and in the media. Many trans advocates, trans organizations, women's groups and allies voiced their concerns to GLAAD, expressing they needed aggressive action. GLAAD issued an uncompromising and strong petition & call to action demanding that Tribeca remove the film: http://www.glaad. org/calltoaction /032510

To support or endorse protest on Tuesday, receive information about issues raised or press questions, or become involved in anti-defamation/ media work for the transsexual and transgender communities:

CONTACT: Organizer of MAGNET: Ashley Love- Email: magnet_right_ now@yahoo. com

Join the "Boycott TOTWK" Facebook page & find more info/articles on the story: http://www.facebook .com/group. php?gid=10350023 9687288&ref= mf#!/group.php? gid=106926329329 724

For info/articles on issues raised: Ashley Love's blog: www.transformingmedia.blogspot.com

Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Trans People (MAGNET)is an anti-defamation organization dedicated to educating the media about transsexual and transgender issues, as well as pushing for more authentic and positive portrayals of trans people in the media.

No Joke-NY Media Fails To Read AP Stylebook

You know, how hard is it for media people to grasp this concept?

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

Once again, the media fails in a story involving a transwoman, and this time it happens in our country's so-called media capital.

And it's not like you media peeps don't get enough practice in getting stories on trans people right. Every two days somewhere on the planet a transperson is murdered. Every now and then transpeople make the news for something other than being a murder victim, and you still frack the pronouns up.

Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar was a 29-year old trans woman who was found stabbed to death in her Queens, NY apartment. Her apartment had been ransacked and much of her possessions destroyed. A man she recently began dating is suspected of committing the crime.

And guess how the New York Times and other NY newspapers initially identified Ms. Gonzalez-Andujar? By using her old name and calling her a 'man'.

They've corrected the stories, but it's still infuriating to have to say the same crap over and over about a concept that elementary school kids get.