MAGNET Protests Stonewall UK Transphobia Outside British Consulate

No matter where we are on this planet, to paraphrase the late Houston crusading consumer reporter Marvin Zindler, 'It's hell to be trans.'

One of the things we deal with is the transphobia aimed at us from inside and outside the GLBT community, and the worst offenders many times are other GL people..  

MAGNET coordinated a protest outside the British Consulate in New York timed to occur at the same moment the Stonewall UK Awards were happening across The Pond.    It was about a video produced by Stonewall UK that includes the term 't****y', which has become a derogatory and insulting slur word to many in our community.

The New York trans community wanted to show solidarity with our British trans cousins, which was why the consulate there was targeted.

Ashley Love, MAGNET organizer had this to say about last night's protest:

"We protested tonight in front of the British Consulate, New York, because a very alarming situation is happening in the UK. A transphobic DVD named “FIT” has been approved to show children and youth in public schools. The anti-transsexual slur “tra**y” is being used, which is used as a taunt and insult when bullies and bigots harass people perceived to be transsexual, intersex or gender non-conforming. This outrage is being ignored by Stonewall UK, who not only advised on the DVD, but has an unhealthy past with the UK trans community, who they exclude from their mission statement, and then back lobby against their interests."

"We ask the Dept. of Education, The Teachers Union, Equality and Human Rights Commission and Stonewall UK to protect the well being of all the children who attend school, and make the responsible and socially conscious decision to edit out the dehumanizing pejorative from the DVD." she said.. 

"Normalizing the T-word, much like how the N-word was normalized decades ago to degrade Black people, will have severe consequences for the acceptance of trans people in mainstream society.  It’s unbelievable that an oppressed minority group, especially children, could have their human rights be disrespected like this by authority figures. As adults, we must protect trans children. Teachers being forced to show DVDs with anti-trans slurs will do no such thing. The good news is that the decision makers involved still have a chance to do what’s right and fix this horrid mistake."

A Flag Burning I'm Down With

When I see my own or any national flag being burned in protest, I have mixed emotions about it.

While it is a protected form of protest speech under the First Amendment, on another level it bothers me because I know a flag is a symbol for the nation that it represents.

But when it comes to the Confederate flag, it represents a failed nation founded by traitors during the Civil War. It was founded to not only perpetuate enslaving my ancestors, but with a cornerstone premise that me and my ancestors are not equal to whites and fought a war to continue enslaving people who share my African ancestry.

Thank God the Confederacy was defeated in battle. That flag also became during the Civil Rights Movement synonymous with bigotry and hate.

So yeah, this is one flag burning I am definitely down with.

A movement is popping up on FB that seeks to have happen on September 12, the day the Tea Klux Klan holds its rallies all over the country, to host Burn The Confederate Flag Day.

According to its website, Burn the Confederate Flag Day is a protest against the right wing's ramped up exploitation of racial prejudice for political gain.

The teabaggers are still pissed because they got their electoral butts kicked in 2008 and hate seeing the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue my ancestors built with unpaid labor finally occupied by an African-American family.

It'll be interesting to see if this protest gets any traction or coverage from MSM networks overfocused on a small, loud group of angry vanilla flavored peeps.

40th Anniversary of Kent State Massacre

On my birthday in 1970 an anti-Vietnam war protest was held on the Kent State University campus in Kent, Ohio, northeast of Akron. It was being held to protest President Nixon's decision to widen the Vietnam war by invading Cambodia, which had happened only a few days before.

That protest would turn tragically ugly when for some still unexplained reason the Ohio National Guard fired on the crowd after tear gassing them to break up the protest.

Four students died as a result. Ten days later there was a similar incident at HBCU Jackson State University in Jackson, MS in which two students died.

Elizabeth's MAGNET Rally Testimony

If you want to know why many transpeople are ticked off about TOTWK, check out this video of Elizabeth Marie Rivera-Valentine's testimony at the MAGNET protest rally held Friday outside the Tribeca theater in which the movie was playing.

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.

Teabaggers Hate On Man With Parkinson's At Protest

This infuriating video is one reason why I have little to zero tolerance for teabaggers and conservafools in general.

All I can say about the heartless fools mocking this man with Parkinson's disease is that when the karmic wheel comes around, I'd hate to be you.

This is the true face of the GOP, the Tea Klux Klan and the conservative movement.

Did it make you angry seeing that? Good!

Now channel that anger into positive action to preserve our majority. Our best revenge for this gentleman is to get busy registering voters and planning to bumrush the polling places in November.

You can bet that these wastes of DNA who disrespected this man will damned sure be there to vote GOP as soon as the polls open. We need to working even harder to give these people an electoral beatdown they'll never forget.

Call Speaker Pelosi-Respectfully Demand Vote On ENDA

As you read this, activists are sitting in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's offices in San Francisco and Washington DC refusing to move until a vote happens on ENDA or they are arrested.

To support those activists engaged in civil disobedience tactics, can you call Speaker Pelosi's office right now and demand that ENDA (HR 3017) come to the floor for a vote?

ENDA is important because studies show that LGBT workers endure high unemployment, underemployment and harassment. We have to lie and hide in order to get and keep a job. In 30 states across America, there is no law against firing someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and the same is true in 38 states for gender identity.

Just several hours ago I posted a story about a New York group documenting trans hiring discrimination.

Here's the number to Speaker Pelosi's DC office: 202-225-4965

Let's get this party started on ENDA.

Yo Right Wingers, This Is What 1.5 Million People Looks Like

I've been cracking up over the last three days about the right wing lies coming fast and furiously about their Washington 'Hate On Obama' protest last Saturday.

Matt Kibbe, the head of FreedomWorks and the organizer of the "Tea Party" protest in Washington falsely claimed while on stage at the event ABC News estimated the turnout at 1 million to 1.5 million people.

They've even gone as far as to try to circulate on right wing blogs an old photo claiming it was their hatefest. In the interim their leaders and the attendees of these tea parties reveal what we already know.

They hate President Obama.



The very next day ABC News rebutted that claim on their website and said they reported the DC Fire Department estimate of 60,000 to 70,000 people.

Nice try people. If you 'white' wingers really want to know what 1.5 million people look like, you need only to dial back the clock a few months to January 20 and the Obama presidential inauguration.

The crowd size was estimated by the DC Fire Department at 1.8 million

You only make yourselves look more pathetic every day.

GLBT Peeps, If You Want Your Rights, Fly This Flag

The gay community has gone through post mortem after post mortem in terms of dissecting why the Prop 8 fight in Cal-ee-forn-ia was lost last year. But I doubt anyone thought about one simple change that will help immeasurably in this struggle.

Flying the American flag.

Since today is Flag Day, starting like yesterday, the TBLG community should make sure Old Glory is front and center at every protest, every march, and the backdrop at every press conference that's held from now until the next electoral showdown in 2010 and beyond.

One factor as to why the GLBT community continues to lose is that it hasn't forcefully made the unassailable case that we are AMERICANS who deserve and are demanding our constitutional rights.

And how do we do that? The easiest way to prove that we are is by flying the flag.

By continuing to fly only the rainbow flag we make it ridiculously easy for the right-wing Christohaters to paint us as un-American.

Making sure that American flags are front and center and prominently displayed is a major lesson of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

The immigration movement made the same mistake early on, but after getting savaged by conservative haters about the lack of American flags quickly picked up on that error and swiftly corrected it.

An immigration protest now doesn't happen without American flags being prominently displayed and dispersed amongst the marchers and I fail to understand why the GLBT movement continues to make this fundamental mistake.

Yeah, I've heard the philosophical reasoning that some of you sent my way when I wrote about this topic last year. I know some of you have issues with the American flag. But if you want your rights, better get over those issues with the quickness and bury them

It's time to realize that only flying the rainbow flag not only isn't going to cut it, it's past time to try old school tactics for the new millennium.

Face the facts that no American civil rights movement agitating for the constitutional rights of a minority group has been successful or done so without consistently flying and prominently displaying the American flag at its myriad events.

And gay people aren't any different as far as the powers that be are concerned. We are seen as the 'other' unworthy of rights. Mike Huckabee's November 2008 comments on The View that 'the gay community hasn't suffered enough' for their rights should have clued y'all in to that jacked up line of conservathinking.

So it is incumbent upon the GLBT community to prove the haters wrong and establish we are red-blooded Americans.

What the Stars and Stripes represents at its fundamental level is our country. It is not a bought and paid for symbol of the Republican Party or the conservative movement, who by the way NEVER fail to fly it at their events.

Failing to fly it makes the rights case a non starter with persuadable people who do believe in mom, apple pie, fairness, the American Dream and tear up when they hear the Star Spangled Banner.

And if you won't do it for yourselves, do it for the TBLG veterans who served and the GLBT service members who died defending it on foreign soil so you can use it.


Crossposted to The Bilerico Project