Results of 1st National Survey on TransViolence Published
Judge Dismisses Charges Against Transexual Police Officer
Human Rights Court Rules Against TransParent
Saturday Night Live Savages Transexual Again
Oregon Transexuals' Rights Threatened
Menace Demonstrator Encounters Killer
ENDA Resolution Passed by GenderPAC Board
On the Lighter Side: Ellen Degeneres Fails to Come Out as Transgendered
[New York, NY: 29 Apr 97) RESULTS OF THE 1st National Survey on TransViolence have been published. GenderPAC -- with support from the Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project of NYC -- announced that 48% of respondents reported having been victims of some kind of assault (including assault with weapon, assault without a weapon, sexual assault, and rape).
In addition, the survey reports that 60% reported being a victim of harassment or violence, with 95% of the worst incidents involving at least 2-3 perpetrators.
The study took a year to distribute and compile. It is believed to be the only one of its kind, and it's population of 402 respondents is one of the largest trans- identified samples on record.
The survey presents a sobering picture
of the abuse transpeople face. In part, the
results show:
Verbal Harassment 78%
Sexual Harassment 23%
Assault (all kinds) 48%
Assault w/o weapon 19%
Sexual Assault/Rape 18%
Assault w/weapon 11%
Attempted Assault 9%
As activists gather in Washington, DC for the 2nd National Gender Lobby Day on May 5, scores of the study are being hurriedly printed for wide distribution to Congressional offices. Transviolence is expected to be a priority for many lobbyists as they make their rounds on Capitol Hill.
To receive a complete copy of the survey results (@55 pg.), enclose $5 for shipping and handling to GenderPAC, Att: Wilchins, 274 West 11th St.#30 NY, NY 10014
CONTACT: Emilia Lombardi, National Research Coordinator
Judge Maurice Gallipoli ruled that what the city called orders were more like requests, and that in any case Lt. Aiello's failure to answer them was not unreasonable considering the difficult circumstances surrounding her return.
Lt. Aiello's case drew national attention after a New York tabloid put her picture on it's front-page. She went on to become a founding member of TOPS (Transgender Officers Protect & Serve), a national support group for transgender peace officers. Lt. Aiello has allegedly been the target of an escalating campaign of harassment and provocation by Police Department brass who are seeking to force her resignation, retirement, or removal.
According to City Attorney David Corrigan, Hoboken plans to appeal the ruling.
Press coverage of the case has largely been supportive of the couple. They said in a joint statement, "We may not have won the battle, but we have certainly won the battle for hearts and minds. If our publicity has made life better for one other transexual, it will have been worth it."
The court did hold that there was family life between the applicants who have been a couple for 18 years, but that, as there is no consensus in Europe yet as to whether non- biological fathers should be allowed parental rights, nation states must be afforded a wide margin in setting rules in this area.
GenderPAC responded with a letter to NBC's Standards and Practices office calling SNL and Mr. MacDonald to task for the tasteless and transphobic comments, as they did with Mr. MacDonald's Brandon Teena comment. After the previous incident, NBC made assurances that Mr. MacDonald and SNL had been sensitized concerning Mr. MacDonald's hate speech.
The GenderPAC letter, dated April 30 and co- signed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD-SF), states in part "As we pointed out in our first round over Brandon Teena, there have been no less than 5 transgender murders in the last 2 years. Comments which continue to stigmatize, diminish, and trivialize us only add to the perception that transpeople are disposable freaks. SNL's comments fuel this perception, and Mr. MacDonald seems to have fixated on us as a minority to ridicule, humiliate, and discard. But once his bad `jokes' are gone, we have to deal with the aftermath as we struggle to keep our families and our civil rights."
In an ironic note, Mr. MacDonald's comment was believed to be based on a story on Ms. Boyd placed by GenderPAC Public Relations. The piece originally ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but was quickly picked up by the AP wire service and went out across the country.
Those wishing to express their concern over the comments can call Mr. Andrew Brewer, NBC Standards & Practices, (212) 664-4458, or Mr. Dan Ferguson, SNL Public Relations (212) 664-3733.
CONTACT: Candice Helen Brown
Another proposed bill (SB482) threatens employment protections for transexuals that were won last year for the first time under the state's disability protection laws. Wording for the proposed legislation lumps transexualism together with pedophilia, voyeurism, kleptomania, and pyromania as conditions excluded from disabilities that are protected.
Said activist Candice Hellen Brown, "This bill must be killed. We need as many people sympathetic to the plight of transexual persons to voice their concerns to the Senate Committee considering this bill."
As she approached and asked what he thought of the flier, Ms. Nangeroni -- who was clearly wearing a Transexual Menace t-shirt -- and Mr. Palmer exchanged stares. "Who are you?" he demanded. She introduced herself, after which he stalked back into the courtroom.
Mr. Palmer has already admitted to killing Ms. Pickett, but claims that his distress upon discovering her transgender status was to blame. The prosecution responded by presenting witnesses who testified that Mr. Palmer was a frequent customer at Boston-area transgender bars, and had a history of seeking out and dating pre-operative transexual women.
At press time, the jury had just gone out for deliberations, and a verdict was expected momentarily.
The resolution read, "GenderPAC continues to view employment protection for gender-variant people as a critical goal. We continue to support trans-inclusion in the context of ENDA, whether in the bill itself or through an amendment strategy. To achieve this, a sustained and vigorous effort of education and visibility is necessary. While we work to gain Congressional support, at the same time, we believe it would be improper to try to damage the chances for passage of the existing ENDA bill, either by asking sponsors to vote against it or to withhold their support."
CONTACT: Riki Anne Wilchins
At press time, IYF editors were still sobbing hysterically and unable to write anything more than this. Still waiting in the wings: the Dennis Rodman Show.
Online Editor: Clare Howell, clareq@idt.net
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