Babs at 76 passed away in 2019. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee, Deputy Vice Chair of the NJ Democratic State Committee and Political Director of the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of NJ. She served on the Executive Committee of Trans United 4 Obama. She has served as Vice Chair of the DNC Eastern Caucus, was President of NJ Stonewall Democrats, Co-Chair of National Stonewall Democrats Federal PAC Board, Vice-Chair of Garden State Equality, Executive Board member of National Stonewall Democrats as Chair of the DNC Relations Committee and a member of the NJ Civil Unions Review Commission.
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein reports on the creation of the Transgender Equality Task Force in New Jersey. The bill was signed into law by the governor and the law goes into effect in January. Babs shares the content of the law governing the creation of the task force and tells you what it hopes to accomplish for transgender citizens of New Jersey.
One day before the election, an election many feel will have a huge impact on transgender rights in the coming years, our political maven Babs Casbar Siperstein speaks out about how important Tuesday is for all transgender people. Of course Babs is voting a straight Democratic ticket and going to the polls to do so even though she is still dealing with ill health.
Our politics reporter, Babs Casbar Siperstein, has been missing from TGForum for too long. Her work as a transgender activist and champion of trans rights was halted by a serious disease. We’re happy to welcome her back to our pages with this report on what has been happening in New Jersey politics and what Babs has been going through.
Babs Casbar Siperstein, our political correspondent shares some thoughts on Chelsea Manning’s big to compete in the primary for Maryland’s senate seat. Then she updates you on the progress on trans issues being made in New Jersey now that their unpopular governor has left office and been replaced with a Democrat.
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein is preparing to attend the inaugural ball for the newly elected governor of New Jersey and she started musing about some of the other glamorous balls she has attended over the years. Everything from the Night of a Thousand Gowns in New York City to one of President Obama’s Inauguration Balls in Washington, D.C. One of the balls she attended gave her the chance to first meet Senator Frank Lautenberg and begin to talk to him about trans issues. Get your tiara and step into the glamor side of politics in Babs’ final report for 2017.
Our resident political maven, Babs Casbar Siperstein, feels that the Trump administration has demonstrated that while the president-elect promised to support LGBT rights the president in office is doing all he can to diminish those rights. The administration is aided and abetted in this by Republican legislatures at the state level. But, there are signs of resistance and movement by the left to make a strong stand for candidates that advocate for everyone’s rights and will support LGBT people. Babs lists those who won seats in the recent election and projects what needs to be done to win in future contests.
Babs Casbar Siperstein is our political correspondent and until recently she was a member of the Democratic National Committee. She was unceremoniously dumped in an email just a day before the DNC By-laws mandated deadline for informing a member that they are removed. But does she have any regrets? No. Babs looks at it as a case of one door closing and another door opening. She will continue to support the Democratic Party and work as she always has for a better future.
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein reports on several developments in the areas of transgender rights. First she reports on two trans community fundraising events in New York City. Then she digs into Sessions memo reversing Obama era protections for transgender people, and tells you about a transgender health conference in New Jersey and the reaction to the Sessions memo among attendees of that event.
In 2008 the Democratic Party platform was trans inclusive for the first time. A big part of how that happened can be attributed to the chair of the Democrats’ LGBT Americans Caucus, Rick Stafford. Stafford was a gay man, HIV+ and a real fighter for LGBT inclusion in the political process. He passed away on September 2 and our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein sings his praises. Babs worked with Stafford for many years and today she reveals all of the contributions he made to the advances the community has seen in the past few years.
Today our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein looks at the actual cost of the ban on transgender soldiers in our military. President Trump tweeted the ban after consultation with several of his advisors who all argued against banning trans people from the military. He went ahead and issued a Twitter statement in three tweets. Part of the justification of the ban was the supposed high cost of providing medical care to trans soldiers. When Babs looked at the numbers they just don’t add up. Kicking trans soldiers out of the services will cost millions of dollars more than keeping them.
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 Democrats stood together and tall for common sense military readiness, transgender equality and health care equality and were joined by 24* Republicans and defeated an unnecessary and hateful amendment by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, a Republican from Missouri, that would have banned the coverage of transition-related health care for transgender troops.
While Governor Chris Christie is in a stand off with the New Jersey Legislature over the state’s budget all of the state parks and recreational facilities are closed. Except the governor has access to a residence which is located in a state park very near the beach. While as a lame duck Christie enjoys a 15% approval rating and can’t run for reelection our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein is hoping that he will feel beneficent after his vacation at the shore and will sign several bills into law that benefit trans people in the state. In a special report Babs tells you what those bills are and how they would be good for trans people.
As we are on track to witness a record number of murders of trans people here in the United States, we are no doubt seeing a record number of qualified transgender people running for public office and that is a terrific way of fighting back. DANICA ROEM Danica Roem has worked in her personal and […]
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month and there will be several events around the country that focus on trans people. Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein has good advice when she says it’s time to stand up and show up. Most of the legislators who are busy passing restroom bills have never met a trans person. That makes June the perfect time to get out there, be seen, and if possible meet the legislators. Babs has some info on some events at the national and state level.
If you find the roll backs of trans rights being enacted around the country and by the Federal government then you have two options. You can complain about it on social media or you can get off your behind and get out to events that can help make things better. Not just marches and demonstrations but training sessions, meeting with legislators and learning to be an advocate for yourself. Babs Casbar Siperstein has some suggestions that you can follow to take action.
Babs Casbar Siperstein is very active in New Jersey politics. As the nation faces roll backs of trans rights protections Babs has filed a report on what is being done in New Jersey to protect trans rights. Several bill passed in the legislature recently but Governor Christie is unlikely to sign them. Trans people in the state are organizing and stepping up to demand that their rights be protected. Learn more in Babs’ report.
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein reports from the frontlines in the resistance movement. First she talks about the organizations and agencies that will possibly be able to stave off attacks on LGBTQ rights from the Trump administration. Then she reports on what went on at a meeting in Philadelphia with Senators Cory Booker and Bob Casey which brought together a number of other legislators as well as activists and LGBTQ organizations to make plans for the coming months.
During the past eight years trans rights have been boosted by the Obama Administration. Rules were put in place to help trans people to get the equal treatment they are entitled to and President Obama was hailed as the “transgender rights president.” Trans allowed to serve openly in the military. Trans people actually visible in the administration. All those gains can be wiped away in just a few weeks when the new administration takes over. Babs Casbar Siperstein discusses what we may lose and she reports on the results of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein takes a look at the possible ramifications of the Trump/Pence administration for members of the trans and LGBQ communities. She looks at everything from the progress our community has made through President Obama’s executive orders to the Affordable Care Act, trans in the military, and more. For some enlightenment on the dark days ahead read what Babs has researched.
Our political correspondent, Babs Casbar Siperstein, has been fighting for our rights as trans people for many years. Most often in that struggle she has had elected officials from the Democratic Party as allies. She has worked with and for Mrs. Clinton and she has words of advice for those in the trans, and the LGB communities about who has their best interest at heart. Read her comparison of the Democratic platform that Mrs. Clinton promotes and the Republican agenda that Mr. Trump would defend and promote. It is clear which party and which candidate will stand for you.
A tweet that I saw posted on Facebook this Sunday afternoon hours before the Second Presidential debate: “Make no mistake, Ladies. Trump may be the face of your rapist, but Pence is every judge who made sure he got away with it”. These words remind us as LGBTQ people, as transgender people, what is at […]
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein has met a number of trans women who have worked hard, gotten educated and made their way successfully in the business world. Now she is happy to report that two of them have decided to leave their mainstream jobs behind to devote themselves to working for the trans community. What’s exciting is that there are now organizations that serve trans people’s needs that can hire people for real salaries. Meet two of Bab’s friends who are now gainfully employed in a trans organization.
Babs Casbar Siperstein reports on the growing amount of trans inclusion at Democratic Party conventions. The latest DNC convention features more trans people as delegates, super delegates, alternates or committee members than ever before. And their was a trans woman on the dais every night, all night. Marisa Richmond was the official Timekeeper. Read about the rest of the trans history that was made at the DNC last month and read Bab’s report.
Babs Siperstein is a superdelegate and will attending the Democratic Party Convention in Philadelphia, Pa. from July 25 through 28. She reports today that the number of out transgender delegates to the convention more than doubles the number of trans delegates at the 2012 convention. She has a list so you can be informed about the trans delegates who will speak for you.
Babs Siperstein is a superdelegate who is pledged to Hillary Rodham Clinton. While Babs admires Bernie Sanders and gets his message of revolution she believes, from seeing it with her own eyes, that Mrs. Clinton and the Democratic Party are the best choice for trans people in November. LGBT rights are hammered into the Party platform and trans women are featured in Mrs. Clinton’s Primary Victory video. Read why Babs supports Mrs. Clinton.
The Democratic National Convention is set for this July in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Republicans will be holding their convention in Cleveland. Both parties will put forth a platform with goals they hope to achieve if their candidate wins the presidency. While the Republican platform will contain language that is anti-LGBT, that would ban transgender people from public restrooms, the Democratic platform will embrace LGBT people. For an analysis of where the Democratic Party stands on transgender issues read this post.
