At the outset, let me say that I am not a U.S. citizen, don’t live in the U.S. and my observations below are from afar — and maybe I don’t know enough about the real mood on the ground, nor the intricacies of U.S. politics and the power games in play. I am, however, a […]
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.
Back in 1997 Shirley Bassey sang a song called History Repeating. That’s the subject of Sophie Lynne’s post today. Not the song but the idea that if you wait long enough what has happened once will happen again. We don’t mind when the things that happen are nice and pleasant, but there are many examples of things that are evil and diabolical. With the current state of transgender rights Sophie is afraid that history may indeed be repeating.
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.
A new definition of gender sought by the Department of Health and Human services would essentially eradicate federal recognition of the estimated 1.4 million Americans who have opted to recognize themselves — surgically or otherwise — as a gender other than the one they were born into. Why is this even being considered? Why are transgender people that threatening to conservatives? There’s an election just days away and that is one big reason.
Looking around at the things she sees going on in our country, particularly the separation of children from their families that was happening at the southern border, Sophie Lynne decided she had to do something. The question though was “What?” She decided to organize a local protest in her town. Today she blogs about how it went.
It’s fairly certain that as the LGBTQ right movement grew there would be those in conservative circles who saw our existence as a threat to their way of life. With the Trump administration coming to Washington on a wave of evangelical support we have seen roll backs of regulations and legal interpretations that were put in place during the Obama years to guarantee everyone’s rights. The trans in the military ban was the first step in a campaign to stop the forward movement of the LGBTQ community. Beverly Anne Thomas has some insight into how the right wing’s battle plans were made.
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.
Given the political atmosphere we find ourselves living in is it any wonder that trans people have grown fearful? The last administration worked on our behalf to make sure we were given our rights. The Justice Department went to bat for trans people who were discriminated against or attacked. The military was working on letting trans soldiers serve openly. Then with one election all protections and assistance from the federal level was snuffed out. Sophie Lynne is not optimistic that she will be able to survive the Trump administration. She does have an idea of what we all need to do. She discusses that in her blog today.
It takes a lot to get some folks worked up over destruction of LGBTQ rights in today’s world where atrocious rulings, policies, laws, and tweets come out of our nation’s capital on a daily basis. But our Youth View writer M is more than a bit upset about the order issued by Attorney General Jeff Sessions changing the interpretation of Title VII. Sessions has instructed the DOJ that Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect LGBTQ citizens. So if your boss at the coffee house or the major corporation wants to fire you for being LGBTQ there is nothing to stop them.
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.
Why do conservative news outlets always slam the transgender community? The Federalist routinely prints articles that portray trans people as mentally ill. They use “experts” like Paul McHugh to validate their screed against us. They, and other conservative news sites constantly take stories that describe gains for the trans community and spin them around to […]
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.
Cate O’Malley, with a hurricane looming on her doorstep, took the time to send us a blog for today’s New Content. In it she talks about the heroes of the trans community who have put themselves out there and advocated for change in an effort to make all trans people’s lives better. She also talks about the new trans activists who are making their voices heard. She believes that now is the time to fight harder to hold on to the gains we have made in recent years. The political climate has grown colder for trans people and we are under constant attack from right wing religious organizations that want us to disappear from the face of the Earth. See what Cate recommends that you can do to make things a bit better.
In 1968 Cate O’Malley enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. While she was not “out” as a trans woman she volunteered to join the military and serve our country. Now she finds herself decades later being told that she and her trans brothers and sisters are not wanted in the United State armed forces. She has some words for our Commander-in-Chief in her blog post today.
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 Saturday, August 5, 2017 Sophie was asked to speak at a rally against hate toward trans people. Today she shares the text of the speech she delivered that day. We at TGForum say, well done Sophie.
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 […]
Sophie is concerned that her generation of trans people has not succeeded in clearing the way for the younger generations of trans people. Progress was being made and recognition and respect was being earned and then a change of administration shifted the federal stance on transgender right from positive to negative. Sophie writes about two encounters she had while at work that demonstrate the success of the work that has been done and the need for continued work.
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.
Cate O’Malley is a trans lady who is active in her community and who goes out and about quite a bit so you just know that she’s going to have to make a stop in the ladies’ room now and then. While Cate is a law abiding citizen who observes the speed limit, doesn’t shop lift, or deal drugs, she is classified as a lawbreaker in her home state. Why? It’s the ridiculous law that says people can only use the restroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate. Cate has a lot to say about those laws and the conservative men who write those laws.
Opposition to LGBT rights is strongest in the southern states of the U.S. Why is it that these states lead the charge by imposing restroom laws and taking steps to make life harder for their trans citizens? Dana Bevan has the answers to the problem and she shares them with you today in an essay titled Alabamafication. There are many threads to this tapestry of hate and they are seen most clearly in Alabama where corrupt politicians maintain control of the purse strings by making LGBT people the “other” that threatens law and order. Dana has the truth about Sweet Home Alabama and how the rest of the country is at risk of moving in that direction.
