MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill in Metro Boston newspaper again!

The MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill is in the Metro Boston newspaper again! Page two of today's print edition (available online as a PDF). Here's the online version:

http://www.metro.us/boston/local/article/862296--transgender-rights-up-for-debate-on-hill

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Transgender rights up for debate on Hill

NICOLAUS CZARNECKI/METRO

Gunnar Scott, executive director of the Mass. Transgender Political Coaltion, will take his fight for equality to Beacon Hill next month.

More about transgender

Council supports transgender bill

Lorelei's struggle as a transgender woman

Transitioning their tactics to raise public awareness

Born this way

Transgender is a difficult issue for most people to wrap their heads round.

» “The best way to describe it,” says Scott, “is as people who are born into a sex that they don’t identify with.”
» For more information on MTPC, go to www.masstpc.org

BOSTON

LINDA LABAN

Published: May 16, 2011 7:57 p.m.

Last modified: May 16, 2011 8:00 p.m.

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Last week’s debut of the Chaz Bono documentary brought the battles of transgender people to the spotlight, but in Massachusetts, a much quieter battle is being waged at the State House — one that many are hoping will be deemed a success in a few short weeks.

The battle for transgender equality already received one victory when the Boston City Council in March unanimously reiterated its support of an ordinance passed in 2002 that legally protects Boston’s transgender population against discrimination and violence. The bigger fight, however, is to gain that protection statewide.

“That’s the push now,” confirms Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. “Honestly, the resolution was done within 24 hours of my asking them. Every one of those city councilors didn’t think twice about it. They get it. The mayor of Boston, he gets it. I only wish our Legislature was as open to the experiences of transgender people.”

Those experiences involve job discrimination, being refused service at restaurants, and even violence and murder. The Transgender Equal Rights Bill would protect basic civil rights for transgender people in Massachusetts. The MTPC has worked to gain protection since 2007 and a joint hearing of the bill is scheduled for June 8.

“The committee deliberates on whether they are in favor or not, or whether it’s sent to study. For the last two sessions, we’ve been sent to study,” says Scott grimly, because that’s akin to being put on the back burner.

Besides City Council support, new federal transgender protection — including measures by the departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development — add more support.

“It’s sad,” Scott said. “At one point [Mass.] stood up for civil rights, but [it’s not] doing that right now.”

More about transgender , civil rights

Study Finds Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of Massachusetts Costs the State Millions Annually

http://www.masstpc.org/?p=1358

New Study Finds Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of Massachusetts Costs the State Millions Annually

May 11th, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact: Gunner Scott: 617-778-0519
Kara Suffredini: 617-878-2300

May 11, 2011

BOSTON — A new research study released today by The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy shows that employment discrimination against transgender residents of Massachusetts likely costs the state millions of dollars each year. These costs are the result of reduced income tax revenue, expenditures on public assistance programs, and other costs related to an increased need for public assistance programs. The added cost to the Commonwealth for public health insurance coverage alone is $3 million annually due to employment discrimination against transgender workers.

“When transgender people experience employment discrimination, not only can that have a substantial negative impact on people’s lives, but it also affects the Commonwealth financially so all Massachusetts residents pay a price,” said study author Jody L. Herman, the Peter J. Cooper Public Policy Fellow at the Williams Institute. “The legislature is making painful choices as it builds next year’s budget,” said Kara Suffredini, executive director of MassEquality. “This law would not cost the state a dime, but it could bring in millions of revenue and savings each year.”

“Employment discrimination erodes your dignity—and empties your pocketbook. When otherwise qualified people cannot find work solely because of who they are, the state loses money in lost tax revenues and increased expenditures on public programs such as MassHealth,” said Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender
Political Coalition.

In calculating the cost to the Commonwealth, the study estimates that 6,600 Massachusetts residents have lost a job, 12,900 were not hired for a job, and 5,600 were denied a promotion, all due to due to anti-transgender bias. Furthermore, 15 percent of surveyed transgender Massachusetts residents made $10,000 or less in annual household income, whereas only 3 percent of the Massachusetts general population made this amount.

Employment discrimination can lead to lost wages and the need to access public assistance programs to replace lost income and health insurance coverage. This study estimates that the Commonwealth may be losing millions in income tax revenues each year due to employment discrimination. In addition, the Commonwealth is spending nearly $3 million every year in public health insurance coverage for those who have lost jobs due to anti-transgender bias.

View or download the report

See press coverage

###

About the Transgender Equal Rights Coalition
The Transgender Equal Rights Coalition is working to pass “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights.” (House Bill 502 and Senate Docket Number 536). This law would add gender identity and expression to existing Massachusetts civil rights laws, which currently prohibit
discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, and marital status in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. The bill would also add offenses regarding gender identity or expression to the list of offenses that are subject to treatment as hate crimes. The bill defines gender identity and expression as “a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual,
regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.” This is consistent with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s past decisions, as well as Boston’s 2002 transgender
anti-discrimination ordinance. Members of the coalition include MassNOW; ACLU of Massachusetts; Jane Doe, Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; National Association of Social Workers, MA; Mass AFL-CIO; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; MassEquality; the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus and the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association.

Study Finds Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of Massachusetts Costs the State Millions Annually

http://www.masstpc.org/?p=1358

New Study Finds Employment Discrimination against Transgender Residents of Massachusetts Costs the State Millions Annually

May 11th, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact: Gunner Scott: 617-778-0519
Kara Suffredini: 617-878-2300

May 11, 2011

BOSTON — A new research study released today by The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy shows that employment discrimination against transgender residents of Massachusetts likely costs the state millions of dollars each year. These costs are the result of reduced income tax revenue, expenditures on public assistance programs, and other costs related to an increased need for public assistance programs. The added cost to the Commonwealth for public health insurance coverage alone is $3 million annually due to employment discrimination against transgender workers.

“When transgender people experience employment discrimination, not only can that have a substantial negative impact on people’s lives, but it also affects the Commonwealth financially so all Massachusetts residents pay a price,” said study author Jody L. Herman, the Peter J. Cooper Public Policy Fellow at the Williams Institute. “The legislature is making painful choices as it builds next year’s budget,” said Kara Suffredini, executive director of MassEquality. “This law would not cost the state a dime, but it could bring in millions of revenue and savings each year.”

“Employment discrimination erodes your dignity—and empties your pocketbook. When otherwise qualified people cannot find work solely because of who they are, the state loses money in lost tax revenues and increased expenditures on public programs such as MassHealth,” said Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender
Political Coalition.

In calculating the cost to the Commonwealth, the study estimates that 6,600 Massachusetts residents have lost a job, 12,900 were not hired for a job, and 5,600 were denied a promotion, all due to due to anti-transgender bias. Furthermore, 15 percent of surveyed transgender Massachusetts residents made $10,000 or less in annual household income, whereas only 3 percent of the Massachusetts general population made this amount.

Employment discrimination can lead to lost wages and the need to access public assistance programs to replace lost income and health insurance coverage. This study estimates that the Commonwealth may be losing millions in income tax revenues each year due to employment discrimination. In addition, the Commonwealth is spending nearly $3 million every year in public health insurance coverage for those who have lost jobs due to anti-transgender bias.

View or download the report

See press coverage

###

About the Transgender Equal Rights Coalition
The Transgender Equal Rights Coalition is working to pass “An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights.” (House Bill 502 and Senate Docket Number 536). This law would add gender identity and expression to existing Massachusetts civil rights laws, which currently prohibit
discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, and marital status in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. The bill would also add offenses regarding gender identity or expression to the list of offenses that are subject to treatment as hate crimes. The bill defines gender identity and expression as “a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual,
regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.” This is consistent with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s past decisions, as well as Boston’s 2002 transgender
anti-discrimination ordinance. Members of the coalition include MassNOW; ACLU of Massachusetts; Jane Doe, Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; National Association of Social Workers, MA; Mass AFL-CIO; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; MassEquality; the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus and the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association.

CONNECTICUT - vote expected on transgender equal rights bill TODAY or TOMORROW

Dear Mycroft, HB 6599: An Act Concerning Discrimination - which would add gender identity to Connecticut's anti-discrimination law - could face its most difficult hurdle as soon as today. We expect the House to vote on the bill eithertoday, Wednesday, May 11 or tomorrow, Thursday, May 12. Please take a moment right now to follow these quick and easy steps to contact your legislator. Even if your state rep has already heard from you, we must remind them until they vote that HB 6599 must become law in 2011. Once you've followed the steps, please forward this email to your pro-equality friends and family. Click here to take action and give HB 6599 the push it needs! If you have any questions or concerns, or need assistance, please emailSally Tamarkin or call 860-247-6090. To learn more, visitwww.ctequality.com. Thank you, Gary Buseck Acting Executive Director CONNECT WITH GLAD

Tell a Friend! This email was sent to masadarts@gmail.com by gladlaw@glad.org | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders | 30 Winter Street | Suite 800 | Boston | MA | 02108

Keshet's Massachusetts programming in May

Keshet is a national grassroots organization that works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Jews in Jewish life. Led and supported by LGBT Jews and straight allies, Keshet offers resources, trainings, and technical assistance to create inclusive Jewish communities nationwide.

I wanted to raise up three pieces of their programming this month in Massachusetts (they have offices in Boston, Denver and San Francisco) that are particularly transfaith. Here's their May Massachusetts enewsletter:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Bonfires--Film-Festivals--and-More-for-May-.html?soid=1101299078235&aid=Xqi2CQva30g. And here's the text from their website:

May 11: Interfaith Gathering

Do you attend shul on Friday and church on Sunday? Chant or meditate? Are you and your partner from different faith traditions? Bring your whole self for a relaxed conversation about our spiritual/social journeys and how we weave together our Jewishness with other traditions. Keshet member Laura Evonne Steinman, who was raised Unitarian, with Jewish and Catholic roots, will guide the conversation.

Cosponsor: Arlington Street Church

Time: 7:45pm

Where: Arlington Street Church, 351 Boylston St., Boston

RSVP: by 5/9 to events@keshetonline.org or call 617-524-9227

*******

May 12: Dr. Joy Ladin: “Judaism, Gender, and Boundaries”

It’s hard to think of an aspect of human identity deeper and broader than gender. At the same time, having an identity–including a gender identity–means having boundaries, since identifying who one is requires identifying who one is not, and boundaries are the lines we draw between the two. What does Judaism say about all this? Don’t miss this chance to learn with award-winning poet Dr. Joy Ladin, English professor at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women and the first out trans professor at a religious university.

Cosponsor: Nehar Shalom

Time: 7:30pm

Where: Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, 43 Lochstead Ave., Jamaica Plain

Cost: suggested donation: $5

RSVP: by 5/10 to events@keshetonline.org or call 617-524-9227

*******

May 25: Trans & Queer Beit Midrash: Transformative Transgender Ritual

In Judaism, ritual practices are crafted and performed to raise our awareness of special, holy time and help us celebrate our lives. However, many rituals are gendered “male” or “female,” which can marginalize and alienate transgender people. This workshop is designed to help us experience the healing and transformative power of innovative Jewish ritual, and to begin to craft personal, Jewish rituals that reflect our spirituality, transitions, and lives. We will explore rituals such as tallit, tefilllin, mikveh, and Jewish naming, as well as innovative rituals that reflect transgender experience. Facilitated by Hebrew College rabbinical students Margot Meitner and Suzie Schwartz.

Supported in part by a grant by CJP’s Innovation Grants Committee.

Time: 6pm

Where: Mayyim Hayyim, 1838 Washington St., Newton

RSVP: 5/23 to events@keshetonline.org or call 617-524-9227

UPDATE - MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill!

Happy Spring, ICTE Supporters!

We hope this finds you well, and reflecting on meaningful holy weeks in all senses. We come bearing gratitude, good news, and an update about the Transgender Equal Rights Bill (An Act Relative To Transgender Equal Rights, House Bill 502 / Senate Bill 764).

THANK YOU for making Transgender Faith Action Week and the rest of the faith campaign thus far so very successful! We are deeply grateful to you for helping us send this powerful message to the legislature – the Massachusetts faith community wants to see this vital legislation passed this session. More than 100 faith communities have participated – here’s the list:

http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/03/transgender-faith-action-week.html

The highlight of the Week was the amazing clergy press conference – the first faith-themed press conference for the bill – here’s the media coverage:

http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/04/clergy-press-conference-for-ma.html

If you distributed postcards, please collect them and send them to:

Matthew Brunner

MassEquality

262 Washington Street – 7th Floor

Boston, MA 02108

The faith campaign will continue until the bill passes! The Transgender Faith Action Week Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188135257891766) is being converted into a site for the remainder of the faith campaign.

Here’s how you can take action to support the bill – please share this information with everyone you can:

Sign ICTE’s Declaration Of Religious And Faith-Based Support for the bill -- by Monday May 23rd. Here’s the Declaration as a PDF:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B-u19Qf_xKGEODRmYmQ3MmItZjllYi00NjBiLWJjZWYtMzNlYmJjMDRkMWNj&hl=en&authkey=CKTEj7QG

If you don’t see your or your community / organization’s signatures, email InterfaithCoalition@gmail.com – include the name(s) as you wish it/them to appear (if you have a title, please use it if you can), and the denomination(s).

Submit written testimony for the bill’s hearing (Wednesday, June 8th) – by Monday May 23rd.

Write a letter telling the Joint Committee on the Judiciary why you support the bill and urging them to do so (we need them to vote the bill onwards to be voted on by the full legislature). If you submitted testimony last legislative session, you will be contacted about updating it. Submit your written testimony to the Committee co-chairs and MTPC. All testimony will be presented to the Committee the day of the hearing. Full instructions for writing and submitting testimony:

http://www.masstpc.org/legislation/testifyinwriting.shtml

Attend the bill’s hearing on Wednesday June 8th , at 1:00 p.m. in the MA Statehouse’s Gardner Auditorium.

This is the public hearing before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, which we need to vote the bill onwards to be voted on by the full legislature.

Attend Transgender Equal Rights Lobby Day on Thursday June 23rd, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the MA Statehouse’s Grand Staircase.

RSVP to Rachel@masstpc.org or 617.778.0519 -- include your name and mailing address and/or legislators’ names so we can check you in faster on Lobby Day. A limited number of transportation stipends (for no/low income) and ride shares are available – include this in your RSVP. Make appointments with your legislators for any time on June 23rd. Gather at the Grand Staircase at 1:00 for a short program of legislative supporters, policy makers, and community members. And check in to receive your Lobby Day packet.

Transgender Equal Rights Lobby Day Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199424550095489

Everyone is welcome and needed at the hearing and Lobby Day – you do not need to testify or meet with a legislator. We need the Statehouse to see as many supporters as possible. We particularly need visible clergy, lay leaders and other people of faith.

Learn more about the bill and MTPC’s legislative and educational work through a conference call.

MTPC will be holding two phone conference calls:

Staff members of advocacy / partner organizations – next Wednesday May 11th at 4:00 p.m.

(ICTE will be participating)

Community members -- next Thursday May 12th at 6:30 p.m.

To register and receive the call-in number RSVP to Rachel at rachel@masstpc.org / 617.778.0519 -- include your name, email address and which call you will participating in. Capacity is limited, but additional calls will be scheduled if needed.

And again – please share this information with everyone you can!

Yours in gratitude, hope and excitement,

Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE)

http://www.interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7923372429

The Adipositivity Project (fat-positive art photos) has added UppityFatty.com!

The Adipositivity Project is photographer Substantia Jones’ wonderful fat-positive art photography.

WARNING – most photos are NSFW (not safe for work).

http://adipositivity.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adipositivity/46449642181

http://twitter.com/Adipositivity

http://www.cafepress.com/adipositivity ~ shop!

Here's the rest of my previous post about Adipositivity:

http://masadarts.blogspot.com/2011/02/adipositivity-project-fat-positive-art.html

Adipositivity has added UppityFatty.com!

"The self-serve sister of The Adipositivity Project."

WARNING -- UF is also NSFW.

http://uppityfatty.tumblr.com/

http://twitter.com/UppityFatty

Here's the official announcement:

http://adipositivity.my-expressions.com/archives/9478_1745602162/353806

"Now there's an AdipositiviYOU. For all genders! Beginning today, you may go to UppityFatty.com and submit your own Adipositivity-esque photos. So get fat, get naked, and get your camera. And go to www.UppityFatty.com."

And here's the About from UppityFatty.com:

"Folks regularly write to The Adipositivity Project asking whether they might submit a photo of their own sweet, sweet ass. Sadly, the answer’s always been no, as the project is the effort of a sole photographer (that would be me).

Finally, I’ve done something to fix that.

UppityFatty.com is a team-curated, tumblr-humpin’ do-it-yourself Adipositivity Project for your body-focused submissions of artful photographs, positively representing fat women and men and their partners. Think of it as AdipositiviYOU.

I’ll also occasionally post outtakes and also-rans from The Adipositivity Project here.

So have at it, Fatties! Feeling fatogenic? Get naked and get the camera. I look forward to… seeing you.

Substantia Jones"

"Thy Will Be Done" documentary showing this Monday

Director Alice Bouvrie's documentary "Thy Will Be Done" follows male-to-female transsexual Sara Herwig in her path to ordination in the Presbyterian Church; a transsexual woman's journey through family and faith.

The image is a production still.

Our previous post about it:

http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2010/11/thy-will-be-done-documentary-about.html

Director Alice Bouvrie's film site:

http://www.mineralkingproductions.com/

The film's Facebook site:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/THY-WILL-BE-DONE/115827228256

The next local showing is this coming Monday, May 9th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Robbins Library in Arlington (700 Mass. Ave.). The filmmaker and cast will be present.

Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference ~ June 2nd - 4th!

The 10th annual Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference is Thursday June 2nd through Saturday June 4th! And it will have more faith / religion / spirituality content than ever before. Chris Paige of Trans Faith Online has provided this excellent text:

Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference

2011 marks the third year of TransFaith leadership being involved in planning spiritually-themed events in and around the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference (PTHC).

• June 2-4, 2011 (Thursday to Saturday, plus pre- and post-events)
• Philadelphia, PA
• Registration is FREE
• PTHC is the largest transgender-specific conference in the world
• Yes! Family, friends, and allies are encouraged to join us!
• More at http://www.trans-health.org

TransFaith Caucuses (pre-event)

Gathering at Old First UCC on June 1, 2011 from 2pm-5pm, this pre-event will allow for transgender people of faith and our allies to gather and connect as we arrive in Philadelphia -- allowing for those relationships to deepen as the conference unfolds. Learn more!

Public Event Pre-Event

This free, public conference pre-event will begin at 7:30pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at Old First UCC and is co-sponsored by the Transgender People of Color Coalition. This panel presentation on gender diversity among indigenous people offers an exciting opportunity to consider how spirituality and identity intersect in some less visible cultural contexts. Learn more!

Spirituality Workshops

Spirituality content at PTHC 2011 (Thursday, June 2 - Saturday, June 4, 2011 will include offerings for transgender people, as well as for allied clergy, mental health professionals, family, and friends.

• Spirituality workshops: http://workshops-2011.trans-health.org/public/list/21/
• Mental health professionals, clergy, and other counselors will also want to consider to review the full slate of mental health offerings
• Friends, family, and allies will also want to consider partner-oriented workshops, ally-oriented workshops, and family-oriented workshops
• Programming is also available for children and teens

Spiritual Opportunities

Workshops are great, but it's also healing and empowering to gather for spiritual or religious observances in an intentionally transgender-affirming space. Numerous opportunities will be available in 2011.

And so much more!

There are well over 200 activities planned. Please visit http://www.trans-health.org for full details, as well as travel details!

Why at PTHC 2011? There are few places in the world where people of faith can gather to learn about transgender communities in all of our diversity -- not simply to hear about diversity from one or a few presenters, but to walk among transgender people from a variety of races and life experiences. PTHC hosts gender non-conforming children with their familes, youth and young adults, as well as older trans men, trans women, and genderqueer community members. Presenters include national transgender leaders and grassroots organizers, as well as medical and mental health providers. By working within and around the largest, transgender-specific conference in the world, we are able to expose participants to leading experts from a variety of disciplines who can help conference participants to contextualize the role of faith and spirituality in the life of the transgender community.

General Summary
http://hub.transfaithonline.org/events/philadelphia_pa_in_june_2011/

2011 TransFaith Caucuses
http://hub.transfaithonline.org/events/philadelphia_pa_in_june_2011/2011_transfaith_caucuses/

Gender Diversity and Indigenous Peoples in Dialogue (public pre-event)
http://hub.transfaithonline.org/events/philadelphia_pa_in_june_2011/june_1_pre_event/

Join The Impact MA – 2nd annual [LGBTQ] Equal Rights Con – “Momentum” - this weekend

Join The Impact Massachusetts’ second annual [LGBTQ] Equal Rights Conference, “Momentum (Our History, Our Movement, Our Future)”, is this weekend, today through Sunday, here in Boston. I’ll be on the panel “Lives Of Faith, Lives Of Activism” – my colleague Rev. Cameron Partridge was invited but unavailable and very kindly recommended me.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

Lives of Faith, Lives of Activism - a panel discussion

Many LGBTQ people continue to worship in faith communities and serve as religious leaders - in spite of negative experiences they may have had with churches or temples in the past - and to experience a faith-centered commitment to seeking justice and equality. What role can faith communities play in advancing LGBTQ rights as an issue of social justice? How do we as LGBTQ people of faith respond to the religious right's anti-gay misinformation and rhetoric? In this interactive and wide-ranging panel discussion, a diverse group of religious leaders, professors, and students will explore these questions and discuss ways in which religious faith shapes our lives and informs our work for equality. Confirmed panelists include minister, writer, and activist Rev. Irene Monroe; historian and professor Jennifer Wright Knust of Boston University Theological School; Delfin Bautista, program coordinator of Unitarian Universalist Association's LGBT Ministries; Nathaniel Katz, Epps Fellow for Undergraduate Ministry at The Memorial Church, Harvard University; and Mycroft Masada Holmes, Chair of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality.

MY BIO:

Mycroft Masada Holmes is a transgender leader specializing in faith, religion and spirituality. Mycroft is Chair of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE) and Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition’s (MTPC) Training Committee, as well as Emeritus Founding Chair of Keshet’s Transgender Working Group (TWiG) and a board member of Congregation Am Tikva. Mycroft was a member of an Episcopal church which closed, and has been “church shopping”. Mycroft is also committed to working for fat / size acceptance.

FRONT PAGE OF THE CON SITE (http://www.lgbtqmomentum.org/):

2nd ANNUAL EQUAL RIGHTS CONFERENCE

Old South Church at Copley Square

Boston, Massachusetts

April 29th - May 1st

Big thanks to TraniWreck for hosting our opening social event on Friday, April 29th! Join us for an all ages, all gender, all genre, cabaret variety show produced by Truth Serum Productions. Drag, Burlesque, Spoken Word and live music! With special appearances and greetings by Sue Hyde, Gunner Scott, and Robbie Samuels. Doors open at 7pm at Old South Church.

$8 or $10 (more if you have it) - pay at the door cash or check only.

Since 2008 the LGBTQ community has seen real legal and legislative gains, but at the same time many social programs serving the LGBTQ community are facing devastating budget cuts. Just in the last year at the federal level, some of the gains of our movement include: the congressional repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; the public declaration by the courts and Obama that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, and the granting of transgender non-discrimination protections for HUD funded housing. On a local level, we have taken huge steps forward by winning protections for transgender state employees and anti-bullying legislation, while working to maintain and extend marriage equality in the region. All of these gains are just a step in the right direction, but the fight for full equality and unconditional justice continues and many people in our movement are working on projects that cannnot be measured by legal and legislative gains. This conference will bring together LGBTQ people & allies from all around the Northeast to collaborate and strategize about how to continue our momentum.

SIGN-UP FOR CONFERENCE UPDATES:

To sign up for our email listserv: http://groups.google.com/group/lgbtconference

Follow us on Twitter @lgbtqmomentum or tweet about the conference using

#lgbtqmomentum

Let us know you are attending and share this event on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210263775652238

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Momentum-2nd-Annual-Equal-Rights-

Conference/185449621477374

CONNECTICUT Equality Day is TODAY!

Dear Mycroft, Equality Day 2011 is this Thursday, April 28! Equality Day is your opportunity to hear exciting guest speakers from the transgender community - like GLAD's Transgender Rights Project Director Jennifer Levi -- and to meet other advocates and citizen activistsworking to pass HB 6599, a bill that would prevent discrimination against transgender people in Connecticut. RSVP NOW for Equality Day on Thursday, April 28, in the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol in Hartford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our partner organization ctEQUALITY will hold a mini-training on how to discuss the bill with your legislators, because Equality Day is also an opportunity to talk with lawmakers about the importance of making our state a place where people are treated fairly and equally regardless of their gender identity or expression. Our opponents are ramping up their efforts to defeat HB 6599, so we must show legislators and the public that we are unified and committed to full equality for all Connecticut residents! Never spoken to your legislator before? No problem. ctEQUALITY will provide all the materials and resources you need and walk you through the process. They'll even book the appointment for you Be sure to share the RSVP link with your pro-equality friends and family! If you have any questions or concerns, or need assistance with any of the above, please e-mail Sally Tamarkin at stamarkin@cwealf.org or call (860) 247-6090 ext. 105. To learn more, check out ctEQUALITY's website at www.ctequality.com. Thank you, Gary Buseck Acting Executive Director CONNECT WITH GLAD

Interfaith transgender panel - Harvard University Hillel - THIS WEDNESDAY!

There's going to be an interfaith transgender panel at Harvard University's Hillel this Wednesday (April 27th)! I will be one of the panelists, along with my colleagues Rev. Cameron Partridge, Laurie Wolfe, and Jamez Terry. All are welcome!!! (You don't need to be a Harvard affiliate.) Please join us!

Mycroft Masada Holmes is a transgender leader specializing in faith, religion and spirituality. Mycroft is Chair of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE) and Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition’s (MTPC) Training Committee, as well as Emeritus Founding Chair of Keshet’s Transgender Working Group (TWiG) and a board member of Congregation Am Tikva. Mycroft was a member of an Episcopal church which closed, and has been “church shopping”. Mycroft is also committed to working for fat / size acceptance.

Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge is the Interim Episcopal Chaplain and a Lecturer who has taught courses in WGS and at the Divinity School. Cameron is a transgender man who transitioned at Harvard as a doctoral student in 2002 and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in 2005. He has for several years contributed to ongoing conversations on LGBT issues in The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. As a founding member of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality, he is also working to bring transgender and trans-supportive people of faith into public conversations, particularly on pending local and national transgender nondiscrimination legislation.

Laurie Wolfe is an activist, educator and speaker on gender and trans issues. She volunteers with Keshet, a Boston-based organization that works for full inclusion of LGBTQ people in Jewish life, and co-chairs their Greater Boston Steering Committee and Trans Working Group (TWiG). She also volunteers with MTPC, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and SpeakOut Boston, the lgbt speakers bureau. Laurie worked most recently as a fundraiser for non-profit organizations. Her spiritual path has led her from Hatha and Bhakti Yoga to Hindu practices and Shamanic teachings. She is in the process of learning more about what being Jewish is about thanks to her Keshet family. Her current spiritual practice combines prayer, meditation, writing and chanting.

Jamez Terry is an MDiv candidate in the Unitarian Universalist tradition at Harvard Divinity School. He is also the founder and organizer of the Tranny Roadshow and has spent the past 6 years bringing trans performance art to communities throughout North America. He is very interested in the intersections of gender identity and religious identity and in bringing trans communities into conversation with communities of faith. He works at the First Parish in Milton and lives in Somerville with his wife and son.

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How did you realize you're transgender?

What does transphobia look like?

Trans people can be in the clergy?

How does your religion affect your identity?

What does it feel like to grow up trans?

What does "transgender" really mean, anyway?

Transforming Faith: Experiencing Religion and Gender Identity

Wondering about gender identity and faith? Come hear transgender speakers of various religions discuss these questions and others. Speakers will talk about their personal experiences being trans people of faith and reflect upon the influences their religions and gender identities have had on their lives. There will be time for an open Q&A, so bring any questions you have!

When: Wednesday, April 27th, 6-7 pm
Where: Smith Hall, Harvard Hillel
52 Mt. Auburn St.

RSVP on facebook

Co-sponsored by the Progressive Jewish Alliance, BAGELS, Interfaith Council, Harvard College QSA, Trans Task Force, Harvard Secular Society, Harvard Buddhist Community, and other campus religious groups TBA.

"Transgender Health and Human Rights" event at Harvard School of Public Health TOMORROW

Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122679107810171

The members of the Queer Student Alliance and Women, Gender and Health from Harvard School of Public Health (with the support of The Office of Diversity, HMS Kinsey 2-6ers, and Center for Population Research in LGBT Health at The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health) would like to invite you to the major event in our Spring Speaker Series for 2011!

What: Transgender Health and Human Rights: An evening of thought

provoking speakers, panel discussion, and food

When: Wednesday, April 20th

Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm - (a hot dinner will be served from 5:15pm)

Where: Kresge Building (G3) - Harvard School of Public Health, 677

Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA (map attached)

After: Social event to be arranged in the Longwood area following the event

Our speakers:

• Pauline Park, PhD – New York based transgender rights activist

• Kerith Conron, ScD, MPH – health disparities researcher from

the Institute on Urban Health Research, Northeastern University

A dynamic panel features:

• Norman Spack, MD from the Gender Management Service from

Boston Children’s Hospital

• Ruben Hopwood, MDiv, PhD candidate, Coordinator of the

Transgender Health Program at Fenway Health

• Gunner Scott, Executive Director, Massachusetts Transgender

Political Coalition (MTPC)

Popular & American Culture Associations conference begins today

My partner Julia McCrossin and her colleague Lesleigh Owen co-chair the Fat Studies area of the Popular & American Culture Associations, and have done so for the last few years. They're attending the annual national PCA / ACA conference, which begins today and continues through Saturday; this year it's in San Antonio, Texas. Nesia tova (bon voyage), mazel tov and thank you, Julia and Lesleigh! May you have a wonderful week.

Fat Studies area CFP (call for papers):

http://masadarts.blogspot.com/2010/10/popular-american-culture-associations.html

Conference website:

http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/national.php

Fat Studies presentations:

9127 Fat Identities and Embodiment: RC-Salon K, 3 PM, 4/20/2011

9128 Fatness in Politics and the Academy: RC-Salon K, 4:45 PM, 4/20/2011

9129 Representations of Fat in Popular Culture: RC-Salon K, 11:30 AM, 4/21/2011

9130 “Fat” Gets Defined and Reworked in the Public Sphere: RC-Salon K, 8 AM,

4/22/2011

9131 Bodies Writ Large: Size Politics in Media: RC-Salon K, 1:15 PM, 4/20/2011

9132 Marking Bodies: Fatness and Race/Ethnicity: RC-Salon K, 8 AM, 4/21/2011

9133 Roundtable: How Do We Start Talking and Teaching about Fat Studies in the Academic World?: Sharing Anti-Fat Ignorance and Bigotry Strategies in the

Classroom: RC-Salon K, 8:15 PM, 4/21/2011

9134 Documentary: The Fat Body (In)visible: RC-Salon G, 8:15 PM, 4/20/2011

9135 One Size Does NOT Fit All: Size Acceptance using an Expressive Arts

Therapeutic Approach: RC-Salon K, 9:45 AM, 4/21/2011

9127 -- Fat Identities and Embodiment

Session Chair: Lesleigh Owen, Chaffey College

Fat Orientations: Size, Space, and Sexuality

Jackie Wykes, University of Melbourne

Fat Beauty and the Studio Nude

Leah Sweet

Fighting Fat: Phat Politics and Feminist Identity

Portia Barker, University of Maryland, College Park

Living the Fat Body: Embodiment through Poetry

Lesleigh Owen, Chaffey College

9128 -- Fatness in Politics and the Academy

Session Chair: Hannele Harjunen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Fatness and the Construction of Neoliberal Bodies

Hannele Harjunen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Health at Every Size and the Body Image / Eating Relationship: Policy

Implications

Laura Jennings, University of South Carolina Upstate

Using Storytelling Pedagogies to Combat Weight Bias in Adult Learners

Heather Brown, Northern Illinois University/Lake Forest College

9129 -- Representations of Fat in Popular Culture

Session Chair: Julia McCrossin, George Washington University

‘Bitchcraft’ – The Art of Manipulating Public Opinion through Numerous

Complaints against Marginalized Groups and How it is Now Being Used to Blame

the Fatties

Mary Stein, University of Akron

Never Trust a Skinny Chef: The Proof is in the Fat Body

Benjamin Morton, University of Iowa

Representations of Bodily and Sexual Excess in Huge and Mike & Molly

Kaitlin Clinnin, Virginia Tech

Starvation is Jewish History, Fat is a Jewish Issue

Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

9130 -- Fat Gets Defined and Reworked in the Public Sphere

Session Chair: Jay Solomon, More of Me to Love

Challenging Sizeism-Based Marginalization: Reactive and Proactive Resistance

Strategies and How to Build a Bridge between Them

Anna Puhakka, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Obesing: The Creation of an Unhealthy Behavior

Jay Solomon, More of Me to Love

The FATSO Model: A Conceptualization of Weight Bias and Fat Acceptance

Peter Jaberg, Forest Institute

Jenny Copeland, Forest Institute

Toward an Articulation of Fat Culture in America

Margitte Kristjansson, University of California at San Diego

9131 -- Bodies Writ Large: Size Politics in Media

Session Chair: Lesleigh Owen, Chaffey College

Beyond Blubber and Fat Camps: Fat Characters as Heroes, Heroines, Romantic

Leads, and Winners in Contemporary Young Adult Fiction

Angie Manfredi, Head of Youth Services, Los Alamos County Library System

Reshaping the (M)other: Feederism in Fiction

Jocelyn Eighan

Big Fat Zero: Performing Absence Online

Kristina Gordon, University of Iowa

The Out of Body Experience of Thinness: Size-ism in Drop Dead Diva

Elka Stevens, Howard University

9132 -- Marking Bodies: Fatness and Race/Ethnicity

Session Chair: Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

Kelligrl, the Myth, the Legend

Julia McCrossin, George Washington University

Are You Calling Me Fat?: Fatness Through a Disability Studies Lens

Ashley Fullbrook, University of Toronto

Critical Fat Studies and Black Studies at the Crossroads: Race, Respectability, and the (Intra)Politics of "Obesity”

Amanda Gilliam, Columbia University

Latino Masculinities and Fatness

Miguel Juarez, University of Texas at El Paso

9133 -- How Do We Start Talking and Teaching about Fat Studies in the Academic World?: Sharing Anti-Fat Ignorance and Bigotry Strategies in the Classroom

Session Chair: Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

Miguel Juarez, University of Texas at El Paso

Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

Heather Brown, Northern Illinois University/Lake Forest College

Virginia Bemis, Ashland University

Jacqueline Johnson, George Washington University

9134 -- Documentary: The Fat Body (In)visible

Session Chair: Margitte Kristjansson, University of California at San Diego

The Fat Body (In)visible

Margitte Kristjansson, University of California at San Diego

9135 -- One Size Does NOT Fit All: Size Acceptance using an Expressive Arts Therapeutic Approach

Session Chair: Deah Schwartz, Co-Founder, Education Through Therapeutic Arts (ETTA)