HPO Police Officer to Undergo Sex Re-Assignment Surgery
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, One of the hottest gay club tours to make a stop in Houston. Page 13 I I -I w ill t M I H 8~ ¥ H J I I As gay men and lesbians celebrate Gay Pride in the shadow of the § US Capitol June 11,the US Environmental Protection Agency is I fending off an attack by conservatives because it recognized June [[ as Gay & Lesbian Pride Month, (Photo by Adam Cuthbert) 813 i .~~ I Transgender HPDofficer Julia Oliver is flanked by local gay attorney Jerry Simoneaux, along with legal partner and attorney Phillys Randolph '"@ EPA under 0 fire Frye, the only openly transgender lawyer in Texas,during a press conference this week, (Photo by Dalton DeHart) I I ::~: for holding HPO police officer to undergo 'I~~: I-~~ , Pride events @ ,J sex re-assignment surgery. .~ Federal worker groups I tional changes had already began F cautious about festivities 24':year veteran police officer said occurring, Oliver had planned to wait I on officially coming out to the Houston i By LOU CHIBBARO JR. ."" .•. department has supported transition Police Department until a recent high- ill snf'f'fI oh:lS" chanced her mind, i The If.S. Environmental Protection Aaencv As gay men and lesbians celebrate Gay Pride in the shadow of the U.S.Capitol June 11,the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency is . fending off an attack by conservatives because it recognized June as Gay& Lesbian Pride Month. (Photo by Adam Cuthbert) Transgender HPD officer Julia Oliver is flanked by local gay attorney Jerry Simoneaux, along with legal partner and attorney Phillys Randolph EPAunder fire Frye, the only openly transgender lawyer in Texas,during a press conference this week. (Photo by Dalton DeHart) for holding HPO police officer to undergo Pride events sex re-assignment surgery Federal worker groups tional changes had already began cautious about festivities 24~yearveteran police officer said occurring, Oliver had planned to wait on officially coming out to the Houston By LOU CHIBBARO JR. department has supported transition Police Department until a recent high- speed chase changed her mind. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency By RACHAEL SEELEY .Though Oliver still presents herself Though she was not injured in the refused to back down from its decision to sponsor sev- as male at work, the deputy day ser- minor accident that resulted, if she had eral Gay Pride events this month after it received Julia Oliver, 49, never intended to geant said she has been feeling more needed emergency medical attention, more than 800,000e-mails and thousands of phone be a public figure for the transgender like a woman on the inside for a long fellow officers would have noticed her calls denouncing its involvement in the events from community. time, so four and a half months ago she physical changes right away supporters of a conservative political group. But the 24-year veteran Houston began female hormone treatment. "If they had to do medical treat- Kirk Marusak, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & police officer, whose birth name was "I didn't choose to do this, it's just ment out in the field, you remove Transgender coordinator at EPA for the American Jack, found herself in the spotlight how I feel," Oliver said. "It's a lot of that vest and that shirt and you can't Federation of Government Employees, said EPA.offi- last week after the news media stress to keep that [male] facade and miss some of the changes," Oliver cials informed him that a deluge of phone calls trig- . learned that she would be physically that mask up." transitioning from a male to a female. Though subtle physical and emo- Please see TRANSCOP on Page 3 Please see EPA on Page 4 Houston-area church opensits IGay drag performer Superstars Diana Ross f I doors to gay members, I Kevin Aviance is beaten in I and Janet Jackson look votingto be openandaffirming. I possible hate crime. I back with new releases. r,,' Local Life, Page 8 _ . I News, page 6 '. I Dish, Page 19 !W .i··,.··.·Z I«>: C www.houstonvoice.com JUNE 16, 2006 3 ;~~~ :1%1'w1:I!j l'[rJ1J!d~j"·!1l,itj!!l11 AreceptionwasrecentlyheldforJudgeBarbaraHartle,newlyelectedassociatejudgeofthe HoustonMunicipal Court,at the homeofHoustonCityControlleAr nniseParkerandKathyHubbard.PicturedareJudgeSteven Kirkland,JudgeBertaMejiaJu, dgeJohnPaulBamichJudge, NancyBailey,Toby BlackHartle; and(seated)Parker. Tally in for fundraiser sponsored by Bayou City Boys Clu.b Bayou City Boys Club Inc. has announced that it donated $42,000 in net proceeds from this year's Jungle 14 event. The funds were distributed at BCBC's annual Jungle Beneficiary Party, which was held on May 21 at the Lovett Inn. Receiving checks from the Jungle 14 co-chairs were AIDS Foundation Houston's HPDofficerJulia Oliver,whose malenamewas Jack, has been undergoingfemalehormonetreatment for Stone Soup Program, Bering Omega Community Services, Brentwood Community' the last four and a halfmonthsin preparationfor a sex re-assignmentsurgery. Foundation, Legacy Community Health Services, Montrose Counseling Center and People with AIDS Coalition of Houston. BCBC is known for its Jungle party weekend events which are held annually during the Easter holiday. Proceeds from the Jungle parties are donated to various Houston-area char- itable organizations which support HIV/ AIDS awareness, patient care and research. Spotlight a surprise Club members thanked underwriters of its Jungle parties, weekend partners, corpo- rate sponsors, and the countless volunteers who continue to make the events a success- fullocal fund raiser. Also, they thanked the beneficiaries for the services they provide to the Houston area community. for trans HPO cop ------ . Commemoration planned of the establishment of the co~ontinued fromPage 1 minded and we can't be happier about for landmark Texas sodomy case center, which is located at 3400 Montrose what is going on." Blvd., Suite 207. To reach the center, or for said. "That was not a fair way for the On Monday, June 26, the Houston GLBT more information, call 713-524-3818.The officers to find out and not how I want to Community support Community Center will host a reception to center's website is wwwhoustonglbtcom- .come out. I personally think they After completing the year of required commemorate the third anniversary of munitycenter.org. deserve the respect of me coming in and hormone therapy, Oliver plans to have sex- the Lawrence vs. Texas Supreme Court talking to them." reassignment surgery and is currently in decision that overturned anti-gay sodomy New center reaches out When Oliver informed her division the process of legally changing her name laws in Texas and across the nation. The commander, Capt. Bruce Williams, she to Julia Christine Oliver. event will be held at Bering & James to gay and bisexual men said he reacted with respect and profes- Oliver was once married to a woman and Gallery, 805 Rhode Place, Suite 500, at 6:30 A grand opening ceremony will be held sionalism. has five children who range in age from 18to p.m. and is open to the public. Saturday, June 25 for the 12,000 square-foot "We are a professional organization and their early 30s. She said they have asked to Houstonian John Geddes Lawrence, ManKind Center in northwest Houston. we do not discriminate against anyone. We be kept out of the media spotlight and she one of the petitioners in Lawrence vs. The center is reaching out to gay and certainly expect all of our members to be wants to respect their wishes. Texas, will attend the community center bisexual men. professionals and act with propriety," "I think they are just in shock right event, along with local attorney Mitchell The ManKind Project Houston's primary Williams said. "We support him as a team now," said Sue Null, secretary of Parents, Katine, the lawyer for John Lawrence and program is the New Warrior Training member and if there was anything I can do Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays. .•.....• .1.... .•..•~+.•...rl ~_ 1Ir..r.. •.•• Bayou City Boys Club Inc. has announced that it donated $42,000in net proceeds from this year's Jungle 14 event. The funds were distributed at BCBC's annual Jungle Beneficiary Party, which was held on May 21at the Lovett Inn. Receiving checks from the Jungle 14 co-chairs were AIDS Foundation Houston's HPDofficer Julia Oliver.whose male name was Jack. has been undergoing female hormone treatment for Stone Soup Program, Bering Omega Community Services, Brentwood Community the last four and a half months in preparation for a sex re-assignment surgery. Foundation, Legacy Community Health Services, Montrose Counseling Center and People with AIDSCoalition of Houston. BCBCis known for its Jungle party weekend events which are held annually during the Easter holiday. Proceedsfrom the Jungle parties are donated to various Houston-area char- itable organizations which support HIVIAIDSawareness, patient care and research. Spotlight a surprise Club members thanked underwriters of its Jungle parties, weekend partners, corpo- rate sponsors, and the countless volunteers who continue to make the events a success- fullocal fund raiser. Also, they thanked the beneficiaries for the services they provide to the Houston area community. for trans HPO cop Commemoration planned of the establishment of the conTIffiiiiity GOp,continued from Page 1 minded and we can't be happier about for landmark Texas sodomy case center, which is located at 3400Montrose what is going on." Blvd., Suite 207.To reach the center, or for said. "That was not a fair way for the On Monday,June 26,the Houston GLBT more information, call 713-524-3818.The officers to find out and not how I want to Community support Community Center will host a reception to center's website is www.houstonglbtcom- come out.