DOCSLIB.ORG

A Post-2007 Transgender Legal History Told Through the Eyes of the Late, (Rarely) Great Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Post-2007 Transgender Legal History Told Through the Eyes of the Late, (Rarely) Great Employment Non-Discrimination Act William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice Volume 23 (2016-2017) Issue 3 William & Mary Journal of Women and Article 5 the Law April 2017 Has the Future Already Been Forgotten? A Post-2007 Transgender Legal History Told Through the Eyes of the Late, (Rarely) Great Employment Non-Discrimination Act Katrina C. Rose Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, and the Sexuality and the Law Commons Repository Citation Katrina C. Rose, Has the Future Already Been Forgotten? A Post-2007 Transgender Legal History Told Through the Eyes of the Late, (Rarely) Great Employment Non-Discrimination Act, 23 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 527 (2017), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/vol23/iss3/5 Copyright c 2017 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl HAS THE FUTURE ALREADY BEEN FORGOTTEN? A POST- 2007 TRANSGENDER LEGAL HISTORY TOLD THROUGH THE EYES OF THE LATE, (RARELY) GREAT EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT KATRINA C. ROSE* INTRODUCTION A. Historical Preface B. Mapping Out a Decade C. Mapping Out the Article I. 2007: AN ILLUSION OF INCLUSIVITY, THE IMPLOSION OF THE ILLUSION, AND THE INTRANSIGENCE OF INSTITUTIONS A. The Public Preface B. Before the Hearing 1. Promise 2. Assurance C. After the Summer 1. A Question 2. An Explicit Message 3. An Implicit Message 4. A History Lesson D. Battles E. A Hole in the Poll F. Recovery and Redux G. Thought and Afterthought II. 2009: DIFFERENT ILLUSIONS, NEW BETRAYALS, OLD EXCUSES A. The Military Percentage B. Ode to January 20, 2017 C. ENDA 2009 1. Fifteen Years After 1994 2. The Mystery of Change D. Legislation for the Dead, Crumbs for the Living 1. Promises 2. Reflections on Ratios 3. Protection of Stratification * JD, South Texas College of Law; BED, Texas A&M University; MA (History), University of Iowa; currently a doctoral candidate (History), University of Iowa. Though there are some differences, this Article essentially tracks the final two chapters and conclusion of my dissertation: Forgotten Paths: American Transgender Legal History, 1955–2009. Special thanks to The Morning Crew: Anthony Peoples, Emily Scarlett, Mike Panicucci, Jordan Ruggles and Chris Langlois. 527 528 WILLIAM & MARY JOURNAL OF WOMEN AND THE LAW [ V o l. 23:527 4. Remembrance 5. Prosecuting Expendability E. Disappearance III. PIECES OF FORGETFULNESS A. A Phantom ENDA and a Phantom Denial B. A Phantom Promise C. A Phantom Report D. How History Becomes a Phantom CONCLUSION A. Reflection B. Observation C. A Forward-Looking Lamentation INTRODUCTION A. Historical Preface Giving the statute its plain meaning, this court concludes that Congress had only the traditional notions of “sex” in mind. Later legislative activity makes this narrow definition even more evident. Several bills have been introduced to amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against “sexual preference.” None have been enacted into law.1 The course of federal transgender anti-discrimination law over the last quarter of the twentieth century is well-known to practitioners and scholars who focus in the area. Likewise, it would tend to be- come well-known in the moment to trans people seeking redress in the federal courts that they would find out that there was no avenue of redress.2 Success, when it finally arrives, can breed amnesia and an accompanying over eagerness to look forward without caring that the past can be prologue. Perceived success, be it truly nonexistent or simply less than it actually is, can be even more problematic.3 Even dangerous. 1. Holloway v. Arthur Andersen & Co., 566 F.2d 659, 662 (9th Cir. 1977), overruled in part by Schwenk v. Hartford, 87 F. Supp. 3d 1118–19 (N.D. Cal. 2015). 2. Courtney J. Jefferson, Comment, Gender Confusion: The Need for Effective Legisla- tion to Protect Against Gender Identity Discrimination, 39 U. BALT. L. REV. 137, 147 (2009). 3. See Dana Beyer, Trans Americans Enjoy Robust Bias Protections, WASH. BLADE (June 28, 2012, 9:02 AM) http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/06/28/trans-americans -enjoy-robust-bias-protections [http://perma.cc/RU6QLSQ9] [hereinafter Trans Americans Enjoy Robust Bias Protections]. 2017] HAS THE FUTURE ALREADY BEEN FORGOTTEN? 529 Trans people rightly are afraid of what the Trump Administration will bring; promises of systemic change will be led by anti-LGBT cul- tural warriors of years past,4 and magnified by a younger generation of radical conservatives, some gay and harboring hatred of trans people.5 But the first years of the twenty-first century did see a marked shift, judicially and administratively, away from a viciously negative trend which began in the 1970s.6 Legislative advancement has, thus far, proven to be more elusive.7 This Article is about that lack of advancement during sessions of Congress when such ad- vancement seemed eminently possible—to some, even probable. Any analysis of what has proven to be an era of stagnancy requires an understanding of what trans people saw as the bag they would be left holding should they be left out of federal legislation. And that under- standing necessarily begins with a synopsis of how a quarter cen- tury of hopelessness gave way to some hope, but nothing concrete.8 Holloway v. Arthur Andersen & Co., decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a few days before Christmas, 1977, and from which 4. See David Badash, Trump Head of Domestic Issues Is Senior Fellow at Anti-Gay Group FRC, THE NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (Nov. 10, 2016, 5:17 PM), http://www .thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/trump_head_of_domestic_issues_is _family_research_council_senior_fellow [http://perma.cc/Y5NNSK83]. 5. See Erin Fitzgerald, Breitbart News Published Slur-Filled Talk Given By Senior Editor Milo Yiannopoulos At The University of Delaware, MEDIA MATTERS (Oct. 25, 2016, 2:48 PM ) http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/10/25/breitbart-news-published-slur-filled -talk-given-senior-editor-milo-yiannopoulos-university-delaware/214102 [http://perma .cc/F4YMVQA7] (describing Yiannopoulos’ speech); see also Lucas Nolan, Milo Explains Why He’d Probably be Straight if He Could (Sept. 20, 2016), http://www.breitbart.com /milo/2016/09/20/milo-i-would-take-a-straight-pill/ [http://perma.cc/85Z7SMA8] (identifying Milo Yiannopoulos as homosexual). Though Yiannopoulos has not (yet) landed a position in the Trump Administration, Breitbart’s head, Steve Bannon, has. Michael D. Shear et al., Critics See Stephen Bannon, Trump’s Pick for Strategist, as Voice of Racism, N.Y. TIMES (Nov. 14, 2016), http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/15/us/politics/donald-trump-presidency .html [http://perma.cc/FL7UJQE4]. 6. See Schwenk v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187, 1200 (9th Cir. 2000). 7. I refer to federal law. Year 2001 saw other states begin to follow Minnesota’s lead of almost a decade earlier. R.I. GEN. LAWS § 34-37-2.3 (West 2001). In 2016, trans- inclusion at the state level is the rule rather than the exception, with only Wisconsin, the oldest state gay rights law, New York, and New Hampshire remaining gay-only. WIS. STAT. ANN. § 111.31 (West 2015); N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. § 354-A:6 (2016); N.Y. EXEC. LAW § 296(1)(a) (McKinney 2016). 8. I do not discuss herein the quasi-successes under the Rehabilitation Act given that whatever precedent they may have established were wiped out by amendments to the Fed- eral Housing Act, the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and later amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. See Blackwell v. U. S. Dep’t of Treasury 639 F. Supp. 289, 290 (D.D.C. 1986), supplemental op., 656 F. Supp. 713 (D.D.C. 1986), aff’d in part and vacated in part, 830 F.2d 1183 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (analysing a transvestite individual’s claim under the Rehabilitation Act); Doe v. U.S. Postal Serv., No. 84-3296, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18959 (D.D.C. June 12, 1985) (finding that the plaintiff had a valid claim under the Rehabilitation Act); H.R. 1158, 100th Cong. § 6(b)(3) (1988) (excluding transvestites from the definition of disability); Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.A. § 12208 (West 1990) (in- dicating that neither homosexuality nor transvestite characteristics qualify as a disability). 530 WILLIAM & MARY JOURNAL OF WOMEN AND THE LAW [ V o l. 23:527 the paragraph at the beginning of this Article is taken, was not the first Title VII transsexual case.9 In early 1975, hemodialysis techni- cian, Carol Voyles, had informed her employer, the Ralph K. Davies Medical Center in San Francisco, of her intention to transition from male to female.10 She was immediately terminated for that reason.11 When she sued later that year, claiming discrimination based on sex, District Judge Spencer Williams, a Nixon appointee, agreed with the medical center’s contention that Voyles’ claim failed to state a claim upon which the court could grant any relief.12 Also in 1975, another Nixon appointee, George Barlow, rejected Paula Grossman’s Title VII claim in her suit against the New Jersey school district that had employed her.13 The majority opinion in Holloway, how- ever, authored by still another Nixon appointee, District Judge Leland Nielsen, was the first appellate opinion construing federal sex discrimination law against transsexuals.14 It would not be the last. Together with subsequent decisions against Iowa clerical worker, Audra Sommers,15 and Illinois pilot, Karen Ulane,16 Holloway was 9. Compare Holloway v. Arthur Andersen & Co., 566 F.2d 659, 661–62 (9th Cir. 1977), with Voyles v. Ralph K. Davies Med. Ctr., 403 F.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Transgender Representation on American Narrative Television from 2004-2014
    TRANSJACKING TELEVISION: TRANSGENDER REPRESENTATION ON AMERICAN NARRATIVE TELEVISION FROM 2004-2014 A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Kelly K. Ryan May 2021 Examining Committee Members: Jan Fernback, Advisory Chair, Media and Communication Nancy Morris, Media and Communication Fabienne Darling-Wolf, Media and Communication Ron Becker, External Member, Miami University ABSTRACT This study considers the case of representation of transgender people and issues on American fictional television from 2004 to 2014, a period which represents a steady surge in transgender television characters relative to what came before, and prefigures a more recent burgeoning of transgender characters since 2014. The study thus positions the period of analysis as an historical period in the changing representation of transgender characters. A discourse analysis is employed that not only assesses the way that transgender characters have been represented, but contextualizes American fictional television depictions of transgender people within the broader sociopolitical landscape in which those depictions have emerged and which they likely inform. Television representations and the social milieu in which they are situated are considered as parallel, mutually informing discourses, including the ways in which those representations have been engaged discursively through reviews, news coverage and, in some cases, blogs. ii To Desmond, Oonagh and Eamonn For everything. And to my mother, Elaine Keisling, Who would have read the whole thing. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Throughout the research and writing of this dissertation, I have received a great deal of support and assistance, and therefore offer many thanks. To my Dissertation Chair, Jan Fernback, whose feedback on my writing and continued support and encouragement were invaluable to the completion of this project.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond the Bully Pulpit: Presidential Speech in the Courts
    SHAW.TOPRINTER (DO NOT DELETE) 11/15/2017 3:32 AM Beyond the Bully Pulpit: Presidential Speech in the Courts Katherine Shaw* Abstract The President’s words play a unique role in American public life. No other figure speaks with the reach, range, or authority of the President. The President speaks to the entire population, about the full range of domestic and international issues we collectively confront, and on behalf of the country to the rest of the world. Speech is also a key tool of presidential governance: For at least a century, Presidents have used the bully pulpit to augment their existing constitutional and statutory authorities. But what sort of impact, if any, should presidential speech have in court, if that speech is plausibly related to the subject matter of a pending case? Curiously, neither judges nor scholars have grappled with that question in any sustained way, though citations to presidential speech appear with some frequency in judicial opinions. Some of the time, these citations are no more than passing references. Other times, presidential statements play a significant role in judicial assessments of the meaning, lawfulness, or constitutionality of either legislation or executive action. This Article is the first systematic examination of presidential speech in the courts. Drawing on a number of cases in both the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts, I first identify the primary modes of judicial reliance on presidential speech. I next ask what light the law of evidence, principles of deference, and internal executive branch dynamics can shed on judicial treatment of presidential speech.
    [Show full text]
  • L E S B I a N / G
    LESBIAN/GAY L AW JanuaryN 2012 O T E S 03 11th Circuit 10 Maine Supreme 17 New Jersey Transgender Ruling Judicial Court Superior Court Equal Protection Workplace Gestational Discrimination Surrogacy 05 Obama Administration 11 Florida Court 20 California Court Global LGBT Rights of Appeals of Appeal Parental Rights Non-Adoptive 06 11th Circuit First Same-Sex Co-Parents Amendment Ruling 14 California Anti-Gay Appellate Court 21 Texas U.S. Distict Counseling Non-Consensual Court Ruling Oral Copulation High School 09 6th Circuit “Outing” Case Lawrence- 16 Connecticut Based Challenge Appellate Ruling Incest Conviction Loss of Consortium © Lesbian/Gay Law Notes & the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes Podcast are Publications of the LeGaL Foundation. LESBIAN/GAY DEPARTMENTS 22 Federal Civil Litigation Notes L AW N O T E S 25 Federal Criminal Litigation Editor-in-Chief Notes Prof. Arthur S. Leonard New York Law School 25 State Criminal Litigation 185 W. Broadway Notes New York, NY 10013 (212) 431-2156 | [email protected] 26 State Civil Litigation Notes Contributors 28 Legislative Notes Bryan Johnson, Esq. Brad Snyder, Esq. 30 Law & Society Notes Stephen E. Woods, Esq. Eric Wursthorn, Esq. 33 International Notes New York, NY 36 HIV/AIDS Legal & Policy Kelly Garner Notes NYLS ‘12 37 Publications Noted Art Director Bacilio Mendez II, MLIS Law Notes welcomes contributions. To ex- NYLS ‘14 plore the possibility of being a contributor please contact [email protected]. Circulation Rate Inquiries LeGaL Foundation 799 Broadway Suite 340 New York, NY 10003 THIS MONTHLY PUBLICATION IS EDITED AND (212) 353-9118 | [email protected] CHIEFLY WRIttEN BY PROFESSOR ARTHUR LEONARD OF NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL, Law Notes Archive WITH A STAFF OF VOLUNTEER WRITERS http://www.nyls.edu/jac CONSISTING OF LAWYERS, LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES, AND CURRENT LAW STUDENTS.
    [Show full text]
  • General Info.Indd
    General Information • Landmarks Beyond the obvious crowd-pleasers, New York City landmarks Guggenheim (Map 17) is one of New York’s most unique are super-subjective. One person’s favorite cobblestoned and distinctive buildings (apparently there’s some art alley is some developer’s idea of prime real estate. Bits of old inside, too). The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Map New York disappear to differing amounts of fanfare and 18) has a very medieval vibe and is the world’s largest make room for whatever it is we’ll be romanticizing in the unfinished cathedral—a much cooler destination than the future. Ain’t that the circle of life? The landmarks discussed eternally crowded St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Map 12). are highly idiosyncratic choices, and this list is by no means complete or even logical, but we’ve included an array of places, from world famous to little known, all worth visiting. Great Public Buildings Once upon a time, the city felt that public buildings should inspire civic pride through great architecture. Coolest Skyscrapers Head downtown to view City Hall (Map 3) (1812), Most visitors to New York go to the top of the Empire State Tweed Courthouse (Map 3) (1881), Jefferson Market Building (Map 9), but it’s far more familiar to New Yorkers Courthouse (Map 5) (1877—now a library), the Municipal from afar—as a directional guide, or as a tip-off to obscure Building (Map 3) (1914), and a host of other court- holidays (orange & white means it’s time to celebrate houses built in the early 20th century.
    [Show full text]
  • Gay Marriage Party Ends For
    'At Last* On her way to Houston, pop diva Cyndi Lauper has a lot to say. Page 15 voicewww.houstonvoice.com APRIL 23, 2004 THIRTY YEARS OF NEWS FOR YOUR LIFE. AND YOUR STYLE. Gay political kingmaker set to leave Houston Martin's success as a consultant evident in city and state politics By CHRISTOPHER CURTIS Curtis Kiefer and partner Walter Frankel speak with reporters after a Houston’s gay and lesbian com­ circuit court judge heard arguments last week in a lawsuit filed by gay munity loses a powerful friend and couples and the ACLU charging that banning same-sex marriages is a ally on May 3, when Grant Martin, violation of the Oregon state Constitution. (Photo by Rick Bowmer/AP) who has managed the campaigns of Controller Annise Parker, Council member Ada Edwards, Texas Rep. Garnet Coleman and Sue Lovell, is moving to San Francisco. Back in 1996 it seemed the other Gay marriage way around: Martin had moved to Houston from San Francisco after ending a five-year relationship. Sue Lovell, the former President party ends of the Houston Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus (PAC), remembers first hearing of Martin through her friend, Roberta Achtenberg, the for­ mer Clinton secretary of Fair for now Housing and Equal Opportunity. “She called me and told me I have a dear friend who is moving back to Ore. judge shuts down weddings, Houston and I want you to take Political consultant Grant Martin, the man behind the campaigns of Controller Annise Parker, good care of him.” but orders licenses recognized Council member Ada Edwards, Texas Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • Read the March for Life's Background Paper on the History of Planned
    Planned Parenthood Under Fire The nation’s largest abortion provider faces its worst crisis ever By Jeanne Mancini Summary: Whatever your view of abortion, it’s hard not to be appalled by the recent undercover videos of Planned Parenthood personnel casually discussing how they can profi t from the body parts it “harvests.” The powerful, politically connected nonprofi t enjoys massive government subsidies, as well as invaluable aid from the mainstream media who help it pretend to be what it is not: a broad-spectrum provider of healthcare. Now it faces efforts to end taxpayer subsidies for its lucrative business. n July 14, 2015, a small nonprofi t organization, the Center for Medical OProgress (CMP), released a video that marked the beginning of a tidal wave of Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards public opposition to the nation’s largest abor- tion provider, Planned Parenthood Federation livers, and brains are being obtained? Is of America. The video was part of a much Planned Parenthood unlawfully altering October 2015 bigger, broader three-year undercover “sting” abortion procedures to obtain intact baby parts or whole babies? Is Planned Parenthood project detailing a horrifi c reality: Planned CONTENTS Parenthood harvests and sells baby hearts, performing illegal partial-birth abortions to lungs, livers, and brains. At press time, 10 facilitate obtaining those organs? such videos had been released by CMP with Planned Parenthood Under Fire more expected in the weeks ahead. The CMP videos also focus public attention on Planned Parenthood as a government- Page 1 The footage raises a number of critical legal subsidized agency and provide an insightful questions.
    [Show full text]
  • National News in ‘09: Obama, Marriage & More Angie It Was a Year of Setbacks and Progress
    THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Dec. 30, 2009 • vol 25 no 13 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Joe.My.God page 4 LGBT Films of 2009 page 16 A variety of events and people shook up the local and national LGBT landscapes in 2009, including (clockwise from top) the National Equality March, President Barack Obama, a national kiss-in (including one in Chicago’s Grant Park), Scarlet’s comeback, a tribute to murder victim Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado and Carrie Prejean. Kiss-in photo by Tracy Baim; Mercado photo by Hal Baim; and Prejean photo by Rex Wockner National news in ‘09: Obama, marriage & more Angie It was a year of setbacks and progress. (Look at Joining in: Openly lesbian law professor Ali- form for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of page 17 the issue of marriage equality alone, with deni- son J. Nathan was appointed as one of 14 at- 2009—failed to include gays and lesbians. Stone als in California, New York and Maine, but ad- torneys to serve as counsel to President Obama Out of Focus: Conservative evangelical leader vances in Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont.) in the White House. Over the year, Obama would James Dobson resigned as chairman of anti-gay Here is the list of national LGBT highlights and appoint dozens of gay and lesbian individuals to organization Focus on the Family. Dobson con- lowlights for 2009: various positions in his administration, includ- tinues to host the organization’s radio program, Making history: Barack Obama was sworn in ing Jeffrey Crowley, who heads the White House write a monthly newsletter and speak out on as the United States’ 44th president, becom- Office of National AIDS Policy, and John Berry, moral issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Houston LGBT History
    houston voice 2006 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertamment LLC.AllRight~Reserved. Twentieth Century Fox,n Fox,' and their associated logos are the orooerty 01 Twentieth Century fox Film Corporation. rw Visit Us Online At WWW.HOUSTONVOICB.COM For Your Chance To Win A DVD Of "The Devil Wears Prada" M o s c o n Hermann Par k www.houstonvoice.com • HOUSTON VOICE 3 December 2006 Serving gay and lesbian Houston since 1974. online: www.houstonvoice.com Iwith reol-time updotesl President Peter Polimino Publisher Ed Alvorez VP fv\arketing William Kapfer Director, Online Operations Kevin L. Smith Classified Advertising PH 713-529-8490 I FAX 713-529-9531 Administrative Assistant Joson Sierro Online Editor Steve Koval M Director Rob Boeger Production fv\anager Eric Goines Graphic Designers Lisa Henderson, Jason Lavinder, Loren Contreras Webmasters Aram Vortian Steve Ryan National Ad Representative Rivendell iVledia PH 212-242-6863 Display Ad Deadlines COVER: HOLIDAY BLUES Placement by Tuesday, 5pm. Camera Ready Artwork by Thursday, Noon. Classified Ad Deadlines LOCAL LIFE 8 Placement by Monday, 5pm. Text Ads, Tuesday, 5pm. Camera Ready, Wednesday, Noon. Fighting depression 12 Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists, and fecture writers, or other contributors are not necessorily the opnions of Houston Voice or its stoK. All odverfisements, pictures, text and illustrations, DINING 17 ore published with the understanding thot the advertisers ore fully authorized and hove secured proper wriffen consent for use there- of. Houston Voice shall not be held responsible for any errors, loss FILM 20 or expense, or liabilities, on advertisements accepted olter the weekly deadline.
    [Show full text]
  • Transgender Equality
    THE REPORT OF THE About the National Center for Transgender Equality The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is the nation’s leading social justice policy advocacy organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people. NCTE was founded in 2003 by transgender activists who recognized the urgent need for policy change to advance transgender equality. NCTE now has an extensive record winning life-saving changes for transgender people. NCTE works by educating the public and by influencing local, state, and federal policymakers to change policies and laws to improve the lives of transgender people. By empowering transgender people and our allies, NCTE creates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation’s capital and around the country. © 2016 The National Center for Transgender Equality. We encourage and grant permission for the reproduction and distribution of this publication in whole or in part, provided that it is done with attribution to the National Center for Transgender Equality. Further written permission is not required. RECOMMENDED CITATION James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016).The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey by: Sandy E. James Jody L. Herman Susan Rankin Mara Keisling Lisa Mottet Ma’ayan Anafi December 2016 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality
    UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center A Division of UCLA Student Affairs Geno Mehalik, Outreach Manager [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UCLA’s Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center Named “Leader” in HRC Healthcare Equality Index for Third Year The Ashe Center joins only 418 healthcare providers nationwide to earn the “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation UC LOS ANGELES, CA –Apr. 2, 2018 – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, just released the 11th edition of its annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), recognizing The UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center as a “Leader” in its efforts to serve the UCLA student community for yet another year. The Ashe Center, a division of UCLA Student Affairs devoted to providing quality, accessible, state-of-the-art healthcare and education to support the unique development of UCLA students, received a similar commendation from HRC last year (“Top Performer”). In 2018, however, The Ashe Center rose to the level of “Leader,” improving on its commitment to inclusive healthcare practices, and expanding on its efforts to meet the needs of all LGBTQ UCLA students. This honor is given to facilities that meet LGBT-inclusive benchmarks that are part of the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index, a unique survey that encourages equal care for LGBT Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBT patients, visitors and employees. The Ashe Center earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients, and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve.
    [Show full text]
  • July 25, 2014 President Barack Obama the White House 1600
    July 25, 2014 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We write to encourage robust civil society participation in the upcoming U.S.- Africa Leaders Summit, and in keeping with the theme of the Summit, “Investing in the Next Generation,” we urge particular attention to the rights and opportunities of the next generation of Africans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Unfortunately, across much of the African continent today, the contributions of LGBT communities are denied or denigrated; their relationships and organizations are criminalized; and hostile political rhetoric seeks to deny their rightful place in African society. In the face of this repression, civil society leaders are standing up and demanding full citizenship. These brave voices are demanding a better future for all citizens of Africa, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and the Summit provides an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their investments in human dignity. Given how some African governments deny the rights of their LGBT citizens, and the unique role that civil society plays in defending those rights, we urge you to include civil society voices in the official meeting of African leaders during the Summit. We welcome the opportunity for civil society to convene at a forum two days before the leadership meeting, but that forum is not an adequate substitute for civil society participation in the high-level dialogue with heads of state. Recognizing the need for candid discussion at the leadership meeting, we nonetheless believe that civil society participation could be structured to stimulate dialogue without necessarily limiting honest diplomatic exchange.
    [Show full text]
  • Survival. Activism. Feminism?: Exploring the Lives of Trans* Individuals in Chicago
    SURVIVAL. ACTIVISM. FEMINISM? Survival. Activism. Feminism?: Exploring the Lives of Trans* Individuals in Chicago Some radical lesbian feminists, like Sheila Jeffreys (1997, 2003, 2014) argue that trans individuals are destroying feminism by succumbing to the greater forces of the patriarchy and by opting for surgery, thus conforming to normative ideas of sex and gender. Jeffreys is not alone in her views. Janice Raymond (1994, 2015) also maintains that trans individuals work either as male-to-females (MTFs) to uphold stereotypes of femininity and womanhood, or as female-to-males (FTMs) to join the ranks of the oppressors, support the patriarchy, and embrace hegemonic masculinity. Both Jeffreys and Raymond conclude that sex/gender is fixed by genitals at birth and thus deny trans individuals their right to move beyond the identities that they were assigned at birth. Ironically, a paradox is created by these radical lesbians feminist theorists, who deny trans individuals the right to define their own lives and control their own bodies. Such essentialist discourse, however, fails to recognize the oppression, persecution, and violence to which trans individuals are subjected because they do not conform to the sex that they were assigned at birth. Jeffreys (1997) also claims there is an emergency and that the human rights of those who are now identifying as trans are being violated. These critiques are not only troubling to me, as a self-identified lesbian feminist, but are also illogical and transphobic. My research, with trans identified individuals in Chicago, presents a different story and will show another side of the complex relationship between trans and lesbian feminist communities.
    [Show full text]