The Fight For Justice Continues With the Murder Trial of Lateisha Green

Update: July 17th - A jury convicted Dwight DeLee of manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime!!!! WooT!! Of course, the caveat is that it was manslaughter and NOT 1st degree murder. Witnesses had been intimidated against testifying (WTF) and Teisha's brother had also been injured when this miscreant murdered her. So this is a case of a step to the side versus a definitive step forward. Progress for black trans women is slow but it will happen!!!

So while I will be continuing the discussion about the disordered thinking within the non-existent "black community" I'm stepping aside to get back to some other business of the day. Sonia Sotomayor's SCOTUS Confirmation hearings are a joke, but not funny. The white male privilege in place really makes me want to throttle some of them and wipe the smirks off their faces. I still think Kimberlie Crenshaw should have been nominated first. 

It would seem our dear President has been advised he needed to make some type of gesture to black women because he nominated Regina Benjamin to the Surgeon General post. Many people are pleased not only because of her work, but because she's a Delta. Now since one of the black male fraternities extended a membership to former President Bill Clinton will he think he's got black cred again? Let's hope not.

Moving on there's something more serious to mention. Today was the first day of the murder trial of trans woman Lateisha Green being held in Syracuse, New York. Her life was lived in the open which put her at great risk. Currently the Federal Hate Crimes legislation does NOT include gender identity and that needs to change. Here's to the hope the murderer gets a long prison sentence and the message gets sent that if you murder a transgender person you will be prosecuted and put away.

Photo gallery Press Conference Day One of Trial Transgender Legal Defense with the Green family. It's nice to know they fully supported her transition which also dispels the myth of blacks being less tolerant than other groups.

I can't help but think of a case that horrified many of us last year regarding Memphis resident Duanna Johnson. Duanna was taken into custody ostensibly on a prostitution charge that was never filed. She had to be released but not before she was humiliated, cursed at with racial ephitets and physically assaulted by police officers. Thanks to the taped footage of the beating both officers were fired. Yet shortly thereafter Duanna was found murdered. You connect the dots. 

So when the corporate media fails again to cover stories of importance that's where we bloggers come in. Nice to see GLAAD on top of things as well. There's a history of gays and lesbians working against transgender rights believe it or not! Hooray for citizen journalism and the stomach to write about these things. It's not easy to discuss but again, the things that make us squirm are the conversations we need to be having. It might save someone's life. 

There's a Facebook page "Justice for Teish" you can join as well.

Matthew Shepard's Mom Responds to Foxx's Homophobia

Judy Shepard was interviewed by Rachel Maddow a few nights ago. In her response to North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx (who got my Award of Shame last week) Mrs. Shepard said Foxx trying to distance herself from her earlier claims of Matthew's murder being a "hoax" was an argument of semantics not a renunciation of her ignorance. 

"Well, you know, attacks of lesser consequence, I guess, have been said about Matt since the beginning, and in 2007 when it passed the House, the same sort of vitriol' was spoken from the floor as well. I did not ever expect it to be called a hoax. Anyone who has done research into what happened to Matt knows it was a hate crime, although technically we couldn't prosecute it that way because there was no hate crime law in Wyoming and no Federal hate crime law protecting sexual orientation. So we couldn't call it a hate crime, but it was."

Exactly! If we don't speak out against such atrocities we are silently co-signing them. That acceptance leads others to add to the depravity  - until it starts to look like the normative circumstance instead of evil that needs to be stamped out. Here was a situation where white (male) privilege and class status did not protect someone. That makes it all the more perilous for the rest of us. So this is for all the Duanna Johnsons and the justice that has still been denied most (trans)women of color. 

P.S. Can we please end the "That's So Gay" and "No Homo" stupidity now!?

Prop 8 & New Jersey 4 & Other Misdeeds: Where Race, Class & Gender Collide

Later on today the oral arguments will be heard in the California Supreme Court pro and con regarding the passage of Proposition 8. The judges will have 90-days to render a verdict. If the ruling strikes down the Proposition, the California Constitution will forever alter the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman and the same-gender marriages performed will be left intact. If it's struck down those marriages get invalidated and all hell will break loose!

These are the three questions being covered in three hours. 

Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution?

Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution?

If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8?

We could discuss the meaning of marriage where women were/still are chattel and the "love" concept is a special privilege open to wild interpretation - and poor execution. What can't seriously be denied is that we live in patriarchal society where marriage was/still is a contract that can elevate one's financial/social status but it's definitely meant to maintain it at the very least. Marrying "down" is a big no-no because it could plunge a woman and her future children into poverty and a life of hardship. Yes, this is a decidedly hetero-leaning evaluation but often a "marriage" is an exercise of survival for an entire family.

When looking at it from that perspective the way the laws are set up everything from tax breaks to custody can be greatly enhanced by conforming to what's the accepted standard. The question now is what will that standard be? Personally, I think everyone should have all of the legal benefits of what's commonly viewed as marriage but separate the religious baggage attached to it. Even atheists marry after all. People who wish to add that can take that up within their individual faith practices. Which could be a whole other battle but I say go where you're wanted and don't put your money into people and institutions that don't value you - all of you. I somehow suspect that if the money dried up a bunch of "religions" would suddenly find new meaning in their religious dogmas that would favor the departed. 

After watching numerous news reports, reading articles in newspapers and blog posts I still feel conflicted about the whole thing and it's been four months. I've written posts about my thoughts why No On 8 would fail, the ruling and its aftermath in my November 2008 archives. I still feel that the people most gung-ho for Prop 8 are middle class white men with some white women sprinkled in there. Funny enough so is the opposition. Of course the focus of ire was reserved for Blacks even though Asians and Latinos also voted in opposition of it at a greater rate. Blacks only make up 6% of the state and since we (over)populate the Prison Industrial Complex (to the point where the state spends more on prisons than education) you can bet a large percentage didn't even vote at all. 

We're gonna beat that dead horse some more because Blacks were universally blamed from Dan Savage to Andrew Sullivan, curiously enough white...gay...men who retreated with little (Sullivan) or absolutely no (Savage) apology. It irks me to this day!! Marriage equality (as it's poorly termed) doesn't begin to address the complexities involved with this, but let me tell you all something. Equating it with Civil Rights will eliminate many would-be allies each and every time. Marriage can never be equal in a patriarchal society (where a woman is property) but I suppose that's a nuance too subtle for most of the (white) men to get!

For some white gay men it's their only issue of contention and once satisfied they'd return to their self-absorption (white male privilege) without a thought to anyone else's suffering in the world at large. I've barely seen any non-whites involved - and that's not to say that there aren't many who support marriage rights - they'd certainly benefit from it. I was following Jasmyne Cannick's writings during this time (in November) and she took an unpopular stance (for some) by stating it wasn't the biggest priority for her and how the Gay Rights Industrial Complex (my terminology) of mostly white men had hijacked the narrative while refusing to build key relationships with Blacks and other people of color. Just like Eric Holder calling out people's cowardice for ignoring race issues, white people just don't want to hear it. It's uncomfortable and it disrupts privilege. Too bad!

That relationship is further fractured with the implementation of the ridiculous "Gay Is the New Black" meme being used without remorse AND after numerous people let it be known how inappropriate it was. My position has always been to wonder why the Black LGBT "community" allowed this narrative to take hold without protest? Blacks have always been uniquely involved in securing equality - our very lives depended on it. From Crispus Attucks, to Toussaint L'Overture, to the pre-Stonewall activities, to Bayard Rustin, to Barbara Jordan and beyond we've always been down for the cause. 

So now it's okay that everyone else gets to reap the benefits while ignoring our historic contributions? Not on my watch!! We can argue about how gay rights, like feminism will always show cracks along the fault lines of race, ethnicity, gender and class constructs but....so what! White people shouldn't always have to be reminded of how we built this country with our blood, sweat and tears when most of us where brought here by force. The ignorance is very grating and unacceptable.

I don't recall any national protests, major news reports, Olberman or Maddow-style "special segments" or candle light vigils being held for the Black women sent to prison and separated from their families and children for defending their very lives. Where were the local LGBT chapters offering help from them being attacked in the press during the farce of a trial? If you asked the average person they'd probably know about Prop 8 but would have no idea what a "New Jersey 4" is. In case you dear reader are unfamiliar with this case, 4 young women were defending themselves from being raped in 2007 by a man who thought he could make a lesbian straight and a fight broke out. 

The prosecutors apparently didn't believe a Black woman had the right to refuse sex from some jerk on the street while the judge had utter contempt for the women during their trial and sentenced them to terms harsher than men get for killing their wives. If this sounds familiar to a gay bashing or what happened to Brandon Teena it's because it is. Except for the race part - so I guess all bets were off. By the way when you do a search on Google it doesn't even pop up automatically. Why is that? When the LGBT issue is fought from the body of a Black woman there is nobody there for her. 

Even moreso when that she is a transwoman. We all know how the GRIC fails miserably at setting an appropriate agenda and offering the same amount of support for trangendered issues as gay issues. Violence is prevalent and often directed at Black women (and other WOC) in a much higher proportion considering population size. From the violence in mostly Black residential areas to hate crimes, Black women are under assault constantly. Didn't we just hear about a 15 year old who was beaten by two racist cops while in custody? Just look at the life - and death - of Duanna Johnson or all of those whose names fill the pages for the Day of Remembrance. It is not a coincidence and it is not right!  

Yes, there has been some attention - mostly from female bloggers of color -  but it's like a drop in the bucket when all the "leaders" are white and all they care about is "marriage" as the single most important agenda and the media hasn't covered anything else with the same intensity. So if all LGBTs had the right to marry tomorrow how is that going to improve the lives of those women from behind bars or bring back those who didn't survive their attacks? As for me since I consider my time precious and the No on 8 leaders thought they had it in the bag I'd suggest we spend our time actually helping those that need it and would appreciate it. I haven't seen or heard from them since November trying to do anything to rebuild what they tore down. 

Let's focus on what's most important. Tell Essence magazine to get off their "Black Love" nonsense and save some Black women.  Remind the NAACP their purpose is to help all Blacks not just Black men who've been hurt by white cops. Call up GLAAD and the HRC to get off their high horse. Let's not forget the names of the New Jersey 4 and their ages at the time of their attack and subsequent arrest:

• Venice Brown (19)
  
• Terrain Dandridge (20)
  
• Patreese Johnson (20)
  
• Renata Hill (24)

When are MILLIONS of people going to demand they get justice? 

For the latest information check out:

Free the New Jersey 4

Justice 4 the new Jersey 4

Transphobia, Prop 8 and Racism = Same Thing

For all the continued brouhaha over the failure of the No on 8 campaign I am curious how many of the protesters bothered to pay attention to other ballot measures that have an equal or greater impact on the LGBTQI community. I also wonder if the court challenges are successful and Yes on 8 gets shot down will the Gay Rights Industrial Complex pat itself on the back for a good job and ignore all the lack of involvement with communities they're still trying to blame?

There's this great open letter written by Adele Carpenter, a fellow SF resident who asks why was there a lack of support of Propositions that would have made life a little easier for a lot of people and potentially saved some as well. She also mentions how the State of CA incarcerates a high percentage of some of its citizens. I've not seen a larger discussion about how that's tied to Prop 8 by many others. This is also why I am supporting Kamala Harris' run for Attorney General. Read Ms. Carpenter's letter here.

What were some of those Propositions?

Prop K: To decriminalize prostitution. Yeah I know that's a yucky topic for many but since we know it's the 'oldest profession' why not make it legal and safe for those that do it? Also SF is a big market for human trafficking and we'd actually prevent people from abusing children.

Prop B: Affordable Housing initiative. We know how ridiculous rents are here. Enough said.

Prop 5 & 6: More treatment, less jail and an increase in crime prevention programs. List of other results are here.

LGBTQI is a long acronym and usually the Q(ueer) and the I(ntersex and Questioning) are meant to be encompassed in the first four but they're not really. I know a Queer woman who I thought was a lesbian because she was dating a woman but as it turns out she likes men as well - though she's not bisexual. I don't need to understand to be supportive. Our identities are mutable and should be our own choice.

L = Lesbian

Probably the only time the "Gay" community will put a woman first.

G = Gay

Lots of straight people still think it's men in short shorts making out at clubs.

B = Bisexual

There's still some resentment and questioning whether you can truly be bi and not just being greedy choosing between genders.

T = Transgender

It's one thing to like and love someone the same gender, what do you do when you think you're the wrong gender?

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. From Gay/Straight Alliance Network site:

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is held in November each year to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender, each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people. The list of deaths available at Remembering Our Dead only contains those deaths known to the transgender community or that have been reported to the media. The Day of Remembrance is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

I wanted to write about the life and death Duanna Johnson, a beautiful ebony woman who's life was taken less than one week ago. She was a transgender woman from Memphis who was arrested on a prostitution charge (it was later dropped). She suffered a vicious beating by the police back in February while being held and objected to being called he/she (and probably ni**er) by them. Thank goodness the officers involved were fired, and there's a lawsuit pending. One of the reasons this tape came to light was the officer filed a complaint that he wasn't getting help in beating Duanna! I hope the killer(s) will be brought to justice.

So this is why I think the Gay Rights Industrial Complex is intentionally being short-sighted by focusing solely on marriage equality as the issue of importance. This does nothing to address the lives of working class people or those whose work is not met with societal approval. This does not address the inequality of our lives and the specific danger transpeople of color face. I hope that singular agenda will be reassessed and the ignored people and their 'less important' needs will be given their "props". I'm not counting on it though.