Chains and Fences

Writing in Jezebel, Anna North details the demeaning and humiliating treatment trans people have endured courtesy of the NYPD, and how unmotivated the police are to change their behavior:

Attorney Andrea Ritchie, one of the main attorneys working to get the NYPD to change its policy, confirmed Stapel’s statement — she said the NYPD was willing to have “conversations” about the treatment of trans detainees, but haven’t yet followed those up with actual change. She also confirmed that Breslauer, Adkins, and Combs (the last of whom she represents) were part of a pattern: NYPD officers frequently chain trans detainees up instead of putting them in cells. Also part of the pattern: unnecessary strip-searching, groping, and false arrests.

In NYPD Custody, Trans People Get Chained to Fences and Poles

Very disheartening, but lawsuits may force some much-needed change soon.

Five hours

Andrew Silapaswan, writing in the Huffingon Post, talks about doctors and GLBTQ patients:

“My experience is not unique, as many others in the LGBT community face similar challenges. In a 2005 survey 22 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients reported having experienced some form of discrimination in a health care setting. So why are so many health care providers ill-equipped to handle the health care needs of LGBT people? …One of the most comprehensive studies examining the incorporation of LGBT content in medical education was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The report indicated that the median time dedicated to teaching LGBT-related content was five hours (during the entire four years of medical education) in the 132 U.S. and Canadian medical schools that were surveyed. Additionally, nine schools reported zero hours taught during the preclinical years, and 44 schools reported zero hours of clinical training.”

Five hours. Or zero hours.

Meanwhile, Silapaswan notes,  AIDS continues to grow among the male-to-male population, and lesbian and bisexual women have higher rates of breast cancer than heterosexual women.

 

 

 

Jacob Rogers, an openly gay teen in Ashland City, TN, killed himself with a gun just before the holidays.  His maternal grandmother and I share the same name, which is how his story ended up in my inbox.

“He wrote about family in the notes he left behind before his death, but there was no mention of bullying, authorities said. However, a friend told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/vYstEU ) that Rogers was an almost daily target for name-calling at Cheatham County Central High School.’It was like every day, every class,’ said 18-year-old Kaelynn Mooningham.”

She also said that “Rogers didn’t hide who he was. He wore tight-fitting clothes and shared outfits with girlfriends. He obsessed over Lady Gaga, dressing up as the pop star, making sketches of her and listening over and over to her gay anthem, ‘Born This Way.’”

Jacob had many difficulties, and his death has prompted a lot of debate in his school and community.  RIP, Jacob.  I wish the world had been a better place for you.

Ali Forney Center

ABC News reports on recent studies that indicate there are more than 1.6 million homeless teens in America, and 20-40 percent of them identify as LGBTQ:

In one study, 26 percent of teens who came out to their parents were told they must leave home. Others said they were physically, sexually or emotionally abused. The task force added that LGBT youth also reported that they are threatened, belittled and abused at shelters, not only by other residents, but by staff, as well.

The report highlights the Ali Forney Center in NYC and its Homeless for the Holidays  campaign.

Please consider donating to this worthy, worthy cause.

 

Today’s march for transgender victims

Today in West Hollywood is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, with a march from Plummer Park to Matthew Sheppard Triangle.   There’s been recent violence against transgender people in this area and it’s a good day to come day together in support of living together in harmony and condoning prejudice.  You can read more about the parade in today’s LA Times and at GLAAD.

Gay retirement homes fall on hard times

From the New York Times, Hard Times in Gay Retirement Communities:

Many are growing older without the support of children or extended family members. Gay and lesbian seniors are twice as likely to live alone, according to SAGE. A 2010 report by the group also found that nursing homes often failed to protect gay men and lesbians from hostile treatment by staff or other patients. In a study released in April by the National Senior Citizens Law Center, many older gay men and lesbians and their family members reported instances of mistreatment at long-term care centers. The study also noted that social service providers said it was unsafe for residents to be openly gay at such facilities.

Momentum builds in waves

Zach Quinto, perhaps best known as Spock in the reboot of Star Trek, spoke out last week and acknowledged being gay:

“This decision was made with a tremendous amount of thought and introspection — in my own time, on my own terms and with my own words. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the scores of men and women who have preceded me to this action — both within the industry and in more intimate personal journeys throughout the world. Momentum builds in waves — and I am so grateful to be riding this wave of equality with more openness and integrity than I was ever able to embrace before making this declaration.”

The Alliance School

This Milwaukee school has become a safe haven for LGBTQ youth — very inspiring!  The article refers to the Larry King murder in perhaps too simplistic a way, but I like what the Alliance School is doing.

“To critics who argue that schools like Alliance are indoctrinating students with the gay agenda, Eliza responded, “This is about letting students go to school and be safe.”

The Alliance School

 

 

 

New York Fire Departments first trans firefighter

I write firefighter stories (sometimes) and trans stories (sometimes) but never a trans firefighter. Here’s real life being better than fiction – a third generation New York firefighter who transitioned m-to-f.  Here’s to Brooke and wishing her the best in a very tough environment.

New York City transgender firefighter

Faces of Ask and Tell

Here’s a great little slideshow of military members who are now free to come out of the closet.  Faces of Americans serving their country who don’t have to hide their orientation – very nice.

http://www.slate.com/slideshow/politics/gay-service-members-come-out-of-the-closet/#slide_2