Well, here's an diary that's definitely saved as a more personal type of weekend diary!
I have only a very few folk following me on twitter -- perhaps a few dozen. I occasionally get folk following me that peak my interest as individuals -- folk whose careers or lives I follow on some level in the real world.
A new twitter follower for me is Allyson Robinson. Allyson has that incredibly tough job of being the first and only trans woman who works at the HRC.
From what I can see from the outside looking in, she's doing pretty okay in the job so far. To this point anyway, she's personally missed stepping on most of the potential landmines.
But, when ENDA heats up as an issue again, it'll be quite interesting to see if the current position of the HRC -- one of supporting versions of ENDA that don't include protections for gender identity and expression -- changes to be one of only supporting an ENDA that includes sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. And, in relation to Allyson, it will be interesting to see what she does or doesn't say publicly about the HRC's position on ENDA this coming year, especially if it personally leaves her and her trans community members out of the federal, employment nondiscrimination equation.
An a slightly different subject regarding Allyson, she has the blog Crossing The T; Life at the intersection of Church and Trans with Rev. Allyson Robinson. She's a really interesting writer on the intersection of faith and transgender people. As a former contributor to the Ex-Gay Watch, who once wrote a piece entitled Can One Be A Transgender Christian?, her writings on that intersection of faith and transgender people really peaks my interest in a very positive way. And, that she shares with me a taste for wonderfully unusual looking prescription glasses -- well how kewl is that! That's certainly worth sharing an espresso based beverage over! * A Task Force media release: New transgender education resource for churches from the Institute for Welcoming Resources * TransFM: Interview with Allyson Robinson (interview by Ethan St. Pierre)
~~~~~
Further reading/listening:
(for their website Institute for Welcoming Resources's Transgender Curriculum For Churches and Religious Institutions)
One of my hopes for the mythical "first 100 days" of the Obama Administration has been the realized. Yesterday, the US joined the contingent of nations (mostly in Europe and South America) took the floor in support for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.
This from the UN Dispatch:
Well, that was then. This is now: At the so-called "Durban Review Conference" on racism and xenophonia underway in Geneva, Europe again put forward language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.” According to UN Watch, "The Czech Republic on behalf of the E.U., with the support of New Zealand, the United States, Colombia, Chili on behalf of the South American states, the Netherlands, Argentina and a few others, took the floor in support." (emphasis mine).
The efforts to include language on discrimination based on sexual orientation ended up failing for lack of support from non-western countries. Still, it's relieving to see that the United States is now back on the side of the enlightened on this issue of basic human rights.
http://www.undispatch.com/node/7729
The Bush Administration cited issues involving "states rights on issues like gay marriage" as a primary reason for not signing on to the UN declaration in December. Never mind that the U.s. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision Lawrence v. Texas (2003) effectively decriminalized homosexuality as a matter of law.
In spite of the Obama Administration's support, the majority of the U.N.'s Durbin II Conference on Racism defeated the resolution, largely a coalition of Asian and African countries (ironically, the Africa contingent was led by South Africa). The measure was also opposed by China and Russia.
Additionally, efforts to include subheadings regarding anti-Semitism and Islamophobia were also defeated.
While the measure went down to defeat and is largely symbolic, it's nice to see that the Obama Administration is at least beginning to reverse the disturbing trend of embracing homophobia that began during his campaign for the Presidency. Still, Obama must go further. and fight tougher, more substantive battles for gay civil rights. But this does mean something.
http://www.unwatch.org/atf/cf/%7B6deb65da-be5b-4cae-8056-8bf0bedf4d17%7D/DURBAN%20DRAFT%201-28.PDF
Well, here's an diary that's definitely saved as a more personal type of weekend diary!
I have only a very few folk following me on twitter -- perhaps a few dozen. I occasionally get folk following me that peak my interest as individuals -- folk whose careers or lives I follow on some level in the real world.
A new twitter follower for me is Allyson Robinson. Allyson has that incredibly tough job of being the first and only trans woman who works at the HRC.
From what I can see from the outside looking in, she's doing pretty okay in the job so far. To this point anyway, she's personally missed stepping on most of the potential landmines.
But, when ENDA heats up as an issue again, it'll be quite interesting to see if the current position of the HRC -- one of supporting versions of ENDA that don't include protections for gender identity and expression -- changes to be one of only supporting an ENDA that includes sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. And, in relation to Allyson, it will be interesting to see what she does or doesn't say publicly about the HRC's position on ENDA this coming year, especially if it personally leaves her and her trans community members out of the federal, employment nondiscrimination equation.
An a slightly different subject regarding Allyson, she has the blog Crossing The T; Life at the intersection of Church and Trans with Rev. Allyson Robinson. She's a really interesting writer on the intersection of faith and transgender people. As a former contributor to the Ex-Gay Watch, who once wrote a piece entitled Can One Be A Transgender Christian?, her writings on that intersection of faith and transgender people really peaks my interest in a very positive way.
And, that she shares with me a taste for wonderfully unusual looking prescription glasses -- well how kewl is that! That's certainly worth sharing an espresso based beverage over!
* A Task Force media release: New transgender education resource for churches from the Institute for Welcoming Resources
* TransFM: Interview with Allyson Robinson (interview by Ethan St. Pierre)
~~~~~
Further reading/listening:
(for their website Institute for Welcoming Resources's Transgender Curriculum For Churches and Religious Institutions)
One of my hopes for the mythical "first 100 days" of the Obama Administration has been the realized. Yesterday, the US joined the contingent of nations (mostly in Europe and South America) took the floor in support for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.
This from the UN Dispatch:
Well, that was then. This is now: At the so-called "Durban Review Conference" on racism and xenophonia underway in Geneva, Europe again put forward language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.” According to UN Watch, "The Czech Republic on behalf of the E.U., with the support of New Zealand, the United States, Colombia, Chili on behalf of the South American states, the Netherlands, Argentina and a few others, took the floor in support." (emphasis mine).
The efforts to include language on discrimination based on sexual orientation ended up failing for lack of support from non-western countries. Still, it's relieving to see that the United States is now back on the side of the enlightened on this issue of basic human rights.
http://www.undispatch.com/node/7729
The Bush Administration cited issues involving "states rights on issues like gay marriage" as a primary reason for not signing on to the UN declaration in December. Never mind that the U.s. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision Lawrence v. Texas (2003) effectively decriminalized homosexuality as a matter of law.
In spite of the Obama Administration's support, the majority of the U.N.'s Durbin II Conference on Racism defeated the resolution, largely a coalition of Asian and African countries (ironically, the Africa contingent was led by South Africa). The measure was also opposed by China and Russia.
Additionally, efforts to include subheadings regarding anti-Semitism and Islamophobia were also defeated.
While the measure went down to defeat and is largely symbolic, it's nice to see that the Obama Administration is at least beginning to reverse the disturbing trend of embracing homophobia that began during his campaign for the Presidency. Still, Obama must go further. and fight tougher, more substantive battles for gay civil rights. But this does mean something.
http://www.unwatch.org/atf/cf/%7B6deb65da-be5b-4cae-8056-8bf0bedf4d17%7D/DURBAN%20DRAFT%201-28.PDF
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