Two NPR Stories on Transgender

In our continuing quest to become better informed about transgender issues, we're offering links to two stories on families facing gender identity issues.

These stories are especially poignant, because they deal with families where the children express their gender identity preferences when they are very young.

The first story deals with two families, one on the east coast, one on the west coast, where their sons expressed their gender identity preferences when they were two years old. The two families found two therapists who recommended two very different approaches. You can read the story here. This story has a set of questions and answers with the two therapists involved, where each discusses their very different approach.

The second story talks about the use of hormone treatments to help delay puberty in cases of gender identity, to give the child involved more time to work with their treatment teams to make the choice on gender identity. This story also had a related set of questions and answers.

My personal take - I found both stories interesting, uplifting, and disturbing. In the end, I'm glad I read both, and they helped me see the oh-so-many shades of gray in a very important issue. I'm happy and proud that NPR ran this series of stories.

The most telling quote came from the therapist who was explaining how families react to their transgender children. She said "Parents come to me and say, "I don't have a problem with him being gay, but I hope he's not transgender. A generation ago, they were saying "I don't have a problem with him being effeminate, but I hope he's not transgender."

My hope is that it won't take a generation to help families accept the reality of this gender identity issue.

Company takes gay man's benefits for moving

Thanks to Jake Jacobson for sharing this story with us.

Click the title of this blog post, and it will take you right to the story.

More on Colorado Same Sex Marriage

The UUA site posted this article on the Colorado Same Sex Marriage law suit, along with links related articles. I've included the YouTube video they recommended here for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Valentine's Day - Soulforce Style

Thanks to Carol Rosine for forwarding this email from Soulforce:

The following text is modified from an article written by Soulforce organizer Chris Hubble, and originally published in Out Front Colorado:

There may be no contemporary narrative more compelling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people than Valentine's Day. However commercialized this romantic icon has become, couples still fervently celebrate it. On this day, too, LGBTs subtly remind ourselves (and everyone else) just how "mainstream" we really are. We plan commitment ceremonies, trade sentimental gifts, deliver extravagant bouquets of roses, consume voluminous quantities of chocolate, and spend profligate amounts on restaurant dinner bills ... just like everyone else!

But Valentine's Day also evokes a mythological, historical narrative which tells the story of a civil resister of an oppressive regime seeking to deny its citizens' rights. When the Roman Emperor Claudius II sought more soldiers for his brutal military campaigns, he tried to deny young Roman men the right to marry -- apparently believing that single men might be more easily persuaded to join his legions. Valentine, a Christian priest living in a pagan world, defied the emperor's decree and continued to observe the holiday honoring Juno, Roman goddess of marriage, by secretly marrying young Roman couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was jailed - and subsequently died on February 14, 269 C.E.

This year, in addition to celebrating Valentine's Day in the conventional way, Englewood, Colorado couple and Soulforce volunteers Kate Burns and Sheila Schroeder also remember this historic St. Valentine. You see, last September 24th, they were arrested for staging a sit-in at the Denver Clerk and Recorder office after being denied a marriage license. For this courageous act of civil disobedience, Kate and Sheila went to court yesterday and a hearing was set for February 28, with the actual trial set for April 13 and 14, 2008. Numerous local religious leaders have already submitted affidavits on their behalf, arguing that the State's denial of their marriage rights (and refusal to recognize their marriage rites) represents a violation of both the "Free Exercise" and the "Establishment" clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Kate and Sheila have been interviewed by both local and national media outlets and today their story appeared in The New York Times.

Like other couples, Kate and Sheila now celebrate a shared narrative. A Colorado native and civil rights activist, Kate is an author of three books and an editor of numerous anthologies. Sheila is a Professor of Communications at the University of Denver and an award-winning filmmaker. They met several years ago in Eldora, Colorado, at Kate's family cabin. Sheila was visiting with Kate's sister during a family gathering. Months later, they first said "I love you" while watching a meteor shower from an immense slab of rock in the cabin's backyard. On that same rock, they also celebrated their 2003 commitment ceremony with their pastor, Rev. Mike Morran of First Unitarian Church of Denver. Sheila even burned her Valparaiso University college sweatshirt on that rock after they refused to publish her and Kate's wedding announcement in the school's alumni newsletter. She included that scene in her ironically named short film, Proud Alumni.

Kate and Sheila are now completing their latest project: SoleJourney, a full-length documentary film which "plunges into the center of Soulforce's relentless nonviolent resistance as it follows diverse families confronting the anti-LGBT rhetoric of the fundamentalist mega-organization Focus on the Family."

Neither of them regrets their recent civil disobedience. Sheila, when responding recently to a question about marriage equality and the 2006 ballot initiatives, quipped: "Once you get kicked in the seat, you have to get back up and give it another try."

On this Valentine's Day, Soulforce wishes to acknowledge and honor Kate and Sheila, as well as the impressive leadership of Christopher Hubble, who serves as the Lead Organizer for Soulforce In Colorado.

Meanwhile, the young activists of Soulforce Q prepare to launch the second installment of their "Right to Marry" Campaign by returning to New York state to work closely with student and community leaders in the Bronx, the Binghamton area, the Plattsburg area, and the Poughkeepsie area. Their goal is to speak directly to businesses and ask for their vocal support for marriage equality, which will be used as meaningful evidence with chambers of commerce, city councils, mayors, and local politicians. Soulforce will update you on their efforts over the next several weeks. For more information, go to www.soulforce.org/righttomarry.

Happy Valentine's Day - Soulforce Style! To make an online contribution to help Soulforce work toward marriage equality and social justice, go to www.soulforce.org/donate.

The goal of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

To read past Soulforce email alerts go to www.soulforce.org/email.

A Victory for Same-Sex Marriage

Thanks to Jake Jacobson for passing this New York Times Editorial along to us:
February 5, 2008

n a decision at once common-sensical and profound, a New York State appeals court ruled Friday that same-sex marriages validly performed in other jurisdictions are entitled to recognition in New York. It was common sense because it simply accorded same-sex marriages the same legal status as other marriages. It was profound because of the way it could transform the lives of gay people.

The plaintiff in the case, Patricia Martinez, a word-processing supervisor at an upstate college, married her longtime partner, Lisa Ann Golden, in Canada in 2004. When Ms. Martinez applied for health care benefits for her spouse, the college denied the application on the grounds that New York did not recognize the marriage.

The court, by a 5-0 vote, declared that the college was wrong. Employers in the state must accord same-sex couples the same rights as other couples. To reach that result, it simply applied New York’s “marriage recognition rule.” Under this century-old common-law rule, marriages validly contracted out of state must be accorded respect in New York, and parties to such unions treated as spouses, regardless of whether the marriage would be allowed in New York.

The rule applies unless the Legislature explicitly prohibits recognition or recognition would be abhorrent to public policy. Unlike many states, New York has not passed a law denying recognition to same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The court rightly decided that recognizing same-sex marriages would not be “abhorrent.”

The ruling is particularly welcome because it follows a regrettable decision two years ago by New York’s highest court. That decision said that prohibiting same-sex marriages from being performed in New York does not violate the State Constitution. Honoring same-sex marriages validly performed out of state is a wholly separate legal issue, a point that New York’s attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, usefully underscored in a friend-of-court brief.

The new decision still leaves considerable work to be done. New York’s ban on performing same-sex marriage remains in force. And there is a chance that the marriage-recognition decision will now be appealed.

Still, the ruling marks important progress toward changing laws and attitudes that deprive gay people of equal rights and deny the dignity of New York’s many gay families. They should be able to live, marry and raise children with the same respect and the same rights as anyone else.

Gay Evolution in RI - Providence Journal

In case anyone is interested in sifting through many photos and
stories, Gay Evolution in RI. Great coverage in today's Providence
Journal. Photos of David and I in one of the slide shows.

Emile Belisle

http://www.projo.com/extra/2008/gay_history/activist/

http://www.projo.com/extra/2008/gay_history/

A Kripalu Retreat

The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is offering a retreat that some of you might be interested in attending

Live, Love, Laugh, Learn: The L Words - A Retreat for Lesbian Couples

Feb 8-10, 2008 (2 nights, Fri – Sun)

There is real magic created when women come together to share their paths. Treat yourself and your partner to a pre–Valentine's Day gift of focused time with each other in the company of other lesbian couples, enhanced by Kripalu's beautiful setting and guest amenities.

This workshop will focus on bringing you and your loved one closer together by sharing massage, partner yoga, dance, and meditation, along with group and couple experiences. Come and spend a delicious weekend surrounded by the power of lesbian community. Let the enchantment unfold! No experience in yoga or massage is necessary.

Here's the link to the whole listing in their online catalog.