Transgender Day of Remembrance 2013

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LGBT Equality, Mary Griggs, Transgender, Violence

I attended the New Orleans Transgender Day of Remembrance event at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans last night because it is important for our community to memorialize those taken from us because of hate. I was there as someone who has worked alongside the trans community but also because I was invited as a representative of the Forum For Equality, an LGBT human rights organization here in Louisiana.

It was a lovely place to hold this service and there were many powerful speakers who spoke of the pain but also of hope. Standing there, as the names of the US victims of transphobic violence and some of the international ones, was very moving. To have the stark truth read out of the severe forms of hate violence, the police indifference and even the journalistic failure to give dignity in death for individual’s chosen names and pronouns was sobering as to the real and daily harassment and discrimination faced by the trans community.

We must do all we can to to end violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people because one is too many.

Below are my remarks:

I want to start with an apology.

I apologize for the way in which the lesbian and gay community in particular has hurt transpeople. I am sorry. I’m sorry for my own failure to be the best ally possible. I’m sorry that your allies have not always fought for your rights, have not been by your side in all your battles and made you feel disrespected, isolated and questioning your own worthiness.

Society has tried to erase the presence and suppress the contributions of transgender and gender variant people and, to our shame, many of lesbians and gays have colluded with this silencing and ignored the needs of our trans brothers and sisters.

Words and attitudes can have very real consequences. It is horrific that this year saw over 250 people killed due to their gender identity or presentation. Such acts of violence against the transgender community are linked to the failure of our entire community to work to end transgender discrimination and oppressive conditions for gender non-conforming people.

All of us deserve to thrive and to bring our fullest, most vibrant versions of our selves into the open. The world is made more whole by the full participation of transpeople.

Tonight we mourn the dead. Tomorrow and every other day, we must fight for the living.

Please remember that you add value to this world that no-one else could ever replace. You are an important part of this community. Most importantly, we are in this together. Because of that I re-commit the Forum For Equality to supporting the needs and rights of transgender people and their families here in Louisiana and everywhere.

I’ll end with a quote from Paul Monette. While these words were written about the death toll from AIDS, they have special meaning on this Transgender Day of Remembrance.

He wrote: “Tell yourself: None of this ever had to happen. And then go make it stop, with whatever breath you have left. Grief is a sword, or it is nothing.”

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LesficReader Discussion This Weekend

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Mary Griggs, Publishing

I’ll be discussing my books, writing and other things this weekend over at the Facebook group LesficReader.

LesficREADER is a group where authors discuss their books with readers.  If you’re not already a member, before you request to join the group, please send the group owner, Jaynes Pehney, a friend request

My live times:
Saturday from noon to 3pm CST and then back from 6pm to 8pm. Sunday from 11am to 2pm CST and then back from 5-7.

I hope to be able to chat with some of you then!

ENDA and Lifestyle Based Conduct

Tags

ENDA, LGBT Equality, Mary Griggs, Rant

I was interviewed on Monday in regards to the historic vote in the Senate on an inclusive ENDA bill which moved forward with strong bi-partisan support (although every single vote against it was Republican).

The resulting article has just a single phrase from my discussion with the reporter from the Times-Picayune (read it here: Bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation appears headed for Senate OK) so I figured I’d expound on my thoughts for those who care. If you’re really interested, you can also read my  full testimony before the Louisiana legislature on House Bill 85 (the Louisiana Fair Employment Act) from earlier this year at the Forum’s blog: http://forumforequality.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/testimony-from-mary-griggs-to-the-house-and-governmental-affairs-committee/.

In short, I believe that qualified, hard-working employees should be recruited and retained based on their skills, qualifications, and capacity to contribute. Employment evaluations should be based on work performance not sexual orientation or gender identity.

No one should live in fear that they can be fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance nor should LGBT workers face discrimination in employment that goes beyond being fired to also include being denied promotions and experiencing harassment on the job.

Like many people I contacted my state senators in advance of the vote. Mary Landrieu had already signed up as a sponsor over the summer, so I just gave her an atta-girl!

And, in the other corner, here is Senator David Vitter’s response:

Thank you for contacting me in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  I appreciate knowing your views on this issue. As you may know, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act would prohibit discrimination against employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity.  This legislation is directed specifically at providing federal legal protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees. While I strictly oppose discrimination in all forms, I do not believe that expanding federal civil rights protections to include lifestyle-based conduct is a prudent course of action.  Despite this legislation’s well-intentioned attempt to address workplace discrimination, vague terminology and overly broad definitions could lead to serious and divisive legal issues, leaving the judiciary to interpret Congress’ intent. I believe that Congress has an important role in the fight against discrimination and in protecting our constitutional civil rights. Please rest assured that I will continue to work to protect the civil rights of all citizens and will keep your thoughts in mind if this or similar legislation is debated by the U.S. Senate. Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.  Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about issues of concern to you or your family.

Sincerely, Senator David Vitter United States Senator

It is hard to get my mind around the fact that Diaper Dave is lecturing anyone about the prudency of protecting ‘lifestyle-based conduct.’

I found his letter disrespectful and offensive. If nothing else, it renewed my commitment to re-electing Mary Landrieu.

Much better are the words from President Barack Obama on his opinion piece on ENDA:

In America of all places, people should be judged on the merits: on the contributions they make in their workplaces and communities, and on what Martin Luther King Jr. called “the content of their character.” That’s what ENDA helps us do. When Congress passes it, I will sign it into law, and our nation will be fairer and stronger for generations to come.

Here’s hoping that House Speaker John Boehner gives our elected representatives a chance to vote on the bill and for a fairer United States of America.