There’s a good column by the one & only Jillian Weiss on the current need to contact your legislators about ENDA and the potential Executive Order that could help it become law.
We need this one, and we need it badly.
Slut = Trans Ally
It turns out the woman who Rush called a slut is also a pro-trans advocate, too, who has written on the discriminatory practices of health insurance companies which don’t cover GRS. And this from an article that wasn’t happy and excited about it except to expose her as “out there”.
So, trans community, what we’ve got here is an amazing synergy of arguments for bodily autonomy and personal agency. In other words, a trans feminist has just helped clarify exactly why the trans & feminist communities are innately related and politically coherent.
Sounds like my kinda bandwagon.
In the meantime, something like 28 advertisers have pulled out of Rush Limbaugh’s dumb-ass show. Amazingly enough, it doesn’t take an advanced degree for people to figure out that a man who thinks taxpayer-supported birth control means the public owns women’s bodies is, well, an atavistic, arrogant jerk.
Or, as we used to say: FLUSH RUSH.
No.
Rush Limbaugh (kinda) apologizes for calling a woman a slut, and does so by explaining that birth control is somehow a conversation about “sexual recreational activities.”
Talk about not getting it. Amazing how arrogant someone who can’t get pregnant can be about birth control.
Gay Vet Pins Romney Down
A gay veteran’s spouse is not as equal as a straight veteran’s spouse.
Interesting clip, no?
Primary Election Day
Appleton’s got a political primary today: for mayor, and some alderpeople. So why not a little song about a political heroine, Mother Jones?
Appleton Politics: Megan Pickett, District 4
Professor of Physics, Gender Studies and Freshmen Studies Megan Pickett is running for Alderperson of Appleton Common Council in the newly redrawn District #4 (which happens to be mine).
Here is some cool stuff about why she’s running, which you can find on her website along with a bunch of other cool stuff:
Why do I want to run? In the last year, I’ve been galvanized to take action, to no longer sit on the sidelines and complain, but to get involved and make my voice heard. What’s more, I know I can bring my talent and effective leadership to city council, particularly on issues that matter most to me: economic and community development, which are tied to fairness and equity.
I also believe our council should also reflect the community it represents, and the present distribution of seats on the 16 (soon to be 15) seat council includes only two women. We can model and demonstrate our commitment to diversity by electing a council that looks more like Appleton.
I’ve said before that I am progressive, and that doesn’t mean spending as much as we possibly can, breaking the bank in unrealistic and idealistic ways. It means that we can creatively and innovatively attack municipal problems without leaving behind the people who can least afford it. It also means that, when matters of principle are on the line, I won’t waver–not when our community is counting on us the most. I will never refer an important issue, such as partner benefits, back to committee for political expediency.
Fairness should not be held hostage to inconsistency.
Why should you vote for me? I’ll bring my fierce devotion to progressive ideas to the council, and while I wish to find ways to build consensus, I absolutely will not back away from these fundamental values of equity and equality, or of finding ways for the city to hear and meet the needs of all its residents. You can count on me to hold firm, and to always explain my votes. In particular:
Continue reading “Appleton Politics: Megan Pickett, District 4”
Scott Walker Better Drive Her to the Polls Himself
I don’t know about the rest of you, but this actually made me cry. Voter suppression is disenfranchisement, and disenfranchisement is criminal.
This is not the America anyone should stand for.
HUD: Equal Access to Housing Rule Trans-Inclusive
Wow. Housing non-discrimination for trans people? Really? What amazing news. Via NCTE:
“I am proud to announce a new Equal Access to Housing Rule that says clearly and unequivocally that LGBT individuals and couples have the right to live where they choose […] If you are denying HUD housing to people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, actual or perceived, you’re discriminating, you’re breaking the law, and you will be held accountable. That’s what equal access means, and that’s what this rule is going to do.”
The new rule makes several urgently needed changes to current federal housing and housing-related programs including: prohibiting owners and operators of federally-funded or federally-insured housing, as well as lenders offering federally-insured mortgages from discriminating based on gender identity or sexual orientation;and clarifying the definition of “family” to ensure that LGBT families are not excluded from HUD programs.
Read the whole article. Honestly, when i first started doing advocacy around trans issues, I didn’t expect to see these kinds of rules put in place by 2012.
