Let's help

[Bionca]

http://www.glaad.org/action/calls_ar...il.php?id=5062

Angie Z was murdered in Colorado last year. Her murderer told his girl-friend "I had to kill it" and "gay things need to die" before he took a fire extinguisher to her head when she tried to get up after he beat her.

What is a radio host to do in a case like this? How about stumble over Angie's gender and then say that Transgenderd women should have their teeth kicked in. The link contains a full transcript and a call to write the radio station and the the DJ.

This should be easy enough to do.

[Bionca]

On a similar note,

My friend Christine was sexually assaulted this past summer. I mentioned it here and also on my blog. Well, her boy-friend left her last month for greener (non-trans) pastures and she lost her job. I have been in Florida the past few days attending her funeral. The sad fact is, external violence pales compared to the violence we inflict on ourselves.

From internalizing the messages that a Trans* body isn't and can't be beautiful to allowing ourselves to stay in abusive relationships because that's what we deserve or all we can get. Going through life is hard on all of us. Combine that with the real need to keep 18+ years of your life secret from the majority of people you know, the message that "love" for you is only temporary and hinged on the convenience of another, that you are a diversion away from "normal" sex - an exotic treat, but never the real thing. Ugh I'm done now.

[O'Sully TS Hopeful]

Finally some who seems to be true to the people they love, us, and not just hide in shame.

[SweetCharmer]

its a sad fact that most of the people who are understanding and kind are so widely scattered around the world....kinda makes you wish you were a superhero.. my friend said to me all you need is the powers and then you'll be one.i'd give my left arm to have the powers to save people.hearing about all this hurts a great deal to me because i'm one of these people who can't pretend to not see something happening. if i see anyone in trouble i help while people around just keep quite and walk away.
so when i hear about how all these trans-gendered women are killed or sexually assaulted i wish to myself that i'd been in the right place at the right time by some unexplained series of events. but alas that's just me thinking of impossible things to happen i mean no one can be in two or three places at once
looking at my avatar. i really do wish i had wings now

[CreativeMind]

Originally Posted by Bionca

On a similar note, my friend Christine was sexually assaulted this past summer. I mentioned it here and also on my blog. Well, her boy-friend left her last month for greener (non-trans) pastures and she lost her job. I have been in Florida the past few days attending her funeral. The sad fact is, external violence pales compared to the violence we inflict on ourselves....

I just wanted to extend my condolences to you, Bionca. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend and (given my personal beliefs) I'd like to believe she's in a better place now and finally at peace. So all of my prayers go out to her, her family, her friends and you.

And you're right about the violence that we all seem to get these days from all directions. Hopefully one day we'll realize as a thinking species how precious life actually is, and we'll stop so much of the nonsense that goes on about us and focus more on just being caring human beings for each other and even ourselves.

[CreativeMind]

Originally Posted by Bionca

http://www.glaad.org/action/calls_ar...il.php?id=5062

Angie Z was murdered in Colorado last year....What is a radio host to do in a case like this? How about stumble over Angie's gender and then say that Transgenderd women should have their teeth kicked in. The link contains a full transcript and a call to write the radio station and the the DJ.

This should be easy enough to do.

I sent off a letter, but in addition to that I would recommend writing to the FCC and reporting both the host AND the station to REALLY get someone in trouble. Look, to be honest, unless this guy is brand new and has only been hosting his show for the last few weeks, then the station already KNOWS this guy is an ass. Or they know he's provocative or they know his political leanings, which means they're not shocked by anything he says on the air.

So, sure, you can write to the station and complain, but from my experiences with the media all that is going to happen is they will put the letters into a folder...which will then get tossed into the infamous "circular file cabinet". Truth be told, the radio station will probably feel good about themselves IF they start getting a flood of email because in their money-grubbing minds they'll think of it this way: sure they pissed some people off, but this guy helped to put their station on the map. Hell, if they get a flood of email, the guy will probably even ask for a raise for what he said and the result it caused.

ON THE OTHER HAND...the FCC takes these things very seriously. Trust me, I've attended a few FCC hearings and you'd be surprised at the attention things can get once you make a stink at the right levels or to the right people. Writing to them and complaining that the station violated broadcasting standards and complaining to them that an investigation into hate speech is warranted and complaining to them that this jerk-off was advocating violence on the air (or so it would seem to the average listener) has a better chance of making some waves. Or at least causing the host and the station some grief.

So here you go. File a complaint against this buffoon.
As Bionca said, this should be easy enough to do...

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

[Bionca]

The trial for Angie Zapata is under way. The story is horrific and all too common. You can read an article about the trial here.

Show your support for a lost sister.

Angie was killed by an intimate partner who clames that she did not disclose her status as a trans*woman. He claims that after spending the night with her he suspected she may have "been a man". He grabbed her crotch and beat her to (he thought) death. While removing implicating evidence, swiping her car keys and credit card, Angie gurgled and started to sit up. He then took a fire extinguisher and killed her.

He later told his girl-friend that "gay things need to die" and "I had to kill it".

Personally, I'm sick of the assumption that Angie tricked him into anything. Thus far this is what the defense is using to get a lesser charge conviction. Using the "gay panic" defense unfortunately works very well - even in cases where the murderer had prior knowledge of a woman's status and a history of dating trans*women.

This story hits close to home. This may be just another sad event to most of you. But, for me and gals like me this the the fear we have every time a date actually decides not to bail out on us. True or not, there is a real assumption among Trans*women that guys can have sex with us, feel guilty/disgusted with this new event, murder us and get a pitifully short sentence (if they are even caught and convicted).

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by Bionca

The trial for Angie Zapata is under way. The story is horrific and all too common. You can read an article about the trial here.

Show your support for a lost sister.

Angie was killed by an intimate partner who clames that she did not disclose her status as a trans*woman. He claims that after spending the night with her he suspected she may have "been a man". He grabbed her crotch and beat her to (he thought) death. While removing implicating evidence, swiping her car keys and credit card, Angie gurgled and started to sit up. He then took a fire extinguisher and killed her.

He later told his girl-friend that "gay things need to die" and "I had to kill it".

Personally, I'm sick of the assumption that Angie tricked him into anything. Thus far this is what the defense is using to get a lesser charge conviction. Using the "gay panic" defense unfortunately works very well - even in cases where the murderer had prior knowledge of a woman's status and a history of dating trans*women.

This story hits close to home. This may be just another sad event to most of you. But, for me and gals like me this the the fear we have every time a date actually decides not to bail out on us. True or not, there is a real assumption among Trans*women that guys can have sex with us, feel guilty/disgusted with this new event, murder us and get a pitifully short sentence (if they are even caught and convicted).

A similar thing happened to a girl named Gwen Araujo that I went to the same school with. She was dating some preppy douchebag type when he found out that she was not a genetic girl, him and his friends strangled her and beat her to death with a shovel. They got charged with second degree murder and for the most part got off with a light sentence.

I think it would behoove many transwomen to arm themselves with either a gun, a taser or a knife. Not too many people are as open minded to transsexualism and until transwomen are able to date without fear of retribution, it would definetly help to be packin' heat. Tasers can be had quite easily and do not require a concealed carry permit. Tasers will put down the most indignant characters without the hassle of a gory exit wound and blood spatter and can be taken in most places where it might be a felony to bring a pistol. Knives are cheap and depending on the length of blade, they can be used as a Less-Lethal or lethal alternative(cut tendons vs. cut artery)

The point that I am trying to make is that all the ladies(if you haven't already)need to get away from the victim mentality and give serious consideration to your personal security. Don't become a crime statistic!!!

[Bionca]

While I agree with you Postman - and I know my way around both a gun and my fists/legs/feet/fingers/elbows - being armed and aware didn't really help me out when I was assaulted.

Along with education and empowerment for trans*women, there does need to be a clear message that our deaths are not less important and the fact we may be sexually active does not mean we are deceptive (ie get partially blamed when we are attacked).

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by Bionca

Along with education and empowerment for trans*women, there does need to be a clear message that our deaths are not less important and the fact we may be sexually active does not mean we are deceptive (ie get partially blamed when we are attacked).

Transsexuals are people too!

Damn right!