TRANSFORMING MEDIA
with host Ashley Love
Ashley Love is a woman of trans experiance, and is an advocate for LGBT rights. She is the organizer of Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Trans (MAGNET)- an anti-defamation organization dedicated to educating the media about transgender issues, as well as pushing for more authentic and positive portrayals of trans people in the media. Ashley is also a poet, novelist, journalist, and spoken word performer.
Ashley Love is the executive producer and creator of the Internet show, Trans Forming Media (TFM). TFM is a show where the trans community comes together and makes media that truly reflects themselves, and provides authentic content to give society the chance to see the real identities of trans people. TFM is not only a talk show where many trans people will use their voices and artwork to inspire change and entertain, but it is a place to enroll non trans people to witness the trans community.
EPISODE 1
6 pithy remarks. Click here to Comment:
Well done Ashley and JD! Education and awareness through activism and media outreach is so very important. I am looking forward to the future episodes. This is the ‘Year to Win’, by electing fair minded officials who will protect the rights of the GLBT community.
The lobbying efforts of the GLBT community resulted in 174 Congressional co-sponsors of HR 2015, the inclusive ENDA. With the vote of 235 Representatives in support of the limited ENDA, we have identified those Members of the House who understand the need for protection of sexual orientation. We also know who we need to educate on gender identity and gender expression, and secure their commitment to vote for a fully inclusive ENDA, garnering the 218 votes needed to pass this important legislation.
Those 235 Representatives who voted for the limited ENDA must be supported and encouraged…especially the 63 who are not yet co-sponsors of HR 2015. They face re-election in November and will see it was ‘OK’ to go on record in support of the GLBT community.
Education campaigns such as “TransForming Media” with Ashley Love, are critical for educating our elected officials and the public about the true nature of gender identity and gender expression; and that it is “OK” to take the next step and join the 174 co-sponsors of HR 2015.
We also need to elect fair minded US Senators, who will support a fully inclusive ENDA with 51 votes.
And we need to elect a President who will sign a fully inclusive ENDA.
It was my privilege to lobby and educate Congress on 6 March 08 with fellow activists, in support of HR 2015. http://la.hrc.org/node/88
Best wishes on the march in SF. We had a fabulous experience at Trans-Unity Pride 9 and the 2nd Annual Trans-March for Justice here in Los Angeles: http://la.hrc.org/node/143
We have our work ahead of us, and we will not cease fighting for Equality!!
Best regards,
Jess
Jessica Bair
Co-Chair, Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Steering Committee
Jessica (HRC),
It was the trans community only who produced Trans Forming Media.
I am not sure how the HRC was allowed to particptae in Trans Unity, but I hve some pretty good ideas. But it will take more then handing out pamphelts and arranging "wins" at trans festivals to earn trust from the trans community. In San Francisco, no trans festival would have ever allowed the HRC to put up their banner. And that is why I love it so much here, there is less compromise.
If you are going to comment on my vlog, and promote how "trans inclusive" the HRC is (what a joke!), then I would appreciate it if the HRC would take responsiblity for their actions,and truly do the right thing. Trans Forming Media should not be ued as a tool/token for noninclusive LGB"T" organizations to say one thing, but have their essence/actions/lack of actions communicate another.
Dissapointedly, Ashley Love, the Creator and Executive Producer of Trans Forming Media.
Dear Ashley,
Your work is truly fabulous, and I thank JD for providing you the distribution outlet. :)
On Thursday, 26 June 08, for the first time ever, Congress held a hearing to educate members of Congress exclusively on gender identity issues. This groundbreaking event educates members of Congress and helps lay the foundation for congressional action to prohibit arbitrary discrimination against transgender Americans.
Among the witnesses who delivered riveting testimony on the mistreatment endured by many transgender workers were Human Rights Campaign Business Council and Boston Steering Committee member Diego Sanchez, Colonel Diane Schroer, Dr. Bill Hendrix of the Dow Chemical Company, aerospace engineer Sabrina Marcus Taraboletti, and Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Meghan Stabler, who sits on the HRC Business Council, and Rev. Dr. Erin Swensen, who sits on the HRC Religion Council also provided written testimony. Two of our community's strongest leaders, Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), also testified during the landmark hearing.
Colonel Diane Schroer had a successful 25-year career in the U.S. Army. After she retired, she applied for a job in the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress and was offered the position. At the time, she was beginning her gender transition and informed her future supervisor that she intended to begin her job as a female. Suddenly, the job offer was rescinded.
She testified: “As a Master Parachutist, honor graduate of Army Ranger School, the Special Forces Qualification Force, Command and General Staff College, and the National War College, with two masters degrees, having been awarded the Defense Superior Service Award, four Meritorious Service Medals, five foreign parachute qualifications, and two Expeditionary Medals for combat operations, I hope every day for the call to come from the Library saying, ‘We’ve made a tremendous mistake.’ I am ready and able to serve this country once again, and look forward to the day when I am given the opportunity to do so.”
Diego Sanchez testified about his remarkable story: “I’m a loyal worker, a passionate leader and a man who had to wait, for fear of being fired, to be who I was always destined to be: Diego Miguel Sanchez, an honorable man. ... When my head hits the pillow every night, I close my eyes and think about my friends who are transgender whose lives aren’t easy. I miss my friend Alexander John Goodrum who took his own life. I feel guilty about my friend Ethan St. Pierre who lost his job just because he began his transition from female to male. I was the first transman he met, and he lost his job because he is brave and honest. It wasn’t right. I still lose sleep over that injustice.”
Dr. Bill Hendrix, global leader of Gays, Lesbians and Allies at the Dow Chemical Company, spoke about the reasons his employer has been a leader in creating transgender-inclusive workplace policies: “With a shrinking and ever more diverse talent pool—particularly in the sciences and engineering—it is essential for us to actively include everyone to ensure we attract, develop and advance the very best talent in the marketplace. As an industrial, business-to-business supplier with virtually no consumer marketing, located largely in smaller rural areas, we must work even harder to have an identifiable employer brand to attract top talent. We see our proactive stance on diversity and inclusion as a key element of this brand.”
Sabrina Marcus Taraboletti described the despair she felt when she was fired from her job as an aerospace engineer six weeks after she announced her intent to transition from male to female: “I cannot tell you how meaningless life feels when an event like this happens. I didn’t know where to turn or what future I had. I was humiliated. I was fired.” She went on to criticize those who believe that being transgender is a lifestyle or a choice: “Personally I have lost my wife, most of my assets, and my home in divorce. I have been abandoned by half my family and friends. At the same time, I had to find the $70 – 90,000 of funding and endure the extreme pain of electrolysis, and the various other surgeries required to complete the transition from male to female. All this while trying to stay employed! Believe me, no one wakes up one morning and thinks, ‘Hey, I’m going to change my sex today.’”
HRC staffers live-blogged throughout the hearing. To read their accounts, visit www.hrcbackstory.org. You can also read letters submitted to the committee by HRC's Coalition on Workplace Fairness and the Religion Council. You can also check out a piece Joe Solmonese wrote on Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-solmonese/gender-identity-discrimin_b_109352.html
While the hearing did not focus on any particular piece of legislation, it was an opportunity—the first opportunity—for many members of Congress to become familiar with the workplace issues facing the transgender community. Together with our coalition partners, HRC will continue to take on the tough work required to pass fully-inclusive federal employment protections.
Also on Thursday, HRC ran “An Open Letter” in the Bay Area Reporter that Joe signed with the HRC Board of Directors Co-Chairs to restate publically HRC's continued commitment to both fighting the anti-marriage amendment in California and passing an all-inclusive ENDA bill.
You also have my committment, and that of the entire HRC Los Angeles Steering Committee and the 10,000 HRC members in the Greater Los Angeles area, that we will not rest until there is Equality for All.
With love,
Jess
Jessica (HRC),
I am not surprised that you failed to mention the National Center for Transgender Equality's (NCTE) involvement in the congressional hearing, and how they paved the way, and how they have not once, (or repetitively in HRC's case) compromised when it comes to the LGBT coalition moving towards EQUALITY in unity!!
I am familiar with what happened last week on June 26 in the hearing NCTE and The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) led the way in, with The Transgender Law Center (TLC) as well. The HRC only piggy backed off this event to "look" good, an event they should have with their resources made happen YEARS ago.
Now let me tell you what happened the next day, on June 27th. The SF Trans March happened! And we marched for an inclusive ENDA. Thousands of people took to the streets to express the injustice that had happened when HRC supported a non inclusive ENDA. Donna Rose, who RESIGNED from the HRC due to their negligence, was our keynote speaker, where she said she left the HRC due to:INTEGRITY, MORALS AND PRINCIPLES. And this is why I have never joined the HRC when they tried to tokenize me (I have to sleep at night!)June 27th also happened to be the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which although many in the LG community fail to voice, historians and the police department will testify: The trans community INITIATED those riots: which CATAPULTED the modern LGBT movement. Sadly, the trans community is always left behind by many LG elitists who see us as "politically risky", or some would just say "not having enough money".
I also am aware of big institutions buying off the press, or media outlets. Well, make no mistake, Trans Forming Media is run by the trans community, and for the trans community. We don't care about the money, and would rather be destitute then dilute our message with "half truths" and "fake polls".
I pray the HRC is reborn, because if they are not, then evolution will inspire a LGBT organization that is precisely for that: L,G,B AND T!!! Ashley Love
Oops, that last comment was from me, Ashley. I was on my friends computer, and she was also logged in.
See the Trans March 2008 on YouTube!
Jessica (HRC),
I am not surprised that you failed to mention the National Center for Transgender Equality's (NCTE) involvement in the congressional hearing, and how they paved the way, and how they have not once, (or repetitively in HRC's case) compromised when it comes to the LGBT coalition moving towards EQUALITY in unity!!
I am familiar with what happened last week on June 26 in the hearing NCTE and The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) led the way in, with The Transgender Law Center (TLC) as well. The HRC only piggy backed off this event to "look" good, an event they should have with their resources made happen YEARS ago.
Now let me tell you what happened the next day, on June 27th. The SF Trans March happened! And we marched for an inclusive ENDA. Thousands of people took to the streets to express the injustice that had happened when HRC supported a non inclusive ENDA. Donna Rose, who RESIGNED from the HRC due to their negligence, was our keynote speaker, where she said she left the HRC due to:INTEGRITY, MORALS AND PRINCIPLES. And this is why I have never joined the HRC when they tried to tokenize me (I have to sleep at night!)June 27th also happened to be the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which although many in the LG community fail to voice, historians and the police department will testify: The trans community INITIATED those riots: which CATAPULTED the modern LGBT movement. Sadly, the trans community is always left behind by many LG elitists who see us as "politically risky", or some would just say "not having enough money".
I also am aware of big institutions buying off the press, or media outlets. Well, make no mistake, Trans Forming Media is run by the trans community, and for the trans community. We don't care about the money, and would rather be destitute then dilute our message with "half truths" and "fake polls".
I pray the HRC is reborn, because if they are not, then evolution will inspire a LGBT organization that is precisely for that: L,G,B AND T!!! Ashley Love
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