LGBT Equality and Justice Day 2008

[Hazumu]

First up was Donna Rose, who was listed in the conference information as being a nationally-known transgender activist. I thought that I recognized her name, and when she started speaking she gave me the clue I needed to place her. She used to be on the board of the Human Rights Campaign. She is the transwoman who quit in protest of the organization's shameful stance on ENDA and wrote this brave, kick ass resignation letter. (For the record, it seemed like no one from HRC (officially) was present at the event, though I don't want to speculate as to why that was.) Greatly admiring her protest against HRC, I was enthralled, and she was an enigmatic speaker. Unsurprisingly but very importantly, she gave a speech about how you can't take the T out of LGBT, the importance of community and how we mustn't turn our backs on the rights of some people unless we want to turn our backs on human rights. I couldn't agree more, was inspired by her speech, and so heartened to hear the roars of approval from the crowd.

[gennee]

I read Donna's letter and didn't blame her for leaving HRC. Leaving out transgender people from protections IS discrimination. I refuse to be part of an organization that discriminates against anybody.

Gennee