Trans woman supports HRC

[Natasha]

Trans woman supports HRC

http://ebar.com/openforum/opforum.php?sec=letters
7/17/2008

First, I am a woman, a transgender woman. Second, I am, as of this
month, an American citizen. It took three years to transition and five
years to finalize my citizenship. I felt frustration, anger, annoyance
– not only at the prolonged process, but with 2007's Employment
Non-Discrimination Act debacle, still fresh for so many.

[glendagladwitch]

FYI, the trans woman in question is Meghan Stabler.  Here is a link to a page with her photo, down the page at "session six," with Susan Stanton.

http://www.outandequal.org/summit/2007/Workshops.asp

And here is the coverage at the HRC website where they say her letter was edited and they post the unedited version:

http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2008/07/meghan-stabler.html

And here is a response from the Bilerico Project:

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/07/in_response_to_meghan_stabler.php

[meghanstabler]

Oh my, that is such a bad picture of me from the link to O&E last year.

[Elwood]

Wow. Beautiful. I am amazed by how amazing post-transition people look. She's post-transition, right? She's pretty.

[Shana A]

Oh my, that is such a bad picture of me from the link to O&E last year.

Meghan, welcome to Susan's!

Zythyra

[meghanstabler]

thank you. I've been here before, years ago and early on in transition, found friends and information. such a great resource.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44162732@N00

[Elwood]

thank you. I've been here before, years ago and early on in transition, found friends and information. such a great resource.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44162732@N00

OMFG. You're cute! I know you're older than me, and it's weird for me to call a person that isn't my age group cute but... you have such a sweet face. I can't contain myself, haha. Heck, you even looked pretty after surgery, in your tubes and sheets and all. 

[Shana A]

Ah, then welcome back! I've been here for a couple of years so I didn't know you from before. I've just read your letter online, and wish you best of luck w/ your new position at HRC. Like many in the trans community, I wasn't happy how HRC handled ENDA last fall, but I'm glad that you're on board, and look forward to working together to achieve our shared goals of a fully inclusive ENDA.

Zythyra

[glendagladwitch]

Oh Hi, Meghan!  I did not expect you to drop in.  It makes me glad I said rather nicish things about you in my comment at Bilerico.

[meghanstabler]

Thanks. I joined the HRC Business Council at the beginning of the year, my sister Donna Rose nominated me.

I only want one thing, EQUALITY and that is not just via an inclusive-ENDA. ENDA covers workplace, not healthcare, so we must seek to ensure that healthcare issues are brought up. Much work is being done by others in that area, led in part by my friend Jamison Green.

Anyways, I will have supporters and haters. Such is like. But having read and believed in "The Four Agreements" it doesn't phase me.

Meghan

[glendagladwitch]

Meghan, I've been wanting to ask for a while, but didn't know whom to ask.  Maybe you can help me? I came back on to the Transgender scene recently after a very long absence, and was not up on the issues occurring regarding the HRC and ENDA when the current firestorm started.  One thing that I keep hearing is that HRC promised repeatedly, in writing, and in connection with fundraising activities, never to support a non-inclusive ENDA, and that the HRC then reversed position.  Is that true?  If so, who made the promises?  Was it people who are still at HRC, people who resigned in protest, or people who left before the ENDA decision was made?  Did those people have the authority to make those kinds of promises on behalf of HRC?  Thanks.

[tekla]

I'm a political animal, so the one step at a time has been OK by me.  I still am a member of HRC.  Its not like the first bill passed anyway.

[meghanstabler]

You can read all about it on other blogs and I would rather not get into the history. I came on board following the ENDA debacle, I have my own feelings, some of which I shared in my letter. I am pushing forward, forward for an inclusive-ENDA, forward within HRC and with the community. HRC is only one of the organizations to which I am active. I, along with Donna, Marti and others are on Sen. Obama's national LGBT policy committee. We all need to consider working, lobbying etc, at the national level and the local level too. HRC is supportive of an inclusive-ENDA - you just need to read some of the other blog posts that even quote Joe Solmonese as saying so only weeks ago. The best change is a change forward, that is what I am working for.

[NicholeW.]

Welcome to Susan's, again, Meghan Stabler,

I have to admit, I'd hate to have your job just now. But, I wish you Mother's Grace in fulfilling it and hopefully you'll discover ways to make this work. It would be very nice, as well as very useful, for HRC and all LTBG orgs. to find ways to work together rather than at cross-purposes. So, I for one will be hoping you succeed. 

Please take some time to read The Site Rules and on The Main Page you can discover Links, Chat and Wiki for your use as well. You might also want to go to the "Announcements" section and read the two posts "Post Ranks" and "Reputation Rules" to help you with some knowledge about when you can apply your own avatars, PM, and what those lil stars mean beneath all of our names and how to get them for yourself as well!!

It's great to have you here! Enjoy your stay.

Nichole