Posts tagged massachusetts transgender political coalition

BOSTON, MA—The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is endorsing Occupy Boston, Occupy Wall St. and the Occupy Movement across the United States. MTPC is in solidarity with call for economic justice, government reform, and equal representation in government, which has been echoed by Occupy Boston activists.

Transgender youth, adults, and their families are part of the 99% of Americans who are not being represented equally by our government and whose basic needs such as housing, employment, and education are not being met.

“Coupled with gender identity discrimination, the current economic crisis has plunged many transgender people even further into poverty. For organizations like MTPC, advocating for a marginalized group, such as transgender youth and adults, we virtually have no voice or representation in state, local or federal government.” said Gunner Scott, MTPC’s executive director.

Studies have shown that economic inequality for transgender communities is severe and is often the direct result of discrimination including job loss because of being transgender, being denied a job or housing because of having to disclose one’s transgender status, or transgender youth being forced to drop out of high school or college because of harassment.

The 2009 National Transgender Discrimination Survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force found that for transgender community members:

· Transgender survey respondents experience unemployment at twice the rate of the population as a whole nationally;

· 15% of Massachusetts transgender adults live on $10,000 a year or less, also at twice the rate of the population as a whole

· 20% Massachusetts transgender adults were fired from their job and 39% were not hired due to their gender identity;

· 22% Massachusetts transgender adults were denied equal treatment by a government agency or official;

· 79% of transgender youth in K-12 were harassed and this led 11% leaving school in K-12 settings or college.

Members of MTPC, including the executive director Gunner Scott, transgender youth and adults, including many currently homeless transgender women and youth have been actively participating since the planning for Occupy Boston began on Tues. Sept 27, 2011. Transgender people continue to be welcomed and encouraged to participate in Occupy Boston at Dewey Square by the other activists, many of who are not familiar with transgender communities.

Additionally, Occupy Boston’s internal solidarity statement “recognizes the task to unify the 99%” and that transphobia, racism, classism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression are not welcomed as part of Occupy Boston. 

Through this endorsement, MTPC will offer Occupy Boston activists cultural competency workshops on transgender communities and assistance in continuing to be actively inclusive and welcoming of transgender activists in the Occupy Boston movement.

MTPC will continue to reach out to transgender participants of Occupy Boston and provide resources and referrals. MTPC will also continue to maintain an open dialog with Boston City Officials and Boston Police Department’s LGBT liaison to ensure if any issues should arise that transgender youth and adults participating are treated with respect by city officials and the Boston Police Department.

In order to begin to even address some of the disparity transgender people face, MTPC calls on the Massachusetts state legislation to pass the Transgender Equal Rights Bill quickly and for Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act this session.

(Source: therainbowtimesnews.com)

Boston, MA [9/26/11] In reaction to misinformation about transgender people on Boston’s airwaves the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) and the Transgender Equal Rights Coalition worked with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and to address negative stereotypes and promote positive visibility of transgender people. Last month, MTPC’s steering committee member Daniel O’Donoghue reached out to GLAAD about disparaging comments he heard on the Boston radio station KISS 108 during the morning drive show about Chaz Bono’s upcoming appearance on Dancing with Stars. GLAAD’s Media Field Strategist Justin Ward reached out to the management at KISS 108 to educate them on accurate and respectful reporting of transgender people and Chaz Bono.

In response to this outreach, KISS 108’s management and staff have worked with GLAAD to provide the public with information about the issues transgender people face and transgender equal rights on their website. KISS 108 has also provided a series of free 15-second public service announcements on the issue of Transgender Equal Rights and encouraging the public to learn more about transgender people through MTPC’s public education campaign I AM: Trans People Speak at www.transpeoplespeak.org.

This PSA was launched today and goes like this, “The Transgender Equal Rights Bill is about affirming the right of all Massachusetts citizens, including transgender men and women, to live with dignity and respect, and be free from discrimination and violence. For more information, please visit TransPeopleSpeak.org.”

To listen to the PSA and learn more about GLAAD’s work with MTPC and the Transgender Equal Rights Coalition on educating KISS 108’s morning show visit http://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-outreach-leads-transgender-education-bostons-kiss-108.

Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is a 501(c) 3 that works to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. MTPC educates the public, advocates with state, local, and federal government, engages in political activism, and encourages empowerment of community members through collective action.

(Source: therainbowtimesnews.com)

Boston, MA—The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is announcing the release of three new videos as part of their multi-media public education campaign entitled I AM: Trans People Speak.

MTPC launched the groundbreaking I AM: Trans People Speak project in conjunction with Transgender Awareness Week in November. I AM: Trans People Speak is a collection of recorded stories that aims to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions of transgender individuals by highlighting the realities of their lived experience. These voices span across a diversity of communities and intersecting identities. I AM: Trans People Speak fosters support and raises awareness for transgender communities by providing a forum where these unique stories can be shared and given significance.

Each of the three videos shares the common thread of working toward acceptance and understanding through communication, perseverance, and love. These stories, each one an engaging personal or familial journey, highlight the importance of supportive and caring friends, family, and communities members for transgender youth and adults.

One newly premiered video features Sandra, a researcher, Unitarian Universalist, contra dancer, and parent of a transgender son. When Sandra’s son came out, her immediate response was that she wanted him to lead a happy life, trusting that her love would aid in supporting her son. While supportive community members at her church provide a source of strength for her family, Sandra acknowledges that not all communities are as open-minded, encouraging a model in which we continually work toward loving not only ourselves but also others around us that may be different. Ending with a smile, Sandra hopes that the world will appreciate her bright, caring, and talented son.

Another new video focuses on Alex, a proud single parent, clinical psychologist, attorney, and social justice organizer. Having not fit into his assigned gender at birth, Alex has lived his life in multiple contexts having been boxed into different identities that others have forced upon him. Alex has also faced difficulties in the professional field, noting that discrimination has prohibited him from reaching his full potential despite his experience and credentials. However, Alex remarks that having lived his life in many different identities imparts a unique perspective and richness that allows him to interact and react in the world in a way most others could not.

The last new video to premier on the I AM: Trans People Speak website is a two-person video with parents, David and Jean, both educators and residents of Hingham. When David and Jean’s son came out to them, David initially found it difficult, however he soon realized that his son was still the same wonderful and capable person he raised from birth. Both parents relay with appreciation that their son was about to share this significant event with them, allowing the entire family to share this journey instead of being shut out of their son’s life. They note that nothing has really changed, aside from familial bonds being strengthened now that their son has the chance to lead a more happy and fulfilling life.

All three new videos were filmed and edited by Jesse Begenyi, a Boston filmmaker. Begenyi and MTPC plan on uploading new videos to the website periodically and are always looking for participants.

For more information please visit www.transpeoplespeak.org or direct questions to info@transpeoplespeak.org

About MTPC: The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. MTPC works for a world where persons of all genders are treated with respect and fully participate in all areas of society, free from fear of prohibition, harassment or violence based on their gender identity and/or expression.  Its members educate the public, advocate with state, local, and federal government, engage in political activism, and encourage empowerment of community members through collective action.

BOSTON, MA—The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is announcing the release of three new videos as part of their groundbreaking multi-media public education campaign entitled I AM: Trans People Speak. 

In conjunction with the Boston Pride, all three new videos share the common theme of being openly transgender in their communities. 

One newly premiered video features Maxwell, an architect, a 2nd generation Chinese-American, and a transgender man. Maxwell speaks about his experience of his Chinese culture and being visible as transgender man in the different communities he belongs to. 

Another video being premiered is that of Dagen, a transgender man who works in the non-profit field. Dagen speaks about his experience of being transgender and his struggles with finding accepting health care providers, even after contacting 31 doctors in his local area.

The last new video to premier is of Renate, a transgender woman and engineer. Renate talks how she helps other transgender people by providing support online and how happy she is to be living her life now since she transitioned.

The stories of these three individuals serve to remind that transgender people, like all people, are more than just their gender identity and expression. Transgender people, like all people, belong to a wide variety of individuals and intersecting communities. 

I AM is a collection of recorded stories that aims to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions of transgender individuals by highlighting the realities of their lived experience. These voices span across a diversity of communities and intersecting identities. I AM fosters support and raises awareness for trans communities by providing a forum where these unique stories can be shared and given significance. 

All three new videos were filmed and edited by Jesse Begenyi, a Boston filmmaker. Begenyi and MTPC plan to continue filming and uploading new videos to the website periodically. 

For more information please visit http://www.transpeoplespeak.org or direct questions to info@transpeoplespeak.org