"Brothers on the Down Low" Presentation at UMD

"Bridging the Gap between Love and Sexuality"
Brothers on the Down Low Part Two
A Discussion with J.L King
Featuring Def Poet ButtaFlySoul

Friday, Nov. 30
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
University of Maryland Reckord Armory 0135
Free Admission

"This program is the second of a two part series addressing the topic of "men on the down low". It will seek to answer these questions: What is your perception/stereotype of men? How about men on the down low? What are the truths that underlie the myths of the brother on down low? Is there a correlation between down low men and HIV/AIDS? The Discussion will be lead by J.L. King, Author of “On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep with Men.” Also featuring a performance by Poet and Activist ButtaFlySoul from Russell Simmons’s HBO series, Def Poetry.

"Down Low" (DL) defined: men who traditionally identify as "straight" while having sex with other men—refusing to employ the standardized descriptors of sexual identity. "

Presented by Delta Sigma Theta, Pride Alliance, Student Entertainment Events, Student Global AIDS Campaign, University Health Center, and Zeta Phi Beta.

*Information from Facebook event listing.

Opinion Columns on Transgender and HIV/AIDS Issues

In the The Diamondback's opinion section - which I am an editor of - today, University of Maryland senior Andrew Bowen wrote a column about transgender issues at the university, in the state and across the country.

Check out the column here.

Also today, staff opinion columnist Matthew John Phillips - a University of Maryland junior - wrote his feelings about how we think about HIV/AIDS today, referencing the 19th annual World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

Check that column out here.

Shopping for Trans Remembrance w/ HRC

Checking my mailbox today, I saw a new email from Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese titled "New! '08 Buying for Equality guide."

Opening the email, I was chagrined to see that the HRC had sent an email about shopping instead of one about Transgender Day of Remembrance - which is today. Although it is a commendable wish to have members of the LGBT community and our allies do their holiday shopping with companies that support equality, which is the goal of the guide, couldn't that email have been sent tomorrow, or the next day, or any day other than Transgender Day of Remembrance?

Where is the HRC's email about this important day? Maybe I missed it?

Going to the HRC's website, the first thing I saw was an advertisement for an ornament being sold at the HRC Store. The only mention of Transgender Day of Remembrance was a small link farther down the page.

The HRC is a great organization that does a lot of good. But it certainly missed the mark today.

Resources for Today, Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today is the day for everyone to contemplate the discrimination and violence faced by our transgender family, friends, peers, colleagues and coworkers. It is a day to think about all the ways in which we can fight against that discrimination and violence.

A great place to get some insight on the issue from the perspective of someone in tune with campus communities can be found here, on CampusProgress.org.

Check out some of the Gay-Straight Alliance network's recommendations for activities to take part in today here, via a blog from the Washington Blade. Another great resource can be found here.

Today is also a great day to think about the realities behind the noninclusive ENDA.

Partial Domestic Partner Benefits for TAs

Last year, partial domestic partner benefits were extended to faculty and staff at the University of Maryland. It was a way for the university to extend as many benefits as possible to domestic partners without the Board of Regents consent. The Board of Regents has continuously been the roadblock to the university extending full domestic partner benefits.

Now, the University Senate is dealing with whether or not to extend similar partial benefits to teaching and research assistants.

Check out The Diamondback's story about the Senate's postponement on the proposal here.

Also, in today's Diamondback, the editorial board - which I am part of - wrote a Staff Editorial about the issue. Check that out here.

Arguments over ENDA

I have argued that the House passing ENDA only further isolated transgender people. I still believe that. But I found this editorial by The New York Times Friday saying that progress must be accepted incrementally interesting, especially for its inclusion of a link to the HRC's Timeline of Federal Civil Rights Laws.

Much to think about. But, what remains clear to me is this: regardless of whether change occurs incrementally, voicing what is right can be done at once. If nobody was challenging the non-inclusiveness of ENDA, how much further behind would we be in the fight for trans rights?

ENDA Passes House...Big Whoop

So, the non-transinclusive ENDA passed yesterday in the House of Representatives. (Get the Washington Blade's story here.)

Forgive me if I'm not excited, even a little turned off. In my mind, this is not a great civil rights victory. It smells too much like false hopes and desertion - namely the latter.

First off, we have this, from the Blade's story, to consider:

Despite the historic House vote, there is little chance that ENDA will become law this year. The measure has yet to be introduced in the U.S. Senate, and last week, the White House issued a statement saying that senior advisers have recommended that President Bush veto the bill should Congress pass it.

Second, what we have to consider is the fact that this legislation leaves transgender people even more isolated in the American workforce than ever before, regardless of whether it passes into law. Gay and lesbian Americans yesterday received direct reassurance that the discrimination they face in the workforce is not being taken lightly by legislators. Transgender people, on the other hand, only received reassurance that they will continue to be ignored by those same legislators (and continue to be discriminated against).

(Tammy Baldwin deserves some respect. At least the amendment she introduced and then withdrew acknowledged the discrimination transgender people face. It shouldn't have been withdrawn though.)

How can we as gay and lesbian people grasp longingly at workplace protections that mean isolation for transgender people? You never leave comrades behind. A soldier who doesn't go back for his fallen friend may be doing the safe, smart thing - the thing that will probably afford him the best chance of survival at the time - but he isn't doing the brave thing, the valiant thing, the type of thing that people look back to for inspiration and humanity. When he does go back, however, he is saying, "We are in this together," and he is setting an example for others in the future who may be in a similar situation.

While the passage of a non-transinclusive ENDA may have been the safe, smart thing for gay and lesbian people to wish for, it will not be looked back on as any great achievement for them. It will be looked back on as a cold-hearted maneauver that left transgender people alone and vulnerable in the trenches.

So much for a great civil rights victory.

Wojahn Wins in District 1!

As reported by The Diamondback today, Patrick Wojahn, a civil rights lawyer, College Park resident and plaintiff in the state's recent same-sex marriage case, has won a District 1 seat on the College Park City Council.

Congratulations Patrick! It is great that there will now be a gay council member in the home city of the University of Maryland.

As a side note, College Park already offers domestic partner benefits, unlike the University of Maryland.

Queer and Feminism Lectures at UMDCP

“Queering Performance in Three Films: American Beauty, Being John Malkovich and Boys Don't Cry”

Lecture by Dr. Christine Holmlund
Professor of French, Cinema Studies and Women’s Studies
University of Tennessee

When: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8
Where: St. Mary's Hall Multipurpose Room, UMDCP

Also:

Dr. Holmlund will discuss "Feminism and Post-colonialism in French Cinema"
in Caroline Eades' FREN 699G Seminar

When: 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8
Where: Jimenez Hall 3120
All are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact:
Caroline Eades
301 405 4029
ceades@umd.edu