Tag Archives: transgender

Law Enforcement and the Transgender Community Video

Recently the Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) launched a new roll-call training video, “Law Enforcement and the Transgender Community,” that models best practices for police interactions with transgender individuals.   Even though this video was developed for law enforcement it has a lot of good information for anyone interested in basic information about transgender folks.

Here is the video:

 

transflagheart

PFLAG National was part of the coalition which helped put this video together.   For more transgender information including how to be an ally for transgender folks, go to:
https://www.pflag.org/transgender

 

~ Marcie

 

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance is commemorated on November 20th each year as a day to remember the transgender folks who have been killed as a result of transphobia and hate.  There are way too many of them, and many of the murders remain unsolved.

 

TDOR2014

According to Gwendolyn Ann Smith, the founder of TDOR, “The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.”

Kitsap Pride is Sunday July 21st – Let’s Celebrate!

You may have heard about some of the larger lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride events, like Seattle, and these are a lot of fun.  However, for the past 17 years Kitsap County has had its own unique event – Kitsap Pride is a Pride event that celebrates community with Kitsap County style.  The event started as a potluck picnic, and has grown into a festival attended by hundreds of community members.

This year’s event on Sunday July 21st is a chance to celebrate some big advances towards equality, such as Washington State voting in state recognition of same-sex marriage, and at the federal level the Supreme Court’s historic striking down of a significant part of the Defense of Marriage Act.  Since so many folks in Kitsap County are federal employees, these two events add up to many local married gay and lesbian couples having the same employee benefits as their heterosexual married coworkers.  I hope to see many happy couples celebrating at Evergreen Park on Sunday!

Even without the historic milestones, Kitsap Pride is a meaningful and affirming community event – a place to listen to local musicians, enjoy food, visit vendors, and best of all to be with friends.

For more information about Kitsap Pride go to www.kitsappride.org

or on Facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/kitsappride

 

~ Marcie