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Today is the 13th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today is the 13th Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which hopes to raise awareness around the many who are killed in anti-transgender violence and hate crimes. Events marking TDOR are happening around the world today.

Autumn Sandeen at Pam's House Blend:

"221 people [have been] documented to be killed by antitransgender violence since November 20th of 2010. This year two cabinet secretaries sent out statements. This year the National Center for Transgender Equality and Gwen Smith—who founded TDOR—met at the White House to discuss the epidemic of antitransgender violence.

"TDOR grows in public significance each year. And each year, the number of recorded deaths grow. Like many in trans community, I spend much of November 20th in tears. When I’m not in tears, I’m on the verge of tears. There is no joy in the remembrance today of 221 deaths since last November."

A series of vigils and protests around the country have preceded TDOR. In Detroit on Friday: Friends, family and allies remembered 19-year-old Shelley Hilliard, whose charred torso was discovered on October 23.

In Washington DC on Thursday: Dozens of activists rallied to call attention to series of anti-trans attacks in our nation's capital. Since July, at least 20 trans women have been violently attacked, including the tragic killing of 19-year-old Lashai McLean who was gunned down on the street. Police have made no arrests

In addition to being at the greatest risk of violence, the murders of Black trans women are often unsolved. In recent  years on R20, we've seen plenty of the cases, such as the horrific daylight stabbing of Nana Boo Mack, Lateisha Green case, a transgender shooting in Milawukee, the fatal shooting in New Orleans, and several recent shootings in Memphis.

Black transgender women face "extreme discrimination and poverty", and are more than likely to suffer from violence, physical or sexual abuse, police brutality, HIV/AIDS and bullying, according to a first of its kind survey conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Black Justice Coalition.

There have been 755 reported murders of transgender people in 51 countries since January 2008, according to the Transgender Murder Project. The reported numbers are likely only a fraction of those who have been killed.

Today is 11th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today is the 11th Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which hopes to raise awareness around the many who are killed in anti-transgender violence and hate crimes. Events marking TDOR are happening around the world today.

Autumn Sandeen at Pam's House Blend: "As of yesterday morning, there are 119 documented deaths internationally that meet the criteria for inclusion for reading the list of the dead. That's just shy of an average of 10 known deaths a month. For those who are interested in U.S. deaths, I count 13 U.S. deaths on the list. For another year, that still averages to about one death a month in the U.S. due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice."

As has been mentioned many times on this page, the vast majority of anti-trans violence in the U.S. targets black and Latina trans women. The culprits of violence against black and Latina trans women are also most likely NOT to be caught or prosecuted. In recent months on Rod 2.0, we've seen plenty of the cases, such as the horrific daylight stabbing of Nana Boo Mack, Lateisha Green case, a transgender shooting in Milawukee, the fatal shooting in New Orleans, and several recent shootings in Memphis. Last week's case of the teen in Puerto Rico who was killed in a horrific fashion was also most likely a case of anti-transgender violence.

In related news: Tampa added "gender identity" to its anti-discrimination ordinance which already included sexual orientation.

More Charges on Seaman August Provost's Murder, Possible Motive in Sailor Suspect's "Crime Spree"

The Navy has filed a laundry list of violations against the sailor charged in the brutal shooting murder of Boatswain’s Mate Seaman August Provost, the black gay sailor killed while on duty at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th. The alleged crime spree reportedly committed Petty Officer Jonathan C. Campos—including murder, solicitation off murder, drugs and weapons violations—reads like the sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Natural Born Killers. The Navy Compass:

Charges preferred include alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military’s governing law code, over a period from May 1 to July 1 including: murder of Boatswain’s Mate Seaman August Provost III by shooting him with a pistol; use of illegal psilocybin mushrooms; breaking and entering into a private residence, and stealing electronic equipment, jewelry and a .45 caliber pistol; driving under the influence of alcohol; attempt to commit arson; wrongful possession of firearms; unlawful entry; unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon; stealing military property; arson; unlawful handling of a deceased individual; solicitation of a civilian to murder another Navy sailor, a Master at Arms assigned to ACU FIVE and to vandalize the sailor’s house; and unauthorized absence.

The 29-year-old Provost's body was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, reportedly bound, and his body burned. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black.

The Navy maintains this was not a hate crime and offers an alternative motive that dovetails previous Rod 2.0 reports: Provost was allegedly killed when a fellow servicemember, intent upon vandalizing a hovercraft,  tried to "rush" the guard shack. Authorities now reveal the 32-year-old suspect also knew Provost and served in the same unit—Assault Craft Unit FIVE—and was about to reprimanded for DUI. Campos has been in custody three weeks and military brass initially said this was a "random" act of violence.

The big question: How well Provost know Campos? Is the petty officer accused in this drug- and alcohol-fueled crime spree the "emotionally disturbed" and "deeply closeted" fellow sailor that allegedly feared being outed and threatened Provost? How and why are United States military personnel AWOL for weeks and soliciting the murders of civilians?

Thanks AUTUMN SANDEEN at PHB

White House Drafting Protections for Transgender Federal Employees

During a last week;'s White House conference call with Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, Rod 2.0 reported the Obama Administration would add gender identity as a protected class in federal hiring and promotions. The New York Times confirms Administration lawyers are "quietly drafting" the mandate, described as the "first-of-their kind barring workplace discrimination against transgender federal employees."

The guidelines will be in an updated federal handbook for managers and supervisors to be distributed and posted online in the next couple of months, and they could also be included in other materials for managers. They will list transgender people—those who identify their gender differently from the information on their birth certificates—as among several groups protected by antidiscrimination laws.

Though transgender men and women are not believed to make up more than a fraction of a percent of the federal work force, their inclusion in the discrimination guidelines is seen as a breakthrough by transgender and gay rights advocates. "The president is making a very clear statement that transgender people won’t be discriminated against," said Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Trans activist Autumn Sandeen at Pam's House Blend wrtes: "While I worked at the Veterans Administration I was an very out, very newly transitioned transsexual woman. Gender identity and expression was not a protected class while I was working at the VA: I could have been fired at any time for being transgender if my superiors determined that being transgender impeded me from doing my job effectively. Fortunately, that didn't happen. So, this upcoming change in federal regulations feels very personal to me."

Employment Non-Discrimination Act Passes 235-184, Heads to Senate

After languishing more than 30 years on Capitol Hill, the Democratic-led House of Representatives defied a veto threat from the White House and votes to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. By a vote of 235-184, the House passed HR 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), far short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a possible veto by President George W. Bush. The bill's future in the Senate remains unclear although Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are co-sponsors.

Doug Ireland at the Gay City News: "Despite the historic nature of Wednesday's vote the victory is likely not to calm the deep divisions that emerged within the LGBT community in the preceding six weeks. Many will judge the win Pyrrhic, at best, perhaps even a setback in the longer term."

HR 3685 does not include the protections based barring discrimination based on gender identity and expression that were in the bill originally introduced in February by the House's only two openly gay members, Democrats Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. Trans activists, such as Autumn Sandeen at Pam's House Blend, are not celebrating. "It sends me the message that effeminate men, emasculate women, and transgender people like me are just too problematic for Democratic Congressional Leadership to stand up and fight for.

Frank, the bill's sponsor, initially sought trans protection but that was dropped after many realized they did not have the votes, and, the trans policy could sink the bill. "I wish we had the votes in this House to ban discrimination of all sorts," says Frank. "I wish for a lot of things, but I will not act on my wishes irresponsibly,"

The Republican minority sought several procedural motions to derail the bill. One of the most eloquent speakers on the floor was Barney Frank, notes Chris Crain, who "talked about his own felt obligation to adopt ENDA to protect gays in 30 states who can be fired from their jobs based on nothing but their sexual orientation. He dismissed any suggestion that such a measure could have any impact on marriage laws, and pointed out the House had already adopted a friendly amendment that clarified ENDA would have no impact on the Defense of Marriage Act."

Above, civil rights veteran Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) argues in favor of HR 3685 and says America must protect its "gay brothers and sisters." Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) eloquently speaks in support of the Baldwin amendment that would add protections for trans people and is interrupted several times by her Republican colleagues. Jeremy at Good As You has more audio clips.

The roll call record of HR 3685 is here. Thirty-five Republicans joined 200 Democrats voting for the bill, which was approved. Voting against the bill were 25 Democrats and 159 Republicans. Of the 25 Democratic votes against the bill, seven (Clarke, Holt, Michaud, Nadler, Towns, Velazquez, Weiner) were cast because they did not include trans and gender identity protections. Two progressive Democratic representatives, Linda Sanchez (CA) and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, voted against the bill in committee, because of its lack of trans inclusion, but, ultimately supported the bill.

Some Background ...
News: ENDA, Methodists Go Trans [R20]
House Committee Passes ENDA [R20]
Guest Commentary: Rod McCullom [Logo]
Pelosi Guarantees House Vote on "Inclusive" ENDA [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Hillary: The Advocate Interview [R20]
Obama on McClurkin to "The Advocate" [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Obama Conference Call [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Morning After [R20]