People of Faith CT

From Tonia Loconte:

Hello, social justice advocates, and supporters of equality. With the election coming up on Tuesday, November 4, I'm writing on behalf of a coalition of trans-activists and allies to ask people for a little bit of their time.

Can you make time during the next couple of weeks through election day, and help campaign for legislators who support ending discrimination in our laws based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression?

Many of you know that, for several years, we in the progressive community have been fighting to clarify Connecticut's anti-discrimination laws to protect all people regardless of their gender identity or expression. We want to add the phrase "gender identity and expression", as defined in Connecticut's "Hate Crime law", to all state statutes that address discrimination. This law would make it illegal to discriminate against people whose gender identity or expression doesn't match traditional social expectations in the areas of employment, housing, education, credit, public accommodations, and state licenses and benefits.

It's legal protection that we really need, even as we celebrate the recognition of same-sex marriage rights here in Connecticut.

Eight other states explicitly protect people based on gender identity/expression, along with 83 municipalities. Five other states and the District of Columbia protect transgender people from discrimination either judicially or administratively. There is also a substantial number of large and small corporations that protect their employees from this form of discrimination, and they are stronger organizations because of it. However, 63% of Americans still live in an area that does not ban discrimination based on gender identity or expression.

Connecticut needs to strengthen its commitment to equality regardless of gender identity or expression. We need to pass an inclusive anti-discrimination law.

Yes, there are a lot of amazing and strong and successful people out there who identify as transgender--they are tremendous role models of empowerment who have broken barriers created by the social construct of gender. Authors, mayors, actors, corporate executives, doctors, lawyers, activists...people in all walks of life. These individuals make our society stronger. However, studies, surveys and individual stories all show that a huge number of gender non-conforming people experience widespread discrimination. They suffer and struggle because they lack social and institutional supports. We're talking 40% unemployment rates and 50-60% poverty rates here.

Including here in Connecticut.

From teenagers to the elderly, far too many transgender people fall through the social cracks into homelessness, poverty and cultural marginalization because their expression of their gender does not conform to society's expectations of how men or women are supposed to act. Medical care facilities, educational institutions, youth group homes, sex-segregated housing accommodations, homeless shelters, even prisons...transgender people are routinely segregated, isolated, treated as second-class citizens, or simply denied services in each of these settings, because people don't know how to support them, and don't take the time to learn how to recognize and confront the prejudices that are causing the problem.

Meanwhile, people who do not identify as transgender are also afraid to violate the rules of gender presentation, lest they be stigmatized as "transgender" too. (As if that should be a stigma at all.) Our concept of appropriate gender roles and behavior runs deep, and it limits our options in life as to how we feel safe expressing ourselves. So it's an oppression that affects all of us, and this law would protect all of us.

We've come close to getting this law enacted in the past (especially in 2007, when it passed through several committees and was strongly supported in a Senate vote), but we've run into legislative roadblocks and filibusters, often because of a vocal minority that opposes this type of legislation.

What we need is a little more legislative support.

That's why we are asking people to GET INVOLVED NOW, by helping us support candidates who will work for equal rights in the LGBTI community, including anti-discrimination laws that cover "gender identity and expression." The upcoming legislative session won't be shortened this year (as it was in 2008), so we'll have a great opportunity to pass this law in 2009 if we all work together. Later on, there will be time to call legislators, prepare testimony, write letters, and take other actions to demonstrate support.

Right now, though, we need to help the right people get elected, so they can be there to support us later. The anti-discrimination bill has some bi-partisan support in Connecticut, but it needs more. It is important that our Connecticut legislators know that those supporting Trans Equality are willing to support them.

We're asking people to volunteer to make phone calls and go door-to-door, whenever they can make time. Volunteer on election day. Help these candidates get elected on November 4th so they will remember our issues, and reward our "sweat equity" by supporting us during next year's legislative session. Training materials for doing this work are available, and we'll be coordinating the efforts. There's also a list of close races we're focusing on at the bottom of this e-mail.

Please e-mail me if you think you can be involved. Or call me at 860-214-7442.

We are strong. We are determined. We can succeed. We each have the ability to talk to people, and raise their awareness.

Yes, that's right. We know we can succeed. Just look at the state Supreme Court's momentous and inspiring decision in Kerrigan v. Department of Public Health (it's a wonderfully written opinion) declaring that the institution of marriage must be made equally available to same- and opposite-sex couples, based on the equal protection guarantees of our state Constitution. Many people still can't believe they lived to see the day when such a thing would be possible. But folks worked for it, and worked for it, and it happened.

[Personally, I'm thrilled that the importance of social equality for gays and lesbians has been recognized, because any form of group oppression or second-class citizenship weakens society as a whole. The proof: On my blog, I talk about the decision, what its reasoning could mean, and the history that led up to it (see link at end of sentence), along with some groups' responsive efforts to amend our state constitution to allow "direct initiative" voting so that it will be harder to protect the rights of minorities, contraceptive and abortion rights, immigrants' rights, parole rights, etc. A reminder: please vote "NO" to Question 1 on election day!
http://hoppylegs.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/thoughts-on-the-past-present-and-future-of-the-connecticut-marriage-decision-now-is-the-time-to-support-gender-identity-and-expression-anti-discrimination-laws/]

It's incredible what kinds of social progress are possible when dedicated people put their minds to it, isn't it?

But there's more to do. So let's keep the momentum going, and keep building a better society. One that appreciates difference, where people can work together.

Please...get involved. Because equality and dignity are everyone's business.

For more information, check out www.transadvocacy.org. And, if you're wondering what to say to your legislator if you get the opportunity to talk to him or her personally about gender identity and expression, you can go to this link and click on "HB 5723 Q&A" and "HB 5723 Information Sheet" for some background and talking points: http://transequalityct.org/

Love Makes a Family (www.lmfct.org) has compiled a list of pro Trans-Equality candidates running for State Representative or Senator. This list of pro Equality candidates can be found by going to this address. http://www.lmfct.org/site/PageServer?pagename=LMF_PAC Not all of these races are competitive, though some key ones are listed below:

Senate

* Sen. Mary Ann Handley, 4th District, Bolton, Glastonbury, Manchester, Marlborough
* Art House, 8th District, Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury, Torrington
* Duane Perkins, 24th District, Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman
* John Hartwell, 26th District, Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Westport, Wilton

House

* Rep. Jason Bartlett, 2nd District, Bethel, Danbury, Redding (district overlaps with Duane Perkins and John Hartwell)
* Brett Eisenlohr, 17th District, Avon, Canton (district overlaps with Art House)
* Rep. Bryan Hurlburt, 53rd District, Ashford, Tolland, Willington
* Edward Krumeich, 151st District, Greenwich
* Matthew Lesser, 100th District, Durham, Middlefield, Middletown
* Jason Rojas, 9th District, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Manchester (district overlaps with Sen. Mary Ann Handley)
* Christopher Wright, 77th District, Bristol

Voting Resources

* Voter registration forms and Absentee ballot applications in English and Spanish may be found here, at the Secretary of State's website: http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=415810
* Polling places may be located here: http://www.vote411.org/pollingplacebystate.php
* Lists of Connecticut candidates for public office may be found here:
http://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/Report...

Thank you so much for your time. We look forward to hearing from you, and we're glad to know you're out there being supportive on this issue.

-Tonia Loconte
(860) 214-7442