Get DART to Amend its Non-discrimination Policy!

"DART stands accused of bigotry and transphobia after attorneys for the local transit agency intervened in family court last year to challenge a gender-marker change granted to an employee." Read the full article here on the Dallas Voice's Instant Tea blog:

http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_12507.php


There is a board meeting at the Headquarters of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) taking place on Tuesday March 9th from 6:30pm to 9:30 at 1401 Pacific Avenue in the DART Akard Station Board Room.

There are several organizations co-sponsoring this meeting:

Transgender Foundation Of America (TFA)
http://tgctr.org/tfa/

Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)
http://www.tentex.org/

LULAC 4871 - The Dallas Rainbow Council
http://www.lulac4871.org/
LULAC4871@aol.com

Legacy of Success Foundation (LOSF)
http://www.losf.org/
losfjai@yahoo.com

Equality Texas
http://www.equalitytexas.org/

For more information contact:

Kelli Busey
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA)
http://dallastaa.ning.com
972-693-1988
kellibusey@yahoo.com

Latisha McDaniel
Equality March Texas (EMT)
http://equalitymarchtexas.org/
equalitymarchtexas@yahoo.com


Many people are upset by this and I urge you to attend the meeting to see about getting DART to amend its non-discrimination policy. Please come out and show your support and concern for the trans community. They are a wonderful part of our community.

Hope to see you there,
Liv

Join the Equality March Coalition!

Call me lazy if you will, but I'm copying & pasting this from my own personal blog:

Remember this?



Good, the memory is still fresh. From this event sprung the group, Million Gay March Texas, which has since renamed itself to Equality March Texas (to be more inclusive.) This organization is well on its way to becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit! They are planning another march, this time taking it out of the gayborhood and also renaming it to be more inclusive. They are holding an organizational meeting to gather the same coalition of people who helped pull off the first march with such great success as well as others who would like to be apart of the event. The meeting will be at the Resource Center of Dallas in the Blue and Yellow Room, Saturday March 13th from 2pm-4pm, I think it will be on the weekly basis. Mark your calenders and get involved!

~Liv

Video: I found this on Mandrake Society Radio's website. My friend JW Richard did an awesome job covering the event! He's also a member of EMT, as well as an advocate for African American and lgbt artists, check him and the Fahari Arts Institute out!

1st Annual Holocaust Candlelight March Video

Please check out this video from the 1st Annual Holocaust Candlelight March:



"This video documents a vigil hosted by Equality March Texas that took place in Dallas on Jan. 27th, 2010 to honor the thousands of LGBT men and women who were persecuted during the Holocaust. It has never been more important to remember these people and educate others, especially in the face of potential genocide of LGBT people in Uganda." - video description from the Youtube page and Equality March Texas's Facebook page.

Liv~

Creating Change 2010

Hello, hello! I'm back from volunteering for one of the most awesome events ever I've been to: the 22nd Creating Change Conference!









This year, the Creating Change Conference, which is hosted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force was held from February 3rd to the 7th at the Sheraton hotel in Downtown Dallas. Let me tell you that this event was amazing!!!! There was so much to do and see, just impossible to do/see it all. It was just great to be there with so many LGBT activists from across the globe. There were many workshops to attend and learn skills to help move forward our mission towards equality. Themed hospitality suites were available to relax, meet and greet other activists and allies: Bi, Youth, Trans, People of Color, the list goes on. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was provided in each of these suites. There were even gender-neutral restrooms!













There were films being screened, I personally had the opportunity to catch some of a film called "Two Spirit" which enlightened me on some Native American culture and their take on homosexuality from within their culture. There was also a Mas-Queer-Ade Ball for youths 24 and under which was pretty interesting, though I didn't stay long.





There were also day-long institutes discussing many topics: Sexual Liberation, Bisexual/Pansexual/Fluid Organizing, Empowering People of Faith, Old and Fearless: Aging, Ageism and the LGBT Community, Building Bridges Across Our Communities: People of Color Organizing Institute for Intermediate Activists, Voice & Action: Young Adult Leader Institute, New Media Training Institute and so many more!!!!

Workshops, academy sessions and caucuses were held over various topics from Aging, AIDS/HIV to Racial Justice, School Issues, to Workplace and Youth and everything in between. On the last day there was a brunch to close out the conference, Kate Clinton entertained us with her wit and there was a performance by the AMAZING dance troupe Vogue Evolution. It was a buffet of learning, networking, supporting and understanding, organizing and just plain fun going on, it was incredible! It was so awesome, I can't truly sum it up in words. I hope that those who didn't get to attend or volunteer will do so for the next one, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bring a plenty of warm clothes. Hope to see you there!

<3 Liv

1st Annual Holocaust Candlelight March

Hello everyone!

January 27th is Holocaust Memorial Day and this year in Dallas, will be the first of what is to be the Annual Holocaust Candlelight March. It will hosted by Equality March Texas. The march will take place Wednesday January 27, 2010 at 7 pm starting from the *fountain on Preston (Oaklawn) and Armstrong to the Warwick Melrose Hotel.

*Those of you who wish to take the shuttle to the fountain please meet us at the back entrance of the Melrose Hotel, (it is recommended that you park your car nearby in the gayborhood and walk to the Melrose Hotel to catch the shuttle.) near valet. The shuttle will start making trips at 6 pm to about 6:45 pm, then at 7 pm we'll begin the march. I suggest you take advantage of this, otherwise you'll have to find a way to the fountain.

There will be a short video presentations and speakers on the Holocaust, how it affected the LGBT community and a current related issue: Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill. There will also be seating and refreshments provided. Please come out and support this event. Thank you!

01/26/10 UPDATE!
I just received this from Latisha McDaniel, co-founder of Equality March Texas:

There is possible rain in the forecast but the event will go on! If it is raining around the time of the event, we will still be meeting at the Warwick Melrose Hotel for refreshments and presentations. Please don't let a lil rain scare you away. JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT!!!

Hope to see you there!
Tisha

Queer Carols

Rudolph the Homo Reindeer

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen

Comet, and Cupid, and Donner, and Blitzen

But do you recall the most flaming reindeer of all?

Rudolph the homo reindeer

Sometimes liked to dress in drag

And when the others saw him

Some would say he was a fag

All of the other reindeer

Used bully him each night

They wouldn't give poor Rudolph

All the reindeer civil rights

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

Rudolph since you act so gay

We wish you would just go away

Then how the reindeer beat him

And they shouted out with glee

And Rudolph the homo reindeer

Died alone in an alley

Let it Snow!

Well the weather outside is frightful

And bigots can be spiteful

On a cold day in hell they'll slow

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

The way that things are today

You can be fired for being gay

No job security you know

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight

How I hate to go out in the dark

If the bigots catch me tonight

They'll leave me to die in the park

Gay youth are suiciding

Cuz they're so tired of hiding

They feel they've no place to go

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Gay and lesbian trans and straight

Jesus won't discriminate

Jesus loves the little children of the world

Deck the Halls

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

tis the season to be jolly
fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

if we don our gay apparel
fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

then we put our lives in peril
fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Wedding Bells I (melody: Jingle Bells)

Dashing to the polls

In a vote that stole away

Our Court-determined rights

Just because we're gay

But bells one day will ring

Good folks will see the light

Majorities should never vote

On other's civil rights

(chorus)

Wedding Bells, wedding bells

We deserve them too

Oh what fun if we could have

Marriage rights like you

Wedding Bells, wedding bells

We deserve them too

Oh what fun if we could have

Marriage rights like you

We Wish You a Merry Xmas

We wish you would let us marry

We wish you would let us marry

We wish you would let us marry

And adopt children too

Lesbian, gay, transgendered and bi

We're all simply human, we laugh and we cry

We wish you would repeal DOMA

We wish you would repeal DOMA

We wish you would repeal DOMA

Don't-ask-don't-tell too

L-G-B-T and queer fa-mil-ies

This second-class status

OY! It must CEASE!

We wish you would vote for ENDA

We wish you would vote for ENDA

We wish you would vote for ENDA

And hate crimes bills too

Lesbian, gay, transgendered, and bi

We're all simply human,

we laugh and we cry

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEFOLK

God rest ye merry, gentlefolk, let nothing you dismay,

Remember equal rights were born within the USA

To save us all from prejudice when we were so betrayed.

(refrain)

O tidings of marriage and love, marriage and love;

O tidings of marriage and love.

Through bigotry and hate and lies the tyrants fought us down

Yet here we are a people fighting back to hold our ground

Until the day when civil rights abound for all around.

(refrain)

May hope and peace live in in your house to brighten all your days,

Show justice and equality to lesbians and gays,

For we are all one family despite our different ways.

(refrain)

God rest ye merry, gentlefolk, let nothing you dismay,

Remember equal rights were born within the USA

And we must fight the prejudice that darkens every day,

And hope send you all a good new year, happy new year!

Full of temperance, compassion and good cheer.

Up in the Rose Room

Up in the Rose Room
drag queens cry
Out jumps good old Jenna Skyy.
Down to the runway
she takes her stride,
Cheering the crowd on
side to side

Oh, ho, ho!
On with the show!
Ho, ho, ho!
And Gay Bingo!
Spotlights and sound bytes,
click, click, flash!
Dancing a quick change,
What a bash!

Silent No More (melody: Silent Night)

Silent no more

Opening doors

Hate destroys

Love restores

We are your chil-dren

We are your friends

We are your family

We are your kin

Love will lead us to peace

Love will lead us to peace

Silent no more

Opening doors

All will sing

All will soar

Rouse communities

Maverick queers

Equal protection: a message so clear

We want our civil rights please

We-want our civil rights please

Drummer Boy

Come they told me- pa rum pum pum pum

Their lives we're honoring- pa rum pum pum pum

With candles bright we sing- pa rum pum pum pum

In memory of our kin- pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

So to honor them- pa rum pum pum pum

We have come

Matthew Shepard- pa rum pum pum pum

Harvey and Lawrence gone- pa rum pum pum pum

Brandon and Gwen we cry- pa rum pum pum pum

So many precious lives - pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Shall we sing for you- pa rum pum pum pum

In u-nison

We'll raise our voices- pa rum pum pum pum

We'll tell your stories- pa rum pum pum pum

The violence we bear- pa rum pum pum pum

This loss and pain we share- pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

HATE we'll conquer- pa rum pum pum pum

With our LOVE

Wedding Bells II (melody: Silver Bells)

Cities, suburbs, rural settings

Dressed in rainbow decor

In the air there's a feeling of queer pride

Gays uniting, candle lighting

Rallies, vigils, and cheer

One day ever-y-body will hear

(chorus)

Wedding bells, wedding bells
E-quality in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon marriage rights for us all

Fam-il-ies, friends, all your neighbors

Let them know who you are

Only then will they make the connection

For the children, for the future

Be courageous and brave

If we join hands and voices we'll hear

(chorus)

WE BEFORE YOU

(We Three Kings)

We before you plead as we cry

Scorned, reviled, questioning why

Harrowing, hiding, bleeding, dying,

A cold world turns idly by.

(chorus)

O-oh,

A heart to hold

A hand to keep

Warmth and love

Both pure and deep;

Thrust aside unjust divides

A soul alone has cause to weep.

Some claim morals prove that they're great

Gives them cause to rule on our fate

Blindly condemning, judging and damning

What kind of god chose hate?

(chorus)

Ties that bind both heal and renew

Worlds shine when lovers are true

Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers

Hurt from injustice too.

(chorus)

Gay and Jolly Xmas

Have a gay and jolly X-mas;
It's the best time of the year,
Oh let's go and catch a show,
Or hug your local queer.

Have a gay and jolly X-mas;
and when you walk down the street
say Hello to queens you know
and everyone you greet.

Hey, ho', the mistletoe
hung where you can't see;
Somebody grab that twink
and kiss him once for me.

Have a gay and jolly X-mas,
and in case you didn't hear,
oh by golly, have a gay and
jolly X-mas this year.

Rocking around the Xmas tree

Rocking around the X-mas tree
at the dear old queer old block
Fairy lights hung where you can see
and the couples goes to shop

Rocking around the pubs and clubs,
let the festive spirits soar
Later we'll toast the new year in
as we dance across the floor.

You may get a sentimental
feeling when you hear
Friends all singing let's be jolly,
deck the bars with boughs of holly

Rocking around the X-mas tree,
have a happy holiday
Everyone living merrily
'cause we're here and queer and gay!

Why do we sing?

We sing because we are American citizens who have are not given the same rights, privileges, and protections as other American citizens.

Employment Discrimination

In over half the US it is not illegal to fire someone based on sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) people are fired when their orientation is discovered. Employment should be based on merit and hard work, not who you love. There are no employment protections for LGBT people in the state of Texas.

Hate Crimes

A hate crime is a crime in which a victim is selected because of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender expression or identity, disability, or sexual orientation of any person. Hate crimes send a message that certain groups of us are not welcome and unsafe in a particular community. As a result, studies indicate that hate crimes have more serious psychological effects on the victims and the communities they represent than do other crimes. In more than half of the US (including Texas), LGBT victims are not protected by hate crime laws.

LGBT Suicide

LGBT youth are 3 times more likely to commit suicide. The homophobic society we live in makes LGBT teenagers the victim of teasing, hate crimes, and feelings of self hate and shame.

Marriage Equality

There are a variety of reasons why we want to be able to marry whomever we chose. LGBT partners are denied hospital visitation rights, immigration privileges, adoption opportunities, and over 1,100 other legal rights allotted to married couples.

Adoption Rights

Adoption by LGBT parents is illegal in 5 states and ambiguous in most of the others. Studies have long shown that LGBT parents are just as qualified to be great parents are heterosexual parents. The important thing is that a child is provided with a loving, nurturing environment.

Global Issues

Homosexuality is illegal in over 80 countries. Penalties range from fines, to labor camps, to prison sentences to death. We sing because we want a world in which people are free from oppression and allowed to love whomever they choose without fear of dire consequences.

Join the Impact – Dallas

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