HRC & Trans People of Color Coalition Release Report on Violence Against the Transgender Community

Today, HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) released A Time to Act: Fatal Violence Against Transgender People in America in 2017, a heartbreaking report documenting the often deadly violence faced by transgender people and exploring factors that have made this year the deadliest on record for the transgender community.

The report comes in advance of Monday’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors transgender people who lost their lives during the previous year, and amidst reports of a surge in hate-based violence and harassment that began during Donald Trump’s campaign, and continues under the Trump-Pence administration.

“The epidemic of violence against transgender people is an urgent crisis that demands the nation’s immediate attention,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The unique and tragic stories featured in this report reflect the obstacles that many transgender Americans — especially trans women of color — face in their daily lives. It is crucial that we know these stories in order to combat the transphobia, misogyny and racism fueling this violence so that we can end this epidemic before it takes any more lives.”

Since the start of the year, at least 25 transgender people have been killed in the U.S., the most on record. Eighty-four percent were people of color, and 80 percent were women. Since January 2013, HRC has documented at least 102 transgender people who were victims of fatal violence; at least 87 were transgender people of color. And these disturbing numbers likely underreport deadly violence targeting transgender people, who may not be properly identified as transgender.

“Each of the stories featured in this report is unique, tragic and devastating,” said TPOCC Executive Director Kylar Broadus. “Unpacking these stories is a difficult but necessary process if we as a society want to protect the most vulnerable and address the root causes for their unjust and premature deaths.”

The report explores many of the factors that can contribute to or facilitate fatal violence. In many instances, the violence is fueled by anti-LGBTQ prejudice, racism, too-easy access to guns and increasing political attacks on the transgender community at both the state and federal level. There are a number of actions lawmakers can take to address the violence, including enhancing law enforcement response and training; improving data collection and reporting; passing non-discrimination protections; and adopting common-sense gun violence protections.

Since the election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, there has been a notable increase in the vitriol and anti-transgender rhetoric — from the top levels of government down through the rest of American society. Seventy percent of respondents to HRC’s post-2016 election youth survey reported witnessing bullying and harassment during or since the 2016 election, and almost half of LGBTQ youth said they have taken steps to hide who they are since the election. FBI data released earlier this week recorded an overall increase in hate crimes in 2016, including a rise in bias-motivated violence based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Today’s release of A Time to Act: Fatal Violence Against Transgender People in America 2017 marks the conclusion of HRC’s commemoration of Transgender Awareness Week, which is dedicated to the progress and unfinished work in the fight for transgender equality. Earlier this week, HRC announced that more than 1,400 parents of transgender young people have signed a National Declaration of Rights in response to continued attacks on transgender equality. Throughout the week, HRC has been highlighting areas of focus and continued challenges for the transgender community, from workplace equality to access to inclusive and respectful health care.

On Monday, transgender people and their allies will gather in communities across the country to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance. For more information on Transgender Awareness Week and HRC’s work on transgender equality, visit: www.hrc.org/explore/topic/transgender.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-trans-people-of-color-coalition-release-report-on-violence-against-the?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

From the Ballrooms to the Big Time: Leiomy Maldonado

Renowned vogue superstar Leiomy Maldonado is more than just her hair toss.

www.advocate.com/current-issue/2017/11/17/ballrooms-big-time-leiomy-maldonado

Five Essentials For Your Hogmanay Party

Once the Christmas festivities are over, attention will quickly turn to New Year’s Eve. In Scotland, the celebrations are not just preserved for December 31st. Hogmanay lasts three to five days and involves street parties and fire festivals across the country.

While the origin of the word for this flamboyant celebration is still a little hazy, the traditions are strong and extremely fun.

If you want to celebrate Hogmanay in style, you need to add a few traditions to your party.

The Redding and Saining of the House

Cleaning rituals are part of every culture. Jewish tradition is to clean the kitchen for Passover, while Chinese families traditionally clean their homes right before New Year.

Similarly, as part of Hogmanay, the New Year is welcomed with a clean-up, as you will need to drive out the evil spirits before the year begins. When the cleaning is done, you’ll go through each room carrying a smoking juniper branch.

The smoke and the scent will chase away the bad stuff and help you start your year – and the party – without pestering evil spirits.

First-Footing for Future Fortunes

Hogmanay is closely associated with another fun tradition and that’s called the first-footing. The tradition is one in which the first person to enter your home after midnight on New Year’s Eve is supposed to bring gifts and a lump of coal.

Who the person is, is believed to affect your future fortunes, so choose carefully!

Traditional Hogmanay Foods

No party is a good party without some great food and drinks. Since Hogmanay is a huge Scottish festivity, the drink of choice is whisky. Serve it on its own or in cocktails – if it’s freezing cold, a hot toddy will be most welcome!

For food, you can’t have a proper Hogmanay without black bun. The fruitcake is garnished with raisins, almonds, cinnamon and black pepper. In fact, it’s often brought to parties as part of the first-footing ritual. You should also treat your guests to neeps and tatties, pairing this delicious potato and turnip dish with a steak pie.

Folk Music to Sing Along With

Music is an essential part of any party and Hogmanay is no different. You can respect the tradition by having a folk band play the best local tunes. The party must, of course, end with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne. This is the Hogmanay song, although no one really knows why!

At Freak Music we still have plenty of acts with availability for New Year’s Eve.

A Bonfire to Light Up the Night

Fire is a central part of Hogmanay and you should be looking to incorporate it into your party. You should have plenty of candles to add to the atmosphere of the party indoors, but outside, a bonfire would be the perfect addition, space and safety permitting!

If you can’t create a bonfire in the garden, you can always have big wooden logs lit up like candles for similar effect.

Celebrating Hogmanay in the traditional manner is the best way to welcome the New Year. What do you have planned for your party?

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/five-essentials-for-your-hogmanay-party_uk_5a0dc914e4b023a796fed49d

A Queer City Council Is Just the Beginning for Roaring Palm Springs

Everyone wants to be part of this hot spot’s latest reinvention.

www.advocate.com/current-issue/2017/11/17/queer-city-council-just-beginning-roaring-palm-springs

Japan Apologises After Train Leaves 20 Seconds Early And British Commuters Are In Shock
Japanese railways are famously efficient but a rare slip-up meant one train left a station 20 seconds early – prompting the publication of a heartfelt apology from the crew.

Though there were no customer complaints about the matter, the scandalous incident was disclosed on the Japanese Tsukuba Express website, along with assurances staff had been taught “basic actions to prevent recurrence.”

Meanwhile in Britain, commuters have been left nonplussed by the news, with Martin Kelly remarking that it had apparently occurred in an “alternate universe.”

“Public outcry in Japan because a train departed 20 seconds early. Imagine them having to put up with Southern Rail! Or any UK rail company for that matter!” tweeted Stuart Alker.

Alastair Stewart echoed the sentiment – tweeting directly at Southern Rail: “Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early. Read; weep; read; laugh.”

“Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early”. Read; weep; read; laugh. @networkrail @SW_Railway @SouthernRailUK
Public outcry in Japan because a train departed 20 seconds early. Imagine them having to put up with Southern Rail! Or any UK rail company for that matter!

November 16, 2017
This is an alternate universe: “On the bright side, anyone who missed the 9:44 a.m. Tsukuba Express because of the 20-second premature departure would have had to wait just four minutes for the next northbound train, according to the line’s timetable.” t.co/7j3cbA5ynR

November 17, 2017
Train is 20 seconds early leaving in Japan: “We are very sorry for our error.” Train is 2 hours late in the UK: “At least it’s not cancelled I guess…”

November 16, 2017
I’ve been to Japan a fair few times & the day our trains in the Uk run line they do in Japan will be a day to celebrate – more chance over here of a pig flying past your window

November 16, 2017
Peter Grafton added: “Train is 20 seconds early leaving in Japan: ‘We are very sorry for our error.’ Train is two hours late in the UK: ’At least it’s not cancelled I guess…”

Bilko sadly said: “I’ve been to Japan a fair few times and the day our trains in the UK run like they do in Japan will be a day to celebrate – more chance over here of a pig flying past your window.”

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/japan-apologises-after-train-leaves-20-seconds-early-and-british-commuters-are-in-shock_uk_5a0ebe7ce4b0dd63b1a9b78f

Sylvester Stallone Denies Historic Sexual Assault Of 16-Year-Old Fan

Sylvester Stallone has denied allegations of a historic sexual assault.

The actor has been accused of assaulting a 16-year-old fan back in 1986, after the Daily Mail uncovered a police report filed at the time. 

It alleged Stallone forced the girl into a threesome with him and his bodyguard, Michael ‘Mike’ De Luca, in a Las Vegas hotel room.

The case was later dropped after she decided against pursuing any charges.

girl also claimed he threatened to “beat her head in” her if she told anyone, according to the report. 

However, Stallone’s spokeswoman Michelle Bega described the allegations as “a ridiculous, categorically false story” in a statement issued to the publication.

“No one was ever aware of this story until it was published today, including Mr Stallone. At no time was Mr Stallone ever contacted by any authorities or anyone else regarding this matter,” she said. 

Laura Meltzer, a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was not able to confirm the authenticity of the report as the department’s records did not go back far enough, according to The Independent. 

However, she did say the formatting of the report was consistent with their procedures. 

The Mail Online also stated retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detective sergeant, John Samolovitch, claimed the officer’s report was authentic. 

The report said the girl alleged she met Stallone – now 71 – in July 1986, when she was staying that the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, where he was also staying during the filming of movie ‘Over the Top’.

This isn’t the first time Stallone has been accused of sexual assault.

In 2001, a woman filed a lawsuit against the actor, alleging he “forcibly pinned” her against a wall and tore her clothes at a fitness center, while in 2013, reports surfaced that he had paid off his late half-sister Toni-Ann Filiti to keep quiet about allegations that he had abused her for years. 

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sylvester-stallone-sexual-assault-fan_uk_5a0e9a25e4b0e97dffec8ec1