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News01.24.12 11.28.11
Every day this month, you will receive an email from the Progressive Slate, prompting you to vote for these five ideas. You can vote for the five ideas once a day. Please share this info with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter and your websites. Contact: Earl Fowlkes Phone: 202-841-7104 Email: jrfowlkes@aol.com 08.22.11 08.28.11 The International Federation of Black Prides Decries the Continued Acts of Violence Against Transgender Individuals in Washington, D.C. In 2006, an analysis from the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) titled 50 Under 30: Masculinity and the War on America's Youth, profiled the deaths of 43 transgender individuals between the ages of 13 and 30 finding that the District of Colombia had the highest number of reported incidents of violent acts committed against transgender individuals in the country. Unfortunately, between 2006 and 2011, the District of Columbia still struggles with its ability to stem the tide of violence committed against its transgender residents. The GenderPAC report found that youth of color account for 91% of victims for which race is known, with Black and Latino victims accounting for the vast majority (85%). This suggests that the intersection of race and gender non-conformity is crucial to increasing a young person's vulnerability to fatal assault. "The murders of Ukia Davis, 18, and Stephanie Thomas, 19, among others and the recent news of off duty D.C. police officer Kenneth Furr who is reported to have fired his service weapon and was charged with driving while intoxicated and assault with a dangerous weapon after a "confrontation" with several transgender individuals serve as critical reminders that despite recent gains in LGBT related equality in the District and around the country, much work still needs to be done. I am reminded as we celebrate honoring Dr. King's legacy of civil rights for all people with a statue on the Mall of the words from his famous 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and these acts of violence are just that an injustice, said Earl Fowlkes, President/CEO of the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBP). While we certainly applaud and recognize Mayor Gray's recent announcement regarding job training efforts targeting transgender individuals as a positive step towards improving the quality of life for Transgender communities, we must demand for more. Because the basis of what needs to be done has already been adequately presented by GenderPAC, the IFBP simply adds our voice by endorsing their recommendations. 1. Recognize and investigate gender-based assaults as hate crimes (police)"Saving the lives of transgender individuals is not just a legislative or policy issue, it's a people issue and our communities -- LGBT, heterosexual, African Americans, people of color and all colors, elected and appointed officials, business communities, civic and civil rights organizations, families, our next door neighbors and especially the police officers responsible for protecting us from violence have to stand together against the violence that is ravaging our communities and taking the lives of our young people – straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender alike. Together we must be vigilant against these cowardly acts and we must not turn a blind eye to this violence, no matter the perpetrator," said Dwayne Jenkins, IFBP Board Chair. Contact: Earl Fowlkes Phone: 202-841-7104 Email: jrfowlkes@aol.com Metro DC Queer People of Color Launches Its Inaugural Collaboration during Capital Pride WASHINGTON, DC (May 25, 2011)—The Metro DC Queer People of Color (QPOC), a group of current and past leaders and volunteers of several metro DC organizations of queer people of color have come together to organize a panel discussion which will be held during Capital Pride in June 2011—the first collaborative effort ever initiated by the queer people of color organizations, not only in the history of Capital Pride, but in the Metro DC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, and Questioning (LGBTQ) community. This panel discussion, “Celebrating Queer People of Color: Community, Activism, and Leadership”, is listed on Capital Pride’s official calendar of community events. The panel discussion will be held Monday, June 6, 2011, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, at The DC Center for the LGBT Community, 1318 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009. All members of the LGBTQ community and allies are welcome. The DC QPOC planning group, comprised of leaders from the Asian-Pacific Islander Queers United for Action (AQUA), DC Black Pride, DC Latino Pride Committee, International Federation of Black Prides, Inc., KhushDC, Latino GLBT History Project, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum DC Chapter (NAPAWF-DC), the National Black Justice Coalition, and Unid@s--The National Latina/o LGBT Human Rights Organization, has outlined the following objectives for the event: promote unity and inclusivity; celebrate communities; embrace diversity; and, foster leadership, activism, and coalition building amongst all members of the LGBTQ community in the Metro DC area. Nationally and locally recognized queer people of color community pioneers will present informative and inspiring point of view and discuss their work and leadership within their respective communities. Rashad Ullah, Vice President of KhushDC will moderate a panel discussion with the following speakers: • Earl Fowlkes, President and CEO of the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBP) • Ben de Guzman, Co-Director for Programs at the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) • Sapna Pandya, Executive Director, Many Languages One Voice and Co-Founder, Humsafar International • David M. Pérez, President of the Latino GLBT History Project and Co-Chair of the 5th Annual DC Latino Pride This event will include networking, a panel discussion and Q&A, and light refreshments. The DC QPOC planning group strongly encourages all interested LGBTQ individuals, organizations, community activists, leaders, volunteers and allies in the Metro DC area to come for an evening of networking and an informative panel discussion. Please feel free to distribute this announcement to your contacts. For more information about this panel discussion, please contact David M. Pérez, lead organizer, DC QPOC planning group, at dperez@LatinoGLBTHistory.com. Contact: David M. Pérez Phone: (202) 670-5547 Email: DPerez@latinoglbthistory.com Website: LatinoGLBTHistory.org |
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DCBP will present the Washington, D.C premeire of Leave It On the Floor on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at