I wrote about the stabbing of Samantha Hulsey as she and Rae Raucci debarked from the 49 Muni in San Francisco this past Saturday.
Police have identified the assailant as city resident Brodes Wayne Joynes, 54.
When I wrote about the incident, I referred to it as a "hate crime." Not so fast, say the San Francisco police. Joynes was arrested at the scene of the crime and was booked on an outstanding warrant, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of criminal threats with a hate crime enhancement. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Monica MacDonald said, however, that the attack was not currently being investigated as a hate crime, because "so far in the investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that Joynes targeted the victim based on her sexual orientation or gender identity."
MacDonald said that just because someone is yelling slurs as they commit a crime doesn't necessarily classify the incident as a hate crime.
My only thought was get away from this person, try your best not to die.
--Hulsey
I'd hate to think they're downplaying this as a hate crime because we're transgender and they don't understand that.
--Raucci
The women plan to appeal to the district attorney's office.
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Kay Long designs wedding dresses, evening gowns and costumes in Israel. She had a friend visiting from Madrid and decided to take her to Jerusalem's most holy site, the Western Wall. As Long approached the women's section, an Orthodox woman patrolling the site turned Long away, saying that the 6'7" trans woman was "not a woman." She then went towards the men's section, where her friend was, but they also yelled at me "not to come near, that the woman’s section was on the other side."
From an early age we are taught that if we place a note at the Kotel our prayers might be answered. All that’s left now is to take a picture and say a prayer from afar with the hope that it will be answered. Because God is everywhere and loves us all.
--Kay Long, on her facebook page, under the label, Dilemma
Her status post has gone viral, with plenty of supporters debating with a large number of detractors.
Long said she actually had no intention of praying at the Wall during her visit and "believes that it is more important for the Orthodox worshippers to be there than for her to make a scene."
The point is, I decided to respect humans wherever they choose to be, and they didn’t respect me.
--Long
Haaretz has also written about the incident.
A dilemma. I got to the Wall with a friend visiting from Madrid … from a young age they teach us that if we put a note in the Wall, the prayer that we leave there will come true. On the women’s side they wouldn’t let me into the Wall because I wasn’t a woman. On the men’s side, I couldn’t go in because I didn’t wear a kippa and because I’m not a man …. besides which, I don’t feel comfortable on that side of the wall anyway. All that was left for me to do was to take a photograph and say a prayer from afar. But God is everywhere and loves us all.
--Long, a la Haaretz
But should everything that upsets the ultra-Orthodox be banished from the Western Wall, or does the site belong to everyone?
This incident cuts even deeper than the Women of the Wall. Kay Long wasn’t asking to flout Orthodox custom at the main Western Wall plaza in any way, shape or form. She was merely asking to be there. And refusing to allow her to do so is a clear violation of her rights as an Israeli citizen - and as a human being.
--Haaretz
Gender separation at the Western Wall is harmful for transgender people. This is not the first story that we know of with transgender religious people that wanted to go to the Western Wall and pray and couldn’t.
--Elinor Sidi, director of Jerusalem's Open House, an LGBT community center
I’m not angry at religious people,” Long was quick to point out. “I understand what this event was about. I’ve gotten so many responses, emails and Facebook messages, and many are from religious women inviting me to the Western Wall to pray with them.
--Long
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The Pearl of Africa
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