When I have somewhat good news, the interest is generally negligible, but I'll give it a shot.
Just, you know, STFU the next time you feel like telling me that all I write about is negativity. Clearly that was not the case last evening and today.
The good news comes from Chicago, Mexico City, and Bangalore. We'll save the bad news from Kuala Lumpur for some other time.
Dateline Chicago:
Alderman Proco (Joe) Moreno reportedly will introduce an ordinance at the Chicago City Council's March meeting that would mandate a police policy concerning interactions with transgender people who are detained. Included in the ordinance will be the creation of a commission, appointed by the mayor, to oversee the treatment of transpeople who have been arrested.
It's a human rights issue.
--Ald. Moreno
Moreno added that the ordinance is intended to address a "hole in the policy of the police of Chicago."
For years transpeople have complained about being harassed and misgendered by police officers. That has created a air of distrust in all community interactions with the police, including cases when the transpeople are the victims of crimes rather than suspects.
We can't expect our police department to deal with a segment of the population if they're not trained in how that segment wants to be addressed.
--Moreno
Sure we can, Joe. It's called common courtesy.
Efforts to create the policy began a couple of years ago after transwoman was arrested for solicitation while she was grocery shopping.
The reality is that the most vulnerable people are the ones most frequently interacting with the police. The police don't have the proper tools, which is what I think brings them to the table with us.
--Jennifer Ritter, executive director of Lakeview Action Coalition
LAC's policy work was inspired by pre-existing policies around the country, most notably Washington D.C. which has had a transgender police policy for the last five years.
I read the last part and cringe inside, however, given the current state of affairs in the District, which is currently striving mightily to top the nation in the murder rate of its transgender residents while struggling to address community outrage.
Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda believes the commission addresses that concern.
Martinez said that activists found one major flaw in the D.C. policy--it lacked oversight from the community, making enforcement precarious.
If passed, the commission would consist of 6 representatives of the trans community and 5 people representing CPD.
Nearly 80 local organizations are said to back the plan, including the 30 member groups of the LGBT Citywide Coalition.
Dateline Mexico City:
Diana Sanchez Barrios is running for a seat on Mexico City's municipal assembly
The following video below is in Spanish, but the video I found in English was quite disrespectful. How could comparing us to farm animals not be?
Okay...video removed because it insists on running automatically and I don't know how to change that. Link is here.
It makes all the sense in the world for Mexico City to have a legit LGBT advocate mostly because the gays are such a big part of the city. Diana has a blue collar background and, from what I can tell, la prole's support. Hopefully she'll win herself that congress seat.
--Guanabee
Elections are on July 1. Her
Facebook page is here.
Dateline Karnataka (India):
The Karnataka High Court has appointed a transwoman as an employee…a first. C Anu received aa appointment letter from Justice Altamas Kabir of the Supreme Court for a job in the Group D category (no, I don't know exactly what that means). Justice Kabir described the appointment as the high point of the valedictory ceremony of the Mega Lok Adalats. Justice kabir indicated that transgenders need to be recognized in different spheres of life and so jobs should be provided for them in local government departments. The Karnataka HC employs approximately 5500 people.
Anu, who declined to talk with the press, is described as being around 24 and a resident of Bangalore. Anu has been associated with development activities for the transgender community and has worked with groups in health-related areas.
Anu began her new job on February 6.
For the past year Justice Kabir and Karnatak HC Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen have pursued the goal of identifying a transperson to offer a job, in an effort to empower transgenders.
The whole idea is to bring them to social mainstream and to destigmatize transgender community. They are socially ostracized and therefore deprived of all opportunities of normal living.
--P Krishna Bhat, Registrar General of the High Court
I have full faith in the appointment and it is very much a positive development.
--Santosh Hegde, former Lok Ayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman)
We have reservation in post graduate courses for the sexual minority. We have reserved one seat in 52 disciplines. We have requested the Government to have reservations in the undergraduate levels also. What the judiciary has done is a good move.
--Bangalore University vice-chancellor Dr. N. Prabhududev
This is a welcome development. It is very positive. It will help the eradication of discrimination in the society.
--Pramila Nesargi, former chair of the Karnataka State Women Commission
