I spent some time this afternoon working with the audio file that I made from the hearing. I’ve split it up into Chapters – each devoted to the testimony of one or two witnesses. This Podcasty-thing process is new for me but I think I’m getting the hang of it. Even so, I expect to be tinkering with it for a while….
- Part 1: Introduction, Testimony of Reps. Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank
- Part 2: Witness Bios, Testimony from Diane Schroer, Diego Sanchez
- Part 3: Testimony of JC Miller, Partner at Thompson Hine
- Part 4: Testimony of Dr. Bill Hendricks, Dow Chemical Company
- Part 5: Testimony of Glen Lavy, Sr. Council for Alliance Defense Fund
- Part 6: Testimony of Sabrina Marcus Taraboletti, former Space Shuttle Engineer
- Part 7: Testimony of Shannon Price Minter, Legal Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights
- Part 8: Q&A (the first few minutes)
If you weren’t able to catch today’s events online, it’s well worth taking the time to listen to these historic proceedings.
Other observations already online:
- Autumn Sandeen has already posted her initial thoughts as an on-site observer on Pam’s House Blend. (Read them here)
- HRC posted their observations on the HRC Backstory Blog (Read it here). There’s already a post-hearing video on YouTube with HRC Business Council members Diego Sanchez and Meghan Stabler.
There’s an article in today’s Huffington Post penned by HRC prez Joe Solmonese (read it here). He doesn’t say anything people reading this probably don’t already know. But when said in the context of today’s events it carries more weight. At least it does with me. Today is a day to celebrate community, not to squabble.
My friends at Out and Equal Workplace Advocates were quick to release a statement about this morning’s events:
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates applauds historic congressional committee hearing on gender identity in the workplace
June 25, 2008 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to advancing LGBT workplace equality, applauds the House Committee on Education and Labor’s subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions first ever congressional hearing on gender identity in the workplace on Thursday, June 26 at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ) will chair the hearing focusing on gender identity and discrimination against transgender employees.
Among those on the speaker list is Shannon Minter, the transgender man who is the legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights who recently argued on behalf of marriage equality in California, and Diane Schroer, a transgender veteran who was denied a job as a national security analyst when she transitioned. Also speaking will be a transgender employee from a Massachusetts HIV/AIDS service organization, as well as a representative of a Fortune 500 company that protects its employees against gender identity discrimination.
“As a nation we embrace the ideals that it is unlawful to base employment decisions on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” said Selisse Berry, founding executive director of Out & Equal. “It’s time that the federal government takes a fair-minded stance by endorsing workplace equality for ALL American workers. Employees should be judged on their performance, skills and abilities, not their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Studies show LGBT workplace discrimination is caused by a reaction to gender expression, not actual knowledge that someone is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The current ‘sexual orientation’ only language does not cover a large portion of the discrimination LGBT employees face. In the absence of inclusive language, a glaring loop-hole has been created that needs to be closed to ensure equitable work environments for all.
I’ll be in San Francisco this weekend. This press release came out this morning:
The Golden Gate Business Association, the SF LGBT Community Center, and United ENDA California host special Pride reception 12PM Friday @ the SF LGBT Center w/ national transgender leader Donna Rose
San Francisco, Calif. (June 26, 2008) – Kicking off Pride weekend in San Francisco, the GGBA, the SF LGBT Center, and United ENDA CA of will be hosting a special reception for Donna Rose, the former Human Rights Campaign (HRC) director who resigned last year over ENDA. Ms. Rose will be the keynote speaker for this year’s TransMarch, the first of three parades in San Francisco celebrating the LGBT community.
The Fifth annual Trans March has taken on a civil rights theme this year and will be “Marching for a Gender Inclusive ENDA and Removal of Gender Identity Disorder as a Mental Illness”. This grass-roots event will take place on Friday June 27th 2008, in Dolores Park, with festivities starting at 3pm. Donna Rose is scheduled to speak at 6:30pm and the march will begin at 7pm.
What: Lunch with national transgender leader Donna Rose
When & Where: Friday 6/27 @ 12PM @ the SF LGBT Community Center
If you’re in the area I’d love to see you there. Don’t think for a minute that the events of today haven’t had an effect on what I expect to say tomorrow.
I expect to update this entry with the rest of the audio from the Hearing later today. And, I’ve got a new pic of the pups to share. 
I’ve seen some debate about who would get credit for today’s hearing. Few are more responsible than you are, Donna, but I’d like to think it was a community effort. I have heard no voices out there opposing the holding of hearings from our community. There may have been some, but I haven’t heard them. This is more evidence of how much further we get quicker by our working together. You’ve mentioned this before, Donna, and this is a good example of it.
In another article, people commented how moved they were. I too was deeply moved by today’s hearings, and from some of the comments by Mr. Frank. In fact, I called Mr. Ratalco in Congressman Frank’s office, and left a word of gratitude and appreciation on his voice mail. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
Congressman Andrews said that things some times move, “glacially” in Congress. Perhaps, but they are moving.
Thank you, Donna, for all that you do.
Superb. Now I can write my congressman Chris Smith R-NJ about this issue. I just sent him a nice check . Thank you! Eileen
I also would like to thank you, too. You have been very motivating for me and others. I do hope that the HRC does come around, I still don’t trust them but will be giving them another chance in my mind as if it mattered any. I have not had a chance to hear the audios as I don’t have the power it takes to download them in a timely manner. By the time I download them, they will all ready be in the history books. Thank you very much Donna.
Sheila
Having seen the HRC snub the TG community through the Nineties and then their stunning betrayal and infuriating spindoctoring last fall, nothing that Joe Solomonese and Company could say would make me believe their intent is to do anything other than to stop the hemorrhaging of HRC $upport. If they truly support us they would have encouraged Pelosi and Frank to pull the bill from the floor — the introduction of which was suspiciously timed with Pelosi and Frank’s scheduled honoring at HRC dinners — and waited until they did have the votes to pass the bill they said from 2004 until now they would “never” leave us out of. Now all the rationalizing I’m hearing about “incremental” rights smacks of insincerity: “Gee, honey I was going to pull out before I climaxed but the phone rang and startled me.” Until Solomonese, Smith and their ilk are gone, the HRC will never see anything but condemnation from me. I can’t and won’t believe liars when there is so much at stake. We won’t get fooled again!
I hate to be a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, but a lot of people are thanking you for helping put this hearing together. I’m confused. What DID you do to make this happen? I didn’t see your name come up in all of this. Can you let me know what I missed?
[...] first time ever this week. If you missed it on C-SPAN (I did), Donna Rose has audio of the hearings here. If you’d prefer to read it, NTCE has transcripts [...]
Interesting, Monica, that you ask what Donna has done to make a congressional hearing happen on transgender discrimination. If you’ve followed Donna’s blog, know Donna, have heard her speak, you’ll know that she is NOT a self-promoter. While she has not been in the media spotlight pushing Congress to pass an inclusive-ENDA, she has worked TIRELESSLY behind the scenes. Interesting that you’ve missed that she was the ONLY transgender person on HRC’s Board of Directors, AND co-chaired one of their IMPORTANT committees. Interesting that you MISSED the fact that she immediately resigned from the HRC Board of Directors when HRC agreed to remove the T from an LGBT ENDA. She has been invited to speak at important LGBT events around the country and has been interviewed by MANY media outlets, including NATIONAL outlets. She lives and breathes inclusion and transgender education. What has Donna done to help make an inclusive-ENDA happen? ARE YOU KIDDING???????? As the co-founder of the TAVA, you DON’T know?????? Wow – time for a wake-up call, sista!
It was the result of many small efforts on the part of a lot of people we don’t see in the news,but have worked surley and silently over the years.If the movers and shakers who had someting to do with it no group was more represented than the folks from NCTE who have been
priming the pump for such action for quite a while. I noticed many others there who have been working for the same objective ,each in their own way. I also feel that the occurance had to do with the 2007 passage by a hugh majority of a Trans Non Discrimination Law in the State of New Jersey from which Congressman Andrews represent the 1st District.
Not the time to be reaping points ,but to join together in focusing our efforts on the development of more efforts like this to achieve the equity and equality we deserve.
First of all, thank you Donna for all of your tireless effort on behalf of our community. Regarding the portion of your blog that read “[Solomonese] doesn’t say anything people reading this probably don’t already know. But when said in the context of today’s events it carries more weight. At least it does with me. Today is a day to celebrate community, not to squabble,” I must say I find it very difficult to trust the HRC with Solomonese and Smith running things. The betrayal of our community last autumn should never have been allowed to happen. This hearing should have happened *before* HR 2015 went to the floor, not after the gay-only bill passed. After watching the HRC boldly exclude us from ENDA from the 90’s until 2004, then promise they’d “never” support an ENDA that excluded us, I find it hard to credit them for anything after the betrayal last autumn. Right now I feel like the trans community is in the position of the wife of a sole breadwinner who cheated on her, who feels she must stay with her philandering husband because he promises that’s all behind them now, and she wants to try to hold the family together for “the sake of the kids.” The HRC will have to do more than petition for hearings and make the right noises; it needs to push hard to get us back into ENDA one way or another.
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