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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2003)
_may 2 . 2 ÛÛ 3 • Jaat a a tj, 3 L'In:* I ; ivj 4.1 mews T ranslation group of trans activists will con duct a 90-minute “Symposium on Gender Identity” for state leg islators and their staffs May 9 in Salem. Lawmakers learn language lesson on gender identity “A s far as we know, this is the first time that by John R. Oshin a state organization...has developed a sympo sium or a panel specifically for legislators,” says Melissa Shepherd, Basic Rights Oregon pro gram coordinator. Formal invitations to the breakfast meeting were issued April 24. At least 17 legislators have confirmed their attendance so far. BRO has introduced two hills this legislative session. Senate Bill 786 bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender iden tity in employment, housing, public accommo dation, public assistance and education. S B 816 fjfri adds gender identity to the state’s hate crimes law, which already includes sexual orientation. The hate crimes hill also has been intro « duced as House Bill 3356. The House Judiciary .. Vi Committee took testimony from nine support ers during a hearing April 23. The panel was planned after some of BR O ’s strongest allies in the Legislature indicated they needed more education on these issues, espe safe. A nd there cially regarding proper language use. isn’t really any “I’m excited that there are legislators who thing in terms of asked us to put a symposium on,” says Jennifer, law that would pro a member of BRO ’s Trans Advisory Group who tect me from that, requested that her last name not be used. as it stands now.” “There are a lot of legislators out there who Jennifer’s as have been friendly for some time toward gay sumed gender iden and lesbian issues. But gender identity is pretty tity at birth was new to most of them.” male, and she lived During the symposium, advisory group as male for 30 years. members will introduce working definitions of stronger allies,” Shepherd observes. “It’s excit “I knew that I wasn’t happy with my gender terms such as “transgendered.” Portlander ing that we have a Trans Advisory Group that from the time I was about 6,” she explains. “ I Kaelin Bowers, 37, will explain the difference is capable of presenting this information, that is was completely ignorant about the possibility between “gender identity” (who you are) and so involved in this process that we can do it of transitioning until I was maybe 28 or 2 9 .... “sexual orientation” (who you are attracted to). successfully.” By the time I was 3 0 ,1 did it.” He says the event’s “overall purpose is to Bowers hopes the legislators will understand Now 33, she has had a number of surgeries educate legislators about what gender identity the urgency of protecting trans people in Ore and considers herself a “masculine female.” is and to help them understand that everybody gon. His assumed gender identity at birth was “1 currently identify as transgendered,” she con has a gender identity and everybody should he female, and he is now taking hormones and has tinues. “ Transgendered’ to me implies that there thought about surgery. able to express that without fear of their lives, is still some ambiguity about my gender, whereas their jobs and where they live.” “At this point I think my gender identity is ‘transsexual’ would say that I was the opposite of After the review of definitions, the group male,” he explains. “How I express that is the gender 1 was assumed to be at birth.” will play host to an extended question-and- changing, and how people are perceiving my Jennifer owns her own house but lives and answer session. “I don’t know how many ques gender identity is changing.” works in a town with no legal protections based tions there will he,” Jennifer comments. “1 Bowers has a supportive work environment at on gender identity. When she came out as trans would he encouraged if there were more ques Intel, and he owns his own house. In other areas, to her boss, he was supportive, but issues still tions rather than fewer.” he has experienced some “low level” discrimina arose about her use of the bathroom at work. Advisory group members conducted a simi tion during this transition. He is particularly “I had a little conference with the women in lar seminar for BR O ’s staff and board of direc interested in seeing gender identity added to the the office when I decided I was going to transi hate crimes law, as a matter of personal safety tors last fall. With a different audience in mind, tion,” she explains. “I told them what was going when he ventures away from the Portland area. they have adjusted that program, practiced on, what it meant to me. I told them I needed “ I have to be aware of how I dress if I’m to use the women’s room, and I hoped that making presentations and prepared handouts. going to visit a town in rural Oregon,” he says. there was some way we could work that out.” "It’s a monumental thing that the legislators When one person objected, Jennifer’s boss “I won’t wear my suit there, because I don’t feel have asked for this information and want to he • "I hove to be aware of how I dress if I'm going to visit a town in rural Oregon. I won't wear my suit there because I don't feel safe. And there isn't really anything in terms of law that would protect me from that as it stands now." , .c _ ftj E lr , To offer testimony or to get involved with the T rans A dvisory G roup call Melissa Shepherd at 503-222-6151. JOHN R. O shin is a Portland free-lance writer. Dignity in Drag ì jp t f> 1 asked her to continue to use the men’s room. “That day 1 was unprepared to fight, so I said O K ,” she observes. “But by the time 1 got home I knew I couldn’t use the men’s room anymore.” So for two months, Jennifer didn’t use any bathroom at work. A compromise solution involving putting deadbolts on the bathroom doors eventually emerged, although she is not entirely satisfied with it. “Whenever 1 come across that door that’s locked, it means that somebody is not comfort able with me,” she says. Jennifer also has co-workers occasionally “screw up” by using male pronouns and her previous name. Some do it on purpose, but in most cases they say it is inadvertent and apologize. “Now, after a year and a half, most people have adapt ed,” she notes. “Most people treat me the way I present myself.” Kaelin Bowers Jennifer’s experiences have spurred her participation in the Trans Advisory Group. “I decided that I had to be active,” she says. “1 had to find a way to fight for this issue, because I spent 30 years of my life running away from it and being com pletely ignorant. 1 don’t want other people to have to do that.” Speaking of the symposium, Jennifer says: “ I hope this will pique the interest of some of the legislators and some of the legislators will come to us and ask us more questions later, interact with us more out o f their own interest in the subject.... I’m hoping that there are legislators who will find this important enough that they’ll not just raise their hand when the time comes to do that, but they will talk to their own colleagues, that they’ll make sure these bills progress and that they won’t drop it in future years.” Shepherd adds: “ If this legislation doesn’t pass, we’re going to do it again. This is an on going process for u s.... Educating the people who are the decision makers for the state is a long-term goal.” BR O welcomes further involvement and testimony from people who are trans. “Every single person has a compelling story,” Shepherd says. “We are looking for testimony from folks about...why it’s important for these bills to get passed for them.” J H ^ j EQUITY T T : fo s a ion Investing in Dignity Community philanthropist Gary Maffei saw the stage production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch last summer and fell head over heels in love! He knew many of his friends at Equity Foundation would too. Leveraging their Equity Foundation donor-advised funds, they joined together to sponsor the return of Hedwig this June at Theater! Theatre! We agree with Hedwig: "To be free, one must give up a little part of one's self.” Donor- advised funds are easy to set up and make it possible for individuals, couples and families to develop their own personal plans for making charitable contributions. triangle productions! presents Hedwig starting June 12th at Theater! Theatre! For tickets call 503-239-5919. Founded In 1989 by Oregon's Gay and Lesbian community. W W W . C Q U i t y f 0 U n d 3 t i 0 n . 0 r Q Ad sponsored by Marvin Salles. Realtor and Susan Nestor, CPA. PO B o i 5696 Portland. OR 9 7 2 2 8 -5 6 9 6 505-231-5759
