TransCarolina.Org

By Janice Covington

Why do politicians court us when it’s an election year? In my opinion, I think many of them think we are easy targets, because we search for that illusive political crusader who would stand up for our rights. Before I go any farther, Let me set the record right, I’m not saying all politicians are this way but most are. We do have a few who stand by their word but too many just down right lie when it comes to, if you vote for me I will support LGBT rights.

So do we believe in the propaganda that comes out of the mouths of these Saturday night specials or do we stand up to them, if they don’t hold true to their commitments. There are many types of snakes in the grass, some who are honest and some who are not, but either way we can get bit. So I suggest, carry a big stick.

Well I bet you are asking right about now, ok Janice what is the solution? Well my suggestion is its time to weed them out. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity on May 8th to defeat the North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage Amendment 1, called (by some) the Anti-LGBT Marriage Amendment. If passed it damages more than just the LGBT people living in North Carolina recognition of any sort of domestic legal union outside of the bonds of heterosexual marriage. It has the potential to impact domestic violence protection for unmarried couples, child custody and visitation, end-of-life directives, and domestic partnership benefits for public employees.

Let’s bush hog the field and find out what politician will stand with us. If they speak with forked tongue then we can use the power of our vote to eliminate them from office. Also let’s educate our neighbors, family members and fellow workers on the job that this bill needs to fail for the sake of everyone.

I pray every day that this bill fails on May 8th. I pray that every person in North Carolina fights to make sure that this bill passes into history as nothing more than a stupid waste of tax payer’s money. We must fight to eradicate hate in our state. Go Tar Heels. 

TransCarolina will be leading a Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Coalition in a picket Demonstration at the Time Warner Stadium in Charlotte North Carolina during the Demarcate National Convention the week of September the 3^rd. The purpose of this demonstration is to bring attention to the Employment Non Discrimination Act known as ENDA. By taking this action ENDA could be added to the presidential platform for 2012 by the delegates during their stick building process.

ENDA has been introduced in every Congress since 1994 (except the 109th) while previous employment anti-discrimination legislation has been proposed since 1974.^[1] The bill gained its best chance at passing after the Democratic Party broke twelve years of Republican Congressional rule in the 2006 midterm elections. In 2007, gender identity protections were added to the legislation for the first time ever. However, some sponsors believed that even with a Democratic majority, ENDA did not have enough votes to pass the House of Representatives with transgender inclusion, and dropped it from the bill, which passed and subsequently died in the Senate. LGBT advocacy organizations, and the community, were divided over support of the changed bill.

On February the 23^rd 2009 at the HRC Gala in Charlotte NC, TransCarolina lead a coalition of transgenders who stood up for their rights and as a result this was the last transgender demonstration of many that was held across our nation. We were mission accomplished. Many of you who attended the HRC Gala in Charlotte remember us braving the wind and cold on the corner at the Charlotte convention center on that bright sunny day.  Check out the link showing us during the demonstration sorry I look hideous from being windblown.

The Transgender community along with the Gay and Lesbian community can come together and excel forward. It just takes guidance from the right leadership.  I say we must come together and trust each other again. This is our only salvation. We must not wither. If we do we are dead in the water. I have been planning this picket demonstration since the DNC’s announcement about coming to Charlotte several months ago. The permits are in place and the signs are being made. All we need is you. If you want to participate and make a difference contact me at Janicecovington1@aol.com