KnowThyNeighbor.org

MassEquality Parties While Bigot Keiko Orrall Wins Massachusetts 12th Bristol House Seat

What Can Be Likened to "Fiddling While Rome Burns" Once Again A House Seat is Lost To Another Anti-Gay and Anti-Trans Bigot While MassEquality Parties Away

Keiko Orrall, the GOP's and Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute's choice for the 12th Bristol House Seat won in yesterday's special election against the "shoe in" Democrat, Roger Brunelle, Jr. Have you heard of Keiko Orrall or that yesterday there was a special election in the Taunton area?  Probably not.  Why?  Because it seems that the organization that should be informing LGBT about such elections has better things to do.

I remember back in 2007 when I attended MassEquality's private "World Cafe" which was a staged "community determination" event to see if MEQ should continue after the marriage equality win, one of the things I heard said was that MassEquality's machine would "punish" legislators (via elections) who did not side on the correct side of marriage equality.  I actually had hopes.  MassEquality actually wanted to become "New England Equality" and to push marriage equality into the other states. The MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill was to MEQ small potatoes at that meeting as its planted shills were at every table asking us all to support a move on New England for marriage work continuing its salaries and narcissism.  If we punished existing lawmakers for not supporting marriage equality in the 2007 vote, then of course we would work to not allow those who clearly were Anti-LGBT Massachusetts Family Institute or MassResistance minions to be elected in the future, right?

Wrong!  See hero Rep.Barbara L'Italien's loss in the 18th Essex to Anti-Gay, Anti-Trans, Anti-Choice James Lyons and now this...Keiko Orrall, another Massachusetts Family Institute Darling....  

But I digress...evidently I am not the only one.  Last night I saw Kara Suffredini at the Club Cafe DADT Repeal Party headed by SLDN and getting her props for all the work it did to get "He Who Must Not Be Named (Sen. Scott Brown) to support DADT Repeal.  Right.  Kara was not at the polls or even at the Mothership for this very important special election.  An Uber Bigot, a signer of the anti-gay marriage petition and one who will vote "no" on the MA Trans Equal Right Bill seemed not to be of much concern.

Last week when I wanted to find out what was happening regarding this special election, I made the calls to MassEquality, MTPC, The Caucus, and Mass Alliance.  What MEQ's Field Director, Chris Riley told was that the extent of MEQ's involvement in this race was that it sent an email to constituents asking them to support the Democrat.  When I asked if the Democrat, Ralph Brunelle, Jr. was for the MA Trans Bill, I was told, "we think so."  I asked if a questionnaire that was specific to the Trans Bill was answered correctly by Brunelle.  Riley said that she did not think that a specific question pertaining to the MA Transgender Rights Bill was asked of Brunelle. I was told, however, that Mass Alliance who endorsed the Democrat were the ones responsible for said questionnaire not MassEquality and that according to Riley, some sort of question pertaining to Transgender Rights most certainly would have been part of this questionnaire that Mass Alliance used in its endorsement process.  Mass Alliance of course is the Coalition of Progressive Organizations ranging from Clean Water Action, Various Unions such as the Boston Teacher's Union, Mass Teachers Association to MassEquality, the Sierra Club, etc.

So, Chris Riley, MassEquality's Field Director with its Political Director coaching her in the background did not think a legislatively specific question was asked of a key candidate on what our community considers its # 1 priority, The MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill, nor could she tell me if the gist of the pro-Trans questions asked on the Mass Alliance questionnaire were about Trans Rights in general or Trans Rights as presented on the Democratic State Party Platform.

Jordan Berg of Mass Alliance  was a bit more knowledgable about Democratic Candidates' support for pro-LGBT legislation than MassEquality.  Though Jordan was not able to cite or quote the specific question or answer to my Trans Equal Rights Bill concern, he was able to tell me that Ralph Brunelle, Jr. answered it correctly.  Funny, Brunelle and his campaign director refused to respond to any of my inquiries about his support or lack of support for the bill, but Mass Alliance assured me he was good on the Trans Bill.  When I asked Jordan Berg why MassEquality said that they did not believe a specific question about the Trans Bill was asked of Brunelle, Berg's comment to me was, "We (Mass Alliance) are the ones that tell MassEquality what to do when it comes to endorsements."  Ah.......

Since my first assertion on Facebook about this 12th Bristol Race before the Special Election, I was inundated by emails of concerned people, MassEquality supporters, who had not heard anything about this race of a bigot and her Pro-(?) lgbt opponent.  But each and every one of these concerned gays told me that they had been hearing alot about MassEquality and the Taste of Provincetown Party all summer long.  If Massachusetts keeps losing seats to the anti-lgbt nutbags such as Keiko Orrall and Kris Mineau and Brian Camenker keep playing better politics than our well-funded MassEquality and its coalition...we will ALL be "Partying Like It's 1999."  And you remember what rights we had back then... 

David J. Breen: Standing Up for Transgender People in Dorchester

We all know that standing up for what is right and speaking out to defend others is the right thing to do, yet for many it is the most difficult.  Not so for David J. Breen, Clinical Associate Professor of Law at Boston University, current Fenway Health Board Member, and former Board Member of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.  David was the only one in a packed house who chose to publicly confront Candidate for Boston City Council, District 3, Doug Bennett, for Bennett's multiple transphobic references at DotOUT's Candidate Forum at the Ledge in Dorchester last Monday night.

KnowThyNeighbor.org attended DotOut's Candidate Forum and Endorsement Event, held on August 29, 2011, to witness whether or not another District 3 City Councilor Candidate, John O'toole, could be palleted by the Dorchester LGBT that make up this powerful community organization for his having signed the petition to end same-sex marriage back in 2005.  The answer to this was "no."  O'Toole's explanation was all over the place and DotOUT activists publicly rose to request that others not endorse him.  O'Toole a once community favorite was knocked out in the first round of votes and DotOUT's Endorsement went to Craig Galvin.

But what transpired between David Breen and District 3 Councilor Candidate Doug Bennett took for me center stage.  Bennett, the only of the ten candidates to NOT fill out DotOUT's Candidate Questionnaire (which by the way included as its first question Support for Transgender Rights), began his Transphobic Demonstration by declaring his support verbally for "The Bathroom Bill."  I kid you not.  The room remained without reaction.  No other candidate corrected or admonished him, nor did any of the room full of LGBT Dorchester voters or politicos such as Felix Orroyo, Suzanne Bump or Sonja Chang-Diaz.  And at Bennett's first go around, neither did moderator and BayWindows Editor, Sue O'Connell.  

And it got worse as later on during the question and answer period when asked what candidates would do to stop crime in Dorchester, Doug Bennett, said that right out this door there are at least twenty-five prostitutes that work the street and about four of them are "men dressed as women."  Again, no retort from the room.  Maybe it was shock, maybe it was fear of making a scene, maybe it was acceptance of Bennett's ignorance.  I know that many if not most Transgender people reading this are most likely saying right now that they are not surprised at the reaction.

Then at the last round of public questions which were pushing for answers about same sex marriage and the 2005 petition, Doug Bennett acknowledged once again that he signed the petition in 2005 along with O'Toole, but he supports "gay marriage" though "wanted Massachusetts to vote on it" and he supports "The Bathroom Bill."  This is when David Breen brought the forum to a halt by yelling out, "You don't call it the Bathroom Bill.  Do you realize how offensive that is to our community.  Do you even understand why it is offensive to say Bathroom Bill?"  Bennett responded, "Because it is called the Bathroom Bill at the State House!"  And then, another candidate, Marydith Tuitt, yelled out "Oh, no it is not, it's called the Transgender Equal Rights Bill!"

David Breen's action caused Sue O'Connell to ask David to explain to the room why the term "Bathroom Bill" was offensive and David responded, "this is what the Far Right uses to demean transgender people." O'Connell then took stage and explained to all candidates that many of us in the room are minorities. She suggested that everyone think about the absolute worst fears that the majority opinion would create to demonize the minority you represent.  And then to take that message and to "put it on a bumper sticker" and "that is what referring to The Transgender Equal Rights Bill as 'The Bathroom Bill' would be like."

Later on that evening I heard Breen speaking to Bennett.  Doug Bennett apologized to Breen for referencing the term "Bathroom Bill."  I interjected and explained to Bennett how equally offensive and dangerous it was for him to make the references that he did about the prostitutes as "men in dresses." He apologized for that also.  What worries me is that Bennett claimed in the forum to have been making his rounds, door to door in Dorchester, meeting voters, many of which were in the room.  At what other places did Bennett use the term "Bathroom Bill?"  It concerns me that he was not reprimanded at some other point.  Maybe the MTPC should make a telephone call to Bennett immediately.

I was impressed with DotOUT's forum.  I saw a questionnaire that gave the Transgender Equal Rights Bill first billing.  I was impressed by the nine candidate's comprehensive and supportive answers to the trans bill even though technically as Boston City Councilor's they have no direct vote on the bill.  I was impressed by the many activists who rose up to challenge John O'Toole on his name being associated with a petition which would have stopped marriage equality.  But I am doubly impressed with Mr. David J. Breen for standing up for Trans People and calling out bigotry and ignorance.  

Tom Lang, Director 

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To VIEW the answers to All the Boston City Councilor (District 2,3 and 7) Candidates' Answers to DotOUT.org's question on Transgender Rights see below link

http://knowthyneighbor.blogs.com/home/2011/09/dotoutorg-boston-city-councilor-question-1-transgender-rights.html

DotOUT.org Transgender Rights: Boston City Councilor Question #1

 

From DotOUT.org's August 29, 2011 Candidate Forum Held at The Ledge in Dorchester, MA for Boston City Councilor Candidates Districts 2, 3, AND 7.

Question #1:  As a Boston City Councilor, do you support non-discrimination laws protecting the transgender community and what actions have you or will you take to ensure the passage of this important legislation?

 From DotOUT.org's August 29, 2011 Candidate Forum Held at The Ledge in Dorchester, MA

Suzanne Lee (District 2):  I believe that one of the most integral parts in the current movement for social change is the protection of our transgender friends and neighbors.  I fully supported the transgender resolution that the City Council passed unanimously this year, and I believe that we need to continue our efforts to both educate the public and work with the state legislators to pass statewide transgender rights legislation.  As a City Councilor I would work closely with transgender rights organizations such as MTPC and MassEquality to help fight discrimination here in Boston and to help aid our state legislature to finally bring transgender equal rights legislation to Massachusetts.

As both an immigrant and a woman, I have battled racial and gender barriers my entire life.  Through my decades of work in the community I have fought discrimination in any and every form.  I founded and chaired the Chinese Progressive Association over 30 years ago, and we have worked with the Chinese community as well as across Boston to fight discrimination and build a movement for social change.  I see the transgender community as an important part of this movement, and believe working for transgender rights is the next step in my work for social change.

Marydith Tuitt (District 3):  I believe we should accept everyone for themselves, I am supportive of the transgender bill now on the books on Beacon Hill and with my boss in trying to get it passed.

Martin Hogan (District 3):  I have for a long time supported the rights of all and I will continue to do so.  I will fully support any and all legislation that supports non-discrimination laws.  We have come too far in this country and specifically the city of Boston to allow that type of hatred and divisiveness to fester in our neighborhoods.

Stephanie Everett (District 3):  As a Boston City Councilor I would strongly support non-discriminating laws that protect the transgender community.  I applaud the siting Council members for unanimously passing An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights in March.  I was honored to serve for a Senator who co-sponsored An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights (S. 764), ans as a City Councilor would work with my state counterparts to encourage the passage of the bill.

Craig Galvin (District 3):  Yes, I support non-discrimination laws, and I will aggressively advocate for legislation that promotes equality and secures civil liberties for all residents.  I will continue to support and encourage others' participation in public outreach and education that promotes inclusion and celebrate all aspects of life experiences.

John O'Toole (District 3):  As was previously reported, I do support non-discrimination laws protecting the transgender community.  I would lobby the representatives in the house an senate to encourage passage of this legislation.

Frank Baker (District 3):  Yes.  As a City Councilor, I would have no direct legislative authority over the bill, but I would speak with my contacts at the state level to encourage passage.

Tito Jackson (District 7):  Yes, I do support non-discrimination laws protecting the transgender community.  I am immensely proud of the Patrick Administration's Executive Order that protects Transgendered State Employees from discrimination.  As a City Councilor, I will work with my colleagues on the Council and our counterparts in the State House to protect Transgendered people from discrimination by passing the Transgender Equal Rights Bill.  This piece of legislation should be law.  In the wake of the death of a transgendered woman who was beaten to death in Chelsea, it is about more than just providing equal rights, it is about shielding them from violence.

Sheneal Parker (District 7):  As a prospective City Councilor, and a proactive citizen of minority decent I support non-discrimination laws.  Gender Identity like sexual orientation is not a choice or something that should be debated by anyone but the individual person.  Throughout the last decade we've witnessed how groups have been alienated and targeted and we must do what we can to protect them........We must be clear on the seriousness and illegality of harassment, prejudice, discrimination or hate crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.