I do not like Kelly's choice of words for instance in her references to breast augmentation and GRS. O'Reilly was trying to goad her on but she resisted.
Watch the interview and decide for yourself.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Did Stu Rasmussen use bad judgement?
I cannot believe I am saying this but I have to agree to an extent with Megyn Kelly - Fox anchor, attorney and O'Reilly Factor.
Albanian gays welcome PM's same-sex marriage plan
By Benet Koleka
TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's homosexuals won more than they had hoped for after the government said it planned to allow same-sex marriages despite opposition from religious leaders and politicians.
The proposal put forward by Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Thursday faces a tough fight in parliament.
But should he make good on his plans, Albania would join European Union members The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain in giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples and would be the first country in the Balkans to do so.
Navigating the ultimate identity crisis Chowan man struggles through change of gender
By Vernon Fueston
Correspondent
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Calyb Hare has been through so many transitions and redefinitions that just navigating the minefield of words becomes a perilous process.
Gay activists: Marriage secondary to basic rights
By CHERYL WITTENAUER (AP) – 11 hours ago
CLAYTON, Mo. — Gay marriage and gays in the military may dominate the headlines, but activists in many states say their fight is much more fundamental: basic rights and protections against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Health care for ALL Americans
The time is right. The timing is now. The only detail that needs to be worked out is that health care must be provided to ALL Americans. That includes the GLBT community. In fact, it is of particular interest – and necessity – for the GLBT community.
Call me stupid
I sure wish President Obama would call me stupid. He would have to invite me to the White House and buy me a Guinness (my favorite beer).
Seriously, the recent events in Cambridge, MA point to how far we have come or at least how far the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has come. Same sex marriage and soon to be Transgender rights are light years ahead of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia is thirty years behind the times concerning LGBTQQI issues.
When Virginia decides all people are equal Tom Jefferson and I will roll over in our graves.
The fight for equality for all people continues.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Gender JUST meets with CDPH
Members of Gender JUST's Committee on Urban Resource Sustainability and Equity ( COURSE ) met with officials from the Chicago Department of Public Health ( CDPH ) July 23 about concerns related to funding for HIV/AIDS prevention services, according to an organizational press release.
United Nations: First Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organization from the Global South to Gain Consultative Status
(Geneva, July 28, 2009) The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted consultative status yesterday to the Brazilian Federation of LGBT Groups (Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas e Transgêneros, ABGLT), the first LGBT organization from the Southern Hemisphere to receive it, a coalition of human rights organizations said.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Transsexual bashing: An ugly reality in the closet
Good News: Over the years since the Stonewall riot and through the work of Harvey Milk, the gay community has made some progress toward equality and tolerance in our culture.
Bad News: This progress for homosexuals and lesbians has not been the case for those who are transsexual.
BT (British telecom) Named Most 'Gay Friendly' Firm In World
2:52pm UK, Tuesday July 28, 2009
BT has been named as the most "gay friendly" firm in the world.
BT has been ringing the changes in the way firms approach gay issues
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Audre Lorde Leadership Institute surpasses Zami's goals
Effective leadership and organizing training while recognizing white privilege must be addressed by the white community.
Human Rights Campaign Endorses Judge Sonia Sotomayor
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)– The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, issued a formal endorsement of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. On May 26th, the day President Obama announced his selection of Judge Sotomayor as his nominee to the United States Supreme Court, the Human Rights Campaign hailed the selection but decided to wait until after the Senate confirmation hearing before announcing today’s formal endorsement.
UMass embraces gender neutrality
Another center for higher learning recognizes the need for equality for all people unlike the religious institutions stuck in the Dark Ages.
God Has a Better Way: Official Statement to the Media
STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA, JULY 25, 2009
GOD HAS A BETTER WAY RALLY, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
DR. MICHAEL BROWN, DIRECTOR, THE COALITION OF CONSCIENCE
Dear Doctor Brown,
I am a Transgender person. Yes, I am Queer. I do not want your so called love or compassion. I do not want your sympathy or pity. I do not believe in your religious opinions. I could care less if I ever meet you or your god. Keep all of it for yourself. You deserve it.
Your judgemental opinions are dust in the wind.
I simply want my civil rights and I will keep fighting for them until I have them in spite of the religious "wrong's" bigotry and hate.
De Sube
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Saturday, July 25, 2009
77-Year-Old Man Becomes Oldest Transgender Woman…Kind Of
Much better...Now that's a woman!
From CBS3.com (Philadelphia)......
B.S. Report–I’m glad that he’s happy but the surgery still doesn’t make him female. He can “feel” more female, and that certainly helps him, but “he’s” not a “she.”
Also, he was a green beret specialist in Vietnam? “…A tough guy who dreamed of wearing dresses.” This is possibly another reason why we couldn’t win in Vietnam…what kind of Army were we running back then? I can only hope that our enemies are having those problems today…
Trans Talk - Your thoughts and comments about the B.S. Report?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
De Sube Business & Marketing Consultants
~ DSB&MC ~ specializes in web development, networking and client building, special events, business planning, budgeting, business best practices, human resources and gRRRRilla marketing tactics on a budget!
~ DSB&MC ~ Based in Hampton Roads, VA.
~ DSB&MC ~ Recommendations and examples of our work upon request.
From the Task Force: Article of Faith -- The Episcopal Church makes room for all of us
WASHINGTON, July 23 — At the recent General Convention of the Episcopal Church, the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people was at the forefront of the debates and decisions. The general convention decided to overturn the 2006 moratorium on electing lesbian and gay bishops, recognized a local option for developing liturgical rites to bless same-sex unions and called for transgender civil rights at the local, state and federal levels. What follows is an Article of Faith addressing the growing acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people in the Episcopal Church.
Article of Faith by the Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson, Ph.D. National Religious Leadership Roundtable
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/from-the-task-force-article-of-faith----the-episcopal-church-makes-room-for-all-of-us.html
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Transgender mayor's clothes spur complaint
The mayor's choice of attire might have been inappropriate, but the writer of this article choice of pronouns is equally inappropriate.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Why Boycott HRC?
.gif)
I have been asked why boycott HRC. Since HRC sold Transgender people down the river with the last attempt to pass a national ENDA, nothing has changed. The Executive Director should have been fired. A total shake up in the organization's leadership should have happened but it didn't.Now the United States has a more liberal Administration and Congress. The Country is on the verge of having TLGBQQI Hate Crime legislation enacted because organizations like NCTE and The Task Force stood their inclusive ground. HRC should not be allowed to ride on the coat tails of these and other organizations.
If this is not enough reason to continue a HRC boycott, here are a few other comments posted on Face Book:
"HRC must be nothing less than totally inclusive!"
"Some are more equal than others, didn't you know that?"
"Boycott HRC until they have proven inclusion, and not by words but action only. I will not support a Benedictorial Organization like HRC"
"Their name alone is wrong. Human Rights Campaign. Whose rights, a select few. We need different leadership in the organization. Some of them have been tainted and can't be trusted, not all."
"HRC has got to be the most inept $25 million organization in politics. They're clubfooted doofuses, universally reviled on the Hill. The only thing they're good at is sucking fundraising dollars away from more deserving local and state organizations with their galas. It doesn't help that their exdir is a serial liar."
.gif)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Transgender Issues 101: What is the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation?
Many people confuse gender identity and sexual orientation, assuming that transgendered male-to-female (MTF) individuals are really gay men and that transgendered female-to-male (FTM) individuals are really lesbians.
This is why trans women (who were born male but have a female gender identity) in particular are often subjected to anti-gay slurs. Their tormentors believe them to be gay men.
The reality is that these two concepts — gender identity and sexual orientation — are very different, at least in Western culture.
Gender identity is who you think you are, in terms of your gender. Everyone has a gender identity, and the majority of people believe themselves to be either male or female. Some people believe themselves to be both, and some believe themselves to be neither.
Sexual orientation is who you are attracted to. Everyone has a sexual orientation. Some people are attracted to men, some are attracted to women, some are attracted to both, and some are attracted to neither.
Women who are attracted to men are generally labeled “straight,” while men who are attracted to men are generally labeled “gay.” Women who are attracted to women are generally labeled “lesbian,” while women who are attracted to men are generally labeled “straight.”
Women or men who are attracted to both are generally labeled “bisexual.” Women or men who are attracted to neither are generally labeled “asexual.”
There are also people who consider themselves to be “pansexual” or “omnisexual.” People who define themselves in this way generally recognize more than two sexes and/or genders and can be attracted to a person for reasons that are not based on sex or gender at all.
A person’s gender identity often has little to do with who that person is attracted to. For example, a person may have a female gender identity and be attracted to men, to women, to both, or to neither.
Gay men are happy being men — they are simply attracted to other men. Lesbians are happy being women — they are simply attracted to other women. Gay men and lesbians have a gender identity that matches their physical body.
Transgendered people, on the other hand, have a gender identity that does not match their physical body. Transgendered people can be attracted to men, to women, to both, or to neither.
Sometimes, when a transgendered person goes through a transition (changes his or her body to match his or her gender identity), these attractions can change. Most often, they remain the same — only the label changes.
For example, a person who was born female and is attracted to men is labeled “straight.” When this person transitions to male and remains attracted to men, this label changes to “gay.” It is not the sexual orientation that has changed. Only the label for the sexual orientation has changed.
This is where things can get complicated for those unfamiliar with the concepts, so let’s make it easy and wrap it up where we started — gender identity is who you believe yourself to be, and sexual orientation is who you are attracted to.
Keeping this difference in mind can clear up a lot of confusion as you navigate the world of transgender issues.
Author: Matt Kailey
Matt Kailey is a National Examiner. You can see Matt's articles on Matt's Home Page.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
It's About More Than Letting Transgender People Choose a Bathroom
THE SHOT — Yup, the trans community still has problems with simply, everything things in life. Like goingto the bathroom. But we love this mixed media piece for taking the message larger: Legislating over which bathrooms trans men and women can use masks the larger issue. Namely, that most folks are still uncomfortable with Ts. (Thanks, Claire!, via)
Friday, July 17, 2009
NY man guilty of hate crime in transgender slaying
By WILLIAM KATES (AP) – 1 hour ago
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A jury on Friday convicted a man of manslaughter as a hate crime for killing a transgender woman he shot outside a house party last year.
Dwight DeLee was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Lateisha Green outside a Syracuse house party in November because of anti-gay bias. He becomes just the second person in the U.S. convicted of a hate crime that involved the death of a transgender victim.
The Onondaga County Court jury delivered its verdict after deliberating for about six hours over two days.
DeLee faces additional prison time because he was convicted of a hate crime.
DeLee was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime. But Judge William Walsh told the jury that it could also consider convicting DeLee of manslaughter as a hate crime, as well as murder or manslaughter without the hate crime element.
Green, who was born Moses Cannon but began living as a woman at age 16, frequently dressed in women's clothing but was wearing jeans and a T-shirt the night she was killed.
During three days of testimony, DeLee's attorney, Clarence Johnson, denied prosecution claims that his client hated homosexuals. Johnson contended prosecutors presented no evidence showing DeLee had a history of anti-gay bias before the shooting.
But several witnesses said they heard DeLee refer to Green as a "faggot" just before Green was shot with a .22-caliber rifle while sitting in a parked car outside the party. But Johnson noted that other witnesses attributed the slur to others at the party.
The U.S. Senate Thursday approved legislation to extend current federal hate crimes protections to gays and other groups. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, named after the gay Wyoming college student murdered in 1998, was proposed as an amendment to a $680 billion bill to approve defense programs.
The bill would expand federal hate crimes — currently defined as those motivated by race, color, national origin or religion — to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The House passed a similar hate crimes bill in April.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects DeLee's attorney's last name Johnson, sted Jackson. Will be updated.)
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.
THE TASK FORCE APPLAUDS U.S. SENATE ACTION ON FEDERAL HATE CRIMES AMENDMENT
NGLTF APPLAUDS U.S. SENATE ACTION ON FEDERAL HATE CRIMES AMENDMENT NGLTF
WASHINGTON, July 16 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds the U.S. Senate's approval today of an inclusive hate crimes amendment, as part of the Department of Defense authorization bill. Hate crimes legislation cleared the House in April with a vote of 249 to 175. After the Senate finishes debate on and passes the Department of Defense authorization bill, the legislation will likely move to conference committee where differences will be ironed out.
The Task Force has been a leader in the effort to secure an effective and full government response to hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, beginning with the launch of its groundbreaking anti-violence project in 1982. Get more details here.
Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
"It's long past time to send a clear and unequivocal message to America that hate violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will no longer be tolerated. That so many LGBT people - or those perceived to be LGBT - have died or been injured over the years due to hate violence and bigotry is a moral outrage and painful scar on this nation. The good news is that our political leaders are on the brink of tackling this scourge forcefully and with conviction; this moment cannot come soon enough.
"Laws embody the values of our nation, and through this amendment the Senate is saying that America rejects and condemns hate violence against its people. The importance of this cannot be overstated, particularly in light of the toxic misinformation campaign that has been waged against the measure by right-wing forces who would rather see anti-LGBT crimes go unaddressed than have the words 'sexual orientation' or 'gender identity' appear alongside other protected classes in federal law.
"We thank Sen. Ted Kennedy for his leadership on this issue and Sens. Patrick Leahy, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe for their leadership on the amendment today. We also thank all Senate members who supported it." [7/17/2009]
Hate Crimes" Bill Attached As Amendment To Defense Authorization | Culture Wars
The conservative right speaks out against hate crime and sticks both feet in its mouth.
MCC Affirms Support of Episcopal Church in America Action
>N E W S R E L E A S E >from Metropolitan Community Churches >_www.MCCchurch.org_ (http://www.MCCchurch.org) . _info@MCCchurch.net_ >(mailto:info@MCCchurch.net
TRANSGENDER EPISCOPALIANS AND FRIENDS UNITED
Yesterday, for the first time in its history, the House of Bishops publicly took up the matter of transgender people in ministry in the Episcopal Church..........
http://blog.transepiscopal.com/2009/07/this-is-important.html
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Historic Happenings as Black LGBT Group Addresses NAACP Convention
Remarks by National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) cover racial divide on LGBT Issues, HIV/AIDS and unveiling of NAACP's LGBT Task Force
(PRWEB) July 16, 2009 -- The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is pleased to report Deputy Director Jason W. Bartlett's address to the NAACP Board of Governors at the NAACP Centennial last night. NAACP Chairman Julian Bond personally introduced Bartlett to the NAACP Board of Governors during last night's presentation. Bartlett, who is also a Connecticut State Representative, centered his address to the historic gathering on an appeal to make LGBT rights a part of the civil rights agenda of the NAACP going forward.
In addition to Bartlett's address, NBJC participation at the Centennial includes Wednesday's unveiling of the newly formed NAACP LGBT Equality Task Force, created in conjunction with NBJC leadership earlier this year.
One of Bartlett's more controversial remarks took the NAACP to task for neglecting to mention Black LGBT individuals when addressing AIDS: "Earlier today, you had a plenary on HIV AIDS, you discussed the high incidence of AIDS the disproportionate impact of this disease on African American women -- but you did not address the disproportionate number of HIV/AIDS incidences on our young Black gay men aged between 18 and 25. You cannot talk about HIV AIDS unless you are willing to talk about gay men, Black gay men. We need to have this conversation!" he implored. Bartlett went on to say that he was in the closet for over 40 years in part because he felt oppressed by the non-welcoming environment of the Black community. He asked the Board of Governors to join their courageous leaders Ben Jealous and Julian Bond, and to pass affirming resolutions on LGBT rights.
Bartlett concluded by recognizing marriage equality as a civil right, adding "...that we need to recognize this fact, not for our White LGBT brothers and sisters, but for the Black people who need our support -- our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, our cousins -- our Black neighbors that needed the NAACP to lead, and to fight for them." The National Black Justice Coalition (www.nbjc.org) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our mission is to end racism and homophobia. NBJC envisions a world where all people are fully empowered to participate safely, openly and honestly in family, faith and community, regardless of race, gender-identity, or sexual orientation.
###
New Attack on Trans Woman Brings Hate Crime Charge
By Marvin Anderson
Two men face felony hate crime charges after they allegedly assaulted a transgender female in St. Albans.
The victim, Carmella Etienne, told police the two assailants chased her down last week near the intersection of 199th Street and 116th Avenue while throwing rocks and bottles, yelling slurs and threatening to kill her.
The incident comes a month after Leslie Mora, another transgender female, was beaten by men while she walked home in Jackson Heights. And also as the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund prosecutes a case for Lateisha Green, a transgender woman murdered in Syracuse.
Etienne told police her two alleged attackers, Nathanial Mims, 25, from the Bronx and Rasheed Thomas, 22, of Queens, yelled “don’t ever walk that block anymore or we will slash your throat.”
When she told her attackers that she would call the police, the defendants said “the police don’t care about you, they wont do anything to us,” according to Queens DA Richard Brown.
Mims and Thomas, police said, then continued the harassment and threw empty beer bottles at Etienne, one of which struck her leg causing a three-inch laceration.
“I didn’t know you could get locked up for calling somebody names,” according to police Thomas said during questioning. “I called her a bunch of names. I called her a faggot, but she didn’t see me throw anything.”
Sassafras Lowery, program coordinator at the Queens Pride House, said the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community center she works for is galvanizing the community to stand in support for victims such as Mora and Etienne.
The actions and harassment are regular issues for LGBT residents, Lowery said, especially transgender individuals. But cases like this are pivotal moments, she said, that will address civil rights issues of all people.
“In this case we applaud the action of law enforcement and district attorney to moving so swiftly to apprehending the suspects,” she said. “But this is disturbing because you find a lot of misunderstanding and fear in our community on who transgender people are, and a lot of that fear is changed into violence.”
The assailants were arraigned on Friday and both are being held for a $5,000 bail until their court case on July 23.
But the assailants in Mora’s case were given felony assault charges and not hate crime charges, unlike Etienne’s attackers.
“When the victim called the police, what was stated to police and what was said by the defendant is what led to the charges,” said DA spokeswoman Meris Campbell, explaining why Etienne’s attackers were given hate crime charges.
Campbell said the Mora case is still under investigation and may possibly result in additional charges.
Mora was attacked by two men who called her “faggot” in Spanish and left her half-naked, bloody and with numerous injuries including a laceration on her head that required stitches.
In the cases involving Mora, Etienne and Green, all the attackers were younger than 30.
It’s a sign that a new generation is bred on hate against individuals, said Michael Silverman, the executive director of the TLDEF.
Silverman, who worked with Mora and plans to aid Etienne if necessary, attended a memorial in Syracuse for Green and helped prosecute murder case that opened on Monday against her 20-year-old attacker.
“This shows that we still have a lot of work to do,” he said. “Even in young generations they still harbor biases.”
China's red tape to test transexuals' desire
By Chang Ailing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-16 14:15
Comments(0) PrintMail
Doctors perform a gender reassignment surgery in Beijing.
Yang Sisi feels he is different. He has been aware of it for many years and knows in his heart there is only one solution: an operation to make him a woman.
The 35-year-old wants to be among the rare few that undergo gender reassignment surgery every year in China, a traditionally low-key group, bar the odd beauty pageant and grand public wedding.
But the group has found itself thrust into the spotlight as authorities attempt to improve the procedure for transsexuals, moves that have met with a mixed response due to fears that newly proposed government regulations could hinder, rather than help.
It was revealed last month officials at the Ministry of Health plan to set clear criteria for people who qualify for the surgery, as well as the hospitals and staff allowed to carry it out. Some in the transgender community, however, have raised concerns the new rules could be too strict.
"The idea of guidelines is a good thing, sex change operations would be legalized," said Yang. "But it cannot be so strict as it makes it harder, or even impossible, for people to have the surgery."
His fears center on the fact that, if the rules are approved, patients will have to prove they have had the desire to swap their gender for at least five years, and have lived full-time as their chosen gender for two years.
"How do you prove you have wanted to change sex for five years straight?" asked Yang, who was born in a poor peasant family in northwest China but now performs in a "she-male" show in Shanghai. "Does it start from when a person applies for the surgery? If so, five years is too long for someone to wait.
"Every person who applies for the surgery knows clearly what he or she wants. A sex change is a personal issue, so why should it be made so difficult?
"I have been saving my money for a long time, waiting desperately for my chance. But in the end I may be forced to go abroad for the surgery, like Thailand."
Transgender operations have been available in China since the 1980s and, although there are no official figures, to date it is believed around 500 have undergone the operation. The numbers are said to be low mainly because of the massive expense.
Han Bingbing, 34, is a post-op transsexual. She spent almost 200,000 yuan ($29,000) on several procedures to make her "an ordinary girl" in 1999 and sees the proposed rule changes as a mixed blessing.
The draft guidelines state candidates must be at least 20 years old and have already told their immediate family of their decision to swap sexes.
"I would not be able to have the surgery if there was such a guideline in 1999," said Han, who hails from Inner Mongolia. "My mother died when I was seven and I was not able to speak to my father about my feelings until I returned to my hometown after the operation.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wise Latinas' say Sotomayor need not apologize
They are Latinas, women of accomplishment, experience — and what might even be called wisdom. And they say there is no reason for Sonia Sotomayor to apologize for suggesting that they might bring special insight to the pursuit of justice.
"Her background will only strengthen the court," said Teresa Puente, an assistant journalism professor at Columbia College in Chicago and the editor and founder of Latina Voices. "She's had to apologize for her statements, and I don't think she should have to."
Puente and other Hispanic women interviewed around the country said they were troubled by the underlying themes of the questions from white, male senators at hearings on Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.
The judge's speeches — for example, when she said a "wise Latina" might reach a better decision than a white man — have been grist for Republican criticisms. Senators have repeatedly questioned her impartiality and whether she would allow ethnic identification to trump the law.
The novelist and poet Julia Alvarez said in an e-mail that a white man with impeccable credentials like Sotomayor's doesn't have to cite his background because it's the "default" experience, which society has always assumed is the right and impartial one.
"So, if someone like Sotomayor makes a claim for her own background and gender and ethnicity and age and endurance as 'credentials' that allow her to access certain ways of seeing a legal issue, everyone raises the outcry of BIAS BIAS BIAS!" said Alvarez, whose parents were born in the Dominican Republic.
"There is a presumption that if you're white and if you're male, neither of these things inform your life, but if you are of color or a woman, somehow that is your defining trait," said Lisa Garcia Bedolla, a professor of social and cultural studies at the University of California-Berkeley.
"What I find troubling is people of color and women are the only ones being asked those questions," said Garcia Bedolla, who was born in the United States to Cuban parents.
Justice may be blind, but justices are human, each with their own experiences, virtues and philosophies. "We're not robots," Sotomayor told the senators.
Said Puente: "She's trying to say she's coming from a different background, and that gives you different insights and can help the group as a whole come up with different conclusions because you have more viewpoints to consider."
The experience of growing up in a poor Puerto Rican family in the Bronx will inevitably shape Sotomayor's work, the Latinas agreed.
Elizabeth Quintero, owner of a Philadelphia school that teaches Spanish, was born in Columbia. She put herself in Sotomayor's shoes: "I can see things in the most fair way, because I know what the struggles of people are like.
"That doesn't mean I'll be unfair to the other. It means I know all the sides, the good sides and the bad sides, and it will make me see them both more fairly."
"Somehow in the America of 2009 it would not look right or be right to have nine Supreme Court justices who have the same background," said Ana Navarro, a Nicaraguan-American who served as a senior adviser to John McCain's presidential campaign.
"You'd like to think that having diversity in the court makes it a better entity but at the same time does not in any way affect the delivery of justice," she said. "Would we want to see nine white men debating abortion? Probably not. I think most women feel better knowing there's going to be a couple of women on there hearing those issues. I think in a country as diverse as ours, where we live in a democracy, it is important."
Rossana Rosado, publisher and CEO of the Spanish-language newspaper El Diario La Prensa in New York, said the senators seem to be stumbling over something that is obvious to her.
"When you walk into the room and you're a white male, you get a different reaction than if you're a Latina woman or a black woman," said Rosado.
"You have all these Southern senators having to deal with an incredibly wise Latina, and it's amusing to see them bringing up this issue in all these different ways, and what they seem to be saying is, 'Is she going to be impartial?'
"Judges aren't machines. Sonia Sotomayor is wearing pink under her black jacket. She wears hoops as well as well as pearls," Rosado said, referring to fashion choices that are often popular among Latina women.
"She's quite elegant in saying that we bring all that, but in the moment, 'I will do what the law will demand.'"
If Sotomayor is confirmed, as is widely expected, she'll be bringing something else to the Supreme Court.
"There's something very compelling about Sonia Sotomayor," said Navarro, the consultant. "When she was hobbling around on crutches, her (toenails) were painted bright orange red. That's not Judge Ginsberg. You know no Latina worth her salt would be caught dead with unpedicured feet."
Associated Press writers Amy Taxin, Suzanne Gamboa and Laura Wides-Munoz contributed to this report.
- Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)