WATCH: NCTE’s Mara Keisling on Obama’s LGBT Agenda

NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling and Advocate Magazine Editor-in-Chief Matt Breen joined the Melissa Harris-Perry show this past Sunday to discuss what’s next on the LGBT agenda in President Obama’s second term.

Notably, Keisling discussed the critical need for an inclusive approach to comprehensive immigration reform. She said, “there are zillions of DREAMer youth who are LGBT, and we want to make sure there is a pathway to citizenship for all immigrants including LGBT immigrants.”

Keisling also noted the continuing need for the Obama Administration to engage with LGBT advocacy groups around expanding access to Medicare particularly for transgender people.

Watch the full segment here.

10 Years Ago Today

Mara Keisling, NCTE Executive Director

This is the 10^th anniversary of my first day in the NCTE office, working for trans people. It took the founding Board of Directors a few more months of planning to formalize and incorporate the organization, but Monday, January 6, 2003 was my first day in the new office, in the new organization.

So I have been working for NCTE for ten years and have been privileged to see such amazing progress throughout the movement and throughout the country. I have been fortunate to work with so many remarkable, committed, smart, and good people. Together we have made stunning progress.

Thanks from my heart go to everyone who has worked at NCTE, served on the Board, supported us financially, worked with us from an allied organization or as an individual, and anyone anywhere who has just pitched-in on their own to improve trans lives.

I have been in service to transgender people for a decade in this role, and I could not be more honored and happy, humbled and proud.

Thank you. And wait until you see what we get done this year.

NCTE recognized in Top 6 of Nonprofits for LGBT Advocacy

Given highest ranking Trans organization and the highest ranking smaller group

Guidestar’s Philanthropedia survey of 110 national LGBT equality movement leaders ranked the National Center for Transgender Equality sixth National LGBT Equality and Support nonprofit in 2012 and is the top transgender-focused organization in the survey. The rankings recognize organizations making significant contributions in LGBT equality.

Here are some things experts said of NCTE:

• NCTE has almost single-handedly brought transgender issues into the mainstream of LGBT advocacy work. Their extraordinary local training capacity for activists, coupled with their ability to get a seat at seemingly any table, has been remarkable.

• NCTE is the undisputed leader at making positive things happen on the federal level concerning transgender people’s rights. NCTE has also issued many very useful fact sheets and other public education pieces that help transgender people and advocates understand and access existing and emerging rights.

NCTE to Honor SEIU, Gunner Scott, and Andrew Barnett at 9th Anniv. Event

From advancing critical health care and employment protections for transgender people to Vice President Joe Biden’s reaffirmation of transgender civil rights, our movement for equality has experienced renewed energy this year. Elected officials, fair-minded Americans, and allied lesbian, gay, and bisexual movement leaders now understand that progress must include transgender advocates at the table.

NCTE’s Ninth Anniversary event celebrates the advances of the last year. The event also honors transgender people who have pushed equality forward, and recognizes allies that continually find ways to make sure transgender people are treated fairly and equally.

NCTE Applauds Inclusive Principles for Immigration Reform

The National Center for Transgender Equality  applauds the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), which yesterday released a strong set of principles for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform that include and protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families and undocumented youth.

Specifically, the CHC’s “One Nation: Principles for Immigration Reform and Our Commitment to the American Dream” calls for reform that “Protects the unity and sanctity of the family, including the families  of bi-national, same-sex couples, by reducing the family backlogs  and keeping spouses, parents, and children together.”

Under current law, U.S. citizens cannot sponsor a same-sex partner for residency in the U.S., and all transgender people and their partners are potentially affected. An estimated 36,000 families are affected overall, and many are forced to separate or face exile abroad. The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would fix this inequity, is currently pending in the House and Senate.

LGBT History Month Spotlight: Marsha P. Johnson

Disappointed that no one had shown up for a party to celebrate her 25^th birthday, Marsha P. Johnson headed to the Stonewall Inn on the evening of June 27, 1969, looking for a party elsewhere. She soon found herself at the center of the Stonewall riots and was among the first to confront the police that week. A beloved mentor and fearless trans activist, Marsha was a revolutionary who dedicated her life to helping transgender youth and other marginalized people living on the streets of New York.

Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Marsha relocated to Manhattan in 1966. Soon thereafter she met and began mentoring Sylvia Rivera, who was only a teenager at the time. The pair went on to found Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in the autumn of 1970, advocating on behalf of homeless drag queens and LGBTQ runaways and providing them with food and shelter.

When she wasn’t advocating, Marsha was a performer. She was a member of Hot Peaches, a flamboyant communal theatrical troupe, and was photographed by Andy Warhol in 1974 as part of “Ladies and Gentlemen,” a series of Polaroids featuring drag queens.

In addition to her advocacy efforts and stage talents, Marsha was known for her wit. When asked by a judge what the “P” in her name stood for during a court appearance, Marsha explained that it was short for “Pay it no mind!” The judge laughed and dismissed the charges against her.

It is telling that in spite of all of the revolutionary work Marsha did, there is very little information about her publicly available. Like many transgender women of color, Marsha died an untimely death in 1992.  Her death was officially ruled a suicide but many in the community believed that she was murdered.  Whatever the cause of her death, Marsha’s story is a reminder that many strong trans voices have been lost to history, just as many trans people today are silenced by discrimination or work tirelessly for equality without recognition. This month, we are thinking about these voices at NCTE and how we can work to ensure that more trans people are heard.

Marsha P. Johnson was a source of strength and pride for trans people throughout New York City. She will always be remembered for her dedication to helping those in the LGBTQ community most in need of assistance, and is an inspiration to many young trans people doing that same work today.

NCTE Awarded 2012 Clarity Award from the American Psychological Assoc. LGBT Division

The Society for the Psychological Study of LGBT People (Division 44, American Psychological Association) awarded the National Center for Transgender Equality with the 2012 Clarity Award.

The award recognizes leaders who embody the core standards and ethics of the profession while advancing the rights of LGBT people, engage others within the profession to extend recognition and respect for LGBT people, and advocate for equality for LGBT people through collaboration with professional and civil rights organizations.

NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling, in remarks delivered by lore m. dickey, Ph.D., said, “All of us at NCTE are deeply honored by this recognition, not merely because we are being honored, but because of you who honor us.” Keisling added, “We are so thankful for the tremendous work that the APA, and especially Division 44, has done in recent years to increase understanding of trans people within the profession and to ensure appropriate understanding of gender identity and treatment of trans people.”

New iPhone App Finds Nearby Gender Neutral Restrooms

Finally, there is an easy way to find gender neutral restrooms while on the go. A new app, TranSquat, allows users to search for nearby gender neutral restrooms using their iPhone. The app is powered by safe2pee, a nationwide directory of gender neutral restrooms. Users can add and share new locations to help build the directory.

The National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that 22% of transgender and gender nonconforming people were denied access to restrooms appropriate to their gender at work. Using gender-specific restrooms as a trans or gender non-conforming person may lead to stressful, embarrassing, and even threatening situations. And transgender people who regularly delay restroom use out of fear can develop urinary infections and other health problems.

What’s the downside? For now, the app is only available on the iPhone and costs $2.99. Other smartphone users can access the safe2pee database through the mobile site at www.safe2pee.org/new/mobile.

Check it out and tweet @transequality to tell us what you think!