Tag Archives: Transgender Day of Remembrance

Putting the ‘T’ First in LGBT: The Million Trans March for Inclusion & Tolerance

Posted on by
Reply

300 to 400 Trans people and their allies took part in last nights Million Trans March for Inclusion & Tolerance.  Organized by a collaboration of first time activists and seasoned veterans, La Moni Stat, Brian Rowdy Worth, David Wichman, Veronika Fimbres, Felicia Flame and Connie Chung the march kicked off today’s annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance - and for the first time in it’s history-the Trans Pride Flag was raised on the Castro districts, massive, historic flag pole located in the memorial Harvey Milk Plaza.

As the Castro Biscuit has reported since October, Merchants of Upper Market Casto (MUMC), had originally denied Trans activist, Veronika Fimbres, request to fly the Trans Pride flag. People from every facet of our community were dumb struck by MUMC’s rejection and responded with loud calls of ’bigotry and transphobia’ in the neighborhood, across the blog-sphere and social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Unamused by MUMC’s choice  local drag performer La Monistat and Sex Worker activist/advocate, Brian Rowdy Worth, called for a community wide, protest and march. Both created event pages on Facebook which quickly drew more than a thousand ‘Will/Maybe’ attend  in less than twenty four hours. Sensing the townsfolk were gathering pitchforks and torches to hunt the monster MUMC relented and in a letter to the community gave their blessing to have the flag raised. Sadly they also declare that this would be the last ‘non-Pride flag to be flown over the Castro’. One member of MUMC went as far to say, “we can’t fly every flag we get a request for-what if the Nazi’s came asked to fly theirs?” La Monistat and Mr. Worth seized the opportunity to show community solidarity and altered the tenor the event from protest to one of inclusion, tolerance and celebration of our Trans brothers and sisters.

Marchers amassed on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. After a few brief speeches from organizers they began their journey to the Castro. Supervisor Scott Weiner, who’d at first sided with MUMC decision and then-according to MUMC President Terry Bennet-was invaluable in resolving this ‘situaton joined the march. His presence drew a mixed reaction from many in the crowd. Winding their way toward Market Street, escorted by multiple police motorcycles and cars, the phalanx of Trans people and their allies were kept to the sidewalk despite having a permit to march in the street. Once nearly reaching Harvey Milk Plaza they were finally allowed into street at Noe and into Market for the last block of the march.

The massive Trans flag had been made and purchased with the generous donation of an anonymous benefactor. Veronika Fimbres spoke at the Plaza pre flag raising about how moved and grateful she was to see so many people come and participate in the march. “I never thought I’d see this day when our flag would fly over the Castro.”, she commented.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the flag with a prayer and gold glitter and then the massive flag was raised. The diverse crowd, a rainbow collection of our community, cheered as it inched its way up the flag pole to at last unfurl in the evening wind.  ”A grand finish to an awe inspiring evening”, La Moni Stat stated, “our community can come together  in love and support.”

Today is the official San Francisco Transgender Day of Remembrance March from City Hall to South of Market’s City of Refuge at 5PM. Join your Trans friends and neighbors. Without the Trans and Drag community the political firestorms that birthed modern day Queer rights movement,-1966′s San Francisco Compton Cafeteria Riots and the NYC Stonewall Riots of 1969-would’ve never occurred.

Midweek Round Up: Updates On Recent Castro Biscuit Posts

Posted on by
Reply

There has been  a real flurry of events in the Castro over the last month and we’ve done our best to keep up with it all. Here is a quick re-cap of some of those posts and what has transpired since.

 MUMC and the Transgender Flag Flap: As we reported the request to fly the Transgender Pride flag on Nov. 20 in place of the LGBT Pirde Flag in the Castro at Harvey Milk Plaza has been approved by the Merchants of Upper Market Castro (MUMC) after threats of boycotts, online petition, resubmission of application and announcement of protest. That protest set for Nov. 19 against has now been turned into a solidarity march-The Million Trans March for Inclusion & Tolerance- organized by local Transactivist/Performers, La Moni Stat and Michael Soldier. We encourage all our readers to attend and keep an eye peeled for your stalwart Castro Biscuit staff.

World Homeless Day Protest: On Oct. 11 following a march to the Castro Homeless Rights Activists, many of whom identify as LGBT, occupied an empty house that could be used as shelter highlighting this continuing, unresolved and growing issue within City twenty activist were arrested and charged with a variety of offenses including conspiracy. Court dates have been set for those arrested and we will post more on how you can help them as trial dates approach. We encourage readers to get involved in this ongoing social disgrace. According to City statistics LGBTQ kids make up between 40% to 55% of the young people within the City’s homeless population. We should and can do more to help our communities in need and at risk youth.

Condoms As Evidence Law Struck Down & No On Prop. 35 March by AIDS Activist, Feminist & Sex Workers:  Fifty to seventy five activist marched in the Castro to celebrate the City’s decision to stop the practice of detaining and arresting people for carrying three condoms or more on your person as evidence of prostitution. Activists also used the opportunity to encourage everyone to vote no on Prop. 35, billed as stopping the sex slave trade, but  actually stipulates that anyone convicted of being a sex worker must then register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives. The march was well received and many local people came out to cheer on the activists who were comprised of the reformed chapter of ACT UP/SF, members of St. James Infirmary and the No On Prop. 35 coalition.

GLBT Museum, Magnet SF, Harvey’s & Outfit Hit By Vandals: At post time, according to SFPD, no one has been apprehended who broke out multiple large plate glass windows of both institutions and businesses post celebration of the Giant’s winning the 2012 World Series. We’re happy however to report that the GLBT Museum will be open today ready to receive visitors as is Magnet. The damage to both these much needed and heralded institutions is extensive and estimates to replace the broken windows will reach the thousands. Donations to the GLBT Museum and Magnet are still desperately needed. Your patronage of  Harvey’s and Outfit clothing store will also be much appreciated and help them to recover quickly from this senseless violence.

UPDATE to the UPDATE on GLBT/Magnet SF Vandalism: As of Wednesday, Oct. 31st, according to the SFPD and the Bar Area Reporter, a suspect has been identified in the vandalism and is currently under investigation. Arrest should be imminent! Good job SFPD!

Nudity in the Castro: Our recent editorial here at the Biscuit opposing  Sup. Weiner’s new proposed ban on public nudity has brought a lot of traffic to the site and we welcome all the new readers and viewpoints both for and against this issue. Yesterday the protest was taken to the steps of City Hall where the debate will soon reach the ears of the full SF Board of Supes. We look forward to the next development and continuing to cover this story as it evolves.

MUMC: We will fly the Transgender Flag on Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20th

Posted on by
11

After receiving over 1000 signatures on her petition to have MUMC fly the Transgender Flag at Harvey Milk Plaza for Transgender Day of Remembrance, Veronika Fimbres has received approval from MUMC to fly the flag on November 20th. MUMC will also be organizing a committee to reassess their flag policy after the first of the year.

According to Fimbres, an anonymous benefactor is paying for the Castro’s first Transgender Flag which will measure 20′ by 30′.

From Terry Bennett, President of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro

The Board of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro has thoughtfully and thoroughly considered the desire of the Transgender Community to have the Transgender Flag flown on November 20, 2012 in recognition of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The request we originally received was to fly the Transgender Flag in a lowered position. Due to real and serious safety concerns, the request was denied on the basis of the lowered position request. Although, as of today we have not received a revised request, we continued the conversation to consider flying the Transgender Flag at full height. This has been a difficult conversation and emotions run very high in both directions on the issue.

Gilbert Baker, the originator of the Rainbow Flag, created the flag pole with the intent of an oversized 20ft by 30ft Rainbow Flag that would be flown 365 days a year at full mast as a sign of unity and hope for the entire LGBT community. At some point after this, a decision was made to fly the Leather Flag in the week leading up to Folsom Street Fair. In 2001, the originator of the rainbow flag was no longer able to care for the flag, and our beautiful symbol of hope and unity was flying torn and tattered on the flag pole. It was at this time that MUMC stepped forward and offered to be stewards of the flag. The city with Gilbert Baker’s blessing granted MUMC the stewardship. The leaders of MUMC over the last 11 years have worked diligently to make sure we have a beautiful, bright, vibrant flag flying over our community. MUMC has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over this period of time, to insure and maintain the flag pole. In order to keep a bright, colorful flag flying, the flag must be changed out approximately every two months. We have worked to create a partnership with the Castro Street Faire organizers who use some of the gate donations every year to buy 3 to 4 replacement flags. A couple of years ago, when the Bear community was looking at celebrating their last Bear Rendezvous weekend a decision was made to fly the Bear Flag as a way of marking the end of an era. As it turned out the Bear Community revived the Bear Rendezvous in an abbreviated capacity, and as things go you do it once it becomes tradition, it has flown President’s Day weekend the last couple of years. Over the last two years the MUMC Board has been overwhelmed with requests to alter or change the flag. These requests have regularly been accompanied by a great deal of personal attacks, blatant bullying and harassment. Due to these attacks it has made it very difficult to consider any requests. After the first of the year, MUMC will organize a committee to reassess our policy.

During this process of consideration I have consulted with and looked for guidance from several people in the community. I would personally like to thank Supervisor Scott Wiener, Daniel Redman and Don Romesburg for their respectful, heartfelt and open dialogs with me. These respectful dialogs have made it possible for the MUMC Board to make the decision to fly the Transgender Flag on November 20th in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance. It will be the responsibility of the Transgender community to provide a 20ft by 30ft Transgender Flag that will fly at full mast on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. We would ask that the community coordinate the flying of the flag with a commemoration that can bring the much needed focus, recognition and pride to the transgender community.

Respectfully Yours,

Terry Asten Bennett – MUMC President,

MUMC: “We did not receive a request to fly Transgender Flag at full mast.”

Posted on by
2

“I’ve been in the Castro my whole life. It’s amazing, supportive and diverse – and I wouldn’t ever change that.” – Terry Bennett

UPDATED: MUMC will fly the flag!

The latest from MUMC’s President, Terry Bennett, with regard to flying the Transgender Flag in Harvey Milk Plaza on Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20th,

Thank you for your message to MUMC (of which I am President).

The request made to MUMC was to fly the Transgender Flag at half mast.

The MUMC Board denied the request because it is unsafe to fly the Rainbow Flag in a lowered position. I am aware that the Flag has been flown in a lowered position 5 times in the past. That never should have happened. When I took over MUMC’s President in April, I arranged for a complete mechanical training at the Flag pole, by the person who has maintained it since its inception. The Flag pole was built to fly an oversized Flag at full height. An even-slightly lowered position creates a situation where, if one of the riggings breaks, the Flag would be in the MUNI and power lines across Market Street and/or could endanger vehicle traffic and passing pedestrians.

MUMC has not received a revised request to fly the Transgender Flag at full mast. I respect and honor the Transgender community, their struggles both internally and externally. I believe that their Day of Remembrance should be honored. I do not have unilateral authority to make any decision about the Rainbow Flag. The MUMC Board as a whole makes these decisions, and they do not take them lightly. When MUMC took stewardship of the Flag, it was given the mission of flying the Rainbow Flag at full mast all of the time, with the exception of the week before Folsom Fair, when the Leather Flag would fly. A couple of years ago, when the Bear community was looking at their last Bear Weekend, a decision was made to fly the Bear Flag.

I can’t give you an answer today as to how the MUMC Board is going to deal with this issue, but we are working on a solution, and it is being done with heart and mindfulness.

I appreciating your reaching out to MUMC and to me with your concerns. Please understand that I will not be able to engage further on this issue until the MUMC Board has worked through how they will deal with it.

Terry Asten Bennett
MUMC President
General Manager, Cliff’s Variety

via Facebook

MUMC denies request to fly Trans flag for Trans Day of Remembrance

Posted on by
17

UPDATED: MUMC will fly the flag!

In early September, local black, transgender, HIV-positive, senior and military veteran Veronika Fimbres submitted written and verbal requests to the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro to fly the Transgender Pride flag at Harvey Milk Plaza for Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th. TDOR is a day to honor and pay respect to all of the transgender victims of violence, harassment and prejudice around the world. The MUMC responded to her request on Monday in writing saying,

“The MUMC Board has thoroughly reviewed, discussed and considered the request, and we appreciate your patience while that was done. The request is not approved and there will be no change in the Rainbow Flag display on November 20.”

The letter was signed by Cliff’s Variety Store owner Terry Bennett, President of the MUMC.

The MUMC controls what flags and at what position the flags fly (half-mast, etc). Check out their official policy statement for the Rainbow Flag and Flag Pole.

The Castro Biscuit has made a formal inquiry to the MUMC for details on why the request was denied. We have not heard back from the MUMC yet. We have also asked Supervisor Scott Wiener if he has any comment regarding the situation.

Veronika has setup a petition to garner support for raising the flag for TDOR.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s well known gay neighborhood of Hillcrest has decided the flag is worthy to fly on their newly erected pride flag pole for TDOR (thanks to reader Jess for the scoop!):

via Petrelis Files