The Advocate Refers to Trans Woman as a Gay Man

The Advocate a premiere LGBT news magazine has come under pressure from trans activists and allies after it referred to a couple who were legally married in New York as a "same-sex" couple. In the article N.Y. Unwittingly Marries "Same-Sex" Couple, the couple Hakim Nelson and Jason Stenson were given a marriage license because the clerk was unaware of the birth gender of Nelson who now goes by Kimah.

The Advocate referred to this historic story as "New York's first legal same-sex marriage" but the problem is that neither Kimah nor Jason identify as gay. Jason identifies as straight and Kimah is a trans woman. Kimah hopes to undergo sex re-assignment surgery in the future, but regardless of her current status as pre, post or non-op we must be sensitive to the gender pronouns she chooses for herself.

Note: The Advocate has since made edits to this story to properly reflect the gender identity of Kimah.

Please tell The Advocate that it isn't enough to call yourself an LGBT magazine, in the future it must be inclusive of transgender folks and know how to properly report on them.

letters@advocate.com

Letters to the editor by regular mail
P.O. Box 4371
Los Angeles, CA 90078
Phone: (310) 943-5858
Fax: (310) 806-6350

Clubs Owners Tell Transgender Woman to "Stay With Her Own Kind"

Another display of transphobia has occured, this time in Appleton Wisconsin demonstrating how vital it is to have a non-discrimination law which protects gender variance.

"An Appleton transgendered woman filed a lawsuit against a College Avenue club, after she says she was denied entrance due to her gender identity. The complaint says Sierra Broussard, wasn't allowed admittance because "The employee or owner of Park Central then suggested to Sierra, while in a public forum, that she go to another club, one that caters to "her kind" (Womanist Musing).

Contact the club and let them know that transphobia is unacceptable.www.parkcentralontheave.com

318 W College Ave
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 738-5600

Trans Woman Suspended Over Bathroom Use

"A transgender Pennsylvania woman has filed a bias complaint alleging mistreatment by instructors at a community college where she was studying to become an X-ray technician.

Jamie Nicole Anderson was born male and had a sex-change operation. She says she was suspended by Harrisburg Area Community College for three days in October for using the women's restroom at a hospital where one of her classes was held.

Anderson says she was told not to use that restroom because some operating room employees felt uncomfortable about it.

Anderson says she was dismissed from the program on Oct. 30 for violating a dress code by wearing too many ear piercings.

A college spokesman says officials haven't seen the complaint to the state Human Relations Commission and don't have any comment" (Philly).

Contact Harrisburg Area Community College, demand an apology, and urge them to institute protections for transgender students and faculty members, at on and off campus facilities.