In advance of tonight’s DART board meeting, which dozens of LGBT advocates are planning to attend, Resource Center Dallas has responded to the transit agency’s letter last week, in which DART defended its decision to intervene in a family court case involving a transgender employee. I’ll have more on all this in Friday’s Voice, but for now here’s RCD’s response: 
Great letter. Great leadership on this issue by the Resource Center Dallas. See you tonight!
We need the WHOLE community, not just 8 or 9 transgendered people, to come to these Dart Board meetings. We need to fill the room. If it was not for the GLB community coming to support our quest for equality here in Fort Worth, the addition of transgender protections to the anti-discrimination ordinance would never have passed. Thanks to all of you that helped and supported us over here.
Tori
pleasant letter but seems like the RCD is riding too much on hope. After asking very politely what’ll happen if DART digs in it’s heals? What happens if they feel as though it is in their best interest, for whatever reason, to not implement any of these requests? If that were to turn out to be the case I would hope there would be more of a response than a collective fist shaking at DART busses.
Great letter! The RCD has provided much needed professionalism in our response to DART’s reprehensible treatment of their transgender employee. Also much appreciated is the Dallas Voice, because without them our voice would not be heard. It was so good to see everyone last night.
Blake;
I will remind you again that someone’s livelihood is on the line here. She is a very dear personal friend. I spent today out riding buses talking with some of the L&G bus operators I know. Spoke to some straight but GLBT friendly ones I knew also.
My friend and of those I have spoken to so far 100% do not want your brand of activism involved with their employer. They are happy with the tone, direction and hope for progress. Any activity or action on DART must have the consensus of those employee’s whose jobs are on the line. Not your random whim or shill for attention
Pamela,
I’m not in activism to be hated or threatened with violence by my own community. I’m vocal because those of us with QL feel that we have a very important angle on the movement. Next time please save your venom and threats to beat me with your cane for those that are standing in the path to our equality, not someone within the community who is trying to do what he feels is best for the movement. Our bars might be raided less, and less of us might be killed or beaten up in the streets if more of us took this approach. You keep doing your thing Pamela, keep your eyes on the prize, but please do keep your nose, and cane, out of my politics until you settle down a bit.
Blake exactly what part of the employee’s of DART T, L & G do not want you involved in their business; do you not understand? You don’t even have a dog in this fight, can you name just one lesbian or gay DART bus operator? Do you have their home, cell and email address? Asking that question I thought a moment and counted, yesterday I spoke to either in person or on the phone with seventeen. I did this to verify what I’m saying now, they do not want QL involved in their jobs, there was no hesitation in a single one. Indeed a couple of lesbian operators expressed concern before I asked the question.
Your politics are not welcome by the employees and I would submit that recent reports that hate crimes are up are a direct result of your type of politics. Evidence the MOB scenes at health-care reform town halls last summer accomplished what? Nothing except to showcase lunatics. Effective advocacy takes patience and civility not a mob mentality. It must be meticulously calculated, not recklessly slapped together with out regard to unintended consequences. The T,L&G operators are under enough stress right now, they really don’t need your flavor of politics ratcheting it up, increasing stress thus the risk of accidents and safety of the general public.
The methods currently being employed have worked very well for 20+ years obtaining access to medications and services for the HIV community. When medicaid and chips were slashed in the Texas 2003 budget; we the HIV community secured the largest state increase in state appropriations for THMP (aka ADAP) ever, by any state. Patient advocates in California, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, NY, North Carolina, Georgia were talking about what Texas did. In this instance I’m elated to differ to RCD’s lead, they are using the same playbook we used.
Your tactics will only set off alarms and energize to those who will speak out against progress. A confrontation and argument we do not want as it will only counter, muck up and perhaps even halt progress. You should never RISK doing harm to those whom you claim to want to help. That would be just as unconscionable as what DART did. Not to mention is just arrogance and proves your just seeking headlines for your own ego not those you claim to advocate for.
If you really want to learn truly effective advocacy I am sure I can get others to join me and work to educate your group. Honestly it saddens me to see such vibrant youthful energy misguided and wasted.
An attack on one is an attack on all Pamela. I have spoken to several trans people that are frustrated with the muttled response thus far. Speaking of ego, you and the RCD don’t speak for all queers in DFW, get over yourselves.
You’re right that many gains have come in the past 20 years even with our movement focused on more tepid means of activism. But let me remind you that it was ACT-UP, the largest and most unified grassroots direct action chapter of our history, that gave us things like the Ryan White Act, saved our lives and paved the way for good people like yourself to dress up pretty and politely ask for what is already ours.
The problem of rampant homophobia still is still as troubling today as it was 20 years ago. We have come to a point in our movement where we have to unify nationally on the grassroots level again. ACT-UP saved our lives, now it’s time to live it. Maybe it’s just me, as my friends live the brutal reality for many LGBTs which is Texas, going around asking politely to be treated as equals leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It’s not just personal style, I wish we could hold black tie gala after black tie gala to win our liberation, but it just doesn’t work that way. As the abolitionist Frederick Douglas said, “power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and never will”.
Honestly it saddens me that your tone is so damn condescending. If you really want to learn about how real and lasting change is made I’m sure I can get others to join me and work to educate you. We would love the opportunity.
Oh my your lecturing me on ACT-Up, this is rich.
Obviously you have no clue who I am. The Transgendered community was barred for many years by angry gay white men such as yourself from participating with ACT-Up. They were the self appointed voices for African-Americans, Latino’s and us the T’s. Then in Texas two got in the door Cece McGowan of Corpus and yours truly. I barely got the opportunity to get to know my sister Cece before she was taken from us.
Oddly enough and its really a different story, Cece and I attended the 5th -12th grades together and didn’t have a clue about the other, perhaps it was in the North Garland/Richardson water.
Of all 50 states only one state did a transgendered person ever rise to the top leadership position. Would you care to guess what state that was? Guess who?
Congratulations on your rise to the top leadership position and thank you for your contributions to our movement but it was unfortunately you who excluded me when we first met. Not very southern like…
Blake;
You didn’t know because It was always about the message not about me. So thanks but not really not necessary.
I’m willing to start over if you are. I need you to understand a few things first though. Direct Action while that is the imagery that people remember of ACT Up is not and never was on page one of the play book; it was always the last page. Only played when all other options and talks are exhausted and broken down i.e. at an impasse.
The first page of the ACT Up play book starts with “Honor your gods”; in this DART case those are the employee’s of DART. They do not want outside Direct Action involving their livelihood, jobs; that is what they pay union dues for.
My offer to help educate your group stands send me a direct email and we’ll talk or get my number from LaTisha
I would love to meet as equals and exchange ideas. I’m sure both of us can learn something form the other. Let me know, lgbtliberaction@gmail.com 🙂