DJHJD
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Only "T" member of HRC board resigns
Perfidy. Worthy of Fox News.
Here's her statement:
Interestingly, HRC today sent out a pretty, slick email telling everyone that they were "leading the fight for T rights." They are "We are profoundly disappointed by this move, and [they] want to explain our position and ask you to write your congress member today."
Uh, really? Weren't you the two-timing bastards that TOLD the Democratic leadership that it was A-OK to dump "T" protection from ENDA? EVERY. OTHER. GLBT. ORGANIZATION. SAID. NO.
Throw another big, pretty party and invite the glittery fags who wish they were heterosexual, Republican, McMansion living normal people. We'll get back to work.
Here's her statement:
Community. Integrity. Leadership. Vision. These are the foundational pillars of Equality. These are the values that draw many of us into advocacy roles. Those tenets provide a clear roadmap when things like politics, expediency, agenda, and power cloud the picture as they so often do. They pave the way to the moral high-ground, and those who follow them with trust and patience will ultimately find their efforts rewarded.
My name is Donna Rose, and I am the first and only openly transgender member of the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign. I am the national co-chair for Diversity. I am the co-chair appointee-elect for the Business Council. I have spoken at events around the country on behalf of the organization, and I am a respected advocate for the transgender community.
My participation on the HRC Board has been a heavy burden. The relationship between HRC and the transgender community is one scarred by betrayal, distrust, and anger. I have become a focal point for much of that frustration and I accepted that responsibility with the hope that I could help to change it. In some very real ways I think I have been able to do that, or at least to help make that happen, and am tremendously proud of all we have achieved.
HRC has done some wonderful work to support the transgender community. Workplaces around the country are recognizing the unique challenges faced by transgender employees and are moving in record numbers to protect them as valued members of an inclusive workforce. Educational tools to help demystify our lives and to provide a human perspective have paved to way to a better understanding of who we are and our challenges. We have set high standards and we have held others accountable to them. The question at hand is whether we, as an organization, hold ourselves accountable to those same high expectations.
Transgender is not simply the 'T' in GLBT. It is people who, for one reason or another, may not express their gender in ways that conform to traditional gender norms or expectations. That covers everyone from transsexuals, to queer youth, to feminine acting men, to masculine appearing women. It is a broad label that cannot be confined to a specific silo of people. It is anyone who chooses to live authentically. To think that the work that we are doing on behalf of the entire GLBT community simply benefits or protects part of us is to choose a simplistic view of a complex community. In a very real way, the T is anyone who expresses themselves differently. To some it is about gender. To me, it is about freedom.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a core piece of legislation. It would guarantee that GLBT people will not get fired from their jobs because of discrimination and prejudice. It makes a strong statement that discrimination of any kind is unacceptable, and it recognizes the critical role of employment and career as something more than simply a paycheck. It is a source of pride, of achievement, of belonging, of security, and in a very real way it is a validation of person-hood.
Unemployment and under-employment is the single most significant issue facing transgender people today. The high-profile case of Susan Stanton, city manager from Largo, FL who was fired early this year after an exemplary 17-year career there simply because she was outed as being transgender, demonstrates the continuing experience that many of us continue to face each and every day in workplaces around this country. Although workplaces have made tremendous strides in enacting supportive policy, bad things still happen and the overall message being sent is that we're somehow expendable. In years past these things happened quietly, going unnoticed. Those days are numbered.
That's why ENDA is so important. It is more than simply a statement that it's not ok to fire GLBT people for reasons unrelated to work performance. It's a statement that we are a community. It's recognition of people who may not express their gender in traditional ways does not affect a person's ability to contribute as simply another part of a diverse workforce. It's a validation of those foundational pillars that line the moral high ground. And, it's recognition that each of us has value, and none of us will be left behind.
The current situation regarding ENDA is nothing short of a politically misguided tragedy. A tool that could and should be a unifying beacon on the heels of the historic passage of fully inclusive Hate Crime legislation has been split. Transgender brothers and sisters again find themselves separated, isolated, and disempowered. People in positions of power have decided that their personal legacy and the promise of political expediency are more important than protecting our entire beautiful community. The time is here to make a strong statement to demonstrate to them that they are wrong.
In 2004 the HRC Board voted to support only fully-inclusive Federal legislation. That decision paved the way to my participation with the organization, and was a significant step in the healing process. Since that time we have worked together tirelessly towards a goal of Equality for all. Less than a month ago HRC President Joe Solmonese stood before almost 900 transgender people at the Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta to pledge ongoing support and solidarity. In his keynote address he indicated that not only would HRC support only a fully inclusive ENDA, but that it would actively oppose anything less. That single pledge changed hearts and minds that day, and the ripple affect throughout the transgender community was that we finally were one single GLBT community working together. Sadly, recent events indicate that those promises were hollow.
An impressive coalition of local and national organizations has lined up to actively oppose the divisive strategy that would leave some of our brothers and sisters without workplace protections. This effort has galvanized community spirit and commitment in ways few could have imagined, and it has demonstrated to those who would divide us that anything less than full inclusion is unacceptable Organization after organization has seized the moral high ground knowing that this is a historic opportunity that cannot be squandered, and that it is our moral obligation to ourselves and to generations that will follow to make a loud, clear, unmistakable statement that we are a community and we will not be divided. There is a single significant organization glaringly missing from that list. The Human Rights Campaign has chosen not to be there.
It is impossible to remove passion and emotion from what has happened. Indeed, those are the fuels that propel us. That being said please know that this entire situation has affected me deeply and profoundly. Still, I will not sling mud at the organization to who I have given my heart, my energies, and my trust. I will not give in to my frustration and disappointment that Joe's words of less than a month ago have proven to be hollow promises. This unfortunate turn of events has forced me to make some very difficult personal decisions about integrity, character, community, and leadership. Although I can find any number of logical and personal reasons to continue in my capacity as a board member, I cannot escape the moral implications of the decision before me. Using that as my guide, as difficult as it is for me to make, the decision is an obvious one.
I hereby submit my resignation from my post on the Board of the Human Rights Campaign effective Monday Oct. 8, 2007. I call on other like-minded board members, steering committee leaders, donors, corporate sponsors, and volunteers to think long and hard about whether this organization still stands for your values and to take decisive action as well. More than simply a question of organization policy, this is a test of principle and integrity and although it pains me greatly to see what has happened it is clear to me that there can only be one path. Character is not for compromise. I cannot align myself with an organization that I can't trust to stand-up for all of us. More than that, I cannot give half-hearted support to an organization that has now chosen to forsake the tenets that have guided my efforts from day one.
I align myself and my energies with the groundswell of community sentiment that has universally stood to oppose this divisive strategy. I wish my friends and colleagues from the Human Rights Campaign the best, and I expect that time will prove their decision to take a neutral stance and to fracture our community to be short-sighted and misguided. I accept the notion that we all want the same thing. It's just that I couldn't disagree more with this destructive strategy to get there. I urge the board and the leadership to reconsider their position and the join a unified community that supports a single all-inclusive bill.
History teaches painful lessons. Any celebration of rights gained at the expense of others is not a celebration. It is a failure of effective leadership. It is to offer the promise of a tomorrow that you know in your heart will never come. It is to choose to turn your back on those who need you most, who do not have the voice or the stature to speak for themselves.
The time is here for leaders to lead, for those who say they stand for community to act forcefully and with purpose. Anything less is to forsake the pillars of Equality for the empty promise of something less. The word that we have for that in our language is "Courage". It's the kind of courage it takes for GLBT people to show up for work each and every day, living authentically, wondering if that will be their last day. I call on my brothers and sisters at the Human Rights Campaign, for Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Frank, and for equality-minded leaders everywhere to lead by example and to do the right thing.
In Solidarity for Equality,
Donna Rose
Interestingly, HRC today sent out a pretty, slick email telling everyone that they were "leading the fight for T rights." They are "We are profoundly disappointed by this move, and [they] want to explain our position and ask you to write your congress member today."
Uh, really? Weren't you the two-timing bastards that TOLD the Democratic leadership that it was A-OK to dump "T" protection from ENDA? EVERY. OTHER. GLBT. ORGANIZATION. SAID. NO.
Throw another big, pretty party and invite the glittery fags who wish they were heterosexual, Republican, McMansion living normal people. We'll get back to work.
Hump Day windshield replacement
Nothing like starting out your day spending $500 on a new windshield. I found the place very easily, and they've told me that they have a good success rate at saving the registration and inspection stickers. WHOO HOOO!
After this, I really need to go get my driver license renewed. And, a doctor's follow up at noon thirty. And work to get done.
Talking a lot to Bram about what we're doing going forward. I think we have a workable game plan. Hopefully, that game plan will actually work.
The desk furniture guy has been no bueno on setting up another time to come look. Bleh.
I need a new tuxedo. And a new tuxedo shirt. And where the hell are my tuxedo shoes? Is this going to be like the mystery of the missing Pyrex measuring cup that wasn't resolved for nearly a year (until a confession took place in a back door manner?) I mean, I was delighted (who cares about a Pyrex measuring cup, after all,) but these were brand new tuxedo shoes only worn once.
WHERE ARE THEY?! Maybe they're in the Christmas boxes. I should go look.
After this, I really need to go get my driver license renewed. And, a doctor's follow up at noon thirty. And work to get done.
Talking a lot to Bram about what we're doing going forward. I think we have a workable game plan. Hopefully, that game plan will actually work.
The desk furniture guy has been no bueno on setting up another time to come look. Bleh.
I need a new tuxedo. And a new tuxedo shirt. And where the hell are my tuxedo shoes? Is this going to be like the mystery of the missing Pyrex measuring cup that wasn't resolved for nearly a year (until a confession took place in a back door manner?) I mean, I was delighted (who cares about a Pyrex measuring cup, after all,) but these were brand new tuxedo shoes only worn once.
WHERE ARE THEY?! Maybe they're in the Christmas boxes. I should go look.
Monday, October 01, 2007
More whining
Monday, October 01, 2007
Robert A. Lutz, Vice-Chairman Personal and confidential
Global Product Development
General Motors Corporation
Detroit MI 48202
Pontiac Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
Mr. David W. Taylor, Jr., President Personal and confidential
David Taylor Cadillac Company, Inc.
PO Box 36428
Houston TX 77236
Mr. Phil Meyers, Service Manager
David Taylor Cadillac/Buick/Pontiac/GMC
9120 Southwest Freeway
Houston TX 77074
Gentlemen:
As you are aware, I have repeatedly had my 2005 Pontiac Bonneville into David Taylor for warranty repair work, VIN 1G2HZ54Y85U199292.
My complaint about under-hood exhaust noise cannot be found by your service department; riders in my car are impressed with my imagination – it being so vivid that it has sound effects. After a few minutes of driving, the underhood rattle is consistent at stop lights.
In my test drive with your shop foreman, he asserted that my sunroof cannot be satisfactorily adjusted – it’s as good as they can get it. The sunroof is quieter on the freeway when vented than when closed, but your service advisor states that I’m only hearing normal wind noise. When I’ve driven a CTS loaner provided by your store, the sunroof made no wind noise. This weekend, looking at new Cadillacs at Stewart, each and every factory installed sunroof is perfectly flush to the roof surface – my sunroof is millimeters below the roof surface across the entire factory opening for the roof.
In its last visit to your shop, again your technicians saw fit to put new settings into my seat and mirror memory – that is the second time this has been done. Wrench sockets were left in my car, rattling against the seat tracks. This is the care your shop gives to the owner of a $39,000 car; their own preferences are superior to my own, and an attention to detail that would allow for causing short circuits and leaving tools behind in my car for later discovery.
My experiences in your service department have been unsatisfactory in the extreme since Eric Rice left the drive. I am very displeased with the out and out fabrications told me by the service advisor who has been handling my vehicle – when you replaced the sunroof and disabled the interior courtesy lamps, he told me I had a blown fuse – taking responsibility away from David Taylor’s employees. When driving the car with the shop foreman hours laterI was told that the technician had pinched a wire, causing a short and disabling the lamps.
What is the purpose in deflecting blame away from David Taylor in this manner? What customer service goal is served by telling a GM customer representative that my sunroof does not make inappropriate wind noise when your shop foreman has told me directly that it does? How can I be expected to accept anything that I hear from your service drive personnel at face value?
The man who has made these statements has also stated that my windshield, which cracked badly while at David Taylor, was damaged on my watch and then later claimed that he had seen this damage when the car was brought in, and that he made note of it in a report – none of which notations are available for review.
Why should these statements be believable? The balance of the care my vehicle has received while in your shop has been so careless as to warrant reasonable consideration as to whether a technician dropped a tool or other object on my windshield while in your possession – in fact, the totality of the circumstances surrounding my handling at David Taylor would tend to suggest that someone at your shop DID cause the damage, and then your institutional behaviors naturally began to distract, avoid and defend against such a reasonable explanation.
The efforts of Pontiac to support its customers have been less than pathetic, and have hardly acted in any manner to advocate or negotiate a solution to what is utterly disreputable customer care and discharge of contractual warranty obligations. Having a shiny-faced twenty-three year old parrot back the fabrications of the dealer’s service personnel is hardly providing any customer service at all.
Mr. Meyers, I decline your offer to come yet again to the service drive, and be placated with promises that you all will do your best. I decline your offer to come and have nothing done, and my car returned to me with a fairly high probability of further damage. I decline your offer to go for a test drive to prove whether I am making complaints out of my imagination. I have invested far too much time already.
I decline further contact from Pontiac’s “Customer Assistance Center.” I have no need to be told in the most chipper of tones that I have been well treated.
It matters not how beautiful, exciting or unique GM products are when a customer with a 29 year consistent purchase history cannot have his car repaired and be treated as a valued client. It matters not that you install sophisticated electronics, two-toned leathers or hybrid power trains. Even more people will turn away from the dealer experience which brings only frustration and a deeping lack of confidence in the vehicle that one had previously been so excited about.
Each day that I look at my damaged car, listen to the badly repaired sunroof and the ignored engine compartment rattle, my confidence in it is diminished. The car becomes less and less appealing and each time I turn the key I wonder what will go wrong next.
Is that the product you intend to sell? Are those the experiences you want your customers to share with their friends and business associates?
That is the experience you are delivering in the marketplace. Every time I see a new DTS, look at the colors, the wheels, and think about having one in my garage I must stop and consider that at some point it will be in YOUR garage. That is enough to inhibit me from further entertaining the notion.
Sincerely yours,
Robert A. Lutz, Vice-Chairman Personal and confidential
Global Product Development
General Motors Corporation
Detroit MI 48202
Pontiac Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
Mr. David W. Taylor, Jr., President Personal and confidential
David Taylor Cadillac Company, Inc.
PO Box 36428
Houston TX 77236
Mr. Phil Meyers, Service Manager
David Taylor Cadillac/Buick/Pontiac/GMC
9120 Southwest Freeway
Houston TX 77074
Gentlemen:
As you are aware, I have repeatedly had my 2005 Pontiac Bonneville into David Taylor for warranty repair work, VIN 1G2HZ54Y85U199292.
My complaint about under-hood exhaust noise cannot be found by your service department; riders in my car are impressed with my imagination – it being so vivid that it has sound effects. After a few minutes of driving, the underhood rattle is consistent at stop lights.
In my test drive with your shop foreman, he asserted that my sunroof cannot be satisfactorily adjusted – it’s as good as they can get it. The sunroof is quieter on the freeway when vented than when closed, but your service advisor states that I’m only hearing normal wind noise. When I’ve driven a CTS loaner provided by your store, the sunroof made no wind noise. This weekend, looking at new Cadillacs at Stewart, each and every factory installed sunroof is perfectly flush to the roof surface – my sunroof is millimeters below the roof surface across the entire factory opening for the roof.
In its last visit to your shop, again your technicians saw fit to put new settings into my seat and mirror memory – that is the second time this has been done. Wrench sockets were left in my car, rattling against the seat tracks. This is the care your shop gives to the owner of a $39,000 car; their own preferences are superior to my own, and an attention to detail that would allow for causing short circuits and leaving tools behind in my car for later discovery.
My experiences in your service department have been unsatisfactory in the extreme since Eric Rice left the drive. I am very displeased with the out and out fabrications told me by the service advisor who has been handling my vehicle – when you replaced the sunroof and disabled the interior courtesy lamps, he told me I had a blown fuse – taking responsibility away from David Taylor’s employees. When driving the car with the shop foreman hours laterI was told that the technician had pinched a wire, causing a short and disabling the lamps.
What is the purpose in deflecting blame away from David Taylor in this manner? What customer service goal is served by telling a GM customer representative that my sunroof does not make inappropriate wind noise when your shop foreman has told me directly that it does? How can I be expected to accept anything that I hear from your service drive personnel at face value?
The man who has made these statements has also stated that my windshield, which cracked badly while at David Taylor, was damaged on my watch and then later claimed that he had seen this damage when the car was brought in, and that he made note of it in a report – none of which notations are available for review.
Why should these statements be believable? The balance of the care my vehicle has received while in your shop has been so careless as to warrant reasonable consideration as to whether a technician dropped a tool or other object on my windshield while in your possession – in fact, the totality of the circumstances surrounding my handling at David Taylor would tend to suggest that someone at your shop DID cause the damage, and then your institutional behaviors naturally began to distract, avoid and defend against such a reasonable explanation.
The efforts of Pontiac to support its customers have been less than pathetic, and have hardly acted in any manner to advocate or negotiate a solution to what is utterly disreputable customer care and discharge of contractual warranty obligations. Having a shiny-faced twenty-three year old parrot back the fabrications of the dealer’s service personnel is hardly providing any customer service at all.
Mr. Meyers, I decline your offer to come yet again to the service drive, and be placated with promises that you all will do your best. I decline your offer to come and have nothing done, and my car returned to me with a fairly high probability of further damage. I decline your offer to go for a test drive to prove whether I am making complaints out of my imagination. I have invested far too much time already.
I decline further contact from Pontiac’s “Customer Assistance Center.” I have no need to be told in the most chipper of tones that I have been well treated.
It matters not how beautiful, exciting or unique GM products are when a customer with a 29 year consistent purchase history cannot have his car repaired and be treated as a valued client. It matters not that you install sophisticated electronics, two-toned leathers or hybrid power trains. Even more people will turn away from the dealer experience which brings only frustration and a deeping lack of confidence in the vehicle that one had previously been so excited about.
Each day that I look at my damaged car, listen to the badly repaired sunroof and the ignored engine compartment rattle, my confidence in it is diminished. The car becomes less and less appealing and each time I turn the key I wonder what will go wrong next.
Is that the product you intend to sell? Are those the experiences you want your customers to share with their friends and business associates?
That is the experience you are delivering in the marketplace. Every time I see a new DTS, look at the colors, the wheels, and think about having one in my garage I must stop and consider that at some point it will be in YOUR garage. That is enough to inhibit me from further entertaining the notion.
Sincerely yours,
Monday, Monday ver 1134.11
I'm sweating like the proverbial gay Republican senator in a public bathroom.
My blood glucose has been all over the map. I started on Byetta Saturday; cut back on my oral meds and good lord - I've been in the mid to high 200s most of the weekend and shot up from 160 this morning (fasting) to 299 90 minutes after eating oatmeal.
Yesterday, after church, I was totally wiped out. I thought it was just post-church nappiness, but after four and a half hours of sleep, my BG was over 299. It took all evening to get it down to 160 this morning, and now I'm zipped all the way back up.
After watching three episodes of "Dexter," Jeremy and I talked for a while about politics, the economy and such, my bedroom TV caught fire, which provided a little excitement. I hung all of my shirts on the new (very used) wooden hangars I bought from Nicole's grandparents, and then went to bed worrying about the house (fire, flood, famine and foreclosure.)
Fun times.
I just had someone ask me about my Manhunt profile in which I say that gay life is all about limerance. I explained it to him thusly:
I took my car to NTB two weeks ago for brakes; they didn't do the alignment/balance work as I had asked. So, I took it back on Thursday. I still have a slapping tire, and the car changes lanes to the right on the freeway within about three car lengths.
Maybe I should walk everywhere.
My blood glucose has been all over the map. I started on Byetta Saturday; cut back on my oral meds and good lord - I've been in the mid to high 200s most of the weekend and shot up from 160 this morning (fasting) to 299 90 minutes after eating oatmeal.
Yesterday, after church, I was totally wiped out. I thought it was just post-church nappiness, but after four and a half hours of sleep, my BG was over 299. It took all evening to get it down to 160 this morning, and now I'm zipped all the way back up.
After watching three episodes of "Dexter," Jeremy and I talked for a while about politics, the economy and such, my bedroom TV caught fire, which provided a little excitement. I hung all of my shirts on the new (very used) wooden hangars I bought from Nicole's grandparents, and then went to bed worrying about the house (fire, flood, famine and foreclosure.)
Fun times.
I just had someone ask me about my Manhunt profile in which I say that gay life is all about limerance. I explained it to him thusly:
People (especially gay people) meet someone, decide that this new person is THE one (which is an ideal that's in their head, not a real person) and have a relationship with this image personified by this new person. This relationship lasts weeks or months, until the realtiy of the now not so new person conflicts so violently with the mental image that the limerant rejects the now not new person and moves on to another person, repeating the process.
I took my car to NTB two weeks ago for brakes; they didn't do the alignment/balance work as I had asked. So, I took it back on Thursday. I still have a slapping tire, and the car changes lanes to the right on the freeway within about three car lengths.
Maybe I should walk everywhere.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Links, links, links
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)