Imagine if HRC called the police in to harass a group of Blacks who had a legal permit for a planned peaceful protest. We wouldn't find many Blacks trying to excuse HRC since, after all, maybe the police would have shown up anyway.

HRC was out of line in calling in the dogs on the Houston T* community for having the courage to exercise their right to express their belief that we should be treated with the same respect as other people.

Nerissa

I'm a native Houstonian and one major advantage I have is knowing my hometown and the logistics involved. I find the alternate scenario highly unlikely.

The HPD Mounted Police patrol stables are in the Galleria area along the 610 Loop (aka the West Loop Freeway) They are approximately 8 miles from downtown Houston, which means the horses have to be trailered into downtown before they are deployed.

I've witnessed no more than two Mounted patrol officers downtown on a regular day, and while that may have changed since I moved in 2001, during the Astros games I attended at Minute Maid Park I rarely saw mounted officers doing crowd control.

In addition, Minute Maid Park is on the OPPOSITE or eastern end of Avenida de las Americas and the George R. Brown Convention Center from the Hilton Americas Hotel where the dinner took place.

Donna, you make a clear and logical series of arguments. If the transexual community does not feel represented by HRC that is fine too and I would recommend that they and like minded LGBQ support alternative organizations that they believe better represent them. No single organization will ever be perfect for all.

and unfortunately, the consensus of the entire community is that HRC is a lot less than perfect. the organization has potential for great good - under proper leadership and committed to equality for all.

"So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."

-- MLK, Jr. Aug. 28, 1963, I Have a Dream speech

I find myself agreeing with Donna for similar reasons. I've protested in Houston and I've seen the mounted police. I've organized protests and I've always had the cops standing around and watching. I've organized events that have been protested and I've been the one to call the cops.

The reality is this: There are dangerous people in this world. While we'd all like to think that no one from our community would ever harm someone else, there's always that chance. HRC did the correct thing.

According to HRC's spokesperson, police were called for every protest from the trans community. It's standard operating procedures. They notify the hotel and the police. The hotel notifies the police as well. Can you imagine HRC's liability if they didn't and someone came in and shot up the hotel guests, HRC attendees or even protesters? (After all, it's not just the trans folks that might end up with a nut in their midst!)

When I protested in Houston, I was almost run over by a mounted policeman. The trick to dealing with mounted cops is to stand directly in front of the horse. They move you sideways and will always turn the horse so they can sidestep you out of the way. If you move with the horse's head, it won't go forward.

I honestly don't see the big deal. Yes, the trans community is angry with HRC for good reason. I've often defended a fully inclusive ENDA. But this is making a tempest in a teapot based solely on distrust.

Bil,
Part of your assumption seems to be based on the fact that you are believing what someone from HRC said. If they told me the sky is blue and water has 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, I would still need to verify their words.

There is a segment of the trans leadership who will try to talk others out of doing protests. They think they are not worth the effort. When a protest does occure, they then question the affect of it and the events that took place at the protest, as Donna has done.

This all gose back to an articel I wrote several months ago called "Enron Activism." (It may have even been published here.) Some activists not only think that their one approach to an issue is the only one and everyone else must follow that approach. I see that as bulls---. History has proven that attacking a civil rights problem from many angles is what gets the job done. You cannot break the wall down if you think the one brick you are chipping at is the one that will do the job.

I had a line in the article that sums this up. "For a community that prides itself on being able to think beyond binaries, it amazes me to see so many stuck with a singular viewpoint in activism."

Bil,
This is a situation where the perception of one side is their reality. A prime example is my two sons at IFGE. One person said they noticed they reacted differently to my transition. Each had their own perception of my transition, creating their own reality.

When two rational groups or individuals are seeing the same event, but their perception of that event are different, then there are two different realities of that event. The key word is "rational." When one side is certifiably crazy, then their reality is called into question, with just cause.

HRC is no longer considered rational or sane, so we will always call their perception of reality into question. They may have some truth to their statements, but their irrational and insane actions toward our community will not allow us to believe their reality, until they cleanse their leadership of the cancer that has infected them. It is my perception of this reality.

I honestly don't see the big deal.

Look at the history of violence, harassment, and abuse -- sexual or otherwise -- that trans people have suffered from at the hands of the police and the criminal "justice" system, and then you'll understand why this is such a big deal.

Then you'll understand why it really doesn't fucking matter whether the police were there because HRC called them. The point is that HRC made the call in the first place. And that illustrates the lack of analysis that HRC has on trans issues and their lack of concern for the safety of trans people.

Calling the police in response to trans protesters is an act of violence.

Hello...
This topic will be part of the discussion...tonight on Alternative Persepectives...tune if local in Atlanta 89.3 WRFG...online http://wrfg.org

It is my hope that Marti will be calling in..at 7:30pm....my feelings are posted at Marti's post...

Donna if you are available please call...this is a discussion that must be had...and it must be had within the T community first...if we are ever going to muster up the support needed to make the difference that is so urgently needed...

Equality for all, or none at all...that is my motto...

HRC must take accountability for there 'mistake'...because it was...they lied...they did...and I can testify to that...their promise was to represent all of the GLBT...not just some...and then all, when it might be benefical to them. They were explicit when they made the promise...there were no 'maybe' or 'buts'...'or if we can'...they promised to fight for all of us..and we trusted them to do that...and they broke their promise...there is no rationalizing that...and worst of all, they have not been able to come back to the community and take accountability...

Peace
Betty

And the $20,000 of our community's money they collected while making that promise at SCC makes this betrayal impossible to forget

Donna, I really appreciate that you are providing a "third path," so to speak. You've done this in the past on TBP.

I don't trust the HRC any further than I can throw them. But I trust the cops even less. I have no doubt that it was the HPD's decision to deploy the horseback officers. Cops are assholes and they have historically been very hostile towards our community, especially to trans people (Stonewall, anyone?), but I don't think that we should let HRC off the hook. If you call the cops on your own event, you have to deal with the PR fall out afterwards.

If you call the cops on your own event, you have to deal with the PR fall out afterwards.

No, you don't. It's standard procedure. I've been the protester that got the cops called on me. The venue is doing their job and protecting other customers. The police are doing their job by checking in. The event organizer is doing their job by alerting the necessary people - hotel, police, etc. The protester does their job and stays where appropriate, ACLU observer, no violence, etc.

This is part of a drama that has played out at every protest - whether LGBT or not - since the Oklahoma City Bombing. This isn't as if HRC just called the HPD and said in their evil Mr. Burns voice, "Yeeeeees. I want you to get rid of these minions or I'll call out the dogs." They've admitted that they made the call - because it's SOP.

Calling the police in response to trans protesters is an act of violence.

I disagree. No matter whether I've been protested or done the protesting, one thing has always remained the same: the police job has been to keep the peace.

It's as if everyone has gone myopic on this issue. While, yes, a trans person might go nuts and start shooting up the place, what's to say the more likely option - a right winger shooting at trans folks outside their hotel protesting or whatever - won't happen? If some nutjob starts firing shots at those protesters, is it okay to call the police, Nick? Or is still an act of violence? And what about calling them before the protest so they know to be on guard looking for suspicious people. What if the call had been made and this hypothetical shooter was caught and no trans folk got shot? Would it still have been an act of violence against the trans community?

There's too much gray being overlooked in this issue in an attempt to paint anything HRC does as anti-trans. Instead, it's black or white - pro-trans or anti-trans. That's not reality. You can be pro-trans and still recognize that notifying the force there to protect us that there will be an event where tempers could flare or nutjobs could target us is a good idea.

Monica, this is different from your sons. They had their own perceptions because it was their feelings. This isn't about feelings. This is about whether HRC called the cops to intimidate trans folks. I don't think they did. I think it was SOP as they said. 2+2=4 The evidence points in their favor.

Remember justice is part of equality. Justice doesn't take past grudges into account - only the current issue. Sometimes people are innocent or we wouldn't have a judiciary.

...the police job has been to keep the peace.

...the force there to protect us...

Bil, I think we have a fundamentally different view of the police.

Nick, as do I.

The venue is doing their job and protecting other customers.

Bil, wouldn't that be true if the hotel or conference center called the police, rather than the HRC?

This incident cannot be understood without acknowledging the abuse trans folks have suffered for decades at the hands of the police.

I'm afraid I have to agree here that the HRC was incredibly out of line to call the cops. It feels like yet another serious betrayal.

Rather than go forward with your own organization, it appears it is much more fun, productive, and progressive for all of you to make careers of verbally beating the HRC to death in the blogs...day after day...after day...after day...after day...in a vain attempt at somehow bringing the organization to their knees (or senses).

And, you are failing miserably.

The months keep rolling on.

Come one!

Come all!

Step right up for your free HRC security pacifier!

susan, we are still working and we are making progress - without HRC.

what did HRC really accomplish last year besides destroying their own credibility and dividing the LGBT community? was there any national legislation that was actually signed into law? we all know the answer....very sorrowfully, no. you are right about one thing. we need to go forward. the time to act is now. if you are depending on HRC to perform, you will be sorely disappointed....all you are going to get is more broken commitments. the only chance that HRC has to regain any credibility is to replace their philosophy and their leadership. they actually have to believe in human rights for everyone, as the name implies ... is that somehow a pacifier? i really don't understand your position or your point... perhaps i am just dim witted... please educate me...

No, I'm not depending on HRC. And, no, I won't be disappointed.

Surprisingly, I agree with much of what Donna says. The only bone of contention I have is how everything went down. I'm trying to get those answers right now.

Look, it IS SOP on both sides to alert the police to the protest. I even said that in my previous post about the protest. What I've NEVER experienced is such an overwhelming show of force for such a small protest.

And it's my understanding that NATIONAL HRC called the Houston police, and that ISN'T SOP.

That being said, if anyone should want to cast HRC into the lake of fire, it should be Donna. The fact that she's keeping a level, pragmatic head about things is why I respect her so much.

My point is, after the better part of seven months of daily slams to the HRC, I think anyone who can read has gotten the point. Conversely, the HRC has made it clear they could care less...and from what the historians write, have always had that position. Still, the advocates hold on to the HRC like it is a lifeforce, instead of striking out on their own.

Guess that is what one gets when one depends on a gay organization to represent gender issues. From what I read, when the lady at the IFGE convention suggested that transsexuals break from the crossdressers and start their own organization she garnered a less than enthusiastice reception...I have never been to a convention of any kind, but that would tell me there were a lot of CDs in the crowd.

Vaporize transgender. Disavow the GLBT. The vast majority of transsexuals want nothing to do with it...or pride parades either for that matter. Let the gays lobby for their own rights...the crossdressers theirs...and transsexuals for their own. Straight TSs don't want to be represented by a GLB organization and think transgender is stupid. That seems to be difficult to understand.

Will that happen? Probably not. Undoubtedly not. And the tens of thousands of post op TS sit on the sidelines...and will continue to do so as long as the status quo is the status quo.

So, what happens? The advocates and posters whine day in and day out about the HRC, too insecure in the strength of their numbers to do anything about it other than whine...day in...and day out. They underestimate the number of transsexuals who would join ranks in support if there was atranssexual rights organization not associated with either the GLB or the crossdressers.

In the meantime, the HRC is like a wet security blanket for the transgender advocates...they don't like it, but won't give it up either.

They underestimate the number of transsexuals who would join ranks in support if there was a transsexual rights organization not associated with either the GLB or the crossdressers.

Really? I think you should apply your earlier statement to this:

Rather than go forward with your own organization, it appears it is much more fun, productive, and progressive for all of you to make careers of verbally beating the HRC to death in the blogs...day after day...after day...after day...after day...in a vain attempt at somehow bringing the organization to their knees (or senses).

Anyhow, I'm with Monica Roberts here when it comes to activism. There isn't a single solution and direct action such as protesting HRC dinners is just as effective (I would actually argue more effective) as getting involved with any of the variety of non-profits out there.

Perspective can be altered by time and distance.
From a height above the clouds the human drama of a person facing down a tank would be would be lost.
From my humble ground view the mounted horseman scared and intimidated me. My anger and rage boiled up and I new in my heart of hearts if they did charge I would be left broken and dieing. High Drama, Donna? I lived next to Kent State. You remember the dead.
Were has your connection with our struggle gone?
If you have a desire to belittle a downplay the betrodden would you consider a different sect of society to act this out on?