TFA Blog
TFA Executive Director to Speak at HCC
Coming on the heals of a recent vote by the Houston Community College (HCC) Board of Directors to protect transgender students from discriminination, the Executive Director of the Transgender Foundation of America will speaking at the HCC Stafford Campus. Please visit the HCC website for more...
read moreHouston Community College Moves To Protect Trans Students
Houston Community College has joined the Houston Independent School District in adding protections for transgender students. The Transgender Foundation of America Board President, Lou Weaver, said “As an alum of HCC, this move towards equality is incredibly meaningful. It means that transgender students get to go to school and not have to worry about facing discrimination based upon their gender identity or expression.” The HCC Board took action to protect transgender students after an investigation into a recent incident...
read moreLaunch of TFA HIV Resource Site
For Immediate Release Houston, TX – Transgender communities in the United States are among the groups at highest risk for HIV infection. In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Transgender Foundation of America (TFA) is proud to announce the launch of our new web resource for accessing information about transgender HIV issues. “We hope this new resource will assist providers in providing culturally competent services to our transgender community” said Lou Weaver, TFA President. The website includes a section on current HIV studies...
read moreHCC Recognizes Problems, Commits to Change
For Immediate Release Houston, TX – In September a transgender Houston Community College (HCC) student requested that the Transgender Foundation of America (TFA) assist her in initiating an investigation after she was referred to as a “freak” in her English class. The comment was made during a classroom discussion of a paper written by the instructor, Donny Leveston, entitled “Taboo: Incest and Homoeroticism” in which the instructor invited the classroom to discuss how they felt about a transgender woman’s pre-operative genitalia....
read moreLet Your Voice Be Heard!
Dear friend, I write in hope of encouraging you to vote this year. At every level, Politicians need to hear from their constituents. They need to be aware that they have transgender people in their districts, and they need to be aware that those transgender people vote. I used to think that my one vote couldn’t make a difference. Through my service at Transgender Foundation of America, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and with the friends I have made in the past couple of years I have come to realize that I can and do make a difference,...
read moreResolution in HCC Discrimination Case
For Immediate Release Houston, TX – The transgender Houston Community College student is satisfied with the outcome of an investigation launched after she was referred to as a “freak” in class. The comment was made during a classroom discussion of a paper written by the instructor, Donny Leveston, entitled “Taboo: Incest and Homoeroticism.” Leveston, ended the classroom discussion by saying, “I don’t care what those people do, as long as they keep it away from me.” The student attempted to inform Leveston that the comments...
read moreDancing With Keith Ablow
Houston – On September 2, Dr. Keith Ablow, the Fox News psychiatrist, advised parents not to allow their children to see a transgender person on television because he feels that doing so might turn children into transsexuals. The statement was made in response to an announcement that Chaz Bono, a transgender man, would appear on the next season of Dancing with the Stars: I advise parents to not allow their children to watch the episodes in which Chaz appears. Here’s why: Many of the children who might be watching will be...
read moreTG Heroes Save Elderly Man
Houston – On Monday, September 14, 2011 two Transgender Center volunteers came to the aid of an elder member of the Montrose community who was being attacked by a younger man. The incident occurred on the corner of Pacific and Hopkins, just across the street from Club Blur, the location where Aaron Scheerhoorn was brutally murdered in front of a crowd of people who did nothing to stop the attack. The 93 year old victim, Jack Mustachia, was attacked when he offered to help what appeared to be a homeless man by offering him some food....
read moreHISD Approves Trans Protections
Houston, Texas – The Houston Independent School District (HISD), the seventh largest school district in the country and the largest in Texas now has fully inclusive GLBT protections for students. The Board voted 7-0, in favor of the policy, with 2 members absent, on June 23, 2011. This vote was the second of two that finalized an updated the HISD student code of conduct. When the measure passed, applause erupted in the auditorium. “My experience in school was fairly horrific. The bullying I endured inspired thoughts of suicide...
read moreNY City Librarians Support the TG Archive
Transgender Foundation of America (TFA) announces a $1,500 donation to the Transgender Archive by the New York city based organization, Que(e)ry Librarians. In a letter to TFA, the Que(e)ry Librarians write: Enclosed is our donation of $1,500.00 to your organization. We were able to raise this money through the donation of hundreds of party-goers at our last event: Que(e)ry III: Main Entry! Que(e)ry’s goals are: to provide a safe and fun social space and to encourage community among queer information professionals and their friends; to...
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