Queer News Hour #1
It’s Queer News Hour! Bringing you the news you care about since 2009.
UNITED STATES. New Hampshire has legalised same-sex marriage, being the 6th state to do so in the United States. You may enter into a legally binding union with any consenting adult of your choosing in the following states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Maine. New York and Washington, D. C. will honor your choice of spouse but will not marry you unless you happen to be of different legal genders.
Danny La Rue in character
UNITED KINGDOM. British drag queen Danny La Rue has died at the age of 81. He said of his character: “It took me 20 years to make something that wasn’t acceptable, acceptable. I mean, it’s not funny just to put on a frock and a wig. It takes a lot of time to develop a character. But I suppose I must be doing something right, otherwise I wouldn’t have lasted.” You can read Danny La Rue’s obituary at the Guardian.
GLOBAL. The Amnesty International Report 2009 is out. Questioning Transphobia lists the items that concern transsexual and transgender rights.
GLOBAL. Jamison Green, a researcher and author is gathering material for a book called The FTM Guide to SEX (working title) and you can take part by answering a survey. There are separate surveys for transmen and the partners of transmen. Act quickly, the information is being collected only until June 30 2009.
Angie Zapata
UNITED STATES. Transwomen are being targeted in Memphis, Tennessee. There have been 5 violent attacks on transwomen since 2006. The latest victim is Kelvin Denton who was shot on May 27 and is in critical condition. More at the Curvature and Pam’s House Blend. In the United States the perpetrators of hate crimes against transpeople tend to use the trans panic defence in court. In July 2008 in Colorado Angie Zapata was beaten to death by Allen Ray Andrade after he discovered Angie Zapata was a transwoman. His defence in court rested on the trans panic excuse -- the shock of realizing he had had sex with a non-cissexual made him kill. Andrade was convicted of first-degree murder and hate crimes, this being the first time anyone has been convicted of a hate crime in connection of a transperson’s murder. More on Angie Zapata’s murder at Shakesville: 1, 2.
UNITED STATES. And some happy news to wrap things up: Sergio Garcia, an openly gay fellow, was elected prom queen at a Los Angeles high school. Associated Press reports (via Yahoo News): “He also promised that he would be wearing a suit on prom night, but ‘don’t be fooled: Deep down, I am a queen.’” Sergio Garcia’s interview below.