The DC Center’s Social media and Advocacy Intern, Alexis Arrington, wrote an Op-Ed piece published in this week’s Metro Weekly on the need to decriminalize Sex Work in DC. The DC Center for the LGBT Community fully supports the Sex Workers of our community and the movement to decriminalize their work.
Advocacy
LGBTQ Community Centers #PutPatientsFirst
August 14th marks the end of the comment period on the new rules proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that will jeopardize the health and well-being of vulnerable populations such as the LGBTQ community. The proposed regulation focuses on Section 1557 of the Health Care Rights Law, a part of the Affordable Care Act that bans gender discrimination. The proposal would erase all reference to protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, sex stereotyping, and gender identity.
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers strongly opposes the newly proposed regulation, and, working with a coalition of national, state and local organizations, has generated over 132,400 comments to HHS in opposition to the new rules.
“LGBTQ community centers provide services and referral resources daily to thousands of individuals across our country,” said Lora L. Tucker, CEO of CenterLink. “Centers and their constituents have loudly spoken out against the new HHS rules. The rules promote discrimination and will harm many in our community who need access to basic care.”
Proposing a rule that would gut the Health Care Rights Law is the latest of many attempts the Trump-Pence Administration has made to undermine and threaten access to healthcare to those who need it most.
A patient’s health should always come first. CenterLink and the 250+ LGBTQ community centers who belong to our network will continue to advocate for patients who are medically underserved and help to ensure that the LGBTQ community has access to health care that is free from discrimination or bias.
Whitman Walker Supports the LGBT Older Americans and Older People Living with HIV Act
Whitman-Walker has issued a statement of support for DC Bill 23-0037, the Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors Living with HIV Amendment Act of 2019. The legislation would requires the DC Office on Aging & Community Living (DACL) and Commission on Aging to include LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors Living with HIV as group of greatest social need under the Older Americans Act. In addition, the bill would amend the Human Rights Act of 1977 to establish and LGBTQ HIV long-term care bill or rights.
The statement was released in July and states in part: “The Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act, Bill 23-37, is a major step forward in addressing the unique and compelling needs of these DC residents. We congratulate Councilmembers Cheh, Bonds, Nadeau, Gray, T. White, Allen, McDuffie, Todd, Silverman, and R. White for introducing the bill, and Councilmembers Grosso and Evans for co-sponsoring this important legislation. ”
Read the complete statement from Whitman Walker below:
Whitman Walker Health Statement of Support for 23-0037
Sign the online petition to support this legislation using the link below:
DC Council: Take Action to Support LGBTQ Older Adults and Long Term Survivors of HIV
ETC Response to Recent Arrest in the Murder of Zoe Spears
Earline Budd, Executive Director of Empowering the Transgender Community, released the following statement following the arrest of a man believed to be responsible for the death of Zoe Spears.
On July 18th LBGTQ community and others received information that Prince Georges County police and detectives had apprehended a suspect in the June 13th murder of Zoe Spears. They showed a large poster of 33 year old Gerardo Thomas who was arrested and said to be a resident of Baltimore Maryland. We would like to first say thank you to the Prince Georges County Police and Detectives for their hard work in bringing closure to Zoe’s murder. But our community still will not and cannot rest until the murderer of Ashanti Carmon is apprehended also. Both of these women were young and did not deserve to lose their lives this way, now leaving a void in transgender community. We continue to feel strongly that it is not by coincidence that these two women were killed in Fairmont Heights within 90 days apart and only 5 blocks apart in Fairmont Heights Maryland.
The Transgender community will continue to speak out for justice in cases like this. We hope that the police uncover some surveillance in the area where our sister and friend Ashanti Carmon was killed too. We are happy that both Prince Georges County and the District of Columbia officials are working to assure that there are resources in place to help transgender women who find themselves in survival mode and seeking help.
On Sunday July 21st at 3:00 pm, Rev. Elder Akousa McCray will be doing a “Special Alter Call and Prayer”, as we thank God for this case being solved. This service will be open to the community and at MCCDC located at 474 Ridge Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.
Today we still are asking the transgender community “PLEASE STAY OFF OF EASTERN AVENUE”, and seek resources from transgender community advocates and leaders.
ANC1A Passes Resolutions Supporting LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV and Urges the DC Council Enact a Gay and Trans “Panic” Defense Ban
At the July 10, 2019, meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A (ANC1A), the Commission considered two resolutions introduced by Commissioner Kent Boese and unanimously passed both measures critical to the needs and safety of the LGBTQ community.
B23-0037 – the Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2019 – was recently intruded by Councilmembers Anita Bonds and Mary Cheh. As introduced, the bill includes LGBTQ seniors and seniors with HIV in the definition of groups of greatest social need for the purpose of allocating funds. It also establishes an LGBTQ HIV long-term care bill of rights. While ANC1A believes there is much more that needs to be done to support our seniors and LGBTQ community, the Commission believes this bill is an excellent start.
ANC1A also passed a measure requesting that the Secure A Fair and Equitable Trial Act of 2017 (ban on gay and trans “panic” defense bill) be reintroduced and passed by the DC Council. The bill was previously introduced in Council session 22 but died in the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. The failure to move this important legislation in one of the most progressive cities in the United States, and the city with the highest population of LGBTQ residents in the country, is both disappointing and unacceptable.
As introduced, the Secure A Fair and Equitable Trial Act of 2017 would required that upon the request of either the prosecutor or the defendant, the court would instruct the jury against letting bias, sympathy, prejudice, or public opinion influence its decision. It also would establish limits on defenses that seek to excuse violence on the basis of a victim’s identity.
See Related Documents Below:
2019-07 – Letter of support for reintroducing the “Secure a Fair and Equitable Trial Act of 2017”
Fight Hate in DC: 10 Things You Can Do
If you attended the Vigil Against the Violence last month or last nights LGBTQ Community Meeting on Hate Violence hosted by Eleanor Holmes Norton, you know that there is a lot of work to be done to address the increase in Hate Crimes in DC. Here are some things you can do right now to make a difference.
(1) Tell the DC Council to take action on hate crimes and pass the Trans and Gay Panic Defense Bill. The gay and trans “panic” defense is a legal strategy which asks a jury to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s violent reaction, including murder. Here in the District of Columbia the gay “panic defense” was used in the case of Tony Hunter. Tony was a black gay man murdered in 2008 outside of a gay club on 9th Street NW. And the man who killed him was sentenced to a mere six months in jail. Learn more and sign the petition here.
(2) Celebrate the Life of Zoe Spears. A memorial to celebrate the life of Zoe Spears July 12th at 10 AM at the Metropolitan Community Church. Come be part of this event and honor Zoe’s memory. thedccenter.org/events/zoespears
(3) Organize! Join us for the next DC Anti-Violence Project Meeting. The DC Anti-Violence Project aims to reduce violence against LGBTQ individuals (and those perceived as LGBTQ) through community outreach, education, monitoring of cases, advocacy, and community support. thedccenter.org/events/dcavp
(4) Tell the DC Council to decriminalize sex work in DC. Policing and criminalization of sex work is one of the primary sites of racial profiling, police violence, and mass incarceration of Black and brown women, girls, and trans and gender nonconforming folks. This violence is compounded when they are also denied access to housing, health care, transportation, healthy food, and other basic human needs based on discrimination and stigma. The decriminalization of sex work is one step in ending this violence. Learn more and sign the petition here.
(5) Drop off food at Casa Ruby or Wanda Alston House or make hygiene kits for LGBTQ folks experiencing homelessness. Zoe Spears was a client at both Casa Ruby or Wanda Alston House. If you’d like to sign up to make dinner for youth experiencing homelessness at Casa Ruby or the Wanda Alston House, or if you would like to pull together a group of folks to make kits for LGBTQ people experiencing homelessness, Learn more about group volunteer opportunities here.
(6) Learn how hate crimes impact other communities. Hate crimes are not just increasing in the LGBTQ community. People (including some of us in the LGBTQ community) are being targeted because of our race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, or disability. The Hate Crimes Bias Task Force is a good place to learn more about all hate crimes in our city and to work in partnership with other communities that are being impacted. We are stronger when we work together! The next Hate Crimes Bias Task Force Meeting is July 24th at 7:00 PM at the DC Center. thedccenter.org/events/hatebiastaskforce
(7) Attend your local ANC Meetings and run for office in the District! An ANC is a non-partisan, neighborhood body made up of locally elected representatives called Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. They are a unique feature of the District’s Home Rule Charter. The Commissioners, who serve two-year terms without pay, are elected at DC Elections in November in even-numbered years (e.g. 2016). The ANCs were established to bring government closer to the people, and to bring the people closer to government. Our LGBT ANC reps are our fiercest advocates and supporters. Learn more about ANC’s here, and if you are thinking about running for office the Victory Fund is a great place to start!
(8) Tell DC Council to support the LGBT Older Adults and Long Term Survivors of HIV Amendment Act. A lot of the recent conversations have focused on the need for services for the LGBTQ community, and a lot of work is underway to fight for the resources we need. The Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act addresses this issue for our seniors and long term survivors! The bill, modeled after similar efforts in Massachusetts and California, adds LGBT elders and older people with HIV to the list of those older people in the District who are considered to have greatest social need under the Older Americans Act (OAA). Making this small but important update to how the law is implemented in DC, ensures that LGBT elders and people living with HIV have equal access to crucial government aging services and programming. Learn more and sign the petition here.
(9) Make your voice heard at the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs Advisory Committee Meeting. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs works in collaboration with an Advisory Committee, which is appointed by the Mayor. Their mission is to “address concerns of the LGBTQ community and find innovative ways of utilizing government resources to help address issues affecting LGBTQ residents of Washington, DC.” These meetings are open to the public and include time for concerned community members to make public comments. Come to this meeting and make your voice heard! thedccenter.org/events/lgbtq-affairs-meeting
(10) Take care of each other. Take time to reach out to your friends who have have been impacted by violence recently, as well as friends who have experienced violence in the past and may be triggered by what is currently happening. If you know someone who needs a person to talk to, call the DC Center during office hours to arrange an appointment with a licensed clinical social worker (202) 682-2245. If we are at capacity we will do our best to connect you to other resources in the community. Also, let folks know about the Queer Women Working Through Trauma group at the DC Center. A new 8 week session starts in September.
Washington Post Op-Ed on Recent Violence
The Washington Post released an op-ed article titled, “The DC Area needs better resources to help the LGBTQ Community,” which speaks on the recent hate crimes within the DC LGBT Community. Written by Samantha Schmidt, the article highlights instances of violence and the lack of resources in the area available to help those who are vulnerable in our community.
Earline Budd: Call to Action on Drug Overdoses in the LGBTQ Community
Transgender Activist and Executive Director of Empowering the Transgender Community Earline Budd released the following statement in response to recent deaths believed to be related to drug overdose in the DC LGBTQ Community.
In December 2018 I sent out a “Call To Action” regarding the spike in K2 Synthetic Drug and heroin overdoses here in the District of Columbia. On June 27th a transgender woman whom I have known and worked with for over 15 years was found dead at 7th and H Street N.W. She was homeless and had her struggles, but did not deserve to go out like this. It was said to be a suspected overdose of some type of drug that she consumed.
In the last 90 days the LBGTQ community has had several deaths believed to be related to the synthetic drugs and heroin. This epidemic has hit home for the LBGTQ community again after the death of Diamond Colson a transgender woman age 31.
While city agencies including the police department, the Department of Human Services along with homeless shelters are said to be trying to curb this ongoing problem, it has resurfaced and again is claiming lives of those we love and work with.
Even with the creation of the city “Emergency Alert” flier with information about K2/heroin and drug addiction resources that officers and homeless advocates are now passing out, we must come together to discuss what more can be done. One life is too many, and there must also be consequences for those who are mixing up these deadly drugs killing people. While there is a
lot of funding for Opcode Overdose Prevention, there must be more done for those who are within the LBGTQ community which is a very silent conversation. “Call to Action” is now and we can’t sit by and just watch people die off. While it is not you today experiencing the loss of someone, it can be you tomorrow.
Resources
- Seek substance use disorder treatment. Call the Assessment and Referral Center (The ARC) at 202-727-8437
- Get connected to behavioral health services. Call the 24/7 Access HelpLine at 1-888-793-4357
- Contact an outreach worker 202-442-4634 (DHS) or 202-673-9124 (DBH)
LGBTQ Specific Recovery Information
- Visit the Triangle Club website to learn more about traditional twelve step programs.
- An LGBTQ Smart Recovery Group meets weekly on Saturday Evenings at 8PM. Find out more here.
- For Harm Reduction information and resources, connect with www.hips.org
Support Memorial Services for Zoe Spears
Transgender advocate and activist Earline Budd has set up gofundme page on behalf of Zoe Spear’s family, to raise money for the memorial service and celebration of life for Zoe Spears. Please consider donating to give Zoe a funeral that signifies “Dignity in Death”.
Earline states “My heart hurts in having to do yet another service, but my life is dedicated to giving and caring and for this reason I will complete yet one more service. Thank you in advance.”
Earline will be responsible for final arrangements. The donations are needed now. Please give as you can today, no donation is too small. You can donate here.
(https://www.gofundme.com/help-with-services-for-zoe-spears)
Letter from Rainbow Caucus of LGBTQ Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners
The Rainbow Caucus of LGBTQ Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners submitted a letter on June 19 the Chairman Phil Mendelson. You can read the text of the letter copied below, or view the entire letter in its original format at the following link: RainbowCaucusLetter.pdf
——
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Via E-mail
19 June 2019
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
We write as DC’s highest-ranking LGBTQ elected officials charged with ensuring the best interest of the District of Columbia as a whole. While the DC Council contains many self-
professed LGBTQ allies, we have not had true representation on the Council since Councilmembers Catania and Graham left office. The Council’s silence on hate crimes and
transgender violence, its refusal to provide even $1 in increased funding for the Office of
Human Rights and Office of LGBTQ Affairs that 15 organizations advocated for, its failure
to address anti-LGBTQ discrimination and violence, and its lack of action to ensure that we
have safe and respectful housing and job opportunities for LGBTQ people of all ages – and
in particular trans women of color – deeply concerns and disgusts us.
We learned long ago that Silence = Death … and your silence and inaction is killing
members of our community or placing them in harm’s ways and hospital emergency rooms. We will not be complacent, we will not be silent, and we will hold every single
Councilmember accountable for their failures – both now and during election time.
LGBTQ people are suffering when they walk down the street, they are targets, and they are
dying from preventable causes. Recent instances include the brutal murders of Ashanti
Carmon and Zoe Spears – both transgender woman of color, the violent attack on Carl
Craven and Braden Brech outside of Nellie’s on U Street, NW, on June 16th, and three
people stabbed inside the Fireplace on P Street, NW, also on June 16th. Sadly, violence like
this is all too common in our community, and it is happening on your watch.
Furthermore, the Council continues to fail in its oversight role. There is institutional
disrespect and homophobia/transphobia throughout our District government agencies,
particularly toward transgender people. Yet you do nothing. Your silence condones this
discrimination.
Words of friendship and support no longer ring true. Both as elected officials and your
constituents, we call on you to act now. Money talks, and we need to hear a mighty roar
from the Council by securing a minimum of $5M in funding for the programs and agencies
that support our community and make us safe.
We look forward to your response and are committed to rolling up our sleeves to work
together until every last one of us can walk down the street in safety and dignity.
Kent C. Boese
Commissioner, 1A08
Chair, ANC1A
Michael Wray
Commissioner, 1A09
Jason Clock
Commissioner, 1A12
James Turner
Commissioner, 1B09
Chair,ANC1B
Robb Hudson
Commissioner, 1B11
Ted Guthrie
Commissioner, 1C03
Chair,ANC1C
Birdget Pooley
Commissioner, 1C02
Japer Bowles
Commissioner, 1C07
Matthew Sampson
Commissioner, 2B01
Randy Downs
Commissioner, 2B05
Mike Silvertein
Commissioner, 2B06
Michael. D Shankle
Commissioner, 2C01
John Fanning
Commissioner, 2F04
Chair, ANC2F
Monika Nameth
Commissioner, 3F06
Madeleine Stirling
Commissioner-elect, 2F05