Presented by the UUI Social Justice Committee and partially underwritten by the UUI Beacon Fund, the proceeds from VDAY 2010 (www.vday.org) will benefit INTRAA.

Show dates: Thursday, February 25, Friday, February 26, and Saturday, February 27, at 7 P.M. at UUI.  (ASL interpretation on Feb. 26 and 27.)

Location:  Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, 615 W. 43rd Street (www.uui.org)

Tickets: $15 general admission; $10 students/seniors. Buy tickets from cast members; at UUI on Sunday, Feb. 21, 10 A.M. to 12 noon, or e-mail vdayuui2010@yahoo.com for reservations. Cash or check only. Also available at the door!!!

Directed by Jenni White, The Vagina Monologues features the following fabulous women: Diana Asberry-Ferber, Emma Bennett, Susan Boatright, Jordan Brooks, Ali Curtis, Kelsey Didion, Tatjana Gordon, Kelly Graham-MacDonald, Ruth Hinkle, Lesley Meier, Casey O’Leary, Pat Pontis, Stephanie Robertson, Emma Said, Shannon Samson, Danna Sheridan, Grace Starke, Kim Stroup, Lia Treffman, Michele Turner, Malia Vanaman, Becca White, Jenni White, Marguerite Winslow and Tasha Zaroui.

http://events.vday.org/2010/community/Indianapolis_(TVM)

Although less far-reaching than a previously proposed Human Rights Ordinance, Executive Order No. 1-2009 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in any municipal employment. The statement of administrative policy also directs departments and other internal operations of City government to:

• Update the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy and employment manual.
• Discuss discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in related employee training sessions.
• Incorporate standard language prohibiting this form of discrimination in all appropriate documentation, reporting such efforts to the City Controller.

The Executive Order became effective today when Luecke signed his name to the two-page document.

“The City of South Bend is a progressive community that believes in freedom and equality of opportunity for all. We treat everyone with dignity and respect,” Luecke said. “This order ensures that my administration will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment decisions, including hiring, firing, promotion, compensations or other terms and conditions of city employment.”

Any City employee or applicant for employment with the City of South Bend who experiences employment-related discrimination – whether because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or heterosexual – is encouraged to report such incidents to the Division of Human Resources, which will investigate and attempt to resolve the concerns. City employees are also encouraged to report incidents to their supervisor, department head or a Human Resources representative.

An executive order is a statement of administrative policy issued by the mayor and applicable only to the internal operations of city government. It does not impact private employers.

Although this represents Luecke’s first executive order, the mayor indicated he may issue executive orders “from time to time on matters within the scope of Mayor’s office.” Executive orders are a common tool used in governmental executive branches from mayors and governors to the president.

The South Bend Human Rights Ordinance already prohibits City government from discriminating against anyone based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, national origin or veteran status. Sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination includes being treated differently or harassed because of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Contact:  Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564, or City Attorney Chuck Leone, 235-9241.

Tickets are $15 each, and $10 for students/seniors (on sale at UUI on Feb. 3rd and 10th from 10am-12:30pm, and at the door OR emailjennilewhite@yahoo.com for reservations).

Proceeds will benefit Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance (INTRAA) to end violence against transwomen. Partially underwritten by The Beacon Fund of UUI.

Starring: Diana Asberry-Ferber, Robin Chestek, Lucy Fields, Aimee Hill, Cindy Jackson, Colleen Kelly, Lesley Meier, Jessica Miller, Tina Nehrling, Angel Robertsson, Stacy Robinson, Anita Saunders, Jill Whelan, Becca White, Jenni White, Estelle Wilson and Marsha Wilson.

V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. Furher information can be found at www.vday.org.

Information Alert From INTRAA and the National Center for Transgender Equality

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has agreed to immediately discontinue using gender mismatches solely as a reason for invalidating driver licenses. Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance (INTRAA) and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) successfully worked with officials at the Indiana BMV to bring about this policy change. On November 6th, the Indiana BMV began issuing warning letters to people in the BMV database whose information did not match Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records. Information compared between the two databases included name, Social Security number, date of birth, and gender. Letters instructed recipients to resolve discrepancies within 30 days or risk losing their driving privileges.

INTRAA and NCTE brought to the Indiana BMV’s attention that Social Security uses a different standard for changing gender markers than what the BMV uses. Because of these differing standards, some transgender people legitimately have an Indiana driver license or identification card with one gender marker and SSA records with a different gender marker. Through the work of INTRAA and NCTE, Indiana BMV Commissioner Ron Stiver realized the difficulties surrounding gender marker verification and issued an immediate policy change. The newest policy is that gender mismatches will be ignored by the BMV.

Indiana driver license and identification card holders who have other SSA mismatches besides gender, such as name or date of birth, will still need to resolve those discrepancies. Those with mismatches besides gender, and who fail to get their SSA and BMV records to match, will be sent a second letter. This second letter will advise them that unless the mismatch is resolved their driving license will become invalid, effective 30 days from the date of the second letter. The Indiana BMV does not plan to issue “disregard” notices to people who received letters for gender-only mismatches. However, people who had gender only as a mismatch will not be issued a second letter.

In the future people who have gender and a second type of information mismatch (for instance, name) will be sent letters that mention only the non-gender mismatches. INTRAA and NCTE applaud the Indiana BMV for its quick response and for resolving a problem that affected a sizable proportion of transgender people in Indiana.

If you have received one of these letters and are looking for information or assistance, please contact us at info@intraa.org or jotto@nctequality.org.

Here’s what you can do:

• Read the latest update that includes a description of these cases and ways to get involved and speak out against abuse of transgender human rights.
• Call on the NYPD to conduct immediate and impartial investigations into the allegations of mistreatment and to ensure that any officers found guilty are brought to justice! We urge you to take action, speak out against injustice, and ensure that the rights of all people are respected.

Speakers for the event are:
Mara Keisling, Executive Director National Center for Transgender Equality
Kim Pearson, President TransYouth Family Advocates
Vivian Benge, President Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance

INTRAA invites you to come enjoy…

Kings, Queens, and Everything in Between!

You’ll know you’ve hit the jackpot when our royals make your cheeks flush red!
It’s sure to be a Full House, so buy your tickets now!

Tickets are $10.00 each

Anyone who joins INTRAA between now and July 19 will get a free ticket to the show!

1. Use the talking points to do 3-4 sentence letters—one to Senator Lugar and one to Senator Bayh.
2. Make sure the letter includes the bill name “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Enhancement Act” and the bill number “S.B. 1105″
3. The addresses for the letters should be written on the letters. These addresses are:
   1. Senator Evan Bayh
      1650 Market Tower
      10 West Market Street
      Indianapolis, IN 46204
   2. Senator Richard Lugar
      1180 Market Tower
      10 West Market Street
      Indianapolis, IN 46204
4. Make sure to both sign and print your name.
5. Underneath your printed and signed name, please print your address. This way, the Senator’s office can both read your name and address and confirm that you are, in fact, a constituent.
6. Please mail the letters THIS WEEK!

The Day of Remembrance raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people. It publicly honors and mourns the lives of transgender people who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect in the face of national indifference and bigotry.

As part of the ceremony, we ask that attendees bring flowers for use in the names reading.