Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 08:59:42 -0800 From: Clare Howell Subject: GenderPAC's 4th National Lobby Day MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Dana Priesing, dana@gpac.org Carrie Davis, carrie@gpac.org GenderPAC's 4th National Lobby Day will be held in Washington, D.C. from Sunday, 23 May to Tuesday, 25 May 1999. For further information and details on lodging and transportation, please visit GenderPAC's website at: http://www.gpac.org Said Carrie Davis, GenderPAC's Director of Operations, "1998 saw tremendous advances on the state and local levels and quiet but important change in the national arena. GenderPAC has continued its series of meetings with government agencies about issues of gender variance and federal law, placed stories in the mainstream media, and continued its ongoing dialogue with national lesbian and gay organizations. "But despite our successes, our national movement is most significantly characterized by our failures. Our community is beset by discrimination, violence, and murder. This litany of terror is long, horrific, and most poignantly expressed by the murders of transgender-identified people in Texas, Massachusetts, California, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Sadly, recent reports indicate that someone in our community is killed on the average of once a month. "At Lobby Day this year we will be presenting the results of the recent GenderPAC/NGLTF/NCLR survey of employment discrimination. We need your help to show Congressional representatives the survey results, and explain the impact of gender bias in the workplace." According to GenderPAC's Washington, D.C. Advocate Dana Priesing, "In this over-busy world, the mere presence of so many dozens of diversely gendered people creates a powerful symbol. When we walk the halls of Congress, believe me, we are noticed. And when we speak--simply, reasonably, honestly-- about our lives, and the manner in which we are stigmatized, marginalized, and brutalized for our differences, our speech compounds the effect of our presence. In time we will wear away the stereotypes many legislators still hold about gender- different people. "And when the stereotypes are gone, what we seek--the right to live free of the threat of violence, the right to work free of discrimination, the right to be treated like other Americans--will no longer seem such a distant dream. We are engaged in a long struggle. Come, be part of it." Further contacts for National Lobby Day include: GenderPAC - Riki Wilchins and Carrie Davis (212)645-1753; National Gay & Lesbian Task Force - Betsey Gressler (202) 332-6483 ext. 3306; It's Time America - Jessica Xavier (301)949-3822; BiNet USA - Stephanie Berger (510)601-1806; Transgender Officers Protect & Serve - Tony Barreto-Neto (813)752-9226; International Foundation for Gender Education - Nancy Cain (781)894-8340; Intersex Society of North America - Cheryl Chase (415)575-3885; F-to-M Int'l - Jamison Green (510)658-0474; National Center for Lesbian Rights - Shannon Minter (415)392-6257; and, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom - Susan Wright (718)383-3318. To subscribe to the GenderPAC mailing list, please contact: subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.