[Onthebarricades] Protests - women, gay, disability - Aug-Sept 2008

Thu Sep 10 21:26:06 PDT 2009

Women/Gender

* PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Women bash bottom pincher

Gay/LGBT rights

* UK: Bradford - "Pride is a Protest"
* US: Gainesville - protest at equality law amendment
* US: Protest at award for homophobe
* GREECE: Protest for gay marriage ahead of trial
* US: Florida - owner protested over anti-gay amendment support
* MEXICO: Protest over "gay" as insult
* BOSNIA: Injuries as homophobes attack gay rights festival
* ITALY: Protest over public kissing trial
* UK: Transphobic doctor protested

Disability rights

* KOREA: Blind masseurs jump from bridge in reform protest
* UK: Wales - protest over autistic school standards
* US: Florida - blind group protests movie
* UK: Autistic group protests McKinnon persecution

Other discrimination

* IRELAND: Protest over hate crimes against subcultures

http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/592884

PNG women bash bottom pincher
AAP
Last updated 13:07 22/08/2008

A notorious bottom pincher in Papua New Guinea's Bougainville region has 
been beaten up by a group of women after he pinched one of their 
posteriors.
The thrashing and a brief brawl came in the capital Buka when Joe Sohia 
pinched an unnamed woman's buttocks.
The woman and her friends took umbrage and retaliated by swinging their 
bags at him.
They then set upon him with a flurry of punches that knocked him to the 
ground.
PNG's Post Courier newspaper reported "the man started throwing wild 
punches at the woman who did not give up but kept punching back".
A local bus driver who witnessed the incident said it was a short fight 
drawing a large audience before police broke it up.
"Men who harass women in public places should be expecting that kind of 
beating from women," he said.
"The man who was floored had a very bad habit of pinching women's 
buttocks in public," he added.
Police took the women in for questioning.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/407559.html

"Pride is a Protest" - Bradford MSGI marches at Manchester Pride
Jeffa | 26.08.2008 10:54 | Culture | Repression | Social Struggles | 
Leeds Bradford | Manchester
Several representatives of University of Bradford's MSGI society marched 
at Manchester Pride 2008 to proclaim "Pride is a Protest", along with 
several other groups.
Several members of Bradford MSGI (Minority Sexual and Gender Identities) 
attended the Manchester Pride parade on Saturday 23rd of August in order 
to protest the commercialisation of Manchester Pride. Holding signs such 
as "Riot, Don't Diet", "God Loves Fags", and "Feminist Fightback", they 
marched with the University of Manchester Student Union's parade entry. 
UMSU also staged their own protest, chanting slogans such as "We're 
here, we're queer, we will not live in fear", and "3, 5, 7, 9, human 
rights are yours and mine". Other organisations were also out on the 
23rd to protest the commercialisation of pride, including the Queer 
Liberation Front and Anarchist Federation, but most notably the Queer 
Youth Network, who had to defend their right to carry signs saying 
"Pride, Not Profit" from worried pride officials.

Sarah, Bradford MSGI's Librarian, stated, "It's extremely important for 
us to stand against the commercialisation of Manchester Pride as MSGI 
activists. You should not have to pay to be proud of who you are. and I 
am especially annoyed that the entire Village has been shut off to 
people unwilling to pay extortionate sums of money to Pride when 
virtually none of it makes it to charity as they claim anyway. We should 
remember where our struggle started: Stonewall was a riot, not a brand 
name." Manchester Pride organisers were unavailable for comment.

Bradford Pride is to be held on the 11th October, 2008. Entry is free.
Jeffa
e-mail: dally92000 at yahoo.com

http://www.alligator.org/articles/2008/09/05/news/local/080904_protest.txt

Residents protest possible amendment to anti–discrimination policy
At a glance
• A proposed charter amendment could eliminate Gainesville's 
anti–discrimination policy for gay and transgender people.
• The amendment is the product of a petition by Citizens for Good Public 
Policy.
• Members of the group Equality is Gainesville's Business spoke against 
the amendment at City Hall.
By ANDREA ASUAJE , Alligator Writer
People of all ages, colors and sexual orientations came to the steps of 
City Hall Thursday afternoon in support of Gainesville’s 
anti–discrimination policy.

Members of the group Equality is Gainesville’s Business spoke against a 
charter amendment that would nullify the city’s anti–discrimination 
protections for gay and transgender people.

“All of us believe it is Gainesville’s business to ensure equality for 
all residents,” member Michelle Ott said.

The group was formed in opposition to the amendment, which has been 
pushed for by the organization Citizens for Good Public Policy.

Citizens for Good Public Policy has collected enough signatures to put 
the amendment on the ballot, though it remains uncertain when it will 
appear.

If the amendment passes, the city would be subject to the Florida Civil 
Rights Act instead of its current policy.

This would remove protections based on sexual orientation and gender 
identity and prohibit the city from adding new categories, like 
pregnancy, socioeconomic status or party affiliation.

The state policy will still provide protection for groups based on race, 
color, religion, sex, nationalorigin, age, handicap and marital status.

Kim Emery, a UF English professor who spoke Thursday, said hearing about 
the charter amendment made her feel as if citizens of Gainesville 
thought it was acceptable to strip others of their human rights.

“It would make us something less than citizens,” Emery said.

Cain Davis, chairman of Citizens for Good Public Policy, said the 
amendment is not about restricting rights, but protecting citizens.

“It’s a public safety issue,” Davis said. “For some reason, they keep 
missing that point.”

Theoretically, he said, men could use women’s restrooms and take 
advantage of the policy by claiming to be transgender.

The group believes that adding gender identity to the city’s 
anti–discrimination policy in January was a mistake by the City 
Commission, he said.

“They ought to use common sense,” Davis said.

Alachua County Commissioner Paula DeLaney said it’s important to take 
the “high road” and realize the fight is over real people.

“There is no excuse for discrimination,” DeLaney said.

Dr. Glenn Dickinson, of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, said 
opposition to the city’s policy has created unnecessary fear.

“I pray for a change of heart and mind,” Dickinson said.

Some citizens who attended the press conference said they were concerned 
about what the amendment would mean for their lives.

Amanda Bisson said the amendment was just another way of taking away 
rights from people.

“I think it’s a disgrace,” Bisson said. “I’m very worried.”

Her domestic partner, Angela Downs, said she thought the amendment was 
based on fear and lack of education.

“It’s not intended to hurt anyone,” Downs said.

But both Bisson and Downs said action is important.

http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/dumpdobson1003.html

Coalition to Radio Hall of Fame: 'Dump Dobson'
by Nick Cargo
A coalition has been formed to protest the planned induction of Focus on 
the Family founder and chairman James Dobson into the Radio Hall of Fame.
DumpDobson, founded by Truth Wins Out in conjunction with 
RespectMyResearch, Soulforce and the Gay Liberation Network, calls on 
Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications to reconsider honoring 
Dobson. "We believe that MBC founder Bruce DuMont should immediately 
rescind this tribute to Dobson and restore dignity and respectability to 
the Radio Hall of Fame," said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne 
Besen. "While we recognize DuMont has the right to honor whomever he 
chooses, we also believe that he has a responsibility not to celebrate 
bigotry and intolerance."
Dobson, also the founder of Family Research Council, produces a daily 
radio show broadcast on over 7,000 radio stations worldwide, in addition 
to about sixty American television stations. "The fact that James Dobson 
is an accomplished broadcaster is offset by the fact he is an even more 
accomplished liar," Besen told PageOneQ in July. "He has built his 
following by exploiting fear, promoting hatred and appealing to 
humanity's lowest common denominator. His broadcasts have sharpened 
divisions in society, poisoned politics and made America a more hostile 
nation. It is utter madness that one would be honored for such a 
disgraceful career."
Dobson beat out "Dr. Laura" Schlessinger, sportscaster Bob Costas and 
"shock jock" Howard Stern in the "National Active" category. "Our only 
criterion is the number of years in the business," said Hall of Fame 
chairman Bruce DuMont. "He's been broadcasting more than 15 years on 
more than 3,000 stations. He's qualified."
Dobson has been repeatedly accused of distorting sociological research 
to support his anti-gay political positions, including that same-sex 
couples are inferior parents and that gays seek to "destroy the 
institution of marriage." He also founded "Love Won Out," a ministry 
that purports to "cure" homosexuality. "Dobson continues to promote 
dishonest psychological theories about gay people that are rejected by 
every respected medical and mental health association in America, 
including the American Psychological Association and the American 
Psychiatric Association," Besen noted. "If Dobson had attacked any other 
minority in such an offensive manner, Bruce DuMont would not even 
consider honoring him. Sadly, it appears that Mr. DuMont believes there 
is a 'gay exception' to the rules of civility and common decency. We 
think this is wrong."
In addition to a letter that members of the public are invited to sign, 
a protest, in conjunction with Equality Illinois, is scheduled for 
Saturday, November 8 at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 W. Wacker 
Drive, in Chicago.
"We believe that character counts as much as building an audience when 
deciding who should make the Hall of Fame," Besen added. "Just as Pete 
Rose was barred from the Baseball Hall of Fame for gambling, Dobson 
should be banned for his habitual lies and chronic distorting of science."

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9146.html

Greeks protest for same-sex marriage ahead of trial
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • September 29, 2008 - 15:26

Prosecutors claim same-sex marriage is illegal in Greece
2 Comments on Greeks protest for same-sex marriage ahead of trial

The case of two same-sex couples who took advantage of a loophole in 
Greek law and got married on the island of Tilos will be heard by a 
Greek court later this week.
The current legislation does not specify sex, but refers exclusively to 
persons.
A gay couple and a lesbian couple took advantage of the existing legal 
gap and were married in a civil ceremony at dawn on June 3rd.
In June a prosecutor on the Greek island of Rhodes began legal 
proceedings against a local Mayor who married the same-sex couples.
The country’s Justice minister said that the civil cermonies performed 
by Tasos Aliferis on the small island of Tilos were illegal.
Supreme Court prosecutor Giorgos Sanidas said Greece's constitution 
defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
He wrote to prosecutors outlining how Article 21, "the family, being the 
cornerstone of the preservation and the advancement of the Nation, as 
well as marriage, motherhood and childhood, shall be under the 
protection of the State," means same-sex marriage is illegal.
The public prosecutor of the Rhodes Court of First Instance responded by 
submitting a nullity suit against the two couples and against Anastasios 
Aliferis, Mayor of Telos.
The trial begins on Thursday.
Today the Athens Pride Committee has organised a "support and solidarity 
event" in front of the country's parliament building.

http://www.365gay.com/news/protest-targets-orlando-magic-owners-support-for-anti-gay-amendment/

Protest targets Orlando Magic owner’s support for anti-gay amendment
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
09.29.2008 1:29pm EDT
(Orlando, Florida) Orlando Magic basketball fans were met by opponents 
of a proposed amendment to Florida’s constitution that would ban 
same-sex marriage when they arrived at Amway Arena to pick up season’s 
tickets to the NBA team.
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“The billionaire’s a bonehead, the billionaire’s a bonehead,” the 
protesters chanted, referring to Magic owner Rich De Vos, who has given 
supporters of the amendment $100,000.
“He’s the biggest contributor to the amendment from Orlando,” protest 
organizer Jennifer Foster told the Orlando Sentinel. “And he’s getting 
$1 billion in taxpayers’ money to build the arena. That sends a bad 
message.”
Almost half the 30 protesters were straight. They say the proposed 
amendment also would affect non-married opposite-sex couples if it is 
adopted.
The proposed amendment says, “Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of 
only one man and one woman, no other legal union that is treated as 
marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or 
recognized.”
Florida already has a law restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples 
but supporters of the amendment say the law could be overturned in court.
The conservative group Florida4Marriage attempted to have the proposed 
amendment placed on the 2006 ballot, but fell short of the required 
number of signatures. Under Florida law, the organization was allowed to 
continue to add names to the petition in a bid to get it on the 2008 
ballot. It was certified in February to go on the November ballot.
Last year ,it was discovered that the state GOP was bankrolling the 
amendment effort.
An investigation by the St. Petersburg Times into funding for the 
Florida4Marriage found that, of the $193,000 that had been raised by the 
group, $150,000 came from a single donor - the Florida Republican Party.
Opponents of the proposed amendment say in addition to barring gay 
marriage, it would bar civil unions and would be used to deny partner 
benefits both to same-sex couples and to unmarried couples who live 
together.
That has spurred Florida Red and Blue, a non-partisan organization, to 
enter the fray on behalf of unmarried, opposite-sex couples.
Last year, in just 60 days, the group amassed more than $1 million to 
battle the proposed amendment.
A Mason-Dixon poll, released last month, shows that the amendment could 
be in trouble.
The survey of likely voters found the 57-percent support the amendment, 
while 36-percent said they intend to vote against it. Florida’s 
constitution requires a 60-percent majority to amend the document.

http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2008/09/mexico-school-teacher-protests.html

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Mexico: School teacher protests children's use of the word 'gay' as an 
insult
A high-school English language professor from the city of Tampico, 
Mexico, decided to stage a one-man protest yesterday against anti-gay 
discrimination.

According to Hoy Tamaulipas, professor Rogelio Pérez Barragán said that 
he was tired of the way that children and adolescents used the word 
"gay" when insulting each other and said he wanted to raise awareness 
about the discrimination faced by individuals with different sexual 
orientations ("Gay professor from Tampico goes out to the street to 
protest") [Side note: The paper is clear that the word in question is 
'gay' and not 'homosexual' which I believe is more commonly used in 
Spanish-speaking countries, which makes me wonder if it's usage is in 
any way related to a similar phenomenon among younger individuals in the 
United States in which the word 'gay' is used to describe something that 
is lame or tired - without, some would argue, having a specifically 
derogatory nature].

"Simply," he said," I believe that there is a lot of work to do and that 
we have to start with the children."

Mr. Barragán, wearing jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt, taped a 
piece of paper to his back which read "One part of me is being gay" and 
"I see life and love." He also attached a piece of lavender-colored 
cloth to the note.

He then walked down Tampico's Guadalajara Street as reporters followed.

The professor, whose face is not shown on the photos posted online, 
disclosed he'd previously been called names and ridiculed due to his 
sexual identity at his place of employment but did not give the name of 
the school.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7634901.stm

25 September 2008 06:29 UK
Clashes at gay rights festival
At least eight people were hurt after opponents clashed with police at 
Bosnia's first gay rights festival.
Helen Fawkes reports from Sarajevo.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1844012,00.html

Gay-Rights Clash Over Rome Coliseum Kiss
By Jeff Israely Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2008

Activists of Italian gay right groups hold public 'kiss-ins' in front of 
Rome's Colosseum,in protest of the arrest of two men caught by police 
kissing in front of the famous Rome monument in 2007.
ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP / Getty

In ancient Rome, plenty of public kissing went on in the shadow of the 
Coliseum, where lips smacked on hands, cheeks, rings and even feet, as 
simple greetings or formal signs of submission. The place is still a 
notable showcase of public affection, but one specific act of passion 
played out near the ancient monument has added fire to a very modern 
debate.
On Tuesday a Rome court ordered a trial for two men arrested in July 
2007 outside the Coliseum. Michele F., 36, and Roberto L., 28, contend 
they were caught sharing a passionate kiss; the arresting officers from 
the carabinieri say they were engaging in oral sex. Defense lawyers have 
asked for the charges of lewd public acts to be dropped, having sought 
in vain to get access to footage from nearby security cameras that they 
say would show the kiss was just a kiss.
What might otherwise be an unremarkable case about public decency has 
become a cause célèbre for Italy's gay rights activists, who see the 
decision to push ahead with the prosecution of the case as blatant 
discrimination. "Homosexuality is being punished," said Aurelio Mancuso, 
head of the Arcigay association, "not an obscene act."
The court's decision comes as Rome's gay community says it faces 
increased discrimination from public officials and heightened violence 
from local homophobic thugs. Earlier this month, two 28-year-old men 
who'd been holding hands were beaten by a gang shouting "Faggots Get Out 
of Italy." This and other attacks, including a fire in February set at 
the "Coming Out" gay club, have occurred in the neighborhood near the 
Coliseum. The road in front of the ancient monument, via San Giovanni in 
Laterano, has been dubbed Gay Street for the prevalence of gay clubs and 
bars situated there.
Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno has denounced the acts of violence, but gay 
activists remain suspicious of him because of his affiliation with the 
National Alliance, a party that once espoused fascist ideas. Just a 
month after his election in April of this year, Alemanno disparaged 
Rome's annual Gay Pride parade as "an act of sexual exhibitionism."
The trial in the Coliseum case is scheduled to begin in February, and 
the defendants face maximum prison sentences of three years. At this 
stage it looks like a their-word-against-ours standoff, unless the 
security camera footage can be marshaled as evidence for one side or the 
other. Defense lawyer Daniele Stoppello has demanded access to the 
footage, even as he conceded that since the lighting was poor, the 
carabinieri could arrive at a "different interpretation" of what the 
camera showed the two men doing. Currently it's a moot point, since the 
prosecuting magistrate has ruled the footage as too "complex" to be 
judicially relevant.
The presence of security cameras has become an issue beyond this 
specific case. In the wake of the anti-gay violence, Alemanno recently 
called for more video surveillance near the Coliseum, but gay rights 
groups oppose the measure as a violation of their privacy. But if what 
the two defendants shared was indeed just an innocent kiss, an extra 
camera or two might have been an invasion of their privacy that could 
set them free.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/09/409405.html

Protest against transphobic psychologist Kenneth Zucker in London, 1st 
October
transfeminist | 24.09.2008 20:15 | Gender | Health | Social Struggles | 
London
Kenneth Zucker, transphobic doctor who supports repression and torture 
of gender-variant children has been invited to speak at the Royal 
Society of Medicine. Protest against Zucker and for the right to 
seld-determination of gender identity, October 1st, 8.30am, The Royal 
Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE

Demonstration against Ken Zucker (the man who proposes reparative 
therapy for gender variant kids)

October 1st, 8.30am, The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, 
London W1G 0AE

The demo is organised in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police and 
will take place outside the Royal Society of Medicine

(Just behind Debenhams/House of Fraser, Nearest tubes are Bond Street 
and Oxford Circus)

Please come if you can.

Natacha Kennedy (Official Organiser)

#### NB. This is not a Press for Change organised event, but Press for 
Change encourages its members to take part if they can.###

This is an important demonstration and it is vital that you attend if 
you are able. As it is on a Wednesday at 8.30am there are quite a few 
people who would like to come but are unable to make it because of work 
commitments.

It is important to come for two reasons;

1. to show opposition to Ken Zucker's 'treatments' being used on 
children and

2. to oppose the nature of the Royal Society of Medicine's highly 
political conference on trans identified adolescents.

Ken Zucker is a psychologist (not a psychiatrist) at the Clarke 
Institute in Toronto. He promotes his so-called "reparative therapy" 
which is little more than torture for gender variant(GV) children and 
trans identified adolescents. It is suggested by research that around 
75% of born male bodied children who manifest GV behaviour (sissy boys) 
do not become trans adults, but it is worth noting that this research 
has never considered born female bodied GV children (tomboys). Yet he 
promotes his 'therapy' for all GV children and trans identified 
adolescents.

Ken Zucker also proposes to use "reparative therapy" on these young 
people, regardless of their parents' wish or the young person's legal 
right to access this treatment. In the UK, a young person (YP) has a 
variety of ways in which they can request treatment and give full 
consent to it; with their parent's approval, and if required, regardless 
of their parents' wishes i.e. when the YP is 16 (under the Family law 
Act) or even younger when they are 'Gillick Competent' which requires
far greater competence than is every required of an adult accessing 
treatment, i.e. they understand the nature of the treatment, what it 
does, what it doesn't do, all the side effects and other consequences, 
and the health risks they are taking.

For the 25% who will become trans identified (and the unknown proportion 
of the rest who are actually suppressing it or hiding it as a result of 
bullying, parental pressure etc.), the results of treatments like 
Zucker's can be catastrophic. Victims of this therapy are left 
traumatised for a very long time afterwards. They experience frequent 
feelings of depression and suicidal tendencies. This is not surprising 
since this treatment involves constantly telling these YPs that they are 
wrong, everything they do, are or feel is bad, and clothes, toys and 
other possessions relating to their preferred gender are taken away and 
they are punished for engaging in activities which reflect their own 
true identities. They are also rewarded for any behaviour which reflects
the gender their parents wish them to be. This is just crude 
psychological and emotional bullying and exertion of power over those 
unable to defend themselves.

This treatment is not just wrong, but has no basis in psychological 
theory and is considered by many psychologists and psychiatrists to be 
the equivalent of voodoo or unproven 'alternative' medicine. It is also 
wrong because it is a response to the wishes of the many homo & trans
phobic parents who demand their child is 'normal', rather than to the 
needs of the YP. Although parental wishes may be taken into account, 
when a YP is under 16, the YP is the patient and any doctor is bound by 
ethics to consider the YP's needs as paramount. We do not believe this
is happening in Zucker's clinic.

It would also appear that this therapy is related to some of the ideas 
of the extreme Christian right-wing political lobby in the United States 
which has sponsored this type of therapy to "treat" homosexuality. This 
therapy is designed to pander to parents who would like to have a
'normal' child. Children are, however, not a fashion accessory. We 
believe that this therapy violates the UN Convention on the Rights of 
the Child, and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Secondly, the Royal Society of Medicine describes itself as an 
"apolitical organisation", yet this conference seems to have been set up 
by its organisers in the most political way possible. By inviting Zucker 
to contribute regarding his 'therapies' and not allowing any 
representation from anyone to oppose him this is clearly a political 
move. Even Mermaids, the organisation for trans children & young people, 
and their parents has not been allowed to contribute. Given Zucker's
highly controversial place on the DSM-5 committee on GID this alone is 
an extremely political act. The only likely opposition is from Professor 
Peggy Cohen-Kettenis, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam but she is 
on the same DSM-5 committee as Zucker - can they really give a fair view 
point between them. And there is no legal overview given, Professor of 
Law, at Manchester Metropolitan University; Dr Stephen Whittle from 
Press for Change who has written on the legal issues (see *** below) has 
not been invited.

Furthermore, the welcome address is being given by Dr John Scadding, 
Dean of the Royal Society of Medicine and Professor Philip Steer, 
President Elect, Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RSM is reviewing 
questions of prognosis and long term follow up.

However it appears to go further than this. The conference seems to have 
been set up to push a UK-based treatment protocol for GV children and 
trans identified adolescents. This protocol will not involve the use of 
hormone blockers to delay the onset of puberty. Puberty can not only be
extremely distressing for some GV YP's particularly those that grow up 
to be trans adults. Furthermore, as legal research has shown the refusal 
to consider this treatment means that trans adolescents develop 
secondary sexual characteristics, such as beard or breast growth that
ultimately lead to major health interventions, in the future, which 
could have been avoided. In this sense it seems that it is also 
particularly politically motivated and as such as large presence outside 
is vital to make our feelings known and to distribute leaflets to 
delegates to make sure they understand the other side of the story.

It is rather ironic, but Professor Melissa Hines, Faculty of Social and 
Political Sciences, Cambridge will be contributing information on 
Endocrine influences. She is the wife of Professor Richard Green, who 
has himself been so perturbed by this conference that he has arranged an
alternative conference; Conference on Medical Care for Gender Variant 
Teenagers, on September 28th at Imperial College in London, to challenge 
it. (for further details go to:
http://www.gendertrust.org.uk/n2/temp/conf.html )

Demonstration against Ken Zucker (the man who proposes reparative 
therapy for gender variant kids)

October 1st, 8.30am, The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, 
London W1G 0AE

Please Join Us

Natacha Kennedy

*** Whittle, S., Downs, C., 2000, Seeking a Gendered Adolescence: ;Legal 
and Ethical Problems of Puberty Suppression among Adolescents with 
Gender Dysphoria In E Heinze, ed. Children's Rights: Of Innocence and 
Autonomy, Aldershot: Dartmouth Press, pp 195-208, pages: 13
transfeminist
http://www.b92.net//eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=09&dd=21&nav_id=53654

NGOs in protest at gay festival violence 21 September 2008 | 15:47 | 
Source: Beta BELGRADE -- Human rights NGOs are up in arms over the 
attacks on participants at the Queer Festival in Belgrade.

A group of 20 or so youths, wearing surgical masks and hooded tops 
attacked festival participants on September 19, seriously injuring one 
U.S. national, who suffered a broken arm and concussion, while several 
participants from Serbia also received minor injuries.

The police, it is added, reacted quickly, one attacker was arrested, and 
a number of others taken in for questioning.

The NGOs point out that threats to attack the festival participants had 
been posted on the websites of a number of nationalistic organizations a 
few days prior to the festival, but, they state, no official reaction 
was forthcoming.

“The ever more frequent homophobic attacks, disruptions to public 
rallies and cultural manifestations that take place in the name of 
national dignity, are actually a resumption of the repressive regime of 
the Nineties, whose reaffirmation was made possible by the policies of 
Vojislav Koštunica,“ say the NGOs.

Intolerance that was earlier directed to external has now been 
redirected towards internal “enemies”, among whom people of a different 
sexual orientation undoubtedly figure, reads a statement from the NGOs.

“We want the new government and its institutions to show through their 
actions that they support democracy, a legal state and human rights,” 
the statement continues. The NGOs have called on the police to take all 
the necessary measures to bring the perpetrators to justice, and to 
demonstrate that the human rights of sexual minorities are respected by 
society’s institutions.

The statement is signed by the Queeria Center, Women in Black, the 
Center for Cultural Decontamination, the Humanitarian Law Center, the 
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, the Youth Initiative for Human 
Rights and the YUCOM Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights.

The main theme of this year’s Queer Festival running from September 
18-21 at the Rex cinema is “Direct Action + Anti-Fascism”.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/18/korea.blind.masseurs/index.html?eref=edition_asia

September 18, 2008 -- Updated 1500 GMT (2300 HKT)

Blind masseurs jump from bridge
• Story Highlights
• Police in South Korea arrest 26 blind masseurs threatening to jump off 
bridge
• Masseurs protesting government decision to let sighted people practice
• Protesters said new policy puts jobs of 15,000 licensed masseurs at risk

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Police in South Korea have arrested 26 blind 
masseurs who were threatening to jump from a bridge to protest a 
government decision they say will rob them of their livelihood.
Some of the men set fire to a car and two jumped off the bridge into 
Seoul's Han river, the country's national news agency Yonhap said on 
Thursday. No injuries were reported.
The South Korean health ministry recently decided to grant licenses to 
sighted masseurs and masseuses to practice certain kinds of massages.
Since 1963, the law allowed only blind people to practice the 
profession, Yonhap said.
The protesters said the new policy puts their jobs at risk. There are 
about 15,000 licensed masseurs in the country, which has a blind 
population of 216,000.
"Medical massage is almost the only profession that is open to the blind 
people. The ministry's decision is threatening our right to live," Shim 
Wook-seop, one of the protesting masseurs, was quoted as saying.
Another blind masseur, Dong Seong-geun, staged a lone protest in front 
of the Constitutional Court recently.
"I have a wife and two children to support," he told the New York Times.
"If I lose this job, I will have to beg on the streets. How can taking 
away one job from people who only have one compare with taking one job 
away from sighted people who have a hundred jobs to choose from?"
The country's Constitutional Court is expected to rule soon on an appeal 
filed by several sighted people who argued that the profession cannot be 
the exclusive domain of the blind.
The Massager Association of Korea, representing 120,000 unlicensed 
masseurs who are working openly and in defiance of the law, is leading 
the legal challenge.
The association keeps a file of members accused of practicing without a 
license. Those people are usually fined between $450 to $4,500, although 
the law calls for up to three years in prison.
"It breaks my heart when I think that what I am doing every day, what I 
consider my calling, is a crime," Park Yoon-soo, president of the 
association, told the NYT.
"We are not trying to steal jobs from the blind. We just want to share 
the market. We want to live as normal citizens, not as criminals."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/7626028.stm

Friday, 19 September 2008 17:47 UK

Autism school standards protest

Parents are angry that improvements have not been carried out
Parents of autistic children have protested outside a council office, 
claiming the local authority is failing to address standards at a school.
The families' children are students of Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn in 
Denbighshire.
Two Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales reports highlighted 21 
different areas where improvements were required.
Denbighshire County Council has said it's working with the school to 
meet all recommendations ahead of a re-inspection next month.
The parents claim failings identified by reports in 2006 and 2007 
haven't been properly addressed.
A handful of protestors gathered outside council offices in Ruthin to 
make their feelings known.

Because our children can't speak and express their opinions or their 
views it's a matter that they they're able to suffer in silence

Dave, parent
They also claimed they had not had a proper response from Denbighshire 
County Council's Chief Executive Ian Miller.
One parent who attended the protest, who gave his name as Dave, said: 
"I'm really disappointed that its had to get to this stage.
"I just feel a lot of the problems with autistic children generally get 
ignored.
"Because our children can't speak and express their opinions or their 
views it's a matter that they they're able to suffer in silence and the 
council are able to hide the issues that are there for these children," 
he added.
Denbighshire council said the school was re-inspected by the Care and 
Social Services Inspectorate for Wales in November 2007, following an 
inspection in August 2006.
It has acknowledged that the re-inspection highlighted a number of 
outstanding issues, and has promised action ahead of a further 
inspection next month.
Response
A spokesman said: "The council is now working with the school to ensure 
all outstanding recommendations, including the concerns raised by the 
parents, are addressed and all progress is documented in preparation for 
this inspection."
In a statement, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales have 
said it's up to the Local Education Authority to act on their 
recommendations.
There has been criticism of several aspects of the county borough's 
education services in recent years.
In July, the local authority announced it was closing Hyfrydle, a 
residential centre for autistic children attached to Ysgol Plas 
Brondyffryn, less than a year after it opened.
The decision was attacked by unions, local Assembly Members and the 
National Autistic Society.
Last year, a damning report by the schools inspectorate, Estyn, led to 
the resignation of council leader Rhiannon Hughes, and the establishment 
of an independent education recovery board.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the man charged with preparing 
and implementing the Estyn plan, Huw Griffiths, had resigned from his 
position of Corporate Director of Lifelong Learning.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=120352&provider=rss

Blind Groups Protest 'Blindness' Movie
Posted By: Tommy Crouse Created: 10/3/2008 4:28:56 PM Updated: 10/3/2008 
4:49:21 PM

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The National Federation of the Blind is protesting 
an upcoming movie they say depicts blind people as "vicious" and "depraved."
Members of the local chapter will meet Friday night at the premiere of 
"Blindness" in Tinseltown on the Southside, to protest the film.
"Blindness" is a production by Miramax that tells the story of how an 
epidemic of blindness sends a city into chaos.
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said 
in a written statement:
?The National Federation of the Blind condemns and deplores this film, 
which will do substantial harm to the blind of America and the world. 
Blind people in this film are portrayed as incompetent, filthy, vicious, 
and depraved. They are unable to do even the simplest things like 
dressing, bathing, and finding the bathroom. The truth is that blind 
people regularly do all of the same things that sighted people do."

http://www.postchronicle.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=100&num=176263

Published: Oct 3, 2008
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Julianne Moore Film 'Blindness' Protest
by Toshiba Reynplds

Members of the U.S. National Federation of the Blind (NFB) have planned 
to protest the release of the new Julianne Moore film Blindness - 
because the movie
portrays the blind as "monsters".

The film, a big-screen adaptation of Jose Saramago's 1995 book of the 
same name, is about a small town which is thrown into social chaos when 
its residents are struck by a sudden epidemic and go blind.

The plot, however, has angered the NFB's 50,000 members and the 
organization's leaders have called for a boycott of the movie when it is 
released in U.S. cinemas on Friday (03Oct08).

Marc Maurer, president of the NFB, says, "The movie portrays blind 
people as monsters and I believe it to be a lie.

"The NFB condemns and deplores this film, which will do substantial harm 
to the blind of America and the world. Blind people in this film are 
portrayed as incompetent, filthy, vicious, and depraved. They are unable 
to do even the simplest things like dressing, bathing, and finding the 
bathroom.

"The truth is that blind people regularly do all of the same things that 
sighted people do."

The NFB's boycott plan of action has "saddened" bigwigs at Miramax, the 
studio producing the film.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/09/409426.html

Free Gary Mckinnon Campaign- London Autistic Rights Movement - 
demonstration
Free Gary Mckinnon Campaign | 25.09.2008 12:55 | Health | Repression | 
Social Struggles | London | World
Protest to support Gary Mckinnon's case all will be most welcome to 
attend this protest... Please spread the word.... See link below for 
more details....

London Autistic Rights Movement - demonstration in support of Gary 
McKinnon - 4pm Sunday 28th September 2008, US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, 
London:- http://freegary.org.uk/
Free Gary Mckinnon Campaign
e-mail: info at FreeGary.org.uk
Homepage: http://freegary.org.uk

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlojgbeyid/rss2/

Protestors to march against hate crimes in Dublin
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31/08/2008 - 10:42:41
Protestors are gathering in Dublin today to call for an end to 
hate-motivated crimes.

The group are gathering today to protest against hate crimes and in 
particular to remember a 20-year-old British woman who was killed in a 
hate crime attack last August.

Sophie Lancaster was attacked by a gang of teenagers in a park in 
Lancashire in the UK, because she was a member of the Goth subculture.

She fell into a coma in hospital and died as a result of serious head 
injuries she sustained during the attack.

Five young men were later arrested and charged in connection with her death.

Today's march is to honour the memory of Sophie and others who have been 
killed in similar attacks and also to call for more social tolerance.

The demonstration, which will appeal for an end to hate crimes and more 
respect for people's lifestyles, gets underway this lunchtime at St 
Stephen's Green in Dublin.