The DC Trans Coalition is a local grassroots organization dedicated to advocating for transgender, transsexual and gender diverse people within the District of Columbia. DCTC works with community advocates, other LGBT organizations, District agencies, and local politicians to enact and enforce policies responsive to the needs of the trans community. We are seeking an undergraduate intern for the Spring semester in order to coordinate our various enforcement programs. Responsibilities will include coordinating our Bathroom Project, frequent interaction with the DC Office of Human Rights, establishing a training program for our enforcement activities, helping to coordinate our legislative agenda and our meetings with local politicians, coordination with other LGBT organizations, helping with fundraising activities, and helping with membership and meeting organization.
This is an unpaid position, however we are willing to work with college/university advisers and administration to help you get appropriate course credit for your work. You will be able to work from home, and the work load will be flexible (up to 10 hours per week) so that you can maintain other employment. Attendance at DCTC meetings every 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening monthly will be mandatory. Preference will be given to bilingual (English/Spanish) applicants. We especially encourage trans and gender nonconforming people to apply since we prioritize building leadership experience in the trans/gnc community. This is a great opportunity if you’d like to work on LGBT advocacy and local grassroots organizing in the District of Columbia. Please send a resume and cover letter to Alison Gill at dctranscoalition@gmail.com.
On October 22nd, 2009, DCTC was invited to a meeting by the Metropolitan Police Department to hear their plans for reorganizing their Liaison Units (which includes the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, who generally handle relations between MPD and trans and gender nonconforming people as well. However, given that trans/GNC folks in the District are also part of other communities, we feel that changes in all of the Liaison Units are relevant.) Sgt. Bret Parsons recently stepped down as head of the GLLU and the other Liaison Units, causing some to worry that Police Chief Lanier intended to close the Units altogether.
Because dealing with the police is a daily concern for many trans/GNC people, changes in the police’s structure will likely affect a lot of folks in our communities. Thus, we feel it’s important for us to be aware of what’s going on at MPD and to make this information available to as many people as possible.
See below for a report-back and summary of our meeting with the police.
Today, DCTC wrote to DC Department of Corrections (DOC) director Devon Brown regarding implementation of the DOC’s policy on gender classification and housing, which was approved in February 2009. We have heard from members of our communities and our partner organizations that the policy is not being followed. We are thus trying to see if DOC is willing to offer their side of the story before we raise the volume a little.
As you know, the policy was the product of intense negotiations with the DOC and DC Attorney General Peter Nickles. We have never been fully satisfied with the policy as written, but it is nonetheless a small step in the right direction.
Stay tuned for updates on the DOC’s response, and for more information on how we can apply pressure to protect the human rights of trans and gender nonconforming people incarcerated in DC!
Although this is happening very far away from DC, we wanted everyone to know that a representative from DCTC will be speaking on this panel in Montreal this weekend!
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The Prisoner Correspondence Project, Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec (ASTTeQ), and the 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy present:
Beyond Prisons, Toward Community Strategies: Supporting work within and against prisons
Saturday October 24th from 4pm to 6pm
at the Comité Social Centre-Sud at 1710 Beaudry (metro Beaudry)
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Featuring:
Gisele Dias – Prisoner HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN), Toronto
Peter Collins – HIV/AIDS activist and prisoner at Bath Institution, Ontario
Amazon Contreraz – jailhouse lawyer, trans activist and prisoner at Corcoran, California
Sadie Ryanne Baker – DC Trans Coalition (DCTC), Washington DC
Farah Abdill – community organizer, Montreal
Beyond Prisons, Toward Community Strategies will be an afternoon of community organizations and individuals coming together to discuss the ways we can expand our existing models of support and service provision, as prisoners, exprisoners and allies, and work towards a broader movement to end our reliance on prisons.
The presenters–made up of prisoners, ex-prisoners, and allies–will introduce their current projects, which include gay and trans prisoner support, HIV prevention, advocacy for prisoner self-determination, and local initiatives to support folks inside prisons. How can we confront the violence of prison expansion, deepening rates of in-prison HIV transmission, medical negligence and isolation? Through these discussions, we hope to forge coalitions between different community groups and strengthen the day to day struggles both within and against prisons.
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whisper translation, childcare, and metro/bus fare available • wheelchair accessible
For directions, information about accessibility, or if there are other ways we can support your attendance, please contact us at info@prisonercorrespondenceproject.com • 514-848-2424 x 7431 * www.prisonercorrespondenceproject.com
