On January 2, representatives of Oregon Right to Privacy (RTP) met
with transexual activists from Seattle and Portland to discuss
transsexual community concerns with the misrepresentation of historical
transsexual figure, Alan L. Hart M.D.
On January 2, representatives of Oregon Right to Privacy (RTP) met
with transexual activists from Seattle and Portland to discuss
transsexual community concerns with the misrepresentation of historical
transsexual figure, Alan L. Hart M.D.
The Ad Hoc Committee of Transexuals to Recognize Alan Hart had organized last spring after years of individual efforts to change gay and lesbian community perceptions of historical TS people.
RTP has been using the memory of Alan Hart since 1982, giving out awards each year in the old pre-tranistion name of Lucille Hart at an annual dinner of the same name.
Local Committee members had tried to communicate for months with little response. In October a joint action of members of Lesbian Avengers and the Committee was conducted in the lobby where the annual Hart Dinner was held. Hundreds of flyers were distributed to arriving attendees. Reaction was generally favorable.
A guest editorial soon after in Portland's queer community paper JustOut by transsexual activist, Candice Brown, further highlighted the need for a dialog between RTP and the Transsexual/Transgender community.
The meeting on January second was the first face to face meeting of RTP board members and representitives of the TS/TG community. Representing Seattle were five FTMs, including Jason Cromwell and Kaz Suzat among others. Portland was represented by Ken Morris and Candice Brown.
Both the RTP representatives and Committee members emphasized the need to work together to fight social inequities and OCA attacks. RTP expressed their commitment to understanding the needs of the TS/TG community and to continue the dialog. The concerns of the Committee will be brought before the RTP board meeting on Jan 6. No firm commitments was reached on the issue of recognition of Alan Hart but everyone agreed that substantial dialog had been started.
For futher information contact Ken Morris or Candice Brown, Ad Hoc Committee of Transsexuals to Recognize Alan Hart.