Today, a jury convicted Dwight DeLee of manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime in the Nov. 2008 murder of 22-year-old Lateisha Green, a Syracuse transgender woman. You can read more about the trial from our post yesterday and on TLDEF's website. You can also learn about the implications of this important trial from our statement issued when the trial began on Monday.
Lateisha's murder raises awareness of the need to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) in New York State in order to include gender identity and expression in the State hate crimes and human rights laws. However, during this tragic time, it's important that we do more than call for legislative action--we need to provide support to Lateisha's family as well. Lateisha's mother, Roxanne, and her family had always been supportive of her, and since her death have been outspoken in their tireless efforts to ensure that the public learns as much as possible about Lateisha's life and the tremendous violence that transgender people continue to face.
Please take a moment to write a note to Lateisha's family expressing your sympathy, thanking them for their support of our community, and pledging your commitment to fight for GENDA. It would mean a lot to us here at the Pride Agenda, and we're sure it would also mean a lot to Lateisha's family to know that you care about their loss and their efforts.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Morning Sweep
The jury is currently deliberating in the Lateisha Green murder trial in Syracuse.
State Senator Tom Duane gave an impassioned speech about the HIV/AIDS crisis early this morning at an all-night session of the Senate. The Senate then passed a bill that prevents people living with HIV or AIDS and receiving public assistance from having to pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent, 52-1.
The U.S. Senate voted yesterday to expand the federal hate crimes bill to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender. The expansion, tacked onto a must-pass defense bill, is expected to pass sometime next week.
Obama spoke at the NAACP conference last night, and he made a powerful statement against discrimination of all kinds: "But make no mistake: the pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By African-American women paid less for doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and gender. By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim Americans viewed with suspicion for simply kneeling down to pray. By our gay brothers and sisters, still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights."
State Senator Tom Duane gave an impassioned speech about the HIV/AIDS crisis early this morning at an all-night session of the Senate. The Senate then passed a bill that prevents people living with HIV or AIDS and receiving public assistance from having to pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent, 52-1.
The U.S. Senate voted yesterday to expand the federal hate crimes bill to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender. The expansion, tacked onto a must-pass defense bill, is expected to pass sometime next week.
Obama spoke at the NAACP conference last night, and he made a powerful statement against discrimination of all kinds: "But make no mistake: the pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By African-American women paid less for doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and gender. By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim Americans viewed with suspicion for simply kneeling down to pray. By our gay brothers and sisters, still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights."
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Justice for Lateisha Green
The trial of Dwight DeLee, charged with murder as a hate crime in the Nov. 2008 shooting of 22-year-old Lateisha Green, began in Syracuse on Monday. Teish, a transgender woman, was shot and killed as she sat in a car with her younger brother and a friend outside of a house party, and her murderer allegedly used anti-gay slurs before committing the crime. The trial is receiving national attention, as it marks the first hate crimes prosecution in New York State involving the murder of a transgender person. The Pride Agenda recently released a statement on the trial, and comprehensive updates are available on TLDEF’s blog. Here’s a summary of proceedings so far:
On Monday, Teish’s openly gay younger brother, 19-year-old Mark Anthony Cannon, testified on the events the night of his sister’s murder. Mark testified that he drove Teish and a friend to the scene of the crime so that they could talk to a friend. After just a few minutes of sitting in the car, someone fired a gun, and the bullet hit both Mark and Teish, though his injuries were less severe. When asked to identify the shooter, Mark pointed to Dwight DeLee. Teish died from her injuries later that evening in the hospital.
On Tuesday, one witness testified that she saw a man (who by process of elimination, would be DeLee) go into the house, get the gun, and shoot Teish after hearing his friends use anti-gay slurs. However, DeeLee’s friend and girlfriend, Johhny and Jasmine Gaston, recanted their official statements about witnessing the shooting and DeLee expressing guilt over it afterwards. Both said that they had been scared when interrogated by the police and had just signed their statements because they wanted to go home.
On Wednesday, the judge made a public statement against an altercation that happened on Tuesday night outside of the courtroom resulting from threats made by friends and members of accused shooter’s family. During the day’s proceedings, he also told DeLee that he was aware that people who knew DeLee were threatening witnesses, and that such threats could result in criminal charges.
Two witnesses testified that they heard DeLee use an anti-gay slur, and then heard the gunshot or saw DeLee holding the gun after the shooting, although they didn’t see the actual shooting happen. A different eyewitness testified that she did, indeed, see DeLee shoot the gun into the car. And two final witnesses testified that they saw someone with dark skin shoot into the car (with DeLee being the only person present who matches that description). Several of the witnesses confirmed that DeLee had made anti-gay threats before the shooting.
Today, the jury heard closing arguments, and it is now deliberating. We’ll keep you updated on the verdict in this important trial.
On Monday, Teish’s openly gay younger brother, 19-year-old Mark Anthony Cannon, testified on the events the night of his sister’s murder. Mark testified that he drove Teish and a friend to the scene of the crime so that they could talk to a friend. After just a few minutes of sitting in the car, someone fired a gun, and the bullet hit both Mark and Teish, though his injuries were less severe. When asked to identify the shooter, Mark pointed to Dwight DeLee. Teish died from her injuries later that evening in the hospital.
On Tuesday, one witness testified that she saw a man (who by process of elimination, would be DeLee) go into the house, get the gun, and shoot Teish after hearing his friends use anti-gay slurs. However, DeeLee’s friend and girlfriend, Johhny and Jasmine Gaston, recanted their official statements about witnessing the shooting and DeLee expressing guilt over it afterwards. Both said that they had been scared when interrogated by the police and had just signed their statements because they wanted to go home.
On Wednesday, the judge made a public statement against an altercation that happened on Tuesday night outside of the courtroom resulting from threats made by friends and members of accused shooter’s family. During the day’s proceedings, he also told DeLee that he was aware that people who knew DeLee were threatening witnesses, and that such threats could result in criminal charges.
Two witnesses testified that they heard DeLee use an anti-gay slur, and then heard the gunshot or saw DeLee holding the gun after the shooting, although they didn’t see the actual shooting happen. A different eyewitness testified that she did, indeed, see DeLee shoot the gun into the car. And two final witnesses testified that they saw someone with dark skin shoot into the car (with DeLee being the only person present who matches that description). Several of the witnesses confirmed that DeLee had made anti-gay threats before the shooting.
Today, the jury heard closing arguments, and it is now deliberating. We’ll keep you updated on the verdict in this important trial.
Morning Sweep
NYC Comptroller William Thompson writes in USA Today that New York could benefit from the revenue that marriage for same-sex couple would generate.
The AP has an update on the proceedings of the Lateisha Green murder trial in Syracuse. For comprehensive updates, TLDEF also has great coverage.
The federal hate crimes bill reached the Senate floor yesterday.
In a typical confirmation hearing avoidance move, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotamayor dodged a question about marriage for same-sex couples yesterday.
Bishops at the Episcopal conference voted yesterday to approve a measure that gives them the ability to bless the unions of same-sex couples, without creating an official rite for such ceremonies.
The AP has an update on the proceedings of the Lateisha Green murder trial in Syracuse. For comprehensive updates, TLDEF also has great coverage.
The federal hate crimes bill reached the Senate floor yesterday.
In a typical confirmation hearing avoidance move, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotamayor dodged a question about marriage for same-sex couples yesterday.
Bishops at the Episcopal conference voted yesterday to approve a measure that gives them the ability to bless the unions of same-sex couples, without creating an official rite for such ceremonies.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Scenes from the Hamptons Tea Dance
This past Saturday, July 11, the Pride Agenda was out in East Hampton for our 17th annual Hamptons Tea Dance. We sipped cocktails and danced to the tunes of DJ Lady Bunny at 10A ranch, the home of hosts Will Trinkle and Juan Granados. The weather was perfect, and our great volunteers, energetic event co-chairs and host committee, and festive guests made it another Tea Dance to remember! Here’s some of the event coverage in the press and a few photos:
Vanity Fair has a great writeup of the event and a lovely photo gallery.
Hamptons.com summarizes the event and the work of the Pride Agenda.
Plum TV’s interview at the Tea Dance with Governor Paterson has been picked up by Capitol Confidential and the Daily Politics.
Vanity Fair has a great writeup of the event and a lovely photo gallery.
Hamptons.com summarizes the event and the work of the Pride Agenda.
Plum TV’s interview at the Tea Dance with Governor Paterson has been picked up by Capitol Confidential and the Daily Politics.
Fabulous DJ Lady Bunny
Host Will Trinkle, Executive Director Alan Van Capelle, U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand,
host Juan Granados, and Board Co-Chair Mitch Karsch
Morning Sweep
It’s Rochester Pride Week, so the Democrat & Chronicle interviewed local LGBT activists on what marriage for same-sex couples would mean for them.
The Episcopal Church officially declared gays and lesbians eligible for "any ordained ministry" positions yesterday. The vote is expected to upset world Anglican leaders who had sought a clear moratorium on consecrating another gay bishop.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is the fifth senator to publicly change his position on the issue of marriage equality this year.
The mayor of Forth Worth, TX has apologized for the raid on a local gay bar that has upset many in the LGBT community.
The Episcopal Church officially declared gays and lesbians eligible for "any ordained ministry" positions yesterday. The vote is expected to upset world Anglican leaders who had sought a clear moratorium on consecrating another gay bishop.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is the fifth senator to publicly change his position on the issue of marriage equality this year.
The mayor of Forth Worth, TX has apologized for the raid on a local gay bar that has upset many in the LGBT community.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Morning Sweep
The Syracuse Post-Standard covered yesterday’s press conference about the Lateisha Green murder trial, and Newsday wrote on the day’s court proceedings. We’re glad to see so much good, fair coverage of this extremely important case.
The Politicker interviews Alan Van Capelle, recapping some of the work that we’ve done during this contentious legislative session and previewing what’s to come.
According to The Nation, former President Bill Clinton--who signed DOMA into law in 1996--now supports marriage equality.
At its convention in CA, the Episcopal Church has moved toward affirming its acceptance of gays and lesbians for all roles in ministry, despite pressure from fellow Anglicans worldwide to stop consecrating openly gay clergy.
The Politicker interviews Alan Van Capelle, recapping some of the work that we’ve done during this contentious legislative session and previewing what’s to come.
According to The Nation, former President Bill Clinton--who signed DOMA into law in 1996--now supports marriage equality.
At its convention in CA, the Episcopal Church has moved toward affirming its acceptance of gays and lesbians for all roles in ministry, despite pressure from fellow Anglicans worldwide to stop consecrating openly gay clergy.
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