The issue here isn't the race of the attackers or wither the attackers ever have been on welfare.
It's that a Transgender Woman, was attacked for using the woman's room as she was legally allow by Maryland Law.
Her attackers have been charge with assault and the male McDonald's employee that made the video was fired. The owner of the McDonald's is considering further discipline for the other employees present during the attack.
IF the attack had been in the City of Baltimore, it would have been a Hate crime. Sadly our State Delegates once again fail to get the votes needed to pass the bill that would add Transgender to the current Hate Crime law. The State Senate has pass the the bill several years now.
Personally I've known many transgender people in Baltimore, since my ex-husband came out. Everyone I've known lived in fear for their safety constantly. Some develop panic attacks at the thought of having to be out in public. Before 1997 most wouldn't use public restrooms out of fear of getting arrested. That year my ex's Lawyer argue in Maryland Courts to allow pre-op transgender persons to have the sex on their drivers license reflex their gender identity. Still even though they now had a way to legally show they were allow to use the restrooms, it did nothing to change the general public's attitude. Transgender persons are at a far higher risk of being attack and killed then those that are just Gay.
Sadly the first transgender person who got their gender changed on their divers license was killed as she was walking home from her local bar. She was a very close family friend of ours and her death always is remembered on my youngest daughter's birthday.
It was one of the worst days in our lives, as I lay on the couch with a migraine unable to lift my head without becoming noxious. We watch the news together and has the breaking story develop, knew without doubt that we knew the person killed.
When the news finally say what neighborhood the killing happen, we said a small thanks that it wasn't their father, only to start to grieve for our dear friend who live just around the corner from where she was gunned down.
The 11 o'clock news confirm that Tacy was killed that evening and she was mourned by so many people that they had to have 2 memorial services for her. I had no way to make the one given by her family, but the LGBT community had to relocate the memorial service to the UU church downtown and it was filled with many people who knew Tacy has a person who worked hard for the community and is miss still.
Edited, Apr 25th 2011 2:05pm by ElneClare
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In the place of a Dark Lord you would have a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Morn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair! -ElneClare
This Post is written in Elnese, If it was an actual Post, it would make sense.