Free CeCe

Rebecca Jean Lawrence Photography

On Tuesday June 28, 2011 at the Hennepin County Government Center a small group assembled to demonstrate support for Chrishaun (CeCe) McDonald, a young trans woman of color.  The rally was scheduled to begin immediately following the sentencing in the courtroom that was packed as the call to action requested.  There were, in fact so many supporters that the entrance to the courtroom had a volunteer posted to politely ask people to stop flooding the gates. … Continue Reading

From The Editor’s Desk: Lavender Gets it Wrong on HIV disclosure

In its last issue, Lavender magazine ran a “public service announcement” about Daniel James Rick, a Minneapolis man that police say has had unprotected sex with other men without disclosing that he is HIV-positive. TheColu.mn feels that Minnesota’s largest LGBT publication not only missed an important opportunity to provide context to the case but also furthered the stigmatization of HIV-positive Minnesotans.

Lavenderuncritically printed its article as a “public service announcement” at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department without context. It doesn’t discuss scientific research that, according to Keith Horvath, an HIV prevention expert at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, shows that only around 5 percent of HIV-positive men in America pass that disease on to a sexual partner every year. The police’s case against Rick — which still has to be proven in a court of law — is a rarity among HIV-positive men.

If the charges against Rick are true, then he would certainly have done a selfish, negligent, and generally reprehensible thing in knowingly transmitting a disease to someone else. However, when the laws governing the transmission of HIV were enacted in the early-1990s, the world of HIV was a different place. Today, a 35-year-old HIV-positive American man with the aid of medical treatment can be expected to live to age 73 on average, according to Horvath.

According to police and Lavender, Rick is charged with “Assault in the Third Degree—Knowing Transfer of Communicable Disease.”

The effectiveness and feasibility of such laws are surely up for debate and you can read the statute for yourself.

The World Health Organization, supported by a growing body of academic research, has came out in 2006 against laws that criminalize HIV, saying that such laws stigmatize those living with HIV and discourage people from getting tested for the virus. The vast majority of people who test positive for HIV take steps to ensure the virus isn’t passed on to other. And criminalizing the transmission of HIV will also create an atmosphere of fear where people may avoid getting tested.

Furthermore, the Lavender’s story fails to mention that, in each case where Rick has been charged, there was at least one receptive partner who did not demand that Rick use a condom. In at least one case, according to court documents (PDF), the alleged victim was drunk at the time of the encounter and was removed from the Saloon by staff because he was overly intoxicated.

“No” always means “no” is not enough when sex is concerned. People have to have the ability to say “Yes,” and the allegations against Rick are serious if proven true beyond a reasonable doubt. But we also know from years of research that intoxication with drugs and alcohol are implicated in new HIV infections among gay men with some studies reporting the incidence as high as 60 percent.

Whether intentionally, or because they weren’t aware of the facts and issues surrounding the transmission of HIV, the publishers and editors of Lavender ran a story that misrepresented HIV-positive gay and bisexual men as predators to be avoided, not the largely responsible friends and brothers they are. In doing so, they not only stigmatized members of the Minnesota LGBT community who they theoretically serve and missed an opportunity to challenge the growing acceptance of risky sex practices in our community, but they hurt the rest of us by spreading attitudes that directly harm HIV prevention and safe sex education efforts statewide.

The facts are that HIV can be avoided by using condoms correctly and consistently, and they are especially important with partners you don’t know.

Lavender’s editor did not respond to my call asking for more information about why they decided to publish this story, but as the largest LGBT publication in Minnesota, I hope they made an informed decision with the best interests of the community at heart, even if the available evidence suggests otherwise.

The Fifth Column: Confusing Straight People and the Heterosexist World

We’d like to welcome our newest contributor, Garrett Hoffman. He’s blogging his transition at transformgarrett.blogspot.com Garrett is, in his words, “a 20-something queer (homo) (straight) female to male transsexual (transgender person) (tranny) using his wit and charm as vehicles to share his life experiences on his blog. This winter-lovin’ 100% Minnesotan tranny boy likes rugby, running, guitar and beautiful femmes.” A 2008 graduate of Carleton College, he now spends his time working at a small property management company, eradicating sexual violence at the Sexual Violence Center and building a stronger and more inclusive queer community in Minneapolis

Part 1

As a tranny, I find that I often times confuse people that live “normal” lives in our heterosexist world. Generally, this leads to a very entertaining conversation. Recently, I called the Northwest Airline’s ticket counter to figure out what I needed to be able to fly if my name had been changed since the time I purchased the ticket. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hello sir. I changed my name and I want to make sure I can still get on the plane to San Diego next month.

NWA Ticket Man: Did you get married?

Me: No.

NWA Ticket Man: Why did you change your name? What happened?

Me: I just decided to change my name.

NWA Ticket Man: Ok…What is your confirmation number and new name?

Me: _ _ _ _ _ _ and Garrett.

NWA Ticket Man: Karen?

Me: No, Garrett

NWA Ticket Man: Oh, you’re a boy!

Me: Um, yes.

NWA Ticket Man: Your mom named you Mallory? That sucks!

Here is what I was thinking while having this conversation with this bro.

“I have a feeling you may be a douche!”

At least he was good for a long, hard laugh. You can’t make this stuff up. Priceless!

Part 2

I called Wells Fargo to change the name on my credit card (note: I DO NOT bank with Wells Fargo, I simply use their generous line of credit). The lovely southern belle who answered the phone was quite helpful and promptly informed me that she was sending the necessary paperwork right then and there. I was initially impressed with the lack of intrusive questions and nosiness on her part until the very end of the conversation. She asked, “Miss, should I add your husband to your account as well?”

UGH.

Had it not been at 7 am when this conversation went down I’m sure I could have come up with a snarky and hilarious answer to that question but alas, it was early and I had left my wit and charm in my bed with my stuffed animals to rest up for that evening. I quickly stated that I did not have a husband, was not married and even if I was married my husband would never ever be allowed to be added to my credit card for fear that he would rack up the bill, leave me, and flee to Mexico never to be heard of again because boys are icky and they do that. Then I wished her a good day and hung up.

Now, let’s compare the way Wells Fargo handled this situation with the way that my actual bank handled the same situation. (note: I actually bank with Private Bank of Minnesota. They are stellar. If you are feeling exploited/cheated by your bank you may want to consider the switch.) When I called Private Bank I was directed to my private banker who answered the phone, knew my old name, remembered me, asked me what I changed my name to, right away began calling me Garrett, and sent the paperwork (1st class mail – arrived the next day) for me to sign. No questions, no assumptions. It was refreshing, although it doesn’t necessarily make for an entertaining story. Oh well, it’s nice to feel like a “normal” person every once in a while.