From: Riki Anne Wilchins Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 17:48:33 -0400 Subject: HRCF & Transgender Activists Agree to Work Together *** Press Release *** HRCF & Transgender Activists Agree to Work Together September 18, 1995 (New York City) -- After a marathon 4 hour meeting on Sunday, September 17 with transgender activists, the Human Rights Campaign Fund issued the following statement: "HRCF has made a commitment to work with representatives of a spectrum of the transgendered community with a specific focus on hate crimes. "HRCF has also committed to assist transgender representatives with an amendment strategy in the context of ENDA. The strategy does not include re-introduction of the current ENDA; the language of the current bill remains as is. "Both groups will work in good faith to continue dialogue and to build coalition in the context of ending violence and discrimination against this community." Present at the meeting from the transgender community were representatives of the American Boyz, the Transgender Law Conference, It's Time America, It's Time Texas, Transgender Nation and the Transexual Menace. In light of the agreement of HRCF officials to work with the transgender community on ENDA, hate crimes and developing an on-going rapport, representatives of the NYC chapter of the Menace have indefinitely suspended all demonstrations at HRCF fundraising events. Said Menace member Riki Anne Wilchins after the meeting, "Although we realize we are not within their mandate proper, nonetheless we hope this marks a turn towards diversity and inclusion in HRCF's lobbying efforts. We believe the community as a whole has firmly embraced the concept of a larger queer community, and HRCF's statement is yet another crucial step down this road. We are looking forward with great anticipation to working with HRCF: their agreement to work cooperatively with us is both generous and welcome, and it could not have come at a better time." [END]