Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 11:27:45 -0800 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF-Transinclusion in Matthew Shepard Protest MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org Contact: Katie Szymanski New York Blade News, 212-268-2711 TRANSINCLUSION IN MATTHEW SHEPARD PROTEST ========================================= [New York, NY: 24 Oct 98] TRANSGENDER ACTIVISTS WERE prominent in the gathering on Monday (19 Oct) in which more than 6,000 people marched in NYC to protest the murder of gay man Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. Billed as a 'political funeral,' the protest organizers expected to draw no more than 500 for the event. Commenting on the visibility and inclusion of the transcommunity, Christine Quinn, Executive Director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, said, "It was refreshing that organizers didn't even have to discuss including the word 'transgender' on many of their protest signs. It shows something about the folks who are running this. They have an expanded vision and perspective." The NY Blade News (23 Oct) reports that more than 120 arrests were made. Among those arrested were transactivist Leslie Feinberg and Stonewall Veteran Sylvia Rivera. Said Feinberg, " I was probably the only butch lesbian who spent the whole night locked up in a men's bullpen. My bisexual and gay brothers... assured me that they would take care of me. I will never forget that solidarity." The protest, which police say got out of hand by blocking 5th Avenue, has energized the city's gay and lesbian activists. Said Sylvia Rivera, "That night, I saw a new revolution being born." The task now facing the gay and lesbian community is how to channel the outpouring of enthusiasm into further activism. ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1998 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.