Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 07:41:31 -0700 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF-Body Found in FL MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org UNEARTHED BODY MAY BE THAT OF MISSING TRANSWOMAN ================================================ [Gibsonton, FL: 21 May 99] A BADLY DECOMPOSED BODY was unearthed near this small town 40 miles south of Tampa. Authorities have not yet identified the remains, but some residents believe it is Ruby Bota, a transgender woman who disappeared 11 years ago. The AP reports that the Hillsborough Sheriff's Department found the body behind the property where Ruby lived with Bob Bota. They are listed as man and wife on the property deed. Ruby disappeared in 1988, some locals saying that she flew away with wealthy friends to live in Italy. Bob Bota, 51, married a young woman 2 years after Ruby disappeared. Said Jimmy Estep, a friend of Ruby's, "I know she didn't fall off the face of the earth. Everyone knew she was a man. He had nothing to hide with us... She was a fine person and a member of our gay community. I know in my heart she was buried over there. I know someone killed her." Commenting on Ruby's rumored flight to Italy, another local resident said, "Where is she going to meet wealthy Europeans in Gibsonton? At the grocery store?" ### TRANSEXUAL MENACE PROTEST GID AT APA CONVENTION =============================================== [Washington, DC: 21 May 99] ATTENDED BY A SWARM OF reporters, hundreds of angry protesters in black t-shirts walked in circles and chanted outside the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) last Saturday. They were Scientologists. Also protesting at another location adjacent to the convention center were several members of the street action group, Transexual Menace, also clad in black t-shirts. They called for reform of Gender Identity Disorder (GID), a diagnosis supported by APA that is used to "cure" gender-variant children and required of all transexual-identified people seeking gender-related services. No reporters covered this protest. Said Jeri Marie Liesgang, who had driven from Connecticut to take part in the demo, "No one should have to be stigmatized or accept a mental diagnosis simply because they are gender-different." Commented another, Tamlyn Boswell, "It's horrendous that doctors are still trying to "treat" gender-variance in kids as young as 3 or 4." Protesters handed out fliers and carried signs reading "Gender Euphoria - NOT Gender Dysphoria." One wore a sign across her chest saying "Stigmatize THIS" over an arrow pointing down. Another's sign read "Pink and Blue ARE NOT the only colors." Alas, all the Menace fliers were pink and blue. ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.