From: "Clare Howell" Subject: IYF-TX Court Rules Gender Cannot Be Changed Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 07:46:38 -0500 MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org .TEXAS COURT RULES THAT GENDER CANNOT BE CHANGED .ALLY SHEEDY AS HEDWIG AT GENDERPAC FUND-RAISER TEXAS COURT RULES THAT GENDER CANNOT BE CHANGED =============================================== [San Antonio, TX: 28 Oct 99] IN A FINDING THAT COULD have profound legal implications for transgendered people, the Fourth Court of Appeals here has ruled that a person remains the gender he or she was born, regardless of a sex change operation. The AP reports the court's ruling that "47- year-old Christie Lee Littleton, who had a sex change operation, does not have the standing of a spouse in a wrongful death lawsuit against her late husband's doctor, because their marriage was a 'same sex marriage,' and therefore illegal under Texas law." Christie was married to Jonathan Littleton for seven years. She says she will appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court. Said GenderPAC's Executive Director Riki Wilchins, "This decision is a slap in the face by a reactionary court system to all people who are gender-different and for transexuals in particular. This is yet another attempt to regulate gender by denying people who have legally changed their sex the same rights, privileges, and respect other Americans enjoy. " ### ALLY SHEEDY AS HEDWIG AT GENDERPAC FUND-RAISER ============================================= [New York, NY: 24 Oct 99] IN A FUND-RAISER FOR GENDERPAC Sunday night, Ally Sheedy starred as Hedwig in a special benefit performance of the smash off-Broadway trannie rock musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Her performance drew raves from the sold-out crowd. More than $10,000 was raised for GenderPAC's year 2000 initiative. Ms. Sheedy spoke at a GenderPAC panel the preceding Friday and joined a reception after the performance Sunday to answer questions, pose for pictures, and sign posters, one of which was promptly auctioned for $225 to benefit GenderPAC's Fortune 500 Project. Said GenderPAC's Riki Wilchins, "This benefit was especially important to us. It was our first, major fund- raiser and we needed it to go well. Thanks to the work of Gina Reiss, our new Director of Special Projects, and a lot of community support, it was." ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's independent online news-only service for gender activism. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of GenderPAC's Board, Officers, or membership.