Thursday, December 4, 2008

Hearing to Highlight Issues Faced by LGBT People in California Prisons

This blog has become such a bulletin board. I hate myself for that. I also hate myself for posting an endorsement for Equality California, whom I can't imagine is taking any kind of abolitionist approach in addressing LGBT prison issues. This hearing seems important despite (and/or potentially suspect because of) its affiliates.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2008

Hearing to Highlight Issues Faced by LGBT People in California Prisons

SAN FRANCISCO – The Senate Committee on Public Safety will hold an informational hearing on Dec. 11 to look at issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in California's prison system.

Chaired by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-East Los Angeles, the hearing will focus on the LGBT population in prison and the unique issues LGBT inmates face while incarcerated. Speakers will discuss issues related to prisoner classification systems, harassment and abuse, and access to healthcare.

A media availability will immediately follow the hearing with representatives from Equality California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Just Detention International, the Transgender, Gender Variant & Intersex Justice Project, and the Transgender Law Center.

What:
Informational Hearing on Issues Facing LGBT People in California Prisons
Senate Committee on Public Safety

When:
Thursday, December 11
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Includes public comment period

Where:
Hiram Johnson State Building
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco

Equality California Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.nclrights.org

Just Detention International (JDI) is a human rights organization that seeks to end sexual abuse in all forms of detention. JDI seeks to: engender policies that ensure government accountability for prisoner rape; change ill-informed and flippant public attitudes toward sexual assault behind bars; and promote access to resources for survivors of this type of violence. www.justdetention.org

The Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex (TGI) Justice Project's mission is to challenge and end the human rights abuses committed against transgender, gender variant/genderqueer and intersex (TGI) people in California prisons and beyond. www.tgijp.org

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating fortransgender communities. TLC provides free legal services to transgender people throughout California and works with community members and partnering organizations on cutting-edge transgender rights policy initiatives. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

Media Contacts:
Molly Tafoya
NCLR
w: 415.392.6257 x305
c: 415.205.2420
mtafoya@nclrights.org

Ali Bay
Equality California
w: 916.554.7683
c: 916.284.9187
ali@eqca.org


Ray Daniels
Just Detention International
w: 202-580-6974
c: 202-669-3039
RDaniels@justdetention.org

No comments: