Introduction

I thought it appropriate, to offer an introduction of myself to all of you on the Pennsylvania list, as I am soon to be moving here.

I lived here previously, left in 1997, to Louisville, Kentucky, and then, in 2000, to Austin, Texas...where I currently reside for another two weeks.

I lived in Pennsylvania from 1992-1997, and in New Jersey from 1989-1992, having moved to New Jersey from Austin, Texas. So now I've made the round trip again!

I am a 2 1/2 year post-operative male-to-female transsexual, though, when I left Pennsylvania in 1997, I was still, anatomically a male...though my last Pennsylvania license had already listed me as female. I began my transition in Pennsylvania.

When I was in Pennsylvania previously, I founded the Allentown Chapter of The Renaissance Education Association, a support/education group for transgender people, including crossdressers, transsexuals, intersex people, as well as their freinds, family and other allies. Our mission, then as now, was to support one another, and to educate our society at large about our issues and needs...iincluding, foremost, the ability to work without fear of harassment or discrrimination, and the right to safe, adequate housing without fear of harrassment or discrimination.

I began what later morphed into SPARC, and that group was eventually successful in fulfilling the work I had started, but was not around to see to conclusion of: an anti-discrimination ordinance in Allentown, PA, barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accomodations. this ordinance was finalized in 2002.

I, on several occasions lobbied our State officials in Harrisburg, as well as our Federal officials, in Washington, about the need for anti-discrimination legislation...including then-newly-elected Senator Prick Santorum. Also Arlen Specter, who actually EARNED my vote, and for whom I would vote again, if he chooses to run at the end of his newest six-year term.

I left Pennsylvania in 1997 for Louisville, Kentucky, where I continued my work through The Bluegrass Belles (a support/education group similar to Renaissance) and The Kentucky Fairness Alliance. We were successful, in 1999 of passing anti-discrimination laws in employment based on sexual orientation and gender idetity in the City of Louisville, and later anti-discrimination laws in housing, public accomodations and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity on a county level in Jefferson County. Later that same year, we were successful in passing similar legislation in Lexington/Fayette County, Kentucky...and in the City of Henderson, Kentucky (though the ordinance was later repealed in Henderson.)

While in Kentucky, I continued to lobby local, state, and federal officials, in both Frankfort and Washington, on the need to anti-discrimination, and hate-crimes laws. Needless to say Sen. Mitch McConnell, nor Rep. Anne Northup were very open to the ideas. Nevertheless, I continued my efforts until I left Kentucky in 2000 for Austin, Texas.

In Austin, I continued my work for fairness. Meanwhile, I was still fighting an ongoing emplyment-discrimination lawsuit back in New Jersey, through the Department of Law & Public Safety, Division on Civil Rights, in New Jersey. I won that case on an Administrative level, and later on appeal. The case was cited in a higher-court ruling later on and upheld, leading to the passage of Statewide anti-discrimination laws in the State of New Jersey.

In Austin, I co-founded T.A.C.T. - Transgender Activists of Central Texas. We were successful, in 2004, in amending the City Code of Austin, to include protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accomodations, based on gender identity (it had been on the books since 1975 for sexual orientation.)

I also lobbied our State and Federal lawmakers in both Austin and Washington, on the needs of our community. I personally worked on Senator Lloyd Doggett's successful re-election campaign in the newly-redistricted District 25. I also worked Tirelessly with the Travis County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign in 2004 for the election of John Kerry, even becoming a Deputy Voter Registrar and spending my weekends registering voters. I singlehandedly registered 176 voters in a two month period. While we were not successful in electing Kerry, or turning Texas blue, I take pride in the fact that Austin Metro voted 80% Kerry...and Travis county, as a whole, voted 70% Kerry.

If you have read this far, then, you will know I am well experienced with campaigns, elections, and lobbying, as well as crafting and passing legislation. I am at least partially responsible for the passage of anti-discrimination laws in the following areas: New Jersey-statewide, Allentown, PA, Louisville/Jefferson, Lexington/Fayette, and Henderson, Kentucky, as well as Austin, Texas.

I wish to offer my continued services, as volunteer, to any organization that supports those causes near and dear to my heart, and to any elected official's campaign who holds my same values. I wish to work tirelessly in the effort to defeat Prick Santorum. I am hereby offering my volunteer services to those endeavors, as well as any others that I feel passionately about.

I will be located in saylorsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles north-northeast of Allentown, in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. ny local organizations wishing to utilize my time, efforts, and talent should respond to me via PM, and I will respond in kind.

I look forward to coming back home to Pennsylvania, and continuing my fight to make Pennsylvania a free, fair, and Democratic place we can be proud to call our home.

Sincerely,
Angela
aka Mermaid

P.S. I apologize for the length of this introduction, but I felt i tnecessary to impress upon all interested parties the extent of the work I have done in our struggle for fairness, equity, and compassion in government, and for the causes we all hold so near and dear.

I will be in Pennsylvania the week before Easter.
-Mermaid

Sorry, I can't join you. But good luck in your work. It sounds like you are making a difference.