New England Trans United

May, 21st, 2010

Contact: Christa Hilfers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Email: newenglandtransunitedchrista@yahoo.com

NEW ENGLAND TRANS UNITED PRIDE MARCH: LIVE PROUD, TRANSCEND INJUSTICE

Award Winning Trans Rights Activist and Writer Monica Roberts to Host the Second Annual

Trans Pride March and Rally in Northampton

Monica Roberts, an award-winning African American transgender civil rights advocate, lecturer and blogger, has been confirmed as the Grand Marshall of the 2010 New England Trans United (NETU) Pride March and Rally, to be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 in Northampton. Roberts will lead marchers from Lampron Park at noon along Main Street in Northampton for a rally at 1:00pm in the Armory Street parking lot. The goal of the march and rally is to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the transgender community in order to build support for legislation such as the Massachusetts bill H1728/S1687, “An act Relative To Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes,” and other legislation for transgender civil rights.

“Last year’s event in Northampton drew over 600 people marching in the rain for transgender civil rights, and this year we hope to double or even triple that by reaching out far beyond Western Massachusetts,” said Christa Hilfers, NETU Director.

Organizers of the New England Trans United Pride March and Rally (www.newenglandtransunited2010.org) encourage Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) people and organizations as well as allied individuals and organizations to march and show their support for the transgender community.

“Especially welcome are schools, businesses, labor unions, religious and civic organizations, and all who support the civil rights of transgender people,” Hilfers said. Supporters interested in helping to organize and execute the event should contact Hilfers at newenglandtransunitedchrista@yahoo.com. Volunteers are needed to make the event a success.

Monica Roberts, whose advocacy has won her the Trinity Award for meritorious service and designation as a “Kentucky Colonel” by Kentucky Governor Paul Patton, was a founding member of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition and served on its inaugural board from 1999-2002. She writes the popular blog TransGriot.blogspot.com, contributes to Bilerico.com and numerous online and print publications focusing on transgender rights and empowerment, especially for African Americans, and lobbies for transgender civil rights at the local, state, and federal levels.

A native of Houston, Roberts will travel from her home in Florida to serve as Grand Marshall for the NETU march and rally in Northampton. Organizers have confirmed speakers including Sasha Alexander, a trans youth coordinator, and entertainers including musicians LezleeAnne and Arjuna Greist, and Sir Octacok, the 2009 NoHo Pride Drag King.

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For more information, to schedule an interview with Monica Roberts, or to get involved in organizing, please call Christa Hilfers at 413/461-6853 or email Christa at newenglandtransunitedchrista@yahoo.com.

Website: http://www.newenglandtransunited2010.org/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/476711638

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/netu.pride

Twitter: http://twitter.com/newenglandtrans

Planning Underway for second annual New England Trans United Pride March

March 25th, 2010

(Northampton, MA) Organizers of the New England Trans United (NETU) Pride March and Rally are making plans for the 2010 march and rally which will take place in Northampton, Massachusetts, this fall.

Once again the Rally will assemble at 11:00 a.m. at Lampron Park. Marchers will step off at noon and proceed down Main Street for a rally at 1:00 p.m. at the Armory Street parking lot.

“Last year’s event in Northampton drew around 600 people who Marched for Transgender civil rights while braving the rain that fell that day”, said Christa Hilfers, (NETU )Director.

We need to educate the public about our lives and experiences as transgender people.

This year, there is a continuing need to rally for critical gender-rights bills making their way through state legislatures such as “Issues including transgender health care, medical insurance, removing gender identity disorder as a psychiatric diagnosis, bullying in schools, discrimination in the workplace, to name a few.”

The organizers of the New England Trans United (NETU) Pride March and Rally (www.newenglandtransunited2010.org) invite community organizations to march for transgender civil rights with us this fall in Northampton, Massachusetts. “We welcome not only transgender and LGBI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and intersex) individuals and groups, but also encourage schools, businesses, labor unions, religious and civic organizations, and all who support the equal rights of transgender people,” said Christa Hilfers. “Last year, the March and Rally drew over 600 people. We’re hoping to double or triple that number this year,” she said.

The NETU steering committee is seeking volunteer, workers and sponsors for the event. If you are interested in helping in anyway please contact Christa Hilfers at newenglandtransunitedchrista@yahoo.com.

Website: http://www.newenglandtransunited2010.org/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/476711638

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/netu.pride

Twitter: http://twitter.com/newenglandtrans