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GayIndy.Org News

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Indianapolis-- Lorraine Sade Baskerville, founder of the Chicago group transGenesis, held a public forum titled Putting the "T" in GLBT at Jesus MCC on Saturday November 23. A self-identified transgender woman since the mid-1970's, Ms. Baskerville is the first African American trans woman to head a publicly-funded social service agency in the Midwest for the trans community.

Baskerville encouraged participation from the audience on topics that ranged from sexual orientation versus gender identity, to violence and fear of violence, to the frequent exclusion of transpeople from even the most basic services like shelters and food pantries. "We are an oppressed community," she said in a raised voice. "I'm oppressed and I'm angry. I have a right to be angry."

She later attended a candlight vigil that was held in downtown Indianapolis to remember the lives of more than two dozen people lost in the past year due to violence motivated by fear and hatred of gender variant people (see story below).

More about Lorraine Sade Baskerville can be found on the transGenesis website. Photos from the candlight vigil can be found on the INTRAA (Indiana Transgendered Rights Advocacy Alliance) website at INTRAA.org.