The Femininjas issued the following open letter today (July 16):

An Open Letter to Present and Past Members of the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

It has come to our attention that the VWHC has decided to exclude transgendered and intersexed women from Lu’s: A Pharmacy for Women. Our concern is that this further marginalizes women in a way that is detrimental to our well-being.

The Femininjas would like to see this change. We would like to help foster a community planning process to implement trans-positive policy through negotiation and dialogue rather than legal action.

We have heard from present and former members of the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective who would like to see women’s services include ALL women, but who have felt frustrated in their attempts to make change within their own organization.

We have also heard from many members of pro-trans feminist organizations throughout the community who would like a chance to meet and work together on a non-hostile resolution.

Thus, we would like to arrange a facilitated meeting between members of the VWHC and local pro-trans feminist activists, with the goal of changing the policy of the VWHC and Lu’s Pharmacy. We suggest sometime between now and Saturday July 25th, at a time and location chosen by members of the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective.

If you would like to be a part of this meeting for change, please contact us at femininjas@femininjas.com

We look forward to hearing from you by the end of Monday, July 20th.

Sincerely,

The Femininjas  

When did the Straight become the Jamie Hamilton Gazette?  

"Historic first meeting"
Does this "woman" have ANYTHING better to do with her time?  

Montyvan, when did it become necessary for someone being discriminated against to shut up and take it? So what if Jamie Lee is getting her name in the Straight a little more often than you would perfer? She is doing something very important for all transpeople. if the discrimination were happeing to you, I'm pretty sure that you'd be all over the media too, and be upset when somebody takes exception to it.

Empathy. It's a Good Thing. Why not try it?  

Trans Fem, before you judge me based on this one comment, why not look at the comments I made on a few of the many articles published by this paper about this issue. However, when someone gets more coverage than Michael Jackson's death over one small issue in a sea of very serious issues facing this city, forgive me for wondering why Charlie Smith needs to file a report every time Jamie Lee decides to fart in public. It's called OVER EXPOSURE, and it's starting to hurt your cause, not help it.
 

Monty Van made me laugh with his comment about the Jamie Hamilton Gazette. I'm applying my news judgement, and I've concluded that this is a worthwhile story. Others haven't. The Straight also published a cover story about the Kimberly Nixon battle with Rape Relief, because the editors felt that this was also a worthwhile story. I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts as to why this issue isn't getting nearly as much coverage in the non-LGBT media.  

aI am disappointed by the attack of Jamie Lee Hamilton on this issue. This issue involves an organization who has blatantly opened a business that has very clear discriminatory practices as part of their mission. They only provided services to “women born women” and specifically exclude transgendered women who, in my opinion, are the most marginalized in the downtown eastside and are in desperate need of these services.

This business/pharmacy has opened in the same year the following Trans Alliance Society organized petition with over 700 signatures, which included many high profile elected representatives, was introduced into the BC legislature:

To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:
The petition of the undersigned, concerned citizens, of the Province of British Columbia, states that:

WHEREAS transsexual, transgender and gender variant persons in British Columbia regularly experience egregious harassment and discrimination in employment, in housing, in health care, in education and in accessing public services, all on the basis of gender identity and gender expression;

AND WHEREAS a clear, visible and explicit statutory prohibition against harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression will promote the dignity, equality and well-being of transsexual, transgender and gender variant persons in British Columbia;

Now, therefore, THE UNDERSIGNED, CITIZENS AND PEOPLES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA HEREBY PETITION THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE TO:

Amend the British Columbia Human Rights Code so as to include and to specify “gender identity and gender expression” as a prohibited ground of discrimination for all purposes of that legislation in British Columbia.

Raigen D'Angelo
Vancouver, BC, Canada  

Although this is a womens only pharmacy, the owners and any women with issues towards the transgendered community must understand and show willingness towards others who are struggling. We are all victims of something regardless of gender or sexuality. But to place oneself above others in any struggle ruins any effort for equality and understanding. I am not all about jamie lee at all but we all have rights and needs.