SPARTA announces new leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – SPARTA, one of the leading advocates for transgender military service, today announced Blake Dremann as the new board chair and president of SPARTA, and the addition of three new board members: Jennifer Peace, Laila Ireland and Danyiel Brustmeyer. Well-known advocates Allyson Robinson and Sue Fulton are stepping down from leadership, Robinson leaving…

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MSNBC highlights story of longtime LGBT activist and transgender pastor (VIDEO)

Longtime LGBT advocate Allyson Robinson, who was ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. in June, is featured in an MSNBC Originals video. Headlining the video as “Is this the most radical preacher in America?” MSNBC writes, “West Point graduate, master of divinity and trans mother of four, Allyson Robinson thinks it’s her congregation–and…

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Allyson Robinson ordained at Baptist Church

The former executive director of OutServe-SLDN, Allyson Robinson has been ordained as a minister in the Baptist Church. According to HRC longtime LGBT advocate  Robinson, who attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary and previously was a pastor at a church in Central Texas, was ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Robinson became one of the…

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SPARTA statement on HHS policy change

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) ruled today that “sex reassignment surgery” and other transition-related medical care should no longer be automatically excluded from coverage. “As HHS appropriately points out, excluding coverage for transition-related surgery is unreasonable as viewed by the standards of the medical profession today – incomplete, unfair, and…

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Commentary: What does the Bradley Manning case say about trans servicemembers?

Transprogressive Some people consider Pfc. Bradley Manning a hero; others a whistleblower; others still consider him to be a criminal who endangered the security of the United States. There was a portion of the San Francisco LGBT community who wanted to own Manning as a San Francisco Pride honoree this past June. Others didn’t want…

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Nineteen OutServe-SLDN chapters threaten to breakaway unless new board is installed

COMMENTARY: BY AUTUMN SANDEEN According to a former OutServe-SLDN leader, 19 chapters of OutServe-SLDN are threatening to breakaway unless the majority of the existing board is replaced. In particular they are seeking the resignation of Josh Seefried, co-chair of the current OutServe-SLDN board of directors and alleged instigator of the plan to replace Allyson Robinson….

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OutServe/SLDN statement: ‘We are transforming-Robinson to continue during this period’

Today, the board of directors of OutServe/SLDN  issued a statement through Outservemag.com explaining that “the Board and staff are in the process of transforming the organization from primarily a legal services organization into a membership services and advocacy organization.” Board Co-Chair Josh Seefried went on to apologize for the events of the last few days stating…

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Allyson Robinson fired from OutServe/SLDN prompting staff and board resignations

Allyson Robinson has been fired as executive director of Outserve/SLDN after a board meeting yesterday. The news was first reported on the Bilerico Project after receipt of a leaked email. The Bilerico Project report stated that the entire senior staff quit immediately following the board vote. Director of External Engagement Zeke Stokes, Director of Chapter…

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