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A Series on Gender Based Violence

This series is shared in observance of 16 days of activism, a United Nations campaign which started on November 25th, 2017 on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends this weekend, December 10th, 2017, on Human Rights Day.

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Transgender Access To Restrooms, Locker Rooms Spurs Impassioned Debate

Allowing transgender people access to the restroom or locker room of their choice stirs strong feelings. Advocates on both sides of that debate packed a hearing room in Olympia Wednesday. They testified on a Republican proposal to repeal a new state rule. That rule leaves the choice with the user and not the owner of the facility. Paul MacLurg owns a fitness center and supports the repeal.

MacLurg says,  “As a business owner part of my job is to make sure I maintain an environment where everyone feels safe and comfortable. Before this rule was in place the law allowed me to use my best judgment. Now I have no good choices, no protection from the law.”

Ryan Trainer argued to keep the rule allowing transgender access. He’s the parent of a young transgender daughter.

Trainer says, “This is our child, like everyone here we are doing our best to love her, support here and to keep her safe. She is deserving of respect and protection just like all of the children in Washington state. Please don’t take this way from her.”

The rule was enacted last month by Washington’s Human Rights Commission.


 

Education is not a crime

Baha’i’s are a religious minority in Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, Baha’i’s have been persecuted in Iran for teaching and studying. An international campaign, Education is Not a Crime, launches on February 27 to shed light on the plight of Iranian Baha’i’s. A documentary, To Light A Candle shows how Baha’i’s have defied the persecution to teach and educate their youth.Today I discuss the documentary and the campaign with local members of the Baha’i faith. Taraneh Mohajeri was born and raised in Iran. She left Iran in 1983 because she was not allowed to attend University. Houtan Rahmanian is a graduate from Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at 2008 (Tehran, Iran). He worked as a software developer a software company before Iranian government attacks and shuts down the company. He sought asylum from United States and moved to U.S. in 2010.

For more information about local film screenings of To Light a Candle and the campaign, visit Education is Not a Crime or Iran Press Watch.

Dr. John Carlos and Dave Zirin on sports and politics

1968 Olympian, author and Olympic Project for Human Rights organizer, Dr. John Carlos and author and sports writer, Dave Zirin talk sports and politics. Dr John Carlos authored his memoir with Dave Zirin, “The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment that Changed the World.” That moment is when Olympic medal winners in the 200 meter race, John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their black gloved fists in protest during the national anthem at the Olympic prize ceremony. Peter Norman, the silver medalist also pictured in the iconic photo, wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge in support. This was more than a moment. It was a movement.

Dr. John Carlos and Dave Zirin sat down at our KBCS studios with Music + Idea host, Sonya Green.