Trans Day of Remembrance is one of the hardest days for me because it makes me confront the fact that trans people, more often than not trans women of color, are demonized by the dominant culture. It hurts my heart to hear that upwards of 265 trans people have been taken from this world too soon this year, and in horrific ways. After losing friends in both the bi and trans communities over the years, I decided that we needed to create space for all of us to get together and build community. Thus, the Trans Bi Brunch was born as a positive response to TDoR. This brunch happens on the 4th Saturday of the month, 12:30pm at a local eatery called Crepevine on Church at Market, and it is a space where the trans and bi communities connect. 

I hope that you will join me and others in the bi and trans communities to remember our 265+ dead this year by going to the many Trans Day of Remembrance events across the globe. Last night I was honored to be part of the Trans Flag raising in the Castro, by blessing the marchers, the flag and the entire community I was overcome with a sense of our connectedness across gender and sexuality.  

In the coming week their will be three more TDoR events in the Bay Area:

San Francisco, California
Will be holding a Transgender Day of Remembrance event
on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 5:00pm
Please join us for San Francisco’s Transgender Day of Remembrance 2012.
We will meet at SF City Hall at 5pm and march to the City of Refuge
(1025 Howard St.) in SOMA.
If you do not wish to join the march, you can also come directly to
the City of Refuge, where the main TDOR event will begin at 6pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/374274065988154/
—–
San Francisco, California
Will be holding a Transgender Day of Remembrance Shabbat
on Friday, November 23, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav
Led by Martin Rawlings-Fein
290 Dolores Street, San Francisco, California
website: https://www.facebook.com/events/522290277798588/
—–
San Jose, California
Will be holding a Transgender Day of Remembrance event
on Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 6:00 – 10:00pm
at the Billy DeFrank Ballroom
938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center http://www.defrank.org

My reading for the raising of the trans flag: 
Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance by Rabbi Reuben Zellman

"God full of mercy, bless the souls of all who are in our hearts on this Transgender Day of Remembrance. We call to mind today young and old, of every race, faith, and gender experience, who have died by violence. We remember those who have died because they would not hide, or did not pass, or did pass, or stood too proud. Today we name them: the reluctant activist; the fiery hurler of heels; the warrior for quiet truth; the one whom no one really knew.

As many as we can name, there are thousands more whom we cannot, and for whom no Kaddish may have been said. We mourn their senseless deaths, and give thanks for their lives, for their teaching, and for the brief glow of each holy flame. We pray for the strength to carry on their legacy of vision, bravery, and love.

And as we remember them, we remember with them the thousands more who have taken their own lives. We pray for resolve to root out the injustice, ignorance, and cruelty that grow despair. And we pray, God, that all those who perpetrate hate and violence will speedily come to understand that Your creation has many faces, many genders, many holy expressions.

Blessed are they, who have allowed their divine image to shine in the world.
Blessed is God, in Whom no light is extinguished."

Resources for Transgender Day of Remembrance: 
Transgender Day of Remembrance, a guest post by Jane KindredSome resources for TDoR. A piece by Jane Kindred the author that BABN just honored at our 25th Anniversary Kickoff for her ability to write beyond gender and sexuality in her books. 

http://www.transgenderdor.org/
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. 

http://www.transpeoplespeak.org/
Trans People SpeakI AM: Trans People Speak is a campaign created by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)

BABN Organizer
Martin Rawlings-Fein

What a great crowd of people at brunch today, I am really glad to know you all. I hope you all have a great day for tomorrows festivities, whether you have plans for Folsom, or celebrating Bisexuality Visibility Day. Have a wonderful time!

We meet for brunch on the 4th Saturday at 12:30pm-3ish at Crepevine (Church and Market), hope to see more of you at the next brunch and get to know more of this fabulous community.

B'vracha and Thanks!

Martin Rawlings-Fein
www.feinmentsch.com
BABN Moderator

BABN Pride Events
Trans March, Bi-Dykes, and Parades Oh My!

5th Annual Bi-BQ
When: Wed, June 20, 5:00pm – 11:30pm
Where: Dolores Park (map)
Description: 5-7 BBQ and potluck in Dolores park, 7-8:45 Bi Talent and Mixer at Dolores Park Cafe, 8:45-9:15 Bi promenade through the mission, 9:30 Bi-Candy: Frameline Bi Shorts at the Victoria. https://www.facebook.com/events/293820014038371/ 

Trans March
When: Fri, June 22, 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Where: Dolores Park (map) Description: "Trans Generations: Define Your Moment" See & Be Seen @ Dolores Park with Jennifer and Martin (look for the Trans and Bi Pride flags) 3.30 - 6.30 March to UN Plaza @ 6.30 Performers and Speakers TBA After party: Bustin' Out 7!! The OFFICIAL Trans March AfterParty!! https://www.facebook.com/events/350283011691662/  

Brunch for the Bi and Trans Communities @ Crepevine
When: Sat, June 23, 12:30pm – 1:30pm Where: Crepevine, 216 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94114-1311 (map) Description: Let's make this Pride a special one and come on out to the monthly Brunch for the Bi and Trans Communities at the Crepevine. Find out when and where to meet out bi community for the Dyke March & Pride Sunday and recount what we were all doing the evening before at the Trans March. Your hosts the Bay Area Bisexual Network (BABN), TransGender San Francisco (TGSF), Congregation Sha'ar Zahav (CSZ), and the Trans March really want to bring the communities together in an intentioned way and build a stronger community. https://www.facebook.com/events/398339726873790/

San Francisco Dyke March
When: Sat, June 23, 3pm – 6pm Where: Dolores Park (map) Description: Dolores Park Stage: 3-7 pm Join Shelli at the Dyke March for a Bi-Dyke group and dance all the way to the Castro at 7pm with your bi sisters.
 https://www.facebook.com/events/293934070701735/ 

SF Pride Visi-BI-lity Bi Contingent
When: Sun, June 24, 10am – 2pm Where: TBD Off Market Street Downtown (map) Description: 2012 Bay Area Bisexual Network Pride Contingent Information Theme: Visi-Bi-lity, be as visible as possible and show your bi pride colours! Most of the time bisexuals are hidden, basically defined by the gender of their partner. Pride is one day of the year when we can be seen clearly for who we are, Visi-Bi-lity, whether we are in a same gendered relationship, an opposite gendered relationship, a poly relationship or no relationship at all, whether we are cisgendered, transgendered, genderqueer or just queer, we are all bisexuals and we deserve to be seen for that - the hot, fun people we all are. So use this page to invite all your friends and we will have the best turnout ever.
https://www.facebook.com/events/383867871675806/ 
 
Help Us Underwrite Our Events in the Coming MonthIf you would like to help underwrite any number of events like the, SF Pride Contingent, ice cream socials, panel discussions, monthly peer-led support groups, bi-weekly social groups and hopefully even a small drop-in community space at the San Francisco LGBT Center, please click the link below for our new WePay page. The Bisexual Resource Center, our fiscal sponsor, has graciously allowed us to create a direct fundraising page that will allow us speedier transfer of funds. 
 
Bay Area Bisexual Network Donation Page
Bay Area Bisexual Network is based in San Francisco with members from all over the Bay Area. Our mission is to develop a healthy, vibrant, multicultural bisexual community in the San Francisco Bay Area and to promote better understanding of bisexual lives and issues within the larger lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community and the public.   Thank you all so much for your support in becoming a stronger community organization through direct action and volunteerism. I cannot think of a proper way to thank the giants, whose shoulders we stand upon. Lani, Maggie, Ann, Jack, Joe and all the people who held the banner through all the storms that have ravaged our community.  

Watch here for more announcements about a 25th Anniversary Event, yes, it has been 25 years, and we will be creating a great event to celebrate the future of the bi community! 

 Martin Rawlings-Fein
Bay Area Bisexual Network

Greetings Bi and Trans and Friends,

The Bi Brunch has been around since the '90s and has always been open to all who would like to build community. In "the aughts" we added another group to our already four table brunch, the local trans group FTMSF, and in 2009 after the death of a pillar in the bi community the brunch was restarted on the 4th Sunday at 12:30pm. Throughout the years we have ebbed and flowed both stopping and starting the brunch in different locals and on different days. 

This time the new incarnation of the Bi Brunch will be the held by two communities that tend to overlap and support each other the most. The bi and trans communities are linked and compliment each other in so many ways. Your hosts Shelli and Martin Rawlings-Fein, the Bay Area Bisexual Network (BABN), TrandGender San Francisco (TGSF), Congregation Sha'ar Zahav (CSZ), and the Trans March really want to bring the communities together in an intentioned way and enjoy everyone's company. 

Come join us on the 4th Saturday May 26th (and every 4th Saturday!) from 12:30-3 at the Crepevine on Church St at Market for our monthly Brunch for the Bi and Trans Communities. Look for the Bi/Trans Brunch sign.

The Crepevine is conveniently located on MUNI surface Lines F, 37, J, 22 and not far from the N Judah at Church and Duboce. Right around the corner from the Church Street station (K, L, M) . The 16th St BART station is also not far (about a 15-20 minute walk or a short bus ride on the 22). Pay for your food at the counter. While no purchase is required, a small something or another will keep Crepevine happy with us. Vegan and vegetarian options available. Wheelchair accessible. Kid friendly menu/high chairs available.
 
Bisexuals, trans people and all allies are welcome and encouraged to attend this event.

For more details of to RSVP, please email martin@feinmentsch.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/225794680863701/

 

B'vracha and Thanks!

Martin Rawlings-Fein
www.feinmentsch.com

Bay Area Bisexual Network (BABN) is based in San Francisco. Our mission is to develop a healthy, vibrant, multicultural bisexual community in the San Francisco Bay Area and to promote better understanding of bisexual lives and issues within the larger lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTIQQ) community and the public.

Transgender San Francisco (TGSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the social, outreach, and education needs of the transgender community in the San Francisco Bay area. 

Congregation Sha'ar Zahav (CSZ), the Congregation of the Golden Gate, is a progressive Reform synagogue, established in 1977. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews, together with family and friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish.  

The mission of the San Francisco Trans March is to inspire all trans and gender non-conforming people to realize a world where we are safe, loved, and empowered.We strive to create a space for our diverse communities to unite and achieve the social justice and equality that each of us deserves.