I N G BA C K (NKfftes Person of the Yean Angola BrightfeaUiar F ■ rom her humble home in North Carolina I to the doorsteps of national organiations and the halls of Congress, there’s no doubt that Angela Brightfeather has done her part this year. jf there were issues to be discussed, if the transgender community needed an advocate or if the transgender community was being ignored, Brightfeather stepped up. The 63-year- old transgender leader and activist is a legend — she’s , been involved in advocacy work since she was in her 20s; and she’s certainly not afraid of ruffling feathers. “Anybody who challenges the establishment is going against the flow,” she told Q- Notes. “When you do that, you become the ultimate activist. You become the one that pushes too hard, that wants everybody to take a lead, the one who wants to really change things.” Shaking up the establishment seems to have come easy to her. Since the most recent controversy over transgender inclusion in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in late 2007, Brightfeather has taken on high- profile leadership among her transgender brothers and sisters. In February 2008, she helped to organize a friendly protest — char acterized as an “outreach” — to dinner guests at the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala in Charlotte. But her work isn’t just local. As vice presi dent of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA), Brightfeather has worked dili gently to see the needs of trans gender servicemembers met with dignity and equality. TAVAs biggest battle has been securing equal and fair healthcare treatment for trans- gender, former servicemembers at government-run VA hospitals. “We’ve just been able to establish a connection at the VA that might allow us to meet with Gen. Shinseki,” Brightfeather said, referring to Obama’s new pick for VA secretary. “It’s a dream come true to think of sitting down with the director of the VA to tell him' our needs and where we are being discriminated against.” Among the group’s accomplishments this year are a highly succesful survey of transgen der servicemembers and veterans and joint work with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. “We’d also like to be able to work on being able to march in the veteran’s parade in Washington, D.C. next year,” Brightfeather said. “We’d be the first transgender group to march in that parade.” Brightfeather was born in London to bi- nationd parents and was declared a U.S. citi zen soon after birth. Just months afterward, her famOy moved to New York state. Her intro duction to Southern living came only a few short years ago, when she moved to North Carolina. But in the time she’s been here, Brightfeather has managed to make a differ ence both locally and nationally, becoming a fundamental part of Carolina transgender MIMi organizing and a vital leader and activist in the greater LGBT com munity. With her leadershipcomes a sense of urgency and toughness. Unafraid to say it just like she feels it, Brightfeather’s learned to lead and speak from the heart and from the pas sion that’s kept her involved for decades. It is with great pride that the staff of Q- Notes names Angela Brightfeather our 2008 Person of the Year. ► — compiled by Q-Notes stajf online extra: Read more about Person of the Year Angda Brightfeather at q-notes.com. 2008 - a tough year from page 11 The HIV-positive DJ files “Raleigh man pleads guilty to HIV health law violation" Sept. 6 “House arrest for gay BJ’s second HIV violation" Nov. 1 Q-Notes took the most flack this year for deciding to run with the story of Joshua Waldon Weaver, a 23-year-old DJ in gay clubs in Raleigh and Wilmington. In September, Weaver pleaded guilty to violating state health regulations on com municable diseases. His infractions were failing to use a condom during intercourse and failing to inform his partners of his HIV-positive status. Evidently, failing to learn his lesson the first time. Weaver was arrested and charged yet again with a second set of HIV health reg ulation violations in November. This time, a court put him on three months house arrest. Community members decried our decision to publish the story and his photo. We felt it was in the best interest of the community and of reporting the news accurately and fairly. Since then, Weaver’s stayed out of the lime light as far as we know. I YOUR S, vj BE A WORK OF A.- L ; : J DECEMBER 27.2008 • QNotes

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