TVSURFER
01-18-2008, 10:31 PM
I don’t know if I’m pushing the envelope of injecting politics into this site, but this subject is one I think the members should hear and be aware of.
Here in Michigan, there is a controversy is brewing over a transgender private club; the issue is parking spaces. The City of Wyandotte is denying the club to open due to inadequate parking spots.
The club is located in the 15,000-square-foot building of the club’s owner, which is a combination of engine and transmission refurbishing company with a cross-dressing boutique. Quite an odd arrangement but, the owner, Janet Law, is a pre-op transsexual.
Janet wants to use 1,400 sq., ft. of the building for an exclusive transgender hang-out, where transvestites and the transgender community can meet and socialize.
In the Metro Detroit area, there are no exclusive, transgender clubs. Most are either bi or gay that caters to TG or TS, but are not exclusively transgender. This club would permit men to enter as men, in their “regular” clothes and use on site facilities to change into their alter-egos [hair make-up, etc].
The boutique is designed for the cross dressing men and the transsexual with correct man to woman sized and styled clothing. By means of, services for make-up advice and exclusive custom shoe styles. Law says her store is not a sex store. She said, “There is no sex here!” She said she doesn’t sell ass lube, dildos or butt plugs!
She said, “It’s a clean, discreet place for transgenders.”
This started in October of 2006, when Law went to the City of Wyandotte for proper permission to open her club. According to her club’s by-laws, she would have up to 78 members. According to Wyandotte’s ordinance, there should be one parking space for every three members. Therefore; Law had 26 spaces. Ms. Law petitioned the City of Wyandotte, Michigan, to open the club under present city ordinances; which entails appropriate parking spaces for private clubs.
However, after almost two years, Wyandotte decided to change the rules on parking for private clubs. The city, now wants Law to have room for 119 spaces; they based the rule change on the size of the entire building, even though the other parts of the building would not be open when the club was. Law doesn’t have that much space for parking.
The surrounding neighborhood is of course, opposed to the opening of the club, citing the parking situation.
The Triangle Foundation, director of policy, Sean Kosofsky has come to the support of the club saying, “It’s very dangerous in our society to be transgendered. It’s just about one of the most difficult experiences. There are very high rates of discrimination and violence. It’s not a safe world for transgenders. If there’s anything our cities and communities can do to nurture safe place space, they should be welcomed.”
There was a zoning board meeting in Wyandotte WEDNESDAY at 6:00 pm EDT., to render a decision on Ms. Law’s petition for a waiver to open her club.
I didn’t want to bring the forum into the political realm, but I feel this sort discussion is necessary, because it hits at the heart of what we long for on this board; decent places to meet the objects of our affection; a place where one could feel comfortable, without fear of discrimination and reprisal. I know this situation is not unique to Michigan and Detroit.
Question: Do you think Ms.Law should granted a waiver for parking on her own property? And, do you think the rule change by the city was politicized?
WILL KEEP YOU POSTED AS TO WHAT HAPPENS
Here in Michigan, there is a controversy is brewing over a transgender private club; the issue is parking spaces. The City of Wyandotte is denying the club to open due to inadequate parking spots.
The club is located in the 15,000-square-foot building of the club’s owner, which is a combination of engine and transmission refurbishing company with a cross-dressing boutique. Quite an odd arrangement but, the owner, Janet Law, is a pre-op transsexual.
Janet wants to use 1,400 sq., ft. of the building for an exclusive transgender hang-out, where transvestites and the transgender community can meet and socialize.
In the Metro Detroit area, there are no exclusive, transgender clubs. Most are either bi or gay that caters to TG or TS, but are not exclusively transgender. This club would permit men to enter as men, in their “regular” clothes and use on site facilities to change into their alter-egos [hair make-up, etc].
The boutique is designed for the cross dressing men and the transsexual with correct man to woman sized and styled clothing. By means of, services for make-up advice and exclusive custom shoe styles. Law says her store is not a sex store. She said, “There is no sex here!” She said she doesn’t sell ass lube, dildos or butt plugs!
She said, “It’s a clean, discreet place for transgenders.”
This started in October of 2006, when Law went to the City of Wyandotte for proper permission to open her club. According to her club’s by-laws, she would have up to 78 members. According to Wyandotte’s ordinance, there should be one parking space for every three members. Therefore; Law had 26 spaces. Ms. Law petitioned the City of Wyandotte, Michigan, to open the club under present city ordinances; which entails appropriate parking spaces for private clubs.
However, after almost two years, Wyandotte decided to change the rules on parking for private clubs. The city, now wants Law to have room for 119 spaces; they based the rule change on the size of the entire building, even though the other parts of the building would not be open when the club was. Law doesn’t have that much space for parking.
The surrounding neighborhood is of course, opposed to the opening of the club, citing the parking situation.
The Triangle Foundation, director of policy, Sean Kosofsky has come to the support of the club saying, “It’s very dangerous in our society to be transgendered. It’s just about one of the most difficult experiences. There are very high rates of discrimination and violence. It’s not a safe world for transgenders. If there’s anything our cities and communities can do to nurture safe place space, they should be welcomed.”
There was a zoning board meeting in Wyandotte WEDNESDAY at 6:00 pm EDT., to render a decision on Ms. Law’s petition for a waiver to open her club.
I didn’t want to bring the forum into the political realm, but I feel this sort discussion is necessary, because it hits at the heart of what we long for on this board; decent places to meet the objects of our affection; a place where one could feel comfortable, without fear of discrimination and reprisal. I know this situation is not unique to Michigan and Detroit.
Question: Do you think Ms.Law should granted a waiver for parking on her own property? And, do you think the rule change by the city was politicized?
WILL KEEP YOU POSTED AS TO WHAT HAPPENS