My friend, Jessica (she has given permission for her story and name to be shared), was brutally attacked on July 13th when she went out with a friend to a local bar called the Beaver Tap in Lenexa, KS. It is a spot that Jessica and her friend Kay (both CIS women) liked to go dance and listen to the DJ on Wednesday nights. It’s even a favorite hangout of locally based rapper Tech9. And before this night, nothing like this had ever happened.

Here are the events in Kay’s own words.

…hate crime at Beaver Tap in Lenexa. 2 girls go into a bar, 1 is dancing “too close” to a group of 4 people who aren’t okay with the fact that we’re gay.

So instead of kicking them out for starting a physical altercation the first time because they couldn’t see a “sucker punch” directly on camera, this is what happens. You allow a group of people back into a bar who are full of hate and you want to call the police?

Lol please call them. Here starts your lawsuit for allowing a hate crime to continue to happen. You knew they were calling us faggots. You knew a 6’4″ white dude grabbed her glasses and hit her face because she’s sticking up for who she is. You were the cause of him punching a woman in the face because you decided to refuse to de-escalate the situation when the verbal and physical altercation first started.

‪#‎HateBecauseWereGay‬ ‪#‎Victims‬ ‪#‎HateCrime‬

The video of Jessica showing off the effects of the attack can be seen here.

You can find more of the story as related by Jessica herself here. However here is a brief snippet of the how things began to quickly escalate. (Please note that a few facts not pertaining to the actual attacks are incorrect per Jessica- however the events are exactly as unfolded).

Jessica went to the bathroom to pull herself together, and Kay noticed the two men get up and also head toward the restrooms. She became alarmed when the two women also got up and went toward the restrooms.

When Jessica saw the women, they were going in as she was coming out. As Jessica came out, one of the girls threw her drink on her and attacked her. Jessica tried to yet again defend herself against their attack. Kay had now arrived and tried to break it up, but one of the female attackers held her down.

When the men came out of restrooms, the same male assailant grabbed the glasses off of Jessica’s face and broke them. He then proceeded to once again punch Jessica in the face, while one of the women held onto her by her hair.

This is someone I know and someone I think very highly of. A kind person with a big heart. Someone who has been an ally to me. Not that anyone deserves to be a victim of an assault because of their sexuality, gender, race, religion, etc.

Ending Hate Crimes Is Not an Agenda

This is reality. You can claim an “LGBT Agenda” all you like. But the real “agenda” is safety and happiness. Something not afforded to people like Jessica Culp because she happened to be dancing with another woman at the Beaver Tap. (Who has taken down their facebook page to avoid as much bad publicity as possible).

I ask you to read this. I ask you to support Jessica and all of those that are attacked for being who they are.

Even if you don’t “agree” with their “choice”, do you agree it’s okay for a 6’4 male to beat down a woman for no other reason than her “lifestyle”?

We have allowed this attitude to go unchecked. You think it’s stupid to be talking about gay rights, hate crime, and bathroom bills when there is so many more “important things” going on. I dare say those talks are pretty important to people like Jessica and the rest of the LGBT community.

Transgender Services Come to Kansas City

Starting April 11th, at their Kansas City North location (Gladstone, MO), Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri will be offering comprehensive services specifically for the transgender community. They join the more than 27 Planned Parenthood locations offering similar services across the country. Currently finding some of the vital transgender services needed has been difficult. However, Planned Parenthood has made it easier to find them; and most importantly, in an environment that strives for safety and inclusive.

At launch the northland clinic will be offering counseling referrals and guidance, HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) for both trans men and women, as well as all of the blood tests and monitoring that are so important to HRT. However, there is one service that is critical but often overlooked. Many trans men fail to get yearly exams such as pap smears, for fear of embarrassment or body dysmorphia. Planned Parenthood understands those fears and has sought making this as comfortable as possible a paramount goal.

Part of their commitment to this goal is the approach they’ve taken with their own education. They have taken great pains to make sure their staff and doctors understand the particular needs of the transgender community. They have reached out to therapists in the area for guidance, seeking to understand and embrace the “standards of care” for transgender individuals. Additionally they are bringing in transgender men and women to talk to the staff so they can share their experiences and needs.

“We want to focus on caring for both physical and emotional needs in a safe place.” said Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, Director of Communications & Marketing for Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, “We need to put health first.”

Reproductive Health for All

Part of this initiative is the growth of their PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) services for HIV/AIDS. On March 14th, Planned Parenthood expanded those services with launches in midtown Kansas City, MO as well as Columbia, MO- with plans to expand to all six locations within six months to a year. In fact, this chapter of Planned Parenthood in particular finds itself in a state of great growth.

The reason for the expansion of these services is simple, women are the fastest growing segment of the population to contract HIV/AIDs. This includes the often overlooked menopausal and post-menopausal population.

Their treatment program is multi-faceted, covering risk factors as well as treatment. Not only do they handle the prescription of the drug Truvada, they also monitor kidney function, and over health with regular screenings and checkups.

However, most importantly, they seek to service the community with education. Bonyen Lee-Gilmore continued, “There is a great need for education about reproductive health and STI symptoms. We are seeking to change this by providing education and treatment for all regardless of gender, gender identity, or generation.”

For further information visit Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri online.

For transgender specific services you can reach out to the Gladstone office at 816-453-6000 or at their clinic page.

You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(edit- Corrected proper name for mid-America branch. Added social media. Corrected start date for transgender services.)