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sciencespies · 3 years

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Planet valued at $2.8 billion in SPAC deal

https://sciencespies.com/space/planet-valued-at-2-8-billion-in-spac-deal/

Planet valued at $2.8 billion in SPAC deal

WASHINGTON — Planet announced July 7 it will go public in a $2.8 billion deal with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), the second SPAC deal in the Earth observation sector in as many days.

Planet said it will merge with dMY Technology Group, Inc. IV, a SPAC that raised $345 million in a public offering in March. The merger agreement includes an additional $200 million in a concurrent round, called private investment in public equity.

After paying expenses and debt, the deal will provide Planet with $434 million in cash. It will give the San Francisco-based company at a post-transaction equity value of nearly $2.8 billion.

Planet pioneered the use of small satellites, particularly cubesats, to provide imagery at far greater frequency that traditional large, high-resolution imaging satellites. It currently operates more than 150 Dove cubesats that provide daily imaging of the planet at medium resolution and 21 SkySat high-resolution satellites, capable of selected imaging at resolutions as sharp as 50 centimeters.

Executives with both Planet and dMY Technology said that the deal will allow Planet to extend the lead they believe it has over competing imaging companies. “By virtue of its first mover initiative, we estimate Planet has a five- to seven-year lead over any other player,” said Niccolo de Masi, chief executive of dMY Technology, in a call with investors.

“We see Planet as being light years ahead of the competition in both space and data terms, and we will continue to widen that lead,” Will Marshall, co-founder and chief executive of Planet, said in the call. That lead, he said, comes from its “agile aerospace” approach for updating the designs of its satellites, combining imagery with other data and a growing number of customers that provides feedback to improve their services.

Planet’s revenues have been steadily growing, from $43 million 2016 to $113 million in its latest fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31, driven largely by customers in civil government, defense and intelligence, agriculture and mapping. The company projects that growth to accelerate, reaching $693 million in fiscal year 2026, with growth in emerging sectors like finance and energy.

Planet is not yet profitable, having reported negative free cash flow of $41 million in its latest fiscal year. The company expects to reach breakeven in fiscal year 2025, with $140 million in free cash flow the following year.

Planet’s SPAC deal comes a day after Satellogic, another Earth imaging company, announced it would go public through its own SPAC deal, raising $271 million. However, while Satellogic plans to use the funding to deploy its full 300-satellite constellation, Planet said it will instead use the funding to build out other aspects of the business.

“Planet believes it does not need to add new satellites to its fleet beyond ordinary course replacement,” de Masi said. Instead, he expects the company to focus on building up its salesforce to bring in new customers for the imagery and data products from those satellites.

Marshall said another area of growth will be in software development and machine learning, developing tools to analyze imagery and combine it with other data. “As we continue to grow, particularly as we increase our focus on data and analytics, we need to continue to build our team and build out our capabilities,” he said.

Planet is also open to acquiring other companies. “There are a lot of smaller companies with meaningful expertise in our space,” Marshall said. “We view Planet as the natural aggregator and we believe that there’s a lot of opportunity to create more value through bringing on the right teams.”

New SPAC wave

The Planet and Satellogic deals have reinvigorated a market for SPAC deals in the space industry that had been quiet for several months.

Several companies announced deals between October 2020 and March 2021, including two that have since closed: AST SpaceMobile in April and Astra, which started trading July 1. Five other companies that announced deals during that time — BlackSky, Momentus, Redwire, Rocket Lab and Spire — are scheduled to close later this year.

However, SPAC deals in general slowed after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided new accounting guidance in April regarding SPACs. Only one space company, quantum communications startup Arqit, announced a SPAC deal after that guidance was published until the Satellogic and Planet deals.

More SPAC deals may be in the works. Last month, Sky News reported that launch company Virgin Orbit was in talks with a SPAC for a deal that would value the company at $3 billion. Virgin Orbit executives declined to comment on that or other investor interest during a briefing June 29, a day before its most recent launch.

#Space

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atxdigitalphotography · 3 years

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Alex Trebek, host of “Jeopardy!” passed away in his sleep on November 8, 2020, after a battle with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old. Trebek hosted the “Jeopardy!” quiz show since September 10, 1984, presiding over more than 8,000 episodes. He seemed to always talk about how much he loved hosting the popular game show. Trebek filmed a handful of episodes ahead of his surprise passing this weekend. His final episode will air on Christmas Day, December 25. His final day in the studio was just a few weeks ago on October 29. The complete schedule is on Jeopardy.com “America's Favorite Quiz Show" will "open the vaults" and look back at some of the top episodes, pulling archival footage of memorable contestants and jaw-dropping moments from throughout the show's 36 years, 8,000 episode run. Trebek said he filmed openings for the special shows from his home. Trebek's memoir "The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life," published by Simon & Schuster, was available on July 21, one day before his 80th birthday. There have been many great game show hosts across the years. Gene Rayburn, Allen Ludden, Monty Hall, Peter Marshall, and Richard Dawson are some I grew up on, but Alex Trebek will always be my favorite. He had the best game show on the air! Trebek is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jean, and three children Matthew, Emily, and Nicky. Rest in peace, Alex Trebek!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXRdVWlxi2/?igshid=18js0czblzmzh

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lisakellner · 4 years

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Sarah Schneiderman

Interviews with Artists

Sarah’s website

What kind of work do you make and why?

I transform everyday trash and found objects into finely crafted and realistic imagery. The world is overflowing with trash. By 2050, it is expected that, pound for pound, there will be more garbage in the ocean than fish.

How have the events of 2020 affected your life and art practice?

I never thought I'd be a snowbird but my spouse has circulation issues so we bought a small apartment on Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean a few years ago. Although I don't have my full studio, I make art down here. Some stay here, some comes home with me. I started my winter stay by making political portraits for a show scheduled for Ives Gallery at New Haven Free Public Library. The show "You're Fired! I Quit!" was slated to open July 29 and run through early October. Then everything got shut down Mid-March. The last plane back to the US 21 or 22. I wasn't on that plane. The effects of the coronavirus were sudden and hard-hitting. So many people were in emotional pain due to the uncertainty and the stress of being in lockdown. I had a commitment to make three 12 X 12-inch pieces for AIDS CT for their annual art grab. I couldn't make political portraits anymore. My focus switched to imagery that would show love and calmness: A heart for essential workers, the surface of the ocean, and a yellow rose. This started me working on a botanical series. Fortunately, my practice is to transform everyday trash into stunningly beautiful realistic depictions of the subject matter. I had plenty of materials to work with because we all generate trash. The show at Ives Gallery was canceled. The other local Connecticut shows I hoped to be were canceled. I had artwork all over the East Coast in lockdown because no one could retrieve it to send it back to me. Rather than apply to local, in-person shows, I'm applying to online shows. I was able to attend a virtual residency out of Spain and made a new friend in New Jersey as a result. The other residency I expected to attend this year - the artist residency at Camp Stomping Ground - was canceled due to the virus.

What type of pivot, adaptations or actions have occurred in your art practice that could be helpful to other artists due to these events?

I changed subject matter so as to bring both myself and others some joy and peace during this tumultuous time.

I started applying to online shows since in person shows are not available.

Because I go away each winter, I already have friends in Connecticut who have access to my house to pick up or deliver art now that in-person shows are occurring again.

I've taken advantage of some of the myriad resources that have popped up online:

Virtual Residencies

Virtual critiques

Online workshops

Online studio tours

Online Demonstrations

Online artists' cocktail hour

Rather than ship via FedEx or DHL because it's too expensive, I'm using the local post office and praying the packages get to their destinations. So far, so good.

I'm using a consolidation service in Miami to get supplies (both personal and some art supplies such as matte gel medium and PVA glue.) It's expensive but it's worth it.

Now, I'm shifting my subject matter to locally present animals and botanicals thinking that I'll leave this artwork here and find some outlet for it here rather than bringing everything back to the US. Because I've been here more than twice as long as I originally intended, I have a decent body of work accumulated.

Where do you see yourself and your work a year from now?

While I'd like to be in Connecticut pursuing solo shows and making art about my heroes rather than on Bonaire and making more portraits of "The Best People" working for Donald Trump, I suspect I'll still be on Bonaire. If so, my work will be continue to be about the planet's degradation while the imagery will be of local flora and fauna.

What has been the one “saving grace” that has helped you through this difficult time?

That I have a home on Bonaire and have been able to stay here. Technology, such as FaceTime, Google Meet, and Zoom have helped me stay connected to the world beyond this small rock.

What advice would you give other artists?

If you can continue to make art, do so. If you can't, let that be. Also, many arts organizations are creative in offering studio tours, webinars, workshops, artists talk, and music online. Hook into that. It can be very inspirational.

What would you like people to experience when they see your work?

Physical: My art serves no direct physical function. Instead, it provides a sensory experience for the viewer. I want the viewer to see the work as beautiful, even stunning, especially when the materials are taken into consideration -- that this work was made from trash.

Social: My art has a social function. Whether the subject matter is fish, botanicals, or portraits, the main message is about trash and its impact on the planet. Additionally, some of these are portraits of people who are trashing the United States, Republican values, and the environment. Others are of people who were discarded by the president, whether they were fired or chose to resign.

Personal: I create art for two reasons: 1. I have something to say. 2. I want to add beauty to the world. The fish and botanical pieces are not just pretty pictures. Photographs can bring beauty to light. My desire is for the viewer to see beyond the subject matter. I want them to question their relationship to the environment and to society at large.

Did you enjoy reading this?

Interested in guest posting? Contact me here.

Personal Artist Services:

Join the Artist Essentials and get a free mini-lesson:

Promoting Artists:

#artist career advice #art career success #artist #art career planning #studio practice #strategies in the studio #how to be a successful artist #art writing #promote your art #selling your art

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footballghana · 4 years

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Edmund Hottor: AC Milan to St Ives Town - FA Cup qualifying stories

Qualifying for the 2020-21 FA Cup continues this week with 234 non-league clubs scheduled to compete in the first qualifying round.

Some 160 teams who advanced from the preliminary round will be joined by 74 clubs who start their cup campaign.

There are three more qualifying rounds after this stage.

BBC Sport looks at some of the clubs, players and managers competing this week who hope to make it through to the first round proper on 7-8 November, when teams from League One and League Two enter.

From San Siro to St Ives

Edmund Hottor was living the dream when he was signed by AC Milan at the age of 17.

Training with the second team, the Ghanaian midfielder would often play practice games against the first team, sharing a pitch with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and Andrea Pirlo.

Now aged 27, Hottor plays for Cambridgeshire part-timers St Ives Town, who start their FA Cup campaign in Suffolk against Brantham Athletic on Tuesday.

"It's been quite a journey," said Hottor, who spent six years on the books of AC Milan without making a senior appearance for the seven-time European champions.

"It was a fantastic experience for me. I had a chance to train with such big names and I was learning a lot growing up as a teenager at AC Milan.

"I don't have any regrets even though I didn't get to play in Serie A."

Hottor was signed by AC Milan soon after playing in Serie B for Triestina. His CV also includes a short spell, in his early 20s, at Inter Milan where he left without making a senior appearance.

Having also played in Portugal and Malta, Hottor arrived in England in 2018 and turned out for Kettering Town and Banbury United before signing for St Ives, who play in the seventh-tier Southern League Premier Division Central, in December 2019.

"I came to England with no agent and I had to start from somewhere," he added. "I'm enjoying playing again."

Also at St Ives Town is 38-year-old Marc Richards, the former Port Vale, Northampton and Barnsley striker.

Back in dugout after cancer

Mark Fell knew something was wrong when he could not remember one of his team's wins - despite being at the game.

A few days later the 37-year-old Lancaster City boss was undergoing radiotherapy after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 2019.

Despite on-going treatment which involves a "small" operation in October, Fell is back in the dugout and preparing his seventh-tier side for Tuesday's home tie with Runcorn Town.

"It was identified quite quickly and they cut it out," said Fell, boss at Northern Premier League Premier Division Lancaster since October 2018.

"I hadn't been well for a while, I felt ill and was passing blood.

"We played Colne in a cup tie and just before that the doctor told me I needed some tests.

"We won but I don't remember the game. All I remember is telling my assistant Graham Lancashire 'I'm not right'."

Lancashire, the former Burnley, Wigan and Rochdale forward, took charge of the team while the manager underwent treatment.

Incredibly, Fell was in the dugout when Lancaster won 3-0 at Stafford Ranger on 21 December - and nearly fainted celebrating a goal.

"I was too keen to get back," he added. "I was OK after the physio gave me some water."

Teenager scores four

After receiving a text message to say he would be playing, 17-year-old Shane Temple made the most of his big moment on the FA Cup stage by scoring four goals for AFC Sudbury in the preliminary round.

The eighth-tier Suffolk club trailed Harborough Town 2-0 before Temple struck four times in the space of 22 minutes either side of half-time.

Temple is a part of the Isthmian League North Division club's successful academy.

"It's in our DNA to promote these younger players, Shane deserved his chance," AFC Sudbury boss Mark Morsley said.

After the tie, Temple was presented with a bottle of wine for his man of the match performance.

"I think it was handed very quickly to his dad," added Morsley, whose side have a trip to Lincolnshire to face Stamford on Tuesday.

'Man Utd's goals were dodgy'

It is five years since Scott Laird threatened to cause a major FA Cup upset.

Lining up against Manchester United, he put League One Preston ahead in a fifth-round tie at Deepdale before Louis van Gaal's side hit back to win 3-1.

Now player-assistant manager at Weston-super-Mare, Laird is hoping to inspire his team-mates to make it through the qualifying rounds.

"If there had been VAR back then I think Preston would have gone through," said Laird, 32, about that night at Deepdale on 16 February 2015.

"All three of United's goals were dodgy."

A veteran of more than 350 English Football League appearances, Laird has been assistant to Scott Bartlett at seventh-tier Weston-super-Mare since June 2019.

"I could have stayed in League Two, I had two or three offers but they were all one-year deals," added Laird, whose career also includes spells at Walsall, Forest Green Rovers, Scunthorpe and Torquay.

"I didn't think it was right to keep moving my family around - we'd moved 11 times in 16 years during my career. I have a daughter now and I didn't want to do that to her.

"My role at Weston-super-Mare allows me to carry on playing as well as coach. It's a great opportunity to learn what I want to do in the future which is to go into management."

Laird is the son of former Weston-super-Mare manager Craig Laird, and his brothers Jamie, Craig Jr and Callum have also appeared for the club, who play in the Southern League Premier Division South.

He also has a coaching role at a nearby school.

"I'm loving it," he said. "I'm learning so much. It's nice to be home - my wife and I have moved back to the area where we grew up."

Weston-super-Mare begin their FA Cup campaign at Cowes Sports on Tuesday.

Source: bbc.com

source: https://footballghana.com/

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insatiabletc · 4 years

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𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞

While this article is predominately about India Clarke, we thought it would be best to also capture her alleged killer’s other victim, Tyrone Davis. Tyrone was killed 5 days after India, and in similar circumstances.

We also want to make clear that while available evidence is compelling as to who committed these murders, it is important to remember that a trial has not happened yet and Keith Gaillard has not been found guilty.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞

This is India Clarke, a 25-year-old trans woman from Tampa, Florida. She was beloved by her friends and family and had a spirit that dazzled everyone around her.

“I just wish my baby was here with me…Every day, a part of me is gone. I am not the same. I know life still goes on, and I'm trying to make the best of it, but I miss my baby. I know my kids love me, but India showed the most love. Not only to me, to everybody ... she was always telling me, 'Momma, I love you.'"[i]--India’s mother

In the same article quoted above, journalist John D. Sutter, wrote: “Nearly one year after India's death, friends and family still ache from her absence, their eyes welling with memories of a person who was both life of the party and a confidante, both sassy queen and a doting aunt.”

“[Gaillard] really took someone special from us, you know? People can say, 'I love you,' but showing someone you love them is different. [India] always did that."" [ii]-- India's cousin, Lakischa Hicks.

“[She was] friendly and confident, someone who loved making others happy, rapping, taking selfies, cracking jokes and performing in drag shows. One of her favorite songs was And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going from the movie Dreamgirls. "[iii] -- Family and friends interviewed by the Tampa Bay Times.

India did not always have the closest relationship with her parents, especially after coming out as herself. However, it sounds, from both her friends and her family, that India and her mom found a way to be close again before her death. While India’s parents continued to describe her with the wrong pronouns, they went out of their way to find a church that would bury India in a dress and as a woman.

𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬

Tyrone Davis was a 46-year-old from San Antonio, Florida. It sounds like he had a close relationship with his family and was active in his church community. His obituary made clear that Tyrone had a lifelong love affair with music and singing. Several news articles state that Tyrone’s family believed him to be gay. Beyond that, not much is known online about Tyrone. We do not know how he came into contact with Gaillard, but we suspect once that trial begins we will learn more about Tyrone.

𝐀 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 – 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬

7/21/15 – India’s body was found by a maintenance worker. Her car was found with the following items:

- Used condom – DNA from the condom matched DNA found under India’s fingernails. Police have confirmed that the DNA in the condom and under her nails matches Gaillard. - Paperwork - A used cigar with Gaillard’s fingerprint 7/22/15

Gaillard told a “witness” that he thought he “killed somebody” and suggested the body was near “Fletcher Avenue” (a couple streets away from where India was found).

Detectives found on Gaillard’s Facebook page a picture of Gaillard with a gun that could match India’s gunshot wound. From reading court documents, it appears unclear if this will be included as evidence in the trial.

7/26/15

-Gaillard called Tyrone on his cellphone and the two met in Temple Crest Park, 5 miles away from where India was found.

-Tyrone Davis’s body was found later on the 26th. The cause of Death was a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Tyrone’s car was found 2.6 miles (an 8 minute drive) away from his body.

-Inside the car they found: Blood, Gaillard’s driver’s license, and discarded shorts that had both Gaillard and Tyrone’s blood.

-Gaillard sold the gun suspected to be India’s murder weapon to a friend for $50.00

7/2?/15 – a witness says that between 7/26 (when Tyrone’s body was discovered) and 7/29, Gaillard was driving around in Tyrone’s car. The witness says that they drove the car to get gas and it broke down. They then pushed it to a parking lot where police found it. This is corroborated by security footage at the gas station that shows Gaillard driving Tyrone’s car.

7/28/15 - Gaillard sold the gun suspected to be India’s murder weapon to a friend for $50.00. Police also discover that Tyrone was killed with at .22 caliber gun, consistent with the gun that killed India.

7/29/15 – Gaillard turned himself in with the help of his brother.

After Gaillard was arrested, the courts had to decide whether to try Tyrone and India’s murders as separate cases. In October 2019 it was finally decided the two cases would be separate. A trial was supposed to begin in November 2019 (for which murder we are unclear). However, in November a motion was filed for a new trial and it appears that, according to documents filed in February 2020, that some kind of hearing has been scheduled for April 28th, 2020. Hopefully this will be for one of the two trials.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

-Authorities mentioned that Gaillard had a scratch consistent with India scratching him. Where did the blood on the shorts come from? The scratch or a different wound?

-Did the witness who went on the joy ride with Gaillard notice the blood? They discarded the car after driving it around after the murder.

-Not really a good question, but WHY did Gaillard leave his driver’s license? There has to be something going on cognitively or mental health-wise. That is a huge oversight on Gaillard’s part.

-Gaillard’s brother doesn’t think that he killed India. But why would Gaillard say he killed someone near Fletcher avenue if it wasn’t India? Tyrone’s body was (according to Google Maps) about 12 minutes driving distance from Fletcher Avenue.

𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚

At the time of her death, India was the 10th trans person of color to be murdered in the United States.

The Associated Press, as well as several other new sites, referred to India Clarke as a “man in a dress.”

Articles from 2015 keep referring to language used in the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office media release, but unfortunately the Sheriff’s Office only retains media releases as far back as the previous calendar year (in this case 2019). We will have to rely on articles from 2015 to tell us what was in that document. And, while we may not have the original, statements made by Public Information Officers illuminate the Sheriff’s Office’s stance on India’s gender.

A Public Information Officer, Larry McKinnon, said to journalist Dominic Holden:

“We are not going to categorize him as a transgender. We can just tell you he had women’s clothing on at the time…What his lifestyle was prior to that we don’t know — whether he was a cross dresser, we don’t know…. He is a male…I can’t tell you he is a female.”[iv] Holden goes on to point out that 911 calls about India’s body referred to her as a woman, and India had clearly been living as herself for the past 5 years. In fact, it sounds like it wasn’t until the Medical Examiner’s report came back with all biological information, that the Sheriff’s Office referred to India as he/him and used her dead name.

You don’t need us to tell you how horrifying those statements are. Beyond the callous disregard for India’s identity, you may be wondering why this matters on a larger level.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has been tracking data on murdered trans people since 2013, and they say a challenge to collecting this data is how these crimes are reported on. The language we use around these murders muddy the water and obfuscate the number of trans people being murdered. Had no one made a fuss about how India’s murder was being reported, people trying to track this data may not have caught that she was trans, and her death wouldn’t have been counted. How can we as a society begin to address an issue when we don’t have a clear picture of what is occurring? How can we protect and lift up those who the media deem unfit to be reported on? We all deserve care, attention, and help. We all deserve justice.

Since 2013, 157 trans and gender-nonconforming individuals have been murdered. In 2019, 22 trans people were murdered. 91% were black women. 81% were under the age of 30.

The HRC has found in tracking data since 2013 that 90% of trans people murdered in the US were women. Additionally, 89% of those murdered since 2013 were people of color. Since 2013, 58% of all trans people murdered in the US were murdered in Southern states, with the Midwest showing 22%. Florida and Texas have proven to be the two deadliest states.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐑𝐂 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 – 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬[𝐯]

The HRC suggests that states adopt gender identity-based hate crime laws. There is a federal law against gender-identity hate crimes, but unless there is a reason for federal authorities to get involved in a murder, states retain jurisdiction.

States that DO have hate crime laws that cover gender identity: Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

If you don’t see your state listed here, find out what is happening in your state! Are there bills in progress? If so, reach out to the organizations working on them to see what they need and how you can get involved. See where your local LGBTQIAA+ resource center is – we feel confident they will be able to give you an idea of what is happening on the legislative level in your state.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐑𝐂 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 – 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐱 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤

India, by all accounts, wanted to be self-sufficient. She wanted to work and find stable housing and move out of her parent’s home. However, when India would obtain a job, she wasn’t allowed to wear women’s clothes. She was told to dress like a man. Naturally, she left those jobs. She still had to eat, though. She still needed to pay for and find housing, and sometimes slept in her car. She did what many people turn to: sex work.

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐄 𝐈𝐓. 𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 “𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝” 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤.

While there is often too much focus on victims’ lives before their murder (often invoked to suggest they brought violence upon themselves), in India’s case it does make sense to bring up her sex work as that may be how she knew Gaillard. And it’s important to talk about sex work here because she turned to sex work in large part due to how she was discriminated against at work and at home. Some of India’s friends said she couldn’t live at home with her parents unless she also wore men’s clothes there. It seems the only thing India could really do while remaining true to herself was sex work.

According to the HRC: “With limited access to workplaces, housing, and public accommodations that are guaranteed to be affirming and inclusive, transgender and gender non-conforming people are put at greater risk for poverty, homelessness and involvement with criminalized work. Together, these factors put transgender and gender non-conforming people at an increased risk of violence and danger.”

“More than half of the victims of anti-transgender violence since 2013 were killed somewhere without adequate non-discrimination protections for gender identity. 30% of the victims died in areas with no explicit non-discrimination protections for gender identity at any jurisdictional level, while 25% of the victims died in areas that had explicit protections for gender identity that were not comprehensive.”

Anti-discrimination laws and decriminalizing sex work go hand in hand. If trans and non-gender conforming people are allowed to be themselves at work and are protected from being fired for being themselves, they have a greater likelihood of being able to work and afford housing. Housing can add a layer of protection and reduce decisions borne from desperation. It seems obvious that a house/apartment/rented room offers greater protection than a car. This way, sex workers who would like to leave that work can without fear of losing income.

Sex work is not inherently dangerous work. What makes sex work dangerous is how it is criminalized. In a better world, sex workers would have access to OSHA protections, have unions, be able to report assaults without being penalized by the criminal justice system, and advocate for living wages. They would be able to ensure sanitation and health standards of clients and have true protection when a client tries to harm them. They would have designated workspaces where they can do their work in safety. Right now, outside of Nevada, none of that is possible due to sex work criminalization, and it forces one of the world’s oldest professions into the shadows. And to be clear, not everyone who does sex work does so because they have no other options. There are tons of people out there that choose to do sex work and enjoy it. They still deserve protection. If we want to stop these murders (we do) then we need to start listening to the data and start protecting sex workers.

If you are struggling with the concept of decriminalizing sex work, go back to the beginning of this article and read again about who India was. Read all those kind words people had to say about her. She was a complex person in a complex society, trying to survive. Our society’s laws surrounding hate crimes, discrimination, sex work, and an overall discomfort with anything queer, led to a situation where India was put at a greater risk of harm. We know what we need to do to start protecting people who need it, and we need to start doing it.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟’𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

We couldn’t determine whether Larry McKinnon is still employed as a public relations officer at the Sheriff’s Office. However, while poking around their website, we did discover that they now have a “LGBTQ Liaison” division. Their mission is: “To continuously strive to promote awareness of LGBTQ issues while working to evoke change in the perceptions and treatment of LGBTQ persons and to defend the community while preserving the rights and dignity of all.”[vi]

There are currently two liaison officers whose main duties are to:

-Serve as a personal point of contact between the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the LGBTQ Community.

-Coordinate with and provide a forum for local law enforcement agencies, schools, business owners, community groups and individuals of the LGBTQ community regarding relevant law enforcement issues.

-Attend LGBTQ functions and community events as a representative of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

-Serve as a resource to families with questions or guidance towards LGBTQ support services for the LGBTQ community and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office employees.

We emailed their department to see when their division was created, but at this time they have not responded. We are curious whether 2015 and attention on India Clarke’s case put pressure on Sheriff’s Office to get better with LGBTQIAA+ matters.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

We want to stress that the only person responsible for India and Tyrone’s murders is the killer. It would be foolish to think these murders happened in a sterile vacuum, though. Our society does play a role in who is safe and who has access to basic needs. If we protect the most vulnerable in our society, they will stop being such easy targets for predators. When we think about criminal justice and the role it plays in our society, we should also think about harm reduction and prevention. America has a long, deep, painful history of slavery, genocide, and intolerance which has created a situation where a great deal of people are unnecessarily put in harm’s way. Until we address that history we cannot move forward to address and root out systemic racism and queer-phobia in our government institutions.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫?

Here are some great sources that we have come across:

The Trans Obituaries Project: Honoring the Trans Women of Color Lost in 2019 (USA - obituaries written by Raquel Willis, illustrations done by Jacob Stead): https://www.out.com/…/trans-obituaries-project-honoring-tra…

The Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/blog/topic/transgender

GLAAD put out a great article on how to write about trans folks who have been victims of crime: https://www.glaad.org/publications/transgendervictimsofcrime

𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬

[i] https://www.cnn.com/…/sutter-india-clarke-transg…/index.html [ii] https://www.cnn.com/…/sutter-india-clarke-transg…/index.html [iii] https://www.tampabay.com/…/friends-family-remember…/2238371/ [iv] https://www.buzzfeednews.com/…/transgender-woman-of-color-v… [v] https://assets2.hrc.org/…/…/Anti-TransViolenceReport2019.pdf [vi] https://teamhcso.com/…/afec88ec-7914-4fb5-8892…/LGBTQ-Liason

#indiaclark #translivesmatter #portrait #sketchbook #illustration #social justice #truecrime #florida #true crime #murder

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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India’s growth slowdown is a drag on the world, says IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath - business news

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday slashed India’s growth forecast by 1.3 percentage points to 4.8% for 2019-20, prompting the agency to also trim its global growth estimates as a result. IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath said growth in India slowed sharply “owing to stress in the non-bank financial sector and weak rural income growth”. “We project global growth to increase modestly from 2.9% in 2019 to 3.3% in 2020 and 3.4% in 2021. The slight downward revision of 0.1 percentage point for 2019 and 2020, and 0.2 percentage point for 2021, is owed largely to downward revisions for India,” she said in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) update. While the Indian government’s statistics department and the Reserve Bank of India (IMF) have estimated growth in 2019-20 at 5%, rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has projected growth at 4.9% for the fiscal. The IMF report, however, projected India’s growth to revive in 2020-21 to 5.8%, 30 basis points below its October estimate, “supported by monetary and fiscal stimulus as well as subdued oil prices”. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who is scheduled to present her second budget on 1 February is expected to increase infrastructure spending and boost rural expenditure to revive growth which has slowed to a six-and-half-year low at 4.5% in September quarter. IMF in its Article IV consultation report on India released last month said that the Indian government should avoid a fiscal stimulus to boost the economy and, instead, opt for an easier monetary policy. “In the near-term, given the cyclical weakness of the economy, monetary policy should maintain an easing bias, at least until the projected recovery takes hold. Fiscal stimulus should be avoided, given (that the) fiscal space (is) at risk and revenue losses from the recent corporate income tax rate cut should be offset. In the event of a more severe economic slowdown than currently envisaged, any fiscal stimulus should be temporary, focusing on measures to boost near-term growth, such as immediate investment expensing or public infrastructure spending,” IMF had said.However, retail inflation has picked up since then and the RBI has paused its monetary easing cycle. Retail inflation touched a five-and-a-half-year high of 7.35% in December, breaching the central bank’s tolerance limit of 6%. This may constrain RBI from not only further monetary easing in its policy review on 6 February, but may also force it to rethink its accommodative policy stance. IMF, in its WEO update, raised China’s growth estimate by 20 basis points to 6% for 2020, reflecting the signing of the phase one of the trade deal with the US. Despite several headwinds, the IMF said some indications have emerged towards the year-end that global growth may be bottoming out. The report, however, warned that downside risks remain prominent, including rising geopolitical tensions, notably between the US and Iran, intensifying social unrest, further worsening of relations between the US and its trading partners, and deepening economic frictions between other countries.“The pickup in global growth for 2020 remains highly uncertain as it relies on improved growth outcomes for stressed economies like Argentina, Iran, and Turkey and for underperforming emerging and developing economies such as Brazil, India, and Mexico. A materialisation of these risks could lead to rapidly deteriorating sentiment, causing global growth to fall below the projected baseline,” it cautioned Read the full article

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