You mean spitting led to a peace order, or was she literally spitting metallic lead?

This article is full of errors and inaccurate information to start. I'm not 28 years old. This website's journalism is at the most unprofessional in how Nayana Davis originally approached me in regards to wanting information from me, and her ability to research public information such as MY BIRTHDATE. You fail at seeking the truth, and providing NEWSWORTHY information.

Information regarding the case was a result of the mis-information provided by Cathy Brennan (among other things). This is not news--this is gossip and slander which is a form of journalism that is NOT regarded in a professional sense. Thorough research was not conducted. A peace order was filed against me on the basis of a "life-threatening" concern which in this case happens to be spitting. If you haven't noticed, Cathy Brennan is clearly using this incident as SLANDER against my character if spitting is such a major concern. I'm very disappointed, with the writer and her disregards for my concerns when she contacted me.

What sort of "thorough research" should have been conducted, Phylicia? And how old are you?

I find it completely acceptable that someone who is going through a stressful situation like this, being targeted by someone who spews hate and then cries crocodile tears when asked to take responsibility for her vitriol, was "less than civil" when contacted by a news outlet who wants to do a story about it. Phylicia had every right to hang up the phone. She also has every right to mention her critiques of this article publicly, and I don't see how doing so is "clogging the comments section."

If you all decide her concerns aren't legitimate (which seems likely, given how you're speaking to and about her) and the article remains unchanged, at least her comments will be visible by future readers of the article.

This is amazing. Cathy Brennan is somebody who has caused a lot of trans women serious emotional harm, and has outted them to the point of threatening their livelihood and safety. How has that been ignored, but a comment said by an ally (who is standing up for those who Cathy has harmed) in the heat of the moment become front page news? Absolutely disgusting!!!!!

So Adam, everyone else gets to be Ms. So-and-so, except Phylicia?

When someone assaults or threatens to assault another person, they must, under any circumstances, be reported. Yes, even if that includes 'outing' the person, because NO ONE has free range to make threats against another person--but that has nothing to do with this case in particular.

The misogynistic accusation of 'crocodile tears' by Michael Finch is absolutely disgusting and yet another way of trying to silence women. Cathy Brennan has every reason to be concerned about her safety, as do many women in our current clime, unfortunately.

People so easily forget that the internet is, in fact, the REAL WORLD, and that what they say against others in the heat of the moment is actually a cowardly yet illegal act. Be prepared to deal with consequences if you're willing to stoop to threatening women over the internet.

I was aware of Ms. Brennan's complete lack of respect for trans women and her tendency to attack them and out them publicly, and in this context, Phylicia's tweet makes sense. Ms. Brennan's response to it, much like her response to trans women generally, seems way out of proportion and aimed more at hurting others than protecting herself.

Unbelievable that this is the story and not how Brennan's ultimate mission in life is to help perpetuate violent and aggressive transmisogyny. Report on that! Phylicia is an amazing advocate for trans women and this is just Brennan again using her privilege as a lawyer to hurt people. It is irresponsible journalism to have such one-sided and spurious information about trans women. Maybe you could have spoken to some trans women that have been very personally victimized by Brennan? All she does all day long is out trans women against their will in order to "protect lesbians." And of course, trans women can be lesbians because trans women are women. Plain and simple. I support you Phylicia!

Not a good idea to threaten anyone, online or in person. But since Mr. Sampson did do that, we can only be grateful. Ms. Brennan has been very understanding, many times asking for no contact, requested the threats stop, given warning more than once in this situation and many others. And, in true legal form, made sure it was all done up front and above board. "Manipulating the law"? It is to laugh.

I honestly can't believe we're still having this conversation in 2013. There are women who only like other women's bodies. They're called Lesbians. People who are born male do not have women's bodies. Lesbians know this.

The fact the some individuals commenting in this section are mis-gendering me validates the agenda of Brennan and others like her. You guys really wish I was male to support your victimizing approach of women to what you perceive as feminism. I hate to disappoint you guys, I'm actually a cis-identified woman, and your hatred is showing.

With that being said, this article is completely IRRELEVANT, not factual, and not newsworthy.

I'm glad that a threat of spitting in someone's face made on Twitter is considered worthy of a news story. Thank you, Towson Patch, for keeping the community updated on the important issues.

As Autumn has said, this article leaves out the long history of C. Brennan publicly outing trans women for hateful purposes, posting the full names and photos of individual trans women on a site to mock them and their lesbian identities... The list goes on. Regardless, this is a worthless article. I hope that the Towson Patch will focus their energies towards actual news vs. heated Twitter exchanges that result in no real life conflict. "Jimmy threatened to knock over Billy's sand castle. But then he didn't."

Lesbians (women born women who love women) put up with abuse from trans and trans-advocates as well as men, every day of the week--for appearing a certain way, for not appearing a certain way, for loving women and devoting themselves to women, for wanting women only spaces, and for simply being born in a woman's body. It would be fantastic if trans and trans allies realized that women aren't going to just be walked over. The article is quite pertinent, and the abuse needs to stop.

Cathy Brennan has done nothing to harm transwomen. She holds the view that most of the world holds that persons with penises are male. While I understand that view to be uncomfortable for transwomen it is, after all, the view of most of the world.

It is legitimate to be uncomfortable. It is not legitimate to make threats against folks because they make one feel uncomfortable. As a transwoman I can attest to the fact that being “misgendered” is a fact of life. It happens, it is uncomfortable, and then you move on with the rest of your day.

Sampson’s comment that Brennan “uses the law as a form of manipulation," is just plain silly. Using the law to seek a peace order when someone has threatened to harm you is simply the right thing to do. Calling women “manipulative” comes right out of the mansplaining playbook.

Folks interested in Cathy's history -- you may want to take a look at this. She was removed from the American Bar Association's Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity last year due to the transphobia she has earned a reputation for:
http://www.change.org/petitions/chair-aba-business-law-section-gonzaga-univ-school-of-law-remove-cathy-brennan-as-liaison-to-aba-s-commission-on-lgbt

There are other really unfortunate things also mentioned in that link.

Fantastic--people who make jokes about rape should definitely be called out on it, regardless of their age. How callous and disgusting. As a woman born woman, I thank Cathy for setting this young person straight about what is and what is not appropriate.

In terms of that picture that she made on twitter--that is EXACTLY how so many women feel, yet are too intimidated by MTF male priveledge to say anything. Again, thank you Cathy for speaking up as to how so many women born women feel.

I'm a female, and I don't feel that way, nor do I believe that intentionally mis-gendering someone is "a way of life." Just like someone deliberately calling me the n-word isn't a way of life nor something you just shrug off.

This has been debated to death. Here is what it boils down to. In every segment and sub segment of society there are a lot of good people and a few bad people. There have been a very few incidences where so-called transwomen (it is more likely they are crossdressers) who have disrespected women's spaces. Every transwoman I have ever met has been a feminist. They experience first hand the difference in living as a male vs female and they are giving up their 'male priveledge' to live their lives as authentically as possible. Usually at a great risk to their personal safety. These women have the hearts of lionesses and if given the opportunity (by this minority in the lesbian community) would prove themselves as the fiercest of feminist allies. Phylicia, I support you! I also support the ladies who were at some point hurt by a man or men and it destroyed their trust. I do not say this to patronize you. I have lived through it myself. I pray for your healing and hope that one day you can, at the very least, look past the physical exterior of a transwomen and see the loving and compassionate heart of a woman who is a reflection of you.

Cathy Brennan is a hater. That's all that needs to be said.

Consider, Zachary, what events in a persons life might lead to their intolerance. Statements like yours can only perpetuate uneasy feelings on both sides. Be considerate and constructive. Basic, initial, emotional reactions left unchecked are what lead to the very situations these two women are dealing with.

In Ms Sampson's heart and mind she is a female. Let it be. I think she has been very brave to put herself out here.

"I'm very sorry that Mr. Sampson's medical professionals are being untruthful with him. He deserves better, as does any human being."
ignoring for a second that Ms Sampson is not a transwoman and your assumptions are wrong, why would you deliberately call someone by pronouns you know they do not go by? regardless of your views on the trans* identity, this is complete disrespect for someone you do not know, and that shows a lack of common decency. gbl.deline's comments are absolutely uncalled for.

This is all so childish.

Interesting that, although Brennan believes that Sampson is a male, she refers to her as a "she" in her quote for this article. Also interesting that she would probably refer to those who would consider homosexuality as unnatural as "bigots", yet she feels free to voice her opinions regarding transgendered people. I guess it all depends on your agenda.

Cathy Brennan has honed the art of provocation and victimisation to a art. If you allow her to get under your skin she will use that moment to goad you into to replying in anger. She has done it time and time again.
I believe that is the bases of Phylicia Sampson accusation that this article lacks creditability. It would only have taken seconds for the author to discover this information and present the article in a fair and unbiased manner. Since that wasn't done let me supply you with a couple of examples of Brennan dealing a stacked deck and playing the victim card. I published these on planetransgender.
"RadFem Cathey Brennan, Lawyer, Maliciously OUTS 17 Y.O. Transgender Youth To His High School"
In that case she successfully goaded a minor into making a ill advised comment. After I published about this she removed the post but not before I transferred it to Scribe. The youngster later apologized to Brennan who did not to my knowledge bother to acknowledge it.
In this instance she tried to provoke a University professor.
"Cathy Brennan's sorry about you dick"
Adam Bednar if you are going to claim to be a journalist publishing unbiased news you need to do some basic research before publishing.

All very subjective and not how I viewed it. I saw Cathy being rational, calm, and asking the staker/harasser to stop. Even after she wrote the letters posted for everyone to read asking the school to intervene the harasser continued to goad Brennan on Brennan's site, taunting Brennan and bragging that the harasser's father who worked in the council office, would protect the harasser. The harasser then posted "I give no f*cks" to Brennan, who did not respond. We all read it as it was going on. Brennan "outed" no-one. If you threaten someone, if you do not stop when asked, if you ignore being warned, expect to experience consequences.

Cathy Brennan Maliciously with ill intent outed this trans teen to his school.
From the email Brennan sent to his high school:

To enquiries@leiston-high.org.
Subject: Rufus Rufushy Ulrik

Good morning My name is Cathy Brennan, and I am a lesbian feminist activist in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. Recently, a student at your school Rufus Ulrik (formerly Cara), has been emailing me and contacting me via social media.

Outing anyone within the LGBT community is the lowest thing a person can do. I condemn Rufus's youthful ignorant response to brennan's vitriol but his response must be taken in context. He made it clear in his apology his reply was shaped by social perceptions. He became educated as to the hurt rape humor can cause and apologized for it.
Brennan had played her victim card but i the process let her hand be expossed. Shame on you Brennan. He's a child for crying out loud. Do you have no compassion for children? Why not act like an adult?

This is acting like an adult, and it's setting young adults straight on what is appropriate, what is not appropriate, calling them out on their poor behavior. "Brennan playing the victim card"--wow, you sound just like one of those politicians from the mid-west blaming women for their own rapes. Amazing.

compassion for children--sure, compassion for children who threaten and joke about rape--no one should have compassion for that abuse. Women who stand up for themselves should be applauded

The whole thing is sick! Boys are boys and girls are girls! Being gay is a disease that needs medical help! Where did the world's morals go!

Being gay is a disease that needs medical help! Where did the world's morals go!

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnu-LbuRkP0TtyzdbFKNZcnTdyYFPDz7sRD2LE-KCuXmTboNQf1t-5Qex6VA

Only the Creator can make you a man or a woman. No doctor could ever do that.

I'm not sure rufus/cara ulrik would appreciate being called a child. Either way, children and young people need to be taught when they are behaving badly. Cathy informed the relevant authority figures in order to ensure that happened. That is responsible adulthood.

Want is this about? Arguing about who is the most queer?

Nic--under 18=child in legal terms. And yes, Cathy did in the right and best thing, by all means. We need more people like Cathy!

I'm sick and tired of people, whoever they may be, telling transwomen who and what they are and are not. This belief that external urogenital organs are the be all and end all of sex determinants is leftover medieval ignorance.
Political constructs do not negate trans biology. Fact check: The seat of core gender identity (trans and non-trans) is in the neural networks of brain anatomy.
And as for spitting, in the real world, as far as the police are concerned, it's not as horrifically egregious as some of you out in cyberspace want to make it out to be. I've been spat in the face more than once, and the police refused to even make a report, even though I was standing there with gobs of it on my face. The police even helped the 'spitter' come up with a BS story that he (the spitter) merely and innocently slobbered a lot when he talked--even though he never spoke to me and I had a witness! Perhaps it matters who is doing the spitting and who is being spat on, and personal prejudice? Could it be that the police were prejudiced against me because I am 'trans'? Duh!

Rika V

A comment by user "Autumn" was deleted because it violated Patch terms of use prohibiting profanity.

A comment by user "Nick" was deleted because it violated Patch terms of use prohibiting profanity.

A comment by user "Linda H" was deleted because it violated Patch terms of use prohibiting profanity.

It appears some on this thread have failed Social Justice 101. So let me make it crystal clear: cis lesbian bigots=Oppressor. Trans women=Victims. Got it? There is now a 40-year history of cis lesbians perpetrating oppression against trans women through hate, threats of violence, smear campaigns and bullying. The Internet part is just the latest incarnation. They are absolutely wretched people who bring on the responses they get. Luckily, they are a small fringe band of extremist hate-mongering ideologues who are dying off. Keep bringing it "womyn" because trans folks, our allies and the "funfems" you decry will fight you EVERY STEP of the way. You are losing and will eventually be lost to the dustbins of hate-group history.

A comment by user "Katra Briel" was deleted because it violated Patch terms of use prohibiting profanity/obscene language and masked obscenity.

@ Dana LaRocca

You Wrote:

"@John Flannery. Of course my opinion is biased; that’s why it is called “opinion.”

First as I understand it, Cathy uses the same standard of determining male from female as most of the world uses. She uses it to argue against such things as locking up a bepenised rapist with women because that person decides to become transgender in order to have access to more victims. She uses it to argue against the middle aged person with a penis who wants to shower with young women at a college."

Yes Dana, and most of the world uses a standard of determining whether LGBT people deserve basic rights that would have us barred from working with children and in some countries, executed. So you see, popular opinion means nothing. And I'd love to see some data on the number of people who "decide" to "become" trans to have access to women to harm them. You do realize that's the same argument used by those who would prefer that you were banned from using public restrooms that match your gender presentation, right?

I like you Dana, but wake up. Your "friend" doesn't see you as a an equal or even as authentic. So much in fact she'd like to see your right limited by law. I just don't see how you can keep company with such a person. Obviously that's your business...but please don't make excuses for her hateful behavior.

JF

Cathy Brennan has never hatefully outed anyone, nor has she posted photos that weren't already publicly available on the internet. Also, the letter which she CO-WROTE was not calling for the trans community to have no rights or protection. Has anyone actually read it?
Saying that a penis is a male organ is fact. It is not hate speech. Anyone who says otherwise is deluded. If you have a penis then you are not female. You may 'identify as a woman', but you do not have a vagina, thus you are not female. Sex and gender are entirely different things and gender is nothing but a social construct used to oppress FAAB women. Pretty basic stuff really.
Also, I've watched the video, and the way Cathy Brennan was approached at the NYC Dyke March was abhorrent. If we're going to get into all this hipster Tumblr talk, then maybe the 'MTF' trans folk that surrounded her should realise that their male privilege was showing.
Cathy Brennan has done a lot for women and the fact that people consistently threaten her and try to shame her on the internet makes me feel sick. FAAB trans allies should hang their heads in shame.

The BIGGEST lie that keeps being perpetuated in acknowledging biology exists... is that it is labeled "hate speech". That it promotes/activates "death/violence and abuse of male to transgender". This is a LIE.

Women acknowledging biology does NOT "activate" male violence. Males being DENIED control over women activates violence, rage, abuse and unhealthy/irrational reactions.

Tg activists and allies want to control women for the sake of men.... when men are the perpetrators of the violence.

Cathy Brennan is a hero to true feminists everywhere. She is honest, intelligent, courageous and has been targeted in terrible ways by people with serious, serious mental health issues. She is right to use restraining orders or whatever tools are available to her to protect herself and her family from people with anger and reality issues. We all know that some percentage of people who have serious and untreated mental health issues can become dangerous to others, especially if they tend towards rage at anyone who disagrees with their delusions or who challenges their (limited) world view. It's important for the public and law enforcement to know that feminist women are regularly under verbal attack and experience dreadful threats of violence from a sub-set of hyper-radicalized "trans" activists.

@Linda H. Homosexuality is also against biology, yet it is considered bigotry if you suggest it, and "activates" lesbian violent tendencies--what a crock of biological-essentialism. Goose and Gander blubber. Political spin at its best.

No one here can answer: How does giving transgender people the equality they deserve negate exising laws against rape and violence towards women?

@Linda H.

False Cause and Effect: Simply put relying on the naturalist fallacy to invalidate trans identities by derivation invalidates homosexual identities.

False Assumption: The hypocrisies are clear, “** That acts of male on male sex is LABELED an “abomination” due to the males taking a “female” receiving sex position.” Gay men will take issue with you that not all of them like penetrative sex.

Pleasurable sex is giver and receive; not necessarily male as giver and female as receiver.
Biological sex must occur with male "giving" sperm to the female "receiver.". Biological Sex is the primary function of sex for the survival of the species.

Human beings are sexual dimorphic in nature not to invalidate the hedro or homo realities; one takes on the dominate and other subordinate and/or giver and receiver roles. Your Intellectual Materialism: To have horizontal equity in your reasoning you must state, “**The acts of female on female sex is LABELED an “abomination” due to the female taking “male” penetrative (I.E. strap-on) sex position.” You can’t argue to the absurd; condemn the masculine or “giver” role then when a lesbian takes it on creates no relevant example to your position, unless you apply game theory.

False. SEX IS BIOLOGY and propagation of the species is a function of the sexual mechanism. Notwithstanding its dual role as a “pleasurable” act, its primary function is survival of the species.

http://gendertrender.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/transwomen-are-trying-to-silence-me-please-assist/#comment-18341