Trans News Worldwide [Archive] - HungAngels - Guide to TGirls and Transsexuals

smalltownguy

04-17-2018, 12:36 PM

March 17, 2018
Transgender pageant crowns Miss Vietnam as the new Miss International Queen
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Miss International Queen 2018 winners. From L-R, 2nd runner up Rinrada Thurapan from Thailand, Crown keeper Nguyen Huong Giang from Vietnam, 1st runner up Jacqueline from Australia. Photo from nationmultimedia.com

Vietnam’s Nguyen Huong Giang won the coveted title in the contest that is considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants for transgender women.
Miss Vietnam was crowned in the picturesque resort city of Pattaya, Thailand, the venue of the contest since 2004.
Wong of Asia Pacific Transgender Network that beauty contests such as Miss International Queen provided a powerful medium to showcase the challenges, talents and hopes of the transgender community.
Besting 26 other remarkable candidates, Miss Vietnam brought home the bacon when she won the Miss International Queen title in Thailand on March 9.

Nguyen Huong Giang won the coveted title in the contest that is considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants for transgender women according to the latest transgender news by the Agence France-Presse and published by the Jakarta Post on March 10.

Camaraderie, diversity
Miss Vietnam triumphed over candidates representing countries from Mongolia to Mexico. She was crowned in the picturesque resort city of Pattaya, Thailand, the venue of the contest since 2004.

Before the coronation, the candidates were busy preparing for the competition. Huddled in a packed dressing room, they put on their makeup and had their hair done with as an army of stylists whirred around them.

Nitasha Biswas, who represented India, said, “This is my first international experience of coming to pageant where it is really a big exposure to all my trans sisters all over the world.”

Growing LGBT community
The competition was considered fierce, but many took the opportunity for camaraderie among transgender contestants who, although coming from diverse background and culture, have commonly shared experience of discrimination back home.

This year’s winner, Vietnam, had a growing LGBT community. Recently, its communist government is pushing for a landmark legislation that would allow transgender individuals to legally change gender.

The host country, Thailand, has a thriving, visible LGBT community and is hailed for its being open-minded on issues that many LGBT members face.

It has also become a destination for many transgender people who are facing intolerance in their own country, including Myanmar.

“Myanmar is a developing country so there is still only a small amount of transgender people,” Juana Paing, this year’s Miss Myanmar. “I want to try my best for Myanmar to be more open for transgenders.”

Tolerance
In addition, Thailand is considered one of the top places to undergo sex reassignment surgery. However, some parts of society remained to have deeply-held conservative beliefs.

Many of its transgender citizens, despite having attained a high level of education, still couldn’t find stable full-time employment opportunities outside of the entertainment and sex industries. Up until 2012, transgender people were considered to have a medical illness.

The Thailand government has also not legalized and does not recognize same-sex marriage.

But the beauty pageant was welcomed by LGBT advocates including Joe Wong of the advocacy group Asia Pacific Transgender Network.

Wong said that beauty contests such as Miss International Queen provided a powerful medium to showcase the challenges, talents and hopes of the transgender community.

“I’ve learnt from others that contests like these create sisterhood and bonds,” he said.

smalltownguy

04-18-2018, 04:34 PM

04/17/2018 01:30 PM EDT

Coast Guard won’t ban transgender members unless compelled

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Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft said the Coast Guard is committed to transgender troops‘ continued service. | AP Photo

The Coast Guard remains committed to allowing transgender members to continue to serve until there is an explicit policy barring them, Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft told lawmakers today.

Zukunft said during a House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing today that senior officials from all five of the armed services continue to discuss how to move forward given President Donald Trump's efforts to implement a ban on transgender people serving in the military. But that the issue has not yet been "reconciled" among all branches, he said.

At least 17 of the 40,000 active-duty Coast Guard members would be considered transgender or to have "transitioned," per Zukunft, who said he counted one transgender person among his personal staff.

"We are certainly committed to their continued service in the United States Coast Guard," he said. "We will make sure that there is a one policy for all service members."

Zukunft made the comments in response to a line of questions from Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) about the Coast Guard's position on the matter.

"Seems to me this is an invented problem and a waste of time and dollars and military resources by targeting these dedicated service members who've proved their fitness and their ability to serve," Price said.

smalltownguy

04-19-2018, 04:50 AM

April 18, 2018

Wednesday is National Transgender HIV Testing Day: What you need to know
Testing events being held across the state on Wednesday, April 18

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Today is National Transgender HIV Testing Day, which occurs annual each April 18. It’s a special day to raise awareness and provide resources for important issues surrounding the trans community and HIV.

Trans people are among some of the most at-risk groups for new HIV diagnoses, along young people, gay, bi and other men who have sex with men, as well as people of color generally. What’s more, trans people often face increased stigma and discrimination when attempting to access HIV testing or other preventative treatment or healthcare — creating situations where trans people are less likely to be tested or receive prompt care if they are HIV-positive.

Groups across North Carolina today are holding testing and other awareness events to highlight the important issues facing the trans community and HIV healthcare.

First, some quick facts…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

From 2009 to 2014, 2,351 transgender people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States. Eighty-four percent (1,974) were transgender women, 15 percent (361) were transgender men, and less than 1% (16) had another gender identity.
Around half of transgender people (43% of transgender women; 54% of transgender men) who received an HIV diagnosis from 2009 to 2014 lived in the South.
A 2013 report found that the estimated percentage of transgender women living with HIV in the United States was 22% among 2,705 transgender women sampled.
Among the 3.3 million HIV testing events reported to CDC in 2013, the percentage of transgender people who received a new HIV diagnosis was more than 3 times the national average.

Where to get tested today…
Free HIV testing events will be held on April 18 at sites across North Carolina, including:

Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolinas in Raleigh from 9 AM – 4 PM (1637 Old Louisburg Rd, Raleigh NC 27604)
Carolinas CARE Partnership in Charlotte from 10 AM – 1 PM (5855 Executive Center Drive, Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28212)
El Centro Hispano in Durham from 4 PM – 8 PM (2000 Chapel Hill Rd #26A, Durham, NC 27707)
North Star LGBT Center in Winston-Salem from 5 PM – 7 PM (930 Burke Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101)
Triad Health Project in Greensboro from 1 PM – 5 PM (801 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC 27405)

smalltownguy

04-19-2018, 04:58 PM

11:58, 19 APR 2018

Scotland's only Miss Transgender UK entrant hopes to get £10,000 life-changing surgery
Perth's Aria Welsh is Scotland's only entrant in the 30-strong field and says she will donate a large chunk of cash to charity if she wins.
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Aria Welsh would receive breast enhancement, facial feminisation, Adam's apple shaving and reassignment surgery

Scotland's only Miss Transgender UK 2018 contestant has said she hopes to receive life-changing surgery worth a whopping £10,000.

Aria Welsh will compete against 30 other women from across the UK to claim the national title and a trip to Thailand for the gender reassignment surgery.

The kind-hearted 26-year-old has been saving up for the surgery but says if she wins, she will donate those savings to charity .

The procedure would include breast enhancement, facial feminisation, Adam's apple shaving and reassignment surgery.

Aria Welsh hopes she can bring the title home for Scotland

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The winner of the competition, if medically fit and chosen by the hospital, will also get a modelling contract with the world-renowned Kamol hospital as well as flights and accommodation.

Aria, from Perth , Perthshire, says she is delighted to be the only Scottish contestant in the competition and hopes to bring the crown home for Scotland.

Aria, who was born as a boy called Thomas, came out as transgender three years ago but says she has felt "different" since she was seven.

She said: "I've always been feminine and used to pretend a towel wrapped around my head was long flowing locks."

"I first came out to a transgender friend who helped me lots and was my rock. I then came out to my mum and my ex-fiance."

Aria Welsh was called Thomas when she was younger and was born a boy
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Aria said the breakdown of her relationship was the hardest part of coming out.

She said: "In hindsight it needed to happen so doors could open up for me.

"The most uplifting thing for me is to be free, to be who I was supposed to be. To live my life by my own rules and not societies."

Miss Transgender UK entrants have to raise money for a chosen charity before going to the final in Cardiff, Wales, in November.

Aria has decided to raise money for Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (SANDS) a charity that has been close to her heart since her family suffered a huge loss in 2003.

She said: "SANDS helped my family when we lost my brother who was a stillborn baby 15 years ago.

"I was only 11-years-old at the time but I was definitely old enough to feel the pain.

"The reason I'm getting involved in this is that I can raise money for my charity of choice. It isn't just your run of the mill beauty pageant.
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Aria Welsh will donate money she was saving for reassignment surgery to the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity if she wins (Image: Duncan McGlynn)

"The charity were always there to give us advice and they are amazing.

"I just can't wait to present the charity a huge cheque."

If Aria is successful in her fundraising efforts she will be invited to the final along with five other lucky contestants.

The aspiring pageant queen would get the chance to perform in categories such as Best Evening Gown, Best Talent and Best Creation.

And if she wins generous Aria hopes to treat her supportive family and friends to a big dinner to celebrate.

She said: "My family and friends have been the biggest support since I came out as transgender when I was 23."

"The reaction from other people were a mix. There was a pocket of people that didn't understand. I do try and take the time to explain.

"For the most part it has been amazing and I'm one hundred per cent happier.

"As soon as I started the hormone therapy a sense of calm came over me and it was as if my life was leading up to that moment.
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Aria came out as transgender three years ago (Image: Aria Welsh / SWNS)
"Ever since I transitioned all these doors keep opening for me solidifying that I've made the right decision."
Proud mum, Rachel Scott, 48, said: "I loved Thomas but sometimes I struggled to like him when he was a teenager.

"Aria on the other hand is a far more responsible and settled person who I am proud to call my daughter."

Last year's winner, Bea Wood, said winning the competition was life-changing.

The 29-year-old, who was born as a boy called Ben, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, was previously banned from the Miss Inspiration beauty pageant for not being a natural-born female.

She said: "I had never met another transgender before and had no support groups or help locally so did it all on my own.

"Through coming out I lost a lot of family, friends, and even my job."

She added: "The best thing about this competition is that it doesn't matter what stage of transition you are at.
"Miss Transgender UK was set up to empower transgender women who are often excluded by regular pageants because they only allow genetically born females.

"It's not about being judged on the way you look. It gives the girls a chance to show themselves to the world with who they are and why they are amazing."

Aria has set a target of £1000 but hopes to raise more.

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 02:57 AM

19 Apr 2018 19.23 BST
Jim Waterson Media editor

Mumsnet reports itself to data regulator over transgender rights row
Parenting site confirms paid intern posted IP addresses of forum users on Twitter

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Justine Roberts, the Mumsnet founder and chief executive, has criticised the ‘thought police’ attitude to trans rights in the UK. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian
Mumsnet has reported itself to the UK data regulator after a former employee published the IP addresses of forum users in a dispute over transgender rights.

The parenting site confirmed it had contacted the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and informed the police after the recently departed intern had made a series of posts on Twitter criticising Mumsnet’s stance on trans rights, accompanied by screengrabs apparently taken while she worked at the company that included private information only visible to staff.

In a series of now-deleted posts on Twitter, Emma Healey, who was a paid intern in the site’s press office for six months, claimed that the “vast majority” of discussion of trans issues on Mumsnet “descends into scaremongering and hate speech”.

“Whilst I was at MN [Mumsnet] (Sept 17-Mar 18), there was really no attempt to keep this discussion civil or polite,” she wrote. “Misgendering and deadnaming were completely tolerated, and the internal moderation policy would change pretty much every day.

“There were many staff members, me included, who raised concerns about what was being said on site – but it was never taken on board. Any criticism has been dismissed as a smear attempt by ‘trans activists’ rather than actually thinking about what was being said.”

I was mistakenly trying to do what I thought was the right thing as someone with very strong feelings on LGBTQ+ rights
Emma Healey, former paid intern at Mumsnet
Healey had had limited access to the personal information of registered users that was not visible to the general public.

IP addresses are assigned to users by internet service providers and can used to ascertain the approximate location of an internet user. Although it is difficult to precisely identify an individual from their IP address without the cooperation of an internet provider, the information can be used to monitor other online activity and to corroborate other identifying information.

Mumsnet has recently been under pressure from trans rights activists over the content on its forums, with some campaigners contacting the site’s advertisers to complain about the tone of discussions on the issue. Justine Roberts, Mumsnet’s founder and chief executive, has publicly criticised the “thought police” attitude to trans rights in the UK and said she believed it was the “right thing to do to allow this discussion to take place” on her site.

A spokesperson for Mumsnet said Healey had now promised to delete all other Mumsnet-related material. The spokesperson said the company believed the former intern had not intended to publish the three IP addresses of forum users and had done so accidentally.

Justine Roberts, Mumsnet’s chief executive, said: “For us this is about civilised debate and free speech. As an organisation we absolutely believe in the rights of transgender people to be safe, happy and supported. However there are parents (including some trans parents) on Mumsnet who also believe that there are some issues - such as the prescription of hormone-altering medication to young children, and the impact of gender self-identification on women-only refuges and other ‘safe’ spaces - that merit discussion.

“We at Mumsnet have always strongly believe that robust, civilised debate is the best way to reach resolution on difficult issues. Some activists disagree with us on the merits of even having of debate and view it as transphobic in its own right.

“Transphobia is against our guidelines and we delete and ban users who are repeat offenders; we’ve also proactively reminded our users of the importance of abiding by our rules, and will continue to do so.”

Healey later issued a statement via Mumsnet apologising for her decision: “I was just mistakenly trying to do what I thought was the right thing as someone with very strong feelings on LGBTQ+ rights – and in doing so, I did something very misguided and frankly awful.

“I have definitely learnt my lesson: not only about not tweeting in anger but about the language I use, being careful what I say, the power of social media and thinking about all the potential outcomes of my actions (not just the outcomes I intend). As such, I am taking some time away from social media and will return with a hopefully more mature attitude.

“I’d like to also apologise to any users who have felt hurt, attacked or vulnerable due to my actions. I recognise that we do not agree on this issue, but I know the impact that my actions may have had on them and their mental health.”

An ICO spokesperson said: “We are aware of a possible incident involving Mumsnet and will be looking into the details.”

Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters – because it might well be your perspective, too.

I appreciate there not being a paywall: it is more democratic for the media to be available for all and not a commodity to be purchased by a few. I’m happy to make a contribution so others with less means still have access to information.
Thomasine, Sweden

If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as £1, you can support the Guardian – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Support The Guardian

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 03:04 AM

19 Apr 2018 03:49PM

#IamGay backlash a rare win for China's LGBT community

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Despite some progress, the LGBT community faces daunting legal and social hurdles in China AFP/STR

BEIJING: China's gay community scored a victory after a massively popular social media platform reversed a ban on "homosexual" content, but challenges remain in a country where LGBT culture remains taboo in the entertainment industry.

Gay-themed films struggle to make it into movie theatres, same-sex relationships are banned from television screens and gay content is forbidden on online streaming platforms.

But the latest censorship move caused a public backlash that prompted Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like platform with 400 million active monthly users, to make a surprising about-face.

The popular microblogging platform had abruptly announced last week that it was removing "illegal content" including "videos with pornographic implications, promoting violence or (related to) homosexuality".

The move triggered an #IamGay campaign on the platform, with many calling for a boycott. Even the Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily, posted an essay on Weibo promoting LGBT acceptance, though it cautioned that gays were not immune to censorship of porn and violence.

"This is an incremental victory and quite a positive signal, but I also think Sina was mostly worried about its stock tanking," said Xiao Tie, director of the Beijing LGBT Center.

"They haven't yet deleted the original notice and there's been no apology, so for us, it's still not really over - there are many challenges we still face," she added.

Raymond Phang, co-founder of Shanghai Pride, explained that people were riled by the insensitive language of Weibo's notice.

"It's good to clear up inappropriate material that's violent or pornographic, but the words that they used pointed to a specific community, to people rather than content. It's really disappointing coming from such a big platform," he said.

Phang said gay content bans had previously come directly from the authorities, making it difficult to protest.

"Sina is a listed company, so at least we had channels to make our voice heard, like contacting customer service. But in the past, what could we do? Who's going to write to the government? Which mailbox, which bureau?" he said, laughing.

CENSORED FILM

But a struggle continues to put homosexual content in mainstream culture.

In 2016, government censors banned gay characters on television, with guidelines decreeing: "No television drama shall show abnormal sexual relationships and behaviours, such as incest, same-sex relationships, sexual perversion, sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual violence, and so on."

Last year, authorities banned gay content from all online streaming platforms.

Oscar-winning "Call Me by Your Name", the story of a summer romance between two young men in Italy, was pulled from the Beijing International Film Festival last month.

But after a two-year delay, Chinese theatres on Friday finally released "Looking for Rohmer", a film about a secret homosexual relationship between Chinese and French lovers that has been hailed as the country's first gay movie.

Yet the film appeared to be cut beyond recognition, to the point that it is nearly impossible to discern any romance between the two main characters, who never kiss and hardly even hold hands.

Their love was expressed indirectly, through a fleeting, imagined performance of a scene from a Tibetan opera in which the two dance the parts of a star-crossed couple.

The website of the International Chinese Film Festival in Sydney lists the film's running time as two hours, but the version screened in China lasts only 83 minutes.

On Tuesday evening, only eight people had pre-purchased tickets for any screenings in central Beijing theatres.

GAY 'CURES'

LGBT rights face other challenges in China.

A lack of comprehensive sex education leaves many completely uninformed about LGBT issues, particularly given deeply embedded traditional values and pressures to get married and have children.

It also has no anti-discrimination law for gender identity and sexual orientation.

China only decriminalised homosexuality in 1997, and withdrew it from its list of mental illnesses in 2001.

Clinics throughout the country are still known to offer "cures" for being gay involving electroshocks, confinement and chemical castration.

Though neighbouring Taiwan is home to vibrant gay pride parades, such festivals are limited to cultural activities or social events in the mainland, where mass mobilisations of any kind are seen as potential threats to social stability.

Same-sex marriage remains illegal. A court in Hunan refused to grant two men the right to marry in 2016, in China's first-ever lawsuit on the issue.

But the LGBT community has made inroads in other cases.

A court in the southwestern province of Guizhou ruled last year that a transgender man had been illegally fired from his workplace in China's first-ever unfair dismissal case.

And last summer, a court in central China ordered a psychiatric hospital to compensate and apologise to a gay man forced to undergo conversion therapy, two years after another tribunal condemned a different clinic offering the same kind of "cure" in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing.

Source: AFP/aa

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 03:12 AM

April 19, 2018

Breaking Stereotypes, Transsexual Couple To Tie Knot In Kerala

Ishan and Surya are now all set to break several stereotypes in the society and set an example as the first transsexual couple to marry in Kerala.

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Ishan and Surya would be the first transsexual couple from Kerala to tie the knot. (File photo)

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: He was a 'woman' and she was a 'man' once and ostracised by their families and harassed by the society over their transgender status for long. But, Ishan and Surya are now all set to break several stereotypes in the society and set an example as the first transsexual couple to marry in Kerala, having undergone sex change surgeries some years ago.

As every ordinary man and woman, they will be marrying in an auspicious ceremony at an auditorium here on May 10, with the blessings and support of family members and friends.

Religious barriers and societal stigma has not deterred the transgender couple, in their 30s, from their decision to enter wedlock and lead a normal life.

A known TV artist, Surya said she had always cherished the dream of becoming a bride like any other woman. "We both have suffered a lot over our gender. We were excluded and marginalised by the society once," she told PTI.

"But, now, everyone is starting to accept us. I hope, this marriage will help us getting more acceptance in the family and society," she said.

Hailing from a middle class family in Vattiyurkkavu here, Surya underwent the sex change surgery and became a woman in the year 2014.

The 31-year-old transwoman said she had been living separately from her family for some years as her parents and siblings could not accept her choice of gender.

The story of 33-year-old Ishan, a member of a conventional Muslim family at Vallakkadavu, is also not different.

He said he met Surya while working in an NGO engaged in the welfare of transgenders.

Ishan said he had to suffer a lot to make his family and community understand his gender issues. A woman before, he underwent the sex reassignment surgery three years ago.

"I proposed Surya and conveyed my wish to marry her. I was particular that it should be a legal marriage and we want to live a normal life like any other couple," he told PTI.

The transsexual couple is excited as both families have given their nod for the marriage and promised all support.

"We are trying to set a model to our fellows transgender and prove that we can also live a normal life like any others in the society," they said.

Both Surya and Ishan are members of the government's Transgender's Justice Board.

According to unofficial figures, there are over 35,000 transgenders in Kerala, which unveiled the country's first transgender policy in 2015.

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 03:36 AM

19/04/2018 Newshub staff

Joe Rogan blasts Kiwi weightlifter Laurel Hubbard in rant on transgender athletes

US comedian and martial arts commentator Joe Rogan has once again taken aim at Kiwi athletes on his podcast - this time targeting Kiwi transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard.
The podcast host drew derision last year after labelling the Tall Blacks "stupid" and "f**king dummies" for performing a haka at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014.

Now The Joe Rogan Experience - which is one of the most popular podcasts in the US - has turned its attention to Hubbard, who competed at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

During a debate about whether male-to-female transgender athletes should be allowed to compete against other females, Rogan pointed to Hubbard as an example of where such competition proves problematic.

"When transgender athletes go into weightlifting competitions, the male-to-female transgender athletes are overwhelmingly dominant," he said.

"I mean, is this a coincidence? No! It's someone who's had f**king testosterone pumping through their system and a Y chromosome their whole life.

"Now all of a sudden we're supposed to say, 'No, she's a woman; she's dainty'.

"She's got size 14 feet! She's got gorilla hands! What in the f**k are we doing here?"

The remark came after one of his guests, British activist Maajid Nawaz, mentioned Hubbard's appearance at the Commonwealth Games.

"The only reason [the debate about Hubbard competing at the Games] didn't lead to crunch time was because she injured herself in the competition by sheer accident," he said.

Earlier in the podcast, Rogan explained that while he is all for people being legally recognised as a gender that doesn't match their biological sex, he thinks sport should treat the issue differently.

He referenced the heavy criticism he faced after vocally opposing MMA fighter Fallon Fox when she was permitted to compete against cisgender women after transitioning from male to female.

"I've actually gone through this extensively," he explained, "because there was a woman who used to be a man and was competing in mixed martial arts against women and beating the shit out of them.

"I was saying 'this is a mistake'.

"You can't deny biological nature. There's physiological advantages to the male frame."

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith has continually maintained that Hubbard should be allowed to compete.

"She meets all CGF, IF, NZOC and OWNZ criteria for selection and participation and is within the IOC Guidelines that have been designed to balance an individual's right to compete while ensuring a fair field of play," she told Newshub during the competition.

Newshub.

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 12:25 PM

16th April 2018

'Do NOT approach her' Police warn over transgender woman missing from hospital

COPS have warned the public not to approach a transgender woman who went missing from Ealing Hospital in London.

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APPEAL: Cops are searching for this missing transgender woman Andre Kirlew

Andre Kirlew was last seen at 6.30pm on Thursday in the hospital's Costa shop.

The Met Police said she suffers from bipolar, paranoid schizophrenia and should not be approached by members of the public

She is described as black, slim build, 6ft tall and wearing a red wig down to her waist.

Andre is known to frequent the W13 area – roughly between the Northfields and Perivale tube stations - and local parks in London.

At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a short orange and blue skirt and a thin brown leather jacket.

She is also wearing heavy make up with blue eye shadow, bright blue contact lenses with thick black framed glasses without lenses inside.

Officers are increasingly concerned for her wellbeing and would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or Missing People on 116000 quoting CAD 7278/12APR18.

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 12:34 PM

April 12, 2018

Defense chief says he is 'prepared to defend' new transgender military policy

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Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis testifies during a House Committee on Armed Services hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

CARLOS BONGIOANNI/STARS AND STRIPES

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has faced controversy over a military policy on transgender recruits recently released, said Thursday that he is prepared to defend the new plan.

But Mattis also told the House Armed Services Committee that he will defer to the courts’ direction on the matter for now.

The comments are among the latest from a Pentagon official since the White House said last month that it intends to at least partially ban transgender people from serving in the military. Pentagon officials have mostly dodged questions on the matter, pointing to several ongoing court cases allowing transgender servicemembers to continue to serve.

“It’s a highly charged issue from some people’s perspective and it’s under litigation right now,” Mattis said during the congressional hearing. “Current policy stays in effect… as directed by the courts and I have submitted to the president what I think is the best military advice.”

The hearing, which was part of Mattis’ wide-ranging testimony before the House committee, was part of an exchange with Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who rejects the proposal. Speier questioned the proposal’s lack of input from medical groups, which refuted its conclusions and said there were no valid medical reasons for the exclusions.

Speier also held up a photograph of Air Force Sgt. Logan Ireland, a transgender servicemember who was named noncommissioned officer of the quarter during a deployment to Afghanistan.

“You rolled out this new policy and now you are basically saying ‘I’m not prepared to defend it,’” Speier said.

Mattis rejected Speier’s claim. Mattis said officials looked at enlistment standards and gave a recommendation that troops who do not have gender dysphoria should be allowed to serve.

Under former President Barack Obama’s last Defense Secretary Ash Carter, the Pentagon opened military service to all transgender people in June 2016, largely based on a study that it commissioned from the think tank Rand Corp. The organization estimated there were between 4,000 and 12,000 transgender troops on active duty and in the reserves.

In Mattis’ recommendation, released publicly in a 48-page document last month alongside the White House announcement on March 23, the defense secretary proposed banning any individuals from serving who have a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria except in certain cases.

“I’m prepared to defend it. But out of respect for the courts, I do not intrude,” Mattis told Speier. “It was the best military advice I could derive from civilian overseers and military personnel.”

Across the Capitol Hill complex Thursday, Army officials testified before a Senate committee that they had not seen any issues with unit cohesion as a result of open transgender service.

“Nothing has percolated up to my level,” Army Secretary Mark Esper testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Gen. Mark Milley, Army chief of staff, echoed the remarks during questions from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on whether there were impacts on unit cohesion.

“Not at all. We have a finite number. We know who they are and it is monitored very closely, because I am concerned about that, and I want to make sure they are treated with dignity and respect,” Milley said. “I have received precisely zero reports of issues of cohesion, discipline, morale and all those sorts of things.”

In reaction to the exchange, Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin said Milley’s remarks were significant.

“It is telling for the Army chief of staff to acknowledge there have been ‘zero’ problems with cohesion, discipline or morale just weeks after a DoD report, ostensibly based on months of research, insisted that transgender troops pose a risk to cohesion, discipline and morale,” Belkin said in a statement.

Stars and Stripes reporter Corey Dickstein contributed to this report

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 05:31 PM

12 APRIL 2018

Radical feminist warned to refer to transgender defendant as a 'she' during assault case

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Maria Maclachlan, who was giving evidence against Tara Wolf

A radical feminist has been warned by a judge to refer to the transgender defendant as a “she” during an assault case.

Maria Maclachlan, 61, was giving evidence against Tara Wolf, 26, whom she claims tried to attack her at a rally, knocking her to the floor.

She told Hendon Magistrates' Court: "A hooded figure suddenly ran at me, ran past me from left to right, knocking the camera from my hand.

"They swatted it. Although it was knocked out of my hand it was caught by the strap so it didn't hit the ground, which I thought was the intention."

District Judge Kenneth Grant warned Ms MacLachlan to refer to Miss Wolf as “she” while giving evidence.

He said: "The defendant wished to be referred to as a woman, so perhaps you could refer to her as 'she' for the purpose of the proceedings."

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Tara Wolf arrives at the court with supporters. CREDIT: JULIAN SIMMONDS

Ms MacLachlan replied: "I'm used to thinking of this person who is a male as male."

The row was the latest in an ongoing battle between Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs), who believe that transwomen should not be given the same rights as those born female, and transgender activists.

The two factions have repeatedly clashed over the issue of men who “self-identify” as female and are allowed in women-only spaces and take on roles reserved for women.

The group of radical feminists, including Ms Maclachlan, had gathered at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park last September to discuss changes to the Gender Identity Act which will make it easier for people to define their gender themselves.

Transgender activists were holding a counter demonstration when the two groups clashed and Ms MacLachlan, who describes herself as a "gender critical feminist," was allegedly punched.

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Supporters of Ms MacLachlan outside court CREDIT: JULIAN SIMMONDS

She was filming a group who were chanting "When TERFs attack, we strike back" and claimed she simply thought she might get some "amusing footage".

Ms Maclachlan has admitted that following the event she sent out a tweet featuring a close-up of the defendant's face with the words: "Hiya, got any hair restorer while I'm in hiding? Love Tara."

Miss Wolf, who faces one charge of assault by beating, admitted being involved in the fracas but insists she was acting in self-defence.

She said Ms Maclachlan was shaking her partner "like a rag doll" when she struck her.

She described the event as a hate rally and said the fight broke out because she feared Ms MacLachlan planned to out her as transgender online.

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Tara Wolf arrives at the court with supporters. CREDIT: JULIAN SIMMONDS

"Terfs have a history of taking people's pictures and posting them in pages like GenderIdentityWatch.com, a database that makes us a target for the far-right," she told the court.

"(The complainant) was trying to get people's faces. She was filming the argument that was going on between the two groups."

Ms Maclachlan argued that she was not even aware the group were trans, saying she thought they were all male.

"They were not easily perceived as trans. I don't mind going though them face-by-face if you want to argue the toss," she said.

"When I started filming I didn't have any particular intention of what I might do with the footage. I might have shown it to my husband, I might have posted it on my Facebook page, or I might have uploaded it on my blog."

She denied she was trying to make the protesters feel "scared, uncomfortable or unsafe".

Wolf admitted posting on Facebook ahead of the event: "I wanna f*** up some terfs. They're no better than fash (fascists)."

She claimed she made the comment out of bravado and wanted to protest peacefully.

The trial is due to last two days.

smalltownguy

04-20-2018, 05:42 PM

April 16, 2018

Constitutional milestone on transgender rights

For the first time in any court, a federal judge in Seattle has ruled that transgender people are entitled to the fullest protection of the Constitution against discrimination. U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman issued that ruling Friday in a case involving President Trump’s move to bar almost all transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, but the decision would also apply to other kinds of discrimination claims by transgender people.

In doing so, the judge refused an Administration request to lift a temporary order she had issued in December barring enforcement of the ban that was first announced last July by President Trump in a Twitter message that caught the U.S. military by surprise. The ban was designed to undo completely a policy that the Obama Administration had adopted, permitting transgender individuals to join or continue serving in the military.

“Any attempt to exclude them from military service will be looked at with the highest level of care” by the courts, Judge Pechman wrote.

Other judges around the country have issued rulings giving transgender people some protection under the Constitution or under federal laws barring discrimination based on sex or gender, but no judge before the Seattle jurist had taken the broad next step of designating transgender individuals as a class of people entitled to full legal protection against government policy that discriminates against them. (A transgender person is one who is assigned a biological gender at birth but who, in growing up, comes to develop the opposite gender identity.)

Judge Pechman reached her historic ruling on the level of constitutional protection with two conclusions.

First, she ruled that transgender people have long been the targets of discrimination based on their gender identity, that their identity is something basic to their human character rather than a personal choice, that they are fully capable of functioning in society, and that they lack political power sufficient to protect themselves against bias. That meant she had designated them as what technically is called a “suspect class” – not because their identity stirs suspicion, but because that identity is so basic to them that any official policy that treats them less favorably is “suspect” under the Constitution’s guarantees of equality and due process.

Second, the judge said this designation entitles transgender people to have official forms of discrimination against them judged in court by “strict scrutiny” – the toughest test that government policy must meet in order to survive as constitutionally valid. Under that test, a government policy challenged as discriminatory will be struck down unless it is proven to serve a “compelling government interest” and is “narrowly tailored” to do so.

Judge Pechman’s decision almost certainly will be appealed by the Administration, since it argued strenuously before her that the transgender policy is entirely constitutional and should now be cleared for enforcement.

The constitutional result for transgender people of the new ruling, if it withstands an appeal, would be that they would get the same constitutional protection that covers people who face discrimination based on their race or national origin. And it is a slightly higher level of protection than protects people who face discrimination based on their sex as a man or as a woman.

Although the judge will now apply that test to the military’s transgender ban, she will consider doing so only after she gets more facts about how the policy was adopted. Added facts, she said, will be necessary for her to determine whether the policy was adopted sincerely to serve the military’s mission, so that the judge should defer to the military choice. Further facts, she also said, would be necessary for her to determine – even if she were to defer to some degree to the military – whether the ban actually fails the constitutional test.

The latest version of the ban, the judge noted, only emerged from the Pentagon in March, and the individuals and groups challenging the ban thus have not yet had a chance to contest the new data on how the policy was fashioned.

The further review, Judge Pechman said, will help her decide whether the Pentagon’s “deliberative process – including the timing and thoroughness of its study and the soundness of the medical and other evidence it relied upon – is of the type to which courts typically should defer.”

The judge voiced some skepticism about the Pentagon’s arguments, saying they were “strikingly similar” to the justifications that the military previously had put forward to defend racial segregation in the military, the former ban on gays in the military, and the longtime ban – only recently relaxed — against allowing women to serve in combat roles in the military.

Because the case will now go on in her court, the judge ruled, she would not remove the prior temporary order she had issued against enforcement. That order will apply to military and civilian government officials, but not to President Trump personally, she decided.

Even so, the judge denied the Administration request to remove the President from any part in the case from here on, concluding that he was sufficiently involved in instituting the ban and reinforcing it that an ultimate ruling against its constitutionally would apply to him, too.

The judge ordered lawyers for the Administration and for those individuals and groups challenging the ban to continue exchanging information about the case and to prepare for a full trial of the two issues still before her – whether to defer to the military and, even if she does defer to some degree, whether the ban is unconstitutional as a form of discrimination against a protected class of people: transgender individuals seeking to join the military or seeking to remain in the ranks.

Because Judge Pechman serves on a federal trial court, the first level of the federal judiciary, her ruling on the enforcement restriction could now be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as could her later ruling on the constitutionality of the ban.

Across the country, three other federal trial judges have also temporarily barred enforcement of the ban, on grounds narrower than those applied by Judge Pechman. But so far no federal appeals court has ruled on those orders.

Because the Trump Administration has a keen interest in the military ban, and because the challengers are also keen on pursuing their legal contests against it, the controversy is likely to reach the Supreme Court, perhaps sooner rather than later.

dreamon

04-21-2018, 06:53 AM

Awesome news from around the world, and then the US with fucking Trump is of course out here trying to discriminate. History is not going to look on this era of America well.

smalltownguy

04-21-2018, 09:16 AM

20 Apr 2018

Top Military Brass at Odds with Mattis on Transgender Issues

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In this July 29, 2017, photo transgender U.S. Army Capt. Jennifer Sims is silhouetted on a balcony after an interview with The Associated Press in Beratzhausen near Regensburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Top military leaders have gone public in the past week to disagree with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on the possible erosion of "unit cohesion" and readiness that Mattis said might come from allowing transgender troops to serve openly in the ranks.

The latest to come forward was Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey.

"We haven't heard" of any problems with unit cohesion since transgender troops were cleared to serve under the Obama administration in 2016, Dailey said at an off-camera session with Pentagon reporters Friday.

In addition, "I have received no formal reports" on dissension in the ranks or morale problems caused by the presence of transgender troops, Dailey said.

Army Secretary Mark Esper, who joined Dailey at the briefing, also said that transgender troops currently serving have not been a problem in terms of unit cohesion or other issues.

Esper then cut short the discussion, citing the ongoing cases in four federal district courts that have indefinitely blocked the Pentagon from acting against transgender individuals currently serving, or barring the recruitment and retention of transgender individuals.

In his memo to President Donald Trump last month effectively supporting a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, Mattis cited the difficulties of reconciling gender dysphoria with military service.

Gender dysphoria has been defined as the conflict between a person's biological sex and the gender with which that person identifies psychologically and emotionally.

Those with gender dysphoria "could undermine readiness, disrupt unit cohesion, and impose an unreasonable burden on the military that is not conducive to military effectiveness and lethality," Mattis said in the memo that summarized a six-month internal study he ordered.

The study followed several tweets sent out by Trump last summer in which he argued for a ban on transgender military service.

"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow [transgender individuals] to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump said in a tweet last July.

The Pentagon study backing up Trump included input from the service chiefs, according to Mattis, but those same chiefs have since clearly stated that they've had no problem with transgender individuals in their ranks.

Last Thursday, as Mattis was before the House Armed Services Committee supporting an effective ban, on transgender troops, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"No, not at all," Milley said when asked by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, whether transgender troops posed a problem for unit cohesion.

In testimony before SASC on Thursday, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Gen. Robert Neller, the Marine Commandant, also said they have seen no discipline, readiness or unit cohesion problems arising from having transgender individuals serve openly.

"I am not aware of any issues," Richardson said. He said the Navy applied lessons learned from integrating women sailors into submarines in adapting to transgender sailors. He said that maintaining a "standards-based approach seems to be the key to success."

Neller said he had met with several Marines and sailors who have identified as transgender individuals. "I learned about their desire to serve," he said. "As long as they can meet the standard of what their particular occupation was, I think we'll move forward."

Adm. Paul Zukunft, the Coast Guard Commandant, said the Coast Guard has no problems with allowing transgender individuals to serve openly.

Zukunft told the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee Wednesday that he has a transgender individual on his personal staff.

"We are certainly committed to their continued service in the United States Coast Guard," he said.

The top leaders' open disagreement with Mattis underlined the potential difficulties he will have in enforcing a ban if the courts permit it.

"The Secretary is in an untenable situation," said Matt Thorn, executive director of the OutServe-SLDN advocacy group. “[Mattis] is in an untenable situation because of the president of the United States.”

Federal District Court judges in Seattle, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Riverside, California, have all blocked the transgender ban and ordered the military to continue recruiting and retaining transgender individuals.

In the Seattle case (Karnoski v. Trump), Judge Marsha Pechman earlier this week ordered Justice Department and advocacy group lawyers to prepare for trial but gave notice that the government will have a high standard to meet in proving that a ban is constitutional.

"Because transgender people have long been subjected to systemic oppression and forced to live in silence, they are a protected class," Pechman wrote in her ruling. "Therefore, any attempt to exclude them from military service will be looked at with the highest level of care."

smalltownguy

04-21-2018, 04:26 PM

April 17 , 2018

A model has set out her ambitions to be the first transgender woman to walk in the Victoria’s Secret show.

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Leyna Bloom made her dreams clear in a recent tweet alongside two snaps of herself wearing a black bikini, writing: “Trying to be the 1st trans model of colour walk a #VictoriaSecret Fashion show. #transisbeautiful #LeynaBloom”.

The 27-year-old’s tweet quickly went viral, garnering more than 106,000 likes and 32,200 retweets.

Trying to be the 1st Trans model of color walk a #VictoriaSecret Fashion show. #transisbeautiful #LeynaBloom 💕 pic.twitter.com/xkLW5W9YqO

— Leyna Bloom (@leynabloom) April 9, 2018
The annual lingerie fashion show has been running for 23 years and has never cast a transgender woman of colour in its exclusive lineup, that last year starred Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio.

Were Bloom to be included, it would mark a historic moment for the brand that is perennially scrutinised in the media for its homogenised show cast, which primarily consists of whippet-thin and impossibly-toned women.

Fans praised the Chicago-based model for aspiring to diversify the show, urging the US lingerie brand to take note.

“You are sooo beautiful!! @VictoriasSecret, make it happen,” one wrote.

“While I don't care for Victoria's Secret, you absolutely deserve to walk! Any woman deserves to walk and feel good and confident about herself,” another added.

Bloom has been modelling professionally since 2014 and has walked the catwalk for New York-based labels Chromat and the Blonds.

It’s not the first time that the young beauty has taken a swipe at Victoria’s Secret.

In November 2017 Bloom criticised the brand for having “way more white girls” than any other race in its lineup, despite being praised by other outlets as the most diverse show yet.

"It's like every time they added a woman of colour they added another white girl,” she wrote.

“Next year they need to cast trans and curve models all colours not just Caucasians."

Speaking to Yahoo, Bloom said walking in the runway show has always been a dream of hers.

“This is a platform that glorifies femininity,” she said.

“I always felt in my most natural state I am heavenly.

“For my trans sisters, regardless of colour, this will be a moment for us all.”

smalltownguy

04-22-2018, 09:01 AM

04/21/18 03:13 PM EDT

Trump admin plans to undo Obama-era health-care protections for transgender people: report

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The Trump administration plans to get rid of a rule issued by President Obama that prevented health-care providers and insurers from discriminating against transgender people, The New York Times reported.

The Obama-era rule prohibited discrimination based on race, age, color, national origin, sex or disability for health programs that received federal funds, the Times reported.

Because most practicing physicians accept patients using Medicare or Medicaid, the rule widely applied to health-care providers across the U.S.

LGBTQ advocates say that Trump’s planned move would erase gains made for transgender Americans and get rid of treatments that transgender people have been denied in the past.

The Trump administration argues that they needed to make the changes because a federal judge found parts of the rule unlawful.

The White House is currently reviewing a draft of the rule submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The move is the latest in what critics see as the Trump administration’s effort to scale back transgender rights.

In the past, Trump has worked to ban transgender people from the military and the Education Department got rid of guidelines for how to accommodate transgender students at schools.

smalltownguy

04-22-2018, 08:06 PM

10 April, 2018

Trans women will be able to compete as women in this year's Boston Marathon

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Transgender runners will be able to compete as their self-identified gender in the Boston Marathon on Monday, 16 April.

This is a welcome step forward for human rights, but not a new one: trans people have been quietly running the race for "several years", the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) told NPR.

The BAA has no specific policy on transgender runners taking part in the word-famous race, but this year there has been a heated debate following a profile in Canadian Running of three transgender women who signed up for the race

Concerns were raised by readers around the perception of 'fairness' and how testosterone could potentially give trans women runners a physical advantage.

The thought of registering for the competition under her identified gender is what inspired transgender activist Amelia Gapin to undergo the surgery, she told Canadian Running.

At least five openly transgender women will take part in the iconic 26.2-mile race through Boston this year - and it means more to them than cisgender people might be able to imagine.

The BAA has said it would rather not throw yet more hurdles in the path of the transgender community, with its chief Tom Grilk telling Washington Post:

We take people at their word. We register people as they specify themselves to be.

Members of the LGBT+ community have had a lot to deal with over the years and we'd rather not add to that burden.

But many races - including Boston, New York and Chicago - require registrants to show a government ID with the same name and genders as their application forms to get a bet a bib number, an obstacle for trans athletes who haven't legally changed their personal information.

Typically, people who were assigned male at birth have had a greater struggle registering to elite athletic events under their self-identified gender, and may require surgery or medication to lower their testosterone levels.

The Olympics allowed athletes to compete without gender confirmation surgery after revisiting its guidelines ahead of the 2016 Rio Games, but required female transgender registrants to prove their testosterone levels did not exceed a certain amount.

Perhaps critics concerned about fair competition when trans women run as women should turn their attention to the dehydration, reduced stamina and dizziness caused by treatments such as testosterone blockers.

MrFanti

04-22-2018, 08:14 PM

I've talked to a couple of genetic lesbian women who have concerns about MTF transgender women competing in sports with genetic women....It becomes even more interesting when you thrown in folks like Janae Marie Kroc into the discussion...

smalltownguy

04-23-2018, 10:15 AM

Apr 22 2018

‘They pulled me out of the ladies’ room, forced me to go men's instead’

Institute of Business Management recently held discussion featuring transgender people as well as experts from various fields to shed light on awareness about transgender rights

At a conference where one of the speakers was a transgender person, a famous Pakistani journalist told me the time to talk about transgender rights is far [from now], according to Hira Zainab, a student who also runs a non-governmental organisation.

Interestingly, in a country that puts the number of transgender persons at 10,418 — according to the sixth Population and Housing Census held late 2017 — but which transgender people and activists themselves claim could be anywhere between 300,000 to upwards of 500,000, it comes as no surprise that influencers and those in power believe the issue is of little-to-no consequence.

The Institute of Business Management — the college where Zainab studies — recently held a discussion featuring multiple transgender people as well as panellists from various fields, including the corporate world and media. It aimed to shed light on how crucial the goal is to creating awareness about transgender rights and actually working to achieve it.

The challenges Pakistani transgenders face are not just limited to identity cards or voting but extend to day-to-day activities, which hinder them from living in communities other than their Guru-led ones, trying to get accommodation on rent, and pursuing careers.

1070885Hiba

In fact, Hiba, a transgender speaker, spoke of how she was shunned from family events because of “what people and other relatives would think of the family”.

“We come from the womb same as any other … It’s not my parents’ fault either … so why are we thought of as curses to our communities?”

Many landlords resort to gimmicks like offering available spaces on double the usual rent in order to deter transgender people from occupying it and force them away from the supposedly ‘decent' neighbourhoods.

This pushes transgender persons back into closely-knit communes where they reside in seclusion, under the leadership of their Gurus, and every transgender person knows the other. However, the lack of proper employment keeps these transgender communities poor, facilities-less, and illiterate.

In May 2017, Meral Kazmi, a SZABIST student whose entrepreneurship venture turned into an art house, took up a project with her peers wherein three transgender persons modelled as people belonging to their dream careers — chef, lawyer, and doctor — and photographed, the result of which was painted as a mural outside the campus.

Once it was complete and the costumes being wrapped up, however, one of those three broke down into tears, saying how a transgender person getting a proper job could not “be real, ever”.

While this is something that can be worked upon, the root of the problem stands with a lack of initiative and the hesitance to step up. Kazmi herself explained how a businessman once told her that he would willingly hire transgender people but it would be after someone else does for the first time.

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Yet there are transgender people like Lahore-based Simi Naz, who holds herself in high regard and believes in “snatching rights” from those in control.

“I’m not going to whine about it. I was born very beautiful, I have pretty eyes. I dance… yes, I dance every night in front of 250 people and that’s okay because I enjoy it and it gets me three square meals a day.”

But fear of the unknown is a major restraint, which further exacerbates the problem, says Naaz Fancy, a marketing and advertising executive who was present at the event as a panellist.

When people try to distance themselves from transgender people and fail at trying to get to know them, they become anxious in their presence.

1070886Aradhiya Khan

Aradhiya Khan, another transgender person whose brother Salman is a social activist, perfectly captured this conundrum in her story, where she narrated how she was once forcefully pulled out of the ladies’ room at a restaurant where she worked at and ordered to go the men’s room instead.

And every Pakistani citizen knows full well how common it is for transgender people to be chased, harassed, and hooted and catcalled at. Once, when visiting a state hospital for medical attention, Hiba recalled that she and a friend were followed by random boys who kept repeating: “Do these ‘things’ [transgender people] get sick too?”

“Constitution states that every citizen has equal rights,” chimed in Sabin Agha, a seasoned journalist.

“The social structure is such that the common man is not provided proper awareness and maturity” to understand acceptance and inclusivity. “We have outright denied transgender people their rights — social level at the very least.”

1070888Sabin Agha (centre)

The non-existence of gender diversity is a “denial, primarily due to religion and [lack of] education”, Agha said.

As transgender people struggle to get an education — like Nisha Rao, an LLB graduate who hopes to become a judge someday and has begged on the streets to pay tuition — it is now on the common Pakistani to step forward in being accepting and understanding.

While the corporate sector has the money, voice, and power to do more for equal opportunities, it is, according to Fancy, “still stuck on women; transgenders are a far cry”. But there is hope, however small it may be, because of people like Zainab, who says she would help everyone get a job regardless of their race, gender, sexuality or ethnicity.

“We are humans, sitting here to discuss why our fellow humans are not being given their basic rights,” she said.

“It doesn’t get worse than that.”

smalltownguy

04-23-2018, 06:33 PM

4 March 2018

More transgender patients are opting to undergo genital surgery

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Gender reassignment surgeries are reportedly on the rise in the United States, according to a major study conducted by The John Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The researchers analysed data compiled by the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2000 to 2014, which gave them an indication of the number of patients seeking gender reassignment surgery across the country.

The NIS gathers data from approximately 1,000 hospitals around the US every year, which represents around 95 per cent of the nation’s population.

Using the data accumulated by the NIS, the team assessed a total of 37,827 hospital appointments for gender reassignment surgery.

The ages of the patients ranged from 26 to 49.

The initial analyses of the data were carried out from June to August 2015.

The authors of the study, which was led by Joseph Canner and Omar Harfouch and published in JAMA Surgery, discovered that the number of patients undergoing genital surgeries has risen drastically in recent years.

During a five-year period from 2000 to 2005, 72 per cent of the patients who had gender reassignment procedures in the US decided to undergo genital surgery.

From 2006 to 2011, this percentage increased to 83.9 per cent of patients.

The team also considered what kind of health insurance plans the patients had.

Of the 4,118 people who underwent genital surgery, 56.3 per cent did not have any health insurance cover.

For those who did have health insurance cover in the form of Medicare or Medicaid, 70 chose to have genital surgery in 2014.

This is a notable increase from the 25 patients covered by health insurance who had genital surgery between the years of 2012 to 2013.

The authors of the study noted that it is extremely important that third-party payers, such as health insurance companies, enforce policies that forbid the discrimination of people with gender identity disorder.

In doing so, this will help more transgender patients seek out the help they need should they wish to undergo gender reassignment procedures and improve the accumulation of gender identity data for further study.

In 2016 it was reported that the number of gender reassignment surgeries taking place in the UK had sharply risen, with the number of referrals at a clinic in Charing Cross quadrupling over a decade.

smalltownguy

04-24-2018, 01:13 PM

APRIL 22,2018

Trump to Allow Anti-Trans Discrimination in Health Care

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The administration will reverse a mandate of the ACA which bars discrimination against trans patients and ensures they receive coverage for vital services.

The Trump administration is using a Texas lawsuit to justify rolling back protections for trans patients that was included in the 2010 Obamacare legislation, The New York Times reports.

The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) banned any hospital, doctor, or insurance company who receives federal funding from discriminating against or denying services based on sex; the Obama administration made it clear in 2016 that provision included transgender and gender-nonconforming patients. Since nearly all insurance plans, doctors, and hospitals accept the government-funded programs Medicare and Medicaid, the protections covered just about every patient in the country. The law greatly expanded coverage for transgender people and also ensured that those who didn't conform to stereotypical gender markers, but weren't trans — possibly LGB or queer-identifying — could not be denied services.

Another benefit of the Obama-era rule on gender identity was that is it allowed trans patients to access numerous services, not just gender-confirmation surgery, but affordable hormones and mental health services opened up to millions.

These benefits and protections are heading for oblivion though, according to the Times. The Trump administration is pointing to a January 2017 ruling from a Texas federal judge who said the 2010 law did not cover gender identity or presentation.

“Congress did not understand ‘sex’ to include ‘gender identity,’” Judge Reed O’Connor ruled. In the Affordable Care Act, he said, Congress “adopted the binary definition of sex.”

Trump's Health and Human Services department has drafted their own rule to rescind the protections, which is now with the White House for review. Trump's latest assault on trans people comes after he clumsily banned them from military service — an order temporarily blocked by courts — and removed guidance on accomodating trans youth in public schools.

smalltownguy

04-25-2018, 05:58 AM

23rd April 2018

Equalities watchdog says UK government ‘voter ID’ trials will disenfranchise transgender voters

1071165 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

The equalites watchdog has issued a dire warning over the UK government’s upcoming pilots of ‘voter ID’ schemes.

The UK government is rolling out voter ID pilots across four local areas, Watford, Bromley, Gosport, and Woking, for the local government elections next month.
Under the plans, voters in the pilot areas will be required to show ID, such as a passport or driver’s licence, before they can vote – ahead of a planned wider rollout in future UK-wide elections.

The plans had already been likened to US state-level ‘voter ID’ laws, which are routinely criticised for disenfranchisement of African-Americans, the poor, and other minority groups unlikely to have such ID.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission, which enforces equality and non-discrimination laws in England, Scotland and Wales, has issued a bleak warning about the UK trials in a letter of concern sent to Cabinet Office minister David Lidington this month.

The letter, leaked to the Observer, reiterates concerns expressed by LGBT groups over the lack of procedures in place to accommodate transgender voters who often do not have up-to-date identification documents that match their stated gender presentation.

It also warns that the rules could have an impact on older people and people from ethnic minority communities.

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In the letter, the EHRC’s legal officer Claire Collier warns: “The Commission is concerned that the requirement to produce identification at the given local elections (Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking) will have a disproportionate impact on voters with protected characteristics, particularly older people, transgender people, people with disabilities and/or those from ethnic minority communities.

“In essence, there is a concern that some voters will be disenfranchised as a result of restrictive identification requirements.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was further proof of the UK’s “hostile environment” for ethnic minorities, while Liberal Democrat Ed Davey called on the government to “make clear they that will act” to prevent people being disenfranchised by the tests.

Earlier this year PinkNews asked the Cabinet Office and the four councils involved in the UK voter ID pilot to clarify how they will ensure that transgender voters are not impacted.

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PinkNews also asked what procedures have been put in place for transgender people whose current appearance does not match their official forms of ID, and asked what guidance will be provided to polling station volunteers on how to process issues relating to transgender voters.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson told PinkNews: “Local authorities are implementing Equality Impact Assessments and are working with partners to ensure that voter ID does not risk preventing any eligible voter from voting.

“It is in nobody’s interest that any elector is disenfranchised. Everyone eligible to vote will be able to do so.”

Each local authority was apparently required to complete an Equality Impact Assessment to ensure they take into account the needs of the trans community.

However, none of the councils could provide explicit details of any policies or guidance relating to transgender voters to PinkNews, nor any specific policy for resolving cases where voters are deemed by polling station volunteers to not match the appearance or details on their photo ID.

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Stonewall executive Ruth Hunt told PinkNews: “We are concerned by the potential unintended consequences of the Government’s voter identification pilots and their use of photo ID.

“Access to photo ID can prove very difficult for some communities, including those who are BAME, disabled, or homeless, and LGBT people will of course make up part of these groups.

“For trans and non-binary people in particular this has the potential to cause significant problems, as some may not have photo identification that accurately reflects their gender identity. It’s not hard to imagine the challenges and confusion that could result from that in a polling station.

“We’re urging the Government to reconsider the proposed pilots and instead take steps to engage communities in future schemes, to ensure that more people from more communities feel empowered to vote.

“For elections, and elected officials, to be truly representative of the communities they are supposed to serve, we need to put effort into encouraging more minority groups to use their votes; not put in place measures that make it more difficult.”

Bromley, Gosport, and Woking councils all specify that voters will need to bring forms of ID, which could dissuade vulnerable trans people from showing up.

The pilots in Bromley and Gosport require voters to bring photo ID such as a passport or driving license to vote, or alternatively a polling card plus a form of non-photo ID such as a birth certificate or utility bill.

Woking only permits forms of photo ID, and requires people without forms of accurate photo ID to apply for a local elector card ahead of the vote. In Watford, voters only need to bring their polling card in order to vote.

In March, the LGBT Foundation and Stonewall signed on to an open letter headed by the Electoral Reform Society criticising the plans, alongside more than 30 other charities and NGOs.

The letter warns about potential impact on minority groups including transgender voters.

It says: “We are writing to express our collective concerns for the Government plans to pilot identification in polling stations at the local government elections in May.

“The Government’s commitment to building a safe and secure democracy is commendable. Electoral fraud is a serious crime and has the potential to undermine public confidence in elections, even if conducted on a small scale.

“However, there is simply not enough evidence of voter fraud in the UK to justify these potentially damaging pilots, which threaten to disenfranchise members of some of the most vulnerable groups of society. In 2016 there were 44 allegations of impersonation – the type of fraud that voter ID is designed to tackle – out of nearly 64 million votes, reflecting just 1 case for every 1.5 million votes cast.

“By comparison, the Electoral Commission has warned that 3.5 million people (7.5% of the electorate) in Great Britain do not have access to any form of photo ID. 11 million electors (24% of the electorate) do not have access to a passport or photographic driving licence.

“As organisations who support and represent a diverse range of communities, we have serious concerns that these proposals present a significant barrier to democratic engagement and risk compromising a basic human right for some of the most marginalised groups in society. Decades of international studies show that restrictive identification requirements are particularly disadvantageous to certain voter groups who are less likely to possess approved ID for a variety of socio-economic and accessibility reasons.

“Voter ID reforms could therefore affect young people, older people, disabled people, transgender and gender non-conforming people, BAME communities and the homeless.

“We are aware that the Local Authorities participating in the pilots will be providing alternative options for people without the photographic identification to vote in the local elections in May. However, we believe the measures do not go far enough to alleviate the potential risk of disenfranchisement and deterrent to voting.

“We are also concerned that the Local Authorities involved have failed to carry out adequate equality impact assessments of the pilots on protected individuals in their areas. We would be grateful to learn what assurances you can give us in this regard.

“We are also very concerned about the low levels of public awareness of the pilots and proposed reforms. We fear that many people will be unaware of changes to the voting process.

“To ensure that voters are not disenfranchised, it is vital that there is wide coverage of the new voting arrangements and that communications are accessible to everyone. Unfortunately there is little evidence to suggest that this has taken place in the various pilot areas even though the elections are now only two months away.

“In December, the Cabinet Office published a five-year democratic engagement plan designed to increase participation in democracy. It is disappointing that these electoral pilots directly undermine this worthy objective.

“We hope you listen to these concerns and urgently reconsider your decision to run the pilots as planned in the May local elections. We would be very happy to meet with you to discuss these issues in more detail and how our concerns may be mitigated.”

smalltownguy

04-25-2018, 07:25 PM

April 25, 2018

All service chiefs: No unit cohesion problems with trans military service

1071377U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein has become the latest service chief to say trans military service has caused no unit cohesion issues. (Photo public domain)

All military service chiefs have now publicly stated allowing transgender people to serve in the U.S. armed services hasn’t resulted in any problems with unit cohesion or morale, undercutting a report from Defense Secretary James Mattis that raised fears about those issues without a transgender military ban.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein became the latest and final service chief to affirm transgender military service has caused no such problems during committee testimony Tuesday under questioning from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

In response to Gillibrand’s question on whether he’s seen any issues of morale or discipline over allowing transgender people to serve in the military— a policy first implemented in the Obama years before President Trump sought to reverse it — Goldfein replied, “The way you present the question, I have not.”

“I will tell that you that I’ve talked to commanders in the field, first sergeants, senior NCOs and I’m committed to ensure that they have the right levels of guidance to understand these very personal issues that they’re dealing with,” Goldfein added. “And so, we continue to move forward to ensure that we understand the issues.”

Under further questioning from Gillibrand, Goldfein said he had met with transgender service members and learned two things from those meetings: Their commitment to service and “how individual each particular case is.”

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach,” Goldfein added. “It’s very personal to each individual, and that’s why I go back to we have an obligation to ensure that we understand this medically and that we can provide our commanders and supervisors the guidance they need to be able to deal with this, so we don’t have issues.”

Goldfein’s testimony is consistent with those of his fellow chiefs — Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller — who have each said the change in the Obama years resulting in transgender military service has resulted in no problems with morale or unit cohesion.

U.S. Coast Commandant Vice Adm. Karl Schultz — who’s head of the Coast Guard, but technically not a service chief — has also said transgender service has not caused problems. Last week, he said during congressional testimony he’s “not aware of any disciplinary or unit cohesion issues resulting from the opening of the Coast Guard to transgender individuals.”

The unanimous denials from the service chiefs of unit cohesion problems with transgender service contradicts the recommendation from Mattis delivered to the White House on February, which cited such issues as a reason to ban transgender people from the military.

Based upon that recommendation, Trump reaffirmed in March his transgender military ban after announcing last year on Twitter he’d seek to ban transgender people from the military “in any capacity.”

Aaron Belkin, director of the San Francisco-based Palm Center, said the unanimity among the service chiefs denying unit cohesion problems with transgender service speaks volumes.

“The chiefs have spoken with one voice in repudiating a central tenet of the Pentagon report just weeks after its publication,” Belkin said. “The report did not offer any evidence to sustain its assertion that transgender troops harm cohesion. Now we know why: Two years’ experience of inclusive service has not provided any.”

As a result of litigation filed against Trump by LGBT legal groups, the Defense Department has been enjoined from enforcing Trump’s ban and must allow transgender people to enlist and remain in service.

That litigation and those rulings came up when Gillibrand turned to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, who was also present at the hearing.

Although Wilson acknowledged Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan represented the service on the panel of experts Mattis convened to come up with recommendations on transgender service, she declined to answer other questions.

When Gillibrand brought up a letter from the American Medical Association saying the Mattis recommendation defy medical science, Wilson said she had no knowledge about whether Air Force health professionals or outside groups had contributed to his panel, insisting she “wasn’t involved.”

Asked by Gillibrand point blank if she ever recommended a change in policy on transgender service as Air Force secretary, Wilson dodged and made a reference to pending litigation.

“This is a matter that’s in the courts, and I think it’s probably best when things are under litigation that that process play out,” Wilson said. “The guidance that the chief and I have given the service is that all airmen are being treated with dignity and respect and we comply with a court order on accessions as well as retaining airmen who have disclosed that they are transgender.”

Gillibrand retorted the “White House hasn’t taken your advice about leaving it the courts,” pointing out the Mattis recommendation and Trump’s military ban is contrary to rulings from judges in favor of transgender service. Wilson again referenced the litigation.

“That is now in the courts, the new recommended policy change” Wilson said. “While that is being considered by the courts, the court order that we’re under continues. We continue to access transgender members in accordance with the court order.”

Wilson has been praised by the anti-LGBT Family Research Council and has an anti-LGBT record as a member of Congress. As Air Force secretary, Wilson sought to have a penalty lifted on an Air Force commander who refused to recognize the same-sex spouse of a subordinate in retirement materials.

Belkin said the Wilson’s responses to Gillibrand under questioning were an “artful dodge” and raise questions about the secretary’s level of involvement in the trans ban.

“She said she wasn’t part of the panel, but the real question is whether she (and her fellow culture warriors at the Family Research Council) were part of the process, not just the panel,” Belkin said.

smalltownguy

04-27-2018, 03:40 AM

April 26, 2018

Stlpublicradio Cut & Paste: Transgender group art show aims for visibility as safety issues linger

1071553 This image combines two portraits by different artists in the Metro Trans Umbrella Group's "Transcending the Spectrum" art exhibition.
METRO TRANS UMBRELLA GROUP

Over the past five years, the Metro Trans Umbrella Group art show has more than doubled in size. This year’s event at Koken Art Factory in south St. Louis on Saturday boasts 35 visual artists and 25 stage performers.

The exhibition has expanded as more transgender artists feel safe to show their creations, according to curator Alex Johnmeyer and artist Eric Schoolcraft. But, they noted, growing visibility also highlights the dangers of being seen. To address that, organizers put a safety team in place to escort attendees to and from their cars.

“The murder rate for trans people is staggering, especially for trans women of color,” Schoolcraft said.

Last year, nearly three dozen transgender people died violently in the United States.

In our latest Cut & Paste podcast, Schoolcraft and Johnmeyer talk about the issues transgender people still face, the “Transcending the Spectrum” art exhibition and their personal stories of coming out.

smalltownguy

04-27-2018, 04:41 PM

26 APR 2018

Why Hull's transgender lottery winner Melissa Ede plans to become a celebrity hypnotist
She hopes to be known as 'Mesmerising Melissa' on stage

Transgender lottery millionaire Melissa Ede wants to be a Derren Brown-style celebrity hypnotist.

The 57-year-old, who scooped £4m on a National Lottery scratchcard, hopes to be known as “Mesmerising Melissa” on stage.

The former taxi driver has passed an online Hypnosis for Beginners course with a 100 per cent score.

1071658 Melissa Ede

She signed up for it after seeing Derren Brown live in Hull days earlier with her partner, Rachel Nason.

Melissa posted a photo of her certificate on Facebook, with the caption: “The first stage of becoming mesmerising Melissa.”

When asked by a fan if she plans to do live shows, she replied: “Yeah.”

The course, run by hypnotherapy trainer Dan Jones, claims it teaches “the process of doing hypnotic inductions and how to hypnotise anyone without the need for hypnosis scripts”.

Melissa, who has four children, had gender reassignment surgery in 2011 and has become a well-known local figure in Hull.

1071659 Melissa Ede won £4 million on a scratch card

She also posts bizarre videos online with items such as a bottle of mayonnaise hanging from her chest.

In her latest video Melissa, formerly known as Les, has also filmed herself dancing around with lollipops and margarita pizzas stuck to her breasts.

Melissa Ede admits she splashes her £4m Lottery win on charity shop bargains

In February it was revealed she had spent over £3,000 on a new look including cheek fillers, Botox, lip fillers, a brow lift and “under-eye plumping”.

smalltownguy

04-28-2018, 04:46 AM

Apr 26, 2018

Police: Transgender woman likely knew her attacker

BRIDGEPORT -
Police are investigating what led up to the shooting of a well-known transgender woman.

It happened in an apartment near Park and Stillman streets at around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Police believe the 49-year-old victim was shot on the first floor of the apartment building.

They say the victim likely knew the suspect, though it's unclear if the suspect was already in the apartment or came to shoot her.

Police say the victim was shot at least once in the face and several times in the arms.

She's unable to speak right now.

News 12 spoke with one of her friends who says she can't believe this happened.

"A lot of people know her here in Bridgeport, she has been living in Bridgeport for a long time, I don't see where she has a problem with anyone," says Alexandra Molina.

Police can only communicate with the victim by notepad right now.

They're hoping once she's able to speak again, they'll be able to determine a motive for the shooting.

connecticut.news12.com

smalltownguy

04-29-2018, 03:00 AM

APR 27, 2018

As countries tighten transgender protections, will Switzerland follow?

1071810
A proposed Swiss amendment to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity raises many questions about legal recognition and language – for example, on civil documents like passports.

As many countries introduce more legal protections for transgender people, Swiss politicians are examining introducing similar measures. If approved, it will be a victory for transgender rights groups, but implementation may not be easy.

The latest Trans Rights Europe Index 2017 shows much of Western Europe has strengthened transgender rights in some way in the last five years in line with recommendations from the Council of Europe and international human rights standards.

In mid-April, the parliament in Portugal approved a law that made the country only the sixth in Europe to allow a change of gender without medical or state intervention. A month earlier, the Austrian Constitutional Court opened proceedings to repeal state registration of sex and Sweden became the first country in the world to offer compensation to transgender people who were forced to undergo sterilisation to be allowed to change their legal gender. Malta has been at the forefront of transgender rights, recently introducing policies on inclusion in education, healthcare, and prison facilities.

Next year, the Swiss parliament will decide on an amendment (in German) to the Criminal Code that would make hate speech and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity illegal. This would be in addition to race, ethnicity, and religion, which are protected at present. If passed, it would be a victory for the LGBTIQ community in Switzerland, but there is already heated debate on how such a law would be interpreted in practice and where to draw the line between hate speech and free speech.

The passage in Canada last year of Bill C-16, which bans discrimination and hate speech on the basis of gender identity and expression, also unleashed a fiery debate about how to implement such protections when fixed binary gender identities (man and woman or male and female) are so engrained in everything from pronouns to birth certificates.

An important signal
The Swiss parliamentary initiative (in German) to amend Article 261 has been in the pipeline since 2013, when it was presented by Mathias Reynard of the Social Democratic party. The original text only referred to sexual orientation, but gender identity was later added. (See draft language, in German, here.) Following consultations in 2017, the deadline for a vote in parliament was extended until spring 2019.

While transgender people are afforded some protections under current laws, Alecs Recher, head of legal services at the Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS) (site in German, French and Italian) says passing Art. 261b would “be an important signal that Switzerland does not tolerate hate speech and discrimination against LGBT. It is also a form of prevention, discouraging people from committing such acts.”

There are also real implications for the health and safety of transgender people, says Recher. “The law would make it possible to bring a criminal case against a person who targets transgender people generally with hate speech. Current laws only protect individuals from attacks on someone’s personality or honour” under different articles of the Swiss Criminal Code and Civil Code.

The initiative also adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the prohibited grounds for discrimination in the case that a person refuses to provide someone with a service intended for the general public. Although Article 8 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination in general terms on various grounds including gender and way of life, the new initiative, if passed, would make such acts a criminal offence with a sentence of up to three years or a fine.

There are already some protections from discrimination at work under the Federal Act on Gender Equality. However, high unemployment rates for transgender people, estimated to be around 20% — five to six times higher than average in Switzerland — indicate that challenges remain. A study co-financed by the Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG), found that around 25% of participants lost their jobs after coming out, or experienced a deterioration of their professional situation.

Recher explains that what really worries him is how transgender people are starting to view discrimination as normal. “When providing legal counselling, I find that people face mobbing, bullying, and discrimination so often that they have come to acknowledge it as a part of life. They don’t even see the use in pursuing legal action or telling someone about the indecent behaviour. Creating more legal protections would send the message that this isn’t tolerated and hopefully give people the confidence to speak up.”

Implementation debate
One of the key points of debate of the C-16 law in Canada is whether the law infringes upon freedom of speech. This was triggered in part by criticism from a University of Toronto professor who refused to use a preferred pronoun for his students, saying it violated his right to free speech.

Consultations (in French and German) in 2017 on the Swiss initiative in the House of Representatives revealed similar tensions and sharp divisions. The majority opinion argued that since transgender people are at above-average risk of suicide due to hate crimes, they warrant special protection. It also refuted arguments by the minority opinion that there are problems with interpreting concepts like gender identity. Representing the minority opinion, Yves Nidegger of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC), in an article published in French-language newspaper Le Temps, argued that the initiative “would penalize the very groups it claims to protect. No more fitness or women-only hotels since refusing men entry is like denying someone a service because of their sex”. There were also questions about the implications for freedom of expression enshrined in Article 16 of the Constitution.

Recher does not believe that refusing to use a preferred pronoun would qualify as hate speech in Switzerland. “But, it would nevertheless be disrespectful,” he says. This aside, there are still important considerations for putting such a law into practice. This includes questions about legal gender recognition and language. While Swiss law permits a change of legal gender, there is currently no legal gender recognised beside male and female. A few courts in Switzerland still require medical procedures to legally change genders despite the European Court of Human Rights finding that this violates human rights.

Complicating things in Switzerland is the multiple languages in the country. Some transgender people argue that the gender neutral “they” for the singular in the third person makes it easier for the English language to adapt, in contrast to Switzerland’s official languages, German, French, and Italian.

Male, Female or X

A number of countries have recently taken steps to introduce alternatives to binary gender selections. In 2017, the highest court in Germany ruled in favour of the introduction of a third gender in civil documents, making it the first in Europe to do so. The Court said that the Constitution protected the personality rights of individuals who do not define themselves as male or female, adding that the current law on civil status interfered with that right.

Malta, Denmark, Australia, and several other countries allow “X” as an option in passports and other government documents. The Australian passport office states: “We can issue a passport to sex and gender diverse applicants, identifying them as M (male), F (female) or X (indeterminate/intersex/unspecified).” It also includes instructions for people who are transitioning to another sex.

In June 2017, Oregon became the first US state and the District of Columbia became the first city to allow residents to identify as other than male or female on state driver’s licenses.

Companies are also adapting. In 2014, Facebook introduced 56 gender identities to choose from including androgynous, bi-gender, intersex, gender fluid or transsexual. Other sites like Flickr allow users to put “other” while some social media sites have removed gender selection fields altogether.

swissinfo.ch

smalltownguy

04-29-2018, 12:54 PM

APRIL 28 2018

Joy Reid Uses Her Show to Apologize

1071902 But the MSNBC anchor stuck to her belief that homophobic posts on her blog are from hacking.

BY LUCAS GRINDLEY
APRIL 28 2018 1:57 PM EDT

MSNBC anchor Joy Reid still doesn’t believe she wrote the latest homophobic posts to surface from her old blog, but she apologized today for much of what she does remember saying.

“I can only say that the person I am now is not the person I was then,” said Reid during her show, AM Joy, on Saturday morning.

A number of homophobic and transphobic writings first surfaced last year from Reid’s time as a commentator in Florida. Some she takes responsibility for, while others that became public this month she claims are the result of someone hacking her blog.

“Many of you have seen these blog posts circulating online and in social media,” she told viewers. “Many of them are homophobic, discriminatory, and outright weird and hateful.” Reid says a friend first discovered them in December and forwarded links. “I was stunned,” she said. “Frankly, I couldn’t imagine where they could have come from or whose voice that was.”

Reid said she hired cyber security experts to track down evidence her blog must’ve been hacked.

“And the reality is they have not been able to prove it,” she conceded on Saturday. The Daily Beast—which also suspended Reid’s column on the site—reported earlier this week that Reid’s claim to be hacked couldn’t be proven. “But here is what I know. I genuinely don’t believe I wrote those hateful things, because they are completely alien to me. But I can definitely understand, based on things I have tweeted and have written in the past, why some people don’t believe me.”

Reid then spent much of her time explaining her upbringing and acknowledging her past homophobia.

“I have not been exempt from being dumb or cruel or hurtful to the very people want to advocate for,” she said. “I own that. I get it. And for that I am truly, truly sorry.” She apologized specifically to the transgender people for once having made transphobic cracks about Ann Coulter, who she also apologized to.

Reid recounted the story of one gay friend who she had failed in particular.

“I can remember a friend of mine, my freshman year in college, telling me he was gay, and my knee-jerk reaction being that it was so disappointing to the women he could have married,” recalled Reid. “He was so hurt, he didn’t speak to me for months. I am heartbroken that I didn’t do better back then.”

Time will tell whether the apology is enough to repair the damage to Reid, with PFLAG rescinding an award for allyship that it had planned to give. After the apology aired, Reid is already receiving support online from colleagues.

smalltownguy

04-29-2018, 01:09 PM

By TOI | Saturday | 28th April, 2018

Raipur walks for equality, hosts first transgender fashion show.

1071904

The main focus of this show was on the transgender models a nd their fight towards equality. We, as a country have shunned the transgender community for the longest time even if they have been putting up a decent fight. In an attempt at accepting them into society, we have come up with various ways to help them ease into the society. A lot of people had come to the show to show their support for the models and community as well. The walk was one to remember and has created its own unique history in the hearts and minds of the people who attended it.

We, as a country have shunned the transgender community for the longest time even if they have been putting up a decent fight.

In an attempt at accepting them into society, we have come up with various ways to help them ease into the society.

One such attempt was made by the people of Raipur by hosting the first fashion show for them.This show was held at Muktakari Manch at Ghasidas Grahlay, and was an immediate hit.

A lot of people had come to the show to show their support for the models and community as well.

tao1kiku

04-29-2018, 04:43 PM

Keep it up. All this is greatly appreciated

smalltownguy

04-29-2018, 05:27 PM

April 29, 2018

Health care new front for rollback of transgender rights under Trump

1071948 Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, lawyer for the LGBT civil rights group Lambda Legal, poses outside his Manhattan office, Friday in New York. Military service, bathroom use, job bias and now health care. The Trump administration is under fire for rewriting a rule barring discrimination in health care due to “gender identity.” Groups representing transgender people expect the Obama protections to be gutted and are preparing to take the administration to court. “The proposed rollback does fit into a pattern of transphobia and anti-LGBT sentiment in this administration,” said Gonzalez-Pagan. Bebeto Matthews — The Associated Press

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, The Associated Press
POSTED: 04/29/18, 9:37 AM EDT

WASHINGTON >> Military service. Bathroom use. Job bias. And now, health care.

The Trump administration is coming under fire for rewriting a federal rule that bars discrimination in health care due to “gender identity.” Critics say it’s another attempt to undercut acceptance for transgender people.

The Health and Human Services Department rule dates to the Obama administration, a time when LGBT people gained political and social recognition. But a federal judge in Texas said the rule went too far by concluding that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is a form of sex discrimination, which is forbidden by civil rights laws.

Instead of appealing the judge’s injunction, the Trump administration has opted to rewrite the rule, which applies to health care providers and insurers receiving federal funds.

Roger Severino, head of the department’s Office for Civil Rights, said the rewrite will address the “reasonableness, necessity and efficacy” of the Obama-era requirement. He refused to discuss specifics, as the revision is under White House review before its official release.

Groups representing transgender people expect the Obama protections to be gutted and are preparing to take the administration to court.

“The proposed rollback does fit into a pattern of transphobia and anti-LGBT sentiment in this administration,” said Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, a lawyer with Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization.

He ran through a checklist: President Donald Trump’s call to bar military service by transgender people; Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ memo concluding that civil rights laws don’t protect transgender people from discrimination on the job; the override of Obama-era guidance that allowed transgender students to use school bathrooms that matched their gender identities.

Social and religious conservatives are one of the administration’s most steadfast constituencies, and the White House has been out front championing their causes, including restrictions on abortion and legal protections for health care providers with moral and religious qualms about particular procedures.

Behind the latest health care dispute is a medically-recognized condition called “gender dysphoria” — discomfort or distress caused by a discrepancy between the gender that a person identifies as and their gender at birth. Consequences can include severe depression. Treatment can range from sex-reassignment surgery and hormones to people changing their outward appearance by adopting a different hairstyle or clothing.

Under the Obama-era rule, a hospital could be required to perform gender-transition procedures such as hysterectomies if the facility provided that kind of treatment for other medical conditions. The rule was meant to carry out the anti-discrimination section of the Affordable Care Act, which bars sex discrimination in health care but does not use the term “gender identity.”

In the Texas case, a Catholic hospital system, several states, and a Christian medical association argued that the rule went beyond the law as written and would coerce providers to act against their medical judgment and religious beliefs.

That rule “would have forced doctors to perform gender transition procedures on children, even if that would be against their best medical judgment and they believed it would be harmful to the child,” said Luke Goodrich, a lawyer with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is involved in the case.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for children who have yet to reach puberty, gender transition does not involve any medical interventions, but instead focuses on social changes such as clothing and calling the child by another name.

The Becket Fund responded that the Obama administration did not limit the application of its nondiscrimination rule to adults.

UCLA legal scholar Jocelyn Samuels oversaw drafting of the anti-discrimination rule while in the Obama administration, and says it reflected established legal precedent that transgender people are protected under federal sex discrimination laws. “The case law on whether sex discrimination includes gender identity has been pretty clear for quite a while,” said Samuels.

The original rule did not override either the medical judgment or religious beliefs of providers, said Samuels, arguing those are protected by other laws.

The timetable for the Trump administration’s proposed changes is uncertain, but the rewrite isn’t likely to settle the debate. The transgender controversy could follow the path of other Trump initiatives to the Supreme Court. ACLU attorney Joshua Block said that five federal appeals courts have ruled that discrimination based on gender identity violates federal laws against sex discrimination.

In Congress, a GOP advocate for transgender rights is urging the administration to re-evaluate. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., came to the U.S. from Cuba as a child.

“I fled from a communist regime to come to this land of opportunity and freedom, where if you work hard and are a responsible member of society, you have the ability to get ahead,” said Ros-Lehtinen. “That principle should apply to anyone, including transgender Americans. I urge the administration to guide its policies under the premise of freedom, opportunity and equality.”

One of Ros-Lehtinen’s children is a transgender man.

johncock0

04-30-2018, 12:28 AM

This administration perhaps someone in particular in the administration is focused on this topic and out to get them, I think. Hateful beings.

smalltownguy

05-01-2018, 08:14 PM

1 MAY 2018

Caitlyn Jenner 'to marry transgender student 47 YEARS her junior' as it's revealed she 'hasn't met' Khloe and Kim's babies

The former Olympian and reality star is reportedly planning to tie the knot in an intimate ceremony

Caitlyn Jenner has said time and time again that she's "just friends" with blonde bombshell Sophia Hutchins.

But now, it's being reported that they're getting married!

After their close friendship was described as a "mother and daughter" relationship, it's now said they've been dating in recent weeks.

And things are getting serious very quickly - despite their 47-year age gap.

If Caitlyn, 68, married 21-year-old transgender student Sophia, it would be her fourth marriage.

Before transitioning in 2015, she tied the knot three times as Bruce - to Chrystie Crownover in 1972, Linda Thompson in 1981, and to Kris Jenner in 1991.

Caitlyn Jenner's post-surgery sex life revealed - as sources claim she's dating a model 47 years her junior

1072348Caitlyn is reportedly getting married (Image: ITV Picture Desk)

1072349Caitlyn had denied dating Sophia in the past (Image: Getty Images North America)

Caitlyn has six biological children - two with each wife - and was step-father to Kris' kids, Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob Kardashian.

Now, a source close to the star has told Heat magazine: "Cait really sees herself spending the rest of her life with Sophia.

"She lost her support system when she fell out with her family and these days, it feels like Sophia's the only person she can count on."

Earlier this year, it's said that Caitlyn turned to Sophia when her relationship with the Kardashians began to break down.

1072350She was married to Kris Jenner before she transitioned (Image: Instagram)

She's hardly been in touch with the famous family ever since she took a massive swipe at ex Kris in her autobiography, The Secrets Of My Life, released last year.

The source added to the mag: "Cait is a complete outcast at the moment. She has also lost friends in the LGBT community because of her political views [backing Donald Trump].

"She was really hoping to reconnect with the Kardashians, especially with Khloe and Kim having had babies, but sadly she hasn't met them, and she hasn't even got to spend much time with her new granddaughter Stormi [Kylie Jenner's baby]. She just wants some companionship and really felt all alone before she met Sophia."

Caitlyn and Sophia live together and are rarely seen without one another by their sides.

They're reportedly planning an intimate ceremony near Caitlyn's home in Malibu.

However, a source close to Caitlyn told Mirror Online that while they could be dating, marriage isn't on the cards just yet.

Back in January, Caitlyn made a number of revelations during her tell-all interview on Piers Morgan's Life Stories.

And she said at the time she was open to dating men and women.

She said: "It could be either. I don't know. It is kind of fun so see the world from the girl's side. You know."

smalltownguy

05-03-2018, 02:21 PM

May 3, 2018

India’s largest transgender festival kicks off

Celebrated every year at the Koothandavar Temple in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Koovagam - the country’s largest transgender festival - kicked off recently.

The festival attracts transvestites from all parts of India to participate in a re-enactment of a tale of Mahabharata.

It commemorates the myth of Hindu Lord Krishna taking female form in order to marry Lord Aravan – a warrior who fought the Mahabharata War against rivals - for which trangenders dress up in a symbolic act to marry Lord Aravan.

The next day they mourn the death of Aravan - who sacrificed his life on the battlefield – by breaking their bangles.

1072631

Koovagam lasts for about 18 days and is considered as the biggest jamboree for the gender.

The unique gathering also entails various beauty pageants, seminars (that discuss basic transgender rights), music and dance competitions and events.

smalltownguy

05-03-2018, 02:33 PM

May 2, 2018

This Transgender Teen Is Compared ‘Every Day’ to Victoria Beckham

1072632 Victoria Beckham

AS many Spice Girls fans know, no one can replace Victoria Beckham. The 44-year-old is one-of-a-kind, a fashion icon, and has defined what it means to be posh. But like any influential pop culture figure, the singer-turned-designer has her fair share of doppelgängers and her latest might be her most uncanny yet. Ruby Corder, a transgender teen from Arlesey, United Kingdom, looks so much like the mom of four that she hears comparisons to her “every day.”

1072633Ruby Corder,

In an interview with Daily Mail, Corder, who is 18 and came out as transgender a year ago, revealed that she began hearing more comparisons to Beckham when she started experimenting with makeup a few years ago. After the teen became better at doing her own makeup, including contouring her decolletage to create the illusion of breasts, the look-alike comparisons escalated.

smalltownguy

05-04-2018, 04:16 PM

MAY 03, 2018

Campaign launches battle to defeat repeal of transgender protections

1072803JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said transgender advocates and their allies will need to “build understanding about transgender people and fight deceptive and hateful claims” in order to defeat a ballot measure this fall.
By Stephanie Ebbert GLOBE STAFF MAY 03, 2018

Evoking memories of California voters repealing gay marriage through Proposition 8 a decade ago, transgender advocates are encouraging their allies not to be complacent this November when transgender rights are tested on the Massachusetts ballot.

“No one thought that California would vote to revoke marriage equality. But they did,” said Kasey Suffredini, co-chair of the Freedom for All Massachusetts campaign.

Coordinators kicked off their campaign on Thursday, announcing that they have enlisted more than 1,000 partners in their coalition defending transgender rights from repeal. They include Harvard Pilgrim, Google and Eastern Bank, as well as sports teams — the Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and Revolution.

On the opposing side is the Keep MA Safe campaign, led by some of the same forces that fought the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts more than a decade ago. The referendum they got onto the ballot in November asks voters to repeal the state’s 2016 law protecting transgender people from discrimination in public accommodations. And that makes Massachusetts ground zero in the latest round of the nation’s culture wars.

“The eyes of the nation are here on Massachusetts,” said Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and the cochair of the Freedom for All campaign. “We have the unfortunate designation of being the first state to ever put transgender rights on the ballot for a popular vote. What happens here will have far-reaching implications across America.”

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said the coalition will need to do what the House did in 2015 and 2016 – “to build understanding about transgender people and fight deceptive and hateful claims.”

“We cannot lose this vote,” added DeLeo. “We can’t go backwards. We have to show the world what Massachusetts stands for.”

Suffredini noted that the coalition might also have to battle some ballot confusion in November, letting their allies know which way to vote on the somewhat counterintuitive question.

A “yes” vote preserves transgender antidiscrimination protections.

A “no” vote is a vote to repeal them.

And that’s not the only confusion around the issue. Even DeLeo, who was lauded for championing the original antidiscrimination bill in the House, bungled his pronouns at the campaign kickoff.

In trying to praise Suffredini, a transgender man who was an LGBTQ advocate on Beacon Hill before transitioning, he initially thanked “her” for “her support and advice.”

Then he quickly edited himself. “Kasey, he has been just an unbelievable friend.”

Stephanie Ebbert can be reached at Stephanie.Ebbert@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @StephanieEbbert

smalltownguy

05-05-2018, 12:25 PM

4th May 2018

Caitlyn Jenner to give lecture on transgender issues in the House of Commons

US reality TV star and transgender rights campaigner Caitlyn Jenner is to address the House of Commons about trans rights.

The lecture, part of Channel 4’s diversity lecture series, will address issues around gender and transphobia.
Jenner, 68, will in the footsteps of the actors Idris Elba and Riz Ahmed who have previously spoken about their experiences of being ethnic minority and working class.

A spokesman for the channel said: “The aim of the Channel 4 diversity lecture is to raise awareness and stimulate public debate about diversity issues.

“Caitlyn Jenner is one of the most high-profile transgender people in the world and her transition brought transgender issues into the mainstream, helping to stimulate debate and increase awareness.”

The lecture comes at the start of the broadcaster’s Genderquake season, two weeks of programmes which they hope will “open up the debate on gender.”

Jenner has proved a controversial choice among some to give the talk.

The registered Republican has been an outspoken supporter of US President Trump since he was elected – despite him pursuing a string of policies curbing trans people’s rights.

1072904 Caitlyn Jenner

Jenner ignored warnings from her transgender friends and supported Donald Trump and Mike Pence in 2016, insisting she would not be a “single issue” voter and claiming she could help influence the GOP on LGBT rights.

Jenner later tweeted: “Trump administration’s latest in a string of attacks on trans people: trans students, trans service members, & now employment protections for trans workers.

“This systematic gutting of non-discrimination protections for trans people is a disgrace!”

Last year she forced to turn down a transgender activism award, following anger and demands that it be rescinded from activists.

The award was from St. John’s Well Child & Family Center, a network of community healthcare centres in Los Angeles.

Jenner had been criticised by many LGBT activists due to her controversial support of anti-LGBT politicians including Ted Cruz and Trump.

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:50 AM

May 04, 2018

TN Transgender Wins Miss Koovagam Pageant

Villupuram (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 04 (ANI): Mobina, a transgender from Chennai who won Miss Koovagam pageant, has thanked everyone after bagging the title.

She told ANI, "I see news about me on newspapers and TV. I am really happy. I want to thank my community, family, friends and workplace."

Meanwhile, Preethi from Chennai bagged the second position while Subashree from Erode came third.

The 18-day Koovagam festival saw contestants traveling 30 km for the main event on Tuesday.

At Koothandavar temple, they re-enacted a Mahabharata episode, wherein Lord Krishna took the avatar of Mohini, marries Aravan, the son of Arjuna.

The fest concluded after the priests, after the priests of Koothandavar temple broke the bangles and untied "thalis" worn by transgenders symbolically turning them into widows. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:51 AM

MAY 4, 2018

New Hampshire Passed A Bill Protecting Transgender People

New Hampshire is on its way to becoming the 20th state with explicit civil rights protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people. On Wednesday, the state Senate passed House Bill 1319, which would add gender identity to the state's existing anti-discrimination laws.
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signaled he intends to sign the bipartisan legislation.
HB1319 would prohibit discrimination against people based on their gender identity in public spaces, the workplace, and housing. These protections already exist to shield people against discrimination based on their sex, religion, race, and sexual orientation. If Sununu signs HB1319 into law, the protections would automatically extend to transgender and gender non-conforming folks.
“New Hampshire’s leaders are demonstrating that nondiscrimination protection is not — and should never be — a partisan issue. From Alaska to New Hampshire, Republicans and Democrats are coming together to support all people,” Zeke Stokes, vice president of programs at GLAAD, said in a statement. “Gov. Sununu has said he is inclined to sign the measure, and it’s critical that he do so in order to ensure that everyone in New Hampshire has access to the same freedoms and protections under the law.”
New Hampshire is the last state in New England to put in place explicit anti-discrimination protections for transgender people.
Freedom New Hampshire, a local LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, celebrated the win on Twitter. The group wrote: "We did it! The NH Senate just voted 14-10 to pass #TransBillNH! This is a huge victory for freedom-loving people everywhere — especially the #transgender Granite Staters who have fought so hard for nearly a decade to make this happen."

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:53 AM

May 04, 2018

Chhattisgarh Government to Recruit Transgender in Police Force

1073208 Police (Representational Image/ Photo Credit: PTI)

Raipur, May 04: In order to promote gender equality, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to recruit transgender in the police force. The state police have started conducting workshops to facilitate applications from transgender. With this step, Chhattisgarh has become the first Indian state to do so.

The applicants are happy with the decision and have been propping up at the police parade ground here. They would be recruited under similar guidelines as other two genders.

"Just like other genders, we too wish to serve for the betterment of our country. We are happy with the decision of the state government and will leave no stone unturned to clear tests," said Divya, who is training with other transgender in the state capital to enter the police force.

Another aspirant, Sakshi, said, "Earlier we were afraid of the transgender community. We were told to stay away from them. However, now when we got to know them closely, we have realised that they are similar to us." In 2014, the Supreme Court declared transgender people as the third gender and ruled that they have equal privilege over the fundamental rights.

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:37 PM

May 2, 2018

NATIONAL Gus Kenworthy, Joy Reid, transgender troops

1073264Joy Reid
1073265Gus Kenworthy

Following his refusal to attend the Winter Olympian visit at the White House, Gus Kenworthy announced he will attend the Democratic National Committee's ( DNC's ) annual LGBTQ gala as a "special guest" June 25 in New York City, the DNC announced. Last year, the resources raised from the gala went to critical investments in races and state parties, which helped elect Ralph Northam in Virginia, Doug Jones in Alabama and helped flip control of the Washington state Senate, enabling the now-Democratic-controlled state government to ban conversion therapy earlier this year. The LGBTQ gala began in 1999 as a small dinner held by Andy Tobias, former DNC Treasurer, and has grown to one of the DNC's biggest and most successful events.
The Daily Beast will suspend future columns from Joy Reid due to the fallout over anti-gay comments she made on an old blog a decade ago, TheWrap reported. Although she apologized for content on her old blog The Reid Report back in December, the MSNBC host has denied the latest revelations reported by Mediaite, saying that her the long defunct website was hacked. Things continued to spiral for Reid—and MSNBC—over the story, which has now moved beyond the revelations reported by Mediaite to whether Reid was being honest about claims of hacking. On April 28, Reid opened her show on MSNBC with a mea culpa about past homophobic remarks and admitted cybersecurity experts haven't been able to prove her former blog was hacked.

Six former U.S. surgeons general have signed a statement disputing Defense Department assertions about the medical fitness of transgender troops, according to a Palm Center press release. Former U.S. Surgeons General M. Joycelyn Elders and David Satcher originally released the statement last month� in response to a Pentagon proposal to reinstate the transgender ban. In part, the letter ( with Elders, Satcher, Richard Carmona, Regina Benjamin, Vevek Murthy and Kenneth P. Moritsugu as signees ) says, "We underscore that transgender troops are as medically fit as their non-transgender peers and that there is no medically valid reason—including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria—to exclude them from military service or to limit their access to medically necessary care."

Washington, D.C., police homicide detectives learned from at least two witnesses that a 35-year-old District man arrested for the March 24 shooting death of gay D.C. resident Sean Anderson, 48, was invited by Anderson to Anderson's apartment on the night of the murder to have sex in exchange for crack cocaine, The Washington Blade reported. Jerome Wilson has been charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with Anderson's death. A Superior Court judge ordered Wilson held without bond and scheduled a preliminary hearing for the case for May 18.

Funeral services were recently held for Crae Pridgen Jr., 53, who attracted nationwide attention as an outspoken witness in the 1993 Mickey Ratz assault case ( involving a downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, gay bar ), StarNewsOnline.com reported. Pridgen died March 2 at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He had been an outspoken witness against three Camp Lejeune Marines over a Jan. 30, 1993, incident at Mickey Ratz, a private club. In April 1993, District Judge Jacqueline Morris-Goodson acquitted the Marines on assault charges, after six days of testimony.

Joe Watts—a figure who was the king of Houston gay theater from the early 1980s to the 2000s—died March 12 after a battle with cancer at age 76, the Houston Chronicle reported. In 1985, during an extremely anti-gay period in Houston's history when many gays were deep in the closet, he founded one of the city's first gay theater companies, The Group Theater. Later, in the mid-1990s, he went on to found another queer theater ensemble, Theatre New West, in Montrose.

Hawaii lawmakers approved a ban on so-called "gay conversion therapy" treatments conducted on minors, Hawaii News Now reported. LGBT-rights advocates say the practice—largely discredited by healthcare professionals—does more harm than good to those who are subjected to it. Several states, including California, Oregon and New Jersey, have already passed similar laws; Maryland passed legislation banning the practice in April. Hawaii is now the 12th state to ban the practice.

Journalist Thomas Roberts has announced plans to make a $25,000 donation to the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC )—indirectly from President Donald Trump, The Washington Blade reported. While accepting HRC's Leadership & Visibility Award at its Maryland Summit recently, Roberts reminded the audience that he emceed the 2013 Miss Universe competition in Moscow. The former MSNBC anchor explains that he decided to host the event, "because I wanted people to know that members of the LGBTQ community are not a threat to you." His appearance earned him $25,000, but Roberts announced he wants to donate the money to HRC.

An Indiana pizzeria that came under scrutiny several years ago for refusing to cater gay weddings has shut down—possibly for good, Gay Star News reported. According to the South Bend Tribune, a sign posted on Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, indicated it closed sometime in March. Owners Kevin and Crystal O'Connor stated their restaurant would never cater a same-sex wedding; their position came in support of the state's Freedom Restoration Act. After receiving backlash, the spot temporarily closed its doors; however, after a cash infusion, it reopened. Now, reportedly, the owners want to retire.

Houston doctor Joseph Varon said he has witnessed discrimination in every corner of the medical profession—from doctors and nurses, in clinics and hospitals, and in teaching environments, Outsmart Magazine noted. The ally said this discrimination has been particularly flagrant toward LGBTQ patients—a fact that gnawed at him. Varon proceeded to design a 30-question anonymous survey and send it to 12,000 professionals; he said, "Roughly one in five reported treating homosexuals differently from straight patients, based on their moral or religious beliefs. That's 20 percent." Varon presented the preliminary results of his survey at the fall annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Toronto.

The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ), Equality Kansas and the ACLU of Kansas took out a full-page ad—"Keep Kansas Open To All"—in the Topeka Capital-Journal and the Wichita Eagle, an HRC press release noted. The ad highlights the overwhelming opposition from the business community to HB 2481—legislation currently pending before the Kansas House of Representatives that would create a license to discriminate with taxpayer funds against LGBTQ foster or adoptive parents, single parents or other qualified families.

In Texas, Austin man James Miller has avoided going to prison by claiming the man he stabbed to death had come onto him, NewNowNext.com noted. Miller will serve 10 years probation after being convicted of criminally negligent homicide in the killing his neighbor Daniel Spencer in September 2015. The night of the stabbing, Miller testified, Spencer became angry when he spurned his sexual advances.

Transgender Law Center's Positively Trans project has launched #ACApositive—a campaign to shift the conversation about health are and the Affordable Care Act toward a focus on the life-or-death stakes for transgender people living with HIV, a press release noted. Launching just a week after news broke that the Trump administration plans to attack the Affordable Care Act's protections for transgender people, the campaign aims to amplify the experiences and voices of transgender people of color living with HIV in federal health care policy. See https://transgenderlawcenter.org/acapositive.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Kyle Duncan, an anti-LGBT candidate, for a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by a vote of 50-47, a Lambda Legal press release noted. Lambda Legal CEO Rachel B. Tiven said, in part, "Kyle Duncan has made a career for himself targeting LGBT children and families. The idea that Mr. Duncan will cast aside his bigoted beliefs overnight, and miraculously transform into an impartial judge, is ludicrous and reckless. His career has been one long grudge match against women and LGBT Americans—now the Trump/Pence Administration is making him a referee."

Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, President Trump's pick to lead the Veterans Affairs Department, has been accused of creating a hostile work environment, drinking while on duty and improperly prescribing drugs to staff during his time as White House doctor to two administrations, NPR reported. Montana Sen. Jon Tester detailed the allegations in an interview with NPR's All Things Considered, saying more than 20 military employees disclosed the as-yet-unsubstantiated allegations to senators ahead of a hearing to debate his nomination to lead the VA.

The Hispanic National Bar Association ( HNBA ), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association ( NAPABA ) and the National Bar Association ( NBA ) released a statement in response to the recent decision made by the Judge John D. Bates of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia regarding the Trump Administration's attempt to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program, a press release noted. ( Bates stayed his decision for 90 days, granting the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) the opportunity to provide a well-founded justification for terminating the DACA program. ) In part, NAPABA President Pankit J. Doshi said, "We cannot continue to leave the lives of these vulnerable members of the immigrant community in limbo. NAPABA continues to stand in support of the DREAMers."

Kanye West turned his attention to prominent activist and Parkland school shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez, who he called his "hero" on Twitter while publishing a photo of her, Vulture.com noted. However, Gonzalez chose to forgo acknowledging West in favor of copying the format of his tweet to celebrate her own hero: James Shaw Jr.—the man who made the news for stopping the Waffle House shooter. That very same minute, West posted a selfie of himself with his head shaved with the caption "inspired by Emma."

For years, Cassandra Bankson became a master at the cover-up—but it wasn't until the model and beauty vlogger finally cleared her skin that she realized she was using her chronic cystic acne to conceal another reality: she's lesbian, Yahoo! Lifestyle reported. "This has been my deepest secret," says Bankson, who candidly chronicled her skin-care journey with her 824K followers on YouTube. "Once I started coming out to friends and family—which I did individually, one by one—my acne started to get better."

On a recent episode of his show, Bill Maher asked out journalist Ronan Farrow if #MeToo has gone too far, bringing up men like former U.S. Sen. Al Franken and Master of None's Aziz Ansari, EW.com noted. "I think that our culture has actually been pretty good on the whole about self-regulating," Farrow said. "That blog about Aziz Ansari came out, it was clearly a single-source narrative about a date gone wrong and there was a debate about how far gone wrong it was, but I don't think anyone saw that and said, 'He's Harvey Weinstein. This is a multiple rapist.' I think people have separated these things clearly."

Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw has been accused of sexual harassment by former NBC anchor Linda Vester, TheWrap reported, citing Variety. Vester said that Brokaw tried to force her to kiss him on two separate occasions, groped her in a NBC conference room and showed up at her hotel room uninvited. Two friends of Vester corroborated to Variety that she told them about the encounters at the time, and she shared her journal entries from the time period with the news outlet. Brokaw ( who has denied Vester's allegations as well as those of another woman ) has never before been publicly accused of sexual harassment in the past.

However, in a related development, more than 100 women have signed a letter defending Brokaw, CNNMoney reported. Among the names defending Brokaw are some high-profile personalities, including MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Mika Brzezinski, White House correspondent Kelly O'Donnell, chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell and NBC special anchor Maria Shriver.

Chicana photographer Laura Aguilar—whose retrospective at the Vincent Price Museum of Art in Monterrey Park, California, now on view at the Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in Miami, made her one of the breakout stars of the Getty Foundation's recent Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA initiative—has died at age 58, ArtNews.com noted. In her series "Latina Lesbians" ( 1986—90 ), she photographed gay Latina women, with her subjects gazing directly into the camera's view; below the images, each of which is mounted on white paper, are captions ( some include spelling errors ) that detail these women's opinions of what it means to be a woman, a lesbian, and/or a Latina.

Phoenix city officials have approved changing a couple crosswalks to celebrate gay pride, the Seattle Times noted. The city council voted to allow two crosswalks in central Phoenix to get a makeover with rainbow designs to celebrate the LGBT community. One crosswalk will be in the city's Melrose District, which is anchored by several gay bars; another will be close to the downtown headquarters of several LGBT organizations. Several cities have rainbow crosswalks, including San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

On May 10, the University of Virginia is hosting a healthcare conference on caring for LGBT patients, WVTF.org reported. Ken White—an associate dean of nursing at the university who happens to be openly gay—said he knows many health care professionals who are even more uncomfortable with transgender men and women. "They don't know what to say," he explained. "They don't want to make a mistake, so they don't say anything, and that makes patients feel isolated." See https://www.nursing.virginia.edu/media/5-10-18-LGBTQSymposium.pdf.

Home-furnishings brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is conducting a CEO search, a press release noted. CEO/Chairman Mitchell Gold, who co-founded the company with President of Design Bob Williams, said, "Bob and I built this company from the ground up with an incredible team, and now we want someone to take the reins, work with us to transition the company to the next generation of leadership, and allow me to focus on my strengths, including new strategic partnerships for both our products and our ethos."

Regional bartending champions from 14 U.S. and Canadian cities will vie for mixology mastery June 6-10 in the final rounds of the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, a press release stated. The top two bartenders are to receive a combined total of $20,000 for charity, with a portion given to a Key West organization of their choice and the rest to a favorite hometown charity. See Out.com/keywestcocktailclassic.

Controversial alt-right media figurehead Milo Yiannopoulos was shouted out of NYC bar Churchill Tavern, Eater New York noted. Members of the Democratic Socialists of America chanted, "Nazi scum, get out" at Yiannopoulos until he did just that. He then took to Instagram to say the group "shoved and screamed at" him—although a video of the incident showed a relatively peaceful scene.

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:39 PM

May 2, 2018

Trans residents sue Wisconsin over surgeries

In Wisconsin, two transgender residents—Cody Flack and Sara Ann Makenzie—are suing the state's health department, alleging discrimination because the state's Medicaid program does not cover their desired gender-reassignment surgery, The Hill reported.
Flack, a transgender man, and Makenzie, a transgender woman, are battling a 1997 Wisconsin regulation that bans the state's Medicaid program from covering what it refers to as "transsexual surgery."

The plaintiffs say the regulation "flies in the face" of what medical authorities say about gender dysphoria—the "clinically significant distress associated with having a gender identity ... that conflicts with the sex one was assigned at birth."

The Hill article is at thehill.com/policy/healthcare/385542-transgender-patients-sue-wisconsin-for-denying-coverage-of-gender .

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:43 PM

May 2, 2018

Iran trans assaults, legal action in Japan, Harry and Meghan

1073266Meghan

A shocking video showing the harassment and sexual assault of a group of trans women has shown how police at the scene stood by and did nothing to protect them in Iran, Gay Star News reported. In the short video, one of the trans women is screaming hysterically as a mob of men surround them on a public street. Witnesses at the scene the police officer allegedly blamed the trans women for the assault. U.S.-based Iranian activist Masih Alinejad posted the video on her Twitter account.
A gay Japanese man has taken legal action after he was barred from his partner's cremation and not receiving inheritance, Gay Star News reported. The move is a historic one in Japan which only recognizes same-sex partnerships in some districts in the country. The 69-year-old, from Osaka Prefecture, filed a suit against his partner's sister for inheritance he feel he is owed; he is also suing her for barring him from attending his partner's cremation. His partner died in March 2016, and he's suing his sister-in-law for 7 million yen ( $64,000 U.S. ) in damages.

Social-media videos are encouraging people to vote for change in Lebanon, Gay Star News noted. Of all the countries in the Middle East, many regard Lebanon as more progressive in regards to LGBTI rights. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Penal Code 534; however, some electoral candidates in the country's May 6 elections are openly calling for the code's repeal.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to put gay rights at the forefront of their agenda, the couple told young activists from the Commonwealth, according to The Times. They were at a youth reception in London as part of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, and Markle said that LGBT issues were about "basic human rights." Although her fiance and the Duke of Cambridge have spoken out about gay rights before, this was the prince's firmest commitment to date.

BBC.com published an article on sexual harassment in Bollywood. The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan and Pratiksha Ghilidial spoke to several actresses who say they have been sexually harassed by directors and casting agents. One actress said she went to the police on one occasion but her complaint was dismissed by officers who said "filmy people" can do what they want. Also, Ranveer Singh, one of Bollywood's biggest male actors, said in a 2015 interview that he had experienced the casting couch "first hand." Actor/director/singer Farhan Aktar founded MARD, the Men Against Rape and Discrimination campaign, which raises awareness around sexual violence across the country.

Bangalore, a state in southern India, has seen its number of transgender voters double, Gay Star News noted. Efforts to improve the lives of trans people and raise awareness about their human rights has been credited for the jump in voter numbers. The chief electoral officer ( CEO ) confirmed 4,552 trans people are registered to vote in Bangalore—double than in the most recent elections.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Richard Grenell as U.S. ambassador to Germany, making him the most high-profile openly gay appointee in the Trump administration, The Washington Blade reported. Despite Democratic opposition for months over mean tweets he made about the appearance of women and other comments downplaying the significance of Russia's influence in the 2016 election, Grenell was confirmed ( mostly along party lines ) by a vote of 56-42. The first openly gay U.S. ambassador was James Hormel, who served as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg during the Clinton administration.

Advocacy groups have warned that HIV-positive Papua New Guineans could die if the country's dwindling antiretroviral drugs supply is not replenished soon, PinkNews reported. The Oceanic nation is eating into its "buffer" supply of the HIV medicine after the government slashed the budget for the treatment, reported ABC News. The country, which accounts for 95 percent of all HIV cases in the Pacific, has seen its budget for the HIV drug plummet in the past year.

Pro-Beijing lawmakers spoke out against the appointment of two leading foreign judges to Hong Kong's top court over their support of same-sex rights but stopped short of pledging to block their appointments, The South China Morning Post reported. Baroness Brenda Hale and Beverley McLachlin—Britain's current top judge and Canada's former top judge—cleared their first hurdle to join the Court of Final Appeal with a five to one approval from a Legislative Council subcommittee. The House Committee and Legco will now have to vote them in before they are formally appointed by Hong Kong's top official, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor; tThey would be the first female non-permanent judges in the city's judiciary.

Canadian politician Scott Brison—the Nova Scotia MP for Kings-Hants and president of the Treasury Board—said that, in his teen years, he was borderline suicidal as he tried to be anything but gay, CBC.ca noted. Even after accepting his sexual orientation and pursuing his career in politics, Brison delayed coming out publicly for a few years, thinking it wasn't necessary because his friends and family knew; however, he decided he needed to officially come out as gay to inspire others. Now Brison is Canada's first openly gay cabinet minister.

A delegation representing Pride Montreal traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to meet the leaders of a dozen organizations working—mostly in the shadows—with sexual and gender-diverse clients ( SGD ), according to a Pride Montreal press release. Present at this meeting was Her Excellency Sara Hradecky, high commissioner to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, who explained how Canada would be able to support the actions of the Executive Committee and to invite leaders of LGBTQ+ organizations from Kenya to the Canadian Embassy on May 17, as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Speaking of Kenya, the African country's authorities have banned Wanuri Kahiu's Rafiki ( "Friend" ), an LGBT love story that will have its world premiere in Cannes' Un Certain Regard in May, Variety reported. Kahiu announced the decision recently, saying she was "incredibly disappointed" during an appearance on the "Morning Express" wake-up show on Kenyan network KTN. The film ( adapted from the short story "Jambula Tree," by Uganda's Monica Arac de Nyeko ) is the story of two teenage girls who develop a romance that's opposed by their families and community.

Actor Jackie Chan's daughter Etta Ng and her girlfriend have appealed for help, saying that they're homeless, PinkNews noted. In a YouTube video, the couple told viewers that every attempt they had made to find shelter through official channels had led to the authorities trying to split them up. Ng, 18, came out last year, posting a photo on Instagram of her in front of a rainbow coloured background, with the caption: "In case no one got the memo, I'm gay." Sitting alongside her girlfriend Andi Autumn, 30, Ng said, "We've been homeless for a month, due to homophobic parents."

Vancouver bar/nightclub Odyssey will close June 30 after almost 30 years of business, Gay Star News noted. No further explanation for the closure was offered besides a farewell message on the venue's Facebook page. Odyssey originally opened in the city's Gay Village area, but had to relocate in 2010.

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:45 PM

May 1, 2018

New campaign brings trans people living with HIV into health care conversation
From a Transgender Law Center press release

( Oakland, CA ) — Transgender Law Center's Positively Trans project today launched #ACApositive, a campaign to shift the conversation about health care and the Affordable Care Act towards a focus on the life-or-death stakes for transgender people living with HIV. Launching just a week after news broke that the Trump administration plans to attack the Affordable Care Act's protections for transgender people, the campaign seeks to amplify the experiences and voices of transgender people of color living with HIV in federal health care policy.
"By undermining the Affordable Care Act, the Trump administration is undermining the survival of transgender people of color living with HIV," said Cecilia Chung, senior director of strategic projects at Transgender Law Center and founder of Positively Trans. "Yet so few advocates, policymakers, or media outlets covering these attacks on health care are talking about the stakes for my community. By saying we are #ACApositive, transgender people living with HIV are demanding that our voices and experiences be heard and respected."

The digital campaign will feature the stories and perspectives of dozens of transgender people living with HIV, including through a Twitter town hall on Monday, May 7th, at 11am PT/2pm ET.

"We are now living in a medically advanced world where, with proper treatment, HIV has become manageable, chronic condition and not a death sentence — unless you are poor, unless you are a person of color, and especially unless you're a poor transgender person of color," says Arianna Lint, a member of the Positively Trans National Advisory Board. "For us, it is 1980. The Affordable Care Act has been a critical step towards finally addressing this crisis and giving us a chance to thrive. To turn back on it now would be cruel and, for many, fatal."

In a national research study, Positively Trans found that 44% of trans people living with HIV surveyed had faced discrimination in health care because of their gender identity, and 41% had gone six months or more without medical care since their HIV diagnosis. Positively Trans, the first network led by and for transgender people living with HIV ( TPLHIV ), launched in 2015 to address inequities, stigma, and discrimination faced by TPLHIV through community-driven research, leadership development, storytelling, and organizing.

Evonne Kaho, another member of Positively Trans, added, "We are launching the #ACApositive campaign because everyone should be able to get medical care when they need it. Everyone deserves for their life to be saved, and that's what the Affordable Care Act means for transgender people living with HIV. It's a matter of life or death for us."

Learn more about #ACApositive and find campaign materials at https://transgenderlawcenter.org/acapositive.

Transgender Law Center ( TLC ) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation. transgenderlawcenter.org

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 05:56 PM

April 25,2018

Trans show part of Fashion Week

A transgender-themed show will be part of Chicago Fashion Week, which is taking place through April 30.
Among the events is "Trans, Media and Fashion," which will take place Sunday, April 29, 4-8 p.m., at EvolveHer, 358 W. Ontario St. The show will feature designs by Angela Wang.

Some of the other events include "Student Showcasing Fashion Installation" ( April 25 ), which Tony Long will host; and the "Ready to Wear Show," ( April 28 ), which will be held at Baderbrau, 2515 S. Wabash Ave.

See www.fashionbarchicago.com/pages/chicagofashionweek-registration/ for more information. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite.

smalltownguy

05-06-2018, 06:05 PM

April 25,2018

Trans author/activist Reyna Ortiz talks work, new publishing company

1073267Reyna Ortiz

Ever since the release of trans activist Reyna Ortiz's book, T: Stands for Truth: In search of the Queen, last fall, her life has been a whirlwind of new experiences. Ortiz—who was born in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood and raised in Cicero, Illinois—has been advocating for the trans community since she was a teenager.
"There have been so many great things that have happened since the release of my book," said Ortiz. "The one thing that stands out the most is the acknowledgement of my experiences. The majority of people have no idea the life lived by a trans person, especially a trans woman of color. So it is really great when I see people coming to an understanding of not only the complications but the beauty as well."

One of the things Ortiz has done in recent months is start her own publishing company, Trans Fusions Publishing.

"I learned so much about the process of publishing when my book was being put together," said Ortiz. "Having my own company has given me the ability to publish other stories of trans identified people. I am working with other trans people who are willing to share their stories, artwork, poetry or anything else they find important about their experiences. If they are willing to do the work, so am I."

Ortiz explained that it is time to document trans history through personal stories from wide variety of people in the trans community. She said there are only a small number of positive influences that that trans community has to hold onto because most of the community's history "has been swept under the rug, dismissed or straight up stolen."

Not only has Ortiz published a book, but she is also Chicago House's Trans Life Center's TransSafe coordinator and the Task Force Prevention and Community Services' trans resource navigator and drop-in manager.

Ortiz explained that her position running Chicago House's Trans Life Center "with staff who are equally dedicated is community-building at its finest. Finding trans-identified people all throughout the city and being able to connect them to a space that you know is going to handle business is refreshing. Connecting a participant to housing, legal, medical and employment in a simplistic way can be life-changing. Trust is important within our community. Participants need to trust you in order to be able to do this work successfully."

When Ortiz is not working at Chicago House she can be found at Task Force Prevention and Community Services or what the youth call "The Vogue School" helping young people at the drop-in space which is "one of my favorite places to be and so much fun."

"The energy of the youth and their love for Vogue is glorious," said Ortiz. "These young people know that they can come to me with an issue and I will try my absolute best to help them work through it. I connect youth to medical appointments, housing resources, employment services and the newly created free legal clinic. Working with trans/gender nonconforming youth is the most fulfilling part of my work. We learn so much from each other and they give me such a different perspective on life. I am so proud of their courage, strength, resourcefulness and resilience."

In terms of Ortiz's journey since high school, she noted that this year will mark 20 years since graduation. Since that time, Ortiz explained that she has learned "lots of life lessons including learning from my mistakes." She noted that everyone's life should be in transition "spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually to keep evolving, learning and for self-growth" and that is how she has navigated her entire adult life.

Over the past two plus decades, Ortiz was also named her high school's prom queen, featured on NPR's StoryCorps and co-founded Trans Women in Real Life.

Ortiz will also be reading from her book at Chicago House's annual Spring Brunch & Fashion Show ( which has the theme "Revive! Rally on the Runway" )at her favorite library, the Harold Washington Library. She said guests should expect "great energy and a festive time."

"I am so excited for the future of my community," said Ortiz. "The trans community is reclaiming itself and taking responsibility for ourselves. We have lots of work to be done and we also understand that it is time to move forward. My story, our story is about perseverance."

To purchase tickets for the Sunday, May 6 Chicago House event ( 12:00-3:30 p.m. ), visit www.chicagohouse.org/buy-tickets/. To read more about Ortiz, visit www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Trans-leader-Reyna-Ortiz-on-new-book-being-prom-queen/60911.html .

smalltownguy

05-07-2018, 09:22 AM

May 6, 2018

Transgender Texas mayor loses election bid for full term

NEW HOPE, Texas (AP) — The mayor of a small Texas town who came out as transgender after being appointed to the job has lost her election bid for a full two-year term.

The Dallas Morning News reports that New Hope Mayor Jess Herbst was running to become the first openly transgender elected official in Texas. Election results show she finished third Saturday in the four-person race, with 53 votes. The winner received 95.

Herbst became mayor in May 2016 when her predecessor died. At the time, she was an alderman and went by the name Jeff. She publicly came out as transgender during a council meeting last year.

Herbst says she was proud of the election turnout in New Hope, which has fewer than 500 registered voters.

Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com

smalltownguy

05-07-2018, 04:31 PM

May 7, 2018

Chelsea Manning: Insurgent bid for US Senate is genuine

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NORTH BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Chelsea Manning is no longer living as a transgender woman in a male military prison, serving the lengthiest sentence ever for revealing U.S. government secrets. She's free to grow out her hair, travel the world, and spend time with whomever she likes.

But a year since former President Barack Obama commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, America's most famous convicted leaker isn't taking an extended vacation. Far from it: The Oklahoma native has decided to make an unlikely bid for the U.S. Senate in her adopted state of Maryland.

Manning, 30, filed to run in January and has been registered to vote in Maryland since August. She lives in North Bethesda, not far from where she stayed with an aunt while awaiting trial. Her aim is to unseat Sen. Ben Cardin, a 74-year-old Maryland Democrat who is seeking his third Senate term and previously served 10 terms in the U.S. House.

Manning, who also has become an internationally recognized transgender activist, said she's motivated by a desire to fight what she sees as a shadowy surveillance state and a rising tide of nightmarish repression.

"The rise of authoritarianism is encroaching in every aspect of life, whether it's government or corporate or technological," Manning told The Associated Press during an interview at her home in an upscale apartment tower. On the walls of her barely furnished living room hang Obama's commutation order, and photos of U.S. anarchist Emma Goldman and British playwright Oscar Wilde.

Manning's longshot campaign for the June 26 primary would appear to be one of the more unorthodox U.S. Senate bids in recent memory, and the candidate is operating well outside the party's playbook. She says she doesn't, in fact, even consider herself a Democrat, but is motivated by a desire to shake up establishment Democrats who are "caving in" to President Donald Trump's administration. She vows she won't run as an independent if her primary bid fails.

She's certainly got an eye-catching platform: Close prisons and free inmates; eliminate national borders; restructure the criminal justice system; provide universal health care and basic income. The top of her agenda? Abolish the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency created in 2003 that Manning asserts is preparing for an "ethnic cleansing."

Manning ticks off life experiences she believes would make her an effective senator: a stint being homeless in Chicago, her wartime experiences as a U.S. Army intelligence analyst in Iraq - even her seven years in prison. She asserts she's got a "bigger vision" than establishment politicians.

But political analysts suspect the convicted felon is not running to win.

"Manning is running as a protest candidate, which has a long lineage in American history, to shine light on American empire," said Daniel Schlozman, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University. "That's a very different goal, with a very different campaign, than if she wanted to beat Ben Cardin."

Manning's insurgent candidacy thus far has been a decidedly stripped-down affair, with few appearances and a campaign website that just went up. In recent days, she approached an anti-fracking rally in Baltimore almost furtively, keeping to herself for much of the demonstration. But when it was her turn to address the small group, her celebrity status was evident. People who never met her called her by her first name and eagerly took photos.

Manning has acknowledged leaking more than 700,000 military and State Department documents to anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010. She said her motivation was a desire to spark debate about U.S. foreign policy, and she has been portrayed as both a hero and a traitor.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, she came out as transgender after her 2013 court-martial. She was barred from growing her hair long in prison, and was approved for hormone therapy only after litigation. She spent long stints in solitary confinement, and twice tried to kill herself.

The Pentagon, which has repeatedly declined to discuss Manning's treatment in military prison, is also staying mum about her political ambitions. Democratic Party officials say they have no comment, citing a policy not to weigh in on primaries. Republican operatives are quiet.

In Maryland, a blue state that's home to tens of thousands of federal employees and defense contractors, it appears Manning's main supporters are independents or anti-politics, making them unlikely to coalesce politically. She recently reported contributions of $72,000 on this year's first quarterly finance statement, compared with Cardin's $336,000.

The candidate has barely made an effort at tapping sources of grassroots enthusiasm outside of activism circles. And it's easy to find progressive Democrats who feel her candidacy is just a vehicle to boost her profile.

"It feels to me almost like it's part of a book tour - that this is her moment after being released from prison," said Dana Beyer, a transgender woman who leads the Gender Rights Maryland nonprofit and is a Democratic candidate for state senate. "I don't think this is a serious effort."

Manning is indeed working on a book about her dramatic life. For now, she says she supports herself with income from speaking engagements. She's spoken at various U.S. colleges and is due to take the stage at a Montreal conference later this month.

Last week, she appeared at a tech conference in Germany's capital of Berlin, arriving to cheers from the audience of several thousand people. She told attendees she's still struggling to adjust to life after prison and hasn't gotten used to her celebrity status yet.

"There's been a kind of cult of personality that is really intimidating and that is overwhelming for me," she said in Berlin.

At her Maryland apartment, Manning told the AP she occasionally wakes up panicked that she's back in the cage in Kuwait where she was first jailed, or incarcerated at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, where a U.N. official concluded she'd been subjected to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment." She works hard to overcome anxiety, centering herself with yoga, breathing exercises, and reading.

"I've been out for almost a year now and it's becoming increasingly clear to me just how deep the wounds are," she said in her Spartan living room.

Asked how she would define success, Manning responded with passionate intensity: "Success for me is survival."

smalltownguy

05-08-2018, 06:38 AM

May 7, 2018

“We want to bring good stories to people”: TV writer Joan Rater on trans inclusivity in the media

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For many viewers, movies and television shows are a reflection of the lives they live. One aspect of entertainment, however, is noticeably homogenous: the gender identity of characters. Unlike real-life cities and towns, the fictional worlds of movies seem to be populated almost solely by cisgender characters.

Joan Rater is one of the many people who have noticed this lack of diversity. For Rater — who has worked as a television writer on “Grey’s Anatomy” and created the show “Doubt” with her husband, Tony Phelan — the absence of transgender characters in media has personal significance. Rater’s son, Tom, is a transgender boy, and supporting him through his coming out experience and transitioning process has made her aware of the challenges the transgender community faces.

Last Thursday at 7:00 P.M. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark (UUFN), Rater delivered a talk on her reflections and acceptance of her son’s transitioning process and the need for trans visibility in the media. This talk was one of many that Rater has delivered, as she visits various churches, community centers and venues across the country, with the goal of increasing trans acceptance.

“We do a lot of social justice outreach within the community, so I was happy when this opportunity came up,” Karen Barker, a member of the UUFN who invited Rater to speak, says. “I feel like this program may be able to help parents as well as young people.”

Rater began her talk with an introduction of her son and his transitioning process. She discussed how it positively impacted him, explaining how after he got his top surgery — a surgery that removes breasts — he felt much happier and more confident. Rater also discussed Tom’s involvement in acting, including his role on the show “The Fosters”.

Her recollections of her son’s transitioning process resonated with Angel Partie, an audience member who transitioned six years ago and a professor of communications and writing at Wilmington University.

“I liked when she talked about how her son didn’t really have an explanation for why he thought something was wrong with him,” Partie says. “I’d felt that way when I was a teenager. I was like, ‘I don’t know where I stand in terms of everything!’”

After sharing her personal memories, Rater discussed the impact of prejudice toward transgender individuals and their invisibility in the media. With her latest show, “Doubt” — a law drama on air for one season that starred transgender actress Laverne Cox in the role of an attorney named Cameron — Rater intended to amend that. She explained that she and her husband hoped audience members would fall in love with Cox’s character, helping increase transgender acceptance.

Many of the older audience members, who transitioned during the early or late 2000s, say that at that time, characters like Cameron were completely absent from their televisions.

“Trans didn’t really have a presence for me,” Partie says. “I turned to Youtube where there were young trans guys who were telling their stories and being open. It was a lot of self research.”

However, during “Doubt”’s test screenings, prejudices toward the transgender community were exposed. Test audiences were given dials that they were instructed to turn whenever they disliked a part of the show. According to Rater, test audiences responded negatively toward Cameron, even before Cameron had a chance to speak. When questioned as to why they didn’t like the character, many audience members could not provide a legitimate reason.

According to the American National Election Studies (ANES) 2016 Pilot Study, this reception is reflective of America’s feelings toward the transgender community. The study asked participants to rank their feelings toward transgender people, with 0 being negative and 100 being positive.

According to Free Roath, a recent graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, the study found that many of the responses ranked feelings being clustered around the 50 mark, indicating lukewarm feelings. These findings and Rater’s experience illustrate how inclusion of the trans community has not been fully achieved.

Still, Rater believes in the power of film to eliminate prejudice and told audiences she will continue to push for more roles for transgender actors.

“There’s a lot of power coming into someone’s home on a television,” Rater says. “People get to feel very close with the characters of the TV shows they like and they identify with them. There’s huge power in bringing relevant, truthful stories to people’s homes.”

smalltownguy

05-08-2018, 12:39 PM

8 May, 2018

Kanye West is a race traitor, declares Atlantic columnist Ta-Nehisi Coates

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Kanye West is abandoning his black roots by embracing President Donald Trump and “white freedom,” says author and activist Ta-Nehisi Coates, the latest celebrity piling onto the rapper over his political views.
In a 5,000-word essay in The Atlantic magazine, the author of ‘We Were Eight Years in Power’ argues that many African-Americans, including himself, had considered West a “god” akin to Michael Jackson.

“The rule of Donald Trump is predicated on the infliction of maximum misery on West’s most ardent parishioners, the portions of America, the muck, that made the god Kanye possible,” Coates wrote. “But for black artists who rise to the heights of Jackson and West, the weight is more, because they come from communities in desperate need of champions.”

Two weeks ago, West set Twitter on fire by posting a photo of an autographed Make America Great Again hat and calling Trump a “brother” who shared his “dragon energy.” He refused to walk back his comments in the face of a backlash from many black celebrities, saying instead that he was a free thinker who refused to live in the “prison” prescribed by others.

“[Kanye] is, indeed, championing a kind of freedom — a white freedom, freedom without consequence, freedom without criticism, freedom to be proud and ignorant... the freedom of rape buttons, pussy grabbers... the freedom of suburbs drawn with red lines, the white freedom of Calabasas,” Coates wrote, referring to the California hometown of West’s wife, Kim Kardashian.

Incidentally, Kardashian’s stepfather became one of the most recognizable transgender people in the world, Caitlyn Jenner – and just so happens to share West’s newfound conservative brand of politics.

This did not prevent Coates from accusing West of betraying the “young people among the despised classes of America... the children parted from their parents at the border, the women warring to control the reproductive organs of their own bodies, the transgender soldier fighting for his job.”

This brand of identity politics was at the heart of Coates’ widely publicized online spat with popular intellectual Cornel West in 2017, a row which would ultimately see Coates withdraw from Twitter and delete his account altogether, despite having over 1.25 million followers.

Kanye West has over 28 million followers on Twitter. It appeared that he lost about 10 million of them on the day he came out as a Trump supporter, but Twitter dismissed those reports as a glitch. A Detroit radio station did ban his songs from being played, however, while a number of black celebrities have sought to distance themselves from West for siding with the “oppressor.”

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While Coates’ essay was praised in liberal circles, with many fawning over the piece in carbon-copy tweets, the conservative movement’s most vocal advocates on Twitter did not share that point of view.

Some argued that the praise was for Coates’ prose, not his point, arguing that it was merely a racially-charged case of style over substance.

smalltownguy

05-09-2018, 11:15 AM

9 May 2018

Make all public toilets gender-neutral, says Germaine Greer on C4

Author of The Female Eunuch was speaking during debate about gender and trans rights

1073632 Feminist academic Germaine Greer raised issues about gender self-identification. Photograph: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock

Germaine Greer has called for all public toilets to be made gender-neutral, saying the current division into gents and ladies is outdated.

“Just dump the whole thing,” said the feminist academic. “You can actually sort out toilets in a more sensible way so that people have access to the bits they need and they don’t have to be bothered by the bits they don’t need. In our houses where we live our toilets are not gendered. I think that should just be now universal.”

Greer made the comments during the Channel 4 programme Genderquake: The Debate, which aired on Tuesday night. The programme, a spin-off from a week-long series of programmes about gender and trans rights, featured the academic debate with a panel including former Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner.

Gender-neutral toilets has become a regular topic of discussion in relation to transgender rights but Greer, who has become a target for some activists after she said transgender women are “not real women”, used the live debate to say she had little time for that argument.

“I don’t get it,” she said. “I don’t understand why in England in particular defecation is thought of as a sexual activity. I don’t get it.”

Greer went on to raise concerns about the decision to allow runner Caster Semenya to run in women’s races and raised issues about gender self-identification: “Being without a penis doesn’t make you a woman any more than being without a womb makes you a man.”

The programme had faced criticism from some trans activists before broadcast, who raised concerns it could question the existence of transgender individuals.

Jenner, the former US Olympic gold medalist and trans activist, said she was concerned about the suicide rate among transgender people and called for the public to be less hateful in online discussions surrounding gender: “What we say, our words, make a difference.”

She also told the audience that she was disappointed with Donald Trump’s record on trans rights: “I don’t know if the evangelical Christian right has got to him. He has done a terrible job when it comes to trans issues in the US. He’s set our community back by 20 years.”

After the show panel member Ash Sarkar praised the diversity of the programme but raised concerns about the audience, who repeatedly heckled members of the panel during the debate.

“There was very poor vetting, there should have been ground rules laid out for the audience about what was acceptable,” Sarkar said.

“The floor manager came up to me in the break and said to me that if they heckled again they would be removed then that didn’t happen.

“Channel 4 worked incredibly hard to have diversity on the panel and that’s phenomenal and to be celebrated.

“There was a lack of preparation for just how hostile [radical feminists] are.”

Sarkar also raised concerns about the treatment of former Labour party adviser Munroe Bergdorf.

“If someone had called me a Paki they would have removed them, why not for someone yelling at Munroe that they’ve got a dick?”

smalltownguy

05-09-2018, 11:20 AM

May 8, 2018

NA passes bill aimed at ensuring rights of transgender persons

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ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018 aimed at ensuring rights of transgender persons with majority vote.

Syed Naveed Qamar of Pakistan People Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) piloted the bill to provide for protection, relief and rehabilitation of rights of the transgender persons and their welfare and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto [the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018 in the House.

Under the proposed law, the Transgender persons will be able to register to obtain a driver’s licence and passport. They will have the option to get their gender changed in National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) records.

Harassment of transgenders will also be prohibited in and outside their homes. They will not be discriminated against by educational institutions, employers, in trade and health services, and when using public transport and buying or selling or renting property.

The government will establish a safe house for transgenders and provide them medical and educational facilities and psychological counselling. Separate rooms will be established at jails where transgenders could be detained.

In addition to all basic rights, they will be entitled to inherit property.

The government will take steps to ensure employment opportunities for transgenders and they will have the right to vote in all national, provincial and local government elections and they will not be discriminated against in their pursuit of a public office.

Anyone found guilty of forcing a transgender person to beg will be sentenced to six months in prison and served a fine of Rs50,000.

The Senate has already passed the bill.

smalltownguy

05-10-2018, 07:22 AM

10 MAY 2018

This Canadian Province Will Allow Nonbinary People to Apply For Gender Neutral Birth Certificates

Ontario is the latest municipality to allow transgender and gender nonconforming people to apply for gender-neutral birth certificates.

As the Canadian province announced Monday, trans individuals will have two options: to apply for a nonbinary “X” (instead of the traditional “M” and “F”) or to have a gender designation removed entirely. The change is intended to “recognize and respect all transgender and nonbinary people in Ontario and give all Ontarians access to identification that matches their gender identity,” officials say.

The policy was announced after genderqueer filmmaker Joshua M. Ferguson—who uses “they” pronouns—requested a gender-neutral birth certificate in May 2017.

When their application stalled, Ferguson filed a complaint through the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario claiming their civil rights were being violated. The parties reached resolution last month, and the 35-year-old finally received corrected documents in the mail last week.

Ferguson claimed the milestone doesn’t just recognize their year-long struggle to have their identity affirmed. For trans people subject to frequent discrimination due to misgendering, the policy could also “save lives.”

“A birth certificate is the most vital form of ID for personhood,” they said in a statement. “Being officially counted and recognized is empowering.”

Ferguson is the second Canadian to be issued a nonbinary certificate following Gemma Hickey of St. Johns. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador announced in December 2017 that Hickey, who runs a local nonprofit for survivors of sexual abuse in religious institutions, would be permitted to list “X” on their birth documents.

Hickey claimed at the time that their home province had proven itself “a leader in terms of human rights.”

Although the Canadian government has yet to rollout a nonbinary marker on birth certificates, authorities have claimed federal agencies are working toward a third option on passports. Ontario, meanwhile, allows a gender-neutral designation on driver’s licenses and health ID cards as of last year.

To date, just three states in the U.S.—along with the District of Columbia—allow nonbinary options for residents on identity documents: California, Oregon, and Washington.

Research shows these updates can have profound impacts on the lives and wellbeing of trans individuals. When interviewed about a landmark trans birth certificate bill in Colorado earlier this year, National Center for Trans Equality spokesperson Jay Wu said that trans people who show documents which don’t match their gender identity are often “verbally harassed, denied benefits or service, asked to leave, or assaulted.”

Ferguson called Ontario’s decision to join the growing list of states and municipalities fighting to ensure trans identities are respected a “victory for our community.”

“This moment not only reaffirms who we are, and our protection under the law in Ontario and in Canada, but it's a relief because we are counted,” they told the CBC earlier this week. “That's quite an incredible feeling, because it makes it clear that we exist.”

Ferguson hoped the news encourages other provinces in Canada to follow suit.

smalltownguy

05-11-2018, 12:13 PM

May 11, 2018

Kerala witnesses first transgender marriage

Ishan is a Muslim and Surya is an upper caste Hindu. Both took the vow as per the Special Marriage Act, in the presence of their family members and well-wishers from the transgender community.

1074035 Surya is a TV actor and member of the State Board for Transgender Justice. Ishan is a member of Oasis, a self-help group for transgenders.

IT WAS a historic moment for the transgender community in Kerala as a transman and transwoman tied the knot in Thiruvananthapuram Thursday. Ishan (33), who underwent female to male surgery, married Surya (31), who has undergone male to female surgery. This is the first time a transwoman and transman enter into married life in Kerala.

Ishan is a Muslim and Surya is an upper caste Hindu. Both took the vow as per the Special Marriage Act, in the presence of their family members and well-wishers from the transgender community. Surya is a TV actor and member of the State Board for Transgender Justice. Ishan is a member of Oasis, a self-help group for transgenders.

“It is a dream come true for us. We are happy that we can also lead a married life. Our marriage would be an inspiration for others who want to become part of the mainstream society. We are not worried about criticism from certain quarters against our marriage. We will prove the critics wrong by leading a normal married life,” Ishan said.

smalltownguy

05-11-2018, 12:15 PM

May 11, 2018

Pakistani Law Passes Landmark Transgender Rights Bill, Gives Them Fundamental Rights

The Pakistani parliament has passed a historic decision regarding the transgender community in the country. A bill has been passed which promises basic fundamental rights to the people of the third gender. Majority of the Islamabad's National Assembly voted in favour of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act on May 9.

The newly passed law now gives the transgenders here their long-due rights. The act criminalises discrimination against and harassment of transgenders at work, home or in public places. Transgenders can identify themselves in any gender- male, female or the third sex on all the official documents including their passports or driver's licenses. Although the act has been passed it has to be approved by the Pakistani president Mamnoon Hussain. Maavia Malik Scripts History! Becomes First Transgender News Anchor in Pakistan

There have been a lot of instances of discrimination of the transgenders, some of them going till the extent of murder and forced sex. Now with the new law the people of the community will also ensure safe houses, medical care and also counselling. "I thought that this would never be achieved in my lifetime, but I am fortunate to have seen my own parliament pass this bill," veteran transgender activist Bindiya Rana told Al Jazeera. “Transgender people constitute one of the most marginalized communities in the country and they face problems ranging from social exclusion to discrimination, lack of education facilities, unemployment, lack of medical facilities and so on," the bill reads.

Not exact figures but there is an estimate that there are at least 500,000 in the country. There has been extreme discrimination against them and they are left to do begging and dancing as a source of money. The new law also criminalises all discrimination in public transports to even doctor's clinic. The passing of the bill makes Pakistan one of the few countries in the world to recognize the self-perceived gender identity of transgenders. It is sure a historic one and gives new hope to the people who had been discriminated against for so long.

smalltownguy

05-12-2018, 02:12 AM

May 10, 2018

Miss Bumbum’s first transgender contestants spark backlash

Brazil’s infamous Miss Bumbum pageant is drumming up even more buzz than usual this year, as the entry of the competition’s first-ever transgender contestants is sparking rage among some participants.

Though the derriere pageant supports the two contestants in question, some of the other 25 hopefuls are eager to have them removed from the lineup ahead of the August event.

On May 10, transgender contestants Paula Oliveira and Giovanna Spinella told The Sun they’re totally confident in their abilities, despite the harassment they are receiving.

1074089 Paula Oliveira (L) and Giovanna Spinella (R) are looking forward to the August event. (Splash News )

“They are feeling threatened because they are seeing a trans who is more beautiful than them,” Oliveira said. “I’m not offended by what they said, because it’s clear they want me out because I’ve got a much sexier a--.”

LEGOLAND RESPONDS TO CRITICISM OVER ‘LEGO’ MEGHAN MARKLE’S SKIN COLOR

1074091 While officials are backing the entry of the pageant’s first transgender finalists, others aren’t so happy. (Reuters)

Spinella chimed in that she is “honored to be able to take part” in the eighth annual pageant and go head-to-head with beauties representing Brazil’s 27 states. The lone winner of the event crowned with the “best bum” scores overnight fame and the opportunity to get rich quick with modeling contracts.

Finalist Ellen Santana is among the ones protesting Oliveira and Spinella’s participation.

“The competition is supposed to be 100 percent feminine and yet we’re going to have bottoms which are men’s bottoms. It doesn’t matter if they’ve had surgery, changed their names or sex on a piece of paper,” the 31-year-old biology student told The Sun.

1074096 Miss BumBum Brazil 2017 pageant contestants parade at Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo's financial center. (Reuters)

“I’m not intolerant, I know there are a lot of trans people who are more beautiful than lots of women. I just think that they should compete in a pageant for trans, and not be allowed to compete in Miss Bumbum, which is all about the beauty of the Brazilian woman.”

“I just think that the competition is for women, not for men,” 29-year-old Debora Porto echoed in agreement. “It’s them who should leave because they are men with a man’s body and a man’s bottom. I think the whole diversity thing has gone too far.”

NORDSTROM RACK APOLOGIZES AFTER THREE BLACK TEENS ARE WRONGLY ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING

Unfortunately for Santana and Porto, this year’s theme for the competition is “diversity,” with organizers encouraging participants to “break the mold.” Furthermore, Miss Bumbum’s officials have threatened to disqualify the angry entrants if they continue to “prejudice” their transgender peers.

“As long as these women have undergone sex reassignment surgery, and have become fully women, there is nothing that prevents them from taking part. The truth is that, by the law, they are 100 percent women,” Miss Bumbum founder Cacau Oliver said.

According to the Daily Mail, Brazil began providing free gender reassignment operations in 2007 through its public health system, and transgender individuals can legally register their gender change. Nevertheless, the South American nation “has one of the world's highest rates of fatal violence against transgender people,” making Oliveira and Spinella’s debut all the more noteworthy.

smalltownguy

05-13-2018, 05:21 AM

May 11, 2018

Trump Admin Attacks Trans People Again by Rolling Back Prison Protections

1074457 The Trump administration rewrote the Prison Rape Elimination Act's guidelines to allow for housing of trans people based on "biological sex."

In its latest assault on transgender people, the Trump administration on Friday rolled back President Barack Obama-era protections for trans inmates that were intended to mitigate their exposure to sexual assault and abuse. Donald Trump’s Bureau of Prisons rewrote the guidelines to allow wardens to “use biological sex as the initial determination for designation” when placing trans people for housing, screening, and programs and services, Buzzfeed News reports.

The latest in a string of attacks the administration has unleashed on trans people since Trump took office—including rescinding protections for trans students and implementing a ban on trans people in the military — the move defies the 2012 Prison Rape Elimination Act, which “mandates prison officials must screen all individuals at admission and upon transfer to assess their risk of experiencing abuse,” according to a release from the National Center for Transgender Equality.

“Transgender people already know the Trump-Pence administration is dedicated to stripping away our rights. Their cruelty is only made more evident as they continually go after the most vulnerable among us,” NCTE executive director Mara Keisling said in a statement.

“The extreme rates of physical and sexual violence faced by transgender people in our nation’s prisons is a stain on the entire criminal justice system. Instead of leaving the existing policy alone, the administration is clearly prepared to encourage federal prisons to violate federal law and advance its own inhumane agenda,” Keisling added.

Rescinding protections for trans people in prison was spurred by a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in which four Texas-based evangelical female prisoners alleged that being housed with trans women “creates a situation that incessantly violates the privacy of female inmates; endangers the physical and mental health of the female Plaintiffs and others, including prison staff; [and] increases the potential for rape,” according to Buzzfeed News.

The lawsuit challenged the Prison Rape Elimination Act and a guidance memo Obama issued shortly before exiting office that noted trans people in prison face “increased risk of suicide, mental health issues, and victimization.”

Those guidelines called for “serious consideration” of a person’s gender identity in terms of where they would be placed, pronoun use, health services, and more.

“Consider on a case-by-case basis whether a placement would ensure the inmate’s health and safety, and whether the placement would present management or security problems,” the Obama-era guidelines instructed prison staff.

A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Prisons argued that the new Trump administration guidelines were put in place to essentially protect all inmates, but she failed to acknowledge the increased risks of violence and abuse trans people face.

“The manual now addresses and articulates the balance of safety needs of transgender inmates as well as other inmates, including those with histories of trauma, privacy concerns, etc., on a case-by-case basis," spokeswoman Nancy Ayers told Buzzfeed.

smalltownguy

05-14-2018, 10:10 AM

May 14, 2018

Transgender groups meet in Dallas for education, activism

1074679 In this April 28, 2018 photo, an “all gender” sign is taped to the women’s restroom during the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition’s Family Picnic at Circle R Ranch in Flower Mound, Texas. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS (AP) - Carter Brown stands before his family and begins to cry.

Dressed all in white, the group seated in front of him seems to glow in the conference room’s dim light.

The Dallas Morning News reports their figures swim before his teary eyes. Brown breathes in the sweet odor of the burning incense, letting the low beat of the drums calm him.

“Excuse me,” he says, chuckling. “I have something in my eyes.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Brown takes a breath, smiles and convenes the 2018 Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas with a hope and a prayer. He speaks freely, knowing he’s safe being vulnerable here, among his people.

Seven years ago, Brown founded BTAC, which would become the only nationwide organization run by and for transgender African-Americans. What started as a small private Facebook group run out of the Arlington native’s home has grown into a nonprofit with global reach.

What’s more, it’s a family.

“I’ve been homeless. I’ve been hungry. I’ve been abused. I’ve been rejected,” Carter tells the group, his voice steadying. “We all have our struggles.

“But at the end of the day, I want you all to know you’re going to be all right.”

This is how Dallas became home for the black transgender community - and why its leaders think it needs to stay put, deep in the heart of red Texas.

Upstairs at the Wyndham Dallas Suites off North Central Expressway, volunteers sign people in at the registration table.

They pass out name tags and blue lanyards to those who are OK with having their picture taken. Green lanyards are for those who are not openly trans or who don’t want to be pictured in promotional material. On a nearby table sit dozens of orange tote bags.

Welcome to BTAC 2018.

For the past seven years, Dallas has been the site for this annual gathering for transgender and gender non-conforming Americans, meaning they do not identify with the sex assigned at birth or their gender expression might different from the traditional concepts of masculinity and femininity.

Hundreds of attendees from the Bay Area to the Bronx turned out for the recent weeklong event, which includes dozens of panels on everything from discrimination in housing and health care to dating, love and anti-trans violence. There’s a barber and free HIV testing on site, an open-mike night and an awards gala.

At a pageant, they crown a new Mr. and Miss Black Trans International - the group’s lead advocates for the next year - and over the weekend they gather for “family day” at a ranch in Flower Mound to sing, dance and play games.

Many of the attendees are already activists. Many others are just starting their transition. The youngest haven’t hit their teens; the oldest is 71. Here they find covenant partners. They recognize excellence. They discover fellowship.

BTAC traces its roots to 2011, when Brown started a private Facebook group for black transgender men like him. At first, a handful of local Dallas guys would meet for drinks or a pickup game of basketball. But within a few months, 400 men from coast to coast had signed up.

“This was something we couldn’t find anywhere else,” Brown, 43, said. “It just became a real staple for the community, albeit virtual. I mean, guys were in there all day every day just communicating, building relationships, friendships.”

Today, Black Trans Men Inc. boasts more than 4,000 Facebook members. Along with sister organization Black Trans Women Inc., the two form BTAC, which has its headquarters in northwest Dallas.

Jonathan Thunderword, a minister and elder known as “Pop,” and his wife, Triptta, said Brown has “carved out a place” for their community. At BTAC, attendees whose biological families have shunned them can discover new brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and even mothers and fathers.

Rainbow family, one person called it. Chosen family.

Atlanta native Tiffany Starr, the outgoing Miss Black Trans International, never had children of her own. But she now has seven trans sons and daughters whose parents rejected them, some of whom have taken her last name. Maddox Jackson of Austin met his brothers TreShaun and Trenton here. Jackson’s wife, Rebecca, coordinates “Anchors,” the partners and spouses of trans men and women.

They look up to Thunderword as a grandfather.

“The saying goes, ‘If you build it they will come,’ and that’s what happened over the years,” Thunderword said after his keynote address. “It was easy for us to follow.”

The Thunderwords have been together for 20 years, living everywhere from the California coast to the Texas Panhandle. But soon, they plan to move to the Dallas area to be closer to their BTAC family. A few people others have also made the move after attending the conference.

“There’s something about the Dallas community,” Triptta said. “Everyone has been so warm and friendly.”

Dallas was the first city in Texas to pass an ordinance banning discrimination based on gender identity - a measure that was expanded it in 2015. There are city and county LGBT task forces, and Dallas is the home of Genecis at Children’s Health, one of the only pediatric clinics for transgender kids and teens in the country.

Louis Mitchell, a minister and the executive director of Transfaith, has been coming to the conference since its inception in 2012. He said it’s the mix of the professional and personal that makes Dallas uniquely suited to host them.

“Urban expertise and Southern hospitality,” Mitchell said. “That’s the combination that makes it work.”

In the hotel’s cavernous atrium, other conferences are getting underway as BTAC begins to wrap up. A group from Tanzania gathers near the business center. A bunch of vitamin salesmen in cowboy hats and boots hoot and holler near the entrance. A couple of guys in suits are posted at the bar, watching replays from the NFL draft the night before.

Malaysia Walker is sitting near the elevators.

Walker, 39, who performs under the stage name Malaysia Black, was just crowned Miss Black Trans International 2018. During the talent portion of the competition, she unveiled portraits of Chyna Gibson, Mesha Caldwell and Kenne McFadden, three black trans women killed in the South and Texas since 2016.

Walker said BTAC having its headquarters and holding its conference in a conservative state like Texas means something. Being out and proud in Dallas, being visible in red Texas - where Republican lawmakers last year unsuccessfully pushed the bathroom bill - makes more of an impact than it would in New York or California. But they can still feel safe here, which Walker doesn’t think she could guarantee for her trans family in her native Jackson, Mississippi.

“Northerners don’t experience the hardship Southerners do,” said Walker, 39, who leads the Transgender Education and Advocacy Program for the ACLU in Mississippi. “But Mississippi is not ready.”

Walker, a conference newcomer, almost didn’t make it this year. One of her “rainbow kids” was just killed, the victim of a random shooting, and she didn’t think she was strong enough to make the trip. That’s when Esperanza “Espy” Brown, Carter’s wife, called her.

The conference has helped her and her husband heal, Walker said, something she didn’t think was possible a month ago: “We needed to be here.”

Carter and Espy Brown hope the attendees - their family - carry with them this sense of healing until next year, when the community comes home to Dallas for BTAC 2019.

“The core of what we’re building, the core of our organization, is love,” Espy Brown said. “Whenever you come here, we’ll be here.”

smalltownguy

05-16-2018, 03:59 AM

May 13, 2018

Bureau of Prisons rewrites rules for transgender inmates

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons changed the wording in its Transgender Offenders Manual to dial down certain protections for transgender inmates, reports NPR.

The details: The new guidelines say inmates' housing facilities will be recommended based on biological sex, with gender identity being considered "in rare cases." The previous version of the manual, from January 2017, says "the TEC [Transgender Executive Council] will recommend housing by gender identity when appropriate."

Other changes, per NPR:

The manual's purpose has shifted from the language: "To ensure the Bureau of Prisons properly identifies, tracks, and provides services to the transgender population," to, "To ensure the Bureau of Prisons properly identifies, tracks, and provides services to the transgender population, consistent with maintaining security and good order in Federal prisons."
For inmates in a gender transition process, the manual now says, "Hormone and other necessary treatment may be provided after an individualized assessment of the requested inmate by institution medical staff."
The word "necessary" was added as part of the changes and allows the agency to "make determinations about what sort of hormone therapies and other gender transition services are required," per Buzzfeed News.

smalltownguy

05-17-2018, 05:40 AM

May 16, 2018

Small town Southerner finds love with transgender prostitute in ‘Anything’

John Carroll and Maura Tierney in “Anything,” a 2017 film written and directed by Timothy McNeil.

Can a middle-aged straight man from small-town Mississippi find happiness with a transgender junkie prostitute in seedy Hollywood?

That’s the premise of “Anything,” writer-director Timothy McNeil’s sometimes awkward but at times unexpectedly tender film, based on his play, that gives longtime character actor John Carroll Lynch a starring role.

Lynch is Early Landry, a 55-year-old man living in Crane, Miss., who is grieving his wife’s death in a car accident. After an attempt at suicide, his sister Laurette (Maura Tierney) brings him to Los Angeles to live with her dysfunctional family, which includes disabled husband Ted (Christopher Thornton) and teenage son Jack (Tanner Buchanan, the president’s son in “Designated Survivor”).

Early and Laurette love each other, but can only take each other’s presence in limited doses. So after Early’s insurance settlement from the accident comes through, he moves into a small apartment in Hollywood, which Early tells Laurette is “just far enough from you — and I mean that in the most loving way possible.”

The apartment is in a rundown building filled with the kind of people you can’t find in Mississippi. Bald, squarely dressed and with a southern accent, Early is “like Andy Griffith’s sad brother” to one resident.

Early meets cute with his next door neighbor, who calls herself Freda Von Rhenburg (Matt Bomer). Freda is a mess; she abuses drugs and hangs out with fellow prostitutes on the street. And yet her feminine presence is exactly what Early needs, and Early’s moral steadiness is what Freda needs.

The situation is preposterous, and yet Lynch and Bomer make it work; they actually have real chemistry together.

“I came here with a pulse and a desire to die, and that’s about it,” Early tells Freda. “But I didn’t. So you’ve already done something.”

But “Anything” often strains credulity. Early takes it upon himself to help Freda kick her addiction to drugs, and boy, was that easy. When Early invites his sister’s family over to meet Freda, Laurette, the L.A. resident, loudly reveals herself to be way more intolerant than small-town Southerner Early in a ridiculous, over-the-top scene (Tierney’s role is thankless).

And as to the Early-Freda relationship itself, no spoilers revealed here. Suffice to say that McNeil plays it way too safe. Trying to have it both ways, he satisfies no one.

smalltownguy

05-19-2018, 11:16 AM

May 19, 2018

Teen Wins Best Actor In Cannes Section For Transgender Role

Un Certain Regard generally showcases more edgy, up-and-coming directors than Cannes' main competition. The prizes are awarded a day before the awards ceremony in the main competition.

1075414 Belgian actor Victor Polster poses during a photocall for the film Girl (Image courtesy: AFP Relaxnews)

A 16-year-old Belgian actor won best actor in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes film festival Friday for playing an aspiring transgender ballerina who brutalises her body to further her dreams. Victor Polster, a trained dancer, won the award for his cinematic debut in Lukas Dhont's Girl, about a teen trapped in a boy's body desperate to speed up the gender reassignment process while trying to perfect her dance technique.

A jury led by Benicio Del Toro awarded the section's top prize to the Swedish film Border by Ali Abbasi, about a female customs officer with a facial disfigurement but a extraordinary sense of smell that helps her detect fraudsters.

The best director's prize went to Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa for Donbass, a 13-episode odyssey set in the eastern Ukraine region of the same name, where government forces have been fighting pro-Russian separatists since 2014.

The award for best screenplay went to French-Moroccan director Meryem Benm'barek for Sofia, about a middle-class, Moroccan 20-year-old scrambling to avoid bringing shame on her family after falling pregnant out of wedlock.

Un Certain Regard generally showcases more edgy, up-and-coming directors than Cannes' main competition. The prizes are awarded a day before the awards ceremony in the main competition. Traffic star Del Toro won the best male actor prize at Cannes in 2008 for his portrayal of Che Guevara in Steven Soderbergh's two-part film Che.

smalltownguy

05-22-2018, 04:42 AM

MAY 21, 2018

Pakistan's transgender rights law - a 'battle half won'

LAHORE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Bindya Rana wipes away tears of joy as she recalls her long battle to have the rights of Pakistan’s transgender community formally recognized in law.

“I feel as if an orphan has finally now found shelter,” Rana, a 50-year-old transgender woman, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation after Pakistan’s parliament approved the landmark bill earlier this month.

On Friday the bill, which seeks to end discrimination against Pakistan’s transgender community, formally became law when acting president Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani gave his assent.

Campaigners for transgender rights welcomed the move, but some cautioned that enforcement was likely to be slow.

“The passage of the bill into law ... is a battle that is still only half won,” said Ashee Butt, founder of the Be Ghar Foundation, which runs a shelter for transgender people.

“We now face the challenge of fighting for the law to be enforced in its true spirit and that may take another a decade or two,” she said.

The law is the latest step towards equality for the community in the deeply conservative Muslim-majority country, where homosexuality remains a crime.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled in 2009 that transgender people - sometimes known as “hijras” in South Asia - could get national identity cards as a “third sex”.

Last year the government issued its first passport with a transgender category.

In practice however transgender people in Pakistan are often marginalized and face discrimination in education and jobs.

Many live in secluded communities and have no choice but to beg on the streets or sing and dance at private parties to earn a living. Some also turn to prostitution to make ends meet.

Just days before Pakistan’s parliament passed the new bill, a transgender woman was murdered in the northern city of Peshawar, the fourth such killing this year according to local rights activists.

The law requires the government to set up dedicated safe spaces with medical and educational facilities where they would be free from harassment.

One clause specifically protects the community from harassment, which Butt said was still widespread, both in public and in private.

“It provides a sense of being protected,” she said, describing how she and the rest of the community faced taunts and even physical attacks.

It will also allow transgender people to apply for driving licenses and passports and inherit property using their chosen identities, and to change their gender in official records.

For Rana, the most significant aspect of the changes is the ability for transgender men and women to register under their own identity, rather than one imposed by society.

“The biggest source of happiness for us is that the new law provides transgender people the right to register their chosen gender identity on their government issued national identity cards and documents,” she said.

“Now we can fight confidently at all levels, including in the courts, for these rights,” she added, calling the law “long overdue”.

smalltownguy

05-23-2018, 12:15 PM

5/22/18

TRANSGENDER PEOPLE’S BRAINS ARE WIRED LIKE THOSE OF GENDER THEY IDENTIFY WITH, NEW STUDY SHOWS

The brains of transgender people are wired in a way that matches the gender they identify with rather than their biological sex, according to a new study.

Researchers found that whether a person identifies as transgender could be tied to how their brains develop in the womb. A person might identify as transgender when the gender they are assigned at birth according to their sex does not match how they feel inside. For instance, a person with a penis who is told they are a boy at birth could later grow up to identify as a woman.

To arrive at their findings, researchers at the VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands analyzed the brain activity of young transgender people using MRI scans. Around 160 young people were involved in the small study, including adolescent boys and girls with gender dysphoria.

The team assessed how their brains changed in response to a pheromone that prompts gender-specific activity in the organ. They found that the transgender adolescents had parallels with the brain activity of cisgender participants of the same gender. Cisgender is the term used to describe a person who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth.

Professor Julie Bakker, an expert in neuroendocrinology at the University of Liege and lead author of the study, told Newsweek: “The earlier it [being transgender] is detected, the better the outcome of the treatment.

“For instance in the Netherlands, youngsters are being treated with puberty inhibitors at 12 years of age to prevent the development of secondary sex characteristics which are difficult or even impossible to reverse (like the lowering of the voice in boys) and then at 16 years of age, they can start with cross-sex hormones. It has been shown that these youngsters are doing relatively well and are well accepted by their peers.”

Acknowledging that the study had a small cohort, she explained that the number of studies on this topic have been growing in recent years and researchers have been their sharing data.

Bakker added: "It is important to study the origin of sex differences in the brain, not only for making clinical decisions for people suffering from disorders of sex development or from gender dysphoria, but also because there are important sex differences in the incidence of a wide variety of neurological diseases such as autism, depression, schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

"We need to know more about how sex hormones influence brain function and structure." She explained that while most studies have been performed on male subjects, both humans and animals, these do not always relate to females.

"It has been shown that women are more sensitive to morphine or sleep medication, and there could be many other differences that have not been discovered yet because one has been focusing on males only," she said.

Dr. James Barrett, lead clinician at the Gender Identity Clinic and president of the British Association of Gender Identity Specialists, was among those to peer review the study. He told Newsweek it was the latest piece of evidence to provide a link between the brain structures of transgender people and the gender with which they identify.

“It used to be held long ago that all of this was psychological, and over the years the pendulum of 'Is it nature or nurture?' has swung rather more toward the nature side of it, with increasing peculiar pieces of biological evidence suggesting there may be something innate in the pre-uterine environment,” he said.

Asked to address those who claim that being transgender is a “lifestyle choice,” he said: “It is not the experience with the people I deal with on a day to day basis. I imagine they are the same people who say that gay people have a choice.

“Do people choose to be left-handed? You can make them write right-handed, and they can get quite good at it, but they’d be fundamentally left-handed. Why people are left-handed is a complicated business—but in the end, left-handed they are,” he concluded.

smalltownguy

05-25-2018, 04:48 PM

May 24, 2018

Victoria Is The Latest State To Scrap ‘Forced Transgender Divorce’ Laws

1076359

Transgender Victorians will now be able to stay married to their partners when they change the gender on their birth certificate under legislation passed by the Victorian government on Tuesday night.

In several states and territories, transgender people must be unmarried if they want to update the sex marker on their birth certificate, essentially requiring trans people to make a cruel choice between divorcing the person they love or having identification that doesn’t reflect who they are. The law is a leftover from when same-sex marriages were illegal.

Victorian trans woman Sarah Adcock married her wife in 2008, and she transitioned to female in 2012. She changed her name but has previously been unable to change her gender on her birth certificate while married to her partner.

She said Australians “overwhelmingly voted for an inclusive and fair society” last year and all states need to make sure this extends to transgender and other gender diverse people.

“My wife and I love each other very much. We’ve enjoyed nine happy year together as a married couple and look forward to many more as we bring up our child,” she said.

“Our marriage certificate doesn’t define our marriage as our relationship grows, but it is symbolic. We weren’t willing to give it up.”

Another Victorian affected by the law is Greens Senator Janet Rice’s partner Penny (both pictured), and Rice said the law change means “Penny will be able to affirm her gender on her birth certificate and we can stay married for many years to come.”

Transgender Victoria spokesperson Sally Goldner said the reforms were important for the trans and gender diverse people and their partners, and urged remaining states to move quickly to change their respective laws.

“These reforms simply extend concepts like love and equality, but we would like to acknowledge the couples who were sadly forced apart before this reform and the sacrifices they made,” she said.

A similar bill to scrap the divorce requirement in New South Wales was introduced to that state’s parliament this week.

NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Lauren Foy welcomed the move and said the legal changes around the unmarried requirement will improve the lives of transgender people.

“We congratulate the Berejiklian government on their strong commitment to equality for all people in NSW and will continue to welcome legislative advances that promote the autonomy, dignity and respect that all LGBTI deserve,” she said.

The Queensland Government has also introduced similar changes in a bill currently before parliament, and is also holding a public inquiry into broader changes to birth certificate laws.

Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the divorce requirement in Section 22 of the state’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act had “caused significant anguish for many gender-diverse Queenslanders and must change.”

South Australia and the ACT had already updated their laws before the passage of the same-sex marriage bill in 2017.

Human Rights Law Centre Legal Advocacy Director Anna Brown said it’s “unacceptable that some trans and gender diverse people are still waiting for full marriage equality.”

“The community has shown their support for marriage equality, it’s time our laws did as well,” Ms Brown said.

“All governments must follow Victoria’s lead and reform outdated birth certificate laws so trans and gender diverse people can live with dignity.”

Trans Health Australia spokesperson Jaime Paige said Australia still has some way to go before all discrimination against transgender people is removed.

“This is a step in the right direction but trans people are still required to undergo invasive surgery before they can change their legal sex,” Paige said.

“Much more reform is needed to bring birth certificate laws in Victoria, New South Wales and many other states into line with best practice worldwide.”

smalltownguy

05-25-2018, 04:57 PM

May 24, 2018

Coffee Wagera hires its first transgender barista

Coffee Wagera made waves with its incusivity policies when it announced it wants to hire transgender people.

Now the coffee shop has brought its first transgender barista Moni Bhatt on board and made the happy announcement on social media.

1076366

Images got in touch with the cafe owner Mush Panjwani, who had earlier expressed his desire to have trans people feel welcome at his coffee shop.

"I've had the job posting out for so long now and it was not easy finding someone. Not all trans people want to work in a cafe. In my search, I've had a few phone conversations and most of them were hesitant and for the right reasons. One of them told me about her bad experiences working in similar places. Either because of the customers or because of the co workers or even management; they wouldn't understand the problems a trans person would go through."

"Such horror stories are so common that many don't even want to give a job a shot. But I didn't give up."

Mush continued his search. He knew he needed to connect with the right people and so he did.

"Last week I attended an event by the Sub Rang Society at Goethe. It was an event which aimed for solidarity withing the community for trans people. I asked about why trans people are hesitant to work even when there are places giving opportunities and the people there gave me answers that were really eye opening."

The coffee owner added,"They explained all the issues a trans person has when working and its something as small as transportation. They can't use public transportation because they get harassed by people. There are also very few job openings and then there is always the fear of how they'll be treated,"

Through this interaction he realised how difficult it truly is for a trans person to lead a normal life. Mush also revealed that is was Kami Sid, who also heads the Sub Rang Society, who got in touch with him to find someone for the job.

"She is amazing, she took it up as a challenge and that's how we met Moni."

Speaking about Moni's experience at the cafe, Mush said, "She's just had her first day yesterday and she loved it. She's a fast learner and got the hang of the job very quickly. The best part is that my other team members treat her as a member of the team. For me that was a concern, that my team members understand this and neither cause her any discomfort or are uncomfortable themselves. I was very happy with the result of her first day."

Coffee Wagera's latest team member has inspired other places to take on the same initiative. Recently, Red Riding Hood Bakery has teamed up with Actcept and posted a job ad for a trans person as well.

The transgender community of Pakistan has been making strides recently and this is yet another welcome addition. We hope to see more such initiatives in the near future.

tao1kiku

05-26-2018, 07:57 PM

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, trans people will run for the general elections.
At least thirteen trans people will run for office in the 2018 national elections. Two of them will run for the General Assembly and the rest in provincial seats around Pakistan. The general elections are scheduled for 25 July.
The All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN) helped coordinate the candidates. The group include nurses, a lawyer, police officer and a doctor
https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/for-the-first-time-trans-people-will-contest-elections-in-pakistan/#gs.qPN_qSY

smalltownguy

05-29-2018, 11:48 AM

26 MAY 2018

Transgender people encouraged to become priests in Church of England diversity drive

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Bishops in the diocese of Lichfield have issued new guidance to parishioners and clergy reminding them that LGBT people "can be called to roles of leadership and service in the local church".

The guidance, titled "welcoming and honouring LGBT+ people", warns that the church's reputation as being unwelcoming towards gay and transgender people is stopping young people attending.

"We very much hope that they, like everyone else, feel encouraged to serve on PCCs, or as churchwardens and worship leaders, for instance, and are supported in exploring vocations to licensed lay and ordained ministries," the guidance says.

"Nobody should be told that their sexual or gender identity in itself makes them an unsuitable candidate for leadership in the Church."

The group, led by diocesan bishop The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, also warn against "intrustive questioning about someone’s sexual practices or desires, or their experience of gender", saying it is "almost always inappropriate".

Last year the Church's general synod voted to call on the Government to ban so-called "conversion therapy", which is aimed at helping gay people change their sexuality.

It also voted to support the introduction of a new liturgy for transgender people, though bishops announced earlier this year that one was not needed, and that people in this circumstance could instead use the existing liturgy for affirmation of baptismal faith.

The new guidance, which is signed by three other bishops within the diocese, warns clergy that they may not "tell or insinuate to people that sexual orientation or gender identity will be changed by faith or that homosexuality or gender difference is a sign of immaturity or a lack of faith".

If they are approached by someone unhappy with their sexuality, they must "be alert to the power relations involved in such prayers and conversations, and the possibility of spiritual or emotional abuse," the guidance says.

It adds: "As Archbishop Justin has made clear, the perception that the Church is homophobic and transphobic is harming our mission, especially to young people.

"We need to challenge this perception by reaching out to LGBT+ people with the good news of God’s love, modelling God’s welcome and care for all people."

smalltownguy

05-30-2018, 10:05 AM

5/29/18

CONNECTICUT'S TRANSGENDER PRISONERS FIRST IN U.S. TO WIN RIGHT TO BE HOUSED ACCORDING TO GENDER IDENTITY

Connecticut has become the first state to give transgender prisoners the legal right to be housed according to their gender identity, in a move campaigners have hailed as “groundbreaking.”

The right of transgender prisoners to be searched by an officer who shares their gender identity—for instance, a trans woman being searched by a female prison guard—has been enshrined in bill SB-13.

Transgender prisoners can also expect prison staff to address them in a manner consistent with their gender identity—which suggests they will use the inmate's correct pronouns—as well as buy commissary items they feel are most appropriate, such as clothing.

To access these rights, prisoners cannot self-identify as transgender but must be diagnosed with gender dysphoria or carry an identification card that matches their gender identity.

Gender dysphoria is a term recognized by the American Psychiatric Association for a person whose gender identity does not match the one they were assigned at birth. For instance, a person with a penis assigned the gender “boy” at birth, could innately feel they are a woman. While some see the term as controversial because it pathologizes transgender people, others believe it is important to advocate for provisions such as health insurance, according to LGBT nonprofit GLAAD.

The new law will go into force on July 1. It is part of the steps being taken to enforce legislation approved unanimously by Connecticut's House of Representatives earlier this year. The bill also protects the rights of pregnant inmates, after a baby was born inside a prison cell at York Correctional Institution earlier this year.

A new law in Connecticut will protect the rights of the state's transgender prisoners.

Mike Lawlor, the governor’s undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning, told the Associated Press that Connecticut lawmakers set about improving conditions for trans prisoners after a teen was held at an adult prison for women because the state could not decide where to house the inmate.

Jennifer Levi, director of the transgender rights project of the GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD, told Newsweek that the law was “groundbreaking.”

“It sets as the presumptive standard that transgender women are housed with women and transgender men are housed with men, which is in stark contrast to laws in other states and at the federal level,” she said.

Asked how the state can be certain that prison staffers at every level enforce the new law, she said, “Connecticut officials report that there are transgender women in women’s facilities in that state and that they have been moving toward the standard just recently passed into law. They will, of course, have to continue to train prison officials to ensure compliance with the law given pervasive misunderstandings about transgender people’s lives.”

The latest figures, from 2011 to 2012, show that 3,200 transgender inmates are incarcerated in the U.S. In mid-May, President Donald Trump's administration rolled back guidelines set by President Barack Obama, which advised that transgender inmates should use facilities matching their gender identity, according to BuzzFeed.

“I hope there would be advances in other states to reflect Connecticut’s approach, which is far more humane than what we see elsewhere,” said Levi said.

smalltownguy

05-31-2018, 11:53 AM

5/30/18

BETSY DEVOS GREETED BY TEEN WEARING TRANSGENDER PRIDE FLAG DURING SCHOOL VISIT

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was challenged during her recent hometown visit to Michigan by a local middle school student looking for an explanation of her transgender policies. Torin Hodgman, an eighth-grader at Grand Rapids Public Museum School, greeted DeVos during her visit to the school by donning a transgender pride flag.

Hodgman identifies as genderqueer and prefers to be addressed by the pronouns “they” or “them,” Michigan news website MLIVE reported on Tuesday. When learning that DeVos was going to make an appearance at their school, Hodgman draped a large transgender pride flag over her back and prepared to ask her about how she plans to create a safe learning environment for students who are a part of the LGBT community.

During her tenure as the country’s secretary of education, DeVos has rolled back Obama-era legislation that protected and supported transgender students. In February of 2017, her department revoked Obama-era guidelines that said transgender students should be able to use the restrooms that matched their identity. And, earlier this year, DeVos said that her department will no longer investigate civil rights complaints by transgender students over being barred from using the restroom that matches their gender identity.

When questioned further about her views on the issue last year, DeVos turned the responsibility onto the states and said that they would better equipped do maker their own decisions regarding the school environment for their LGBT students.

Videos of DeVos and Hodgman Tuesday showed the two walking through the school together, but Hodgman later told MLIVE that they were not able to ask her any questions. But Hodgman expressed hope that the decision to wear the transgender flag sent a message about the need for safety and support for LGBT students across the country.

After her visit to the school, DeVos sat down for a full press conference with several media outlets. When asked what federal work is being done to address school safety, DeVos pointed to the president’s creation of the School Safety Commission of which she is the chair. The report, which will be rolled out during the summer, is expected to provide quick answers to some of the most pressing issues regarding school safety and will seek input from teachers, students, law enforcement and other groups committed to ensuring a safe educational environment.

The commission will focus on keeping students safe from all forms of violence and emotional disturbances, ranging from gun violence to bullying. While the report may include some federal legislation, DeVos said, it will mostly serve as a resource for communities across the country to share and integrate their own individual ideas and policies.

“Every student should be in a situation where they feel safe and secure,” DeVos added during the press conference.

smalltownguy

06-01-2018, 04:23 PM

Fri 1 Jun 2018

Nothing like this has ever happened': how TV drama Pose breaks new ground

1077809 Dominique Jackson as Elektra in Pose. Photograph: FX

Ryan Murphy’s latest show will make history with the largest transgender cast ever on TV and a look at 80s ballroom culture

When Alex Mugler first started watching the pilot to Pose, the new drama from uber-producer-writer-director Ryan Murphy that depicts the ballroom culture of late 80s New York, he immediately began reflecting on his own life. In the show’s opening scene, Dominique Jackson (playing Elektra Abundance, the decorated leader of the House of Abundance) leads her cabal of young dancers through a late-night museum heist to steal royal clothing for an upcoming ball.

“It was almost like I was looking at bits and pieces of my own life,” says Mugler, a prominent young ball voguer. “There were times early in my career when I went to stores with my house’s sister and we would steal clothes from the mall. I wanted to be seen, and I wanted to feel beautiful, and the struggle to get there was very similar in many ways.”

Watching the rivalries between the competing houses and the inner-turmoil within the young dancers depicted in Pose, says Mugler, was simply a reminder of his own journey in New York’s contemporary ballroom community. “The intention was just to be acknowledged and to be appreciated, and in many ways I’ve been through those same things.”

Pose is the latest, and most prominent, spout of mainstream attention for ballroom, which has flourished as a subculture for queer youth of color in New York for decades (it’s also made history with the largest ever transgender cast for a scripted show). The era depicted in the show coincides roughly with the time period documented Jennie Livingston’s landmark 1990 documentary Paris is Burning, which chronicled the rivaling houses and generational differences in New York’s ball community of the late 80s.

Pose widens the scope of Livingston’s film by juxtaposing the flourishing subculture of late 80s ballroom with the rise of mega-capitalist New York gentrification. One of the show’s lead storylines features a young white executive at the Trump Organization who forms a bond with a transgender sex worker named Angel (played by Indya Moore).

Today, almost thirty years after Madonna introduced ballroom vogueing to the world with hit single Vogue, the community has never had more of a widespread cultural impact. As ball has increased in popularity throughout Europe and the United States, it’s increasingly influenced contemporary popular music and mainstream fashion alike. A flurry of national media attention in recent years has also contributed to the subculture’s continued resurgence, from the 2016 documentary Kiki to brand new Viceland show My House that follows leading dancers of today’s current generation of queer ballroom voguers, including Mugler.

“In terms of representation for people like me, there has never been a moment like this,” says Elegance Bratton, creator of My House. “Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of American television where our demographic can see itself for six months straight as the lead characters on national television.”

Co-created by Murphy alongside Steven Canals and Brad Falchuk, Pose highlights the joy and liberation of ballroom competition while never shying away from the micro inter-personal conflicts within rivaling houses, the devastation the Aids crisis wrought onto the community, or the larger socio-political struggles facing the young queer minorities depicted on the show.

Today’s generation of voguers are simply grateful for the historical spotlight that Pose shines on the legacy and traditions of their community.

“The 80s was such a specific time, and a very important era for ballroom,” says Kia LaBeija, a dancer who also serves as the current mother of the House of LaBeija, one of the community’s most renowned and historic houses. “Many of those who pioneered the scene came into prominence during these years. Voguing really begins to start its journey into the limelight in a very visceral way at the end of the 80’s, but there was also an eminent sense of loss, as our community was heavily impacted by the Aids crisis.”

“Today, it’s very easy to take for granted an increased visibility for LGBT people but this has been a hard fight for visibility, especially for queer people of color, and they haven’t been bloodless coup’s,” adds Bratton. “Since Stonewall, raising our visibility in day to day life has been a volatile experience. I’m grateful to the pioneer generation depicted on Pose for making it possibly for the cast on My House to even be on television.”

1077810 Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain and Mj Rodriguez in Pose. Photograph: Jojo Whilden / FX

While Mugler and LaBeija both point to a history of appropriation and exploitation of their community from outsiders, they are both grateful for the effort from the creators of Pose to avoid such trappings in the making of the show.

“People like to take. There are a lot of culture vultures and my thing is, if you’re going to take from our community and be inspired, include us. Include the people you’re taking from,” says Mugler. “I was happy with Pose because I have a lot of friends that actually did the show and I felt like they took their time to really get to know the community and include the community.”

LaBeija, who was involved in the making of the show, agrees. “There have always been those who have appropriated and exploited this community’s stories, but the community has fought to make sure that it is protected and that its histories are told correctly,” she says. “Ryan Murphy really dedicated himself to make sure this show really represents our community by creating space for our stories to be told, by us.”

As much as Mugler has been struck by the similiarties between his own journey and the plight of the characters in Pose, the show has also made him even more acutely aware of how much things have changed in thirty years.

“It’s evolved to the point where back then, we felt like we couldn’t have as much as we wanted, but now we can,” he says. “Now, we can get the cover of the magazine. We can be in those pages of Vogue. It’s easier to access material things and goals that we always wanted in the past in the community. They worked super hard to get those things, and now it’s obtainable.”

Pose begins on FX on 3 June with a UK date yet to be announced

smalltownguy

06-07-2018, 06:37 PM

06.06.18

This Top Doctor Says Transgender Hormone Therapy Is Safe

How safe is transgender hormone therapy?

Few have been examining that question more closely in recent years than Dr. Joshua Safer, the first director of the new Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai in New York. So far, the answers he is finding are encouraging.

In 2014, Safer and fellow researchers found that the existing scientific literature suggests that transgender hormone therapy is “safe without a large risk of adverse events when followed carefully for a few well-documented medical concerns.”

In 2017, Safer co-authored a study finding that out of the 31 percent of transgender women he saw at Boston Medical Center who smoked, a staggering 64 percent quit while undergoing hormone therapy in order to reduce their risk of blood clots.

In 2018, he and a research team learned that testosterone treatment for transgender men seems to reduce estrogen levels on its own, potentially reducing the need for “other estrogen-reducing strategies.”

Most recently, Safer helped find in an April study that prolactin levels did not rise significantly among a sample of transgender women taking the traditional combination of estradiol and the anti-androgen spironolactone, suggesting that “it may be unnecessary to monitor prolactin in women on this treatment combination.”

“The theme,” Safer tells The Daily Beast, “is that the studies to date have tended to reassure that transgender hormone treatments are safer than people realized.”

Safer was part of a team of endocrinologists, or hormone specialists, who updated the Endocrine Society’s guidelines for transgender treatment in late 2017.

Prior to that, the inaugural set of guidelines were published in 2009–a landmark step forward for transgender health care, despite how cautious those initial recommendations were.

“The 2009 guidelines were very conservative,” Safer recalls. “But they were really enormous in their impact because it was a conventional medical organization that took this on, and it just changed the entire conversation.”

Nearly a decade after those guidelines were first published, Safer says there is still “a lot of work to be done” to refine them through “much bigger, more comprehensive studies.”

But so far, every time Safer has examined a fear that physicians might have about transgender hormone therapy, the results have helped alleviate those fears.

Take blood clots, for example. Estrogens can increase the risk of getting them. That’s not a situation unique to transgender women, as Safer tells The Daily Beast, given that some of the “worst offenders” for blood clot risk can be found in “birth control pills given to millions of [cisgender] women.”

But as recently as a few years ago, as Safer recalls, some physicians would go so far as to deny estrogen to transgender women who smoked, for fear of increasing their risk of blood clots.

Safer took a different approach: Instead of denying them the medically-necessary treatment that is hormone therapy, he was “pretty aggressive” in petitioning his transgender female patients to give up cigarettes as they medically transitioned.

When Safer and a student of his later looked through the files of his patients who agreed to be included in his 2017 study on the subject, they found that the transgender women smokers quit at a rate about ten times higher than the 6.2 percent of adult smokers who “successfully quit in a given year.”

And because smoking increases the risk of blood clots far more than estrogens do, that encouraging trend was a net gain for his patients as a whole.

“Just counting out those who managed to quit smoking more than offset the total risk of blood clots from all that estrogen being given to everybody,” he says.

Indeed, the benefits of getting these transgender women hooked into the health care system—rather than turning them away—proved to be much greater than the increased risk of blood clots that may come with an estrogen prescription.

As the abstract for the study notes: “While some physicians raise concern over morbidity from hormone therapy, in our experience, good health habits initiated with care in our system more than outweigh the modest risks currently described.”

Safer tells The Daily Beast that his work lately has largely been about “addressing fears.”

As he explains it: “That’s exactly where you want to begin: What is everybody worried about?”

He doesn’t necessarily begrudge his peers in the medical community for being cautious about administering transgender hormone therapy, attributing their hesitations around the area “almost exclusively” to the Hippocratic promise to “do no harm.” By now, doctors recognize the enormous mental health cost of leaving gender dysphoria untreated—and major medical associations have long affirmed the necessity of transition-related health care for those who suffer from it.

But fine-tuning the hormone regimens for transgender men and transgender women, and evaluating their risks remains a challenging task—one that will require frustratingly slow and methodical labor.

Contrary to popular belief, says Safer, it’s not the size of the transgender population that makes it so difficult to carry out longitudinal studies with large samples. According to the latest estimate, about 1.4 million adults in the United States are transgender, which is certainly small by percentage of the population but not in terms of total number.

“The numbers of [transgender] people are bigger than for a lot of medical conditions, so I don’t think that’s the biggest barrier,” he tells The Daily Beast.

The problem, says Safer, is that the population isn’t “well-identified,” meaning it is hard to sue out through “conventional medical records” which of the patients in large databases of medical information are transgender.

Add to that a delay in funding being directed toward this issue—it wasn’t until September 2017 that the National Institutes of Health added a funding opportunity for research on transgender health—and you get what Safer calls “a little bit of a lag in getting high-quality, sophisticated research done.”

That’s not to say that there isn’t solid research to support the current state of transgender hormone therapy. The Endocrine Society would never have published guidelines on the topic if there weren’t. And in fact, Safer says that, in his opinion, even the new 2017 guidelines are “overly conservative in a few areas.”

“Yes, I will be very honest,” he admits, laughing. “I already can see opportunities to revise the revision.”

For example, the new 2017 guidelines direct physicians to monitor the levels of prolactin in transgender women undergoing hormone therapy, for fear that higher levels could lead to growths or tumors on the pituitary gland.

Safer’s most recent study, however, found evidence in the medical records of 98 transgender women treated at Boston Medical Center that there was “no significant rise in prolactin” when treated with the regimen that is customary in the United States. Now, Now, Safer can’t help but wonder if “we might have dropped that recommendation” about prolactin monitoring had that study come out before the revision process began.

What has helped fuel research in this area is the overwhelming willingness of transgender patients to participate in it. Several of Safer’s studies use anonymized data from the patient records at his previous position at Boston Medical Center and, as he tells The Daily Beast, “almost every single patient [they] asked” gave their consent.

“I think people felt very mission-driven,” says Safer, noting that they seemed concerned about helping other transgender people get quality health care.

Safer, too, seems mission-driven, although he is not transgender himself. Circumstance is what led to him to this understudied discipline—and to his new job at Mount Sinai, where he hopes to provide a “model” for comprehensive transgender treatment around the country.

“For me, it’s a little bit of an accident, honestly,” Safer says.

In the early 200s, when Safer was faculty at Boston University, a fellow working beneath him—Dr. Vin Tangpricha, a transgender endocrinology expert in his own right and the president-elect of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health—left the practice. Tangpricha’s transgender patients fell into Safer’s care.

“I knew nothing,” he remembers. “And all of a sudden, I had to really ramp up my knowledge.”

Now, Safer has not only learned about as much as any researcher can learn on the subject, he is helping lead the charge to learn more. But more so than feeling proud, Safer says he feels “lucky” to have been in a position to help advance health care for a minority that has long struggled to access it.

“I would characterize it as a very cool experience,” he says, “to be able to be somewhat useful.”

smalltownguy

06-08-2018, 03:29 PM

Jun 8, 2018

Teacher claims school made him resign for not using transgender student's name

An Indiana orchestra teacher claims his former school forced him to resign after he refused to refer to a transgender student by their preferred name.

Brownsburg High School has a policy that mandates teachers call transgender students by their preferred name, in place of their birth name.

John Kluge, who taught at the high school for four years, disagreed with the rule and said he instead wanted to refer to the student by their last name.

"I feel the compelled speech of forcing a teacher to take a side on this very highly controversial topic is a violation of our First Amendment rights," Kluge told ABC affiliate WRTV.

Kluge told WRTV the school told him he must either follow the policy, resign or be fired. He said he submitted a conditional resignation later, but later withdrew the resignation before the deadline.

A school district representative told WRTV that Kluge voluntarily submitted a resignation and the administration accepted it.

Kluge believed he would be suspended pending termination on May 1, according to WRTV. He called his meeting with the administration "very threatening" and "bullying."

"I enjoy being the orchestra teacher at Brownsburg," Kluge wrote in a statement. "It's unfortunate that the administration is not letting me come back and that they are unwilling to continue a reasonable accommodation that most people consider to be very common sense."

He went on to ask that the board reconsider his termination.

The administration told WRTV it's complying with all state and federal laws.

According to the Brownsburg Community School Corporation, a student is allowed to change their preferred name only with a letter from a parent and a health care professional.

"Showing a lack of support for transgender youth is what drives up the suicide rates of transgender youth in Indiana," Chris Paulsen, executive director of the LGBTQ organization Indiana Youth Group, told WRTV.

Nikka

06-09-2018, 10:17 PM

First Trans school in Chile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZSdpR_PNCw

CherryJ

06-10-2018, 05:37 AM

Lovely Nikka, happy to hear the good news xx thank you for the post

CherryJ

06-10-2018, 06:02 AM

Lovely Nikka, happy to hear the good news xx thank you for the post
First Trans school in Chile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZSdpR_PNCw

smalltownguy

06-13-2018, 06:10 PM

June 13, 2018

Pakistan: 13 transgenders to contest July 25 elections

Reports said that two transgender leaders - Nayab Ali and Lubna Lal - will contest on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Gulalai (PTI-G) tickets, while the remaining 11 candidates will run as independents..
In 2009, Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to legally recognise a third sex, allowing transgenders to obtain identity cards.
Thirteen members of the transgender community will be contesting the July 25 elections on various seats across Pakistan, the All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (Apten) said today. It said two transgender leaders – Nayab Ali and Lubna Lal – will contest on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Gulalai (PTI-G) tickets, while the remaining 11 candidates will run as independents, Dawn reported.
However, they said, at least two transgender people – one in Peshawar and another in Haripur – were unable to submit nomination papers because they were beaten up and harassed after their intentions to contest elections became public knowledge. Apten, a rights group focusing on the invisibility of leaders from the transgender community, comprises TransAction KP, the Sindh Transgender Welfare Network, the Balochistan Alliance for Transgender and Intersex Community and the Punjab Transgender Foundation.

The group, led by TransAction KP President Farzana Jan, also demanded removal of systemic barriers to entry of transgender people into politics, and for political parties to induct more members of the community into their ranks. It said the network would form its own political party after the elections. The group said that it was aiming for the party to be registered before local body elections.

In 2009, Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to legally recognise a third sex, allowing transgenders to obtain identity cards. They number at least half a million people in the country, according to several studies, but their representation in politics and many other spheres of life remains negligible.

smalltownguy

06-15-2018, 06:12 AM

June 15 2018

Smear test campaign drops the word ‘woman’ to avoid transgender offence

Cancer Research UK has been criticised for dropping the word “woman” from its latest public health campaign against cervical cancer in an effort to be more inclusive of transgender people.

Cervical screening rates have fallen to a 20-year low in England. Every year more than 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 890 die.

However, the charity’s latest message for cervical screening awareness week has prompted dismay after it encouraged “everyone aged 25-64 with a cervix” to go for their smear test, with no mention of women at all.

smalltownguy

06-20-2018, 05:37 PM

June 20, 2018

Mercer County school district the latest to adopt bathroom policy for transgender students

Starting next school year, students at Lakeview School District in Mercer County will be allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

Students who are uncomfortable sharing facilities with a transgender student will be able to use a private restroom near the high school guidance offices.

The Lakeview School District — and its roughly 1,200 students — joins a growing number across the country that are adopting policies that prohibit discrimination against transgender students.

“Nationally, we are seeing [more] local school districts, big and small, urban, suburban, rural, adopting policies to ensure equal opportunity for transgender students,” said Harper Jean Tobin, director of policy for the National Center for Transgender Equality in Washington, D.C. “All school districts have transgender students, and they're recognizing this really is necessary to make sure the students can participate in school. If you can't go to the bathroom, you can't really go to school and learn and participate.”

Besides the anti-discrimination protections of the federal Title IX law, more and more states have written laws to prevent discrimination against transgender people, Ms. Tobin said, and the courts have weighed in on the issue, as well. School districts across the country have responded by writing their own policies.

Lakeview Superintendent Hendley Hoge said that while considering the change, his district studied the policies and reactions in the Pine-Richland and Boyertown Area school districts, which both ultimately wound up before a judge.

Pine-Richland last year settled a lawsuit brought by three transgender students after the district enacted a policy requiring them to either use a unisex bathroom or the bathroom that corresponded to their biological gender.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the Boyertown Area School District’s policy to allow all students to use the restroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity. Four students had sued to overturn the policy, arguing it violated their privacy to share facilities with transgender students.

Lakeview is “squarely in line with how the law is developing,” Ms. Tobin said. The district’s policy — letting all students use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity and providing a private alternative for students who may be uncomfortable with that — is similar to the sample policy the National Center for Transgender Equality has posted on its website, she added.

Mr. Hoge said in an email that the Lakeview school board did not adopt a new policy, but rather changed the bathroom rules to be in compliance with the school district’s existing non-discrimination policy.

He would not say how many transgender students the district has, but said he has gotten “many negative concerns” from the community since he sent home a letter explaining the change in April. He said he’s also gotten positive feedback, as well.

“As superintendent, I believe in being transparent and keeping our Lakeview community informed,” Mr. Hoge said. “As I have shared with numerous residents over the past month, this may not be the most popular thing that I am doing, but it is the right thing.”

The Lakeview school board will hold a public meeting July 17 to address concerns and “highlight the rights of transgender students, as well as the rights of students that feel uncomfortable with a transgender [student] sharing a restroom.”

“The Lakeview School District believes that all of its student are valued members of the school community and should have a positive education experience,” Mr. Hoge wrote in the letter. “A key component of a positive educational experience for all students is the need to understand and appreciate the differences between themselves and others.”

smalltownguy

06-23-2018, 06:17 PM

June 23, 2018

Cynthia Nixon celebrates her transgender son: ‘I salute him’

Former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has shared a heart-warming Instagram post celebrating her son, Samuel, and the 14th Annual Trans Day of Action.

“I’m so proud of my son Samuel Joseph Moses (called Seph) who graduated college this month,” she wrote. “I salute him and everyone else marking today’s #TransDayofAction. #TDOA.”

This very public nod to Samuel’s transgender status is the first time Cynthia has openly shared this fact.

The 52-year-old and her son are pictured both sporting massive grins taken at Samuel’s graduation from The University of Chicago.

Back in November 1996, Samuel was born as Samantha to Cynthia and her then partner, Danny Mozes.

Since the former TV star began her campaign for Governor of New York, Samuel has been absent from the public eye.

Despite the mum-of-three attending many Pride events during the past month, her son hadn’t been seen at any with her.

The keen politico also has another son with Danny, Charles Ezekiel, born in December 2002 and a son, Max, with new partner, Christine, Marinoni.

Cynthia is well-known for keeping her personal life extremely private and rarely speaking about her children so this latest public show of love comes as a sweet surprise.

smalltownguy

06-26-2018, 12:38 PM

June 25, 2018

Ohio Republicans Introduce Bill That Would Allow Parents to Deny Transgender Children the Right to Transition

Last week, the Ohio GOP decided to push forward with a bill that would allow parents the ability to deny their transgender child body autonomy and the right to transition.
Sponsored by Republican House Reps. Tom Brinkman and Paul Zeltwanger, House Bill 658 grants parents sweeping rights to “withhold consent for gender dysphoria treatment or activities that are designed and intended to form a child’s conception of sex and gender.”

HB 658 also prevents schools from affirming a child’s trans identity without the consent of the young person’s parents. Violating that portion of the legislation would result in a 4th-degree felony.

Despite the fact studies have proven that children are aware of their gender identity around the age of 4, this bill authorizes parents to reject their children's gender identity or expression.

Perhaps more damning, one of the other provisions of HB 658 prevents Ohio courts from denying custody to parents in the event they block their transgender child from transitioning.

"[The bill's] a waste of time and money that could otherwise be spent on actual issues affecting Ohio's minorities," Kate Kloss, a transwoman from Cleveland, tells Scene. "And it's insulting to teenagers, cis or trans, to say that they can't make decisions for themselves."

Rep. Brinkman says the legislation was inspired following a February court ruling by the Ohio First District Court of Appeals in which the grandparents of a 17-year-old transboy were awarded custody after his family attempted to force him into conversion therapy.

Meaning, if a child wanted to move in with more affirming family members that would support their transition, the child would be completely helpless and would be stuck living in a non-affirming household.

“They should have that responsibility,” Brinkman told WOSU Public Media. “And if somebody doesn't like it, you're emancipated at age 18 and you can go do whatever the heck you want.”

The problem with that, however, is that transitioning later in life can be extremely difficult. Once a transgender person has already gone through puberty, reversing those changes is much harder than if the child was able to transition beforehand. Transmen would have developed breasts. Transwomen would have already developed deeper voices and facial hair.

While being trans is about existing and not about passing, disallowing a transperson to transition as early as possible is denying them the opportunity to live authentically as soon as possible.

Additionally, the law seems frivolous because children under 18 years old already need parental or guardian consent to begin hormone treatment. There is no set age limit for starting on prescription hormones related to transition, and doctors need to assess a patient’s situation on a case-by-case basis. This law is specifically about preventing the affirmation of transgender youth disguised as a concern for their "health."

"Medical professionals are more qualified than parents to make decisions about a teenager's healthcare," says Kloss. "I wonder what [the legislators] could accomplish if they cared as much about police brutality as they do about interfering in teen healthcare."

According to a statement from Equality Ohio, “This unnecessary and discriminatory bill does nothing to support youth and families, In fact, it puts the livelihoods of some of our most vulnerable youth—transgender youth—further at risk with bullying and discrimination by potentially forcing teachers to out them.”

The bill attempts to perpetuate a dangerous narrative surrounding transgender youth, despite all research proving that access to transition related care is vital in allowing a healthy future for transgender individuals.

This is just the latest anti-trans legislature to be introduced in Ohio, wasting valuable time that could be spent on anti-discrimination and protection legislation, as Transpeople are at higher risks of violence and discrimination than anyone else under the LGBTQ umbrella.

HB 658 received a hearing from the Community and Family Advancement committee earlier this week, but it remains to be seen whether it can find support in the Ohio General Assembly.

If it does, it can only be expected that a massive pushback from progressive groups and protests would soon follow.

smalltownguy

06-29-2018, 02:47 PM

29 June 2018

Transgender row makes waves in London park pond

A tranquil pond on London's Hampstead Heath has become the latest battleground over gender identity after a decision to allow transgender people to bathe in the women-only enclosure.

The issue has divided female bathers between those who want to preserve a "sanctuary" and those in favour of "inclusiveness".

The oasis amid the noise of the British capital is one of three fee-paying ponds that have been open for swimming for several decades in the north London park.

Another is for men only, while the third is mixed.

On a scorching day in the middle of a summer heat wave, around a dozen women -- some topless -- read or chatted around the pond, while some cooled off with a dip.

"For many women who come here, you're in your own little world," said Ann Haidari, 51, a teaching assistant who comes to the pond several times a week, all year round.

"I really love my privacy here and I imagine most people who come here want that," she added.

"I love the fact that it's very much a female sanctuary. It's a rare thing."

The decision late last year by the City of London, which governs the green space, to allow men identifying themselves as women to access the pond and its changing rooms has unsettled many regulars.

'Uncomfortable'

"These rules are very open to abuse. Self-identification (as a woman) is quite ridiculous," said Amy Desir, a 30-year-old mother of two who strongly opposes the measure.

"We're in a vulnerable situation. You might be bathing topless. It's about privacy, dignity, and our rights. It's an attack on our safety," she said.

Desir said women with daughters and visitors of different religions such as Orthodox Jews and Muslims who have strict cultural rules were particularly affected.

"It's a very different atmosphere," she said, adding that one day they were joined by a "man who was trying to wear a costume, but obviously he had a penis so it didn't quite fit."

"The space where women felt free and relaxed is now a space where they are feeling uncomfortable," she said.

Clare Stewart, a 58-year-old acupuncturist, said she comes regularly with her teenage daughter because "I don't want to be bothered by predatory men".

"They could go to the men's pond, there's no need for them to come here," she added. "It would blow the whole thing apart."

But other bathers defended the "inclusive" move, including writer Anna Russell, 53.

"You don't think anybody who's a blokey bloke would have the balls to come here," she joked.

"Maybe make a separate space for their (transgender) privacy," suggested 64-year-old Vicky Joseph.

"That would solve the problem for people who find male genitalia offensive," she said.

Self-declaration

Desir believes the City of London is one of many organisations that have adopted similar measures in anticipation of government reforms to the Gender Recognition Act, to make status change "less bureaucratic and intrusive".

Currently, a certificate of sex change can be obtained even without transformative surgery, if the person has lived for at least two years as a member of the desired sex and can provide a medical report diagnosing gender dysphoria -- a condition in which gender identification does not correspond with biological sex.

A self-declaration procedure will be considered in a consultation to be launched in early July.

Opposing the move, Desir launched the #ManFriday campaign this year, with females posing as males accessing men-only places and events highlighting the implications of gender self-identification.

In May, in one of their most publicised stunts, they swam in the men's pond before being removed by police.

"The men started very angry, they were shouting at us, but once they understood why we were there they were actually very supportive," Desir said.

City of London officials refused to confirm who was allowed in the male-only pond, saying only that "all lifeguards and managers at Hampstead Heath ponds have taken transgender awareness training courses".

Under pressure from an online petition signed by more than 12,000 people, the government already appears to be relenting.

Responding to the petition, the government said it "has not yet decided whether or not to introduce a self-declaration model, and will not change the Equality Act 2010 provisions which support organisations to run single-sex services" such as toilets, changing rooms or shelters, it said.

smalltownguy

07-02-2018, 03:42 PM

July 02, 2018

Women's university in Tokyo to accept transgender students

TOKYO - A national women's university in Tokyo said Monday it will start from April 2020 accepting students born male but who identify themselves as female.

Ochanomizu University, Japan's first institution of higher education for women with a 142-year history, is believed to become the first women's university in the country to accept transgender students, according to the education ministry.

Women's universities in Japan have restricted applicants to those registered as women under the country's family register system.

But many of the universities, including Tsuda University and Japan Women's University, both in Tokyo, are considering modifying their qualifications as similar moves have been taken by universities in the United States in recent years.

Ochanomizu University will hold a press conference in the near future to explain the details of its measure, including how it plans to confirm whether an applicant is transgender.

The university said it intends to accept "transgender students who hope to study at a women's university based on their gender identity."

"There is no reason to turn down transgenders as long as they are eager to study at a women's university," said a 20-year-old student attending the university.

A graduate student, 25, welcomed the move too, saying, "Some students might mind what to do with restrooms and dressing rooms, but I personally have no problems with it. A greater variety in people on the campus brings more fun."

The latest move comes as Japan is slowly starting to accommodate the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Some municipalities have started recognizing LGBT couples due to the lack of a national-level system to recognize such partnerships, while some junior high schools are introducing genderless uniforms or flexible uniform codes to support sexual minority students.

One in 13 people in Japan is estimated to be a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, according to a survey conducted in 2015 by the Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Inc.

smalltownguy

07-06-2018, 07:17 PM

July 05, 2018

The first transgender model was crowned Miss Spain, and now she'll compete to become Miss Universe

Pride Month might be over, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate this latest victory for the LGBTQ community. For the first time in history, a transgender woman will be competing in the Miss Universe pageant, and this is obviously huge news.

According to Express, 26-year-old Angela Ponce won Miss Spain on June 29th after competing against 22 other contestants, and that means that later this year, she’ll be competing in the 2018 Miss Universe pageant when it’s held in the Philippines in December, making her the first trans woman ever to compete.

Considering the fact that, until 2012, trans women were banned from the competition, this is a Very Big Deal, and it seems like Ponce is excited for the opportunity. Earlier this week, she shared a photo on Instagram of herself in her crown after winning the pageant, thanking the people who have been there for her from the start.

Her caption is in Spanish, but she writes that she has finally accomplished a lifelong dream and that she will continue working towards tolerance and acceptance for all people.

“Today begins a new chapter for me,” she wrote in Spanish. “I’m going to the @missuniverse pageant with the awareness and commitment to carry forward a message of inclusion, respect, tolerance, love for oneself, love for others.”

So many congratulations to Ponce, the new Miss Spain. We can’t wait to see her compete, because whether or not she wins Miss Universe is irrelevant — just by competing at all, she’s changing the world. Fingers crossed that this leads to even more inclusion in pageants from here on out. All women deserve the chance to shine — in whatever way they choose.

smalltownguy

07-08-2018, 09:25 AM

July 5, 2018

Teddy Geiger, ex-teen pop star who came out as transgender, finally doing fame her way

The day the songwriter Teddy Geiger came out publicly as transgender — in a playful Instagram comment sent from Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu — was the same day she shared the news with Shawn Mendes, the 19-year-old pop phenom who has been her closest and most successful A-list collaborator.

It was last October, and she had already spent roughly three weeks writing and recording for Mendes’ new album, hoping to rekindle the spark of their multiplatinum singles “Stitches,” “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back,” “Mercy” and “Treat You Better.”

“We hadn’t talked about it,” Geiger recalled recently over eggs in the San Fernando Valley, “but I was dressing in all women’s clothing and wearing makeup.” So as she sat on a studio couch and wrote a response to fans who had wondered online about her evolving appearance, Geiger showed a draft to her musical family.

“Should I post this?” she asked, effectively answering any questions that may have been lingering in the studio. The other musicians encouraged her to go for it, and so she did, concluding: “this is who i have been for a looooong time. I love u guys. Talk sooooon byeeee,” punctuated with four emojis: A lipstick kiss. A sparkling heart. A lightning bolt. A peace sign.

“She let it out, and she was just so happy — I can’t even describe it,” Mendes said. Then they all got back to work.

For Geiger, 29, this new chapter as perhaps the most prominent producer and songwriter in pop who also happens to be a trans woman is coinciding with the richest creative moment in her decidedly non-traditional, decade-plus career. Once a rising teen pop star herself, Geiger turned away from the spotlight around the ripe age of 21, retreating to the basements and studios where she had always been most comfortable.

While hundreds of songs she has written and recorded since exist only in an array of computer folders, a select few made their way to One Direction, Icona Pop and Mendes, all but ending any chance Geiger had at receding fully into music-business anonymity. Mendes’ self-titled album, released in May, featured 11 songs written and produced in part by Geiger and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. The single “In My Blood” is a Top 40 radio staple and reached No. 11 on the Hot 100.

Predictably, demand for Geiger is way up: Lately, she has been in the studio with the Dixie Chicks, as well as rising artists like King Princess, Olivia O’Brien and Lauv. Along with another close collaborator, Ricky Reed, she wrote the ballad “Unless It’s With You” from the latest Christina Aguilera album, and the self-love declaration “Liberated” by Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges. This month, she will emerge from the behind the scenes to reprise her first role — that of the public-facing artist, billed now as teddy<3 — with a new single, “I Was in a Cult,” a fuzzy, sturdy rock song about “acting from a place of freedom.”

“I just feel more open,” Geiger said, well aware that emotional intimacy is the lingua franca of a good pop songwriting session. “Because I’m willing to talk about everything now, people are then more open with me.”

She added: “There’s no longer this piece of me back there saying, ‘Don’t go there.’ I used to find that I’d sing songs and think, ooh, it sounds like I’m talking about that stuff, and I don’t want to talk about that stuff. But it was just coming out.”

Reed said only in retrospect did he notice “these sort of cryptic little hints and clues buried in these half-spoken, half-mumbled melodic passes and demos” — nearly subconscious nods toward struggles with identity. “Teddy was already really open and great to be around,” he said, “but that has increased tenfold. When you feel all of that freedom and honesty, how could you not just radiate it?”

Known as a studio whiz, proficient on every instrument and quick to offer a melody or turn of phrase, Geiger is also an eternal font of silliness, with her affinity for inside jokes, arcane YouTube videos and nonsensical, pun-heavy ditties well-known to all collaborators. Musically, she specializes in what she called “roughing up pop music a bit,” leaning on organic rock instrumentation in a digitized world and hoping to keep the radio as idiosyncratic as possible. (A track she is producing for O’Brien is built around a cellphone recording of Geiger making a beat on the tab of a beer can while at a house party.)

Justin Tranter, a fellow pop songwriter who also started in scuzzier bands, called Geiger a “musician’s musician” — one whose coming out helps to shift the landscape for queer creators.

“To see that this trans person is an instrumental queen — one of the most technically talented people in the pop world — is a really amazing thing not just for our industry but for the world,” Tranter said. “For young LGBTQ people to know that a trans woman has co-written and produced some of the biggest hits of the last couple years is beyond inspiring and beyond important.”

Mendes, among the only current pop stars to convincingly wield a guitar, was a natural ally for Geiger, whose early career mirrored his own. A budding star on the social network Vine, Mendes aimed to cross over into the mainstream and found his first defining smash in a demo of “Stitches” sung by Geiger.

“She’s mesmerizing and just has a star quality to her,” Mendes said. “She was the person I was trying to sing like.” His version reached No. 4 on the charts and now has more than 1 billion views on YouTube.

For Mendes’ next album, “Illuminate,” the pair wrote together directly (including “Treat You Better,” 1.5 billion views), cementing a kinship that went beyond music. “I met someone who really acts like me in the studio, who really sings like me, who gets excited like me,” Mendes said. “It was a serious, serious connection — deeper than a songwriter — and from then on, I decided she has to be a part of everything I do.”

Geiger, who signed to Columbia Records at 16 as a singer-songwriter in the mold of John Mayer and Ryan Cabrera, saw flashes of her own past pressures in what Mendes was experiencing. “Everyone that’s around you is working for you, and you feel responsible for them,” she said. “But also you’re a child.”

Geiger’s late teens were a pop-star movie montage that ended in the inevitable screeching crash. First there was the VH1 competition show, “In Search of the Partridge Family,” followed by a record deal and a slot opening for Hilary Duff on tour. Not long after came a hit single, “For You I Will (Confidence),” with a video featuring the reality starlet of the moment, Kristin Cavallari.

Full-blown heartthrob status came next: a “Got Milk?” ad, a tour of her (parents’) house on MTV Cribs, the cover of Seventeen magazine, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and a partnership with Procter & Gamble that positioned Geiger as eye-candy to sell deodorant and makeup to young women. (“If they associate the brand with the first time they saw Teddy Geiger’s eyes — well, you can’t buy that kind of thing!” an executive said at the time.)

“I was going through adolescence and having sex for the first time, but it was in this really weird context,” Geiger said. “I didn’t have a real support group.”

What she did have was an overeager business team that ran her ragged on tour and pushed her toward Hollywood, including appearances in The Rocker, a goofy teen comedy starring Rainn Wilson and Emma Stone, and the short-lived CBS show Love Monkey.

“The only roles I had done were musician roles, and then they were sending me out for the lead in ‘Spider-Man,’ or like, the military boy with a crew cut,” Geiger said, motioning to her lanky frame. “Um, it’s not going to work.”

Before turning 21, she had returned home to Rochester, unsigned and uninterested in the constantly cranking machine. The years that followed were full of exploration and self-discovery — including a particularly poignant acid trip — as Geiger honed her writing and production, churning out songs in every style, from ‘80s pop-rock to scuffed-up punk to experimental psychedelia.

“Having a hit is fine, but doing the work is what I want,” she said. “I get more excited the day of creation than once it’s big.”

But even as her songwriting began to find new audiences via other artists, and she moved from New York back to California to pursue the industry from another angle, Geiger was plagued by intense anxiety, exacerbated by a dependence on cigarettes and marijuana. By last summer, Geiger said, she was smoking up to two packs and a half-ounce of weed a day; she had also developed obsessive-compulsive tendencies that manifested as ruminating thoughts and a fixation on keeping her nails — which she had begun painting on the advice of an ex-girlfriend — pristine.

“It was the only femininity that I was expressing, so I wanted it to be so perfect,” she said. “It was the only thing I could control.”

In September, Geiger entered a month-long treatment program to address her anxiety and, as she put it, “get to the bottom of the gender thing.” Parsing the sources of her shame and anger in marathon group-therapy sessions, she emerged ready to confront her truth with friends and family, all of whom she said have been supportive.

“I can remember back to being 5 and looking in the mirror, feeling like a girl and wanting that,” she said. “But growing up in Rochester, there were limited resources. I’d never met a trans person before.” It was not until her 20s that she even really knew they existed. Geiger pointed to increased transgender visibility in popular culture, including the models Hari Nef and Teddy Quinlivan, as crucial to her journey, and said she hoped her own coming out (and its typically lighthearted documentation on Instagram) might do the same for others.

As soon as she was back from treatment, Geiger said, “I threw away all my boys clothes and started wearing makeup.” She said she has not smoked anything since, diverting the money saved to beauty supplies and studio gear, and filling recording breaks by firing pellet guns at bottles from her back porch. (She is a great shot.)

Geiger met Mendes in Malibu to begin work on his album the day after she returned.

“It was the first time I ever saw her sober,” Mendes recalled. “She was like Teddy, but on steroids. There was this electricity running through her.”

And while weeks went by before Geiger addressed her newly public reality with her collaborators, the adjustment period, she said, was all but nonexistent.

Mendes said he would never forget when he “unconsciously referred to Teddy as ‘she’ for the first time in the flow of conversation.” Geiger stopped what she was doing, turned around and “looked at me with an overwhelming amount of happiness and joy beaming out of her eyes,” he said.

“It was right then that everything really made sense to me,” Mendes said. “For everybody that ever questions why people may choose to transition, if they had a best friend or somebody they loved dearly look at them the way Teddy looked at me in that moment, they would no longer question it.”

“To me,” he added, “Teddy is more her than she’s ever been.”

smalltownguy

07-15-2018, 05:44 PM

July 12, 2018

Transgender Miss Universe contender speaks up for trans kids

MADRID – The first transgender woman to compete in the global Miss Universe pageant wants to make history as a role model for trans children around the globe — no matter whether she wins or not the top beauty title.

The 26-year-old Angela Ponce beat 20 other contestants in the Miss Universe Spain gala on June 29, qualifying for the global round of the pageant, which has allowed transgender participation since 2012.

The location and dates for this year’s contest have yet to be announced. But Ponce is already planning to use it as a platform to draw attention toward high rates of suicides among trans teenagers, as well as legal codes that still discriminate against them around the world.

“If my going through all this contributes to the world moving a little step forward, then that’s a personal crown that will always accompany me,” Ponce told The Associated Press at the offices of the Miss Universe franchise in central Madrid.

The Spanish capital has just wrapped up its 2018 week-long pride celebrations, whose main theme was a call for equality and greater visibility for people with nonbinary gender identity. Rights campaigners marching last Saturday welcomed the World Health Organization’s recent move to take trans identities off the official list of mental health disorders, but highlighted discrimination faced by transgender people of all ages, including employment discrimination.

A study published last year by the European transgender group TGEU found that 77.5 percent of 885 transgender people over 16 years-old polled in Georgia, Poland, Serbia, Spain and Sweden had considered taking their own lives and that 24.5 percent of respondents had made at least one attempt.

Ponce said she had suffered discrimination before as a model, being rejected for fashion events or shoots once designers or organizers discovered she had undergone a sex reassignment procedure.

But in those moments, she said her life motto — “To be the best is not an option, is a must” — gave her strength.

She said her experience growing up in a “loving and supporting family” but without any role models in a small town in southern Spain, near Sevilla, can be a useful story for others.

“My parents never had to go to school to demand any changes in attitudes, I did it myself,” Ponce said, highlighting how she would meet aside with every new teacher and tell them: “Whatever name appears in the roll call, you should call me Angela.”

The 1.77-meter (5 foot, 11 inch) model’s career took off after she won a provincial beauty award in 2015, reaching new heights last month with the Miss Universe pageant.

“I closed my eyes,” she said recalling the victory. “All I wanted was to feel how they put on the crown because I was aware that it was a historical moment.”

In 2012, 23-year-old Jenna Talackova was banned from Canada’s Miss Universe pageant for not being a “naturally born” female. The organization — run at the time by now U.S. President Donald Trump — changed the regulations after she threatened legal action. Talackova made it to the shortlist in Canada, but didn’t win entry to the international contest.

Six years later, Ponce says that transphobia remains a global problem, even in Spain, a country she sees as a pioneer in the protection of LGBT rights.

After Ponce’s victory in the Spanish beauty title, she received hundreds of messages of support on social media, but also some criticism — even from some feminist, gay or transgender users who decried beauty pageants in general as objectification.

“We can’t be hypocritical,” said Ponce, rejecting the charges and describing her victories as success for all transgender people. “Beauty is used to sell everything around us, and beauty can also help us spread a message of equality.”

smalltownguy

07-22-2018, 02:18 PM

July 21, 2018

Supergirl Casts First Transgender Superhero on TV -- Find Out Who It Is!

The first transgender superhero on TV is coming to National City.

Supergirl will introduce Nia Nal, aka Dreamer, in the upcoming fourth season of The CW's superhero drama, it was announced Saturday at Comic-Con. Transgender activist and actress Nicole Maines (Royal Pains, The Trans List) will play the series regular role.

Nia Nal is the newest addition to the CatCo reporting team, with similar traits to Cat Grant. A soulful, 20-something, transgender woman with a fierce drive to protect others, Nia’s journey means fulfilling her destiny as the superhero Dreamer, much like Kara (Melissa Benoist) came into her own as Supergirl.

"I think, first and foremost, Supergirl has always been about being inclusive," Benoist told ET's Kevin Frazier on the Warner Bros. red carpet ahead of the show's panel. "I like to think of her as a humanist even more than a feminist, and that she's accepting of everyone, so I hope that this character will represent a story that hasn't been told for a lot of people, and I hope she'll inspire a lot of people."

Benoist's co-stars agreed, praising Maines' casting and the show's new character. "When they offered me this show, the one reason I wanted to do it is because I had an 8-year-old goddaughter, and I wanted to be able to say, 'This is something you should watch. This is what women are, this is what women should be and this is what women can be,'" explained Katie McGrath, who plays Lena Luthor. "There [is] every type of women to admire on this show. There are the superheroes and then there are the scientists. There are the reporters and then there are the badasses. There's something for everyone."

"It means that, no matter what woman you are, you are a hero," she added. "And also men as well; it doesn't just stop with women. But what's great about this show is it shows so many different types of people and so many different types of heroes. You don't have to just wear a super suit to be a hero."

Maines made a surprise appearance during the Supergirl panel, where the cast gave her a standing ovation.

“It feels crazy to be honest,” Maines said of her casting process. “I’ve just been doing a lot of auditions lately, because a lot of different shows have been really eager to tell the stories of transgender people, especially transgender youth, because it’s an important issue right now in our society and in our world. It seems only fitting to have a trans superhero for kids to look up to.”

As for how Nia finds her way to National City, Maines teased that she worked for Cat Grant in Washington, D.C., and relocates to be under Kara’s wing at CatCo and taught the ways of “superhero-ing.” “She’s so wide-eyed. She’s just happy to be included,” Maines said. “She has this ferocious drive to protect people and to fight against discrimination and hatred and she’s the superhero we need right now.”

Maines, who was the subject of the 2015 book Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, is a transgender actress whose story was featured in the HBO documentary The Trans List. She also played a transgender teen in a guest appearance on USA Network's Royal Pains.

Maines' casting isn't the only groundbreaking move by Supergirl. Two seasons ago, Supergirl revealed that Kara's older, adoptive sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh), was gay.

"Having a queer character on the show, it’s a really big deal. And I knew the magnitude of this -- there’s not a lot of representation out there," Leigh told Variety in February 2017. "We wanted to bring great awareness and tell an authentic story."

On Saturday's carpet, the actress told ET, "I think this is just a wonderful opportunity to open more eyeballs and for people to understand that we're all human and we all love what we love, love who we love, and there's no reason to be, in any way shape or form, judgmental about that,"

Other new additions to Supergirl next season include new series regular April Parker Jones, who will play hard-line career military woman Colonel Haley, who always acts in the country's best interest even if it's not her own; and recurring guest David Ajala, who will portray man-with-a-dark-past Manchester Black. He's the kind of guy who brings a knife to a gunfight and still walks away the winner. He easily deflects the brutality of his mission with his charm and sense of humor.

smalltownguy

07-26-2018, 05:17 PM

July 22, 2018

CVS apologizes for pharmacist who refused to fill transgender woman's prescription

The pharmacist's actions did not reflect CVS's values or commitment to "inclusion, nondiscrimination and the delivery of outstanding patient care," the company said.

A CVS pharmacist who refused to provide a transgender woman her hormone prescription is no longer employed by the pharmacy chain, the company said Friday.

Hilde Hall said in a statement to the American Civil Liberties Union that she was excited to fill her first hormone therapy prescription after leaving her doctor's office in April, as it would allow her "to start seeing my body reflect my gender identity and the woman I've always known myself to be."

But Hall hit a roadblock when she visited the CVS in Fountain HIlls, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, and gave the attending pharmacist the three prescriptions prescribed by her doctor, according to her statement. She said that he "refused to fill one of the prescriptions needed to affirm my identity" and "kept asking, loudly and in front of other CVS staff and customers, why I was given the prescriptions."

"Embarrassed and distressed, I nearly started crying in the middle of the store," she said in the statement. "I didn’t want to answer why I had been prescribed this hormone therapy combination by my doctor. I felt like the pharmacist was trying to out me as transgender in front of strangers."

After departing the store, Hall called the CVS customer service line twice to no avail, she said. Feeling as though she had no other options, she then filed a complaint with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy on Thursday, according to the ACLU.

CVS responded to the situation in a statement on Friday, stating that the pharmacist was no longer employed by the chain because he had violated its company policies. "His actions did not reflect the company's values or commitment to "inclusion, nondiscrimination and the delivery of outstanding patient care," CVS said in its statement.

CVS Statement on Arizona Store Incident pic.twitter.com/OzZP84tLec

— CVS Health (@CVSHealth) July 20, 2018
"We also apologize for not appropriately following up on Ms. Hall's original complaint to CVS, which was due to an unintentional oversight, " the company added in its statement. "We pride ourselves in addressing customer concerns in a timely manner and we are taking steps to prevent this isolated occurrence from happening again."

According to the ACLU, Hall said Friday that she had spoken with a CVS representative, who also apologized on behalf of the company, and appreciated the company for taking "her experience seriously."

CVS received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for the past four consecutive years. The index ranks companies based on their policies regarding LGBTQ equality.

smalltownguy

07-29-2018, 06:03 PM

July 28, 2018

First Dublin Trans Pride March Against Opression

Organisers are expecting big crowds despite the rain

Dublin's first ever TRANS Pride March takes place today.

Dozens of organisations will gather at Liberty Hall at 2pm, before marching to Fairview Park where the first Pride protest took place 35 years ago.

Record numbers attended last month's Pride Parade in Dublin.

However the co-organiser of today's march, Thomas White, says there's a need for a separate event to deal with ongoing issues.

" Dublin Trans Pride is a specifically trans-oriented event. We felt that the trans community needs a space, a voice and platform to be able to express the needs that the community has and reflect what the demands of the community are and what the situation is currently affecting the community.

We felt that Dublin Pride itself is an extremely 'corporatised' event that doesn't reflect the needs of the community as a whole overall very well and there is an urgent need to have a space where we can organise against that discrimination."

Menawhile the Taoiseach says he'll keep the politics out of decisions regarding the healthcare of transgender people.

According to The Times, Leo Varadkar has vowed to follow the 'best most up-to-date' medical advice.

holzz

07-29-2018, 07:01 PM

https://transattract.tumblr.com/post/174978105292

smalltownguy

08-02-2018, 11:46 AM

30th July 2018

Transgender journalist Paris Lees signs up for Celebrity Big Brother

The transgender journalist and presenter is the latest famous face to sign on the dotted line

PARIS Lees has become the latest star to sign up for Celebrity Big Brother.

The Sun Online can exclusively reveal the transgender journalist and presenter has signed on the dotted line and is gearing up to enter the house.

A source told us: "It's a done deal. Paris has signed the contract is going to join the show."

She follows in the footsteps of other confirmed housemates including Hollywood actress Kirstie Alley, porn star Stormy Daniels, Towie's Dan Osborne and Love Island's Gabby Allen in the house.

Paris was born in the body of a man, but began identifying as female during her time at university and is now a leading transgender rights activist.

She founded the first British magazine aimed at the trans community and has been a presenter on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4.

Paris appeared in Hollyoaks, playing herself in a guest role back in 2014.

She was also the first ever transgender panelist on Question Time in 2013 and this year she became the first openly transgender woman to feature in British Vogue.

smalltownguy

08-08-2018, 07:16 PM

8th Aug 2018

US judge rules against Donald Trump’s policy restricting transgender troops

A US district judge has ruled against Donald Trump’s updated policy restricting transgender troops from serving in the military.

Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a US district judge for the District of Columbia, has refused to allow Mr Trump’s new policy hindering transgender troops to go into effect. The judge has denied a request by the Trump administration to lift an injunction previously issued.

Mr Trump had previously announced a ban on transgender people from serving in the military in “any capacity” in July of last year. The US president published a series of tweets announcing his ban last year, writing in part: “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."

The Trump administration’s ban sought to reverse Barack Obama-era policy measures which allowed transgender individuals to serve in the military. Ms Kollar-Kotelly was among the federal judges who temporarily blocked Mr Trump’s ban, ruling that it was likely unconstitutional.

Earlier this year in March, Mr Trump then approved an updated policy which purported to revoke his initial absolute ban. Mr Trump’s memorandum, which adopted recommendations from Defence Secretary Jim Mattis banned “transgender persons with history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

“Transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria — individuals who the policies state may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery — are disqualified from military service except under certain limited circumstance,” the memorandum read in part.

On Monday 6 August Ms Kollar-Kotelly ruled against the new policy writing it implements aspects of the original ban “by targeting proxies of transgender status, such as ‘gender dysphoria’ and ‘gender transition,’ and by requiring all service members to serve ‘in their biological sex”. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed last August by several aspiring troops and current members of the armed forces.

Top Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi had called Mr Trump’s latest memorandum “disgusting” earlier this year.

“This latest memorandum is the same cowardly, disgusting ban the President announced last summer,” she said. “The President’s hateful ban is purpose-built to humiliate our brave transgender members of the military who serve with honour and dignity.”

Joshua Block, senior staff attorney for the ACLU had called the US president's March memorandum "transphobia masquerading as policy".

smalltownguy

08-12-2018, 06:15 PM

August 9 , 2018

In 2018, transgender women are running for governor, Congress and more

Much has been made of 2018 being “The Year of the Woman,” but that narrative tells only part of the story of this election cycle. In fact, the country is seeing an increase in potentially historic candidacies across many demographics, including the LGBTQ community.

Within the next four weeks, several transgender women will appear on ballots across the United States from Hawaii to Vermont. They are part of what’s being called a “rainbow wave” of LGBTQ candidates in this year’s midterms.

“This year has been especially notable in that we have more trans women running for office than at any other time in history,” said Elliot Imse of Victory Fund, which helps elect LGBTQ candidates. He pointed to the 2017 victories of Virginia Del. Danica Roem (D) and Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins (D) as helping pave the way for more transgender candidates to emerge in this cycle.

In the next week Kim Coco Iwamoto, a lawyer and advocate for the homeless, is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Hawaii and in Vermont, Christine Hallquist, the former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative, is vying to be the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee. And on Sept. 4, former military intelligence officer Alexandra Chandler will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District. All three are embracing liberal policies as their campaign platforms, and they all face steep odds.
All of these candidates acknowledge that while their identities could make them game-changers, they say they are focused primarily on issues like climate change, health care and jobs.
“Yes, I recognize the historic significance, but that’s not really a thought,” said Hallquist, who transitioned in 2015 while serving as head of the VEC and has made her story a key part of her political narrative.

Of the three candidates, Hallquist has the best chance of advancing to the general election: Polling is scarce in that race, but she had the best name recognition of all the Democratic candidates in a VPR-Vermont PBS poll from July.

If she wins her primary, she would make history as the first openly transgender woman to be a major-party nominee for governor. But it will be tough to topple Republican incumbent Phil Scott in November; the Cook Political Report rates the race solidly Republican, and he remains more popular with Democrats than any of that party’s candidates.
Halliquist says her experience as a transgender woman encourages her to fight for women’s rights and on behalf of marginalized communities.

After her transition, “Vermont welcomed me with open arms. I can’t do enough for Vermont,” she said.
Iwamoto considers herself a democratic socialist. She was named a Harvey Milk Champion of Change by the Obama White House in 2013.

“The lieutenant governor’s office could be doing so much more for the people of Hawaii … working on the front lines of our state’s most pressing problems,” she said.

She is particularly adamant about improving education and funding for public schools and solving the state’s homelessness and housing affordability issues.

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The Fix Analysis
In 2018, transgender women are running for governor, Congress and more

Christine Hallquist is running for governor of Vermont. (Courtesy Christine for Vermont)
By Kayla Epstein
August 9
Email the author
Much has been made of 2018 being “The Year of the Woman,” but that narrative tells only part of the story of this election cycle. In fact, the country is seeing an increase in potentially historic candidacies across many demographics, including the LGBTQ community.

Within the next four weeks, several transgender women will appear on ballots across the United States from Hawaii to Vermont. They are part of what’s being called a “rainbow wave” of LGBTQ candidates in this year’s midterms.

“This year has been especially notable in that we have more trans women running for office than at any other time in history,” said Elliot Imse of Victory Fund, which helps elect LGBTQ candidates. He pointed to the 2017 victories of Virginia Del. Danica Roem (D) and Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins (D) as helping pave the way for more transgender candidates to emerge in this cycle.

In the next week Kim Coco Iwamoto, a lawyer and advocate for the homeless, is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Hawaii and in Vermont, Christine Hallquist, the former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative, is vying to be the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee. And on Sept. 4, former military intelligence officer Alexandra Chandler will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District. All three are embracing liberal policies as their campaign platforms, and they all face steep odds.

[Database: These women have won their primaries. Will they be elected in November?]

All of these candidates acknowledge that while their identities could make them game-changers, they say they are focused primarily on issues like climate change, health care and jobs.

“Yes, I recognize the historic significance, but that’s not really a thought,” said Hallquist, who transitioned in 2015 while serving as head of the VEC and has made her story a key part of her political narrative.

Of the three candidates, Hallquist has the best chance of advancing to the general election: Polling is scarce in that race, but she had the best name recognition of all the Democratic candidates in a VPR-Vermont PBS poll from July.

If she wins her primary, she would make history as the first openly transgender woman to be a major-party nominee for governor. But it will be tough to topple Republican incumbent Phil Scott in November; the Cook Political Report rates the race solidly Republican, and he remains more popular with Democrats than any of that party’s candidates.

Halliquist says her experience as a transgender woman encourages her to fight for women’s rights and on behalf of marginalized communities.

After her transition, “Vermont welcomed me with open arms. I can’t do enough for Vermont,” she said.

Kim Coco Iwamoto, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Hawaii, casts her ballot with her daughter, Rory, during early voting Monday in Honolulu. (Jim McCoy/Iwamoto campaign)
Iwamoto considers herself a democratic socialist. She was named a Harvey Milk Champion of Change by the Obama White House in 2013.

“The lieutenant governor’s office could be doing so much more for the people of Hawaii … working on the front lines of our state’s most pressing problems,” she said.

She is particularly adamant about improving education and funding for public schools and solving the state’s homelessness and housing affordability issues.

She says that during her time on the state board of education, her identity wasn’t the focus of media attention and that internal campaign polling of Democratic voters found that a clear majority would be open to voting for a transgender candidate.

“The white, hetero, cis-gendered patriarchy is not as deeply entrenched as it is on the continent,” Iwamoto said. “Hawaii has always had a place in society for mahu [individuals who embody both the male and female spirit that have often occupied important places in Native Hawaiian society]. We are an integral part of our families and communities. Many of us who grew up in Hawaii do not see our personal identities as limitations.”

A July poll showed that rival Josh Green is currently leading the pack in the Democratic primary with the support of 34 percent of listed voters; Iwamoto stands at 10 percent.

The Washington Post
Democracy Dies in Darkness
Try 1 month for $1
Sign In
Newsletters & Alerts
Gift Subscriptions
Contact Us
Help Desk
The Fix Analysis
In 2018, transgender women are running for governor, Congress and more

Christine Hallquist is running for governor of Vermont. (Courtesy Christine for Vermont)
By Kayla Epstein
August 9
Email the author
Much has been made of 2018 being “The Year of the Woman,” but that narrative tells only part of the story of this election cycle. In fact, the country is seeing an increase in potentially historic candidacies across many demographics, including the LGBTQ community.

Within the next four weeks, several transgender women will appear on ballots across the United States from Hawaii to Vermont. They are part of what’s being called a “rainbow wave” of LGBTQ candidates in this year’s midterms.

“This year has been especially notable in that we have more trans women running for office than at any other time in history,” said Elliot Imse of Victory Fund, which helps elect LGBTQ candidates. He pointed to the 2017 victories of Virginia Del. Danica Roem (D) and Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins (D) as helping pave the way for more transgender candidates to emerge in this cycle.

In the next week Kim Coco Iwamoto, a lawyer and advocate for the homeless, is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Hawaii and in Vermont, Christine Hallquist, the former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative, is vying to be the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee. And on Sept. 4, former military intelligence officer Alexandra Chandler will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District. All three are embracing liberal policies as their campaign platforms, and they all face steep odds.

[Database: These women have won their primaries. Will they be elected in November?]

All of these candidates acknowledge that while their identities could make them game-changers, they say they are focused primarily on issues like climate change, health care and jobs.

“Yes, I recognize the historic significance, but that’s not really a thought,” said Hallquist, who transitioned in 2015 while serving as head of the VEC and has made her story a key part of her political narrative.

Of the three candidates, Hallquist has the best chance of advancing to the general election: Polling is scarce in that race, but she had the best name recognition of all the Democratic candidates in a VPR-Vermont PBS poll from July.

If she wins her primary, she would make history as the first openly transgender woman to be a major-party nominee for governor. But it will be tough to topple Republican incumbent Phil Scott in November; the Cook Political Report rates the race solidly Republican, and he remains more popular with Democrats than any of that party’s candidates.

Halliquist says her experience as a transgender woman encourages her to fight for women’s rights and on behalf of marginalized communities.

After her transition, “Vermont welcomed me with open arms. I can’t do enough for Vermont,” she said.

Kim Coco Iwamoto, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Hawaii, casts her ballot with her daughter, Rory, during early voting Monday in Honolulu. (Jim McCoy/Iwamoto campaign)
Iwamoto considers herself a democratic socialist. She was named a Harvey Milk Champion of Change by the Obama White House in 2013.

“The lieutenant governor’s office could be doing so much more for the people of Hawaii … working on the front lines of our state’s most pressing problems,” she said.

She is particularly adamant about improving education and funding for public schools and solving the state’s homelessness and housing affordability issues.

She says that during her time on the state board of education, her identity wasn’t the focus of media attention and that internal campaign polling of Democratic voters found that a clear majority would be open to voting for a transgender candidate.

“The white, hetero, cis-gendered patriarchy is not as deeply entrenched as it is on the continent,” Iwamoto said. “Hawaii has always had a place in society for mahu [individuals who embody both the male and female spirit that have often occupied important places in Native Hawaiian society]. We are an integral part of our families and communities. Many of us who grew up in Hawaii do not see our personal identities as limitations.”

A July poll showed that rival Josh Green is currently leading the pack in the Democratic primary with the support of 34 percent of listed voters; Iwamoto stands at 10 percent.

In Massachusetts, the retirement of Rep. Niki Tsongas (D) provided an opening for other Democrats. With urging from friends, political acquaintances and her wife, Chandler decided to run.

“I felt Congress needs the specific expertise that I have to offer and the specific skill set working under different administrations,” she said. Chandler served in the Office of Naval Intelligence for 12 years and wants to use that experience to affect foreign policy in Congress.

On the campaign trail, she says her identity as a transgender woman “amplifies and validates part of the pitch I make to voters,” she said. “What I tell voters is: I’m tough. I’ve had to stand up for myself. I had to keep working after Trump tweeted the trans military ban.”

Chandler's Democratic primary field is a crowded one, and an April poll showed that former ambassador Rufus Gifford led the pack, though the majority of voters hadn't made up their minds at the time. Gifford has raised $1.3 million, according to the latest Federal Election Commission data, while Chandler has raised a little over $108,000.

In addition to these three candidates, several other transgender women will be up for election. South Carolina's primary for a state senate special election will see activist Dayna Smith on the August 14 ballot. Melissa Sklarz is running for state assembly in New York and has a primary on Sept. 13. Several others have already secured their places on the Nov. 6 ballots: Amelia Marquez is running for the Montana House of Representatives, Brianna Titone is running for the Colorado House of Representatives, and Danielle Skidmore is running for Austin City Council.

While Imse, of Victory Fund, said transphobia, sexism and, for transgender women of color, racism remain obstacles, he noted that being open with voters would ultimately help campaigns.

“Because they are running as openly trans, voters can ask about the issues that they’re most concerned with. Perhaps some people will never vote for them,” he said. “But being honest and forthright lends authenticity to these candidates, and authenticity is clearly something missing from our politics right now.”

Bashtranny

08-12-2018, 07:06 PM

Yes like it

smalltownguy

08-12-2018, 07:08 PM

UPDATE AND CORRECTION TO " August 9 , 2018 - In 2018, transgender women are running for governor, Congress and more "

August 9th ,2018

In 2018, transgender women are running for governor, Congress and more

Much has been made of 2018 being “The Year of the Woman,” but that narrative tells only part of the story of this election cycle. In fact, the country is seeing an increase in potentially historic candidacies across many demographics, including the LGBTQ community.

Within the next four weeks, several transgender women will appear on ballots across the United States from Hawaii to Vermont. They are part of what’s being called a “rainbow wave” of LGBTQ candidates in this year’s midterms.

“This year has been especially notable in that we have more trans women running for office than at any other time in history,” said Elliot Imse of Victory Fund, which helps elect LGBTQ candidates. He pointed to the 2017 victories of Virginia Del. Danica Roem (D) and Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins (D) as helping pave the way for more transgender candidates to emerge in this cycle.

In the next week Kim Coco Iwamoto, a lawyer and advocate for the homeless, is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Hawaii and in Vermont, Christine Hallquist, the former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative, is vying to be the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee. And on Sept. 4, former military intelligence officer Alexandra Chandler will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District. All three are embracing liberal policies as their campaign platforms, and they all face steep odds.

All of these candidates acknowledge that while their identities could make them game-changers, they say they are focused primarily on issues like climate change, health care and jobs.

“Yes, I recognize the historic significance, but that’s not really a thought,” said Hallquist, who transitioned in 2015 while serving as head of the VEC and has made her story a key part of her political narrative.

Of the three candidates, Hallquist has the best chance of advancing to the general election: Polling is scarce in that race, but she had the best name recognition of all the Democratic candidates in a VPR-Vermont PBS poll from July.

If she wins her primary, she would make history as the first openly transgender woman to be a major-party nominee for governor. But it will be tough to topple Republican incumbent Phil Scott in November; the Cook Political Report rates the race solidly Republican, and he remains more popular with Democrats than any of that party’s candidates.

Halliquist says her experience as a transgender woman encourages her to fight for women’s rights and on behalf of marginalized communities.

After her transition, “Vermont welcomed me with open arms. I can’t do enough for Vermont,” she said.

Iwamoto considers herself a democratic socialist. She was named a Harvey Milk Champion of Change by the Obama White House in 2013.

“The lieutenant governor’s office could be doing so much more for the people of Hawaii … working on the front lines of our state’s most pressing problems,” she said.

She is particularly adamant about improving education and funding for public schools and solving the state’s homelessness and housing affordability issues.

She says that during her time on the state board of education, her identity wasn’t the focus of media attention and that internal campaign polling of Democratic voters found that a clear majority would be open to voting for a transgender candidate.

“The white, hetero, cis-gendered patriarchy is not as deeply entrenched as it is on the continent,” Iwamoto said. “Hawaii has always had a place in society for mahu [individuals who embody both the male and female spirit that have often occupied important places in Native Hawaiian society]. We are an integral part of our families and communities. Many of us who grew up in Hawaii do not see our personal identities as limitations.”

A July poll showed that rival Josh Green is currently leading the pack in the Democratic primary with the support of 34 percent of listed voters; Iwamoto stands at 10 percent.

In Massachusetts, the retirement of Rep. Niki Tsongas (D) provided an opening for other Democrats. With urging from friends, political acquaintances and her wife, Chandler decided to run.

“I felt Congress needs the specific expertise that I have to offer and the specific skill set working under different administrations,” she said. Chandler served in the Office of Naval Intelligence for 12 years and wants to use that experience to affect foreign policy in Congress.

On the campaign trail, she says her identity as a transgender woman “amplifies and validates part of the pitch I make to voters,” she said. “What I tell voters is: I’m tough. I’ve had to stand up for myself. I had to keep working after Trump tweeted the trans military ban.”

Chandler's Democratic primary field is a crowded one, and an April poll showed that former ambassador Rufus Gifford led the pack, though the majority of voters hadn't made up their minds at the time. Gifford has raised $1.3 million, according to the latest Federal Election Commission data, while Chandler has raised a little over $108,000.

In addition to these three candidates, several other transgender women will be up for election. South Carolina's primary for a state senate special election will see activist Dayna Smith on the August 14 ballot. Melissa Sklarz is running for state assembly in New York and has a primary on Sept. 13. Several others have already secured their places on the Nov. 6 ballots: Amelia Marquez is running for the Montana House of Representatives, Brianna Titone is running for the Colorado House of Representatives, and Danielle Skidmore is running for Austin City Council.

While Imse, of Victory Fund, said transphobia, sexism and, for transgender women of color, racism remain obstacles, he noted that being open with voters would ultimately help campaigns.

“Because they are running as openly trans, voters can ask about the issues that they’re most concerned with. Perhaps some people will never vote for them,” he said. “But being honest and forthright lends authenticity to these candidates, and authenticity is clearly something missing from our politics right now.”

smalltownguy

08-15-2018, 06:21 AM

August 15th 2018

The Latest: Transgender candidate nominated for Vt. governor

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on primaries in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin (all times local):

9:15 p.m.

A former utility executive from Vermont has become the first transgender candidate to win a major political party's nomination for governor.

Christine Hallquist defeated three other Democrats en route to victory in Tuesday's primary.

The former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative says she's running because she feels she has the best plan to help Vermont residents get higher-paying jobs, provide health care for their families and better educate their children.

The 62-year-old Hallquist is part of a wave of LGBTQ candidates seeking higher office across the U.S.

Hallquist is being supported by The Victory Fund, a political action committee that backs LGBTQ candidates across the country. The committed labeled her a "game changer."

___

9:10 p.m.

Vermont's Republican Gov. Phil Scott has won his party's nomination to run for a second term as the state's top executive.

Scott angered many people in the GOP base for supporting a series of gun restrictions but on Tuesday defeated Springfield businessman Keith Stern, a perennial candidate who described himself as a conservative Republican and campaigned on financial issues.

Scott based his first term as governor on the premise of making the state more affordable by helping to balance the budget without raising taxes or fees. He supported gun restrictions after what law enforcement authorities said was a narrowly averted school shooting.

Scott lost some voters with his gun stance but was supported by others who favored the restrictions.

___

9:05 p.m.

Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin is advancing to the November general election after facing no opposition from her own party.

She faces a tough re-election bid against one of two loyalists to President Donald Trump who are seeking to run against her. Baldwin is the only Democrat in a statewide office of importance in Wisconsin, and outside groups have already spent millions on television ads attacking her.

Baldwin's campaign has played up her work on moderate and core Wisconsin issues, including her buy-America plan that Trump supports and her work with Republican Sen. John McCain on lowering drug costs.

The Republicans battling to run against her are political outsider Kevin Nicholson and state Sen. Leah Vukmir. Polls show their race to be very close.

___

9 p.m.

Polls have closed for primary elections in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Polling places across the two states shut their doors at 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. Local election officials are now counting the votes. Results will trickle in over the coming hours.

Primaries in both states included races for governor and Senate, and both Senate seats were on Minnesota's ballot because of a special election to finish Al Franken's term.

Key House races included the Wisconsin primary for the seat that currently belongs to House Speaker Paul Ryan and a Minnesota seat being vacated by Democrat Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to serve in Congress. Ellison is running for state attorney general amid domestic abuse allegations from an ex-girlfriend. He denies them.

___

8:40 p.m.

Small-business owner Matthew Corey has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Connecticut and will face an uphill battle against Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy.

In Tuesday's primary the Manchester Republican defeated Dominic Rapini, a national accounts manager for Apple computers.

Corey is a U.S. Navy veteran and owner of a Hartford pub and a window-washing business. He earlier unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Rep. John Larson.

Corey has called for more investment in small businesses in low-income communities. He's also supportive of apprenticeship programs, corporate tax reform and a tax credit for home school parents.

As of July 25, records show Corey had raised about $31,000 in campaign funds compared with nearly $13.5 million for Murphy.

There was no primary on the Democratic side.

___

8:30 p.m.

Businessman Ned Lamont has won the Democratic nomination for Connecticut governor, defeating Bridgeport mayor and ex-convict Joe Ganim.

Lamont's victory comes 12 years after he defeated U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman in a Democratic showdown, only to lose the general election when Lieberman ran as an independent. That race was seen as part of a national referendum on the Iraq War.

Lamont has said he'll "save Connecticut" from President Donald Trump's policies, whether it's the weakening of environmental standards or abortion access.

Lamont says he'll bring a businessman's approach to solving the state's fiscal woes. He supports unions and a higher minimum wage.

Ganim was elected Bridgeport mayor in 2015 despite serving seven years in prison for public corruption.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy decided against running for a third term.

___

8:05 p.m.

Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has won Vermont's Democratic Senate primary but is expected to turn down the nomination and support the state's Democratic candidates, as is his practice.

In Tuesday's balloting, Sanders defeated little-known candidate Folasade Adeluola (foh-LAH'-shah-day ah-DAY'-loo-hoh-lah), who says she believes Vermont needs a full-time senator.

Sanders is thought to be considering a presidential run in 2020. He already is on Vermont's November ballot as an independent.

Under Vermont law he cannot appear on the November ballot as both a Democrat and an independent.

In his U.S. Senate races, in 2012 and 2006 he declined the nomination but accepted the formal endorsement of the state's Democratic Party.

Four little-known candidates were seeking the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.

___

8 p.m.

Sen. Chris Murphy is advancing to the November election after sailing through the primaries without facing a challenger from his Democratic Party.

The first-term senator from Connecticut will face the winner of a two-man Republican primary featuring small-business owner Matthew Corey and Apple computer executive Dominic Rapini.

Polls in the state closed at 8 p.m. Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin are also holding primaries Tuesday.

Murphy's campaign has raised about $13.5 million, an amount that far exceeds the fundraising of each of his GOP rivals.

Murphy was first elected in 2012 and became a prominent advocate for gun control following the shooting massacre that year at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown that killed 20 first-graders and six educators. He has gained a higher profile lately through his outspoken criticism of the policies of President Donald Trump.

___

7:30 p.m.

Early figures show voter turnout in Connecticut's primaries is low despite the large number of candidates vying to become their party's nominee in November.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says turnout was around 15 to 16 percent with 153 of Connecticut's 169 towns reporting as of about 3 p.m. Tuesday. That figure doesn't include the major cities.

Merrill says she ultimately expects about 20 to 25 percent of the state's roughly 1.2 million registered Democrats and Republicans will vote, similar to past primaries. Polls close at 8 p.m.

Unaffiliated voters are not able to vote in Connecticut's primaries.

The Republican primary for governor is expected to be particularly close, given that five candidates are vying for the nomination. Merrill predicts the winner could take as few as 20,000 votes.

___

7 p.m.

The polls have closed in Vermont, where voters were picking nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

Vermont and three other states, Connecticut, Minnesota and Wisconsin, are holding primaries Tuesday.

In Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott is facing a challenge from Springfield businessman Keith Stern.

Four Democrats are seeking the party's nomination to run for governor. They include a former utility executive who, if elected, would become the nation's first transgender governor, and a 14-year-old boy who is taking advantage of a quirk in state law that does not require gubernatorial candidates to be registered voters.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is appearing on the Democratic ballot, even though he's already registered to run in November as an independent.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is also facing a primary challenge.

___

5:20 p.m.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission says no major problems have been reported across the state as voters cast their ballots in the primary.

The commission says statewide turnout figures for Tuesday's elections are not available yet.

Wisconsin is among four states holding primaries Tuesday. Connecticut, Minnesota and Vermont are the others.

In Milwaukee, the Journal Sentinel reports that election officials are projecting turnout to be 25 to 30 percent of the city's registered voters, which is about 75,000 people. The turnout is about 10,000 more than the 2014 gubernatorial primary.

Democratic voters are choosing among eight candidates to challenge Gov. Scott Walker in November. Republican voters are deciding between Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

___

2:25 a.m.

Democrats are fighting to beat back Republican gains across the Midwest as the 2018 primary season roars through Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Tuesday's primary contests for governor, the Senate and the House will test the strength of President Donald Trump's fiery coalition against the energy of the Democratic resistance among working-class voters.

Meanwhile, accusations of domestic violence involving the Democratic National Committee's deputy chairman, congressman and attorney general candidate Keith Ellison, could undermine the "blue wave" in Minnesota.

In all, four states including Vermont and Connecticut will host elections on Tuesday as the 2018 primary season nears its final chapter.

Democrats appear particularly motivated in Wisconsin, where eight candidates want the chance to take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker. In Minnesota, former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants his job back.

smalltownguy

08-18-2018, 07:26 AM

August 17, 2018

‘I Don’t Feel Safe Living Here.’ After Threats From Parents, a Transgender Girl's Family Is Moving. Again.

For the second time in less than two years, Brandy Rose is planning to move her family to a new town, saying she no longer feels safe in Achille, Oklahoma because of violent threats against her transgender daughter, Maddie.

The Achille school district shut down for two days this week after adults in a parent Facebook group threatened the 12-year-old for using the girls’ bathroom at school. The incident renewed concerns that had driven the family from Sherman, Texas, where Maddie experienced “horrendous” school bullying after she transitioned. Some students had forced Maddie into the boys’ bathroom and taunted her to commit suicide, Rose said.

The move to Achille in 2017 was supposed to give Maddie a “fresh start.” Now the family is moving again — this time to Houston, seeking a “a more open, diverse community for people like my daughter” — as Rose fears for Maddie’s safety in the small town where she became the center of a firestorm this week.

Rose also worries that Maddie’s classmates, most of whom did not know that she was transgender until this controversy erupted, might now begin to bully her.

“I don’t feel safe living here anymore. I can’t drop my daughter off at the movies anymore,” Rose tells TIME. “What if someone recognizes her in the Walmart parking lot? She won’t even sleep in her bed anymore.”

Rose initially avoided sharing details about the threats with Maddie, talking to her generally about staying safe and being aware of her surroundings. But Maddie was taking selfies with her mother’s phone on Saturday, when she discovered screenshots of some of the Facebook posts, in which adults had referred to her as “this thing” and a “half baked maggot,” threatening to “make him a female” with a “good sharp knife.”

“She looked at me and said, ‘Mom, is this what you were talking about? Are these about me?’ And she was mortified. She didn’t understand. She had no idea that people felt that way about her,” Rose says. “I didn’t even know how to have the conversation. I stumbled over my words. It was hard to get them out. I just wanted to hold her while she cried.”

“When she saw the screenshots in my phone, her exact words were, ‘You’ve ruined school for me,'” Rose says. “She didn’t want to go back to school at first.”

Maddie returned to school on Wednesday, when the district reopened after shutting down on Monday and Tuesday amid concerns about protests. As a precaution, more police officers were stationed at the school, and a hall monitor followed Maddie around to make sure there weren’t any problems.

The incident is the latest example of a national fight over transgender rights, particularly in schools, where bathrooms have become a battleground for the estimated 150,000 American teenagers who identify as transgender, according to a 2017 report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Gavin Grimm became a national leader on the issue when his 2015 complaint over his right to use the boys’ bathroom at his Virginia school reached the Supreme Court, which then decided not to hear the case. In May, a federal judge denied the school board’s motion to dismiss the suit.

Achille Public Schools Superintendent Rick Beene says the first day back at school on Wednesday went well and the district might hold trainings on transgender issues for teachers and staff this year. But he says he worries less about addressing the issue with students than he does with parents, including those behind the threatening Facebook posts.

“Kids are so innocent,” he says. “Really, kids almost have to be taught hatred. It’s just not a natural process.”

Beene says he understands the family’s decision to move. “I would wish this family the very best,” he says. “What I wouldn’t want is for them to leave our school or community thinking they’re not welcome by the majority.”

A GoFundMe campaign launched to help the family move to Houston, where they have relatives, had raised more than $16,000 as of Friday morning, solidifying their decision to leave. Rose hopes that Maddie might have access to more resources there and might not be the only transgender student at a school in one of the largest districts in the country.

“It’s frustrating to have to pick up and move all over again. It makes me feel horrible because when we moved here, I promised my kids, ‘We’re not going to move again for a very long time,'” Rose says. “But we’ve got to do what’s best for the whole family in the long run.”

smalltownguy

09-01-2018, 01:40 PM

31 August 2018

16 States Ask SCOTUS for Protection Against “Transgender”

You’re certainly free to fire an employee if he insists on coming to work in a thong bikini. But if he’s a man dressing as a woman, then your freedom of association and business’s well being are expected to take a back seat to the transgender agenda. This double standard has worsened in recent times, but not everyone is taking it lying down. As the Christian Post reports:

A group of 16 states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to protect a Christian-owned funeral home that has been sued for firing a transgender worker for wearing women's clothing.

Three Republican governors have joined 13 Republican state attorneys general in signing an amicus brief calling on the nation's highest court to hear the case of R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes.

More specifically, the government leaders are calling on the court to rule that the federal Title VII civil rights law does not extend sex discrimination protections to cover gender identity.

The owner of the Michigan funeral parlor chain Tom Rost appealed to the Supreme Court after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC] earlier this year.

The federal entity sued the Michigan funeral home chain on behalf of former transgender employee Aimee Stephens (formerly known as William Anthony Beasley Stephens) in 2014.

The appeals court's ruling not only struck down a lower court ruling that Rost could claim protection under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, it was also the first time a federal appeals court had interpreted transgender bias as a form of sex discrimination, according to Bloomberg.

The signatories to the brief are, WND.com informs, “attorneys generals [sic] from Texas, Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. It was also signed by Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, Maine Gov. Paul LePage and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.”

In reality, it’s tragic that only 16 states signed the filing, as the EEOC and Sixth Circuit rulings are the epitome of bureaucratic and judicial trampling of law. As WND relates on the substance of the brief, “The text, structure, and history of Title VII ... demonstrate Congress’s unambiguous intent to prohibit invidious discrimination on the basis of ‘sex,’ not ‘gender identity,’ the attorneys general say.”

“The term ‘gender identity’ does not appear in the text of Title VII or in the regulations accompanying Title VII. In fact, ‘gender identity’ is a wholly different concept from ‘sex,’ and not a subset or reasonable interpretation of the term ‘sex’ in Title VII,” the site continues.

This is not opinion but fact. When Title VII was written in 1964, the term “gender’s” use was almost exclusively confined to grammar. Its widely understood definition was what’s found in my 1972-edition American Heritage School Dictionary: “In grammar, any one of a number of categories, such as masculine, feminine, and neuter, into which words are divided.” That’s it. Nothing more.

There was no reference to “gender” as a human quality because the term was rarely if ever applied to people. I can attest to this, too. I don’t remember as a child or young teen ever seeing or hearing about humans having “gender”; on forms and elsewhere, we’d be asked only about our “sex.”

This didn’t even begin to change until after Title VII was crafted. As I wrote in 2016 in “Sex Vs. Gender. Yes, There is a Difference!”: The new usage’s popularization likely began with “discredited quack psychologist Dr. John Money. In 1966, he originated the debunked ‘gender neutrality’ theory and appears to have been the first person to popularize the application of ‘gender’ to people. Even so, such usage of the term didn’t really catch on until the last 20 or 25 years.”

The kicker here is that even the sexual devolutionaries — the activists seeking court rulings such as the one in question — take pains to emphasize that “gender” and “sex” are not synonymous. As the quite politically correct World Health Organization once explained,” Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.”

And Boundless Psychology instructs in no uncertain terms, “A person’s sex, as determined by their biology, does not always correspond with their gender [delusion]. Therefore, the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are not interchangeable.”

But this didn’t matter to the Obama administration, whose officials started misrepresenting Title VII and behaving as if the terms were. And is this a surprise? If Truth can be “relative,” as the Left insists, why can’t words and law?

If employers may no longer establish dress codes — at least where they would conflict with the leftist agenda or the latest psychological problem redefined as a “lifestyle” — where does it end? So-called “transgender” people are said to have “gender dysphoria.” Yet psychologists also define “species dysphoria,” which likewise involves strong and persistent feelings that you’re not what your biology reflects; in this case, that you’re an animal stuck in a human body.

So will employers, at some point in the future, be forced to let people thus deluded come to work naked? Animals don’t wear clothes, after all.

Obviously, many businesses’ customers (those of a daycare center, for instance) could be alienated by a cross-dressing worker. Why should employers have to endure lost business to advance a leftist agenda?

It used to be that the kind of childish denial of reality exhibited by leftists was once confined to fiction. But now read the following, from Through the Looking-Glass, and see if it sounds familiar: “‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’ ‘The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’ ‘The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.’”

The scary thing is that our Alice in Wonderland leftists, who want everything to be relative (to themselves), are using their imaginations to become masters of us.

smalltownguy

09-01-2018, 01:52 PM

28th August 2018

Vanesa Campos: Five charged with murdering Paris transgender sex worker

Peruvian national shot dead in park in latest in string of prostitute killings

Five people have been charged with the murder of transgender prostitute in Paris who was thought to have been attempting to stop a gang from robbing one of her clients.

Vanesa Campos was shot dead on the night of 16-17 August in the city’s Bois de Boulogne, an area regularly frequented by sex workers and their customers.

The 36-year-old, who had immigrated to France from Peru two years prior, was reportedly set upon by a group of men armed with knives and firearms.

Local media reports said Ms Campos had been attempting to prevent one of her clients from being mugged before she was fatally shot in the chest.

On Monday, Paris prosecutors said five men had been charged in connection with her killing, according to the AFP news agency.

Ms Campos’ murder has sparked outrage among LGBT+ campaigners, who have claimed France’s media all but ignored her death until recently.

Protesters had held a march through the park on Friday, calling for her killers to be brought to justice.

The case has also drawn attention to the plight of sex workers and their customers in the French capital, who are targeted for robberies by criminal gangs stalking parks late at night.

“We are all Vanesa,” trans rights activist Clemence Zamora Cruz told LCI.

Vanesa Campos: Five charged with murdering Paris transgender sex worker

Trans rights campaigners have previously called for Ms Campos' killers to be brought to justice
Trans rights campaigners have previously called for Ms Campos' killers to be brought to justice

On Monday, Paris prosecutors said five men had been charged in connection with her killing, according to the AFP news agency.

Ms Campos’ murder has sparked outrage among LGBT+ campaigners, who have claimed France’s media all but ignored her death until recently.

Protesters had held a march through the park on Friday, calling for her killers to be brought to justice.

The case has also drawn attention to the plight of sex workers and their customers in the French capital, who are targeted for robberies by criminal gangs stalking parks late at night.

“We are all Vanesa,” trans rights activist Clemence Zamora Cruz told LCI.

“Given the precariousness of the situation, how can we think that criminals are not tempted to attack people in our community?”

At least 12 prostitutes are thought to have been killed in the Bois de Boulogne in recent years, according to Le Parisien.

In a statement regarding Ms Campos’ death, France’s gender equality secretary Marlene Schiappa said her ministry would work to fight transphobia, and violence against migrants and trans people.

“All women must be protected from gender-based and sexual violence, all of which must be condemned,” she added.

smalltownguy

09-01-2018, 02:20 PM

28th Aug 2018

Update and Correction to : Vanesa Campos: Five charged with murdering Paris transgender sex worker

Peruvian national shot dead in park in latest in string of prostitute killings

1092025

Five people have been charged with the murder of transgender prostitute in Paris who was thought to have been attempting to stop a gang from robbing one of her clients.

Vanesa Campos was shot dead on the night of 16-17 August in the city’s Bois de Boulogne, an area regularly frequented by sex workers and their customers.

The 36-year-old, who had immigrated to France from Peru two years prior, was reportedly set upon by a group of men armed with knives and firearms.

Local media reports said Ms Campos had been attempting to prevent one of her clients from being mugged before she was fatally shot in the chest.

On Monday, Paris prosecutors said five men had been charged in connection with her killing, according to the AFP news agency.

Ms Campos’ murder has sparked outrage among LGBT+ campaigners, who have claimed France’s media all but ignored her death until recently.

Protesters had held a march through the park on Friday, calling for her killers to be brought to justice.

The case has also drawn attention to the plight of sex workers and their customers in the French capital, who are targeted for robberies by criminal gangs stalking parks late at night.

“We are all Vanesa,” trans rights activist Clemence Zamora Cruz told LCI.

“Given the precariousness of the situation, how can we think that criminals are not tempted to attack people in our community?”

At least 12 prostitutes are thought to have been killed in the Bois de Boulogne in recent years, according to Le Parisien.

In a statement regarding Ms Campos’ death, France’s gender equality secretary Marlene Schiappa said her ministry would work to fight transphobia, and violence against migrants and trans people.

“All women must be protected from gender-based and sexual violence, all of which must be condemned,” she added.

smalltownguy

09-01-2018, 02:48 PM

31 August 2018

High-flying lawyer undergoes her THIRD gender re-assignment surgery to become a woman for the second time - after going back to being a man to re-connect with her children

Samantha Kane, 58, said she had 'no choice' but transition back to a woman
The lawyer and author, from west London, had been living as Charles for 13 years
She has spent over £150,000 on gender re-assignment operations over the years

A high-flying transgender lawyer has revealed how she has undergone a gender re-assignment operation for the third time - after going back to being a man in a bid to reconnect with her children.

Samantha Kane, from west London, explained how she felt she 'had no choice' but to transition back to a woman again, following two previous sex changes, and now feels like her 'true self' again.

The lawyer and author, who was born Sam Hashimi in Baghdad, Iraq, first underwent gender reassignment surgery back in 1997, becoming Samantha.

But in 2004, she decided she wanted to go back to being a man, undergoing another operation to become Charles, having become estranged from her son and daughter following her first sex change.

Earlier this year, Samantha, 58, underwent surgery to become a woman again, spending a total of over £150,000 on gender re-assignment operations over the years.

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High-flying lawyer Samantha Kane (above, as she is today) has revealed why she underwent gender re-assignment surgery for the third time to transition to a woman

Speaking to FEMAIL, Samantha admitted that her decision to transition back to a man had been largely influenced by a desire to see her children, who she became estranged from after divorcing first wife Trudi in the early 1990s.

'I couldn't see my children for around 10 years, I started missing them so much,' she explained. 'My children grew up not really knowing me. It was so difficult.

'Eventually, I thought, maybe I could get back what I love if I changed back, and became a man again. That's really the reason [I did it].'

However, Samantha said that within a year of living as a Charles, she began to realise that she had made a mistake in transitioning back to a man - particularly as the gender reassignment surgery hadn't gone as expected.

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Samantha had been living as Charles Kane (above, pictured at home in London in 2008) since 2004. She explained how she had decided to go back to being a man in a bid to re-connect with her children, who she became estranged from after becoming Samantha for the first time

'In the first year, I had regrets - what they claimed the operation would achieve, they never achieved anyway,' she said.

'Turning a man who was born a man into a woman, and then approximating back to what it was like being a male will never work - that was really part of it.'

At the time, Charles was engaged to a woman named Victoria, but the relationship quickly broke down.

'I was feeling uncomfortable. I was in a relationship with a woman and it was expected of me to be all male really,' Samantha explained.

'As Charles, I wasn't 100 per cent accepted. I was having these regrets of changing back.'

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Samantha underwent her first sex change in 1997, when she went from being Sam to Samantha. She is pictured here in Monaco in 2001

However, Samantha explained how she didn't want to transition back to a woman straight away - in part, due to her high-flying career as a barrister.

'I went through all this trouble to be Charles, and one had to make the best out of it I suppose,' she said.

'I'm a lawyer, and thought people wouldn't understand me changing back. At the Bar, people have to adopt more tradition roles. Chopping and changing is frowned on.'

But Samantha explained how re-connecting with her adult son eventually helped her decide to transition back to a woman.

'I saw him shortly before his wedding, and he told me he was getting married, and he invited to me to his wedding. That was really nice,' she said.

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Samantha was born Sam Hashimi in Baghdad, Iraq. He explained how he married first wife Trudi (pictured together in 1990) in a bid to 'conform', with the pair having two children together

'He said, "I don't mind who you are. I love you whether you are a male or a female. If it makes you be happier to be a female, then so be it."

'That's what encouraged me to change back basically. He's very supportive.'

Samantha began dressing as a woman in March last year, and airier this year had gender re-assignment surgery and breast implants fitted.

The lawyer says that since the operation in January she now finally feels like herself again, after all these years.

'I feel a lot better in myself now. I came to the conclusion that you have no choice,' Samantha said. 'I am so much happier to be my true self as a woman.

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Samantha (pictured at home in her study as she is today) underwent gender re-assignment surgery for the third time earlier this year to become a woman

'I always knew I was in the wrong body, even when I was really, really young, five or six-years-old.

'But I grew up in Baghdad in the '60s and the '70s, so who would hear of anything about being transgender or having surgery?

'So I buried it, and I thought I have to be conventional. I met a woman who I got on well with, and I got married and had children.'

Samantha says she feels that being a women is easier nowadays, compared to when she first transitioned back in the 1990s.

'When I transitioned to a woman in 1997, things were really difficult for women generally,' she said.

1092031
Samantha (left in 2001) underwent her first gender reassignment surgery in 1997, in order to become Samantha for the first time. However, she decided to transition to a man in 2004 (right), as she thought it would help her re-connect with her children

'Now, it's not as bad for women. You get more equal opportunities at work. I haven't noticed as much discrimination against women as there used to be.'

However, she explained how she has found the recent conversations around transgender women troubling.

'Before my surgery it was quite difficult, because there was all this debate about what is the difference between transgender females and real females, and whether transgender women are accepted as real women,' she explained.

'But I felt I had no choice [but go ahead with the operation], because I knew it was what would make me happy and make me complete as a woman.

'I had to go ahead with it at all costs, essentially.'

1092032
Samantha (pictured in 1998 following her first gender reassignment operation) explained how she became estranged from her two children after divorcing his wife Trudi, following his decision to transition to a woman

Following her gender reassignment surgery, Samantha says she has been getting a lot of interest in the romance department - although she wants to enjoy being single for now.

'I want to enjoy being single for a while, and not to rush. Rushing into relationships is quite difficult for someone who doesn't even have my history.

'I'm probably one of a handful of people in the whole world who has had a sex transition three times.

'You need someone with a pHD to understand what I've gone through,' she explained.

'But one should always be open to love. I could love a man, I could love a woman, as long as there feels like there's a connection - that's what I'm looking for.'

smalltownguy

09-05-2018, 06:36 PM

5th September 2018

Transgender woman’s bank account frozen because she ‘sounds like a man’

A TRANSGENDER woman says she was left “humiliated and embarrassed” when her bank froze her account because she “sounds like a man”

Distraught Sophia Reis, 47, from Carlton, Nottingham, is calling on Santander to be more considerate towards trans clients.

Previously known as Sergio, Sophia says she registered her identity change with the bank but was later put through a traumatic ordeal over the phone.

She told the Nottingham Post: “They said my voice did not match my profile because it sounded like a man on the phone and not a woman.

"I was crying my eyes out and I am not that type of person at all.

“I am a very courteous person and I am outgoing but to feel that way when all I asked was for my money to be transferred...I feel mistreated."

A spokeswoman for Santander said: "We have apologised to Miss Reis for the experience she had when using our telephone banking service and offered her a gesture of goodwill.

"It was certainly not our intention to cause any offence, and our service was not as good as it should have been.

"When verifying customers are who they say they are we have to balance our duty to protect the security of their accounts.

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HUMILIATED: Sophia said she was distraught after Santander froze her bank account

"If a customer rings up with their banking credentials they should be able to pass security with no problems.

"Santander works closely with LGBT+ colleagues and charities to identify the barriers that are in place to access our services.

"We want all of our customers to be treated equally and fairly."

smalltownguy

09-05-2018, 06:39 PM

4-SEP-2018

NYU researchers identify tool to help transgender women have a more authentic voice

New York University researchers have identified visual-acoustic biofeedback as a new tool to assist in voice modification therapy for transgender women.

The research, which appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Voice, identifies a new avenue for this technology as a tool to help trans women find a voice that matches their gender identity.

"Our voices are so much a part of who we are," said Deanna Kawitzky, the study's lead author, who conducted the research as a student in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at NYU Steinhardt's School of Culture, Education and Human Development. "For transgender women, it can be really challenging to find a voice that matches how they choose to present their gender identity. This study suggests that biofeedback may be used as a tool to help trans women achieve a voice they are comfortable with. Biofeedback has not been used in this way before, and we're excited to have identified a new direction for transgender voice therapy research."

Understanding Biofeedback

In biofeedback, bodily functions are electronically monitored and visually displayed to help someone achieve more voluntary control of that function. Although usually used to measure functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, or skin temperature, biofeedback can also be used to visualize speech and has thus become a tool for individuals seeking to change their voice or articulation patterns.

How it Works

In visual-acoustic biofeedback, the learner speaks into a microphone and views a real-time representation of the acoustic signal of speech on a monitor--in this case, the resonant frequencies of the vocal tract. These frequencies signal the differences between sounds, such as "ah" versus "ee," but also differ across male and female speakers. In the present study, transgender female participants were provided with targets representing resonant frequencies that are typical for cisgender female speakers. They produced words while viewing the biofeedback display and were encouraged to adjust their speech until their resonant frequencies lined up with these targets. Participants were able to make a significant shift in their resonant frequencies in response to the biofeedback targets. In addition, words that were produced with higher resonant frequencies were rated "more feminine" by blinded listeners.

This research was conducted in the the Biofeedback Intervention Technology for Speech Lab (BITS Lab). The lab is led by the study's co-author and NYU Steinhardt Associate Professor of Communicative Sciences and Disorders Tara McAllister.

"Many people want to change the way they speak--whether they have a speech disorder, or speak English as a second language, or are seeking to achieve speech that better matches their gender identity," said McAllister. "However, our speech patterns are deeply ingrained over years of experience, so change can be extremely difficult. Research in BITs lab aims to understand how technology can help people make these changes in a quick and lasting way."

The research offers a preliminary suggestion that biofeedback could also be a useful tool in voice modification therapy for trans men and the trans community more generally.

About NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

Located in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village, NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development prepares students for careers in the arts, education, health, media, and psychology. Since its founding in 1890, the Steinhardt School's mission has been to expand human capacity through public service, global collaboration, research, scholarship, and practice.

smalltownguy

09-07-2018, 04:20 PM

6 September 2018

Transgender inmate admits Wakefield jail sex offences

A transgender prisoner has admitted sexually assaulting inmates at a women's jail.

Karen White, 51, who was born male but now identifies as a woman, has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual touching at New Hall Prison, Wakefield.

The offences took place between September and November last year. She has since been moved to a male prison.

Details emerged when White appeared at Leeds Crown Court to admit to a rape committed outside prison.

White previously admitted two further rapes, which also happened outside jail.

White will be sentenced for all offences on 11 October.

smalltownguy

09-07-2018, 04:28 PM

September 07, 2018

Transgender woman says she killed man in self-defense after road rage in Turkey’s west

1092902
Yıldırım (L) was charged with killing Can Görkem Bayraktar.

A transgender woman who was arrested for killing a man after a road rage incident in western Turkey has claimed she had killed him in self-defense.

Derya Yıldırım was arrested over the death of Can Görkem Bayraktar after the two argued in traffic over who should yield in Bursa on April 23.

The prosecutor indicted Yıldırım of following Bayraktar to his home before fatally stabbing him.

Local media reported on Sept. 7 that Yıldırım cited self-defense in the latest hearing of the case in the 5th Heavy Penal Court in Bursa.

She told the court that she was the one who was followed by Bayraktar, claiming that the man attacked with a knife and she only defended herself.

The judge adjourned the hearing to listen to more witnesses.

Yıldırım, who was accused in the past of killing her boyfriend, could be jailed for life, if convicted.

smalltownguy

09-15-2018, 07:44 PM

September 15, 2018

Transgender kids: the number of WA children seeking to transition up 350 per cent

1094381

THE number of WA children seeking to transition to the opposite sex has jumped more than 350 per cent in four years.

Perth Children’s Hospital’s gender diversity service received 121 referrals for children aged under 18 in 2017-18 and currently has 207 patients in the service.

This compares to 116 referrals in 2016-17 and 105 in 2015-16. The steady increase over the past three years compares with just 26 referrals in 2014-15.

About two-thirds of current referrals are birth-assigned females and about one-third are birth-assigned males.

At the moment, there are 43 children receiving stage one hormonal treatment, which involves puberty suppression and reversible treatment, while 30 children are receiving stage two cross-sex hormone, oestrogen and testosterone treatment.

The rising number of transgender children comes as the WA’s Law Reform Commission recommends an overhaul of the State’s gender reassignment laws.

As revealed by The Sunday Times last month, the commission has recommended a baby’s sex classification no longer appears on birth certificates.

Under the changes, people would no longer have to undergo a medical procedure to have their gender identity officially recognised. Instead they would just apply for a “proof of gender’ or “proof of sex” certificate.

There would be three categories on these certificates — male, female and a new category of “non-binary”. Under the recommendations, minors aged 12 or over could seek a certificate to formally change their gender.

If they didn’t have permission of both parents, the Family Court would decide.

Moves to change gender classification laws come amid social media backlash to a recent tweet by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that said: “We do not need ‘gender whisperers’ in our schools. Let kids be kids.”

The PM was responding to moves by schools to invite specialist consultants to offer support to transgender students and their families.

WA’s Gender Reassignment Board’s latest annual report shows there were 34 new applications last year, compared with just six in 2007-08.

A spokeswoman for the Child and Adolescent Health Service said PCH’s gender diversity service provided “assessment and care of children and adolescents experiencing gender diversity issues”.

“Any child or young person up to the age of 18, who lives in WA, can be referred to the GDS for consultation about concerns regarding their gender identity, gender non-conforming behaviour or gender dysphoria,” the spokeswoman said.

“Gender dysphoria refers to the distress that a person may experience when their gender identity does not align with the sex assigned to them at birth.”

She said the service started midway through the 2014-15 financial year and only provided services intermittently.

smalltownguy

09-21-2018, 05:41 PM

September 20, 2018

Federal court denies Trump administration’s latest attempt to push forward with transgender military ban

Judge's decision coincides with 7-year anniversary of end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

1095386
Photo: Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade, U.S. Army, via Wikimedia.

A federal court in California has rejected the latest request by the Trump administration to dissolve a nationwide preliminary injunction that prevents the Pentagon from forcibly discharging transgender service members.

U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal of the Central District of California denied the government’s motion to lift the injunction, rejecting the premise that the ban on transgender troops is essential to ensuring military readiness or facilitating unit cohesion.

“In the history of military service in this country, ‘the loss of unit cohesion’ has been consistently weaponized against open service by a new minority group,” Bernal wrote in his opinion. “Yet, at every turn, this assertion has been overcome by the military’s steadfast ability to integrate these individuals into effective members of our armed forces. As with blacks, women, and gays, so now with transgender persons.

“”The military has repeatedly proven its capacity to adapt and grow stronger specifically by the inclusion of these individuals,” he added. “Therefore, the government cannot use ‘the loss of unit cohesion’ as an excuse to prevent an otherwise qualified class of discrete and insular minorities from joining the armed forces.”

Equality California, which signed on as a plaintiff in the case on behalf of its transgender members, praised Bernal’s decision.

“Anyone willing to risk their life to protect our country should be treated fairly and with dignity and respect,” Rick Zbur, the executive director of Equality California, said in a statement. “As long as President Trump continues to double down on this unpatriotic and discriminatory ban, we’ll continue to fight him with everything we’ve got — and we have a pretty good track record of winning.”

The California case, known as Stockman v. Trump, is one of four cases challenging the constitutionality of President Trump’s proposed transgender ban, which the administration has been trying to implement since last July. In each of the cases, federal judges have blocked the ban from going into effect while the case moves through the courts — and refused to lift their injunctions when asked to by the government.

“More than 9,000 transgender troops are serving honorably and deserve to be protected by the constitution they are defending,” said Shannon Minter, the legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is representing the plaintiffs along with GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders. “Today’s decision underscores the importance of our nation’s courts in enforcing those constitutional guarantees.”

“Judge Bernal’s decision is the most recent in a now long line of federal district court cases rejecting any military-focused justifications for a ban on transgender service members,” GLAD Transgender Rights Project Director Jennifer Levi said in a statement. “Transgender service members have been courageously putting their lives on the line for their country. It is in the interest of our country’s security that they continue to be permitted to do so.”

Bernal’s decision comes during the same week that LGBTQ advocates celebrate the seven-year anniversary of the overturn of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that banned gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members from serving openly. Minter and Levi issued a statement addressing the anniversary and drawing parallels to the proposed transgender ban.

“Seven years ago, our country discarded a baseless and discriminatory policy that forced dedicated and courageous service members into the shadows,” Minter and Levi said. “But under President Trump, we see history repeating itself. The same stigma and false stereotypes used to justify Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell are being reprised by the Trump-Pence administration in an attempt to force out 9,000 trained, qualified transgender troops, who are serving honorably at home and overseas.

“To date, every court to hear a case challenging the ban has recognized that these arguments ring hollow and that any service member who can meet the standards should be permitted to serve. But the Trump-Pence administration continues to try to push the ban forward,” they added. “Just as we stood with our community during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, we will continue to stand with transgender service members now until Trump’s unconstitutional, discriminatory transgender military ban is relegated to the dustbin of history.”

smalltownguy

09-25-2018, 08:33 PM

24th September 2018

Hero trans kid, 9, defies cruel bullies by returning to school as a BOY

A HEROIC transsexual aged just 9 has defied cruel bullies who taunted that "God doesn't make mistakes" by returning to school as a boy.

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BRAVE: Jonus 'Raye' Mayden before (left) and after (right)

"She would wear her Buzz Lightyear costume and her Woody Toy Story costume with a tutu over it.

"It wasn't really anything I thought about until pre-school and she was acting out a little bit. I thought it was for attention at first.

She was always having stomach issues and I thought it was an allergy.

"In the beginning of second grade he said, 'I have a boy brain and a girl's body.' I kind of froze. All these thoughts ran through my head.

As open-minded as I am, I still didn't want to go through with that and I thought it could be altered. I thought, 'You are just androgynous.'

"I was trying to comfort him. Then he said, 'OK, well, there is something else I need to tell you. I'm gay.' So I started laughing.

"He said, 'If I'm a boy brain and I have a girl's body and I like boys, that means I'm gay.'

"It was such a grown up thing and I didn't really know if he knew what he meant."
So far the journey has resulted in a "complete 180" in Raye's health and mood.

But Stevi admits the change has divided her family of Texan conservatives, and she has been told by religious colleagues it is "not right".

Last month he returned to school in fourth grade at a new middle school, where he is registered as a boy and where teachers and classmates teach him as male.

She added: "The boys at school thought he was weird and didn't have much to do with him, but the girls were more accepting.

"Every now and then he gets comments like, 'My mom says that God doesn't make mistakes and the Bible says you can't be transgender.'
"It's always things that relate to religion. I have had a hard time talking about it at work. When I first decided my son was going to come out, I spoke to a lady at work about it.

"She said she wanted to talk to me about it and took me into a room and went on about her Christian beliefs and how this isn't right.

"A lot of the ridicule has been directed at me. The child makes a decision but people tend to question the parent.

"The question I get most is, 'How do you think this is right?' But I have seen such a dramatic change in my child.
"There is a high risk of suicide in transgender and gay people, especially in the teen years, so if I have to shelter my child until he is old enough to fight his own battles then I will."

Raye plans to legally change his name from Layla Raye to Jonus Raye, and at 11 he will have the option of undergoing hormone blockers to prevent female puberty.

At 17, he can start taking the male hormone testosterone.

The youngster added: "To other children who are going through this, just be yourself. Rather be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."

smalltownguy

09-29-2018, 05:46 PM

September 26 , 2018

A Transgender Software Engineer Alleges Nike Failed to Stand Up for the Values It Advertises
Jazz Lyles' complaint paints a damning picture of a toxic workplace—and of discriminatory behavior toward a transgender person that continued even as the CEO pledged reforms.

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"Language has the ability to erase a person completely," says Jazz Lyles, who went to work at Nike last year. (Justin Katigbak)

Few American companies have touted their commitment to civil rights and inclusion more proudly than Nike.

Its current ad campaign featuring quarterback Colin Kaepernick, ostracized from the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality, is merely the latest example.

But to Jazz Lyles, a transgender software engineer who worked at the company's Beaverton headquarters until earlier this month, Nike's reputation is a cruel joke.

Over the past six months, Nike has been rocked by complaints and lawsuits from female employees who say a white male-dominated culture created a hostile workplace and widespread inequity.

CEO Mark Parker responded by firing a half-dozen senior executives and pledging in a May email to all employees that he was "personally committed to making Nike a place where everyone can thrive in an environment of respect, empathy and equal opportunity."

But this week, Lyles filed a workplace discrimination complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries against Nike and its IT contractor, Mainz Brady Group. The complaint, if true, paints a damning picture of a toxic workplace—and of discriminatory behavior toward a transgender person that continued even as Parker pledged reforms.

In early 2017, Mainz Brady recruited Lyles to work at Nike Digital's engineering group. Lyles is black and transmasculine/nonbinary (meaning Lyles was assigned the female gender at birth but identifies with masculinity and as a nonbinary person.) Lyles lived in the San Francisco Bay Area but was familiar with the culture Nike claimed to promote.

But the culture Lyles actually experienced left Lyles humiliated, depressed—and unemployed.

"They talked a great game on LGBTQ issues," Lyles says, "but when you ask them to actually stand up for these issues, it gets communicated to you that you are the problem."

Nike declined to comment.

Lyles, 36, grew up in Houston and studied art and art history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A photographer and tinkerer, they worked in database management for a while and then learned software skills. A stint in the video game industry led to a 2017 offer to come to Beaverton.

Before accepting the offer to work at Nike, Lyles told the recruiter from Mainz Brady that they were transgender and stressed the importance of being identified by the pronouns "they," "them" and "their."

Mikki Gillette, who conducts workplace training for Basic Rights Oregon and identifies as transgender, says some people may find such a request puzzling, but the correct pronouns are far more than just words.

"It reinforces a stigma and an injustice for people to look at someone and say, 'I know who you are and I'm going to refer to you that way,'" Gillette says.

Gillette adds it's understandable that people might get confused about pronouns when they first come into contact with people who identify as transgender.

"Everybody makes mistakes," Gillette says. "Transgender people know that. But if somebody is willfully using the wrong pronoun or the wrong name, it's reinforcing this idea that transgender people aren't who they say they are."

Erin Kirkwood, a Portland lawyer who trains other lawyers on transgender issues, says language around identity changes regularly. "In the '70s, when people started using the term 'Ms.,' a lot of people struggled with it," Kirkwood says. "Today, it's completely normal and 'Mrs.' is more unusual."

When Kirkwood represents trans clients, she lets the judge's clerk and opposing counsel know the pronouns the client wants to be called. "If a white male were in court and a judge referred to them as 'she,' at a minimum the man would feel uncomfortable," Kirkwood says.

Lyles started at Nike's campus on May 1, 2017, working on IT teams that combined independent contractors with Nike employees and supervisors. Lyles was paid $62.50 an hour.

Lyles says from the beginning, colleagues insisted on referring to them as "she" and "her" and greeting them by saying such things as "Hey, girl, what's up?"

Lyles' colleagues and Nike supervisors ignored their requests to be referred to with correct pronouns. Lyles sent one colleague an article titled "What You're Actually Saying When You Ignore Someone's Gender Pronouns." The colleague's response: He stopped talking to Lyles.

A female colleague, according to Lyles' complaint, refused to use the correct pronouns "because it would compromise [the co-worker's] religious beliefs."

Lyles enjoyed the technical challenges of working at Nike but increasingly came to dread interactions with colleagues. Every day brought a new slight.

"Nike's response and solution was not to take corrective action," Lyles writes in the BOLI complaint. "But instead [the response] was to treat me like I was the problem."

Near the end of last year, Nike transferred Lyles to a different team. Nothing changed.

"From the moment I introduced myself to the new team on Dec. 13, 2017, I received pushback regarding the use of my proper gender pronouns," Lyles' complaint says.

Instead, the situation got worse. In January 2018, the BOLI complaint says, one female colleague said, "I'm really not sure what to call you. I know I'm not supposed to call you 'shemale.'"

Nike provided employee training on gender issues Jan. 25, 2018, but only for a few people who worked directly with Lyles, not the entire department.

"It again singled me out, made me a problem, and exacerbated the issues with my team," Lyles writes in the BOLI complaint. "It would be like holding a training on racial sensitivity with the only team with a black person on it."

Lyles' contract was extended twice, but the stress of continually being misgendered affected Lyles' health, they claim.

"I felt invisible and unheard and silenced," Lyles says. "Language has the ability to erase a person completely."

In early August, Lyles filed formal HR complaints with Mainz Brady and Nike and began working from home. Nonetheless, Lyles says their Nike boss moved to hire Lyles as a full-time employee.

Lyles' boss was overruled. Nike said it was entering a "hiring freeze." Lyles did not believe that, because other contractors were shifting over to full-time Nike employment.

Lyles' attorney, Shenoa Payne, filed their BOLI complaint Sept. 25, alleging discrimination and retaliation.

smalltownguy

10-08-2018, 07:24 PM

7 OCTOBER 2018

Transgender lawyer launches UK's first 'deadnaming' case against Father Ted writer Graham Linehan

TRANSGENDER lawyer has launched Britain’s first "deadnaming" case in the High Court against Father Ted’s screenplay writer after he referred to her using her birth name.

Stephanie Hayden is suing Graham Linehan, the co-writer of the popular comedy TV series, for defamation and harassment after he allegedly published a series of tweets “deliberately misgendering” her by using her previous male name, otherwise known as “deadnaming”.

Ms Hayden, who is legally female, said Mr Linehan “caused her distress” and that his actions constitute harassment, a misuse of private information, and were a “gross affront to her dignity as a woman".

Ms Hayden, a lawyer and current affairs commentator, was born Anthony Halliday and began her medical transition to a woman in 2007. She was awarded her Gender Recognition Certificate in May 2018.

In the court papers, filed on Monday last week, Ms Hayden alleged that Mr Linehan retweeted material from another account that included photographs of her former male self, her family and friends, as well as suggestions that she was a criminal.

She is also accusing him of sharing defamatory remarks against her reputation, including a tweet Mr Linehan is alleged to have directed at Ms Hayden from 26 September, in which he wrote: “I don’t respect the pronouns of misogynists, stalkers of harassers”.

According to the court papers, another tweet by Mr Linehan from a similar date is alleged to have said: “Yes we must always be nice to con men, sexual predators and misogynists hijacking a noble movement for their own ends.”

The documents also cited an interview Mr Linehan gave to The Times newspaper at the end of September where Ms Hayden says he called her “a dangerous troll.”

Commenting on the case, Ms Hayden told the Daily Telegraph: “It was a gross violation of my privacy and who gets to know this information about me.

“Anyone can now type my name into Google and it will tell them who I used to be. I can never recover from the publication of that knowledge and it would be absurd to try.

“This is about sending a very strong signal. I am quite prepared to resort to the law if people cross the line.”

Mr Lineham, who is a regularly vocal critic of transgenderism, has been given a verbal harassment warning by West Yorkshire police following the incident and has since locked his Twitter account due to “abuse and harassment”.

The writer, who has nearly 700,000 followers on Twitter, was accused of “abusing his high profile” by Ms Hayden, who said she had been “mocked and ridiculed” online.

David Banks, a media and defamation law expert, said the case “could set an interesting precedent” if successful in court.

He said: “It is an interesting case because it’s the first for this sort of comment made about someone that could potentially make it to court.

“If you are saying something like your name is private information that’s an interesting approach going down the road.

“If the court decides that personal information that was once public now becomes private information, then that sets an interesting precedent.

“Deadnaming someone will be something that is actionable if the case succeeds in court.”

Mr Linehan was approached by The Telegraph for comment.

smalltownguy

10-12-2018, 05:48 AM

11 October 2018
Trans inmate jailed for Wakefield prison sex offences
A transgender prisoner who sexually assaulted two inmates at a women's jail and had previously raped two other women has been given a life sentence.

Karen White attacked two women in 2017 while on remand at HMP New Hall, in Wakefield, for other offences.

White, 52, who is transitioning, was described as a "predator" who was a danger to women and children.

She must serve a minimum of nine-and-a-half years for rape, sexual assault and wounding, Leeds Crown Court was told.

The court heard White, who was born male and now identifies as a woman, used her "transgender persona" to put herself in contact with vulnerable women.

Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Batty said: "You are a predator and highly manipulative and in my view you are a danger.

"You represent a significant risk of serious harm to children, to women and to the general public."

White was on remand at HMP New Hall for other offences when she attacked the two women between September and October last year.

She was moved to a male prison after pleading guilty to the offences in September.

She also is highly unlikely to be moved back into a women's prison due to the risk she poses even if she were to be legally declared a woman, the BBC understands.

The court heard White has previous convictions for indecent assault, indecent exposure and gross indecency involving children, violence and dishonesty.

Prosecutor Christopher Dunn told the court: "She is allegedly a transgender female.

"The prosecution say allegedly because there's smatterings of evidence in this case that the defendant's approach to transitioning has been less than committed.

"The prosecution suggest the reason for the lack of commitment towards transitioning is so the defendant can use a transgender persona to put herself in contact with vulnerable persons she can then abuse."

White, who was born Stephen Wood and is originally from the Manchester area, was first arrested last August after attacking a 66-year-old neighbour with a steak-knife in Mytholmroyd.

While on remand at HMP New Hall, she began gender re-alignment, wearing a wig, make-up and false breasts.

She also admitted to probation officers she was sexually interested in children and could abuse a child and "think nothing of it".

'Spiked drink'
The two counts of rape did not come to light until one of the victims came forward after White wrote to her from prison.

The woman, in her 20s, said White had violently raped her five or six times between January and December 2016, after meeting at a psychiatric unit in West Yorkshire.

Investigators also discovered White had raped a woman in 2003 when she was two months pregnant.

The court heard White attacked her after spiking her drink with vodka until she passed out.

White was arrested but no information was given in court as to why he was not prosecuted at the time.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "We apologise sincerely for the mistakes which were made in this case.

"While we work to manage all prisoners, including those who are transgender, sensitively and in line with the law, we are clear that the safety of all prisoners must be our absolute priority."

Det Insp David Rogerson said: "White has pleaded guilty to a number of serious sexual offences which span many years.

"We are pleased to see White appropriately sentenced by the courts for what are very serious offences."

smalltownguy

10-14-2018, 02:34 PM

14 Oct 2018

Women’s groups claim ‘silencing’ on transgender concerns
Fears of intimidation are stifling discussion of changes to the Gender Recognition Act, campaigners say

Nearly 200 prominent figures have signed an open letter raising concerns that public and private bodies are helping “close down discussion” about government plans to make it easier for trans people to have their preferred gender legally recognised.

Writers Marina Strinkovsky and Beatrix Campbell, actors James Dreyfus and Frances Barber, and Pragna Patel, the founder of the Southall Black Sisters Centre, are among 195 people to put their names to the letter, published in the Observer. “We believe the right to discuss proposed changes to the law is fundamental in a democratic society,” they write.

A government consultation on reforming the 2004 Gender Recognition Act (GRA) closes at the end of this week. When she launched it last month, the minister for women and equalities, Penny Mordaunt, said the government particularly wanted to hear “from women’s groups who we know have expressed some concerns about the implications of our proposals”.

But, according to the letter’s signatories, there have been a “series of attempts to close down discussion among women about GRA reform”.

Last month, Leeds City Council cancelled a booking by Woman’s Place UK, a group formed “specifically to ensure women’s voices are heard in the debate around proposals to change the Gender Recognition Act” after complaints it was giving a platform to transphobic views.

Earlier this year, the Mercure Hotel in Cardiff and Millwall Football Club cancelled bookings made by women’s groups who wanted to hold panel discussions about proposed changes to the law. In Bristol, a meeting was picketed by masked activists in an attempt to prevent it going ahead.

Women’s rights groups say that both online and real-world harassment of those organising, speaking and attending meetings is now routine. In one case, a woman had the details of her children’s school posted online, in an attempt at intimidation.

Last month, a 60-year-old woman was violently assaulted when she was part of a group gathered at Hyde Park Corner waiting to be directed to a meeting to discuss the GRA. There are also concerns about the intimidation and ostracising of female academics who speak out on the issue.

“Public authorities, academic institutions, unions and NGOs should be facilitating discussions and protecting the rights of people to take part in them without harassment or intimidation,” the letter states. “We find it troubling that institutions have not condemned these actions and in some cases have expressed support.”

On Saturday the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said that he had refused to sign the letter, condemning it as “one-sided” and “totally devoid of compassion for the suffering of trans women and men”.

“It does not acknowledge and condemn the abuse, threats and intimidation by some feminists against trans people and their supporters, including really vile abuse directed against me personally because of my support for trans human rights,” he said. “I always stand with the oppressed. Trans women and men are certainly some of the most vulnerable and oppressed people. They deserve our support, but this letter does not offer even a shred of solidarity.”

Those campaigning for greater transgender rights say that the reforms to the act are long overdue. But Woman’s Place UK has a number of concerns, including how they might affect women-only spaces. The group calls for a “respectful and evidence-based discussion about the impact of the proposed changes”.

smalltownguy

10-16-2018, 01:28 PM

October 16, 2018

‘Butterfly’ is game-changing TV for transgender kids and their parents

ITV drama 'Butterfly' is centred around a young trans girl. Adrian Lobb interviews Susie Green, CEO of trans charity Mermaids, about a dramatic change in attitude around the issue in recent years

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GENDER IDENTITYSocial Activism
‘Butterfly’ is game-changing TV for transgender kids and their parents
ITV drama 'Butterfly' is centred around a young trans girl. Adrian Lobb interviews Susie Green, CEO of trans charity Mermaids, about a dramatic change in attitude around the issue in recent years
October 16, 2018
By Adrian Lobb@adey70
Child referrals for gender identity issues have rocketed in the last decade; from 97 in 2009-10 to 2,519 last year, a rise of more than 2,000 per cent. Heated debate continues, but often the loudest voices about transgender issues are not the most informed. On the rise in child referrals, experts say there’s more information about gender issues than ever before, and so a greater awareness.

Now a new TV drama, Butterfly—focusing on a young trans girl—is telling the human story behind the figures. Susie Green, CEO of Mermaids, a charity that supports gender-diverse children and their families, and which advised in the making of the new show, says there has been a chilling change in atmosphere in recent years.

“About 18 months ago, it seemed to kick off with a really massive push against trans women and trans kids in particular,” she says. “The narrative is that ‘children can’t possibly know’ and that it is ‘child abuse’ to do anything other than make them live as their birth gender. That causes an environment of fear,” she says. “The backlash is not from experts. We get a lot of people who have nothing to do with transgender people and maybe have never met a transgender child saying what is best for trans kids.”

Into this heightened atmosphere comes Butterfly, which stars Anna Friel and Emmett J Scanlan as the estranged parents of young Max, played by Callum Booth-Ford.

Big Issue Invest The Big Issue Foundation The Big Issue Shop
GENDER IDENTITYSocial Activism
‘Butterfly’ is game-changing TV for transgender kids and their parents
ITV drama 'Butterfly' is centred around a young trans girl. Adrian Lobb interviews Susie Green, CEO of trans charity Mermaids, about a dramatic change in attitude around the issue in recent years
October 16, 2018
By Adrian Lobb@adey70
Child referrals for gender identity issues have rocketed in the last decade; from 97 in 2009-10 to 2,519 last year, a rise of more than 2,000 per cent. Heated debate continues, but often the loudest voices about transgender issues are not the most informed. On the rise in child referrals, experts say there’s more information about gender issues than ever before, and so a greater awareness.

Now a new TV drama, Butterfly—focusing on a young trans girl—is telling the human story behind the figures. Susie Green, CEO of Mermaids, a charity that supports gender-diverse children and their families, and which advised in the making of the new show, says there has been a chilling change in atmosphere in recent years.

“About 18 months ago, it seemed to kick off with a really massive push against trans women and trans kids in particular,” she says. “The narrative is that ‘children can’t possibly know’ and that it is ‘child abuse’ to do anything other than make them live as their birth gender. That causes an environment of fear,” she says. “The backlash is not from experts. We get a lot of people who have nothing to do with transgender people and maybe have never met a transgender child saying what is best for trans kids.”

Into this heightened atmosphere comes Butterfly, which stars Anna Friel and Emmett J Scanlan as the estranged parents of young Max, played by Callum Booth-Ford.

RECOMMENDED…Undiluted, unpatronising and made by women – ‘Killing Eve’ is a revelation
Max has identified as a girl from a very young age. Enforced football has, unsurprisingly, failed to change her conviction that she is a girl – despite her desire to please dad Stephen. So, at home, after initial resistance from her mother, she has been quietly living as Maxine when the series begins. But when she wants to start living openly as Maxine? That’s when life becomes more difficult.

The series has to perform a tricky balancing act. It must entertain, accurately represent trans children and their families, and educate.

“It could be a real gamechanger for trans kids and their families,” says Green. “It addresses some of those preconceptions and tells the story from a really human place. You identify with the people and their struggle – and for a lot of families it is a real struggle. It shows this isn’t something that happens overnight. Maxine didn’t put on a dress and immediately her mum said, ‘Oh, you must be a girl, then.’ It shows that it is about parents listening to their children.”

Writer Tony Marchant and the cast spent time talking to trans kids and their families ahead of filming. Stories were shared, and the actors were left shocked by anecdotes of grown adults spitting in children’s faces at the school gates.

One little girl who was nine, her mum was talking about the issues they have had with bullying at the school. She told them about the time her daughter came home from school and there was a size eight footprint in the middle of her bag.

Green has lived through this. She became involved with Mermaids when her daughter Jackie, now 25, was six. At 13, Jackie was beaten up by two 40-year-old men because she was trans. Proudly, she discloses how her daughter is now seen as “a bit of a rock star” by some of the younger trans girls. “She is tall, she is gorgeous, she is very confident.”

“She had told me at four that she was a girl,” recalls Green. “Everybody was telling me to force boy stuff on her. I was told I needed to make her play with an Action Man. I’d say ‘You are a boy who likes girl things, and that is fine’, but she was really clear about it. ‘No, I am a girl.’

“That is why Butterfly is so important. Because kids know. Children go through periods of gender non-conformity and will express themselves in different ways. But you can’t make anybody trans. And you can’t make anybody not be trans. What you can do is shame people into not talking about who they are because it is too difficult.”

Green’s advice to parents in a similar situation is simple.

“Support them. Love them. Make them know they are loved and supported, and they will work it out. But if you try to force an identity on someone because it doesn’t fit with your sense of how the world should be, all you are going to do is make them ashamed.”

smalltownguy

10-17-2018, 01:53 PM

17 Oct 2018

Transgender law reform has overlooked women’s rights, say MPs

Inquiry into trans people’s rights accused of being ‘fundamentally flawed’

Senior MPs have called on the government to reconsider plans to make it easier for trans people to have their preferred gender legally recognised to ensure that the reforms are not detrimental to women’s rights.

Maria Caulfield, the Conservative party’s former vice-chair for women, said the parliamentary inquiry into transgender rights, which informed the consultation that is due to end on Friday, was “fundamentally flawed” and failed to consider the wider implications of the proposals for women.

The MP for Lewes, who sat on the inquiry, said she was writing to the minister for women and equalities, Penny Mordaunt, to ask her to extend the consultation on the Gender Recognition Act to ensure that women’s voices were heard. Mordaunt’s office declined to comment.

Speaking at a meeting of MPs with women’s rights groups at Portcullis House on Tuesday, Caulfield said the transgender inquiry was focused on the difficulties trans people faced in obtaining legal recognition of their preferred gender and “didn’t really look at the implications for women as a whole. I think that was fundamentally flawed”.

She said MPs should have more time to assess the concerns of women’s groups about the changes, such as how they might affect women-only spaces.

“I very much feel that the female side of the argument hasn’t really had a strong enough voice,” she said. “I don’t want to make legislation if we feel that there’s a group in society who feels that [it] is detrimental to them. I think it’s a fair comment that women’s groups do not feel that they’ve had their voice heard.”

A number of MPs including Conservatives Andrew Selous and David Davies, and Labour MPs Karin Smyth, Tonia Antoniazzi and Paul Williams attended the meeting with activists from Fair Play For Women, Woman’s Place UK and Transgender Trend, who said they and other women had faced online and real-world harassment for organising, speaking at and attending meetings to discuss the reforms.

Davies, the MP for Monmouth, said: “[The inquiry] failed to take evidence from women’s groups on what the impact might be of allowing people to change their gender without any checks and balances.

“Ideally I’d like to see [the consultation] stopped and the whole process restarted after the government and ministers have had a proper conversation with women’s groups about their rights to protection.”

Davies said he had been threatened with police action by another Conservative MP for holding meetings in parliament with women’s groups critical of the reforms.

LGBT+ Conservatives, the party’s official LGBT group, has called Davies’ comments that someone with male genitalia is “definitely not a woman” transphobic and abhorrent.

Selous said MPs were treading very carefully. “It is stifling freedom of debate if we can’t discuss these issues,” he said. “The fact that MPs can’t come and be briefed calmly and freely and without fear is appalling.”

Prof Stephen Whittle, the founder of trans rights group Press for Change, warned that many trans people would “become depressed and dejected” if reform was delayed. He said: “I am sure there will be a flurry of attempts and suicides. But in the end we will pull ourselves together and continue the campaigning. We know we have Labour behind this one, so will simply do our best to get them elected.”

Submissions to the consultation will be analysed by an independent company, which is due to report its findings to the government next spring, when ministers will consider what next steps to take.

The comments from MPs came as dozens of academics accused ministers and universities of ignoring and censoring experts concerned about the proposals.

In a letter to the Guardian, they write that some academics have come under pressure from trans activists and their own universities to not publicly raise their concerns.

The academics accuse trans advocacy groups of using suchwide ranging definitions of transphobia that “their effect is to curtail academic freedom and facilitate the censuring of academic work”.

smalltownguy

10-25-2018, 12:46 PM

25 Oct 2018

Trump administration wants to remove 'gender' from UN human rights documents

Exclusive: US diplomats have pushed for rewriting of collective statements to remove language inclusive of transgender people

The US mission to the United Nations is seeking to eliminate the word “gender” from UN human rights documents, most often replacing it with “woman”, apparently as part of the Trump administration’s campaign to define transgender people out of existence.

At recent meetings of the UN’s Third Committee, which is concerned with “social, humanitarian and cultural” rights, US diplomats have been pushing for the rewriting of general assembly policy statements to remove what the administration argues is vague and politically correct language, reflecting what it sees as an ‘ideology’ of treating gender as an individual choice rather than an unchangeable biological fact.

For example, in a draft paper on trafficking in women and girls introduced by Germany and Philippines earlier this month, the US wants to remove phrases like “gender-based violence” would be replaced by “violence against women”.
“We are seeing this more and more coming up on the Third Committee, and this is going to be a battle in the coming weeks,” said a UN diplomat. The diplomat noted that US policy on the word is not entirely consistent.

While on a number of recent occasions, US diplomats have called for the removal of the word “gender”, at least once the same word has been added into a text on US insistence.

The diplomat, a European, speculated that the inconsistency might reflect a tussle between different members of the US mission.

To succeed in its campaign, the US will have to forge unusual alliances, with Russia and conservative Islamic states, against its western European partners.

“If you only say violence against women, it doesn’t really tell the whole story,” a senior diplomat at the UN said. “We shouldn’t be going along with encouraging their society to be regressive. And if that means a blazing row in the Third Committee, I would have a blazing row in committee because I think some things are worth cherishing and worth hanging on to.”
The US mission to the UN referred inquiries to the state department, which did not offer a comment before publication.

Last month, the state department quietly changed the name of a webpage to address transgender issues on passports, from “gender designation change” to “change of sex marker”, in what appears to be a wider campaign against the word “gender”.

“It’s clear the administration is engaged in a broad strategy of erasing transgender people’s existence across the federal government,” Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Centre for Transgender Equality, said. “While it’s infuriating they would behave in such an extreme and volatile manner at the United Nations, we are confident their prejudice will lose out to science, reason, and the ongoing fight for human rights.”

The New York Times reported on Monday that the administration had drawn up a policy paper to define gender narrowly as restricted as male or female only, and immutable from birth, despite the American Medical Association (AMA) ruling last year that gender and sexual identities are not always binary.

The effort is aimed at reversing changes to federal programmes made by the Obama administration. Those reforms made gender a matter of individual choice rather than the sex designated at birth. A leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services said government agencies should adopt a definition of gender determined “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.”

Roger Severino, the director of the office for civil rights in the department, was a fervent opponent of the Obama reforms. In July 2016, he said that the then defence secretary, Ash Carter, had dishonoured the sacrifices of “hundreds of thousands of veterans and current troops who were traumatized, wounded, or died fighting against Nazis, Communist aggressors, and terrorists, yet, believe that biological men should not be allowed into the same barracks and showers as women.”

smalltownguy

10-31-2018, 02:07 PM

October 31, 2018

This Nonprofit Offers a Lifeline to Transgender People — Just as They Need It Most

A leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services spurred outrage among the transgender community and its allies.

For transgender Americans living in fear, help is just a call away.

When the news broke last week that the Trump Administration is considering legally defining gender as biologically fixed at birth, a panic took hold in the transgender community.

“Trans people are not new to dealing with bullies,” says Elena Rose Vera, deputy executive director of the suicide prevention nonprofit Trans Lifeline. Yet when the memo was released, Trans Lifeline’s call volume “immediately quadrupled,” Vera says. “After decades of work to build a more compassionate and equitable society, [these] attacks seek to punish them for the joy they have found, to drive back progress by any means necessary.”

The memo, drafted by the Department of Health and Human Services, is the latest in a series of statements and legislation issued by the administration that have left the transgender community feeling under siege. In the face of this news, Trans Lifeline views their work as more critical than ever. “I have lost many friends and loved ones in the community to violence and suicide — people who faced systematic and constant deprivation, humiliation and trauma,” says Vera. “Every one of those lives was precious.”

Other activists agree. “The erasure of your identity and your very existence makes you panic at your core,” Zeke Christopoulos, a transgender man and director of the advocacy group Tranzmission, told The Guardian. “It felt like a kick in the stomach.”

Trans Lifeline, which Vera says is the only crisis support hotline program run completely by and for the transgender community, aims to both support people on the brink of crisis and empower them to live healthier and more financially stable lives. A recent study found that 29 percent of transgender people in the U.S. live in poverty, more than double the national average, while housing and employment discrimination can push transgender people into less-than-legal forms of employment to make ends meet.

In 2017, Trans Lifeline merged with Trans Assistance Project, a microgrants program that helps pay recipients’ legal and administrative fees and guides them through the process to attain documents like passports, driver’s licenses and immigration papers. The goal is to give transgender people the tools that “make a happy, hopeful and honest life more possible, reducing the circumstances that lead to crisis and despair,” says Vera. Thus far Trans Lifeline has distributed over $166,500 to transgender people in need and have answered over 55,260 calls for help.

Activism and advocacy within the transgender community are critical, but everyone has a role to play in making the country safer for trans people, Vera says. “We all have friends, family, neighbors — perhaps a religious community, or a union, or a school or workplace — who we can talk to about treating trans people with respect,” she says. “Trans people have always existed, everywhere in the world, and no power in the world could keep us from existing.”

smalltownguy

11-13-2018, 09:23 AM

13th November 2018

California Attorney General Denounces Trump Administration Plan to Roll Back Critical Civil Rights Protections for LGBTQ Individuals

Rumored change would deny the existence of transgender people

November 12, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra last week sent a letter to President Trump, Secretaries Azar, Acosta, and DeVos, and Acting Attorney General Whitaker, condemning the administration's reported plan to alter federal law to narrowly define “sex” as an immutable, biological condition assigned at birth. This change would effectively deny the existence of transgender Americans, denying them basic protections that allow people to learn, work, and seek medical care in a safe environment without discrimination.

"Once again, the Trump Administration seems intent on rolling back the civil rights advancements of the last half century: this time with another unlawful and disgraceful attack on transgender Americans,” said Attorney General Becerra. “This latest proposal contradicts the values of equality that our nation was built on. What’s worse, it threatens the health, job security, and education of our community members. We urge the Trump Administration to abandon these harmful and discriminatory efforts, and we stand ready to protect the civil rights of all Americans.”

In the letter, Attorney General Becerra asserts that the Trump Administration’s proposed changes are discriminatory and unsupported by federal law. In addition to being contrary to law, the letter warns that the Trump Administration’s plan would have harmful impacts on the health and security of thousands of Californians as well as the public health system. The American Medical Association has noted that those “who live in states with discriminatory policies have statistically significant increases in mental health and psychiatric diagnoses.”

California has been a leader in protecting civil rights and liberties for our transgender residents, working to ensure that individuals can work, learn, and receive care in a safe environment, free from discrimination. California has protected transgender people from workplace and housing discrimination for over a decade and was one of the first states to explicitly protect transgender students in our schools. These protections are crucial for the health and well-being of students and workers, regardless of gender or gender identity.

In December 2017, Attorney General Becerra obtained a nationwide injunction protecting transgender Americans serving in the military. He also joined an amicus brief in support of transgender rights for veterans in the case Fulcher v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, defending the right to health care coverage from the Department of Veterans Affairs for medically necessary care, including sex reassignment surgery.

smalltownguy

11-20-2018, 12:55 PM

NOVEMBER 20, 2018

Murders of trans people rising worldwide

Transgender people are suffering a spiral of "horrifying" violence worldwide, activists say ahead of an annual day of remembrance for victims aimed at raising awareness of transphobic hate crimes.

Activists have identified at least 369 reports of trans people killed within the last 12 months, but said the true number may be significantly higher.

"Trans and gender-diverse people are victims of horrifying hate violence, including extortion, physical and sexual assaults, and murder," said Lukas Berredo, a spokesman for the Trans Murder Monitoring project, which collects the data.

FACTS ON TRANSPHOBIC MURDERS:

* Nearly 3000 transgender people were murdered over the last decade worldwide. The most common causes of death were shooting, stabbing and beating.

* At least 369 transgender people were killed in the past 12 months.

* The number of trans people reported murdered each year by TMM has risen steadily, from 148 in 2008 to 358 last year.

* Brazil is the most dangerous country to be transgender, with at least 167 people killed in the last 12 months. Mexico had 71 murders, and the United States saw 28 killed.

* Nearly two thirds of reported victims over the last decade were sex workers.

* In the United States, more than three-quarters of trans people murdered in 2018 were women from an ethnic minority and nearly two thirds were aged under 35.

* In France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, 65 percent of reported murder victims in the last decade were migrants.

* Nearly three quarters of known US victims in 2018 were initially identified by their previous gender in police or media reports, a practice activists say is disrespectful and can hamper investigations.

smalltownguy

11-20-2018, 01:07 PM

18th November 2018

Rapist transgender woman locked up with MEN at notorious ‘Monster Mansion’ jail

A RAPIST transgender woman who sexually assaulted female inmates has been moved to one of Britain’s most notorious men’s prisons.

Karen White, who identifies as a woman but is legally male, has been transferred to HMP Wakefield – known as Monster Mansion for housing some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals.

Soham killer Ian Huntley, paedo rocker Ian Watkins and Charles Bronson are among the high profile inmates to have served time the Category A prison, in West Yorks.

White, born David Thompson, was jailed for life last month for molesting two female prisoners while being locked up on remand for raping two women.

The 52-year-old was previously held at female nick HMP New Hall eight miles away in nearby Flockton, west Yorks, where lags enjoy ensuite toilets and can keep their own pet chickens.

White, who has begun gender reassignment, is reportedly allowed to dress as she wishes at the governor’s discretion.

But prison insiders revealed how she is short of cash needed to buy wigs and makeup.

White began identifying as a woman around the time she was remanded in custody awaiting trial.

She molested two women at HMP New Hall while on remand for stabbing a neighbour with a steak knife.

Transgender woman moves to male prison after inmate assault
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Karen White, who identifies as a woman but is legally male, has been transferred to HMP Wakefield – known as Monster Mansion for housing some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals.

Soham killer Ian Huntley, paedo rocker Ian Watkins and Charles Bronson are among the high profile inmates to have served time the Category A prison, in West Yorks.

White, born David Thompson, was jailed for life last month for molesting two female prisoners while being locked up on remand for raping two women.

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The 52-year-old was previously held at female nick HMP New Hall eight miles away in nearby Flockton, west Yorks, where lags enjoy ensuite toilets and can keep their own pet chickens.

Transgender rapist Karen White BEHIND BARS: Transgender rapist Karen White has been moved to HMP Wakefield (Pic: REX )
NOTORIOUS: HMP Wakefield has housed Dr Harold Shipman and Ian Huntley (Pic: GETTY / PA )

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“It must be a bit of an eye-opener to go from New Hall to Wakefield, to put it mildly”

Prison insider
A source told the Sunday Mirror: “It must be a bit of an eye-opener to go from New Hall to Wakefield, to put it mildly.”

White, who has begun gender reassignment, is reportedly allowed to dress as she wishes at the governor’s discretion.

But prison insiders revealed how she is short of cash needed to buy wigs and makeup.

White began identifying as a woman around the time she was remanded in custody awaiting trial.

She molested two women at HMP New Hall while on remand for stabbing a neighbour with a steak knife.

MONSTER MANSION: HMP Wakefield (Pic: PA)
The convicted paedophile told probation officers how she could abuse a child and “think nothing of it”.

White was branded a “signifiant risk to children, women and the general public” when she was jailed.

She used her “transgender persona” to put herself in contact with vulnerable women.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on White’s move to Wakefield.

Prisoners requests to transfer on self-identified gender grounds are normally assessed by a special board.

smalltownguy

11-29-2018, 05:59 PM

28th Nov 2018

DONALD TRUMP USED ‘DESPERATE AND COWARDLY TACTIC’ IN LATEST TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN MOVE, SAYS TRANSGENDER SOLDIER

The Trump administration's petition to the Supreme Court Friday to bypass the appellate courts and rule on the president’s policy of banning transgender people from serving in the armed forces has been described by one transgender service member as a "desperate and cowardly tactic."

The leapfrog request filed on Friday to the Supreme Court has become a standard operating procedure for President Donald Trump's administration, as it seeks to skirt the appellate courts entirely on various policy decisions aimed at unraveling Obama era accomplishments.

Typically, the Supreme Court does not review cases until at least one appeals court has weighed in. The Supreme Court rules stipulate the court will only intercede before an appeals court ruling “only upon a showing that the case is of such imperative public importance as to justify deviation from normal appellate practice and to require immediate determination in this court.”

“It's a desperate and cowardly tactic. He wants to undermine our rights and erase the people he loathes, but he is clearly afraid of the full attention his toxic policies deserve," Jack Schuler, a transgender man and former U.S. Marine signals intelligence linguist turned U.S. Army soldier, told Newsweek.

Representing both the president and Defense Secretary James Mattis, Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote in his petition that the Trump administration's transgender ban, known as the Mattis policy, satisfies the Supreme Court’s standard for review. The solicitor general said the issue is of “imperative public importance: the authority of the U.S. military to determine who may serve in the Nation’s armed forces.”

Francisco argued that prompt action was needed because district courts erred in their decision to grant preliminary injunctions, which prevented the Mattis policy from taking effect.

It was a day of ironic contradictions: The Trump administration filed the petition on the same week as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance that honors the memory of those lost to anti-transgender violence, and just a day after Thanksgiving, when most Americans are out searching Black Friday deals and not the day's headlines.

Schuler told Newsweek that the president’s political tactics are easy to spot. But the stark paradox on Friday centers on the White House request coming on the same day the president bashed a federal district court judge for striking down a version of Trump’s travel ban, prompting a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts.

“It's a brazen and foolish move to demand that the Supreme Court of the United States take up the case when the appeals court hasn't even decided yet, and to do so after not only insulting federal judges but throwing a tantrum when Chief Justice Roberts rightly defended his peers,” Schuler said.

I've observed a few tendencies with Trump's tactics both in general and in regards to transgender people. He tends to make his announcements and demands at odd hours, over weekends, or around holidays: the times when people are paying less attention to the news,” Schuler added.

It was last July when Schuler woke up to a series of tweets from his commander-in-chief. For the country, it was a message that reversed Obama era policy on transgender individuals serving in the military, but for Schuler, it was more intimate, more personal—he was being shunned by his commander, the president of the United States.

“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”

Schuler had just re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves on a six-year contract, specializing in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense measures, after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps after five years of service as a signals intelligence linguist speaking Farsi, a job that requires the Pentagon’s highest security clearance—a top secret, secret compartmentalized information designation.

In February, Mattis sent Trump a proposed policy that replaced the president’s plan to ban all transgender service members. Mattis’s plan concluded that the defense secretary, along with “a panel of senior military leaders and other experts,” determined that the policy, adopted under former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, “posed too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality.”

Under Mattis’s policy, transgender service members would be disqualified from service if they “require or have undergone gender transition.” Transgender people can serve in uniform as long as they agree to adhere to their biological sex and only if they do not have a history of gender dysphoria.

Additionally, the Defense Department under Mattis, a former U.S. Marine general, argued that a 2016 RAND Corporation Study commissioned by the agency contained, “significant shortcomings.”

While the RAND study acknowledged that the “inclusion of individuals with gender dysphoria in the force would have a negative impact on readiness,” when researching foreign militaries that allow personnel with a history of gender dysphoria to serve, the study concluded that the impact on military readiness would be minimal.

On health care for transgender troops, the RAND study asserted that the costs of transition-related health care would not burden the Defense Department with “tremendous medical costs” as Trump suggested. The price would be substantially low when compared to the Pentagon’s health care expenditures.

It was a day of ironic contradictions: The Trump administration filed the petition on the same week as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance that honors the memory of those lost to anti-transgender violence, and just a day after Thanksgiving, when most Americans are out searching Black Friday deals and not the day's headlines.

Schuler told Newsweek that the president’s political tactics are easy to spot. But the stark paradox on Friday centers on the White House request coming on the same day the president bashed a federal district court judge for striking down a version of Trump’s travel ban, prompting a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts.

“It's a brazen and foolish move to demand that the Supreme Court of the United States take up the case when the appeals court hasn't even decided yet, and to do so after not only insulting federal judges but throwing a tantrum when Chief Justice Roberts rightly defended his peers,” Schuler said.

“I've observed a few tendencies with Trump's tactics both in general and in regards to transgender people. He tends to make his announcements and demands at odd hours, over weekends, or around holidays: the times when people are paying less attention to the news,” Schuler added.

JackSchuler_TransgenderBan
Jack Schuler, a transgender man and former U.S. Marine signals intelligence linguist turned U.S. Army soldier, could be removed from service if the Trump administration is allowed to move forward with their transgender policy.
JACK SCHULER

It was last July when Schuler woke up to a series of tweets from his commander-in-chief. For the country, it was a message that reversed Obama era policy on transgender individuals serving in the military, but for Schuler, it was more intimate, more personal—he was being shunned by his commander, the president of the United States.

“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”

Schuler had just re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves on a six-year contract, specializing in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense measures, after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps after five years of service as a signals intelligence linguist speaking Farsi, a job that requires the Pentagon’s highest security clearance—a top secret, secret compartmentalized information designation.

In February, Mattis sent Trump a proposed policy that replaced the president’s plan to ban all transgender service members. Mattis’s plan concluded that the defense secretary, along with “a panel of senior military leaders and other experts,” determined that the policy, adopted under former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, “posed too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality.”

donald trump, transgender military ban
Presidential candidate Donald Trump holds an LGBT flag given to him by supporter Max Nowak during a campaign rally on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley, Colorado, on October 30, 2016. The Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court Friday to rule on the president’s policy of banning transgender people from the armed forces.
CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES

Under Mattis’s policy, transgender service members would be disqualified from service if they “require or have undergone gender transition.” Transgender people can serve in uniform as long as they agree to adhere to their biological sex and only if they do not have a history of gender dysphoria.

Additionally, the Defense Department under Mattis, a former U.S. Marine general, argued that a 2016 RAND Corporation Study commissioned by the agency contained, “significant shortcomings.”

While the RAND study acknowledged that the “inclusion of individuals with gender dysphoria in the force would have a negative impact on readiness,” when researching foreign militaries that allow personnel with a history of gender dysphoria to serve, the study concluded that the impact on military readiness would be minimal.

On health care for transgender troops, the RAND study asserted that the costs of transition-related health care would not burden the Defense Department with “tremendous medical costs” as Trump suggested. The price would be substantially low when compared to the Pentagon’s health care expenditures.

If the Supreme Court does not take up the case, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is scheduled to hear an appeal of the decision handed down by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who wrote last October: “There is absolutely no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would have any negative effect on the military at all.

“In fact, there is considerable evidence that it is the discharge and banning of such individuals that would have such effects,” Kollar-Kotelly added, noting that “fifteen States have filed an amici brief indicating that they and their residents will be harmed by the Presidential Memorandum if it is not enjoined.”

For now, Schuler continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves as a soldier with the 323rd Chemical Company based out of South Dakota. Schuler, a former leader of Marines and current leader of soldiers, summed up the actions of his commander-in-chief last week:

“This is the behavior of a failure, not a leader.”

smalltownguy

12-01-2018, 11:56 AM

Nov 30 2018

No home for transgender, abandoned people in J&K

Many a time these unfortunate people have landed in police stations and even hospitals in desperate need for help and care

1112059

The pathetic condition in which a transgender person was found lying on a roadside near posh Gupkar area here recently has highlighted failure of the state government to take care of “abandoned” citizens in Jammu and Kashmir.

For long the state government has been promising rehabilitation homes for people in need, often found wandering in hostile weather conditions on the streets of Srinagar and elsewhere.

Many a time these unfortunate people have landed in police stations and even hospitals in desperate need for help and care.

This human issue even rocked the state Assembly on several occasions, but the government has done nothing on the ground.

“This case (of the abandoned transgender) is ample proof how the government has not only failed to deliver for one of the most vulnerable communities in the society, but even others who are abandoned and that too during later years of their life,” said Aijaz Ahmad Bund, a social activist who has been fighting for rights of transgender persons.
This elderly transgender, who was shifted to SMHS hospital after lying on roadside for almost 20 days in the area where who-is-who of state’s political class live, has not been mute.

But this is not the lone-person case of the government neglect.

More than 60 transgender persons have been “abandoned” by their families, claims Aijaz who has done an extensive study on the vulnerable community.

Most of these people are either living on rent or have left their places and come down to city so that nobody could recognise them. All of them are however living a life in penury.
The worse is that 15 to 20 such persons are in the elderly age group having no social security and no shelter, said Aijaz.
“A few months ago, a young transgender, abandoned by the family, died of cardiac arrest. Nobody came forward for help, except her sister,” lamented Bund.
“Her father and brother knew about it, but didn’t own her, even after her death.”
A couple of days ago, a mentally unstable woman, abandoned by her family, delivered a baby in open without any medical help.
In April 2017, also a woman abandoned by her family was lying outside SMHS hospital for three months, oblivious of her surroundings and not knowing who brought her there.
Later she was admitted into the hospital, but couldn’t survive.
The government, however, claims that there are already homes for “women in distress” and those facing domestic abuse.

But there are no such facilities for abandoned people and they are taken into these homes only after social media alarms.
That the government is still unaware about this latest case, despite outrage on social media over past few days, speaks volumes about its misplaced priorities, said another social activist.
“We are working on a plan to set up composite rehabilitation homes in Srinagar and Jammu for abandoned people,” said Farooq Lone, secretary social welfare department.
In Kashmir, the government had identified land at Samboora in Pampore but the plan was shelved later for unknown reasons.
Now, the land has been identified in Anantnag, Lone said.
“But till this composite home comes up who will take care of these people living a life in distress and in need of social security?” asked the activist.

smalltownguy

12-06-2018, 06:18 PM

Dec 05, 2018

How to Fight the Latest Attempts to Erase “Transgender”

Purging the identity from federal websites makes transgender people more vulnerable to discrimination. Here’s how you can help.

1113260
Members of the transgender community and their supporters hold a rally to protest the continual attacks and erasure from the Trump administration in Los Angeles on November 2, 2018.

Commentary

While you might have been focused in recent weeks on flashier headlines about the latest mass shooting or the Russia probe, the Trump administration has been busy removing any mention of transgender people from federal employment guidelines.
The actions taken by the Office of Personnel Management support the assertion by the Trump administration that federal civil rights law does not extend employment protection to people based on their gender identity. Many federal courts have disagreed with this position, but the administration’s actions—especially the purge of the word “transgender” from its Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights and other websites—are quite concerning.
In October, a memo leaked to The New York Times revealed the administration’s plans to define gender as a condition immutably determined by biological sex at birth. This move would not only roll back the steps taken by the Obama administration that encouraged the establishment of gender-inclusive spaces at schools and government buildings, but would also eradicate the legal standing, indeed the legal existence, of transgender people.
Transgender individuals are marginalized, especially those who are nonbinary, nonconforming, or who don’t pass as their reassigned gender. Anyone who is visibly transgender is more vulnerable to discrimination. That’s why the Trump administration’s actions are particularly pernicious and harmful.
I’m transgender, and there was a time when I thought invisibility would make me safe, when I believed that denying the word “transgender” and distancing myself from it would keep me from feeling marginalized and discriminated against.
When I first came out and transitioned, I was very visible. I was a high school student at a school where I’d been known as a girl for three years. When I came back for my senior year as a boy, I couldn’t get away from who I had been. Everyone knew my birth name; everyone was used to referring to me as “she.”
I dreamed of leaving this far behind, of going somewhere that would let me be “just” a guy. So I did. After my first year of college in Massachusetts, I went out West, to Wyoming. I told no one I was transgender. Some people raised an eyebrow when I told them I was 19—I looked like 15. But I passed, and I lived as a guy.
And it was awful. I felt that at any time, someone could discover my secret. And I knew that because I had withheld this information about my past, in some way they would perceive me as having deceived them. And they would be right. I wasn’t living as who I truly was. I understand that for some transgender people, passing as a man or a woman is the right decision. It wasn’t for me. Invisibility was terrible.
Remember that everyone has a biological sex and everyone has a gender identity.

I’m reminded of that feeling, though in a very different way, when I read about the federal government’s “scrub” of transgender from the office of personnel management’s website, among other places. They are trying to erase us.

By reclassifying all gender-based language to refer instead to “biological sex,” the Trump administration is attempting to posit that there is no such thing as being transgender; we are only what we were born as, we are our bodies and no more. This is unacceptable.
Passing as a man doesn’t make me not transgender. Removing that term from federal websites doesn’t make transgender people not exist. It just makes those of us in the transgender community more vulnerable, more prone to be misunderstood and mistreated.
How do I resist? I can pass, but I don’t. I challenge forms and paperwork that give me only two options. I resist every opportunity to be read as “just” a man. I let people know that not everything lines up right for me, that I am, happily, off-kilter with what the world expects me to be. In other words, I come out, day after day. I don’t let people read my external expression of gender and make assumptions about my biology. I make myself visible and legible as a transgender person.
How can allies help? Remember that everyone has a biological sex and everyone has a gender identity. You can assert yours, too. Be cisgender and proud, rather than cisgender and presumptive. Use your privilege and your knowledge to teach this information to others. It can be empowering and informative to think about the ways in which your gender identity and gender expression aren’t tied to your biology—all the things that make you a woman that have nothing to do with your body, all the aspects of your masculinity that are unrelated to your chromosomes.
What can we all do? We can raise this point, again and again. We can work to pass laws in the jurisdictions where we can have influence. Maybe right now we can’t influence federal policy. Maybe our state legislature is out of reach. But what about the city or town in which we live? What about the place where we work? The church that we attend? It is important for every institution that cares about transgender people to put language about their rights into their codes and policies. This visibility is essential.

smalltownguy

12-18-2018, 06:30 PM

18-12-2018

Assistant principal accused of harassing transgender student

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia high school's assistant principal should be disciplined after questioning a transgender male student over his choice of bathrooms and saying, "you freak me out," the American Civil Liberties Union said.

The ACLU's West Virginia chapter said it has asked the Harrison County schools superintendent to take action against Assistant Principal Lee Livengood at Liberty High School in Clarksburg. An ACLU statement said the chapter also is seeking best-practice policies and training in the school system for dealing with transgender students and issues.

Fifteen-year-old student Michael Critchfield said Monday night in an interview he was traumatized by the Nov. 27 incident in a school boys' bathroom.

County schools Superintendent Mark Manchin didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

According to Critchfield, the school's band was preparing to take an afterschool bus trip to Morgantown to watch a performance at West Virginia University. Critchfield said he went to the bathroom and checked to see if anyone was standing at a urinal before he went into a stall.

Livengood then opened the bathroom door and asked if any students were in the stall. Critchfield replied, and when he left the stall, Livengood was standing in the bathroom doorway and blocked Critchfield from leaving.

Critchfield recalled Livengood repeatedly yelling, "Why are you in here? You shouldn't be in here."

Critchfield replied it was his legal right to use that bathroom. He said Livengood used improper pronouns when referring to Critchfield and challenged him to use a urinal to prove that he was a boy.

"I felt really degraded and discriminated against," Critchfield said.

Critchfield said other students had heard screaming coming from the bathroom and told a chaperone, who saw both Critchfield and Livengood walk out.

According to Critchfield, Livengood then said, "Not going to lie. You freak me out."

Critchfield said school "should feel like a safe place. Kids like me should never have to go through anything like this. At the end of the day all I wanted was to feel welcome."

ACLU West Virginia executive director Joseph Cohen called it "a life or death issue." The American Academy of Pediatrics published a study earlier this year showing 51 percent of trans male adolescents had attempted suicide.

"The stakes couldn't really be higher here," Cohen said. "It's past time that West Virginia schools take LGBTQ issues seriously."

Critchfield's mother, Caroline Critchfield, said the incident infuriated her.

"As a parent, that is my child that you are talking to," she said. "His job was to provide safety, to protect my son while he was in school. Not bully. Not badger. Not to humiliate. Not to tear someone down. Not cause phobia. Not cause discrimination against him. What is this teaching our students?"

smalltownguy

01-11-2019, 06:34 AM

Jan 09, 2019

NC women arrested after sexually assaulting transgender woman in bar restroom, police say

Police in North Carolina say two women have been arrested for groping a transgender woman in the bathroom of a Raleigh bar.

Amber Harrell, 38, and Jessica Fowler, 31, have been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery and felony second-degree kidnapping, according to court records.

Raleigh police say the incident happened Dec. 9, 2018 at Milk Bar in the Glenwood South neighborhood, the News & Observer of Raleigh reported. Someone called police the next day and said his friend had been assaulted.

The caller, whose name hasn't been made public, told the dispatcher that Harrell and Fowler had been talking to his friend, who is a transwoman, in a seemingly friendly conversation in the bar's restroom. However, one of the women then grabbed the victim's genitals and asked if she had a penis.

The caller said the women continued to harass his friend, groping her, lifting up her clothes and ignoring her pleas for them to stop. He said the women continued harassing the victim once outside the restroom, and that a bartender told them to stop.
Harrell and Fowler turned themselves in to police.

Bunch of Fives Hospitality Co., the company that owns Milk Bar, released a statement on the incident, reported WRAL-TV.

"Bunch of 5s handles all matters that threaten our patrons in a timely fashion to ensure their safety and ability to enjoy themselves at all of our locations. This matter was handled with cooperation and full transparency with the Raleigh Police Department and the detective that was assigned this case. Bunch of 5s and Milk Bar seek to continue to welcome all patrons into a safe environment," the statement said.

smalltownguy

01-11-2019, 06:40 AM

Jan 4, 2019

Congresswoman displays transgender pride flag outside office

1123706

A newly elected Virginia congresswoman is displaying a transgender pride flag outside her Washington office.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton is a Democrat from the 10th District in northern Virginia who was sworn in Thursday. The pink-, blue- and white-striped flag is displayed at the door to her office, along with the U.S. and Virginia flags.

In a statement, Wexton says she's displaying the flag because she has family members and friends who are transgender. Chief of Staff Abigail Carter says Wexton is an aunt to a transgender person.

Wexton says she wants the transgender community to know they're welcome. Since it went on display, Wexton says she's received messages of support and appreciation from across the country.

Wexton is a former prosecutor who defeated Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock in November.

smalltownguy

01-11-2019, 07:10 AM

Jan 4, 2019

Appeals court sides with Trump in transgender military case

A federal appeals court is siding with the Trump administration in a case about the Pentagon’s policy of restricting military service by transgender people.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled this morning that a lower-court judge was wrong to block the Pentagon from implementing its preferred policy. The unsigned ruling will not allow the Pentagon to put in place its desired policy, however, because three other judges have entered orders blocking the administration in similar cases.

Military policy until a few years ago had barred service by transgender people. That changed under President Barack Obama, but President Donald Trump said he would reverse course, leading to lawsuits by transgender people.

The administration already has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue. The high court has not said whether it will.

smalltownguy

01-21-2019, 04:59 PM

21, Jan 2019

Indian transgender activist told to change stated gender for Malaysian visa application

PETALING JAYA: In an ironic twist, an Indian transgender activist who is supposed to speak at a company event in Penang about pride and equality is having difficulty entering the country as the Malaysian eVisa application system does not have an option for a third gender.

Shane Anthony Mills, an IT analyst and a supporter of transgender rights in India, was reportedly chosen to speak on the subject of "pride" in Penang on Jan 28.

She was selected to speak at Dell's Employee Resource Group summit in Penang and was told to change her gender to "male" if she wishes to travel to Malaysia.

According to Dell's website, its employee resource groups (ERGs) connects team members around areas such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and backgrounds.

According to the Times of India, Shane found out that Malaysia's online visa portal does not have an option for the third gender in its application.

This is contrary to the Indian e-visa portal that, since 2014, has added the third gender option for foreigners (including Malaysians).

When Shane approached the Malaysian Consulate in Chennai for help, she was told to change her stated gender and reapply.

"To my shock, they asked me to change my gender to 'male' in my passport and reapply!

"This is so embarrassing. I had to go through a lot – from my sex change operation to getting my paperwork in place after the 2014 Supreme Court verdict," she said.

In 2014, India's highest court recognised the existence of a third gender in a landmark judgement hailed by transgender people.

Shane added that the Indian consulate in Malaysia had "no clue" how to help her.

However, she has not given up hope and has since reached out to India's foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for help.

"My company has got in touch with the Malaysian Consulate as well. Hopefully, things will work out," she said.

smalltownguy

01-21-2019, 05:13 PM

January 21, 2019

YouTuber raises over $330k for transgender charity playing Donkey Kong 64 on Twitch

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This past weekend saw hundreds of thousands of pounds raised for transgender charity Mermaids during a Donkey Kong 64 charity stream.

Hbomberguy, an internet personality known for gaming analysis and in-depth video essays began the stream with an aim of completing the game in its entirety with all collectibles, coins and other secrets discovered.

After an ungodly 55 hours, he accomplished this. The stream was accompanied by multiple guest appearances by popular writers, internet personalities and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a new member of the US Congress.

It blew past all expectations for Hbomberguy, real name Harry Brewis, who only expected to raise a few thousand pounds to spite comedian Graham Lineham.

Lineham’s social media presence and postings on websites like Mumsnet previously caused The National Lottery to review a £500,000 grant to Mermaids, a charity which supports transgender/gender non-conforming children and their families.

“I chose to support [Mermaids] because as a person living in Britain, I find the media discussion around this issue to be woefully misinformed, and I’d like to do my bit to help support the people who do the hard work of contributing to people’s thinking on an issue.”

Graham Linehan, a comedy writer who did some work on a good show 20 years ago, a very normal man who is very angry about trans people all day nowadays, went on Mumsnet and told them to email the National Lottery en masse…

“Well done, Graham… now, tons of people know about Mermaids, and support them just to spite you!”

It’s been wonderful seeing the gaming community come together to raise money for such a good cause, especially when it laughs in the face of prejudice and looks toward positivity.

That, and Donkey Kong 64 is a nightmare to get through without nailing all the collectibles, so it’s a feat worth commending alongside a ludicrous amount of money raised. Bravo!

smalltownguy

01-23-2019, 06:02 PM

23, Jan 2019

Donald Trump's restrictions on transgender troops to take effect after US Supreme Court ruling

The Trump administration can go ahead with its plan to restrict military service by transgender men and women while court challenges continue, the US Supreme Court has ruled.

Key points:
The ban on transgender military personnel was lifted under Barack Obama in 2016
But Donald Trump moved to reverse that policy change the following year
The administration's position is now the subject of multiple legal battles

The conservative-majority court split 5-4 to grant President Donald Trump's administration's request to lift injunctions issued by federal judges against the policy while a legal challenge continues in lower courts.

Transgender advocates reacted to the decision with outrage.

"The Trump administration's cruel obsession with ridding our military of dedicated and capable service members because they happen to be transgender defies reason and cannot survive legal review," said GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) transgender rights project director Jennifer Levi.

The justices refused the administration's request for them to decide the merits of the legal fight even before a California-based federal appeals court already considering the matter is given a chance to rule.

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Donald Trump's restrictions on transgender troops to take effect after US Supreme Court ruling
Posted 21 hours ago, updated20 hours ago
At a protest outside the White House, a man holds a sign that reads 'Gay vet supporting trans rights'.
IMAGE Civil liberties and rights groups are challenging Donald Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military.(Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)
The Trump administration can go ahead with its plan to restrict military service by transgender men and women while court challenges continue, the US Supreme Court has ruled.

Key points:
The ban on transgender military personnel was lifted under Barack Obama in 2016
But Donald Trump moved to reverse that policy change the following year
The administration's position is now the subject of multiple legal battles
The conservative-majority court split 5-4 to grant President Donald Trump's administration's request to lift injunctions issued by federal judges against the policy while a legal challenge continues in lower courts.

Transgender advocates reacted to the decision with outrage.

"The Trump administration's cruel obsession with ridding our military of dedicated and capable service members because they happen to be transgender defies reason and cannot survive legal review," said GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) transgender rights project director Jennifer Levi.

The justices refused the administration's request for them to decide the merits of the legal fight even before a California-based federal appeals court already considering the matter is given a chance to rule.

Obama opened door for transgender servicemen and women
Until a few years ago service members could be discharged from the military for being transgender. That changed under former president Barack Obama.

The military announced in 2016 that transgender individuals already serving in the military would be allowed to serve openly. And the military set July 1, 2017 as the date when transgender individuals would be allowed to enlist.

Mr Trump tweeted in late July 2017 that the Government would not allow "Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military".

He later directed the military to return to its policy that was in place before the Obama administration changes.

Lawsuits challenging the policy were filed in 2017 by civil liberties and rights groups on behalf of current transgender military service members, including some deployed overseas with decades of experience in the armed forces, and transgender people aspiring to join the military.

The Trump administration lost early rounds in those cases, with courts issuing nationwide injunctions barring the administration from altering course.

In March 2018, the Trump administration announced that after studying the issue it was revising its policy.

The new policy generally bars transgender individuals from serving unless they serve "in their biological sex" and do not seek to undergo a gender transition.

The policy has an exception for transgender troops who relied on the Obama-era rules to begin the process of changing their gender, allowing them to continue to serve.

The military said last year that more than 900 men and women have done so.

smalltownguy

02-12-2019, 02:50 PM

Feb. 11, 2019

Writer Sues Twitter Over Ban for Criticizing Transgender People (Lesson: Leftist agenda and political correctness overrule free speech rights)

Canadian blogger tweeted ‘Men aren’t women,’ violating harassment rules on the platform

A Canadian writer filed a lawsuit against Twitter Inc. on Monday, saying the social-media platform unfairly banned her because her criticism of transgender rights doesn’t line up with the company’s politics.

Meghan Murphy, a gender-politics blogger, alleges that Twitter violated unfair-competition law when it changed its hateful-conduct policy late last year. Under Twitter’s new policy, users can be banned for calling a transgender individual by their pre-transition names or referring to them with the wrong pronouns. The suit alleges that change conflicts with Twitter’s previous commitment to free speech.

The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court in San Francisco, combines two hot-button issues: how Silicon Valley companies should moderate content on their sites, and what protections should be provided for transgender individuals.

In the offending tweets, Ms. Murphy wrote that transgender women are the same as men, as part of her argument that gender is determined at birth. Those views are viewed by some lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists as inciting hate speech against transgender people.

“Twitter claims its policies do not take into account political views,” said Noah Peters, Ms. Murphy’s lawyer. “They actually do practice viewpoint discrimination.”

Twitter said it believes Ms. Murphy’s claims are meritless, and it will defend itself against the suit.

Twitter has been criticized for the way it draws the line between free speech and harassment, as well as its ability to make these decisions consistently and fairly.

For years, Twitter executives shied away from moderation on their platform beyond extreme cases. Some early executives at the company called Twitter “the free speech wing of the free speech party,” brandishing their commitment to a marketplace of ideas where more speech could counter hate speech.

But in 2016, Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey declared an “abuse emergency” following a number of high-profile cases of Twitter users leaving the platform because of harassment from other users.

Twitter’s push to clean up its platform appears to be achieving some of its goals. While these efforts sometimes result in shutting accounts, other users tend to spend more time on Twitter when they feel more welcome. Marketers also say they are in favor of the changes, because they don’t like advertising alongside negative content. On Thursday, Twitter reported record quarterly revenue.

In the case of Twitter’s policy update for transgender issues, the company banned the practice of intentionally referring to individuals by the wrong gender or referring to their previous names, saying it can be a form of harassment. The policy was designed to make Twitter a more inclusive space for transgender individuals.

Ms. Murphy says that Twitter locked her account on Nov. 15, telling her that to regain control of her account, she would need to remove two tweets she posted the prior month. One tweet stated: “How are transwomen not men? What is the difference between a man and a transwoman?” The other said: “Men aren’t women.”

Ms. Murphy deleted the tweets, and posted a response to Twitter, saying, “I’m not allowed to say that men aren’t women or ask questions about the notion of transgenderism at all anymore?” The post went viral, according to her suit, receiving 20,000 likes. Days later, Twitter informed Ms. Murphy that she needed to delete this tweet as well, the suit says.

Twitter then banned Ms. Murphy permanently. According to the suit, Twitter sent an email to Ms. Murphy on Nov. 23, informing her that an item she had posted previously on Nov. 8 violated the company’s hateful conduct policy because she referred to a transgender woman as “him,” according to the suit.

The suit says Ms. Murphy had tweeted “Yeeeah it’s him” to refer to an image of a Google review of a waxing salon posted by a Twitter account with a male name and a female name in parentheses. In the past year, the suit states, the person behind that account had filed complaints against aestheticians for refusing to perform Brazilian waxes due to that person’s male genitalia.

smalltownguy

02-12-2019, 03:01 PM

Feb. 9, 2019

Mom has a 'gender reveal' photo shoot after her child comes out as transgender
When her 20-year-old child came out as a transgender man, this mom knew just how to announce it to family and friends.

Heather Lundberg Green was like any other proud mother when she posted pictures on Facebook filled with blue balloons as part of a gender reveal announcement for her son.

The only difference is that her son, Adrian Brown, is 20 years old.

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Brown came out to his family as a transgender man in September, which led to Green, 39, deciding to celebrate her son's 20th birthday on Jan. 29 by putting the news out there for all of their family and friends in a fun way.

Weary from repeating the same conversation to loved ones, the family from Louisville, Kentucky, just decided to have a goofy and heartwarming photo shoot announcing to the world that "It's a boy!"

The pictures of a smiling Brown swaddled in a blanket and holding blue balloons with Green and his younger brother, Lucas, 17, have led to an enormous outpouring of support since Green posted them on Facebook.

"When your child comes out as trans, the best thing to do is create a photoshoot to celebrate the fact that he silently and bravely stepped out of the race that he never wanted to be in, found his own lane and proceeded to win,'' Green wrote in the post.

"Everybody has reached out just saying thank you for this because it means we can celebrate this,'' Green told TODAY. "My kid is a boy. When a parent says 'I'm having a boy,' you go, 'Yay, congratulations!' That should be true even if they're 20 in this case."

"Since this post has gotten so much positive feedback, I've felt like I can stand up for myself and say this is who I am,'' Brown told TODAY. "If you don't like it that's fine, but you need to respect how I feel and how I want to live my life, and just use the right name and the right pronouns and stop being mean for the sake of being mean."

Brown first came out to Lucas this past fall, to which his brother replied in typical teen deadpan fashion, "OK."

"I said, 'What would you think if I wanted to be a boy and change my name?'" Brown said. "He said, 'Well, you'd have to change your name tag at work."

His reaction gave Brown, who grew up as Hannah, the courage to tell his mother that he is a transgender man.

"I was obviously a little scared,'' Brown said. "I always knew my mom would accept me and be loving and supporting, but it was nerve-racking to say, 'Here's this big part of me, what do you think?'''

"I told him that I didn't know how to react, but of course I was going to love him through this,'' Green said.

"From a parent's perspective, there's almost a feeling of loss when a child comes out, even the parents that support it. You kind of go through a mourning process of letting go of, for me, this sweet little girl that I raised, while accepting his journey and his truth."

Green and Brown have received messages of thanks and hope from all over the world from transgender people and their families.

A study released in 2018 by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that transgender adolescents have a dramatically higher rate of suicide behavior than the general population, particularly those transitioning from female to male.

"There's been transgender people saying they were on the verge of suicide, and seeing the love and support we received has renewed their faith in humanity that people are beginning to accept and celebrate their community,'' Green said. "Those messages break my heart and lift it up at the same time."

"I'm glad it's helping so many people,'' Brown said. "One day my brother came home and gave me this bone-crushing hug, and he said a boy at his school who came out to his parents as trans had been considering suicide, and the reason he had the courage to tell them was because he saw the (Facebook) post."

Brown thought his mother's photo shoot idea was a little corny at first, but went along with it and had fun. Kara Davis, 14, the daughter of Green's boyfriend, Scott Davis, snapped the photos of the gender reveal.

"Both of my sons have been good about going along with my hare-brained schemes,'' Green said. "(Kara) thought I was insane, but she laughed and was like 'go ahead.' I think she really captured our essence in those photos."

The most gratifying part for Green may be the change she has seen in her son since the viral Facebook post.

"Before he kind of walked around with this air of apology, trying not to interfere or upset anyone else,'' she said. "Since this post, he's just been empowered and has a joy and a light that beams from him."

Jackal

02-13-2019, 05:20 AM

The first time ever that a gender reveal party wasn't terrible.

dc_guy_75

02-13-2019, 08:54 AM

The first time ever that a gender reveal party wasn't terrible.

Those 'gender reveal' parties are some demented shit.

party * presents * narcissism * lower-class shenanigans

smalltownguy

02-27-2019, 02:14 PM

Feb 26, 2019

Ellen Page: It's time to defend transgender people

Ellen Page decided to speak out after lesbian tennis player Martina Navratilova was fired from LGBTQ charity last week for making transphobic comments against transgender female athletes

Actress Ellen Page says it's time to "step up" to support transgender people. "We need to realise that a lot of the most marginalised people in our community have been left behind. We need to step up for trans people because they are under attack," Page, who is married to Canadian dancer Emma Portner, told Gay Times magazine.

The "Juno" star decided to speak out after lesbian tennis player Martina Navratilova was fired from a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) charity last week for making transphobic comments against transgender female athletes, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"A man can decide to be female, take hormones if required by whatever sporting organisation is concerned, win everything in sight and perhaps earn a small fortune, and then reverse his decision and go back to making babies," Navratilova said.

Responding to those comments, Page slammed the sporting star for letting history repeat itself, as she branded Navratilova's words as "demonising and dehumanising".

"It's not like people didn't use the same arguments for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but people are also using that rhetoric to make trans people seem like predators. It's demonising and dehumanising. It's deplorable. In regards to those conversations in the UK, and the treatment and attack on trans rights in the US, it's utterly cruel," she said.

LilyRox

02-27-2019, 05:04 PM

Navratilova is going after the wrong people. She should be trying to push laws, not personally attack people. I don't think anyone would only change their sex just to win a sports competition and I don't know what she's talking about saying "go back to making babies". It doesn't work like that, you become sterile and some trans don't even stay functional. It isn't just a switch you can flip on or off, taking hormones results in permanent lifelong choices.

I love Ellen Page. She has done a lot to speak up for the trans community (she's lesbian). She's great in the new Umbrella Academy series.

smalltownguy

03-17-2019, 07:04 PM

March 13, 2019

Pentagon Imposes New Restrictions on Transgender Service Members
Under new policy, a diagnosis of gender dysphoria could disqualify an applicant from military service

The U.S. military imposed a series of new restrictions Wednesday on the ability of transgender people to serve in the armed forces, expanding the scope of ineligibility while stopping short of a ban.

Under the new policy, gender dysphoria—a conflict between one’s birth gender and the gender with which they identify—will be treated as a mental health condition that could disqualify an applicant from service, the Pentagon said.

The above said is not full news on this subject . It is a briefing on the news.

smalltownguy

03-17-2019, 07:16 PM

15 March, 2019

Meet The Transgender Troops Racing To Get a ‘Gender Dysphoria’ Diagnosis Before April 12

A ‘gender dysphoria’ diagnosis means transgender troops can carry on serving after President Trump’s ban is enforced. But not all trans troops can see the right medics in time.

For transgender service members, the clock is ticking.

Now that the Department of Defense is implementing the transgender troop ban on April 12, those currently serving have less than 30 days to receive a gender dysphoria diagnosis in order to seek medical treatment. After that, they would face discharge.

When the ban goes into effect, as the National Center for Transgender Equality noted, a small number of service members who have previously transitioned will be permitted to stay for now, while transgender civilians who wish to enlist will be turned away.

Caught in the middle are transgender service members who haven’t yet secured a gender dysphoria diagnosis and must get one before the ban begins. Several service members in this predicament told The Daily Beast that meeting the April 12 deadline will be hard.

“I’ll have to take time off work to travel 120 miles to the closest transgender care team in order to get a diagnosis,” Chloe, a lieutenant commander in the Navy who requested her last name be omitted for privacy, told The Daily Beast.

Chloe is a transgender woman who says she’s seven years away from being eligible for retirement, so losing her position now would be devastating. If she doesn’t meet the deadline, she told The Daily Beast, she would wait for change or try to tough it out.

“If I don’t get a diagnosis in time, I intend to continue serving and doing what I can to assist my transition and ease my dysphoria until the policy changes again or until I’m eligible for retirement,” she said.

Leaving gender dysphoria untreated presents mental health risks—and a growing body of medical literature clearly indicates that transition improves transgender well-being.

The Trump administration has claimed in both court filings and public messaging that its new policy is not an outright ban on transgender troops because they will still be allowed to serve in their birth-assigned sex. LGBT advocacy groups and medical experts, however, have pointed out the potentially devastating consequences of barring service members from seeking transition-related medical care in order to keep their jobs

That explains why many in Chloe’s situation feel such urgency to get a diagnosis now.

“This [deadline] puts me and others in the position where we have to ‘speak now or forever hold our peace’ and it’s a very uncomfortable place to be,” Bryan Bree Fram, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, told The Daily Beast. “We’re on the clock—and the clock is running out.”

For Fram, who is non-binary and serves “at a remote, geographically separated unit,” the nearest military provider who could provide a gender dysphoria diagnosis is over four hours away. Fram will try to get a diagnosis—but might not be able to in time.

Fram is also the communications director for SPART*A, an advocacy organization for transgender service members that has tried to draw public attention to the impact of the troop ban ever since President Trump first announced it via Twitter in July 2017.

This new deadline, says Fram, only adds to the anxiety that transgender service members have been experiencing for nearly two years, as the Trump administration fought to lift the preliminary injunctions on the ban, succeeding at the Supreme Court in January.

“This policy has already created an immense emotional toll on me and my family,” Fram told The Daily Beast. “None of this occurs in a vacuum. It isn’t just the service members who feel the stress, families face the same issues of uncertainty and fear.”

In a statement, a Department of Defense spokesperson said, “We encourage anyone experiencing physical or mental distress to see their medical provider.”

For Caleb, a transgender man and a petty officer in the Navy, the new deadline comes after a lengthy quest to get a gender dysphoria diagnosis from a military provider.

Ever since the Department of Defense announced its latest recommendations for the transgender troop ban, Caleb’s various assignments have kept him on the move.

“Since then, I’ve been in training courses in four different states, sometimes for months at a time, and I’ve deployed overseas twice,” he told The Daily Beast. “This hasn’t granted me any time to pursue the diagnosis I knew I might need in order to keep my career, especially since there was no military medical staff in some of those locations.”

Caleb, who requested that his surname be withheld for privacy, had one stint at home last December—and he used it to put in an official request for an appointment.

“The earliest available appointment was over two months later,” he said. “It also happened to be just three days before I left for my next deployment.”

After the Supreme Court decided in January to allow the troop ban to go into effect while various federal court cases unfold, Caleb took to calling for an appointment every day, hoping that others had canceled so that he could get slotted in sooner.

“I talked with other medical staff members to ask if there was anything they could do, and I always got a response along the lines of: ‘There’s no way this ban will go into effect before you get back,’” he told The Daily Beast. “Nobody really saw the urgency of my situation—and they cited things like funding and the time it takes on the administrative side for policy changes to go through. I wasn’t convinced.”

Just four months into the new year, Caleb is in a bind. He has only been able to see a psychiatrist once for an initial visit.

“Now, the rest of my career essentially depends on whether the doctor decides he has enough information after one visit to make the diagnosis,” he said. “I’ve reached out via email about the deadline and all I can do is wait for a response.”

Elliot Sommer, a graduate student who serves in the army reserves, is playing the same waiting game. He has already received a civilian diagnosis for gender dysphoria, but that must be verified by the military before April 12 so that he can remain in the reserves.

“It’s completely out of my hands which is probably the most frustrating part of the whole thing,” Sommer said. “I’m just trying to do the best that I can. I still go to drill every month and try to do my job to the best of my ability.”

In the absence of guarantees, transgender service members caught in this position have started to develop contingency plans.

Sommer said that he’s “looking for a second job.” Fram would try to “seek a waiver to the policy,” but with no expectation that the military would grant it. And without a gender dysphoria diagnosis, Caleb couldn’t imagine serving after his contract expires.

“I can’t see myself choosing to stomach a few more years of living a double life,” he said. “Years of glaring misinformation between how you view yourself and how everyone else perceives you can take a toll.”

Still, Caleb says that he has “faith that this is a moment that will pass quickly” in the future—although he wishes “that it didn’t have to cost people their careers and in many cases their livelihoods.”

Fram, similarly, believes that although the Trump administration is forcing transgender people out of the military, the overwhelming consensus of medical experts, LGBT advocates, and public opinion will eventually win out.

“Though this door to open service is closing, we’re all going to be pressing up against it with the examples of our honorable and dedicated service,” said Fram. “When it opens again—and I’m sure it will—no one will be able to point to us and say that we left the mission incomplete.”

smalltownguy

04-03-2019, 06:37 AM

2nd april 2019

Google’s anti-trans controversy is the latest case of big tech overcorrecting to the right

Google just smoothed over one spat with the LGBT community, but it’s already well into the next one.

Last week, in an effort to monitor the ethical development of artificial intelligence and presumably to assuage public concern, Google launched an eight-person advisory group dedicated to the task.

Controversially, Google included Heritage Foundation President Kay Cole James among the technologists and domain specialists on its newly minted Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC).

The inclusion of leadership from the Heritage Foundation, a hyper-conservative think tank with vehemently anti-LGBT views and a deep track record of advocating for climate change denialism in the service of the oil and gas industry, would seem to be an odd fit for an AI council if not a downright puzzling one.

While the group’s less scientific views alone would seem to fly in the face of much of Google’s cutting-edge, scientifically grounded work, the inclusion of a figure openly dedicated to fighting against the rights of the transgender community is causing the company’s latest culture conflagration.

A group calling itself Googlers Against Transphobia in a petition denounced the company’s decision to include James:

In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of “ethics” values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people, and immigrants. Such a position directly contravenes Google’s stated values. Many have emphasized this publicly, and a professor appointed to ATEAC has already resigned in the wake of the controversy.

Following the announcement, the person who took credit for appointing James stood by the decision, saying that James was on the council to ensure “diversity of thought.” This is a weaponization of the language of diversity. By appointing James to the ATEAC, Google elevates and endorses her views, implying that hers is a valid perspective worthy of inclusion in its decision making. This is unacceptable.

The group has called on Google to remove James from the council, arguing that trans people are disproportionately vulnerable to technologies like AI, a problem compounded by the perspective of an advisor incapable of seeing trans people as people — one who casually called transgender women “biological males” just a few weeks ago. At the time of writing, 1,437 Googlers had signed the petition. When reached for comment about the Heritage Foundation’s presence on the ATEAC, Google declined to provide insight on the choice.

Beyond James, the ATEAC includes a behavioral economist, a mathematician, a natural language researcher, the CEO of a drone company focused on energy and defense (some have objected to this as well), an AI ethics specialist, a digital ethicist and William Joseph Burns, a former diplomat and current president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a formally nonpartisan though practically left-leaning think tank. The decision to loop in James is presumably an effort to counterbalance Burns, but the man’s bipartisan reputation and observable failure to be as far left as James is right undermines that particular argument.

Google’s choice to honor the Heritage Foundation by seeking its counsel on one of the sector’s most high-stakes issues epitomizes big tech’s ongoing fear of looking out of step with the right. To that end, companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook have often over-corrected to the right and continue to do so.

It took Facebook two years to realize that white nationalism is just an expedient synonym for white supremacist values rather than a harmless form of pride akin to American pride or Basque separatism. Last month, Jack Dorsey appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, a clearinghouse where fringe conspiracy theorists and far-right hate mongers can launder their views without the threat of critical thinking or a proper interrogator.

Meanwhile, Apple takes an admirable leadership stance on issues of identity, particularly around LGBTQ issues, but its CEO Tim Cook is still happy to take a seat next to President Trump, whose administration has taken aggressive steps to limit the rights of transgender Americans again and again. Surely the fact that Trump invited the company to repatriate the 94 percent of its total cash holdings previously stashed outside the United States at a deep discount had nothing to do with Cook’s ongoing courtship.

Unfortunately, tech’s underlying fear of being “found out” as liberal and its obsession with a misguided notion of ideological balance is enough for many tech companies to court extreme viewpoints that don’t fall anywhere near the middle. More unfortunate yet, disingenuous grifters wait in the wings to devour every scrap of validation that falls their way, ready to clamber up these companies’ own platforms with their outsized soapboxes, shouting until the Overton window inches their way.

It’s increasingly clear that anything goes in Silicon Valley’s craven attempts to placate opportunists on the right — both within Congress and without — so long as that corporate cognitive dissonance keeps the lobbying wheels greased.

smalltownguy

04-17-2019, 05:08 PM

12-Apr-2019

Trump's 'indefensible' transgender military ban has taken effect

The policy has been widely criticised by rights activists and repeatedly challenged in court.

DONALD TRUMP’S CONTROVERSIAL ban on transgender Americans in the military comes into force today following a protracted legal battle.

Trump’s administration has insisted that there is “too great a risk to military effectiveness and lethality” to allow transgender people to serve – reversing a policy enacted under his predecessor Barack Obama.

The Pentagon says the restrictions are not a blanket ban, but they would bar many if not most people who identify as transgender from enlisting in America’s armed forces.

The policy – which has undergone various iterations since Trump first announced it on Twitter in July 2017 – has been widely criticised by rights activists and has been repeatedly challenged in court.

The US Supreme Court ultimately ruled in January that the policy could take effect pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.

Under the latest version of Trump’s policy, no one who has transitioned to another gender, been diagnosed with “gender dysphoria” or who requires hormone treatment will be able to enlist.

But currently enlisted troops who have already transitioned or have requested gender reassignment surgery prior to today will be allowed to remain in the military.

For Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a research institute focusing on sexual minorities in the military, the policy amounts to a transgender ban.

“When (the Department of Defense) disqualifies all applicants with a history of gender dysphoria (unless they renounce transgender identity for years) and all applicants who have ever received treatment for gender dysphoria, that is a ban,” Belkin said.

Repeating ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

The policy “depends on directly banning the transgender people who are immediately identifiable and threatening the rest, forcing them to remain silent and invisible,” he said.

“It is ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ all over again,” said Belkin, referring to the policy under which gay service members had to hide their sexual orientation or face dismissal from the military.

Under the Obama-era policy, transgender recruits were to start being accepted by 1 July , 2017. The Trump administration postponed that date to 1 January, 2018, before deciding to reverse the policy entirely.

The Pentagon estimates that 9,000 people who identify as transgender are currently serving in the military, out of a total of 1.3 million active-duty personnel.

Of this figure, a thousand say they have undergone gender reassignment surgery or want to do so.

But according to transgender rights activists, the figure is higher.

“As many as 15,000 transgender service members stand to lose their jobs,” Army Staff Sergeant Patricia King, who is transgender, told ABC News this week.

The new policy is “indefensible,” Meghan McCain, daughter of the late senator John McCain, wrote on Twitter.

“This discriminatory policy will lead Transgender service members, patriots who have decided to serve their nation, to live in the shadows,” she wrote.

smalltownguy

04-17-2019, 05:24 PM

17-04-2019

Navy allows transgender sailors to dress according to gender identity while off duty

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The Navy will allow sailors to dress and “live socially in their preferred gender while off-duty,” a policy announcement that comes amid new Pentagon restrictions on transgender people joining the military.

The statement, signed by Vice Adm. Robert Burke, clarifies that there is no policy prohibiting servicemembers to “express themselves off-duty in their preferred gender.”

“Appropriate civilian attire, as outlined in the uniform regulations, will not be determined based on gender,” according to the policy, which Burke signed in March.

The guidance does restrict off-duty attire in some overseas posts “to meet local conditions and host-nation agreements with foreign countries,” which would rest on the discretion of regional commanders.

The clarification follows a Supreme Court decision clearing the Pentagon to enforce its restrictions on those who identify as transgender from signing up for service while the new rules are being challenged in court.

The policy, which went into effect Friday, stipulates that any current servicemembers diagnosed with gender dysphoria may continue to serve as their preferred gender. However, transgender people wishing to enlist now must adhere to standards associated with their biological sex.

Diagnosed gender dysphoria recruits can enlist “provided they can demonstrate 36 consecutive months of stability in their biological sex,” the Pentagon policy states. They must also be cleared by a mental health care provider to ensure that a transition “is not necessary to protect their mental health.”

The Pentagon argues that the policy, which is backed by the White House, is not a ban. But many LGBTQ organizations have filed lawsuits likening it to the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which closeted gays and lesbians serving in the military.

Transgender advocates have decried the Pentagon rules but voiced support for the Navy’s latest policy statement.

“The Navy is taking care of its transgender service members by giving them the option to dress and express themselves as they choose,” Bree Fram, director at the LGBTQ military advocacy group SPART*A, told NBC News on Sunday.

NBC News reported that no other military branches have announced similar off-duty clothing policies for transgender troops, citing the Palm Center, a nonpartisan public policy think tank and OutServe-SLDN, an LGBTQ military advocacy group.

In addition to off-duty attire policies, the Navy policy emphasized zero-tolerance for harassment or hazing, stating that all servicemembers “are expected to continue to treat each other with dignity and respect.”

smalltownguy

05-01-2019, 12:46 PM

1st May 2019

Trans powerlifter smashing women’s world record slammed by Kelly Holmes: 'Bloody joke'

A TRANSGENDER powerlifter who has beaten the women’s world record has unintentionally sparked controversy — with Dame Kelly Holmes calling the news “a bloody joke”.

Powerlifter Mary Gregory shared the exhilaration of her win on social media and also praised the inclusivity of the event organisers.

Posting to Instagram, she wrote: "A huge thank you to @raw_powerlifting_federation_, from the bottom of my heart!

“As a transgender lifter I was unsure what to expect going into this meet and everyone - all the spotters, loaders, referees, staff, meet director, all made me welcome and treated me as just another female lifter- thank you!”

Mary had broken multiple world records on Sunday, including masters world squat record, open world bench record, masters world dl record, and masters world total record.

She signed-off her triumphant post with wine and pizza emojis.

But former swimming champion Sharron Davies dubbed the competition “unfair”.

On Twitter, she wrote: "This is a trans woman a male body with male physiology setting a world record & winning a woman’s event in America in powerlifting.

“A woman with female biology cannot compete... it’s a pointless unfair playing field."

The post was then responded to by Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who tweeted: "It's a bloody joke and all getting ready for biological women to boycott certain events.

“Have a trans category if need be but even better a trans games.

"Otherwise I’m starting to worry about the backlash and abuse that the trans community will get from spectators. It will happen!"

However, Mary, who wore a T-shirt with the slogan “share the platform” as she held aloft her trophy, had thanked spectators for their support in her post.

”And thanks to all the fans in the audience who cheered me on and congratulated me,” she wrote.

Transgender participation in competitive sport remains controversial with male-to-female and female-to-male athletes sometimes bound by different regulations.

The current Olympic rules state that female-to-male transgender athletes can compete “without restriction” but male-to-female athletes must undergo hormone therapy, according to guidelines adopted by the International Olympic Committee in 2016.

smalltownguy

05-04-2019, 04:37 AM

2nd May, 2019

10 transgender women seeking asylum just won their immigration cases after months of violence and discrimination

Ten transgender women who traveled with the caravan that President Trump targeted during the midterm elections have won their asylum cases and been released from a detention center in Texas.
For Estrellita, the decision to flee her home country of Honduras to seek asylum in the United States wasn't an easy one. Even though she faced discrimination for being transgender, she considered staying so she could help others like her.
"I wanted to change things but that made me more of a target," Estellita told CBS News via email. "I was assaulted and threatened by those who didn't agree with me and hated trans people. I love my country and wouldn't have left but for the persecution I suffered. But I thought the U.S. would be pretty and the people would be nice and that has turned out to be true."
The 10 were part of a roughly 80-member group of LGBTQ migrants from Central America that splintered off from a much larger caravan of thousands that came up through Central America in the fall. The larger group was a frequent target of Mr. Trump in the lead up to the 2018 midterm elections. Mr. Trump often referred to the group as an "invasion," despite the group being hundreds of miles away.
"I am telling the caravan, the criminals, the smugglers, the trespassers marching toward our border, turn back now, because you are not getting in. Turn back," Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee in early November, days before the election.
Among the 80, was a smaller group of 30 transgender women who presented themselves together at the border in Tijuana. They were immediately detained at South Texas Detention Center, an immigration prison that, prior to the group's arrival, had no experience in housing transgender women.
Estrellita said that she plans to open a trans women's shelter. "So many advocates have helped me and I want to turn around and help others," she said.
Her comments to CBS News have been translated by Cristian Sanchez, an attorney at Raices, an immigrant rights group in Texas. Sanchez worked closely with the group of transgender asylum seekers to match them with attorneys and sponsors.
Cataleya, another one of the 10, said in a video posted on Twitter that she felt "extremely happy because my dreams have come true.
"I feel so happy because I know that I'm heading to my new life," she said. "My future starts now."
The path to asylum was not easy. Traveling through Central America to the United States is a notoriously difficult journey, but for members of the LGBTQ community, the trip brings even more danger, said Aaron Morris, the executive director of Immigration Equality, an LGBTQ immigrant rights organization.
"The reality is that it's extremely difficult to make that journey without a strong community behind you," Morris said in a telephone interview with CBS News. "People can often get targeted by the very people that they're traveling with."
While traveling in the caravan, some of the women said they experienced "derogatory name calling and insults from others in in the caravan," Sanchez said. While some migrants were offered rides in vehicles, Sanchez said that the transgender women weren't allowed on those rides. According to Raices, migrants said that while traveling in the caravan they were "the last ones to be taken care of — for food, everything." That's why the LGBTQ members banded together.
Sanchez and Estrellita claim the harassment continued after they applied for asylum and were detained at the Texas facility. According to Sanchez, officers were "discriminatory and used derogatory slurs against them."
"Although I do believe South Texas Detention Center is trying its best given a new situation, there are definitely some ways that STDC can improve their care," Sanchez said in an email to CBS News.
An ICE official told CBS News that they would look into the allegations.
The remaining 20 or so transgender women remain in custody at South Texas awaiting court dates or have already lost their cases, according to Sanchez. Estrellita and Cataleya are the lucky ones; immigration judges only approved 35 percent of asylum cases in 2018, a record low, according to data provided by the Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

smalltownguy

05-09-2019, 05:55 PM

8th May 2019

Teacher gives transgender lesson, parents sue Woodburn School District

Parents sue Woodburn schools after teacher educates son about being transgender

The parents of an elementary student suing the Woodburn School District for almost a million dollars say a second-grade teacher kept their son from recess and educated him without their permission about being transgender.

The lawsuit filed in Marion County Circuit Court accuses the school of false imprisonment, negligence and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The student was 8 years old when his teacher, after noticing the boy used the staff bathroom, pulled him aside, kept him from recess and showed him videos and books "in an effort to promote (him) becoming transgender," according to the complaint.

District Superintendent Chuck Ransom declined to comment on the case, citing the pending litigation.

The then-second grader at Nellie Muir Elementary School and his parents had made arrangements with the school for him to use the staff restroom because of a digestive-related medical condition.

His teacher assumed the boy was not comfortable using the public boys' restroom because he was transgender, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint also alleges the following:

In April 2018, without notifying the parents and without any authorization from the school district, the teacher began developing a lesson plan to help the boy understand what it meant to be transgender.

She then began keeping the student inside the classroom alone during recess at least three times to show him videos and teach him "it is acceptable to become transgender."

These lessons included episodes of the reality television series "I Am Jazz" about a transgender girl named Jazz Jennings, books "I Am Jazz" and "Who are You? The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity" and discussions on the difference between male and female body parts.

The books and show, which were recommended by an "unknown non-school employee transgender individual," exposed the boy to sexual topics and sexual discussions, according to the lawsuit.

During the lessons, the student was not allowed to go outside for recess until he finished the videos or books.

Student took books home to parents

The lawsuit accuses the teacher of singling out the boy by pulling him from regular student activities without his parents' permission.

At the end of the school week, the teacher told the boy to take the books home and share them with his family.

His parents first found out about the lessons when he brought the books home.

"(They) were extremely shocked to find out that she would expose (their son) to various sexual concepts, such as the difference between male and female body parts," the family's attorney Edgar Diaz said in the lawsuit.

The parents filed a complaint with the school but said school officials minimized what has occurred, telling them "If this happened in Portland, it would not be a big deal."

The school stated in a hearing letter that evidence was found that the teacher pulled the student from regular activities and shared potentially controversial materials without his parents' permission.

Officials recommended the teacher follow school policy when it comes to "controversial issues" and notify parents when she alters a student's regular school day.

The lessons had lasting damage, according to the lawsuit.

The boy became confused about whether he going to turn into a girl. He now shies away from playing with "girl" toys or playing "girl-related" games. He underwent personality changes, becoming more depressed, aggressive and isolated and now attends counseling.

"He has also become afraid of attending his current school, seeing (the teacher) and using the boys' bathroom," Diaz said in the complaint.

His parents have also struggled with anxiety, stress and depression following the incident.

Parents fear gender identity confusion
The parents now fear their son will have gender identity issues because the teacher, not them, taught their son about identity.

The lawsuit accuses the teacher of false imprisonment for confining the student during recess time without a valid reason and claims the school breached the "special duty entrusted by the law" to supervise teachers and protect students from controversial topics and emotional harm.

Diaz said the school district failed to properly train and supervise the teacher.

Furthermore, the teacher's actions demonstrated she either meant to inflict severe emotional distress or knew her conduct could result in emotional distress, according to the lawsuit.

Diaz said her actions "constituted an extraordinary transgression of bound of socially tolerable conduct."

smalltownguy

05-13-2019, 03:14 PM

10th May 2019

The Chinese transgender individuals forced to take treatment into their own hands.

Huiming* (not photographed) was in her early twenties when she decided to remove her male genitalia. But living in China, her options were limited.

For one, gender-affirming surgery in the country is only available to individuals diagnosed as mentally ill, which Huiming was not. It also requires the permission of an individual’s family – something Huiming felt certain she would not obtain.

Going overseas for the operation was another option, but one Huiming simply could not afford. “Operations were rumoured to cost more than $30,000 back then,” she said. “That is more than the lifetime savings of many families.”

In desperation, Huiming* tried putting ice on her male genitals to stop them functioning and even booked a surgery with a black-market doctor, but the doctor was arrested before her surgery was done.So she felt she had only one choice left: Huiming would perform the surgery herself.

“I was very happy and scared. I was scared because I was bleeding so badly – I could have died right there. I was also scared because I would still die a man, since I only did part of the surgery,” Huiming, now 30, told Amnesty International.

Her story is shocking, but in China it is sadly not unique. Discrimination and stigma against the transgender community pervades all walks of life – including the medical and legal professions – and has left individuals such as Huiming to take drastic and often dangerous measures in their quest to become themselves.

Since puberty, Huiming had felt deeply uncomfortable with her assigned gender. As a child she was disgusted by her developing male sex characteristics. “I would pluck the hairs on my legs with one hand, and do my schoolwork with the other,” she recalls.

She had no access to the internet until she was in her late teens – her only previous source of information on transgender life being illegal publications covering stories of “ladyboys” from Thailand. It was after she began investigating online that she took the first steps towards self-medication.

Desperate to align her sexual characteristics with her gender identity, she began to take hormone pills – designed to be taken monthly – every day. Her body changed rapidly, but still she struggled to accept herself.

“I saw myself as a pervert who was neither man nor woman,” Huiming said, describing a constant struggle between the intense urge to get rid of her male sex organs and the fear of being disowned by her family if she transitioned.

While self-medication and self-surgery may seem like extreme options, seeking professional help is also fraught with problems. These stem largely from the view in Chinese society that being transgender is an illness.

Yasi, 22, had long been tormented by the idea of “being a man” when she went to see a psychiatrist in 2017. Her experience was typical of many transgender people who seek medical advice.

“When I spoke to him, I felt that he didn’t see transgender people as one of the communities in society. He saw us as patients that needed to be cured,” she said.

“At best, most of the doctors understand the concept of being transgender, but they do not have the knowledge to offer you help."

Bizarrely, one of the criteria to be eligible for gender-affirming surgery in China is to obtain familial consent – even as an adult. It's a conversation that is often avoided, and frequently traumatic for those brave enough to raise it.

When 20-year-old Zijia from Chongqing came out as a transgender woman, her family thought she was sick.

“They asked me to suppress my gender identity, get married and have a child – all so everyone in the family can be happy,” she said.

But the lack of support did not stop Zijia from pursuing the life she wanted. For years she had felt like a fraud, forced to disguise herself as a man when she saw herself as a woman.

So in 2017, she started taking hormone medication. Her body gradually started to align with her gender identity – her skin became softer, her breasts grew and her body hair growth slowed. She was excited about the changes happening in her body but, like many others, her greatest worry was buying and taking dangerous counterfeit medication.

In the absence of formal channels to access prescribed medication in China, transgender individuals are often forced to obtain hormone treatments in ways that put their lives at risk.

“We were stuck in a situation in which there was no medical professional who could take care of our healthcare needs. Therefore, everyone tried medicating themselves.”

Another transgender person who took this path was Shanshan from Beijing, 21, who turned to the black market when her anxiety about her gender incongruence became too much to bear. She had suffered frequent beatings and verbal abuse from her father throughout her childhood due to her feminine temperament.She went to one of the best high schools in Beijing, but she was bullied and could not get along with her classmates.

“My greatest anxiety is being a man, a man in a medical sense,” she said. “It was very, very painful. Sometimes it felt so bad I wanted to commit suicide.”

She started acquiring hormone medication and using it without a doctor’s supervision. She continues to self-medicate now and cannot imagine stopping.

“No matter where I go, I have to prepare enough hormones,” she said. "If I am travelling and I run out [of medication], I just go home. I must carry them with me all times. Or else I will die. Stopping hormone treatment is excruciating.”

As long as deeply ingrained discrimination persists in China, transgender people will continue to face a choice between living a lie or risking their life to align their sex characteristics with their gender identity. For many, the only avenue for support is the internet, where transgender people have shared their stories and made each other realize they are not alone.

After her unsuccessful attempt at self-surgery, Huiming covered the bleeding wound with a thick stack of tissues and took a taxi to the emergency room. The doctor agreed to lie to her family and say that she had had an accident.

But traumatic though it was, this experience hardened Huiming’s sense of who she was. She sought support from other transgender people , and met someone who changed the way she looked at herself.

“It was a non-binary transgender person. That person showed me the possibility of living with the gender identity I have. I wasn’t that abnormal. Someone else was as ‘abnormal’ as I am.”

She eventually let go of her fear and came out to her mother before going to Thailand for gender-affirming surgery in 2017.

“She was a bit frustrated, but she accepted me,” Huiming said of her mother’s reaction.

As a first step, acceptance is all China's transgender community asks.

*All names are changed to protect the identity of interviewees.

Shad

05-13-2019, 03:51 PM

Great -keep the news coming!

smalltownguy

05-13-2019, 06:10 PM

Great -keep the news coming!

thanks

smalltownguy

05-14-2019, 11:45 AM

13th May 2019

Transgender National Lottery winner Melissa Ede dies at 58

A taxi driver who won £4 million on the National Lottery has died, her fiancee has said.
Melissa Ede, from Hull, died on Saturday evening according to Rachel Nason and plans are now being made for her funeral. Her death came a week after she showed ‘classic signs’ of a heart attack with crushing chest pains that left her unable to breathe. Speaking before her death she said ‘I really thought my time was up’. Melissa became a millionaire in January 2018 on a Blue Scratchcard. Melissa revealed that she had her lungs x-rayed, several blood tests and her heart monitored during a five-hour stay in hospital.

She said: ‘It does make you think. While I was laid on the bed with ambulance people around me, you do start to think “s**t what is this all about?. What am I doing, I have just won £4m and I’m going to peg it?”I need to be doing more in life.’ Melissa told the Hull Daily Mail said she thought the health scare may have been a wake-up call for her. She said: ‘I need to start doing some of the things I have never had chance to do while I can. ‘I am sat here now thinking how lucky I am. Maybe it is a wake-up call to take better care of myself.’ In December, Melissa spoke about plans to have a face lift and nose job along with dental work to fix her smile. Speaking about her win she said: ‘All those people who say money doesn’t buy you happiness are talking a load of rubbish’. She also spoke openly about being transgender. She said: ‘I’m not scared because my gender reassignment surgery absolutely terrified me but it is the best thing I ever did.’

smalltownguy

05-21-2019, 06:44 AM

May 20, 2019

Breaking: Men Can Have Babies

#Babies #Transgender

NBC News has some big news for all the young dudes out there. (It’s Monday. You can forgive me one Mott the Hoople reference.) If you’re a man, you can get pregnant and deliver a baby. But you’re facing some unfair challenges because the medical community isn’t really up to speed on the whole situation and they will probably make some mistakes in your prenatal care. Here’s part of the coverage in this breaking story.

The situation described in the article is a case of taking the whole transgender moment and spinning the dials up to eleven. The husband in this marries is a biological woman – or just a woman if you prefer – and the wife is a male. So when the husband went to the doctor to talk about conceiving, mistakes were made. And the couple feels that this is a sign of a lack of sensitivity, empathy or something else on the part of the medical community.

This has led to what the author describes as cases of “misinformation and discouragement ” in the transgender community. They blame it on a lack of research or the “inherent bias” of some doctors against them. While I’m neither a doctor nor an actor who plays one on TV, I have a third possibility I’d like to offer for consideration.

Perhaps some doctors are unsure about the prognosis or not up to date on all the latest research because you’re delving into areas that are very new and completely foreign to medical science. Stuffing women full of testosterone for years on end, so they can look like men, isn’t something the medical community has had to grapple with for very long. And we haven’t been doing it long enough or to a large enough sample of patients suffering from gender dysphoria to have a firm grasp on what all of the downstream effects might be.

Similarly, there are some doctors out there who are injecting prepubescent children with cocktails designed to stave off puberty, sometimes for years on end. (How these doctors are not in jail remains a mystery to me.) Yes, there is some data out there, but certainly not the volumes of medical information spanning decades and centuries that we rely on for more normal medical procedures.

We’re playing Dr. Frankenstein with human bodies in the name of supporting a politically correct theory of medicine while abandoning centuries of confirmable science. Mistakes will be made. And I don’t just mean the mistake of performing these procedures in the first place. If you want to volunteer to be a science experiment for this social reconstruction project, please give the doctors a little time to catch up in their mad scientist laboratories. As you’ll recall, things didn’t work out well for Frankenstein on the first go either.

smalltownguy

05-27-2019, 06:07 PM

27 May 2019

World Health Organization removes transgender from list of mental disorders

This will have a 'liberating' effect on trans people worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made history and removed transgender from its list of ‘mental disorders’.

The WHO approved the major change to its global manual of diagnoses on 25 May 25. It comes after WHO introduced it as a change last year in the latest. International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The ICD is described as ‘the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions’. The latest revision is known as ICD-11.

On 25 May WHO’s World Health Assembly voted to make the revision. That revision no longer recognizes gender non-conformity and transgender as ‘mental disorder’.

Human rights and trans advocacy groups celebrated the move after years of campaigning for change.

‘The WHO’s removal of ‘gender identity disorder’ from its diagnostic manual will have a liberating effect on transgender people worldwide,’ said Graeme Reid, LGBT rights director at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

‘Governments should swiftly reform national medical systems and laws that require this now officially outdated diagnosis.’

Basic human rights

HRW pointed out that governments around the world had used the previous classification as the basis for discriminatory policies. Those policies require diagnosis and sometimes other medical procedures, such as sterilization, before transgender people are recognized before the law.

Governments often require a ‘gender disorder’ diagnosis as a precondition for changing transgender people’s names and gender markers on official documents. Advocates have argued that diagnoses imperils basic rights like work, education, and travel.

Dr Jack Drescher, a member of the ICD-11 working group, wrote: ‘there is substantial evidence that the stigma associated with the intersection of transgender status and mental disorders contributes to precarious legal status [and] human rights violations’.

The process for legal recognition of gender identity should be separate from any medical interventions, HRW argued.

‘Transgender people are fighting stigma and discrimination that can be traced in part to medical systems that have historically diagnosed expressions of gender non-conformity as a mental pathology,’ Reid said.

‘But it’s the stigma, discrimination, and bullying – and not anything inherent in gender nonconformity – that can inflict mental health problems in transgender people.’

Intersex

But in the same assembly, the WHO also managed to enrage the intersex community.

More than 50 intersex organizations released a joint letter condemning the (WHO) for classifying traits as ‘disorders of sex development’.

‘We urge WHO to open an immediate, public and transparent dialog with intersex advocates and experts, to work with us to dismantle decades of torture and ill treatment in medical settings,’ said Mauro Cabral Grinspan, executive director of GATE.

‘Intersex people around the world have the right not only to be protected from pathologization, but also to have full access to reparative justice and to universal health coverage.’

smalltownguy

06-05-2019, 05:49 AM

4th June 2019

Transgender woman's body pulled from Texas lake is latest in string of deaths

The Dallas police department asks FBI for help in multiple open investigations into attacks on transgender women

Police in Dallas have asked the FBI for help after the latest murder of a transgender woman in the city raised questions about the possibility of a serial attacker.

A game warden pulled the body of Chynal Lindsey from a lake last Saturday evening, two weeks after Muhlaysia Booker was fatally shot and found lying in a street.

The Dallas police chief, Reneé Hall, said that Lindsey’s body showed “obvious signs of homicidal violence” but did not reveal a cause of death during a press conference on Monday in which she urged the local transgender community to be vigilant.

“We are concerned, we are actively and aggressively investigating this case and we have reached out to our federal partners to assist us in the efforts,” Hall said.

An FBI spokeswoman said the agency was “prepared to assist” if evidence emerges of a potential civil rights violation.

At least eight transgender people have been reported killed in the US this year – all of them black women.

The Dallas police department has multiple open investigations into attacks on transgender women in addition to the deaths of Lindsey, 26, and Booker, 23, whose body was discovered on the morning of 18 May.

In April a woman was repeatedly stabbed and left for dead, police said, but survived; a 29-year woman, Brittany White, was fatally shot in a vehicle in October last year; and a victim’s remains were discovered in a field in July 2017, in an incident police classified as an unexplained death. The decomposed body of Shade Schuler was found in a field in July 2015. The case remains unsolved.

Asked if the string of deaths could be the work of a serial killer, Hall said: “Right now we don’t have the evidence to substantiate that.”

White Rock Lake in north-east Dallas, where Lindsey was found after being spotted by a passerby, is a short drive from the address where Booker was discovered.

Police in Dallas have asked the FBI for help after the latest murder of a transgender woman in the city raised questions about the possibility of a serial attacker.

Booker was beaten in a sustained attack in front of a mocking crowd about five weeks before her death. Cellphone footage of the assault, which happened after she was involved in a minor car accident at an apartment complex, went viral, and Mike Rawlings, the Dallas mayor, decried “what appears to be mob violence against this woman”.

A 29-year-old man, Edward Thomas, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault but police said there was no evidence connecting him with Booker’s death.

Lindsey’s cousin, Tamaya Seaphus, told WFAA local news that Lindsey had a gentle personality and grew up in the Chicago area before moving to Texas about six years ago. “This was a person that I had never seen mad,” she said. “Not aggressive, not violent.”

smalltownguy

06-11-2019, 10:00 AM

June 10, 2019

2 transgender groups clash in Meerut, police use baton charge

Two groups of transgenders clashed in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh in country India on Monday over their area of operation, police said.

The incident occurred in the afternoon when a group entered an area to collect 'badhai', a tradition where they sing, dance and offered money, and a rival group intervened. There was an argument that was followed by a clash over their area of operation, the police said.

When the police reached the spot, there was a scuffle between the personnel and the transgenders. Police baton-charged the two groups to disperse them, an officer said.

Nine transgenders have been arrested, the officer said.

Del06

06-14-2019, 06:39 AM

Dunno if you've seen this yet. Nobody seems to post here but smalltownguy, but maybe a few are listening in. Anyway, here's another one - Community Demands Answers After Trans Black Latinx Woman Died at Rikers

https://www.democracynow.org/2019/6/13/justice_for_layleen_polanco_community_demands?utm_ source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=0ec7406d35-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-0ec7406d35-190634001

smalltownguy

06-15-2019, 05:08 AM

June 14, 2019

The 9th Circuit’s Latest Trans Troops Ban Ruling Looks Like a Loss for Trans Rights, but It’s Actually a Win

President Donald Trump walks to the Rose Garden of the White House to speak at an event about health care on Friday.

On Friday, a federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling declaring that Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military service is unconstitutional. Its decision might seem like a setback for the service members challenging the policy—but it’s actually a qualified victory for transgender rights with sweeping ramifications in other cases.

After Trump announced his ban on trans military service via tweet in July 2017, four federal judges issued injunctions prohibiting its implementation. All four courts found the policy to be an unjustified violation of transgender Americans’ equal protection rights. In January, however, the Supreme Court lifted two of those injunctions by a 5–4 vote while the government appeals the rulings. The other two injunctions were eventually lifted in light of SCOTUS’s order, allowing the Pentagon to implement the ban. Meanwhile, appeals courts have continued to mull the policy’s constitutionality.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals finally issued its decision on the matter Friday, vacating U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman’s 2018 ruling against the ban. This outcome in Karnoski v. Trump is no surprise, since the Supreme Court already lifted Pechman’s injunction. The 9th Circuit found that Pechman hadn’t properly assessed whether former Defense Secretary James Mattis’ final implementation plan shored up the legality of the ban by providing the “considered military judgment” absent from Trump’s impromptu tweets and the resulting scramble to rationalize them. Its decision in Karnoski also found that Pechman had improperly applied strict scrutiny, thereby giving insufficient deference to the commander in chief.

But the 9th Circuit didn’t stop there. It went on to explain that the trans ban does discriminate against transgender people—a fact contested by the administration, which insists that the policy only discriminates against people with gender dysphoria. (This distinction makes no sense.) Moreover, the court found that discrimination on the basis of transgender status constitutes sex-based discrimination and is therefore subject to intermediate scrutiny. That means anti-trans policies must be supported by an “exceedingly persuasive justification,” one not “hypothesized or invented post hoc in response to litigation.” It directed Pechman to apply this test to the trans troops ban.

What “exceedingly persuasive justification” might lie behind this policy? The Trump administration asserts that transgender service members “undermine readiness,” “erode reasonable expectations of privacy,” and “impose disproportionate costs.” These claims are demonstrably false. We know that because trans troops could already serve openly when Trump announced his ban, and none of these problems arose. These excuses were cooked up by anti-LGBTQ advocates in response to litigation against the ban, precisely what intermediate scrutiny forbids. The Trump administration’s justifications cannot be “exceedingly persuasive” if they are ungrounded in reality, discredited by experts, and disproved by experience.

Thus, Pechman is almost certain to conclude that the ban remains unconstitutional. In the meantime, Karnoski establishes precedent in the 9th Circuit, confirming that transgender discrimination is subject to intermediate scrutiny. The court will now apply this test to other trans cases—including Arizona’s effort to exclude transition-related care from its state health plan. ACLU attorney Joshua Block noted on Friday that he’ll cite this development in his effort to block Arizona’s discriminatory exclusion in court. Karnoski may also compel the 9th Circuit to rule that prisons must provide transition-related care to inmates in a case currently pending before the court.

The 9th Circuit encompasses Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington. Following Karnoski, any anti-trans law passed by these states and territories must survive intermediate scrutiny. Few will be able to clear this high bar. Yes, the Supreme Court’s conservatives may ultimately issue a devastating decision writing transgender people out of the Constitution if and when these cases come back to SCOTUS. They could also undermine the logic of Karnoski in next term’s LGBTQ employment discrimination cases; anything is possible with this far-right bloc in control. But until then, trans people in a huge chunk of the country will enjoy heightened protections against unjust discrimination.

smalltownguy

06-29-2019, 06:15 PM

27 June 2019

Transgender hate crimes recorded by police go up 81%

The number of transgender hate crimes recorded by police forces in England, Scotland and Wales has risen by 81%, latest figures suggest.

Data obtained by the BBC showed there were 1,944 crimes across 36 forces in the last financial year compared with 1,073 in 2016-17.

The Stonewall charity said it showed the "consequences of a society where transphobia is everywhere".

The Home Office said it was largely due to better reporting and recording.

Some 36 out of 44 police forces in England, Scotland and Wales fully responded to a BBC freedom of information request for their most up to date figures. Eight forces did not provide the full data.

West Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Police saw reporting of transgender hate crimes more than treble over three years.

Suffolk Constabulary and Merseyside Police were the only forces which recorded fewer crimes in 2018-19 than in 2016-17.

In Wales there were 82 transgender hate crimes in 2018-19, up from 37 in 2016-17.

Police Scotland recorded 92 crimes in the year to March 2019, compared with 76 two years earlier.

Sue Pascoe, who lives near York, was flagged as a vulnerable person by North Yorkshire Police for the amount of transgender hate abuse and threats she had received.

"It's a sad fact of life that this abuse is going to happen and I'll challenge it whenever it does," she said.

"The trend for the last five years is nothing but going up and those divisions are in our society generally. For me it's one of the scariest times I've lived through and I'm 59 now."

Equal rights charity Stonewall estimated that two in five trans people had experienced a hate crime or incident in the past year.

Andi Woolford, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, works in social housing and was abused while she was sitting in her car.

"A guy came out of a block of flats, called me a paedophile, threatened to stab me, smashed my car up, held a dog chain up to my face, just really unbelievable."

"Given what's happening on the other side of the Atlantic and the divisions with Brexit, everything seems to be kind of tribal - oh you're not in my tribe so therefore I must hate you."

A hate crime is defined as "any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice" based on one of five categories: religion, faith or belief; race, ethnicity or nationality; sexual orientation; disability; or gender identity.

Section 146 of The Criminal Justice Act 2003, amended in 2012, says that if an offence is motivated by hostility towards persons who are transgender then prosecutors can apply to the court to increase the offender's sentence - called a sentence uplift.

As these latest hate crime figures show, transgender people in the UK currently have it harder than most.

Hearing people talk about being too scared to leave their homes in fear of being attacked does not sound like modern day Britain, but this is the sad reality for a lot of transgender men and women.

While the increased rates may be somewhat due to more people coming forward about their experiences, some may find it shocking that more is not being done to protect these clearly vulnerable individuals.

Many have described the current plight of transgender people as being similar to that of the gay rights movement in the 1980s and 1990s. Restricted, ridiculed and ignored.

Transgender people have their existence debated on a near daily basis across UK media, and several activists believe this negative attention reinforces the poor treatment they receive on our streets.

Whilst the gender debate rages on, many of those at the heart of it will have to continue living in fear.

Deputy Chief Constable Julie Cooke, from the National Police Chiefs' Council, said: "Traditionally, transphobic hate crimes have been significantly under-reported but we are working closely with trans groups to increase awareness and understanding of our staff; as well as to build confidence and trust in the police by the trans community.

"We believe some of the increase may be down to better reporting, however, there is always more that can be done."

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'How to be body positive as a trans person'

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Abuse or violence directed at someone on the basis of their transgender identity is never acceptable.

"That's why we are committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms, including abuse targeted at transgender people, through the government's hate crime action plan."

Hate crimes against transgender people
Figures from 36 police forces

Police force----2016-17----2017-18----2018-19

Avon and Somerset---- 47---- 71---- 57
Bedfordshire---- 13---- 11---- 19
Cambridgeshire---- 11---- 11---- 25
Cleveland---- 10---- 17---- 25
Derbyshire---- 10---- 10---- 26
Devon and Cornwall---- 30---- 50---- 78
Dorset---- 9---- 14---- 27
Durham---- 11---- 20---- 15
Dyfed-Powys---- 3---- 7---- 15
Essex---- 33---- 73---- 74
Gloucestershire---- 4---- 12---- 18
Greater Manchester---- 54---- 88---- 145
Gwent---- 10---- 11---- 19
Hampshire ---- 56 77 98
Hertfordshire---- 18---- 21---- 28
Kent ---- 36---- 60 ---- 93
Lancashire ---- 69---- 92 ---- 104
Leicestershire ---- 16 ----18---- 32
Merseyside ---- 47---- 66 ---- 44
Metropolitan ---- 201---- 173---- 235
Norfolk ---- 25---- 39 ---- 36
North Wales ---- 1---- 1---- 3
North Yorkshire ---- 4 ----7 ---- 10
Northumbria ---- 44 ----59---- 77
Nottinghamshire ---- 12---- 36 ---- 35
Scotland ---- 76---- 83---- 92
South Wales ---- 23---- 40 ---- 45
South Yorkshire ---- 26---- 69---- 87
Staffordshire ---- 24---- 33 ---- 36
Suffolk ---- 16---- 26 ---- 14
Surrey ---- 1---- 10 ---- 23
Warwickshire ---- 2---- 9 ---- 8
West Mercia ---- 23---- 36 ---- 26
West Midlands ---- 38---- 34 ---- 66
West Yorkshire ---- 59---- 107 ---- 181
Wiltshire ---- 11---- 21 ---- 28

smalltownguy

07-29-2019, 04:15 PM

JUL 23 2019

North Carolina ‘bathroom bill’ lawsuit settles, grants transgender people right to use chosen bathroom

Transgender people in North Carolina can use any public restroom in state-run buildings that conforms with their gender identity under a U.S. court settlement approved on Tuesday, in the latest turn of a long-running dispute that divided the state.

The settlement, which overturns part of a state law, ends a three-year legal fight by transgender people in North Carolina seeking the right to use the bathroom of their gender identity.

The Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly filed court papers opposing the settlement.

Transgender people in North Carolina can use any public restroom in state-run buildings that conforms with their gender identity under a U.S. court settlement approved on Tuesday, in the latest turn of a long-running dispute that divided the state.

The settlement, which overturns part of a state law, ends a three-year legal fight by transgender people in North Carolina seeking the right to use the bathroom of their gender identity.

A 2016 North Carolina law, known as House Bill 2, required transgender people in state-run buildings use the bathrooms, changing rooms and showers that corresponded to the sex on their birth certificates.

The American Civil Liberties Union represented transgender plaintiffs seeking to block the law in court, arguing it violated their rights to equal protection and privacy under the U.S. Constitution.

“While this part of the court fight may be ending, so much urgent work remains as long as people who are LGBTQ are denied basic protections from violence and discrimination simply because of who they are,” Irena Como, acting legal director of the ACLU of North Carolina, said in a statement.

Some businesses and sports leagues boycotted North Carolina after passage of the law, which they saw as discriminatory against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

Lawmakers in some other states had proposed similar legislation that failed to advance.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder ruled in 2016 that the state’s university system must allow transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity.

Democratic former President Barack Obama’s administration also challenged the law in court.

Facing pressure in the courts, the North Carolina legislature in 2017 replaced House Bill 2 with House Bill 142.

The bill stated that the state legislature had the power to regulate bathroom access, but the legislature did not take action at that time to define access.

The new law left transgender people in limbo, according to the ACLU, which amended its lawsuit to challenge the new law.

The ACLU and the group Lambda Legal later reached a settlement with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, the ACLU said in a statement. It went to Schroeder for final approval.

Schroeder, in an eight-page ruling on Tuesday, said the settlement bars state officials from using the legislation “to prevent transgender people from lawfully using public facilities in accordance with their gender identity.”

The Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly filed court papers opposing the settlement.

House Bill 142 continues to prohibit cities in North Carolina from creating their own ordinances protecting LGBT people from discrimination until December 2020, and that was not affected by the agreement, according to the ACLU.

smalltownguy

07-29-2019, 04:38 PM

July 23, 2019

50 Cent Torments Young Buck With Instagram Of Transgender Woman

NEW YORK, NY – After a few moments of respite, 50 Cent is back to harassing Young Buck over his alleged relationship with a transgender woman. On Tuesday (July 23), the relentless Instagram troll took the opportunity to clown his former G-Unit affiliate once again.

Alongside of a photo of woman wearing thigh-high black boots, Fiddy wrote, “Rare pic of Young bucks old lady LOL.”
1175120

The latest 50 Cent and Young Buck rivalry has been ongoing for months. It’s become so frequent that fans of Fiddy are actually approaching Buck in public to confront him about his sexuality.

Last month, Buck appeared to have enough and came at the Power exec with a double dose of diss tracks — “The Story Of Foofy” and “Foofy Freestyle.” However, they’ve both mysteriously disappeared from YouTube since their release.

smalltownguy

07-29-2019, 04:46 PM

July 23, 2019

Virginia school's transgender bathroom ban is back in court
The hearing is the latest step in a yearslong legal battle that has come to embody the debate over transgender student rights.

Gavin Grimm, a young man who has become a national face for transgender student rights, returns to a Virginia courtroom Tuesday to continue fighting against his former high school's transgender bathroom policy.

A federal judge in Norfolk will hear arguments over whether the Gloucester County School Board violated Grimm's rights when it banned him from using boys' bathrooms.

The hearing is the latest step in a yearslong legal battle that has come to embody the debate over transgender student rights, an issue that is far from settled in school systems across the nation. Grimm, now 20, filed his lawsuit in 2015.

U.S. District Court Judge Arenda Wright Allen is unlikely to rule from the bench Tuesday. But her eventual decision could have an impact on schools in Virginia and reverberate further if the case reaches a federal appeals court that also oversees Maryland, West Virginia and the Carolinas.

Grimm and the American Civil Liberties Union say the school board violated his rights under the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause as well as under Title IX, the federal policy that protects against gender-based discrimination.

The school board said it is protecting students' privacy and has discriminated against no one.

School systems have fallen on either side of this debate, leaving a patchwork of policies across the country.

"Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times for transgender students really can depend on where you live and who your principal is," said Harper Jean Tobin, policy director for the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Tobin said Grimm's case will likely join the "steady drum beat" of recent court rulings that have favored transgender students in states including Maryland , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .

But Gary McCaleb, senior counsel for the conservative Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom, said the overall issue is far from resolved.

McCaleb cited a federal discrimination complaint filed by ADF in June that says a Connecticut policy on transgender athletes is unfair because it allows transgender girls to consistently win track and field events. He also said a pending U.S. Supreme Court case involving a transgender woman who was fired by a Michigan funeral home could impact school bathroom policies.

McCaleb said that "no student's right to privacy should be contingent on other students' beliefs about their gender."

Grimm had come out to his parents as a boy during his freshman year at Gloucester High School, which is about 60 miles east of Richmond and near the Chesapeake Bay.

He was initially allowed to use the boys' restroom. But after some parents complained, students were required to use the restroom that corresponds with their biological gender or a private restroom.

Grimm sued in 2015. A federal judge sided with the school board. But the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Grimm's favor. It cited a directive issued by the administration of then President Barack Obama that said students can choose bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

Grimm drew international attention when the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for his case. But it was canceled after the Trump Administration rescinded the Obama-era directive on bathrooms.

Grimm graduated in 2017 and moved to California, where he's worked as an activist and educator and studied at a community college. But his case has continued in the lower courts.

In February, the school board appeared to consider settling the case and proposed ending its bathroom policy. But many residents spoke out against the suggested change. The board did not take a vote on it.

smalltownguy

07-29-2019, 04:55 PM

24 July 2019

50 Cent Harasses Young Buck With Insensitive Photo Of Transgender Woman On Instagram

New York rapper 50 Cent has taken to Instagram to tease Young Buck on Instagram, with an insensitive photo.

After taking a little short break, 50 Cent has began with his Young Buck trolling session. The 44 year-old rapper has dissed Buck over his alleged relationship with a transgender woman several times.

Ja Rule Accuses 50 Cent Of 'Snitching' After Exposing Court Documents In Trolling Post

On Tuesday (23rd Jul), the rapper-businessman trolled his former G-Unit associate on Instagram. 50 Cent posted a of transgender woman wearing thigh-high black boots.

The rapper captioned the post of a transgender woman seemingly peeing on the street “Rare pic of Young bucks old lady LOL”. The beef between 50 Cent and Young Buck has been ongoing for months.

Last month, Buck sent for the "In Da Club" rapper with two diss tracks — “The Story Of Foofy” and “Foofy Freestyle.” However, they’ve both disappeared from YouTube.

smalltownguy

07-29-2019, 04:58 PM

JULY 28, 2019

2 transgender women tortured, killed in Pakistan

MULTAN, Pakistan — Police in Pakistan say they have found the bodies of two transgender women who were tortured and beaten to death.

Senior officer Mohammad Ali Zia says the bodies were recovered late Saturday from a locked house in the Sahiwal district of the eastern Punjab province. He says it's unclear what motivated the killings, which appear to have taken place three days ago.

Transgender people are often subjected to abuse in conservative, Muslim-majority Pakistan. They are also among the victims of so-called honor killings carried out by relatives to punish perceived sexual transgressions.

smalltownguy

07-29-2019, 05:04 PM

Jul 29, 2019

Mexico Crowns Transgender Beauty Queen in Bid for Acceptance

Mexico City, Jul 29 (AP) The contestants in the beauty pageant sashayed in red bathing suits, paraded across the stage in evening gowns with plunging necklines and answered questions about climate change and human rights.

After four hours, and a brief protest onstage by a losing contestant, a brunette from the western Mexico state of Colima took the crown. Ivanna Cázares flashed a smile as the announcer declared her Miss Trans Beauty Mexico 2019.

It was the second edition of the pageant, which was begun as part of an effort to make transgender women more visible and accepted in Mexican society.

Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous countries for transgender people: 261 transgender women were killed from 2013 to 2018, according to a local LGBT rights group, Letra S.

The weekend event was full of glamour and glitz, with contestants sporting elaborate regional costumes and heavy makeup.

Miss Colima modelled an indigenous-themed costume with leopard print and feathers, while Miss Baja California's costume featured grapes, inspired by her state's wine vineyards.

In all, 21 transgender beauty queens representing different Mexican states participated in the three-part competition.

They were judged on bikini wear, regional dress and formal wear.

Cázares, 27, beat second-place Miss Baja California and third-place Miss Mexico City to win the crown.

Cázares said the most difficult part of her transition that began three years ago was gaining acceptance from others, although she always counted on support from her family.

She has a communications degree and owns a beauty salon.

Now, with the pageant title, she sees herself as a spokeswoman for the transgender community.

"We want to bring a message to society of respect for the trans girls of Mexico," Cázares told The Associated Press while struggling to keep the towering crown on her head.

Fitzcarraldo

07-30-2019, 09:28 PM

What's in your wallet?
https://www.thepeoplesledger.com/trans-woman-identified-as-the-capital-one-hacker-went-by-the-name-erratic-on-twitter-other-platforms/

smalltownguy

08-02-2019, 07:42 PM

AUGUST 1, 2019

NH law will let residents mark an ‘X’ for gender on licenses

New Hampshire next year will become the 12th state to allow residents to identify their gender with a neutral “X” on their driver’s licenses, the latest in the increasing public accommodations for LGTBQ rights at the state level.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, allowed House Bill 669 — which passed on a voice vote in the legislature — to become law without his signature.

The law will allow a transgender or nonbinary person to mark an “X” for gender on a driver’s license or identification card. Currently, the only available marks are “M” for male and “F” for female.

When a similar law in Hawaii goes into effect in the summer of 2020, 13 states and the District of Columbia will allow for a third designation for gender on state records.

Eighteen states require a court order to change a person’s gender marker on vital statistics, while two states — Tennessee and Ohio — ban altering gender marks altogether.

New Hampshire’s law was cheered by pro-LGBTQ rights groups and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat running for president.

“This is an important step to ensure that nonbinary Americans are seen and respected,” Ms. Warren tweeted Thursday.

But where many progressive groups see victory, wary social conservatives see more change on the horizon.

“On Governor Sununu’s watch, driver’s licenses state-issued IDs will become declarations of personal feelings,” said Shannon McGinley, executive director of the Granite State-based conservative group, Cornerstone Action. “That it no antidote to discrimination.”

A spokesperson for Cornerstone Action said New Hampshire could see in its future a ban on therapy for adults seeking help from gender dysphoria, mandatory reporting for parents who don’t affirm or grant permission for a child seeking a sex change surgery, and the addition of “neither male nor female” on birth certificates.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ equality group, lists “identity documents” as one of six challenges to transgender people in its official materials, along with poverty and stigmatization.

“The widespread lack of accurate identity documents among transgender people can have an impact on every area of their lives, including access to emergency housing or other public services,” said materials posted to the group’s website.

Christopher Jay, who had served as attorney with Cornerstone Action, submitted written testimony to the New Hampshire Senate Transportation Committee opposing the gender-neutral designation on state ID cards. He asked if other attributes — such as race, hair, weight, height — might be subject to alteration next.

“We can make whatever claims we want about it, but at the end of the day, as a man, I will never be able to give birth to a child,” Mr. Jay said.

Public opinion polls show increasing acceptance for transgender persons in the U.S. More than six in 10 Americans say they’re generally “more supportive toward transgender rights” compared to their views five years ago, according to a June study from the Public Religion Research Institute.

About 25% said their views are more opposed to transgender rights than they were five years ago.

While transgender visibility increases, legal drawbacks remain to reaching the status of a protected class, along with race, sex, and religion. Nationwide, it is legal in more than 30 states for landlords to deny housing to a transgender person.

“States and localities should also ensure that all residents — including transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals — are protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public spaces, which includes equal access to sex-segregated facilities,” said Xavier Persad, senior legislative counsel at the Human Rights Campaign.

smalltownguy

08-03-2019, 01:14 PM

Jul 30, 2019

Transgender hacker, 33, held in massive Capital One data breach which put critical info of over 100 million customers at risk

The FBI raided Paige A. Thompson's residence after he warned a customer of distributing personal data including names, birthdates, and social security numbers

SEATTLE: A transgender hacker gained access to personal information from more than 100 million Capital One credit applications, the bank said July 29 as federal authorities arrested the suspect in the case.

Paige A. Thompson, 33, — who also goes by the handle "erratic" — was charged with a single count of computer fraud and abuse in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Thompson, a former Amazon employee as per a Daily Mail report, made an initial appearance in court and was ordered to remain in custody pending a detention hearing on August 1. Court documents said the accused boasted of the data breach on an online forum.

The hacker got information including credit scores and balances plus the social security numbers of about 140,000 customers, the bank said. It will offer free credit monitoring services to those affected.

The FBI raided Thompson's residence on July 29 and seized digital devices. An initial search turned up files that referenced Capital One and other entities that may have been targets of attempted or actual network intrusions.

A public defender appointed to represent Thompson did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Capital One, based in McLean, Virginia, said it found out about the vulnerability in its system on July 19 and immediately sought help from law enforcement to catch the perpetrator.

According to the FBI complaint, someone emailed the bank two days before that notifying it of leaked data appearing on the code-hosting site GitHub, which is owned by Microsoft.

And a month before that, the FBI said, a Twitter user who went by "erratic" sent another user direct messages warning about distributing the bank's data, including names, birthdates and social security numbers. That user later reported the message to Capital One.

Capital One said it believes it is unlikely that the information was used for fraud, but it will continue to investigate. The data breach affected about 100 million people in the U.S. and 6 million in Canada.

The bank said the bulk of the hacked data consisted of information supplied by consumers and small businesses who applied for credit cards between 2005 and early 2019. In addition to data such as phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth and self-reported income, the hacker was also able to access credit scores, credit limits, and balances, as well as fragments of transaction information from a total of 23 days in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

"While I am grateful that the perpetrator has been caught, I am deeply sorry for what has happened", said Capital One CEO Richard D. Fairbank. "I sincerely apologize for the understandable worry this incident must be causing those affected and I am committed to making it right", he added. The accused faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Capital One Financial Corp., the nation's seventh-largest commercial bank with $373.6 billion in assets as of June 30, is the latest U.S. company to suffer a major data breach in recent years.

In 2017, a data breach at Equifax, one of the major credit reporting companies, exposed the Social Security numbers and other sensitive information of roughly half of the U.S. population. Last week, Equifax agreed to pay at least $700 million to settle lawsuits over the breach in a settlement with federal authorities and states. The agreement includes up to $425 million in monetary relief to consumers.

Many major banks have sought to stem the risk of data breaches in recent years. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citibank began replacing customers' debit cards several years ago with more secure chip-based cards. While the cards with chips are common these days, many merchants still rely on the older, less secure card-swiping equipment. Credit card companies have also beefed up fraud monitoring in the wake of high-profile data breaches that hit retailers such as Target and Home Depot.

The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. last year was just under $8 million, according to a study by IBM Security and Ponemon Institute.

smalltownguy

08-03-2019, 01:26 PM

July 30, 2019

Trans woman weightlifter stirs controversy after winning gold, is aiming for the 2020 Olympics

Laurel Hubbard won gold at the Pacific Games in Samoa but not without a firestorm of backlash.

Laurel Hubbard is the latest transgender athlete to be called out for making competitions "unfair."

The 41-year-old has reignited discussion about the divisions by sex and gender equality after her decisive victory.

After she secured two golds and a silver in the heavyweight lifting at the Pacific Games, women's rights groups like Speak Up For Women have pushed for sports being divided by sex, not gender identity.

Still, other organizations like the National Women's Law Center argue that inclusion for transgender people pushes women's rights forward.

For Hubbard, the focus of her backlash has now been shifted to the 2020 Olympics, since according to the IOC policy, she is eligible to compete.

Her critics have cited a new study that claims transwomen have an unfair advantage against biological women.

"We conclude that the advantage to transwomen afforded by the IOC guidelines is an intolerable unfairness," states the study.

While her supporters claim she should be able to follow her dreams like anyone else.

Others are in favor for transgender Olympics.

Even within sporting organizations, the division is evident.

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) policy has no restrictions for trans-athletes, letting students compete under their gender identity.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) policy requires student-athletes to undergo hormonal treatment to compete in the gender of their choice.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) policy requires transmen to get a legal sex change and transwomen to have a reassignment surgery.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) policy requires transwomen to have been declared female for a minimum of four years and be below certain testosterone levels.

smalltownguy

08-03-2019, 02:27 PM

Aug 2, 2019

Miami-Dade Police Looking for Shooter in Transgender Woman's Killing

Police are looking for a shooter after a transgender woman was killed earlier this week in Goulds.

The shooting happened at around 4:37 a.m. Wednesday in the area of SW 224th Street and SW 115th Court, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Kiki Fantroy, who police identified as 21-year-old Marquis S. Fantroy, was returning home from a party with a group of people and was propositioned for sex, Fantroy's mother said.

Fantroy rejected the subject or subjects and was killed when they opened fire.

"That's my baby. That's my baby," said Fantroy's mother, Rhonda Comer. "Y'all seen it. I know the public knows something. He didn't deserve it. God knows he didn't deserve it. He wasn't doing nothing wrong. It's not right to go around killing people because of their sexuality."

smalltownguy

08-05-2019, 02:49 PM

August 5, 2019

Victoria's Secret just cast its first transgender model & she's a total babe

Valentina Sampaio confirms her Victoria's Secret casting, making her the first openly transgender model hired by the brand

The news comes less than year after Victoria Secret's chief marketing officer, Ed Razek made controversial comments about transgender models

Sampaio confirmed the news on Instagram, with the 23-year-old sharing behind-the-scenes pictures from her new VS Pink shoot

Less than a week after rumours started circulating that the 2019 Victoria's Secret show might be cancelled, the brand appears to have hired its first transgender model, Valentina Sampaio.

23-year-old Sampaio announced the news on Instagram by sharing a behind-the-scene picture of her shooting for VS Pink.

Less than a year ago, Victoria's Secret's chief marketing officer Ed Razek faced backlash for his comments about transgender models, specifying why they wouldn't be included in the show:

"Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy," he said.

Razek subsequently apologised for his remarks but, for many, the damage was already done.

"My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show came across as insensitive. I apologize," said Razek. "To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model for the show. We've had transgender models come to castings... And like many others, they didn't make it... But it was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are."

The new recruit comes a week after VS model Shanina Shaik claimed the 2019 show is cancelled.

"Unfortunately the Victoria's Secret show won't be happening this year," Shanina told The Daily Telegraph. "It's something I'm not used to because every year around this time I'm training like an angel."

"But I'm sure in the future something will happen, which I'm pretty sure about," she continued. "I'm sure they're trying to work on branding and new ways to do the show because it's the best show in the world."

To be honest, we're not 100% sure what's going on with this year's show, but let's not allow all that noise get in the way of congratulating Valentina on her kickass gig - we're definitely looking forward to seeing more from this bombshell!

smalltownguy

08-10-2019, 06:01 PM

Aug 05, 2019

Lok Sabha passes Transgender persons protection of rights bill

TAGS # India

The bill was introduced on July 19

The Lok Sabha on August 5 passed a bill which provides a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of transgenders.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 was passed by a voice vote amid noisy protests by some opposition parties over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury not being allowed to speak on his adjournment notice.

The bill was introduced on July 19.

Replying on the bill, Minister of State for Social Justice Rattan Lal Kataria said it makes provision for establishing a national authority for safeguarding rights of transgenders.

The minister said according to the 2011 census there are more than 4.80 lakh transgenders in the country.

He said in the bill there are provisions for penalty and punishment in cases of offences and sexual harassment against transgender persons.

A contentious provision that criminalised begging by transgender people has been removed from the bill. The provision was part of the bill when it was introduced by the previous government. The bill had lapsed.

According to the bill, a transgender is a person whose gender does not match with the gender assigned to that person at birth and includes trans-man or trans-woman (whether or not such person has undergone sex reassignment surgery or hormone therapy or laser therapy or such other therapy), person with inter-sex variations, gender-queer and person having such socio-cultural identities as 'kinner', 'hijra', 'aravani' and 'jogta'.

Going by the bill, a person would have the right to choose to be identified as a man, woman or transgender, irrespective of sex reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy.

It also requires transgender persons to go through a district magistrate and district screening committee to get certified as a trans person.
Earlier participating in the debate on the bill, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said transgenders are symbol of happiness. They visit homes of people during the time of celebrations and happiness and it is also important to save their culture and heritage.

smalltownguy

08-10-2019, 06:11 PM

Aug 08, 2019

Cricket Australia introduces new, inclusive rules for trans, gender-diverse players

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia unveiled new guidelines Thursday to ensure transgender players can take part in the game at the highest levels.

The policy sets out a testosterone limit for transgender and gender-diverse players who want to play for state and national women's teams.

"It doesn't make any sense that today, people are discriminated against, harassed or excluded, because of who they are," Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said in a statement.

To be eligible for elite women's teams, the players must show a testosterone concentration of less than 10 nanomoles per litre over at least 12 months.

They must also be able to demonstrate their elected gender is consistent with how they are living their lives on a daily basis.

The move more closely aligns Australia to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) gender diversity guidelines.

Cricket Australia's policy also provides guidance to community clubs, supporting grassroots cricketers to compete as the gender with which they identify.

The guidelines cover everything from victimisation to privacy and providing suitable facilities, as well as the collection of personal information.

Transgender participation in sport has proved a thorny issue with some prominent stars, including tennis great Martina Navratilova, voicing disquiet.

smalltownguy

08-10-2019, 06:16 PM

Aug 8, 2019

Second transgender woman of color shot to death in SC in 15 days

After two black transgender women were killed in South Carolina in just over two weeks, Charleston and national LGBTQ groups say the situation is “an absolute state of emergency.”

The latest victim was identified as 24-year-old Dime Doe by family and the Alliance for Full Acceptance, a Charleston-based LGBTQ advocacy organization.

Doe was found Sunday by a passerby, slumped over the steering wheel of her car in the area of Concord Church and Barnwell roads in Allendale County, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. She had been shot.

“This disturbing rash of violence underscores how dangerous it is to simply exist as a transgender person in America, particularly for transgender women of color,” said Sarah McBride, national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ civil rights organization.

Little information on the circumstances surrounding Doe’s death was available as of Thursday, and Allendale County law enforcement agencies declined to release basic information about the case.

Repeated requests to the Allendale County Coroner’s Office for the victim’s name, age and cause and manner of death were denied.

When asked to explain why the information was being withheld, a Coroner’s Office representative said, “All I can say is I’m not releasing anything.”

The Allendale County Sheriff’s Office declined to release an incident report on Wednesday despite SLED clearing the report for release. A sheriff’s representative could not be reached Thursday.

Doe’s death comes about two weeks after Denali Stuckey, a 29-year-old transgender woman of color, was fatally shot July 20 in North Charleston.

Chase Glenn, AFFA’s executive director, said Doe’s death should be a wake-up call to the broader community.

“We are sounding the alarm,” Glenn said. “We are in an absolute state of emergency for black transgender women.”

The motives behind the homicide aren’t known but these kinds of crimes are often fueled by prejudice, racism and misogyny, he said.

“Black trans women live at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, are too often treated as disposable and are experiencing epidemic levels of violence,” Glenn said.

Doe is the fourth transgender woman of color killed in South Carolina since 2018.

In 2018, at least 26 transgender people were killed in incidents of violence nationwide, according to the Human Rights Campaign. So far in 2019, 15 trans people have been killed.

smalltownguy

08-10-2019, 06:24 PM

August 07, 2019

Teen arrested in fatal shooting of transgender woman

William Watson faces charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - A teenager was arrested Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of a transgender woman in Miami-Dade County's Goulds neighborhood.

According to Miami-Dade police detectives, a witness identified William Watson as Marquis "Kiki" Fantroy's killer in a photo lineup. Records show Watson is in foster care.

The 21-year-old transgender woman died July 31 after an early morning shooting near her home.

According to the arrest report, Watson got upset during a conversation, shot at a person officers identified as "Victim Bell" and then started chasing and shooting at Fantroy.

Detectives said Watson ran after her and shot at her several times.

Fantroy was near a corner where Southwest 115th Court and Southwest 116th Avenue meet, north of Southwest 224th Street, when she collapsed, police said.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel took her to Jackson South Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Fantroy was the 13th transgender woman killed this year in the U.S. and all of them have been African-American, TransGriot reported. Advocates reported 26 transgender women were killed in the U.S. in 2018 and 29 were killed in 2017.

Watson faces a charge of second-degree murder and an attempted murder charge.

smalltownguy

08-10-2019, 06:31 PM

August 09, 2019

Judge: School District Violated Trans Student Gavin Grimm's Rights

The Gloucester County, Va., School Board violated transgender student Gavin Grimm’s constitutional rights by denying him use of the boys’ restroom while in high school, a federal judge ruled Friday.

The board violated Grimm’s equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as well as his right to be free of sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a federal law, Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen of the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia ruled. She also ordered the school district to update the high school transcripts for Grimm, who graduated in 2017, to reflect his male gender and provide copies to him within 10 days.

The ruling is the latest chapter in a long legal saga that at one point appeared ready to go to the Supreme Court and perhaps still could. In 2014, at the beginning of his sophomore year, Grimm and his mother informed school administrators that the student, who was assigned female at birth, would express his male gender identity in all aspects of his life. Administrators agreed he could use the boys’ restroom at Gloucester High School, and he did so for two months without incident.

But in December of that year, the board adopted a policy forcing him to use a single-stall restroom, something he found stigmatizing and inconvenient to the point that he avoided consuming liquids during the school day. He filed suit in 2015 with representation by the American Civil Liberties Union and its Virginia affiliate.

Another judge in the Eastern District sided with the school board in a 2015 ruling, but the following year the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit overturned that decision, ruling that under Title IX and the Obama administration’s guidance on its application, Grimm had suffered unlawful discrimination. The Obama administration had held that discrimination based on gender identity was a form of sex discrimination, and it issued guidelines saying schools should allow transgender students access to restrooms and changing rooms consistent with their gender identity.

The Supreme Court was set to hear the school board’s appeal in 2017 but decided not to after the Trump administration revoked the Obama-era guidelines and adopted a more narrow interpretation of Title IX. It vacated the appeals court ruling and sent the case back to the district court for consideration in the absence of the guidance, meaning it had to be decided based only on the constitutional issues and Title IX, which courts are still free to interpret as they see fit.

Wright Allen last year denied the school district’s motion to dismiss the case, and Friday she granted Grimm’s motion for summary judgment, the legal term for a ruling that comes without a full trial but with consideration of the facts of the case. “This is a ruling that doesn’t just take our word for it,” ACLU attorney Joshua Block told The Advocate.

It’s unknown so far if the school district will appeal the ruling. The Advocate has requested comment but has not yet received a response. Virginia media outlets said the district is expected to appeal.

Grimm and his attorneys welcomed the ruling, which holds that the school district violated Grimm’s rights from the time it adopted the restrictive policy until his graduation.

“It is such a relief to achieve this closure and vindication from the court after four years of fighting not just for myself, but for trans youth across America,” Grimm said in an ACLU press release. “I promise to continue to advocate for as long as it takes for everyone to be able to live their authentic lives freely, in public, and without harassment and discrimination.”

The Human Rights Campaign also praised the ruling. “Every student should feel safe at school, regardless of gender identity. Transgender students are covered by Title IX and the United States Constitution and are entitled to the same rights and protections as every other student,” said Cathryn Oakley, HRC state legislative director and senior counsel, in a press release. “With the Trump-Pence administration’s barrage of attacks on LGBTQ people in this country, including against students, we are pleased that yet another federal court decision has reaffirmed legal rights and dignity of transgender people. Congratulations to Gavin Grimm and the American Civil Liberties Union on this milestone victory.”

smalltownguy

08-15-2019, 06:14 PM

August 14, 2019

Pennsylvania to become latest state offering gender-neutral IDs

Pennsylvania moves to offer a gender-neutral option on state IDs

Pennsylvania is among a handful of states driving the charge towards gender-inclusive licenses

PHILADELPHIA – Last spring, Dexter Rose walked into a Philadelphia Driver and Photo License Center with a “Request for Gender Change” form. Handwritten on the form was a box with the single letter “X” scribbled in under gender.

Rose, a social worker, identifies as a trans-non-binary individual and prefers gender-neutral pronouns like “they/them/their” — for years she felt uncomfortable choosing between the male and female option on the state ID form.

Dexter Rose, is a Gender Affirming Services Specialist with the Mazzoni Center.

“It didn’t feel very affirming to have to draw in the box, and then not know if PennDOT [Pennsylvania Department of Transportation] would honor the form,” said Rose. “The whole process was scary.”

Nearly one year later, the agency is expected to change its policy and drivers in the state will have three options when it comes to identifying themselves on their driver’s licenses and state IDs: male, female, and X.

Rose said the change is a big step forward and a victory for members of the LGBTQ community.

"This change will give people access, and that's important," said Rose.

According to Alexis Campbell, a spokesperson for PennDOT, the change comes in response to a growing number of residents asking for gender-neutral ID options and “national trends.”

"PennDOT is glad to offer a license that is inclusive of everybody and can accurately reflect who they are," said Campbell.

Pennsylvania is part of a growing number of states that are allowing ID holders to choose their gender, or no gender, no matter what their birth certificate says.

Three years ago, no one in the U.S. was legally recognized as neither male or female. Today, seven states and Washington D.C. allow people to change their gender without a doctor's signature, and 13 states have a policy in place allowing drivers to obtain a gender-neutral marker on their driver's licenses and identification cards.

Most recently, New Hampshire passed a law creating a gender-neutral option for driver’s licenses, which will take effect in January. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu allowed the bill to become law without his signature on July 10.

In Pennsylvania, the Department of Transportation believes it can make the change without action by the General Assembly, said Campbell.

But there has been pushback by some conservative groups that say the change is impractical and ripe for abuse.

In Pennsylvania, the socially conservative Pennsylvania Family Institute said identification documents are legal documents, which should reflect objective facts, like biological sex. The group also objected to the fact that no documentation would be needed to prove gender identity.

“Proponents of the legislation provide no answers to the many practical questions it raises,” said Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, in a statement. “If our state starts discarding biological sex from our identity documents, it will impact law enforcement, insurances, and medical care.”

Republican lawmakers echoed those concerns.

“It’s an unnecessary change,” said state Rep. Tedd Nesbit. He said removing a gender marker on IDs could make it more difficult for police to relay identifying information.

State Rep. Lynda Schlegel-Culver, also a Republican, said an immediate concern would be whether the change would create problems in complying with the federal REAL ID requirements.

But PennDOT officials insist this is a change that is long overdue.

A National Center for Transgender Equality survey released in 2016, which included 28,000 transgender respondents, found 69 percent of Pennsylvanians said their IDs listed a gender that did not reflect their gender identity.

Of the Pennsylvanians who participated in the survey, 30 percent said they’d been verbally harassed, denied service or assaulted after they provided an ID that did not reflect the gender with which they identified.

"Everyone deserves to have something in their pocket that accurately shows who they are," said Campbell.

Rose agreed.

"It feels good to have identification the reflects who really am," Rose said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said that by spring 2020, motorists in the state who don’t want to disclose their gender will be able to place an “X” on their driver’s licenses instead of identifying themselves as male or female.

smalltownguy

08-20-2019, 08:23 PM

August 20, 2019

Trans Teens, Trailed by Homelessness

In California and other states, transgender and non-binary people are more likely to be unsheltered than any other unhoused population.

The decision to leave home wasn’t easy for Greyson. After his mother was deported to Mexico, he’d been almost single-handedly taking care of his two younger sisters and his father, who was addicted to drugs. When he was 15, the family made plans to move from California’s East Bay down to Mexico, too. As a trans person, Greyson was scared. He had heard horror stories of beatings and assaults of LGBTQ people.

“It’s dangerous existing [there],” said Greyson, who didn’t share his last name. “It was either get murdered, kill myself, or run away.” He chose the third option.

That landed him in a homeless shelter in West Oakland for the next four days. There, Greyson found something he’s never known: peers who welcomed him. “It was my first real taste of having queer family,” he said. “It was wild how many there were.”

From the shelter, Greyson went to two mental hospitals, and then a series of foster care group homes in the Bay Area. When he spoke to CityLab last month in Berkeley, he said he was about to be kicked out of the latest housing program in Walnut Creek. He hoped to find an apartment with his girlfriend. “I might actually end up homeless for a bit, which is going to suck,” he said. “It’s better than my family.”

Greyson’s story is just one in a chorus of many from trans and non-binary people who are unhoused, unsheltered, or unsure where they’ll find a place to sleep next. Though trans people only make up a fraction of a percentage of the entire population of people living in homelessness, a significant proportion of transgender Americans—about a third, according to a 2015 survey—become homeless at some point in their lives. National figures from the 2018 point-in-time (PIT) count reveal that they’re more likely to be unsheltered than other populations. And of all the trans and non-binary homeless people counted nationally, a 2018 National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) analysis found that California was home to half of them.

Nationally, an estimated 40 percent of unhoused youth in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ. In some California cities, that proportion is higher: According to San Francisco’s 2019 PIT count, 46 percent of all unhoused youth are LGBTQ, nearly a quarter of whom identify as transgender and non-binary. In Alameda County, where the latest available demographic data comes from 2017’s PIT count and where they do not specify how many youth respondents were also LGBTQ, about 0.7 percent of the total number of unhoused youth identified as transgender. Preliminary data from Alameda County’s 2019 PIT count reveals that homelessness has leaped 43 percent overall since then.

Greyson says that many queer youth, particularly those who have transitioned or plan to, become homeless the way he did—they’re either kicked out of their house, or they flee because they don’t feel safe there. “For younger people, there’s a lot of family rejection that leads to them being homeless,” said Nan Roman, president and CEO of NAEH.

But once trans and non-binary people become homeless, they’re also more likely to avoid the shelter system than cisgender peers: 48 percent of cisgender unhoused adults were counted as unsheltered in 2018, according to NAEH, compared to 56 percent of transgender unhoused adults, and more than 80 percent of non-binary unhoused adults.

“For some people, being homeless is the worst thing in the whole free world, so they think, ‘Why wouldn’t you stay in a shelter?’ But that’s a very privileged perspective,” said Christopher Rodriguez, the program manager at Castro Youth Housing Initiative with Larkin Street Youth Services, San Francisco’s organization for homeless youth. “You could be raped in a shelter.”

The connection between homelessness and sexual violence isn’t just a problem for LGBTQ people, nor is it a problem that’s less prevalent on the street: The National Runaway Switchboard estimates that within 48 hours of leaving home, a third of teens will be recruited into sex work. Rodriguez says that often, it takes just 72 hours for youth to be propositioned for sex. Many young people find life on the streets safer than shelters, and trans and non-binary people may avoid them because they’re often misgendered or forced to go to the shelter that matches their birth certificate. That can cause psychologically damaging feelings of gender dysphoria, and can compound the violence and threats from other shelter residents.

“They don’t feel like it’s clear what kind of facilities they should use, and they don’t think that the regular assessments that get used for everybody necessarily address what their problems are,” said Roman.

In 2012, the Department of Housing and Urban Development established the Equal Access rule, which was meant to stop shelters and support centers from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But in May, HUD published a proposed change to the rule, which would allow shelter providers to use an unhoused person’s sex to determine where to—or whether to—house them in certain sex-separated facilities, depending on each providers’ “privacy, safety, practical concerns, religious beliefs.” HUD insists that the rule would still bar discrimination based on sex or gender identity, but this could make shelter conditions a lot worse, said Roman, and push more trans and non-binary people onto the streets.

For trans people just as much as anyone else, Greyson says the core problem is intergenerational poverty and lack of affordable housing. Trans and non-binary people are particularly economically vulnerable: They’re three times more likely to make less than $10,000 per year, according to True Colors United, a national advocacy organization for LGBTQ unhoused youth; trans people of color are four times more likely to be unemployed. “Without [housing], you can’t get a job, you can’t get mail. You’re basically stuck if you’re homeless, and it’s that way on purpose,” he said. “The government and society doesn’t want people at the bottom to rise any more than they’re allowed to. I think a lot needs to change.”

How to make a safer shelter...

Bobbi, who is 23 and declined to share her last name, went up to San Francisco from San Jose last year, arriving with a few friends to visit the S.F. Art Institute. She fell in love with the city immediately—the energy, the hills, the beaches, the people, the neighborhood bars in the historic Castro neighborhood, which has long been a haven for the LGBTQ community. But outside one of those bars one night out, she and her friends were “confronted by this older white guy,” she said. There was an altercation; Bobbi defended herself, she says, and landed in jail for three months.

After her release, she turned to Larkin Street Youth Services, a San Francisco-based organization that runs housing programs and shelters for unhoused people ages 18 to 24.

For Bobbi, the shelter environment at Larkin Street’s 40-person “Lark-Inn” was just too hectic. She returned to San Jose for a time, couch-surfing and crashing where she could, as she had since she was 15. “Everything was just kind of bland there for me,” she said. “I kept thinking where was the last place where I was genuinely happy, and I kept thinking: San Francisco.” So she returned, and was re-admitted to the shelter.

For most of her life, she had identified as trans, though she kept that information mostly to herself. But when she confided in one of the shelter leaders, he told her about a new program Larkin Street was developing—a transitional house built specifically for trans homeless youth.

The Larkin Street house, a light-filled Victorian home in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, opened in March. Run by Larkin’s Castro Youth Housing Initiative, it’s the only program like it in the country, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Six trans youth ages 18 to 24 can live there at once, and can stay for up to two years, during which time they’re paired with case managers and connected with social services, job training, and education. They’re also given HIV prevention tools, supported if they choose to medically transition, and equipped with savings accounts managed by Larkin Street.

“It’s a client-led path, so the clients will tell us what they want, and we’ll help them work on it,” said Larkin Street’s Rodriguez, who is also the director of the house. “The ideal would be they go to a two-year college, work in a coffee shop in the weekends, save up some money, and at the end of two years, they’ll get their [associate] degree, we’ll give them back their savings account, they’ll move into a roommate situation with a friend that they met in our program … and just move on. And have only one experience of homelessness.”

By focusing on comprehensive support in this critical time in a young person’s life, Rodriguez says Larkin wants to reduce long-term homelessness. “Half of the chronically homeless adults were homeless when they were in the transitional age youth bracket,” he said.

Bobbi was wary of moving into such a brand-new program after the chaos of the shelter system—“I’m a bit of a control freak,” she says—but she says she feels safe there. A garden, tended to by local volunteers, blooms outside. There’s a large TV in the dining room, where Bobbi says she and her roommates gather to watch Netflix.

For those who can access it, the program could be transformative, but it has only six beds. (When CityLab visited in August, only four were taken.) In the East Bay, where Greyson lives, there are no shelters specially carved out for trans unhoused people. But even traditional shelters can retool their programming to be more inclusive of trans and non-binary people, says Roman. Along with the Equal Access Rule, HUD published guidance for shelter managers on how to use inclusive language, create appropriate facilities, and maintain confidentiality around what medication people are taking and what sex they were assigned at birth. Under the Trump administration, this guidance has been removed from HUD’s website, but it’s still up on the NAEH’s site.

More data on the magnitude of the problem is needed, Roman says, in order for there to be more resources dedicated. Point-in-time counts are infamous for undercounting all homeless populations, especially unhoused youth, who may be staying with a friend on the night the count is conducted but are still technically homeless. And trans and non-binary people are likely to be particularly wary of sharing personal information about themselves with people conducting the counts.

Roman says she was surprised that, based on NAEH’s analysis of the 2018 PIT count, transgender people were not technically disproportionately homeless: They make up 0.6 percent of the entire U.S. population, and 0.5 percent of the unhoused population. But Greyson and other trans homeless youth said that this reflects the flaws of reporting rather than the reality of the situation. “It’s wild recognizing how many people in my [trans] community are homeless, and also of color,” he said.

Transgender and non-binary people “were found in almost every state and two-thirds of the Continua of Care in the U.S,” NAEH’s analysis of 2018 PIT count data found. L.A. had the highest number of transgender people experiencing homelessness.

The concentration of unhoused LGBTQ people in California cities like L.A. and San Francisco can be explained in part by the historically welcoming nature of those places, says Rodriguez. “Everyone’s like, ‘I’m seeking safety and I came to San Francisco’ because that’s what we’re known for,” he said. “They’re often surprised that we’re in a housing crisis.”

The road to “normal”
Greyson spends a few afternoons a month at Youth Spirit Artworks, a Berkeley-based nonprofit jobs training program for homeless and low-income youth that uses art for skill-building. Warm and soft-spoken, he’s beloved there. A peer lit up when they saw him sitting at the table outside. “I love you, Greyson,” they said.

The community Greyson has found there, like the one he found in those first days at the West Oakland shelter, is another valuable source of support. It’s those kinds of connections that places like the Larkin Street transitional house want to foster, too.

“What we do here is provide mutual support from peers,” Rodriguez said. “Chosen families are very important … finding a group of friends that have something deeply in common that will come help you in the middle of the night.”

That chosen family—along with therapy—can help youth address the severe mental health issues that afflict the trans community: A 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics study found that 50 percent of adolescents (ages 11 to 19 years old) who had transitioned from male to female had attempted suicide. “Literally every trans and queer person I know has mental illness; most of it is PTSD,” said Greyson, who adds that more trans-centered housing options would help a lot. “If you’re trans you’re already turned away enough. You might as well be with people who understand the struggle you’re going through.”

After a few months in the house, Bobbi feels she’s on the right path to start a new life. “For the longest time, it was like, about surviving,” she said. “Just wondering where I was going to stay at night. This has been kind of the first time I’ve been super-stable and I feel like that’s something that’s given me the freedom to explore what I want.”

Growing up, Bobbi says, her parents were homeless; her aspirations always revolved around making a lot of money and having somewhere to stay. Now that she’s been saving up and has a roof over her head, she’s realized that “I could do so much more than that.” She’s getting her GED, and will use it to apply for a scholarship to the Arts Institute. There, Bobbi wants to study culinary arts, but she’s also exploring hair and makeup—she’s been practicing on her roommates.

“’Normal’ has such a negative connotation to it, but that’s my goal,” said Bobbi. “I want to come home after a 9-to-5 and just think about work. I want to have these things, and finally feel normal and complete.”

smalltownguy

08-25-2019, 05:49 PM

AUGUST 24, 2019

Transgender women, gay men aggressively removed from bar

LOS ANGELES -- A video posted online and viewed more than 36,000 times shows security guards forcibly removing a group of transgender women and gay men from a bar in downtown Los Angeles Friday, KTLA reported.

The guards at Las Perlas on 107 E. 6th St. are seen grabbing at the patrons and dragging them out of the door. At one point, a woman could be heard yelling, "don't touch me like that," as she struggled with the bouncer who was grabbing at her arms.

Another visibly distressed woman looks on at the camera as a man wraps his arm around her neck and drags her out, video shows.

The group was made up of staff and volunteers from Bienestar Human Services, a non-profit social services organization for Latino and LGBTQ groups. According to KTLA, they say they were unfairly treated because of their identity.

They were at the bar celebrating the first day of a local LGBTQ festival when they were approached by a man and a woman who "who began to aggressively misgender them, call them 'men' and shout transphobic slurs," Bienestar said in a news release.

"The group of trans women tried to de-escalate the situation, then the couple shouted and threatened the group by saying, 'We will come back and kill you,'" the non-profit said.

Police could be seen responding to the scene in another video.

The Los Angeles Police Department told KTLA that officers responded to a report of a hate crime at about 10 p.m. and took a statement from a person removed from the bar.

Las Perlas issued a statement after videos of the incident were shared online. The bar's spokesperson said that an escalated verbal altercation broke out among two groups of guests at Las Perlas.

"Our manager on duty asked both groups to leave as the safety and security of our patrons and employees is our top priority and we have zero tolerance for this type of behavior in our establishments," the statement read. "The guards removed the guests that were not compliant with the manager's request to leave and did so in accordance with company policy."

The spokesperson called the incident "rare" and "unfortunate" and said the bar has provided "an inclusive and welcoming environment."

The business said they will be donating all profits made during the LGBTQ festival to Bienestar Human Services.

The non-profit said that its members and volunteers were treated with much more aggression than the man and woman who they say started the altercation.

"While the heterosexual couple was asked to leave the establishment, the group of trans women were approached by bar security staff and eventually physically and aggressively removed from the bar," Bienestar said.

The videos shared online drew outrage from community members, some of whom said they plan to boycott Las Perlas .

“Our trans community does not feel safe, especially after our lives being threatened," said Bienestar Human Services program manager, Khloe Perez-Rios, who recorded the video of the incident. "Las Perlas must answer for how this situation was handled – and being next door to Redline, an LGBTQ-focused bar, this is unacceptable. Our community demands answers and action.”

Los Angeles saw an increase in hate crime reports last year, with members of the LGBTQ community being among the most frequently targeted groups, according to an Aug. 2018 report by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

The LAPD reported an almost 40% increase in hate incidents related to victims' sexual orientation between 2017 and 2018, according to the report.

collinswriters

08-26-2019, 01:29 PM

For most of the shootings/news you guys post here, are you sure they happened because of their gender/sexual identity? A lot of people are shot and killed every day for so many reasons. I don't get it.

smalltownguy

09-02-2019, 05:13 PM

September 1, 2019

Truman VA leads the way in LGBTQ health care equality

Truman VA is one of merely 406 hospitals nationwide to earn the equality leader designation. The 2019 HEI evaluated more than 1,600 health care facilities in the United States, to include approximately 1,000 non-participating hospitals.

The HEI measures hospital policies and practices designed to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) inclusion, both for patients and employees. Participating facilities were evaluated in four areas: non-discrimination and staff training; services and support for LGBTQ patients; employee benefits and policies; and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. Facilities that scored the maximum of 100 points on the annual survey were designated leaders. Hospitals that scored between 80 and 95 points were named top performers.

“At Truman VA, we are committed to providing excellent health services for all our Veterans,” FACHE Director of Truman VA David Isaacks says. “I’m very proud that we have been designated an equality leader once again this year – not only for the Veterans we serve, but also for our staff. We want to ensure that Truman VA is a safe, welcoming and respectful place for everyone.”

The annual HEI survey, now in its 12th year, became more comprehensive in 2015 by scoring facilities on all their LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. Implementing robust programming and increased training helped Truman VA meet the latest standards.

One of the health system’s most impactful equality initiatives is the Truman VA Safe Zone program. The Safe Zone program is a facility-wide initiative that promotes awareness, respect and support of LGBTQ Veteran patients and their families, hospital guests, and VA employees. To be active in the program, hospital employees must complete orientation and keep current with ongoing training. The program is led by Truman VA’s LGBTQ Veteran Care Coordinator, Beth Hager-Harrison-Prado, LCSW.

“An estimated one million Veterans who served our country with honor identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning,” said Hager-Harrison-Prado, who also is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Earnest Will. “I am proud that our leadership and our health system is committed to community equality. Being an HEI leader means that we provide the highest quality of care for LGBTQ Veterans, and we do that because it’s the right thing to do.”

Of those hospitals that did not participate in the 2019 HEI, only 67 percent had patient non-discrimination policies that include both sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, only 62 percent had an LGBTQ-inclusive employment non-discrimination policy.

Truman VA offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient health services to Veterans from 43 counties in Missouri, as well as Pike County, Illinois.

Approximately 40,000 Veterans receive health care at Truman VA each year from comprehensive services that include primary care, medical and surgical specialties, behavioral health, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy services and more. As a referral center, Truman VA also provides cardiovascular care to include open heart surgery. Additionally, Truman VA outpatient clinic appointments exceed 400,000 visits annually.

smalltownguy

09-04-2019, 06:48 PM

September 03, 2019

New law requires Illinois schools teach contributions of gay, transgender people: ‘It is past time children know the names of LGBTQ+ pioneers’

When Lori Lightfoot was elected mayor of Chicago this spring, the city’s school district put together a lesson guide with ideas and resources for teaching about her inauguration — without explicitly referencing her sexual orientation.

“Chicago made history by electing our first African-American woman to serve as Mayor,” the document began.

Under a new Illinois law taking effect next year, similar guides might mention another way Chicago made history: by electing its first openly gay mayor.

The Inclusive Curriculum Law, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Aug. 9, mandates that by the time students finish eighth grade, public schools must teach them about contributions to state and U.S. history made by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“This law will give more young people the opportunity to see themselves in those who came before us and recognize they are not alone," Lightfoot said in a statement to the Tribune.

As students return for a new school year, new education-related laws hit the books »

That includes students like Michelle Vallet’s transgender son, who is now also more likely to learn about the civil rights struggles that led to milestones such as marriage equality and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Vallet, of Chicago, and other parents of LGBTQ students have pushed for curricula that show children like theirs the types of professionals they could become. To them, the law is a progressive, if vague, step forward. But some detractors see the state forcing local districts to promote an agenda that conflicts with their personal or religious beliefs.

Beyond including the contributions of LGBTQ people to arts, sciences and social movements — as some classes already do — it remains largely up to teachers and local school administrators to navigate when and how to bring up the gender identity or orientation of figures such as artist Frida Kahlo, astronaut Sally Ride and gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson. At what age will kids understand the weight of the Stonewall riots? Is it enough to simply mention Lightfoot’s wife?

One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Anna Moeller, an Elgin Democrat, said the mandate is “not prescriptive” and though various groups are working on guidance for how schools can start incorporating information into classrooms, the state does not plan to issue any more formal guidelines.

Helping compile resources for schools to draw from is Mark Klaisner, president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. Klaisner said he wishes the requirement had more structure but hopes his office can be a conduit of information.

The law says merely that the teaching of U.S. and Illinois history in public schools “shall include a study of the roles and contributions of” LGBT people.

“Being that vague could mean a simple unit or a few lessons at one grade level in the school, which I think is insufficient,” Klaisner said. “On the other hand, we don’t want (state officials) to be too heavy-handed when they tell exactly what’s going to be said."

Though LGBTQ rights are often equated with other civil rights such as racial and gender equality, advocates still face opposition from conservative groups and in the state legislature, where the bill passed 60-42 in the House and 37-17 in the Senate.

Rep. Margo McDermed said she voted against the measure not because of its content but because it’s another state-imposed mandate on schools.

“It’s not ... that it’s not a good cause,” said McDermed, a Republican from Mokena. "It’s about our poor, beleaguered taxpayers.”

As far as McDermed is concerned, the state should erase all its mandates for schools and give districts “a clean slate,” with the possible exception of physical education requirements, she said.

Column: It’s the first day of school. Can I talk to your kids a second? I’m afraid we’re screwing this up. »
“As a matter of financial principle, I don’t think these mandates are useful or helpful to our schools,” McDermed said. “I vote against mandates no matter how worthy the topic may be, and of course this is a worthy topic, but how many mandates are there? ... There’s a list on the (Illinois State Board of Education) website. You, you just look at it and your eyes just roll back in your head.”

McDermed said more trust should go to teachers and school boards to teach children appropriately.

Moeller, however, said the mandate should not come at a cost to schools. Many advocacy and education groups already have relevant curriculum materials free online, and sponsors are trying to work with school districts and the State Board of Education on providing information, she said. A provision says that when schools spend money on new textbooks, they must be nondiscriminatory and include all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

“In the way schools have become required to teach about African Americans, Latinos, women, other marginalized communities, now they’ll also be required to include some mention, some discussion of LGBT,” Moeller said.

Lawmakers have tried before to enact similar legislation, and though passing the law reflects an advancement in civil rights, more still needs to be done, Moeller said. LGBTQ students are still more likely to be bullied, to report feeling isolated in schools and to attempt suicide, she said.

Less than a quarter of LGBTQ students in Illinois said they’d been taught positive lessons about LGBTQ people, according to the 2017 School Climate Survey by GLSEN, a national group that promotes inclusion in schools.

In some classrooms, nothing new
Illinois is the fifth state to pass this kind of measure, according to the advocacy group Equality Illinois. Colorado, New Jersey and Oregon passed similar laws this year, following the lead of California in 2011.

But LGBTQ contributions are already featured in Leslie Schock’s Advanced Placement U.S. history classes at Palatine High School, where she began her 17th year of teaching this month. It’s helped students make important connections, she said.

Inclusive curricula became more of a central focus in the past four years, after students started an equality club. The legalization of same-sex marriage, as well as the controversy over bathroom access for transgender students at Palatine High’s Township High School District 211 — the subject of a highly publicized ruling by the U.S. Department of Education and at least two lawsuits against the district — also accelerated the conversation, Schock said.

“I also work with a school that’s incredibly diverse and dedicated to making a place that’s inclusive so our students who have been marginalized can see themselves in the curriculum,” Schock said. “It’s important for students to find a connection with what they’re learning.”

In a unit called “Change Comes to America,” her class covers the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, commonly heralded as the beginning of the gay rights movement. Students also learn about the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and how the government responded.

“We cover a ton of ground,” Schock said. “I don’t know if we focus on the sexuality of every person involved in the movement, but more, everyone should have equal protection of law.”

Parents have been supportive, but resistance among less diverse communities wouldn’t surprise her, she said.

“That’s what happens whenever there is change or progress," she said. "But at the end of the day, the more comfortable students can feel in our classrooms who are not part of the white, straight narrative of history, the more included they feel in that discussion, the better it’s going to be for everybody.”

Teachers do tend to push back against the government determining what’s taught in classrooms, Schock said. She thinks more resources should be available, but not mandated.

Though the law mentions roles and contributions to history, it’s relevant to other subject areas, where such lessons have already found their way into schools. Bryan Meeker, who teaches biology at Garcia High School, a Chicago charter school, said he emphasizes female scientists and their discoveries and wants to include more LGBTQ contributions.

Along those lines, Meeker said he’d also love to see students in English classes reading works by Harvey Milk, a San Francisco politician and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States before his assassination in 1978.

“I think anything that is going to include the achievements and work of LGBTQ individuals and women and minorities is a positive step for our schools,” Meeker said. “Students do better when they can see themselves, they can see this is something they can do. That representation is incredible. If you are a young gay kid and you learn about events in the civil rights movement that were led by gay folks, that’s huge."

He’s been trying to work in more people each year, such as Ride, the astronaut, who is often taught about without any mention that she was lesbian. “The work she did up in space, it had nothing to do with her sexuality, it was about her competency, her achievements,” Meeker said. But he does bring up sexual orientation, especially in units on gender and sexuality.

“I want to build this cultural competency in my students," Meeker said. "I feel like I have a responsibility to not just give them the narrative they’ve been taught.”

A year is a good amount of time to give educators to incorporate or add even more inclusive lessons, he said.

Age-appropriate
For younger students, it may make sense to introduce names and fewer details, and wait until around third grade to mention someone identified as gay or transgender, said Klaisner, of the regional superintendents group. Younger children tend to be more accepting but might not understand those labels, he said.

Because gender identity is separate from sexuality, Vallet said she doesn’t think it’s ever too early to bring up. The same way schools address race, they should talk about the LGBTQ experience, she said.

“The more we talk about what’s appropriate, the more we make these things shameful," Vallet said. “You can make everything age-appropriate. ... Normalizing these identities early is key, and I think the longer we wait, the more shame is attached."

Parents can always supplement classroom education with their own beliefs, Klaisner said.

“I think it’s important for children as they’re growing up to learn about diversity, complexity, but more importantly about compassion and about inclusion and empathy,” he said. "You don’t necessarily have to agree with somebody to still understand them.”

Klaisner also cautioned that it’s important to consider the pros and cons of using labels, which can sometimes lead to stereotyping.

“If we are going to use labels, we recognize those and find ways to (look) past those to the person, to the soul, to the identity of who that person is beyond the label," he said.

Two of Betsey Zemke’s children, an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old, identify as nonbinary and use they/them pronouns. One attends a private school in Chicago, while the other is in a public school in Skokie.

Zemke said she’s excited about the law, and for children to see a fuller picture of history.

Both Zemke and Vallet said they had become used to opposition.

“I think that a lot of parents and a lot of community members who haven’t considered the issue tend to overcomplicate it, and it really doesn’t take that much time to say, ‘This historical figure identified as gay ... or didn’t conform to gender norms,’” Zemke said. “I think people are afraid of answering the questions that come up as a result of that. ... I think they’re afraid of tackling that complexity and don’t want to explain that this person didn’t have what they would consider to be a normal, heterosexual life, and they have to give airtime to that.”

In Chicago, public school officials have already been addressing the issue in the Curriculum Equity Initiative, which will be implemented in phases starting this fall.

It calls for all curriculum to be “free from bias; fair across race, religion, ethnicity and gender; and culturally relevant with the mindful integration of diverse communities, cultures, histories and contributions. This includes attention to African-American, Latinx, Asian, indigenous people, women, LGBTQ, religious minorities (including Muslims), working class people and youth,” according to a presentation to the school board in May.

Lightfoot said she got where she is today because of others before her who fought to expand rights, opened doors and “refused to accept ‘no’ for an answer.”

“As mayor but also as a mother, I strongly support teaching LGBTQ+ history in classrooms," Lightfoot said. "Many notable figures who identified as LGBTQ+ have moved our society forward in countless ways, but our curriculums and textbooks failed to include their names and neglected their contributions. The LGBTQ+ movement strengthened social justice in America and contains countless stories of struggle and sacrifice. It is past time our children know the names of LGBTQ+ pioneers and learn how they shaped history.”

smalltownguy

09-11-2019, 04:19 PM

09 September 2019

‘Darling’ the Pakistani Film By Saim Sadiq Wins the Best Short Film Award At the Venice Film Festival

‘Darling’, the winner of Venice Film Festival, a Pakistani film directed by a 28-year-old filmmaker Saim Sadiq is the story of a young boy and a trans girl in Lahore.
‘Darling’ a Pakistani short film has won the best short film award at the Venice Film Festival which is one of the oldest film festivals in the world. Venice Film Festivals is also a part of the ‘Big Three’ film festivals in the worlds: Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. ‘Darling’ is also the first Pakistani film to be screened on one of the ‘Big Three’ film festivals. This film has been directed by a 28-year-old filmmaker Saim Sadiq from Lahore. The producers are Mahak Jiwani, Nadia Afgan, Fahad Nabi, and Jasmin Tennuci. Mo Azmi, who has produced the iconic films like Cake and Laal Kabootar, is the director of photography for ‘Darling.’

‘Darling’ is a homage to the transgender community in Pakistan
‘Darling’ is a story of a transgender girl Alina and a boy Abdullah from Lahore. Alina is a transgender in real life as well who made her acting debut through this film. ‘Darling’ also features the actors Meher Bano and Nadia Afgan. Nadia Afgan is also one of the producers and has a strong body of work in terms of acting and direction.

This is not Saim Sadiq’s first international recognition
According to Saim Sadiq, when he had sent the film for the submission, he had no expectations that it will be chosen for screening. The award came as a much bigger surprise. Saim Sadiq’s film ‘Nice Talking to You, was an official selection at South by Southwest 2019, Palm Springs International Shortfest 2019. He won Vimeo's Best Director award at Columbia University Film Festival 2018 hence it is not the first time Saim Sadiq has been recognized internationally.

smalltownguy

09-19-2019, 04:26 PM

SEP 19, 2019

Embattled Palatine high school district considers granting unrestricted locker room access for transgender students

Embattled by a four-year fight over transgender rights, a northwest suburban school district is proposing to grant transgender students unrestricted locker room access in alignment with their gender identity.

Palatine-based Township High School District 211 is scheduled to discuss the measure at a board of education meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Palatine High School, 1111 N. Rohlwing Road. No policy changes are expected to be made at the meeting.

“(In) those four years, understanding and acceptance of transgender identity have advanced — societally and in our immediate communities — for the better,” according to a statement from district Superintendent Daniel Cates.

The group D211 Parents for Privacy, which has opposed unrestricted locker room access, in a Facebook post called the proposed policy “pure insanity” and encouraged members of the community to “come out in droves” to the meeting.

“It violates the privacy and dignity and well-being of the students,” said group spokeswoman Vicki Wilson. “And rather than coming up with a solution and doing their jobs, (school district officials) have been shaming and bullying students and parents into silence for four years.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois praised the potential policy change.

“After years of resisting, we are pleased to see the district’s leadership has recognized that students who are transgender deserve to be treated fairly and equally in every way, and deserve dignity and respect in all aspects of their lives,” said a statement by ACLU attorney Ghirlandi Guidetti. “We look forward to District 211 joining the roster of schools across Illinois who provide this fair treatment for all of their students.”

The district made national headlines several years ago when a transgender teen identified as “Student A” filed a complaint against District 211 with federal authorities over locker room access; the landmark case marked the first time a school district was found to have violated Title IX based on gender identity.

Administrators agreed to let Student A use the girls locker room in accordance with her gender identity, and also installed privacy stalls.

“Our Board of Education adopted a compromise practice of granting access to the locker room of a student’s gender identity upon the student’s agreement to change clothes in a private area,” according to the superintendent’s statement. “The private changing areas would also be available to all students as desired.”

A group of parents and students filed a federal lawsuit against the school district in 2016, arguing transgender locker room access violated the rights of non-transgender students. That lawsuit was dropped in April.

In 2017, student Nova Maday filed a lawsuit claiming the district restricted her to an “unspecified private changing area within the locker room.” Maday, who graduated last year, told the Tribune in 2017 that the separate changing area singled her out and often made her late to class, impacting her grade.

“It felt humiliating,” she had said. “It really felt like they were making me stand out and pushing me off to the side, in a literal sense.”

Transgender student rights have become a flashpoint nationwide in recent years. The Obama administration in 2016 issued a controversial guidance that schools must accommodate transgender students, including permitting access to facilities based on gender identity. Then the Trump administration in 2017 rolled back those protections, saying decisions on access should be made at a local level.

District 211 serves nearly 12,000 students at five high schools and two alternative high schools, according to its website.

“In our district and countless others, students, families and staff honor, respect and celebrate all manifestations of unique differences characteristic of the human condition," the superintendent said in his statement. "Our proposed district policy reflects these advancements.”