TEXANS! Another child is bullied to death DEMAND ACTION!

Another Texas child has been bullied to death.
Thirteen-year old Asher Brown committed suicide on September 23, 2010. He shot himself in the head after enduring what his mother and stepfather say was constant harassment from four other students at Hamilton Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. Brown's parents said they had complained about the bullying to Hamilton Middle School officials during the past 18 months, but claimed their concerns fell on deaf ears. [Houston Chronicle story]
This is the same school district in which Langham Creek High School freshman Jayron Martin was repeatedly beaten with a metal pipe last November. Martin said he had asked for help from two principals and a bus driver, but it took a neighbor with a shotgun to stop the beating. [KHOU story]
DEMAND ACTION!
There is simply no excuse for failing to protect school children. The State of Texas is obligated to provide a safe learning environment.
Under current law, students are not specifically protected from bullying and harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Current law does not establish a uniform state school conduct policy and does not provide for monitoring or enforcement of independent school district policies.
This coming January, for the third legislative session, Equality Texas will be working to pass safe schools legislation. It will not pass until lawmakers know it is a top priority for their constituents. During the 81st Legislative Session, Rep. Mark Strama filed a bill relating to safe schools for all youth. While it was voted favorably out of committee, it died on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. Will this be the session to finally pass a safe schools bill?
Ask your state representative to take the issues of bullying and harassment seriously by supporting the passage of safe schools legislation - legislation that would protect all children, including children of lesbian or gay parents and teens who are gay.
DEMAND ACTION NOW!
Equality Texas advocates and lobbies for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

Queer Activists Commence SOS: NYC Congressional Vigil For Equality Bill

RELEASE:
For immediate release (9/27/10).
Media Contact: Iana DiBorna, 718-309-8598,
queersos@gmail.com

Today, Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, NYC activists will commence a daily vigil Standing OutSide of Senator Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 W. 26th Street, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. to urge the Senator to take action for LGBTQ inclusion in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The demand is that Gillibrand file a bill to start this process called The American Equality Bill (AEB) which would add “sexual orientation & gender identity” (SO+GI) to all U.S. nondiscrimination laws, consistent with her campaign platform announced last October, 2009 (http://bit.ly/GillibrandCRAoct09).

The AEB was created by veteran activists Karen Doering, Esq. and Juan Ahonen-Jover, Ph.D., and is supported by www.equalitygiving.org and www.actonprinciples.org, as well as grassroots activists around the country.

“We need a bill worthy of our dignity to organize around and we will wait no longer,” said Iana DiBona a lead SOS! organizer. “It’s been 46 years since the ’64 CRA passed, how long must we wait to start the process?”

Activists maintain that it is long-past time that our community demand equal inclusion in the 1964 laws that protect everyone else in American from discrimination.

It was after all, Bayard Rustin, a black gay hero who helped lead the black civil rights movement and created the March on Washington where MLK gave his Dream Speech, almost 50 years ago.

“In ’64, we were shoved aside and Mr. Rustin’s civil rights and ‘sexual orientation’ were excluded from America’s non-discrimination laws,” said Todd (Tif) Fernandez, the Campaign Facilitator for The AEB Project (on FB at http://bit.ly/AEBnow). “Our time has come, our dignity demands it.”

The action – called THE QUEER SOS! – will involve sentries Standing OutSide Gillibrand’s office every day, all day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) until the bill is filed. If no action is taken, on October 11th – National Coming Out Day – the vigil will go around the clock (24/7), and, as of Nov. 2nd, some members will begin a water-only fast to demonstrate the urgency.

Each day at noon there will be a “Homophobia Kills Die-In” to bring attention to the fact that LGBTQ people commit suicide or are killed regularly due to this country’s on-going sanction of homophobia.

“Homophobia kills,” said Alan Bounville, a founding member of Queer Rising NYC, “and each day that Congress fails to include us in the Civil Rights Act they are complicit with more of these deaths.”

The Queer SOS! daily vigil and community commune will feature art, music performances and friendship, amidst steady activism. See the schedule at www.queersos.com, or just come by.

PERFOMERS and ACTIVISTS can sign up for sentry duty, or to perform by emailing queersos@gmail.com, or at www.queersos.com – or just show up – 15 W. 26th Street/Broadway.

Follow The QUEER SOS! – on FB & Twitter.

NOTE: The AEB Project is all grassroots, all volunteer. The AEB adds SO+GI (sexual orientation and gender identity) to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, giving full and equal federal non-discrimination/civil rights protections to over 30 million LGBTQ Americans in every state with one bill – covering housing, employment, credit, public places, gov’t buildings (including schools), and all federally funded programs (like HIV and health programs, homeless youth, adoption, etc.) (see bill and FAQ at: www.queersos.com).

Protest Democracy INACTION at Kay Bailey Hutchison's Offices Austin

Monday, October 11 · 6:00pm - 11:30pm

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Location Outside Kay Bailey Hutchison's Offices
300 E 8th St
Austin, TX

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Created By EAA Texas: Austin Branch

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More Info In the face of widespread support for LGBT equality, we get inaction from Democrats and hostility from Republicans. Join EAA Austin in sending a clear message to both parties that WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO! Get out there with us and show 'em what democracy looks like!

On Facebook No, YOU'RE FIRED! Democracy Inaction Protest

$5,000 reward offered in conjunction with Myra Ical Murder Mystery

Mathew, who anonymously wrote Cristan Williams the executive director of the Transgender Foundation in Montrose maybe in line for a substantial reward should he contact police. Included in Mathews letter were the times and locations that he came into contact with the alleged murderer. Also included was the first name of the murderer.



Not included was a way for police to contact Mathew. The transgender community hopes he will come forward before this violent person acts again.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information leading that leads to the arrest of a suspect. Anyone with tips is asked to call the hot line at 713-222-8477. Full story at abclocal.go.com

OHIO climbing Equality Pinnacle. What are you afraid of Senator Harris?

What are you afraid of Senator Harris?

Back on September 15, 2009, the Ohio House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 56-39, passed the Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB 176). Since then, Senate President Bill Harris has refused to send HB 176 to a committee in the Senate for FULL hearings and to be called for a VOTE in committee and on the Senate Floor. The Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB 176) would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's civil rights laws, giving people who are discriminated against in employment, housing and public accommodation based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity some recourse through the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or through the courts.

What are you afraid of, Senator Harris? Are you afraid that the time is right for all Ohioans to be protected from discrimination? Are you afraid that there is enough support to pass HB 176? Otherwise, why not let the issue be debated in the Senate? ~Equality Ohio Facebook

Please call your Senator and ask her/him to urge Senator Harris to give HB 176 full hearings, so the issue of ongoing discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity can be fully debated in the Ohio Senate.

You can reach your state senator by calling 800-282-0253 or Click Here for the directory.

Trans Ohio.org

TransPanic in San Antonio. Another beaten transgender woman to blame?

My comment at Ken5.com

Another skewed Texas news report parroting wording that infers curability on the transgender victim and suggests the one who committed violence was somehow justified since he 'snapped' after learning that the person was transgender.

You further denigrated her position when you made a point that she was 'begging' at a stranger's door for help!

WTF. That is what victims do EVERWHERE anytime they recover enough of there senses after being beaten and left for dead. That is what the Ken5 writers would do.

Who's account is Ken5.com and the police using as irrefutable fact? The criminal assailant? It certainly was not the victims.

Most of the time the attacker had already performed sex with the victim and as a way of escaping peer condemnation, expunging there conscience and repairing there egos beat the transgender victim. More often than not they are gang members who attack transgender sexual partners in order to avoid a beat out by fellow gang members.

As despicable as the assailant was this news channel found a lower level as they painted him as a unwitting dupe.

You can change social mores by commenting at Kens5.com. The victims story must be told fairly and impartially.

ESPN P/R Chief personally apologizes for 'Egg those tra##y' youth Tee Shirts

Crystal Howard, Director, Public Relations ESPN which is Zellers parent company responsible for X game branding, in response to the preceding blog post called me on Monday.

In our phone conversation she conveyed to me her desire to have world understand the message on this tee shirt absoultly does not reflect the intent or sentiments of ESPN or Zellers department stores.

"Quite surprised the review process failed."

"Clearly there was a breakdown in new product review," Ms. Howard explained "We are in the proccess of reviewing how this product reached our shelves. This tee shirt's message doesn't fit the X Game or anything related to our company."

Ms Howard described there swift corporate response "We worked with Zellers and the kids wear licensee and immediately began a recall, removed the product and destroyed it."

Ms. Howard's sincere appoligy "We specifically apologize to our customers in Ontario and we have called those consumers who complained. We also want to extend our apology to all consumers who have come into contact with this tee shirt."

A personal note from kelli~ This is a done thing.

Ms. Howard, in an example of corporate integrity and responsibility has reached out to media outlets large queerty.com and small like our humble blog planetransgender in a all out effort to make sure ESPN and Zellers good names are not muddied by this incident.

I'm looking forward to the next ESPN covered X Games!

Dispelling Sally Kern's transphobic conventions about Brittany Novotny

Sally Kern's about her transgender political opponent Brittany Novotny:

“It’s no secret that I have a personal belief, I believe it’s a belief of most Christians, that the Bible teaches homosexuality is a sin just like gluttony is a sin…...So as we get farther and farther away from biblical principles, more and more things are accepted. And that’s just the way things are going.”amfix.blogs.cnn.com

Fact. Transgender people are a loved and valued people. God said it. Jesus Christ said it and the Holy spirit came to earth to make sure we remember it!

• Brittany Novotny is transgender. She has not publicly stated her sexual orientation. Therefor condeming Brittany for her sexual orientation is a attempt to mislead and instill fear in the uneducated and unchurched.
  
  
• The biblical teachings Kern's is attempting to distort are in fact testaments to transgender acceptance.
  
  
• Isaiah 56 1-8 Eunuch being transgender and foreigner being people of different faiths like Muslims or even pharisees for instance the Lord our god says, “ The LORD has utterly separated me from His people”;
  Nor let the eunuch say,
  
  “ Here I am, a dry tree.”
  4 For thus says the LORD:
  
  “ To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
  And choose what pleases Me,
  And hold fast My covenant,
  5 Even to them I will give in My house
  And within My walls a place and a name
  Better than that of sons and daughters;
  I will give them[a] an everlasting name
  That shall not be cut off.
  6 “ Also the sons of the foreigner
  Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him,
  And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—
  Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
  And holds fast My covenant—
  7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
  And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
  Will be accepted on My altar;
  For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
  
  
  
• Jesus left last minute instructions, like post'em notes for his followers about transgender people. He clearly knew about Sally Kern's. Mathew 19:11,1211 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:
  
  
• 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
  
  
• Acts 20,40 After Christ's crucifiction the promised holy spirit came and led a successful pastor out of comfort to journey on our road less traveled and baptise a disenfranchised Ethiopian transman.
  
  

Zellers 4 Year Old boy's T-shirt: Egg Those Tra##ies, throw a Brick at a Car thats fun Shit!

click picture to enlarge

UPDATE! ESPN publicly apologizes and takes action to remove the offensive tee shirt. Click Here to read all about it.

This trendy shirt targeting adolescent males encouraging violence against transgender people was pulled from the Canadian retailers shelf after this boys mother returned the shirt and alerted an outraged Transgender community


Xtra.ca reports that Zellers has removed the tee shirt after first trying to avoid the issue. Zellers claim they have responded adequately claiming they are "working with the vendor". This is news to the boy's mother Ashley Simpson, pictured right, who has said she has not yet received a response from Zellers.

One of the first comments on the Free Press article questioned, "what's the fuss all about? Why they emailed them and they pulled the t shirt".

Answer that question by action! Deluge parent company ESPN with emails and demand they make a example of this vendor who shipped this obscene hate inspiring tee shirt.

My email, feel free to use any or all,

Subject: Demand ESPN offer public apology for Zeller transphobic t shirt

To: Chris Brush
Vice President, Brand Extension and Development

Zeller department store offered to adolescent youths a X Game t shirt that specifically targets transgender people for violence.

I can not beleive it was coincidental or accidental that the lettering was so small as to escape parental notice. It is my belief that this vendor intentionally lettered this t shirt in this way to instill hatred of transgender people in the minds of innocents.

I demand you offer a public apology and remove this vendor from Zeller.

Kelli Anne Busey
Dallas, Texas

Chris Brush, is the vice-president of branding for parent company ESPN and can be reached at espnpr@espn.com

Chanel Larkin murderers hatred echoed by Sentinel Commentators

Murderous echoes.

These are first three comments found on the Milwaukee Wisconsin Sentinel story 'Transphobia and mean streets' by Forge Forward activists Michael Munson And Loree Cook-Daniels.

Our well being relies on our willingness to intelligently confront hatred. Please leave a comment on 'Transphobia and mean streets'

************
By "Aid to Idiots"

• #1. Larkin was not a "she".
  
• #2. Maybe the false advertising is what got him in trouble?
  
• #3. When are we going to stop coddling these gender variant cretins?
  
  

"Gender variant"? HUH!!!? I love these new terms...
I just wonder how much tax money went to a study to figure out all these stats.

Here's a little hint....If you're a male, show up for a job interview looking like a male and not some kind of freak. Vice versa for the ladies.

**************
By "third party advocate"

How does an article like this even get published? It is strongly empatheic towards the "commercial" aspect of this illegal and disgusting activity. Crime in general is the problem; there is no need for an "info-mercial" by the Journal Reporter.
Uncommon sense - Sep 12, 2010 12:06 PM» Report abuse

*************
By "Uncommon Sense"

This may qualify as the most ridiculous editorial EVER published by this organization-and the candidates are plentiful.

"Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign 2012" Globally +40 Cities Direct Actions

Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign 2012

Next October 23 the trans movement is going to carry out various actions as part of the Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign. These actions are pushed by the International Network for Trans Depathologization, which works to eliminate stigma and the pathological focus on trans identities set in the DSM and CIE diagnostic manuals. Its motto: "Trans identities are not a disease"

The campaign of October 17 2009 mobilized more than 40 cities throughout the world. This reflected the impact of the call for depathologization, stressing its global significance for the trans community. Hopefully the event will gather an even larger amount of activists from different cities, committed to the following objectives of the campaign, next October 23, 2010:

1.The removal of TIG from the international manuals of diagnosis (its next versions DSM-V and CIE-11).
2.The removal of the mention of sex from official documents
3.The abolition of treatments of binary normalization for intersex people.
4.Free access to hormonal treatments and surgeries (without the psychiatric trusteeship)
5.The fight against transphobia: educational efforts and the inclusion of trans persons in society and the labor process

In the course of these months a series of events has occurred that reflect without doubt the impact that the STOP-2012 campaign has had on the international stage. Thus the campaign has become a global point of reference for defending the rights of the trans
community; the delay of the publication of the DSM manual for 2013; the call of the 5th Congress on Sexual Education, Orientation and Therapy of the Multidisciplinary Cuban Society for the Study of Sexuality (SOCUMES), in favor of the depathologization of
transexuality; the APA draft DSM-5 publication, which while addressing the modification of "gender incongruence" persists with the stigmatizing and pathologizing concept of transgenderism; the release of a decree by the French Ministry of Health, which gives
trans identities an ALD classification (chronic illness),which allows it to be covered by health insurance, but continues the status of an illness; finally the Spanish government agrees with the need to stop calling transexuality a mental disorder, but if consequent,
should review its own law (3/2007, March 15), as well as the clinical protocols for the gender reassignment process, which allow for an autonomous and informed decision of the person involved.

Let us intensify our actions demanding all governments, international organisms and civil society to support the removal of Identity disorder from the DSM-IV and CIE-10 diagnosis manuals, as it constitutes a clear insult to the dignity of Trans people. It it is the
last bastion of appropriation of our bodies and the imposition of a binary frame for gender and sexuality, which has already been disqualified by what reality teaches us.

¡Stop Trans Pathologization!

¡Trans identities are not a disease!

We look forward to your fighting commitment participating in the campaign. Please tell us about your actions writing to:

contact@stp2012.info

belissa@ilga.org


read the article on ILGA's website: http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/mBGt6bB1GM

SEXY "Transman 2011 Calendar" proceeds to a$$ist Transitions

Jace is only one of 12 gourgous men featured!

Have a favorite month?

A new calendar project to benefit transgender men is currently under way – and they need your help! Born from one person’s desire to help her friend raise money for sexual reassignment surgery, the 2011 Transguys Calendar Project is a labor of love designed to provide financial assistance to transgendered individuals who need help funding sexual reassignment procedures.

The calendar will feature twelve gorgeous female-to-male models at various stages of transition. 100% of the proceeds from calendar sales will be donated to transgender individuals in need of financial assistance for medical costs associated with transitioning.

According to Project Coordinator, Maegan Beard, the goal is to raise at least $10,000in the first year and to continue the effort annually to help as many people as possible. “Eventually we’d like to be able to expand the project to include an annual Transgirls calendar as well to benefit people transitioning from male to female,” Beard says. “My ultimate goal is to turn this project into a charitable foundation and provide a central resource for people looking for help with funding trans medical costs.”

Maegan's labor of love..........

Volunteers are already lining up for the 2012 edition, and in a few short weeks the project has garnered nationwide support from individuals, corporations, celebrities, and LGBT organizations. If you would like to pre-order a calendar or make a donation to help with printing costs, please visit the Project’s website at theTcal.org.

Other volunteer opportunities are also available! If you’d like to get involved, contact the group through the website to find out what is still needed. You can also email Maegan Beard directly at hey_meg@hotmail.com with any questions or comments.

Seymour Pine, Vice Cop who Led Stonewall Raid Dead RIP

In the begining there were cops and reviled 'transvestites'.

Before the riot at Stonewall, a ambitious cop in good favor might be invited to participate in raiding a gay bar. He would do so energetically, hoping to prove his allegiance, beating patrons indiscriminately in hopes of hauling in a trophy career enhancing transvestite.

It was all about ignorance fueled by ambition as inspector Seymour Pine latter admitted. He has since reconciled his hatred of LGBT people and apologized for leading the Stonewall raid.

In that era the shame society heaped on transgender people was so intense all a arrested transperson could hope for was inconspicuous ignominy earned by silence regardless of the violence and humiliation so we were prime targets.

History repeated itself in 2009 with the gay bashing in Fort Worth. Our contemporary Stonewall at the Rainbow Lounge happened on the anniversary
of the Stonewall raid. Some believe that the Fort Worth Police intentionally staged the raid as a additional provocation. I disbelieve that the concurrence of the dates could have been simply providence. I think the choice was a intentional slap in the face to LGBT people.

Despite our protests FWPD Chief Halstead refused to terminate his favored officers. The only punishment, a few days off and a weak apology.
The truth is, we gotta keep our eyes on the Fort Worth police. Given a change in public perception, we could be once again beaten into silent submission.

Australian Atty Gen Ruling deals deathly discrimination against Transgender people

In the recent ruling won by by Australian Attorney General, transgender people must have completed sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) in order in be legaly recognized in their correct gender.

That's not all. The ruling specifies the original reproductive organs would need to be removed in order for the applicants transitional gender to be recognized.

This ruling will now be challenged in the supreme court.

If the Australian Supreme court upholds the ruling that a FTM transgender person "cannot be considered male if they have functioning internal and external female reproductive organs" a FTM would be required to obtain a prohibitively costly and dangerous surgical operation not available in Australia that would at best produce a sexually inoperative substitute penis.

The alienation and criminalization by Australia making transgender people gender outlaws.

Wouldn't a ruling like that be discriminatory if not applied equally to all of the population including cisgender people and not just a segment?

Perhaps what is needed is a compulsory 'reproductive ability' test administered to the general public determining gender. Male, female and undetermined.

BIG D Gay (& transgender) Rodeo Sept.10-11 @ Alvarado, TX

SADDLE UP my Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender amigos. Hola Hombres and hombre-ess's it's Time to RODEO!

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Location Diamond W Arena & Expo
8901 E. Highway 67
Alvarado, TX

Time September 10 at 6:00pm - September 12 at 11:55pm

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More Info Texas Gay Rodeo Association

We are a Texas non-profit corporation dedicated to elevating the image of women and men in the field of rodeo. Our purposes are to promote and stage an annual rodeo in Texas and to encourage the participation of its members in western-related events and to engage in charitable activities.

We are proud of our twenty five year history of gay rodeos and of our record of donating more than $2,000,000 to Te...xas charities.

TGRA, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization

Transgender female youth study indicates MTF have Highest Aids/HIV Infection Rate

The transgender elephant in the room.....the studies mechanics described for curbing this trend are correct, but without understanding the underlying forces driving this trend, the mechanics are useless.

This study examined our population (MTF) who are early in transition (youth) and compared the results against cisgender, homosexual and bisexual groups of the same demographic and found these alarming but unsurprising results.

From the study "Sexual Risk Taking Among Transgender Male-to-Female Youths With Different Partner Types"

"Methods
We interviewed 120 transgender female youths aged 15 to 24 years recruited from clinics, community-based agencies, club and bar venues, referrals, and the streets of Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

Results
Sexual risk behaviors varied by partner type. Transgender female youths were less likely to use condoms during receptive anal intercourse with their main partner and were less likely to use condoms with a main partner while under the influence of substances. Youth participants were also more likely to talk to a main partner about their HIV status. Our data identified no demographic or social factors that predicted condom use during receptive anal intercourse by partner type.

Conclusions
Research and interventions that focus on understanding and mitigating risk behaviors by partner type, especially those that tackle the unique risks incurred with main partners, may make important contributions to risk reduction among transgender female youths. read the study in full click here

Why would these results not surprise me? As a transgender female in early transition I was living proof of this study.

I engaged in risky sex because;

I had Low self estem, I was alienated from family and I was struggling with adolescent precepts molded by a overbearing patriarchy. I found camaraderie, identity and anonymity in the sex for drug culture. These social mores that brought me to that condition are self propagating. The people who defined our subservience and sentenced us to the resultant perpetual ignominy are the same ones who relied on our sexual availability and shameful silence to live out there secret fantasies, always unknown to their wives.

I was addicted to drugs and while high I temporarily lost my inhibitions and was a willing sexual partner, to anyone. I needed to stay high. Coming down was a bitch maginfing the shame and self hatred I sought to escape.

I could engage in multiple sexual activities in a short time when high and earn enough to 'maintain' my high.

I had a facilitative mainlining partner. We never engaged in protected sex in our open relationship. Becuse I was afraid I was infected I remained untested which served to fuel my recklessness.

My turn around was my higher powers doing. One fine day life, out of the clear blue, not just my own, but the well being of others suddenly became a prime concern.

After 20 some years.

I am employed.

I love Church.

I walk a hour a day for fitness. I am often propositioned, hooted and honked at and I simply smile. I am so happy with my boyfriend who loves me. I have goals, friends, advocacy and a kitty who loves me. I am so at peace with my creator(usually).

I wouldn't, couldn't not again to those depths of despair dive.

What can we do? Continue what we have been doing by feminizing our society which opens avenues for empathy, compassion and eventually sisterhood and brotherhood for all.

So I'll continue to read, write and talk about our female transgender elephant in the room.

Transgender Texas edispu nwod/upside down should Nikki Araguz lose

Think your transgender day in the grand republic of Texas is bad now?

Should our worst fears be realized, you may very well have to revert to your gender identity the doctor assigned you at birth, and up to this point the national gay and lesbian organizations may as well be helping to hang us out, upside down.

Maybe they feel it's a no win battle her or perhaps as the ENDA Blog suggests or perhaps they just don't give a damn.

Money talks and according to attorney Phyllis Frye gay.com hasn't antied up.

In a email Phyllis asks:

Where is the same national support given for the L and G same-sex marriage struggles? Has it remained nonexistent for over six weeks now because this Texas fight is insignificantly and merely a “tra##y” same-sex marriage fight, so who nationally gives a shit? Then are we a National LGBT-inclusive community, but NOT when it comes to financing the “tra##y” same-sex marriage fights? From here, it seems to me — still — that the national L and G groups and the big bucks L and G attitudes haven’t really changed very much. FOLKS, IT IS TIME YOU FIGURED IT OUT THAT THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE FIGHT IS JUST AS MUCH A TRANSGENDER FIGHT AS IT IS A LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL FIGHT.

TransYouth Family and Allies Organizing Legal Battle for Denied Kansas Student

Pennies From Heaven

Two moms transgender daughter denied access to school becuse of her gender expression seeks your love from our rainbow!

From Kim Pearson Friday, August 20, 2010

Those of you who follow my Facebook may be aware that I made an emergency trip to Kansas this week. A school there was refusing to recognize a 10 year old transgender girl's gender identity. They were requiring her to attend school as male and wouldn't budge.

I met with a school across town and they were happy to have her and wanted to learn how to make her school experience safe and productive. We registered her and expected that she would start school later in the week. I flew home to AZ.

Now the district administration has become involved and informed the parents (two moms) that their child will not be accommodated at ANY SCHOOL in their district. The child must present male or gender neutral, must use a male name and male restroom. The reason given is that to do otherwise would "interfere with the learning environment".

We are going to file suit against this school system. TYFA has retained the best attorney in KS with experience in GLBT discrimination. We need to raise an estimated $25,000 (or more) to litigate this case. I am calling this fund raising effort "Pennies From Heaven". Make any donation amount but end it with .01 (example 20.01) so that we know you are donating for the KS Defense Fund. Are you with me here?

It is time to take back our schools for gender variant students everywhere and we are going to start in Kansas.

LETS MAKE IT RAIN LOVE!

THANK YOU! TO MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW: click here

Kim Pearson
Executive Director
TransYouth Family Allies

Cristan Williams Debates the Nikki Araguz case with fascist Dave Welch

Cristan Williams of the Transgender Center of America agreed to debate on Fox News the controversy surrounding the Nikki Araguz case. Of course the lead questions all were bent to put Cristan at a disadvantage. Happily the Fox channel home-turf was of no benefit to Dave Welch who writes for 'world daily' which publishes extremist pseudo-christian, borderline psychotic right wing screeds. Watch and enjoy.

Welch: "Clearly we are at a point when we have to defend (activate the good ol' boy netwerk) and (re)define (discriminate) with the (Texas) constitutional amendment."


Welch: "You can't legislate on a fractional percentage of society". (like blacks, Jews, transsexuals and woman?)

It is clear.

Welch is a talking head for racist patriarchal white transphobes who would pervert Christianity inorder to facilitate the subjugation of ALL minorities by the Texas legislature.

Yes Welch, we CAN 'undefine' a institution inplaced by the majority that not only discriminates against, but denies minorities by segregation the privileges enjoyed by powerholders, this is America you plastic smiling turd.

Thanks to ENDA Blog's appropriately tittled post How to debate a plastic-smiled turd!

Uniting against hatred: the Shirley Sherrod Plea

I received this from the NAACP. It's about racisim but the bigotry that is behind this hatred is universal. Transgender people must stand with all people in a united strugle against injustice no matter who or where it is found.

from Shirley Sherrod Back in March, I delivered a speech to an NAACP Freedom Fund banquet in my home state of Georgia. I drew on my personal life story to urge poor people, white and black, to pull together and overcome racial divisions. We have to understand that our struggle is against poverty and against those who are blocking our path out of poverty.

Unless we figure this out, I warned, our communities won't thrive and our children won't prosper.

As you know, a Tea Party blogger named Andrew Breitbart released an intentionally deceptive, heavily edited clip from that speech to make it look as if I was delivering exactly the opposite message. Then Fox News blasted that false message across America's airwaves, creating a firestorm that led to my ouster as the USDA State Director here in Georgia.

Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, Georgia for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous. As he has done in public, Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal. I told him what I want to tell you.

That's behind us, and the last thing I want to see happen is for my situation to weaken support for the NAACP. Too many people confronted by racism and poverty count on the NAACP to be there for them, especially those in rural areas who often have nowhere else to turn.

People ask me, "Shirley, how are you getting through all of this?" I tell them that, if they knew what I have lived through, they'd understand that these current challenges aren't about to throw me off course.

When I was 17 years old, my father was murdered by a white man in Baker County, Georgia. There were three witnesses, but the grand jury refused to indict the person responsible. I knew I had to do something in answer to my father's death.

That very night, I made a commitment that I would stay in the South and fight for change.

I have lived true to that commitment for 45 years. I didn't yield when, just months after my father was killed, they came in the middle of the night to burn a cross in front of our house with my mother, four sisters, and the baby brother my father never got to see still inside.

And I'm surely not going to yield because some Tea Party agitator sat at his computer and turned everything I said upside down and inside out.

I learned a lot of lessons from my parents growing up, but one of the most important ones is what my mother taught her children after our father was killed. She told us we mustn't try to live with hate in our hearts.

My mother led by example. Just 11 years after that cross-burning incident, she became the first black elected official in Baker County, and she's still serving, still working to bring people together.

You and I have to keep working as well. Change has to start with us. I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I have received over these last few weeks. It means so much to me and my family.

But you and I have to make sure that people all across the country who wage a daily struggle against poverty and racism have support networks as well. And that's why your personal involvement in sustaining the NAACP is so critical.

The NAACP confronts the virulent racism that my family and so many other families have had to endure. But it is also leading the way in breaking down the structural barriers that block so many people's paths out of poverty.

In our struggle between the "haves" and the "have-nots," they want to keep the poor divided - and we have to insist, by our words and our actions, that there is no difference between us.

As we move forward together, I urge you to remember this: Life is a grindstone. But whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.

Thank you for all you are doing to challenge poverty and racism. I look forward to working and struggling right by your side.

Sincerely,

Shirley Sherrod

Degrassi FTM portrayed by cisgender actress powerful and intuitive

Cisgender female 15-year-old Jordan Todosey portrays a female to male transgender character Adam. The episode follows a purposefully hard hitting storyline about being a young transgender man who's very masculinity is challenged and even attacked.

xtra.ca"Hit teen TV show Degrassi has introduced its first trans character this season, and Xtra went on set to speak with actress Jordan Todosey, who plays the role of Adam. Watch our interviews with Todosey and writer Michael Grassi, and watch a clip of an upcoming episode featuring Adam."

"Watch Degrassi in Canada on MuchMusic from Monday to Thursday at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. The show airs on TeenNick in the United States. Adam's storyline comes to a head in the episodes airing August 11 and 12, "My Body Is A Cage". Catch the episodes online at muchmusic.com/tv/degrassi. www.xtra.ca

Read more from Steve Williams "Trans Story Tackled on Hit Teen Show Degrassi"

Jesus Christ, Kelli Busey and Whoopi Goldberg Give a Damn

I hope my transgender friends join this effort and are counted! Its the only way people will know you are alive. A New PSA from We Give A Damn.Org!



My shared story on Wegiveadamn.org

I am transgender male to female and having completed many of the prerequisite steps in rectifying my gender expression to match my identity and yet I still felt something was missing. I felt a unexplainable emptiness.

That was untill a cisgender friend finally convinced me to attend a service at a Metropolitan Community Church. The next few Sunday's my legs would buckle, my heart would roar and tears of joy fell from my eyes with uncontrollable joy!

After all these years of denial I could show love for Christ without reservation, without being belittled, without shame.

This is a love story, a begining, a wonderfull joining with Christ as I walk in his footprints on a shared 'path less taken'.

I wanted to share this what after all these years remains the very most important part of my transition. I hope you like it.

We give a Damn On twitter

Wegiveadamn.org

Stop Corporate Takeover of Web No Pay Per USE

PETITION: STAND WITH ME TO SAVE NET NEUTRALITY AND STOP THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF OUR MEDIA

The Comcast-NBC merger is the first domino. If it falls, the rest will soon follow. If no one stops them, how long do you think it will take before 4 or 5 megacorporations effectively control the flow of information in America not only on television, but online? How long do you think it will take before the Fox News website loads 5 times faster than DailyKos?

It's almost too late to stop this from happening, but not quite. The government can stop them… but first the government has to be MADE to act.

Net Neutrality is THE First Amendment issue of our time. If you want to protect the free flow of information in the country and all that depends on it, you have to help me fight this.

Sign the Petition! Help Senator Al Franken fight the corporate takeover of media