Virgin Air Mogul Sir Richard Branson Losses Bet Now Must be a "Tranny" Stewardess May 1st

While it's not clear if Virgin Airline CEO Sir Richard Branson said 'tranny' in describing his payment for losing this bet or if Global Travel News used this defamation to sensationalize it's article t's usage in that context doubles the misogynous denigration all of womanhood. Wonder how Virgin Air stewardess and stewards feel about being the last thing their boss would ever want to be?

Branson who also owns a race car team lost a bet with AirAsia X and Lotus Racing boss Tony Fernandes over who would do best in 2010.

AirAsiaX CEO Tony Fernandes has said Branson has to comply with his company’s grooming standards and that includes shaving his legs, donning high heels, putting on some makeup, and slipping into the AirAsia’s famous red uniform. This task does not only entail serving champagne to guests but “tranny-for-a-day” Branson is expected to take on regular duties on the flight, including cleaning the toilets. "He will be committed to carry out the responsibilities of a flight attendant, including offering coffee, tea, and other food and beverages to guests on the special six-hour Perth to Kuala Lumpur flight," Fernandes was quoted as saying. ~ Global Travel News

Obviously Sir Richard Branson feels the most humiliating punishment a man could endure would to be a female for a day told the press it "will be my first, and most certainly last time as a flight attendant!".

That's kind of funny since I feel the same if I was forced into 'TRANSFORMING' in a misogynistic pig. Even if it was just for a day.
You can comment om this at the F1 Racing Facebook announcement.

H/T Gorilla Angel Report.

Illinois does what With LGBT students HIV/AIDS status?!

Illinois currently reports all students who test positive for HIV/Aids to their school's principle which is bad enough, but this is especially devastating to our trans youth. Transgender teens and those in their twenties are more likely than any other sub demographic to have HIV/aids according to the CDC. And transgender people with new infections are less likely to acknowledge having HIV/AIDS or to seek treatment even if health care is available.

Compound these factors with the fear a young person would feel of being outed by their principal to whom ever he wants to and the inevitable subsequent rumors, stigmatization and social ostracization. That would make the first step, testing, unlikely.

This should never be the case. Advocates for Youth are taking action.

Students in Illinois need your help to correct an outrageous violation of privacy.

Illinois is the ONLY state in which health authorities are required by law to notify school principals of the names of students that test HIV-positive. Their principals can then disclose the information to any school personnel they like.

A bill before the senate, HB 61, would repeal this invasive and unnecessary requirement.

Urge the Illinois Senate to pass HB 61

Illinois’ disclosure law was written in 1987. Unfortunately, even in 2013, HIV remains highly stigmatized. Sharing students’ HIV status without their permission perpetuates this stigma and could discourage young people from getting tested for HIV. Plus, it is a violation of their right to medical confidentiality. Read more about this dangerous law.

Let’s change this law. Sign the petition and tell the Illinois Senate to pass HB 61.

Sincerely,

Diana Rhodes
State Strategies Manager
Advocates for Youth

Ponni, Transgender Woman Realizes Her Dream Teaching Dance In an Indian Slum

Ponni, a transgender woman from Chennai, India had a dream 20 year ago as a youth. She longed to dance, but because of her gender expression Ponni was denied the classes she needed to hone her skills. She was forced to watch dancers, secretly, alone from outside peering threw a window.

Ponni's life long dream is being realized and much to her amazement, with the support of her students parents. Ponni's story is an inspiration to all of us as she crosses bridges, creating friendship with respect, hard work and unselfish dedication while dancing to her own music.

CHENNAI: The clanging of the 'nattuvangam' resonates with the synchronised thumping of more than a dozen pairs of feet. Dressed in purple and blue, the children elbow one another in the cramped room, but they snap to attention when their guru dances to the invocatory song.

The room is small and in a ramshackle tenement, but the clutter does not hamper the passion with which Ponni, a transgender, leads her students. "I want to be as graceful as her," says 12-year-old R Supriya, trying to perfect her mudras in front of the mirrors that line one side of the class.

Located in a slum in Vyasarpadi on the outskirts of Chennai, Abhinaya Nrithyalaya is the outcome of Ponni's 20-year dream. "I've wanted to set up a dance school for slum children since my childhood in Tuticorin when I was rejected by a dance class because it was open only to Brahmin students. I used to secretly stand by the window and watch them dance," recalls Ponni, who underwent a sex reassignment surgery in her 20s. Read more at Times of India

Photo The Hindu "Carving an identity with dance
"

About TERF's, MEMF MRE and RADFEM2013

Trans Exclusive Radical Feminist's or TERF who are making quite a spectical of themseves. Seems like a week doesn't pass without them distancing themseves further from true RadFems. It seems at times the TERF's pperate under the assumtion that she who yells the lousest and most is the most believable.



That simplistic approach would work if the TERF's didn't invalidate it everytime they speak. From a realitivly new blog "Sisterhood" about page: "This Blog’s Purpose
I am a radical feminist, a revolutionary feminist, a radicaldyke. This blog is part of the radical feminist online resistence to ensure feminism remains about the liberation of women."

The first post you will find like most others attempts to meld feminism with transphobia by conflating the trans agenda with MRE's (Mens Rights Extremist groups).

The first paragraph of "Sisterhood":" This post is intended to shed light on all that has happened, so far, to radfem2013. What has happened should be important to those on the radical left and all feminists everywhere – but thanks to alliances made between trans/queers with MRE‘s, it’s very difficult for us to be heard in the public domain without the distortions flooding our truths and drowning them out."

A quick perusal of Reddits r/MensRights will qickly debunk that fallacy. Asd a trans woman I have very little in common with there concerns but I respect their desire for equality. I am sure some trans men would more readily identify with those concerns expresed on that Reddit.

Quite honestly I had never even heard of "MRE's untill a couple of weeeks ago. I'm a retired solider. MRE's had always meant "Meals Ready to Eat" untill now.

But regardless of where we are under the umbrella, with a few exceptions, we are diamenticly opposed to the Mens rights groups agenda.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men's_rights_movement "Men's rights groups have formed in some European countries during periods of shifts toward conservatism and policies supporting traditional family and gender relations. In the United States, the men's rights movement has close ideological ties to neoconservatism. Men's rights activists have received lobbying support from conservative organizations and their arguments have been covered extensively in neoconservative media."

TERF's want to appeal to feminists. They envision themseelves as a 'radicals' fighting for womans rights. Most Radfems as it turns out, object to being lumped together with Radfems.

Việt Nam đồng tính sitcom trở thành "MY Best Gay Friends" Internet smash Hit With Transgender Actress Cindy Thai Tai

The you tube viral sensation "My Best Gay Friends" has taken Vietnam and the rest of the world by suprise quickly accumulating over 8 million views from April 2012 to April 2013. The series, a light hearted look at LGBT young peoples adventures and misadventures comes on the heels of a suprise announcement by the the country's authoritarian goverment last year announcing they were considering legalizing same sex marriages.

The actors are mainly gay and straight with one exception. Singer Cindy Thai Tai, the first known post operative Vietnamese transgender celebrity.

In episode nine a lesbian marriage is interrupted by the restaurateurs who complain

"The couple is female! This wedding goes against Vietnamese traditions and customs," the manager of a restaurant says as she forces the wedding party to leave the establishment. "They are violating the law."

Cindy Thai Tai protests, asking "so you think that the homosexuals have no rights to love and wed each other lawfully?" the manager quickly explains the establishment has no choice.

"Please madam, local authorities called us and forced us to cancel this wedding. If we go against the order we'll get a serious fine!" the manager adds.

The wedding is quickly moved to an alternative venue and goes ahead -- to the delight of the couple's friends and family present. mb.com

There are no subtitles, but they are not needed. love is universal and these emotions come through loud and clear.

$F Pride Demotes Bradly Manning From Grand Marshal back To Prisoner In a corporate Minute

Just hours after announcing Bradly Manning San Fransisco pride Grand Marshal Lisa L. Williams, SF Pride Board President posted this statement on facebook revoking Bradly's Marshalness:

SF Pride Statement about Bradley Manning

26 April 2013:
Bradley Manning will not be a grand marshal in this year's San Francisco Pride celebration. His nomination was a mistake and should never have been allowed to happen. A staff person at SF Pride, acting under his own initiative, prematurely contacted Bradley Manning based on internal conversations within the SF Pride organization. That was an error and that person has been disciplined. He does not now, nor did he at that time, speak for SF Pride.

Bradley Manning is facing the military justice system of this country. We all await the decision of that system. However, until that time, even the hint of support for actions which placed in harms way the lives of our men and women in uniform -- and countless others, military and civilian alike -- will not be tolerated by the leadership of San Francisco Pride. It is, and would be, an insult to every one, gay and straight, who has ever served in the military of this country. There are many, gay and straight, military and non-military, who believe Bradley Manning to be innocent. There are many who feel differently. Under the US Constitution, they have a first amendment right to show up, participate and voice their opinions at Pride this year.

Specifically, what these events have revealed is a system whereby a less-than-handful of people may decide who represents the LGBT community's highest aspirations as grand marshals for SF Pride. This is a systemic failure that now has become apparent and will be rectified. In point of fact, less than 15 people actually cast votes for Bradley Manning. These 15 people are part of what is called the SF Pride Electoral College, comprised of former SF Pride Grand Marshals. However, as an organization with a responsibility to serve the broader community, SF Pride repudiates this vote. The Board of Directors for SF Pride never voted to support this nomination. Bradley Manning will have his day in court, but will not serve as an official participant in the SF Pride Parade.

Reading the comments SF pride is paying the price. Discipline me baby.


The insult is how fast you caved to corporate concerns. I am not the only vet who has seen Prides go from a unabashed celebration of gayness by gay men to a outright red white and blue fight for cisgender corporate money. (not that thats a loss to trans people, just saying). The Prides have become nothing more than a big advertisement. So who are they inviting to assimilate the gay mans culture?

From the guardian's Glenn Greenwald "First, while even a hint of support for Manning will not be tolerated, there is a long roster of large corporations serving as the event's sponsors who are welcomed with open arms. The list is here. It includes AT&T and Verizon, the telecom giants that enabled the illegal warrantless eavesdropping on US citizens by the Bush administration and its NSA, only to get retroactively immunized from Congress and thus shielded from all criminal and civil liability (including a lawsuit brought in San Francisco against those corporations by their customers who were illegally spied on). Last month, AT&T was fined by OSHA for failing to protect one of its employees who was attacked, was found by the FCC last year to have overcharged customers by secretly switching them to plans they didn't want, and is now being sued by the US government for "allegedly bill[ing] the government improperly for services designed for the deaf and hard-of-hearing who place calls by typing messages over the web."