Bill O'Reilly fears the new Transgender character on Glee - WATCH

MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry discusses being Trans in America - WATCH

She is joined by Kate Bornstein, Mara Keisling and Mel Wymore a NY Democrat Council candidate

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A Mother learns to accept her Transgender Son - WATCH

I'm From Driftwood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit forum for true lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer stories. Earlier this year, founder and Executive Director Nathan Manske and two companions successfully completed a four-month, 50-state Story Tour collecting LGBTQ stories from towns and cities across the country.

RuPaul's views on the word 'Tranny' and the TV show 'Work It'

RuPaul had some things to say about the word 'Tranny' and ABC failed series, 'Work It'.

Of the ABC sitcom, "Work It," in which two straight men dress in drag in order to get jobs and which has been criticized by gay and transgender activists for mocking transgender women, RuPaul implores the activists: "Don't take life so seriously... We live in a culture where everyone is offended by everything."

On Lance Bass's apology for using the word "tranny," Rupaul says: "It's ridiculous! It's ridiculous!... I love the word "tranny"...And I hate the fact that he's apologized. I wish he would have said, 'F-you, you tranny jerk!'"

Well Ru, just because you like the word 'tranny' doesn't make it great to say. It's offensive and we can deny that.

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ABC Dumps 'Work It'

ABC just axed the messy, 'Bosom Buddies' RIP OFF, 'Work It'.

This show drew HUGE criticism from Trans community over their sloppy attempt to tell a story. Plus the writing was broke.

Here's more:

Out of the gate, Work It was dismissed by both critics (who criticized its brand of comedy) and the gay community (for the message it supposedly communicated). The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Human Rights Campaign took to out an ad in a Hollywood trade to show how the sitcom that starred Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break) and Benjamin Koldyke (How I Met Your Mother) have a negative impact on the transgender community. Using photos of transgender Americans, an ad in Variety features statistics from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force on discrimination to demonstrate how the comedy could be misinterpreted by viewers.

ABC Entertainment Chief Paul Lee told reporters last week that he didn’t understand the response from the advocacy groups. He has said in the past that, as a Brit, he appreciates the cheeky humor that comes with cross-dressing comedies like the Dustin Hoffman movie Tootsie.

GLAAD’s senior director of programs Herndon Graddick released this statement today: “While many of ABC’s positive and groundbreaking portrayals of LGBT people have been critical and popular successes, the public had little interest in this outdated show. As a result of this campaign, an important dialogue has been started in Hollywood and mainstream media about the real discrimination faced by transgender people today.” 

Unlike 'Tootsie', this premise was not cute.

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TN State Rep. Richard Floyd threatens Transgender People: 'I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him'

God, my homestate! When I google LGBT things in Tennessee, I never know what will pop up. Usually, it ain't cute. Like today, I stumbled on this piece of crap from state Rep. Richard Floyd.

Right now, he's trying to ban Transgender people from using public bathrooms and dressing rooms.

During the bill introduction, this idiot said some dumb and threatening things:

Floyd said earlier Thursday he introduced the bill after reading a news story about a Texas woman who said she was fired from Macy’s after stopping a male teen dressed as a woman from using a dressing room.

“It could happen here,” Floyd said. “I believe if I was standing at a dressing room and my wife or one of my daughters was in the dressing room and a man tried to go in there — I don’t care if he thinks he’s a woman and tries on clothes with them in there — I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry.

“Don’t ask me to adjust to their perverted way of thinking and put my family at risk,” he said. “We cannot continue to let these people dominate how society acts and reacts. Now if somebody thinks he’s a woman and he’s a man and wants to try on women’s clothes, let him take them into the men’s bathroom or dressing room.”

 Sorry, Floyd, but I think a Transgender person would whoop your ass if you tried that.

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The "Girl Scouts" Drama heats up

This girl made a fool of herself after launching this stupid cookie boycott. She is upset about the Girl Scouts' acceptance of a transgendered girl. Since the video was launched, the parents of this ignorant girl made the video private.

However, it has sparked a lot drama and many people are responding, like transgender activist and adult film star Buck Angel

Real talk, the parents of this girl should be ashamed and embarrassed

Transgender Teen Documents Transition on YouTube - WATCH

From HuffPo:

Recently, 18-year-old Owen Middleton began documenting his transition on YouTube. His first video appeared on November 10th, before beginning testosterone.

In it he notes he has been transitioning for "about 15 months or so" and has so far gone through the "basic stuff" -- "coming out to people that I've known for a long time, introducing and presenting myself as male..." but, as he recently turned 18, he now has a prescription for testosterone therapy.

Since then, Middleton, who lives at home with his parents and his sister, has made several more videos, one explaining the differences between sex, sexuality, and gender, and two discussing his feelings and reactions to the testosterone therapy at the one-week and two-week milestones.

The story of the Mainesis Twins, a boy and a Transgender girl

The story of the twins, Jonas and Wyatt Mainesis all over the web. Wyatt has discovered that he is a girl and wants to become Nicole. Now, the parents rally behind their child and support Wyatt's transition. Here's a piece of the story from ABCNews.com:

Their parents, Wayne and Kelly Maines, said they brought their transgender daughter into the spotlight in the hopes that their story might shed light on the struggle of others. 

"We sat down with our kids at the breakfast table when they were 9 and talked about fear, hate, evil and freedom of speech before sending them to school," their father, Wayne Maines, 52, wrote in an email to ABCNews.com. 

"I was very angry and sad to have to talk to our small children in this manner," he said. "We also told them to keep their heads-up, be proud and take care of each other and their friends. I am very proud of them both because they have not forgotten that lesson and they continue to help others whenever it is safe to do so." 

I am glad to hear that the parents are supportive. As Wyatt continues the transition, their support and love will go a long way.

Please check out the Boston Globe article as well, it's a very inspiring story of family bond.

Oprah's Network host Two Transgender Documentary Specials - VIDEO

In Spokane, WA: 3 Transgender Youths Kicked off a Bus

I was just there, well at the Spokane airport, at least. 3 transgender people were kicked off a bus for talking about LGBT issues.

The group, two twentysomethings and a 16-year-old, say they sat in front of the bus because they've known things to get hostile with other passengers in the back of the bus. Their initial discussion concerned one of their apartments filling with gay people. As the bus turned quiet just at that point, Jessica Jahn, one of the LGBT people, turned to the rest of the bus and said, “In case you haven’t noticed, this is the queer corner of the bus.”

The three say they then spoke quietly about one of them being bisexual. The driver allegedly told them their conversation was inappropriate. When they accused her of being discriminatory, they say she kicked them off the bus a mile from their intended stop.

This is outrageous! I was an hour away from this mess and didn't hear about this! The driver should be suspended.

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Dan Savage Gets Glitterbombed by Trans Activists

There are reports that Dan Savage was glitterbombed by Trans activists. Now, if you don't know, Dan is not the complete darling of the LGBT community. However, the issues from the Trans community were ready to pop. Here's the scoop of the ordeal from the DSWM.

 On November 1st, 2011, an operative of the Dan Savage Welcoming Committee (DSWM)     glitterbombed Dan while he was giving a Q&A at the University of Nike's Ford Alumni Center in Eugene, Oregon. During this session, the operative leapt to the stage and poured glitter over Dan's head as they shouted, "Dan Savage is a transphobe!" As they turned tail, they added, "Glitterbomb courtesy of the Dan Savage Welcoming Committee," and just before they got out the door, "He's a racist and misogynist and a rape-apologist, too!" The operative then fled the scene.

The DSWC is a memberless organization, and the only point of unity is that we have a problem with Dan Savage for anti-oppressive reasons. We encourage others who share our sentiments to let him know exactly how they feel wherever he goes. He has a huge voice due to his fame; we have to be creative to get heard over the din.

HuffPo gives a bit more info:

Savage, who was on hand to tape an installment of his MTV show "Savage U," has faced allegations of both being transphobic and biased against bisexuals in the past. In 2010, he openly criticized Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, noting, "It's staggering that Rob McKenna, a female-to-male transsexual, is making it harder for other FTMs (and MTFs) to access the life saving sex-reassignment surgery that allowed Rob to become the man he is today." (McKenna, who is married with four children, is not actually transgendered). Similarly, Savage's earlier use of the term "shemale" in several of his "Savage Love" columns generated heat from transgender rights activists, as did his decision to title one piece "Bad Tranny."

Though he has yet to comment on the glitterbomb incident, Savage dismissed the allegations to David Badash of The New Civil Rights Movement, noting that his view of the transgender community had shifted considerably in recent years.

Hopefully, his view of the Black community will considerably shift too.

CA Governor Jerry Brown signed 2 Transgender Rights Bills

Jerry did it! He signed in 2 Pro-Trans Bills into Law today!


Transgender Law Center reports:

Governor Brown just signed two important transgender rights bills into law.  The first, the Gender Nondiscrimination Act, brings transgender rights out of the closet in California - making "gender identity and expression" its own protected category at work, at school, in housing, at public accommodations and in other settings. The second, the Vital Statistics Modernization Act, makes it easier for transgender people to get a court-ordered gender change and updated birth certificate.  It's a big day for transgender folks in California!

Here are the laws

• The Gender Nondiscrimination Act (AB 887) takes existing protections based on gender and spells out "gender identity and expression" as their own protected categories in our nondiscrimination laws. By making these protections explicit, people will more clearly understand California's nondiscrimination laws, which should increase the likelihood that employers, schools, housing authorities, and other institutions will work to prevent discrimination and/or respond more quickly at the first indications of discrimination.

• The Vital Statistics Modernization Act (AB 433) will alleviate the confusion, anxiety and even danger that transgender people face when we have identity documents that do not reflect who we are. The bill will streamline current law and clarify that eligible petitioners living or born in California can submit gender change petitions in the State of California. The Vital Statistics Modernization Act conforms California's standards to the standards set by the United States Department of State for gender changes on passports, and it makes common-sense changes to the law that ensure the process is simple for qualified petitioners to navigate.

This great news for our Trans family in CA.

Wal-Mart now has Transgender Protections for their Employees

Wow, I'm surprised to hear this about Wally World.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart has added gender identity to their list of protected categories for employees.


Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, already has protections for LGB employees. The additional transgender protections were praised by the Human Rights Campaign.


“What matters in the workplace is how you do your job, not your gender identity or sexual orientation,” HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a press release. “As the nation’s largest private employer, Wal-Mart shows that doing the right thing is also good for business. We urge them to continue to move forward by ensuring all of their LGBT employees receive equal benefits.”

Maybe others will follow?

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New Report: Black Trans People Suffer the Worst Discrimination

This past February, "Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey" revealed a lot of information about the struggles of our Trans family.

Well, some updated info states that Black transgender people gets the worst discrimination of all LGBT groups:

Black transgender people had an extremely high unemployment rate at 26%, two times the rate of the overall transgender sample and four times the rate of the general population.

"A startling 41% of black respondents said they had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, more than five times the rate of the general U.S. population.

"Black transgender people lived in extreme poverty with 34% reporting a household income of less than $10,000 per year. This is more than twice the rate for transgender people of all races (15%), four times the general black population rate (9%), and eight times the general U.S. population rate (4%).

"Black transgender people were affected by HIV in devastating numbers. More than one-fifth of respondents were living with HIV (20.23%), compared to a rate of 2.64% for transgender respondents of all races, 2.4% for the general Black population, and 0.60% of the general U.S. population."

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Anti-LGBT Violence has Increased part 2: People of Color and Transgender people are Highly Targeted

Remember my posts about the number of Anti-LGBT violence in 2010? Well, a chunk of those incidents were directed towards people of color and 44% of them were transgender women.

Here's more:

The study also found that transgender people and people of color are each twice as likely to experience violence or discrimination as non-transgender white people. Transgender people of color are also almost 2.5 times as likely to experience discrimination as their white peers.

....

The NCAVP report found that half of those who experienced hate violence did not contact the police after their attack. The report further found that 25.4 percent of transgender women did not file a report. So what can be done to reduce these rates of violence against LGBT people and communities of color?

The Audre Lorde Project is among the groups that organize LGBT people in communities of color that are increasingly looking beyond law enforcement and the criminal justice system for a solution. The Safe OUTside the System Collective works with bodegas, businesses and organizations within Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood and surrounding areas to create safe spaces for LGBT people of color to curb violence.

“What’s true and important is our communities have been and continue to organize around issues of harassment—whether it’s neighborhood or community harassment or [harassment] by the police,” said Kris Hayashi, executive director of the Audre Lorde Project.

There are so many things we need to do. Please read the report to look at the solutions, maybe even create some of your own.

Our community needs us.

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University of South Florida gives Transgender Students New Living Options

After a transgender student was harassed by other students in a residence hall, the University of South Florida decided to offer transgender students a safer alternative to live on campus.

Here's more:

Beginning Thursday, students can identify themselves as male, female or transitioning on their housing applications. Anyone who checks transitioning can live alone, with a friend or with a randomly assigned roommate. A student's choice of transitioning won't be disclosed to any randomly selected roommate without permission.

Then, in the spring, the Tampa school will begin a pilot program with several "gender-neutral" dorm rooms for any student who wants to live with another student of a different gender. Rooming with romantic partners will be discouraged. 

I hope this helps the transgendered students. Kudos to USF for setting this up.

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In Massachusetts: Rep. Sheila Harrington thinks Trangender people Change Genders a Regular Basis

Rep. Sheila Harrington

Massachusetts’ Judiciary Committee is in talks for a Transgender Rights bill. However, it is clear that some legislators are not fully educated about transgender issues, like Rep. Sheila Harrington.

Here's the scoop from Think Progress:

While some opponents warned that the bills would lead to sexual assaults in bathrooms, undermine morality, harm children, and overburden state residents, others demonstrated their unfamiliarity with transgender issues entirely. In the clip below, Massachusetts Rep. Sheila Harrington (R) asks two transgender witnesses if transgender people are able to change their genders on a “day-to-day basis”:


HARRINGTON: “I’m not sure if this means that on a day-to-day basis you could be appearing as a woman or appearing as a man, but in your own identity and your own feeling of self you would be the other gender….”


GUNNER SCOTT (Dir. of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition): “I think one thing to understand is that transgender people, first many of us struggle with this for many years and at the end of the day we want to blend in and not stand out. As somebody who identifies as a man, presents as a man, according to my birth certificate it still says I’m female. And so what the opponents would say is that someone like me who looks male should be going into the women’s room. And I know that that’s wrong because I would make women uncomfortable.” 

See here:

UPDATE In Nevada: Two More Transgender Protection Bills reach the desk of Gov. Sandoval

Yesterday, 2 more bills protecting Transgender peeps hit the state Nevada. The community is now waiting to see Gov. Sandoval act on them.

The Assembly on Monday passed a bill adding transgender people to the list of groups protected from discrimination in housing or rental agreements.


Lawmakers also passed a measure prohibiting discrimination against transgender people in public places such as restaurants. The bill makes an exception so bars can host gender-based promotions such as Ladies Night.


All Democrats and three Republican Assemblymen voted in favor of the two bills. They now head to Gov. Brian Sandoval.


A third bill barring employment discrimination against transgender people passed both houses and was delivered to the governor last week. 

The Governor has until Wednesday or Thursday to sign or veto the bill. He needs to do the right thing and sign them into law.

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UPDATE Gov. Sandoval signed Bill 211 into law.

Sandoval signed Assembly Bill 211 in a ceremony attended by transgender activists and the bill's primary sponsors, Assemblyman Paul Aizley, D-Las Vegas, and Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas.

Under the bill, which will go into effect Oct. 1, employers cannot discriminate against people based on their gender "identity or expression," which could be opposite of the gender they had at birth. However, employers could require appropriate workplace clothing and grooming standards.
It becomes unlawful "to fail to hire or to fire or otherwise discriminate" against transgender people. 

Only employers with 15 or more employees would be subject to the law. Estimates are there are 25,000 transgender men and women in Nevada.

Nevada's Trans Protection Bill is on the table, Gov. Sandoval! Please sign it!

In Nevada, The Trans Protections bill is rett to go, but the fate of that bill lies in the hands of their Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Gender identity and expression would be protected classes in state employment protections should AB 211 pass. The bill's fate now lies with Brian Sandoval, Nevada's 47-year-old Republican governor. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sandoval aides have remained mum on what the governor will do with the bill. The state's senate has also passed legislation that would protect transgender people from discrimination in housing and public accommodation — the state assembly has not yet taken action on those bills.


“The state legislature is blazing the trail to full equality in Nevada,” said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese in a press release. “We urge them and Gov. Sandoval to continue to fight for what’s right and pass these important protections in employment, housing and public accommodations.”

The Governor has to see that this is the right thing to do. I hope that other LGBT organizations in the state are putting the pressure on him to sign it into law. Our Trans family needs the support and protection.