trump bans Trans people from the Military

Remember when trump called himself a "real friend" of the LGBT community?

Well, that was a lie and if you believed it, you were stupid.

Today, trump tweeted:

There's no reasoning behind it. There's no research to even support this. However, he felt that this was a major issue. This is pure bigotry.

We will fight this

Indiana Senate Committee Advances Bill that leaves out the Transgender Community

Yesterday, Indiana's Senate committee stopped SB 66, an strong anti-gay RFRA bill.

But the fight wasn't over, later that day, the same group heard SB 100 and SB 344. SB 100 would create LGBT protections state wide, similar to the already existing anti-discrimination protections already based on race, disability and age. SB 100 would also give exemptions to small businesses and religious organizations.

SB 344 would allow cities to keep their ordinances, but not provide protections for the transgender community. Well, after the debate, SB 344 advanced to the Senate. The organization, Indiana Competes responded to the decision:

This evening, members of Indiana Competes, a coalition of more than 425 Hoosier businesses and associations, joined LGBT rights supporters and faith leaders to testify before the Senate Rules Committee. Senate Bill 344 was amended and passed out of committee and will be up for consideration by the full Senate. The following statement should be attributed to Peter Hanscom, initiative director of Indiana Competes:

“The legislature had a chance to strengthen Indiana tonight and make our state more competitive, but this opportunity was not seized. We want to believe the General Assembly is sincere in their efforts to pass meaningful legislation to eliminate discrimination, but tonight’s hearing showed Indiana missing another opportunity.

“The Hoosier business community has said from the beginning that Indiana must be a place that welcomes all, not most. We respect the legislative process and will continue to work with the General Assembly, but we will not support a final bill that does not provide for equal rights for the entire LGBT community.

“Business owners, faith leaders and anti-discrimination supporters have shared the message tonight that Senate Bill 344 is still woefully inadequate because it leaves out the transgender community and provides numerous allowances for additional discrimination. That is not the answer.”

Freedom Indiana also responded:

“Lawmakers still aren’t listening. Tonight, they took a bad bill and made it worse for LGBT people in our state who have to live each day in fear that they could be fired, denied housing or turned away from a public place for who they are.

“Senate Bill 344 continues to fall far short of ending legal discrimination against LGBT people in our state. As amended, it repeals the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act but replaces it with substandard protections that omit transgender people entirely and provide religious carveouts that undermine the very purpose of the civil rights law. We will continue to work with lawmakers to fix this bill, but we are disappointed that they have not made the substantive changes we know a majority of Hoosiers want to make our state open and welcoming to all people.

This battle continues.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) honors the lives lost to anti-transgender hate and violence. Today, we will raise awareness around the issues trans people face every day.

Please take the time to know about the trans lives we've lost and the work we must do

Google releases a Video focusing on the Trans Community

Good job, Google

Miley Cyrus launches an Instagram project focusing on the Transgender Community

Miley Cyrus has launched a two-week Instagram campaign called InstaPride. The goal is to spread stories about transgender and "gender expansive" people. It started yesterday and it's already gaining a lot of attention.

I’m launching #InstaPride today, in partnership with @Instagram, to share stories of transgender and gender expansive people from around the country. Over the next 2 weeks, you’ll meet them and the people in their lives who support them, as we highlight their stories of resilience 🌈 #happyhippiepresents @happyhippiefdn

A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Jun 15, 2015 at 6:02am PDT

Hallmark Ad features a Mother and her Trans Son

So good, y'all

#WeJustNeedToPee addresses the Bathroom Bills

#occupotty #wejustneedtopee #translivesmatter #guyslikeus #thankyouforthesupport pic.twitter.com/ZUGf2ckHkx
— Michael C. Hughes (@_michaelhughes1) March 12, 2015

From Buzzfeed

Michael Hughes, a transgender man from Minnesota, was inspired by Carnes to start a similar movement in the US in response to the proposed laws.

Using the hashtag #WeJustNeedToPee, he posted pictures of himself in a women’s restroom.

 Hughes told BuzzFeed News that his main reason for bringing the campaign to the US was to show “how ludicrous these laws would look in action”.

He said he felt compelled to stand up against the proposed laws even though he is able to use his preferred restroom without incident.


“I used men’s restrooms several years before transition. I had a hard time using women’s rooms most of my adult life,” he said. “I would be able to use men’s facilities without question but that’s a privilege not every trans person has, especially early in transition.”

“I’m doing this to stand up for my trans brothers and sisters.”

Follow the hashtag, plus check out #PlettPutMeHere as well

In Charlotte: City Council fails to pass LGBT-inclusive ordinances

Last night in Charlotte, NC, haters, allies and fam appeared in the city hall to debate on the LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances.

The discussions were harsh, deep and at times, hard to endure. That chamber was filled with so much emotion, you couldn't help but to be drawn to the live feed. However, after all was said and done, the ordinances failed. Mostly because of a stupid and weak amendment by Councilmember Vi Lyles (a Democrat). Her amendment excluded restrooms from the ordinances, giving in to the foolish notion of trans folks scaring kids on the toilet.

The final vote was 6-5.

The Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance Coalition released this statement (via Q Notes):

The Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance Coalition is condemning Charlotte City Council’s decision on Monday to reject amendments to local non-discrimination ordinances. The measures would have added sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics, to already protected classes in four city non-discrimination ordinances. Their action repeats a similar rejection of inclusive non-discrimination protections made by Council in November 1992.

For the second time in our city’s history, Charlotte City Council has shown it does not have the courage or the conviction to stand for fairness and equality. More than two decades ago, Council members shamelessly rejected similar public accommodations protections. In repeating that sad legacy on Monday, Council chose to listen to the divisive, prejudiced rhetoric of out-of-town special interests who have been behind recent attacks on the rights of LGBT people across the state and across the country. They have proven they will stop at nothing to malign and discriminate against LGBT citizens and residents.

These safe and equitable protections have been adopted by 17 states and more than 200 local governments across the country with no ill effect, including in Bessemer City, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, and in South Carolina’s Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

Charlotte’s decision tonight moves the city backward not forward and shows a continued lack of commitment to fair treatment of all its citizens and residents. This coalition will not stop lobbying Council for these changes and will bring them back to city leaders for future consideration. We thank our Council champions and those who voted for the measure, placing equality over discrimination.

I watched most of the debate and again, it was a lot to take in. But if you want to learn more about Charlotte and the craziness around it, please go over to Q Notes. Matt Comer did a great job recapping last night.

HUD issues Guidance on Home Lending and Transgender Access to Homeless Shelter

Here's the press release:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued guidance to better serve LGBT Americans seeking to obtain a home loan and transgender individuals seeking access to homeless shelters. These two sets of guidance will help clarify the Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Rule (Equal Access Rule), which was published in 2012. The Equal Access Rule ensures that housing across HUD programs is open to all eligible individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.


HUD’s guidance on program eligibility for HUD assisted and insured housing programs includes an equal access provision making clear that housing that is financed or insured by HUD must be made available without regard to actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. It also prohibits owners and operators of HUD-funded housing, or housing whose financing was insured by HUD, from inquiring about an applicant’s sexual orientation or gender identity or denying housing on that basis. In addition, the guidance also makes clear that sexual orientation and gender identity should not and cannot be part of any lending decision when it comes to getting an FHA-insured mortgage.


“It’s an injustice that any transgender person is mistreated when seeking help,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “We issued this guidance so that shelter providers treat these Americans with the dignity they deserve. This measure is an important step in shaping a future where every person is accepted, respected and housed.”


HUD also issued guidance on how to best serve transgender persons in single-sex shelter facilities. The guidance will help address the fact that almost 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT, and the majority of them report harassment, difficulty, or even sexual assault when trying to access homeless shelters. This guidance states that a transgender client’s or potential client’s own views with respect to personal health and safety deserve serious consideration when placing the person in a single sex shelter. “Not only does the guidance address appropriate placement of transgender individuals in single sex facilities, but it also guides providers on how best to address privacy and safety concerns within the facilities in ways that do not segregate or isolate transgender individuals.


The creation and implementation of the Equal Access Rule builds on HUD’s and President Obama’s commitment to expanding opportunity, advancing equality, and leveling the playing field for LGBT individuals and families. Since 2010, HUD has taken steps to strengthen LGBT protections, such as adopting the principle that gender identity discrimination is sex discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, adopting the requirement that applicants for competitive HUD funds must be in compliance with state and local LGBT nondiscrimination laws, releasing a groundbreaking study on LGBT housing discrimination, and pursuing complaints under the Equal Access Rule.

Question of the Day

Do you know any Transgender people?

In Houston: LGBT Nondiscrimination Ordinance vote Delayed for 2 weeks

The Houston City Council hosted a debate over the LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance. Haters tried to paint their bigotry over the idea, while LGBT activists presented why it is the right thing to do.

However, the biggest issue was about Transgender access to bathrooms. At the 11th hour, Mayor Annise Parker made a last-minute change to the draft, in an attempt to deal with the critics. Because of this, the vote was pushed back.

See here


WATCH her speech after the jump

In India: Court recognizes Transgender People as a Third Gender

India's Supreme Court has somewhat made history. They are now recognizing transgender people as a third gender.

According to the BBC News, India has about two million transgender people. The common term used to describe the transgender community is hijra.

Here's more from the BBC

"Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue," Justice KS Radhakrishnan, who headed the two-judge Supreme Court bench, said in his ruling on Tuesday.

"Transgenders are also citizens of India" and they must be "provided equal opportunity to grow", the court said.

"The spirit of the Constitution is to provide equal opportunity to every citizen to grow and attain their potential, irrespective of caste, religion or gender."

The judges asked the government to treat them in line with other minorities officially categorised as "socially and economically backward", to enable them to get quotas in jobs and education.

"We are quite thrilled by the judgement," Anita Shenoy, lawyer for the petitioner National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa), told the BBC.

I have a new clip of the ruling after the jump

Laverne Cox gives an Amazing Speech at the 'Creating Change' conference - WATCH

Interesting Quote: Dr Rizi Timane

​I am disappointed in my country. This law is backward, and the harm it will do to so many people could be irreparable. Mass arrests have already been reported; right now there are people in jail simply for being themselves. Some Western nations have threatened to cut aid to Nigeria if the law is not repealed, but I’m not sure what good that will do to a nation that puts out two million barrels of oil a day. Perhaps a stronger show of force would work; I’ll call on President Obama to intervene in this breach of human and civil rights. But mostly I will pray for my brothers and sisters in the LGBT community back home and remind them it is always darkest before the dawn. Change will come. Just please hold on.

source

Bryan Fischer Scientifically proves that Transgender People can Cure Themselves through Prayer

Interesting Quote: Dr. Keith Ablow

I believe that children have enough to deal with as they struggle to feel comfortable with their bodies, with the notion of privacy and with later changes involving puberty without urging them to grapple with the notion that their souls may have been born into the wrong bodies.

What’s more, I don’t believe we have definitive data (although many psychiatrists with very impressive credentials, who seem to mean well, assert that we do) that any male or female soul has ever in the history of the world been born into the wrong anatomic gender.

Let me put that more clearly: I am not convinced by any science I can find that people with definitively male DNA and definitively male anatomy can actually be locked in a cruel joke of nature because they are actually female.

So, according to him, Transgender folks don't exist... SMH

source

Delaware now protects the Transgender Community from Discrimination

The Delaware Senate voted 11-10, to pass a law protecting transgender people from discrimination.

Once Gov. Jack Markell will sign the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act into law, Delaware will become the 17th state to protect the transgender community from discrimination.

Now, a little bit about the law.

It will provide protections in employment, public accommodations, housing, contracting, and insurance. Their are more detailed pieces to this bill, such as, clear intent that the anti-discrimination protections cannot be used for “improper purpose,” and disrobing issues in companies.

More info is here

Social Security Administration allows Transgender community to change their Gender Listing

Great News! The Social Security Administration changed an old policy that now allows the transgender community to change their gender listing on Social Security documents.

Here's more:

"Effective June 2013, Social Security is making changes to policies that may impact the transgender community in order to ensure we provide meaningful access to our programs," Social Security spokesperson Kia Anderson said in an email to Metro Weekly. "Specifically, we are making it easier for transgender individuals who wish to change their sex on our Social Security Number (SSN) records by accepting new types of evidence. We are no longer requiring surgery to change the sex identification field in our SSN records." 

Social Security will now accept a range of different documentation to update the gender field in Social Security records, including a state-issued birth certificate, passport, court order, letter from a surgeon or medical certification. 

"Most people may not see this as a big deal, but transgender people know that this seemingly small technical change will protect their privacy and give them more control over their own lives" said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, in a statement.

source

The Trans 100 list is Out!

The Trans 100 reveals the top transgender people doing big and great things in the community. I encourage y'all to take a look at this list and get familiar with our Trans family.

Full list is here

GLAAD officially adds Trans issues to their Mission

On Melissa Harris-Perry's show, GLAAD announced that they will no longer be known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. They will be changing the name to be inclusive of the Trans community.

However, the organization will still be called GLAAD.

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