planet trans

8/18/12

UK Big Brother Winner Luke To use Money For SRS

This clip from the Big Brother Reality show really highlights the incongruous of cissexualism and transgenderism. On our road less traveled those who are looking for intimacy are often faced with a dilemma. When are hit on and find someone attractive but being pre or by choice non operative at what point do we disclose that. My experiences with the opposite sex was much akin to Luke's.

homorazzi.com reports:

Anderson (who is a chef) told the Daily Star newspaper that he will use the money to complete his gender reassignment surgery. “Obviously you have the NHS if you can’t afford it but this money will definitely help me achieve a decent cosmetic look that I really want. It’s perfect.” He added, “I want to have a chest revision. The scars after my last surgery are pretty big so the revision will make them look like a fine line. The money will really help me get the look I want.”

Those who know me as a radical trans activist know I abhor linking trans story's to gay rags but in this case, cisgender publications called his procedure 'getting a dick' but Homorazzi was respectful.

8/16/12

Meteor Advert Advice No Fake Woman Big Mistake

Transgender Equality Network of Ireland understandably has taken offense to this video. It's not a leap from 'first bar' to 'really bad choice' to 'big mistake' to 'fake woman'. The response from Meteor who undoubtedly designed the advert for the free exposure courtesy of trans backlash, was measured but flawed.

TENI has kicked off a Twitter Campaign with the hashtag #MeteorShame.

They acknowledge they purposely employed a drag queen, who will undoubtedly come to their defen$e, but made they mistake of saying she was not intended to portray a LGBT person. What? A tall ugly woman? Not, that would be socially unacceptable, so why is a drag queen acceptable? It's not.

According to the Irish Times The Eircom-owned mobile phone company said it had not received any direct complaints and offered this statement:

“The actors used in the advertisement are professional drag artists and are not intended to portray or represent the LGBT community in a negative light or context,” Meteor said. It added that the male wifi user “does not look in any way uncomfortable or compromised by the fact he is dancing with the drag artist”.

Here we go again. Whats with the UK and transphobic advertising? And what's with all these unscrupulous drag queens?

Dislike the video on YouTube and file a complaint with here.

We are ALL Pussy Riot! Trans and Punk Folk RISE UP

Fear must not hold me back. I didn't know anything about 'punk'. All I knew of the word was in early days of transition when my gender expression fell so far out of the binary I was threatened with the word 'punk'. Not figuratively, but in reality in a dark parking lot by a very large black man.

I knew I wasn't punk, I was afraid of the word afraid of conflating it with transsexualism, but most of all I was afraid of what my friends would think if I was to come out of the closet. Contrary to what haters would have you believe many in the trans community are very 'rule' conscious, like me.

Including the cornerstone rule of being transgender. Be true to yourself. Punk Rocker Louise Distras caught my eye just now as I was checking the twitter hashtag #Pussyriot "we are all Pussy Riot" an idea I have been trying to introduce to our trans community for some time.

8/13/12

Transgender and Transsexuals UNITED for Pussy Riot!

A lot can be said about Pussy Riot's motives but one thing is clear. They are sacrificing themselves for our world community of gender variant peoples. And its time we show our appreciation and support before time runs out. Look at the countdown time to the right. We only have hours to do this before the 'court' hands down it's 'verdict' in a 'trial' that:

Did NOT allow the Defense witnesses!

That did not allow the Defense to present Evidence!

That the judge did not once acknowledge by a glance the accused!

A trial by the simple absurdity of the charges nade it clear the he verdict was predetermined

THE LGBT PEOPLE WORLD WIDE MUST STAND WITH

PUSSY RIOT!

Here are a few things we can do:

Sing a SONG,

Share on Facebook,

twitter,

tumblr,

and

blog!

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies Support Pussy Riot!

8/11/12

Pussy Riot In a Mosque? What would Allah Do? @Freepussyriot

This post means no disrespect to the Muslim faith which sadly I am ignorant about. I hope to point out Muslims are talking about Pussy Riot and not all are in agreement with Putin's assertions that they been far worst off had they done a punk prayer in a mosque.

Al Jazeera reported: (Putin)...suggested the women would have faced swift punishment without trial if they had put on a similar performance in Israel or in Muslim areas of Russia's Caucasus.

"Or if they went to the Caucasus and desecrated some sacred Muslim place, we would not even have time to protect them," he was quoted as saying."

I knew Putin was validating the extraordinarily unjust inhuman way Pussy riot was being treated by inferring another religion might not have been as understanding, but who was I to argue. I knew nothing about that, until now that is..

Наби Гитинов (GNabi) posted the following note on his facebook wall which was linked to by retweets a hundred ninety times including a Imam from Russia, n_mustafin a man of faith, "SUPERVAZHNY post from a Muslim about the fact that Pussy Riot would have done in the mosque. Read and do the RT!"

Was it just an opinion of a single Muslim, or a consensus? Judgeing by the number of retweets it was a shared opinion. The link leads to this story...

(One time) a Bedouin began to urinate (right) in the mosque, people got up (from their seats), to pounce on him, but the Prophet, may Allah bless him and be welcomed, told them: "Leave him alone and pour a bucket of urine on his (or: ... bucket) of water, because, really, you just sent to facilitate, not to make trouble! " (Al-Bukhari)
In other words, this was done in order to facilitate rapid comprehension of human precepts of Islam, and not to alienate the people from this religion. Make this conclusion themselves, do not let the rumors that the type of "Muslim foundations participating pussi riot would cut off their heads." No they do not cut off the head would be if they came and would have done in the mosque that did in the temple. But this does not mean they are allowed to do this in the mosques. On such cases committed in the mosques have heard a lot. In the past, or even two years ago (can not remember exactly), the mosque in Makhachkala ran completely naked girl. She was wrapped in a carpet and carried. She is nobody did anything. We talked and released ..."

From this narrative I presume that the Muslim leaders and his followers concur. If Pussy Riot had done a punk prayer in that Mosque they would have been educated in a way that would have promoted their understanding and released.

Note to Putin and Krill. The world now knows their choice of prayer locations was not random.

What would Allah do? I hope the Russian Orthodox Church and Putin stop using ignorance as a tool of violence and do as both Jesus and and I think Allah would do as well.

Free Pussy Riot.

8/10/12

Portland Bar Owner Told "Trannys" Not To Come Back.

Why public accommodations provisions Can't Be Bargained Away.

The owner of a North Portland Oregon bar, the P Club, left this message on one former customers phone, a transgender woman. If what the ladies say is true about there conduct, and I have no reason to doubt them, this is blatant discrimination.

"Hello, my name is Chris. I'm the owner of the P-Club Bar and Grill. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm going to have to ask for you, Cass and your group, not to come back on Friday nights."

"People think that A.) we're a tranny bar, or B.) that we're a gay bar. We are neither. People are not coming in because they just don't want to be here on a Friday night now."

(The Video loads slowly, here it comes...)

CBS Atlanta 46

According to Lambda legal Oregon's Equality Act makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people in public accommodations.

More at CBS Atlanta.com

Заключительные заявления на суде Riot киска | Closing Statement at the Pussy Riot Trial

Yekaterina Samutsevich, defendant in the criminal case against the feminist punk group Pussy Riot:

During the closing statement, the defendant is expected to repent or express regret for her deeds, or to enumerate attenuating circumstances. In my case, as in the case of my colleagues in the group, this is completely unnecessary. Instead, I want to express my views about the causes of what has happened with us.

The fact that Christ the Savior Cathedral had become a significant symbol in the political strategy of our powers that be was already clear to many thinking people when Vladimir Putin’s former [KGB] colleague Kirill Gundyaev took over as head of the Russian Orthodox Church. After this happened, Christ the Savior Cathedral began to be used openly as a flashy setting for the politics of the security services, which are the main source of power [in Russia].

Why did Putin feel the need to exploit the Orthodox religion and its aesthetics? After all, he could have employed his own, far more secular tools of power—for example, national corporations, or his menacing police system, or his own obedient judiciary system. It may be that the tough, failed policies of Putin’s government, the incident with the submarine Kursk, the bombings of civilians in broad daylight, and other unpleasant moments in his political career forced him to ponder the fact that it was high time to resign; otherwise, the citizens of Russia would help him do this. Apparently, it was then that he felt the need for more convincing, transcendental guarantees of his long tenure at the helm. It was here that the need arose to make use of the aesthetics of the Orthodox religion, historically associated with the heyday of Imperial Russia, where power came not from earthly manifestations such as democratic elections and civil society, but from God Himself.

How did he succeed in doing this? After all, we still have a secular state, and shouldn’t any intersection of the religious and political spheres be dealt with severely by our vigilant and critically minded society? Here, apparently, the authorities took advantage of a certain deficit of Orthodox aesthetics in Soviet times, when the Orthodox religion had the aura of a lost history, of something crushed and damaged by the Soviet totalitarian regime, and was thus an opposition culture. The authorities decided to appropriate this historical effect of loss and present their new political project to restore Russia’s lost spiritual values, a project which has little to do with a genuine concern for preservation of Russian Orthodoxy’s history and culture.

It was also fairly logical that the Russian Orthodox Church, which has long had a mystical connection with power, emerged as this project’s principal executor in the media. Moreover, it was also agreed that the Russian Orthodox Church, unlike the Soviet era, when the church opposed, above all, the crudeness of the authorities towards history itself, should also confront all baleful manifestations of contemporary mass culture, with its concept of diversity and tolerance.
Implementing this thoroughly interesting political project has required considerable quantities of professional lighting and video equipment, air time on national TV channels for hours-long live broadcasts, and numerous background shoots for morally and ethically edifying news stories, where in fact the Patriarch’s well-constructed speeches would be pronounced, helping the faithful make the right political choice during the election campaign, a difficult time for Putin. Moreover, all shooting has to take place continuously; the necessary images must sink into the memory and be constantly updated, to create the impression of something natural, constant and compulsory.

Our sudden musical appearance in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior with the song “Mother of God, Drive Putin Out” violated the integrity of this media image, generated and maintained by the authorities for so long, and revealed its falsity. In our performance we dared, without the Patriarch’s blessing, to combine the visual image of Orthodox culture and protest culture, suggesting to smart people that Orthodox culture belongs not only to the Russian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch and Putin, that it might also take the side of civic rebellion and protest in Russia.

Perhaps such an unpleasant large-scale effect from our media intrusion into the cathedral was a surprise to the authorities themselves. First they tried to present our performance as the prank of heartless militant atheists. But they made a huge blunder, since by this time we were already known as an anti-Putin feminist punk band that carried out their media raids on the country’s major political symbols.
In the end, considering all the irreversible political and symbolic losses ca

used by our innocent creativity, the authorities decided to protect the public from us and our nonconformist thinking. Thus ended our complicated punk adventure in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

I now have mixed feelings about this trial. On the one hand, we now expect a guilty verdict. Compared to the judicial machine, we are nobodies, and we have lost. On the other hand, we have won. Now the whole world sees that the criminal case against us has been fabricated. The system cannot conceal the repressive nature of this trial. Once again, Russia looks different in the eyes of the world from the way Putin tries to present it at daily international meetings. All the steps toward a state governed by the rule of law that he promised have obviously not been made. And his statement that the court in our case will be objective and make a fair decision is another deception of the entire country and the international community. That is all. Thank you.

• • • • • •

Photo courtesy of Alexandra Astakhova. Original text in Russian published here. You can view video of the closing statements by Yekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova here and here (in Russian).

Source: Chtodelat

Russian Orthodox Church "Standard Bearers" Burn Pictures Of Pussy Riot and Madonna

The Russian Orthodox Church's response to the world's cry for freedom for Pussy Riot? Burn them.

Study these faces well. If they find you in a place where they can do it, they will hurt you. They are the Russian state "christian" church.

But Pussy Rioters are not blameless they also used fire, fireworks that is, over the prison to celebrate a birthday of a pussy riot member! Салют в день рожденья Кати у следственного изолятора.

..and these tasteful pictorial editorials...

8/9/12

Madonna In St Petersburg Defies Kremlin! Are You Mother Fucking With Me?

Tonight in St Petersburg someone whom Putin's deputy diminutively described as a "Little woman" defied the St Petersburg Russian law forbidding gatherings LGBT people and asked thousands of wildly cheering fans, LGBT and allies, to raise there arms and show there pink armbands.

I'm with you Madonna. The world minus the haters are with you and sometimes its ok to say it, just say it. I'm with you motherfuckers.

I'm Having A Transgender Family's Baby: Full Episode

Note from kelli: Trans people have for too long been victims in family court.
I wish I could turn the clock back 20 years to the time when society ripped my baby from me. I wish I had a family that believed in me and didn't reject me, a human services department that didn't hate me for being trans. I wish I still had Sean in my life. But times? They are a changing.

More at Advocate

"Common Gender" Hijra Shunned And Clinging To Life

First-time director Noman Robin accidentally walked into a shockingly violent scene that propelled him into the movie making spotlight in his native Bangladesh -- and around the world.

Robin was at a mall as a hijra or transgender female was thrown first out of the men's room and then the ladies' room. As customers began screaming, security guards dragged her to the street and began beating her.

"What are you doing here?" shouted the guards. "I'm human! I need to go to the toilet," she replied.

Today, Robin's film, "Common Gender," exposes the shunned hijra -- transvestites, transgender -- who cling together in slums, rejected by their families and exploited by society that treats them as sub-human.

Common Gender on Facebook

8/7/12

Watch: Madonna At Moscow Pussy Riot, I Pray For Your Freedom

During the show Madonna paused and gave a brief speech, reflecting on the privileges of American freedom and democracy. “As an artist, as a human being, as a woman, I have freedom to express my point of view, even if other people don’t agree with me,” she said. “Even if my government doesn’t agree with me.”

“So I just want to say a few words about Pussy Riot,” she continued. “I know there are many sides to every story, and I mean no disrespect to the church or the government. But I think that these three girls — Masha, Katya, Nadya — I think that they have done something courageous. I think they have paid the price for this act. And I pray for their freedom.”

Later, she appeared on stage in a black bra with the name of the band written in bold letters on her back. She also donned a balaclava, the band’s trademark headgear. -NYTimes

U.S. Embassy St. Petersburg Warn Of Violent Threats Against Madonna And Concert Goers

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Madonna Concerts (August 7, 2012)

U.S. Embassy Moscow and U.S. Consulate General St. Petersburg

SECURITY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS:

MADONNA CONCERTS

August 7, 2012

This is to alert U.S. citizens in Russia who are planning to attend the Madonna concerts in Moscow on Tuesday, August 7, or in St. Petersburg on Thursday, August 9, that the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg has received information regarding a threat of physical violence against spectators and performers at the St. Petersburg concert on August 9. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg have shared the information with appropriate Russian law enforcement authorities. Russian authorities have indicated to the Embassy that they are taking appropriate measures in light of this information. While we expect that enhanced security measures will be put in place at both concerts, U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant regarding their personal security, and to be aware of their surroundings at all times, especially in crowded areas.

So we have been duly warned, but who is making threats?

Source: Delta World The people’s Congress and the Union of the citizens of Russia organizations have announced an action of protest against the concert the American singer Madonna will offer this Thursday in St. Petersburg.

In a joint statement, these organizations convened to St. Petersburg residents to form a human chain Tuesday in the Nevsky Avenue, the main artery of the city, to express their rejection of the singer.

“The people’s Congress and the Union of the citizens of Russia, as well as thousands of Russians morally healthy, consider inadmissible the holding of concerts in which proclaims the Vice and perversion, and becomes propaganda of violence”, emphasizes the call.

Its still pretty vague. Who is they? No website. No Press Release. Obscurity, the tool of oppressive regimes, but wait, who is really behind the violence? Christians, Orthodox Christians.

Source:Orange UK A spokesman for Russia’s Union of Orthodox Banner-Bearers — a support group for the Church that often wages fierce political campaigns — accused Madonna of interfering in Russia’s internal affairs and putting pressure on the courts.

“It is not in our power to ban her, but we call on the authorities — who position themselves as Orthodox believers — to do so,” the spokesman was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

“This little singer is openly mocking our laws, our traditions and our culture,” he said.

Other religious figures vowed to stage loud protests outside Madonna’s concert later Tuesday in Moscow and another performance this week in Saint Petersburg.

“We will drop by to say ‘no’ to blasphemy… and to explain our position to those who plan to attend her concert,” said Kirill Frolov of the Orthodox Experts Association.

I'm sure the US Embassy has more concrete evidence of potential violence but given the past few years when the police haven't just turned a blind eye, they aided and abetted and these christ-criminals. No not just that, the police are the criminals as the statements indicate. So if you are planning to attend as I wish I was, be careful and forewarned:

Christians will be present and violence is expected.

Carta Aberta enviada para a Embaixada Russa Lisboa, Portugal: Free Pussy Riot

Open Letter sent to the Russian Embassy Lisbon, Portugal: Free Pussy Riot!

NÃO A LEIS HOMOFÓBICAS! NÃO Á HOMOFOBIA NA LEI!
LIBERDADE PARA PUSSY RIOT!*

versão castellano, Português e Inglês

_____________________
Carta Aberta/ Open Letter
enviada para a Embaixada Russa/sent to the Russian Embassy in Lisboa, Portugal/ Abril 2012/April 2012
Contra a Censura LGBT na Rússia e pela Libertação do colectivo punk-feminista Pussy Riot

As organizações e pessoas abaixo assinadas vêm deste modo protestar junto da Embaixada da Federação da Rússia em Portugal, Presidência da Federação da Rússia e da Duma contra a possível aprovação da lei Anti-Propaganda Homossexual e contra a detenção dos membros da banda punk feminista Pussy Riot.

Como ativistas LGBT, feministas e defensores dos direitos humanos estamos extremamente preocupados com a lei Anti-Propaganda Homossexual aprovada e em vigor nas cidades de São Petersburgo, Arkhangelsk e Kostroma.

Esta lei visa criminalizar a divulgação de mensagens que promovam os direitos LGBT punindo com multas quem as emitir ou propagar. Os promotores desta lei, para além de equipararem a homossexualidade à pedofilia defendem que a promoção desta constitui uma influência negativa para as crianças, podendo igualmente ofender a maioria da população russa.

No dia 29 de Março, uma versão similar da mesma lei deu entrada na Duma (parlamento da Federação Russa). A ser aprovada estender-se-á a toda a Rússia e colocará em risco não só os direitos de todas as pessoas LGBT mas também de todos os defensores dos direitos humanos. Apesar de esta lei não prever a pena de prisão, no dia 8 de Abril Sergey Kondrashov foi preso por segurar um cartaz que dizia "Uma querida amiga da família é lésbica. Minha esposa e eu a amamos e a respeitamos. E sua família é exatamente igual a nossa."

O Parlamento Europeu já emitiu, este ano, uma resolução condenando e exortando “todas as autoridades russas a porem termo às restrições à liberdade de expressão no que se refere à orientação sexual e à identidade de género, em conformidade com a Convenção Europeia dos Direitos Humanos e o Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos; solicita à Alta Representante/Vice-Presidente da Comissão que transmita a oposição da União Europeia a estas leis”.
Por isso, exigimos a imediata suspensão da lei Anti-Propaganda Homossexual e o efetivo cumprimento dos tratados internacionais por parte das autoridades russas.

Como defensores da liberdade de expressão exigimos igualmente a libertação de Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova e Ekaterina Samucevich membros da banda punk feminista Pussy Riot.

No dia 4 de Março, as autoridades russas detiveram Maria Alekhina e Nadezhda Tolokonnikova e, no dia 15, Ekaterina Samucevich por conduta desordeira e hooliganismo depois de terem cantado numa catedral um hino anti-Putin. Estas mulheres podem ser condenadas a 7 anos de prisão por isso, a Amnistia Internacional reconhece-lhes o estatuto de prisioneiras de consciência e pede a sua libertação imediata no entanto, as detenções mantêm-se estando o julgamento marcado para o dia 19 de Abril de 2012.

Consideramos inadmissível a violação dos direitos LGBT, a recusa em proteger as minorias sexuais e o ataque à liberdade de expressão que está a ser promovido pelas autoridades políticas e pela Igreja Ortodoxa russas.

Vimos assim demonstrar a nossa solidariedade com todas as organizações, grupos e pessoas afetados por esta lei homofóbica, exigir a libertação das Pussy Riot e condenar as politicas discriminatórias das autoridades russas que têm como objetivo atacar as minorias sexuais, impedir a liberdade de expressão e de exercício duma cidadania livre pondo em risco o regime democrático e a laicidade da Rússia.

APOIAMOS TODOS OS ACTIVISTAS E GRUPOS RUSSOS QUE LUTAM PELOS DIREITOS LGBT! EXIGIMOS A IMEDIATA LIBERTAÇÃO DAS PUSSY RIOT!
POR UMA RUSSIA LIVRE E DEMOCRÁTICA!

Subscrições Individuais:

Alexandra Silvestre Coimbra
Alexandra Tavares Teles
Alistair Grant
Ana António
Ana Botica
Ana Nicolau
Anabela Rocha
António Costa Santos
António Pedro da Silva Pereira
António Subtil
Artur Neves
Artur Queiroz
Bárbara Rocha
Bruno Portela
Carla Rafaela Macedo
Carlos António Caeiro Vargas
Carmo Pereira
Cláudia Belchior
Cláudia Figueiredo
Cristiana Pena
Cristina Andrade
Cristina Paixão
Daniel Cardoso
David Agudo
Eduarda Ferreira
Emmanuel Theumer
Eugeni Rodríguez
Fernanda Câncio
Fernanda Lérias
Fernando André Rosa
Fernando Gouveia
Fernando Sánchez-Avila Estébanez
Fernando Sousa
Filipe Couto Gomes
Francisco João Martins e Sá Barbosa
Gracia Trujillo
Helena Alves Velho
Inês Meneses
Isabel Justino
Isabela Preto Junqueira
Joana Bizarro
João Labrincha
Joana Lobo Antunes
Joana Lopes
Joana Manuel
João de Sousa
João Manso
João Pacheco Paulo
João Pedro Prates de Oliveira
João Pereira
João Santos
José Carlos Tavares
José Manuel Duarte Fernandes
José Martínez Escamilla
Josué González
Lia Nogueira
Luciana Moreira Silva
Luciano Balisa Cavaco
Luís Amorim
Lourdes Baginha
Magda Alves
Magdala Gusmão
Manuela Góis
Margarida Paredes
Margarida Salema
Maria Galamba Sá Pessoa
Maria João Pires
Maria Olímpia A. Pereira Gordon Pinto
Mariana Avelãs
Marília Guerreiro Santos
Mónica Barbosa
Mónica Redondo
Natalia Telega-Soares
Nuno Canha
Pablo Pérez Navarro
Paula Antunes
Paula Gil
Paulo Jorge Vieira
Paulo Martins
Pedro Pereira Neto
Raquel Freire
Rita Paulos
Rita Veloso
Rosa Maria Santos
Rosário Simões
Sara Barbosa
Sara Boavida
Sara Martinho
Sarah Saint-Maxent
Sérgio Lavos
Soraia Pereira Silva
Tiago Braga
Tiago Neves
Vânia Martins
Vera Tormenta Santana
Veronica Alcalde Fernandez

Associações e Colectivos:
AMPLOS – Associação de Mães e Pais pela Liberdade de Orientação Sexual
Asamblea Transmaricabollo de Sol (15M- Madrid)
Associação Clube Safo
Associação Comunidária
Associação ILGA Portugal
Caleidoscópio LGBT
Ciclobollos Dykes On Bikes (estado espanhol)
Coordenação Portuguesa da Marcha Mundial de Mulheres
GAT - Grupo Português de Activistas sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA
Grupo Transsexual Portugal
não te prives – Grupo de Defesa dos Direitos Sexuais
Opus Gay
Panteras Rosa - Frente de Combate à LesBiGayTransfobia
PATH - Plataforma Anti-Transfobia e Homofobia
PortugalGay.pt
rede ex aequo
Rede Portuguesa para a Igualdade entre Mulheres e Homens
Secção de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos da Associação Académica de Coimbra
SlutWalk Lisboa
SOS Racismo
UMAR – União Mulheres Alternativa e Resposta

_________

(English)

The undersigned organizations and individuals present their protest to the Russian Federation Embassy in Portugal, the Presidency of the Russian Federation and the Duma against the possible adoption of the Anti-Gay Propaganda law and against the detention of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot.

As LGBT activists, feminists and human rights defenders we are extremely concerned with the Anti-Gay Propaganda law approved and in force in the cities of St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma. This law seeks to criminalize the dissemination of messages that defend LGBT rights, punishing with fines those who “promote or propagate” it. In addition to equate homosexuality with pedophilia, the promoters of the law are arguing that this gay propaganda can be a negative influence on children and may also offend the majority of Russians.

On March 29, a similar version of the Anti-Gay Propaganda law was proposed to the Duma (parliament of the Russian Federation). If approved, this law will be extended to all Russian territory endangering not only the rights of all LGBT people but all human rights’ activists. Although the law does not foresee detention for the ones who violate it, on April 8 Sergey Kondrashov was arrested for holding up a sign saying: "A dear family friend is a lesbian. My wife and I love and respect. And his family is exactly like ours. "

Therefore, we call for the immediate suspension of the Anti-Gay Propaganda law as well as the commitment to implement and respect international human rights treaties.

The European Parliament has already issued a resolution condemning the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg’s decision and calling “all Russian authorities to stop restricting freedom of expression in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity, in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; calls on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative to convey the European Union’s opposition to these laws"[1].

As advocates of freedom of expression, we also demand the immediate release of Mary Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich, members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot. On March 4, Russian authorities arrested and accused them of disorderly conduct and hooliganism after singing inside a cathedral an anti-Putin feminist punk anthem.

These women can be sentenced to seven years in prison. It is important to note that Amnesty International recognizes their status as prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate release, but Pussy Riot members are still in jail waiting for the trial, scheduled to April 19, 2012.

We consider unacceptable the violation of LGBT rights, the refusal to protect sexual minorities and the attack on freedom of speech that is being promoted by the political authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church.

We are here to demonstrate our solidarity with all organizations, groups and individuals affected by this homophobic law, to demand the immediate release of Pussy Riot and condemn Russian authorities for their discriminatory policies that aim to attack sexual minorities, prevent freedom of speech and limit the exercise of full citizenship. endangering secularism and democracy in Russia.

WE SUPPORT ALL RUSSIAN ACTIVISTS AND GROUPS FIGHTING FOR LGBT RIGHTS!

WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF PUSSY RIOT!

WE FIGHT FOR A FREE DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA!

[1] European Parliament resolution on the upcoming presidential election in Russia, 2012.

Individual
Alexandra Silvestre Coimbra
Alexandra Tavares Teles
Alistair Grant
Ana António
Ana Botica
Ana Nicolau
Anabela Rocha
António Costa Santos
António Pedro da Silva Pereira
António Subtil
Artur Neves
Artur Queiroz
Bárbara Rocha
Bruno Portela
Carla Rafaela Macedo
Carlos António Caeiro Vargas
Carmo Pereira
Cláudia Belchior
Cláudia Figueiredo
Cristiana Pena
Cristina Andrade
Cristina Paixão
Daniel Cardoso
David Agudo
Eduarda Ferreira
Emmanuel Theumer
Eugeni Rodríguez
Fernanda Câncio
Fernanda Lérias
Fernando André Rosa
Fernando Gouveia
Fernando Sánchez-Avila Estébanez
Fernando Sousa
Filipe Couto Gomes
Francisco João Martins e Sá Barbosa
Helena Alves Velho
Inês Meneses
Isabel Justino
Isabela Preto Junqueira
Joana Bizarro
João Labrincha
Joana Lobo Antunes
Joana Lopes
Joana Manuel
João de Sousa
João Manso
João Pacheco Paulo
João Pedro Prates de Oliveira
João Pereira
João Santos
José Carlos Tavares
José Manuel Duarte Fernandes
José Martínez Escamilla
Josué González
Lia Nogueira
Luciana Moreira Silva
Luciano Balisa Cavaco
Luís Amorim
Lourdes Baginha
Magda Alves
Magdala Gusmão
Manuela Góis
Margarida Paredes
Margarida Salema
Maria Galamba Sá Pessoa
Maria João Pires
Maria Olímpia A. Pereira Gordon Pinto
Mariana Avelãs
Marília Guerreiro Santos
Mónica Barbosa
Mónica Redondo
Natalia Telega-Soares
Nuno Canha
Pablo Pérez Navarro
Paula Antunes
Paula Gil
Paulo Jorge Vieira
Paulo Martins
Pedro Pereira Neto
Raquel Freire
Rita Paulos
Rita Veloso
Rosa Maria Santos
Rosário Simões
Sara Barbosa
Sara Boavida
Sara Martinho
Sarah Saint-Maxent
Sérgio Lavos
Soraia Pereira Silva
Tiago Braga
Tiago Neves
Vânia Martins
Vera Tormenta Santana
Veronica Alcalde Fernandez

Associações e Colectivos:
AMPLOS – Associação de Mães e Pais pela Liberdade de Orientação Sexual
Asamblea Transmaricabollo de Sol (15M- Madrid)
Associação Clube Safo
Associação Comunidária
Associação ILGA Portugal
Caleidoscópio LGBT
Ciclobollos Dykes On Bikes (estado espanhol)
Coordenação Portuguesa da Marcha Mundial de Mulheres
GAT - Grupo Português de Activistas sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA
Grupo Transsexual Portugal
não te prives – Grupo de Defesa dos Direitos Sexuais
Opus Gay
Panteras Rosa - Frente de Combate à LesBiGayTransfobia
PATH - Plataforma Anti-Transfobia e Homofobia
PortugalGay.pt
rede ex aequo
Rede Portuguesa para a Igualdade entre Mulheres e Homens
Secção de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos da Associação Académica de Coimbra
SlutWalk Lisboa
SOS Racismo
UMAR – União Mulheres Alternativa e Resposta

____________________
(versão castellano)

Las organizaciones e individualidades abajo firmantes deseamos protestar ante la Embajada de la Federación Rusa en Portugal, el presidente de la Federación Rusa y la Duma contra la posible aprobación de la ley Anti-Propaganda Homosexual y la detención de miembras de la banda punk feminista Pussy Riot.

Como activistas LGBT, feministas y defensorxs de los derechos humanos, estamos muy preocupadxs por la ley Anti-Propaganda Homosexual aprobada y en vigor en las ciudades de San Petersburgo, Arkhangelsk y Kostroma.

Esta ley tiene por objeto criminalizar la difusión de mensajes que promuevan los derechos LGBT, castigando con multas a quienes los emitan o difundan. Los promotores de esta ley, además de equiparar homosexualidad y pedofilia, defienden que la promoción de esta es una influencia negativa para lxs niñxs, pudiendo igualmente ofender a la mayoría de la población rusa.

El 29 de marzo, una versión similar de esta ley fue admitida en la Duma (el parlamento de la Federación Rusia). De ser aprobada e implantarse en el conjunto de Rusia pondría en peligro no sólo los derechos de todas las personas LGBT, sino también los de todxs lxs defensorxs de los derechos humanos. Aunque esta ley no prevé la pena de prisión, el 8 de abril, Sergey Kondrashov fue arrestado por portar una pancarta que decía: “Una querida amiga de la familia es lesbiana. Mi esposa y yo la amamos y respetamos. Su familia es exactamente igual a la nuestra”.

El Parlamento Europeo ha emitido este año una resolución condenando y exhortando a “todas las autoridades rusas a que pongan fin a las restricciones a la libertad de expresión en lo que se refiere a la orientación sexual e identidad de género de las personas, en conformidad con el Convenio Europeo de Derechos Humanos y el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos; pide al Alto Representante/Vicepresidente de la Comisión que transmita la oposición de la Unión Europea a estas leyes. “

Por lo tanto exigimos la suspensión inmediata de la ley de Propaganda Anti-Homosexual y el efectivo cumplimiento de los tratados internacionales por parte de las autoridades rusas.

Como defensorxs de la libertad de expresión exigimos igualmente la liberación de María Alekhina, Tolokonnikova Nadezhda y Ekaterina Samucevich, miembras de la banda punk feminista Pussy Riot.

El 4 de marzo, las autoridades rusas detuvieron a María Alekhina y Nadezhda Tolokonnikova y, el día 15, a Ekaterina Samucevich, por conducta desordenada y hooliganismo después de cantar un himno anti-Putin en una catedral. Estas mujeres pueden ser condenadas a siete años de prisión, por lo que Amnistía Internacional les reconoce el estatuto de presas de conciencia y pide su inmediata liberación. Sin embargo, las detenciones se mantienen y siguen pendientes del juicio programado para el día 19 de abril de 2012*.

Consideramos inadmisible la violación de los derechos LGBT, la negativa a proteger a las minorías sexuales y el ataque a la libertad de expresión que están promoviendo las autoridades políticas y la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa.

Queremos mostrar así nuestra solidaridad con todas las organizaciones, grupos e individualidades afectadas por esta ley homofóbica, exigir la liberación de las Pussy Riot y condenar las políticas discriminatorias de las autoridades rusas que tienen como objetivo atacar a las minorías sexuales e impedir la libertad de expresión y el ejercicio de una ciudadanía libre, poniendo en peligro el régimen democrático y la laicidad de Rusia.

APOYAMOS A TODXS LXS ACTIVISTAS Y GRUPOS RUSOS QUE LUCHAN POR LOS DERECHOS LGBT!

EXIGIMOS LA INMEDIATA LIBERACIÓN DE LAS PUSSY RIOT!

POR UNA RUSIA LIBRE Y DEMOCRÁTICA!

*La sentencia ha sido pospuesta hasta el 24 de junio. Mientras tanto, las tres Pussy Riot siguen presas.

Ending Transsexual Hospital Horror Stories: HHS Confirms We are Covered

I think pretty much every trans identified person can recount instances when we were made to feel uncomfortable, misgendered, and even denied emergency service because of our gender expression. And nearly everyone of us have reservations about returning to those intimidating institutions.

Under Obama-care this is no more according to HRC who reported this:

"In response to a letter from LGBT organizations, including HRC, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the non-discrimination provision in the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sex stereotyping.

This part of the law, referred to as Section 1557, extends the protections of existing federal civil rights laws – which prohibit discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, disability and age – to anyone served under any federally funded or administrated health program or activity, or any entity established under the Act. Individuals who feel they have been discriminated against in a healthcare program that may fall under this protection can file a complaint with HHS’s Office of Civil Rights here"

Kudo's to HRC for working WITH and and giving CREDIT to others who contributed to this project. I think it's a sign of the times.

8/6/12

VOTE Republican Kinsey Sicks for President:

I have changed party affiliations and vow to vote Republican! Vote Eerictile Dysfunction 2013, vote The Kinsey Sicks for President!

Just one more!!

Have some fun:)

8/5/12

Will Madonna's St. Petersburg Concert Be the Mother of all Pussy Riots?

The world holds it's breath for Madonna's August 9th St. Petersburg Russia concert. Will the material girl be good to her facebook pledge and speak against the newly enacted draconian law criminalizing "the propaganda of male homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgenderism among minors" despite being threatened with legal action and possible arrest? Its my belief she will and it's my prayer that she does so while wearing a balaclava, the trade mark of the feminist punk rock group Pussy Riot who's current trial for freedom of speech has been called Worst Than Stalin Era Trials.

The law author — Vladimir Putin’s United Russia deputy Vitaly Milonov "said Madonna and her concert organisers are most likely to face fines and that he “will have to attend her concert to monitor the concert’s moral content”. Previously Milonov mentioned he had planned forbid rammstein concerts in Saint-Petersburg."

"Together with his colleagues Vitaly Milonov is planning to introduce a bill to the Russian State Duma banning “homosexual propaganda” across Russia. “United Russia” has a majority in State Duma, and rights activists fear that such federal law could pass."

So what has Putin to fear? Obviously he's afraid of something. I think it's freedom of expression. Freedom of speech but as some one said "You can't jail an idea".
If Madonna does speak out as I believe she will, it's my hope when she does speak out against the repressive goverment in Russia that her fans are also wearing balaclavas.

Madonna hasn't shied away from controversy in the past. I hope its a all out Madonna style Pussy Riot!

Picture of Madonna in balaclava credit: sparla.

Madonna Facebook Screen snip from Madonna Facebook

Việt Nam đầu tiên LGBT Pride : Vietnam's 1st Pride Happening Now!

Vietnam a country so foreign is not so different as it turns out. August 3rd,4th, and 5th 2012 mark the inaugural Viet LGBT pride. What so struck me when reading the Viet Pride 2012 homepage was that it featured a video of Barack Obama's Pride Month opening remarks, the first time to my knowledge any United States President declared in a speech, transgender deserve to be treated equally.

I think our countries have a lot more in common than the war we waged on them. We are one people united in LGBT.

8/4/12

Worst Than Stalin Era Trials Say Pussy Riot Defence Lawyer

Хуже, чем испытания сталинских Скажите киска Riot Адвокат. Lo peor que los ensayos era de Stalin Di Riot coño abogado defensor. Pire que les essais ère stalinienne Dites Riot Pussy avocat de la défense.

ANTI-FLAG: PUNK-PRAYER "Virgin Mary, redeem us of Putin" (Pussy Riot Cover) by antiflag. Lyric's and statement at the bottom of this post.

Source: Rolling Stone "After five days' sitting in the cage, some days for 10 hours at a time, the women appear exhausted. Violetta Volkova, one of their lawyers, said they were being tortured – denied food and adequate sleep. After a week of being dismissed and lectured by the judge, she could no longer hide her anger. On Friday, as the judge, Marina Syrova, denied yet another defence objection, Volkova began to shout."

Syrova, her glasses forever perched perfectly in the middle of her nose, answered tartly: "You're losing the frames of dignity."

"Those frames long haven't existed here," Volkova replied, seething.

According to Pussy Riot's lawyers, Russia has revived the Soviet-era tradition of the show trial with its case against the group. "Even in Soviet times, in Stalin's times, the courts were more honest than this one," lawyer Nikolai Polozov shouted in court. Outside, during a rare break, he explained: "This is one of the most shameful trials in modern Russia. In Soviet times, at least they followed some sort of procedure."

I a unprecedented act of courage one of the Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova smuggled out of prison this interview sent to her by hecksinductionhour, published on Wordpress by www.colta.ru

What have you learned about himself, about society, about the state at the time of your arrest? How have you changed?

- "The state and society behave like a textbook on the left of the theory: the state punishes and represses, the company is struggling and changing. Behind bars you see, the theory comes to life. One can only wish to be, to develop and to give and share. I want to prison ecstasies, inspirations, revelations about freedom, and lack of freedom that follows from this after all a person needs to develop. I would like greedy to think, feel - because in the absence of external develops a mad interior life."

Lyrics to Punk-Prayer "Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away" by PUSSY RIOT
Lyrics via FreePussyRiot.org

(choir)

Virgin Mary, Mother of God, put Putin away
Рut Putin away, put Putin away

(end chorus)

...
Black robe, golden epaulettes
All parishioners crawl to bow
The phantom of liberty is in heaven
Gay-pride sent to Siberia in chains

The head of the KGB, their chief saint,
Leads protesters to prison under escort
In order not to offend His Holiness
Women must give birth and love

Shit, shit, the Lord's shit!
Shit, shit, the Lord's shit!

(Chorus)

Virgin Mary, Mother of God, become a feminist
Become a feminist, become a feminist

(end chorus)

The Church’s praise of rotten dictators
The cross-bearer procession of black limousines
A teacher-preacher will meet you at school
Go to class - bring him money!

Patriarch Gundyaev believes in Putin
Bitch, better believe in God instead
The belt of the Virgin can’t replace mass-meetings
Mary, Mother of God, is with us in protest!

(Chorus)

Virgin Mary, Mother of God, put Putin away
Рut Putin away, put Putin away

(end chorus)

Statement: ANTI-FLAG RELEASE SONG IN SUPPORT OF RUSSIAN ACTIVIST BAND PUSSY RIOT

"Dear Friends and Family,

Punk rock is much more than a t-shirt, a sound, a record, or a band, and it knows no borders or nationality. Punk rock is a community and a family that spans around the globe. By now you may have heard that three members of our community, three young women who are members of the band Pussy Riot, are being detained by the Russian authorities for performing their protest song ‘Virgin Mary, redeem us of Putin’ in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral on 21 February 2012. The three have been charged with "hooliganism" under Article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code. If found guilty, they could be jailed for up to seven years."

"Pussy Riot embody the spirit of punk rock which speaks truth to power that inspired the members of Anti-Flag to start our band and dedicate ourselves to the punk rock community and the planet. The Russian authority’s actions against Pussy Riot are clearly an attack on freedom of thought, opinion and artistic expression which must be protected for any society to be free. Anti-Flag calls for the immediate release of Pussy Riot and all prisoners of conscience. Whether it be trumped up charges levied by police against Occupy protestors, or the trumped up charges levied by the Russian authorities against the members of Pussy Riot, there is no difference in the police-state tactics that those in power will stoop to in order to oppress those who are willing fight for equality and justice for all, not just the wealthy few."

Boston Edge Calls MTPC " I Am: Trans People Speak" "Crazy Trannies"

The first article I read about the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition's project "I Am: Trans people speak" was from the Boston Edge article: "Crazy Trannies Invade Ladies Room! MTPC Dispels Common Myths".

The Boston Edge's title not only places transgender people past the outer limits of social acceptability, it uses a hateful word to accomplish that, but it doesn't suprise me a bit. The Boston Edge belongs to same Gay.com network that rebroadcast the Dallas Voice's vicious Campaign against me to normalize the word defamatory word "tranny".

So of course the Boston Edge jumped on the opportunity to use that defamation, one more time.
The lone comment as of this publishing was from anonymous who wrote

"The use of the word "trannies" in your title for this article without quotation marks was uncalled for and is exactly the type of misprint that is all to common in this clearly cissexist publication that makes too many grammatical errors when it comes to the Trans Community and our identities."

MTPC doesn't have anyone to blame for inviting that title or the perception from the greater population we are a threat in restrooms. The MTPC championed the states bill sans public accommodation provisions, and now they have the nearly insurmountable job of proving to Massachusetts people Trans people are normal enough they should be allowed the dignity the rest of the states population takes for granted.

When obviously before they were not.

But I'm not here to beat the MPTC up for trying, after all they are family, misled family, but family after all so here's the video...

8/3/12

Honey Badgering At Our Texas Towns Chic-Fil-A

What better place to get waste deep into the gay anti chicken frier grease than in my little redneek Texas town of Mansfield.

Chick-Fil-A is so ingrained in society here it's Manfields place of worship Monday to Saturday and the Methodists church across the street overflow parking lot where they run the church shuttle on Sunday.

So what better place for a radical transgender activist to make a statement on the gay kiss in day? What better place than this Chic-Fil-A where everyone knows about the bully.

So I walked into the Chick-fil-a I couldn't help but notice the look of suprise on one of our burly town police as he recognized me. See, I just quit a job at the walmart directly behind this Chick-Fil-A. I have served that officer quite a few times as well as everyone inside at the moment.

As I approached the counter the young lady looked me square in the eye and said sweetly "can I help you ma'am"? I replied "Yes, is your manager here?" and she turned around and motioned this tall young man over. So now I have the attention of all three people at the counter, but strangely the policeman seemed disinterested, so I ask the manager, Brandon, (thanks Anna) "Have you seen the video?"

Brandon looked perplexed and asked "What video ma'am?" I replied the video shot at the drive up window at a Chick-Fil-A.

Unable to avoid the topic he said "Yes Ma'am , we all watched it this morning". I saw that look, the one of detachment start to come over his face. As a former customer service representative we used to call what he was getting ready for "a acting job". He was getting ready to play his part.

I said "Yes that video, the one with that obnoxious guy. The one with that rude obnoxious bully". A look of relief crossed this young mans face as he began to smile and I continued "I just want you to know, we are not all like that. Most of us, in fact, respect others opinions and would never bully anyone." I asked him to shake hands as that nice cashier took our picture.

After that she asked, if I would like something to eat. I said yes, you know, I am in the mood for a salad. so ordering one I took out my wallet to get my debit card and realized that I had left it at home this morning after buying some kitty food. It was my turn to look her directly in the eye and apologised telling her it was a honest mistake.

She offered to buy my salad for me.

Now anyone who knows me I would never give money to a company who's president or board contributes to anti LGBT efforts. But I was so disgusted that the Huffington Gay would run a article lording that vile bully's actions, but even that wasn't the reason. It was a comment from a friend on my facebook wall that motivated me.

To many LGBT people bullying is just fine if we feel its just and we are the aggressors. My friend was very concerned that my views were divisive and could split our community apart. So concerned it seemed almost like a warning, I should just go with the flow and not cause a uproar.

That's when the honey badger in me leaps out. I will NOT be silent in approval of the very behaviour that contributes to our youth AND adult suicides. I will not be silent no matter how righteous the offended feel.

I do not approve of Chick-fill-a proceeds funding anti LGBT activities and normally I would never have even considered going inside that store but.... I will fight with every breath in my body for the right of every Aerican to freely, without fear express their opinion.

But that's not all of it as if it wasn't? Gay people have begun targeting the physically challenged as well!

Yes obesity is epidemic and without a doubt fast food is a contributor but this is fucked up. Gay people, please. Think, you know how it feels to be bullied. Transgender people think! You know how our physical incongruous is like flypaper to haters? Does it make you feel any better knowing we, our wonderful LGBT people are now known as bullies?

HuffPost Feature Video: Gay Ally Bully's Min Wage Worker At Chick-Fil-A

Huffpost gay Featured this articlevideo as if it was a win of some kind. Gay's, this kinda bullshit isn't going to win hearts. This bullshit isn't making any point other that a rich guy (in comparison) can act like a asswipe to a min wage service worker.

She didn't make that company policy. She's probably starving. She's probably just hanging on to her apartment!

What a asshole. Common, HuffPost. Really? You think anything was proven by him asking her " how do you live with yourself"? That's why I stopped supporting this boycott. I have never eaten at out towns Chic-Fill-A, but I did go in there to use there wi-fi once and was given a whole lots of dirty looks and wouldn't have gone back in there in any case.

So you disagree with a private citizen and want to express your anger about it MR BIG in the CAR? BE A MAN, and go talk face to face with the owner and leave that poor girl alone. Sheesh!

8/2/12

Roman Catholic Immoral Manipulators Try To Silence Latino Ally

A $40,000 Catholic grant was returned after a representative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops visited the community group soon after their leader, Gladys Vega, spoke out for a local Transgender beating victim. The absence of these funds leaves our allies, The Chelsea Collaborative Latino Immigrant Committee, which advocates for immigrant workers, in dire straights.

According to the Boston Globe The community group was shaken after a representive of the American Catholic Bishops visited their group. Following the visit the group tried to clarify what exactly the Roman Catholic campaigns expectations were in exchange for the grant.

"Ultimately, Vega said, the Catholic Campaign did not answer the questions to the collaborative’s satisfaction. At one point, she said, the Catholic Campaign suggested that specific questions about thorny issues — for example, about whether it would be acceptable to hold a rally in support of the victimized transgender woman — could be posed to local church authorities first."

"The group’s work is about community empowerment, Vega said, and the Catholic Campaign “is telling us that in order for us to do a campaign against the assault of a transgender woman we need to check with the archdiocese or consult a local priest. That didn’t sit well.”

My heroines and heroes...

"Vega said she is now scrambling to find other sources of income because few organizations underwrite the kind of work the Latino Immigrant Committee does. Recently, for example, the committee has been fighting for workers at a local bakery paid below the minimum wage. The grant represents 82 percent of the committee’s funding and helps pay for a staff member to assist the committee’s community activists, Vega said. The Chelsea Collaborative’s annual budget is $1.4 million, she said."

8/1/12

Our Lady J Music Video "We Stand"

Huffpost interviews Lady J:

(HP)Where did "We Stand" come from?

"We Stand" is about the power of two, how 1 + 1 = 3. I wrote it while riding a bus down Hollywood Boulevard! [Laughs] I hadn't gotten my driver's license yet, and it was too late at night to be riding my bike. (I now have my license, like a proper California girl.)

(HP)Many gay and/or trans artists say that their sexual or gender identities have little to do with their art, but in your case, trans themes seem to be prevalent. Do you think this is a fair reading, and if so, why do you include these themes?

When artists say that identity politics have "little to do with our art," it's really just a nice way of saying "let's not scare away the mortals" -- a valid point when an artist's survival could be threatened by the majority's limited exposure to the minority. The reality is that our sexual and gender identities do influence what we create, because everything in our lives influences our artistic output (unless we're completely splintered sociopaths). I publicly admit that my experience as a transgender person influences my music, purely for the fact that there are so few trans role models out there for the younger generation. I was starving for these role models when I was a kid, and the lack of positive media exposure for the queer community nearly prevented me from getting to where I am today. But to say that my music is only trans themed isn't accurate. Everyone can relate to the search for our true identities, which is what I'm really singing about.

Read the rest of the article on Huffington Post

Uncensored "Bunchh" The Androgynous Drawing Facebook Banned

There been much said around the web about this drawing by artist Wendy Pini creator of ElfQuest®. Many fans believe "Bunchh" is Androgynous or possibly transitioning male to female and think the censoring by facebook is unfair and uncalled for.

But every article I could find that show Bunchh like the one on lezgetreal had Bunchh's breasts and crotch area obscured. What the heck! Articles about censorship that censor?! So of course I had to find the real deal and post bunchh up in all her/his androgynous grandeur!

ElfQuest® posted this comment by fan Sonny Strait on their facebook wall...
"Wow! My mentor Wendy Pini got censored on Facebook for her picture of Bunchh. The interesting thing to me is I always considered Bunchh a male "in transition" but Wendy left even that to speculation. Bunchh was about as androgynous as you c...an get. So it's a very interesting philosophical quandary set up here. If it's okay to show male nipples, whats the rule on ambiguous ones? In a way facebook decided what even the creator of the series refused to set down...facebook decided Bunchh was female and therefore the bare chest was offensive."

I was one of the major backers of Dominic Scaia a post op female to male who was banned from facebook for showing his chest but this is different in fact... I'm a MTF and Bunchh's chest and mine look quite a bit alike (blush) so in this instance, I guess in our world where woman's breasts are to be hidden facebook has a point but...(so does both Bunchh and I and we both stand proud).

The image that Facebook wouldn't allow! Enjoy beautiful Bunchh as she/he was meant to be enjoyed! You can purchase your own Bunchh poster at cafepress.com

Pussy Riot, Gender Riot, An Act in Solidarity

A few months ago as you probally know a group of feminists in Russia staged the mother of all indiscretions. They took Jesus Christ's stage and asked for freedom for Russia from the developing oppressive dictatorial theocracy led by Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Krill.
Three members have been held in custody since and today, August 1st the third day of their trial for the 'punk prayer'.

Right now as you read this the prospects of a democratically ruled Russia and the freedom for these pussies is being determined in what many consider a mock trial.

More Videos Here

Are they unrepentant? No but they are being mistreated.

On August first the three incarcerated Pussy Rioters have offered an apology stating their objective to the Orthodox Pussy Prayer was not to offend but to educate. So far two of the those inside the cathedral have accepted that apology as a Christian should, but Patriarch Krill and Putin remain silent.

And why should be care? Because the reality is not only are they are fighting for freedom of speech in Russia they are fighting for every woman rights to diversity and self expression. Am I a lowly blogger from cowtown Texas making a stretch in saying we benefit from their sacrifices?

No. before Sting. Before the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Before MP's spoke out, before Amnesty Internationale's call for their release, the lone voices in the wilderness were small time bloggers (in comparison) like me, and Pussy Riot honored me by acknowledging my activism and the premise we are one united, by featuring that planetransgender post on their website.

@FreePussyRiot is a global @TERN for Freedom of Gender Expression. Undeniably the transgender and transsexual agenda is intrinsically intertwined with the cisgender feminist movement and as allies its our duty to support Pussy Riot any way we can.

Talk about this to a friend. Facebook about Pussy Riot. Tweet, blog and write about them in every place you have available!

Freeing Pussy Riot is one more TERN. Trans* Equality Right Now.

Here's how you can Help FREE Pussy Riot