Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli Urinal Photo Doesn't Mean Squat For Trans Rights

Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli posted this picture to her facebook page and it has since been picked  by many gay blogs and mainstream publishers.

So there is no ignoring it.

 I think it goes without saying its controversial, but does Refaeli's picture promote equality by 'raising the Bar' as Queerty would have us believe? Or is it a tasteless self promotional stunt needlessly stigmatizing transgender people like most of the commentators on her facebook page believe?

My take on it? I think she thought it was edgy. Maybe she thought she was helping us. In any case she knew her superstar status would get a boost from it. News flash Bar, you're not helping us. You're picture doesn't mean squat for transgender rights.

Bar, I'm pretty sure you don't deserve the condemnation that "Work It" received with this image. We in the blogosphere fought long and hard, eventually helping to purge the ABC network of that plague.

Bar Refaeli, you are gorgeous and a ally, but that does not give you a free pass. If you really wanted to help try being real. Take a picture of yourself taking a squat. Now that would be edgy. For real.

Lex and Terry Show Offer An "Apology" Based On Lies and Transphobic Assumptions

Lex and Terry have responded to a story first appearing on the TransAdvocate about an attempted murder of a Tampa transgender woman and have issued an apology after making transphobic comments on air about this hate crime.

As heard on that segment: "There’s a teen that shot a tranny after finding out that it was a man after they had a little sexual encounter. A co-host responded, I don’t blame him. I would have shot his ass too."



Up to that point in time with no apology forthcoming SiriusXM Senior Vice President of Communications, Patrick Reilly notified us that Lex and Terry show had been pulled from the SiriusXM network. “As you may already be aware, the Lex and Terry show is no longer on XM. The show was dropped yesterday, Thursday, from the Extreme Talk channel on XM. That’s the channel under the control of Clear Channel.”

According to All Access.com Lex Staley released the following apology:

"I want to reach out the best way I can to the transgendered community. I deeply apologize for an insensitive remark concerning a news story being discussed on my radio show where a 16-year-old boy shot a transgendered person after they had intimate contact."

"Please know that my off-the-cuff remark was not intended to offend or hurt anyone, but after listening to the audio I understand why the comment caused hurt and anger. I had originally hoped to explain the context of what I said, but quite honestly, what I said was just plain wrong and there is no context in which my statement is acceptable and I take responsibility for it."

"I would like to clarify two things. One is that I work every day on a very liberal program. We are an advice show that has helped the LGBT members of our audience for the past 21 years. We have consistently supported LGBT equality rights on our show, well before it was popular to do so."

"Secondly, as a father of a young daughter I am always distressed when I hear of adults having inappropriate contact with minors. But instead of properly expressing my distress in this situation I made a stupid comment that had no place and failed to express what I was actually thinking."

"I deeply regret the insensitive and hurtful remark I made. My on-air partner and I will be devoting a segment on an upcoming show to discuss the serious issue of discrimination in the LGBT community. We’re all human and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity – as members of the media, we embrace our responsibility to use our platform to help our greater community." ~ All Access.com

Note, this apology does not appear on the Lex and Terry Facebook, web page or twitter.

I was blocked by Lex and Terry after the first post Does Clear Channel Approve of Lex And Terry's Rant Promoting Transpanic Murders? They Haven't said Otherwise.

It appears that Lex and Terry were highly upset that a transgender person would have the audacity to confront them openly about killing us. Posting this article I mentioned them in a tweet and as an act of good will attempted to reach out and follow.

The real issues:

Staley said the shooting occurred after intimate contact. The basis for Staley's angst was an unfounded assumption. Coco, the transgender victim was not arrested for having sex with a minor. She would have if she had been charged with having "intimate contact" with him. I can not find any media reports that state she was arrested for that.

The minor had 'expressed interest in dating" Coco as a means to lure her to an abandoned house to murder her not for sex.

I honestly do not know why Staley would issue an apology based on those untruths but I will offer two possible explanations.

1. You did not take the time to read the news reports nether before your screed or before offering this apology.

2. You suffer from latent  transphobia. We can help with that.  As a matter of fact some transgender people suffer from internalized transphobia as well. But the truth is I believe you are an intelligent man who normally would not allow ignorance to govern your actions, however...saying you lie is rough..but think of this as tough love, a transgender intervention of sorts. The kind you are asking for.

I cringed while reading your apology. Staley, you danced around the crucial points. You used a transgender slur, intentionally maliciously misgendering the victim saying you would have done the same thing (a trans person is murdered globally ever day and a half). I cringed again after reading your defense that you are liberal. Transgender people do not need people to be 'liberal' to be decent human beings.

Staley, you are not only lying to yourself about the reason you reacted as you did but your untruths are ultimately reinforcing transphobia which leads to....yes...more murders.

I seriously look forward to the Lex and Terry show addressing these core issues during the on air segment as promised. If that happens I will advocate for your return to the SiriusXM network.

Father Confronts Transgender Child Shopping for Prom Dress. What Would You Do?

Its time to feel good. About ourselves. About the people we share the earth with. Well, most of the people in this edition of "What would you do?" will make you feel good, but that's life. OK, so I feel a little guilty about enjoying these innocent people's emotional responses, but that being said, Enjoy!



Hat tip to Towleroad!

FBI Raids The Anonymous Member Who Outed The Steubenville "Rape Squad" And Threatened Him If He Talked About It!

NO ONE would have known that a 15 year old had been raped had it not been for a intrepid blogger's investigation who after being stymied by officials alerted KightSec in desperation. She knew the police, judicial and administration of Steubenville were in cover up cahoots. They were perfectly happy to sweep this rape under the rug and deny justice just to save the 'good name' of the local football team, Big Red.

The collective Anonymous became involved and threatened to release the contents of a hack revealing alleged child pornography in the Roll Red administrators  email account. Judging by the hits my blog received after I posted that article, that threat was what scared the local officials the most. It still scares them. They invaded this mans home knowing perfectly well another person admitted to the hack.

So in retribution the FBI has raided Deric Lostutter, a KnightSec members home, seized his computer, terrorized his family and pets and maliciously vandalized his home. What makes this last governmental crime Even worst was their their threat of legal actions should he make public those events.



KYAnonymous has set up 'home page' on which Deric Lostutter tells of the ordeal:

I had been expecting a T-Shirt in the mail from ShieldTactical.com and what appeared to be a Fed-Ex truck was parked in my driveway. As I open the door to great the driver approximately 12 F.B.I. Swat Team agents jumped out of the truck screaming for me to "Get The Fuck Down" with m-16 assault rifles and full riot gear armed safety off, pointed directly at my head. I was handcuffed and detained outside while they cleared my house. My brother soon emerged later with his new girlfriend, both bewildered that the F.B.I. was at my house seeing as I have no prior criminal history, both of them in handcuffs as well. The Swat team left my belongings in the floor, my dogs shocked, my family nervous, my garage door battered open with a ram though I stated I had a key, and the RV camper window broken for entry though I stated to pull hard on the door.

Looking around I seen the Swat Team of course, a few fbi detectives from Columbus Ohio, Lexington KY, and Louisville KY. Also with them were a state trooper or 2, a local sheriff, and shortly thereafter the buildings were cleared the CIS labcoat wearing "Geek Squad" so to speak who analyzes your "evidence".

I was detained on the back patio, I asked if I was going to jail, they said no, they said who are you, I responded KYAnonymous. They asked me a few questions, asked me for my passwords for my account, stated that I could not tell anyone I was raided or I would face additional charges such as "destroying/tampering with evidence".

I was emailed their intent to send out a "Target Letter" which means they are going to try to indict me for a Federal Offense, (most likely a felony and two misdemeanors) to a secret Grand Jury of 23 individuals, for which I can not be present to state my side, nor state my innocence. Let us not forget that Batcat did the hack, as stated in the Herald ARTICLE HERE which by all accounts is a clear admission of guilt. So I am curious to see the charges, as is the lawyer I have teamed up with, Jason Flores-Williams of the WhistleBlower Defense League.

Now in all fairness there was a controversy regarding the propriety of Anonymous acting without the govermen'st permissions on this vendetta for justice.



I honestly believe that without social media's ability to reach the public the government would do whatever whenever it wishes as they have recently contemptuously displayed.

KY Anon Facebook.

The final words of the KYAnonymous sums it up:

You do not have to be technical, you do not have to be "Anonymous", you just have to have the initiative, the drive to volunteer, to change the world. Plant a tree, Raise a forest. Speak out publicly against bullies both in school and workplaces. Volunteer to clean up disasters, Volunteer at a local soup kitchen, whatever it is you do, commit one good deed a day, or hundreds if you wish, and simply ask those whom you help to "pay it forward."

 Together we can change the world, Together we can change the quality of life for future generations to come. Check this page frequently for updates, photos, and more.

Go out now, and promote the idea that is #ProjectKnightSec 

Indian Transgender Activist and Actress Kalki Subramaniam Sexually Assaulted

Indian Transgender activist, singer, dancer and actress Kalki Subramaniam was attacked June 2nd while in route to her home in Auroville, near Puducherry India. Subramaniam was riding her moped when two unidentified men begun following her on bikes. When she crossed a unlighted section on the Karuvadikuppam bridge on East Coast Road the men sexually assaulted her ultimately pushing her to the gtound.

Kalki told Times of India "When I reached a dark spot, they suddenly came very close to me, sexually assaulted me and pushed me down onto the road. My moped was damaged and I was hurt in my left arm and right foot and was bleeding," said Kalki, who played the lead role in the film 'Narthaki' (embedded below), which won international acclaim. Kalki said her assailants fled soon after pushing her down. "A foreigner, who was passing by, came to my help," she said.

Subramaniam tried to report the attack at the Auroville police station but they refused to accept it saying she needed to know who the attackers were first. The police have denied that was the reason for not taking her claim saying they were unable to process Subramaniam complaint becuse she was unable to name the location of the attack.

Subramaniam responded to this on facebook "What an irresponsible answer and a lie it was for the police officer to say this to the press? I am a victim assaulted. Even if what they said was true, isn't it their responsibility to help me to find the place where I was assaulted?"

Perseverance paid off shortly later Kalki posted a facebook status update: "Finally, my FIR registered, promises made by the top level officers to take actions as soon as possible. protection for Auroville women assured with more police patroling and monitoring around Auroville. I believe, the crime prevention measures I recommended will surely be in action soon."

Kalki Subramaniam is founder of the Sahodari foundation empowering India's transgender community who's latest project teaching journalism would be very frightening to those who would desire our community's continued subservience. The world of transphobic haters need to know this, transgender people are one, united world wide. When you attack one of us you attack us all.

Kalki's lead roll in the critically acclaimed movie Narthaki is of great importance to the transgender community. The traditional role of transgender people in India's ageless culture validates our existence to pre biblical times.



The story begins with Kalki (Kalki) a transgender who is a classical dance artist, recounting her life's story to a journalist.

Synopsis:

Her life begins in Vilar, Thanajavur, as a young boy Subbu (Aswin), the son of a Silambam exponent (Karate Venkatesh) and a home-maker with a keen interest in dance. The boy grows up watching his mother, drawn to feminine adornments, and dresses.

He first discovers his attraction to his own sex as an adolescent, in itself an awkward episode. His cousin Meena (Leema) tries to engage his affections, but has no success. Matters explode when Subbu's parents come to know of this, and the boy, thrown out of his home, runs away.

It is after this point that the story actually picks up pace. You're shown the terrible strain faced by a young man who's confused by his sexual identity, and finds refuge with others like him in Mumbai. His gradual transformation into a woman, the pain he undergoes, both physical and mental, and his embracing of his identity is shown in neat and touching detail. A new world is thrown open to you, and it's a fascinating, although depressing, one.

Greek Transsexuals Are Being Rounded Up, Arrested and Threatened In a Pre Pride CrackDown

Amidst the Greek government's ongoing draconian reaction to the recent protests and the subsequent silencing of the media, there is yet another untold story of human suffering. The police at the bequest of the Orthodox church are targeting law abiding transgender residents of the northern city of Thessaloniki in a bid to terrorize the LGBT community by breaking the weakest link, before the city's second Pride.

*Update Aug. 12 Please sign the petition Tell EU Member States: Save Greek "undesirables" from internment camps!

The Transgender citizens of this city are already marginalized, and desperately need the world to know about this. This is not an isolated or one time occurrence. August 9th 2012 while conducting operation ‘Xenios Zeus’ Greek police detained and arrested 25 transgender woman during that one night. It wasn't until April 17th 2013 that the last of the woman were acquitted.

Source grr Reporter: The police in Thessaloniki has been carrying out a series of ungrounded arrests of transgender persons as stated by the Greek Transgender Support Association. "According to written complaints filed by our members who live in Thessaloniki, it is clear that from 30 May 2013 onwards, the police have been carrying out purges and arrests of transgender citizens on a daily basis. The same complaints state that those arrested are being taken to the police headquarters in Thessaloniki in Dimokratia Square, where the victims are waiting for at least three or four hours to be identified under the pretext that the authorities should establish whether the particular person was not a prostitute," reads an address of the non-governmental organization (NGO).

The Association stresses that the police behaviour during the arrests was offensive, humiliating and that it was intended to undermine the dignity of transgender persons. In three of the complaints, the victims note that traffic policemen had stopped transgender women while they were driving their cars without any proof or suspicion of any fault or violation of the law. Later, they were taken to the police station in order for their identity to be verified.

The testimonies of a large number of victims suggest that before being released from custody, the policemen threatened transgender women, warning them that if they did not "return to normal", legal proceedings against them would be initiated for indecent behavior in public places.



From the press release of the "Σωματείο Υποστήριξης Διεμφυλικών" (Greek Transgender Support Association) "Middle ages fascist police practices of Thessaloniki" the NGO's attorney, Electra Leda Koutra, talks about being arrested for trying to speak with the transgender people jailed during the sweeps that police begun on May 30th:

"I just got back from the police station, after a marathon night in Thessaloniki. [I]..suffered the most devastating mental violence experience of my life, from police officers, who I then sued for a multitude of crimes against me, including felony. Very briefly: When I wanted to visit my transgender client, who was in a detention center for the 3rd time in 4 days (like many transgender within the last 5 days, due to some sort of order they should be "cleared" from specific points in Thessaloniki), I was obstructed to see her. When I managed to get in, after calling the central alarm number of the police "100" and complaining about the obstacles being imposed on the communication of a prisoner with her lawyer, the officer on duty threw me too in the detention center of the police station and locked me inside, where there were mostly prostitutes, without informing me about the reason of putting me into custody."

The fascist police practices remind us of the middle ages and are not associated with any kind of rule of law.

The association for the Support of transgender people, declares that it will resort to justice, as well as to international organizations and forums asking for the condemnation of the Greek State, which on the one hand is responsible for the brutal trampling of the human rights of transgender people and of the lawyer who defended them, and on the other hand for the straight violation of every concept of application of law.

We honestly feel ashamed that the lawyer and President of the Greek human rights organization Pleiades Leda Koutra, Electra, suffered all this unbelievable humiliation and mental violence. We thank her from the bottom of our hearts for her perseverance and support to our struggle, and we apologize to her for those who made her suffer all this, giving the promise that they will be held accountable.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Electra Leda Koutra makes it known on her facebook page , she respects the majority of police:

"The fact that I have a very beautiful experience of my relationship with policemen who honor their oath and love out their duties despite the destitution, in terms of working conditions, salary, etc., to which and have condemned the policies of this site, I'm angry yet more serving persons as the perpetrator of the crime against me and sadly tarnished the image of the other. Please don't generalize on my wall with statements like "all policemen etc." because I have no appetite to help hate speech against any group.

The agenda for the ThessalonikiPride via Facebook:

Danish Transgender Victim Still In Danger Yet Perp Laughs and Smirks in Court

21 year-old denies hate crime was a motive for the attack

Smiling and grinning a 21-year-old trainee chef from Sønderborg in Copenhagen confessed to a magistrate today that he beat the 48-year-old transgender woman Cecillia Mundt down with a hammer in City Hall Square in Copenhagen.

The 21-year-old, who is on parole for assault, met the 48-year-old at the main train station by chance and asked why he (sic) was dressed as a woman. But the perpetrator denied that hatred of transgender people was the cause of the brutal assault.

“I asked why are you like this. I should not have involved myself, and then he (sic) called me a 'møgperker'” explained the 21-year-old to the police magistrate.

He was angry about this and followed the 48-year-old to City Hall:

“I happened to have a rubber mallet in my bag when I moved a few weeks ago, so I hit the back of his head”, the grinning 21-year-old in the told police magistrate.

“You laugh? You think this is funny?” asked senior prosecutor Maria Cingari.

“No, I just got something in my throat”, said the 21-year-old, but continued the rest of the hearing to smile and chuckle as he appeared relaxed in the dock.

Knows gay men
“I want to be accountable for what I've done. It is not acceptable. I have respect for people who dare to be different and I also know some gay men. It's okay that they are as they are”, said the 21-year-old. According to his explanation, he went only crazy because he was called 'møgperker'.
“He spoke rudely to me”, said the 21-year-old of the transsexual.

He beat Cecillia Mundt in the back of the head, so she fell. Then he ran off and threw the hammer away. He went home to Sønderborg, where he goes to the Technical School, and has a room. On Monday he should have been starting two weeks of work experience as a trainee chef at a hotel in Sønderborg.

Yesterday he called police and turned himself in. He was arrested at 10:10 yesterday.
The 21-year-old stayed at a hotel in Copenhagen when the attack happened. He should have gone home to Sønderborg on Sunday, but chose to stay in Copenhagen to 'get some fresh air'.

Victim in danger
At the hearing it emerged that Cecillia Mundt was in potential danger. She had a three-way fracture on the right side of the head and a piece of bone of 2.5 times 2.5 centimeters was pressed into the skull, but luckily without bleeding. Moreover, the 48-year-old had abrasions on the hands, face and scalp probably from the fall.

The 21-year-old denies that he struck the 48-year-old in the head more than once.

Prosecutor Maria Cingari doubts that the damage could have been caused by a rubber hammer, but according to defender Peter Giersing also a witness described the hammer as a rubber mallet.
The 21-year-old, who is heavily tattooed on the left leg and in the neck, sat in the police magistrate in short black pants and gray hoodie.

He has twice previously been convicted for domestic violence. In May 2009, he was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment for violence by a court in Sønderborg. In August 2011, he was given four months in prison for aggravated assault, also in Sønderborg and he is on parole with probation until 27 January 2014 with 42 days remaining to be served.

He was remanded in custody for 16 days until 24 June, both for the risk of new violent crime and the interests of the gravity of the pffence and the sense of justice.

“Can I go now?” asked the 21-year-old and was with a small smile on his face and was led out of the police magistrates court.

Click Here Opens In New Window, Cecillia Mundt Interview In Danish

Cecilia's Response: Attacker is full of lies.

That's just sickening that he comes out with that. I am not a racist and would not dream of calling someone 'møgperker'.

The 48-year-old transgender Cecillia Mundt is shocked by the 21-year-old violent man's explanation in Copenhagen magistrate today.

Here he claimed that the motive for his brutal assault with a hammer on Cecillia Mundt on the square was not due to that she is a transsexual, but that she called the 21-year-old for 'møgperker'.

The 21-year-old trainee chef claims he randomly met Cecillia Mundt at the main train station and asked 'why she looked like that' on the grounds that she was dressed as a woman.

Cecillia Mundt changed sex when she was 46 years old, and the police magistrate claimed the accused that he was told that “he (sic) hadn’t shaved” and then he was called 'møgperker'. Therefore he followed Cecilla Mundt to City Hall, where he beat her down from behind with a rubber mallet, which he happened to have in his bag.

“I have never spoken to him.”

“It is simply something he has done. I have never met him before or talked to him before. I have no idea what he looks like and no one stopped me or spoke to me before I felt the attack from behind and fell, said Cecillia Mundt to Ekstra Bladet from her sick bed.

She is convinced that the assault is a hate crime due to her sexual orientation, she is upfront about.
If someone asks me, then I explain to them that I am a transsexual. It's not something I hide. My neighbors are of a different ethnic origin and they respect me 100 percent as a woman. I would never call anyone for 'møgperker' says Cecillia Mundt.

Cecillia Mundt had eaten with a friend who is a journalism student and who is writing a thesis about transsexuals when she went to City Hall and sent a text message along the way. Suddenly she felt the attack in her head and it all went black.

According to doctors, she was in potential danger. Amongst other things there was a large piece of bone pressing into herskull.

“The attacker’s explanation was that he "only" used a rubber mallet, I think he did not.”

“I'm missing a piece of the skull for life. A rubber mallet did not do that, said Cecillia Mundt. Doctors have implanted a titanium mesh in her head instead of the broken skull pieces.”

“I do not know when I will be able to go home. There is enough for a while. I still have severe pain and have an increased dose of pain medication. It is slow sending an SMS message for example”, says the 48-year-old.

But Cecillia Mundt has only compassion for the perpetrator.

“I would like to meet him and ask him why he did it. He must be sick and in need of help,” she says.
The 21-year-old has two previous convictions for violence and was released on parole.


Original story at ekstrabladet.dk. Translated by Natacha Kennedy and posted on Uncommon Sense blogspot. Cross posted with full permission.

"møgperker" (possibly meaning Motherfucker or maybe a racial slur targeting Islam?)

Wisconsin man charged with Hate Crime For Brutal Attack on Gender Variant Person

Wisconsin Gazette reports: "Authorities have arrested Tom Pruett of Appleton in connection with the assault. Pruett faces a charge of substantial battery-hate crime, a felony, and disorderly conduct-hate crime."

The Fox Valley & Oshkosh Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Anti-Violence Project (AVP), in a press statement, said, “We applaud the actions of Appleton Police Department and the Outagamie County district’s attorney’s office for their swift and thorough response and their sensitivity to the victim of the crime.”

The defendant, according to the AVP, used slurs, assailing the victim’s perceived sexual orientation and gender identity while committing the physical assault.

Kathy Flores, of both the AVP and Appleton's diversity coordinator, said the individual, who identifies as gender variant, was in the park at about 7:30 p.m. when the assailant began shouting "faggot" and "queer" and began beating the victim.

She said the victim suffered a broken orbital bone and suffered massive bruises, contusions and was bleeding. She also said that the defendant, who was homeless, had punched the victim in the eye the night before.

"We still have so much hate against people just trying to be themselves," said Flores.

Pruett made a court appearance on June 5 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in court on June 13.

Man charged with attacking transgender person

Navy Seal Kristen Beck speaks with Anderson Cooper: Navy SEAL to a feminine woman.

AC: It must have been hard keeping this inside yourself. If it got out that you were transgender during those 20 years, what would have been the outcome?

Beck: I don't know I might have ended up dead.

DC Council set to vote on changing transgender birth certificate requirements

Currently the District of Columbia requires Sexual Reassignment Surgery and three weeks of advertising in local news papers before a transgender person can amend their birth certificate. But that's all about to change.

NBC Washington reports: The D.C. Council Judiciary Committee voted to wipe away a lot of those restrictions on sex identity changes, approving a proposal that would require only a certified statement from a medical doctor and would eliminate the publicity and surgery requirements.

“I'm proud that we are doing this during pride week,” Councilmember Tommy Wells said. “It's a time when we recognize equality among all District residents.”

If passed, the new law also would issue a new birth certificate rather than simply amending the old one. Amended birth certificates are clear tipoffs for more discrimination.

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Does Clear Channel Approve of Lex And Terry's Rant Promoting Transpanic Murders? They Haven't said Otherwise.

Update 6/7/13Today, Cristan Williams over at the TransAdvocate was notified by the SiriusXM Senior Vice President of Communications, Patrick Reilly that Lex and Terry show had been pulled from the SiriusXM network. “As you may already be aware, the Lex and Terry show is no longer on XM. The show was dropped yesterday, Thursday, from the Extreme Talk channel on XM. That’s the channel under the control of Clear Channel.”
Cristan also reports that Glaad has been in contact with the Lex and Terry show and have been promised an official apology is forthcoming. Clear Channel has yet to respond.

+++++++++
posted 6/6/2013
Yesterday I was alerted via a tweet by TransAdvocate about a conversation heard on SiriusXM advocating for and approving of a recent hate crime against a local transgender woman.

On Friday (06/03/2013), the Lex and Terry show began discussing the shooting of a Tampa transgender woman that is being investigated as a hate crime by police saying, "There’s a teen that shot a tranny after finding out that it was a man after they had a little sexual encounter. A co-host responded, I don’t blame him. I would have shot his ass too."



Lex and Terry were offering encouragement to others to commit a criminal act. Not just any criminal act but a hate crime targeting transgender people so I retweeted TransAdvocate.

Much to SiriusXM credit they apologized immediately to me via a tweet for the content of the Lex and Terry segment but let it be known they are only the messenger, one obligated by contract.

Followed by this:

But we havem't heard back from the company responsable for the content of the Lex and Terry Show, Clear Channel.

On Twitter: @clearchannel

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clearchannel

Email: wendygoldberg@clearchannel.com

Please sign the Gender Justice League petition Clear Channel: Issue Formal Apology For Radio Hosts Who Advocated Murdering Trans People

We seriously need to address this being Pride Month and all.

AZ Rep. John Kavanagh's Bathroom Bill Flushed Until Next Year

The Arizona transgender community is sighing in relief as they can continue using the bathroom peacefully until such a time that Rep. John Kavanagh should reintroduce a bill making these ongoing bodily functions illegal. Pee in Peace Arizona. (or at least until the next legislative session anyways)

(AP) The sponsor of an Arizona bill targeting transgender people who want to use bathrooms of the gender they identify with says he's giving up on the issue this Legislative session.

Republican Rep. John Kavanagh said Wednesday there's concern in his caucus about some of his proposal's definitions, so it will have to be shelved until next year.

Kavanagh caused a national uproar in March when he proposed the bathroom privacy language.

The original bill would have made it a crime for a transgendered person to use a bathroom other than the one designated for his or her birth sex

After an outcry from advocacy groups, Kavanagh changed the measure to instead shield businesses from civil or criminal liability if they ban people from restrooms that don't match their birth sex.

Over Half of LGBT homicide victims in 2012 were transgender woman: NCAVP Reports

The National Coaltion on Anti Violence Programs report on hate violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-Affected Communities was released today.

The 2012 report found that 73.1% of all anti-LGBTQ homicide victims in 2012 were people of color. Of the 25 known homicide victims in 2012 whose race/ethnicity was disclosed, 54% were Black/African American, 15% Latin@, 12% White and 4% Native American.

The report also found that 53.8% of anti-LGBTQ homicide victims in 2012 were transgender women. This is a considerable increase from 2011 (40%) and continues a three-year trend toward disproportionate and severe violence experienced by transgender women.

Anyone who reads planetransgender with any regularity has seen the seemingly endless cascade of posts about the horrific violence being suffered by transgender woman of color, like the preceding article.

Nearly all of these murdered transgender woman worldwide were 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' meaning at a place of risk because of the prevalence of crime in that particular area. I am not victim blaming but I am skating on the proverbial controversial thin ice, being white and having the good fortune of being employed and having decent housing.

Socio economic conditions have forced our sisters and brothers into these situations, enforced by overwhelming daily stigmatization. They are told ever day by people outside the LGBT community they are 'less than', with glances, stares, shouts and violence. What can we do as a community to raise up the most marginalized of our community?

Be creative. This is a project for myself too. Think about this. What can I do. Myself. Personally? Then take action. I'm a poor blogger, but even that feels like a cop out sometimes. I cry every time I post another heart wrenching tale, but my tears won't solve anything. I need to do more. Now.

LA Transgender Woman Victor Diego Savagely Beaten And Left For Dead

According to family members Ms. Victor Diego 'dressed up' meaning she put on feminine attire before leaving work at Beso—a Hollywood hotspot co-owned by Desperate Housewives actress & Obama ally Eva Longoria. The attack is being investigated as a hate crime according to family members.

Editors note: During the KCal9 interview Ms. Deigo's family uses male pronouns to describe Ms. Diego who presents as female when she is able. They also unwittingly revictimized her indicating her gender expression misleads people and could have been a contributing factor for the attack. This blog will identify her as female until such a time that we learn differently.



LAPD Crime Stoppers On Line

TEXT-A-TIP
To provide anonymous tips, text CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone and begin the message with the letters LAPD.

You may submit an anonymous tip anytime, anywhere, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477)

SheZow Transforming Saturday Morning Super heroines !GO GIRL!

OK so a boy finds a a belt tries it on and he suddenly has super hero powers except one thing. He becomes a girl externally, when he says 'Go Girl', but he retains all the bumbling innocent endearing ineptitude of a adolescent boy regarding all things female.

So is this child's superhero identity really a metaphor for transsexuality? Creator Obie Scott Wade tells Zap2it no.

"SheZow is not transgender. He's a boy, his gender never changes, he's just trapped in a silly costume."

Sounds like great harmless fun and a unique learning tool as boys come to respect and understand girls.



Not everyone feels the way I do though like the Christian Post which is pushing the Million bigot Mom petition calling for a end to the 'transgender' show saying "This appears to be a not-so subtle indoctrination attempt by the gay, lesbian and transgender community—this time with impressionable children."

Note to the Christian Post. This advertisement was on top of your website when I visited. It shows a hot young girl in an extremely short mini skirt on top of a pool table on her knees in what is inevitably construed as a sexual position by men. Is this what you want your impressionable children who visit your site to emulate? Really? Get off your high self righteous preposterous patriarchal bigoted 'christian' horse.

And so what if some kids assume SheZow is transgender? Your own bible tells you three times to love and accept transgender people. Open it for once would you?

Transgender Pole dancer Natasha Payne is representing Great Britain in the Masters Championship in London.

Natasha Payne's road to the World Pole Sports Championship 2013 wasn't a easy one however the difficulties she has had to overcome have all have centered around the physical challenges of the sport. Being able to concentrate on competing has allowed her a chance at the championship. Natasha told Sky : "The girls have been so welcoming. I've come across no barriers, they've been so accommodating it's unbelievable, even down to things like changing rooms.

"It can be hard, many people like me can end up just at home isolated. I'm so lucky, I've met so many friends through pole dancing."

"I'm really excited about the competition and I'm just looking forward to taking part. I've not met any other transgender pole dancers yet."

There's reasons for that Natasha! Many trans peeps including myself, haven't the physical abilities that you have and would be extremely uncomfortable being judged and scrutinized so carefully in phosphorescent lighting! A fact not lost on other competitors, I'm sure. You are our heroine! Go Natasha!



Watch Sky Tyne and Wear reporter Joe Daunt try out male pole fitness...



What Joe so bravely attempted is is captured here in this video clip of the 2012 championships.



Be inspired by our international athletes. Join us at the World Pole Sports Championships 2013 at York Hall Bethnal Green London. The IPSF is a not-for-profit organization run by dedicated members of the Pole Sports Industry, who donate their time and energy for the promotion of Pole Sports.

Puerto Rico's New Anti Discrimination Law Is A Transgender Screw Job

Monica Roberts post WTF Just Happened In Puerto Rico With SB 238? piqued my curiosity. Didn't Puerto Rico just pass a anti discrimination bill including public accommodations provisions for transgender people.

Monica wrote:

"Who the hell LGBT activist wise was watching the Puerto Rican legislature and the governor's office to ensure the tougher bill was the one that received Governor Garcia Padilla's signature? Instead of doing the civil rights job right the first time you'll now have to (like Massachusetts is painfully doing right now) go back to the Puerto Rican Legislature and refight the pitched battle you just fought to have those categories the Senate just stripped out added back into the law."

"A human rights law without public accommodations language in it is not only unjust, it's a worthless law."

It was all over the Internet via Gay media and the NGLTF saying they passed a inclusive law. Heck, even Mara Keisling said they did....Or did they?

It was really difficult to find out. The Puerto Rican Legislature website has no direct links to bills and nether does the Puerto Rican governments. So I had to trace the bill through both houses using multiple media reports.

I found out what happened not by what was announced, but what was not talked about. We were quietly thrown under the bus.

Apparently the House bill was stripped of public accommodation provisions in a deal with right wing politicans and fanatical religious zealots to get Bill 488 passed, amending the "Law of Prevention and Intervention in Domestic Violence" providing equal protection to all couples regardless of marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity.

To answer Monica's question, Pedro Julio Serrano a native of Puerto Rico and communications director for the NGLTF was the one we trusted to watch over the bill.

Serrano's May 16th video recorded his reaction when the Puerto Rican Senate on Thursday approved the non-discrimination bill that would ban anti-LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and government services in the U.S. territory.



But there was little fanfare when the house passed the legislature and subsequently signed by the Governor,  only this announcement and this press release on May 24th making no mention of what was sacrificed:

Statement by Pedro Julio Serrano
Founder, Puerto Rico Para Tod@s
Communications Manager, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

"Today is a thrilling day in Puerto Rican history. A decade ago, LGBT Puerto Ricans were criminals under the sodomy law, today we're second-class citizens and when this bill is signed into law, we will be closer to achieving the first-class citizenship that we deserve. Equality is inevitable. Puerto Rico will be for all."

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

"We celebrate with the Puerto Rican LGBT community this amazing milestone. The nondiscrimination bill that will become law with the signature of Gov. García Padilla is a testament to the resiliency and steadfastness of the Puerto Rican LGBT community and its allies.

"The Puerto Rican LGBT community has endured an epidemic of anti-LGBT violence that has taken more than 35 lives in the past three years. Nonetheless, this community has continued to stand strong in the face of adversity and today can celebrate this glorious victory. We thank all the activists that have been part of this effort, especially our own Pedro Julio Serrano, who has been a steadfast and uncompromising leader in this struggle."

The question then becomes "who is watching the NGLTF? We did it it in 2010 when the NGLTF and HRC tried to trade a non discrimination bill sans public accommodations for gay marriage in Maryland.

Equality Maryland left that battle with their tail between their legs, their lies exposed, humiliated with members deserting them by the hundreds. They learned the hard way not to fuck openly with the trans community. A lesson evidently not lost to Gay.com this year in Puerto Rico. Do it quietly. Keep it hushed, trans people will wake up under the bus not knowing what hit them.

It's a sad state of affairs when we as poor trans people without the resources that these behemoth gay.coms have must fight, scratch and claw, THEM for our most basic rights.

Like Monica said. What the fuck.

Tampa Teen Charged as An Adult With A Hate Crime After Shooting Transgender Woman

Tavares Spencer is charged with attempted murder, robbery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The charges carry enhanced penalties because officials are considering this a hate crime.

Spencer met the victim Coco McDonald, at a party April 9th and invited her to meet a week latter at 5014 N Winnie St. in Tampa. The house was vacant and the meeting turned out to be a trap. Coco told Bay News 9 "I tell anyone, whether its platonic, intimate, I let everybody know because I'm not ashamed of who I am. I'm very confident about my sexuality,” said McDonald. "I'm transgender, if you really don't want to have any dealings with me I understand, but I'm just letting you know so there's no confusion."

Coco makes it clear that she makes no bones about being transgender, a fact that is at odds with the the majority of news media articles which inevitably state she is a man and imply that she tricked Spencer into meeting her believing she was a 'real' woman.

*Trigger Warning: There are many transphobic media reports about this, some that I have used as sources that blatantly use problematic verbiage to revictimize Coco. The embedded video from ABC was the only one I could find that made any attempt at using the AP Style Guide in stark contrast to the highly problematic accompanying online article TPD: Tampa teen charged with a hate crime after shooting a man in woman's clothing

WTSP reports "Police say Tavares was already in jail, arrested for an unrelated crime when they charged him."

"A warrant enabled them to check his cell phone, which they say contained text messages making defamatory statements about Coko's lifestyle transgender status. The messages were sent within an hour of the crime."

"It was enough to charge him with a hate crime... for which he did not seem sorry, say detectives."

"He wasn't willing to make a lot of statements, but my detectives were taken by his lack of remorse in this incident. He showed very little to none," said Sgt. Michael Stout.

Ground Breaking Kenyan Transgender Short "HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA"

kujitambua na kujiamini.

Maria a transgender woman from Kenya explains how HRT and transitioning has affected her saying  "I feel complete now, I'm complete now I know I am, complete, complete. Her movie, the first in a series about transgender people in the east Africa premiered today at the 4th Regional Changing Faces Changing Spaces Conference in Naivasha, Kenya.

The conference brought together activists from the sex worker and LGBTI movements in East Africa, as well as activists working in other regions of Africa, and allies in the health and legal professions, human rights activists and organisations, and donor partners working in the Region (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi).

For the past 4 months Scottish film maker Tristan MG Aitchison has been working under commission documenting the transgender and intersex community of Nairobi. Six brave members opened up and shared their experiences of being transgender and intersex in Kenya - Living on the edge of the edge of society.



Learn more about at transgender kenya.com

Middleborough Mass. High School Embraces First Transgender Prom Queen

Transgender senior Cody Tubman tells myfoxboston the day after prom "It was surprising and it was exciting, cause I was like, we're coming really far."

Even Principal Paul Branagan was excited about her acceptance telling Fox News "This is a community and a school community in particular that is very accepting and I think that's a true testament to that."

It is so nice to have a positive story about prom this year. Now Cody will be able to go to college secure in the knowledge she is respected and valued in her hometown.

Holder wants to reveal new press coverage guidelines "off the record"

The Attorny General of the United States, Eric Holder, wants to meet with news organizations to discuss guidelines governing investigations that involve reporters, off the record.

The review of the guidelines called for last week by President Barack Obama come as the Justice Department deals with an outcry over its secret gathering of AP reporters' phone records and the emails of a Fox News journalist, and the AP.



The planned meetings are to take place over the coming weeks. The department said Holder plans to engage with news media organizations, including print media, wire services, radio, television, online media and news and trade associations. Discussions are to include news media executives and general counsels as well as government experts in intelligence and investigative agencies.

So why is this story appearing on here on planetransgender? Because it is read in 168 of the 179 countries rated by Reporters Without Borders where the United States is ranked 32. Although virtually unheard of in mainstream media planetransgender has had nearly a half million page views and is a trusted source.

"I'm aghast commented kelli Busey", a practically unknown blogger and columnist from Arlington Texas. She explains, "so let me get this right. Holder wants to have meetings with the press, meaning anyone on the media food chain from the AP, New York Times all the way down to planetransgender, where he could without repercussion, dictate the terms we cover their investigations of us, with one condition, we don't talk about the meetings? Well you know I won't go to those meetings" (as if she was invited).

And then nether will the AP or the New York Times unless they can report on what is said there. Good on them. Holder's 'meeting' should be boycotted untill he starts to respect us. It's a sad day in America when that option is the only one left to the media.