Spice Girl Flash Mob Birthday Celebration and a Russian LGBT Party: A study in Contrast

San Francisco CA Via the Castro Biscuit "July 20th, in an ‘only in the Castro’ kind of moment, Sister Risque of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, aka Christopher Nathan, celebrated turning the big Four Oh by assembling some gal pals, memorized all the choreography and words of 90′s mega-Pop group, Spice Girls hit, ‘If You Wanna Be My Lover’, and then trooped around in man-sized 4″ heels serving the Castro classic flashmob moves at several iconic neighborhood corners. Filmed by Sister Risque’s pal Mark Kleim the look-a-like crew terrorized and entertained visitors and neighbors alike. Check it out. And happy birthday Sister!"

2013 St Petersburg Pride

Vladimir Putin's killers have been trained to celebrate LGBT love but in a different way. The 2012 St Petersburg pride happened just as the city passed the "gay propaganda" laws. It went off peacefully. This year the gay propaganda law was enforced by police who allowed and participated  in the beatings of the LGBT people.



Meanwhile in Russia they are also celebrating diversity and LGBT birthdays albeit a little differently




Via LGBT BuzFeed

36 Photos From Russia That Everyone Needs To See

1. St. Petersburg Gay Pride, 2013:

Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

2.

Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

3. What began as a peaceful march…

Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

4. …ended up turning incredibly violent as anti-gay protesters overtook the rally.

Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

5. A gay rights supporter is beaten to the ground.

Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

6. Smoke bombs are set off.

Image by Evgeny Feldman / AP

7. Chaos ensues.

Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

8. A woman runs from the crowd.

Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

9. Two men flee…

Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters

10. …but are eventually detained.

Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

11. In the end, police officers detained several of the gay activists.

Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

12. The 2012 parade ended the same way.

An anti-gay protester clashes with a gay rights activist.

Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters

13. That event was also overrun by anti-gay protesters.

Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters

14.

Image by ANTON TUSHIN / Getty Images

15. Moscow, May 2013:

An unknown anti-gay activist hits Russian gay and LGBT rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev during an unauthorized gay rights activists rally in central Moscow.

Image by ANDREY SVITAILO / Getty Images

16. An unauthorized protest turns violent.

Image by ANDREY SMIRNOV / Getty Images

17. Gay activists end up being detained.

The sign says, “Love is stronger than homophobia.”

Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

18. The 2012 Moscow gay pride was filled with more of the same…

Image by Mikhail Metzel / AP

19. …more detained gay rights activists.

Image by Mikhail Metzel / AP

20. June 2013: Gay rights activists hold a kiss-in in Moscow.

Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

21. The activists were protesting a new “gay propaganda” law. The law would introduce steep fines and jail terms for people who promote homosexual “propaganda” to minors.

Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

22. That event also ended violently.

Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

23. Russian police detained more than 20 gay rights activists…

Image by MAXIM SHEMETOV / Reuters

24. …as gay rights activists were pelted with rotten eggs.

Image by VASILY MAXIMOV / Getty Images

25.

Image by ANDREY SMIRNOV / Getty Images

26. The same thing happened at a “kissing protest” in January.

Image by SERGEI KARPUKHIN / Reuters

27. That event also turned bloody.

Image by ANDREY SMIRNOV / Getty Images

28. More violence.

Image by Ivan Sekretarev / AP

29. An Orthodox activist pulls a gay rights campaigner’s hair.

Image by Ivan Sekretarev / AP

30. Unknown assailants attack a gay rights activist.

Image by SERGEI KARPUKHIN / Reuters

31. Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers passed a bill barring same-sex foreign couples from adopting Russian children.

Image by SERGEI KARPUKHIN / Reuters

32. The anti-gay propaganda bill became a law.

British Trans Couple says no ring until after SRS

Sharing this clip of the video from Huff Post which originally aired in full on This Morning website which is probably not available to you if you're outside the UK and the only way to find out is to change your browser seting to 'automaticly' detect your location, somthing I won't do.

Louis Davies, 25, and 20-year-old Jamie Eagle say they won't get married untill 'after' there gender journey is 'complete'. Being young they may not understand our gender journey is never really complete. We all are destined to continue on our road less traveled regardless of what surgical corrections have taken place. It's really not about the external chages that may accompany transition. Those operations if thought of as yard markers on a football field with the end zone being completion are only physical. No matter what we do as trans people the vast majority of us will be left with 'tells' leaving somone whos only goal is physical transition without the intense feelings that accompany the enternal struggle.

Video: FTM MTF Love (yes they are in swimsuits) Story

As incredible as it may seem this video is from Mail online post with the rather long sensationalist title

"He used to be a she, and she used to be a he. Now transgender teenage lovebirds are in love after they BOTH had gender reassignment surgery".

The video and article out the couple with their birth names and pictures but a quick visit to Katie's facebook page makes no mention of the article so it's not known whether that's a issue for them or not.

All in all its a good video about being trans, young and in love.

Vigil July 23rd for Diamond Williams Brutally Murdered Philly Trans Woman

Police believe Strawberry Mansion resident Charles Sargent used a axe to dismember transgender woman Diamond Williams allegedly telling his girlfriend he 'discovered' the victim was a 'man' after sex. According to police Sargent's girlfriend heard noises upstairs and when her boyfriend came down he had the victim's body wrapped in bloody bed sheets warning her that if she said anything he would kill her too.

There will be a Vigil and Speak Out for Diamond Tuesday 23rd  from 5:30 until 6:30. Find the details here and at the Facebook event.

Vigil and Speak Out for Diamond

• • 

    Tuesday, July 23, 2013
  • 

    5:30pm until 6:30pm in EDT
• 
  

  Thunderstorm 90°F / 73°F

• GALAEI and MAZZONI CENTER are hosting a Speak Out and Vigil in honor of Diamond, a transgender woman who was brutally murdered last week in the city’s Strawberry Mansion section. Representatives from GALAEI’s TIP (Trans-health Information Program) and Mazzoni Center’s Trans* Wellness project will honor the name and life of their sister who was lost to violence, and call for justice and respect. Violence against transgender women is unfortunately a harsh reality in our city. This event is an opportunity for community members to gather, speak out, and organize against the violence that continues to threaten the lives of transgender women in Philadelphia. Speaking: Aamina Morrison– TIP Co-Director Samantha Jo Dato – Trans* Wellness Project Christian Axavier Lovehall – Philly Trans* March Sade Ali –Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, Morris Home Founder Gloria Casarez - Director of LGBT Affairs, Mayor's Office

LOVE Park

1599 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

View Map · Get Directions

Three Dutch tourists Detained in Murmansk city, Russia by police on charges of gay-propaganda.

LGBT Network Russia a NGO just posted this dire news on there facebook wall.

Russian LGBT Network · 1,776 like this

2 hours ago near Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg City · 

• URGENT NEWS! In Murmansk city (North Russia) 3 Dutch citizens detained by the police on charges of gay-propaganda.
  
  At the moment they were released from the police station. Police compiled reports on the violation of rules of stay in the territory of Russia and the violation of the law of the "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors."
  
  Court hearing will be at 9 a.m. (Moscow time) 22 July 2013.
  
  The Russian LGBT Network provides legal assistance.
  
  We will keep you updated.

One of the arrested is Kris van der Veen ‏@ikbenKRIS Councillor Green Links | Project Assistant Refuge | President Foundation LGBT.  He was in Russia making a documentry about how the 'gay propaganda law is affecting ordinary Russians.

In the  narritive accompying the fund raiser he explains that he is also interested about how the law affects vistors in Russia. He just tweeted that althouth the day in court was bazzaire he dosn't think they have a case against him.

Kris van der Veen ‏@ikbenKRIS45m

Na bizarre dag in de auto wegrijdend van de Rechtbank. Ik geloof inderdaad dat er geen zaak komt. Opluchting en lichte alertheid. #Moermansk

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I believe Arnout Brouwers was also arrested. This is his latest tweet:

Arnout Brouwers‏@arnout_brouwers

NL'ers in Moermansk moesten ook onjuist protocol ondertekenen, melden Russische media. Politie zei dat dit "normaal" is in Rusland.

Translated from Dutch by Bing Translator

NL'ers in Murmansk, Russian media report incorrect protocol also had to sign. Police said that this is "normal" in Russia.

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Please sign the petition:
No Pussies No Games: Boycott / Demonstrate at The Russian Winter Olympics.

Всем скучающим по России\ гестапо омон\ фсин\кгб-рф \ http://youtu.be/vJOlvwoB08c
All bored by Russia \ SWAT/Gestapo FSIN's KGB-RF/ posted on the facebook Boycott wall.

Do people understand this is what awaits LGBT people in Russia? It is not exactly clear why the Russian police are beating these people but to think this couldn't be you could cost you're life.

*Warning video contain extreme police brutality and vviolence.



This answers our question, will visitors be safe at the Olympics? It also puts the world on notice that even should Putin put a moratorium on enforcing the gay propaganda law for the duration of the Olympics he would enforce it with a vengeance afterwards. We need to let Putin know the world will not stand for this! Please sign our petition No Pussies No Games: Boycott / Demonstrate at The Russian Winter Olympics

CFA Championship Announced Fallon Fox to meet Ashlee Evans-Smith Oct 12

While not official yet Bloody Elbow has learned that Transgender fighter Fallon Fox 3-0 will meet Ashlee Evans-Smith 1-0 on October 12th for the Championship and $20,000 in prize money.

Sherdog has more background on both fighters:

Known as "The Queen of Swords," Fox's status as a male-to-female transgender fighter became public earlier this year prior to her tournament semifinal victory over Allanna Jones this past May at CFA 11. The 37-year-old underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2006 and completed the subsequent hormone therapy before beginning her MMA career last year. Fox, who holds a perfect 3-0 record, initially saw her fight license placed under investigation in Florida but was later cleared to compete.

Evans-Smith, meanwhile, has competed just once as a professional, making her debut on March 2 at CFA 10 after losing four of her final five fights as an amateur. The 26-year-old halted that skid in her pro foray, however, taking a unanimous decision from Tori Adams in the opening round of the CFA tourney. Evans-Smith was then expected to fight in the round of four at CFA 11 but instead moved on to the finals by default after opponent Anna Barone could not make weight.

Was the murder of Detroit Transwoman Shelley "Treasure" Hilliard revenge for a drug sting or a hate crime

I remember her murder well. Who could forget? A 19 year old trans woman of color is found decapitated, apparently immolated in a vacant lot. This gruesome murder occurred around the time that Mexican drug gangs were becoming known to burn alive informants and competition cisgender and transgender transgender alike sometimes just for the hell of it. So the news accounts that followed helped to cement that suspicion, at least in my stereotyping mind, that perhaps Shelley was involved with a drug deal gone bad.

But her mom, producer Natasha "T" Miller and director Dream Hampton believe Shelley's murder was motivated by hate and they are out to prove it, with our help.

Jan 2012 UPI Reported that her "Murder may be revenge for drug sting"

"Qasim Raqib was charged in the Oct. 23 death of Shelley Hilliard, a 19-year-old transgender woman whose mutilated body was found on Detroit's east side. Hilliard was allegedly caught with marijuana Oct. 20 when police said she could avoid arrest by setting up a drug deal, testimony Thursday in 36th District Court revealed, The Detroit News reported."

"During Raqib's preliminary examination, testimony showed, Hilliard used her cellphone to call Raqib, as police listened on speaker phone, and told him she knew of someone who wanted to buy $335 worth of cocaine and marijuana."

"Raqib was arrested when he arrived at a Motel 6 in Madison Heights 20 minutes later, the News said."

Testimony suggested Raqib called Hilliard on a prepaid cellphone two days after his arrest. Hilliard received a call to meet a man the next day at 1 a.m.

"Taxi driver Robert Mullen, who testified he took Hilliard on all her calls, said she told him she was worried about revenge by Raqib over the drug sting."

After dropping her off, Mullen said, he got a call from Hilliard, who sounded afraid, and then heard what sounded like the phone dropping to the ground and it went dead."

I want to know the truth, so I contributed to their kickstarter project TransParent; A Story of Loss in a Community Misunderstood. In any case, whatever, I want to reach out to Shelley's mom as a sister trans woman with unconditional love and support.

"You Are You" a camp for gender variant children and their families

Imagine as children if we could have had the opportunity to be ourselves, even if it was just for a few days? What if your friends and family rejoiced in who we truly are? This is no longer a dream for the gender variant children who attend the "You are you" camp as documented by photographer Lindsay Morris.



Slate published a magnificent pictorial article which I will quote from...

"  It is also a place for both parents and children to feel protected in an environment that encourages free expression."

“[The kids] don’t have to look over their shoulders, and they can let down their guard. Those are four days when none of that matters, and they are surrounded by family members who support them,” Morris said."

"Morris has stated that her photographic goal for the project is “to represent the spirit of these boys as they shine.” Some of the ways in which the kids shine is through the talent and fashion shows at camp that are popular and for which the campers come well-prepared."

“Some practice for the talent show all year, and others create their own gowns with their mothers or friends of the family,” Morris said. “The focus and enthusiasm is really pretty incredible. Also, it can be very emotional for the parents, especially the families who are new to camp and are experiencing this kind of group acceptance for the very first time.”

Morris explains “I would really love to follow the kids into adulthood and see what kind of relationships they develop,” Morris said. “I want to witness the evolution, knowing from where they started and see how life is going to play out for them—hopefully happily—and I think they’re going to have a better transition into adulthood than the generation proceeding them.”

Police identifiy trans woman who's dismembered body was found in a vacant Phily lot

As reported previously on planetransgender the body parts of a unidentified person described as transgender by NBC 10 were discovered last Wednesday in a Philadelphia vacant lot.

Police believe Strawberry Mansion resident Charles Sargent used a axe to dismember a transgender woman allegedly telling his girlfriend he 'discovered' the victim was a 'man' after sex.  According to police Sargent's girlfriend heard noises upstairs and when her boyfriend came down he had the victim's body wrapped in bloody bed sheets warning her that if she said anything he would kill her too.

The victim pictured right from a previous arrest, has now been identified as a transgender sex worker Diamond Williams.

The narrative to the video by NBC 10 divulging the latest updates of this murder is respectful and news worthy. The accompanying video embedded below is not. The reporter seems to delight in intentionally disrespecting the victim as a cross dressing prostitute in a way that gives the impression that 'he' was murdered because 'he' was 'really a man'. It was the only video available at this time and I apologize in advance if anyone is inadvertently offended by it.

More than likely she was murdered because of Sargent's misogynistic ego and fear of what his friends would do or say. That's called Transpanic which is a lie not an alibi. 

Warning: Video contains explicit graphic bloody images of a murder scene not normally presented by American television.

This video has been removed by NBC.

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

More at nbc philadelphia.com

Satanists Hold Gay Love Fest At Fred Philips Mom's Grave Say, Now She's Gay...

...for eternity.

Disclaimer: I'm not a devil worshiper or even an admirer. As a matter of fact the devil is my enemy.
Claimer: I just got to admire these folks regardless of the differences in our spiritual beliefs. They are upstanding Americans which is more than I can say for the WBC.
(have they ever offered to clean up a highway?)

Source The Gauntlet "This past Sunday, July 14, top officials from the New York-based Satanic Temple traveled to the grave site of the mother of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps in order to stage a formal ceremony celebrating same-sex unions. Photos of the ceremony are publicly available on the new Satanic Temple-operated website, westboro-baptist.com, where The Satanic Temple encourages other same-sex couples to submit their own photos from similar pilgrimages to the Mississippi cemetery."

"Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucien Greaves officiated the ceremony while two same-sex couples celebrated their homosexuality at the gravesite."

Satanists Hold Gay Love Fest At Fred Philips Mom's Grave @WBCSay OH SNAP Now She's Gay... admires>> @satanicpsalms http://t.co/EQ6b1BNgtq
— planetransgender (@kellibusey) July 20, 2013

"The Satanic Temple supports freedom and the pursuit of happiness for all people, thus they support same-sex couples’ legal equality. The Satanic Temple claims that the mass was conducted as an affirmation of those values, and claims that the action is meant to convey a message of love in the face of hate."

"The Westboro Baptists, famed for their bombastic "God Hates Fags" anti-homosexual activism, raised the ire of the Satanic Temple months previous. "The idea for the Pink Mass ceremony and website came during the aftermath of the tragic Boston Marathon bombings, during which time the WBC were threatening to protest the funerals of the bombing victims," explains Greaves. “Members of The Satanic Temple were in Boston, waiting for them, but they failed to show. Later, the WBC issued a statement that they had been present 'in spirit'. We decided that a same-sex couple celebrating ceremony at the grave-site of Fred Phelps's mother was an appropriate way to meet the Westboro Baptists, 'in spirit', but this time on our terms."

"Explaining the ceremony itself, Greaves continues, "The Satanic Temple now believes that Fred Phelps must believe that his mother is now gay, in the afterlife, due to our Pink Mass... And nobody can challenge our right to our beliefs."

"This revelation of The Satanic Temple's graveyard ritual comes fast on the tail of the Westboro Baptist Church’s announcement that they intend to picket the death of 31 year-old "Glee" actor, Cory Monteith."

Boycott Putin's Russian Winter Olympics #FreePussyRiot Balaclavas for everyone

The growing parallels between Hitler and Putin's charade duping world leaders, who are all to willing to pretend there was nothing so wrong with Nazism or Putin's Anti LGBT laws that a Boycott of the Olympics would have been necessary, is well, mind boggling. Nothing has changed, with the Olympic committee or world leaders who remains more concerned with ego and prestige and cooperate connections than human rights.

The biggest difference between then and now is social media in the free world where Russians are calling for a boycott.

The state sanctioned violence against LGBT people has increased to the point where if a LGBT person stands in public with a sign proclaiming themselves as such, they face arrest and beatings by both the public and the police. That same treatment on a day to day basis can now be expected by anyone who visits Russia.

Are world leaders going to send their Olympic team members to Russia knowing that legally they can be arrested, and fined? I am sure they will if Putin temporally suspends enforcement of those laws, just like Hitler did. Unless we as a world social power unhindered by international borders stop the Olympics from happening by embarrassing our governments with these undeniable truths.

I hope a rallying point can be the cry to free Pussy Riot. Two of the four brave young band members aren't set to be freed until after the Russian games. Everything else that Putin could do to coerce the world to play his games would be worthless if these pussies were to remain in jail while Putin played.

Please consider adding your name to the petition No Pussies No Games: Boycott / Demonstrate at The Russian Winter Olympics

International Olympic Committee warns Russia over new anti-LGBT law 
In the wake of a legal crackdown on LGBT advocacy in Russia, the International Olympic Committee in a statement this week said the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi "should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes," adding that it would strongly oppose any move to counter that principle. Some worry new laws against LGBT propaganda could subject foreigners to jail and deportation if they are caught holding the hands of same-sex partners or wearing LGBT Pride symbols. Windy City Times (Chicago) (7/17), GlobalPost.com/Rights blog (7/18), The Huffington Post/Gay Voices blog (7/11)

There has even been a law passed in the Duma crimilizing hurting someones 'religious feelings'. We aren't talking about a Muslims feelings, or a Jewish persons feelings. This law was enacted to protect the Russian Orthodox's feelings after Pussy Riots famous Cathedral protest song.


Although there was been some discussion whether this video is authentic it is the first video in year from Pussy Riot.

Philly man charged with chopping up a transgender woman after sex and dumping her in vacant lot

Police believe Strawberry Mansion resident Charles Sargent used a axe to dismember a transgender woman allegedly telling his girlfriend he 'discovered' the victim was a 'man' after sex.  According to police Sargent's girlfriend heard noises upstairs and when her boyfriend came down he had the victim's body wrapped in bloody bed sheets warning her that if she said anything he would kill her too.

The police searched Sargent's home and found a wig, shoes and a bloody screw driver.
Sargent didn't get the memo, Transpanic is a lie not an alibi.

UPdate: Police have identified the victim

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

More at NBC 10

Trans Woman Laverne Cox and Trans Man Amir Rabiyah: Study in Gender Paradigms

What is it like to be Trans man? Are trans men's life experiences the same as a trans woman's? What happens to that experience when the intersection of gender is also the meeting place of androphobia and racism?

Then switching gender (presentations) The Root article "I Was Feared As A Man" examines a piece by Laverne Cox on the Advocate extracting the core of her messages.

First Amir Rabiyah  a new twitter friend gives us a invaluable peek at the crossing in this video....



Black Transgender Woman: I Was Feared as a Man by Laverne Cox

But when I was attempting to live part-time in boy drag, I was hyper-aware of how perceptions of black masculinity influence the ways in which people behave in relationship to a body in the public space. I noticed how much harder it was to get a taxi, for example, when I was dressed in boy drag as opposed to when I was dressed as myself. In black male drag, I noticed white women cross to the other side of the street and clutch their purses tighter.
When I was perceived as a black man I became a threat to public safety. When I was dressed as myself, it was my safety that was threatened. It was usually other black people who policed my gender, called me out, or made fun of me on subways, street corners, and in delicatessens. I believe it is because I am also black that I became their target. These same folks would often ignore white trans and gender nonconforming folks in the same spaces, even those who passed even less than I did at the time. Systemic racism not only encourages the state and non-black individuals to police and monitor black bodies, white supremacy encourages other black folks to do so as well.
Almost 15 years into my transition, I am still black and I still live in New York City. I still sometimes hear "That's a man" screamed or whispered toward me as I walk down the street, but not nearly as much as I used to. So many basic things are better and more congruent in my life today as I enter the public space as myself, but I am acutely aware of how sexism and transmisogyny intersect with racism to police my now black trans woman's body in public space.Read Laverne Cox's full article at the Advocate

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