31 December 2011

NY Times: On gay rights and policies, Obama lets senior staff take lead (www.lgbtqnation.com)

*more above*

LGBT History Law step in right direction, but lacks guidance (www.turlockjournal.com)

*more above*

Transgender people in advertising (www.xtra.ca (Canada))

*more above*

Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights (www.caribarena.com (Antigua)

*more above*

Gays call for end to homophobia (www.eyewitnessnews.co.za (South Africa))

*more above*

Ilion, New York

Credit- Aileen Sweeney

Hello!

It's the last day of the year! Hope the past year was good, and the year to come is just as good... here's what happened... Ilion, New York... Lexington, Kentucky... Gwangju, Kwangju-jikhalsi, South Korea... Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedlijk Gewest, Belgium... Council Bluffs, Iowa... San Francisco, California... Woodbridge, Virginia... Mountain View, California... Vernon Hill, Virginia... Morrow, Georgia... Abbotsford, British Columbia... Atlanta, Georgia... Massapequa, New York... Kings Park, New York... Koln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany... Boston, Massachusetts... Groningen, Netherlands... Erlangen, Bayern, Germany... Laurel, Mississippi... Berlin, Germany... Pacific Palisades, California... Taipei, Taiwan... Savannah, Georgia... Ruprechtshofen, Niederosterreich, Austria...

This month's top dog: Twin boys, one transgender, become brother and sister

You've had - and hope to have - a happy year... let's make it a good year too!  The following charities are a good idea to give to.

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

International Red Cross/Red Crescent
www.ifrc.org

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Rainbow Fund
www.rainbowfund.org

See ya next year!

27 December 2011

COMMENTARY: Money talks for LGBT groups (sdgln.com)

*more above*

ezs note-  let me see... how should I put this... just as Jimmy says, GIVE!

The Catholic Church And The Sin Of Sexism (lezgetreal.com)

*more above*

Blaine Man Sentenced to 367 Months for January Murder

*more above*

Peace

'Gender equality has been debated for a long time throughout the world. Even in the EU women do not have equal opportunities. Is it because they are not as capable or as well educated? No.'  -Dr. Shirin Ebadi

The Top 12 Gay Political Stories Of 2011 (www.huffingtonpost.com)

*more above*

Gay Viral Videos Of 2011: Zach Wahls, Michele Bachmann, Gay Grandpas And More (www.huffingtonpost.com)

*more above*

Transgender Woman Beats the Hell Out of Transphobic Man (unicornbooty.com)

*more above*

After Legal Battle, Transgender Woman Returns To Work (www.wmtw.com)

*more above*

24 December 2011

Houston, Texas

Credit: Affiliated Engineers

Hello!

Ho, ho, ho!  Here's Santa, gettin' on his Harley!  Here's what happened... Houston, Texas... Northampton, Northamptonshire, England... Central District, Hong Kong, S.A.R., China... Boston, Massachusetts... Kohtla-jarva, Ida-Virumaa, Estonia... Pyongjom, Kyonggi-do, South Korea... Mountain View, California... London, England, UK... Washington, DC... Loveland, Colorado... Rocky River, Ohio... Amherst, Massachusetts... Raleigh, North Carolina... Atlanta, Georgia... Kennesaw, Georgia... Croydon, England, UK... Laurel, Mississippi... West Hartford, Connecticut... Athens, Attiki, Greece... Dayton, Ohio... Ottawa, Ontario, Canada... Cheshire, Connecticut... Olimpia, Sao Paolo, Brazil... Southampton, England, UK...

This month's top dog: Grady High to host CNN forum on LGBT issues

Last moments for Christmas Eve!  Make this time a special time!  Here's some charities you might give to:

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

International Red Cross/Red Crescent
www.ifrc.org

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Rainbow Fund
www.rainbowfund.org

Ho, ho, ho!  (Vroomm, vroomm!)

23 December 2011

MDC member admits he is gay (their words,not mine) (www.zimdiaspora.com {Africa})


Acting While Trans: A Look Back at 2011 for Transgender Actors in the Media (www.huffingtonpost.com)

*more above*

Amy Koch Affair Scandal: Minnesota's LGBT Community Apologizes To Resigned Senate Majority Leader


Promoting gay rights essential for health of Africans

*more above*

Colorado Girl Scouts give acceptance for Christmas (www.edenfantasys.com)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Reflections on the trial of Lawrence King's murderer (www.huffingtonpost.com)

*more above*

21 December 2011

Happy Winter Solstice!

source: calamitiesofnature.com

Why does the media still refer to "Bradley" Manning? The curious silence around a transgender hero (globalcomment.com)

*more above*

Hatred intensifies for 'Work It', the worst show in television history (gawker.com)

*more above*

Where you can go for help

Make a copy of this guide and use when needed.  Even when you don't need it today, you might need it tomorrow!



AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP)
Provides free and low-cost legal services to people with HIV/AIDS in the
San Francisco Bay Area.
 415-701-1100 (San Francisco)
  510-451-5353 (Oakland)
www.ALRP.org


Disability Rights California
Advances the rights of Californians with disabilities.
 800-649-0154
www.DisabilityRightsCA.org

Equality California
Works with policymakers and communities to achieve equality and secure
legal protections for LGBT people, including seniors.
 415-581-0005
www.EQCA.org

Lambda Legal (Los Angeles office)
Works to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and those
with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
 213-382-7600
 www.LambdaLegal.org/wro

Law Help California
Helps Californians find legal aid referrals and self-help resources, with
specific assistance for seniors.
 800-551-5554 (Bay Area)
 www.LawHelpCalifornia.org

National Center for Lesbian Rights—Elder Law Project
Provides legal services, legislative support and policy work to advance
equality for LGBT elders.
 800-528-6257
 www.NCLRights.org/ElderLaw

National Center for Transgender Equality
Advances the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration
and empowerment, with a special emphasis on issues facing trans elders.
 202-903-0112
 www.TransEquality.org

National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
Provides a wide array of resources for LGBT older adults, aging service
providers, and advocates.
 212-741-2247
 www.LGBTAgingCenter.org

National Senior Citizens Law Center
Protects the rights of low-income older adults through advocacy, litigation,
and technical assistance, and manages www.LGBTLongTermCare.org.
 213-674-2900
 www.NSCLC.org


Positive Resource Center
Provides comprehensive benefits counseling and employment services for
people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS in San Francisco.
 415-777-0333
 www.PositiveResource.org

Proyecto Poderoso—a joint project of the National Center for Lesbian
Rights and California Rural Legal Assistance
Works to improve legal services for low-income LGBT people in rural
California.
 209-946-0605
 www.NCLRights.org/ProyectoPoderoso

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)
Works to guarantee equality of treatment and opportunity for LGBT servicemembers and provides resources on issues affecting LGBT elder veterans.
 202-328-3244
 www.SLDN.org

Swords to Plowshares
Provides counseling and case management, employment and training, and
housing and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area.
 415-252-4788
 www.STP-SF.org

Transgender Law Center
Utilizes direct legal services, public policy advocacy, and educational opportunities to advance the rights and safety of diverse transgender communities.
 415-865-0176
 www.TransgenderLawCenter.org

Credit: Navigating the System: A Know-Your-Rights Guide for LGBT Elders in California
please download the guide for specific information  (California only when specified)


Domestic violence charity seeking transgender worker (pressitt.com {UK})

*more above*

18 December 2011

News briefs - six Ohio firms hit 100 on harder HRC equality list [among others] (www.gaypeopleschronicle.com)

*more above*

CWA (Central Texas) leader calls for boycott of Macy's (lezgetreal.com)

*more above*

Marriott hotels gets high gay friendly rating from the Human Rights Campaign (www.gayapolis.com)

*more above*

LGBT history project (www.hastingsobserver.co.uk)

*more above*

Peace


Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Howard Thurman
Permanent Prayer for Peace

LGBT film festival in city ends (ibnlive.in.com {India})

*more above*

Gay couples happier and healthier if legally accepted (www.ibtimes.com)

*more above*

17 December 2011

Peace



 A cure for War? Furiously spending the same daily amount of money toward making friends. Being an indispensable source of food, shelter, peace, and cultural support dedicatedly spending 9 billion dollars a month on helping people would be a formidable enemy of evil.
 Vanna Bonta quotes

Child's father, a 'former Republican', knows meaning of family values (bostonglobe.com)

*more above*

Boston, Massachusetts

Credit: SBnation

Hello!

To my Jewish friends, happy Hanukkah! ...um, Chanukah!  (crap, I always mess this one up...)  Here's this week... Boston, Massachusetts... Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium... Atlanta, Georgia... Kings Park, New York... Easton, Pennsylvania... Wilhelmshaven, Niedersachsen, Germany... Croydon, England, UK... Stillwater, Minnhesota... Malmo, Skane Lan, Sweden... Groningen, Netherlands... Chaun, Kangwon-do, South Korea... Deerfield, New Hampshire... Sezana, Bohinj, Slovenia... Portland, Oregon... Dallas, Texas... Cebu, Cebu City, Philippines... Taipei, Taiwan... Virginia, Beach, Virginia... Jersey City, New Jersey... West Hartford, Connecticut... Ankara, Turkey... Oak Lawn, Illinois... Corona, New York... Chelles, Ile-de-France, France... San Luis Obispo, California... Brooklyn, New York... Bratislava, Slovakia... Seattle, Washington... Laingsburg, Michigan... Mountain View, California... Canton, Ohio...

This month's top dog: Grady High to host CNN forum on LGBT issues

Hey, it's the last days before we celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa!  Make someone's fortunes are down on their luck are happier.  Donate to one of these charities:

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

International Red Cross/Red Crescent
www.ifrc.org

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Rainbow Fund
www.rainbowfund.org

16 December 2011

Hollywood vigil for slain transgender woman (latimesblogs.latimes.com)

*more above*

ezs note:  Please take a good look at the suspect.  If you know who it is, please call the LAPD right away!

Peace


credit: Adelle Laudan

11th Circuit rules for transgender employee in sex discrimination case (www.lexology.com)

*more above*

Filipinos hail UN gay rights report (www.mindanaoexaminer.com {Philippines}))

*more above*

Elizabeth Warren announces support for LGBT rights (www.baywindows.com)

*more above*

UN urges global LGBT protections (www.democracynow.org)

*more above*

14 December 2011

Peace


The End and the Beginning
by Wisława Szymborska

After every war
someone has to clean up.
Things won't
straighten themselves up, after all.

Someone has to push the rubble
to the sides of the road,
so the corpse-filled wagons
can pass.

Someone has to get mired
in scum and ashes,
sofa springs,
splintered glass,
and bloody rags.

Someone must drag in a girder
to prop up a wall,
Someone must glaze a window,
rehang a door.

Photogenic it’s not,
and takes years.
All the cameras have left
for another war.

We’ll need bridges back
and new railway stations.
Sleeves will go ragged
from rolling them up.

Someone, broom in hand,
still recalls how it was.
Someone else listens
and nods with unsevered head.
But already there are those nearby
starting to mill about
who will find it dull.

From out of the bushes
sometimes someone still unearths
rusted-out arguments
and carries them to the garbage pile.

Those who knew
what was going on here
must make way to
those who know little.
And less than little.
And finally as little as nothing.

In the grass which has overgrown
causes and effects,
someone must be stretched out
blade of grass in his mouth
gazing at the clouds.

Transgender icon Carmen Rupe dies (news.smh.com.au {Australia})

*more above*

Fox News invites anti-LGBT guests to mock, smear transgender Macy's guests (www.lgbtqnation.com)

*more above*

Twin boys, one transgender, become brother and sister (www.firstcoastnews.com)

*more above*

Transgender Taser victim fighting potential charges (www.windycitymediagroup.com)

*more above*

12 December 2011

LGBT employees welcome at big banks and law firms, report says (latimesblogs.latimes.com)

*more above*

Peace

source: Deepak Chopra

2012 buyers guide (issuu.com)

*more above*

ezs note:  This is a powerful guide.  Why? You can spend your hard-earned money on good people who are rated 85-100, and avoid the pitiful zeroes.  (Hello? Chick-fil-a?)

Transgender people: the new civil rights frontier (ideas.time.com)

*more above*

*note*

ezs note:  What do you get here?  Hmm... let's see...  transgender news from US, Canada, various places in South America, England, France, The Netherlands, Isle of Man(!), Scotland, Greece, Spain, Russia, New Zealand, Australia...whew!

If you can, a donation would be most kind. The "donate" button is located on the right side of the screen,  below the globe.   Thanks.

10 December 2011

Casablanca, Morocco

Credit: Suzy-Q

Hello!

Peace and love, Jim... here's what's happening... Casablanca, Morocco... Groningen, Netherlands... Swidnik, Lubelskie, Poland... Glasgow, Glasgow City, Scotland, UK... Minneapolis, Minnesota... Faaborg, Syddanmark, Sweden... Brampton, Ontario, Canada... Taipei, Taiwan... London, England, UK... Istanbul, Turkey... Twickenham, Richmond, England, UK... Tulsa, Oklahoma... Boston, Massachusetts... Farmington, Minnesota... Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada... Austin, Texas... Eskisehir, Turkey... Atlanta, Georgia... Makati, Manila, Philippines... Burbank, California... Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia... Johnson City, Texas... Morganton, North Carolina... Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium... Kovenig, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany... Chicago, Illinois... Council Bluffs, Iowa... Newark, New York... Dublin, Georgia... Kings Park, New York... Brockton, Massachusetts...

This month's top dog: Grady High to host CNN forum on LGBT issues

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but let's give anyway!

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

International Red Cross/Red Crescent
www.ifrc.org

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Rainbow Fund
www.rainbowfund.org

See you!

LGBT education is not sex education (stlouis.injuryboard.com)

*more above*

Debate fierce over protections for transgendered people (columbia.patch.com)

*more above*

Council of Europe Secretary General condemns persistent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population in many parts of Europe (www.hrea.org {Europe})

*more above*

Acceptance is protection: how can parents support gender nonconforming and transgender children?

*more above*

09 December 2011

More on Jim Burke

ezs note:  This morning we attended the funeral of Jim Burke III. It was after a night of little rest, my thoughts being with this kind man, whose death was much too soon... much too soon.

I recently read an article in The Cenacle, where Jim wrote an article opposing the death penalty.  I was quite impressed with it.

As it turns out, Jim's thirtieth letter also turned out to be his last.  Because of the very kind permission of Ray Soulard, I have excerpted a portion of Jim's letter.

Peace and love, Jim.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, the death penalty is not, I repeat is not, a deterrent.  The very fact that murders in this country occur on a daily basis proves  that use of the death penalty is based on the revenge motive, and this also depends on the time and place of the crime and the trial.  The execution of citizens  by the states in this country is used to cover up the failure of our society as a whole to educate people equally and give all people to better themselves.  When hopelessness and despair set in, the recidivism rate of prisoners increases correspondingly, from the upper to the middle to the lower socio-economic strata.  Figures from the U.S.  Department of Justice have confirmed this data as recently as 2009.  The politicians in this country, as well as the Supreme Court, have become embarrassed and frustrated about their inability to stop the violence and so-called capital crimes.  Their solution has been to put the convicted to death as cleanly as they think is possible, by lethal injection in most cases.

I hope I live to see the day when our culture will transcend revenge, and rise above hate.  Peace and love for all humanity would enable us to realize our potential, which is God-like.  John Lennon had it right after all. IMAGINE!

JBIII

--------------------------------------------------------------------

To see more of The Cenacle, please see http://www.scriptorpress.com

04 December 2011

Peace

I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.

Mahatma Gandhi

Cyndi Lauper and more celebs come together for the 'Home For The Holidays' benefit concert (www.ontheredcarpet.com)

*more above*

Massachusetts signs law prohibiting gender identity discrimination (www.lexology.com)

*more above*

ezs note: This article may seem a wee bit old, but please read it anyway.  There is more detail here than in other places.

03 December 2011

Royal Oak, Michigan

Credit: April Segedi

Hello!

Ah, yes... Christmas songs, over and over and over (sigh)... here's what happened this week... Royal Oak, Michigan... London, England, UK... Wesley Chapel, Florida... San Ramon, California... Rochester, New York... Groningen, Netherlands... McArthur, Ohio... Orinda, California... Columbia, South Carolina... Trenton, New Jersey... New Haven, Connecticut... Nottingham, England, UK... Kings Park, New York... Yerseke, Zeeland, Netherlands... Izmir, Turkey... La Plata, Maryland... Atlanta, Georgia... Branford, Connecticut... Brooklyn, New York... Tulsa, Oklahoma... Madison, Alabama... Albuquerque, New Mexico... Council Bluffs,Iowa... West Hartford, Connecticut... Spotsylvania, Virginia... Charleston, Illinois...

This month's top dog: LGBTQ discussions

Aw, just kiddin' about the Christmas songs... they're great, really!  (Well, there is one song...)  There is one way you can feel a whole lot better... give to those less fortunate!

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

International Red Cross/Red Crescent
www.ifrc.org

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Rainbow Fund
www.rainbowfund.org

Happy happy!

Troy mayor Janice Daniels under fire for anti-gay marriage slur (ontopmag.com)

*more above*

Khloe Kardashian sued by transgender for assault (www.ibtimes.com)

*more above*

01 December 2011

Lambda Legal to federal court: grant asylum to trans woman living with HIV/AIDS (/www.windycitymediagroup.com)

*more above*

Russia 'gay propaganda' law slammed by LGBT film festival group in new clip (www.huffingtonpost.com)

*more above*

Transgendered man wins right to a marital divorce (www.huffingtonpost.com)


International transgender days commemorates and celebrates (www.thelamron.com)

*more above*

World AIDS day events on Central Coast (www.kionrightnow.com)

*more above*

Transgender character grounds the New Theatre Project (www.pridesource.com)

*more above*

Anti-bullying workshop held at LAMP (www.insidetoronto.com {Canada})

*more above*

2011- a queer review (www.thevitalvoice.com)

*more above*

Court appears ready to hand legal victory to transgender woman (www.ajc.com)

*more above*

ezs note:  Yay!