London, England

Credit: A. D. Foster

Transgender journey: 'I sit with teeth gritted, fists clenched and toes curled' (UK) (http://www.guardian.co.uk)

*more here*

META magazine goes global (http://news.pinkpaper.com)

*more here*

Transitions of the Heart (book review) (http://www.windycitymediagroup.com)

*more here*

Record Number Of Out Gay Candidates Run For Congress In 2012 (http://www.buzzfeed.com)

*more here*

Sonoma County Ranked Third Most Tolerant in U.S. (http://rohnertpark.patch.com)

*more here*

Why we should all send e-mail/snailmail to our legislators

It's summer.  It's hot.  Damn hot. But I take it you're reading Emily's Virtual Rocket, so really, there's no excuse.  Whether your legislator is Democratic or Republican, I need you to keep the pressure on. I need you to make marriage legal, whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. I need you to put pressure on them to get their faces to a GLBT pride parade and speak. And if some yahoos give you a hard time, pressure them to get the police off their asses.

In other words, we deserve to be treated like fucking human beings!!!


In this new blog, I will list members of the House of Representatives on a semi-random basis.  Please, e-write that member in a polite but FIRM letter.  If you have a specific example, so much the better.

Mountain View, California - Anna Eshoo(D) - 14th CA
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Gwen Moore(D) - 4th WI
Atlanta, Georgia - John Lewis(D)/David Scott(D) - 5th-/13th GA
Morgan Hill, California -  Jerry McInerny(D) - 11th CA
Cleveland, Ohio - Dennis Kucinich(D)/Marcia Fudge(D) - 10th/11th OH
Saint Louis, Missouri - Lacy Clay(D)/Mel Carnahan(D) - 1st/3rd MO
Simi Valley, California - Elton Gallegy(R) - 24th CA
Windsor, California - Mike Thompson(D) - 1st CA
Wilmette, Illinois - Jan Schakowsky (D) - 9th IL
Tupelo, Mississippi - Alan Nunnelee (R) 1st MS

Thanks in advance.

San Diego Celebrates LGBT Pride (http://www.nbcsandiego.com)

*more here*

Conservatives Take Aim at University of Louisiana's New LGBT Minor (http://www.democraticunderground.com)

*more here*

Mountain View, California

Hello!

Over the hump!  Here's what's happening... Mountain View, California...  Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico... Southampton, England, UK... Council Bluffs, Iowa... East Hampton, New York... Overland Park, Kansas... Lake Villa, Illinois... Bruceville, Indiana... Livingston, New Jersey... Deal, Kent, England, UK... Beverly Hills, Florida... Ubbergen, Gelderland, Netherlands... San Antonio, Texas... Naperville, Illinois... Marietta, Georgia... Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England, UK... Fayetteville, Arkansas... Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa... Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.. Washington, District of Columbia... Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands... Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... Las Vegas, Nevada... Pinckney, Michigan...

Episcopalians move closer to allowing transgender ministers (http://wsau.com)

*more here*

Man Acquitted of Attempted Rape Because His Victim Was Transgendered (http://www.care2.com)

*more here*

Happy 4th of July! (well, a day late)

credit:  Kenneth Walsh

Before I get too patriotic, let me be abundantly clear: the state of the union is not  good.  It is not, nor will it ever be until the rights of all fifty states have the right to marry in an equal fashion, be they lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual.  That's just one example, but the most important one, in my opinion.  Pardon me, but if you're not working your butt off for this, YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR F*****G JOB.

However, let's consider what's happened over the long haul.  In 1963, the year of my birth, you could not be married (or even civil-unioned) in any state.  You want to adopt a child?  That's a laugh.  In most states, you were considered a "deviant".  Yeah, just the same as a child molester or a rapist.  Does it matter that the person you love is of proper age and loves  you the same?  Nope- you're a "deviant".

The first changes were at a conference of the American Psychological Association.  Rather than hoping against hope that these people were somehow made 'normal', these brave psychologists said that these were not 'deviant'; they are just as normal as any person you may meet on the street.  

(well, I hope they are...)  The states lagged behind on this - some as late as 2003 - but eventually, all states were forced to provide minimal equal rights to LGBT  citizens.

However, the best news of all is that a number of states - Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, 

Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa and Washington DC - allow full marriage, whether heterosexual or
homosexual.

There are European countries that are doing better than us, no doubt.  We must do better.  However, there are some countries that murder LGBT folks, and feel no guilt over it.  Excuse me, but if it's a choice between the United States - with all its faults and foibles - and a country such as Iran, I think I'll choose the United States, thank you.

To all the friends in the United States, I hope you had a wonderful holiday yesterday.  But now get to work, you jarhead!

Nobel Laureates, including Desmond Tutu, call for global LGBT equality (http://www.pinknews.co.uk)

*more here*

Taking a break while the story continues... here's what's happening... Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada...  Council Bluffs, Iowa...   Hamburg, New Jersey... Albertville, Alabama... Madras, Tamil Nadu, India... Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany...   Carroll, Iowa...  Evanston, Illinois... Sunnyvale, California...   New Delhi, Delhi... Central District, Hong Kong, SAR, China...  Gentilly, Ile-de-France, France... Mountain View, California...  Ramallah, Palestinian Territory... Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany... Gräfelfing, Bayern, Germany... Vienna, Wien. Austria... Ljubljana, Bohinj, Slovenia... Anaheim, California... Los Angeles, California... Przemysl, Podkarpackie, Poland... Fayetteville, Arkansas... Corona, California... Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada... Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England, UK... Vestfossen, Buskerud, Norway...   Columbus, Indiana... Blaricum, Noord-Holland, Netherlands...  London, London, City of, England,UK... Leeds, England, UK... Delhi, India... Amberg, Bayern, Germany.... Warrington, England, UK... Brooklyn, New York...

Transgender Man Proposes To Partner At White House LGBT Pride Reception

*more here*

in case you were wondering...

Right now I'm working on a short story which really requires my time.  In the meantime, there are over 1.600 to work on.  See you in a week or so!

West Hartford, CT

Credit: tberman393

Hello!

Ah, well, it's been a good 'puter, but it's time for a change...  here's what's happening...West Hartford, Connecticut  Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia... Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada... East Hampton, New York...Camden, Indiana.. Sunnyvale, California... Burlington, Ontario, Canada... Bergzow, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany... Long Beach, California... Cleveland, Ohio... Mountain View, California... M  idland, Texas...   Scranton, Pennsylvania... Melbourne, Victoria, Australia... San Diego, California... Walbrzych, Dolnoslaskie, Poland...  Berlin, Germany... Konosu, Saitama, Japan... Chelles, Ile-de-France, France... Durham, North Carolina...  Oslo, Norway... Bacup, Lancashire, England, UK...  Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Norway... Arlington, Virginia... Brisbane, Queensland, Australia... London, London, City o

Gray enjoys LGBT support amid controversy (http://www.washingtonblade.com)

*more here*

Arson Attack on Women's Health Organization in New Orleans (http://www.huffingtonpost.com)

*MORE ABOVE*

Fortunately, no one was harmed in the arson-- but the women's health organization was terribly ruined.  Please-- if you know who did this, call 1-800-577-TIPS.  Don't let this asshole get away with it!

Bret Baier Uses "Trivial" Transgender Bias Complaint To Bash Obama's DOJ? (http://www.newshounds.us)

*more here*

Candy Darling’s ‘Drawings and Musings’ For Sale (http://galleristny.com)

*more here*

The War on Gays (http://www.opednews.com)

*more here*

Thilakan’s unique role (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com (India))

*more here*

Transgender wins PAO seat (http://www.bangkokpost (Thailand)).com

*more here*

TRANSGENDERED AGAINST ME! SINGER PERFORMS FIRST SHOW AS LAURA JANE GRACE (http://loudwire.com/)

*MORE ABOVE*F

Jersey City, New Jersey

Credit:  infoUSA

Hello!

For those blogging in the US, happy Memorial Day!  Here's what's happening... Jersey City, New Jersey...  Council Bluffs, Iowa... Taipei, T'ai-pei, Taiwan... Louisville, Kentucky... Birmingham, England, UK... Adana, Turkey... Mountain View, California... Thornhill, Ontario, Canada... Durango, Colorado... Herndon, Virginia...  East Hampton, New York...  Torrance, California...  Wesley Chapel, Florida... Toronto, Ontario, Canada... Thornhill, Ontario, Canada... London, England, UK... Dhaka, Bangladesh... Brick, New Jersey...  Springfield, Missouri... Bradenton, Florida... Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany...

I found it! Transgender Athlete Competes For Spot In Olympics

You can make a special gift this Memorial Day by helping out others out...

 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

Transgender Athlete Competes For Spot In Olympics (http://www.npr.org)

*more here*

Release, Change of Bond Denied for Furr ---Off-duty MPD officer accused of shooting at transgender women denied bail as he awaits October trial (http://www.metroweekly.com)

*more here*

Can Children Know, At Age 2, They Were Born The 'Wrong Sex'? (http://www.npr.org)

*more here*

Pride Returns to Springfield (http://www.valleyadvocate.com)

http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=15138

Pastor: Put gays behind electric fence (http://www.hlntv.com)

*more above*

Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best_places_to_launch.fsb/images/35_cambridge_new.jpg

Hello!

It's Preakness day!  Here's what's happening... Cambridge, Massachusetts... Black Diamond, Washington... Dayton, Ohio... Nebo, North Carolina... Sacramento, California... Taipei, T'ai-pei, Taiwan... Mountain View, California... Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt... Limerick, Ireland... Menomonie, Wisconsin... Des Plaines, Illinois... East Hampton, New York... Mount Laurel, New Jersey... Krasnoyarsk, Russia...  Glasgow, Kentucky... Tyler, Texas... Indianapolis, Indiana... Huntingtown, Maryland... Dhaka, Bangladesh... Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan... Dallas, Texas... Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia... Eureka, California... Santa Clara, California... Setúbal, Setubal, Portugal... Emeryville, California... West Columbia, South Carolina... Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl', Russia... Ware, Hertford, England, UK... Newark, New York... Brockton, Massachusetts... Washington, District of Columbia...

Arf, arf!  Here's the latest!  Arf, arf!
Anti-gay Laws Continue To Be Passed In Russia

Wow! You won the Preakness!  Here's an idea with what you can do with all that money...


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

Amnesty International: Virulent’ Homophobic Attacks Put South Caucasus Activists At Risk (http://www.enewspf.com)

*more here*

Are beauty pageant contestants who get plastic surgery cheating? (http://www.thestar.com)

*more here*

Straight white male privilege - spinoff from other thread. I'll try to explain. (http://www.democraticunderground.com(

*more here*

Transgender Woman Killed in Suspicious Fire in Brooklyn (http://www.advocate.com)

*more here*

This fire has been labeled suspicious by the FDNY.  Please, if you know anything, call the New York Police Department immediately!! Please call  1-800-577-TIPS .  Also, take a look at the picture. This may help.  Don't let this troll get away!!

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Credit:   Humayunn N. A. Peerzaada

Hello!

Happy Mothers's Day!  Here's what's happening... Mumbai, Maharashtra, India... Mountain View, California.. Anchorage, Alaska...  Nutley, New Jersey... Jersey City, New Jersey... San Diego, California.... Hollywood, Florida... Wattenwil, Bern, Switzerland... Sunnyvale, California... Duisburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany... New Delhi, Delhi, India... Taipei, T'ai-pei, Taiwan... London, London, City of, England, UK.... Washington, District of Columbia... East Hampton, New York...  Southington, Connecticut...  São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil... El Segundo, California... Seattle, Washington... Wilrijk, Antwerpen, Belgium... Round Rock, Texas... Council Bluffs, Iowa... Buffalo, New York...  Reno, Nevada...   Vincennes, Indiana... Beverly, Massachusetts... Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia... Piraeus, Attiki, Greece... Terre Haute, Indiana... Moreno Valley, California... Seraing, Liege, Belgium...

Hey, doggies have moms too!

Transgender man linked to Pitt bomb-threat investigation

Here's how can make your Mom really happy-- a gift of life!


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

Federal LGBT Workers Will Be Asked to Come Out — In a Survey (http://www.advocate.com)

*more here*

Against Me! singer/ founder Tom Gabel comes out as transgender (http://www.ledger-enquirer.com)

*more here*

Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal (http://www.nytimes.com)

*more here*

At the polls...

I know it's late, but I urge North Carolinians to vote AGAINST Proposition 8. If you live elsewhere,  , but have family/friends in North Carolina, phone or email them to do likewise.  Remember-- every vote counts!!!

Catholic school won't let group honor gay student (http://www.ksfy.com)

*more here*

NY considers transgender anti-discrimination bill (http://online.wsj.com)

*more here*

Lincoln gay and transgender ordinance up for debate (http://www.omaha.com)

*more here*