Rockford, Michigan

estimated transgender population:  36*
(rounded down)

Credit:  http://rockfordmichamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/FishRogue.jpg

ezs note:  Do you like hiking?  Well, I sure do!  If you are in the area of Rockford, Michigan, you are in the midst of a 91-mile trail!  Have fun!

*Credit:  http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/How-Many-Adults-Identify-as-Transgender-in-the-United-States.pdf

Donald Trump - The Madness of King Trump on Full Display at the G7

Christopher Dickey
Daily Beast

Credit:  https://imgfc.com/uploads/sht/13664/bgp_83f54879332b916bdfe48334e955cf16d3525015.jpg

please press:  www.thedailybeast.com

Chile - Chile: Sex Change No Longer Required To Alter Gender Identity

Press
teleSUR

Chilean bell flower (Lapageria rosea)

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Lapageria_rosea_Strybing.jpg

please press:  www.telesurtv.net

civil rights - Bill would give transgender inmates in California jails civil rights protections

Beatriz Valenzuela
Q Voice News

Pleasant Valley State Prison

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Pleasant_Valley_State_Prison.jpg

please press:  qvoicenews.com

Rhode Island - R.I. House votes to end ‘gay or trans panic’ defense

Katherine Gregg
Providence Journal

Rhode Island State Capitol

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Rhode_Island_State_House_2.jpg

please press:  www.providencejournal.com

lead story - Despite Trump, transgender veterans honor their own

Michael Mathes
The Times of Israel

Arlington National Cemetery

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Arlington_National_Cemetery_2012.jpg

please press:  www.timesofisrael.com

I think a servicemember said it best:

“In November, people need to get off their butts and vote,” she said.

Any questions, jarheads?  (with apologies to Dr. Heitner)

AUDIO - Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires - Jane Mayer

Credit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uoaTlB5oPA&t=5172s

Donald Trump - An isolated Trump attends the G-7

Stewart Patrick
The Hill

Credit:  http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/media/k2/items/cache/6d883c67dc178d0bc0078a5b55c8d44d_XL.jpg

please press:  thehill.com

Botswana - Group challenges criminalisation of same-sex relationships in Botswana

Press
news24

Gaborone, Botswana

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/CBD_towers%2C_Gaborone_2.jpg

please press:  www.news24.com

civil rights - Civil rights 'under assault' at Justice Department, DOJ 'exile' says

Julie Moreau
NBC News

Credit:  https://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Untitled-23.jpg

please press:  www.nbcnews.com

Wyoming - Fight LGBTQ discrimination everywhere we find it

Kerry Drake
WyoFile

Lander, Wyoming

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Lander%2C_WY.jpg

please press:  www.wyofile.com

lead story - A judge has struck down Iowa's Medicaid ban on transgender transition-related care. Here's why.

Courtney Crowder
Des Moines Register

Des Moines, Iowa

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2f/Civic_Center_of_Greater_Des_Moines.jpg

please press:  www.desmoinesregister.com

The National Popular Vote

Credit:  https://i2.wp.com/www.projectvote.org/wp-content/uploads/ElectoralCollegeUnfair.png

ezs note:  Recently, I picked up one of the cards Andy Fleischmann distributes to the part of the town he represents.  Normally, I find that these are a waste of time - but not this time.  He passed a compact for a National Popular Vote (HB 5421 in Connecticut) What this means, essentially, is that Connecticut - and all the other states that agree to the compact - is they will pledge to vote for the popular vote nationwide, thereby eliminating this asinine Electoral College.  I am happy to report that the State Senate passed it, and it was signed by Gov. Dannel Malloy.  If your state hasn't signed this good bill yet, call your State Representative and State Senator to urge a YES vote for the National Popular Vote compact.  Thanks.

Donald Trump - Voters really, really want a check on Trump. This new poll confirms it.

Greg Sargent
The Washington Post

the big blue wave?

Credit:  https://www.sporcolobbista.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/tsunami-facts-1.jpg

please press:  www.washingtonpost.com

Hungary - Hungary greenlights first-time features through Incubator Program (exclusive)

Geoffrey MacNab
ScreenDaily

King Saint Stephen (975-1038)

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Istvan-ChroniconPictum.jpg

please press:  www.screendaily.com

civil rights - Civil rights rally for transgender community June 23 in SF

David L. Shaw
Finger Lakes Times

Keuka Lake

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Bluffpoint.jpg

please press:  www.fltimes.com   

Vermont - Green Mountain State again leads way on LGBTQ rights

David Jordan
OutSmart

Vermont State House

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Vermont_State_House_Montpelier_VT_2014_10_18_09.JPG

please press:  www.outsmartmagazine.com

lead story - Pure Romance CEO, gay rights leader unveil study that shows transgender teens in peril

Sharon Coolidge
Cincinnati.com

Glacier au dessus de Saas-Fee

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Glacier_au_dessus_de_Saas-Fee.jpg

please press:  www.cincinnati.com

Donald Trump - Exclusive: Trump invokes War of 1812 in testy call with Trudeau over tariffs

Jim Acosta, Paula Martin
CNN

Credit:  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxZZCOf9zc4gnqcPTn8WlXXDB4BmuHo3blJqhBRju9LO0_itz3svr57ofFY5ueeEEvkVw9gFJi5fR3Ue2weLeCNpmI-zutlHbm-EV0xXPknSe6fUIPLsQ4XO_F_lf1UHeCtA_S8qoabQ/s1600/trump+crazy.jpg

please press:  www.cnn.com

Romania - LGBT rights, marriage definition, ‘defending justice’: Three rallies in Bucharest this Saturday

Press
Romania Insider

Bucharest, Romania

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Lacul_Vacaresti_-_Delta_Vacaresti_-_Vara.jpg

please press:  www.romania-insider.com

civil rights - Courts Take Expansive View in Transgender Rights Cases

Mark Walsh
Education Week

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/HistoricMNsupreme.JPG

please press:  www.edweek.org 

Massachusetts - Slim Majority Of Mass. Voters Want To Keep Transgender Public Accommodations Law

Yasmin Amer
WBUR

old sketch of Provincetown, MA

Credit:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/North-eastern_view_of_Provincetown%2C_Mass_%28NYPL_b13512827-420860%29.jpg

please press:  www.wbur.org

ezs note:  Massachusetts voters:  Remember, you don't have to plan something gargantuan to make a real difference. Go to town/city hall meetings.  Go to a pancake breakfast. If you a person of faith, go to meetings at your church, synagogue, or mosque.  You get the picture. And you don't have to wear a badge the size of a paper plate.  Just strike up a casual conversation.

Oh, by the way, register and VOTE.  This makes a REAL difference.