Dispatches: transgender makes difference in Arlington and beyond (clarendon.patch.com)

(more above)

Commentary: Transphobia be damned, Chaz Bono comes out dancing (sdgln.com)

(more above)

Melissa Joan Hart speaks out about Chaz Bono being a transgender DWTS contestant (www.monstersandcritics.com)

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Valencia, Spain

Hello!

Aaarghhh, the storm be over!  Here's the list...  Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain... Kingston, Saint Andrew, Jamaica... Wesley Chapel, Florida... Danvers, Massachusetts... Taipei, Taiwan... London, England, UK... Central District, Hong Kong, SAR... Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia... Burlington, Ontario, Canada... Plano, Texas... Le Chesnay, Ile-de-France, France... Atlanta, Georgia... Chicago, Illinois... Council Bluffs, Iowa... Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpylosi, South Korea... Vic, Cataluna, Spain... Bethel, Pennsylvania... Concord, Massachusetts... Mays Landing, New Jersey... Upper Marlboro, Maryland... Kings Park, New York... Dublin, Ireland... Dallas, Texas... Ottawa, Ontario, Canada... Istanbul, Turkey... Los Angeles, California... Devizes, Wiltshire, England, UK... Issaquah, Washington... Muscat, Masquat, Oman... Mountain View, California... Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada... Portland, Oregon... Albany, New York... Toronto, Ontario, Canada... Alburtis, Pennsylvania... Samsun, Turkey...

This month's topper: Hello! (August 6, 2011)

Our friends across the world are counting on us... don't let them down!

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

G'day, y'all!

Gayapolis news: Tahiti mayor fined for refusing to marry couple to marry including transgender couple (www.gayapolis.com)

(more above)

Dancing With the Stars exec: Chaz Bono is 'compelling'

(more above)

Trans singer Paige Elliot Phoenix blows the doors off of Australian X-factor (www.shewired.com)

(more above)

Anchorage, Alaska to try for LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance (www.towelroad.com)

(more above)

(Extra)ordinary family: inside the transgender world (abcnews.go.com)

(more above)

Police unsure if attack on transgender woman a bias crime (seattletimes.nwsource.com

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Officer in transgender shooting had prior alcohol run-ins (washingtonexaminer.com)

(more above)

Hello!

Ah well, Hurricane Irene is paying a visit... Here's the story... London, England, UK... Austin, Minnesota... Oud-beijerland, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands... Scottsdale, Arizona... Bronx, New York City, New York... Fremont, California... Moreno Valley, California... Montreal, Quebec, Canada... Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium... Council Bluffs, Iowa... Bangalore, Karnataka, India... Tupelo, Mississippi... Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany... Washington, DC... Quimperle, Bretagne, France... Birmingham, England, UK... Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany... Tampere, Western Finland, Finland... Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpylosi, South Korea... Mountain View, California... Terre Haute, Indiana... Petaling Jaya, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia... Mclean, Virginia... Alburtis, Pennsylvania... Alexandria, Virginia... Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India... Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... Kittanning, Pennsylvania... Rome, Georgia... New Plymouth, New Zealand...Rochdale, England, UK... Daytona Beach, Florida...

This month's topper:  Hello! (August 6, 2011)

Yes, you can (help)!

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

Dodge them raindrops...if you can!

The BEST, bar none

Honest to god, I'm not selling some crap.  So far, I've received zero. But when a product is this good, it bears attention.  Its name is Psykopaint, and its name is what it does.  Whether you wish to do a little touch-up on a picture, or totally morph it about, or anything in between, Psykopaint does it stellarly. I've done three pictures so far, and I can't wait to do a fourth.

Rev. Rich Rose: A transgender sister in Christ (www.huffingtonpost.com)

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Transgender equal rights: Transgendered people deserve same rights that others enjoy (orlandosentinel)

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Cop arrested after altercation involving gun, trans woman (dcist)

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AIDS stalks gay and transgender Indians (Google)

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Top stories: friends question if brutal Waterloo beating death could be a hate crime (KGAN)

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GLBT advocates angry over "neutrality policy" in schools (thirdage)

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From lesbian to transgender woman: Mexican superstar Kate del Castillo (advocate)

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Abused transgender teen reaches settlement in Philadelphia (advocate)

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Panel passes gender identity language for human rights ordinance (Des Moines Register)

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Some transgender women pay a high price to look more feminine (nytimes)

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ezs note:  Please believe me, I know how urgently you want to look like a woman, but don't give in to these frauds.  They'll take your money and likely KILL you!!!  Talk to your counselor about which legal alternatives exist.

'Trans'cending stereotypes: Tackling transgender bias in the workplace (businessmanagementdaily)

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Scurry, Texas

Hello!

After you read this,please read what's next.  It's important.  Here's what happened... Scurry, Texas... Jacksonville, Florida... Cork, Ireland... Wesley Chapel, Florida... Cadiz, Andalucia, Spain... Bronx, New York City, New York... South Yarra, Victoria, Australia.... Kassel, Hessen, Germany... Humble, Texas... Marly-le-Roi, Ile-de-France, France... London, England, UK... San Antonio, Texas... Buc, Ile-de-France, France... Jamaica, New York... San Francisco, California... Nashville, Tennessee... Moscow, Russia... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK... Austin, Texas... Bordeaux, Aquitaine,  France... Washington, DC... Council Bluffs, Iowa... Mountain View, California... Caloocan, Quezon City,    Philippines... San Jose, California... Glasgow, Scotland, UK... Hyattsville, Maryland... Woburn, Massachusetts... Lawrence, Kansas... Milan, Lombardia, Italy.... Daejeon, Taejon-jikhalsi, South Korea... Nottingham, England, UK... Austin, Minnesota... Cincinnati, Ohio... Forest Hills, New York... Volos, Magnisia, Greece...

This month's topper: Hello! (August 6, 2011)

Here are some places which you can donate 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

Once again, please read the blog below this.  Thanks.

How NOT to get scammed

Last night, I decided to check my e-mail before I left.  A friend of mine, Ray, was in a bit of trouble due to his use of a computer.  About six months before,  Dave was in similar circumstances.  The dreaded worm had caught them both.

I decided to let you on a few tips on how not to get scammed.  First, major donor organizations.   Here goes:

1.  A good rule of thumb is their use of the word .org as a suffix.  (example: www.redcross.org)  The use of other suffixes (.biz, .com...) are generally suspect.  (note: major political organizations are different.  Check with your local organization to see if their address is genuine.)

2.  In conversation words can be used with a little laxity.  But NEVER with URLs. Some will try and dupe us with .usaredcross. or .americanredcross., to name a few.  Only .redcross. is genuine.  Here are the four that I would recommend:
www.redcross.org (United States)
www.ifrc.org (International)
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
www.rainbowfund.org
If you are thinking about making a donation, please print or write your URL now.  This will save headaches later.

3. This is more of a techie thing, but make certain that you type www.ifrc.com.   Otherwise you could type the wrong thing.

4. If you wish to donate outside the four that are listed, (Goodwill, Salvation Army, UNICEF, Save the Children, etc.) most of them have particular brands that they display in the telephone book or in the web. This is a generally good sign.  It doesn't have to be a huge brand.  It does have to be accurate.

5.  Any cheap photocopying is generally NOT a good sign.

Now about donations.  I will tell you what I WON'T do.  I won't make e-mails. I won't make "personal appeals".  I won't put appeals in a separate blog.  The ONLY genuine blog for this area is emilysvirtualrocket.blogspot.com.  The ONLY space I approve of is the "donate" button on the right side.  The ONLY  bank I approve of for these is PayPal.  (not an endorsement, but simply wanting you to know where I stand)

Sorry I was so lengthy, but I hope it helps.

If you can help...

Next month, if the earth don't quake, I'll be passing 1,000 posts!!!  I've really done my best to keep you informed,  and to do my best to keep informed myself.  If you can, please press the "Donate" button to your right and make a donation, even if it's small.  Thanks!

Transgender settlement brings new policies to Philadelphia's youth study center (newsworks)

(more above)

Judge apologizes to inmate seeking sex-change (AP/Google)

(more above)

Adam Carolla apologizes for anti-gay rant, sort of (blogout)

(more above)

Sensitivity training - Wilton Manors police department

(more above)

Transgender woman harassed by SF DMV employee wins $55,000 settlement (sfappeal)

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Transgender love: when husband transitions to wife (ABC)

(more above)

Gender centre program cuts spark protest (greenleft [Australia])

(more above)

Readers' responses to recent posts (Montreal Gazette [Canada])

(more above)

Cuba transgender wedding shows shifting attitudes (thejournal [Ireland])

(more above)

Heerhugowaard, Netherlands

Hello!

How 'bout that... fall(ish) weather, in August!  Here's what happened this week... Heerhugowaard, Noord-Holland, Netherlands... Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia... Chicago, Illinois... Grand Junction, Colorado... Alburtis, Pennsylvania... Council Bluffs, Iowa... Mountain View, California... Cockeysville, Maryland... London, England, UK... Bolton, Connecticut... Puebla, Mexico... Redmond, Washington... Santa Ana, California... Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... Phuket, Thailand... Paris, Ile-de-France, France... Rome, Lazio, Italy... Franklin, Tennessee... Memphis, Tennessee... Taipei, Taiwan... Platteville, Wisconsin... Rinzenburg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany... Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada... Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India... Turlock, California... Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk, Belgium... Obergraferdorf, Niederosterreich, Austria... Guadalajara, Mexico... Cincinnati, Ohio...

This month's topper:  Hello!  (August 6, 2011)

You can help friends around the world in desperate need.   Here are some trusted sites:

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

Thank you!

Transgender woman's wedding stirs controversy in Cuba (ontopmag)

(more above)

Companies are changing to support transgender employees (vancouversun [Canada])

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Mayor starts transgender job training program (washingtonblade)

(more above)

Court upholds convictions in transgender slaying (necn)

(more above)

We want cake, too (nytimes)

(more above)

Santa Ana transgenders speak out on police treatment (voiceofoc)

(more above)

ezs note:  There are a few police persons who treat victims rudely, unfortunately.   In this case, complain to the chief of police, or failing this, to a newspaper/newsblog.  The police will get all antsy over this, but, well, good.  Maybe they'll start doing their job for a change.

What you can (and should) do if the worst happens

This is something that no one wishes to talk about.  But we must face the facts.  We must be brave.  Beatings or sexual assault take place daily.  Here is what we can do:

1.  If you are a witness, call the police immediately.


2.  If you are a victim, go to the police as soon as humanly possible.  If you are in the hospital, tell them you want to see an officer.  Do not wash your clothing or bodily parts.  These may be evidence.  Above all, do not delay.  I know this is tough, but you can stop this vermin.

3.  If you are a friend, urge, urge, URGE them to go to the police and provide them with valuable evidence.

Cops seeking teen gang that committed Duboce triangle hate crime attack (sfist)

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Lanier: Cops could be let go for disregarding hate crime (dcist)

(more above)

ADL concerned about recent spate of hate crimes in the district (prnewswire)

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