More homophobic crimes reported to police (www.southwalesargus.co.uk(UK/Wales)))

*more above*

Maryland legislature to consider gay marriage, transgender rights bills (www.lgbtqnation.com)

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TTPC plans membership meeting for Jan. 14 (www.outandaboutnewspaper).com)

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Peace

“A smile is the beginning of Peace” — Mother Teresa

Transgender Niece Tells Cops -- He Groped My Breasts (www.tmz.com)

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Rick Santorum jeered after comparing gay marriage to polygamy (www.latimes.com)

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FEEDBACK: Fear-mongering has no place in fight for equal rights (www.anchoragepress.com)

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Chaz Bono: I'm saving for genital surgery to complete gender reassignment (news.pinkpaper.com)

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Monthly transgender health clinic opens in Midvale (qsaltlake.com)

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Just a moment...

If you enjoy reading the blogs on Emily's Virtual Rocket,  making a small donation would be a good idea.  It's position has changed, at the very top, on the right.  Thanks.

EI PAC issues early endorsement for key legislative allies (www.windycitymediagroup.com)

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HRC Statement on Iowa GOP Caucus results (www.windycitymediagroup.com)

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Documentary About Elder LGBT Community Has Limited Free Online Viewing (sharon.patch.com)

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Black LGBTQs finding voice for the future (www.baywindows.com)

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While You Were Out (prospect.org)

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Against All Logic: What LGBT and Allies Do Now (www.huffingtonpost.com)

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LGBT job protections on agenda at Georgia Equality town hall forum (www.thegavoice.com)

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New ABC Show ‘Work It,’ Premiering Tonight, is Offensive to Transgender Community (campusprogress.org)

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More victims of alleged butt-injection' doctor' come forward (www.nydailynews.com)

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Gay and Afraid in Uganda (www.nytimes.com)

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New Year Brings New Laws Affecting Gays & Lesbians (www.kpbs.org)

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'Transphobic' tampon advert causes outrage (www.nzherald.co.nz)

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Holland to award “Holland Is Ready” its social justice award (www.michiganradio.org)

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Chrysler, Ford, Toyota Score 100% On LGBT Workplace Equality (www.thecarconnection.com)

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mull this one over...

"They are preserving the sanctity of marriage so that two gay men who've been together for twenty-five years can't get married, but a guy can still get drunk in Vegas and marry a hooker at the Elvis chapel. The sanctity of marriage is saved!"
- Lea DeLaria quotes

Long Beach's gay community faced good and bad news in '11 (www.presstelegram.com)

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Feature report: Gay committee will color Angeles City like a rainbow (www.pia.gov.ph {Philippines}))

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At least 20 say they ended up disfigured after 'The Duchess' performed black-market beauty procedures (miamiherald.typepad.com)

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Suicide Rate for Trans Women Denied Implants Alarming (www.advocate.com)

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Gender identity bill is a legislative priority for Maryland's governor Martin O'Malley

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Happy New Year 2012!

Credit:  Silverguy

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

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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)

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

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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!

New laws promote gay history, illegal immigrants (www.contracostatimes.com)

*more above*

Sexual minorities get a 'Pehchaan' of their own (timesofindia.indiatimes.com (India))

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U.N. lists LGBT rights abuses for the first time (www.gaypeopleschronicle.com)

*more above*

In Pakistan, a transgender leader is standing for election (sdgln.com)

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The New Civil Rights Movement's Top 10 International LGBT Stories of 2011

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Three States to Enact Gay Rights Laws (kezi.com)

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US sees call for more gay-friendly senior housing (www.necn.com)

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Peace

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Tribune Take: Transgenders in politics, a good thing (tribune.com.pk (Pakistan))

*more above*

Peace

“It is, however, well known that the main national liberation organizations in this country have consistently followed a policy of non-violence. They have conducted themselves peaceably at all times, regardless of government attacks and persecutions .” - Nelson Mandela

FILM: Our most-watched films of 2011 (www.irinnews.org (UN))

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12-28-11: Being Transgender in Maryland (mdmorn.wordpress.com)

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