Congratulations! You have been named Asshole of the Year!

Credit: Danziger

You know, sometimes people don't give enough credit to selecting the Asshole of the Year.  This year was quite a difficult one, picking out that person who possesses those special qualities which shout out "Hey!  I'm a person who truly possesses those qualities of an asshole!"  I thought my search was in vain for the year 2012.

Then along came Wayne LaPierre, who deservedly, no, most deservedly qualified  for the moniker "asshole". My god, he is an asshole.

For those of you not in the know, I'll let you read the fine Mercury News editorial.  If you feel so moved, go to www.house.gov, enter your ZIP code, then e-write your congressperson in favor of sensible gun control.

And Wayne, thank you for coming out with some of the most vapid, idiotic, and moronic statements I have ever seen.  You do more to advance sensible gun control than you will ever know.

VIEWPOINT: America the senseless - Sarah Toce -http://www.windycitymediagroup.com

*more here*

ezs note:  This may seem a bit off-topic, but please take the time to read it.  If you are so moved, go to www.house.gov, enter your ZIP code, and tell your legislator that you are for sensible gun control.  Thank you.

Aurora district ceases work on trans policy - Kate Sosin -http://www.windycitymediagroup.com

*more here*

The Troubles and Tribulations a Transgender Woman Underwent to Change Her Identity - Diana O’Brien - http://www.southfloridagaynews.com

*more here*

Helena, Mont., unanimously approves LGBT non-discrimination ordinance - http://sdgln.com

*more here*

Michelle Obama Portrayed As Transgendered Woman On Magazine Cover - Terrell Jermaine Starr - http://newsone.com

*more here*

OHSU extends coverage to transgender workers - Andy Giegerich - http://www.bizjournals.com

*more here*

Kansas City, Missouri

Credit:  Kansas City Public Library

hello...

Here's what's happening... Kansas City, Missouri... Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, UK...  Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England, UK... Redditch, Worcestershire, England, UK... Tulsa, Oklahoma... Hebron, Kentucky... Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania... Mountain View, California... Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines... West Hartford, Connecticut... Izmir, Turkey... Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada... Sunnyvale, California... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... Monroe Township, New Jersey... Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada... River Forest, Illinois... Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan... Taoyuan, Hunan, China... Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts...   Anaheim, California... West Jordan, Utah... Dungarvan, Waterford, Ireland...  Charlotte, North Carolina... Chicago, Illinois... Villas, New Jersey...  Terre Haute, Indiana...  Ottawa, Ontario...  Plainwell, Michigan... Huntington, New York...  Guelph, Ontario, Canada... Finale Ligure, Liguria, Italy... Graignes, Basse-Normandie, France... Moorestown, New Jersey... Scarborough, Ontario, Canada... Westlake, Ohio...

www.redcross.org

unspeakable... unspeakable...

Normally, I've been requesting that you send an e-letter to full rights for LGBT people.  Sadly, these are not normal times.

Twenty children were murdered in Newtown, Connecticut.

Six adults were also murdered.

It took about twenty minutes.

I wrote my Congressperson, John Larson who has failed to write me back... (ahem...) when the last slaying took place in Aurora, Colorado, and I wrote saying that this is of the utmost importance: Congress must ban automatic and semiautomatic weapons.

Whether it's one person or fifty who is slain, we can stop this wholesale slaughter.  But only if you e-write. Please.

Sunnyvale, California - Anna Eshoo (D) - CA14
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Robert Brady (D) - PA1
Monroe Township, New Jersey - Rush Holt (D) - NJ12
River Forest, Illinois - Danny Davis (D) - IL7
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts - Bill Keating (D) - MA10
Anaheim, California - Gary Miller (R) - CA42
West Jordan, Utah - Jason Chaffetz (R) UT3
Charlotte, North Carolina - Mel Watt (D) - NC12
Hebron, Kentucky- Thomas Massie (R) - KY4
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania - Jim Gerlach (R) - PA6

The preceding places were picked at random using the Internet.  To find out your representative is, go to www.house.gov and enter your ZIP code.

To those in Newtown, please know that we are thinking of you.

Transgender protections added to Charlotte personnel policy - Matt Comer - http://goqnotes.com

*more here*

Queens transgender woman files lawsuit against city - Josey Bartlett - http://www.qchron.com

*more here*

School leaders explain newly passed anti-discrimination policy - Amanda Evans - http://www.cfnews13.com

*more here*

Talk the talk leads radio pair to take a walk, at least temporarily - Bob Wolfley - http://www.jsonline.com

*more here*

LGBT Inclusion At University of Iowa - CHARLOTTE ROBINSON - http://blog.outtakeonline.com

*more here*

Transgender prostitutes face abuse in Ivory Coast - http://www.vcstar.com

 *more here*

Trans woman jailed under Malawi’s anti-gay laws speaks out - Joe Morgan - http://www.gaystarnews.com

*more here*

Transgender people get a status update - http://www.guardian.co.uk

*more here*

Orlando, Florida

Credit:  allposters.com

Hello!

Saw Lincoln today... quite moving... here's what's happening... Orlando, Florida... Needham, Massachusetts... Norwalk, Connecticut... San Diego, California... Saugerties, New York... Humansville, Missouri...  Napa, California... Colchester, Essex, England, UK... San Francisco, California... New York, New York...  Amarillo, Texas... Concord, North Carolina... Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines... Zephyrhills, Florida... Guelph, Ontario, Canada... Lynnwood, Washington...  Rochester, New Hampshire...  Zaventem, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium... Villas, New Jersey... Erkner, Brandenburg, Germany...  Toronto, Ontario, Canada... Arlington Heights, Illinois... Taoyuan, Hunan, China... Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain... Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India... Torrance, California... Berlin, Germany... Kingston, Saint Andrew, Jamaica...  New Haven, Connecticut... APO, Armed Forces Europe, Spring, Texas... Terre Haute, Indiana...

Hey, if both Barack Obama and Chris Christie both endorse something, it must be good!  Support the American Red Cross and lessen the impact of Hurricane Sandy!

www.redcross.org 

Historic day as same-sex couples receive licenses - MANUEL VALDES - http://www.komonews.com

*more here*

Making a smooth transition - Jeff Gard - http://www.northumberlandtoday.com

*more here*

Transgender Issues: Petition Seeks Transgender School Policies in Nashua, New Hampshire - Jillian Page - http://blogs.montrealgazette.com-

*more here*

Doctor testifies in transgender woman's Human Rights case - http://www.cbc.ca

*more here*

The Complicated Question Of Diagnosing Transgender Identities - Zack Ford - http://thinkprogress.org

*more here*

Pennsylvania Republican Lawmaker Comes Out, Disavows Ex-Gay Therapy - Zack Ford - http://thinkprogress.org

*more here*

Helena council supports anti-discrimination rule - http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com

*more here*

Group Rates Best, Worst Cities for LGBT Equality - MIKE MACIAG - http://www.governing.com

*more here*

‘Gender Identity Disorder’ Removed From APA Mental Health Manual - Karen Ocamb - http://www.frontiersla.com

*more here*

ezs note:  Yay!  'Bout freakin' time!  Please read this... it's short, but very important.

Massillon, Ohio

Credit:  playle.com

Hello!

Darkest month of the year!  Here's what's happening... Massillon, Ohio....  Austin, Texas...  London, England, UK... Andover, Hampshire, England, UK... Westlake, Ohio... Pembroke, Ontario, Canada... North Charleston, South Carolina... Pickering, North Yorkshire... Richmond, Virginia... San Francisco, California... Grosse Pointe, Michigan... Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India... Kottayam, Kerala, India... Lincoln, Nebraska... Berlin, Germany... Mountain View, California... North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia... Sunnyvale, California... Moorestown, New Jersey... Los Angeles, California... Incheon, Inch'on-jikhalsi, South Korea... Monroe Township, New Jersey... River Forest, Illinois... Edinburgh, Scotland, UK...  Concord, North Carolina... Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico... Nagpur, Maharashtra, India... Boynton Beach, Florida... Makati, Manila, Philippines... Memphis, Tennessee... Harrison, Arkansas... Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada... Louisville, Kentucky... Mesa, Arizona... Wales, Wisconsin...

Hey, lend a hand!
www.redcross.com

From sea to shining sea... and north to the Arctic!

In Canada, things are generally better for LGBT folks than here than in the US.  (In states such as South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama, they're way better.)   But there are irksome spots.  What Canadian LGBTs want to do is to amend their constitution.

Jillian Page, who writes for the Montreal Gazette, has graciously allowed me to put in Canadian Members of Parliament along with US House of Representatives.

But now it's your turn!  Whatever side of the line you are on, it's your responsibility to let these people know that you expect respect, and it should be written into the constitution.

Lincoln, Nebraska - Jeff Fortenberry (R) - 1NE

Mountain View, California - Anna Eshoo (D) - 14CA

Moorestown, New Jersey - Jon Runyan (R) - 3NJ

Los Angeles, California - Linda Sanchez (D) - 39CA

Grosse Pointe, Michigan - Hansen Clarke (D) - 13MI

San Francisco, California - Nancy Pelosi (D) - 8CA

Moreno Valley, California - Mary Bono Mack (R) - 45CA

Corner Brook, Newfoundland(CAN) - Gerry Byrne (Liberal) - Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte

Harrison, Arkansas - Steve Womack (R) - 3AR

The representatives/MPs shown above are the product of the Internet.  To find out who the representative is go to www.house.gov.  If you are from Canada, go to www.gc.ca.

New musical about transgender mayor heading to Intiman Theatre - David Ng - http://www.latimes.com

*more here*

Dashad 'Sage' Smith Missing: Virginia Police Searching For Transgender Teen - David Lohr - http://www.huffingtonpost.com

*more here*

ezs note:  Please, if you have any information about the disappearance of Dashad/Sage Smith, report  it to the Charlottesville, Virginia police immediately!!  A photo and video is available.

Openly transgender lawmaker may not resign, despite felony conviction - http://www.lgbtqnation.com

*more here*

Knoxville ignored by HRC MEI - Bear A-M Rodgers - http://www.examiner.com

*more here*

Tories split over transgendered rights bill - http://www.cbc.ca

*more here*

Stacie Laughton Resigns: Transgender New Hampshire Rep Steps Down Following News Of Criminal Past - http://www.huffingtonpost.com

*more here*

It's time to send Nutcase Norquist to bed... or the looney bin

Nutcase Norquist has been around for a long, long time, mostly in the shadows. I think, though, that his coming-out party has proved to be a giant dud.  And so much the better.

For those of you who aren't in the know, his premise is quite simple. No money should be added to the federal budget, ever, ever, ever.  Sounds good, right?  On the surface,yes, it does.  But then, things happen.  Buildings fly into skyscrapers.  Roads and bridges fall into disrepair. A little virus named AIDS comes to call.  Hurricane Sandy does her thing directly over New York City. And on.  And on.

What does this have to do with us transgender folks? Damn plenty.  As long as goobers walk the streets, a policeman around can definitely make you feel safer.  And you should feel safe. I'm not saying that a policeman should be at every corner, twenty-four hours a day, 365 a year.  What I am saying, though, is when suspicious folks are are around and about, she or he will warn them that if they try anything, they will go to jail.  Period.

But not if Nutcase Norquist has his way.  It doesn't matter if all you transgenders are killed.  Or tortured. Or raped. He has his precious greenbacks to line his pockets.

It's time to tell him to fuck off.

Understanding Transgender Communities and Equal Rights in Newton - Melanie Graham - http://newton.patch.com

*more here*

City's transgender law shows understanding - Penny Sori / Alan Drucker - http://blog.syracuse.com

*more here8

A Woman? A Transgender Woman? Or Both? - Jillian Page - http://blogs.montrealgazette.com

*more here*

MAINE JUDGE TOSSES TRANSGENDER STUDENT'S BATHROOM SUIT - ANDREW BELONSKY - http://www.towleroad.com

*more here*

Hamburg, New York

Credit: www.tactical-life.com

Hello!

Uhhhhh... too much turkey... here's the latest... Hamburg, New York... Mountain View, California... Wilmington, Delaware... Marl, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany... Vincennes, Indiana... Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa... Norwalk, Connecticut... Birmensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland... Davenport, Iowa...  Hull, Kingston upon Hull, England, UK... Evanston, Illinois... Zephyrhills, Florida... Moreno Valley, California... West Point, Virginia... West Point, Virginia... Dallas, Texas... Orël, Orel, Russia... Strømmen, Akershus, Sweden... London, England, UK... Kingston, New York... Berlin, Germany... Utrecht, Netherlands...  Alexandria, Virginia... Epsom, Surrey, England, UK... Wonju, Kangwon-do, South Korea... Vancouver, British Columbia... Columbus, Ohio... Taoyuan, Hunan, China... Belmar, New Jersey... Moorestown, New Jersey... Warren, Ohio... Chicago, Illinois.... Roselle, Illinois... Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... Quezaltepeque, La Libertad, El Salvador...  Zaventem, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium...

Hey, give a neighbor a hand!
www.redcross.org 

Once more - it's time!

I know, I know -- I'm beginning to sound like an ole broken record.  But the thing is, it's important. You may live in one of those fortunate states, but the thing is, there are those states that are not nearly as fortunate.  We need LGBT rights to be universal rights, not some crazyquilt map that you need to check every time you cross a state border.

Zephyrhills, Florida - Richard Nugent (R) - FL5
Moreno Valley, California - Mary Bono Mack (R) - CA45
West Point, Virginia - Richard Wittman (R) - VA1
Dallas, Texas - Pete Sessions (D) - TX32
Mountain View, California - Anna Eshoo (D) - CA14
Kingston, New York - Maurice Hinchey (D) - NY22
Houston, Texas - Al Green (D) - TX9
Columbus, Ohio - Steve Stivers (R) - OH15
Belmar, New Jersey - Frank Pallone (D) - NJ6
Moorestown, New Jersey - Jon Runyan (R) - NJ3

The preceding representatives are random selections from the Internet.   To find which representative is yours, go to www.house.gov and enter your five digit ZIP code.  

FW woman alleges she was kicked out of Dollar General store for being transgender - ANNA WAUGH - http://www.dallasvoice.com

*more here*

Transgender students push for unisex bathrooms at Oakland University - KEVIN GRAHAM - http://www.theoaklandpress.com

*more here*

Gray, Ellerbe attend Transgender Day of Remembrance event - Michael K. Lavers -www.washingtonblade.com

*more here*

Chaz Bono drops by 'Degrassi' to boost ground-breaking transgender storyline - CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI - http://www.vancouversun.com (Canada)

*more here*