Makin' the best from the end of 2012!

It certainly has been a topsy-turvy year.  On the plus side, we see Barack Obama and Joe Biden forcefully championing LGBT folks.  On the minus side, we see such great sadness in Aurora and Newtown.

So, as the year ends, you might be wondering what difference you can make.  The year is almost over, right?

But you can make a difference.  You can send an e-letter to your Congressperson or MP.  Let them know that LGBT people are watching - and they vote.  Whether Democratic or Republican, you can put the feet on the fire.

It's true, 2012 is almost over.  But you can make a difference, and you will feel so much better inside.

And as for what is coming, happy New Year!

Vancouver, BC (CAN) 

Year in Review: EEOC issues landmark decision banning trans bias - Lou Chibbaro Jr. - http://www.washingtonblade.com

*more here*

A Remarkable Year for Transgender Civil Rights - Dana Beyer - http://www.huffingtonpost.com

*more here*

Readers' Top 12 Transgender Stories of 2012 -Courtney O'Donnell - http://www.huffingtonpost.com

*more here*

To my African-American friends, happy Kwanzaa!

credit:  toledoblade.com

To all the UK countries, happy Boxing Day!

Credit:  mirror.co.uk

Now, transgenders come forward for strong action - Annapurna Jha - http://dailypioneer.com

*more here*

How social media helped foil an Arizona school shooting plot - Mike Sunnucks - http://www.bizjournals.com

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30 Days Of Holiday LGBT Giving: Kulia Na Mamo Transgender Organization - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

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Mark Regnerus Claims Viewing Porn Increases Support For Gay Marriage Among Straight Men - http://www.huffingtonpost.com

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To all my Christian friends, Merry Christmas!

Credit:  dailycaller.com/Charles Schulz

Police, transgender groups building trust - Paul Grondahl - http://www.timesunion.com

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Video: Lana Wachowski Opens Up About Her Journey as a Transgender American - Dan Rafter - http://www.hrc.org

*more here

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Credit: idwraps.com

Hello!

It was frigid out yesterday!  Here's what's happening... Scranton, Pennsylvania... Mountain View, California...  Corning, New York... Ripley, Derbyshire, England, UK... Mumbai, Maharashtra, India... Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia... Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada... Pottstown, Pennsylvania... Berlin, Germany... Bucharest, Bucuresti, Romania... Saint James, New York... Zephyrhills, Florida... London, England, UK... Auckland, New Zealand... Moreno Valley, California...  Buffalo, New York... Villas, New Jersey... Asheville, North Carolina... Woodland Hills, California... Guelph, Ontario, Canada... Tulsa, Oklahoma...  Bocholt, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany... Honolulu, Hawaii... Porterville, California... Bakersfield, California... Meriden, Connecticut... Helena, Montana... Minneapolis, Minnesota... Norman, Oklahoma... Michigan City, Indiana... Kansas City, Missouri... Huntsville, Alabama... Atlanta, Georgia... Austin, Texas... Paoli, Pennsylvania... Anchorage, Alaska... Saint Peter Port, Guernsey...  Lincoln, Nebraska... Wilmington, North Carolina... Luzern, Switzerland... Arcata, California...

Make the Christmas tree brighter!
www.redcross.org 

Can I have another?

OK, so I've been a long-winded woman advocating LGBT rights.  But think about this: an elderly woman, Edie Windsor, already sorrowful about the loss of her partner, has to pay 363,000 dollars in estate taxes.

Well, how about if Edie Windsor had married a man?

Then she would owe nothing.

This is but one of many appalling travesties.

And this is why I urge you to urge you to e-write your congressperson.  Please do so.

Arizona cops foil girl’s school shooting plot with help from Toronto police - http://www.660news.com

*more here*

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel apologizes for gay comment - http://www.cachevalleydaily.com

*more here*

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

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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

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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.