Centerville, Massachusetts

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ezs comment #5

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Works cited:  Dispatches: The Courage to Combat Indonesia's Homophobia

Aw, crap, this is gonna be a long one...

When I think of the long, long stretch of LGBT history (and most particularly that of transgender history) there is one date which stands out in my mind: 1946.  Granted, there is a long historical tome laid out for us; Sappho was one of the earliest lesbians; Albert Cashier was involved in the Union Army and served there with distinction - we cannot ignore what he did.  However, in the days immediately following World War II, the nations of the world finally got together and formed the United Nations.  (By the way, one of the people who gathered was former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.)

When the first group of nations gathered together, it was in San Francisco.  Indonesia came soon after, 

in 1950.  Here in the United States, we quaintly like to believe in a "patchwork nation". Well, in Indonesia, the population may be less, but the people are far more diverse.  Case in point:  the province known as Aceh.  Aceh is, um, different. Located in the far western portion of one of the islands (Sumatra) it is definitely Muslim.

Meanwhile, work was continuing on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  What this document did was put into written form what a human being was, and what his/her rights were.  Its ideas were spotty at best; for example, women did not gain the full right to vote in Switzerland until 1970.  However, it was a guidepost.  What it also was to serve as a launching pad for various groups, some of which were known (for example, race and sex were mentioned in the Charter) but many of which came into being only later - elders, natives, disabled people, and, notably, the LGBT community.  

Transgender people were the latest among the populace to gain a foothold; Laverne Cox was a first actress to get an Emmy, and Caitlyn Jenner was the first Olympic champion to come out of the closet.  Even with the advances made by people voicing more loudly, it's a hard road.  Nothing against Laverne and Caitlyn, but with beauty on a 1 to 10, well, I think you know where they would wind up.  And it isn't their blessing and/or curse, really.  I remember early in the movie "Ma vie en rose" Ludovic says he wants to be pretty.  Her grandmother "corrects" her, saying "Not pretty, but handsome".

And what about beauty, anyhow?  Despite its pedestrian view of being only 'skin deep', beauty carries with it a hell of a lot of baggage.  Add to that the transgender woman's 'friends', enemies, and observers myopic attitudes regarding beauty as being somehow "subversive", you can add a few bricks to the baggage.

However, when we look at the larger picture, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is here, and isn't going anywhere.  Let's look again at the Declaration for transgender people, paraphrased:

• We are free and equal in dignity and rights. (Article 1)
• Note carefully what it says in Article 2:  "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion..."  Could it be?  Hmmm....
• We have the right to "life, liberty, and security of person." (Article 3)
• No punishment is allowed.  (Article 5)
• No one should be arbitrarily arrested. (Article 9)
• We have the right to go we want.  (Article 13)
• We have the right to seek asylum.  (italics mine) (Article 14)
• We have the right to hold our own opinions.  (Article 18)
• We have the right to form associations.  (Article 20)
• We have the right to vote.  (Article 21)

What of Indonesia's (and Aceh's) future in all this?  For better or worse, Indonesia became a signatory in 1950.  Which means, as such, Indonesia willingly took on certain duties to the international community.  By their very nature, Articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are not supposed to be easy.  When we go to the table, by all rights, we expect difficulty.  

Aceh, as it been mentioned before, is very much a Muslim territory.  Indonesia tries to keep the whole thing together by offering Aceh "special status".  However, when they signed the agreement with the United Nations, they agreed to principles documented in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Otherwise, it's only a piece of paper.  We don't want that.

Cheers,

Emily

Dispatches: The Courage to Combat Indonesia’s Homophobia

Kyle Knight
Human Rights Watch

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please press:  https://www.hrw.org

Philly voters to decide on LGBT office, new planning post

Tricia L. Nadolny
philly.com

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please press:  http://www.philly.com

Help our Afghani friends!

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We remain unaware - blissfully unaware - of the earthquakes which ravage the poorer countries on which we share this earth.  Even in the area where quakes are more prevalent, things tend to be much sunnier.  Not so in Afghanistan. The death toll has surpassed 100, and is likely to climb much higher.

As for me,  Doctors Without Borders is my choice.  If you agree, please click the logo on the upper right and fill out the donation form that appears here.

Of course, there are many other very worthy funds to donate to.  Here are some others:

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (outside US)

American Red Cross

Save the Children

There are also many churches, synagogues, mosques, and civic groups that are sending money to Afghanistan.   Please be sure, though, that the money being spent is going directly to relief supplies and medication.

Thanks.

Ask Amy: Is her guy hanging with the girls because he's bored? (see third letter)

Amy Dickinson
Chicago Tribune

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please press:  http://www.chicagotribune.com

My Trans Experience: I'm Not Who You Thought I Was

Brad Migliaro
Hartford Courant

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please press:  http://www.courant.com

Tina's Story: My Fifty-Year Journey from Shadow to Sun

Pamela Valentine
Chicago Now

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please press:  http://www.chicagonow.com

'We can't say it’s fine, because it’s not fine': Transgender model Lea T insists LGBT people are still being discriminated against, calls for society to 'do more' (UK)

Valerie Siebert
Daily Mail

Lea T

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please press:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Pope Francis Sees Some Bishops With 'Closed Hearts'

Lucas Grindley
Advocate

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please press:  http://www.advocate.com

Review: 'Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family,' by Amy Ellis Nutt

Kurtis Scaletta
Star Tribune

Amy Ellis Nutt

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please press:  http://www.startribune.com

Christina Kahrl, transgender pioneer long before Caitlyn Jenner, says passion for talking, writing baseball transcends differences

Michael O'Keefe
New York Daily News

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please press:  http://www.nydailynews.com

Viewpoint: October is Transgender Awareness Month

Michaela Bishop

Ravalli Republic

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please press:  http://ravallirepublic.com

Education needed on inclusion of transgender students

Margeaux Mutz
Tallahassee Democrat

Margeaux Mutz

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please press:  http://www.tallahassee.com

Chicago-area school district defies government on transgender access

Fiona Ortiz
Reuters

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please press:  http://www.reuters.com

Dayton, Ohio

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Petition urges Cardiff University to cancel Germaine Greer lecture (UK)

Ben Quinn
The Guardian

Germaine Greer

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please press:  http://www.theguardian.com

Tony Perkins: Trans People Will Try To Go To Jail For 'Free Surgery'

Isabel Carter-Kahn
Right Wing Watch

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please press:  http://www.rightwingwatch.org

In Kolkata, smashing the sex barrier (India)

Shamik Bag
Live Mint

Kolkata, India

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please press:  http://www.livemint.com

Vote!

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First to Canada:  Congratulations!  You made the difference by kicking Conservatives to the curb! Yay!

Next, to the US:  Yeah, I know voting can get a bit discouraging at times.  But, please, look at our friends to the north.  They voted, and they won.  I'll be straight with you.  There are no ironclad guarantees in voting.  But it provides you with the only way in which you have a real voice.  Throw your vote away, and you've thrown your voice away.

PS:  Check to see if you have a ballot initiative as well.  Please don't forget these as well as candidates.

'Gentlemen only' barbers accused of refusing to cut transgender teenager's hair (UK)

Josh Parry
The Mirror

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please press:  http://www.mirror.co.uk

ezs note:  Come on, Evander, we're only being lighthearted.

Uh... we are, aren't we?

LGBT Veteran Activist Stephen Snyder-Hill to Speak at UC

Rachel Richardson
University of Cincinnati 

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please press:  http://www.uc.edu

Laverne Cox to take on iconic ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ role

Adam Howard
MSNBC

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please press:  http://www.msnbc.com

Know the facts behind Houston’s HERO fight

Cece Cox
The Dallas Morning News

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please press:  http://lgbtqblog.dallasnews.com

ezs note:  In Houston - and in cities and towns around the country - there are ballot measures around the country.  Don't overlook them!  In Houston, it is being referred to as the HERO measure.  Please vote YES on this measure.  And better yet, bring a friend!

Cuomo Planning Discrimination Protections for Transgender New Yorkers

Jesse McKinley
The New York Times

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please press:  http://www.nytimes.com

Transgender woman's final message (New Zealand)

Press
nzherald.co.nz

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please press:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz

ezs note:  Crap... on the one hand, I feel so badly for Ashley's friends and family.  On the other hand, if I had gotten to her in time, I would have said there's hope.  There's always hope.

I can't do anything for Ashley now, but I can do something for you.  If you live in New Zealand, there's a whole host of people you can call. They are listed at the end of the article. If you live in the United States, you can call Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386.  If you live in another country, type in "suicide hotline". Look first for a government agency - this way, you won't be duped by a "conversion therapy" line.  (Yeah, these are quacks.)

If you feel despair, get help!!!

Iowa community college offers transgender student housing

Staff
thonline.com

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please press:  http://www.thonline.com  

2016 Ujjain Kumbh: Separate akhada comes up to cater to eunuchs (India)

Staff
The Statesman

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please press:  http://www.thestatesman.com

Cape Air announces support for transgender anti-discrimination legislation

Staff
Cape Cod Today

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please press:  https://www.capecodtoday.com

Gay conversion therapy harms young people, report says

Tia Ghose
CBS

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  please press:  http://www.cbsnews.com

Transgender students at Cal State Long Beach to choose names for IDs, class rosters

Josh Dulaney
Press-Telegram

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please press:  http://www.presstelegram.com

Transgender Canadians Speak Out On Federal Election Issues (Canada)

Al Donato
Huffington Post Canada

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please press:  http://www.huffingtonpost.ca

Indiana governor discusses division on LGBT protections

Press
Daily Herald

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please press:  http://www.dailyherald.com

With release of new book, transgender Maine teen finds her voice

Eric Russell
Portland Press Herald

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please press:  http://www.pressherald.com

Renee's Story: Once Upon a Time

Pamela Valentine
Chicago Now

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please press:  http://www.chicagonow.com

A Brief History Of Memoirs By Trans Women: Lives Beyond Our Identities

Meredith Talusan
Buzzfeed

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please press:  http://www.buzzfeed.com

Gay People In Myanmar Can't Live Openly. Here's Why

Dominique Mosbergen
The World Post/The Huffington Post/Berggruen Institute

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please press:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Hillary Clinton: TSA Dropping 'Anomaly' Is a 'Good Move'

Daniel Reynolds
Advocate

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please press: http://www.advocate.com

Man arrested in transgender woman’s death in Montgomery County

Press
WTOP

Rico Hector Leblond

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please press:  http://wtop.com

Lima, Peru

Credit:  http://theholidaze.com/images/countries/peru/lima-beach.jpg

Bengali Durga Puja all set to dazzle

Press
iFree Press

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please press:  http://www.ifreepress.com

Edmonton Catholic School Board dysfunction could lead to 'dissolution', says expert (Canada)

Paige Parsons

Edmonton Journal

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please press:  http://edmontonjournal.com

Buffalo bolsters anti-discrimination laws to better protect transgender people

Susan Schulman
The Buffalo News

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please press:  http://www.buffalonews.com

Transgender woman dies after being shot between Montgomery County shopping centers

Press
Daily Reporter

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please press:  http://www.greenfieldreporter.com

ezs note: Please, if you have any information regarding this killing, and you live or travel through Montgomery County, contact the police at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477) immediately!!!

Rest in peace, Zella...

Canada's Girl Guides say all transgender girls are welcome

Michelle Toh
The Christian Science Monitor

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please press:  http://www.csmonitor.com

Please, no excuses!

Credit:  http://ktvn.images.worldnow.com/images/5421498_G.jpg

Okay... I know it's a bit early, but I had to tell you.  Seems that there was this guy who was a bit disgusted.  He couldn't stand Hillary or Bernie.  (Never mind that there were three other candidates he could choose from.) So he wouldn't vote.  I tried to reason with the man; I tried to tell him that what the founders intended was a "more perfect" union, not an "absolutely perfect" union.  But he wouldn't budge.  What could I do?  Hey, I disagreed with the guy, but I do respect him.

Now... to my friends:  Please, don't let this dimwitted, shit-for-brains, asshole, dumb as dirt, nitwitted, troglodyte, moron get you down.  Vote anyways.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

VOTE!

Trans Woman Alleges Harassment, Unjust Firing by Walmart

Trudy Ring
Advocate

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please press:  http://www.advocate.com

How my daughter became my son (New Zealand)

Victoria Lambert
nzherald.co.nz

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please press:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Bernie (no, not that Bernie!) school board approves transgender student policy

Derrion Henderson
KFVS12

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please press:  http://www.kfvs12.com

Transgender Rights Didn't Come Up In The First Democratic Presidential Debate, And It Was A Big Oversight

Mari Brighe
Bustle

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please press:  http://www.bustle.com