16 September 2015

ezs comment #2...


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Work commented on:  




One seminal work arose in the past few weeks. 
"If You Are Trans..." discusses the 
important work being done by the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition.  There is, no doubt, how
integral this work is.  I myself filled out the rather long form, but it was entirely worth it.  My voice 
was indeed heard, and I'm damn proud of that. (If you want to participate, press USTransSurvey.org.)


However, it makes me wonder what 'might have been'.  Undoubtedly, the University of California, Los
 Angeles holds a position second to none when it comes to precision.  NTAC  holds a position second
 to no one by choosing someone with such prestige.  


Indeed,  only the federal government has such clout - and that's where the problem lies.  Inevitably,
John Boehner would sound the hissy-fit alarm.  "We can't spend that much money on a couple of 
transsexuals!  (sic)  Oh the horror!  Let the private sector do it!"  And, at first blush, it would
seem to be a reasonable premise.  Well, except for the fact that the House of Representatives is built 
like a jigsaw puzzle.  Thus, the House is hardly representative... and thus, very unfair.  


When the House of Representatives is put together every ten years by those who want to stay in power - Republicans and Democrats alike - some, uh, strange things happen. Consider Louie Gohmert.   Oh, Louie, Louie, how could we forget you?  Our "hero" put on an unsuccessful challenge against John Boehner - because he was too liberal!  (Don't that beat all?)  Or his psychedelic "asparagus" comments in the House.  Of course, we wouldn't even be having discussions such as these were it not  for the machinations of Tom DeLay.  


Next we consider the capital of Texas, Austin.  Now, Austin isn't quite as liberal as Provincetown - but it's damn well up there.  Now the good friends in Texas  would have shown some kindness toward their capitol  city... wouldn't they?


Ha!


When the Texas legislature carved up its House of Representatives, they divided  Austin into five parts.  Hence, only 1/5 of Austin got a fair shake in Washington.  It is fair, of course, when a Representative gets to speak his/her mind in D.C., but it is ludicrously unfair when his/her district is shaped like a smashed-up pretzel.


There are anomalies, of course.  A conservative will fall into Jerrold Nadler's district, and a liberal (god bless your heart) will fall into into Louie Gohmert's district.  Hey, that's life.  However you can e-mail them, and let them know that the only good district is a fair district, one so founded by the framers and the Supreme Court.


And, of course, you can run.


Then let us consider the office of Speaker itself.  In the Constitution, there is precious little to tell
us what the Speaker actually does.  "The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker..."  And 
that's it!  One interpretation would give the Speaker little more clout than the Dean of the House.   
Isn't that how it was really meant to be?


Consider the case of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.  She's a proud Republican.  But, she's also a mother of a transgender son.  
Whenever the topic of transgender issues comes up, she and a handful of enlightened Republicans 
plead with the Speaker.  Predictably, nothing comes of it.  


Thanks, John.  Thanks, 1/16 of Ohio.





Cheers,


Emily



Obama Administration Pushes Again for Transgender Rights

Press
LA Independent


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please press:  http://laindependent.com

15 September 2015

Taking steps to be more inclusive to transgender students in N.B. schools (Canada)

Staff
CTV News Atlantic


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please press:  http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca


The transgender drama was pulled from the release calendar after it received mixed reviews at the Toronto Film Festival.

Tatiana Siegel
The Hollywood Reporter


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How to Spot Anti-Trans Concern Trolls

Brynn Tannehill
The Good Men Project


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please press:  http://goodmenproject.com

ezs note:  Wow - when certain people describe a particular situation as an "embarrassment of riches", they aren't kidding, are they?  To get the best out of Brynn Tannehill's article, use the first hyperlink.  In it, you will find a plethora of articles and studies that any knowledgeable person will squish "concern trolls" with.

"Embarrassing", isn't it?

Photographer Seeks Legal Action After Italian Far-Right Party Uses Picture in Campaign Against Gender Education

Natalie Ilsley
Newsweek

'The Plight of Transgender', Rose Morelli

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Troy board hears from public on transgender policy

Nancy Bowman
Dayton Daily News


Troy, Ohio

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Vote!


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Hartford, CT residents - today is the LAST day to vote in the primaries.  If you don't vote, you don't count.  And if you skip the primaries, forty lashes with a wet noodle!  Mwahahahaha!

All other residents - Register. If you can, vote.  That is all.

If You Are Trans in America, Take the U.S. Trans Survey Today

Cleis Abeni
Advocate


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

ezs note:  Please - this is very important!  The National Center for Gender Equality is doing a nationwide survey (monitored by the University of California - Los Angeles for accuracy)  There are only seven days to take this survey.  If you are transgender - MTF or FTM - please take one. It's at

13 September 2015

Laverne Cox delivered a moving speech on why being transgender is beautiful (UK)

Ellen Scott
Cosmopolitan/UK


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Transgender Hoosiers transition to new lives

Shari Rudavsky
IndyStar


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

Falling in (and Out of) Love Is Complicated When You’re Transgender

Oscar Lopez
Raw Story/Newsweek


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

Wentworth actor Socratis Otto talks about playing a transgender person (New Zealand)

Press
stuff.co.nz


Socratis Otto

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please press:  http://www.stuff.co.nz


High school names transgender teen homecoming queen

Press
WGNtv.com

Landon Patterson

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please press:  http://wgntv.com

12 September 2015

Trustees come up with transgender policy, but archbishop may have his own version (Canada)

Madeleine Cummings
Edmonton Journal


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Lawsuit Claims Minn. Woman is Denied Health Care Because She's Transgender

Brett Hoffland
KSTP.com


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please press: http://kstp.com

Normalizing The Transgender Community

Terri Lee Ryan
ChicagoNow.com


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

‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 17 spoilers: First look at ‘Transgender Bridge’

Press
CarterMatt


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please press:  http://cartermatt.com

Hunting for a home not easy for transgenders (India)

Rozelle Laha
Hindustan Times


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Fulshear, Texas


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10 September 2015

OMV will not change ID policies, but will allow transgender people to appear as themselves in photos

Maya Lau
The Acadiana Advocate


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please press:  http://theadvocate.com

The UK's first transgender 'confidence consultancy' is Born (UK)

Sian Ranscombe
The Telegraph


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N.B. health minister meets with Transgender Health Network for the first time (Canada)

Press
CTV News Atlantic


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Massachusetts’ Mayors Call on Legislature, Governor to Support Transgender Rights

Maureen McCarty
HRC

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please press: http://www.hrc.org

ezs note:  If you do live in one of the Massachusetts cities that are petitioning for equality, be sure to e-write your thanks.  If not, ask them why the hell not!

Nursing home sued for allegedly discriminating, firing transgender woman

Haley Townsend
WIAT.com


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please press:  http://wiat.com

WATCH: Ellen and Cait Team-Up to Help Trans Nursing Student

Cleis Abeni
Advocate


Blossom Brown

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

Dallas Trans Activists, Allies, Plant Seeds of Remembrance for ‘Miss Shade’

John Wright
Texas Observer


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08 September 2015

O Canada, my home and native land...



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I may have been placed in the United States, but I love Canada.  Even with a Conservative government, you're still miles ahead of us in championing progressive principles.  Which is why I urge you to get out the vote on October 19, 2015.  You can do it!

Janet Mock On Global Poverty, Beyoncé & Texting Oprah

Ben Reininga
Refinery29


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please press:  http://www.refinery29.com

MSU sorority opens doors to transgender women

Claudette Riley
Springfield News-Leader

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Eddie Redmayne on Transgender Rights and Finding ‘The Danish Girl’

Ramin Setoodeh
Variety


Eddie Redmayne

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please press:  http://variety.com

Law allows transgender people to get updated birth certs (Ireland)

Sarah Bardon
The Irish Times


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

School board promises more accepting environment for transgender students and staff (Canada)

Roger Belgrave
BramptonGuardian.com


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07 September 2015

Russia's Transgender Community Struggles for Acceptance (Russia)

Elizaveta Vereykina
The Russia Times


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Report: NYPD still abusing rights of transgender people

Bob Knudsen
examiner.com


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

Few rules govern treatment of transgender prisoners in Costa Rica (Costa Rica)

Zach Dyer
The Tico Times


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please press:  http://www.ticotimes.ne

St. Pete Officers to be Trained on Transgender Issues

Press
6 South Florida NBC


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


06 September 2015

Out Boulder seeks to 'change hearts and minds' with transgender ad campaign on RTD buses

Natalie Munio and Daniel Krum
Daily Camera


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Transgender SA prisoner Krista Richards says future inmates will suffer if tribunal dismisses her equal opportunities case (Australia)

Sean Fewster
The Daily Telegraph


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Conference Countdown 2015: Transgender and intersex health charter (UK)

Caron Lindsay
Liberal Democrat Voice


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Transgender woman fights to get into nursing school

Allie Ware
WAPT News


Blossom Brown

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please press:  http://www.wapt.com

Federal Court Protects Transgender Immigrant from Deportation to Mexico Based on Anti-Torture Rules

Steve Straehley
AllGov


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please press:  http://www.allgov.com


Dayton, Ohio


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