03 March 2020

civil rights - Author, transgender advocate Alex Myers tours Wyoming for book partly based on his life

Elyssa Conner
Casper Star-Tribune


Rock Springs, WY


please press:  trib.com

Iowa - Ban conversion therapy in Iowa

John S. Westefeld
Iowa City Press-Citizen


Iowa City, IA


please press:  www.press-citizen.com

ezs note:  Hey, all I can tell you is that here in Connecticut, people haven't been zapped into oblivion.  I'll be happiest when all 50 states ban 'conversion therapy'. 

lead story - Rainbow Rant: Republican lawmakers aim to criminalize transgender health care

Joy Ellison
Alive


Ashville, OH


please press:  www.columbusalive.com

ezs note:  Ohioans - Okay, here's what ya gotta do. Call your state representative and your state senator and urge them to kill these stupid bills.  Hey, no guarantees, but your phone call will make em' a little more nervous.  

Donald Trump - Paranoid Politics Goes Viral

02 March 2020

civil rights - 'Whiplash' Of LGBTQ Protections And Rights, From Obama To Trump

Selena Simmons-Duffin
NPR



please press:  www.npr.org

New Hampshire - Anti-trans bills killed in New Hampshire and Idaho (but many others survive)

lead story - Fury as Kanye West hymn service pushes out transgender show

Donald Trump - THE MAN BEHIND TRUMP’S FACEBOOK JUGGERNAUT

Andrew Marantz
The New Yorker



Brad Parscale


please press:  www.newyorker.com


01 March 2020

civil rights - HRC & NEA Sponsor Jazz and Friends National Day of School and Community Readings

Elliott Kozuch
HRC


Mount Horeb, WI


please press:  www.hrc.org

Vermont - Weybridge Church Aims Christian Lens at the Climate Crisis

Chelsea Edgar
Seven Days


Weybridge, VT


please press:  www.sevendaysvt.com

ezs note:  Though the lion's share is about environmentalism, there is also a paragraph about other things the church is doing.  

lead story - Idaho targets transgender people, birth certificate changes

Keith Ridler
KUTV


Boise, ID


please press:  kutv.com

Donald Trump - Trump makes us ill

29 February 2020

civil rights - Complaint filed over transgender MIL track athlete

Melissa Tanji
The Maui News


Lahaina, HI

ezs note:  Here in Connecticut the transgender girl finished second. Which means the cisgender girl finished first. Which means her lawyer's got SQUAT.


please press:  www.mauinews.com

Maine - Letters To The Editor - LGBTQ+ care available in rural Maine

Sara Hayes, Meredith Hunt
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

  
Waterville, ME


please press:  www.centralmaine.com

lead story - Legislature OKs bill allowing new birth certificate for transgender people

Donald Trump - Trump says the coronavirus is the Democrats’ ‘new hoax’

Thomas Franck
CNBC


ezs note:  Trump fans - please don't think I'm trying to be mean... but are you nuts???


please press:  www.cnbc.com

28 February 2020

civil rights - Bloomberg apologizes for comments about transgender people

Marina Pitofsky
The Hill


Mike Bloomberg


please press:  thehill.com

Arkansas - Republican wants to cut funding from “Sesame Street” because a gay man will appear on it

Alex Bollinger
LGBTQ Nation


the bowels of Satan


please press:  www.lgbtqnation.com 

ezs note:  Arkansans - I know you live in a conservative state, but please, do your best to defeat Jason Rapert (he's running for Lieutenant Governor) and all those who hold idiotic views.  Thanks.  

lead story - More employers are covering transgender health benefits

Dr. David Gregg
BenefitNews.com


Waterbury, CT


please press:  www.benefitnews.com

Donald Trump - "What Hath Trump Wrought?' auth. Andrew Bacevich

27 February 2020

Mokuyoubi wa Kimi to Nakitai - author - Kudou Makoto


Kaoru


When I  first read Mokuyoubi wa Kimi to Nakitai (English: I Want to Hold You) at first, it really didn't seem like it was gonna be anything to write home about.  Boy, was I mistaken.  Kudou Makoto left a masterful work.  Now all I have to do is describe the work without completely spilling the beans.  Uh, good luck, Emily.

The very first  words that Kaoru utters  are these, "I have a secret about myself."  You might not notice it at first but there is a prone body next to Kaoru.  This is but one of a long list that impacts the cast. Under each of their bodies lie deep flaws, ones that the people cannot shake.  In fact, Reika (who turns out to be the villain of the story)  has devoted an entire chapter to this.  Snively Whiplash she ain't.  Is she 'virtuous'?  No, not by a long shot.  But you can feel empathy for her, even as she performs some truly despicable acts.

The one person who has spent the longest time with Kaoru is Senmitsu.  In a sense, he can know the secrets Kaoru and Reika have.  But he has flaws himself, deep flaws.  Years back, he witnessed the death of Kairi, twin sister of Kaoru, as well as the devastating impact on their family, particularly the mother.  And on himself, though he is loath to admit it.

And the third person is Chiaki.  After saving Kaoru's life from an oncoming train, Chiaki and Kaoru get to know one another.   At first, Kaoru is a bit of a pain to Chiaki.  He doesn't understand how people can treat their own lives so frivolously,  But he can relate because his mother is treated so badly by his father. 

Well, I think I've gone as far I can without spilling too many beans,  But I do hope you'll read Mokuyoubi wa Kimi to Nakitai. I think you'll find it well worth it.

civil rights - Transgender advocates applaud transfer of detainees, temporary shutdown of criticized ICE facility

Luis Zambrano
TucsonSentinel.com


Milan, NM


please press:  www.tucsonsentinel.com

Vermont - 'If I get killed, it's not going to be an accident': Progressive family in VT faces threats, vandalism

Ryan Mercer
Burlington Free Press


Enosburg Falls, VT


please press:  www.burlingtonfreepress.com


lead story - Young, transgender and fighting a years-long battle against suicidal thoughts

Natalie Pate
Statesman Journal


Portland, OR


please press:  www.statesmanjournal.com

Donald Trump - The 31 wildest lines from Donald Trump's self-congratulatory coronavirus press conference

Chris Cillizza
CNN


White House Briefing Room


please press:  www.cnn.com  

26 February 2020

civil rights - Iowa bill to end transgender civil rights protections is dead

Press
NBC News


ezs note:  He's dead, Jim!


please press:  www.nbcnews.com

Idaho - Idaho Lawmakers Hear Tearful Testimony On Transgender Therapy Bill

James Dawson
Boise State Public Radio


Caldwell, ID



ezs note: Idahoans - If you aren't able to make it to the state Capitol, don't fret.  Call your state representative AND your state senator and tell them to say NO to these bills.  Thanks.  

lead story - Missouri bill would restrict transgender athletes to play on sports teams matching gender assigned at birth

Andrew Havranek
KY3


Lewis County Courthouse
Monticello, MO


please press:  www.ky3.com

ezs note:  If you live in Missouri, and you are a transgender athlete, ally, friend, or parent,  please call up your state representative AND state senator and tell them to defeat this idiotic bill.  Thanks.

Donald Trump - Trump in India: Anti-Muslim prime minister puts on a big show, bamboozles our president

Heather Digby Parton
Salon


Sardar Patel Stadium
Motera, India


please press:  www.salon.com

25 February 2020

civil rights - Transgender woman killed in Puerto Rico after using women's bathroom

Tim Fitzsimons
NBC News


Toa Baja, Puerto Rico


please press:  www.nbcnews.com

 ezs note:  As of now, police have been unable to find Neulisa (Alexa) Luciano Ruiz's killer.  If you have any information, please call the Puerto Rican police. Thank you. 

ezs note:  (Español) A partir de ahora, la policía no ha podido encontrar al asesino de Neulisa (Alexa) Luciano Ruiz. Si tiene alguna información, llame a la policía puertorriqueña. Gracias.

lead story - Brazilian transgender dancer shatters Carnival parade taboo

Donald Trump - 'Dark Towers', auth. David Enrich

23 February 2020

How to vote!



ezs note:  This is a handy-dandy little blog where you can register to vote!  It's called vote.org.  Just press the button, and soon you'll be on your way!  After you're done, please let me know at thoreaugreen@gmail.com.  Just do a quickie, 'I'm gonna vote!'  Thanks.


Zambia - Intersex Activist in Zambia Sheds Light on Misunderstood Group

Prudence Phiri
Global Press Journal


Lukasa, Zimbabwe


please press:  globalpressjournal.com

civil rights - 'Cruel, Inexcusable': Bloomberg 2019 Comments on Trans Rights Come Under Fire

Mississippi - Center for LGBT community opens in Tupelo

lead story - Bridging Divides: A transgender lawyer brings her message to Sioux Falls

Donald Trump - Justice Sotomayor warns the Supreme Court is doing special favors for the Trump administration

Ian Millhiser
Vox


Justice Sonia Sotomayor


please press:  www.vox.com

22 February 2020

Switzerland - Two Swiss cities to introduce transgender toilets in schools

Press
thelocal.ch


Aigle, Switzerland


please press:  www.thelocal.ch

civil rights - Trans 101 breaks down transgender stereotypes

New Jersey - LGBTQ education is now mandatory in New Jersey schools. Here's how teachers are preparing

Melanie Burney
Post-Bulletin


Hinchman-Lippincott House
Haddon Heights, NJ


please press:  www.postbulletin.com

lead story - Teenage transgender row splits Sweden as dysphoria diagnoses soar by 1,500%

Richard Orange
The Guardian


Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld
J. Walter, 1632


please press:  www.theguardian.com

ezs note:  When the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment (somewhat analogous to the American Medical Association) was asked by the government to offer its thoughts,  it was a sobering moment.   My own thoughts about this debacle are this:  although newspapers offer a compelling voice, it might be best to read scientific journals as well, even if only the summary is read.  Also, go by the consensus,  rather than what any individual doctor might say.  She or he might have a valid viewpoint but might also hold a colored viewpoint.  I'm not saying that this doctor holds a strident agenda, just that the body of doctors tends to offer a more thoughtful view.

Donald Trump - America's Parasite

Maureen Dowd
The New York Times


...Washington is burning.
Maureen Dowd


please press:  www.nytimes.com

21 February 2020

How to vote!



ezs note:  This is a handy-dandy little blog where you can register to vote!  It's called vote.org.  Just press the button, and soon you'll be on your way!  After you're done, please let me know at thoreaugreen@gmail.com.  Just do a quickie, 'I'm gonna vote!'  Thanks.

Poland/France - French Saint-Jean De Braye breaks town twinning with Polish Tuchów over homophobia

Aseniya Dimitrova
The Mayor.eu


Tuchów, Poland


please press:  www.themayor.eu


civil rights - Human Rights Campaign says Bloomberg should apologize for comments about transgender people

Rebecca Klar
The Hill


Human Rights Campaign
Washington DC


please press:  thehill.com

Rhode Island - Israeli transgender activist, Michael Alroy to Speak at URI

lead story - Garland man accused of killing transgender woman now faces enhanced capital murder charge