Call To Action: Twelfth Annual Transgender Day Of Remembrance - Be Visible

An extremely high suicide rate in the Transgender community is not unique to Bangalore, India. Unfortunately, this is a global problem that is not being addressed. It will not go away on its own. Why? Many of our beautiful Transgender family lose all hope. We lose our families. We feel alone. We cannot find employment. We are denied health care. We are left homeless. Many resort to so-called illegal activities such as sex work, dealing drugs, petty theft and begging. If the overall suicide rate among all Trans folks is alarming, the suicide rate of Transgender youth is earth shattering at a suspected forty percent (40%). Religions preach love and compassion. They simply turn their heads to this sad fact. Governments are no better. Politicians and so-called Transgender inclusive organizations promise change and yet there is no change. Just the same old stuff. Transgender people are marginalized. We are made to be invisible and silent as are all marginalized groups of people, i.e. people of color, the young, the old and immigrants. Folks, this is a call to action - a wake up call! You do not have to be invisible or silent. Stand up and be proud of whom you are. Be vocal! Be active! The 2010 Twelfth Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance-TDOR is less than a month away on November 20, 2010. Find a TDOR event near you. Be present while we, the Transgender community, commemorate our ancestors who lost their lives to violence. Yes, this includes all of the Transgender folks who took their own lives because they lost hope. By being present, you are proving there is hope. There is a better way! Suicide rates in the transgender community see alarming spike Published: Sunday, Oct 31, 2010, 8:35 IST By Maitreyee Boruah | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA It’s hard to miss her wide smile, deep dark kohl-rimmed eyes, and her swift moves, negotiating the heavy traffic, as she goes about begging in her broken English on Commercial Street on a Friday afternoon. Meet Sundari, a 30-year-old transgender, who almost religiously comes to Commercial Street to beg — which she proudly claims is her profession. “I am a beggar. I have no qualms in calling myself a beggar,” she says, proudly. When told that begging is illegal, a visibly angry Sundari replies curtly, “Give me a job, I will work.” “I am a transgender. I am an outsider in society. I am neither a man nor a woman. The entire transgender community is discriminated against. The mainstream will never accept us as citizens. We are called ‘the other sex’,” Sundari says. “I am from a poor family in Mysore. After the neighbours came to know that I was a hijra [eunuch], they forced my parents to throw me out of my home. I was around 12 years old then. I had no option but to join the hijra community,” says Sundari, flaunting a red saree. She left not just her home, but also her education. “I wanted to complete my studies and get a decent job. But my dreams were shattered,” she says. She grew up within the community where she was taught to sing, dance and beg on the streets of Mysore. Sundari says she was also sexually abused and had been raped. “I was a sex worker for some time. But now, I only beg,” adds Sundari. Sundari feels if the society accepts the “third sex” as part of the mainstream, condition of transgenders is likely to change. Sundari adds that frustration runs high in the lives of trans-genders, because of lack of any security system. “We lead a very stressful life. This leads to depression and suicide,” she says. Sundari’s concerns are reflected in the sudden rise in the numbers of suicides in the transgender community in Bangalore. Over the last 10 days, two trans-genders have committed suicide. Over the last 15 months, around 28 have committed suicide in the city. Activists say the number might be much higher, as many cases are not reported. Sangama, a Bangalore-based voluntary organisation which is working for the betterment of sexual minorities says that the rate of suicide among transgenders in recent times has increased. “There is no help from the government,” says Shubha Chako, secretary of board, Sangama, an NGO that works with sexual minority groups. According to Sangama, Karnataka has 7,000 transgenders. Most have no access to jobs, education or health facilities. Sangama has started giving them pyschosocial counselling to deal with a large number of cases of depression among the community. Samara has a 24/7 crisis helpline: 9945601651 and 9945601652. Original Article

Hampton Roads Transgender Support - Gender Expression Movement - GEM November Calendar

Gender Expression Movement @ The Rainbow Bridge Connection of Hampton Roads We attempt at all times to provide a safe space for all Transgender and Gender non-conforming people. All others are welcome. Mutual personal respect is mandatory. The Gender Expression Movement - G.E.M., support group is having its general meeting on Saturday, November 6, 7 PM to ?? PM The topics are always Trans Positive. Everyone gets a chance to talk. Please feel free to bring friends, family and allies to our new, safe meeting location and be prepared to participate. You will never be alone again! Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details Trans Masculine Group November 6, 2:30 PM Join us in planning a Transfantastical camping trip! Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details Join the Trans Masculine Yahoo Group hr_transmale-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Non Transitioning Spouse/Partner Support - Open only to non Trans partners / significant others / and now includes friends / family. All are welcome to attend. Info to come Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details Hampton Roads Transgender Day of Remembrance Saturday, November 20, 4 PM - 7:30 PM Open House and a time to reflect 7 PM candle light reading of names ACCESS AIDS Care  is generously allowing us to use the  Candii House location for this year's TDOR - a time to reflect on our ancestors who died because of whom they are and trying to live their authentic lives. Candii House, 3309 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23508 - One block south of Park Place Medical - Trans Clinic. The house is in the middle of the block. Directions Please park along 33rd and 34th Streets, in the driveway of the property (white, Victorian house) but please do NOT park along Granby Street. Movie / Game Night Saturday, November 20 following TDOR at Candii House Hang out with friends and chill. Bring your favorite game. Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details Gender Expression Movement RAINBOW BRIDGE CONNECTION www.RBCNLMCC.org Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details

Be Safe My Beautiful Transgender People

I love you my beautiful Transgender people. Please be more careful out there. It is not wise to walk alone anytime. It is even more dangerous after dark and the later it gets the more dangerous it gets. I know that going to bars and clubs is a lot of fun but think ahead. Is the bar Trans friendly? How will you safely get home especially if you are drinking alcohol or doing some recreational drugs? I do not know if this horrible story could have been averted. I do know Trans folks have to be extra cautious at all times. I certainly hope the victim in this case recovers in short order and the attackers are caught and prosecuted to the full degree of the law or maybe beyond the law by flogging the assholes with fifty lashes. Suspects sought in brutal attack on transgender woman October 28, 2010 | 8:46 am   Los Angeles police investigators continued their search Thursday for five suspects in connection with an attack on a transgender woman in Hollywood that left the 25-year-old victim bloodied and battered with a broken jaw and cheekbone. The victim had just left a bar near the intersection of La Brea and Melrose avenues early on the morning of Oct. 1 when she was attacked by three women and two men. According to witnesses, the attackers were beating and kicking the victim in the middle of the street, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Mitzi Grasso. The victim was kicked in the face and was hit on the head with a bottle, leaving cuts on the victim's neck. The victim lives in the San Fernando Valley. Police have not yet classified the attack as a hate crime but said the investigation was continuing, said Grasso, who called the attack "unusually vicious." The suspects fled in a white Chevy Suburban. Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Wilshire Division's Major Assault Crimes Section at (213) 922-9234 or (213) 922-8268. During non-business hours or weekends people can call (877) LAPD-24-7 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cellphone. All text messages should begin with the acronym LAPD. Tipsters can also go to www.lapdonline.org, click on "report a crime" and follow the prompts. -- Andrew Blankstein Original Article

Transgender Woman Attacked By California DMV Employee

The California DMV employee should be fired for infringing on the privacy of Amber Yust. I would also hope she sues the employee and the California DMV as well. What gives these wing nuts the right to do such things? Certainly not the constitution and I doubt their Jesus or whatever god they follow told them it is OK to be judgmental and attack others. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27, 2010   CONTACT: Kristina Wertz Legal Director, Transgender Law Center 415-545-8521 kristina@transgenderlawcenter.org Transgender Law Center Investigating Offensive Letter from DMV Employee San Francisco - The Transgender Law Center is outraged that a California Department of Motor Vehicles employee sent a letter to the home of a transgender woman calling her "an abomination" and telling her that she is going to hell. Last week Amber Yust, a transgender woman living in San Francisco, went to the San Francisco Department of Motor Vehicles to change her name on her driver's license. With her court ordered name change and all of the DMV paperwork in hand, Amber was able to get a new driver's license in her new name. But her experience with the DMV did not end there. Unbelievably, on Monday, Amber received a letter from the person who had processed her name change at the DMV. In the letter, which had been mailed to her at home, the DMV employee quoted from the Bible and stated that Amber had made a "very evil decision." The strongly-worded letter told Amber that she was "an abomination" and said that homosexuals should be put to death. "I was shocked to receive this letter from the person who processed my paperwork at the DMV," said Amber. "I would never have expected that a DMV employee could use information from my name change application to reach out and personally attack me. This has been a traumatic experience for me and I want to ensure that nothing like this happens to anyone else." The Transgender Law Center is investigating the incident.  "This was an egregious act committed by a government employee," said Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center. "Transgender people deserve to be treated with respect at agencies like the DMV. What happened to Amber is despicable, and we intend to do everything we can to hold the responsible parties accountable and to prevent this from happening again." About TLC The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. TLC uses direct legal services, education, community organizing and advocacy to transform California into a state that recognizes and supports the needs of transgender people and their families. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

French Existrans 2010: Transgender, Intersex and Supporters Show Unity

Transgender, Intersex and Supporters marched in Paris this past Saturday, October 23, 2010 in Existrans 2010. Très bon. Il devrait y avoir plus de marches à travers le monde montrant l'unité! marche des trans, des intersexué.es et de celles et ceux qui les soutiennent, Paris samedi 23 octobre 2010 Grève générale du genre Des papiers qui vont bien, sinon rien ! Ni "femme", ni "homme", lâchez-nous les chromosomes ! Blocage de la fabrique des sexes, grève générale du genre ! Des pépettes, des pépettes, pour les trans à la retraites ! d'Act-up aux Panthères roses en passant par outrans filmé par yann beauvais Loose translation trans march, the intersexué.es and those who support them, Paris Saturday, October 23, 2010 Kind of general strike Papers that are going well, or nothing! Or "woman" or "man", we release the chromosomes! Blocking the factory gender, general strike of its kind! Of Pépette, the Pépette for trans retired! Act-up to Pink Panthers through outrans filmed by yann beauvais

Transgender Law Center's Anniversary Party: Friday, 10/22/10

Buy your ticket TODAY for the Transgender Law Center's Anniversary Celebration! You don't want to miss this party to celebrate 8 years of groundbreaking victories for our community TOMORROW Friday, October 22, 2010 VIP reception 6-7pm Main Event 7-9pm at The Endup 401 6th Street, San Francisco, CA (at Harrison) Door Prizes will include a wine basket and a $100 gift certificate to Zuni Café. Complimentary food and signature beverages from: farm:table Jasmine Garden Moonstar Catering OneHope Chardonnay and Merlot (courtesy Young's Market Company) Pâtisserie Philippe Rainbow Grocery Cooperative TLC-tinis featuring Svedka and Smirnoff (courtesy The Endup) Entertainers Veronica Klaus is well known for her soulful renditions of jazz, blues and cabaret music. She recently finished a highly acclaimed engagement at the Rrazz Room and her critically acclaimed autobiographical show "Family Jewels-The Making of Veronica Klaus" was an audience favorite. The San Francisco Chronicle lauds her as "A beautifully expressive and tuneful song stylist." She was voted Best Chanteuse by SF Bay Guardian.  Josh Klipp is a jazz singer and hip hop dancer. His music has been featured on Showtime's "The L Word", "The Tyra Banks Show", and the Billboard Dance Music Charts. Our Honorees  Shannon Minter For more than a decade of leadership in the movement for transgender equality and pioneering legal victories. Tita Aida For more than a decade of promoting community engagement and LGBT community philanthropy. Senator Mark Leno For being our legislative champion in Sacramento and making CA a leader in transgender equality. Supervisor Bevan Dufty For his key role in maintaining City funding for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative. El/La Program Para TransLatinas For building community and for providing prevention education within the trans Latina community. San Francisco LGBT Community Center For promoting partnerships and programs that improve economic opportunities for the transgender community. Minami Tamaki LLP For their pro bono work to enforce employment non-discrimination law within California.   Tickets: VIP reception + main event: $150/person Main event only: $100/person Community rate (main event only): $50/person. Not able to attend yourself? Please donate so that community members who cannot afford tickets can attend! Host Committee  Rebecca BentonMichael BlakeJackson Bowman Danielle Castro Cecilia Chung Alex Cleghorn Anna Conda Masen Davis & Michele Horn Davis Lisa Rae Dummer Shay Aaron Gilmore Dan Karasic, MD Carolyn Laub Allison Laureano Amy Moore Roberto Ordeñana Martin Rawlings-Fein Chris Sinton Kate Walsham James Williamson & Geoff Kors Honorary Host Committee Assemblymember Tom Ammiano Supervisor John Avalos Council Member Desley Brooks  Supervisor David Campos Supervisor David Chiu   Treasurer José Cisneros Supervisor Sean Elsbernd Congresswoman Anna Eshoo Assemblymember Jerry Hill Congressman Mike Honda Council Member Pat Kernighan   Supervisor Eric Mar Councilor Darryl Moore Council Member Larry Reid   City Councilor Susan Wengraf City Councilor Kriss Worthington Senator Leland Yee Thank you to our sponsors! Gold Silver   Feminization Surgery: Joel B. Beck, MD, FACS & Marci L. Bowers MD, FACS Bronze   Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center   Gender Spectrum Jasmine Garden   Kumin Sommers National Center for Lesbian Rights Pâtisserie Philippe SF LGBT Community Center Sarah Deragon Photography Ruby  Amy Butcher, Massage COLAGE William A. Henkin, PhD Immigration Equality JVS OpenHouse Quest Family Therapy Rainbow Grocery Cooperative Rockwood Leadership Institute Rosen, Bien & Galvan LLP Luanna Rodgers, MFT Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI) Young's Market Company About TLC The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization that advocates for transgender communities. TLC uses direct legal services, education, community organizing and advocacy to transform California into a state that recognizes and supports the needs of transgender people and their families. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

Why Not The Richmond LGBT Community Center?

Interesting and yet somewhat disappointing news. There are two problems with this article. Nothing is said about improving scholarship on Bisexual issues. Hopefully this is an oversight. Maybe it's like the name of Richmond's gay community center. This is not an oversight.   Richmond's Gay Community Center was founded by the good old gay boys (think assimilate and white) club in Richmond. Much like Equality Virgina (Virginians For Justice), Transgender and Bisexual people are an afterthought and are not part of the club. The message has been loud and clear for many years. Va. Research Award To Focus On Gay Rights RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ― The Virginia Historical Society is partnering with the Gay Community Center of Richmond to promote historical scholarship on gay and transgender issues. The community center is providing the funding for the creation of the Guy Kinman Research Award. It is named after a former retired Army chaplain who has been a leader in the capital city's gay, bisexual and transgender community. Kinman remains active at age 92. The Historical Society says it has been building a significant collection of materials related to gay rights since 2008. The society says the Kinman award will help build on that existing scholarship. ___ Online: Virginia Historical Society: www.vahistorical.org Gay Community Center of Richmond: www.gayrichmond.com Original Article

Stand Up to Anti-LGBT Bullies - Wear Purple on Oct. 20!

Stand Up to Anti-LGBT Bullies - Wear Purple on Oct. 20! This Wednesday, October 20th, GLAAD invites you to join us in supporting LGBT youth and remembering those lost to anti-LGBT bullying by participating in 'Spirit Day'. How to help: Forward this e-mail to your friends, family and co-workers! Wear some purple on Wednesday, October 20, 2010! Click here to turn your Twitter profile pic purple now through October 20 Click here to turn your Facebook profile pic purple now through October 20 - then click on the new photo and click "Make Profile Pic" On Wednesday, post this tweet: I'm wearing purple to end anti-LGBT bullying - make your profile pic purple today #SpiritDay http://glaad.org/spiritday On Wednesday, post this Facebook status: I'm wearing purple today to support LGBT youth - make your profile pic purple today for Spirit Day at http://glaad.org/spiritday Spirit Day, created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, has inspired millions of Americans to pledge to wear the color purple on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. By wearing purple and participating in Spirit Day, you'll show support for LGBT people and remember those teens who have taken their own lives as a result of anti-LGBT bullying.  TAKE ACTION: SUPPORT LGBT YOUTH Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, an icon for LGBT Pride created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. After receiving thousands of emails from concerned supporters, last week GLAAD worked with Facebook to remove hateful and violent messages on the Spirit Day Facebook event page. GLAAD and Facebook also announced that we will continue to work together to combat homophobic cyberbullying. Click the image below to watch the CNN segment.   Can you support GLAAD today by donating $5, $25 or $45 to continue this important work to remove violent and hateful comments from Facebook and other sites?