Rally planned for transgender woman arrested at Grand Central Station


Outraged after a 70-year-old transgender woman was arrested by Metropolitan Transportation Authority police for using a Grand Central Station women's bathroom, New York transgender activists and allies are staging a rally on her behalf.
Prior to her arrest on January 12 for disorderly conduct, Helena Stone, who works in an office in Grand Central, had been repeatedly subjected to "name-calling and physical intimidation" by MTA police, said Irene Tung, a coordinator for Make the Road by Walking, a New York City–based social justice community organization. "A few members of the police force have it in for [Stone]," Tung said.

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Gay rights enter Italian election


A transgender opposition candidate in Italy's general election this April is campaigning for improved gay rights.

Vladimir Luxuria, standing for the Communist Refoundation party, intends to challenge conservatives in her own country and Europe.
Ms Luxuria, who considers herself neither male nor female, told the BBC that having a transgender MP would be an important symbol.

Gay hate crime on increase
By Emma Pinch
 
Reports of homophobic crime in the West Midlands have increased, according to new figures.


But officials believe the rise - the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service has processed 26 cases this year compared with 18 last year - is due to more people coming forward to report hate crimes rather than more taking place.

Guatemala: Transgender People Face Deadly Attacks
Press Release: Human Rights Watch

(New York)— The Guatemalan government must take immediate steps to stop a pattern of deadly attacks and possible police violence against transgender women and gay men, and end impunity for these crimes, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger.

One transgender woman was murdered and another was critically wounded on December 17 when they were gunned down on a street in Guatemala City. Paulina (legal name Juan Pablo Méndez Cartagena) and Sulma (legal name Kevin Robles) were stopped by four men on motorcycles at an intersection in Guatemala City's Zone One, the center of the city.

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Two thirds of LGBT teachers and lecturers have experienced harassment and discrimination at work because of their sexual orientation


Sixty seven per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender teachers and lecturers who responded to a survey by Teacher Support Network have experienced harassment or discrimination at work because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.]
Eighty three per cent of these say they have experienced homophobic harassment or discrimination, including offensive ‘jokes’ or language, name calling, rumour spreading and abusive behaviour.

Murder of lesbian sparks homophobia concern


As gays and lesbians become more visible in South African townships, they are increasingly becoming targets of homophobia, according to rights activists. The organisations were reacting to reports at the weekend of the murder of a young lesbian in a township in Cape Town.