The surgery you never wanted


Born somewhere between male and female, intersex people face unique gender identity issues, especially if “normalizing” surgeries were imposed on them at a young age. Part 3 of The Advocate’s ongoing transgender(sic) series

note: the comment (sic) after transgender is connected to the lumping of intersex folks with transgender folks as if it is an easy connection. This is false and misleading.. what Intersex folks face is on many levels very different and on some levels similar with transgender folks, but lets not dump all people not fitting some gender norm in the transgender category because it is easy.

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Gay-benefits amendment heads to floor


JUNEAU -- A proposed constitutional amendment regarding gay-partner employment benefits is moving on after being mired in committee for several weeks.

The Senate Finance Committee Friday passed a new version of the resolution by a 4-3 vote. It next goes to the Senate floor.

The original measure would have amended the Alaska Constitution's ban on gay marriage to deny health and other spousal benefits to homosexual partners of state employees.

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Police forced to intervene in Polish gay rights march


Riot police have been forced to intervene in a march for gay tolerance held in the Polish city of Krakow after counter demonstrations from members of far-right youth groups.

Police officers reported that several arrests have taken place after members of the rightwing All Poland Youth Group threw stones and eggs at the participants of march for tolerance. 

Over a thousand marchers protested with placards urging the public to "Stop homophobia" and "Don't confuse a gay with a paedophile."

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Warning to hotels over gay weddings


A RIBBLE Valley lawyer has warned hotels offering civil ceremonies that they musn't discriminate against gay couples wanting to get married.
Carol Maher, of Clitheroe's Irene Chenery Maher and Co, says that East Lancashire's hotels will soon have to offer the same hospitality to same sex couples as more traditional couples.

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Cardinals join move against gay marriage

America's top Roman Catholic leaders have joined a broad national push against gay marriage one month before the Senate is set to consider a constitutional amendment to ban such unions.

Care assistant tells tribunal he was sacked for being gay


A care assistant from Blakenhall, Wolverhampton has told an employment tribunal that he was unfairly sacked from caring for the elderly because he is gay.

Sean Williams is seeking damages from the Woodhaven residential home where he worked caring for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia. He claims that he was sacked after a years service without his employers carrying out a disciplinary or dismissal procedure.

Mr Williams claims that he was sacked after a years service without his employers carrying out a disciplinary or dismissal procedure. He alledges that the motivation was that he was gay.

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Milestone for gay rights as Indonesia gets first pink guidebook
John Aglionby, south-east Asia correspondent
Friday April 28, 2006
The Guardian

For decades, gay venues in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore were forced to operate secretly because of official disapprobation and cultural-religious sensitivities.

But now the acceptance of a homosexual lifestyle in the region has passed a major milestone with the publication of the first gay guidebook to the three countries.

The Utopia Guide to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia seeks to "shine a light on an aspect of society that exists in every country around the globe, but has been mostly in the shadows here in Asia", according to its publisher, John Goss.

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Parliament opens gay adoption inquiry


Gay and Lesbian couples in New South Wales (NSW) may be given adoption rights after an inquiry was launched into the legislation this week.

Under the current law, individuals can adopt, but not same sex partners, similar to bans in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, which have all been lifted in the last five years.



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'Register' gay couples: Opposition


THE Australian Capital Territory Opposition says it would introduce a bill to develop a Tasmanian-style registration scheme for gay couples.

The move comes amid plans by the ACT Government to give gays the right to civil unions.

The transgender life
By KATE SCHOTT | La Crosse Tribune
.
Miguel began wearing lipstick at age 9.

He was born male, but said he always felt like he was female, Anne Rubenstein told a group of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students.

By age 12, Miguel had run away from home, become a prostitute and taken the name Zulma. At 18, she went to Tijuana for a sex change operation but wound up spending six months in jail for assault.

She was stabbed to death weeks after her release from prison.


Rubenstein, an associate professor of history at York University in Toronto, discovered a “non-fiction novel” that describes Zulma’s life while looking at a coffee table book about novel covers.

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BILBAO DECLARATION OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH LGBT POPULATIONS

PREAMBLE
We, the undersigned organizations, express our great concern for the situation that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans (understood as transvestite, transsexual and transgender) people suffer in most of the world. Concretely, we denounce that these populations' right to health, education, culture and work are adversely affected and that they continue to suffer hate crimes with impunity, intolerant aggressions, social rejection, discriminatory laws, police harassment and a lack of legal recognition and protection

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Opinion: The Plight of Transgenders in Healthcare
By Zahra Kassamali 
Staff Writer

The transgender population is a group grossly overlooked in healthcare. Considering even the most basic questions on a medical history, the transgender patient runs into a dilemma at the point when asked, male or female? The simple issue of pronouns becomes convoluted when we consider gender and sex. 

Sex is considered a biological characteristic; in other words, what a person is defined as at birth. Gender is more expansive and includes psychological characteristics and self-definition. Therefore, one may be born male but identify as female. This person would therefore be a transgender female, or simply identify as female. Because of the lack of exposure clinicians generally have with transgender people, they are often unaware of the appropriate care to provide.

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$2.5M Bond Set in Transgender Murder


Bond has been set at $2.5 million for an individual arrested for the murder of a transgender individual who was found in an Elk Grove Village, Ill., motel on April 18


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Transsexual should get pension at 60 - EU

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A British transsexual woman should have her pension paid from her 60th birthday instead of her 65th as a man would, Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday.

The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice found in favour of Sarah Richards, who was refused a pension at the age of 60 as Britain does not allow a change of sex on a birth certificate.

Richards was born a man in 1942 but had a sex change operation in 2001 after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria -- a condition identified by doctors and psychologists when a person feels a persistent aversion to their own gender.
According to the court ruling, "the right not to be discriminated against is one of the fundamental human rights" and "the court finds the unequal treatment" of Richards is based "on her inability to have a new gender following surgery".

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Opening Up the Mikvah

As a child, Tucker Lieberman could barely stand to take showers. When he passed the bathroom mirror, he would “go into what almost seemed like a mild state of shock, with chills and painful, uncontrollable shaking” because the girl’s body that he saw didn’t accord with his understanding of himself as a young man. Even after having chest surgery, taking hormones, and living as a man for seven years, he avoided undressing in men’s locker rooms. Nonetheless, in March of 2005, he and a friend entered Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikvah and Education Center in Newton, Massachusetts, undressed, and experienced Judaism’s most intimate ritual—immersion in the mikvah (ritual bath).


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Queer Latinos rally against racism
by Rob Akers

City leaders supported LGBT Latinos voicing renewed opposition to racist attitudes during a rally held Friday, April 21, at Harvey Milk Plaza.
As reported in last week's Bay Area Reporter , some instances of racial verbal attacks within the gay community have occurred since recent immigration issues have spawned rallies and protests, according to Miguel Bustos. Bustos and other members of Queer Latino/as Against Ignorance and Discrimination organized the event, called an "Evening of Protest and Education." "We are bringing up something that is taboo to talk about in many communities," Bustos told the sign-toting crowd of about 100.


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Bid to put gay civil-rights issue to voters loses momentum
By RACHEL LA CORTE
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Supporters of an effort to overturn the state's new gay civil-rights law sent out an e-mail Wednesday saying they've collected just a fraction of the signatures needed to get the measure to voters.
Tim Eyman sent the e-mail to supporters and the media, saying that only 8,718 signatures have been gathered. He needs 112,440 valid voter signatures by June 7 to get Referendum 65 on the November ballot.
"It's gut-check time," Eyman said by phone Wednesday. "Do we really want this thing on the ballot? Yes or no."


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Anti-gay issue could shake up the fall election


Buoyed by signs of deep trouble among its foes, Chicago's Gay Liberation Network held a little party in a North Side bar last week.

"Join us as we celebrate the failure of far-right forces in Illinois to get an anti-gay referendum on the November ballot," their invitation said.

For several months, the Illinois Family Institute has been circulating petitions calling for an advisory referendum item opposing gay marriage that reads: "Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to say, `To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, a marriage between a man and a woman is the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State'?"

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Parents sue school for failure to notify about gay teachings


BOSTON --Two couples who say Lexington school officials undermined their rights as parents by giving out and reading storybooks with gay themes without notification filed suit Thursday.

David and Tonia Parker and Joseph and Robin Wirthlin claim in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston that the officials broke state law and violated their civil rights. They claim the school is indoctrinating their children about a lifestyle they consider immoral.

"In this case, there's a huge conflict and a huge explosion and a huge collision," said their attorney Jeffrey Denner.



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Punjab youth eye UK for 'same sex marriage'


After England legalised same sex marriage in 2004, many people in Punjab are using the option to try and get around the visa problem.

Jalandhar's passport office processes thousands of applications of those seeking to go to England.


It is now witnessing a new trend. People like Ashish have applied to go to UK on the ground that they want to marry their partner who's of the same sex.


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Troubled island

In Jamaica, where politicians are openly homophobic and song lyrics incite violence against gay people, coming out can be fatal. Gary Younge investigates
The Guardian

Friday night in Kingston, and at a house party high up in the hills overlooking the city the first refrains of the dancehall track Tuck in yu belly ring out. Within moments the dancefloor is packed. In the darkened room bodies are locked at the hip, dancers facing each other or pressed front to back, swaying in a musical embrace. Two pelvises joined by rhythm and gyrating in sensual unison. It is as close as you can get to having sex with your clothes on.

Transgender journalist offers look at gender-identity issues

Transsexuality involves the felt need of a person of one sex to be that of the opposite sex, and journalist Matt Kailey has tried to explain that experience to the world.
Kailey, 51, of Denver, author of ``Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guide to the Transsexual Experience,'' lived as a straight woman for the first 42 years of his life. Now he lives as a man and is still attracted to men.
While a woman, he was a social worker for a protective-services agency in Denver. As a man, he works as a journalist for Out Front of Denver, one of the oldest gay newspapers in the country, founded in 1976.


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Israel acknowledges gay Holocaust victims for first time
Gays and lesbians in Israel have been invited to participate in Holocaust memorial services for the first time. Two members of Jerusalem Open House, the LGBT center, placed a wreath in the name of the gay community at the foot of the Warsaw Ghetto rebellion monument at Yad Vashem, the memorial to the millions who were exterminated by the Nazis

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Florida schools to target gay bullying


Gay groups in Florida are claiming victory after state representative Ellyn Bogdanooff added homophobia to school bullying categories.

Equality Florida were joined by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Organisation of Women, and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, in opposition to Republican Ellyn Bogdanoff’s new legislation on school bullying last week. 

They claimed it failed to specifically highlight the most vulnerable students such as gays and minorities.


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Gay-Bashing Unabated Nationwide Study Shows 
by Doreen Brandt, 365Gay.com Washington Bureau

(Washington) As students across the country button their lips today marking the 10th annual National Day of Silence to draw awareness to homophobia in classrooms a new study shows that gay-bashing remains a major problem in the nation's schools.
Three-quarters of students surveyed across America said that over the past year they heard derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school, and nearly nine out of ten  reported hearing "that's so gay" or "you're so gay" - meaning stupid or worthless - frequently or often.
Over a third of students said they experienced physical harassment at school on the basis of sexual orientation and more than
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Arsonists target gay friendly pub

Two men are being questioned after a gay friendly pub was set on fire in Bolton. 

Arsonists targeted the Star and Garter Public House in the early hours of this morning, setting fire to the front door after pouring petrol around it.

Gay-rights activist sues Fletcher 
Rulings sought on private-college funds
By Mark Pitsch, Elisabeth J. Beardsley, and Deborah Yetter
The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The head of a Kentucky gay-rights group has sued Gov. Ernie Fletcher to try to prevent the state from giving $11 million to a private, religiously affiliated college for a pharmacy school and scholarships.
And the Fletcher administration asked a judge later yesterday to determine whether using taxpayer money for religious schools is legal under the Kentucky Constitution.

Long Island County Rejects Gay Partner Registry
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(Garden City, New York) Supporters of a domestic partner registry for Nassau County on Long Island say they were "sandbagged" by opponents.
Council council voted 10-8 to reject the proposal despite what supporters say was an agreement that the measure would be passed.

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São Paolo skinheads critically injure one in apparent gay bashing
Group of 10-15 stabbed and beat 4 youths at popular gay meeting spot


One man remains critically injured with stab wounds suffered in an attack by a group of 10-15 apparent skinheads on a street in São Paolo, Brazil, that is a traditional meeting spot for young gays, lesbians, drag queens and punkers. 
Police say the attack, which took place in the early morning hours of April 22, was unprovoked and probably motivated by bias, according to local media reports.

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Suit filed after Ky. college boots gay man
By JOE BIESK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A gay-rights group sued Gov. Ernie Fletcher on Tuesday for not vetoing $11 million in state funds earmarked for a Baptist college that expelled an openly gay student this month.
Legislators included in the budget $10 million for a proposed pharmacy school and $1 million for scholarships at the University of the Cumberlands.

YCC calls for transgender protection
Council passes resolution calling for addition to Yale's nondiscrimination policy
BY CULLEN MACBETH

The Yale College Council approved a resolution Sunday night calling on the administration to include the terms "gender identity" and "gender expression" in the University's official nondiscrimination policy.

Less than two weeks after Harvard University announced the addition of protection for "gender identity" -- though not
"gender expression" -- to its own nondiscrimination policy, the YCC pushed for a similar action at Yale. Although some YCC members said they worried that the Yale resolution was not substantive enough to effect real change, supporters of the resolution -- which passed, 13-3 -- argue that it is needed to ensure that transgender members of the Yale community do not face harassment.

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Amsterdam mayor's gay rights plea

The mayor of Amsterdam has written to his counterparts in eight other European capitals, calling on them to uphold gay rights.

In his letter, Job Cohen warns that intolerance against homosexuals is on the increase. The Netherlands introduced gay marriage five years ago, and Mr Cohen is urging other countries to do the same.

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Hope College student alleges gay attack

HOLLAND (NEWS 3) - A Hope College student says he was assaulted because of his sexual orientation. Now, he and others are planning a rally on campus to promote tolerance.

Student Jason Burns says he is active in visiting classrooms to talk about tolerance. But after giving one such presentation last week, he says he was attacked by two men. "The two of them came over and punched me once in the stomach and twice in the ribs," he says. "I was able to fend them off and get to my car."

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Church Groups Battle Over Gay Marriage
by Doug Windsor, 365Gay.com New York Bureau 

(New York City) A swath of organizations including nearly 200 religious groups, congregations and clergy have filed friend of the court briefs supporting same-sex marriage in New York State while Catholics have joined evangelical groups in demanding a federal constitutional amendment barring gay marriage.
New York State's highest court - the Court of Appeal - will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of state regulations that prevent same-sex couples from marrying on May 31.

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Federal judge dismisses SLDN suit against U.S. military's gay ban
Gay group weighs appeal of decision upholding 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed today a constitutional challenge to the U.S. military's ban on service by men and women who are openly gay. The decision by District Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr., is the second in a month throwing out suits attacking the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy enacted by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1993.

Muslims are accused of gay U-turn
Jamie Doward, home affairs editor
Sunday April 23, 2006
The Observer

Britain's most powerful Muslim organisation was accused last night of a making a stunning U-turn on a commitment to tackle homophobia. Just days after the Muslim Council of Britain signalled it was planning to sign up to a five-year plan to reach out to Britain's gay community, senior members of the organisation have ripped up the strategy.

Mohammed Aziz, its policy adviser, had been quoted as saying he believed the organisation would take great steps in the coming months to shed its homophobic image. The plan was discussed at the government's Equality and Diversity Forum in January and debated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Equalities.

'We have brought about a lot of change from five years ago when the MCB was behind issues such as section 28, and against gay adoption,' Aziz is reported to have said. 'The first part of the strategy was to tell the MCB "if you have nothing positive to say, keep your mouth shut". Most of the negative statements now date back to 1999.'




A BILL FOR AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE PROHIBITION OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONS OF THE SAME SEX, CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE BY THEM AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH


BE IT ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria as follows-

7. Prohibition of Registration of Gay Clubs and Societies and
Publicity of same sex sexual relationship

(1) Registration of Gay Clubs, Societies and organizations by whatever name they are called in institutions from Secondary to the tertiary level or other institutions in particular and, in Nigeria generally, by government agencies is hereby prohibited.

(2) Publicity, procession and public show of same sex amorous relationship through the electronic or print media physically, directly, indirectly or otherwise are prohibited in Nigeria.

(3) Any person who is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment.

8. Offences and Penalties.

(1) Any person goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment. (2) Any person performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment.

See the rest of this bill of oppression and hate