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Tag: transgender

  • Texas man arrested, charged with threatening Boston doctor caring for transgender children

    Texas man arrested, charged with threatening Boston doctor caring for transgender children

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    A Texas man who authorities say threatened a Boston doctor providing care to transgender people was arrested Friday on federal charges. 

    The suspect, identified by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as 38-year-old Matthew Jordan Lindner of Humble, Texas, was charged with one count of transmitting interstate threats. He made his first appearance in a Texas courtroom Friday afternoon, and is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. 

    Lindner allegedly harassed and threatened to kill a female physician at the Boston-based National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, targeting her specifically of her work caring for gender non-conforming children, according to a statement from Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division.  

    Charging documents allege that on Aug. 31, Lindner called the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center after misinformation spread online about procedures at Boston Children’s Hospital. Lindner left a violent message targeting one of the center’s affiliated doctors, the Justice Department said. 

    Lindner allegedly said “a group of people” were “on their way to handle” the unidentified victim, said the victim would “burn,” and said that the victim and others in their field had “upset enough of us” and “signed (their) own ticket,” federal prosecutors said. The message also included a gender-based slur and accused the victim of “castrating” children.  

    The charge against Linder carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.   

    “While everyone has a right to express their opinion, they don’t have a right to use or threaten violence against individuals who do not share their same set of beliefs,” Bonavolonta said. “No one should have to live in fear of violence because of who they are, what kind of work they do, where they are from, or what they believe. This case is unfortunately one of many others that illustrates FBI Boston’s commitment to thwarting potential violent incidents motivated by hate and bias and holding the individuals behind them accountable.”

    This is not the first time that misinformation related to Boston Children’s Hospital has resulted in threats. In September, Catherine Leavy, of Westfield, Massachusetts, was taken into custody on allegations she had called in a false bomb threat against the hospital on Aug. 30, just one day before Lindner allegedly made his phone call. 

    At the time, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said that Boston Children’s Hospital had been the subject of about a dozen similar threats. In October, three major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate and prosecute similar threats. 

    Several dozen House Democrats signed onto a letter sent to Garland on Nov. 18 requesting that the DOJ outline steps it is taking to counter anti-transgender threats made against health care providers. 

    In the news release announcing Linder’s arrest, Rollins on Friday said that the Justice Department “has pledged to protect the rights of the gender nonconforming and transgendered community, which includes the health care providers who render care and support.” 

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  • Virginia set to reverse trans students’ rights in public schools

    Virginia set to reverse trans students’ rights in public schools

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    Christiansburg, Virginia — The mass shooting at a club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has reignited concerns in the LGBTQ community over safety and discrimination. More than half of states in the U.S. have little to no protections for transgender people, and as early as next week, Virginia could reverse its limited rights in public schools.  

    Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration has proposed a new policy that has protections against discrimination and bullying but would require parental permission to change names or pronouns at school. It also would require students to use bathrooms that correspond to their sex assigned at birth, except to the extent that federal law requires.  

    The move to rollback policies implemented under Virginia’s former governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, has led to a heated public debate, eliciting more than 71,000 comments during the public comment period.  

    Dozens of speakers also sounded off during an hours-long Virginia Board of Education meeting on Oct. 20.

    Sarah Via, among the parents in attendance, argues the new policy bolsters parental rights.  

    “You cannot have a good quality of education or mental health with excluding the parent from the process,” she said.  

    Opponents of Youngkin’s proposal argue schools have become safe spaces for transgender students and the new policy would put that at risk.  

    “Now our teachers, our principals, our counselors get the training and the information they need in order to accommodate kids like Bettie,” said Courtney Thomas, whose 11-year-old child, Bettie Thomas, identifies as non-binary and uses the pronounces “zie” and “zir.” 

    Bettie said the children’s book “I am Jazz,” which tells the story of a transgender child, sparked a conversation about gender when Bettie was 7. 

    Bettie described it as a “breakthrough” after years of “complete anger” and “confusion.”  

    “As soon as Bettie had words to describe what zie was feeling, zie was able to start moving toward a more authentic life,” Courtney said. 

    Courtney said accommodating school policies allowed Bettie to thrive in the classroom, as well as at home.  

    “That decision that I made changed my life so much,” Bettie said. 

    The Thomas family is most worried about the students who don’t have support from their parents.  

    The new policy won’t go into effect until approved and finalized by the state superintendent, according to a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Education.  

    While the Virginia state code asks school districts to enforce school policies of the commonwealth, there’s not an enforcement mechanism, meaning some schools may choose not to comply.  

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  • Victims identified in LGBTQ+ club shooting

    Victims identified in LGBTQ+ club shooting

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    Victims identified in LGBTQ+ club shooting – CBS News


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    Police identified the five people shot and killed by a gunman at a LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs, Colorado. John Dickerson speaks with Janet Shamlian, who reports from the shaken community.

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  • Chicago transgender community faces uphill battle for justice amid ‘epidemic of violence’

    Chicago transgender community faces uphill battle for justice amid ‘epidemic of violence’

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — Many Chicago area transgender and gender non-conforming people are looking for answers amid what the American Medical Association has branded an “epidemic of violence.”

    Since 2020, more trans people have been killed in Chicago than any other U.S. city, according to data analyzed by the I-Team. The killings of transgender women, particularly those of color continue at a concerning rate.

    Jerry Nicholas wants to know if his daughter is one of those statistics.

    On January 17, 2021 the body of Sherry Nicholas was found on the floor of her room at the Grand Regency of Jackson Park Supportive Living facility on Chicago’s South Side.

    Nicholas claims Chicago police did not take his transgender daughter’s death seriously from the beginning because of who she was.

    In police body camera video obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request an officer can be heard asking staff at the facility if the death is from natural causes. A staff member said they don’t know.

    Nicholas said authorities misgendered his daughter, and he said they ignored evidence of foul play.

    In an email to Nicholas, CPD declared that a thorough investigation found no evidence of murder and the case was closed. In the autopsy finding, cause of death is undetermined.

    But a mysterious note allegedly written to the Nicholas family which said “call the news people” fueled her father’s speculation.

    “She was delightful. She is going to be missed forever. Can’t bring her back,” Nicholas said through tears.

    The latest data shows between 2020 and now, there have been eight homicides of transgender people in Chicago, and suspicions even more cases have gone unreported. All victims are women of color.

    Brendan Lantz, the director of the Hate Crime Research & Policy Institute at Florida State University, is working with a team to compile a database to keep tally on cases and the outcomes.

    “We’re seeing geographic concentrations in certain states and certain cities, Chicago being one of the cities in our database with the most transgender homicides,” he said.

    The Chicago area is still reeling from three deaths this year.

    Martasia Richmond was found stabbed to death on a porch in July. Daniel Burley, described as her partner, is charged with murder. Lawyers say he acted in self-defense.

    In March, Tatiana LaBelle’s remains were discovered stuffed in a trash bin on the city’s East Side. There are no arrests yet in that case.

    And a day later in Evanston, transgender activist Elise Malary’s body was discovered in Lake Michigan. Evanston police said the investigation remains open and the department is working to follow up on any open leads and will investigate additional leads as they become available.

    Her death is listed as a drowning, but the medical examiner’s office was unable to determine if it was accidental or murder.

    “The clearance rates in our data are far below the national average for non-transgender homicide rates, and the clearance rates in Chicago are much lower than what we are seeing for trans homicides nationally as well,” Lantz said.

    Victoria Kirby York, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, said the numbers in Chicago are troubling.

    “Definitely shows there’s a pattern of neglect and a lack of interest in really sending a clear message that murdering transgender women, especially black transgender women, women in the city is not ok,” York said.

    National and local activists are calling for police to stop misgendering victims and to take the crimes more seriously, including classifying the homicides as transgender.

    “Definitely something that is important so communities know where the disparities lie and to help figure out if there is a serial killer out there,” said York.

    For more than a week, Chicago police officials told the I-Team they wanted to do an interview for this report, but never provided anyone to speak on camera.

    Transgender activists are more forthcoming. LaSaia Wade is CEO of Tha Night Haus.

    “Most if not all of the time trans people are murdered by someone they care for, or someone that there doing survival sex work with,” she said. “And we don’t normally talk about that.”

    Four of the eight Chicago cases have resulted in charges, including the murder of Courtey Eshay Key who was shot to death on Chicago’s South Side in 2020 on Christmas Day.

    William Truss, 62, is accused of killing Key after allegedly soliciting her for sex. Truss will plead not guilty according to his attorney.

    Key’s support network said the arrest is progress, but more is needed.

    “She left her footprint on your soul, on your heart,” said Malik Pullum, Key’s former boyfriend, “It’s a victory, so we one up right now.”

    Jerry Nicholas said he has his own small victory. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability recently referred Nicholas’s complaint to the newly launched mediation pilot program where his concerns will be discussed.

    “They could correct this and show the LGBT community they care about them also. That’s what I want,” said Nicholas.

    A spokesperson for the supportive living facility told the I-Team they fully cooperated with CPD’s investigation. And community activists said that the deaths of trans and gender non-conforming people could decrease if there was more social acceptance and economic acceptance.

    Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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  • At least 32 transgender people killed in U.S. this year, report finds

    At least 32 transgender people killed in U.S. this year, report finds

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    At least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people were killed in the U.S. since the beginning of 2022, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The toll was lower than last year’s record, when at least 57 people were killed.

    The LGBTQ advocacy group, which is the nation’s largest political lobbying organization of its kind, shared on Wednesday its most recent annual report on deadly violence targeting transgender and gender non-conforming people. Victims whose names and stories appeared in the report came from a number of different states across the country, and their ages ranged from 19 to 50, although some were not published. 

    Similar to data collected in previous years, the latest report by the Human Rights Campaign showed an overwhelming majority of those killed were Black transgender women and most were people of color. Their names are: Tiffany Banks, Semaj Billingslea, Acey Morrison, Mya Allen, Dede Ricks, Maddie Hofmann, Aaron Lynch, Kandii Reed, Hayden Davis, Marisela Castro Cherry Bush, Keshia Chanel Geter, Martasia Richmond, Kitty Monroe, Shawmaynè Giselle Marie, Brazil Johnson, Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway, Nedra Sequence Morris, Ray Muscat, Fern Feather, Ariyanna Mitchell, Miia Love Parker, Kenyatta “Kesha” Webster, Kathryn “Katie” Newhouse, Tatiana Labelle, Paloma Vazquez, Matthew Angelo Spampinato, Naomie Skinner, Cypress Ramos, Duval Princess and Amariey Lej. 

    More information about each person’s life and how they died are published with the new report.

    Killings of transgender and gender non-conforming people this year usually involved a fatal shooting or another form of violence, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The organization has tracked these incidents for the last decade — with yearly reports available online that date back to 2015 — in an effort to raise awareness about the “epidemic of violence” disproportionately targeting people who are transgender and gender non-conforming. While the Human Rights Campaign said some cases involved a “clear anti-transgender bias,” it linked others to social and economic factors that often put transgender and gender non-conforming people at risk.

    “These victims were killed by acquaintances, partners or strangers, some of whom have been arrested and charged, while others have yet to be identified,” said the Human Rights Campaign in a statement contextualizing its report. “Some of these cases involve clear anti-transgender bias. In others, the victim’s transgender or gender non-conforming status may have put them at risk in other ways, such as forcing them into unemployment, poverty, homelessness and/or survival sex work.”

    The Human Rights Campaign has recorded at least 300 deaths of transgender and gender non-conforming people from violent incidents since it began tracking cases in 2013. However, because victims of these crimes are not always correctly identified by authorities and the press, the organization said it suspects the published death toll is underreported. 

    More than 85% of transgender and gender non-conforming people killed since 2013 were people of color, and more than 77% were younger than 35, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Most deaths involved a firearm, and in 40% of all recorded cases, the killer remains unknown and no arrests have been made. Of the recorded deaths where a suspected killer has been identified, the Human Rights Campaign said 2/3 were killed by someone they knew.

    The report comes just days ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance, an international holiday observed on Nov. 20 to honor people who have been killed as a result of anti-trans violence.

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  • Endocrine Society Condemns Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

    Endocrine Society Condemns Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

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    Newswise — WASHINGTON—The Endocrine Society rebukes the Florida Board of Medicine’s decision to ban gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse teenagers.

    We call on the Florida Board of Medicine to reverse the ban and allow physicians to provide evidence-based care and protect the lives of minors.

    The Florida ban is blatantly discriminatory and contradicts medical evidence followed by the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the Pediatric Endocrine Society and other mainstream medical organizations.

    When an individual’s gender identity is not respected and they cannot access medical care, it can result in higher psychological problem scores and can raise the person’s risk of committing suicide or other acts of self-harm. Research has found denying access to puberty-delaying medication and/or hormone therapy raises the risk of suicidal ideation and self-harm.

    According to the Endocrine Society’s globally recognized evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines, only reversible treatments to delay puberty are recommended for adolescents.  Puberty-delaying medication is safe, reversible, and the conservative approach that gives teenagers and their families more time to explore their options. The same treatment has been used for decades to treat precocious puberty.

    Teenagers who continue to demonstrate gender incongruence and who demonstrate the ability to provide informed consent can be offered gender-affirming hormone therapy, which is partially reversible. The Florida Medicaid ban prevents teenagers from accessing these important treatment options.

    Medical evidence, not politics, should inform treatment decisions. The Endocrine Society submitted comments earlier this year during the abbreviated public comment period on the Board’s guidance on “treating gender dysphoria for children and adolescents, yet the Florida Board of Health opted to rely on controversial research that is not recognized by the mainstream medical community in crafting its ban on gender-affirming care. Consequently, the state blocked transgender residents from receiving gender-affirming care through Medicaid coverage.

    Twenty states have proposed legislation to limit access to care during the 2022 legislative session, according to Freedom for All Americans. The Endocrine Society is alarmed that misinformation about medical care recommended for transgender and gender-diverse adolescents is fueling efforts to limit access to gender-affirming care. The move by the Florida Board of Health to ban gender-affirming care based on a political agenda rather than on science sets a dangerous precedent for all health care decisions.

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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  • Daniel Radcliffe defends speaking out against J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments

    Daniel Radcliffe defends speaking out against J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments

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    Actor Daniel Radcliffe has opened up about why, back in 2020, he chose to speak out against the transphobic comments made by “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling. 

    In an interview published Tuesday in Indiewire, Radcliffe — who starred as the titular character in the eight film adaptations of Rowling’s best-selling books — explained that “the reason” he “felt very, very much as though I needed to say something when I did was because, particularly since finishing ‘Potter,’ I’ve met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter on that. And so seeing them hurt on that day I was like, I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way. And that was really important.”

    In June 2020, Radcliffe posted an open letter on the website of LGBTQ youth nonprofit The Trevor Project. The letter was published after Rowling commented on an opinion article in which she took issue with the phrase “people who menstruate.”

    Rowling posted a link to the article on Twitter with the caption: “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

    Her tweet sparked widespread criticism and outrage. Radcliffe’s fellow “Harry Potter” stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint also spoke out against Rowling’s comments. 

    In his open letter at the time, Radcliffe said he felt “compelled to say something at this moment.”

    “Transgender women are women,” Radcliffe wrote in the letter. “Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”

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  • Memoir Marks the 25th Anniversary of First Transgender Employment Policy

    Memoir Marks the 25th Anniversary of First Transgender Employment Policy

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    Press Release
    –

    Oct 24, 2022 09:00 EDT


    POWAY, Calif., October 24, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Before 1997, transgender workers were routinely fired when their employers found out they were changing their sex. That changed on Oct. 28, 1997, when Lucent Technologies became the first Fortune 500 company to formally commit that it would not discriminate based on “gender identity, characteristics, or expression”. Dr. Mary Ann Horton, who instigated the change, has written a memoir, Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Inclusion in Corporate America. “When I led transgender-101 workshops, my personal story was people’s favorite part. They wanted more, and Trailblazer is the result,” said Horton. “It will be released on the 25th anniversary, Oct. 28.”

    Horton was a software technology worker at Lucent in Columbus, Ohio, when Lucent added the language. It allowed Mary Ann, then known as Mark, to come out in the workplace without fear of reprisal. When she didn’t need to spend energy hiding part of herself, her productivity soared, and she was promoted. Three years later, she persuaded Lucent to cover gender-confirming medical care in their health insurance. She blazed the trail for Apple, Avaya, Xerox, IBM, Chase, and other companies to follow.

    Nokia, who acquired Alcatel-Lucent in 2015, will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking policy this Oct. 28, with a flurry of social media announcements.

    Dr. Mary Ann Horton is a transgender activist, author, internet pioneer and computer architect. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, where she invented the email attachment for binary files. She spent 20 years with Bell Labs/Lucent and retired from San Diego Gas & Electric, where she helped protect the power grid from hackers. Her 1997 work with Lucent Technologies adding trans-inclusive language and health benefits earned her the Trailblazer Outie Award from Out & Equal. Visit her website at maryannhorton.com.

    Press Kit: https://maryannhorton.com/presskit/

    end

    Source: Mary Ann Horton, author

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  • Trans Teen, Others Argue Against ‘Deadly’ Arkansas Ban On Gender-Affirming Care

    Trans Teen, Others Argue Against ‘Deadly’ Arkansas Ban On Gender-Affirming Care

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    A transgender teen, parents and doctors testified this week while challenging an Arkansas law that restricts gender-affirming medical care for minors.

    The Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act, which passed the Arkansas General Assembly in March 2021, bars people under 18 from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy and certain other forms of health care in the state.

    The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in May of last year on behalf of four transgender minors, their parents and two physicians who provide gender-affirming care, alleging that the law violates the U.S. Constitution.

    Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) had criticized the legislation as “vast government overreach” when he vetoed it in April last year. The General Assembly overrode the veto the following day, but a federal judge temporarily blocked the law in July 2021, pending the result of the ACLU lawsuit. That injunction was upheld in August 2022.

    From Monday to Wednesday, doctors and families testified against the SAFE Act. The full trial, the nation’s first over a ban on gender-affirming care, is expected to last two weeks.

    Dylan Brandt, 17, was the only transgender person to testify. Since starting hormone therapy in August 2020, he said, he has become much happier and more confident.

    “My outside finally matches the way I feel on the inside,” he stated, according to The Associated Press. “I have my days, but for the most part this has changed my life for the better. I can look in the mirror and be OK with the way I look and it feels pretty great.”

    Aaron Jennen provided emotional comments about his 17-year-old daughter, saying it’s “not an option” for her to stop the hormone therapy she began in January 2021, reported local radio station KUAR.

    “I worry about her withdrawing back into the person she was before she started it, a person who was unhappy,” Jennen said, according to the NPR affiliate. Prior to treatment, the girl would question the point of life, he added.

    Dr. Michele Hutchison, who treated three teen plaintiffs in the suit, stated that she usually sees patients for at least 10 months before recommending a treatment, according to NBC News and network affiliate KARK-TV.

    Hutchison said that after the the SAFE Act passed the Arkansas House, four of her patients attempted suicide.

    Last week, an official at the ACLU of Arkansas argued that Arkansas families “depend on this life-saving health care,” calling the state’s attempted ban “baseless and deadly.”

    “The risks of denying this care to young people who need it are grave and well-founded, while the law attempting to ban care has made Arkansas less safe and less welcoming for transgender youth, their families, and all who love them,” wrote Executive Director Holly Dickson in a press release.

    Arkansas was the first state to enact a ban on gender-affirming care. Measures restricting such care for minors have been passed in three others: Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee. A judge partially blocked Alabama’s law earlier this year, while Arizona’s isn’t set to take effect until May.

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  • Social Security Administration makes it easier to change sex marker in records

    Social Security Administration makes it easier to change sex marker in records

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    The Social Security Administration (SSA) said it will now allow people to change the sex marker on their Social Security number record without providing documentation of their sex designation. The change was announced Wednesday, and went into effect immediately.

    “The Social Security Administration’s Equity Action Plan includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process,” Kilolo Kijakazi, the acting commissioner of the SSA, said in the press release.

    Prior to the announcement, people could not change their sex marker solely with self-attestation. According to the SSA, applicants were required to demonstrate a gender identity change through other identification, such as a U.S. passport or amended state-issued birth certificate, or with a court order or medical certification of gender transition. 

    Under the updated policy, applicants “will still need to show a current document to prove their identity, but they will no longer need to provide medical or legal documentation of their sex designation,” the SSA said. Additionally, the sex listed on one’s proof of identity document does not need to match the requested change. 

    However, if a person changes their sex marker, they will need to apply for a replacement SSN card, the SSA said.

    While the SSA is currently only allowing for the sex designation to be changed to either male or female, the agency is “exploring possible future policy and systems updates to support an ‘X’ sex designation for the SSN card application process.”

    In March, the State Department announced that U.S. citizens applying for passports would be able to select an “X” sex designation, which would allow non-binary, transgender, intersex, and gender diverse people to select a sex option that is neither male nor female.

    “We’re setting a precedent as the first US federal government agency to offer the ‘X’ gender marker on an identity document,” said Douglass Benning, principal deputy assistant secretary for consular affairs at the State Department, at the time of the announcement earlier this year.

    The removal of barriers for sex marker changes on official government records comes during a contentious political and social climate for transgender and gender non-conforming Americans. President Biden signed an Executive Order during Pride Month to advance equality for LGBTQ+ people across the country, specifically citing “discriminatory legislative attacks” against the underserved community. 

    A record 155 bills meant to target transgender Americans have been introduced to state legislature in 2022, according to the Washington Post. Currently, a landmark federal trial is underway in Arkansas over a law that prohibits hormone treatment, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgery for anyone under 18 years old — the country’s first trial over a statewide ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

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  • Social Security Agency Now Allows People To Self-Report Their Sex

    Social Security Agency Now Allows People To Self-Report Their Sex

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    The Social Security Administration said Wednesday that applicants can now self-report the sex that best aligns with their gender identity.

    The policy change, which is a part of the agency’s Equity Action Plan, is intended to be more inclusive for transgender people, and it follows through on an earlier announcement about the shift from March.

    The equity plan “includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, the agency’s acting commissioner, in a press release this week.

    The Social Security Administration now accepts the self-identified sex marker of either male or female, even if the selection differs from what is shown on identity documents such as passports or driver’s licenses. The agency is also exploring possible future policies and system updates to support an “X” sex designation for applicants whose gender identities don’t align with male or female.

    People seeking to update their Social Security records will need to reapply for cards — which do not include sex markers — and must provide current documentation of some kind for identification purposes. But with the new policy, they will no longer be required to provide medical or legal documentation related to sex designation.

    The change is a part of a larger White House effort to increase gender identity acceptance. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in June to advance LGBTQ equality, including “strengthening supports and protections for transgender Americans.”

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  • Landmark trial begins over Arkansas’ ban on trans youth care

    Landmark trial begins over Arkansas’ ban on trans youth care

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    Landmark trial begins over ban on trans care

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  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center to pause gender-affirming surgeries for minors to review practices

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center to pause gender-affirming surgeries for minors to review practices

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    Officials at Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced Friday that they are pausing gender-affirming surgeries for minors in order to review their practices.

    The news, delivered in a letter sent to a lawmaker who has demanded an end to the surgeries, was publicly released Friday afternoon. It comes amid mounting political pressure from Tennessee’s Republican leaders — many of whom are running for reelection — who called for an investigation into the private nonprofit hospital after videos surfaced on social media last month of a doctor touting that gender-affirming procedures are “huge money makers.” Another video showed a staffer saying anyone with a religious objection should quit.

    None of the politicians could point to a specific law that the hospital had violated, and no agency to date has committed to an investigation. Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s office said they had passed their concerns to the Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, but his office has not commented on whether he is looking into the Nashville-based hospital.

    “We are pausing gender affirmation surgeries on patients under age 18 while we complete this review, which may take several months,” wrote C. Wright Pinson, VUMC’s deputy CEO and chief health system officer.

    The GOP-dominated Legislature is scheduled to reconvene in January, and many lawmakers have vowed to introduce legislation further limit gender-affirming treatments. If successful, it’s unclear if VUMC would be allowed to resume gender-affirming surgeries for minors, regardless of their internal review.

    “We should not allow permanent, life-altering decisions that hurt children,” Lee tweeted late Friday. “With the partnership of the General Assembly, this practice should end in Tennessee.”

    According to Pinson, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health recently changed its recommendations for transgender treatment, which helped prompt the need for a review. 

    The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends “providing youth with access to comprehensive gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate health care.” In a 2018 policy statement, the AAP also notes that the “supportive involvement of parents and family is associated with better mental and physical health outcomes.”

    On average, VUMC has provided five gender-affirming surgeries to minors every year since its transgender clinic opened in 2018. All were over the age of 16 and had parental consent, and none received genital procedures.

    “The revenues from this limited number of surgeries represent an immaterial percentage of VUMC’s net operating revenue,” Pinson wrote.

    Emails provided to The Associated Press through a public records request show hundreds of Tennesseans reached out to the governor’s office in support of shutting down VUMC’s transgender youth health clinic, with some asking him to call a special legislative session to address the issue. Others asked if he could suspend the licenses of the doctors who work at the clinic.

    A few criticized Lee for not taking harsher steps earlier when he signed legislation banning doctors from providing gender-confirming hormone treatment to prepubescent minors.

    Only a handful defended the clinic’s services, with some saying the transgender health care they received had been life-saving.

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  • Some De Soto students upset about guidance on gender identity

    Some De Soto students upset about guidance on gender identity

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    DE SOTO, Kan. (KCTV) – Another local school district is wrangling with how to handle gender identity in school.

    Monday night, several students expressed their concern to the De Soto school board over a document sent to teachers titled, “Guidance Related to Preferred Names, Pronouns and Gender Identity.” Some of the guidance is due to a new state law that could affect other districts.

    De Soto High School senior Lee Barth told the board that his very first teacher there offered a get-to-know-you card asking his preferred name and pronoun.

    “While this was a very minor question – it was only being seen by the teacher – it really meant a lot to me,” said Barth.

    Now, teachers have been told not to ask about pronouns, though the student can volunteer it. It’s partly about respecting students’ privacy, but it’s also about a new Kansas law passed in May.

    Section 27 of House Bill 2567, the school funding bill, specifies that: “A nonacademic test, questionnaire, survey or examination containing any questions about the student’s personal and private attitudes, values, beliefs or practices … shall not be administered … unless the parent or guardian of the student … [is] notified in writing … [and gives] written consent.”

    “The request about preferred pronouns could be considered a survey of deeply held beliefs, so we ask teachers not to ask for preferred pronouns,” explained De Soto USD 232 Superintendent Frank Harwood. “But teachers have always asked, ‘Is there a name you’d like to go by other than what’s in the grade book?’ And they can still do that. That’s fine.”

    But, there’s also the issue of notifying a parent when a student voluntarily asks to use their preferred name or the gender they align with.

    Alexander Shields, who is a senior at Mill Valley High School, first started using the name Alexander during summer camp before 7th grade.

    “It was just a way for me to test the waters,” he described. “It was a lot easier to come up to my friends first because I knew they were going to something no matter what. And if they didn’t, I could just ditch them.”

    He did the same when he got to school. He hadn’t told his parents yet. He had a hard time getting a read on how they might respond. Then they got a call from the school, he said. He said they are supportive now, but he wishes he could have come out to them on his own terms.

    Another student, Apollo Kouns, said his parents were supportive but he knows many are not.

    “For some students, this can create an unsafe home environment,” Kouns told the board.

    A change in the guidance from an August document to a September iteration allowed that not every student request regarding gender identity dictate a parental notification.

    The September guidance indicates that “teachers may use a student’s preferred name informally upon student request” without parental consent, “as it is common for students to use a name other than their legal name of record” (such as someone named Robert who wants to be called Bobby).

    A more permanent change, like using a “preferred name in the school yearbook…” or “…updat[ing] the gender identity field” in school records still does require parental notification and consent.

    That’s meant to happen only after a social worker “meets with the student and gauges the level of family involvement.” The idea is not to “out” a student without having a discussion that allows the student to decide to go a different direction.

    “We’re not going to withhold information from parents. We’re also not going to seek that out without the student’s understanding. Our goal is to support the students through what’s going to be a very difficult situation,” explained Harwood.

    Some students noted that it’s not so easy to say, “If you don’t want your parents to know, just use your legal name.” That’s also referred to in the trans community as a “dead name,” as in the one you have left for dead. It can cause mental health strain, said Kouns, which can cause poor performance in school or worse.

    Others said the process of involving the student before notifying a parent has not always worked that way. Barth’s parents were notified this year, he said, even though he had turned 18. He said school social workers have enough on their plate besides having to check students’ dates of birth before making calls.

    Mill Valley High School Gay-Straight Alliance President Sean Olin described the whole process as odious and burdensome.

    “They have to go through all these hoops that other students just plain do not have to go through,” he told the board.

    Harwood approached the students after the public comment session, saying he’d like their input on a possible revision. He later told KCTV5 he doesn’t plan to change the specifics, but he’d like to discuss with students why the district is taking the action, then get feedback on that and any circumstances that might be unclear. An updated document, he said, might include clarifying language in that regard.

    A copy of the September guidance can be found here.

    Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved.

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  • TransAkron Raises Awareness and Shares Stories of Akron Transgender Community

    TransAkron Raises Awareness and Shares Stories of Akron Transgender Community

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 31, 2018


    AKRON, Ohio, May 31, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Gay Community Endowment Fund (GCEF) of Akron Community Foundation has unveiled a new photojournalism series aimed at fighting stereotypes, increasing inclusion for the transgender community, and celebrating Pride Month.

    Created by award-winning photographer Shane Wynn and writer H.L. Comeriato, the TransAkron series shines a light on trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people in Akron, Ohio. The project captures the lived realities of these individuals and tells the stories of their journeys while adding a data-driven narrative about the transgender community nationwide.

    The TransAkron project is part-narrative and part-resource, and at the Gay Community Endowment Fund, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy through storytelling.

    Phil Montgomery, Chair, Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation

    The photos and stories can be viewed online at TransAkron.com.

    The TransAkron series features the stories of eight individuals, including U.S. veteran Giovonni Santiago, who opened the country’s first transgender-specific clinic in the Veterans Affairs system, and Rylee Jackson, who, after experiencing a dozen foster homes and four different high schools, found joy through her love of dance. 

    “The idea of TransAkron originated in early 2017 when I had a conversation with Shane Wynn — a local artist and advocate — about her photography and how we could use images to humanize people and advocate for the GCEF’s important work in the community,” said Phil Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation. “The TransAkron project is part-narrative and part-resource, and at the GCEF, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy through storytelling.”

    TransAkron was made possible thanks to funding and support from the Gay Community Endowment Fund and several community partners, including ArtsNow (an innovative nonprofit that connects arts and culture through collaboration) and the EXL Center at The University of Akron. The series’ writer, H.L. Comeriato, is a former University of Akron student who was identified by faculty member Dr. Heather Braun.

    “People are often unaware that their friends, neighbors, civil servants, police officers, doctors, etc. identify as trans,” said Nicole Mullet, executive director of ArtsNow. “Breaking down that sense of ‘other’ helps us come together as a community. We are Akron – all of us.”

    Established in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund accepts grant applications for programs and services that positively impact the LGBTQ+ community and Greater Akron as a whole. It also raises awareness about equality issues and rallies the LGBTQ+ community around a common philanthropic purpose. Since its founding, the GCEF has invested nearly $475,000 into local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the Greater Akron community. Recent grants have advocated for countywide nondiscrimination protections, supported a mentoring program for LGBTQ+ college students, and raised awareness about domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community, among other critical initiatives.

    To support the Gay Community Endowment Fund, please visit GayCommunityFund.org. Gifts of all sizes will make a permanent difference in the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, a gift of $600 could provide safe housing and basic living essentials for one homeless LGBTQ+ young adult, who is more likely to become a victim of violence, abuse and human trafficking than their heterosexual peers. Likewise, a gift of $100 could provide HIV testing and prevention education for five LGBTQ+ people in Akron. All gifts are fully tax-deductible and are invested and grown over time, so gifts made today will continue to multiply for generations to come.

    For more information about the TransAkron project, please visit TransAkron.com.

    CONTACT:

    Phil Montgomery
    Chair, Gay Community Endowment Fund of
    Akron Community Foundation
    330-714-8178
    ​monty.phil@gmail.com 

    Source: Gay Community Endowment Fund

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  • GayTravel.com Hires LGBT Dream Team

    GayTravel.com Hires LGBT Dream Team

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 8, 2018


    MINNEAPOLIS, May 8, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Gay Travel the world’s leading site dedicated to LGBT Travel announced the appointment of the Mossier Social Action and Innovation Center’s LGBT Travel experts Don Ofstedal, Charlie Rounds, and Nick Alm to lead Gay Travel’s editorial team.

    “ The team at Mossier truly understands who we are as a company but more importantly brings a new perspective as to what we all can achieve together,” said Steve Rohrlick, Gay Travel Founder, and Chief Visionary Officer. “Their mission and extensive network of trusted travel professionals and seasoned travelers will help Gay Travel bring consistent, authentic and timely information to our members and site visitors and also provide new ways for our community to make a difference in the lives of LGBT entrepreneurs around the globe”

    Our goal is to help Gay Travel members have a more meaningful travel experience – no matter where their destination may be.

    Charlie Rounds, Editor

    Charlie Rounds is the former co-owner of RSVP Vacations, co-founder of Brand g Vacations, and managed a $30 million-plus retail and business travel agency. Rounds wrote the business plan for the IGLTA Foundation and was the 2011 recipient of IGLTA’s Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award.

    Don Ofstedal is also a former co-owner of RSVP Vacations. Before that Ofstedal was the President of the Travel Company of Minnesota where his 20-year career covered every aspect of the travel agency industry.

    Nick Alm is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Alm completed his first international flight just two years ago for a 10-day business exchange in Cuba.  Since then he has become an avid traveler. Nick co-founded The Carlson School’s first undergraduate LGBT organization where he developed a deep passion for advancing conversations about LGBT issues within the travel industry.

    “We are very excited to share our 50-plus years’ experience in the travel industry with the Gay Travel community, said Rounds, Program Manager at Mossier. “The three of us have visited 74 countries, some of which did not even exist 30 years ago. Our goal is to help Gay Travel members have a more meaningful travel experience – no matter where their destination may be.”

    “Kevin Mossier was not only our boss, he was our mentor. He started three successful travel companies including RSVP Vacations and Sea Spirit Cruise Lines. We very much want to bring so much of the LGBT travel history we experienced to life,” added Don Ofstedal. Alm will lead efforts to connect with and offer unique options to younger travelers.

    Media Contact: Charlie Rounds
    charlie.rounds@gaytravel.com
    +1.800.429.8728 x 716

    About Gay Travel
    The GayTravel brand is widely considered the equivalent of the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” among LGBT travelers and their allies. – a trust that has been forged over 20 years.  GayTravel provides their audience with valuable resources to help inspire, plan and book memorable travel experiences. For more information visit www.gaytravel.com or call 1-800-GAY-TRAVEL

    About Mossier

    The Mossier Social Action and Innovation Center is investing in LGBT entrepreneurs across generations and borders. We are dedicated to launching LGBT-owned businesses in countries where homosexuality is illegal. A list that includes over 70 countries. Mossier is driven by an intergenerational team of 15 individuals in Minnesota. With an age range between 18-69, and a roster comprised primarily of women and people of color, Mossier is committed to advancing the global LGBT movement by working across generations, identity, and geography to economically empower our community. For more information: mossier.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MossierMN.

    Source: GayTravel.com

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  • New Documentary From Cinema Libre Studio Examines Rising Hate Crimes in Trump’s America

    New Documentary From Cinema Libre Studio Examines Rising Hate Crimes in Trump’s America

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Dec 19, 2017


    LOS ANGELES, December 19, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Winner of the Award of Merit at indieFEST Film Awards and Best Political Documentary at Atlanta Docufest, THE UNAMERICAN STRUGGLE documentary is the first examination of the rise in hate crimes and bigoted rhetoric since the election of Donald J. Trump.

    Last month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that hate crimes had increased by nearly 5% since 2015 in their annual Incidents of Hate report. The report recorded that 5,818 “single-bias” incidents occurred, in which one or more offense types, or incidents, were motivated by the same bias. Of those, 59.2% were motivated by a racial, ethnic and/or ancestry bias; 19.7% by a religious bias; 17.7% by a sexual orientation bias; and 3.3% by a gender identity, disability or gender bias.

    There are two sides to bigotry. There are those who openly oppose it, and then those who foster it. People who stay silent in the face of this bigotry provide quiet support for it.

    Ric Osuna, Director, The UnAmerican Struggle

    For activists on the front line of the identity politics movement, this rise in hate crimes is not a surprise, and many of them feel the numbers are underreported.

    Featuring Heidi Beirich and Naomi Tsu of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Angeles Valenciano of the National Diversity Council, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Executive Director of the Georgia Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Sir Maejor Page, President of Greater Atlanta Black Lives Matter, the film finds a consistent and resounding increase in hate crimes across the board, and subsequently, the fears of minority communities.

    The Trump White House last week acted to ban the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from using the words ‘vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based, and science-based’ in their 2018 budget documents, preventing the agency from accurately describing the needs of some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

    Director Osuna, who is of Mexican-American heritage and whose Mexican father served in Vietnam, says, “There are two sides to bigotry. There are those who openly oppose it, and then those who foster it. People who stay silent in the face of this bigotry provide quiet support for it. Bigotry unchecked ushers in greater abuses to civil rights, as evident through the recent attacks on the free press, the cornerstone of American democracy. ”

    Source: Cinema Libre Studio

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  • Pride Rally Announces Lineup for 10th Annual Event

    Pride Rally Announces Lineup for 10th Annual Event

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    ​PRIDE RALLY ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR 10TH ANNUAL EVENT; TWO GRAMMY PRODUCERS HEADLINING IN FIRST EVER SHOW

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 18, 2017


    Long Beach, California, April 18, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Long Beach Pride Weekend is May 19-21 in Long Beach, California.  The official kickoff event to pride weekend, the Pride Rally, will take place on Friday, May 19th from 7pm-2am on the Promenade in Downtown Long Beach, California.

    The Pride Rally is an exciting night of music, dance, and entertainment designed to bring people and communities together in support of LGBTQ rights and causes.  

    This year’s event will be hosted by Scott Nevins from Bravo TV’s hit show “The People’s Couch”.  In addition, two DJ Super Producers will be joining forces, Grammy nominated DJ Chris Cox (52 Billboard Dance #1’s) and Grammy Award Winning DJ Lee Dagger from Bimbo Jones (75 Dance #1’s internationally) will handle the entertainment in an exclusive performance, both sharing the stage and mixing together. 

    Jewel Productions is producing a drag show event not to be missed, and a special awards ceremony will be held for the founders of the Pink Party marking its 10th anniversary.  Award recipients include Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Lynwood Mayor Pro-Tem Jose Luis Solache, Miles Nevin, Director of the President at Long Beach City College, Steve Sheldon, and Sergio Carillo.

    Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 after May 7th, and are available now online at www.PrideRally.com.   Tickets may be available at the door, based on availability.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach.

    Pride Rally History:  The Pride Rally is formerly known as “The Pink Party”, will celebrate its 10th year anniversary in 2017.  Over the past decade, there have been a variety of event producers.  In 2016, two community leaders stepped up to take on the overlooked event, rebranded it the Pride Rally, and will host its inaugural event this year.  For the first time in the event’s history, The Pride Rally (Pink Party) has the support of both the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and the LBLGP Festival endorsement, potentially making this year’s event the biggest in the history of the Pink Party.

    For media inquiries, tickets and more information, please contact Stuart Takehara (Stuart@PrideRally.com)  or call 562-277-1267.

    Source: Pride Rally

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