And Grand County Makes 10 : QSaltLake – Utah's Gay and Lesbian News and Entertainment Magazine

And Grand County Makes 10 : QSaltLake – Utah's Gay and Lesbian News and Entertainment Magazine: "Just two days before Christmas Eve, the Grand County Council became the 10th municipal body in Utah to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from job and housing discrimination."

PrideSource - Righting wrongs

PrideSource - Righting wrongs: "After five years of working as a team and building up a profitable company, Brogan-Kator was called into the office and fired without warning."

Unitarian Universalists focus on trans issues

uuworld.org : new lgbt coordinator will emphasize trans issues: "Delfin Bautista, the new program coordinator for the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Ministries program, says that he will be paying special attention to transgender-related issues in his new position. “The UUA has done incredible work on gay and lesbian issues,” he said. “Now it’s time to give attention to the trans community while also upholding all of the other identities represented by the LGBT acronym.”

Bautista, who identifies as transgender, started the job at the end of November. In the new position he will be responsible for the development of LGBT programs and resources and will also be engaged in advocacy efforts on issues such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” marriage equality, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act."

Exploring transgender identity in India with Fulbright artist Carrie Fonder - AnnArbor.com

Artist Carrie Fonder is currently in Mumbai, India on a Fulbright Scholarship to study the role of the feminine in Indian art. She is in the midst of creating an artwork out of a rickshaw, a small motorized taxi on three wheels, that comments on transgender men in India. Once the rickshaw sculpture — titled Trans-Co — is complete, she plans to exhibit it in India before shipping it to the United States.

The artist's interest in gender expression is laudable, but I note that the article refers to people who are living as female as "transgender men." That is, of course, a major faux pas as it considered by many to disrespect the individual's gender identity. Instead, they should be referred to as "transgender women."

The artist's interest in thinking critically about oppressive gender binaries is also laudable. I am concerned, however, by the suggestion that her subjects are "customizing" their gender and are "really" males, regardless of how they "present" themselves.

Exploring transgender identity in India with Fulbright artist Carrie Fonder - AnnArbor.com

Trans Sex Workers In Southeast Asia

This article tells the story of trans sex workers in Southeast Asia, whose education is often cut short because of harassment in schools and whose only source of employment is prostitution. It is part of a series published by RH Reality Check in partnership with the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) to commemorate the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, December 17th, 2010.

Stigma and Violence Against Transgender Sex Workers | RHRealityCheck.org

DMV Employee Accused Of Harassing Transgender Woman Resigns: News: SFAppeal

I've posted several items recently about developments in a case involving a DMV employee who sent a letter to a trans customer, stating that the customer would "go to hell." Given that opponents of trans identity often have religious objections, I always discuss the question in my trainings of where the line is between religious freedom and harassment. Here's the latest on the story, and it provides an interesting vignette for addressing that question.

DMV Employee Accused Of Harassing Transgender Woman Resigns: News: SFAppeal

DMV clerk suspended for sex-change admonition

DMV clerk suspended for sex-change admonition: "The Department of Motor Vehicles employee who handled a transgender woman's application to register her sex change was suspended shortly after the woman reported that he had sent her a letter condemning her to hell, the state agency said Friday."

Government battle over transgender protections in India

Protections have been put in place for transgender people in India, but there is some confusion as to its implementation. This story discusses a court case regarding the protections, and the implication seems to be that the central government is dragging its feet.

Note that the story uses the term "eunuch," which is commonly used in India to refer to trans people. It does not have a negative connotation there. In the US, however, the term is not generally used, and would likely be considered pejorative.

Transgenders: Centre silent on PIL