Category: News

June 14, 2007
Boston MA
Today in a historic vote, Massachusetts legislators rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned same sex marriage. Lawmakers voted 151 to 45 to reject the proposed amendment, which would have ended the three years of marriage equality that Massachusetts citizens have enjoyed.

MICHIGAN WOMYN?S MUSIC FESTIVAL SETS THE RECORD ?STRAIGHT?
August 22, 2006

Hart, Michigan ? Seeking to correct misinformation widely distributed by "Camp Trans" organizers, Michigan Womyn?s Music Festival founder and producer Lisa Vogel released the following clarification:

"Since 1976, the Michigan Womyn?s Music Festival has been created by and for womyn-born womyn, that is, womyn who were born as and have lived their entire life experience as womyn. Despite claims to the contrary by Camp Trans organizers, the Festival remains a rare and precious space intended for womyn-born womyn."

-After 15 years of controversy, supporters welcome trans women to 'the land'

HART, MICHIGAN - The Michigan Women's Music Festival began admitting openly trans (transgender/transsexual) women last week, bringing success to a longstanding struggle by trans activists both inside and outside the festival.

by the Lithuanian Gay League

A young woman willing to have an operation to change her sex lodged a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights against Lithuania and has been invited to state her demands to the government during an open court hearing in Strasbourg on October 17th. She will also have to substantiate her 1 million litas (290,000 euros) suit against the country. The Strasbourg court received the complaint from the woman, who feels that she should have been the opposite sex, a year ago.

ACLU and Lambda Legal Challenge Law Barring Transgender People Access to Medical Treatment in Prison (1/24/2006)

MILWAUKEE, WI ? Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today in federal court on behalf of two transgender women challenging a Wisconsin law that bars them from access to appropriate medical treatment while they are incarcerated.

The long awaited and controversial verdicts in Gwen Araujo's second murder trial were issued on Monday September 12, 2005. Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were found guilty of Second Degree Murder for their role in seventeen year old Gwen Araujo's death in 2003. Charges against Jason Cazares resulted in a hung jury for the second time. A fourth defendant, Jaron Nabors, testified against the other three in exchange for a guilty plea to reduced charges of manslaughter. Some transgender activists were disappointed that the murder was not held to be a hate crime and by the hung jury on Cazares charges. Many in the community found hope and relief in the convictions.

"This trial has been a milestone in the struggle of transgender citizens for social justice." said Denise Leclair, Executive Director of the International Foundation for Gender Education. "For once, a transgender life was not discounted. For once, the death of a transgender person caused outrage. For once, the nation cried with us."

Prosecutors will announce whether they will seek a third trial for Cazares on November 18. There has been no announcement yet of a sentencing date.

The IFGE website has been restored and upgraded after being temporarily suspended last week. Attempts by a Chat Room user to host illegal downloads on the server had resulted in our hosting company suspending IFGE's site. IFGE has used the opportunity to upgrade to the latest version of the PostNuke content management system and move the site to a new server. The upgrade should provide increased functionality and security. We apologize for any inconvenience.

January 12, 2005
The Illinois House of Representatives today passed a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, voting 65 to 51. The bill addresses discrimination in employment, housing, lending and public accomodations and includes transgender people in its definition of sexual orientation. The Illinois Senate had already passed the legislation by a slim 30 - 27 margin on January 10.

The Internal Revenue Service has allowed a transgender woman to deduct the cost of her SRS as a medically necessary treatment. Rhiannon O'Donnabhain appealed after her deduction for her medical treatments was denied by the initial tax examiner, who viewed it as cosmetic. The appeals officer later determined the expenses were for "an integral part of a professionally prescribed course of treatment for her diagnosed condition."

According to FordGlobe.org on July 30, 2004, Ford Motor Company added "Gender Identity" to their Corporate Policy Letters 2 and 6, as a category that is protected against discrimination. Ford is the first of the Big 3 automotive companies to take this step. The three major automakers tend to keep their policies uniform, so it is hoped that GM and Chrysler will follow suit.