Who knows your gender better than you? Not these people, that's for sure!

Read this article and tell us what you think. First of all, it's nice to see Republicans standing up for what is right, but sad that this Dem is on the wrong side of the enemy lines. She is not the only one though. Other lawmakers in Massachusetts has spoken out against rules that would protect trans youth in schools. These outspoken officials, in our opinion, are not sensitive to the issue, have not educated themselves as to what is means to be transgender, and feel as though it is ok to take away some one's dignity. Anyway, here is the link. If you find more articles about this story, please share them in the comments along with your thoughts. Thanks.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/03/05/1675281/massachusetts-lawmakers-retaliate-against-youth-with-transgender-issues/?mobile=nc

Facepalm for this guy

Does it make you want to go on to YouTube and thumbs-down his video? We did! 

Girls uniforms are for ALL girls!

Leah, A transgender student at a high school in Batesville, Mississippi, had some trouble with her school when they told her she could not wear the girl's school uniform to school. The school corrected their actions when they realized they were violating a law, but 30 students feel that Leah is receiving special treatment believing that Leah is violating the school dress code and is not being reprimanded, when other students are being reprimanded for dress code violations. Mike Foster (interim) Superintendent says that Leah is not in violation of the dress code because the code requires students to wear the school uniform of their gender, and in this case Leah is a girl and is properly wearing the girl's uniform. Unfortunately, those 30 or so students have taken it upon themselves to protest and make this an issue. They showed up to school wearing sweatpants and gym shirts, and because it was a direct violation of the dress code those students were not permitted to enter the building. The school seems to be doing what is right but those students that are protesting are not. It is very likely that they are not well informed or educated about what it means to be transgender. It is unfortunate that these students have made it through to their last year of high school and have not learned compassion. There have also been a few parents that are loudly voicing their concerns. Hopefully the Facebook page Mississippians Support Leah, along with the information and support from their local ACLU chapter, and all of the positive response in the wake of the news coverage will educate those few individuals who are expressing hate and bigotry.

South Panola High

Here is a link to one of the news stories: Leah in the Huff Post

Here is the link to the Facebook page: Mississippians Support Leah

Like and g+1 this entry to show your support for Leah!!

Dr. Sears on CNN

In a panel discussion on CNN yesterday, a medical doctor. Dr. Jim Sears, not only showed his trans-phobic beliefs, but also made comments on transgender females regarding genitalia in the restrooms. He warned others that the tans girl, Coy Mathis, would expose her genitals to others in the restroom. Our question to him is, how many people did he show his genitals to in the bathroom when he was six? He went on to comment on how Coy should get therapy, which had already been addressed. We would like Dr. Sears to weigh in on what a psychologist is, because Coy's parents have her seeing one, along with a (much more informed) medical doctor. In another unintelligent comment from Dr. Sears, who touts his medical expertise, was that when Coy reaches puberty and still "feels" like a girls, "he" can go on hormones. We give Dr. Sears a huge face-palm and a lowered head shake. Dr. Sears, why do you not recognized that Coy is a she, not a he, and when she reaches puberty she will have the option if she so desires and only with her permission,  along with the consent of her well informed parents and with her doctors' supervision, to go on puberty blockers--which are not permanent. Go back to the books mister medical practitioner.

Since the live interview with the Mathises on Thursday morning 2/28/13, CNN has repeated the false and misinformed statement that the law in Colorado that Coy's family are defending does not state anything about restrooms. It in fact does: CADA

Here is an article on the panel discussion. While the comments seem to be VERY supportive of Coy and her family, Dr. Sears' ignorant bigotry is very unfortunate.

Fountain Full of Wishes

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/coy-mathis-eagleside-elementary-transgender-case-discrimination-complaint-filed-by-girls-parents

FFC8 school district in Colorado discriminates against trans girl. Here is their website: http://ffc8.org/
This is the school's website: http://eaglesideweb.ffc8.org/

So sad that they are being so mean :(

Unintended Discrimination

Words are powerful, and often the use of the wrong terminology can unintentionally offend someone. In the politically correct world, there are often terms that at one time were considered OK. In regards to transgender men, women and children, here is a list of terms that are acceptable which are accompanied by the terms that are not.

Please use “Transgender” or “Transgender person” “transgender man” “transgender woman”

Please do not use “Transgendered” or “a transgender” (noun) or “Tranny”

Please use Gender identity/Gender expression and please do not use “sexual identity” or “transgender identity”

Please use “Transition” and please do not use “Sex change” “pre-operative/post operative”

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx_PqZ8BOrCKcWVodnFPMFZSdUU/edit?pli=1 Here is a good list of all the terms used to refer to gender. Please make note that transgender is one term among many, so as not to confuse them. While this list is highly adequate, we suggest doing your own research. With awareness comes acceptance.

The Maine Idea

For almost two years, Susan, a transgender female was allowed to use the girls bathroom at her elementary school in Orno, Maine until her 5th grade year when she was forced to use the staff bathroom instead.

Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) specifically prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, including gender identity and expression, in any public facility including public schools/educational institutions. The MHRA states that an educational institution is:

“Any public school or educational program, any public post-secondary institution, any private school or educational program approved for tuition purposes if both male and female students are admitted and the governing body of each such school or program. For purposes related to disability-related discrimination, ‘educational institution’ also means any private school or educational program approved for tuition purposes.”

In short, this discrimination continued against Susan into middle school and in 2009 her parents files a suit against the school district for violations of the MHRA. The district filed a motion to dismiss, and in 2011 the Superior Court denied Susan’s parents claim and found that the school was not discriminating based on the language of the MHRA.

Since then, schools around the U.S. have used this case as a precedent to prohibit transgender students from using the bathrooms of the gender that they identify with. This is not only discrimination; this is a violation of privacy and is extremely harmful to students because it stigmatizes them as the only ones using a different bathroom.

Imagine for a moment that you are at a restaurant and you head for the restroom, when suddenly a person stops you at the door and requires you to prove your gender before allowing you use the facilities. How would you feel?

GLAAD has worked with Susan and her family and is appealing the case—hoping it will make it all the way to the Supreme Court because there are also federal laws that prohibit public schools that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of sex.

We will watch and post as this story unfolds.

** http://www.maine.gov/mhrc/guidance/What_it_is.pdf