News

Atlanta Mayor Makes Historic Appointment of Trans Activist to City’s Review Board

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The Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed has made a historic appointment to the city’s Atlanta Citizen Review board. Mayor Reed appointed an out trans activist to the board, praising their “lifelong” trans activism.

Mayor Appoints Trans Activist

The appointment is believed to be the first time a trans person has served on the Board openly.

“I am pleased to appoint Tracee McDaniel to serve on the Atlanta Citizen Review Board,” Mayor Reed said in a written statement.

“As a lifelong advocate for the transgender community, Ms. McDaniel will bring an important perspective and a lifetime of experience to this role.”

Reed added that he thought the appointment would be useful amid tensions between police and Atlanta residents.

Read more here: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/08/13/atlanta-mayor-makes-historic-appointment-of-trans-activist-to-citys-review-board/

Trans Sports Clubs: When Swimming and Playing Football are Revolutionary Acts

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Trans Sports Clubs: All Roberta Francis wanted was a peaceful place to swim. But, writes Kashmira Gander, what she has created has transformed into so much more.

It’s a Friday night in Lewisham and ten people have gathered for a weekly swimming club at the inner London borough’s modern leisure centre, an oasis of calm beyond which city life grinds on. Reflections from the red light of the emergency exit sign dance on the water of the dimly lit pool where Roberta Francis, the club’s head honcho, plays catch with another swimmer. Others are reclining at the water’s edge, their eyes closed and legs drifting outwards; some still chat quietly and catch their breath between laps. There’s no music, only the gentle murmur of chatter and the slop of water in the pool vents.

So, a bunch of people have gone swimming on a Friday night. Nothing remarkable about that. Look at the lifeguard’s bored face. Except that these people are trans (the term used to describe a person who does not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth) and simply popping out for a quick swim can be fraught with difficulty. Dedicated groups like the Trans and Gender non-conforming Swimming (TAGS) group in Lewisham take months to organise, and are only possible because of years of LGBT activism.

Read more here: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/transgender-sports-clubs-london-birmingham-football-swimming-fitness-safety-a7185511.html

Top Surgery & Binding for Non Binary and Transgender People

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Three trans guys at three different stages of top surgery. Pre-top surgery, a few months later and 4 years later!

Julie Vu On How Life Is Too Short To Be Anyone But Yourself

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“With Vancouver Pride right around the corner, we’re so excited to share Julie Vu’s story of bravery and self-discovery. In her own words, “Life is too short to be anyone but yourself”.

Laverne Cox Stars in The Rocky Horror Picture Show TV Film Reboot Trailer

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After 40 years, the best part of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is still the fans! Enjoy this trailer released at Comic-Con 2016.

Laverne Cox says it’s ‘wonderful’ to be a ‘black, trans woman’ cast in CBS drama Doubt

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Laverne Cox has said she is proud to play her character on CBS legal drama ‘Doubt’.

Laverne Cox

Of her character, an Ivy League-educated attorney, the Orange is the New Black star said: “What’s so exciting about [the role of] Cameron and being on CBS is I’m an avid TV watcher and, growing up, I did not see people like me on television.” Speaking at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Cox added: “It’s wonderful to get to play a character like that. And to be a black transgender woman in that position on CBS feels really special.”

It was announced last February that Cox had been cast in the legal drama by CBS. 

The casting was hailed as a milestone for diversity on US TV, and the role was created specifically for Cox.

Read more here: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/08/11/laverne-cox-says-its-wonderful-to-be-a-black-trans-woman-cast-in-cbs-drama-doubt/

Trailer for Whoopi Goldberg’s New TV Show Strut Focused around Trans Models

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“Strut” is a series from executive producer Whoopi Goldberg about trans models breaking down barriers in the industry. “‘Strut” follows a group of inspiring and resilient trailblazers who are working to change the modeling industry, and the world around them, by simply being true to themselves. These individuals will empower viewers as they live their lives fully and unapologetically, despite facing many obstacles throughout their journey.

Trans Inclusive Jewish summer-camps are pioneering a gender-neutral form of Hebrew

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Seven Jewish summer camps across America are rolling out a more trans inclusive gender-neutral form of Hebrew. The new form of Hebrew will be rolled out across the Habonim Dror summer camps.

Trans Inclusive Summer Camp

All seven sites across North America will use the form, which includes words like “chanichol”, which is a gender neutral form of the Hebrew word “chanich” for boys or “chanichah” for girls, meaning camper.

Traditionally, there is no gender-neutral form of Hebrew and nouns are divided into genders, much like many other languages like Spanish, French and Russian. Hebrew is more of a challenge than most gendered languages because you cannot speak in the first or second person, without indicating a gender. For example, the English phrase “I want a drink” would be literally translated into Hebrew as “I female-want a female-drink”.

“It really reinforces the impact of summer camp as a safe space,” Sara Zebovitz, the North America director for Habonim Dror told the Washington Post.

“Camp has always made it okay to say, ‘I can be myself here.’”

The new form of Hebrew also includes cheers of each child’s age, typically heard in group settings.

Read more here: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/08/12/these-jewish-summer-camps-are-pioneering-a-trans-inclusive-gender-neutral-form-of-hebrew/