7/25/13

Federal Government Resolves Complaint Filed by CA Transgender Student

Each time a trans child is affirmed and given the opportunity to shine a star gets just a little brighter. The press release from The National Center for Lesbian Rights


Agreement Affirms that Transgender Students Are Entitled to Equal Access in Schools


(San Francisco, CA, July 24, 2013)—Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced a resolution to a complaint filed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) on behalf of a transgender student in California’s Arcadia Unified School District. The resolution requires the school district to treat the student as male in all respects and keep his transgender status private. Furthermore, the school district agreed to revise its policies to ensure that all students who do not conform to sex stereotypes, including transgender students, have equal access and opportunity to participate in all of the district’s activities and programs. Those policy changes will be complemented by district-wide training for personnel and students. The implementation of this agreement will be overseen by a qualified expert agreed upon by the district and federal government.

The student and his family—who asked that their names not be made public--filed a complaint with OCR and DOJ in October 2011 when the school district required him to sleep in a cabin by himself instead of allowing him to room with his male peers on an overnight field trip. Not wanting to miss out on this important educational opportunity, he attended the field trip, but could not escape the feeling that he was being "quarantined" for no legitimate reason.

In addition to preventing him from fully participating in the overnight field trip, the school district excluded the student from the boys’ restroom and locker room, insisting that he use the nurse’s office. That arrangement resulted in the student being ridiculed by peers and limited his ability to participate in afterschool activities because the nurse’s restroom was locked during those times.

The student and his family are represented by the NCLR.

"I am glad that my school district has agreed to put in place the protections that I, and other transgender students, need to feel safe and welcome in school," said the student. "Knowing that I have the school district’s suppport, I can focus on learning and being a typical high school student, like my friends."

Said NCLR Staff Attorney Asaf Orr: "We commend the federal government for taking this necessary step to ensure that schools are safe and supportive environments where all students can thrive, including transgender students. Federal law obligates school districts to affirm and respect a transgender student’s gender identity in all of their programs, activities, and facilities. Treating transgender students based on their assigned sex at birth is psychologically harmful and interferes with their healthy social development. Hopefully, school districts will take this opportunity to proactively address the needs of transgender youth through district-wide policies and training."


The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
www.nclrights.org.

7/24/13

Spice Girl Flash Mob Birthday Celebration and a Russian LGBT Party: A study in Contrast

San Francisco CA Via the Castro Biscuit "July 20th, in an ‘only in the Castro’ kind of moment, Sister Risque of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, aka Christopher Nathan, celebrated turning the big Four Oh by assembling some gal pals, memorized all the choreography and words of 90′s mega-Pop group, Spice Girls hit, ‘If You Wanna Be My Lover’, and then trooped around in man-sized 4″ heels serving the Castro classic flashmob moves at several iconic neighborhood corners. Filmed by Sister Risque’s pal Mark Kleim the look-a-like crew terrorized and entertained visitors and neighbors alike. Check it out. And happy birthday Sister!"

2013 St Petersburg Pride


Vladimir Putin's killers have been trained to celebrate LGBT love but in a different way. The 2012 St Petersburg pride happened just as the city passed the "gay propaganda" laws. It went off peacefully. This year the gay propaganda law was enforced by police who allowed and participated  in the beatings of the LGBT people.



Meanwhile in Russia they are also celebrating diversity and LGBT birthdays albeit a little differently




Via LGBT BuzFeed

36 Photos From Russia That Everyone Needs To See




1. St. Petersburg Gay Pride, 2013:

St. Petersburg Gay Pride, 2013:
Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP
2.
Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

3. What began as a peaceful march…

What began as a peaceful march...
Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

4. …ended up turning incredibly violent as anti-gay protesters overtook the rally.

...ended up turning incredibly violent as anti-gay protesters overtook the rally.
Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

5. A gay rights supporter is beaten to the ground.

A gay rights supporter is beaten to the ground.
Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

6. Smoke bombs are set off.

Smoke bombs are set off.
Image by Evgeny Feldman / AP

7. Chaos ensues.

Chaos ensues.
Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

8. A woman runs from the crowd.

A woman runs from the crowd.
Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

9. Two men flee…

Two men flee...
Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters

10. …but are eventually detained.

...but are eventually detained.
Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

11. In the end, police officers detained several of the gay activists.

In the end, police officers detained several of the gay activists.
Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

12. The 2012 parade ended the same way.

The 2012 parade ended the same way.
An anti-gay protester clashes with a gay rights activist.
Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters

13. That event was also overrun by anti-gay protesters.

That event was also overrun by anti-gay protesters.
Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters
14.
Image by ANTON TUSHIN / Getty Images

15. Moscow, May 2013:

Moscow, May 2013:
An unknown anti-gay activist hits Russian gay and LGBT rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev during an unauthorized gay rights activists rally in central Moscow.
Image by ANDREY SVITAILO / Getty Images

16. An unauthorized protest turns violent.

An unauthorized protest turns violent.
Image by ANDREY SMIRNOV / Getty Images

17. Gay activists end up being detained.

Gay activists end up being detained.
The sign says, “Love is stronger than homophobia.”
Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

18. The 2012 Moscow gay pride was filled with more of the same…

The 2012 Moscow gay pride was filled with more of the same...
Image by Mikhail Metzel / AP

19. …more detained gay rights activists.

...more detained gay rights activists.
Image by Mikhail Metzel / AP

20. June 2013: Gay rights activists hold a kiss-in in Moscow.

June 2013: Gay rights activists hold a kiss-in in Moscow.
Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

21. The activists were protesting a new “gay propaganda” law. The law would introduce steep fines and jail terms for people who promote homosexual “propaganda” to minors.

The activists were protesting a new "gay propaganda" law. The law would introduce steep fines and jail terms for people who promote homosexual "propaganda" to minors.
Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

22. That event also ended violently.

That event also ended violently.
Image by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images

23. Russian police detained more than 20 gay rights activists…

Russian police detained more than 20 gay rights activists...
Image by MAXIM SHEMETOV / Reuters

24. …as gay rights activists were pelted with rotten eggs.

...as gay rights activists were pelted with rotten eggs.
Image by VASILY MAXIMOV / Getty Images
25.
Image by ANDREY SMIRNOV / Getty Images

26. The same thing happened at a “kissing protest” in January.

The same thing happened at a "kissing protest" in January.
Image by SERGEI KARPUKHIN / Reuters

27. That event also turned bloody.

That event also turned bloody.
Image by ANDREY SMIRNOV / Getty Images

28. More violence.

More violence.
Image by Ivan Sekretarev / AP

29. An Orthodox activist pulls a gay rights campaigner’s hair.

An Orthodox activist pulls a gay rights campaigner's hair.
Image by Ivan Sekretarev / AP

30. Unknown assailants attack a gay rights activist.

Unknown assailants attack a gay rights activist.
Image by SERGEI KARPUKHIN / Reuters

31. Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers passed a bill barring same-sex foreign couples from adopting Russian children.

Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers passed a bill barring same-sex foreign couples from adopting Russian children.
Image by SERGEI KARPUKHIN / Reuters

32. The anti-gay propaganda bill became a law.

The anti-gay propaganda bill became a law.