Weekly news from the GLBT world http://www.windycitytimes.com/windycitytimes.html 2013-05-18T15:03:09-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://www.windycitytimes.com/images/publications/wct/2013-05-15/current.jpg text/html 2013-05-13T14:30:38-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/NCTE-welcomes-Lisa-Mottet-as-Deputy-Executive-Director-/42755.html Washington, DC - National Center for Transgender Equality NCTE is hiring Lisa Mottet as its Deputy Executive Director. Mottet is among the most successful leaders in the LGBT movement driving much of the progress on local and state level transgender inclusive anti-discrimination laws and federal policy advocacy. text/html 2013-05-09T13:10:44-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Andrew Davis, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Delaware-passes-marriage-equality-Smith-College-looking-at-trans-policies/42731.html Delaware became the 11th U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, with Gov. Jack Markell signing the legislation into law immediately following a 12-9 vote. Prior to signing HB 75, Markell took to Twitter, congratulating those who fought for marriage equality in his state. The first same-sex couples will reportedly be allowed to marry July 1. text/html 2013-05-08T02:36:01-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Ohio-trans-murder-sparks-fear-anger-over-media-coverage/42708.html The murder of a transgender woman in Ohio has sparked national mourning and outrage, after local media described the victim with what LGBT activists deemed dehumanizing language. text/html 2013-05-02T14:11:12-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-NCAVP-calls-attention-to-3-Black-trans-homicides-in-April/42650.html The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs NCAVP is deeply concerned of three unsolved homicides of transgender women of color that occurred during the month of April in 2013, which continues a trend of murders of transgender and gender non-conforming women and people of color in the past few years. text/html 2013-04-23T22:59:30-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Idaho-amends-policy-on-changing-drivers-licenses-gender-markers/42488.html BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Transportation Department has amended its policy regarding changes to driver's licenses to allow transgender individuals to correct the gender markers on their licenses without showing proof they have undergone surgery. text/html 2013-04-17T01:15:25-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Lori-Fox-hurdles-over-obstacles/42399.html Lori Fox was speaking three years ago at Aurora University when a male student asked Fox to describe herself in one word, explaining where she was at, at that very moment. text/html 2013-04-17T00:46:02-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Owen Keehnen http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/New-documentary-on-Honolulu-trans-club-in-production/42382.html Fifty years ago the lights above the club read, "Glade Show Lounge—Where Boys Will Be Girls." The Glade nightclub was located on Hotel Street in Honolulu's Chinatown. It was a place for locals and tourists to celebrate the life and artistry of the mahu transgender performers. text/html 2013-04-12T09:52:10-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Heated-debate-follows-Michigan-Fest-boycott-petition/42349.html What follows are communications related to the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, held every August in Michigan, and its official ban on trans women entering the festival. The policy is more of a "don't ask, don't tell" ban, as trans women have been at the festival, but the official policy has caused deep divisions in the community. text/html 2013-04-11T12:45:52-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Smith-asked-to-end-transgender-discrimination-in-applications/42344.html GLAAD, students, alumni voice support of trans-inclusive admissions policy text/html 2013-04-10T12:14:08-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/CGS-elects-new-board-/42336.html After months of turmoil that included a presidential recall attempt and a proposal to dissolve, Chicago Gender Society CGS has elected a new board of directors. text/html 2013-04-10T09:41:44-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-Indigo-Girls-call-for-trans-inclusion-at-womyns-festival/42315.html The duo Indigo Girls has released a statement concerning the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival's MWMF's ban on transgender individuals. text/html 2013-04-09T10:29:31-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Trans-100-list-released-/42288.html We Happy Trans, a website that celebrates the positive experiences of transgender people, and This is H.O.W., a Phoenix-based non profit organization dedicated to the betterment of the lives of trans people, announced the full published Trans 100 list, an inaugural overview of the breadth and diversity of work being done in, by, and for the transgender community across the United States. The 2013 Trans 100 list was presented at an event sponsored by Chicago House, GLAAD, the Pierce Family Foundation, Orbitz.com, and KOKUMOMEDIA. text/html 2013-04-08T15:53:02-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/VIEWPOINTS-Open-transgender-military-service-Time-to-get-started/42286.html Now that he's no longer Secretary of Defense, I imagine that Leon Panetta has very little to worry about, least of all his legacy. text/html 2013-04-06T13:54:49-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Owen Keehnen http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Documentary-on-Honolulu-trans-club-The-Glade-in-production/42273.html Fifty years ago the lights above the club read, "Glade Show Lounge—Where Boys Will Be Girls." The Glade nightclub was located on Hotel Street in Honolulu's Chinatown. It was a place for locals and tourists to celebrate the life and artistry of the mahu transgender performers. text/html 2013-04-05T08:45:21-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/TX-school-relents-allows-trans-student-to-wear-prom-dress-/42261.html HOUSTON — In a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union, Spring Independent School District stated that Tony Zamazal, a transgender student at Spring High School, may wear a dress, pump-style shoes, makeup and a wig to the school prom on May 11. A school administrator previously told Zamazal that wearing a dress would be unacceptable because boys have to wear tuxedos and girls must wear dresses. text/html 2013-04-04T10:15:50-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Kate-Bornstein-talks-cancer-and-deciding-again-to-live/42253.html Despite decades of being hailed as a visionary transgender activist and theorist, it was not until last week that Kate Bornstein truly understood how important she is to people. text/html 2013-04-01T12:50:23-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Inaugural-Trans-100-event-spotlights-advocates-/42184.html When transgender people gather in Chicago to honor other trans individuals, it has always been to mourn the dead on Transgender Day of Remembrance in November. text/html 2013-04-01T12:04:58-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/LGBT-groups-challenge-Medicare-on-refusing-transgender-care-/42181.html Washington, D.C., March 29, 2013—Last week, several national LGBT groups and a cooperating attorney filed an administrative challenge to Medicare's ban on medically necessary healthcare for transgender patients. Medicare, which provides healthcare to Americans ages 65 and older and younger people with certain qualifying disabilities, currently prohibits all forms of gender reassignment surgeries regardless of the individual patient's diagnosis or serious medical needs. text/html 2013-03-30T17:28:53-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-NCTE-attacks-Medicare-withdrawal-of-public-comments/42177.html Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS has withdrawn the public comment process on updating the national coverage determination to include sex-reassignment surgery. In response to this development, National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling said: text/html 2013-03-28T14:22:15-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/AZ-committee-approves-anti-trans-bathroom-bill/42166.html Washington, DC - Yesterday, in a 7-4 vote, the unnecessary and discriminatory bathroom bill, SB1045, moved forward from the Appropriations Committee to the House floor. SB1045 renders local LGBT nondiscrimination laws unenforceable and protects businesses and other facility managers that choose to discriminate against transgender and gender nonconforming public restroom users. text/html 2013-03-26T21:32:35-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Yasmin Nair, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/UIC-holds-trans-health-forum/42130.html On March 18, Palliative Neglect, an interdisciplinary collective that looks at health issues for LGBTQ people, hosted a trans health and healthcare forum at University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health SPH. The forum was designed to answer the community's questions about the new Affordable Care Act ACA and resources. The event was held in conjunction with Pride At Work, SEIU Lavender Caucus, Transgender Law Center, Center for American Progress and the National Center for Transgender Equality. text/html 2013-03-23T08:44:33-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Trans-100-to-honor-national-trans-organizers/42081.html When transgender people see their stories reflected in the news, the image is almost always the same: scary or tragic. text/html 2013-03-21T17:59:14-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Trans-teacher-found-dead-in-England/42075.html Primary school teacher Lucy Meadows was found dead at her home in Accrington, Lancashire, England, according to The New Statesman. text/html 2013-03-20T06:42:23-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Ross Forman, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Transsexual-Gabrielle-Ludwig-A-college-basketball-pioneer/42006.html She just wants to play the game she loves, basketball. She wants to grab rebounds, thanks to her height 6-foot-6 advantage while playing center. She wants to score points when given the chance, with an experience edge over opponents and teammates. text/html 2013-03-20T06:20:25-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com André Pérez http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Birthday-boy-holds-surgery-fundraiser/42003.html Angel Torres is a trans man who launched a yearlong campaign at El Morro Lounge March 10 to raise money for chest-reconstruction surgery. The fundraiser featured performances by Genderbent Chicago, "snow bunnies" who gave all-you-can-guzzle squeeze bottle shots and heartfelt words from the emcee, Alexander Vasquez. text/html 2013-03-15T13:31:37-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Chicago-Gender-Society-rejects-dissolution-proposal/41969.html One of Chicago's last surviving transgender groups will continue uninterrupted after the organization decided not to vote on a proposal to dissolve. text/html 2013-03-16T14:17:10-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/SAGE-unveiles-Data-Collection-Guide-on-orientation-gender-identity-/41978.html [NEW YORK, NY] Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders SAGE today released a new data collection guide through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging to help providers collect the information they need to better understand and serve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender LGBT older adults. Inclusive Questions for Older Adults: A Practical Guide to Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is a comprehensive guide that helps service providers ask questions about sexual orientation and gender identity in a safe and respectful way. text/html 2013-03-11T11:29:16-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Queer-youth-unimpressed-with-CPD-trans-policy/41883.html A transgender policy quietly adopted by the Chicago Police Department last August has been a sore spot for activists because the policy fell short of their hopes. text/html 2013-03-08T15:47:13-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/School-rejects-mediation-in-transgender-girls-case-/41874.html York, NY — GLAAD and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund TLDEF announced March 7 that Eagleside Elementary School in Fountain, CO has rejected mediation in a civil rights case asking the school to allow 6 year-old transgender student Coy Mathis to use the girls' bathroom at her school. text/html 2013-03-02T10:48:47-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Trans-man-from-IDHR-complaint-attending-mediation-with-spa/41755.html A transgender man who filed a complaint against a spa that refused to allow him use of the men's shower facilities will attend mediation with the spa. text/html 2013-02-27T17:21:53-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-Transgender-daughters-family-fights-for-her-rights/41741.html GLAAD has been working closely with the family of 6-year-old Coy Mathis and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund TLDEF in asking Eagleside Elementary School in Fountain, CO to allow Coy to once again use the girls' restroom at her school. text/html 2013-02-26T19:48:04-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/IKEA-Thailand-apologizes-Vatican-denies-rumors/41703.html IKEA Thailand has apologized to Thai Transgender Alliance for "the unintended offense" that an advertisement featuring a transgender person caused, according to Gay Star News. The ad, shown on Bangkok's BTS Skytrain system and YouTube, features a transgender woman who is so shocked by a sale item she speaks in a masculine voice—causing the man she is with to run away. text/html 2013-02-25T20:10:44-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Katie-Couric-talks-with-transgender-youth-show-airs-Feb-26/41684.html On Tuesday's Katie, Katie Couric explores what it is like to grow up, and live transgender. Hear the deeply personal stories of three transgender children and their parents, as well as their journeys to understand the psychological, physical, and social process to become their authentic selves. Tuesday's show will feature a "Katie" exclusive interview with Coy Mathis, a young transgender girl who at only six-years-old is fighting alongside her parents for the right to be fully recognized as a girl in school. Couric will discuss how medical advances are being used earlier and more safely to change the biological process of puberty. Then, Katie introduces a beautiful transgender woman who struggled for her father's acceptance. text/html 2013-02-25T14:59:34-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Passages-Michael-Makayla-Gwinn-transgender-youth-/41680.html Makayla/ Michael Gwinn, a young transgender person whose life work was in mentoring fellow LGBTQ youth among other things died Feb. 16. Gwinn was 23. text/html 2013-02-25T12:08:19-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Carrie Maxwell, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Pregnant-man-speaks-at-Northwestern-Univ/41679.html LGBT and human-rights activist Thomas Beatie spoke at Northwestern University's Swift Hall Feb. 23. About 50 people attended the talk sponsored by Northwestern University student group Kaibigan. text/html 2013-02-25T09:41:00-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Tracy Baim, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Jax-Jackson-makes-history-on-Goodman-stage/41676.html Jax Jackson made history this year when he became the first openly transgender actor to perform on stage with the Goodman Theatre. I first met Jax in 2008 when he starred as Greta in Hannah Free, a film I produced. Hannah Free starred Sharon Gless as Hannah, and Jackson played Greta. The film was written by Claudia Allen and directed by Wendy Jo Carlton, who also directed Jackson in her next film, Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together. text/html 2013-02-18T12:03:44-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Chicago-Gender-Society-facing-dissolution-proposal/41590.html One of Chicago's last transgender organizations is staring down a dissolution proposal after a controversial move by the group's president. text/html 2013-02-11T13:43:30-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Illinois-Gender-Advocates-dissolves/41512.html Illinois Gender Advocates IGA, longtime the only transgender policy organization in the state, has voted to dissolve after months of declining membership. text/html 2013-02-07T12:35:16-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Lurie-LGBT-center-launching-Gender-Identity-Clinic/41483.html Go to Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, and you'll find one of the most HIV-impacted communities in the city. But look for free HIV testing services, and you might come up short. text/html 2013-02-05T21:38:30-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Jerry Nunn, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Monica-Beverly-Hillz-puts-on-her-best-face-for-RuPaul/41434.html With the wave of a checkered flag RuPaul's Drag Race just burnt rubber from the starting line speeding off into season five. The popular Logo Channel show spotlights fourteen drag contestants competing for $100,000 while being crowned America's Next Drag Superstar plus prizes along the way. text/html 2013-01-30T11:09:44-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Carrie Maxwell, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Trans-activist-Angelique-Munro-featured-at-Center-event-/41374.html Trans activist and entertainment professional Angelique Munro was the featured guest at a "fireside chat" held Jan. 23 at Center on Halsted. Leatherman Douglas O'Keeffe co-produced and hosted the event. text/html 2013-01-28T15:25:48-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Center-for-Gender-Sexuality-and-HIV-Prevention-opens-in-Uptown/41328.html CHICAGO, IL — Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago formerly Children's Memorial Hospital has relocated the Center for Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention to the Uptown community. text/html 2013-01-18T17:21:48-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/TransLife-Center-renewing-Chicago-House-changing-trans-lives/41210.html Until a few years ago, Chicago House knew when its mission would be complete, when it could close up shop. text/html 2013-01-17T17:38:10-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/TJLP-talks-trans-legal-disparities-at-Chicago-Bar-Assn/41206.html Attorneys on the Chicago Bar Association's LGBT Committee recently mulled over the many legal disparities facing transgender people. text/html 2013-01-15T21:30:30-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/T-in-the-Life-Alex-Temple/41188.html Identifies as: Transgender, genderqueer text/html 2013-01-09T07:22:01-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Angelique-Munro-fireside-chat-Jan-23/41092.html Leatherman Douglas O'Keeffe's LGBT fireside-chat series continues Wed., Jan. 23, with Chicago entertainer Angelique Munro. It will take place at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., at 7:30 p.m. text/html 2013-01-01T22:11:48-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Carrie Maxwell, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-Trans-woman-reflects-on-working-with-transgender-seniors/41009.html Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Christine McClinton has been aware of her gender identity since the age of 8. At 20, she began taking hormones; in 2006, she changed her name to Christine McClinton. text/html 2013-01-01T01:27:32-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Transgender-conference-calling-it-quits-after-30-years/40974.html Citing waning participation and a shortfall of funds, one of the nation's largest transgender conferences has ceased organizing after more than three decades in the Chicago area. text/html 2012-12-26T11:11:55-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Walking-while-trans-in-Chicago/40947.html Nomi Michaels Devereaux had six bags of groceries in hand when police arrested her. text/html 2012-12-18T17:16:18-00:00 http://www.windycitytimes.com Kate Sosin, Windy City Times http://windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Aurora-district-ceases-work-on-trans-policy/40828.html In the latest in a series of flip-flops for a district considering transgender protections, the East Aurora School has dissolved an ad hoc committee charged with drafting a transgender policy, effectively ending that effort.