VICTORY: Hate Crimes Bill Passes;

First Federal Bill to Protect Transgender People

(October 22, 2009, Washington, DC) In an historic move, the United States Senate joined the House of Representatives in passing The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which will be the first federal law to include gender identity and transgender people. Once signed by the President, this law will add sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and disability to the categories included in existing federal hate crimes law and will allow local governments who are unable or unwilling to address hate crimes to receive assistance from the federal government. President Obama has indicated that he will sign the bill into law. more...

Transgender Inequality

This video addresses transgender Inequality, suicide and discrimination.

http://www.tglynnsplace.com/tg-inequality.htm

National LGBT Equality March & Rally

It was an exciting weekend in Washington DC with President Obama giving a passionate speech on LGBT equality on Saturday. Sunday thousands of LGBT people and allies marched on the Capital demanding full LGBT equality. Here are some video's of the speakers from the National Equality March Rally and President Obama's address to the HRC.

http://www.lgbtfamilybuilding.com/2009-national-equality-march-rally.htm

Soy Infant Formula and Transgenderism: Is there a link?

An estimated 25% of North American babies receive infant formula made from processed soybeans. Parents use soy formula in the belief that is it healthier than formula based on cows' milk. Soy promotional material claims that soy provides complete protein that is less allergenic than cows' milk protein. When soy infant formula first became commercially available, manufacturers even promised that soy formula was "better than breast milk."

Parents have a right to know how these extravagant claims compare to scientific findings related to soy infant formula...

The most serious problem with soy formula is the presence of phytoestrogens or isoflavones. While many claims have been made about the health benefits of these estrogen-like compounds, animal studies indicate that they are powerful endocrine disrupters that alter growth patterns and cause sterility. Toxicologists estimate that an infant exclusively fed soy formula receives the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day. By contrast, almost no phytoestrogens have been detected in dairy-based infant formula or in human milk, even when the mother consumes soy products. A recent study found that babies fed soy-based formula had 13,000 to 22,0000 times more isoflavones in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula. Scientists have known for years that isoflavones in soy products can depress thyroid function, causing autoimmune thyroid disease and even cancer of the thyroid. But what are the effects of soy products on the hormonal development of the infant, both male and female?

Male infants undergo a "testosterone surge" during the first few months of life, when testosterone levels may be as high as those of an adult male. During this period, the infant is programed to express male characteristics after puberty, not only in the development of his sexual organs and other masculine physical traits, but also in setting patterns in the brain characteristic of male behavior. In monkeys, deficiency of male hormones impairs learning and the ability to perform visual discrimination tasks-such as would be required for reading-and retards the development of spatial perception, which is normally more acute in men than in women.

It goes without saying that future patterns of sexual orientation may also be influenced by the early hormonal environment. Pediatricians are noticing greater numbers of boys whose physical maturation is delayed, or does not occur at all, including lack of development of the sexual organs. Learning disabilities, especially in male children, have reached epidemic proportions. Soy infant feeding-which floods the bloodstream with female hormones that could inhibit the effects of male hormones-cannot be ignored as a possible cause for these tragic developments....

Read the full article here: http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/infant.html

New England Trans United March and Rally Pictures

I just got home from the New England Trans United March and Rally. It was good to see some old friends and make some new. There was a good turn out for the parade and rally even in spite of the rain and drizzle.

The big thought that kept going through my head through out the rally is: This is so much more than our civil rights and social justice right now, it's about our core needs, housing and employment discrimination, appropriate medical care, and our general safety. I feel that in our advocacy we get so caught up in the civil rights and social justice aspect and loose sight of the fact that our biggest need right now is our core needs.

I posted my pictures of the event here:

New England Trans United March and Rally Pictures

I would have more pictures but forgot to empty the memory card on my camera.

New England Trans United Pride March Announces Rally Lineup

(Northampton, MA) Organizers of the (NETU)New England Trans United Pride March and Rally have announced the following lineup of speakers and performers for the event on Saturday, October 3, 2009 in Northampton, Massachusetts.

11:00 a.m. Assemble at Lampron Park/Bridge Street School (2 Parsons St.)
Noon March steps off
12:30 p.m. Marchers arrive at Armory Street Lot (behind Thornes Marketplace)
12:45 p.m. Welcome by MC Tammy Twotone (entertainer)
12:50 p.m. Proclamation by Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins
1:05 p.m. To be announced
1:25 p.m. Lezleanne Rios (singer/songwriter)
1:35 p.m. Northampton At-Large City Councilor Michael Bardsley
1:50 p.m. Gunner Scott (Grand Marshal, MTPC)
2:00 p.m. Louis Mitchell (Minister, Recovering the Promise Ministries)
2:10 p.m. Fab 3 (surprise treat)
2:15 p.m. Ethan St. Pierre (TransFM Radio)
2:25 p.m. Announcements / Intermission
2:40 p.m. Joanna Frost (gender therapist)
2:50 p.m. Lorelei Erisis (Miss Trans New England)
3:00 p.m. Georgia Star Michaels (entertainer)
3:10 – 3:50 p.m. New England Trans United Pride Steering Committee members: Christa Hilfers, Bet Power, Brianna Harris, Vickie Boisseau, Danica Marie Ali, Yohah Ralph, Aydin Brannon, Samantha Cornell
3:50 p.m. Raffle Drawing
4:00 p.m. Deja Nicole Greenlaw (TRT columnist)
4:10 p.m. Ryan Thomas (Trans youth)
4:20 p.m. Miss Sabrina Blaze (entertainer)
4:50 p.m. 50/50 Raffle Drawing, Announcements
5:00 p.m. Rally ends

Contact:
Bet Power
New England Trans United
P.O. Box 611
Northampton, MA 01060
Email: betpower@yahoo. com
Email: Newenglandtransunited@yahoo.com
Website: New England Trans United Pride March and Rally
Phone: (413) 584-7616

Speakers, Performers Announced for the 2009 New England Trans United Pride

Speakers, Performers Announced for New England Trans United Pride
Regional March Set to Step Off on October 3

(Northampton, MA) The organizers of the New England Trans United (NETU) Pride March and Rally have announced a preliminary list of speakers and performers for the event. The march, which will step off at noon on October 3, 2009 at Lampron Park and proceed down Main Street in Northampton, MA, is being planned around the theme "Live Out Loud" to encourage pride in gender identity as expressed by individuals in the transgender community.

The rally, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Armory Street lot, will include a variety of political speakers, transgender activists, and performers. Among those slated to appear are entertainer Tammy Twotone as MC; Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins; City Councilor At Large and mayoral candidate Michael Bardsley; Gunner Scott, director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; trans activist and minister Louis Mitchell of Recovering the Promise Ministries; and Ethan St. Pierre of TransFM radio.

"This is only the second New England-wide transgender civil rights march and, once again, it will take place in Northampton, MA" said Bet Power, a NETU organizer. "Last year's event in Northampton drew more than 1,000 participants and educated the public about the lives of transgender people and our need for critical non-discrimination and hate crimes legislation. We are very excited to present an impressive lineup of individuals who are eagerly anticipated by many people in the trans community and our allies."

Other speakers and performers will include Deja Nicole Greenlaw, The Rainbow Times columnist and musician; Lorelei Erisis, Miss Trans Northampton 2009; LezleeAnne Rios, singer/songwriter; and Ryan DiMartino, a transgender youth. The venue is accessible to the disabled, and Cat Dvar and a team of volunteers will interpret the rally in American Sign Language.

The complete rally lineup will be posted on the organization' s website later this month. For information about the New England Trans United Pride March and Rally, to donate or to volunteer to help, visit New England Trans United Pride March and Rally.

For Pictures of last years event visit:

Lynn's Place

Donna Rose's Pictures

Diana's photos and videos