Anti-Trans North Carolina is home to Pharma Company led by Visionary Trans woman

In 1995, Martine Rothblatt, a trans American lawyer, author, philosopher and entrepreneur published “The Apartheid of Sex,” a brief manifesto that made the case for on an overhaul of “dimorphic” (her word) gender categories. A New York Magazine , in a must read feature on Rothblatt, quotes her as saying: “There are five billion people… More Anti-Trans North Carolina is home to Pharma Company led by Visionary Trans woman

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant Signs Anti-LGBT Legislation

 TLDEF Condemns Sweeping New Discriminatory Law in Mississippi New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) responded to news that Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed anti-LGBT House Bill 1523 into law today. The Mississippi Legislature passed the bill in a final vote yesterday. The measure allows individuals, religious organizations, and many businesses… More Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant Signs Anti-LGBT Legislation

Killer of New York Trans Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

New York, NY – Today as a trial was set to commence, 24-year old James Dixon entered a guilty plea on first and second degree manslaughter and first degree assault charges for the August 17, 2013 killing of Islan Nettles, a 21-year-old African American transgender woman from Harlem. Dixon is charged with punching Islan in… More Killer of New York Trans Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

TLDEF’s Executive Director to Step Down

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund announced today that Michael Silverman has informed the board of directors that he plans to step down as Executive Director of the organization. Silverman will be leaving the organization he founded in 2003. Under Silverman’s leadership, TLDEF has been at the forefront of transgender… More TLDEF’s Executive Director to Step Down

TLDEF Celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today stands with advocates throughout the world in celebrating the Transgender Day of Visibility, a day set aside to amplify the accomplishments of transgender people globally. Statement from TLDEF Executive Director Michael Silverman: “On this Transgender Day of Visibility, we are proud to… More TLDEF Celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility

Activists to Rally at Court in Trans Murder Case

PLEASE rally to demand  Justice for Transgender murder victim Islan Nettles New York, NY — Everything Transgender in NYC (ETNYC) is calling on advocates and activists for transgender justice and allies in the greater New York City area to rally at the courthouse for Islan Nettles, tomorrow, Thursday March 31, 2016 at 9 a.m. Last year… More Activists to Rally at Court in Trans Murder Case

TLDEF Responds to Report of Sexual Assault at Stonewall Inn

Police looking for Information regarding the report of  a Sexual Assault Against Transgender Woman at Stonewall Inn New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) responded to news reports that a 25-year-old transgender woman was sexually assaulted last Saturday night in a single-occupancy bathroom at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan’s West Village. The… More TLDEF Responds to Report of Sexual Assault at Stonewall Inn

World Congress of GLBT Jews to hold Shabbaton in D.C.

The World Congress of GLBT Jews, with Bet Mishpachah and GLOE as co-hosts are holding a Shabbaton in Washington DC, at the DC Jewish Community Center, next month from April 8th to April 10th. The Program and contact information is detailed below. The World Congress is a networking resource for LGBTQ Jews from around the… More World Congress of GLBT Jews to hold Shabbaton in D.C.

TLDEF Condemns North Carolina Anti-Trans Student Law

North Carolina Law Strikes Down LGBT Protections, becoming First State to Exclude Transgender Students from School Bathrooms and Locker Rooms New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) condemns a new law passed by North Carolina lawmakers and signed by Governor Pat McCrory, which will ban transgender students in schools and all transgender… More TLDEF Condemns North Carolina Anti-Trans Student Law

Trans Woman’s Confessed Killer Refuses Plea Deal

New York- The man accused of fatally beating Islan Nettles, a 21 year old transgender woman, turned down a plea deal today in a Manhattan criminal court, and will now face a jury trial scheduled for March 30, 2016. Judge Robert Stolz offered James Dixon only 12 years behind bars in exchange for pleading guilty… More Trans Woman’s Confessed Killer Refuses Plea Deal

TLDEF Applauds SD Governor for Vetoing Bill That Targeted Transgender Students for Discrimination

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund applauds South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard for vetoing a bill that would have singled out transgender students for discrimination by prohibiting them from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match who they are as boys and girls. In February, South Dakota lawmakers passed House Bill 1008. The bill would have restricted facility access to students of the “same biological sex,” and defined that to mean “the physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person’s chromosomes and identified at birth by a person’s anatomy.”

Last week the governor met with transgender students who explained how harmful it would be to their health and well being to deny them use of bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with who they are. Thousands of activists across the nation joined them in urging the Governor to reject the legislation. Today the Governor did just that. Had the bill been enacted, it would have been the first law in the nation targeting transgender students for bias.… More TLDEF Applauds SD Governor for Vetoing Bill That Targeted Transgender Students for Discrimination

San Francisco Pride to Hold Forum on African American LGBTQI Contributions

San Francisco Pride is pleased to announce the first in a series of forums to explore and elucidate the 2016 San Francisco Pride theme, “For Racial and Economic Justice.”

The forum, African American Contributions to LGBTQI Culture in the American Experience, will be held at 6:30 PM, immediately following the 6:00 PM San Francisco Pride monthly membership meeting, where members will vote for one of the 2016 SF Pride community grand marshals.… More San Francisco Pride to Hold Forum on African American LGBTQI Contributions

TLDEF Urges South Dakota Governor to Veto Bill Targeting Transgender Students for Discrimination

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) urges South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to veto a bill that would bar transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match who they are as boys and girls. South Dakota lawmakers passed House Bill 1008 last week. The bill restricts facility access to… More TLDEF Urges South Dakota Governor to Veto Bill Targeting Transgender Students for Discrimination

GSA Day for Racial Justice

LGBTQ youth are taking action today–GSA Day for Racial Justice–to fight for our future and celebrate the multiple identities we hold. GSA Day for Racial Justice is more than just a day of action. It has become a movement of LGBT youth who are fighting to end state violence against black lives, who educate each other on sexual health and wellness, and who understand that gender is a social construct that limits people in all races and ethnicities.… More GSA Day for Racial Justice

New York Rally to Protest Transgender Attack

THE NYC SGL/LGBTQ COALITION HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE & RALLY TO PROTEST ATTACK ON TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY LEADER WHEN: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12th – 5:30 PM WHERE: D-Train Station at West 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue WHY: Transgender Community Leader, NYC SGL/LGBTQ Coalition Member, and Founder and Director of Everything Transgender in New York City, Jennifer Louise Lopez, was… More New York Rally to Protest Transgender Attack

Apology and Settlement in Transgender Woman’s Employment Discrimination Lawsuit

“We are extremely grateful to the EEOC for taking on this important case on behalf of our client and working side by side with us to achieve a settlement that marks yet another Title VII victory for transgender employees,” Weiss said. “The Jillian T. Weiss Law Firm… More Apology and Settlement in Transgender Woman’s Employment Discrimination Lawsuit

Famed LGBT Voices Blast Task Force For Banning Jewish Event from Creating Change Conference

The Hypocrisy of Rea Carey and the LGBT Task Force : “Our vision for the future of the movement is one that is broad, inclusive and dynamic” – and yet they ban a pre-arranged and once accepted  Jewish event within days of the Conference. See Call to Action below! By Melanie Nathan, January 18, 2016.… More Famed LGBT Voices Blast Task Force For Banning Jewish Event from Creating Change Conference

Landmark Ruling as Transgender Woman’s Employment Discrimination Case Heads to Trial

Eleventh Circuit Overturns Lower Court Decision in Chavez v. Credit Nation Auto Sales, LLC  Posted by Melanie Ntahan, January 15, 2016. Tuxedo Park, NY- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled that a transgender woman may take her employment discrimination case against a Georgia auto sales company to trial. The decision (click here) in… More Landmark Ruling as Transgender Woman’s Employment Discrimination Case Heads to Trial

HUD Wants your Input on New Rules for Transgender Shelter Seekers

Transgender activists, Trans Community and all who care please take note of this call to action by the Federal Government and leading organizations! Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 14, 2016. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently published a new regulation that it is considering adopting, one that would, for the first… More HUD Wants your Input on New Rules for Transgender Shelter Seekers

Lambda Legal Sues Boulder County Property Owner for Denying Housing to LGBT Family

Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 14, 2016 Lambda Legal today filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a Boulder County property owner who violated the federal Fair Housing Act and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to rent a housing unit she owns in Gold Hill, Colorado, to a same-sex couple, one of whom is transgender,… More Lambda Legal Sues Boulder County Property Owner for Denying Housing to LGBT Family

Protest as Lesbian Hate and Transphobia Haunts South Africa

PROTEST: Tomorrow, Jan 12, 2016 LGBTI activists are holding a rally and will march to the Mafatsana Police Station By Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2016. Two recent horrific murder cases elucidate the horror that lesbians and trans people encounter when faced with what is still considered endemic homophobia, lesbian hate and transphobia, in South Africa,… More Protest as Lesbian Hate and Transphobia Haunts South Africa

TLDEF Condemns Indiana Bill Targeting Transgender Youth and Adults

Bill Would Punish Transgender People with Jail Time for Using Bathroom Posted by Melanie Nathan, Dec 28, 2015. New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) denounces an Indiana bill singling out transgender students and adults for discrimination. Introduced by Republican state Sen. Jim Tomes, Senate Bill 35 would prohibit transgender students in… More TLDEF Condemns Indiana Bill Targeting Transgender Youth and Adults

Transgender Man Wins Health Insurance Coverage for Gender Transition

Victory! Union Affirms Ongoing Coverage for Transition-Related Care in Health Plan By Melanie Nathan, December 22, 2015. New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) has secured insurance coverage for a transgender man’s medically necessary care after his union-sponsored health insurance plan refused to cover it.  Adrian Sealy works in a… More Transgender Man Wins Health Insurance Coverage for Gender Transition

Observing Transgender Day of Remembrance

TLDEF Observes Transgender Day of Remembrance Posted by Melanie Nathan, Nov 20, 2015. New York, NY- The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) commemorates the 17th Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day to memorialize all those lost to anti-transgender violence and to honor the spirit and resilience of transgender people worldwide. TDOR began in… More Observing Transgender Day of Remembrance

BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

While Failing to Note that the Choices are Few to None! By Melanie Nathan, November 09, 2015. Here is a BBC TV report for which I provided consultation.  I have posted the BBC transcript report here.  The TV version with pictures can be seen on the BBC website. The report  while providing crucial exposure, leaves… More BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

University Resolution Supports Nondiscrimination Protection for Transgender Individuals

Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 09, 2015. The Western New England University School of Law faculty voted unanimously on Friday, November 6, 2015, in favor of a resolution of support for pending legislation that would expand nondiscrimination protection for transgender individuals in businesses and other facilities that are open to the public, including within higher… More University Resolution Supports Nondiscrimination Protection for Transgender Individuals

TLDEF Urges Administration to Adopt Rule to Improve Transgender Health Access

Submits Comments to HHS Supporting Broadest Possible Rule to Ban LGBT Health Care Discrimination Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 09, 2015. New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), expressing support for improving the health and wellness of transgender Americans… More TLDEF Urges Administration to Adopt Rule to Improve Transgender Health Access

Largest Jewish Religious Group in U.S. Embraces Transgender Rights

Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 05, 2015. The Union for Reform Judaism met in Orlando, Florida this week, for its biennial conference, where it endorsed a policy detailing specific steps to be taken by synagogues to thwart discrimination against  transgender people. Included is the crucial adoption of gender-neutral language and the provision of gender-neutral restrooms,… More Largest Jewish Religious Group in U.S. Embraces Transgender Rights

Condemnation for New York State Senator’s Criticism of Transgender Rights

TLDEF Condemns New York Senate Majority Leader’s Disingenuous Criticism of Transgender Rights Regulations Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 02, 2015. New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) responded to comments made by New York Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan suggesting that Governor Andrew Cuomo went beyond his authority by proposing new… More Condemnation for New York State Senator’s Criticism of Transgender Rights