Being a pioneer in ending discrimination trumps not taking home the crown, in our opinion!
Jenna Talackova, the first transgender young woman to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant, did not take home the title during last night's competition, but she DID make it to the top 12, and was one of four other contestants named Miss Congeniality!
According to her attorney, Gloria Allred:
"She's still a winner as far as I'm concerned. She won an 'herstoric' civil rights victory and that I think is frankly more important than anything, any victory she would win, even representing Miss Canada."
Perfectly said!
All the congratulations in the world, Jenna! We hope you are very proud of yourself!
And props to Sahar Biniaz for being crowned Miss Universe Canada, too!
[Image via Model Mayhem.]
This bullshiz may be over soon!
Remember late last year when Khloe Kardashian was accused of assaulting a transgender woman outside a Hollywood nightclub two years ago?
Chantal Spears filed a lawsuit against the reality star, but admitted she would drop the charges for a meager ridiculous sum of $150,000.
WELL, it turns out Mz Spears is completely full of it! (And but "it" we do not mean that special quality that makes you a star!)
We've got some new and veeery innnneresting evidence that proves Khloe's innocences!
According to sources, here is the "truth":
"- There is surveillance video which shows there was NO contact between Khloe and Chantal
- The video shows ... after Khloe and Lamar enter the club, Chantal seems completely unfazed
- The valet who escorted Khloe and Lamar out of their car on December 5, 2009 says he was standing between the couple and Chantal and there was never any contact
- Chantal was interviewed by the LAPD and said she was not injured
- The LAPD investigated the case and decided there was nothing there and declined to prosecute"
Surveillance footage?? That's some pretty solid evidence!
If she wanted to, Khloe take (Read more...)
Congratulations to Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel - soon to be Laura Jane Grace - who recently came out as transgender!
In the May 11 issue of Rolling Stone, Laura reveals her plans to begin the complex transition process from the male to female gender.
The hardest part for anyone revealing a major, life-changing ‘secret’ is the reaction of their loved ones, but fortunately for Laura, her wife Heather is an understanding pillar of support.
Like many questioning their sexual identities, Laura has dealt with body dysmorphic order for years, and any Against Me! super fan will know that she immortalized her struggle in the 2007 song The Ocean.
The troubadour sings:
"If I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman / My mother once told me she would have named me Laura / I would grow up to be strong and beautiful like her."
Our heart has SWELLED at this news! It’s wonderful when a person can finally feel comfortable in his/her own skin.
We only hope the transformation will go smoothly and the journey will be chock-filled with love and positivity!
[Image via Rolling Stone.]
Woo hoo! Now that's what we call progress, baby!
The U.S. Senate passed a new law on Thursday, which tweaks the Violence Against Women Act to offer protections for LGBT survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Previously, the bill enacted in 1994 had no LGBT-inclusive provisions and some senators even tried to pass an amendment which would have completely excluded LGBT victims from the bill's protection. THANKFULLY, they did not succeed.
With 25%-35% of same-sex relationships subject to domestic violence (a number similar to heterosexual relationships), this bill could not be more important and now has to pass in through the House of Representatives.
If for some odd reason you can't comprehend the value of this law, we think the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director said it best:
"To be the target of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking is terrifying and traumatic. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not immune from this violence, and their distress should not be further heightened by a lack of proper response from service providers or law enforcement. Imagine being assaulted, scared and in pain — and then being turned away from receiving basic services and care. (Read more...)
Normally, we would spend this whole post gushing away about how great last night's Glee was. But you know what, we don't have words.
It was just THAT good!
Disco is back baby … and it's better than ever!
The night was jam packed with incredible performances from some of our faves: Darren gave us Night Fever, Lea showed us the real depth of her love and Naya ... phew! If we can't have you back next season, we don't want no body, baby!
Along with Naya's stirring rendition of the Bee Gees B-side hit, Glee Project star Alex Newell stole the show with a truly captivating performance as Unique, a transgendered teen who makes her grand debut on stage at her show choir's regionals!
Check out the videos (above) to watch Naya and Alex get down, then check out the rest of the performances from last night ... AFTER THE JUMP!
Normally, we would spend this whole post gushing away about how great last night's Glee was. But you know what, we don't have words.
It was just THAT good!
Disco is back baby … and it's better than ever!
The night was jam packed with incredible performances from some of our faves: Darren gave us Night Fever, Lea showed us the real depth of her love and Naya ... phew! If we can't have you back next season, we don't want no body, baby!
Along with Naya's stirring rendition of the Bee Gees B-side hit, Glee Project star Alex Newell stole the show with a truly captivating performance as Unique, a transgendered teen who makes her grand debut on stage at her show choir's regionals!
Check out the videos (above) to watch Naya and Alex get down, then check out the rest of the performances from last night ... AFTER THE JUMP!
Khloé Kardashian is fighting back!
A transgender woman named Chantal Spears filed a lawsuit against the reality star in December which claimed that she was "assaulted and battered" by her outside the Playhouse club in Hollywood back in 2009, and now, Miss Khloé is claiming it was simply acting in self-defense!
According to the newly-filed documents, Kardashian claims that it was Spears that "instigated the acts about which she complains," and that the "alleged conduct was reasonably necessary for her self-defense and safety."
Sounds reasonable enough!
This is certainly a case where we'll let the judge figure out all the he says, she says!
[Image via WENN.]
We're all about pushing boundaries and opening people up to the rest of the world, widening their scope of things and what have you. Plus, the ratings would be THROUGH THE ROOF!
Chaz Bono's been having a rough go at it in the dating scene. Since splitting with fiance Jennifer Elia in December, Cher's transgender son has been looking for love and coming up empty. While sources say that he's been out on a few dates with some "lipstick lesbians," Chaz is thinking of taking a more active approach with his love life ... by starring in a Bachelor-like reality series!
According to a source, producers have approached him about doing a dating-type show and "he is all for it," but Cher is advising him against the idea. Supposedly, she's afraid her son has become obsessed with being a "celebrity" and she is afraid that being on a reality show like this will just end in heartache and embarrassment.
Valid concerns -- but he should still do it. And he should be the ACTUAL Bachelor, not on a show like it. It's time to make America be more accepting of transgender people. If he can dance with the (Read more...)
Woohoo! Yay Massachusetts!
Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick held a ceremonial signing for bill H.3810, An Act Relative To Gender Identity January 19th.
The new law now protects transgendered men and women from discrimination, making Mass. the 16th state to treat transgendered Americans as a protected class.
The special ceremony was held on Thursday but the law has been in effect since last year. The governor said the following in a press release:
No individual should face discrimination because of who they are. This legislation gives Massachusetts the necessary tools to stop hate crimes against transgender people and to treat others fairly. I am proud to sign it.
16 states down, 34 to go!
[Image via Matt Bennett/Governor's Office.]
Woohoo! Yay Massachusetts!
Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick held a ceremonial signing for bill H.3810, An Act Relative To Gender Identity January 19th.
The new law now protects transgendered men and women from discrimination, making Mass. the 16th state to treat transgendered Americans as a protected class.
The special ceremony was held on Thursday but the law has been in effect since last year. The governor said the following in a press release:
No individual should face discrimination because of who they are. This legislation gives Massachusetts the necessary tools to stop hate crimes against transgender people and to treat others fairly. I am proud to sign it.
16 states down, 34 to go!
[Image via Matt Bennett/Governor's Office.]