[Europe]
European human rights commissioner publishes transphobia report
Council of Europe member states should do more to stop transphobia and discrimination against transgender people, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, Thomas Hammarberg, said July 29 in an "expert issue paper" released at the World Outgames 2nd International Conference on LGBT Human Rights in Copenhagen.

[UK]

Sex Swap Police Scandal
Police chiefs were last night accused of a scandalous misuse of taxpayers’ money after helping to set up a special support group for sex-change staff.
The National Trans Police Association is in line to pocket thousands of pounds of public money after winning the backing of senior officers.

[Kuwait]
This Boy's Life: Being Transsexual in Kuwait
'Gharam' means passion in Arabic and Gharam is what this young Kuwaiti male-to-female transsexual likes to be called. The first impression you get when sitting with Gharam is confusion. He is tall and thin with short, straight black hair, an obvious nose job and full lips and cheeks. You can see his well-shaped, wide eyes sparkle under the blue contact lenses and clean eyebrows. You cannot help but notice his soft skin and hairless arms under his navy blue t-shirt and his well-defined, lean body under thetight, white, low-waisted jeans. His smiles and gestures are exaggerated, showing off his well-manicured nails, fake dimples and perfect white teeth.

[China]
China officials shown at Thai transvestite show

Chinese officials on a "study visit" to Thailand have triggered outrage after photographs of them at a transvestite show were posted on the Internet.

[USA][Blog/Commentary/Media]
Conan O’brien Mocks Transsexuals For Easy Laughs
As if transsexuals needed any help being stigmatized, Conan O’brien did his part to further negative stereotypes with a comedy sketch portraying transsexauls as mustached strippers. (Photo)

[USA] [Blog/News]
Latest Wingnut Attack on Health Care: Gays to Take Over Hospitals
A group called 'The Pray in Jesus Name Project' (led by Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, below) has sent out an email to its followers warning them that the Obama health care plan will lead to a gay and transgender takeover of the health care system, The New Republic reports.

[USA]
New Laws Add Hassle for Trans Fliers

New flight requirements will mandate that all passengers declare their full name, age, and gender to book travel, leaving some transgender advocates worried about the implications to come.

[USA] [People/Film]
Liev Schreiber goes from Victor to…Vilma

Going from Victor Creed/Sabretooth to Vilma is quite a switch, but that’s what Liev Schreiber accomplishes in director Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock.”

[USA]
Inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act introduced for first time in Senate
Did you know that in 29 US states it is legal to fire someone for being gay…or even just seeming to be gay? And that in 38 states it is legal to fire someone for being (or seeming) transgender?

[USA] [Commentary]
The Psychological Profession and Homosexuality: Lunatics Running the Asylum?

A man goes to a psychologist with a problem. "Doctor," he says, "I'm suffering terribly. I feel like a woman trapped inside the body of a man. I want to become a woman."
The psychologist responds: "No problem. We can discuss this idea for a couple of years, and if you're still sure you want to be a woman, we can have a surgeon remove your penis, give you hormones for breast enlargement and make other changes to your body. Problem solved."
Gratified, the first patient leaves, followed by a second. "Doctor," he says, "I feel terrible. I'm a man but I feel attracted to other men. I want to change my sexual preference. I want to become heterosexual." The psychologist responds: "Oh no, absolutely not! That would be unethical. Sexual orientation is an immutable characteristic!"
The irony of this little tale is that, while reading like a joke, it is in reality an accurate description of the mental health professions today. While dismissing and condemning reparative therapy for homosexual orientation, the majority of psychiatrists and psychologists in Anglophone North America have embraced the concept of "sex change," a procedure that does nothing more than mutilate the patient to appease his confused mind.