[UK]
Schools told to act on ‘transgender bullying’
Children who engage in “transphobic” bullying in the playground or classroom could be guilty of a hate crime and investigated by police under new government guidance. Pupils could be expelled and their parents forced to attend counselling if they refuse to accept that such behaviour is wrong.

[Germany/UK]
Scientists find single ‘on-off’ gene that can change gender traits
Scientists have identified the gene that keeps females female. An international team found that the action of a single gene is all that stops females from developing male physical traits, including testes and facial hair.
Female gene breakthrough could spell new treatments to delay motherhood even further
Gene discovery could make gender reassignment easier
From Minnie to Mickey (and all they did was turn off a gene)
Ovaries under constant pressure to be male

[Italy]
Hacker 'cleaned' transsexual's computer due to fear
The files of a laptop computer owned by the transsexual prostitute Brenda, found dead last month in the Italian capital Rome, were allegedly 'cleaned out' by a young Brazilian hacker, Italian media reports said on Thursday.
A computer expert has reportedly told police that Brenda contacted him three months ago and asked him to delete everything from her computer.

[Uganda]
Uganda MP Bahati defends gay-sex 'death penalty' bill
A Ugandan MP accused of calling for a "gay death penalty" says he has been misrepresented and is only trying to criminalise child abusers.
David Bahati says the new offence of "aggravated homosexuality" is a penalty against "defilement" of under-18s.
"There has been a distortion in the media that we are providing death for gays. That is not true," he said.
The U.S. Christian Right and the Attack on Gays in Africa

[India]
HC breather for doctor in sex change case
Calcutta high court has stayed criminal proceedings against a well-known plastic surgeon in an 18-year-old sex-change operation that allegedly went awry.
In 1990, Uchchas Biswas alias Tampi, a resident of Naihati in North 24-Parganas, visited Dr Shankar Sarkar, wishing to undergo a sex change operation from male to female because he did not feel any attraction towards girls and found pleasure in the company of boys. Biswas was then 19 years old.

[Malaysia] [Blog/Commentary]
Reflecting On Fatine
I am starting to feel disillusioned about the campaign to get Fatine (born Mohammed Fazdil Min Bahari) residing in the United Kingdom with her husband. There are several reasons to me feeling a mix of emotions. As much as I want her to be able to stay there and never come back to this largely anti-trans country, I cannot help but wonder about the damage it has caused to the transgender community in Malaysia.

[Thailand]
Kathu police keep tabs on ladyboys
A ‘ladyboy’ registration plan that went into effect in October has been hailed a success by Patong's top cop, with a drop in the number of crime cases committed by members of Patong’s transgender community.
The registration plan was established last October following concerns that US military servicemen on leave in Phuket might fall prey to gangs of ill-intentioned ladyboys.

[USA] [Blog/Commentary]
Whenda ENDA, continued
I want to elaborate on my earlier post about ENDA, which some persons have misread, no doubt because my language was not clear enough.
[Blog/Commentary] Gay Mafia Wars: ENDA and the Politics of Personal Destruction

[CA, USA]
Day of remembrance
The Stockton Transgender Alliance recently joined with several other organizations to host the city's first Transgender Day of Remembrance. Designed to be an annual event, the Day of Remembrance was held to memorialize those who have died as a result of transgender violence.

[MD,USA]
Maryland Vehicle Administration Threatens to Change Policy on Gender Markers
The Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) is currently considering an update to their policy regarding changing the gender marker on a driver's license effective January 1, 2010.
Current Policy: To change the gender marker, an applicant must provide a physician or psychologist’s report to confirm that the applicant is in active treatment. The MVA requires annual re-evaluations until the applicant "meets requirements for permanent gender change." If you are using a name other than your birth name, you must bring the document that initiated the change of name, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court name change order and your current License.
New Policy: The new policy would require an amended birth certificate. This requires going through the court system. Maryland code states that they will issue a birth certificate reflecting the proper gender only upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of from a court indicating that the sex of an individual born has been changed by surgical procedure and whether such individual's name has been changed. You cannot change the sex on a birth certificate simply by providing proof that you are undergoing medical treatment or procedures for gender reassignment.
[Blog/Commentary] In Maryland, a big step back? Act now!
[Blog/Commentary] Why Is Maryland Forcing Transgender Drivers to Have Surgery to Change Their License's Gender?

[Puerto Rico]
Marchan en Mayagüez en contra de la homofobia
Encabezados por el movimiento gay estudiantil del RUM, decenas de ciudadanos realizaron hoy, jueves, desde la Playa Colón de Mayagüez, lo que llamaron la Marcha Contra la Homofobia y Respeto a la Diversidad.
“La marcha llevó como propósito denunciar el asesinato de Jorge Steven López Mercado, que hemos clasificado como un crimen de odio contra la comunidad gay y queremos que sea un agravante para el asesino’’, dijo Jonathan López Matos, presidente de los estudiantes gay del RUM.

(Foto Primera Hora /Olimpo Ramos - La marcha tenía como propósito denunciar el asesinato del joven Jorge Steven López Mercado.)