[Europe]
TGEU research project: In the last 2 years the murders of 333 trans people have been reported
"Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide" (TvT) is a comparative, ongoing qualitative-quantitative research project conducted by Transgender Europe. The project provides an overview of the human rights situation of trans persons in different parts of the world and develops useful data and advocacy tools for international institutions, human rights organizations, the trans movement and the general public.

[Portugal]
Council of Europe concerned about human rights situation of trans people
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, has published a letter sent to the Deputy Minister of Justice of Portugal, José Magalhäes, to express concern at a number of human rights breaches in the country, including:

[UK/Turkey]
UK Home Office supports Turkish transsexual
A Turkish transsexual identified as G.O., 33, has been accepted to a gender-reassignment program and granted a residence permit in England, where he fled eight years ago.
Biologically born a female, G.O will take the name Dennis after the transition is complete.

[UK/Malawi]
London protest will call for release of gay Malawi couple
A protest will be held in central London next week to call for the release of two gay men arrested for having gay sex in Malawi.
Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have been held in police custody since later December, pending their trial.

[Austria]
Austrian Administrative High Court lifts Mandatory Surgery for Transsexuals
As just announced the Austrian Administrative High Court in a landmark judgment of 27 February 2009 declared mandatory sex change surgery for transsexuals unlawful. Rechtskomitee LAMBDA (RKL), Austria’s civil rights organisation for homo- and bisexual as well as transgender women and men, speaks of a historic decision.

[Sweden] [Blog/Commentary]
Sweden depathologises transvestite, but not transsexual, people
The Swedish Board of Psychiatrists recently announced their decision to remove transvestism from its diagnostic codes:

[Finland]
Transsexual pastor to resign
A transsexual Finnish pastor, who returned to work four months ago following a sex-change operation, has decided to resign, Finnish media reported today.
Marja-Sisko Aalto, formerly known as Olli Aalto, said she felt she had not "managed to build a sufficient connection and the confidence needed" to carry out the demanding position successfully, the newspaper Etelae-Saimaa wrote on its website.
Ms Aalto is Finland's first publicly transgender pastor.
Trans-Gender Minister Resigns in Imatra

[Turkey]
Turkish activists want minister tried for derogatory comments on gays
A political controversy has erupted in Turkey after a minister described homosexuality as a "disease" that can and should be cured. The comment provoked a strong reaction from the country's gay and lesbian movement.
Turkish activists want minister tried for calling homosexuality a 'disease'

[Philippines/Japan]
Philippine transsexuals nabbed for illegally entering Japan
Three Philippine nationals have been arrested in western Japan for entering the country on forged women's passports after undergoing sex change operations, local media reported on Tuesday.

[Australia/UK]
No sex for me, please! Ex-transsexual Australian Norrie May-Welby is first legally genderless person
Census-takers may soon have to add a new check box for gender.
And the thanks for the confusion goes to Norrie May-Welby of Australia, who has passed as a man — and a woman — and is now the first person legally designated neither, London's Telegraph reports.
[Blog/Commentary] Transsexual Freakazoid Becomes a "Neuter"

[Australia]
Court rules in favour of trans teen
Transgender rights advocates have welcomed a Family Court decision to allow a trans teenager to delay the onset of puberty.
The Family Court last week ruled to allow a 14-year-old to begin hormone treatment to stop the onset of puberty, to make the transition from male to female easier when she comes of legal age to have gender re-assignment.

[USA] [Blog/Commentary]
Ask the APA to Remove "Transvestic Disorder" Diagnosis from the DSM-5
The International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) has posted an online petition calling for removal of the Transvestic Disorder diagnosis (302.3) from the pending Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Please help put an end to this defamatory and hurtful psychiatric label by adding your name and spreading the word to your organizations, friends and contacts.

[DC, USA]
Transgender women assaulted
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man suspected of assaulting two transgender individuals, also described as members of the Latino LGBT community, shortly after the incident on Saturday, March 13.
According to a report released Monday, March 15, by Sgt. Carlos Mejia, who heads MPD’s Special Liaison Units (SLU), police were called to 14th and Sheperd Streets NW on Saturday. There they found two “transgender individuals,” one of whom suffered injuries from the attack and received medical treatment.

[MA, USA]
Anti-bullying bill’s success in Senate is bittersweet
Excerpt: While the Anti-Bullying Bill pledges to make schools safer for all students, several local LGBT advocacy organizations are disappointed in the lack of language specifically referring to "enumerated categories" -- students who become the targets of sexual orientation- and gender identity/expression-related bullying.