[International]
ILGA launches a world Directory of LGBTI and allied organisations
ILGA is launching a world Directory of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex organizations accessible through its website www.ilga.org. This service which lists ILGA member groups as well as non members also includes trade unions, women’s or human rights organizations in an attempt to create bridges with NGOs which are not working specifically on LGBTI rights but include or support this agenda. ILGA’s membership includes for example the city of Barcelona and Amsterdam or multi-million member global trade union Public Services International.

[International]
At the UN, a Hard-Fought Win for an LGBT Leader
On Monday in New York, the United States spearheaded a successful effort in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to accredit the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), a U.S.-based NGO whose respected work over 20 years has shed light on discrimination, combated HIV/AIDs, and promoted human rights around the world. The move, which President Barack Obama called an “important step forward for human rights,” enriches the community of NGOs that inform, influence, and hold accountable UN members.

[UK]
Man denies murdering trans woman Destiny Lauren
A man accused of killing a trans woman in November last year in Kentish Town, London, has gone on trial.
Leon Fyle, 22, who is unemployed, strangled 29-year-old Destiny Lauren after visiting her for sex, a court heard.
Ms Lauren, who was began her transition at the age of 17, worked as a prostitute from her flat on Leighton Crescent.
Her brother Linden had been staying with her but left the flat when she had a customer, the court was told.

[França]
Transexual estrela de Givenchy fotografada nua pela Vogue
Givenchy, a famosa marca de moda francesa, avançou para a campanha Outono/Inverno deste ano com uma modelo transexual.
Lea T., de origem brasileira, é assistente pessoal e modelo de provas de Riccardo Tisci, estilista italiano da marca francesa, seu amigo que assim decidiu lançá-la como modelo da mais recente colecção feminina da Givenchy, para reforçar a dicotomia masculino/feminino defendida pelo estilista.
Família de Toninho Cerezo apoia carreira do filho, que virou travesti
French Vogue's delightfully subversive nude

[Austria]
Transexuales se sienten discriminados en la Conferencia Internacional de Sida del 2010
Durante la realización de la Conferencia Internacional SIDA 2010, en Viena, los transexuales se sintieron discriminados por no ser tratados igual que los homosexuales, prostitutas y otros grupos con alto riesgo de infectarse con el VIH.
Esta fue la premisa del coloquio celebrado en el panel "La población transexual en América Latina" por activistas de la región y el público asistente a la conferencia de Viena, que hasta el momento viene reuniendo a 25 mil participantes.
Marcela Romero, coordinadora regional de la organización Redlactrans en Argentina, denunció el tratamiento preferencial que reciben los homosexuales en la conferencia, debido a su mejor organización por su larga historia de activismo, mientras que las peticiones de los transexuales han sido ignoradas.

[Uganda]
Despite Pressure, Uganda Still Bleak
Ugandan activist Valentine Kalende reports that international pressure has helped slow the progress of that nation's antigay bill. The outlook for gay people, however, remains discouraging, according to Voice of America.

[South Africa]
Sex change made staffer 'impossible'
Colleagues of a woman who claims she was unfairly dismissed from her job because she underwent a sex change said she became impossible to work with and they started to fear her.
Three colleagues of 43-year-old Christine Ehlers, previously known as Chris, testified in the Johannesburg Labour Court yesterday that Ehlers - who was diagnosed as bipolar - came into the office in the morning, threw her diary and keys onto the desk and mumbled under her breath.

[UAE]
Emirati crossdresser's jail term slashed
An Emirati convicted of public indecency, cross dressing, insulting Islam and having homosexual consensual sex has had his jail sentence cut to one year from three, UAE daily the National reported on Wednesday.
Student’s indecency sentence reduced

[Singapore] [Blog/Commentary]
What’s an “Ah Kua”?
Ah Kua is local Chinese dialect (pejorative) for effeminate man. Gay men and transgender women all suffer from the “ah kua” label in Singapore.
The Ah Kua Show draws its inspiration from the infamous “ladyboy” cabaret shows in Bangkok and Pattaya. When I was a child, my parents used to travel to Bangkok on vacation to watch the “Ah Kua” shows there amongst other excursions. I was fascinated by the beautiful women, their extravagant feather boas and fancy footwork. But my mum warned me that they were really “men dressed up as women”. She also warned me against sitting on the toilet seats which were likely stained with the HIV/AIDS virus.

[ID, USA]
Trans Bomb Suspect in Mental Hospital
A transgender woman who was arrested for allegedly putting fake bombs around her trailer, is now at a mental health facility, according to KTVB, an Idaho news outlet.
Catherine Carlson was scheduled to appear in court on July 19 to face charges for placing fake bombs around her trailer, then setting her trailer and truck on fire. Carlson allegedly ran down the street naked before authorities arrested her.

[MA, USA]
A Cinderella story
Coming from the street to the catwalk, Boston’s own Jasmina Andino is competing in this year’s Miss Trans New England pageant.
For Jasmina Andino, becoming a beauty queen would be a Cinderella story: a rags-to-riches tale complete with jewelry, make-up, and lots and lots of shoes.
Andino is the only Bostonian competing in the second annual Miss Trans New England Pageant, which takes place on Sept. 4 in Northampton. (Photo)

[MA, USA]
First Event 2011 Transgender Conference welcomes Jamison Green as keynote; Marriott Peabody to host
"First Event 2011 Transgender Conference", welcomes noted author, WPATH board director, speaker and policy consultant, Jamison Green as keynote speaker; The conference is January 19 - 23rd, 2011, at the Boston Marriott Peabody, in Massachusetts.

[MO, USA]
Missouri Governor Issues Employment Protections
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon recently issued Executive Order 10-24 at the National Conference of the NAACP in Kansas Ciity. The Executive order extends employment protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons working in the Executive Branch of Government of the State of Missouri, requires the Executive Branch to file an annual workplace diversity plan and encourages adoption of the same protections for LGBT employees by all branches of Missouri Government.

[NV, USA]
Protesters against transgendered, gay discrimination block Strip
About a dozen protesters took to the Strip on Tuesday afternoon with a message for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid: Pass legislation that prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The protesters were from GetEQUAL, a Washington, D.C.-based group that fights for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. They shut down southbound traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard at Tropicana Avenue for about 20 minutes before police arrested at least eight of them for obstructing traffic.
Grupo de acção directa pára o tráfego em Las Vegas
Gay rights demonstrators arrested on Strip
8 Gay Activists Arrested in Reid Protest on Vegas Strip
Eight Arrested in Vegas ENDA Protest

[TX, USA]
Dead Firefighter Leaves Behind Transgender Wife. His Family Wants Her Kicked to the Curb
Thomas Araguz III, a Texas firefighter who died battling a blaze on an egg farm, leaves behind more than just mourners: His transgender wife Nikki Araguz of almost two years is now battling his family, which wants to keep her from getting any of his (likely substantial) death benefits.
With the usual scorn so often levied against trans people, Thomas' mother Simona Rodriguez Longoria says her son's marriage to Nikki is invalid because she was born a man, and Texas doesn't recognize same-sex marriage, blah blah. Eight days after Thomas died, on July 4, his family filed suit against Nikki, claiming further Thomas didn't even know she was trans until after they married; Nikki says he was well aware she was born Justin Graham Purdue, and her non-fully formed male genitalia were removed in an operation after their wedding day. (That she might be intersex and not trans throws a whole other wrench into this charade.)
Firefighter's widow born a man has criminal history (Video)
Firefighter’s transgender widow says they were married before she had sex-reassignment surgery
Widow's gender at center of dispute over fallen Texas firefighter's estate