[UK]
This morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs William Hague launched the UK's annual report on human rights and democracy. It includes a section on LGBT (page 68 ff.).

[UK]
University of Lincoln sociologist gets award for book on transsexuality
Sociologist Dr Zowie Davy from the University of Lincoln gets the Philip Abrams Memorial Prize for her book on how transpeople perceive their own bodies.

[UK]
Q&A: Paris Lees on launching trans magazine META
Paris Lees is editor of META magazine – a new digital publication devoted to gender and transgender news, discussion and entertainment.
She also campaigns for better representation of trans people in the media, specialising in television consultancy.

[Russia]
Activistas LGTB fueron retenidos durante la manifestación del 1 de mayo en Rusia
17 activistas LGTB fueron retenidos durante la manifestación del 1 de mayo
“Los activistas comenzaron a ondear banderas (arcoiris) y la policía los detuvo”, durante la manifestación del primero de mayo en San Petersburgo, aseguran fuentes de la lucha en favor de los derechos LGBT. Es la primera detención masiva auspiciada por la nueva ley de la ciudad que prohíbe la publicidad de la homosexualidad.
LGBT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE UNDER THE NEW "HOMOSEXUAL PROPAGANDA" LAW CONTINUES IN ST. PETERSBURG

[India]
Tiruvannamalai transgender is Miss Koovagam
Harini, a transgender from Tiruvannamalai, was crowned Ms Koovagam 2012 at the annual contest held on Monday.
Deepika of Chennai was named first runner-up and Chaya Singh of Dharmapuri the second runner-up at the contest conducted as part of the annual Koovagam festival at the Koothandavar temple in Villupuram district.

[USA]
Dayana Mendoza Talks Lisa Lampanelli & Transgender Miss Universe Controversy
Former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza spoke out about several controversial topics on this morning's edition of The Wendy Williams Show. Mendoza-who was recently ousted from reality show, The Celebrity Apprentice-didn't keep quiet about fellow cast member, Lisa Lampanelli.

[USA]
Senate Reauthorizes Women’s Violence Act, But House Resists LGBT Protections
A day after the Senate completed work on reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in a 68-31 bipartisan vote, the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives offered its own version of the bill containing critical differences.

[USA]
Nat Geo TV to air hour-long special, “American Transgender”
On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at 8:00 PM EST, Nat Geo TV will air “American Transgender,” an hour-long feature looking at the lives of three transgender people and their families.
WATCH: Inside the Lives of Trans People on NatGeo

[CA, USA]
Trans woman reported shot to death in Oakland
A transgender woman was shot to death Sunday morning, April 29, in Oakland, according to a transgender advocate who knew the victim.
Friends say murder of transgender woman in Oakland was a hate crime
Transgender Woman Murdered in Oakland
[Commentary] Transwoman Brandy Martell Killed In Oakland

[DC, USA]
Gray nominates two transgender women to Human Rights Commission
Mayor Vincent Gray has nominated transgender activists Earline Budd and Alexandra Beninda for seats on the D.C. Commission on Human Rights.

[FL, USA]
Jacksonville, Fla. to consider ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation
A coalition of business organizations and elected officials are backing legislation to ban anti-gay discrimination which is set to be introduced at next week’s Jacksonville, Fla., city council meeting.
Bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation to be filed at Jacksonville City Council

[IL, USA]
Services arranged for slain transgender woman
Funeral and wake arrangements for Paige Clay, a transgender woman who was found shot to death on the city’s West Side April 16, have been set for later this week.

[MN, USA]
Crishaun "CeCe" McDonald trial begins
Nearly 11 months after Crishaun (CeCe) McDonald, a young, transgender woman, was arrested and charged with the murder of Dean Schmitz, her trial has begun. Although from all accounts it will most likely last for at least a couple of weeks, that didn’t stop scores of McDonald’s supporters from packing the court on Monday morning. Forbidden to wear clothes that show support (such as Free CeCe buttons, t-shirts, etc), the supporters nevertheless waited in the hallway for two hours while attorneys from both sides met in the judge’s chambers, and filled in the seats while the court went on record over several outstanding issues before jury selection, which was to begin in the afternoon.
4/30 at the CeCe McDonald trial…

[NY, USA]
Assembly To Pass GENDA For Fifth Time
A bill to protect transgender people under the State Human Rights Law is expected to pass the Democratic-led Assembly today for the fifth time in as many years.
GENDA Passes NYS Assembly, Awaits Action By Senate
N.Y. Assembly OK's Transgender Rights Bill; Will Senate Follow?
New York Assembly passes trans discrimination bill for fifth time

[NE, USA]
18 elected leaders show support for fairness amendment
Eighteen current and former elected officials gathered Monday to show support for a proposal that would prohibit discrimination in the workplace, public accommodations and housing against people who are gay or transgendered.

[TN, USA]
Tennessee House Cancels 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Vote
The Tennessee House will not take a final vote on a proposed bill which would outlaw the discussion of sexual minorities in Tennessee's public schools before the ninth grade.
'Don't Say Gay Bill' To Die With Adjournment of 107th

[TX, USA]
Texas Transgender Widow Sues for Husband’s Benefits
Nikki Araguz, a transgender widow of a firefighter, is suing the City of Wharton, Texas for workers’ compensation benefits that she was denied because she was born a man.

[Cuba]
Activistas LGBT en arrancada del desfile o Primeros en el Primero de Mayo
Activistas de diversas orientaciones sexuales e identidades de género desfilamos este Primero de Mayo en la Plaza de la Revolución, junto con los trabajadores del Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual (CENESEX, dentro del bloque de la Salud Pública que abrió la multitudinaria manifestación.

[Honduras]
Diversidad sexual marcha junto a trabajadores hondureños
La diversidad sexual representada por decenas de miembros de las organizaciones lésbico- gay de Honduras participan hoy en la marcha del día internacional del trabajador.

[Ecuador/Uruguay]
Romina, un caso de mala práctica médica
Cuando Romina todavía era Danilo y tenía 23 años empezó a averiguar dónde podía cumplir su sueño de convertirse en mujer. Vivía en su natal Uruguay y desde los 15 años intentó cambiarse de sexo, pero sus padres no le apoyaron y no encontró ayuda en su país. Le recomendaron que vaya a La Clínica Santa Marianita de Jesús, en Ecuador; esta aparecía en foros de Internet y le pareció confiable. Romina organizó su viaje y como no conocía a nadie en Quito fue del aeropuerto a la clínica.

[Nicaragua]
Nicaragua enthrones Miss Gay 2012
A beauty contest in Nicaragua has crowned a 22-year-old designer as Miss Gay 2012, a competition to choose “the queen of the transvestites.”
The event was held at the Ruben Dario National Theater, the first time the space opened to an LGBT event, according to Luis Morales, the director of Institute of Nicaraguan Culture. It displays, according to him, “a strong sense of sexual diversity” as it continues to “conquer new spaces.”
Nicaragua Crowns its Miss Gay 2012