[International]
UN tells Russia to scrap anti-gay ‘propaganda’ bill
UN rights experts advise Russian Duma to scrap bill on ‘homosexuality propaganda’

[Nepal]
Nepal fails to meet human rights commitments
The Nepal government failed to take significant steps towards fulfilling numerous key human rights commitments in 2012, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.
Nepal: A Year of Backsliding on Rights Commitments

[Malaysia]
16,000 parents and teachers told to 'curb' LGBT behavior in Malaysia
Malaysian deputy education minister says LGBT behavior in children is 'like a disease'

[USA] [Commentary]
Being Fearlessly Out And Trans Is A Revolutionary Act
On one of the trans Facebook groups I monitor a post was put up about the gruesome murder of transman Evon 'Yung LT' Young. One person remarked in the comment thread under the post that's why she never leaves her home, and of course my response to that comment triggered this post.

[USA]
Irish American woman speaks out on raising her child with transgender father
Erin Ryan Fitzgerald, from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, has written a tell-all article on how her boyfriend came out as a woman while she was pregnant with their child.

[DC, USA]
Vigil to Mark Anniversary of Transgender Woman's Death
A vigil was held in Northeast D.C. Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of the murder of a transgender woman.
At vigil, transgender homicide victim’s family urges hate-crime prosecution

[MD, USA]
Transgender rights bill introduced in Maryland Senate
A bill introduced this week in the Maryland Senate would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression with regard to employment, housing, credit and public accommodations.

[MI, USA]
Royal Oak Human Rights Ordinance Moves Forward
The Royal Oak City Commission passed a first draft reading of a seven-page human rights ordinance at their meeting on Jan. 28, and is holding a public comment period until the second reading, and vote, takes place on March 4.

[MI, USA]
Report: Anti-LGBT discrimination is destructive to Michigan’s economy
Anti-LGBT discrimination is destructive to Michigan’s economy, according to a report released Friday by the state’s Department of Civil Rights.

[NE, USA]
Petition drive to repeal LGBT ordinance falls short
The fate of Omaha's legal protections for gay and transgender residents won't be placed into voters' hands this spring.
A church-led effort to repeal the ordinance did not gather enough signatures in time to launch a referendum immediately, organizers said Thursday.
Not Enough Signatures By Deadline For Petition That Challenges LGBT Ordinance
Drive for Repeal Vote on Omaha Nondiscrimination Law Falls Short
Petition drive to repeal Omaha’s LGBT non-discrimination ordinance fails

[NY, USA]
Queens teacher fired for being transgender
In a story that has been making its way around the media for the past few weeks, a former teacher at a Roman Catholic prep school in Queens suing after being fired for coming out as transgender. Mark Krolikowski, who prefers male pronouns, was popular and well liked among students at St. Francis Preparatory School, where he taught for 32 years. Students particularly praised his “Human Love and Sexuality” course, which he developed and implemented 15 years ago.

[PA, USA]
Two men allege hate crime in Center City
Excerpt: According to McCrea, the two were coming from Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St., where Barlow, who also goes by the stage name “Gio Michaels,” had performed drag that night and still had makeup on.

[PA, USA]
Attorneys for transwoman file appellate brief in job-bias case
anis Stacy continues to fight for her day in court.
Three years ago, the transwoman sued LSI Corporation, where she worked as an engineer for about 10 years, prior to her termination in 2008.
She claims the Allentown-based electronics firm terminated her because of her gender, gender identity and disability.

[PA, USA]
T. Desiree Hines, organist and trans activist, 33
T. Desiree Hines, a former Philadelphian and renowned organist who pioneered the way for transgender inclusion in the classical-music world, died Jan. 19 after a battle with cancer. She was 33.

[VA, USA]
Court Gives VA Inmate Sex-Reassignment Right
Virginia may have trampled the rights of a transgender bank robber who sought sex-reassignment surgery, the 4th Circuit ruled.
Ophelia Azriel De'lonta, whose birth name was Michael Stokes, has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder, a now-antiquated medical term once used to describe the stress felt by some transgender people.

[WI, USA]
Five men accused of killing Milwaukee rap artist order to stand trial
Five people charged in the death of a Milwaukee rap artist who had a sex change were ordered Thursday to stand trial on charges of first-degree intentional homicide.
Five men charged in Young murder plea not guilty

[WY, USA]
Wyoming Senate defeats gay discrimination bill
State Sen. Cale Case claimed Thursday that the battle over recognition of the civil rights of gay people is over.
“The people of Wyoming are ready for this,” the Lander Republican said. “This is not a big deal.”
He was referring to Senate File 131, a bill that would prohibit discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Wyoming Rejects Antidiscrimination Bill
Wyoming rejects gay rights bill in favor of religion

[Jamaica]
Gay and anti-gay lobbyists target Parliament
As the homosexual rights issue continues to attract increased attention, and with the Government's commitment to review the buggery legislation, Jamaican activists on both sides of the fence have been jockeying to ensure that their positions are clearly understood by parliamentarians.

[Mexico]
Exige la comunidad gay de Guerrero frenar los crímenes de odio y la discriminación
La comunidad lésbico-gay de Taxco exigió a los tres poderes del Estado un alto a los asesinatos por la homofobia en la entidad y a la discriminación, además de que demandaron espacios en los puestos públicos, respeto a los derechos humanos y una mayor participación para fomentar la cultura de la diversidad sexual, reproductiva, por lo que pidieron al gobernador Ángel Aguirre Rivero atienda sus necesidades y no los excluya de la sociedad.

[Mexico]
Asesino de Agnes Torres anula auto de formal prisión
Marco Antonio Berra Spezzia, uno de los presuntos asesinos de la activista Agnes Torres, logró anular el auto de formal prisión que tenía en su contra por el robo de la unidad Golf GTI modelo 2010 pero sigue vigente el referente al homicidio ocurrido en marzo de 2012.

[Ecuador]
Colectivos LGBTI califican de "hito histórico" resolución del Consejo Nacional
El grupo Igualdad de Derechos ¡Ya! calificó como una "conquista" para la ciudadanía LGBTI (lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, trans e intersexuales), la resolución adoptada por el Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) de prohibir las declaraciones discriminatorias, homofóbicas e inconstitucionales en actos de campaña.
Consejo Nacional Electoral aprueba proyecto contra la discriminación en las elecciones presidenciales

[Ecuador]
Diane Rodríguez, una mujer trans candidata a asambleísta: “No me gusta disimular nada, ni mi voz gruesa. Yo soy así”
Entrevistamos a Diane Rodríguez, reconocida activista por los derechos de las mujeres trans en Ecuador, hoy candidata a asambleísta por el Movimiento Ruptura.

[Guatemala]
PDH creará defensoría de la diversidad sexual
El domingo pasado, en una conferencia de prensa en la embajada de Noruega, el procurador de los Derechos Humanos, Jorge De Leon, y el ministro de la Cooperación Internacional de Noruega, Heikki Holmås, anunciaron la firma de una carta de entendimiento para la creación de la Defensoría de la Diversidad Sexual como parte de la estructura orgánica de la PDH.