[Netherlands]
VUmc negotiating with insurers over sex change operations
VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (VUmc) received considerably more requests for gender surgery at the start of this year than in the first few weeks in 2013. Due to insufficient funding the hospital can not accommodate any new patients.

[Germany]
Petition against 'sexual diversity' in classrooms
Rarely has a curriculum caused this much of a stir: In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, "acceptance of sexual diversity" is to be taught in schools in the future. Resistance has been expressed on the Internet.

[Turkey]
Transphobic Hate Murder in Antep, Turkey
Trans woman Sevda Basar was murdered by her boyfriend Ethem Orhan in the southeastern city of Antep on Wednesday.
After the killer confessed his crime both to his family and to the military police, the military police found Sevda Basar’s dead body on Friday. Orhan had shot his girlfriend in the chest with a hunting rifle and buried her in the vineyard he worked at.

[Canada]
Gender identity and expression included In NL Human Rights Act
On December 10, the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Act was amended to include gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds for discrimination.

[USA]
Victory! Lambda Legal Persuades Social Security to Give Survivor Benefits to 92-Year-Old Transgender Widow
"When I saw that the money was in my account, I was so happy. I felt like it was my husband’s Valentine’s Day gift to me."
92-Year-Old Trans Widow Wins Social Security Battle

[CA, USA]
Breaking: Frank Schubert Loses, Effort to Overturn Trans Student Law Fails
Nothing can make up for the pain anti-LGBT political consultant Frank Schubert caused the LGBT community in California and around the country with Prop. 8 and its spawn.

[CA, USA]
Breaking: Attempt to Repeal the School Success and Opportunity Act Fails
Today, the effort to repeal the School Success and Opportunity Act — California’s new law ensuring that all children have opportunities to do well in school — failed to qualify for the ballot.
Transgender referendum supporters fail to collect enough signatures
Anti-trans referendum won’t make 2014 California ballot
Calif. Trans Student Law Survives Repeal Effort
Effort to repeal new California law protecting transgender students fails
Push To Repeal California Transgender Student Protections Law Fails To Qualify For November Ballot
Repeal of California transgender student rights bill fails
Measure to block transgender student law fails to make ballot
Despite Petitioners' Best (and Fake) Attempts, Transgender Rights Law Won't Be Repealed

[MO, USA]
Local Trans Umbrella Group Hosts Community Gender Identity Discussion
Move over “50 Shades of Grey” — it’s time for “50 Shades of Gender.”