[UK]
Trans pioneer April Ashley turns 80
Legendary trans campaigner April Ashley turns 80 today.
She came to prominence in the 1960s as a model, appearing in Vogue, and a number of acting roles.
She had travelled to Casablanca in Morrocco for gender confirmation surgery – one of the first people in Britain to do so – after spending some years in Paris, and had hoped to return to Britain without revealing her trans status. However, in 1961, she was publicly outed in the press.

[UK]
‘How I hated sport before I changed sex’
A female fitness ambassador who was born male has told how she despised sport before she changed sex.

[UK]
Hallmark Reaches Out To Trans Community With Touching Tribute From Alex
Kudos to one of the world’s leading greeting card makers HALLMARK for the latest installment of their social media campaign ‘Put Your Heart To Paper’ which they have produced for Mother’s Day.

[UK]
Powerful poster campaign aims to challenge transphobia in Wales
A group has launched a range of bilingual posters in Wales featuring a number of transgender people
Activism project Wipe Out Transphobia, which aims to challenge the prejudice that trans people face across the UK, recently launched a number posters featuring trans people.

[Canada]
Transgender Canadians can now self-identify on citizenship documents without sex-reassignment surgery
Canadians no longer need to undergo sex-reassignment surgery in order to change the gender marker on their citizenship certificate under new reforms from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

[Canada]
Occupotty protest raises a stink about amendment to transgender rights bill
Transgender activists and their allies organized an “Occupotty” protest on Parliament Hill Tuesday to raise a stink about a Conservative senator’s proposed amendments to an anti-discrimination bill going through the Senate.
Why trans activists are taking the bathroom to Parliament Hill
Trangender activists bring toilet seats to Hill protest against rights bill amendment

[Canada]
Coming out as transgender comforting for North Van teen
Jason broke the news to his parents the same way many 13-year-olds communicate anything of importance — by text message.

[USA]
‘Law & Order: SVU’ Prepping Transgender Episode for Season 17
“Law & Order: SVU” has always looked to the headlines, and the upcoming 17th season is already planning to highlight a hot topic issue: the transgender community, which was recently brought to the spotlight in Bruce Jenner’s “20/20″ interview.
'Law & Order: SVU' Plots Transgender Episode for Season 17

[USA]
Among transgender adults, stories about a ‘difficult’ transition
Bruce Jenner first became famous by winning the gold in the men’s decathlon at the 1976 Olympics, but in a recent interview with ABC News, he transformed his fame into something else — immediately raising the visibility of transgender adults in America. By one reputable estimate, transgender adults represent about 0.3% of the U.S. adult population, and about 5% of the adult lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population identifies primarily as transgender.

[USA]
Chelsea Manning: I hope my fight helps other transgendered women prisoners
Chelsea Manning is winning a significant battle as a transgender woman in a jail for men. But it’s not over yet.

[USA]
Las Vegas transgender community wants to know what Jenner will do next
Many transgender people feel they are treated like they aren’t even human, says Jane Heenan, co-director of Gender Justice Nevada. But with more transgender celebrities sharing their stories, such as Bruce Jenner’s interview with Diane Sawyer Friday, Heenan says she hopes change is coming.
Transgender Reporter says Bruce Jenner’s Not Ready to be a Woman
Bruce Jenner: he or she, using a person's preferred pronouns is about respect

[AR, USA]
Arkansas Transgender Healthcare Needs Focus Of Research
The healthcare experience of transgender people in Arkansas is the subject of what some laud as an unprecedented study being launched by the Arkansas Transgender Equality Coalition (ArTEC) in partnership with the UAMS College of Public Health. The community engagement based research project, funded by a $15,000 federal grant, was announced by ArTEC Tuesday.

[IA, USA]
Iowa Western Community College rolls out gender-inclusive housing community
Iowa Western Community College is changing its housing application and creating designated space in a residence hall for LGBT students and their allies.

[IL, USA]
Use of Restrooms, Locker Rooms by Transgender Students Outlined by CPS
Transgender advocates are calling new Chicago Public Schools guidelines regarding transgender students a great first step — but say the district needs to go further.

[MD, USA]
City ponders gender identity protection in housing
Bill would modify fair housing law

[MN, USA]
Trans Students Say Rep. Tim Miller's Bathroom Ban Is Political Bullying
Months after the Minnesota State High School League's landmark vote to let transgender athletes play on the sports team they identify with, the Republican-led House passed a bill to ban bathroom choice for trans students across the state.

[MN, USA]
Transgender issues, questions, and resources in MN
The Bruce Jenner interview with Diane Sawyer has brought more awareness to transgender issues.

[MO, USA]
Missouri school board mulls nondiscrimination policy change
The Columbia Board of Education Policy Committee is considering adding gender identity and expression to the district’s nondiscrimination policy.
CPS committee mulls adding gender identity to nondiscrimination policy

[OR, USA]
Oregon Senate will consider ban on conversion therapy for gay, transgender youth
As the United States Supreme Court hears arguments on whether there is a constitutional right to gay marriage, Oregon lawmakers will consider an LGBTQ rights choice of their own.

[TX, USA]
Update: Texas Bathroom Bounty Bill
Like a lot of folks around the country, we’ve been very concerned about the bathroom bounty bills that have sprung up in 7 or 8 states this year. So far, none of these bills have passed into law thanks to all the great work done by the organizations working in each state. At the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) we’ve helped support the local work to defeat them in various ways like providing talking points and messaging strategy. We’ve also been promoting lobbying efforts to our members in each state.

[TX, USA]
Parents of Transgender Children Fight Bathroom Bills
Mitchel Roth hasn’t been involved in politics since he protested the Vietnam War.