weaponized-androgyny:

The Situation at The University of Toronto

There is a serious situation of transphobic violence and harassment happening at the University of Toronto and we need your help!

Please watch and share, and also read, download and distribute the following documents:

Investigation Report

Transphobia in Toronto (open letter)

INTACT’s list of demands for the University of Toronto

Transgender, nonbinary and intersex activists in Toronto would appreciate any and all help in circulating this information, re-centering the narrative on the marginalized people being effected by these events, demanding accountability from the University of Toronto, and taking steps to reduce the harm done to our community.

To contribute to the funding of this investigation and to help with others moving forward, please consider donating to this crowdfunder.

A User’s Guide to This Year’s Transphobic Legislation 

February is upon us, and the picture for anti-transgender legislation has begun to emerge. In 2015 there were 20 state-level bills intended to target transgender people. All of them were either defeated or carried over to the next legislative session. This year has seen the number grow to at least 28 pieces of legislation, and we’ll likely see more before the sessions are over. […]

Trans woman shows how 'ridiculous' bathroom bans are with urinal selfie campaign

crossdreamers:

Brae Carnes, a transgender woman in Canada is posting photos of herself in men’s toilets to protest a proposed law that would make it illegal for trans women to use women’s bathrooms.

Carnes writes:

“[Conservative Canadian Senator] Donald Plett put me here! Revoke the amendment to bill C-279 which will make it illegal for trans women like me to use the women’s washroom.”

In a post on Facebook she says: 

“As a trans woman I’m not even safe from discrimination at the pub. What’s going to happen if I’m forced into a men’s change-room?”

Gay Star News has more. See also The Independent. 

Photo via Brae Carnes on Facebook

Obama grants workplace protections to LGBT workers of federal contractors

WASHINGTON – Federal workers and contractors who are gay and transgender are getting new protections from President Barack Obama who is signing executive orders that will prohibit employment discrimination against those workers by the federal government and its contracting agencies.
“America’s federal contracts should not subsidize discrimination against the American people,” Obama said at a signing ceremony from the White House East Room. 

This makes it illegal for companies hiring federal workers to consider sexual orientation or gender identity when making hiring / firing decisions. Religious organizations continue to complain and ask for exemption. Obama did not grant that, though those companies can still hire/fire based on religious identity (something I found really curious, actually.)
I thought this was an interesting piece of news this morning and thought I’d share. 

-Kai