Mount Horeb Primary Center in Dane County, Wisconsin has a transgender student who has just come out. In an attempt to be inclusive and supportive of the trans girl a letter to parents was written and signed by the principal, the school psychologist and a counselor, informing the parents about the plan to have the students read and discuss I am Jazz, a book co-written by Florida transgender teen Jazz Jennings.

We believe all students deserve respect and support regardless of their gender identity and expression, and the best way to foster that respect and support is through educating students about the issue of being transgender.

It is our primary responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all of our students. Please let us know if you have concerns about your child participating in this discussion; we respect the beliefs and convictions of all families.

--The letter

For some of the parents withdrawing their children from the discussion was not sufficient. They felt the need to contact the SPLC-identified hate group, The Liberty Council, which threatened legal action if the book was read to students, claiming that such action would violate parental rights.

The Vietnamese National Assembly last Tuesday approved a revision to the Civil Code that includes a new provision of recognition of the right to have one's gender reassigned. The measure received 77% support in the Assembly (282-84).

Congratulations to all of us, after years of sweat and tears.

--Tran Khang Di, Ho Chi Minh City

The law is an attempt to “meet the demands of a part of society … in accordance with international practice, without countering the nation’s traditions.

--report from the parliament

Crossposted from: café babylon

heads of state will arrive on nov. 30

WHAT IS COP21 ?

It is the 21st Conference of the Parties, i.e. the annual meeting of all countries which want to take action for the climate..  It will be held in Le Bourget, France, from 30 November to 11 December 2015. (the website)

Two days after Thanksgiving, a gunman opened fire at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic killing three people and wounded nine others. This, after incendiary lies about Planned Parenthood were featured during the Republican Primary Debates, based on videos taken at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic that falsely portrayed the clinic selling fetal organs for profit.

Lest you be an ardent believer in American Exceptionalism one should take note that some countries are leaving the US in the dust when it comes to human rights advances.

Bolivian Justice Minister Virginia Velasco Condori on Wednesday announced new policy which will allow transgender people to register legal documents using their new identities.

The policy is not perfect.

People who want to alter their name and sex on official identity documents must apply to the Ministry of Justice where a "psychological examination will be held to approve the process.

--Velasquez Condori

But it is light years ahead of the US, which has no federal policy on transgender people whatsoever.

And as we went up into the mountains we met a blind man.
Where are you going, my friends? he asked.
Into the regions of the mysteries, I answered.

One Thanksgiving I spent in the jail.

I was then in the pharmaceutical trade. There were apparently laws governing my trade. And I had transgressed them.

Who knew?