Breaking news:  The US State Department has just released a statement that indicates a very positive change in the policy regarding changing gender markers on passports and Consulare Reports of Birth Abroad.  The new policy will now require only a physician's report that "appropriate clinical treament" has been completed for gender transition:

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to use the occasion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month to announce its new policy guidelines regarding gender change in passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

Beginning June 10, when a passport applicant presents a certification from an attending medical physician that the applicant has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition, the passport will reflect the new gender. The guidelines include detailed information about what information the certification must include. It is also possible to obtain a limited-validity passport if the physician’s statement shows the applicant is in the process of gender transition. No additional medical records are required. Sexual reassignment surgery is no longer a prerequisite for passport issuance. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad can also be amended with the new gender.

As with all passport applicants, passport issuing officers at embassies and consulates abroad and domestic passport agencies and centers will only ask appropriate questions to obtain information necessary to determine citizenship and identity.

On June 12 and 13, The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)  will screen the controversial film “Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives” at the Egyptian Theatre on Capitol Hill in Seattle.   The film is the fourth by the gay film director Israel Luna.  If recent press is any indication, it's Luna who should be watching his back for packs of transwomen with a taste for revenge.

Come join Ingersoll Gender Center as we celebrate the pride season and show our pride and solidarity in the 2010 Seattle Pride Parade, Sunday June 27 in Seattle. 

UPDATED INFORMATION:

Pre-Event Breakfast
Sunday, June 27th 8AM-9:30AM
IHOP Restaurant
950 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98122

Pride March
Rally at 10:30AM. March steps off at 11:00AM.
We will have Ingersoll Guides at 4th & Madison AND 4th & Columbia to guide you to our actual location. Look for someone holding an Ingersoll logo "diamond" sign or "Full Spectrum" sign (see below) and wearing one of our shirts at the SE corners of these intersections from 10:30AM to 11:30AM.
Ingersoll's contingent is #136 and Should be staging on 4th Ave between Cherry and Columbia streets.
The route is about 2 miles long with lots of standing. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring hydration and snacks, sun protection or rain protection as appropriate.

PrideFest Booth
Ingersoll will be sharing a booth space with Gender Alliance of South Sound (G.A.S.S.) at the Pride Rally on the grounds of the Seattle Center.  We will be there all day.  Drop by and see us at booth #R22.

Several news sources are reporting that a transgender woman was assaulted while she was waiting on the bus yesterday afternoon. This situation is happening far too often. So many transgender people are assaulted or murdered solely because they are or were transgender.
The question as a community is how do we empower ourselves to counter this hate. How do we protect ourselves from those who would do us harm?

The police are investigating this as a hate crime, as they should. Unfortunately, the police report mis-identifies the victim as male. A spokeswoman for the SPD later clarified that the victim identifies as female. I am ready to bet that she said as much at the scene. Whether this is because the woman's identifying documents show she is male or female is beside the point. This situation presents an opportunity to learn. The Seattle Police Department needs to make sure that all officers are presented with culturally competent training. Perhaps the officer would have asked whether or not the woman is transgender and could have added a note about her gender identity in his report instead of simply identifying her as male.

Transgender Law Center has released a call for action to ask Mayor Gavin Newsome to restore funding for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative. TEEI helps transgender clients in teh San Francisco area gain the skills necessary to find employment. With unemployment and underemployment among the transgender community at  double that of the general public, one can see why this program is vital for the transgender community in San Francisco.

Transgender people continue to break boundaries in some of the most interesting ways. We can now add a trasngender man to the list. Tyler McCormick won International Mister Leather 2010.

Self-proclaimed "Leather gimp" Tyler McCormick, a wheelchair-reliant
female to male transgender man, breaks down barriers to win the 2010
INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER contest - the first time in the competition's
32 year history.

I just received a response to my question about Representative Inslee's support for an inclusive ENDA. His response is below.

Dear Mr. Blackhawke:

Thank you for contacting me to emphasize the importance of including protections for the transgender population in H.R. 3017, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). I appreciate hearing from you.

I am pleased to share that ENDA includes language that will prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity. Sec. 3 of the bill defines gender identity as "the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth." This new regulation would apply to public and private employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and joint labor-management committees.

Below is the official statement from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health regarding proposed changes to the DSM-V.

The WPATH Board of Directors strongly urges the de-psychopathologisation of gender variance worldwide. The expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally-diverse human phenomenon which should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative. The psychopathologlisation of gender characteristics and identities reinforces or can prompt stigma, making prejudice and discrimination more likely, rendering transgender and transsexual people more vulnerable to social and legal marginalisation and exclusion, and increasing risks to mental and physical well-being. WPATH urges governmental and medical professional organizations to review their policies and practices to eliminate stigma toward gender-variant people.

Did you think we had it bad here in Washington state when we needed a letter from an MD that we were being treated for GID? Well, until now, transfolks in Nevada had it even worse. You see, you needed a letter from a sugeon that proved that you've had surgery. For some residents of Nevada, this requirement put the very idea of changing their gender marker on what is commonly thought to be a foundational document out of reach. A foundational document is one that establishes your identity. For example, it is what you need to show when you apply for a job to prove that you are legally allowed to work in the US.

After the ACLU and Equality Nevada expressed their concerns about the actions of some DMV workers against transgender citizens, a meeting was set up between officials from the DMV and the state Attorney General's office to work on acceptable compromises. The new system requires a simple form filled out by your primary care physician that states that you are: