<p>A little more than a year after banning transgender women from competing in elite female swimming events, the World Aquatics, earlier this week, cancelled its first 'open races' for transgenders after no one registered for the event. The World Cup meeting was scheduled to take place in Berlin but the organisers were forced to scrap the event after receiving no entries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Following the close of registration for the open category competitions, World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the Open Category events," World Aquatics said in a statement.</p>

<p>The open category was set to feature 50-metre and 100-metre races across all strokes as part of a "pioneering pilot project'. It was last year that the&nbsp;governing body of the sport decided to introduce a new category for athletes whose gender identity is different from their birth sex, after banning transgender participation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/incusiveness-or-unfair-advantage-debate-over-trans-athletes-in-sports-intensifies-492057"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Inclusiveness or unfair advantage? Debate over trans athletes in sports intensifies</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>World Aquatics&nbsp;to continue its efforts</strong></h2>

<p>Despite receiving no entries, the global body is aiming to persist with the endeavour and will include the category at masters events in future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'The World Aquatics open category working group will continue its work and engagement with the aquatics community on open category events. Even if there is no current demand at the elite level, the working group is planning to look at the possibility of including open category races at masters events in the future.'</p>

<p>British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies - a vocal critic of transgender women competing in women's sport - took to social media and trashed the transgender females for not turning up to face their competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If trans women aren't going to get the physical benefit of racing females instead of others males, they're not interested!" said Davies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In June 2022, World Aquatics' (formerly known as FINA), voted to allow only those who had completed their transition by the age of 12 to take part in women's competitions. The decision was prompted after reviewing the success of American Lia Thomas, who despite being a moderate college swimmer as a male competitor, managed to win an NCAA national college title in the women's category after transitioning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A section of the sporting world believes that it is unfair to biological females when transgender females compete against them. Despite the transition, the transgenders possess visible physical advantages over their female counterparts which leads to an uneven playing field. The 'Open' event was aimed at providing a solution but it may have thrown more questions than before, experts say.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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A little more than a year after banning transgender women from competing in elite female swimming events, the World Aquatics, earlier this week, cancelled its first 'open races' for transgenders after no one registered for the event.

A little more than a year after banning transgender women from competing in elite female swimming events, the World Aquatics, earlier this week, cancelled its first 'open races' for transgenders after no one registered for the event. The World Cup meeting was scheduled to take place in Berlin but the organisers were forced to scrap the event after receiving no entries. "Following the close of registration for the open category competitions, World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the Open Category events," World Aquatics said in a statement. The open category was set to feature 50-metre and 100-metre races across all strokes as part of a "pioneering pilot project'. It was last year that the governing body of the sport decided to introduce a new category for athletes whose gender identity is different from their birth sex, after banning transgender participation. Also read | Inclusiveness or unfair advantage? Debate over trans athletes in sports intensifies World Aquatics to continue its efforts Despite receiving no entries, the global body is aiming to persist with the endeavour and will include the category at masters events in future. 'The World Aquatics open category working group will continue its work and engagement with the aquatics community on open category events. Even if there is no current demand at the elite level, the working group is planning to look at the possibility of including open category races at masters events in the future.' British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies - a vocal critic of transgender women competing in women's sport - took to social media and trashed the transgender females for not turning up to face their competition. "If trans women aren't going to get the physical benefit of racing females instead of others males, they're not interested!" said Davies. In June 2022, World Aquatics' (formerly known as FINA), voted to allow only those who had completed their transition by the age of 12 to take part in women's competitions. The decision was prompted after reviewing the success of American Lia Thomas, who despite being a moderate college swimmer as a male competitor, managed to win an NCAA national college title in the women's category after transitioning. A section of the sporting world believes that it is unfair to biological females when transgender females compete against them. Despite the transition, the transgenders possess visible physical advantages over their female counterparts which leads to an uneven playing field. The 'Open' event was aimed at providing a solution but it may have thrown more questions than before, experts say. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Swimming body's World Cup 'open' races for transgenders cancelled after no one shows up

<p>Swapna Barman, India's heptathlon star has issued an unconditional apology, days after issuing a controversial 'transgender' statement about fellow athlete Nadini Agasara. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Barman&nbsp;said her comments were the result of an emotional reaction after she failed to win a medal at the Asian Games.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I wish to tender my unconditional apology for my tweet the other day specially to my co-athlete was the sheer disappointment and momentous emotional outburst which made me react in this manner against the ethos of sports and deeply feels sorry everyone for my emotional reaction,” posted Barman on Thursday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I wish to tender my unconditional apology for my tweet the other day specially to my co-athlete was the sheer disappointment and momentous emotional outburst which made me react in this manner against the ethos of sports and deeply feels sorry everyone for my emotional reaction🙏🏻</p>
— Swapna Barman (@Swapna_Barman96) <a href="https://twitter.com/Swapna_Barman96/status/1709895534897659923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>What did Barman allege?</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this week, Barman had taken to the platform to allege that she lost the bronze medal to a transgender athlete, much to the shock of the Indian athletic community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have lost my Asian Games bronze medal to transgender women at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. I want my medal back as it is against the rules of our athletics. Help me and support me please. #protestforfairplay," Barman had posted on X, before deleting it later in the day on October 2.</p>

<p>Barman&nbsp;alleged that such performance was not possible in four months, referring to&nbsp;Agasara.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Agasara's response&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the gravity of the allegations,&nbsp;Agasara kept a cool head and urged her compatriot to come up with proof to back up her claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I know what I am. Ask her to show proof. I will also show that I have won the medal for India. I only want to do well for the country,"&nbsp;Agasara was quoted as saying by India Today.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-indias-athletics-body-to-protest-against-officials-concerning-wrong-decisions-642917"><strong>Also read | Asian Games: India's athletics body to protest against officials concerning wrong decisions</strong></a></p>

<p>The Indian athlete added that she would escalate the matter with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Now we have won, so people have started talking about it. I will take up this issue with AFI for sure. I wanted to enjoy the moment of winning the medal but going back to India as my mother is not well."</p>

<p>Notably, Agasara took the bronze medal home after accumulating a total of 5712 points, four more than Barman, after the culmination of the eight events in the women's heptathlon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Barman lost the medal, despite starting strong on the 100m hurdles. She trailed in the high jump after failing to clear the 1.73m mark and could not replicate her performance from Jakarta in the shot put as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Swapna Barman, India's heptathlon star has issued an unconditional apology, days after issuing a controversial 'transgender' statement about fellow athlete Nadini Agasara.

Swapna Barman, India's heptathlon star has issued an unconditional apology, days after issuing a controversial 'transgender' statement about fellow athlete Nadini Agasara. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Barman said her comments were the result of an emotional reaction after she failed to win a medal at the Asian Games. “I wish to tender my unconditional apology for my tweet the other day specially to my co-athlete was the sheer disappointment and momentous emotional outburst which made me react in this manner against the ethos of sports and deeply feels sorry everyone for my emotional reaction,” posted Barman on Thursday. I wish to tender my unconditional apology for my tweet the other day specially to my co-athlete was the sheer disappointment and momentous emotional outburst which made me react in this manner against the ethos of sports and deeply feels sorry everyone for my emotional reaction🙏🏻 — Swapna Barman (@Swapna_Barman96) October 5, 2023 × What did Barman allege? Earlier this week, Barman had taken to the platform to allege that she lost the bronze medal to a transgender athlete, much to the shock of the Indian athletic community. "I have lost my Asian Games bronze medal to transgender women at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. I want my medal back as it is against the rules of our athletics. Help me and support me please. #protestforfairplay," Barman had posted on X, before deleting it later in the day on October 2. Barman alleged that such performance was not possible in four months, referring to Agasara. Agasara's response Despite the gravity of the allegations, Agasara kept a cool head and urged her compatriot to come up with proof to back up her claims. "I know what I am. Ask her to show proof. I will also show that I have won the medal for India. I only want to do well for the country," Agasara was quoted as saying by India Today. Also read | Asian Games: India's athletics body to protest against officials concerning wrong decisions The Indian athlete added that she would escalate the matter with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). "Now we have won, so people have started talking about it. I will take up this issue with AFI for sure. I wanted to enjoy the moment of winning the medal but going back to India as my mother is not well." Notably, Agasara took the bronze medal home after accumulating a total of 5712 points, four more than Barman, after the culmination of the eight events in the women's heptathlon. Barman lost the medal, despite starting strong on the 100m hurdles. She trailed in the high jump after failing to clear the 1.73m mark and could not replicate her performance from Jakarta in the shot put as well. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Asian Games 2023: Swapna Barman apologises for transgender comments on fellow athlete

<p>India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has suggested the government that 'third gender' should be added as a category in order to facilitate individuals from the transgender community to seek civil service jobs in the country by appearing for the entrance examinations.</p>

<p>Jobs in India's civil services are considered prestigious and can be earned by clearing the highly competitive exam held by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).</p>

<p>In spite of the efforts for social sensitisation, members of the transgender community face social stigma and isolation in the country and the cumulative effect of these social factors may result in them being unable to avail opportunities that are usually available to other citizens relatively easily.</p>

<p>The NHRC released its advisory for central and state governments earlier this month (September 15) with a view to 'enhance the welfare and rights’ of the transgender community.</p>

<p>The NHRC has made 32 recommendations that pertain to employment, welfare, education, inclusivity, healthcare and grievance redressal. The commission has advised centre and state governments&nbsp;to implement the suggestions in "letter and spirit".</p>

<p>The rights panel has also made more recommendations for the welfare of the transgender community. NHRC has recommended authorities set up old age homes for transgender persons and also an “exclusive platform” for them to showcase their talent during cultural events.</p>

<p>NHRC has also suggested that a provision for monetary grants for sex change should be made. Even the provision of free sex reassignment surgery should be considered at government hospitals.</p>

<p>The NHRC recommended holding regular sensitisation programmes on sexual orientation and gender identity for people working with transgender persons.</p>

<p>A ‘Grievance Redressal Cell’ with at least one transgender person should be set up in organisations, the advisory said.</p>

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India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has suggested the government that 'third gender' should be added as a category in order to facilitate individuals from the transgender community to seek civil service jobs in the country by appearing for the entrance examinations.

India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has suggested the government that 'third gender' should be added as a category in order to facilitate individuals from the transgender community to seek civil service jobs in the country by appearing for the entrance examinations. Jobs in India's civil services are considered prestigious and can be earned by clearing the highly competitive exam held by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). In spite of the efforts for social sensitisation, members of the transgender community face social stigma and isolation in the country and the cumulative effect of these social factors may result in them being unable to avail opportunities that are usually available to other citizens relatively easily. The NHRC released its advisory for central and state governments earlier this month (September 15) with a view to 'enhance the welfare and rights’ of the transgender community. The NHRC has made 32 recommendations that pertain to employment, welfare, education, inclusivity, healthcare and grievance redressal. The commission has advised centre and state governments to implement the suggestions in "letter and spirit". The rights panel has also made more recommendations for the welfare of the transgender community. NHRC has recommended authorities set up old age homes for transgender persons and also an “exclusive platform” for them to showcase their talent during cultural events. NHRC has also suggested that a provision for monetary grants for sex change should be made. Even the provision of free sex reassignment surgery should be considered at government hospitals. The NHRC recommended holding regular sensitisation programmes on sexual orientation and gender identity for people working with transgender persons. A ‘Grievance Redressal Cell’ with at least one transgender person should be set up in organisations, the advisory said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'Third gender' category should be provided for civil service aspirants: NHRC

<p>Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy described transgenderism as a form of “mental health disorder” as he staunchly opposed gender affirmation surgeries, especially for under 18-year-olds.</p>

<p>The 38-year-old businessman from Ohio, who has been grabbing headlines for his ‘anti-woke’ views, said that “chemical castration” under the age of 18 should not be allowed.</p>

<p>He vocally expressed his views when Fox host Dana Perino asked the presidential hopefuls whether they would pass a federal law requiring parents to be notified about their child changing gender identities.</p>

<p>The Indian-origin Republican leader asserted that parents have the “right to know” about their kids’ prospective transitions, and that “it is not compassionate to affirm a kid's confusion.”</p>

<p>He said that as president, he would pass a federal law permanently outlawing procedures he called “genital mutilation”.</p>

<p>“I have to be very clear about this. Transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder. We have to acknowledge the truth of that for what it is…parents have the right to know…the very people who say that this increases the risk of suicide are also the ones saying parents don’t have the right to know about the increased risk of suicide. And I am sorry, it is not compassionate to affirm a kid’s confusion. That is not compassion, that is cruelty.”</p>

<h2><strong>'Kids with gender dysphoria considering&nbsp;suicide'</strong></h2>

<p>He further claimed, without providing any evidence, that 50 per cent of kids with gender dysphoria have considered suicide.</p>

<p>“Yet politicians reject a law that would require schools to inform parents if their kids change their gender identity at school. Parents have a right to know about their kids: that shouldn’t be controversial. Ban genital mutilation &amp; puberty blockers before age 18. Treat gender dysphoria as a mental health disorder. Time to empower parents again."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-duck-and-other-trump-zingers-that-stole-the-gop-debate-spotlight-640458">'Donald duck' and other Trump zingers that stole the GOP debate spotlight</a></p>

<p>Seven GOP contenders competed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California on Wednesday night, except Donald Trump who decided to skip the debate and will most likely not attend the third one as well.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gop-debate-who-said-what-on-economy-trump-immigration-and-ukraine-640427">GOP debate: Who said what on economy, Trump, immigration and Ukraine?</a></p>

<p>Ramaswamy has been riding high on his increased popularity and is currently the most popular Republican Presidential candidate after former US President Donald Trump, a CNN poll showed.</p>

<p>Notably, he de-throned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who was earlier seen as the chief rival to Trump.&nbsp;DeSantis has seen voting share decline significantly and is now in the 5th spot.</p>

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Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy described transgenderism as a form of “mental health disorder” as he staunchly opposed gender affirmation surgeries, especially for under 18-year-olds.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy described transgenderism as a form of “mental health disorder” as he staunchly opposed gender affirmation surgeries, especially for under 18-year-olds. The 38-year-old businessman from Ohio, who has been grabbing headlines for his ‘anti-woke’ views, said that “chemical castration” under the age of 18 should not be allowed. He vocally expressed his views when Fox host Dana Perino asked the presidential hopefuls whether they would pass a federal law requiring parents to be notified about their child changing gender identities. The Indian-origin Republican leader asserted that parents have the “right to know” about their kids’ prospective transitions, and that “it is not compassionate to affirm a kid's confusion.” He said that as president, he would pass a federal law permanently outlawing procedures he called “genital mutilation”. “I have to be very clear about this. Transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder. We have to acknowledge the truth of that for what it is…parents have the right to know…the very people who say that this increases the risk of suicide are also the ones saying parents don’t have the right to know about the increased risk of suicide. And I am sorry, it is not compassionate to affirm a kid’s confusion. That is not compassion, that is cruelty.” 'Kids with gender dysphoria considering suicide' He further claimed, without providing any evidence, that 50 per cent of kids with gender dysphoria have considered suicide. “Yet politicians reject a law that would require schools to inform parents if their kids change their gender identity at school. Parents have a right to know about their kids: that shouldn’t be controversial. Ban genital mutilation & puberty blockers before age 18. Treat gender dysphoria as a mental health disorder. Time to empower parents again." Also read | 'Donald duck' and other Trump zingers that stole the GOP debate spotlight Seven GOP contenders competed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California on Wednesday night, except Donald Trump who decided to skip the debate and will most likely not attend the third one as well. Also read | GOP debate: Who said what on economy, Trump, immigration and Ukraine? Ramaswamy has been riding high on his increased popularity and is currently the most popular Republican Presidential candidate after former US President Donald Trump, a CNN poll showed. Notably, he de-throned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who was earlier seen as the chief rival to Trump. DeSantis has seen voting share decline significantly and is now in the 5th spot. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Transgenderism a mental health disorder’, says Vivek Ramaswamy in GOP debate

<p>Transgender chess players will not be permitted to compete in women's tournaments under temporary new rules to be introduced from Monday by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).</p>

<p>"In the case of a gender transition from male to female, the player is not entitled to take part in women's events until a new decision is taken by FIDE," said the Lausanne-based organisation in a statement.</p>

<p>This decision will be taken "within two years", according to the same source.&nbsp;</p>

<p>FIDE stressed, however, that there are "no restrictions on playing in the open section for a person who has changed gender".</p>

<p>The measures do not apply to transgender men competing in the men's categories, but they will be stripped of any women's titles they won before their transition, according to the temporary rules.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-sanju-samson-and-shreyas-iyer-harbhajan-singh-names-his-india-squad-for-asia-cup-2023-626652">No Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer! Harbhajan Singh names his India squad for Asia Cup 2023</a></p>

<p>According to FIDE, gender reassignment "has a significant impact on a player's status and future eligibility for tournaments", without providing any further details about the reasons for this.</p>

<p>The announcement drew criticism from transgender players.</p>

<p>"I don't think I'm smarter than most cis women, nor do I think that my pre-transition years have given me an innate advantage at chess," said transgender journalist and chess player Ana Valens in an article published on The Mary Sue website.</p>

<p>In the world of sport, the International Cycling Union (UCI), World Athletics and the International Swimming Federation have also taken steps to exclude transgender athletes from women's competitions.</p>

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Transgender chess players will not be permitted to compete in women's tournaments under temporary new rules to be introduced from Monday by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Transgender chess players will not be permitted to compete in women's tournaments under temporary new rules to be introduced from Monday by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). "In the case of a gender transition from male to female, the player is not entitled to take part in women's events until a new decision is taken by FIDE," said the Lausanne-based organisation in a statement. This decision will be taken "within two years", according to the same source. FIDE stressed, however, that there are "no restrictions on playing in the open section for a person who has changed gender". The measures do not apply to transgender men competing in the men's categories, but they will be stripped of any women's titles they won before their transition, according to the temporary rules. ALSO READ | No Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer! Harbhajan Singh names his India squad for Asia Cup 2023 According to FIDE, gender reassignment "has a significant impact on a player's status and future eligibility for tournaments", without providing any further details about the reasons for this. The announcement drew criticism from transgender players. "I don't think I'm smarter than most cis women, nor do I think that my pre-transition years have given me an innate advantage at chess," said transgender journalist and chess player Ana Valens in an article published on The Mary Sue website. In the world of sport, the International Cycling Union (UCI), World Athletics and the International Swimming Federation have also taken steps to exclude transgender athletes from women's competitions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Transgender chess players barred from women's tournaments

<p>A transgender man from the United Kingdom gave birth to a baby girl. The 27-year-old Caleb Bolden stopped taking his gender-transitioning medications in January last year when he decided to carry a baby. Caleb wants “other trans people to know it’s OK to carry a child.”</p>

<p>Caleb and his partner, Niamh Bolden, 25 always wanted a child. Niamh also started trying to have a child with the help of a sperm donor. But Niamh suffered three miscarriages and a stillbirth of twins before doctors said it was unlikely that they would ever be able to grow their family this way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-passenger-argues-over-halal-certified-tea-served-on-indian-railways-train-618843">Watch | Passenger argues over halal-certified tea served on Indian Railways train</a></p>

<p>Caleb started transitioning six years ago, reported Metro UK. Niamh’s private fertility treatment would have cost £70,000 (more than ₹70 lakh). This is when Caleb decided to step up and took the decision to get pregnant.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Caleb plans to have another baby despite facing problems</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Despite suffering gender dysphoria while he was pregnant and having to face horrid comments from strangers, Caleb loves being a father and plans to have another baby.</p>

<p>He stopped his daily testosterone injections and found a sperm donor on social media. He later gave birth to their daughter Isla-Rae Bolden in May.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-black-lives-do-not-matter-police-in-us-attack-unarmed-black-man-with-k-9-dog-despite-his-surrender-618784">Watch | Black lives do not matter? Police in US attack unarmed man with K-9 dog despite his surrender</a></p>

<p>“Coming off testosterone was a rocky road as I had so many hormones going around my body,” Caleb, who works as a store manager, said.</p>

<p>“It was soul-destroying. Transitioning is something I knew I wanted to do from a young age. But I knew for myself and my partner [parenthood] was something we had always wanted, and I wanted to give it a shot.”</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/rise-of-ai-artificial-intelligence-project-imagines-argentinas-dictatorship-abducted-babies-in-the-1970s-618831">Rise of AI: Artificial Intelligence project imagines Argentina’s dictatorship abducted babies in the 1970s</a></p>

<p>“When it’s age-appropriate, I will tell (Isla-Rae) the relevant information,” he added.</p>

<p>Caleb further shared that he was told he could never get pregnant and that his periods wouldn’t come back as he had been in a transition phase for the past 26 months. But within a month of stopping his medications, his menstrual cycle returned and in the next six months and three attempts using a sperm donor, he was pregnant.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A transgender man from the United Kingdom gave birth to a baby girl. The 27-year-old Caleb Bolden stopped taking his gender-transitioning medications in January last year when he decided to carry a baby.

A transgender man from the United Kingdom gave birth to a baby girl. The 27-year-old Caleb Bolden stopped taking his gender-transitioning medications in January last year when he decided to carry a baby. Caleb wants “other trans people to know it’s OK to carry a child.” Caleb and his partner, Niamh Bolden, 25 always wanted a child. Niamh also started trying to have a child with the help of a sperm donor. But Niamh suffered three miscarriages and a stillbirth of twins before doctors said it was unlikely that they would ever be able to grow their family this way. Also Read | Watch | Passenger argues over halal-certified tea served on Indian Railways train Caleb started transitioning six years ago, reported Metro UK. Niamh’s private fertility treatment would have cost £70,000 (more than ₹70 lakh). This is when Caleb decided to step up and took the decision to get pregnant. Caleb plans to have another baby despite facing problems Despite suffering gender dysphoria while he was pregnant and having to face horrid comments from strangers, Caleb loves being a father and plans to have another baby. He stopped his daily testosterone injections and found a sperm donor on social media. He later gave birth to their daughter Isla-Rae Bolden in May. Also Read | Watch | Black lives do not matter? Police in US attack unarmed man with K-9 dog despite his surrender “Coming off testosterone was a rocky road as I had so many hormones going around my body,” Caleb, who works as a store manager, said. “It was soul-destroying. Transitioning is something I knew I wanted to do from a young age. But I knew for myself and my partner [parenthood] was something we had always wanted, and I wanted to give it a shot.” Also Read | Rise of AI: Artificial Intelligence project imagines Argentina’s dictatorship abducted babies in the 1970s “When it’s age-appropriate, I will tell (Isla-Rae) the relevant information,” he added. Caleb further shared that he was told he could never get pregnant and that his periods wouldn’t come back as he had been in a transition phase for the past 26 months. But within a month of stopping his medications, his menstrual cycle returned and in the next six months and three attempts using a sperm donor, he was pregnant. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Transgender man gives birth to baby girl in UK, plans on having another child

<p>In a landmark verdict, the Japanese Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 11) ruled in favour of a transgender woman, saying restrictions put on using women’s toilets at her workplace were “unacceptable”.</p>

<h2><strong>What was the case about?</strong></h2>

<p>The case was filed by a woman in her 50s, who cannot be named for privacy reasons, against her employer, the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The official who was assigned male at birth, sued the government after she was told to use women’s toilets two floors below her office, as opposed to the ones closer to her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Tokyo District Court, in 2019, ruled in favour of the employee and called the restrictions unlawful. However, the decision was reversed in 2021 by the Tokyo High Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The plaintiff said that being barred from using the female toilets near her “deeply hurt” her and violated the country’s law which protects state employees against loss or damage in the workplace.</p>

<p>The woman was diagnosed with gender dysphoria around 1999 when she was already a government employee. However, it was not until a decade later that she told her supervisor she wished to dress and work as a woman, and her request was approved.</p>

<h2><strong>The arguments</strong></h2>

<p>The government officials argued how their move was justified and cited a lack of “public understanding” toward transgender people for using the facilities of their declared gender.</p>

<p>However, the plaintiff’s team argued that no female employee had raised any concerns about sharing the toilet. It is also worth noting that the plaintiff has not changed her legal gender, but otherwise lives as a woman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Japan, transgender people can only legally change their gender if they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, while the current law effectively requires them to be surgically sterilised. The plaintiff told the court that she was unable to undergo the procedure due to health reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Japan’s Supreme Court ruling considered landmark for LGBTQ+ rights</strong></h2>

<p>The verdict of this case was the first one that the Japanese top court delivered on the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and experts say that this could change how public and private sectors deal with sensitive questions on women-only spaces.</p>

<p>The decision has been seen as a step forward for the country’s LGBTQ+ community and their rights as Tokyo is the only G7 nation which does not provide legal protection for same-sex unions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In its ruling, the court found the decision to restrict the transgender woman from using nearby toilets was “extremely lacking in validity”. It added that the move “overly accommodated other employees and unjustly disregarded how the plaintiff might be disadvantaged.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We will carefully examine the ruling and take appropriate measures after consulting with the relevant ministries and agencies,” said the ministry, after the verdict, in a statement. It added that it will make efforts to respect the diversity of its staff.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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In a landmark verdict, the Japanese Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 11) ruled in favour of a transgender woman, saying restrictions put on using women’s toilets at her workplace were “unacceptable”.

In a landmark verdict, the Japanese Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 11) ruled in favour of a transgender woman, saying restrictions put on using women’s toilets at her workplace were “unacceptable”. What was the case about? The case was filed by a woman in her 50s, who cannot be named for privacy reasons, against her employer, the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The official who was assigned male at birth, sued the government after she was told to use women’s toilets two floors below her office, as opposed to the ones closer to her. A Tokyo District Court, in 2019, ruled in favour of the employee and called the restrictions unlawful. However, the decision was reversed in 2021 by the Tokyo High Court. The plaintiff said that being barred from using the female toilets near her “deeply hurt” her and violated the country’s law which protects state employees against loss or damage in the workplace. The woman was diagnosed with gender dysphoria around 1999 when she was already a government employee. However, it was not until a decade later that she told her supervisor she wished to dress and work as a woman, and her request was approved. The arguments The government officials argued how their move was justified and cited a lack of “public understanding” toward transgender people for using the facilities of their declared gender. However, the plaintiff’s team argued that no female employee had raised any concerns about sharing the toilet. It is also worth noting that the plaintiff has not changed her legal gender, but otherwise lives as a woman. In Japan, transgender people can only legally change their gender if they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, while the current law effectively requires them to be surgically sterilised. The plaintiff told the court that she was unable to undergo the procedure due to health reasons. Japan’s Supreme Court ruling considered landmark for LGBTQ+ rights The verdict of this case was the first one that the Japanese top court delivered on the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and experts say that this could change how public and private sectors deal with sensitive questions on women-only spaces. The decision has been seen as a step forward for the country’s LGBTQ+ community and their rights as Tokyo is the only G7 nation which does not provide legal protection for same-sex unions. In its ruling, the court found the decision to restrict the transgender woman from using nearby toilets was “extremely lacking in validity”. It added that the move “overly accommodated other employees and unjustly disregarded how the plaintiff might be disadvantaged.” “We will carefully examine the ruling and take appropriate measures after consulting with the relevant ministries and agencies,” said the ministry, after the verdict, in a statement. It added that it will make efforts to respect the diversity of its staff. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan’s top court backs transgender woman in bathroom case, says restriction ‘unacceptable’

Trans people exist across all classes, races, castes, and countries. Transgender people have gained prominence in various fields all over the world. From politics to entertainment, trans people have left their mark in every industry. Who are some of the prominent trans figures in India and abroad?

Voices of Pride | Trans rights and representation | WION Wideangle

Many transgender people feel sidelined within the LGBTQ+ community. Why gay people are becoming transphobic? At the same time, violence against transgender people has also spread widely. What are the issues that transgender people face in India and abroad?

Divide within the LGBTQ+ community | Are trans losing rights? | WION Wideangle

<p>The White House has banned a transgender advocate who went topless at Saturday’s Pride event on the South Lawn. US President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that attendees of the event, including trans advocate Rose Montoya, engaged in “inappropriate” behaviour, which was “unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US President Joe Biden to visit India in September</strong></p>

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<p>She said this while referring to a video posted by Rose Montoya on social media which showed some attendees, including herself, removing their tops in front of the South Portico while dancing. Karine Jean-Pierre added, “Individuals in the video certainly will not be invited to future events.”</p>

<h2><strong>Rose Montoya issues clarification</strong></h2>

<p>Rose Montoya later in a video message clarified that she had no intentions of being vulgar and that she was just living her truth. “I had zero intention of trying to be vulgar or be profane in any way. I was simply living in joy, living my truth and existing in my body,” Montoya, who uses the pronouns she/they, said in the message.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Happy Pride, free the nipple,” she added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Free the nipple. <a href="https://t.co/oEua3XYrwC">pic.twitter.com/oEua3XYrwC</a></p>
— Rose Montoya 👑🌹 (@therosemontoya) <a href="https://twitter.com/therosemontoya/status/1668458605585235971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In response to critics who questioned her decision to appear topless, she pointed out that their objections actually affirmed her identity as a woman, since a man would not face the same level of criticism.</p>

<h2><strong>Joe Biden’s Pride event</strong></h2>

<p>The event, which aimed to demonstrate the Biden administration's support for the LGBTQ+ community, was hosted by President Joe Biden. In recent times, some Republican leaders at the state level have been advocating for restrictions on drag shows and limiting options for young individuals seeking to transition their gender.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-received-5-mn-in-bribery-scheme-with-ukrainian-gas-firm-report-602651"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Biden received $5mn in bribery scheme from Ukrainian gas firm executive: Report</strong></a></p>

<p>On Saturday, President Biden delivered a message of solidarity to the entire community, with a special emphasis on transgender children. He assured them, “You are loved. You are heard. You’re understood. And you belong.”</p>

<h2><strong>Conservatives launch attack on Joe Biden</strong></h2>

<p>Soon after the controversial video of Rose Montoya was out, the Biden administration was quickly attacked by Collin Rugg of the conservative outlet “Trending Politics.” He wrote on Twitter, “These are the ‘bravest and most inspiring’ people Biden has ever known,” adding that “The country you once knew is gone.”<br />
<br />
Another right-wing account ‘The Libs of TikTok’ wrote that “This is a disgrace to our country.”<br />
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The White House has banned a transgender advocate who went topless at Saturday’s Pride event on the South Lawn. US President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that attendees of the event, including trans advocate Rose Montoya, engaged in “inappropriate” behaviour, which was “unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families.

The White House has banned a transgender advocate who went topless at Saturday’s Pride event on the South Lawn. US President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that attendees of the event, including trans advocate Rose Montoya, engaged in “inappropriate” behaviour, which was “unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families.” Watch: US President Joe Biden to visit India in September × She said this while referring to a video posted by Rose Montoya on social media which showed some attendees, including herself, removing their tops in front of the South Portico while dancing. Karine Jean-Pierre added, “Individuals in the video certainly will not be invited to future events.” Rose Montoya issues clarification Rose Montoya later in a video message clarified that she had no intentions of being vulgar and that she was just living her truth. “I had zero intention of trying to be vulgar or be profane in any way. I was simply living in joy, living my truth and existing in my body,” Montoya, who uses the pronouns she/they, said in the message. “Happy Pride, free the nipple,” she added. Free the nipple. pic.twitter.com/oEua3XYrwC — Rose Montoya 👑🌹 (@therosemontoya) June 13, 2023 × In response to critics who questioned her decision to appear topless, she pointed out that their objections actually affirmed her identity as a woman, since a man would not face the same level of criticism. Joe Biden’s Pride event The event, which aimed to demonstrate the Biden administration's support for the LGBTQ+ community, was hosted by President Joe Biden. In recent times, some Republican leaders at the state level have been advocating for restrictions on drag shows and limiting options for young individuals seeking to transition their gender. Also read: Biden received $5mn in bribery scheme from Ukrainian gas firm executive: Report On Saturday, President Biden delivered a message of solidarity to the entire community, with a special emphasis on transgender children. He assured them, “You are loved. You are heard. You’re understood. And you belong.” Conservatives launch attack on Joe Biden Soon after the controversial video of Rose Montoya was out, the Biden administration was quickly attacked by Collin Rugg of the conservative outlet “Trending Politics.” He wrote on Twitter, “These are the ‘bravest and most inspiring’ people Biden has ever known,” adding that “The country you once knew is gone.” Another right-wing account ‘The Libs of TikTok’ wrote that “This is a disgrace to our country.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

White House bans trans activist Rose Montoya after she goes topless at Pride event

<p>In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, transgender people are commonly known as <em>hijra</em>, a derogatory term. Considered a harbinger of bad omen they are despised in families as well as in society. Life has not been fair to them forcing them to become street beggars. The social rejection has led them to live in ghettos where many of them go to bed without a proper meal. This miserable living condition of the country’s third-sex population has started changing thanks to some humanitarian steps undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.</p>

<p>Consider the gift a group of 15 transgender people received ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival the Muslims in Bangladesh celebrated in the last week of April. The transgender inhabitants at the remote northern village were overjoyed after receiving houses given free under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Ashrayan project. The project has been launched to provide government-built houses to homeless and landless people. For the first time, transgender people were included in the widely admired scheme.</p>

<p>“We used to live in the same flat in an extremely cramped condition with little privacy,” said Sumi Khan, a member of the 15-strong group. Their struggle to rent a house became almost impossible due to reservations entertained by rural folk about transgenders, as in most predominantly Muslim countries. This Eid, she said, heralded a new dawn in their lives, thanks to the first-of-its-kind housing scheme rolled out by the Prime Minister that seeks to ensure no one in her country remains homeless and landless.</p>

<p>“Now we can live a decent life owing to the residential scheme organised by the prime minister”, said an elated Sumi, adding “This priceless gift will change the course of our lives and ensure economic empowerment.” According to the population census published in July, Bangladesh has a little more than 12,000 transgender people among the national population of 170 million.</p>

<p>As society is still heavily prejudiced against the transgender community, most children born with this gender identity are driven out of their families and left with the only option of living in their own community, surviving mostly on the alms given by the people, according to rights activists. But with the inclusion of Sumi and her community under this comprehensive housing scheme, these decades-old dogmas are taking a hit.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/eight-killed-in-deadly-ethnic-clashes-in-bangladesh-police-on-toes-fearing-more-violence-580350">Eight killed in deadly ethnic clashes in Bangladesh, police on toes fearing more violence</a></strong><br />
<br />
According to media reports, as of March this year, at least 140 transgender community people have been brought under the housing scheme across the country and they have now reportedly found new means of livelihood. Before this scheme, finding a permanent shelter was like chasing a distant dream for almost all of the beneficiaries, but now a glimmer of hope has dawned in their lives.</p>

<p>Official documents illustrating activities of the project shows a record number of 3.5 million lives that broke the cycle of poverty, thanks to allocation of houses among 7,00,000 families (or 3.5 million people) since the beginning of the project in 1997. Of the said number, over 5,00,000 families were endowed with a new home over the last three years, in sync with the announcement of the premier on the eve of the celebration of the birth centenary celebration of the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.&nbsp;"No one will remain homeless," announced the premier marking the anniversary.<br />
<br />
And the cluster of beneficiaries evolved into an inclusive model given all fragmented segments including families affected by global warming in coastal belts, ethnic minorities, ultra-poor, beggars, elderly people, widows, women abandoned by their husbands, insolvent freedom fighters, climate victims, transgender, Dalit, ethnic groups, persons with disabilities found shelter, let alone new means of living also. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Another remarkable aspect of this unique scheme has been the joint ownership of houses for the male and female beneficiaries. Domestic violence, coupled with discriminatory inheritance law and draconian religious dogmas, entrenched deeply within the societal fabric, held back the economic empowerment of half of the population — women — for decades.</p>

<p>But finally the gulf of odds are withering, with the rolling out of the initiative, led by the Premier herself, entitling women with land rights. The visionary move has yielded real and measurable gains, already a manifestation of turning Sheikh Hasina's electoral pledge of ensuring equal rights for women.</p>

<p>"I have a specific plan and I will reveal it in time," announced the premier in 2009 on her plan about empowering women with entitlement rights to property. &nbsp;Now a decade down the line, she has lived up to the promises with her pledge. Among all 7,00,000 families who found a shelter for a lifetime, the provision of joint ownership — husband and wife — have already made a remarkable impact on the lives of women and their children under the initiative.</p>

<p>As joint ownership ends the dominance of husbands to call the shots in day-to-day affairs, this new entitlement heralds a new dawn on the lives of female beneficiaries as they have found freedom to get involved in income-generating activities too. Despite the fact that the female labour force participation in rural areas has increased significantly in Bangladesh thanks to women's growing involvement in the agriculture sector and urban-rural migration brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, a World Bank report, years back found among rural households that own agricultural land, only 13% of women have sole or joint ownership of agricultural land, compared to 70% of men.</p>

<p>Now gone are the days when a woman often requires the use of land rights through her relationship to a man – usually a husband or a father – those rights are subject to the continuation of that relationship. “It’s time to say goodbye to these threats from husbands that change in relationship status can jeopardise women’s rights over property and other assets,, thank you Premier, your vision gave a new meaning to our life and for the posterity ” added one beneficiary.</p>

<p><strong>Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.</strong></p>

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In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, transgender people are commonly known as hijra, a derogatory term. Considered a harbinger of bad omen they are despised in families as well as in society.

In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, transgender people are commonly known as hijra, a derogatory term. Considered a harbinger of bad omen they are despised in families as well as in society. Life has not been fair to them forcing them to become street beggars. The social rejection has led them to live in ghettos where many of them go to bed without a proper meal. This miserable living condition of the country’s third-sex population has started changing thanks to some humanitarian steps undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Consider the gift a group of 15 transgender people received ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival the Muslims in Bangladesh celebrated in the last week of April. The transgender inhabitants at the remote northern village were overjoyed after receiving houses given free under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Ashrayan project. The project has been launched to provide government-built houses to homeless and landless people. For the first time, transgender people were included in the widely admired scheme. “We used to live in the same flat in an extremely cramped condition with little privacy,” said Sumi Khan, a member of the 15-strong group. Their struggle to rent a house became almost impossible due to reservations entertained by rural folk about transgenders, as in most predominantly Muslim countries. This Eid, she said, heralded a new dawn in their lives, thanks to the first-of-its-kind housing scheme rolled out by the Prime Minister that seeks to ensure no one in her country remains homeless and landless. “Now we can live a decent life owing to the residential scheme organised by the prime minister”, said an elated Sumi, adding “This priceless gift will change the course of our lives and ensure economic empowerment.” According to the population census published in July, Bangladesh has a little more than 12,000 transgender people among the national population of 170 million. As society is still heavily prejudiced against the transgender community, most children born with this gender identity are driven out of their families and left with the only option of living in their own community, surviving mostly on the alms given by the people, according to rights activists. But with the inclusion of Sumi and her community under this comprehensive housing scheme, these decades-old dogmas are taking a hit. ALSO READ| Eight killed in deadly ethnic clashes in Bangladesh, police on toes fearing more violence According to media reports, as of March this year, at least 140 transgender community people have been brought under the housing scheme across the country and they have now reportedly found new means of livelihood. Before this scheme, finding a permanent shelter was like chasing a distant dream for almost all of the beneficiaries, but now a glimmer of hope has dawned in their lives. Official documents illustrating activities of the project shows a record number of 3.5 million lives that broke the cycle of poverty, thanks to allocation of houses among 7,00,000 families (or 3.5 million people) since the beginning of the project in 1997. Of the said number, over 5,00,000 families were endowed with a new home over the last three years, in sync with the announcement of the premier on the eve of the celebration of the birth centenary celebration of the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "No one will remain homeless," announced the premier marking the anniversary. And the cluster of beneficiaries evolved into an inclusive model given all fragmented segments including families affected by global warming in coastal belts, ethnic minorities, ultra-poor, beggars, elderly people, widows, women abandoned by their husbands, insolvent freedom fighters, climate victims, transgender, Dalit, ethnic groups, persons with disabilities found shelter, let alone new means of living also. Another remarkable aspect of this unique scheme has been the joint ownership of houses for the male and female beneficiaries. Domestic violence, coupled with discriminatory inheritance law and draconian religious dogmas, entrenched deeply within the societal fabric, held back the economic empowerment of half of the population — women — for decades. But finally the gulf of odds are withering, with the rolling out of the initiative, led by the Premier herself, entitling women with land rights. The visionary move has yielded real and measurable gains, already a manifestation of turning Sheikh Hasina's electoral pledge of ensuring equal rights for women. "I have a specific plan and I will reveal it in time," announced the premier in 2009 on her plan about empowering women with entitlement rights to property. Now a decade down the line, she has lived up to the promises with her pledge. Among all 7,00,000 families who found a shelter for a lifetime, the provision of joint ownership — husband and wife — have already made a remarkable impact on the lives of women and their children under the initiative. As joint ownership ends the dominance of husbands to call the shots in day-to-day affairs, this new entitlement heralds a new dawn on the lives of female beneficiaries as they have found freedom to get involved in income-generating activities too. Despite the fact that the female labour force participation in rural areas has increased significantly in Bangladesh thanks to women's growing involvement in the agriculture sector and urban-rural migration brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, a World Bank report, years back found among rural households that own agricultural land, only 13% of women have sole or joint ownership of agricultural land, compared to 70% of men. Now gone are the days when a woman often requires the use of land rights through her relationship to a man – usually a husband or a father – those rights are subject to the continuation of that relationship. “It’s time to say goodbye to these threats from husbands that change in relationship status can jeopardise women’s rights over property and other assets,, thank you Premier, your vision gave a new meaning to our life and for the posterity ” added one beneficiary. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bangladesh transgender community: On the road to equality and progress

In a recent development, state politicians have for several years presented a variety of bills and legislation controlling the lives of transgender Americans as the discussions over transgender rights continue to boil in the United States. Texas is now the biggest state in the United States to prohibit young people's access to such care after Texas Governor Greg Abbott approved a law banning the treatment of transgender miners.

Texas governor signs law banning trans minor treatment

<p>Raegan Zelaya and Shua Wilmot, two workers&nbsp;at Houghton University in upstate New York have been fired for including pronouns at the end of their work emails and later ignoring&nbsp;the request to remove them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They both were fired from their&nbsp;residence hall directors position at the university in accordance with a&nbsp;newly-introduced university policy. Reportedly, Houghton University is affiliated with a&nbsp;conservative branch of the Methodist Church and it had asked the pair to remove the pronouns before taking the harsh call, just weeks before the end of the semester.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You previously tendered your resignation advising that you did not intend to return next year However, as a result of your refusal to remove pronouns in your email signature in violation of institutional policy, and false and defamatory statements attributed to you in the recent Star article, please be advised of the following: You are being relived of your duties effective immediately," read the university's termination letter to Zelaya.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Zelaya used "she/her" pronouns,&nbsp;Wilmot used "he/him" to sign off their emails. They said they had&nbsp;professional, pastoral, and inclusive motivations for including their pronouns in the email but the university board saw things differently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think it boils down to: They want to be trans-exclusive and they want to communicate that to potential students and the parents of potential students," Wilmot was quoted as saying by <em>New York Times</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There's the professional piece to it, and the practical piece, and there's also an inclusive piece, and I think that's the piece this institution doesn't want," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-house-passes-bill-banning-transgender-students-from-womens-sports-584628"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US House passes bill banning transgender students from women's sports</strong></a></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, Zelaya said, "We live in a very divided world right now where everything is this or that, right or left, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat. As Christians, I think we've gotten so caught up in these ideas of, "This is what I should be advocating for or upset about," that we forget to actually care for people."</p>

<p>After the duo were let go, the university alumni filed a petition in protest with 600 signing it as well.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Conservatives vs trangenders</strong></h2>

<p>The banning of pronouns, gender-affirming care and restricting sports participation across US states is part of a national push by the conservatives to put restrictions on transgender people</p>

<p>Earlier this month,&nbsp;North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/usa-north-dakota-implements-law-restricting-transgender-pronouns-bathroom-use-590491" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | USA: North Dakota implements law restricting transgender pronouns, bathroom use</strong></a></p>

<p>Overall, at least 16 states across the US have either restricted or banned gender-affirming care for minors, while at least eight states have enacted laws preventing transgender people from using the restrooms associated with their gender identities.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Raegan Zelaya and Shua Wilmot, two workers at Houghton University in upstate New York have been fired for including pronouns at the end of their work emails and later ignoring the request to remove them.

Raegan Zelaya and Shua Wilmot, two workers at Houghton University in upstate New York have been fired for including pronouns at the end of their work emails and later ignoring the request to remove them. They both were fired from their residence hall directors position at the university in accordance with a newly-introduced university policy. Reportedly, Houghton University is affiliated with a conservative branch of the Methodist Church and it had asked the pair to remove the pronouns before taking the harsh call, just weeks before the end of the semester. "You previously tendered your resignation advising that you did not intend to return next year However, as a result of your refusal to remove pronouns in your email signature in violation of institutional policy, and false and defamatory statements attributed to you in the recent Star article, please be advised of the following: You are being relived of your duties effective immediately," read the university's termination letter to Zelaya. While Zelaya used "she/her" pronouns, Wilmot used "he/him" to sign off their emails. They said they had professional, pastoral, and inclusive motivations for including their pronouns in the email but the university board saw things differently. "I think it boils down to: They want to be trans-exclusive and they want to communicate that to potential students and the parents of potential students," Wilmot was quoted as saying by New York Times. "There's the professional piece to it, and the practical piece, and there's also an inclusive piece, and I think that's the piece this institution doesn't want," he added. WATCH | US House passes bill banning transgender students from women's sports × Meanwhile, Zelaya said, "We live in a very divided world right now where everything is this or that, right or left, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat. As Christians, I think we've gotten so caught up in these ideas of, "This is what I should be advocating for or upset about," that we forget to actually care for people." After the duo were let go, the university alumni filed a petition in protest with 600 signing it as well. Conservatives vs trangenders The banning of pronouns, gender-affirming care and restricting sports participation across US states is part of a national push by the conservatives to put restrictions on transgender people Earlier this month, North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use. ALSO READ | USA: North Dakota implements law restricting transgender pronouns, bathroom use Overall, at least 16 states across the US have either restricted or banned gender-affirming care for minors, while at least eight states have enacted laws preventing transgender people from using the restrooms associated with their gender identities. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

USA: University fires two workers for putting pronouns in their email signatures

<p>The latest ad campaign of coffee giant Starbucks on transgenders triggered a controversy as many users called it a promotion of the “Woke culture” and the hashtag “Boycott Starbucks” trended on Twitter.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, a campaign was launched by the American coffeehouse chain with the title ‘it starts with your name’ to give a message of acceptance and inclusivity in society. Under the campaign, a video was shared by Starbucks India which featured a transgender woman who was meeting her parents at one of its outlets.<br />
<br />
In the video, a transgender woman with the name “Arpita” appears to be meeting her parents after a long time. The father of the woman looks upset over some situation, while the mother tries to calm him down.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/starbucks-new-ceo-laxman-narasimhan-says-will-work-as-a-barista-575107">Starbucks' new CEO Laxman Narasimhan says will work as a Barista</a></p>

<p>When Arpita reaches the coffee shop, she introduces herself to her parents as “Arpita and not Arpit”, which was her birth name. Her initially hesitant parents finally accept her actual identity and the ad ends with the three enjoying the Starbucks together after her father reassures her, “You will always be my child. Just a single letter has been added to your name.”<br />
<br />
Starbucks India captioned the viral post, “Your name defines who you are – whether it’s Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. #ItStartsWithYourName.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Your name defines who you are - whether it's Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItStartsWithYourName?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ItStartsWithYourName</a>. 💚 <a href="https://t.co/DKNGhKZ1Hg">pic.twitter.com/DKNGhKZ1Hg</a></p>
— Starbucks India (@StarbucksIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarbucksIndia/status/1656133960924012545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Instantly, the campaign faced severe backlash on Twitter, as people criticised it for promoting the “Woke culture”.<br />
<br />
“Fail to understand the need for a multinational to get into sensitive topics in a country of hypersensitive people. Huge dent in the brand!!”, wrote a user. Starbucks be like “We are WOKEs! So let’s all be WOKEs together!!”, another user said.<br />
<br />
“Tata is big time woke. They own Starbucks, Tanishq (remember that ad?). They fund The Wire, Harvard, Cornell, etc. But are smart enough to sell their products with nationalism (desh ka namak, desh ke truck, army themed ads). Funds all political parties good as well,” wrote a social media user.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tata is big time woke. They own Starbucks, Tanishq (remember that ad?). They fund The Wire, Harvard, Cornell, etc. But are smart enough to sell their products with nationalism (desh ka namak, desh ke truck, army themed ads). Funds all political parties good as well.</p>
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) <a href="https://twitter.com/theskindoctor13/status/1656594686331748353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>“Seriously, we will deal with our issues when they come up; the last thing I need is preaching by a Western MNC. You take care of serving coffee,” commented another user.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’ve never been to Starbucks. Nor am I going to be there ever. These propaganda resonates with only 10% Indian population. Take this down or do business with only 10% of India.</p>
— Chow (@Lokatochupake) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lokatochupake/status/1656538787453997056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-are-indians-calling-to-boycott-starbucks-591796/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>However, some netizens even applauded Starbucks for coming up with such a campaign. “Dear Starbucks, These days common sense is very uncommon so some bigots won't understand the emotion. This is an incredible ad so let's hope that the LGBTQ+ community finds more such allies,” wrote a user in support of the campaign.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dear Starbucks,<br />
<br />
These days common sense is very uncommon so some bigots wont understand the emotion.<br />
<br />
This is an incredible ad so let's hope that the LGBTQ+ community finds more such allies .</p>
— Vimal (@VimalINC) <a href="https://twitter.com/VimalINC/status/1656991129357926401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Can't believe people have problem with this ad too? We becoming so rigid to our belief systems that anything that tries to show us the other side will be trolled and abused. A society damaged beyond repair.</p>
— Parikshit Shah (@imparixit) <a href="https://twitter.com/imparixit/status/1657024707974115330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The campaign has been launched at a time when the issue of legalising same-sex marriage is being debated in the Supreme Court and the decision over the matter is yet to come.</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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The latest ad campaign of coffee giant Starbucks on transgenders triggered a controversy as many users called it a promotion of the “Woke culture” and the hashtag “Boycott Starbucks” trended on Twitter.

The latest ad campaign of coffee giant Starbucks on transgenders triggered a controversy as many users called it a promotion of the “Woke culture” and the hashtag “Boycott Starbucks” trended on Twitter. On Wednesday, a campaign was launched by the American coffeehouse chain with the title ‘it starts with your name’ to give a message of acceptance and inclusivity in society. Under the campaign, a video was shared by Starbucks India which featured a transgender woman who was meeting her parents at one of its outlets. In the video, a transgender woman with the name “Arpita” appears to be meeting her parents after a long time. The father of the woman looks upset over some situation, while the mother tries to calm him down. ALSO READ | Starbucks' new CEO Laxman Narasimhan says will work as a Barista When Arpita reaches the coffee shop, she introduces herself to her parents as “Arpita and not Arpit”, which was her birth name. Her initially hesitant parents finally accept her actual identity and the ad ends with the three enjoying the Starbucks together after her father reassures her, “You will always be my child. Just a single letter has been added to your name.” Starbucks India captioned the viral post, “Your name defines who you are – whether it’s Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. #ItStartsWithYourName.” Your name defines who you are - whether it's Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. #ItStartsWithYourName. 💚 pic.twitter.com/DKNGhKZ1Hg — Starbucks India (@StarbucksIndia) May 10, 2023 × Instantly, the campaign faced severe backlash on Twitter, as people criticised it for promoting the “Woke culture”. “Fail to understand the need for a multinational to get into sensitive topics in a country of hypersensitive people. Huge dent in the brand!!”, wrote a user. Starbucks be like “We are WOKEs! So let’s all be WOKEs together!!”, another user said. “Tata is big time woke. They own Starbucks, Tanishq (remember that ad?). They fund The Wire, Harvard, Cornell, etc. But are smart enough to sell their products with nationalism (desh ka namak, desh ke truck, army themed ads). Funds all political parties good as well,” wrote a social media user. Tata is big time woke. They own Starbucks, Tanishq (remember that ad?). They fund The Wire, Harvard, Cornell, etc. But are smart enough to sell their products with nationalism (desh ka namak, desh ke truck, army themed ads). Funds all political parties good as well. — THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) May 11, 2023 × “Seriously, we will deal with our issues when they come up; the last thing I need is preaching by a Western MNC. You take care of serving coffee,” commented another user. I’ve never been to Starbucks. Nor am I going to be there ever. These propaganda resonates with only 10% Indian population. Take this down or do business with only 10% of India. — Chow (@Lokatochupake) May 11, 2023 × ALSO WATCH | However, some netizens even applauded Starbucks for coming up with such a campaign. “Dear Starbucks, These days common sense is very uncommon so some bigots won't understand the emotion. This is an incredible ad so let's hope that the LGBTQ+ community finds more such allies,” wrote a user in support of the campaign. Dear Starbucks, These days common sense is very uncommon so some bigots wont understand the emotion. This is an incredible ad so let's hope that the LGBTQ+ community finds more such allies . — Vimal (@VimalINC) May 12, 2023 × Can't believe people have problem with this ad too? We becoming so rigid to our belief systems that anything that tries to show us the other side will be trolled and abused. A society damaged beyond repair. — Parikshit Shah (@imparixit) May 12, 2023 × The campaign has been launched at a time when the issue of legalising same-sex marriage is being debated in the Supreme Court and the decision over the matter is yet to come. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'It Starts With Your Name' | 'Boycott Starbucks' trends over coffee giant's viral transgender ad

<p>The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought&nbsp;to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The last-minute legal attempt by Zephyr, a Democrat, to rejoin Republican-controlled Montana House of Representatives comes as the legislative session could end as soon as Tuesday night. Zephyr was barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session after she decried the signing of the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the debate, Zephyr said that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of “the care that we need.” She also told Republicans they would have “blood on your hands,” which prompted them to cut off her microphone.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-transgender-democrat-leader-barred-from-house-floor-for-586585">US: Montana transgender Democrat leader barred from House floor for 'blood on your hands' comment</a></strong></p>

<p>After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood up and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.”</p>

<p>However, it was not until days later that she was denied floor privileges for encouraging a noisy but peaceful demonstration that disrupted a House session, reported Reuters. Montana Freedom Caucus, last month, deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zephyr had asked a court, on Monday, to allow for her return to the House floor, the ruling for which was announced hours before the legislature planned to wrap up its biennial session. “Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” said District Court Judge Mike Menahan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/montana-republicans-bar-transgender-lawmaker-from-house-floor-586737">Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor</a></strong></p>

<p>“Even if the Court ultimately finds the House of Representatives, Speaker Regier, and Sergeant at Arms Murfitt acted unlawfully under the facts of this case, it does not have the authority to issue a broad permanent injunction to effectively remove all legislative authority…in relation to a single member,” Menahan wrote in his ruling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the ruling, Zephyr told The Associated Press that Menahan’s decision was “entirely wrong,” adding that “it’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue.”<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which has previously&nbsp;argued that the speaker of the House&nbsp;and Sergeant at Arms&nbsp;have silenced Zephyr’s constituents, is considering its options including appeal, as per Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-becomes-latest-state-to-ban-gender-affirming-medical-care-for-transgender-kids-587288">US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids</a></strong></p>

<p>After Zephyr’s ouster, the House passed a bill which would punish health professionals who provide care banned by the measure and could have their medical license suspended for at least a year. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
<strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state.

The censured United States Representative Zooey Zephyr of Montana on Tuesday (May 2) lost her legal attempt to rejoin debate on the House floor after the transgender lawmaker was silenced and barred last month for speaking critically to her Republican colleagues over legislation which sought to restrict gender-affirming healthcare in the state. The last-minute legal attempt by Zephyr, a Democrat, to rejoin Republican-controlled Montana House of Representatives comes as the legislative session could end as soon as Tuesday night. Zephyr was barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session after she decried the signing of the bill. During the debate, Zephyr said that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of “the care that we need.” She also told Republicans they would have “blood on your hands,” which prompted them to cut off her microphone. ALSO READ | US: Montana transgender Democrat leader barred from House floor for 'blood on your hands' comment After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood up and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other.” However, it was not until days later that she was denied floor privileges for encouraging a noisy but peaceful demonstration that disrupted a House session, reported Reuters. Montana Freedom Caucus, last month, deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured. Zephyr had asked a court, on Monday, to allow for her return to the House floor, the ruling for which was announced hours before the legislature planned to wrap up its biennial session. “Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” said District Court Judge Mike Menahan. ALSO WATCH | Montana Republicans bar transgender lawmaker from House floor “Even if the Court ultimately finds the House of Representatives, Speaker Regier, and Sergeant at Arms Murfitt acted unlawfully under the facts of this case, it does not have the authority to issue a broad permanent injunction to effectively remove all legislative authority…in relation to a single member,” Menahan wrote in his ruling. After the ruling, Zephyr told The Associated Press that Menahan’s decision was “entirely wrong,” adding that “it’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue.” Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana, which has previously argued that the speaker of the House and Sergeant at Arms have silenced Zephyr’s constituents, is considering its options including appeal, as per Reuters. ALSO READ | US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids After Zephyr’s ouster, the House passed a bill which would punish health professionals who provide care banned by the measure and could have their medical license suspended for at least a year. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Montana's transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr loses legal bid to rejoin House floor

<p>Montana on Friday (April 29) has become the latest American state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids. The ban is set to take effect on October 1. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, Montana is one of at least 15 states to ban such medical care despite protests from the families of transgender kids that the care is important.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-montana-transgender-democrat-leader-barred-from-house-floor-for-586585">Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker, decried the signing of the bill</a></strong> by saying that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of "the care that we need."</p>

<p>“I know that this is an unconstitutional bill. It is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. And it will go down in the courts,” Zephyr said. On Monday, the lawmaker stood defiantly on the House floor with her microphone raised as protesters shouted “Let her speak,” disrupting House proceedings for at least half an hour.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kansas-imposes-sweeping-anti-transgender-bathroom-law-586767">Kansas imposes sweeping anti-transgender bathroom law</a></strong></p>

<p>She was then banned from the House and its gallery and voted on bills from a bench in the hallway outside the House on Thursday and Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let Zephyr speak on the House floor until she apologised and she has not, the report said. And the Montana Freedom Caucus deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured.</p>

<p>Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana, meanwhile, said they would file a court challenge against the ban. The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said the bill is an "overly broad blanket ban" that takes decisions that should be made by families and physicians and put them in the hands of politicians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the new law, health professionals who provide care banned by the measure could have their medical licences suspended for at least a year. Such professionals could be sued in the 25 years following the banned procedure if the patient suffers physical, psychological, emotional or physiological harm. The law states that physicians cannot hold malpractice insurance against such lawsuits. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment.</p>

<p>The parents of transgender children in Montana testified the bill infringed on their parental rights to seek medical care for their children.</p>

<p>On April 17, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signaled his willingness to sign the bill when he offered some amendments to make it clear that public funds could not be used to pay for hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgical procedures. In a letter accompanying the amendments, Gianforte said the bill protects Montana's children from permanent, life-altering medical procedures until they are adults, mature enough to make such serious decisions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Montana on Friday (April 29) has become the latest American state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids. The ban is set to take effect on October 1.

Montana on Friday (April 29) has become the latest American state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids. The ban is set to take effect on October 1. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, Montana is one of at least 15 states to ban such medical care despite protests from the families of transgender kids that the care is important. Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker, decried the signing of the bill by saying that it was unconscionable to deprive Montanans of "the care that we need." “I know that this is an unconstitutional bill. It is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. And it will go down in the courts,” Zephyr said. On Monday, the lawmaker stood defiantly on the House floor with her microphone raised as protesters shouted “Let her speak,” disrupting House proceedings for at least half an hour. ALSO READ | Kansas imposes sweeping anti-transgender bathroom law She was then banned from the House and its gallery and voted on bills from a bench in the hallway outside the House on Thursday and Friday. House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let Zephyr speak on the House floor until she apologised and she has not, the report said. And the Montana Freedom Caucus deliberately misgendered Zephyr using male pronouns in a letter saying the lawmaker should be censured. Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana, meanwhile, said they would file a court challenge against the ban. The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said the bill is an "overly broad blanket ban" that takes decisions that should be made by families and physicians and put them in the hands of politicians. As per the new law, health professionals who provide care banned by the measure could have their medical licences suspended for at least a year. Such professionals could be sued in the 25 years following the banned procedure if the patient suffers physical, psychological, emotional or physiological harm. The law states that physicians cannot hold malpractice insurance against such lawsuits. It also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment. The parents of transgender children in Montana testified the bill infringed on their parental rights to seek medical care for their children. On April 17, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signaled his willingness to sign the bill when he offered some amendments to make it clear that public funds could not be used to pay for hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgical procedures. In a letter accompanying the amendments, Gianforte said the bill protects Montana's children from permanent, life-altering medical procedures until they are adults, mature enough to make such serious decisions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Montana becomes latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids

<p>Gone are the days when conversations in the US centred around topics like murders, sexual assault, etc. These days, bathrooms, or more specifically bathrooms for transgender people, have become the topic of debate, and the latest state to join this debate is&nbsp;Kansas.</p>

<p>Overriding the state's governor Laura Kelly's veto, the state legislature on Thursday enacted what may be the nation's most sweeping transgender bathroom law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With this law, Kansas has joined at least eight other states in preventing trans people from using bathrooms associated with their gender identities, as opposed to the gender assigned at birth. The state even went one step ahead, imposing restrictions on locker rooms, prisons, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centres.</p>

<p>The Kansas law, according to a report in The Guardian, stands out from other states' laws by legally distinguishing between male and female based on the sex designated at birth. It states that "distinctions between the sexes" in bathrooms and other areas serve "the important governmental objectives" of protecting people's "health, safety and privacy."</p>

<p>However, it is still not clear how the new law will be enforced.</p>

<p>The recent legislation in Kansas defines "sex" as the biological gender one is assigned at birth, which can only be male or female. However, it does provide some exemptions for intersex individuals if their condition is recognised as a disability under US law. Additionally, the law establishes clear-cut definitions for males and females based on their reproductive anatomy.</p>

<p><strong>The bathroom wars: How it all started </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Before Kansas, North Dakota enacted a law prohibiting transgender children and adults from using restrooms, locker rooms, or shower facilities in state-operated universities and correctional institutions.</p>

<p>North Carolina, in 2016, set the ball rolling by becoming the first US state to pass a bill barring transgender people from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identities.</p>

<p>Today, the following states have such laws: North Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kansas.</p>

<h2><strong>Why bathrooms?</strong></h2>

<p>The battle, as per Vox, began in Houston, Texas in 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Back then, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) was passed by the city council.</p>

<p>It aimed to prohibit discrimination against individuals based on several characteristics - notably sexual orientation and gender identity - in the workplace, housing, and public places such as restaurants, hotels, and other venues that cater to the public. This local ordinance was created to address a deficiency in the laws of Texas due to which LGBTQ people are typically not covered by state and federal anti-discrimination legislation.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, conservatives ended up utilising it as a means to an end.</p>

<h2><strong>What do conservatives have against HERO?</strong></h2>

<p>They argued that businesses should be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ people who go against their religious values.</p>

<p>In 2015, after lengthy legal battles, they even managed to get a referendum on HERO. Results predicted that while 45 per cent of adults in Houston would vote for HERO, 36 per cent would vote against it; the remaining said they were unsure.</p>

<p>But in spite of this, ultimately, HERO got rejected.</p>

<h2><strong>How was HERO rejected?</strong></h2>

<p>Conservatives used fear-mongering tactics related to bathrooms to sway public opinion against the HERO law, which would have allowed transgender individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender they identify with, rather than assigned at birth. They claimed that if the law passed, men would disguise themselves as transgender women to enter women's bathrooms and sexually assault them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So, despite initially being popular in polls, the HERO law was rejected by voters in November due to the successful fear tactics employed by ceonservatives.</p>

<p>Since then, bathrooms have become the crude tool conservatives used&nbsp;to ban anti-discrimination measures in different states.</p>

<h2><strong>Would a law like HERO actually increase incidents of sexual assault?</strong></h2>

<p>In two separate investigations conducted some years ago, Media Matters confirmed with experts and officials in 12 states and 17 school districts with protections for trans people that they had seen no increases in sex crimes after they enacted anti-discrimination policies.</p>

<p>And while incidents of men sneaking into women's bathrooms have happened, they did not happen because of transgender protection laws.</p>

<p>In fact, in 2019, a team of researchers, including those from Harvard, found that "youth whose restroom/locker room use was restricted were more likely to experience sexual assault compared to those without restrictions."</p>

<p>As per research based on survey data of 3,700 American teens aged 13-17, around 36 per cent of transgender or gender-non-conforming students with restricted bathroom or locker room access reported being sexually assaulted in the 12 months period before the study.&nbsp;Among transgender boys, 26.5 per cent&nbsp;experienced sexual assault within the last year, while the percentage was 27.0&nbsp;per cent for nonbinary youth assigned female at birth. Among transgender girls, the percentage was 18.5 per cent, and for nonbinary youth assigned male at birth, it was 17.6 per cent.</p>

<p>Overall, the scenario around&nbsp;transgender bathroom access remains complex and highly contested and is likely to continue to evolve in the coming years as the debate over LGBTQ rights and discrimination continues.</p>

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Gone are the days when conversations in the US centred around topics like murders, sexual assault, etc. These days, bathrooms, or more specifically bathrooms for transgender people, have become the topic of debate, and the latest state to join this debate is Kansas.

Gone are the days when conversations in the US centred around topics like murders, sexual assault, etc. These days, bathrooms, or more specifically bathrooms for transgender people, have become the topic of debate, and the latest state to join this debate is Kansas. Overriding the state's governor Laura Kelly's veto, the state legislature on Thursday enacted what may be the nation's most sweeping transgender bathroom law. With this law, Kansas has joined at least eight other states in preventing trans people from using bathrooms associated with their gender identities, as opposed to the gender assigned at birth. The state even went one step ahead, imposing restrictions on locker rooms, prisons, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centres. The Kansas law, according to a report in The Guardian, stands out from other states' laws by legally distinguishing between male and female based on the sex designated at birth. It states that "distinctions between the sexes" in bathrooms and other areas serve "the important governmental objectives" of protecting people's "health, safety and privacy." However, it is still not clear how the new law will be enforced. The recent legislation in Kansas defines "sex" as the biological gender one is assigned at birth, which can only be male or female. However, it does provide some exemptions for intersex individuals if their condition is recognised as a disability under US law. Additionally, the law establishes clear-cut definitions for males and females based on their reproductive anatomy. The bathroom wars: How it all started Before Kansas, North Dakota enacted a law prohibiting transgender children and adults from using restrooms, locker rooms, or shower facilities in state-operated universities and correctional institutions. North Carolina, in 2016, set the ball rolling by becoming the first US state to pass a bill barring transgender people from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identities. Today, the following states have such laws: North Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kansas. Why bathrooms? The battle, as per Vox, began in Houston, Texas in 2014. Back then, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) was passed by the city council. It aimed to prohibit discrimination against individuals based on several characteristics - notably sexual orientation and gender identity - in the workplace, housing, and public places such as restaurants, hotels, and other venues that cater to the public. This local ordinance was created to address a deficiency in the laws of Texas due to which LGBTQ people are typically not covered by state and federal anti-discrimination legislation. Nevertheless, conservatives ended up utilising it as a means to an end. What do conservatives have against HERO? They argued that businesses should be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ people who go against their religious values. In 2015, after lengthy legal battles, they even managed to get a referendum on HERO. Results predicted that while 45 per cent of adults in Houston would vote for HERO, 36 per cent would vote against it; the remaining said they were unsure. But in spite of this, ultimately, HERO got rejected. How was HERO rejected? Conservatives used fear-mongering tactics related to bathrooms to sway public opinion against the HERO law, which would have allowed transgender individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender they identify with, rather than assigned at birth. They claimed that if the law passed, men would disguise themselves as transgender women to enter women's bathrooms and sexually assault them. So, despite initially being popular in polls, the HERO law was rejected by voters in November due to the successful fear tactics employed by ceonservatives. Since then, bathrooms have become the crude tool conservatives used to ban anti-discrimination measures in different states. Would a law like HERO actually increase incidents of sexual assault? In two separate investigations conducted some years ago, Media Matters confirmed with experts and officials in 12 states and 17 school districts with protections for trans people that they had seen no increases in sex crimes after they enacted anti-discrimination policies. And while incidents of men sneaking into women's bathrooms have happened, they did not happen because of transgender protection laws. In fact, in 2019, a team of researchers, including those from Harvard, found that "youth whose restroom/locker room use was restricted were more likely to experience sexual assault compared to those without restrictions." As per research based on survey data of 3,700 American teens aged 13-17, around 36 per cent of transgender or gender-non-conforming students with restricted bathroom or locker room access reported being sexually assaulted in the 12 months period before the study. Among transgender boys, 26.5 per cent experienced sexual assault within the last year, while the percentage was 27.0 per cent for nonbinary youth assigned female at birth. Among transgender girls, the percentage was 18.5 per cent, and for nonbinary youth assigned male at birth, it was 17.6 per cent. Overall, the scenario around transgender bathroom access remains complex and highly contested and is likely to continue to evolve in the coming years as the debate over LGBTQ rights and discrimination continues. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: How bathrooms became the new battlefield for political war on gender

<p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes 100 per cent of individuals who do not have penises are women. In an interview with the website ConservativeHome, Sunak was asked to lend his opinion after opposition leader Keir Starmer said 99.9 per cent of women haven't got a penis, when faced with&nbsp;questions on the ongoing transgender debate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sir Keir said recently that ‘99 per cent of women of course haven’t got a penis’. What percentage would you put it at?” the interviewer asked Sunak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tory leader laughed initially before saying he had a “slightly different point of view to him on this.”</p>

<p>“I’ve been very clear that when it comes...on this topic, I think the first,' said Sunak before he was cut short and asked, “Do you think it’s 100 per cent?”</p>

<p>To which Sunak replied in the affirmative before adding, “But I think the first thing to say is we should always have compassion and understanding and tolerance for those who are thinking about their gender. Of course we should, right? We’re a compassionate and understanding society and we’ll always remember that.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-wont-happen-overnight-sunak-appears-defeatist-on-small-boats-channel-crossings-582456"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;'It won't happen overnight...': UK PM Rishi Sunak appears defeatist on illegal migrants issue</strong></a></p>

<p>The Conservatives are planning to go ahead with the pledge made during last year's leadership election to reform the legal definition of sex. If the said proposal goes through, sporting events organisers could exclude trans women from participating in women's competitions.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Sir Keir Starmer on 'what is a woman'</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this month, Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer caused a bit of row when he said trans rights cannot override women's rights, adding that 99.9 per cent&nbsp;of women "of course haven't got a penis."</p>

<p>Starmer asserted that a 'very small number' of people identified differently to the gender they were born with and called for an end to 'toxic divide' on trans issues.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recently, there has been a growing trend of sorts where politicians are asked what they mean by a 'woman' or who is a woman.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-risks-provoking-conservative-mps-says-migrant-pledge-is-complicated-wion-582431"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;UK PM Rishi Sunak risks provoking Conservative MPs, says 'migrant pledge is complicated' | WION</strong></a></p>

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<p>While the answer might have been simple back in the day, most politicians trudge a careful line so as not to offend a minority that does not cater to the traditional gender divisions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Newly crowned New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was the prime example of that when he was asked the same question. Hipkins appeared hesitant and floundered while answering the question.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Um...to be honest that question has come slightly out of left field for me," said Hipkins.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Well biology, sex, gender. Um," he paused before saying, "I wasn't expecting that question, so it wasn't something I pre-formulated an answer on. But in terms of gender identity, people identify for themselves."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes 100 per cent of individuals who do not have penises are women. In an interview with the website ConservativeHome, Sunak was asked to lend his opinion after opposition leader Keir Starmer said 99.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes 100 per cent of individuals who do not have penises are women. In an interview with the website ConservativeHome, Sunak was asked to lend his opinion after opposition leader Keir Starmer said 99.9 per cent of women haven't got a penis, when faced with questions on the ongoing transgender debate. “Sir Keir said recently that ‘99 per cent of women of course haven’t got a penis’. What percentage would you put it at?” the interviewer asked Sunak. The Tory leader laughed initially before saying he had a “slightly different point of view to him on this.” “I’ve been very clear that when it comes...on this topic, I think the first,' said Sunak before he was cut short and asked, “Do you think it’s 100 per cent?” To which Sunak replied in the affirmative before adding, “But I think the first thing to say is we should always have compassion and understanding and tolerance for those who are thinking about their gender. Of course we should, right? We’re a compassionate and understanding society and we’ll always remember that.” ALSO READ | 'It won't happen overnight...': UK PM Rishi Sunak appears defeatist on illegal migrants issue The Conservatives are planning to go ahead with the pledge made during last year's leadership election to reform the legal definition of sex. If the said proposal goes through, sporting events organisers could exclude trans women from participating in women's competitions. Sir Keir Starmer on 'what is a woman' Earlier this month, Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer caused a bit of row when he said trans rights cannot override women's rights, adding that 99.9 per cent of women "of course haven't got a penis." Starmer asserted that a 'very small number' of people identified differently to the gender they were born with and called for an end to 'toxic divide' on trans issues. Recently, there has been a growing trend of sorts where politicians are asked what they mean by a 'woman' or who is a woman. WATCH | UK PM Rishi Sunak risks provoking Conservative MPs, says 'migrant pledge is complicated' | WION × While the answer might have been simple back in the day, most politicians trudge a careful line so as not to offend a minority that does not cater to the traditional gender divisions. Newly crowned New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was the prime example of that when he was asked the same question. Hipkins appeared hesitant and floundered while answering the question. "Um...to be honest that question has come slightly out of left field for me," said Hipkins. "Well biology, sex, gender. Um," he paused before saying, "I wasn't expecting that question, so it wasn't something I pre-formulated an answer on. But in terms of gender identity, people identify for themselves." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

British PM Sunak wades into trans debate, declares 100% women do not have penises

Three young children and three staff members were killed in Nashville on 27th of March. When a heavily armed former student carried out a meticulously planned attack at a private elementary school. The 28-year-old attacker, who identified as a transgender, was shot dead by police. Even though the motive has not yet been ascertained, the attacker was said to be under doctor's care for 'emotional disorder'. America is, once again, stunned and is left numb by the bloodshed at a school campus. Mohammed Saleh explores the gun-violence epidemic that is tearing America's soul.

United States refuses to give up its obsession for deadly guns | World at War

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<p>In the aftermath of the deadly Nashville shooting where six people were killed including three nine-year-olds, a section of the US media is trying to conjure a connection to transgender activism. As per claims made in these reports, the shooting carried out by 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, a transgender person, took place days ahead of the so-called 'Trans Day of Vengeance', which was purported to be held on March 31-April 1.</p>

<p>The reports are referring to websites and Twitter posts of a so-called Trans Radical Activist Network (TRAN), which appears to have made a call-to-action to 'end trans genocide'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tsukuru Fors, the co-founder of TRAN in an interview stated that this year, the 'Trans Day of Visibility' had been given an altered moniker of&nbsp;'Trans Day of Vengeance' because 'visibility' alone was no longer enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are calling for Trans Day of Vengeance. Vengeance means fighting back with vehemence. It is our battle cry to declare to the world that we the transgender/non-binary communities will neither be silenced nor eradicated. And we are calling to our allies, members of other marginalised communities to make themselves known and to fight with us,"&nbsp;Fors was quoted as saying by Struggle La Lucha.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some reports also claimed that the group was raising money for firearms training for the group members.&nbsp;The Twitter handle of the account has been locked with tweets only visible to the followers.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Much of this reporting is coming from right-wing media outlets in the US.&nbsp;It is not clear if Hale was in any way associated with the movement or inspired by the call-to-action.</p>

<p>But news agencies have reported citing police that the gender identity of the shooter is one of the issues being looked into as a possible motive for the crime.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nashville-shooting-live-updates-three-children-among-six-killed-suspect-fatally-shot-576468" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Nashville shooting Live updates | Three children among six killed; suspect fatally shot</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Shooter's manifesto</strong></p>

<p>As per reports, the shooter left behind a map and a manifesto relating to the attack. The items were revealed upon a search of the suspect's house.</p>

<p>Nashville Chief of Police John Drake informed that there were going to be shootings at multiple locations, with the school being one of them, according to the initial reading of the recovered manifesto.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We have a manifesto, we have some writings that we're going over that pertain to this date. We have a map drawn out of how this was all gonna take place. We know there were two AR-style weapons. One a rifle, another was an AR-style pistol, and the other was a handgun. We believe two of those may have been obtained legally, locally,” the police chief told the media.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What happened in Nashville?</strong></p>

<p>Surveillance footage shows Hale, a former student of The Covenant School in the Green Hills neighbourhood of Nashville driving&nbsp;a Honda car to the school on Monday before shooting the glass entrances using the assault weapon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wearing a black vest over a white T-shirt, camouflage pants and a backward red baseball cap, Hale checks out different rooms before shooting down various hallways.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nashville-school-shooting-3-children-3-adults-killed-shooter-dead-576443"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Nashville school shooting: 3 children, 3 adults killed, shooter dead</strong></a></p>

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<p>According to&nbsp;a press release from&nbsp;the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), officers Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo, shot down Hale on the second floor in the&nbsp;common area of the school. The shooter had been opening fire through a window at arriving police cars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nine-year-olds Evely Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, William Kinney, 61-year-old Cynthia Peak, 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, and 61-year-old Mike Hill have been identified as the victims of the attack.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>


In the aftermath of the deadly Nashville shooting where six people were killed including three nine-year-olds, a section of the US media is trying to conjure a connection to transgender activism.

In the aftermath of the deadly Nashville shooting where six people were killed including three nine-year-olds, a section of the US media is trying to conjure a connection to transgender activism. As per claims made in these reports, the shooting carried out by 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, a transgender person, took place days ahead of the so-called 'Trans Day of Vengeance', which was purported to be held on March 31-April 1. The reports are referring to websites and Twitter posts of a so-called Trans Radical Activist Network (TRAN), which appears to have made a call-to-action to 'end trans genocide'. Tsukuru Fors, the co-founder of TRAN in an interview stated that this year, the 'Trans Day of Visibility' had been given an altered moniker of 'Trans Day of Vengeance' because 'visibility' alone was no longer enough. "We are calling for Trans Day of Vengeance. Vengeance means fighting back with vehemence. It is our battle cry to declare to the world that we the transgender/non-binary communities will neither be silenced nor eradicated. And we are calling to our allies, members of other marginalised communities to make themselves known and to fight with us," Fors was quoted as saying by Struggle La Lucha. Some reports also claimed that the group was raising money for firearms training for the group members. The Twitter handle of the account has been locked with tweets only visible to the followers. Much of this reporting is coming from right-wing media outlets in the US. It is not clear if Hale was in any way associated with the movement or inspired by the call-to-action. But news agencies have reported citing police that the gender identity of the shooter is one of the issues being looked into as a possible motive for the crime. ALSO READ | Nashville shooting Live updates | Three children among six killed; suspect fatally shot Shooter's manifesto As per reports, the shooter left behind a map and a manifesto relating to the attack. The items were revealed upon a search of the suspect's house. Nashville Chief of Police John Drake informed that there were going to be shootings at multiple locations, with the school being one of them, according to the initial reading of the recovered manifesto. “We have a manifesto, we have some writings that we're going over that pertain to this date. We have a map drawn out of how this was all gonna take place. We know there were two AR-style weapons. One a rifle, another was an AR-style pistol, and the other was a handgun. We believe two of those may have been obtained legally, locally,” the police chief told the media. What happened in Nashville? Surveillance footage shows Hale, a former student of The Covenant School in the Green Hills neighbourhood of Nashville driving a Honda car to the school on Monday before shooting the glass entrances using the assault weapon. Wearing a black vest over a white T-shirt, camouflage pants and a backward red baseball cap, Hale checks out different rooms before shooting down various hallways. WATCH | Nashville school shooting: 3 children, 3 adults killed, shooter dead × According to a press release from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), officers Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo, shot down Hale on the second floor in the common area of the school. The shooter had been opening fire through a window at arriving police cars. Nine-year-olds Evely Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, William Kinney, 61-year-old Cynthia Peak, 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, and 61-year-old Mike Hill have been identified as the victims of the attack. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

How some US media reports are trying to link Nashville shooting to so-called 'radical transgender activists'

<p>Republican governor of the US state of Idaho, Brad Little, signed a number of bills this week, among them being firing squad executions and one preventing transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender at birth.</p>

<p>Little signed House Bill 186, which permits firing squad to carry out executions in Idaho in the event state is unable to get lethal injections by pharmaceutical companies. Many US states have had trouble finding the chemicals needed for lethal injection, which has forced them to halt executions.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/walmart-lays-off-hundreds-of-us-employees-gives-them-90-days-to-find-job-at-its-other-facilities-575868">Walmart lays off hundreds of US employees, gives them 90 days to find job at its other facilities</a></p>

<p>Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the practice of executing inmates who have been convicted of certain crimes. The method of execution varies by country and jurisdiction. They commonly includes lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, or firing squad.</p>

<p>Many US States have long relied on medicines like potassium chloride, pancuronium bromide, and sodium thiopental that have been criticised for their potential to inflict agonising pain. This comes as many pharmaceutical companies have banned lethal injections. It has raised fears of alternative execution methods in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The families of the victims deserve justice for their loved ones and the death penalty is a way to bring them peace,” Little said in a transmittal letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Once taken effect, Idaho will become the fifth US state carrying out executions by firing squad. The other four states, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, are Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Carolina.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/what-verified-twitter-account-without-blue-checkmark-musks-platform-steps-up-to-avoid-shame-trolling-575898">Verified Twitter account without Blue checkmark? Musk's platform steps up to avoid shame, trolling</a></p>

<p>Many Human rights groups have supported these companies but now the states are coming up with alternatives, executions by firing squads being one of them. This along with Senate Bill 1100 on restricting trangenders use of restrooms, both will take effect on 1 July.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/twitter-ceo-elon-musk-to-give-stocks-to-employees-at-20-dollar-valuation-575855">Twitter CEO Elon Musk to give stocks to employees at $20 dollar valuation</a></p>

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<p>“Requiring students to share restrooms and changing facilities with members of the opposite biological sex generates potential embarrassment, shame, and psychological injury to students,” the bill states.</p>

<p>According to the bill, students may sue their schools if they permitted individuals of the opposite sex to use facilities that were designated for only one sex.&nbsp;In addition to receiving monetary damages from schools for psychological or physical harm, students who are successful in their private lawsuits will receive $5,000 from the public school systems for each occasion they saw "a person of the opposite sex" in those gendered facilities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sen. Rick Just, a Democrat from the state, told CNN on Saturday that he had voted against the measure mostly because it permits anyone to bring private lawsuits against school systems.&nbsp;</p>

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Republican governor of the US state of Idaho, Brad Little, signed a number of bills this week, among them being firing squad executions and one preventing transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender at birth.

Republican governor of the US state of Idaho, Brad Little, signed a number of bills this week, among them being firing squad executions and one preventing transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender at birth. Little signed House Bill 186, which permits firing squad to carry out executions in Idaho in the event state is unable to get lethal injections by pharmaceutical companies. Many US states have had trouble finding the chemicals needed for lethal injection, which has forced them to halt executions. Also Read | Walmart lays off hundreds of US employees, gives them 90 days to find job at its other facilities Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the practice of executing inmates who have been convicted of certain crimes. The method of execution varies by country and jurisdiction. They commonly includes lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, or firing squad. Many US States have long relied on medicines like potassium chloride, pancuronium bromide, and sodium thiopental that have been criticised for their potential to inflict agonising pain. This comes as many pharmaceutical companies have banned lethal injections. It has raised fears of alternative execution methods in the United States. “The families of the victims deserve justice for their loved ones and the death penalty is a way to bring them peace,” Little said in a transmittal letter. Once taken effect, Idaho will become the fifth US state carrying out executions by firing squad. The other four states, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, are Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Also Read | Verified Twitter account without Blue checkmark? Musk's platform steps up to avoid shame, trolling Many Human rights groups have supported these companies but now the states are coming up with alternatives, executions by firing squads being one of them. This along with Senate Bill 1100 on restricting trangenders use of restrooms, both will take effect on 1 July. Watch | Twitter CEO Elon Musk to give stocks to employees at $20 dollar valuation × “Requiring students to share restrooms and changing facilities with members of the opposite biological sex generates potential embarrassment, shame, and psychological injury to students,” the bill states. According to the bill, students may sue their schools if they permitted individuals of the opposite sex to use facilities that were designated for only one sex. In addition to receiving monetary damages from schools for psychological or physical harm, students who are successful in their private lawsuits will receive $5,000 from the public school systems for each occasion they saw "a person of the opposite sex" in those gendered facilities. Sen. Rick Just, a Democrat from the state, told CNN on Saturday that he had voted against the measure mostly because it permits anyone to bring private lawsuits against school systems. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Executions by firing squad, restricting transgender students’ bathroom use: Idaho Gov signs multiple bills

Uganda’s parliament passed a law that criminalises identifying as LGBTQ. More than 30 African countries, including Uganda, already ban same-sex relations. The new law appears to be the first to outlaw merely identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ), according to rights group Human Rights Watch.

Uganda outlaws identifying as LGBTQ, imposes death penalty for gay sex

<p>Kerala's Padma Lakshmi registered as an advocate with the state's Bar Council, becoming the first transgender lawyer in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments. I focus on the positive. I believe that is one of my advantages. If I focus on the negativity, I will have time only for that and will never move forward in life," she told PTI.</p>

<p>P Rajeev, the state's industries minister, expressed&nbsp;his delight&nbsp;and posted a photo of the lawyer on his official Instagram handle.</p>

<p>As per the minister's post, Padma Lakshmi was one of the more than 1,500 recent law graduates who received their bar enrolment certificates on Sunday at an event hosted by the Bar Council of India. Padma Lakshmi received her law degree from Ernakulam Government Law College, as per PTI reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rajeev applauded the young lawyer's perseverance in his Instagram post, noting that she had to navigate a society that was not quite supportive or kind to her.</p>

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<p>"Congratulations to Padma Lakshmi who overcame all the hurdles of life and enrolled as the first transgender advocate in Kerala. Becoming the first is always the hardest achievement in history. There are no predecessors on the way to the goal. Obstacles will be inevitable. There will be people to mute and discourage. Padma Lakshmi has written her name in the legal history by overcoming all this," Rajeev said in the post translated from Malayalam to English, as reported by NDTV.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meet-nisha-desai-biswal-indian-origin-woman-nominated-by-biden-as-deputy-ceo-of-us-finance-agency-574279">Meet Nisha Desai Biswal: Indian-origin woman nominated by Biden as deputy CEO of US finance agency</a></p>

<p>The heartwarming tweet thrilled users, and several of them used the red heart emoji to express their happiness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Congrats and welcome to the Advocate community,"&nbsp;said one user in response to the minister's post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Social media users are praising Padma Lakshmi's accomplishment in the wake of Joyita Mondal, who was appointed as India's first transgender judge in West Bengal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Kerala's Padma Lakshmi registered as an advocate with the state's Bar Council, becoming the first transgender lawyer in the state. "I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments.

Kerala's Padma Lakshmi registered as an advocate with the state's Bar Council, becoming the first transgender lawyer in the state. "I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments. I focus on the positive. I believe that is one of my advantages. If I focus on the negativity, I will have time only for that and will never move forward in life," she told PTI. P Rajeev, the state's industries minister, expressed his delight and posted a photo of the lawyer on his official Instagram handle. As per the minister's post, Padma Lakshmi was one of the more than 1,500 recent law graduates who received their bar enrolment certificates on Sunday at an event hosted by the Bar Council of India. Padma Lakshmi received her law degree from Ernakulam Government Law College, as per PTI reports. Rajeev applauded the young lawyer's perseverance in his Instagram post, noting that she had to navigate a society that was not quite supportive or kind to her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by P Rajeev (@prajeevofficial) × "Congratulations to Padma Lakshmi who overcame all the hurdles of life and enrolled as the first transgender advocate in Kerala. Becoming the first is always the hardest achievement in history. There are no predecessors on the way to the goal. Obstacles will be inevitable. There will be people to mute and discourage. Padma Lakshmi has written her name in the legal history by overcoming all this," Rajeev said in the post translated from Malayalam to English, as reported by NDTV. ALSO READ | Meet Nisha Desai Biswal: Indian-origin woman nominated by Biden as deputy CEO of US finance agency The heartwarming tweet thrilled users, and several of them used the red heart emoji to express their happiness. "Congrats and welcome to the Advocate community," said one user in response to the minister's post. Social media users are praising Padma Lakshmi's accomplishment in the wake of Joyita Mondal, who was appointed as India's first transgender judge in West Bengal. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kerala's first transgender lawyer: Padma Lakshmi aspires to be the voice of the poor

<p>Georgina Beyer, a true trailblazer for the transgender community and the world's first openly transgender MP from New Zealand, died at the age of 65, as per an announcement by the family on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Family and friends shared the news of Beyer's passing in an emotional social media post “with the heaviest of hearts." Many New Zealand politicians paid their tributes to the former actor, radio host, sex worker and drag performer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Late MP Georgina Beyer played a significant role in decriminalising prostitution in 2003 and making it legal for any citizens aged 18 or over to buy or sell sexual services. Beyer's efforts and her sheer will to put up a fight were truly revolutionary as they resulted in sex workers' getting protection for their employment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indigo-in-talks-with-boeing-for-largest-jet-purchase-airbus-to-get-a-tough-fight-569124">Indian airline Indigo in talks with Boeing for largest-ever jet order, Airbus to get a tough fight</a></p>

<p>A friend Scotty Kennedy wrote, “Georgie was surrounded by her nearest and dearest 24/7 over the past week, she accepted what was happening, was cracking jokes and had a twinkle in her eye, right until the final moment."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Farewell Georgie, your love, compassion and all that you have done for the Rainbow and many other communities will live on forever.” Though born in Wellington, the former actor moved to Australia as an adult.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s less of a reflection on me but a wonderful reflection on them – rural conservative New Zealand. Who would have thought?” Beyeer told a local media outlet, NZ Herald, during an interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-train-derails-in-ohio-but-poses-no-risk-to-public-health-says-company-569109">Another train derails in Ohio, but poses no risk to public health, says company</a></p>

<p>She surprised political commentators by winning a 3,033-vote majority over former colleague Paul Henry, to become the world's first transgender Member of Parliament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elite-israeli-defence-pilots-protest-judicial-reforms-by-boycott-reserve-duty-training-569103">Elite Israeli defence pilots protest judicial reforms by boycotting reserve duty, training</a></p>

<p>"I am the first transsexual in New Zealand to be standing in this House of Parliament. This is a first not only in New Zealand, ladies and gentlemen but also in the world. This is a historic moment. We need to acknowledge that this country of ours leads the way in so many aspects," she said during her maiden speech in the parliament.&nbsp;</p>

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Georgina Beyer, a true trailblazer for the transgender community and the world's first openly transgender MP from New Zealand, died at the age of 65, as per an announcement by the family on Monday.

Georgina Beyer, a true trailblazer for the transgender community and the world's first openly transgender MP from New Zealand, died at the age of 65, as per an announcement by the family on Monday. Family and friends shared the news of Beyer's passing in an emotional social media post “with the heaviest of hearts." Many New Zealand politicians paid their tributes to the former actor, radio host, sex worker and drag performer. Late MP Georgina Beyer played a significant role in decriminalising prostitution in 2003 and making it legal for any citizens aged 18 or over to buy or sell sexual services. Beyer's efforts and her sheer will to put up a fight were truly revolutionary as they resulted in sex workers' getting protection for their employment. Also Read | Indian airline Indigo in talks with Boeing for largest-ever jet order, Airbus to get a tough fight A friend Scotty Kennedy wrote, “Georgie was surrounded by her nearest and dearest 24/7 over the past week, she accepted what was happening, was cracking jokes and had a twinkle in her eye, right until the final moment." “Farewell Georgie, your love, compassion and all that you have done for the Rainbow and many other communities will live on forever.” Though born in Wellington, the former actor moved to Australia as an adult. “It’s less of a reflection on me but a wonderful reflection on them – rural conservative New Zealand. Who would have thought?” Beyeer told a local media outlet, NZ Herald, during an interview. Also Read | Another train derails in Ohio, but poses no risk to public health, says company She surprised political commentators by winning a 3,033-vote majority over former colleague Paul Henry, to become the world's first transgender Member of Parliament. Watch | Elite Israeli defence pilots protest judicial reforms by boycotting reserve duty, training "I am the first transsexual in New Zealand to be standing in this House of Parliament. This is a first not only in New Zealand, ladies and gentlemen but also in the world. This is a historic moment. We need to acknowledge that this country of ours leads the way in so many aspects," she said during her maiden speech in the parliament. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World’s first openly transgender MP, Georgina Beyer, dies in New Zealand at 65

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