In August 1968, Lynn Conway, a promising computer engineer at IBM in Sunnyvale, California, was called into the office of Gene Myron Amdahl, then the company’s director of advanced computing systems.

Amdahl had been supportive when he learned that she was “undertaking a gender transition,” Conway wrote in an account, but the company’s chief executive, Thomas Watson Jr., was less tolerant.

That summer day, Amdahl had grim news.

“I was fired,” Conway wrote.

Fifty-two years later, Conway was called back to speak with IBM supervisors. This time, the setting was a virtual meeting witnessed by other company employees.

They watched last month as Diane Gherson, IBM’s senior vice president of human resources, told Conway that while the company now offered help and support to “transitioning employees,” no amount of progress could make up for the treatment she had received decades ago.

Conway, 82, was then given a lifetime achievement award for her “pioneering work” in computers, a company spokesperson said.

“It was so unexpected,” Conway said in an interview, adding that she recalled blinking back tears. “It was stunning.”

For gay and transgender scientists and friends of Conway, the apology, while late, was a validation of the work she and others in the community had contributed to the fields of science and technology. The apology, which was reported by Forbes, was made four months after the Supreme Court ruled that a person could not be fired for being gay or transgender.

Rochelle Diamond, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology who is friends with Conway, said she learned of the apology Nov. 20, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was stabbed to death in 1998.

“This is important for us,” said Diamond, who is also the retired chair of the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. “It’s another reason why we need to remember and remember all of the people that have died because they were trans and to encourage trans people to be themselves.”

Christine Burns, who is friends with Conway, said she never showed bitterness about the way she was fired but that the apology must have felt healing.

“Nothing beats an unequivocal apology for vindication and closure,” said Burns, a retired British IT specialist who edited “Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows.”

Conway was hired at IBM in 1964, just after she graduated from Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

“It was a golden era in computer research, a time when fundamental breakthroughs were being made across a wide front,” she wrote.

Conway was on the verge of such a breakthrough — working on the architecture team of a project centered on creating a computer that would work at top speed — when she began undergoing medical treatments. In early 1968, she told a supervisor that she was “undertaking a gender transition to resolve a terrible existential situation” she had faced since childhood, she wrote.

Her direct supervisors wanted her to stay at the company and came up with a plan: She would take a leave from IBM, complete her transition and return as a new employee with a new identity, Conway said.

But company executives were alarmed, she said. Conway said she later learned that IBM executives feared “scandalous publicity” if her story got out.

The company’s medical director said employees who learned she was transgender “might suffer major emotional problems,” Conway wrote.

After she was fired, Conway underwent gender confirmation surgery and began rebuilding her career.

She worked at Memorex in 1971, and in 1973, she was recruited by Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, where she developed computer chip design methods that would eventually be used by tech companies worldwide.

In 1985, she became a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan. She joined a weekly canoeing group, where she met her future husband, Charlie, an engineer.

Conway did not publicly reveal that she was transgender until 1999, when she said she learned computer scientists were researching the project she had been a part of at IBM.

It was only a matter of time, she concluded, that someone would figure out what had happened.

In 2000, she created a website. Her goal, she wrote on the site, was to “illuminate and normalize the issues of gender identity and the processes of gender transition.”

“I also wanted to tell, in my own words, the story of my gender transition from male to female,” Conway wrote.

The website, rich with detail about her experiences as a computer engineer and a transgender woman, became a critical source of information for other people in the transgender and larger gay community, Diamond said.

She said of Conway’s website, “Here I am. I’m an accomplished trans woman. Let’s talk about things. How can we help each other?”

In 2005, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals named Conway engineer of the year for her work in computers and for her public outreach efforts.

Conway said she was never angry at the people who fired her.

“To go back and slam and blame and defame people, there is a problem with that because it tends to divide people and create an angst that’s unresolvable,” she said. “However, you do need evidence that there has been serious learning and appreciation and horror over what happened from today’s gestalt.”

Transgender employees at IBM who witnessed the apology said they felt “part of something phenomenal,” said Ella Slade, who is IBM’s LGBT+ and global leader and whose pronouns are they and them.

“Lynn made a comment at one point about her joining this IBM event was like returning home, and it’s hard not to get choked up hearing that,” they said.

In August 1968, Lynn Conway, a promising computer engineer at IBM in Sunnyvale, California, was called into the office of Gene Myron Amdahl, then the company’s director of advanced computing systems.

In August 1968, Lynn Conway, a promising computer engineer at IBM in Sunnyvale, California, was called into the office of Gene Myron Amdahl, then the company’s director of advanced computing systems. Amdahl had been supportive when he learned that she was “undertaking a gender transition,” Conway wrote in an account, but the company’s chief executive, Thomas Watson Jr., was less tolerant. That summer day, Amdahl had grim news. “I was fired,” Conway wrote. Fifty-two years later, Conway was called back to speak with IBM supervisors. This time, the setting was a virtual meeting witnessed by other company employees. They watched last month as Diane Gherson, IBM’s senior vice president of human resources, told Conway that while the company now offered help and support to “transitioning employees,” no amount of progress could make up for the treatment she had received decades ago. Conway, 82, was then given a lifetime achievement award for her “pioneering work” in computers, a company spokesperson said. “It was so unexpected,” Conway said in an interview, adding that she recalled blinking back tears. “It was stunning.” For gay and transgender scientists and friends of Conway, the apology, while late, was a validation of the work she and others in the community had contributed to the fields of science and technology. The apology, which was reported by Forbes, was made four months after the Supreme Court ruled that a person could not be fired for being gay or transgender. Rochelle Diamond, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology who is friends with Conway, said she learned of the apology Nov. 20, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was stabbed to death in 1998. “This is important for us,” said Diamond, who is also the retired chair of the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. “It’s another reason why we need to remember and remember all of the people that have died because they were trans and to encourage trans people to be themselves.” Christine Burns, who is friends with Conway, said she never showed bitterness about the way she was fired but that the apology must have felt healing. “Nothing beats an unequivocal apology for vindication and closure,” said Burns, a retired British IT specialist who edited “Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows.” Conway was hired at IBM in 1964, just after she graduated from Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. “It was a golden era in computer research, a time when fundamental breakthroughs were being made across a wide front,” she wrote. Conway was on the verge of such a breakthrough — working on the architecture team of a project centered on creating a computer that would work at top speed — when she began undergoing medical treatments. In early 1968, she told a supervisor that she was “undertaking a gender transition to resolve a terrible existential situation” she had faced since childhood, she wrote. Her direct supervisors wanted her to stay at the company and came up with a plan: She would take a leave from IBM, complete her transition and return as a new employee with a new identity, Conway said. But company executives were alarmed, she said. Conway said she later learned that IBM executives feared “scandalous publicity” if her story got out. The company’s medical director said employees who learned she was transgender “might suffer major emotional problems,” Conway wrote. After she was fired, Conway underwent gender confirmation surgery and began rebuilding her career. She worked at Memorex in 1971, and in 1973, she was recruited by Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, where she developed computer chip design methods that would eventually be used by tech companies worldwide. In 1985, she became a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan. She joined a weekly canoeing group, where she met her future husband, Charlie, an engineer. Conway did not publicly reveal that she was transgender until 1999, when she said she learned computer scientists were researching the project she had been a part of at IBM. It was only a matter of time, she concluded, that someone would figure out what had happened. In 2000, she created a website. Her goal, she wrote on the site, was to “illuminate and normalize the issues of gender identity and the processes of gender transition.” “I also wanted to tell, in my own words, the story of my gender transition from male to female,” Conway wrote. The website, rich with detail about her experiences as a computer engineer and a transgender woman, became a critical source of information for other people in the transgender and larger gay community, Diamond said. She said of Conway’s website, “Here I am. I’m an accomplished trans woman. Let’s talk about things. How can we help each other?” In 2005, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals named Conway engineer of the year for her work in computers and for her public outreach efforts. Conway said she was never angry at the people who fired her. “To go back and slam and blame and defame people, there is a problem with that because it tends to divide people and create an angst that’s unresolvable,” she said. “However, you do need evidence that there has been serious learning and appreciation and horror over what happened from today’s gestalt.” Transgender employees at IBM who witnessed the apology said they felt “part of something phenomenal,” said Ella Slade, who is IBM’s LGBT+ and global leader and whose pronouns are they and them. “Lynn made a comment at one point about her joining this IBM event was like returning home, and it’s hard not to get choked up hearing that,” they said.

52 years later, IBM apologizes for firing transgender woman

Transgender people will soon be able to inherit property from their families, Bangladesh's law minister said Sunday, the latest effort to give the minority group more rights in the conservative Muslim-majority nation.

While the country of 168 million people is officially secular, property legislation still follows religious laws, with transgender people mostly barred from inheriting estates when parents die.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a cabinet meeting this week that new inheritance laws for the group, known as hijra -- an umbrella term referring to someone who is born male but does not refer to themselves as a man or woman -- were being drafted.

"We're trying to frame a legislation in accordance with the Islamic sharia law and our constitution which will ensure the property rights for a transgender family member," Law Minister Anisul Huq told AFP.

The bill has yet to be proposed in parliament but is expected to comfortably pass the legislative body.

Bangladesh has allowed transgender people, who number around 1.5 million, to identify as a separate gender since 2013.&nbsp;

Last year they were allowed to register to vote as a third gender. Earlier this month, the South Asian country opened its first Islamic school for transgender Muslims.

But the LGBTQI community still faces widespread discrimination, with a colonial-era law in place that punishes gay sex by prison terms, though enforcement is rare.

Rights activists welcomed the move but were sceptical about whether the law would be enforceable with many families still rejecting their transgender offspring.

"As an activist, I am happy the issue is getting focus. But it's not just a matter of legislation, rather it requires a change in the entire society," said Ananya Banik, 40, who heads transgender rights group SadaKalo.

Banik said she came out as transgender when she was 16.&nbsp;

"I had to leave my family because of the pressure they received from other families when I was growing up. And I'm not alone, there are hundreds of thousands of members in our community who had to leave their families behind," Banik, who prefers to be called she, added.

She said many transgenders leave their homes at a young age, often driven away from family members, and could face violence if they return to claim their inheritances.

Rights groups also fear a backlash from religious hardliners.

In 2015 Islamist extremists hacked to death a leading gay activist and editor of an LGBTQI magazine, while other prominent homosexuals have since fled the country. 
&nbsp;

Transgender people will soon be able to inherit property from their families, Bangladesh's law minister said Sunday, the latest effort to give the minority group more rights in the conservative Muslim-majority nation.

Transgender people will soon be able to inherit property from their families, Bangladesh's law minister said Sunday, the latest effort to give the minority group more rights in the conservative Muslim-majority nation. While the country of 168 million people is officially secular, property legislation still follows religious laws, with transgender people mostly barred from inheriting estates when parents die. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a cabinet meeting this week that new inheritance laws for the group, known as hijra -- an umbrella term referring to someone who is born male but does not refer to themselves as a man or woman -- were being drafted. "We're trying to frame a legislation in accordance with the Islamic sharia law and our constitution which will ensure the property rights for a transgender family member," Law Minister Anisul Huq told AFP. The bill has yet to be proposed in parliament but is expected to comfortably pass the legislative body. Bangladesh has allowed transgender people, who number around 1.5 million, to identify as a separate gender since 2013. Last year they were allowed to register to vote as a third gender. Earlier this month, the South Asian country opened its first Islamic school for transgender Muslims. But the LGBTQI community still faces widespread discrimination, with a colonial-era law in place that punishes gay sex by prison terms, though enforcement is rare. Rights activists welcomed the move but were sceptical about whether the law would be enforceable with many families still rejecting their transgender offspring. "As an activist, I am happy the issue is getting focus. But it's not just a matter of legislation, rather it requires a change in the entire society," said Ananya Banik, 40, who heads transgender rights group SadaKalo. Banik said she came out as transgender when she was 16. "I had to leave my family because of the pressure they received from other families when I was growing up. And I'm not alone, there are hundreds of thousands of members in our community who had to leave their families behind," Banik, who prefers to be called she, added. She said many transgenders leave their homes at a young age, often driven away from family members, and could face violence if they return to claim their inheritances. Rights groups also fear a backlash from religious hardliners. In 2015 Islamist extremists hacked to death a leading gay activist and editor of an LGBTQI magazine, while other prominent homosexuals have since fled the country.

Transgender people to gain inheritance rights in Bangladesh

Just when you thought that Akshay Kumar could be given the trophy for making the most socially relevant, issue-based, message-driven films in Bollywood- he delivers 'Laxmii'. A film that falters at every step and misrepresents the transgender community.&nbsp;

Akshay Kumar's latest has been directed by Raghava Lawrence who is also attributed for the film's screenplay and story. A remake of 2011 Tamil film 'Kanchana', the film aims to raise awareness about the third gender and attempts to highlight the importance of inclusivity. On paper, the idea may have appeared great- a film on trans community, with dollops of horror and comedy thrown in and with Akshay Kumar leading the film- what could go wrong with the film, the makers must have thought. Yet, all these factors and a few more- spirals 'Laxmii' into a bottomless pit.&nbsp;

Kumar plays a liberal Muslim man called Asif, who runs an organisation that debunks myths around ghosts and evil spirits. He believes that there are no ghosts and if he ever happens to see one, he would wear bangles. Alarming statement from a man, who goes around educating people about the evils of superstition, who tries to find logic in everything and who himself has married a Hindu girl called Rashmi (Kiara Advani). Yet, he thinks it's okay to wear bangles as a sign of defeat. Unbelievable that its 2020 and Bollywood is still churning out such stupid stereotypes with absolute nonchalance in a movie that has a progressive theme!

Asif and Rashmi eloped three years ago and decide its time to face Rashmi's family who has so far disapproved their alliance. During their visit, Asif starts behaving erratically, and that leads to the family to speculate whether he has been possessed by an evil spirit.&nbsp;

In the garb of being woke, relevant and funny at the same time- the film becomes a 2 hrs 20-minute cringe-fest where the jokes are not funny, the horror is too predictable and a theme that tries to appease too many people at the same time without making any impact whatsoever. The plot not just tries to talk of the third gender but it also slyly makes its leading man a Muslim to appease the actor's wider fan base. Lawrence makes everything too obvious. There is nothing left for the audience to interpret. A Muslim man talks of transgender god Ardhnarishwar with as much ease as a Hindu family calls a Pir baba to get rid of an evil spirit from their home. In Lawrence's world- all communities live harmoniously.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xw0gE8QA1W0" width="560"></iframe>

While watching the film, I had so many questions. Why were there songs arbitrarily placed in the film? Before the 'Burj Khalifa' song, Kumar tells Advani 'Come, let me take you into my dreams' and the next moment the two are dancing to a bizarre song in atrocious outfits. Every actor is overacting, every song is out of place, some characters disappear in the middle of the narrative without any explanation and there are scenes written in the screenplay that make no sense at all.&nbsp;

Sharad Kelkar and Akshay Kumar, both play eunuchs in the film. While the actors are quite convincing in their parts- they get the walk and the talk right- one can't help but wonder that why would the makers not cast an actual transgender actor for the main role. Sure a film bankrolled on Kumar's name works more- but couldn't they have cast a transgender person in place of Kelkar? Wouldn't that make the theme of the movie more effective?

Ultimately, 'Laxmii' is a shoddy film with a badly written screenplay that grossly misrepresents the trans community- makes a mockery of the idea of inclusivity and tries to appease people with a superficial storyline.&nbsp;

Akshay Kumar's 'Laxmii' won't make you laugh, it won't spook you either. It will just leave you angry, frustrated and full of questions.&nbsp;

The film is now streaming on Disney+Hotstar.

Just when you thought that Akshay Kumar could be given the trophy for making the most socially relevant, issue-based, message-driven films in Bollywood- he delivers 'Laxmii'.

Just when you thought that Akshay Kumar could be given the trophy for making the most socially relevant, issue-based, message-driven films in Bollywood- he delivers 'Laxmii'. A film that falters at every step and misrepresents the transgender community. Akshay Kumar's latest has been directed by Raghava Lawrence who is also attributed for the film's screenplay and story. A remake of 2011 Tamil film 'Kanchana', the film aims to raise awareness about the third gender and attempts to highlight the importance of inclusivity. On paper, the idea may have appeared great- a film on trans community, with dollops of horror and comedy thrown in and with Akshay Kumar leading the film- what could go wrong with the film, the makers must have thought. Yet, all these factors and a few more- spirals 'Laxmii' into a bottomless pit. Kumar plays a liberal Muslim man called Asif, who runs an organisation that debunks myths around ghosts and evil spirits. He believes that there are no ghosts and if he ever happens to see one, he would wear bangles. Alarming statement from a man, who goes around educating people about the evils of superstition, who tries to find logic in everything and who himself has married a Hindu girl called Rashmi (Kiara Advani). Yet, he thinks it's okay to wear bangles as a sign of defeat. Unbelievable that its 2020 and Bollywood is still churning out such stupid stereotypes with absolute nonchalance in a movie that has a progressive theme! Asif and Rashmi eloped three years ago and decide its time to face Rashmi's family who has so far disapproved their alliance. During their visit, Asif starts behaving erratically, and that leads to the family to speculate whether he has been possessed by an evil spirit. In the garb of being woke, relevant and funny at the same time- the film becomes a 2 hrs 20-minute cringe-fest where the jokes are not funny, the horror is too predictable and a theme that tries to appease too many people at the same time without making any impact whatsoever. The plot not just tries to talk of the third gender but it also slyly makes its leading man a Muslim to appease the actor's wider fan base. Lawrence makes everything too obvious. There is nothing left for the audience to interpret. A Muslim man talks of transgender god Ardhnarishwar with as much ease as a Hindu family calls a Pir baba to get rid of an evil spirit from their home. In Lawrence's world- all communities live harmoniously. While watching the film, I had so many questions. Why were there songs arbitrarily placed in the film? Before the 'Burj Khalifa' song, Kumar tells Advani 'Come, let me take you into my dreams' and the next moment the two are dancing to a bizarre song in atrocious outfits. Every actor is overacting, every song is out of place, some characters disappear in the middle of the narrative without any explanation and there are scenes written in the screenplay that make no sense at all. Sharad Kelkar and Akshay Kumar, both play eunuchs in the film. While the actors are quite convincing in their parts- they get the walk and the talk right- one can't help but wonder that why would the makers not cast an actual transgender actor for the main role. Sure a film bankrolled on Kumar's name works more- but couldn't they have cast a transgender person in place of Kelkar? Wouldn't that make the theme of the movie more effective? Ultimately, 'Laxmii' is a shoddy film with a badly written screenplay that grossly misrepresents the trans community- makes a mockery of the idea of inclusivity and tries to appease people with a superficial storyline. Akshay Kumar's 'Laxmii' won't make you laugh, it won't spook you either. It will just leave you angry, frustrated and full of questions. The film is now streaming on Disney+Hotstar.

'Laxmii' review: No Akshay Kumar, that's not how you represent the trans community 

Assam has become the first Indian state to add "transgender" as an identity category for people seeking civil service jobs, allowing 42 trans candidates to apply to sit an entry exam, an official and a campaigner said on Friday.

The application form for the exam, which recruits for state roles such as administrative officials, magistrates, and police officers, now lets applicants tick male, female or transgender, a move welcomed by local trans rights advocates.

"Forty-two (applicants) is not a small number... It is a historic decision. Assam has become the first state in India to have included us," said Swati Bidhan Baruah of the Assam Transgender Welfare Board, which sought the change.

Calling the decision a "big victory", she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation her group had also urged Assam's state government to reserve a quota of civil service jobs for trans candidates.

"We are confident our demand will be met soon," she said.

Pallab Bhattacharya, chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission, which conducts the test, said about 76,000 candidates had applied to sit this year's examination, which will be held in December.

In April, India's federal government instructed all ministries and departments to modify forms for recruitment tests to include "transgender" as a separate category to conform with a trans rights law passed last year.

The law set out to improve the lives of about two million trans-Indians, who face discrimination in the largely conservative nation and mostly survive through begging, performing at weddings, or selling sex.

Still, campaigners have expressed concern about the limits on self-determining their gender, with the law stating they must obtain an identity certificate from a district magistrate to be declared transgender.

They also have to give proof of having undergone sex reassignment surgery if they then want to be listed as male or female.

India's Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that trans people had equal rights but they are still often rejected by their families and denied jobs, education and healthcare.

Assam, which lies in northeast India, has a trans population of about 11,500, according to the last census of 2011.

One trans woman who filled out the state application form said sitting the entry examination could change her life, adding that she hoped to join the local police force.

"It's a matter of pride and self respect to have a category where we can boldly mention ourselves as transgender," the 24-year-old said, asking not to give her name.

"I want to change the system and do away with discrimination faced by the transgender community."

Assam has become the first Indian state to add "transgender" as an identity category for people seeking civil service jobs, allowing 42 trans candidates to apply to sit an entry exam, an official and a campaigner said on Friday.

Assam has become the first Indian state to add "transgender" as an identity category for people seeking civil service jobs, allowing 42 trans candidates to apply to sit an entry exam, an official and a campaigner said on Friday. The application form for the exam, which recruits for state roles such as administrative officials, magistrates, and police officers, now lets applicants tick male, female or transgender, a move welcomed by local trans rights advocates. "Forty-two (applicants) is not a small number... It is a historic decision. Assam has become the first state in India to have included us," said Swati Bidhan Baruah of the Assam Transgender Welfare Board, which sought the change. Calling the decision a "big victory", she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation her group had also urged Assam's state government to reserve a quota of civil service jobs for trans candidates. "We are confident our demand will be met soon," she said. Pallab Bhattacharya, chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission, which conducts the test, said about 76,000 candidates had applied to sit this year's examination, which will be held in December. In April, India's federal government instructed all ministries and departments to modify forms for recruitment tests to include "transgender" as a separate category to conform with a trans rights law passed last year. The law set out to improve the lives of about two million trans-Indians, who face discrimination in the largely conservative nation and mostly survive through begging, performing at weddings, or selling sex. Still, campaigners have expressed concern about the limits on self-determining their gender, with the law stating they must obtain an identity certificate from a district magistrate to be declared transgender. They also have to give proof of having undergone sex reassignment surgery if they then want to be listed as male or female. India's Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that trans people had equal rights but they are still often rejected by their families and denied jobs, education and healthcare. Assam, which lies in northeast India, has a trans population of about 11,500, according to the last census of 2011. One trans woman who filled out the state application form said sitting the entry examination could change her life, adding that she hoped to join the local police force. "It's a matter of pride and self respect to have a category where we can boldly mention ourselves as transgender," the 24-year-old said, asking not to give her name. "I want to change the system and do away with discrimination faced by the transgender community."

'Matter of pride': Indian state lets transgender to register for civil services exam

As head of India's first dairy farm run by transgender women, Bhoomika has finally found security, having spent years as a beggar after fleeing parents who taunted their sari-wearing son.

The state-backed Transgenders' Milk Producers' Cooperative Society officially opened its doors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu last month, providing 30 trans women each with an individual home, a cow and a shared business venture.

"I begged on the trains for five years. Life was difficult, everyone looked at us in a strange way," Bhoomika, who goes by one name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/supreme-court-seeks-centres-reply-on-pil-for-equal-protection-of-law-to-transgenders-in-sexual-offences-334757" hreflang="en">Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on PIL for equal protection of law to transgenders in sexual offences</a>

"We are still treated the same outside the dairy farm but inside I am able to lead a normal life, a life of dignity. I feel I belong," the 28-year-old said from the farm in Manthithoppu village, about 100km south of Madurai city.

The 1.5-acre farm, which sells 180 litres of milk a day, was the brainchild of local official Sandeep Nanduri, who tapped multiple state departments for housing, jobs, training and cash to realise the 17.5 million-rupee ($237,621) project.

It is rare for India's estimated 2 million trans population to find stable homes or incomes, with many forced to beg, dance at weddings or sell sex in the face of widespread discrimination that makes it hard to access education and jobs. [nL8N2FQ38I]

Since India's Supreme Court gave trans people "third gender" recognition in 2014, a growing number of companies have actively hired trans people and adopted more inclusive policies, such as unisex toilets.

Trans people have also received charity and local government funding to start businesses such as take-out biryani rice joints or tattoo parlours, according to local media.

But Nanduri had greater ambitions.

"In the last couple of years, we have helped some trans people with loans to set up small shops but the idea this time was to empower the community ... not just financially, but to make them entrepreneurs," he said.

"They face social exclusion so we kept the farm close to their residential space," said Nanduri, the administrative head of Thoothukudi district.

DIGNITY

Nanduri was spurred into action by a well-known trans activist Grace Banu who had been lobbying local officials for six years - without success - to provide housing for trans women in the port city of Thoothukudi, where she grew up.

Unlike most trans women in India, Banu earned an engineering degree and now works as a mobile app developer in Chennai, and is a leader in the trans community.

"Housing is our biggest problem. If we rent homes, the owners treat us poorly and if we speak up, they ask us to vacate the house with no notice," said Banu.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/transgender-mans-dream-of-joining-us-military-thwarted-for-now-334902" hreflang="en">Transgender man's dream of joining US military thwarted for now</a>

In just over a year, Nanduri arranged loans for the women to buy cows and enlisted government agencies that taught them how to farm and built cattle sheds on the site, along with neat rows of green and turquoise, one-room homes.

"He was the first person to treat us with respect... he put in all the effort to meet our demand," said Banu.

"That is why we named our housing colony after him. We call it Sandeep Nagar," she said. The term nagar is often used to denote a town in India.

The women are paid by the litre and earn about 8,000 rupees ($109) each per month supplying milk to Tamil Nadu's biggest milk producers' union Aavin, which buys from about 170 farms in Thoothukudi.

"They are doing well compared to other dairies as they work as a community ... they are attached emotionally and live together as a family," said Santha Kumar, manager with Aavin's procurement department.

"The fat content is 4.1%, better than the average fat content of 3.9% fat that we get, which means the cattle is being fed well and the quality of milk is good."

Bhoomika is confident the farm will continue to flourish, with plans afoot to add more cows and members.

When a local villager offered to buy her cow, she refused.

"This business has given us dignity," she said. "We have been trusted with this work and we don't want to break that."

As head of India's first dairy farm run by transgender women, Bhoomika has finally found security, having spent years as a beggar after fleeing parents who taunted their sari-wearing son.

As head of India's first dairy farm run by transgender women, Bhoomika has finally found security, having spent years as a beggar after fleeing parents who taunted their sari-wearing son. The state-backed Transgenders' Milk Producers' Cooperative Society officially opened its doors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu last month, providing 30 trans women each with an individual home, a cow and a shared business venture. "I begged on the trains for five years. Life was difficult, everyone looked at us in a strange way," Bhoomika, who goes by one name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. Also read: Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on PIL for equal protection of law to transgenders in sexual offences "We are still treated the same outside the dairy farm but inside I am able to lead a normal life, a life of dignity. I feel I belong," the 28-year-old said from the farm in Manthithoppu village, about 100km south of Madurai city. The 1.5-acre farm, which sells 180 litres of milk a day, was the brainchild of local official Sandeep Nanduri, who tapped multiple state departments for housing, jobs, training and cash to realise the 17.5 million-rupee ($237,621) project. It is rare for India's estimated 2 million trans population to find stable homes or incomes, with many forced to beg, dance at weddings or sell sex in the face of widespread discrimination that makes it hard to access education and jobs. [nL8N2FQ38I] Since India's Supreme Court gave trans people "third gender" recognition in 2014, a growing number of companies have actively hired trans people and adopted more inclusive policies, such as unisex toilets. Trans people have also received charity and local government funding to start businesses such as take-out biryani rice joints or tattoo parlours, according to local media. But Nanduri had greater ambitions. "In the last couple of years, we have helped some trans people with loans to set up small shops but the idea this time was to empower the community ... not just financially, but to make them entrepreneurs," he said. "They face social exclusion so we kept the farm close to their residential space," said Nanduri, the administrative head of Thoothukudi district. DIGNITY Nanduri was spurred into action by a well-known trans activist Grace Banu who had been lobbying local officials for six years - without success - to provide housing for trans women in the port city of Thoothukudi, where she grew up. Unlike most trans women in India, Banu earned an engineering degree and now works as a mobile app developer in Chennai, and is a leader in the trans community. "Housing is our biggest problem. If we rent homes, the owners treat us poorly and if we speak up, they ask us to vacate the house with no notice," said Banu. Also read: Transgender man's dream of joining US military thwarted for now In just over a year, Nanduri arranged loans for the women to buy cows and enlisted government agencies that taught them how to farm and built cattle sheds on the site, along with neat rows of green and turquoise, one-room homes. "He was the first person to treat us with respect... he put in all the effort to meet our demand," said Banu. "That is why we named our housing colony after him. We call it Sandeep Nagar," she said. The term nagar is often used to denote a town in India. The women are paid by the litre and earn about 8,000 rupees ($109) each per month supplying milk to Tamil Nadu's biggest milk producers' union Aavin, which buys from about 170 farms in Thoothukudi. "They are doing well compared to other dairies as they work as a community ... they are attached emotionally and live together as a family," said Santha Kumar, manager with Aavin's procurement department. "The fat content is 4.1%, better than the average fat content of 3.9% fat that we get, which means the cattle is being fed well and the quality of milk is good." Bhoomika is confident the farm will continue to flourish, with plans afoot to add more cows and members. When a local villager offered to buy her cow, she refused. "This business has given us dignity," she said. "We have been trusted with this work and we don't want to break that."

'I feel I belong': India's first trans-run dairy farm brings jobs and respect

Paulo Batista is lifting weights and hitting the books, striving to fulfill his father’s dying wish for him to join the U.S. military. But he says all he has heard from the armed forces is either silence or a door slamming shut.

Batista is transgender, effectively banned from military service under a policy announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017 and formally adopted in 2019, reversing a policy former President Barack Obama’s administration had enacted, after extensive review, to allow transgender military service.

Still, Batista continues his quest, hopeful of a waiver or a policy change that might let him in, even as military recruiters rebuff his entreaties. He pumps iron in his garage, his muscular and tattooed arms able to bench press 275 pounds. He pops out 100 push-ups a day.

He is also studying for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a test developed by the Pentagon to measure a recruit’s potential.

“My heart is sold for this as a career. There’s a feeling about wearing that uniform,” said Batista, 36, who is too old for the Army or Marines and has focused on the Navy and Air Force. “When you love what you do, it’s no longer a job, and serving my country would never be a job.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Trump transgender policy can stand while it faces four separate lawsuits in lower courts.

Although most transgender military personnel as of 2019 were allowed to continue serving, new recruits have been kept out.

“To my knowledge, there are zero transgender people who have sought to enlist who have been able to enlist since the ban went into effect,” said Jennifer Levi of GLBTQ Legal Advocates &amp; Defenders, one of the groups suing the Trump administration.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who was Obama’s vice president, has pledged to instruct the Pentagon to restore the right of transgender people to serve in the military if he wins the Nov. 3 election. Polls show Biden leading Trump.

The Defense Department said no officials were available to comment for this article and did not respond to a Reuters request for data on the enlistment of transgender recruits.

Batista was still presenting as female in 2002 when he entered the military’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, but dropped out to care for his sick father.

Fred Batista died of cancer in 2007 at age 69.

“I want to do nothing more than to make the one man, my hero, prouder of me from above,” Batista said. “The true American dream we all know is pure freedom, no matter who or what you are.”

Paulo Batista is lifting weights and hitting the books, striving to fulfill his father’s dying wish for him to join the U.S. military. But he says all he has heard from the armed forces is either silence or a door slamming shut.

Paulo Batista is lifting weights and hitting the books, striving to fulfill his father’s dying wish for him to join the U.S. military. But he says all he has heard from the armed forces is either silence or a door slamming shut. Batista is transgender, effectively banned from military service under a policy announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017 and formally adopted in 2019, reversing a policy former President Barack Obama’s administration had enacted, after extensive review, to allow transgender military service. Still, Batista continues his quest, hopeful of a waiver or a policy change that might let him in, even as military recruiters rebuff his entreaties. He pumps iron in his garage, his muscular and tattooed arms able to bench press 275 pounds. He pops out 100 push-ups a day. He is also studying for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a test developed by the Pentagon to measure a recruit’s potential. “My heart is sold for this as a career. There’s a feeling about wearing that uniform,” said Batista, 36, who is too old for the Army or Marines and has focused on the Navy and Air Force. “When you love what you do, it’s no longer a job, and serving my country would never be a job.” The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Trump transgender policy can stand while it faces four separate lawsuits in lower courts. Although most transgender military personnel as of 2019 were allowed to continue serving, new recruits have been kept out. “To my knowledge, there are zero transgender people who have sought to enlist who have been able to enlist since the ban went into effect,” said Jennifer Levi of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, one of the groups suing the Trump administration. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who was Obama’s vice president, has pledged to instruct the Pentagon to restore the right of transgender people to serve in the military if he wins the Nov. 3 election. Polls show Biden leading Trump. The Defense Department said no officials were available to comment for this article and did not respond to a Reuters request for data on the enlistment of transgender recruits. Batista was still presenting as female in 2002 when he entered the military’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, but dropped out to care for his sick father. Fred Batista died of cancer in 2007 at age 69. “I want to do nothing more than to make the one man, my hero, prouder of me from above,” Batista said. “The true American dream we all know is pure freedom, no matter who or what you are.”

Transgender man's dream of joining US military thwarted for now

Jay knew he was different from a young age and when adolescence hit, his increasingly feminine body did not match the identity he was growing into.

He began researching what it means to be transgender and how others like him had transformed their bodies to reflect their true selves.&nbsp;

But the soft-spoken animation student from southwest England was devastated to find that transitioning could take years on the state-run National Health Service (NHS).

He is now turning to online fundraising for surgery for his chest, which costs at least £5,000 ($6,500, 5,500 euros) with a private surgeon.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-to-speak-on-covid-19-as-anger-mounts-towards-curbs-331392">Also read:&nbsp;UK PM Johnson to speak on COVID-19 as anger mounts towards curbs</a>

"With the waiting list, it just gets to a point where it's unbearable... It's just really difficult," Jay, 19, told AFP, his voice breaking with emotion.

'Inhumane' wait times

An estimated 200,000 to 500,000 transgender people live in the UK, according to 2018 government data, and about 13,500 trans patients are on NHS waiting lists.&nbsp;

But the coronavirus outbreak has lengthened the wait, as the NHS stopped some services deemed "non-essential" to tackle the pandemic.&nbsp;

NHS doctor Adrian Harrop, a vocal advocate for transgender and LGBTQ healthcare, said the waiting list was now growing "exponentially" every month, calling it "inhumane".

The government recently promised to open three new gender identity clinics to meet heightened demand, and cut the consultation fee from £140 to "a nominal amount".

"Trans people tell us that waiting lists at NHS gender clinics are too long," equalities minister Liz Truss said last week.

"I agree and I am deeply concerned at the distress it can cause."&nbsp;

Harrop said the government plan does not go far enough. "Imagine what has been announced times at least by 100," he added, calling for more localised care.

At the same time, the broader system needs to change, given that transgender identities are increasingly politicised, debated and scrutinised, he said.&nbsp;

"They are invalidated and these messages are quite pervasive and... transcend into people working within the NHS," he added.

Violence and discrimination

Recent data indicated that transgender individuals were "significantly more likely" to have been a victim of crime compared to cisgender people — those whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

The Office for National Statistics said more than one in four trans people (28 percent) had experienced crime compared with 14 percent who are cisgender.&nbsp;

A 2018 survey by the Stonewall LGBT rights charity reported that 41 percent of trans men and women said they had experienced a hate crime or incident in the past year.&nbsp;

Transgender activist Alexis Meshida said she has faced discrimination and violence as a young trans woman growing up in Nigeria and Northern Ireland.&nbsp;

Fed up with NHS waiting times, the 26-year-old is now fundraising for facial feminisation surgery to feel "safe" in her daily life in London.&nbsp;

"It's either I wait 10 years to get facial feminisation on the NHS, or I work really hard," she said. "But I don't have 10 years."

'A threat to our lives'

Meshida said in addition to the threat of violence, longer waiting times were "a threat to our lives" because of the increased risk of mental health problems.

"We see self-harm, we see suicide, we see anxiety, stress, depression," said Helen Webberley, who founded the tele-medicine service GenderGP in 2015.&nbsp;

"They can see their bodies changing, they can't see an end to it. They want to restart their lives."&nbsp;

Physical changes are particularly difficult to face for many young people under the age of 18, who must first go through psychological consultations before receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapy.&nbsp;

Lizzie Jordan, who heads LGBTQ and sex education specialists Think2Speak, said self-harm was a real risk because of long waits.

"The system is severely flawed and this is not affirmative and it does not provide timely care," said Jordan, whose organisation helps transgender youth and their families.&nbsp;

"We have children who are really, really struggling and then that plays out in self-harm, that plays out in attempts of suicide and (young people) hurting themselves," she said.&nbsp;

Jay cannot stand to wait another decade and faces a daily battle.&nbsp;

"It builds to other things like anxiety going out, or depression," he said.

He has raised more than £900 of his £8,600 goal.&nbsp;

One day, he hopes it will allow him to take off his shirt at the beach and no longer use a restrictive binder around his chest.

In the meantime, he waits.&nbsp;

Jay knew he was different from a young age and when adolescence hit, his increasingly feminine body did not match the identity he was growing into. He began researching what it means to be transgender and how others like him had transformed their bodies to reflect their true selves.

Jay knew he was different from a young age and when adolescence hit, his increasingly feminine body did not match the identity he was growing into. He began researching what it means to be transgender and how others like him had transformed their bodies to reflect their true selves. But the soft-spoken animation student from southwest England was devastated to find that transitioning could take years on the state-run National Health Service (NHS). He is now turning to online fundraising for surgery for his chest, which costs at least £5,000 ($6,500, 5,500 euros) with a private surgeon. Also read: UK PM Johnson to speak on COVID-19 as anger mounts towards curbs "With the waiting list, it just gets to a point where it's unbearable... It's just really difficult," Jay, 19, told AFP, his voice breaking with emotion. 'Inhumane' wait times An estimated 200,000 to 500,000 transgender people live in the UK, according to 2018 government data, and about 13,500 trans patients are on NHS waiting lists. But the coronavirus outbreak has lengthened the wait, as the NHS stopped some services deemed "non-essential" to tackle the pandemic. NHS doctor Adrian Harrop, a vocal advocate for transgender and LGBTQ healthcare, said the waiting list was now growing "exponentially" every month, calling it "inhumane". The government recently promised to open three new gender identity clinics to meet heightened demand, and cut the consultation fee from £140 to "a nominal amount". "Trans people tell us that waiting lists at NHS gender clinics are too long," equalities minister Liz Truss said last week. "I agree and I am deeply concerned at the distress it can cause." Harrop said the government plan does not go far enough. "Imagine what has been announced times at least by 100," he added, calling for more localised care. At the same time, the broader system needs to change, given that transgender identities are increasingly politicised, debated and scrutinised, he said. "They are invalidated and these messages are quite pervasive and... transcend into people working within the NHS," he added. Violence and discrimination Recent data indicated that transgender individuals were "significantly more likely" to have been a victim of crime compared to cisgender people — those whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. The Office for National Statistics said more than one in four trans people (28 percent) had experienced crime compared with 14 percent who are cisgender. A 2018 survey by the Stonewall LGBT rights charity reported that 41 percent of trans men and women said they had experienced a hate crime or incident in the past year. Transgender activist Alexis Meshida said she has faced discrimination and violence as a young trans woman growing up in Nigeria and Northern Ireland. Fed up with NHS waiting times, the 26-year-old is now fundraising for facial feminisation surgery to feel "safe" in her daily life in London. "It's either I wait 10 years to get facial feminisation on the NHS, or I work really hard," she said. "But I don't have 10 years." 'A threat to our lives' Meshida said in addition to the threat of violence, longer waiting times were "a threat to our lives" because of the increased risk of mental health problems. "We see self-harm, we see suicide, we see anxiety, stress, depression," said Helen Webberley, who founded the tele-medicine service GenderGP in 2015. "They can see their bodies changing, they can't see an end to it. They want to restart their lives." Physical changes are particularly difficult to face for many young people under the age of 18, who must first go through psychological consultations before receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Lizzie Jordan, who heads LGBTQ and sex education specialists Think2Speak, said self-harm was a real risk because of long waits. "The system is severely flawed and this is not affirmative and it does not provide timely care," said Jordan, whose organisation helps transgender youth and their families. "We have children who are really, really struggling and then that plays out in self-harm, that plays out in attempts of suicide and (young people) hurting themselves," she said. Jay cannot stand to wait another decade and faces a daily battle. "It builds to other things like anxiety going out, or depression," he said. He has raised more than £900 of his £8,600 goal. One day, he hopes it will allow him to take off his shirt at the beach and no longer use a restrictive binder around his chest. In the meantime, he waits.

UK transgender patients turn to crowdfunding due to huge delays

A US marine convicted of killing a transgender woman in the Philippines was deported on Sunday after being pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was halfway through his maximum 10-year prison term for the 2014 murder when Duterte this week unexpectedly ordered his release, drawing condemnation from rights groups.

Escorted by US military personnel, the 25-year-old boarded a US military plane at Manila airport, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration said.

"Pemberton wishes to express his deepest gratitude to President Duterte for granting him an absolute pardon. He is extremely grateful for this act of compassion," his lawyer Rowena Flores said in a statement.

Flores said Pemberton extends his "sincere sympathy for the pain he caused" to the family of his victim Jennifer Laude, the first formal apology from the marine.

"He wishes he had the words to express the depth of his sorrow and regret," she added.

Pemberton met Laude in October 2014 in a bar in the northwestern city of Olongapo after a joint US-Philippine military exercise.

During the trial, a lower court heard that Pemberton and Laude agreed to have sex but the drunken marine turned violent when he discovered Laude still had male genitals.

The lawyer for Laude's family condemned the pardon, which has renewed anti-American sentiment in the former US colony.

"May he find peace of mind. (I'm) hoping he has learned from all these the value of life and dignity regardless of gender and nationality," lawyer Virginia Suarez said.

As part of his deportation to the United States, Pemberton is now banned from entering the Philippines for being a "risk to public safety", the immigration bureau added.

A US marine convicted of killing a transgender woman in the Philippines was deported on Sunday after being pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte. Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was halfway through his maximum 10-year prison term for the 2014 murder when Duterte this week unexpectedly ordered his release, drawing condemnation from rights groups.

A US marine convicted of killing a transgender woman in the Philippines was deported on Sunday after being pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte. Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was halfway through his maximum 10-year prison term for the 2014 murder when Duterte this week unexpectedly ordered his release, drawing condemnation from rights groups. Escorted by US military personnel, the 25-year-old boarded a US military plane at Manila airport, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration said. "Pemberton wishes to express his deepest gratitude to President Duterte for granting him an absolute pardon. He is extremely grateful for this act of compassion," his lawyer Rowena Flores said in a statement. Flores said Pemberton extends his "sincere sympathy for the pain he caused" to the family of his victim Jennifer Laude, the first formal apology from the marine. "He wishes he had the words to express the depth of his sorrow and regret," she added. Pemberton met Laude in October 2014 in a bar in the northwestern city of Olongapo after a joint US-Philippine military exercise. During the trial, a lower court heard that Pemberton and Laude agreed to have sex but the drunken marine turned violent when he discovered Laude still had male genitals. The lawyer for Laude's family condemned the pardon, which has renewed anti-American sentiment in the former US colony. "May he find peace of mind. (I'm) hoping he has learned from all these the value of life and dignity regardless of gender and nationality," lawyer Virginia Suarez said. As part of his deportation to the United States, Pemberton is now banned from entering the Philippines for being a "risk to public safety", the immigration bureau added.

Philippines deports US Marine pardoned for transgender killing

Canada's midfielder Rebecca Quinn on Tuesday came out publicly as transgender in an Instagram post.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cpl-2020-dominant-tkr-one-away-from-perfection-326187" hreflang="en">CPL 2020: Dominant TKR one away from perfection</a>

The OL Reign midfielder has won Olympic bronze with the Canadian women's team in 2016 and played for Canada at the 2019 Women's World Cup, said the post was aimed at helping "queer folx" feel safe on social media.

"As I've lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I'd come out publicly," Quinn wrote.

"I wanted to be visible to queer folx who don't see people like them on their feed," Quinn added. "I know it saved my life years ago."

Quinn urged "cis folks" -- those who identify with their birth gender -- to be "better allies."

The 25-year-old plays professionally for the Tacoma, Washington-based OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League, and is currently on loan to Vittsjo GIK in Sweden.

She is one of the prominent North American team sports athletes to come out as transgender.

Earlier, Triathlete Chris Mosier, who began his athletics career as a woman, competed for the US as a man in 2015.

Canada's midfielder Rebecca Quinn on Tuesday came out publicly as transgender in an Instagram post. Also read: CPL 2020: Dominant TKR one away from perfection The OL Reign midfielder has won Olympic bronze with the Canadian women's team in 2016 and played for Canada at the 2019 Women's World Cup, said the post was aimed at helping "queer folx" feel safe on social media.

Canada's midfielder Rebecca Quinn on Tuesday came out publicly as transgender in an Instagram post. Also read: CPL 2020: Dominant TKR one away from perfection The OL Reign midfielder has won Olympic bronze with the Canadian women's team in 2016 and played for Canada at the 2019 Women's World Cup, said the post was aimed at helping "queer folx" feel safe on social media. "As I've lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I'd come out publicly," Quinn wrote. "I wanted to be visible to queer folx who don't see people like them on their feed," Quinn added. "I know it saved my life years ago." Quinn urged "cis folks" -- those who identify with their birth gender -- to be "better allies." The 25-year-old plays professionally for the Tacoma, Washington-based OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League, and is currently on loan to Vittsjo GIK in Sweden. She is one of the prominent North American team sports athletes to come out as transgender. Earlier, Triathlete Chris Mosier, who began his athletics career as a woman, competed for the US as a man in 2015.

Canadian footballer Rebecca Quinn comes out as transgender

This move is surely a positive step towards inclusion. The upcoming season 'Star Trek: Discovery' will feature non-binary and transgender characters for the first time in the history of the long-running franchise. The characters will feature in the third season of the series. 
 
According to reports, the show has cast actor Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander in supporting roles. 
 
Barrio will play Adira, a non-binary character who bonds with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), the first same-sex couple in 'Star Trek' TV series history. 
 
Alexander, who previously starred in the Netflix series 'The OA', will portray transgender character Gray, empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn. 
 
"'Star Trek' has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities because it believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach," co-showrunner and executive producer Michelle Paradise said in a statement. 
 
'Star Trek: Discovery', created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman, started in 2017 on streamer CBS All Access. The show's third season, which will have 13 episodes, is expected to debut in October this year. 
 
(With inputs from PTI)

This move is surely a positive step towards inclusion. The upcoming season 'Star Trek: Discovery' will feature non-binary and transgender characters for the first time in the history of the long-running franchise.

This move is surely a positive step towards inclusion. The upcoming season 'Star Trek: Discovery' will feature non-binary and transgender characters for the first time in the history of the long-running franchise. The characters will feature in the third season of the series. According to reports, the show has cast actor Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander in supporting roles. Barrio will play Adira, a non-binary character who bonds with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), the first same-sex couple in 'Star Trek' TV series history. Alexander, who previously starred in the Netflix series 'The OA', will portray transgender character Gray, empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn. "'Star Trek' has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities because it believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach," co-showrunner and executive producer Michelle Paradise said in a statement. 'Star Trek: Discovery', created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman, started in 2017 on streamer CBS All Access. The show's third season, which will have 13 episodes, is expected to debut in October this year. (With inputs from PTI)

'Star Trek: Discovery' to feature non-binary and trans characters for the first time in series history

Hollywood increased the numbers of gay and bisexual characters in movies in 2019, but most of them had only fleeting screen time and there were no transgender characters at all, according to a survey released on Thursday. 
 
The Studio Responsibility Index from LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD showed that of the 118 films released by the major Hollywood studios in 2019, twenty-two (18.6%) had LGBTQ characters, including films such as "Bombshell," Rocketman," "Judy" and "Booksmart." 
 
It marked a slight increase on 2018 (18.2%) and the highest percentage of gender-inclusive films in the eight-year history of the annual GLAAD survey. 
 
GLAAD found zero transgender characters for the third straight year, despite increasing visibility of the trans community on television in shows like "Pose," "Supergirl" and "The L Word." 
 
The group also expressed disappointment at the low profile given to LGBTQ characters in major films last year. Only nine of the 22 inclusive films GLAAD counted had an LGBTQ character with more than 10 minutes of screen time, while more than half of such characters got less than three minutes on screen.

"Despite seeing a record-high percentage of LGBTQ films this year, the industry still has a long way to go in terms of fairly and accurately representing the LGBTQ industry," GLAAD Chief Executive Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.

Hollywood increased the numbers of gay and bisexual characters in movies in 2019, but most of them had only fleeting screen time and there were no transgender characters at all, according to a survey released on Thursday.

Hollywood increased the numbers of gay and bisexual characters in movies in 2019, but most of them had only fleeting screen time and there were no transgender characters at all, according to a survey released on Thursday. The Studio Responsibility Index from LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD showed that of the 118 films released by the major Hollywood studios in 2019, twenty-two (18.6%) had LGBTQ characters, including films such as "Bombshell," Rocketman," "Judy" and "Booksmart." It marked a slight increase on 2018 (18.2%) and the highest percentage of gender-inclusive films in the eight-year history of the annual GLAAD survey. GLAAD found zero transgender characters for the third straight year, despite increasing visibility of the trans community on television in shows like "Pose," "Supergirl" and "The L Word." The group also expressed disappointment at the low profile given to LGBTQ characters in major films last year. Only nine of the 22 inclusive films GLAAD counted had an LGBTQ character with more than 10 minutes of screen time, while more than half of such characters got less than three minutes on screen. "Despite seeing a record-high percentage of LGBTQ films this year, the industry still has a long way to go in terms of fairly and accurately representing the LGBTQ industry," GLAAD Chief Executive Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.

No trans characters in major Hollywood movies for third year, report finds

Social distancing is keeping people off the streets of Mexico City. And that has created serious challenges for the capital's transgender sex workers, some of whom have lost their income as clients stay away.

Transgender sex workers in Mexico City struggle to survive pandemic

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a landmark civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment, a resounding victory for LGBT rights from a conservative court.

LGBT community applaud Supreme Court ruling

The US has been witnessing protests against discrimination for the past few weeks now, after the killing of unarmed man in police custody. Thousands of protestors have been carrying out demonstrations and protests against the Trump administration and the racial discrimination.

However, the&nbsp;Trump administration has added fuel to the fire by finalizing a rule that overturns Obama's nondiscrimination rule in the healthcare sector.

The rule has been finalized in June, which is celebrate as Pride Month worldwide.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gay-pride-embraces-its-roots-by-teaming-up-with-us-black-activists-305449">Also watch|&nbsp;Gay Pride embraces its roots by teaming up with U.S. black activists</a>

The Trump administration passed a rule that now defines 'sex' as either man or woman only.&nbsp;The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the revised sex discrimination protections will now be “according to the plain meaning of the word ‘sex’ as male or female and as determined by biology.”

This new rule goes against the protection rights&nbsp;for transgender people against sex discrimination in health care, which was introduced and promoted by former US President Barack Obama.

This rule plays down the guidelines for&nbsp;nondiscrimination protections&nbsp;in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. That federal law makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of&nbsp;"race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs and activities."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/far-but-virtually-connected-pride-month-shifts-online-amid-covid-19-303275">Also read|&nbsp;Far but virtually connected: Pride month shifts online amid COVID 19</a>

However, considering the lack of explanation, in 2016, under the Obama administration, the rule was changed to state that&nbsp;protections regarding "sex" include those based on gender identity, which it defined as "male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female."

However, a year ago, in June 2019, the HHS office for civil rights proposed a reversal of the rule, and that was finalized this week.

Roger Severino --&nbsp;who directs the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services and has previously written about doctors having the right to refuse treatment that contradicts their religious or moral beliefs --&nbsp;believes this will&nbsp;save hospitals and insurers&nbsp;$2.9 billion over five years since they will not have to print notices of nondiscrimination in several languages.

The move has been highly criticised by the LGBTQ community and their supporters, especially at the time of a pandemic.

The US has been witnessing protests against discrimination for the past few weeks now, after the killing of unarmed man in police custody. Thousands of protestors have been carrying out demonstrations and protests against the Trump administration and the racial discrimination.

The US has been witnessing protests against discrimination for the past few weeks now, after the killing of unarmed man in police custody. Thousands of protestors have been carrying out demonstrations and protests against the Trump administration and the racial discrimination. However, the Trump administration has added fuel to the fire by finalizing a rule that overturns Obama's nondiscrimination rule in the healthcare sector. The rule has been finalized in June, which is celebrate as Pride Month worldwide. Also watch| Gay Pride embraces its roots by teaming up with U.S. black activists The Trump administration passed a rule that now defines 'sex' as either man or woman only. The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the revised sex discrimination protections will now be “according to the plain meaning of the word ‘sex’ as male or female and as determined by biology.” This new rule goes against the protection rights for transgender people against sex discrimination in health care, which was introduced and promoted by former US President Barack Obama. This rule plays down the guidelines for nondiscrimination protections in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. That federal law makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of "race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs and activities." Also read| Far but virtually connected: Pride month shifts online amid COVID 19 However, considering the lack of explanation, in 2016, under the Obama administration, the rule was changed to state that protections regarding "sex" include those based on gender identity, which it defined as "male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female." However, a year ago, in June 2019, the HHS office for civil rights proposed a reversal of the rule, and that was finalized this week. Roger Severino -- who directs the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services and has previously written about doctors having the right to refuse treatment that contradicts their religious or moral beliefs -- believes this will save hospitals and insurers $2.9 billion over five years since they will not have to print notices of nondiscrimination in several languages. The move has been highly criticised by the LGBTQ community and their supporters, especially at the time of a pandemic.

Trump administration reverses nondiscrimination rule; defines 'sex' as man and woman only

The US&nbsp;Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule on Friday that would lift anti-discrimination protections under Obamacare for transgender people and women seeking abortions, drawing condemnation from Democratic lawmakers.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-delays-oklahoma-rally-after-decry-of-massacre-on-juneteenth-305547" hreflang="en">Trump delays Oklahoma rally after decry of massacre on Juneteenth</a>

The rule reverses some provisions of the Affordable Care Act passed during President Barack Obama's administration, also known as Obamacare, that extended civil rights protections in healthcare to cover areas including gender identity and the termination of a pregnancy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polish-president-compares-lgbt-ideology-to-soviet-indoctrination-305628" hreflang="en">Polish president compares 'LGBT ideology' to Soviet indoctrination</a>

LGBTQ rights groups, Democratic lawmakers and Democratic-controlled states have decried efforts under the administration of Republican President Donald Trump to erode protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer citizens. One group said it planned to sue the administration over the new rule.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the decision a "shocking attack on the health and well-being of countless vulnerable communities, including women, LGBTQ individuals, and people of color."

The Trump administration has also sought to restrict access to abortion.

The Health Department, or HHS, said a regulation issued by the Obama administration in 2016 to implement the anti-discrimination Section 1557 of Obamacare had "redefined sex discrimination to include termination of pregnancy and gender identity, which it defined as 'one's internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female.'"

That regulation was struck down by a federal court in October 2019.

"HHS will enforce Section 1557 by returning to the government’s interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word 'sex' as male or female and as determined by biology," the department said on Friday.

The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said it planned to "sue the Trump administration for exceeding their legal authority and attempting to remove basic health care protections from vulnerable communities including LGBTQ people."

The US Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule on Friday that would lift anti-discrimination protections under Obamacare for transgender people and women seeking abortions, drawing condemnation from Democratic lawmakers.

The US Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule on Friday that would lift anti-discrimination protections under Obamacare for transgender people and women seeking abortions, drawing condemnation from Democratic lawmakers. Also read: Trump delays Oklahoma rally after decry of massacre on Juneteenth The rule reverses some provisions of the Affordable Care Act passed during President Barack Obama's administration, also known as Obamacare, that extended civil rights protections in healthcare to cover areas including gender identity and the termination of a pregnancy. Also read: Polish president compares 'LGBT ideology' to Soviet indoctrination LGBTQ rights groups, Democratic lawmakers and Democratic-controlled states have decried efforts under the administration of Republican President Donald Trump to erode protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer citizens. One group said it planned to sue the administration over the new rule. US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the decision a "shocking attack on the health and well-being of countless vulnerable communities, including women, LGBTQ individuals, and people of color." The Trump administration has also sought to restrict access to abortion. The Health Department, or HHS, said a regulation issued by the Obama administration in 2016 to implement the anti-discrimination Section 1557 of Obamacare had "redefined sex discrimination to include termination of pregnancy and gender identity, which it defined as 'one's internal sense of gender, which may be male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female.'" That regulation was struck down by a federal court in October 2019. "HHS will enforce Section 1557 by returning to the government’s interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word 'sex' as male or female and as determined by biology," the department said on Friday. The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said it planned to "sue the Trump administration for exceeding their legal authority and attempting to remove basic health care protections from vulnerable communities including LGBTQ people."

US health agency to lift anti-discrimination protections under Obamacare for transgender

JK Rowling's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jk-rowlings-tweet-about-people-who-menstruate-slammed-by-followers-called-transphobic-304137"> tweet over an article about 'people who menstruate' </a>has been a point of discussion this past week with most calling the author 'transphobic'.&nbsp; A day after her tweet went viral, 'Harry Potter' star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/daniel-radcliffe-reacts-to-jk-rowlings-controversial-tweet-says-transgender-women-are-women-304478">Daniel Radcliffe </a>had weighed in and spoken in support of the transgender community. Now, his co-star from the film, actress Emma Watson too has weighed in on the controversy. 
 
In a series of tweets, Watson has shown support to the community and said, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are," the 30-year-old actress wrote. 
 
"I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." 
 
Watson then added she donates to a pair of charities -- Mermaids and Mama Cash -- that support transgender individuals. 
 
"Happy #PRIDE2020," she concluded. "Sending love x."

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I donate to <a href="https://twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mermaids_Gender</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mamacash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mamacash</a>. If you can, perhaps you’ll feel inclined to do the same. ❤️
— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmaWatson/status/1270828191880486915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Agreeing with Radcliffe and Watson, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne too spoke out in support of the transgender community. Redmayne who is part of the 'Fantastic Beasts' films written by Rowling- disagreed with her and said, "Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself,” Redmayne told Variety. “This is an ongoing process. As someone who has worked with both JK Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s comments."

Rowling on Wednesday<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jk-rowling-defends-her-right-to-speak-on-trans-issues-in-powerful-essay-reveals-details-of-her-abusive-past-304985"> tried to defend her tweets and wrote a powerful essay </a>about her troubled past where she was subjected to domestic abuse and reasoned as to why she spoke in favour of women.

&nbsp;

JK Rowling's tweet over an article about 'people who menstruate' has been a point of discussion this past week with most calling the author 'transphobic'. A day after her tweet went viral, 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe had weighed in and spoken in support of the transgender community.

JK Rowling's tweet over an article about 'people who menstruate' has been a point of discussion this past week with most calling the author 'transphobic'. A day after her tweet went viral, 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe had weighed in and spoken in support of the transgender community. Now, his co-star from the film, actress Emma Watson too has weighed in on the controversy. In a series of tweets, Watson has shown support to the community and said, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are," the 30-year-old actress wrote. "I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." Watson then added she donates to a pair of charities -- Mermaids and Mama Cash -- that support transgender individuals. "Happy #PRIDE2020," she concluded. "Sending love x." I donate to @Mermaids_Gender and @mamacash. If you can, perhaps you’ll feel inclined to do the same. ❤️ — Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020 × Agreeing with Radcliffe and Watson, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne too spoke out in support of the transgender community. Redmayne who is part of the 'Fantastic Beasts' films written by Rowling- disagreed with her and said, "Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself,” Redmayne told Variety. “This is an ongoing process. As someone who has worked with both JK Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s comments." Rowling on Wednesday tried to defend her tweets and wrote a powerful essay about her troubled past where she was subjected to domestic abuse and reasoned as to why she spoke in favour of women.

Emma Watson comments on JK Rowling's controversial tweet: Trans people are who they say they are

The coronavirus pandemic is being seen as a time for solidarity and recovery. However, many countries continue to pursue their territorial interests through this tough time, as the world turns a blind eye to everything but the virus. 
 
From China’s aggression in the South China Sea to Saudi Arabia’s surprising progressive change in punishment laws, the world is truly witnessing unprecedented times. 
 
Recently, a country is trying to push legislation which will effectively end the legal recognition of the transgender population. 
 
Hungary’s government, largely seen as right-wing, is trying to pass a legislation which aims to define biological sex based simply on “primary sex characteristics and chromosomes”.

If put into motion, people will no longer will be legally allowed to change their gender. Trans community already faces scorn and legal invalidation across the globe, and with coronavirus at the centre of all legislative action, this law might be passed unnoticed. 
 
The Guardian reported that to be able to do menial tasks like renting a bicycle or buying a travel pass requires displaying one’s ID. However, if this law were to pass, people who have changed their gender and or any desire to do so will not be able to avail such facilities.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2f97dacf-62c9-41ec-949a-a9e0f81d86aa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_2.jpg" /> 
People march with a rainbow flag from the parliament building in Budapest downtown during the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade in the Hungarian capital on July 6, 2019 | AFP</h6>

 
 
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister recently faced flak for introducing a law allowing him to rule by decree - indefinitely. All this happened in the midst of a pandemic, denying the world an opportunity to react. It’s important to note here how protesting - the most vocal and effective way to change the route of any legislation remains disallowed across the globe owing to social distancing norms in place, as coronavirus is transmitted from human-to-human.

An independent member of parliament Bernadett Szel openly referred to the law as “evil” and a “step back in time”. Szel attempted to shed light on the discriminatory nature of the law in the parliament but was shut down.

“We have a pandemic going on and all of us should be focusing on two things: healthcare issues and helping people financially to secure their wellbeing. What is happening in Hungary is a scandal,” she added during the hearing.

Even though there is no clarity on when exactly the bill will be passed, it looks like the government is pursuing it, considering its passage through committees.

There’s another issue with the law - it could stir problem whose gender on paper is different from their sex at birth. Their identities remain threatened under this legislation.

Orban’s government has not shied away from using hateful rhetoric against LGBTQIA+ folks. Not long ago, the administration compared homosexuality to pedophilia.

The coronavirus pandemic is being seen as a time for solidarity and recovery. However, many countries continue to pursue their territorial interests through this tough time, as the world turns a blind eye to everything but the virus.

The coronavirus pandemic is being seen as a time for solidarity and recovery. However, many countries continue to pursue their territorial interests through this tough time, as the world turns a blind eye to everything but the virus. From China’s aggression in the South China Sea to Saudi Arabia’s surprising progressive change in punishment laws, the world is truly witnessing unprecedented times. Recently, a country is trying to push legislation which will effectively end the legal recognition of the transgender population. Hungary’s government, largely seen as right-wing, is trying to pass a legislation which aims to define biological sex based simply on “primary sex characteristics and chromosomes”. If put into motion, people will no longer will be legally allowed to change their gender. Trans community already faces scorn and legal invalidation across the globe, and with coronavirus at the centre of all legislative action, this law might be passed unnoticed. The Guardian reported that to be able to do menial tasks like renting a bicycle or buying a travel pass requires displaying one’s ID. However, if this law were to pass, people who have changed their gender and or any desire to do so will not be able to avail such facilities. People march with a rainbow flag from the parliament building in Budapest downtown during the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade in the Hungarian capital on July 6, 2019 | AFP Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister recently faced flak for introducing a law allowing him to rule by decree - indefinitely. All this happened in the midst of a pandemic, denying the world an opportunity to react. It’s important to note here how protesting - the most vocal and effective way to change the route of any legislation remains disallowed across the globe owing to social distancing norms in place, as coronavirus is transmitted from human-to-human. An independent member of parliament Bernadett Szel openly referred to the law as “evil” and a “step back in time”. Szel attempted to shed light on the discriminatory nature of the law in the parliament but was shut down. “We have a pandemic going on and all of us should be focusing on two things: healthcare issues and helping people financially to secure their wellbeing. What is happening in Hungary is a scandal,” she added during the hearing. Even though there is no clarity on when exactly the bill will be passed, it looks like the government is pursuing it, considering its passage through committees. There’s another issue with the law - it could stir problem whose gender on paper is different from their sex at birth. Their identities remain threatened under this legislation. Orban’s government has not shied away from using hateful rhetoric against LGBTQIA+ folks. Not long ago, the administration compared homosexuality to pedophilia.

Hungary's new legislation could stir trouble for its LGBTQIA+ population

Argentina's female soccer league has long tackled stereotypes in the soccer-mad nation. Now, a first-division women's team in the country is breaking new barriers in the sport with a first-division transgender player.

Tackling discrimination: Meet Argentina's transgender soccer player

Morning market shoppers look a little too long in&nbsp;Liu&nbsp;Peilin's direction as she passes by in a red jacket and grey wig covered in red and pink clips, her cheeks rouged in bright pink and eyeshadow in a matching shade.

The 63-year-old has become well-known not only in the little southern Chinese village where she lives, but also nationally.

In 2012, news reports of a fire in a residential complex in the eastern city of Qingdao captured footage of a man returning to the premises dressed in female clothing with his hair in braids adorned with colourful ornaments.

The video went viral and Chinese netizens dubbed the man "Big Joy Brother", mocking him for his cross-dressing.

That was&nbsp;Liu, who had wanted to be a woman since she was a child but had suppressed the yearning for decades.

"At that time, it was not allowed," she said, referring to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/chinese-film-yanked-from-berlin-festival-competition-196824">Cultural Revolution</a>, when people wore drab Soviet-inspired uniforms.

"I had to take the social factors into consideration and buried the idea deep down in my heart."&nbsp;

It was only in her 40s, after&nbsp;China's opening up, that&nbsp;Liu&nbsp;felt she could freely start wearing women's clothes.

Although her brief brush with viral fame gave her an unwanted nickname and invited online mockery, it also brought her into contact with a supportive community.

At the beginning of the year, she was facing eviction when her landlord in Qingdao decided to raise the rent.

People she met helped her move in March to Guanzhong village, just outside the southern city of Fuzhou.

She has also gained fans, who call her "Sister&nbsp;Liu". Many send clothes, swelling an expansive wardrobe. Others give her books and even art.

Still, she faces discrimination.

"We all know he is not a bad person," said a village official surnamed Lin, who declined to give his full name.

"But behaving as a woman, especially when he dresses up, doesn't look so good some people who don't know him think he's crazy."

Liu, who is unemployed, says she wants to undergo gender reassignment surgery, but lacks the funding. She documents her daily&nbsp;life&nbsp;by writing in her diary.

"I hope in the future I can have a normal&nbsp;life&nbsp;after changing my gender," said&nbsp;Liu.

"I want to get married and have a&nbsp;family. It doesn't matter if there's a kid or not. I want to find a companion and live a&nbsp;life."

Morning market shoppers look a little too long in Liu Peilin's direction as she passes by in a red jacket and grey wig covered in red and pink clips, her cheeks rouged in bright pink and eyeshadow in a matching shade.

Morning market shoppers look a little too long in Liu Peilin's direction as she passes by in a red jacket and grey wig covered in red and pink clips, her cheeks rouged in bright pink and eyeshadow in a matching shade. The 63-year-old has become well-known not only in the little southern Chinese village where she lives, but also nationally. In 2012, news reports of a fire in a residential complex in the eastern city of Qingdao captured footage of a man returning to the premises dressed in female clothing with his hair in braids adorned with colourful ornaments. The video went viral and Chinese netizens dubbed the man "Big Joy Brother", mocking him for his cross-dressing. That was Liu, who had wanted to be a woman since she was a child but had suppressed the yearning for decades. "At that time, it was not allowed," she said, referring to the Cultural Revolution, when people wore drab Soviet-inspired uniforms. "I had to take the social factors into consideration and buried the idea deep down in my heart." It was only in her 40s, after China's opening up, that Liu felt she could freely start wearing women's clothes. Although her brief brush with viral fame gave her an unwanted nickname and invited online mockery, it also brought her into contact with a supportive community. At the beginning of the year, she was facing eviction when her landlord in Qingdao decided to raise the rent. People she met helped her move in March to Guanzhong village, just outside the southern city of Fuzhou. She has also gained fans, who call her "Sister Liu". Many send clothes, swelling an expansive wardrobe. Others give her books and even art. Still, she faces discrimination. "We all know he is not a bad person," said a village official surnamed Lin, who declined to give his full name. "But behaving as a woman, especially when he dresses up, doesn't look so good some people who don't know him think he's crazy." Liu, who is unemployed, says she wants to undergo gender reassignment surgery, but lacks the funding. She documents her daily life by writing in her diary. "I hope in the future I can have a normal life after changing my gender," said Liu. "I want to get married and have a family. It doesn't matter if there's a kid or not. I want to find a companion and live a life."

In rural China, elderly transgender Sister Liu longs for family life

A transgender candidate has been elected as councillor for a rural Bangladeshi town, the first in the ultra-conservative Muslim-majority nation where laws still discriminate against sexual minorities.

Pinki&nbsp;Khatun&nbsp;was elected as vice-chair of a town council in the country's west on Monday after beating her nearest rival by more than 4,000 votes, local police chief Mahbubul Alam said.

"I am very delighted. I campaigned door-to-door and people have responded positively,"&nbsp;the garment shop owner told AFP.

"I did not face any discrimination or hate campaigns."

Bangladesh has allowed transgenders, known as hijra,&nbsp;an umbrella term referring to someone who is born male but does not refer to themselves as a man or woman, to identify as a separate gender since 2013.&nbsp;

This year, they were allowed to register to vote identifying as this gender.

The 37-year-old councillor is a youth wing official of the ruling Awami League and campaigned as an independent candidate in the 200,000-population town of Kotchandpur after the party did not back anyone.

"My aim is to work for the betterment of women and protect their rights," said the councillor, who previously identified as a woman.

"I'll work for hijras so they can live honourably in society."

The government says there are some 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh but independent estimates say they could number up to 500,000, with many hiding their identity to avoid discrimination.

Bangladesh still has a British colonial-era&nbsp;law where anyone who engages in gay sex faces life in prison, although the legislation is rarely used.

The LGBT community also faces social discrimination.

Transgender rights activist Anonnya Banik said the election of the country's first transgender politician was a "big achievement".

"It will create a positive impact on society and inspire other trans-people. I think it reflects a change in Bangladesh people's attitude towards trans-people," Banik told AFP.&nbsp;

A transgender candidate has been elected as councillor for a rural Bangladeshi town, the first in the ultra-conservative Muslim-majority nation where laws still discriminate against sexual minorities.

A transgender candidate has been elected as councillor for a rural Bangladeshi town, the first in the ultra-conservative Muslim-majority nation where laws still discriminate against sexual minorities. Pinki Khatun was elected as vice-chair of a town council in the country's west on Monday after beating her nearest rival by more than 4,000 votes, local police chief Mahbubul Alam said. "I am very delighted. I campaigned door-to-door and people have responded positively," the garment shop owner told AFP. "I did not face any discrimination or hate campaigns." Bangladesh has allowed transgenders, known as hijra, an umbrella term referring to someone who is born male but does not refer to themselves as a man or woman, to identify as a separate gender since 2013. This year, they were allowed to register to vote identifying as this gender. The 37-year-old councillor is a youth wing official of the ruling Awami League and campaigned as an independent candidate in the 200,000-population town of Kotchandpur after the party did not back anyone. "My aim is to work for the betterment of women and protect their rights," said the councillor, who previously identified as a woman. "I'll work for hijras so they can live honourably in society." The government says there are some 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh but independent estimates say they could number up to 500,000, with many hiding their identity to avoid discrimination. Bangladesh still has a British colonial-era law where anyone who engages in gay sex faces life in prison, although the legislation is rarely used. The LGBT community also faces social discrimination. Transgender rights activist Anonnya Banik said the election of the country's first transgender politician was a "big achievement". "It will create a positive impact on society and inspire other trans-people. I think it reflects a change in Bangladesh people's attitude towards trans-people," Banik told AFP.

First transgender councillor elected in Bangladesh

A petition has been filled in the apex court seeking its direction in the issue of around 2,000 transgenders being excluded from the list of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/final-list-of-assam-nrc-out-over-19-lakh-excluded-311-crore-included-in-list-246782">National Register of Citizens</a> (NRC) of Assam.

Speaking to ANI on the issue of the exclusion of transgenders from the list, Assam's first transgender judge and petitioner Swati Bidhan Baruah said,&nbsp;"Most transgenders were abandoned, they do not have documents pertaining to before 1971. Objection applications did not contain 'others' as a gender category."

She also alleged that the NRC exercise was not inclusive for the transgender community.

"NRC was not inclusive for transgenders and forced them to accept male or female as their gender. We are hoping the Supreme Court will take into consideration our petition," Baruah said.

Over 3 crore persons were found eligible for inclusion in final NRC leaving out more than 19 lakh persons including those who did not submit their claims.

Those not satisfied with the outcome can file an appeal before Foreigners Tribunals, a government statement said.

A petition has been filled in the apex court seeking its direction in the issue of around 2,000 transgenders being excluded from the list of National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam.

A petition has been filled in the apex court seeking its direction in the issue of around 2,000 transgenders being excluded from the list of National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam. Speaking to ANI on the issue of the exclusion of transgenders from the list, Assam's first transgender judge and petitioner Swati Bidhan Baruah said, "Most transgenders were abandoned, they do not have documents pertaining to before 1971. Objection applications did not contain 'others' as a gender category." She also alleged that the NRC exercise was not inclusive for the transgender community. "NRC was not inclusive for transgenders and forced them to accept male or female as their gender. We are hoping the Supreme Court will take into consideration our petition," Baruah said. Over 3 crore persons were found eligible for inclusion in final NRC leaving out more than 19 lakh persons including those who did not submit their claims. Those not satisfied with the outcome can file an appeal before Foreigners Tribunals, a government statement said.

Around 2,000 transgender excluded from Assam NRC list, plea filed in Supreme Court

September 2018 was a watershed moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community. &nbsp;That month, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was revoked, thereby decriminalising homosexuality. This development has been long in the making and every member of the LGBTQ community should take pride that their right to have same-sex relationships cannot be infringed upon.&nbsp;

While the revocation was a progressive step, the societal outlook cannot be changed overnight simply with the annulment of a century-old law.&nbsp;

The subject of LGBTQ rights still stirs up discomforting emotions in a large number of people. Such unease concerning LGBTQ members is plainly visible in the Indian corporate space.&nbsp;

Indian companies and organisations’ openness in relation to the LGBTQ community falls along a continuum. Some organisations are willing to create employee groups for members of the LGBTQ community and formulate LGBTQ-friendly policies such as facilitating surrogacy and adoption. Some companies also have policies such as medical coverage for sex change of an LGBTQ member.&nbsp;

On the other side of the continuum are companies that proclaim they’re not against LGBTQ members or their inclusion into society, but nonetheless are unwilling to openly declare that they want to facilitate inclusion of such members.&nbsp;

The question that arises is this: why is there any discomfort at all regarding the LGBTQ community? The obvious answer is that since childhood, children are taught to mock lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and queers.&nbsp;

Social conditioning runs deep and those inculcated since childhood remains rooted when children grow into adults. Children are taught to refer to a heterosexual man as straight, yet what is it that makes a heterosexual man straight and a homosexual man not straight or perhaps crooked? Why is the quality of being straight bestowed only on heterosexual men and not on homosexual men? Social conditioning dictates who is straight and who isn’t. &nbsp;

Social conditioning is why it’s unremarkable when a man hits on a woman while heterosexual men display extreme discomfort when a man hits on them.&nbsp;

Unlike laws that can be changed overnight, long-ingrained social conditioning cannot be changed as easily. Hence much needs to be done to address the rights of LGBTQ members and to integrate them into society. It begins by reengineering society.&nbsp;

The LGBTQ community has existed on the margins of society for centuries, not just because society has been unwilling to accept them, but also because their own family members have not done so. Creating an inclusive society in which LGBTQ members play a full role, starts with giving members of the community the courage to come out.&nbsp;

Inclusion of LGBTQ members into society can be facilitated by organisations, who reflect societal values. All stereotypes, norms and biases of a society shape and therefore are reflected in organisations, which conversely, can help reshape stereotypes, norms and biases and in turn reshape society.&nbsp;

This happens when they implement new policies, practices and encourage conversations that challenge stereotypes. Doing this changes the mindset of those working in organisations and therefore changes mindsets in society. Inclusion of LGBTQ members isn’t just about creating a more harmonious society; a recent US Chamber of Commerce report revealed that their inclusion benefits a company’s bottom line.&nbsp;

The report indicates that companies that adopt LGBTQ- inclusive policies, improve their financial standing and perform better than peer organisations that don’t. &nbsp;

The report cited a 2017 study that showed 80% of adult employees considered inclusiveness an important criterion when choosing an employer. When given the option to work with an employer that had inclusive policies and one who did not, employees would join the former.&nbsp;

About 72% of respondents in the study said they would leave their organisation for one that was more inclusive. Clearly, talented people want to work in inclusive companies.&nbsp;

However, despite greater inclusiveness of LGBTQ members, half of them continue to remain closeted even in the United States. &nbsp;

Thankfully, some organisations have created groups in which members of the LGBTQ community speak about their expectations, as well as their pleasant and unpleasant experiences.

Firms must open discussions around adoption policies for same-sex couples, insurance for same-sex couples, how to make complete healthcare available to LGBTQ members and finally discussions around how to cultivate tolerance and respect for these members.&nbsp;

Often, intolerance stems from a lack of awareness. For instance, heterosexual men or women may fear to engage a gay or lesbian out of fear of being hit on.&nbsp;

Among company leaders, there is a need for discussing supportive infrastructure, like washrooms for example, for the third gender. Transsexuals and queers have such needs and it is an organisation’s responsibility to fulfil them.&nbsp;

In India, the introduction of the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Bill in 2016, was a step in the right direction. It prohibits discrimination against a transgender in areas like education, healthcare and employment.&nbsp;

As per the Bill, forcing a transgender person to beg, denying them access to a public place, or physically or sexually abusing them will lead to imprisonment up to two years and a fine.&nbsp;

The LGBTQ community’s inclusion into every facet of society is a journey, which cannot be considered complete with simply revoking Section 377. Society and organisations must be encouraged to take concrete steps to ensure the journey continues smoothly and there is an urgent need to move beyond lip service to reshaping societal outlook. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-organisations-take-the-lead-2790520">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

September 2018 was a watershed moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community. That month, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was revoked, thereby decriminalising homosexuality.

September 2018 was a watershed moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community. That month, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was revoked, thereby decriminalising homosexuality. This development has been long in the making and every member of the LGBTQ community should take pride that their right to have same-sex relationships cannot be infringed upon. While the revocation was a progressive step, the societal outlook cannot be changed overnight simply with the annulment of a century-old law. The subject of LGBTQ rights still stirs up discomforting emotions in a large number of people. Such unease concerning LGBTQ members is plainly visible in the Indian corporate space. Indian companies and organisations’ openness in relation to the LGBTQ community falls along a continuum. Some organisations are willing to create employee groups for members of the LGBTQ community and formulate LGBTQ-friendly policies such as facilitating surrogacy and adoption. Some companies also have policies such as medical coverage for sex change of an LGBTQ member. On the other side of the continuum are companies that proclaim they’re not against LGBTQ members or their inclusion into society, but nonetheless are unwilling to openly declare that they want to facilitate inclusion of such members. The question that arises is this: why is there any discomfort at all regarding the LGBTQ community? The obvious answer is that since childhood, children are taught to mock lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and queers. Social conditioning runs deep and those inculcated since childhood remains rooted when children grow into adults. Children are taught to refer to a heterosexual man as straight, yet what is it that makes a heterosexual man straight and a homosexual man not straight or perhaps crooked? Why is the quality of being straight bestowed only on heterosexual men and not on homosexual men? Social conditioning dictates who is straight and who isn’t. Social conditioning is why it’s unremarkable when a man hits on a woman while heterosexual men display extreme discomfort when a man hits on them. Unlike laws that can be changed overnight, long-ingrained social conditioning cannot be changed as easily. Hence much needs to be done to address the rights of LGBTQ members and to integrate them into society. It begins by reengineering society. The LGBTQ community has existed on the margins of society for centuries, not just because society has been unwilling to accept them, but also because their own family members have not done so. Creating an inclusive society in which LGBTQ members play a full role, starts with giving members of the community the courage to come out. Inclusion of LGBTQ members into society can be facilitated by organisations, who reflect societal values. All stereotypes, norms and biases of a society shape and therefore are reflected in organisations, which conversely, can help reshape stereotypes, norms and biases and in turn reshape society. This happens when they implement new policies, practices and encourage conversations that challenge stereotypes. Doing this changes the mindset of those working in organisations and therefore changes mindsets in society. Inclusion of LGBTQ members isn’t just about creating a more harmonious society; a recent US Chamber of Commerce report revealed that their inclusion benefits a company’s bottom line. The report indicates that companies that adopt LGBTQ- inclusive policies, improve their financial standing and perform better than peer organisations that don’t. The report cited a 2017 study that showed 80% of adult employees considered inclusiveness an important criterion when choosing an employer. When given the option to work with an employer that had inclusive policies and one who did not, employees would join the former. About 72% of respondents in the study said they would leave their organisation for one that was more inclusive. Clearly, talented people want to work in inclusive companies. However, despite greater inclusiveness of LGBTQ members, half of them continue to remain closeted even in the United States. Thankfully, some organisations have created groups in which members of the LGBTQ community speak about their expectations, as well as their pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Firms must open discussions around adoption policies for same-sex couples, insurance for same-sex couples, how to make complete healthcare available to LGBTQ members and finally discussions around how to cultivate tolerance and respect for these members. Often, intolerance stems from a lack of awareness. For instance, heterosexual men or women may fear to engage a gay or lesbian out of fear of being hit on. Among company leaders, there is a need for discussing supportive infrastructure, like washrooms for example, for the third gender. Transsexuals and queers have such needs and it is an organisation’s responsibility to fulfil them. In India, the introduction of the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Bill in 2016, was a step in the right direction. It prohibits discrimination against a transgender in areas like education, healthcare and employment. As per the Bill, forcing a transgender person to beg, denying them access to a public place, or physically or sexually abusing them will lead to imprisonment up to two years and a fine. The LGBTQ community’s inclusion into every facet of society is a journey, which cannot be considered complete with simply revoking Section 377. Society and organisations must be encouraged to take concrete steps to ensure the journey continues smoothly and there is an urgent need to move beyond lip service to reshaping societal outlook. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Section 377 verdict: One year on, much more societal work still needs to be done

Cricket Australia unveiled new guidelines on Thursday to ensure transgender players can take part in the game at the highest levels. The policy sets out a testosterone limit for transgender and gender-diverse players who want to play for state and national women's teams.

Cricket Australia unveiled new guidelines on Thursday to ensure transgender players can take part in the game at the highest levels. The policy sets out a testosterone limit for transgender and gender-diverse players who want to play for state and national women's teams. "It doesn't make any sense that today, people are discriminated against, harassed or excluded, because of who they are," Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said in a statement. To be eligible for elite women's teams, the players must show a testosterone concentration of fewer than 10 nanomoles per litre over at least 12 months. They must also be able to demonstrate their elected gender is consistent with how they are living their lives daily. The move more closely aligns Australia to the International Cricket Council's gender diversity guidelines. Cricket Australia's policy also guides community clubs, supporting grassroots cricketers to compete as the gender with which they identify. The guidelines cover everything from victimisation to privacy and providing suitable facilities, as well as the collection of personal information. Transgender participation in sport has proved a thorny issue with some prominent stars, including tennis great Martina Navratilova, voicing disquiet.

Cricket Australia sets testosterone limit for transgender players

Protesters chanting "black trans lives matter" and "we will not be erased" on Friday demanded an end to the killings of black transgender women in the United States and decried the Trump administration`s proposals to reverse transgender rights.

Three black transgender women died of gunshot wounds within five days this month in Cleveland, Dallas and Philadelphia, and five total have been killed this year. Transgender advocates complain that police often give such cases insufficient priority or they go unreported when police identify victims by their gender assigned at birth rather than the person`s gender identity.

By coincidence, President Donald Trump`s administration took action this week that would deny or reduce services to transgender people.

Five silent protesters in New York stood veiled and dressed in white on Friday, holding portraits of the five transgender women killed this year, while the crowd sang protest verses, chanted slogans and hoisted signs demanding "Justice!" and "Speak out, stand up for black trans women."

"I am tired of my sisters being killed," protest leader Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group told about 200 demonstrators in Washington Square Park.&nbsp;

The three shot dead most recently were Claire Legato, 21, in Cleveland, who died on May 15 from gunshot wounds a month earlier; Muhlaysia Booken, 23, in Dallas on Saturday; and Michelle Washington, 40, in Philadelphia on Sunday. In April, Booken was beaten in an attack caught on video that was widely shared on social media.

Dallas police said they are investigating a 2018 murder and an April 2019 aggravated assault of transgender women under similar circumstances but have not established a link. Police in Philadelphia and Cleveland have arrested suspects in each of those cases but say they are not treating them as hate crimes.

At least 26 transgender women were reported killed in 2018 and 29 in 2017, according to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest US advocacy group for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/cuban-lgbt-activists-plan-alternate-parade-in-defiance-of-government-217929">lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender </a>(LGBT) people.

Among the measures taken by Republican Trump`s administration this week to curtail LGBT rights was the US&nbsp;Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday proposing a rule that would roll back protections for transgender patients under Obamacare. The HHS under Trump said protections against discrimination on the basis of sex did not apply to transgender people.

On Wednesday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed a new rule allowing homeless shelters to turn away transgender people for religious reasons.

Earlier this month, HHS released a final rule allowing healthcare providers to opt out of procedures with which they disagree, such as abortions and treatment for gay and transgender patients.

The policies are meant to appeal to Trump`s conservative and religious supporters who helped get him elected in 2016 and who have kept his approval ratings above 40 per cent.

Protesters chanting "black trans lives matter" and "we will not be erased" on Friday demanded an end to the killings of black transgender women in the United States and decried the Trump administration`s proposals to reverse transgender rights.

Protesters chanting "black trans lives matter" and "we will not be erased" on Friday demanded an end to the killings of black transgender women in the United States and decried the Trump administration`s proposals to reverse transgender rights. Three black transgender women died of gunshot wounds within five days this month in Cleveland, Dallas and Philadelphia, and five total have been killed this year. Transgender advocates complain that police often give such cases insufficient priority or they go unreported when police identify victims by their gender assigned at birth rather than the person`s gender identity. By coincidence, President Donald Trump`s administration took action this week that would deny or reduce services to transgender people. Five silent protesters in New York stood veiled and dressed in white on Friday, holding portraits of the five transgender women killed this year, while the crowd sang protest verses, chanted slogans and hoisted signs demanding "Justice!" and "Speak out, stand up for black trans women." "I am tired of my sisters being killed," protest leader Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group told about 200 demonstrators in Washington Square Park. The three shot dead most recently were Claire Legato, 21, in Cleveland, who died on May 15 from gunshot wounds a month earlier; Muhlaysia Booken, 23, in Dallas on Saturday; and Michelle Washington, 40, in Philadelphia on Sunday. In April, Booken was beaten in an attack caught on video that was widely shared on social media. Dallas police said they are investigating a 2018 murder and an April 2019 aggravated assault of transgender women under similar circumstances but have not established a link. Police in Philadelphia and Cleveland have arrested suspects in each of those cases but say they are not treating them as hate crimes. At least 26 transgender women were reported killed in 2018 and 29 in 2017, according to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest US advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Among the measures taken by Republican Trump`s administration this week to curtail LGBT rights was the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday proposing a rule that would roll back protections for transgender patients under Obamacare. The HHS under Trump said protections against discrimination on the basis of sex did not apply to transgender people. On Wednesday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed a new rule allowing homeless shelters to turn away transgender people for religious reasons. Earlier this month, HHS released a final rule allowing healthcare providers to opt out of procedures with which they disagree, such as abortions and treatment for gay and transgender patients. The policies are meant to appeal to Trump`s conservative and religious supporters who helped get him elected in 2016 and who have kept his approval ratings above 40 per cent.

Protesters demand end to killings of transgender women, Trump rollbacks

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