transrights
Top LGBT Leaders Are Divided Over Compromising On The Bathroom Fight
Conservatives have blocked LGBT nondiscrimination bills by claiming transgender people pose a threat in women’s restrooms. How to break the logjam? Some LGBT leaders say it’s time to support bills that cover housing and employment, but not public accommodations — and largely avoid the bathroom issue. The second article in a BuzzFeed News series on transgender rights in America.
Transgender Man Sues Gov. Mike Pence And Other Indiana Officials
A Mexican immigrant who was granted asylum in the United States, the plaintiff alleges the state commits constitutional violations by enforcing a law that bars noncitizens from changing their legal name.
Bathroom Access A “Must” For Transgender People In Federal Facilities
A new regulation to appear in the Federal Register this week will apply to transgender workers and visitors in roughly 9,200 federally operated facilities.
Judge Appears Skeptical Of Need For North Carolina's Anti-Transgender Law
US District Court Judge Thomas D. Schroeder pressed the state at a hearing on Monday to show how the law made anyone safer and whether it was necessary. He said he would rule soon on whether to suspend the law.
Vermont Police: Murder Of Transgender Man At Homeless Camp Not A Hate Crime
Authorities on Thursday night arrested four suspects in connection to the fatal beating of Amos Beede.
11 States Sue Obama Administration Over Transgender Rules
Defendants include the Education, Justice, and Labor departments, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Clinton Fundraiser Slams Campaign For Ignoring Transgender Survey
"A lot of the money I’ve raised has been LGBT money."
Sanders Responded To Transgender-Rights Survey — But Clinton Didn’t
Trump also did not respond to a Trans United Fund questionnaire sent to presidential candidates.
Laura Jane Grace Started North Carolina Show By Burning Her Birth Certificate Onstage
"What better way to get a fire going?"
New Obamacare Rule Protects Transgender Patients
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule under Obamacare on Friday that prohibits denying health care or health coverage on the basis of gender identity.
Obama Administration Tells Schools Transgender Students Can Use Restroom Of Choice
The guidance is not legally binding, but it reinforces the administration's position that it will take legal action against violators.
Massachusetts House And Senate Approve Transgender-Rights Bill
Gov. Charlie Baker has indicated he will sign the bill into law, which would buck a trend of states attempting to restrict transgender rights.
NC Governor Says Attorney General's Comments An “Insult To Our State”
Loretta Lynch compared historic racial segregation of bathrooms to the anti-transgender bathroom law in North Carolina.
This Map Shows The Best And Worst Places To Be Trans In Europe In 2016
Europe now has three countries where transgender people can change their documentation without a doctor's approval.
This Woman Is The First Transgender Congressperson In The Philippines
Update: With 99% of precincts reporting, Bataan elects Geraldine Roman to a congressional seat, making her the first trans person in the Philippine House of Representatives.
Alabama City Council Recalls Anti-Transgender Bathroom Law
The ordinance was the most far-reaching law of its type in the county and drew threats of legal action.
Alabama City Will Consider Repealing Extreme Anti-Transgender Restroom Ordinance
The ACLU had suggested it may sue the city of Oxford.
Here's Why This Ad Featuring A Transgender Man Is A Big Deal
In a shift of tactics, a national LGBT group is putting a transgender man front and center in its new commercial criticizing North Carolina's anti-LGBT law.
This Teenager Can't Get A Bank Account Because They Don't Identify As Male Or Female
Keith Farnish and his 17-year-old non-binary child Kaelin told BuzzFeed News what it's like when you can't open a bank account or apply to university without ticking the male or female box. "That isn't equality."
ACLU Considers Legal Challenge To Anti-Transgender Restroom Law In Alabama
The ordinance in Oxford, Alabama, appears to be the first in the country to criminalize transgender people who use restrooms that match their gender identity in places of public accommodation.
Transgender Woman Uses Women’s Restroom In North Carolina Governor's Office
A new anti-LGBT law in North Carolina bans transgender people from using restrooms in government buildings that match their gender identity.
Teen Boy Says He Was Kicked Out Of Ted Cruz Rally For Being Transgender
"It felt like a walk of shame."
A Trans Woman Is Being Held In An Australian Men's Prison
CJ Palmer has been denied bail a second time.
Why Call Centers Might Be The Most Radical Workplaces In The Philippines
You may not realize it, but the person on the other side of your customer service phone call might be transgender. On calls, Filipino workers can safely adopt women's voices, names, and clothing, all while earning a decent wage. But their success at work doesn't protect them from the discrimination they face outside of it.
Feds "Ready" For Transgender Discrimination Complaints In North Carolina
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission officials told BuzzFeed News that transgender workers who have faced discrimination in the workplace can file a federal claim.
Transgender Student Settles Locker Room Case With University Of Pittsburgh
Seamus Johnston had sued the University of Pittsburgh in federal court, claiming that banning him from the male locker room violated his Constitutional and civil rights.
Meet The First Transgender Cover Model For Men’s Health In Germany
"I feel so grateful, and I hope that I can open doors for other trans guys."
This Is How Trans People And Their Allies Are Reacting To That North Carolina Bill
The House 2 bill, passed on Wednesday, bans transgender people from using certain restrooms.
Transgender Woman Loses Anti-Discrimination Case Against Blood Bank
A jury found there was a business interest in CSL Plasma turning away Lisa Scott.
White House Appoints First Transgender Person As Primary LGBT Liaison
Raffi Freedman-Gurspan is now the White House’s main point of contact for LGBT groups on all issues.
Tennessee Governor Concerned About Anti-Transgender Student Restroom Bill
Gov. Bill Haslam is worried that if lawmakers pass a bill to ban transgender students from certain restrooms, public schools could lose federal funding, his spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.
South Dakota Governor Vetoes Anti-Transgender Student Restroom Bill
The bill would have made Dennis Daugaard's state the first in the U.S. to ban transgender students from using school restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
KFC Fires Manager For Discriminating Against Transgender Woman
“We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” the company told BuzzFeed News.
Trans Therapists Sign Open Letter To Mental Health Body Over Conversion Therapy
Dozens of psychotherapists have called on Britain's biggest professional body for therapists to acknowledge that trans people are subjected to attempts to "cure" them.
Muslim School For Trans Women Shut Down In Indonesia
The school, which made headlines as a symbol of Indonesia's religious pluralism, has been closed amid an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBT rhetoric in the country.
South Dakota Becomes First State To Pass Anti-Transgender Student Restroom Bill
HB 1008 seeks to ban transgender students from using school restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. The measure was passed by the state senate Tuesday after being passed by the state house last week.
How An Undocumented Trans Latina Woman Interrupted President Obama
How an undocumented transgender Latina woman named Jennicet Gutiérrez cut off the most powerful man in the world at a 2015 White House celebration of LGBT victories — and why, in 2016, she has no plans to stop disrupting.
Anti-Transgender Bills In Washington State Look Doomed — For Now
Activists and officials worry that the bills, which would ban transgender people from public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, are part of a strategy to pass similar legislation at the ballot this fall.
Genital Surgery Must Be Provided To Trans Woman Through Medicare Program
Charlene Lauderdale was denied coverage for the procedures by her private insurance firm, which is funded through Medicare. But for the first time this month, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services panel found that the insurance provider must cover the procedures.
Federal Appeals Court Considers Trans Student’s Right To Use Boys Restroom
Three judges at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals considered Gavin Grimm's case, asking whether existing federal laws allow transgender students to use restrooms that reflect their gender identity.
Employer To Pay Transgender Woman $115,000 In Job Discrimination Settlement
Britney Austin had alleged her employer used slurs, denied her access to the women's restroom, and refused to change her name on company records.
Transgender People Are Being Let Down By The Government, Say MPs
“I can think of no group that suffers more discrimination than trans people," said the committee chair.
The Aftermath Of A Marine's Conviction In The Death Of A Philippine Trans Woman
Trans sex workers in Olongapo, Philippines still don’t disclose their trans status to clients, even though a U.S. Marine was recently convicted of killing a Filipina sex worker upon discovering she was trans. Since the conviction — for the lesser charge of homicide — locals are eager to reestablish normal relations with U.S. troops. But will sex workers remain vulnerable?
This Is What Happened To The Missing Trans Women Of El Salvador
The story of how a group of trans women vanished in the midst of El Salvador's civil war has been passed down from generation to generation, creating a legend that gave them a place in the history of a country that often seems to wish they would disappear. BuzzFeed News' J. Lester Feder set out to document the mysterious incident for the first time.
911 Audio: Hotel Manager Reports Guest For Being Transgender
"They’re dressed as a woman, but it’s a man’s driver’s license."
Unprecedented $20 Million Announced For Transgender Causes
The Arcus Foundation and several other groups said Tuesday they will lead a five-year funding initiative to boost the transgender movement in the U.S. and poorer and developing nations.
Second Trans Woman Found Dead In A Men's Prison
Joanne Latham was found hanging in her cell, the Prison Service confirmed. "After receiving no response from her, staff requested permission to enter the cell."
U.S. Marine Convicted Of Killing A Trans Woman In The Philippines
The court convicted U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton of the lesser charge of homicide with a sentence of up to 12 years in prison for killing Jennifer Laude. BuzzFeed News’s Meredith Talusan is reporting from the Philippines.
Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Family Petition To Bury Trans Woman As Their “Son"
The ruling upholds the will of Jerusalem activist May Peleg, who made arrangements before her suicide to be cremated to prevent her parents from seizing control of her body.
Why Are So Many Black Transgender Women Getting Killed In Detroit?
More trans women were killed in the United States in the past 12 months than any year on record — and nowhere do the violence and homicides appear as concentrated as the Palmer Park area in Detroit. BuzzFeed News went to ask trans women who live there what they think is happening.
Ben Carson Proposes Separate Restrooms For Transgender People
“It is not fair for them to make everybody else uncomfortable,” the presidential candidate said.
Sally Field Calls Ads About Men In Women's Restrooms "Evil Lies"
Joined by political leaders, Sally Field condemned ads that claim a nondiscrimination ordinance on Houston's ballot next week would allow male sex offenders to prey on women and girls in public restrooms.
Internationally Bestselling Author Comes Out As Transgender
Exclusive: Multi-award-winning YA author James Dawson spoke to BuzzFeed News about his gender transition, why he's still using "he", and why he refuses to hide away.
New York Governor Plans To Ban Transgender Discrimination
In an apparently unprecedented move, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to use his executive authority to ban discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, and public accommodations statewide.
Transgender Student Asks For New Judge In Restroom Case
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Doumar had called being transgender a "mental disorder."
Photos Of Community Mourning For Killed Filipina Trans Woman
After transgender Filipina Jennifer Laude was killed last year, U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton was charged with her murder. These images show how Laude's family members and activists mourned and protested the one-year anniversary of Laude's death.
Congressional Dems Urge TSA To Change Screening Procedures For Transgender Passengers
The 32 lawmakers were alarmed by the treatment of Shadi Petosky, a transgender woman who was detained and searched on Sept. 21 at the Orlando airport.
Watch This Mum Tell Her Transgender Daughter How Happy She Makes Her
"My butterfly girl fills my heart with joy," Lorna McGuire wrote in a poem that she read to her 8-year-old. She talked to BuzzFeed News about what it's like to watch your child become who they are.
Hate Crime Charges Dropped In Attack On Transgender Woman In Washington State
Jacina Carla Scamahorn, who suffered broken bones in her face from the January assault, told BuzzFeed News she was not upset with prosecutors' decision to drop charges. “They explained what it would have entailed. I would have been dragged through the mud," she said.
Transgender Woman Detained At Airport Slams Latest Claims From TSA
Shadi Petosky told BuzzFeed News in an interview, “If a whole class of people is being singled out for extra screening — if one culture has to expect extra screening — it is discriminatory."
Transgender Student Will Appeal Judge’s Order Against Him In Restroom Case
A federal judge had indicated previously that he would rule against Gavin Grimm, who is seeking to use the boys’ restroom at his school. U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. Doumar ruled against Grimm on Friday, four days before school is to start.
Black Lives Matter Calls Attention To Killed Black Trans Women On National Day Of Action
“For the first time, we were able to center black trans women’s concerns and make them a vital part of the conversation,” said an organizer for a New York rally on Tuesday.
This Is What It's Like Growing Up With No Gender
"I don't know what it feels like to feel like a girl or feel like a boy." Lola Phoenix has a rare condition that stops male and female sex hormones being produced, but the NHS refuses to help. Phoenix tells BuzzFeed News what life is like when you're agender.
Judge Throws Out Key Argument In Transgender Student Restroom Case
Judge Robert Doumar dismissed arguments under Title IX, which bans discrimination on the basis of sex, in the federal case of a transgender high school student who was banned from school restrooms that correspond with his gender identity.
Why Are Blood Banks Rejecting Transgender Women?
Jasmine Kaiser and Lisa Scott are suing one of the world’s largest blood companies for turning them away for being transgender. The company insists all trans women are banned from donating under federal guidelines. Do federal officials agree? They won’t say.
This Trans Woman Kept Her Beard And Couldn't Be Happier
"I'm widening the bandwidth of how to be a woman." Alex Drummond talks to BuzzFeed News about why she kept her beard after transitioning – and how others react.
Donors Give Girl Scouts Chapter That Stood Up For Transgender Girls $250,000
After the Seattle group returned $100,000 to a donor who said the money couldn't help transgender girls, a crowd-funding campaign made up for the lost money by more than double.
With Marriage Won, Trans Rights Are Our Next Battle
Cisgender queer people and transgender people are more alike than we are different. We should fight for the rights of those of us most marginalized as a unified community.
Out Transgender Airman, In Male Uniform, Attends White House Pride Reception
Granted an exception to wear a man's uniform, Senior Airman Logan Ireland and his fiancé — another trans service member — were President Obama's guests on Tuesday. Military policy, however, continues to ban out trans service.
Transgender Teen Killed In Mississippi
Mercedes Williamson, 17, was found dead in a wooded area on June 2. She is the ninth confirmed transgender homicide victim in the United States this year.
Teen Sues School District In Potentially Key Federal Case For Transgender Restroom Rights
Gavin Grimm wants to use the boys restroom at school. His lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday may elevate a debate currently playing out in public schools and city halls across the country.
This Trans Guy Wrote A Letter To The Little Girl He Once Was To Say Sorry
"The year you turned 11 was the first time you said out loud that you didn't want to live anymore," wrote Ethan to Emily. He talked to BuzzFeed News.
Ireland Passes One Of The World's Most Progressive Gender Identity Laws
"At the core of it is self determination, not requiring a third party to tell you who you are," said an Irish trans activist.
Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Trans Woman In NYC Subway Attack
Rolan Reid, 32, pushed a transgender woman onto the subway tracks June 1 in a hate crime, police say. In addition to attempted murder, police have charged Reid with felony and misdemeanor assaults as hate crimes.
Feds Give Private Employers Clear Guidelines For Transgender Staff Using Restrooms
Transgender employees should have access to restrooms that correspond to their gender identity, according to guidance issued Monday by OSHA.
Meet The Trans Actress Set To Become Britain's Biggest New Star
In her first major interview, Rebecca Root tells BuzzFeed News about playing the lead in the BBC's new trans sitcom, appearing in Eddie Redmayne's latest film, and how transitioning saved her.
U.S. Has No Process For Accepting Transgender Passports, State Department Confirms
More than 1.5 billion people now live in countries that allow people to identify as neither male nor female on passports, but the U.S. immigration system doesn't have a way to process these documents.
The New York Times Launched A Series Of Editorials On Transgender Rights
Advocates for LGBT rights said it's a step toward acceptance and legal protections.
Trans Rights Bill Unanimously Passes India's Upper House Of Parliament
But a leading advocate for trans rights says it doesn't mean the government is embracing gay rights.
Michigan Music Festival That Excluded Transgender People To Shut Down
LGBT organizations mounted boycotts because the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival discouraged transgender women from attending.
Transgender People In California Could Pay A $4,000 Penalty For Using Certain Restrooms
The Personal Privacy Protection Act initiative, if passed, said people could only use restrooms in government buildings that correspond with their birth sex.
These Trans People Are Taking Selfies To Celebrate Transgender Day Of Visibility
On the sixth annual celebration of trans visibility, BuzzFeed News asked some young trans people to explain why it's so important to them.
Another Virginia School District Tests Federal Rules With Anti-Transgender Policy
The Stafford School Board voted 6-0 to restrict a transgender student to restrooms that reflect the student's biological birth sex or single-stall restrooms.
Pope Compares Transgender People To Nuclear Weapons
His comments appear to contradict the Holy See's gesture of welcome to an LGBT Catholic group at the Vatican this week.
Sixth Transgender Woman Of Color Is Killed In One Month
Kristina Gomez Reinwald, 46, was found dead in her Miami-Dade County home on Feb. 15. Police say her death was a homicide.
Gender-Nonconforming Person Fatally Stabbed In Ohio
Bri Golec, 22, appears to be the sixth transgender or gender-nonconforming person killed in the United States since Jan. 17.
Fifth Transgender Woman Of Color Is Killed In Less Than A Month
Penny Proud was fatally shot Tuesday in New Orleans. Media then misgendered her and dwelled on prostitution activity near the crime scene, despite being unable to provide evidence linking it to the homicide.
Florida Lawmaker Says Using Restroom Is A Choice For Transgender People
State Rep. Frank Artiles told BuzzFeed News why he filed a bill that would make it a crime for transgender people to use single-sex public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
Meet The Trans Sex Worker Who Transformed A Gang-Controlled Prison
Karla Avelar survived a serial killer, gang attacks, and four years in a Salvadoran prison to become a trans activist on the global stage. J. Lester Feder and Nicola Chávez Courtright report from El Salvador.
Transgender Latina Woman Killed In San Francisco
Taja Gabrielle DeJesus, 33, was stabbed Sunday, the latest in a number of killings of trans women of color.
Florida Bill Would Criminalize Transgender People Using Single-Sex Public Restrooms
Violators could be punished by up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine.
LAPD Arrests Suspect In Killing of Transgender Woman
Yazmin Payne, 33, was the fourth transgender woman of color killed in the Los Angeles area within the last eight months.
Egyptian Court Sentences Trans Woman To Six Years In Prison On Prostitution Charges
It comes after 26 men were acquitted in Egypt's most high-profile homosexuality trial in more than a decade.
Transgender Kids Are Not Confused Or Pretending, Study Finds
"This is who they are. This isn’t a phase that they are going through at the moment,” the lead author of a study to be published in Psychological Science told BuzzFeed News.
Judge Voids Conviction Of Trans Woman In High-Profile Case
"I have to fight because I am innocent. And I am going to keep on standing up for what is right," Monica Jones tells BuzzFeed News. Her conviction was voided because she was “deprived… of a fair trial.”
FDA's New Blood Donation Guidelines Offer Little Clarity For Transgender People
Doctors criticize the FDA for applying its ban on blood donations based on a person's sex at birth, not their risky or safe behavior.
Advice For America From Parents Who Support Their Transgender Kids
After a transgender teen committed suicide last month, several parents, including a Catholic deacon and former Southern Baptist, explained how they are raising happy transgender children.
25-Year-Old Trans Woman Is Latest Target Of Egyptian LGBT Crackdown
The arrest of the 25-year-old trans woman is the latest in a crackdown on LGBT rights in Egypt that has landed more than 100 people behind bars. Her friend tells BuzzFeed News she fears she may be next.
Transgender Student Files Federal Complaint Against School District For Banning Him From The Boys Restroom
Gavin Grimm and the ACLU argue that the Gloucester County School Board violated Title IX when it approved a rule restricting school restrooms to students with "corresponding biological genders."
After Delay, NJ High School Lets Transgender Student Use Boys Restroom
Rubin Smyers, 16, spent months pressuring his New Jersey high school for equal access under state and federal law.
