For Trans Puerto Ricans, Passing Laws Is Only Part of the Battle for Liberation
Trans activists in Puerto Rico insist they are not a distraction, but central to the struggle for independence.
military
A Trans Service Member Explains Why the Mattis Policy Absolutely Is a Trans Military Ban
The Department of Defense has been claiming this is not actually a ban on transgender service members. But in effect, the Mattis Policy is “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell II: This Time As Farce.”
Uncharted Waters: A Trans Woman’s Journey Transitioning in the Navy
“Presenting as male every day hurts. When the ship is in port, it’s not as bad; I grow to hate coming in to work, but once the day ends I can go home and be myself. When we’re underway, it’s worse. I’m stuck being ‘him’ all day, every day. Sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks… once, for months.”
Sunday Funday Is Lovin’ Up With Our Old-Timey Gal Pals
Jessica Platt is the first out trans player in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, Disney gal pal pairing you’ll freak out over, rare vintage photos of 18th and early 19th-century lesbians, 90-year-old lesbian veteran sues the U.S. Air Force, and lesbian herstory accounts you need in your life.
F*cking Hell, Trump Just Signed a Memo Enacting Trans Military Ban
Today Trump signed an official directive that prohibits transgender people from joining the military, and additionally gives Defense Secretary Mattis a great deal of latitude in terms of deciding the fate of transgender people already enlisted.
Also.Also.Also: Trump’s Ridiculous Trans Military Ban Is Shaping Up and Other Stories You’ll Need Some Water After Reading
There’s a cat at the end of this post, more on fingerquotes feminist white men, Arabelle Sicardi, the first out lesbian NFL coach, did I mention the cat is on a tampon box, Hillary Clinton’s upcoming book, Wildfang gets ripped off, and so much more!
Five Trans Service Members on the Glory and Agony of the US Military
These are stories of trans people who have served or are serving in the US military; their experiences range from the positive to the deeply traumatic and everywhere in between.
“President” Trump Bans Trans People From Military Service via F*cking Twitter
Donald Trump decided to switch up his morning Twitter time today, putting the breaks on his relentless 140-character lies that he and his campaign didn’t work with Russia to steal the White House, and moving ahead with a “plan” to ban all transgender people from serving in the U.S. military.
Chelsea Manning Ends Hunger Strike, Makes History as Army Says She Can Access Transition-Related Care
Chelsea Manning’s five-day hunger strike is over as the Army reportedly tells her she can access gender confirmation surgery — but questions remain on how quickly they’ll take action.
Also.Also.Also: Women Headed to the Front Lines and Other Stories for Your Weekend
Start your weekend with some links!
Daily Fix: F*cking Kim Davis, Man and More News Stories
A lesbian mom loses her lawsuit against a sperm bank, a new study finds a lot of Catholics are ok with gay parents, a Mexican trans woman receives asylum and more news stories.
Notes From A Queer Engineer: Tear Gas, Tool Of The Police State
“While I in no way want to distract from the important conversations going on about anti-Black racism in America, I think it’s also pertinent for us to deconstruct some of the tools and techniques being used by the police to maintain control. So today we’re going to talk about tear gas.”
LGBT Veterans Deserve Equal Rights and Recognition, Not Just a Free Bloomin’ Onion
This Veteran’s Day, let’s give back to the queer service men and women who have put their lives on the line to protect us.
Chelsea Manning Faces Possible Prison Transfer In Complex Case of Transphobia
Manning is in a tight spot. Not only does she have to deal with the military’s transphobia and transmisogyny, but she also has to deal with the same thing coming from prison industrial complex in which she is imprisoned.
Defense Secretary Sorta Open to Kinda Revisiting Military’s Ban on Trans Troops
United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an interview Sunday that the military’s ban on trans people is a complicated issue, but one that “continually should be reviewed.”
Recruiting All Homos: Losing Myself In The Basics, Loving It
“I miss contraband, kumbayahs, and those very few and far between moments where I felt like there was nothing that could stop us.”
Despite Luck of the Irish, Guinness, Heineken and Sam Adams Drop Sponsorship of Anti-LGBT St Patrick’s Parades
In a surprise turn of events, Guinness announced on Sunday that it will be pulling sponsorship from New York’s St Patrick’s Day parade on Monday, in support of LGBT groups. It joins Heineken and Sam Adams, who had earlier pulled their sponsorship from New York and Boston parades respectively.
8 Unintentionally Gay Vintage Wartime Posters
Reading lesbian subtext in everything since World War I.
Also.Also.Also: Bill O’Reilly Should Eat Some Sriracha and Shut Up And Other Stories We Missed This Week
From prom to the Mormon Church, folks got a lotta ‘splainin to do.
Also.Also.Also: Brittney Griner’s Makeup Class and Other Stories We Missed This Week
From the OUT 100 to the first lady of Zambia to Michelle Tea’s marriage, it turns out there was a lot of queer shit going down while I was working late nights in the office.
Recruiting All Homos: One Small Step for Boxer Briefs, One Giant Leap for Butch Kind
“I start unbuttoning my shirt, but can’t really decide on a way to make getting undressed in this space any less uncomfortable, so I just drop my pants.”