Found at tvnz

The Rarotonga Queens, one of the Cook Islands' best known stage acts, are famous for their flamboyant cross-dressing antics.
On stage, they are outrageous crowd pleasers, but it's what goes on behind the scenes that they are fighting for.
For years they have been ridiculed and have never been taken seriously in a society that is still strongly conservative towards transgender.
The Queens put on a show at the launch of the Tia Tiare Foundation, which is an organisation in the Cook Islands which helps people in the transgender community.
The group say they banded together to promote respect in a bid to protect their rights and be treated with dignity.
"A lot of the local people have actually laughed at them, ridiculed them, and haven't given them the time of day & the members of Te Tiare Foundation have decided enough's enough its time for the members to be recognised," says Rohan Ellis, the event organiser.
If numbers were anything to go by, the message was a success. The show was a sell-out attracting locals and tourists alike.
Ellis says the event's success proves Cook Islanders are embracing of differences in society.
However appearances can be deceiving.
"There is a certain acceptance to a certain level but not as complete, not as much as we would like it to be," says Tangee Kokaua, one of the Raratonga Queens singers.
But many say it's a start.
The queens of Rarotonga are coming out in style and for them it's about moving forward one step at a time.

Found at tvnz

Technorati: transsexual transgender new zealand Rarotonga Queens Cook Island acting art

Found at NDTV.com

Kalki is a highflying transgender IT professional. But her road to success wasn't easy. Her parents she says didn't accept her sexual orientation and forced her to take male hormone tablets. Away from home she was often a victim of sexual abuse. These factors only inspired her to dream big. Now the techie also runs a foundation for the betterment of transgenders.
''When you are successful people look up to you. When you are not its a totally different story,'' says Kalki.
Rose is the country's first transgender television anchor and has won the hearts of millions. She was once thrown out of home. But that did not stop her from acquiring an international professional degree. Her new celebrity status she says is changing mindsets.
''That would never happen earlier in the past. People would not just talk to transgenders. But now they not only talk to me, they invite me home,'' says Rose.
In another part of Chennai Priya Babu has emerged to be a successful author. She wants to develop a resource centre for the third gender.
''Education is my biggest strength and also the tamilnadu government has given us so many opportunities,'' says Priya Babu.
Transgenders have begun to script success stories in Tamil Nadu. A majority of them are still pushed into prostitution but the more vocal ones in the community are spearheading a campaign to get a transgender nominated to the parliament, state assemblies and local bodies.

Found at NDTV.com

Technorati: transsexual transgender india IT education

Found at The Forester

A TRANSSEXUAL has spoken of her distress after suffering a “barrage of abuse” in a Gloucester pub.
Paula, from Cheltenham, says she was sworn at and humiliated at a meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender network.
The group were meeting at the Water Poet pub, in Eastgate Street, to discuss this year's Gloucestershire Pride event on August 9.
Paula, who is the chairwoman of Gloucestershire Pride, says the abuse was “atrocious”.
Like other LGBT members, Paula, who is a transsexual, goes by first name only.
Paula said: “The management did nothing and the guy was allowed to continue his barrage of filth.
“We've complained to the police and they're taking it seriously.
“This man spent five minutes abusing a 55-year-old woman in a pub in a completely unprovoked attack.
“He approached us and started asking us if we were having a meeting and whether it had been a good meeting.
“Now everyone is going to know that he's a bully. If it hadn't been us it would have been a disabled person or a black person.”
Paula, a parent of one, who helps run a support group for transgendered people, hopes speaking out about the abuse will encourage other sufferers to come forward.
Eddie Gershon, spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, which owns the pub, said: “The manager informed the man that this type of behaviour would not be tolerated but he said he was leaving.
“It was made clear that the abuse would not be tolerated.”
A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire police said: “We take any reports of hate crime incredibly seriously.”

Found at The Forester

Technorati: transsexual abuse united kingdom Gloucester discrimination