Found at Vancouver Courier

Jamie Lee Hamilton has a request for anyone who criticizes her decision to seek an NPA nomination for parks board.
"Vote for the platform, not the personality," she said. "And if you agree with the platform I present, vote for me. Once they see my platform, my critics can vote for me or not vote for me. It's called a democracy."
Hamilton writes a political blog called Oldtown News. She ran unsuccessfully as a COPE candidate for city council in 1996 and sought a second nomination in 1999. In 2005, Hamilton was a member of the NPA, but announced she would run for a seat on council as an independent. She withdrew her name as a candidate prior to the November election.
Hamilton will seek the nomination at the next NPA meeting in September two months before the civic election. At an NPA meeting held in June, parks board commissioner Ian Robertson and former commissioners Laura McDiarmid and Christopher Richardson won nominations, as did Sharon Urton of the Vancouver Active Communities Network. NPA parks board chair Korina Houghton announced she would not seek another seat on the board, but will instead run for council. NPA commissioner Marty Zlotnik told the Courier Monday that he has not decided whether he will seek a second term with the board.
If elected, Hamilton, a transsexual, would be one of the most colourful commissioners ever elected to the board. Hamilton has been a longtime advocate for the Downtown Eastside community, the gay, lesbian and transsexual community and sex-trade workers. Hamilton, a self-described "on-again, off-again" sex-trade worker, started what she called a "safe house" for prostitutes in 2000. She was arrested and charged with running a common bawdy house, but the charges were stayed in 2003.
Hamilton has long championed safety for sex-trade workers. In 1988 she dumped 68 pairs of stiletto-heeled shoes on the steps of city hall to highlight women missing from the Downtown Eastside. Hamilton sits on the board of the Prostitution Alternatives Counselling and Education Society and the board of the Vancouver Pride Society.
Pride Society president John Boychuk said as long as Hamilton excuses herself during any parks board-related discussions at the society's board, there's no conflict of interest in her serving on both boards.
"The work that [gay parks board commissioner] Spencer Herbert has done on the park board for the community is fantastic," said Boychuk. "And I think the more representation we have the better. I think this is an excellent opportunity for people to get to know Jamie Lee in a whole new way."
Hamilton is working on a research project with UBC regarding the safety of women in the West End from 1970 to 1984. She also runs what she describes as an "entertainment" business, which includes organizing private parties.
Hamilton said her community activism has made her appreciate the city. But as Vancouver grows, Hamilton said, she's concerned for the future of public spaces, community centres and parks. She said the rising number of homeless people and increased drug use must be addressed humanely.

Found at Vancouver Courier

Technorati: Canada transsexual NPA Jamie Lee Hamilton

Found at Bianet

The police officers who beat up and insulted transsexual Esmeray in June 2007 for passing by the front of the station will be tried for the crime of “simple bashing and insulting.”
The two police officers who beat up and insulted transsexual Esmeray will be tried a little more than a year later. Beyoğlu 2nd Criminal Court of Peace, where the case will be tried, has not set the hearing date yet.

“Police apologized”

According to Esmeray’s account, she was stopped by a police officer while going back to her home and yelled at for taking the route forbidden to her. The yelling was followed by a punch to her eye and kicks by the other police officers when she hit the ground.
Later Esmeray decided to take the matter to the court, since “this was nothing new. Passing by the street in front of the police station (which happens to be one of the major streets in Taksim area in Istanbul and open to public) has been banned to the transvestites and transsexuals for a while.” Esmeray wanted to know if this was legal. She filed her complaint so that others would not have to go through this human rights violation again.
Later, says Esmeray, the police officer came and apologized. He was very sorry, because he did not know that she was making a living by selling mussels. Esmeray says she told him that he did not have the right to hid her even if she was not selling mussels. The police officer asked her to withdraw her complaint, but she did not.
Esmeray said that she also filed a complaint about the police officers who attacked her this May. Eyüboğlu said the Office of Beyoğlu Prosecutor in Istanbul launched an investigation about this incident.

Found at Bianet

Technorati: police violence turkey transsexual crime

Found at The Star

The Government’s offer of welfare aid to homosexuals should be extended to the Mak Nyah (transgender) instead.
Pink Triangle Foundation programme director Raymond Tai said most homosexuals were “well-to-do” as they were employed just like “normal people” and would only face discrimination if they were open about their status.
“They are not like the Mak Nyah who are physically different. The Mak Nyah do not get employed and this results in them prostituting themselves,” he said.
“They are the ones deprived of basic privileges such as education and employment, not homosexuals.”
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen had on Wednesday said homosexuals were also eligible for welfare aid and said they could apply for it if they meet the necessary requirements.
Tai said helping the Mak Nyah would help them overcome discrimination.
Foundation advocacy manager Danny Teoh said there were other aspects that needed to be addressed.
He said this included encouraging homosexuals to be brave in talking about their sexual proclivity.
“The public should be aware and understand that sexuality is a personal affair and should be accepted,” he said, adding that only then would homosexuals come forward to ask for help. However, he said expecting a person to be open about his sexual preference was not easy and should be handled properly.
Pang Khee Teik, founder of Gender Genres, a group of writers who write about homosexuality issues, said charity could also be considered a form of discrimination.
“Though it is a well-intentioned move by the ministry, I do not think it would solve the problems faced by the homosexual community.”
He said the Government must address discrimination against homosexuals, adding the money allocated for welfare could be used for campaigns to educate the public on sexual orientation.

Found at The Star

Technorati: malaysia Mak Nyah transgender transsexual welfare employment

Found at Trend News

Television watchdogs were investigating after transgender people were described as "human monsters" in a Chinese language television programme, a media report said Sunday, the dpa reported.
The expression "yan yiu," which translates as "human monster," was used 23 times during a report on transgender people in Thailand broadcast by the ATV television station, the South China Morning Post said.
The expression also appeared in subtitles 28 times in the segment which lasted 11 minutes and 45 seconds.
Sam Winter, a professor at the University of Hong Kong's faculty of education and also director of Transgender ASIA Research Centre, said the use of the expression would damage Hong Kong's reputation as a cosmopolitan city.

He filed a complaint with the Broadcasting Authority and asked the television station and producers of the programme to apologize publicly to the local transgender community.
"It is unimaginable to call transgender people freaks on TV in other developed sections of the world - you won't hear the word 'nigger' on television in the US," Winter said.
The Broadcasting Authority confirmed it had received the complaint and said it would look into it.
Lennie Chui, who has changed gender from male to female, felt offended by the use of the expression and the attitude shown towards transgender people. "The television programme adopted a 'freak investigation approach' to look into the lives of transgender people. I felt I was being exploited and it caused me discomfort," she said.

Found at Trend News

Technorati: china transgender transsexual discrimination human right television