THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT by Lexie Cannes

Rational thinking and reporting on all things transgender by Lexie Cannes.

Lesbian couple married in Iowa, but spouse still faces deportation because of DOMA

Lesbian couple Sujey and Violeta Pando - married in Iowa but Sujey faces deportation because federal gov't doesn't recognize their marriage.

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT –The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prevents the federal government from recognizing the Iowan marriage of Violeta and Sujey Pando, and as a result, Sujey, who was born in Mexico, may be deported. Sujey came to America as a youth and later thrown out of the house after it was discovered she was a lesbian. She rebuilt her life from there but became a subject of an investigation into her background after a traffic stop.

Had Sujey entered a hetrosexual marriage, things would be quite different immigrant status-wise, but she choose love over deception thus exposing one of the hundreds of things wrong with the DOMA. This story is likely replayed thousands of times each year by people caught in legal limbo who wouldn’t be if not for the DOMA. Although President Obama’s call for the Justice department to stop enforcing some provisions has helped some, only the repealing of DOMA can help people like the Pandos.

The Pandos are hoping for relief through a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pilot program that is reviewing nonviolent immigrants with familial ties, including lesbians, however that program is ending and they have yet to hear if their case is dismissed. If it isn’t, Sujey faces a hearing in court on her status, and if she loses, she’ll be deported.

The Pandos own words on the matter: http://stopthedeportations.blogspot.com/2011/07/violeta-and-sujey-married-lesbian.html [note: the August hearing was apparently postponed pending the decision of the ICE pilot program.]

More details on the Pando saga: Lesbian couple in limbo as immigration pilot program officially ends today – Denver News – The Latest Word.

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Turkish high court rules newspaper to pay for using a trans-slur and calling gay people “sexual perverts”.

Icon Turkish transgender singer Bulent Ersoy receives apology from distractors (Photo: tg media)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Three recent pro-transgender developments inside Turkey has some trans people hoping for more acceptance into Turkish society.  Although Turkey is a long way from being a haven for trans and GLB people, it does appear they’re on the right track.

Turkey’s High Court of Appeals ruled that for “insulting the personal freedom of individuals”, the Yeni Akitto newspaper (now called Vakit) is to pay damages to KAOS GL, a LGBT organization who filed the lawsuit.

Zafer Uskul, then head of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, was the subject of the headline that read “Uskul prefers perverts” following his attendance at an anti-homophobism meeting. In addition to other insults, the writer, Serdar Arseven, stated Uskul was catering to “she-males” (in reference to gay and lesbian people).

The court said: “The freedom of the press does not encompass the freedom to insult the personal freedoms of individuals.”

Other recent positive transgender news in Turkey: The Turkish transgender-themed film Zenne Dancer, which won five major awards at the country’s top film festival, is now in theaters. Bulent Ersoy, a noted Turkish transgender singer who was attacked for claiming prior association with an iconic leader by those who felt the leader would have never befriended trans people, has been publicly apologized to.

Still, this is a country where most people are unable to talk about GLBT matters and a recent poll showed that 84% of the people in Turkey would not want to live next door to gay people.

Court: Turkish newspaper defamed gays – UPI.com.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/18/homophobia-turkey-moving-apology?newsfeed=true

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[UPDATE-2] Prominent Iranian women’s civil rights activist shot and killed in Houston, Texas

Iranian women's civil rights activist Gelareh Bagherzadeh (photo: Houston Chronicle)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATED-2 Still no clues. See below.] Gelareh Bagherzadeh, an outspoken critic of the Iranian government was shot dead in her car near her home in Houston, TX. The shooting occurred just yesterday (Monday Jan 16th.) and some of the news reports have conflicting information. The following, however, is most likely correct.

Of Iranian descent, Bagherzadeh  participated in the Iranian protests in 2010 and was vocal proponent for regime change in Tehran at that time. Reports say she was prominent among Iranian women and was an organizing member of SabzHouston — an organization calling for political change in Iran. She was a medical student at Anderson Cancer Center.

Bagherzadeh apparently on the phone with with her ex-boyfriend when she was shot. The car then crashed into a townhouse and she was found dead at the scene. Police say her ex-boyfriend is not a suspect and they do not know if her activities are behind the shooting. They also said she  might have been followed home. Apparently nothing was stolen from the vehicle. The police have no leads or suspects.

Here are several sources:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Med-student-shot-to-death-near-Galleria-2563916.php

Activist for women’s rights in Iran killed in Houston | The Republic.

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UPDATED Jan. 20, 2012 – More details about the crime released — she was shot in the head and her wallet and phone were left untouched in car — but no new clues connecting this to anything except perhaps a botched robbery. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/mystery-surrounds-texas-slaying-of-woman-outspoken-about-democracy-in-her-home-country-of-iran/2012/01/20/gIQA1bDvCQ_story.html

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UPDATED March 4, 2012 – Still no clues: Houston police said they are stuck and will follow any lead, even those involving Iranian conspiracies, if it will lead them to the killer. http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/05/justice/texas-iranian-student-killing/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

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RuPaul doesn’t live as a trans person, so quit asking him to comment on TG issues.

RuPaul is a gay man, not transgender - and not a spokesperson for trans people.

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — RuPaul, of course, is a gay man who entertains people in drag. He does not live the life of a trans person. Indeed, performing in drag has much in common with trans people as does drag racing an AA/Funny Car down a NHRA dragstrip. In other words, RuPaul doesn’t know what its like to be transgender.

Yes, he does get national attention because of his pretend woman performances, of which he likely makes a lot of money. But neither of these things make him a more qualified spokesperson than an actual trans woman or trans man struggling through the steps towards transition and beyond, both financially and emotionally — these are the people to ask. The more of them you ask, the better the picture.

While its true that people within the trans community are not all on the same page — heck not everybody is agreeing on trans definitions, but if one is confused, asking someone living outside the community to explain it all is akin to throwing a pail of gasoline on a fire.

Yes, RuPaul is allowed his opinion, but let’s not ask him for it anymore because he isn’t a true representative of the trans community.

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Some people have pointed out to me that Drag Queens and Kings are considered under the trans umbrella. This, of course, if widely accepted, opens the door slightly for them to speak on trans matters.

Other posts on this topic:

Monica Roberts: http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-repeat-gay-media-rupaul-is-not-trans.html

Lez Get Real: http://lezgetreal.com/2012/01/rupaul-shows-disconnect-with-trans-issues-identity-and-insults/

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U.S. should force Kuwait to repeal law against ‘Imitating the Opposite Sex’ which “allows” abuse of trans by police.

Vague law lets Kuwaiti Police brutalize transgender citizens

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — That’s right, torture, sexual abuse and arrest of transgender citizens at the hand of the Kuwaiti police — all supposedly legal.

The Human Rights Watch’s report titled: ‘They Hunt us Down for Fun’: Discrimination and Police Violence Against Transgender Women in Kuwait” found that a vague and hateful law which makes it illegal to “imitate the opposite sex” is the cause for widespread brutal police behavior towards transgender people in Kuwait.

Very rarely can the United States become strongly involved in the social affairs of another country — but in this case, we can, and we must. We’ve spent billions defending this country and still spend billions buying its product — oil. Kuwait is supposedly one of our closest allies. I’d argue if the Kuwaitis want us to continue to provide military protection of their nation, they need to close that legal loophole pronto!

From HRW website: Transgender women reported suffering multiple forms of abuse at the hands of the police while in detention, including degrading and humiliating treatment, such as being forced to strip and being paraded around the police station, being forced to dance for officers, sexual humiliation, verbal taunts and intimidation, solitary confinement, and emotional and physical abuse that could amount to torture.

Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch: “No one – regardless of his or her gender identity – deserves to be arrested on the basis of a vague, arbitrary law and then abused and tortured by police.  The Kuwaiti government has a duty to protect all of its residents, including groups who face popular disapproval, from brutal police behavior and the application of an unfair law.”

I urge Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to press the Kuwaiti government into putting a stop to this insanity!

Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/01/15/kuwait-end-police-abuses-against-transgender-women

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wearing prosthetic penis caused contemplating SRS trans man to lose job – files civil rights complaint

Wearing fake penis causes employee to lose job

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — While the lawsuit says the employee was contemplating SRS (sex reassignment surgery) when she wore the device, I am unable to confirm if she identifies as a male. However, the civil rights complaint is apparently in her birth gender name – Pauline Davis, so I shall be using female pronouns.

Davis’ employer, a J&J Snack Foods plant in Moosic, Penn. fired her after an employee Davis confided in told management she was wearing the device. Her attorney, Lalena J. Turchi, it was well concealed and did not interfere with her ability to do her job. They claimed the company favorably treated another trans employee, a woman undergoing hormone therapy.

The federal civil-rights complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court supposedly states: “[the fired employee] was subjected to disparate and discriminatory treatment for being a female, and for being a female who identified with the male gender.”

Davis two years ago filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming gender and gender-identity discrimination. No word on what the outcome was. Neither Davis or J&J Snack Foods are responding to media inquiries.

I’ve also been unable to find out if she is getting guidance from trans organizations. It would appear she could have a stronger case if she was identifying herself as a trans man in the lawsuit and in the media. However, there may be other reasons for using the female name.

Complied from various media sources, including The Huffington Post: Pauline Davis, Pennsylvania Woman, Claims Her Prosthetic Penis Got Her Fired From Job.

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Filed under: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, , , , , , , , , , ,

[UPDATED-2] Anti-trans “Police the Potty” bill withdrawn — Tenn. state rep. calls trans people “perverts” and would ‘stomp them.’

Tenn. state Rep. Richard Floyd (R): "I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry."

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT –  [UPDATED-2 - Transgender Law Center says Floyd guilty of hate speech - see below.] “Don’t ask me to adjust to their perverted way of thinking and put my family at risk,” said Rep. Richard Floyd, a Tennessee House Republican who sponsored a bill in the state legislature that would force trans people to use public restrooms and dressing rooms of their birth gender. Fortunately a state Senator withdrew his co-sponsorship of the bill placing it in limbo. It is said Floyd drew up the bill after reading about the Macy’s dressing room incident late last year.

More from Rep. Floyd:

“I believe if I was standing at a dressing room and my wife or one of my daughters was in the dressing room and a man tried to go in there — I don’t care if he thinks he’s a woman and tries on clothes with them in there — I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry.

“Don’t ask me to adjust to their perverted way of thinking and put my family at risk. We cannot continue to let these people dominate how society acts and reacts.”

Now, this is a man full of vile hate and I’m holding him accountable for his actions.

My post on the Macy’s incident: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/thumbs-up-to-macys-for-firing-employee-who-pulled-christiany-card-on-trans-customer/

via Watson withdraws Senate version of bill affecting transgender use of restrooms, dressing rooms | timesfreepress.com.

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UPDATE – Jan. 16, 2012: It appears we have the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition to thank for getting the ball rolling to get this bill killed.

From KNOX-TV News: “The measure caused a stir on blogs around the nation after the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition sent out a news release declaring “the bathroom harassment act” a direct attack on “the transgender community” that would also impact many others, including plumbers, cleaning personnel and others who work in restrooms as well as parents taking their young children into a facility. The release also questioned how the measure would be enforced, given that few persons carry a birth certificate to visit restrooms.”

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/16/legislative-notebook-bathrooms-subpoenas-and/

Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition website (has not been updated in a while): http://ttgpac.com/

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UPDATE-2  Jan. 19, 2012 – Masen Davis, executive director of  the Transgender Law Center says Floyd’s comments amount to hate speech and called for him to apologize for “threatening violence.”

Davis: “Representative Floyd’s threats send the message that it is OK to attack innocent people based on their gender identity and expression.” This type of hate speech incites violence and fosters a dangerous and discriminatory environment for transgender people in Tennessee.”

http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2012/state-rep-floyd-guilty-of-hate-speech-transgender-advocate-says/

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do we unload on 14-year-old Taylor for the chaos she created for trans kids and the Girl Scout organization?

14-year-old Taylor, supposedly of Ventura, CA.

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Yes, Taylor’s video was aimed at other girl scouts, but her message has consequences that extend beyond that audience. Whether she did this on her own or was prodded into it by adults, she has become the face of bigotry, discrimination, ignorance, and selfishness in one 7 minute YouTube video.

Technically, she is now a public figure by her own doing and affords no protection of privacy and/or and claims for libel and slander. It’s open season for her on talk shows and photo arrays pairing her up with others of her kind, like Rev. Fred Phelps and Rick Santorum.

On one hand she’s still a kid, on the other hand the consequences to all us are very adult and not easily excused. The question now is, do we respond in kind? Very difficult to answer I say.

I feel this akin to an adult picking up a child in the line of fire to prevent them from being shot at — or in this case, temper the blows. IMO the adults behind this need to own up to it, otherwise 14-year-old Taylor might get cooked.

What say you?

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Drew Cordes’ post titled: “Shifting Sexuality During Gender Transition” in The Bilerico Project

Drew Cortes (Photo: Albany Times Union)

Drew Cordes had her SRS in December, 2011. (Photo: Albany Times Union)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — What a GREAT topic! No doubt many trans people experience this shifting of their sexuality during transition which likely contributed to a bit of confusion along the way.

Drew Cordes: I’ve noticed in myself, and in many other trans people I talk to, that gender transition often is accompanied by a shift in sexuality. By “shift” I don’t mean a rigid 180, but just that things often can alter or open a bit.

I did enjoy reading some of the responses thus far, however Drew’s article in The Bilerico Project doesn’t have a conclusion just yet. She would like to hear from you — what was your ‘shift in sexuality’ experience? You can post it on The Bilerico Project blog or contact her directly via email on the TBP contributor contact page.

This is a topic we don’t hear much about and would no doubt help others in the future. I look forward to reading more replies and Drew’s conclusion.

Read and respond here:  Shifting Sexuality During Gender Transition: Your Thoughts? | The Bilerico Project.

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Transgender woman to run for county commissioner in Florida

Trans woman Gina Duncan is running for Orange county (FL) commissioner (Photo WESH-TV)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — More transgender people throwing their hat into the ring to run for political office has no down side — even if they don’t win. Just the fact that they CAN and DO run chips away at efforts from those attempting to exclude us from civil rights and equality.

The latest, filed two days ago, is Gina Duncan, a former star linebacker, homecoming king, father of two kids and a 25 year marriage — an American dream runs for office as a woman.

Duncan in explaining her decision to have SRS (sex reassignment surgery) in 2006: “In the transgender world, the decision is one that builds over a period of time. It gets to a point where you need to be your authentic self.”

Duncan says the race will certainly get a lot of attention but she says that she and the incumbent, Ted Edwards, agree that the race will be fought on the issues so that the best candidate is elected to represent the district. (5th District in Orange county, Florida.)

Duncan: “While that’s [being transgender] a big part of me, and I do acknowledge the potential historic aspects of this election, the most important thing is that I bring a new vision to Orange County.”

Former Homecoming King Runs For Office As Woman – Orlando News Story – WESH Orlando.

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Study finds children are safer with lesbian couples — wind taken out of anti-LGBT marriage rhetoric

Children are abuse-free in lesbian households. (Photo: Time.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Results from a long-term study has given anti-GLBT marriage organizations a double whammy. Researchers found ZERO physical or sexual abuse in lesbians households in 24 years of monitoring. In addition, only 2.8% of the kids in these households eventually identified themselves as gay or lesbian.

This contrasts with American children in all households overall, 26% reporting physical abuse and 8% reporting sexual abuse. On this observation, one could argue children are safer in lesbian households than most common types of households (non-GLBT married couples, single parents).

Any claim that lesbian households produce a higher rate of gay children is pretty much debunked in the study as well.

While anti-LGBT marriage organizations are not going to pack up their tents and go away, some of the wind has been taken out of their rhetoric.

The researchers stated in The Huffington Post: “the absence of child abuse in lesbian mother families is particularly noteworthy, because victimization of children is pervasive and its consequences can be devastating. To the extent that our findings are replicated by other researchers, these reports from adolescents with lesbian mothers have implications for healthcare professionals, policymakers, social service agencies, and child protection experts who seek family models in which violence does not occur.”

Source: U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS) published  in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Nanette Gartrell, M.D., Henny Bos, Ph.D., and Naomi Goldberg, M.P.P.

Read more about this in The Huffington Post:  Child Abuse Rate At Zero Percent In Lesbian Households, New Report Finds.

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Rick Santorum: a man without a brain – researchers baffled.

Convicts or gay parents . . . decisions, decisions . . .

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — The headline read: “[GOP presidential contender Rick] Santorum Says Gay Parents Worse Than Convicts”. Hmm . . . is that so? I thought I’d dig up a couple of these convicts and you can decide for yourselves if Rick is on the ball here.

These two gentlemen below are currently convicts still in prison and according to Rick Santorum, both of these fellows would be better parents than a lesbian or gay couple.

Ward Weaver: FBI agents found the remains of Ashley Pond 12,  and Miranda Gaddis 13 at the home of Ward Weaver III, the father of one of their school friends. Ashley’s body was found in a hole in the yard under a concrete slab that Weaver claimed was for a hot tub. Miranda Gaddis’ remains were found in a bag in a storage shed. About.com

Nathaniel Bar-Jonah: Nathaniel Bar-Jonah is a convicted child predator that is in prison after repeatedly molesting, torturing, and attempting to murder children. He was also suspected of murdering a child then disposing of the body through cannibalistic ways that involved his unsuspecting neighbors.– About.com

Santorum Says Gay Parents Worse Than Convicts | News | The Advocate.

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Romney says federal workplace protection for transgender workers would “open a litigation floodgate . . .”

Fired transgender employee Vandy Glenn wins her job back using the judicial system. (Photo: American Progress)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Well, duh. If a federal law is ignored, what recourse does one have except to sue? Besides Gov. Romney, you do know there are three branches of government? One of the jobs of the judicial branch is to make sure federal law is enforced. If there’s a “flood” it’ll only be because of rogue employers –NOT trans people!

On Sunday, during a debate on Meet The Press, Gov. Romney said he opposed discrimination. Perhaps he meant to say he opposes discrimination unless it requires enforcing, in which case, he’s siding with employers.

Human Rights Campaign press release from Sunday: [Gov.] Romney’s record on protections for LGBT Americans does not match his [Meet The Press debate] rhetoric. Despite once pledging to co-sponsor a federal version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Romney now says federal workplace protections for LGBT Americans would “open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges.”

Well, here we are. Confused. We shouldn’t be. In 35 states it’s legal to fire someone for their gender identity. If Romney becomes president, that number might get rolled back, because after all, getting rogue employers to comply with non-discrimination laws requires suing them — something Romney doesn’t like.

Press Releases | Human Rights Campaign.

How you can help end workplace discrimination: http://sites.hrc.org/sites/passendanow/index.asp

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[UPDATED -- Bill postponed] CA state legislators considering bill to allow trans students to play on opposite birth-sex school sport teams

The state capitol of California (City of Sacramento photo)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE: The Transgender Law Center reports this bill has been postponed -- see below.] Supposedly, this new bill (or amendment to an existing one) also allows for transgender youth to use opposite sex locker rooms and bathrooms. Very scant details here, but word is California state legislators set a date for hearing in the next few weeks.

I searched the California legislature database and there are a couple of transgender-related education bills in various stages of progress, however, I was not able to confirm which bill it is. I was also unable to find a date for this hearing.

I will update this when more details surface.

Meanwhile, KTXL-TV  reported this statement from Ben Hudson,  the Executive Director of Sacramento’s Gender Health Center: “This is about youth whose gender identity is outside of what their body is, so this allows them full access to sports and other sex-segregated activities inside of schools, which is important as they go through school.”

UPDATE Jan 7. 2012: Kristina Wertz of the Transgender Law Center informed me that the bill is not going forward this year. They want to want to take time to do more education and make sure they are putting forward the best possible bill. She said the Transgender Law Center is deeply committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to schools  and is definitely something that they’ll be working on this year, but not via legislation at this time.

My thanks to Kristina for the update!

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Yanked Libra Tampon commercial actor talks about the controversy

Sandee Crack, actor in the Libra Tampon commercial (Photo: sandee crack.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — The trans woman in the Libra commercial is actor Sandee Crack who is a gay man who also dresses in drag as a performer. He does not consider himself transgender.

Excerpts:

“I saw it as a great opportunity to participate in a positive step toward acceptance for drag queens and gay men among the wider community.   . . .

I never felt for one moment that I would be depicted as a trans woman, nor do I believe that I have been.  . . .

Unfortunately, a small portion of the trans community has chosen to view the ad as a personal attack on their fight to be viewed as equal women within society.  . . .

  . . . I feel hurt that representing myself as a drag queen on television and playing out a commonplace scenario in my life has lead to a clear “dragphobia” among some transgender individuals who wish to pull the plug on something that reflects true honesty about the life of a drag queen. A drag queen is a man in women’s clothing, and if that offends a trans woman, I am afraid I cannot apologise, as by doing so, I would be apologising for being me.”

My previous post on the Libra Tampon ad: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/photos-transgender-character-in-libra-tampons-commerical-funny-offensive-transphobic-you-tell-me/

Read the entire article in The Huffington Post:  Sandee Crack: Libra Tampon Commercial Reflects Honesty About the Life of a Drag Queen.

Sandee Crack’s website: http://sandeecrack.com/about-sandee/

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Lexie Cannes (Courtney O'Donnell) writes The Guerrilla Angel Report!

Lexie Cannes (aka Courtney O'Donnell) writes mostly about transgender issues. She is also a character in the trans-themed feature film LEXIE CANNES. Thanks for reading.

Lexie Cannes (Courtney O'Donnell) also writes for "The Huffington Post." Click to see her latest articles.

Lexie Cannes (Courtney O'Donnell) also writes for "Just Out" magazine. Click to read her articles.

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Lexie Cannes is the stage name of a transwoman activist who is an actress and film maker as well as one of the country’s leading bloggers on transgender topics. “The Guerrilla Angel Report” is an unrelenting source of transgender news from around the country and around the world and Lexie is followed by thousands of people inside and outside of the trans community. . . . She is an exceptional journalist and her blog is a definitive look at the state of the transgender community today. --- Renee James. transwoman and author

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