Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance

The International Transgender Day of Remembrance is meant to raise awareness about those who are killed in anti-transgender hate crimes. Events marking this day are occurring around the world today.

In related news, Tampa passed a transgender anti-discrimination ordinance yesterday:

"After two hours of testimony, the ordinance passed by a 5-1 vote with Charlie Miranda voting no and Linda Saul-Sena absent. Miranda repeatedly raised concerns about disruptions caused by people who come to work one day dressed as one gender, and the next day as the other. The new rules prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on 'gender identity and expression,' with that defined as someone who has an 'inner sense of being a specific gender' regardless of their 'assigned sex at birth.' Tampa's human rights ordinance already protects people from discrimination based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and other factors."

Chaz Bono: 'Gender is Between Your Ears, Not Your Legs'

Chaz Bono appeared on Good Morning America this morning to discuss his transition from female to male. GMA looks at his transformation from his first appearance on The Sonny and Cher Show.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Candy: First 'Transversal Style' Fashion Magazine Launches

Luis Venegas, the Madrid-based editor of fashion and art publications including Fanzine 137, has launched his latest.

Called Candy, Venegas describes the publication as the first "Transversal Style" magazine: "the first fashion magazine ever completely dedicated to celebrating transvestism, transexuality, cross dressing and androgyny, in all its manifestations."

Candy's cover model is Luke Worrall.

 Writes Venegas: "Never before in history, have men and women had so many opportunities for body modification, or so many ways to change their appearance from head to toe: from the softest options like make up, to permanent transformations courtesy of the surgeons' knife. Now the 21st Century is truly underway, there's no need to justify ourselves, only the ability and need to celebrate the diversity of lifestyles and options, the freedom to choose on every level. The possibilities are as infinite as the amount of people there are in this world. CANDY is a magazine for everybody. A space for individual freedom, and a publication that pushes people to take on the persona of what they always wanted to be."

The magazine is a limited edition and 1,000 copies are available.

Check out a very cool video promo for the magazine and a shot of the cover model out of drag, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: London Cloud, Rock Hudson, United Airlines, Annise Parker

Signorile on Congress and Obama's LGBT agenda: Why is the "low-hanging fruit" still hanging? And here's the checklist.

Architectural "cloud" proposed in London.

America's Next Top Model's Miss J is the father of a 7-year-old boy: "A French lesbian had asked if we would be sperm donors. "So we thought, 'OK, you want me to do you?' And she was like, 'Ooooh, I'm not that talented.' So I said, 'Okay fine.' So we did a little test tube."

D.C. Council committee advances marriage equality bill: "A DC Council Committee voted 4 to 1 this afternoon to send a bill legalizing same-sex marriage to the full council for debate. Council member Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary, said the legislation was 'both simple and monumental.' With the committee vote, the full council will take up the bill in early December. It is expected to easily pass."

Virginia lawmaker to introduce legislation extending protections to state workers who are gay or lesbian.

Celine Dion "no longer pregnant".

Opposition party in Australia drafts bill to keep single mothers and gay couples from accessing surrogacy: "Under the laws...introduced, only married and defacto heterosexual couples who have been together for at least two years would legally be able to have a child by surrogate."

First look at The Addams Family Musical.

American researchers "rebuild" sexual organs on rabbits, believe procedure could work on men: "Male rabbits given the implants attempted to mate within one minute of being introduced to a female partner, and 83 per cent succeeded."

REPORT: Rock Hudson's lover Marc Christian has died.

Goran Visnjic to star as Christopher Plummer's boyfriend in the Mike Mills film Beginners: "It’s a Gay-December romance for the ages!"

Houston mayoral candidate Annise Parker gets endorsement from opponent: “One candidate stands out with a 12-year proven track record of public service, particularly in terms of efficient, transparent government, the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and fiscal responsibility, especially important in these difficult economic times."

Ashleigh and Jakob were definitely the best part of So You Think You Can Dance last night.

Lady Gaga gossips about Gossip Girl.

Some photos by Dav.d Daniels from the Mormon testimony at the Salt Lake City LGBT ordinance hearings.

United Airlines pilot arrested for intoxication before boarding a flight full of passengers at Heathrow.

FireDogLake blogger Jane Hamsher talks about the DNC donor boycott: "If you're suppressing your base, and the other side is revving up theirs, and midterm elections are all about turning out the base, I sort of question what their strategy is here."

Ontario gym owner in transgender bathroom legal battle: "A fitness club owner in southwestern Ontario said Tuesday he has wasted tens of thousands of dollars fighting a legal battle with a transgender woman over which washrooms she should use, only to have the case thrown out by the Ontario Human Rights Commission."

Fort Worth City Council Meeting Sees Protests, Expansion of Anti-Discrimination Ordinance to Cover Transgender People

(image dallas voice)

Protests outside the Fort Worth City Council meeting last night were heated and vocal, with members of the group Queer LiberAction clashing with anti-gay Christians. In the photo above, Queer LiberAction's Rick Vanderslice argues with an anti-gay demonstrator. The Dallas Voice notes: "At one point, Vanderslice attempted to kiss the man."

The Fort Worth City Council later voted 6-3 to expand its anti-discrimination ordinance to cover transgender people. It already covers people on the basis of their sexual orientation.

The Star-Telegram reports:

"A lot of the debate, though, centered on broader proposals, some of which the council has already tacitly approved. City staffers will be trained on dealing with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and the Police Department has appointed a liaison to the community.Other recommendations will require further study, including offering domestic-partner benefits and expanding the city health insurance plan to cover gender reassignment procedures, including sex changes. More than 200 people packed the council chambers, lining the walls and spilling into overflow rooms. 'We believe, as you do, that we should respect each other,' said Jon Nelson of Fairness Fort Worth. 'The foundation of these recommendations isn’t preferential treatment, it’s equal treatment.' Three transgender people — two transsexual women and a cross-dressing man — were among those who spoke in favor of the ordinance."

Videos here and here.

Watch: Trans Retired U.S. Army Col. Diane Schroer on ENDA

Although there were no transgender witnesses at yesterday's ENDA hearings, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) made sure transgender voices were heard. Retired U.S. Army Col. Diane Schroer and Earline Budd spoke at a press conference before the ENDA hearings yesterday. Officer Mike Carney spoke as well.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...