DC Comics Introduces First Transgender Character in Mainstream Superhero Comics

DC Comics this week announced the introduction of Alysia Yeoh in Batgirl #16, who announces she is transgender in a conversation with her roommate Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl), Wired reports:

Taking care to distinguish Yeoh’s sexual orientation from her gender identity, Batgirl writer Gail Simone noted that the character is also bisexual.

Simone attributed the inspiration for the character to a conversation she had with fellow comic book writer Greg Rucka several years ago at the Wondercon convention, after a fan asked why there were fewer gay male superheroes than lesbian ones. Rucka, who co-created (and rebooted) Batwoman as a lesbian character, replied that it would be a real sign of change for a gay male character to appear on a comic book cover — and an even bigger step for a transgender character to do the same.

“I looked out into the audience, saw dozens of faces I knew well — LGBTQ folks, mostly — all avid comics readers and superhero fans and DC supporters,” said Simone. “And it just hit me: Why was this so impossible? Why in the world can we not do a better job of representation of not just humanity, but also our own loyal audience?”

More at Wired...

'Trans 100' List Unveiled

Today, the inagural Trans 100 list was unveiled, highlighting trans people doing positive work nationwide. The list was introduced by GLAAD, We Happy Trans, a website that celebrates the positive experiences of transgender people, and This is H.O.W., a Phoenix based non profit organization dedicated to the betterment of the lives oftrans people.

“The value of the work that is represented by the 100 people on this list is immeasurable,” said Executive Director of This Is H.O.W., Antonia D’orsay, about the Trans 100. “These people demonstrate the diversity, the determination, and the incredible triumph of spirit that informs all trans people, no matter where they are. This is just a glimpse of what trans people can accomplish.”

You can view the full list here and read about those on it here.

A full list of those highlighted, AFTER THE JUMP...

Transsexual Actress Calpernia Addams and Drag Race Star Shangela Light Up New Facebook Home Ad: VIDEO

Transsexual actress and activist Calpernia Addams (below) wrote to alert us to a new ad for Facebook's new 'Home' launcher app in which she and RuPaul's Drag Race star Shangela are featured.

Here's the synopsis of the ad:

A boring business trip gets a lot less boring, when Facebook Home brings a guy's friends on the journey with him. And all it takes is a few glances to reveal that his life isn't as conservative as his khakis.

Mark Zuckerberg featured the ad in his keynote this week, Calpernia tells us, and the ad makes Facebook one of the few companies to feature a trans actress in a commercial in a positive light.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

UPDATE: Business Insider reports that the ad is receiving "a wave of negative reaction":

The ad's intent seems to be to show that having Facebook Home means that no matter where you are, you'll get all the wonderful, unadulterated weirdness of Facebook. But it also gives the odd impression that Facebook Home will turn your life into a visual clown car, with an endless stream of trivia spewing randomly from your phone.

The ad was created by agency Wieden + Kennedy, which also did "Chairs." Facebook spends very little money on TV advertising — why should it, it's owns its own audience of 1 billion people after all — and thus needs its ads to go viral in free online video media. Ads generally don't go viral unless they're very unusual. So what's happening here is that Facebook is being deliberately weird in order to get your attention.

Texas High School Reverses Decision, Allows Transgender Student to Wear Dress to Prom: VIDEO

Tony Zamazal, a trans student at Spring High School in Houston, will be allowed to wear a dress to prom after the national and Texas ACLU got involved following reports in February that Zamazal's request was denied, the ACLU reports:

"Like every other student, Tony deserves to feel comfortable and be herself at prom," said Amanda Goad, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. "We're glad that Spring ISD has affirmed Tony's First Amendment rights."

The ACLU sent a letter to the principal on March 18, explaining that both federal law and the U.S. Constitution protect Zamazal's right to wear a dress to prom. The school district responded last week and affirmed that it will allow Zamazal to attend the prom in the formal clothing of her choice.

"Tony has the right under both federal statutes and the U.S. Constitution to express her gender identity," said Adriana Pinon, senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Texas. "Students' legal rights aren't something that public schools get to put up to a vote. We're happy to see the school do the right thing."

Watch a February KHOU report on Zamazal, AFTER THE JUMP...

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1339

MASEN DAVIS: Transgender rights and the disgusting Arizona bathroom bill.

COACHELLA 2013: What you totes need to know.

GIORGIO MORODER: On the early days of electronic dance music, disco, and his collaboration with Daft Punk.

RONAN THE SEAL LION: A master beatkeeper.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

HRC Apologizes for Mistreatment of Trans Activists and Undocumented Queer Immigrants at SCOTUS Marriage Arguments: VIDEO

The Human Rights Campaign today posted an apology for its mistreatment of trans activists and undocumented queer immigrants during last week's Supreme Court marriage hearings.

Writes HRC's Fred Sainz, Vice President, Communications and Marketing:

In the midst of a tremendously historic week for our community, two unfortunate incidents at the United for Marriage event at the Supreme Court last week have caused pain in the community.  In one case, a trans activist was asked to remove the trans pride flag from behind the podium, and in another, a queer undocumented speaker was asked to remove reference to his immigration status in his remarks.

HRC joined in a coalition statement on Friday apologizing for these incidents and the individuals involved have personally offered their apologies to those affected.  But to be perfectly clear, HRC regrets the incidents and offers our apologies to those who were hurt by our actions.  We failed to live up to the high standard to which we hold ourselves accountable and we will strive to do better in the future.  Through both our legislative and programmatic work, HRC remains committed to making transgender equality a reality.

HRC's statement, which follows apologies from the United for Marriage Coalition (HERE) and a statement from GetEQUAL (HERE) comes after reports of the two incidents surfaced on the internet. The blog Transition Transition demanded an apology for the flag removal incident, and the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project (QUIP) posted a video asking for one as well.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...