Ben Shapiro Vs Trans Reporter

Ben Shapiro really got into it with trans reporter Zoey Tur last night. Mediaite reports:

Asked by host Dr. Drew Pinsky whether Jenner deserved the ESPY award after “courageously coming forward, for having been an athlete of great prowss, and now fighting a new battle,” Shapiro spilled his disdain for the entire concept of transgenderism: “What exactly is the battle? I mean, self-definition is what you do, and my baby’s doing it at 18 months old. I was unaware that you get a medal for it.” And when Shapiro refused to call Jenner and Tur by anything but male pronouns, the segment went straight down the tubes. “Forget about the disrespect,” Shapiro said, in the full clip first reported by Breitbart.

“Facts don’t care about your feelings. It turns out that every chromosome, every cell in Caitlyn Jenner’s body, is male, with the exception of some of his sperm cells.” We both know chromosomes don’t necessarily mean you’re male or female,” Tur replied, and then put her hand on Shapiro’s shoulder. “So you don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re not educated on genetics.” That prompted Shapiro to ask: “What are your genetics, sir?” And off we go. “You cut that out now, or you’ll go home in an ambulance,” Tur shot back while holding Shapiro by the back of his neck.

The battle continues from there. Shapiro has spent the day tweeting and retweeting ugly anti-trans messages including the usual rainbow swastika flag from fellow Breitbart knuckledragger John Nolte. The headline above is from Raw Story.

Ireland Approves Gender Identity Bill

Buzzfeed reports:

Ireland’s parliament adopted one of the world’s most progressive gender identity laws on Wednesday, following the country’s historic popular vote for marriage equality in May. In June, Ireland’s cabinet announced that it had agreed to change a draft gender identity law first unveiled in December last year to remove a provision that would require a doctor to sign off before someone can change their legal gender. The final version approved just over a month later means Ireland will go from being one of the last countries in Europe to give trans people a way to change their legal gender to one of just five countries in the world where someone can make their change simply by filing a declaration.

The law will go into effect by the end of the summer.

FRC Has The Trans Troops Sadz

"The Pentagon must answer whether this proposed policy makes our military more capable of performing its mission. The answer is a very clear and resounding no. This has everything to do with President Obama’s social agenda for the military, but it has nothing to do with enhancing military readiness. No new science has led to the Pentagon’s transgender study—only the politics of the Obama administration and the transgender movement. Allowing the Obama administration to use the military as a tool of social re-engineering will only undermine morale, unit cohesion, and readiness. It’s time that we allow the military to focus on its only job—defending our country against its enemies." - Family Research Council vice present Jerry Boykin, via press release.

Trans Troop Ban Nears End

The Pentagon is finalizing its plans to lift the ban on transgender service members. Via the Associated Press:

An announcement is expected this week, and the services would have six months to assess the impact of the change and work out the details, the officials said Monday. Military chiefs wanted time to methodically work through the legal, medical and administrative issues and develop training to ease any transition, and senior leaders believed six months would be sufficient.

The officials said Defense Secretary Ash Carter has asked his personnel undersecretary, Brad Carson, to set up a working group of senior military and civilian leaders to take an objective look at the issue. One senior official said that while the goal is to lift the ban, Carter wants the working group to look at the practical effects, including the costs, and determine whether it would affect readiness or create any insurmountable problems that could derail the plan. The group would also develop uniform guidelines.

During the six months, transgender individuals would still not be able to join the military, but any decisions to force out those already serving would be referred to the Pentagon's acting undersecretary for personnel, the officials said. One senior official said the goal was to avoid forcing any transgender service members to leave during that time.

It's estimated that as many as 15,000 trans troops are already serving in secret.

One Million Moms Vs PBS

One Million Moms is ever so pissing about Growing Up Trans, which debuted last night on PBS.

Obviously, PBS is attempting to desensitize America's youth by airing a program starring children. This alone will entice kids to watch. The show is attempting to normalize the transgender lifestyle and make it appear OK while using young cast members to lure a young audience. Many families have already discovered that PBS is anything but family-friendly. But 1MM thought a warning should still be sent out for anyone who continues to watch the channel. PBS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies heavily on donations from sponsors. Take Action" Please use the information 1MM has provided to contact PBS concerning "Growing Up Trans" and strongly encourage PBS to drop all plans to air this program. Let them also know you are prepared to join thousands of other voices in urging sponsors to no longer financially support PBS.

Breanna Sinclairé Becomes First Trans Artist to Perform National Anthem For MLB

Via Mediaite:

A 25-year-old opera singer made history at the Oakland A’s game when she sang the national anthem. Breanna Sinclairé, the first openly transgender woman to study and graduate from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, became the first transgender singer to perform the national anthem at a professional sporting event. This particular game, which pitted the A’s against the San Diego Padres, was on the A’s Gay Pride night at the Oakland Coliseum and a member of the LGBT community was specifically sought for the honor of performing the national anthem.

Google Launches Pro-Trans Business Ad

Ad Week reports:

Transgender issues have been front-page news all summer, though brands have clearly had a hard time knowing what their role should be in the conversation. But now Google—one of the world's most powerfully visible corporate LGBT advocates—is out with a new spot for Pride Month that tells the deeply poignant story of a transgender man and the small business that helped him during his transition. The first half of the spot below focuses on Jake, who was born female but identified as male from a young age. The second half introduces City Gym in Kansas City, Mo., which has given Jake a place where he can feel comfortable getting to know his changing body and find support for him and his friends. The spot, by Venables Bell & Partners, is wonderfully made. The story is skillfully and evocatively told, and never feels exploitative.

227K views already.

Laverne Cox Poses As Statue Of Liberty For Latest Issue Of Entertainment Weekly

(Tipped by JMG reader TJ)

One Million Moms Vs ABC Family

Just in via email:

ABC Family Channel's lineup already includes several anti-family programs, and that list continues to grow. The newest docu-series "Becoming Us" began airing Monday, June 8, at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT. The previews airing earlier include the tagline "genders may bend, but family never breaks." This reality show is about a son's journey as he struggles with his parents' divorce and his father's transition to living as a woman. The boy's girlfriend also happens to have a father who is transgender and transforming into a woman. The show is attempting to normalize the transgender lifestyle and make it appear OK while targeting the young audience watching a supposedly family channel. The first episode included the teens going bra shopping with their Dads, a discussion about gender reassignment surgery, and foul language. Take Action: Please use the information we have provided to contact David's Bridal Inc. and ask that they pull their financial support from "Becoming Us."

Kids React To Caitlyn Jenner Photos

SAN FRANCISCO: Madame Tussauds To Unveil Wax Figure Of Laverne Cox

Via TIME Magazine:

Madame Tussauds San Francisco announced Monday that it will debut a wax figure of Laverne Cox, star of Orange Is the New Black and a transgender rights activist, on June 26 during Pride Weekend festivities in the Bay Area. It is the first-ever transgender figure in the museum’s history. June 2015 is already shaping up to be a banner Pride Month for the transgender community since a Vanity Fair cover introduced Caitlyn Jenner (formerly known as Bruce Jenner) on June 1.

(Tipped by JMG reader Alan)

Freep This Denver Post Poll

Left column on the front page.

Air Force Eases Trans Service Ban

Via USA Today:

The Air Force announced policy changes Thursday that will make it more difficult to discharge transgender troops, a move that mirrors one made in March by the Army and puts the Pentagon a step closer to allowing transgender people to serve openly. Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender are generally discharged from serving, based on medical grounds. Those decisions have been made by doctors and unit commanders. The new Air Force policy requires those decisions to be reviewed by high-level officials at Air Force headquarters. "Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric Airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the Director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy," Daniel Sitterly, a top Air Force personnel official, said in a statement.

Earlier this year Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said that ability to perform the required tasks should be the standard for transgender eligibility to serve.

TRAILER: I Am Cait

Caitlyn Jenner: I'm Free

Santorum Waffles On Jenner Comments

"Many of you may have read a story published by the website BuzzFeed where I was asked for my thoughts regarding Bruce Jenner. My comment affirmed Jenner as a person, made by God in His likeness as we all are. It was meant to express empathy not a change in public policy. ‪#‎compassion‬." - Rick Santorum, posting this afternoon to his Facebook page. Catholic blogger Lisa Grass today reports that Santorum said this her today by email: "I am not going argue with him [Bruce Jenner] as to whether he is a man or a woman. He is obviously biologically male and that cannot change. I meant only to be kind to people who are obviously very troubled." The original Buzzfeed quote has generated the predictable outcry across Teabagistan.

Rick Santorum: Bruce Jenner Is A Woman

"If he says he’s a woman, then he’s a woman. My responsibility as a human being is to love and accept everybody. Not to criticize people for who they are. I can criticize, and I do, for what people do, for their behavior. But as far as for who they are, you have to respect everybody, and these are obviously complex issues for businesses, for society, and I think we have to look at it in a way that is compassionate and respectful of everybody. so these are tough issues. I haven’t got into the whole issue, and I don’t think the federal government should get into the whole issue of bathrooms. I think those are things that the business community and local agencies and organizations should deal with." - Rick Santorum, speaking today at South Carolina's GOP convention.

One Million Moms Vs ABC Family

Just in via email:

Obviously, ABC Family Channel is attempting to desensitize America's youth. They haven't let up, so neither will 1MM.  ABC Family has approved the series "Becoming Us" about two teenagers that begin dating and who both have fathers who are transgender and transforming into women. Many families have already discovered that ABC Family is anything but family-friendly. But because "family" is part of the network's name, we thought a warning should still be sent out for anyone who continues to watch the channel. Previews have already begun airing, and the show will premiere this summer.

Take Action: Please use the information we have provided to contact ABC Family Channel concerning "Becoming Us" and strongly encourage ABC Family to drop all plans to air this program. Let ABC Family know you and your family will not be watching "Becoming Us" or anything else on the network in order to avoid seeing the previews for this new show. Let them also know you are prepared to join thousands of other voices in urging advertisers to place it on their "do not advertise" list.

Mom Supports Her Trans Son In Lovely Mother's Day Message From Hallmark

(Via Towleroad)

FLORIDA: Anti-Trans Bill Is Dead

The Advocate explains the failed bill:

The office of Florida State Rep. Frank Artiles confirms his controversial bill, aimed to punish anyone who uses a public bathroom that doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth, is dead — and cannot be revived, as this legislative session is over. HB 583, the “Single-Sex Public Facilities” bill, or as it was dubbed, Florida’s “Bathroom Bill,” would have made it illegal for any trans citizen to use a single-sex restroom that does not match the gender they were assigned at birth. Such a violation would result in a first-degree misdemeanor charge, punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail. The law would also open the owner of any establishment where a trans person uses the restroom to lawsuits from other patrons, as they would be "liable in a civil action to any person who is lawfully using the same single-sex public facility." Artiles filed the bill in response to a recent ordinance that banned discrimination based on gender identity and expression in public facilities throughout Miami-Dade County, noted the Miami Herald. The lawmaker explained his proposed bill as a way to ensure "public safety," rather than a means to criminalize trans citizens.