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Nearly 40 years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration put a lifetime ban on the use of blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM). This act is not only discriminatory and homophobic, but also aids in the national blood shortage. The ban is out-dated and creates a false pretense on HIV blood contamination. To address this injustice, premium denim designer MOTHER is launching The Gay Blood Collection during this month's New York Fashion Week. This collection of art tools are a proactive and progressive stride towards ending the stigma surrounding gay blood. This first-of-its-time collection created...

This study concluded that transwomen (biological males) have the “desire to have physiologic experiences unique to cisgender women, such as menstruation and gestation, as well as potentially having a physiologically functioning transplanted vagina.” Also, the authors found that transgender women “may expect the ability to menstruate to enhance satisfaction with their desired gender and uterus transplant and anticipate improvements in perceptions of their femininity.” Those surveyed also cited that potentially having a functional vagina transplanted might also enhance sexual function and quality of life.

Washington, D.C. has the highest rate of transgender-identifying residents in the country, according to a recently released study by the The Williams Institute, which is associated with the University of California/Los Angeles School of Law. Of the estimated 1.4 million transgender-identifying individuals in the United States, about 14,550 — or 2.77 percent of the total — reside in D.C., according to the think tank, which specializes in “sexual orientation and gender identity law”. The District of Columbia “had a notably high percentage of transgender-identified adults (2.8%) and is considered an outlier due to its unique geographic (urban) and demographic profile,”...

So by now we're pretty much all familiar with Ms. California's response to Perez Hilton's question at the Miss USA Pageant the other night, she just doesn't believe in "opposite marriage," (no offense to the gays) This ain't cool with Miley, and she's going to let the world know.mileycyrus: I'm sad that people use god and religion as an excuse 2 hate, discriminate and deny gays and lesbians equality under the law Later when Perez Hilton asked her to make a specific stand Miley replied with: 'I believe everyone has the right to be happy, that's all i'm saying' Mock...

LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. -- A former Laurens County teacher pleaded guilty Thursday to having sex with at least five students. Allenna Williams Ward, 23, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Bell Middle School, had sex with several students in cars, parks, a hotel and at the school. She pleaded guilty Thursday to six charges -- three second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and three lewd acts on a minor. Family members and her attorneys accompanied her as she made an emotional statement to the court. She said, "Today, I publicly admit my guilt and would like to apologize. I...

Man Says Sex With Kids a Sacred RitualBy Associated PressAugust 3, 2006, 5:00 AM EDTCLEVELAND -- A man accused of sexually assaulting nine boys with physical or mental disabilities told a judge that having sex with children is a sacred ritual protected by civil rights laws. Phillip Distasio, who said he is the leader of a church called Arcadian Fields Ministries, represented himself at his pretrial hearing Wednesday. He is charged with 74 counts including rape, pandering obscenity to minors and corrupting another with drugs. "I'm a pedophile. I've been a pedophile for 20 years," he said in Cuyahoga County...

Newton TAB (Feb. 22, 2013) - Today Superintendent Jeffrey Young announced the hiring of the first transgender principal in Newton. Mr. Young declared that his selection came "after a nationwide search for the best possible principal" and that "his/her sexual orientation had nothing to do with his selection." Nevertheless, transgender groups across America applauded his choice, since this also represents the first transgender principal in the nation. Retiring Mayor David Cohen was thrilled with Young's selection and cited it as yet "another example of Newton's commitment to tolerance and diversity." After a two-year nationwide search which involved soliciting, researching, and...

SAN FRANCISCO - The biggest social issue in this presidential race is the debate over whether gays should be allowed to marry. Louisiana voters recently tilted 4-to-1 in favor of adding a ban on same-sex marriage to their state constitution, and 71 percent of Missouri voters did the same last month. Voters in at least nine more states will weigh the question on their ballots in November, and legislation on the question has been introduced in at least 25 states this year. President Bush supports amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the Democratic presidential...

SUMMARY: The Democratic National Committee (DNC) claims this year's party platform is the most inclusive in American history on issues important to the GLBT community. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) claims this year's party platform is the most inclusive in American history on issues important to the GLBT community. The DNC's Platform Committee finished the platform on Saturday. Among the issues included are: Protections for GLBT families; Legislation barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation; Opening the armed services to all Americans; Fighting HIV/AIDS with community-based prevention programs that President Bush has cut; Protecting GLBT Americans from hate crimes; and,...

Tortured cat died of skull fractures/ Reward of $2,000 offered for information leading to arrest and c By Reed Williams / Daily Progress staff writer September 9, 2003A cat found nailed to a piece of plywood over the weekend in Albemarle County died of skull and neck fractures and had been spray-painted gray and orange, according to results of a necropsy. The cat killing was at least the third incident of animal cruelty in Albemarle since late July.A $2,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the feline's death.The male cat, which was found Saturday...

NEW YORK (AP) - Rosie O'Donnell's girlfriend has given birth to a baby girl. Kelli Carpenter, the comedian and former talk show host's longtime partner, gave birth to Vivienne Rose O'Donnell Friday at an undisclosed New York hospital, O'Donnell spokeswoman Cindi Berger said Saturday.

 Peaceful march draws thousands against war 10/06/02MICHELLE COLE They came by the thousands -- grandmothers, teachers, students, doctors, military veterans. Together, they formed the largest peace march seen in Oregon in more than a decade. An estimated 6,000 people paraded through downtown Portland streets Saturday afternoon. Organizers said as many as 12,000 people participated in the march and rally that followed -- one of more than two dozen protests planned in cities nationwide in the next few days. Although they were of different ages, occupations, religions and political persuasions, their voices spoke in unison on potential U.S. military involvement in...

 The separation between church and Oregon09/18/02SHELBY OPPEL A new national study updates a chapter in the Oregon biography that is as constant as rain: We are the most unchurched state in the nation. Less than one-third of Oregonians -- compared with about half of all Americans -- belong to religious denominations and groups surveyed by the Glenmary Research Center, a Tennessee-based center affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The study, which surveyed 149 religious groups, is widely viewed as the most comprehensive look at religious affiliation in the United States. Oregon has always ranked low in religious affiliation. In 1890, before...

Missing Girls: FBI Refuses Comment On Concrete Pad Mike Donahue, KOIN 6 News OREGON CITY, Ore. -- Oregon's FBI director won't confirm nor deny published reports that he's about to dig up the concrete pad behind Ward Weaver's home. Weaver claims that he is the FBI's top suspect in the missing Oregon City girls' case. The Portland Tribune quotes Special Agent Charles Mathews (pictured, below) as saying, "listen for the jackhammers." On Tuesday, Mathews said that the FBI has identified persons and places of interest, places that are connected to those people that will be checked out. But he refused...

Pregnant at 11 years oldBy JEN KELLYJuly 23, 2002PRIMARY school girls as young as 11 have become pregnant and gone on to have babies, official figures reveal. Hundreds of Australian girls and boys aged 15 and younger are becoming parents every year, Bureau of Statistics data shows. In 2000, more than 380 girls aged 15 or younger gave birth. And 70 boys aged 15 or younger were acknowledged as fathers on birth certificates. Family advocates blame the disturbing frequency of children bearing children on permissive sex education in schools and a pro-sex popular culture. Soap operas depicting young people as...