A group of state and local transgender leaders are pleased to announce the formation of the Trans Advocacy Network. The Trans Advocacy Network held their first meeting in Memphis, Tennessee on July 10, 2010 with the purpose of defining their mission and goals for the upcoming year.

The recent expulsion and threatened arrest of a videographer covering the National Organization of Marriage's July 21st Rally in Annapolis, Maryland, prompted the Chief of the Maryland Capitol Police to issue a formal apology on Friday, and a promise to institute "corrective training measures."

 The Cathedral of Hope celebrates Forty Years this weekend with a party at Dallas’ InfoMart on Saturday Night, featuring Judy Tenuta and Services Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center at 9 and 11am featuring Sam Harris. Keep reading for an enlightening and uplifting account, delivered by our own Scott Lewis, of the remarkable acomplishments of the 40 years of Cathedral of Hope.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today released its fourth annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI), a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on television. Primetime programming on the five broadcast networks was evaluated as well as original primetime programming on 10 of the highest-rated cable networks.

Las Vegas, known for the best parties, concerts and events, is becoming even more Fabulous during a fun-filled, indulgent party weekend August 12-15. Hosted by MGM Resorts properties’ ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor and Excalibur, Fabulous Las Vegas will offer special events throughout the 4-day celebration including limited access to the sold-out Lady Gaga concert at MGM Grand.

Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) stands together with The Transgender Center in Houston along with the legal team lead by Phyllis Randolph Frye in calling the community to step forward to help change history.  Nikki Araguz was married to a Wharton County firefighter killed in the line of duty.  His family is now taking this very personal and grief filled time to attack Ms Araguz.

The National AIDS Fund (NAF) announced today it is one of 11 organizations to receive the first-ever  Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grants, an initiative administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The $3.6 million SIF grant will enable NAF to expand the scope of its Access to Care initiative in support of innovative public-private partnerships to improve individual health outcomes and strengthen local services systems, connecting economically and socially marginalized individuals living with HIV to high quality supportive services and health care.

I first saw Judy Tenuta on my Twenty-First birthday.  A group of friends took me to a comedy club in Houston to see The LOVE GODDESS.  I had a fabulous evening laughing so hard I was literally in pain.  I remember her spotting two queens early on in her set and speculating that they might be florists.