Qommunity

Stacy Lorraine Naber, a 30-year-old trans woman who was serving time in a men’s prison, was found dead in her isolated cell on August 6. The cause of her death is still being investigated, but some family members have suggested she committed suicide. 

Before her death, she had been in a legal battle with prison and state officials over the right to change her legal name in her records to affirm her gender. 

Naber was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after being convicted in November 2013 of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her roommate two years earlier. The Herald notes that Naber was initially serving her sentence at Okeechobee Correctional Institution, but was moved to the Dade facility after she filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections seeking a name change.

The American Civil Liberties Union picked up Naber’s lawsuit in March, filing a complaint that stated Naber suffered from gender identity disorder and “identifies exclusively as a female person,” according to the Herald. “Inmate Naber experiences severe mental anguish as inmate Naber is prohibited by law [from changing] his/her name to Stacy Lorraine Naber,” the suit continued.

Upon news of Naber’s death, the ACLU attorney representing her asked the judge to dismiss her case Wednesday. But the national civil rights organization Monday filed another lawsuit, aimed at the Florida Department of Corrections’ refusal to grant another trans inmate, Reiyn Keohane, access to the medically necessary hormone therapy she had been receiving prior to her incarceration.

Trans rights activist Hande Kader was raped and burned to death in Turkey

Q Daily, a third grader who attends a Brooklyn public school, describes himself as silly, curious and nice — all of the qualities that he likes about people. He is a lover of Michael Jackson, a wearer of trendy hats and isn’t shy about dancing in front of a crowd.

And, now that he identifies as a boy, he feels more alive than before.

“It feels like, instead of a dead flower, a growing flower,” he said of his transition from girl to boy.

Here’s your friendly reminder that..

- You are valid

- Your feelings are real and beautiful

- You deserve respect, support and love

With love, 

Two days after proposing to his boyfriend, British Olympic race-walker Tom Bosworth has spoken out about the stark contrast between his own experiences as an out gay athlete from a liberal nation and the plight of LGBT competitors from countries with repressive laws, who face criminal penalties and societal persecution – rendering them unable to come out, far less propose to their partners.

Bosworth told BuzzFeed News there are countless other LGBT athletes suffering in the closet, with relationships forced into secrecy, who must be remembered and helped.

“We have 44 out athletes at the Olympic Games, which out of 11,000 athletes is nothing,” he said. “There are lots of countries still where you can’t be out, let alone be a sportsperson at the Olympic Games and be out. I can’t imagine being in that situation where back home it is still illegal.”

Bosworth, who is from Leeds and who last year revealed publicly that he is gay, added: “Can sporting governing bodies do more to combat homophobia? Absolutely. But I think for athletes from countries where it’s not accepted, things have to change at home first – for their own safety, and for them to be able to come out and be those role models. The world needs to change.”

Yes:

Getting winded after walking quickly/upstairs with binder on, but able to catch breath

Chafing in the underarm areas

Soreness (during or after) in arms, shoulders, or back

Increased acne on chest or back

Mild anxiety about tightness

Chest sagging

No, take it off and rest, see a doctor if problem gets worse or doesn’t go away after taking the binder off (or after one week):

Nausea during or after binding, including nausea caused by pain

Bruising

Out of breath/can’t catch breath when not wearing binder

Skin rash

Sharp pains in ribs

Not able to cough or sneeze

Numbness in arms

Feeling too tired/sore to do everyday activities

Suddenly having any of the above symptoms even if you’ve been binding for years 

No, see a doctor ASAP, could be a sign of serious injury:

Anything from the above category if you can just tell/feel something is wrong, better safe than sorry

Extreme claustrophobia/panic attacks 

Sharp pain in chest/heart skipping beats or beating very fast

Not able to breathe  

Dizziness

Blueness in lips or fingertips

Change in shape of ribcage