i am pretty cool tbh.

Conservatives Shop SRS Ban to GOP

transpride:

The federal government would be banned from funding sex change operations and other services for transgender individuals if social conservative activists get their way. There’s no sponsor yet for an amendment to the health care overhaul – and it may remain in the dustbin of unrealized wedge issues – but culture warriors are shopping the proposal to Republican senators. The language is written: “None of the funds authorized or appropriated under this act (or an amendment made by this Act) shall be used to cover any part or portion of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of” any sex or gender reassignment procedure, surgery related to such a sex change, hormone therapy for a sex change or pre- and post-operation treatments for a sex change. A senior aide to a Republican senator said that a public insurance plan could easily end up covering sex-change procedures if that’s not specifically banned in the bill. “It’s not that hard to imagine that a new federal health plan crafted and implemented by this administration would cover sex-change surgeries. Anything not explicitly prohibited in the bill is effectively on the table. Most Americans probably would prefer that their tax dollars not pay for or subsidize transgender surgery,” the aide said. Advocates for transgender people note that it is often difficult for them to obtain insurance that covers medical needs related to their transition and say that sometimes basic medical care has been unfairly denied. “Unfortunately, some insurance companies broadly interpret language excluding transgender-related care and services to deny coverage for non-transition-related procedures for transgender individuals. Insurers justify these exclusions by stating that your current medical problem is somehow related to your transition,” the Transgender Law Center wrote in a fact sheet posted on its Website. The ironclad language of the funding-ban amendment suggests the type of prohibition conservatives want to see on coverage of abortion if a new health care exchange includes a government-backed insurance option. House Democrats say they have a plan that would segregate federal funds to prevent taxpayer support for abortion services, but abortion critics say the proposed firewall would not fully shield taxpayers from footing the bill for the practice. In its first iteration, the House version of the health care bill didn’t mention the word abortion – though it carried significant implications for the availability of insurance coverage for the procedure. Several Democratic aides – and Sen Roland Burris (D-Ill.) – declined to comment on the proposal.

All I can say is: Contact your representatives. This is vile and ridiculous.

h/t Aureantes on the Transgender LJ Comm

This is red alert, people. Please spread this news and stop the hate from threatening our lives.

>:(

listening to "Afro Celt Sound System - Dark Moon, High Tide"

listening to "Afro Celt Sound System - When you

listening to "afro celt sound system- mojave"

listening to "Eireann-Afro Celt Sound System"

listening to "Afro Celt Sound System - Persistence of Memory"

Tumblr Secret Santa

lovelylinguist:

stainedglass:

insidebarbarashead:

yerawizardharry:

cerealsfordinner:

saethis:

Currently, our count is at 123 people. This is, I think, a great response, and with 8 days remaining to enter, we should hopefully get some more.

Here’s how it works. You click on the link and you put in your details - your name, your Tumblr name, your address, and your email. When you put in your address, please remember to put in post codes, states, country etc.

On Saturday 14th November (Australian Eastern time), I am going to shut down the form, and once it’s closed then you have missed the boat. When that happens, I’ll be randomly distributing the names to people. You will receive one name - the idea is to send something to them. My advise is to keep it simple - a letter, a painting, a drawing - something small - but really, the sky is the limit. You’ll get these details sent to the email you submitted.

When the formspring is closed and you have received your email, then keep an eye on Tumblr Secret Santa - here, you will be able to send in small messages to people, as well as see what other people receive in the post.

So - enter, reblog, share, and Merry Christmas.

I’m having second thoughts on this.

oh god I sent my details I feel so weird LOL

I did it :o I’m excited. =]

I did it too :)

I am tempted, but not certain.

listening to "Garbage - #1 Crush"