Song for All is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1997 and features performances of eight of Abrams' compositions by Abrams, Eddie Allen, Craig Harris, Eugene Ghee, Alfred Patterson, Brad Jones, and Reggie Nicholson.

Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow calls the album "music that ranges from advanced hard bop (some of the grooves are quite straight-ahead) to some rather spacy explorations... complex yet often surprisingly accessible music... Well worth several listens". The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3½ stars stating "the presence of a vibist makes a significant difference to Abrams's own approach. He sounds more concerned with colours and shapes than with the forward momentum of a piece, and it is all to the good".

Track listing
All compositions by Muhal Richard Abrams
 "Song for All" - 6:37
 "Dabadubada" - 8:54
 "Marching With Honor" - 7:35
 "GMBR" - 13:49
 "Over the Same Over" - 19:59
 "Linetime" - 9:10
 "Steamin' up the Road" - 7:14
 "Imagine" - 4:02
Recorded on April 26–29, 1995 at East Side Sound, New York City

Personnel
Muhal Richard Abrams: piano, synthesizer
Eddie Allen: trumpet
Aaron Stewart: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Craig Harris: trombone
Bryan Carrott: vibraphone, percussion
Brad Jones: bass
Reggie Nicholson: drums
Richarda Abrams: voice

References

1997 albums
Muhal Richard Abrams albums
Black Saint/Soul Note albums


Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Louisiana may face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Louisiana as a result of the US Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy laws. Same-sex marriage has been recognized in the state since June 2015 as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.

In September 2014, two courts, one federal and one state, produced contradictory rulings on the constitutionality of the state's denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples. The U.S. Supreme Court resolved that conflict when it ruled such bans unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015. Two days later, Governor Bobby Jindal said the state would comply with that ruling and license same-sex marriages.

Discrimination on account of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited in employment as a result of Bostock v. Clayton County, but not in the areas of housing, health care, education, credit or public accommodations. A 2017 opinion poll from the Public Religion Research Institute showed that 63% of Louisiana residents supported anti-discrimination legislation protecting LGBT people.

Laws against same-sex sexual activity
There were no laws against same-sex sexual acts in Louisiana until 1805, when the Louisiana Territory enacted its first criminal code after annexation by the United States. The code contained a sodomy provision with the common-law definition and a mandatory penalty of life imprisonment at hard labor, whether heterosexual or homosexual. In 1896, the state amended its sodomy statute, reducing the penalty to 2–10 years' imprisonment but the hard labor provision remained. It also extended the law's application to fellatio (oral sex). In the 1914 case of State v. Murry, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that the law included the "act called 'fellatio,' and perhaps that other perversion called 'cunnilingus', committed with the mouth and the female sexual organ". In 1942, a comprehensive criminal code revision was passed, reducing the maximum penalty for sodomy to five years' imprisonment, adding a fine of 2,000 dollars and making the hard labor provision optional.

In one of only four court cases dealing with consensual lesbian activity in the country, in State v. Young et al. (1966), the Louisiana Supreme Court unanimously held that cunnilingus between lesbian partners was also criminal. In 1974, Louisiana adopted a constitutional provision dealing with the right to privacy, reading:

Despite the passage of the aforementioned provision, the state Supreme Court in State v. Lindsey (1975) ruled that the sodomy statute was not "unconstitutionally vague" nor a violation of privacy rights. That same year, the Louisiana State Legislature enacted a unique statute distinguishing between "homosexual rape" and "heterosexual rape", both punishable by death, though the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the death penalty for rape two years later in Coker v. Georgia. It also abolished the minimum penalty of two years' imprisonment (but kept the maximum penalty of five years), and inserted explicit language that sodomy could be committed with someone "of the same sex or opposite sex". Solicitation for sodomy, whether heterosexual or homosexual, was made a felony in 1982. In 1992, the state enacted a sex offender registration law, under which those convicted of consensual private sodomy would be registered as "sex offenders" on par with rapists and child abusers. The law required the offender to report any change of address and provide a photograph and fingerprints to the sheriff.

The sodomy law was rendered unenforceable in 2003 by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas. In 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the part of the statute that criminalized adult consensual anal and oral sex.

In 2013, law enforcement officers in East Baton Rouge Parish arrested men who had engaged in sexual activity banned by the statute. The District Attorney did not prosecute those arrested, and both he and the parish sheriff supported repealing the sodomy statute. In April 2014, a bill to repeal the statute failed in the Louisiana House of Representatives on a 66–27 vote after lobbying in opposition by the Louisiana Family Forum, thus keeping an unconstitutional law on the books.

In early May 2018, the Louisiana House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill toughening laws against bestiality and separating them from the unconstitutional sodomy law. The Senate passed the bill later that month in a 36–1 vote, and it was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards on May 25. Initially, ten Republican lawmakers stated their opposition to the anti-bestiality bill, which was also opposed by conservative groups, including the Louisiana Family Forum.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015 held that the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples is unconstitutional, invalidating the ban on same-sex marriage in Louisiana.

In 1988 and 1999, Louisiana added provisions to its Civil Code that prohibited same-sex couples from marrying and prohibited the recognition of same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. Louisiana added bans on same-sex marriage and civil unions to its Constitution in 2004.

Two lawsuits challenged the state's bans. In state court in Costanza v. Caldwell, the plaintiffs won initially, but the ruling was stayed pending appeal, which was left unresolved after oral argument was heard on January 29, 2015. In federal court in Robicheaux v. Caldwell, plaintiffs challenged the state's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman ruled on September 3, 2014 for the state, writing that "Louisiana has a legitimate interest ... whether obsolete in the opinion of some, or not, in the opinion of others ... in linking children to an intact family formed by their two biological parents". On appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the case remained unresolved at the time of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell on June 26, 2015. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the case back to the District Court, where Judge Feldman reversed his order, ruling in favor of the Robicheaux plaintiffs.

Adoption and parenting

Adoption by married couples
On September 22, 2014, Judge Edward Rubin found Louisiana's prohibition on allowing married same-sex couples to adopt to be unconstitutional and granted the first same-sex adoption in the state in Costanza v. Caldwell. Prior to Judge Rubin's ruling, Louisiana allowed single persons to adopt and did not explicitly deny adoption or second-parent adoption to same-sex couples. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, married same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as married different-sex couples, including full joint adoption and parental rights.

Unmarried couples
In 2021, the Louisiana Supreme Court decided the case of Cook v. Sullivan. The court gave sole custody to a child's biological mother, ruling that another woman was not the parent, even though she had been in a relationship with the child's mother at the time of the birth and had acted as the second parent for years until she and the mother ended their relationship.

Birth certificates
Louisiana has successfully defended in federal court its refusal to amend the birth certificate of a child born in Louisiana and adopted in New York by a married same-sex couple who sought to have a new certificate issued with their names as parents, as is standard practice for Louisiana-born children adopted by opposite-sex married couples. On October 11, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs in the case, Adar v. Smith, to review the case. Louisiana birth certificates still use gender-specific terms when referring to parents; however, the Obergefell decision provides equal access to all marriage-related rights for same-sex spouses, reaffirmed by the court in Pavan v. Smith in June 2017. Preventing a married same-sex couple from being listed on their child's birth certificate is unconstitutional. As of 2021, the only options for parents of a Louisiana birth certificate are "mother" and "father", with there being no options for same-sex couples, but Louisiana Vital Records will still list both same-sex parents despite this, although one of them will need to be misgendered on the child's birth certificate.

Fertility
Lesbian couples have access to fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization. State law recognizes the non-genetic, non-gestational mother as a legal parent to a child born via donor insemination, but only if the parents are married.

Surrogacy is highly restricted in Louisiana. A bill passed in 2016 makes gestational surrogacy legal, but only for couples who are Louisiana residents and have both used their own gametes in the surrogacy process. Any individual or couple who needs a donor gamete (e.g., same-sex couples, infertile different-sex couples, or single individuals) cannot complete a surrogacy contract in the state. The surrogate mother cannot use her own egg.

Discrimination protections

On February 17, 1992, Governor Edwin Edwards issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in state employment on the basis of sexual orientation. In August 1996, Governor Murphy J. Foster, Jr. allowed the executive order to lapse. On December 4, 2004, Governor Kathleen Blanco reissued Edwards' executive order, but in August 2008 Governor Bobby Jindal allowed it to expire. On April 13, 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards reinstated the provision, as announced shortly after his election. However, Bel Edwards's order was struck down in November 2017 by an appellate court which found that the Governor had "overstepped his authority". In March 2018, the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the appellate court ruling.

In May 2015, a House committee rejected a bill that would have protected people who exercise their religious beliefs on same-sex marriage. However, Governor Jindal then issued an executive order to that end. On April 13, 2016, Governor Bel Edwards rescinded that executive order.

On April 28, 2016, the Senate Labor Committee approved in a 4–3 vote a bill that would have banned employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill, however, did not advance any further and died at the end of the legislative term.

The cities of New Orleans, and Shreveport prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles along with the parish of Jefferson prohibit discrimination against public employees only.

Bostock v. Clayton County

On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, consolidated with Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is discrimination on the basis of sex, and Title VII therefore protects LGBT employees from discrimination.

Hate crime law
Louisiana is one of the few southern states which has a hate crime statute that provides penalty enhancements for crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. Passed in 1997, after a lobbying effort of five years, its passage made Louisiana the first state in the Deep South to have such a law. The state law does not include gender identity, but hate crimes committed on the basis of the victim's gender identity can be prosecuted through federal courts under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law in October 2009 by President Barack Obama.

Transgender rights
Transgender people are allowed to change the gender marker on their birth certificate and driver's license in Louisiana. The Office of Motor Vehicles requires applicants to submit a statement signed by a physician confirming that they have undergone successful sex reassignment surgery. The Louisiana Vital Records will issue a new birth certificate upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order confirming surgical gender change; "The court shall require such proof as it deems necessary to be convinced that the petitioner was properly diagnosed as a transsexual or pseudo-hermaphrodite, that sex reassignment or corrective surgery has been properly performed upon the petitioner, and that as a result of such surgery and subsequent medical treatment the anatomical structure of the sex of the petitioner has been changed to a sex other than which is stated on the original birth certificate of the petitioner".

On June 5, 2023, the state Senate passed a bill to ban puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries for minors. It is expected to pass the House too. Governor Edwards had not said whether he would veto it. If it became law, it would take effect January 1, 2024. In June 2023, the Governor of Louisiana vetoed all the 3 bills. In July 2023, the Legislature overridden the Governor veto - allowing just the bill on explicitly banning gender-affirming healthcare to minors to go into effect formally. The other 2 bills are awaiting action by the Legislature.

Surgery, puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and other transition-related healthcare for transgender people are not covered by health insurance or state Medicaid policies.

Transgender sports ban
In June 2022, Louisiana banned transgender girls from sports in public schools. The bill had more than two-thirds support in both chambers of the Louisiana State Legislature, so the governor, John Bel Edwards, did not try to veto it, as the legislators would have been able to override his veto.

In 2021, a similar bill had passed (House vote 77–17 and Senate vote 29–6), but Governor Edwards vetoed it, calling it a dangerous "big-government overreach and discrimination". The legislature failed by just 2 votes to override his veto.

Domestic violence law
In June 2017, the Louisiana Legislature passed a bill, introduced by Senator Patrick Connick, to remove the words "opposite-sex" from the domestic violence statutes. The bill, which passed 54–42 in the House and 25–13 in the Senate, was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards and went into full effect on August 1, 2017. The bill's passage ensures that victims of domestic violence receive identical treatment irrespective of their sexual orientation; previously offenders in same-sex relationships received lesser sentences for domestic violence compared to their heterosexual counterparts. At that time, South Carolina was the only remaining state in the United States to still explicitly include the term "people of the opposite-sex" within its domestic violence laws.

Freedom of expression

No promo homo law
The state of Louisiana maintains a so-called "no promo homo law" law, prohibiting sex education classes from discussing male or female homosexual activity.

National Guard
Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor in June 2013 invalidating Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. Department of Defense issued directives requiring state units of the National Guard to enroll the same-sex spouses of guard members in federal benefit programs. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on October 31 said he would insist on compliance. On December 3, Louisiana agreed to conform with DoD policy stating that state workers would be considered federal workers while enrolling same-sex couples for benefits.

Public opinion

Recent opinion polls have shown that while Louisianians are mostly evenly split in support and opposition to same-sex marriage, support is increasing and opposition is decreasing.

A 2017 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll found that 48% of Louisianans supported same-sex marriage, while 44% were opposed and 8% were undecided. Additionally, 61% supported an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. 29% were against. The PRRI also found that 54% were against allowing public businesses to refuse to serve LGBT people due to religious beliefs, while 37% supported such religiously-based refusals.

Summary table

See also

 Politics of Louisiana
 LGBT rights in the United States
 Rights and responsibilities of marriages in the United States

References

External links
U.S. District Court decision in Robicheaux v. Caldwell, September 3, 2014

LGBT rights in Louisiana


Patrik Nordin (born 7 October 1971) is a Swedish ski mountaineer and cross-country skier.

Nordin was born in Södertälje and has been member of the national team since 2006. He started ski mountaineering in 1997 and competed first in the Swedish Cup race in Åre in the same year.

Selected results
 2007:
 1st, Bix Storulvan team
 1st, Box Oppdal team
 6th, European Championship (relay race (together with John Bergstedt, André Jonsson and Joakim Halvarsson)
 2008:
 10th, World Championship (relay race (together with John Bergstedt, André Jonsson and Björn Gund)

External links
 Patrik Nordin at skimountaineering.org

1971 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Södertälje
Swedish male ski mountaineers
Swedish male cross-country skiers


EcoPeace Middle East, formerly Friends of the Earth Middle East (?–2014), is a regional environmental peacebuilding organization in the Middle East, bringing together Jordanians, Palestinians, and Israelis to create shared solutions for the most water-scarce region on the planet.

Name
EcoPeace was formed in 1994, bringing together Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians and Jordanians in the wake of the Arab-Israeli peace processes of the 1990s. After joining the international Friends of the Earth network, EcoPeace became Friends of the Earth Middle East, but in 2014 it left the network, reverting to the initial name as EcoPeace Middle East.

Description
The people and wildlife of the region are dependent on many of the same natural resources. Shared surface and sub-surface freshwater basins, shared seas, common flora and fauna species and a shared air-shed are some of the characteristics that necessitate regional cooperation. As a tri-lateral organization that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli environmentalists, EcoPeace's primary objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect a shared environmental heritage. EcoPeace has offices in Amman, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv, employs around 50 staff and actively involves hundreds of volunteers.

Actions
EcoPeace publishes scientific and social research, spearheads national-level advocacy campaigns and engages in grassroots community development.

One of EcoPeace's major efforts is a regional advocacy project to promote discussion and sharing of water resources. Its efforts are focused on the rehabilitation of the Jordan River, Dead Sea, Mountain and Coastal Aquifers and fostering awareness about the regional impact of climate change. EcoPeace's focal program, the Good Water Neighbors project, engages residents of all ages, mayors and municipal representatives in twenty five communities throughout Israel, Palestine and Jordan in a united effort to rehabilitate the regions' shared water resources.

EcoPeace has taken a leading role in calling for action to save the Dead Sea, which may be in danger of drying up due to some environmental factors. Various groups and government officials from several countries say that a pipeline from the Red Sea is needed to save the Dead Sea. In June 2009, after a meeting with World Bank President Robert Zoellick, the Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister, Silvan Shalom, announced a pilot project to build a "pilot" pipe  long from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The pipe would pump 200 million cubic meters per year. Half of this would be desalinated for Jordanian consumption and half put into the Dead Sea. Some experts questioned this project. Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Avner Adin said more studies were needed on the potential environmental impact.

Awards
 Heroes of the Environment 2008 by Time magazine to EcoPeace's three co-directors: Gidon Bromberg (Israel), Munqeth Mehyar (Jordan) and Nader Al-Khateeb (Palestine)
 Skoll Award in 2009.
 2008 SEED Finalist Award
 Green Globe Award 2010 for the best Environmental Education project for its Good Water Neighbors project
 Onassis Prize for the Protection of the Environment.
 Outstanding Leadership Award 2011 by the International Development Committee (IDC) of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)
Mount Zion Award for having significantly contributed to the understanding of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, in Israel.

References

Further reading

External links

1994 establishments in Jordan
Companies established in 1994
Environmental organizations based in Israel
Environment of Israel
Environmental organisations based in Jordan
Non-profit organisations based in Jordan
Environmental organizations based in the State of Palestine
Non-governmental organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process


The Tatkal Scheme is a ticketing program established by Indian Railways. The scheme is used for booking journeys at very short notice. The Indian Railways introduced it in all forms of reserved classes on almost all trains in India. It was introduced in 1997, when Nitish Kumar was the Railway Minister of India. Bookings can be made online and offline.

Features
Tatkal tickets can be booked over the counter in a railway station and on the internet at  IRCTC.
 Ticket booking opens at 10:00 AM on the day before the day of the train at origin station. The day of the journey is defined as the day of chart preparation. For APP based booking TATKAL window opens 1 day in advance excluding the day of journey. If travel date is on 5th TATKAL will open in APP on 4th; on the other side, if date of journey at boarding station is 5th for the train starting at the origin station on 4th, then tatkal booking will open on 3rd.
 Booking starts at 10:00 AM for air-conditioned coaches. For non air-conditioned reserved coaches it starts from 11:00 am.
 No entire trains are defined as Tatkal trains. Unsold Tatkal tickets are released to passengers on a waiting list. Confirmed Tatkal tickets can be canceled, but no refunds are given. Tatkal tickets on the waiting list may be cancelled and refunded.
 On those trains and in those cases where the average utilization of Tatkal accommodation during the peak period of April to September is 80% and above, the Tatkal charges that are applicable during the peak period will be charged throughout the year, i.e., for both the peak and the non-peak periods.

Premium Tatkal  Booking
Premium Tatkal was introduced on October 1, 2014 covering half of the tickets on certain trains. These tickets can be purchased online only. The program began with a pilot of about 80 trains. Premium Tatkal and regular Tatkal tickets operate in the same manner but premium tatkal will cost more than twice of tatkal ticket

Fraud prevention
Misuse of this scheme led the Ministry of Railways to change the timing of Tatkal booking in June 2015. All types of ticketing agents including IRCTC agents will now be debarred from booking non-Tatkal tickets for 30 minutes from the opening of bookings, that is from 8 am to 8.30 AM for general classes, from 10 AM onwards for Tatkal AC classes, and from 11 AM onwards for Tatkal non-AC classes.

See also

Indian Railways
IRCTC

References

External links
Indian Railways official tatkal page
Booking Tatkal Tickets Using e-Wallet Quickly

Indian Railways


Raorchestes ochlandrae (common name: Ochlandrae reed frog) is a species of shrub frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. This species of the oriental shrub frog was first described from Kakkayam Reserve Forest of Calicut district, Kerala state, in the southern Western Ghats in 2007 but has since been recorded at many other sites along the Western Ghats. The specific name ochlandrae refers to microhabitat of the species, bamboo Ochlandra setigera.

Description
Males measure  and females, based on only one measured specimen,  in snout–vent length. The female was observed in amplexus and was larger than the male it was paired with.

This species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of characters such as body small, elongate, squat and flat; head arched, wider than long; snout short rounded, equal or sub equal to diameter of eye; canthus rostralis rounded; tympanum indistinct but visible; eyes protruding, pupil with striking golden yellow dentition like marks; belly granular; vocal sac unpigmented; fleshy brown to cream yellow dorsum with two distinct golden yellow lateral bands bordered by dark brown from upper eyelid to the posterior part of flanks.

Distribution
The species is endemic to the Western Ghats mountains, reported from parts of the Nilgiris and Anaimalai Hills. It is reported from evergreen forests with bamboos around 600 to 1000 metres above mean sea level.

Taxonomy
Genetic studies indicate that the Ochlandra reed frog is part of an evolutionary clade comprising five lineages including R. ochlandrae, R. chalazodes, R. manohari, R. uthamani, and a lineage described as Raorchestes flaviocularis.

Habitat and conservation

This species inhabits dense stands of the bamboo Ochlandra setigera, growing on forest edges and in more in open habitats. The frogs reside in the hollow tube of internodal region of bamboo about two to three metres above the ground.

The species occurs in the Western Ghats mostly along forest streams and other sites where Ochlandra stands remain.

Breeding
The Ochlandrae reed frog has a unique breeding habit of nesting within the hollow internodes of Ochlandra bamboo culms. Although they have been recorded in internodes of different Ochlandra species, breeding has been recorded so far in Ochlandra setigera. The frogs enter the hollow culms through small holes. Calling males may sit outside the entrance holes. While the entrance holes are towards the bottom of the internodes, eggs are deposited on the inside wall of the bamboo towards the upper side. A clutch size of six eggs has been reported. The presence of frogs in the bamboo indicates parental care by males in this species as in the similar Raorchestes chalazodes, with both species also showing direct development of eggs into juveniles.

References

External links

ochlandrae
Amphibians described in 2007
Frogs of India
Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats


Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Michigan enjoy the same rights as non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Michigan under the US Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas, although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy law. Same-sex marriage is legal. Discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity is unlawful since July 2022, was re-affirmed by the Michigan Supreme Court - under and by a 1976 statewide law, that explicitly bans discrimination "on the basis of sex". The Michigan Civil Rights Commission have also ensured that members of the LGBT community are not discriminated against and are protected in the eyes of the law since 2018 and also legally upheld by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2022. In March 2023, a bill passed the Michigan Legislature by a majority vote - to formally codify both "sexual orientation and gender identity" anti-discrimination protections embedded within Michigan legislation. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill on March 16, 2023.

Michigan is home to a vibrant LGBT community. East Lansing and Ann Arbor were the first cities in the United States to pass LGBT discrimination protections, doing so in 1972. Pride parades have been held in the state's most populous city, Detroit, since 1986, and today attract thousands of people. While a majority of Michiganders support same-sex marriage, the formerly Republican-controlled Legislature has mostly ignored LGBT-related legislation, and as such progress had been slow (and had thus mostly come from the courts and local municipalities). In July 2023, Michigan officially banned conversion therapy state-wide by legislation.

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Sexual acts between persons of the same sex are legal in Michigan. They had been criminalized until the state's sodomy laws, which applied to both homosexuals and heterosexuals, were invalidated in 2003 by the United States Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas. However, Michigan has not yet legislatively repealed its sodomy law.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

In 2004, voters approved a constitutional amendment, Michigan Proposal 04-2, that banned same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state. It passed with 58.6% of the vote.

Same-sex marriage
On January 23, 2012, a lesbian couple filed a lawsuit, DeBoer v. Snyder in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, challenging the state's ban on adoption by same-sex couples in order to jointly adopt their children. On March 21, 2014, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman ruled the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Attorney General Bill Schuette filed for an emergency stay of his ruling with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. On Saturday, March 22, 2014, four of Michigan's 83 county clerks opened their offices for special hours and issued more than 300 marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Later that day, the Sixth Circuit stayed Judge Friedman's order until March 26. On March 25, 2014, the Sixth Circuit stayed the ruling indefinitely. On March 28, 2014, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Federal Government will recognize the same-sex marriages performed on March 22.

On November 6, 2014, the Sixth Circuit reversed the lower court's ruling and upheld Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have a nationwide right to marry, legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States, and Michigan.

Domestic partnerships

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional amendment forbidding recognition of same-sex relationships meant that public employers in Michigan could not legally grant domestic partnership benefits to their employees. A law in effect since December 2011 banned most public employers, though not colleges and universities, from offering health benefits to the domestic partners of their employees. It did not extend to workers whose benefits are established by the Michigan Civil Service Commission. On June 28, 2013, U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing its law banning local governments and school districts from offering health benefits to their employees' domestic partners. He made that injunction permanent on November 12, 2014, when he ruled in Bassett v. Snyder that Michigan's restrictions on domestic partnership benefits were not related to a legitimate government purpose. He distinguished his ruling from the Sixth Circuit's ruling in DeBoer: "It is one thing to say [as in DeBoer] that states may cleave to the traditional definition of marriage as a means of encouraging biologically complementary couples to stay together and raise the offspring they produce.... It is quite another to say that a state may adopt a narrow definition of family, and pass laws that penalize those unions and households that do not conform."

Adoption and parenting
In July 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court made an official ruling that fully guarantees legal parental rights, responsibilities and obligations for same-sex couples who have  children or a child - even before same-sex marriage went into effect known a retrospective policy.

Michigan has no statutory ban on same-sex couples adopting, and no Michigan state court has ever interpreted Michigan's statute as prohibiting such adoptions. However, at least one other state court has ruled that unmarried individuals may not jointly petition to adopt.

Two Michigan lesbians, who are raising three children adopted by only one of them, filed a lawsuit known as DeBoer v. Snyder in federal court in January 2012 seeking to have the state's ban on adoption by same-sex couples overturned. and in September amended that suit to challenge the state's ban on same-sex marriage as well.

In December 2012, the Michigan Court of Appeals, an intermediate-level court, ruled in Usitalo v. Landon that the state's courts have jurisdiction to grant second-parent adoptions by same-sex couples.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling striking down Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage, Michigan courts have been granting adoption rights to same-sex couples.

In September 2019, a judge within Michigan allowed discrimination against LGBT individuals adopting children within adoption agencies, on the technical legal grounds of "fundamental religious beliefs and freedoms". As with all court cases they are subject to appeal in the future.

Discrimination protections

In October 2023, insurance companies and corporations within Michigan are explicitly banned from discriminating against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity - under a bill that passed both houses of the Michigan Legislature. The Governor of Michigan signed the bill into law.

In August 2023, a Michigan fruit and orchard market farmer who opposed same-sex marriage won a court case officially "based on legal precedent". Since 2023, LGBT people are explicitly included within Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. As early as the 1973 committee hearing on the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, members of the LGBT community in Michigan sought to be included in the law. However, actual legislation to do so was not introduced until 2005 when Michigan's first openly LGBT state legislator, Chris Kolb, included it with two other pro-LGBT bills, none of which passed. Since Kolb's 2005 legislation, a number of additional bills have been introduced to add protections for the LGBT community.

In June 2023, an LGBTQ+ Commission was established within Michigan - by the Governor of Michigan.

On December 23, 2003, Governor Jennifer Granholm issued an executive order prohibiting employment discrimination state-level public sector employment on the basis of sexual orientation. The order only covers employees of the state of Michigan and does not cover public sector employees of county, school, or local-level governments. On November 22, 2007, Governor Jennifer Granholm extended her executive order to include gender identity. This executive order was kept under Governor Rick Snyder.

On March 14, 2013, the Michigan Senate passed, by a 37–0 vote, an emergency harbor dredging funding bill that made private marinas ineligible for a new loan program if they discriminate based on sexual orientation. On March 20, 2013, the Michigan House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 106–4. On March 27, 2013, Governor Rick Snyder signed an emergency harbor dredging funding bill that made private marinas ineligible for a new loan program if they discriminate based on sexual orientation.

In January 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity in all areas of state government employment, including by employers receiving contracts and in grants from the state.

In March 2023, a bill passed the Michigan Legislature by a majority vote - to formally codify both "sexual orientation and gender identity" anti-discrimination protections embedded within Michigan legislation. The bill was signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on March 8, 2023.

2018 Civil Rights Commission decision
In September 2017, after the Legislature had voted 11 times to reject protecting LGBT people from discrimination, LGBT activists asked the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to declare sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination a form of sex discrimination and as such outlaw it under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

On May 21, 2018, the Commission interpreted the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act as banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through the category of sex. The Commission voted 5–0 to interpret existing anti-discrimination laws as including both categories. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights began processing complaints of discrimination on May 22. This decision effectively means that LGBT discrimination is now illegal under state law. The decision was hailed by human rights group, but denounced by conservative groups.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette hit back at the decision, accusing the Commission of overstepping its authority. In July 2018, Schuette said that the decision is "invalid because it conflicts with the original intent of the Legislature as expressed in the plain language of the state's civil rights law". The Commission subsequently reiterated its support for the decision, and the Department of Civil Rights announced that it would continue to investigate discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation and gender identity. "The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is an independent, constitutionally created and established body," Agustin V. Arbulu, director of the Department of Civil Rights, said. "The Commission is not bound by the opinion of the Attorney General. The only recourse is for the courts to determine if issuing the interpretive statement was within the scope of the commission's authority, and that is the appropriate venue for resolving this issue." The Detroit Free Press denounced Schuette for the opinion, calling it a "shameful display of bigotry", also condemning Schuette for his association with President Donald Trump, who had endorsed him for that year's gubernatorial election, which Schuette lost to Democrat Gretchen Whitmer.

EEOC v. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes
On March 7, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (covering Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee) ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination against transgender people under the category of sex. It also ruled that employers may not use the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to justify discrimination against LGBT people. Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman, began working for a funeral home and presented as male. In 2013, she told her boss that she was transgender and planned to transition. She was promptly fired by her boss who said that "gender transition violat[es] God's commands because a person's sex is an immutable God-given gift." With this decision, discrimination in the workplace based on gender identity is now banned in Michigan.

2020 Michigan business court ruling
In December 2020, a court ruling legally allowed businesses within Michigan to discriminate against LGBT individuals. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is appealing the court's ruling.

Over fifty local municipalities have local human rights ordinances which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment and housing.

Ingham, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties also prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in government employment.
Holland, Michigan passed on August 19, 2020 a Non-Discrimination ordinance that includes protections against discrimination  for people based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodation.

Hate crime law
Since 2009, US-wide federal law explicitly includes sexual orientation and gender identity, under the Obama-era "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (imbedded within the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 legislation fully implemented).

Since 1992, sexual orientation has been recognized for data collection about hate crimes in Michigan.

In August 2021, a court in Michigan declared that gender identity is implicitly included within the 1992 hate crime laws of Michigan - under the “gender” interpretation.

In June 2023, the Michigan House of Representatives passed hate crime bills package - that explicitly includes and updates both "sexual orientation and gender identity". The Michigan Senate is yet to vote on the bills package.

Conversion therapy

In June 2019, Huntington Woods City Commission passed an ordinance, in a unanimous 5–0 vote, banning conversion therapy in a first reading.  A year later in July 2020, the Madison Heights City Council unanimously approved the amendment to the city's ordinance on minors upon its second reading, effectively prohibiting the practice within the city. Conversion therapy in the community is ineffective, causes suicide and is even traumatizing for LGBT individuals. In August 2020, the Michigan City of Royal Oak also passed an ordinance that banned conversion therapy on minors - explicitly with up to 90 days jail or imprisonment and a $500 fine.

Michigan executive order
In June 2021, the Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order that bans statewide taxpayers dollars or funding going towards conversion therapy on minors. Some cities and counties of Michigan already legally ban conversion therapy by local ordinances.

Michigan legislation
In June 2023, both houses of the Michigan Legislature passed a bill to formally implement a ban on conversion therapy practices permanently. The Governor of Michigan officially signed the bill into law in July 2023.

Gender identity and expression

Birth certificates
On June 30, 2021 a 1978 law and policy within Michigan requiring sexual reassignment surgery - to change sex on an individual's birth certificate was formally declared unconstitutional by the courts. Individuals since June 30, 2021 can formally change sex without sexual reassignment surgery - similar to an individual changing sex on a drivers licence. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel asked the attorney general in February to examine the constitutionality of the 1978 law that requires a written statement from a physician confirming that "gender-confirmation surgery" has been completed.

Driver's licenses
In November 2019, Michigan implemented a new government software system to change an individual's gender or sex on drivers licenses and I.D.s within the state - by both a signed statutory declaration and a fee. In January 2020, plans were announced to begin offering an "X" marker on driver licenses at an unspecified future date. In November 2021, the Secretary of State said the option would be available "soon".

Transition in childhood
On October 11, 2022, House Bill 6454 was introduced in the state legislature. If the bill passes, any parent or physician who "consents to, obtains, or assists with a gender transition procedure for a child" will face life in prison for the felony of child abuse in the first degree.

Respecting individual's pronouns
In September 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court announced a case decision on "respecting an individual's pronouns" for judges.

Public opinion
A 2017 Public Religion Research Institute poll found that 63% of Michigan residents supported same-sex marriage, while 29% were opposed and 8% were unsure. Additionally, 70% supported an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. 22% were opposed. The PRRI also found that 62% were against allowing public businesses to refuse to serve LGBT people due to religious beliefs, while 31% supported such religiously-based refusals.

Summary table

See also
 Politics of Michigan
 LGBT history in Michigan
 LGBT rights in the United States
 Rights and responsibilities of marriages in the United States
 Law of Michigan

References


John Bilborough Eastham (1883 – 3 May 1932) was an English footballer who spent most of his career with Blackburn Rovers and then Southampton playing as a full back.

Football career

Blackburn Rovers
Eastham was born in Blackburn, Lancashire in early 1883 and joined his local club, Blackburn Rovers in the First Division in March 1900, aged 17. He broke into the first-team during the 1901–02 season and in the following season became a regular at left-back, partnering England international Bob Crompton.

In 1903–04, the arrival of Scottish international Jock Cameron from St Mirren restricted Eastham's appearances and he spent the entire 1904–05 season in the reserves.

Glossop
In September 1905, Eastham moved to Glossop where he played in either full-back position, making 26 appearances as the club finished near the foot of the Second Division table.

Southampton
Eastham moved to the south coast in May 1906, when he was persuaded to join Southampton, who had finished as runners-up in the Southern League in the 1905–06 season. He made an anonymous start to his career at The Dell but by the end of the 1906–07 season he had taken over the right-back position from Bill Clarke, whose career had ended following a serious knee injury. Eastham scored his first goal for the Saints in a 2–1 defeat of Bristol Rovers in the final match of the season.

In 1907–08, Eastham settled into the right-back role, although he missed two long periods through injury (when the versatile John Robertson took over) making 22 appearances in all as the "Saints" finished eleventh in the league. In the FA Cup, Eastham played in all six matches as the Saints made it through to the semi-final, after a replay in round 4, when they defeated the previous season's runners-up Everton 3–2 (including two goals from Frank Costello). In the semi-final itself, played at Stamford Bridge on 28 March 1908, the Saints were defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers, with goals from former Southampton players Wally Radford and George Hedley.

Eastham was by now becoming "one of the club's finest right-backs during the Southern League era" who was an indispensable member of the side; described as "robust and fearless", he became team captain and provided invaluable guidance to the younger members of the team.

At the start of the 1908–09 season, the Saints reeled off seven consecutive victories before a series of injuries to key players disrupted the side, who eventually finished the season in third place, with Eastham missing only three matches. In the following season, Eastham again missed a long spell from October to December through injury.

In 1910–11, Eastham managed to avoid injury and was one of the few players to show any consistency as the Saints struggled to narrowly avoid relegation. At the start of the 1911–12 season, the club recognised Eastham's worth by granting him a benefit match against Portsmouth played on 18 September 1911. The Monday night match was poorly attended with Portsmouth playing a team consisting mainly of reserve players, who nonetheless kept the score down to 2–1, with Southampton's goals coming from Hamilton and McAlpine.

For the 1911–12 season, Southampton's new manager George Swift recruited eleven new players, but Eastham retained his place at right-back. After his testimonial match, he missed the next eight games with Dan Gordon and Frank Grayer filling in for him. Eastham returned to the line-up in mid-November, but by the end of the season he had lost his place to Gordon.

In the summer of 1912, Eastham decided to retire and returned to his home town, settling in the Blackburn area. During his six years with Southampton, he made a total of 175 appearances, scoring four goals.

References

1883 births
Footballers from Blackburn
1932 deaths
English men's footballers
Men's association football fullbacks
Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Glossop North End A.F.C. players
Southampton F.C. players
English Football League players
Southern Football League players


Same-sex marriage has been legal in Michigan since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015. The U.S. state of Michigan had previously banned the recognition of same-sex unions in any form after a popular vote added an amendment to the Constitution of Michigan in 2004. A statute enacted in 1996 also banned both the licensing of same-sex marriages and the recognition of same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions.

On March 21, 2014, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ruled the state's denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples unconstitutional. More than 300 same-sex couples married in Michigan the next day before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed enforcement of the district court's decision. On November 6, the Sixth Circuit reversed the lower court's ruling and upheld Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage. The state was ordered to recognize the 323 marriages performed on March 22, and the state announced it would not appeal that order.

Legal history

Statutes
In June 1995, the Michigan House of Representatives voted 88–14 to ban same-sex marriage in the state, and the Michigan State Senate voted 31–2 in favor. That same month, the House approved by a 74–28 vote a bill banning recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages. The Senate also approved this bill. Governor John Engler signed both bills into law.

In June 2023, Representative Jason Morgan introduced legislation to the Michigan Legislature to amend all gendered marital references in state statutes and repeal the statutory ban on same-sex marriages.

Constitutional amendment
In 2004, voters approved a constitutional amendment, Michigan Proposal 04-2, that banned same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state. It passed with 58.6% of the vote. The Michigan Supreme Court later ruled that public employers in Michigan could not grant domestic partnership benefits given the restrictions imposed by the amendment.

Following the 2022 elections, in which the Democratic Party won full control of the state government for the first time since 1983, some Democratic lawmakers said they were considering introducing a constitutional amendment to repeal the 2004 ban. Representative Jeremy Moss said, "Regardless of what happens with Obergefell in the future – which obviously, there is a threat it could be overturned – right now, we have unconstitutional language in our Constitution. […] We should be working now, as we should have been working, to repeal the language in our constitution that bans marriage equality." Attorney General Dana Nessel said she would push for such an amendment to be passed and placed on the ballot for approval by voters. In June 2023, Representative Morgan introduced a constitutional amendment to codify same-sex marriage in the Michigan Constitution and repeal the 2004 ban. Morgan said, "No couple in our state should live with the fear that their marriage could be put into jeopardy. While marriage between individuals of the same sex is currently protected through a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, the overturning of Roe v. Wade has made it clear how precarious our rights truly are. I am so excited to be marrying the love of my life, Jon, this year, and I will not rest until we protect the right to marriage for every couple in Michigan." The measure requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature and approval by voters.

Lawsuits

DeBoer v. Snyder

On January 23, 2012, a lesbian couple filed a lawsuit, DeBoer v. Snyder, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, challenging the state's ban on adoption by same-sex couples. In August 2012, Judge Bernard A. Friedman invited the couple to amend their suit to challenge the state's ban on same-sex marriage, "the underlying issue". On March 7, 2013, Friedman announced that he would delay ruling pending the outcome of two same-sex marriage cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry. Friedman held a trial from February 25 to March 7, 2014. On March 21, he ruled for the plaintiffs, ending Michigan's denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples. Attorney General Bill Schuette immediately filed an emergency motion requesting a stay of the ruling.

Four of Michigan's 83 county clerks opened their offices on Saturday, March 22, to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples: Barbara Byrum of Ingham County, Nancy Waters of Muskegon County, Lisa Brown of Oakland County, and Lawrence Kestenbaum of Washtenaw County. The four counties issued 323 marriage licenses to same-sex couples that day. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stayed enforcement of Friedman's ruling that same day, and stayed the ruling indefinitely on March 25. On March 28, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government would recognize the validity of the same-sex marriages licensed on March 22.

On November 6, 2014, the Sixth Circuit reversed the lower court's ruling and upheld Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage. The case was later incorporated into Obergefell v. Hodges and decided along with several other Sixth Circuit court cases related to the legality of state bans on same-sex marriage. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs and legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States. The court held that the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee same-sex couples the right to marry. Governor Snyder issued the following statement, "Our state government will follow the law and our state agencies will make the necessary changes to ensure that we will fully comply.", and Attorney General Schuette said the state would "honor, respect and uphold the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States". Representative Debbie Dingell said, "Love is love. It's not ours to judge. Today the Supreme Court affirmed that individuals can love whomever they choose. I'm simply happy for my friends, April and Jayne, who have five wonderful children they want to be able to adopt and love. I can't wait to attend their wedding." State Senator Jim Ananich called it a "great day for everyone who believes in equal rights", and Representative Sander Levin said it was a "historic day, reflecting what each of us knows in our hearts and within our communities, we are all equal and should be able to marry who we love." Representatives Brenda Lawrence and John Conyers also welcomed the court decision. The Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate, Arlan Meekhof, said he was "disappointed" and "concerned by the Court's decision to disregard states' rights in favor of the federal government". Michigan's Catholic bishops released a statement that the ruling would "have a significant ripple effect upon the first amendment right to religious liberty".

Caspar v. Snyder
Eight same-sex couples represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit in U.S. district court on July 25, 2014, seeking recognition of their so-called "window marriages" established on March 21 and 22, 2014 before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the district court's ruling in DeBoer. The state had asked the district court to suspend proceedings pending final resolution of DeBoer or to find those marriages invalid. On January 15, 2015, U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith ruled that the state must recognize those marriages, but stayed implementation of his ruling for 21 days. He wrote: "In these circumstances, what the state has joined together, it may not put asunder." On February 4, Governor Rick Snyder announced that the state would recognize those marriages and would not appeal the decision.

Carrick v. Snyder
In January 2015, Pastor Neil Patrick Carrick of Detroit brought a case, Carrick v. Snyder, against Michigan, arguing that the state's ban of same-sex marriage and polygamy violated the Free Exercise and Equal Protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. The case was dismissed for lack of standing in February 2016.

Native American nations
Same-sex marriage is legal on the reservations of the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, five federally recognized Ojibwe tribes. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians was the first Native American tribe to legalize same-sex marriage in Michigan when its Tribal Council voted to legalize in March 2013. The Tribal Chairman, Dexter McNamara, signed the legislation on March 15, 2013, and the first couple, Tim LaCroix and Gene Barfield, were married near Harbor Springs that same day. The Tribal Code states: "Marriage means the legal and voluntary union of two persons to the exclusion of all others". The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council voted in November 2014 to hold a non-binding referendum on legalizing same-sex marriage on the reservation. The referendum was held on December 13, 2014, and passed with 54% of the vote. Provisions permitting same-sex marriages to be performed were included into the Tribal Code after the Tribal Council approved the changes on June 6, 2015. The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians legalized same-sex marriage on July 7, 2015, and the Bay Mills Executive Council approved a marriage ordinance permitting same-sex marriages to be solemnized on their reservation on July 8, 2019.

Same-sex marriage has also been legal on the reservation of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians since May 8, 2013. The first same-sex marriage was performed for Daniel Hossler and Enrico Perez in Dowagiac on June 20, 2013. Same-sex marriage has also been legal in the Hannahville Indian Community since August 3, 2015, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi since March 16, 2023. Potawatomi society has traditionally recognized two-spirit individuals who were born male but wore women's clothing and performed everyday household work and artistic handiwork which were regarded as belonging to the feminine sphere. Potawatomi two-spirit individuals, known as  (, plural: mnedokwék), "sought out female company" from an early age, possessed the "work skills" of both sexes, "talked like women", and were regarded as "esteemed persons with special spiritual powers". Ruth Landes reported in 1970 that they were "said to possess visions…but not to practice sorcery. [Mnedokwék] exemplified a distinct category of 'power'." Two-spirit people are known in the Ojibwe language as  (), or also as niizh manidoowag (). Many agokwe were wives in polygnyous households. This two-spirit status thus allowed for marriages between two biological males to be performed among the tribe.

Demographics and marriage statistics
Data from the 2000 U.S. census showed that 15,368 same-sex couples were living in Michigan. By 2005, this had increased to more than 22,000 couples, likely attributed to same-sex couples' growing willingness to disclose their partnerships on government surveys. Same-sex couples lived in all counties of the state. Most couples lived in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, but the county with the highest percentage of same-sex couples was Washtenaw (0.7% of all county households). Same-sex partners in Michigan were on average younger than opposite-sex partners, and more likely to be employed. However, the average and median household incomes of same-sex couples were lower than different-sex couples, and same-sex couples were also far less likely to own a home than opposite-sex partners. 18% of same-sex couples in Michigan were raising children under the age of 18, with an estimated 7,800 children living in households headed by same-sex couples in 2005.

2019 estimates from the United States Census Bureau showed that there were 23,727 same-sex households in Michigan, representing about 0.6% of all households in the state. The bureau estimated that 53% of same-sex couples in the state were married.

Domestic partnerships
In May 2008, the Michigan Supreme Court held that the amendment added to the State Constitution in 2004 banned not only same-sex marriage and civil unions, but also public employee domestic partnership benefits such as health insurance. The ruling, however, had little effect since most public employers relaxed their eligibility criteria to avoid violating the amendment's restrictions.

On September 15, 2011, the Michigan House of Representatives voted 64–44 to approve a bill that would have banned most public employers, though not colleges and universities, from offering health care benefits to the domestic partners of their employees. It did not apply to workers whose benefits are established by the Michigan Civil Service Commission. On December 7, 2011, the Michigan State Senate approved the bill in a 27–9 vote. On December 22, 2011, Governor Rick Snyder signed the legislation into law. Five same-sex couples challenged the law in Bassett v. Snyder. On June 28, 2013, U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing its law banning local governments and school districts from offering health care benefits to their employees' domestic partners. He wrote: "It is hard to argue with a straight face that the primary purpose—indeed, perhaps the sole purpose—of the statute is other than to deny health benefits to the same-sex partners of public employees. But that can never be a legitimate governmental purpose". He rejected the state's arguments that "fiscal responsibility" was the law's rationale. On February 14, 2014, the state asked him to lift that preliminary injunction, repeating its arguments about the "fiscal insecurity of local governments" and eliminating "irrational and unfair" local programs. On November 12, 2014, Judge Lawson issued a permanent injunction barring the state from enforcing this law.

Local domestic partnerships
While there are no statewide recognition, these local governments recognize domestic partnerships: Ann Arbor, Detroit, East Lansing, and Kalamazoo, as well as Ingham, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.

Public opinion
{| class="wikitable"
|+style="font-size:100%" | Public opinion for same-sex marriage in Michigan
|-
! style="width:190px;"| Poll source
! style="width:200px;"| Date(s)administered
! class=small | Samplesize
! Margin oferror
! style="width:100px;"| % support
! style="width:100px;"| % opposition
! style="width:40px;"| % no opinion
! style="width:40px;"| % refused
|-
| Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| March 11 – December 14, 2022
| align=center| ?
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 68%
| align=center| 30%
| align=center| 2%
| align=center| -
|-
| Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| March 8 – November 9, 2021
| align=center| ?
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 70%
| align=center| 28%
| align=center| 2%
| align=center| -
|-
| Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| January 7 – December 20, 2020
| align=center| 1,670 random telephoneinterviewees
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 67%
| align=center| 29%
| align=center| 4%
| align=center| -
|-
| Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| April 5 – December 23, 2017
| align=center| 2,348 random telephoneinterviewees
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 63%
| align=center| 29%
| align=center| 8%
| align=center| -
|-
| American Values Atlas/Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| May 18, 2016 – January 10, 2017
| align=center| 2,997 random telephoneinterviewees
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 56%
| align=center| 36%
| align=center| 8%
| align=center| -
|-
| American Values Atlas/Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| April 29, 2015 – January 7, 2016
| align=center| 2,379 random telephoneinterviewees
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 54%
| align=center| 38%
| align=center| 8%
| align=center| -
|-
| New York Times/CBS News/YouGov
| align=center| September 20 – October 1, 2014
| align=center| 2,560 likely voters
| align=center| ± 2.4%
|  align=center| 47%
| align=center| 39%
| align=center| 14%
| align=center| -
|-
| EPIC-MRA
| align=center| September 25–29, 2014
| align=center| 600 adults
| align=center| ± 4%
| align=center| 47%
| align=center| 47%
| align=center| 6%
| align=center| -
|-
| EPIC-MRA
| align=center| May 17–20, 2014
| align=center| 600 likely voters
| align=center| ± 4%
|  align=center| 47%
| align=center| 46%
| align=center| 7%
| align=center| -
|-
| American Values Atlas/Public Religion Research Institute
| align=center| April 2, 2014 – January 4, 2015
| align=center| 1,670 random telephoneinterviewees
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 55%
| align=center| 37%
| align=center| 5%
| align=center| -
|-
| Marketing Resource Group of Lansing
| align=center| March 2014
| align=center| ?
| align=center| ?
| align=center| 45%
|  align=center| 50%
| align=center| 5%
| align=center| -
|-
| State of the State Survey
| align=center| December 16, 2013 – February 10, 2014
| align=center| 1,008 adults
| align=center| ± 3.1%
|  align=center| 54%
| align=center| 36%
| align=center| -
| align=center| -
|-
| Glengariff Group Inc.
| align=center| January 29 – February 1, 2014
| align=center| 600 likely voters
| align=center| ± 4%
|  align=center| 56.2%
| align=center| 33.8%
| align=center| -
| align=center| -
|-
| Glengariff Group Inc.
| align=center| May 8–10, 2013
| align=center| 600 voters
| align=center| ± 4%
|  align=center| 56.8%
| align=center| 37.6%
| align=center| 5.6%
| align=center| -
|-
| EPIC-MRA
| align=center| May 2013
| align=center| 600 likely voters
| align=center| ± 4%
|  align=center| 51%
| align=center| 41%
| align=center| 8%
| align=center| -
|-
| State of the State Survey
| align=center| June 12 – August 13, 2012
| align=center| 1,015 adults
| align=center| ?
|  align=center| 56%
| align=center| 39%
| align=center| 5%
| align=center| -
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| May 24–27, 2012
| align=center| 500 voters
| align=center| ± 4.4%
| align=center| 41%
|  align=center| 45%
| align=center| 14%
| align=center| -
|-
| Glengariff Group Inc.
| align=center| May 10–11, 2012
| align=center| 600 likely voters
| align=center| ± 4%
|  align=center| 44.3%
| align=center| 43.7%
| align=center| 11%
| align=center| 1%
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| July 21–24, 2011
| align=center| 593 voters
| align=center| ± 4%
| align=center| 33%
|  align=center| 53%
| align=center| 14%
| align=center| -
|-
| Glengariff Group Inc.
| align=center| January 2011
| align=center| ?
| align=center| ?
| align=center| 38.5%
|  align=center| 50.2%
| align=center| 11.3%
| align=center| -
|-
| State of the State Survey
| align=center| 2010
| align=center| ?
| align=center| ?
| align=center| 48%
|  align=center| 51%
| align=center| 1%
| align=center| -
|-
| Glengariff Group Inc.
| align=center| October 2004
| align=center| ?
| align=center| ?
| align=center| 24%
|  align=center| 61%
| align=center| 15%
| align=center| -
|-

See also
LGBT rights in Michigan
Michigan Proposal 04-2
Domestic partnership in the United States
Same-sex marriage in the United States

References

LGBT rights in Michigan
Michigan
2014 in LGBT history
2015 in LGBT history
2014 in Michigan
2015 in Michigan


Hellenic Journal of Geosciences (formerly Annales Géologiques des Pays Hélléniques) publishes original contributions on all aspects of earth sciences. The Hellenic Journal of Geosciences () is published bThe University of Athens, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment performs the distribution of the journal, which is distributed in 200 libraries and Institutes in Europe, 103 in Greece and 66 in the rest of the world.

External links

Hellenic Journal of Geosciences

Geology journals
Earth and atmospheric sciences journals
Science and technology in Greece


Uí Bairrche (Modern Irish: Uí Bhairrche, IPA:[ˈiːˈwaːɾʲɾʲçə]) was an Irish kin-based group that originally held lands in the south of the ancient province of Leinster (or Cóiced Laigen "the Fifth of the Laigin"). Another south Leinster kin group associated with the Uí Bairrche were groups of the Fothairt. The south of Leinster was dominated by the Uí Chennselaig in the 8th century. Uí Bairrche held lands around Carlow, however Uí Chennselaig expansion split the kindred. The result was that one Uí Bairrche branch persevered in the Barrow valley; and another was forced to move south towards the Wexford coast.

History
Following the medieval genealogies, the Uí Bairrche descend from Dáire Barrach, a son of Cathair Mór, and are thus of Laigin origins. T. F. O'Rahilly, however, believed them to have originally belonged to the Érainn, being descendants of an ancestor figure Dáire (*Dārios), and the historical representatives of the Brigantes, who are located in Co. Wexford in Claudius Ptolemy's Geography.

Genealogies for the Uí Baircche are recorded in Rawlinson B 502, fos. 121–122. Among the monasteries in Leinster controlled by the Uí Bairrche are Cell Auxili, Slébte (Sletty), Glenn Uissen (now Killeshin), Banba Mór, Cell Mo Lappóc and Tech Mo Shacro.

See also
List of Celtic tribes
Tigernach of Clones
 Áed of Sletty
 Saint Fiacc

Citations

General references

Secondary sources

Primary sources

External links

Gaelic-Irish nations and dynasties
Laigin
Leinster


Pine Hall, also known as Anderson-Hanes House, is a historic plantation house located at Pine Hall, Stokes County, North Carolina. It was built in 1859, and is a two-story, three bay by two bay, Greek Revival style brick dwelling.  The front facade features a one-story portico with a hip roof and
paired heavy Doric order pillars.  Also on the property are a number of contributing outbuildings and a family cemetery.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

References

Plantation houses in North Carolina
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina
Greek Revival houses in North Carolina
Houses completed in 1859
Houses in Stokes County, North Carolina
National Register of Historic Places in Stokes County, North Carolina


Malibu Islet, also known as Malibu Isle or Forbidden Island, is located at the entrance of Princess Louisa Inlet, south of Malibu Rapids, east of Queens Reach, a stretch of Jervis Inlet in the New Westminster Land District, British Columbia, Canada.  The island is the part of the narrow passage that joins Princess Louisa Inlet and Jervis Inlet together.  The navigational entrance to Princess Louisa Inlet for all marine traffic is between the island and a navigation buoy.

The island is part of the Shishalh people's traditional territory, referenced as Malibu Isle on all nautical charts and topographic maps.  Traditionally, the Sechelts would bury their dead in the caves and island surrounding these inlets and bays of the Sunshine Coast.  It is for this reason, that Young Life's Malibu Club has referred to this island as Forbidden Island since it is forbidden to be on the island for any reason out of respect for the native tradition.

External links

References

Islands of British Columbia
Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)
New Westminster Land District


Xavier "Xavi" Comas Guixé  (born July 29, 1977) is an Andorran ski mountaineer.

Comas started ski mountaineering in 2000 and competed first in the Trofeu CTP Boí Taüll race in 2001. He has been member of the national team since 2001 and lives in La Massana.

Selected results
 2005:
 7th, European Championship relay race (together with Toni Casals Rueda, Xavier Capdevila Romero and Joan Vilana Díaz)
 2007:
 7th, European Championship relay race (together with Toni Casals Rueda, Xavier Capdevila Romero and Joan Albós Cavaliere)
 2008:
 8th, World Championship relay race (together with Joan Albós Cavaliere, Xavier Capdevila Romero and Joan Vilana Díaz)
 2010:
 8th, World Championship relay race (together with Joan Albós Cavaliere, Joan Vilana Díaz and Toni Casals Rueda)
 2012:
 8th, European Championship relay, together with Guilad Dodo Perez, Ludovic and Joan Albós Cavaliere

Patrouille des Glaciers

 2008: 6th ("seniors I" class ranking), together with Joan Vilana Díaz and Joan Albós Cavaliere
 2010: 9th (and 7th "ISMF men" ranking)- with and end time of 6h58mn, together with Joan Vilana Díaz and Joan Albós Cavaliere

External links
 Xavier Comas at Skimountaineering.org

References

1977 births
Living people
Andorran male ski mountaineers


The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development heads the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government. The Secretary is responsible for promoting commerce and the economic development of Hong Kong.  The position was created in 2007 by merging the previous portfolios of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology and the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour.

The predecessor, Secretary for Trade and Industry (), was the head of the Trade and Industry Branch, and later the Trade and Industry Bureau, responsible for securing Hong Kong's access to the world market, helping Hong Kong manufacturers remain competitive in international markets, enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights, and promoting Hong Kong customers' interests. It was renamed and re-organised as the Secretary for Commerce and Industry in 2000, and replaced by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology () in 2002, with new responsibilities of technology sectors after merging with Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting.

List of office holders

Secretaries for Trade and Industry, 1982–1997

Secretaries for Trade and Industry, 1997–2000

Secretaries for Commerce and Industry, 2000–2002

Secretaries for Commerce, Industry and Technology, 2002–2007

Secretaries for Commerce and Economic Development, 2007–present
Political party:

References

External links

Organisation chart of Hong Kong Government

Commerce and Economic Development


The Secretary for Development of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for planning, land development and public works related development policy in Hong Kong.  The position was created in 2007 to replace portions of the previous portfolios of Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works and Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.

List of office holders
Political party:

Surveyor General, 1842–1891

Directors of Public Works, 1891–1941

Directors of Public Works, 1946–1981

 Development issues were handled by Secretary for Lands and Works between 1981 and 1989.

Secretaries for Works, 1989–1997

Secretaries for Works, 1997–2002

 Development issues were handled by Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works between 2002 and 2007.

Secretaries for Development, 2007–present

See also
 Public Works Department (Hong Kong)

References

External links

Organisation chart of Hong Kong Government

Development
Land management ministries


William Collins House may refer to:

William Collins House (Fall River, Massachusetts), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
 William Collins House (Madison, Wisconsin), NRHP-listed

See also
Collins House (disambiguation)


Jorge Muñoz Zapata (born 23 March 1964) is a Colombian American philanthropist and politician. He is the founder of the non-profit An Angel in Queens Foundation, an organization that delivers free home-cooked meals in Queens, New York. Back in 2009, he estimated having served more than 70,000 meals to hungry people since 2004.

Muñoz was awarded as one of the CNN Heroes in 2009 due to his philiantropic labour. On August 4, 2010, Muñoz was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Barack Obama, the second highest civilian honor in the United States. Moreover, Muñoz was presented the Order of the Congress of Colombia in the Degree of Knight by the Senate of Colombia.

Philanthropy
Muñoz has been called a real life angel due to his commitment to help others by daily cooking and offering free hot meals to hungry people in Queens, New York. In 2004, Muñoz began his philanthropic labour, when he realized that large amounts of food were thrown away at some places. Initially, he collected food from local businesses and handed out meals to underprivileged people three nights a week. As time passed by, his mother and sister, and some friends, joined him in this endeavor, and then he could start to offer food on a daily basis. Muñoz invests a large part of his salary to support his philanthropic activities, and sometimes receives donations from third parties.

In 2006, Muñoz directed his efforts into the creation of the An Angel in Queens Foundation, a non-profit institution that targets the problem of hunger in the less privileged in the city of New York.

Recognition
Muñoz himself acknowledges that his altruistic activities became of public knowledge after his story was published by the New York Times. Afterwards, the exposure of his philanthropic work allowed him to be one of the recipients of the CNN heroes tribute, as he classified in the Top 10 heroes of 2009. Later on, in 2010, people in the United States nominated him, along with other 6000 nominees, to be the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal. He was awarded one of the 13 medals. In 2012, Muñoz was presented the Order of the Congress of Colombia in the Degree of Knight by the Senate of Colombia, as a recognition of his philanthropic efforts to help the Latin immigrants of New York City. In the same year, Muñoz was acknowledged as one of the 100 most outstanding Colombian expatriates by Marca Colombia and Fusionarte, during a ceremony held at the Casa de Nariño, in company of the President Juan Manuel Santos. Muñoz has received, among other acknowledgments and distinctions, the distinction for being an exemplary human being due to his outstanding moral values by the Assembly of the Valle del Cauca Department, and the decoration for his humanitarian labour in the United States and the bestowing with the Freedom of the city by the Mayorship and the City Council of Manizales.

Political career
Jorge Muñoz was candidate of the Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation to the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia in 2010, when he ran for Representative of the Colombian expatriates. He obtained second place in the elections thanks to 8.197 votes. Muñoz was once again running for Representative of the Colombian expatriates for the 2014 Colombian parliamentary election, but that time he was the leader of the list of candidates of the MIRA movement to the Chamber of representatives for the Colombian expatriates constituency.

Jorge Muñoz was appointed temporary Congressman from September to December 2015 in replacement of Congresswoman Ana Paola Agudelo García.

Personal life
Muñoz was born in Colombia to a humble family. When he was in his late teens, his father died in an accident and due to a difficult economic situation, his mother traveled to New York in search for a better future. Muñoz followed his mother, moving to New York to find work to support the family, obtaining legal residency in 1987, and later becoming a citizen, along with his mother and sister. Muñoz works as a school bus driver. Muñoz is a member of the Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International.

References

External links
NY Times Video: An Angel in Queens
CNN Heroes: A Guardian Angel for the Hungry
Obama honors CNN Hero who cooks meals for homeless people

1964 births
Colombian emigrants to the United States
Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation politicians
Living people
Members of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
People from Palmira, Valle del Cauca
People from Valle del Cauca Department
Presidential Citizens Medal recipients
American politicians of Colombian descent
American Pentecostals
Colombian Pentecostals
Members of the Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International


mySupermarket was an independent shopping and comparison shopping website for groceries in the United Kingdom. It retrieved price information from multiple online retailers, so that customers could compare their prices. On 27 February 2020 Gilad Simhony (CEO of mySupermarket) announced it would be closing on 1 March 2020. His statement read: "After 14 years of service to UK shoppers, the mySupermarket website and mobile application will be taken down from March 1st, 2020 as we shift our activity toward other business areas. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the tens of millions of you who have used our services over the years and who have contributed to its amazing success. It has been our pleasure and privilege to serve you and to share this journey with you."

History
mySupermarket.co.uk launched as a UK-based supermarket shopping and price comparison site in October 2006, using data on four of the main supermarkets Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda and Ocado.

In June 2013, the company launched a mySupermarket.com for the United States market. In July 2013, the company launched a mobile app that could be used both online and in-store.

In November 2014, "Insights" was launched, a real-time dashboard to track product sales and market share across UK supermarkets. The tool allowed marketers to track performance and make changes daily to their campaigns, rather than waiting for post-season analysis.

In June 2015, the company launched mySupermarket SHOPS, an online shop offering wares from more than 100 local and independent UK retailers.

On 27 February 2020 the company announced on social media and by email to their users, that from 1 March the website and app would close.

Funding
mySupermarket Limited was a private company, owned by a group of investors and mySupermarket employees. In May 2007, mySupermarket.co.uk received a £3 million investment from venture capitalist firms, Greylock Partners and Pitango.  These funds were earmarked for structured marketing of the site to increase its regular users. In April 2012, mySupermarket.co.uk received an investment of $10 million from British advertising and public relations company WPP and existing investors.

Business model
The site analysed products in a shopper's trolley and suggests swapping some of the items for cheaper substitutes or alternative sizes that offer better value. mySupermarket had multiple stores on the site with pricing taken directly from retailers' websites.

In 2012, mySupermarket launched a desktop app that can automatically compare the price of users' baskets whenever they shop online. The app can run on the background of laptops, PCs and Macs, automatically recognising the URLs of users' frequently visited online supermarkets.

Reception
The Guardian described the site in 2006 as "pretty time consuming" to set up. In 2013 Good Housekeeping magazine described the site as easy to use, with better savings achieved when spending over $75.00 to avoid shipping charges.

References

Further reading
Tech Crunch

External links
 (United Kingdom)
 (United States)

Online retailers of the United Kingdom
Comparison shopping websites
Merchant services
Retail companies established in 2006
Internet properties established in 2006
British brands


Virginia Charles Prince (November 23, 1912 – May 2, 2009), born Arnold Lowman, was an American transgender activist. She published Transvestia magazine, and started the Foundation for Personality Expression (FPE)
and later the Society for the Second Self for male heterosexual cross-dressers.

Early life

Prince was born on November 23, 1912, in Los Angeles, California to a Protestant family. She was assigned male at birth and given the name Arnold. At around the age of twelve, Prince began cross-dressing, first using her mother's clothes.  During her time in high school, Prince began cross-dressing more frequently and found herself passing as a girl in public. This came to a crux when Virginia, at the age of 18, went to a church Halloween party—not only in a woman's outfit but indeed passing as a woman—and won first prize. This marked "...the first occasion in which [Prince] willingly appeared before others as a girl..." The daughter of a surgeon father and a mother who worked in real estate investment, Prince's early life was one of privilege, with a family that was in her words "...socially prominent..."

Education and transition period

Prince enrolled at Pomona College in Claremont, California, in 1931. She joined a fraternity and graduated in 1935 with a degree in chemistry.

Prince was not as open with her transvestism as she became in later life, however it was thanks to a psychiatrist she consulted—at age 30—that she began to live a more comfortable, open lifestyle. Despite having been previously diagnosed with an unresolved Oedipus complex, Prince confided to her doctor, Karl Bowman, about her inclination of crossdressing, who in return advised her to "...learn to accept [her]self... and enjoy it." Prince credits this psychiatrist, who reminded her that there are many others that live a similar lifestyle, with Transvestia's overarching, recurring theme of self-acceptance.

Prince gained her PhD in pharmacology in 1939 from the University of California, San Francisco. This was also around the time that she met Dorothy Shepherd (March 30, 1909 - May 13, 1985) whom she would marry and have a son, Brent Lowman (July 1, 1946 - October 1976) with. The two were married on August 16, 1941 in Los Angeles, yet their marriage, according to Prince, "failed because of [her] transvestism". In July 1951, the two divorced. The news that Prince was served with divorce papers due to her transvestism came as a shock to her "...socially prominent family" who threatened to disown her both "...financially and socially..." if she could not keep the news from leaking to the media—which it ultimately did.

After her marriage ended, Prince returned to the University of California, San Francisco and began working as a research assistant and lecturer in pharmacology. During this time, Prince took advantage of the university's small collection of medical literature on transvestism. This was also around the time that Prince began using the name Charles Prince, a name used in order to hide her civil identity. The name stems from her father's first name, Charles, and her address on Prince Street. The exact time at which Prince took on the name Virginia is unclear, however one of her earliest known writings, the article "Homosexuality, Transvestism and Transsexualism: Reflections on Their Etiology and Difference" published in 1957, is credited to "C.V. Prince".

Transvestia magazine

In 1960, the first issue of Prince's magazine "Transvestia" was published. Prince acquired the means to fund the publication after assembling a list of 25 acquaintances, each of whom were willing to donate four dollars to her start-up. Working with one hundred dollars, Prince then launched her first issue, published by her own Chevalier Publications, and sold it by subscription and through adult bookstores.

"Transvestia" was published bi-monthly by Prince between the years of 1960 and 1980, with a total of 100 issues being created. The subsequent 11 issues were edited and published by Carol Beecroft (the co-founder of Chevalier publications) until 1986. In 1963, the inside jacket of the magazine stated the publication as "dedicated to the needs of the sexually normal individual who has discovered the  of his or her 'other side' and seeks to express it." Rather than relying on a team of professional authors, this magazine was to be"...written by... the readers..." with the editor's (Virginia Prince) job to be organizing and categorizing these submissions as appropriate.

With a readership of mostly white, middle-to-professional-class crossdressers, the magazine offered, among other things, dozens of published life stories and letters contributed by other crossdressers. Over the years, the publication also gained several international subscribers, notably from England, Scandinavia and Australia. Prince herself, wrote an autobiographical article for the magazine's one-hundredth issue in 1979. This final issue edited by Virginia Prince, was unusual among "Transvestia" issues as it was solely an autobiographical account of Virginia's life, in which she recounted her early experiences with crossdressing, her divorce, and her work creating and maintaining "Transvestia".

The magazine operated on three core objectives: "To provide expression for those interested in the subjects of unusual dress and fashion... to provide information to those who, through ignorance, condemn that which they don't understand... [and] to provide education for those who see evil when none exists." These three objectives—education, entertainment, and expression—were promoted in order to "...help... readers achieve understanding, self-acceptance, [and] peace of mind".  "Transvestia" was primarily a story driven magazine, however every issue contained a "person to person" section, in which ads for meeting others and businesses advertising transgender friendly services would be printed. This section also included a goods and services for sale section, as well as a trade and rent section.

The magazine's others sections included Stories (true and fictional), articles (medical, psychological, or personal opinion about any phase of transvestism), a question box (questions from readers that warrant a reply or further discussion), a wives section (in which spouses were encouraged to contribute opinions on transvestism for the general enlightenment of all), letters to the editor (questions, comments, brick-bats and bouquets [criticisms and compliments]), general (poems, humor, news. They were typically short notes to fill sections of pages or break up longer articles), and Tranvestia was, in essence, an early example of a crowd-sourced publication.

Although "Transvestia" was published for 20 years, it was not originally a successful venture. Virginia Prince recounts in her autobiographical issue that originally the cost of production was too high to be sustainable, due to its having been printed on mimeograph paper. Ultimately it was not until Prince "...found an offset printer..." and gathered more subscribers that Transvestia became a success.

"Transvestia's" audience consisted largely of men who were interested in feminine apparel, because their desires to express themselves were frowned upon by the rest of society. While "Transvestia" was a magazine for crossdressers in general, it was mainly directed at men (as women who cross-dressed were not as marginalized by society during the 1960s).

Trans terminology, crossdresser identity and controversy

Through many of her writings, Prince has been considered a major pioneer of transgender community. Her long history of literature surrounding issues of crossdressing and transvestism has been rooted in Prince's desire to fight against those who disagree with liberal sexual ideology. Notably, in her 1967 "The Expression of Femininity in the Male" (under the pen name "Virginia Bruce"), Prince discusses the supposed psychiatric links between cross-dressing and sexual deviation that were commonly believed in at the time. Prince firmly rejected these associations, and was also strongly opposed to the notion that true transvestites are psychiatrically disturbed.

In other works, Prince also helped popularize the term 'transgender', and erroneously asserted that she coined transgenderist and transgenderism, words which she meant to be understood as describing people who live as full-time women, but have no intention of having genital surgery. Prince also consistently argued that transvestism is very firmly related to gender, as opposed to sex or sexuality. Her use of the term "femmiphile" related to the belief that the term "transvestite" had been corrupted, intending to underline the distinction between heterosexual crossdressers, who act because of their love of the feminine, and the homosexuals or transsexuals who may cross-dress. Although Prince identified with the concept of androgyny (stating in her autobiographical 100th issue that she could "...do [her] own thing whichever it is..."), she preferred to identify as Gynandrous. This, she explained, is because although 'Charles' still resides within her, "...the feminine is more important than the masculine." Prince's idea of a "true transvestite" was clearly distinguished from both the homosexual and the transsexual, claiming that true transvestites are "exclusively heterosexual... The transvestite values his male organs, enjoys using them and does not desire them removed."

By the early 1970s, Prince and her approaches to crossdressing and transvestism were starting to gain criticism from transvestites and transsexuals, as well as sections of the gay and women's movements of the time. Controversy and criticism has arisen based on Prince's support for conventional societal norms such as marriage and the traditional family model, as well as the portrayal of traditional gender stereotypes. Her attempts to exclude transsexuals, homosexuals or fetishists from her normalization efforts of the practice of transvestism have also drawn much criticism.

Prince died in her hometown Los Angeles on May 2, 2009.

References

Further reading
 Bullough, Vern, and Bonnie Bullough. Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993: chapter 12.
 Prince, Virginia. Understanding Cross-Dressing. Los Angeles: Chevalier Publications, 1976.
 _. The Transvestite and His Wife. Los Angeles: Argyle Books, 1967.
 Richard F Docter. From Man to Woman: The Transgender Journey of Virginia Prince. Docter Press xiv, 149 pp 2004.
 Richard Ekins & Dave King (eds). Virginia Prince: Pioneer of Transgendering. Haworth Press Inc., Paperback: 65 pages 2006. Essays about and by Virginia Prince.
 Stryker, Susan. Transgender History: the roots of today's revolution. (second edition) Seal Press, November 2017: chapter 2 "Midcentury Transgender Social Networks", "Government Harassment"
 Dame-Griff, Avery (August 10, 2023). The Two Revolutions: a History of the Transgender Internet. New York University Press. ISBN 978-1-4798-1832-7.

External links
Prince, Virginia Charles (1913-2009) via GLBTQ
Transvestia via University of Victoria Libraries' Vault
Virginia Prince. A Gender Variance Who's Who. April 23, 2008.

1912 births
2009 deaths
American civil rights activists
American LGBT rights activists
American transgender writers
Male-to-female cross-dressers
Activists from Los Angeles
Pomona College alumni
20th-century American LGBT people


This is a list of venues used for professional baseball in Boston, Massachusetts. The information is a compilation of the information contained in the references listed.

South End Grounds
Home of:
Boston Red Stockings/Beaneaters/Braves  – National Association (1871–1875) / National League (1876–1914 part)
Boston Blues – New England League (1886–1887, 1893)
Location: Walpole Street (southwest, home plate); railroad tracks (northwest, left field); Columbus Avenue (southeast, right field)
Currently: Parking lot between Northeastern University's Columbus Parking Garage and Ruggles Station of the Orange Line of the MBTA

Dartmouth Street Grounds a.k.a. Union Athletic Grounds or Union Grounds
Home of: Boston Reds/Unions – Union Association (1884)
Also used as a neutral site for one game in the 1887 World Series
Location: Huntington Avenue (to the north - home plate); Boston and Albany Railroad tracks (northeast - home plate and third base); Dartmouth Street (southeast - left and center fields); Boston and Providence Railroad tracks (south - center and right fields); Irvington Street (west, right field and third base - approximately corresponds to Yarmouth Street)
Currently: Copley Place

Congress Street Grounds
Home of:
Boston Reds – Players' League (1890) / American Association (1891)
Boston Beaneaters – NL (1894 part)
Location: Congress Street (south); Farnsworth Street (west)
Currently: Industrial, warehouses

Huntington Avenue Grounds
Home of: Boston Red Sox – American League (1901–1911)
Location: Huntington Avenue (northwest, left field); Rogers (now Forsyth) Street (southwest, third base); railroad tracks (southeast, first base); across the tracks to the north from South End Grounds
Currently: Solomon Court at Cabot Center on the campus of Northeastern University

Braves Field
Home of: Boston Braves – NL (mid-1915–1952)
Location: Commonwealth Avenue (south, first base); Gaffney Street (east, right field); railroad tracks (north, left field); Babcock Street (west, third base)
Currently: Nickerson Field

Fenway Park
Home of:
Boston Red Sox – American League (1912–present)
Boston Braves – NL (1914 part – 1915 part)
Location: 4 Yawkey Way (24 Jersey Street) (southwest, third base); Brookline Avenue (northwest, left field corner); Lansdowne Street (north, left field); Ipswich Street (east, right field); Van Ness Street (southeast, first base)

See also
Lists of baseball parks

Sources
Peter Filichia, Professional Baseball Franchises, Facts on File, 1993.
Phil Lowry, Green Cathedrals,  several editions.
Michael Benson, Ballparks of North America, McFarland, 1989.
Lawrence Ritter, Lost Ballparks, Penguin, 1992.
Marc Okkonen, Baseball Memories 1900–1909, Sterling, 1992.

External links
Boston Public Library - Sports Temples of Boston

Baseball parks
Boston
baseball parks