The International Foundation for Gender Education

The IFGE Synchronicity Bookstore

is proud to announce that we are now stocking Denaë Doyle's
series of instrutional DVD's on Sensual Feminine Movement. Denaë
Doyle was recently interviewd by the San Francisco Chronicle,
read all about it here

The Steel City Gender Conference
Totally Free and open to the public

Saturday November 19, 2005
9:00am to 5:00pm
Holiday Inn Select-Oakland
100 Lytton Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
www.pghdor.org/conference.htm

Showtime's 'Barbershop The Series' Has Trans Character

by Monica Roberts

Fans of the Showtime cable show 'Barbershop The Series' were treated to something unusual for several episodes: a postive portrayal of an African-American transperson named Claire.

The IFGE awards Committee is seeking your help in searching for candidates for the 2006 Virginia Prince Award, the Trinity Award, and the Partners in Diversity Award.
These awards will be presented during the 20th Annual IFGE Convention to be held in Philadelphia, PA at the Philadelphia Airport Hilton, April 2006.

Historic gathering for African-American transgender people a success
The first annual Transsistahs and Transbrothas Conference was recently held at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY from September 14-18. The participants in this historic event spent four days discussing various seminar topics on issues of importance to African-American transgender people.

The long awaited and controversial verdicts in Gwen Araujo's second murder trial were issued on Monday September 12, 2005. Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were found guilty of Second Degree Murder for their role in seventeen year old Gwen Araujo's death in 2003. Charges against Jason Cazares resulted in a hung jury for the second time. A fourth defendant, Jaron Nabors, testified against the other three in exchange for a guilty plea to reduced charges of manslaughter. Some transgender activists were disappointed that the murder was not held to be a hate crime and by the hung jury on Cazares charges. Many in the community found hope and relief in the convictions.

"This trial has been a milestone in the struggle of transgender citizens for social justice." said Denise Leclair, Executive Director of the International Foundation for Gender Education. "For once, a transgender life was not discounted. For once, the death of a transgender person caused outrage. For once, the nation cried with us."

Prosecutors will announce whether they will seek a third trial for Cazares on November 18. There has been no announcement yet of a sentencing date.

Los Angeles, CA -- The Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT), one of the nation's leaders in HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and The International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) present the fourth annual "Quest" pageant on Saturday, September 10, 2005. Doors open at 6pm. The pageant begins at 7pm at the El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Boulevard.

"Quest" encourages the development and advancement of transgenders and celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of the transgender community. What makes this pageant truly special is that delegates represent community based organizations helping transgenders. Delegates from previous pageants have represented agencies synonymous with excellence like the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS of New York, Bienestar Human Services, The Center - Orange County, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, Minority AIDS Project, and the Van Ness Prevention Division.

The IFGE website has been restored and upgraded after being temporarily suspended last week. Attempts by a Chat Room user to host illegal downloads on the server had resulted in our hosting company suspending IFGE's site. IFGE has used the opportunity to upgrade to the latest version of the PostNuke content management system and move the site to a new server. The upgrade should provide increased functionality and security. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Vanessa Murray, 56, passed away on Friday March 26, 2005 at her home in Rhode Island. Vanessa was the well known manager of IFGE's Synchronicity Bookstore from 1995 through 2000. Vanessa had previously been a firefighter in Fall River, MA for many years, but had retired due to illness. After her retirement from firefighting she came to work with IFGE, travelling around the country from conference to conference with the bookstore, and answering our support line. Hers was the first voice that people heard when they called IFGE. She spent countless hours offering support and a sympathetic ear to our callers. She will be sorely missed

Speak Out for Transgender Health
Town Meeting at Fenway Community Health
March 31, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
7 Haviland Street, Boston