Author Archives
Lexie Cannes (Courtney O'Donnell) writes on transgender and political issues and appears in the transgender-themed feature film "Lexie Cannes."
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Trans Teen Role Models Jazz Jennings and Corey Maison light up large audiences
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Fifteen-year-old trans youth Jazz Jennings, no stranger to this space or the trans community, was invited to participate in the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists’ annual meeting which included a symposium titled: “Transgender Medicine:… Read More ›
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Here’s a fella who is disappointed there hasn’t been trans people gunned down in bathrooms
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Lest you think I’m hyping up the headline, let remind you trans people have been killed over lessor things than bathroom usage — and usually by people that don’t command a large audience as… Read More ›
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Trans equality foes spying on bathrooms at Target; Fallout hits close to home
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — No one will disagree that fallout from Bathroom Bills impacts all trans people one way or another, no matter where they live — even if it’s in a relatively safer part of the country,… Read More ›
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(Updated) Security guard arrested after forcing trans woman out of store bathroom
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Update – May 19, 2016. Name of security guard released. From The Washington Post: Police charged the guard, Francine Bernice Jones, 45, of the District, with one count of simple assault, a misdemeanor. She… Read More ›
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Obama defends sweeping trans equality rules: ‘We’re talking about kids … they are vulnerable”
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — President Barack Obama: “I think it’s part of our obligation as a society to make sure everybody is treated fairly and our kids are all loved and protected.“ Last week’s sweeping transgender equality order… Read More ›
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AG Loretta Lynch: ‘We see you. We stand with you and we will do everything we can to protect you going forward’
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — The North Carolina anti-transgender ‘Bathroom Bill’ saga has suddenly turned into a television legal drama miniseries. The actual drama unfolding in NC however, requires a suspension of disbelief previously unseen in a TV script…. Read More ›
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Oregon school guidelines: ‘There is no need for the student to prove their new gender’
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — In what one report described as unprecedented, the Oregon Department of Education this week released liberal trans protection guidelines for educators of transgender students in the state. From the Oregon Dept. of Ed. trans student… Read More ›
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Fellow Christians enable cross necklace-wearing attacker of trans woman on board packed subway
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Unprovoked attacks on trans people on subways are sadly, rather commonplace. I’ve already written about a handful in this very space, including one earlier this year. But this one stands out. One that I… Read More ›
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(Update – Alabama town rescinds ‘Bathroom Bill’) Texas mayor’s ‘Bathroom Bill’ proposal blows up in his face; rational thinking prevails
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Update May 5, 2016. Alabama town rescinds trans-hate ordinance after the ACLU and SPLC threaten a lawsuit. From The New Civil Rights Movement: “From the The City Council of Oxford, Alabama has just rescinded… Read More ›
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Changing minds on trans matters: Protests? Social media? Ads? Answer: Face-to-face conversations
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — That’s right, a simple face-to-face conversation with a stranger will have a far more lasting positive impact, even if the stranger is exposed to fear mongering by opponents. In addition, the person conducting the… Read More ›
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2007 arrest of trans woman for using women’s bathroom results in apology; helps change law
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — in 2007, a Los Angeles trans woman visiting Iowa found herself arrested for “trespassing” after using a courthouse’s women’s bathroom. The hiring of an attorney resulted in Alexandra Distance Everheart Wilson getting a letter of apology… Read More ›
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(UPDATE: Trans military ban lifted!) Salary, pride goes away after federal technician serving in National Guard loses job over trans status
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — UPDATE – June 30, 2016: U.S. Dept. of Defense lifts transgender military ban. From the Department of Defense Media Service: “Transgender service members in the U.S. military can now openly serve their country without… Read More ›
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(Update — Schilling FIRED!) ESPN’s Curt Schilling posts a transphobic meme online; says trans people are “pathetic”
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Update-5, April 24, 2016. An excellent look into the online mind of Curt Schilling from the Washington Post: “When his fear of a changing America manifests in an ornery disdain for millennials’ pathological laziness,… Read More ›
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Killer of NYC trans woman Islan Nettles sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — A New York City judge sentenced James Dixon to 12 years in prison today for the murder of Islan Nettles in August 2013. Prior to the beginning of the trial, Justice Daniel P. Conviser… Read More ›
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Trans activist who was previously attacked on NYC subway, attacked for a second time
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Jennifer Louise Lopez, a New York City trans woman victim of a subway attack I wrote about in this space last February, was assaulted a second time. Lopez states a man making advances towards… Read More ›
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“That’s a man” leads to crowd turning ugly, injuries to trans woman; rescue by store clerk
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — “That’s a man,” someone called out, then an argument ensued while the crowd grew around a Portland, Ore. trans woman and her friend last week. It wasn’t long before someone in the crowd threw… Read More ›
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Sheriff tells laughing crowd he’ll violently harm trans people and ‘I’m gonna make the news’
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — With the room laughing along, an armed law enforcement officer stated he’d violently harm unarmed trans people if he finds them in the ladies bathroom. Spartanburg County (South Carolina) Sheriff Chuck Wright made these… Read More ›
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Portland, Ore. Mayor says no trips to anti-trans Miss., instead, US Navy to bring ship to him!
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Anchors aweigh! This is a surprising turn of events resulting from Portland Mayor Charlie Hales’ Mississippi travel boycott triggered by that state’s anti-trans/LGBT legislation. The U.S Navy has a new ship named after the… Read More ›
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North Carolina UPDATE-5: Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Boston, Cirque du Soleil pull out; NC Gov. McCrory defiant,
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Update-5 April, 20, 2016. McCrory responds to Fourth Court of Appeal decision. From WBTV-TV: “North Carolina’s governor Pat McCrory says a federal appeals court ruling overturning a Virginia school district policy on restroom use… Read More ›
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Mississippi upsets North Carolina in the transgender-hate department because Jesus
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — In the name of Jesus, Mississippi enacted a sweeping trans-hate law yesterday, upstaging the one adopted by North Carolina last week. Gov. Phil Bryant cited “religious freedom” in supporting the most severe anti-trans/LGBT legislation… Read More ›
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(UPDATED: The Boss cancels concert!) NC Gov. Pat ‘Blindside’ McCrory buried under political sh*t storm for anti-trans law
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Update April 8, 2016 — Bruce Springsteen cancels North Carolina concert set for April 10th (2 days from now). From his website: “. . . To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who… Read More ›
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Contact List of major North Carolina businesses/organizations. Easy-to-use and please share!
 LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — I put together this list of major NC businesses and organizations for everyone to contact and voice your concern about yesterday’s sneak attack by the North Carolina legislature and governor banning trans people from… Read More ›
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(UPDATED) North Carolina state Republicans blows a gasket, kills Charlotte’s trans rights ordinance
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — The ugliest political stunt this year does not even involve Donald Trump — he was trumped by Republicans in North Carolina’s state legislature and Republican Governor Pat McCrory. In a special one-day session yesterday,… Read More ›
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Are Bathroom Bills contributing to high trans teen suicide rates? Yes.
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — While the findings of a new study is of no surprise to anyone who is transgender or to professionals with a hand in the trans community, it does provide tangible evidence that can be… Read More ›
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(UPDATE: Barista responds) Anti-trans politician loudly offers to whip out his penis to ‘prove he’s a man’ in crowded restaurant
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Confronting a mortified woman in a crowded Fayetteville, Arkansas restaurant, Alderman John La Tour loudly accused her of being gender ambiguous and told the woman he’d pull out his penis to prove that he… Read More ›
LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS 