It’s an open thread! Pleeeeease feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread…

So, this is what my cartoon sockpuppet Bookworm Bob have been looking at since our last This & That post a few weeks back.

• LGBT POV‘s Suspect Arrested in Murder of Hollywood Transgender Woman:

Jesus Catalan, wanted in the August 28, 2009 murder of Paulina Ibarra, (pictured) a 24 year old transgender woman who lived in East Hollywood, is in custody. LAPD Lt. Wes Buhrmester, who has been working the case from the beginning, says there will be news conference at 4:00 p.m. at Rampart Station, 1401 W. 6th St. to discuss the details of the arrest. Buhrmester,  some LAPD command staff and possibly some community members will speak.  Additionally, members of Paulina Ibarra’s family will be in attendance.

Working with the transgender community, Buhrmester was able to issue a description of Catalan and warn that he was considered armed and dangerous.  He also got the case profiled on the Fox TV show “America’s Most Wanted” last December.

Buhrmester said Catalan was in Mexico “when he ran afoul of the authorities down there.  He is not a Mexican citizen, being born in Puerto Rico, so they transported him to the border and turned him over to the U. S. Border Patrol.  A fingerprint check revealed he was wanted in Los Angeles on the murder warrant.” As of press time, Buhrmester had no date for arraignment.

UPDATE: Buhrmester says Catalan has been arraigned. A preliminary hearing has been set for July 19, 2010, 8:30 a.m. at the Criminal Courts Building, 210 W. Temple St., LA, Division 32.

May his alleged crime be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

• Dr. Dana Beyer’s Maryland State Delegate, District 18, YouTube entitled Beyer campaign kickoff 062610:

The LGB portion of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community has done well in the past about getting behind their progressive lesbian and gay candidates — I believe it’s time for the trans subcommunity of the LGBT community does the same thing with progressive trans candidates like Dana Beyer.

• Speaking of Dana Beyer, here’s an article that points to a reason why many out, publicly trans women don’t want their male names known: The way self-identified Christians and conservative “Christian” media don’t treat their neighbors as themselves. From OneNewsNow‘s Transgender seeks millions for ‘distress’ and damages (bolded emphasis added, male name redacted):

A Montgomery County man who has made a physical change to the opposite gender has filed a lawsuit against his Maryland county for reaping “emotional distress.”

The Maryland province gained national attention when it passed an ordinance protecting transgendered people, meaning a man who says he is a woman can use public facilities reserved for females — restrooms, for example.

__________ Beyer, who now goes by the name “Dana Beyer,” is a transgendered individual who serves as policy advisor to Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg. He has now brought suit against the county.

“Who now goes by the name ‘Dana Beyer’”? Dr. Dana Bower’s legal name is Dana Beyer. She’s running for the Maryland State Delegate under her legal name and gender. It’s pretty clear that the reason the alleged “Christian” and OneNewsNow “reporter” Charlie Butts has posted a male name for Dr. Bower as her “real name” — and posted her real, legal name within quotation marks — is to intentionally engage in deep disrespect for Dr. Beyer. “Reporter” Charlie Butts didn’t treat Dr. Beyer with the respect she deserves as a human being.

This is a pretty clear example of how the “Christians” at the American Family Association (AFA) — through their conservative “Christian” media outlet OneNewsNow — treat others in a manner that they wouldn’t want to be treated themselves.

Another example of un-Christian “reporting” by the “Christian” folk at the AFA/OneNewsNow is found in their Friday, July 9, 2010 article Islam on the rise, compliments of Obama. The opening paragraph of that article is as follows:

A conservative political activist says President Obama’s pro-Islamic leanings are to blame for radical Islamic groups becoming so emboldened that they are openly holding conferences on U.S. soil calling for the establishment of a global Islamic empire.

My mind immediately went to questioning whether the leadership at the AFA and OneNewsNow would want self-identified Christians and their brand of Christian faith treated in media in the same way they treat other people and other faiths. The folk at the AFA and OneNewsNow  apparently don’t believe Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 are in any sense part of Christian doctrine that applies to them.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

• ESPN‘s 800m champ Semenya cleared to race:

JOHANNESBURG — Caster Semenya was cleared to immediately return to track by the sport’s governing body Tuesday, ending an 11-month layoff while she underwent gender tests after becoming the 800-meter world champion.

Semenya is allowed to keep running as a woman, although it is unclear if she has had any medical procedure or treatment during her time away.

The International Association of Athletics Federations said medical details of the 19-year-old South African’s case would remain confidential and it will have no further comment on the matter.

The IAAF added in its statement from its Monaco headquarters that it accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that Semenya can compete with “immediate effect.” …

About damn time the IAAF respected and protected Caster Semenya’s privacy; about damn time she was allowed again to compete as the woman she is.

• Our Wiener Story Of The Day: Hudson Hub-Times‘s Park activities celebrate culture, history of hobos :

Join naturalists and real hobos from across the country to learn the truth about hobos — including why they aren’t bums or tramps — during the seventh annual Hobo Weekend at Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park, 5779 Riverview Road in Peninsula. Visitors, encouraged to come dressed as hobos, can enjoy one or all of the following eight programs July 16 through 18:

July 16, 7 p.m.

Hobo campfire: Bring roasting sticks, hot dogs, lawn chairs and a can of soup or vegetables for the caldron.

July 17, 9 a.m.

Hobo breakfast: Bring a contribution for the campfire breakfast and see how a hobo meal is served.

…July 17, 3 p.m.

Election of the hobo king & queen: Come dressed as a hobo and campaign to be elected king or queen of the hobo jungle. Then, ride on the hobo float in the Peninsula Python Days Parade at 4 p.m.

…July 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hobo day: Enjoy a hobo service, info and crafts. Bring a can of soup or vegetables for the caldron.

For details, visit summitmetroparks.org or call 330-865-8065.

So anywho…It’s an open thread! What are you thinking about today, or what books or articles have you been reading the past few days? Wanna share?

And again, please feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread because…it’s an open thread! Woo-hoo!