Oprah only gives away cars. Take that! On today's even-more-very-special-than-usual episode of The Tyra Banks Show, Isis King, the transgender model on America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 gets the surprise of a lifetime when Tyra gives her a gift that truly will keep on giving: A sex reassignment surgery.

Should we be thoroughly delighted that Isis will get to fulfill her longstanding dream or furious that a deeply personal decision is being transformed into a ratings circus? Can we both at the same time? We loved Isis on ANTM– not only was she able to pull off some fierce looks but she patiently kept at explaining that she was not a man dressing up like a woman, but a woman born into the biological body of a man.

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The body of transgender woman Duanna Johnson, 40 was found yesterday afternoon in North Memphis, TN. The Memphis Flyer reports:

Johnson was the victim of a Memphis police brutality case this summer when a video of former officer Bridges McRae beating her in a jail holding area was released to the media.

The video led to the eventual firing of McRae and Officer James Swain. It also led to the formation of a Stop Police Brutality Memphis, a coalition of human rights activists who lobbied the city council for more sensitivity training for Memphis Police officers.

A statement from the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center: "Duanna bravely confronted the Memphis Police Department officers who brutalized her while she was in police custody. At great personal cost, Duanna was the public face of our community's campaign against racism, homophobia, and transphobia. There was no justice for Duanna Johnson in life. The Mid-South Peace & Justice Center calls for justice in the investigation and prosecution of Duanna's murder."

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• Fifth time's the charm down Colombia way. The Latin American nation's Congress approved a bill giving same sex couples a variety of new rights, including the social security and inheritance rights for couples who've lived together for two years. Of the vote, former First Son and gay activist Virgilio Barco said, "This makes Colombia a more democratic, more open place. It marks the first time that legislation like this has passed at a national level in Latin America."

• Canadian Border Services seize crude queer comic:

The on-line versions of the Justin books tell the story of a gay man who is reunited with his 18-year-old son, Justin, after several years. Justin moves in with his father and soon confesses his sexual attraction to him. In the two books, the two are depicted having oral and anal sex and, in one scene, Justin's father urinates on him.

Gross, but still shouldn't be censored.

• Kenneth Walsh's, like, totally crushing on (American) footballer Brady Quinn.

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Conservatives have spent countless hours, dollars and tears trying to combat the wicked gay agenda. Considering their "sacrifice" for the greater American good, one would expect they'd get some sort of payback. And they are - just not the payback they hoped. There's a new agenda on the horizon and it's more horrifying than any homo.

Conservative Linda Harvey "explains":

Our kids are lost in a free-fall culture, and are being sold poison packaged as perfume. As if foisting "gay" rights on them wasn't enough, now they are supposed to accept the artificial change of a person's biological sex as a good thing. The "transgendered" agenda is suddenly emerging everywhere.

Oh the humanity!!!

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Wordsmiths T Cooper and Felicia Luna Lemus certainly have their own storytelling styles, but these lovers' respective works follow similar trajectories. Nothing is every permanent in their stories.

The sand shifts at the precise moment their protagonists seem to have it all worked out. Their impermanence bleeds into everything, from family history to gender and sexuality to interpersonal relations. Lemus’ new novel Like Son follows Frank, a thirty-year old who has to unearth the meaning of a photograph his dying father hands him.

In Cooper’s Lipshitz 6, or Two Angry Blondes, recently released in paperback, the 100-year-old history of a family starts in the pogroms of Europe and ends with the last offspring impersonating Eminem.

This queer couple's unique manner of brandishing the written word make them a perfect addition to The Style Issue.

We sent their friend and Queerty contributor, James Withers on a mission to mine their minds for a look into their literary idiosyncrasies, the evolution of their relationship and the difference between German and American readers. And, as we find out - um - straight away, this trio has more in common than just writing. They all love gay porn. Who knew?

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Hordes of homos will descend on Chicago this weekend for the International Mr. Leather contest. And, as per tradition, many participants will pop into legendary S&M club, Chicago Hellfire Club. Unfortunately, trans men aren't invited.

Chicago Hellfire Club - one of the oldest S&M clubs in the nation - enacted a strict no female-to-male policy ten years ago, thus barring a significant portion of the S&M community.

Of their unfriendly policy, former Hellfire Club president and long-time member, David Igasaki said:

The general rule of thumb is that there has to be a penile attachment… They don't want to admit women. It's not that people are anti-women or personally discriminate against transgender people. It's just that as a sex club there is a desire to protect a gay environment during play.

Igasaki claims that Hellfire Club can bar FTM's because its a private club.

Critics, however, claim that the Club goes into public space to recruit members. One transman comments: "I don't think that a private club would set up a table at a public venue and allow anybody to talk with you and inquire to attend an event." And transmen aren't the only ones fighting the Hellfire.

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• It was all about the Good Times last night at the eastern bloc-housed, Chris Bell-spun, Queerty-loved, Svdeka-soaked weekly party. Check out some pictures over at Twerking and plan your pose for next week. Same gay place. Same gay Good Times.

• Keith Olbermann names voter/gay scandal-ridden political, North Carolina Representative Patrick McHenry "worst person in the world".

• Trans activists in Massachusetts are pushing for a bill to lift their 100% natural rights. (Get it?)

• Fred Phelps and his rootin' tootin' Westboro Baptists are gearing up to protest Reverend Jerry Falwell's funeral. From GodhatesAmerica.com:

WBC will preach at the memorial service of the corpulent false prophet Jerry Falwell, who spent his entire life prophesying lies and false doctrines like 'God loves everyone'.

The nerve!

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Susan Stanton stepped out for the first time yesterday, appearing at a National Center for Transgender Equality event at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Susan once went by the name Steve Stanton, the former Largo, Florida city manager who caused quite a stink when he announced his plans to become a woman. Since being forced out of politics, Stanton has undergone hormone therapy and electrolysis.

Though Stanton believes in her cause, she's still shedding popular misconceptions of trangendered persons. Stanton tells the St. Petersburg Times - the same paper that blew the lid off of Stanton's impending transition: "It's amazing how many well-adjusted, well-accomplished, happy, interactive people there are at this event. It's been a learning experience for me, too."

Stanton's also learning about getting dolled up: she spent the hours before the event getting her hair done and a manicure:

…In the morning, she had her first professional blow dry and manicure.

For the day's events, her hair was styled fluffy on top with wispy bangs in front. She chose a soft rose color to accent her sporty nails. She admired herself in the mirror.

"I could get used to this," she said, as the manicurist massaged her hands.

Ooo, girl - you go on with your bad self!

Introducing Susan Stanton [St. Petersburg Times]
Susan Stanton debuts in D.C. [St. Petersburg Times]

If you think it's hard out there for a pimp, consider the harsh reality of being a tranny hooker. Not only do you have to scour the streets for a turned-on John, but then you have to explain your penis. Regrettably, not so many people are down with a so-called chick-with-a-dick and trans folk face more violent crime than their biologically gendered counterparts.

As such, many trans working girls choose to place ads in weekly rags - at least then they know their clients won't be some crazed lunatic. Unfortunately, they're not all trained copy men (women?). Good thing copyranter offers his expertise free-of-charge:

I'm offering my expert copywriting services to all Transgendered, Transsexual, SheMale, post-op, pre-op, mid-op, etc. Escorts. The challenge of having to juxtapose dissimilar phrases like "Golden Skin" and "Hung" in a small space ad targeted at such a hard-to-nail-down demographic is a huge turn-on. To get things started, I'll dip my toes into the head space:
• Full Lips. Fuller Girth.
• Legs To Die For. All Three Of Them.
• Cloud Nine Inches.
• Sugar Kissing + Candy Cane Licking.

Genius! So genius, in fact, we're having a bit of trouble choosing our favorite - you know, just in case we ever decide to get some tits and work a corner. We're thinking "Cloud Nine Inches". Although, that may be false advertising. Tear, tear…

Alexis Arquette's never been accused of being a wallflower. And she definitely made an impression yesterday when she arrived at the press conference for her Tribeca documentary, Alexis Arquette She's My Brother. Sporting an animal print dress, the blond actress and Hollywood royal posed for photographers, laughing, "Are you ready for me?" We were born ready. Arquette, on the other hand: not ready to be a boy.

Thus, the 36-year old transformed herself into a woman, a year-and-a-half transitory journey documented in the film. Though willing to capture her emotional transition, Arquette's not about to reveal all her secret.

It got to the point when I wasn't willing to answer the questions about hormones, surgeries, or genitalia because it felt like backstepping. It wasn't a subject that needs any more exploitation; it needs clarification.

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• Tyra Banks loves Rosie O'Donnell's ta-tas.

• Friday's 20/20 features a Barbara Walters piece on transgender children and their families. Discussing the experience, Walters tells Dan Avery: "I am astounded by their courage. I think these children have a very hard future to face. In some ways it’s heartbreaking, but in other ways it’s uplifting. I had heard of the diagnosis and knew people went through this, but nothing prepared me for the love and sensitivity these people have for their children. That’s what this is about." If only all journalists were so altruistic.

• Colombia grows more than coca. Gay activists have been pushing for expanded rights. And people are getting hooked…

• "Obama The Magic Negro"? How does Rush Limbaugh's butt boy, Paul Shanklin still have a job. Seriously…

• The European Union may be gearing up for a bit of a gay battle with Poland. Our money's on The Union.

• Louis Vuitton and other luxury brands vow to stop hiring such nasty, snotty cunts.

• Vacation's can be a refreshing experience. So can shopping. And there ain't no item more refreshing than a finely pressed white shirt. Yeah, they can get a little boring, but Refinery 29's got the skinny on Surface to Air's new "Vent" shirt. It's anything but…

• Talk about unmotherly love: Britain's Zara Care has lost custody of her two-year old son and three-year daughter children after forcing them to fight on camera. As the little boy punched his old sis, 21-year old Care repeatedly called him a "wimp" and a "bloody faggot". We call her a shitting shit mum.

• Scary Spice also trotted her tot in front of the camera, only these were for OK! Too bad Eddie Murphy couldn't make it, because the cover acts as a familial introduction. Or does it?

• Human Rights Campaign wants to make sure your trans coming out is a happy trans coming out.

• Robots! They're more common (and scarier) than you think.

• Kryptonite! Scientists have discovered a mineral resembling kryptonite. It's official. Reality's become a comic book.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act stands as one of the most contested legislative proposals in American history. The Act will make it illegal for employers to fire or refuse to hire gay, lesbian and transgendered employees. Though it's been squashed in the past, openly gay representative Barney Frank and his allies will reintroduce the controversial measure this afternoon. The HRC-endorsed press release reads:

On Tuesday, April 24, at 1:00 p.m., Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Chris Shays, R-Conn., will introduce the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill addresses discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The release goes on to explain that it's still legal to fire gays in thrity-three states and trangendered persons get the short end of the stick in forty-four. Meanwhile, the proposed law's Iowan couson isn't as potent as some people would prefer, largely for political reasons. The Des Moines Register reports that the bill will allow employers to enforce gendered dress codes, thus placating hesitant Republicans.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Democrat from Des Moines, said Monday night that the proposal could be debated as soon as Wednesday.

The deciding factor could be a provision that allows employers to maintain dress codes as they see appropriate, McCarthy said. That change could help some Republicans support the idea, which would create enough support for the proposal to pass.

"If that's something that folks need on their side of the aisle in order for them to unlock their people, then that's something we're willing to accept," McCarthy said.

Poor trannies. Always getting the short end of the stick…

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