The first ever set of specific recommendations to support transgender autistic young people was co-created by these youth and their families working hand-in-hand with clinical experts. The resulting model offers clinicians a set of concrete ways to provide this unique population the support they need.

"With your help and engagement, we’re working to ensure that the Justice Department lives up to its responsibility to provide a work environment where every employee is respected and given an equal opportunity to thrive," said Attorney General Holder.

Especially this morning, we must recommit ourselves to the work that – however the cases are decided – will remain undone. We have traveled far together on the road to true equality and non-discrimination.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to recommit ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence that affects far too many transgender Americans.

This training has been in the works for some time now. For the last several years, the Justice Department at various levels has engaged in a constructive dialogue, animated by common aspirations and common concerns, with LGBT leaders throughout the country. And one of the many ideas we’ve received finds its manifestation in today’s gathering: a transgender law enforcement cultural professionalism training.

Mahi Malini Pujari says initially she would avoid interacting with guests, but has now grown more confident

Last year, restaurant manager Josein Fernanda found herself in a tough spot when a colleague spotted a bodice and a bunch of padded bras in her bag while they were working on a cruise liner in Goa, where she was working as a manager. The 44-year-old, born a boy in Mumbai's Lamington Road area, says she has always felt like a girl and would clandestinely cross-dress. But, it was a secret that Fernanda had zealously guarded until then. "My boss called me and said, 'I don't want this news to leak. So stop indulging in this.' Well into my 40s, I had reached a point where I couldn't conform to society anymore. There was an overwhelming sense to come out of the closet," she says. Fernanda resigned from the job and returned to Mumbai, liberated but uncertain about what the future held.

Shonali Mude, a former runner-up at Miss Trans Queen 2017 joined in January this year. Mude, who might have in another gender made it as a model or an actor, says jobs for transgender are limited. Having gone to auditions at fashion weeks, Mude says she had no luck. She now works as a floor attendant

Being in the public eye
When we meet Fernanda on a weekday afternoon at Third eye Cafe, located on the ground floor of Palm Galleria Mall, Navi Mumbai, she is sitting near the bar with her laptop. The wall facing her reads, 'Be the Change You Want to See'. Wearing a black blazer with slim fit pants and glinting earrings, Fernanda - formerly known as Innocento - has finally embraced change. She chanced upon the cafe while browsing through YouTube, and got in touch with the owners. She now proudly identifies herself as a woman. Along with her, five other trans-women found their lives transformed when were hired as staffers at the restaurant. The cafe currently has six transgender employees, five of whom work as table attendants, while one works as the manager. The restaurant employs around 20 persons.

Josein Fernanda - formerly known as Innocento - finally came out of the closet on learning of this job in January

"As the name suggests, the restaurant was launched with the intention of providing the third gender an opportunity to lead a more respectable life," says co-owner and architect Nimesh Shetty, who started the venture with his partners Prasad Shetty and Nitesh Kandarkar. Nimesh, 27, conceptualised the cafe almost six years ago while working on an architectural thesis around building a community centre for the transgenders. As envisioned, the cafe would be part of the centre. He even conducted a survey to understand whether people would visit a place like this during the thesis. "A lot of people said yes, we accept the third gender. But, are you willing to accept your sister or closest friend as a transgender? That's when people fumbled. This is something we want to work on," says Shetty, who hails from a family of hoteliers.

A typical day
At the restaurant, we see Mahi Malini Pujari, 24, on her feet taking orders and interacting with guests. She's aware of the reaction her presence normally invites - raised eyebrows, unflinching stare, giggles and sometimes nonchalance - but she has learnt to take it all in her stride. In fact, when a bunch of guests arrive, she's the first to guide them to the table and make them comfortable by offering water and exchanging pleasantries. "Initially, I wouldn't utter a word to the guests. I'd take orders and do clearances. I didn't have the confidence to initiate or a hold conversation," says Pujari. The make-up is minimal, just enough to make her look fresh-faced. The 24-year-old worked at Arzoo Foundation, a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre situated at Palghar. Before that she would beg on the streets and in trains. "I joined the hijra community in Bandra after I left home. I didn't even complete my Std X because my parents gave me an ultimatum: 'either I behave like a boy or leave'," she says. Pujari chose the latter. She now lives in an apartment provided by the owners, in Vashi along with the other staff. While the response from the hijra community to her choice of a new career has been fairly encouraging, her family has still not accepted her. "I've let it go," she says.

Know your food
In almost two months' time, Pujari has upped her social skills and also memorised the menu. A part of the credit goes to Fernanda, who the staff treats as 'didi'. "Of course, they need to know how conduct themselves in public. Along with that, she must know the food that we serve here and what goes into its making like the back of their hand. The guests always check with the server first," says Fernanda.

Spread over eleven pages, the menu is extensive with sections separating Italian, Oriental and Indian cuisine. Currently, the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol but it's in the pipeline. We order the beetroot falafel made with parsley pesto, tahini yoghurt and pomegranate for R199. The portion is impressive and scores well on the taste front. "Many come here for the novelty value. But, they'll return only if the food and service is good," says senior staffer Shonali Venkatesh Mude, a former runner-up at Miss Trans Queen 2017, who joined in January this year. Mude, who might have in another gender made it as a model or an actor, says careers as a transgender are limited. Having gone to auditions at fashion weeks or even advertisements, where she'd have to portray a woman, Mude says she had no luck. "I wanted a job where I'd get a steady income."

A group of women sitting next to our table have dropped by from Nerul during lunch hour to celebrate a colleague's birthday. That's the overt reason. The real one is to experience what's it like to be served by transgender staff. "I don't mean to treat them as specimens, but we wanted to experience this. I'm happy that we're finally getting to see them in mainstream jobs. Till now, you would see them begging inside trains," says Divyani Fulzele, who works at an IT firm. When they're about to leave, they compliment Mude and promise to return. This time for the peppy vibe and the food. "Compliments work as a confidence-booster. While I'm more educated and experienced than the rest, there was a trepidation about how it'd pan out. But I like coming to work," smiles Mude, who lives with her partner in Khargar.

Setting an example
In 12 months, owner Nimesh Shetty has interviewed over 600 transgenders for the job by seeking help from NGOs and transgender activist Gouri Sawant. "Actually, it's they who interviewed me because they had more questions than I did. It's natural, because they are leaving their comfort zone and for an all-new territory," he adds. He admits some quit the job within weeks because of adjustment issues. "It's a high-pressure job, where sometimes you clock in 10-12 hours. Some couldn't deal with that," he says.

Shetty feels the challenges of being transgender are different from what gay men or women face. "Here, we are talking about survival. Many get thrown out of the house when they come out." For now, Shetty is hopeful that the restaurant will inspire others to follow suit. "We don't want to capitalise on this as a gimmick. The goal is to inspire."

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

Pune police arrested an estranged lover on Tuesday in a murder case of a transgender woman at Mohammadwadi. The accused has been identified as Arbaz Ahmed Shaikh,20, and is a resident of Laxminagar, Yerawada.

As per the police, the accused and the victim were in a relationship. The accused allegedly decided to end the relationship because he wanted to marry another woman. The victim was enraged and threatened him to go public. In order to put an end to the threats, the accused killed her by slitting her throat. The victim, Nazab Abid Shaikh was a resident of Sadashivnagar.

Inspector (crime) Raosaheb Bhapkar of Wanowrie police station told Hindustan Times, “Arbaz killed Nazab as she threatened to spill the beans about their relationship” he said.

A case has been registered at Wanowrie police station under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

The article has been sourced from third-party source and Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. All information provided on this article is for informational purposes only.

Key factors such as family values, gender dysphoria, the cost of the procedure or not feeling ready to make such an important, lifelong decision at their

Two-thirds of transgender teenagers are at an increased risk of depression, suicidal thoughts and self-injuring behavior, revealed research accepted for

Oxfordshire County Council introduced the advice for transgender pupils last year, saying they should be able to use the toilets of their identified gender. The council has withdrawn the advice.

Every time a customer buys a 'Mermaids' biscuit at the counter, the US coffee chain will donate 50p to the British charity of the same name. It has also produced an ad lauding its cafes as 'safe spaces'.

SIMON CALLOW: There has been a little storm in my neck of the woods: Scarlett Johansson, one of Hollywood's finest, has insisted that actors should be able to play any role they choose.

'I mishandled that situation' said the 35-year-old of her since-abandoned role in the forthcoming movie Rub & Tug, during an interview with Vanity Fair for the cover of its December Issue.

The Voice's transgender teen Oliver Cuthbert is speaking out about his journey on hormone replacement therapy to help other other teens 'who are still figuring themselves out'.

James Van Kuilenburg, who is passionate about politics, had attended the presidential campaign event in his hometown of Frederick, Maryland on Thursday.

Staff Sergeant Byun Hui-su fought back tears as she said being a soldier had been her 'childhood dream' and that she wanted to help guard the tense border with communist North Korea.

Lachlan Stuart, a personal friend of Corbyn who co-wrote the Labour manifesto, said Ms Long Bailey was 'not fit to lead' because of her views on trans.

A U.S. Marine charged with murdering a transgender woman that he met in a red-light district bar in the Philippines refused to enter a plea as he sought to have the case dismissed.

Oxfordshire County Council introduced the advice for transgender pupils last year, saying they should be able to use the toilets of their identified gender. The council has withdrawn the advice.

A transgender sex worker is not criminally negligent for passing on HIV to a man because she never knew she had the disease, her lawyer has told a Perth court.

A transgender sex worker who identifies as a woman has been found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm after having unprotected sex with a male client and allegedly passing on HIV.

Clayton James Palmer, who identifies as a woman and is known as CJ, wept as she was sentenced in the WA District Court on Friday for causing grievous bodily harm.

Transgender model Andreja Pejic, 28, recalled having kissed David Bowie in an interview with Sunday's Herald Sun.

Model Andreja Pejic has set her sights on acting, after her debut movie was released last year. 

Transgender Big Brother star, Rebekah Shelton revealed she thought she had actually died, after hackers infiltrated her Twitter and claimed she had passed away.

Beyonce Black St. James, the transgender dancer who performed at a homeless conference in Seattle, Washington, says organizers approved the act. The agency's director has subsequently resigned

A London tribunal upheld the dismissal of Maya Forstater (pictured). Duncan Bannatyne and Sharon Davies MBE revealed their support for her - but others voiced their opposition.

JK Rowling tweeted in support of a researcher who lost her job for stating that people cannot change their biological sex. A spokeswoman for Rowling said that the author would not have any further comment.

Online Resource

Hayden Library - PN1995.9.T684 B45 2019

Barker Library - HQ77.95.U6 F57 2019

Browsery HQ77.9.S74 2018

Dewey Library - HF5549.5.S47 S543 2019

Riggs, Damien W., author

Billions of years ago, Mars probably hosted many water features: streams, rivers, gullies, etc. But until recently, water detected on the Red Planet was either locked up in ice or flitting about as a gas in the atmosphere. Now, researchers analyzing radar data from the Mars Express mission have found evidence for an enormous salty lake under the southern polar ice cap of Mars. Daniel Clery joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss how the water was found and how it can still be liquid—despite temperatures and pressures typically inhospitable to water in its liquid form. Read the research. Sarah also talks with science journalist Katherine Kornei about her story on changing athletic performance after gender transition. The feature profiles researcher Joanna Harper on the work she has done to understand the impacts of hormone replacement therapy and testosterone levels in transgender women involved in running and other sports. It turns out within a year of beginning hormone replacement therapy, transgender women plateau at their new performance level and stay in a similar rank with respect to the top performers in the sport. Her work has influenced sports oversight bodies like the International Olympic Committee. In this month’s book segment, Jen Golbeck interviews Andrew Lawler about his book The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Next month’s book will be The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect by Judea Pearl and Dana Mackenzie. Write us at sciencepodcast@aaas.org or tweet to us @sciencemagazine with your questions for the authors. This week’s episode was edited by Podigy. Download a transcript of this episode (PDF) Listen to previous podcasts. [Image: Henry Howe; Music: Jeffrey Cook]

Online Resource