Transgender panel discusses gender identity and discrimination on MSNBC show; the unequal burden of taxation on LGBT families; and other Bent Alaska news of the week.

Transgender panel on MSNBC

• RT: @TheAdvocateMag: Cable News Panel Discusses Transgender Issues http://t.co/IQT0vJfn // story includes video from MSNBC #

On her MSNBC show last Sunday, Melissa Harris-Perry was joined by author Kate Bornstein; Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Mel Wymore, a Democratic candidate for the New York City Council, in a discussion gender identity and anti-LGBT discrimination.

The Advocate writes:

The panelists discussed how transgender policy priorities such as access to identity documents and health care relate to the broader LGBT agenda, often understood by many Americans to begin and end with marriage equality. Bornstein argued that the single focus presents a challenge to coalition-building because marriage is “perceived as a very selfish spearheading issue,” that excludes non-traditional family arrangements deserving protection, such as families led by single mothers or multiple partners.

Watch the video:

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Harris-Perry’s show also featured a second slate of panelists evaluating the leadership of the Obama administration on LGBT issues.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Unequal burden of taxation on LGBT families

• Study: “Unequal Taxation and Undue Burdens for LGBT Families” on income tax inequities faced by LGBT families — how http://t.co/3QF6KLq4 #

Tax time sucks for everyone, but even worse for LGBT families, as documented in a new study by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP):

Millions of American families led by parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) face unequal and inflated tax burdens and tax filing so complicated even accountants cannot always advise them.

Unequal Taxation and Undue Burdens for LGBT Families provides a groundbreaking, in-depth look at the income tax inequities faced by LGBT families, illustrating how many tax exemptions, credits and deductions designed to help families ease the financial burdens of raising children are unavailable to families with LGBT parents.

The study is a companion study to All Children Matter: How Legal and Social Inequalities Hurt LGBT Families.

Equal rights elsewhere

A 16-year-old high school student is petitioning his city council in Keller, Texas, to consider an anti-discrimination ordinance; the Orthodox Church and the Communist Party oppose a proposed nondiscrimination law in Moldova; an “Ice Cream Truck of Love” in Australia, and the Knoxville, TN, city council unanimously passes a nondiscrimination measure in defiance of a state law passed last year that prohibits the extension on non-discrimination protections beyond protections established in state law.

• Texas teen asks city council for #LGBT anti- discrimination law: http://t.co/21vIx750#
• Battle Over Moldovan #LGBT Antidiscrimination Bill Reaches Fevered Pitch http://t.co/oZrgC1di#
• Ice Cream Truck of Love to travel Australia giving out free ice cream and campaigning for gay marriage (+video) http://t.co/xFkRcUyM#
• Unanimously. In Tennessee. Real leaders // Knoxville Advances Non-Discrimination Protections Despite State Prohibition http://t.co/Aa0kKzWM#

Mourning

Canadians mourn the death of gay activist Raymond Taavel, who was beaten to death after he tried break up a fight between two men outside a bar.

• RIP RT @globalmaritimes: Vigil for slain #Halifax activist #RaymondTaavel draws hundreds http://t.co/jWxQXFe1 #LGBT #