2009 State Of The Black Union-LA

Been watching the 10th Anniversary edition of the State of the Black Union live from Los Angeles. I enjoy watching Black thought leaders engaged in thoughtful conversations across an entire day on various subjects and the conversation being televised on C-SPAN.

Well, Round Two is about to start, and this panel will have two of my fave peeps, Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Julianne Malveaux on it.

Turkish Transwoman Running For Public Office

Ever since New Zealand's Georgina Beyer became the first transwoman to be elected to a national legislative body in 1999, we've had an increasing number of transgender people all over the world seeking elective office on various levels of government.

Transwoman Belgin Celik is seeking to make history in Turkey. She is running as a candidate in upcoming March 29 local elections in a district that has never had a female district representative candidate, much less ever had a woman serve in the position.

"As a transsexual woman, I believe I will be able to secularly fulfill my duties. I plan to determine the problems present and solve them with the public. There are two men also up for this position, but I believe I am going to win."

Celik is a human rights activist who has worked for the UN Refugee High Committee and International Amnesty and is one of the founders of the homosexual initiative, Lambda in Istanbul. She's running in the neighborhood where she's lived for 30 years. "I know everyone here and have acquaintances and friendships with everyone."

While some people are projecting her election as a sure thing, as anyone who has ever run for public office can tell you, there are no sure things in politics.

Hopefully on March 29 Celik will add her name to the list of transgender people who are elected officials.

Dawn's Fencing In The A-T-L

Dawn bounced down to Atlanta with Polar for a veterans tournament that will be taking place in a few hours at the Georgia World Congress Center. Normally I'd be along for the ride since y'all know I like road trips, but had to work yesterday.

She also bounced yesterday to get her equipment checked prior to the tournament, get a little rest from the six hour drive down there from Louisville and because it starts around 8 AM.

I'm sure when she gets back she'll have some entertaining stories to tell about the latest round of competition between the 'Senior Mama's (the women's 50 fencers) and the Baby Vets (the women's 40 fencers)

The FLOTUS Official Portrait

FLOTUS stands for First Lady Of The United States, and First Lady Michelle Obama's official portrait has finally been released. Sistah girl looks so good it's making me want to swear off the Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream.

Well, after this weekend, since I just bought two half pints of it on sale and I'm tearing into one of them as I write.

One of the things I ironically found funny in the photo was this. Peep the presidential portrait that's hanging on the wall over the First Lady's right shoulder.

That's Thomas Jefferson, and he had a taste for 'Brown Sugar'. Word was back in the day (1802) that Sally Hemings was his mistress and he fathered six children with her. Never mind the fact that slavery was in full effect in the States at the time, so it's questionable whether the relationship between them was consensual.

Even though he was getting his freak on with her, he still held the typical attitude of the day that she was less than human. In his 1814 book Notes on the State of Virginia he advanced his suspicion that black people were inferior to white people "in the endowments both of body and mind.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright alluded to that during Inauguration Weekend when he parted his lips and made the comment that "Michelle Obama is the first African American sleeping in the White House legally."

Looks like the First Lady had the last laugh on both of them.

Women Come In All Shapes And Sizes

One transition lesson that took the longest time to sink in but finally did thanks to Dr. Cole, my biofemale friends and personal observations was that women come in all shapes, sizes and body types.

It was one of the things that bugged me, especially after my last growth spurt pushed me to my 6'2" height and I first began seriously contemplating transition in my late teens.

One of my BT (before transition) concerns was if I could convincingly pull off being a statuesque plus 6 foot tall woman. Fortunately I grew up in the late 70's, and there were plenty of examples of tall beautiful sisters around me from 5'10" Jayne Kennedy, 6'1" Phyllis Hyman, and 6'2" model-actress Tamara Dobson.

As I finally hit the gender wall, transitioned and made mind and body match up I had more examples with supermodel Tyra Banks, various women around me in my life and the women of the WNBA.

Even with all that evidence smacking me in the face, I was not immune to the same body image concerns that plague my biosisters. In some cases, I'd argue that those body image issues impact transwomen even harder because of the importance we place on presentation. Being seen as convincingly female can be the difference between life and death in some cases.

Even though I know I shouldn't be comparing myself to a supermodel or the JET Beauty of the Week, stuff happens. Even after 15 years of relatively happy life on the femme side of the gender continuum, there are still days when I feel 'unpretty'.

Some of it results from the negativity that Black transwomen get whacked with on a daily basis. We get shame and guilt heaped on us concerning our transgender status combined with the drama of being Black, and the societal meme that Black women are 'less pretty' than others.

The zero to evolving female nature of a gender transition has me feeling sometimes like I'm trying to play catch up with the women of my generation and younger who have the advantage of having gender ID and body match up from birth. With transwomen transitioning in their teens, it adds another layer of 'that could have been me' angst.

But what expeditiously brings me back to reality is the fact that there are biowomen in society who do match up to the so-called conventional wisdom bandied about concerning how to spot a transwoman. Since you get genetic material from mommy and daddy, there are biowomen who wear double digit sized pumps, have big hands, have to regularly do electrolysis and have facial and body builds considered 'masculine'.

At the same time there are transwomen who you wouldn't guess weren't born on the male end of the gender continuum with petite curvy bodies, feminine facial structure, minimal to zero facial hair who are happily shopping for size 7 pumps.

It's also interesting to read various blogs and hear from my biosisters that they have from time to time the same body image issues and feelings I'm articulating here.

Despite going through all the introspection I take myself through from time to time, I'm happy with the shape and size of every square millimeter of this fabulously feminine 6'2" body. But the most important lesson is that when I look into the mirror, I love Monica and the person she's gracefully evolving to be.

Shut Up Fool! Awards-End Of the Month Edition

The shortest month of the year is drawing to a close tomorrow signaling the end of the observance of Black History Month. But we celebrate Black history every month here at TransGriot, so if I run across something interesting, you know dear readers it will pop up in a post or two.

Still trying to decide what the topic is going to be for the first of the discussion panels featuring our biosisters and transwomen discussing various topics on this blog.


It's Friday, and y'all know what that means. I know you're all waiting in breathless anticipation after that boring Oscar show to pity the fool (or fools) who made the most asinine statement of the week.

So here are this week's nominees.

Fool Number 1 is Las Alamitos, CA mayor Dean Grose, who sent a racist e-mail with a picture of a watermelon patch growing on the south lawn of the White House to local African-American businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price, then claimed he was unaware of the stereotype that my peeps like watermelon. (FYI, I hate it)

"Bottom line is, we laugh at things and I didn’t see this in the same light that she did. I’m sorry. It wasn’t sent to offend her personally—or anyone—from the standpoint of the African-American race.”


Fool Number 2 is Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who the Repugnicans are trying to pimp as their rising star in 2012. In his rebuttal speech he makes the ludicrous case of using Hurricane Katrina as a concrete example of why you should not trust government. Hello dummy, YOUR party was running thangs in 2005 and it's the reason we have massive Dem majorities in the House, Senate and an African American First Family in the White House. Then he accused the prez of wanting to impose 'government-run' healthcare, which is a lie, and mocked funding for volcano monitoring. Hello, if you live next to or fly airplanes near Mount St. Helens, Kilauea, or any Alaskan volcano I think you'd want to know if they're gonna blow.

Fool number 3 is Rush Limbaugh, who's perplexed at why women hate him and wants to convene a summit to understand why. Hello, when you call women femi-Nazis, welfare queens, and all the other derogatory terms that you've used over the years on your radio show, it should be crystal clear to your OxyContin pill popping behind why.


And this week's winner is....Bobby Jindal


Bobby Jindal, shut up fool!

Mexico's Muxe Video

You'll remember that in December I posted a fascinating New York Times article on the Muxe of Mexico. There's now You Tube video that I've found on them that I hope you'll enjoy.

Balian Buschbaum's New Life

In a December 2007 post I talked about the retirement of junior world record holding German pole vaulter Yvonne Buschbaum from international competition for an interesting reason. His transition from female to male.

He said at the time,"I feel as if I am a man and have to live my life in the body of a woman. I am aware of the fact that transsexuality is a fringe issue, and I do not want to be responsible for it remaining on the fringe."

Well, two years later he is now the very handsome Balian Buschbaum, and in a diary entry on his website stated, "Courage is the road to freedom. I woke up in complete freedom today. The sky is wide open."

Balian chose his new name in January 2008, after the blacksmith in the movie Kingdom of Heaven.

Since taking his first testosterone shot on Christmas Day 2007, Balian has documented the metamorphosis from Yvonne to the handsome guy he is now. He's appeared on a few talk shows and has received support from his former colleagues in the athletics (track and field) world.

He was required to quit pole vaulting under IAAF rules because testosterone, one of the primary drugs used for a female to male gender change is considered a doping substance. Buschbaum won European championship bronze medals in 1998 and 2002 and had a personal best vault of 4.70 meters (15 feet 4.2 inches)

On the other side of the gender fence Balian wore his hair shortly-cropped, but now he has facial hair, growing muscles and a deeper voice to complement his new ID card. He's also endured the initial surgeries to complete his metamorphosis from female to male.

Thanks to his gender transformation, he also has a ringside seat concerning the effects of testosterone because he's living through the effects of the changes. He told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung that "I felt like an over-bred pitbull."

He also noted that he was far more aggressive in training and could jump with poles Yvonne Buschbaum could only dream of using.

He changed his mind about retiring from the sport, and is staying in shape by continuing to vault in preparation for his new role as a coach for the USC Mainz club in central Germany.

Japan's Transgender Community

Japan is a giant in terms of its economic, technological, industrial, and medical prowess, but when it comes to treating transgender people lagged behind the rest of the world. The first sex reassignment surgery in Japan (for an F to M) didn't take place until 1998 and was followed up by the first M to F surgery a year later.

If you're an anime fan there are numerous titles that have transgender characters such as my fave series You're Under Arrest which features transgender Tokyo police officer Aoi Futaba. But unfortunately real life transgender people in Japan have been reluctantly hiding in the shadows in a culture that prizes conformity.

Things are changing in Japan as it make moves to grant more personal freedom to its citizens, and the Japanese transgender community is a beneficiary of this openness.

It's estimated that there are 7,000 to 10,000 transgender people in Japan, and while it seems that the ascension of Japanese transpeople has been meteoric, much of what has happened was the result of years of behind the scenes work.

In 2003 Aya Kamikawa became the first (and so far only) transgender person elected to public office in Japan when she won a place on the local assembly for Setagaya, one of Tokyo's biggest local government areas. She has played a key role in lobbying for changes at both the national and local levels, including the 2004 gender change law. Kamikawa has also successfully lobbied to eliminate unnecessary mentions of gender in public documents and was reelected in 2008 to serve a second four year term.

Following on the heels of Kamikawa's historic political victory were groundbreaking legal reforms in 2004 that allowed some transsexuals to change their officially registered sex. Unfortunately the law only allows unmarried, childless applicants to change their official gender. In addition, applicants also must have had SRS and been diagnosed by two doctors as having gender identity disorder.

That has resulted in only 151 people officially changing their gender codes between July 2004, when the law took effect, and the end of March 2005, according to Japan's Justice Ministry.

Despite the victories, there's still some stigma attached to being transgender in Japan, although that is slowly being overcome. "As long as we keep silent, nothing is going to change," said Kamikawa. "We need the courage to make a society which respects diversity."

President Obama's Joint Congressional Speech

"While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this. We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States will emerge stronger than before." President Barack Obama



Excerpts from the speech:

The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.

We have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.

Well that day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here.

Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do, and that’s what I’d like to talk to you about tonight.


The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we’re taking to revive our economy in the short-term. But the only way to fully restore America’s economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care; the schools that aren’t preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.



In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America – as a blueprint for our future.

My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.

Given these realities, everyone in this chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.

But that does not mean we can afford to ignore our long-term challenges. I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.


Yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we’re starting with the biggest lines. We have already identified two trillion dollars in savings over the next decade.

In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.


I know that we haven’t agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.


But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.

I think about Leonard Abess, the bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn’t tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, ''I knew some of these people since I was 7 years old. I didn't feel right getting the money myself."

I think about Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community – how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. "The tragedy was terrible," said one of the men who helped them rebuild. "But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity."

And I think about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina – a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.



It's great to have the 'A' students back in charge of running this country again. Here's the speech if you missed it.

Tavis Smiley's 10th Anniversary State Of The Black Union Symposium in LA Saturday

Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Black Union Symposium is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday, February 28, and this year's event will take place in the place where it was born in Los Angeles.

The SOBU will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be televised on C-SPAN with the theme of Making America As Good As Its Promise. There will also be conversations about issues important to high school and college students taking place on Friday, February 27 at the University of Southern California and several high schools in the Los Angeles area.

The conversations will be moderated by attorney Raymond Brown and Tavis Smiley with the first session kicking off from 8 AM-11 AM PST (11 AM-2 PM EST). The second session will run from 1 PM PST-4 PM PST (4 PM-7 PM EST).

This 2009 SOBU will bring back panelists from the first conversation held on the USC campus such as Danny Glover, Nikki Giovanni, Lani Guinier, Na'im Akbar, Michael Eric Dyson, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Danny Bakewell, Sr., Jawanza Kunjufu, Les Brown, Charles Ogletree, Randall Robinson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Iyanla Vanzant, Dr. Julianna Malveaux, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Cornel West.

Other participants in this year's SOBU conversation are Arlene Holt Baker, CA Rep. Karen Bass, Peter Harvey, Van Jones, Erica Williams, Emile Townes and Marc Morial.

For those of you in the Los Angeles area who wish to attend, the symposium is free but online registration is required at www.tavistalks.com

The Korean Transgender Community

When it comes to Asia and the Pacific islands, there is a wide variance in terms of the populace's acceptance level for transgender people.

One of the countries that has made gigantic leaps in terms of acceptance of transgender people is South Korea. Much of the improved perception of transgender people there has been driven by transwoman Lee Kyung-eun, who is better known to Koreans and the rest of the world by her stage name of Harisu.

Harisu was born in 1975, transitioned in her teens, had SRS, then started garnering international attention in 2001 when she appeared in a wildly successful advertising campaign for Dodo Cosmetics.



The multitalented Harisu has authored four books, modeled, acted in movies and television shows, appeared in print and television commercials and recorded several K-pop albums.



On November 29, 2003 she petitioned a Korean district court in Incheon to change her name and gender on her family registry. The petition was granted and on December 13, 2002 she became only the second person in South Korea to legally change their gender. On May 13, 2007 after dating him for two years she married her boyfriend Micky Jung.

Harisu was cognizant of her role as South Korea's first open transgender celebrity and was adamant about always setting a good example. Her successful transition opened the door for other Korean transwomen to walk in her pumps.

A K-pop group called Lady appeared on the scene which tried to capitalize on Harisu's popularity in Korea. After a nationwide talent search, three transwomen were chosen to form the group and a fourth was added later. However, the band received a lukewarm reception and officially disbanded in 2007.

In addition to Harisu being credited for helping to change attitudes about transgender people, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has been pushing to protect transgender people in Korea as well.

South Korean transpeople are now eligible to serve in the country's military forces and rewrote its military medical examination procedures in order for them to do so.


But the biggest milestones for Korean transsexuals have been in their court system. In June 2006 the Korean Supreme Court ruled that transsexuals who have sex change operations should be able to legally change their gender.

Justice Kim commenting on their decision, said that their decision “is the best choice to alleviate the suffering of transsexual people at a time when any tangible legislative measures to protect their rights is most likely a long time coming.”

And to illustrate just how far Korea has come on transgender issues, a Korean court recently sentenced a man to four years in jail plus community service for raping a transwoman. It's a landmark case there because in 1996 the Korean judiciary rejected a similar case involving the rape of a transwoman.

So once again you have an Asian nation running rings around the self proclaimed leading democracy in the world when it comes to granting basic human rights to transgender people. When are we in the States going to catch up to the rest of the world who long ago recognized that we are human beings?

Zulu Parade Video

Since today is Mardi Gras Day and the party will be going on in New Orleans until midnight, couldn't let it slide by without posting some video of past Krewe of Zulu parades in honor of their 100th anniversary.

2008 Parade


2007 Parade


St Augustine High School Marching 100 Band


2008 Zulu Parade


Zulu forever!

It Ain't Activists Causing Problems In Your WWBT Lives, It's Our Enemies

Y'all know how much disdain I have for the WBT's (women born transsexual) or as I more truthfully label them the WWBT's (white women born transsexual). The reason I don't like them is because they are the kissing cousins to radical feminists.

They are too busy clutching on to privilege like a wino holding his last bottle of MD 20/20 and disrespectfully attacking anyone who disagrees with their attempts to create this bullshit racist hierarchy to separate themselves from the rest of the multicultural transgender masses based on whether or not you have a neovagina.

It came to my attention that a WWBT was pissed because she was disrespectfully asked to leave a Catholic church parish that she'd been faithfully attending for over 20 years.

That's jacked up, but instead of focusing her righteous anger on the Roman Catholic Church who has spread the anti-transgender poison that's now filtering down to the Catholic flock level, who does she blame?

The activists in the community.

One of their frequent rants of the WWBT crowd on transgender message boards is that if we activists wouldn't 'rock the boat' then the haters would leave us alone to live in peace.

Yeah right. I don't know what world you live in, but our enemies have no intention of leaving us alone. It's either stand up and fight for your dignity, self respect and human rights or get run over by fundamentalist fueled tyranny. Sometimes you even have to call out your friends and allies for disrespecting you as well.

If you'd grown up as a person of color instead of privileged white males you'd know this. Thank God there are far more people that are cognizant of that and not only aren't going to meekly submit to injustice, but are willing to fight it head on.

They should be commended for doing so, not attacked and disparaged as you WWBT's tend to do. You can split hairs all you want and call yourselves sufferers of HBS (Harry Benjamin Syndrome), but to the unwashed Fox News watching masses out there you're still transsexuals or worse. You put your pantyhose on one leg at a time just like a pre-op or non-op does and you are still targets for the same discrimination and violence we face.

The difference between you and me is that we activists here and all over the world are putting our lives on the line in some cases to fight the madness so that future generations don't have to.

It's time for y'all to put the big girl panties on and fight your real enemies. The religious fundamentalists are. The neo-Mattachine anti-inclusion gays and lesbians are. The radical feminists are. These are the people causing the problems in your lives.

The activists are the peeps who are trying to solve them.

Be Part Of The Solution Instead Of Bitching About The Problem

One of the things that gets on my last nerve is when I hear peeps in the African American GLBT community gripe about how mainstream organization in our community aren't inclusive.

One of the organizations that's been in the cross hairs of this crowd is the NAACP. The iconic civil rights organization is now beginning its second century of work after celebrating it's 100th anniversary on February 12. It also has a dynamic young leader in Benjamin T. Jealous.

These peeps will whip out a laundry list of complaints about this organization not being inclusive or that organization being seemingly hostile to our interests, but when you ask them if they are members of that organization or what they've personally done to change it, they'll make excuse after excuse to justify why they aren't.

The point is, you peeps who are complaining about the NAACP for example, need to be part of the solution instead of bitching about the problem.

Have you taken the time out of your busy party or pageant schedule to actually attend a local NAACP meeting to articulate your concerns?

More importantly, have you and a group of like minded friends joined the NAACP?

If your answer is no, then you may want to consider it. That's a more constructive way to tackle the problem of these iconic organizations not being cognizant of our problems, and at the same time they'd appreciate the infusion of new members as well.

If you truly feel that the organization has been less than responsive to African-American SGL and transgender people's issues, then the way to correct that problem is to actually join the organization, do the work and get yourself in a leadership position to help change the policies.

Club White House-Washington's Hottest Music Venue

When I wrote my 'If I Were President' post a year before Election Day 2008, little did I suspect that the thinking exercise I engaged in that day would become reality in the person of Barack Obama a year later.

There are some days when I'm watching the news and listening to some of the policy stuff they've been pushing and I wonder if peeps in the Obama administration read my blog posts.

One of the things I talked about in my presidential daydreaming post was having some slammin' entertainment in the White House, and last night that part of my post came to pass.

While I was watching CNN this morning they reported that Earth, Wind and Fire, one of my (and President Obama's) fave groups during my teen years performed in the East Room for an event honoring US governors in town for the National Governors Association meeting.



It was cool seeing the guys in tuxedos, some of the guests and the president and First Lady jamming to some of my fave EWF songs.

Stevie Wonder is going to be honored with a Gershwin Award presented by President Obama on February 25.

The "Stevie Wonder in Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize” event will be taped and televised on PBS the following day. This event will take place in the East Room as well and include performances by Will.i.am, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall and many more.

And oh yeah, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours was the official song for the Obama campaign.



So if you're living in the DC area and happen to get one of those coveted invitations to a White House event, clear your calendar and go. For the next four to eight years, 'Club White House', as DJ Tom Joyner calls it is going to have some interesting music groups and artists performing there.

Gay Media, RuPaul Isn't A Transgender 'Expert', So Stop Trying To Pass Him Off As One

One of the things that's an irritant to many African descended transpeople is not only the lack of media attention we get vis a vis our white brothers and sisters, but the frequent use of people who aren't African-American transpeople as representatives to speak for us.

The gay media has a bad habit of referring to RuPaul as a transgender person when he's not. The fact that he's (allegedly) Black on the outside and has a penchant for dressing up in feminine attire doesn't make him transgender. He's also not highly regarded by many people in the SGL and transgender community for his unwavering support of a certain obese white gay man who does a blackface minstrel show.

I was insulted along with the Dallas transgender community when their local gay newspaper, the Dallas Voice ran to him to defend their use of the word 'tranny' in news stories they write.

The Dallas transgender community has been calling out the Voice recently about their penchant for repeatedly using the word in their news stories, but they aren't the only gay media outlets that are guilty of this.

Once again it's a simple principle. You don't get to make the call about what does or doesn't offend me or my community, we do. Common sense would dictate that if you don't belong to the transgender community and we tell you that 'tranny' is an offensive term, then don't use it.

By the way, if you need to find actual transgender women of African descent to comment on an issue, how about calling the National Black Justice Coalition, GLAAD, your local transgender organizations for references or shoot me an e-mail?

So please stop calling on him as an 'expert' on what the Black transgender community or our community in general is thinking because there are others who are far more qualified to do so than this serial apologist for Chuck Knipp.

Pecah Lobang

Pecah Lobang is a documentary by 24 year old filmmaker Poh Si Teng about Muslim transgender sex workers.

Pecah lobang means 'busted', and Malaysian transwomen because of Sharia law increasingly find themselves harassed by fundamentalist adherents to the faith and negative attitudes from Christians as well.



One of the reasons is that crossdressing became a crime under Sharia law with severe penalties to match, but that wasn't always the case.

Teng's award winning documentary not only focuses on Natasha's struggle to honestly live her life, but explores why Malaysian society has turned repressive on transwomen through interview with a religious scholar, a physician who conducted sex change surgeries, a sociologist, three attorneys and an outreach worker.

It's also another reminder for transgender people all over the world that no matter what part of the planet we inhabit, we still fight the same battle for acceptance.

She Thought She Was Safe

South Africa is considered a safe haven on the African continent for other GLBT people persecuted in their homelands and because its constitution specifically bars discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Most of the time, that's the case, but here's the tragic story of Daisy, a transwoman who escaped Zimbabwe with her accepting mother only to die a violent death in South Africa simply for daring to be herself.

Black Ice

Some hockey fans are familiar with the story of Willie O'Ree, who was the first Black player to break the color line in the NHL when he was called up by the Boston Bruins in January 18, 1958 and played his first game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Sadly, O'Ree played only two NHL games that season and 43 more in the 1961 one with the Bruins because he was hit in the right eye with a puck and lost sight in it. He still managed to play 21 seasons of professional hockey, become an ambassador for the game of hockey and runs the NHL diversity effort entitled Hockey Is For Everyone.

But thanks to Canadian historians George and Darril Fosty's book Black Ice, it talks about a little known piece of our sporting history. The Black legacy in hockey can be traced back to the early 1870s and is also intertwined with the history of the Black Loyalists as well.

Many of these players were descendants of the Black Loyalists, and the book also delves into the fascinating history of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes. The league was formed in 1895, was headquartered in Halifax, NS and lasted until the 1920s.

The Fosty's reveal in this book that the Colored League players were so talented, they were frozen out of the predominately white run competition for the Stanley Cup, which commenced in 1893. They also point out that many of hockey's innovations such as the slap shot, the offensive style of goaltending, sitting completely down to the ice to stop the puck, and half time shows at games were creations of Black players.

The Black players in the modern NHL such as Jarome Iginla, Mike Grier, Georges Laraque, Anson Carter and Kevin Weekes all are building on Willie O'Ree's legacy and the legacy of Hall of Fame players like goaltender Grant Fuhr.

But they are also playing for the turn of the 20th century players such as Henry Sylvester Williams, James Johnston and James Kinney who have yet to see their stories enshrined in hockey history as well.

Brazilian Transgender Sambistas

In addition to New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras, the other famous celebration takes place in Brazil. Carnival kicked off on the 18th and the samba schools (or sambistas) have been gearing up for their two day competition at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

And some of our peeps are part of the celebrations. Here's some video of two transwomen doing their thang at a sambista practice for Carnival.

Zulu 100th Anniversary

The Mardi Gras parades are in full swing down in New Orleans as the carnival season builds toward its Fat Tuesday conclusion, with one of the highlights of the season being the Zulu parade.

When I lived in New Orleans I was a toddler and barely remember them, but we did for several years have in a prominent place on one of our bookshelves a Zulu coconuts from the 1966 parade. Those coconuts will be even more prized when the Zulu parade kicks off the festivities on February 24 because this happens to be the centennial year of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

The internationally renowned Zulus have the the distinction of being the only predominately African American krewe to march on Mardi Gras Day, but it was a long road to get to that status.

They started as an outgrowth of members of Benevolent Aid societies prevalent in the Black community at the time and laborers who formed a local club called The Tramps. After seeing a comedy skit at the Pythian Theater about the Zulus in South Africa, they retired to their meeting place in a room behind a restaurant/bar in the 1100 block of Perdido Street and formed the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

The Zulus began officially marching as a group with their first king William Story in 1909, but according to the history of the group had been marching in parades since 1901. It constructed its first float in 1915 and was incorporated as an organization on September 20, 1916.

While Zulus are popular today, contribute to local charities, the Southern University Scholarship Fund, give Christmas baskets to needy families, participate in the Adopt A School program and their Zulu Ensemble choir is sought after for local events, they ran into controversy during the 1960's.

As the awakening of Black consciousness and pride grew during the Civil Rights Movement the costume of blackface and grass skirts was seen as demeaning. As the Zulus became targets of protests by many Black organizations membership declined to just 16 members before rebounding in the 70's. It also took a hit because of the Hurricane Katrina induced exodus that was reflected in 2008 Zulu King Frank Boutte being a Houston area resident.

The only other time a non-New Orleans resident was named Zulu King was when jazz trumpeter and New Orleans native Louis Armstrong got to fulfill a boyhood dream. He not only became an honorary member of Zulu in 1931, he presided over the 1949 parade.

It isn't the first time a celebrity has participated in a Zulu parade. In this year's parade, instead of covering it, CNN newscaster Soledad O'Brien will participate as Mrs. Big Stuff.

The Zulus are also the subject of a yearlong Louisiana State Museum exhibit at the Presbytere in Jackson Square called 'From Tramps to Kings: 100 Years of Zulu'.

It contains 3000 square feet of memorabilia on loan from Zulu members and back stories of the group's seven comic characters - the Witch Doctor, the Big Shot, Mr. Big Stuff, the Mayor, the Ambassador, the Governor and the Grand Marshal. The exhibit also features a ballroom tableau of former Zulu kings and queens in their elaborate costumes and headdresses. If you're planning a visit to the Big Easy soon, the exhibit will run through December.

The Zulus have witnessed and withstood seismic social changes, two world wars and hurricanes and still survive and thrive as an iconic part of New Orleans. Their membership includes everyone from laborers to mayors and doctors all united in the purpose of continuing Zulu's historic legacy forever.

Happy Anniversary Zulu.

Angela Merkel Up For Reelection

I was surprised when I first heard the news that Germany elected its first female chancellor in Angela Merkel.

She won that historic November 22 election by a razor thin margin in 2005, but so far polls are indicating that she might have an easier time when the German federal elections are held in September.

She was already overwhelmingly reelected in December 2008 as the head of the Christian Democratic Party.

As the leader of the nation with Europe's largest economy, Merkel was not only ranked Number 1 by Forbes Magazine in its survey of the 100 Most Powerful Women, she was also voted by Europeans as their most influential politician.

Merkel not only has Germany's economy growing, she's made sure that German women are occupying senior government posts as well. Mattel even created a Barbie doll in her honor complete with her signature bob hairdo they unveiled at a German toy show but as of yet haven't decided if they are going to put it into production.

In addition to becoming the first woman to become Germany's chancellor, in 2007 she became the second woman to chair the G-8 after someone she's frequently compared to, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

If the polls hold and there are no big surprises between now and September, she'll be there in Berlin to greet President Obama on his first official presidential trip to Germany or at the next G-8 summit.

China's Transgender Community

Since the turn of the 21st century, China has begun making another 'Great Leap Forward' in terms of modernization and putting itself in the world's spotlight.

We got a glimpse of just how much it has progressed during the recently concluded Beijing Games, and its space program continues to take giant leaps as well toward their ultimate goal of becoming the second nation to put a man on the moon.

One interesting thing that has come to light is that China, like 'errbody' else on our planet, has an estimated 400,000 transgender people in their midst. Over 1000 of them have had surgery, and we in the West have been getting introduced to them and their stories as well.

It's not unusual now to Google 'china transsexuals' and see many links to various stories about transpeople in China. But all Chinese transsexuals probably owe a major debt to internationally acclaimed dancer Jin Xing. Her struggles and eventual SRS in 1995 basically opened the door that has made life easier for other transpeople across China to follow.

Chinese society has become more open and tolerant towards transsexuals to the point where in 2004, Chen Lili won the Miss China Universe pageant and was poised to become the first transgender contest in the 50 plus year history of the event that was being staged in Ecuador that year. But rules were quickly passed limiting the event to cisgender women and Chen was barred from participating.

Maybe the Donald should rethink that ban. Some of the biggest traffic days I get on TransGriot is when I post video or photos from various transgender pageants around the world.

As the examples of Jin Xing and Chen Lili show, Chinese transpeople are being fully integrated into society. They can now change their ID cards without hassles, their civil rights are protected by law, and after they have surgery can get married and have those marriages recognized by the state as valid.

They are examples that the rest of the judgmental Western world would do well to emulate, especially in my own country.

'A Nation Of Cowards'

TransGriot Note: Attorney General Eric Holder spoke the truth in a speech during the Black History Month celebration at the Department of Justice. Here's the text of that speech.


Remarks by U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder at the Department of Justice marking Black History Month, Feb. 18:

Every year, in February, we attempt to recognize and to appreciate black history. It is a worthwhile endeavor, for the contributions of African Americans to this great nation are numerous and significant. Even as we fight a war against terrorism, deal with the reality of electing an African American as our president for the first time and deal with the other significant issues of the day, the need to confront our racial past, and our racial present, and to understand the history of African people in this country, endures. One cannot truly understand America without understanding the historical experience of black people in this nation. Simply put, to get to the heart of this country one must examine its racial soul.

Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race.

It is an issue we have never been at ease with, and given our nation’s history this is in some ways understandable. And yet, if we are to make progress in this area we must feel comfortable enough with one another, and tolerant enough of each other, to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us.

But we must do more, and we in this room bear a special responsibility. Through its work and through its example this Department of Justice, as long as I am here, must -- and will -- lead the nation to the "new birth of freedom" so long ago promised by our greatest president. This is our duty and our solemn obligation.

We commemorated five years ago the 50th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. And though the world in which we now live is fundamentally different than that which existed then, this nation has still not come to grips with its racial past nor has it been willing to contemplate, in a truly meaningful way, the diverse future it is fated to have.

To our detriment, this is typical of the way in which this nation deals with issues of race. And so I would suggest that we use February of every year to not only commemorate black history but also to foster a period of dialog among the races. This is admittedly an artificial device to generate discussion that should come more naturally, but our history is such that we must find ways to force ourselves to confront that which we have become expert at avoiding.

As a nation we have done a pretty good job in melding the races in the workplace. We work with one another, lunch together and, when the event is at the workplace during work hours or shortly thereafter, we socialize with one another fairly well, irrespective of race. And yet even this interaction operates within certain limitations. We know, by "American instinct" and by learned behavior, that certain subjects are off limits and that to explore them risks, at best embarrassment, and, at worst, the questioning of one’s character.

And outside the workplace the situation is even more bleak in that there is almost no significant interaction between us. On Saturdays and Sundays America in the year 2009 does not, in some ways, differ significantly from the country that existed some 50 years ago.

This is truly sad. Given all that we as a nation went through during the civil rights struggle, it is hard for me to accept that the result of those efforts was to create an America that is more prosperous, more positively race conscious and yet is voluntarily socially segregated.

As a nation we should use Black History Month as a means to deal with this continuing problem. By creating what will admittedly be, at first, artificial opportunities to engage one another we can hasten the day when the dream of individual, character-based acceptance can actually be realized. To respect one another we must have a basic understanding of one another.

And so we should use events such as this to not only learn more about the facts of black history but also to learn more about each other. This will be, at first, a process that is both awkward and painful but the rewards are potentially great. The alternative is to allow to continue the polite, restrained mixing that now passes as meaningful interaction but that accomplishes little. Imagine if you will situations where people -- regardless of their skin color -- could confront racial issues freely and without fear. The potential of this country, that is becoming increasingly diverse, would be greatly enhanced.

I fear however, that we are taking steps that, rather than advancing us as a nation are actually dividing us even further. We still speak too much of "them" and not "us." There can, for instance, be very legitimate debate about the question of affirmative action. This debate can, and should, be nuanced, principled and spirited. But the conversation that we now engage in as a nation on this and other racial subjects is too often simplistic and left to those on the extremes who are not hesitant to use these issues to advance nothing more than their own narrow self interest.

Our history has demonstrated that the vast majority of Americans are uncomfortable with, and would like to not have to deal with, racial matters and that is why those, black or white, elected or self-appointed, who promise relief in easy, quick solutions, no matter how divisive, are embraced. We are then free to retreat to our race-protected cocoons where much is comfortable and where progress is not really made.

If we allow this attitude to persist in the face of the most significant demographic changes that this nation has ever confronted -- and remember, there will be no majority race in America in about 50 years -- the coming diversity that could be such a powerful, positive force will, instead, become a reason for stagnation and polarization. We cannot allow this to happen and one way to prevent such an unwelcome outcome is to engage one another more routinely -- and to do so now.

As I indicated before, the artificial device that is Black History Month is a perfect vehicle for the beginnings of such a dialogue. And so I urge all of you to use the opportunity of this month to talk with your friends and co-workers on the other side of the divide about racial matters. In this way we can hasten the day when we truly become one America.

It is also clear that if we are to better understand one another, the study of black history is essential because the history of black America and the history of this nation are inextricably tied to each other. It is for this reason that the study of black history is important to everyone -- black or white. For example, the history of the United States in the 19th century revolves around a resolution of the question of how America was going to deal with its black inhabitants.

The great debates of that era and the war that was ultimately fought are all centered around the issue of, initially, slavery and then the Reconstruction of the vanquished region. A dominant domestic issue throughout the 20th century was, again, America's treatment of its black citizens. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s changed America in truly fundamental ways. Americans of all colors were forced to examine basic beliefs and long-held views.

Even so, most people who are not conversant with history still do not really comprehend the way in which that movement transformed America. In racial terms the country that existed before the civil rights struggle is almost unrecognizable to us today. Separate public facilities, separate entrances, poll taxes, legal discrimination, forced labor, in essence an American apartheid, all were part of an America that the movement destroyed.

To attend her state’s taxpayer-supported college in 1963, my late sister-in-law had to be escorted to class by United States marshals and past the state’s governor, George Wallace. That frightening reality seems almost unthinkable to us now. The civil rights movement made America, if not perfect, better.

In addition, the other major social movements of the latter half of the 20th century -- feminism, the nation's treatment of other minority groups, even the antiwar effort -- were all tied in some way to the spirit that was set free by the quest for African American equality.

Those other movements may have occurred in the absence of the civil rights struggle, but the fight for black equality came first and helped to shape the way in which other groups of people came to think of themselves and to raise their desire for equal treatment. Further, many of the tactics that were used by these other groups were developed in the civil rights movement.

And today the link between the black experience and this country is still evident. While the problems that continue to afflict the black community may be more severe, they are an indication of where the rest of the nation may be if corrective measures are not taken.

Our inner cities are still too conversant with crime, but the level of fear generated by that crime, now found in once quiet, and now electronically padlocked suburbs is alarming and further demonstrates that our past, present and future are linked. It is not safe for this nation to assume that the unaddressed social problems in the poorest parts of our country can be isolated and will not ultimately affect the larger society.

Black history is extremely important because it is American history. Given this, it is in some ways sad that there is a need for a black history month. Though we are all enlarged by our study and knowledge of the roles played by blacks in American history, and though there is a crying need for all of us to know and acknowledge the contributions of black America, a black history month is a testament to the problem that has afflicted blacks throughout our stay in this country. Black history is given a separate, and clearly not equal, treatment by our society in general and by our educational institutions in particular.

As a former American history major, I am struck by the fact that such a major part of our national story has been divorced from the whole. In law, culture, science, athletics, industry and other fields, knowledge of the roles played by blacks is critical to an understanding of the American experiment. For too long we have been too willing to segregate the study of black history.

There is clearly a need at present for a device that focuses the attention of the country on the study of the history of its black citizens. But we must endeavor to integrate black history into our culture and into our curriculums in ways in which it has never occurred before so that the study of black history, and a recognition of the contributions of black Americans, become commonplace. Until that time, Black History Month must remain an important, vital concept.

But we have to recognize that until black history is included in the standard curriculum in our schools and becomes a regular part of all our lives, it will be viewed as a novelty, relatively unimportant and not as weighty as so called "real" American history.

I, like many in my generation, have been fortunate in my life and have had a great number of wonderful opportunities. Some may consider me to be a part of black history. But we do a great disservice to the concept of black history recognition if we fail to understand that any success that I have had, cannot be viewed in isolation.

I stood, and stand, on the shoulders of many other black Americans. Admittedly, the identities of some of these people, through the passage of time, have become lost to us -- the men, and women, who labored long in fields, who were later legally and systemically discriminated against, who were lynched by the hundreds in the century just past and those others who have been too long denied the fruits of our great American culture.

The names of too many of these people, these heroes and heroines, are lost to us. But the names of others of these people should strike a resonant chord in the historical ear of all in our nation: Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Walter White, Langston Hughes, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, Charles Drew, Paul Robeson, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Vivian Malone, Rosa Parks, Marion Anderson, Emmit Till.

These are just some of the people who should be generally recognized and are just some of the people to whom all of us, black and white, owe such a debt of gratitude. It is on their broad shoulders that I stand as I hope that others will someday stand on my more narrow ones.

Black history is a subject worthy of study by all our nation's people. Blacks have played a unique, productive role in the development of America. Perhaps the greatest strength of the United States is the diversity of its people, and to truly understand this country one must have knowledge of its constituent parts. But an unstudied, not discussed and ultimately misunderstood diversity can become a divisive force.

An appreciation of the unique black past, acquired through the study of black history, will help lead to understanding and true compassion in the present, where it is still so sorely needed, and to a future where all of our people are truly valued. Thank you.

Shut Up Fool! Awards-Mardi Gras Edition

The Mardi Gras parties, balls and parades are in full swing down in New Orleans with the big day happening on Tuesday.

As per tradition on February 24, the Zulu's will be kicking the fun and festivities off. It's also the 100th Anniversary year for the Zulu's as well.

So laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll) and let's see who won the Shut Up Fool! Award for this week


For his performance on the AC360 show, Ron Christie is the hands down winner this week of the Shut Up Fool! award.



This Bush administration sellout first criticized Attorney General Eric Holder's on point speech on our reticence to honestly discuss race in the States by attacking the 'nation of cowards' line in it.




Then during the AC360 show segment debating the NY Post cartoon he had the nerve to part his lips and say that the NY Times cartoon 'wasn't racist' to the point where David Gergen was shaking his head on that one along with my Houston homeboy Roland Martin, and get defensive when Roland justifiably called him 'delusional'.



Thank God my Houston homeboy was there to 'keep it real'

BTW, if anybody has the number to the DROP Squad, please have this 'brother' reported immediately for reprogramming.

Ron Christie, Shut up Fool!

Brother Prez Goes To Canada

President Obama arrived in Ottawa today for his first trip abroad as the POTUS. It's a short and sweet seven hour one in which he'll have a face to face meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, meet Governor General Michaelle Jean and talk turkey on several issues percolating with our Canadian cousins and our largest trading partner.

'Brother Prez' is more popular here in Canada than he is at home, with an 86% approval rating in the last poll taken north of the border. He also did a television interview with the CBC's Peter Mansbridge 48 hours before he left.



Gotta love my new president. He's a vast improvement over the last one who excelled in pissing people off.











While there's disappointment among many Canadians who wanted him to stay longer and visit more of their country, given the importance of our historic relationship, there will probably be another opportunity over the next four years for that to happen.

That NY Post Cartoon IS Racist

Why am I not surprised that this crap comes from the Rupert Murdoch owned NY Post? When it comes to offending and belittling the African American community, the NY Post has it down to a science.

This cartoon isn't a dig at Congress because there's no sign or drawing on it anywhere indicating that it is as the Post's editors and the cartoonist lamely tried to claim.

We've had far too many instances in history in which African descended people are derisively referred to as monkeys, gorillas, et cetera in order to dehumanize us, justify slavery and later Jim Crow desegregation.

There's only one way you can interpret it, and that it's a nastily racist dig at 'Brother President'. Chewing on Rev. Al Sharpton for calling y'all out on the racism isn't going to deflect attention from the fact that he's right and it IS racist.

Transgender In Kenya

Sokari Ekine's Black Looks blog is a wonderful place to find information about GLBT issues on the African continent, since the media here in the States, with the exception of occasional pieces in EBONY/JET magazines is woefully lacking in terms of covering the second largest continent on Planet Earth.

White South Africa gets great news coverage and has advocacy and education orgs such as the Liesl Theron led Gender DynamiX inside its borders, the rest of the continent's transgender people face varying struggles to be heard.

Here's a long article by Audrey Mbugua that discusses what's happening with my transpeeps in Kenya.

Timmy's!

If you want to make a friend for life with a Canadian who's living either south of the border or elsewhere in the world, find a way to get them a can or two (or a case) of Tim Horton's coffee.

If you get into extended conversations with Canadians, at some point you'll hear them wax poetic about their institutional fast food restaurant chain called Tim Horton's, founded by the legendary Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player of the same name.

'Timmy's' has grown from a single Hamilton, ON restaurant founded in 1964 that served just coffee and donuts to over 2800 restaurants in Canada with an ever expanding and delicious menu. I haven't had the pleasure of sampling their food or coffee yet, but my friends that have on their journeys to Canada count it among the signature moments of their trip.

Another slice of Canadiana is headed our way, and I'm not talking about NHL hockey. Just as McDonald's is synonymous with the United States, Tim Horton's holds the same status in Canada. Thanks to marketing agreements with Wendy's and Cold Stone Creameries, Tim Horton's now has set their sights on conquering the US market and giving Starbucks a run for their money.

In addition to trading its stock on the New York Stock Exchange, Timmy's now has opened up 500 restaurants concentrated mostly in the northeastern and Midwestern US.

And for my Canadian readers, you are probably already aware of the feature on Tim Horton's website that allows you to download a GPS map in your favorite format to make it easier for you to efficiently find the exact location of the nearest Timmy's restaurant wherever you go.

But to demonstrate just how much Canadians love their Timmy's coffee, this was a scene shot at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan last year.

Your eyes are not deceiving you, this is a Tim Horton's trailer being unloaded off a C-17 transport plane so that Canadian Armed Forces troops deployed there can get a little taste of home.

There's also no truth to the rumor that attack beavers guarded the trailer just in case the C-17 crew tried to siphon off some of the product before it reached Afghanistan.

Yes, a Cannuck's love for Timmy's run deep, and we Americans will find out why in the next few years.

Introducing Faiza

I wrote a post a few days ago in which I asked the question, where are the positive Black Brazilian transpeople?

Well, ask and ye shall receive. Gina sent me the link to Dr. Lynn Conway's (love her) TS Successes website (although it's noticeably thin on African American transpeeps) that featured Faiza's story.

She's a woman after my own heart as a TK (teacher's kid). She's an English teacher in Brazil and I'm looking forward to one day getting to know her.

Michaelle Jean-Canada's First Black Governor General

As I mentioned, it's Black History Month in Canada, too. Since I do get hits from north of the border, and one of the Prime Directives of TransGriot is to talk about people and events across the African Diaspora be they transgender and non-transgender, I felt I needed a creative change of pace for this Black History Month.

I wanted to learn about and decided to focus on the Black history that's not only been made north of the border with my Canadian cousins, but being made now.

One such history maker is Michaelle Jean, who on September 27, 2005 made history in the Great White North when she was appointed by then Prime Minister Paul Martin to become the first Black Governor General of Canada.

Unlike our system of government here in the States in which the president functions as the political head of government and the symbolic head of state, those roles are separate in Canada's parliamentary system. The Prime Minister represents the government, Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign head of state of Canada, with the powers and authority of the sovereign delegated to the Governor General of Canada.

Michaelle Jean is in effect the Canadian head of state. The term is for five years but can be extended for up to seven years.

While her role as the 27th Governor General is mostly symbolic and ceremonial, she is not only the Commander in Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, it also includes among other duties promoting unity and culture within Canada and giving Royal Assent to bills passed by the House of Commons and the Senate, the final step in Canadian lawmaking.

She was the center of major political interest in Canada last December when Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended Parliament to stave off a no confidence vote he was probably going to lose. The fate of his minority government fell to her under her rarely used special personal authority to appoint or dismiss a prime minister or dissolve Parliament.



Michaelle Jean was born in Port au Prince, Haiti in 1957 and as a child her family fled the Papa Doc Duvalier dictatorship in 1968 to settle in Montreal. She earned a BA in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature, a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature at the University of Montreal and studied languages and literature at the University of Perouse, the University of Florence and the Catholic University of Milan. She is fluent in five languages: French, English, Italian, Spanish and Creole.

While matriculating in college, from 1979-1987 she spent seven years working with shelters and transition homes for abused women in Quebec, aid organizations for immigrant women and families, and worked at Employment and Immigration Canada and the Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec. She also coordinated a study on women as victims in abusive relationships that was published in 1987.

After joining Radio Canada in 1988, she enjoyed an 18 year career as a award winning journalist, reporter, television news anchor and starting in 2004 host of her own television show entitled Michaelle, which featured in-depth interviews with experts and enthusiasts.

Her history making term as Canada's Governor General expires in 2010 unless it's extended by Prime Minister Harper (or whoever the next Prime Minister is if there's a no confidence vote that ousts him).

At any rate, Michaelle Jean is someone even we folks south of the border can look up to with pride, embrace and emulate as well.

Kentuckians Value Fairness Rally

Kentuckians Value Fairness Statewide Rally in Capitol Rotunda Feb. 25

A Kentuckians Value Fairness rally to promote the passage of a statewide Fairness law in Kentucky prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations will be held in the Frankfort Capitol Rotunda Wednesday, February 25, 12:30-1:30 pm.

House Bill 72, introduced by Representative Mary Lou Marzian (Dist. 34), will be the focus of lobbying and rally support for the day. LGBTQ constituents, along with family and friends from across the Commonwealth, will lobby legislators in the morning with personal stories concerning the need for an anti-discrimination law. Supporters will then join legislators in the Capitol Rotunda for a rally and press conference beginning at 12:30 pm.

"Champion of Fairness" awards will be presented to legislators who have supported a statewide Fairness law in the past.

The media is invited to attend.

The Kentuckians Value Fairness Rally/Press Conference
 will take place on February 25 from 12:30-1:30 pm in the Capitol Rotunda, Frankfort, KY.

It will feature Fairness-friendly Legislators and representatives from the following organizations:

ACLU of Kentucky
B-GLAD (Centre College)
CFAIR (Louisville)
commonGround (University of Louisville)
Fairness Campaign (Louisville)
GLASS (Bellarmine University)
Kentucky Equality Federation
Kentucky Fairness Alliance
Lexington Fairness

For additional information you can contact Chris Hartman, Director of the Fairness Campaign at (502) 893-0788

Which Frat Will Win The Presidential Membership Sweepstakes?

One of the questions asked within the African-American family during the primary and the general election campaign about the Obamas was which 'Divine Nine' frat or sorority would they become a member of.

The 'Divine Nine' is the collective name coined by author Lawrence Ross for the four African-American sororities, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho and the five African-American fraternities Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta.

The 'Divine Nine sororities and fraternities have been a historically integral part of African American life, and the membership rolls include people across the Diaspora and non-Blacks as well. Chances are that if you are a high achieving African descended person in a wide range of fields, you're a member of their ranks.

Since neither the president nor the First Lady were members or pledged when they matriculated in college, the competition was keen to get both of them ensconced as members of their organizations.

On the sorority side, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that the First Lady would probably end up an AKA (and did). Corporate headquarters for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc (skee-wee) is in Chicago, there are strong alumni groups there and in Washington DC where the sorority was founded 101 years ago last month, and they were wooing her during the AKA's centennial year as well.

As for the prez, the battle is still up in the air between the frats for presidential bragging rights.

Will it be Alpha Phi Alpha, which has the distinction of not only being the first African-American Greek letter fraternal organization, but boasts of having Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in their ranks in addition to congressmembers Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Al Green (D-TX) to make the A Phi A case?

Will it be Phi Beta Sigma, who not only was founded in Washington DC, counts Harold Washington (the first African-American mayor of Chicago), Black Panther founder Dr. Huey P. Newton, Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah, scientist George Washington Carver and several members of congress in their ranks such as civil rights warrior Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY)?

Kappa Alpha Psi can counter with current DC mayor Adrian Fenty, civil rights warrior Ralph Abernathy, astronaut Bernard Harris and congressmembers such as John Conyers (D-MI) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) that are well placed to lobby 'Brother Prez'.

Will it be Omega Psi Phi, who also has Washington DC roots, fly jock Tom Joyner as a member along with Challenger astronaut Ron McNair, Bill Cosby and congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr (D-IL), but so is Jesse Jackson, Sr?

Or will it be the new kids on the block, Iota Phi Theta? It was founded in 1963 and has grown to 35,000 members including former GMA weatherman Spencer Christian and actor Terrence 'TC' Carson from Living Single. However, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) is a member, and he beat the prez badly during their 2000 congressional race.

Stay tuned peeps. You'll know who wins this sweepstakes because it will be trumpeted all over the Greekosphere and beyond by the winning frat.

We Don't Want No Scrubs, Either

A scrub is a guy that thinks he's fly
And is also known as a buster
Always talkin' about what he wants
And just sits on his broke ass
So (no)

I don't want your number (no)
I don't want to give you mine and (no)
I don't want to meet you nowhere (no)
I don't want none of your time and (no)

I don't want no scrubs
A scrub is guy who can't get no love from me
Hanging out the passenger side of his best friend's ride
Trying to holler at me




Well, another Valentine's Day has come and gone with me munching half price candy, playing my Luther CD's and observing giddy lovestruck couples enjoying Valentine's Day dinners and quality time with each other while I was out and about this weekend.

While I ain't mad at y'all who are hooked up in serious long term relationships (and to be honest a tad jealous and envious at the same time) I was painfully aware of the fact that one of the downsides of transition was the possibility I could spend the rest of my life alone.

But as someone who's working on becoming a quality Black woman, that doesn't mean that I or my transsisters don't have high standards when it comes to the person that we wish to spend my romantic quality time with either.

Too many times over the years I've seen some nice looking transwoman hooked up with some questionable men just so they can say they have a 'husband' or boyfriend. These busters they hook up with are either running roughshod over them in the process, or doing it, then cruelly dumping them for cisgender women after they've had their fun by playing the 'you can't give me a baby' card.

Yeah, I like to get my freak on, but not at the cost of my self respect, health or dignity. Your femininity as a transwoman does not and should not depend on having a man on your arm or engaging in hoochiesque behavior.

We're not booty calls, one night stands, or some 'exotic' plaything you treat like a vampire and only take out at night, if at all because you're ashamed to be seen with us or afraid of what your homeboys are gonna say if they find out you've hooked up with a transwoman.

The point is the minute you decide to get with me or any of my transsisters, you inherit all of the societal baggage that comes with dating a transwoman as well. In addition to all the societal crap that's heaped upon women, we get a extra helping of hateraid for trying to be who we are from society as well.

So if you're not sure you can handle that or the extra TLC it will require for you at times to date us, then don't step to us. That goes double for all you trifling, non-ambitious, womanizing, fugly, abusive, habitually criminal, wannabe playa playa's out there as well.

Read my lipstick coated lips. If my biosisters don't want you, then don't think we're gonna jump through hoops and beg for your company just because you have a penis and we may be alone at that moment. Some of us have them as well, and you and your fragile egos may be shocked to find out when you pull our panties down that it's bigger than yours.

We're looking for quality relationships just like our biosisters are, and just because we're transwoman doesn't mean we aren't worthy of or don't deserve having quality people to share our lives with.

So no, we don't want no scrubs, either.

Happy President's Day!

Happy President's Day! It means a lot more now that we have Number 44 in office and 'Brother Prez' is handling his business.

Nova Scotia Black Loyalists

Black Canadians have close intertwined ties and kinship with their southern cousins on many levels, and nowhere in Canada is that statement more accurate than in southern Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Some Black Nova Scotians can trace their ancestry directly back to the United States thanks to the Black Loyalists.

When the British realized they were losing the war, the then British Commander in chief at New York Sir Henry Clinton issued on June 30, 1779 the Philipsburg Proclamation. It stated that any Negro belonging to an American patriot was free, and if they deserted the rebel cause would receive full protection, freedom, and land. Thousands did and supported the Loyalist cause until the end of the Revolutionary War.

When the war came to a successful conclusion for the Americans, once the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 the British had to leave the new United States and the Loyalists gathered in New York to await transport.

In the interim, General George Washington demanded that their lost property, the Black Loyalists be returned. Sir Guy Carleton, now the British commander in chief for New York said no to returning any slaves who had joined the British cause before November 30, 1782, but later came to an agreement with General Washington to pay monetary compensation for their losses.

Signed Certificates of Freedom were issued for New York Blacks identified as joining the British cause prior to the surrender, and any who chose to emigrate were evacuated by ship. To ensure that no one without a certificate was evacuated from New York, the Book of Negroes documented and recorded the name of any Black person on board a vessel, whether slave, indentured servant, or free. It also recorded the details of enslavement, escape, and military service.

Between 1783 and 1785, in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War an estimated 5000 Black Loyalists departed New York for Nova Scotia, Quebec, the West Indies, England, Germany and Belgium. 3000 of them ended up in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which was then a part of Nova Scotia but was split off into a separate province for administrative reasons.

Life for them upon arrival was harsh. The large wave of Loyalist immigration they were part of put severe strains on the Nova Scotian government and the Black Loyalists encountered unfair and unequal treatment. They were given much smaller plots of land and fewer provisions than white settlers. Many didn't received the promised land allotments and some received no provisions. Black laborers were paid lower wages than white laborers for the same work. In addition, black people faced discriminatory local bylaws that penalized them for ‘offenses’ such as dancing or loitering.

Some eventually left for Sierra Leone, but others stayed in Nova Scotia, persevered and eventually carved out for themselves a proud history that their descendants are eagerly reclaiming.

It's a history I look forward to one day exploring in a visit to Nova Scotia as well.

'Tell It WOC Speak' Blog Carnival Up

This month's edition of the 'Tell It WOC Speak' blog carnival is up and popping. I was surprised and honored to see that the post I contributed to the carnival was highlighted as a featured one.

Thanks Renee for putting this blog carnival together.

As I mentioned in the previous announcement posts, this will be a monthly event taking place on the 15th that spotlights the work of Women of color bloggers. She believes that there are plenty of WOC bloggers out here in the Afrosphere that don't get the opportunities to spotlight their work.

So take a moment to check out this month's edition of the carnival and discover the writing of some great bloggers.

This Is How Whitewashing Us Out of GLBT History Begins

Last February over at the Bilerico Project I wrote a post for Black History Month about the 1965 Dewey Lunch Counter Sit-In Protest in Philadelphia. which is the first documented evidence of an organized African-American GLBT civil rights protest.

The significance of this is that it happened four years before the June 1969 Stonewall Riots that kicked off the modern GLBT rights movement, and I wrote an October 2007 TransGriot post about it. I was sent the heads up by Dr. Susan Stryker, who does a yeoman's job compiling transgender history and thought I'd find that tidbit interesting.

I wrote this paragraph in my February 2008 Bilerico post on the Dewey's Protest.

The interesting aspect of this campaign is not that it happened during the height of the 1960's Civil Rights movement. It was an African-American GLBT production.

Little did I know that drama was going to start over that paragraph and the following one in my original TransGriot post.

On April 25 more than 150 kids in 'non-conformist clothing' showed up at Dewey's in protest and were turned away by Dewey's management. Three teenagers (two male, one female) refused to leave after being denied service. They were arrested along with a gay activist who advised them of their legal rights, were charged and later found guilty of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Almost immediately one who calls himself Tom started the 'challenging and silencing' tactics.

From your picture you aren't old enough to have been there but the man who offered to get legal help and was arrested was the Janus President, Clark Polak
( http://gayhistory.wikispaces.com/Polak,+Clark?f=print ). He wasn't African American. The quote you have is from the old Janus newsletter. I still have a copy along with the flyer that was handed out. It was covered in the old Drum magazine too - there's a few photographs in that article. You can see it wasn't primarily an African American protest from the photos & talking to those who were there. Though I'm sure it was inspired by other lunch counter protests that were primarily African American.

Dewey's had several locations and gays - and always drag queens - hung out there. Usually late night - they were open all night. They wanted gay people to use the one on 13th Street only and kicked people out. The protest wasn't just one day - it was over 5 days - my old newsletter says 1500 of the flyers were handed out and it was on the local television.

Of course, I wasn't backing down and this was my response.

Tom,
Dr. Susan Stryker and Marc Stein say otherwise.

And what you posted is an example of the 'whitewashing' of GLBT history. Here's an event that was predominately a FUBU production, that predated the Compton Cafeteria Riot by a year and Stonewall by 4. and here cone the comments that, "the advisor was white." etc.

It's the same modus operandi that changed the Stonewall Riots from a transgender and peeps of color event to having literally no mention of people of color participating in Stonewall.

If you want African-American participation in the GLBT movement, you have got to have concrete examples of our participation in it so we feel we have a stake in it as well.

Brynn Craffey got it, and rebutted Tom's comment.

Monica, thanks for sharing this story! I'm not well read on our history and I'd never heard of the incident.

Tom, go back and re-read the entry: Monica never said that she was there. And while the question of whether or not the arrested legal advisor was white or African-American is an important historical detail, it doesn't change the fact that Dewey's was a hangout for African-American LGBT kids, the protest was influenced and inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, and African-American LGBT folks played a prominent role in it.

I agree with Monica: the way you jumped in and tried to contradict those facts is indicative of a dynamic that is far too prevalent, namely, the erasure by whites of African-Americans, LGBT folks, Native-Americans, women, progressives and other minorities from history.

Once that was dismissed, the new attack line emerged courtesy of Timothy Hulsey, and it's a meme that whitewashers use to erase transpeople out of GLBT history.

At the same time, this article goes too far in the other direction, not only by erasing or dismissing the involvement of non-African-American persons, but also by defining "drag queens" and butch lesbians as necessarily Transgender.

Brynn pointed out once again what I already knew as a transperson.

defining "drag queens" and butch lesbians as necessarily Transgender.

Excuse me, Timothy? I've got news for you, they ARE transgender.

The comments thread after this initial February 2008 exchange lay dormant until January 13. Chris Bartlett then chimes in with more 'evidence' that the unnamed advisor in my Dewey's post was the late Clark Polak.

Dear friends,

First of all Monica thanks for posting this important piece of LGBT history. It is a huge service to all of us.

I want to mention, however, as a long-time Philadelphia activist, that Clark Polak, the advisor mentioned in your article above, was not African-American. It just isn't so.

I mention this not to white-wash history, because there were African Americans there and at Dewey's in general, and they are a proud part of our LGBT history in Philadelphia. I mention it because Clark Polak is an unsung hero in Philadelphia's gay history-- publisher of Drum, unabashed sex radical, and courageous confronter of the status quo. He was a natural ally to the trans people and people of color who were there that day. He took a stand when many others wouldn't.

I would agree that it is often the white people who end up in history-- because they often wrote the history in the past-- and Clark wrote a lot of history in his magazine. I will also not deny that Philadelphia has a long and shameful history, both in its LGBT communities and in the broader community, of overt racism that has made the stories of Black LGBT folks in this city invisible.

The answer is not to deny Polak's participation-- and willingness to both be arrested and defend the folks there-- but to interview those who were there to hear the stories of the black and trans folk who participated.

My friend Kevin Trimell Jones has started the Black LGBT Archivists Society of Philadelphia and is doing that work of collecting the stories, photos, and artifacts of Black LGBT Philadelphia. I'll be sure to post the link to his website here when he has it up and running. I'll also ask him whether we can seek Dewey's stories from African American participants.

My answer to that comment was:

Chris,

I find it hilarious that you wish for me in this article that brings to light an all FUBU production of GLBT history, and now you want to in the name of 'historical accuracy' want to claim that a white person was 'an advisor'.

Did white gays like yourself concerned (yourself) about 'historical accuracy' when Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major and the other transwomen who kicked off the Stonewall Riots weren't given their full credit?

This is the insidious nature of whitewashing history' and how it has erased POC participation in building the GLBT movement. First it's a 'white advisor', then next it will be claims 'The Janus Society helped plan it', then 20 years from now we'll be hearing this revisionist story about the Dewey Lunch Counter Sit In Protest that will have no African-Americans in it.

Nope..not today, not on this post

When we POC complain about being edited out of the historical record, this is an example of how it happens. I find it interesting that Chris erroneously tried to claim that I mentioned that Clark Polak was the advisor. Nope, all my post says is that a 'gay advisor' was arrested, and I got that from Mark Stein's 2000 book City of Sisterly and Brotherly Loves: Lesbian and Gay Philadelphia 1945-1972.

The critics IMMEDIATELY assume it was the late Clark Polak, a long time Philadelphia gay activist. Thanks to unacknowledged white privilege, it never entered the minds of the people that challenged my post that maybe the arrested gay advisor could be Black, especially in light of the fact that the Dewey's in question was an African-American GLBT hangout and the incident in question involved African-American GLBT kids. It's also insulting because it implies that there weren't Black GLBT people or Black allies in general capable of organizing the protest.

Chris may not have meant as he says in his comment to me to whitewash history by harping on Clark Polak's possible participation in this event, but that's the effect of it.

Since it's your assertion that Clark Polak was the advisor arrested and you're so keen on 'historical accuracy of GLBT history', then it's incumbent upon you to go research the Philadelphia Police Department arrest records for April 25, 1965 and see if his name pops up.

My Dewey's post was simply talking about the event from an African-American GLBT perspective. It STILL doesn't change the fact that despite all this distractive quibbling over a minor point, the larger message is being lost that this was a predominately GLBT African-American protest that occurred four years before Stonewall, organized on 60's Civil Rights Movement principles, and was one of the first examples of a protest organized about and centered on transgender issues.

But it speaks to a larger problem in the GLBT community. For the longest time the historical record on what happened in the GLBT community was written by white people, with the predictable results of GLBT people of color and transgender people being erased from it.

Even in the transgender community, I see that happening, and it needs to stop. One of the things I discovered two years ago when I started suggesting POC names on a transgender activist Yahoo list in the wake of The Advocate's glaring omissions of transgender people for their '40 Heroes of the GLBT Movement' article, the reaction I received was a 'who are they'?

But that's the insidious nature of how the whitewashing of GLBT history (and history in general) happens. First it's trying to seize on a minor point, then it's changing the story to insert white people into this event, then 20 years later as with Stonewall, it's a Brooks Brothers riot.

Transsexuals In Iran

Transsexuals In Iran is an award winning documentary by Tanaz Eshaghian that takes a fascinating look at the lives of transsexuals living in post revolutionary Iran.

It's not very often that we get to take a look at the lives of our transgender brothers and sisters in that part of the world, and this documentary gives us the chance to do just that.




Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6


Part 7


Part 8

Yes, There Are Transpeople In The Middle East

When I say that being transgender is a worldwide issue, I'm not kidding about that.

While the peeps in Europe, the Americas and Asia get far more publicity and attention, the African continent beyond South Africa is beginning to get on the radar screen of transgender visibility and so is the Middle East.

Israel's Dana International may be the most well known of the Middle Eastern transwomen thanks to her 1999 win in the Eurovision song contest along with Turkey's Bulent Ersoy, but there are transgender people in Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, and the various Arab Persian Gulf states as well.

And increasingly, they are staging courageous fights for the right to live their lives in a region in which transpeople are sometimes persecuted and women are less valued by the dominant religious mores.

In Iran, sex reassignment surgery has been allowed ever since Maryam Khatoon Molkara endured being fired from her job, forcibly injected with male hormones, imprisonment in a psychiatric institution and a bloody beatdown by the late Ayatollah Khomeini's guards in order to prove in graphic terms to him personally that she was a woman. Khomeini then issued a fatwa that paved the way for Iranian transpeople to get surgery. Iran's transgender people still face much drama despite the fatwa, and gay people are faced with the choice of transition or die.

In Bahrain Hussein Rabi fights to be recognized as a man with the help of his attorney and in Egypt Sally Mursi has been fighting a decades long legal battle just for the right to study at Al-Azhar University's Medical School For Girls despite having her SRS 19 years ago.

And even with the most famous transgender celebrity in the world hailing from there, Israeli transgender people still fight to have their basic human rights respected and get their name and gender changes done without having to resort to genital surgery to do so.

The Turkish transgender community has long faced harassment despite once again, having an internationally known transwoman living there. But Turkish activists state that ever since Turkey applied for membership to the European Union, the country has been trying to put their best human rights face forward to the world while the application to EU membership is pending, and the police haven't been hounding them as much.

And as those of us who either attended or posted the names of last year's Remembering our Dead list already know, some of the people memorialized on the list came from Iraq.

Like everywhere else on planet Earth, while the levels of drama for transgender people vary by country to country in the Middle East, they are still depressingly familiar issues. But the desires of our transbrothers and transsisters to live an authentic life still remain the same.

2009 New York Spring Fashion Week- Will The Blackout Continue?

Fashion Week cranked up in New York yesterday and one of the things I and other interested observers will be scrutinizing is not if they use a transgender model like they did in Brazil, but how many African descended models participate in the various fashion shows in the mid town Bryant Park tent village that's Ground Zero for the event?

In the wake of last year's biannual shows that were overwhelmingly melanin free and Italian Vogue doing an all Black models filled July 2008 issue to highlight the racist reluctance of designers and advertisers to use Black models, the question that we'll be pondering is did the designers and advertisers get the message, or will the catwalks continue to be overrun by Eastern European glamazons and little or no models of color despite a historic presidential election here in the States?

There was an event held by the African Fashion Collective last night that starred Grace Jones and a diverse lineup of models from a dozen countries that included Ethiopia, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Russia, China and the Netherlands. It also included male supermodel Tyson Beckford, and runway supermodels Alek Wek and Chanel Iman.

The show featured an array of African inspired collections and presidential prints by designers Xuly Bet from Mali, Nkhensani Nkosi who designs the South African label Stoned Cherrie, and Nigerians Fati Asibelua of Momo and Tiffany Amber.

Now after the African Fashion Collective showed them how it's supposed to be done and threw in some flava as well, will the rest of the fashion world's designers follow suit, or will it be the same tired-ass business as usual as Fashion Week continues?

The Tall And Short Of It

One of the things I hear a lot from my biowomen friends when we're chatting at various times is that they sometimes wish they were my 6'2" height, to which I'll usually reply "No, you don't".

While I'm proud to be a tall sistah, revel in my long legged body and love the fact that there are numerous examples in the world of statuesque sistahs representing and doing positive things like our new First Lady for example, every now and then I check out my stylishly dressed shorter sisters and wonder what life would be like from that perspective.

Based on what I've been told and observed, I'd have the same frustrations about clothes except from the petite end of the scale. It would be a little more challenging for me to reach the top of shelves without assistance or a small step ladder, and if I picked up weight it would be more noticeable than it is right now.

I think a lot of both sides yearning for the others height is the 'grass being greener on the other side of the street' syndrome. And like it is with any other 'I wish' scenarios, you'll find that if you actually had the opportunity or the chance to actually have that wish fulfilled, it has a set of challenges and problems that you didn't know about until you experience them first hand.

But the bottom line is short, tall or in between, we look in the mirrors, thank God that we are healthy happy and well adjusted beings, and love every millimeter of our bodies no matter what the height is.

Valentine's Day Posts

Happy Valentine's Day 'errbody'. For those of you who are in long or short term relationships, married or unmarried, I ain't mad at y'all.

A relationship is the one thing that has eluded me so far in my life, but on this day dedicated to love and being in love, I'm going to hit the TransGriot Time Machine and link back to some posts I wrote on previous V-Day's.


Valentine's Day Musings

Letter To The Ladies Who Loved My Twin




Wonder how our favorite couple is going to celebrate the day?

Shut Up Fool! Awards-Friday The 13th Edition

Well, since today is Friday The 13th, it's time to show some fear and loathing to the people who made us cringe in terror by flapping their gums to let the most asinine comments come out of their mouths this week.

Where's Jason and Freddy Krueger when you need them?

And now, this week's nominees for the Shut Up Fool! Awards.


Contestant Number One is somebody I figured would be nominated sooner or later for this honor, newly minted RNC chair Michael Steele.

He parted his lips on Sunday to say in criticism of Brother President's economic stimulus package that 'he believes that government-funded jobs don't count as real employment because "a job is something that a business owner creates."



The government doesn't create jobs. Let's get this notion out of our heads that the government creates jobs. Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job. ... Those 2 to 4 million jobs that are projected won't happen. Trust me.

Contestant Number Two is Bill O'Reilly. In this Faux News clip, he mockingly compares Helen Thomas, the dean of the White House press cord to the 'Wicked Witch of the East'





Contestant Number Three is Catholic Bishop Richard Williamson.

At a time when the Catholic Church and the Vatican is mimicking the Dubya blueprint for winning friends and influencing people is pissing people off left right and center, they added the worldwide Jewish community to that increasingly long list.

Pope Benedict XVI lifts his excommunication of him and then Williamson goes on Swedish TV January 24 to state that the Holocaust didn't happen, there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz and only 300,000 Jews died as opposed to the accepted figure of six million.



Hello, all you need to do is take a trip to Auschwitz or Google it to eyeball them. 1 million people died just at Auschwitz alone with about 900,000 being Jewish. Google 'Wannsee Conference' to note who was at the top of the list for extermination.

So Bishop Richard Williamson, shut up fool! You're our winner this week.

'An Evening At La Cage' Closes In Vegas

The tough economy is whacking Las Vegas as well. If you were thinking about checking out the 'An Evening At La Cage' female impersonators review at the Riviera Hotel the next time you can afford to go there on vacation, you won't have that show as an option to see anymore.

Headliner Frank Marino and the rest of the cast were informed by producer Norbert Aleman after the February 9 performance that the show was shutting down immediately, thus ending a 23 year run on the Las Vegas Strip.

'An Evening At La Cage' opened in September 1985 featuring Marino as Joan Rivers. It eventually became the fourth longest running show on the Vegas strip.



This follows the news last month that another iconic show. the Tropicana's 'Les Folies Bergere' was shutting down March 28 after a 49 year run to make room for another undisclosed production.

"The writing is on the wall," said Aleman in an interview with Mike Weatherford. "It's better if we take a break right now and see what's up with the economy, rather than see my numbers go down and have to perform for under 100 people."

Riviera president Robert Vannucci said in a statement, "We sincerely regret the decision to close La Cage, but fully understand the economic pressures forcing the situation. We wish the producer and the cast well and hope in the near future that conditions will change and encourage reinvesting into the show and its reopening. In the meantime, we are in negotiation with several different show producers and hope to announce a new Riviera show very soon."

Marino said he was expecting the closure because of falling audience numbers and it was time to step it up to the next level as a producer. He was going to take a vacation for a month, then start working on the 'ultimate drag show'.



At any rate, here's hoping that the iconic show gets revived or Marino's 'ultimate drag show' debuts once the economy improves.

Where Are The Positive Black Brazilian Transwomen Role Models?

Brazil has a population of African descended people of about 100 million, which is more than the combined population of African descended people in the Caribbean, the US, Canada and Central America.

Based on Lynn Conway's 1/250 ratio of transgender births the estimated potential population of Black Brazilian transsexuals in Brazil is 400,000. But most of the transwomen that we've heard about who have garnered international attention from Brazil are people such as Roberta Close or recently Patricia Araujo, who just walked the runway at a Rio fashion show.

Unfortunately it seems as though the same pattern that we have of invisibility of Black transpeople in the United States has replicated itself in Brazil. Yeah, you see Black transpeople in Brazil, but unfortunately, just like what happened here in the States, they are disproportionately the subjects of adult websites.

So the question I ask as a concerned citizen of the Diaspora, where are the Brazilian transwomen of African descent who are positive role models? Where are the ones who have transitioned and are contributing to Brazilian society and why haven't their accomplishments and achievements been told to the rest of the world?

I know they must exist, it's just they haven't had their moment in the media sun yet.

WOC Blog Carnival This Weekend

Thanks to Renee at Womanist Musings, I'm about to experience something new as a blogger, participating in my first blog carnival.

She's organizing, 'Tell It WOC Speak' which will happen on Sunday, February 15. If you wish to participate in it, get those submissions to Renee ASAP. It's a wonderful way to expose your writing to people who may not have had a chance to see it or haven't web surfed in your blog's direction.

Blog carnivals are prevalent all over the blogosphere, but unfortunately in the Blackosphere we haven't done many of them for whatever myriad reasons. The reason this is my first is that I'm just now getting the recognition and the profile thanks to that Weblog award in which people are asking me to participate in their various carnivals.

Renee believes that with all the talented WOC bloggers out there, the lack of WOC themed blog carnivals shouldn't be happening and there's more than enough excellent content generated by us so that we can have this event on a monthly basis.

She's committed to making this a successful event, and I'm committed to doing my part to help make it happen.

How about you, women bloggers of color? Let's do this. Please submit your post here, either old or new works that talk about or intersect with race that involve class, gender, sexuality, ability, etc.

It is time that we tackle the 'isms' and bring them crashing down, and hopefully on Sunday well see a range of thought that begins the discussion process.

2010 IFGE Conference To Be Held Again In Washington DC

The 2009 edition of the IFGE Conference just concluded another successful run with over 150 attendees and speakers from around the country in attendance despite the unusual early February convention date.

Bree Hartlage, the newly elected chair of the IFGE board announced during the final session of Transgender 2009 that the 2010 edition of the IFGE conference will be held once again in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

"It was quite apparent to both myself and the rest of our Board that the only logical place for the transgender community to gather each year in the name of education and acceptance is in our nation's capital," noted Ms. Hartlage. She also announced that Transgender 2010 - The Capital Conference, will be moving back to it's traditional April time slot, with specific dates and location to be announced very soon.

Hartlage also had high praise for IFGE Executive Director Denise LeClair as well. "I am extremely grateful to Denise for all of her hard work and determination in staging the 2009 conference despite very long odds."

Ms. LeClair also dished out kudos to the volunteers and the local host organization as well. "I want to acknowledge the tireless work of all our volunteers, especially those from our local host organization, TGEA, The Transgender Education Association of Greater Washington, for making this a highly successful conference - we couldn't have done this without each and every one of you."

As with past IFGE conferences, the program of over 60 workshops drew high praise from those seeking to better understand the many varied aspects of what it means to be transgender in today's society. It is the primary vehicle for fulfilling the IFGE mission of "Promoting Acceptance for Transgender People Through Education".

IFGE is a membership organization, so for information on how to become a member of IFGE and make a donation, please visit: http://www.ifge.org

See you next year at Transgender 2010!

Happy 100th Anniversary NAACP

If a Black person gets in trouble, he calls out two names, Jesus and the NAACP.
Joe Madison

Today marks the 100th anniversary of an iconic organization reviled by segregationists, conservatives, and Dixiecrats and revered by people of all ethnic groups who seek justice and equality.

The NAACP will be celebrating its status as the oldest civil rights organization in the States with a year long series of events. In addition to the Founders Day ceremonies that will kick off the celebration, the 40th annual NAACP Image Awards hosted by Halle Berry and Tyler Perry will be taking place later this evening in Los Angeles.

It has come a long way since being founded in 1909 by a group of Jewish and African American people in New York. And as Joe Madison's comment that starts this post alludes to, whenever there was trouble and we called on the NAACP, they answered it.

Whether it was getting the message out through its magazine edited by NAACP founder W.E.B. DuBois called Crisis, fighting to enact an anti-lynching bill, topple school segregation, having its legal arm under legendary attorneys Charles Hamilton Houston and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall attack the laws buttressing Jim Crow, or assisting Civil Rights Movement campaigns, the NAACP has fought on our people's behalf to tackle the issues of the day.

That tradition has continued into this century with the Congressional Civil Rights Report Cards which track the performance of every congressmember and senator on civil rights issues important to our people to calling out the lack of diversity in Hollywood and various industries.

Here's hoping that the NAACP will add to it's mission fighting for the rights of the African-American GLBT people that are its members as well.

It's had a sometimes bumpy ride, and far from being an anachronistic relic of our past, as its new slogan boldly proclaims, the NAACP is now. I shudder to think where we'd be without the NAACP as part of Black America, and in Benjamin Todd Jealous it has a dynamic young leader to take it into its second century.

Just Not Into RuPaul

RuPaul's back on TV with a reality show called RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo. Yeah, I know I've griped for years about the lack of visibility of GLBT African-Americans in the media, but this is one show that I and many African-American GLBT peeps won't be watching.

The reason? Many of us consider RuPaul a sellout.

RuPaul's road to Clarence Thomas-Condoleezza Rice territory basically began in 2002, when he started defending Chuck Knipp and his odious blackface minstrel show that many of us in the SGL community and our allies have major problems with.

When New York activists protested and succeeded in shutting down a 2002 show, RuPaul leaped to Chuck's defense.

RuPaul also had this to say when he appeared at Southern Decadence in New Orleans a few years ago.

"Critics who think that Shirley Q. Liquor is offensive are idiots. Listen, I've been discriminated against by everybody in the world: gay people, black people, whatever. I know discrimination, I know racism, I know it very intimately. She's not racist, and if she were, she wouldn't be on my new CD."

I'm a critic and a lot smarter than you are. Obviously your racism detector is way off and your ignorance of black history speaks volumes. It's also why that 'Foxy Lady' CD tanked.

If you'd paid attention in history class, you'd know that your racist runnin' buddy does a blackface minstrel show that on multiple levels is offensive and racist. Hiding behind your short skirts won't shield him from the deserved criticism and negativity he gets for doing so.

RuPaul also said on a gay radio show,
“I love it. People really need to take a chill pill and people really aren’t sophisticated enough to know that when a person is coming from a place of love as opposed to coming from a place of hate. Shirley Q. Liquor is so clearly coming from a place of love.”

How much 'sophistication' was Chuck showing when he (or one of his cronies) photoshopped Jasmyne Cannick's head to the body of an nude African American porn model on his website because she successfully led the effort to shut down one of his California shows?

Did that come from a place of love? Hell, naw.

RuPaul, you can stop trying to defend Chuck. It's the reason many of us aren't enamored of you any more, and the sooner you realize that, the better.

But then again, like all good sellouts, you'll salute, take the money they offer you, continue to stab your people in the back and expect us to be quiet about it.

What Do You Mean 'It's Her Fault'?

"I don't think Chris would just a hit a girl like that. She had to do something or say something out the way for him to really hurt her," said Nika2hot on MTV.com

I ain't no Ike Turner, but, if I was in a position where it was either me hitting a woman or that woman hurting me, she's a hit chick. I know at least three guys who are now nestled in their graves behind not defending themselves from an attack by a female. And, for the record, I've never faced with that option, so I've never had to hit a female...PEACE. by BigBlackRod on Blackamericaweb.com

Let's not rush to judgment. Everyone's saying " how could he hit a woman?" Who's to say she wasn't hitting him, and he was trying to restrain her, I guess people just assume the worst in other people. by Mcooper6700 on Blackamericaweb.com

nick says: from socialite life celebbuzz.com
ill tack yo she a slut eny way u dont need her good that u beat the pop out of her

Before I get started on this post, I'm saying for the purposes of journalistic disclosure that I'm a fan of both artists, Rihanna and Chris Brown.

But what's pissing me off at the moment is not only the asinine comments that I posted that are just a small sample of the flood of comments across the Web that this unfortunate incident is generating, but this developing meme that 'it's Rihanna's fault' that she got hit, 'she's a slut' or 'she provoked him'.

Excuse me? The sad part is that some women are regurgitating this bullshit as well.

Bottom line is that I don't care how mad you get, it ain't cool to hit a woman period. That's something that men are taught from boyhood and I speak from experience when I say this. I was in a situation on the other side of the gender fence when my ex-girlfriend picked up a glass Coke bottle during an argument, swung it at me and fortunately missed.

As volcanically pissed off as I was at the time, I still managed without hitting her to disarm and restrain her until she calmed down.

For these folks flapping their gums about 'it's her fault' or the other foul comments I won't waste bandwidth repeating, I have to ask this question for the peeps who feel that way.

What if it was your daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother or any female relative that was in Rihanna's pumps? Would you feel the same way? I'd be willing to bet if Rihanna was your relative, you'd be ready to kick any man's behind that put his hands on her or wouldn't appreciate the fact that her reputation and character are being trashed to defend him.

The story of what happened early Sunday morning is still unfolding and the truth is somewhere in the middle between his story and hers. But some peeps really need to check themselves about the breathtakingly sexist, stupid and insensitive comments being directed at Rihanna.

Castro's Daughter Helps Cuba's Transgender Community Come Out Of The Shadows

Cuba is famous for its cigars, its passion for baseball, the long list of great major league ballplayers from the island, great Olympians and a certain cigar smoking bearded gentleman who was its long time leader.

But I'll bet you didn't know is that like everywhere else on the planet, Cuba has transgender people on the island as well.

Thanks to having a powerful friend in internationally renowned sexologist Mariela Castro Espin, who is President Raul Castro's daughter and Fidel Castro's niece, transgender people have been able to come out of the shadows. She's the head of the National Centre for Sex Education or CENESEX, and since 2004 has pushed for more humane treatment of Cuba's GLBT people.

Not so long ago, being GLBT was a disqualifying factor for upper echelon positions in Cuban society and anti-gay witch hunts were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s that would have made the Religious Reich proud.

In 2005 CENESEX created the National Commission for Integral Care of Transsexual People, and last year announced on June 6 that free SRS would become available for Cuban transsexuals that wish to have it. They would commence when the Cuban surgical team designated to perform the operations finished being trained by international experts was ready to begin the procedures. CENESEX also hosts a transgender support group that meets weekly in Havana.

Cuba performed its first and only sex reassignment surgery in 1988 and so far 28 Cubans have been diagnosed by the government as transsexual, and 19 wish to have gender reassignment surgery.

Castro's mother is the late Vilma Espin, who was an internationally recognized champion of women's rights. For her, it is the rights of gay and transgender people that need to be fought for.

She's pushing the Cuban National Assembly to adopt what would be the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America.

It would if passed officially recognize same-sex unions and inheritance rights among same-sex couples, along with giving transgender Cubans the rights to obtain free sex-change operations. Transgender Cubans would be permitted to change their gender on their identity cards without having genital surgery as a precondition for doing so.

It's ironic that a nation reviled by conservatives for being repressive is more compassionate and tolerant towards its transgender citizens than my own country.

The Transgender Issue In The USA

Interesting article from Thailand's Pattaya Daily News about transgender issues in the States.

It's nice to get a perspective from outside the USA as to what they think about our community here, especially when it that perspective comes from a writer based in Thailand, which has a more tolerant attitude toward its transgender people.

Once y'all check out the article, you can leave your thoughts and comments in this thread. International readers, this will also be your invitation to chime in as well. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and discovering from your comments what the rep of the USA transgender community is outside our borders.

Villager's February 2009 Black Blog Rankings

The Villager has compiled the Black Blog Rankings for February, so lets see how much love I received in them since I won't be getting any chocolate hearts or stuffed animals on Valentine's Day unless I buy it for myself.

This edition of the BBR's has 1593 ranked blogs, an increase of 43 blogs from the last compilation date of January 1. The Blackosphere continues to grow based on the continued increases in Black blogs beings added to the BBR's every month.

The runaway Number One BBR ranked blog is still Pam's House Blend, and if you wish to find out who the other Top Ten blogs are, here's the link to check them out.

My goal is to by my May 4 birthday, be at a 200 Technorati ranking and in the BBR Top 25.

My momentum toward the Top 25 hasn't been as meteoric since the historic election ended, but by continuing to focus on quality posts, adding some new features like my Shut Up Fool! awards and my upcoming discussion series, I hope to resume forward progress. I also want to earn some awards love from my own people in addition to earning a repeat trip as a Weblog Awards finalist.

I'm also pleased to see that I get a lot of international traffic. Welcome, glad you stopped by and appreciate you spending your web surfing time here. Please take a moment to peruse the posts on a wide variety of subjects and drop an occasional comment or two. If you like it, link to TransGriot as well.

Okay, so how much love did I get this month in the BBR's? In the January BBR's TransGriot was sitting at Number 46 with a 144 Technorati ranking.

As of the February 8 BBR compilation date, TransGriot was at Number 48 with a Technorati ranking of 150. I dropped two slots, but gained six points on my Technorati ranking and I'm still in the Top 50 Blogs.

It's frustrating right now because I'm not progressing like I think I should, but I still have a few months until my birthday.

'Brother Prez's' First Press Conference

Like most of the country I was tuned in to President Obama's first prime time press conference.

After the last eight painful years (fourteen if I add his time as Texas governor) of seeing the previous occupant of the White House massacre the English language and have them less frequently as Michael Jackson has plastic surgery, it was nice to see our president confidently stride into the East Room of the White House and confidently answer multiple part questions from the press corps.



He even took questions from Helen Thomas, the dean of the Washington White House press corps and from a Huffington Post reporter.

If people still haven't gotten the memo that there's a new sheriff in town, last night was another clue that change has come to DC.

Where's 'Big, Bad John'? Not In DC

Once upon a time my home state produced national leaders such as Lyndon Johnson, Lloyd Bentsen, Ralph Yarborough, Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, Sam Rayburn and John Tower.

They were people who had vision and had the best interest of our nation at heart, and sometimes took unpopular stands that cost them elections. For example, Ralph Yarborough voted for the 1964 and 1965 Civil Rights Acts, and lost his senate seat in 1970 to Lloyd Bentsen.

I was disappointed when Rick Noriega didn't win his race against John Cornyn back on November 4, thus dooming Texas to piss poor Senate representation for another six years.

But the folks who voted for Noriega can look at the peeps who voted for Cornyn just because he has an (R) behind his name (or for other nefarious reasons) and say 'I told you so.'



So where was 'Big Bad John' when the crucial cloture vote on the stimulus package was being held in DC? This is probably the most important legislation of this century and he's 200 miles away in New York schmoozing with GOP Wall Street donors and media conservatives.

Hang on progressive Texans. It's only a matter of time before the GOP once again is a minority party in our beloved state and it'll be sooner rather than later.

Transpinays Are Doing It For Themselves

Every now and then you'll see my busy sis PinayTG post something in my comment section from time to time. I have a link to her wonderful blog as well.

But as I continue to point out, transgender peeps are everywhere and we face on varying levels from country to country and continent to continent a struggle to see our human rights respected, codified into law and protected.

So what's a transpinay? A transpinay is a transwoman of Filipina heritage. It's a term the community created to more accurately describe themselves and separate themselves from the more negative local terms that are considered insulting by our sisters there. I enthusiastically embrace and use transpinay here out of respect, solidarity and love for my sisters.

Transpinays are becoming more active and vocal about educating their nation about transgender issues and improving the lives of their sisters through STRAP, the Manila based Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines.

STRAP was founded in 2002 and its multifaceted mission not only focuses on fighting for the rights of transpinays, they are a support group, do educational advocacy on transgender issues, build pride in being a transpinay and confront negative images about transwomen as well.

Like us on this side of the Pacific, they face the same non-matching identity paperwork issues, discrimination, and unemployment/underemployment problems as well. But with each passing day they are becoming a more cohesive community, and it's only a matter of time before transpinays take their rightful place in Philippine society.

Miss Brazil Transsex Pageant 2008

The Thais proudly state that they have the most beautiful transwomen in the world, and have frequent pageants in the 'Land of Smiles' to prove it. But the Brazilians would vehemently argue that point.

Here are some photos from the 2008 Miss Brazil Transsex Pageant held a few months ago. The winner, Fernanda Lima was supposed to go on to compete as Brazil's representative in the Miss International Queen Pageant held in Pattaya at Tiffany's Cabaret, but that pageant eventually got postponed due to the political crisis that was raging in Thailand at the time.

So we'll have to wait a few months to see the 2009 version of the Miss International Queen Pageant to get the resolution to the question of who has the world's most beautiful transwomen.

1000 Wins!

I'm a huge basketball fan and I absolutely love women's college and pro basketball. If there's a women's game on the tube, whether it's the NCAA college ranks, the WNBA, the Olympics or FIBA worlds, I'm watching it.

I was pleased to hear that legendary University of Tennessee women's head coach Pat Summitt accomplished a coaching milestone that even a male head basketball coach has yet to reach.

On February 5 she became the first NCAA Division I coach to record 1000 wins when her freshman laden Lady Volunteer team defeated Georgia 73-47.

The now 56 year old Pat Summitt has been the Lady Vols coach since 1974. She was hired at age 22 as the head coach after being named as a graduate assistant while working on her masters in physical education.

She won a silver medal with the USA women's team at the Montreal Games in 1976 and eight years later coached Team USA to a gold medal at the LA Games. She was part of the inaugural class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 2000 was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as well.

She has also inspired 45 of her own players to become coaches in their own right.

Summitt has been busy rewriting the NCAA record books as well. In addition to owning the record for most NCAA wins, she led the Lady Vols to their eighth national championship and 18th Final Four last year, both NCAA records. She's only two titles shy of tying legendary UCLA men's coach John Wooden for the most NCAA titles with 10. She has the most NCAA tournament victories with 104 in 123 games played, and has coached 18 seasons in which her team won more than 30 games, including a perfect 39-0 championship season in 1997-98.

Congratulations Coach Summitt for winning her 1000th game and for all she's done to elevate women's basketball to the respect level it deserves.

'Spotlight' On Angelica Ross

It's been a while since I talked about Angelica Ross and what she's been up to. I recently received an e-mail from her stating that she was about to begin pursue a dream of a music career.

She has produced an album that will be dropping this spring on her indie Know Better Records label called 'When Two Worlds Collide' and has released the first single for it called 'Spotlight'

You can check out the song and the video for it on her website and also download it at the usual music spots of iTunes, Napster and Amazon.com.

Let's do our part to help support a sistah and get her career jump started. You never know, if it does well enough she may end up with a major label recording deal like Kim Petras did, and to be honest, I'd like to see her succeed.

Jessica After FFS

I recently composed a post on facial feminization surgery in which I posted some photos of Jessica from MTV's 'I Want A Famous Face'

While searching for some YouTube video for another post I found one that Jessica had posted recently. It's a few years later and the difference is remarkable.



So tell me what you think, TransGriot readers.

NBJC and GLAAD Will Host Forum At Upcoming NAACP Image Awards

On the eve of the 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards which will be hosted by Oscar winning actor Halle Berry and screenwriter-actor Tyler Perry, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will jointly host a forum February 11 on the infrequent intersection of African American and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) images in media, and the importance of these stories being told, particularly in the wake of California's Proposition 8.

The panel will explore the historical under-representation of these images, the ongoing advocacy efforts to promote the telling of these stories and the professional issues and challenges facing openly gay African American artists.

The planned two hour forum will also be co-sponsored by The Screen Actors Guild LGBT Actors Committee and the Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch of the NAACP starting at 7 PM PST in the Screen Actors Guild James Cagney Board Room.

The panelists confirmed for the event include Willis Edwards, Member, National Board of Directors, NAACP; Vice Chair of the NAACP Image Awards, Deondray Gossett, Writer/Producer/Director, "The DL Chronicles", Maurice Jamal, Writer/Producer/Director, "Dirty Laundry," "The Ski Trip", Sonja Sohn, Actor, "The Wire" and J. Karen Thomas, Actor; Founding Member SAG LGBT Actors Committee

The panel will be moderated by GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson.

"For the first time we have five openly gay individuals and multiple gay-themed projects nominated at the NAACP Image Awards," said Jasper Hendricks, NBJC Director of Field Operations. "We are hopeful this historic achievement will begin to break down barriers to openly LGBT arts and entertainment professionals in getting roles and jobs in the industry. We need to continue to highlight our successes and this forum will be a part of educating the media and the industry as to the issues LGBT people face."

"This year's nominees for the NAACP Image Awards demonstrate significant progress at a time when LGBT African Americans continue to be underrepresented in the media and those representations are often based on stereotypes," said GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson. "We hope that through open dialogue with industry leaders at forums like this, we can continue to open doors for stories and images of our lives and our communities. These stories – when told in a fair, accurate and inclusive way – have the power to change hearts and minds."

The "Knocking Down the Door: Black LGBT Images in Media" will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 from 7-9 PM PST at the Screen Actors Guild, James Cagney Board Room, First Floor.

For any further information contact: Damon Romine, GLAAD, (323) 634-2012

Online Discourse Frustrations

One of the things that I've found is irritating about substantive online discourse in the blogosphere and beyond is how race and white privilege rears its ugly head in the middle of it at inopportune times.

If a Black person (or any POC) on a mixed race blog states an opinion that doesn't neatly line up with white groupthink on an issue, they are immediately challenged to prove it, provide links to it, loudly denounced as being 'racist' or the person is viciously personally attacked in order to divert attention from the original subject matter being discussed.

The same hue and cry for accuracy doesn't exist when a white person states their opinion on an issue. It's just taken as a given that it's correct, it's grounded in logic and reason and 'errbody's' supposed to accept with without debate even if it resembles barnyard feces.

The problem is that Whites and Blacks live in vastly different worlds. Black people grow up in a world in which we constantly confront racism and its deleterious effects on our lives. Whites grow up in one in which they live enveloped in that white privilege cocoon. Even if a white person transitions or is GLBT, they still carry with them white privilege as they are discriminated against and reviled by their fellow whites.

Therefore, it's illogical for example, a white feminist to say that you know what it's like to be a black woman' because you're not even though there are some things about womanhood that cross cultural and ethnic lines. But even I'm cautious about saying that line even though I've been transitioned for over a decade and probably have more credibility if I said it than you ever will.

We aren't even close to being a 'post-racial' society either. The election of President Obama and 40 years of post civil rights legislation did not magically erase the 400 plus years of racist attitudes that buttressed slavery and we never addressed post emancipation.

Those attitudes are so insidious that even if you think that you're not being offensive, there are times that the racism oozes into your statement and you're not aware of it until a POC calls you on it.

And don't even get me started on that BS race card meme or the your civil rights struggle is 'just like ours' because it isn't.

Just because POC's are bluntly expressing an opinion that happens to be diametrically opposed to yours, it doesn't make us 'angry'. If we're pissed, there will be no doubt about that because we'll definitely let you know when we are.

Too many times when POC bloggers write about various issues, some peeps get defensive about it. As one of my fave bloggers Renee says, 'If it ain't about you, don't make it about you.' If you don't exhibit the behaviors we're complaining about, then don't take it personally.

Even though online discourse can be maddeningly frustrating at times, they are also sorely needed conversations to help foster understanding as to just how deeply entrenched and pervasive these racist attitudes are in our society.

But if both sides approach them in a spirit of Kingian love, an open mind an a willingness to listen to thoughts and opinions which may uncomfortably challenge some core assumptions you've held about some issues, we'll all be better for the experiences.

Kim Petras Video

Congrats to German transteen Kim Petras, who recently had her SRS and is happily embarking on her new life. She has a blog called Kimperium (written in German and English) and a recording contract. Girlfriend's future is so bright she needs shades to walk down the street.

Here's the latest entry from her YouTube video blog.




And a September 21, 2008 entry

Bulent Ersoy Acquitted

I mentioned that beloved transwoman singer Bulent Ersoy was on trial for remarks she made on a TV program critical of the Turkish military.

In Turkey, military service is obligatory for men over the age of 20, and it is a crime to speak against it.

She stated on that fateful February 24 TV broadcast that if she had a son, she would not let him fight in other people’s wars, referring to the increasing number of soldiers killed fighting outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists.

Thanks to her lawyer, Muhittin Yüzüak, she was acquitted on December 18.

The court ruled that Ersoy be acquitted of charges of trying to turn the public against obligatory military service. The court pointed to freedom of speech as the rationale for the ruling and Presiding Judge Ülker Kirazcı ruled that Ersoy’s remarks were personal thoughts she'd expressed in line with her right to freedom of speech and thought.

She was facing a jail term ranging from nine months to nearly three years had she been convicted of the charges.

A Transsistah's Secret- Shoe Sizes

Being the shoe fanatic I am, one of the first things I wanted know was what was my feminine shoe size. The basic rule of thumb in the US and Canadian markets is that you add two to your old male shoe size to get the equivalent femme shoe size.

Therefore, if you wore a size 8 in a men's shoe, your equivalent women's shoe size is a 10.

However, while most people have consistent sizes across types of shoes, sometimes depending on the style of shoe and where it's manufactured, you may have to get one that's larger. I noted that I had to go a size larger for shoes made in Brazil, for example, while others were fairly true to my actual shoe size.

So word to the wise is try them on first before you buy them to make sure they're comfortable and they fit.

Shut Up Fool! Awards-Frosted Flakes Edition

As you know Louisville and the rest of the state was dealing with a major ice storm and snow that took out power lines. This time the TransGriot didn't lose power, but feels the pain of the peeps who did. So for those of you just getting back online, here's the idiocy you missed

Anyhoo, let's see who won this week's Shut Up Fool! Award.

There was no contest this week. I'm not even bothering to find any other ridiculous statements this week because our winner basically locked it down and blew away any potential competition.

This week's winner is another Faux News sellout negro, Jesse Lee Peterson. On this recent Hannity show he stated "I think we all agree that Barack Obama was elected by mostly racist Blacks and White guilty people." It was so over the top even the 'Little Ball of Hate' had to call him on it.



Jesse Peterson, shut up fool!

National Go Red Day

If you can't figure out what to wear to work today or while you're out and about doing errands, may I suggest something red?

Today is National Go Red Day. I'm joining millions of women, companies, organizations and cities across the country in raising awareness about women and heart disease.

According to Tiffany Travis, communications director for the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women ages 25 and older.

African American women are 35% more likely than non-Hispanic white women to die from heart disease. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, and smoking all put women at risk for heart disease. Studies have shown that African Americans don't get the same care for heart disease as whites because they don't get the same tests and treatments.

“We want women to talk about prevention and living heart-healthy lives,” she said. “There are factors you can control like diet and exercise, but getting an annual heart checkup, not just a well-woman exam, is vital.”

A heart checkup includes checking cholesterol and blood pressure levels, as well as blood sugar tests.

So pull that red outfit out of the closet and wear it in honor of Go Red Day.

What Happened To Black Media Coverage Of The AA GLBT Community?

African American Transgender History-50's Style was recently linked to by Womanist Musings (thanks, Renee) and posted to Racialicious. (thanks, Latoya)

An interesting discussion developed in the comment thread on that blog centered for the most part on why the African-American media shifted from inclusive coverage in flagship magazines like EBONY, JET and HUE and Black newspapers with a national audience such as the Pittsburgh Courier to an almost total blackout on issues of African descended GLBT people.

Moni's going to share with you her thoughts on why it happened.

You'll notice that most of this coverage happened prior to December 1, 1955.

What's the significance of that date? It's the day Rosa Parks was arrested and the subsequent start of the Montgomery Bus Boycott that kicked off the African-American civil rights movement.

The messaging of that movement sought to deny segregationists any chance to use negative stereotypes of the African-American community to impede the progress or momentum toward freedom and equality. In the zeal to show that we're Americans 'just like you', the frank discussions and coverage of GLBT issues in Black owned media and newspapers that were taking place in the early 50's disappeared because of a reluctance to air the community's 'dirty laundry'.

I think you can guess what issues became considered the community's 'dirty laundry' as the Civil Rights Movement gathered steam during an era of McCarthyism and increased calls for Black gay peeps like Bayard Rustin to lower their profiles in a movement they helped organize, create strategies and provide funding for.

At the same time this debate was raging, the African American media shifted focus to covering the various civil rights campaigns, the tumultuous events of the 50's and 60's and documenting the 'First Black' historical breakthroughs of the 70's, 80's and 90's in various fields. I have no quarrel with that because if Black media hadn't done it, no one else would have.

At the same time, they were losing their most talented journalists who had intimate knowledge of the Black community due to integration opening up better paying opportunities formerly closed to them.

The consequences of that shift are the glaring examples of the 1965 Dewey's protest in Philadelphia wasn't covered by our media (or as of yet, haven't stumbled across a JET or EBONY that covered the event) and transsistah Avon Wilson being revealed in October 1966 as the first client of the John's Hopkins Gender Clinic being done by a New York Daily News gossip columnist.

The first article I spotted in an African-American publication on transgender issues was a 1979 JET story on Justina Williams, complete with correct pronouns 20 plus years before the AP Stylebook rules for covering transgender people came out. ESSENCE magazine, which focuses on African American women, published the only article I can recall on a transperson in 2006, and the magazine has been in publication since the 1970's.

The one thing that continues to irritate me is the complete blackout of news on African-American GLBT people in Black owned media publications. It's even more galling when you see these stories like the late Duanna Johnson's beating at the hands of Memphis cops or Isis King not getting the coverage they deserve in OUR media and it needs to change.

Since we can't seem to get a respectfully fair shake in mainstream media publications, it's past time that our stories be told in our media outlets that we African descended GLBT people support with our dollars. African descended GLBT people aren't going away and it's time our peeps knew more about us than the myths, lies and outright falsehoods being told about us for specious reasons.

Turkish Transsexuals Take To The Stage To Defend Their Rights

TransGrior Note: I'll say it again, transgender peeps fighting for their rights, dignity and respect is a worldwide struggle.

Turkey: transsexuals take to the stage to defend their rights

From Agency France Presse
Jan 20, 2008

ANKARA (AFP) — A unique play in an Ankara theatre ended with a standing ovation this week as the little-known actors -- transsexuals and gays raising their voice against discrimination -- fought back their tears on stage.

Their play, "Pink And Grey," put the spotlight on the plight of transsexuals in mainly Muslim Turkey, in the latest initiative of a fledgling but increasingly vocal movement for rights by a community long ostracized and often harassed.

Beaming with pride and excitement, the amateur stars, male-to-female transsexuals Derya Tunc and Sera Can, received congratulations in the boisterous backstage, taking a welcome respite from their actual jobs as sex workers.

"Despite all the discrimination we face, I have no regrets for what I am," Can cheerfully told AFP. "My only regret is having ended up in the prostitution sector."

Almost all transsexuals and transvestites in Turkey make their living as prostitutes. They say they have no other option in a society where homophobia is strong and often accompanied by violence.

Three quarters of Turks say they are "disturbed" by homosexuals, a recent opinion survey showed, although many gays today are recognized as being among the country's most prominent singers and fashion designers.

Notoriously harsh against transsexual prostitutes, police have been accused of arbitrary round-ups, mistreatment, torture and rough "clean-up" operations in several Istanbul neighbourhoods popular with transsexuals.

Activists say police abuse declined in recent years as the homosexual and transgender movement became organised and Turkey's bid to join the European Union made human rights a priority issue.

"Before, the police used violence -- now they only fine us," said Buse Kilickaya, the head of Pembe Hayat, or Pink Life, a newly-founded association that advocates transgender rights and sponsored "Pink and Grey."

She pointed to the ongoing trial of four people over an assault on transvestite and transsexual prostitutes in Ankara's Eryaman suburb in 2006, which left several seriously injured.

The victims were attacked by young men wielding sticks and knives who were allegedly encouraged by local authorities and property developers; their flats were ransacked and they were eventually forced to flee the neighbourhood.

Attorney Senem Doganoglu, a supporter of Pink Life, said transvestites and transsexuals continue to be arbitrarily detained and could end up in a police station simply for showing up in the street.

"I had a case in which one was detained when she went out in the evening to buy bread," Doganoglu said.

Prostitution is not a crime in Turkey, so the police use a law that provides for fines for disturbing public order to pursue transsexual sex workers, she explained.

That the advocacy of conservative values by the governing Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) "is fostering the existing climate of intolerance," she said.

Islam's impact on sexual freedoms, however, has proven to be a tricky issue in secular Turkey, where same-sex relationships and sex change operations are allowed, unlike in many other Muslim countries, and homosexual traditions can be traced back to the palaces of Ottoman sultans.

One of Turkey's best-known gays, prominent fashion designer Cemil Ipekci, made the headlines this month as he praised the AKP, described himself as a "conservative homosexual" and said he would have worn the Islamic headscarf had he been a woman.

And a transgender association in Ankara has called for a special mosque where its members can pray without disturbing the conventional Muslim flock.

"They cannot deny us the right to pray for salvation, can they?" asked group leader Oksan Oztok.

Activists hope discrimination will decrease as they become better organised and more vocal.

"We know things cannot change overnight. But there is progress already and we will continue to fight," Kilickaya said as she and her fellows excitedly discussed the date of the next "Pink and Grey" performance.

Hello World! Thanks For Stopping By!

I recently put a traffic feed widget on TransGriot because I was curious to see where my readers were coming from.

Before I put it on the blog, I knew I had people that popped in from Great Britain, the Philippines, Australia, various parts of Canada, Portugal and various parts of the US who comment on a regular basis.

But after I finally put it on, I was amazed to see that I get hits from the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Sweden, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Nigeria, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia and Mexico.

It obviously varies based on the time I look at it, but I'm proud to have a wider international following than I initially presumed.

So thank you world for stopping by, spending your valuable browsing time here, and perusing through the over 1300 posts that interest you.

I promise I'll do my utmost to keep it interesting so you continue to come back and feel moved from time to time leave a comment from time to time.

2009 IFGE Conference

It's a little earlier than the early April date it normally happens, but the 23rd edition of the IFGE Conference is kicking off today through February 8 at the Hilton Alexandria at Mark Center in Alexandria, VA.

This year's location I have fond memories of because I attended the last IFGE Conference that was held in the Washington DC area back in 2000. I not only got the opportunity to lobby some congressmembers, but watch as Dawn made history by becoming the first African-American transperson to win the IFGE Trinity Award.

Speaking of history, IFGE Executive Director Denise Leclair noted the historic timing of this year's event as well. "We are very excited to be staging this year's conference right next door to our nation's capital at such a pivotal time in our country's history. We believe it is very significant that the transgender community will be gathering in the Washington, D.C. area just two weeks after the presidential inauguration.

2009 is a critical year for our community in terms of securing the same employment rights and protections enjoyed by the rest of society, and we firmly believe that this conference will create momentum for change that will carry through the rest of the year."

That change she articulated is the expected introduction of a transgender inclusive ENDA and Hate Crimes bill that the community has high hopes will pass with expanded progressive majorities in the House and Senate and a president in the White House who will sign it.

As with any IFGE Conference, in addition to the informative seminars, the highlight is the presentation of the IFGE Trinity Awards. While there won't be any additions to the exclusive club of African-American Trinity winners (2000 Dawn Wilson, 2002 Dr. Marisa Richmond, 2006 moi), the Trinity Class of 2009 will consist of Lisa Mottet, Gunnar Scott and Spencer Bergstedt.

The IFGE Conference's target audience is anyone and everyone who is part of, allied with, or of service to the Transgender Community. So if you're in the Washington DC metro area, you may want to check out IFGE 2009.

Zero To Femininty In One Year

There's one issue we transwomen must come to grips with just before we begin our transitions.

We have to realize that we must go from whatever rudimentary knowledge of femininity we still have that wasn't suppressed out of us by our attempted masculine upbringings to an almost encyclopedic age appropriate knowledge of everything we should know as women.

Oh yeah, unlike our biosisters, we don't have the luxury of time to get to learn it, we have to do it in a year. While we're doing that, we're being reviled by almost everyone around us in society from disapproving family members to fundamentalist religion adherents and people who hate us enough to violently erase us from this plane of existence.

Being transgender is serious business and even if I'd had the opportunity to look into my future and see how my life was going to turn out, the only regret I have about it is that I didn't do it sooner.

Yeah, sometimes it's aggravating as hell. I get my feelings hurt from time to time. Every time I run into a narrow minded jerk or a person wallowing in unenlightened ignorance, I have to remind myself of the blessings that I have of having family and friends who love me and value the fact I'm in their lives.

So how do you go from zero to femininity? Practice, practice, practice and lots of learning and observation. Getting in touch with your spiritual and emotional side. Having biowomen school you on some of the points and lessons they learned growing up. Figuring out what type of woman you want to project to the world and working endlessly to become that finer specimen of womanhood.

And also realizing that society sees you differently. You are considered a target if you are attractive. If you're African American, even if you are beautiful, you're considered 'ugly' and 'unpretty'. You are considered less intelligent.

You also have a heightened risk not only to have potentially fatal physical violence and sexual assault visited upon you, you also have a heightened risk for breast cancer thrown into the mix as well.

But despite all that, the feeling of peace that I have every day I wake up because I did transition is one money can't buy. I know that despite the title of this post, femininity is a lifelong learning process that I enjoy learning something new about every day.

I absolutely revel in being me and living on this side of the gender fence, even if the first year of it can be chaotic.

Walking In Pumps Videos

This post is dedicated to Crys. You asked for in my previous post on the subject video of peeps walking in heels. Since you're one of my loyal readers, I went hunting for it on YouTube.

While there were some that fit the bill, some of it drifted into fetish territory. These three I found were instructional ones that I could put on the site that 'errbody' could view while at work.

Enjoy.


This ones from the LEGWORK video series, which is an exercise program that claims will not only improve the shape and tone of your legs, but will strengthen the inner core and help you walk sexy in heels.

Canadian Government Minister's Black History Month Message

TransGriot Note: I mentioned that Black History Month is now celebrated in Canada as well. Here's a message from Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

“February—Black History Month—gives us an annual opportunity to remember and appreciate the struggle and the achievements of the black Canadian community in Canada’s history.

“The 2009 theme, Building Canadian Identity, focuses on three elements: the contribution of the No. 2 Construction Battalion of Pictou, Nova Scotia, during the First World War; the recognition of black Canadian Olympians a year before the winter games in Vancouver; and the preservation of the historical contributions of black Canadians to the building of Canada.

“The desire and determination of a group of black Canadian men to serve their country during the First World War led the government of Canada to create the No. 2 Construction Battalion in 1916. While based in Nova Scotia, the members of this battalion, more than 600 at its peak, came from across Canada. The Battalion spent the war building roads, railways, bridges and defences, sometimes on terrain with unexploded ordnance or in areas close to the front line. Many were injured and some lost their lives doing this necessary work. In a short time, they distinguished themselves and were recommended for transfer to the Western Front.

“In many sports at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and in other major international competitions, black Canadian men and women have inspired and excited us with their athletic performances, and have represented Canada honourably on the world sporting stage.

“These are part of Canadian history, the record and memory of which must be preserved. There are many museums across Canada that celebrate and preserve black history, but we must ensure that younger Canadians continue the work of these institutions. As part of 2009 Black History Month, the government is undertaking a succession planning day in Ottawa for Canadian museums of black history, to promote an intergenerational community of practice for the preservation of the important contributions of black Canadians to Canadian identity.

“As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I encourage all Canadians to participate in events and celebrations of this part of our history all across Canada during Black History Month.”

The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP

A Transsistah's Secret-Walking In Pumps

I've mentioned how much I love shoes, especially if they are heels up to 3 inches.

I've been told I do such a good job at it I have had biowomen at various times pull me aside and privately ask me how long I've been doing it and how I learned to walk and stand comfortably in them.

First order of business is to make sure they are comfortable. I don't care if they are cute, the exact color I need for an outfit or on sale, I never buy shoes that are too small or too tight in the toe box for my feet.

Comfort is the name of the game, especially if they are shoes I'm going to be spending extended periods of time wearing, walking or standing in. I'm not shy about getting them a half size to a size larger in search of comfort.

Unfortunately, once you start approaching a size 9 and up there aren't in many women's shoe collections half sizes, so you have to go up to the next shoe size. You also want to start with a lower heel height and work your way up

As for what worked for me, before I even started walking in them I would get used to sitting and standing in them for extended periods of time. I'd get either an old pair of knee highs or hose and simply put them on. You especially need to do this with shoes that you've just purchased so they can mold to your foot.

Most of the time I'd simply just put them on and practice walking and standing in various heel heights. I had stairs in my old apartment and practiced slowly walking up and down them since one of my fave clubs back home had a stairwell I had to negotiate. You also want to practice once you get the hang of walking in a straight line in them on carpeted and non carpeted floors, stopping quickly and turning in them as well.

And yes, I even practiced dancing in them, too.

You want to make sure you're standing as tall and straight as possible. Since I have long legs, I naturally have a longer stride, but ideally you want to take short steps and land on heel first, then ball of foot while trying to relax your legs as much as possible to avoid getting cramps.

While there won't be any great high heel races in my future, over time I've gotten to the point where I can confidently and gracefully walk in them without a problem.

Peruvian Neighborhood Watch Attacks Transwoman

Well, it didn't take long for Papa Nazi's Yuletide hate speech against transsexuals to filter down to the flock. Peep what happens to this transgender sex worker when she has the misfortune of being caught by the local neighborhood watch.

Another Brother Coach In The Super Bowl

Back during the days of the old AFC Central Division the Steelers were the team next to the Dallas Cowboys I loved to hate because they were in the same division as my beloved Oilers.

It was the Steelers that both times ended my dreams of seeing my hometown NFL squad play in the Super Bowl, and most Houstonians will never forget the 1980 AFC Championship game that was stolen from us at Three Rivers Stadium by a lousy call that nullified a touchdown catch by Mike Renfro that would have tied the game.

But when Super Bowl XLIII kicks off later today in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals, Mike Tomlin will be attempting to become the second African-American head coach in the modern era to win an NFL championship.

The interesting side note to this game is that he'll be coaching against Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt, the guy he beat out for the Pittsburgh job.

Mike Tomlin has done in two years what it took his Steeler predecessor coaches Chuck Noll six years and Bill Cowher four years to accomplish.

Whisenhunt has been a miracle worker as well, transforming the once sad sack Arizona Cardinals to the brink of their first title since 1947, but he's going to have to beat the team in which he worked as an offensive coordinator for several years.

In addition to the personal history that Tomlin is trying to accomplish, with a win today the Steelers would claim their sixth Super Bowl Championship, eclipsing the record they share with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.

Black LGBT History Is Your History, Too

Happy Black History Month!

While I could gripe endlessly about the fact that Black History Month takes place during the shortest month of the year, I'll chill about that for now and focus on the big picture.

The Negro History Week that Dr. Carter G. Woodson envisioned back in 1926 has not only grown to cover a month, but is now celebrated by our Canadian cousins as well. We are also starting to expand its focus to to encompassing the history of African descended people across the Diaspora.

Since history is basically the story of a people, Black history is MY history as a African descended transwoman. I didn't give up my 'Black Like Me' Card when I transitioned, and nor does being part of the GLBT community negate any concerns I have as an African descended transperson for the welfare of my peeps no matter what continent, country or Caribbean island they reside in.

Conversely, as a proud African descended member of the GLBT community, my GLBT history also belongs to you as well, despite what some hate peddling megachurch preacher tells you.

One of the things that's becoming more apparent every day is that African American transgender people existed before the early 21st century. We were living our lives during the Harlem Renaissance, in Chicago, New Orleans and in various cities like Pittsburgh as Charles 'Teenie' Harris' Pittsburgh Courier photographs and JET, EBONY and HUE magazine articles bear witness to.

That history also involves standing up for our rights as transgender people thanks to the people involved in the 1965 Dewey's Lunch Counter Sit-In Protest in Philadelphia.

There are also many African descended transpeople making Black history now here and across the Diaspora, and it's past time our Black family acknowledges, respects and embraces that fact.