Number 23- Rest In Power and Peace Tydie

I was hoping we could get through the remaining weeks in this year without having another trans person murdered. Sadly that is not the case.

We head to Baltimore for our latest sister we will memorialize in 2018. 

Her name was Tydie Dansbury, and she was found unconscious on the side of a street at 4:15 AM EST on Monday, November 26.  Neighborhood residents who called the Baltimore PD reported hearing a gunshot in the 2400 block of Guilford Ave at W. Lanvale St. 

The 37 year old Dansbury was taken to a nearby hospital where she died a short time later.

BPD Police spokesperson TJ Smith said in a Baltimore Sun video interview that what they do know is that some kind of argument took place between Tydie and another person, and that person pulled out a gun and shot Tydie.   The perpetrators subsequently left the crime scene at a high rate of speed in a dark colored vehicle.

Baltimore police are urging anyone with information that can solve this murder and bring the perpetrators to justice to call the police homicide office at 410-396-2199 or text with tips at 443-902-4824    You can also call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP (1-866-756-2587) to leave anonymous tips.

Tydie is the 23rd trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence in the US in 2018 and the 17th African American trans person we have lost this year. 

The Baltimore Transgender Alliance hosted a vigil tonight that started at 7 PM at their headquarters,  The BTA will be monitoring the situation to ensure that justice is served for our departed sister.

And I have to note one other thing.  Baltimore is the headquarters city for the NAACP.   When will they speak out. as HRC is doing, against the plague of violence disproportionately affecting Black trans people?

When will our Black trans lives matter to the oldest civil rights organization in our community?

Rest in power and peace , Tydie.  You trans family and everyone who loved you will not rest until justice is served in your death.

TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards- Last Friday In November Edition

It seems like it was just months ago we partying like it was 1999 as we welcomed 2018.   Now we're four weeks from ending this year and moving on to 2019.

It also seems to me as you get older, time moves faster.  New Year's Eve also doesn't feel the same to me ever since Dick Clark passed away.

Oh well, enough jibber jabber.   Time to get to this week's person or persons who earned this week's TransGriot Shut Up Fool Award. 

While there were some worthy nominees this week like Agent Orange, Sarah Suckabee Sanders, Paul Ryan, Ivanka Trump, Andrea Long Chu, Paul Manafort and Kevin Hart, once again for the second straight week, just going to get right to calling out this week's fool,

This week's loser  winner is FOX Noise spokesbigot Tomi Lahren. 

Bigot Barbie couldn't stop herself from letting something asinine slide from that pretty mouth when she shared in the wake of the reprehensible teargassing of asylum seekers on the Mexican border that it 'made her Thanksgiving weekend.'

Really, rhymes with witch?   Was your Thanksgiving so jacked up that you considered that odious event to be the highlight of your holiday weekend?   

You're definitely a top contender for the 2018 TransGriot Shut Up Fool of the Year Award when I announce it on New Year's Eve.

Let me just end this right now.   Tomi Lahren, Shut Up Fool! 

More Chromosomes Than Just XX and XY

Lately I've been hearing this talking point from the evilgelicals and the transphobically illiterate that goes 'you can't change your DNA'.   The other variant of it they like to throw is 'you can't change your chromosomes'.

They will then follow those initial attack comments up by saying, "If you have XX chromosomes, you are a woman.  If you have XY chromosomes, you are a man."

Not so fast my transphobic friends.   Humans come in far more chromosomal varieties than XX and XY.   There;s XO, XXY, XYY, XXYY, XXXY, XY/XO, XX/XO, XX/XY....

Biology is not a nice, neat binary.

And that's before I get to blow your feeble minds by pointing out an intersex condition that occurs in one in every 20,000 births called androgen insensitivity syndrome that ends up producing women with XY chromosomes like my homegirl Alicia.

She blew some minds in the Texas Lege last year when they were trying to pass SB 6 and came out as intersex     So when you faith based fools ignorantly assert that 'women have XX chromosomes', not all women do.

Another FYI for you scientifically illiterate peeps.  Medical science is rapidly advancing to the point where humans will be able to edit the DNA code in vitro and create 'designer babies'.

Chinese genetics researcher He Jiankui has claimed he helped create the first gene edited babies.  That news is causing controversy in the international scientific community.

So there goes your 'you can't change your DNA' talking point.

That's why I and other scientifically literate peeps in Trans World laugh at you transphobes and call you ignorant when you start spouting those inaccurate talking points.

We know that our trans lives are not subject to debate.  We know better than anybody that gender is between your ears, not your legs.  We also know that the scientific research backing this point up is increasingly on our side as well. 

We also know that science and biology blow up whatever faith based lies you come up with.

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks-Week 13

We are now in December.  It's not only crunch time for NFL teams seeking to make the playoffs, but for me and Mr Watts battling for NFL prognostication supremacy.

I definitely enjoyed the Texans Monday night demolition of the Tennessee Traitors.  The nationally televised win was the Texans eighth consecutive after starting the season 0-3, and kept them at the top of the AFC South.   Now they have an upcoming potential trap game with the not a laughingstock Cleveland Browns they need to navigate. 

I rebounded after a sub 500 week, but must do better because despite the above .500 week, I'm now trailing in the season long prognostication contest.    Didn't help that Mike just missed a perfect week because of the Broncos and the Browns upsets.

Let's get to NFL Week 13 which starts with a massive game with the red hot New Orleans Saints facing the Dallas Cowchips Cowboys

No more bye weeks.  Everybody's playing either on Thursday, Sunday or Monday.   Teams I'm picking to win in bold print with HOME team in caps.  Mike's Week 13 picks here.

Week 13 Results                                               2018 NFL Season Results   
TransGriot  10-5                                               TransGriot  113-61-2
Mike           13-2                                               Mike           116-58-2

Thursday Night Game
Saints over COWBOYS

Sunday Early Game
TEXANS over Browns
Ravens over FALCONS
Panthers over BUCCANEERS
Bears over GIANTS
DOLPHINS over Bills
Colts over JAGUARS
Broncos over BENGALS
Rams over LIONS
PACKERS over Cardinals

Sunday Afternoon Games
Chiefs over RAIDERS
TITANS over Jets
SEAHAWKS over 49ers
PATRIOTS over Vikings

Sunday Night Game
STEELERS over Chargers

Monday Night Game
EAGLES over Washington

Angela's Headed To Miss Universe 2018!

"I’m competing because it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl. I’m showing that trans women can be whatever they want to be: a teacher, a mother, a doctor, a politician and even Miss Universe."-Angela Ponce

Miss Spain Universe Angela Ponce is headed to Thailand to hopefully make more history.

The 27 year old has already done so as the first out trans woman ever to win a national Miss Universe pageant, and is seeking to become the first trans winner of the 67th edition of the world's most prestigious beauty pageant when it is held in Bangkok on December 17.

She's had some loud transphobic haters, like Miss Colombia Universe 2018 Valeria Morales and Lupita Jones, the head of the Miss Mexico Universe organization.   But Ponce also has her supporters in Spain, the Miss Universe Spain organization, others within the Miss Universe pageant world such as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, and Miss Philippines Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

Most importantly, her family and her trans family around the planet support her as well.

She's headed to Thailand now because there is a preliminary portion of the pageant that whittles down the  94 delegates to the sixteen contestants you'll see on stage during the live broadcast once again hosted by Steve Harvey and Ashley Graham

Safe travels Angela and good luck to you during the Miss Universe 2018 pageant! 

Mississippi Senate Runoff Today

Today the voters in Mississippi finish the last election of the 2018 midterms in this senate race between Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Confederacy) and her Democratic challenger in former congressman and agriculture secretary Mike Espy.

The runoff election has gotten a lot closer because Confederate Cindy's racist baggage has come tumbling out of the KKKloset to the point that Agent Orange had to fly to the Magnolia State to try to save her voting 100% for his agenda behind. 

A loss in this race means that the GOP only has a 52-48 edge in the US Senate despite a Senate map that favored them, and would be the icing on the cake for a blue tsunami in 2018 that flipped control of the US House and gave the Dems a 40 seat majority.

The Republicans are justifiably worried they are about to see a repeat of what happened in neighboring Alabama, and don't be surprised if that happens when the votes are counted later tonight.

Mississippi has a 32% Black population.  That's higher than Alabama's.  And if you think Mississippi's Black electorate won't bumrush the polls for an opportunity to smack down a racist and elect the first African American US senator to rep the state since 1877 at the same time, y'all are seriously naive and sleeping on the power and sophistication of the Black vote. 

Here's hoping that Espy pulls the upset 

TransGriot Update:  Confederate Cindy won, but only by a single digit percentage margin.

Skip The Salvation Army Kettles In 2018

This is another TransGriot remident for you when you see the Salvation Transphobic Army kettles out to ignore them for their continued anti-trans attitudes.

They have a long, ugly history of hating on the TBLGQ community, which is why I laughed my butt off during an episode of POSE in which Elektra Abundance and the House of Abundance jacked a Salvation Army kettle.   

While the Salvation Army is claiming on their website they have changed their tune and evolved, we still don't have clear evidence they have ended their historic antipathy toward the TBLGIQ + community.

It was also quite disturbing to see white supremacists ringing the Salvation Army kettle bells at an Indiana location.

While I don't recommend y'all do an Elektra Abundance stunt, you can decline to drop your change in those Salvation Army kettles popping up at stores near you.

Instead donate to trans and SGL led organizations doing proven work in our community during this holiday season and beyond or trans advocates directly via their PayPal or Cash Apps.

In case you're wondering, here's mine if you're feeling generous. 

Houston's Pride Portraits 'Be Visible' Wall Vandalized

"The Pride Portraits BE VISIBLE wall has been targeted with hate. Our hearts are heavy but we will RESIST. 

LOVE to all,
Eric, Hugo, Crimson, Jenni and Scott."

That was the message that greeted us on the Pride Portraits Facebook page this morning as we discovered that the Pride Portraits 'Be Visible' wall that has been on the side of the Jenni's Noodle House location in the Heights since April has unfortunately been vandalized.

The wall was created by artist Hugo Perez, and was dedicated back on April 5 in a ceremony that included Jim Obergefell.  A quote from Obergefell is included in the pride wall painting that reads:

“I march because of the people who marched before me. Thanks to them, I live in a better world due to their bravery, and I owe it to them and those who come after me to continue the fight for equality.”

As you probably guessed, the malicious vandalizing of the seven month old wall has already pissed off and galvanized local advocates to not only make plans to repair the damage, but increase security so that it won't happen again.

Eric Edward Schell of Pride Portraits had this to say about the vandalism of the wall

"The amount of emboldened hate it took for an individual to deface the pride wall, thats sole mission is to uplift, affirm and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community in my opinion is a direct result of our current political climate. Donald J. Trump and his administration are directly responsible for the uprise in anti LGBTQIA+ hate crimes across the United States," said Schell. 

"This type of vandalism brings me right back to the Pulse shooting and the realization that people want our community silenced if not dead for simply existing. Being visible in our community puts a target on our backs but visibility it is imperative to our right to exist in society," he continued.

"There is no “gay agenda”. We are not asking for extra rights. We are not asking that you have less rights. We are seeking equality."

A donation for a security camera to watch the wall has already been made by a generous donor, and other people in the Houston community are already stepping up to volunteer to repaint the the wall and restore it back to its original glory.

If a GoFundMe or other online fundraising effort pops up to raise money to pay for the repairs to the Be Visible wall, I'll post it here.

And to the cowardly tagger who did this, a message for you.   How about you, your Republican and your evilgelical friends stop your anti-gay hate agenda?

And for those of you wondering what the 'gay agenda' the conservafools always whine about is?

1. Be visible
2. Respect our human rights
3. Respect our humanity
4. Be proud of who we are
5. See 1-4
  

TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards- Black Friday 2018 Edition

It's Black Friday, and hordes of shoppers are working off those post-Thanksgiving calories swarming the malls and strip shopping centers of America ready to trample and beat up their fellow Americans in search of Christmas shopping deals and deeply discounted bargains. 

And it's one thing I definitely don't miss about being in retail.

I know y'all have missed my Shut Up Fool Award posts.  You have told me so as I have been out and about.  I stopped doing them for awhile because I was living a stress filled nomadic life for two months as I was trying to get settled in the wake of moving into my new place. 

It was also because as our Shut Up Fool inspiration, Mr T says, 'Fools are everywhere!'  The number of fools showing their azzes in the Trump misadminstration, the GOP, the evilgelicals, conservafool movement and internationally during that time was getting so overwhelming I had to take a break from it because I had enough on my plate.

But to the consternation of fools everywhere and your reading pleasure, I'm rested and ready to call the fools out.

This week's winner is embattled US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Confederacy Mississippi)

She has turned what should have been an easy re -election runoff race between her and former congressman and Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy into one eerily replicating for Republicans what happened in neighboring Alabama.

And Mississippi, FYI, has a larger Black population than Alabama does.

She has made comments at a Tupelo event about 'being on the front row of a public hanging', and being in favor of suppressing the votes of people and Black college students.

Hyde-Smith is now complaining that the 'Democrats are tuning my words into a political weapon to be used against me."

You damned skippy they are since you were clueless enough to say them.

That's before I even get to the picture she took at Jefferson Davis' house in Biloxi wearing a Confederate soldiers cap and standing next to someone who is a member of an SPLC-certified hate group.

She has returned contributions from Walmart ($2000), Google ($5000) and $2700 from a Seattle businessman accused of discriminating against Muslims.

As Mike Espy said during the debate, "We don't know what's in your heart, but we all know what came out of your mouth." 

Yeah, we do Confederate boo boo kitty.   You flapped those lips and let the dog whistle hate speech flow.  If you didn't want your word to become a campaign issue, should've kept them to yourself

Hope you lose on the 27th.

Cindy Hyde-Smith, shut up conservafool!

Why Including In TDOR's People Who Commit Suicide Is A Bad Idea

We have just concluded the TDOR memorials for 2018 here and around the world.   Sadly we will be doing them again next year on and around November 20.

I'm hearing online chatter about the topic of including trans people who commit suicide in these TDOR memorials.  That's a bad idea, and I'm going to lay out the case why it;s a bad idea.

A trans person who is killed due to a murder doesn't have the choice of and control over when and how they die.   It is a random act of violence that deserves public condemnation, media attention when it happens, and focus to ensure the perpetrator of that murder is tried and convicted for it.

A suicide is not the same as someone who has been murdered by either a random stranger or somebody they know.   The person who commits suicide has the choice of whether to do so or not. and if they do make that call, how and when they die.

Suicide is a serious issue in this community.  I believe a large reason why it has spiked in our community is not only because of the right wing repression of our community, but because of the international media attention that Leelah Alcorn's 2014 suicide got. 

If we are seeking to reduce suicides in the trans community, glamorizing them at a future TDOR is not the pathway to accomplish that goal.   We need to be as a community unequivocally encouraging people to live their best trans lives, not take them. 

As leaders in the trans community, we need to be possibility models encouraging trans people to choose life.   We also need to as leaders be pointing out that one of the powerful ways to send society the middle finger for hating on trans people at is to unapologetically live your life.

Laverne Cox recently revealed in an interview that she once considered over a decade ago committing suicide.   I and the community are glad she didn't, because we now get to witness her groundbreaking award winning acting talent and have the benefit of her advocacy. 

She is also a role model to many in our community, and I get to call her a friend.   But all the fabulousness of Ms. Cox we get to witness would have been lost forever to us if she had followed through 17 years ago on those thoughts of suicide.

Every trans life is a precious one.   By committing suicide, every trans life lost that way makes the TERF's and evilgelicals smile.  It also denies us the opportunity to get to know your amazing self. and deprives us and the world of your talents and future contributions to our community.

TDOR's are and have been for 20 years memorializing the people we lose around the world to anti-trans murders.  The reason the numbers are universally accepted by the media is because founder Gwen Smith set up a strict standard on what gets included on a TDOR list so that we aren't accused by our detractors of inflating them.

It has worked for 20 years.  If it ain't broke, it doesn't need to be fixed or altered without a compelling reason to do so. 

What I will suggest is that if people want to discuss trans suicides, they are welcome to do so in a conversation or event centering the subject that is held during Trans Awareness Week from November 12-19. 

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks- Week 12

Ugh, had my second losing week of the season after being on the wrong side of several close games and that Rams-Chiefs shootout in LA

At least the Texans won their seventh straight game and will go for their eighth consecutive win against the despised Tennessee Traitors on Monday night.

It's Turkey Day, and the games scheduled are anything but turkeys in the Bears-Lions, Cowboys-Washington and Saints-Falcons.

Let me get to my Week 12 picks because I want the stench of that losing week off of me, and once again I've frittered away a lead in this season long prognostication contest..

Mike's Week 12 selections will be here at this link.   Teams I'm picking to win in bold print with HOME team in CAPS.

Week 11 Results                                                        NFL 2018 Season Record
TransGriot   4-9                                                         TransGriot  103-56-2
Mike            7-6                                                         Mike           103-56-2

Thanksgiving Day Games
Bears over LIONS
COWBOYS over Washington
SAINTS over Falcons

Sunday Early Games
EAGLES over Giants
Jaguars over BILLS
PANTHERS over Seahawks
RAVENS over Raiders
49ers over BUCCANEERS
BENGALS over Browns
Patriots over JETS

Sunday Afternoon Games
CHARGERS over Cardinals
Steelers over Broncos
COLTS over Dolphins

Sunday Night Game
VIKINGS over Packers

Monday Night Game
TEXANS over Titans

Mississippi 2018 US Senate Debate

If you thought the 2018 midterms were over, not quite.   We still have some races in a few states that went to runoffs, and others they are still counting ballots in close races. 

One of those states in which a runoff is occurring is Mississippi, where Mike Espy is trying to become the first Black senator elected from the Magnolia State since Hiram Revels did so during Reconstruction.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) was appointed to fill the seat after Thad Cochran resigned for health reasons.  She has lately been making news for all the wrong reasons.

She commented that she would be on the front row of a public hanging lynching, and came out in favor of voter suppression.   An old picture has surfaced with Hyde-Smith in a Confederate cap standing next to a person from an SPLC certified hate group. 

This isn't dog whistle racism.  This is alarm klaxon racism.  That also concerns me as someone who has maternal side family members who live in Mississippi.

The debate between Espy and Confederate Cindy was last night, so if you missed it, here's the video of it.

The Holidays Can Be Hard On My Trans and GNC Family

The 2018 holiday season is about to commence.  People are heading to airports, train stations and hitting the interstate highways to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day with family and friends. 

But as you prepare to make new holiday memories with family, friends and all the people who love you, bear in mind those happy pics you post on social media and the conversations you have about your wonderful holiday dinners can be painful to many of my trans and GNC siblings.

And that depression brought on by forced family separation, exacerbated by constant reminders of the season with the classic holiday Christmas TV shows and movies, Christmas music on the radio, and people out and about doing holiday shopping, can lead to suicide.

Many of my trans and GNC siblings are facing a fall and winter of separation or banishment from their blood families for being their true selves.   It's also true for the Mama and Papa Bears that face the same issue for choosing to support their trans and gender non conforming child over their familial ties with disapproving family members.

So for those of you not in that situation in our community, please do everything in your power to lift our trans and GNC family up during this holiday season.   Invite them to your home for a gathering.  Call them on a regular basis from now through New Year's Day.  Check on them via social media.  Go out with them and do something fun when you can. 

For my trans and gender non conforming fam in that situation this holiday season, do not spend one nanosecond brooding about these holidays and the family that rejected you.  It is not your fault they foolishly chose not to accept the amazing and fabulous person you are.

It's their loss they won't have you at them family gatherings that will be less wonderful without your presence.

While there are some days during this period that are going to be hard not to do so, I challenge you to focus on building holiday memories with the chosen family who do want you in their lives,  I can tell you from experience I light up when I get Christmas cards, baked goods and gifts from my chosen family

There are some cities that have holiday events at their local LGBT centers for the trans and GNC community, so consider attending them.   Hang out with your trans and GNC friends.  Do fun stuff with them, be it Christmas or non Christmas related.  Call other people who may be having a rougher time than you are and talk to them. 

We love you, want you and need your fabulous trans selves to be around for 2019 and beyond

Call trans help lines if you aren't able to talk to someone locally or online, And for you trans allies and accomplices, show your trans family some love this holiday season   Do what you can to make a trans person's life that you are acquainted with better during the holidays.

As I continue to point out, we are an international trans and GNC community.  We are your family,  We understand and feel your pain.   Many of us, myself included, either have been or are still going through it, and we are determined to help you get through this emotion laden rough patch of a season.

I know the holiday can be hard, trans and GNC family.   But there are people inside and outside our community who are standing by to make it better and less sucky for you.   All you have to do is reach out to them and let them help you make things better.

TDOR At 20

Today is the official date of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.  It's been 20 years since Gwen Smith created the TDOR to remember the people that we have lost due to anti-trans violence.

And it's also been 20 years since Rita Hester was murdered, and her killer not being brought to justice.

We have another 22 people who were murdered in 2018, and as per usual in the States, they are disproportionately African American trans people.   Internationally Brazil depressingly leads the pack in being the most dangerous nation to be trans.

Say their names.   Their trans lives mattered.

Christa Lee Steele-Knudslien, 47, North Adams, MA
Vickky Gutierrez, 38, Los Angeles, CA
Zakaria Fry, 28,  Albuquerque, NM
Celine Walker, 38,  Jacksonville, FL
Tonya Harvey, 35, Buffalo, NY

Phylicia Mitchell, 45, Cleveland, OH
Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28, Baton Rouge, LA
Sasha Wall, 29, Chesterfield County, SC  
Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon, 26, Dallas, TX
Nino Fortson, 36, Atlanta, GA
Gigi Pierce, 28,  Portland, OR
Antasha English, 38, Jacksonville, FL
Diamond Stephens, 39, Meridian, MS

Catalina Christina James, 24, Jacksonville, FL
Keisha James, 58, Cleveland, OH
Sasha Garden, 27, Orlando, FL
Vontashia Bell, 18, Shreveport, LA
Dejanay Stanton, 24, Chicago, IL
Shantee Tucker, 30, Philadelphia, PA
Londonn Moore Kinard, 20, North Port, FL
Nikki Janelle Enriquez, 28, Laredo, TX
Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier, 31, Chicago, IL

2018 Trans Murders Stats Breakdown
Female 21-Male/GNC 1)

By Race
White-3   (3 female-0 male)
Latina-3   (3 female-0 male)
Black -16  (15 female-1 male/GNC)
Asian- 0
Native American- 0

By Age
50+  1
40-49  2

30-39  8
20-29  10
10-19- 1

That's 22 people from ages 18-58 that are no longer here with us, simply because they are trans.  When will it stop?   When will we finally be able to as a community to phase out this event? 

And a question that I ask for my Black trans siblings, when will the cis Black community and our legacy organizations care enough to say our Black Trans Lives Matter?

We're still waiting to hear those words from an NAACP president, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Black faith leaders.

And sadly, we're still waiting to hear them.

Moni's Marvelous Milwaukee Weekend

Got my 'I've arrived' phone call done to my mom last night after I arrived, and I'm in the state of Wisconsin and in my nice hotel room overlooking the Milwaukee River at the A Loft Milwaukee Downtown.    I'm also a mere two blocks from the new arena here.

The best part is I'm still in the Central time zone, so no jet lag issues. .

I'm chilling in Wisconsin's largest city, and woke up to snow on the ground to start my busy weekend that melted as the day wore on.    I was also on deadline for my OutSmart column and had to finish that column up

As for the weather, the last two days in Houston already prepped me for it since on Tuesday and Wednesday we were in the mid to low 30's temp wise.

Since I love to when I travel check out the local restaurants and food I can't get in Texas, Ian's Pizza is definitely on my foodie radar, along with Kopp's Frozen Custard.  Also looking forward to exploring the area near the hotel.

I spent part of today at the Milwaukee LGBT Center being this month's featured speaker as part of  their ongoing Stonewall Stage Talk Series.    I got a chance to do what I love and talk about trans history, current political developments, and what got me into my now 20 years of activism .

As soon as the link comes up for that talk, I'll post it.

Tomorrow is the more serious part of why I came here.  I'm the featured speaker for their TDOR that will take place at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 7 PM

Hope those of you in the Milwaukee area will check it out.

Moni's Leaving On A Jet Plane To- Milwaukee!

Been a few weeks since I hopped a flight somewhere, and this time I'm headed to the upper Midwest and a first time ever trip to Milwaukee.

And I'll get to see some of my United-CAL family since I'll be flying through IAH on this trip.

I'll be heading up there to speak at their TDOR event at UW-Milwaukee on Sunday night.   I'll also be doing on Saturday from 2-4 PM CST a Stonewall Stage Talk at the FORGE/ MKE LGBT Community Center at 1110 N Market Street.

The TDOR event will be on the UWM Campus in Bolton Hall, Room 150.  Address is 3210 N. Maryland Ave from 7-9 PM CST.   

Looking forward to hanging out with the Milwaukee and Wisconsin TBLGQ community and our allies this weekend.   Hopefully I will get a chance to see the 'Bronze Fonz' before I head back home Monday. 

Milwaukee was the setting for not only the longtime ABC sitcom Happy Days, it was also the setting for several seasons of the spinoff series Laverne and Shirley.

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks- Week 11

Did a much better job in Week 10 of picking that week's NFL games than I did in the previous week as my hometown NFL squad got to chill out on their bye week while riding a six game win streak after starting the season 0-3.

But they go to Washington DC to take on the NFL franchise with the racist nickname I refuse to repeat.  They, like the Texans, happen to be leading their division with an identical 6-3 record.  Former Texans DJ Swearinger is already talking smack in advance of the Texans trip to FedEx Field.  We'll see who's talking after the game.

We'll also have a amazing clash of 9-1 teams between the Rams and Chiefs that could be a possible preview of Super Bowl LIII.  The game was originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City, but was moved back to LA because of poor field conditions.

It'll be the first Monday Night game played in the LA Coliseum since 1985.

Let's get ready to prognosticate.  Another six teams, the Bills, Browns, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots and 49ers will be watching everybody else play.  So with only 13 games on the schedule, have to make sure I get more than 7 picks right and avoid a sub-.500 week.   Perfect week would be ideal.

So let's get to the Week 11 picks.  Team I like will be in bold print with HOME team in CAPS.  Mike's picks will be at this link.


Week 10 Results                                                           NFL 2018 Season Records
TransGriot  11-3                                                            TransGriot  99-47-2
Mike             9-5                                                            Mike           96-50-2

Thursday Night Game

Packers over SEAHAWKS

Sunday Early Games
Texans over WASHINGTON
Titans over COLTS
Steelers over JAGUARS
Panthers over LIONS
Buccaneers over GIANTS
FALCONS over Cowboys
RAVENS over Bengals

Sunday Afternoon Games
CARDINALS over Raiders
CHARGERS over Broncos
SAINTS over Eagles

Sunday Night Game
BEARS over Vikings

Monday Night Game
Chiefs over RAMS 

Trans Man, Meet Laverne Cox!

There's a new digital show called Fearless hosted by model Ashley Graham that focuses on people who do not fit the status quo. 

This particular episode just in time for Trans Awareness Week features a trans trans man named Rickey who is a year into his physical transition, and says has never met another trans person.

That ended when Laverne Cox walked out to join them on set.   Hope you have the tissues handy.