Meagan Taylor's Iowa Discrimination Case Settled

You TransGriot readers may recall last July when girl like us Meagan Taylor and a trans friend's stay at a West Des Moines, Iowa Drury Inn on their way to Kansas City for a funeral turned ugly after a transphobic hotel employee called the police with a false claim of prostitution on the premises..

It resulted in Taylor spending 8 days in the Polk County, Iowa jail, missing the funeral, and becoming a real time example of why public accommodations language is critical in any non discrimination ordinance that aims to cover trans people.

Taylor and the ACLU-Iowa sued in November, and I'm pleased to report that with the help of the ACLU, Taylor's case was settled to the mutual satisfaction of the hotel and herself.

"What happened to Meagan was simply unacceptable and un-Iowan," said Rita Bettis, the legal director of the ACLU-Iowa. "Iowans have long valued the importance of treating every person fairly, and Iowa law has expressly protected against this sort of harmful discrimination by businesses against their transgender customers since 2007."

Thank you Meagan for standing up for your human rights, and glad the case was successfully resolved to your satisfaction.

Bye, Stacey!

Been wondering when the conservafool movement would deploy their Kneegrow Auxiliaries to regurgitate the same trans hate the GOP politicians and conservative white folks have been spouting for the last few months.

Well, I now have my answer.  The sellout kneegrow (they don't deserve to be called Black) pastors were recently deployed to coon it up in North Carolina for the unjust Hate Bill 2, and now Stacey Dash has received her marching orders from her conservafool paymasters..

Ever since I first saw Stacey Dash in the movies Mo' Money and Illegal In Blue and later Clueless, I've been a fan.. The brothers drooled over her photo shoots in various Black men's magazines.  But over the last several years that has waned as she has started drinking the conservafool Kool-Aid.

Now that the FOX Noise Fembot has revealed herself to be an unrepentant transphobe, as far as I and everyone else in Black Trans World and our allies are concerned it's Bye, Stacey time.

Since you're a clueless conservaidiot, pun intended, let me break this simple concept down for you Ms. Dash.  Trans women are women, trans men are men.  We're also human beings.

Let my unapologetic Black trans behind tell your sellout ass where I and every other trans woman on this planet will be going to poop and pee, and wash our hands when we're done.  It won't be in the bushes, it'll be in the women's bathroom stall right next to you, just as we have been doing for your entire life and you probably didn't even know it.

And oh yeah, guess you forgot there are Black trans people whose #BlackTransLivesMatter to all who love them.   It is our lives that have been and will be disproportionately affected by the anti-trans violence and GOP legislative discrimination that your transphobic words gleefully endorse.
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Trans people demanding to have our humanity be treated with dignity and respect and our human rights recognized is not as you disrespectfully put it 'the tyranny of the minority'.  And how dare you as part of the conservative tyranny of the minority peddle that debunked anti-trans bathroom lie so you can peddle your new book that only the FOX Noise watching ignorati will read

Bye, Stacey.   And on behalf of Black Trans America, you can kiss our unapologetically Black trans behinds..

Rest In Power, Mercedes

Once again, it's my sad TransGriot duty to announce that we've lost another trans sister due to senseless violence.

We move to Haines City, FL to talk about the death of 32 year old Mercedes Successful, whose body was found on Sunday at 7 PM in the parking lot of Big Lots and Tractor Supply Company at 35884 US 27.

And as you probably guessed, Mercedes got misgendered in the initial reporting by Bay 9.  While I know the deadname, I'm not using it in this post so that I can give her the respect she deserves of being seen in death as she was during her all too brief life.

And once again, we have lost another Black trans sister before her 40th birthday.  I'm beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of this crap happening.  The conservative movement's facts free anti-trans rhetoric and transphobic hatred has real world costs, and trans women of color are paying in blood those costs.

Haines City Police are investigating her death as a homicide, but the extent of the injuries and cause of death are unknown pending the autopsy that was performed on Monday.

If you have information that will get us closer to solving this crime and apprehending the person or persons who killed our trans sister, you are urged to call the Haines City Police at 863-421-3636 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477)

Mercedes was born in Kingston, Jamaica but resided in Haines City.  She was involved in the drag and pageant world, but according to various Facebook posts had recently started her transition two months ago and was on HRT..

This is a developing news story, and as I continue to get details about this heinous crime, I'll pass the details on to you TransGriot readers.

Rest in power and peace, Mercedes.  Your trans siblings, family and all who loved you will not rest until the person who took you from us is brought to justice.

TransGriot Update:  Results of the autopsy showed that Mercedes died from a gunshot wound.

Two Arrests Made In Keyonna Blakeney Case

Good news to report in the case concerning our departed sister Keyonna Blakeney, who was found on April 16 beaten and stabbed to death in a Rockville, MD hotel room days after celebrating her birthday.  

 Two arrests have been made in the case.  Montgomery County. MD police with the assistance of US Marshals have arrested 21 year old Keith Christopher Renier and 17 year old juvenile Arbra Arnie Bethea in SE Washington DC yesterday and charged both of them with first degree murder..  

Bethea has been charged (and rightly so) as an adult in this case, but because he is a juvenile, a photo of him was not released to the media.  Renier and Bethea are also facing charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit first degree murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Both are being held in the custody of the district of Columbia Department of Corrections and are both awaiting extradition to Montgomery County, MD.

Stay tuned to these TransGriot electronic pages to get more information about this ongoing Blakeney case as I receive it.  Let's also hope and pray that justice is properly served.

RIP Tyreece Walker

One of the things I've been afraid of with all the anti-trans hatred being pushed by Republican politicians and the conservative movement, that it will result in a spike in anti-trans hate crimes, assaults and murders.

We've lost another of our trans sisters this week when 32 year old Tyreece Walker was stabbed to death in Wichita, KS  on Sunday after an altercation in her apartment complex in SW Wichita with a 16 year old.

The 16 year old boy was arrested and charged with second degree murder, and Wichita police have ruled out hate crime charges.  Meanwhile, the mother of the arrested teen is claiming that the deceased tried to sexually assault her child.

Gee, wonder where she got that idea from?

According to Walker's friend Victoria, she told KAKE-TV that not only was that allegation false, Reecey dreamed of one day becoming a counselor so that she could help other people going through the same trans related drama she was dealing with.

"(She) wanted to get a degree in psychology or social work to try to become a counselor to help other people try to get through some of the same struggles (she) had been through," Victoria said.

Unfortunately, a 16 year old transphobe ended those dreams for her.  

And once again we have another Black trans woman under 40 who has had her life cut short due to anti-trans ignorance and hatred.  .I'm so tired of my young trans sisters being killed and the ongoing silence from mianstream Black orgs about it.   Don't our Black lives matter, too?   
Rest in power and peace Reecey!  Your trans brothers and sisters will do what we can to ensure that justice is served in this case, because your Black trans life mattered..

BTAC 2016 Day 1 Highlights

Been waiting for this day since I left Dallas last year after the conclusion of last year's conference to go back to my end of I-45.   It's now time for the 5th annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference, and we're doing so from a new hotel, the Marriott Dallas/Addison Quorum after two years at the Doubletree Campbell Center.

New hotel means we have a new area of town to learn in terms of what is available nearby, and one in terms of how it's laid out.

We get started at 1 PM CDT with our opening plenary session and orientation, with our first seminar of BTAC 2016 starting at 2:30 PM entitled 'Sharing The Light Of Love Through Spirituality' with presented Jade Lenore.

At 7 PM will be the BTAC 2016 Opening Ceremony followed at 8:15 PM by a Grand Akanni for the brothers and masculine identified attendees moderated by BTAC CEO Carter Brown and a Grand Ayombi for the ladies and feminine identified attendees moderated by BTWI's Dee Dee Watters.

And if the weather holds up, at 10 PM we're going bowling tonight at Bowlmor Lanes..      .

You can also follow the action at #BTAC2016.

Getting On The Bus-To BTAC 2016

Well, if my Megabus pulled out of the station on time, Dee Dee Watters and I should be speeding up I-45 north to Dallas for the fifth annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference and what I jokingly call; 'Moni's Extended Birthday Week Celebration'

The last two years, BTAC has ended either on or near my Cuatro de Mayo birthday, but this year it's going to end three days short of it on May 1.

Still won't stop me from enjoying this 2016 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference and taking in everything this unique conference in Dallas has to offer.it.

See y'all in four hours Dallas, give or take the traffic.  

Islan Nettles' Confessed Killer To Be Sentenced Today

James Dixon, the confessed killer of Islan Nettles will be sentenced staring at 9 AM EDT.

As part of a plea deal, he's getting a 12 year sentence for the brutal killing of our trans sister, and many local activists are not happy about that development.

I agree with my New York trans family, 12 years in jail is a joke considering the level of brutality of the crime, and really don't care if it was his first offense.  He killed somebody.

Dolores Nettles, the mother of Islan Nettles is requesting that trans community members able to do so join her in the courtroom for the sentencing.   If you live in the New York metro area and can take the time out of your busy day to be there in solidarity with Ms. Nettles, I urge you to do so.

And here's hoping the New York media covers it this time.    

Another Trans Woman Murdered- RIP Keyonna

Well, we've lost another trans woman to violence, this time in the Washington DC area.

22 year old Keyonna Blakeney, who just celebrated her birthday on April 11, was found dead at a Red Roof Inn in Rockville, MD on Saturday at 11:49 AM EDT.

Montgomery County, MD police reported that Blakeney suffered 'upper body trauma' , and they are still searching for her killer.  

They also flung specious allegations she may have been engaged in sex work at the time of her untimely demise.

And on top of all that shadiness, the local DC area FOX and ABC news stenographers misgendered and deadnamed Keyonna.

If you have any information that will help lead to the person or persons who killed her, detectives are urging you to call 240-773-5070.  

Anonymous tipsters can call 866-411-8477, and a reward of up to $10,000 is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Keyonna's killers.

And yeah, I'm sick and tired of losing our trans younglings to violence. It's got to stop because #BlackTransLivesMatter too.
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Rest in power and peace sis.  Meanwhile your trans siblings in the Washington metro area will be watching to ensure the person or persons who did this are brought to justice.

   

Houston City Hall Vigil For Shante & Willie

As many of you TransGriot readers are aware of, a certain blogger y'all know along with many of my Houston area trans family, allies, and supporters gathered at the steps of City Hall to remember the people we just lost Sunday night in Shante Thompson and Willie Sims.

The vigil in addition to honoring Shante and Willie, also honored the Texas trans people we have lost in 2016.  It also called attention to the jacked up transphobic media coverage of the Thompson-Sims murders by ABC 13 and KPRC 2 in addition to issuing a call for Houston media to do better when it comes to respectfully covering trans issues.

Let me emphasize respectfully, since it seems that respect for trans Houstonians has been sorely  lacking in our local media ranks since HERO was first proposed back in April 2014.

And it's too bad my comments about the piss poor coverage got cut and didn't make the 10 PM news,  But hope those stations got the message I was happy to deliver that the Houston trans community is tired of their failure to adhere to the 2001 AP Stylebook guidelines for covering trans people.

We're also beyond sick and tired of trans Houstonians getting demonized by Houston media without a chance to properly respond to their problematic coverage.

That also extends to the men like Willie Sims who love us.  It's past time that the men who openly love us and don't give a rat's anus what you think are recognized inside and outside the trans community for having the courage to live in that truth.    We also need the men and women who love trans people to also be unapologetic in expressing their love and support of their trans partners, and with our human rights under attack, we need that to happen ASAP...

We were also pleased and proud to have Mayor Sylvester Turner say a few words before the vigil started to drive home the point that the lives of all Houstonians matter in the H-town he wishes to lead.

It was also nice to have members of Shante's family, HPD's assistant chief, Pastor Freedom Gulley, Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen, Harris County DA candidate Kim Ogg (D), Caucus president Fran Watson and other clergy and organizations there.      

The ceremony lasted just under an hour, and in addition to short speeches by Reagan White, myself and a family friend of Shante's, Pastor Gulley read a resolution on behalf of the TransSaints ministry calling for love and acceptance of trans people, along with a spoken.word dramatic performance by Dee Dee Watters, and a lantern release by Nikki Araguz Loyd and William Loyd to close out the vigil.  

Thanks not only to the organizers of this vigil, but I thank you for the opportunity to be a part of another opportunity to spend some quality time with my Houston trans family and the allies who love and support us.

I just wish it had happened under different circumstances.

Rest in power and peace Shante and Willie.  We will not rest until the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.