Dear Zaya,
As one of your Black trans elders, I am pleased and proud to hear that you are taking the steps you need to make to become your true self. I am also happy that your parents are unconditionally loving and supporting you as you embark on this challenging at times journey.
One of the things about this trans journey you need to know is that you're not alone. There are other amazing kids like you that share your ethnic bcackground like Trinity Neal. There's also something else that you probably didn't know in that when you transition, you family expands to include trans people from here and around the world.
Black trans people have existed as long as humanity has. We have a proud history and take no crap people who have been fighting since before you were born to make the world better for trans people inside and outside the community. I'm proud to be one of those people.
Many times I and other elders who fight tooth and nail for trans people's right to exist without drama are doing so for our kids. You are the living embodement of the future we fight like hell for.
Your transition has also jumpstarted a long needed conversation in Black America about Black trans people and our community's need to embrace their trans siblings.
So why am I wrting this open letter? Because I thought it was important for you to see some words online from someone who is a proud unapologetic Black trans adult who transitioned 25 years ago. While I have accomplished much since 1994 and I'm proud of the person I have become, I still wish at times that I could have transitioned as early as you have been able to do.
When I finally did so, my life, challenging as it has been at times, is still better that it was before transition. I've gotten to do some great things and meet many amazing people I probably wouldn't have been able to meet if it weren't for me being this amazing, unapologetically Black trans woman
You still have yours to live and I hope you'll go on to do some great things. Hopefully some of the great things you do will also benefit our community. .
I can't wait to see how you evolve to become the fabulous Black woman of trans experience I know you are.
As someone who has gotten to do a lot of interesting things in my life, 2019 definitely was one that was chock full of milestones and amazing events.
Going into 2019, it was a personal double anniversary year. April 4 not only marked my 25th transiversary, it was also marked the 20th anniversary of activism on behalf of this community.
Because 2019 is an odd numbered year, it also meant I knew as soon as the ball dropped in Times Square I would be making a lot of trips to Austin for the Texas legislative session.
Seven of them in fact. I also made a few trips to the ATX after The Lege mercifully hit sine die on May 27.
This was also a year in which I made more trips inside of the state of Texas than I did outside of it.
I made several trips to Dallas besides the usual birthday week one for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference (BTAC) and three to San Antonio.
One of the Dallas trips was for Muhlaysia Booker's funeral. Another was Dallas Pride which was held on the Texas State fair complex for the first time. Less than three weeks later was back for the BTAC Leadership Institute in Dallas, and another was for the March For Black Trans Lives.
The trips I made to San Antonio were a May 4 birthday trip to witness the end of Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe's historic campaign for a San Antonio City Council seat that unfortunately fell short, and one in September to the Excellence in Journalism Conference.
That's a nice segue into me talking about how much I was on TV this year.
Much of it has been local. I went on The Isiah Factor Uncensored multiple timeson FOX 26, and had two interviews with Natasha Geiger. Multiple interviews on ABC13 with Chauncey Glover, Miya Shay, and Mycah Hatfield. Various newspaper and media interviews in which I got quoted in everything from CNN to OUT Magazine.
The icing on the cake was taping an eight hour conversation about trans issues for ABC News Nightline with Dee Dee and Diamond.
I even got to go to NYC World Pride, even if it was for 36 hours, thanks to Sara Ramirez. I was one of the movement leaders across the country along with my other H-Town peeps Ashton Woods and Ana Andrea Molina honored onstage as she sang 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' during the opening concert for it at Brooklyn's Barclay's Center
Speaking of Pride, which was marking its 50th anniversary this year, I got to serve as an honorary Grand Marshal during Houston's Pride Parade this year.
Lot more fun riding in a jeep for the entire length of our nighttime parade and sitting in the VIP section afterwards instead of marching in it. Also got to attend a few events during the week in my role as a honorary grand marshal.
And this year, probably in large part to the heightened media visibility and the recognition that I have been doing this for 20 years, received some major awards.
The Harris County Democratic Party gave me the Barbara Jordan Breaking Barriers one at the JRR Luncheon in May in which I spoke just before Secretary (and should have been president) Hillary Clinton
I also received the Transgender Activist Award from Equality Texas at their Austin gala in November, and the Minnie Fisher Award from the Texas Democratic Women of Galveston County.
I was also named this year for the first time ever to Out Magazine's OUT100.
It wouldn't be a Moni year without me going to a few conferences. In addition to the BTAC and Excellence in Journalism ones I mentioned earlier in this post, I also attended the Netroots Nation one in Philadelphia for the fourth consecutive year, Gender Infinity and the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit which were both held at UH Clear Lake this year and the NLGJA Conference in New Orleans.
It's also cool anytime I go to these events to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and also talk to the next generation of leaders in our movement.
It was also nice to make progress toward living up to one of my 2019 New Year's resolutions of getting better connected with the Houston cis Black women community and our local activist community
I got to attend a few events throughout the year that helped facilitate that goal, and looking froward to doing the same in the near future. And yes, got to spend some quality time with my high school classmates. Our 40th reunion is coming up in 10 months.
And always cool to spend some time with my trans fam, where it be in Dallas at BTAC, here in Houston, or wherever I'm doing an event around the country.
Some of those events happen on college campuses and corporate settings, where I'm doing my part to educate people about our Black trans lives and the challenges we face inside and outside the Black TBLGQ community.
So yes, 2019 was definitely an amazing year for me to close out a decade Hope that 2020 is even better
Y'all know I have mad love for Myles and Precious Brady-Davis, and the last time I spent any quality time with the both of them was back during #CC16 in Chicago.
We jjokingly call them in the community the 'Trans Obamas' because this amazing Chicago based trans power couple are both doing trailblazing advocacy work. He's the communications director for Equality Illinois, while Precious is communications manager for the Sierra Club.
You may also remember Precious' apperance on the show Say Yes To The Dress in the runup to her and Myles' wedding.
While Myles has always wanted to have children, Precious initially wasn't feeeling parenthood but got onboard with the idea after being convinced by Myles.
It was a two year journey for them to get to this point. Their initial attempt at IVF failed, and both had to go off their respecttive masculinizing and feminizing hormone regimens in order to give themselves the best possible chance for parenthood to happen. It did, and now they are on a countdown to their child's December due date.
Congratulations Precious and Myles, and may your child be healthy, happy and surrounded with love!. .
One consequence of the false anti-trans 'bathroom predator' rhetoric the Republican Party pushed to oppose trans rights laws is it invites scrutiny on any cis or trans woman who doesn't fit the stereotypical and goalpost shifting standards for what a woman is supposed to look like.
It has also emboldened transphobes to play gender police and mess with people going to the damn bathroom
One of the things Alexus Tate loves to do is head to the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica County Mississippi and enjoy the time she frequently spends there trying her luck.
But the trip she took to the casino the day after Thanksgiving with a friend wasn't anything but pleasant for her because transphobia smacked her in the face.
A female casino security guard loudly demanded to see Tate's ID as she left the restroom in front of other casino patrons. A janitor confided to Tate that the security guard had made disparaging transphobic remarks about her as she entered the restroom, saying 'Why is 'it' in there?"
Tate immediately sought out other employees to address the transphobic incident and has been in contact with Gold Strike casino management. The casino management claimed they were investigating the matter, but haven't been in contact with Tate since December.
Tate says while the Gold Strike management has been apologetic about the incident, has offered her free plays and hotel stays, what she wants most, the firing of the transphobic security guard, hasn't happened. MGM Resorts, who owns the Tunica casino in question, sent this statement to WREG-TV
“Inclusion is a core value for MGM Resorts, and all security officers are trained on our company’s policy of allowing guests to utilize public restrooms based on the gender with which they identify. Unfortunately, the security officer involved in this incident did not respond appropriately. The security officer in question was immediately corrected, the policy was clarified to the guest by a supervisor at the time of the incident, and the security officer involved was disciplined accordingly. We sincerely regret this incident and have apologized to the guest. We hope for the opportunity to make up for her poor guest experience
“This incident does not represent our values or the conduct of employees across our company. Our employees train extensively on our policies, and we will continue to reiterate and emphasize our commitment to inclusion and our focus on treating guests appropriately. Our goal, as always, is to ensure all guests feel welcome and have a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Nice sentiment. But until that message is sent with the firing of the security guard in question that transphobia isn't tolerated, and there are consequences for those who engage in it, these will be nothing but empty words
Dear Trini,
I understand from your mom that you are concerned that because you are a young Black trans girl blossoming into an awesome woman, that you will not find love because you are Black and trans.
Little Sis, I definitely feel you and understand why you're concerned about this subject. While it hasn't been easy for me and some of your Black trans feminine elders when it comes to us finding that forever love., know that being Black and trans is not an impediment or insurmountable barrier for eventually finding the right person to love, be they cisgender or transgender.
I know Black trans women that have not only managed to date successfully, they have found their life partners in the process.
And as someone who has been single for a while, I'm deliriously happy that they are.
Who are they, you're probably asking? Let me pull out the receipts and show you who some of your Black trans elders who have found love are.
I'll start with Precious Brady Davis. She not only has been happily married to her husband Myles, we call then in Black Trans World the Trans Obamas.
In addition, Precious' search for the perfect wedding gown was broadcast on the show Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta
Need more proof? Janet Mock. She has been happily married to her man Aaron for several years now. She got married back in November 2015.
As for Black trans women who are in relationships, my homegirl Jessica Zyrie has been in a relationship for several months with her boyfriend Alexander Lane Miller.
Myself and everyone observing them can see they are both in love with each other.
All of us who love Alexander and Jessica are rooting for them to also jump the broom should their relationship develop to that level.
Laverne Cox has recently revealed that she is dating her boyfriend Kyle and has been doing so for a year. She has been upfront about her dating struggles, and it's nice to know that someone finally has noted the quality woman she is and stepped to her.
That's before I even mention some of my Black trans girlfriends who are non disclosed, and either were or still are married. The other point I want to make is that those people I'm shouting out were (or still are) married for a decade or longer.
I also have to mention some of our trailblazing Black trans feminine transcestors. Lucy Hicks Anderson got married twice in her fascinating life.
Same with Georgia Black. She got married twice in her life in large part because she outlived both her husbands.
Every year that I go to BTAC in Dallas, I see romance blooming at that unapologetically Black trans conference. Some of the relationships that started there have eventually led to marriage, while other relationships went on and then fizzled out for a wide variety of reasons.
That's life. Some people are in your relationship life to teach you specific lessons or show you what you DON'T want in a relationship or life partner. That happens so that when your soulmate does come into your life, you'll know it.
So Trini, the best advice I can give you is to focus on being the best Trini you can be. The relationship will come.
And whoever that wise person is that eventually hooks up with you in a relationship will be extremely blessed to have you.
As y'all know I'm am a huge proponent of letting trans people compete in whatever sporting events they have the talent and drive to win in.
Growing up in Texas and getting the opportunity to see the Houston Rodeo, I have watched people compete in barrel racing. It's a sport in which a competitor riding a horse tries to navigate three widely spaced barrels in the fastest time on a triangular course.
You also must do so while directing the horse to go in a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels without knocking them down, you falling off the horse, or the horse falling during the run and failing to cross the start-finish line. If any of or a combination of those events happen, you receive a NO TIME for the run.
Barrel racing is one of the few rodeo events in that macho rodeo sporting world that women are the predominate participants in. We also have smaller rodeo competitions that happen here in the Houston area and across the state.
Since Black cowboys like Bill Pickett are credited with inventing the sport, many of these smaller rodeos are Black owned and run. .
It's time to introduce you readers to barrel racer Arqueze Girdy
Arqueze is a 5th generation rodeo competitor in her family who is trying to make it to the WPRA (Women's Professional Rodeo Association) professional ranks in her sport.
She also happens to be trans feminine. That shouldn't be a problem, but it looks like somebody at the MLK Scholarship and Rodeo taking place at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds tomorrow has a problem with Girdy being there.
She's dealing with transphobia on the amateur rodeo circuit as she pursues her quest n to get to the professional ranks and one day compete in the WPRA events like the Houston Rodeo at NRG Stadium.
'They never come out and say it's because I'm transgender. They say I'm not qualified", Girdy said in an interview with Houston's ABC13. "I want to make history and open doors and help people. There are other people in my situation," she said.
Girdy texted her entry form and paid her fee to compete in the rodeo slated to happen at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, but still hasn't heard from them.
After not returning requests for comment from ABC13, the promoters for tomorrow's event finally put out a statement on Thursday evening.
"The promoters of the 1st Annual MLK Scholarship Rodeo and Trail ride are pleased to hold its inaugural event on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 9 a.m. at The Fort Bend County Fairgrounds.
The goal of the event is to raise scholarship funds for deserving students in the Houston and surrounding areas. The rodeo and trail ride are open to ALL to attend and participate.
Prospective participants should recognize that although this is an amateur event, which claims no professional affiliation whatsoever, all rodeo events and participants will be governed by rules and standards similar to those set forth by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (WPRCA).
As for Ms. Girdy's concern regarding her ability to compete in this inaugural event, she first should make sure she has been in contact with official event promoters and affiliates, as we have only taken pre-registration up to this point and have yet to collect any funds from any participants; all registration will be completed at the fairgrounds. Secondly, if she has pre-registered, she should be aware of what is required at the time of entry.
We are looking forward to Saturday's event and welcome everyone out to support our scholarship fund and enjoy a day of rodeo fun and entertainment."
Yeah, right. Looks like y'all were planning to not let her compete until this made the news.
We'll see if the organizers of this event actually let Ms. Girdy compete, or are just selling woof tickets so they don't look transphobic to the world.
Hmm, looks like I may need to make a trip down I-69 to Fort Bend County to see what's happening with my barrel racing trans sibling.
The bottom line though, is that Black trans people exist, and you need to let her compete.
TransGriot Update (12 January): Hearing disturbing chatter from peeps who attended the event that Arqueze was NOT allowed to compete. Formulating next steps now
This isn't the first time I've heard of twins transitioning. Early in this blog's history I talked about Boston's Chanelle and Gabrielle Pickett, who were featured on a Jenny Jones show episode back in 1990.
Chanelle would be tragically murdered a few years later.
I know of other twins who transitioned, but are living non disclosed lives.
I also know of cases in which one twin transitions while the other doesn't, as was the case with Nicole Maines and her twin brother.
Meet Angel and Fabian Griffin. They are like many twins tight like glue. When one of the twins revealed that they were going to transition, so did the other one.
While we're still waiting for confirmation on two possible murders in New York, we have a confirmed one in North Port, FL
20 year old Londonn Moore Kinard was found face down shot to death at the intersection of Sawyer Circle and Red Oak Road at 7:30 AM EDT Saturday.
And as you probably guessed, Londonn was egregiously misgendered in death by reporter Lauren Coffey, who went out of his way to misgender our fallen sister.
I'll call out this F+ transphobic 'reporting' and this stenographer later. In the meantime my priority is getting justice for Londonn and all who loved her.
Step aside, sir and watch how we properly cover a trans murder victim.
Back to business.
North Port PD is still investigating this case and are being tight lipped about many of the details in this case. They are asking if you do have evidence that will lead to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the killer, you are asked to call Detective Chris Maki at 941-429-7323
Londonn is now the 20th person we have lost in the US in 2018 to anti trans violence. She is the 15th African American trans person we have lost this year, and the tenth person under age 30 we have lost.
And we're still trying to confirm if two more found dead last week were homicides.
Yeah, this pattern is getting beyond aggravating. My young trans siblings die, and get disrespected still further in death. The crap has got to stop. #StopKillingUs #BlackTransLivesMatter
I do television interviews from time to time, and sometimes they end up on the cutting room floor instead of the final broadcast show.
I'd done an interview during this year's BTAC conference, but once I took off the mic I forgot about it until my Facebook page started blowing up Friday night with people seeing the short segment that I'd taped.
The sixth season of Vice on HBO/recently broadcast an episode entitled Trans In Texas that features Kai and Kimberly Shappley, Dee Dee Watters, Dana Hinton and some GLAAD Media Award winning blogger y'all know
It's only 17 minutes, and they barely scratched the surface on some of the issues we're dealing with in the Lone Star State
The video was finally released on their YouTube channel, so I got to see it. Here's the video for you
Karen Kendra Holmes is a safety office for the federal government, serves in the Maryland National Guard and is one of our award winning advocates.
She was named in 2017 as one of the 'Top 50 Transgender Americans You Need To Know', and BTAC honored her with the Monica Roberts Advocacy Award that same year.
This is her TedX talk entitled '40 Years and Wandering No More'
The breakthrough victories of Councilmembers Phillipe Cunningham and Andrea Jenkins in Minneapolis last year have given hope to other Black trans people who have contemplated running for public office they can also successfully run for office and win.
Now comes word that LaDon Henry is seeking to become the first trans masculine person elected to the state legislature in Nevada.
We have already had a trans feminine person in Nevada attempt to run and win a legislative seat in that state. Lauren Scott made three runs at a Reno area Nevada legislative seat as a Republican. and became in 2014 the first trans candidate in Nevada to win a party primary. She was defeated in her last two attempts in the 2014 and 2016 general election cycles to win the District 30 seat.
The 41 year old Army veteran, husband of Shalonda, small business owner and radio host was like many trans people running for office. Henry was motivated by Trump getting elected president and his well founded fears of what 45 would do to roll back TBLGQ legislative protections.
The first time candidate is running for the District 42 seat in the Las Vegas metro area being vacated by Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams (D), who decided not to seek reelection to a fourth term .
The Clark County district has a 2-1 Democratic registration advantage, and Henry has two challengers in his District 42 Democratic primary in Alexander Aseefa and Kathleen Lauckner
Henry, true to his 'No Voice Left Unheard' campaign slogan, has stated if he wins, he'll focus on improving Nevada's education system, diversifying the economy, and fighting for underrepresented communities like ex-prisoners, at risk youth and immigrants.
"It wasn't just me being transgender that made me want to run. There are so many different marginalized communities right now that don't feel like citizens,"said Henry.
Because no Republican filed to run in District 42, the winner of the June 12 primary will become the successor to the retiring Assemblywoman Adams
Henry would also be if he is successful, not only the first out trans person elected to the Nevada state legislature, he would be the first Black trans masculine state legislator.
As of right now Henry hasn't been endorsed by the Nevada Democratic Party or any other political groups, but that may change as we get closer to the June 12 Nevada Primary
Here's hoping that Henry makes history and becomes another Black trans elected official!
This day arrived way too soon and it always carries for me a mix of sadness and disappointment.
Sadness and disappointment that comes with the realization that BTAC 2018 is over and we all have to go our separate ways. Some of us had to leave and board at the crack of dawn flights back home before the closing ceremony starts.
I've got a four hour Megabus ride back to Houston with Dee Dee Watters.
But it is also a day in which we revel in the new friends we've made, gotten to hug and hold tight old ones, and look forward to the future recharged and energized to take on the world.
Already know the dates. It'll be April 22-28 once again in Dallas, and we'll announce the hotel and reservation details once the staff recovers from putting this year's event on.
At 11 PM the closing interfaith service led by when we now call our Golden Flames, our elders from age 55 and up will be conducted. Once it's over, the countdown starts for BTAC 2019.
