Stacey Dash Is Running For Congress - Bye Stacey!

Our friends in California have had their share of Democratic and Republican leaning actors running for public office in the Golden State. 

George Lloyd Murphy served as the Republican US Senator for California from 1965-1971 and basically was the person that role modeled the transition path from notable actor to a politician that Ronald Reagan and later Arnold Schwarzenegger successfully followed.

Seaking of Reagan and Schwarzenegger, both have been Republican governors of California.
Reagan parlayed his time as Cali's 33rd governor from 1967-1975 into two terms as the 40th president of the United States from 1981-1989.

Schwarzenegger parlayed his movie career into two terms as California's 38th governor. 'The Governator' served from from 2003-2011.

And I can't forget Sonny Bono.  He served as the Republican congressman from California's 44th congressional District from 1995 until his death from injuries sustained in a skiing accident in 1998

On the California Democratic Party side, there was Helen Gahagan Douglas, who became the third woman in US history and the first Democratic woman elected to Congress from California. 
She represented California's 14th Congressional District from 1945-1951. 

She ran for the US Senate in 1950, and was unfortunately subjected by Richard Nixon to the most vicious smear campaign in California history that ended her political career and started Nixon's until it ended in the disgrace the Watergate scandal.

Democrat Sheila Kuehl was a child actor and attorney who later served three terms in the California State Assembly's 41st District  from 1994-2000 and later in the California Senate's 23rd District from 2008-2008.

She was elected to the LA County Board of Supervisors in 2014 and is still serving her 3rd District constituents.

That pattern continues today, with unabashed Trump supporter Antonio Sabato, Jr announcing last year he was going to run for Congress in 2018 as a Republican and challenge Rep. Julia Brownley (D) in the 26th District that covers southern Ventura County.

Brownley has represented the district since 2013.

And now we have actress and former FOX Nose pundit Stacey Dash announcing that she is going to run for the US Congress in the 44th Congressional District currently represented by freshman Democrat Nanette Barragan.

It's going to be a tough slog for her, since the district is 70% Latinx and covers South Los Angeles. Three of the neighborhoods and cities represented by Rep. Barragan are Watts, Carson and Compton.  It also went overwhelmingly for Clinton 83%-12%   

And if Stacey Dash thinks that Black folks forgot that she sold our community out while taking paychecks from FOX Noise as a political commentator, she really is clueless about the fact her Black card has been revoked and we haven't forgotten what she said about us.

Here's the receipts.

And naw Stacey, I haven't forgotten that foul comment you made on FOX Noise about trans women.  Something about we can 'go pee in the bushes'. 

Naw Miss Thang, my unapologetic Black trans feminine behind doesn't pee in the bushes outside.  I pee in a closed stall in the women's restroom like your transphobic behind does.  When I'm done I wipe my azz, check the seat, flush and wash my hands when I'm done.




And I have no doubt that Black voters in the 44th District feel the same way about her that Gabrielle Union and much of Black America does.

Stacey's Black Card has been revoked for her sellout behavior.   We have long memories about it when people who share our ethnic background sell us out for their own personal and economic gain. (see Omarosa).

When the karmic wheel turns to put the sellout in a position where they need the Black community's help, payback is a you know what.

Republicans are about to learn the lesson once again that Black folks don't vote for just ANY Black face you put on the ballot as they accused us of doing when we eagerly sent Barack H. Obama to the White House for 8 years .

I have no doubts that the Black voters in the 44th Congressional District will not only return Congresswoman Barragan back to DC to rep them, but will eagerly be  heading to the polls November 6  to say #ByeStacey and derail her attempt to 'Dash for DC'.

And it's going to be fun watching that happen. . 

Arrest Made In Viccky Gutierrez Case

That was fast. 

On January 11 at 8'00 PM PST a joint  LAPD-FBI Fugitive Task Force arrested 29 year old Kevyn Ramirez for the murder of Viccky Gutierrez. 

Her body has yet to be positively identified by the LA County Coroner as of this writing.

Investigators obtained a search warrant, found evidence linking him to the crime scene and arrested Ramirez after admitting to investigators he killed Gutierrez after as dispute.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for filing consideration and Ramirez is being held on a $2  million bail .

It is also still an active case, and LAPD investigators are still seeking information that will not only lead to a positive identification of what is believed to be Viccky's body, but also establish a motive for her murder.

If you have that info please call West Bureau Homicide at (213) 382-9470

Ashlee Preston Is Running For Office!

The list of trans folks running for public office in 2018 just got a little bit longer.

Civil rights activist and journalist Ashlee Preston has announced she is going to run for the California State Assembly for the District 54 seat that was held by Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas

The 30 year old Assemblyman abruptly announced on Wednesday he was resigning from the seat and terminating his reelection campaign for it effective immediately because of health reasons.   

Ridley-Thomas is the son of LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and the Morehouse grad  first captured the safely Democratic seat at just 26 years old in a 2013 special election.  He was in the middle of his second full two year term before announcing his resignation.

Ashlee Preston has decided to jump into the race to be the next Assemblyperson from the Los Angeles area district that covers West LA, Mid-City LA and Culver City.

"As someone directly impacted by the issues that often diminish the quality of life, I have an acute understanding of which policies must be put into play in order to move progress forward for the constituents of the 54th District and beyond," said Preston.

"I believe in prioritizing people over politics.  We are more than percentage points; we are real people with real stories.  I fully intend to continue honoring those experiences, and advocating for those who don't have a seat at the table," she added. 

A special election for the remainder of Ridley-Thomas' term will be held soon but as of this writing a date for it hasn't been set.

If Preston is successful in capturing the 54th District seat, she would become the first out Black trans woman elected to a state legislative seat since Althea Garrison did so in 1990.

Best of luck to Ashlee, and hope that she is chosen by the voters of District 54 to represent them in Sacramento and make that history..

TransGriot Update: Preston has decided to suspend her campaign 

Girl Becomes First Trans Cheerleader At Her School

Was wondering when I would get to post some positive news on TransGriot concerning the trans Class of 2018 and what trails they blaze at their respective schools, and here is a story straight out of California as usual.

When we transfols have the opportunity to become our true selves, once the gender issue is out of the way, we can focus our attention and awesomeness into fulfilling whatever we wish to do.

In Denair High School senior Amy Fuentes' case it was to become the first ever trans cheerleader at her school. 

"When I was first trying out for the cheer squad, it wasn't like I'm going to be the first transgender girl," Fuentes said in a PEOPLE magazine interview.  "I was just trying out because I wanted to be a cheerleader, and I wanted to dance and cheer."

Amy knew coming into high school that she wasn't one of the guys, and first came out as gay during her freshman year.   But after doing more research in her junior year, had the epiphany she was transgender.

While she has been accepted as the girl she is by her classmates and the cheer squad, she had a rougher road to acceptance with her mother.   She ended up moving in with another cheerleader because of that lack of maternal acceptance.

But the good news is that she and her mother have been resolving their differences, and she plans to move back home soon. 

Congrats Amy!   Hope your senior year is one that continues to be blessings filled for you and continued good luck in your life journey. 

Gwen Araujo Murder 15th Anniversary

Today is sadly the 15th anniversary of the day that trans teen Gwen Araujo was murdered in Newark, California by four men, Jason Cazares, Jose Merel, Michael Magidson and Jaron Nabors in the wake of them discovering after she was trans feminine at a party.

The perpetrators then drove four hours to an area in the Sierra Nevada foothills from the East Bay to bury the body, .and said nothing about the crime committed at the party. 

Nabors, after becoming distraught about his role in Araujo's death, confessed to authorities in exchange for his guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter, his testimony against the other three defendants and leading Alameda County Sheriff's Department investigators to the burial site.

It took two trials to convict Merel, Magidson and Cazares, and in the second trial the odious trans panic defense was invoked by Magidson's attorney.

Magidson and Merel were both convicted of second degree murder without the hate crime enhancements and sentenced to 15 year to life in prison.   Two juries deadlocked on Jason Cazares fate, and mistrials were declared.   In a plea deal with the DA, Cazares pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

In the wake of the trial, the Gwen Araujo Justice For Victims Act was passed and signed into law on September 28, 2006 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that limited the use of the trans and gay panic defense.

On September 27, 2014, Gov Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2501 into law that banned the trans and gay panic defense outright.

Gwen's story was made into the 2006 Lifetime movie A Girl Like Me :The Gwen Araujo Story, talked about in a 2007 documentary entitled Trained In The Ways Of Men which aimed to debunk the trans panic defense, and on a May 2012 Investigation Discovery episode in the second season entitled 'Murder Among Friends'.

Her mother Sylvia Guerrero posthumously asked a judge legally change Gwen's deadname to Gwen Amber Rose Araujo on June 23, 2004.

Rest in Power and peace Gwen.   Your death wasn't in vain.   Changes were made in california law because it it, and you are still loved and remembered by the local community and all who adored you.

We continue to fight so than no one should die for simply daring to exist.

Moni's Going To Comic-Con International 2017!

I was just talking to Cecilia Chung last week about how I haven't gotten the opportunity to do events on the West Coast as much as I do the East Coast, in Washington DC and the Midwest.

Every now and then I get those phone calls that brings unexpected blessings and opportunities in my life and I received one of those yesterday.

Comic-Con has been one of those bucket list things that I've wanted to someday do, but didn't expect to happen for awhile.   That changed at approximately 3 PM yesterday .

I've been asked to participate on a panel discussion that is happening during the event, and as we get closer to Comic-Con's dates and the details get hashed out, I'll  be able to talk more about the panel and what its about.

This qualifies a s BFD.   Comic-Con is not only the oldest continuously run comics and popular arts show in the US, it draws over 130,000 attendees to a sold out San Diego Convention Center along with Hollywood celebrities, movie and television directors and writers.

The best part about this upcoming trip to San Diego is that it is not only the first time I get a chance to explore the city (was in the San Diego airport for two hours a few months ago enroute to Tucson), I get to see Comic-Con in all its glory.  

I'm also hopeful I'll get to spend some quality time with one of my trans elders in Tracie Jada O'Brien while I'm in her southern Cali neck of the woods.

The July 20-23 dates of this event also gives me a mental health break before I have to deal with the Texas GOP conservafools and their Special Oppression Session in Austin

I'll find out when the panel happens when they post the full schedule of events , and I'll let you TransGriot readers who are attending the evnt know where to find me.

World's Longest Trans Pride Flag Unfurled During LA Resist March

I see my trans Latina sisters in LA have been busy once again with a new project in terms of creating the largest trans pride flag in the world just in time for the LA Pride Resist March that happened on Sunday.

This LA Resist march was attended by tens of thousands of people and many celebrities marching down Hollywood Boulevard

I confirmed with trans flag creator Monica Helms that the LA trans flag is officially the largest trans pride flag created so far in the world.  It is 25 feet 6 inches by 160 feet  (7.8 meters by 48.7 meters). It beats the Palm Springs trans pride flag by 1580 square feet  (146.8 square meters)

The previous largest trans pride flags were for parades in Mexico City and most recently Palm Springs.

The now largest trans pride flag in the world was created by them and unfurled during the LA Resist March that was part of the series of Equality Marches that took place across the country on June 11.,

Congrats LA trans fam for creating the largest trans pride flag in the world.   But have a feeling another group somewhere on this planet is going to try to beat it.

California and the West Coast Ain't Seceding

“[The] answer is clear. If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede.”-SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia

I wrote two posts on this blog explaining why the Texas secession talk was just right wing fantasy chatter, and the real costs of what would happen is Texas did go down that secession road.

Now in the wake of Trump's reprehensible election we have California and the west coast of the US talking secession and possibly joining Canada.  

Some Californians are actually taking it a step further.   They are collecting signatures for a ballot question in 2018 that would repeal the part of the California Constitution that states "California is an inseparable part of the United States of America, and the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land." to be followed if successful by a 2019 independence vote.

I'm going to lay out why it isn't going to happen and why #CalExit is a just as bad idea for liberal progressive folks as the #Texit chatter was for the conservafools.

First, let's start with the fact that the 1869 Texas v White Supreme Court case exists.
The SCOTUS ruled the Constitution didn't permit states to unilaterally secede from the Union, and ordinances of secession were absolutely null and void.


Residents of far northern California, southern Arizona, eastern Colorado, and eastern Washington have bumped into when they have proposed to secede from their various existing states and form a new one Article IV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

So nope, you won't see any more scenarios like West Virginia breaking away from Virginia and forming its own state.

Now, that's the recent history with in-state secession efforts.  Back to the California dreaming of #CalExit

Assuming the ballot initiative votes are successful, it would not only require a constitutional amendment passed by both houses of Congress, but 38 of the states (2/3rds majority)  to say goodbye to California and the rest of the West Coast.

That ain't happening.  Like Texas, major critical military bases are inside the borders of the state of California like Fort Irwin, Camp Pendleton, Vandenberg, March, Travis and Edwards Air Force bases.  The US Navy's 3rd Fleet has a major facility in San Diego.

California also has inside its borders the major ports of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland.  That's before I even start talking about California's agricultural, industrial, technological and natural resources that are vital to the US economy, two international airline gateway hubs and major interstate highways such as I-5, I-8, 1-10, 1-15. and I-80.

California is also if it were an independent nation, the sixth largest economy on the planet.  As much as it would salve the egos of the right wing yahoos to let California go, they aren't for fiscal and military readiness reasons going to do that.

Lets also talk about politics.  California is the flip side of Texas, and notice you aren't hearing any chatter from Texas since November 8 about secession  

California has the largest congressional delegation with 52 seats.  38 of those seats are held by Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and of the 14 Republicans repping California, one of them is Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority Leader.

Both US senate seats are held by female Democrats in senior senator Dianne Feinstein and newly elected junior senator Kamala Harris, who just replaced the retired Barbara Boxer..  Its 54 electoral votes are also the base electoral vote number for any Democratic Party presidential run..

So just as the Republican Party quietly reminded the Texas yahoos that secession would harm their movement and their chances of getting the White House back, you can bet the national Democratic Party is not liking this news either and will quietly point out a Calexit will do the same damage for our liberal progressive chances at getting the White House and Congress back in 2020.

That's a good enough reason to stick around and use your political and economic clout to help us fight the Trump misadministration tooth and nail.

So nope, as much as some folks in California would probably love to say goodbye to the USA now that Trump is running it, remember that #Calexit is probably not going to happen and political fortunes can swiftly change in four years.

Alexandra Billings In Upcoming Performance Of 'I'm Still Here, Still'

For those of you in southern California, you'll have something to look forward to coming on January 26 in an upcoming Alexandra Billings cabaret performance.

'I'm Still Here, Still'  is a autobiographical show organized by the USC School of Dramatic Arts about moving forward while finding stillness based on the life of trailblazing actress Alexandra Billings.

It is the triumphant life story of a little boy from Inglewood who through a dark pathway of shame and self-hatred found the trans woman she was born to be and recognized her as the truest light and the most profound gift. It is a story of humor and pathos, of ease and stillness. It is a tale that insists: even in the greatest chaos, there can be beautiful peace. And it is stacked with show tunes and sequins—as is Alexandra Billings’s life. Still.

Billings has been acting since 1968, performing in hundreds of plays and musicals throughout the United States.  She became in 2005 the first out trans actress to play a transgender character on television and currently plays Davina on the show Transparent .  She has also appeared on the ABC television shows How To Get Away With Murder and Grey's Anatomy   A PBS documentary about her life entitled Schoolboy to Schoolgirl was nominated for an Emmy.

So if you want to check out Alexandra's cabaret show, won';t cost you any money, but you will have to RSVP for the performance starting on January 10 at 9:00 AM PST.

The show will take place starting at 7 PM  at the Bing Theater on the USC campus..  Address is 3500 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089.   The performance will be followed up by a Q&A session with Alexandra Billings.

Break a leg Alexandra, and I hope the theater is not only sold out, but the show is an unqualified success.

'Her Story' Emmy Disappointment

Was hoping along with everyone in the community that my girls Jen Richards and Angelica Ross would be making some more history at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmy Awards Sunday night, but alas, it didn't happen for them.

As y'all may be aware, Her Story was nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series category, but unfortunately  the show Children's Hospital on Adult Swim walked away with the Emmy in that category.

Said Richards on her Facebook page concerning the result:  "Her Story didn't win tonight, but it's hard not to celebrate when it was just a short while ago that Angelica Ross and I were just two unknown transgender women living together in Chicago, who found in each other reasons to dream big."
 
"We have pushed and challenged and cheered each other, have laughed and cried and strutted despaired and hope together every step of this.  And here we are at the Emmys because we had the audacity to believe our stories mattered," she added..

"Thanks to everyone for their unceasing love and support tonight:."  

But the Emmy nomination for Her Story was a win in itself, especially in light of Hollywood's continued annoying pattern of casting cis masculine actors to play trans feminine characters.

I hope that the Emmy nomination of Her Story not only leads to additional seasons of it, but also leads to Hollywood realizing once and for all that trans stories not only matter, but they best done and most authentic when you cast trans actors in trans roles.

IBetter luck next time ladies!  I have a feeling that one day one or both of you will someday be putting an Emmy in your trophy case.

Moni's 2016 GLAAD Gala SF Remarks

TransGriot Notes: These are the remarks I prepared for delivery as I accept this Special Recognition award at tonight's GLAAD Gala San Francisco.

You can check out the @GLAAD Twitter feed and the hashtag #glaadgala for it.

***

2016 GLAAD Gala SF Remarks

Thank you Angelica for that wonderful introduction.  and thank you GLAAD for this unexpected but deeply appreciated honor.  On behalf of the community and myself, I humbly accept this award. 

When blogging began to go mainstream in 2004, I was writing a column for a local monthly LGBTQ paper in Louisville.   Trans oriented blogs addressing the issues germane to the trans community existed, but the common thread was that none of those early trans blogs were discussing issues important to trans people of color.  Neither were they discussing trans issues and the news of the day from our perspective.   

After prodding by my friends in Louisville and around the country, predominately led by Jordana LeSesne and my own observations that a POC oriented blog was necessary for the growth and maturation of our Black trans community ranks, at midnight EST on January 1, 2006, the first post went up at TransGriot. 

It’s now been a decade, 6.4 million viewers and nearly 10,000 posts later, and TransGriot is still telling it like it T-I-S is on behalf of my community from an unapologetically Black perspective and documenting its history.  It is probably the oldest continuously published blog founded and run by an African-American trans person and I’m exceedingly proud of that fact.

And thanks to the Trans National Alliance, Trans United Fund and assorted individuals who have contributed money and technology to help me keep TransGriot alive and operating for the last decade   

While what I write at TransGriot is focused on and for Black trans people, over time those posts have also touched people around the world.  TransGriot is also unique in the fact it is written by a person who has been a trans human rights advocate for 18 years and counting, and has had a ringside seat to much of the LGBTQ community’s history since 1994.

It has also grown beyond its original mission to talk about the issues that affect all LGBTQ people. 

The power of a blog to shape events is mighty.  It’s even more potent when walk the walk and back up your words with deeds.  I get up from behind my keyboard and lobby legislators, educating people at panel discussions and community forums, and engage in public speaking in order to make that positive change I advocate for via my writing happen. 

And thank you GLAAD for standing up for our human rights and pushing for accurate portrayals of my trans siblings across the media spectrum.   Accuracy in media stories about trans people matters.

TransGriot has shed light and spoken truth to power on the issues that impact trans people of color such as anti-trans violence, HIV-AIDS and anti-trans bigotry inside and outside the LGBTQ community.  Posts I wrote helped push for passage of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance in May 2014, and sounded the alarm when the defense campaign for it was going off the rails.  I have urged LGBTQ people to vote and called out disrespectful reporting on trans people of color.    

And sadly, over the last decade I’ve had to document far too many murders of trans women of color.

Some of my TransGriot writing is designed to build community and pride in being an unapologetically Black trans person.   I wrote an open letter post last month that inspired a young Black trans feminine kid to see that she too can be a leader in our community and that she has a proud legacy and history of Black trans leaders to emulate. As her mother told me in an e-mail two days ago, Trini told her, “Ms. Monica showed me my history.  Now I’m gonna make my own.” 

And I will be pleased and proud to watch you make that history Trini on our behalf.  

I’m proud that TransGriot in its ten years of existence has led the way in sending the messages that LGBTQ rights are international human rights, we trans people exist  we are part of the diverse mosaic of human life, and we will not be dehumanized or disrespected by friend, foe or frenemy.

Once again. I thank you for this award, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next decade holds in store for TransGriot and the TBLGQ community I serve.  

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Moni's Arrived in San Francisco!

The Air Marshal has landed in San Francisco after another cross country flight, this time on Southwest to the Left Coast via Orange County.  

Was a  little bumpy over the El Paso area.  We were flying through the remnants of Hurricane Newton, which made landfall near Los Cabos the other day.  

The other drama I was facing was whether my bag made it.   Due to heavy traffic got to Hobby 40 minutes before my flight departed.   Fortunately I had TSA Pre and I was leaving out of Gate 20.

I exhaled when I saw my bag plop down on the baggage carrousel.   Let's just say that Moni won't be cutting it so close on the return trip home Friday.  

We got to SFO a little early, and after my BART train ride to the Montgomery St. Station found the hotel.   Had to wait a few moments before my room was ready, but that 19th floor suite was worth the wait.

The Park Central is my homebase until Friday morning, and as you readers know, I'm here for the now sold out GLAAD Gala San Francisco that happens tomorrow to receive an award..

The gala started at 5:30 PM PDT, which means the only way I'll be seeing the Panthers-Broncos game is tby watching the highlights on ESPN's SportsCenter.

After I get a nap in because I've been up since 5 AM CDT to catch my flight out of Hobby, I'll probably explore the area around my hotel.   I can see the City View at Metreon venue for tomorrow night's gala from my 19th floor hotel room and already happily discovered there's a 7 Eleven around the corner.

I'm also hoping to get a chance while I'm here to see some peeps while I'm in the Bay Area.

We'll see how successful that effort is.

GLAAD To Honor Moi At The Gala San Francisco

The reason why I'm hopping a flight to San Francisco on Wednesday has finally been announced, so I can now talk about it.

On Thursday during the GLAAD Gala San Francisco I am going to be honored for the ten years I've been speaking truth to power courtesy of my TransGriot blog I founded on January 1, 2006.  

The Special Recognition Award will be presented by Angelica Ross, and so looking forward to seeing her again.

"Monica Roberts has used her blog to become a powerful voice for trans women of color and all trans people for the past 10 years," said Nick Adams, GLAAD's Director of Transgender Media. "Monica has consistently spoken out about the discrimination and violence faced by our community, and she's shined a light on trans people, especially people of color, when other blogs and media outlets would not. We are thrilled to honor Monica for her work and for her contributions toward accelerating acceptance for all trans people."

Thank you GLAAD for the award and thank you everyone for the continued expressions of congratulations and well wishes for this award.  I've been especially touched by the ones that have come from my former CAL co workers, who have told me every time I encounter them either while transiting IAH, on a United flight or just while out and about in Houston how proud they are of me along with everyone else in the community.   That's also true of my local LGBTQ community, the one I was part of in Louisville and nationally.

Thank you everyone.  It means a lot that y'all think so highly of me, and you see me as a worthy possibility model, friend and mentor.

It's been ten years, nearly 10,000 posts and 6.4 million visitors later and I'm still posting and telling it like it T-I-S is about the issues that impact my community.

If you can attend, here's the info for the gala.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at City View at Metreon on Thursday night, and as many peeps in the Bay Area trans community as I can while I'm there.starting Wednesday afternoon.

TransGriot Update:  Now hearing that the GLAAD Gala San Francisco is sold out.

Historic US Senate Election In California

When California voters go to the polls on November 8, they will have to choose a successor for the retiring senator Barbara Boxer (D).  They will also have the pleasure of choosing between two candidates who are not only seeing to succeed Sen. Boxer, but make some electoral history themselves.

Thanks to California's jungle primary system, the top two candidates, regardless of party move on to the general election.  After the votes were counted on June 7, two Democratic women ended up in the top two slots for the open California US senate seat.

California voters will get to choose between their current attorney general Kamala Harris or Rep. Loretta Sanchez.  

Rep Sanchez is seeking to become the first Latina ever elected to the US Senate, while Attorney General Harris is seeking to become only the second African-American woman and first woman of south Asian heritage to be elected to the US Senate.

It's also a battle of northern Cali vs southern Cali. Harris was born in Oakland, grew up in Berkeley, was a deputy district attorney for Alameda County, the district attorney for the City and County of San Francisco before becoming California's Attorney General in 2011.

And as the child and sibling of AKA's I'm happy to point out she's a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Sanchez was born in Lynwood, and has since 2003 represented the Orange County centered 47th Congressional District.

This is going to be a fascinating campaign to watch.  While it is wonderful that another accomplished woman will succeed the beloved Sen. Boxer, we are going to have when this election is over one community disappointed because one of these eminently qualified women didn't get into the US Senate.

Whichever one of these women wins, they will inherit by default a national women of color constituency that extends far beyond the borders of the state of California.

May the best US Senate candidate win, and represent the state of California, our communities and the nation as well.

News Media, Why Aren't We Talking About This Alleged Terrorist?

Unchecked anti-trans hate speech kills whether it's online, in the media or from the pulpit.
TransGriot, January 27, 2015

As we woke up Sunday to the horror of another mass shooting, we're also finding out that Sunday could have been far worse for our TBLG community.

20 year old James Howell of Jeffersonville, IN was arrested by Santa Monica, CA police while enroute to a TBLG pride festival in West Hollywood, CA.  

When Howell was arrested  he was in possession of three assault rifles. camouflage clothing, high capacity magazines and ammunition, and a five gallon bucket of chemicals that could be used to create an improvised explosive device.  There is no evidence so far he was acting in a coordinated fashion with the Orlando mass shooter.

He has been booked on three felonies, possession of a firearm, possession of an improvised explosive device and possession of high capacity magazines.  He was also charged with misdemeanor possession of a loaded weapon and is in jail on a $2 million bond.

Howell also has a history back in Indiana and Kentucky of various gun charges and gun violence. You put all this anti-trans and anti-gay hate speech out there, and you shouldn't be shocked when people start acting on what you spoke into existence.

So why isn't the media talking about this suspected terrorist? Guess it's easier for the predominately white media peeps to focus on a person who committed a terrorist act that doesn't look like them as opposed to one who was stopped from possibly executing an attack that does look like many of the people in the media.

Historical Women's Election Milestones In California Tonight

While I was watching the speech in which Secretary Clinton claimed a historic political win in Brooklyn, she wasn't the only woman making electoral history tonight.

3000 miles away on the Left Coast three diverse women in California also made political history

In the California US senate primary to replace the retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), California Democrats were ecstatic to note that the senate seat will stay in Democratic hands because two women emerged to get the top two spots in the primary.

The two Democratic women who emerged from the crowded 34 candidate primary field to replace Sen. Boxer are California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez.  

Harris was favored to win the primary, and she didn't disappoint, taking 40% of the votes and leading Sanchez by over 800,000 votes. Rep. Sanchez, with 17% of the vote is comfortably ahead of the third place Republican candidate Duf Sundheim, who has only 9% of it, so it is she and Harris who will square off November 8 for the seat

If Harris repeats her performance this fall, she would become only the second African-American woman ever elected to the US senate and the first since Sen. Carol Moseley Braun in 1992.  If Sanchez wins, she would become the first ever Latina US senator.

One of our trans sisters also made electoral history tonight as well.. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Victoria Kolakowski was reelected by the voters for another term as judge.  

Judge Kolakowski made history in 2010 when she became the first elected trans trial judge.  

What was even more wonderful about this is that she was unopposed for reelection.  She also serves as president of the International Association of LGBT Judges.

Congrats Your Honor!

RIP Amos Beede

One of the things we don't talk about often enough in Trans World is that trans men also are assaulted and attacked for being themselves, and from time to time they are fatal assaults.

An example of this happened May 22, in which 38 year old trans man Amos Beede, who wasn't homeless, but was staying with friends over the weekend in a homeless encampment in Burlington, VT because the local bus wasn't running.  Beede was viciously assaulted and kicked by four homeless people and suffered blunt force trauma to his brain, facial injuries and several broken ribs in what has been described as a 'possible bias incident'..  

He was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center where Beede died seven days later as the four suspects in the case immediately fled Vermont in a Chevy Malibu and headed to California    They were briefly detained in Roswell, NM when 21 year old Erik Averill, was arrested and held on accusations of assaulting his intimate partner, 22 year old Myia Barber.

Once Averill was released, the four continued their journey to California, where they were arrested Thursday night at Dog Beach, a San Diego homeless encampment by San Diego PD officers after a nationwide manhunt..

Averill and Barber, 25 year old Alison Gee, and 21 year old Jordan Paul were all arrested and charged with second degree murder and are facing extradition back to Vermont to face the legal music there.

Rest in power and peace Amos.   We will be tracking this case to see if you receive justice.

Murderer Of Melony Smith Convicted

Some good news coming out of southern California concerning our fallen trans sister Melony Smith

A Pomona Superior Court jury found 30 year old Stephen Gonzales guilty of first degree murder in the September 9, 2013 death of 26 year old Melony Smith.

The article has some problematic violations of the AP Stylebook in using Smith's deadname, describing her life as a 'lifestyle'.

But back to the post.

She was found dead at 1:30 PM PDT in her Baldwin Park motel room where she had been staying off and on for a year.

While Gonzales escaped being eligible for capital punishment when the jury found him not guilty of robbing Smith, they did find him guilty of petty theft.

Gonzales is facing a 25 years to life sentence when he returns to court on February 11 for sentencing. Hope they throw the book at his behind.

Two Houston Trans Feminine Leaders Speaking Tonight

Two Houston transwomen are handling their human rights business on the same night with 1500 miles between them.  Hey we H-town trans women just got it like that.   We have a long distinguished history of being kick ass fighters and activists, and we're keeping that tradition moving forward into the 21st century.

Collar popping done, back to the post.  'll start with the trans feminine leader doing the local event.

Here inside Beltway 8 Dee Dee Watters will be at the January meeting of the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats to discuss transgender equality and how to talk about trans issues in the media.

If you wish to attend, it will be at Little Bigs, located at 4617 Montrose Blvd near the Museum District.  Social half hour starts at 6:30 PM, with the meeting and Dee Dee's discussion taking place at 7 PM

Meanwhile on the Left Coast, Nikki Araguz Loyd will be on the University of La Verne campus for a speech entitled My Experiences In Life & Law.

It is sponsored by the University of La Verne College of Law and the Coalition For Diversity, and will start at 6;30 PM PST in the La Fetra Lecture Hall

For those of you in SoCal and the Los Angeles metro area wishing to check her out, the University of La Verne is located at 1950 3rd Street in La Verne, CA.

Good luck tonight, ladies!  Hope both your presentations are done to capacity crowds.  Have no doubts you'll knock them out of the park.