2016 UH Cougar Watch- Battling SMU

The 6-1 University of Houston Cougars rebounded from their 46-40 AAC West Division conference loss at Navy and falling to number 13 in the rankings to come home to the comfy confines of The Cage and see the defense literally win the game for them in the last 81 seconds.

The Third Ward Defense forced a fumble from Tulsa QB Dane Evans that linebacker Emeke Egbule scooped up and raced 24 yards for a touchdown to take the lead with 1:21 remaining in the game..

 After the UH offense punted.  Tulsa drove from their own 11 yard line to the UH 1.  The defense then made two huge plays with freshman defensive tackle Ed Oliver stuffing a running play for a one yard loss,.

With seven seconds left on the game clock, after blitzing and flushing Evans out of the pocket, kept Golden Hurricane defense end Jesse Brubaker from turning and scoring after he caught a pass on the goal line from Evans and was kept out of the endzone by safeties Khalil Williams and Austin Robinson as the clock expired to cap a thrilling 38-31 win.

It was also redemption for a defense that got shredded for 306 rushing yards in the loss to the Midshipmen and 365 passing yards by Tulsa.  The win also made them bowl eligible for the tenth time in the last 12 seasons.

The number 11 ranked Cougars head up I-45 today to face off at Gerald J. Ford Stadium with an old Southwest Conference rival in the SMU Mustangs.

While the Mustangs are 2-4, and at the bottom of the American West Division standings, they do have weapons on the offensive side to make this a problematic game if the Cougars repeat the turnover filled performance they had in that Navy loss.

It would make the Mustangs season if they could pin another loss on the Cougars and wreck their chances of playing in a New Years Six bowl and their chances of repeating as The American champions.

The game will be televised on ESPN2 starting at 6 PM CDT.

TransGriot Update: Cougars were upset by SMU 38-16

BTAC 2017 Keynote Speaker Nominations

BTAC 2017 will be here before we know it, and one of the cool things about this conference is there is space made for community input for some of the events like the Awards Gala and the keynote speakers.

The nominations for 2017 keynote speakers have opened, and BTAC is looking for trans masculine and trans feminine nominees to do their keynotes for the conference that is set to happen April 24-30.

Who Will Be Your Next Keynote Speaker? BTAC 2017 National Keynote Speaker Nominations NOW OPEN for trans, transmen, transwomen!!!

If you or someone you know would be a great candidate for this opportunity, please nominate them today. The deadline to submit keynote speaker nominations is October 30, 2016.

Here's the link to nominate your candidates for BTAC 2017 keynotes.

Dale Hansen Calls Out Lt Gov. Dan Patrick In Dallas Shooting

Since I have many of my relatives on my mother's side of the family in Dallas and my mom grew up there, I spent a lot of time on that northern end of  I-45, and still do because of my annual BTAC trip.

One of the joys of being on that end of Dallas is being able to watch longtime WFAA-TV 8 sportscaster and journalist Dale Hansen call it like he sees it about sports and other pertinent issues.   I've posted some of his Hansen Unplugged commentaries on the blog, and this one calling out my reprehensible Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) is one that definitely needs to be signal boosted.

Hansen calls him out for blaming everyone but himself and his Texas Republican colleagues for passing the open carry law that allowed Micah Johnson the ability to buy the automatic weapon that he used to kill 5 DPD and DART police officers and leave 10 other people wounded.

And he calls him what I would have called him had his remarks come in time for last week's SUF Awards.

Hansen also drops this truth bomb during his commentary while calling the shooting 'an attack on our basic humanity.'

"A white man in America doesn't die for selling cigarettes on the street corner, he gets a ticket.  A white man in America doesn't die for driving with a broken tail light, he gets a ticket, too.  And the officers who abuse the badge and the power they have should be punished, but too many times they are not.'
But I'll let you hear and see once I find the video for it his eloquent takedown of Patrick and his commentary about the Dallas shooting..  

2017 BTAC Conference Dates Announced

You have read my posts about the Black Trans Advocacy Conference and talk about all the amazing things that happen while we're there at this rapidly growing event.   And I'm not bragging about it simply because it happens in my home state.  

It's more like a family reunion than a conference, and it doesn't hurt for me that it happens close to my birthday.

The dates for the 2017 BTAC have been announced, and the sixth annual edition of it will be held from April 24-30, 2017 at the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria 14901 Dallas Parkway   The Dallas Galleria is in easy shuttle range along with a plethora of various dining options in the area

Loved the host hotel, its friendly staff, and its amenities.  

And that's before we even start talking about the BTAC conference itself with its keynotes, community summit, seminars, the Mr and Ms Black Trans Pageant, Trans manifest, the awards gala, the Black Diamond Ball and the Family Fun Day attended by your trans siblings from

Whether you stay for the entire empowering week or just do a few days of it, BTAC is waiting to welcome you with open arms for a unique Afrocentric conference experience open to all..

If you need more info about it, dial 855-255-8636 for more information.  Watch these TransGriot electronic pages for more info about registration and programming as that 2016 date gets closer  

Moni's Going To Be A 'Lambda Weekly' Guest Tomorrow

For those of you in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you're going to get an opportunity to hear my voice on your FM dial tomorrow at 1 PM CDT.

I'll be a guest on the long running show Lambda Weekly on KNON-FM 89.3, which is hosted by David Taffet, Lerone Landis  and Patti Fink.

The show has been on the air since 1983, and is one of the longest running LGBT themed shows currently on air. and has had a long list of distinguished celebrity and LGBT community guests.

So North Texas, tune in at 1 PM to hear the show and me comment on the issues of importance to our community.

   

BTAC 2016 Final Day Highlights

Our week in Dallas for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference ended far too soon, and now we'll have to say goodbye to each other until next year.

BTAC 2016 has been an amazing event.   In its fifth anniversary year, we moved to a new hotel and broke our attendance record.  We had far more first time attendees this year and international attendees from Brazil and Jamaica..

The international attendees is a pattern I personally love and want to see continue.  The international attendees expand and add another level to the discussions we're having when it comes to being Black and trans.

For those of us who are still in the DFW area or at the hotel, we get the chance to meet up at Blue Mesa for our Farewell Brunch starting at 12 noon CDT.  We talk about the amazing week we had, share one last meal together, and lay some organizational groundwork for BTAC 2017.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to miss it since my Megabus is leaving for Houston at 2:50 PM, but I'll be thinking about everyone on the ride back down to my end of I-45 and eagerly anticipating the dates for BTAC 2017

BTAC 2016 Day 3 Highlights

Enjoyed doing my Black Trans History 101 panel and being part of the Black Trans Community Summit with Tela Love, Justice Williams and Louis Mitchell.

Also witnessed an amazing display of talent at TransManifest last night that included singers, lip sync, several spoken word performances, and a rapper.

It's Thursday at #BTAC2016.   The highly anticipated events taking place today are the keynote speeches by Mister Cris and Dora Santana and later tonight, the Mr. and Ms. Black Trans International pageants at 7 PM in which the new BTAC royalty will be crowned to represent us..

There will also be two morning blocks and an afternoon block of seminar programming to fill out the rest of this third day of Black Trans Advocacy Conference programming..

BTAC 2016 Day 2 Highlights

The first full day of BTAC 2016 seminars starts at 9:15 AM CDT.   We'll also have the BTAC Career Clinic and the opening of the vendor area.

Th topics of the seminars in the AM block are 'Creating Healthy Masculinity', 'Ways Of Coping With Stress', 'Gaining and Maintaining Employment For Trans People', 'Behind The Scenes Pageantry Preparation On and Off Stage' and 'Life Choices'.

I'm moderating one on Black Trans History at 2:15 PM as part of the Black Trans Community Summit, with Part 2 starting at 3:30 PM will be a round table discussion on issues of importance to our community.  

For those of you wishing you were here in Dallas with us,  you can check out the days events at the hashtag #BTAC2016.

This day closes with Trans Manifest Live starting at 9 PM

BTAC Condemns Lt Gov. Patrick`s Call For TX Anti-Trans Hate Law

The 2016 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference kicked off in Dallas today, but attendees were dismayed to hear that Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) signaled during a press conference that he would be supportive of a HB 2 style hate bill in the Lone Star State.  It`s not surprising since Patrick supported and contributed to the HERO repeal forces.  

The Black Trans Advocacy Conference this afternoon issued a statement condemning Lt Governor Patrick`s comments attempt to peddle anti trans hatred in Texas.

***

The Black Trans Advocacy Conference condemns Lt. Governor Dan Patrick`s statement that he would support removing human rights protections for all Texans with an HB2 style bill.

We find it particularly egregious that you would cynically use hatred of trans people to do so in an election year.

"I fail to understand why our lieutenant governor would wish to take this regressive step backward," said BTAC executive director Carter Brown. "Trans Texans are your neighbors, business owners, employees, taxpayers, family members,  husbands, wives, and people raising children."

"It is time to move Texas forward, not follow North Carolina down the divisive, economy destroying nouveau Jim Crow path they wish to take our beloved state."

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.

In The BTAC 2016 House!

Hey Dallas, Moni's on your end of I-45 until Sunday for the 5th annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference and Awards Gala starting today and running until May 1

 It's my fourth one since 2013 when I was honored to be the first trans feminine person to do a keynote when they opened the conference to trans feminine participation.  .

This year's 2016 keynote speeches will be delivered given by Dora Santana and Mister Cris, and y'all still have time to join us for all the fun.

Since it falls so close to my May 4 birthday, I treat BTAC like an extended birthday celebration, since my birthdays the last few years have tended to be quiet contemplative days.

But back to talking about this year's edition of BTAC.   This year we are at a new hotel, the Dallas Addison Marriott Quorum at the Galleria, after several years at the Doubletree Campbell Center.  I loved the old hotel because it had a Whataburger and 7-Eleven in easy walking distance and it was literally on the DART Orange and  Red light rail lines.  The West Coasters liked it for the Inn-and Out Burger that was up the street.

A new hotel means we have a new neighborhood and part of the Metroplex to explore and find out what amenities are nearby. We trade North Park Mall for the Dallas Galleria and being closer to DFW Airport instead of Love Field.  If Louis Mitchell makes it again this year, he's probably going to love the new hotel because of the Starbucks in the lobby.

The one thing that doesn't change is the the Trans Manifest, the Black Trans Advocacy Pageants, our Awards Gala, the Black Diamond Ball and our Family Fun Day and Reunion Picnic.

BTAC also provides me and all its attendees the chance to network, hang out with my trans siblings, their supportive family members and our supportive allies.  It's reuniting with old friends, making new ones, and discussing during this week what we need to do to be the change we wish to be in the world.

Going to be an interesting next few days.

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.  

Countdown To BTAC 2016 Has Started

We are less than 30 days from the start of the 2016 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas and it's one of my favorite events for many reasons.   .

In addition to the fact it happens in my home state, it's one of the few conferences in which we get to see a significant level of visibility of trans masculine participation.  Since 2013 Black trans women have also been an increasingly integral part of the BTAC action with it being an unapologetically Black trans centered conference open to all who wish to attend..

I believe so strongly in the mission of this organization I sit on the Black Transwomen, Inc board.

It also ends around, on or just before my Cuatro de Mayo birthday, so I treat it as an extended birthday celebration week.. And yep, I'll be doing a couple of seminars this year during the event which runs from April 25-May 1.

The keynote speakers for this year's event are Mr. Cris and Dora Santana, and that's just one of the events taking place during an empowering week that included the Awards Gala, the Mr. and Ms. Black Trans International pageants, the Black Diamond Ball, and the eagerly anticipated Family Fun Day.

There's still time for you to make plans to be at BTAC, which is celebrating its fifth year and is moving to a new hotel, the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum.

Hope to see y'all in my home state in less than 30 days!  

2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Happening In Texas

While I have been busy with other events, on opposite ends of 1-45 we have had eight CONCACAF women's teams battling to get the two spots available from our FIFA region for the upcoming Rio Olympic Games women's tournament.

The tournament started on February 10 with the Group A teams, the USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Costa Rica playing their games at Toyota Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, TX while the Group B teams Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Guatemala started a day later at BBVA Compass Stadium here in Houston.

Team USA got their Olympic qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 5-0 win over Costa Rica as Carli Lloyd scored the first of her two goals just one minute into the game to get the USA off to a 3-0 halftime lead in a match they never trailed in as Mexico was thumping Puerto Rico 6-0.

That set up a crucial clash on February 13 in which the USA prevailed 1-0 over Mexico thanks to the game winning goal from Carli Lloyd in the 80th minute on a penalty kick while Costa Rica recovered from their loss to the USA by spanking Puerto Rico 9-0.

The win also gave the USA the top spot in Group A with two wins and a +6 goal differential.

Yesterday Group A play concluded with the USA clinching the group and their trip to the semis here in Houston with a 10-0 win over Puerto Rico in which Crystal Dunn scored five goals.

In the battle between two 2015 World Cup squads to determine the runner up in the group, Costa Rica prevailed 2-1 in which Raquel Rodriquez scored two goals, with the game winner being on a penalty kick in the 57th minute to clinch the runner up spot in Group A and their ticket to Houston for the semifinals.

Group B play started on February 11 at BBVA Compass Stadium, with Trinidad and Tobago shocking Guatemala 2-1 and Canada behind an Ashley Lawrence hat trick spanking Guyana 5-0.

On February 14 Guyana sent Guatemala packing with a 2-1 victory as Canada clinched Group B with a 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Later today while Canada closes out group play with homeward bound Guatemala, Guyana and Trinidad and  Tobago will play to see who will be the Group B runner up and get the unenviable task of taking on the world champion USA in a knockout round semifinals on Friday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Canada will play this final group game knowing that they will face Costa Rica in the knockout round on Friday with an Olympic berth on the line.

The Friday semifinal game winners will get both CONCACAF berths to the Rio Olympic Games women's soccer tournament, and play each other on Sunday for the tournament title.

BTAC 2016 Approaching Soon

TransGriot Note: Do need to point out in the interest of journalistic integrity that I sit on the board of Black Transwomen, Inc.

This conference up I-45 north from me in Dallas has been growing steadily over the last several years, and will be celebrating its fifth anniversary when it kicks off in April.

It's the Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards Gala and this year's event for April 25-May 1 will be moving to a new hotel, the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria.

This year's theme is 'Thinking and Speaking A Better World' and you're invited to join the BTAC family at an event designed to do just that.

I had the pleasure of being its first trans feminine keynote speaker in 2013, so I'm always interested in seeing who will get that keynote nod at every BTAC event.  This year's BTAC 2016 keynote speakers will be Mister Cris and Dora Santana.

And as always, the awards gala, the Black Trans International pageants, the Family Fun Day at Austin Ranch, the Black Diamond Ball and the information filled workshops and panels make this a unique for the conference world exciting, fun filled and informative week in the Lone Star State.

And in addition to it being in my home state and it being one of my fave conferences, it either falls on or very close to my birthday, and it has been a blast the last two years celebrating it during an event with my Black trans family from around the country and increasingly, as Dora's presence as this year's keynote speaker is indicative of, across the African Diaspora.

You have time to get that registration in for the BTAC conference, consider submitting a panel discussion topic or get ready to walk the Black Diamond Ball floor.

So hope to see y'all in the BTAC house this year as we spend the week of April 25-May 1 thinking and speaking a better world so that once we leave we can translate that into action on behalf of our community. .  

Janette Tovar Won't Receive Justice

Been hearing rumblings from my Dallas area trans family this might be happening in the Janette Tovar case,, and what has been feared by the Dallas trans community and Janette's cousin Marisa Anguiano has sadly come to pass.

It was confirmed by the Texas Observer that Janette's killer, Jason Kenney is getting ten years probation.

When he enters a Dallas County courtroom tomorrow, the 29 year old Kenney is expected to plead guilty to felony aggravated assault as part of a plea deal.   He has basically done two months of jail time for assaulting her in an October 2012 domestic dispute that turned violent.

Tovar and Kenney had been in a relationship for a year when Kenney slammed Tovar’s head into the concrete in the 830 block of West Davis Street, then continued to assault Tovar when they returned home to 918 W. 8th St. 

Tovar subsequently died of according to an autopsy performed by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office of blunt force trauma to the head.

It's just another infuriating slap in the face to not only Janette Tovar's family and all who loved her, but the Dallas area trans community.  Janette Tovar's murderer is walking the streets.

It's also jacked up cases like this that help grease the skids for more anti-trans murders..

We Mourn A 13th Trans Woman's Murder This Year

Another trans person has been murdered, and this time the scene shifts to my home state of Texas.

The 13th trans woman murdered this year is 22 year old Shade (pronounced like the singer Sade) Schuler, whose badly decomposed body was found in an open field July 29 near Dallas' medical district.

It took Dallas PD detectives nearly two weeks to positively identify her, and as you probably guessed  as per the pattern with murdered Black trans women, Shade was promptly misgendered in the local media.

FYI, the violator of the AP Stylebook standards for reporting on trans people this time was The Dallas Morning News.   The Dallas Police Department has also been guilty of misgendered Shade as well in their press releases.

With this now 13th murder, we have surpassed all the trans people killed in 2014, and once again, still have four months to go in this year.

Anyone with information on this Shade Schuler case is asked to call Dallas PD Detective Chaney in the Homicide Unit at 214-671-3650, and refer to case number 174511-2015. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477).

And as usual, as I receive information concerning this latest murder of an under 30 trans woman of color we are now just finding out about, I`ll pass it on to you.

And the question I asked in the last post is still relevant today.  When will #BlackTransLivesMatter to you Black America?

Rest in power and peace, Shade.  We will not rest until justice has been served in your case.

Registration Now Open For BTAC 2016!

Dee Dee Watters and I zooming past our old hotel on the DART  light rail (and I'm not kidding about the zooming part) on our way to and from Richardson and the just concluded TTNS reminded me that the clock is ticking toward the next time the BTAC family gathers in the Dallas Ft.Worth area for the 2016 Black Trans Advocacy Conference.

The theme for 2016 is 'Thinking and Speaking A Better World' and the dates are April 25-May 1 for this fifth annual edition of it.   The BTAC will have a new hotel hosting it.the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria.   Personally I'm gonna miss the Doubletree Campbell Center, especially since it was on the DART Red and Orange light rail lines, had great views of the downtown Dallas skyline and was an easy trip from the downtown Dallas Megabus dropoff point for me, but sometimes change is necessary for your event to evolve and be positioned for greater success and growth.

Wow, it has been five years for this growing event in which I have been a part of since 2013 when I was asked to be a keynote speaker that year. 

Since it happens so close to Cuatro De Mayo (my birthday) and it's just a four hour drive or Megabus ride up I-45 from me, it has quickly become one of my fave conferences. 

It's also one of the few national conferences in which you get to meet many of our Black trans masculine and trans feminine leaders.  We were also honored to have some trans folks from Brazil, Panama and other places in the African diaspora in the house in 2015, and hope that trend line continues.

And trans women, did I mention all the handsome trans men that will be in the house?  Okay, just wanted to make sure I pointed that out.

I'm not only planning on being there but hopefully taking a more active role in BTAC 2016.  I plan on doing two seminars in 2016 and looking forward to administering more dominoes beatdowns at Family Fun Day  

You have been warned. 

And yes, it goes without saying that cis and trans community allies are also enthusiastically welcomed to attend BTAC 2016.  If you wish to have further information about BTAC 2016, you can click on the following link to do so.

Hope i do see y'all in the BTAC 2016 house.

See y'all in Dallas in a few months for BTAC 2016.  Looking forward to checking out the new hotel, seeing my.BTAC family and meeting more allies during that extended birthday celebration weekend for me.

2015 TTNS UT-Dallas - Day 1

The 7th annual Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit gets cranked up on the UT-Dallas campus this morning.as it continues its ongoing mission of working to enact  transgender friendly non discrimination policies and procedures in Texas school districts, colleges and universities.

And hey DFW, let's see if y'all can break the all time TTNS attendance record that was set last year when Texas State University in San Marcos, TC hosted it.

The fun gets started with an opening breakfast, the TTNS opening ceremonies, and a keynote speech by Dr. Stephen Sutton before we dive into the Day 1 sessions.  

In case you're wondering, yes, I will be teaching a seminar, but it happens tomorrow.   Today I'm in reporter mode.

This is the second consecutive year the TTNS has ventured from its home base territory in the Houston area, and the first time it has been in the Dallas-Ft Worth Metroplex. 

Would love to see you at the UT Dallas Student Union building, and the campus is located in Richardson, TX at 800 W. Campbell Rd.  

Moni's Arrived In Dallas!

Well, actually I'm in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, TX.   I'm chillin' at the hotel and getting ready for the 7th edition of the Texas Transgender Non Discrimination Summit that will be held on the UT-Dallas campus starting tomorrow.

This year's sponsors in addition to UT-Dallas are Rainbow Guard UTD, UTD Pride, and the Gallerstein Women's Center.

This is the second straight year the TTNS has hit the road and began to do what founder Josephine Tiittsworth and the board envisioned for it when it started back in 2009.   It not only is helping to push for trans inclusive non discrimination policies on Texas college and university campuses and school districts, it is also being held in different parts of the state as it does so.

It';s been fun to witness the growth of the TTNS since I became aware of it in 2010, and I'm not only eager to teach my own seminar on Saturday, I'm looking forward to seeing if the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex can break the all time TTNS attendance record set just last year when Texas State hosted it. 

And did I get my Slurpee on the way to the hotel?    What do you think?

TransGriot Update: I not only got my Slurpee at the DART St. Paul Station 7-Eleven, I qualified for a free one during that visit to the DFW`area. There were two walking distance 7-Elevens in walking distance on either side of my hotel in Richardson, and my app got a workout.