My Thoughts On The Houston GLBT Caucus-Baptist Ministers Assn. Initiative

People are weighing in on the what WAS a quiet effort to talk to the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity and the GLBT Caucus.

As one of the people considered a major unapologetically Black trans leader in the Houston, Texas and national TBLGQ community, I have also been asked my thoughts about this from multiple people including political candidates, members of the Caucus, and other thought leaders.

So here's what I have to say about it

You know from perusing this blog that I not only have been a vocal critic of the Baptist Ministers Assn, I was not in 2014-15 happy with them colluding with the Harris County GOP and our longtime assorted haters in Dave Welch, Dave Wilson and Steven Hotze.

And Moni STILL isn't happy with them and the rampant miseducation about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance they helped grease the skids for that was critical in how it was framed and why it was rejected in the Houston Black community . 

But I also have been just as critical about the piss poor effort of Houston Unites and their Prop 8 2.0 campaign that spectacularly failed to educate about and defend the much needed ordinance in my community in large part because of the failure to listen to Houston Black TBLGQ leaders.

In order for us to pass and successfully defend a HERO 2.0 ordinance, you not only need to listen to Houston Black TBLGQ leaders, we are going to have to deal with the Baptist Ministers Assn and also the just as odious to me COGIC PAC. 

I also have some ideas about what else needs to happen, but it's going to cost you to hear what they are.  Y'all in the market for hiring experienced Black trans leaders, equality orgs?  It's kinda obvious we're needed and necessary to advance equity in this human rights movement, and not just equality.

We cannot allow Houston Black voters to ever again be hoodwinked and bamboozled into voting against a local human rights law that protects them in the Bayou City.   Neither can we tolerate sellout Black folks who collude with the Harris County and Texas Republican Party and white fundamentalists to make that miseducation happen.

It is past time for a 'Come to Jesus' Houston Black community meeting with those groups.  This is a family conversation that Houston Black trans, bi and SGL leaders need to facilitate because we need to and KNOW HOW to talk to our people. 

And as a member of Black Lives Matter HOU, I'm confident that we can successfully along with POC Caucus leaders and other Houston Black community leaders have that conversation.  Both groups are coming to the table with the common points of our Blackness and being sick of the narrative we are 'more homophobic and transphobic' than the white folks who draw high five figure paychecks working in anti-TBLGQ orgs , the white fundies ministers that get their jollies hating us, and support a Republican Party dedicated to oppressing us. 

Just before the January 2018 Caucus meeting, Mike Webb pulled me aside and asked if they could talk to me about an initiative that was being worked on.  I now know because of the drama this was the initiative they were talking about. 

I'm also not happy about the conclusion jumps being made in the article that the trans community is 'being thrown under the bus' and that Houston Black SGL leaders expressing their opinions about this situation informed by their Blackness and political knowledge of our Houston Black community and the players in it is 'cisplaining'.

Really?   Don't even insult my intelligence with that BS. 

This initiative is a Houston Black family conversation that once again, we need to and must have.  That means Houston white TBLGQ community, y'all are going to have to sit on the sidelines for this one until if and when we call for you.

It is an initiative that I definitely agree needs to have Houston Black trans representation at the table since we were the people attacked by the inflammatory anti-trans rhetoric.  Because of that anti-trans hate speech, Black trans people have undeniably taken the brunt of the anti-trans violence uptick that resulted from that 2015 campaign, the GOP efforts to pass anti- trans 'bathroom bills'  and the anti-trans rhetoric surrounding the failed dual attempts to pass SB 6.

So would I talk to a group that as you know I'm seriously pissed off at?  I sure would.   I definitely wouldn't mind talking to Max Miller, FN Williams and whoever else is leading the Baptist Ministers Assn of Houston and Vicinity as long as that apology to the trans community happens

The ministers need to know from a living breathing Houston Black trans person we not only exist, that their collusion with our longtime enemies was hurtful to Houston's trans community.

The Black ministerial collusion was harmful specifically to the Houston Black trans contingent of it, and the Baptist Ministers Assn of Houston and Vicinity need to as a starting point publicly apologize to us for their reprehensible actions to the Houston Black trans community.

And the Houston Black TBLGQ community will have a major say in how and what that looks like.

Jeri Hughes Running For Gertrude Stein Club Presidency

I've mentioned a few times in my posts about my trips to Washington DC longtime trans activist Jeri Hughes.  When I'm inside I-495 and chilling at her I get the opportunity to have some long and thoughtful conversations about the state of the trans community and countless other subjects with her every time I'm in her presence.

I also know she's proud of living in the District, and I was happy to discover courtesy of an October 31  Washington Blade article that she is running for the presidency of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club when the group holds its officer elections on November 18.   

The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club was founded in 1976 and is the voice for TBLG Democrats in Washington DC.  It is also the founding chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats and according to their website one of the oldest Democratic Clubs inside I-495.

If she is successful, Hughes would become the first trans person to serve as the Gertrude Stein club’s president but wouldn't be the first elected to a leadership position in that organization.   Transgender and Democratic Party activist Julius Agers served as the club’s vice president two years ago.

Best of luck Jeri and hope I have some wonderful history to report on come November 18.

Here We Go Again With The ENDA Executive Order

It's back for the 2K13, the predominately white gay grousing over President Obama not moving on their demands to sign an ENDA executive order.

The ENDA executive order they have been pushing for since 2010 has been a recurring theme in GLBT politics.  It's also bogus.   Far from eliminating discrimination for the entire LGBT community 'with the stroke of a pen', it only protects TBLG people employed by federal contractors.

It only benefits the gays who are employed by federal contractors and I'm extremely skeptical about the benefits to the rest of the community not covered by the executive order.. 

The Employment and Nondiscrimination Act is the legislative solution for the problem of LGBT employment discrimination.  It would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in both public and private employment and benefit the ENTIRE TBLG community.

An executive order won't.  

Granted, even Stevie Wonder can see that ENDA isn't passing out of a Republican controlled House.  But one of the reasons it's a Republican controlled House is because some of you GL peeps sat on your asses on November 2, 2010 instead of taking them to the polls during that midterm.

At the same time, because you were mad at President Obama for not dropping what he was doing to clean up the mess Junior left him and immediately cater to what you wanted him to do, you loudly and stupidly called for the GL community to sit out that election to 'punish the Democrats'.

And who ended up getting punished?  Damned sure wasn't the Democratic Party, it was all the GLBT peeps who aren't in your tax bracket who got punished.   It was every person in the US who depends on having the Dems in power to fight for them inside I-495 to keep their human rights from being trampled on by the neo-fascist Republicans.

But now that we have this lemon Congress, how do we make lemonade out of the situation?   And no, the ENDA executive order ain't it because it isn't broad enough to cover the sectors of the BTLG community that desperately need the anti-discrimination coverage.

Time to focus people on the long game and remember your Dallas Principles. 

Circle November 4 on your 2014 calendar, bust your butts to ensure the Dems hold or expand their Senate majority and take control of the House back.   We can raise our appletini glasses together to celebrate the return of the speaker's gavel to Nancy Pelosi's hands from the clutches of the GOP Cryin' Man and then get busy executing the full court press in 2015 to pass an inclusive ENDA..

Stacie Laughton-New Hampshire Trans State Rep!

When the New Hampshire state legislature begins its session on January it will be only two seats shy of flipping control of the Senate back into Democratic hands at 13-11.   The 400 member New Hampshire House will have a 221 member Democratic majority under the leadership of Terrie Norelli as Speaker of the House.

The Democratic majority will also contain the first open trans person ever elected to a US state legislature. 

On Tuesday Democrat Stacie Laughton easily beat out two Republican candidates in the Ward 4 state legislative race in Nashua to become New Hampshire's first trans state representative.

In addition to being the first ever open trans legislator elected to a US state legislative seat, she also becomes the first elected trans state legislator since Althea Garrison accomplished that feat in neighboring Massachusetts 20 years ago

“I believe that at this point, the LGBT community will hopefully be inspired,” Laughton said Wednesday. “My hope is that now maybe we’ll see more people in the community running, maybe for alderman. Maybe in the next election, we’ll have a senator.”

Laughton said in an interview she also would like to work on legislation to make it easier for trans people to be recognized in the state, including measures that would make it easier for group members to change their gender on state-issued IDs and being able to use the restroom of their choice.

“The state needs to be welcoming and affirming and sending that message that we will be welcoming and you won’t be discriminated against in New Hampshire.” .

I sure hope so Rep-Elect Laughton, especially in light of the fact that just three years ago a trans rights bill was voted down 24-0 in a then Democratically controlled predominately female New Hampshire Senate after it passed by one vote in the New Hampshire House.   It was galling in light of the fact they had no problem passing a same gender marriage bill in the same session.  

Hopefully Rep-Elect Stacie Laughton can help change that.

The Streak Is Over

In addition to seeing history being made with the reelection of President Barack Obama and the election of the first openly gay senator in Tammy Baldwin, there was another positive political development last night.

The losing streak for marriage equality ballot initiatives is halted at 32 straight losses.

For the first time ever, a ballot measure against same-sex marriage in Minnesota) was defeated and voters said yes to marriage-equality measures in Maine, Maryland and Washington state.

As Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition said in a Washington Post interview, “It is clear that marriage-equality opponents are fighting a losing battle and our movement for full equality is at a tipping point.  More and more Americans are realizing that LGBT people deserve the same protections to care for the people they love.”

Damn skippy they do.   We also need to dispense with this played out conservative bull feces of putting people's human rights up for a majority vote and their political gain.

It's a tactic that the Forces of Intolerance may have used one time too many.

Barney's Right-The Log Cabin Republicans ARE Uncle Toms

Lord knows I've had my issues with The Purple One and have called him out for throwing transpeople under the civil rights bus on various occasions ever since I started advocating for trans people's human rights in 1998.  My most notable rants slamming him occurred in 2007

But I have no argument with him this time.  Rep. Frank was right on target in terms of his recent criticism he has leveled at the Log Cabin Republicans that also applies to GOProud.

Rep Frank (D-MA) originally made the scathing comment on Michelangelo Signorile’s Sirius OutQ radio show Wednesday, saying, “I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin: Their role model is Uncle Tom.” 

He repeated it when addressing the Democratic National Convention’s LGBT Caucus last Thursday: “I am again inclined to think that they’re called the Log Cabin club because their role model is Uncle Tom.”


.  
Some rainbow community orgs have distanced themselves from the comment, but this is another instance in which he told the truth and shamed the conservadevils.

As I and others on the liberal-progressive side have said more than a few times, yes we need people on both sides of the political spectrum and no political philosophy has a monopoly on good ideas.    

But what we don't need is people on that conservative side of the spectrum regurgitating the same language as our oppressors and actively working against the overall human rights aims and advancement of the community either.

That's when you're stepping into Uncle Tom territory, and we got to call you out on it when you do. 

DNC 2012-Trans DNC Delegates Getting International Attention

The 13 trans delegates (and hearing rumors they have discovered a 14th delegate) are deservedly getting a lot of positive attention and positive press coverage for our community

There's a story about them on AFP (Agencie France Presse)  and is a concrete example of the well deserved media attention for this distinguished group of DNC trans delegates that is going international. 


Thanks to y'all for representing our community with class and dignity during DNC 2012

• Super Delegate: Barbra Casbar Siperstein
• Dana Beyer, M.D.
• Kylar William Broadus
• Janice Covington
• Chris Land
• Daria Lynn Lohman
• Lesley Rebecca Phillips
• Marisa J. Richmond, Ph.D.
• Diego Miguel Sanchez
• Jamie Dianne Shiner
• Melissa Sklarz
• Meghan Stabler

You Lie, Log Cabin Republicans!

TransGriot Note:  Received this press release from Jerame Davis of the Stonewall Democrats calling out the Log Cabin Republicans attempt to misrepresent the rainbow community concerning their 2012 platform.

Gay Republicans Mislead LGBT Americans on GOP Platform

Gay Republicans are touting new language in the GOP platform as being a step forward for LGBT equality and as evidence the Republican Party is moderating on LGBT issues. The specific text reads, "We embrace the principle that all Americans have the right to be treated with dignity and respect." National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director, Jerame Davis, responds:

"The idea that this generic bit of meaningless rhetoric is movement by the GOP toward a more inclusive and pro-equality footing is preposterous. For decades, the Republican platform has included anti-LGBT language that, at various times, has opposed adoption rights, marriage equality, and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

"What's even more ridiculous is the idea that this language is something new. The Republican Party platform has included similar language since at least 1996. This is just a rewording of a generic principle that few Republicans would construe to include LGBT equality. While the GOP gives lip service to the principle of dignity and respect for all, the reality of that ideal clearly escapes them.

"The real message to read in this is that the GOP's cognitive dissonance continues unabated and the apologists at Log Cabin Republicans are still selling snake oil and calling it progress."

Below are examples of similar passages from past GOP platforms, by year, and the anti-LGBT language contained in those same documents:

1996: 

"Because we are all one America, we oppose discrimination. We believe in the equality of all people before the law and that individuals should be judged by their ability rather than their race, creed, or disability."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"We oppose Bill Clinton's assault on the culture and traditions of the Armed Forces, especially his attempt to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military. We affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

"We reject the distortion of those laws to cover sexual preference, and we endorse the Defense of Marriage Act to prevent states from being forced to recognize same-sex unions."

"They passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines 'marriage' for purposes of federal law as the legal union of one man and one woman and prevents federal judges and bureaucrats from forcing states to recognize other living arrangements as "marriages.""

2000:

"Since the election of 1860, the Republican Party has had a special calling — to advance the founding principles of freedom and limited government and the dignity and worth of every individual."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"We affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

"We support the traditional definition of 'marriage' as the legal union of one man and one woman, and we believe that federal judges and bureaucrats should not force states to recognize other living arrangements as marriages. We rely on the home, as did the founders of the American Republic, to instill the virtues that sustain democracy itself. That belief led Congress to enact the Defense of Marriage Act, which a Republican Department of Justice will energetically defend in the courts. For the same reason, we do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law."

2004:

"Every day, we strive to fulfill Lincoln's vision: a country united and free, in which all people are guaranteed equal rights and the opportunity to pursue their dreams."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"We affirm traditional military culture, and we affirm that homosexuality is incompatible with military service."

"We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life."

"The sound principle of judicial review has turned into an intolerable presumption of judicial supremacy. A Republican Congress, working with a Republican president, will restore the separation of powers and re-establish a government of law. There are different ways to achieve that goal, such as using Article III of the Constitution to limit federal court jurisdiction; for example, in instances where judges are abusing their power by banning the use of 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance or prohibiting depictions of the Ten Commandments, and potential actions invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)."

"Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country, and anything less than a Constitutional amendment, passed by the Congress and ratified by the states, is vulnerable to being overturned by activist judges. On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. The Constitutional amendment process guarantees that the final decision will rest with the American people and their elected representatives. President Bush will also vigorously defend the Defense of Marriage Act, which was supported by both parties and passed by 85 votes in the Senate. This common sense law reaffirms the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.

"President Bush said, 'We will not stand for judges who undermine democracy by legislating from the bench and try to remake America by court order.' The Republican House of Representatives has responded to this challenge by passing H.R. 3313, a bill to withdraw jurisdiction from the federal courts over the Defense of Marriage Act. We urge Congress to use its Article III power to enact this into law, so that activist federal judges cannot force 49 other states to approve and recognize Massachusetts' attempt to redefine marriage."

2008:

"We offer it to our fellow Americans in the assurance that our Republican ideals are those that unify our country: Courage in the face of foreign foes. An optimistic patriotism, driven by a passion for freedom. Devotion to the inherent dignity and rights of every person."

Anti-LGBT Rhetoric

"To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America's Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service."

"We lament that judges have denied the people their right to set abortion policies in the states and are undermining traditional marriage laws from coast to coast."

"Preserving Traditional Marriage

"Because our children's future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives.

"Republicans recognize the importance of having in the home a father and a mother who are married. The two-parent family still provides the best environment of stability, discipline, responsibility, and character. Children in homes without fathers are more likely to commit a crime, drop out of school, become violent, become teen parents, use illegal drugs, become mired in poverty, or have emotional or behavioral problems. We support the courageous efforts of single-parent families to provide a stable home for their children. Children are our nation's most precious resource. We also salute and support the efforts of foster and adoptive families.

"Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting traditional marriage laws, both in the states and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex 'marriages' licensed in other states. Unbelievably, the Democratic Party has now pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which would subject every state to the redefinition of marriage by a judge without ever allowing the people to vote on the matter. We also urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California. We also encourage states to review their marriage and divorce laws in order to strengthen marriage.

"As the family is our basic unit of society, we oppose initiatives to erode parental rights."

###

National Stonewall Democrats is the national voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Democrats, with more than 80 local affiliates across the nation. Stonewall Democrats works to elect more pro-equality Democrats regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - and to improve the Democratic Party on issues important to LGBT Democrats.

Trans United For Obama Launched

As I've stated more than a few times on TransGriot, while elements of the GL community have sniped at President Obama and in some cases delusionally called him 'the worst president ever on gay issues', as far as the trans community is concerned, he's been the best president ever on trans issues in US history.

A national volunteer organization was recently formed called Trans United for Obama (TU4O) that is designed to rally transgender people, supporters, allies, and families to re-elect President Barack Obama and ensure he is taking the oath of office on January 20, 2013 for his second term.

Here's the TU4O announcement post courtesy of Meghan Stabler, elected Texas delegate for the upcoming 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.

***

President Obama has led so many historic positive policy changes for transgender equality--- more than any elected official in history! We are involved on all levels, from door-knocking, doing data entry, fundraising, registering voters, and getting the message out that President Obama must be re-elected... all the things a victorious campaign and our community needs.

I am personally inviting you to be a part of this community.

We are trans leaders, advocates, educators, bloggers, authors, and allies out to educate people about the historic accomplishments that the Obama Administration has made in the past four years to secure equal rights and protections for transgender, transsexual and intersex identified, and for for all LGBT Americans.

Did you know that more has been accomplished by the Obama administration for trans rights equality than all 43 other presidents combined? For example:

• Ended the Social Security Administration’s gender “no-match” letters and allowed for true gender passports
• Ensured that transgender Americans can receive true gender passports without surgery
• Established guidelines to help protect transgender federal employees from discrimination in the workplace
• Made sure transgender veterans receive respectful care according to their true gender through the Veterans Health Administration

You can read additional accomplishments here

This is where you play a part. We are standing with our President and ask that you join us, and help build TU4O!

• We will hold frequent conference calls with you and with the campaign where you will be invited to participate.
• We will work with the campaign to make sure that all of the campaign offices are ready for and respectful of trans volunteers. 
• We will work with the campaign to register trans voters and make sure trans people aren’t denied the right to vote because of the recent new voter ID laws in certain states.

So join us! Together we can re-elect President Obama for another 4 years of solid progress, legislation and policy for the trans community.

Sign up now to join Trans United for Obama.

Donate to the campaign

Click for more information on Trans United for Obama and follow us on Facebook.

Don't forget to donate whatever you can to get President Obama re-elected; $25, $50, $100 can go a long way to help protect our community!

2012 Texas DNC Delegation Will Have Record TBLG Contingent

When the Democratic National Convention kicks off later this summer, the Texas delegation to it will have a record number of rainbow community folks in the convention hall from September 3-6.

There will be 32 TBLG people representing Lone Star State Democrats either as delegates or serving on committees in Charlotte, which is an all time record.  

In addition for the third straight DNC event a transperson will be part of the Texas delegation. In 2004 and 2008 it was Vanessa Edwards Foster from Houston, and in 2012 it will be Meghan Stabler, who will be representing Senate District 5.  It's a large state senate district that covers Brazos, Burleson, Freestone, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Trinity, Walker and Williamson Counties..

And yeah, trigger alert because the TransGriot is about to engage in some Lone Star bragging.. 

During the just concluded Democratic Party state convention in Houston, my home state of Texas became the twentieth state to add a marriage equality plank to their state Democratic Party platform.  

They also voted affirmatively to add "gender identity" to the statement of principles of the Texas Democratic Rules and on platform resolutions that recognizes and allows birth certificate amendment for children of same-sex parents and the adoption of children by parents without regard to he parents gender identity or sexual orientation.

What was that I-5, I-495 and I-95 peeps about we need to 'just leave' our red states? 

Damn, y'all make me proud to be a Texas Democrat.  Now if we could just start channeling the late Barbara Jordan, the late Billie Carr and (sniff sniff) the late Governor Ann Richards and start taking our state back from those blasted Republicans and bring it back to its liberal progressive roots, things would be a lot better for everybody in the Lone Star State..

Hopefully we started that process in Houston.   Congratulations to all the Texas rainbow community folks who will be representing our beloved state at the DNC convention this summer.

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Senate To Hold ENDA Hearings Soon

While we know  that ENDA is not getting through the Tea Klux Klan controlled House this year, at least they can do the groundwork and build the legislative record so that when the opportunity presents itself things will proceed quickly.

Wonderful news coming out of Hollywood for Ugly People (AKA our nation's capitol) is that the Democratically controlled Senate will be holding hearings soon on the Employment and Non-Discrimination Act

According to a Washington Blade story Sen Tom Harkin (D-IA), the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee will call those hearings on June 12..

“This upcoming HELP Committee hearing will provide an excellent opportunity to build on the Committee’s previous work and help advance our shared goal of equal rights for all Americans. I am hopeful that working together, we will reach a point where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons enjoy the same rights and protections, and full equality, as all our fellow Americans.” said Sen. Harkin.

Here's hoping that unlike in 2009, they will at least have trans witnesses, and especially some trans witnesses of color giving testimony to this committee.

There The 1% White Gay Peepul Go Again

I've been keeping up with the ENDA executive order kerfluffle being stirred up by some quarters of Gay, Inc. It reminded me of something that Kat Rose said on her FB page last year.

Why is it that when a politician changes his mind to the detriment of trans rights its 'political reality,' but when a politician changes his mind to the detriment of same-sex marriage, he becomes the embodiment of betrayal - Benedict Arnold multiplied by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg with a Quisling chaser?. 

I would also add to that statement by Kat, anytime a politician doesn't immediately jump to the will of what white gay peeps demand at that moment in time. 

And I have to wonder did anyone in Gay, Inc leadership ranks or the Gayosphere take political science, think strategically about issues that affect this community or have any fracking common sense?  

What's going on in rainbow political world is that elements of the white GL community started going apoplectic because President Obama hasn't signed an executive order that is alleged by the GL 1% to be the elixir for stopping anti-GLBT discrimination. 

The ENDA executive order elements of the Gayosphere are loudly complaining about would only protect a small slice of the GL population.  It would if signed only prohibit discrimination for those rainbow community people employed by federal contractors, not the entire community..  

As they like to say when any issues surface that affects them short of full legislative equality, it's crumbs.   

It was also interesting that within days after the screaming started in the Gayosphere, the unanimous trans friendly EEOC ruling in the Mia Macy case came down.

But back to discussing the executive order drama.  

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which is a trans community political Holy Grail, is more comprehensive than the proposed executive order the Gay 1% is pimping.  ENDA would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in both public and private employment..

So why are they tripping, especially since the trans community has repeatedly urged them since 2004 to focus on passing an inclusive ENDA, local and state level GLBT employment protection and human rights laws like New York's GENDA instead of this 'all gay marriage all the time' push?  

I submit to you that the reason the Gay 1% boys and girls went on that 2010 full court DADT repeal press was desperation for a policy win in the wake of another devastating marriage equality referendum loss in Maine that dropped the marriage referendum record to 0-31. 

And don't think we trans peeps forgot about Rep. Barney Frank cutting trans people out of ENDA in 2007 or the fact that people like Americablog's John Aravosis (who cheerleaded that decision) is one of the gay bloggers chewing on the POTUS' behind about that executive order. 

Um John, I trust a constitutional scholar and former law professor over you any day.  In addition I don't buy for a moment you have 'evolved already' on the issue of trans inclusion in ENDA.


There's a Houston connection to this GLBT political theater because the questionnaire that the POTUS signed to get the Houston GLBT Political caucus endorsement over Hillary back in 2008 mysteriously found its way into the gay media via MetroWeekly.   The Caucus denied they leaked the questionnaire, but my suspicions are it came from some Hillary supporters that are still pissed that then Senator Obama won that Caucus endorsement by a razor thin margin.

GetEqual is making noises about protesting Obama campaign headquarters over the executive order, which if they do go there is not going to sit well with African-American TBLG people and exacerbate our already testy post Prop 8 relationship with our white GLBT counterparts. 

But sure as making money betting Dan Savage is going to say something insulting to another group, the White Gay Peepul are going to go there anyway. 

You longtime TransGriot readers know I have called out GetEqual and Gay, Inc orgs at times for their penchant of knee-jerk protesting of President Obama anytime in their vanillacentric viewpoint they perceive he's on the 'wrong' side of GL issues.  But GetEqual won't lift a finger or expend the same levels of energy to protest their real Republican gay oppressors to the Black rainbow community's disgust .

So GetEqual.  I eagerly await the posts describing your upcoming protests of Romney campaign headquarters around the nation and the upcoming GOP convention in Tampa.

Umm hmm,  That's what I thought.

Never mind the fact President Obama has been the most gay friendly one that have ever occupied the Oval Office and the best ever on trans issues.    Mitt version 2012 damned sure won't be signing any GLBT friendly legislation if we are unfortunate enough to have him win on November 6, much less nor will any progressive GLBT friendly legislation be coming out of a House or Senate controlled by bat guano crazy conservative politicians.


The smart political play would be to ensure that the POTUS gets reelected to a second term, bust your rainbow asses to ensure the Democrats hold the Senate and if possible increase senate representation (think Senator Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin) , and get the House back in Democratic (and Nancy Pelosi's hands) while gearing up for a full court press to pass an inclusive ENDA in 2013.


But what we're getting right now is a replay of what happened in 2010 in terms of elements of the white gay community demanding the POTUS sign an executive order in the middle of a tight political campaign year on an issue that demands and needs a legislative solution to distract from another anticipated marriage equality loss, this time in North Carolina.

I'm Not Shocked About The Maryland Trans Rights Bill Being Sidelined For Gay Marriage

Why am I not surprised that Maryland is rapidly turning into a replay of New York 2011 in terms of a gay marriage bill and trans rights bill both up in same session, and the trans rights bill (SB 212) that is urgently needed and will benefit far more people is kicked to the curb while the gay marriage bill is advancing toward possible passage?

And the reason excuse for this situation happening in Maryland?  According to Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, 'he only has time for one gay bill this session'.   

Umm hmm. What, he doesn't have the ability to advance more than one GLBT oriented bill at the same time in his chamber?

And meanwhile, back on the GL(bt) Ranch, we have Kat coming under increasing attack by a group of gay male bloggers for telling it like it T-I-S is about the jacked up situation.  

As she said in this post, GL people demanding that transpeople forget about past legislative screwings by Gay, Inc is transphobia. 

I'll take that statement a step further. It's transphobia dipped in the scent of arrogant vanillacentric cis privilege.

So count on the GL community to ignore their Dallas Principles in their feeding frenzy to get gay marriage passed in that state.   Once it passes they'll loudly proclaim their victory, raise their appletinis in celebration while Maryland's transpeeps get screwed once again like they did in 2001 and 2011 while waiting for legislative redress of their grievances.  

Houston TBLG Community Prepping For Rainbow Human Rights Battle

Ever since I became an activist fighting for the human rights of TBLG people in 1998, I have watched as nations around the globe and cities, counties and states in the USA have passed human rights laws to protect their BTLG community members.

Over the last year I watched Dallas become the first jurisdiction in Texas to have comprehensive rights at all levels of government for their rainbow community and wondered when it would happen for the BTLG citizens who reside in the largest city in the Lone Star State. 

It looks like we're finally making the moves to begin the process of doing precisely that in my hometown.

Was deliriously happy to discover that petitions are being drawn up and submitted to the city secretary as early as the end of this month for a November referendum.   The proposed referendum ballot item will ban discrimination against TBLG citizens in employment, public accommodations and housing and give permission to the city to grant health insurance benefits to the unmarried partners of city of Houston employees.

"Discrimination exists everywhere. It's really hard to determine how big the problem is," said Noel Freeman, president of the Houston GLBT Caucus in a Houston Chronicle interview.   A local law is necessary, Freeman said, because gays and lesbians who want to press claims of discrimination currently must undertake costly litigation in state or federal courts.   

Since the Chronicle article failed to mention it, that discrimination is also aimed at trans Houstonians as well with the Izza Lopez case being a prime example of it

Houston has had a contentious history with GLBT rights referendums.  A previous gay and lesbian only anti-discrimination law that covered city employees was passed by City Council in 1985 but was rejected in a crushing electoral defeat by a 4-1 margin. 

In the wake of the city approving benefits for unmarried domestic partners, Dave Wilson and his merry band of faith-based haters in 2001 got a referendum on the ballot that banned the city from doing so.

In 1998 Mayor Lee Brown issued an order banning discrimination against gay and lesbian city employees that survived a three year legal challenge from Councilmember Rob Todd.  In 2010 It was extended to trans city employees by Mayor Annise Parker.


It will take 20,000 signatures to get the GLBT rights referendum on the November ballot.  I have no doubts that Dave Wilson and his cohort in hating on our community David Welch are already marshaling the Houston chapter of the Forces of Intolerance to fight the rainbow human rights referendum tooth and nail if it does make it onto this fall's ballot.

Mayor Parker hasn't committed one way or the other as to which way she'll go in terms of the proposed amendment and says she won't until she sees the language 

"I believe it's important for the city of Houston to send a signal to the world that we welcome everybody and that we treat everybody equally, and depending on the elements of what was actually in it, I might or might not support it."  

Like Mayor Parker I'm in show me the language mode as well.  If it doesn't include gender identity language in it, I'm not supporting it.

If it's the comprehensive rights amendment I want and expect to see, then I will do my part to help garner support in the African-American community for it and pass this much needed amendment to our city charter.

And note to you transphobes and homophobes inside the Houston city limits.   TBLG Houstonians are part of the over 2 million people who call this place home. We're beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of having our human rights fracked with because of your insecurities or your right-wing politically motivated religious beliefs..  

Like all proud TBLG Houstonians I'm also tired of  being embarrassed by the fact my hometown doesn't have human rights laws that cover me like that city up I-45 does and I enjoyed in the city of Louisville when I lived there during the last decade.

If we claim to be an international world class city that values the contributions of all its citizens, then our city ordinances need to reflect that, especially if we want to get that elusive summer Olympic Games we've been trying to land since the late 80's and other international corporate headquarters and businesses. .  

It's past time we send the message that Houston is an international world class city that values all of its citizens, including its TBLG ones.