Tona Speaks About President Obama

Tona's latest Vlog about her performance for President Obama and the Sullivan article.

'The Purple One' Isn't Running In 2012

Next to me ripping the GOP on a regular basis here at TransGriot, the person who is next in line that I have frequently called out on more than a few occasions when he deserved it has been Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

I and many people in the trans community have cursed  'The Purple One' for our major differences in the speed of passage of federal human rights laws for transgender people that came to a head in October 2007 when he stripped us out of an ENDA bill that eventually got passed by the House but went nowhere in the Senate.  

However, as much as I have chewed on 'the Purple One' in these electronic pages for being a legislative impediment for trans human rights issues, I also have to note that he also hired a transman on his staff

And differences in trans policy aside, The Purple One and I do have similar stances on a few liberal-progressive issues. 

I also love the fact that Rep. Frank ain't scared to call out the conservafools for being the lying, informationally challenged doofuses they are on their own propaganda network.   That tell it like it T-I-S style also applied to constituents too.

So I was stunned to flip the TV on to MSNBC this morning right in the middle of his press conference announcing that he is retiring and will not be running for a 17th term in 2012.   Massachusetts lost a congressional seat in the latest round of redistricting and Frank noted it was a factor in his decision along with his desire not to be in politics past his 75th birthday.

He was the first congressmember to come out while in office, and rose to become a liberal icon and one of the more powerful Democrats on the Hill.   He has since been followed to Capitol Hill by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) who is now running to become the first openly gay US senator and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO).

President Obama had this to say about the retirement of Rep. Frank:

"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him. For over 30 years, Barney has been a fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of families and businesses and helped make housing more affordable. He has stood up for the rights of LGBT Americans and fought to end discrimination against them. And it is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again. Barney’s passion and his quick wit will be missed in the halls of Congress, and Michelle and I join the people of the Bay State in thanking him for his years of service."

When the 113th Congress cranks up for business on January 3, 2013, for the first time in 32 years Rep Barney Frank will not be in the House chambers as a part of it.

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The Best President Ever On Trans Issues

In certain vanilla scented sectors of the rainbow community they are still throwing hissy fits because President Obama not only beat Hillary in the 2008 Democratic primary, but that he hasn't focused his term on their 'all marriage all the time' political agenda.

The 'Obama hasn't done anything for the gay community rant is getting about as tired as hearing the fiction that Lady Gaga does so much for the LGB(t) community.

From where I sit, President Obama has been the best president ever on transgender issues and let me count the ways in doing so.  If anything else happens trans wise in the Obama Administration, you'll find it in this post. 

Signed the Byrd-Shepard hate crimes bill (2009)
Signed the UN Declaration On Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity
Became the first president ever to name open transgender appointees to his administration
Appointed the first transgender DNC member ever in Diego Sanchez.
Conceived a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders — the nation’s first ever — funded by a three-year HHS grant to SAGE
Appointed Amanda Simpson to his administration as a Department of Commerce senor technical advisor (2010)
New state department rules allowing passports with proper gender markers to be acquired without surgery (2011)
Closed door meeting with trans activists (2011)
Social Security Administration stops no match letter policy. (2011)
Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government
Housing non-discrimination regulations from HUD. 
AOD 2011-3, the US Tax Court ruling that allows you to deduct your expenses from SRS off your taxes

As more trans related policy comes out of this administration, I will edit this post to reflect that.