Dr. Dana Beyer Legislative Race Update

TransGriot is keeping a close eye on our trans candidates this election cycle as they attempt to make trailblazing history on November 2.

Dr. Dana Beyer is one of those candidates, and she's running in the Maryland House of Delegates District 18 race.

Just to give you TransGriot readers an idea of how it is set up, the Maryland House of Delegates has 141 members that are selected from 47 districts throughout the state. Each district elects three members.

Early voting started September 3 in Maryland and in advance of it, Dr. Beyer got some excellent news. She received a major endorsement from the Washington Post in their August 23 analysis of the various Maryland House of Delegates races.

District 18 (Wheaton, Kensington and Chevy Chase)

Two strong challengers are worthy of support: Dana Beyer, a retired physician and former aide to County Council member Duchy Trachtenberg; and Vanessa Atterbeary, an attorney who serves on the Montgomery County Commission for Women. Both are Purple Line supporters who are better attuned to the district's mix of affluent and working-class residents.

That was followed up by an endorsement from her local newspaper, the Gazette:

Dana Beyer, a retired eye surgeon whose crystal-clear views on everything from the state budget to transportation are refreshing compared to experienced politicians who too often regurgitate tired party line statements, deserves the third seat. Beyer favors a zero-based budgeting process, a public health option, federal funding for Metro and incentives to encourage the development and use of energy-saving technology, all positions relevant to her constituency.

Could this time finally be the charm for Dr. Dana? Sure hope so.

Ho Hum, Ken Mehlman's Gay

We have news that another GOP Pink Elephant has come out of the closet in former Republican chair Ken Mehlman.

Ho hum. Dude, you were pegged as family a long time ago.

There was more than enough whispering and chatter in the GLBT community that gave hints and clues that he was flying the rainbow flag long before Bill Maher called Mehlman out as a pink elephant in his 2006 CNN Larry King interview.



But Mehlman's coming out has not been met with joy and rapture by his fellow travelers because of his role as GW Bush's 2004 campaign manager and later the head of the Republican National Committee from 2005-2007.

A party and a presidential campaign mind you that demonized his fellow GLBT citizens simply for political advantage. Mehlman enabled the major damage done to their lives and civil rights.

So yeah, while there may be a few people like the Log Cabin Republican and GOPProud sellouts immediately embracing him with open arms, there will be more than a few people in GL world giving him cross eyed looks and a lot of grief for a while.

And that's just the white GLBT people.

GLBT people of color definitely have no love for him for a long list of reasons. Does the 'Southern Strategy' the piss poor politicized 2005 Hurricane Katrina response from the Bush misadministration and Latin@ bashing on immigration issues ring a bell, Kenny boy?

I'm glad you've come out of the closet, Ken. But you have a lot to atone for.

Working to Empower Black LGBT People

TransGriot Note: This editorial piece by NBJC executive director Sharon J. Lettman was originally published in the Bay Area Reporter on August 12.

Barbecues, backyard parties, and soul-food jams. Summer is a time for family get-togethers. A time when people all over the world take vacations so they can make memories with close friends and loved ones, but in African American communities only some of us feel comfortable going home.

In our communities, only some of us feel safe enough to be who we are in the company of those who raised us. Only some of us can show up and be all of ourselves all of the time with the people we love most. The pain of moving through our families – closeted, and, in many instances, alienated – is devastating black families everywhere.

Homophobia and the anti-gay oppression it engenders severely limits the extent to which African American LGBT people live out and open lives. In recent years, we have seen significant efforts to undermine black families due to restrictive laws and regulations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Such laws include the 2008 proposition passed in Arkansas outlawing adoption by LGBT people, even though 21 percent of black LGBT couples are biological parents and 2.2 percent are adoptive or foster parents (2000 U.S. Census).

As America's only nationwide black LGBT civil rights organization, the newly re-imagined National Black Justice Coalition has accepted the charge to lead black families in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between straight and LGBT loved ones and communities.

"Building Stronger Black Families" is the theme guiding NBJC's strategic plan and program development. As a part of our commitment, we focus on eradicating policy-based initiatives that we know weaken our families, our communities, and ultimately, our country.

Specifically, we focus on working in coalition with ally organizations to combat harmful laws that are tearing apart our families. In collaboration with Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, we work to repeal laws like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because African American women are discharged from the armed services at three times the rate they serve, due to DADT. Upon discharge, an individual's access to health and retirement benefits are denied and their professional record is permanently marred, affecting their ability to find new work to support their families.

In conjunction with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, we focus on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act because everybody deserves an opportunity to excel in their chosen profession without fear of being punished or terminated due to gender identity or sexual orientation, qualities over which none of us have any control. Racism, homophobia, and transphobia combine to form powerful discriminating forces that prevent LGBT people of color from obtaining and sustaining jobs, which can lead to impoverished conditions for them and their dependents. In a 2007 NGLTF/NCTE national transgender discrimination survey, 35 percent of black transgender respondents were unemployed, which was five times the rate of the general population at the time of the study. ENDA is a federal bill that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

NBJC is partnering with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network to put an end to bullying in schools because every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel safe enough to explore their hopes and dreams without fear of being harassed or physically assaulted. Further, every child deserves to have teachers and administrators who will protect them when these incidents are reported. When children are the targets of anti-gay bullying, families that don't receive this level of support and accountability from schools suffer losses like the tragedy experienced by Carl Joseph Walker's mother. Her son hanged himself last year after enduring daily bullying and anti-gay taunts. Carl is one of several suicides of very young children linked to bullying. We will never know what Carl's promise held and his family is forever scarred by his untimely departure.

NBJC is working with a host of organizations through the Civil Marriage Collaborative DC Coalition, in a public education campaign promoting marriage equality in and around Washington, D.C., where 54 percent of the community is African American, and gay and lesbian couples can marry legally.

Polls have repeatedly shown that respondents who know an LGBT person within their family, workplace, and/or social networks have increased support for policies that foster equal rights. Increasing acceptance and respect for black LGBT people within their families and communities is essential to growing support within African American communities for LGBT issues of inclusion and equality, which, ultimately, affect us all.

NBJC is working toward a world where all of us can go home and be all of who we are, authentically and safely, with family and friends, all of the time. We hope that you will support us by participating in action alerts around policy initiatives that help level the playing field for all LGBT people and allies – regardless of race, creed or color.

If you'd like to join our movement to advance the intersection of racial justice and LGBT equality please visit us at http://www.nbjc.org or http://www.facebook.com/nationalblackjusticecoalition.


Sharon Lettman is the executive director of NBJC, which is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering black LGBT people. Its mission is to end racism and homophobia. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NBJC was founded on December 8, 2003, by a group of committed and passionate black LGBT people, led by activist, author, and commentator Keith Boykin, who believed there needed to be a strong voice advocating on behalf of black LGBT people.

Another Michigan GOP Candidate Plays The Transphobia Card

The Michigan Republican convention will be happening on the Michigan State University campus August 29.

One of the issues to be decided at that event will be which one of the six candidates running to replace term limited Secretary of State Terri Land will become the party's nominee to run against Democratic party nominee Jocelyn Benson for the office

Trans Michiganders and their allies were already concerned because of one of the candidates in this race, half term conservanegro state legislator Paul Scott.

He promised in January that if he was elected secretary of state, he would deny transpeople the ability to change gender markers on their drivers licenses.

Now we have another candidate in a bid to match Scott, that is playing the transphobia card. The galling part is this candidate in 2002 received the endorsement of Triangle PAC, a pro-gay rights organization in Detroit.

Ruth Johnson issued a statement not only disavowing her 2002 endorsement by Triangle PAC, she also echoed Scott by stating, "No I do not support allowing people to change their gender on their license as a result of surgery or lifestyle.”

The reaction was swift from Alicia Skillman, the executive director of Equality Michigan. “It’s unfortunate that the conversation has come back to the issue of denying fairness to transgender residents in the state of Michigan,”

“We need to move forward, not take giant steps backwards regarding trans-equality. To refer to transgender individuals changing the sex on their driver’s licenses as “dishonest” is insulting and downright oppressive. Michigan needs to catch up to states that value difference. Michigan needs to keep the conversation moving toward fairness and equality for every person in the state.”

Julie Nemecek, who in 2007 made national headlines when she was fired from the conservative Christian Spring Arbor University for being trans, also blasted the move.

“To not allow a transgender person to change their gender marker on a driver’s license is to ignore the advice of the AMA (American Medical Association), APA (American Psychological Association), WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health), and other healthcare organizations that understand this medical condition. The US State Department allows changes on a passport even without surgery,”

A survey filled out by Johnson and released by homobigot Gary Glenn and his Campaign for Michigan Families, conclusively shows Johnson has no support for LGBT issues.

Not only does Johnson say she would oppose allowing transgender people to change their gender markers on state issued licenses, but that she opposes adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s civil rights law to prevent discrimination, opposes hate crimes legislation which includes the LGBT community and opposes allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. On top of that, Johnson says she would fight to keep the state’s constitutional amendment which prohibits marriage equality for same sex couples.

This is what you'll get trans Michganders, if she or heaven forbids, Paul Scott gets the GOP Secretary of State nomination and subsequently wins on November 2.

Trans Michiganders, if you don't like being used as a political football, stand up and do something about it. While we have no control over (unless you're a trans Republican attending the GOP convention) who gets the GOP nomination, we do have a major say over who will be taking the oath of office in January.

You can start by donating and working to ensure Jocelyn Benson has everything she needs to ensure she becomes Michigan's Secretary of State on November 2.

Taylorsville, Utah To Discuss TBLG Protective Law

Four Utah cities and two Utah counties have passed laws to protect TBLG people from housing and employment discrimination. Taylorsville, Utah maybe on the verge of joining them.

Equality Utah hopes to expand that list of six Utah counties and cities that have anti-discrimination ordinances to 10 by the end of 2010.

The Taylorsville City Council plans to discuss a possible anti-discrimination ordinance next week. Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Park City, Logan, West Valley City and Summit County have passed such measures to protect gay and transgender residents from .

The topic is on Taylorsville's agenda at a City Council work meeting Wednesday at 6 PM MDT at City Hall, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. (5300 South). The informal meeting does not have scheduled time for public comments.

But if you live in the area, you may wish to have a friendly chat with your council rep.

B Scott Tellin' It Like It T-I-S Is

B Scott is a YouTube video blogger and commenter known for his androgynous looks and outspoken commentary.

Here's a B Scott video skewering the myths that cismen have about gay ones and calling them out about their insecurities.

Dan Savage's Transphobic Azz Strikes Again

TransGriot Note: A wonderful post from my brilliant sis Renee at Womanist Musings. And no sis, you aren't alone in your observation that Savage is a (you name the phobic) jerk.

Well, Dan Savage is a winner isn’t he? Is there a group of people that he is unwilling to verbally assault and “other,” in order to assert his undeserved privilege? It seems that for Savage, the best way to attack someone, is to suggest that they are trans, even when the opposite is true.

To the right is a photo of Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna, who Savage declared was FTM

It's staggering that Rob McKenna, a female-to-male transsexual, is making it harder for other FTMs (and MTFs) to access the life saving sex-reassignment surgery that allowed Rob to become the man he is today. Rob had the resources to finance his own sex-reassignment surgery—presumably—but that doesn't excuse Rob's cruel disregard for his low-income transgendered brothers and sisters or his making common cause with anti-trans bigots in states like Virginia and Mississippi.

For shame, Rob.

Really Savage? You’re going to take something that is so incredibly serious and then make tongue in cheek statements. If he did not have a history of making transphobic commentary, perhaps I could believe that he simply failed to do the proper research, but his own history convicts him.

When dealing with a conservative, there are plenty of ways that you can be critical, only someone drunk on privilege decides that the best course of events is to attack a marginalized group. When we consider that the gay community has a history of throwing the trans community under the bus, his commentary is truly problematic. Dan Savage does not speak for all gay men; however, his extremely high profile suggests that many continue to consider his views to be of great importance, though he has a history of making racist, abelist and transphobic comments.

I really think that Dan Savage needs a huge cup of STFU. Until he begins to recognize his various privileges (and yes, gay men can still be privileged), he is doing far more harm to his community than good. When you throw your allies under the bus, and taunt them cruelly, it makes people that much more reluctant to stand up and fight when you are being abused, because we wonder if we are next in the line of fire.

I don’t care if Dan Savage is your gay super hero with a capitol G; if the man is being abelist, racist and transphobic, perhaps your definition of hero needs to be examined. How many times have marginalized groups suggested, that when you fail to take an intersectional approach to organizing, we all suffer? Only a man like Savage who is White, male, class privileged and cisgender could fail to see that his, I’m just like you approach to advocacy is damaging. No movement for civil rights has ever been successful without allies, and yet people like Savage continue to believe that they can just throw people under the bus, while minimizing their humanity and then demand that they come to bat for you as needed.

So, I am just going to say it: The man is not amusing or enlightening; he is cruel. As long as he continues to sit in judgment of others and to perpetuate a harmful hierarchy of bodies, he has no business sitting in judgment of anyone. Glass houses Savage, perhaps it’s time you discover that you live in one.

Hatin' On Houston-Christofool Style

The rest of Texas, especially the conservative sections of it have always had their hate on for my beloved hometown as the largest city in the state.

But one of the questions I asked myself in the wake of Annise becoming mayor is how long would it take before the haters started tripping about her personal life?

About two weeks after her inauguration.

A 'christian' conservafool in Amarillo is taking his hatred of my hometown to another level in the wake of the historic election that elevated Annise Parker to our mayor's chair.

Reverend David Grisham has set up Boycott Houston.com which seeks to bring economic sanctions from other like minded christohaters to the Bayou City.

***

Do you want a Texas version of San Francisco? Neither do we!
Do you want Texas to be the abortion capital of America? Neither do we!
Houston has elected an openly homosexual mayor and built the largest abortion clinic in the United States and you can do something about it!

While you may or may not be a resident of Houston and eligible to vote for mayor, you can vote with your dollar.

This is why we are calling on Christians everywhere to boycott the city of Houston.
We want to impose “economic sanctions” on Houston, Texas!
Please make your voice heard and join our cause. By signing the online petition you send Houston a message; That you are tired of babies being murdered and the radical homosexual agenda being shoved down the throat of normal society.

Texas is a Christian state! Help keep it that way!
Don’t mess with Texas or Texas children.

Pastor,
David H. Grisham
Director, RepentAmarillo.com, RavenAmarillo.com

***

Now that I've had the opportunity to stop rolling on the floor laughing at this fool, time for the smackdown.

Methinks the good reverend needs to tend to his own flock in Amarillo and stop wasting time hatin' on Houston. I also find it amusing that the server that hosts his Hate On Houston website is based in San Francisco, a city he hates so much.

What's wrong Reverend, no 'Christian' high tech companies to host your website? That's what happens when you send your kids to private 'christian' schools and teach them Flintstones science.

When I crossed the Texas-Louisiana border on my long bus ride from Kentucky back home during the holidays, the sign posted at the state line welcoming tourists and highway travelers read 'Drive Friendly-The Texas Way'.

We're also known worldwide as The Lone Star State', not the 'Christian' State.

Your brand of 'Christianity', Reverend Grisham, runs counter to our state motto of 'Friendship' and is the reason our state and our country is so jacked up right now.

Frankly reverend, your wingers staying away from my hometown will actually improve the quality of life for those of us who love living there.

FYI, Planned Parenthood does mammograms, pap smears and other general health related care. If you right wing conservafools would quit fighting universal health care, low income peeps wouldn't need to go to them for basic medical needs.

I'm proud to be from and have grown up in the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States. The population of my hometown in the 2K's grew 13.6% to 2,242,173 because it is a diverse, international city.

And the population of Amarillo is what, 175,000?

I'm proud to be from a city that produced outstanding congressmembers such as Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland.

I'm proud to be from the city that is the hometown of Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, Beyonce Knowles, Jobeth Williams, Jennifer Holliday and Yolanda Adams.

I'm proud to be from a city that recognizes the talents of all its citizens and values their contributions to its civic life and growth no matter what their race, gender, sexual orientation and hopefully soon gender identity.

I'm proud to be from a city that has world class museums, orchestras, ballet, theater, nightlife, professional sports, colleges and universities, and eclectic gayborhoods.

You know, culture.

I'm proud to have our homegirl Annise Parker as our mayor. She has served this city for over a decade, knows it inside out, wants to be in that chair, and hope she gets rewarded by the voters with two more two year terms.

Oh yeah, Revered Grisham one more thing: You need Jesus.

Statewide Fairness Coalition Awarded $30,000 From State Equality Fund

The Tides Foundation’s State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Gill Foundation, and anonymous donors, has awarded the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition $30,000 to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Fund is programmatically staffed on behalf of the donors by the Gill Foundation’s Movement Building Center.

During the summer of 2009, the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition submitted a letter of intent seeking to submit a complete grant proposal for support. Shortly after submission, the Coalition was invited to apply.

“The State Equality Fund promotes equality through the work of state and local organizations,” said Toni Broaddus, Executive Director of the Equality Federation, national alliance working to further equality in a state-based movement. “Support from the State Equality Fund will assist the Coalition in advancing their work around nondiscrimination and parenting rights of LGBT Kentuckians.”

The Coalition releases the following joint statement: “We are fortunate to receive this grant through the State Equality Fund to support our work advancing the rights and dignity of LGBT Kentuckians. We will continue to bring fair-minded people together for real and substantive change that betters our Commonwealth.”

The Coalition began its 2010 work this past weekend with the 2nd Statewide Fairness Summit held in Frankfort Saturday, January 16. Over 100 Fairness supporters from across the state convened in the Commonwealth's Capitol to develop strategy towards passage of the statewide anti-discrimination Fairness law, pre-filed in the House this session by Louisville Representative Mary Lou Marzian.

The Coalition has scheduled its 2010 Statewide Fairness Lobby Day and Rally in Frankfort for Wednesday, February 24.

Members of the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition are: Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, Fairness Campaign, Lexington Fairness, Kentucky Fairness Alliance Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Foundation.

Mayor-Elect Annise Parker!

On January 1, 2010 Annise Danette Parker will be raising her right hand to take the oath of office as she's done several times since 1997.

This time it will be as the mayor of Houston.

Annise became the first graduate of Rice University and the second woman to win the office by beating city attorney Gene Locke in yesterday runoff election 53%-47%.

And yes, she also becomes the first open lesbian to become mayor of a large US city. I just wish I could have been there to cast a ballot for her like I did in the 1997-1999 election cycles.

"Tonight the voters of Houston have opened the doors to history,” Parker said. “I acknowledge that. I embrace that. I know what this win means to many of us who thought we could never achieve high office. I know what it means. I understand, because I feel it, too. But now, from this moment, let us join as one community. We are united in one goal in making this city the city that it can be, should be, might be, will be.”

I am so proud of my hometown right now. Once again we made history and blew away another stereotype about H-Town.

Annise has been doing the job as an at-large city council member and the city controller. Her endorsements from labor, police, women's groups, gay rights and other groups reflected that and were echoed by the Houston Chronicle endorsement she received.

Thanks to her campaign's superior get-out-the-vote effort, my fellow Houstonians said no to Hotze's Nazis and the Black conservafool ministers that wanted to make her sexual orientation an issue.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed Parker, said her victory holds tremendous significance for the gay community.

"This is a watershed moment in American politics. Annise was elected by fair-minded people from across the city because of her experience and competence, and we're glad Houston soundly rejected the politics of division. This victory sends a clear signal that gays and lesbians are an integral part of American civic life, that we're willing to lead, and that voters will respond to candidates who are open and honest about their lives," Wolfe said.

My old friend Ray Hill, the dean of Houston's GLBT activist community, had this to say about last night's historic win for Annise.

“For me, it means 43 years of hard work has finally paid off,” Hill said. “For Houston, it means we have finally reached the point where being gay cannot be used as a wedge issue to divide the community and prevent us from reaching our aspirations. Annise Parker is not our mayor — she is the city's mayor.”

She won, haters! Read the election results and weep!

Congratulations Madame Mayor elect. Can't wait to see you take the oath of office at the Wortham Center.

Historic Runoff Election In H-town

I'm still anxiously keeping watch on an election transpiring today in my hometown that will result in us either having our second African American mayor or our second female mayor. I'm also anxiously watching the race between my UH classmate Jolanda Jones and her GOP opponent.

As I've been mentioning ever since she filed to run for mayor, I'm well aware of Annise Parker's activism on behalf of the community and her service to it as an at large councilmember and city controller.

I'm hoping that she gets elevated to the mayor's chair today. It's in the hands of the voters now and has been since 7 AM CST.

There have been a lot of dedicated people who have worked hard to make it happen, and I hope the voters will see through the right wing smears and make her our next mayor.

She had this to say in a recent Bilerico Project interview about my hometown, but it's something I already knew.

I think people misunderstand Texas, and I think people misunderstand Houston as well. Houston is an amazing, international city. We are ethnically and racially the most diverse city in the United States, closely paired to New York City. If you look at what drives the economy, we are the world's largest medical center, largest port in the United States, huge high-tech NASA and aerospace presence, all four sectors are tied into the world.

If you go anywhere in the world and say Houston, people have an image of a modern, progressive, bustling city. If you go to the east or west coast, somehow the image is very different. The fact that I am the front-running candidate for Mayor of Houston, and view myself as an activist, Houston is a place where you look at what you can do and bring to the table more than who you are.

I've been successful with a direct style of speaking to the voters of dealing with issues. Houston would surprise people. We are not a redneck wasteland. We are a modern progressive city with a very independent streak. I love my hometown and I absolutely believe in the people of Houston and their willingness to embrace change and tackle problems together.

We'll find out after the polls close at 7 PM CST if Annise not only becomes our second female mayor, but the first open lesbian to helm a major US city.

Drama At The Miss Brazil Gay 2009 Pageant

One of the many reasons I love GLBT pageants is that some of the contestants will be drop dead gorgeous, the talent numbers make the cis pageants look tame by comparison, and every now and then you get some serious sore loser drama.

At this year's Miss Brazil Gay 2009 pageant, winner Ava Simoes had her wig and tiara snatched off her head by Miss Sao Paulo while doing a television interview.



I guess Miss Sao Paulo was really pissed about losing.

Talk about embarrassing for the reigning queen. But that's why you obey the first commandment of pageantry: Thou shalt secure thy wig so it won't come off.

He's A Clown

TransGriot Note: Been a while since I've been motivated to pen one of my infamous song rewrites.

This one is dedicated to our favorite 'ex-gay' preacher, Donnie McClurkin.

Since his self hating Bush butt kissing behind is so fond of using Scripture to beat up repeatedly on GLBT people, thought it was time to turn the tables.

So fire up those iPods and sing along, cause we about to have some church up on this blog!

He's A Clown
sung to the tune of 'We Fall Down' by Donnie McClurkin

He's a clown
Needs to shut up
He's a clown
Needs to shut up
He's a clown
Needs to shut up

His ex gay butt puts GLBT peeps down
That's jacked up Donnie
So shut up

He's hatin' on us again (6x)
His ex gay butt puts GLBT peeps down
So shut up

A Wonderful Discussion At U of L's Ali Institute

It's Pride Week on the U of L campus and I spent a wonderful few hours this afternoon leading a brown bag panel discussion of the subject of gender neutral bathrooms.

It was sponsored by the Muhammad Ali Institute For Peace and Justice, which is located on the second floor of U of L's Ekstrom Library.

As I like to do with any speaking engagement, even though it was a noon start, I like getting there early. I enjoy walking around on college campuses, talking to staff and students and observing what's going on.

I had a chance to chat with Ali Institute staff members Stacy Bailey-Ndiaye, Erika R. Stith, and Mikal Forbush and two Ali Scholar students who dropped in before we got started with the panel discussion.

I also discovered that two of the students attending read TransGriot on a regular basis.

We ended up covering issues beyond just gender neutral bathroom ones. We discussed a wide variety of topics such as intersex issues, Caster Semenya, trans ID issues and race and gender in the hour and ten minutes I was there.

I was also surprised and pleased to get the neat U of L Ali Institute note pad I received as a token of the staff's appreciation when it ended. It's definitely going to be put to good use.

Before I left the U of L campus I paid a courtesy call to Brian Buford and the gang at the Office of LGBT Services. We had a brief discussion about how the event was going as he gave me a quick tour of the place.

Just an FYI, the 2009 edition of U of L Pride Week will continue until September 29.

On my way to the Red Barn where it's located, passed by a fundie preacher spouting the usual anti GLBT hate screed. After I grabbed something to eat I was going to go mess with his head a bit but he'd ended his christodiatribe by the time I exited the Student Center.

So as you can tell, I had a wonderful time on campus. I deeply appreciate the gracious invitation the Muhammad Ali Institute staff extended to me and the warm welcome I received from them and the students attending today.

I'm looking forward to helping them with another event in the near future.

Dan Savage, Chill With Your Race Baiting

Dan Savage just won't give up pimping that thoroughly discredited meme about the Prop 8 loss in Ca-lee-forn-ia.

“I do know this, though: I’m done pretending that the handful of racist gay white men out there—and they’re out there, and I think they’re scum—are a bigger problem for African Americans, gay and straight, than the huge numbers of homophobic African Americans are for gay Americans, whatever their color.

"This will get my name scratched of the invite list of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which is famous for its anti-racist-training seminars, but whatever. Finally, I’m searching for some exit poll data from California. I’ll eat my shorts if gay and lesbian voters went for McCain at anything approaching the rate that black voters went for Prop 8.”

Damn, just when we thought the drama over Prop 8 had subsided a bit, here comes Savage pouring gasoline on the smoldering embers.

Yo Dan, you want fries and A1 sauce to go with your roasted shorts?

From where I, other Black GLBT people and our allies sit, you're part of the racist gay white male club. You definitely need to attend one of those anti-racism training sessions you trashed at the 2010 Creating Change Conference in Dallas February 3-7..

Get this through your thick head. African-Americans make up only 9% of the total population of California. We're significantly concentrated in just five counties, Alameda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego. Prop 8 won by a half a million votes.

If we were as powerful a voting bloc as you claim, Gray Davis would have survived his 2003 recall vote, Tom Bradley would have been elected governor of California in 1982 and Ronald Reagan would have never set foot in the governor's mansion in Sacramento..

How do you explain Alameda County (Oakland) voting AGAINST Prop 8, especially since there are lots of chocolate flavored folks living there?

But I and the African-American GLBT community are more than a little sick of your race baiting attacks on our community. It's got our allies concerned and is pissing off our supporters in the African-American community as well..

I guess it escaped your attention that some of your major legislative supporters have been members of the Congressional Black Caucus such as the current chair of the CBC, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and civil rights icon Rep John Lewis (D-GA).

You've also had consistent support from Julian Bond, the late Coretta Scott King, California NAACP chair Alice Huffman.and other African-American leaders who see this just as I do as a civil rights issue.

We have our knuckleheads such as Bishop Harry Jackson and his sellout minister friends who are doing the dirty work of the Traditional Values Coalition as card carrying members of the Forces of Intolerance. Black GLBT people and bloggers have just as forcefully called them out as I'm doing to your soon to be shorts eating behind right now.

But as many of us continue to point out, the righteous anger you have needs to be focused on the people who were responsible for Prop 8's crafting, collecting the signatures to get it on the California ballot, financing the campaign and who voted for it.

And those people disproportionately share your ethnic heritage.

And hello, did it not occur to your vanilla flavored privileged behind that there are Black GLBT people in groups such as the National Black Justice Coalition who are busting their behinds to get marriage equality passed?.

The GL community has failed at intersectionality, cultivating and being good allies and cracking down on the racism within the GLBT family that causes discourse. It has also failed at crafting a pro marriage equality message that resonates in my community because of the lack of melanin in the GL community leadership ranks.

While I have seen some slight improvements recently on those fronts, we still have a long way to go


In addition, the constant pushing of the 'we're just like you' message and holding out affluent white gay men as the standard bearers for the community is a factor leading into why there's so much right wing pushback against GLBT rights besides the yuck factor and faith based homophobia.

The 'we're just like you' message, especially when being articulated by white gay males is interpreted by Black people in the context of our historic centuries old animosity rooted in slavery.

And I can't and won't forget as a transperson fighting for my community's civil rights that some of the people opposed to trans inclusion in the GL community, the movement we helped start, ENDA, hate crimes and other civil rights legislation over the last 40 years have been white gay males.

So when Savage's HBO television show cranks up, my television will be tuned to another channel since it's obvious he has no regard or respect for my African-American community or his Black GLBT/SGL allies.

But seriously Dan, chill with the race baiting. It's so 20th century.


Crossposted from Feministe and the Bilerico Project

Leiomy Ballroom Video

First the late Willi Ninja becomes a breakout icon from the ballroom community in the wake of the Paris Is Burning documentary along with Octavia. Then Jose Xtravaganza ends up as one of Madonna's dancers and in her Vogue video.

Isis makes the move from the ballroom floor runway competition to America's Next Top Model, and now we have Leiomy Mizrahi Maldonado making a name for herself and the Vogue Evolution dance crew she's been leading in Season 4 of America's Best Dance Crew.

Check out some of her moves from the ballroom.





And word to mainstream peeps, you may want to start checking out a ballroom competition near you. Your next runway modeling superstar or hot dancer could be honing their skills there right now.

Dan Savage, Racism Has Its Rewards

TransGriot Note: This guest post is from my Canadian homegirl Renee at Womanist Musings

Well, it seems that HBO has decided to give Dan Savage his own show, excuse me for a moment while I am reflexively ill. Dan is just the kind of edgy fauxgressive that the media loves to embrace. He does after all write about the great taboo – sex. To make matters even more appealing, he represents the type of gay White male that the media loves to portray.

He is educated and has class privilege – yup, that sums up the GLBT community and allows networks like HBO to put a checkmark beside their inclusive of all peoples box. No need to find a person of color in the GLBT community to promote, when the media can present yet another edgy White male.

There are those that believe that any representation of the GLBT community is a good thing because let’s face it, there is a lot of invisibility in prime time, however; the stylized promotion of White male equalling the GLBT community, is problematic and racist. Can you believe I dared to say it? Then we have Savage himself, the great champion of gay rights. How could he possibly be deemed a problematic choice, when he dares to speak truth to power right? Well, how about we look at this little quote:

“I do know this, though: I’m done pretending that the handful of racist gay white men out there—and they’re out there, and I think they’re scum—are a bigger problem for African Americans, gay and straight, than the huge numbers of homophobic African Americans are for gay Americans, whatever their color.

"This will get my name scratched of the invite list of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which is famous for its anti-racist-training seminars, but whatever. Finally, I’m searching for some exit poll data from California. I’ll eat my shorts if gay and lesbian voters went for McCain at anything approaching the rate that black voters went for Prop 8.”

Anyone recall a public apology for this little racist screed? Nope, why apologize? He is White and gay, and his lefty credentials means that he can say whatever the hell he wants, without apologizing to those he may have offended. What Dan really wants is equality and we uppity Negroes ruined it for him. He is well aware that homophobia is what is stopping him from taking full advantage of his White male privilege. I know who you want equality with Dan and it is certainly not with people who look like me.

Perhaps I should forget this little commentary, the way he forgot that Coretta Scott King said, “I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King’s dream to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.” Is she representative of Black community for you Savage?

How about Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP who stated, “There are no ‘special rights’ in America; we are all entitled to life, liberty and happiness’ pursuit. I see this as a civil rights issue. That means I support gay civil marriage.”

Then of course there is Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) who emphatically declared, “It is time to say forthrightly that government’s exclusion of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families…this discrimination is wrong.”

We however are the danger to the GLBT community. No Black people have ever advocated for gay rights. Why would we, we are all to busy being thugs and harassing the GLBT community. Who would have thought that Harvey Milk, Matthew Shepard, Brandon Teena (transman), and JR Warren were all murdered in cold blood by White people. Wasn’t there an African American fall guy that they could have scraped together to blame for these deaths? We are, after all, nothing but homophobic thugs right?

Savage’s commentary post Prop 8 may have been forgotten by many but to those of us who are of color, who are either same gender loving or allies to the community, it is a sting that cannot be overlooked. Savage was not openly decried by the GLBT community, in fact he was championed as a hero. Those that are White can understand why he was upset, after all, who would want to be oppressed by Blacks, when socially it is understood that Whites are supposed to be the top of the food chain.

Well, Dan need not worry about being oppressed by Blacks because HBO will be giving him his own platform, where he may wax poetic and take his place amongst the pantheon of White males. For a man that is leading a life of extreme hardship, he seems to have done quite well for himself.

Another Historic Meeting, Another Melanin Free Transgender Contingent

i went nuclear last year when there was a historic committee hearing on transgender issues and not one African-American transgender person was invited to participate.

There was another historic gathering of importance to GLBT people that took place on Monday. It was in the wake of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that took place June 28, 1969.

This time the host was none other than the POTUS, and it took place in the building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that my ancestors helped construct with their unpaid labor.



So did the white transgender community learn its lesson from last year and make sure in the twelve transgender people that were selected to be there, there was some African-American representation?

Nope.

As usual, the white transgender community was well represented on the transman and transwoman side, and Latino Diego Sanchez was there in his new role as Rep. Barney Frank's chief legislative aide. The NCTE folks were present and we even had one former NTACer in Kathy Padilla there.

But if y'all think I'm not gonna light your asses for making the same dumb ass mistake you made 365 days ago, y'all don't know me very well do you?

This was supposed to be a commemoration of Stonewall, and Miss Major, one of the few African-American transpeople left who are Stonewall veterans is still alive and well.

Why wasn't she there? Come to think of it, there were people in the trans community such as Vanessa Edwards Foster and Marti Abernathey who busted their derrieres in swing states like Ohio and Indiana to help get President Obama elected.

Washington DC itself is 61% African-American, which translates to Chocolate City having chocolate flavored transpeople. Where were they?

I also have to ask the question who put the list together this time or had input for it, knowing that you'll shunt the blame to the Obama White House for the 'oversight'?

And what pisses me and many African-American transpeople off even more about this dissing is the bitter irony that we weren't invited to an event that an African-American president we helped to elect called to celebrate an event and a movement we helped jump off.

You know, I and the African-American transgender community are beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of the frequency of these 'oversights', the weak excuses that freely flow from white transpeople and their gay-lesbian allies trying to justify them, and the empty promises that flow from their lying lips that they'll do a better job next time to fix the problem.

It's obvious you don't want to fix the problem. You want to keep perpetuating the impression that this is a whites only movement.

If that's not the case, prove me wrong. But it's hard to not overlook the fact that the two major historical media events involving transpeople in the capital that was built with slave labor have had a glaring lack of African American transgender representation.

The ossifying impression of a whites only trans movement are also not helped by these oversights and trans movement leadership ranks that are as lily white as the Republican Party.

And what infuriates me and many African-American transpeople off even more about this dissing is the bitter irony that we weren't invited to an event that an African-American president we helped elect called to celebrate a historic event and a movement we helped jump off 40 years ago.

I wonder what the African-American president and first lady's thoughts were as they perused a so-called diverse group of transgender people that didn't have anyone of their ethnic background represented?

Once again, you vanilla flavored privileged peeps have demonstrated your utter lack of ignorance, respect and regard for your so called African descended transgender 'allies'.

It results once again in a situation in which another historic meeting takes place that has a melanin free transgender contingent.

Will you people ever learn? Obviously not, and neither does it seem you care to either.


Crossposted to The Bilerico Project