The Fight To Keep HERO-September 14

One of the things that has irritated me and many of the folks in Black LGBT Houston is not utilizing our voices, knowledge of our community and expertise to forcefully combat the loud and wrong Black * ministers the predominately white conservatives pushing this attack or HERO are using as human shields to give them the veneer of a 'diverse' coalition.

They are more like the 'useful fools' who will be discarded if the wingers are successful in getting HERO repealed.

But I refuse to lose a local remedy to address discrimination without a fight, and judging by the guest post I put up in my last HERO update, H-town discrimination is not only happening no thanks to the suspension of the law by GOP SCOTX meddling, but HERO is needed.

The folks diligently working to increase 'ejumacation' on what HERO really is are handling their business in our community, canvassing is continuing and we have dueling radio ads at this point.

But I'm still concerned about Houston Black media lazily buying the right wing spin and lies and not debunking it.  It doesn't help that KCOH-AM is now owned by HERO hatin' mayoral candidate Ben Hall.

And with faith based kneegrow ignorati like this christopimping lies about a law that covers 15 categories while trying to erase the Blackness of Houston Black trans, bi and SGL people, it has been an uphill battle.  

But it's one we MUST and are determined to win in Black TBLGQ/SGL Houston because we are keenly aware that  Proposition 1 is going to be won or lost in the Black community

I need to see more Houston Black politicians and local orgs like the NAACP and Urban League open their mouths and speak about their support of HERO instead of being on the cricket chirping silent down low about it.

That also includes any Black politician running for public office in this cycle.   My vote for you is contingent on where you unequivocally stand on the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

Supporting human rights for all Houstonians is not something to be ashamed of, it's something you should be bursting with pride about, and in the same breath you should be forcefully calling out the people falling for the right wing okey doke  and preparing to vote against their own human rights based on a debunked lie.

Houston needs HERO.  Vote YES on proposition 1 to keep it

The Fight To Keep HERO-September 12

As I keep relentlessly pointing out, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance covers 15 categories, and is a local remedy for the discrimination that our opponents are trying to claim isn't happening..

The straight up lie our opposition continues to try to tell that it is an ordinance only for TBLG Houston is ludicrous. I've pointed out (and will continue to do so until November 3 and beyond) the mind-numbing idiocy of a loud and wrong small cadre of African-American Houstonians opposing the HERO when 54% of the HERO complaints received by the Houston Office of Inspector General between May 28, 2014-January 15, 2015 are race based discrimination, and another 17% are gender discrimination based on a debunked right wing lie..

That's two of the 15 HERO categories that once again, protect Houstonians from housing, public accommodations and employment discrimination based on  sex, race, age, color, gender, familial status, national origin, veterans status, genetic information, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, religion, and sexual orientation..

This commentary from Brandon Ball, Dan Scarbrough, and Ken Piggee speaks volumes about the discrimination going on in H-ton that needs to be addressed.

We can end this unjust discriminatory activity inside the Houston city limits and provide a local remedy for addressing it by ignoring the haters fear and smear tactics and voting YES on Proposition 1 to keep HERO on November 3.

And now, let me present Brandon Ball, Dan Scarbrough, and Ken Piggee, fellow Black Houstonians who were discriminated against last night when they attempted to enter a Midtown area bar.

***

My name is Brandon Ball. I am 32 years old. I am African American. Tonight I was with my friends Dan Scarbrough (42) and Ken Piggee (43). Both are also African American. We were in the Midtown area of Houston, TX tonight and tried to go into The Gaslamp. Both Dan and Ken had on blazers. I had on a button up and slacks. When we walked up the guy at the door told us $20 each (pictured below in the long sleeve shirt). We didn't want to pay that amount so we decided to go to the next bar down, The Dogwood, which was free.

After about 30 minutes we left The Dogwood and were walking back. As we passed The Gaslamp we noticed folks walking into The Gaslamp without having to pay. Those folks who didn't have to pay were white. I brought this to Dan's attention a few minutes later and he said we should go back and just watch from across the street to see if there was some "funny business" going on.

Ken, Dan, and I went back and watched from across the street as the guys who were working the front door of The Gaslamp (pictured) allowed white people to come in one after the other. Every black person who we watched try to go in was told there was a $20 cover or that their attire was not proper. One black guy was told that he could not get in because he had on Polo Boots.

I again tried to walk in and was told there was a $20 cover. This was right after I had just seen a group of white guys walk right in.

I finally went and spoke to the cop (also pictured) who was working the door (who is a minority himself) and asked him if he was aware and comfortable with how the door guys were conducting business. His reply was basically..."I just work and do my job and those guys over there do their job." I told him he was complicit but he blew me off.

I then took pictures of the two main guys at the front door (pictured below) and both of them began to ask if I had a problem. The one in the short sleeved shirt went as far to tell me that he hoped I didn't "run up on him in the streets because it would be a problem."

Why does this matter to me? Why is this important? If I have to answer that please just move along. This post is not meant for you. This event occurred in the late night of Sept. 11th. A day in which we as a country are supposed to come together. But events like this just tells us how far apart we are.

Please share this. Please pass along. Please read this and understand what type of establishment The Gaslamp is. If you were at The Gaslamp on this night and had a similar experience please comment and share.

Don't let actions such as this continue with no recourse. If you know the guys working the door let them see this. Please let them. Remember, this is 2015.

***

What was that horse feces strewn by our not so esteemed opposition violating the Ninth Commandment about the HERO being a 'gay rights bill'?   The HERO is a civil rights bill, and it needs to be part of our Houston Code of Ordinances.  You can ensure it stays there with a YES vote on Proposition 1.

 If HERO had been in effect instead of being fought by a cadre of loud and wrong right wing ministers and GOP activists, this incident probably wouldn't have happened..

If HERO had been in effect instead of messed with by SCOTX,, Mr. Ball, Mr. Scarbrough and Mr. Piggee would have had a local mechanism to go to the Houston Office of Inspector General to file and pursue a discrimination complaint against the Gaslight Bar for a HERO public accommodation violation

But no thanks to those clueless ministers, conservative activists and the all Republican Texas Supreme Court, hatin' on the HERO, our local human rights law is not in effect for now, and bars like the Gaslight will continue to discriminate against people until there is a cost they have to pay for doing so.

TransGriot Note:  Thanks to Brandon Ball, Don Scarbrough and Ken Piggee for allowing me to share their story. 

The Fight To Keep HERO-September 11

Another question for you HERO haters.

You have been beating the bathroom issue into the ground because you refuse to have a rational discussion about the merits of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance because you know you'll lose if that happens.

That's why we've had, helped by the collusion of lazy Houston media stenographers (they don't deserve to be called journalists) an overdose since last year of right wing fear and smear anti-HERO tactics centered on the potty.

So as tired as I and Houston Trans World is (and trans peeps around the country) of the debunked bathroom issue and you cis people's obsession over what genitalia is between our legs, I'm going to post on it for the last time in this run to the November 3 election.

I keep hearing this line being thrown out by the HERO haters about people needing to use the bathroom based on their genitalia.  But the reality these days is that genitalia does not equal to gender identity or outward gender presentation.

So here goes with my question: Do you HERO haters wish to require that people use the bathroom based on their genitalia?  

You may wish to think long and hard about this question before you answer it.

If your answer is yes, then you would be forcing trans masculine guys like Sgt. Shane Ortega to go to the bathroom with your wives, nieces and daughters.

So the next time you start insultingly calling trans women 'men,' because you willfully refuse to accept their lived experiences and their lives, better consider the fact that trans masculine people exist, and in your zeal to keep 'men out of the women's restrooms', you'll be karmically setting up the exact scenario you've been using to demonize trans feminine people with and scaremonger about in this HERO debate.

And we'll be laughing our azzes off about it.

Trans people have been using the restrooms that correspond to our gender presentation for five decades without incident.

So no, we are not going to meekly accept or be forced by the tyranny of the majority to potentially be placed in dangerous situations for us to use a restroom that doesn't correspond to our outward appearance based on a right wing lie.

We are tired of being dehumanized by people who have no clue about what we deal with, refuse to educate themselves about trans people, or sit in smug faux faith based judgment of our lives

Bottom line is we need to poop and pee just like everyone else on Planet Earth. . If you're looking to stop those predators you're so concerned about, start in your own homes, neighborhoods or churches

And besides, a law already exists to punish peeps who enter restrooms to commit crimes.  It's Section 28.20 in the Houston City Code of Ordinances and it's still very much in effect.  You commit a crime in a Houston bathroom, you're still going to jail and getting prosecuted for it.

Our HERO opponents have yet to (and will not be able to) produce any police report from now and over the last five decades that backs up the lie they have been gleefully spreading about trans people for the last year

We are the prey, not the predator. We have had 19 transwomen killed in 2015 because of anti-trans violence in the US this year.  Trans people face 26% unemployment.because of the anti-trans hatred stirred up by FOX Noise, sellout kneegrow ministers, conservative activists and the GOP.

If transpeople like Sgt Shane Ortega and the 15,000 others in our armed forces are good enough to fight and die in America's military, then we are good enough to have our human rights respected and protected.

We are tired of being harassed by non-trans people based on a debunked right wing spin line when we poop and pee.   We go to the bathroom for the same reasons you do, to handle a natural bodily function, and you need to Houston media stop lying about it.  .  

Trans people are part of the diverse mosaic of human life on Planet Earth, and we're tired of waiting on you cis peeps to recognize that.

That's why I and every reality based Houston area trans person who is registered to vote and our allies will be voting YES on Proposition 1 to keep the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

The Fight To Keep HERO-September 10

One day closer to November 3 and the 2015 Houston city and mayoral elections that will determine the fate of Proposition 1, AKA HERO

Mayoral candidate Ben Hall and his merry band of faux 'christian' HERO haters have ramped up their attacks on the ordinance, with Hall hosting an event at Northbrook MS in which he flat out lied about the ordinance and tried to claim the Fort Worth ordinance was better.   Yeah, figures he and his friends would like that one since it threw trans people under the civil rights bus there.  

The HERO haters have also been throwing out the talking point that the HERO is 'poorly written' and needs to be redone so that we can 'make it better.' That's bigot speak for 'we want to erase the Houston TBLG community out of it and protect our special right to discriminate'.


Funny, the Greater Houston Partnership likes it as is, can read it, and is urging a YES vote on Proposition 1.   The ordinance is also written so clearly that even a conservafool like Sarah Palin can understand it.

And what sayeth Moni to those kneegrows bearing false witness against the Houston trans community and colluding with white conservafool pastors to pimp anti-trans hate in the Houston Black community we reside in?

'Our fate as Black TBLGQ people in this country is inextricably tied to the rest of Black America, and Black folks wishing to divide the Black SGL and non-SGL communities would do well to remember that'--TransGriot March 25, 2015

Back to the HERO update.  

Transphobic ignorance has been raging unchecked in the Black community due to the HERO hatin' ministers colluding with White conservative pastors, fanning the hellfire flames of transphobic bigotry.

But we HERO supporters have been pushing back hard against the ignorance.  There was Cristan Williams masterfully pushing back against the debunked trans predator bathroom lie that has been nauseatingly repeated since 2014.

Fran Watson took on the HERO haters on Majic 102's Sunday Morning Live show. It is one of the most listened to FM stations in Black Houston, and so far it has been on the wrong side of this debate.  Didn't get any better yesterday when Majic 102 featured sexual harasser, hypocrite pastor and city council candidate Kendall Baker, who is running against Councilmember Richard Nguyen.

Kudos to Fran for going into the belly of the HERO hatin' beast yesterday when she went to Ben Hall owned KCOH-AM to confront Hall and the HERO ignorati.

Noel Freeman was recently on a KTRK-TV 13 public affairs program and demolished the bathroom predator lie.



Take notes people, this is what needs to be said about it for the rest of the HERO defense campaign and anywhere else in the country this issue comes up.

To give you an example of the bigoted ignorance we Houston Black TBLG people are encountering (and need IMMEDIATE help confronting Houston Unites), this is a snippet of an online conversation advocate Ashton Woods had with a faux faith based HERO hater (part of the anti-LGBT COGIC denomination) on a Facebook discussion thread I was also heavily active on yesterday.


I had fun dropping 20 megatons of HERO knowledge on willfully ignorant people in that thread as well..

And FYI, this is what trans people do in the bathroom.

Ashton also has an interesting post on his Strength In Numbers blog that documents who we're fighting against in this battle to keep HERO.

Ashton is also putting together a press conference that will take place at 5:30 PM CDT tomorrow (September 11) at Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park.  It will give the Houston TBLG communities of color a chance to speak about why HERO is needed and necessary,

One of the other things I'm not liking in addition to the lack of trans, bi and SGL voices of color in this Houston Unites campaign defending the HERO is the silence of the local NAACP, the local Houston Urban League chapter, and the silence of far too many Black legislators at all levels of government in terms of confronting the ignorance around HERO.

Y'all need to speak up, be courageous drum majors and majorettes for justice and clearly outline where you stand on HERO before early voting starts next month.

If you support HERO, better name it and claim it.   That also goes for you peeps running for council as well.

Will pop the popcorn and see which Houston mayoral candidates during the mayoral debate tonight on ABC-13 and Univision stand up for HERO.

I already know the ones who hate it.

The Fight To Keep HERO-September 8

We're now past Labor Day, which is the traditional start for campaign activity in a Houston civic election, but because of HERO, has ramped up a little early in this 2015 cycle.

The canvassing continues for HERO supporters, with 100 people showing up Saturday to do phone banking, block walking and simply telling the truth about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

The HERO ordinance just to remind people covers 15 categories against discrimination in employment, housing and business services on the basis of 15 different characteristics, including sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity and pregnancy.  

But the HERO haters continue to push the debunked bathroom predator lie in their desperate effort to hoodwink and bamboozle people into voting against a human rights ordinance that covers them.

The Houston Unites campaign to defend HERO is on the J-O-B, with Fran Watson appearing on KCOH-AM, a local Black radio station owned by HERO hater and mayoral candidate Ben Hall this morning to debate the ordinance.

But Hall isn't giving up on his efforts to lie about the HERO.   He's planning a Demonize the HERO 
 event tonight at Northbrook Middle School in the Spring Branch ISD ( a district that doesn't have an anti-bullying or non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation and gender identity BTW) at 7:00 PM CDT.

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS DISCUSSION. 

Join me as I explain the details of one the most important issues in this election. I'll discuss why you should vote NO to the "Houston Equal Rights Ordinance” (HERO), also known as the “Bathroom Ordinance”. 

This ordinance will be identified on the November 3 ballot as Proposition 1 a/k/a Prop 1. 

Prop 1 does not actually provide equal rights to everyone. I'll explain why the ordinance doesn't protect Houstonians and how it's actually very unsafe. I'll explain why it puts your family, your businesses and your freedom at risk. And I'll also debunk the ludicrous rumor that anyone against this ordinance is "anti-LGBT" and approves of discrimination. 

The event is hosted by Kempwood North Civic Association, and takes place in the THEATER of Northbrook Middle School, 3030 Rosefield, Houston TX 77080. (The Theater is at the south end of the school, on your right as you face the school office.) 

Come ask questions about the ordinance during the Q&A session. This issue affects you!

It isn't a ludicrous rumor Mr Hall, it's a fact that if you're against the HERO ordinance knowing that until it was passed, Houston had NO local remedy to combat discrimination (and neither does the state of Texas,),,you ARE an anti-LGBT oppressor and hater, especially if your only reason for doing so is a debunked transphobic lie.
And you as an attorney Mr.Hall, should be ashamed of yourself for peddling disinformation and lies.
Just in case y'all angelic troublemakers wish to raise some hell and bring some truth to the auditorium, Northbrook Middle School is located at 3030 Rosefield St. in H-town.

The Fight To Keep HERO-September 1

The calendar page flips to September, and this month promises to be just as contentious politically as August turned out to be as the fight to keep the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance played out at City Hall and in the courts

Since we have twelve weeks to go until November 3, just thought I would direct this post at the peeps who are being either hoodwinked and bamboozled by sellout ministers to vote against their own human rights or those who just straight up hate the Houston TBLG community.  

If you smugly think that voting against the HERO is sticking it to the Houston trans, bi and SGL community with zero consequences for yourself, here's some food for thought on that issue.

For those of you considering voting against the HERO because of your dislike of LGBT people, ask yourself this question.  Do you hate the Houston LGBT community so much that you are willing to give up the 2016 Men's Final Four, the 2017 Super Bowl, future convention business and potential corporate relocations to satisfy that hatred with a NO vote to kill the HERO?

If your answer to that question is yes, you're a fool.   You may get the short term psychic satisfaction of believing you've stuck it to Mayor Parker and 'The Gay Agenda', but the reality will be is that what you have done is screwed yourself by voting against your OWN human rights and screwing our city for years to come on top of it.

Far from being a gay rights ordinance as the sellout ministers and their suburban out of town white conservative controllers are telling you, the HERO provides discrimination protection in housing, employment and public accommodations.  It covers 15 categories, including sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, familial status, marital status, military status, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information and pregnancy.
.

In the post HERO passage period from May 28, 2014 to January 15, 2015, 54% of the complaints reported to the City of Houston Office of the Inspector General were for RACIAL discrimination. 17% of the OIG received complaints were for gender discrimination, 15% were for age discrimination and only 4% of the OIG received complaints were for gender identity and sexual orientation.

Until the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance passed, there was NO local remedy for H-town discrimination. Contrary to the lies the opposition are telling you, the state of Texas doesn't have an anti-discrimination law that covers anyone.  With GOP control of our legislature and a GOP governor, we're not getting one anytime soon.

The LGBT community is NOT covered by any federal human rights legislation yet.   it has been introduced, but it is just an introduced bill   And once again, with GOP control of the House and Senate, it is going nowhere.

But the need for human rights protection is still there.

And note to Steve and Becky Riggle.  It's over a year later, and we still haven't had any bakers forced to make swastika cakes inside the Houston city limits.   Neither have we had in Houston an off the charts jump in crossdressed bathroom predators. 

The NCAA and the NFL are not playing when it comes to their signature events.  Both sporting organizations have policies that bar cities and states with discriminatory policies from hosting their championships. 

If you think I'm selling you woof tickets on that, the NFL yanked a Super Bowl from Arizona  in 1990 they were scheduled to host in 1993 for refusing to make the Rev. Dr MLK Jr's birthday a state holiday.  Arizona nearly repeated the legislative stupidity in 2014 when the GOP controlled Arizona legislature passed a right to discriminate law that only then Gov. Jan Brewer's (R) veto of the unjust legislation kept the NFL from making it happen again. 

J. Kent Friedman, the chair of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, already warned the conservative hardheads on City Council last month that if the HERO is struck down, based on what happened in Arizona in the 90's, and the NCAA threatened to do to Indiana in the wake of the March passage of their discriminatory RFRA, the 2017 Super Bowl and next year's NCAA Men's Final Four at NRG Stadium could be in jeopardy.  And that's before we even start talking about the potential convention business we will lose along with corporate relocations.

So if I were you, I'd be voting to keep the HERO, and telling your friends and neighbors to do the same.

The Fight To Keep HERO-August 31

Labor Day is the traditional start for Houston civic campaigns, but this 2015 election cycle is not any normal electoral cycle.  The politics have been as hot as the August weather, and it revolves around the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.   

Since I`m getting e-mails and phone calls from around the country and my friends around the world concerning whats happening in our Houston human rights fight to keep the HERO, it`s time to start doing regular update posts from now until November 3.

We H-town trans peeps and our allies can breathe one sigh of relief in that Dave Wilson`s odious attempts to enshrine anti-trans bigotry into the Houston City Charter has failed.and will not be on the ballot.

Hallelujah!

However, no thanks to partisan Texas (Republican), Supreme Court rulings, the HERO is on the ballot as Proposition 1, and the final ballot language now sets it up as a simple YES or NO vote.

The ballot language for Proposition 1 was approved by Council last week, and it reads as follows:

"Are you in favor of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, Ord. No. 2014-530, which prohibits discrimination in city employment and city services, city contracts, public accommodations, private employment, and housing based on an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy?

For those of you in the Houston city limits,  voting YES on Proposition 1 keeps the HERO in effect, voting NO kills it and as the head of the Houston Sports Authority warned, potentially puts next year's Final Four, the 2017 Super Bowl and hosting future sports events, corporate relocations and convention business in jeopardy.

Question for you folks irrationally opposing the HERO because of two of the 15 categories it protects.  Is your hatred of LGBT Houstonians so strong you'd risk our city's economic future?

The Houston Unites coalition to keep the ordinance has already been busy along with HOUEquality and other groups with volunteer trainings, phone banks,  and canvassing over the last two weekends to get the truth out about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance protecting ALL Houstonians

And right on cue, the anti- HERO haters started running ads bringing up the discredited bathroom scaremongering on several radio stations including the conservative leaning talker.

Houston unites responded quickly with their own radio ad to counter the disinformation.

Speaking of radio, on Majic102.1  yesterday, HERO supporter Fran Watson jousted with HERO Ron Jackson and shut down the one trick pony lies on Sunday Morning Live.   Majic102.1 is one of the most listened to radio stations in the Houston African-American community, and this conversation is significant because during the fight to pass HERO last year, Majic102.1 was guilty of anti-HERO fearmongering..

On August 20 HERO supporter Ashton Woods went on FOX26's The Isiah Factor to confront anti-HERO Councilman Michael Kubosh, who declared last year at a Steve Riggle hate rally that 'God put me on City Council to oppose the HERO'

Here's the clip of that debate here.

But yet CM Kubosh laughingly tries to claim he's isn't in favor of discrimination.   Your multiple anti-HERO votes say otherwise.

The Houston Chronicle finally published a better late than never article that took on the bathroom predator meme.   They have also been guilty along with FOX26 of lazy, one sided transphobic reporting and it's about time they got the facts out there.

It's going to be a long contentious few weeks until November 3..  But it's a human rights fights we Houstonians who love our diverse city and value human rights for everyone must win.

HERO Grassroots Training Kickoff

On Saturday morning a sizable number of enthusiastic, civic minded Houstonians gathered at the Montrose Center for a HERO Grassroots Day Of Action event to defend our city's equal rights ordinance.  

It's a high stakes battle against the Forces of Intolerance that we must win on November 3 that we in H-town are aware that Texas, the nation and the world is watching.  

And as we've been warned by the chair of the Houston Sports Association, the NCAA and NFL are watching this human rights fight play out as well.

What transpired there starting at 10 AM was training to prepare for canvassing that happened later that afternoon, and discussing why our diverse city needs the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance

The volunteers, knowing this November 3 election is a pivotal point in our city's future, were laser beam focused on the training coordinated by the Houston Unites coalition group in conjunction with their HOUEquality coalition partners.

I along with Houston Unites and HOUEquality deeply appreciate all the folks who gave up their Saturday afternoon to take the time to be human rights superheroes.

If you missed last Saturday's event, there will be more upcoming HERO defense events that you can take part in with a canvass on August 22 and an upcoming phone bank on August 29.

Stop Cosigning The Opposition Lies, HERO Defenders

While I was at the Hilton Americas Hotel`s Skyline Ballroom for the rollout of the Houston Unites campaign to defend it, one thing happened at the end of the press event that really pissed me off in terms of a reporter ignorantly asking the bathroom question again and our side wasting valuable air time answering it.

The question I have for the Houston Unites folks is when are you going to stop giving credence to a right-wing meme that needs to die?

As I learned when I went through GLAAD media training three years ago, just because a reporter asks you a question doesn't obligate you to answer it.

We aren't obligated to use our precious air time answering a question that we know is a fear and smear lie, so why dignify it with an answer?.  And I believe it is a mistake to continue to give validity to a anti-trans bathroom predator meme that we know and repeated studies tell us is a lie, but elements of the Houston media (FOX 26) seem to be stuck on stupid about.

So my proposal about how to handle the issue is this:  don`t answer a question that we know is a anti-HERO talking point.   If the media member asks that damned bathroom question, immediately pivot off of it and go straight to our pro-HERO talking points.

And here`s an example of what I`m talking about:

Question from media:  Won`t the HERO allow men dressed as women to go into women`s restrooms?

Answer from us:  Why aren`t you asking me about how the HERO will benefit the 15 classes of Houstonians that are protected in this much needed ordinance with a local remedy for combating discrimination that unfortunately happens in our city?

That`s the conversation we should be having.

Houston didn`t have a local ordinance to address discrimination until HERO was passed last year.  It sends a loud and clear message we Houstonians welcome all who wish to move and live here, do business with our city, and cements our growing international reputation as a diverse, welcoming place.

***

That`s how that question should have been answered, and there will probably be others we come up with over the next few months.

And next time, don`t send someone to me to condescendingly talk about  polling stating we need to acknowledge the fear and the lie that is stoking that fear.  I saw that data, and it's time to try a new tactic of just saying no to cosigning right wing fear and smear and calling it out for the lie it is. 

I`m part of the Houston trans community they have been demonizing ever since this Houston human rights battle started and we're tired of hearing 'we need to acknowledge the fear'..

How about acknowledging the fact that now 13 transpeople have been killed because of anti-trans lies like this and the fear we trans people have of somebody in the Houston area joining that list this year because of the anti-trans hate that is about to be unleashed by the opposition? 

How about acknowledging the humanity of trans people and noting we live in the H-town city limits, too?   We`re not only tired of it, we need our allies to be just as bold in calling out the lie as the hatemongers are in telling it.

I repeat:  No we do not have to answer that bathroom meme question . It is a demonstrably false right wing talking point being used across the country by our opponents, it`s the only card they can play, and let me say it once more with feeling, IT IS A LIE..

We have the facts on our side in this HERO fight.  Fair minded Houstonians are with us. .All the out of town haters meddling in Houston human rights business have is GOP support and fear.  

We should not let their fear damage our economy and cause us to lose the Super Bowl , NCAA Final Four rand future corporate relocations.

So let`s have the courage on our side to call out the bathroom meme for what it is, a lie and a scare tactic from out of town  suburban professional gaybaiters who don`t care about our beautiful diverse international city,

Not Feeling The #BeyBeAHERO Campaign

We in Houston are gearing up for what will be a nasty, knockdown drag out battle to keep our hard won Houston Equal Rights Ordinance on the books. The ballot language has already been created so it is easy to understand for the voters in November and as straightforward and matter of fact as possible. 

I just returned from watching a press conference announcing the kickoff of the Houston Unites coalition that will coordinate the defense of the ordinance.  The fundraising for the pro-HERO defense will be starting soon if it hasn't already,  We have had Houston's largest business association, the Greater Houston Partnership, put out an ad declaring their support for HERO.

And in last Tuesday's City Council public comment meeting, we have had the head of the Houston Sports Authority warn that next year's NCAA Men's Final Four and the 2017 Super Bowl are in jeopardy along with the estimated $1.6 billion in economic activity that will be generated by hosting those two sporting events if HERO unfortunately gets repealed.

The stakes are high in this battle, and our pro-HERO side is seeking to do everything possible to defend the ordinance including starting a campaign to try to pressure our Houston homegirl Beyonce Knowles-Carter into tweeting something about supporting it in the hope that it somehow would be a game changer in the soon to be PR and media war over the HERO.

I'm not feeling that #BeyBeAHERO campaign, and here are some of the reasons why. 

First problem is that local Houston Black trans, bi and SGL folks weren't consulted before it launched. If you had, we would have told you about other peeps you could have approached locally.  Also by not talking to the Black LGBT community and getting our input first as to whether this was a viable idea, you may have missed out on some peeps who actually have some connections with Team Beyonce.

Another point is that although Beyonce is a beloved figure here in H-town and in Black Houston's TBLG ranks, she has been living in New York with her hubby and daughter.  Even if she wanted to, it is still difficult from over 1500 miles away to keep up with the nuances of local politics.

I spent 8 years in Louisville, and as much as I tried to keep abreast of Houston and Texas state politics, the longer you are away from your hometown, the harder it is to do because you tend to focus politically on the area you live in at that moment in time.

Another problem I have with it is why is Beyonce the ONLY Houston based celeb being hit with this campaign?  

Jim Parsons from CBS' The Big Bang Theory is a Houstonian, too.  So is actress Loretta Devine.  Alexis Bledel, Cierra Ramirez from The Fosters,  Isaiah Washington, Chandra Wilson from Grey's Anatomy, Hilary and Haylie Duff, Renee Zellweger, Clint Black, Rodney Crowell, Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad and gospel singer Yolanda Adams.

And I'm not even close to scratching the surface of the Houston celebs that can be possibly called on, especially in the sports world.

Yeah, yeah I'm acutely aware of Bey's massive social media presence.  But another point is where her sister Solange has no problem calling crap and fools out, Beyonce has been more reluctant to chime in and be overtly political about the issues of the day. 

The most overtly political thing she has done was sing at a 2009 inaugural ball for President Obama, sing the national anthem at his 2013 inauguration and declare she was a feminist (with far too much derisive hatin' about that declaration) from many people.

Even when Mike Huckabee was racistly sliming her and her hubby, not too much commentary from her about his jacked up comments aimed at her.

So if she hasn't justifiably called out a loudmouth conservafool FOX Noise commentator who let loose racist commentary about her and her husband to boost his GOP presidential political fortunes, what makes you peeps think based on past history that she's going to comment about this HERO fight?

If she does, hooray and I'll be shocked if it happens.  But I'm not holding my breath that it will.

Houston Unites Sponsored HERO Press Conference Tomorrow

TransGriot Note: The battle to defend our hard won Houston Equal Rights Ordinance has begun!   A statement from the Houston Unites coalition group to keep HERO.

They will have a press conference that will take place tomorrow, August 12 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in downtown Houston at 10 AM CDT. to launch what we hope will be the successful effort to defend this much needed human rights ordinance.

***
 
Tomorrow, concerned citizens, members of civil rights groups and representatives of the faith and business communities will gather to launch Houston Unites, the campaign in support of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). On November 3, Houstonians will vote on this critical ordinance that protects Houstonians from discrimination based upon 15 categories that include race, age, military status, pregnancy status, gender identity and sexual orientation..

Those of us who supported HERO and advocated for its passage last year are in agreement that NO Houstonian should be discriminated against.  That’s a core value a majority of Houstonians share, and that's why HERO's passage a year ago was supported by more than 80 current and former elected officials, community and non-profit organizations, major corporations and more than 70 local faith leaders.

In America’s most diverse city, we believe that everyone should be treated fairly no matter who they are.

Houston Unites is the coalition working to elevate the diversity of voices supporting HERO. The leading coalition partners include: ACLU of Texas, Equality Texas, Freedom For All Americans, Human Rights Campaign, NAACP Houston Branch and Texas Freedom Network.

If You Want HERO, Vote NO

Well, the opening shots in the battle to keep the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance on Houston's law books have been fired .

On Wednesday Houston City Council voted 12-5 to affirm HERO, and then put it on the November ballot to the voters.

Council members Jerry Davis, Ellen Cohen, Dwight Boykins (who voted against HERO last year), Richard Nguyen, Ed Gonzalez, Robert Gallegos, Mike Laster, Larry Green, Stephen Costello, David Robinson, C.O. “Brad” Bradford and Jack Christie, voted in favor of reinstating HERO

The usual conservative haters of Council members Dave Martin, Oliver Pennington, Michael Kubosh, Jack Christie and Brenda Stardig voted to repeal it.

Houston City Council then voted 13-4 to approve the city attorney's straightforward language to place on the November ballot   Councilmember Bradford proposed offering different language, but that motion was defeated 12-5.

The language that City Attorney Donna Edmondson came up with that will appear on the ballot is the following:

Shall the City of Houston repeal the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, Ord. No. 2014-530, which prohibits discrimination in city employment and city services, city contracts, public accommodations, private employment, and housing based on an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy?"

Translation.  what that means Houstonians, is that if you support HERO and wish to keep it, you vote NO on Election Day or during the early voting phase.

“Today what happened is that council members reaffirmed the original Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, and we put it to the voters in the clearest, most straightforward language we could, based on the fact that there was a petition, and that is, ‘Do you want to repeal the ordinance or not?'” Mayor Annise Parker said during a press conference following Wednesday’s meeting. “I and many others will go out and advocate to not repeal the ordinance.”

It's on like Donkey Kong now.  To help you peeps remember how to vote on HERO in November, just say or sing this little human rights protecting tune to yourself.   If you want HERO, Vote NO!"
TransGriot Update: And once again, the HERO haters went crying back to the GOP Texas Supreme Court mad because they hate the straightforward no BS ballot language the city came up with.

Will keep y'all posted about how this turns out.

Moni Goes To City Hall Again!

I missed the fun last Tuesday, but I'm in the house for this week's Houston City Council public comment session that starts at 2 PM and may be just as contentious as the one last week.

Team Defend HERO will be in the house to insist our councilmembers keep the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance on the books.   They have until August 24, no thanks to a partisan Texas Republican Supreme Court order to either repeal the ordinance or put it on the ballot.

Well, I'll be there live tweeting it until it's time for me to speak, and the proceedings will also be televised and available via a live feed on HTV for those of you who wish to follow the action online.

Once again Team HERO and I will be in the Houston City Council champers to remind our city council leaders and the haters that discrimination's time in Houston has expired, and discrimination is bad for business.

Councilman Boykins, LGBT People Of Color Exist

Because I had pressing business to take care of, I was reluctantly forced to miss yesterday's Houston City Council public session in which HERO was the major topic of discussion.

And after hearing about how some of the public comment hearing transpired, wish I was in the room to counter some of the faux faith based conservamadness I was told about by people who attended it.

I was told by people who attended the meeting that District D Councilmember Dwight Boykins, the only African-American councilmember who voted against HERO last year, parted his lips to make the outrageously logic defying statement that :during all this Black Lives Matter situation , the LGBT community wasn't there.'.

Oh really?  I have a news flash for you.  Black Lives Matter was founded by Black lesbian women Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi.  LGBT people have been involved in Black Lives Matter from the beginning.  

And yeah, the LGBT community also includes LGBT people of color, and I'm not happy about this attempt to once again erase TBLG people of color from our respective ethnic groups and paint the LGBT community as monoracial..   

What the hell do you think my unapologetically Black trans behind and Dee`Dee`Watters are?  even when some of our people don't love us, we're standing up for the entire community to make Houston better.   And neither do I nor she appreciates our names being called by you in vain when your butt is getting chewed on for those idiotic remarks, your negative HERO vote last year and your problematic pattern of palling around with Black anti-LGBT sellout ministers

And may i remind you once again Councilmember Boykins, District D also has LGBT people, our allies, and our family members living in it who aren't happy about your anti-HERO vote.

The statement that 'LGBT people aren't part of a movement we founded is as offensive as it is a bald faced lie.  Your comment is also being interpreted in Houston LGBT communities of color as saying 'we don't exist'. 

But let me pivot and focus on the erasure part of this.  There are 2.3 million people in the Houston area.  It's estimated about 10-15% of the population are part of the BTLG community, and of those folks you'll find moi and other TBLG Houstonians of color..

#WeExist, and are part of the Houston communities of color we intersect and interact with.   We are tired of being erased by you and other straight cisgender people of color.   Many of us in LGBT World have taken part in various movements that impact our community including #BlackLivesMatter .

And you do recall yours truly was at HISD headquarters in 2013 and 2014 blasting them for attempting to shut down my HS alma mater Jesse H Jones?

But one of the reasons the Houston LGBT community is rising up to defend HERO is because our backs are against the human rights wall.  We still as LGBT Houstonians and American citizens don't have basic civil rights in Texas and federally, and now the Texas Republican Supreme Court has fracked with our local human rights ordinance that covers 15 categories, not just our community 

We're also angry when we see the city of Dallas, 262 miles up I-45 and San Antonio in 2013 to the west of us on I-10 pass laws similar to our HERO with a lot less drama that we're dealing with in Houston..   Dallas in November 2014 strengthened theirs.   These are cities that we compete with for convention business and sporting events like NCAA Final Fours and Super Bowls.

Are you aware that the trans woman who was discriminated against in 2012 by Saks, Leyth Jamal, was a Black trans girl like me?   That LGBT people of color are in various positions in our workforce?  And by you voting against HERO last year and hatin' on it now, you send a message that you don't respect our humanity, community or human rights?.

Many of us weren't in attendance at yesterday's hearing because we had to work during the 2 PM start time of this meeting, but thanks to the folks like Fran Watson, Melissa Vivanco, Ashton Woods, James Lee and the Organization Latina de Trans en Texas who were in the house and did speak in favor of keeping HERO.

Other TBLG people of color aren't showing up for movements in the community at large because they aren't out at work and don't want to be seen or outed on television.  They fear that they will be fired from their jobs if their status as members of the TBLG community is revealed, and no thanks to the partisan Texas Supreme Court we no longer have a local remedy to combat that discrimination.

And it's comments like yours that make LGBT people feel as if they aren't wanted or needed in movements built around the common issues we face as people of color.

The LGBT that don't show up also legitimately fear being victimized by anti-LGBT violence in their neighborhoods that your hate minister buddies have been stirring up for over a year with their anti-gay sermons.  

And after 11 trans women, 9 of them trans women of color have been murdered in the US this year including one Texas (so far) in that sad number, it's a legitimate concern.

Yes, Councilman Boykins, hate thoughts + hate speech = hate violence.   And it's even more odious when that debunked hate speech is coming from a pulpit with selective interpretations of scripture to try to justify it.  It's also disgusting to witness when it is an attempt to bamboozle the flock into voting against a human rights ordinance that protects their human rights at the behest of white conservative activists like Dave Welch,  Steve Hotze, Steve Riggle and Rick Scarborough who don't even live in the Houston city limits. .

When we went through those contentious HERO hearings last year, did you forget that many of the TBLG discrimination stories at those HERO hearings were being told by LGBT people of color?

So yeah, your comment just guaranteed that my 'invisible' behind will be making an appearance at City Hall next Tuesday, and I'll be accompanied by more LGBT Houstonians of color who according to your statement, aren't there.

I consider my human rights something important enough to show up and fight  for, and so will others who will be at City Hall debunking the lies of our opponents next Tuesday..

First Post-HERO Suspension Council Meeting Today

Should be a hot time in the Houston City Council chambers later this afternoon, and I'm not talking about the weather that will bring us our first 100 degree day of the summer.

The Houston City Council has a 2 PM session on Tuesdays for public comment on whatever issue you wish to bring to their attention.   And with the suspension of the HERO happening no thanks to the Texas (Republican) Supreme Court, this first public comment session since the unjust ruling will probably be a lot more contentious than usual.

People in LGBT Houston are highly pissed off about what happened to a human rights ordinance we fought tooth and nail last year to get passed, have been mobilizing for action in defense of it, and will be there to let their voices be heard.  

And I don't doubt the out of town faux faith based opposition and their kneegrow useful fools will also be in attendance urging City Council to kill HERO.

And unfortunately due to some other pressing matters, i won't be at City Council for the fun, but will be there in spirit and catching the replay of the session on cable TV later.

To all the peeps signed up to speak in defense of our human rights law, give the haters hell for me and I'll see y'all at the next Tuesday session.

Come And Take It, But Not Without A Fight

I'm still in this kinda pissed off mood right now about the unjust ruling by the Texas Supreme Kangaroo Court fracking with my human rights and the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance I and so many Houstonians worked hard to get passed last May. 

You haters have won a battle thanks to your partisan all-GOP Texas Supreme Court, but we will win the war if  HERO goes to the ballot if we fight as hard to defend it as we did to get it passed in the first place

If you value your human rights Houston trans, bi and SGL community, you will fight for them.   Your rights are on the chopping block too, allies since HERO just doesn't cover us.  It also covers sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, pregnancy, genetic information in addition to gender identity and sexual orientation.

We trans folks, and especially LGBT people of color have no choice but to be all in for this upcoming human rights battle because our live are already under attack just for being non-white in America.

And it's some of our own people we will be fighting who are being hoodwinked and bamboozled by the GOP and white fundies.  Some who are fighting on the side of the children and grandchildren of the faux Christian segregationists are either too clueless, too transphobic and homophobic or have sold out and don't care about anybody else but themselves, but don't realize they are fighting against their own human rights..

So your choice is this Houston TBLG community and allies.  Do you meekly submit to right wing oppression, or are you going to resist it with every fiber of your being?

Your call.  But I know which path I'll be choosing.

TX Supreme Court Halts HERO, And I'm Pissed About It

No thanks to the Texas Supreme Court, I and 2.3 million Houstonians (for now) no longer have local human rights coverage in my hometown.

Despite evidence of massive fraud by the HERO opposition and clear failures of the opponents to follow the Houston City Charter rules for ballot initiatives and collect enough signatures to place it on the ballot, the GOP dominated Texas Supreme Court once again landed on the side of injustice and gave the oppressors what they wanted.

Per their unjust ruling, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance that was passed last May is not only suspended, the Texas Supreme Court ordered that it either be repealed in 30 days (August 24) or placed on the November 2015 ballot.

In a statement, Mayor Annise Parker expressed her disappointment in the TX Supremes jacked up ruling.

"Obviously, I am disappointed and believe the court is in error with this eleventh hour ruling in a case that had already been decided by a judge and jury of citizens.  Nonetheless, we will proceed with the steps necessary for City Council to consider the issue.  At the same time, we are consulting with our outside counsel on any possible available legal actions. "
"Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance is similar to measures passed by every other major city in the country and by most local corporations.  No matter the color of your skin, your age, gender, physical limitations, or sexual orientation, every Houstonian deserves the right to be treated equally. To do otherwise, hurts Houston’s well-known image as a city that is tolerant, accepting, inclusive and embracing of its diversity.  Our citizens fully support and understand this and I have never been afraid to take it to the voters.  We will win!"

Needless to say I am pissed off about this unjust ruling.  People's human rights should NEVER be put to a vote, and if you think they should be, you're sadly mistaken.

The HERO isn't going to be repealed by council.   But what this ruling just did was ensure that the 2015 Houston mayoral election will be the most hyperpartisan and contentious one in Houston history if the federal court appeal goes the same way..  The money will be flowing to ensure that the conservafools can protect their vanillacentric privileged right to discriminate against anyone they don't like.

And since the faux faith based haters lost big on marriage, nothing would please them more than to get a huge high-profile win in the fourth largest city in the country and the largest in Texas by rolling back a human rights law that also includes BTLG protections in a city run by a lesbian mayor..

Shyt just got real Houston LGBT community.  If you were planning on sitting on your azzes in this election cycle and not voting, you may wish to rethink that plan because the Texas Supreme Court just made it possible for the tyranny of the majority to vote on your human rights.   They also potentially set off what promises to be a nasty and divisive high stakes fight that will put the economic future of Houston at risk if the federal appeal reversing the unjust Texas Supreme Court ruling fails.

What are the stakes you ask?  In addition to the future of the HERO, don't forget that we have at least $10 billion dollars of economic impact on the line with the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four and the 2017 Super Bowl scheduled to be played here at NRG Stadium.  

If we lose this fight, we will probably lose both of those signature events, future corporate relocations and future convention business as well as our local remedy for fighting discrimination since the GOP dominated Texas legislature is in no hurry to pass a statewide human rights law.

If you believe that HERO being on the November ballot is unfair, then you take out your frustrations on the six Houston City councilmembers who voted against the HERO last year.  You also take your righteous anger out on any mayoral candidate like Ben Hall who supports its repeal and enacting a new one without human rights protections for TBLG Houstonians.   You also vote for the people who support you.

And since the Texas Supreme Court justices are elected, you take out your frustrations on them at the ballot box  too

If you can do so, please take a moment out of your schedule over the next four months leading up to November 3 to volunteer to defend HERO.  If you can make a contribution to defend HERO in a possible referendum battle, please do so once the links are set up.  

And most importantly, talk to your friends, neighbors and people in your influence circles about HERO now.  Debunk the lies the opponents are about to tell and point out it covers 15 categories including pregnancy, veterans status, sex and national origin just to name a few in addition to gender identity and sexual orientation.
 

ANY candidate seeking my vote for any office in this 2015 cycle who doesn't support the current inclusive HERO will NOT get my vote in 2015 or future election cycles.  I'm already planning to be at my fave early voting site on the first day we are able to early vote in this election.

I also expect my Democratic candidates and my federal, state and local officials to unequivocally state where they stand on HERO..  

Houston NAACP and Houston Urban League, I expect you to also side with the human rights of all Houstonians instead of a bunch of sellout preachers cooning it up for longtime professional gaybaiters like Dave Welch and Dave Wilson.

I already know where much of the Texas GOP is on HERO, and it ain't for human rights as Gov Abbott just demonstrated.  If you're a Republican who believes in human rights, surprise me.

And finally Houston SGL, trans and bi Houstonians, this is a call to action.  If you value your human rights, I suggest you get off your derrieres and join me in once again sending the message that it's obvious the Harris County and Texas Republicans parties, The Baptist ministers Assn. of Houston and Vicinity and the Houston Area pastoral Council didn't get on May 28, 2014.

Discrimination's time in my hometown has expired.