Why I'm Endorsing Mike Webb For Reelection As Houston GLBT Caucus President

This month's Houston GLBT Caucus meeting is one in which we will be electing officers and board members for new terms. 

Mike Webb is only the third Black president ever of the Houston GLBT Caucus, but in his first term accomplished much.

*The Caucus raised over $100,000 this year, and ALL the funds went toward helping elect our endorsed candidates.
*We had more visibility on TV and radio than ever before.
*We had the largest endorsement card that reached more people throughout Harris County and beyond in Caucus history.
* A very inspiring new batch of volunteers and equality supporters joined our coalition, which helped us mobilize over 270 voters to the polls with our new Pride2ThePolls initiative.

All of this was accomplished through inclusive leadership and coalition building with diverse partners. Now let’s make 2019 our best year yet!

I was asked by Mike in February 2018 to help lead a Caucus initiative in which myself and my team members helped broker a deal between the Caucus and the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity.   That team helped clear up some misunderstandings between both groups, got an apology from them for their actions during the HERO fight, and set the stage for future meetings and cooperative ventures with them..

Mike also worked for state senator (now Congresswoman) Sylvia Garcia during the 2017 session and currently works for Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis.   Translation: They (Mike uses gender neutral pronouns) have the legislative experience we will need as a community and the organization will need at the state, county and local level to advance our community's policy agenda.  

With a Houston municipal election coming up, and a 2019 Texas Legislative session commencing on January 8, why throw out proven leadership for someone who will have to learn the job on the fly? 

These are just a few of the reasons why I'm endorsing Mike Webb for another term as the president of the Houston GLBT caucus< and why I will be casting my vote for him later this evening. 

He has proven he can lead this organization, so why not stay the leadership course?   
.  . 
Here's hoping they are reelected to the Caucus presidency again later tonight!

Moni's Being Honored Again With OutSmart Gayest and Greatest 2018 Awards

My awards runneth over this month! 

 In addition to the upcoming CASN Birthday Brunch where I'm being honored along with other local kick butt Houston area advocates, I'm also being honored at this year's OutSmart Gayest and Greatest Awards

While I now write a monthly column for OutSmart entitled Unapologetically Trans, I wasn't a writer for them at the time these awards were chosen by a community vote.

This year I'm being honored with the Favorite Trans Community Hero one and the Favorite Local LGBTQ Blogger

I was a finalist for the Most Prominent Female LGBTQ Activist that went to Fran Watson, and Most Prominent Trans Activist that went to Alexis Melvin.

Thanks to everyone who voted for me, and I'll hopefully see y'all at the awards reception on October 17 from 5-8 PM CDT at JR's

Rest In Power, Kristen Capps

I awoke this morning to hear the shocking news that one of ur Houston TBLGQIA community sheroes in Kristen Capps has passed away.

My condolences to Maria Gonzalez, her family, friends and all who loved her as we absorb this devastating news.

Just heard that the Texas House adjourned until 1 PM in her honor thanks to Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) making that happen.

She was an attorney and fellow Cougar who had this amazing ability to get you to see an argument from the other side.   The last time I had an extended moment to spend some quality time basking in her awesomeness was during last year's Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit in Killeen, but was always bumping into her at many of our Houston community events

Kristen was one of my leadership role models, and an inspiration to many of us in Houston.   She was always ready to use her talents to help our community as her HERO testimony was just one sterling example of.   I was proud to call her a friend, and had mad love and respect for her intellect and legal acumen.   I fondly look back at some of the good natured debates we got into at times and can do nothing but smile about it.



I'm a better person and leader because Kristen Michele Capps was in my life.

As of yet don't have the information on the cause of death or any word on when her memorial service is planned, but when I get that info, will be passing it along as soon as I receive it.

One of our Houston community sheroes has been taken away from us way too soon, and I know myself and a lot of folks in the Houston area are going to miss her.

Rest in power and peace,  Kristen

Been Nominated For 2017 Houston Pride Parade Grand Marshal!

During the unveiling event for this year's Houston Pride logo and the theme for this year's parade,they also announced the names of the people who are the finalists for the Male,, Female and Ally parade Grand Marshals.

Being named as a Grand Marshal of the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration is among one of the highest honors bestowed by the Houston’s LGBT community. Individuals and organizations nominated for Grand Marshal have made significant achievements for LGBT rights and have made considerable contributions to the LGBT community at large.

They also once they are officially voted in, get to ride in the nice cars at the start of the parade and wave to the crowds along the now downtown parade route.  Our parade is also a nighttime parade because it happens in late June and it can be rather warm here at that time of year..

Last year I marched in the Houston Pride Parade for the first time ever with the OLTT trans Latinas, and this year, I was nominated as a Female Grand Marshal finalist. for the first time.  Lou Weaver has been nominated for the second time for Male Grand Marshal finalist with the voting to start in two weeks .

Both of us have a shot at making some Houston TBLGQ community history.    If Lou wins he would become the first ever trans masculine Houston Pride Parade Grand Marshal  

In my case, if elected, I'd become the first ever Black trans feminine Grand Marshal, the third trans feminine one after Phyllis Frye (2006) and Jenifer Rene Pool, (2012) and the third Black female one after Carolyn Mobley (1993) and Fran Watson (2016)

Congrats to everyone who was nominated for Houston Pride Grand Marshal this year.   Will keep you TransGriot readers updated on whether or not I make that history and when the voting starts for it.                      

#Black Queer Magic Empowerment Brunch Tomorrow

Tomorrow afternoon the Young Black Voices group will present their Empowerment Brunch that serves to honor Houston area Black LGBTQ community leaders that are empowering at the intersections of their identities.

They are also honoring the 2016 Bayard Rustin Scholars during this complimentary brunch that is being held at St. John's United Methodist Church.  

I've been asked to present an award to one of the honorees, and I'm looking forward to seeing this person again and meeting all of the 2016 award winners.

If you wish to attend, St John's UMC is located at 2019 Crawford St in the heart of downtown Houston, and will start at 12:30 PM

Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Happy 2016-17 School Year To My Trans And LGB Siblings

HISD and other school districts in the Houston area started classes today, and I'm thinking about this in the wake of my niece Kacielyn and one of the many transkids I know like Kai starting kindergarten today.

Kai's mom Kimberly Shappley has been fighting a battle with the Pearland ISD to get then to see the error of their transphobic ways and not discriminate against her daughter.

They are taking their lead from their transphobic superintendent Dr John Kelly and being obstinate about forcing a trans feminine child into bathrooms with cisgender boys, so Shappley may have to escalate the fight for her daughter's freedom, liberty and human rights to the legal system.

It's also a reminder of the DOE/DOJ Dear Colleague letter that is being contested in federal court by a group of ten states led by my indicted GOP Texas attorney general who is indulging his oppressor gene.

Back to this school year post.

While this school year is already shaping up to be a contentious one for trans kind, it's also one of great possibilities for you as well.  In addition to kids like Kai starting their school years in kindergarten, some are making the jump to middle school.  Others of you are starting high school or heading into your senior year, and some of you are heading off to college or into your last year of college.

And major props to those of you who are in grad school or law school.

Some of you before this year is over may have the opportunity to make some trans history along the way and become your school's (or your state's) first ever trans masculine or trans feminine homecoming kings or queens, or winning prom king or queen.

Some of you may choose to excel or compete in sports or other activities as your true selves, while others of you will be more concerned with simply handling your academic business and making friends along the way.

Whatever way you choose to handle your school business, know that your trans elders support you, and stand ready along with several organizations like Lambda Legal, the ACLU, GLSEN, GLAD and the Department of Justice to ensure your Title IX human rights are covered.

Best of luck to all of you and hope this is a successful 2016-17 academic year for all of you.

Houston Stands With Orlando

While I was spending Sunday on the East Coast battling  trolls on my Twitter feed who didn't like what I had to say about the Orlando 'terriss' attack, back home in Houston Ashton Woods was busy organizing a vigil at Hermann Park so that the H-town TBLG community and our allies could #StandWithOrlando.

Ashton in addition to being one of our standout community advocates, also happens to be a member of the Houston chapter of Black Lives Matter.  The goal of the event was for the community to speak up, and also declare that we were going to continue to fight against the oppression of BTLG people.

Here's the link to Ashton's post from his Strength In Numbers blog about the Houston vigil and some of the photo's from it.

2015 OutSmart Gayest And Greatest Reader's Choice Awards

The 2015 edition of the OutSmart Magazine Gayest and Greatest Reader's Choice have been tabulated and the winners have been announced.

I was a finalist in three categories, Favorite LGBT Blogger, Favorite LGBT Tweeter and Most Prominent Female LGBT Activist and had tough competition in all of them.

So how did I fare in this year's OutSmart Reader's Choice Awards after winning two of them last year (Favorite Female Blogger and Favorite Female Tweeter)  and being a finalist for the Most Prominent Female LGBT Activist for the second straight year?

Well, didn't win any of them this year, but it bees that way sometimes.  I'm just honored and humbled that people in the Houston LGBT community think highly enough about me to nominate and vote for me in all those categories,

At least I was in it, and had a shot to win it.   Just didn't work out for me, and I congratulate all the 2015 winners of these awards.

And besides, when they have the 2015 awards reception on October 20, I'm going to be a little busy in Provincetown, MA on that evening.  I'll be making a little history at Fantasia Fair as the first African-American winner of the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award.

Better luck next year for me in 2016

2015 Houston Transgender Unity Banquet

While I was in our nation's capital handling some OUT on the Hill conference business, the sold out 23rd annual Houston Transgender Unity Banquet was transpiring at the Sheraton Brookhollow with this year's keynote speaker being Kate Bornstein

And yeah, was nice to hear I was missed.

The Unity Banquet supports not only the Transgender Foundation of America (TFA), but the Peggy Rudd Scholarship, and trans activities during Houston Pride.

The Houston Trans Community Awards are also given out in various categories, and in case you're curious, while I was nominated for the Dee McKellar in 2001, I have yet to win any award at this event.  .  

The Houston Unity Banquet started out as a way for the then four trans groups in town representing different parts of the trans umbrella to work on a collaborative project that would ensure communication, cohesiveness between the groups, and continues to serve that important role over two decades later.

It's also an opportunity to produce a fun, trans oriented Houston event besides TDOR that our allies can enthusiastically support.

I was happy to find out that Josephine Tittsworth, who I've known for over a decade, was honored with a lifetime achievement award.   There was also a little Houston trans history made when my roomie Dee Dee Watters was honored with the Dee McKellar Award,

I'll have to confirm it, but by winning the Dee McKellar, Dee Dee became the first local African-American trans person to win an award at this event, and have a feeling she won't be the last.

I was also happy to discover that Fran Watson, one of our community's staunch allies, also received the Champion Award at this year's Unity Banquet as well.

Glad to hear that this edition of the Houston Transgender Unity Banquet was a success, and hope that next year's event is even bigger and better.

Been Nominated For 2015 OutSmart Reader's Choice Awards

Was surprised to learn that in the latest edition of the OutSmart Gayest and Greatest Readers Choice Awards has started the online voting process yesterday and will run until September 5.

In 2014 I won two of the Reader's Choice Awards  in the Favorite Blogger (Female) and Favorite  Tweeter (Female).categories and was a finalist for the Most Prominent LGBT Female Activist award. 

In 2015 I was nominated in three categories:
.
Favorite LGBT Blogger
Favorite Female Community Hero
Most Prominent Female LGBT Activist 

While I deeply appreciate those nominations, especially the second consecutive nomination in the Most Prominent Female LGBT Activist category,  just curious as to why I didn't get one for Best LGBT Local Blog and why no trans, bi or lesbian woman was nominated in the Best LGBT Tweeter category despite many of us having very active twitter accounts?

I guess that's why they have write in voting in all the categories in question.

Congrats to everyone who was nominated, and just an FYI you can vote once a day until the September 5 closing date.   You don't have to be a Houston resident either, just register and you're good to go.

Here's the link to vote in the 2015 OutSmart Gayest and Greatest Reader's Choice Awards.


You can also vote early and often once per day until voting closes on September 5.

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..