20th Annual OutSmart Gayest and Greatest Awards Presentation Tonight

Tonight starting at 5 PM will be the live presentation of OutSmart Magazine's Gayest and Greatest Readers Choice Awards.

OutSmart is our local LGBTQ magazine here in Houston, and this is the 20th year they have presented these awards honoring our local heroes, sheroes and community organizations

The live awards will be presented in the People categories for the Best Male and Female LGBT Business Persons, Favorite Male and Female Commercial Radio Personality,  Favorite Male and Female Community Radio Personality,  Favorite Male and Female Community Hero, Favorite Male and Female Community Photographer, Favorite Male and Female Local Politician, Favorite Male and Female TV Personality, Leading Male and Female Fundraiser, Most Prominent Male and Female LGBT Activist, Most Valuable Male and Female volunteer and Favorite LGBT Philanthropic Organization..

While I was nominated in three categories this year, unfortunately I didn't get enough votes to make the finals.   Maybe next year.

Congratulations to all the people who are finalists for these awards, those who won in other categories this year and good luck this evening.

The live presentation will take place at Rich's Houston, located at 2401 San Jacinto St. near downtown from 5 PM -9 PM.

Texas Early Voting Starts October 24

Since the last presidential debate between Democratic nominee Sec. Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump will be talking place later tonight, it's a nice time to remind all you TransGriot Texas readers that early voting is starting on October 24 in the Lone Star State.

With polls showing that the race is within the margin of error, we have a chance to make happen something that hasn't occurred since I was 14 in seeing Texas go blue.

The last time that happened was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter took the Lone Star State, and now we have a historic opportunity to flip it to blue.

But for that to happen, you must go to the polls and vote.   And don't just start and stop with the presidential race either.  There are other races and positions on the ballot that need your undivided attention, and you need to vote from POTUS to dog catcher

Also as a reminder, thanks to the Veasey v. Abbott case, the Texas Voter Suppression law is DEAD because it was declared unconstitutional.  

The Texas GOP still tried to play that voter suppression game, and got called on it by Nelva Gonzales Ramos, the federal judge overseeing the case ruled they were willfully defying her order.

Harris County clerk Stan Stanart (R) is also being investigated by the court as well.   Time to replace him anyway on November 8 with someone who will fairly administer the election system in our county.

In case you're wondering, Judge Ramos is an Obama appointee.  Presidential elections matter, especially when it comes to the federal judiciary.

You do not need a photo ID to vote if you don't have one. You will need to be registered and have your blue voter registration card, and sign a statement swearing you are the person appearing to vote before you will be allowed to..

I'm looking forward to doing my civic duty and gleefully saying, "You're fired" to every Republican on my ballot, and can't wait until 2018 to do the same to Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott.

Back to focusing on the task at hand in this 2016 election.  

In Harris County, (the city of Houston's county for you non Texans) early voting will be in various locations, and have different times for different periods.   From October 24-28, the early voting polling centers will be open from 8 AM-6 PM.

On Souls To The Polls Weekend, on Saturday the early voting locations will be open from 7 AM-7 PM on Saturday, October 29, and on Sunday, October 30 from 1-6 PM

From October 31-November 4, the polls will be open from 7 AM-7 PM.

Check your local county clerk website for the times and early voting polling locations for your part of the Lone Star State.   You can also check the Texas Secretary of State website for more information about our upcoming election.

Moni's In The Middle Of The JJ Alumni Picnic

From time to time I get to pop my collar about my high school alma mater Jesse H Jones and The Class With Class, AKA the Class of 1980.

So proud of the rich history of my school.  Actress Jo Beth Williams, HPD"s first female police chief Elizabeth Watson, NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green, former NBC White House correspondent Rosalind Jordan, NFL baller Alfred Williams, NBA ball player Daniel Gibson, Texas State Board of Education member (and my classmate) Lawrence Allen, former HISD bard member Ron Franklin, staffer for Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) Rachelle O'Neal, and former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

So as a Falcon, I have a towering legacy to live up to.    

The 4th annual alumni picnic was Sunday at Christia Adair Park, and for once my globetrotting behind was in town for a JJ class event.   I was there when it started at noon.  It was also taking place during the 35th reunion weekend of the JJ Class of 1981.

I definitely had a better day than the Texans and Donald Trump did.

In addition to seeing many of my Class With Class classmates, there were people from the Jesse H. Jones Classes of 1973 all the way to the Class of 2007 that I enjoyed meeting.   I also enjoyed either meeting or reconnecting with people from the Classes of 78-82 which was the time I was walking JJ's halls.

While there was a barbecue dinner offered and served in the Adair Park barbecue pavilion that was prepaid or paid for on site, the various class tent clusters (Class of 1980 had a cluster of six tents) had different food available from barbecue to fish

There was good times, trash talking domino games, music from the 70s to the 2k's thanks to our DJ,  reminiscing about our days walking JJ's halls, thinking about the classmates who are now Falcons Soaring Above The Clouds, and the always entertaining Parade of Classes that started around 4 PM in which people from that class year marched to the covered pavilion to a song from their JJ class year.

And this march with my classmates was a lot more fun than the one we did on May 20, 1980 at the Astroarena.

Thanks to the alumni picnic committee that spent six months putting this amazing event together and were there at 6:15 AM setting this up   I was happy to be there and can't wait to see what happens at the 5th annual picnic in 2017.

Happy Birthday Jenifer Rene!

Need to close out this emotional day with some positive news. Today also happens to be the birthday of my trailblazing sis Jenifer Rene Pool!

Jenifer made some Texas electoral history back in March when she became the first trans Texan to win a primary election of any kind in the Lone Star State. She handily won with 78% of the vote her Democratic primary election for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 3 race.
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She is now in the November 8 general election against six time Republican incumbent commissioner Steve Radack who has been in that office since 1980.

It won't be easy in a district that covers 400 square miles of Harris County's fast growing west side, but by winning that primary, she has a chance to win.

If she beats Radack, she will not only add another historic election achievement to her resume, she will also flip the balance of power on the Harris County Commissioner's Court to liberal progressive control.

Happy birthday Jenifer!  Hope you get a chance to make that history and hear us getting to call you #MadameCommissioner as your late birthday present!

Number 6 UH Takes On UConn

After finishing a stretch of three games in 14 days with a 64-3 demolition of Texas State in San Marcos, the number 6 ranked University of Houston Cougars (4-0, 1-0 AAC) face at TDECU Stadium the team that ruined their bid for a perfect season last year in the Connecticut Huskies.

UH was unbeaten at 10-0 and ranked number 13 in the nation when they rolled into Rentschler Stadium on November 15 to play UConn.  A questionable targeting call against star UH linebacker Elandon Roberts in the first quarter got him tossed from the game.  Kenneth Farrow and QB Kyle Postma were injured, and they turned the ball over four times, the final one being an interception tossed by Ward with 55 seconds left to seal the 20-17 upset loss..

Needless to say UConn will have the Cougars undivided attention despite the fact the Coogs are a 24.5 point favorite to win this game..

There's a lot more at stake for the Cougars besides avenging that loss in front of the home crowd. In addition to UH having their highest poll ranking since 1991 and being a spotless 4-0 on the year, they are also a serious contender to play in the College Football Playoff.

The Coogs are also determined to continue their mission of repeating as The American champs.

Greg Ward. Jr played only the final four snaps in that UConn game because of that injury and being forced to play because Postma got hurt late, but that isn't the case this year.

He will be in the TDECU Stadium house in full effect and ready to lead the Cougars to what he hopes will be their fifth victory of the season and second in AAC play..

We'll see starting at 7 PM CDT on ESPN.

Moni's At The Equality Brunch 2016

I know I wrote about it on Sunday, but wanted to post more pics from the 8th annual Equality Brunch.  And yes, I was still shaking off the jet lag when I walked into the venue.

In addition to this being a fundraising event for the Houston LGBT Caucus, I was one of several people being honored with awards.  It gave me an opportunity to break bread with and spend some quality time hanging out with my Houston liberal-progressive community family.

We had a few of our Houston political peeps there like CM Robert Gallegos and CM Mike Laster, TX state Senator Sylvia Garcia, Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen, Judge Maria T. Jackson, former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and candidates for various offices in the room like Harris County DA candidate Kim Ogg, Harris County Sheriff candidate and former CM Ed Gonzales, judicial candidate Ramona Franklin and Harris County Commissioner's Court candidate Jenifer Rene Pool.

This year I became the second out trans person to receive the John Paul Barnich Award, and I thank the Caucus for honoring me with this award named for a trailblazing member of our Houston LGBT community.

The other awards presented on Sunday and the deserving folks who received them were:

Eleanor Tinsley Award
Erika Richie

Don Hrachovy Award
Maria Gonzalez

President's Award
Melanie Espinosa Pang

Tim Brookover Award
Greg Jeu

The Tony and Bruce Award
Bruce Smith

The 2016 class of Equality Brunch honorees were also surprised by a presentation from Audrey Natividad with Congressional Recognition Certificates signed by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee  (D-TX).

It was a wonderful event across the board.  Capacity crowd, amazing venue, delicious food, and most importantly, the fundraising target of $10,000 was hit.   That money will help get those Caucus endorsement cards out in time for early voting that's starting on October 24.

This year's edition of the Equality Brunch set the bar high for future ones, and enjoyed being there for it.

8th Annual Houston LGBT Caucus Equality Brunch

The reason I left Louisville yesterday a little sooner than i would have liked is because I had this event on my calendar for today in the 8th Annual Houston LGBT Caucus Equality Brunch.

In addition to having it at the fabulous La Colombe d'Or Hotel in the Montrose gayborhood, this brunch that started at 11 AM is a fundraiser for the Caucus.   It's also an event in which several Houstonians including a certain activist blogger y'all know were honored with awards for our efforts to make Houston a better place to live.

Was great after shaking off my jet lag and being in the house for it, hearing the remarks of Rev. Lura Groen, Caucus President Fran Watson, Caucus Vice President Mike Webb and my fellow honorees.

And yes, I'm now the second trans Houstonian to win the John Paul Barnich Award.  Thanks for this honor Houston LGBT Caucus.

We were also given certificates presented by Audrey Natividad denoting congressional recognition for our work in various fields to make Houston better thanks to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

It was an amazing event, and congrats to everyone who attended, gave money to the Caucus to help facilitate their work, and helped put it together.

It was also wonderful to get to see all the elected officials in the room and hopefully soon to be after November 8 elected officials in Houston and Harris County.

Gender Infinity 2016

Every now and then I do a Houston based event to reminds my Houston homies and homettes that I still live here, this is home and I love every nanosecond of being in the Lone Star State .

One of my fave local events is Gender Infinity.  There are local events that our trans kids, their family members and their parents attend at undisclosed locations around the Houston area so that they can be among other trans people, their trans elders like myself, and supportive allies.

Over the last two days the Gender Infinity Conference, has been happening on the University of Houston campus  

It's obviously been doing wonderful work because the Westboro faux faith based haters showed up to protest.   It was met by the Rev Troy Treash, the people of Resurrection MCC church and allies who ensured the Phelps Phamily's special brand of hatred never came close to the UC.and the part of the University of Houston campus where the conference was held.

But enough about the misguided Phelps Phamily.  I spent those two days getting reunited with some peeps not only locally, but seeing Dr. Kelley Winters, our Friday keynote speaker.   It was the first time I'd seen her in the flesh and spent quality time with her in eight years.

And it was ironic script flipping because in 2008, I was the keynote for a gender conference on the University of Colorado campus when she was living there.  Now she's here as the keynote for my  hometown conference.  

I once again got to spend some quality time with Judge Phyllis Frye.  I met the parents of Black trans kids who have made the conscious choice to love their trans kids and not throw them out of their homes. I got to spend quality time with our trans youth as a trans elder.

And even got to bowl a few games (six) at Cougar Lanes during the Family Fun event.Friday night.

I thoroughly enjoyed my Gender Infinity 2016 experience, and looking forward to next year.

2016 UH Cougar Watch- Cougars Beat Cincinnati 40-16

The game was actually closer than the final score indicated, but the number 6 ranked University of Houston Cougars beat the Cincinnati Bearcats 40-16 in front of a national television audience and a sold out Nippert Stadium/

It was The American conference game opener between two unbeaten teams considered the favorites to be playing in The American title game in December.  It was also a clash two teams rumored to be the front runners in the Big XII expansion sweepstakes.

But after a frustrating first half in which they turned the ball over twice and despite moving the ball at ease on the Bearcats went in at halftime tied 10-10,

The Third Ward Defense shut down any Bearcat attempts to run the football, but still managed because of Cougar turnovers to grab a 16-12 fourth quarter lead.

Greg Ward, Jr. then shook off the third quarter end zone interception he threw that the Bearcats converted for their go ahead touchdown to march the Cougars on a clutch drive to take the lead back 19-16, then the defense took over.

They contributed back to back pick sixes as part of that 28 point fourth quarter explosion to move the Cougars to 3-0 on the season and win their opening American conference game.

Will these two teams meet in December?  We'll see. But the Cougars travel to San Marcos next week to take on the Texas State Bobcats in a non conference matchup as they continue on their mission to crash the CFA College Football Playoff party.   .

Messages From Gender Infinity And Montrose Center Concerning The Phelps Phamily Protests

The Phelps Phamily is allegedly coming to Houston to spread their special brand of hate on Friday.   There's a 50% chance they won't show up since they frequently flake out like that, but if they do, they plan on targeting the Montrose Center and the Gender Infinity Conference with pickets.

The targets of their alleged pickets in the Montrose Center and the Gender Infinity Conference have a message for you Houstonians and peeps in the metro area outraged that these faux faith based fools are desecrating our city limits.

First, the message from Gender Infinity:

Gender Infinity is aware of a possible protest planned during our conference at the University of Houston on Friday, September 16th. Please respect our main focus to provide all conference attendees a wonderful experience. We have been working with community partners to make arrangements to ensure this goal.

UH has a free speech zone where only a small number of people are allowed to gather at a time. If counter-protesters exceed that number, you will all be asked to leave and the protesters will remain. This is not what we want.

With that in mind, we ask the following:

1. Do not show up at UH to counter-protest unless you have coordinated with our point of contact, Rev. Troy Treash, a dedicated supporter at revtroy@resurrectionmcc.org. He will coordinate this effort.

2. Our community partners who have experience with these particular protesters advise that the best way to respond is not to engage them verbally or physically. Do not give this group the media or social media attention they crave (e.g., do not share their website on social media).

3. Instead, please come together as a community in other ways at this time to support each other and display a united, organized, peaceful, and collected front.

4. Alternative ways to support Gender Infinity at this time include liking our facebook page, following us on Twitter, or making a financial donation to our organization or any other local LGBTQI+ organization.http://support.genderinfinity.org/

We hope the response of our community, in solidarity, will show the world our commitment to advance justice and inclusion with and for transgender, gender diverse, and gender expansive persons.

Thank you,
The Gender Infinity Team

Next, the message from the Montrose Center"

We are asking that people not come to the Center on the 16th between 10:30 am and noon unless you have business here. We do not want to give them any media attention or assist them in their mission to disrupt our services and guests.

We have consulted with other Centers who have been protested and have been advised the best way to frustrate them is to not engage them. We have it covered and ask that there be no counter protest. We have made arrangements to protect our clients, staff and visitors and their privacy. Thanks everyone for respecting our plan.

We'll see if the Phelps Phamily actually backs up their words, drives down from Kansas and shows up at either event this Friday,

H-Town peeps, I know you're pissed.  I definitely am seeing that I will be at Gender Infinity supporting our trans kids and their families.   But the best way to support both these orgs is respect their wishes.  

It also doesn't hurt if you express your pissivity at the Phelpses by dropping both of the targeted organizations some donations.

Here's the link for the Montrose Center and the Gender Infinity Conference to do precisely that.

Phelps Phamily Coming To Houston To Hate

We already have enough problems with our Lone Star domestic LGBTQ haters in Steve Hotze, Dave Welch, Dave Wilson, Jonathan Saenz, Max Miller, Ken Paxton  and Steve and Becky Riggle.

Now comes word that the Phelps Phamily slithering out of their Westboro Baptist Hate 'Church' hovels to bring their special brand of intolerance to H-town.

They claim they will be stopping by the Montrose Center and the Gender Infinity Conference being held on the University of Houston campus for unwanted visits on Friday, so let's give them a proper Texas welcome.  

By that, I'm advocating we replicate what Resource Center Dallas did back in 2010 and use their reprehensible appearance in town to fundraise for LGBTQ organizations.

 Let's turn this lemon visit into an opportunity to fundraise for Houston LGBTQ orgs. If you wish to show your disdain for the Phelps Phamily, pick an org to benefit from the funds generated by their appearance.

I'd suggest that the beneficiaries of a Houston fiscal based protest of the Phelps Phamily should be Gender Infinity Conference, the Montrose Center or even the Houston GLBT Political Caucus.

Basically, what you do to use your wallets to send a gigantic FU to the Phelpses is count the number of minutes the hatemongering Phelps Phamily are in town, and have peeps donate 50 cents, a dollar or whatever you feel comfortable giving until they bounce and move on to desecrate another locale.

People also have the option of giving a lump sum to the targeted organization instead of a per minute donation before the Phelps Phamily rolls into Houston.

The Phelps Phamily gets pissed when they find out their presence, far from stirring the anger their hatemongering business model requires and craves, is actually raising money for the LGBTQ organizations they are hating on, and it tends to have the beautiful effect of limiting their time in an area they are protesting..

It's a nonviolent way to protest them and creatively use their appearance in town to raise funds for a good LGBTQ cause.   Would also be nice to have the Angel Wings show up.

So Houston, lets show our disdain for the Phelps Phamily and piss them off by raising money for these targeted organizations at the same time.

2016 UH Cougar Watch- Number 6 UH Runs Over Lamar In Six Hour Game

It took them six hours and 18 minutes, and enduring a 3.5 hour lightning delay for a game that kicked off at 11:AM CDT, but the number 6 ranked University Of Houston Cougars adapted and overcame the adversity to beat the Lamar Cardinals 42-0 during their home opener at TDECU Stadium.

They also handled their collegiate football business without the services of QB Greg Ward, Jr  and running back Duke Catalon.   Ward and Catalon were nursing nagging injuries and held out of this non-conference matchup by the Cougar coaching staff because they want them healed and ready for their ESPN televised American conference opener on the road Thursday against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

So that meant backup senior QB Kyle Postma was at the controls of the explosive Cougar offense, and FYI people, there is no talent drop off when he is in the lineup.

Postma scored on a 39 yard TD run in the first quarter to stake the Coogs to a 7-0 lead they never relinquished before lightning strikes suspended the game with 3:13 left in the first quarter.

Once the game resumed at 3:12 PM,  the Cougars proceeded to run as if they time warped back in the 1970's during the break and were using Bill Yeoman's Veer offense.  They racked up 381 yards on the ground and had three players rush for over 100 yards for the first time since 1974.

Kevrin Justice scored to make it 14-0 with less than a minute to go in the first quarter, and was the first in a series of TD's that broke the game wide open and built a 28-0 halftime lead..


In addition to Postma's career high 106 yards and two TD's on just seven carries, RB' Kevrin Justice added 111 yards and two TD's, and freshman Mulbah Car  rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown as the Coogs ran over around and through the Cardinals to go 2-0 in this young 2016 college football season.

They have a short week plus travel to Cincy as they begin trying to repeat as The American champs and keep the possibility of crashing the CFA championship party alive.

2016 UH Cougar Watch -Facing Lamar

After beating then number 3 ranked Oklahoma convincingly 33-23 last Saturday, the University of Houston Cougars were elevated in the AP poll to number 6 in the nation and number 7 in the coaches poll.

It is the highest ranking a UH football squad has held since November 1990 when they rose to number 3 in the nation at thai time, and it is well deserved going into their home opener at TDECU Stadium against Lamar.

To the big victor goes the spoils.  This home opener was originally only going to be broadcast on the ESPN 3 streaming service, but now it is being televised locally on KIAH-TV, CW39.

Kickoff is at 11 AM CDT, and it will be interesting to see if the Cougars can stay focused and handle their football business against an opponent that doesn't have the same talent level as Oklahoma, but will be gunning to pin an major upset on them that would derail their attempt to crash the college football championship playoff party  .

UH Shocks The World Again To Beat No. 3 OU

'Nobody outside Beltway 8, including college football pundits  is giving the number #15 ranked Cougars a chance against a team that was a semifinalist in last year's College Football Playoff and is considered a favorite for the Big XII title.  But then again, none of the college football pundits thought the 13-1 Cougars could hang with Florida State in the Peach Bowl either.'
-TransGriot, September 3, 2016

Can I call it or what?

Once again, the University of Houston Cougars have shocked the college football world and beaten a top ranked football program nobody thought they were capable of beating.  They were a 13 point underdog going into this game, and this time it was number 3 ranked Oklahoma that experienced the H-Town Takeover in full effect at a sold out NRG Stadium.

UH earned their first win ever against the Sooners and their first win over a Top-3 ranked program since 1984 (they beat the hell out of the Texas Longhorns,snicker snicker) when they smashed the Big XII preseason favorites 33-23 with a national television audience looking on.

With UH days away from making their formal presentation to join the Big XII Conference, it couldn't come at a better time as far as UH alums are concerned.
The Sooners came out of the gate on fire, going 79 yards in just 8 plays, capped by a 32 yard Joe Mixon TD run on their opening possession. The Coogs answered with a 10 play 71 yard drive of their own that resulted in the first of Ty Cummings' four first half field goals from 35 yard out to cut the OU lead to 7-3.

The Cougar defense then began to show signs of slowing down the potent OU offense, holding them to a 25  yard Austin Seibert field goal to extend the OU lead to 10-3 after the first quarter,

The Cougars began to assert themselves in the second quarter, and after a 14 play 84 yard drive that chewed up 6:16, added another Cummings field goal from 26 yard out to cut the deficit to 10-6.  

The Coogs took their first lead after a 7 play 75 yard drive capped off by a Greg Ward, Jr 15 yard touchdown to a wide open Duke Catalon to go up 13-10.   But that lead evaporated after Baker Mayfield tossed a 64 bomb to Mark Andrews to put the Sooners back up 17-13.   

The undaunted Cougars went back to work chipping away at that Oklahoma lead, getting a 33 yard field goal from Cummings to narrow the deficit to 17-16, and aided by an amazing catch by Linell Bonner III, took the lead on Austin Cummings fourth field goal from 47 yards out with :03 left in the half to go up at the half 19-17.

The backbreaking play came in the third quarter after Oklahoma set up to kick a 53 yard field goal to take the lead, but it fell short and was returned for a kick six by Brandon Wilson to give the Coogs a 26-17 lead they would never relinquish. 



Mayfield tried to bring his team back but the UH defense continued their pattern of the last few years of forcing turnovers, and forced a huge fumble they converted into another touchdown to got up 33-17.
Oklahoma added a touchdown late after UH lost a fumble on the goal line enroute to another score that would have put them up 40-17, but instead they have to be satisfied with a huge 33-23 win.

It marked the first time in UH program history they have beaten Top 5 programs back to back, and the massive win puts them solidly in the discussion for a CFA playoff spot assuming they run the table the rest of the way.

But the most important stat in the game is that the UH Cougars are 1-0.

2016 UH Cougar Watch- Crucial Season Opener At NRG Stadium

My fave college football team starts what has the potential to be a blockbuster 2016 season when they kick off in a few hours against the number 3 ranked Oklahoma Sooners at a sold out NRG Stadium.

Nobody outside Beltway 8, including college football pundits  is giving the number #15 ranked Cougars a chance against a team that was a semifinalist in last year's College Football Playoff and is considered a favorite for the Big XII title.  But then again, none of the college football pundits thought the 13-1 Cougars could hang with Florida State in the Peach Bowl either,

But after an offseason in which they hauled in a recruiting class that ranked number 35 in the nation and included 5 star homeboy DT Ed Oliver, you may not want to sleep on this team.

We'll see if the H-Town Takeover can hang with a team they may have to face on a regular basis if the Big XII does the right thing and invites UH to join

But the start of this season for the Cougars seems to have a lot riding on it.  In addition to being considered for Big XII membership, the defending American Athletic Conference Champs will be trying to prove their 13-1 record last year wasn't a fluke along with the 38-24 Peach Bowl demolition of Florida State.

But as Coach Tom Herman said, that was last year's UH team. This 2016 UH team will have to forge their own legacy, and they can take a major step toward that in a few hours.

“We’re the same disrespected, little American Conference team with a giant chip on our shoulder,” Herman said. “The media and everyone else might have put us in the top 25, (and) that’s based off of what last year’s team did. We haven’t done anything.”

In addition to opening at NRG Stadium with Oklahoma and possessing the best ranking to start a football season since I was walking the campus, they'll also be facing on November 17 a Louisville squad at TDECU Stadium with revenge on their minds along with their opponents in The American who want to repeat on a weekly basis what UConn managed to do last year in upsetting the Coogs.

The Coogs are shooting for a repeat American title, a possible Heisman Trophy for QB Greg Ward, Jr,  and possibly crashing the College Football Playoff party if they can run the table schedule wise.

But the huge piece of that 2016 Cougar college football season puzzle starts at 11:00 AM CDT.

Busy H-Town Saturday

Saturday was a busy one for me as I attended two events that were fortunately happening only a mile apart.

I was asked by Rhys Caraway to present an award that went to Phoebe Van Cleefe at the #BlackQueerMagic Empowerment Brunch that was held in the shadow of downtown Houston at St, John's UNC.and sponsored by Young Black Voices.

That even started at 12:30 PM, and after we got our grub on, the awards presentation started with much of activist Houston in the room for this event..

Awards were also presented to Jason Black, Mike Webb, Aurora Gray and Fran Watson in addition to two Bayard Rustin Scholarships that was emceed by Harrison Gray.

After spending an enjoyable two hours there Dee Dee Watters and I headed over to the HSPVA campus that's still in Montrose for now for a 30th anniversary celebration for Bering Omega House.

What many people don't realize is that Houston was one of the early Ground Zero's for the HIV epidemic that broke out in 1981 with the nastier HTLV-1 virus

Indigent terminally ill AIDS patients were finding themselves once they were discharged from the various Houston hospitals with no place to go.  Omega House was founded by then 76 year old retired Montessori teacher Eleanor Munger in 1986 to fill that critical care gap and give indigent people suffering with AIDS die with dignity.  

With $10,000 in seed money from Christ Church Cathedral, Munger opened the four bed all volunteer run facility with the mission to compassionately care for terminally ill AIDS patients in their final stages that could no longer be cared for by the traditional medical establishment.

It was the first residential hospice in Texas, and it recently merged with Houston Area Community Services.  Bering Omega House and celebrated its 30th year of existence with a short program in HSPVA's Denny Theater in which longtime workers there recalled the early days of its existence.

Munger passed away in 2004 at age 92, but the residential hospice she founded is still very much a part of the community.  Some of the peeps who were at the Empowerment Brunch with us also took time like Dee Dee and I did to spend a few moment at that ceremony that began at 4 PM, and also included a tour of the facility.

It was a long day, but it's always good to see my Houston community peeps.and spend some quality time with them, especially since I've  piled up a lot of frequent flier miles this year.

And I couldn't think of a better way to spend my day than to celebrate the achievements of some of our young activists and the 30th anniversary of a critical institution in our community.