The Evilgelicals Are Coming Back To Protest Houston Drag Queen Story Time

Fortuitously for me I have a mid morning doctor's appointment that will put me within a few blocks of the Eleanor K. Freed- Montrose branch of the Houston Public Library.

Once again, the suburban evilgelical haters are coming to town to do what they do best in terms of spewing loud and wrong hate speech as they protest Drag Queen Story Time again.

In Houston, Drag Queen Story Time has been taking place for over a year, and celebrated its one year anniversary on September 29.

But it has been under increasing attack from the Houston conservafools and evilgelicals, with the major ringleader on Houston City council coming out against it being CM Michael Kubosh.

The evilgelical lawsuit to stop Drag Queen Story Time was drop kicked out of federal court last month by Chief Justice Lee H. Rosenthal (appointed by GHW Bush).   They ,have already desecrated City Hall during a recent public comment session trying to spread their anti-TBLGQ hate for the holiday while being egged on by CM Michael Kubosh, who is running for re-election.

Still haven't forgotten his 2014 comment made at Grace Hate Church that "God put him on City Council to oppose the HERO."

The controversy, far from depressing turnout for Drag Queen Story Time, has actually increased numbers and interest in the program.  75 people attended the July edition, which has been the attendance high water mark so far for the program. 

In case you want to peacefully express your First Amendment rights, mock the Talabaptists and support the parents, kids and drag queens who give their time to read to the kids, the protest of the evilgelicals is starting at 1:00 PM.

We wish to be in place, set and ready to roll before the evilgelicals get there from their long drive from the 'burbs and the 2 PM start time for the event.


 

Is NHL Hockey Finally Coming To Houston?

Another one of the things people don't know about me besides Renee Martin is that I am a serious hockey fan.   I learned how to ice skate before I attempted to learn how to roller skate. 

My teen self not only witnessed the first game of the Houston Aeros in the Sam Houston Coliseum as they beat the Chicago Cougars, I was a passionate fan of the team   The two time World Hockey Association Avco Cup champions had Gordie Howe and his sons Mark and Marty Howe on the squad. 

Unfortunately, financial instability helped kill this team.  They went through three ownership groups despite being a successful team on the ice.  The Aeros were not admitted into the NHL, and were disbanded when the two leagues merged in 1978 and the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, the New England Whalers and the Edmonton Oilers were absorbed.

The Aeros 2.0 started playing as an International Hockey League expansion team at Compaq Center in 1994 and when the IHL folded in 2001, joined the American Hockey League.  That same year they also became affiliated of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and moved to Toyota Center to play their games in 2003. . 

Despite being ranked in the top 5 in AHL attendance and winning titles in both the IHL and AHL, the Minnesota Wild, who owned the team, decided to move them to Des Moines, Iowa in 2013..

Because Houston is the third largest city in the country and the largest TV market without an NHL franchise, we have repeatedly been teased and tortured with the NHL either considering expanding here or NHL teams having problems in other markets considering relocation to H-town, only to go somewhere else.

The Dallas Stars would also like that to happen so that we can start an instate NHL rivalry .

While the WHA Aeros were collapsing due to fiscal issues, the original NHL Colorado Rockies were considering moving to Houston.  They eventually became the New Jersey Devils in 1982.

The other NHL team that considered relocating to Houston but eventually set up somewhere else includes the Edmonton Oilers.  Back in the mid 1990's, then Oilers owner Peter Pocklington was battling with the city of Edmonton to get a better deal, and threatened to sell the team to then Rockets owner Les Alexander and move the Oilers to Houston.  That drama was happening about the same time that Bud Adams was threatening to move the NFL Oilers to Nashville.

That sale of the NHL Oilers didn't happen, and it probably led to why Les messed with Houston's chances to get an NHL team in the 1997 round of NHL expansion that eventually went to Nashville.   
And now, Seattle is getting the NHL's 32nd franchise to start play in 2020 once the renovations to bring Key Arena to NHL standards are completed.

With getting a team through NHL expansion being dashed once again, it appears that if Houston is going to get an NHL team. it's going to be through relocation.   We have an NHL ready arena in the Toyota Center and a diverse hockey loving fanbase ready to embrace our own NHL team instead of flying or driving to Dallas to see NHL hockey.

We have rumors that the Arizona Coyotes and possibly the Calgary Flames may be eyeballing a possible move to Houston. 

Both teams have arena issues, and more fuel was added to the rumors when the NHL Board of Governors voted to move the Arizona Coyotes into the NHL's Central Division, the same one that the Dallas Stars (and Calgary Flames) happen to play in. 

As to whether it will happen, not getting excited about until the announcement is made an NHL team is moving here and will playing its games in downtown Houston..

But I do have a suggestion if it happens for the team's nickname if it does. .   

Fort Bend ISD Naming School For Malala

Fort Bend County to the southwest of Houston is one of the suburban areas, like Montgomery County to our north that has experienced explosive population growth since the 1980's.  The Fort Bend Independent School District has been on what seems to be an almost nonstop building program to keep up with it.

Even better, it turned blue because of that explosive growth in the 2018 midterm elections

A new elementary school, the 51st in the FBISD, is currently being built in the Aliana community in the northwest part of the district.   After asking the FBISD community to submit a name for the new school scheduled to open in January 2020, a committee comprised of FBISD teachers, parents, students, community advocates, staff and an FBISD board member went through the nearly 100 names submitted to choose the name of the new school.

The school will be named Malala Yousafzai Elementary School, and it is one as a TK I am definitely in agreement with.   The Nobel laureate has been a tireless advocate for public education.

“Fort Bend ISD is proud to name Malala Yousafzai Elementary in honor of a true advocate for education. Our FBISD Profile of a Graduate outlines the skills and attributes graduates should possess upon graduation from our schools. Through her compassion for others and servant leadership, Yousafzai is an embodiment of these characteristics, which we are trying to instill in our students. We look forward to hearing of the many successes of the school and its students in the future,” said Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Superintendent of Schools.
The name for the new school was approved during the December 17 FBISD board meeting

Malala and her father are currently on a trip to Australia, and when they heard the news, were quite pleased with it.

This is such great and encouraging news," said Malala's father Ziauddin Yousafzai.  "I'm very thankful for this.  It's an opportunity for young students to get inspiration."

"Malala's name is known globally and now, for a school to be associated with Malala's name, it just shows that the spirit of education is being wholeheartedly promoted," he added..

As for Malala's thoughts about the FBISD action, she conveyed through her father that she was "quite glad" and 'grateful to the Sugar Land community for helping spread her message of education for girls.

She garnered international attention at age 15 for surviving an Taliban attack on her while traveling home from school.   A year later in 2013 she delivered a highly publicized United Nations speech that urged world leaders to make education a priority.    Yousafzai became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014

The attendance zone boundaries for Yousafzai Elementary are currently being determined by the district.

As for whether the Yousafzai's will be in the Lone Star State when the school is dedicated, Ziauddin Yousafzai said, "I cannot make any promises right now, but should we receive an invitation and are in Texas or nearby, we would definitely love to attend and meet these amazing people.

Um, FBISD, y'all might want to get on that ASAP.

Houston's Pride Portraits 'Be Visible' Wall Vandalized

"The Pride Portraits BE VISIBLE wall has been targeted with hate. Our hearts are heavy but we will RESIST. 

LOVE to all,
Eric, Hugo, Crimson, Jenni and Scott."

That was the message that greeted us on the Pride Portraits Facebook page this morning as we discovered that the Pride Portraits 'Be Visible' wall that has been on the side of the Jenni's Noodle House location in the Heights since April has unfortunately been vandalized.

The wall was created by artist Hugo Perez, and was dedicated back on April 5 in a ceremony that included Jim Obergefell.  A quote from Obergefell is included in the pride wall painting that reads:

“I march because of the people who marched before me. Thanks to them, I live in a better world due to their bravery, and I owe it to them and those who come after me to continue the fight for equality.”

As you probably guessed, the malicious vandalizing of the seven month old wall has already pissed off and galvanized local advocates to not only make plans to repair the damage, but increase security so that it won't happen again.

Eric Edward Schell of Pride Portraits had this to say about the vandalism of the wall

"The amount of emboldened hate it took for an individual to deface the pride wall, thats sole mission is to uplift, affirm and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community in my opinion is a direct result of our current political climate. Donald J. Trump and his administration are directly responsible for the uprise in anti LGBTQIA+ hate crimes across the United States," said Schell. 

"This type of vandalism brings me right back to the Pulse shooting and the realization that people want our community silenced if not dead for simply existing. Being visible in our community puts a target on our backs but visibility it is imperative to our right to exist in society," he continued.

"There is no “gay agenda”. We are not asking for extra rights. We are not asking that you have less rights. We are seeking equality."

A donation for a security camera to watch the wall has already been made by a generous donor, and other people in the Houston community are already stepping up to volunteer to repaint the the wall and restore it back to its original glory.

If a GoFundMe or other online fundraising effort pops up to raise money to pay for the repairs to the Be Visible wall, I'll post it here.

And to the cowardly tagger who did this, a message for you.   How about you, your Republican and your evilgelical friends stop your anti-gay hate agenda?

And for those of you wondering what the 'gay agenda' the conservafools always whine about is?

1. Be visible
2. Respect our human rights
3. Respect our humanity
4. Be proud of who we are
5. See 1-4
  

'Assigned Male' Cartoonist Sophie Labelle In Houston Today!

I met Sophie during the 2012  Philly Trans Health Conference and fell in love not only with the French Canadian cartoonist, girl like us and public speaker, but her Assigned Male comic.

Assigned Male chronicles the adventures of Stephie, a young Canadian trans girl from Montreal getting adjusted to life while trans.   The cast of Assigned Male also includes her gender nonconforming friend Ciel, their cis friend Eirikur, her boyfriend Frank, her brother Virgil and a diverse cast of minor characters.

And yes, I'm a fan of Assigned Male, with its cast of unapologetic trans and gender nonconforming characters making their way in the world.  It also has some timely commentary on events transpiring in Canada, the US and the world concerning trans people.

It has also drawn it share of right wing haters who hate the unapologetic truth telling that Assigned Male brings to its updated three times a week webcomic pages. 

Labelle is currently doing a US Tour, and the southern US leg of it started in New Orleans with stops in Austin last night, Houston today and Denton on Tuesday.

Looking forward to seeing Sophie and welcoming her to H-town.  If you want to see her and get some Assigned Male swag at the same time, you'll need to swing by the Montrose Center starting at 4 PM CST.

Tired Of The Racist Commentary Being Aimed At Judge-elect Hidalgo

On Tuesday night no doubts were left that Harris County is undeniably blue as the blue tsunami knocked every remaining Republican judge off the bench, fired the much disliked Stan Stanart, and left every executive position in Democratic hands when the night was over.

Lina Hidalgo's upset win over longtime county judge Ed Emmett combined with Adrian Garcia's win for the Precinct 2 commissioners court seat put the Democrats in control of that body for the first time in over a decade.

Much of the racist vitriol about the shellacking the Harris County Republicans took Tuesday night is being aimed at our new county judge-elect, who at 27 is the youngest person ever elected to the position since 1937.  She's also the first Latina to also hold the top executive position in Harris County. 

And frankly. I'm tired of it.

As you have probably guessed, the commentary from the right wing peanut gallery is that 'straight ticket Democratic voters put her in office'.  And that came from sore loser Ed Emmett. 

The MAGAt's have picked up on that attack line, in addition to calling her 'unqualified' and 'inexperienced' along with other epithets I won't repeat in this post.   As for the other ridiculous charge of 'she's never attended a Harris County commissioners court meeting' or 'hasn't spent much time in the county', hello, she was spending that time outside the county getting a Stanford degree. 

I am a native Houstonian and I've never attended a commissioners court meeting either.   So what's your point with that BS line?    I know one commissioner court meeting I am going to attend soon is the one in which she and Adrian Garcia are officially sworn in.

Hidalgo has a degree from Stanford University and studied public policy at Harvard.  She's going to get a chance to put that education to work on behalf of the 5 million residents of Harris County. 

I find it interesting y'all don't worry about qualifications and experience when it's a Republican white male running for a position.   You also didn't complain about straight ticket voting when it benefitted your party in 2010 and 2014.

And speaking of complaints, I'll bet if Hidalgo were a white female with the same or lesser qualifications, we wouldn't be hearing a peep out of the GOP peanut gallery, especially if she was on their political team.  But because she's a Latinx woman, and her upset win flipped control of commissioner's court to make it look more like our diverse county, y'all wanna hate. 

I'm also tired of hearing people on the left grousing about Emmett being bounced.  Really don't care, because as far as I'm concerned, the only good Republican politician these days is an out of office one. 

If Emmett were a good man as y'all claim he is, he would have left the Republican Party.  Since he didn't, he paid the political price for it in a county that is filled with non-white people sick and tired of being repeatedly attacked and demonized by the Texas GOP.

Harris County is blue, I and the majority of Democratic voters wanted Democrats in these positions and we seized the opportunity to make Harris County blue again. 

And yes, I think she'll do an excellent job in the position. 

So be mad and stay mad about that Harris County GOP snowflakes.   But what we will not do is tolerate racist commentary being aimed at our new County Judge-elect.|

Radio Interview With Paola Acha Today

Another day, another radio interview.   This time I'll be on the air with the lovely Paola Acha, the hostess of the Be Cool Be Smart show on KNLY 91.1 FM The Boss in The Woodlands.

Yep, the Woodlands. 

Her show runs from 3- 4PM CST and is available through YouTube and Facebook Live

Looking forward to heading up to the northern 'burbs in Montgomery County and spending what promises to be an enjoyable hour talking about whatever issues come up for discussion in that time frame

Here's the link to the show

Stan Stanart Trafficking In Anti-Semitism In Re-Election Bid

I have loathed Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, the Republican in charge of Harris County's voting apparatus for years.  He has made it clear multiple times he is a partisan hack who camouflages it a veneer of 'good Republican' respectability in order to get crossover votes. 

In addition to wasting $2.75 million of Harris County tax dollars on an automated voter check in system that is still not ready for election prime time, he has engaged in voter suppression on behalf of his party as he desperately tries (and fails) to keep Harris County from inexorably turning blue by restricting early voting hours from 8 AM-4 PM in the Lone Star State's largest and most populous county during the first week of it to 8 AM-4 PM instead of 7 AM-7 PM.

For this midterm it was 8 AM-4:30 PM.   

He also pissed off the Houston TBLGQ community back in 2015.  On the day the Obergefell v. Hodges SCOTUS ruling dropped, he stalled the issuance of marriage licenses for same sex couples for most of the day until he was forced to issue them by Harris County attorney Vince Ryan and several couples ready with attorneys on hand to handle their marriage business. 

Stanart then later shadily changed the design of the Harris County marriage licenses to include a pic of a man and woman getting married.

The non-white community in Harris County despises him to the point that #FireStanStanart has been a hashtagged rallying cry for us every election cycle as we fume not only about the suppression efforts, but how slowly the election night returns come in from his office.

Stanart is finally up for reelection and being challenged by Diane Trautman, the Democratic nominee for his job.   It has come to light that on his campaign website he is pimping an anti-Semitic attack on George Soros in order to stave off election defeat.

Make NO mistake, George Soros wants to control Harris County Elections and Stan Stanart is in his way. If Harris County, larger in population than 26 states, allows socialists like Soros to control our elections, then Texas is next. It is almost impossible for a Republican to win the White House without the 38 Electoral College votes from Texas. 

Stan needs your help TODAY to fight the millions that Soros and his allies plan to pour into Harris County. There are many more Flag Waving, defenders of the Constitution then those who support Soros’ world views, but remember “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.”– Edmund Burke.

This is disgusting, and Stanart needs to be punished at the polls for it.  Fortunately we have a few days left in early voting and Election Day on November 6 to #FireStanStanart, and hire Diane Trautman in his place.

TransGriot Update:  Stanart has pulled the disgusting ad from his website.   Still needs to be bounced from his position and replaced by Diane Trautman  

Houston Stands With The Trans Community Rally Happening Today

We have seen this Trump Misadministration ever since they gained power gleefully attempt to roll back and eviscerate the human rights of trans Americans.

While their initial actions such as attempting to ban trans people from serving in the military have been bogged down in the courts, others they have executed have been successful such as the Department of Education not taking student discrimination complaints. 

In addition to wiping all mention of trans people off US government websites, the Sessions controlled Department of (In)Justice is tying to push a legislative interpretation that claims trans people aren't covered under Title VII and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. and open us up to discrimination.

The persecution of trans people not only extends to our trans kids and their parents, but also extends to our trans immigrant population.

Since trans people are under attack by this government, we are doing what we must do in terms of standing up and fighting back against the oppression. 

The Organization Latina de Trans en Texas (OLTT) is organizing a rally starting at 7 PM that will give our allies and accomplices a chance to show support to our local trans and gender nonconforming community. 

It will also send the message that we're here, we're part of the Houston community and we won;t be erased.

Houston City Hall is located at 901 Bagby Street, and the rally will take place on the steps near the reflecting pool side of the building.     Hope to see you there!

Chief Justice Lee Rosenthal Dismisses Drag Queen Storytime Lawsuit

Some good news to report for you out of Houston this week. 

As y'all know, the fake faith based hatemongers have their draws in a bunch over the monthly Drag Queen Storytime event held at the Freed-Montrose Public Library.

A group of faith based haters with a long history of filing frivolous suits in Chris Sevier, Tex Christopher, Tracy Shannon and Calvin Miller filed another one in federal court to stop this weekend's edition of Drag Queen Storytime from taking place at the Free-Montrose Library in the historic Montrose gayborhood on Saturday.

Sevier tried to claim that the library hosting Drag Queen Storytime amounted to the establishment of 'the religion of secular humanism".   His frivolous suit history includes one filed against Apple in 2013 for 'making a computer that allowed him to access pornography'.  A few years later he filed lawsuits in several states including Texas seeking the right for him to marry his computer. 

Sevier also filed suits against four Democratic congress members who flew rainbow flags outside their offices claiming that by doing so, they were 'promoting the religion of homosexuality'.

Tracy Shannon's problem with Drag Queen Storytime is that her husband allegedly left her for a trans woman.   And that pertains to Drag Queen Storytime in what way, Miss Thang?

Co plaintiff Tex Christopher claimed the event is 'grooming people to be transgender', and even threw in a comment about the suicide rates of trans children to buttress his weak argument.

"Why would they want to do that?  Transgender children have the highest suicide rate.  Why would we want to groom our children to be transgender?" Christopher said.

Naw Tex, its anti-trans hate and oppression coming from you, other evilgelicals, the TERF's and the Republican party that play a major role in spiking the trans suicide rate, not Drag Queen Storytime.

Another point is that drag queen does not equal to transgender person.   Trans people can and sometimes do work as drag artists.   But drag queens are predominately male performers who sometimes come out as trans people.

The case ended up in Chief Justice Lee H. Rosenthal's court, and she wasted little time in dismissing the suit and by extension, denying their attempt to get an injunction to stop this weekend's edition of Drag Queen Storytime.

On October 19, 2018, Tex Christopher, Tracy Shannon, Calvin Miller, and Mark Sevier sued [library system head] Rhea Lawson and [Houston Mayor] Sylvester Turner, alleging that Drag Queen Storytime at the Freed-Montrose Library violates the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution… On October 23, 2018, the plaintiffs applied for a temporary restraining order to enjoin the event… There is no basis to support the requested relief. The application is denied.

Legal mic drop.  The best part of Judge Rosenthal snatching their legal wigs is that they can't claim she is a 'liberal judge' because she was appointed by George HW Bush.

The fake faith based haters have appealed to ruling, but the end result is Drag Queen Storytime will go on as scheduled this Saturday.   The suburban haters will probably be protesting it.

Houston Evilgelicals File Lawsuit Against Drag Queen Storytime

The same group of professional hatemongers that helped kill the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance are once again trying to force their right wing hatred upon our city.

Yesterday they filed a lawsuit against the Houston Public Library and Mayor Sylvester Turner with the goal of shutting down Drag Queen Storytime

The Drag Queen Storytime has been happening monthly at the Freed- Montrose Neighborhood Library branch  in the historic Montrose gayborhood for two years.   Local drag queens have been on their own time showing up at the library to read to the kids brought there by their parents who obviously don't have a problem with it. 

The goal of Drag Queen Storytime is to not only promote literacy, but give kids in attendance a fun event that promotes healthy self esteem in them.

The faux faith based haters have been protesting the events, with the most recent one happening last month.   Houston city councilman Michael Kubosh has also been on the side of the faith based oppressors, railing against this event back in July. 

The suit in federal court accuses the HPL and Mayor  Turner of being 'recklessly entangled in the LGBT Agenda.'  The lawsuit says the storytelling sessions advertised as appropriate for patrons of all ages at the Freed-Montrose Neighborhood branch should not be funded with taxpayer dollars since the library would not host a “man-woman marriage storytelling hour.”Naw, you clowns don't have that story hour you claim in your lawsuit isn't being hosted because you're too busy working to gleefully oppress TBLGQ people.

The plaintiffs self identify themselves as “Christ followers,” taxpayers and card-carrying library patrons, but have long histories of being opposed to marriage equality.   They also fought the HERO ordinance.  They claim in the suit the Drag Queen Storyline violates their 'freedom of religion'

One of the peeps bringing the anti-storytime lawsuit is Tex Christopher, who claims he homeschooled his children using library books.

Another plaintiff is Chris Sevier, who has filed a number of lawsuits across the country in several states, including one in Houston for the right to marry his laptop.

If men can marry men, Sevier actually has argued, why can’t he marry a computer?  The case was throw out of court in large part because it was designed to get to the SCOTUS so they could have the opportunity to overturn the 2015 Obergefell case.

The plaintiffs also include an evilgelical minister and a woman who claims she got into a custody battle with her husband after he left her for a transgender woman.

What the hell does that alleged divorce proceeding have to do with reading books to kids?
Y'all are just trying to throw anything up on the wall and hope it sticks.

Need to find out what federal judge got assigned the case, but it's probably a safe bet they shopped around for an anti-TBLGQ federal judge to file this lawsuit in.

Stay tuned to see how this case turns out.   

Houston Chronicle Endorses Beto O'Rourke!

"With eyes clear but certainly not starry, we enthusiastically endorse Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate. The West Texas congressman's command of issues that matter to this state, his unaffected eloquence and his eagerness to reach out to all Texans make him one of the most impressive candidates this editorial board has encountered in many years."-Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
This is definitely a huge shock and a win for Team Beto. 

The Houston Chronicle, which leans so conservative on its editorial board it endorsed George HW Bush, George W Bush, Mitt Romney and a certain Rafael Cruz in 2012, just flipped the US Senate endorsement script and endorsed Beto O'Rourke.

"What sets O'Rourke apart, aside from the remarkable campaign he's running, are policy positions in keeping with a candidate duly aware of the traditionally conservative Texas voter he would be representing in the U.S. Senate," the Chronicle editorial board said.

The board then goes on to conclude that O'Rourke would serve as a check to President Trump, whom it describes as a "danger to the republic."

"Cruz is unwilling to take on that responsibility." 

The Chronicle editorial board also called Rafael out for leading the 2013 government shutdown, and recited the negative comments from his Washington House and Senate GOP colleagues about him.   

It also pointed out the obvious that Cruz has shown little interest "in addressing the needs of his fellow Texans during his six years in office."

Hey, his wife Heidi is tired of 'scraping by' on that measly $174,000 a year taxpayer funded salary anyway.

Of course, Rafael was hatin' immediately after the decision, calling the Chronicle a 'left wing rag'.  Interesting to note you didn't say the same thing in 2012 when they endorsed your Canadian born azz. 

Hey, just keeping it real.   He may have a house in River Oaks and votes at the West Gray Multiservice Center, but the vast majority of Houstonians don't like him and don't claim Rafael as one of our own.

But yes, it's a huge win when the paper of record in the largest city in the state, and his home base goes with his opponent.   

POSE's Dominique Jackson Coming To UH!

Been wanting to meet Dominique Jackson from POSE.   Now she's coming to Houston. 

The University of Houston Center for Diversity and Inclusion as part of their fall speaker series is bringing her to H-town.   Dominique will share her story about being a transgender woman and other aspects of her life. 

And she may talk about the show and her role as Elektra Abundance Evangelista on POSE. 

This conversation will take place on October 16 in the Houston Room on the south side of the UH Student Center at 6 PM.   Hope y'all come, check it out and show Dominique some love.     

CASN Birthday Brunch Coming Soon!

I'm getting another award for a locally based org soon along with another group of amazing Houston activists from the Clinic Access Support Network.

The Clinic Access Support Network is a Houston based non profit that provides free transportation, accommodations, and emotion support for people seeking abortion services.

And they are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a birthday brunch.

CASN Birthday Brunch is happening on October 14 from 11:00 AM - 2 PM CDT, and is a fundraising event for the organization. 

The wonderful Houston area activists being honored for their work along with moi at the historic Whitehall Hotel are Daniel Cohen, Maximo Cortez, Kandice Webber, Nisha Randle, Hannah Thalenberg, Kenya Martin< Fran Watson, Jessica DeFeo and Katya Strinka.

Our keynote speaker for the CASN Birthday Brunch is one of my sheroes I've been dying to meet in former Texas senator and 2014 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wendy Davis

FYI, CASN is already taking nominations for next year's class of Houston area activist heroes and sheroes.   You can nominate the Houston area peeps doing outstanding local work at the following link here: http://bit.ly/ActivistHero

Houston Working On Shutting Down A Robot Sex Brothel

I loved the 2013-14 FOX TV science fiction cop show Almost Human, which starred Michael Ealy, Karl Urban and Minka Kelly as near future human and android police officers fighting high tech crimes

One of the interesting episodes of that short lived TV show set in the year 2049 was one entitled 'Skin'.   It involved android sex workers, a murder of a businessman, and a missing person's case.

Women were being kidnapped off the streets and held captive for engineers to harvest skin grafts from them to create more lifelike skin for the unregistered underworld android sex bots that would make the bots far more valuable and desirable for customers to buy or use.

The reason android sex bots were legal in the Almost Human show universe is because when they were introduced, human trafficking crimes went down 40%.

I'm bringing up the TV show because life in Houston is somewhat imitating sci-fi art. 

While my hometown is always eager to encourage high tech businesses to set up shop here, in this case they are not wanting us to be the first city in the US to call a robot brothel home.

The Canadian company Kinky S Dolls has a robot brothel in Toronto, and owner Yuval Gavriel wanted to set up its first US location here in Houston.    He plans to have 10 of them in the US by 2020.

It not only sells the 'love dolls', that are able to touch users while providing vocal responses for $2500-$5000, but would also rent them to be used in private rooms by the hour or half hour at the Kinky S Dolls location, a former Galleria area beauty salon on Richmond Ave and Chimney Rock Rd that was being renovated for that purpose.

But Kinky S Dolls ran into a few snags.   Elijah Rising, a faith based anti- sex trafficking organization, got wind of the project and alerted the city and Mayor Sylvester Turner about it.  They also cranked up an online petition that gathered 12,000 signatures.

The owner of the building also wasn't happy to find out he'd been lied to about what Kinky S Dolls actually wanted to do in their leased building.

Because the dolls aren't human beings, Kinky S Dolls cannot be considered a sexually oriented business. 

While Mayor Turner has said publicly he isn't interested in becoming the 'morality police', he is having the city attorney review the sexually oriented business (SOB) ordinance to see if changes can be made to it by Wednesday's upcoming city council meeting to prevent its opening.

Kinky S Dolls also got busted by Houston building inspectors doing construction renovations to their rented space they didn't get permits to do.  They 'red tagged' the building, which means that not only is construction halted, the owners will get hauled into municipal court if they try to do any construction without the necessary permits.

I also won't be surprised if those permits for Kinky S Dolls get slow walked until they can pass the necessary changes in the SOB ordinance.

Stay tuned.   This is going to get interesting

TransGriot Update:  Houston City Council on Wednesday passed an update to the arcade ordinance that classifies the sexbots in that category.   While you can still buy them, it's now illegal for you to get your freak on with them at the Kinky S Dolls facility.