Back In NOLA For The NLGJA Convention

It was touch and go in terms of whether or not I'd actually get here, but thanks to a major assist from BTAC, I'm here for #NLGJA18!

After missing out on the NABJ one in Miami, I was determined to at least make this one since it was this close (385 miles) to my Houston stomping grounds. 

My Megabus trip from Houston started out on a less than promising note, with us having to swap the bus out before we could start our eastward trek down I-10.  But better to have them handle that problem in Houston than having us break down along the route. 

I-10 in Louisiana includes major stretches of it going through swamp in the Atchafalaya Basin west of Baton Rouge and in St Charles, St John and St Martin Parishes as you approach New Orleans..

Still ended up getting to New Orleans an hour late, but in one piece with my luggage.

It's ironic to me that after not having visited New Orleans since the 1990 Mardi Gras, since then I have been to a 2018 BTAC Leadership Institute here, the 2018 Netroots Nation, and now this NLGJA conference.in the span of 14 months.   

I have a Saturday panel I'm on, so looking forward to not only handling my business on it, but also getting my learn on.  And yes, looking forward to seeing a few friends and some of the NLGJA leadership team while I;m wandering the convention hotel.

I also want to catch up with my NOLA trans fam before I have to hit I-10 west on Sunday

I still have to get registered before that happens, but will deal with it in a few hours.

I'll also be tweeting and posting to my Facebook while I'm here, and you can also check out the #NLGJA19 hashtag for the latest news.

Number 18- Rest In Power Vontashia Bell

As I stated when I wrote the post earlier this morning about the murder of one of our trans sisters in Chicago, I was hoping we would get through this month without any trans murders. 

Now I'm saddened to discover that we've had two on the same day this month within hours of each other.

We travel now to Shreveport, LA to discuss our 18th victim of anti-trans violence.

She is 18 year old Vontashia Bell.    Police responding to a shots fired call early Thursday morning found her lying in the street at the corner of Harrison Street and Linwood Avenue in the Cedar Park neighborhood suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest and wrist.

She was rushed to University Health Hospital where she later died from her wounds. 

The reason we're just now finding out about it?   It's because once again, the police and the local Shreveport media didn't value her Black trans life and misgendered the victim   

We in Black Trans World are really getting sick and tired of being sick and tired of our sisters being disrespected in death.   We are tired of being misgendered either by law enforcement or the media, or both entities, and it needs to stop.

There are no suspects at this time, and police are asking anyone with information to contact Shreveport Police Investigators at 318-673-6955. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call 318-673-7373, lockemup.org, or via their app P3Tips. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for this crime.

Bell is sadly the youngest person we have lost to anti-trans violence in 2018.  She is the 18th trans person murdered in the United States in 2018, and the 14th African American trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence.   What pisses me off in addition to the media misgendering of her is that she is now the ninth trans person under age 30 we have lost to anti-trans violence 

A statement about the murder was released by Louisiana Trans Advocates.

***

Statement from Louisiana Trans Advocates on the Murder of Vontashia Bell

Shreveport, LA – August 30, 2018 Earlier today in Shreveport, a young transgender woman was murdered. She is sadly not the first transgender woman of color to be killed in Louisiana this year. Violence against trans people, particularly against trans women, is a plague that continues to affect our cities and communities across the state. City and state leadership must work together with the trans community to curb this violence. Vontashia Bell must not die in vain. Her murder is a reminder of the current climate and national discourse on trans issues. Dehumanizing language and actions lower the barriers to this kind of senseless violence. Shreveport and Louisiana leaders must speak out against these killings, against the ongoing, systemic devaluation of trans people that pervades our media and politics, and against the institutional racism that places almost all of this burden on trans women of color. 

Her murder is a reminder of the current climate and national discourse on trans issues. Dehumanizing language and actions lower the barriers to this kind of senseless violence. Shreveport and Louisiana leaders must speak out against these killings, against the ongoing, systemic devaluation of trans people that pervades our media and politics, and against the institutional racism that places almost all of this burden on trans women of color. As we mourn the loss of Vontashia, we must double down our efforts to ensure that all trans people across the state have access to jobs, education, housing, and safe neighborhoods. Rest in power, sister.

***
As of right now, no word about a memorial service or arrangements.

Rest in power and peace, Vontashia.  Your trans family won't rest until the person who took your all too brief life is brought to justice.

   

Netroots Nation 2018- Day 1

Looks like I'll now be doing three panels when this conference starts in a few hours at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center . Two of the three panels are on this first full day of it. 

Fortunately for me they are across the hall from each other. 

At 9:00 AM in RM 215/216 I'll be taking part in a panel entitled Igniting The Lit in Litmus Test How Leading With Repro Justice Helps Us Win.   

At 10:30 AM  my second panel starts in Room 214 that is sponsored by Moms Rising entitled Keep Marching 2018: Connect Locally, Build Power and Win.   

Kristin Rowe Finkbeiner will be moderating this panel that I'm on with my fellow panelists Monifa Bandele and Almas Sayeed.

After lunch, I'll be figuring out what panel i want to attend next.   I also have a possible radio interview scheduled with Egberto Willies on my hometown Pacifica station KPFT-FM.

Now, I need to get some sleep.  Don't want to be doing those panels with bags under my eyes.

Back In NOLA For Netroots Nation 2018!

Hi NOLA, I'm back!    As you TransGriot readers know I was recently here after a nearly three decade absence for a BTAC Leadership Training Institute.

This time I'm here for the 2018 edition of Netroots Nation.   Some of the 3500 people coming to the Crescent City for this event are US House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

So what is Netroots Nation?  It is one of the largest progressive political conferences in the United States that grew out of the YearlyKos conference organized in 2006 by the readers and writers of the Daily Kos blog . 

From that initial event in Las Vegas that got major mainstream news coverage, it has grown not only in importance in Democratic and liberal progressive circles, it  also travels to different parts of the country.   Still wondering when I will get to see Netroots Nation happen in Houston    Austin so far has been the only Texas city to host it, having done son in 2008 .

This is my fourth Netroots Nation conference. and my third consecutive one since 2016    The first one I ever attended was in Providence, RI in 2012 to take part in that historic trans panel during that event. 

That Providence NN12 event unexpectedly became the one where my national activist profile got raised.   Two radio interviews by Elon James White and Michelangelo Signorile combined with that panel and and vocal participation in the LGBT and Black Caucuses tend to do that

I didn't return to Netroots Nation until the 2016 event in St Louis, where as y'all know I walked away with the Pundit Cup title after being urged to do so by John Gorczynski . 

I was in the Netroots Nations house when it was held in Atlanta last year.  In addition to taking part in two panel discussions during NN17, I was also a judge for the semifinals and finals of the 2017 Pundit Cup competition eventually won by Tenaja Jordan

I also stepped away from the host hotel to join the ATL trans community and attend the memorial vigil for Tee Tee Daingerfield 

Now it's in New Orleans.  I'm looking forward to being at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center not only the political happenings that will tranpire here, and taking part in two panels, but do so in a city in which I have a deep personal connection to.

As the 2016 Pundit Cup Champion, I'll be interested in checking out this year's competition and see who emerges as the 2018 title holder. 

The last three Pundit Cup champs, FYI  have been women, and the last two (2016-17) Black women, so don't bet against that pattern continuing.

But first things first, NN18 officially starts on Thursday and runs until August 4.   One of the panels I'm taking part in is sponsored by Moms Rising, and happens at 10:30 AM on August 2

The panel is called Keep Marching 2018: Connect Locally Build Power and Win.  It will be moderated by Kristin Rowe- Finkbeiner and will have Monifa Bandele and Almas Sayeed scheduled to be on it with me.

It will be in Room 214, and hope to see you there.

Headed To NOLA!

Been far too long since I've been to New Orleans.   Despite it being only a five hour drive and an hour's flight away, the last time I was in NOLA was for the 1990 Mardi Gras

I was there for the last weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday, so I got to see not only some West Bank parades while gulping a few 64 oz frozen daiquiris, but watched the Endymion parade in downtown NOLA from a coveted bleacher seat near the reviewing stand.

Endymion is known for its celebrity grand marshals, and the grand marshal that year was I kid you not, Spuds Mackenzie and the Spudettes. 

This is not only the first time I'm traveling to NOLA in the 21st Century, it's also the first time I've been here since transition, and so looking forward to the trip.

I lived there on the West Bank in Marrero with my family for two years as a toddler when my dad was working for WBOK-AM, so it is somewhat of a long overdue homecoming. 

New Orleans was one of the first non rev trips I took in March 1987 when I put in the month I needed to become pass eligible.

It is a business trip since I'm headed there for a BTAC Leadership retreat and training that starts tomorrow morning at 9 AM and ends Saturday afternoon. 

The good news is I get to spend some quality time with my BTAC fam again and didn't have to wait until April 2019 to do so.  The bad news is I have to go to IAH because Dee Dee and I have been booked on (ugh) Spirit Airlines to get there. 

And y'all know how much I despise Spirit.

The good thing about this trip is that it's only 45-50 minutes in the air and I get to stay at a Doubletree Hotel for it upon arrival.

Can you say 'destroyed cookies' people?   Thought you could. 

Some beignets will be destroyed on this trip as well as soon as I get the opportunity to do so, preferably from Cafe Du Monde.

Number 7- Rest In Power and Peace Amia Tyrae

Been a few weeks since I wrote my last post chronicling a 2018 death of one of our trans sisters.
Unfortunately that break is over.

TransGriot reader jade Lenore has informed of another trans sister who has been violently taken from us in Baton Rouge, LA. 

Her name is Amia Tyrae Berryman, and she was 28 years old.   Her body was found at 1:15 AM in the Shades Motel on Airline Highway with gunshot injuries.  She died at the murder scene, and the  East Baton Rouge Parish coroner will be conducting an autopsy tomorrow 

And as you probably guessed, local media stating WBRZ-TV 2 misgendered her.   

As of this writing we have no information about any suspects or persons of interest in this crime

She is the seventh trans woman killed in 2018 and the fourth Black trans woman this year.  And yes, she's under age 30.

If I'm made aware of any memorial vigils, I will pass on that information to you.

Rest in power and peace, Amia.  We won't rest until justice is served in your case 

NOLA Town Hall On Transgender Violence Today

Because of the deaths of trans women Cyna Gibson and Ciara McElvee that happened in New Orleans during Mardi Gras weekend and the disturbing video that came out in January of some wastes of DNA chasing trans women, this afternoon for those of you in the New Orleans metro area, there will be a town hall to discuss the unacceptable levels of violence being aimed at trans women in the NOLA area.

It's sponsored by Transitions Louisiana, Trans United Fund and the Foundation for Louisiana, and starts at 3;00 PM CST at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D), NOLA District D Councilmember Jared D. Brosset, District E Councilmember James Gray III are just some of the NOLA political leaders who have been invited to attend this town hall.

But most disturbingly, according to founding Executive Director of Transitions Louisiana Jada Mercedes Cardona, Brosset and Gray have yet to even acknowledge receipt of their invitation much less send a response whether they will attend or not.

I'm also curious to find out if anyone from US Rep Cedric Richmond's office will show up for this forum as well.

"I'm interested to see if Councilman Jared C. Brossett, District D (where Clara was killed) and James Gray, District E (where Chyna was killed) are going to show.... They didn't even give us the courtesy of a reply. 

Further proof that some elected officials still ignore us, just believe we will disappear (or die) and don't regard us as whole human beings, worthy of respect. 

I'm glad to see both the Honorable Councilman Jason Williams, Council at-Large and The Honorable Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell step up and are willing to listen and help us formulate a plan to improve relations between their constituents!!!!"

At large Councilman Jason Williams, and District B Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell are confirmed attendees for this forum scheduled to run for two hours.

If you're attending this town hall, it's taking place at the First UU Church of New Orleans, located at 2903 Jefferson Ave and Claiborne St.

Hope the event is a successful one, and I also hope to hear that the church is packed with people and NOLA political leaders and law enforcement wishing to come up with concrete steps to solve the problem of anti-trans violence in the NOLA area.

I also hope that when this forum is done, it will also begin the process in NOLA of getting people to recognize that trans lives matter, we have the right to exist, and we are worthy of respect.
 

Election Registration Deadlines Today In TX And Several States

If after watching (or not watching) the second debate and you are sufficiently motivated enough to vote on November 8, then you better bust a move because today is the deadline day to get registered.

Texas is one of those states in which today is the deadline to get registered to vote along with georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Just a reminder, here's the rest of the voter registration deadlines for October.

In the District of Columbia today is also the deadline to register in advance of the election, but you can do same day registration there. I'd suggest you do it now DC if possible.

Florida's deadline was originally today, and Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) refused to extend the deadline despite the fact that county offices in much of the state were closed because of Hurricane Matthew.  
Thanks to a successful voting rights lawsuit filed by the Florida Democratic Party, the voter registration deadline was extended by US District court Judge Mark E. Walker (Obama appointee) by one day, with another hearing coming later today to determine whether to extend it beyond Wednesday.


Once again, presidential elections matter, and if you wish you exercise that right to vote on November 8 or during early voting if your part of the country offers it like Texas does (October 24-November 4), you must handle the first step of it and register to vote.

The clock's ticking.    You can check your registration status or register to vote via this link.

If you believe your voting rights are being messed with, call the ACLU Voter Protection Hotline at 877-523-2792

Split Decision In Saturday Democratic Primary Contests

It was a split decision in Saturday's contests for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. 

There were two caucuses in Kansas and Nebraska, and a primary election in Louisiana.  While Sanders won the two Democratic caucuses in once again, predominately white states, Clinton won the Louisiana primary handily fueled by once again, the African-American vote.

The end result was that Sanders lost ground to Clinton despite the two caucus wins.  Blowout win in primary state worth 51 delegates trumps (pun not intended) two caucus wins in state worth combined 55 delegates split proportionately.

Lets look at the math.  Sanders won 37 delegates in Kansas and Nebraska to Clinton's 22.  but because he lost in Louisiana, Sanders only received 12 delegates while Clinton gained 39 delegates

Sanders total delegates add up to 49, Clinton received 61 which means that she increased her lead by another 11 delegates last night.   

Drip, Drip Drip.  And while that was happening, she continued to add to that massive superdelegate lead, with more commitments coming her way in the runup to a critical week of contests starting on Tuesday.

Tuesday's contests will talk place in Michigan (130 delegates), Mississippi (36 delegates) and the Democratic caucus in Maine in which 25 delegates will be available.

And FYI,  Michigan and Mississippi have large Black populations, Maine doesn't.

This is the lead in to the five Democratic primary contests in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio in which 691 delegates will be up for grabs and once again, Sanders supporters, Black voters will have a major say in who wins those states.

And FYI, just another reminder that early voting is happening in Florida right now..

Clinton is inching closer to that magic number of 2.383 delegates, and we'll have a better idea how close she is to the prize that eluded her in 2008 after this weekend.

Louisiana Democratic Primary Today

After racking up big Super Tuesday wins in seven states and the American Samoa caucus, the Democratic race to the nomination and accumulating the 2,383 delegates continues for Sec. Hillary Clinton and her challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The big prize for today is Louisiana, with 51 delegates available in its primary election. There will also be two caucuses in Nebraska (25 delegates) and Kansas (33 delegates) happening before we move on to Tuesday's contests in Michigan (130 delegates), Mississippi (36 delegates) and the caucus in Maine in which 25 delegates will be available.

This is the political appetizer before next weekend's cluster of five Democratic primary contests in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio in which 691 delegates will be up for grabs.

And in bad news for Sanders supporters, need to remind y'all that Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have large percentages of African-American voters with early voting happening in Florida right now as you peruse this post.. 

Here's the rest of the Democratic primary and caucus schedule. 

Sec. Clinton is building momentum, superdelegates are endorsing her and it's looking more and more like she is going to be the presumptive Democratic nominee to take on whoever comes out of the GOP KKKlown Car., which at the moment appears to be Donald Trump.

You can try to keep hope alive as a former Democratic nomination candidate once said, but the obese opera singer is warming up her lungs to sing that 'It's Over' aria.

We'll see how that plays out starting tonight.
    . 

Another Trans Person Lost-RIP Demarkis Stansberry

It's sad for me to announce that we have lost another trans person to violence in 2016

30 year old Demarkis Stansberry was fatally shot in the head on Saturday in Baton Rouge by 24 year old Nicolas Matthews, who turned himself in to the police the day of the shooting and confessed to killing him.

And in case you're wondering if Stansberry was misgendered and deadnamed by the media as does routinely happens for trans feminine people who are killed, unfortunately it happened to Demarkis.

Once again media peeps, the AP Stylebook standards for reporting on trans people exist for a reason. How about you follow them?

Rest in power and peace, Demarkis

Katrina 10th Anniversary

Today is the tenth anniversary of the devastating 2005 landfall of Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area.   It would turn out to be the fifth deadliest storm to ever hit the United States and caused the reported deaths of 1,833 people   It also resulted in once the levees failed in 80% of New Orleans being flooded and major damage to the roof of the Superdome.

It also had far reaching effects post landfall in forcing the largest movement of African-Americans since The Great Migration of the early 20th century and affecting the politics of the states of Texas, Louisiana and Georgia.

Because of Katrina evacuees, the population of Houston grew by 35,000 people, and enough stayed to where we ended up expanding City Council after the 2010 census. Georgia picked up a congressional seat and Texas picked up four congressional seats.

Conversely, New Orleans lost half its pre-storm population and the state of Louisiana lost 4.8% of its pre-Katrina population and a congressional seat. Louisiana also went from being a swing state to a reliably Republican voting one.

And yes, Katrina also affected the lives of our trans family who lived there.

The badly botched government response by the Bush Administration was probably a factor in the Democrats getting control of the US House and the Senate in the 2006 midterms the next year.

New Orleans and the area has bounced back ten years later,  Many of the people who left the city in the wake of Katrina have returned.   The Superdome reopened, and the levees and highways damaged by the storm have been rebuilt.  President Obama visited the city earlier this week, spoke with residents and Mayor Mitch Landrieu and gave this speech.



There will also be commemorative events across the area today as people remember the folks that were lost in that devastating storm.

LA State Senator Rips Jindal A New One

In 2005, after the Texas Legislature passed that unjust constitutional marriage ban, Texas State Rep Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) let loose with a memorable floor speech excoriating it.

Ten years later, east of the Sabine River in Baton Rouge, State Senator Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans)  took to the Louisiana Senate floor to rip Governor Bobby Jindal (R) for his unjust executive order intended to do an end run around the Louisiana Legislature to institute HB 707, a 'right to discriminate' law the Legislature rejected and the Louisiana business community didn't want.

But since Piyush is running for president on the GOP side, in his attempt to pander to Iowa social conservafool voters, he decided to unilaterally issue this executive order.that all the states competing with Louisiana for Super Bowls, Final Fours and other convention business are saying thank you very much for your stupidity.

Here's Senator Peterson's floor speech.

NOLA Trans March Later Today

Was advised by Milan Nicole Sherry that later today in New Orleans a trans themed march and community gathering will take place starting at 3:30 PM CDT.

It is being organized by BreakOUT, a local organization that seeks to end the criminalization of LGBTQI youth in the city in order to build a safer and more just New Orleans.

The NOLA Trans March will start and end at the corner of Ursulines and N. Claiborne Ave, and once it is completed will be followed by a press conference.

The march is open to all, and if you wish to take part in it, you are asked to show up at 3:15 PM.

Best of luck and hope it is a megasuccessful event.

RIP Penny Proud

New Orleans is another place I call home because I lived in Marrero for two years as a toddler and my god sister still lives there.

I am saddened to report the murder of another trans woman of color courtesy of ELIXHER,

Meet 21 year old Penny Proud of New Orleans. 

She was found dead in the 1100 block of North Claiborne Avenue in the Treme neighborhood at 1:30 AM yesterday (February 10) shot multiple times

And yes, Times-Picayune, read your AP Stylebook.  Every time you misgender a trans feminine murder victim, you send a message that Black Trans Lives Don't Matter to you and the people who wish to kill us..

She makes the fifth transperson killed across this this country in what is starting to take shape as a bloody year for trans murders.   For those of you in the New Orleans area, if you have information that will lead to the capture of the waste of DNA who killed Penny, you can call the New Orleans PD

They are asking anyone with information on this crime to contact Homicide Detective Robert Barrere at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

You could receive a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the responsible person(s). You do not have to give your name nor testify to receive the reward. Citizens can also submit an anonymous tip online to Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppersgno.orgThere will also be a candlelight vigil tonight at the Treme corner where Penny was murdered.  Hope there is a large crowd for it.

Rest in Power Penny.   Know that your NOLA area trans sisters and the rest of us around the country will not rest until justice is served in your case.

Anyone with information about Proud’s murder is asked to contact Homicide Detective Robert Barrere at 504-658-5300, or contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or www.crimestoppersgno.org. - See more at: http://elixher.com/state-of-emergency-black-trans-woman-murdered-in-new-orleans/#sthash.UkqSaDxH.dpuf

Xavier University LA Is Majoring In Transphobia

While positive trans friendly changes are happening at my alma mater UH and up I-10 at LSU, seems as though the opposite is transpiring at Xavier University in New Orleans.

Was sent this interesting screenshot from L'lerret Ailith of a ballot question that came out today on the XULA campus, and is due tomorrow with this interesting Question 17:  

Article VIII. Elections: Section Two- Eligibility (add Mr Xavier where Miss Xavier appears: Gender requirement)  1. Candidates for Miss Xavier/ Class Miss must be (A) female or (B) born female

In addition to the underhanded and duplicitous way this ballot question was rolled out by the Xavier SGA, L'lerret had much to say about life on the Xavier campus as a girl like us and the shady ballot question.

***

Please share this with the world so that everyone can see how blatantly transphobic Xavier University of Louisiana is.   I have been transitioning in college and as of late have been asking for more trans* amenities so I am lead to feel like this is a response to me living in my truth publicly and proudly.

They have released a ballot for the student body to vote on amendments to the constitution and one of them is to choose whether Miss. Xavier or any class Miss has to be BORN female or not.

They are publicly supporting the fate of persecution, ostracism, and discrimination of gender variant individuals. My human rights is held to a vote and majority rules.
Not only has the school simply tolerated me and not made changes I've requested (I.e gender neutral restrooms, trans* friendly housing policies and health insurance, the ability to form a GSA, etc) they now choose to publicly humiliate and subjugate my community.

I spoke to the SGA president (Javon Bracy) and she told me the word of this had been around campus for a while and so she can't do anything about it so I've opted to get community support and take public action. Help me fight this. Fight for gender equity and trans* inclusion. Fight oppression. Share this! Spread the word!:

***

Doing that for you right now L'lerret.   This is a concrete example of the ripple effects of the transphobia and anti-trans hate injected into the Catholic Church in 2003 by Dr. Paul McHugh at the Vatican level filtering down to the flock. 

XULA also has the other dynamic coursing through its history of being an HBCU as well.  

The city of New Orleans has had a non-discrimination law that covers gender identity on the books since 1998, but Xavier seems as though it is determined to create a campus environment hostile to trans and gender variant people in a city and region chock full of them.

Xavier says in its mission statement that 'the ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society.   This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service.'

Looks like XULA is forgetting along with its SGA that trans and gender variant students are part of that global society in New Orleans, around the world and on the XULA campus.   By running roughshod over their human rights, your alleged diverse learning and teaching environment is failing to take their existence and humanity into account. 

Shreveport Passes TBLG Rights Ordinance!

For the longest time the city of New Orleans was the lone municipality in the state of Louisiana that protected their TBLG citizens from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

They were joined last night by Shreveport, the  second largest city in the state of Louisiana. 

Mayor Cedric Glover had in 2009 signed an executive order in that protected GLBT city employees from discrimination.

On a 6-1 vote last night, the Shreveport City Council passed the Fairness Ordinance, that adds gender identity and sexual orientation to the classes of people protected by is non-discrimination laws.

The lone NO vote was Councilmember Ron Webb, who let his homophobic flag fly before the vote and tried to postpone to vote so the haters would have time to mobilize and stir up hatred in an attempt to derail the vote.  For those of you TBLG folks in Shreveport who live in Webb's District E, y'all know what to do to him in the next elecion cycle. Punish him at the polls.  .

The Fainess Ordinance also protects BTLG Shreveport citizens from discrimination in the areas of employment, housing and public spaces.  It was pushed by PACE, People Acting For Change and Equality, a local group pushing for human rights advances in Northwest Louisiana.   They spearheaded the successful Be Fair Shreveport effort.  

“Discrimination is not only wrong, it’s bad for business,” said PACE political director Adrienne Critcher, who cited both ethical and economic reasons for the ordinance.

Yes it is.  It's past time another Louisiana city joined New Orleans in protecting all its residents from discrimination.  

Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Monroe, where y'all at on this human rights issue? 
    

Armani Nicole Davenport Turns Herself In

I wrote earlier this month about Armani Nicole Davenport, our Dallas area pageant sister who was wanted by the New Orleans Police for an October 24 silicone pumping session  that went badly and sent one of the two people pumped with a substance that was less than medical grade silicone to a local hospital.

A warrant was issued for her arrest, and she turned herself in on November 6 to New Orleans PD.  She was booked into the New Orleans Parish Prison and her bail was set at $50,000.

The person who rejected the pumping concoction was still hospitalized at the time Davenport turned herself in to NOPD.   She was in critical condition but improving as of that November 6 date.

Davenport is facing a charge of negligent injuring, of which if she is convicted of it will face six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. 

And I will be keeping up with what transpires in this latest silicone pumping case. 

Trans Pageant Diva Wanted For Silicone Pumping

Armani Nicole Davenport is a two decade decorated veteran of the trans pageant circuits in Texas, Louisiana and Georgia. 

She has won a long list of titles that include Miss Black Continental Plus in 2009,  being third alternate at Miss Gay USofA@ Large 2009, Miss Texas FFI at Large 2010 and most recently a third alternate finish at the Miss Gay Texas USof A 2014 pageant in Dallas.

But if New Orleans Police get their way, the only title the Louisiana-born Davenport will be competing for is Miss Imprisoned Pumper 2014.

The New Orleans Police Department have filed a warrant for the arrest of the 32 year old Davenport, who is wanted on a count of negligent injuring in connection with an October 24 silicone pumping that went badly wrong and left a woman in a coma.

A conviction for negligent injuring can carry a maximum fine of $5,000 and a six-month prison sentence.

Davenport is believed to have injected silicone into the hips and buttocks of two unidentified women late last week at a home in Gert Town on that date.

According to a report in the Baton Rouge Advocate, the women voluntarily received hip and buttocks silicone injections at a home in the 1200 block of South Salcedo St. around 1:15 AM.  

One of the women left the home around 3 AM and returned two hours later to find her friend in respiratory distress and called paramedics.   She told them as they took her friend the a nearby hospital that she thought the silicone injections were to blame and someone known to both of them as Armani or Mani from Dallas was the person who administered the injections.

The woman in distress was in critical conditional and comatose when the police report was compiled on October 25.  A friend of the comatose woman stated in a WWL-TV interview that this was the second time in a week she had received a silicone injection. 

Davenport was born in Baton Rouge but is a Dallas resident.  New Orleans PD suspect she may be hiding in the New Orleans area and are asking anyone with information about Davenport’s whereabouts to call New Orleans police detective Ed Johnson at (504) 658-6060 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111. 

WWLT-TV, I Find Your Lack Of AP Stylebook Trans Understanding Disturbing

Why in Hades is it so hard for professional journalists to get this breathtakingly simple concept?

Per the AP Stylebook:

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the individuals live publicly.

Once again (sigh), we have another example of media misgendering of a transperson.

This person is being sought by the New Orleans po-po's as a suspect in a French Quarter robbery.   BTW, if you have info in that regard, call New Orleans Crimestoppers

But back to riffing on the media again.   WWLT-TV's report was in violation of the AP Stylebook guidelines for reporting on trans people.  Since they have shown no aptitude for being able to read the English language version of the AP Stylebook  the TransGriot is going to have to go back to her earlier blog policy of showing them by example how it should have been done.

(Moni cracks knuckles)

NEW ORLEANS - Police are searching for a suspect they describe as a transgender female who they say robbed a man while walking on Bourbon St.

According to police, the robbery happened early Tuesday morning at around 5:25.

According to police spokesman, Frank Robertson, the suspect reportedly approached the victim and tried to start a conversation, then two other suspects appeared, and attacked the man. They then took his wallet and money.

Police say they are searching for a Transgender African American female, 5’07” to 6’00” tall, in her mid-20’s to early 30’s. If you have any information that could help police, call CRIMESTOPPERS at 822-1111.

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See, now that wasn't so hard was it WWLT-TV?    You might as well start now practicing how to get these descriptions of trans people consistently right since you have a large concentration of my trans peeps in the New Orleans metro area.    It will not be the first or last time you have to accurately report on a trans person in New Orleans, so get used to doing it. . 

And since it's more accurate, it might even lead to the capture of said suspect instead of the confusion you sowed when you wrote the aforementioned piece describing a person with a feminine gender presentation as a man.