Boston LGBTQ Activists Of Color Protest Holds Up Pride Parade

Been talking about the fact that far too often, the LGBTQ community in its public face and in the folks that get paychecks to be 'professionally gay' as demonstrated in the HRC internal report, are overwhelmingly white gay male  with an occasional white lesbian thrown in.

Bi and trans people?  Even rarer, and rarer still in those ranks are LGBTQ people of color.

In Boston, LGBTQ people of color got #WickedPissed about it and decided to do something to highlight and draw attention to the problem.

A dozen TBLGQ activists and our allies sat down at the corner of Boylston and Charles Streets in Downtown Boston yesterday and halted the 45th Boston Gay Pride Parade for 11 minutes.

The 11 minutes they chose to delay the parade was for the eleven trans people that have been murdered in the US in 2015.  A statement was also released prior to the sit in that noted the success of bringing same sex marriage to Massachusetts while failing to respond affirmatively to the murders of trans women of color.

Some of the early trans murders that got attention, like the Chanelle Pickett and Rita Hester cases, happened in the Boston area and involved trans women of color.  Hester's 1998 murder, which is still unsolved, was the catalyst for the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

"We are a group of Black, Latin@, Asian, and white people, queer and trans allies who are interrupting this annual party to declare that all our struggles are interconnected. We won’t wait for the advances of the most privileged of our community to trickle down to the rest of us. We live in a society that has declared war on Black people, women, immigrants, trans people, poor people, and—at the intersection of all that—trans women of color. It is the duty of the entire LGBTQ community to stand united and prove that all of our lives matter,” read part of the statement.

The statement also made demands of Boston Pride to diversify its all white board (gee, that sounds familiar) adjust the parade route to include communities of color, adjust fees so smaller non-profits can march in the parade, and stop prioritizing corporations with a record of bringing harm to communities of color

Demands were also made of the Boston LGBTQ community that called in the statement for more LGBTQ leaders of Color (including Transgender individuals of Color) in senior management positions at LGBTQ organizations, more resources to support LGBTQ organizations of Color, inclusion of transgender specific medical care in MassHealth and asked for an intentional efforts by the larger Boston community to acknowledge and do more to respond to racism in the city.

Will there be progress in Boston as a result of this protest?   That remains to be seen, given the historical anti-trans attitudes that arre embedded in elements of the local LGBT community.  

Some of the most notorious TERF's in Janice Raymond and Elizabeth Hungerford call Massachusetts home, and a bill to fix the unjust trans rights law that didn't include public accommodations when it passed in July 2012 is mired in the state legislature.

So it remains to be seen if the protest manifests itself into real gains for the trans community of color in Massachusetts.

Air Marshal Takes Flight To Boston

I'm at Hobby again to take another jet plane. 

This time I'm headed to Boston for the National Association of Black Journalists Convention.

This trip will be one full of firsts for me.  In addition to this being my first ever time to Boston after multiple ones to western Massachusetts, it's also the first time I'll get the opportunity to be in the NABJ convention house. 

I have a panel discussion set for tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to finally meeting Kellee Terrell after corresponding with her for several years on Facebook.   Looking forward to being in the same space with the awesome Kenyon Farrow again for the first time since that OUT on the Hill panel we were participating on together and seeing Tiq Milan again.

I get a nonstop nearly 4 hour flight (3 hours and :50 minutes on the schedule) for this opening leg of this trip but wasn't so lucky on the return.

On my return leg home I'll have to roll through Chicago Midway before I get back to my beloved Texas soil.

Assuming the Southwest flight is on time, I'll get there in the afternoon.    As always I'll be taking notes and doing a recap post concerning my latest travel excursion.   

Moni's Heading To The NABJ Convention!

This time next week I'll be headed to Boston for the 39th annual edition of the National Assn of Black Journalists Convention that is being held at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. 

I'll be there to take part in a GLAAD organized panel discussion that has me in some pretty distinguished company in Kenyon Farrow and  Kellee Terrell. Tiq Milan will be moderating it.

The panel will be a timely one in terms of discussing violence against Black trans women and the media responses to it.

Sometimes the reporters I've had to call out on these TransGriot electronic pages concerning the most egregious examples of disrespectful reporting of our fallen transsisters have been my own people.

But I'm so looking forward to this panel and being in the NABJ convention house.  I've always wanted to attend this conference and the stars and my schedule finally aligned so I would have the opportunity to do so.

I've been to Western Mass twice as you longtime readers are aware of and was 90 miles away from it in Providence in 2012 for that historic Netroots Nation panel.   This will be my first time ever in Boston, and I'm excited about it.

And this time it didn't take me four years to return to Massachusetts.. 

I'm also excited that after more than a few years of being acquainted with her via Facebook, I'll finally get to meet Kellee Terrell and see Kenyon Farrow again.   Hopefully I'll also get to see L'lerret on her home turf.

And if I have time, as a history buff who loves visiting presidential libraries, would sure love to go to the JFK Presidential Library there.

And oh yeah, hashtag for the conference for those of you wishing to follow along on Twitter on the July 31 date of our panel is #NABJ14

See y'all next week, Beantown

We're Still Watching You, Smith College

Smith's dean of admissions, Debra Shaver, announced a committee would form to address the needs of prospective trans students at Smith. The committee will begin meeting in September, and in the interim, Smith will stop denying admissions to trans girls and women listed as male on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, which is what happened to Wong.

TransGriot  September 1, 'Smith College, Don't Assume The Trans Community Forgot About What Happened To Calliope "


The Fall 2013 semester is rapidly drawing to a close on the Smith College campus and this article that popped up in the University of Connecticut student newspaper concerning Calliope Wong reminded me about the controversy that erupted last May when her application for admission was denied twice.

That firestorm led to the announcement at the time by Smith Dean of Admissions Debra Shaver that a committee would be formed that would start work in the fall to address the needs of prospective trans students at Smith.

Calliope is now a freshman English major at UConn and was named to the OUT100 List as a trans teen advocate along with Jazz and Zachary Kerr.  

And Smith could have been reaping the benefits of Calliope's presence on their campus.

But this is the question we all want to know the answer to Trans World because there has been cricket chirping silence coming out of Northampton since the semester started.

What's going on with the committee that was supposed to start work on this trans admission issue?

I asked that question on my Facebook page, and JoJo Thomas, a Smith alum who is one of my longtime TransGriot readers was kind enough to send an e-mail asking that same question on the alumni listserv. 

JoJo did get a quick response to her query.  According to her, a fellow alum advised her that according to the student group working on this issue Audrey Smith (the VP of Enrollment--head of Office of Admissions and Student Financial Services) would be making announcements "soon" about changes in the policies.

How soon is "soon" in terms of a definitive date that a policy change announcement will happen, we don't know yet.  But if there more feet dragging until the end of the 2014 spring semester, Mama Moni ain't gonna be happy and the volume is going to be cranked up on this issue by moi.

Hey CNN, The Boston Bombers Weren't 'Dark Skinned Males'

Funny, they were light-skinned males who looked remarkably like you, John King.

Countdown to how fast the media, Fox Noise, the conservative movement and right wing talk radio try to other and paint the now captured naturalized American citizen Dzhokar Tsarnaev and his deceased green card holding brother Tamerlan as lone wolves in this Boston Marathon bombing attack that killed three people and wounded hundreds on Monday.

But you're 'scurred' of allowing Haitians, Mexicans, continental Africans, citizens of other Caribbean nations besides Cuba, citizens of other Latin American nations, and Asians into this country and giving them the opportunity they would appreciate to earn US citizenship and legal status.  

Yeah, I'm happy to see that the Tsarnaev brothers were speedily identified, little brother was captured quickly, big brother was shot to death before anyone else could be harmed last night  and Dzhokar will be brought to justice for their  heinous crime. 

But one thing that pissed me off was how quickly the wingers and elements of the news media tried to pin this on 'Islamic terrorists' or 'dark skinned males' in order to politically flagellate President Obama with as being 'soft on terror'. 

We know from our recent history that terror attacks in the United States have an overwhelmingly white male slant to it.  

Think I'm kidding?  Let's scroll back through recent American history if you think I'm being harsh shall we?

The Klan since their 1866 founding. 'Dynamite Bob' Chambers during the civil rights era.  The September 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Church in Bombingham Birmingham.  The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.  The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park attack.  The abortion clinic bombings and assassination of Dr. George Tiller.  The 2010 Austin IRS building suicide airplane crash.  The various mass shooting attacks at the University of Texas in 1966, Columbine HS, Aurora, Newtown...
      
 But once again we have a domestic terrorism incident conducted by a white male (or in this case as the conservative media will strenuously point out) a pair of European immigrant white males.  

We also have the white male dominated media (and conservative movement) trying to deflect attention from the fact that it is predominately white right wing conservafool voting males who comprise the bulk of United States domestic terror groups.   Those groups have only grown in number since President Obama took office and have gotten even angrier since his re-election in 2012. 

These right wing 'terriss' have the long reprehensible track record and the will to act as domestic enemies to the United States government, so why aren't we dedicating the same federal resources to crack down on these groups as was done in smashing al Qaeda?

Is it because these groups are part of the Republican base now?

Going to interesting to see how this story plays out over the next few weeks and months now that we know that the Boston Marathon bombers weren't dark-skinned men.
       

When The Election's In Doubt, GOP Goes Racist

When the GOP starts losing in an election cycle, it's a given that since the only demographic they lead in any election cycle is white men, they will use tactics that attempt to stir up white male resentment and racism.

Hey, they've been falling for it over 150 years, and refined it with the Southern Strategy, so it works.

In the latest example of GOP racism for fun and electoral profit, we head to Massachusetts, where Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) is now trailing in his race with Elizabeth Warren despite the massive cash being pumped into his coffers in this overwhelmingly blue state.

So what does he do to overcome that deficit?   Can you say race bait?    Thought you could.

    

But this is why Scott Brown and the people who back him are 'scurred' of her.



I find it arrogant, amazing (but not surprising) that almighty whitey Scott Brown seems to think that he can determine based on her appearance alone that Elizabeth Warren isn't Native American.

But that's par for the racist political course for GOP candidates.   When they're losing, they go negatively racist.to attempt to carry the electoral day.   Massachusetts voters, I hope you'll punish him for it.

Why The Wingers Are 'Scurred' Of Elizabeth Warren

The Republican Party breathed a sigh of relief when Rachel Maddow decided not to run for the US senate seat in Massachusetts against Sen. Scott Brown (R).

But that didn't last long, because Elizabeth Warren is running to get 'Teddy's Seat' back in the Democratic column in 2012 .   

And if the Dems across the country focus on their tried and true message and policies of standing up for the middle class, workers and the poor against the 1%, they'll win on November 6 in a landslide.

Which is probably why the conservafools are desperately trying to once again suppress the vote.

'The Purple One' Isn't Running In 2012

Next to me ripping the GOP on a regular basis here at TransGriot, the person who is next in line that I have frequently called out on more than a few occasions when he deserved it has been Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

I and many people in the trans community have cursed  'The Purple One' for our major differences in the speed of passage of federal human rights laws for transgender people that came to a head in October 2007 when he stripped us out of an ENDA bill that eventually got passed by the House but went nowhere in the Senate.  

However, as much as I have chewed on 'the Purple One' in these electronic pages for being a legislative impediment for trans human rights issues, I also have to note that he also hired a transman on his staff

And differences in trans policy aside, The Purple One and I do have similar stances on a few liberal-progressive issues. 

I also love the fact that Rep. Frank ain't scared to call out the conservafools for being the lying, informationally challenged doofuses they are on their own propaganda network.   That tell it like it T-I-S style also applied to constituents too.

So I was stunned to flip the TV on to MSNBC this morning right in the middle of his press conference announcing that he is retiring and will not be running for a 17th term in 2012.   Massachusetts lost a congressional seat in the latest round of redistricting and Frank noted it was a factor in his decision along with his desire not to be in politics past his 75th birthday.

He was the first congressmember to come out while in office, and rose to become a liberal icon and one of the more powerful Democrats on the Hill.   He has since been followed to Capitol Hill by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) who is now running to become the first openly gay US senator and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO).

President Obama had this to say about the retirement of Rep. Frank:

"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him. For over 30 years, Barney has been a fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of families and businesses and helped make housing more affordable. He has stood up for the rights of LGBT Americans and fought to end discrimination against them. And it is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again. Barney’s passion and his quick wit will be missed in the halls of Congress, and Michelle and I join the people of the Bay State in thanking him for his years of service."

When the 113th Congress cranks up for business on January 3, 2013, for the first time in 32 years Rep Barney Frank will not be in the House chambers as a part of it.

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Congratulations* Massachusetts

The unjust Massachusetts Trans Rights Bill without public accommodations language passed the Massachusetts Legislature Wednesday.  If the bill is signed by Gov. Deval Patrick it will take effect on July 1, 2012.

It's being hailed as a victory for 'equality' and 'fairness' by Gay, Inc.orgs and their apologists.  

Normally when a trans rights bill on a statewide or any level passes I'm ecstatic about it.

But not in this case.  


So why am I not a happy camper about this?  My less than enthusiastic attitude surrounding this bill stems largely from the public accommodations language that was cut out of it.   The other 15 statewide trans rights bills have that vital public accommodations language in it.  

You can bet when GL activists in Massachusetts passed a bill 22 years ago for themselves they damned sure didn't cut the PA language out of it.that covers Rep. Barney Frank, Rachel Maddow and every other GLB person in the commonwealth. . 


Ahem, from the Massachusetts State Legislature website, Section 92A:  

No owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or another, publish, issue, circulate, distribute or display, or cause to be published, issued, circulated, distributed or displayed, in any way, any advertisement, circular, folder, book, pamphlet, written or painted or printed notice or sign, of any kind or description, intended to discriminate against or actually discriminating against persons of any religious sect, creed, class, race, color, denomination, sex, sexual orientation, which shall not include persons whose sexual orientation involves minor children as the sex object, nationality, or because of deafness or blindness, or any physical or mental disability, in the full enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges offered to the general public by such places of public accommodation, resort or amusement.

A place of public accommodation, resort or amusement within the meaning hereof shall be defined as and shall be deemed to include any place, whether licensed or unlicensed, which is open to and accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public and, without limiting the generality of this definition, whether or not it be (1) an inn, tavern, hotel, shelter, roadhouse, motel, trailer camp or resort for transient or permanent guests or patrons seeking housing or lodging, food, drink, entertainment, health, recreation or rest; (2) a carrier, conveyance or elevator for the transportation of persons, whether operated on land, water or in the air, and the stations, terminals and facilities appurtenant thereto; (3) a gas station, garage, retail store or establishment, including those dispensing personal services; (4) a restaurant, bar or eating place, where food, beverages, confections or their derivatives are sold for consumption on or off the premises; (5) a rest room, barber shop, beauty parlor, bathhouse, seashore facilities or swimming pool, except such rest room, bathhouse or seashore facility as may be segregated on the basis of sex; (6) a boardwalk or other public highway; (7) an auditorium, theatre, music hall, meeting place or hall, including the common halls of buildings; (8) a place of public amusement, recreation, sport, exercise or entertainment; (9) a public library, museum or planetarium; or (10) a hospital, dispensary or clinic operating for profit; provided, however, that with regard to the prohibition on sex discrimination, this section shall not apply to a place of exercise for the exclusive use of persons of the same sex which is a bona fide fitness facility established for the sole purpose of promoting and maintaining physical and mental health through physical exercise and instruction, if such facility does not receive funds from a government source, nor to any corporation or entity authorized, created or chartered by federal law for the express purpose of promoting the health, social, educational vocational, and character development of a single sex; provided, further, that with regard to the prohibition of sex discrimination, those establishments which rent rooms on a temporary or permanent basis for the exclusive use of persons of the same sex shall not be considered places of public accommodation and shall not apply to any other part of such an establishment.

Any person who shall violate any provision of this section, or who shall aid in or incite, cause or bring about, in whole or in part, such a violation shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.

MTPC claims they will push for the missing in civil rights action PA language in 2013, but you had Democratic supermajorities in the Massachusetts House and Senate and a Democratic governor willing to sign a bill in 2011. You should have done so this year with an election looming in 2012 .  But you caved.  

So congratulations* Massachusetts on your no prize winning hollow trans rights victory.  

The truth hurts doesn't it?  This is a bad bill without the public accommodations language in it.  Even the sponsor of it is bothered about it like I am.

From the Rainbow Times:

The measure, however, does not include protections for public accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants, restrooms, locker rooms, public buildings and transit, including subway and bus lines.  That omission bothers a lead sponsor of the bill, Representative Carl M. Sciortino, Jr. (D-Medford). But he said, the bill is a step forward  “It makes sure that people who have faced violence and discrimination have legal remedy.”

Yeah, right.  This is moldy civil rights bread that was just given to the Massachusetts trans community. 

Now the Gay, Inc peeps and their trans apologists are attempting to spin the lie that this moldy bread tastes better than the hot,.fresh garlic-buttered civil rights loaf we watched GL activists bake and stuff in their mouths along with the crumbs from it  

This trans rights bill damned sure isn't the equivalent of the one the Massachusetts GL community passed for themselves 22 years ago and they better not even part their lips to try and say it is.   But some people in the Massachusetts trans community are chomping on that moldy civil rights bread you just handed them and proclaiming it's the best they've ever ate as the rest of us in other parts of the country shake our heads.

The question is, without the PA language, what legal remedies will a discriminated against Massachusetts trans person have under the unjust state law if that anti-trans discrimination occurs in a hotel, restaurant, public building, transit, restroom or locker room setting?  


I have the sinking feeling that the trans people who will discover the answer to that question and bear the brunt of that anti-trans PA based discrimination will disproportionately be non-white ones.
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