Miss Universe Mexico Head Lupita Jones Hatin' On Trans Women

Hasn't even been a week yet and another Latin American pageant queen besides Miss Colombia opens her pretty mouth to let something ugly and transphobic come out of it.

This time it was Lupita Jones, who won the Miss Universe title in 1991 and was the first Mexican woman to do so.   She now runs the Miss Universe pageant franchise in Mexico and by her remarks, made it clear that if she had it her way, Mexican trans women wouldn't be eligible to compete for the Miss Mexico Universe or Miss Universe titles.

Jones made her transphobic remarks during a televised event celebrating the opening of the new season of Teatro en Corto in Mexico City. 

"As head of Miss Universe in Mexico, I have to bide by the rules of the organization.  But on a personal level, I disagree, because I don't think we are under equal conditions,  A woman that was born one will never be like a transgender woman.   Biologically they are not the same."

 Oh really Miss Thang?   And what 'equal conditions' are you babbling about?

Some of your Miss Universe pageant cis women are surgically enhanced.   Don't even try to push that narrative that only trans women get surgery.   Miss Universe pageant rules not only allow surgery, but allow you if you wish to not disclose the fact you did so.  Miss Brazil Universe 2001 Juliana Borges admitted she'd had 19 surgeries in the runup to that 2001 pageant, and it's been suspected that Venezuela's rise as a Miss Universe powerhouse is plastic surgery fueled

Something else you need to educate yourself about is the increasing international transgender research conducted by Dr Eric Vilain at UCLA and others that are in conflict with your facts free opinion.  Medical evidence emphatically points out that the brains of trans and cis women are similar in structure. 

And let me make this next point in your native tongue so there is no misunderstanding concerning the point I wish to get across.

Mujeres trans son mujeres.

Some of the most gorgeous trans women I have met during my time in this community come from Mexico. 

In the short history by comparison to Miss Universe of the Thailand based Miss International Queen transgender pageant, one of those Mexican born trans women, Erica Andrews, captured the 2006 crown.

Jones kept digging the hole she was in by saying the Miss Universe contest is 'not for them," but then trying to claim in the same breath that she supported the trans  human rights struggle.

Your comments suggest you don't, and it's why you're getting dragged across the Net for it.

As you pointed out before you went on your transphobic rant, the competition rules for Miss Universe say otherwise.  Since Ximena Navarrete was in 2010 the last Mexican woman to win Miss Universe, you may wish to consider sending one of Mexico's trans women to rep y'all on the Miss Universe stage.

Lupita, miss me with that transphobic BS. 

12 Year Old Mexican Child Attempts To Stop An Anti-Gay Protest

And it is written in the Bible that a little child shall lead them.

In a protest reminiscent of the 1989 'Tank Man' protest of a lone man stopping a column of tanks headed to Beijing's Tiananmen Square to crush the democracy protests happening there,  a 12 year old Mexican child stood in front of a line of 11,000 people during a march organized in Celaya.

It was in response to President Enrique Pena Nieto's proposed constitutional marriage equality reforms allowing couples in Mexico to marry regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Marriage equality is gaining momentum in Mexico.  It's legal in Mexico City and several of Mexico's 31 states, with legal challenges currently happening across the country.  

The photo was taken by Mexican journalist Manuel Rodriguez, who interviewed the child and asked why he did it..  The child replied, "I have an uncle who is gay, and I hate the hatred."
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Sound like a perfectly logical reason to me, and far more in line with the moral arc of the human rights universe, unlike the 11,000 people in Celaya and other cities around the country marching to oppress their fellow Mexican citizens

H/T Towleroad

2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Happening In Texas

While I have been busy with other events, on opposite ends of 1-45 we have had eight CONCACAF women's teams battling to get the two spots available from our FIFA region for the upcoming Rio Olympic Games women's tournament.

The tournament started on February 10 with the Group A teams, the USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Costa Rica playing their games at Toyota Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, TX while the Group B teams Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Guatemala started a day later at BBVA Compass Stadium here in Houston.

Team USA got their Olympic qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 5-0 win over Costa Rica as Carli Lloyd scored the first of her two goals just one minute into the game to get the USA off to a 3-0 halftime lead in a match they never trailed in as Mexico was thumping Puerto Rico 6-0.

That set up a crucial clash on February 13 in which the USA prevailed 1-0 over Mexico thanks to the game winning goal from Carli Lloyd in the 80th minute on a penalty kick while Costa Rica recovered from their loss to the USA by spanking Puerto Rico 9-0.

The win also gave the USA the top spot in Group A with two wins and a +6 goal differential.

Yesterday Group A play concluded with the USA clinching the group and their trip to the semis here in Houston with a 10-0 win over Puerto Rico in which Crystal Dunn scored five goals.

In the battle between two 2015 World Cup squads to determine the runner up in the group, Costa Rica prevailed 2-1 in which Raquel Rodriquez scored two goals, with the game winner being on a penalty kick in the 57th minute to clinch the runner up spot in Group A and their ticket to Houston for the semifinals.

Group B play started on February 11 at BBVA Compass Stadium, with Trinidad and Tobago shocking Guatemala 2-1 and Canada behind an Ashley Lawrence hat trick spanking Guyana 5-0.

On February 14 Guyana sent Guatemala packing with a 2-1 victory as Canada clinched Group B with a 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Later today while Canada closes out group play with homeward bound Guatemala, Guyana and Trinidad and  Tobago will play to see who will be the Group B runner up and get the unenviable task of taking on the world champion USA in a knockout round semifinals on Friday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Canada will play this final group game knowing that they will face Costa Rica in the knockout round on Friday with an Olympic berth on the line.

The Friday semifinal game winners will get both CONCACAF berths to the Rio Olympic Games women's soccer tournament, and play each other on Sunday for the tournament title.

2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Comes To Texas!

The venues for the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament being hosted in the USA were announced on August 12, and both are in the Lone Star State!

CONCACAF announced that BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston and Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX will be the venues hosting the eight team tournament February 10-21 that determines which two teams from CONCACAF will be playing in the Rio Olympics in a few months.

Toyota Stadium will host the Group A matches from February 10-15, and BBVA Compass Stadium will host the Group B matches from February 11-16, the semifinal match on February 19 and final match on February 21.

The USA as the host nation has already qualified, and the world champs will be in Group A.  Canada and Mexico have also qualified, but their groups and which end of I-45 they will be playing on will be determined when the tournament draw happens

The other five nations competing will be determined by the results in the Central American and Caribbean Zone tournaments   Two will come from the Central American Zone tournament that runs September 30-October 4  and three from the Caribbean Zone. 

The Caribbean Zone tournament started August 21 and will be completed October 4.  Puerto Rico, Guyana and Jamaica are three of the four finalists in the knockout round as of this writing with the fourth finalist to be determined from a group that is composed of Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and host Saint Lucia.

Only two CONCACAF  teams will be left at BBVA Compass Stadium when it is over and it will be interesting to see which two teams will be punching their tickets to go to Brazil.
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Mexican Trans Woman Being Denied Opportunity To Play Soccer

Soccer (or football to the rest of the world) is the world's most popular sport and is called 'the beautiful game' by its fans. 

But what is happening to 44 year old Mexican transwoman Miranda Itzayana is anything but beautiful.

Prior to transition, she played for the first division Mexican League team Pumas and others from 1985-1992.   She wanted to play the sport again and in June 2012 after showing documentation verifying her feminine identity, Itzayana joined the Mexican Women's League team Jaguars Aldana.  

Initially she was told there was no problem with her playing in the league, but pressure mounted as opposing teams wanted her thrown out of the league for 'playing like a man'.  Itzayana was also subjected to homophobic and transphobic slurs while playing matches.  

In February during a Mexican Women's League meeting the league and her team bowed to pressure and baseless accusations from opposing teams by not allowing Itzayana to play.  The league after that meeting subsequently enacted a 'women born women' policy to keep her out in violation of the IOC Stockholm Accords that FIFA and national soccer federations follow that allow trans athletes to compete.  

Jaguars Aldana, fearing being barred from the Mexican Women's League, threatened to expel Itzayana from the team if she complained publicly about her unjust treatment.    Upset about the discriminatory treatment she was receiving, she decided to take her case to the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination in Mexico City (COPRED).

The COPRED commissioner ruled in her favor and ordered that Itzayana be reinstated, allowed to play in the next tounament and the discriminatory league rule be changed to allow her participation. 

FIFA has had an ongoing 'Say No To Racism' campaign in which we see the banner held up by players of both teams during every World Cup Men's and Women's tournament and other major confederation tournaments in international soccer.  We'll see it again later this summer in Brazil. 

But as I wrote back in 2011 and Jazz, Aeris Houlihan and Miranda Itzayana can tell you from painful experience, FIFA needs to immediately embark upon a campaign to eradicate transphobia and homophobia
from the sport, too.

Houston Has A New Women's Pro Soccer Team!

Another team joins our lineup of professional sports franchises in the Houston area and will start play in April.   Even cooler is the fact they are a women's professional spots team. 

They are the Houston Dash, our new expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) that started play earlier this year.

“We are thrilled to have our very own NWSL franchise here in Houston,” said Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti in a statement. “It is an important addition to our sports landscape and will bring added value to our community.”

The NWSL has been set up as the top echelon women's pro soccer league in North America and is supported by the national soccer federations of the United States, Canada, and Mexico with the goal of building a elite level league for their top national players to play in when they are not competing in the Olympics or the FIFA Women's World Cup.

it also has the goal of building the women's game in these nations and developing talented players for future national teams in Canada, Mexico and the US. 

The NWSL's originating eight teams are the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC (New Jersey), Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash (Rochester, NY). 

The NWSL features 23 members of the US women's national team, including stars of the team that won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, including: Heather O'Reilly (Boston Breakers); Amy LePeilbet and Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars); Nicole Barnhart, Amy Rodriguez, Becky Sauerbrunn and Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City); Rachel Buehler, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC); Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo and Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC); Kelley O'Hara and Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC); Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit); and Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach (Western New York Flash).

The NWSL's Canadian national team stars include Diana Matheson (Washington Spirit); Desiree Scott and Lauren Sesselmann (FC Kansas City); and Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC).

The NWSL players from Mexico's national women's team includes Maribel Dominguez (Chicago Red Stars); Renae Cuellar (Washington Spirit); Teresa Noyola (FC Kansas City); and Monica Ocampo (Sky Blue FC).

In the inaugural NWSL Championship game the Portland Thorns defeated the top seeded Western New York Flash 2-0 in Rochester.

But back to talking about the Houston Dash.    

The Dash are the NWSL's first ever expansion club and are the second in the league after the Thorns supported by an MLS club.   The Dash are owned by the same group that owns the Houston Dynamo

The Dash will train at the Dynamo's complex and play their 12 home games at BBVA Compass Stadium.

They are currently looking to hire their head coach and unveil their uniforms for the upcoming 2014 season later.

As for the inaugural season roster of the Houston Dash, the 18-20 woman roster for the inaugural team will be filled by allocation of players from the U.S., Canada and Mexico national teams, the expansion draft, the January 17 NWSL collegiate draft, and other discovery signings.

The only thing I wish they'd done is given the fans an opportunity to choose the nickname, but I can understand the Dynamo brass reluctance to do so after the Houston 1836 drama. 

Should be fun to watch a women's pro sports team here in H-town for the first time since the Houston Comets (sniff sniff) departed the scene and looking forward to checking out some of their games when I can.

 

The 41 List Of TBLGQ Latino/a People Has Girls Like Us On It!

In 1901 a clandestine Mexico City party was raided and 41 people were arrested.   Half of those 41 people were dressed as women (and some of those 20 or 21 people were probably girls like us)   They were publically paraded by the police and sent off to slave labor camps simply for being gay, trans and bisexual.   Those that survived the ordeal had their names put on a list that condemned them and their families to a lifetime of ridicule and shame.

The arrest also unfortunately occurred at a time in Mexico when curiosity about sexuality was rising and set in motion a chain of events that combined with the negative media coverage led to a movement that led to the birth of the concept of homosexuality in Mexico.   It also led to the number 41 gaining a negative connotation in Mexican culture  

Honor 41.org  in conjunction with MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization created a list to recognize outstanding TBLGQ Latino/a leaders.   The 41 List celebrates the Latina/o TBLGQ community and demonstrates how far the community has come in the over 100 years since that despicable incident.  

Those featured on The 41 List represent a diversity of professional backgrounds, age groups, genders, geographic regions, and Latino backgrounds that make up our community. They are all role models for our community and for future Latina/o LGBTQ generations. 

I'm happy to note that on the 2013 list girls like us Bamby Salcedo, Arianna Inurritegui Lint and Maria Roman are on it.  When I find the full list of names I'll post it to TransGriot. . 

While I'm happy three of my trans Latina sisters (and two I personally know) were honored on this list, I was disappointed that some of my trans Latino brothers like Mark Angelo Cummings and Yosenio Lewis just to name two are missing.  

Nominations will be taken in the fall for the 2014 edition of the 41 List.  I hope that when I compile my 2014 post about this list, it not only has Latino transmasculine representation, but more Latina trans women on a list to honor and spotlight outstanding TBGLQ Latina/o people.   

Former 2006 Miss International Queen Erica Andrews Dies

I was shocked to hear that longtime Texas resident and pageant community icon Erica Andrews died yesterday in Chicago of a lung infection. 

Erica was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, moved to San Antonio and became one of the most decorated queens on the pageant circuit.
Andrews performed at clubs in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston and her jaw dropping beauty and creative routines led to a long list of titles that include Miss Gay Texas USofA 1997, Miss Gay USofA 1999, Miss Texas Continental 2001, Miss Florida Continental 2004, Universal Show Queen 2004, Miss Continental 2004, Miss International Queen 2006 and Entertainer of the Year 2006.

She also appeared on the Tyra Banks Show, the Maury Povich Show, in the documentary Transtasia and the controversial movie Ticked Off Tr*****s With Knives.   She also worked as a makeup artist for the Maury Povich Show.

She had less than a year ago moved from the Lone Star State to the Terre Haute, IN area to be with her significant other, and was a beloved and respected person in Texas and around the TBLG community.   .



As the news has spread, commentary from her peers and all who loved her has come pouring in on her Facebook page for this community icon who will be sorely missed. 

Rest in peace, Erica..  

Arrests Made In The Murder Of Agnes Torres Hernandez

Was happy to hear that arrests have been made in the case of murdered Mexican trans activist Agnes Torres Hernandez.

According to xQsi Magazine blog Luis Fernando Bravo, Agustín Flores,  Marco Antonio Especie, and Agnes’ most recent partner Jorge Flores have all been arrested and charged by the Puebla state attorney general with her murder.  A fifth suspect that is believed to be a minor has yet to be named.

xQsi Magazine in the same post had information about Agnes Torres Sulca, another Mexican trans activist based in the Yucatan area who was murdered March 10.  Based on information gathered by authorities investigating her killing, 18 year old Luis Fernando Bueno Mazzoco was arrested in Merida.  He confirmed his participation in the murder of Torres Sulca which has also drawn international outrage and condemnation.

Here's hoping the Mexican justice system gives these perpetrators the punishment they all deserve for taking the lives of these courageous women. 

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RIP Agnes Torres Hernandez

The international community of trans activists is one in which we are not only a close knit bunch, we tend to form friendships for life as we get to know each other.

When we're not busy e-mailing and chatting with each other trading strategy, tactics and information as to what has worked and what hasn't in our struggles in our various nations to advance trans human rights coverage, we'll quickly shit to what's happening in our personal lives or give each other the moral and emotional support we'll need to continue to do a job we all know can be a tough one.  

We are also painfully aware that in some nations, being an out, proud and open trans human rights activist takes tremendous courage because it can lead to being harassed by the powers that be you are fighting.  It can also be a death sentence as Cynthia Nicole Moreno's 2009 death in Honduras sadly pointed out.

Sadly, I won't get the pleasure to meet Agnes Torres Hernandez. 

Agnes Torres Hernandez was a 28 year old psychologist and educator fighting for the human rights of our trans brothers and sisters in Mexico.  She disappeared last Friday after leaving her home in Puebla to attend a party in the small town of Chipilo.   Her body was found with her throat slashed, burn marks on it and clothed only in her underwear, a blouse with suspenders and a brown jacket.

Hernandez was becoming an important TBLG human rights voice in Mexico for her trans brothers and sisters, and 2000 people gathered in Puebla's central town square to demand justice for her murder.   

It is the sixth crime aimed at members of the Mexican TBLG community that has yet to see even one of them solved and a perpetrator brought to justice. 

While her voice has sadly been stilled, the fight continues for trans human rights coverage around the world and her trans brothers and sisters in her homeland and elsewhere will not rest until it happens..

TransGriot Note:  Read this open letter from Bamby Salcedo the publisher of xQsi Magazine, which covers Latin@ trans issues.   It concerns her thoughts about the senseless murder of Agnes Torres.

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