6th Annual NBJC OUT On The Hill Starts Wednesday

The 6th annual OUT on the Hill National Black LGBT Leadership Conference starts on Wednesday and runs through September 19, and I'm pleased to announce I will be in the OOTH house starting on Wednesday for the first time since 2012.

I get excited about this event because OUT on the Hill features Black trans, bisexual, lesbian, gay, queer, same gender loving activists, thought leaders, elected officials, educators, elders and young professionals gathering in our nation's capital for a unique, informative and important convening.

OUT on the Hill brings together more than 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL stakeholders and partner organization that include the Human Rights Campaign, the Trans Persons Of Color Coalition, the National LGBTQ Task Force, AIDS United, National Coalition for LGBTQ Health, amfAR, and Planned Parenthood Foundation of America.

The National Black Justice Coalition with the support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation launched in 2014 its Black LGBT Health and Wellness Initiative to address the current health crisis, HIV and the disparity in culturally competent  health and wellness programs that target the Black LGBT population.   It also seeks to shift the conversation about African-American holistic health by including the Black LGBTQ/SGL community in those broader Black community health conversations.

NBJC through this initiative is seeking to strategically and innovatively bring voice and visibility to the health and wellness concerns of the Black SGL and TBLGQ community, raise awareness, decrease stigma and provide culturally competent and accessible resources and services.

The theme for this year's OUT on the Hill Conference is We Are Family: Building Stronger Roots Together. with a call to action addressing health care issues rooted in four summit tracks: health care, social justice, economics and spirituality.  

OUT on the Hill 2015 gets underway with a pre conference networking reception tomorrow at the St Gregory Hotel entitled At the Table: Black Voices In Policy & Advocacy that gives attendees the opportunity to hear updates about the 2020 National HIV/AIDS Strategy for members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Over the next few days there will be conversations that discuss policy issues impacting our community, briefings about the recently introduced in Congress LGBT Equality Act, several plenary session covering various topics including the bisexual and transgender sectors of our community, and the third annual State of the Black LGBTQ/SGL Community on Saturday  

If you'e seeking more information about Out on the Hill, press credentials or are just interested in attending the event, you can contact Isaiah Wilson at iwilson@nbjc.org or click on this link to peruse the #OOTH2015 schedule.

Hope to see y'all in DC.

OUT On the Hill 2015 Later This Month

It's one of my fave conferences, and there's a possibility I might be back for it after a three year absence from the event.

The National Black Justice Coalition's (NBJC) 6th annual OUT on the Hill is rapidly approaching on September 16-20 in Washington DC

The last time I was in the OOTH house in 2012, I was honored to participate in this groundbreaking Black trans feminine panel with Danielle King, Rev. Carmarion Anderson, and Valerie Spence moderated by Laverne Cox.

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 I also got to participate in an amazing blogger's panel with LZ Granderson, Danielle Moodie-Mills, and the Anti-Intellect,

This year's theme is We Are Family: Building Stronger Roots Together, and that's what OUT on the Hill has been like to me in the times I have had the opportunity to attend in 2011 and 2012, one big family reunion in which we get to build a stronger Black LGBT community,

It has led to me meeting some amazing Black TBLG leaders , elders and emerging young Black LGBT leaders who are doing and will do some amazing things for our community, two trips to the White House for policy briefings, and getting an opportunity to go to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference that takes place at the same time at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and meet more engaged Black folks, CBC congressmembers and leaders from around the country.

This year #OOTH2015 will also focus on health and wellness on our community.

Every time I get the opportunity to go to OUT on the Hill, I come back to Houston refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle the ongoing job of uplifting the trans end of the Black LGBT community while reminding the Black community at large that you can't spell Black Lives Ma__er without the two T's.  

There's still time for you to register for this event and hope to see y'all there at #OOTH2015.

TransGriot Update:  It's official:  For the first time since 2012, I'll be at OOTH 2015!  I have a Friday noon Eastern time panel discussion I'll be participating in, and I plan to be doing posts and live tweets of all the #OOTH2015 action and happenings.

NBJC's OUT On The Hill 2015 Early Bird Registration Expiring Soon

One of the valid questions I have been getting from my younger trans sisters lately in the wake of a unprecedented deadly week of anti-trans murders is where are the Black organizations that as one sister stated to me in a private conversation  'allegedly support us'?

I can tell you for a fact that one unapologetically Black social justice organization that has had our back for years and ain't 'scurred' to say the word 'transgender' is the National Black Justice Coalition.   

I have had the pleasure of attending two of the OUT on the Hill Conferences in 2011 and 2012, and was part of an all trans feminine panel in the 2012 one moderated by none other than Laverne Cox.   I was also part of a blogger's panel during that 2012 event that included the wonderful Danielle Moodie-Mills and LZ Granderson.   I have also been parts of two NBJC The Black Institutes at Creating Change events in Houston and Denver in 2014-2015

 And yeah, still dreaming about those crab cakes I devoured during one OOTH2012 luncheon.

The 6th annual edition of the OUT on the Hill LGBT Black leadership Summit will be taking place in Washington DC September 16-20, and in addition to getting to attend OOTH2015 and all the events, panel discussion, workshops, plenary sessions and networking opportunities that come with attending OOTH, you get the opportunity to also attend the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference events for an additional $50 on your OOTH registration.

This year's OOTH2015 theme is We Are Family: Building Stronger Roots Together, calls to action the Black family construct in addressing health and wellness issues through four key summit tracks: health care (e.g., physical, mental, emotional, behavioral); economics (e.g., financial health, economic justice, employment security, housing, livable wage, entrepreneurship); spirituality (e.g., faith, religion, wholeness, purpose); and social justice (e.g., criminal justice, education, racial profiling, voting rights).

And that's what OOTH is to me. It's not only a big family reunion, it's one of those unique conventions in which Black LGBT activists, thought leaders, elected officials, emerging leaders, young adults, elders, faith leaders, and allies get together for one inspiring week of learning, organizing, and strategic planning

I've also met some amazing Black LGBT people at this event like Aisha Moodie-Mills, Maya Rupert, Phill Wilson, Je-Shawna Wholley, Samantha Master, Rev. Carmarion Anderson, Dr. Ayana Elliott, filmmakers Maurice Jamal and Yoruba Richen, Imam Daayiee Abdullah, ELIXHER Founding Editor Kimberley McLeod and amazing allies like Chevara Orrin and Kamora Herrington.

And yes, much love to the fab NBJC Executive Director and CEO Sharon Lettman-Hicks and staffers Isaiah Wilson and Venton Jones.  She has made it clear that the T is not silent in or a small letter 't' in this unapologetically Black LGBT org, and the soon to be 12 year old NBJC is one worthy of your support and investing your T-bills in..

If you're thinking about going,  the $100 Early Bird registration rate is closing out August 21, and elders 62 and up register any time for a $100 flat rate.  Emerging leaders get a 50% discount.

I'm trying to make it to DC for OOTH2015 since I haven't attended it since 2012.  Complications have kept me from going back.  I know that after I attended the 2011 and 2012 OOTH events I came back to Texas feeling empowered, refreshed and ready to do some more work on behalf of the Black LGBT community.

Hopefully Moni will be in the OOTH2015 house to report and live tweet what's going on at this year's event.

5th Annual NBJC OUT On the Hill Starts Today

Personal issues are going to prevent me from attending this year's event (and I'm pissed about it), but the 5th Annual OUT on the Hill Black  LGBT Leadership Summit will kick off today and run through the 27th.

Y'all know I have much love for NBJC and this event and I'm upset I'll be missing it for the second year in a row, but have to sort out some things on the home front so I can be there in full effect next year.

For those of you who do head to, are enroute or are in Washington DC for it, you are in for a wonderful and memorable experience courtesy of our NBJC family.   It's chock full of stimulating panel discussions and seminars, a White House briefing, lobbying, and charting the course of our Black LGBT movement.

And there's nothing better than being around your fellow Black LGBT peeps for a few days and discussing a wide variety of issues and topics.

You can also follow the happenings online at #OOTH 2014 or #NBJContheMove

Hope you have another megasuccessful event, may everyone in attendance leave it better informed and energized to help advance the human rights of our community, and y'all have fun while doing so.

NBJC's 5th Annual OUT on the Hill Rapidly Appoaching

The September 24-27 dates for the 5th Annual OUT on the Hill Black LGBT leadership summit are rapidly approaching, and there's still time for you to get registered and head to Washington DC for an amazing four days of seminars, panel discussions, policy briefings, movement agenda setting, and conversation about where we are as a community.

Black LGBT leaders and allies from around the country will be there to take part in what has become a highly anticipated event, and the National Black Justice Coalition would love to have you there.

The added bonus for attending OUT on the Hill in addition to interacting with some amazing community leaders is that you are in town and have an opportunity to also participate in the Congressional Black Caucus weekend and own your power at hat event as well..

I've had the pleasure of attending the 2011 and 2012 events, and if you are wishing to make connections with other Black LGBT leaders, this is the conference for you

If you need further information concerning OUT on the hill you can contact NBJC Operations Manager Venton C, Jones, Jr for further assistance..

For further assistance, please contact:

Venton C. Jones Jr.

Events and Operations Manager

National Black Justice Coalition

events@nbjc.org

202-319-1552, ext 101

OUT on the Hill 2013 Transmasculine Panel

It's Trans Men's Day at OUT on the Hill!  

Just as I and three of my trans feminine counterparts got the opportunity last year to talk about the issues facing Black trans women last year during a town hall meeting moderated by Laverne Cox,  the trans men get their opportunity to speak in a town hall that starts right now and runs through 11:30 AM EDT entitled 'Shades of Masculinity-Part 1' 

It's taking place at the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel Downtown in the Renaissance East room and features Kylar Broadus.

They are probably videotaping it like the trans feminine one last year, so I'll hopefully get to see the highlights of what the trans brothers had to say.

But still wish I was there to report on it in person.

4th Annual OUT on the Hill Starts Today

One of the events I'm sad I won't be able to make this year is the fourth annual NBJC OUT on the Hill conference that starts this morning and runs through September 22 at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel.   And yep TransGriot readers, no Moni on the scene means no OUT on the Hill daily recap posts this year.

I'm bummed about that because this is not only the National Black Justice Coalition's 10th anniversary year, I'm also going to miss the 'Shades of Masculinity' transmasculine panel discussion scheduled to take place September 20 that features one of my fave trans men in Kylar Broadus and the Black LGBT Leaders Day at the White House.  In addition to the other events and presentations scheduled to take place, there's also a screening of the documentary film The New Black film to close out the event on Sunday.  .

Whenever I go to OUT on the Hill, it feels more like a family reunion than a conference.  I enjoyed talking to not only my NBJC family, but going to Washington DC to converse with Black TBLG leaders from around the country and writing up what transpired during the conference as the day wound down. When it was over, I felt inspired, empowered reinvigorated, and reenergized to return home and continue pushing the human rights of the Black TBLG community forward .


It sucks and I'm disappointed I won't be there.  But as much as I would like to be at every major event, sometimes things and life don't work out so you can be in the house for them.  Maybe next year Moni will be back inside I-495 for OUT on the Hill's bigger and better fifth edition. 

Then again it'll give y'all a chance to miss me.

For those of you who are going to be in Washington DC for this year's fourth edition of OUT on the Hill, love y'all, have fun, handle your business and hope to see y'all next September.

And eat a few crabcakes for me.

  

Honoring And Protecting The Lives Of Black Trans Women

Fresh for Women's History Month is the video of the September 21, 2012 NBJC OUT on the Hill panel discussion I had the honor of participating in along with Valerie Spencer, Rev. Carmarion Anderson and Danielle King that  was moderated by Laverne Cox.

Just an FYI, this year's OUT on the Hill will have a similar town hall panel of trans men. 

NBJC's OUT on the Hill usually happens in September, so watch this blog and the National Black Justice Coalition one for the dates.

In the meantime, enjoy the video.

No, Thank You NBJC!

Got an e-mail from the National Black Justice Coalition Thursday thanking me for my participation in the just concluded 2012 edition of OUT on the Hill.   The e-mail let me know the NBJC team was still getting positive feedback from the events I participated in, and I was happy to hear that. 

But I wanted to take a moment to thank NBJC for giving me the opportunity to not only be a part of that historic trans town hall, but contribute my thoughts as one of the people on that amazing blogger's roundtable as well.   

I enjoyed another chance to be around my NBJC and Black trans and SGL brothers and sisters and our allies.   I enjoyed discussing ways we could 'Own Our Power'.  I reveled in the wide range of conversations I got to engage in with a cross section of our community's thought leaders during the time I was inside I-495.

And yes, loved the chance of spending quality time with old friends and meeting new ones

It's not often we have conferences and events in SGL and trans world in which the majority of the people in attendance at it share my heritage.  OUT on the Hill is quickly becoming one of those must attend events and I was proud and felt honored to have been invited to play a role in the 2012 edition of it .

I hope the 2013 edition of OUT on the Hill next September is bigger, better and bolder than ever.  With the trans men's town hall that's already been announced by NBJC CEO/ED Sharon Lettman-Hicks at the close of this year's event, I know it's on its way to doing precisely that.

Thank you NBJC, for being one of the few organizations that spotlights and capitalizes the "T' in LGBT.  Thank you for being stand up allies for Black trans people who have been largely shut out of having a voice in that national LGBT rights conversation, lifting us up as you climb and helping us own our power.

And thank you once again for blessing me with the opportunity to be a part of it..      

2012 OUT On The Hill Compilation Post

Moni's back in H-town after owning her power, reconnecting with her Black TBLG fam and allies and making new friends during OUT On the Hill 2012. 

Like the 2011 edition, It was an amazing weekend I was honored to have the opportunity and pleasure to participate in, and hope I'm blessed to have the opportunity to do so again. 

But next year I want to aim higher.   I'd love to be part of a panel discussion at the CBCF-ALC in 2013 and OUT on the Hill (hint hint).  

While we see if that comes to pass eleven and a half months from now, in the meantime y'all can peruse my commentary not only about what transpired during OUT on the Hill 2012, but my thoughts pre and post conference.

2012 OUT on the Hill-Countdown to Owning Our Power

TransGriot's Finally In DC!

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 1 Recap

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 2 Recap

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 3 Recap

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 4 Recap

OUT on The Hill Is Over-Time To Go Back to Texas

2012 OUT on the Hill-What Now Black LGBT Family?

2012 OUT On The Hill-What Now, Black LGBT Family?

Another exciting edition of OUT on the Hill has concluded and our Black LGBT family has scattered to our various locales around the country until we gather inside I-495 next September.  

As we traveled by plane, train, bus and auto back to our hometowns with those conversations fresh on our minds, it's now time for the real work to be done that we discussed in the various sessions, conversations we had at receptions, in the hotel bars, over lunch and dinner and even our various hotel rooms.

As we got to Own Our Power inside the Beltway as Sharon likes to remind us to do, the big question now becomes what will we do individually and as part of our Black trans and SGL community to exercise the power that we spent time learning to own?  

The first thing on our Black LGBT Own Our Power list is a no brainer.   Get Trans and SGL people  registered and get your LGBT souls to the polls on November 6 (or sooner in my case as a Texas resident). We need to make sure that we get 4 more years for POTUS 44 and give him a Congress he can work with.  We also know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this president is the best ever on trans issues and has done some groundbreaking things for the SGL community as well.

We also have to not only continue to uplift trans people, but put our trans brothers in that leadership spotlight as well.  Remember some trans people are trans guys, and I was glad to hear that during OUT on the Hill 2013 the trans men will have a Town Hall like we did during this just concluded event.

I also challenged trans people in the Town Hall to run for office so that we can start writing the legislation we need and stop begging to be included in it.  Later that night LZ Granderson point blank asked me when I was going to lead by example and run for office in Texas, which is something my cousin asked me just before I left for DC.  That conversation LZ and I had falls under The Black Trans Revolution Will Not Be Televised territory.

Segueing into Black Trans Revolution items, since there's never been a trans themed forum at the CBCF-ALC, I'd love to see that happen as well in 2013 with trans men and trans women making up that panel along with allies. 

There's a thirteen city LGBT Economic Empowerment Tour cosponsored by the SBA and NBJC that is slated to hit Atlanta, Brooklyn, Chicago, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Oakland/San Francisco, Washington DC and Houston that we'll need to get the word out about.   This 'Many Faces One Dream initiative to tap into the economic power of SGL and trans people and those budding entrepreneurs and business owners amongst us is going to be an important component for the Black LGBT community's ability to own our economic power.  .

We also need to do the work to ensure that when we have the next LGBT themed forum at the 2013 CBCF-ALC, it's not just us in the room attending it.

Finally, we need to in the eleven and a half months until OUT on the Hill 2013 arrives on the scene bigger, badder, better and Blacker than ever talk up OUT on the Hill at every opportunity and encourage our people to go and be part of the amazing experience of seeing and talking to trans and SGL leaders from 18-80.  

And yes, we need to continue to network, forge partnerships and uplift each other in order to help our Black LGBT community survive, grow and thrive.  

There's probably other things that people will come up with in the wake of this conference, but what needs to happen now Black LGBT family is that we roll up our sleeves and get to work accomplishing some of the short term and long term things thoughtfully discussed during OUT on the Hill 2012.

OUT on the Hill 2012 Is Over-Time To Go Back To Texas

My Week 3 TransGriot NFL picks are already made and I'll find out how well I and my hometown NFL ballers did when I get home.  But in a few hours I'll be checking out of this hotel room that has been home for the last few days and heading back to Houston.

I've been waiting with breathless anticipation for the 2012 edition of  OUT On The Hill honestly since the 2011 one concluded.  Will be interesting to see how much this event grows in 2013, especially since it will be NBJC's tenth anniversary year.  I hope I'll be invited to participate in OOTH once again.

I'm not kidding y'all when I write the words 'my NBJC family' in my TransGriot posts.  They really have made me feel that way and let me know in no uncertain terms they appreciate me as much as I appreciate and love the work they do on behalf of the Black LGBT community. 

I also gained some new fans and readers for TransGriot, and thanks for all the love NBJC family y'all showed me during this conference.

This has also closed an amazing summer of activism and other speaking events for me on a high note. 
How high I'll detail later after I've had some time to ponder it on the plane ride home from BWI.

See y'all in a few hours Houston.   And see you Pappas Barbecue in the airport when I arrive.. 

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 4 Recap

Another beautiful day on Washington DC, but it's one with a hint of sadness for me because it's the last day of OUT on the Hill. 

It's also the last day of the CBCF-ALC which has its traditional 7 AM Prayer Breakfast.  This year it was featuring Bishop Noel Jones and Kim Burrell and Valerie and Carmarion attended it as the NBJC reps.

While that was going on at the Convention Center,  the NBJC General Session started at 9 AM as I anticipated the start of the 10:15 AM Blogger's Roundtable that includes myself, LZ Granderson, Danielle Moodie-Mills of threeLOL, Kimberley McLeod of ELIXHER, Derrick McMahon of the Anti-Intellect Blog, and Huff Po contributor Darnell Moore.

This was a continuation of the conversation that was started at the CBCF-ALC yesterday that was also focused on the topic of 'How the LGBT Equality Movement Has Impacted Black America and the Media Landscape.'   There was some interesting conversation concerning that topic before we broke for our lunchtime keynote speaker, the Deputy Director of the US Small Business Administration Eugene Cornelius. 

We also had a pleasant problem during this lunch that is the result of the rapid growth of OUT on the Hill.  For a breif moment we had a few more people than seats in the Delaware Room. but the NBJC staff and volunteers quickly solved that problem. 

And yes, Eugene is family.   He not only challenged us to own our economic power, but was part of an interesting discusssion moderated by Maurice Jamal that discussed the upcoming LGBT Economic Empowerment Tour that will be cosponsored by the NBJC/and SBA.

With the afternoon session came a dilemma for me.  Now that my panels were completed, I was a spectator and had to choose which one I attended because all three had interesting topics.

I eventually split time between the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Communities one and the Stemming The Tide of Aggression one before we headed into the OUT on the Hill closing session.   

With the closing session's end also signaling the end of OUT on the Hill 2012 activity at the host hotel, there was still a community mixer at FAB Lounge in the Dupont Circle area starting at 7 PM that I skipped so I could catch up on my blogging. 

Before she split for the CBCF-ALC dinner that the FLOTUS was attending, Sharon Lettman-Hicks did give us a sneak peek at one of the events that will take place during the 2013 OUT on the Hill

There will be a transman town hall similar to the one that we transwomen had this year.  It will also be NBJC's tenth anniversary next year with an OUT on the Hill that promises in just its fourth year to be bigger and better event than it was in 2012 .

And I definitely want to be participating in it next year.

2012 Out On the Hill-Day 4 Schedule

Darn, Day 4 got here pretty quickly and in 24 hours I'll be headed back to the Lone Star State.  But as the old saying goes, time flies when you're having fun and around some amazing Black LGBT leaders. 

While the CBCF-ALC is having their prayer breakfast from 7:30-10:30 AM, those who didn't want to (or couldn't get) tickets to that event have 8:00 AM-1:00 PM workshops and sessions to attend,

Meanwhile up the Metro line on our side of town in NW DC we' ll start a packed Saturday of OOTH events.  It starts from 9:00-10:00 AM with another OOTH 2o12 General Session which will be entitled The Future of the National Black Justice Coalition.

From 10:15-12:15 PM we'll have the Black LGBT Emerging Leaders Caucus entitled Taking a Seat at the Table: Energizing Black LGBT Youth to OWN Their Power  Another 10:15-12:15 PM session will be entitled Invisible No More: A Roundtable of Elders in the Black LGBT Community

The third one in that 10:15-12:15 PM time slot will be the second one I was invited to participate in, the Bloggers’ Roundtable: How the LGBT Equality Movement Has Impacted Black America and the Media Landscape From 12:30-2:30 PM we'll have our Keynote Luncheon with the title of The Great Recession: Harnessing the Collective Economic Potential of the Black LGBT Community 
When the Keynote Luncheon concludes, three more sessions in the 2:45-4:15 PM time slot

We Shall Not Be Moved:The Role of Faith in the Fight for Black LGBT Equality
Stemming the Tide of Aggression: Addressing Violence, Bias, and Hate Crimes in the Black LGBT Community
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Communities  Black LGBT Health: An Exploration of Current Trends and ChallengesThe closing 2012 Out On The Hill General Session will happen from 4:30-5:30 and focus on highlights of upcoming events .

And from 6:00-9:30 PM is another ticketed CBCF-ALC event, the CBCF-ALC Phoenix Awards dinner.  Yeah, I think I'll be chilling in the room at that time unless somebody in DC or OOTH has other ideas.

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 3 Recap

Well, today's the day I've been eagerly waiting for ever since I received the invitation letter for it.

The National Town Hall meeting I was slated to participate in along with Danielle King, my fellow Texan Rev Carmarion Anderson, Valerie Spencer and our moderator Laverne Cox was finally happening .

It was a double treat for me because I was FINALLY getting to meet Laverne and see Carmarian, Danielle and that fun loving diva Valerie again.

I've done more than a few panel discussions over the years, but for some reason I was nervous before this one.   Maybe because unlike the historic first ever trans panel I was proud to be part of earler this summer at Netroots Nation, this historic first ever trans themed Town Hall discussion was happening in front my trans and SGL peeps and NBJC family, and I wanted to make certain it went well. 

The theme was 'Honoring and Protecting the Lives of Black Trans Women'.  After sending out some tweets and Facebook comments noting my nervousness, I headed to the Wilson Room for this 9 AM town hall.  

Commissioner Earline Budd, AKA 'Number 4' was on hand and it was also videotaped.   As usual the panel had a lot of informational ground to cover and not enough time to do so, but it was expertly moderated by Laverne.   As we stayed behind to take photos and get interviewed.  Laverne headed to the Walter Williams Convention Center to take part in a media panel at the CBCF-ALC while Carmarion, Valerie, Danielle and another local DC resident joined us for lunch along with Ace Portis of NCTE.

After some lively conversation over lunch we headed to the Convention Center on this beautiful DC weather day to check out the CBCF-ALC forum moderated by Jeff Johnson entitled ' How the LGBT Movement Has Impacted Black America and the Media Landscape.'

Joining Laverne on that panel was MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart, Clay Cane, Keith Boykin, and our summit chair LZ Granderson.

There was some mini drama near the tail end of a lively discussion when a person identifying himself as a heterosexual veteran asked a problematic trans related question that Laverne and Keith diplomatically answered.   I was three spots in line behind homey and even i didn't understand what in Hades he was talking about, but after the panel was over I noted three people politely talking to the brother and 'ejumacaing him about our issues.

I was in line three spots behind homeboy.  I got to ask my question about white trans people speaking for POC trans folks and what Black LGBT journalists could do to stand up for their trans sisters, using the example of the recent Melissa Harris-Perry show that had an all white panel discussing the Cece McDonald case as an annoying example.

While I was at the CBCF-ALC forum, continued to get compliments about that morning's town hall and my contributions to the discussion.

When it was over, hung around the room for a few moments, talked to Jeff Johnson, Clay Cane and finally met the other half of the Moodie-Mills power couple in Danielle, who was going to participate in a bloggers roundtable with me tomorrow.

Hit the METRO to head back to the hotel, get out of my paltform pumps and go to the Board of Directors reception before I crashed around 1 AM

Three days gone, one to go.

2012 Out On The Hill-Day 3 Schedule

Day 3 of Out On The Hill will be dawning in a few hours, and it's showtime at Out on the Hill for me and my fellow panelists today.   The CBCF-ALC will have their workshops and sessions from 8-5 PM today but I won't be there for them.

I'm part of the OOTH national town hall meeting that will run from  9:00-11:30 AM entitled Honoring and Protecting the lives of Black Trans Women.    It will be moderated by Laverne Cox and in addition to yours truly being on the panel, it also includes Rev.Carmarion Anderson, Valerie Spencer, Bali White, and

I get to do lunch and then from 2:30-4:30 PM for the second straight year the CBCF-ALC will have an NBJC sponsored forum entitled How The LGBT Equality Movement Has Impacted Black America and the Media Landscape.

Day 3 of Out on the Hill will conclude with an NBJC Board of Directors Reception

2012 OUT on The Hill-Day 2 Recap

Missed most of the action today since I was saying goodbye to Jeri that morning, eating breakfast at her house and prepping to move to the conference hotel.   I hoped I could  get it done before it was time for the Issue Advocacy Day to start at the Church of the Redemption at 12 noon EDT and then from there head over to Capitol Hill to Own Our Power.

I also had the option of heading downtown to the Walter Williams Convention Center to witness the opening of NBJC's Exhibit Booth at the 42nd annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation-Annual Legislative Conference or CBCF-ALC in DC acronym speak.    That event was also starting at 12 noon EDT.

There was also the CBCF-ALC workshops schedule for that date of which the one I was interested in, a national Town Hall meeting moderated by Melissa Harris-Perry was scheduled for 9 AM, just as I was getting my behind up from the previous night's reception and chilling with Kimberley and Janet.

By the time I got packed, made the ride over with Jeri and checked into my room in the historic Marriott Wardman Tower it was 1:15 PM and I just decided to catch up on my blogging and take a nap before the 2012 Chairman's Reception.

You'll note I wrote the historic Wardman Tower.  In that part of the sprawling complex, by the elevators that led up to my third floor room was a black plaque hanging on the wall noting that one tine busboy Langston Hughes on November 27, 1925 nervously handed three of his poems to noted poet Vachel Lindsay while he was dining at the hotel's restaurant.  

Lindsay at a segregated event later that night in the hotel read those three poems Hughes left by his dinner plate and announced he'd discovered a talented Negro poet. 

The media picked up Lindsay's comments, remarked about the 'busboy poet' and the career of Hughes was born.  So yep, it was awesome as a writer to know that I was staying in the same hotel where Langston Hughes once worked.  

Speaking of work, back to this post.

At 7:00 PM the 2012 OUT on the Hill Chairman's Reception cranked up in Maryland Suites A, B and C.   Nice spread with a set up dance floor and DJ so we got to get our grub on, meet and greet each other and dance to tune courtesy of our DJ that covered a wide variety of music including soca from the Islands.
Since we were in DC, I requested EU's Da Butt.   Hey when in DC you gotta hear some Go-Go, so when the DJ honored my request and played it moments later, I hit the dance floor along with half the room  

Hopefully there aren't any incriminating pictures of me on the Net allegedly dancing way close to the floor..

Oh well, Day 2 over, two more to go.   

2012 OUT on the Hill-Day 1 Recap

Hey TransGriot readers, I've moved from my double secret location in NE DC at Jeri's house to the host hotel for tonight's, Friday's and Saturday's Out on the Hill 2012 activities, but needed to write up while it's still fresh on my mind what transpired during Day 1.   

As i write this there is a lobbying event going on along with the unveiling of the NBJC booth in the vendor area at the CBCF-ALC, but I needed to give y'all the 411 on what happened during Day One of OUT On The Hill

After getting my beauty sleep at Jeri's and getting my diva look on, I headed to the Georgia Ave-Petworth station, jumped on the METRO train and headed over to HUD headquarters to start my OUT on the Hill 2012 experience.   I was more than eager to get registered.for the informative action packed day that was going to unfold and feeling like a kid attending their first day of school.

I was more than ready to see everyone after my interesting travel day up there.

After I cleared security (this is Washington DC people)  I picked up my packet to the warm greetings and hugs from two of the volunteers who remembered me from last year's event.

While in the lobby area outside the Auditorium waiting for the OUT on ther Hill Opening General Session to start introduced myself to some of the first timers attending the conference.  As I talked to them, I was spotted by some of the vets, NBJC staff and other friends in the Black SGL and trans community

The General Session started with remarks from our OUT on the Hill national chair LZ Granderson, NBJC Founder Donna Payne, Darlene Nipper and eventually NBJC ED/CEO Sharom-Lettman Hicks after some thought provoking words about why OUT on the Hill was so important to this community via LZ and Donna.

After Sharon's welcoming speech and reminder to all of us we were here to Own Our Power, after some housekeeping anoouncements it was time for our first session.

It was the Legislative Issues briefing moderated by Aisha Moodie-Mills.    It had in addition to her moderating it my GLAAD media training classmate Maya Rupert, and Michael Brewer from NBJC.  There were points made about pending legislation such as the Student Non Discrimination Act, DOMA repeal,  ENDA, discussion about voter suppression and other issues pertinent to our chocolate LGBT community.

That panel ended, and we picked up our box lunches and prepared to head over on the METRO once again to the White House for our 1:00 PM briefing.    I chuckled when on my way into the White House I ran into someone I'd met during Netroots Nation who had just left as I discovred after I cleared security that had attended an LGBT Policy Roundtable that started at 9:30 AM.

I was also pleasantly pleased and surprised to discover that the White House intern who was working our event was part of our trans family. 

As we settled in to receive policy briefings from Obama administration officials and ask questions about it if we had time, my attention got diverted for a few moments from the speaker on the stage to a very familiar person walking into the briefing room carrying her purse and her travel bags  .

It was Janet Mock.   She'd told me she was coming to DC while I was in New York for the GLAAD media training, but I'd forgotten she had an invite to attend an event at Vice President Joe Biden's house that was scheduled for yesterday. 

She was attending it with Sharon Lettman-Hicks and Kimberley McLeod, so she killed some time with us until it was time for her to head over there.

After Senior Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett's remarks at 5:00 PM closed the event came the interesting part of the day for me.  

 There was a Networking reception starting at 6:00 PM.  No problem.  Y'all know I love hanging with my Black LGBT peeps and interacting with them during this event.  

The interesting part was the location for it, the headquarters of a certain Equal Sign organizations on Rhode Island Avenue.

As y'all know from reading this blog, as a long time activist I started during at time in the late 90's when there was a no love lost Cold War type hostility between the trans community and HRC, and the 2007 ENDA shenanigans didn't help that. 

I still have a verify then trust attitude toward HRC as a result of that formative activist drama, but as I entered the HQ after walking over there from the White House with my trans and SGL family I decided to focus on the fact I was there on NBJC business and on the activism announcement I was going to make a little later.

Got to meet more people, see more old friends, more of my TransGriot readers, and have some interesting and substantive conversations.  Finally got to see Kylar, Charles Pugh, Jeffrey Richardson from the DC city government and renew acquaintances with Shannon Minter.  I also didn't realize until after I left for the evening that I'd been sitting less than 50 feet from Kye Allums, who I have been eager to meet. 

I also had a serious conversation with members of a student group from Florida A&M.  I told them a little bit about some of the stuff I was exposed to in terms of passing sexual orientation and gender identity languge in collegiate noddisrimination policies idoing with the Texas Transgender Nnondiscrimimation Summit.  It's a battle they are currently engaged in at FAMU.

We had a moment during the reception in which we were invited to tell the gathered people in the room why OUT on the Hill was important to us, and yes I was the first up to the mic to say so. 

I also took that opportunity to announce that I was joining the Trans Person Of Color Coalition team effective immediately.

Not long after that Janet, Sharon, and Kimberley arrived from VP Biden's house and Janet took a moment along with Sharon to address the crowd.

9 PM came far too soon and Kimberley and I discovered that I was staying less than three blocks from her place, so I joined her and  Janet for a drink and converation at Chez Billy's.

After almost two hours, it was time for all of us to crash for the night since Kimberley's day started way earlier than mine and I safely made my way back to Jeri's house to prepeare for Day 2 of OUT on the Hill
 

2012 Out On The Hill-Day 2 Schedule

In case you readers weren't aware of it, Out on the Hill also takes place during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference which is held at the sprawling Walter Williams Convention Center. 

We OOTH attendees have the opportunity to attend the CBCF-ALC at a discounted rate, so for those of you who would like to attend that event, it's another reason you need to come to OOTH 2013 because it's always the same week as the CBCF-ALC  

What's on the schedule for Day 2 of Out on the Hill is the Grand Opening of the NBJC CBCF-ALC exhibit booth, a town hall moderated by Melissa Harris-Perry entitled Voting Rights and New Age Discrimination with the assorted CBCF-ALC workshops and session if you chose the option to attend them.   

It's also Issue Advocacy Day, so from 1-5 PM we'll be jumping on the Red Line and heading to Capitol Hill to talk to members of congress and their staffs about various issues before heading back to the hotel and getting ready for the OOTH Chairman's Reception starting at 7:00 PM

2012 Out On The Hill-Day 1 Schedule

Thanks to the magic of the auto-post feature, while I'm sleeping I get to tell y'all about Day 1 of this conference and why I eagerly flew 1500 miles to get here. 

It's the day I have been eagerly awaiting since the Save the Date announcement went out. 

It's the first day of Out on the Hill 2012 and on the agenda from 9:00 AM-12:30 PM EDT will be the Opening General Session and welcome to Washington DC.  I'm looking forward to it because I not only get to see my NBJC fam,  I get to see who's here for OOTH 2012..

Anyway, focus Moni.   We then head to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Black LGBT Leaders Day at the White House from 1-5 PM   Last year we got a surprise visit from Valerie Jarrett.. Who will it be from the POTUS's staff this year?   

We move on from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to a legislative issues briefing and networking reception from 6-9 PM entitled Building Black LGBT Political Power In Our Nation's Capitol.

Check with y'all in a few hours..