NBJC Presidential Midterm Report Card

If you're wondering what the African-American TBLG/SGL community perspective is concerning President Obama, I can say with certainly it's vastly different from the one expressed by elements of the white GLBT one.

To point that out, thought you needed to peruse the Presidential Midterm Report Card that was issued by the National Black Justice Coalition, the organization  that advocates for the African descended TBLG community on issues of concern to our community.

As NBJC  Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks pointed out in the foreword to the Presidential report card,: she wrote:

NBJC believes that President Obama has not been given the appropriate credit due for the monumental strides this nation has made on his watch to advance efforts toward full equality achieved for LGBT people. In this spirit, NBJC has created a Presidential Midterm Report Card in recognition of the outstanding record-to-date of the sitting President of the United States, who happens to be an African American, in advancing LGBT equality. For example, he has excelled at having federal agencies investigate and root out every obscure administrative rule and policy that impacts the lives of LGBT people.

In addition, the Obama administration has been diligent in amending language, where necessary, to eliminate barriers in our quest for “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Here's the link to that NBJC Presidential Report on issues that matter to us and the grades he received for them..

 

Pridefest in Jamaica This Weekend

There are TBLG communities around the world, and even with the drama and negativity aimed at them they still exist and proudly and openly live their lives.

I've gotten to know one of my fellow bloggers down there who is the creative force behind Gay Jamaica Watch and GLBTQ Jamaica. If you're interested in keeping up with what's going on in the TBLG community there, check it out.
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Contrary to what you've heard, the Jamaican BTLG community is putting up a spirited fight for their human rights in their homeland and are building community.  

As part of those efforts, this weekend Pridefest will take place in Kingston on September 11


The Pridefest will include a Party with a Twist Expo running from 2-6 PM local time, a fashion show that starts at 6 PM and then the party gets started until 12 PM

There will be MC's, live concert performances from LGBT community members and oh yeah, did I forget the music?

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Come out and see LGBT Talent.

Top Designers, Dancers, Caterers, Artist, Comedians!

 TATTOOS & BODY PIERCINGS all day, Food and refreshment on sale

Admission: ONLY J$500

BASHMENT IN TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRIDE FEST is the first annual fundraiser for THE UNDERLINED RESPONSE.

Krazy Talents will be displayed!!!!
All boys dance group!!!
all girls dance group!!!!
Vouging!!!!!
Comedians!! (Rugrat Toons)
Singers
Artiste
Fashion Designer (H.O.D Designs and more)
Excellent food!!
WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING SHOW LINED UP!!! AND AFTER THE SHOW IS THE "AFTER LYME"!!

Objectives of PRIDE FEST:

1. To raise seed funds for The Underlined Response activities.
2. To highlight LGBT owned and friendly business, services, talent and resources.
3. To present Couture Elements Scholarship Fund 2011 Awardee.
4. To present the inaugural annual LEVEL UP award.
5 To formally introduce The Executive Board 2011-2013 for the Underlined Response.

PRIDE FEST will take the form of an exhibition, stage show and lyme

Any questions or concern please contact us at theunderlinedresponse@gmail.com.

Tickets for Pridefest are J$500 presale   J$700 at the door

Yo Don, We Need To Talk- Again

I was parked in front of the TV like most of trans America watching Don Lemon's interview on The Joy Behar Show, and I spent most of it like Janet Mock and probably countless other people around the country mumbling WTF under my breath  

Here you had a panel that includes Harmony Santana, Isis King, Laverne Cox and Chaz Bono.  All are groundbreaking people with interesting storylines, and the best you can do in that air time is conduct a piss poor trans 101 level discussion?

Don, you were already on shaky ground with the trans community after that NAACP trans free panel discussion.  Now you've flubbed your second chance to change the impression that people have of you in the trans community that you're just like the other gay peeps who don't have (or don't want to have) a clue about trans people 



And the fact that you're one of the few high profile out African American gay males makes this slowly ossifying impression one that concerns me as a fellow African American.

You may think America is at a Trans 101 level of discussion but I submit we're actually at Trans 201 or 202 level.  Elements of the African American community are playing catch up to get to that 201 level.

I and other transpeople of all ethnicities believe it's past time for Americans to get past their fixation on our genitalia, skip the trans makeup and trans shaving photo ops and get busy discussing our lives and how the anti-trans attitudes, transphobia, and people actively working to oppress us negatively impact them.  

As your journalistic colleague Janet Mock eloquently stated,

We can’t continue having the same conversations about trans people with a revolving door of new trans figures. We are not entertainment and our stories aren’t just for mere consumption. We must ask the hard questions beyond surgery and facial hair and ask how are they really doing now that they are in the bodies of their destinies? How are they navigating in the world?

And what will you do to help facilitate those conversations?