Happy 40th Birthday Fran Watson!

Couldn't let today pass without wishing Fran Watson a very happy 40th birthday.

Y'all know I have much love for my trailblazing sis, who has weathered much adversity in her life and overcome it to blaze trails, get happily married to her spouse Kim and make history.

She is a much loved figure in our Houston advocate community, and someone who I admire and look up to as a role model.

Fran is not only a kick butt attorney, but was elected as the first African-American female president of the Houston GLBT Caucus.   She became only the second African American female Houston Pride Parade Grand Marshal last year, and spends some of her precious free time sitting on the boards of several organizations in our Houston area community.

Now she is taking on another challenge by running for the Texas Senate and taking on Republican incumbent senator Joan Huffman.

If she wins next November, she would become only the second ever Black woman in Texas history elected to the Texas Senate and the first since the legendary Barbara Jordan successfully did so in 1967.

So looking forward to seeing if that history gets made with the help of the SD 17 voters .  But in the meantime, happy milestone birthday Fran!

Can't wait to see what else you accomplish in your amazing life!

Happy Birthday Eden Lane!

Couldn't let today pass without giving a TransGriot birthday shout out to my trailblazing Denver based television producing sis in Eden Lane.

I say trailblazing because she is the first out trans reporter and journalist to cover a national political convention.  She covered the 2008 Democratic National Convention for PBS when it came to Denver.

She has also produced the show In Focus with Eden Lane for the last seven years on Colorado Public Television, and is seeking to raise $15,000 to produce another season of the weekly show that focuses on the local arts scene in Denver and the state of Colorado as she works on other media projects..

And if her name seems familiar to you, you have probably seen Eden's insightful commentary pop up recently on CNN and other television shows. 

Lane was also recently voted by readers of the local Westworld  newspaper as the 'Best Non-Network Television Personality', and I definitely hope she gets the birthday present of a major network or local station in the Denver area giving her an on-air job.

Happy birthday Eden!  May your special day find you enveloped in love, be a stress free one, and you receive the ultimate gift of celebrating many more of them.

And so looking forward to the next time we get to spend some quality time together.

Happy Anniversary Tiq and Kim!

You know I had to give a TransGriot shoutout to one of my fave bi-national couples on their first wedding anniversary.   Besides, it's easy for me to remember the day they got married because it's the day after my birthday.

One year ago today Tiq and Kim Katrin Milan got married in New York.   I have much love for both of them because they are and continue to be amazing advocates for the issues they are passionate about.  

Thank both of you for doing what you do individually and collectively to make our planet better, spread knowledge and role model what Black love looks like in action.

And yeah they make one cute couple.

Happy anniversary Kim and Tiq!   May you have many more, and looking forward to the next time or event we get to spend some quality time together.

Happy Birthday Nicole!

Time for another TransGriot birthday shoutout, and it goes to someone who is an emerging voice in our trans community ranks at just age 23.

Meet San Antonio based video blogger Nicole Ramos.   In addition to her popular YouTube channel, this proud trans Latina has made appearances on various talk shows to intelligently talk about our issues.



Looking forward to the next opportunity I get to spend some time on her end of I-10 and the day I finally get to meet this up and coming young leader to watch. 

Your voice and perspective as a Latina trans woman is also needed as we continue to expand the much needed and ongoing conversation around trans issues.

Happy birthday Nicole!   Thanks for all you do for our community, being an intelligent voice for it, and hope you have a fabulous, fun-filled day.

And to borrow a line from Star Trek, may you live long and prosper on your journey through life.