While I was in our nation's capital handling some OUT on the Hill conference business, the sold out 23rd annual Houston Transgender Unity Banquet was transpiring at the Sheraton Brookhollow with this year's keynote speaker being Kate Bornstein
And yeah, was nice to hear I was missed.
The Unity Banquet supports not only the Transgender Foundation of America (TFA), but the Peggy Rudd Scholarship, and trans activities during Houston Pride.
The Houston Trans Community Awards are also given out in various categories, and in case you're curious, while I was nominated for the Dee McKellar in 2001, I have yet to win any award at this event. .
The Houston Unity Banquet started out as a way for the then four trans groups in town representing different parts of the trans umbrella to work on a collaborative project that would ensure communication, cohesiveness between the groups, and continues to serve that important role over two decades later.
It's also an opportunity to produce a fun, trans oriented Houston event besides TDOR that our allies can enthusiastically support.
I was happy to find out that Josephine Tittsworth, who I've known for over a decade, was honored with a lifetime achievement award. There was also a little Houston trans history made when my roomie Dee Dee Watters was honored with the Dee McKellar Award,
I'll have to confirm it, but by winning the Dee McKellar, Dee Dee became the first local African-American trans person to win an award at this event, and have a feeling she won't be the last.
I was also happy to discover that Fran Watson, one of our community's staunch allies, also received the Champion Award at this year's Unity Banquet as well.Glad to hear that this edition of the Houston Transgender Unity Banquet was a success, and hope that next year's event is even bigger and better.
So why do we have the Unity Banquet here in H-town? One of the reasons we do so is to promote unity, cooperation and facilitate cooperation between several local transgender groups.