Congressional Hispanic Caucus Interns Come To Casa Ruby

You longtime readers of this blog know I have much love and admiration for Roby Corado-Walker and the fantastic job she has done over the last few years in building Casa Ruby into the go to TBLGQ focused social services center in the Washington DC area.

It's being noticed, and she's starting to get the funding attention she so richly deserves.

The latest project that Casa Ruby has taken on is opening a transitional housing unit that will house 10-12 TBLGQ youth. 

The property that will house the transitional housing facility has been purchased and undergone renovation for its soon to be intended use.

It was recently visited by a group Congressional Hispanic Caucus 2015 spring interns on a chilly DC day to help clean, fix and prep the house so it can get closer to the day it becomes a home for the young people who are ready willing and able with Casa Ruby's help to take control of their lives.

It was wonderful to see the Congressional Hispanic Caucus interns take on Casa Ruby as a project.  It is the type of cooperation and community building I want to see happen more often between the African-American trans community, our people and our legacy organizations.

Megacongratulations to Casa Ruby for all the work it has been doing in the Washington DC area, for the staff and volunteers that keep it running, and for its founding director for continuing to breathe life into her vision of a community center that is a home for everyone.

Guilty Plea In DC Metro Trans Teen Stabbing Incident

Justice was finally served in the case in which a then 15 year old trans feminine teen was stabbed on a Washington Metro train last summer.

Maryland resident Reginald Anthony Klaiber was arrested immediately after the stabbing happened by DC Metro Police on a Green Line train at the Fort Totten Station.

On Friday January 9 the now 25 year old  Klaiber pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, with a hate crime enhancement, for stabbing the trans feminine teen..

The Honorable Juliet McKenna scheduled Klaiber's sentencing for March 11, and Klaiber is facing 10-15 years in prison. Because the offense was a hate crime, the charge includes a bias enhancement.

Assault with a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. However, with the bias enhancement, it is punishable by up to 15 years of jail time.

We'll see what happens on March 11 in the sentencing phase, but at least the trans teen and the DC trans community can exhale and take comfort in the fact the initial stage of justice in this case has taken place.

Ruby Corado Gets Married!

Whenever I pop into Washington DC, one of my mandatory stops, especially when she makes it happen by grabbing me at the airport before my other DC area friends do, is one at Casa Ruby.

It's run by longtime DC activist Ruby Corado, who has overcome a lot of personal challenges in her own life to become an iconic leader inside I-495.   She is building Casa  Ruby into the go to bilingual service provider for LGBT people in Washington DC, and I've been thrilled to watch it grow and prosper  .

Yesterday my homegirl got married to her fiance David in a ceremony held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in which the blushing bride was escorted down the aisle by Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray.

I met Ruby's now hubby David a few moths ago during the Philly Trans Health Conference, and there is no doubt that these two love each other.  

And I couldn't be happier for her. 

She's still basking in the afterglow of her special day, because here is her comment about it from her Facebook page entitled 'Dreams Do Come True!'

***

My whole life, I have been told that I was not supposed to love or be loved.
I was not supposed to love myself because I was different( Trans, indigenous, dark haired, immigrant, HIV Positive, you name it). I was made to believe that no one could love me back because I was different.

Yesterday, life proved everyone wrong.

I love myself more than ever because I am SOMEBODY.  My husband showed the world that it is ok to love me even though I am different.  My city's mayor Vince Gray walked me down the aisle and showed the world once again that he stands for love.

My friends and Family showed me, that I am SOMEBODY, and they stand with me in sickness and in health until death do us part.

Today as I lay next to my husband, I want to tell my friends, clients, supporters, followers and the entire world that It is ok to be different and that no matter what anyone says, YOU ARE WORTHY OF LOVE AS MUCH AS I AM

Never stop dreaming, never stop believing because dreams do come true.

A Million Thanks To Everyone Who Shared This Special Moment in person or from A distance, I felt your love

Love For All
Ruby Corado-Walker

***

Congratulations Ruby and David!   May you two have have a long, healthy and happy marriage.

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

Application Deadline For HBCU LGBT Leadership and Career Summit

A September 8 deadline is quickly approaching for the 2014 HBCU LGBT Leadership and Career Summit which will take place October 4-7 in our nation's capitol. 

According to Samantha Master, there are currently 8 remaining slots for LGBTQ students at historically Black colleges that need to be filled and you are encouraged to apply for.  Summit participants are provided a full scholarship to DC which includes travel, lodging and meals.

Additionally, the Trans Women of Color Collective of Greater New York's Lourdes Ashley Hunter will be keynoting this year. She is the first trans woman to keynote this important summit.

If you are an LGBTQ undergraduate or graduate student at an HBCU, please apply

ELIGILIBITY
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of the summit. • Applicants must be enrolled at an HBCU. • Applicants must be committed to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. • Applicants must identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning.
Students who have either demonstrated high achievement or show the potential for high achievement will be given strong consideration. Some considerations for achievement include, but are not exclusive to the following examples:

• Participation in an LGBT student group on their HBCU campus (if applicable) • Demonstration of a commitment to LGBT equality and social justice issues • Showing a willingness and desire to develop personal leadership skills

One letter of recommendation from a school faculty member, counselor, or administrator that will be uploaded to this form. The letter of recommendation must be from someone who has worked directly with you as a supervisor or professor. Letters should be no longer than a page and should include specific examples of your leadership achievements or potential, including campus and community work, your passion for LGBT equality and social change, and your willingness to work with others.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Samantha Master at 202-772-3887 or samantha.master@hrc.org.

Smithsonian Adds Trans Items To Expanded LGBT History Collection

Yesterday The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History added hundreds of photographs, papers and historical objects to its collection to document the history of trans, bisexual, gay and lesbian people.   And in case you're wondering about it, yes, the trans end was ably represented on this day. 

One of the trans items donated was a wooden tennis racket from Renee Richards, who turned 80 years old yesterday and was one of the newsworthy trans folks of the 1970's.  After she was denied entry to play in the 1976 US Open because of a hastily enacted USTA women-born-women policy, she won a landmark New York Supreme Court trans rights decision in 1977.

Another of the trans-specific items donated for historical posterity was the original trans pride flag created by longtime Atlanta based trans advocate Monica Helms back in 1999 along with a Transgender American Veterans Association button, a TransParentday.org rubber wrist bracelet, Trans and Proud and Trans Ally buttons  and items from Monica's military career in the US Navy.  

This ceremony also took place on the 15th anniversary of the August 19, 1999 day she created the trans pride flag she is donating to the Smithsonian.  

Helms was in Washington DC for yesterday's donation ceremony and obviously thrilled to be representing the trans community on this momentous day.  In her remarks she spoke to the importance of the 'T' being repped in this expansion of the National Museum Of American History's LGBT collection.

Thank you Director John Gray, Katherine Ott, Jennifer Jones and Valeska Hilbig for all that you have done to make this moment possible. This is a historical honor for all transgender and gender non-conforming people across our country. We have always been part of America’s history since the beginning, yet we have also been marginalized the entire time.

Now, the Smithsonian and the American Government are saying that our history is worthy of being displayed, along with that of our fellow Americans. The Transgender Pride Flag was created to give our community a unique symbol for us to show that we are proud of who we are. Not only have trans people in America embraced the flag, but trans communities in other parts of the world have also embraced it. If weren’t for them we would not be here today. The honor goes to the people of the world’s trans community. Transgender and gender non-conforming people of America are truly part of this country that we all love.

And, since the Smithsonian will be displaying items from my military career, they are also acknowledging that we have contributed to the security of our country since the Revolutionary War. We only hope that the Department of Defense and President Obama hears this message and allows transgender and gender non-conforming people the right to serve openly in the military, like our gay, lesbian and bisexual brothers and sisters are doing today.

Thank you for this honor.

***

Sea Monica shot me an e-mail before her departure to DC for yesterday's donation ceremony and I asked her a few questions.

TG- What prompted the Smithsonian to seek to enshrine the original trans pride flag and when did they contact you?

MH- I contacted the Smithsonian a year ago. They are starting to collect LGBT artifacts, so I contacted them at the right time.

TG- How excited were they about getting the original trans pride flag and to your knowledge what other trans historical artifacts are going into their collection?
MH- They were very excited. I was surprised.  They became more excited when they understood how important this was to the trans community.

TG- How soon will Smithsonian visitors be able to see it?

MH- It may take them a year or more before the display is put together and put out to the public. They will let me know. It will be on permanent display versus temporary.  It will be in their Armed Forces Flag display section, because I was in the Navy.

***

So how important is this?  BFD important.  Just as it happened when the April Ashley exhibit opened last September in her hometown Liverpool Museum, it notes to the world and our haters that transpeople exist. 

It loudly says to the world we have a proud history we can show to our transkids and others that The Smithsonian thought was worthy enough to be enshrined in its National Museum of American History halls.    It's one of the reasons I participate in efforts locally and elsewhere to document trans history on behalf of my African-American trans community.   It's why I keep a lot of my papers and memorabilia around so I can pass them on so future generations can enjoy them.

Thank you Sea Monica for helping to ensure that when The Smithsonian was looking to expand the LGBT collection, items representing the trans end of the community were included.

Stephanie And Ukea: Plus 12

Twelve years ago on this date at the same 50th and C Street corner in Southeast DC where Tyra Hunter's death by medical transphobia happened,. two young Washington DC transwomen died.
   .
Sadly, there have been a lot of trans murders and anti-trans violence aimed at my Washington DC trans sisters since 2002, but the brutal execution style slayings of 19 year old Stephanie Thomas and 18 year old Ukea Davis rocked DC and the nation. 

Sadly, the waste (or wastes) of DNA who committed this crime have yet to be brought to justice.  

There are times I think about what happened to these two inseparable friends.  I wonder what depraved soul would have so much hate in their heart for Stephanie and Ukea that they made the heinous effort to terminate their lives.

I also wonder if Stephanie and Ukea had lived, what contributions would they be making to our community at ages 30 and 31?   But that is a question we'll never know the answer to.

Rest in power and in peace ladies.   Know that your Washington DC trans brothers and trans sisters and your trans family around the country won't rest until the perps who did this are arrested, convicted and are rotting in jail for the rest of their lives for it.

Tyra Hunter: Plus 19

We must never forget what happened to Tyra on this day. We must also diligently work to ensure that what she suffered at the hands of emergency personnel is not replicated in our locales. The message must be made crystal clear to our first responders that when they swear to serve and protect, that means ALL citizens.
TransGriot  August 7, 2007

Today is the 19th anniversary of a trans death that occurred in Washington DC on August 7, 1995 due to medical transphobia.

It occurred at the corner of 50th and C Streets in Southeast DC that would witness an even more horrific death several years later that is still yet to be solved. 

This is the day that 24 year old Tyra Hunter was a passenger in a car that was involved in an auto accident at that Southeast DC corner and suffered injuries that had she been treated properly she would have survived.

But because of DC Fire Department EMT Adrian Williams' transphobia, and a run in with another transphobic doctor after her arrival at the now closed DC General Hospital, failure to be treated at the accident scene and in the hospital led to her death.   

The thing that really incensed the Washington DC trans community, myself and everyone else in the national trans community in the wake of the tragedy was Williams received a promotion from the DC Fire Department several years later. 

The Tyra Hunter case stays with me because it happened a mere 13 months into my own transition, I still get upset when I think about it, and as long as this blog exists I'm going to continue writing about it because medical transphobia is still happening.

During our fight to pass the HERO, a transman testified that he was denied emergency care at a local hospital by a transphobic doctor.   

The Tyra Hunter incident was one of the trans human rights outrages that began to nudge me in the direction of becoming an activist and trans rights advocate.  I was determined to never again have something as egregious as this happen to one of our sisters at the hands of an EMT, doctor or other medical personnel that could result in death of that trans person.

We can't bring Tyra back, but the best way to honor her memory is to continue as a community to be vigilant and ensure that medical transphobia never takes another trans life, and scream loudly when it does.. 
  

Arrest Made In DC Metro Trans Stabbing Incident

I'd been in my Boston hotel room barely three hours Wednesday when I received word about a 15 year old transfeminine teen being stabbed in the back on a Washington Metro Green Line train before it pulled into the Fort Totten Station in NE Washington.

The teen's injuries are non life threatening (thank God) and she is recovering in a local hospital 

The waste of DNA who committed the transphobic deed, 24 year old Reginald Anthony Klaiber of Greenbelt, MD was arrested at the scene and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. 

Because of his witnessed transphobic remarks aimed at the 15 year old victim of the assault, it's also classified as a bias crime.   Klaiber is also facing potential hate crimes charges.

Good, throw the book at his transphobic azz because according to reporting by the Washington Blade's Lou Chibbaro, Jr., Klaiber has a criminal record.  D.C. Superior Court’s online records show Klaiber pleaded guilty to a July 2013 felony robbery charge and pleaded guilty to a July 2013 misdemeanor charge of threats to do bodily harm.

Will be paying attention to see if DC prosecutors aren't selling woof tickets again and actually use the hate crimes statute in this case. 
 

NBJC Statement Concerning The TBLG Executive Order

As you TransGriot readers are aware of, yesterday morning President Barack Obama signed executive orders banning federal contractors from discriminating in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity.   The executive order also expanded a 1998 Clinton executive order that banned discrimination in federal employment based on gender identity.

The National Black Justice Coalition was pleased with yesterday's event and had this to say about it.  While this is wonderful news, NBJC cautions us that the fight is far from over when it comes to expanding equality and opportunity for all.

***

“President Obama’s decision to protect LGBT workers contracting with the federal government is a powerful sign that our nation continues to make progress on expanding equality and opportunity to all. But the fight on this issue is far from over,” said Sharon Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. “It’s beyond troubling that more states permit marriage equality than prohibit LGBT discrimination in the workplace. What sense does it make to be able to marry, but have to live in fear of losing your job simply because of who you are or who you love? This injustice must be made right by Congress passing nondiscrimination protections for all of our nation’s workers, no matter their backgrounds."

For forty years, Congress has debated several pieces of legislation meant to address LGBT workplace equality with no success achieved. This lack of advancement has had a devastating impact on LGBT workers of color. NBJC’s co-authored report, A Broken Bargain For LGBT Workers of Color, illustrates how LGBT workers who live at the intersections of race and both gender identity and sexual orientation face tremendous odds when trying to secure and maintain employment. For example, national surveys of Black LGBT people put rates of employment discrimination near 50 percent.

“Black LGBT people are significantly disadvantaged when they lack nondiscrimination protections in the workplace. NBJC will not rest until all qualified American workers, including our Black LGBT brothers and sisters, have the ability to secure a good, quality job to take care of themselves and their families,” added Lettman-Hicks.

With the signing of today’s Executive Order, President Obama builds upon his Administration’s stellar record of improving the lives of LGBT people. The Obama Administration’s LGBT victories include: signing a federal hate crimes law; repealing the military’s discriminatory policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” the Department of Justice’s move to stop defending the “Defense of Marriage Act;” and the expansion of health care coverage to the LGBT community, with an emphasis on addressing LGBT health care disparities.

POTUS To Sign Exec Orders Banning TBLG Workplace Discrimination Today

Happening in mere moments from the White House will be President Obama signing two executive orders 11246 and 11478 that ban workplace discrimination in federal contracting for LGBT employees and federal workplace discrimination against transgender ones

Glad that Mia Macy is in the house to witness it along with Faith Cheltenham and Kylar Broadus..  I'll find out later who else was at the White House to watch that history happen.   Her Macy vs Holder EEOC case has opened the doors for us to be able to go to the EEOC to fight anti-trans discrimination.

Once President Obama signs the new executive orders, TBLG employees who work for federal contractors will be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, bias against federal employees based on gender identity will be prohibited.

Sexual orientation been protected from bias discrimination since President Clinton’s signed his executive order doing so in 1998.   It was past time it happened for the trans community.

TransGriot Note:  When the video is posted on White House.gov for the ceremony, I'll update the post.

WMATA Will Finally Open Silver Line July 26

When I was up in DC for the LGBT Innovation Summit and took the Metrorail train to Capitol Hill, one of the things I noted was the directional signage in the existing stations adding information for the Silver Line.

After construction delays that have caused WMATA to postpone the start of Silver Line service several times, after five years of construction, the initial 11.7 mile $2.9 billion segment of the line from the Orange Line's East Falls Church station to the Wiehle Ave-East Reston station will open next Saturday, July 26.  Four of the five new Silver Line stations will be in Tysons Corner, VA with the other in Reston, VA. where the westbound Silver Line will terminate until Phase 2 expansion of the line is completed. 

After a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 AM EDT for the line which will have Gov Terry McAuliffe (D) and other local officials, the first revenue service Silver Line train will roll eastward from the Wiehle Ave-East Reston station at 12 noon EDT.  

In preparation for the long awaited day in northern Virginia, WMATA will be running test trains and simulated service starting tomorrow along the entire length of the Silver Line to familiarize Washington Metro employees with the new route and finalize the train schedules under real time conditions.

Those Silver Line simulation trains going eastbound from the Wiehle-Reston East station until noon on July 26 will be marked as Orange Line trains with a destination of either East Falls Church or Largo Town Center.  They won't carry or pick up passengers from the six new stations until they reach the East Falls Church one that begins the portion of the Silver Line shared with the tracks of the existing Orange and Blue lines.

The Silver Line westbound simulation trains headed in the direction of Wiehle-Reston East once they reach East Falls Church station will offload all passengers, then continue on the new Silver Line tracks in Fairfax County, VA without passengers toward that new station.

As for what's transpiring with the Phase 2 construction of the Silver Line which will extend it from the Wiehle-Reston East station another 11.5 miles to Dulles airport (hallelujah) and eastern Loudoun County with six new stations, construction has already started on it with an estimated completion in 2018.

People in the DC metro area and visitors after next Saturday's opening will be one step closer to being able to ride Metrorail to Washington Dulles airport and Fairfax County.   Let's just hope Phase 2 of this massive public works project is built and opened on time..
 

TPOCC, BTMI and BTWI Handling Their Capitol Hill Business

The Trans Persons of Color Coalition (TPOCC) , Black Transmen Inc (BTMI) and Black Transwomen Inc (BTWI) are part of the coalition of groups that are walking the House and Senate office buildings right now handling their Capitol Hill lobbying business on behalf of our community.

It's been past time that we New Black Transmen and New Black Transwomen handle our legislative business.  It's also been past time to let the Congressional Black Caucus and other congressional leaders know that trans people of color exist and are more than capable of speaking for ourselves, owning our power and talking about the issues that affect our community.

It's also time as grown ass POC trans people we determine who we will and will not ally ourselves with politically.   Far too many of the national LGBT orgs that allegedly represent us have NONE of us siting at their policy tables or in their workforces getting paid to advocate for us.

That needs to end now. 

Yeah, wish I was up on Capitol Hill with you, but I have every confidence those of you who are there inside I-495 will do an excellent job handling your citizen lobbying duties on behalf of our community.  

Next time I damned sure want to be there doing my part.  I want to help conduct training sessions, do briefings, give a little motivational speech, and pass on my accumulated knowledge to the current and next generation of trans leaders.

We'll see if that happens.

Transgender Lobby Day In DC Today and Tomorrow

Today and tomorrow my transpeeps are going to be walking the halls of Congress visiting congressional and senatorial offices engaging in exercising their constitutional right to petition their lawmakers for redress of trans grievances.

Translation: they'll be lobbying.  

Contrary to public opinion, lobbying isn't just for high dollar corporate backed K St pros or former congressmembers, it is also for citizens from various states and congressional districts across the country who are taking their time to visit their congressmembers and let them know their thoughts about various issues 

My trans peeps will be visiting offices in the Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn House Office Buildings and the Hart, Dirksen and Russell Senate Office Buildings to talk to staffers and if their lucky, a few congressmembers and senators about the issues of importance to our community. 

The Transgender Lobby Day is a joint project of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), Trans Latin@ Coalition, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, PFLAG National, Black Transmen, Inc., Black Transwomen, Inc and NCTE.

And nope, not in DC for this one despite the fact I've been there, done that numerous times  since 1998.

Several of the coalition orgs let me know last week when I was in DC how much they would have rather had me there inside I-495 helping train the neophyte lobbyists instead of being in Houston.

But there are enough vets there to where my presence isn't necessary this time.   Besides, I can do a better job of lobbying when I come to DC unannounced.    

A welcome reception was held last night for all attendees of the event and on tap today at the Meeting House of the Friends, at 2111 Florida Ave, NW. is a policy conference.   After some lobby training on Tuesday in the same location our trans citizen lobbyists will head to the Hill. 

For those of you in DC for the event, here's some other tips they may or may not cover.  

*There's an app for your phones you may wish to download that tells you the House or Senate office building and office number for your congresscritter, the phone numbers for that congressional office and several staffers, and will dial that office number once you find the congressional office you wish to visit.

*Street parking is almost non existent in that area due to heightened security, so do what 'errbody' else does in DC and take Metrorail.  If you're staying near a CVS you can buy a reloadable SmartTrip card there or get it at a Metro subway station.  Catch the Orange or Blue lines to the Capitol South Station, which is a easy one block walk to the Cannon House Office Building.   You can access the Longworth and Rayburn HOB's via tunnel once you clear security at Cannon HOB.

Unfortunately, since the 9-11 terror attacks, the subway between the House and Senate office buildings has been restricted to congressmembers and staffers, so you will have to exit one of the house office buildings and walk past the Supreme Court Building plaza and Capitol Visitors Center to get to the Senate office buildings.

*The Senate HOB's have electronic video boards to make it easier for visitors to find Senatorial offices.   Unfortunately the House doesn't yet (probably because it's GOP controlled).  The House directories are near stairwells and elevators in a font size that can be hard to read at times. There are some in various House office buildings located in spots where even my tall behind had to tiptoe to read them or have a small flashlight to do so because of the darkness of the corridor.

*The offices will have the nameplate of the member plus the state flag outside the door to further help you find your member as you wander the House and Senate office buildings in search of those offices..

*The cool thing about visiting your own congressmember is as a district constituent, the staff will take time to talk to you even if you don't have an appointment. 

I salute and thank you for taking the valuable time out of your schedules to represent yourselves and our community in Washington DC. Enjoy your time in our nation's capital, have fun and I know you will represent our community well.

Moni's In The Middle Of The WH LGBT Innovation Summit

It's been an amazing year so far for me and it still has five more months left in it before we flip the calendar page to 2015.

Another blessing came my way with an invitation courtesy of Dr Kortney Ryan Ziegler and Trans*H4CK to attend the first ever White House LGBT Innovation Summit.   You know as a history buff I love being at groundbreaking events, and definitely wanted to be in DC for this inaugural July 7 one.

So once again I found myself on a jet plane winging my way to DC via the ATL to be there.  

Since it was post-4th of July weekend, it was an interesting route to get there.  Normally I like going in and out of DCA (I refuse to call it Reagan National) because it's on the WMATA Metrorail Yellow and Blue lines.   But on this trip I was routed to go into BWI on Sunday and leave out of DCA on Tuesday.  In addition I had 3 hour layovers in Atlanta on both legs.  But hey, I'm still getting my frequent flyer miles.    

I got up at 4 AM CDT to head over to Hobby for my 7 AM departure to the ATL.  After Dee Dee Watters dropped me off, I'm thinking "Who is going to be traveling at 6 AM on Sunday to go somewhere?" as I entered the airport terminal..  But after I picked up my boarding passes in front of the Delta ticket counter and saw the line at TSA security I was jarred back into the reality I was traveling on the back side of the holiday weekend, as my 15 minute wait to clear security attested to. For once I didn't get some hands on attention from our TSA friends after I went through the body scanner .

It's a gorgeous flying weather day and I get to the ATL with no issues.  I've already eaten breakfast, I'm chilling at my BWI gate with my laptop playing my fave tunes from the 70s-90's on my Spotify account as I settle in to kill my three hours of Hartsfield-Jackson airport sit time.  I'm watching the world and the Delta flight personnel walk by and thinking about how much I miss the airline biz when I heard the announcement that my flight has gate changed due to a mechanical problem with my just arrived inbound aircraft.

We ended up leaving 20 minutes late on the ATL-BWI leg but my captain made up the time and we pulled into my BWI gate at 3:47 PM EDT, three minutes earlier than scheduled.    Samantha Master grabbed me a few minutes later and off we went in the direction of Washington DC and my Dupont Circle area hotel.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, because I know so many people in the DC area who would love to spend quality time with me (and it's a nice problem to have), they know to get it they have to grab me either when I land inside I-495 or on my way out of town back to DCA.  

So Samantha made sure she got first dibs on me before Ruby Corado did.
     
After taking me to lunch, doing a little shopping and discussing the current state of the movement, we eventually ended up at the Carlyle Suites hotel on New Hampshire Ave NW.   I noticed along with Samantha the Delta Sigma Theta Way sign underneath it as we turned onto New Hampshire Ave.  I discovered I would be staying less that two doors down from DST national headquarters which made me chuckle as a child of a proud AKA. 

That area also has many embassies, and the Grenadian embassy was on the corner of New Hampshire Ave and R St.  I also noticed something else in addition to the embassies sprinkled throughout the tree shaded neighborhood, a 7-Eleven.   That meant I was going to be able to destroy some Slurpees on this trip.    

I checked into my 7th floor art-deco style suite, made some calls, walked around the corner to that 7-Eleven to get my first Slurpee (lemonade) since my PTHC trip and after returning to the hotel settled in to get some rest for the big day.

Monday July 7 was another warm but beautiful clear weather day in which I debated when I woke up at 8 AM whether to go to Capitol Hill and see Yesenia Chavez or just head to the White House area for the Summit which was starting at 1 PM. 

I was anxious to see who was going to be in attendance for the Summit, and started walking toward the Dupont Circle Metro station.   I discovered during that walk the embassies of Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Argentina were also in the vicinity along with the headquarters of the American Library Association.   That made me smile and think about my homegirl BiblioDiva, AKA Melissa Meadows as I made the turn onto Q St. near the Argentinian embassy and headed toward the station.  

When I arrived there I got my first pleasant surprise of the day when I tapped my WMATA SmarTrip card and discovered I had $9.60 on it.  That was more than enough to get me down there and back from Dupont Circle, so I added another $7 to it to cover any other Metrorail trips I would possibly do here before jumping onto my Red Line train to head to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds.        
.            
After changing to a Orange Line train at Metro Center Station I get off at Farragut West and realize I didn't burn as much time as I thought I would and I'm way early.   Fortunately I spot a Mickey D's and decided to burn up an hour and grab lunch there before heading to the designated WH security gate since I knew it was going to be at least 4 hours before I'd get an opportunity to eat something.

I arrive at the security checkpoint outside of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at 11:40 AM and I'm met by a female intern ironically from Dallas who is waiting to escort another party into the WH complex.   After we exchanged Lone Star pleasantries a few minutes later I start seeing the peeps arriving for the Summit.   Michael David Battle arrives with his mom, then Geena Rocero, and Krys and Kin Folkz from Oakland who I'd met during the first Trans*H4CK 

We all start catching up on what has been transpiring in our lives as the clock ticks toward 12 noon and the point that security personnel are ready to begin checking our ID for the first stage of clearing the WH security gauntlet

After arriving in the auditorium I begin to see more familiar people like Kimberley McLeod from Elixher, Angelica Ross, Lourdes Hunter, Katrina Goodlett, and the man of the hour in Dr. KRZ complete with his patriotic flag pattern tie.  Introductions are coming fast and furiously, business cards are being exchanged and pictures and selfies are being snapped as the time ticks down toward the 1 PM start of the event. 

I even got an opportunity to talk to Tim Gill about politics and a few issues.    

One of the biggest questions I got asked once I revealed I'd come to the event from Houston is 'What's happening with the HERO?'   So yeah peeps, the world is watching H-town. 

Finally the program starts with the SRO crowd settling in for the welcome from WH Office of Public Engagement advisor Gautam Raghavan.

Following his remarks, the first armchair conversation with Google [x] VP Megan Smith moderated by Lesbians Who Tech founder Leanne Pittsford to start the four hour program begins.   

That conversation focused on women in the tech field and dropped the interesting historical note that the Duchess of Cambridge's (AKA Kate Middleton)  grandmother was one of the Bletchley Park duty officers that helped decode German military messages encrypted on the German Enigma coding machine for Allied use.  It moved to discussing other diversity issues before that conversation concluded with audience Q&A.

Before the next segment of the program happened, we were given the opportunity to line up at the two mikes on either side of the room and give a 30 second elevator  pitch discussing our innovative work on behalf of the community, ask for help or resources, or share your Big Idea.

Once the time allotted for the first round of elevator pitches expired, we moved to a panel discussion entitled Challenges And Opportunities Facing LGBT Communities.   The panel was comprised of USDA Special Assistant Ashlee Davis, WH National AIDS policy Director Douglas Brooks, Out2Enroll's Katie Keith and UCLA Williams Institute Senior Counsel Adam Romero.

After discussing HIV/AIDS and the problematic inclusion of transpeople in the MSM category, the problems of rural LGBT people, and the lack of inclusion of transpeople and especially transpeople of color in Gay Inc leadership ranks and organizations with the Black transfolks in attendance leading much of the conversation in that auditorium on many of those issues, it was time for the next round of elevator pitches.

When those concluded it was time for our sis Geena Rocero to take the stage. 

Taryn Miller-Stevens introduced her and Geena gracefully strode to the podium to talk about how the power of stories fused with technology is empowering trans people, helping us change lives and influencing public policy changes.  She also talked about the motivating reason why she founded GenderProud. 

I received an unexpected shoutout during her speech, along with Dr Z and some of the other trans POC leaders who have been pushing for systemic human rights change on behalf of our community.  

When she concluded her speech to a standing ovation, she and Taryn had an armchair conversation to answer more audience questions driven by her remarks before they stepped aside to make way for the next portion of the program. 

The Presidential Innovation section of the program was an interview conducted by Senior Advisor to the US Chief Technology Officer Erie Meyer with 18F Creative Director Hillary Hartley.

After their interview and Q&A, we took a short break before we heard Tim Gill's Call to Action speech to conclude the LGBT Innovation Summit. 

After some closing thoughts and next steps from Gautam, we moved to the Indian Treaty Room on the 4th floor for a Gill Foundation hosted reception that concluded a little after 6:30 PM to end our day on the White House grounds.

Some of us decided to continue the conversations at the nearby W Hotel and its patio bar with a gorgeous view of  the White House complex, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Washington Monument and The Mall.   We were joined there by Kylar Broadus, Ruby Corado and Joanna Cifredo and engaged in debriefing conversations about what had just transpired on this historic day and discussed the lobby day taking place next week.  

We then took those conversations from that spot to another locale that lasted well into the wee hours of the morning before I had to bounce to my hotel and pack for my departure in a few hours.   

I woke up at 8 AM to another gorgeous but hot DC summer day.   Since my flight to Houston via Atlanta wasn't leaving until 3 PM, I decided before I had to check out of my room at 12 noon and because I didn't want to be schlepping my laptop and bag through Capitol Hill security, to bounce to Capitol Hill and attempt to keep my promise of seeing Yesenia before I left the Washington DC area.  

When I got to Rep Raul Grijalva's (D-AZ) office on the fifth floor of the Longworth Building a little before 10 AM, one of her coworkers advised me she'd just left for a training session and wasn't due back in until after 11 AM.  I decided after a few minutes of enjoying their hospitality to kill time by going to see my own congressmember. 

After accomplishing that mission, I headed back to Longworth to see if Yesenia was back. She wasn't and because it was now 11:10 AM I had to head back to the Capitol South station to begin my journey back to the Dupont Circle area and check out of the hotel.   I discovered later when I checked my phone at DCA after I cleared TSA security and arrived at my departure gate I just missed Yesenia by five minutes. 

Oh well, I'll catch her next time. 

Ruby showed up a little after 12 to pick me up from the Carlyle Suites and hang out at Casa Ruby for a moment before we headed off in the direction of DCA to drop me off to start my return trip home. 

So once again I got to spend a little time inside the beltway, see some old friends, meet some new ones, talk about the Trans Revolution Will Not Be Televised business with my trans peeps and get my learn on at the same time.

The evaluation for this inaugural White House LGBT Innovation Summit should be hitting my e-mail soon, but so glad I had an opportunity to be in the house for the inaugural event.   

Hope next year's is even better.   

And for those of you who missed me on this latest trip inside I-495, I'll probably be back before the year is out, so just get ready to try to get me at DCA before Ruby or Samantha do.

Headed Back To H-Town From The Innovation Summit

This was a short but nice trip to our nation's capitol for the first ever White House LGBT Innovation Summit in which I got to see some old friends, make some new ones get some more frequent flyer miles and get my learn on at the same time.


And staying in the Dupont Circle area was the bomb.  I found a 7-11 around the corner from the hotel and some large Slurpees got demolished while I was there.

I even took a moment before I headed to Washington National (I refuse to call it Reagan National) to visit Capitol Hill and Casa Ruby.

But my time in DC has come to an end, and now here come the words my peeps in H-town like to see me write when I venture outside the Lone Star State on these trips:  I'm on my way back home.

I took notes and I'll definitely do a big recap post of the event, but right now I just want to get some sleep.

I'm also ready to get back to Hobby via Atlanta and destroy some Pappas barbecue as per my post-flight arrival tradition once I land.     

The Inaugural LGBT Innovation Summit

The reason I'm in Washington DC is for the first ever LGBT Innovation Summit.that is starting as you read this at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House. 

Over the next four hours me and my fellow Summit panelists will get to witness a program that features some dynamic speakers, a panel discussion, and some participation time carved out so we can share ideas, collaborate with fellow Summit attendees and ask questions. 

And I get to put my reporter hat on and witness the inaugural event.   While this isn't the LGBT White House Pride Reception with fancy presidential invites, an appearance from the POTUS and FLOTUS, it is a fascinating event that I'll get another opportunity to do some networking at and see at least two people I know in Dr Kortney Ryan Ziegler and Geena Rocero. 

Then again, who says the POTUS may not pop in to say hello?

So what's on tap for the LGBT Innovation Summit Program?  .

The Summit will include:

*An armchair conversation with Megan Smith, Vice President, Google[x], moderated by Leanne Pittsford , founder of Lesbians Who Tech
*Remarks by Geena Rocero, Founder, Gender Proud, on how technology is empowering trans people, introduced by Taryn Miller-Stevens, Founder, GET//OUT

*An interview with Hillary Hartley, Creative Director, 18F, by Erie Meyer, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer

*A Call to Action by Tim Gill, Entrepreneur & Founder, Gill Foundation

*Time for “Elevator Pitches” where YOU will have the opportunity (in less than 30 seconds!) to talk about your innovative work, ask for help or resources, or share your Big Idea. This is an opportunity to spark collaboration and harness the expertise and energy in the room. 

*A panel discussion on challenges and opportunities facing LGBT communities, featuring senior leaders from the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Out2Enroll, and UCLA's Williams Institute.

The Summit as I mentioned is starting at 1:00 PM EDT (now) and will conclude by 5:00 PM EDT, followed by a networking reception hosted by the Gill Foundation in the Indian Treaty Room.

So yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to meeting the folks I don't personally know and having a chance to network with them.

Air Marshal Taking Flight To DC Again

The Air Marshal (my old nickname in the trans human rights ranks) is going to be up at the crack of dawn headed to Hobby to make another trip to Washington DC via the ATL. 

Probably because this one is occurring on the backside of the 4th of July holiday weekend, I've have an interesting trip in store for me.   If I'm on schedule I should be airborne at 7 AM CDT enroute to the ATL.  I have a long 3 hour layover at Hartsfield-Jackson with my final destination being BWI-Thurgood Marshall    On the return leg back to Houston I leave out of DCA on the afternoon of the 8th and have another long 3 hour layover in Atlanta.    

I'm headed to our nation's capital for the inaugural LGBT Innovation Summit that's taking place at the White House complex tomorrow July 7 from 1-5 PM EDT.  There will be a reception immediately after that until 6:30 PM

So what's the LGBT Innovation Summit about? 

This event will bring together individuals who share a desire to tackle the major challenges faced by LGBT communities through new solutions using technology, partnerships, mentorship, media, networks, and creative, market-driven, scalable models. Attendees will engage with Obama Administration officials and national community leaders about current challenges, opportunities, and successful solutions. Attendees will be active participants throughout the day: sharing insights and observations during a group session, and collaborating and brainstorming in off-site workshops.

Since I am considered an LGBT innovator because of TransGriot and being an inaugural Trans*H4CK judge, I got the attention of the planning committee for this event and deeply appreciate the invite.   

So H-town and 'errbody' else, this a quick in and out trip inside I-495, so it's going to be tough for me to see everyone that would like to say howdy to me while I'm in Washington..

You might try hitting me up on my cell phone for those of you who have my number or swinging by my hotel Sunday evening for you inside the beltway residents trying to catch me. 

I guess peeps were paying attention on my last DC trip when Ruby Corado ensured she got her quality time with me in February by grabbing me at DCA and taking me back to the airport.   One person is already scooping me up at BWI to get her quality time in.

Looking forward to this latest trip to DC and seeing what happens at this inaugural LGBT Innovation Summit.  

President Obama Announces Executive Order To Protect Federal Trans Employees

President Obama had a surprise of his own for the people gathered in the White House's East Room  for the 2014 edition of the LGBT Pride Reception

In addition to the one that will protect LGBT folks working for federal contractors, President Obama  announced in his reception remarks a new executive order that protects all federal workers on the basis of gender identity

I’ve asked my staff to prepare a second executive order so that federal employees –- who are already protected on the basis of sexual orientation –- will now formally be protected from discrimination based on gender identity as well

I have said for years that President Obama is the best president ever when it comes to transgender human rights issues.  He not only keeps walking the wlak to back up the talk, he keeps setting the bar even higher for future presidents to exceed.

I'm damned sure going to miss him when he leaves office January 20, 2017.

 

2014 WH LGBT Pride Reception Today

I know two people who will be in the room when this happens at 4:30 PM EDT, and will probably find out in a few hours who the other peeps were who were in attendance.

The White House LGBT Pride reception happens today, and as soon as the video of President Obama's remarks is up, I'll embed it in this post. 

One of the people I know who will be there and repping my community well is Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler.    One of my fellow Texans will be in the room as well.

Congratulations to those of you who were invited to attend.  Y'all have fun while you are in DC.