President Obama's Howard U Commencement Speech

The Class of 2016 was graduating from Howard University today, and didn't realize that my cousin Derek was going to be in the audience getting his bachelors degree.(magna cum laude) and heading off to Meharry Medical School.

Hey, if you haven't noticed, brains run in my family ;)

My cousin along with the 2300 other HU grads and their friends and family in attendance got the amazing honor of having President Obama give the commencement address.at their graduation.

Here's today's commencement address for those of you who missed it.

President Obama Dropping The Mic At The WH Correspondent's Dinner

Last night before I headed downstairs from my room to the Black Diamond Ball, I took some time to check out the live broadcast of the White House Correspondent's Dinner because it will be the last time I'll get to see the coolest POTUS of my lifetime do so.  

It was the last appearance of President Obama at the 'Nerd Prom' as the White House Correspondents Dinner is jokingly nicknamed, and it will be one we remember for a long time because he literally dropped to mic when he was done.

He did such a bang up job it was a tough follow up act for The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore.

Yeah, we're definitely going to miss this president when he hands over the office to his successor on January 20, whoever she is..

Here's the video of his White House Correspondents Dinner speech for those of you who missed it

Keyonna Blakeney Vigil On Friday

I have been advised by Ruby Corado and Lourdes Hunter there will be a vigil held for our departed sis Keyonna Blakeney on Friday in Rockville, MD.

The same issues we dealt with in Houston last week in terms of misgendering, deadnaming and disrespectful reporting from local media outlets also played out in DC, and the local trans community is not happy about what they see as blatant disrespect.

The vigil will take place of the Montgomery County Council Building g  in Rockville, MD starting at 6 PM.EDT   The address is 100 Maryland Ave in the city of Rockville, and hope that people will come to either or both events

Another Trans Woman Murdered- RIP Keyonna

Well, we've lost another trans woman to violence, this time in the Washington DC area.

22 year old Keyonna Blakeney, who just celebrated her birthday on April 11, was found dead at a Red Roof Inn in Rockville, MD on Saturday at 11:49 AM EDT.

Montgomery County, MD police reported that Blakeney suffered 'upper body trauma' , and they are still searching for her killer.  

They also flung specious allegations she may have been engaged in sex work at the time of her untimely demise.

And on top of all that shadiness, the local DC area FOX and ABC news stenographers misgendered and deadnamed Keyonna.

If you have any information that will help lead to the person or persons who killed her, detectives are urging you to call 240-773-5070.  

Anonymous tipsters can call 866-411-8477, and a reward of up to $10,000 is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Keyonna's killers.

And yeah, I'm sick and tired of losing our trans younglings to violence. It's got to stop because #BlackTransLivesMatter too.
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Rest in power and peace sis.  Meanwhile your trans siblings in the Washington metro area will be watching to ensure the person or persons who did this are brought to justice.

   

Open Letter To President Obama Concerning WH Trans Movie Night

TransGriot Note:  An open letter to President Obama concerning the upcoming Trans Movie Night on Monday from Annalise Ophelian that needs to be signal boosted

Dear Mr. President,
 
On behalf of Miss Major and everyone on the MAJOR! production team, we’re excited about the upcoming transgender movie night at the White House, as part of your LGBT Artists Champions of Change campaign. But we can’t help but notice that your media selections, The Danish Girl and episodes of Transparent, don’t offer particularly robust representation of transgender people. In particular, we’re concerned that you’ve chosen two works about trans women who are played by cisgender men, and that they focus on a limited white European perspective.
 
To help correct for this imbalance, we’d love to offer the White House an advance screening of our own documentary, MAJOR!, which follows the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Miss Major is a 74-year-old Black transgender elder and activist, a veteran of the Stonewall Uprising and a survivor of Attica State Prison, who has been advocating for trans women of color for over 40 years.
 
We’d also like to suggest you check out the following films, which were made by trans folks or feature trans actors and actresses playing trans characters, and focus on the stories of trans folks of color. It’s not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’s a place to start, and we get that you’ve got a busy schedule.
 
You’ll notice that a lot of these films are documentaries. We think this has something to do with the incredible need for authenticity and truth telling about transgender lives.
 
STILL BLACK: a portrait of black transmen, dir. Kortney Ziegler (2008)
Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria, dir. Susan Stryker & Victor Silverman  (2005)
Remember Me in Red, dir. Hector Ceballos (2010)
Tangerine, dir. Sean S. Baker (2015)
Pay it No Mind: Marsha P. Johnson, dir. Michael Kasino (2012)
The Believers, dir. Todd Holland (2006)
Gun Hill Road, dir. Rashaad Ernesto Green (2011)
Transgender Tuesdays: A Clinic in the Tenderloin, dir. Nathaniel Walters-Koh & Mark Freeman (2012)
 
And in 2016, we hope you have the opportunity to check out Happy Birthday, Marsha! and Free CeCe!, two amazing upcoming films that center Black trans women in their own narratives of survival and resilience.
 
With warm regards,
 
Annalise Ophelian, Psy.D.
Producer/Director: MAJOR!

Congressional Violence Against Trans People Forum Today

We owe it to the people we have lost this year to ensure this Congressional Violence Against Trans People Forum is the start of formulating federal government level policy solutions that fix the anti-trans violence problem negatively impacting Trans America.-TransGriot, November 14, 2015 

In an hour a historic forum held by the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to discuss violence against trans people.  Hopefully the two hour forum will be the catalyst for legislative action that helps fix the problems we face.

Earlier this morning inside I-495 there was a 10:30 AM EST press conference held by the LGBT Equality Caucus to announce the formation of a Transgender Equality Task Force.

The forum will run from 2-4 PM EST, with the first hour of the forum featuring a panel on the causes and impacts of anti-trans violence chaired by Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA).

It will feature testimony from panelists La La Zannell from the Anti Violence Project and DC based advocate and blogger Joanna Cifredo who were both survivors of violence.

The second hour will focus on policy and how to end bias motivated violence against trans people chaired by Rep, Jared Polis (D-CO).  It will feature testimony from Kylar Broadus, the executive director of the Trans Persons of Color Coalition, Sharon Lettman-Hicks of the National Black Justice Coalition and Chad Griffin of HRC  

Hoping that the forum will be livestreamed like the press conference was this morning, and as soon as the video is posted, I'll post it to TransGriot.

TransGriot Update:  The link to the livestream of the forum.


  

Hope The Congressional Violence Against Trans People Forum Isn't Monoracial

I was thrilled to hear according to the Washington Post that the House Equality Caucus will hold on Tuesday a violence against trans people forum in the run up to the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The House Equality Caucus was founded in June 2008 by Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. (now Sen.) Tammy Baldwin along with Members of Congress who are strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for TBLG people in the US and abroad.

Today, the Caucus is co-chaired by the six openly LGBT Members of Congress  Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO); Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI); Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY); Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI); Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA).

The Violence Against Trans People Forum is timely not only in the face of the looming TDOR date but us having 21 predominately Black and Latina trans people being killed in the US.

I hope that the House Equality Caucus will consider that fact, make this historic forum ethnically diverse and don't repeat the mistake made in 2008, I am concerned that the upcoming forum will end up being a monoracial one despite the fact the people taking the brunt of the anti-trans violence casualties are trans people of color.

I'm also worried that geographic diversity of the forum participants will be overlooked because of our nation's capital being easier to reach for people in the northeast US and East Coast and the people already living inside I-495 than the rest of us in 'flyover country'. 

While I love you peeps doing the trans human rights work on the coasts and in DC, our federal lawmakers really need to hear input from trans people who live in the South, Midwest and Rocky Mountain states as well.  It is in these areas where we are still fighting tooth and nail transphobic state legislators and officials to get the laws and policies in place that you peeps on the coasts and cities like Chicago have enjoyed for decades.

We owe it to the people we have lost this year to ensure this Congressional Violence Against Trans Women Forum is the start of formulating federal government level policy solutions that fix the anti-trans violence problem  negatively impacting Trans America.

Nikki's Interesting DC Weekend

Nikki Araguz Loyd is the other H-town based trans woman who has flown more air miles than the Air Marshal this year,.   This time she and her hubby Will caught a flight to Washington DC for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation memorial service in which her late husband Capt. Thomas Araguz III was being honored.

And this time she would be presented a flag in his honor by President Obama himself.

This is the 34th anniversary edition of the NFFF memorial event, and it is a weekend long one in which firefighters who died in the line of duty the previous year across the US are recognized.   This year 87 fallen firefighters were recognized, and one of the three from Texas recognized this year was Capt. Araguz.

It was also an emotional one for Nikki as well

Nikki, as his widow, would not only be recognized as such, but would be receiving the congressional flag flown over the US Capitol building in his honor  

And getting to meet the best president ever on trans issues on top of that is a bonus.

It has been a tough, nearly six year legal battle to have her marriage to Thomas recognized, and that day thanks to he Oberkfell SCOTUS ruling may be very close at hand. 

The SCOTX is poised to send her case back down to the appellate and district court level for the vindication that she has fought so long for. and in the process eviscerate the odious Littleton v Prange case create a legal precedent that affirmatively recognizes a Texas trans person's ability to get legally married.

President Obama's 2015 CBCF Phoenix Awards Speech

While as you readers know I was in Washington DC at the same time this speech happened on Saturday, at $700 a plate that CBC black tie Phoenix Awards dinner was way beyond my tight budget to attend.   But one of the reasons OUT on the Hill is held at that time of year inside the beltway is to give attendees traveling to DC for OOTH the option of attending the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation - Annual Legislative Conference.

I'm seriously thinking about if I' blessed to attend #OOTH 2016, showing up at CBCF-ALC panels next year and asking questions during the ones I attend that remind the Black peeps in that room that some Black people are trans, bi and SGL.

We need to do more of that to remind out own people that #WeExist,

Moving on.  

This is the speech that President Obama gave to the folks who attended this year's 45th annual Phoenix Awards dinner.

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OOTH 2015-Saturday Recap

The last full day of OUT on the Hill 2015 activity, and Saturday morning I awakened to what is a familiar sight to Washingtonians but not to this Texan.

I was awakened by the roar of motorcycles and sirens and got to my seventh floor hotel room window just in time to see the presidential motorcade speeding by heading in the direction of the White House.

I went from witnessing that sight to witnessing an amazing State of the Black LGBTQ/SGL Community panel that started at 9:00 AM focused on the wellness of our community.

It was a panel moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington featuring Valerie Spencer, Faith Cheltenham, Dr. Cleo Manago. Tim'm West, Geneva Musgrave and Rayceen Pendavis had some tell it like it T-I-S is moments and commentary about what we needed to do in a multipronged ongoing strategic way to build and continue focusing on Black LGBT community wellness.

It ended way too fast, and I stayed in that room to check out a Tim'm West moderated panel entitled Brave Education: OUT Black Educators Advancing Educational Excellence.

The panel that started at 12:15 PM discussed the issues, challenges and joys in K-12 schools for TBLGQ students of color and the out teachers and administrators seeking to prepare them for collegiate studies and the world.

There were also comments from the panelists that pointed out that the public education system need to just as concerned about producing students who are critical thinkers than their ability to take a standardized test.

It also pointed out how important it was to have out Black LGBTQ educators on these campuses representing and being possibility models for Black LGBTQ and other students.

The final plenary session was another after lunch State of the Black LGBTQ/SGL conversation that focused on Faith and Spirituality featuring the Rev Rodney McKenzie, Minister Verdell Wright, Bishop Allyson Abrams, and the Rev Dr Jamie Washington.

The conversation touched on many issues including the been for Black LGBTQ folks to forcefully push back against the loud and wrong anti-Black doctrine that has been remixed to attack us, talk about Black liberation theology from a Black LGBTQ lens, and do a much better job of integrating trans people in this mix.

After closing remarks from Sharon Lettman-Hicks, Kylar Broadus, and Venton Jones, the bittersweet moment of #OOTH 2015 coming to a close was upon us.   I also found myself in the middle of an intergenerational conversation in which I and youth with Trini, Haitian and Nigerian heritage started a fascinating conversation in which we discussed the African Diaspora, our shared connections and history, and where Black LGBT people fit in this.

And yeah, I got to destroy two more Slurpees before I called it a day and crashed from conference fatigue.    

The Air Marshal's Homeward Bound

Okay H-town, you're about to hear your fave words when it comes to one of my road trips:  Moni's headed back to Harris County.

At least until next month.

The sixth annual edition of OUT on the Hill is over and another chapter in the history books.   I had a wonderful time seeing everyone including my NBJC family and I am determined to not let three years pass before I attend another one.

‪#‎OOTH2015‬ was wonderful and a well timed booster shot to my soul. It is indescribable how important it is to have an LGBT leadership conference rooted in your culture, says emphatically to the world we're unapologetically Black, and that feels more like a family reunion than just an event to attend.

I get to head back home refreshed, renewed and more knowledgeable about the subjects we discussed during my time at OUT on the Hill while having a little fun doing so.

I hope that the people I encountered also gained a little more knowledge about their trans brothers and trans sisters

The time inside I-495 will serve me well for the upcoming HERO battle ahead.

If my flight left DCA on time, should be winging my way southwestward back to Houston and back at Hobby having my traditional post-flight meal demolishing some Pappa's BBQ

And hope the Texans are properly handling their NFL business in Charlotte.

See y`all next year, OUT on the Hill..

OOTH 2015- Friday Recap

My second full day in Washington DC was chock full of activity in addition to my OUT on the Hill business I was scheduled to handle at 12:30 PM EDT.

I ended an enjoyable two day stay with Joanna to move into the conference hotel.

The last time I was at The Beacon, there was six inches of snow on the ground and I landed at DCA thirty minutes before they shut the airport down.

This time I ended up on the seventh floor, but I had to wait two hours before that room became available after checking in at 8 AM.  I left Joanna's early and headed there in the hope that I'd be able to move my stuff in. get in diva mode for the plenary I needed to do that was scheduled at 12:30 PM, and get to handle the #OOTH2015 reporter role by live tweeting the panels before and after my session.

It was also moving day for OUT on the Hill 2015, because after having events at HRC headquarters for the last two days. we were moving to the Beacon Hotel for the afternoon session and tomorrow's events.

There's an old saying that if you want to make God laugh, plan something. The room not being ready screwed that game plan I had to move, get into diva mode and get mentally ready for the panel.

Mu main business of the day was the Valerie Spencer moderated panel entitled a Focus on the Plight of  Trans Women of Color in America that featured myself, Lourdes Hunter, and Angelica Ross..

While many of the #OOTH2015 attendees liked the panel and told me so after it was over, I wasn't happy about it.

I felt the conversation got far too focused on sex work.  I was also not happy about some drama stirred up by one of the panelists, and our panel's start being delayed not only by that drama and her shady behavior during it,by a speech from a DOJ official who stated in it that he wanted to ';learn more about the trans community', then bounced after his remarks.

I spent an hour after that panel taking with Donna Payne-Hardy, so I didn't rejoin the OOTH2015 action until it was time for the final workshops of the day.

I checked out one entitled I Just Don't Do Doctors' which was an enlightening discussion about the medical needs of aging Black lesbians that got broadened to talk about the health needs of Black LGBTQ women in general,

We then headed up to the Beacon's Sky Bar for the OOTH 2015 Partners and Sponsors reception. While I was still a little bummed about the trans panel, getting some delicious food in my system, conversation and straight up partying with a purpose helped ge get over it.

So did that free Slurpee I got a few hours later.