2011 Trans Civil Rights March And Rally

The folks in Western Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley showed me much love last year when I was given the honor and privilege of being the Grand Marshal and keynote speaker for their first annual Trans Pride March and Rally.

Got to roll through the streets of Northampton, do the Miss America wave during the parade and enjoy the hospitality of Trystan Dean and the local community for that weekend.   I had a wonderful time while doing so, it was a spirit lifting trip I needed at the time and I can't thank you folks enough for the love y'all showered on me.

Well, moving on to the business end of this post.   The Trans Civil Rights March and Rally is back and will be happening this Saturday, October 15 from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT.

March will start at Lampron Park, located at 2 Parsons Street, Northampton, MA with the Rally will be at held in the main sanctuary at First Churches at 1 pm EDT.   Interesting historical note about last year's parade route is that it passed a house that Sojourner Truth used to live in, and next time I'm in that are will have to visit that house.

Location for the rally is 129 Main St. Northampton, MA 01060 and if you don't wish to participate in the march, you can head straight to the rally site.

If you are in driving distance of the Pioneer Valley or the Northampton area, show the folks who put this event together some love and attend, and I'll hopefully see y'all in the Pioneer Valley again soon.

Out On The Hill 2011 Post Roundup

The 2011 NBJC Out On The Hill Conference has concluded and the planning for the 2012 edition of the event is getting underway.  

I did write my thoughts and reports on the proceedings, at least the stuff I could publically talk about.   There's some stuff of a strategic nature that I can't and won't reveal that falls into 'the Black LGBT Revolution will not be televised' realm.

To make it easier for y'all to read the posts with my thoughts about the various days Moni was in the middle of the 2011 conference I'm going to put the links in this post.

Looking forward to attending the 2012 Out on the Hill.  The date for OUT on the Hill will be set once the CBCF-ALC 2012 dates are set and hope I'm not only there next year (and I'm planning on it) but hoping I get to see a larger trans contingent there next year in DC as well in addition to more LGB African descended people .

Second Annual NBJC Out on The Hill Approaching 

Guess Who's At OUT on The Hill?
OUT on The Hill-The LGBT Congressional Staff Association Briefing.

OUT On The Hill-Busy Day


OUT On The Hill-Busy Day, Especially For Me

OUT On The Hill-Hangin' With The CBC

OUT On The Hill-Day of Reflection

OUT On The Hill-NBJC Friday In Full Effect

OUT On The Hill-Saturday Sessions

OUT On The Hill-Sunday Events

OUT On The Hill-Moni's Reflections

OUT On The Hill-Sunday Events

The 2nd Annual National Black Justice Coalition OUT on the Hill event concludes today with a daylong invitation only meeting of the NBJC Leadership Advisory Council that is kicking off as I type this and runs until 5:00 PM EDT.

And yes people, there are talented transmen and transwomen on the NBJC Advisory Council that will more than hold their own in that meeting and aren't 'scurred' to speak up for our community's interests as they formulate policy and NBJC's strategies going forward.

The concluding event will be a 7:00 PM EDT screening of the movie Pariah.  It premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film festival and is a critically acclaimed coming out story starring Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker and Kim Wayans.   It is directed by Dee Rees and executive produced by Spike Lee.. 

The movie will be in limited release on December 25 and is a feature length expansion of Rees' 2007 short film of the same name.   The screening will be taking place at the Regal Gallery Place  on 7th St NW and is sponsored by NBJC and the DC Mayor's Office of GLBT Affairs.

I'm going to take the opportunity to get my trip to the MLK Jr Memorial in today since the weather's nice and I'm leaving for the Lone Star State tomorrow.   But I'm definitely going to check this film out.

OUT On The Hill-Busy Day

It's Wednesday, and the first full day of events on the OUT on the Hill conference schedule commences in a few hours.

On the schedule for today is the first Out on the Hill Opening General Session from 10-12 noon, The Black LGBT Leaders Day at the White House from 1:30-4:30 PM followed up by a 5:30-6:30 PM reception and the Black LGBT National Town Hall meeting being held at Washington DC's City Hall and sponsored jointly by NBJC and the DC Mayor's Office of GLBT Affairs from 6:30-9:30 PM .

A lot of interesting events packed into this day.. Glad I got my beauty sleep and some comfortable shoes after last night's kickoff event..

I'm excited. and Moni's going to be in the middle of all the fun.  And yes, I will be be talking about it when my long initial day is finally done.

Guess Who's At OUT on The Hill?

Hey TransGriot readers, I'm in Washington DC in full effect and eager to participate in the second annual National Black Justice Coalition OUT on the Hill event that starts today and is running through September 25.

I flew in yesterday morning. was blesssed with the opportunity to reconnect with 'Number Four', AKA IFGE Trinity Award honoree Earline Budd at THE , the people there, Danielle King, Ruby Corado, Jeri Hughes, Denise Leclair and an increasingly long list of transpeeps in and outside of DC. 

I will be hanging out inside the beltway until the conclusion of the conference.

The OUT on the Hill event has allowed me to fulfill multiple dreams at once    I was bitterly disappointed I missed last year's inaugural event and was resigned to the fact I was probably going to miss it this year until some things happened that made my participation in it move from a distant dream to the reality of me hanging around fellow African descended activists and our allies with a huge smile on my  face..
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I am looking forward to spending a few days in Washington DC meeting and greeting fellow African descended LGBT activists from all over the country over the next few days, and I'm planning on taking a side trip to see the MLK, Jr. Memorial.

But the thing I'm most excited about is the opportunity to attend an event I've wanted to go to for years in the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation-Annual Legislative Conference.  It's been a dream of mine for ten years to attend the ALC and now I'm finally getting the opportunity to do so.  

And what has really made me happy is my family is proud and happy I'm here as well.

I'm well on my way to achieving one of the goals I set for this trip by hooking up with a few of the local DC activists in town and friends in the area as well when I'm not dealing with OUT on the Hill related business.  I'm planning to talk to them not only about their own lives, but all the off the chain crazy stuff that has been happening to our transpeople in DC lately and whatever other concerns they wish to express to me and the TransGriot readers.

Moni's going to be busy over the next few days being in reporter mode, but I'm so looking forward to discussing what's happening at the 2011 version of OUT on the Hill..