First Annual Gender Conference Thursday At HCC-Southeast

Was advised about the inaugural Gender, Race and LGBT Student Conference conference on the HCC-Southeast campus this Thursday.    It'll run from 8-3 PM March 22 on the HCC-Southeast campus located at 6815 Rustic Street in Houston just off I-45..  

The panel discussions and Power Point presentations will cover those topics and I'm looking forward to being in the house and seeing some of my TransGriot readers who are HCC-Southeast students there.

Joy Girl Update

I posted back on January 10 about Fredrikka Maxwell, one of my guest columnists here and a beloved figure in our trans community who lives in Tennessee.

I've spent some enjoyable time with her when I lived in the Louisville area or gone to SCC, IFGE or other trans themed conventions.

As you TransGriot readers are aware of she recently had surgery on her right eye.  I was beginning to get concerned because I haven't heard anything from her since the day she posted just before going under the surgeon's scalpel that she was fasting in preparation for it and asking people who believe in the power of prayer to do so for her.

I was relieved to read this comment moments ago from her Facebook page:

This is a note of thanks to all of my friends who sent prayers and good wishes during the surgery. Thank you all so much. God only knows how much I needed that. The docs are saying it will still be six weeks or so before they know how good or how bad the eye is gonna be. Meanwhile, I'm starting to climb the walls so I have to get back on the computer. I feel disconnected from the world.

Glad to hear you're okay Joy Girl.  One less thing for me to worry about.  

4th Annual TTNS To Be Held At UH-Clear Lake

With us being two weeks away from the start of 2012, it's time to start saving the dates of the various conferences and events you may wish to know about or simply attend in order to become better educated about and be a better advocate for the transgender community.

One of the events I've had the pleasure of taking part in since I've come back home is the Texas Transgender Non-Discrimination Summit.   So what's the purpose of the TTNS?   Glad you asked.

Basically it's a strategy sharing event in which we spend two days discussing how we get inclusive transgender rights ensconced in the policies of Texas colleges and universities and other learning institutions. 

We talk about what works and what doesn't work in terms of creating effective changes to policy on those campuses to protect transgender faculty, staff, students, and allies.   . 

You get the benefits of making connections with people across the state who are already doing this important work and learning from their successes and experiences, gain insights and create a supportive network of like-minded individuals and institutions.

So where and when will it be held in 2012?  

The dates for the 4th annual TTNS will be July 20-21 and it will be held on the campus of the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

The event will be hosted by the UHCL International Intercultural Student Services (IISS)-Women’s and GLBT Resource Center at UH-Clear Lake. :

Registration for the TTNS is $10 for students and $20 for others wishing to attend

If you need additional info:

Email txtgsummit@gmail.com for info and registration.
Correspondence: TTNS P. O. Box 1095 Baytown, Texas 77522

Phone 832-409-3363

And yes, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LPC, and LMFT (CEUs cost $10). 

Will definitely be keeping people updated on the Texas Transgender Non-Discrimination Summit as the July 20-21 date draws closer. 

UN Ambassador Susan Rice's Statement on LGBT Human Rights Memorandum

Today, President Obama directed all agencies to protect and promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons abroad. At the United Nations, we have strongly supported efforts to codify and enshrine the promise of equality for the LGBT community, and the President’s action adds yet more force to our urgent fight.

Since taking office in 2009, the Obama Administration has worked tirelessly within the UN system to advance the human rights of the world’s LGBT persons. Early on, we signed the UN General Assembly’s Statement on Sexual Orientation on Gender Identity. We joined the LGBT Core Groups in Geneva and New York. We won NGO consultative status for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

We championed the first UN resolution dedicated to advancing the basic and fundamental rights of LGBT persons. Last December, on Human Rights Day, we pledged to restore language including LGBT individuals in a resolution condemning extrajudicial killings. Within two weeks, we did so.

There is far more work to do before our LGBT friends, neighbors, parents and children live in a world free of discrimination. Through steadfast defense of our universal values, persistent engagement with international partners, and the full force of U.S. efforts under the law, we will get there. I look forward to continuing our work and proudly carrying out the President’s directive.

Trans People of Color Coalition Hosts Town Hall on Transgender Visibility

On  Friday, November 18, “Come Together,” a town hall discussing the importance of building coalitions within the transgender community will take place at Jewel's Catch One, 4067 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif., 6 – 8 p.m., and will feature various transgender advocates and policymakers.  The event is free and open to the public.

 

Studies show that transgender people face injustices in housing, health care, employment, and many other areas. Transgender and gender non-conforming people of color are hit the hardest. They are also more susceptible to anti-transgender violence than other groups.

 

“This is the first ever national focus on transgender people of color,” explains Kylar Broadus, founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), a national organization dedicated to challenging racism and transphobia, and the main sponsor of the event. “It is critical that we empower people to advocate for themselves as we build this movement.” 

Speakers include Valerie Spencer of Transcend Empowerment Institute, an organization which addresses empowerment on a social, cultural and holistic basis; Ezak Perez of Gender Justice LA, a non-profit working to elevate the collective power of the Los Angeles transgender community; Jaye Johnson of NuMan Trans Support Network, a group that  serves to empower transmen and strengthen the transman community; and Li Williams of Alpha Omega Fraternity,  a brotherhood that aims to actively increase transman visibility in the community and educate the public about the transman's journey. 

“We want to give transgender people of color a sense of self and community,” Broadus adds. “There are many of us that don't feel that we're being heard or connected to any movement.  There is no one that can tell our story better than us; we live it daily and we have a voice.”

“Come Together” is sponsored in part by The Catch, NuMan Trans Support Network, Gender Justice LA and Alpha Omega Fraternity. The town hall is currently traveling across the country. The first of its kind was held earlier this year in Charlotte, N.C.  where then city council candidate, LaWana Mayfield, now the newly elected and the first openly gay city council member in Charlotte, spoke about claiming our authenticity to break down barriers and build relationships. Upcoming community forums will take place in Detroit and Chicago in the following months. 

             

For more information, please contact Kylar Broadus at kylartpocc@gmail.com or (573)424-0237; or Ezak Perez at ezak@genderjusticela.org or (213)400-4177.

 

Transgender Week Of Awareness Events In Da Ville

TransGriot Note: Yeah, I'm still on the activist e-mail lists for a lot of what goes on in Louisville, and they made sure I got this one since I used to help plan some of these events while I lived there.
To any media peeps in the Louisville area who happen to be reading TransGriot, you are invited to attend these events.

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TRANSGENDER WEEK OF AWARENESS EVENTS

Trans Student Speakout, Tuesday, Nov 15, 7:00 p.m., Shumaker Research Building at UofL, Room 137 - A panel of transgender students discuss their lives.

TransView, Tuesday, Nov 15, 9:30 p.m., Starbase Q, 921 West Main Street  - A discussion on the trans community from six different viewpoints. Panelists include: Holly Knight, Alana Montgomery, AJ Jones, Bejon St. James, Daiyu Hurst, and Lucian Grey (21+ event)

Transgender Health Discussion, Wednesday, Nov 16, 3:30 p.m., Multipurpose Room, Campus Health Services at UofL - A panel of trans people and other health professionals will discuss health care, body image, and other issues; hosted by Campus Health Services and the LGBT Service Health Liaison.

"Fairness Campaign: 20 Years of Making It Better" History Panel on Trans Inclusion, Wednesday, Nov 16, 6:30 p.m., McAtee Room in the Winn Center, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 1044 Alta Vista Rd -  Panelists include Fairness Campaign co-founders, straight and queer allies, and early transgender community leaders: Lisa Gunterman, Beth Harrison Prado, K.A. Owens, David Williams, and Dawn Wilson moderated by Chris Hartman.

Pastoring Transgender-Inclusive Congregations, Friday, Nov 18, 12:30 p.m., McAtee Room in the Winn Center, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 1044 Alta Vista Rd - Sponsored by the Women's Center at Louisville Seminary, this free clergy panel discussion focuses on the blessings and challenges of ministry in a setting that openly welcomes transgender worshippers and members.

Transgender Week of Awareness Afterparty, Friday, Nov 18, 10:00 p.m., Starbase Q, 921 West Main Street - 21+ party in celebration of the transgender community.

Movie Showing - Gun Hill Road, Saturday, Nov 19, 1:00 p.m., UofL's Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library - The story of a teen exploring gender identity and sexuality in an intolerant and judgmental world and his exploration's impact on his relationship with his parents and himself. Sponsored by PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian and Gays) and UofL's trans-activist student group, T2.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Service, Sunday, Nov 20, 7:00 p.m., Outside the Red Barn in the center of UofL's campus - Memorial service recognizing transgender individuals whose lives were lost to anti-trans violence.

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.