Upcoming 2011 Houston Unity Banquet

I won't be there because of other family commitments and haven't attended one since 2001, but one of the Houston trans community's signature events will be taking place at the Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel on April 30.

It's the Houston Unity Banquet, and the proceeds from this event go to support the Peggy Rudd Transgender Scholarship Fund. 

The banquet is a production of the Houston Transgender Unity Committee, an amalgamation of all the Houston area trans specific organizations.and tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door 

The keynote speaker this year is DRED AKA MilDRED Gerestaint, who I had the pleasure of meeting a a recent performance event she was part of at the University of Houston.

It should be an interesting event, and maybe I'll have the opportunity to attend it next year.

Alexandra Billings In Concert

If you peeps in the Los Angeles Area are looking for something to do over the next several Fridays this month, you may want to roll over to The M Bar and check out Alexandra Billings.

In addition to being a wonderful actress, she's an award winning cabaret singer.    You get the opportunity to come and have dinner, drink, laugh and listen to Broadway show tunes sung well..

The shows will happen on Friday April 8, 15, 22 and start at 8:00 PM PDT.  If you wish to just catch Alexandra's show, it's $20.   If you want to get your grub on and catch the show it's $30.

Reservations are suggested, and you can call  (323) 856-0036  or surf over to  www.mbaronline.com

Oh yeah, most important part, the M Bar's location.   It is located at 1253 Vine Street in Los Angeles, CA 90038

I know Alexandra would love to see you folks there, and you get the opportunity to see one talented lady.

Performance Of 'The Faggot Who Could Fly' Play Thursday

For you folks in the Chicago area, if you are looking for something cultural to do with your day, you may want to head over to the Chicago State University campus on April 7 to check out a play called 'The Faggot Who Could Fly' 

It's a one act one women play written by and performed by a transwoman of color that talks about her experiences from growing up as an abused child to a resilient woman

It's sponsored by the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Culture on the CSU campus and is scheduled to run from 12:30-2:00 PM CDT. 

If you're seeking further information about this event, you can call the Gwendolyn Brooks Center at 773-995-4440 or hit up their e-mail at gbrookscenter@gmail.com 

One Woman Performance By MilDRED At UH Tonight

TransGriot Note:  Pleasant surprise to discover that MilDRED is living in Houston now.  Always wanted to meet her and finally have the opportunity to do so tonight.   MilDRED Photo by Rita G

The University of Houston Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program in collaboration with the UH Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, UH Womens Resource Center and UH LGBT Resource Center present:

I AM THE ONE I ALWAYS WANTED TO MARRY: A One-Woman Performance by MilDRED Gerestant. (http://www.dredlove.com/)

This thought-provoking performance questions the naturalized binaries of gender and sexuality, while highlighting...the performativity of these categories. Using poetry, music, comedy, and movement, MilDRED expresses the way in which discovering her male persona, DRED, has refashioned the gendered notions of her sexual and spiritual self.

Haitian-American and internationally-known MilDRED is an actress, lecturer, and workshop presenter best known for her mystical one-woman shows.

LOCATION: University of Houston, Dudley Recital Hall, Room 132
ADMISSION: Free

Endorsed by: DiverseWorks, Houston Gendermyn, UH Department of Anthropology, UH Global.

For information contact Sima Shakhsari: sshakhsari@uh.edu

Recharging The Creative Batteries Again

Needed to recharge the creative batteries again, so I'm going to kick back and take a Me Day today.   Pick up a fiction book or two and read it, write a few chapter in the novel I need to finish, east some Blue Bell Homemade vanilla ice cream, and just veg out. 

If something inspires me to write something and post it for your reading pleasure, you know I will.  

Call for Submissions: Transgender Literary Fiction Anthology

TransGriot Note:  Hmm.  may have to contribute something to this one.   More info about it here.   

Topside Press seeks short literary fiction for its debut title, to be published in late 2011. The collection will feature work by transgender authors and/or work featuring transgender protagonists. While there is no strict theme, the goal of this collection is to showcase fiction by and about transgender people and culture. The book hopes to reflect the diversity of trans experience; all people are encouraged to participate.

Deadline August 31, 2011

This Is H.O.W. Fundraising Drive

If that money you're not giving to the Salvation Army this holiday season is burning a hole in your pocket and you're looking for a place to donate it so that it does some good in our trans hood, how about considering a donation to This Is H.O.W. in Phoenix, AZ?  .

Here's a message from This Is H.O.W. executive director Antonia Elle D'orsay

***

For those of you who only know This Is H.O.W. from Facebook, we've made some updates to our website: www.thisishow.org. The focus was on giving a little more information about the programs that we offer.

TIH plans to grow during the next year at a rapid pace, but we can only do that with your support and help.

Even a $5.00 donation can change a life for the better, and the more we get the more we can do.

One of the goals we have for the year ahead is the purchase of a second house so we can provide more housing -- important as we've had to turn people away recently -- and also to start a small business that will allow us to provide our residents and external program participants with a place to work so they can find greater stability.

Big dreams, to many, but we are certain we can achieve them with your help.

Visit the website and donate today, or send checks made out to This Is H.O.W. to our post office box address listed on the front page.

This Is H.O.W.

P.O. Box 45225

Phoenix, AZ, 85018

Thank you, all, for your support, and don't forget to "like" our new Fan Page on FaceBook: 

TransOhio Statewide Needs Assessment

TransGriot Note: If you're one of my TransGriot readers living in Ohio, you may wish to fill out this Trans Needs Assessment that TransOhio is compiling.  

They wish to have transpersons from or residing in the state of Ohio taking part in this needs assessment. 

Until the federal government actually starts using trans as a category for much of their statistics generation, this is one of the methods we have to generate the numbers we need to whack legislators with and point out the need for legislation that helps trans people.   

It would also help if you Ohio transpeeps of color add your voices to this effort as well

TransOhio is asking members of the Ohio transgender community to complete a needs assessment.

The assessment will serve as a snapshot of the Ohio transgender community, including transgender people, partners and allies, who are current Ohioans or individuals who were born in Ohio.

There has never been an assessment of this type for the Buckeye State, and it will provide information on the experiences and needs of the transgender community. This will allow TransOhio to better serve and advocate for the community.

If you are a member of the Ohio transgender community, please fill out the needs assessment before February 28,.2011.