Upcoming One Day Local Elections 101 Campaign School

On February 16 I will be joining an amazing lineup of local party officials, former candidates, elected officials and campaign professionals as part of the One Day Campaign School Local Elections 101 event.

I'll probably be taking notes when I'm not on stage.

It's a discussion about how to run for public office for candidates and staff sponsored by Texas Victory Consulting that will break it down to the nuts and bolts of how to build your campaign.

It's taking place from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM, and continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.   You have to register for it, and it's $50 for early bird registration.  The at the door cost will be $65 and you can do so at this link.

Location for this event will be the Buffalo Soldier Museum at 3816 Caroline Street.

Hope to see you there



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Houston Lift Every Voice Trans Townhall Next Sunday

The recent shooting of Pinky, combined with another attempt by the Republican led Texas legislature to enshrine transphobic discrimination in our laws, and no movement on enacting a HERO 2.0, has Houston area trans people questioning what are the next steps we need to see happen as a community.

Thanks to Dee Dee Watters,  a tow hall meeting is being organize that will take place at the Montrose Center on February 10.

That town hall will take place from 2-5 PM at the Montrose Center in Room 107, and it is on that date we will discuss many of the issues that impact our community.

This is an opportunity for those of you who aren't in our community to learn firsthand some of the issues that affect Trans Houston. 

If you need further information about the event, you can reach out to Dee Dee
at deedeewenterprises@gmail.com or give her a call 832-335-4416

Hope to see you there.

Swearing In Of Harris County Officials Today!

Happy Blue Year!

In a few hours, I'll be at NRG Center to watch the swearing in ceremony for all our newly elected Harris County officials. 

For those of you who aren't aware of what happened here on Election Night, Harris County (translation the county that Houston is in) went dark blue on November 6. 

A blue tsunami swept through the most populous county in Texas and swept out every incumbent Republican judge.  Harris County voters replaced them with a diverse, experienced group of Democratic judges that included 19 Black women.

The blue tsunami also put Lizzie Fletcher in George HW Bush's old TX-7 congressional seat that had been in Republican hands for 50 years.   It also gave us an opportunity to send former TX state Senator Sylvia Garcia to Washington DC along with Fletcher as part of the new Democratic House majority taking office in 48 hours.

Garcia, along with Veronica Escobar, who won the race to succeed Beto O'Rourke in Congress, become the first Latinas Texas has ever sent to the US Congress.

Democrats also got control of the Harris County Commissioners Court with the election of Latinx peeps Lina Hidalgo as our new county judge and Adrian Garcia as Precinct 2 commissioner.

In addition to making our Harris County judicial ranks finally look like the diverse county we are, we also fired Stan Stanart, our much loathed county clerk, and replaced him with Diane Trautman.

The county clerk is the person who administers voting procedures, and Stanart was a partisan GOP hack hellbent on suppressing votes.   That ends today 

Marilyn Burgess will take office today as our Harris County District Clerk.  We also sent Orlando Sanchez packing and replaced him with a new county treasurer in Dylan Osborne

What a wonderful way to kick off 2019 in terms of watching dozens of Democrats get sworn into office as the Republicans they replaced suck their teeth and whine that 'straight ticket voting cost us our offices'

Naw GOP boo boos.  It wasn't straight ticket voting that did you in.  It was the fact your party is seen by a majority of voters as intolerant and hostile to people of color.   The Republican Party has become toxic to a majority of Harris County voters, and you refuse to deal with the reality of that.

You Harris County GOP fans let that truth sink into those hard heads while I get dressed to watch my friends and every Democrat I gleefully voted for get sworn into office.

Houston Stands With The Trans Community Rally Happening Today

We have seen this Trump Misadministration ever since they gained power gleefully attempt to roll back and eviscerate the human rights of trans Americans.

While their initial actions such as attempting to ban trans people from serving in the military have been bogged down in the courts, others they have executed have been successful such as the Department of Education not taking student discrimination complaints. 

In addition to wiping all mention of trans people off US government websites, the Sessions controlled Department of (In)Justice is tying to push a legislative interpretation that claims trans people aren't covered under Title VII and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. and open us up to discrimination.

The persecution of trans people not only extends to our trans kids and their parents, but also extends to our trans immigrant population.

Since trans people are under attack by this government, we are doing what we must do in terms of standing up and fighting back against the oppression. 

The Organization Latina de Trans en Texas (OLTT) is organizing a rally starting at 7 PM that will give our allies and accomplices a chance to show support to our local trans and gender nonconforming community. 

It will also send the message that we're here, we're part of the Houston community and we won;t be erased.

Houston City Hall is located at 901 Bagby Street, and the rally will take place on the steps near the reflecting pool side of the building.     Hope to see you there!

2018 Houston GLBT Caucus Equality Brunch Award Honorees

The 9th Annual Equality Bruch will be taking place later this month to not only raise funds for the Houston GLBT Caucus, it will also honor some our local advocates and accomplices in our TBLGQ rights struggle.

I was honored by the Caucus with the John Paul Barnich Award in 2016, and now the Caucus has released the names of the persons that will be honored at the upcoming edition of the Equality  Brunch in the Hotel Zaza's Grand Ballroom.

Since I mentioned it, I'll start by announcing the winner of the John Paul Barnich award for 2018. 

The Barnich Award goes to the person whose work is rooted in justice for the LGBTQ+ community, and this year it goes to Ana Andrea Molina.

The Eleanor Tinsley Award for distinguished community ally goes to Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen 

The Don Hrachovy Award for distinguished Caucus member goes to Jim Taylor. 

The Kristen Capps Award for social conscience (and well deserved) goes to Kandice Webber. 

The President's Award for distinguished community leadership goes to Parker Sheffy

The Tony and Bruce Award for distinguished philanthropic leadership goes to Legacy Community Health 

The Tim Brookover Award for lifetime achievement goes to Bill Baldwin.

The Equality Brunch will take place on September 30 from 12:00 noon to 2 PM at Hotel Zaza, located at 5701 Main Street near Hermann Park.  Tickets are going fast for it, so if you wish to attend, you may wish to get busy securing those seats or tables before they sell out. 

Modern LGBTQIA+ Trailblazers Panel This Thursday

Since it's Pride, I usually get a chance to do a panel discussion or two during this seminal historic month for the LGBTQIA+ community.

On Thursday I'm one of the participants in a panel discussion presented by the Sharpstown Democrats for their Evening Extra series.

This one is entitled Modern LGBTQIA+ Trailblazers, and features me along with Fran Watson, Mo Cortez, and Jim Kovach.   The panel is being moderated by Kris Banks and it is scheduled to run from 6:30 -9:30 PM CDT.

Thanks to Erik Manning and the Sharpstown Democrats for putting it together and inviting me to participate in it.

Location of this discussion is the Bayland Park Community Center at 6400 Bissonnet St in Southwest Houston just past Hillcroft Ave.

Hope to see you there, because it is probably going to be an interesting and informative discussion.
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UH GCSW 2018 Scholarship Luncheon Today

One of the things I've noticed is that i have a lot of people in my social circles who are social workers.  Many of them went to school or graduated from the UH Graduate College of Social Work, and I've gotten to know its dean Alan Dettlaff from my with him time on the Houston Mayor's LGBT Advisory Board

The UH Graduate College of Social Work gets to well deservedly pop its collar over the fact that it was just named one of the top 25 Social Work colleges in the nation! 

It jumped fifteen spots to now be ranked at number 24, and congrats to Dean Dettlaff and his team for their hard work to get it there.   I also like the fact that the UH GCSW has a social justice mission as part of its vision statement.

Today I get to spend a few hours chilling with them at their annual scholarship luncheon, and their guest speaker for it is an old friend of mine in Laverne Cox.

Some awards will also be given out during this luncheon as well .

Yes, I know her.  Met her during a 2012 OUT on the Hill when she was the moderator for that all Black trans feminine panel I was on with Rev Carmarion Anderson, Danielle King and Valerie Spencer.

Back to the post.

The 2018 UH GCSW Scholarship Luncheon is being held starting at 11:30 AM CDT at the Post Oak Hotel in Uptown Houston (AKA the Galleria area). 

The 30 story hotel owned by billionaire UH Board of Regents chair Tilman Fertitta is so swanky it has its own Rolls Royce showroom.

I get a chance to check it out, or at least the conference center ballroom part of it today, and see a few friends in the process. 

Go Coogs, and see y'all in a few hours.

'The State Of Black Women In America' Discussion At TSU Tonight

Looking forward to this conversation on the Texas Southern Campus tonight organized by Dr Carla Brailey and Dr Kimberly Brown Pellum.

It's a discussion entitled The State Of Black Women In America, it has on the panel attorney Cha' mira Keener, Tomiko Meeks, psychologist Dr. Alauna Curry,  Dr Michon Benson, TSU assistant professor of English, Kandice Webber, who organized the recent March of Black Women, and Tiffany Thomas, former board trustee from Alief ISD.

I am concerned that we're having a discussion about Black women in America on an HBCU campus without including the voices of Black trans feminine people, and it's a major reason why I'm attending this event tonight.

Kandice Webber is a ride or die accomplice for Black trans women, so I have no doubts at some point during the two hours scheduled for this conversation we will get to talk about the issues of Black trans women one way or the other

In case you live in the Houston area and wish to attend this event, it's happening from 7-9 PM in the Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland Public Affairs Building in Room 114 on the Cleburne St. side of the TSU campus . 

Hope you'll consider attending this what is sure to be a thought provoking panel discussion 

March For Black Women Happening Saturday

This week in Houston the first ever March For Black Women is taking place on Saturday at Emancipation Park from 10 AM-1 PM .   And yes, I've been asked to be a speaker for it.

Unlike the Houston Women's March, this one is centering Black cis and trans women, which is why I was asked to participate in it and stood in solidarity with my Black cis sisters in boycotting the Houston women's march after their concerns in the organizing runup to it were dismissed or flat out ignored. 

As to why we are marching, the statement from the March For Black Women website:

Why We March

Angela Davis once said,  "I AM NO LONGER ACCEPTING THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE.  I AN CHANGING THE THINGS I CANNOT ACCEPT."

In that spirit, we are calling on every Black woman in the Houston area and our allies to change a system that is no longer acceptable or viable for Black women. We strive to unite Black women from every walk of life and demographic to rise together in all our diversity, face our common oppressors, and denounce the systems and communities that deny us our civil and human rights and relegate us to political backseats.

We are also coming together to celebrate the sisterhood, struggles, and accomplishments of the unique space that Black women hold in society. We affirm the position of Black women in politics and ensure our representation is rightfully increased.AA

We are a power like no other when we are joined together. We have suffered the most heinous maltreatment in this country, and we are still here. Standing. Proudly. Let us gather together to celebrate one another. There is no one that understands us like us. We will celebrate the African Diaspora of womanhood in all the ways it exists. We will experience the music and poetry of sisters from different perspectives and engage in the advancement of Black lives.

This event is Black woman-centered, but we welcome all allies in support of Black women. Be mindful that this is for us.

***

Fundraising is still happening for this even, and the march is still seeking volunteers


So looking forward to being a part of this historic event, and I'm still working on putting the final touches on my speech.   As to what I'll say, stay tuned i'll post the text of it on that March 3 date to the blog .

But if you're in the Houston area on March 3, I hope you'll join us on that date to support and march with us     

Social Justice Discussion On TSU Campus Tonight

Our local HBCU Texas Southern University has produced a long list of distinguished graduates since its 1947 founding     One of them is trailblazing Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. 

The School of Public Affairs Building on the north side of the TSU campus is named for her and another distinguished TSU alumnus in Congressman Mickey Leland.

February 21 is her birthday, and in honor of it, a panel discussion organized by TSU professors Dr. Carla Brailey and Dr Kimberly Brown-Pellum on the topic of social justice is being held in the Walter McCoy Auditorium (room 114) in the Jordan-Leland School of Public Affairs Building.

The special guest is Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who currently represents as we sometimes call the 18th Congressional District in H-town 'Barbara's Seat'.

The other panelists will be District 146 Texas state Rep Shawn Thierry, Dr. Rockell Brown Burton of TSU's School of Communications,  Algenita Scott Davis, longtime business leader and a visiting professor in TSU's School of Business , attorney Antoinette 'Toni' Jackson who is a partner in the Jones Walker LLP firm,  the Honorable  Fredericka Phillips, Vice Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, and Rhonda Skillern-Jones, the HISD school board president.

The event is running from 7-9 PM, and with this lineup of amazing Houston women leaders, should be an interesting conversation and discussion. 

Hope people will check this discussion out since it is open to the public.

Moni's Talking Trans Issues At TSU

So how did I spend my Valentine's Day afternoon and early evening?  Discussing transgender issues to a class at Texas Southern University.

One of the things I've wanted to do for years is have more conversations about trans issues on HBCU campuses.  I was thrilled to get an invite from Dr Rockell Burton to do just that for her graduate level Gender and Communications class.   

It's just ironic it happened on Valentine's Day.

Three graduate level classes were combined to hear yours truly talk about trans issues from a Black perspective, and thanks to Dr Burton for the invitation so I could be on The Yard for it

One of the points I wanted to leave with the students in that class was that Black trans issues are Black community issues.   I also wanted to make the point that trans men are men, trans women are women, and our Black trans lives need to matter to the cis Black community because we are an intertwined part of the community..

Looking forward to the next time and next conversation we have

March For Black Women Houston Is Happening!

You would think that Texas white women, after voting for Greg Abbott in 2014 at a 67% clip, and Trump in 2016 would at least be trying in 2018 to atone for their past mistakes and learn what the word intersectionality means.

But nope, still making the same bullheaded white feminism fueled mistakes.  After failing to address concerns by various Houston Black and women of color leaders that women of color representation is still below reasonable expectations, Houston's Black women have said enough and are skipping the Houston Women's March scheduled on January 20.

Black Lives Matter Houston and Houston Rising are organizing the March for Black Women HOU that will take place on February 24 at Houston City Hall.

Black Women!!!! We are a power like no other when we are joined together. We have suffered the most heinous maltreatment in this country and we are still here. Standing. Proudly. Let us gather together to celebrate each other. There is no one that understands us like us. We will celebrate the African Diaspora of womanhood in all the ways it exist. Experience the music and poetry of sisters from dynamic perspectives. Engage in the advancement of Black Lives. Connect.

 This event is Black woman centered. We welcome all allies in support of black women. Be mindful that this is for us. This event will be continuously updated with artist and speakers who will be present at the march.

I've been asked to be part of it and have accepted the invitation.   As we get closer to the date of the March For Black Women HOU, I'll keep you posted on the developments. 

   

Deray Mckesson At UH Tomorrow

Going to be an interesting event happening at UH on Wednesday night as as part of the UH Graduate College of Social Work Social Justice Solutions series of discussions and community conversations

Social Justice Solutions invites activists, thought leaders, and the community to explore action-oriented strategies to affect social change. Through an examination of social justice issues in their current and historical contexts, the goal is to inspire first, conversation and then action in keeping with the College’s vision of achieving social, racial economic and political justice, local to global.
The latest of these conservations brings civil rights activist Deray Mckesson takes part in a moderated discussion in the Cullen Performance Hall on the UH campus starting at 6 PM    Because of overwhelming demand for this event, the venue was changed to accommodate all the people who wish to see him and hear this conversation

Actually looking forward to seeing him again, since the last time we chatted with each other was for a few minutes during the joint NABJ-NAHJ convention in Washington DC last year.

The Cullen Performance Hall is on the UH campus near the UH Student Center, and the address is 4800 Calhoun Road.

Looking forward to hearing and seeing Deray again

'No Letter Left Behind' Conversation Tonight At Obsidian Theater

One of the things I've been saying for a while is that we need to have ongoing conversations and information dissemination events in Houston concerning TBLGQ issues.

Later today the group A Conversation For Colored Girls is sponsoring this event at the Obsidian Theater that seeks to jumpstart a dialogue about the lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer/questioning , intersex and asexual+ community.

So what's A Conversation for Colored Girls?  It's a community nonprofit that meets once a month to present invigorating conversation that aims to create a safe space for all of those who identify as women, and women of color, to come together for transformative conversation.

It also asks the very valid question how can we move forward as a people if we leave so many people, and specifically people in the TBLGQIA community behind?

This month's 'No Letter Left Behind' conversation hopes to dive into the semantics behind the LQBTQIA+ community and seeks to understand the significance of every letter representing the community and the people those letters represent

I agree with A Conversation For Colored Girls in the expressed sentiment that a lack of knowledge will never be an excuse for cruelty. As we explore each letter we gain a better understanding of everyone who lies on the spectrum. Opening our minds to appreciate the distinct people within the TBLGQIA+ community while showing the respect that is so seldom given, but always deserved.

This is your chance to ask questions and gain knowledge!

A Conversation For Colored Girls provides a safe space for such conversations as these. Come, share, and learn.  The doors open for the Obsidian Theater and this AC4CG sponsored conversation start at 6:30 PM.

If you can, bring a friend.  because this is a conversation that has needed to happen since the passage of HERO in May 2014 and its repeal with the help of sellout Black pastors colluding with white fundamentalists and Republicans in November 2015.

The Obsidian Theater is located at 3522 White Oak Dr, and hope to see you there.

Major! Documentary Screening And Panel Tonight At UH

I enjoy the opportunities I get to walk the grounds of my collegiate alma mater, and what's bringing me back to UH again  is a screen of the documentary Major followed by a trans rights panel discussion with my fellow panelists Jessica Zyrie and Reagan White

Since I was on the advisory board for the movie,  I've already seen it.   But for those of you who haven't, you'll definitely want to roll by the UH campus to see this documentary about one of our amazing trans elders who in her words is 'still f*****g here. 

It'll be running from 6-9 PM  at Agnes Arnold Hall Auditorium 2, and hope to see you there.

2017 Transgender Day Of Resources and Healthy Living

Hanging out at the Montrose Center checking out the 2017 edition of the Transgender Day of Resources and Healthy Living.

Dee Dee Watters organizes this event  which merges seminars with vendors providing healthcare related services, representatives of various Houston orgs like Organization Latina de Trans in Texas, Save our Sisters United, Inc, Lesbian Health Initiative, Kinship Care, Baylor College of Medicine, the Gender Infinity Conference, the Houston Intersex Society, PRIDE Portraits and Rice University to the Houston Trans community and our allies.

One of the reasons I'm writing about it is because the inaugural event in 2014 probably saved my life.  I hadn't been to the doctor in a while, and there were some TSU medical students there looking to do some testing on people.   I let them run some tests on me, and they determined that my blood pressure was elevated to the point that had it not been addressed. it could have led to me having a stroke.

Some of the workshops are covering topics like self defense< media training and voice training just to name a few.

This years event is running from 10-2 PM at the Montrose Center and hope you can come and check it out.

TNA Halloween Fundraising Party At Hamburger Mary's Tomorrow

For those of you who don't want to watch Game 6 of the World Series and wish to break out your costumes  why not head over to Hamburger Mary's and do so for a good cause?

The Transgender National Alliance helps low income trans people get name and gender marker changes.  TNA helped me get mine back in February, so I got to see firsthand the work they do

TNA is hosting a fundraiser there tomorrow night that will be emceed by Lady Shamu and  Veronica Strutts.   In addition to the Zombies of Mary's, they'll have candy, games and a raffle with prizes that include original art, jewelry, champagne and whiskey .

$20 entry fee that includes the games, $5 for the raffle tickets. 

The TNA Halloween party benefits the Transgender National Alliance and Transgender Women of Color United for Change, and will run from 6-10 PM.

If you're interested, you can call Hamburger Mary's at 713-677-0674 to reserve your table.  Hamburger Mary's Houston is located in the heart of the gayborhood at 2409 Grant Street. 

Houston GLBT Caucus 9th Annual Equality Brunch

Last year it was yours truly being honored at the Houston GLBT Caucus Equality Brunch.   This time I got to sit back yesterday in the audience as a guest of Texas state Sen. Sylvia Garcia for this year's 9th annual edition of the Equality Brunch held yesterday at the Hotel ZaZa overlooking Hermann Park.

The Equality Brunch is a fundraising event for the Caucus, which is considered the oldest  TBLGQ political organization in the South.     

As part of the Brunch, awards are given to community heroes and sheroes

We were also thrilled to have Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in attendance and giving some brief remarks before he left to attend another event.

Our previous Mayor Annise Parker was also in attendance along with CM Robert Gallegos, Judge Stephen Kirkland, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and a long list of political candidates, advocates and supporters in the sold out venue.

The spectacular view from the 11th floor of the hotel was a bonus.

Sen. Garcia was there to receive the Eleanor Tinsley Award, which goes to an ally of our community.  She was definitely that with all her hard work to help us kill SB 6. 

The John Paul Barnich Award that I received last year went to Kevin Anderson,  The Don Hrachovy Award to Kris Banks , and the new Kristen Capps Award to Alan Dettlaff.

The Houston trans and gender diverse community was well represented this year.   In addition to the Tony and Bruce Award going to Gender Infinity co-founders Becca and Colt Keo-Meier,

Gender Infinity's two day conference will once again take place at the University of Houston October 13-14.

The President's Award was given to a longtime trans advocate in Atlantis Narcisse.

She's been active for 20 years in our Houston trans community, but has been in the background doing her work as she supports more visible folks like myself,  Dee Dee Watters and Kaleb Elijah. 

It was well deserved sis, and congrats on receiving it.

Congrats indeed to all the members of the 2017 Class of Caucus Equality Brunch Award recipients, and thanks for everything you do to make our community, Houston and our state better.   

ATX Here To Slay Capitol Rally

I got to take a quick trip to Austin yesterday to speak at the Here To Slay Austin Capital Takeover a mere 24 hours after the hate ministers desecrated the South Steps and express myself about Texas GOP legislative oppression..

Too bad we didn't bring any holy water or sage to cleanse them.  Neither did I get my Slurpee.

It was put together by several organizations, including the Houston based Organization de Latina Trans en Texas (OLTT) , Aqui Estamos RGV,  Familia and the Transgender Law Center.

It was also an honor to be asked to be the lead speaker for it, and ended up getting quoted in the San Antonio Express-News article about the event.  I also enjoyed the conversations I had with many of the attendees.

So it was nice getting to see Raquel Willis, Isa Noyola and Jennicet Gutierrez again, see the ladies of OLTT,  hang out for a moment with Danielle Skidmore  and enjoy spending the quality time on the ride up to and back from the ATX with Alice Serna-McDougald.   Also got to meet more trans and BLG younglings and talk to them about our Texas trans history.

I was also proud to be part of an event that is building ties and working partnerships between the Texas Black and Latinx community since the Texas Republican Party over the last decade has been hellbent on curbing the growing political power of our communities.  

They are also deeply aware of the fact that since 2009 the Texas demographics are against them

For five hours they not only heard our voices, but three lobbying teams visited key House legislators and senate legislators.

And what did I have to say about Texas legislative oppression?

“When you have people like the trans community who have had to fight tooth and nail just to exist, we’re not going to roll over for legislative repression."

Nope, we're going to fight it with every fiber of our being.  And yeah, we'll be back when you have those hearings on Rep. Ron Simmons' unjust bills..