HERO Updates, Notes and News-October 20

Things are definitely heating up on the HERO news front and it came from an unexpected direction. 

The HERO haters filed a lawsuit designed to clean up the mess they made of the signature gathering process and force a repeal vote  that will be heard in state district court January19. 

So with things inexorably creeping toward that date,  all of a sudden we hear over the top headlines coming from the conservative ranks that the city of Houston was 'attacking the religious liberty if Houston pastors'.   

Alvin McEwen of the Holy Bullies And Headless Monsters blog that tracks hypocritical right wing pastors and anti LGBT human rights activity, sent me a link to a Tony Perkins radio show on the topic.  Then FOX Noise, the junior senator from Alberta, and even Greg Abbott jumped into the faux controversy.

What happened was the law firm working pro bono for the city sent a discovery motion asking for all communications related to the failed petition from David Welch, Steve Riggle, Khan Huynh, Magda Hermida, and Hernan Castano.   While that motion may have been  overly broad in asking for the sermons, there is precedent for subpoenaing sermons in a legal investigation. 

While the city later refiled and cleaned up that language in the motion, it was still basic Legal Work 101.

"There's no question, the wording was overly broad. But I also think there was some deliberate misinterpretation on the other side," Mayor Parker said at a press conference Wednesday. "The goal is to find out if there were specific instructions given on how the petitions should be accurately filled out. It's not about, 'What did you preach on last Sunday?'"   

The HERO haters filed a lawsuit.  One  of the consequences of that is when you do, it opens you and your associates to legal scrutiny.   The subpoenas are seeking to gather information about improper church behavior, which is why the wingers are tripping in the first place.

And these conservafools, as usual, overplayed their hand by hating on Mayor Parker and spouting the usual hysterical lies about a HERO ordinance that isn't being implemented yet pending the court case..

Moving on to other topics.  The Houston Black TBLG community is continuing its efforts to handle its business.  There was a another strategy meeting held  October 15 in which this issue was not only discussed, but an upcoming November 22 trans health fair    We also have ongoing efforts to do HERO mythbusting in the Houston African-American community ranks. 

 In addition to continuing the education efforts inside the community, there are also other initiatives we are doing that fall into the Houston Black LGBT Revolution Will Not Be Televised territory, and to enhance their success I can't discuss them in this post.

One thing that is in the works is another sisterhood panel in which Black cis and trans women get together and discuss issues of importance to both groups.   There is still far too much disinformation out there about transgender people in the African-American ranks, and it's feeding into anti-trans animus and hysteria eagerly whipped up by our  sellout  pastors.

The first sisterhood panel back in July was a success, and there will be more of them to come. 

The struggle to keep the HERO continues.

UN Human Rights Council Passes LGBT Resolution

The good TBLG rights news just keeps on coming internationally

The United Nations Human Rights Council after an hour of debate, has passed by a 25-14 margin with seven abstentions an LGBT human rights resolution that condemns discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation

The resolution was proposed a month ago by Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay.   There were seven amendments proposed by nations opposed to the LGBT resolution designed to strip mentioning gender identity and sexual orientation that were soundly defeated.

The nations voting for passage of the resolution were Argentina, Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Montenegro, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Macedonia, the U.K., the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam.

The nations opposed were Algeria, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The nations abstaining were Burkina Faso, China, Congo, India, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Sierra Leone.

The passage of the amendment was applauded by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

"The Human Rights Council has taken a fundamental step forward by reaffirming one of the United Nations’ key principles — that everyone is equal in dignity and rights.” said Jessica Stern, the executive director of IGLHRC. “This resolution puts the UN on a trajectory to address the discrimination and violence LGBT persons suffer daily across the world.”

"The council is confirming that LGBT people have universal human rights,” Stern said. “We know, of course, that the struggle is long, and that we will need the Council to focus on the violations we suffer for many years to come. But for now, we celebrate that the majority of States stood with us to declare, unequivocally, that human rights are for everyone, everywhere.”

Trans and LGB rights issues are international human rights issues, and this vote by the UN Human Rights Council is more evidence this is not only a statement of fact, but our opponents are on the wrong side of human rights history once again.

- See more at: http://www.sdgln.com/news/2014/09/26/breaking-un-human-rights-council-votes-support-lgbt-rights#sthash.M2wVjq9n.dp

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GenderProud Twitter Chat Tonight

Tonight a Twitter chat sponsored by GenderProud will happen that will discuss an interesting topic.

Over the last decade we have seen the Philippines emerge as one of the Asian-Pacific challengers to Thailand's status as the most trans friendly nation in the region. 

Manila is the home of the Amazing Philippine Show and the Amazing Philippine Beauties pageant is a televised national event.  Philippine cultural traditions allow trans and gender variant kids to transition early.  There have been moves in several cities toward passing non-discrimination laws covering LGBTQ people in that nation, and the Philippine Congress is also pondering passage of legislation to protect the human rights of LGBTQ Filipinos.    

But at the same time, despite the efforts of STRAP, GANDA Filipinas and other LGBT orgs in the nation, there continue to be troubling reports of anti-trans and LGB discrimination still happening in the Philippines. 

The question this Twitter chat will ponder tonight starting at 8 PM EDT will be 'Is The Philippines LGBT Friendly?' with GenderProud's Geena Rocero.  

#GenderProud @rappler Twitter Conversation should be an interesting discussion, and if you can take part in it, may be worth your time to do so. 

HERO Updates, Notes And News- August 18

HERO 4-HERO haters 0

Despite the faith-based oppressors trying to spin this as a 'victory', the reality is they lost twice in court Friday in their bid to force a November repeal vote of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

Because the 152nd District Court has a Democratic judge (which is more ample evidence that elections matter) the haters tried to get the case heard in the  14th District Texas Court of Appeals in the hopes they would get a conservative leaning judge.

The strategy didn't work, because the 14th District Appeals Court refused to hear their case and sent it back to the 152nd District Court and Judge Schaeffer

While all this legal maneuvering was going on, Team HERO was holding a noon press conference before the court hearing at the steps of the Harris County Civil Courthouse telling our side of the story.

The pro-HERO peeps are continuing to hammer home the points why this non-discrimination ordinance needs to be implemented without delay instead of being delayed .  

This news story that broke last Thursday about an African-American cis man being denied access to a downtown public bathroom in a public building is more evidence why HERO needs to be implemented in H-town without delay. 


In the Friday afternoon court hearing, the faith based haters went in trying to accomplish three things.  
*A temporary restraining order to stop HERO from being implemented. 
*An order forcing City Council to vote to repeal HERO in its entirety
*An order forcing a City Council vote to place it on the November 2014 ballot.

Never mind the fact the HERO haters screwed up and failed to follow clearly set out city charter parameters for conducting petition drives and they know it.  Now in their faith-based phobic arrogance want the special right to ignore the rules that everyone else has to follow.

At the end of the hearing, the HERO haters failed to accomplish any of their goals.  They agreed to withdraw the TRO request since Mayor Parker made it moot by suspending implementation of the HERO pending the results of the court case

The trial date will be January 19, 2015, which means that the earliest election date that can happen for a HERO repeal vote will be the November 2015 city elections.  

The haters were trying to get it on the ballot this November, and the deadline to submit ballot language to the Texas Secretary of State for the upcoming election was today.   It's why the HERO haters were so pressed to force City Council to act on it.  

But while a HERO repeal referendum will not be on the November 2014 ballot, it also means the HERO will not be in effect either until the legal issues are sorted out.   The silver lining is that it gives us time to educate the people who have been bamboozled into believing the faith based lies and flip them into becoming supporters of the ordinance once we lay out the facts

Moving on to other HERO related news.   On Tuesday August 19 there will be a HERO Volunteer Appreciation Event at Resurrection MCC featuring Mayor Annise Parker.

At the event will get an update on where the legal challenges against HERO-our new landmark nondiscrimination law stand, take a moment to celebrate the amazing work that our broad citywide coalition has done and accomplished so far and hear what we need to do to ensure that HERO remains City of Houston law.

The Volunteer Appreciation event will start at 6:30 PM at the church, located at  2725 W 11th St. 

On Wednesday August 20 at Social Junkie, the Houston Forum will present starting at 6:30 PM entitled '10 Things I Hate About You: Why Houston Needs HERO.   It will feature Councilmembers Ellen Cohen and Ed Gonzales      

As is so apropos to this HERO discussion, Social Junkie is located at 2412 Washington Ave, the street where clubs located on it have been going buck wild discriminating against anyone that isn't a heterosexual white male.  

The Houston Forum is a space for like-minded people to meet, network and discuss current issues and to foster the progressive community in Houston.   If you wish to attend what should be an interesting event,  e-mail Lillie Schechter at rsvp@lillieschechter.com to do so. 

Meanwhile at the Montrose Center that same night, starting at 7:30 PM will be the Real Talk: A Message Of Equality event jointly sponsored by the Movement Advancement Project and Equality Texas.

African Americans are the best messengers for LGBT equality in the African American community. This training brings national experts from the Movement Advancement Project and Equality Federation to lead a conversation among African Americans about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Our presenters will provide evidence-based information on effective messaging that can be difficult to hear, but is vital to broader public education efforts.

RSVP is required for your attendance.  Please go to this link: http://tinyurl.com/realtalktraining.

The struggle to keep the HERO continues.

HERO Updates, Notes And News-August 11

It's been a week since the haters faith based oppressors failed to gather enough signatures to place the HERO on the ballot for recall.   Because it was via their own ineptitude that they failed to do so, now they want the court system to bail them out of the mess they made for themselves.

They tried to play it off as if the city was being nitpicky about it, but as this training video shows, even King Hater Dave Welch knew what the requirements were before they got started on the failed recall petition drive  



The case was sent to federal court, on August 6, but went back to state court the next day with a hearing on August 15.  The HERO haters are running into an August 18 deadline if they want to get it on the 2014 election ballot, and the clock is ticking. 

As expected, a judge has enjoined the city from enforcing the HERO  until the legal questions are resolved.   Mayor Parker had already anticipated this, which is why she suspended HERO mplementation for two weeks until the haters trip through the court system is done. 

In the meantime, Team HERO is in standby mode.  While we'd rather the HERO not be on the ballot period, if push comes to shove we are ready to start fundraising money and prepare defending our much needed human rights ordinance.Stay tuned to this TransGriot channel to see if they were successful 

On to other news.  The next Civil Rights Strategy group meeting will be on Tuesday, August 12 at 7:00 PM at the Montrose Center, 401 Branard, Room 112..

The struggle to keep the HERO continues

HERO Updates, Notes And News-August 4

Today is the day Team HERO has been anxiously awaiting since the faith-based haters announced they were going to attempt to collect signatures to force a repeal referendum.

The signatures were turned in July 3, and ever since then City Secretary Anna Russell's office and a dedicated team of over 100 volunteers have been poring over the 5199 pages turned in.

Many of those pages were riddled with errors or had issues of concern that may render them invalid.   Many had duplicate signatures, or were signed by people who aren't Houston residents or registered voters. 

Others had fatal errors that invalidated the entire page, or others were collected before the June 3 start date, also making them invalid. 


According to the Executive Summary issued by the independent review group conducting the signature validation process, the faith based haters only collected 16,500 signatures, short of the 17,269 needed to place it on the ballot. 

We'll get the official word later this afternoon from the City Secretary's office and at a 5 PM CDT press conference featuring Mayor Parker and City Attorney Dave Feldman.  If it turns out the executive summary is correct, the petition drive fails, and then the HERO haters as they have already indicated will start filing lawsuits

Good, that's less money they can throw into GOP campaigns this fall.

I was out of town when it happened, but it was reported to me by people in attendance that the sisterhood discussion moderated by Dee Dee Watters on July 31 at the Montrose Center went well. 

I was there on only 6 hours sleep for the noon HERO strategy meeting that happened at Legacy Saturday.  Some of the things we're going to do I'm sworn to secrecy about, but some of the topics we talked about were our game plan should this move into a referendum either this year or in 2015, making sure all sectors of the Houston LGBT are involved and our messaging is on point and hammering home the fact the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance protects ALL Houstonians. 

The African-American SGL, bi and trans community is planning to have another strategy meeting in which we talk about issues and messaging strategies specific to our community.   August 12 at 7 PM is the tentative date and time for it, and once I get the date and location I'll post it in a future HERO news update.

Starting at 6 PM will be the HERO forum sponsored by the Forward Times.  Still haven't been able to determine whether Mayor Parker and various city council members will show up, but keep hearing that one of the panelists will be former city councilmember Jolanda Jones.

It'll be interesting to see which haters show up.

Location for this forum is the CWA Hall at 1730 Jefferson St. downtown, and definitely will be there along with Team HERO in full effect for this one.

The struggle to keep the HERO continues.

HERO Updates, Notes And News-July 30

In our latest update of HERO news, Dave Welch of the Houston Area Pastors Haters Council is in this one.

Welch is one of our longtime inside Beltway 8 human rights oppressors who cut his repressive teeth with Ralph Reed and the Not So Christian Coalition.  It's why he got the stank eye and call out from me during that HMS-TV debate a few weeks ago.

Seems like King Hater in a recent update to his faith based hatemongers has called for “imprecatory prayers” as the deadline to count the HERO repeal petitions deadline approaches. 

So what's an imprecatory prayer?   It's one in which you pray for vile and evil things to happen to your opponents and the destruction of institutions that you perceive as wicked.  

And y'all wonder why I call Welch King Hater.  Probably need to photoshop a '666' on his forehead in any future photos of him.   Whether the misguided Mr Welch and his faith based bigots actually wants negative things to happen to all of us fighting to defend the ordinance is subject to debate, but as the late Maya Angelou stated, if somebody shows you who they are the first time, believe them.

Him parting his lips to ask for imprecatory prayers, being obsessively focused on the sex lives of gay people and obsessed about where we transfolks go potty are signs the man need Jesus and a good psychotherapist.

It's also dangerous when a so called religious leader makes such a dark, chilling and irresponsible call and proves his side and supporters are anything but Christian.   History is also chock full of examples of disturbed people who heed the calls by hate preachers like Welch that subsequently do violently horrible things in the twisted belief they were carrying out God’s will.

Moving on to a more positive subject besides King Hater. .    Let's talk about the HERO recall petitions. 

With the August 4 deadline to verify the petitions rapidly approaching,  the HERO petition.com website went online publishing the names of all the peeps who signed the repeal petitions which are a convoluted mess according to a recent OutSmart magazine article. . 

The HERO haters claimed they gathered 50,000 names and certified 30,000, to which we called bull feces.  Team HERO has subsequently had 80 trained people in a crowdsourcing effort to verify whether or not Max Miller and company were sellin' woof tickets back on July 3. 

The question concerning whether or not the HERO haters gathered enough signatures to place it on the ballot (17,269) is also being asked by our local media. 

The other interesting development happened at yesterday's city council meeting.   Mike Craig and Noel Freeman testified at that meeting it appears that the HERO haters didn't turn in enough signatures.

 

We'll know for certain if that is true when City Secretary Anna Russell and City Attorney Dave Feldman deliver their reports after the August 4 verification deadline.  If it's true, I'll do another happy dance and have a nice bottle of champagne chilling in the refrigerator that will be uncorked in celebration

We also have several meetings of interest coming up as the calendar page flips from July to August.

On July 31 will be the What Is Sisterhood one being held at the Montrose Center at  7 PM moderated by Dee Dee Watters.   On August 2 will be another HERO Strategy Meeting at Legacy starting at 12 Noon.  The Forward Times Town hall will happen on the critical August 4 deadline day also at 7 PM.

The struggle to keep the HERO continues.

HERO Updates, Notes And News- July 28

The HERO is two months old today! 

As of yet no Houston bakers have been forced to bake swastika cakes against their will, we haven't had an epidemic of crossdressing predators flooding Houston bathrooms, and neither have the other parade of horribles and lies espoused by our faith based haters have come to pass. 

And yeah HERO haters, if you don't like me calling you faith-based haters and human rights oppressors, stop acting like it.  

And for you Houston area Black folks bristling because I'm calling your asses out about your unbelievably stupid and jaw dropping opposition to a human rights ordinance that protects you, if you lie down with lying right wing dogs, don't get mad when their fleas bite you and I call you out for associating with them. 

Speaking of right wing liars, Dave Welch and his prevaricating preachers continue to claim that since the May 28 HERO passage, there have been four people caught in opposite gender bathrooms.

Yeah right.  Show me the police reports.  

The checking of HERO petitions continues, and another combined training and petition checking event was held last Saturday afternoon in which we had the pleasant surprise of our next governor, state Senator Wendy Davis visiting Resurrection MCC Church where it was held. 

Sen..Davis was in town to do a block walking event organized by state Rep. Alma Allen and stopped by to thank the volunteers for their efforts.

Deadline to have the petitions checked to determine if there are enough signatures to place HERO on the ballot is August 3 and the clock is ticking.  The visit of Sen. Davis also reminded us we are getting closer to our November 4 election day in the Lone Star State.  

Dee Dee Watters will be facilitating a sisterhood discussion at the Montrose Center on July 31 from 7-9 PM CDT.   The Transgendered Women of Color United for Change and the Legacy Community Health Services Positive Organizing Project cordially invites you to an important meeting that will include a panel of Trans women who will share about a wide range of topics including 'What is Sisterhood? Why Should Trans Women be Included?'

The Montrose Center is located at 401 Branard Street, Houston, TX 77006.  Light refreshments will be served. All women are welcome. Contact Venita Ray for more information at 713-299-6123 or vray@legacycommunityhealth.org. 

And Dee Dee, congratulations on capturing MSociety's Activist of the Year Award!.  Well deserved.


The struggle to protect the HERO continues

NBJC Statement Concerning The TBLG Executive Order

As you TransGriot readers are aware of, yesterday morning President Barack Obama signed executive orders banning federal contractors from discriminating in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity.   The executive order also expanded a 1998 Clinton executive order that banned discrimination in federal employment based on gender identity.

The National Black Justice Coalition was pleased with yesterday's event and had this to say about it.  While this is wonderful news, NBJC cautions us that the fight is far from over when it comes to expanding equality and opportunity for all.

***

“President Obama’s decision to protect LGBT workers contracting with the federal government is a powerful sign that our nation continues to make progress on expanding equality and opportunity to all. But the fight on this issue is far from over,” said Sharon Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. “It’s beyond troubling that more states permit marriage equality than prohibit LGBT discrimination in the workplace. What sense does it make to be able to marry, but have to live in fear of losing your job simply because of who you are or who you love? This injustice must be made right by Congress passing nondiscrimination protections for all of our nation’s workers, no matter their backgrounds."

For forty years, Congress has debated several pieces of legislation meant to address LGBT workplace equality with no success achieved. This lack of advancement has had a devastating impact on LGBT workers of color. NBJC’s co-authored report, A Broken Bargain For LGBT Workers of Color, illustrates how LGBT workers who live at the intersections of race and both gender identity and sexual orientation face tremendous odds when trying to secure and maintain employment. For example, national surveys of Black LGBT people put rates of employment discrimination near 50 percent.

“Black LGBT people are significantly disadvantaged when they lack nondiscrimination protections in the workplace. NBJC will not rest until all qualified American workers, including our Black LGBT brothers and sisters, have the ability to secure a good, quality job to take care of themselves and their families,” added Lettman-Hicks.

With the signing of today’s Executive Order, President Obama builds upon his Administration’s stellar record of improving the lives of LGBT people. The Obama Administration’s LGBT victories include: signing a federal hate crimes law; repealing the military’s discriminatory policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” the Department of Justice’s move to stop defending the “Defense of Marriage Act;” and the expansion of health care coverage to the LGBT community, with an emphasis on addressing LGBT health care disparities.

HERO Show On HMS-TV

As many of you readers may be aware of, I was invited to participate in a televised discussion concerning the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) with Christina Gorczynski, Daniel Williams and Noel Freeman. 

It was hosted by Fran Watson and Durrel Douglas on Houston Media Source TV, our local municipal access cable channel.

The first half of the show was us proving information about our nearly two month old ordinance, the 15 categories it covers, and doing some mythbusting about it. 

The second half of the show featured me and Christina facing off against two HERO opponents, who turned out to be King HERO Hater Dave Welch and Kathy Blueford-Daniels.

Enjoy.    

HMS-TV Talks About The HERO Tonight

For you peeps wanting more info about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance and everything surrounding our nearly two month old law, I'll be part of a live local cable access show panel later tonight on Houston Media Source TV at 6:30 PM CDT. 

Besides your fave award winning blogger, the panelists will be Christina Gorczynski, Daniel Williams, Noel Freeman and HERO opponent Kathy Blueford-Daniels to discuss our Houston Equal Rights Ordinance hosted by Fran Watson and Durrell Douglas.

While our opposition will cite her concerns (or regurgitate the lies) about the law, I and my fellow panelists will be ready and waiting to point out the 15 classes of people the HERO protects in addition to gleefully doing mythbusting    

The HERO ordinance prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or pregnancy.   It also provides for the first time a local recourse mechanism for Houstonians who believe they have been victims of intentional discrimination

Viewers will be invited to call in with questions and comments concerning the HERO and I hope that you'll be able to tune in on Comcast Channel 17 or AT&T Uverse Channel 99.   Those of you who live outside the Houston metro area who wish to check out the show can watch the livestream of it at www.hmstv.org.      .

Should be fun and hope y'all get the opportunity to tune in. 

HERO Updates, Notes And News-July 15

It's time for another HERO news update since the last one I penned was back on July 4. 

One thing I and everyone inside Beltway 8 are keenly aware of is that the world is watching our fight to defend the HERO with keen interest. 

I discovered that firsthand when I flew to our nation's capital last week to attend the White House LGBT Innovation Summit.  One of the next questions off everyone's lips once they discovered I was there from Houston was, 'What's happening with the HERO?"

What's happening is the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is nearly two months old, is still in effect, and covers 15 categories.  I can also confidently report that no bakers have been forced to make swastika cakes anywhere inside the Houston city limits. 

Right now we are in signature counting mode.   As you know for the last update the hate ministers dropped off their petitions with the alleged 50,000 signatures at City Secretary Anna Russell's office July 3.  Mayor Parker held a press conference on that date that I was in attendance for along with other members of Team HERO expressing her thoughts about it.

In addition to the launch of the Equal Rights Houston website, we've also held multiple petition verification trainings that have trained over 150 volunteers how to spot invalid signatures.  Now that we've begun to finally receive those petitions, we can start the actual work of poring through them to find the fraudulent and ineligible ones.  

One of those petition checking events will happen tonight at Resurrection MCC Church starting at 7 PM CDT. and  we'll know by August 4 whether the petition drive was successful or it failed.

There will also be a Civil Rights Strategy Meeting held July 24 at Resurrection MCC starting at 7 PM to discuss HERO.  One of the topics on the agenda will be to assess what needs to be done to combat the lies and ignorance about the ordinance being disseminated in communities of color.

Short answer is get African-American media to give the pro-HERO side as much airtime to counter the lies as you have given the opponents.  Our legacy orgs in the NAACP and Urban League along with our politicians and leaders who support HERO have also been far too silent and not forceful enough to call out the ignorance and lies coming from the Baptist Ministers Assn of Houston and Vicinity. 

Neither have they pointed out the fact they are selling out and siding with white Republican conservatives in opposing an ordinance that benefits the entire Houston community. 

One of the things that has pissed off me and Team HERO in this human rights fight is the Houston media continuing to pimp the lies of Dave Welch, Max Miller and his faith based haters. 

While the Houston Chronicle just published this positive HERO op-ed, unfortunately in one of Houston's oldest African-American newspapers, the Forward Times went in the opposite direction. 

Here's another example of the transphobic bathroom myth being repeated without debunking in this Forward Times ad promoting an upcoming HERO debate forum they are setting up on August 4. 
 
Christina Gorczynski had this to say on her Facebook page in rebuttal to this problematic ad

'Factual information about this ordinance must reach each and every community and we are counting on the media to report HERO accurately. Let's avoid dividing people based on the very characteristics that HERO protects and work together to end all forms of discrimination against every Houstonian.'

She's absolutely right about that.   One of the major problems I've had with the African-American media during this HERO fight is they haven't been doing their job of reporting on this ordinance accurately. 

They have been far too busy parroting of the lies of Max Miller and his Baptist Ministers Assn of Houston and Vicinity but not inviting HERO supporters to counter those lies, much less give us the same air time (Majic 102) they have given them.   Houston African-American trans and SGL people are still waiting for KMJQ-FM to extend to them the same opportunity to appear on Sunday Morning Live as was given to the HERO opponents a few weeks ago. 

Speaking of opportunities to tell our story, I'll be part of a panel along with Christina Gorczynski, Daniel Williams and Noel Freeman on HMS TV Thursday discussing the HERO.     

The struggle to keep the HERO continues.

50th Anniversary Of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Signing

I was a mere toddler when this event happened, but it was a critical one in determining the type of America I got to grow up in as an African-American child.

On this date in 1964, with the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr as one of the witnesses, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act into law.

It was the signature legislation of the Civil Rights Movement.  The law barred segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 It fundamentally changed our country for the better with its passage and when the voting rights, fair housing, and other civil rights legislation was passed in its trailblazing wake followed by court cases that further validated, clarified and built upon that landmark legislation. . 

Here's what President Johnson had to say about the Civil Rights Act at the time when he signed it.  

HERO Is One Month Old Today!

How apropos it is for us in Houston that we are having our Pride Parade on the one month anniversary of the 11-6 passage and signage into law by Mayor Annise Parker of our Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) .

In addition to prohibiting discrimination in our sprawling world class metropolis against residents and visitors to our city in 15 different categories, it provides a local governmental solution in case people's rights are violated.

And as of yet Steve and Becky Riggle, no baker has been forced to make a swastika cake.

Neither has Houston endured all the other parade of horribles the faith-based haters claimed would befall our beloved city if we passed the HERO including fire and brimstone raining from the sky. 

But what we do have is a citywide ordinance to protect the human rights of all who live here.

HERO: Next Steps Meeting

You know I thought is was important if I tore myself away from the USA's initial World Cup match to head over to Resurrection MCC to attend a community meeting concerning the HERO and our next steps in defending it.

It was another one of the frequent questions I received while I was in Philadelphia for the PTHC in terms of how the haters petition drive was going.

In a fast paced one hour meeting in their Gathering Place room that seemed more like a reunion, we got updates on the current situation from Januari Leo, Christina Gorczynski, Brad Pritchett, Lou Weaver and Ryan Leach with major assist from Kristen Capps .

Christina reminded us in her presentation that our greatest asset in this fight to defend the HERO is the truth is on our side.   She pointed out the HERO covers 15 protected classes of which only two are sexual orientation and gender identity.  The HERO also addresses discrimination based on sex, race, color, age, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, familial status, genetic information, military status, pregnancy, disability and religion. 

The exempted classes are private clubs, religious organizations, private schools, senior citizen and military discounts and federal, state and county governmental entities. 

The private employers threshold is stairstepped.  I would have rather had it be 15 from the outset, but it goes from 50 employees in the first year to 25 in the second year and 15 in the third and subsequent years. 

It not only protects Houstonians but visitors to our city as well.. 

Brad's presentation covers the HOUequality website which is designed to be an informational clearinghouse concerning all things HERO related.   If you need to do some faith-based lie busting, you can whip out your mobile device and have at your fingertips all the factual information to crush the lie in an avalanche of information. 

Lou's portion of the presentation busted the anti-trans myths the haters are using to stir animus toward the ordinance and what to do to help Houston trans community voters get registered and a early voting polling place they can go where they will be respected. 

Ryan closed it out with our game plan if the faith based haters get enough signatures to place it on the November ballot.  Who gets to write the repeal ballot language, fundraising and PAC's.

So yep, definitely needed to be there.  Besides, the USA-Ghana game will be replayed on demand  anyway.      

HERO: Next Steps Meeting Tonight

As I've been reminding everyone, passing the #HERO was the easiest part of the process.   Now we have to defend it from our misguided faith-based haters and their 'fear and smear' tactics. 

There will be a #HERO: Next Steps meeting taking place later today from 6-7 PM at Resurrection MCC Church facilitated by Januari Leo and Brad Pritchett.

Januari and Brad will be your hosts for this exciting opportunity for community building and conversation around what's currently happening with our soon to be three week old non-discrimination ordinance.

At the #HERO: Next Steps meeting we'll discuss: (1) tools to address misinformation online and in person (2) details on a high-impact way to share your story (3) updates on the petition gathering and referendum process.

And if you attend, you also get to ask questions and make suggestions and comments concerning these issues.

Resurrection MCC is located at 2025 W. 11th Street west of TC Jester Boulevard.  The meeting will be in The Gathering Place building on the Resurrection MCC campus, and it has ample parking.   For you METRO riders it is on the 40 Pecore line

I will have my face in the place, and hope to see you there.

Canadian Senate Stonewalling Trans Rights Bill Passage

My Canadian trans cousins were justifiably celebrating along with the rest of the world when on its fourth attempt, C-279, the Trans Rights Bill passed the Canadian House of Commons back March 20, 2013 and moved to the Canadian Senate.

C-279 simply amends the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canadian Criminal Code to add gender identity as a protected class. It was cruising toward passage last summer and Royal Assent until the Conservatives in the Senate started playing games with it after it cleared committee and was at the Third Reading stage. 

The result was the Canadian Senate departed for their summer break without passing the C-279.  To make matters worse, when Parliament was prorogued that summer by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it got legislatively reset in the process after being reinstated by the Senate to the First Reading stage because it was a private member's bill.

Translation: C-279 had to start over in the Canadian Senate legislative process.

C-279 is now at the Second Reading stage as another summer break looms for the Canadian Senate on June 27.   If it's not passed by then, trans Canadians will have to wait until October 1 before the Senate returns to session.

Canadian Senate, and especially Conservative Party Canadian senators, justice delayed is justice denied. 

But then again, just like your fellow conservatives all over the world, you continually show through your actions why conservatism as a political philosophy is despised by marginalized people across the globe.

It's fairly obvious what the Conservative dominated Senate is doing, and it's time to start calling their behinds out on it.  There is a long list of organizations and unions starting to do so, but it think it's past time for trans Canadians to raise their voices.  It's past time to start calling out the Senate and pushing them to pass C-279 because it is the right thing human rights wise to do.

And the world is watching.   

If they continue this reprehensible legislative tactic, I hope you Canadian peeps, and especially my trans Canadian cousins punish the Conservative Party at the polls when your federal election happens in 2015 

       

'The New Black' Debuts On PBS Sunday

Ironically as we were fighting to pass the HERO, across the street from City Hall at the Houston Public Library downtown branch the Houston premiere of Yoruba Richen's film The New Black was being shown. 

The HERO fun didn't end until 8 PM, way after the film ended, and I was bummed about missing it

I'll finally get a chance to see it thanks to my local PBS station.    The New Black will make its debut on PBS's Independent Lens show this Sunday June 15 at 10 PM ET / 9 PM CDT.

It focuses on the marriage battle in Maryland the Black community conversation around it. and features a few people I know. 

I'm definitely going to be tuned in for it, and hope you'll watch as well.   

H-town, It's Decline To Sign Time!

The HERO has been passed and autographed by Mayor Parker, and predictably the faith-based haters are starting to fan out and make a cosmetic attempt to gather signatures in different parts of the city so they aren't all coming from the  Second Baptist and Grace KKKommunity Church hate megachurches.

Received some anecdotal reports this morning about people being spotted yesterday in the 'hood trying to collect signatures to force a repeal vote on the HERO. 

Fortunately in both reported cases to me, we had HERO supporters that explained to people in the vicinity of the attempted signature gathering that the HERO passage on May 28 benefited them.  They were advised that if they signed those petitions, they were in effect signing to take away human rights from themselves

Needless to say the petition gatherers in those cases went away empty handed. 

The faith-based haters have 30 days to try to collect over 25,000 signatures in order to force the repeal vote.   So if someone approaches you over the next 30 days trying to get you to sign a petition, politely decline to do so.

The petition gatherers knoweth not the HERO benefits them, and have been hoodwinked and bamboozled into doing Dave Welch and Dave Wilson's dirty work.   

So assume that any petition being presented to you over the next 30 days that you are being asked to sign is a bait and switch one related to repealing the HERO and refuse to do so.    Every day they don't hit their signature targets is one day closer they come to failing to get enough qualified signatures to place a repeal effort on the November ballot.  

If they get their signatures, they get them.  But let's make them work as hard as possible in this humid Houston air to do so.    

Houston, We Have HERO Passage!

By a 11-6 margin, Houston City Council passed the Equal Rights Ordinance after a month of contentious hearings and a marathon session that included public comments from over 200 citizens pro and con and  many of the councilmembers.

It may have been one small step in the human rights evolution for many cis and straight Houstonians, but for those of us in LGBT Houston, it was a giant leap in our human rights 30 years in the making.

And as you TransGriot readers have noted, I've done my part for Team Pass The HERO and put the sweat equity in to make it happen. 

I am so proud of my hometown today and all the people who put in the work to make this day a reality. 

Despite the nonstop anti-trans attacks, jaw dropping ignorance and straight up lies peddled by the faith-based haters, reason and logic prevailed.

And yeah, it was personal.

The best part of this whole day is my hometown is no longer on the list of cities that don't protect the human rights of their citizens.

And I have a smile as wide as the Lone Star State about that.