Happy Fathers Day, Papa Bears!

I talk a lot about the amazing moms of trans kids that have earned the nickname 'Mama Bears' because they are fierce and determined advocates for their trans cubs.

But on this Father's Day, I want to highlight and give a shout out this Father's Day for the Papa Bears, the fathers of trans kids who are just as supportive and just as fiercely protective of their trans offspring as their moms are.

I met the amazing Wayne Maines at the same time I met Jeanette Jennings, back during the 2012 Philly Trans Health Conference, and through both of them subsequently met their amazing trans daughters.   Every time I have a chance to spend some quality time with Wayne at PTHC, we have some long conversations about a wide range of issues in addition to trans politics.

Since then I've gotten a chance to meet the Texas Papa Bears.    I've gotten to meet and know Aaron Richie and his family, and Dallas' Frank Gonzales and his family.   I'm looking forward to meeting Greg Lambert in the near future if I haven't done so already.

All three men were standing tall for their kids during the SB 6 and HB 2899 fights, and I bump into Aaron on a regular basis at various events in the Houston area.    

And yes, there are Black Papa Bears in the person of J.R. Ford, Joseph Ghartey and Chris Neal who support their trans kids and provide them the unconditional love they need to survive and thrive in a hostile at times to trans kids world that is trying to assert despite all the evidence that they shouldn't exist.

Happy Father's Day Papa Bears!  Thanks for all you do to not only help raise your kids, but in some cases are also sterling leadership examples that we trans elders can admire and follow.

Our Trans Parents Need Love, Too

Out of the hundreds of people that I have met during my two decades plus trans journey, some of the people I have major props, love and respect for are the parents of transgender kids.

Whether they are high profile ones like Jeanette Jennings, Wayne Maines, or Kim Pearson, emerging leaders like Debi Jackson and DeShanna Neal, ones in my Lone Star backyard like Ann Elder and Kimberly Shappley, or parents who are active in the secret online groups but choose to be non disclosed for now, may I remind everyone in Trans World that raising a child is not an easy job to begin with.

Raising a trans child comes with its own set of challenges.  It's getting tougher now that the Republican Party and conservative movement, being the reprehensible bullies they are, have now resorted to attacking the humanity of our trans youth and their parents for their negligible political gain.

So yes Trans World, it's past time we collectively send some love and appreciation to all the trans parents this morning and every day beyond today's date.  

Let's be real, there are times we trans elders don't say thank you enough for our trans parents who have the courage in this moment when hostility and anti-trans hatred is needlessly being stirred up, to be the fierce warriors our trans kids of all ages need to ensure they grow up to be productive, healthy and happy adults.

I'll get a chance to support my local trans parents in a few weeks at the Gender Infinity Conference here in Houston, and hope my trans family in the Houston metro area will join me in doing so.

I am also making it clear that I stand with our trans parents here in Texas and around the country as they seek to make this world a better place for their kids to survive and thrive in and will continue to do my part to make that better world happen.

I would also encourage my trans siblings to make it your mission to support the trans parents, our allies, and the people and organizations that are giving trans parents the spaces and support systems they need to not only raise their kids, but deal with the slings and arrows they get from society for simply doing so.

Thank you Mama Bears and Papa Bears for being there for our trans younglings, and in many cases for us trans elders who are on the front lines fighting the powers that be to make the world better for your kids.

Trans parents need love, too.  If nobody else on this planet will give them that love and support, then trans family, we need to be the first in line doing so.

Kimberly Shappley Stands Tall For Her Trans Child

"She's not a threat to your children, but when you teach your children that my kid is a monster, then your kids are a threat to mine, and that's not fair."
--Kimberly Shappley

One of the cool things about being me is that I get to meet some amazing people as I handle my human rights business inside and outside the Houston city limits.

One of those people that I have had the pleasure of meeting locally is Kimberly Shappley, the mom of a five year old trans feminine child about to start kindergarten this fall.

Unfortunately Kai will be starting school in the Pearland ISD, whose superintendent Dr. John Kelly back in May unleashed some transphobic remarks in the wake of the release of the Department of Education/Department of Justice Dear Colleague letter concerning the human rights of transgender kids in school settings.

And yes, Pearland ISD is going there and trying to force Kai to use the boy's bathroom.

"In my personal opinion, this is one more example of unconstitutional interference and social engineering by the federal government," Superintendent Kelly said in a local paper about the DOE/DOJ Dear Colleague letter.

"A hostile vocal minority now rules in America aided by an apathetic unengaged majority.  What's next?  Legalizing pedophilia and polygamy?  Unless we return to the Biblical basis on which our nation's laws were established, we are in serious trouble - and cannot expect God's continued favor."

This from a man who claims to love and respect all the children of Pearland ISD.   Yeah, right.  Didn't sound like love and respect to me for all PISD kids, especially trans and SGL ones..

Kelly was called out for his transphobic utterances at a contentious May 25 PISD school board meeting in which supporters and critics packed the room to comment pro and con.

The transphobic comments of Kelly along with our Lt Governor Dan Patrick (R) are two reasons why Shappley has now come out about Kai, is telling her story and is teaming up with Equality Texas to not only do that, but fight for her child's human rights.




Shappley was in Austin last month with other Texas parents of trans kids to call out Lt. Governor Dan Patrick on his recent anti-trans statements and pushing anti-trans hatred for political gains.

Shappley is concerned about the transphobia being stirred up in the Lone Star State and elsewhere and how it could affect Kai, who is happy and thriving since her transition two years ago at age 3.

"Now that my daughter is entering public school, the superintendent of our school district is making it to where we have to come out. "said Shappley about Kelly as she expressed her concerns about the upcoming school year. "We have to take a stand.".

And know Kimberly that you, Kai and your family will not be alone as you do so.  The Houston trans community, myself and our allies are prepared to stand tall with you

Debi Jackson Talks To GLAAD

Remember when Debi Jackson gave the moving speech about her trans child AJ and did some mythbusting along the way?

Well it's a year later, and she's now talking about acceptance and that journey she's been taken on with her trans feminine daughter with Claire Pires

My Family! Providing Children's Books For The LGBT Market

     

When married power couple and business partners Monica and Cheril Bey-Clarke were seeking to become licensed foster parents in New Jersey, they were frustrated by the lack of materials and books available for the children of GLBT parents.  

The couple featured in a recent "Most Powerful Lesbians" issue of Curve Magazine.decided to step in and fill the void of books and materials for kids of all ages and backgrounds.   They sought by doing so to give the children of same-sex parents a sense of normalcy.  Their goal was also to promote the celebration of our differences, the importance of family values and reinforce the morality being taught in the home. 

It didn't hurt that Cheril has been an award winning author, novelist and playwright in the LGBT community for over ten years and Monica has over a decade of experience formulating, creating strategies for and implementing business concepts. 

In 2010 they founded My Family! a retail arm of Dodi Press LLC to provide those books and materials and positive experiences for LGBT parents for generations to come.   The company went international in 2011 and has a website you can purchase their diverse multicultural line of books and products  

As I perused the site and the gender identity section I noted that Cheryl Kilodavis' 'My Princess Boy' is one of the books for sale on their website in addition to others from a wide array of authors that cover the various aspects of the LGBT community and the issues that would impact the children of same-sex, bi and trans parents.

One of them was a trans themed book by writer Monique Costa entitled 'When Leonard Lost His Spots'.  

So for you parents in the LGBT community looking for some quality books and items for your kids and wanting to circulate your TBLG dollars in the community, may wish to surf by the My Family! website and see what they have to offer..