Meet Andii Viveros-Prom Queen

I posted a story back in 2007 about Fresno trans teen Crystal Vera becoming the first trans prom queen.  

In light of the drama that Andy Moreno went through in trying to become homecoming queen at North Dallas High, was happy to hear about what just transpired (pardon the pun) at McFatter Technical High School in Davie, FL.

17 year old Andii Viveros beat out 14 candidates to  become the second trans teen nationally to become the prom queen at her school.  To make it even more interesting, the prom king is 17 year old gay male student Juan Macias.


Andi is two years into her transition, and at times it has been rough for her despite the support from her family.  She had to deal with bullying and taunting behavior from students along with a less than supportive administration until this year.   She also had to deal with a faction of students who started a petition to get her removed from the ballot.

Andii told the Miami Herald in an interview this year the school got a new principal who was supportive of her.  She even encouraged Andii to run for prom queen.

Andii is planning to attend Broward College in the fall and get a degree in culinary arts management.

Congrats sis, and best of luck in your future endeavors.


 

'Photos Of Angie' Debuts At Denver Film Festival

Angie Zapata was brutally taken away from us three years ago, but her brief life and the people she touched during that time will live on.   

A documentary produced by Denver based filmmakers Alan and David Dominguez premiered last night at the 13th XicanIndie Film Festival in Denver.  

The film, 'Photos of Angie' moves between Angie’s life and self-discovery told through family and friends, to the trial of her killer, Allen Andrade, and how prosecutors used national hate crime legislation to prosecute him in 2009.

“Many aspects of this story struck me — Angie’s struggle to discover who she was and her courage to do right by herself, the fact that human sexuality is not nearly as neatly packaged as we like to think, and how common anti-transgender violence is,” said director Alan Dominguez in a news release. “Angie’s family took me on a very personal journey through their lives, and it led me to realize that only through compassion and understanding, all of us have to work together to write the end of the story — to create a world governed by freedom to be who we are, without fear.”

The Dominguez brothers through their Denver based production company called Loco Lane Filmworks shows films in festivals throughout the United States and Latin America.

Hopefully I'll get to see 'Photos Of Angie' at one near me soon.

WYFF-TV, Read Your AP Stylebook

Here we go again with more AP Stylebook failure filled 'reporting' on transpeople.   

Before I get started, let's review what the AP Stylebook says about how you write reports about transpeople. 

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.   

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

The picture gracing this post is of 22 year old Toni Silva of Greenville, SC.   She was reported missing and feared kidnapped after disappearing from the parking lot of a local nightclub

Here's how WYFF-TV reported the story,  and here's the way it should have been written according to the AP Stylebook

GCSO: Transgender Woman Found Safe

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- The Greenville County Sheriff's Office said the transgender victim who was possibly kidnapped has been found safe.

Deputies were looking for Toni Silva, a 22-year-old Hispanic transgender female.  Investigators thought Silva may have been kidnapped at about 4:20 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of Mexicali, located at 1302 Cedar Lane Road in Greenville.

Deputies said Silva was found in the Poe Mill area Friday afternoon.Deputies said they determined that Silva was not the victim of a kidnapping, and that she left the club willingly with the subjects who were being sought as her possible abductors.

Now, was that so hard WYFF-TV?    Then why is it so difficult for you so called professional journalists to do it?

Transphobic DISD School Principal Bars Transteen From Running For Homecoming Queen

Here we go again.  First Oak Reed in Michigan gets a homecoming king crown stripped from him, and now a trans girl in Dallas is barred from even attempting to run.for the North Dallas HS homecoming queen crown

“I do feel like I’m being harassed and I feel like I’m being discriminated against,” 18 year old North Dallas senior Andy Moreno told Dallas' Fox 4 News.  “I feel like the principal is embarrassed to have a transgender queen.”  

Moreno transitioned during her junior year and was nominated by her supportive classmates for the honor.   The election was held at North Dallas High earlier this week with the results being announced October 16.     


"I don't have anyone that doesn't want me to run, the only people that have a problem with it is the administration," she said in a Fox 4 interview. "I was told by one of the counselors that I should prepare myself because a lot of the administration has a problem with me running."

Moreno immediately spoke to first year North Dallas High School principal Dinnah Escanilla for support with the nomination and was told by her she should run for homecoming king instead of homecoming queen.


Moreno says she doesn’t feel comfortable running for homecoming king because she identifies as a female, and her friends support her.   


The Dallas Independent School District says it has no formal policy on the issue, but DISD spokesperson Sandra Guerrero issued a statement saying: “The district fully supports the decision of the principal at North Dallas High School. It should be noted that the Dallas Independent School District is proud to have one of the most aggressive anti-harassment policies among school districts in the state of Texas.”

Yeah, right.   . 

So let North Dallas HS principal Dinnah Escanilla know how you feel about this injustice.  Please be respectful while doing so.   E-mail is DEscanilla@dallasisd.org     The fax number is (972) 925-1501

While you're at it, you might as well hit up DISD superintendent Dr.Michael Hinojosa as well.  (972) 925-3700