Kai Shappley Gets Rave Reviews In Netflix 'The Baby Sitters Club' Episode

I've always said about my chosen Austin resident niece Kai Shappley that the camera loves her and the feeling is mutual.   I always marvel at the fact this child hardly ever takes a bad photo.

A few months ago she took a trip to Vancouver, BC for which the purpose was unknown to those of us who love her until now. 

 I had been seeing Netflix promotions of their reboot of The Baby Sitters Club' when I signed in to watch my other fave shows and movies,  but didn't have any interest in watching it since the show is aimed at younger viewers.

The Baby Sitters Club is based on the series of books by author Ann M. Martin that were published between 1986-2000.   The books were previously adapted for an HBO series in 1990 and a 1995 feature film. 

That was until I received a message from her mom Kimberly to check out episode 4 of it.  I did, and there was Kai lighting up the screen playing Bailey.   

I so enjoyed the episode that Kai was featured in, I binge watched the rest of Season One.

The Baby Sitters Club handled the trans themed storyline with sensitivity.  The writers also used a great analogy to describe what it is like to be trans.   And of course, bravo on casting a trans child to play a trans child.

Her mom is also pleased and proud of her as well.   So is Aunt Monica.

As for our budding preteen thespian?    She's still focused on becoming an astrophysicist, but is starting to get interest from Hollywood.

I was happy to get to spend some time with Kai and her mom last year during the Equality Texas 30th anniversary dinner where she, like I did,  picked up an award for the work her now nine year old self has been doing to advance trans rights in the Lone Star State .

Kai has also picked up an award that I don't have on my shelf.   An Emmy for the Trans in America :Texas Strong Daresha Kyl directed documentary she and Kimberly were featured in.

Who knows?  She may have another one in her future.   

Open Letter To Zaya

Dear Zaya,
As one of your Black trans elders, I am pleased and proud to hear that  you are taking the steps you need to make to become your true self.    I am also happy that your parents are unconditionally loving and supporting you as you embark on this challenging at times journey.

One of the things about this trans journey you need to know is that you're not alone.  There are other amazing kids like you that share your ethnic bcackground like Trinity Neal.   There's also something else that you probably didn't know in that when you transition, you family expands to include trans people from here and around the world.

Black trans people have existed as long as humanity has.   We have a proud history and take no crap people who have been fighting since before you were born to make the world better for trans people inside and outside the community.  I'm proud to be one of those people.

Many times I and other elders who fight tooth and nail for trans people's right to exist without drama are doing so for our kids.   You are the living embodement of the future we fight like hell for.

Your transition has also jumpstarted a long needed conversation in Black America about Black trans people and our community's need to embrace their trans siblings.

So why am I wrting this open letter?  Because I thought it was important for you to see some words online from someone who is a proud unapologetic Black trans adult who transitioned 25 years ago.  While I have accomplished much since 1994 and I'm proud of the person I have become, I still wish at times that I could have transitioned as early as you have been able to do.

When I finally did so, my life, challenging as it has been at times, is still better that it was before transition.  I've gotten to do some great things and meet many amazing people I probably wouldn't  have been able to meet if it weren't for me being this amazing, unapologetically Black trans woman

You still have yours to live and I hope you'll go on to do some great things.  Hopefully some of the great things you do will also benefit our community. .

I can't wait to see how you evolve to become the fabulous Black woman of trans experience I know you are.

Sincerely yours,
Monica

Maddie Speaks To Vice News

Vice News has been doing some excellent trans themed stories lately.    As y'all know I made an appearance in the Trans in Texas segment that aired last week . 

Now they talk to 12 year old Maddison Rose and her family.   She's  the trans feminine child at the center of the controversy she didn't cause in Achille, OK that has gone national. 

The bullying from transphobic adults that approached hate crime levels is a major reason why Maddie and her family will be Houstonians soon. We're ready to welcome Maddie and her family here to H-town with open arms.

Here's the video from that Vice News show.

Pure Romance CEO Starts LC Foundation To Help Trans Kids

Chris and Jessica Cicchinelli thought their child LC was just going through a phase when she announced that she was a girl and not a boy. 

But it came to a head during a Florida vacation  trip two years ago when LC was 8, and refused to go to dinner unless she could wear a dress.   When Chir saw how happy LC was when she came out of the dressing room, he knew it was time to deal with the fact he and his wife had a trans child.

Cicchinelli is the CEO and president of Pure Romance, a Cincinnati based romance aid company founded by his mother that does $250 million a year in business

When they returned home to Cincinnati, they wanted to take LC to the Adolescent and Transition Medicine Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for an immediate appointment, but discovered it would be seven weeks before they could get an appointment.   They were also looking for information concerning how to navigate parenting for a trans child

This is also the region of the country where Leelah Alcorn was from, and since her suicide death in 2015, the number of people seeking help from the clinic has tripled to nearly 1000 a day. Many of the folks seeking help for their kids are coming from as far away as northern Ohio and other parts of the region

The Adolescent and Transition Medicine Clinic opened in July 2013 and is run by Dr. Lee Ann Conard.   It is one of 24 in the United States dedicated to transgender youth and their care.

Knowing there were other families out there that needed help, support or information, the Cicchinellis launched the Living With Change: The LC Foundation that will train teachers and educators and provide financial support for the Adolescent and Transition Medicine Clinic.

The LC Foundation was seeded with $500,000 of their own money the Cicchinellis expect to get matching donations for by June.  They have pledged another $2 million to the clinic. 

"We had to do something," Jessica Cicchinelli said. "We want this for other families. We want them to know it's there and not be scared and to know there is help."

One of the places that has already signed on for the foundation's training is the Cincinnati Public Schools.

They hired Cincinnati councilman Chris Seelbach to run the foundation,   Seelbach was Cincinnati's first openly gay councilmember, has been a vocal advocate for the TBLGQ community, and has spearheaded many of the civic reforms that have catapulted it to the top of the HRC Municipal Equality Index.

The LC Foundation is not only starting at a fortuitous time for the clinic, it is needed and very much necessary.,

   

'Stacey's Not A Girl' Book Launch Event

While I'm here in Nacogdoches, my heart will also be with Dr. Colt Keo-Meier as he finally launches his trans themed children's book Stacey's Not A Girl.

It is a compilation of stories from not only Colt's childhood, but the childhood of several trans masculine persons.  An Indiegogo campaign raised the over $9,000 to get it published,

I got to read an advance copy of it and loved the book.  I also thought about the trans kids who will enjoy reading something that has a character in it like them

The book is now available for purchase, and you can check out the book launch event for it at The Montrose Center from 2-4 PM.

Good luck, hope it's successful and you sell out all the available copies of it.

Kimberly's Faith Journey

From time to time I've talked about one of our wonderful Lone Star Mama Bears in Kimberly Shappley, who has been on a evolutionary journey of her own along with her amazing trans daughter Kai.

     

Here's the video of the recent Today show interview that was done with Jenna Bush Hager that was recently broadcast.  If you missed it, here's the video.

It's About Our Kids

I was in a panel discussion last Thursday night and was asked the question what keeps me motivated to keep fighting despite the odds for trans human rights coverage.

My answer to that question?  "It's all about the trans kids."

It has alway been my goal to make it better for the trans kids coming behind me, just aa the trans advocates who preceded me had my generation in mind when they fought they oppressors of their day.

I'm paying it forward, because as the song 'The Greatest Love Of All' that Whitney Houston so eloquently sang says, the children are our future.   It's why they are being attacked by our pseudo faith based opposition and why we must just as vigorously defend their humanity and human rights.

It's our job to plant the human rights trees whose shade we may never get to sit in.  Now if we happen to be around when the trees grow tall enough to produce the shade that will shelter our trans kids when they are our ages from the blazing sun of intolerance, and we get to enjoy the benefits of our labor we're putting in now, that's all good as well.

But yes, when we're talking about the bottom line as to who we are fighting for, it's all about our trans kids.   .  

Sit Your Azz Down, Caitlyn

After saying during the 2016 campaign that Donald Trump would be 'good on women's issues', expressed the sentiment that she would like to be the trans ambassador for Ted Cruz as he attacked trans people on the GOP presidential primary campaign trail, slammed Hillary Clinton as 'a political hack' and claimed 'the country would be over' if she won, now Caitlyn Jenner is shocked, shocked that after one month of Dear Cheeto Leader's disastrous presidency and supporting him that he would attack trans kids.

Anyone who was paying attention during that campaign and had a brain knew that if we wanted trans rights progress to stay on an upward trajectory, we needed Hillary Clinton to be elected to succeed President Barack Obama on November 8.

Our humanity and human rights as trans people were on the 2016 presidential ballot, and far too many of you peeps were caught up in your 'I hate Hillary' fee fees to see that.   Some of you in Trans World were more concerned about your wallets and loyalty to the Republican Party than thinking about what candidate was best for our community.

Now you're shocked that the Obama administration's DOE/ DOJ trans guidance letter is being revoked by a so-called POTUS with an 'R" behind his name, your clueless behind is calling it a 'disaster' and you're urging Trump to 'call you'



Really?   Now your azz is shaking off the fog of white privilege and seeing what I and a long list of trans folks were trying to tell you in the runup to November 8 that the Republican Party you're a member of is no friend of the trans community, and is chock full of anti-trans legislative bullies and transphobes

Neither is this so-called POTUS a friend of our community, and he proved it Wednesday.  You and every trans person who voted for Trump is a sellout to trans kind and by doing so, you greased the skids for the oppression of our trans kids and our community

Miss Right Wing Thang, you're going to have as much success getting that phone call back from the Trump White House chock full of trans oppressors to talk about trans issues as Jackie Evancho did,

So sit your azz down Caitlyn and have several rows of seats.    .

Just more evidence that co-signs that the post I wrote in December 2015 is still valid.

Happy Birthday, Trinity!

It's come to my attention that today is the birthday of one of our amazing trans teens!

I got to meet Trinity and her mom DeShanna back in June during the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and over the last few months she's been making it clear that she wants to not only become a possibility model and advocate for our community.

Today is Trinity's 13th birthday, so wanted to take a moment to give her a well deserved TransGriot birthday shout out as she officially enters her teen years..

Happy Birthday Trinity!   Hope today is filled with lots of love, fun and abundant blessings.   May all your birthday wishes come true, and may you be given the ultimate blessing of celebrating many more birthdays to come  

Jenna's Open Letter To A PISD Transphobe

On my Facebook page, we had a discussion on National Coming Out Day about the importance of cisgender allies coming out in support of their trans siblings.   The parents of trans kids also need your support since the Mama and Papa Bears are also along with their kids being demonized by right wingers.

Well, here's an example of what I'm talking about in terms of cis people supporting trans people.

Jenna Hammond is a recent 2016 graduate of Pearland ISD's Dawson High School in Houston's southern suburbs.  Yes, it's the same Pearland ISD whose current transphobic Superintendent Dr. John Kelly made some horrible remarks back in May about one of the transkids I have mad love for in Kai Shappley, who started kindergarten in PISD back on August 22

PISD made it clear at their last board meeting bfore the 2016-17 school year started they were going to ignore for now the DOE/DOJ Dear Colleague Letter and oppress Kai.

Guess y'all want to waste PISD taxpayer money on a anti-trans discrimination lawsuit you're going to lose.

Jenna wrote an open letter to Dr. Kelly taking him to task for his faux faith based transphobia and reminding him that as the Pearland ISD superintendent, his job is not to demonize and oppress the kids like Kai in his district, but to create the best conditions in PISD so that all kids can learn, grow and thrive as individuals and eventually adults once they graduate.

Here's the text of Jenna's letter.

***

Dear Dr. Kelly:

I attended Pearland ISD schools for most of my life and I have always felt and displayed pride in the resources and opportunities I was able to receive throughout my education. I graduated from Dawson High School this year, and I had hoped to leave Pearland with that pride and fondness intact.

However, your words and actions as superintendent, a representative of the district as a whole, have single-handedly shattered that perception. I am frankly shocked and appalled by your response to Kai Shappley, a fellow student in PISD, simply wishing to use the correct bathroom for her identity. The fact that the district that raised me could display such callous bigotry to a child is…upsetting, to say the very least. It genuinely hurts me to even think about it, this hateful precedent that you have set.

I was proud of the fact that I graduated from a school that gave me truly life-changing lessons and unique opportunities, with no consideration of the fact that I was openly gay. I think many of Dawson’s LGBT+ students would say the same. I believed that this district was solely invested in the success and happiness of me and my fellow students, that there was a conscious effort to put aside political and religious differences in order to focus purely on the betterment and education of our youth. I wish I could still allow myself to believe this. But you, with a single declaration, have irreparably damaged this perception.

You may want to write me off immediately because of my admission that I am a lesbian. I would hope that you at least respect and care about your constituents and students enough to listen to my words, regardless of your personal religious beliefs about my “lifestyle.” Honestly, I am not writing you to climb on my soapbox and try to force you to embrace my beliefs.   I am writing you with the hope that you will listen and understand, empathize with the students whose lives you have a great impact upon.

I recognize and understand that you are an adult and my senior, so I will not try to combat your personal beliefs, which you are clearly devoted to.  If we were to argue about bible verses and the relevance of religion, it would only be a rehashing of a debate that has been had a million times, and it would only leave us both exasperated, with neither side having budged and no solution found. I respect that your beliefs are your own, and you have a right to have them, regardless of whether or not I agree. So again, I ask: please listen to what I have to say.

I would like to begin by stating a simple fact: Kai Shappley is a child. First and foremost, above all else, she is a child. It is your duty as superintendent to do what is best for the children in this district. Your statement on transgenderism in May is callous at best, and the clear hatred lingering behind your words accomplishes the exact opposite of what you are meant to accomplish. In this statement, you compared the presence of transgender people in public restrooms to pedophilia and polygamy. I ask that you take a moment to consider these words once more. You have compared Kai’s very existence to abuse and sexual deviancy committed by malicious adults. This is a child, only 5 years old.

Because you work for the district, I assume that you are invested in the wellbeing of the children attending Pearland’s schools. Aside from her gender, Kai is still a young, impressionable child; just like her peers, she wants to play around, watch cartoons, and learn about the world. Think of her not as a trans person, but as a person. Would you call any other child a deviant on the level of child molesters? You are telling this girl from a young age that she wrong simply for existing, that she does not deserve to feel comfortable in the environments that are meant to nurture her as she grows.  I know it is difficult to put yourself in the shoes of someone you are obviously prone to hating anyway, but I ask that you try, for the sake of a child under your care.

I know that this next statement is likely going to fall on deaf ears, but honestly, I find your usage of your religion in your argument wildly inappropriate.  Your religious beliefs are yours and yours alone, no matter how strong your faith is.  It is clear that you are quite passionate in your stalwart devotion to those beliefs.  Again, I realize that I cannot change this.  I cannot force you to stop your abhorrence of the identities and lifestyles of people such as me and Kai.  However, at the end of the day, these personal religious beliefs are not intended to be used to govern the citizens of the U.S., including Texas, including P.I.S.D. Religious freedom is something I learned in these very same schools, and I believe that applies to this situation.  Even if you maintain the belief that we are a Christian nation, based in biblical law, that is still a highly subjective concept.  Every person’s idea of Christianity is unique; how can you decide that yours is the correct one that every person should be compelled to follow?  You may argue that our basis of government is biblical, but is it not based on the concept of freedom as well?  Free practice of religion is a constitutional right; how is forcing your personal religious beliefs on others not a violation of that right? You stated that the government allowing transgender people into the restroom for the gender they identify with is “unconstitutional interference,” but is it not unconstitutional interference to interfere with the lives of others based on your religion, effectively stripping away their right to follow their own beliefs.

The fact is you are dealing with children here.  Kai Shappley is not a pedophile entering the restroom to prey upon her peers.  Kai Shappley is not holding the other children down and forcing them to abandon their religion.  Kai Shappley is trying to use the restroom comfortably.  That you would choose to overlook that and spout bigotry from your public platform deeply saddens me. No kindergartener should have to be taken to court and told by the people designated to help her grow that she does not deserve the basic human right of feeling safe and comfortable.

Kai is a child you are meant to help, not a criminal for you to condemn.  I sincerely hope you take any part of this letter to heart, because right now you are just a hateful disappointment from where I am standing.

Jenna C. Hammond

***

Thank you Jenna for supporting not only Kai, but Kimberly and our community as well.

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.

'Stacey's Not A Girl' Book Indiegogo Campaign

There's a reason why I'm constantly popping my collar about my Houston trans community, and it's because we have some amazing advocates in it, families that are a part of it, and allies supporting us.

One of those amazing people is Dr, Colt Keo-Meier.  In addition to being a psychologist, he and his spouse Becca Keo-Meier are the founders of the Gender Infinity support group for our Houston area trans kids and their parents.

I've met some of those parents when I've been in town and had the opportunity to check out their meetings, and looking forward to the Gender Infinity conference next month at the University of Houston student center September 16-17 that also has a professional seminar track that offers CME's and CEU's.

You can add children's book author to the long list of things that Colt has done, and I'm pleased to announce that his children's book Stacey's Not A Girl is ready to be printed.

I had a chance to read an advance copy of it from his laptop when I ran into Colt during the recent Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit in Killeen and loved it.

Stacey's Not A Girl has been in the works for a year, and is a compilation of stories from not only Colt's childhood, but three other Houston area trans masculine and gender nonconforming persons, their loved ones and families.





The book is focused on the title character Stacey, who has in this gender binary driven society never felt like a girl, and in the pages of this book undergoes an unforgettable gender journey with a diverse group of friends and supportive people.

The book is ready to be printed, but needs to raise $9,000 to get published, for promotion and marketing, and to get it in the hands of the public for purchase.   They are almost halfway to their fundraising goal, and anything you can contribute o get to that goal will be definitely appreciated.

Here's the link to the Indiegogo fundraising page to help Stacey's Not A Girl make it to a bookshelf and the hands of a transgender child near you

Paxton's Unjust Anti-Trans Lawsuit Being Heard In Federal Court

School is about to start in the over 1000 independent school districts in Texas and elsewhere, and our indicted GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton, fresh off a loss from his futile defense of the unjust Texas voter suppression law has now turned his attention toward oppressing trans people.

Yesterday Paxton asked for an expedited ruling in their federal lawsuit they have filed against the DOE/DOJ Dear College letter guidelines that encourage school districts to not discriminate against their transgender students.

But since the Republican Party is now politically invested in oppressing transgender people for their nefarious political gain, of course he would lead twelve other Republican controlled states in the effort.

The case is being heard in Judge Reed O'Connor's court in Fort Worth, and I'm nervous about it because this judge is a GW Bush appointee and has an anti-LGBT rights history.

However, the fact that after a two hour hearing Judge O'Connor didn't issue a ruling in either direction may be a good sign.

But until he actually announces it, it could go either way.  Because of this judge's anti-LGBT history and being a GW Bush appointee, I'm not expecting positive news out of Fort Worth

We'l see if Judge O'Connor rejects Paxton's and attorney Austin Nimock's argument that the federal government has usurped the authority of states and schools by requiring that sexes must be mixed in  'intimate areas' like bathrooms.

The administration is arguing that discrimination against transgender students violates federal nondiscrimination statutes, violates Title IX, and gives transgender students the right to use their prefered bathroom in public school, and requires schools to treat a students gender identity as the student's sex for the purposes of Title IX compliance.

I have an idea what Republicans like Paxton and his transphobic friends have historically done in bathrooms since they are so overly fixated on them.

But we are tired of in Trans World the GOP doing nonstop fear mongering about them.

Texas so far has not only jumped the gun by filing this lawsuit before the DOE/DOJ guidelines have had time to be enacted so we can see their effects in real time, but have also not shown so far how the DOE/DOJ guidelines have 'irreparably harmed Texas and the other states suing for the right to continue to oppress trans children.

This is also about Texas and its 12 co -conspirators wanting to continue to hate on President Obama by any means necessary, Dan patrick and Greg Abbott trying to divert attention from their SB 14 court loss, and Paxton trying to deflect from his own legal problems at the expense of our human rights.

DeShanna And Trinity Meet Gov. Markell

I've had the pleasure of meeting and talking to over the last few years many of the mothers who are raising trans kids like Jeanette Jennings, Debi Jackson, and Kim Pearson.

In my Houston area backyard, thanks to Gender Infinity that's run by Dr. Colt Meier, I've gotten to meet more of the 'Mama Bears' as they call themselves, and Ann Elder and Kimberly Shappley are just two of the amazing mom's I've gotten to meet.

But one of the things that I have been repeatedly asked by people is where are the trans parents who look like me?   Where are the Black trans parents who unconditionally love and support their trans kids and are raising them to be the best human beings they can be and not tossing them out on the street?

Their Black Lives Matter as well, and I was jumping up and down ecstatic to hear about Delaware based mom DeShanna Neal and her precocious preteen trans daughter Trinity.  

If Deshanna's name sounds familiar to you, it's because she was one of the four mothers profiled in the Trans United Fund video that was released back on Mother's Day.

She also authored a well received post in the Advocate about why her daughter's Black Life Matters and making a better world for Trinity and all her kids.

I finally got to meet both of them at this year's edition of the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and it was a joy to meet DeShanna, spend some quality time with her during the PTHC, and watch Trinity interact with other kids like her at the pool party.

On July 13 she and her family got to meet with Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) and her state representative Paul Baumbach (D).  Gov Markell has been a standup ally of the trans community, supported and signed the Delaware trans rights law when it hit his desk in 2013 and supports the DOE/DOJ trans guidelines.   Rep. Baumbach has also been a supportive ally and the Neal's are happy to have his as their state representative.

Said Neal about that recent meeting, "Hearing him express his support and acceptance for the LGBT community, and especially trans children, gave me hope for a better future for my daughter and Delaware's transgender community."

Congratulations for the successful meeting with your state's governor.   It's a light years different response from Texas top governmental officials when it comes to trans kids in my home state.

Gov. Markell's words and deeds give me and the trans elders around the country who love and support our trans kids hope as well when we hear positive news like this.. And it's even more amazing as an unapologetic Black trans person to see Trinity be showered in unconditional love. This should be the rule for our trans kids, not the exception.
.

Kimberly's News 88.7 Radio Interview

While the Republican Party and my reprehensible lieutenant governor has made no secret of their gleeful hatred of trans people for political gain, there are people inside their ranks trying to change that anti-trans pattern who are mothers of transgender children.

One of those mothers is in my Houston area backyard. Kimberly Shappley is not only a Republican but an evangelical Christian raising a trans feminine daughter.

She has been stepping up her visibility over the last few months as she seeks to fight for the human rights of her child Kai, and recently was interviewed on News 88.7 by Florian Martin about her journey.

Here's the link to the News 88.7 interview.

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

Parents Of Texas Trans Kids Speak

I have a major problem with bullies of children since I had to deal with them myself.  I also have a major problem with bullies that wield legislative power like my Republican Governor, Lt. Governor, and indicted attorney general who are attacking Texas transgender kids for their own political gain.

Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, and Ken Paxton claim their are speaking for Texas parents, but one group of parents whose voices are being ignored in their one sided discussion are the voices of the parents of Texas trans kids.

Yesterday, there was a press conference outside of our state capitol in which several parents joined with Equality Texas in order to talk about why these GOP led attacks on the humanity of Texas trans kids is wrong.

Here's the press conference video.

The Trans Kids Grow Up So Fast Don't They?

While perusing my Facebook feed I noted the pic of Jazz behind the wheel of a car and her mom Jeanette mentioning hat she'd just gotten her learner's permit.

On Monday season 7 of Royal Pains became available, and I finally got to watch the episode featuring Nicole Maines, who is about to enter college this fall..

Sadie, who wrote in 2013 at the time her 'Dream For The World' Letter that became at the time I published it the most read post on TransGriot, is now a 16 year old high school student, and was happy to see on her mom's Facebook page a picture of her smiling face and her long brown hair.

It's just a reminder post that the trans kids are growing up so fast.  Seems like a lifetime ago we first saw six year old Jazz, and now here she is not only coming off a GLAAD award win for the reality show featuring her and her family and now another book.

Locally I've been blessed to meet the next generation of trans kids in the Houston area, and they are positioning themselves to do some amazing things.   Mel Gonzales, who made history as the first trans masculine homecoming king in Texas and was part of the team that helped us kill those Texas anti-trans bills, is now in college.

I also wonder what happened with trans kids who were in the news cycle like Andy Moreno in Dallas back in 2010 when she was fighting to become the first trans feminine homecoming queen at North Dallas High.     I do wonder how her life is transpiring along with other trans masculine and trans feminine teens who briefly popped up in the news and now have faded from the spotlight..

Our trans kids are growing up fast, and that means we trans elders have to fight tooth and nail to ensure that the world they will one day interact with as adults will be a better one than the one we had to deal with when we were their age.

And the cool thing is at times, they are fighting right alongside us to make that better world happen.

Trans Girl Scout Sells 3000 Cookies, Cue The Transphobic Haters

'Placement of transgender youth is placed on a case by case basis, with the welfare and best interests f the child and and the members of the troop/group in question a top priority.  That said, if the child is recognized by the family and school/community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, the Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is emotionally and physically safe.'
-Girl Scouts USA website FAQ

When nine year old trans Girl Scout Stormi started knocking on doors to sell those famous cookies in her Herrin, IL neighborhood, she was greeted by a transphobe who not only hurt her feelings, but motivated her to sell 3000 boxes of cookies.

Many of the people who bought Stormi's cookies did so online, and some of those cookie purchases came from the trans, bi and SGL community livid over the disrespectful treatment she received by the less than kind transphobe.

The bottom line is that trans feminine kids exist, and want nothing more than to live their childhoods and their lives as the girls they are.  Some of those trans feminine kids want to be Girl Scouts and the Girl Scouts USA policy is to welcome them into the fold.


As this story has been getting national attention, the transphobes are coming out to play as well in the comment threads in those stories.  It's mind boggling and despicable that these wastes of DNA can aim so much transphobic hatred at a nine year old trans girl.

But while I'm not surprised by it, I'm not having it either.  I, her trans elders and her allies will not allow transphobic vitriol aimed at our transkids from the ignorati cowering behind computer keyboards to go unchallenged.  You want to pick on somebody, aim it at somebody who will be more than willing and able to respond in kind.

And Stormi, if you still have some thin mints or Trefoils shortbread cookies boxes left, I want some.

TransGriot Update:  Stormi's online cookie sale site will stay open until mid-March and she's now up to 4000 boxes of cookies sold.

Mount Horeb 'I Am Jazz' Library Reading Draws Overflow Crowd

After a reading of the book I Am Jazz was canceled due to lawsuit threats by the Liberty Counsel hate group, a reading in the Mount Horeb Public Library was scheduled last night that was organized by Amy Lyle to support the trans feminine child and her family.

To the stunned and pleased surprise of the organizers, the book reading drew a crowd of 600 people in this town 25 miles southwest of Madison, WI.

"I knew that our Mount Horeb community was a loving compassionate and caring one for all kids--I knew that in my heart-but you all have just shown that to be overwhelmingly true," said organizer Amy Lyle.

The reading scheduled at Mount Horeb High School that morning drew 200 people at the school's flagpole before classes started.   The reading at the library featured Jessica Herthel, the co-author of I Am Jazz who flew in from California to support the family.

Mount Horeb HS Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) member Claire Jenkins praised the elementary school at the center of the debate and said "This is a day to show a little girl we love her."



You not only overwhelmingly did so Mount Horeb, but you also demonstrated it to the trans community and the world at a time when we trans folks of all ages really needed to hear some good news after a few days of negative events impacting us.

Thank you Mount Horeb for demonstrating what being supportive and caring trans allies looks like in practice and rebuking the transphobic Liberty Counsel hatemongers.