What A Year For Moi!

As someone who has gotten to do a lot of interesting things in my life, 2019 definitely was one that was chock full of milestones and amazing events.

Going into 2019, it was a personal double anniversary year.  April 4 not only marked my 25th transiversary, it was also marked the 20th anniversary of activism on behalf of this community. 

Because 2019 is an odd numbered year, it also meant I knew as soon as the ball dropped in Times Square I would be making a lot of trips to Austin for the Texas legislative session. 

Seven of them in fact.   I also made a few trips to the ATX after The Lege mercifully hit sine die on May 27.

This was also a year in which I made more trips inside of the state of Texas than I did outside of it.

I made several trips to Dallas besides the usual birthday week one for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference  (BTAC) and three to San Antonio.

One of the Dallas trips was for Muhlaysia Booker's funeral.   Another was Dallas Pride which was held on the Texas State fair complex for the first time.   Less than three weeks later was back for the BTAC Leadership Institute in Dallas, and another was for the March For Black Trans Lives. 

The trips I made to San Antonio were a May 4 birthday trip to witness the end of Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe's historic campaign for a San Antonio City Council seat that unfortunately fell short, and one in September to the Excellence in Journalism Conference.

That's a nice segue into me talking about how much I was on TV this year.

Much of it has been local.  I went on The Isiah Factor Uncensored multiple times on FOX 26, and had two interviews with Natasha Geiger.  Multiple interviews on ABC13 with Chauncey Glover, Miya Shay, and Mycah Hatfield.  Various newspaper and media interviews in which I got quoted in everything from CNN to OUT Magazine.

The icing on the cake was taping an eight hour conversation about trans issues for ABC News Nightline with Dee Dee and Diamond.

I even got to go to NYC World Pride, even if it was for 36 hours, thanks to Sara Ramirez.   I was one of the movement leaders across the country along with my other H-Town peeps Ashton Woods and Ana Andrea Molina honored onstage as she sang 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' during the opening concert for it at Brooklyn's Barclay's Center

Speaking of Pride, which was marking its 50th anniversary this year,  I got to serve as an honorary Grand Marshal during Houston's Pride Parade this year.

Lot more fun riding in a jeep for the entire length of our nighttime parade and sitting in the VIP section afterwards instead of marching in it. Also got to attend a few events during the week in my role as a honorary grand marshal.

And this year, probably in large part to the heightened media visibility and the recognition that I have been doing this for 20 years, received some major awards.

The Harris County Democratic Party gave me the Barbara Jordan Breaking Barriers one at the JRR Luncheon in May in which I spoke just before Secretary (and should have been president) Hillary Clinton

I also received the Transgender Activist Award from Equality Texas at their Austin gala in November, and the Minnie Fisher Award from the Texas Democratic Women of Galveston County.

I was also named this year for the first time ever to Out Magazine's OUT100.

It wouldn't be a Moni year without me going to a few conferences.  In addition to the BTAC and Excellence in Journalism ones I mentioned earlier in this post, I also attended the Netroots Nation one in Philadelphia for the fourth consecutive year, Gender Infinity and the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit which were both held at UH Clear Lake this year and the NLGJA Conference in New Orleans.

It's also cool anytime I go to these events to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and also talk to the next generation of leaders in our movement. 

It was also nice to make progress toward living  up to one of my 2019 New Year's resolutions of getting better connected with the Houston cis Black women community and our local activist community

I got to attend a few events throughout the year that helped facilitate that goal, and looking froward to doing the same in the near future.   And yes, got to spend some quality time with my high school classmates.   Our 40th reunion is coming up in 10 months.

And always cool to spend some time with my trans fam, where it be in Dallas at BTAC, here in Houston, or wherever I'm doing an event around the country.

Some of those events happen on college campuses and corporate settings, where I'm doing my part to educate people about our Black trans lives and the challenges we face inside and outside the Black TBLGQ community.

So yes, 2019 was definitely an amazing year for me to close out a decade   Hope that 2020 is even better 

Ten Positive Trans Moments In 2018

Borrowing the idea from my fab homegirl Eden Lane, but expanding on it. 

The question she asked on her Facebook page is what moments stood out for you in 2018?   I'm going to narrow it to the moments, in no particular order, that stood out for me that trans people had a hand in. 

1.  Three more trans state legislators elected.

VA Del. Danica Roem is no longer the only trans person currently serving in a US state legislature.  When the New Year commences, she will be joined by two new state legislators, Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon in New Hampshire, and Brianna Titone in Colorado that will increase our total of trans state legislators to four. 

Bunker (left) and Cannon were part of a blue tsunami in the Granite State that flipped both houses of the state Legislature, both congressional districts, and the Executive Council back to Democratic control

Titone was also part of that midterm election blue wave.  She won a close race in Colorado's HD-27 to flip that district from red to blue and make history in the Centennial State as its first openly trans elected state rep.

Note that all these trailblazing trans legislators are members of the Democratic Party.

2. Angela Ponce competes in Miss Universe 2018.

Angela Ponce made history by not only capturing the Miss Spain-Universe crown, she became the first out transperson to compete at the world's premiere beauty pageant since it was opened to trans women in 2012.

While some haters emerged as usual, Ponce shook them off with class and dignity.

She also captured the world's hearts as they followed her journey to Bangkok to compete.  Although she didn't make it to the 20 semifinalists on stage, she was given the honor of walking the stage during that world wide broadcast.

3.  Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler named to the EBONY  Power 100

Was proud to note that our trans brother Dr Kortney Ryan Ziegler was named to the EBONY magazine Power 100 list.  That's a BFD in the Black community to be named to this list by one of the iconic publications in our community. 

It's also another example of the Black Trans Excellence that is part of our DNA.

Ziegler produced the award winning documentary Still Black: A Portrait Of Black Transmen and is contemplating doing more documentary projects focused on our community in 2019.


4. The all trans models Marco Marco fashion show.

One of the highlights of and the most talked about events during the fall edition of New York Fashion Week was the Marco Marco show.   All 34 models ripping the runway, be they trans feminine, trans masculine or gender nonconforming, were from our community.

It was historic and empowering not only for our community, but for the people participating in it.

Will be interesting see if more trans models show up at the spring NYFW shows as a result of this show.

5.  POSE debuts.

This FX show was one I was eagerly awaiting the debut of in June because it featured trans people in front of and behind the camera.

A record five trans women, MJ Rodriquez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Hailie Sahar and Angelica Ross were cast for principal roles.  Janet Mock and Our Lady J are writers and producers.  Leiomy Maldonado coordinates the dance numbers.

During the entire first season of POSE, other trans actors like Trace Lysette, Laith Ashley, made guest appearances on the show.   I was also struck at times how many of the episodes hit home emotionally for me because they touched on subject that many trans peeps are familiar with.

POSE has received rave reviews, and was renewed by FX for a second season.

6.  Nicole Maines gets role on Supergirl

I was thrilled to find out that Nicole Maines, one of our real life community superheroes, had been tapped to play the trans superhero Dreamer on the CW show Supergirl.

Maines is playing Nia Nal on the show, a young cub reporter who Kara Danvers takes under her wing and mentors as was done for her by Kat Grant. 

She comes out as trans to her boss James Olson, and as season 4 progresses, is becoming increasingly aware of her superpower to predict the future via her dreams.

I'm parked in front of the TV on Sunday nights watching her.

7.  TransGriot wins GLAAD Media Award

Have to include myself on this list since I did make some trans history this year.   In April I became the first trans blogger to win a GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Blog category. 

It was my third nomination, and I beat out some stiff competition to get it.

And it definitely looks wonderful on my trophy shelf.

8. Another successful BTAC conference in Dallas

The 7th annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference that ran from April 23-29 in Dallas was once again a success. 

It broke its all time attendance record that was set last year.  There was a new BTIPS king and queen crowned.   BTAC had its most gender non conforming attendees ever, and was a memorable week in the Lone Star State for the peeps in attendance.

It even got news coverage in the Dallas Morning News this year.
For those of you who wish to check it out for yourselves in 2019, the dates for the 8th annual event will be April 23-28 at the Wyndham Dallas Suites- Park Central

9.. Raquel Willis named an OUT Magazine Executive Editor 

I have much love and respect for my fellow writer Raquel Willis.  I was pleased to hear the news that she was tapped to become an executive editor at OUT magazine last month after several years with the Transgender Law Center. 

She's just another sterling example of Black Trans Excellence personified

So looking forward in the New Year to see what happens for her and what exciting changes happen at OUT during her tenure.

10.  You survived and thrived as a trans person

The last one is dedicated to everyone in this community here and around the world.  You survived and thrived in a world that is being maliciously hostile to us.

You persisted in living your best life, and doing whatever it took to make the world better for our trans younglings     Sometimes it was the trans younglings showing us trans elders the way and being unapologetic about it.

We still have work to do to get the message out there that trans rights are human rights, we won't be erased, and we will fight with every fiber of our beings to make 2019 a better year for trans kind than 2018 was.
 

Moni's 2017 Year In Review

Considering I was dreading the start of 2017 because Dear Cheeto Leader was about to desecrate the White House and we were starting a Texas Legislative session in which the number one priority of the lieutenant governor was to oppress Texas trans people, it turned out better than I thought.

It was also a year in which I did more travel to events inside the Lone Star State than outside of it.

My first event of the year was a panel for Leadership Houston in which I got to talk about the Houston and Texas trans community and the potential devastating impact of SB 6 on us and the state if it got passed.

My first out of state trip in 2017 was one to Philadelphia for Creating Change.  There was also a Trans United Fund board meeting and fundraising event at Philadelphia City Hall I was scheduled to speak at. 

I noted the irony of #CC17 starting during the final days of the Obama administration and the beginning of the Trump one, and I was happy that the TUF board meeting happened on Friday during Dear Cheeto Leader's inauguration so I didn't have to see that train wreck .

One of the instate events I attended was in February.  I traveled to  Irving in the DFW 'burbs for the Equality Texas sponsored Texas Transgender Leadership Institute.  Once again I got to hang out with many of the DFW area Mama Bears, my BTAC family and other Texas trans leaders and allies from across the states for two days     It was also the one in which I met the lovely Jessica Zyrie and Corpus Christi's Kitana Sanchez for the first time, and got to spend some quality time with Rev. Angie Shannon.

Then there was the several moths long long all hands on deck fight to kill SB 6 that lasted through the regular and Special Oppression Session    I made 8 total trips to Austin along with the Texas trans community and our allies to help kill that human rights abomination of a bill.   

One of the 8 trips was in late February to finally get my gender marker changed thanks to Nikki Araguz Loyd and Trans National Alliance

I'll show up from time to time for a street protest in solidarity with other groups.  Was there at an ambush protest of Dan Patrick when he tried to sneak into Houston for the Houston Crime Stoppers dedication of the Dave Ward Building

On one of the Austin trips I went on offense and spoke at a hearing in favor of a Rep. Diego Bernal (D-San Antonio) authored bill that would add gender identity and sexual orientation language to the Texas housing discrimination bill.   Unfortunately that bill died during the regular session.

But y'all know I was there in the ATX giving Lois Kolkhorst and her GOP senate colleagues hell for attempting to pass this unjust bill.    I had to sit in the Capitol a little over eleven hours tht day before I got my chance to chew on the Republican dominated panel, so I had more than enough time to figure out what I wanted to say.to the Texas GOP oppressors

Got a chance to spend some quality time with my TBLGQ  journalist friends in Orlando in March for this year's LGBT Media Journalist Convening.   While we were there we took a trip to the Pulse nightclub to pay our respects to the 49 people who lost their lives in the mass shooting that happened here.

This year LGBTMedia17 was expanded to two days of workshops, and not only did I enjoy the extra day I got to spend with my LGBTMedia fam, I fell in love with the Rosen Center Hotel, especially since it was a block from a 7 Eleven.

I was also given the honor by the coalition of Latinx groups fighting the anti-immigrant SB 4 to speak that their Memorial Day rally at the state capitol to protest this unjust bill.

Thankfully it is tied up in the federal courts and here's hoping that discriminatory and unjust piece of legislative refuse never sees the light of day.

One of my goals in 2017 was to be better at role modeling intersectionality.   I wanted to build connections this year with not only the Houston Black lesbian community, but build and strengthen my relationships within the trans Latinx community.

I got plenty of opportunities to do so in 2017, and one of them was when the Transgender Law Center brought their Latino Leadership Institute  to Houston, and I spent much of the day hanging out with Jennicet Gutierrez and many of the Latinx peeps from around the country who were in attendance.

I was invited by BLMHOU to speak at their rally condemning the Spirit of the Confederacy statue standing for now in Sam Houston Park downtown that unfortunately didn't get swept away in the Hurricane Harvey caused flooding of Buffalo Bayou. 

Was there along with BLMHOU and our allies to successfully help get Wesley Muhammad's transphobic and homophobic 'Chemical Femininity' lecture moved from SHAPE Community Center. and was invited to speak at a #MeToo rally in downtown Houston organized by Kandice Webber

I did receive another award this year and it came from a surprising place in the Human Rights Campaign.

HRC Houston honored me on April 1 with their John Walzel Equality Award for my nearly 20 years of human rights activism on behalf of the community.  Still have it on my shelf, so it wasn't an April Fool's joke knowing the long contentious history I had with HRC in the past.

But things didn't all go my way in the awards department this year.   Was nominated for my second GLAAD Media Award for Best Blog.  That went to Alvin McEwen's Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters..   Was nominated for a F.A.C.E. and OutSmart Gayest and Greatest Awards in several categories but this wasn't my year for them either..  .

My bid  to become the first ever trans woman of color named Houston Pride Parade Female Grand Marshal didn't go my way this time either. 

But it's nice just to have people, and especially people in your hometown and birth state  recognize your work.  I did get to carry the trans pride flag as part of the color guard for this year's Houston Pride parade.

Also got an opportunity to go to Netroots Nation again, which was being held in the ATL.  It was my third Netroots Nation event (2012, 2016, 2017) and the first time I'd ever attended back to back ones.

I also happened to be in the ATL as the local trans community was holding a memorial service for their slain trans sister Tee Tee Dangerfield.  I was just planning on attending and showing my support to the local community, but was asked by the organizers to represent the national trans community and speak .

While I was attending Netroots Nation, I was a participant in two panels.  As the 2016 Netroots Nation Pundit Cup Champion, I was also a judge for the championship round and yep, it fell on me to cast the deciding vote.  I passed the title on to my successor, 2017 Netroots Nation Pundit Cup Champion Tenaja Jordan.   That made three straight years that the Pundit Cup Champ has been a Black woman, and two straight years the finalists had been people of color.

Should be interesting to see how the 2018 Pundit Cup competition shakes out in NOLA August 2-4.

Speaking of interesting, for the first time ever I got to attend San Diego Comic Con, and it was for a panel.   After the panel Faith Cheltenham and I ended up called out a white woman dressed as Whoopi Goldberg's Star Trek Next Gen character Guinan for wearing Blackface. 

Reminder people, Blackface is not apropos anywhere for any reason, even at Comic Con. If you try it, you will get called out for it.     I got to spend the next few days wandering around the convention center checking out the event  as the Texas Senate held their second SB 6 hearing while i was out of the state.

There were radio and television interviews, panel discussions and Trans 101 class conversations at universities, showing up at Houston City Council a few times to speak  and me teaching Texas Trans History at the TTNS in Nacogdoches and a few months later at Gender Infinity on the UH campus.

And yes, me dishing out domino lessons during BTAC in Dallas.  Can't wait to see my BTAC family in April

One of the last events I participated in for 2017 was a somber one.  The vigil that was held at Houston City Hall to honor the 24th victim of anti-trans violence and the fourth in Texas this year in Brandi Seals.   There are some issues that cropped up we will be dealing with in 2018


Guess I was little busier than I presumed I had been in 2017.     With 2018 being an election year and this being my 20th anniversary year of trans and human rights activism, looks like I'm in for more of the same .