TransGriot Note: One of the things that I absolutely love about the digitizing of our iconic EBONY and JET magazines and their subsequent availability on Google Books is that it has allowed me to unearth some interesting stories of back in the day African descended transpeople.
Today I'm going to take you back to 1963 and tell you the story of Gerald Trenton, who was discussed in the February 7, 1963 issue of JET.
I'm going to use female pronouns and the feminine derivative of the birth name since Geraldine expressed the desire to transition. Unfortunately the JET article doesn't chronicle the femme name.
When 17 year old Geraldine moved to California in 1958 she tried to find a job but had two problems. She was a light skinned Black person who was read as effeminate by potential employers even while dressed as a male.
So after 60 job rejections, young Geraldine decided since she was 5 foot 9 inches tall, had no facial hair and weighed 125 pounds, she would try job hunting as a woman.
Trenton said at the time, "I'm a terrible looking boy. But as a woman, I'm not unattractive; nothing special, but not bad.
Her dressing for feminine success paid instant dividends along with her fair skinned complexion that employers mistook for being white.
She worked as a waitress in a San Francisco diner for almost two years without raising suspicions, then quit that job to become a popular female illusionist at a local nightclub. But because she would get depressed when she had to switch back to male attire, she quit that job.
Trenton said about the female impersonation job, "I would have to go back into boy's clothing after performing, and I'm not happy as a boy."
Trenton then drifted across the bay to Oakland and shared an apartment for two months with two cis women. Unfortunately they stole her dresses and left her almost denuded of feminine attire.
Trenton then moved into an Oakland YWCA for four days until she got back on her feet and took a job as a secretary.
It didn't take her long to garner the amorous attention of her male coworkers. She remarked about him to JET, "That he paid more attention to things other than work."
The now 22 year old was chased around her desk, pinched and felt up by her boss as well to the point where she quit her job.
Trenton's luck took another twist when she was hanging out with some gay friends. They we minding their own business and having a great time, but the homophobic owner called the po-po's, who arrested her for 'immoral dress'.
Translation: violating the anti-crossdressing ordinance on the books at that time.
Trenton said, "I suppose it will be even harder for me to find a job now."
She expressed her wish to permanently become a woman and visit a Los Angeles based surgeon to make that happen.
She also had some words to say in that JET article that we echo to this day. "I wish people would have more understanding about homosexuals. People don't realize how many there are. It could be their own father or mother. You never know."
One thing we don't know if Trenton got her SRS wish fulfilled as well.
After agreeing with President Carter's recent comments about racism in this country, Pat Buchanan and his conservafools won't be calling his name as an example of Black people we African descended peeps should be listening to in their jacked up opinions.
I agree with President Carter that racism is playing a role in recent outbursts against President Obama. During President Obama’s speech on the status of health care reform, some members of congress engaged in a public display of disrespect. While one Representative hurled the now infamous “you lie” insult at the President, others made their lack of interest known by exhibiting rude behavior such as deliberately yawning and sending text messages.
Health care reform is the most important domestic issue facing America today. Disease does not discriminate. African American, White, Asian, Latino, Republican, Democrat, no one in America is immune. So it seems obvious that a debate on health care reform should not include views born solely of partisanship or bigotry.
Boo yah! The Cos is tellin' it like it T-I-S is on this issue.
You know how much we jilted Oilers fans hate the Tennessee Traitors (oops, Titans) for skulking out of H-town. When we got the Texans and were placed in the AFC South, the Traitors became our number one rival for obvious reasons.
We get to see them twice a year and get our hate on.
So I was deliriously happy to see my Texans not only won their first game of the young NFL season earlier today, but beat the Tennessee Traitors 34-31 in Nashville to do it. The Texans also got into a fourth quarter sideline scrap with the Traitors as well.
It didn't look good early as the Traitors jumped out to a 21-7 lead thanks to Chris Johnson's career day rushing for 197 yards and two TD's. He also caught nine passes for 87 yards and another touchdown.
But just as the Texans had problems stopping Chris Johnson, the Traitors had problems stopping Texans All Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson. who lit then up for 149 yards and two TD's.
The Texans took that early punch, fought back and scored 17 straight points tom forge a brief 24-21 lead thanks to Matt Schaub's passing arm. He finished the day with four touchdowns, 357 yards and zero interceptions.
The game was a tight, roller coaster affair until Kris Brown's 23 yard field goal put the Texans up 34-31, the Traitors last gasp drive ended when Kerry Collins fumbled and the Texans recovered it to preserve the hard fought victory.
It not only evened the Texans record at 1-1, it was only the second time in the team's history that they'd beaten the Traitors in Nashville.
Since it's the 50th anniversary year of the AFL's founding, the Traitors will have to wear replica Oilers uniforms when they match up against original AFL teams.
UH was playing Open Date yesterday but still climbed up the AP College football rankings.
The Cougars are now ranked at Number 17 in advance of Saturday's sold out game at The Rob with Texas Tech. The Coogs also cracked the USA Today Coaches Poll for the first time this season at Number 23.
This is the first time we've played Texas Tech since the breakup of the SWC 14 years ago. Yeah, I'm still bitter about UH getting frozen out of the Big 12 it along with every UH fan and alumnus because UT was tired of us kicking their behinds on the regular.
It's going to be a tough game against another Big 12 opponent, especially in light of Texas Tech's 34-24 loss to the Number 2 Wronghorns in Austin yesterday.
But back to my alma mater's football team. If they knock off the Red Raiders on national TV (ESPN 2) and in front of a sold out Robertson Stadium, it will set them up for a potentially very special season.
And more importantly, it will potentially set UH up for success in the best place in the Lone Star State for recruiting high school football talent.
Trying not to get ahead of myself and not even say 'BCS Buster'. But if they keep winning and taking it one game, one quarter and one play at a time, it could happen.
It's TBLG Pride Week at the University of Louisville!
Yes, I know Pride Week is usually celebrated in June or whenever a Black Pride event is scheduled for a particular locale, but on college campuses you either do it during the fall or spring semesters.
This Pride 2009 celebration on U of L's campus will start tomorrow and run through September 29. It's sponsored by the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality, Information Technology, the Women's and Gender Studies Department, School of Medicine and the Vice Provost for Diversity.
I'm also participating in it this year. On Tuesday I'll be moderating a discussion on the topic of 'Why Gender Neutral Bathrooms Matter'.
For those of you who wish to see the TransGriot and our esteemed panel in action, it starts at noon at the Ekstrom Library. That event is sponsored by the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice.
I sincerely thank them as well for allowing me to be a part of this event
While I'm busy at the Ekstrom Library, Number One', AKA Dawn Wilson will be participating in a September 29 event at U of L's Brandeis School of Law. It's a noon discussion entitled 'Keys to the Door: ENDA, Transgender Identity, and Community'.
It will take place in Room 275, Brandeis School of Law and is hosted by the Law School Diversity Committee and the Lambda Law Caucus.
We'll both be back on campus at 5 PM Thursday night. There's an LGBT Alumni Reception at the University Club that will be hosted by Kentucky Fairness Alliance and Mark England
The Pride Keynote Address will be given by Calpernia Addams and Andrea James in Humanities 100 at 7 PM.
I met Calpernia at the 2004 SCC, got into a long conversation with her about several subjects and have much love for her. I'm not sure if mine and Andrea's paths have crossed either at some SCC, Creating Change, IFGE Conference or another trans community event, but I'm looking forward to seeing both of them.
So if you're in the Louisville metro area, on or near the U of L campus this week, come out and support our GLBT brothers and sisters.
Had to borrow a line from writer Zora Neale Hurston to write this post.
She originally stated, 'all my skinfolks ain't my kinfolks'. I just added the trans to it.
We are a diverse community of people that come from various backgrounds, faiths, areas of the country, educational backgrounds, classes and trans experiences.
That diversity is our strength and secret weapon against the Forces of Intolerance. We need to do a better job of tapping into that diversity and making it work for the betterment of the trans community.
That being said, there are just some trans peeps who don't, don't want to and never will work and play well with others. They have issues beyond just the gender identity ones that they need professional help sorting out.
There are some who are racist, lament the loss of status from the previous male lives and cling to vanilla flavored privilege like a wino holding his last bottle of MD 20/20.
There are trans people who fancy themselves as leaders who tragically aren't. They don't have the various skills, intelligence, temperament, knowledge and diplomatic touch required for the tricky job of advancing a marginalized people's civil rights to wider acceptance.
Then there are trans people who are just bullies and antisocial anuses.
I love my African descended people, but there are some that I wouldn't claim, defend, or touch with a ten meter long pole, much less a ten foot one. I not only call them out, I steer clear of them.
Same rule applies to certain people in the trans community. Just because you are trans doesn't automatically guarantee that I'm going to lockstep support you come hell or high water. If you engage in consistent antisocial batshit crazy and nekulturny behavior, I'm calling your behinds out as well.
If that makes me a sellout to you in trans bizarro world, then I'm not losing any sleep over it. Jesus Christ, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were talked about in their day by their critics for doing the right things, too.
I consider myself in good company.
I'll just let you people continue ranting to no one in particular on your negative 3 Technorati ranked blogs while I and the reality based trans community continue to build broad based intersectional coalitions to achieve what should have been done a decade ago.
Y'all can continue to chomp on those hater tots and drink Hateraid while I and the reality based trans world continue to energize, empower, enlighten, and educate our people and allies.
Those of us in the reality based trans world will provide the inspirational, visionary leadership that is required at this critical juncture in order to make our political Holy Grail a reality.
You may be my trans skinfolks, but you ain't my trans kinfolks.
I mentioned that as a kid I loved reading Archie Comics. I not only am an Archie fan, I also like Josie and the Pussycats as well.
I was even surprised to discover there was a trans themed storyline in Issue 516 which Mrs. Andrews imagines what it would be like if Archie had been born a girl.
Well, the news broke in May that the love triangle that has fueled the sales of Archie comics for over 70 years was taking a new turn starting with Issue 600.
Archie decided that he was going to marry Veronica, and that story is going to play out over a six episode arc.
Well, my roomie read the post I'd written about my love of the Archie comics.
When Issue 600 hit the stands a few weeks ago, I was surprised to come home from work after a very crappy day and find that issue sitting on top of my computer keyboard.
Well, whatever leftover pissivity I had about my jacked up day melted as I settled into a chair and read that issue.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Issue 600 but I really felt for Betty. She now has to deal with the reality that her rival snagged the guy she wanted.
At the same time Archie confesses to Jughead, who was with Betty when she witnessed the proposal, that Betty was the first person he met when his family moved to Riverdale.
To add to her shock over witnessing the engagement, Betty is asked by Veronica to be her maid of honor.
I just picked up Issue 601, which chronicles Archie and Veronica's wedding, the hype leading to it and even the conversation that Archie and Betty had prior to it happening.
It also skips ahead a year at the end of their honeymoon to Archie dealing with his workday life in his father-in-law's company and Veronica making an interesting announcement.
I won't spoil the surprise that's at the end of Issue 601, and we still have four issues in this six issue story arc yet to go.
"...beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect."
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney Dred Scott v. Sandford March 6, 1857
152 years after this case, the descendants of white Americans not only seem to be channeling the ghost of Roger B. Taney, but think we're 3/5 of a human being.
Some of us are exhibiting 21st Century thinking and evolution in terms of our attitudes that we are all one multicultural America. Others are trying to work toward that positive, progressive vision of America.
Unfortunately, there are others who believe based on their skin color America belongs to them. They still harbor the vanilla flavored 18th Century worldview that if it ain't all white, it ain't all right.
We have a reality challenged group of white people claiming the African-American president of the United States is not a US citizen.
We've had ugly incidents in which a white male slapped an African-American child in a Stone Mountain, GA Wal-Mart because the child disturbed him.
There was another disturbing incident at a Georgia Cracker Barrel restaurant in which an African American woman was beaten n front of her daughter while people watched and declined to come to her aid.
We had a white male tear up a Rosa Parks sign a Black woman was holding at a Missouri health care town hall meeting held by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Instead of security tossing him out, they brusquely hustled her out of the room as if she was the aggressor instead of the aggrieved party.
You have a gay white male angry over the success of anti marriage equality forces in California over Prop 8 angrily hurl later discredited accusations that Blacks caused the defeat. It led to ugly racial incidents in the GL community.
This is not just a recent phenomenon. Remember Jim Crow segregation? Literacy tests and poll taxes to deny our rights to vote? Police used as stormtroopers to break up civil rights protests? The too numerous to list race riots? Lynchings, church bombings, Klan terrorism? Discrimination?
You get the drift.
But as my Houston homegirl, the late Rep. Barbara Jordan so eloquently stated,
"I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision I have finally been included in 'We the People'.
Translation, I and every other African descended person thanks to the 14th Amendment and those various laws, court decisions and interpretations are not only United States citizens, but have rights that you must respect.
Try to remember that at your next tea bagger party, okay?
News flash, we ain't even close to a post-racial America. Thanks to the Republicans pimping their 'Southern Strategy', right wing hate radio, and being a 'nation of cowards' when it comes to honestly tackling this topic, I believe we have regressed in terms of progress on race relations.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's did not magically erase 246 years of negativity. When two an a half centuries was spent demonizing African descended people to justify their enslavement, it is irrational and unrealistic to think that those attitudes are not still part of American culture.
And until those attitudes are eradicated and expunged from our national body politic, we are going to continue to have instances in which some white people operate under the misguided belief that African descended people have no rights they are bound to respect.
If you're looking for a learning opportunity for gender and intersex issues, you may wish to check out Sex, Lies, and Gender on the National Geographic Channel. Read more:
It does not seem like a question that should be asked. You know who you are. Or do you? Each year thousands of people around the world are born with ambiguous gender. They do not fit into our binary system of male or female - and shockingly many of them don't know it. Early surgeries transformed their bodies; families and doctors hid the truth.
Now, their stories are starting to be heard. In this hour, Explorer examines the science of gender...and the gray areas in between. From scientists and medical professionals to individuals whose lives are affected, we search for answers, even looking to the lives of other animals for clues.
The show is being broadcast later today on the NGC at 7 PM EDT.
Today the University of Louisville Cardinals hit I-64 east and travel to Lexington to take on the University of Kentucky Wildcats. They are not only fighting for the Governor's Cup, but state bragging rights, football division.
One of the questions I consistently get asked since I moved here is whether I support U of L or UK.
Many Kentucky natives won't accept my answer that I'm neutral and like both teams. They'll spend whatever time I have in their presence extolling the virtues of the Cats or Cards while dissing the other team with the zeal of missionaries.
When U of L and UK get together to play any sport, people are passionate about it. Friends, families, co-workers and sometimes even spouses divide along Cardinal red or Wildcat blue lines.
No matter what the sport, it's a highly competitive rivalry played by two teams separated by 73 miles of interstate highway and no love lost on either side.
It's so competitive that Kentuckians have already circled Jan 2, 2010 on the calendar.
What's happening that day you ask? It's the date of the annual U of L-UK basketball clash at Rupp Arena.
The trash talking this year for this season's football clash has come mostly from the UK fans. U of L has slipped from its 2006 Big East championship and BCS bowl winning heights and Cardinal Nation is anxious about it.
Cards fans are even more anxiety ridden going into this noon showdown at Commonwealth Stadium. U of L is not only coming off a 5-7 season after going 6-6 the previous year, they have a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball.
They also watched the Cats spank Miami of Ohio 42-0 in their season opener in Cincinnati.
Cardinal Nation also knows the Cats had a bye week to rest and retool for this game.
The Cards briefly trailed 7-3 in their season opening game at 'The Pizzeria' with Indiana State. They had to fight tooth and nail with the Sycamores before eventually pulling away for the 30-10 win.
UK is a football team on the rise and coming off a third straight bowl appearance. They not only want to keep their two year winning streak alive against U of L, they see themselves as a Top 25 program that can compete and win in the tough SEC East Division and as BCS bowl material.
No matter who wins, both teams when this game is over will have tough challenges to overcome the next week. UK will take on Number 1 ranked Florida in Lexington while the Cards will travel to Salt Lake City to take on Utah.
But for those of us who are neutral, it sure is a lot of fun to watch, no matter what the sport.
I get a chuckle every time I get home from work, check my e-mail inbox and note the vast jump in e-mail. That let's me know that once again, one of my posts somewhere had plucked somebody's nerves.
I enjoy dropping knowledge about transgender issues when I do these guest positing stints. I thank the people that have graciously extended those invitations to share their spaces with me now and in the future.
I see my guest posting stints as opportunities to introduce my writing to a new group of people who may not surf by my home blog on a regular basis.
But one thing I repeatedly note is the usual violations of Renee's Rule when I write about my experience as an African descended transperson.
What's Renee's Rule you ask?
If it ain't about you, don't make it about you.
My posts on trans issues are written from my chocolate flavored experiences, my perspectives growing up as an African-American Texan in the 60s'-70's, dealing with my gender issues, and my 20 plus years of interactions and observations of the GLBT community at a local, state, national and international level.
And oh yeah, need to point out I'm not just talkin' out the side of my neck. I've done (and still am) doing the work for this community that earned me an IFGE Trinity Award in 2006 among many others.
But yet, when I read the comments, the first things that I notice happening are the egregious displays of white privilege, denial, naked prejudicial and borderline racist comments and Internet silencing techniques.
You do this crap, then wonder why trans people of color don't want to have anything to do with you.
The bottom line is that ever since the 1953 arrival of Christine Jorgenson from Denmark, the trans narrative has been all about vanilla flavored transpeople.
You have dominated the headlines for good and ill. Your faces are the ones that have disproportionately been in the news. You get called for the talk radio and TV interview shows. You're the ones held up as examples of 'successful' transwomen. You dominate the leadership ranks of this community. You're the ones who predominately get to speak at universities and college classes about being trans. You're the ones who get the book deals documenting your personal stories or your versions of transgender history and theory. You're the ones who have had miles of film shot about them and their lives in documentaries.
Damn, can somebody else get a word in now since you've had 56 years of it?
There are stories about trans persons of color and about my African descended trans community that need to be heard.
We have transpeople of color like myself who consistently do hard, solid thinking about this community.
We have the right to comment about the future course of the trans movement and the trans community as any non POC transperson does on a regular basis, not be dismissively told by vanilla flavored privilege wielding trans people 'we don't speak for the trans community'.
News flash for you. That Trinity I earned says otherwise.
I am tired of my people's history not being heard, ignored, belittled or dissed. I am sick and tired of our accomplishments not being acknowledged. I am beyond sick and tired of our contributions to building the transgender community and making its history being denied, whitewashed or ignored.
While the memories of African descended people who have fallen victim to trans related violence deserve to never be forgotten, we are more than just tragic victims.
I'm beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of African descended transpeople being described in the context of the Remembering our Dead List or sex work and not by the quality people we produce.
We are stakeholders that have paid a steep price in blood for our place in it. It is because of the blood shed disproportionately by my African descended transpeeps that I am compelled to speak up on their and my community's behalf.
And I and others will not be deterred from doing so.
Our transition journeys are different from yours because it is affected not only by class, but race as well. I have to fight on multiple fronts just to be the Phenomenal Transwoman I am. I have to battle racism and transphobia not only from people outside the GLBT community, but inside it as well.
I have to shout just to be heard, even by my so called allies.
And what hurts even more as a proud African descended transperson who loves her people and their history is that I have to battle ignorance about trans issues within my African descended family as well.
So when I write about my experiences as a transperson, or add our stories to the community discourse on trans issues, it's not always going to neatly line up with yours.
You've had 56 plus years to tell your stories and will continue to have multiple opportunities to do so.
It's time for you to STFU, listen, and let me and other POC transpeople tell ours.
The Council of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County adopted a fully inclusive Non-Discrimination Ordinance, which bans discrimination against Metro employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity on a 24 to 15 vote.
Nashville joins a growing list of communities all across the country to provide an explicit ban on discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and becomes the first city in Tennessee to do so.
It's also important because Nashville is also Tennessee's state capital as well.
Congrats to the TTPC and all the folks who worked to help it pass.
I'm so proud of my AP Number 21 ranked UH Cougars. They are taking a well deserved weekend off before they tangle with another tough Big 12 school in Texas Tech.
Do the Coogs have the potential to be this year's BCS buster?
Maybe. But to do that they have to channel Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis' mantra of 'just win, baby.
So now that I've given a shout out to my fave collegiate football team, time to sort through the cavalcade of foolish losers and decide who gets our coveted prize this week.
As usual, we have a plethora of fools to choose from. Hannity and Limbaugh ever fail to disappoint. There were others such as Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Michelle Malkin.
But this week's fool is Glenn Beck
This conservaclown actually compared President Jimmy Carter to Osama Bin laden.
No wonder you've lost 62 advertisers (and counting)
I try to call my family at least once a week to keep up with what's going on back home and in my old neighborhood, catch up on the latest Houston scuttlebutt and family news.
During my conversation with my mother a few days ago she mentioned she'd had a conversation with one of my old neighbors who was unaware of my gender transition. Her sons stumbled across my blog and of course relayed the news to their mother.
She made some cis privileged comments such as 'I was too smart to transition' and other ones that smacked of Christoignorance that my mom called her on.
I thought I made it clear for you African descended peeps last year that harbor the same thoughts as my old neighbor when I wrote about this subject.
It looks like it's time to remix and reiterate what I said because it still applies in the '09 and beyond. Say it loud, I'm Black, trans and I'm proud!
Just because I transitioned a decade and a half ago doesn't shield me or any African descended transperson from being whacked with all the daily slings and arrows that being Black in America presents you with.
I still get called 'nigger'. As a matter of fact I've had that epithet thrown at me more so by people in the GLBT community since I transitioned than folks outside it.
I also get the displeasure of in addition to having the other anti-black and anti-gay ones hurled at me, having the b-word and other epithets directed at women spat at my statuesque behind as well.
As a child and godchild of historians I am not only cognizant of our history, I eagerly embrace and revel in it. I'm always striving to learn more about my people's accomplishments across the Diaspora.
Transition did not lower my IQ. As my cis girlfriends jokingly tell me, it enhanced it.
I am still down with our ongoing effort within the Black community to uplift the race and make it better. I want to add the voices, thoughts and talents of African descended trans people like myself and others to that effort both inside and outside the Black community.
At the same time I recognize the value of having and building a vibrant, self-aware Black trans community that knows its history, recognizes its heroes and sheroes and is a key player in the decision making ranks of the GLBT community.
I am still a 'Big C' Christian who is more concerned with 'what Jesus said' than the 'what Paul said' mean spirited right-wing prosperity gospel brand of Christianity.
I am not a 'birth defect'. I was made by the Creator to be here at this particular time and place with a certain skill set and talents. I am as a trans person a person with unique insights and part of the diverse mosaic of human life.
I also still share, as William Hastie said in a 1950 speech at the University of Rochester, the 'militancy against discrimination and racial indignity that is a heritage from our forbears'.
Being a proud African descended trans person does not constitute grounds for yanking my 'Black Card'.
Now Clarence Thomas is another story, but I digress.
And you Black peeps who have a problem with trans people on specious religious grounds or because of your own insecurities need to buy a vowel and get a clue about that as well.
One of the things I've argued for years along with people such as fellow Trinity Award winner Dawn Wilson and others is that transpeople need to start running for and getting themselves elected to public office.
Whether it's large or small city councils, county commissions, school boards, mayor's chairs, judges, state legislatures and ultimately Congress, we just need to do it.
Transpeople in other nations such as former New Zealand MP Georgina Beyer have successfully done so, and it's past time we emulate that in the States.
While we had some successes, we can always use more
That's why I was happy to hear that Oklahoma City attorney Brittany Novotny is currently exploring a run to take on homophobic Republican Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern in the 2010 election cycle. She's planning on making a formal announcement either later this month or in October about her political plans.
Novotny graduated from University of California – Hastings College of the Law in 2005 and began a private practice in 2007 specializing in civil rights and employment law.
She has set up a website with a donation button. Her first event is a September 18 wine and cheese fundraising reception in Norman, OK.
Novotny wrote on her site web page, “we need a representative who values all families in the district, who is dedicated to bringing good jobs to Oklahoma, and who will work tirelessly to make sure our children are getting the best education in our public schools. I believe I have the experience, drive, and determination to do that.”
The 84th House district seat she's contemplating running for borders the Oklahoma House district of the only openly gay legislator in the Oklahoma House, State Rep. Al McAffrey (D-Oklahoma City)
Kern earned the ire of the GLBT community last summer when she stated, "I honestly think it [homosexuality] is the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam.”
In June Kern issued her "Declaration of Morality', in which she stated that the United Sates was the “world leader in promoting abortion, pornography, same sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce, illegitimate births, child abuse and many other forms of debauchery.”
Kern has also earned the ire of the business community as well. Because of her homophobic antics and being a proud member the GOP bat guano wing, Republican consultant Brenda K. Jones claimed two companies that were about to announce a move to Oklahoma changed their plans according to a report in the Oklahoma City Journal Register.
Former Oklahoma County commissioner Jim Roth said Novotny has “a genuine understanding of the dignity intended for all citizens by our constitution. Her service will be a wonderful departure from the crazy, homophobic rantings of one-issue Sally Kern.”
He added, “I’ve known Brittney for years and I know she’s dedicated to growing jobs, improving schools and helping people.”
I hope she decides to throw her hat in the political ring and run. If she does, it won't be easy. The Christohaters love Kern and definitely will pull out all the cash and the negativity they can muster to keep her in office.
We have to be just as determined to do whatever it takes to put Brittany in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
If Novotny does run, I hope she gets to make a little history while deliciously knocking out of office one of our enemies.
TransGriot Note: This guest post is courtesy of Tami at What Tami Said.
The facts seem to be thus:
On Saturday, in the U.S. Open semifinals, champion Serena Williams faced an unranked Kim Clijsters, who more than held her own in a taut, close battle.
According to Sports Illustrated online:
With Williams serving at 5-6, 15-30 in the second set, she faulted on her first serve. On the second serve, a line judge called a foot fault, making it a double-fault -- a call rarely, if ever, seen at that stage of any match, let alone the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament. Read more...
Williams responded to the call with an uncharacteristic level of anger. Again according to Sports Illustrated: "walking toward the line judge, screaming, cursing and shaking a ball in the official's direction, threatening to "shove it down" her throat."
In response, Williams was penalized a point for poor sportswomanship, giving a surprise victory to Clijsters.
On these things, most people agree. And few would celebrate Williams' outburst, which was ugly, unfortunate, graceless, ineffective and WRONG. My concern is that reaction to Williams lapse of judgement is ripe with sexism and racism.
When you consider the legacy of tennis "bad boys" like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase, the hyperventilating over Williams' lapse seems completely out-of-proportion.
McEnroe's outbursts that included marching aggressively up to line judges, cursing and destroying rackets have become part of the tennis legend's mythology. His childish behavior can be compiled into a two-part You Tube greatest hits reel set to cheerful music. And though McEnroe continued to have meltdowns long after his behavior could be deemed youthful folly, we chalk his actions up to the sort of single-minded intensity it takes to be a legendary winner in sport...when you are a man (and preferably a white one). McEnroe is affectionately remembered as a "bad boy."
But when you are a woman, and a black one at that, your wrong is more wrong than the next person's. In contrast to comments on McEnroe You Tube videos, reactions to Williams' tantrum are filled with racist language. Of course, for anyone who has ever spent time on You Tube, it shouldn't surprise to hear the word "animal" tossed around in reference to black women. What does surprise me (or maybe not) is the reaction of more mainstream sources.
Yahoo has been playing the Williams story on its front page for two days with language that would make a reader believe Williams had gone on some sort of bloody rampage.
The New York Times offered a breathless lead in to its coverage:
Serena Williams became unhinged in a shocking display of vitriol and profanity toward a line judge at the most inopportune time Saturday night — right before match point for Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the United States Open.
The lineswoman involved in Williams' outburst is now said to have felt "threatened."
Several commenters on the generally progressive and feminist Jezebel piled on Williams and failed to note the gender and race biases inherent in their reactions. A commenter named LaComtesse offer this post and photo:
From the article: "I've never been in a fight in my whole life, so I don't know why she would have felt threatened," Williams said with a smile. Ummm....really, Ms. Williams? You don't see how, in certain situations (say, when you threaten to shove a ball down someone's throat), one might be intimidated by you when you're angry?
The poster's implications were rightfully challenged by several others.
Sports columnist Jason Whitlock blasted Williams as "an oversized, underachieving loudmouth..." who got "smacked into reality by a just-out-of-retirement mom." In the same article, Whitlock defends Michael Jordan's pompous, ungracious, "possibly cocktail-inspired" Hall of Fame rant, also delivered this weekend. Whitlock writes:
In graphic detail, he explained the slights — real, exaggerated and imagined — that fueled his competitive fire. He gave us a peek behind the curtain, a look at what drove the greatest competitor in our lifetime. I overlooked his missteps. He's a basketball player, not a motivational speaker. He spoke without a map. His words were not measured or chosen to create the impression he was anything beyond a competitive son of a bitch.
Got that? Jordan, whose ego is legendary, is an awesome "competitive son of a bitch." Williams? Just a "whiner," and an "oversized" one, in case you missed than throw-away sexist language.
Ah, Serena. You can take the girl out of the 'hood but .............
Wonder if McEnroe, Connors and Nastase are from that same 'hood?
The Williams sisters have long been demonized in the tennis world for having the temerity to be, not just winners, but also big (women shouldn't take up too much space), strong (women's bodies should be soft. Not too soft, mind you. Serena's muscular round posterior, preposterously gets called "fat."), confident (women should be shrinking and always self-effacing) and worse, black. They are called manly and unfeminine. Discussions of their playing style are accompanied with words like "brute strength."
Jezebel offered an excellent post about new tennis favorite Michelle Oudin last week that offers a hint at what America wants in its female athletes.
Oudin certainly seems to be a lovable sports star, and her accomplishments are definitely praise-worthy, but there is something off about the way she is being celebrated. She has been called the "darling" of the U.S. Open, America's sweetheart," a "pint-sized, freckled-faced blonde from Georgia," the "tiny little savior of women's tennis," everything it seems, save tennis' "Great White Hope" although given the media coverage of Oudin's win, it would probably be more like the "little, teeny-tiny, super cute White Hope").
Especially problematic was this article from the Daily Beast, which quoted ESPN sportscaster Michelle Beadle comparing Oudin to the Williams sisters. "From Day 1, I've never heard the Williams sisters referred to as sweethearts." Read more...
It is instructive to see how Williams has been cast as a "baddie" in contrast to a talented, but admittedly more-sweetheart-appropriate Clijsters, who went on to. Jezebel notes in a post today:
Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News, who called the incident "very sad," notes that Williams is already being cast as a villain to Clijsters heroine: "There were fascinating elements to this match, though most of them were lost in the chaos. It might have been constructive to debunk the traditional, sexist perceptions about Clijsters and the Williams sisters. We condemn Serena and Venus for juggling business interests, while applauding Clijsters for quitting the game completely to have a baby."
This incident is perhaps the best example of how little leeway women, and black women in particular, have in the public eye. Serena Williams' behavior this weekend should be viewed as an unfortunate misstep by an otherwise admirable athlete, whose life, on an off the court, stands as a model for young women and men. Instead, we're worrying about Williams' future and whether her reputation can recover from this single incident. One incident, and to the masses, Williams has proved that she is not "America's Sweetheart," as if there was ever a question. One incident, and to the masses, Williams has proven their sexist and racist biases correct. One incident, and she is an angry, black woman--threatening, an animal.
Can a woman--a black woman--lose her shit in public and recover without the stain remaining on her reputation forever? Will Serena's wrong be treated in the same way as the wrongs of male athletes? I wish that the answer was yes, but I don't know.
TransGriot Note: One of the things that I absolutely love about the digitizing of our iconic EBONY and JET magazines and their subsequent availability on Google Books is that it has allowed me to unearth some interesting stories of back in the day African descended transpeople.
When 17 year old Geraldine moved to California in 1958 she tried to find a job but had two problems. She was a light skinned Black person who was read as effeminate by potential employers even while dressed as a male.
Trenton said about the female impersonation job, "I would have to go back into boy's clothing after performing, and I'm not happy as a boy." 
Trenton then moved into an Oakland YWCA for four days until she got back on her feet and took a job as a secretary.
