Gone To Bryn Mawr

Will be traveling all day to give my speech in the Thomas Library at 4 PM on the Bryn Mawr College campus in Bryn Mawr, PA.

My flight leaves Louisville at 5:50 AM EDT and I don't get back to Da Ville until 11:45 PM EDT, so as of midnight, the time I set this post to pop up, I'm getting my beauty sleep. (I love the auto post feature)

If I happen to find a computer on campus I can post from, I'll try to post some of my trip thoughts. If I don't, it's gonna have to wait until I get back to Da Ville.

Lord knows I'm going to have enough time on the flight back to write something.

So to the Bryn Mawr students, faculty and friends who will be there, looking forward to meeting y'all and having a thoughtful dialogue with you while I'm there.

Villager's Black Blog Rankings Are No More

The hot summer weather has eased into fall and cooler days. Football season at the high school, college and pro levels is in full swing and Halloween is coming

But unfortunately there will be no more posts in November and beyond on TransGriot tracking my progress up the BBR's.

Due to changes in the Technorati rankings that the Villager used as the basis for the BBR's, he's made the painful decision to shut down the Black Blog Rankings.

As I've stated in many of those BBR posts, I not only looked forward to those monthly rankings, it was one of the things I used to measure my progress in growing TransGriot.

In some cases it motivated me to push my blog to even greater heights.

I was so pissed about my tie with Bossip being broken and getting bumped out of the top 25 BBR blogs that it inspired a new burst of activity and a goal to be permanently ensconced in the BBR Top 25.

Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it.

As of the October 3 compilation date, I am back in the BBR's Top 25 at number 24 with an 88 old school Technorati ranking.

Under the new Technorati rankings I have a ranking of 592.

And yes Renee, Womanist Musings is still in the Top 10 BBR blogs at Number 8.

And what is our number one BBR ranked blog? All together now gang, Pam's House Blend!

But my joy is tempered by the fact that unless Villager changes his mind about it, I'm permanently ensconced in the BBR Top 25.

I set a goal to get a repeat nomination for Best GLBT Blog in the upcoming 2009 Weblog Awards as well. If I get another finalist nod, I want to do better than the 9th place I got voting wise last year.

I understand why Villager made the decision, it's just saddens me to know that I won't see the BBR's pop up by the 8th of the month anymore.

I thank the Village for putting together the BBR's in the first place, and hopefully someone else will come up with a system just as good or better that will rank Black blogs and give them and the Blackosphere the attention that they need.

UH Coogs Handle Their Business- Climb To Number 17

The University of Houston Cougars took a business trip to New Orleans Saturday for a C-USA game in the Louisiana Superdome against the Tulane Green Wave.

They were getting a little tired of hearing the line that they were 2-0 against the Big 12, 1-0 against the SEC and 0-1 in C-USA.

The Coogs average 569.2 yards and 40.2 points per game, but Tulane’s defense was ranked first against the pass in Conference USA.

And as any football fan can tell you, a high powered offense and a hot shot quarterback can't score points to beat you if they're both sitting on the bench.

Tulane executed some long clock eating drives to forge a brief 6-3 lead and eventually trail at the half 9-6.

But the one thing about the Cougars offense is that it doesn't need a lot of time to score. They demonstrated that on their opening second half drive by taking just eight plays and 1:58 to march 60 yards to up their lead to 15-6.

After blocking a Tulane punt deep in Green Wave territory, two plays later the lead was up to 22-6. It was part of a 37 point second half blitz that saw UH score touchdowns on five straight possessions and turn a close game into a 44-16 Cougar victory.

With the win, the Coogs go to 5-1 on the year, even their C-USA west Division record to 1-1 and climb to Number 17 in the AP and USA Today College Coaches polls.

In addition, the Cougars make their first ever appearance in the BCS standings which started in 1998. UH is Number 17 in the BCS rankings as well.

Next up is a game at the Rob Saturday against SMU. Eat 'em up!

It's Election Day!

In Houston, that is.

More precisely, it's the first day of early voting for the upcoming November 3 mayoral election. Polling places are opening at 8 AM CDT, and here's where you find out the location of the one nearest you.

I've been keeping up with the campaign developments, and I am really bummed that I'm not home to help out with this final election push to help a friend and ally of the Houston trans community in her effort to get elected mayor of my hometown.

She along with city attorney Gene Locke got the endorsements of the Houston Chronicle. That's a huge boost that comes at a time when people are stepping off the fence, starting to pay attention to the fact there IS an election scheduled for November 3, and sorting through the campaign clutter to decide who they really want running Houston.

I'm hoping she can get enough votes to win it without a December runoff election, but as long as she's in the top two, she's got a shot.

Trans People Are Part Of The Diverse Mosaic Of Life

As I've said repeatedly on this blog and will do so until my last minutes on the planet, we are part of the diverse mosaic of life. But this time I'll let some pictures tell the story.



Texas delegate and 2005 IFGE Trinity winner Vanessa Edwards-Foster and Tennessee delegate and 2002 IFGE Trinity winner Dr. Marisa Richmond at the 2008 Democratic National Convention before President Obama's nomination acceptance speech.



Rapper Pam Jones working it on stage



Honduran transwomen protesting for their rights



Classical music artist Tona Brown performing



A transwoman holding a candle at a 2004 West Hollywood, CA TDOR ceremony



Nepali transwomen on the cover of a local magazine



A 2007 TDOR memorial in Jakarta



Transwomen at a West Hollywood job fair



Blogger Pinay TG and friends on a night out in the Philippines



Diana Guerrero and Mario Sanchez on their wedding day in Mexico City



Diego Sanchez on Capitol Hill



Patricia Oliveira working the runway during the 2009 spring Brazil Fashion Week



Japanese politician Aya Kamikawa

Transpinay Enters Philippine Big Brother House

The good news about transpeople around the world just living their lives and being positively visible just keeps on coming.

Pinay TG actually posted this on October 10, but it bears repeating anyway.

Pinay TG wrote that STRAP member Rica Paras is entering the Philippine Big Brother house. From reading the post, hell, I want to meet Rica. She's got it going on as we'd say in my old neighborhood.

There is a show website with individual profiles of the housemates that you can peruse at your leisure. Was a little irritated that they put Rica's old name out there in her profile, but hold your fire gang. STRAP is wishing to use Rica's appearance as a teachable moment for Philippine society, so let's let them handle their local business.

If they need more international firepower backing them up, Pinay TG and STRAP will let us know.

So just show Rica some love and support. Two fan sites with much content written in Filipino have popped up. Pinay TG will advise me about other things they are coming up with to better support our sis.

Congratulations, Rica and good luck.

The Miss International Queen Pageant Is Back!

After a year's absence due to political turmoil in Thailand, the 2009 edition of the Miss International Queen transgender pageant will finally take place.

The pageant has garnered international media attention in its short existence and was missed by contestants and pageant fans alike.

The cool thing about this pageant and the Miss Tiffany's Universe one, which is reserved for Thai transwomen only, is that the winners of these pageants are treated with the same respect and attention as the ciswomen who represent Thailand in the Miss Universe and Miss World competitions.

There was a kick off press conference held October 2 in Bangkok for this 5th anniversary edition of Miss International Queen, which has become a prestigious title in the trans pageant world. The winner receives $10,000 USD plus prizes, and Tiffany's management reported they received 68 applications around the world from potential contestants interested in competing in this year's edition of Miss International Queen.

It was whittled down to the 25 contestants from 15 countries who will journey to Pattaya and Tiffany's Show Theatre October 26–31 to battle for the crown

NBJC Statement On Interracial Louisiana Marriage Denial

STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL BLACK JUSTICE COALITION ON THE DENIAL OF MARRIAGE TO AN INTERRACIAL LOUISIANA COUPLE


WASHINGTON, D.C., FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 2009

The following statement may be attributed to Sharon J. Lettman, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC):

“It is hard to believe that a Louisiana state official could simply refuse to follow the law of the land as set forth in Loving v. Virginia. The status of this person as a justice of the peace is something that needs to be revoked.

“Time and again we have seen public officials discriminate against loving, committed couples and claim that their discrimination is really motivated by concern for children. That justification is wrong when it’s used to deny marriage to a couple on the basis of their race. It’s wrong when it’s used to prevent committed gay and lesbian couples from being able to marry. And it’s our responsibility to speak out against it, whenever it happens.

“Every child who is a minority faces discrimination, exclusion and oppression at some point in their lives. It is actions like those of this state official – refusing to marry a loving couple because of personal prejudice – that perpetuate the discrimination and racism that continue to pervade our culture.

“There is also the fact that this state official is just plain wrong. There are countless children of interracial parents who grew up to embody the strength of our families: President Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, Soledad O’Brien. And parents themselves -- like Seal and Heidi Klum, former Defense Secretary William Cohen and journalist Janet Langhart. And the lists go on and on, with millions of successful families who have thrived in the face of prejudice directed at their parents and their children.

“The story of Connecticut state Rep. Jason Bartlett, also deputy director of the National Black Justice Coalition, illustrates this truth. When he grew up, his mother told him that he might not be accepted by some who are white, and might not be accepted by some who are black, because of his mixed heritage. But he learned through understanding who you are in the knowledge of your family’s love, that he could overcome those obstacles.

“It is that very love of a family that helps overcome the oppressions that so many Americans continue to face. And knowing who we are – as people, and as a family -- is at the heart of survival in a culture that is too-often still hostile to our lives.”


***

Lettman resides in the Washington, DC area and recently married a Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force, who returned this past July from a tour of duty in Balad, Iraq.

The National Black Justice Coalition (www.NBJC.org) is America's only nationwide Black gay civil rights organization and is dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our mission is to end racism and homophobia. NBJC envisions a world where all people are fully empowered to participate safely, openly and honestly in family, faith and community, regardless of race, gender-identity, or sexual orientation. Founded in 2003, NBJC is the authoritative source on LGBT issues as they affect Black communities.

What Does It Mean To Be A Woman?

Eternal Lizdom asked this question at her blog and invited women from various perspectives to answer it.

Some of my trans sisters have chimed in with their thoughts, and now it's my turn to do so.

What does it mean to be a woman? I interpret that question the same way that philosopher Simone de Beauvoir does. One is not born a woman, you become one.

My life is a living testament to that de Beauvoir quote. I wasn't born with a female body, but I morphed into my fine brown frame as fast as I could.

I've been evolving toward being the statuesque African descended women who loves her some Monica for 15 years now and I'm still a work in progress.

Diana Ross said it best in an October 1989 ESSENCE magazine interview.

'I never considered it a disadvantage to be a Black woman. I never wanted to be anything else. We have brains. We are beautiful. We can do anything we set our minds to.'

My mind is set on evolving into a Black woman of trans experience who is viewed as a compliment to Black womanhood, not a detriment to it. I'm on an evolutionary path to be a Black woman who is cognizant of her history, is eager and willing to serve her people, am proud to be trans and is just a phenomenal transwoman joyfully living her life.

While there are some aspects of being in a female body from birth I'll never know, I do know all too well the sting of sexism, was a target for assault long before I transitioned, have the heightened awareness of personal safety and share the pain with my cis African descended sisters about our beauty and Black womanhood in general being demonized, denigrated and dismissed.

In addition to that, I have to deal with the baggage that society heaps upon me for being Black, trans and having the temerity to stand up and boldly demand my place at the African American family table.

I think about the threads of Black womanhood that stretch back to the African continent and how they were spread throughout the Diaspora.

I think about the faith and spirituality that is part of a Black woman's life, be she cis or trans. I ponder where I fit in and what is the status of my and my African transsisters relationship with my African descended cis sisters.

So what does it mean to be a woman? It means comfort in my own chocolate skin so that I can love and accept the person I am and was born to be. It means standing up for my constitutional rights. It means mind and body being in harmony for the first time in my life. It means using the talents God gave me to help my country, my community, and myself. It means striving every day to be the best person I can be. even if there are some days I fall short of that.

But most of all, it means being the best sister, friend, aunt, cousin and daughter I can be, and being blessed that I'm finally able to do so.

Nepali Transwoman Eager For Miss International Queen Challenge

Sudeshna Sarkar of Thaindian News wrote an interesting article about one of the 25 people who will be competing in the 2009 edition of the Miss International Queen pageant.

21 year old Sandhya Lama, is the reigning Miss Gay Nepal and is eager to walk the stage at the most prestigious transgender pageant in the world.

“I am excited,” said Sandhya, who not only is the reigning Miss Gay Nepal, she beat 54 contestants last year to win the Miss Beauty and Brain 2008 pageant title. The pageant was organized by the Blue Diamond Society, Nepal’s pioneering gay rights organization,

“I look forward to telling the world about the leaps made by the gay rights movement in Nepal. The Supreme Court has recognized us as citizens who should have the rights enjoyed by other citizens. It has also approved of same-sex marriages.

“Moreover, when a new constitution, written by the people themselves, is promulgated in May 2010, it will also include recommendations given by us.”

Sandhya's day job is working as a counselor for the Blue Diamond Society. She counsels her peers about the perils of intravenous drug use and advocating measures to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in addition to fulfilling her official duties as Miss Gay Nepal.

Looking forward to seeing if she can add the Miss International Queen title to her increasing list of pageant wins.

Shut Up Fool! Awards-Rush Flushed From NFL Edition

It's Friday, and you loyal TransGriot readers know what that means. It's time to choose our Fool of the Week.

This week Rush's racist chickens came home to roost when he got bounced as a minority partner in an ownership group seeking to purchase the St. Louis Rams.

Couldn't happen to a nicer Oxycontin popping anus.

He and his Dittoheads are trying to spin it, but if Rushbo and his fans really want to know who cost Rush his shot at NFL ownership, Limbaugh need only look in the mirror.

Oh yeah Rush, don't bother trying to buy an NBA franchise either because you've pissed off peeps in that league as well with this racist comment.



Now lets see who else besides Rushbo showed championship level stupidity in earning our Shut Up Fool! Award this week.

Our winner got this for trying to defend and spin the fact that Rushbo got so publicly smacked down by NFL owners, the commissioner and players.



Ann Coulter opened up her big mouth and stuck her pumps in it by saying NFL players would pick Limbaugh over "Nazi collaborator" Soros because "a lot of them" are "real Christians".

Um, Ann. This comment by Matthias Kiwanuka is a sample of the sentiments echoed by African American players, who make up about 60% of the NFL.

"I am not going to draw a conclusion from a person off of one comment," said Kiwanuka. "But when it is time after time after time and there's a consistent pattern of disrespect and just a complete misunderstanding of an entire culture that I am a part of, I can't respect him as a man."

Many players are saying the same things, but not as publicly.

Ann Coulter, shut up fool!

Choi Han Bit-Korean Supermodel

Those of us with longer memories would probably dispute that title by pointing out Harisu was the first Korean transwoman to garner international attention.. But 23 year old Choi Han Bit has done something that even trailblazing transwoman Harisu hasn't.

In Korea there is a television show called Open Hall in which beautiful women compete for a chance to become a supermodel. Out of the 1,200 applicants they received for this show, Choi Han Bit was one of the 160 initial contestants selected.

Over the 20 days of competition Choi has continued to impress and advance. She got through the first preliminary round which whittled those 160 contestants down to 50, and then made it through the July 28 second round which cut the remaining ladies down to 32 competitors.






Making the September 25 finals virtually guarantees her 'supermodel status' regardless of whether or not she actually wins

During her speech, according to AllKpop she had lots to say and many people to thank, including her parents.

"Looking back, the situation I'm in would have seemed impossible to me as a child. I'm just so happy to be here right now and I want to become a dignified supermodel as well as a great role model. I would like to thank my parents for actively supporting me through the surgery and the pursuit of my dreams."

When asked if she would like to be a celebrity, she said that she did not want to use her transgender status to become a celebrity, but would rather become a celebrity through her hard work and passion.

At the conclusion of her speech, Choi said, "I would like to send a message to any other transgenders. Be dignified and proud of who you are."

Amen sis. Your transsisters around the world are definitely proud of you.

I'll have to do some searching to find out if she ultimately won the contest. Here's hoping she did.

Louisiana Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License

Looks like gay couples aren't the only ones being denied the ability to get married in Louisiana.

We made the argument in Kentucky when our marriage ban was on the ballot in 2004 that if you banned same gender marriages and gave local clerks the power to deny or annul people's marriages, then the marriages of people they didn't like would also be on the chopping block.

Hmm, didn't take long for them to go after interracial marriages now did it?

A justice of the peace in Hammond, LA put on his pointed white sheet and denied a marriage license to an interracial couple.

Guess he hasn't heard about the 1967 Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court case in which they ruled 9-0 the government cannot prohibit marriages simply because of the race of the spouses.

Tangipahoa Parish justice of the peace Keith Bardwell said he refused to issue a marriage license to 31 year old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay of Hammond citing concern for any children the couple might have.

While predictably denying in the Hammond Daily Star he wasn't a racist, he then offered his opinion that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children."

He said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of Black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does White society, he said.

"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."

If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all. "I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Yeah, right. Where's the equality in this situation?

The couple stated they will consult the US Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on October 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.

“I simply can’t believe he can do that. That’s blatant discrimination,” Humphrey said.

The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union and the Tangipahoa Parish Chapter of the NAACP agree.

Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie R. Esman said Bardwell’s refusal to sign the license is both “tragic and illegal.”

Pat Morris, NAACP Tangipahoa Parish chapter president, said she was shocked to hear that the choice of a spouse is still an issue in Tangipahoa Parish.

Humphrey and McKay met where she works and the couple and had planned to go to South Carolina for a traditional wedding ceremony to be officiated by her youth minister brother. But McKay lost his job, and by the time he was re-employed he was unable to get off for the wedding. They decided to go ahead and get married in Lousiana “to make it right before God,” she said.

“We decided on a very short, simple ceremony with a couple of my friends as witnesses,” she said. “Later, when he got some time off, we would go to South Carolina for the traditional ceremony, although we would actually already be officially married.”

According to the Louisiana clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.

Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate, the $35 license fee and a Social Security card. The license must also be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge with the original being returned to the clerk's office.

"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.

"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzman said.

Bardwell has been a JP for 34 years and his term expires December 31, 2014.

With the attention this case has garnered, he might be leaving sooner than that.

Countdown To Bryn Mawr and TDOR Speeches

I'm writing and rewriting my speech, updating a Power Point presentation, packing, getting divafied and eagerly anticipating my upcoming trip to the Philadelphia metro area and the Bryn Mawr College campus.

I'm heading there to do a 4 PM speech in the M. Carey Thomas Library's Room 224 on Tuesday October 20.

These trips never get old for me because I've always liked public speaking, traveling to different areas of the country and I enjoy doing these events.

It also gives me another opportunity to pick up another college coffee mug and a sweatshirt.

I was blessed last year to speak at CU-Boulder for a gender conference they held on their beautiful campus in the shadow of the Flatiron Mountains. I've already been on the U of L campus this academic year, and I'm looking forward to another trip that I'll be taking in March to SUNY-Oneonta.

I have an upcoming trip next month I'm taking to Long Island in which I'll be the keynote speaker for a November 22 TDOR event being hosted at the UCC Church in Centerport, NY.

Just like the Bryn Mawr and any speaking event I participate in, I want to be on my 'A' speaking game. It's just something about being on a college campus around our future leaders that energizes me.

Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of long time African descended trans activists getting these speaking opportunities at college campuses. Some of that you can attribute to many of us not being as public.

Some of us are doing work locally that doesn't give them a high enough national profile so that academia will seek us out and include our perspectives in these gender conferences and speeches that occur on these campuses.

I'm cognizant of that fact and consider it an honor when they choose me. It's a major reason why I want to give 150% effort in putting together an event that's not only informative but enjoyable as well. I'm keenly aware that I'm not just representing myself, I represent an entire community. I want to make it easier for the next African descended transperson to get that same opportunity I was blessed to get.

I'm also hoping that one day, I and my African descended trans brothers and sisters will begin to get opportunities and invitations to do these speeches and participate in gender conferences on HBCU campuses.

As for the upcoming LI TDOR event, this particular one has had some previous speakers that are a Who's Who of the trans community such as Diego Sanchez, Pauline Park, and Melissa Sklarz.

They are people that I respect and admire, so yeah, I'm honored that this group wanted me to speak at their event.

So if you want me peeps for 2010, start early with your requests.

I had the honor in 2002 and 2003 of speaking at my local TDOR sponsored by the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. I was even more thrilled by the fact the 2002 one was their first annual one.

Time to wrap this post up and get back to work polishing the speech.

For those of you in Philly or on the Bryn Mawr campus, looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Rush Flushed From Potential NFL Ownership Group

Rush Limbaugh's racist chickens have come home to roost.

With significant opposition mounting inside and outside the NFL, the ownership group headed by Dave Checketts dropped him from the group attempting to purchase the NFL's St. Louis Rams

"It has become clear that his involvement in our group has become a complication and a distraction to our intentions; endangering our bid to keep the team in St. Louis," Checketts said. "As such, we have decided to move forward without him and hope it will eventually lead us to a successful conclusion."

24 of the league's 32 owners would have had to approve any sale to Limbaugh and his group. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay predicted that Limbaugh's potential bid would be met by significant opposition.

"I, myself, couldn’t even consider voting for him," Irsay said from the NFL owners meeting currently taking place in Boston. "When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive ... our words do damage, and it’s something that we don’t need."

Several NFL players have also voiced their displeasure with Limbaugh's potential ownership position along with NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith.

Smith has also urged players to speak out against Limbaugh's bid.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has also commented on the potential Limbaugh ownership as well

"I have said many times before that we are all held to a higher standard here. I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about. I would not want to see those kind of comments from people who are in a responsible position within the NFL. No. Absolutely not."

Rush of course is going to spin it as the 'mean old liberals' are ganging up on his Oxycontin popping behind. The facts are that it's his big mouth that cost him a shot at owning a piece of an NFL team, and I and a lot of people are very happy about that.

Exhibit A:

* "Look, let me put it to you this way: The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

Exhibit B:

* "I mean, let's face it, we didn't have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: Slavery built the South. I'm not saying we should bring it back. I'm just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark."

Exhibit C:

* "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in (Donovan) McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve."

And I won't even bring up the reams of other hateful crap Rush has said about African-Americans, liberal progressives, and other POC and laughed all the way to the bank for saying it.

The bottom line is that the NFL didn't want or need a Marge Schott for the new millennium.

The NFL is still getting over the racist legacy of the late Washington Redskin owner George Preston Marshall. He refused to allow African-American players on his team until 1962, and only because then Interior Secretary Stewart Udall threatened to revoke the team's 30 year lease on RFK Stadium if he didn't.

The NFL has recently been cracking down on the shady behavior of players. The last thing Commissioner Goodell needed was to have a NFL owner who on an almost daily basis has a radio show in which he makes jacked up racist and sexist statements.

Transgender Children's Bill Of Human Rights

TransGriot Note: While doing research for another post, I stumbled across a site with this Draft Transgendered Children’s Bill of Human Rights. It was penned by Natacha Kennedy, who got the inspiration for it from an original idea by Trans Youth Family Allies.


Transgendered children have the right;

· to be called by a name they recognise as their own and to have the personal pronoun (he/she) which they prefer used to describe them,


· to be accepted by everyone as the gender they prefer,

· to appear on the outside the way they feel on the inside,

· to live with their parents, not be taken away because of their gender identities and to have their parents informed about gender identity issues

· to know that they are transgendered, even if they decide to conceal their gender identities from adults, and to know that they are not weird, deviant, unacceptable or evil.

· not to be abused, teased or bullied by other children or adults for being transgendered,

· to be supported by all adults working with them in school and other support services,

· to be taught by teachers who understand the nature of gender identity in transgendered children, and to be given the language with which to talk about themselves.

· to be in a school where other pupils have been taught about gender identity and where they can feel safe,

· to wear whatever clothes make them feel comfortable,

· to decide which toilet to use and which clubs or sports teams to join,

· to learn about other people whose gender identities are different from the majority of people,

· to go through puberty in a way which is acceptable to them,

· to be given the same opportunities to succeed in their education as all other children,

· to self-determination, dignity, respect, non-interference, to make informed personal decisions,

· to a voice in any situations where decisions are being made about their future.

Anxiously Watching The 2009 Houston Mayoral Race

Despite being 1000 miles away from home, I am keeping a close eye on the Houston mayoral race. Since mayor Bill White is term limited, that opens up the mayor's chair for a new occupant.

I'm hoping that it will be current city controller and former at large city councilmember Annise Parker.

Thanks to the Net, I've been able to keep up with the latest happenings in the campaign and some of the debates as well.



As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm familiar with Annise thanks to her time as a member of the Houston activist community. I had the pleasure of voting for her for city council three times and believe that she's well qualified to be the next mayor for my hometown.

We're a few weeks from the November 3 election day, but also bear in mind in Texas we do have early voting.

With four major candidates and a few minor ones, it looks like there will probably be a runoff election in December, and the other person in it might be city attorney Gene Locke.

There's also a sense of history to it as well. If Gene Locke gets it, he would become my hometown's second African-American mayor. In Annise's case she would become the second female mayor in Houston history and the first GLBT one of a large US and Texas city.

So I'm checking all the various news station websites back home, Annise's campaign one and nervously watching this potentially historic campaign unfold.

Hopefully I'll get to see in January 2010 Annise being sworn in as the city of Houston's 61st mayor

Vietnam's Miss Angel Pageant -A Vehicle For Change

Like most places in Asia and the Pacific Rim, Vietnam is crazy about beauty pageants.

Since being trans is a worldwide thing and there are transpeople in Vietnam, and some of those transpeople like competing in pageants as well, that means there are popular ones reserved for transpeople and gay men who are female illusionists.

Pham Thu Nga reported on the GLBT pageant phenomenon in Vietnam, and one of the increasingly popular ones is the Miss Angel pageant.

This pageant is getting an increased profile and cachet in Vietnam in just four years despite the fact that it hasn't been approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Performing Arts.

That organization has to approve all live events in Vietnam.

Lam Thi wanted nothing more than to walk the stage at a glamorous beauty contest, but Vietnamese regulations prohibit transwomen from participating in beauty contests with ciswomen. That unfortunately limits her competition options.

So when she heard about Miss Angel. she did everything she could to compete in the 4th annual edition of this pageant and was determined to win it.

But it was more than self-interest that inspired her, she also wanted to bring greater acceptance to the Vietnamese GLBT community.

“Through such contests, I hope society will learn to keep an open mind about gays,” she said.

GLBT pageants are attracting scores of contestants like Lam Thi who say they just want to be considered normal. Though prize winnings are usually low, around US$100-300, most pageant hopefuls spend an average of $600 getting prepared for the events, according to Minh Quan, director of Miss Angel.

Miss Angel was first held in 2005 by The Gioi Thu Ba (The Third World) Ltd. and gay club Bau Troi Xanh (Blue Sky). Contestants, aged 16-24, compete in three rounds that cover evening gown, question and answer about current events and one in which they must demonstrate their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and safe sex, since the pageant's mission is to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

The Miss Angel judges panel consists of make-up artists, psychologists and members of the Ho Chi Minh City’s AIDS Prevention Committee.

Minh Quan, 29-year-old director of The Gioi Thu Ba Ltd. and moderator of thegioithu3. com, which boasts the largest number of members of all gay-themed websites in Vietnam, said he held Vietnam’s first gay beauty contest at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City “just for fun.”

Quan, who has come out publicly about his homosexuality, said a group of about 20 gay men competed in the first competition.

But as support grew through his website, which had 8,000 members by 2006, he decided to organize larger, more highly-publicized competitions.

“Later contests drew a lot of media attention with headlines like ‘Homosexuals vie for beauty queen title,’” Quan said.

“We received a lot of support from the public in the beginning. Many thought it was just a normal event. But, of course, there was strong opposition as well.”

This year’s Miss Angel pageant was held in June and attracted hundreds of contestants from Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces.

But it was 20-year-old Thi’s dream that came true at the 4th Miss Angel pageant.

In an interview with Thanh Nien after being crowned the queen of the contest, the native of the southwestern Tay Ninh province said she'd had breast augmentation surgery and would undergo more complicated sex-related surgery in the near future.

Like beauty queens in any other pageant, the 4th Miss Angel said she would use her position to carry out charity work.

“I will launch an awareness campaign calling on homosexuals to have safe sex to prevent AIDS.”

Minh Quan is now also training contestants for the next Miss Angel Contest as well as the Prince Style for lesbians and drag kings. Quan said his biggest wish was that gay pageants would one day be officially licensed so they can expand and attract larger sponsorships.

Quan added that he wanted to organize a contest for transsexuals next year and said that he longed for the day that the gay community would have the full acceptance of the rest of Vietnamese society.

That's a wish GLBT people all over the world fervently hope will come true as well.