Black Men-Stop Contributing To The Transphobic Disrespecting Of Black Women

I was checking out my Louisville play nephew Jaison Gardiner's Facebook feed when he started a thread discussing Fantasia.

He's a big fan of hers (and Wendy Williams) and asserted during this discussion that Fantasia is one of the most talented winners American Idol has unearthed during its time on the air.

We were debating that proposition when the thread was interrupted by one of his commenters making a crack comparing Fantasia's looks to gospel call and response rapper Kirk Franklin.

Of course, you know I brought the pain on that one. Nephew deleted the comment in question, and I'll have mercy on the guilty by not further embarrassing him.

@name...watch the transphobic crack... our sisters get enough disrespect about their femininity and their looks vis a vis the vanilla flavored beauty standard without Black men, who are supposed to be our swords and shields and defenders, contributing to that disrespect

One of the things that really pisses me off in terms of the disrespect leveled at African-American women is how quickly Black men pile on.

It doesn't matter whether the Black woman in question is 5'2" or 6"2", if she isn't 'feminine enough' in the beholder's eyes, the transphobic comments freely flow from their mouths.

Ask Ciara, the Williams Sisters, writer Kola Boof, Wendy Williams and a distressingly long list of African-American ciswomen how fast the 'that's a man' shade gets deployed against them.

And sadly, the people leading the charge are Black men.

News flash boys, you're disrespecting the mothers of civilization when you do so. You are also breathing air on this planet because you were conceived, carried to term in her womb and given birth to by a Black woman. You better recognize and respect that fact.

I'm compelled to point out the obvious once again to some of y'all that transwoman does not equal 'NFL linebacker in a dress'. Some of my transsisters are stunningly beautiful women.

Beautiful enough that some have walked runways from New York to Milan, competed on America's Next Top Model and gotten high dollar contracts to model in advertising campaigns.

As I stated in the Facebook comment and it bears repeating, Black women take enough crap from society being compared to a vanilla beauty standard that wasn't designed or created with us in mind.

The last people on this planet that need to be joining in on the attacking of Black womanhood, and using transphobic insults to do so is Black men.

'Soul Train' Gets New Ownership-Where The New Shows At?

Must See TV when I was growing up was getting up at 7 AM on Saturday morning to watch my favorite cartoons, then flipping the channel at noon to watch Soul Train.

The hippest trip in America was my peeps version of American Bandstand. It was where me and my friends tuned in to catch up on the latest dances and see my favorite R&B and soul artists.

From 1970 until the 2005-2006 television season we were treated to new episodes and the iconic Soul Train Dancers.

They are so ingrained in African-American culture that In Living Color parodied them during its run.

And what party or African-American wedding did you attend over the last few decades that at one point or another didn't break out at the reception into an impromptu Soul Train line?

There was an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air that showed Vivian and Phil's engagement on an episode of Soul Train and reappearance during their wedding anniversary along with the kids on a Soul Train episode.

Well, that iconic slice of my youth has new owners. Show creator and long time host Don Cornelius sold the show in June 2008 to a Los Angeles based production company called MadVision Entertainment.

MadVision's plan at the time was to open up the show’s archives for older consumers as well as to create a new version of the program for younger ones.

“The series has never been shown on DVD, and it’s not been utilized on video-on-demand or mobile or Internet platforms,” Peter Griffith, a co-founder of MadVision, said. “There are many opportunities that we are exploring.

While the new Soul Train shows haven't materialized yet in the two years since the deal, it does have a website.

Could there be new episodes of Soul Train on the horizon? I certainly hope so.

WPATH Response To DSM V Revisions

Transpeople around the world have rightfully been concerned about the ongoing DSM V revisions.

The concern has been heightened about what shape those revisions would take thanks to two enemies of the trans community with specious theories about us being placed on that panel.

WPATH, The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, formerly known as HBIGDA, put together a committee to review some of the stuff the DSM V working group came up with.

You can check it out by following this link.


WPATH Press Statement issued May 26.

The WPATH Board of Directors strongly urges the de-psychopathologization of gender variance worldwide. The expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally-diverse human phenomenon which should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative.

The psychopathologlization of gender characteristics and identities reinforces or can prompt stigma, making prejudice and discrimination more likely, rendering transgender and transsexual people more vulnerable to social and legal marginalization and exclusion, and increasing risks to mental and physical well-being. WPATH urges governmental and medical professional organizations to review their policies and practices to eliminate stigma toward gender-variant people.”

Loving Myself More

While checking my Facebook comments earlier today, I was struck by this one from my sis Laverne Cox. She said, 'Today I am going to work on loving myself more'.

With all the shame and guilt thrown at us along with the disapproval from many of the societal institutions arrayed against us, it is a challenge at times to be the women we know we are, even with someone who looks as good as her.

When you toss in the fact that African-American women are far too often considered vis a vis the vanilla flavored beauty standard as the 'unwoman', it is even more of an uphill climb for African descended transwomen to maintain a healthy self esteem and self image.

We African descended transwomen not only have to battle the ugliness that the world hurls at us and Black ciswomen in general, but also have to deal with elements of our own families and our community taking self esteem shattering potshots at us as well.

As an old African-American saying goes, 'Nobody will think you're somebody, if you don't think so yourself.'

So yes, it's important for me and every African descended trans woman to not only think we're somebody, but stand tall, proud and know we ARE somebody as well.

We must consistently work on loving myself more. We have to do a better job of sharing and spreading that love amongst our African descended transsisters as well.

If you're fortunate enough to have a loyal cis African descended sister as a friend, bring her into the love loop as well.

Because if we don't do so on a regular basis and show love and respect for our chocolate transsisters, who will?

Another PR Transwoman Found Dead

Seems like I just posted about Ashley Santiago being killed in her home a month ago.

Now comes word that Puerto Rican police are investigating another murder involving a transwoman who was reported as last being seen alive on May 20.

38 year old Angie González Oquendo, was found strangled to death with an electrical cord in her Caguas, PR home on May 24.

Carlos H. Cruz Burgos, director of the Caguas’ Criminal Investigation Corps, told El Nuevo Día he believes González was killed later that day.

Police discovered González’s body after reports from neighbors about a foul odor coming from her home. Investigators told Nuevo Día they continue to treat the case as either a hate crime or a case of domestic violence.

González’s father told Primera Hora he suspects his daughter’s boyfriend killed her.

Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force told the same newspaper he thinks local authorities should continue on the hate crime investigation track.

"At the very least, I suspect that a crime could have been committed by prejudice against the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity," he said. "The authorities have an obligation under the law to investigate this hate angle."

And bring Angie, Michell Galindo's and Ashley Santiago's killers to justice.

Speaking of Ashley Santiago, according to Primero Hora her alleged killer Antonio Márquez recently turned himself in to authorities and confessed to her murder.

Hallelujah, Marquez is now awaiting prosecution for killing Santiago.

At any rate, the way transpeople are being killed this year, looks like we are going to be reading a long list of Latina, African-American and other POC names when it's time for our TDOR 2010 remembrances in November.

DART Board Votes Down Trans Protections

You may recall me posting in March about a situation in which a transwoman employed as a DART bus driver for 20 years had not only been discriminated against, but for some reason DART attorneys contested her name change order and reversed it.

The hits just keep on coming from DART.

Thanks to the Instant Tea blog of the Dallas Voice, was made aware of the DART Board of Directors meeting that took place last night.

The board voted 6-5 against adding trans protections to the agency’s nondiscrimination policy, according to Rafael McDonnell, a spokesman for Resource Center Dallas who attended the meeting.

McDonnell reported that the DART board, acting as the committee of the whole, initially voted 6-5 to approve the proposal to add gender identity to DART’s nondiscrimination policy.

But then one board member, Pamela Dunlop Gates of Dallas, switched her vote and asked DART attorneys to clarify definitions for “gender identity” and “genetic information,” another proposed addition to the policy.

McDonnell said Tuesday’s vote means the proposal must come back to the committee of the whole in June, after the attorneys come up with definitions.

If approved by the committee of the whole, the proposal would then go to the regular DART board at a later date. McDonnell said a DART staff member characterized Tuesday’s negative vote to him as a “speed bump” or “a hiccup.”

“It doesn’t mean that it’s dead,” McDonnell said. “I wouldn’t even say that it means it’s on life support. It means it’s taking a little longer to go through the process process. I’m disappointed in that. I got up and told the board members, ‘I respect the fact that you have questions, here’s my phone number.’”

McDonnell also encouraged people in the LGBT community to get involved.

“We anticipated there would be some no votes,” he said. “I think if you live in the DART service area, you need to be contacting your representative on the DART board and urge them to vote for it.”

Alright TBLG peeps in Dallas and the DART service area, Rafael McDonnell is on the money here. Time for you to get busy being the agents of your own liberation.

Here's the phone number for the DART administrative office. 214-749-3278.

Here's the list of the DART board members and the cities they represent

And when you call, don't be nekulturny like the teabaggers and the Religious Reich, be respectful.

Yes, even to Pamela Dunlop Gates.

Face And Figure ATL Battle

Been a while since I posted some ballroom community video. Hey, they are my sisters, too!

This video is from the September 2008 Chanel Ball conducted in Atlanta. As I continue to find interesting video from the ballroom community, I'll post it on TransGriot

Enjoy.

KFA Supports ENDA

TransGriot Note: One of my former colleagues in Da Ville, Nick Wilkerson, wrote this letter that was published in Sunday's Courier-Journal.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, (H.R. 3017) would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This is hardly a radical notion since already 40 percent of the U.S. population is protected from such discrimination by virtue of laws in 12 states and over 100 localities. Over a million Kentuckians are protected through local ordinances in Covington, Lexington and Louisville, thanks to the combined efforts of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, our allies (such as the Fairness Campaign) and fair-minded individuals.

However, federal legislation is still needed since those Americans who are most vulnerable to discrimination tend to reside in the states, cities and rural areas that have not enacted such laws. We have certainly found that to be true here in Kentucky. Without such protection, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers can be fired without recourse simply for who they are.

ENDA addresses many objections by exempting the armed forces, religious institutions and employers with fewer than 15 employees.

Kentuckians have consistently demonstrated that they believe in fairness. As long ago as 1999, a survey by Decision Research found that nearly 73 percent of all Kentuckians believed that this type of employment discrimination was wrong. Once again, Kentuckians demonstrated that they are "ahead" of most of their legislators in their respect for basic human rights.

ENDA currently has 202 co-sponsors in the U.S. House, including Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville. While this is a great indication of widespread support, ENDA currently is stuck in the House Education and Labor Committee.

All fair-minded Kentuckians in the 3rd District need to contact Yarmuth to thank him for his support of ENDA. Also, please urge him to add his voice to those in Congress requesting the leadership of the House to bring ENDA to a vote prior to the Memorial Day recess. Please let your voices in support of ENDA be heard now.

To learn more about ENDA, visit www.kentuckyfairness.org.

NICK WILKERSON
Board Member
Kentucky Fairness Alliance

So Far, So Good In Paris

The 2010 edition of the French Open so far has gotten off to a great start for my fave tennis playing sisters.

Serena had to work a little in her 7-6, 6-2 opening round match against Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland. She won the first set in a 7-2 tiebreaker before getting it in gear and rolling to a straight set victory.

Big Sis had an easier time and did so in a self-designed black corset inspired tennis outfit that's getting more worldwide attention and discussion around the globe than the 6-3, 6-3 straight set beatdown she dished out to Patty Schnyder of Switzerland.

The best thing about that match was that Venus' knees weren't wrapped in miles of tape and she showed no signs off the leg problems that plagued her last season.

She was in a more conventionally dressed outfit in her and Little Sis' opening round doubles match with Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium and Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.

They rolled Flipkens and Tanasugarn in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 to secure their place in the doubles tournament second round.

Number one seeded Serena takes on Julia Georges of Germany in the second round, while Number two seeded Venus takes on Spain's Arantxa Perra Santonia.

Their next doubles match has the number one doubles seeds taking on the Czech Republic's Daniela Hantchuova and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

Happy Birthday Pam 'Foxy' Grier

Today is Pamela Suzette Grier's birthday, and I have much love for her as one of my beauty icons.

I'll also be celebrating Pam's birthday by picking up a copy of her autobiography 'Foxy' assuming it's available in my friendly neighborhood bookstore.

Pam is still doing her thing acting and hopefully will do a book tour so I can get her autograph.

Don't Get Mad At The Messenger-Get Mad At The Injustice

'The answer to injustice is not to silence the critic, but to end the injustice.' Paul Robeson July 8, 1965

Obviously there's a lot of peeps who haven't read that Robeson quote, and many of them are in our TBLG subset of society.

I have seen far too many instances in our community in which someone raises questions about or critiques an issue, and they get viciously attacked.

It's happened to Jasmyne Cannick (and still does) thanks to her LA Times post Prop 8 op-ed, her outspoken criticism of Shirley Q. Liquor's minstrel show and being unapologetically Black.

My Project writing mate Yasmin Nair experienced it because she questioned the gay community groupthink on marriage equality being the primary organizing principle for obtaining rights coverage despite its now 0-34 record at the ballot box.

Ashley Love was attacked for leading the protests concerning the TOTWK movie and pointing out how gay men repeatedly led the charge in erasing, misrepresenting, negatively stereotyping, dehumanizing, and attacking our images.

Lord knows I've had the wrath of the GL community come down on me for calling out the post Prop 8 racism in the gay community among other subjects.

But don't get mad at the messenger for having the courage to speak out about an unpopular subject. It's time to get mad at the injustice the messenger is bringing to your attention, and deal with it.

Screwed By You

TransGriot Note: as the clock ticks down to the weekly broken promised ENDA vote we suspect ain't gonna happen because it's an election year, we get more frustrated as our trans cousins in Canada may be on the verge of getting comprehensive coverage in their nation's civil rights laws.

So yeah, time for another song rewrite. Fire up the iPod's and sing along with Moni's fresh new lyrics.

Screwed By You
Sung to the tune of 'Looking For You' by Kirk Franklin



For all the trans people in the struggle
If you think Congress has forgotten about you
It's an election year, you betcha
Let's go

Ain't got no car
Ain't got no house
Ain't got no job
So sorry, boo

Come one

I've been down so long,
I've been hurting so long,
With ENDA's passage we thought transpeeps would catch a break today
It was hard to see, delayed rights for me
I couldn't believe it would last always
But night after night, (Night after night, Night after night)
I pray Lord for the trans community
Then late at night I read in the blogging letters it's not gonna get better

(Chorus)
Don't cha know that
I'm tired of being screwed by you
Full civil rights nothing else will satisfy me
I need ENDA passed now, boo
If we work for change no one can take rights away from you

Life ain't so good to us
We had a mighty long wait
Pass ENDA now, boo
Come on

All my enemies, came at once for me
And some of them are peeps that we considered as our friends
All the while we knew
We had trans sellouts, too
We're no closer to trans rights than when we first began
HRC you are, (HRC you are, HRC you are)
You're not the civil rights org you claim to be
Wherever you are
I'll be picketing near you
NCTE screw you, too

(Chorus 2x)
Don't cha know that
I'm tired of being screwed by you
Full civil rights nothing else will satisfy me
I need ENDA passed now, boo
If we work for change no one can take rights away from you

Don't cha know that
I'm tired of being screwed by you
Full civil rights nothing else will satisfy me
I need ENDA passed now, boo
If we work for change no one can take rights away from you

Here we go now
Here we go now
Don't stop now
In the front now
Not the back now
Don't stop now
Here we go now
Let's lobby now
Ladies

Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh
That's for our struggle
Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh
That's for our pain
Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh
That's for unemployed trans people
Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh
Come on and sing it with us y'all

HRC you are, (HRC you are, HRC you are)
You're not the civil rights org you claim to be
Wherever you are
I'll be picketing near you
NCTE screw you, too


[Chorus 2x]
Don't cha know that
I'm tired of being screwed by you
Full civil rights nothing else will satisfy me
I need ENDA passed now, boo
If we work for change no one can take rights away from you

Don't cha know that
I'm tired of being screwed by you
Full civil rights nothing else will satisfy me
I need ENDA passed now, boo
If we work for change no one can take rights away from you

Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh (oh,oh,o)
Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh (oh,oh,o)
Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh (oh,oh,o)
Oh,oh Oh,oh,oh (oh,oh,o)

2010 French Open

New year at Stade Roland Garros, same old question as to whether the Williams sisters will break their string of bad luck at this tournament and win it.

It's time for the 2010 French Open, the tennis world's second major tournament. It starts today and runs through June 8.

My favorite tennis playing siblings, unlike their dominance at 'Williams'-don, have combined to win this Grand Slam event only once, with Serena knocking off Venus to take the 2002 French Open title.

In doubles their title drought is even longer, with their only title on the red clay coming in 1999.

To make their singles quest a little tougher, unretired three time champ Justine Henin is back and holds a 21 match win streak here. She is also in Serena's half of the bracket.

Little Sis was seeded Number 1 for Friday's women's draw while Big Sis was seeded Number 2. If both of them manage to survive their fortnight in Paris, they would face each other in the finals.

So will Serena finally break through, win the French Open and position herself to capture a Grand Slam? Will Big Sis win her first French Open singles title?

Or will the Williams sisters buzzard's luck in Paris continue?

Good luck ladies!

The Propaganda We'll Teach Y'all

TransGriot Note: It's song rewrite time. I'm so disgusted over the TX State Board of Education's 'Conservatism Uber Education' whitewashing of social studies curriculum that when I heard this song while flipping through various radio stations, another rewrite was born.

So fire up the iPod and sing to the remixed lyrics.



The Propaganda We'll Teach Y'all
sung to the tune of 'Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 by Pink Floyd

We need right wing education
We need conservative thought control
No Black or Brown history in Texas classrooms
Liberals leave them kids alone
Hey! Liberals! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just the propaganda we'll teach y'all.
All in all it's just the propaganda we'll teach y'all.

We need right wing education
We need conservative thought control
No Black or Brown history in Texas classrooms
Liberals leave them kids alone
Hey! Liberals! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just the propaganda we'll teach y'all.
All in all it's just the propaganda we'll teach y'all.

"Wrong, say it again!"
"If you don't learn this, you won't vote Republican.
How can you love Texas if what we teach you don't repeat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the protest sign, stand still liberal!"

Statements From The White House and State Department On Malawi Couple

TransGriot Note: Statements from the White House and the State Department about the sentencing of the Malawian couple to 14 years hard labor for being in love.

Note that the White House and State Department get the identity component right, but some of our gay allies can't.

From the White House:

Statement by the Press Secretary on Court Ruling in Malawi

The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi. We urge Malawi and all countries to stop using sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for arrest, detention, or execution.

From the State Department:

U.S. Appalled by Sentencing of Couple in Malawi
*
Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs Washington, DC
May 20, 2010

***

The United States is appalled by the conviction and sentencing of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza to 14 years in jail with hard labor under Malawian law for violating Malawi Penal Code Chapter 15, Section 153 and 156, under which they had been charged with “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” and “gross indecency.” The conviction and sentencing are a significant step backward for the Government of Malawi’s human rights record. Malawi must abide by its human rights obligations.

We view the criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity and sentencing to 14 years hard labor as a deeply troubling violation of human rights. Decriminalization of homosexuality is integral to the continued protection of universal human rights in Malawi. It is also crucial to the urgent need to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS – a fight in which the United States is closely allied with the Malawian people.

We remain disturbed by harassment, persecution, and exclusion based on sexual orientation or gender identity wherever it occurs. The State Department will continue to stand against any efforts to marginalize, criminalize, and penalize members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-gender community worldwide. We urge Malawi and all countries with similar laws to take the necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalites, in particular arrests, detentions, or executions.

The Texas Education Massacre

There are probably those of you who read this blog and wonder or even possibly get sick of me railing about voting.

I will consistently say it until I'm placed six feet below my beloved Texas soil that it matters that you vote in every election cycle.

It is never a option for a minority group to sit out an election. You must pay attention to every race on the ballot as well, not just the big congressional, state legislative, city and presidential races.

This week's disgusting shenanigans in Austin are a prime example why I continue to rant about how important elections are.

The Texas State Board of Education had a contentious meeting in our state capital of Austin concerning the once a decade overhaul of the Texas public school social studies curriculum standards.

The hearing rooms were not only been packed with parents and educators who don't want conservadoctrine shoved down their kids throats, the protests outside the building have been just as lively. It also brought the leaders of the NAACP and LULAC to speak before the board as well.



While I have one of my high school classmates representing us on the SBOE in Lawrence Allen, Jr., unfortunately he, Mavis Knight of Dallas, Mary Helen Berlanga, Rene Nunez, and Rick Agosto are outgunned by a 10-5 all white Republican majority.

To make it even more unfortunate, five of the Republicans have a far right wing agenda that has nothing to do with promoting the education of 4.7 million Texas schoolchildren, but everything to do with conservative indoctrination of them. Many of that 'Gang of Five' aren't even educators.

It was a point that Republican Rod Paige, the former U.S. Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush, made when he ripped the new curriculum on Wednesday.

"We have allowed ideology to drive and define the standards of our curriculum in Texas."

The 'Gang of Five' have ignored education experts in cramming through a curriculum that is a naked attempt to whitewash minorities out of history.

They want to commit crimes against history such as excising Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, rename the triangular slave trade 'the Atlantic trade', downplay the Civil Rights Movement, the existence and history of Latinos and women's suffrage moments while elevating Phyllis Schafly and the rise of conservatism.

“We might as well say Hispanics don’t exist,” said board member Mary Helen Berlanga (D). “We have hidden information, we have tried to cover up a lot of information. I guess there are people that have a difficult time with the truth.”

"I feel that I have let down the students in our state.”

Fortunately there are educators and other persons in the Lone Star State pissed off enough to where they decided to run for the SBOE and unseat the 'Gang of Five'. Don McLeroy, the most outspoken conservafool on the SBOE has already gone down to defeat to a more moderate person in the March GOP primary.

The various Democratic SBOE candidates have already pledged they will revisit the issue should they be successful in the upcoming November elections in getting on the board.

The misguided standards will be effective for the 2013-2014 school year. If you're a parent of a Black or Brown child, better plan on teaching your child a lot of Black and Latino history this summer and throughout the school year to counteract the conservalies they'll be fed.

The partisan hijinks have gotten the attention of state legislators, who may move to rein in the power of the SBOE when the Lege opens for 'bidness' in January 2011.

"They have ignored historians and teachers, allowing ideological activists to push the culture war further into our classrooms." said Rep. Mike Villareal, (D-San Antonio) "They fail to understand that we don't want liberal textbooks or conservative textbooks. We want excellent textbooks, written by historians instead of activists."

May I add, Rep. Villareal, we Texas of all ideological stripes want historically accurate textbooks as well.

Malawian 'Gay' Couple Isn't A 'Gay' Couple

I'd been hearing much about the Malawian couple that has been sentenced to 14 years hard labor for their relationship.

I'd been asked why I haven't commented on it yet, and one of the reasons was that I wanted more information on the issue before I do so. There are times I'd rather get it right than posting it 'right now'. My intuition was also telling me there was more to this story than the first sensational headlines warranted.

Well, thanks to South Africa's Gender DynamiX and Pinay TG, I have another interesting piece to tell you about.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga, one of the people involved, identifies as trans.

Peep the press release:

Today activists the world over protested the conviction of two gay men in Malawi. Even though activists from many different political persuasions joined hands in a protest in Cape Town today, local transgender activists are highlighting the fact that Tiwonge Chimbalanga clearly expresses a female identity.

According to Ian Swartz from OSISA (Open Society Institute of Southern Africa) Tiwonge Chimbalanga sees herself as a woman. “Tiwonge so clearly identifies as a woman and she has expressed her identity as such more often than not. I think if she knew the word Transgender she would come home to a world of understanding of herself” he said recently after visiting the couple in prison.

A local activist who calls her “Aunty Tiwo” visited her too and to him she said: “I am just a woman who loves my man. I’d rather remain in prison than to be released into a world where I am kept away from Steven”

“Advocating for Transgender people’s rights in most African countries is problematic for us” says Robert Hamblin advocacy manager for SA Transgender organization Gender DynamiX. “Gender variant identities are not acknowledged and just about any sexual minority is called gay or homosexual. This is because a person is assigned a gender based on their genitals, despite how they self identify.”

Gender DynamiX stood together with other activists today in a protest called by Social Justice Coalition (SJC). SJC was joined by LGBTI organizations protesting the conviction of these two people. The group of activists urged the SA government to negotiate the release of the couple and to offer them asylum in South Africa. The group also demanded that the SA government end the continued silence about human rights abuses against sexual minorities on the rest of the continent.

Gender DynamiX condemns the conviction of Steven Mongeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga. We call on the South African government, as the only state in Africa to recognize equality for sexual minorities, to uphold the South African constitution by offering asylum to the couple.

“Even though the identities of Tiwonge and Steven are misunderstood by the world we stand together with gay and lesbian activists in their work to try and get justice for our trans sister and her partner.” Says Tebogo Nkoana outreach officer at Gender DynamiX.

Robert Hamblin: roberth@genderdynamix.org.za

Senators Franken And Gillibrand Introduce Anti-TBLG Bullying Act

I mentioned that one of the three openly gay members of the House, Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced HR 4530, the Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2010 back in January.

Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have introduced the Senate version of the legislation aimed at combating anti-LGBT bullying in public schools.

The bill, known as the Student Non-Discrimination Act, currently has 21 Senate cosponsors and "would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity," according to a press release from Sen. Gillibrand's office. "It would forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior."

Penalties for public schools that fail to address anti-gay bullying could include loss of federal funding and legal recourse for students who have suffered discrimination.

Sen. Franken indicated last month that he would introduce an anti-bullying bill when he criticized current laws during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing.

“There’s something very specific that has been on my mind ... LGBT youth being bullied,” Franken told a panel of education experts in the April hearing. “Right now we have laws that prohibit bullying based on pretty much everything, but not on gender identity and gay and lesbian kids. And the evidence is that gay kids are bullied a lot and that their achievement goes down. There’s a lot of absenteeism and even suicide.”

Shut Up Fool! Awards-Mr. T Birthday Edition

Today is the 58th birthday for our SUF mascot and all around tough guy.

So n honor of his birthday, I'm going to cut out the jibber jabber and get right to who our Shut Up Fool Award winner is this week.

It was close between singer Chris Brown and Teabagger Rand Paul....but I have to give the nod to Rand for two stupid moments.

First was his comments against the Americans with Disabilities Act which BTW was signed by George HW Bush.



Less than 24 hours later on the Rachel Maddow Show, his born in 1963 azz was griping about the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rand Paul is a prime example of why I can't stand Libertarians and regard them as little more than Republicans who are ashamed to take on the GOP label.

Let me just say it now....Rand Paul, shut the HELL up fool!

I Pity The Fool Who Ain't Singing Happy Birthday To Mr. T

Time for y'all to cut out the jibber jabber and start singing happy birthday to our Shut Up Fool! Awards mascot, who was born in Chicago on this date in 1952.