Alexandra Billings-It Gets Better

TransGriot Note  Actress Alexandra Billings talks about her experiences being bullied as a child and explaining how life got better for her.

Shelcy Sanchez-First Colombian Trans Candidate

Back on January 26 Shelcy Sanchez launched a historic campaign for the Colombian Congress.  She made history by becoming the first trans person in the country to run for political office.

Sanchez transitioned at age 16 and is vocal in her support of gay and transgender rights in Colombia.  She registered her candidacy for the Colombian House of Representatives in her home department of Valle del Cauca.

"My aspiration is born from a conviction and a necessity: to show that we can achieve a destiny away from living in the closet and seeing ourselves forced into prostitution. However, those that are obliged to work in the sex industry should enjoy dignified working conditions ... with access to social security and the healthcare system," said Sanchez.

Sanchez  produces the country's only GLBT radio station and was vice president to the Fundacion Transmujer, which supports the rights of trans Colombians.

Her political candidacy reportedly had the support of over 25,000 members of the Colombian GLBT community.   Sanchez did have her detractors and faced death threats from people who didn't want to see her make history.

If she was successful, she would become the third transperson worldwide elected to their national legislative body after New Zealand's Georgina Beyer and Italy's.Vladimir Luxuria  

She would also hold the distinction of being the first in Latin America, the first in South America and the first in the Western Hemisphere to do so. 


The election was held March 14, and have been unable as of yet to determine if her candidacy was a success.

If she did, I'll definitely let you know if Shelcy made history.

Introducing Pamela Hayes

If it's one thing I've not been shocked or surprised by, it's the wealth of talented people that comprise the African descended trans community.

One of those persons is author Pamela Hayes.   She is the author of four novels.  The Other Women: A Story Of Three Transsexuals, The Lie, Sex And the Single Transsexual, and Shattered Dreams: An African American Family Story.

Pamela's books not only have trans characters in them, they are available online.   From time to time you'll see her insightful commentary pop up in various places on the Web and here at TransGriot.

Pam is also one of our sisters who transitioned in her teens.  She is a proud happily married transwoman of African descent who protects her privacy, and has a lot of wisdom and insights to offer the community..      

With the rise in TBLG suicides and bullying, our kids need to know about trans people like her that you don't hear much about but who are living successful lives.

Pamela Hayes is someone who definitely fits that description, and I'm looking forward to seeing her next novel whenever it comes out .