Karma And Election Consequences At Work In New Hampshire?

Remember in 2008 when to great fanfare a same gender marriage bill passed in New Hampshire while a trans rights bill that was up at the same time in the Granite State barely passed in the New Hampshire House thanks to the efforts of then Speaker of the House Terie Norelli (D) and was shot down 24-0 in a female leadership dominated Senate?

Fast forward three years because the karmic wheel may be turning in this case. 

In the November 2010 midterm elections the New Hampshire House flipped from a 216-174 Democratic advantage to a 298-102 Republican controlled chamber. The results were just as devastating in the New Hampshire Senate as it moved from a 14-10 Democratic majority to a 19-5 Republican one..

An effort is underway in the GOP dominated New Hampshire House to repeal the marriage equality law and replace it with civil unions despite polling showing that 62% of people in the state oppose those efforts.   HB 437 originally banned same gender marriages and civil unions but was amended by a 3-1 vote on September 14 to allow civil unions for gay and heterosexual couples.

The Judiciary Committee meets tomorrow to consider a subcommittee recommendation that they repeal the same gender marriage law that took effect last year. 

The amended HB 437 should it get out of committee tomorrow won't be voted on by the full New Hampshire House until the new legislative session convenes starting on January 4, 2012.

People who were married in New Hampshire won't have their marriages revoked, but should HB 437 take effect marriage would only be allowed for a man and a woman. 

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch is a Democrat, so if it does pass the House and Senate, it'll be up to him to veto or sign it.   If he does veto it, the GOP might have enough votes to override it and make it law.   

Elections have consequences people, and the sooner that people learn that lesson on the liberal-progressive side, the better.  Not voting is NEVER an option if you wish to not only have progresive change in society, but keep it.

2011 Texans Watch-Aww Yeah 41-7!

What a difference a week makes.   Last week I was griping on these electronic pages about how bad my local NFL squad stunk up the joint in Baltimore and was wondering which Texans team would show up in Nashville to play the Tennessee Traitors (oops Titans).

The Texans team that showed up in liberty white jerseys and showed out was one that rolled up 518 yards of total offense and held the Titans to 148 yards of offense.  

They had Matt Schaub throw for 296 yards and two touchdowns, had two 100 yard rushers in Ben Tate and Arian Foster, held the ball for 38 minutes, had a 27-0 lead at halftime and the defense pick off two passes with one being a pick six.   This Texans team also rolled up the largest margin of victory in the history of the franchise to cap off a 41-7 rout and capture first place in the AFC South in the process.

Arian Foster in addition to rushing for 115 years had 119 receiving yards courtesy of a second quarter 78 yard TD pass reception from Schaub.   He became the first Texan player to have 100 yards receiving and rushing in the same game. It was also the second time in three years the Texans have beaten the Traitors at LP Field.       

There were a lot of Texans firsts and I have to give them some love for their exemplary play in this game.  It was also a very satisfying for Texan fans gridiron beatdown of one of the NFL squads we love to hate.

Take a bow Texans, pop your collars and enjoy this victory that moves you to 4-3 for the season and snaps a two game losing streak. 

Now if y'all can just keep up the momentum from the successful conclusion of this pigskin business trip by winning at Reliant Stadium this coming Sunday against Jacksonville.

Jovanie Saldana Update

I talked about Philly's Jovanie Saldana, who has not only found herself locked up for over a year on $15,000 bail while awaiting trial for an aggravated assault and other charges, she found herself being transferred to a male prison unit from the female one she'd been housed in.

Jovanie has been transitioning since age 12 and it was discovered she was a pre-operative trans person in the wake of her filing charges against a guard for an alleged sexual assault.

I discovered that the corrections officer in question was cleared of the charges (surprise, surprise) and a cis female prisoner housed with Jovanie for five weeks is now suing the city of Philadelphia for 'violating her privacy'.  

According to this Tara Murtha story in the Philly Now blog,  the Philadelphia prison system has a policy that addresses transgender inmates beyond sorting by genitalia only.  Policy 3.E.7. states that “the classification of transgender inmates, or inmates who are “intersex,” will be determined by the Classification Unit in partnership with the medical and behavioral heath services providers.” After evaluation, transgender inmates are classified as either confirmed (wherein the transgender status of the inmate is supported by legal and/or clinical documentation, regardless of sexual anatomy) or unsubstantiated.

Jovanie was classified as 'unsubstantiated' and is now in isolation in that male dominated facility with her trial scheduled to start on Halloween (no joke) after being postponed six times since February 2011

Stay tuned, will keep you posted with any further updates on this one.

First Day For Early Voting In 2011 Houston Municipal Elections

If you live in the Houston area, today is the first day that you can vote in the 2011 Houston city elections.  The early voting period will last until November 4, and election day will be on November 8. 

So after you take yourself to the polls, take a friend or group of friends with you or y'all go together.   If you're part of the rainbow community or an ally and want to know who the candidates are who support our human rights issues are that earned our support, here are the list of candidates who earned the endorsement of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus.

And yes, I definitely don't want you peeps to forget that one of those caucus endorsed candidates is transwoman Jenifer Rene Pool who is trying to make electoral history in H-town.

And oh yeah, Mayor Annise Parker is trying to get a second term .

We also need to support the HISD board members who are up for reelection who voted for us and the inclusive policies back in August.

And no, it's not too late to drop a few dollars in their campaign coffers or volunteer if you feel inclined to do so, but what they need more than anything else besides those two things is your vote.

TransGriot Ten Questions Interview- Isis King

She's undeniably the most well known African-American transwoman on the planet, so how do you come up with ten questions to ask Isis King that haven't been asked by hundreds of other media people before my humble blog attempts to do so?   

As you TransGriot readers know I have had much love and admiration for my multi talented baby sis since I first saw her appear during Cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model and the recent ANTM All Stars show.  

She has evolved to become an eloquent speaker on trans issues and a beloved representative for my section of the trans community in addition to being a talented fashion designer and actress. 

But it's time to ask this Maryland native and New York resident the TransGriot's Ten Questions

1- I wrote in my open letter to you back on September 25, 2008 that you will eventually get to the point in which you feel as strong, sexy, beautiful and confident as the Egyptian queen you chose to name yourself after. This America's Next Top Model experience will only help speed that inevitable day along.   How close are you to fulfilling that part of what I wrote in that TransGriot open letter?  

IK-I am so close I could taste it! LOL literally, I have developed so much in a quick time and yes I believe that doing it publicly on television was the main reason for the rapid "evolution". I believe that the last major thing on my list is getting my teeth fixed. Sounds simple, but I'm someone who has so much to do include help my family out back home, and I'm no rich girl.....so, could never do it yet. So once my lifelong battle with not having perfect teeth is over I will feel like a complete Goddess!

2-What was the tipping point moment that finally motivated you to transition? 
IK-The tipping point was when I finally got the strength to leave my very abusive ex lover who I was living with during some of my college life in  Philadelphia I knew that it was what I wanted to do but he verbally, and mentally put me down so much that I put it off. I had to pack up and leave mid night when he wasn't home one night with the help of my mom as the only resort to saving my life in the long run. I spent the summer of 2006 in domestic abuse counseling and surprising enough the counselor helped me develop some inner strength I didn't know I had. Although her specialty was in abuse and not transgenderism she taught me to never let another being dictate who I was, or what I could do. I told her thank you and now I'm going to move to New York and transition!


3-Who were some of your role models when you began your transition?

IK-Plain and simple my mom has always been my role model, her strength is unparalleled to any other person I have ever seen. I knew since I was a small kid I wanted to grow up and be just like my mommy! I had no transgender role models because I knew of non, and most of the transgender women I met in New York were escorts, did drugs, or both, and although I couldn't judge others, I just couldn't relate nor did I want to try.


4-What is the experience like being considered an international trans role model for an African American trans community that up until this point in time has had precious few of them?   

IK-It's a title I take, I didn't have any so it's an honor for me to feel like others look up to me. It is also a lot of stress because I'm just trying to be me, not a cooker cutter perfect person who don't make mistakes. But with hope and a dream, I hope that people see my story and say wow I can make it too!


5-What are some of the current projects you are working on that are near and dear to your heart?

IK-My most exciting project is Hello Forever. Its a full-length film that will be shot in the Philippines late November-December of this year about friendship, love, life, and a secret between four girlfriends.


6-What is your impression of how African-American transwomen are perceived by society and do you think that your visibility and the visibility of other out African American transpeople has helped to dispel some myths about us?

IK-It's something about the term 'out' that just don't click with me. I feel that term refers to the Lesbian, and Gay population since I'm not outing a sexuality. Sorry just wanted to clear that up. To be honest I think there are not enough positive women of transgender experience in the media to help change the image but one day at a time. To be frank I think that transwomen in general (at least what I have analyzed) are perceived as sinful prostitution whores and/or freaks of nature with no morals. In the black community I feel this is even more evident. I believe that I and others have helped some of those myths one house hold at a time.


7- If you were mentoring a young transperson, what advice would you have for them? 

IK-This is something that I love doing and the whole point is to help them realize that they are worth it no matter what others might say or do, and to never walk away from their dreams.

8- When you get some 'me time', what do you like to do during that downtime?   

IK-I love going to the movies! I love spending time with loved ones, I am more of a homebody so spend time in my apartment where it's just me and I have a peace of mind. Designing stuff is also something I like to do. Other then that traveling, but I always try to book an appearance every when I travel to so that's still work  LOL.


9- You have the opportunity to host five people at a dinner party living and deceased.  Who would those five people be and why? 

IK-I would invite to dinner:
A.) Beyonce- to give me tips on being the best entertainer I could possibly be in life.
B.) Donatella Versace- to give me tips on being the best fashion designer I could be.
C.) Oprah- just to rub some of her wisdom off on me, and give me tips of being the best mogul I could be.
D.) Halle Berry- to give me acting tips, maybe go through a few skits and get her feedback for improvement (Oprah would be right there giving feedback also) LOL
E.) Ellen- because I feel we would keep everyone laughing and have fun (and I would learn how to fuse comedy with hosting more since its what I love to do)


10- Where do you see the African-American trans community in the next ten years? 

IK-Hopefully free, educated, out of shelters because their families accept them more. Healthy and focused, and more of the population not believing they have to settle for selling their bodies because it's the only way they could survive. More jobs available for the trans community, and employees more tolerant of the ones they work with. I see progression! Hey, maybe I see me as the president  LOL.

Thank you, Isis for your time and hope you TransGriot readers enjoyed this Ten Questions  interview.