A Disturbing Indication of Continued Racism in the United States

Guest post from Cheryl Courtney-Evans of the abitchforjustice blog

I realize that this topic isn't what one would call a "transgender issue", but as a transgender community we don't live 'in a bubble', so issues that affect the overall societal condition affect us as well. Often times we find ourselves at the intersections of multiple obstacles (gender, orientation, AND race) to a prosperous existence...

With that said, I was disturbed and angered to come across (via a "share" on facebook) an article in a "Little Green Footballs" posting about the "deluge" of hate and racism expressed by viewers/readers of a FOX article on the death of Whitney Houston. There was repeated use of the "n" word in reference to her and all African Americans, as well as "monkey" and expressions of ill will for Obama. It was a sickening display of complete hate and disgusting racism without apparent end, from various people (as opposed to one long rant from one person). The author of the Little Green Footballs piece reported that there were many more than the ones he shared, he just couldn't stomach sharing any more than he had.

It made me think about how so many folks, most notably Republican public figures, continue to claim there is no "race problem" in the United States (even as they practice race-bating in their campaigns [Newt Gingrich & Rick Santorum]), and accuse those who point it out as "pulling the race card", and fight to suppress voting rights that we know will greatly affect the ability of African Americans that would vote in the 2012 elections, to vote.

It's also telling that such a large number of respondents to FOX's piece would post such comments, and FOX is the staunchest supporter of the Republican agenda; it would indicate that FOX's audience is basically a hating, racist bunch, which says something about FOX, that it would attract such a crew.

As we watch the 2012 election approach, I hope my readers will think about this "connection of the dots"....how the most popular of these FOX-supported Republican candidates are the ones that "out-conservative" ('conservative' is their word for it, lol) their opponents in order to attract the 'far right' [Tea Party] voters, who all the while deny their racism (but don't call out their candidates who race-bait)...oh, REALLY??? It would be laughable if the situation wasn't so serious...just sayin'.

It seems to me that even though the United States now has an African American  (boldened that word for the 'birthers', LOL) president, racism is still alive and well in these United States. I believe there's a public resurgence because they feel they "fell asleep at the wheel" in 2008, which allowed Obama's election to the White House; they're determined it's not to happen again.

Love Can Be Hard For A Transwoman To Find

Valentine's Day is one that can be hard on single people and especially single transpeeps. 

We are not only surrounded by cisgender couples gay and straight expressing their love for each other, we're drowned in an avalanche of romantic movies, songs, radio and television commercials in the weeks leading up to it.

It's a day for romance that for many of us won't result in someone leaving us heart shaped boxes of chocolate, presents, gifts of jewelry, stuffed animals, getting flowers delivered to our addresses, a sentimental call from a person we describe as our sweethearts or a marriage proposal from the person we love.

As I wrote in a Valentine's Day post last year, I've been wandering in the dating Sinai for so long the Israelites passed me a few times on their way to the Promised Land and shook their heads.

The approach of this day also has me at times pondering my dating history pre-transition as well as what I will and will not tolerate in a relationship just to say I have a significant other.  I have high standards and I will not water them down under any circumstances, even if it means I could possibly be alone for the rest of my life.  

What makes Valentine's Day and weddings so painful at times for me is that unlike some transwomen, I've actually had the experience of being a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding.


So near, but yet so far away from it actually happening for me.  

While there is a possibility it can still happen for me as one of my guest commentators Pamela Hayes reminded me (who is one of my transsisters who is happily married) when I talked about it on my Facebook page, I'm not holding my breath either. 

I'm also quite aware of the fact that with each birthday I celebrate, my already long odds for doing so dwindle in terms of making that romantic happy ending happen for me.  

But if it does, I'll be happily writing the 'I Was Wrong' post for that one

After the honeymoon, of course.  

Houston TBLG Community Prepping For Rainbow Human Rights Battle

Ever since I became an activist fighting for the human rights of TBLG people in 1998, I have watched as nations around the globe and cities, counties and states in the USA have passed human rights laws to protect their BTLG community members.

Over the last year I watched Dallas become the first jurisdiction in Texas to have comprehensive rights at all levels of government for their rainbow community and wondered when it would happen for the BTLG citizens who reside in the largest city in the Lone Star State. 

It looks like we're finally making the moves to begin the process of doing precisely that in my hometown.

Was deliriously happy to discover that petitions are being drawn up and submitted to the city secretary as early as the end of this month for a November referendum.   The proposed referendum ballot item will ban discrimination against TBLG citizens in employment, public accommodations and housing and give permission to the city to grant health insurance benefits to the unmarried partners of city of Houston employees.

"Discrimination exists everywhere. It's really hard to determine how big the problem is," said Noel Freeman, president of the Houston GLBT Caucus in a Houston Chronicle interview.   A local law is necessary, Freeman said, because gays and lesbians who want to press claims of discrimination currently must undertake costly litigation in state or federal courts.   

Since the Chronicle article failed to mention it, that discrimination is also aimed at trans Houstonians as well with the Izza Lopez case being a prime example of it

Houston has had a contentious history with GLBT rights referendums.  A previous gay and lesbian only anti-discrimination law that covered city employees was passed by City Council in 1985 but was rejected in a crushing electoral defeat by a 4-1 margin. 

In the wake of the city approving benefits for unmarried domestic partners, Dave Wilson and his merry band of faith-based haters in 2001 got a referendum on the ballot that banned the city from doing so.

In 1998 Mayor Lee Brown issued an order banning discrimination against gay and lesbian city employees that survived a three year legal challenge from Councilmember Rob Todd.  In 2010 It was extended to trans city employees by Mayor Annise Parker.


It will take 20,000 signatures to get the GLBT rights referendum on the November ballot.  I have no doubts that Dave Wilson and his cohort in hating on our community David Welch are already marshaling the Houston chapter of the Forces of Intolerance to fight the rainbow human rights referendum tooth and nail if it does make it onto this fall's ballot.

Mayor Parker hasn't committed one way or the other as to which way she'll go in terms of the proposed amendment and says she won't until she sees the language 

"I believe it's important for the city of Houston to send a signal to the world that we welcome everybody and that we treat everybody equally, and depending on the elements of what was actually in it, I might or might not support it."  

Like Mayor Parker I'm in show me the language mode as well.  If it doesn't include gender identity language in it, I'm not supporting it.

If it's the comprehensive rights amendment I want and expect to see, then I will do my part to help garner support in the African-American community for it and pass this much needed amendment to our city charter.

And note to you transphobes and homophobes inside the Houston city limits.   TBLG Houstonians are part of the over 2 million people who call this place home. We're beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of having our human rights fracked with because of your insecurities or your right-wing politically motivated religious beliefs..  

Like all proud TBLG Houstonians I'm also tired of  being embarrassed by the fact my hometown doesn't have human rights laws that cover me like that city up I-45 does and I enjoyed in the city of Louisville when I lived there during the last decade.

If we claim to be an international world class city that values the contributions of all its citizens, then our city ordinances need to reflect that, especially if we want to get that elusive summer Olympic Games we've been trying to land since the late 80's and other international corporate headquarters and businesses. .  

It's past time we send the message that Houston is an international world class city that values all of its citizens, including its TBLG ones.