I'm Sorry For Killing Your Daughter

Better grab some tissues before hitting play on this video.

This is an emotional, heartstring tugging video featuring a transman explaining his feelings to his minister father and why he transitioned.




H/T Abitchforjustice

2012 Williams Watch-Short Stay In Paris

The French Open is being contested at Stade Roland Garros this week and next, but unfortunately my favorite tennis playing siblings are out of this tournament.

Out of all the Grand Slam tournaments, the French Open has been the one Venus and Serena have had the most problems with in terms of winning it.  Serena has 13 Grand Slam titles, but only has won on Roland Garros' clay courts once in her career in 2002, and she beat Big Sis to get it.  

Little Sis was looking for her second French Open title while Venus has never won it.

They won't win it this year either because their inexplicable Roland Garros troubles continued in 2012.

Serena took a 46-0 career record in opening round Grand Slam tournament matches into this tournament and was 17-0 on clay this season nut but fifth seeded Little Sis shockingly lost to French homegirl Virginie Razzano 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 3-6 Tuesday.

She was two points from victory several times in the second set, including leading 5-1 in the second set tiebreaker. But Razzano won six straight points to force a third set, and then took control of the match.

"I made so many errors today, which isn't the game I was playing in the past," Serena said. "That's life."

Venus had better luck, ousting her first round opponent but on Wednesday Big Sis was ousted by third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in straight sets 2-6, 3-6 in her first major tournament since the announcement she has Sjogren's Syndrome.

Despite the loss, Venus will qualify for the US women's Olympic tennis team is she is still one of the top four ranked US women by June 11, the end of this French Open and is sitting in the fourth spot now    Serena is comfortably ensconced as the highest ranked US woman in the tennis world rankings, so her London spot is secured.

The next major before the 2012 Games is their favorite tournament.which will also be the tennis venue for the upcoming games in 'Williams'-don         

Transphobic RadFem 2012 Hatemongers Booted From London's Conway Hall

The transphobic RadFem 2012 hatefest may take place in another double secret location (or on The Land in Hart, MI) but it ain't happening at London's Conway Hall

In consultation with the organisers of RadFem 2012 and our legal advisors, Conway Hall has decided not to allow the booking in July 2012 to proceed. This is because it does not conform to our Terms and Conditions for hiring rooms at Conway Hall. In addition, we are not satisfied it conforms with the Equality Act (2010), or reflects our ethos regarding issues of discrimination.


We had sought assurances that the organisers would allow access to all, in order to enable the event to proceed at the venue. We also expressed concern that particular speakers would need to be made aware that whilst welcoming progressive thinking and debate, Conway Hall seeks to uphold inclusivity in respect of both legal obligations and as a principle.

In the absence of the assurances we sought, the event in its proposed form could not proceed at Conway Hall.

The July 2012 conference ran into trouble because it specifically sought to exclude transwomen from the venue in violation of Britain's Equality Act and is featuring longtime transphobic hatemonger Sheila Jeffreys as a keynote speaker. 

RadFem2012 has stirred up not only trans people, womanists, cis allies and trans feminists in opposition to it, but cis feminists tired of the over four decades of rampant transphobia pimped by the radfems are finally calling them out about it and pushing back against the madness. 

So naw, don't blame 'the trans conspiracy' for y'all losing your venue, your out of control transphobia did.

If you're looking for someone to blame, take a long look in the fracking mirror.  

2012 TBLG Pride Month POTUS Proclamation

Presidential Proclamation: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, 2012

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, 2012

 By The President Of The United States Of America

 A Proclamation

From generation to generation, ordinary Americans have led a proud and inexorable march toward freedom, fairness, and full equality under the law ‑‑ not just for some, but for all. Ours is a heritage forged by those who organized, agitated, and advocated for change; who wielded love stronger than hate and hope more powerful than insult or injury; who fought to build for themselves and their families a Nation where no one is a second-class citizen, no one is denied basic rights, and all of us are free to live and love as we see fit.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has written a proud chapter in this fundamentally American story. From brave men and women who came out and spoke out, to union and faith leaders who rallied for equality, to activists and advocates who challenged unjust laws and marched on Washington, LGBT Americans and allies have achieved what once seemed inconceivable. This month, we reflect on their enduring legacy, celebrate the movement that has made progress possible, and recommit to securing the fullest blessings of freedom for all Americans.

Since I took office, my Administration has worked to broaden opportunity, advance equality, and level the playing field for LGBT people and communities. We have fought to secure justice for all under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and we have taken action to end housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We expanded hospital visitation rights for LGBT patients and their loved ones, and under the Affordable Care Act, we ensured that insurance
companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to someone just because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Because we understand that LGBT rights are human rights, we continue to engage with the international community in promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT persons around the world. Because we repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans can serve their country openly, honestly, and without fear of losing their jobs because of whom they love. And because we must treat others the way we want to be treated, I personally believe in marriage equality for same-sex couples.

More remains to be done to ensure every single American is treated equally, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Moving forward, my Administration will continue its work to advance the rights of LGBT Americans. This month, as we reflect on how far we have come and how far we have yet to go, let us recall that the progress we have made is built on the words and deeds of ordinary Americans. Let us pay tribute to those who came before us, and those who continue their work today; and let us rededicate ourselves to a task that is unending ‑‑ the pursuit of a Nation where all are equal, and all have the full and unfettered opportunity to pursue happiness and live openly and freely.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2012 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
                                                                                                                   BARACK OBAMA

2012 Hurricane Season Starts Today

June 1 is also the day that we Gulf Coast residents start paying close attention to our local weathercasters when their weather discussions turn to the topics of tropical thunderstorms or tropical waves forming up off the West African coast or in the Caribbean.   

It's the start of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season which lasts until November 30.  We have already had two named storms in Alberto and Beryl, of which Beryl made landfall during Memorial Day weekend along the North Florida-Georgia coastline. .  

Speaking of hurricane names, here they are for the 2012 season.

Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie, William.

Note the hurricane name list has no Q, X, Y, U or Z names on it.   If we have a year like 2005 in which we have a bunch of named storms that exhausts the list, they resort to the Greek alphabet to name them. 

If you're wondering why I'm talking about hurricanes on a trans blog, it's because I've lived on the Gulf Coast for the majority of my life and frankly because the trans issue comes up even in ways you don't traditionally associate it with like a hurricane evacuation. 

We Houston area transpeeps had that lesson reinforced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the evacuations from the city of New Orleans it triggered.

New Orleans is a mecca for transpeople, so logically some of the thousands of people evacuated from the city in the wake of the storm were trans. 

We also heard some disturbing stories of trans and GLB evacuees who were housed in suburban and exurban evacuation centers that didn't get the hospitality we Texans are world renowned for and were mistreated by transphobic and homophobic shelter workers.  

It's also a heightened concern of mine about how TBLG hurricane evacuees are treated because Sharli'e Dominique, one of those New Orleans trans evacuees who got grossly mistreated in 2005 shared my ethnic background.

Since some of us don't have contact with our families or are estranged from them, we transpeeps may not have places to evacuate to when the call goes out to leave an area threated by an approaching Category 2, Cat 3, Cat 4 or Cat 5 hurricane.

It's why the TFA here in Houston collects a list of names so that if that situation occurs again and we're not in the bullseye of one like we were with Rita or Ike, we know who the TBLG peeps in the Houston metro area who have indicated their willingness to host a trans or GLB evacuee.

So yes, from now until November 30 we'll be gathering supplies for our hurricane emergency kits at our local stores while casting nervous eyes out at the Gulf and satellite photos of circulating storms off the West African coast, in the mid Atlantic or the Caribbean..

Shut Up Fool Awards-Doughnut Day Edition

As I mentioned in an earlier post, today is National Doughnut Day, and yes, I took my opportunity this morning to enjoy my free extra one at the Shipley's down the street from me..

But this Friday is also the day I reserve to shine a bright spotlight on the fools, fools or group of fools that inhabit our work and poke holes in the specious logic and lies

So let's get to it.  Our group nominees were the Rad Fems, Fox Noise, The Republican Party and the Tea Party Tea Klux Klan.   The individual nominees were Mitt Romney, Gretchen Carlson, Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), Peter Hoekstra, S.E.Cupp, Michael Medved, Gov. Paul LePage (R-ME), Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) 

The first honorable mention this week goes to the parents of the six year old who is singing a little hate the gays ditty in his Indiana church to the cheers of the congregation and a audible shout of "That's my boy.".

With parents and a homophobic church like that, I hope and pray that kid doesn't turn out to be a rainbow family member, but it would be delicious karma wise.

Our second honorable mention goes to Donald Trump Chump for doubling down on the birtherism and making an ass out of himself again.

Our third honorable mention goes to Jay Townsend, spokeperson for Rep Nan Hayworth (R-NY) who was providing evidence that the GOP is nothing more than the American Taliban with this comment aimed at Democratic female senators.  

But enough jibber-jabber as Mr. T would say.   This week's Shut Up Fool award.winner is Seneca, Kansas hate pastor Curtis Knapp who also decided to channel his inner Nazi and advocate from the pulpit a Final Solution to the gay problem. 

Wow...really getting sick of the faith based haters and evil (yeah I said it) Teapublifools.  It also points out the fact this election is literally for the heart and soul of our nation.  It's why they need to be beaten and utterly crushed at the polls November 6.

Oh yeah.  Curtis Knapp (not even giving you the courtesy of being called reverend after that little genocidal diatribe) shut the HELL up fool.


.

TPOCC's In The House At The PHTC

I won't be in Philadelphia for the Trans Health Conference mainly because of my impending trip to Netroots Nation, but TPOCC, the Trans People Of Color Coalition will be there in full effect.

The PHTC got the convention party started yesterday with a keynote speech by Minister Louis Mitchell and TPOCC will be having two events during the 2012 run of the world's largest trans event that ends June 2.

So what's TPOCC?   It's the now two year old organization founded by Kylar Broadus in 2010 that advocates for the rights of trans persons of color.  

So for those of you at the PTHC, you may wish to check out those TPOCC sponsored events and show the organization some love.   If I were there in Philly, I'd damned sure be standing in solidarity with them. 

In addition to that, I'd be asking what I can do to help build them up and letting them know what they can do to be an effective voice for our POC trans community .

DC Cop Kenneth Furr Going To Trial For Trans Shooting Incident

There's an update in the ongoing case of D.C. cop Kenneth D. Furr, who was involved in an ugly August 2011 shooting incident that involved two transwomen and their cis male companions in NW Washington. 

It resulted in him discharging his service revolver at the car they were riding in and causing non life threatening injuries to three of the people in that vehicle.

He was also inebriated at the time of the August 26 incident. 

The shooting incident happened in the wake of transwoman Lashai Mclean being killed in July 2011 and another transwoman being shot in the same neighborhood a week later where Mclean died but surviving the attack.

A D.C. Superior Court Grand Jury handed down a nine count indictment against Furr on March 7 which includes six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of solicitation for prostitution.

Furr's court status hearing was held on May 24 and D.C. Superior Court Judge Ann O’Reagan Keary denied a request by attorneys representing Officer Furr that he be released or the conditions of his bond be changed. 

Furr's trial will start October 15 and I'll continue to keep you  updated on what transpires in this case as it winds to its conclusion.

Today Is National Doughnut Day

In the States today is National Doughnut Day and I've written a couple of posts on this blog waxing poetic about my love of Shipley's Donuts and 'Krispy Kracks'.

Some of the Shipley's Donuts locations in the area are giving out a free donut in honor of this day from 5 AM-12 Noon.

There's actually a serious reason why this day came into existence and eventually became celebrated in the United States.

National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for Chicago's The Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression and honor The Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

Not long after US entered World War I in 1917, The Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France to find out what the needs of US servicemen were.  The fact-finding mission concluded that establishing  canteens/social centers they called "huts" which served baked goods, provided writing supplies and stamps, and a clothes-mending service would be a good way to do that.

The huts were quickly established by The Salvation Army near army training centers.in the United States staffed by six people that included four female volunteers who could "mother" the troops.  In addition approximately 250 The Salvation Army volunteers went to France to set up the huts near the front lines. 

Because of the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings close to the front lines, The Salvation Army volunteers Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance suggested providing doughnuts to those front line locations.

They were a hit and the numbers of soldiers visiting The Salvation Army huts exponentially increased.  The 'doughboy' nickname that American troops were given in World War I is alleged to have started as a result of The Salvation Army huts, but its first usage actually goes back to the 1846-47 Mexican-American War. 

The Salvation Army still uses it as their spring fundraising opportunity, but independent and chain doughnut stores have adopted June 1 a big promotional day.  For those people like moi who love doughnuts in whatever flavor they come in, we're glad they did.

I don't have the ability to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts anymore unless I go to Da Ville or some locale in the Midwest or east coast in their sales turf such as Washington DC.
  
And no Mayhem, until I visit you and my Ice Capp loving homegirl in the Great White North or the parts of the US that have Tim Horton's locations, I won't be able to sample any of 'Timmys' delicious doughnuts.

But it still won't prevent me from properly celebrating this day.

On that note, in a few hours I'll be celebrating National Doughnut Day properly by making a trip to the Shipley's location down the street and getting a half dozen glazed donuts in addition to my free one.

Jackie Comes Close, But No Miss England Crown

Jackie Green's bid to become the first trans Miss England fell short last night when she didn't make the finals of that pageant.  While she's disappointed about the result as are all of us around the world who were rooting for her, bear in mind she did make it to the semifinals..

This also comes a week after Jenna Talackova's bid to become Miss Canada also fell short of the finalist round of the Miss Universe Canada pageant, although she did capture the Miss Congeniality award.

"Miss England is a prestigious competition. I’d love to win.” Green remarked in a recent newspaper interview.

But Ms.Green isn't in this pageant just for the crown or the glamor.   She's got another purpose in mind as she competes.  She's hoping to use the public platform of the pageant as a way to raise awareness about  bullying and transgender issues.


Ms. Green stated she would make another run at the Miss England crown next year, and here's hoping that she has a better result when she does.

Janet Mock Discusses The #GirlsLikeUs Twitter Campaign

Janet Mock recently launched the #GirlsLikeUs Twitter campaign (which I enthusiastically support) and explains why she did so in a recent post on her blog that I will happily signal boost here.

Here's a little sample of it. 

I found it exhilarating that these young women were naming themselves, that they were identifying how they wanted and that they exerted themselves in a world that rarely, if ever made room for them. I found myself uplifted by the “girls…with something extra” because it wasn’t coming from a place of want or lack. It didn’t fall prey to the tired, simplistic, limiting media sound bite of “girl trapped in boy’s body.” Instead it celebrated who we were as trans women: We have something extra. You can take that literally or figuratively, which is how I choose to read it: We are extra, we are more, we are special, we are everything.

Read the rest of what she had to say about it.

Good Luck Tonight, Jackie!

Across The Pond tonight, Jackie Green will take the stage and attempt to become the first transperson to become Miss England.   

She was voted through to tonight's Miss England pageant semifinals earlier this month.  If she does go on to win this event would represent her country at the Miss World pageant that will be held in China

Good luck tonight, Jackie.   Know your transsisters all over the planet are rooting for you.

11th Annual Trans Health Conference This Weekend

Philadelphia welcomes what has become the largest trans-specific event in the world when the 11th annual Trans Health Conference returns to Philadelphia, PA from May 31-June 2

And I'm bummed because one of my fave transmen is the keynote speaker and I won't be there.

The PTHC is a program of Mazzoni Center and will take place once again at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. What began in 2002 as a one-day gathering of transgender activists, allies, and service providers, has grown in the decade since its inception to become the largest transgender-specific conference in the world. Last June this free event drew 2,000 attendees from throughout the U.S. and overseas to participate in three full days of educational and social activities, with offerings for family members, community allies, medical and social service providers as well.

It's also one of those major conferences I'd love to attend but haven't been able to make my schedule coincide with theirs so I can be in Philly for it.   And if and when I'm blessed enough to get that opportunity, there's some cheeseteaks with my name on them...

The 2012 conference schedule features some 200 workshops and panel discussions on a diverse range of subjects relating to health and well-being, including healthcare, safety, education, employment, housing, legal issues, and social support.

“From the beginning, the vision of the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference has been to address body, mind, spirit, community, and well-being,” Mazzoni Center Executive Director Nurit L. Shein said. “We are especially excited to be welcoming a number of international participants this year, as they can shed light on the particular experiences of transgender individuals and communities in their native countries, but also on the common ground we share in seeking to improve health care access and outcomes for trans people worldwide.”

As much as possible, PTHC strives to ensure that the conference addresses the diverse needs of all transgender communities: transgender men, transgender women, gender-queer, and gender- variant youth and adults, as well as their partners, families, and allies. In an effort to increase the availability of quality, culturally competent care for transgender communities, PTHC also provides workshops for medical, mental health, legal, and social service providers.

“The Trans-Health Conference Planning Committee has put a great deal of time and consideration into the selection of workshops and programs this year,” Conference Coordinator Jacsen Callanan explained. “Our goal is to provide a meaningful and educational experience both for veteran attendees of the conference, as well as for individuals who may be joining us for the first time.”

This year’s conference includes an increased emphasis on international issues, including panels on immigration and the challenges faced by refugees and asylees; transgender activism in Europe, as well as spotlight discussions on the state of trans communities in Latin America and South Asia. Funding from the Arcus Foundation and the Open Society Foundation has helped to make this programming possible.

As part of this year’s international focus, on Friday, June 1 at 8:00 PM, there will be a special presentation of “Tara’s Crossing,” an original play by Emmy-nominated writer Jeffrey Solomon, inspired by dozens of interviews with sexual minority asylum seekers from around the world. It will be held at the Arch Street United Methodist Church Main Sanctuary (55 N. Broad Street). The performance is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation with additional support from the United Church of Christ Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy.

Trans Medicine Education Initiative

New at the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference this year will be the first annual Transgender Education Certificate Course a three-day intensive for medical providers designed for new as well as experienced medical providers (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN, ND, PharmD) interested in the primary care of adult and pediatric transgender patients. The certificate program will consist of lectures given by nationally known experts in the field of transgender primary care, mental health, pediatrics & adolescent medicine, and endocrinology.

In addition, Mazzoni Center’s Legal Services department has incorporated a significant number of programs in this year’s conference that are specifically dedicated to legal obstacles facing transgender communities, and aimed at practicing attorneys who wish to learn more about these issues, in order to provide culturally competent legal services to transgender clients. To that end, there will be as many as twelve hours of Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits offered free of charge during this year’s conference, on subjects including: legal identity documentation, immigration issues, employee and employer workplace questions, advocating for transgender equality, and more.

All three days of the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference are free, but registration is recommended. Visit http://www.trans-health.org for all the details.

Opening reception, keynote speakers and other conference highlights

Minister Louis “L.J.” Mitchell will kick off this year’s conference with a keynote address on Thursday, May 31 at 8:45 A.M. Mitchell is co-founder of Recovering the Promise Ministries, a Fellowship-affiliated ministry located in Chicopee, Massachusetts. He has served with various agencies and boards, including as the first “out” transgender-identified Board member of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and as a founding member of Lesbians and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action.

The official PTHC 2012 welcoming reception will take place Thursday, May 31 from 7:30-8:30 PM at the William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street). Guests will enjoy refreshments and mingle with fellow attendees, and will also have an opportunity to view an exhibit celebrating the 10th anniversary of the addition of gender identity to Philadelphia’s Fair Practices Ordinance. The opening reception is free and open to all conference attendees.

Friday, June 1, at 4:00 PM, Mya L. Vazquez and Ryan Cassata will deliver the Youth Keynote address as part of the PTHC’s first ever “Youth Summit,” which includes workshops and that will take place throughout the day. Vazquez is a longtime activist and leader within the transgender and gender-non-conforming communities in New York City. She has helped to organize New York's third annual Trans day of action with TransJustice, an organizing working group, in which she is currently the Program coordinator of TransJustice at The Audre Lorde Project. Cassata is a 19-year-old transgender identified singer-songwriter and motivational speaker from Long Island, New York. The founder of Artemendous Records, LLC, Cassata has recorded two albums, toured the U.S., made numerous television appearances, and won the Harvey Milk Memorial Award.

More information on the 2012 Trans-Health Conference and a full schedule of workshops and activities is available at: http://www.trans-health.org

 About Mazzoni Center Established in 1979, Mazzoni Center provides quality comprehensive health and wellness services and is the only health care provider in the Philadelphia region specifically targeting the unique health care needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. Mazzoni Center offers a full array of outreach, prevention, education, direct medical and care services, psychosocial services, legal services, and support groups, reaching more than 30,000 people annually. It is the oldest AIDS service organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the fourth-oldest in the U.S. Mazzoni Center is dedicated to preserving the dignity and improving the quality of life of the individuals it serves. More information at :http://www.mazzonicenter.org

Rani Found Not Guilty In 2010 Pakistan Marriage Case

Remember Rani, the Pakistani transwoman who was arrested during a raid of her northwest Pakistan birthday party and falsely accused of attempting to enter into a same gender marriage with Malik Iqbal two years ago?

I cited this as a example of the annoying pattern of 'gayjacking' trans lives by GL advocacy organizations, the gay media and the Gayosphere to advance the narrow policy agenda of the vanillacentric GL community.  

Yeah, yeah, I and 'errbody' else in the Transosphere and our enlightened allies know that a transwoman and cismale getting married is NOT a same gender marriage.  So do elements of the GL community who shadily try to co-opt and 'gayjack' these types of news stories for their benefit.  

But work with me people on this one and continue reading. 


Some good news has come out of Pakistan in the wake of that initial burst of international publicity and attention surrounding the case    Turns out the charges had to be dropped because prosecutors could find no evidence of Rani attempting to get married.   In addition, Iqbal already had two wives and wasn't looking to add a third.  He was simply at the party to help celebrate Rani's birthday. .

Iqbal told reporters he will file a defamation case against the former chief of the Faqirabad police station who had leveled the charges against him. 

But happiest of all for our Pakistani transsister Rani whose name has been cleared in this jacked up case as well that should have never happened in the first place.

Toby's Law Unanimously Passes Second Reading

Looks like the fourth attempt of NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo to pass Toby's Law may finally be on its way to a successful conclusion.

DiNovo has been trying since 2007 to get this law passed.  It would amend the Ontario Human Rights Code by adding gender identity and expression to protect transpeople from discrimination in the province.

The need for it was highlighted by an ugly October 2011 trans discrimination incident at a flea market in London, ON that news of went international.

On May 10 Private Member's Bill 33 reached Second reading stage.  The bill has support from all three parties in the Ontario Legislature and after debate came up for a vote which was unanimous.

The bill now goes to committee and if it clears committe with no propblems will be brought back to the Ontario House for a Third Reading that should it pass, will become provincial law.

Wow, major props to the persistence of MPP DiNovo,  the local trans rights groups there to keep pushing for its passage.  Hopefully you peeps in Ontario will really have something to celebrate when pride kicks off later in June.  

Texas Primary Election Today

For my Texas TransGriot readers, just a friendly reminder that the polls just opened and you have until 7 PM to get your vote on in the Democratic and (yecch) Republican primary elections today at your normal precinct location.

As a reminder, the Voter suppression law is NOT in effect, so all you will need to vote is to just show up with your yellow voter registration card in hand and handle your electoral business.

If for some reason you are fracked with at your polling place, call the Texas NAACP who is monitoring for any shady electoral behavior.

You can also call 1-866-MYVOTE1 to report jacked up stuff occurring at Texas polling places as well.

Your vote is your voice, so let it speak forcefully for you.

Chile To Cover SRS

South America is quickly becoming the most trans friendly continent on our planet.  

Argentina just passed a groundbreaking Gender Identity Law  and now their next door neighbors in Chile have made some moves that benefit their trans population.

Chile will soon cover sex reassignment surgeries under its public health plan in order to allow citizens of limited means to “recover their true sexual identity,” Health Minister Jaime Manalich said.

Brazil and Cuba are the other nations in Latin America that offer SRS as part of their national health plans to their citizens.

Until now SRS operations were only offered in private clinics at a cost of $20,000 to $30,000 but will now be performed in public hospitals in the capital of Santiago and the cities of Concepcion and Valparaiso, the health minister said late Thursday.

Before the reforms, “a poor person had no possibility of completing the process of femininization or masculinization,” Rolando Jimenez, head of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh), told AFP.

The cost for SRS covered by the national health plan will now depend on the patient's income bracket, with the poorest citizens able to get the operations for free. 

Chile also enacted other reforms and measures to help prevent discrimination aimed at its TBLG population.  The health ministry ruled that blood banks cannot refuse donors based on sexual orientation and that hospitalized transsexual patients can and should room with patients of their desired gender.

If a nation of 17 million people can do this, what holding up the United States from doing so?

Yollada Wins In Thailand!

The ranks of trans politicians around the world just increased by one.   Congrats to Yollada 'Nok' Suanyot who made history in her homeland.  

The Thai provincial elections were held May 27 and Yollada was running as an independent candidate in her home province of Nan that is located along the Thai-Laos border.  She beat out two male candidates of which one of them was from the better funded national ruling party to boot to win that election.

So yep, it's another victory #GirlsLikeUs around the world can celebrate. Told y'all we transwoman can do anything we set our minds to if given the chance and the opportunity to do so.

Yollada is now the highest ranking trans politician in Thailand, and here's hoping she continues her rise in Thailand's political ranks to where she ends up in their national legislature.

Only time will tell if that happens, but in this enterprising woman's case I wouldn't bet against her pulling it off.

Texas Trans Teen Being Allowed To Wear Dress For Graduation

In the wake of what happened in North Carolina the usual calls from the I-5 and I-95 corridors rang out for GLBT people to leave their 'bigoted red states' and come to the blue oases of rainbow equality that can be just as hateful and bigoted as the red states we leave behind.

I and other red staters repeatedly point out that you can't turn those states purple and later blue unless you have people living here who not only love it just as much as the Forces of Intolerance, but are willing to fight the right wingers tooth and nail to advance rainbow human rights.

Well, here's another example in my argument as to why it's vitally important for GLBT peeps to stay and fight for our human rights and the world we wish to live in even in a so called 'red state'.

Just 30 miles northwest of Houston is Waller, TX where transteen Brandon Navarro lives and is a Waller High School senior.   Brandon ID's as gay and a crossdresser (but I suspect Brandon is headed to the trans end of the TBLG spectrum and will use femme pronouns in this story) and has worn appropriate feminine attire according to her mother during her high school years.   

Navarro planned to wear a dress to prom and high school graduation on June 2 and had already skipped prom to avoid drama.  Navarro dropped plans to wear a dress and high heels with her long hair after a teacher reminded her of the graduation dress code.

The Waller High School graduation dress code rules requires senior males to wear slacks and shirts with their hair above the collar.

Navarro’s mother then got involved and Brandon met with the school's principal to strike a compromise acceptable to both sides.   While Brandon will have to leave the earrings and high heels out of her wardrobe, she’ll be able to wear a dress under her gown.






 Congrats Brandon!  may you have much success in any future endeavors.

Victoria Carmen White Didn't Deserve To Die

There's a pair of disturbing memes I hear in these trans murder cases like the recently concluded Alrashim Chambers one far too often that deserve to be called out and eviscerated.

They are the ones cispeople frequently peddle that the transwoman in question 'deserved to die' because the transwoman 'deceived' them into spending romantic time with them and the cisman was justified in killing them.

Please.  You cisboys (and cisgirls in some cases) are stepping to us, not the other way around..  Judging by the photos I've posted here of Ms. White, she didn't have to 'deceive' anyone into spending romantic time with her.

But back to the post.  Victoria Carmen White didn't deserve to die because she wanted some romantic attention, Alrashim Chambers' eggshell fragile ego couldn't handle the fact he spent some romantic time with a transwoman and didn't want people to know that.

Well Alrashim, if you thought nobody would find out you boned a transwoman, too late in that regard, playa playa.  The whole planet knows your business now. 


Alrashim Chambers shouldn't have been acquitted, his azz should have been found guilty.  The waste of DNA should be doing time in a New Jersey iron bar motel and looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life wondering if he's going to be getting unwanted romantic attention from some of his fellow prisoners.

Well, have to trust in the moral arc of the universe to work in this case now.   But damn it, I'm beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of seeing far too many of our young Black transsisters die year after depressing year for just trying to living their lives to the best of their ability and nobody giving a shyt about it.


The jurors in this case get just as much blame for this as Chambers does for committing the original September 12, 2010 crime that landed him in the Essex County Courthouse in the first place. 

I don't doubt that some of that transphobic 'she deserved what she got ' stench permeated the jury and was fed by the ongoing Black 'unwoman' meme that is also violently deployed against African descended transwomen. And yes, I've served on three juries in my lifetime so I know what it's like to have someone's life and freedom on the line based on the decisions you make in a jury deliberation room. 

If you are doing your job properly, you think about that part of your juror's responsibility as you are weighing the evidence presented to you in addition to thinking about the person who is not there to speak for herself in this case in Victoria Carmen White.

The jury failed on both counts.  Justice wasn't served and Chambers got away with murder.  Instead he's walking the streets of Newark as a free man for killing Ms. White. 

Bear in mind Eseex County jurors who served on this case that the man you freed will be trying to pick up your daughters at a New York-New Jersey metro area club near you. 

You also just sent a message to every transperson living in Essex County that it's open season on transwomen and if they are killed, no biggie, player.  They ain't real people, they don't matter, and we'll give you a societal 'get out of jail free' card for doing so 

Victoria Carmen White didn't deserve to die, she deserved justice.   Unfortunately that didn't happen in that Essex County courtroom last week for her and her family.    

Victoria Carmen White mattered to her family, friends, and the people who loved her.  She mattered to her extended national and international trans sisterhood.  She mattered to transwomen of African descent who have depressingly seen and heard this bull feces story far too often inside our community. 

She mattered because her unnecessary death painfully reminds transpeople that no matter what their location on Planet Earth is, no matter if we are trying to positively live our lives, one armed transphobic bigot can end it with little or no legal repercussions.

There but for the grace of God go I.  And every time we transwomen ponder that possibility, it pisses us the hell off.