Shut Up Fool Awards-NAACP Convention Weekend Edition

The 103rd Annual NAACP  Convention will be taking place in my hometown starting tomorrow through July 12.

It should be an interesting and in may cases start studded affair as our community's legacy civil rights org meets at the George R. Brown convention Center. with many of our local political leaders from Mayor Annise Parker to Congressmembers Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee participating

Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, who is also a native Houston will be part of the long line of entertainers performing during the event as well that concludes on July 12.  And since this NAACP convention is occurring during a presidential election year, Mitt version 2012 will be speaking at it, so i can probably count on his saying something jacked up enough to get him a nomination for next week's Shut Up Fool awards.

So let's move on to earned this week's SUF award since it's Friday and I know that what y'all surfed over here to find out or left me nominations for.

In the group category it was the Republican party, Fox Noise, the TS separatists, the rad fems phlegms and the Texas Republican Party for their jacked up platform, The NRA, , the Washington Times, the Drudge Report and the Daily Caller.

The individual nods went to Michelle Malkin, Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Rep Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Eric Fehrnstrom, Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly,   Sen Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Dr Keith Ablow and Joe 'The Plumber' Wurtzelbacher

Honorable mention goes to Rep Allen West (R-FL) for the off the deep end comment that the POTUS wants to make us his slaves

This week's runaway winner is the Tea Klux Klan's favorite congressional deadbeat dad in Rep Joe Walsh (R-IL).   Rep Walsh unleashed more cowardly hateraid at Lt. Colonel Tammy Duckworth this week in a attack reminiscent of what Sen Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) did to then sitting senator and Vietnam vet Max Cleland (D-GA) .




Walsh's no serving ass had the nerve to part his lips and disparage Lt. Col Duckworth's 20 years of distinguished service to our nation and claim that a woman who lost two legs, the use of one arm as a helicopter pilot in Iraq, has a Purple heart and other military medals, still serves in the Illinois National Guard and served in the Obama Administration as the Deputy Secretary of the Veteran's Administration  isn't a hero. 

Really?  In what conservafool alternate universe?   If Duckworth  had an 'R' behind her name you conservafools would be rubbing her in our faces and she'd be on Fox Noise and conservafool talk radio ad nauseum.

Walsh waited until Duckworth was doing her Illinois National Guard service to challenge her to a debate, and has continued to double and triple down on this reprehensible line of attack.   This chickenhawk who is $162,000 behind of his child support doesn't have the standing to part his lips and utter one word at Lt. Col Duckworth, much less President Obama 

Rep Joe Walsh, shut the HELL up fool!

Manitoba Trans Human Rights Code Expansion Bill Gets Royal Assent

The trans rights positive momentum in Canada continues as Bill 36, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act passed the Manitoba Legislature and received Royal Assent on June 14.

Translation for you peeps south of the 49th parallel:  it's now the law.

Manitoba now has become the second Canadian province to pass trans human rights protections with the passage of Bill 36.  .

In addition to the Manitoba human rights code now being expanded to cover gender identity, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act adds "social disadvantage" to protect individuals who are or are perceived to be undereducated, underemployed, homeless or living in inadequate housing.

It also streamlines procedures for the Manitoba Human Rights  commission to handle its business

Congrats again to the Canadian trans community.  Your home and native land is rapidly becoming one that respects and protects your human rights in at least two provinces and the Northwest Territories and its something that I home my own country will replicate soon.

2012 Williams Watch-Yo Haters, The Williams Sisters Are Still Winning At 'Williams'-don

If you wonder why I call The Championships 'Williams'-don, its because if you peruse the champions list in the singles and doubles ranks you'll see the Williams name prominently displayed multiple times.  It's also the major Grand Slam tourney in which the Williams sisters have had the most success.

Even the ladies singles championship trophy is named the Venus (Williams) Rosewater Dish

It's gonna be a bad weekend for the Williams haters because Serena is another step closer to collecting her fifth Wimbledon Ladies singles title and matching Big Sis.  In her semifinal match she broke the Wimbledon aces record she just set a few days ago in obliterating one time world number one player Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in straight sets 6-3,7-6 (8-6).  

She served a record 24 aces, with the 24th one coming on match point.  It also tied the all time WTA record for aces served in a two set match and ensured she'd reach her seventh 'Williams'-don final.   

Serena is 9-1 against Azarenka and as has been the case in this 2012 Wimbledon tournament Little Sis got off to another fast first set start.   She took 33 minutes to win it before Azarenka pulled up the big girl panties and dug in to fight in the second set. 

But with the serving clinic Serena was putting on at Centre Court yesterday there was no way she was going to be beaten.   

She faces Poland's Agniezska Radwanska for the Ladies singles title Saturday

And for you people who like hatin' on any tennis success the Williams sisters have, here's some more Hater Tots fresh out of the grease for y'all to chew on. 

Serena then teamed up with Big Sis in their Ladies doubles quarterfinal a few hours later to make quick 6-1, 6-1 work of American doubles duo Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears with the match taking less than an hour to complete.   My fave tennis playing siblings will now face fellow Americans and number one doubles seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond in the doubles semis and setting up an opportunity for the Williams sisters to win their 13th Grand Slam doubles title should they beat Huber and Raymond..

2012 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tourney In Quarters

The 2012 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament being contested in Caracas, Venezuela is in the knockout stage. 

The twelve teams that started the tournament been whittled down to the eight teams still left with a chance to grab the last three spots for the London Games men's basketball tournament..

To the chagrin of the local fans Venezuela wasn't one of them.    They were in the closely contested Group B in which all three teams finished group play with 1-1 records, but Lithuania and Nigeria advanced thanks to +12 and +4 point differentials. 

The same thing happened in Group D with Macedonia and Angola advancing after the tiebreakers were applied.

In today's quarterfinals Group A winner Greece will face Group B runner up Nigeria and Group C winner Russia will take on Group D runner up Angola.   In the other bracket Group B winner Lithuania will face Group A runner up Puerto Rico and Group D winner Macedonia will face Group C runner up Dominican Republic      

Winners move on to the semifinals on July 7, and the winners of those semifinal games get the first two London Olympic tournament spots.  The semifinal losers will play July 8 for the final Olympic spot 

Saying Hello To The Camp Aranu'tiq West Campers

Couldn't let this week pass without pointing out to you TransGriot readers the inaugural session of Camp Aranu'tiq West is occurring as I compose this post.

It started July 1 and will continue through July 7,  and I hope the trans and gender variant kids that are congregated in the camp's double secret California location are having a wonderful time, enjoying meeting each other and having fun.

So what's Camp Aranu'tiq?  It's the  trans summer camp that has been around since 2010 founded by Nick Teich.   Since you have more trans people transitioning at earlier ages, the need arose for those parents who wished to have their transkids take part in a summer camp style program and meet other kids like them arose.  It already has an picturesque New England campus and this year expanded the program to the West Coast.   The Camp Aranu'tiq east session will happen in August.

Hope it continues to grow prosper and we see more camps like it open up in other parts of the country.

Just in case there happens to be any Camp Aranu'tiq campers reading my blog, here's a message especially for you.

Know that your trans elders and our allies love you.  We are doing everything we can to fight for a world in which you have an easier time navigating it.  Have fun while you're there at camp and be proud of the men and women of trans experience you are growing into.

Canadian Trans Student Named Prom Queen

The positive trans news just keeps on coming from north of the 49th parallel, and this time it's centered in Trenton, ON.

We've had on our side of the border two people, Crystal Vera of Fresno, CA in May 2007 and Andi Viveros in Davie, FL last year be elected by their respective student bodies as prom queens.  

There was also the thwarted October 2010 attempt of Andy Moreno of Dallas to become the first ever open trans homecoming queen when the transphobic principal of North Dallas High School refused to allow her to run.

Toby Covarrubias of Fresno attempted weeks before Crystal Vera became prom queen at Roosevelt High to become the first trans prom king at Fresno High School but didn't get enough votes to make history.  

In 2010 while Moreno was battling her principal, Oak Reed in Michigan won the title of homecoming king at his school but was denied by school authorities the opportunity to accept it.  Niko Walker of Culver City, CA became the first trans homecoming king.

Now comes news from the Great White North that Connor Ferguson was named on June 22 prom queen at Trenton High School.

“I was really surprised,” Ferguson said of the win. “It was pretty surreal actually. If I remember correctly my jaw hit the floor and we all started laughing because it was so crazy. I walked up and the crown didn’t fit my hair, so I had to hold it.”

Ferguson admitted high school was relatively easy-going, especially considering the stigma surrounding transgender people and the LGBT community. The school has a tolerant student body and supportive staff, as well as the positive effects of the anti-bullying campaign the school holds annually, Ferguson said.

“I’ve lived as I am for four years now, so I believe the ‘shock value’ is gone and most people just accept me for me,” Ferguson said. “It took some time for quite a few people, but the school and staff definitely helped with that, and my group of friends was endlessly supportive. I think people accept you a lot more when you stick up for yourself and have enough confidence to be yourself.”

I agree Connor, and congrats on being probably the first open trans prom queen in Canadian history.

Ashley Love Has Been Consumed By The Dark Side Of The Trans Force

The fast and furious blowback from Ashley Love's unwarranted attack on Isis King for the groundbreaking American Apparel ads has started.

I've already had my say about it, and now other people in reality based transworld are calling out Love concerning her hypocrisy and her Washington Blade post in which she doubles down on her hypocritical separatist idiocy.

“Our much larger goal is promoting media depictions with messages that affirm, rather than misgender.”

Oh really, Ashley?   Still haven't seen you and your one woman MAGNET org attack the misgendering that goes on in the Black gossip blogospere like I've done, much less call out the misgendering that you not only have engaged in for years, but is a staple of the WWBT separatist ranks you are a tokenized part of aimed at anyone that disagrees with you and your TS separatist friends bull feces.

And yeah, just to leave no room for doubt, you are a TS separatist.  It's past time for truth in advertising when it concerns you and your loud and wrong stances.

Ashley, I tried to warn you last year what would happen if you continued down the dark path of TS separatism and you still embraced the Dark Side of the trans force.  Now you get to live with the consequences of it forever consuming your activist destiny and sapping whatever credibility you could have built up.  

I'm done hoping you would wise up, see how much damage you were doing to yourself and correct your behavior.  There may be still good in you Ashley Skywalker, but I'm done waiting for it to appear.   

Moving on   

Angelica Ross recently interviewed Isis on her radio show and they took a few moments to comment on the faux controversy that was stirred up and Ms Love before moving on to other subjects.  

Cristan Williams has an interesting article from her Ehipassiko blog that documents the reactions to Love's recent one woman crusade to colonize the transgender community.

But the bottom line is that it's painful to watch someone who had so much potential to do a lot of good work for the trans community become a pariah.   The sad part is it didn't have to happen.

2012 Williams Watch-Doubles Double Duty

The 4th of July was an off day for the Ladies Singles semifinalists, but not for the hardest working woman at 'Williams'-don  

In order to get ready for the upcoming Olympics tennis tournament that will also be played at the All England Club in a few short weeks, my favorite tennis playing siblings were entered in the doubles tournament for the first time since they were upset in the Wimbledon doubles quarterfinals while seeking a doubles title threepeat. in 2010.

Since then both have struggles with injuries and health issues that knocked them off their lofty status of being the world's number one ranked doubles team. 

The unseeded sisters started their quest for their 13th doubles Grand Slam title by knocking off the tandem of Vesna Dolonc of Serbia and Olga Savchuk of Ukraine in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.   That got them to their second round matchup with the fourth seeded Russian duo of Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova in which they won in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 9-7.

Their third round matchup was yesterday with Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the USA and Sania Mirza of India and beat them in straights set 6-4, 6-3

They are now in the Ladies doubles quarterfinals, on track for their first 'Williams'-don doubles title since 2009 and will face the tenth seeded American duo of Raquel Kops-Jones and  Abigail Spears.

Winner will face the number one seeded doubles team of Americans Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond in the semis..

Young Conservative Jonathan Krohn Politically Evolves

Remember Jonathan Krohn, the then 14 year old hailed by the conservafool movement as their future? 

Back in 2009 when he spoke at their signature CPAC event the author of two books said, "I believe that a conservative has a belief system based on four basic principles: Respect for the Constitution, respect for life, less government and personal responsibility."

While the conservafool blogosphere and Fox Noise rubbed it in our faces that he was the future of their movement, we liberals shrugged and confidently predicted that when young Krohn was exposed to more enlightened thinking and something other than the 24 hour right wing talk radio in his native Georgia, he would evolve politically 

Well, he's now 17 years old and on his way to New York University to study philosophy and film.   Krohn has politically evolved to where he isn't a conservafool any more to the right wing's chagrin. (snicker, snicker)

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

Krohn since his conversion to the children of light has been interviewed by Politico, on MSNBC's The Last Word and Hardball.  He said in the Politico interview last week said he now supports same-sex marriage, supports the Affordable Care Act and would vote for President Obama this year if he were old enough to vote.

"I don't think I had all the answers then. I don't think I have all the answers now," he explained to MSNBC's Lawrence O’Donnell on why he ditched his social conservative ideas. "I just feel that it was really naive of me to think I knew everything then and not open my mind to the possibilities of other things being correct."

No Jonathan, neither, you, I or any liberal progressive has all the answers for the problems that ail us. 

What we liberal progressives do have is the moral high ground because we care about people and their human rights over unfettered corporate power and profits.  We also have proven policies that have worked since the New Deal to lift all boats to prosperity, intelligent creative ideas that build a solid middle class and the desire and determination to advance human rights for all and make this a better country than the way we found it.

Who wouldn't want to be a part of that when all conservatives have to offer is a Massive Resistance 2.0 legislative strategy, propagandized lies, attack the poor and non-white Americans, thinly disguised white supremacist demagoguery and no ideas that benefit society outside of the rich white male 1%?

Oh well conservafools, I and others told you a long time ago you were on the wrong side of history (and especially the knee-grow variety)   .I can see why young people like Krohn once they turn off the Right Wing Noise Machine and critically think for themselves eventually come to the left side of the political force.    


And predictably, the spurned right wingers are now turning like rabid dogs on Krohn.  But that still won't stop his politcal evolution, much less the political evolution of any youngling who critcally thinks. 

Welcome to our liberal progressive ranks, Jonathan, we're glad to have you.

POTUS Swears In New Americans

Imagine if you were a person seeking to become an American citizen, how you would feel if you got the opportunity to not only have your naturalization ceremony on Independence Day, but at the East Room of the White House. 

That's what happened for some lucky new Americans today of which 25 of them were light years ahead of many of us who were born here (Rep Joe Walsh and other GOP chickenhawks) by serving in our country's military.

 


It was also a way for President Obama to whack the Republicans over their knee jerk resistance to the DREAM Act, discuss immigration policy and give out a little history lesson in the process..

Gayjacking and Whitewashing Philadelphia Trans History?

When we talk about erasure and gayjacking of trans history, this is how it happens.  

The Dewey's Lunch Counter Sit-In that occurred in April-May 1965 was the first protest organized around specifically trans issues, and it was done so predominately by Black trans people.  There have been attempts to whitewash this FUBU protest organized around African-American Civil Rights Movement principles as a Clark Polak-Janus Society production.    

Cei Bell wrote this letter to the editor in the Philadelphia Gay News concerning a story that the city is considering naming a section of Locust Street between 12th and 13th Streets for Barbara Gittings, who is considered the mother of the gay and lesbian movement. 

Last week, PGN published an article about Locust Street between 12th and 13th being renamed Barbara Gittings Way [“‘Gittings Way’ in the works,” June 22-28]. Malcolm Lazin, who proposed the renaming, referred to Gittings as the mother of the LGBT movement.

Just because something (or someone) is lesbian and gay doesn’t make it LGBT.

In the ’60s, when Gittings was one of the organizers of the Annual Reminders protest at Independence Hall, the point of the men dressing in suits and the women wearing dresses and carrying pocketbooks was they did not want drag queens, effeminate males and butch dykes — the homosexual stereotypes — at the protest. The reason effeminate males, drag queens and butch dykes were the stereotype is because they were the only people who were out of the closet. Rock Hudson certainly wouldn’t turn from kissing Doris Day and say, “I really want to suck tonsils with Troy Donahue!” That may have been the official moment that the movement began intentionally excluding and harassing gender-variant people out of the movement.

On the other hand, the earlier successful May 1965 sit-in demonstration by drag queens at Dewey’s (a restaurant at 17th and Chancellor streets where Little Pete’s is located) allowed straight-appearing gay men such as Clark Polak from the Janus Society and lesbians to join them. Social class may be the reason why the Independence Hall demonstrations by Gittings and others are promoted as historic while the earlier sit-in demonstration by drag queens at Dewey’s to be served has been ignored.

Bell asserts that in the 60's and 70's, 13th and Locust streets were multicultural hangouts for Philadelphia drag queens and transsexuals and suggests that the more apropos sections of Philadelphia streets for honoring Gittings would be Spruce between 13th and Juniper where the William Way GLBT Center sits, not the ones they are considering.

2012 Williams Watch- Serena's In The Semis

The 'Williams'-don Ladies Singles tournament is rapidly heading to its conclusion this weekend and my favorite tennis playing sibling is still in the mix for her fifth title and 14th career Grand Slam one.

Her quarterfinal opponent wasn't going to be an easy one.  Sixth seeded Little Sis was facing fourth seeded and defending Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in a matchup of the last two ladies singles champions.

And per Serena's pattern in this 2012 tournament, she got off to another first set fast start by winning it in 30 minutes but ending up in a second set battle that took 54 minutes to finish.  

She trailed Kvitova 5-4 in that second set and had to save a set point to even it at 5 all, then broke Kvitova in the next game to take a 6-5 lead, then closed out the match with three of her 13 aces and a service winner to for the 6-3, 7-5 straight set victory to punch her ticket to the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time since she won her fourth title in 2010. 

Ironically on her way to that 2010 title she knocked off Kvitova in the Wimbledon quarterfinals and let's hope it has the same result.   Her semifinal opponent will be second seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus

.   .

Happy 236th Birthday USA!

Happy birthday USA!   Once again on my nation's 236th birthday I find myself asking the question I borrowed from the first 'Tuskegee Airmen movie. 

How do I feel about my country?   How does my country feel about me?   

While my feelings about my country sometimes approach the level that Frederick Douglass expressed when he delivered this 1852 speech,  I find myself on this Independence Day in a melancholy mood.

As I anticipate watching the red, white and blue fireworks light up the night sky above Eleanor Tinsley Park later this evening and see the endless shows reminding of our nation's birthday,  I'm nervous about the critical presidential election we have just 124 days away.  

I wonder about the future of our nation in light of the conservafools who are willing to destroy it just to make one Black man and his family move from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.   I worry about the conservavoters stupid or racist enough to vote against their own economic interests like they have done for 150 years just to put another rich boy who looks like them with unresolved daddy issues in who will rubber stamp their 1% plutocratic agenda unlike the 'uppity' Black POTUS.

We are just three days from hosting the 103rd annual NAACP convention in my beloved hometown.  But I wonder will there be another LGBT town hall meeting and if it's held, will there actually be a trans person on the panel this time or will it be a trans free event like last year?

But it's not all bad I'm pondering on this day.  I'm noting that trans human rights in my nation, like everywhere else in the world has been on a positive upward trend.  We are having not only more positive feedback and discussion about trans issues, I'm happy on this day to see more #girlslikeus standing up, being out and proud and helping to facilitate those trans human rights discussions in our various communities.       

The Affordable Care Act has been upheld by the SCOTUS and the economy is doing a slow recovery from the Great Recession despite Massive Resistance 2.0 from the Republifools.   And yes, NFL traning camps start opening in a few weeks along with the opening ceremonies of the London Olympic Games on the 27th.

While there's a lot of things that concern me about my country, there also a few things it does do right to the point that we sill have people still wanting to come here.  Like any other American who resides inside or outside of its borders or are in our nation's military defending it, I want it to be the best country it can be and I want to have a say in how it gets to that point.  

And for the sake of my nieces, I need to fight just as hard for my vision of America as the conservafools do for theirs.  And hear me conservafools, just because I won't fight dirty like you have done for the last 40 years doesn't mean I as a liberal won't stand up to y'all and fight like hell to make my vision of a fair America that works for everybody come to fruition.  .My nieces deserve to grow up and have that type of America I enjoyed around when they hit adulthood

Happy birthday USA!    May you have many more to come.

Rep.Gutierrez 'Pick Out The Immgrant' Speech

Love this 'Pick Out The Immigrant' speech by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) that he recently gave on the House floor while eviscerating the Arizona SB 1070 'Your Papers Please' law that was gutted by the SCOTUS last week.

Here's the video for it.

It's The USA's 236th Birthday...Who's Jealous Of Whom?

Renee had a little too much Canadian Club or was on an intense sugar high when she wrote that Canada Day post extolling the virtues of her home and native land.

Excuse me while I lick the BBQ sauce off my fingers in preparation for denouncing you properly.  And by the way, can't stand beer, no matter who brews it. 

The United States of America is 236 years old today.  It doesn't have to be jealous of any nation, much less our youngling 145 year old next door neighbor we share that long border with.  I wouldn't even start bragging about the War of 1812 since our former colonial overlords Britain did most of the fighting and paying for it.  

May I point out your hometown of Toronto (then known as York) was captured on April 27, 1812 by US troops and the Upper Canada parliament building and library located there were subsequently burned. 

The Niagara region was an invasion route in that war and Fort George and Niagara-on-the-Lake (then known as Newark) got captured and burned as  well.   By 1813 the US had control of Lake Erie and was threatening to cut off Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River, so I hardly call that an azz kicking.  The War of 1812 is regarded by many historians as a draw, but I can understand why you Canadians have a soft spot for it..

If you're going to selectively attempt to take credit for the British burning of Washington DC in 1814 then you get to take credit for the loss future president Andrew Jackson handed the Brits at the Battle of New Orleans. 

Canadian bacon is still ham, Vermont and New Hampshire produce great maple syrup as well, and I like my fries with bacon bits, cheese and occasionally chili.  But barbecue is still the all-American food besides the hamburger we're famous for.

As I pointed out in last year's post, there's no comparison between the Canada goose and the eagle.  Our national symbol will not only majestically poop on you but kick your behind if you have the misfortune of getting in the way of its razor sharp talons when it's diving on you..

You can stop guzzling that Canadian red hateraid from three liter sized bottles.  Can't help it that many of your singers (Tamia, Deborah Cox, Bobby and the Vancouvers, Vanity, Drake) take their musical talents south of the border    .

And about that comment about our national anthem:



And yes, noticed that you were quiet about 'your game' in which you can't even hold the men's or women's International Ice Hockey Federation tournament titles in it.   May I remind you that the 2012 men's IIHF world champs are the Russians, and our USA women felt sorry for y'all this year after holding the IIHF women's title for three straight years.  We'll have fun taking it back from y'all when y'all host the 2013 tournament in Ottawa.   Oh yeah, you can bet your loonies the Russians and us are coming for those Olympic medals in 2014.

Speaking of something else you're quiet about to the point you're trying to trade the Sweater Vest for a pint of beer,. there's no comparison between our national leaders. 

President Barack H. Obama, his lovely wife Michelle our First lady, and the First Daughters are not only smart and talented people, but look so good representing the USA at international events.

We're proud to have him sitting in the Oval Office fighting for us and I hope we get to enjoy him and the First Family living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for another four years. 

Now as for those trades.  Y'all can keep Alberta.   We have enough problems with our own conservafools that we need to rein in now.  Besides, I gave you Canadians a birthday present by pointing out to our conservaidiots y'all didn't want them desecrating your country. 

You can thank me later with Timmy's when I make it to your side of the border.

On that note back to me chowing down on my BBQ while I wait for the fireworks show to commence later this evening at Eleanor Tinsley Park.  .

Another Unexpected Honor

There are days that happen in which you receive a blessing that you have absolutely no clue is coming your way.

I was just alerted moments ago that I have received a 2012 G.M.A.D. Black Pride Heritage Award in the Literary Excellence category.   The awards will be given out in a ceremony that will take place August 15 at the Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture in New York

I also note that Tona Brown was given the 2012 Marsha P. Johnson Award by G.M.A.D. as well.   Congratulations sis!

Wow.   I'm honored that this has happened.for me.   All I wanted to do when I started TransGriot six years ago was ensure that the voices of African-American transpeople were not only represented in the blogosphere, point out we Black transpeople are part of the kente cloth fabric of our community, transpeople exist across the African Diaspora and on the second largest continent on the planet . 

I also sought to obliterate the negative perceptions and ignorance that were being put out there about us and tell it like it T-I-S is about the issues that affected African-American transpeople and other trans people of color.

I also wanted to write a quality blog, document our history and talk about many of the issues inside and outside our community as I saw them.   Six years and almost 4 million hits later this blog has grown to be an internationally read one and I'm regarded as one of the national leaders in this community.

So thank you G.M.A.D. for the Literary Excellence Award. 

New Zealand Considering Trans Passport Policy Change

New Zealand is considering making some policy changes that would make it easier for trans Kiwis to not only get passports that reflect their gender presentation but also avoid being discriminated against when they travel internationally.

The New Zealand Passport Office is considering following in Argentina's groundbreaking footsteps and allowing transpeople to change the gender code on their passports without medical declarations or court papers

Currently transpeople can get an X code on your Kiwi passports.   You can only change the F or M gender code after a Family Court declaration that allows you to change the birth certificate.

That declaration happens only if the person has medical evidence showing that they are in transition from one gender to another, such as undergoing hormone replacement therapy, or has had gender reassignment surgery.

It decided to look into the policy change after being approached by the New Zealand trans community about the feasibility of doing so.

The New Zealand Human Rights Commission supports the change, with some members of the trans community wanting gender codes to be eliminated from the passports period.

As of this moment any changes to the passport policy wouldn't take effect until September .   
.

2012 Williams Watch-Serena To 'Williams'-don Quarterfinals

If she's going to win her first Grand Slam title in two years, this may be her big opportunity to get it despite her father's concerns she's expending too much energy in the last two rounds. . 

The draw is setting up perfectly for Serena Williams as many of the big names like Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Li Na and Sam Stosur have already fallen victim to the upset bug  

Sixth seeded Serena survived an upset bid by China's Jie Zheng thanks to unleashing a Wimbledon record 23 aces onslaught to advance in a 2 hour and 28 minute three set marathon match and entered the fourth round of the 2012 Wimbledon Ladies Singles tournament against Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova

It took her three sets on Court 2, but she survived 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals  .   

Once again Little Sis got off to a blazing start as she took only 26 minutes to complete the first set.   But in Shvedova she was facing a tall player that can hit just as hard as she could and she sent that message in the second set that took 34 minutes to play and even the match.   

Serena fought back in the closely contested deciding set that took 54 minutes to play and earned Little Sis a quarterfinal Centre Court matchup with defending Wimbledon champion and fourth seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

Should be fun to watch at 9 AM CDT.  

NY Latina Trans Activist Starts LBCF Community Fund

As I've stated more than a few times on this blog over the last now six years and Amnesty International has cosigned on that point, Officer Friendly ain't exactly friendly at times to the trans community, and especially trans people of color. 

There have been more than a few times these negative interactions have turned into highly publicized court cases.

My trans sisters in New York are dealing with the disproportionate fallout of the odious NYPD 'stop and frisk' policies   Because the po-po's assume they are sex workers, if during one of those stops the transperson in question has more than three condoms on them, according to local activist that transperson can find themselves arrested for prostitution

Interesting story about long time New York trans activist Lorena Borjas, who started the Lorena Borjas Community Fund.  

The LBCF provides legal assistance and funding to pay bail for low income and immigrant members of the Queens community in which she has resided for over 25 years.

Gabby Douglas Makes US Olympic Gymnastics Team

While I was flipping through the cable channels last night discovered there were two African-American gymnasts competing for spots on the US Olympic Gymnastics team.  One of them was 16 year old Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, VA  and the other was Elizabeth Price of Coopersburg, PA.  

I ended up watching the rest of the trials from the point I stumbled upon it because Gabrielle was leading the Olympic trails competition with two rotations to go over Jordyn Wieber, the current world champion.  

Douglas has been compared in gymnastics circles to Olympian Dominique Dawes, who was the first African American to not only make a US Olympics gymnastic team but won an individual gymnastics gold medal in floor exercise and a team gold as part of the 'Magnificent Seven' at the 1996 Atlanta Games. 

Douglas won gold at last year's Pan Am Games and hopes to make history by repeat the feat in London.   She eventually won one of the two automatic spots on the team by holding on to her lead over Wieber.   Elizabeth Price made the team as a replacement athlete as well.

It also gives me a heads up on another event and athlete I'll be keeping my eyes on when the London Games get started on July 27.