NFL Official Shannon Eastin Makes History Again

Because of the ongoing NFL officials lockout, an opportunity door was opened for others to get the chance to show what they could do at the professional officiating level.  

Many of those locked out officials of the NFL Referees Association have decades of experience doing NFL and BCS collegiate football games, and it isn't easy to become one. 

For those of you who had the opportunity to watch the St. Louis Rams-Detroit Lions game yesterday, you got to witness a little sports history in addition to the thrilling 27-23 game the Lions eventually pulled out.

When Shannon Eastin stepped onto the turf at Detroit's Ford Field yesterday she became the first woman ever to work as a official in an NFL regular season game when she served as a line judge   

It's also interesting to note this groundbreaking NFL moment happened during the 40th anniversary year of the passage of Title IX   

The Tempe, AZ resident already made history last month when she became the first female official to work an NFL preseason game.  Eastin served as the line judge during the Green Bay Packers-San Diego Chargers game in San Diego as well. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH already has the hat and whistle she used during that historic preseason game, and I don't doubt they probably asked for the cap and whistle she used during yesterday's Rams-Lions game for a future display, too.   She has worked as a referee in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and has 16 years of officiating experience.

MEAC officials declined comment on Eastin, and the NFL declined to make Eastin available for interviews during the week leading up to the historic game.   They also didn't allow media access to her following the Rams-Lions game, but did set up a conference call with her in August.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said having Eastin on the field is a great opportunity for her and the league.  "She's well prepared for it, and I think she'll do terrific," Goodell said in an interview last month. "So we're excited about that"  

"And there are more coming, by the way. We've been working along this path to try to properly train and prepare a female official, and now we have the opportunity."

Eastin said during last month's conference call, "I hope to show it really doesn't matter if you are male or female."

The only way it matters is in terms of inspiring others to join you in the officiating ranks as you were inspired by longtime NBA official Violet Palmer 

Congratulations on making NFL and sports history again.

2012 Texans Watch-Bulls On Parade Run Over Dolphins

In yesterday's season opening game against the Miami Dolphins the Houston Texans had Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub on the field in their liberty white uniforms for the first time since 2011. 

My favorite NFL ballers are considered by some pundits as serious contenders to be the AFC representative for Super Bowl XLVII that will take place down I-10 east in New Orleans February 3. 

The Texans players have embraced the heightened expectation of the media and long suffering Houston area NFL fans and adopted a 'Super Bowl or Bust' mantra.  They wanted to get the chase for Super Bowl XLVII and their second consecutive AFC South title off to a fast start in front of the 71,566 people at Reliant Stadium.

It was the second-largest crowd ever for a Texans home game (largest was last year's Pittsburgh game) and the sold out Reliant Stadium crowd got to enjoy the unveiling of the 2011 division championship banner.  But it was the Dolphins that looked more like the team that went to last year's AFC playoffs thanks to Ryan Tannehill, their rookie quarterback from Texas A&M.  

The Dolphins took an early 3-0 lead and stymied the Texans offense for most of the first quarter.  The Houston natives were getting restless over the missed tackles and dropped passes from our hometown NFL ballers and gave the Texans some boos for it.. 

Then the 'Bulls On Parade' Defense took over in the decisive second quarter.   Johnathan Joseph got the first of three interceptions off of Tannehill that led to the game tying 35 yard Shayne Graham field goal.  

On the next series JJ Watt tipped a Tannehill pass to the waiting arms of Brian Cushing.  That led to a drive capped off by a 14 yard sprint by Arian Foster for the go ahead touchdown.  

Watt then swatted Tannehill's next pass from scrimmage and cornerback Kareem Jackson came down with it at the Miami 27. Richard Marshall then was called for pass interference and Foster plowed into the end zone from the 1 yard line for his second touchdown of the day. 
.

Tannehill handed off on Miami's next play from scrimmage, but that didn't work either because Glover Quin forced a Daniel Thomas fumble which Danieal Manning recovered at the Dolphins 31 with 28 seconds left before halftime. Schaub threw a pinpoint pass to the end zone to Andre Johnson, who made the acrobatic catch over the Dolphin defender for a 24-3 halftime lead.

After the 72 yard third period Thigpen punt return that chopped the lead to 24-10, the Texans got busy and added two more Graham field goals to secure the 30-10 win.   It also extended the Texans record against the Dolphins to a perfect 7-0 and made it the third consecutive year they've opened the NFL season with a win.

"It wasn't pretty," Schaub said. "Anyone in our locker room can tell you that we can play much better than we did today."   We fans know y'all can play better than this and I'm glad the Texans feel the same way. . 

Next up is a trip to Jacksonville to play our first road and AFC South Division game of the young season with the Jaguars.  But getting better is mandatory because your schedule isn't going to get any easier.

NBJC Newsletter-Out On The Hill 2011 Recap Edition

The latest edition of the NBJC Newsletter is out, and if you're wondering why I'm so excited for the third edition of Out On The Hill to begin September 19-22, check out this one recapping the events of Out On The Hill 2011.   You may even see a certain blogger from Texas in a photo or two

And no, it's not too late to register for Out On The Hill.   If you do, you'll be glad you did.   

I'm taking part in two panel discussion during this edition of Out On The Hill in addition to finally getting to meet Laverne Cox after we missed each other while I was in New York.  

And yes, NBJC family, I'm deliriously happy I get to spend quality time with you once again and everybody else inside I-495 (AKA the Capitol Beltway).

And while I'm there I have an activism related announcement I'll be making during that weekend, so stay tuned.

See y'all September 19-22.

The Ricki Lake Show Is Back!

Back in 1993 Ricki Lake kicked off her popular syndicated television talk show that lasted 11 years before it ended. 

The then 24 year old quickly garnered a loyal young adult audience hungry for a talk show that discussed the issues of the day from their generational perspective. 

She's pondered getting back into the talk show arena ever since her first show ended in 2004 

Today, The Ricki Lake Show returns to television with a Ricki Lake that is two decades older later this month and has gone through marriage, divorce, raising kids and remarriage.  

The new show is different from the 90's version. According to 20th Television, the new show "will present topical conversation reflecting Ricki's own personal journey and recent life experiences. As her fans have grown up with Ricki, a combination of relevant themes personal to the host and her audience including family, marriage, parenting, divorce, weight loss and overall well-being are being explored for the program. 

"I have a specific point of view and a vision and a sense of who I am at this point in my life," she said in a recent interview. "Not that I have it all figured out, but growth comes with age and life experience."

The show has been taping episodes since July 25 and is already getting positive buzz and PR.  Some of her fans who remember the old show will probably tune in to see what the new Ricki show is like.

It comes on at noon CDT here in Houston, and it will be interesting to see if Ricki Lake v. 2.0 is as much of a ratings success as her previous show was. 

2012 Williams Watch-Whew! US Open Champ

In her run to the final Serena Williams had rolled through this 2012 US open tournament without dropping a set and losing only a total of 19 games.

Serena was facing an opponent in 2012 Australian Open champ Victoria Azarenka she has a 9-1 record against including the Olympic tennis tournament semifinals last month.

Another US Open women's final blowout in the making, right?   Um, that's not quite how it played out.

When Little Sis breezed through the opening set in just 34 minutes it looked like the rout was on.   But unfortunately in this match Little Sis wasn't on her usual A+ game.  She was hitting more unforced errors (45) than she was hitting winners (44) and Azarenka was doing enough on her end to stay in the match and take the second set. 

Yep, this US Open women's final was a three set affair for the first time since 1995.   World number one ranked Azarenka played well enough in this match to where she was up 5-3 in the third set and two points away from the US Open title.  

But you don't win all those major titles Little Sis has without having some serious intestinal fortitude and having the ability to win matches when you're down.  Serena rallied back to win that game and the next three to win it 6-2, 2-6, 7-5

Little Sis captured her fourth US Open title, her first since 2008 and the 15th Grand Slam title of her career to put her in striking range of catching Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert who have both won 18 majors.

She capped an amazing summer of tennis which included the 2012 'Williams'-don singles and doubles titles, the gold medals in single and doubles at the London Games and now the US  Open singles title.  And did I mention Little Sis got handed a check for $1.9 million for her two weeks of work at Flushing Meadow?

She's the champ once again even if she wasn't playing her best tennis Sunday.  Deal with it, Williams sisters haters, the check and the trophy have her name on it and she's climbing up the tennis ranking charts once again. 

And oh yeah, the 2013 Australian Open  is from January 14-27. 

 

Tona's Got A New CD!

I've talked a few times about Tona Brown and had the pleasure of doing my first TransGriot Ten Questions Interview with her.   She's shared her classically trained vocal talents at various community events including becoming the first transperson to sing for a sitting US president.

Now you get the opportunity to hear what President Obama and countless others did as she releases a new CD entitled This Is Who I Am and I get the pleasure of interviewing her about this new project.

TransGriot- Congratulations Tona on the release of this new musical endeavor.   How long has this project been in the works? 
TB-This Project has been in the works for a little over a year. It was recorded at Norfolk State University with my mentor, pianist and vocalist Geraldine Boone, and engineer Gerald Thompson last summer.  We decided to make a little video and post it on youtube, to let my fans experience what it was like to record it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju1o5ebbg2s We had so much fun! Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to keep up with my V-blog posts!


TransGriot- What motivated you to create This Is Who I Am?

TB-This Is Who I Am was created because of conversations I had with Ms. Boone about how we did not see enough diversity in concert programming. African Americans have contributed enormously to classical music, but you wouldn't know that if you looked at the playbills and programs around the country that only play their music maybe once a year—or you would have to attend a National Association of Negro Musicians function or special program put on by African Americans like the African American Art Song society, etc.

I wanted to change that and showcase a few of the works that I love and enjoy.  I also make sure that I also program a piece by an African American composer in all my recitals whether it's a Negro spiritual or art song or even aria as an encore.  I feel this is the only way to preserve our music and to encourage others to do the same.

Also I have been asked by fans around the world to produce an album, and the pressure to produce something that really felt like ME was tremendous.  I love the works of European composers as well,  but I felt that my first project needed to reflect who I am as an African American woman raised in the south.  Many of these tunes I would hear in church, or my grandmother would hum them in the kitchen while cooking.  These songs, like jazz, are American music, so I also feel it is my obligation to keep this music alive!

TransGriot- What musical styles can we expect to hear when we purchase it for our music collections? 

TB-What makes this music so amazing is that you hear influences of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues in these songs.  Each song tells a story and when I am on stage presenting them I feel like my ancestors are standing right behind me.  The music is very difficult to perform and to play, as many an accompanist have found.  The arrangements are virtuosic and you must have a unique sense of rhythm in order to pull them off.  I'm honored to be able to present these works to so many people, many of whom have never heard them before.

TransGriot- I touched on it in the intro, but what was it like singing for President Obama and how did that historic opportunity happen for you? 
TB-Singing at the LGBT Leadership Conference was incredible, but what many didn't know was how stressful that night was.  Unlike any other President, Barack Obama took an enormous risk coming forth with his support of our community, and we were told that evening that there may be a protest developing outside the Sheraton Hotel in NYC.  Thankfully it did not happen, and I did at least feel safe with the security over a block long all around the premises.  But at that moment it felt very real. I knew I was a part of history.  I knew what it felt like to be Marian Anderson and know that just because you are singing for something you believe in you could possibly lose your life or be hurt. I was willing to take that chance and would do it again if I were called upon.

TransGriot -Are you planning to release any more CD's in the near future?

TB-Indeed I am.  I would love to do more projects like this. It's imperative that this album does well, so that it can help me to do another album that will be somewhat like a part two of this project. There are hundreds of such art songs and violin pieces by various composers that most people have never heard.  But the future is very bright for me and everyone will notice that I am collaborating with various artists outside of classical music over the next two years. 


TransGriot -What do you envision happening in your musical career in the next five years? 

TB-In the next five years, I envision more collaborative projects with artists of all genres.  Music is music and I would love to work with R&B, Jazz and Hip Hop artists to produce great music for people of all ages.

I am also working hard to produce some recordings with my chamber ensemble the Aida String ensemble (www.aidastrings.com)  while developing my music instruction business Aida Studios.  http://www.facebook.com/AidaStudios

Please encourage your followers to join me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tona-Brown/105772866142812 or my Aida Studios page on Facebook to see what my amazing students of all ages are doing.

I am also on Twitter at Tonacity and my own website is www.tonabrown.com

Tona, thanks so much for your time and good luck with this first of what I hope are many more CD releases for you.
 

According To Medical Experts, SRS Is Medically Necessary

I got into this Facebook debate two days ago with a friend of mine who is a nurse and complained about how senior citizens are treated by the US healthcare system.  

I was in agreement with her on the funding issue until she used the Kosilek case as an example in her mind of 'wasteful taxpayer spending' and compounded it by saying that SRS was medically unnecessary surgery.  

Um, flag on the play.   Did I call her on it?  You betcha.  And when I saw the same BS in a Clutch magazine article and transphobia creeping into the comment sections, called them out, too.

According to the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, World Professional Organization for Transgender Health, several professional organizations in the fields of medicine, mental health and social work and surprise, surprise insurance companies such as Aetna,  hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery are medically necessary

The decision in terms of whether we need SRS or not is up to the individual transperson, and in some cases our medical histories will dictate whether we can have it or not, but medical people who treat gender identity issues are increasingly coming to the consensus opinion that gender reassignment surgery is not a frivolous or cosmetic procedure, but a medically necessary one..

When Will Trans Attracted Folks Get It?

Cheryl Courtney-Evans over at Abitchforjustice has an interesting post up in which she talks about the shortcomings of the men who profess to love trans women.and calls on them to step up their romantic games.

But now, with regard to that "marriage equality/civil union/relationship" thing, what is going on with the trans community? I'm always hearing fellas who claim trans-attraction wondering, "Where is there a good transwoman for me? I'd like a 'wifey'. ", but how many of them are stepping up and openly expressing their desire and attraction for transwomen?

I've also heard "I don't want a hustlin' transwoman, or an escort...too many transwomen are just hustlers...", of course without taking into consideration the continued societal refusal to employ us, which is the underlying factor that results in so many of us being chronically unemployed. Will they ever suspend this judgment and get with a woman ready to "square up", when there's a mutual attraction, perhaps helping her while she does? Hmmm, I've known this to happen on only a couple of occasions to my personal knowledge. But these same men will expect a transwoman (employed or not) to accept them as they are, employed or not...she's suppose to want them in her space "just because" (sometimes even living with her).

Head on over to her blog and read the rest of this post. 

Trans Athlete Playing On His HS Football Team

I've been saying that all the work of trans athletes coming out and breaking barriers would one day lead to a trans athlete wanting to play on their high school team if they desired to do so, getting the opportunity to make that team and nobody tripping when it happened.  .

That scenario I described has finally happened in Michigan.  Seth Knop is a varsity running back on the Grosse Pointe South High School football team who wanted to play last season but was afraid to try out. 

Since it was his senior year Seth took the 'why not' attitude and decided to go for it.  He approached both varsity coach Tim Brandon and junior varsity coach Brian Shelson about his desire to play football and was told that the school's athletic policy permitted coed sports teams.  He tried out and made the squad.

He's gotten respect from his classmates not only for his transition, but being a member of the team.

"The kids in my grade respect me a lot for it," said Knop of his being an out transgender athlete. "They treat me just like everybody else, which is what I wanted."

It's why the NCAA policies on trans athletes were enacted.   It's why the IOC has policies that allow trans athletes to compete in the Olympic Games. And it's also what those trans athletes who took those slings and arrows so that future generations of transkids could play their favorite sports without drama wanted for you as well.

Good luck this season Seth, and have a wonderful senior year. 

2012 GLAAD National POC Media Institute Goes West

As you TransGriot readers know I recently took part in the East Coast version of it and discovered while I was in the Big Apple I'd traveled the farthest distance to attend the New York gathering of the GLAAD National People Of Color Institute

I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and y'all were right, I don't look at television interviews, much less televised speeches the same way since I returned home. 

Now it's time for the participants in the West Coast version to undergo the same training we did

The Los Angeles version of the GLAAD National People of Color Institute started yesterday and runs through this weekend and I salute everyone who was selected for the 2012 LA edition of it.   It's going to be a wonderful experience for you.

For those of y'all who are interested, when they open up the application process for the 2013 edition in New York and LA, I'd suggest you jump on the opportunity.   GLAAD will let me know when that happens and I'll pass that info on to you readers who are interested.
      

Just wanted to take a moment to give a TransGriot shout out to Brian, Daryl, Monica, Marcus and super intern Jeff of GLAAD along with our trainer Joel Silberman.  

I was thinking about y'all this weekend and hope the LA group gets into the media realness lessons y'all will pass on before this memorable weekend is concluded..  .  

   

2012 DNC-President Carter's Speech

Unlike the Republican Party who are ashamed of their former presidents especially POTUS 43, we love, revere and still respect ours. 

One of the things that pisses me off is the hatred and lies pimped by conservafools about our 39th president, Jimmy Carter.   Until Bill Clinton came along, he was the POTUS who had the love and respect of the African-American community and still does.    He had the most diverse cabinet in US history, appointed many African-Americans to federal posts in his administration and the federal judiciary, and got Israel and Egypt to come to Camp David and sign a peace treaty that till lasts to this day.

You can also thank Jimmy Carter for the fuel efficiency standards on your cars, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the shift in emphasizing human rights when it comes to conducting our foreign policy. 

So when the first night's events of the DNC occurred I was happy to see this video of our Nobel peace prize winning former president and world renowned humanitarian endorsing the current Nobel prize winning president in this video.

It also blew up the conservalie they were telling in their media that the Democrats would be 'scurred' to have President Carter make an appearance at this convention.  (snicker, snicker)

DNC 2012-Rep John Lewis Speech

"Today it is unbelievable that there are Republican officials still trying to stop some people from voting," he said. "They are changing the rules, cutting polling hours and imposing requirements intended to suppress the vote. The Republican leader in the Pennsylvania House even bragged that his state's new voter ID law is 'gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state.' That's not right. That's not fair. That's not just."

2012 Williams Watch-Serena's In US Open Final!

When I last checked in on my favorite tennis playing siblings Serena was still rolling through the 2012 US Open singles tournament without dropping a set and they were about to play in the third round of the US Open doubles tournament against the Russian duo of Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko.

Unfortunately the Williams sisters attempt to win the 2012 US Open doubles title was halted in straight sets in the third round by the Russian duo of Petrova and Kirilenko 1-6, 4-6 who got some revenge for the Olympic butt kicking they got courtesy of Big and Little Sis..

Oh well, there's next year at Flushing Meadow for another doubles title run..

But never fear Williams Sisters fans.  Little Sis is still kicking butt, taking names and breezing through the 2012 US Open women's singles tournament in ruthlessly efficient fashion.  

Serena blitzed through her fourth round match with Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-0, dispatched Serbia's Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals took only 64 minutes to dismiss Sara Errani of Italy 6-2, 6-1 and make it to the US Open women's championship match for the second consecutive year. 

Her opponent in Sunday afternoon's championship match will be a familiar one in Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who is 1-9 all time against her.  Serena blitzed Azarenka in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 during the London Olympic Games singles semifinals to get to the gold medal match.. 

Azarenka is all that's standing between Serena, her fourth US open singles title and her first since 2008. I'm popping the popcorn and preparing to watch tomorrow night later what should be a fun final for me, but not Serena's haters.  

But they still have to play it.

TransGriot Update: Due to the severe New York area weather the match was postponed to Sunday afternoon.

 
 

DNC 2012- Eva Longoria's Speech

I love Eva Longoria and enjoyed her DNC speech last night    I also love the fact this Corpus Christi born Tejana is a Democrat.  


There were rumors in Texas political circles that she was asked to run for the US Senate seat being opened up by the retirement of Sen Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R) in this cycle but declined it so that she could continue in her role as the co-chair of the Obama campaign.   

Here's the video of her speech




The Hateraid aimed at her by conservafools will commence in 5...4...3...2...1...

Shut Up Fool Awards-Forward Edition

The 2012 DNC Convention is over in Charlotte, the speeches are done and we are now 59 days away from a pivotal nail biting election that we hope our side will prevail on. 

I'm fired up ready to go and ready to move this nation forward, but I'm not relaxing until November 7 because we still have a lot of work to do.  

Speaking of moving forward, it's Friday, and y'all know what that means TransGriot readers.   It's time for me to announce who earned this week's TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards. 

This week's group nominees were the Republican Party,  Fox Noise, the Romney-Ryan campaign, the NFL for not ending the referee lockout, the NHL for even parting their lips to say the word and the Log Cabin Republicans.  

The individual nods go to Andrea Saul, Reince Priebus, Eric Fehrnstrom, Rep Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Dana Loesch, Sarah Elizabeth (SE) Cupp, Michelle Malkin, Erik Erickson, and Speaker John Boehner.
  
Honorable mention number one goes to Hank Williams, Jr for his anti-Obama rant at a recent concert

“We’ve got a Muslim for a President who hates cowboys, hates cowgirls, hates fishing, hates farming, loves gays, and we hate him.”

Still bitter about ESPN kicking you to the curb last year, huh?

Honorable mention number two goes to the entire right wing media for all the hating they did during the just completed DNC.    Whether it was sophomoric and misogynist tweets, outright lies, or jaw dropping ignorant and racist KKKommentary, the conservamedia never failed to deliver the goods.

But this week's winner is Chuck Norris. 

Chuckie and his wife Gena took to the Internets to take his longtime hatin' of President Obama to another ridiculous level.  He warned the conservafools if they didn't vote and defeat the POTUS, they were sentencing their kids and this country to '1000 years of darkness'. 

Yeah right.  Chuck Norris, I'll let Mr T say it for me..

 

DNC 2012-Kerry Washington's Speech

Y'all long time TransGriot readers know how much I love actress Kerry Washington, and much of it stems from the fact she is a supporter and ally of trans women and had a major role in the 2008 Obama campaign

I particularly enjoyed one exchange I watched when she's appeared on Bill Maher's HBO show  in the closing days of the 2008 presidential campaign and eviscerated Michael Steele 

She spoke on stage during the DNC last night in Charlotte, and here's the video of the speech.

Romney Campaign Announces Its Black Leadership Council

Being that the Romney-Ryan campaign is trailing 94% to 0% in terms of garnering the African-American vote, they decided to do something about their pathetic numbers in this critical voting bloc by announcing the formation of their Black Leadership  Sellout Council

It's chaired by Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) Rep Allen West (R-FL) and Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll (R) and seeks to in the campaign's words "help facilitate dialogue between Mitt Romney and respected leaders who provide unique expertise, experience and knowledge on a range of issues impacting black American communities."

Yeah, right.   "respected leaders" in conservaspeak= sellout knee-grows.

You come to the NAACP convention Mittens and disrespect our community,  have cricket chirping silence about the voter suppression laws negatively impacting our community and think by sending these three cookie chomping knee-grows in Scott, West and Carroll who have insulted African-Americans on one level or another to outreach to our community is going to move that needle of support from zero percent? 

So what say ye about this, Reverend Al?

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

Damn, you peeps in the Romney-Ryan campaign and the Republican Party really are that clueless.

DNC 2012- President Obama's Nomination Acceptance Speech

The video of President Obama's DNC presidential nomination acceptance speech in Charlotte, NC.

DNC 2012-Trans DNC Delegates Getting International Attention

The 13 trans delegates (and hearing rumors they have discovered a 14th delegate) are deservedly getting a lot of positive attention and positive press coverage for our community

There's a story about them on AFP (Agencie France Presse)  and is a concrete example of the well deserved media attention for this distinguished group of DNC trans delegates that is going international. 


Thanks to y'all for representing our community with class and dignity during DNC 2012

• Super Delegate: Barbra Casbar Siperstein
• Dana Beyer, M.D.
• Kylar William Broadus
• Janice Covington
• Chris Land
• Daria Lynn Lohman
• Lesley Rebecca Phillips
• Marisa J. Richmond, Ph.D.
• Diego Miguel Sanchez
• Jamie Dianne Shiner
• Melissa Sklarz
• Meghan Stabler

Conflicted Emotions About Kosilek Case

Usually when we have a federal court case that advances trans human rights I'm so giddy with excitement about it I'm usually posting info about the fresh legal victory on the blog as fast as I get the opinion and can read it and the synopsis of it.

But in this particular case that involves trans prisoner Michelle Kosilek in Massachusetts, I like many transpeople are conflicted about it. 

Kosilek ended up in prison for while transitioning, strangling her wife Cheryl McCaul Kosilek in 1990 and leaving the body in the trunk of a car at a North Attleborough, MA  mall parking lot.   She was sentenced in 1992 by a Massachusetts court to life without parole for that crime.

While there she changed her name in 2003 and began taking hormones to facilitate her transition.  She asked for treatment of her GID issues which was denied.  Kosilek has tried to castrate herself and kill herself twice, and filed an initial lawsuit she won in 2002 in which US District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf permitted treatment for her GID issues just short of the SRS.  

Kosilek filed the second suit in 2005 with the trial beginning in May 2006.  It resulted in Judge Wolf ordering on Tuesday Massachusetts state prison officials to provide sex-reassignment surgery for her after finding that SRS is the only adequate care for her serious gender identity disorder.  

Judge Wolf also noted that the treatment for Michelle Kosilek had been prescribed by Department of Correction doctors, and that the only justifications for denying the treatment were based on public opinion.

Wolf wrote in his opinion: “It is not permissible for prison officials to [deny treatment] just because the fact that a gender identity disorder is a major mental illness is not understood by much of the public and the required treatment for it is unpopular.”

US District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf also noted that the treatment for Michelle Kosilek had been prescribed by Department of Correction doctors, and that the only justifications for denying the treatment were based on public opinion.  

By the way conservafools, before you start ranting about 'activist judges', Judge Wolf was a Reagan appointee 

What is making us in the trans community queasy about this ruling is that although it's a federal court legal victory recognizing that GID is a medical condition in which SRS is the treatment for it,  we're worried that this one is going to cause a little turbulence for our movement.

US Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) who while a member of the Massachusetts Senate tried to sponsor a law to ban SRS and hormone treatments for trans prisoners in reaction to this case has already decried the decision as "a waste of tax dollars' and called for an appeal of it.

Um Scott, just an FYI moment for you, some of those tax dollars are earned and paid every April 15 by transgender residents of Massachusetts as well.  

We in the trans community are nervously aware of the individuals and groups who have no problem hating on us.  It's also easy to hate on people in prisons and believe it's a waste of taxpayer dollars to give them 'three hots and a cot', especially when that prisoner murdered someone.  

You have both morphing into the problematic visage of Michelle Kosilek.  To pour gasoline on this combustible mix of transphobic negativity, add the fact she just won a legal case to provide her with an SRS surgery that many people still regard as frivolous or cosmetic and this ruling comes down in the middle of a contentious political campaign season..  

But let me make this point crystal clear.  No one in the trans community, myself included, is condoning what Kosilek did.   I find it particularly odious and distasteful when I'm writing posts on a monthly basis about African descended trans women being killed and the perpetrators of those trans murders have yet to be brought to justice and Kosilek took someone's life.   It's also infuriating to me that we can barely get anyone to pay attention to the fact. that young African-American transwomen are unnecessarily dying.

Gender Identity Disorder is a recognized medical condition. Under the Constitution's equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment and the cruel and unusual punishment clause in the 8th Amendment, recently backed up by the 2010 Fields vs Smith case, you cannot deny a person hormones or SRS if they are transgender especially if they were being treated for GID before incarceration.

Unlike Scott Brown's unsuccessful attempt in Massachusetts, Wisconsin in reaction to the Kosilek case in 2004 successfully enacted a law banning SRS and hormones for trans prisoners that got struck down by Fields v Smith for those constitutional violations. 

But there's also a legal principle at stake here that was upheld in this case.  Just like everything else in life, crime and punishment issues are riddled with gray areas.

Prisoners still have constitutional rights that just because they are incarcerated can't and shouldn't be suspended or abridged because public opinion demands retribution or revenge for their crimes or it would cause problems in these public officials re-election campaigns or public relations headaches.
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Speaking of public relations headaches, we can count on our haters and right wing media to seize on this case and rant about it on right wing talk radio and the Conservosphere for a few weeks. 

But trans community, I also need to point out that some of our legal victories have come from prisoners like Kosilek and Dee Farmer successfully filing lawsuits to stand up for their human rights and organizations such as TGI Justice , Lambda Legal and GLAD standing up for them. 

In the process of winning those federal suits defending their human rights, they expanded rights for us trans people that are in the 'free world' in the process.