'Scandal' New Episode Tonight

All my friends and family are quite aware of how much I love the ABC show Scandal.   I love it to the point they don't even bother trying to call me between 9-10 PM CT on Thursdays because I'm busy watching Kerry Washington, Columbus Short and 'errbody' else on the show.

But like the rest of Scandal watching America, I wanna know 'What the Huck' is going on in terms of who really shot President Grant?  I want to know if Olivia's second go around with Edison is going to last, if Cyrus has discovered that James has figured out that the election was stolen, and the other drama surrounding the White House and Pope and Associates.


It's rumored that Scandal has already been given a third season, but haven't seen any official announcement yet concerning that or the number of episodes ordered. 

But while myself and other Scandal fans are waiting for that, I'll enjoy tonight's episode.

Upcoming Can We Talk For Real Show Appearance

I have the honor and pleasure of doing interviews either in print, radio or on radio podcasts on behalf of this community. 

Hopefully you'll be seeing my smiling face discussing trans issues in television and video interviews in 2013 because I do want to put the GLAAD National POC Media training I received last year to good use. 

Enough jibber-jabber.  My first 2013 interview will be courtesy of the Can We Talk For REAL podcast team of Terry Boi, Michelle and Ina on January 16.  

Can We Talk For REAL is a Blog Talk Radio Show geared toward discussing the important issues of the LGBTQ Community including many issues that are hard to discuss within the community

I along with TPOCC Executive Director Kylar Broadus and Chicago's Kokumo Kinetic will be discussing trans issues with the Can We Talk for Real broadcast team, and whatever issues crop up in our on air discussion during the time we're on the air. 

You can also take part in that discussion or listen to the show if you're not near your computer by calling 347-215-8985.   

Looking forward to talking to everyone next week and having another dynamic discussion on trans issues and how they affect our community.
 

My 'Real' Name Is What I Tell You It Is

When we trans people go through a gender transition, we spend a lot of time and thoughtful contemplation considering what our new name will be that matches our gender presentation. 


So when we hear someone ask us the question "No, what's your 'real' name?", which is a roundabout way for that cisperson to broach the subject of what was the name given to us at birth that no longer fits our lives, it can be irritating, unsettling and insulting to the trans person. 

Read my lips and this next sentence.   My real name is what I tell you it is.

So use it, and get used to having it cross your lips on a regular basis. Calling me or any other transperson by a name that doesn't fit the way we live our lives now is not only disrespectful, if you do so in front of a person who didn't know our gender business, you have just inadvertently outed us by doing that. .If that person is a transphobe, you may have just set the wheels in motion for that person to experience discrimination at their place of employment or set them up for a hate crime.

And using a transperson's name in all situations is to them vitally important and a sign that you respect them.

One of the things that pisses me and many transpeople the hell off is when media people reporting on trans issues or transpeople use that 'born as _____"  line in a story about them, put their chosen name in quotation marks or ask them that question during an interview.  

It's unnecessary, and you don't do it to Cher, Muhammad Ali, Tom Cruise, or any other celebrity or cis person who has changed their name for whatever reason.   So why do you feel you need to know what the transperson in question's old birth name was?   That's in none of your business territory just like what genitalia we are currently sporting between our legs.

So the next time you think about asking a transperson what their 'real name' is, don't.  Our real name is what we tell you it is.  Accept that fact and move on.

Well Duh, MSNBC Black Viewership Increased 60%

In the news that really didn't surprise me department, MSNBC president Phil Griffin proudly touted the fact his network grew its viewership amongst African-American viewers by an astounding 60% in 2012.

Well, duh!  When you see yourself reflected in the news, people like you delivering it, people who share your ethnic background pontificating on it, and stories that reflect your lived cultural experience, you will definitely have people in that particular demographic group tune in to your broadcasts.

One of the major reasons I started watching MSNBC was because I was tired of CNN trying to be Fox Lite and kiss conservative azz all the time.

I was also tired of the infuriating pattern of longtime CNN African-American journalists such as Roland S. Martin, Suzanne Malveaux and countless getting passed over to anchor weekday and prime time shows in favor of white journalists (and non-journalists in Eliot Spitzer's case) that would subsequently fail.

Campbell Brown ring a bell?   

And I am still perturbed with CNN over what happened with Rick Sanchez

MSNBC has three shows that are hosted by Tamron Hall, Rev. Al Sharpton and Melissa Harris-Perry on the weekends.  MSNBC has as commentators Karen Finney, Joy Reid, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Robinson and Michael Steele to provide the conservative point of view. 

You also have guests such as Aisha Moodie-Mills who has been on Melissa Harris-Perry's show a few times and Janet Mock has appeared on Thomas Roberts' show.   On the various MSNBC news programs you'll see African-American academics such as Dr. Dorian Warren and Dr. James Peterson and longtime journalists such as Bob Herbert

And that's before I even start talking about the Latin@ and Asian commentators, academics, pundits and guests that routinely appear on MSNBC programs as well .

MSNBC looks like America, reports stories in depth, is diverse, treats its viewers like the intelligent people we are, ain't 'scurred' to tell the truth and shame the conservadevils, and gives us a wide variety of perspectives of the issues of the day. 

It's also nice to see members of Congress from the Congressional Black, Hispanic, Progressive, LGBT and Asian-American caucuses being interviewed about national political issues as well.

And if MSNBC gets a detail in a story wrong, they are quick to do corrections.

The hatred and dismissive comments the conservative movement aim at MSNBC tells me they're plucking conservanerves while they do so. 

You know what they say conservafools. Truth has a liberal bias.

So yep, no mystery why MSNBC is the number one cable news network amongst African-Americans and its ratings climbed an astonishing 60%.  

And yep, I watched them for convention coverage commentary when I wasn't watching C-SPAN and unlike Fox Noise, their 2012 Election Night calls were accurate.

I noted CNN is belatedly trying to catch up diversity wise in its host lineup by finally giving Soledad O'Brien and Suzanne Malveaux shows, and because they did, their ratings amongst African-Americans climbed 23%.

Megahint CNN to increase those ratings:  Give Roland S. Martin his own show.

Now if they'd just dump the prison show and go news and commentary all weekend, and have a show with a Latin@ host, that would be a happy-happy joy-joy moment for me as a news junkie. 

.

NBJC Will Get 10th Anniversary Year Started At Upcoming Creating Change Conference

2013 marks the tenth anniversary year since the National Black Justice Coalition was founded back in 2003.

This anniversary year of Black LGBT people Owning Our Power gets off to a flying start with presentations at the upcoming 2013 National Conference on LGBT Equality AKA Creating Change in the ATL. 

You'll have to register for Creating Change when it happens from January 23-27 at the Hilton Atlanta, but it will be worth it to see these NBJC presented workshops.    

The two NBJC workshops will happen on January 25 and January 26.

A Morning With NBJC: LGBT Emerging Leaders Briefing
Friday, January 25
9:00am – 10:30am
Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE
Atlanta, GA

As an introduction to the work of the National Black Justice Coalition, this presentation is an opportunity for LGBT emerging leaders and stakeholders to meet, network and engage. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the NBJC staff and leadership, learn about NBJC’s overall mission and strategy, and become acquainted with our specific programs for Black LGBT youth including the Emerging Leaders Council, the White House Policy Briefing for Black LGBT Emerging Leaders, the NBJC Historically Black College University (HBCU) LGBT-Equality Initiative, and the launch of the NBJC HBCU Affiliates Program for student organizations.

Beyond 2012: Crafting an Agenda for the Black LGBT Community  
Saturday, January 26
10:45am – 12:15pm
Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE
Atlanta, GA

This past administration has made historic accomplishments as it pertains to the advancement of equality for LGBT people in this nation. From the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, to the signing of the Affordable Care Act, and the President publicly expressing his support for same-sex marriage, it cannot be denied that there were significant political gains on behalf of the LGBT community. As we enter into a new presidential administration and congressional make-up, what are our political goals? What adjustments need to be made to our strategy and messaging? How do we maintain the political gains of the last administration?

You may also want to consider attending NBJC's fourth annual OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit in Washington DC this September.  I've had the pleasure of being at the last two OUT on the Hill Summits to cover and participate in them.

You'll also have the opportunity to attend events at the CBCF-ALC and there is always an NBJC sponsored panel discussion or event during the CBCF-ALC as well.  


The fourth annual one since it is occurring during this anniversary year for NBJC will be a highly anticipated one that will include the first ever all Black transmen's town hall meeting 

I will be keeping you updated as the OUT on the Hill date gets announced and the seminars and workshop schedule gets fleshed out, but you'll definitely want to be there when it happens. 

There are not many events you get to meet and hang out with Black LGBT leaders from around the country, and this is the one you want to be in the room for.



Happy 10th anniversary NBJC, and may this be a fantastic year of growth for you. 
    

Happy Birthday Niece!

For you regular readers of TransGriot, you've seen me write posts from time to time about the exploits of Dr. Kaila A. Story, also known to moi as Niece.  

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the rising intellectual stars in academia back when I lived in Louisville in 2008. 

She's the Assistant Professor of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Louisville, with a joint appointment in the Department of Pan-African Studies. She also holds the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

I've had the honor of doing some trans related panel discussions for her classes when I lived there and when she's not teaching her lucky U of L students, she's the co-hostess of the WFPL-FM radio show Strange Fruit along with Jaison Gardner, AKA Nephew.

But it's all about Niece in this post because today is her birthday!

Happy Birthday Niece!    May it be a day as beautiful as you are.  May it also be one that is chock full of abundant blessings.   And yes, may you celebrate many more of them!   

Saying No To Soccer Racism

Been talking about from time to time in various TransGriot soccer related posts about the now decade old FIFA Say No To Racism campaign that has the ambitious goal of eradicating racism from international football matches. 

Racism still rears its ugly head in matches like it did during the recent UEFA Euro 2012 tournament but you have more superstar players and national teams working harder to condemn and eradicate it than silently condoning the boorish behavior of their fans.

They are doing so not only from a personal distaste with what is happening in international football, but face a situation in which the club in question or national organization can get fined, suspended from FIFA sanctioned international tournaments or have both penalties happen for not expeditiously doing so.  

Something amazing happened at a recent match.   AC Milan player Kevin-Prince Boateng hears some wastes of DNA shouting racist chants at him, punts the ball into the stands and walks off the pitch.  

Boateng is not alone.  He is joined in his walk off the pitch by his teammates and players from the entire opposing team. 

How cool is that?   It starts at the 0:09 second mark in the video.

Girl Scout Cookie Time 2013!

Remember last year's series of posts I wrote urging the trans community and the liberal progressive blogosphere to support an organization that stood up for us and was getting attacked by to conservafools for it?

The wingnuts tried and failed to go after the Girl Scouts annual cookie drive in 2012, and now that we are into the second week of the new year Girl Scout cookie time is upon us once again. 

I don't doubt for a millisecond that the conservafools will try that reprehensible tactic again.

There were 760 million boxes of cookies sold in 2011, 714 million sold in 2010 and I have yet to see what the numbers were for 2012.  The wingers will probably be deploying their conservahatred of the Girls Scout again, so we need to be ready to rebuke that bull feces when it starts.

You'll be seeing these beautiful young ladies hanging around your local area stores, so do those younglingss in the Girl Scout uniforms a favor and buy some cookies from them.  You'll not only be supporting a great organization now into its second century of service to all young women around the world, you'll also be support an organization that stood up for the trans community too.

Here's a link to find those cookies

And I think that's worth spending a few bucks on several boxes of Thin Mints, shortbreads, or whatever your fave Girl Scout cookie flavor is.

The Wedding Reception

I haven't treated you TransGriot readers to my fiction writing talents in a while and I'm going to do so with an assist from the characters of the anime series You're Under Arrest.  

I've written about the show and one character in particular in the person of Sgt. Aoi Futaba, who despite what far too many cis people in anime world mislabel as a crossdresser and misgender her, is undeniably a girl like us.

Aoi in the You're Under Arrest series realistically experiences the issues and emotions we go through as she lives her life and does her job as a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department officer.

This photo I stumbled across of Miyuki and Ken's wedding gave me an idea for a short story based on Aoi and the You're Under Arrest characters..

Hope you enjoy it.

***

"Congratulations,  Mr. and Mrs. Nakajima!"  
"Thank you, Chief," Ken and Miyuki said in unison as they sat at their bride and groom table in the redecorated Bokuto Station cafeteria where their wedding reception was being held.  
"Took them long enough," said Natsumi.
So when are you and Shoji tying the knot, Christmas Cake?"
"I got your Christmas Cake, tramp"
"That's Mrs. Tramp to you, Natsumi." Miyuki said with a mischievous smirk on her face. 
"Keep it up Miyuki and I'm taking my wedding gift back."
"That would make you look bad, Ms. Maid of Honor."
As everyone chuckled over the good natured ribbing best friends Miyuki and Natsumi were giving each other, Miyuki noticed Aoi sitting at one of the tables in her bridesmaid dress forlornly picking at her food and gazing at the other couples dancing.  Ken noticed the concern etched on his bride's face when he asked, "What's wrong with Aoi?"
"Yeah, she was fine this morning before the ceremony," said Saori.
I think I know what might be bothering her, thought Miyuki.

"I'll find out," said Yoriko as she turned on her heel with the bridal bouquet in hand and walked in the direction of Aoi's table. 
"Kenny, do you have your cell phone?"
"Yeah Miyuki. Why?" he asked as he pulled it out of his tuxedo jacket pocket and handed it over to his wife.
"I'll explain later," she said as she started dialing a number and watched Yoriko amble toward Aoi.. 
Moments later she was at Aoi's table and settling into a chair next to her. "You all right?"
"I'm fine,Yoriko."
"You don't look fine, Aoi. You look unhappy."
"Just thinking about something, that's all."
"About what?"
"About my chances of experiencing a day like this."
"Aww, it'll happen for you."
"More likely it'll happen for you since you caught the bouquet."
"I was just lucky as usual."
"Umm hmm.  And who shoved me and two other girls out of the way so you could catch it?"
"Well, all's fair in love, war and catching bridal bouquets."
"I'll keep that in mind the next time one of your boyfriends is hitting on me."
Yoriko's eyes widened in shock before Aoi allowed a grin to spread across her face. .
"I'm kidding." Aoi said in an earnest tone. "You're my partner, I love you and you know I'd never disrespect you like that."
Yoriko nodded as they watched Miyuki and Kenny continue to accept congratulations from fellow officers and the reception attendees as Aoi sighed again..
"Miyuki made a beautiful bride today didn't she?"
"Yes she did.  She looks so radiant."
"She should.  She's been waiting for this day to happen for years."
After a few more sighs from Aoi and silent pauses to watch the happy couple, Yoriko finally decided she'd had enough and it was time to get busy with her mission of finding out what was bothering her patrol partner.
"So what's really bothering you Aoi?"
'What do you mean?"
"Ever since I sat down at this table, you been looking at the other couples, Miyuki and Kenny and sighing.  They noticed how sad you looked."
"I didn't mean to worry her."
"Well, she is.  She's concerned about you and so am I.   So spill it.  What's wrong?"
Aoi paused a few moments to gather her thoughts before she turned in her seat and faced Yoriko.
"This wedding has caused me to review my romantic life and notice it sucks."
"It sucks? You're the one that has handsome guys falling all over you every time we go out or on patrol," Yoriko said.
"Don't even go there, Miss I-Had-a-Middle Eastern-Prince-Falling-All-Over-Me."
"And I guess you forgot about.Go Kitakoji proposing to you."
"No, I haven't."
"What do you mean?"
"I've been thinking a lot about him this week."
"Really?" said Yoriko with a raised eyebrow.
"Umm hmm.  We were a couple for about a year."
"Wait a minute.  How did you pull that off and not have me or the media find out?"
"It wasn't easy.  And neither was keeping you from finding out."
Yoriko chuckled as Aoi recounted the story. "Three years ago he asked me to meet him in Hong Kong for a movie he was shooting there."
"You went to Hong Kong, too?"
"Sure did."
'So what happened?"
"He sent me round trip first class tickets from Narita.  When I arrived in Hong Kong I was picked up in a white limo and taken to one of the best hotels in town.   When I arrived in my room there were several vases filled with my favorite red and white roses." Aoi said as she savored the memory. 
Yoriko nodded as she continued. "There was also a heart shaped box of chocolate with a note from Go, and when I opened it a debit card was inside."
"What did the note say?"
"It was so sweet.  Go mentioned how much he was looking forward to seeing me when he was finished shooting for the day. It also told me to use the card to go shopping and pick myself up something nice to wear for our date later that evening."
'Wow."
"I go into the bathroom to freshen up before I go shopping, and there's a basket with my favorite bubble bath, perfume and a dozen more red and white roses."
"Sounds like he went all out."
"Yeah, he did.  And when he finally arrived it was a waste of time for me to get dressed that evening because we never left the hotel room."   
"Why?"
"Neither one of us wanted to leave," said Aoi. "Although he really wanted to, he was tired from the shoot and I was tired from the travel day.  So we just ordered room service, talked and caught up on what had transpired in our lives since we last saw each other."
"And?"
"And then he kissed me"
"'I knew it!" said Yoriko. "Get to the juicy part.  What happened next?"
"We ended up going to bed with me wrapped up in his arms.". 
"Aww, that's it?"
"Like I said, we were tired.  He didn't have to shoot the next day, so we spent the day together."
"And?"
"And it was wonderful.  When we got back to my room as soon as the door closed he gave me a kiss that just rocked me to my core."  .
"See Aoi...you always get the good ones."
"Nothing happened further than us stripping down to underwear.  I still hadn't had my surgery yet and I was still very insecure and shy about my body."
'You know Go loves you and doesn't care about you being a transwoman."
"I know, but at that time I hadn't gotten past that in my own mind.  I had a hard time believing he really did love me for being the woman I am despite what was between my legs."
They observed Miyuki and Kenny taking their first dance as a couple before Aoi continued. "The weekend came to an end and I headed back to Japan.   He invited me to come to his house two weeks later to talk, and it was that moment we decided to become a couple."
'Wow."
"He wanted to be honest and open about our relationship, and Sachiko and I wanted to keep it quiet out of concerns for his career.
"Who's Sachiko?"
"Go's publicist.  I also wanted to keep it quiet to avoid a repeat of what happened with the two jealous fans at Bokuto Station"
"That must have been hard on you, Aoi"
"It was, but Go made sure we spent quality time together.  He was there when I needed him to be, even when I had the surgery in Thailand."            
"I don't remember him being there with you.  I was at your bedside."
"Yes, you were Yoriko.   But not for the two days you went to Pattaya and the beach."
"Oops..forgot about that." 
"While I was with him he introduced me to several other trans women in Japan and from around Asia.  Two of us became great friends." 
She and Yoriko watched Miyuki hug Randy Hammond and his grandfather before she continued.
"I'll never forget one of the things Go said to me that weekend in Hong Kong."
"What was it?"
"It was just before we went to sleep.  I could feel his manhood pressing against me, he was planting kisses along my neck and caressing my body.  I felt so powerful and feminine until he reached his hand inside my panties and was about to touch me there."
"I tensed up and asked him to stop.  He complied, but said before he stopped stroking down there,'The genitals between your legs does not determine whether you are a man or woman.  What's between your ears and in your heart does." 
"He's right about that, Aoi."
Yoriko and Aoi were mildly startled to see Miyuki standing there before she sat down to join them at their table. "I've said for years you were more feminine than all of us at Bokuto Station.and joked that you were the daughter my mother wanted." 
They all laughed before Miyuki continued. "I wanted you as one of my bridesmaids and so did Kenny.  You're one of our dearest friends, you're one of the girls and you played a major role along with Yoriko and Natsumi in making this day happen."
"That was sweet of you to say.  You don't know how much I appreciate that."
"Kenny and I appreciate you agreeing to be part of our wedding.  Now can you do me a favor?"
"What is it, Miyuki?" 
"Can you put that beautiful smile back on your face for the rest of the reception?" asked Miyuki. "I won't be happy heading off to Hawaii for my honeymoon knowing that you were upset about whatever is bothering you."
"I think I can manage that for you."
"Good," Miyuki said as she hugged Aoi before getting up from her chair to head back to her table.
 The DJ stopped the music a few moments later and handed the mic to Ken for him to say a few words.
"Umm, Miyuki and I thank all of you for coming to our wedding, to this reception and for all the well wishes and gifts we've received as we start a new chapter in our lives together."
"We were wondering when you were going to wise up and marry her," someone shouted as the crowd chuckled. Ken let the laughter at his expense subside before he continued.
"We would like our bridesmaids and groomsmen to come to the front of the room.  We have gifts to thank them for participating in our special day."
It took a few minutes for them to make their way from their separate corners of the room to where Ken and Miyuki were standing and form the gender specific lines to receive their gifts.  First all the groomsmen received theirs, then the bridesmaids were next.  As Aoi approached and received hers, Miyuki was handed the microphone by Ken and she said "Aoi, wait a moment, we have another gift especially for you."
Aoi looked puzzled at first along with the other bridesmaids when she said that, and a low murmur went through the crowd speculating about what this gift could be.
"Aoi was one of the people along with Natsumi and Yoriko, responsible for getting me and Kenny to see how much we loved each other and belonged together.for the rest of our lives.  Now it's time for us to return the favor."
Miyuki paused for dramatic effect before saying, "You can come in now."
Some of the women in the room began to shriek when Go walked in to the opposite entrance to the room dressed in a black tux carrying a single white and red roses along with a stylishly dressed Sachiko flanked by two bodyguards.  Shock and then glee registered on Aoi's face as she spotted them, and she hugged both Sachiko and Go when they arrived at the spot near the DJ area where they were standing.
As Sachiko fished a small box out of her designer purse Go handed Aoi the two roses, smiled as he took the box from his publicist before dropping down to one knee.
"Aoi Futaba, I have loved you ever since the day I first laid eyes upon you many years ago.  That love for you has only grown over time and will not go away despite the many obstacles that have been placed in both our paths."
The tears were starting to flow down Aoi's face as Go continued. "Aoi Futaba, I cannot waste another minute of my life not having you in it.   Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" Aoi said with excited glee as Go arose, placed the engagement ring on her finger and kissed her as  cameras flashed and people cheered .
When the excitement was over Yoriko nudged Aoi with her elbow to get her attention and then whispered into her ear, "Told you it would happen for you"
  
.

Jemele Hill Gets Racist Letter

The latest episode of the 'Post Racial America My Azz' department involves ESPN columnist Jemele Hill.

I love watching her live up to the long, proud legacy of siatah sportscasters with her commentary on all things sports related on the various shows and platforms on the ESPN network .

In addition to her ESPN.com columns and appearances on ESPN Radio, she appears on the shows First Take and Around The Horn and just completed her first season appearing as a sideline reporter for college football broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2. 

Was not to happy to find out some pointed hood wearing waste of DNA took his time to go old school with his hatred.   He took the time to write Jemele a racist letter that she shared with her Twitter followers.

She's shown her sense of humor about the whole incident, quipping that homeboy accomplished the feat of racially insulting her without resorting to the n-word.  But it's still no joke she even received that stank letter in the first place, much less homey felt vanillacentric empowered enough to write it in the first place. .

And as I like to say about a lot of my haters, he hates you because he wants to emulate you.

Historic Day For Texas Legislature

The 83rd session of the Texas Legislature gets started today and runs for 140 days until late May.  For the first time since Glen Maxey left office in 2003 there will be a rainbow community legislator on the floor of our state capitol in Austin. .

She's 29 year old Mary Gonzalez (D) from El Paso, who was the first out woman of color to run for the Texas state legislature.   She beat two opponents in the May primary to win her District 75 seat..  She had no Republican opponent in the general election. 

Representative Gonzalez is also a trailblazer in another respect in terms of being the first legislator in the nation to declare publicly that she is a pansexual..

Gonzalez said in an exclusive Dallas Voice interview she identifies as “pansexual,” an orientation many would call bisexual, except pansexuals don’t believe in a gender binary and can be attracted to all gender identities. Gonzalez said she doesn’t believe in a gender binary because “gender identity isn’t the defining part of my attraction.”

Gonzalez originally ran for the legislature to gain access to clean drinking water and better educational opportunities for her district, but her sexuality quickly became something she had to repeatedly address on the campaign trail.  Mainstream media called her the Latina lesbian lawmaker and the coverage led to negative comments about her dating men in the past, accusations she was not a “true lesbian,” Gonzalez said.

But since her sexual orientation was made a campaign issue, she decided to wait until after the election to clarify it.   The bottom line is that she'll be the one representing District 75 and hopefully that will be for a long and distinguished legislative career.

SMU Adds Trans Policy Protections

The list of Lone Star State colleges and universities adding trans protections just grew by one.

Thanks to the hard work of the folks at Resource Center Dallas and other allies in the Dallas area. Southern Methodist University's Board of Trustees voted at their December 2012 meeting to make the necessary additions to the policy to protect the trans students matriculating on their campus. 

The revised policy took effect on January 1.

SMU will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU’s commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

Over the past several years, RCD officials provided SMU with several examples of fully-inclusive nondiscrimination policies in both higher education and other settings, and met with SMU officials to explain the importance of adding the trans protections for their students.  .

SMU becomes the first four-year college in North Central Texas to have fully inclusive nondiscrimination protections and hope others in that region step up to the plate and join them..

Is Trinidad and Tobago Making Moves To End TBLG Discrimination?

I've been happy to see that several Caribbean Anglophone island nations are discussing or starting to make their first tentative steps toward ending discrimination against their TBLG citizens.

Was happy to read that Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the wake of discontent over the country's Sexual Offences Act and the provision of Trinidad and Tobago's Immigration Act that bars gay and lesbian non citizens from entering the country has stated that she does not favor discrimination against Trinidad and Tobago's LGBT citizens.. 

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in a letter to UK based Kaleidoscope Trust executive director Lance Price answered his July 2012 expressed concerns about those anti-LGBT laws.   Her letter was obtained and printed by the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian and stated. 

'With respect to the concerns raised in your letter regarding aspects of T&T's Sexual Offences Act and the Immigration Act which may target persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), I wish to assure you that due consideration is being given to these issues by my Government.

'I do not support discrimination in any form against any individual, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

'I share your view that the stigmatisation of homosexuality in T&T is a matter which must be addressed on the grounds of human rights and dignity to which every individual is entitled under international law.  

'As such I am pleased to inform you that I have mandated my Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development, Senator the Honourable Marlene Coudray to prepare and present a national gender policy to Cabinet over the coming months.

'It is expected that once adopted, this policy will forge the way forward for T&T as my Government seeks to put an end to all discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.'

It will be interesting to see if PM Persad-Bissesar's words do indeed match the deeds of Trinidad and Tobago's government.   The world will be watching to see if they formulate a national gender policy that not only satisfies LGBT Trinis and reduces the discrimination and stigmatization aimed at them, but is the envy of the Caribbean and the world.

First Sunday Of The Year

Today is the first Sunday of the 52 we get every year whether or not it's a leap year.  

Some of you will choose to spend it in your chosen house of worship. Some of you will choose to spend it visiting or hanging out with family or friends. 

Some of you will choose to spend it doing whatever it is that makes you happy. whether it's watching a sporting event, participating in one or curling up with a good book  Some of you will just spend the day relaxing in whatever form that takes..

And some of you will choose to spend it contemplating how this year that it now six days old will turn out.

None of us including the TransGriot will know how this year will transpire until we turn the calendar page to December 31, 2013.   But what we can do is handle the thing we can control to make it a great year.

All we can control is the person in the mirror.  We can work on building up that person's strengths, eliminating their weaknesses, and making them the best human being they can be.  

If we are girls or boys like us, we have the added concerns of dealing with and eradicating the effects of the unholy trinity of shame, fear and guilt that plague us.   And that's a 24/7/365 job

But it's a job we are more than capable of handling on this first Sunday of the year, the other six days of the week, and beyond.

2012 Texans Watch-On To Foxborough!

The Texans over the month of December have not exactly shown us Houston fans they are the same squad that swaggered and dominated NFL competition through the first 12 games of the season. 

They entered their playoff game with an outlook as cloudy as the rainy overcast Houston weather that kept Reliant Stadium's roof closed and a fan base that had seen far too many of these NFL seasons that got our civic hopes up but ultimately crashed and burned for our local NFL franchise.

Well, the Texans have been saying all year they wanted to slay some demons and make new and wonderful NFL history for our city.  They took the first step in their road to the Super Bowl in their deja vu rematch with a Cincinnati Bengals squad that had won seven straight and wanted to slay a demon of its own in terms of not having won a playoff game in 22 years.

In front of a record crowd of 71,738 that included former Oilers great Earl Campbell the Bulls on Parade showed up Saturday along with a Texans offense at its clock controlling best.   They held the ball for nearly 39 minutes as Arian Foster rushed 32 times for 140 yards and a touchdown.


They are still having issues finishing drives with touchdowns as Shayne Graham's four field goals attests to.  It didn't help that Matt Schaub threw a pick six in the second quarter for a brief 7-6 Bengal lead but followed it up with a drive that led to a Graham field goal that put them up at the break 9-7.

But with the Bulls on Parade forcing turnovers and not allowing the Bengals a single third down conversion, the Texans sent the Bengals packing again with a nerve wracking 19-13 win.   

They now earn a return trip to Foxborough to play a rested New England Patriot squad that embarrassed them on national TV 42-14 last month to start their four game funk and that no one outside of Loop 610 thinks they can beat.   In fact the early Vegas line has them as 9 point underdogs.

We'll see next Sunday.

2012 TransGriot NFL Picks-Wild Card Weekend

The regular season prognostication contest between myself and Mr. Watts is over, and it came down to the last week and the last game of the 2012 NFL season.  

Specifically the Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins one.   I went with RG3, Mike went with TR3 (Tony Romo, three interceptions).  I prevailed by one game after having as much as a seven game lead during the season. 

Best of all, I have the bragging rights over my fellow Texan until we crank this NFL prognostication competition up in September 2013 with me as defending champion.  

Week 17 records 
TransGriot  11-5
Mike Watts 10-6

2012 Final Season Records
TransGriot  163-92-1
Mike Watts 162-93-1

Speaking of champions, the road to next month's Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans gets started with Wild Card weekend.  Just to keep my championship NFL prognostication skills sharp I'll predict who I think will come out on top in these playoff games like last year all the way until the Super Bowl on February 3.  If Mike Watts puts his picks up on his blog I'll link to them as well. 

So let's get started with the 2012-13 TransGriot NFL playoff predictions, shall we? . 


Saturday NFL Wild Card Playoff Games 

Cincinnati at Houston

My 12-4 hometown NFL ballers weren't supposed to be playing this weekend.   They were 11-1 and had a stranglehold on the number one seed for the entire AFC playoffs until they dropped three of their last four games to play their way into Wild Card weekend. 

That means they stumbled their way into a deja vu rematch of their 2012 NFL wild card playoff matchup with the Bengals.   

And yeah, Mr Watts and the media had to bring up a painful memory for longtime Houston NFL fans. January 3 was the 20th anniversary of the Oilers playoff collapse against Buffalo that sowed the seeds of NFL civic discontent that led to them moving to Nashville in 1996.

Meanwhile the 10-6 Bengals enter this deja vu rematch on a bit of a roll   They won three of their last four and seven of their last eight in the second half of the season with only a 20-19 loss to Dallas on December 9 marring their record.  Houston area homeboy Andy Dalton will be motivated to flip the script of last year's playoff game and end their playoff futility streak.  The Bengals haven't won a playoff game since 1990. (ironically against against the Oilers) .

However, this game is being played at Reliant Stadium and the AFC South champion Texans, with 8 Pro Bowlers on this squad, are more than a little pissed off about their play down the stretch and making their NFL road to New Orleans harder.   This will be Matt Schaub's first playoff game as the Texans QB and he will be motivated to play well and show he is worthy of his Pro Bowl selection after a lousy December.  So will future defensive MVP JJ Watt and the Bulls on Parade defense. 

Despite what the NFL national pundits and haters like Shannon Sharpe and Keyshawn Johnson say, Texans in this one. 

Minnesota at Green Bay

The 10-6 Vikings won their last four games to edge the Bears for a playoff spot and beat Green Bay at Mall of America Stadium 37-34 in their 2012 regular season finale to get in.  They have the NFL's leading rusher in Adrian Peterson, who missed breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record of 2105 by 9 yards.  AP has compiled 210 and 199 yard games in both NFC North divisional encounters with the Packers which the teams split.   

But the 11-5 Packers are playing this rubber match at Lambeau Field and have Aaron Rodgers on their sideline.  The Packers were 6-2 in the second half of the season and the NFC North Champs are getting healthy on the defensive side at the right time.  Peterson will probably rush for another 150 plus yards on the less than stellar Packers rushing defense, but if Vikings QB Christian Ponder doesn't play as well as he did last weekend and Aaron Rodgers is at his usual MVP level, it won't matter how many yards AP gains because their season will be over. 

Packers to take this one

Sunday NFL Wild Card Playoff Games


Indianapolis at Baltimore

Intriguing game on many levels.   The precocious rookie dominated Colts team that went 6-2 down the stretch and 9-3 under interim coach Bruce Arians as Pagano was on medical leave versus the injury plagued AFC North champion Ravens 4-4 second half season record.

Chuck Strong vs the Ravens being motivated to play well for their inspirational leader in LB Ray Lewis. 

Lewis announced he is retiring after a stellar NFL career, has an ESPN commentary job waiting when he does and returned for the playoffs after spending most of the season rehabbing a torn tricep muscle.   

There's the interesting note that this is the first time the 11-5 Colts will be playing a playoff game in Baltimore since sneaking out of town under cover of darkness to move to Indianapolis in 1984.  Longtime Ravens fans still haven't forgiven or forgotten that episode..  

You have the dynamic of former Colts head coach Jim Caldwell who is now the Ravens offensive coordinator. Chuck Pagano, the guy hired to replace Caldwell, spent several seasons in Baltimore and was the Ravens defensive coordinator prior to taking the Colts job

It's Houston homeboy Andrew Luck's first ever playoff game versus the inconsistent but playoff battle tested Joe Flacco.   They have quick strike capability with speedy rookie WR TY Hilton, veteran Reggie Wayne and a defense with playoff vets Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis still terrorizing NFL quarterbacks.    

But the Angry Birds have the playoff experience and made it to the AFC Championship game last year.  Can their defense carry this team one more time for their leader before he hangs it up or will Indy's youth be served before a hostile M&T Bank crowd?   And yeah, which Joe Flacco will show up?   How many carries will Ray Rice get? .  

Ravens will be motivated to win this one for Ray, the M&T Bank Stadium crowd will be fired up, and it will be the Ravens in a close one.


Seattle vs Washington

The most anticipated playoff game of the weekend involves two rookie quarterbacks spectacularly leading their teams in Rookie of the Year candidates Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III

2011 Heisman trophy winner RG3 is all that and four bags of chips.  Thanks to a 7-1 stretch run Griffin led the Redskins to a 10-6 record and their first NFC East title since 1999.  Seattle also went 7-1 in the second half of the season to finish 11-5.  One of those games was a 42-13 beat down of the NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field mere days after the Niners beat the New England Patriots in Foxborough.

The Seahawks defense is slightly better and especially their defensive secondary.   The Redskins D-line, like Seattle's has caused teams headaches during the second half of the season.   The Redskins offense is explosive and has rookie running back sensation Alfred Morris along with wide receivers Santana Moss and Pierre Garçon to complement RG3's world class sprinters speed.  

Seattle's offense isn't slouchy either.  Wilson is a better than average runner, and you have RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Golden Tate to throw into the offensive mix.  

The Seahawks were the only team to run the table at home, and two of the teams they beat there in addition to the 49ers were the New England Patriots (24-23) and the Green Bay Packers in that controversial 14-12 'Fail Mary' game that hastened the merciful end of replacement refs calling games.

But this playoff game will be at FedEx Field, it will be jumping, and we should be hearing 'Hail To The Redskins' when this close one is over.  

Redskins to win this one.

Justice For January Rally Tonight

I posted about January Marie Lapuz, one of the girls like us in the Vancouver area who was loved and respected in the community being murdered in her New Westminster, BC home on September 29th of last year.  
Charles Neel, the person who is alleged to have committed the crime was arrested on December 5 and charged with her murder. 

Later today the Vancouver trans community and their allies will have a rally starting at 4 PM PST in support of January.  They will gather at the New Westminster City Hall and march to the New Westminster Provincial Courthouse in a call for justice for January Lapuz and in opposition to the release of Charles Neel.   

Activists at this rally will call on the Canadian federal and British Columbia provincial governments to immediately enshrine human rights protections at the federal and the provincial level in BC for all gender variant, transgender, transsexual, two spirit, intersexual, and other individuals.  

They will also call for general reform and improvement of BC's Trans Health Program, and ending the mistreatment of Canada's transgender and gender variant citizens.

Good luck and hope you have a sizable turnout for this event.

TPOCC 2013 New Year's Message

And we're off!!! Just weeks ago we stood with LGBT leaders at the White House and vowed to make 2012 the last year in U.S. history where our Trans & Gender Non-Conforming brothers and sisters would be treated like second class citizens. We meant it! This year, with your help we plan to continue our fight for justice in every area disproportionately affecting our black and brown people. Now, we can't do it alone. Just as I testified before the Senate & asked for the passing of ENDA, I'm asking you for your continued support and donations to the Trans People of Color Coalition. You can stand in solidarity with us today by pledging a monthly donation of either $20.13 or $13 to ring in the new year. And of course, if you can give more, we appreciate every penny. Warmest Regards, Kylar W. Broadus, Esq. Executive Director Trans People of Color Coalition

©2013 Trans People Of Color Coalition | National Headquarters, Washington, DC 20012

TransGriot Note: Photo is of TPOCC Executive Director Kylar Broadus and Steering Committee member Cecilia Chung attending the 2012  LGBT Reception at the White House. (Courtesy Photo) TPOCC wishes you unity & prosperity & look forward to working with you in this new year!

Shut Up Fool Awards-First Shut Up Fool Of 2013 Edition

Happy New Year!  Hope you didn't celebrate too hard and you made New Year's resolutions you're going to at least try to make a reality in 2013.

Another year and this is the first of 52 weekly winners of my TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards.  As you longtime readers know, every week without fail I highlight the fool, fools or group of fools that have exhibited jaw dropping stupidity, hypocrisy and ignorance that I have just got to call them out on. 

So let's get the 2013 Shut Up Fool! party started.

Honorable mention number one is the 15 and 16 year old Northern California teens who drugged one girl's parents with milkshakes from an unnamed fast food restaurant so they could use the Net after 10 PM.  

Only the fact these girls were juveniles saved their behinds from adult prison time. 

The girls thought the parents no Internet after 10 PM policy was 'too strict'    If they thought that was too strict, wait until they get out of juvenile hall.   Not only is the belt probably waiting for their azzes (if that part didn't happen already, they're probably looking at even more draconian parental Internet control.  

Honorable Mention number two is Wisconsin state Senator Glenn Grothmann (R), who got himself in hot water by stating that 'almost no Black people care about Kwanzaa, just White Left Wingers'

Glenn, last stats I saw concerning Kwanzaa indicate that up to 4 million African-Americans celebrate the holiday, and others like myself do acknowledge its existence.

This week's first Shut Up Fool for 2013 is a group award for the House Republicans.   They failed to renew the Violence Against Women Act for the first time since 1994, pass 60 billion in funding for Hurricane Sandy victims, still kissing up to the NRA on gun legislation in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, and still think the only thing they need to correct about Republican campaigns for national office is soften the conservative message.

Really?   This week said loud and clear you're kissing the NRA's rumps, you still are hatin' on women, and you just told the Northeastern US, a region that provides you with much campaign cash, to screw themselves in their hour of federal funding need.

They are also threatening another showdown over the debt limit in their 70 plus year quest to kill Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Is November 2014 here yet?

House Republicans, shut up Fools!    

Welcome Back Rep Alan Grayson!

One of the other cool things about the opening of the 113th Congress yesterday is the return of Rep Alan Grayson (D-FL) to the Democratic caucus..

I'm so happy to see Rep Grayson back.   We've needed somebody on the liberal-progressive side inside the Beltway who isn't 'scurred' to call out the Republifools and stand up proudly for our policy ideas and principles. 

Check out his first interview on Rev. Al's Politics Nation since returning to DC in which he accuses the GOP of 'legislative terrorism' ion the debt ceiling issue. 




Welcome back Rep Grayson.  This time I hope your stay in Congress is much longer than just two years.