2012 TransGriot NFL Picks-Super Bowl XLVII

Well, I'd hoped my fave NFL ballers would be at the Mercedes Benz Superdome playing for an NFL title tomorrow, but unfortunately that isn't happening.

That game will take place between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers and be a coaching battle between the Harbaugh brothers.   It'll also be Ray Lewis' last NFL game after 17 seasons and maybe Ed Reed's last in a Ravens uniform

It'll definitely be an interesting one in terms of both teams having stellar defenses and explosive offenses. 

The Ravens and Joe Flacco like to go deep and hand it off to Ray Rice while the 49ers have a dangerous read option attack triggered by the speedy and strong armed second year quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The Ravens have been on a hot streak ever since they entered the playoffs.   So have the 49ers.  But the Angry Birds had the tougher playoff road that saw them take down Andrew Luck's Colts, Peyton Manning's number one AFC seeded Denver Broncos and the number two AFC seeded Brady Bunch to get to New Orleans. 

Granted, the Niners sent Arron Rodgers and number one seeded Atlanta packing in the NFC title game and were on a mission to get to the Super Bowl after their bitter overtime loss in the NFC title game at home to the New York Giants.   The 49ers are 5-0 as an organization in the Super Bowls

So who's going to win?    This is what Mike Watts had to say about it.   Ravens send Ray Lewis out in style hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy again  
 

 

NFL Referee Jerome Boger Making Black History

When NFL referee Jerome Boger steps onto the playing field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for Super Bowl XLVII, tomorrow, he will be making a little Black history when he does so.

Boger, who has been an NFL official since 2004 and was promoted to referee in 2006, will become only the second African-American to have the honor of being a Super Bowl referee.

Boger is the third African-American to become an NFL referee.  Johnny Grier broke the referee color line in 1988.  Mike Carey became the second Black NFL referee when he was promoted in 1995 in the wake of the additions of the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars to the league creating the need for another officiating crew. 

The officials at the Super Bowl are chosen on merit, with the highest ranked at each position on the officiating crew getting the assignment.  The other criteria for their selection is they must have five years of NFL officiating experience and previous playoff assignments.

Boger has officiated four playoff games this postseason and finished the 2012 season as the league's number one ranked referee, but the vanilla ice flavored Hateraid started flowing once the NFL announced the Conyers, GA resident and former Morehouse College starting quarterback got this coveted assignment. 


This will be Boger's first time he has done so as the referee in a Super Bowl, but it is only the only the second time an African-American will have become a Super Bowl referee. 

Mike Carey was the first to accomplish that feat exactly five years ago at Super Bowl XLII back on February 3, 2008.

Yep, that was the one in which the New England Patriots dream of an undefeated season died in a monumental 17-14 upset loss to the New York Giants.

Congratulations to Jerome Boger for making that history.  To all the vanillacentric privileged haters whose white sheets are showing over his selection, frack y'all.  I didn't hear any of you complaining about the fact there were a total of 15 NFL head coaching and GM openings in this offseason and ALL of them went to white males.

That was especially galling to African-Americans n the wake of former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith being fired despite the team compiling a 10-6 record.

For the fans of the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, they hope that this is the only time the referee gets more press coverage than the teams involved in the NFL title game.

RuPaul Post Links

The 'Why I Can't Stand RuPaul' post wasn't the first time I've lit him up in this electronic space.   I've had plenty to say about his crap and you can read me letting it all hang out about him in this compilation post..

Gay Media, RuPaul Isn't A Transgender 'Expert', So Stop Trying To Pass Him Off As One.


I Repeat Gay Media, RuPaul Is Not A Trans Expert


You Better Work On Those Misogyny Issues


You Are A Jerk


Just Not Into RuPaul


RuPaul Hospitalized After Being 'Drop Squaded'

Another TransGriot High Traffic Day!

Y'all must have really loved that Why I Can't Stand RuPaul post, because 7,690 of you surfed by on January 30 to read it.

That is now my fifth highest all time traffic day on the blog, and I can't thank you folks enough who surfed by to read that one and the other scribblings on my blog.

Deeply appreciate all you folks who took your precious web surfing time to read it, and who recommended it to your friends.

Thanks to you peeps who dropped some change into my TransGriot Tip Jar, too.

Shut Up Fool Awards-Post Fourth Anniversary Edition

January 30 was the fourth anniversary of the first time I gave out the weekly Shut Up Fool Award on TransGriot.   That first SUF recipient was Fox Noise's Juan Williams

We enter the fifth year of them with a more urgent need than ever to expose the hypocrisy, ignorance and downright conscientious stupidity that motivated me to create this popular feature on this blog in the first place.

The weekly Shut Up Fool Award has morphed into a Shut Up Fool of The Year and Shut Up Fool Lifetime Achievement Award of which the next five losers winners will be revealed during Oscar weekend.

Speaking of winners, I had a lot to choose from this week, so let's see which fool, fools, or group of fools get honored with this week's SUF Award.

Honorable mention number one goes to San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver.  Idiot forgot he plays pro ball for a fan base that does fly the rainbow flag and let fly with homophobic statements in a Super Bowl Week media interview that the 49ers swiftly countered.with this statement.

“The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made [Tuesday], and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”

Chris tried to do damage control in a subsequent interview, but the damage has been done.

Honorable mention number two goes to Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, who is reading the Rmoney playbook to electoral success.  He's releasing a book February 12 with comments echoing the 47% ones that sunk Mittens failed presidential campaign that Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe will probably whack Cuccinelli with all the way to November and the governor's mansion.

Honorable mention number three goes to Tennessee state rep Stacey Campfield (R) for bringing back last's year's failed Don't Say Takei Gay bill with the more odious requirement of mandating that teachers and counselors of grade K-8 students inform the parents of kids who identify as LGBT.

This week's winner is Gayle Trotter of the conservafool Independent Women's Forum.  She was at the Senate gun violence hearing using stereotypes women have spent decades fighting against to justify for her gun manufacturer paymasters killing regulations to ban assault weapons.

You have to see this bull feces to believe it.




Gayle Trotter, shut up fool!

Why I Love NBJC

The National Black Justice Coalition's anniversary doesn't officially happen until December 2003, but there's nothing stopping me from showing my love and appreciation for this organization now and throughout out this tenth anniversary year. 

And what better day to publish this post than on the first day of Black History Month 2013?  

I remember when I first heard about the formation of the National Black Justice Coalition after it had occurred. I was happy that we African-American LGBT peeps finally had an organization of our own to deal with issues from our Afrocentric perspective even though it was more focused at the time on tackling the negative marriage equality paradigm in the Black community and flipping that script. 

I noted that Keith Boykin was involved and was happy to see Kylar Broadus as the initial board chair along with one of my activist mentors in Mandy Carter.   I had the pleasure of meeting the organization's founding ED H Alexander Robinson at an event in Louisville, and now have the pleasure of interacting with from time to time current NBJC ED and CEO Sharon Lettman-Hicks.   

I've gotten to know other NBJC founders and board members past and present as the organization continued to grow during the 2k's to become a powerful, increasingly respected and listened to inside I-495 player in the human rights arena.

It has been a joy for me to watch over this second decade of the 21st century NBJC continue to coalesce, grow and evolve to become the go to organization on Black LGBT issues and help us as Sharon likes to say 'Own Our Power'

The thing that has made me most proud of the National Black Justice Coalition is they didn't consider the 'T' in LGBT as an afterthought like other professional GLBT lobbying orgs have sadly done.  

Over those ten years they have lifted us Black transpeople up as they climbed and shown us dignity and respect while doing so.

It is a respect level we rarely get (and still don't) get from our own peers much less white run gay and lesbian organizations




NBJC has made certain we trans people not only have input, but are highlighted in and have substantiative roles in their various initiatives and programming from OUT on the Hill to their recent appearance at Creating Change 2013 to the just launched Many Faces, One Voice economic empowerment tour.

Transpeople are considered a valued part of the Black LGBT family and NBJC's constituent base.  What's not to love about that?  

As a matter of fact it's time for us who are fiscally able to do so to drop them some t-bills as a thank you.   The work they do isn't cheap, and every contribution they get is efficiently used to fund their continuing work on our community's behalf. 

Happy tenth anniversary NBJC as you continue your unapologetically Black, bold, and innovative leadership of our SGL and trans community 

A Finer Specimen of Womanhood

TransGriot Note: Another one from the TransGriot The Newspaper Column archives I wrote in February 2004

`A Finer Specimen of Womanhood'
Copyright 2004 The Letter


I am concerned about the image that African-American transwomen present to the world.

Instead of judging a group by the best that they produce, society unfairly judges African-Americans by the worst among us. That standard has been applied to
African-American transpeople as well not only by my own people, but the GLBT community.

I and many others have worked hard to honor the women that we admire. My personal list includes Coretta Scott King, former Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, my mother, my grandmothers, various women in my family, and various women inside and outside my sista circle. I've been blessed with God given intelligence, and I've strived to live my life before and since transition in a positive manner.

I want my fellow African-Americans and others to see that we transsistas are intelligent, spiritual people who embrace our history. Many of us are ready and willing to assume the African-American woman's historical role of uplifting our people when we're asked.

Unfortunately, those of us transsistas who are making the effort to uphold the traditions and honor of the Black women that walked the path before us are facing
an uphill battle. We are receiving a negative backlash from our community because of the poor choices that some of our sistas are making.

It saddened me to read a recent post on a transgendered African-American Internet group that I belong to. A 20 year old sista wrote that she wants to become a porn star,instead of expending that youthful energy to do something positive.

Every time that I get upset over that thought, I think about a young transsista that I met at the 2002 Afro-American Leadership Conference on AIDS in Louisville. She was tossed out of her home after revealing to her family that she was transgendered. Instead of making excuses, she transitioned, graduated from high school, and went on to graduate from Vassar College. She's now planning to become a psychologist.

So for those of you that think that sex work is the only route to 'get paid',that is short sighted, dangerous and defeatist thinking in a world in which HIV/AIDS increasingly carries a face that looks like ours. It dishonors those of us who fought hard to put you in a position where you could transition in high school or in your twenties without going through the drama that we did.

This is America, and it's your life to do whatever with it that pleases you, but it is my fondest wish that more young transsistas would take their butts to college ASAP if they have the opportunity.

Frankly, we need you to become positive role models for the transkids coming behind you and for our people in general. My generation will be passing the
leadership torch to you soon, and frankly, we wonder who amongst you will boldly step up to accept it.

We'd like you to join us who work in corporate America, in the political arena, and who are wives and mothers raising kids.

You decided to do whatever it took to make your body match what you were hardwired to be, African-American women. You are joining a long line of women that stretches back to the dawn of civilization. We are women who have always done outstanding things in the face of seemingly impossible odds and still look good doing it. But with that decision to transition comes an awesome responsibility.

Please consider becoming a finer specimen of womanhood.

Being Fearlessly Out And Trans Is A Revolutionary Act

On one of the trans Facebook groups I monitor a post was put up about the gruesome murder of transman  Evon 'Yung LT' Young.  One person remarked in the comment thread under the post that's why she never leaves her home, and of course my response to that comment triggered this post. 

That's what the haters want...They want you to cower in fear locked up behind your doors. Your most revolutionary act as a trans person is to be fearlessly out and about in the world.


We have to constantly battle as transpeople the unholy trinity of shame, guilt and fear.   One of the reasons we get so much violence aimed at us is not only because we are trans,  but the haters want to intimidate us into silence so they can go back to demonizing us with impunity and claiming we don't exist..

Umm no.  This is the second decade of the 21st century.   We are now 60 years beyond the February 13 day Christine Jorgensen returned from Denmark to popping media flashbulbs and overwhelming media attention.   

Trans people need to be out, proud and claiming their rightful place in the beautiful mosaic of human life. We  need to be and are demanding our human rights be respected and protected in the laws of the countries we reside in.  We are demanding respect for our humanity from friend, foe and frenemy.  

If the haters don't like that, tough.   I know I don't care what they think because being trans is nothing to be ashamed of.  If you honestly don't feel that way, then why did you transition in the first place?   

I say it loud that I'm Black, trans and proud every day on this blog, at any panel discussion I'm privileged to be a part of around this nation and when I get the opportunity to do my speeches.  Hopefully I''ll get to do that on an international level one day.

And I'll look damned good when I do so.

Your best defense as a hated upon marginalized group is to be visible, not cowering in the fetal position waiting to take blows from your oppressors.  So go on that shopping trip to the mall.   Join your local civic organization.  Take that walk around the block and say hello to you neighbors as you get your exercise in.   Join that local church.   Attend those city council and school board meetings and introduce yourself to your elected representatives   Go shake you butt at the club.  Live your life.

The late civil rights icon Dorothy Height said, "When you're a Black woman, you seldom get to do just what you want to do, you always do what you have to do."

What we have to do is stand up, be proud of who we are, tell our stories and stand up for our human rights.  We can't do that from a closet or locked behind a door in our room scared to walk around in the world.  

And how do you stand up for your human rights?  By committing the revolutionary act of being fearlessly out and about in the world living your ordinary, everyday lives.

Two Months Later-Sage Smith Is Still Missing

January 20 marked two months since the November 20 day that Sage Smith went missing.

Still no word about Sage, but a "person of interest" has been named in this case.  Charlottesville, VA police are searching for evidence in a landfill, and a $10,000 reward has been offered. 

A half-dozen officers are searching for evidence in a landfill in Henrico County, the location where the trash from Charlottesville was sent when Smith was reported missing on November 20.

The family is still trying to keep their hopes up, and you may wish to consider sending your positive thoughts and prayers to them for a swift resolution to this case and Sage's safe return.

Will keep you posted if any newsworthy developments happen.

 

Historic Day For African-American US Senate Representation

With the confirmation of Sen John F. Kerry to become the next Secretary of State, his now empty Senate seat had to be filled by an appointment until the state of Massachusetts can elect his replacement.

After considering former Rep. Barney Frank for it, Gov Deval Patrick (D) appointed his former chief of staff  William 'Mo' Cowan to hold the seat until the election is held June 25

"Mo Cowan has been a trusted adviser, and professional colleague and friend for a very long time," Patrick said at a press conference at the Statehouse Wednesday. He lauded Cowan's law background and experience in the administration, in which Cowan has served since 2009.

Cowan unfortunately will not be a candidate in the special election to succeed Kerry, but reassured his new constituents that he will head to Washington "ever mindful of what matters to the people of Massachusetts." He noted jobs, education and affordable health care as top priorities for state voters.

By selecting him, Cowan made a little congressional and Black history.    He is the not only the second African-American US senator from Massachusetts after Republican Edward Brooke who served from 1967-1979, he is the first Democratic senator who hails from a state other than Illinois.

All three previous Democratic senators, Carol Moseley-Braun, Barack Obama, and Roland Burris all were residents of the Land of Lincoln.  .

Interestingly enough, with this appointment following South Carolina Gov Nikki Haley's (R) appointment of Tim Scott (R) to fill the remaining term of the resigned Jim DeMint, this is the first time ever in US history that we have had more than one African-American senator serving in the US senate during the same congress. 

Just wish Sen. Cowan was serving longer than June 25..    

NBJC Launches 'Many Faces, One Dream' Economic Empowerment Tour

"What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn't earn enough money to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee?" Dr. King in a 1968 speech to workers. 

I talk often about how trans rights are human rights, and how our struggle at times mirrors the African-American civil rights one of the 50's and 60's

We have seen one of our Holy Grail federal legislative objectives pass in terms of the Byrd-Shepard Hate Crimes law, but have yet to see the Employment and Non Discrimination Act become law.

The National Black Justice Coalition is going to do their part to help address the economic part of the Black LGBT community 'Owning Their Power' by joining forces with the US Small Business Administration to launch the Many Faces, One Dream LGBT economic empowerment tour for communities of color.   

“Despite the challenges we face, gay and transgender people represent an untapped segment of aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners,” explains NBJC Executive Director Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks. “Rich with ideas and talent, LGBT men and women are creating and leading their own companies. It’s time to expand the conversation from economic security to economic empowerment. It’s time for us to own our power.”

Janet Mock is one of the National Ambassadors for this tour which will hit 13 cities including my hometown  of Houston.   The others are Atlanta, Brooklyn, Chicago, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Newark, Oakland/San Francisco, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

"Some claim they don't know any LGBT people of color thriving; others argue that we simply don't exist. The Many Faces. One Dream. tour shatters those assumptions and challenges that invisibility,” says Janet Mock, writer, public speaker and Many Faces. One Dream. National Ambassador. “As a trans woman of color, I'm all too familiar with the fact that my people have been activating at the intersections of many oppressions for far too long, and my goal as a National Ambassador is to unveil the unseen, overlooked, untapped talent that exists in my community."

"This groundbreaking initiative is an exciting continuation of NBJC's ongoing work to empower people at the intersection of the movements for racial justice and LGBT equality," says The Honorable Darryl Moore, Berkeley City Councilman and NBJC Board Chair. "NBJC envisions a world where all people are fully empowered to participate safely and successfully in society, regardless of race, class, gender identity or sexual orientation. Many Faces. One Dream. brings this vision one step closer to being a reality." 

For more information, visit nbjc.org/many-faces-one-dream. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for Many Faces. One Dream., please contact Michael J. Brewer at sba_tour@nbjc.org or 202-319-1552 x104.

Why I Can't Stand RuPaul

As a recent EBONY.com article noted, it was twenty years ago that RuPaul's 'Supermodel of the World CD was released and propelled him to stardom, an MTV television show during the height of the gangsta rap era, and now a five year run on the LOGO TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.

I own that 'Supermodel' CD and used to once upon a time like RuPaul, but excuse me if I and other transpeople aren't jumping with joy over the coronation of Ru in that Tracey Ross article as some sort of 21st century gender warrior or trans expert.

It really pisses us Black trans women off that you give RuPaul Andre Charles (and Tyler Perry dressed as Madea) more love and respect than you do the average Black transwoman struggling to live their lives and interact with the Black cis and SGL communities without major drama.

RuPaul is a Black gay man, not a transperson, and the trans community is beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of him being elevated by cis and gay people to some nebulous 'trans expert' level.. 

As a matter of fact, one of the reasons I became a trans activist in 1998 was because of a Transgender Tapestry magazine article in the 90's that ignorantly considered RuPaul and Dennis Rodman as Black transwomen juxtaposed against other accomplished white trans people despite both Ru and Dennis Rodman emphatically saying they weren't trans and didn't want to transition.

It was the epiphany that made me realize just how invisible Black transwomen were in the trans human rights movement at the time and gave me the impetus to get involved and change that dynamic.

Since 2002 Ru has pissed so many of us trans people off on multiple levels that we (myself included) have a contempt for him bordering on the level of dislike we have for the trans exterminationalist radfems and their sellout TS separatist allies. 

He's earned it after his rabid and consistent defense of Shirley Q. Liquor's racist blackface drag show, his slamming of activists calling his behind out about defending Chuck Knipp's racism, his repeated use of the 'tranny' and 'shemale' words after being repeatedly told both are considered offensive slurs to the trans community, and elements of the white gay community rushing to RuPaul's defense and trying to use him as their 'gayplaining' excuse to justify the continued use of the 'tr***y' epithet in gay and lesbian community circles

It also didn't help that one of RuPaul Drag Race contestants Sharon Needles infuriated the African American SGL community after getting caught saying the n-word at an ATL gay club appearance, and then tried to 'gaysplain' his way out of it.  

Ru also added to the still white hot contempt many of us have for him by making a bad joke during an October 29 episode of Drag Race (that I refuse to support) making light of the still somewhat contentious subject in trans world about the differences between transsexuals and drag queens.

Comedienne Vicki Lawrence asked, “Hey Ru, what’s the difference between a drag queen and a transsexual?”
RuPaul laughingly replies, “About twenty-five thousand dollars and a good surgeon.”

He then doubled down on his ignorance and dismissive attitude about the trans community's feelings about the t-word slur during a January 14, 2012  HufPo Gay Voices interview with Michaelangelo Signorile  

And no one has ever said the word "tranny" in a derogatory sense. In fact, you have to go to the intent of the person saying it. Of course Lance Bass, his intent would never be to be derogatory. Never. So, you know, that's really ridiculous. And I hate the fact that he's apologized. I wish he would have said, "F-you, you tranny jerk!"

That level of clueless transphobic ignorance is dangerous, especially when it comes from somebody with a 2009 GLAAD Best Reality Show award winning media platform as big as RuPaul's that is watched by millions of people in cisgender America. 

And it's why I can't stand RuPaul.

Shut Up Fool Awards 4th Anniversary

One of the features on this blog that you readers have come to know and love is my weekly Trans Shut Up Fool awards in which I shine a bright spotlight on hypocrisy, stupidity, and jaw dropping ignorance..

January 30, 2009 was the first time I selected a Shut Up Fool winner, and that week's first selection was Juan Williams    

The weekly SUF feature has taken a life of its own and begat the Shut Up Fool of the Year Awards that I pass out on New Year's Eve and the upcoming Shut Up Fool Lifetime Achievement Awards.

During Oscars weekend I select five people or groups and retire them from weekly SUF award consideration unless they do something so breathtakingly jacked up I just have to call them out on it.  .

I also thank those of you who hit me up on my FB page or send me e-mail with examples of fools I should highlight during the week that I may have missed. 

happy anniversary, Shut Up Fool Awards.   As long as this blog exists and there are fools to call out, I'll be doing it every Friday without fail.

Moni Does Dallas Soon

Moni's going to be in Dallas, TX March 13-17 for the second annual Black Transmen, Inc Conference at the Hilton Doubletree Dallas-Campbell Center

The person who will be given the honor and pleasure of doing one of the keynote speeches for this event will be a certain IFGE Trinity Award winning blogger y'all all know and love.    

I'll get to see one of my fave transmen in the community in the person of Kylar Broadus, who will be following in Louis Mitchell's capable footsteps in giving the 2013 BTMI keynote address. 

It's also the first time I'll be doing a keynote speech inside the borders of the Lone Star State, and it'll ironically be on the opposite end of I-45 from my hometown.  

Go figure.  I hope you peeps in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex come check it out.

I'm looking forward to it and will do my best to give you Black Transmen, Inc. Conference attendees a speech worthy of the event.

See y'all in Dallas March 13-17!
 

Coming Monday, The 3rd Annual TransGriot African-American Trans History Quiz

Two years ago I started compiling a Black trans history quiz on this blog after getting a little perturbed over my observation that Black transpeople were being erased and marginalized in  LGBT compiled quizzes that were heavy on the LG end of the community.

Since Black History Month starts this Friday, it's time for me to post my latest incarnation of the TransGriot African-American Trans History Quiz as a reminder that Black transpeople did (and still are) making history today in all the communities we intersect and interact with.  

As per usual, it's an open Internet test and some of the answers are buried in my TransGriot posts.

Once I post it on Monday I'll give you a few days to ponder it before I post the answers at midnight Central time on Thursday.    And yes, some of the 25 questions you'll get will be true or false and multiple choice ones.

Just to give you a taste of what you're going to get Monday, I'll post the links to the previous quizzes.

The First Annual TransGriot African-American Trans History Quiz

The 2nd Annual TransGriot African-American Trans History Quiz



TransGriot Note:  Photo is of trans model Tracy Africa Norman during a photo shoot.

Miss Philippines Universe Entry Deadline Passes With No Trans Applicant

If I had to put money on which national pageant organization would be the first to have an out trans woman on the Miss Universe stage representing their nation, the Philippines would be in my top three. 

The others in case you're wondering are Thailand and Brazil. 

I say that because as me and my homegirl like us Naomi Fontanos are well aware of and discuss from time to time, the Philippines and Thailand take their beauty pageants seriously.  

Those two nations are also home to the most prestigious and internationally renowned trans pageants for their local trans women in Miss Tiffany Universe in Thailand and the Amazing Philippine Beauties.

Jenna Talackova brought the glass pageant ceiling down and took out the odious 'natural born women' rule that was used to bar transwomen from competing in Miss Universe system pageants.

Since then the Miss Universe franchise pageants are being given extra scrutiny from inside and outside the trans community to determine if any 18-27 year old trans women exercise their option to enter and attempt to win their national pageant and qualify for Miss Universe 2013.

Jenna made it to the Top 15 in Miss Canada Universe 2012 a few months ago.  Kylan Wenzel was one of 229 contestants who recently attempted to win the always tough Miss California USA pageant.

As of this writing 19 women have already qualified for Miss Universe 2013  with more national pageants yet to be conducted including the Miss USA 2013 one in June.  

There won't be a trans contestant at Miss USA 2013 because all 50 state pageants and the Miss District of Columbia one have been conducted, so the first trans Miss USA contestant is on hold until 2014..   

But moving to the Philippines.   They had Janine Tugonon finish as a first runner up in the 2012 Miss Universe competition and Kevin Balot bring the 2012 Miss Universal Queen title back to this pageant mad nation from Thailand. 

24 year old Miriam Jimenez was a semifinalist in that same 2012 Miss International Queen trans pageant, and there were unconfirmed rumors that she had entered Binibining Pilipinas that were posted on several blogs.

But when the January 22 deadline passed to submit entry forms they turned out to be false.  Ms. Jimenez sad to say won't be competing this year.

I was hoping the rumors were true along with many of my transpinay sisters and girls like us around the world, but looks like it's also wait until 2014 to see if a transpinay steps up and attempts to enter Binibining Pilipinas.

And in the meantime, still more than a few nations like Singapore who opened their pageant doors to trans contestants who haven't conducted their national pageants yet.   

Morehouse College LBGT History Course Starts Today

HBCU's need to send the unmistakable message to their faculty, current and future students, alumni, and the communities they serve that discrimination against LGBT students on HBCU campuses will not be tolerated, they have inclusive and welcoming campuses, and they are willing to include LGBT students in their ongoing missions to uplift the race through educational achievement.

TransGriot July 23, 2012 'HBCU's Better Recognize Black TBLG Students Exist '

In a remarkable advance for a campus that in the 90's was considered one of the Most Homophobic by the Princeton Review, Morehouse College's first ever LGBT history course got started today. 

The student initiated course is entitled "A Genealogy of Black LGBT Culture and Politics" and meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.   It has the goal of outlining various concepts in Black feminism, cultural theories, and the methodology behind them.

SafeSpace, the campus gay-straight alliance and student advocacy organization partnered with former Morehouse student and Yale University professor Dr. Jafari Allen in order to bring the idea to fruition.

Allen is teaching the course t his semester via video conference from Yale and student reaction to the groundbreaking class has been positive.   More than 20 people registered for the class; with some of them coming from neighboring all-female Spelman College.

It will be interesting to see how this class evolves as the semester plays out.   There will also be interested observers inside and outside the ATL watching to see if there will be more LGBT class offerings on the campus that proudly claims Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr as an alum.
.

Five Arrested And Charged With Murder Of Black Transman

The case of Evon Young, a 22 year old transman who has been missing in Milwaukee, WI since January 1 has taken a horrifying turn.

Five men, one of them being Young's roommate, were arrested and charged with first degree intentional homicide.

Young, who was a local rapper known as 'Yung LT' was last seen on New Year's Day near North 52nd St and West Custer Avenue according to a Wisconsin Gazette.com report   

Young failed to report for work that day and his mother filed a missing person's report January 2 with the Milwaukee Police Department.

The criminal complaint states that investigators suspect Young was killed in the basement of the residence he shared with Griffin in what began as a gang re-initiation test for Griffin.

According to the complaint, Young and Griffin were home when the door bell rang. Stewart and Mcalister were at the door, along with Allen and Seaberry. The men entered and went into the kitchen, where an argument ensued.

Griffin allegedly told police that the men began to punch Young and said the victim could not be trusted. Young then was led to the basement, where the attackers choked Young with a chain. Then they placed a plastic bag over his head, rendering Young unconscious. The assailants beat and shot Young, possibly as many as three times. Mcalister allegedly fired the weapon.

Authorities allege the basement was cleaned with beach. Evidence collected in the crime includes DNA, blood, burned clothing and a chain. 

Both Griffin and Stewart allegedly made admissions to police, who were searching a landfill on January 23 for Young's body, which the men allegedly placed in a dumpster.

Charged in the case are Young's roommate Billy R. Griffin, 26, Victor Stewart, 27, Ashanti Mcalister, 19,   Ron Joseph Allen, 37, and Devin L. Seaberry, 23..

Below are the mugshots of the five individuals being charged in the death of Evon:

Devin Seaberry

Ron Allen

Billy Griffin

Ashanti McAlister

Victor Stewart

The defendants are scheduled for a preliminary hearing in this case on January 31.


H/T Lexie Cannes Guerrilla Angel Report

Why Y'alll STILL Hatin' On Beyonce?

Frankly, I think a lot of the industrial sized Hateraid that's directed at Beyonce Giselle Knowles stems from jealousy. She's living what seems like a fairy-tale life. She's breathtakingly beautiful but down to earth. She's won Grammys. She sings the national anthem at the 2004 Super Bowl played in our hometown. She has a wealthy boyfriend in Jay-Z. She just became the first non-athlete, non-model and the second African-American woman to do the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover solo. If I'd come up with her story as the basis for a fiction novel people would roll their eyes and claim it's unrealistic.

TransGriot 'Why Y'all Hatin' On Beyonce'   February 20, 2007.

It's been a week since the inauguration in which she did a kick azz rendition of the national anthem and  looked good doing so until US Marine Corps band member Master Sgt. Kristin duBois mysteriously opened her mouth and accused her of lip syncing it.   

Still have to ask the things that make you go hmm questions as to what motivated Sgt duBois to do so in the first place.  I'd also like to know more about her accuser Sgt duBois down to her ethnic background.. 

I also find it interesting that duBois and the media were quick to claim Kelly Clarkson wasn't lip syncing, but felt the need to pile on Beyonce Knowles-Carter. 

Even Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is head of the Joint committee that organizes the inauguration event is reportedly demanding an apology. 

Careful Chuck, Jay Z is a New York resident and probably won't be too happy that you're joining in the media feeding frenzy and fake controversy aimed at his wife.  He may remember that when you show up at his office in 2016 trying to get a contribution for your reelection campaign  


So what's up with the hatin' on Beyonce meme that seems to be fueling this kefluffle along with the deep seated conservaneed to do something to embarrass the POTUS?

Some of you peeps just live for hatin' on Beyonce, whether it's the feminist community , the gossip blogosphere, or just you peeps full of foaming at the mouth jealously that Beyonce in her 31 years on the planet has been blessed many times over.

You peeps hating on Beyonce isn't going to change the fact she has a daughter, married a man that is worth $500 million, has $200 million of her own money in the bank, had a trophy case full of awards, and will be the halftime entertainer at this year's Super Bowl.

And she's once again is going to look fabulous doing it.

Creating Change 2014 Is Finally Houston Bound!

The curtain has closed on another wildly successful Creating Change Conference in the ATL, and now the hosting torch for this premier community event is being passed to my hometown for 2014.

I can tell you right now the Houston rainbow community and yours truly are ecstatic that it is coming here. We are immensely proud of our world class international city which is the largest in Texas and with 2.2 million citizens residing here the fourth largest in the nation.   We're looking forward to having you 3500 plus peeps who attended the 2013 edition of Creating Change join us here in H-town from January 29-February 2, 2014. 

I mentioned in the post I wrote not long after I attended a local interest meeting for it last June, Mayor Parker, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and our local TBLG community really wanted this event, especially since that little burg 262 miles up I-45 from us has hosted it twice

Yeah, there's no let up in the civic competition between Houston and our state's third largest city, and I can say with certainty that we Houstonians are determined to exceed what Dallas did in 2010. 

What a lot of people don't realize is that Houston has a long and proud progressive history.and the Lone Star imprint on GLBT history has a Houston flavor as well.  

'The Houston GLBT Political Caucus that was founded in 1975 is the oldest such GLBT political organization in the South. The Lawrence v Texas Supreme Court case that took down US sodomy laws had its origins here.  

We have groundbreaking GL leaders such as Ray Hill, the late Rep.Barbara Jordan and Mayor Annise Parker who call our 628 square miles of southeast Texas soil home.  

Transgender history also has a Houston flavor to it as well thanks to a major assist by 'The Godmother of the Trans Civil Rights Movement' in Judge Phyllis Frye.  

There are three living IFGE Trinity Award winners (Phyllis Frye, Vanessa Edwards Foster and moi) that reside inside the Houston city limits.  A fourth Trinity was won by the late Brenda Thomas. 

Some of the early trans community leadership was epicentered in Houston or cut their early activist teeth here like blogger and trans historian Katrina Rose.

We Houston transpeople also have a propensity for starting conferences that fulfill trans community needs of the moment.  ICTLEP was started here by Phyllis in 1992 and now we have the Texas Transgender Non Discrimination Summit that Josephine started in 2009. 

The leadership tradition Judge Frye, Jackie Thorne, Jane Ellen Fairfax and Sarah DePalma started continues with Vanessa Edwards Foster, Lou Weaver, Josephine Tittsworth, Jenifer Rene Pool, Cristan Williams and some award winning African-American blogger y'all might have heard about    

When it comes to the female illusionist and pageant world, Houston is a hotbed for that as well. 

1999 Miss Continental titleholder Tommie Ross, 2012 Miss Gay US of A Lawanda Jackson  Hot Chocolate, the late Naomi Sims, the late Michael Andrews, Shawnna Brooks and Chevelle Brooks are either from here or honed their skills in this area before moving on to fame, fortune and titles elsewhere.  In the development pipeline are more talented people in our Montrose gayborhood clubs who keep that proud tradition going. 

And yes, been a while (1999) since I've attended a Creating Change.  Various schedule conflicts and challenges have kept me from attending my second one.  Many of you let me know last weekend how much you missed me in the ATL and the feeling was mutual.  

Now Creating Change its finally coming to my hometown for the first time ever and I couldn't be happier about it.  
 

I and the Houston GLBT community are chomping at the bit for next January to roll around.  We're ready to roll out the pink carpet for you folks who want to experience some of our world famous Texas hospitality and help facilitate a Creating Change that will help you build your activist organizing skills, friendships, and knowledge base at the same time.

And oh yeah, when you get here, make sure you sample some Blue Bell ice cream before you leave.