When Does Finishing In Third Place NOT Get You An Olympic Spot?

The various trials and selection processes to assemble our US Olympic team are happening as you read this in preparation for Team USA to go for gold in Sochi next month.

In many cases the criteria has been clearly laid our for every Olympic hopeful to know.  Perform at the trials and finish in the top three and you make the team.  In other sports the federation will select the athletes who go like in hockey or the bobsled and luge team.

So what many people are asking is how does a figure skater who finished fourth at the 2010 Vancouver Games, but didn't fall during her more difficult routine at the US Figure Skating National Championships and finishes third get bumped off the Olympic team by someone who finished fourth during the same event in Boston, has no Olympic experience and fell twice during her program?

And yeah, I'm going there.  How do you explain that snubbing US Figure Skating Association, when the skater who finished third was Asian but the one who cratered is a blonde haired blue eyed white female who has been the focus of NBC's pre-Olympic marketing of the games and spoken out against the anti-LGBT laws in Russia?

Can you say vanillacentric privilege?   Thought you could.  

That's the question many people, and especially those of us who are non-white are asking in the wake of 20 year old Mirai Nagasu being passed over by the US Figure Skating Association and named an alternate on the team in favor of Ashley Wagner, the skater who fell twice during last weekend's US Championships that determined who would make the Sochi Olympic squad. 

Unlike the US Track and Field trials and other sports, where the first three people across the line at the trials regardless of past performance make the squad, USA figure skating takes past performances into account and gives them an unspecified weight in the selection process.

Did vanillacentric privilege and bias become one of those unspecified factors that influenced the process?

Wagner was the two time defending US champion entering the TD Garden before that event.  She was a fourth-place finisher at the 2012 world championships and the fifth-place holder at the 2013 worlds.  But she cratered badly during this event and even admitted the pressure got to her.

So if Wagner can't handle the pressure of the US Championships that determined who makes the US Olympic skating team going to Sochi, what makes her and the US Figure Skating Association think that she'll do any better when the pressure is ramped up several more notches and she's in the Iceberg Skating Arena at Sochi with medals on the line.having to compete against defending Olympic champion Kim Yu-Na of South Korea and defending Vancouver Games silver medalist Mao Asada of Japan?  

Meanwhile Nagasu arrives in Boston without a coach, people gave her no chance of making the Olympic team, but when the pressure was on she performed when Ashley Wagner didn't.  As a matter of fact she was the only person out of the top four that didn't fall during this competition.   That says a lot about the mental toughness of Nagasu.

But barring an injury to the other three, Nagasu will not get the opportunity to go for the medal that eluded her in Vancouver four years ago. 

And once again, a bitter lesson of American society gets harshly taught to its non-white residents.  No matter how good the person of color is or they earn their spot through their performance, merit  and hard work, whiteness will find a way to take it from them, hand it to a white person who didn't earn it and then try to justify and spin the reason they did so.

And FYI, here were the scores for the final night of competition.

1. Gracie Gold 211.69
2. Polina Edmunds 193.63
3. Mirai Nagasu 190.74
4. Ashley Wagner 182.74
 
If Wagner couldn't handle the pressure last weekend, that's nothing compared to the pressure and scrutiny that will be on her from now until the Sochi Games are over. 

Wagner has to prove to casual fans who feel like Nagasu was screwed (and I'm in that camp) that she belongs on the team.  There's also a lot of people that will be tuned in February 19-20 ready to pounce if she falls on her pretty behind once again and fails to make the Olympic medal podium.

I have a feeling karma will be making an appearance in Sochi wearing figure skates.

  

Michael McBride Going To Jail For DC Attack

The New Year for transpeople is definitely getting started on the right foot.   CeCe is freed from unjust incarceration, and now comes word from Washington DC that the waste of DNA who brutally attacked one of our POC transsisters is about to spend time in jail for it.

Michael McBride back on October 25 had already pled guilty to a charge of aggravated assault while armed in the heinous June 21 attack in SE DC on one of our transsisters that left her hospitalized after being stabbed up to 40 times.  She suffered significant blood loss and if it hadn't been for timely medial intervention would have died as a result of it.  

On Friday January 10 the 23 year old McBride faced the judicial music in the Honorable Judge Patricia A Broderick's courtroom.   He was sentenced to ten years in jail and once he gets out, another five years of supervised release and mental health services.

Is the sentence enough?   That's debatable.  But hopfully what is does do is send the message in the Distrcit and elsewhere that it's no longer open season on trans women.   I hope it also sends the message that if you attack us, you will get extensive jail time for it and not a slap on the wrist.
    

Christie Vetoes NJ Trans Birth Certificate Bill

For you trans, bi and SGL folks in our community who voted for Sergeant Schultz New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) in the last election cycle thinking he was a 'moderate', well, here's something to burst your bubble concerning that misguided line of thinking in addition to the ongoing BridgeGate scandal.

The New Jersey Senate passed on a 21-11 vote back in December A-4097/S-2786, a bill that revises the procedure to issue amended birth certificates for persons born in New Jersey who have undergone a gender transition.  The bill would allow them do so without surgical intervention. 

The bill had previously passed the New Jersey General Assembly on a 43-37 vote back in June.

Christie today gave A-4097 an ABSOLUTE veto, which means it needs a 2/3 majority in both houses to override the veto.  Translation: that's 27 Senate votes and 54 General Assembly votes. 

That means the Democrats, who have the majority in both houses, would not only have to get everyone in their caucus to vote to override, need to have 3 Republicans cross the aisle in the NJ Senate to do so and on the General Assembly side get 7 Republicans to cross party lines to do so.

Seeing that the bill passed the 40 member New Jersey Senate with 21 votes and the 80 member General Assembly with 43 votes, they would need to flip 6 NO votes in the senate and 13 NO votes in the general assembly to reach that override threshold. 

Not likely that's going to happen on the GOP side, especially with a governor with a reputation for punishing his enemies, even if he is politically wounded right now. 

So if you needed another reason to not like Chris Christie, here it is.
.

2014 Williams Watch-Good News, Bad News Tennis Day Down Under

The 2014 edition of the Australian Open has started, and both my fave tennis playing siblings had their opening round matches with different results.  

Serena only took 57 minutes to blitz Australian Ashleigh Barty 6-2, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena and punch her ticket to a second round match with Serbia's Vesna Dolonc.

Unfortunately Venus will not be joining her number one seeded little sister in the second round of the Australian Open singles tournament.

She had a tough opening round assignment at Margaret Court Arena facing 22nd seeded Ekaterina Makarova.  After splitting the first two sets, Venus was up 3-0 in the third until Makarova won five straight games to get control of the set and eventually the match.  

Venus fell 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 to end her attempt to win her first ever Australian Open singles crown. 

That's not the end of her tennis at Melbourne Park.  She and Serena are entered in the women's doubles tourney, and they start first round doubles play against the duo of Kristina Mladenovic of France and Flavia Pennetta of Italy
   

CeCe Is Free!

In case you haven't heard the news yet, after 19 months of unjust incarceration, as scheduled,  CeCe McDonald was released at approximately 8:30 AM CST from the Minnesota Correctional Facility-St Cloud.

And how apropos and cool that this is happening for her just two days short of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's 85th birthday?

She was met by a small group of supporters including Laverne Cox, who is currently along with Jac Gares producing a documentary about CeCe's story. 

Here's video from Jac Gares' YouTube account of CeCe's release

Jared, Those Trans Women Are The Reason You Have A Golden Globe Award

After Kerry Washington and a too long list of African-American actors and actresses were dissed and dismissed at the Emmy's, I didn't even bother watching the Golden Globes.  

Maybe I should have.  

Jared Leto won a Golden Globe for playing the trans character Rayon in the movie Dallas Buyers Club which is a movie I have yet to see.

Leto is being taken to task this morning for the tone deaf acceptance speech that he made while accepting the Best Supporting Actor award..

"I did not ever use any prosthetics in this film…that tiny little Brazilian bubble butt was all mine."

"It was a very transformative role, I had to do a lot of things to prepare. One of the things I did was wax my entire body including my eyebrows," he shared.

"I'm just fortunate that it wasn't a period piece so I didn't have to do a full Brazilian [wax]. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about though…and so do some of you men, I think."

He did end it on a serious note.  "I want to thank my team for making this so fun and giving me this incredible life, and to the Rayons of the world, thanks for the inspiration."

But there are some trans women like Jaila Simms who aren't laughing.  In a comment she posted on FB and shared with me, Simms put him on blast for that speech.

The (Salon) article rings VERY true. ESPECIALLY KNOWING that other great transgender actresses were passed up so that Leto could play the role. Furthermore, he further disconnects trans people from being anything other than physical novelties, and not actual people facing REAL SHIT! You won an award for playing a TransWoman with AIDS and all you can say in your speech is some corny a$$ joke about waxing your body hair!!!??!!! CeCe McDonald is being released from 19 months in jail today for defending herself from a hate crime, Laverne Cox and Janet Mock are pioneering in media for trans women, DOMA was just passed, little trans kids are bullied, depressed, and dying!! And it was a platform to honor, respect, and enlighten and that moment was diminished. Without THAT ROLE, THAT LIFE, THAT "CHARACTER," there wouldn't have been AN AWARD!!

Mercedes Allen said this on her Twitter feed:

I doubt a trans actress in a #trans role would have been as trivializing & embarrassed as Leto. #goldenglobes @glaad http://t.co/3U0iEH3oWG

As Jaila said, trans women and their very real lives are the reason you have that Golden Globe on your shelf now.  Too bad that point didn't come across in your acceptance speech last night.. 

CeCe McDonald's Getting Out Today!

Assuming there are no complications and everything goes smoothly, today is the day that we've been waiting for ever since the news broke after Christmas that our unjustly incarcerated sister CeCe McDonald will be released from jail.

I say unjustly incarcerated because she was sentenced to 41 months in jail for defending herself against a transphobic hate attack instigated by Molly Shannon Flaherty and neo-Nazi sympathizer Jonathan Schmitz that he unfortunately died during it.

But she was the only one charged until the mounting outrage over it, protests and a Change.org petition that drew over 18,000 signatures probably led Minnesota authorities to finally arrest and charge Flaherty for her part in instigating it.  She only served 180 days, Cece has spent 19 months imprisoned for basically defending herself..  

Whiteness and white supremacy strikes again.  Gee thanks again Hennepin County DA Michael O. Freeman for reinforcing that message.

When she finally does get out, I know our first instincts as a community will be to envelop CeCe in love and wrap our collective arms around her.   We'll get our opportunity to do that later.   But in these first few days post release, give her a few days of privacy to hang out with her family, enjoy her freedom, just chill and honor whatever requests she makes of us for now..

When she's ready to do so, we'll probably see CeCe pop up at a few events of her time and choosing.

This was the note dated January 7 that the CeCe McDonald Support Committee sent out after the word broke that she was getting out today.

***

Dear CeCe McDonald supporters,

The rumors are true: CeCe is scheduled to be released from prison in January. She will wait and write a public statement about her release after she gets out of prison, because she wants to tell you all in her own words and own time. She would like to spend her first days out in privacy, with people she feels close to. Again, information about her release will be shared when CeCe feels it is the right time to do so. In the meantime, she and her support committee ask everyone to be patient.

We are excited to throw her a party soon after her release. As soon as the venue and date are confirmed, we will announce! This party is a chance for everyone who has been supporting CeCe to come out and celebrate her release with her.

Many of you are eager to send contributions of money or materials, to aid in her transition home. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for specific ‘asks’ in the future. Right now, because of the incredible support of her community here in Minneapolis and around the world, she will be safe, comfortable, and cared for when she rejoins us. Please consider sending a donation to other incarcerated people or abolition movements. (Check out the Rainbow Defense Fund).

CeCe has one more request: after her release, she’d like to make a scrapbook documenting the worldwide support she’s received. If you’ve organized an event, held a sign at a rally, or created art inspired by CeCe, please send it to mpls4cece at gmail dot com.

Thanks everyone for supporting CeCe, and for supporting her now in the way she most needs: with your patience.
~ CeCe Support Committee

***

We'll also be looking forward to the release of the documentary that Laverne Cox  and Jac Gares are working on entitled FREE CeCe! 

Finally, we can say the words CeCe is free.   And it will be nice to see what the next chapter of her life brings.

TransGriot Update:  It's official.  At approximately 8:30 AM CST,  CeCe McDonald was released from the Minnesota Correctional Facility – St. Cloud according to an official at the prison.

New Virginia Governor Signs Exec Order Banning TBLG Discrimination

The inauguration of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) happened Saturday during a sometimes rain soaked ceremony on the capitol steps in Richmond.

Despite the rain, it heralded a joyous day for liberal progressives and Democrats in the state because this was the first time since 1989 that the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general spots were held by Democrats.

And as McAuliffe promised during his campaign, one of his first acts as the 72nd governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia was signing an executive order banning discrimination against state employees based on sexual orientation and for the first time ever, gender identity.

Word to the wise 2014 midterm voter:  This is why elections matter.   The Republican governors would rescind the executive orders the Democratic governors issued once they got into office.

It's about time that happened, and hopefully before Gov. McAuliffe's term ends, maybe they can pass a law that adds gender identity and sexual orientation language to the categories of persons protected in their state nondiscrimination laws.

GOP Hate Speech Aimed At Iconic Hawaiian Trans Teacher

If you had any doubts that the Republican Party would be cranking up the War On Transwomen in the 2K14, here's another example of it coming from the sunny shores of the Hawaiian Islands..

In the wake of them losing badly in trying to stop the implementation of marriage equality legislation in the Aloha State, the sore losers in the Hawaii Republican Party sharpened their attacks on the   māhū and trans* community there.

In their attempt to attack Hawaii's Pono Choices sex education program aimed at grades 6-8, Tito Montes, the president of the Hawaii Republican Assembly let his transphobic flag fly and attacked respected Hawaii trans leader Hina Wong-Kalu 

Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL


They viciously misgendered her despite the obvious feminine presentation to the contrary and her legal status as a married woman.  They referred to a woman fluent in the Hawaiian language and a cultural icon who has chanted for innumerable important occasions in the islands, including the most recent opening of the Hawaii State Legislature as a "transvestite drag queen."

Wong-Kalu responded to the unprovoked GOP hate attacks by posting a debate challenge to Montes on the HIRA Facebook page.

I challenge the Hawaii Republican Assembly to a public engage on my culture, history and language in Olelo Hawaii, the language of this land. If you are so bold as to speak of my life with no knowledge or understanding of me then you should address me directly. Your perspectives and perceptions are simply unfounded notions which have no bearing on you nor indicative of my capabilities at that thus you should engage me face to face. And although my life's roles and responsibilities are now acknowledged as my family's daughter and sister, you freely refer to me using male gender pronouns because of your inability to cope with the reality of another who never attacked you or said one negative thing about your organization. And since you refer to me as a man well then man up and engage me in a public political forum. And by the way, the intimacies of my family and our relationships and connections are not your business but since you have no other way to defame me you needed to include my brother. I challenge you and I await your answer. Post it to my page if you have the confidence and wherewithal to engage me in my language and challenge me on the basis of my contributions to our community. Good day and aloha to you.

As of yet, no word from Wong-Kalu about whether Montes has accepted the challenge.  I'm betting you'll see a blizzard in Honolulu before the GOP cowards do so.

2014 Williams Watch-Chasing Grand Slam Titles Down Under

The 2014 edition of the Australian Open gets cranked up later tonight my time (January 13 there) and my fave tennis playing siblings are Down Under to handle their Grand Slam tennis playing business in Melbourne.

Hopefully by the time this tournament concludes January 26 Aussie time, they will be taking homes some trophies and a couple of nice seven figure checks.

Serena hopes to win her sixth Australian Open women's singles title and first since 2010.  If the world's number one player and the tournament's number one seed is successful in doing so, she would pick up Grand Slam singles title number 18 to tie her with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on he all time list.

Little Sis opens her quest for that sixth Australian Open singles title with her first round match against Australia's Ashleigh Barty.

Unseeded Venus is also playing singles in this tournament.  She opens up her quest for her first ever Australian Open singles title with a tough first round match against 22nd seeded Ekaterina Makarova of Russia.  

Big Sis made it to the finals of the 2003 Australian Open but lost to Serena in a three set battle 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 4-6.    

And yes, the Williams sisters are entered in the doubles tournament.   They are seeking their fifth Australian Open doubles title and their first since 2010.  As usual they are unseeded, but that hasn't stopped them from walking away with Grand Slam double crowns before.

They open up their Aussie Open doubles play against the US duo of Madison Keys and Alison Riske.

So as usual, I'll be keeping an eye on my fave tennis playing siblings this year throughout this grand slam tournament Down Under and the others as this year progresses.

Good luck ladies!

Change.org Petition For Jewlyes

I posted about the jacked up situation trans teen  Jewlyes Gutierrez  finds herself in in terms of being charged with one count of battery by the Contra Costa county assistant DA Dan Cabral for defending herself against three girls who were bullying her.

He's claiming it's 'out of his hands', but we'll see about that.   Just as they charged Jewlyes, they can drop them as well.

This petition to get them to drop the charges has over 23,000 signatures at this writing, so let's see if we can get more.   International trans peeps, you are welcome to sign his one as well.

Here's the link to it.

Goodbye, Minister Bobbie Jean

The homegoing service for our gone too soon sister Minister Bobbie Jean Baker happened in Oakland today, and I am happy to hear the reports from my West Coast peeps that the church was full and our sister got the sendoff she deserved..

I was hoping as a tribute to her the sanctuary at First Congregational Oakland UCC would be filled, and I presume a lot of othe rpeople in the Bay Area felt that way, too

I know I'm going to miss chatting with her like everyone else whose life she touched, but we are comforted in the knowledge that Heaven has gained another angel.

Rest in power, Bobbie Jean.  Know that we will continue to fight  for the liberation and the human rights of our people.   Know also that your ministerial colleagues will pick up the torch that you left behind, raise it high and carry it forward

Know that you were loved by me and every person you ever touched in our community, and we'll see you on the other side.

2013 TransGriot NFL Predictions-NFL Divisional Round

Usually it's an advantage for a team to host a playoff game, but you couldn't tell that by the results during the Wild Card weekend round of the 2013-14 NFL playoffs.  

Three of the four road teams won, and it would have been a clean sweep for them if Indianapolis hadn't executed the second largest playoff comeback in NFL history to eke out a 45-43 win.

I split the wildcard weekend games at 2-2, so now it's time to predict which way the NFL Divisional Round games for the 2013-14 playoffs will transpire.
Eli and Mike's picks are here
.  

Saturday Divisional Round Games 

New Orleans (12-5) at Seattle (13-3)

The early game has the Saints taking on the top seeded Seattle Seahawks in a playoff rematch of a December 2 regular season game at CenturyLink Field in which the Seahawks stomped the Saints 34-7. 

The Seahawks jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead in that game and never looked back as Russell Wilson lit up the Saints defense for 310 passing yards and 3 touchdowns.  


That 7 points the Saints scored in that blowout was the lowest point total they have scored since Sean Payton became their head coach in 2006.  It'll be safe to assume now that the Saints have gotten that road playoff woes gorilla off their back with that 26-24 win in Philly last week, they will score more than 7 points in this game.  

New Orleans will march into Seattle in a better mood to ezorcise another playoff demon in terms of their loss to a 7-9 Seahawk team when they were trying to repeat as NFL champs. 

The Saints are the number two ranked team in the NFL in total offense and number four in total defense and Drew Brees will probably have a better games as well.   

But Seattle was the number four team in the league in rushing offense thanks to Marshawn Lynch, and has six Pro Bowlers.  One of them is Texan season killer Richard Sherman, who had a league leading 8 interceptions.  They are rested, made a run to the divisional round last year, are champs of the toughest division in the NFL and have a formidable home field advantage with the ear-splitting loud 12th Man.

But that Seahawks home field invincibility aura took a hit after they lost to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16 to snap their 14 game home winning streak 

Something else for you Saints fans to keep hope alive with.  Since 2005, Number 6 seeds are 5-2 against Number 1 seeds in the divisional round of the NFL postseason.

Yeah yeah, it's hard to beat a team twice in the same season, but Seattle to win and make it to the NFC title game..

Indianapolis (12-5) at New England (12-4)

I don't like either one of these teams, so in my case as I'm watching this late game it comes down to which team do I despise more?  

So what do the Indianapolis Colts do for an encore after executing the second largest playoff comeback in NFL history to escape with a 45-44 win?  Try to beat the number two seeded New England Patriots in a Divisional Round playoff game at Gillette Stadium and their future Hall of Fame QB.

Good luck with that task   New England has had a week to watch the tape of that game and you can bet that Bill Belichick has already planned on taking TY Hilton away from Andrew Luck and making him beat them without his best weapon.  

Luck is capable of flinging the football around as he proved last week against Kansas City, but he isn't playing in the cozy confines of Lucas Oil Stadium this week, he's in Foxborough where the Patriots have won 14 of their last 15 home playoff games.   

But the question remains does Tom Brady have the weapons on his side to beat the Colts?   Yep.

Even though Rob Gronkowski is out, they still have their trio of RB's in Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and LeGarrette Blount to throw at the Colts and set up their lethal play action passing offense. 

New England will be focused because they remember how their season ended last year, with a home loss in the AFC Championship game to the Ravens.

New England (boo hiss) to win the nightcap playoff game and punch their ticket to the AFC Championship game.    


Sunday Divisional Round Games 

San Francisco (13-4) at Carolina (12-4)

This early game is another one of the three regular season rematch games on the divisional playoff schedule.  Back on November 10 the teams clashed at Candlestick Park with the 49ers on a five game winning streak and coming off a bye week.  

But the Panthers escaped with a 10-9 statement win that propelled them to an NFC South title and the number two seed in the NFC playoff bracket.  

A large part of the story in that Carolina win was Colin Kaepernick being sacked six times and only generating 91 yards passing.  WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis were sidelined with injuries and in Davis' case a concussion.  RB Frank Gore didn't have a very productive day either.

Well, they're all back, and the 49ers come into Charlotte for this rematch at Bank of America Stadium on a roll after subduing the Green Bay 23-20 in a frosty wildcard round game that Kaepernick rushed for nearly 100 yards to end the Packers season. 

The Niners are determined to do the same to the Panthers and avenge the loss at Candlestick  Their defense is ranked fourth against the rush and seventh against the pass and gave Cam Newton fits, too.

But as the Panthers have proven in this stellar season for them, they are no slouches on defense either, ranking sixth against the pass and second against the run.   Luke Kuechly has been their anchor in his Pro Bowl season  
 
Cam Newton also had a less than stellar day in that first game at Candlestick, but in his first ever playoff game he is wanting to prove he is an elite quarterback that can carry his team to a Super Bowl, and he gets his opportunity to prove it.

And yes, as I mentioned earlier, it's hard to beat a team twice in the same season.  This is going to be a tough, hard fought defensive struggle like the first one was in Candlestick, but I think Carolina will pull it out late to make it to the NFC championship game.    
   

San Diego (10-7) at Denver (13-3)

This Sunday late game is round three of the season series between the Chargers and their AFC West foes  the Denver Broncos.   The Bolts shocked the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL world in The Jungle with a 27-10 upset win to set up the rubber match with their top seeded nemesis. 

Peyton Manning wants to be playing football on February 2.  So does Philip Rivers.  Which quarterback will make it happen for his team? 


The Broncos and Chargers split the 2013 season series with Denver taking a 28-20 win over the Bolts in San Diego on November 10. 

The Chargers returned the favor in a nationally televised 27-20 win in Denver on December 12 that snapped the Broncos 13 game home winning steak and 10 game winning streak against AFC West Division opponents.

San Diego has basically been on a playoff pressure run for the last month, having won five straight games since December 8.  So the Bolts are riding a lot of momentum coming into this game. 

The Chargers have figured out the best way to defend Peyton Manning is keep him and his offense on the bench.  In that December 12 win they ate up 38 minutes on the clock and frustrated the Broncos.  They are going to attempt to do the same thing again.   

And something else to make you worry Denver fans besides Peyton Manning's 9-11 playoff record.  It was the same scenario that the Ravens came into Sports Authority Stadium with last year and ended the Broncos season with.

And yep, may I remind you Broncos fans of the stat that Seattle fans are nervously contemplating.  Since 2005, Number 6 seeds are 5-2 against Number 1 seeds in the divisional round of the NFL postseason.

Denver wants to shake off the bitter memories of last season's stunning playoff loss to the Ravens and advance to the Super Bowl.   But they have to get past the Chargers first, and losing Von Miller for the season and Derek Wolfe for this game isn't going to help.

Neither will the Bronco offense getting off to a slow start in this game against a hot team. 

It'll also help tremendously their chances of hosting the AFC title game at Sports Authority Field if the Broncos offense gets to play with the ball for more than 22 minutes and play some defense when it counts.

I think the Broncos can do it.   Denver to win and host the AFC Championship game

 

Trans 100 Nomination Deadline For 2014 Edition Rapidly Approaching

The 2014 edition of the Trans 100 has been taking nominations of local and for the first time international trans people who deserve to be recognized for their leadership and active roles in making the trans community a better place.

But if you have some suggestions on who to add to this year's list for 2014, better bust a move on getting that nomination in.   Some of you international trans peeps complained after last year's list was released, so you have no excuse this year to not nominate international transpeople from yours and other nations. 

Nominations for this year's edition close on January 15, Dr MLK, Jr's birthday to help you remember that.

To nominate a  domestic or international trans person for the Trans 100, you can click on this link to handle your nomination business.

I have a few people I think deserve inclusion, and I'm going to be busy getting them nominated.   Hopefully some of you will do the same before January 15.

UH-Downtown SGA Unanimously Passes Gender Neutral Restrooms Resolution

Had the opportunity today to observe a little piece of history as UH-Downtown because the second school in the state of Texas and the first college in the Houston metro area to provide gender neutral restrooms on its campus.

Their first general assembly meeting of the 2014 spring semester was no ordinary one.  It had local media, news cameras and a certain blogger present as we watched student leaders debate the merits of Senate Resolution SR2014January10.

It was a proposal to convert six restrooms on the 14,400 student campus as family/gender neutral ones out of the 60 scattered throughout the three buildings that make up the UHD campus.    

It was authored by UHD VP Kristopher Sharp and UHD Senator John Locke (who was also a sponsor).   It had the sponsorship of UHD Senators LaTrina Carter, Michellee Gutierrez, Channalis Chea, Mohammed Mohsin, Kumail Mir, Michelle Gutierrez and Carlos Rodriguez.

It had the support of UHD SGA President Isaac Valdez, student body such as LaKeia Spady and Marie Angel Hernandez, faculty, staff, the administration and the community at large.

Many of the student leaders and student body members who approached the podium spoke in favor of the proposal. 

The authoring of Senate Resolution SR2014January10 was driven by an incident in which a trans student was harassed in a restroom.  In the wake of that incident troubling reports began to emerge that other trans and gender variant UHD students were so uncomfortable using on campus gendered bathrooms they either waited to go home to do so, waited until the restroom in question cleared out so they wouldn't be disturbed, used one at a nearby  area restaurant or didn't drink or eat anything while on campus. 

But it was the moving words of trans student Marie Angel Hernandez after she stepped to the podium that brought the room to its feet with a standing ovation for her when she was done.  
 

The resolution to designate two bathrooms (one male, one female) in each of UHD's three buildings as gender neutral restrooms open to anyone passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote. 

“This is an important step in UHD’s mission to include diversity and inclusion at the cornerstone of everything that we do,” said VP Kristopher Sharp. “With a unanimous passage by our Senate, this truly shows how important this issue is to the UHD community.”

The unanimously passed SGA proposal now goes to the UHD administration, which is expected to approve it.

Congratulations to the student leaders on the UHD campus for showing the community how solving problems is done.  Hopefully other Houston area colleges and our esteemed Houston City Council will follow your sterling example.   

Shut Up Fool Awards-First Week of 2014 Edition

Even though we are only ten days into 2014, this was the first full week of the New Year. 

And yes, we have had a bumper group of fools for me to wade through already, especially since Congress in now back in session and it is a midterm election year.  

I know you're chomping at the bit to see who gets this week's Shut Up Fool award, so let's get started.

Honorable Mention number one goes to the Denton County Republican Party for continuing to push sexist and racist attacks against Sen. Wendy Davis and Sen. Leticia Van de Putte

As my fellow NFL prognostication colleague Michael Watts said, stay classy Denton County GOP.  The more you pimp the 'Abortion Barbie' line against Sen Davis, the more moderate suburban white female voters you'll drive to her camp.  The more you kepp pushing the 'Barrio Boopsie' or emphasize her Latina heritage, the more Latin@ you'll lose.      

Honorable Mention number two goes to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) who actually parted his lips to say in that two hour press conference earlier to day that 'he wasn't a bully' as he scrambled to save his rump and 2016 presidential primary prospects from the unfolding George Washington Bridge scandal.

The New Jersey teachers unions would beg to differ. 

Honorable Mention number three is Art Laffer, who called the minimum wage during a recent Fox Noise appearance the 'black teenage unemployment act'.

Honorable Mention number four is federal Judge Edith Jones, the Reagan appointee to the Fifth Circuit court who said during a recent three judge panel hearing on the unjust abortion clinic bill that women in the Rio Grande Valley need to 'drive faster".    This vanillacentric privileged bigot is also under judicial review for saying that Black and latinos are 'predisposed to crime. 

This week's Shut Up Fool award goes to Dennis Rodman for his latest episode of Cooning In Up In North Korea. 

During this fourth trip to the isolated nation to play a basketball game on Kim Jong Un's January 8 birthday at a ski resort that has already drawn the ire of human rights activists, Rodman opened his mouth and inserted his sneakers in it by insinuating in an obscenity laced tirade that imprisoned US missionary Kenneth Bae 'must have done something wrong' to be imprisoned by his 'good buddy' Kim Jong Un. 

The National Basketball Retired Players Association also called out Rodman and stated they did not support or sanction this game due to the poor human rights record of North Korea. 

Rodman then retracted the statement about Bae and claimed he was drunk after the condemnation swiftly came from Bae's family and a long list of critics.  

Dennis Rodman's North Korean hijinks aren't humorous, and may have complicated the diplomatic efforts of the United States to get Bae out of that country.

Dennis Rodman, in addition to being bestowed with the first Negro Iz U Sirius Award?!! for 2014, shut up fool!

Houston Dash Lineup Starting To Take Shape

One of the things we Houston sports fans will get to look forward to in 2014 is the April 12 start of the inaugural season of our new team in the National Women's Soccer League, the Houston Dash.

The NWSL has been set up as the top echelon women's pro soccer league in North America and is supported by the national soccer federations of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

It has the ultimate goal of building a elite level league for the top women's national players of Canada, Mexico and the USA to play in when they are not competing for their national clubs in the Olympics or the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Dash are the new expansion kids on the NWSL block, and as the sister organization of the MLS Houston Dynamo, will play their home games at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Retired Houston Dynamo legend Brian Ching was named the Managing Director of the team on December 23. 


Randy Waldrum, the former coach of Notre Dame's women's team, was subsequently hired to become the first head coach of the Houston Dash on January 3.   Waldrum led Notre Dame to two NCAA titles in 2004 and 2010 and was the NCAA runner up in 1999, 2006 and 2008.

Three players were initially assigned to the Dash by national team allocation.   Forward Melissa Tancredi from Canada, defender Whitney Engen from the USA and midfielder Teresa Noyola from Mexico.  Melissa Tancredi was subsequently traded to the Chicago Red Stars on January 6 for fellow Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod.  

The Dash get the opportunity today to select their core roster players for their inaugural season today.  The NWSL expansion draft is taking place as I post this in which the Dash will be allowed to select up to ten unprotected players from the existing eight NWSL club.

On January 17 the 2014 NWSL Collegiate Draft will take place in Philadelphia.   The Dash will have the second overall election in the first round, and the first picks in the second, third and fourth rounds.

There are rumors that Alex Morgan, who lives here in Houston, is interested in playing for the Dash.  However, she is one of the protected players on the NWSL champion Portland Thorns and there is no way they are letting her go to the Dash if that rumor is true without some major compensation. 

Knowing the Dynamo temperament, they will probably build the Dash in their image.  They will build the club through the draft, make key trades that improve the club like the Erin McLeod for Tancredi swap is evidence of, and when they can afford it, get a free agent that fits with their style of play. 

Hope they choose wisely and looking forward to watching the Dash play at BBVA Compass Stadium this spring and summer.  Not expecting a miracle since they are an expansion club, but if they make the NWSL playoffs this year, cool.   

Jahaira's Mission- Let's (Not) Talk About My Crotch

Jahaira  in the first video of her Trans 101 series gives her take on the recent Katie Couric interview with Laverne and Carmen and why it's NOT appropriate to ask a transperson about their genitalia.

Bullied Trans Teen Girl Being Charged For Defending Herself

When 16 year old Jewelyes Gutierrez got fed up after being bullied by three girls for being trans and defended herself, the last thing she was expecting after the November 15 fight at Hercules HS was to be charged by the Contra Costa County DA for it.

But that's exactly what has happened in this case.  Gutierrez is being charged with a single count of misdemeanor battery for defending herself against three cis female attackers who had been bullying her. 

Wanna guess what happened to the bullies?  Nada.

What the hell was Contra Costa County DA Mark Peterson and assistant DA Dan Cabral thinking?  One of the girls takes spit laden gum out of her mouth, threw it in Jewelyes' face, and Jewelyes is the one getting charged? 

You've got to be kidding me.

"When I initially received this case, I was shocked that the district attorney's office decided to charge Jewelyes," said Kaylie Simon, Jewelyes' public defender. 

"I don't understand quite why the District Attorney's office would prosecute someone who's already been a victim of bullying. I think it's a further victimization of somebody who's been a target of homophobia and transphobia."  

So do I.    DA's Peterson and Cabral need to drop the charges they leveled at Jewelyes and let the school handle it, which it already did with suspensions to all the girls involved.

Charles Ramsey, the President of the West Contra Costa School Board, says this should have been a teachable moment and not "something that should rise the level of where it has to go to the District Attorney's office for prosecution."

So do the right thing Contra Costa DA's office.  Drop the charges.

TransGriot Update: Here's a petition asking the Contra Costa DA to do precisely that.

Moni's TDL Test Today

Y'all know I absolutely hate the Texas voter ID suppression law that Greg Abbott and his GOP friends have been pimping since 2011, and I got ensnared in it as I have attempted since May 2013 to exchange my Kentucky drivers license for a Texas one. 

And yeah, pending this driving test, I'm going to take out my anger at the GOP at the polls for all the Republican inspired drama and so far $107 in fees, expenses and unnecessary drama I've gone through just to get a Texas drivers license   

Well, after taking and passing the written test in October, I've had to reschedule the driving portion of it twice due to people flaking out on me at last minute.  I have a looming January 19 deadline to complete that part of it otherwise I forfeit the $25 I've already plunked down and have to start the licensing process from scratch.

So wish me luck.  My ability to vote in the 2014 election cycle depends on me passing this driving test.

No pressure.

TransGriot Update:  Passed with a score of 94, so I have my Texas DL until the end of the decade.  Lost points for forgetting to signal after successfully completing my parallel park, nose of car being past a stop sign pole and driving 10 mph too slowly in a 30 MPH zone.

Be afraid Texas GOP, be very afraid of the wrath of Moni.  Electoral payback is coming.