You Don't Wanna Talk About Race, That's On You

But unfortunately society and events are going to make it impossible for you to ignore the subject, especially if you're part of the ethnic groups that consistently get whacked by it. 

As long as one ethnic group has a belief that it is superior to all others, has political, economic, educational, military, judicial, media and sexual power to back that up, and members of it sit on top of the human power hierarchy determined to pass that belief on to their kids through the concepts of whiteness and white supremacy, then yep, you'll be waiting a long time before the world you'd like to see becomes a reality.

And naw, don't even start rolling your eyes and mumbling under your breath 'there she goes playing the race card again'. 

I despise the term 'race card'.  It is a conservafool constructed term that not only pisses many African-American and other POC's off when we hear it, it's designed to poison ANY conversations and divert people from the fact that nobody plays the so called 'race card' better and with more gusto than white people. 

It is designed to brainwash non-whites to feel they are wrong for mentioning injustice and it's their fault for how they are treated or perceived by whiteness and white supremacist addled people and society at large. 

It is also designed to ignore the salient point that being born with white skin matters and if there is a so-called 'race card', nobody plays it better than or with more gusto than white people do.   The ugly reality is that race matters, it predates the founding of the United States, and there is a foaming at the mouth societal hatred of blackness and Black people in general that is the root cause of the disharmony we have right now. 

Being 'colorblind' does not mean we ignore the realities of life here in the US and around the world for non-white people.  Nor does i mean that non-whites bite their tongues in racially mixed company about their lived experiences in order to make white people comfortable or aid them in their desire to pretend those problems don't exist. 

To not talk about that or the fact that Black lives are devalued is intellectually dishonest.


You don't wanna talk about race, that's on you.  but if people are serious in eradicating racism from American society, those conversations need to happen frequently, honestly and often, even if they do get messy and loud.

Jaci Adams (1957-2014)

For many of you who didn't know Jaci Adams, she was typical of many of the #girlslikeus who do the activist work in our community. 

They are not only wonderful people, but fierce advocates known and beloved locally.  They do their work not only on behalf of the trans community they represent, but to make the city, state and the region they love better.

Sadly, they don't get much national recognition for it, but thanks to the The Trans 100, that paradigm is starting to change a bit so that people like her get their recognition and deserved accolades while they are still around to hear it.   

Speaking of accolades, they are still pouring in for our sister Jaci on her Facebook page which is still up at this time.  Please take the opportunity to leave a condolence message on it.   

The Philadelphia TBLG community is still saddened concerning the loss of one of their iconic personalities, and a team of people is planning a memorial service for her.   The memorial service date, time and location is still being arranged, an as soon as I get the details, I will pass them on to you.
 
Thanks to Gloria Casarez for sending me the link to the Philly.com obituary article that ran yesterday about Jaci that I will share with you in this post..

Jaci was loved by a lot of people inside and outside the Philadelphia metro area, and she will be missed.  

'No Shade' Web Series

I spent an enjoyable few hours Sunday night binge watching the entire 10 episode first season of No Shade, a dramedy web series created by Sean Anthony.

The series centers on artist Noel Baptiste (David Brandyn) and his friends Eric D. Stone (Terry Torro) , Kori Jacobs (Donnie DuRight) and Danielle Williams (Tamara Williams) as they navigate the New York TBLG and ballroom community scene.  They live, date, love, navigate their personal issues and have personal journeys of evolution in the process.

While there are some humorous moments in the series, No Shade also touches on some serious issues like parental and religious condemnation, gay bashing, and substance abuse.   Through Danielle's eyes we get to see her as she deals with the issues a trans woman deals with such as transphobic harassment, name change and documentation issues, and when to disclose her trans status when she meets the cis man of her dreams and starts dating him.   .  

And yes, in case you're wondering, Danielle is played by a #girllikeus.
 
It also ends with the four main characters in a season ending cliffhanger that will have to wait until Season 2 of No Shade for resolution. 

You can check out the pilot episode for the first season of No Shade.   If  you like it you may want to consider donating to their campaign to raise money to produce Season 2.

TransGriot's Upcoming Kitty Bella Show Appearance

Another day, another upcoming radio podcast interview appearance.

I get the honor on February 22 of appearing on that day's Kitty Bella Show with the Trans 100's Jen Richards to discuss the topic of 'Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Good Ally?'

The Kitty Bella Show is a groundbreaking web radio show where host Katrina Goodlett (Kitty Bella) has fun, revealing conversations with her fellow Transgender brothers and sisters as well as allies on various subject matters and topics inside and outside the community..

The Kitty Bella Show is on Blogtalk radio, and the call in number to speak to Katrina the host or ask questions is (347) 237-4756.

I'm looking forward to discussing the topic at 11 AM EST (10 AM CST).   If you miss it, you can always listen to the podcast at your leisure once it is archived.     

Not Everyone Is Happy About This Louisville Billboard

TransGriot Note: In the interest of journalistic integrity, I served on the boards of the Fairness Campaign and its C-FAIR PAC for several years  

Got an interesting link to a LEO Weekly story from peeps in my old stomping grounds in Louisville about a billboard that causing some controversy there. 

During first three years I lived in Louisville, I lived in the militantly liberal Highlands neighborhood that is one of the most densely populated gayborhoods in the city.   I lived in a house in the s-curve by Cave Hill Cemetery which when it snowed was highly entertaining to watch cars try to navigate it. 

The next most heavily populated gayborhood is the one I spent the rest of my Louisville years in down Grinstead Dr. on the other side of I-64 near the Southern Baptist Seminary in nearby Crescent Hill.

But moving on to the story du jour. 

Seems like the wingers are still desperately trying to get some return out of their investment in the debunked 'ex-gay' ministries that seek to convert gay people to a heterosexual orientation. 

One recently popped up in Da Ville called (no joke) Abba's Delight founded by Daniel Mingo who claims he walked away from homosexuality 20 years ago.  The LEO Weekly did an expose about ex gay conversion therapy last June that featured Mingo's ministry.  

Yeah, think somebody needs to e-mail the Swedish group and their management about the problematic intellectual property issues on that one.   But I digress again.     

A billboard ad advertising Abba's Delight's controversial services popped up recently at the heavily traveled Bardstown Rd and Grinstead Dr. intersection in the heart of the Highlands.  Mingo is trying to claim he had no say in having the ad placed there, but the location is near three gay bars, so peeps in the Louisville TBLG community ain't buying that story.. 

There are also multiple TARC bus lines that also converge at that  intersection as well, so peddle that bull feces somewhere else. 

The Fairness Campaign's director Chris Hartman had this to say to the LEO Weekly about the specious billboard and the failed conversion services Mingo's org is offering.

It is sad and shameful that Abba’s Delight, an ex-gay ministry, is still trying to peddle their harmful, failed wares in Louisville. And to do so across from a successful, open, accepting, and diverse establishment, like Nowhere Bar, hints of a particularly degenerate desperation.

With more than 90% of people who have been through ministries like Abba’s claiming they have been harmed by the program, and nearly 85% of participants saying that harm still affects them today, it’s time to shut the program down.

No business I know that sells increased depression and suicide rates among its participants and leaves many with PTSD experiences is successful. Abba’s Delight and programs like it are a straight up sham–don’t buy the snake oil.

Since I have plenty of sources in Da Ville to keep me updated about this developing story, will let you TransGriot readers know what's transpired.and if the billboard came down.

Happy 19th Birthday, Jordan Davis

Today would have been the 19th birthday of Jordan Davis.  

He wanted to become a Marine with his best friend after he graduated from high school.   He was a kid who dealt with the typical stuff you deal with growing up in your teen years.   He had a girlfriend who stayed on him to pull his pants up, Don Lemon.

He had both a mother and a father in his life.   He was into sports   He wanted to be successful and someday own a Dodge Challenger.   

But because of a November 2012 encounter with a white male who had a problem with the volume of the music he and his friends were listening to in the parking lot of a Jacksonville area convenience store, he will never get to accomplish that dream or any other dreams he might have had. 

Jordan is now dead, his friends are haunted by the memory of having 10 bullets fired at them by an angry white male, and yesterday they witnessed the justice system in Florida fail once again to recognize their humanity.

Once again white supremacy reinforced what Chief Justice Roger B. Taney said over 150 years ago in the Dred Scott v. Sandford Case.  

Oh you're not familiar with what Taney wrote?   Let me refresh your memory as to what the then Chief Justice of the US Supreme court said in his March 6, 1857 opinion in that case.

"...beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect."

Any doubts that John Roberts, the current US Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Teapublicans, the conservative movement or other people who share his gender and ethnic background don't harbor the same racist beliefs?  

We know from his jailhouse letters that Michael Dunn sure did and felt comfortable enough to express it.
In one of the letters addressed to his “baby,” Dunn wrote:

The fear is that we may get a predominately black jury and therefore, unlikely to get a favorable verdict. Sad, but that’s where this country is still at. The good news is that the surrounding counties are predominately white and Republican and supporters of gun rights.”

In a letter addressed to his grandmother, Dunn claimed that all Blacks in jail acted like thugs:

“The jail is full of blacks and they all act like thugs. This may sound a bit radical but if more people would arm themselves and kill these (expletive) idiots, when they’re threatening you, eventually they may take the hint and change their behavior.”

In other letters he spoke about the Duval County district attorney trying to deny him the right to a “speedy trial” and all the boys in the SUV with Davis being “thugs.”

Naw Michael Dunn, we know who the 'thug' was in this case.  Just look in the mirror.  You are the thug who has for now gotten away with the murder of a then 17 year old kid who will have no more birthdays because you felt threatened by Jordan Davis' existence in this world.
       
You are the thug who causes nightmares for every Black parent who lies awake at night fearful their son or daughter will be similarly killed by white males who 'feel threatened' with or without a police badge. 

You, Michael Dunn are the thug who stokes the fears of African-American parents they may experience the pain Jordan Davis' parents are feeling today about the loss of their child and that Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton experienced February 5.

Dunn is the thug who has caused fear in our African-American children's ranks that they will be shot to death and unjust Stand Your Ground laws and predominately white juries filled with vanillacentric privileged people will allow the perpetrators to get away with it.    

Happy birthday, Jordan and rest in power.  We will not rest until those odious ALEC inspired Stand Your Ground Kill A Black Child With Impunity laws die and our kids are free to live.

 

What Else Is New? White Male Gets Away With Murdering Black Child In Florida

The reason you haven't seen much in the way of coverage of the Michael Dunn trial in Jacksonville on this blog is because I had the same sickening feeling it was basically going to be a replay of what happened in the Zimmerman case a few months ago. 

Same prosecutor in Angela Corey, same BS Stand Your Ground Kill a Black Kid With Impunity Law, and same cluelessness of the vanillacentric privilege White Americans walk in that considers the bigoted adult with the gun the sympathetic party and the unarmed African American teens as the scary aggressors.

The same white privileged cluelessness that allows the eight whites on the twelve person jury (the other jurors were two Black women, one Asian woman and one Latino) to believe that a racist butthole who fired ten shots at African-American teens listening to loud music in their SUV was 'a threat' to his life and his life was more valuable than the African-American kids he was emptying his gun clip at .

But Monica, some of you are probably saying, he was convicted of four of five felony counts.  Three of the convictions were for attempted second-degree murder of the other teens in the vehicle.  

Yeah true, but he wasn't convicted of the first degree murder charge that he should have gotten for killing Jordan Davis. 

And once again, prosecutor Angela Corey can throw Marissa Alexander under the jail for firing a warning shot through the roof of her home to defend herself and her children, but can't get convictions on two white men who killed Black children. 

As I said in the wake of the unjust Zimmerman verdict and will repeat once again, you want to get justice for Trayvon and Jordan?  Here's what must happen starting November 4. 

Vote the GOP bastards out in your state or area who support or voted for Stand Your Ground and voter suppression laws.  Vote out unjust Teapublican judges, DA's and prosecutors. Vote out Republifool congressmembers and senators in the 2014 midterms and beyond. 

Vote for candidates who will stand up for human rights and justice for all people. If you don't see those candidates, run for office your damned self.

Get control of your state legislatures and Congress back and fix what dictatorial Republican control, their Gilded Age 2.0 billionaire funders and a conservative Supreme Court broke.  

It's already galling enough to me this verdict happened the day before what would have been Jordan Davis' 19th birthday tomorrow.  We'll see what sentences gets handed down in this Dunn case before I decide how angry I really need to get over this verdict. 

Jaci Adams Passes Away

Per several sources in Philadelphia, I have been advised that longtime Philadelphia trans activist Jaci Adams is now with the ancestors after losing her valiant fight against cancer.  

The 56 year old Adams passed away this afternoon at 3:15 PM Eastern time.

Jaci rose from trying circumstances and hardships to become a beloved and award winning leader in the Philadelphia metro area.  She was a founding member of the Temple University Community Advisory Board, served on the planning committee for the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference and the Morris County Planning Committee.   Jaci was a long term volunteer with the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, a member of the Philly Police Department LGBT Liaison Committee Team and was a founder of the 2004 People With Hope Trans Conference. 


As soon as I get the information concerning the funeral arrangements or memorial service, I will pass them on via these electronic pages for those of you who wish to attend. 

You can also leave a comment on her Facebook page.

When that memorial service happens, as a final tribute to the work Jaci did on behalf of the community she loved and spent her life working to make Philadelphia a better place for all, please fill up whatever venue that service is held at to show your appreciation. 

We'd also like you to be there filling up the venue and representing those of us from the national trans community who loved her and would like to be in the room but won't be able to.

Rest in power and in peace, Jaci.    

#RedefiningRealness Conversation With Janet Mock

Looks like I'm going to have to hurry up and install a camera on my computer since post Creating Change I'm getting more people asking me if I would or can participate in Google Hangouts like this one.

Here was a recent conversation about her now New York Times bestselling and groundbreaking book Redefining Realness.

Thanks For The Support, SGL Fam!

In the days following the attack of Piers Morgan on our sister Janet, and the piling on by elements of the white trans community, I was gratified to see that for once, we Black transwomen weren't facing it alone.   We had support from our cis and other trans allies, including Latin@ and white trans and cis allies who called out the nekulturny people in their ranks.  

The support I was most gratified to see came from our Black SGL allies who wrote posts in support, and that support was deeply appreciated.

Denny Upkins had a well received one on my blog.  Preston Mitchum wrote one that was published in EBONY.com and Jaison Gardner (Nephew) wrote one that was published in the LEO.

And most deliciously satisfying of all, Redefining Realness still cracked the New York Times Bestseller List despite your hatred.

So thank you SGL fam for your support on multiple levels.  It meant a lot to me and the Black trans community.  

So far it has been just Da Fellas I've seen published posts from, but if Da Ladies wrote any, send me the links and I'll be happy to add them to this compilation post page..

Redefining Advocacy

Who Will Revere The Trans Woman?

Cis-To-Sis:  An Open Letter To Janet Mock 

Shut Up Fool Awards - Valentine's Day Mess Edition

Happy Valentines Day TransGriot Readers!

If you have a significant other, hope you are spoiling that person rotten on this day.  If you have a person you are in a relationship with, engaged to or you're sharing your life with, I ain't mad at you. 

Just never forget as you are hanging out with your boo how hard it is the find that special person, because a lot of us on this day don't have that in our lives.

And there are the right wing idiots who insist on declaring war on love, but that's a post worthy rant for another day.  It's also Friday, so you longtime TransGriot readers know what that means, it's Shut Up Fool Award time.

This is the day that we reserve time to call out the people who have declared war on common sense, have exhibited jaw dropping ignorance, rank hypocrisy and overbearing over the top arrogance that just screams to be called out.

And since the Sochi Olympics are still going on in Russia where they have suspended their hatin' on love pogrom until the Olympic flame goes out, it'll be done in Gold, Silver and Bronze style once again.

The Bronze medal winner is Don Lemon, for ludicrously trying to defend the LA entertainment reporter who couldn't tell the difference between Laurence Fishbourne and Samuel L. Jackson while interviewing Jackson, by claiming some Black people do look alike.    Really, Don?   Who is you lookalike?  Is it Mr. Feather from Undercover Brother?   Stepin' Fetchit? 

The Silver medal winner is a Group award for the entire Republican Party.   Whether it's their rampant racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia (pick 'em), they were trying to justify passing laws to discriminate in Kansas and Tennessee, Sharron Angle trying to claim 'voter fraud' cost her the 2010 Senate race against Harry Reid, trying to require proof of citizenship to use bathrooms in Arizona, or the Texas GOP outreach to non-white Texans being the same racist brand of conservatism they've been peddling for the last 20 years, the Republican Party continues to prove on a daily basis why they shouldn't be allowed to govern at any level or hold any political office above dog catcher.

The Gold medal winner goes to Supreme Court InJustice Clarence Thomas.

I had to pull Uncle Ruckus Thomas out of  SUF Lifetime Achievement Award retirement for cooning it up for GOP Massa earlier this week.

He parted his lips to say that race was less of a problem in Jim Crow Georgia than it is today.

Seriously? Conservakneegrow please!   Uncle Thomas probably thinks he suffers from revitiligo, too.  

Well, the Affordable Care Act covers treatment of your ills including that delusionary denial you operate under.  

President Obama, when your next Supreme Court opening pops up, please for the love of God put an African-American woman on the bench to cancel out this mind numbing pile of self hatred and ignorance.

Instead of giving you the Oreo cookie you so richly deserve, I'll give you this. 

In addition to you getting the Negro Iz U Sirius?!!! Award, we have the wise words of Mr. T as the only appropriate response to this conservacoonery and buffoonery.

Take it away Mr. T.

Happy Valentine's Day 2014

It's Valentine's Day 2014, and for you folks who are booed up, I ain't mad at you.   Hope they are treating you with all the love and respect you deserve and are getting all the TLC you can stand.

And conversely, appreciate and treasure every millisecond of it, because there are us single folks who aren't so lucky. 

Despite being single (again) on this day for lovers, I'm not depressed about it.  I'm feeling a lot of elation in terms of the early V-Day present Texas transpeeps received from Chief Justice Rogelio Valdez in overturning that odious 2011 ruling in Nikki Araguz Loyd's trans marriage case and seeing those unjust anti-same sex marriage amendments go down in flames in one state after another.

And the Texas LGBT community has its eyes focused on federal courtrooms in San Antonio and Austin for two cases that may strike critical blows against Texas' unjust constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Even Kentucky got in on the fun when a judge ruled the state had to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed out of state.   So it looks like the marriage train is picking up momentum.

But Valentine's Day can still be hard on a single person having to interact with all the people who are coupled.  You flip the channels and see dozens of romance movies being broadcast along with the glut of TV commercials with happy couples on them.  You flip on the radio and hear romantic ballads being crooned.

And then you look at your wall, see the February 14 date on the calendar and yell, "I hate Valentine's Day!" 

And as I continue to joke, I've been wandering the dating Sinai for so long the Israelites walk past me and shake their heads as they head to the dating Promised Land. 

Will it happen for me this year? Who knows?  I'm just at the point in my life now that if it is meant to happen for me it will, and if it doesn't, then I'm not obsessing about it.  

Hey as long as I have chocolate, Hershey's chocolate syrup and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream, I'm good. 

Happy Valentine's Day 'errbody'!   

Kortney In Vegas

Dr. Kortney R. Ziegler is in Las Vegas this weekend for Tech Cocktail Week and handling his business there in the run up to next week's Trans* H4CK Vegas style.

So what's Trans* H4CK?  It's Dr. Ziegler's innovative melding of a hackathon with trans social justice to solve real world problems for our community by creating programs and apps to do so.

In 2014 Kortney is taking the Trans* H4CK show on the road from its Oakland home base and birthplace with the next one scheduled to happen in Chicago March 28-30 in conjunction with the revealing of the second edition of the Trans 100 and all the events planned around it.  

The Trans* H4CK that is fast approaching will take place February 21-23 at The Center in Downtown Las Vegas, and you still have time to sign up for it and participate.  In addition to them being fun, all skill levels being welcome and they being safe spaces for all participants, did I forget to mention there are cash prizes as well?. 

The hacking team that comes up with the best project wins $500, second and third place teams get $250. 

There will also be two Bonus Prizes: Best Hack to Support Trans Entrepreneurs: TBA

Best Hack for #VegasTech Trans Community: 1 month Nomad Membership to Work In Progress

So come check out Trans* H4CK Vegas style.  You'll be glad you did come down and participate.  

Janet's A New York Times Bestselling Author

Congratulations to my sis Janet Mock whose book tour is not only packing venues, but is selling books at a historic and rapid pace as well.

Janet may have made a little Black trans history as well.  With the debut of Redefining Realness at #19, she may have become the first Black trans author to have her memoir make it to the New York Times Best Seller List.

Will probably have to double check that to be certain, but there is no denying that Redefining Realness is a historic and game changing book that people are snapping off the shelves to eagerly read. 

Nikki Wins Trans Marriage Appeal Case!

I've been asking the question ever since she made the trip to Corpus Christi in September if Nikki Araguz Loyd would become the third transperson internationally to get a favorable trans marriage ruling, and fittingly we got our answer just before Valentine's Day.

Texas 13th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Rogelio Valdez  today issued a landmark opinion that reversed Judge Randy Clapp's (R) odious 2011 ruling invalidating Nikki's marriage to her late husband Thomas Araguz III.

Clapp ruled that Araguz was born male and Texas’ 2005 marriage amendment doesn’t recognize her marriage to a man, thus invalidating her 2008 marriage to Araguz.

Araguz was a volunteer firefighter in Wharton, TX killed in the line of duty in 2010 and Nikki Araguz was denied his death benefits as a result of that ruling that Clapp cited the 1999 Littleton v. Prange case as his rationale for.   

During the Texas Legislature's 2009 session, it passed a law adding documentation proving gender surgery to the acceptable list of documents people can present to get a Texas marriage license.   That statute is what Nikki's legal team based their appeal on.

So what's the bottom line?  In addition to this being huge news for the Texas trans community, it also goes back to Judge Clapp's court.    

Houston attorney Kent Rutter, the lead attorney for the appeal, said Thursday’s ruling marked the first time that a court in Texas recognized that trans people have the right to marry. “What the decision today says is Texas law now recognizes that an individual who has had a sex change is eligible to marry a person of the opposite sex,” he said. “I think it’s a significant victory for trans people in Texas.”

Nikki echoed the same sentiment in a euphoric phone conversation I had with her in the wake of the ruling that it was a significant win for the community.  "The ruling not only strikes a what I and my legal team hope is a fatal blow to Littleton v Prange, we hope it results in Texas recognizing the transitioned gender identity of trans people in the Lone Star State."

It's even more delicious that this ruling taking a bite out of the odious Littleton v Prange case happened the day before Valentine's Day.

.

Kat Blaque-Are Men That Like Transsexuals Gay?

I've expressed my opinion about that subject (no they aren't), and it's a major reason why I post the 'Ask A Trans Attracted Man' videos of Troy on TransGriot when he talks about the same subject from the trans attracted cis male spectrum.

I like giving my video blogging sisters and brothers the spotlight from time to time to discuss various subjects, and have has the pleasure of posting Kat Blaque's takes on issues from time to time.  

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, it was the perfect time to discuss the subject and show the following video in which Kat takes on the long running topic of whether men who like transsexuals are gay.

23rd WPATH Biennial Symposium Starts Today

The World Professional Association For Transgender Health (WPATH) is gathered together in Bangkok, Thailand for their 23rd Biennial Symposium in the Land of Smiles from February 14-18 (Thailand time)

The WPATH Symposium's purpose is to present professionals working in the field of transgender health with the latest advances in research, education, clinical service, and advocacy to promote the health and well being of trans people and their families. 

You know, all that research on trans issues our haters claim doesn't exist or they wish to ignore.

The WPATH Symposium scientific program addresses topics in several areas including primary care, psychiatry, endocrinology, and surgery; psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy; sociology and anthropology; gender and sexuality; speech and voice therapy; and other related fields relevant to transgender health.  Professionals, clinicians, researchers, and academics were invited to submit before the start of the conference relevant abstracts.

The symposium will also have a variety of special panels, paper presentations, poster sessions and speakers, including some on the following topics: Children, families, and youth; ethnic/racial and cultural diversity in transgender health; transition-related services; community-based health care and community-participatory research; transgenderism in sports; legal & human rights; and the latest advances in brain research.

The theme of this 23rd WPATH Biennial Symposium is 'Transgender Health From Global Perspectives' and there are a record 523 registrants for the conference from 39 nations headed to the event from every corner of our planet to the conferences host hotel at the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Hotel.

From H-town to take part in this premier symposium on transgender health issues will be Dr. Colt Keo-Meier and the head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Transgender Civil Rights Project and TPOCC founder Kylar Broadus will be in the WPATH house for it as well.  

When they arrive in Bangkok, they will witness plenary speakers covering topics such as Development of Sex-Reassignment Surgery in Thailand, with Preecha Tiewtranon MD; Experience of Uterus Transplantation From Mothers to Daughters, with Liza Johannesson MD, PhD; Co-Dependency as a Way of Life, with Louis Gooren MD; ICD Plenary, moderated by Gail Knudson MD; The Brain of Transsexual Persons, with Antonio Guillamon MD; and A Brief History of the Thai Kathoey: Behind the Myths and Stereotypes, with Peter Jackson PhD.Q

One of the concerns of the international trans community is next year's scheduled May 2015 World Health Organization ICD-11 revision and the recently released DSM-V one as it relates to gender diagnoses.  That subject will be addressed during the time these transgender health professionals are gathered in Bangkok.

WPATH has already called for depathologization, but just in case you missed it:

The WPATH Board of Directors strongly urges the de-psychopathologisation of gender variance worldwide. The expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally-diverse human phenomenon which should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative. The psychopathologlization of gender characteristics and identities reinforces or can prompt stigma, making prejudice and discrimination more likely, rendering transgender and transsexual people more vulnerable to social and legal marginalization and exclusion, and increasing risks to mental and physical well-being. WPATH urges governmental and medical professional organizations to review their policies and practices to eliminate stigma toward gender-variant people.

It is going to be an exciting, informative upcoming four days in Bangkok. 

The 4th Annual TransGriot Black Trans History Quiz

Yes, Black transpeople have a history, and it's vitally important that we know that history and pass it on to each other, our cis brothers and sisters  and future generations. 

But history isn't just for remembering the past accomplishments, we also have people who are making trans history right now.

Since it's Black History Month, time to emphatically make that point as I have done every year since 2011 when I created the first TransGriot Black Trans History Quiz.    The positive response to it was so gratifying I decided to make this a permanent blog feature.  The second edition in 2012 and the third edition soon followed. 

Now it's time for my 4th annual TransGriot Black Trans History Quiz.  It's an open internet test, and you have a few days to mull it over before I post the answers next week in a separate post that I'll eventually link to this one. 

And now, here's the 4th Annual TransGriot Black Trans History Quiz.

***


1. True or False   When last year's Trans 100 List was unveiled, there were 11 African American trans women and four African American trans men honored on it.   

2.  Which one of these is NOT a BTAC Conference award? 

A. Monica Roberts Advocacy Award
B  Kortney Ryan Ziegler Awareness Award
C  Carter Brown Transman Of The Year 
D  Kylar Broadus Equality Award  
E.  Louis Mitchell Empowerment Award  

3.  What Black transman and Black transwoman were named to the Out 100 List for 2013?

4   This transwoman from Toledo became the first ever trans athlete in her sport.  Who is she and name the sport.  

5  Blake Brockington became the first ever Black trans masculine to accomplish this feat.   What was his history making accomplishment?

6. This transman born in Houston was a popular gospel singer from the 40s-70's.  What was his name? 

7. Laverne Cox says she prefers to think of herself as this term.  What is it? 

8. True or False  Dee Dee Chamblee was named a Champion of Change in 2011 by President Obama.

9   Name the transperson who was the first ever to receive a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding Blog.
 
10   True or False.  Video blogger Diamond Stylz was the plaintiff in a court case to allow her to wear her dress to her high school's prom.

11. Who said this quote? "More than I’m a trans man, I’m a Black man. Many of the things that I see in the world and many of the things that I respond to in the world have more to do with how I am treated as a Black man rather than how I am treated as a trans man."

12   Audrey Mbugua filed a lawsuit to get the National Examinations Council in this nation to change the records to reflect who she is now.   What is that nation?

13.  Who said this quote?  “Our lives, the path we feel we have to take is a challenge. We are voluntarily accepting the role of Public Enemy No. 1: The black man is the most feared man in America."

14.  Houston's Dee Dee Watters last year became the first trans person ever to organize an African American themed version of this trans community event.  What was it? 

A.  A trans feminine summit
B.  A TDOR memorial
C.  A statewide trans conference
D.  A Transgender Day of Visibility

15.  The inaugural Trans* H4CK organized by Dr. Kortney R. Ziegler took place in this city.

A  San Francisco
B  San Jose
C  Berkeley
D. Oakland
 
16  Angolan musical star Titica was named a Goodwill Ambassador by this agency last year.  Name the agency.
 
17  Who said this quote?  "I'm a woman in mind, heart and spirit. That's all that matters. They can cut things off, paste things on, or reconfigure my body parts. If you're a woman, you're a woman. Period"

18. True or False.  A Black trans feminine student has never been named as her schools homecoming or prom queen.

19   How many ESSENCE magazine covers did trans model Tracy Africa Norman shoot? 

20.  Jordana LeSesne, Honey Dijon Redmond and Zoe Renee Lapin all have this in common.  What is that common denominator? 

21   Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson co-founded this organization in 1970.  Name it.

22.  This trans musician played tours with Whitney Houston, the Isley Brothers and several other major artists.  Name her.  

23   Who said this quote? "“They wanted to force me to be someone that I wasn’t. They wanted me to delegitimize myself as a trans woman — and I was not taking that. As a trans woman — as a proud black trans woman — I was not going to allow the system to delegitimize and hyper-sexualize and take my identity away from me.”
 
24.  The murder of this Boston area African-American transwoman in 1998 was the impetus to start the Transgender Day of remembrance that occurs every November 20.  Name the transwoman.

25.  Trans pioneer Gloria Allen in 2012 was teaching charm school classes for trans youth at the Center on Halsted in what city?

 

Jewlyes Gutierrez Case Update

It's not the result we'd like to see in the Gutierrez care (drop the charges, Dan Cabral) but in her recent February 6 juvenile court hearing Jewlyes Gutierrez was ordered by Judge Thomas Maddock to participate in a restorative justice mediation hearing with the girls who started this mess in the first place. 

I still find it problematic that Jewlyes was the only once charged with battery when the other three girls bullied her for months, instigated the fight and were getting their shots in on Jewlyes who was defending herself. 

The other element that bothers me is that no one except this blogger has has really asked the hard things that make you go hmm questions about how much influence the obviously transphobic detective investigating this case had to do with that outcome.

The mediated restorative justice sessions will take place, with Jewlyes returning to Maddock's court May 1 to report on the progress and a possible dropping of the battery charge. 

“I am relieved to know that Jewlyes will now have the chance to find peace and safety outside of the criminal justice system," said Transgender Law Center Executive Director Masen Davis.  "Youth belong in schools not jails. All students, including transgender students, should be able to go to school feeling safe and supported. At Transgender Law Center we have heard time and time again from transgender youth, especially youth of color, who are being excluded from being able to participate fully in school due to concerns about safety.”

While I eho the sentiments of Masen, I'd be more relieved if the charges had been dropped,

Sochi Olympic Watch-USA vs Canada Round One

It's the Clash of the Women's Hockey Titans in the USA vs Canada to determine who gets out of Group A with the number one seed.

Both teams and their fanbases in this intense rivalry badly want to win every time they face each other.

And a certain Canadian is still talking trash about her fave hockey team.   Maple Leaf Forever my anus!

The USA beat Finland 3-1 in their opening match and pasted Switzerland in a 9-0 scoring explosion two days ago.   The Canadians beat Finland 3-0 in a game that was closer than the score indicated and knocked out Switzerland 5-0.

Both have clinched semifinal berths and are expected to have their usual golden showdown on February 20 barring an upset. 

USA! USA! USA!