Why Y'all So 'Scurred' Of Black Trans People Owning Their Power?

So white transpeeps, the attack on Janet Mock and other Black trans leaders 'isn't about race'?   Bull feces.  

Peep this comment from transman Mark Angelo Cummings:

I am seeing a very strange twist in our community, and why are we all of a sudden admiring individuals who have recently come out as advocates with little to no experience in that role. One is an actress, the other stealth for many years working at Peoples magazine behind a cubicle and now decides to write a book and is identifying as a fierce advocate? Both trans woman of color, which seems to be a very prominent twist these days as if they are the only ones in the trans community who have suffered and constantly harp on how bad they have it, leaving behind the rest of us. Separating themselves, creating their own groups and associations and hijacking the community at large.

Now all of sudden we see this rage, this uproar, this hatred towards "Cis" Gender individuals, there years of hurt is coming out in their attempt to advocate and it is creating one ugly picture. in addition, they are leading a war path, a path that will lead us into an abyss. I believe we need to stop this movement before it back fires and redirect our efforts to showing love and compassion and stop seeing color.... Mark Angelo Cummings.

Strange Mark?  The question I have to ask is why are you (and white transpeople in general) feeling threatened by the ascendance of an intelligent masters degree wielding Black transwoman who OWNS HER POWER?   

I note the only people in Trans World who have been trashing Janet ever since your 'ally' Piers Morgan led the attack to 'deal with her'  have predominately been white.

By coming out, Janet and Laverne's ascendancy not only gave our community possibility models they can be proud of and point to, they have opened the doors to a sorely needed dialogue (like the one I had in Houston at the Montrose Center last night) in the Black cis and SGL community about trans issues.  

How is that 'a problem' or 'a threat'?   

I and other Black trans leaders don't see it that way.   We have been asking for years to be included in trans leadership ranks that look like a Republican Party convention and you keep ignoring or dismissing our concerns and requests to do so.  We are suffering with a 26% unemployment rate in Black Transworld and near genocidal levels of anti-trans violence being aimed at us that needs to be dealt with now, not 5, 10 or 50 years from now.    

For the last 61 years the trans narrative has centered on whiteness.  The transfeminine one has like in the parent society, white transwomen being the penultimate in beauty and femininity while Black transwomen are belittled, denigrated and murdered along with our trans Latina sisters.

Don't even get me started about how the transmasculine conversation has been centered on whiteness as well when media time does get allocated to talk about it

Now that you see Black transpeople confidently owning their power, have our own heroes and sheroes we can point to with pride, having their own conventions and TDOR events, have people like Kortney and my GLAAD Media Award nominated self and other video bloggers discussing our issues from an Afrocentric perspective, beginning to be supported by Black mainstream advocacy orgs like the NAACP and our SGL allies in the National Black Justice Coalition, you delusionally see this as 'cis' hatred and something that 'needs to be stopped'?

Seriously?   Have a seat Mark (and 'errbody' else in White Transworld who shares that jacked up opinion) and drink a nice tall Southern sweet tea flavored glass of STFU.

Laverne and Janet are in the media eye.   They are sheroes to a Black trans community that for the first time ever has out trans spokespeople who share their ethnic heritage.  We are reclaiming and talking about our trans history.   Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler is not only writing critical essays on his GLAAD nominated blac(k)ademic blog but has created the Trans* H4CK that seamlessly combines a hackathon with trans social justice.   Dee Dee Watters in Houston successfully organized the first ever Black trans organized TDOR.   Trans 100 honoree Carter Brown's Black Transmen, Inc is holding another BTAC Conference in April with a multicultural list of presenters and speakers while his org is helping Black transmen organize and own their collective power.   

And how is Black trans people showing pride in being Black and trans, doing for self and building institutions and community infrastructure similar to the ones that white transpeeps have enjoyed for decades 'hijacking the movement'?  You are clueless or have been standing in the Florida sun for too damned long if you think that way. 

I don't see that as a threat or something that 'needs to be stopped', I see it as something that is long overdue. It is also a breath of fresh air in a trans movement that for six decades has been far too focused on whiteness. and the desire of elements of the white trans community to regain their lost white privilege at POC transpeople's expense.

Not like Moni didn't warn y'all on the pages of this blog for years the Black Trans Revolution was coming. 

Bottom line is that we're beyond tired of the invisibility and it's time for the chocolate trans community to do what our Black sisters did in the late 80's and early 90's when they separated themselves from a similar jacked up situation in the feminist ranks.    TransGriot March 29, 2011

As Kwame Ture said, "In order to participate in the greater society, you must first close ranks." 

I also see this as the long overdue awakening of Black trans people finally doing what our parents, grandparents and great grandparents did decades ago when faced with the same intransigent racism in our parent society.  Because of your lack of vanillacented privileged wisdom, it was made necessary for African-American transpeople to tell our stories, do community building and close ranks.to build our own community so that we as free human beings have options.

And you have no one to blame but yourselves for this development.  We warned you that if something wasn't done about trans leadership ranks that resembled a GOP convention and you kept ignoring our pleas to change that and share the responsibility of leading this diverse community, the day was going to happen that we made our own damned tables and we wouldn't care if you liked it or not. 

As I've said on multiple posts here on this blog and on countless discussion Internet threads inside and outside the trans community for over a decade in various ways, race matters, even in the trans community.

We Black transpeople do not have the luxury of separating our race and ethnicity from our trans status because they are inextricably part of us.   We also get reminded of the kente cloth woven ties we have to the Black community every time we get whacked by the same microaggressive and macroaggressive bull feces whiteness and white supremacy aims at the entire community.

I am Black first, trans second.  If I had any doubts about where I stand in that regard as a member of the trans community, I get a reminder of it every time I call out the bigoted and racist bull feces that occasionally pops up in our trans community ranks and you angrily hiss back I'm 'angry' or 'playing the race card' for simply for being willing to call your unacknowledged white privileged behinds out.

Your White Privilege Rewards Card isn't the platinum one mind you, it just got downgraded to one with a transgender flag sticker on it. 

It was past time for Black transpeople to close ranks, lift each other up as white transpeople have done for the last six decades, have those trans conversations in our Black SGL and cis communities, and do the education because we are the people best suited to discuss trans issues in our community. 

Having a strong, confident, politically aware and vibrant Black trans community telling our stories strengthens the entire pink, white and blue flag waving trans community as a whole.  It also strengthens our Black cis and SGL communities and any other one we choose to ally with. 

We in Black Transworld will choose who our heroes and sheroes are and the people that we consider leaders in it.   You don't like who we choose, tough.   But you are on notice White Transworld that we will not stand by and sit on our hands when you unjustly attack our leaders, and you do so at your peril.  . 

If you fear the rise of the New Black Transwoman and the New Black Transman because of your unacknowledged privilege, have several seats.  You can #bemad and #staymad about it.

We would rather work together to build community with our white trans brothers and sisters and our cis, bi  and SGL allies to advance our common goal of human rights for all.  

But we Black transpeople will no longer do so as a disrespected junior partner that you throw under the bus every time our opponents wave an opportunity in front of your noses to get your lost platinum white privilege levels back.   
 

First Ever Black Trans Homecoming King Crowned

Just in time for Black History Month, some more Black trans history being made.

17 year old Blake Brockington became the first trans homecoming king in the state of North Carolina and the first out Black trans homecoming king ever in the United States when he was crowned during a halftime ceremony last night at East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte.

Blake was one of 13 seniors nominated for and competing for the honor, and raised the most money for East Mecklenburg High's chosen charity, Mothering Across Continents.  It's a non-profit organization that funds the building of schools in the Sudan.

"It's an honor to become part of East Meck's history," he said in a WCNC-TV interview.
  .
Brockington thanked his supporters, and says he wants to inspire students to never give up on their dream.
"They can be themselves regardless of what anybody else says. Even though you go through some things and have some negative encounters in your life, anything is possible. You can do anything you set your heart to," said Brockington.

As to what the newly crowned king's future plans are?   Brockington is headed to the University of North Carolina Charlotte in the fall, and plans to continue playing rugby and mentoring young trans students.   

Upcoming February Bay Area Trans* H4CK

For those of you in the Bay Area, you'll have another opportunity to participate in an upcoming Trans* H4CK. 

Trans* H4CK is creation of Dr. Kortney R. Ziegler that melds computer coding and app building with trans social justice to create programs and apps that solve real world trans problems . 

The first ever one in Oakland last September I had the pleasure of attending.  It was a wonderful and fascinating event I was honored to be there in attendance for and be one of the judges making the tough decisions as to which projects won.

On February 18 from 7-9 PM PST Kortney is putting together another Trans* H4CK for trans and queer nerds and calling for you to come together for a night of collective hacking, networking in a safe, diverse and friendly environment. 

No tech skills are required and hackers of all levels are welcome to attend.  Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, but space is limited.  

The location of the hack will be released a day prior to the event to ensure privacy, so if you're a trans or queer hacker, sign up ASAP..

Sochi Olympic Watch-NBC Screws Up With Another Bad Olympic Edit

One of the major problems with NBC's coverage of the Sochi Winter Games is the time difference from the East Coast.  

Sochi is nine hours ahead of US East Coast time (translation for me in Texas is 10 hours), so as a night owl, any live action for the Games when I choose to watch it will start around 2 AM Houston time.   

And with the next Winter Games scheduled for Pyeongchang, South Korea, that problem will be around in 2018 as well.

But what NBC needs to do is figure out when to do the edits of their broadcasts. 

NBC got justifiably excoriated for its Olympic coverage from London that was far too heavy on tape delay and included a badly timed edit of the 2012 Opening Ceremonies in which a tribute to the victims of he London attacks was edited out of the US broadcast. 

Well, for those of us watch the Olympic opening ceremonies, NBC's bad timing with edits struck again.  They decided to edit IOC President Thomas Bach's speech, and cut out an important chunk of it that the rest of the world saw that made a strong statement (from the IOC perspective) against any form of discrimination and a plea for tolerance.

Yeah, a strong statement that's a year too late.  

Here's the transcript of President Bach's speech.   The part that NBC cut out is in bold print.

Good evening, dear Athletes. Mr. President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations, Good evening Olympic friends and fans around the world! Welcome to the 22nd Olympic Winter Games! Tonight, we are writing a new page in Olympic history. What has been achieved in seven years is a remarkable achievement. I would like it thank, in again, the president of the Russian Federation and his Government. The Sochi Organizing Committee. The Russian Olympic committee. And the IOC members in Russia. Thank you to all the workers for your great contribution under sometimes difficult circumstances. Thank you to all the people of Sochi and the Krasnodar region. Thank you for your patience, thank you for your understanding during these years of transformation.

Now you are living in an Olympic Region. I am sure you will enjoy the benefits for many, many years to come. Thousands of volunteers have welcomed us with the well-known warm Russian hospitality. Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers. Bolshoi spasiba, valantyoram! Thank you very much to everyone. Russia and the Russians have set the stage for you, the best winter athletes on our planet. From this moment on you are not only the best athletes, you are Olympic Athletes. You will inspire us with your outstanding sports performances. You have come here for sports. You have come here with your Olympic dream. The International Olympic Committee wants your Olympic Dream to come true. This is why we are investing almost all of our revenues in the development of sports. The universal Olympic rules apply to each and every athlete- no matter where you come from or what your background is. You are living together in the Olympic Village. You will celebrate victory with dignity and accept defeat with dignity. You are bringing the Olympic Values to life. In this way, the Olympic Games, wherever they take place, set an example for a peaceful society. Olympic Sport unites people. This is the Olympic Message the athletes spread to the host country and to the whole world. Yes, it is possible to strive even for the greatest victory with respect for the dignity of your competitors. Yes, Yes, it is possible - even as competitors - to live together under one roof in harmony, with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason. Yes, it is possible - even as competitors - to listen, to understand and to give an example for a peaceful society.
Olympic Games are always about building bridges to bring people together. Olympic Games are never about erecting walls to keep people apart. Olympic Games are a sports festival embracing human diversity in great unity. Therefore, I say to the political leaders of the world - thank you for supporting your athletes. They are the best ambassadors of your country. Please respect their Olympic Message of goodwill, of tolerance, of excellence and of peace. Have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful, direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes. (APPLAUSE) To all sports officials and sports fans I say - join and support our fight for fair play, the athletes deserve it. To you - my fellow Olympic Athletes - I say, respect the rules, play fair, be clean, respect your fellow athletes in and out of competition. We all wish you joy in your Olympic effort and a wonderful Olympic experience. (APPLAUSE) To all of you - Athletes, Officials, Fans and Spectators around our globe - I say, enjoy the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games! And now I have the honor of inviting the president of the Russian Federation, Mister Vladimir Putin, to declare open the 22nd Olympic Winter Games.

Okay NBC, you are already getting off to a bad start with the Sochi tape delay.   let's see what else transpires between now and February 23.

Moni Ain't Happy About The Bigoted White Trans Feminine Attack On Janet

It's been 48 hours since that second hideous attack interview Piers Morgan unleashed upon Janet Mock followed by that jacked up panel, and I'm more than a little pissed off about it along with supporters in the Black trans, cis and SGL community.

But I've been surprised and disappointed by the reaction of elements of the white trans community to it. 

I'm tired of the white trans community ignoring the fact that Janet was attacked in this Morgan interview, and frankly some of you are doing so because you are jealous of the media attention she's received over the last two years.

It has the appearance to me and other people in the Black trans community and our allies that elements of the white trans community are secretly happy the 'uppity Black transwoman' got taken down a few notches by your cis White masculine 'ally' Piers Morgan and you're now using Morgan as a human shield excuse to unleash your own attacks of her.

It would be a good idea for you vanillacentric privilege wielding peeps to back the hell up off Janet right now, because the more shade you level at her, the more pissed off we get in Black Trans world about it along with our allies.

And FYI John Aravosis and 'errbody' else that thinks it was a pro-trans interview, this is what a pro-trans   interview with a real trans ally looks like.   This Marc Lamont Hill one is another example.   



Now it's time for a reality check.  I submit that if Janet Mock looked like this trans Hawaiian (Candis Cayne) instead of being a Hawaiian of African descent, the reaction to Piers Morgan's media bull feces would have been substantially different. 

Outrage would be filling up every white trans blog on the Net and you'd probably already have a Change.org petition up calling for Piers Morgan to apologize.

Bottom line is that for the last six decades, the transfeminine perspective, the people interviewed in the media about it, and the transfeminine discourse has disproportionately been centered on, spoken and written about by a long list of white transwomen.

Some of those who have done so I have had profound philosophical disagreements with like Riki Wilchins. Some of Kate Bornstein's writing I don't agree with either but I respected their right to say it.

For the first time in the trans community's modern history, we have Black trans women like Janet Mock, Laverne Cox and my GLAAD Award nominated self stepping up, getting the media spotlight and broadening the conversation. The appearances of Mock and Cox on the scene in the last two years and countless other African-American trans people have done more to advance the conversation and understanding about about trans issues in the Black cis and SGL community and amongst our intelligentsia than those discussions on trans issues in the last six decades

And some of you trans peeps have a problem with that and the masters degree wielding author of Redefining Realness who has SRO book events and has played a major role in making that happen? 

Buy a vowel and get a clue that transwomen come in all shades and ethnic backgrounds.  If we say we want to get trans human rights legislation passed in a near future that sees America getting more diverse, we are going to need a wide variety of spokespeople besides white transmasculine or white transfeminine ones to get people motivated to join our human rights cause and accomplish that task.

Shut Up Fool Awards-Sochi Olympic Opening Edition

Well, the Russians have been waiting four years for this day.  Like some of the other glitchs that have plagues these games such as Olympic torches on the relay going out, construction work at the last minute combined with one of the snowflakes during the opening ceremony not opening into an Olympic ring, the 22nd Winter Olympics that much of the international LGBT community isn't watching because of the unjust anti-gay legislation Russia has passed in the runup to the Games started today.

I'm basically going to watch women's hockey because I've got trash talking to do with a certain Canadian women's hockey fan.  I also want to see if speedskater Shani Davis wins his third consecutive gold medal in the 1000m and see if Lolo Jones wins her first ever Olympic medal in the bobsled.

Speaking of the bobsled, Cool Runnings II is going to happen since the Jamaicans not only qualified for the two man bobsled, but raised the money to get here.

From today through February 23, the Shut Up Fool Awards will be done Olympic style with gold, silver and bronze level fools.  So let's discover who went for the gold in jaw dropping hypocrisy, over the top arrogance, mind numbing stupidity, and Olympian levels of ignorance.

The Bronze goes to Texas GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott, who continued his party's stellar outreach to Latino Texans by calling South Texas, where millions of Latino Texans reside, a 'Third World nation.  

Keep it up Greg.  That Wendy Davis inauguration ceremony next January looks more plausible every time you open your bigoted mouth.

The Silver goes to Toronto mayor Rob Ford who decided to align himself with Vladimir Putin and is attempting to have the rainbow flag removed from a ceremonial flagpole at Toronto City Hall mere hours after it went up to express solidarity for Russia's LGBT population while the Winter Games are taking place.

Ford also pissed off Toronto's TBLG community by announcing he would skip World Pride despite it being held in Toronto this year along with Toronto Pride.   

And you decided to run for reelection?  

The Gold medal goes to Piers Morgan, that wonderful trans 'ally' who screwed up his first interview with Janet Mock, and when she complained about it on Twittier, turned hostile and went even more nekulturny the next night while proclaiming he was an 'ally.'

When HRC is calling you out on your ish, you need to STFU and listen to what people are saying because you have royally fracked up.  . 

As I said in a previous post, if this is an example of you being an ally, I damned sure wasn't feeling the love.

Now on that note, Piers Morgan, shut up fool! 

No Transpeople At The Sochi Games

'Athletic participation has been the road other marginalized groups have used as a pathway to greater visibility and human rights coverage, and it's past time we transfolks did so as well.'
---TransGriot , June 24, 2012
The Stockholm Consensus that allows transpeople to participate in the Olympic Games has been in place since 2004.  Since it was approved by the IOC we have had two winter Olympiads (2006, 2010) and three Summer ones (2004, 2008 and 2012) pass without an open trans athlete participating on their nation's winter or summer Olympic teams.

Keelin Godsey of the US, who did make the US Pan Am Games squad in 2011 has tried twice in 2008 and 2012 to be that first out trans athlete to make that history along with Kristin Worley of Canada, who attempted to make the Canadian Olympic track cycling team in 2008.

But as of yet our dream of a trans Olympian hasn't happened.  The new IOC rules were enacted far too late for a trans athlete to make an appearance in Athens and the first winter games in Torino two years later.  Beijing, Vancouver and London came and went with no trans Olympian sightings and it doesn't look like it will happen as the Olympic cauldron is lit at Sochi either.

Maybe the international trans* community will have better luck seeing one of our own two years from now in Rio or in 2018 at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang

Dyssonance Comments On The Piers Morgan Interview

Been a while since one of Antonia D'orsay's posts has graced my blog. 

But since Piers Morgan had the balls to call Toni's name in vain on his show, I thought it only fair to give The Empress of the Known Universe a chance to respond to his ish and have it signal boosted for the benefit of her loyal subjects courtesy of my GLAAD Award nominated blog. 

The firestorm is still raging inside and outside Transworld over the jacked up second interview that incredibly people with vanillacentric privilege are attacking Janet Mock for and applauding Morgan for putting the 'uppity' Black trans woman in her place.   (sarcasm meter on maximum)

Toni wrote a post on her Dyssonance blog critiquing the interview and subsequent online firestorm and here's a taste of it.

I had stayed out of it, and raised an eyebrow at the way he and his followers were saying that he hadn’t been given the benefit of the doubt. Yet he had been given such: that was how Janet Mock went on his show the first time, and then it was why he was given a second chance the second time. That isn’t merely the benefit if the doubt, that is being willing to stick your hand n a fire twice.

Which is just one example, by itself, of why the entire second show was an act of violence and abuse, and it was intentional because he not only threatened her the night before, but he is so ignorant, he cannot help but be part of the system that intentionally causes harm.

So in that, we can see that what he did not only meets the World Health Organizations definition of violence based on scientific consensus, but that it was an immoral and unethical series of actions as a whole, meant to put her into her place and allow him to stand atop his prize and bleat triumphantly.
I saw it, livestreamed via a friend.

You can read the rest of Toni's post by clicking on the link.

Islan Nettles Rally And The Lingering Questions After It

Something else that was happening while I was busy hosting 4000 of our TBLG family and allies in H-town last week was a January 30 New York rally demanding action on the Islan Nettles case.

When we last checked in on the case the Manhattan DA dropped misdemeanor assault charges against Paris Wilson, the person who was pulled off of Nettles by the police. because the speedy trial prosecution clock had run out and to ostensibly pursue more serious charges in this case. 

Well, the New York trans community isn't staying silent about this, they want justice for Islan like all of us do.  There was a December 20 meeting of New York City trans leaders headed by Laverne Cox and Brooke Cerda Guzman and various organizations facilitated by the New York Anti-Violence Project with the Manhattan DA.. 

Over 100 people including Janet Mock showed up for a January 30 rally at One Police Plaza organized by the Trans Women of Color Collective of New York (TWOCC) to keep the public pressure on NYPD and the Manhattan DA's office, keep the case in the public eye, and prod them into speedier action to solve the Nettles case. 

“Having survived a violent assault, I know what a struggle it can be to get justice in NY. Not one of my attackers was charged - and I was almost treated by the police as though I deserved to be assaulted,” says Madison St. Claire, Co-Chair of Membership for TWOCC. “Now, the same thing is happening in the Islan Nettles case - and that sends the wrong message: that trans women of color are disposable - that our lives don’t matter.” says St Claire. “Today, we send our own message NYPD and the DA’s office: TRANS LIVES MATTER!”

TWOCC activists have pointed out some troubling issues and things that make you go hmm concerns surrounding the Nettles case.  TWOCC has accused the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney's office of negligence and mishandling of this investigation that is leading to fear in the NY transfeminine community that a perpetrator of violence against us will get away with it.

It was revealed by TWOCC that no DNA evidence was collected from Paris Wilson at the scene of the crime, nor were witnesses rigorously questioned. Nor has it been satisfactorily explained why Simone Wilson, the suspect’s mother, was never held accountable or charged for hindering prosecution or falsifying evidence when she persuaded a friend of her son to make a false confession which was later recanted.

And perhaps in a statement that strains credibility, the DA’s office is claiming that all 10 surveillance cameras in the vicinity of the beating that lead to Islan Nettles’ death on that August 17 night were broken.

There have also been questions raised by transpeople in the NY area and nationally about what exactly is the Rev Al Sharpton's and the National Action Network's stance concerning the Nettles case and trans human rights in general.  

NAN held a December 7 panel discussion moderated by Dominique Sharpton entitled 'My Brothers Keeper' at NAN's Harlem headquarters that included trans panelists Sean Coleman, Arisce Wanzer and Kimberly Howard.  But the forum has not quieted the trans community asking this legitimate question in light of the fact the vicious attack on Islan occurred mere blocks from NAN's Harlem headquarters.

So will keep you TransGriot readers posted on the latest developments in the Nettles case as I receive them.

Piers Morgan Is STILL Tripping

The BS continues from Piers Morgan, who let his vanillacentric cisprivilege take over and continue his attacks in the wake of his first jacked up CNN interview with Janet Mock.  She called him out about it, and he then went on the counterattack on Twitter.

Hell, if this is an example of you being an ally, I damned sure wasn't feeling the love (and neither was much of the trans community and our true allies) after watching the two train wreck interviews that I can confidently say probably won't be nominated for GLAAD Media Awards.  .

And frankly, Piers Morgan claiming that trans people are 'cisphobic' is as laughable as the right wing conservatives polluting his network and elsewhere who claim that people of color calling them on their bull feces is 'reverse racism.'

The thing that has pissed the trans community off about both these interviews is that Piers not only didn't listen, he kept interrupting Janet. Then to add insult to injury, Morgan had the nerve in his vanilla scented privileged arrogance to claim that he was not only an ally, but we should be grateful for the TV interview time.

It's the optics of this interview that set many of us off, and especially those of us in the trans POC community.

And once again, what sets us off is that far too many people, especially in the media, focus and obsess on that past prior to our body morphing and use it to erase the people we have evolved to become now.
  
If you claim that you respect and admire the person that Janet (or any transperson) is now, what her birth name was or what genitalia she's packing in her panties shouldn't matter to you unless you want to date her, and she already has a man who loves her.  

All that should matter is the content of our characters, how we treat you as a fellow human being in 2014 and beyond, not when we came out of the birth canal decades ago.

Happy 19th Birthday, Trayvon!

Today would have been the 19th birthday of Trayvon Benjamin Martin if not for a fateful encounter with bigoted neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Trayvon's father's Sanford, FL. condominium complex.

And sadly, on Trayvon's 19th birthday we have more African-American parents who are awaiting the starts of trials of white males who felt they had the right to 'stand their ground' and kill Black children for the 'crime' of Existing While Black   

A jury is being selected in the case of Michael Dunn, who shot and killed Jordan Davis because he was in a vehicle with two friends at a Jacksonville convenience store, their music was too loud for his tastes and he 'felt threatened'

Theodore Wafer, another white man who 'felt threatened' has been chaged with second degree murder and is awaiting trail for November 2 shooting death of Renisha McBride.   She simply knocked on the door of a Dearborn Heights, MI house to get help after a traffic accident and paid for it with her life. 

The third white male, Randall Kerrick was wearing a CMPD police uniform when he shot and killed in September 2013 an unarmed Jonathan Ferrell ten times.  He has been indicted and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

So yes Trayvon, we have a lot of work to do to kill the ALEC-inspired Stand Your Ground laws that took you and Renisha's lives.  

And we will never forget what happened to you on the night of February 26, 2012 and how whiteness and white supremacy rallied to the defense (and still does) of George Zimmerman. 

We will commemorate the second anniversary of your murder with nationwide events, and we also won't rest until justice is served in not only your case, but Renisha and Jonathan's as well. 

We also won't rest until Kill A Black Child With Impunity Stand Your Ground laws are eviscerated. 

Happy 19th birthday, Trayvon. 
. 

Piers Morgan Starts Tripping After Janet Calls Him Out Over Interview

After Janet Mock called Piers Morgan out for sensationalizing her CNN interview with her, Piers Morgan took to Twitter to strike back and call her 'ungrateful'.

For what Oh Mighty Media Whitey?   You mad and got your vanillacentric privileged fee fees hurt because the Black trans woman called your azz out for disrespecting her on your show and she and the trans community are pushing back?

The chyron your peeps used was problematic to start with. But as Janet said in her BuzzFeed interview:  

“This is my first mainstream television show, was that moment, with Piers Morgan, and you see what they did to my story. Compared to a moment if I’m on Melissa Harris-Perry, which is slightly different, a more sensitive and safe space. But I go onto Piers Morgan, and all of my followers and everyone are like, ‘What is this?’” she said. But, she noted, “It’s also more representative of the ignorance that there is about trans people’s lives. We’re out of the safe bubble of social justice.”


Frankly, we in the trans community are beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of the six decade old focus on our genitalia in the media.  If you didn't get that fracking message last month after the Katie Couric interview with Laverne Cox and Carmen Carrera, here's the wakeup call once again.  

As a matter of fact, watch the Melissa Harris-Perry show and check out the proper way to do an interview with a trans woman.

I Received A 2014 GLAAD Media Award Nomination!

Was surprised and pleased to find out during Creating Change Houston that I may have made a little Black  and trans history.

TransGriot received its first ever GLAAD Media Award nomination in the Outstanding Blog category   I'm the first trans feminine blogger ever to have received a nomination in this category and second overall.   Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler's blac(k)ademic last year became the first trans blog ever to receive a nomination in this category.    

However, I have some stiff competition in this category.    Kimberley McLeod's Elixher (of which my posts appear at times) is nominated along with Alvin McEwen's Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.

The other nominees in this category are Autostraddle and The New Civil Rights Movement.

Like I said tough competition.  All are quality blogs.  Two of the founding editors of the nominated blogs in Kimberley and Alvin are personal friends and I have mad respect for their blogs. .  I read the other two nominees as well and have met people affiliated with them at the LGBT Media Journalist Convening and hopefully will see them in DC later this month.
 
But as I've said a few times when it comes to these award nominations, it's nice when they recognize the hard work you put in to do a quality blog.  You also can't win an award unless you're nominated for it, and the hard part is over.  I'm in it, and hopefully I'll win it on my first nomination attempt..  

Best of luck to everyone nominated in this Outstanding Blog category

Is there a trip to Los Angeles (April 12) or New York (May 3) in my future?   We'll see.

TransGriot Update:  I'm the first transfeminine blogger to earn a GLAAD award nomination and the SECOND overall.   Kortney Ziegler's blac(k)ademic was nominated in the Outstanding Blog category last year won by Rod 2.0.   Story has been corrected to reflect that.
 

Janet's Big Day

Today's launch of her book Redefining Realness was the fulfillment of a dream for Janet Mock to become a published author.  It's also concrete proof that just because you transition, you don't have to give up on making your dreams a reality. 

If you come up with a plan, stick to it and put in the work to make it happen our dreams can be realized.

As Janet wrote in her blog post  'A Dream Realized: Redefining Realness Is Finally Here', she states:

For so long I believed that good things could not happen to me, that my dreams and goals and desires and fantasies could not come true. This is how I’ve navigated the world for so long, with feelings of doom, of inadequacy and pain, of letdowns and failed expectations following me. As I write in Redefining Realness, “Happiness was fleeting and accidental; goodness wasn’t in the cards for a girl like me.” I wish I was at some elevated space with myself where I could say I’ve conquered those feelings, but I have not. And this book is not going to fill that craving.

You can read the rest of Janet's post by clicking this link.

Upcoming TWCUC Trans Panel Discussion

My first local post Creating Change event will take place later this week.

A Transgender Forum sponsored by the Transwomen of Color United For Change (TWCUC ) will happen Saturday, February 8 at the Montrose Center, located at 401 Branard St. just off Richmond Ave and Spur 521   The METRORail Wheeler Station is in easy walking distance of the Montrose Center as well

You can join me, Dee Dee Watters and our facilitator Tye West for the discussion that will take place in Room 112 of the Montrose Center. 

The room opens at 6:45 PM with the discussion starting at 7 PM so join us in what promises to be an interesting and informative evening of conversation. 

The State of The Black Trans Union 2014

So what's the state of the Black Trans Union?   A mixed bag that's not even close to where we need it to be, but is improving enough to give me hope that when I write this post in 2014 it will be better. 

--TransGriot  February 30, 2013  'The State Of The Black Trans Union 2013'

It's a year later and the state of the Black Trans Union circa 2014 is still a mixed bag but improving.

2013 was a breakout year for Black trans visibility.  Janet Mock and Laverne Cox led the way as they made appearances across the media spectrum on behalf of #girlslikeus and kept it real about being Black and trans.

Janet's Redefining Realness book was released to rave reviews today.  The book is paving the way toward having that long needed dialogue and conversation between Black cis and Black trans women.   Laverne has a historically groundbreaking role on Orange Is The New Black   Even B. Scott finally came out as trans. 

Kylar Broadus was deservingly tapped in September to head the Task Force's Transgender Civil Rights Project.  Tiq Milan is now at GLAAD, and Dr Kortney Ryan Ziegler is taking his Trans* H4CK concept of combining a hackathon with trans social justice to solve real world problems national after its wildly successful debut in Oakland.   

The Black Trans Advocacy Conference is rapidly approaching in Dallas April 30-May 4 and promises to be bigger than it was last March. 

And yeah, a founding editor of a blog 'nobody reads' continues to chronicle the stories of our community and get a GLAAD Media Award nomination for it..

While #blacktransexcellence was breaking out all over the place, the sobering reality is still hitting us that we are facing crushing 26% unemployment rates because of the lack of NDO's that ban discrimination based on gender identity.  Yes, ENDA passed the Senate, but the Republican controlled House is preventing its passage and signature into law by President Obama.  If they won't act to pass this much needed law, then we need to act on November 4 to kick their azzes to the congressional curb and send legislators to Washington DC who will.   

Our transsisters from coast to coast are being viciously killed from Islan Nettles in New York to Domonique Newburn in Southern California and everywhere in between.  While CeCe McDonald is finally free, there are still other trans people who are facing the hell of unjust incarceration.
 
While our sisters are being killed, when they do catch the perpetrators they are increasing starting to see lengthy prison sentences.   The Islan Nettles case is unfortunately one of those in which the perpetrators of the anti-trans hate violence fatally visited upon Islan have not only yet to be arrested but prosecuted for the crime.     

We are starting to see Black trans women form alliances with our trans POC sisters in the Latina and Asian-Pacific Islander community to work toward the common goals of trans human rights coverage for all of us.   We are continuing the work to strengthen the bonds between Black transmen and Black transwomen and role model what Black solidarity looks like to the rest of the African-American community. 

I'm seeing more trans brothers stand up and take leadership roles in our community as well and begin to get recognition for it.   The Black cis community is starting to recognize that Black trans issues are Black community issues because things like voter suppression laws, sexism, racism, and discrimination affect us too.

We Black transpeople have a proud history that we are not only reclaiming, but people who are making history in the 21st century. 

But we still have much work to do. Like our SGL brothers and sisters, we are not happy about the lack of diversity in Gay, Inc organizations.  But we also need to point out that when we set up FUBU organizations such as the National Black Justice Coalition or Center For Black Equity, when you have job openings you're looking to fill, talented trans people need to be hired as well.  .  

So this is why I'm saying the state of the Black Trans Union circa 2014 is a mixed bag.   While there has been tremndous progress made in our trans human rights journey, we still have a long way yet to travel and much work ahead of us before we reach our goals.

 

'Redefining Realness' Out Today!

I received my autographed copy of it just as Creating Change was cranking up in H-town, and finally had a chance to spend Monday evening settling into a quiet well lit corner and reading Janet Mock's book Redefining Realness.

It's an interesting read that seamlessly discusses her personal story growing up in challenging circumstances as a mixed race trans kid in Honolulu, Oakland and Dallas for a minute.   The interesting twist to this memoir is that trans community stats are weaved into it that reflect what she's discussing at that time and in that particular chapter of the book.

It's an innovative way to tell your personal story, and once I started turning pages in it I couldn't put it down. . 

Janet's highly anticipated book will be released today, and I hope this becomes a New York Times Best Seller.  

We'll see how that plays out.  Janet will also be doing a tour in support of this book, and I can't wait until she hits Houston. 

Piss Off A Conservafool-Buy Girl Scout Cookies

TransGriot Note:  Meme courtesy of ShoreBud Mike

The Conservafool War On Women includes not only attacking trans women, but also organizations that empower young women like the Girl Scouts.

They have not only said ugly and batturd crazy crap about the organization, but have tried to go after one of the funding streams of the organization in the annual Girl Scout cookie drive. 

So if you want to piss a conservafool off, now that it's Girl Scout cookie drive time, lets practice some intersectionality trans, bi and SGL community and buy a few extra boxes this year.    Even better, eat or share them in front of your wingnut co-workers to get even for the time they bought Chik-Fil-A  Bigot Fil A chicken biscuits or food to eat at your last office gathering. 

I could use a few boxes of Thin Mints myself..

To find out where to buy Girl Scout cookies near you, here's the link:  http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/find_cookies.asp

Denver Transpeeps, Make Sure Your #CC15 Host Committee Reps The 'T'

Now that Creating Change Houston style is over, we get to rest, bask in the afterglow of a job well done and wait to pounce on another opportunity to bid for it again.

In the meantime our thoughts and gaze is turning towards Colorado and the city we passed the Creating Change torch to in Denver

I'm sure you are quite aware of by now that Houston set the bar high in terms of how to organize and run this event.

One of the things that we were wildly successful at was getting the Houston trans community and our allies involved.

Lou Weaver was selected as one of the four Houston Host Committee co-chairs.  We had transpeople as chairs and co-chairs of various subcommittees and a small army of them either as members of the host committee or who volunteered their time to make the event run smoothly.   

We had transpeople presenting seminars or having major roles in panels.  And it didn't hurt that one of the people on the Houston host committee was a GLAAD Media Award nominated blogger documenting much of it..   

Our local trans community benefited immensely from having to focus along with our SGL brothers and sisters in bringing sustained collective work toward organizing a major convention. It has laid the groundwork for the work and cohesion that will be necessary when we gear up to get a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance with gender identity and sexual orientation language passed.

It has also had the ripple effect of not only getting us better connected with each other. but with our Houston GLB family we worked side by side with on the host committee.

So as we pass the torch to you Denver trans community, we in the Houston trans community issue you a challenge.  We want you to meet or exceed our Houston trans community level of involvement as you put together next year's conference .   

We'd like to ask you to make sure that when the Denver Host Committee is formed to organize #CC15, it has significant and diverse trans representation on it like ours did.

I know that Denver's trans community has groundbreaking leaders there that the rest of the country needs to know about.  You have television personality Eden Lane in your backyard who would probably make an excellent keynote speaker or panelist.  Pam Bennett has run for office in suburban Aurora twice.    My activist mentor Dainna Cicotello lives in the area, and you have unsung trans heroes and sheroes who would benefit from having the #CC15 spotlight shined on them.

And when we roll up to Denver on February 3-8 we'd love to meet them.

So Denver transpeeps, you're now on the Creating Change clock.  Please make sure that when the Denver Host Committee starts forming in a few months, that you are there in full effect repping the 'T' and your community is reflected in the programming, suites and seminars.

But you have to be part of the organizing process to make that happen.

Justice For Jewlyes

Now that Creating Change 2014 is receding into history, I have some time to refocus my attention on what's happening in the trans community while I was doing my part to make our Houston flavored event an off the charts successful one.

There has been increasing pressure being applied on the Contra Costa County DA's office to drop the case against Hercules HS transteen Jewyles Gutierrez, who is being charged with battery  for defending herself against three girls who were bullying her nonstop for several months .

And just in case you were wondering, outside of the three girls who bullied her being suspended from school for the fight, they aren't facing charges. 

A Change.org petition calling on Contra Costa County DA Daniel Cabrera to drop the charges has garnered almost 200,000 signatures and sponsorship from Transadvocate, and GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) as of this writing.

If you wish to add your name to that list of people outraged over what is increasingly appearing to be charges based on a recommendation from a transphobic cis female detective, you can follow this link to add your name to this petition.

The lengthening list of people speaking out against these unjust charges also includes San Francisco Supervisor David Campos, who along with four co-sponsors introduced on January 28 a non-binding resolution  urging that the unjust charges be dropped. 

"What happened to Jewlyes Gutierrez is reprehensible," Campos told the SF Weekly. "Prosecuting Jewlyes for defending herself merely stigmatizes and bullies her again, this time in an official capacity and by the institutions who's duty it is to act as her protector. It is important that as a city, we in San Francisco stand for what is right and acknowledge that we must commit to protecting the most vulnerable among us and demand the same of communities around the country, especially in the Bay Area."

Will be keeping an eye on this situation.

Russell Wilson Makes Black History

What a way to start off Black History Month!

Before today, in the entire history of Super Bowls, there have been four African-American starting quarterbacks who have played in the NFL's biggest game.   The first, Doug Williams in 1988 took his Washington team to victory over the Denver Broncos.  

Steven McNair was mere inches from joining that short list in 2000 when the Tennessee Traitors (yeah, I'm still bitter about that move) fell inches short of the championship winning TD.    Then there was Donovan McNabb in 2005 and Colin Kaepernick last year against the Ravens. 

Russell Wilson., the fifth Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl, made a little Black history today by becoming only the second ever African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl when his Seattle Seahawks team took down the Denver Broncos 43-8.

And yeah news media, it's still a BFD when I see a brother quarterback in the Super Bowl, much less win one.  Colorblind does not mean ignore the reality of this historic moment when it occurs.

Now for the interesting piece of Black history still yet to be made.  Will Russell Wilson become the first one to win multiple or back to back Super Bowls?   We'll have to tune in when the 2014 NFL season kicks off to finad out the answer to that question.

Creating Change 2014- Passing The Torch To Denver

My last day at Creating Change 2014 started with a 9:30 AM panel discussion with Stacey Langley, Liz Elsen and Sable Schultz entitled Building A Bridge Over The Rainbow: LGBTQ Women Creating Community.  

We discussed many of the issues keeping us from building sisterhood amongst the letter in our community and attempted in the hour and 30 minutes we had for the discussion to come up with the beginnings of a solution to that problem.   After that panel was done, so was the seminar portion of the entire conference

We then headed to the ballroom for a brunch, a speech from Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, a closing keynote speech, watch Houston's own Kristopher Sharp receive the Paul A. Anderson Youth Leadership Award on his last day in town before jetting off to DC to do his internship and see the fabulous Nona Hendryx close it out for us.

After Nona stepped off the stage John Denver's Rocky Mountain High started blaring over the speakers to signal that Creating Change 2014 was really over and our committee is now passing the torch to Denver.

I also got a chance on behalf of her trans fans like me after the closing concert was over to thank Nona Hendryx for her decision to not play MichFest last year.

The Houston Host Committee accomplished its mission.  Our goal was simple.  We wanted to put on the best Creative Change ever and do it with Houston flava..  We smashed records, proudly showed off our city, and were told that this just concluded Creating Change is the largest conference ever in the history of the Hilton Americas Hotel

To those of you who attended our record setting conference, visited the hospitality suites, interacted with us and our volunteers, and built community over the last few days, thank you and safe travels back home.  I had just as much fun being there as you did and hope you get many opportunities to put your newly learned skills to good use 

Okay Denver, you're now on the clock for #CC15.

2013 TransGriot NFL Predictions-Super Bowl Sunday

I've been a little busy with Creating Change in my inside Loop 610 backyard, so it has been a nice distraction from all the Super Bowl XLVIII hoopla and coverage which was probably more intense because it was being played near one of our nation's media centers.

So when the Seattle Seahwks and Denver Broncos tangle in the first matchup of number one seeds from their respective conferences in a long time, who will emerge victorious? 

It's Denver's high octane offense versus Seattle's 'Legion of Boom' defense when this highly anticipated matchup kicks off later today. 

As to who I think is going to win it?   While I'm rooting for the Seahawks, my head says the team from the city that's hosting Creating Change 2015.

The Broncos to walk out of MetLife stadium with the Vince Lombardi trophy in their possession.     

TransGriot Note:  Okay 12th Man, Seattle spanked that azz 43-8.    I've had a rough 2013 NFL season picking games anyway that I'm ready to put in the rear view mirror.  Congrats to the Seahawks.

Janet's Latest MHP Appearance

Y'all know how much I love my little sis Janet Mock and already have my copy of Redefining Realness.   The rest of y'all can preorder it or buy it when it comes out February 4.

While I was busy at Creating Change, she made another #nerdland appearance on the Melissa Harris-Perry show to chat about the new book and other subjects.

 

Creating Change 2014-Day 4

Hard to believe that this is the last full day of Creating Change 2014 Houston style.  Some of the record TBLG and allied crowd we're had over the last two days are now on their way back home while others will be hanging out until the closing plenary and Nona Hendryx concert.

The hospitality suites not only have been busy since they opened Thursday, but each one has its own distinctive style.
They range from being places of quiet reflection to ones in which there is lively and thoughtful conversation about a wide range of subjects.

It's the last full day of seminars and panel discussions plotting the next steps of our movement, and since it's Saturday, it's playtime once the long day is done. 

There was the MasQUEERade Ball for the younglings 24 and under and for us grown folks the 50+ and Allies dance.   Shuttle buses departing from the hotel headed to the Montrose gayborhood and Neon Boots.  The Trans Pool Party.  The hotel bars at the Hilton Americas and the nearby Embassy Suites filling with #CC14 attendees talking about the day's events or other subjects.

But before we got to playtime, there was still the Saturday seminar schedule to get through.  Since I'd only had two hours of sleep leading into Friday, my body said "You are getting seven hours whether you like it or not."

Melissa opening the suite today allowed to get that extra shuteye and not have to be there until 11 AM 

I had a meeting of POC trans leaders and cis POC allies at 12:15 PM.  It was coordinated by Kris Hayashi to apprise us of the current situation concerning AB 1266 and let us know what their plans were in case the haters get enough signatures to trigger a ballot initiative.

Much of what was discussed in that room today is in The Trans Revolution Will Not Be Blogged About territory, so I can't comment on it. 

But what I can say is that AB 1266 went into effect on January 1 and is being implemented.  All AB1266 does is clarify California state and federal non-discrimination law as it applies to trans students, and the Forces of Intolerance are still hating on it.     

I was satisfied to discover the peeps in Cali are quite aware of the national implications of what the haters are up to, plans are being formulated and ready to roll out if necessary.

They sought our input and I am on the mailing list, so watch this space for further announcements  

As I was wandering the Hilton Americas halls, ran into Ace Portis, and finally my homegirl Michelle Brown and her spouse. 

Michelle and her cohorts from Can We Talk For Real were getting in line to take NOH8 photos.  After meeting her spouse and watching the fun for a moment, it was time to attend my first session of the day. 

It was entitled Inclusive Public Workplace Policies: The North Texas Model  and was taught by Rafael McDonnell   He discussed what the TBLG community in the DFW Metroplex has been doing to initiate an impressive string of policy wins since 2010.

When that was done, as one of the inaugural Trans 100 honorees, I headed to Grand Ballroom E for Trans Visibility and Positivity: The Trans 100 that stated at 6 PM.   Toni D'orsay and Jen Richards explained how the idea came to her, how they select the curators, created the show, and whats in store for 2014.

First thing is there will be a brand new set of Trans 100 winners.  None of us who were selected last year will repeat, so will be nice to see on March 31 who gets chosen.

So after that did a little suite hopping, and buzzed the Trans Pool P with Melissa and Dylan before returning to the Racial Diversity Suite to prepare to close it at 10 PM .

Just before I left the Hilton Americas, ran into Reina Gossett, told her she'd done a wonderful job on the panel before I headed off to catch my bus.  

Tonight was the KPFT-FM tribute broadcast for Jimmy Carper. As I wandered the four blocks to my bus stop I pondered a Circle of Life moment.   Back in 1999, I left Creating Change in Oakland to do my first broadcast that night at Jimmy's side.   Now with us hosting our first ever Creating Change here in Houston,  Jimmy passes away two days before it started. 

Well, gotta get that beauty sleep.   Doing a 9:30 AM panel in the morning entitle Building a Bridge Over The rainbow LGBTQ Women Creating Community. that is scheduled for room 335C. 

Creating Change 2014-Laverne Cox Speech

|
This is the keynote speech Laverne gave at the opening Thursday night plenary. that everyone who heard it is STILL talking about.  

Hopefully I'll get to do that one day (hint hint)

Tai Babilonia

It's Black History Month 2014 edition but as y'all know I consider every month on TransGriot as Black History month.  

With the Sochi Olympic Games about to start in a few days, I thought this would be a great time to kick off my series of TransGriot Black History Month posts by talking about figure skater Tai Babilonia. 

And yeah, full disclosure, had a little bit of a crush on Tai back in the day.  Moving on to the post. 

Most people are aware of the fact that Dr. Debi Thomas became the first African American to win a medal of any sort in the Winter Olympics with her figure skating bronze medal at Calgary in 1988.  


But that piece of Black history was almost made by biracial figure skater Tai Babilonia, who is of Filipina, Native American (dad) and African American descent (on her mom's side) back in 1980.

She was born in Los Angeles on September 22, 1959 and was inspired to begin ice skating after seeing world and Olympic champion figure skater Peggy Fleming on television when she was six. 

Tai along with her partner Randy Gardner had been skating together since they first met when she was 8 and Randy was 10.  They.were the five time US champions, and when they won the 1979 World Championship in pairs figure skating, they broke a 14 year streak of Soviet titles and became only the second ever American figure skating pair (and unfortunately the last so far) since the competition started in 1908 to win it.  

After finishing fifth in the Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck four years earlier, they were the wildly popular home soil gold medal favorites going into the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

But unfortunately during practice ten days before the Lake Placid Games started Gardner fell and suffered a painful groin injury that prevented Randy from lifting Tai and jumping consistently during some of their program elements.

The groin injury to Gardner healed over those ten days, but he re-injured it and made it worse just 48 hours before they were scheduled to compete.  

Randy tried to press on, but it became clear in the warmup before the competition started on February 15 that he was in pain and it forced the couple to withdraw from the Olympic pairs figure skating competition.  

Tai was devastated, but despite the disappointing Olympic setback, the pair continued to skate professionally until their retirement in 2008 despite their ups and downs and drama in their off the ice lives. 

And yes, they are still close. They have been there for each other when the other has needed them.      Randy came out in 2006, has a partner and is penning a memoir. Tai is a businesswoman, mother to a teenage son from a previous marriage, and currently married to comedian David Brenner. 

Tai is still a beloved personality by many of the people of my generation and one of our great figure skating champions.  .   

Creating Change 2014-Day 3 Recap

Day 3 of Creating Change Houston Style is conference hump day, and I was doing so on two hours sleep.

It was a self inflicted wound of which alcohol or excessive partying wasn't the cause of it, but writing two posts that I didn't complete to my satisfaction until 4 AM

Unlike many of our attendees, in addition to my seminars I've been blessed to participate in, I've busy working and repping H-town in our Racial Diversity Suite along with Melissa and our proud volunteers.

Thanks to all our volunteers who have or will be working it.  James, Letitia, Jerry, Anthony, Larry, Kyndal, Joel, James A, Miriam, James D, Clarence, Ashley, Talor, Keciana, Rodney, Tammy, Erin, Ciro and Reggie.

Your work, smiles, and Texas hospitality is deeply appreciate by Melissa, myself, and our Houston Host  Committee.  You have our visitors feel welcome, special, appreciated and it has been noticed. 

So since my next scheduled panel wasn't until 3 PM, I had the opportunity to support other people panels. But in the wake of Laverne's shoutout to me during her kick butt keynote speech, my coolness quotient was rising and I found myself taking a lot of photos today.

So I started my Day 3 with a panel Toni D'orsay was conducting entitled How Arizona Flushed Anti-Trans Legislation.  Toni broke down how the Arizona trans community banded together to kill the Your Papers To Pee and No Loo For You bills and discussed the strategies and tactics necessary to kill bad bills in red states. 

One of the things that is cool about Creating Change and maddening about it is there are so many wonderful panels that are happening at the same time that in order to get the info needed, you need to find a buddy, split up, attend them and take notes for each other to get the information that will be disseminated in them. 

One of those panels that was taking place at the same time I was in Toni's session was one featuring  Judge Tonya Parker from Dallas and one of my activist mentors in Judge Phyllis Frye discussing life on the bench for a TBLG judicial pioneer .  

If your still here and reading this Judge Parker, so want to meet you.

Then my next seminar was The Sisterhood, in which I watched a multicultural, bilingual at times and multigenerational panel of Latina, Asian and African American transwomen moderated by Andrea Jenkins that discussed the common issues that affect all our communities and do the work of builing a national sisterhood that will help us go a long way toward solving them.    The participants were Milan Alexander, Cecilia Chung, and my homegirls Bamby Salcedo and Arianna Lint.

It was also fun for me because I got to meet the rest of the members of the fabulous TransLatina Coalition and see Ruby Corado again..

After checking on the RD suite and hanging up there for a little to chat with some folks, bounced down to check out Imam Daayiee Abdullah, who I met during OUT on the Hill 2012 and the Muslim service that was held during the lunch hour.

I have been trying to get some quality time together all conference with Imam Abdullah and I have had one impediment after another keeping it from happening.  Even on my way to this service there was a room change that caused me to be a little late for this one. 

But when I arrived it was worth it because I not only got to hear his sermon and message to the assembled LGBT Muslims and people of other faiths like myself in the room, I got to witness a sadly not too common but emotionally powerful sight of a young woman leading the call to prayer.   After talking to Imam Abdullah and many of the other assembled worshipers who appreciated my heightened presence went back up to the suite to rest for a moment before my next panel.   

Then came my 3 PM GLAAD sponsored panel with the brilliant Reina Gossett, Tiq Milan and Laverne moderated by Dani Heffernan entitled Growing Visibility: Transgender People In The Media in which we spent much of our hour and a half discussing the ways in which media had positively and negatively impacted transpeople and especially transpeople of color.  

Then it was back to the suites for a few hours, checking out a blogging panel, bumping into my fave power could in Danielle and Aisha Moodie-Mills looking effortlessly lovely as usual, conversation in the bloggers reception with Venton Jones from NBJC and Samantha Master where we told some hilarious stories about past OUT on the Hills and Samantha joined Janet Mock in asking me to write a book on Black trans history.

And yes, the rumor is true. I had a sit down chat with NCTE's Mara Keisling, Lisa Mottet and Bamby Salcedo to talk about some issues in the community including our shared concern about the developing Jewlyes Gutierrez situation in California.

I said hi to my Houston homeboys and homegirls Lou Weaver, Yesenia Chavez and James Lee who were chilling out nearby before I bounced for the evening.

And what's this rumor I hear that the Denver #CC15 host committee people have been talking smack about busting all the Creating Change records we have set?   If its true, bring it on then. 

CC14's Hump Day has concluded for me, and now we have one last full day of seminars, plenaries, and once on one conversations with 4000 of our friends to Create Change who have made Houston the center of the LGBT Universe for now.