Mayor Parker Is Helping Us Out, Not Selling Us Out

I need to address a loud and wrong conclusion jump that has been coming from certain quarters of the trans community over the last few days that is seriously annoying me and those of us fighting to pass the HERO despite the resistance of the Houston Division of the Forces of Faith-Based Intolerance.

There has been a meme developing not helped by erroneous reporting coming from some parts of the blogosphere not based in Houston that Mayor Annise Parker 'threw the trans community under the bus' when Section 17-51 (b) of the proposed Houston Equal Rights Act was targeted for removal. 

Umm, no.  Not even close.  Mayor Parker owes her first election in 1997 as an at-large council member to a dedicated cadre of trans people who busted their behinds, canvassed, block walked and donated hard earned T-bills to that first and subsequent council, controller and mayoral campaigns.   We know her from her Houston GLBT Caucus days when she led the organization.  She has supported and gone to the trans community Unity Dinners over the years and was given an Apogee Award at the 1998 Houston TG Unity Banquet for her leadership as a city council member on the 1998 non-discrimination ordinance.

And we have proudly voted for her.

Is our community finally getting comfortable with the final letter in GLBT? I hope so. But I know some of us still have a long way to go toward real understanding and acceptance. I still recall being advised by some people in those early campaigns to keep the transgenders out of sight! I can only hope that the year of films like Transamerica will mark a turning point for the transgender community
--Annise Parker, OutSmart magazine, November 1, 2009

One of the things she did as mayor was sign an executive order that added gender identity to Mayor Lee Brown's executive order that barred discrimination in city employment based on sexual orientation.  When the Tyjanae Moore bathroom gender policing situation popped up in 2010 along with the harassment of a trans staffer working for Councilmember Jolanda Jones, at Councilmember Jones' behest Mayor Parker signed an executive order clarifying that transpeople in city owned buildings can use the facility that matches current gender presentation and barred discrimination against us in city employment.

So back to focusing on what's happening now in H-town.  The local trans community asked for Section 17-51 (b) to be pulled from the proposed ordinance.   I've written and testified it needed to go.  Lou, Dee Dee, and other Houston trans leaders have also been unanimous in our dislike of it.  

What we're pissed off about inside Beltway 8 is you peeps blasting Mayor Parker based on Frontiers LA writing a story and only posting a snippet of Section 17-51 (b) prior to their conclusion jump.  Neither did any of you outside of Houston critics know at the time because you weren't privy to it, we were working with council to get amendments done to clean up that problematic language in a way that would be satisfying to our community.

FYI, here's the full text of Section 17-51 (b)

(b) It shall be unlawful for any place of public accommodation or any employee or agent thereof to deny any person entry to any restroom, shower room, or similar facility if that facility is consistent with and appropriate to that person’s expression of gender identity. It shall be a defense to prosecution for discrimination on the basis of gender identity under this article, however, if the defendant had a good faith belief that the gender or gender identity of the person discriminated against was not consistent with the gender designation of the facility. For purposes of this section, a defendant has a good faith belief if the manner in which the person represented or expressed gender to others (e.g. behavior, clothing, hairstyles, activities, voice or mannerisms) is not consistent with the gender designation of the facility the person attempted to access. Nothing in this section shall require construction of a new bathroom, shower room, or similar facility.

The problematic section I underlined and put in bold print is why the Houston transgender community and our allies after consulting with us asked to have it pulled.   Leaving that as is would have allowed transphobes to engage in gender policing and we would have no recourse to it.

So did you stop to think before you knee-jerk conclusion jumped to ask me or any other transperson in Houston working to pass the HERO what was going on?  Did you peeps outside Loop 610 honestly think after I wrote this post that I or any other Houston trans leaders would support ANY HERO that didn't FIX the problems that ail the Houston trans community?

We're in what is going to be a long battle to get this passed.  There are times when we won't be able to tell you peeps outside the Houston city limits everything we're working on so that our opponents can't counterprogram it.   There are simply times when radio silence is necessary to get human rights stuff passed.

So the next time you have questions about what is going on in this HERO battle, ask us Houston peeps first okay? 

Mayor Parker is helping us out, not selling us out.

Houston Black Pastors, Sick Of You Denying Our Humanity

One of the things that has really been disheartening to me and other African-American trans Houstonians in this fight to pass the HERO is seeing people that share our ethnic background and our common history engaging in demonizing us, erasing our humanity and our Blackness at the behest of their white fundamentalist controllers.

Leading the charge to demonize and erase the Houston African-American trans community is a cadre of Black ministers led by Rev. Max Miller, president of the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity.

His was the voice on the robocall that invaded mine and my mother's lives on the afternoon of May 10 and called me and other trans people sexual predators.  He and his like minded acolytes have been misquoting scripture and ignorantly bearing false witness against me and the Houston trans community, and I and other Black trans Houstonians are beyond sick and tired of being sick and tired of it.

Our eloquent Houston sister in the human rights struggle Barbara Jordan once stated, "One thing is clear to me: We, as human beings, must be willing to accept people who are different from ourselves." 

That willingness to accept transpeople has definitely not been evident by their misguided side in this battle to pass the HERO.   

Note I said accept, not tolerate.   It has especially been hurtful and at times depressing to see leaders and institutions from my community I once had much respect for engage in 'fear and smear' attacks designed to demonize me and my trans community.

They are based on falsehoods, lies and the easily debunked bathroom predator meme that was once used to justify Jim Crow segregation.  It's past time you started talking to actual trans people in the African-American community about what our lives are really like instead of Dave Welch, Dave Wilson and the other white conservafool ministers you're trying to curry favor with.  

Rev. Miller, you and your cadre of minsters aren't the only African-American Houstonians being discriminated against, and it's past time you stopped telling that bald faced lie.   Here are the numbers from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey based on Texas respondents:

• Workplace Discrimination -Rates of discrimination were alarming in Texas, indicating widespread discrimination based on gender identity/expression:
  • 79% reported experiencing harassment or mistreatment on the job
  • 26% lost a job
  • 22% were denied a promotion
  • 45% were not hired

• Harassment and Discrimination at School-Those who expressed a transgender identity or gender non-conformity while in grades K-12 reported alarming rates of harassment (85%), physical assault (46%) and sexual violence (9%)
• Harassment was so severe that it led 11% to leave a school in K-12 settings or leave higher education
• Economic Insecurity - Likely due to employment discrimination and discrimination in school, survey respondents experienced poverty and unemployment at higher rates than the general population:
  • 10% of respondents had a household income of $10,000 or less, compared to 4% of the general population, which is more than twice the rate of poverty
  • 10% were unemployed compared to 7% in the nation at the time of the survey

• Housing Discrimination and Instability - Survey respondents experienced blatant housing discrimination, as well as housing instability, much of which appears to stem from the challenges they face in employment.
  • 8% were evicted
  • 15% were denied a home/apartment
  • 17% had become homeless because of their gender identity/expression
  • 22% had to find temporary space to stay/sleep
  • 50% had to move back in with family or friends
  • 39% reported owning their home compared to 67% of the general U.S. population

• Harassment and Discrimination in Accommodations and Services-47% were verbally harassed or disrespected in a place of public accommodation or service,including hotels, restaurants, buses, airports and government agencies.
  • 23% were denied equal treatment by a government agency or official
  • 16% were denied equal treatment or harassed by judges or court officials.
  • 23% of those who have interacted with police reported harassment by officers
  • 41% reported being uncomfortable seeking police assistance

Health Care Discrimination and Health Outcomes-16% were refused medical care due to their gender identity/expression

• 1.9% were HIV positive, compared to the general population rate of 0.6%
• 19% postponed needed medical care, when they were sick or injured, due to discrimination
• Only 43% of the respondents had employer-based health insurance, compared to 59% of the general U.S. population at the time of the survey.
• 41% reported attempting suicide at some point in their life, 26 times the rate of the general population of 1.6%

We have told our stories.  We have patiently testified in front of council the anti-trans discrimination exists in H-town while enduring anti-LGBT animus you whipped up amongst your flocks.

And you are STILL on the wrong side of history.

It's sad to note that you and your cadre of ministers have been our best examples as to why gender identity needs to be part of the HERO. 

Guess you transphobic pastors forgot what civil rights legend Julian Bond said when he stated, “The humanity of all Americans is diminished when any group is denied rights granted to others.”

And it is disheartening to witness how fast you have stepped up to do Dave Welch and Dave Wilson's dirty work for them and be the figureheads for the continued oppression of the Houston LGBT community.  

You and your misguided friends are hypocritically siding with the same conservative oppressors that oppose the African-American community on human rights issues of importance to us such as voting rights and workplace fairness, and it's a disgusting spectacle to witness.  I'm praying that the transphobic hate speech you've already engaged in doesn't lead to a surge of anti-trans violence here in H-town.

I'm also tired of you and your misguided friends waving the Bible around as a shield for your transphobic bigotry.  The Bible is not the Code of Ordinances for the City of Houston, the Texas Constitution or the US Constitution, and 901 Bagby Street is not a church sanctuary.   Your faith, transphobia and beliefs do not trump my sincerely held beliefs, human rights or the human rights of my fellow transpeople who live in the 628 square miles of Texas territory we are all proud to call home. 

Contrary to the bovine feces the Right Wing Noise Machine has been feeding you, Black trans Houstonians are sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, parents, loyal friends and allies to those worthy of our support.  I nor any African-American trans person gave up our Black card when we transitioned, and how dare you even attempt to erase us from the Black community or deny we are a part of it.

I'm not just doing activism on behalf of the TBLG community.  I'm passionate about many issues that impact me and the Houston African-American community as an unapologetic African-American trans person.  I spoke at a Trayvon Martin rally in front of City Hall last summer.  I've been taking part in the community battle to protest HISD school closures in our neighborhoods.   Dee Dee Watters has given out toys to kids in the Third Ward area at Christmas time for years.  Other Black trans Houstonians are toiling away and involved in our churches and other organizations that improve the lives for all who call this city home.. 

Black trans community issues are Black community issues and it's past time you cisgender African-American peeps get that message.  Read my lips and this post:  We African-American transpeople are not going to put up with for one more nanosecond our humanity being denigrated and disrespected by you based on loud and wrong religious beliefs and your ignorance about transsexuality.   If Vice President Joe Biden and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay are clear that trans rights are a human rights issue, what's your chocolate covered malfunction in not getting that easy to grasp reality?  

I'm a proud African-American trans Houstonian with deep familial ties to this city.  I want a Houston better than its promise. I want to see it grow, prosper and have human rights coverage for all Houstonians.  

All Houstonians also includes my trans, SGL and bi brothers and sisters. 

I want African-American trans people to feel they have a stake in that happening as well.    But we have a hard time feeling that way when we see the constant attacks on our humanity, and even worse note those attacks are coming out of the mouths of people who share our ethnic background.

And you need in the name of Jesus to cease and desist with that. 
 

Tona's Historic Concert

This is the Weill Recital Hall at New York City's  Carnegie Hall, where on June 25 Tona Brown will make trans history when she steps onto the stage to fulfill her dream of playing there.

I'm sure when she does it will be an emotional and powerful moment no only for her, but all of us.

She's put in the practice for it.  She's raised the funds thanks to many of you to help pay the deposit on that space to lock in that June 25 date. 

The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM EDT and falls during New York City's Pride Week.

The show is entitled 'From Stonewall to Carnegie Hall' and will feature works of African-American composers.   It will also discuss the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion and the positive effects the transgender community have had on the TBLG human rights movement.

In addition to Tona headlining the show, it will feature Tammy Peay hosting it and Nathan James.

So when the tickets start going on sale May 25, better move fast on them because this historic event is sure to sell out quickly because there aren't a lot of seats in this elegant recital hall. 
 

Houston MLK Plaza And Statue Unveiling Next Week

This time next week there will be a party going on at MacGregor Park.

The memorial plaza and statue of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that was supposed to be dedicated across from the soon to be opened METRORail Purple Line MacGregor Park-MLK Station back in April . 

The statue was damaged just as it was about to be shipped to Houston for the initial unveiling, and the Black Heritage Society was forced to delay the event as the 8 foot tall statue was repaired.

Well, the repairs have been completed, the statue has arrived in Houston without further mishap and a May 24 date has been set by the BHS for its unveiling. 

The rescheduled events sponsored by the Black Heritage Society include a Victory Parade that kicks off at 9 AM, the statue and plaza dedication from 11 AM-1 PM followed by a Cultural Heritage Festival in MacGregor Park that begins at 1 PM  

When that happens Houston would join Atlanta and Washington D.C. as cities which have statues and memorial plazas dedicated to the memory of Dr. King.

Looking forward to checking out that event, and hope we have the nice weather it deserves for an event that has been 35 years in the making..
  

UN High Commisioner Message To 5th European Transgender Council Meeting

While me and my BTAC trans family were gathering in Dallas for our event, our trans cousins in Europe were gathering in Budapest, Hungary from May 1-4 for the 5th TGEU European Transgender Council meeting.

The theme for the gathering that drew 200 delegates from multiple European nations was Trans* Safe and Equal.  The delegates assembled in Budapest did what any sizable gathering of trans folks does when we are in a space together.  We discuss, strategize and network about ways to improve the safety, quality of life and advance equality for trans people.

The delegates at the meeting got to view this taped keynote message from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in which the major point of it is one we marginalized people know all too well in terms of the twin terrors of prejudice and ignorance that drive anti-trans discrimination aimed at us.

UN High Commissioner Pillay's message, the first during her tenure that specifically focused it on the human rights issues that transgender people face, emphatically made it clear that the UN sees trans rights as human rights and the United Nations is on our side. .  . 

Happy IDAHOT 2014

Today is the 9th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.   It has become one of the largest international solidarity events since its conception by Frenchman Louis-Georges Tin.

He acted as the IDAHOT Committee Chairperson until his resignation in September 2013 and was succeeded by internationally renowned Venezuelan trans* rights activist, lawyer and law professor Tamara Adrian.

IDAHOT was created to raise awareness of violence, discrimination, and repression of LGBT communities around the globe, provide an opportunity to take action and engage in dialogue with the media, policymakers, public opinion influencers, and wider civil society.

There are 120 countries in which some type of IDAHOT event is taking place today, and in addition to Vice President Joe Biden tweeting about the #IDAHOT, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have also released statements in support of it. 

Here is President Obama's statement, released yesterday.

Tomorrow, as we commemorate the 10th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we recommit ourselves to the fundamental belief that all people should be treated equally, that they should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, and that no one should face violence or discrimination -- no matter who they are or whom they love
.
This year, the United States celebrates the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.  In doing so, we reflect on lessons learned from our own civil rights struggles and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the human rights of all people are universally protected.

At a time when, tragically, we are seeing increased efforts to criminalize or oppress LGBT persons, we call on partners everywhere to join us in defending the equal rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters, and in ensuring they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a statement late on Thursday, May 15, affirming his support for the global commemorations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, followed his statement, with her own IDAHOT op-ed, released Friday, May 16. UNDP, UNAIDS and other UN agencies have also released statements in support of the Day. - See more at: http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/buzz-worthy/may17-2014-welcome/#sthash.puX1djni.dpuf

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Navi Pillay have also released statements and op-ed columns in support of IDAHOT.

Here in Houston, IDAHOT falls as the TBLG community here is involved in a pitched battle against the local Forces of Intolerance to pass a Houston Equal Rights Ordinance that includes sexual orientation and gender identity protections.

In a few hours I head to the Montrose Center to take part in an all day New Organizing Institute event starting at 9 AM and running until 4 PM entitled 'Public Narrative Training For Trans* and Gender Non-Conforming Gulf Coast Organizers'. 

Do you identify as trans* or gender non-conforming? Then this workshop is for you! Join us as we pull together some of the best organizers from throughout the Gulf Coast region to share stories, skills, and strategize!   Gain the confidence to tell your story of self, now and community.

Happy IDAHOT people!

Very Happy Birthday Mayor Parker!

Today is Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker's birthday!   She was born on this date in H-town in 1956 and is serving her third and final term as the second female mayor of my beloved hometown.

And the fact she's on Team Taurus is a bonus.

We were hoping we'd get the HERO as her early birthday present, but better late than never.   No matter how much screaming the haters do it's still gonna happen.   Human rights will come to our city.

Thanks for all you do Mayor Parker to make our hometown a better place, and may you have many more blessings filled birthdays in the future.

And may those future birthdays come with a lot less drama than the runup to this one had..

Shut Up Fool Awards-60th Anniversary of Brown v Board SCOTUS Case Edition

Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the unanimous May 17, 1954 Supreme Court decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case that outlawed racial segregation in our nation's schools.

The case was argued by an NAACP legal team that included future SCOTUS justice Thurgood Marshall,   Brown overturned the doctrine of "separate but equal," that had unfortunately been been established by the Supreme Court in the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case that gave constitutional legal cover to Jim Crow discrimination. 

Brown was one of the legal body blows that eventually took Jim Crow segregation down and set the stage for a sea change in American politics that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act ten years later and the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

So now that I've dropped some history on you, let's move on to our usual Friday business of finding people guilty of being fools who exhibit mind numbing stupidity, jaw dropping hypocrisy and just make you say WTF at times.

Honorable mention number one is Amy Kushnir, the Dallas anti-gay TV host of The Broadcast who stormed off the set when she and co-host Courtney Kerr got into a heated discussion about Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend, and say it was wrong, but had no problem doing a segment with the Chippendale's strippers on that same morning show.  

Can you say hypocrite TransGriot boys and girls?    Thought you could.

Honorable mention number two to Gordon Klingenschmitt for his transphobic conservarant over the  Maines case and said the transfeminine teen girl should “man up” or face a spanking and an exorcism to rid her body of demons.

I have a suggestion for you.  How about you 'man up' and stop being a disgusting human being?

Honorable mention number three is a group award for all the kneegrow pastors in Michigan  who joined their conservafool oppressors in filing a brief against the ruling legalizing gay marriage in that state.   

Shaking my head that you fools are palling around with the same people who supported the Republican controlled state government's efforts to block our right to vote.  

Where's the D.R.O.P. Squad when you need them?. 

Honorable mention number four is soon to be ex-owner of the LA Clippers Donald Sterling for continuing to hate on Magic Johnson, trying to claim that he's not racist despite the fact he's had the largest housing discrimination judgment in LA history dropped on him, and umm, give me a moment to think about something else to add here.  


This week's Shut Up Fool winners are the tag team of Pastors Becky and Steve Riggle.   They run the Grace KKKomunity Church down I-45 in far southeast Houston and are emblematic of the hateful, ignorant crap we're having to deal with to get the HERO passed.  

Becky laughably tried to claim she and her faith based homophobes and transphobes had a special right to discriminate against gays and Jews during Tuesday's HERO hearing that had many of us in the audience cracking up with laughter.  

Steve gamely tried to defend his wife's dishonor a few speakers and was shredded by Councilmember Ellen Cohen 

You and your hate ministers are making the case for us why the HERO is needed in Houston.

Have several seats, a nice tall glass of STHU and some remedial classes in civics and American history not taught by Glenn Beck.   And oh yeah, you need Jesus.   Not that conservafool version y'all pimp at your megachurch.   

One other thing...Shut up fools!

Another Reason Why We Need A HERO In Houston

This is an example of some of the jaw dropping ignorance I and our HERO passage team have had to deal with and endure over the last several weeks.  

Here's video of one of the faith-based hate ministers, Pastor Becky Riggle trying to argue that she and KKKristians like her have a right to discriminate against gays and Jews.

Her ignorance was so mind boggling I initially forgot to write her name down.   Her hubby Steve, who is the senior pastor of Grace Community Church tried and failed just as miserably to defend the indefensible.

 

Last Day Of Gender Proud Indiegogo Campaign

I did want to take some time to highlight today is the last day to donate to the indiegogo campaign to help raise funds for Gender Proud, the international organization model and girl like us Geena Rocero founded.

Gender Proud's mission is to pass laws that make it easier for trans people in our various nations to change documentation and gender markers to match their gender presentation 

This inaugural Gender Proud campaign's goal is to raise $15,000 in order to cover expenses for legal aid, transportation, and stipends for front line activists doing the work and they have already raised as of this writing $13,875.     Gender Proud is just $1,125 short of its goal, so if you can drop $1, $5, $10, $20 or more if you can, it will help the org get closer to reaching it on the last day of this campaign.

Here's the link to Gender Proud's website to do that 

TransGriot Update:  Gender Proud reached its fundraising goal and surpassed it, raising $16,025 as of 1 AM CDT on May 17.    Congratulations!


 

Happy Birthday Wendy Davis!

Today is the 51st birthday for who I hope will become in six months the next governor of the Lone Star State in Texas state Senator Wendy Davis.

She was born on this date in 1963 in Warwick, R.I but got to the Lone Star State at age 11 when her family moved to Fort Worth.

Can't wait until early voting happens in October so I can proudly cast my ballot for her. and 'errbody' else with a 'D' behind their names.  

But we still have a few months and a lot of campaign left before we can get the casting ballots part of the 2014 political cycle, so you might wish to send some campaign donation cash to her as a birthday gift.

Happy Birthday Sen. Davis!   Hope to see you on the steps of the state capitol in January giving your inaguration speech..

Houston Trans Community, If You Want Your Human Rights, Time To Fight!

As some of you in H-town and elsewhere are more than aware of, we are in a battle with the Forces of Intolerance to pass the HERO and get long delayed and denied human rights coverage to the LGBT community.   We all are quite aware of the fact that trans rights are human rights, and by expanding human rights for us, you expand them for everyone in the city of Houston.

This HERO vote should be a no-brainer vote for City Council, but our opponents went there and deployed anti-trans hate in their strategy to defeat this ordinance.  The nanosecond they started flinging lies about the trans community in this Houston human rights debate they gave up any claim to it.

While they are attacking our dignity, the point remains that we have the moral high ground on this issue, not the faith-based haters.  Our human rights cause is a just one, and it is incumbent upon the Houston trans community to take the lead role in fighting the haters and get this HERO passed.


Lou, Jenifer, Dee Dee, Amelia, Tye, Brenda, Cristan, myself and others have stepped up to unflinchingly lead this effort to ensure our diverse trans community's voices are heard, but we need other trans voices in the mix.

We definitely need more H-town transpeople of color telling their stories.  We want to ensure the narrative about trans people is not exclusively defined by our opponents, and frankly it is our responsibility to defend ourselves and rebut the people who are demonizing us.


While we deeply appreciate the help from our allies inside and outside the trans community, the reality is the best people positioned to push back against the anti-trans lies, speak about being trans Houstonians and discuss the discrimination and other issues we face are us 

The time is now for you to be the trans men and women you say you are..  The last time we had this opportunity in Houston was back in 1984 and the passed sexual orientation only law was rolled back.  It has taken 30 years for this opportunity to return to our beloved city and we must win this time.  

Our just human rights fight must not only be for ourselves, but present and future trans kids.    

Yes, I know some of you are 'scurred' to reveal your trans status.  You fear losing your jobs, having anti-trans violence and slurs hurled at you or being assaulted.   But aren't your human rights, dignity and humanity worth fighting for?  

The bottom line trans community, is that if you want human rights coverage here in Houston,  you are going to have to take a risk, exerts some sweat equity and fight like hell in order to get the reward of living in a Houston that protects all of its citizens.

How much of a risk you're willing to take is on you.  But one thing is certain, you as the trans adults are going to need to be the ones fearlessly standing up for your human rights, not cowering in the shadows hoping 'somebody else' does the fighting for you.

As Nelson Mandela once eloquently stated, 'Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.'  

While our dignity and humanity has been under fierce assault, we are still standing tall and proud, and the faith-based haters will lose.

But we have to do our part, Houston trans community.   If you want your human rights and value them, it's time to stand up and fearlessly fight for them.  

Louisville High School Has Trans Drama

Back when I lived in Louisville as a Texan in exile, one of the fights I was involved in was a 2007 battle with the JCPS school board to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the JCPS nondiscrimination school board policies for students and employees.

To my dismay gender identity was stripped out of it in committee.   After some contentious public hearings the gender identity free policy passed on a 4-3 vote. 

I warned at the time the issue of transpeople in JCPS was not going to go away and it was better to be proactive about it than reactive.   JCPS superintendent Sheldon Berman claimed during the committee hearing in which gender identity was stripped out of the proposed additions to the JCPS non discrimination policy, that gender identity issues were 'too new' despite the presence of moi and a newly out trans teacher present to suggest otherwise..   

Now that lack of forward vision by the JCPS board is popping up seven years later.

A freshman Atherton High School trans feminine student recently asked AHS Principal Thomas Aberli for permission to use the girls facilities.   He granted permission for the trans student to do so, and seven cis feminine students immediately complained along with their parents at the Highlands area school.

Atherton was named to US News and World Reports list of Best High Schools in the US in 2013 and is the only public HS in Louisville with an International Baccalaureate program.

This has now blown up into a kerfluffle that will involve the Atherton Site Based Decision Making Committee with a meeting being held later today at 2:45 PM EDT to discuss adding gender identity to the school's non discrimination policy.  

It also makes crystal clear just how shortsighted the 2007 JCPS board decision to not address gender identity and be proactive in creating policies to cover thedistrict's trans students and JCPS employees was. 

"I have a responsibility to ensure that all of our students and staff are treated fairly and justly," Aberli said in a recent interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal. "At the same time, I also have a responsibility to educate our community on an issue that many are not familiar with and inform them about the rights of transgender individuals."

Chris Hartman, the director of Louisville's Fairness Campaign, said allowing a transgender student access to gender-specific restrooms is important not only for basic civil rights, but also for the safety of the trans student.

“A great deal of violence and sexual assault against transgender people, in general, and transgender youth occurs in restrooms,” he said.  “When we are talking about restroom accommodations being important it is about safety of all students and in particular the trans students.”

Dawn Wilson, member of the Metro Louisville Human Relations Committee had this to say in a statement. "As Education Chair of the Metro Louisville Human Relations Commission, I find it important that we show support for the students and the school; while urging the school board to adopt all aspects of the Metro anti-discrimination ordinances as a system wide policy rather than have school based decisions. This is the path we must tread."

Atherton High School's motto is Scholarship, Service and Self Respect.   Hope they, the AHS community and other interested parties keep that motto in mind when they conduct the SBDMC meeting later today.

TransGriot Update:  The meeting had several hundred people in attendance pro and con, and the policy passed.  

The Truth About The Houston HERO Haters

Pretty much sums up the attitudes of the opponents on the other side and a nauseating talking point we have heard repeatedly cited over the last three hearings.

HERO Vote Delayed Until May 28

After a late Tuesday night at 901 Bagby St. went back to City Hall Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM to watch what I hoped would be history being made with the passage of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

Instead, it was history delayed.

Houston City Council after some discussion on another civic matter dove in an hour later into much of what many of us were there for in finding out the fate of the HERO.   

There were amendments on the table from Councilmembers Gonzales, Gallegos, Davis and Pennington.

But the ones that concerned the community the most were one addressing the reducing the number of employees in a small business affected from 50 to 15, and the one the Houston trans community requested striking the problematic language in Section 17-51 (b) from the HERO.

It passed by an overwhelming 13-4 margin the Gallegos amendment that reduces the number of employees a business has to have to be affected by the HERO from 50 to 15 over the next three years.

It will be 50 in the first year,. 25 in year two and 15 in year three and subsequent years.

Councilmember Oliver Pennington introduced six amendments designed to gut the HERO.  Four of them he withdrew, but the two that remained would have hampered enforcement of the HERO and were both soundly defeated by 17-2 margins.

Then came the moment we were waiting for with the HERO itself.   After discussion about the Section 17-51 (b), the controversial bathroom provision that Lou Weaver, Dee Dee Watters, I and other trans people and allies have argued needed to be pulled from the HERO, and has been the focus of the anti-HERO's 'fear and smear' efforts, was not done in this session.

Citing the need to have more time and 'bring more stakeholders to the discussions', City Council voted 12-5 to delay the HERO vote until May 28.

Translation: It  means TBLG Houstonians have to deal with another 2 weeks of not having their human rights respected and protected in this city we love and care about.   It means the anti-HERO ministers and their flocks get to fling another two weeks of 'fear and smear' tactics aimed squarely at the trans community they can deploy that were decried in the Houston Chronicle editorial urging passage of the HERO.

It's part of the legislative sausage making that comes with creating laws, but it's still frustrating to a Houston GLBT community that has waited 30 years to have the same human rights that everyone else takes for granted.  It's also aggravating to a Houston transgender community that has been vilified and feels beat up by the loud and scientifically illiterate faith based hate speech coming from our opponents.
 
It means that the next Houston City Council meeting on the HERO will be a combined one on May 28.  That one will be a marathon public comment session followed by a vote.

And yep, I'll definitely be there and ready for a long, contentious day at City Hall

As I said in a local interview,  "I'm a proud Houstonian. I'm sick and tired of our city being the only one out of the major metropolitan areas in this country that does not protect its LGBT citizens."

While I have to deal with the finite disappointment of the HERO not passing today, I still have infinite hope it WILL become a reality on May 28.   

Dale Hansen Commentary On Michael Sam

My Houston area (Hitchcock, TX near Galveston) homeboy Michael Sam was the subject of another recent Dale Hansen commentary on WFAA-TV in Dallas.

Hansen has already blasted the NFL over the homophobia still in its ranks, and in this latest Hansen Unplugged video he takes on the people tripping about The Kiss and  other post draft commenatry.

Vote Day For The HERO

It was a long tough day at City Hall, and I'm getting my beauty sleep in preparation to go back to City Hall to hopefully witness history

I left City Hall last night around 9:00 PM with speakers still waiting to speak for and against the HERO,and it was a fun day.    Haters inside and outside the City Hall chambers, and the boringly predictable and head scratching arguments trying yo justify their hatred fueling their opposition to the HERO. 

The good news was that I got what I asked for when I spoke last week in Council dropping the problematic gender policing Section 17-51 (b) part of the public accommodations in which we would have had no recourse for an erroneou sr

Had the pleasure of sitting next to William Loyd for most of the afternoon until he had to leave to pick up his kids.   It was a little after 7 PM before I finally got my turn to speak, and Dee Dee Watters followed me with a rousing sermon like speech that even the faith-based haters found themselves saying Amen to.

At 9 AM CDT City Council reconvenes to vote on amendments and eventually the HERO as the haters desperately try to stall it so they can lie their way to more opposition of the much needed human rights ordinance. 

We could use some calls in favor of the HERO.   When you call, say that you support the Equal Rights Ordinance, that you support the amendments offered by Council members Gallegos and Gonzalez and that you oppose the Pennington amendments!

Mayor Annise Parker: 832-393-1012
Brenda Stardig: 832-393-3010
Jerry Davis: 832-393-3009
Ellen Cohen: 832-393-3004
Dwight Boykins: 832-393-3001
Dave Martin: 832-393-3008
Richard Nguyen: 832-393-3002
Oliver Pennington: 832-393-3007
Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzalez: 832-393-3003
Robert Gallegos: 832-393-3011
Mike Laster: 832-393-3015
Larry Green: 832-393-3016
Stephen Costello: 832-393-3014
David Robinson: 832-393-3013
Michael Kubosh: 832-393-3005
C.O. 'Brad' Bradford: 832-393-3012
Jack Christie: 832-393-3017

Will be at 901 Bagby Street to check out the action tomorrow...

The Last HERO Hearing

I'm at City Hall preparing to do battle with the Forces of Intolerance in our last public comment session before the vote happens tomorrow on our Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.  

We supporters of the HERO will be easy to spot in the crowd today.   We have been asked to wear red for the hearing and are hoping for another big turnout when it starts at 1:30 PM CDT. .

We have outgunned them 127-38 in pro-HERO vs anti-HERO speakers in the two previous hearings, and the haters are desperate to change that dynamic.

In addition to getting Mike Huckabee to try to fire up their stormtroopers,  the Forces of Intolerance are planning to have a rally on the steps of City Hall to juice their turnout.

But with the Houston area weather forecast calling for a 70% chance of rain and the rain starting and consistently falling since 1:00 AM , they may be forced to cancel it (snicker snicker). 

Hey, God don't like ugly, and they've been wallowing in it like pigs in slop over the last several weeks.

The battle between us and the haters will be on local cable and livestreamed for those of you not in the Houston city limits, and you can watch it here. 

The final vote on the HERO and the amendments to it will take place tomorrow and I'll be in the City Hall house tomorrow for that one as well..

Send us your prayers, warm thoughts and well wishes as we fight for truth, justice and human rights for my hometown..

TransGriot Update:  Houston City Council voted to delay to HERO vote two weeks to May 28.

Majic 102 Does The Haters Dirty Work For Them

KMJQ-FM aka Majic102 has been the longtime R&B station on our local FM radio dial since 1978.

It is owned by the African-American owned Radio One corporation, and has long been a Top 5 Arbitron rated station in the Houston radio market. 


Majic 102 since 2000 has been the local host station for the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show and Rev Al Sharpton's Sunday morning talk radio show.   So when the anti-HERO commercials started running in heavy rotation on its airwaves Sunday I was surprised and disappointed about it. 

But yesterday Majic 102 irresponsibly posted a story on their website about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance by Robert Washington with the inflammatory and transphobic headline ' Mayor Parker Promotes Ordinance To Allow Men In Women's Restrooms (Your Thoughts) from a 'christian' website. 

And as you probably guessed, the predictable bigot eruptions and ignorance ensued in the comment threads.
   
It was an avalanche of transphobic negativity and derogatory phobic comments aimed at Mayor Parker in that comment thread, with logic and reason taking a backseat to fearmongering and over the top ignorance.  .

Never mind the fact the bathroom predator meme has been pimped by the anti-HERO forces since the proposed human rights law was introduced April 30 and has been widely debunked for the conservalie it is.

It's problematic that Majic 102 would link to an anti-HERO website that plays into the 'fear and smear'  anti-trans hatred continually propagated by the opponents of this much needed ordinance in this entire HERO debate.   I guess you forgot some of the Houston area African-American listeners KMJQ-FM targets are also members of the LGBT community who have been negatively affected by anti-TBLG discrimination in the Houston area that the HERO is designed to address.

We have also been affected by the faux faith-based hate speech coming from the opponents who are depressingly African-American ministers, and you added to that problem.. 

I guess it has escaped your attention Majic 102 that African-Americans are part of the team fighting hard for passage of this much needed human rights law.   The HERO has the support of the NAACP, the Urban League, 85% of the Houston African American community in a recent poll and various African-American local, state and federal legislators.

It also saddens and infuriates me Majic 102 that as a Radio One station, you have placed yourself on the wrong side of Houston history and human rights.   You promoted by linking to that problematic post long discredited bathroom predator lies that emerge every time human rights legislation is proposed that will protect the transgender community.   

As someone whose late father worked in this radio market for 35 years, I have an intimate knowledge of what the power of radio can do.  It can inspire people to be better politically aware human beings or can be negatively used to demonize oppressed folks by the tyranny of the majority  

Majic 102 unfortunately has veered down the opposite path over the last two days.   

KMJQ-FM, you owe the Houston transgender and SGL community an apology along with giving us an opportunity to debunk the bathroom predator lies either on-air or by posting an article on your website rebutting the problematic one.  

Not holding my breath that either one of those will happen.

 

The Anti-HERO's Last Gasp

Those of us advocating the long overdue passing of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance have had a pretty good run of success. 

When it was revealed it covered city and private employment.  There was a HERO town hall in the gayborhood held surprisingly by one of the councilmembers penciled in initially as a leaning NO vote in Michael Kubosh.  It covered sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations, albeit clunkily and the PA language in Section 17-51 (b) sucked as far as the trans community was concerned.

The 50 employee threshold was also too high.   Those concerns are being addressed in amendments offered by Councilmembers Gonzales, Gallegos and Davis. 

We have the support of LULAC, the NAACP, the Urban League, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia (D), State Senators John Whitmire, Sylvia Garcia and Rodney Ellis, state Reps.Garnet Coleman, Jessica Farrar, and Carol Alvarado.  We have the support of the Greater Houston Partnership and other business groups.   The Houston Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, Equality Texas, TENT and BTMI/BTWI's Houston chapters have also been in this fight    They have been outgunned 127-38 in terms of pro-HERO speakers vs. anti-HERO speakers in the two hearings so far on the proposed ordinance.

The anti-HERO's?   They have the support of long time gay baiters Dave Wilson, Dave Welch, and Dr. Steven Hotze, the quixotic President Joseph Charles, a few misguided citizens and a gaggle of anti-gay sellout Black ministers.

Correction, to be more accurate, more like anti-trans Black ministers since all they've babbled about in the HERO hearings is the easily debunked bathroom predator lie.

We in Houston have waited 30 years for this opportunity to present itself again, and this is an all hands on deck human rights project   The world is watching us this time.   Time to pass the HERO with no excuses, no more delays.  Human rights for Houstonians can't wait.  

The anti-HERO's are on the wrong side of history (again), and hopefully that will become evident this Wednesday when City Council votes to pass the HERO.   But it didn't stop the anti-HERO's from making one last desperate play to try to turn the tsunami of public opinion and wave building for passage of the HERO.  
 
They spent this Mother's Day weekend deploying robocalls and on Sunday, transphobic radio commercials in heavy rotation.  They deployed Mike Huckabee, and are planning a noon anti-HERO rally on Tuesday in which I predict will be nothing more than a public Two Minute Hate aimed at the trans community

So we counter their frenzied activity this Tuesday by redoubling our efforts to ensure we have our butts in the seats at City Hall ready to speak.  Find more progressive ministers, diverse LGBT citizens, and stories of LGBT and non-LGBT H-town discrimination 

Call the City Secretary's office to sign up to speak in favor of the ordinance.  You do so by calling 832-393-1100 or e-mailing citysecretary@houstontx.gov and stating you would like to testify before City Council on Tuesday, May 13, at 1:30 PM.

The City Secretary will ask for your name, phone number, and home address.   You don't need to be a Houston resident to speak as the hater have taken advantage of.   The topic is the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Ask for 1 minute to speak because with the volume of speakers expected tomorrow, the normal 3 minutes will be cut down to 1  

It takes nine votes to pass ordinances on our 16 member city council, and Mayor Parker does get a vote.  However, these Houston council members have expressed uncertainty about whether they wish to support the HERO.  Give them a call to let them know how this vote affects you and countless other LGBT Houstonians (and future Houstonians):

Jerry Davis: 832-393-3009
Dave Martin: 832-393-3008
David Robinson: 832-393-3013
Michael Kubosh: 832-393-3005
C.O. 'Brad' Bradford: 832-393-3012
Jack Christie: 832-393-3017

Kubosh is especially important to reach out to because he has been getting major attention and grief from the hate ministers for daring to meet with us.   Davis and Bradford as African-Ameircans have been getting the ire of the hate minsters, too

If you're coming to 901 Bagby St (the address for Houston City Hall), get there early so you can sign in for your visitor's badge, get through security and get a seat in the 255 seat council chamber.  Wear red tomorrow in support of the HERO.  Call Council Members today through Wednesday and let them know you support passage of the HERO without the Pennington amendments designed to gut the HERO.   If we get the favorable vote we expect on Wednesday, call again later in the week to thank all of the councilmembers who supported us.

Let the anti-HERO's show their azzes as the faith based bigots and fools they try to deny they are, but have been role modeling for the last month.   We show us well dressed, low stressed, and exuding class and dignity because we have the moral and ethical high ground.   The anti-HERO's don't and they know it..  

We pro-HERO folks have made the case as to why the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is needed and necessary, while all they have offered is 'fear and smear', obfuscations and blatant easily debunkable lies  

So don't panic, people.  The arc of the moral universe is bending toward justice for us, and the anti-HERO's can't stand it.  They are in the last gasp of desperately fighting us before we walk away with a long awaited Houston human rights victory.