HERO: Next Steps Meeting Tonight

As I've been reminding everyone, passing the #HERO was the easiest part of the process.   Now we have to defend it from our misguided faith-based haters and their 'fear and smear' tactics. 

There will be a #HERO: Next Steps meeting taking place later today from 6-7 PM at Resurrection MCC Church facilitated by Januari Leo and Brad Pritchett.

Januari and Brad will be your hosts for this exciting opportunity for community building and conversation around what's currently happening with our soon to be three week old non-discrimination ordinance.

At the #HERO: Next Steps meeting we'll discuss: (1) tools to address misinformation online and in person (2) details on a high-impact way to share your story (3) updates on the petition gathering and referendum process.

And if you attend, you also get to ask questions and make suggestions and comments concerning these issues.

Resurrection MCC is located at 2025 W. 11th Street west of TC Jester Boulevard.  The meeting will be in The Gathering Place building on the Resurrection MCC campus, and it has ample parking.   For you METRO riders it is on the 40 Pecore line

I will have my face in the place, and hope to see you there.

Trans Latinas Representing In Chicago

While much of Trans World was focused on the just concluded Philadelphia Trans Health Conference in Philly, some of our trans Latina sisters were in Chicago for the National Latin@ Network conference taking place that same week.  . 

Members of the TransLatin@ Coalition were in the house. They did a fabulous job as usual of representing themselves, our #girlslikeus community and looking flawless while presenting, networking  and getting their learn on.

One of the things we must keep doing is not only advocate for ourselves and our own human rights, but make it clear we trans folks also interact and intersect with other communities.

We are just as concerned about the other issues that affect the groups we intersect with, and the trans Latinas gave us a great example of role modeling this.

Thanks Trans Latin@ Coalition for stepping up and doing the Trans 101 educational work in the Latin@ community.  It's what we will need to happen for the entire trans human rights community to advance.    You also prove by doing so that trans people are an integral and intertwined part of the Latin@ community as well.

RIP Zoraida Reyes

"Life is too short. We have to enjoy life however we want. We can love whoever we like. We were born to help others. We all are equal because we are not labeled like products. We are humans. Do something with your life, and not let life to do something with you"
-Zoraida Reyes'

While I was in Philly meeting many of our next generation activists during the just concluded Philadelphia Trans health Conference, sadly their is one trans sister that I won't have the honor and pleasure of getting to meet and know.

I'm saddened to report that we have lost one of our trans Latina sisters in California

Our California trans family and allies are mourning the senseless death of  28 year old Zoraida 'Ale' Reyes of Santa Ana, CA.   Her body was found behind a Dairy Queen in Anaheim, CA Friday.  

Initial evidence discovered by Anaheim police investigators is that Zoraida was killed somewhere else and the body was moved to that location. 

While the Orange County Sheriff's Department is reporting that an autopsy has been completed in this case, they are still gathering evidence to determine whether this was indeed a homicide and if i was, whether Zoraida's transfeminine status played a role .

“She had many, many hats in this community. She was an activist for the Dreamer movement, for undocumented students, she was also an activist for the transgender community, along with the gay community,” friend Javier Saucedo said in a KCAL-TV interview. “She was an activist, she was a friend, she was a daughter, she was a sister, she was someone you could count on.”

Zoraida was active not only in the trans human rights movement, but other causes such as the DREAM movement, immigration rights, and as an ally to the LGB community.

 

Over the weekend, a snap GoFundMe campaign seeking to raise the funds to help pay for Zoraida's funeral raised over $10,000.   There was a vigil held Friday night in Santa Ana to honor her memory, and another is scheduled to take place Tuesday in San Francisco.

As my California trans family and my trans Latina sisters pass me the details for her upcoming funeral service and any other subsequent memorial services,  I will pass them along to you in addition to any other news concerning the ongoing investigation into this senseless killing.

You know I will also follow this case until the waste or watses of DNA who took her from us far too soon are expeditiously arrested, convicted and rotting in a jail cell 

Ronnie Velez nailed it in this Facebook commentary in memory of Zoraida.

#TransLivesMatter May we honor Zoraida's life and contributions to our Latin@, immigrant, and LGBTQ communities by allowing her spirit to continue reclaiming family and unconditional love in our lives, so that she can renew us, our conversations, our relationships, our workplaces, our schools, our streets, and the only planet we know as home. We love you, sister. UNCONDITIONALLY

The outpouring of love, grief and affection for our fallen sister is powerful testimony to the love and respect that countless people had for her, and I'm saddened I won't get to know her..     

Rest in Power, Zoraida. You are already being missed by all the people who loved you and whose lives you touched.  Say hello to all our sisters who have transitioned to a better place with you.  
    

Malala's Father Speaks

It's Father's Day, and this is an interesting TED talk given by  Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of international human rights activist Malala Yousafzai.

In it the Pakistani educator tells a simple truth that many men don't want to hear.  Women and men deserve equal opportunities for education, autonomy,  personhood and an independent life.  

When asked how he raised a strong daughter like Malala, he simply stated, "Because I didn't clip her wings"

Happy Father's Day.   And if yo are raising daughters, you may wish to click on this link and think about what Ziauddin Yousafzai has to say in this TED talk entitled, My Daughter, Malala.

Heading Back To H-town From PTHC 2014

The 2014 Philly Trans Health Conference is one for the history books, and Sammi Jo probably has her phone off and is resting after the successful conclusion of this 13th annual event. 

I had a wonderful time, and would definitely life to come back in 2015 if we can make it happen.  Maybe next time as a keynote speaker.  (hint. hint)

We'll see if that becomes a reality next year or at a future PTHC, but now I have to go back to my H-town life.  Assuming both my flights leave on time from here and the ATL, I'll be home and destroying some Pappas barbecue at Hobby around 1:20 PM CDT.

Thanks to Jennifer Michelle Gellar for being my gracious roommate while I was here in Philly.  

It opened the door for me having an even more wonderful first timer experience meeting Jazz, Jeanette, her amazing family and all the people who advocate for trans kids.

And to my trans brothers and trans sisters, thanks for the love.  I get just as big a kick out of meeting you as you do in being around me.   You will go on, if you aren't already, to do some amazing things.

 I marvel at how fabulous y'all look while doing so. 

And hopefully, I'll be blessed to do PTHC again next year if they'll have me around.

Later Philly...Houston awaits.

PTHC 2014 Diary-Day Three Recap

It's the last day of the 2014 Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and my body told me it was time to get more sleep than I have been getting the last two nights.

So after I did some writing and had breakfast, decided to take a little nap before heading to the convention center.  That little nap lasted until 10 AM, so guess my body needed the sleep. 


After shaking off the cobwebs, I spent some time after I arrived at the convention center hanging out with my Houston peeps Jay, Robin, Koomah and the rest of the gang at The Gender Book table.  Did the same with Jeanette and family at their foundation table, and the BTMI-Philly chapter table

I spent more quality time with Dr Lobdell.  I talked to some of my TransGriot fans and with others plotting the Black Trans Revolution that won't be televised.   Even saw Kye Allums for a moment before he headed back to New York and Kylar Broadus.

And I popped my head in for a few moments at the Justice For Jane event in room 109A.

The first seminar I attended on this final day was a 2:20 PM Simaya Fogle moderated one entitled "Transitioning In The Black Family'   The panel with Lisa, Ebonee, Destiny, Christian, Leo and cis man Tierre told transition stories from a black perspective.   Tierre was on the panel to discuss the issues of being in a dating relationship with a trans woman.

Hmm, sounds like a panel topic that needs to happen for next year

It led to some commenters revealing some deeply personal secrets which will remain off the record for this post.

During the 4:05 PM block I attended Ebonee's seminar in Room 104A entitled 'Get Your Tens And Make Me Know It!!!'    The seminar discussed the ballroom and pageant worlds and how both can be used as tools of empowerment and self growth for trans women of color.

In between those seminars, the sidebar meetings kept happening, people continued to connect with each other, and information was disseminated in the scheduled sessions until the last ones wrapped up at 7:00 PM.

And when that last seminar closed, so did the 2014 edition of the Philly Trans Health Conference. 

I had a wonderful first timer experience at the PTHC.  It was a blast getting to meet many of the people I've been talking to online for years and in one or two cases over a decade.

And yes, was nice to get out of Houston's warm, humid weather for three days.


But all good things must come to an end, and that is the case for this PTHC conference.  While I'm sad it has come to a close, the memories of this event and hopefully the friendships and working partnerships started here will last for a lifetime.

It's also time to take what we learned during these three days here back to our various hometowns and countries.  Once we arrive back home, let's put into practice what was discussed in those sessions and in the conversations away from the conference venue.

And hopefully I'll get to see everyone next year for the 2015 edition of PTHC.

   

Flag Day 2014

We are also aware through a perusal of history that any marginalized group fighting for their human rights is usually demonized at some point as un-American by the Forces of Intolerance.   The easiest way to counter the lie and take away one of their spin lines is to proudly fly Old Glory at any protest or community event we hold.
--TransGriot, June 14, 2011 

It's apropos that I'm in Philadelphia at the largest trans conference in the United States at a tipping point moment for our trans human rights movement. 

One of the arguments I've been making for years is for the trans community to not repeat the mistake the GL community repeatedly does of ignoring our national flag at their events and ceding its use to our loud and wrong opponents.

This flag is ours just as much as the blue, pink and white Helms one that represents our community, so use it at our events, gatherings, parades  and human rights fights

Remember we have trans people serving and fighting in our military aroubnd the world to protect our precious right to fly it, so honor their service by doing so.          

PTHC 2014-Day 3 Preview

The final day of the Philly Trans Health Conference is another one jam packed full of seminars. 

As to which ones I'll attend today?   Depends on what piques my interest since I'll be in reporter mode today.

Then again, I presumed I'd be in reporter mode yesterday, too but fate had other ideas.

That's also a nice segue into my reminder for you TransGriot readers that if you wish to keep up with the PTHC on Twitter, the hashtag is #TransHealth2014

There's a free legal clinic sponsored by the Mazzoni Center Legal department starting at 8:45 AM.

And it'll also be WWMS time:    WWMS= Who Will Moni See in the PTHC convention halls today as this conference winds down and we prepare to head back home to use what we learned at this event.

As you probably guessed, you know I'll be breaking it down later as to what transpired on this last day of the 2014 Philly Trans Health Conference and all the activity surrounding it. 

PTHC 2014 Diary-Day Two Recap

It's the middle day of the 2014 Philadelphia Trans Health Conference.  After a nap I arose at 4 AM to do some writing, get breakfast when the hotel started serving it at 6 AM and take a nap before heading over to the convention center for another day of PTHC seminars and fun.

The seminar action started at 8 AM, so I didn't get there until after 9:30 AM after receiving a call from Koko Jones, who was prepping to leave for the drive down to Philly for a concert that she, KOKUMO and Liz Clair were going to perform later in the afternoon .

One of the first people I ran into was the lovely Geena Rocero, whose regal supermodel presence and bubbly personality lit up the hallway.  As we chatted people began to recognize her and started asking to take pictures.   One of the people doing so was another one of my longtime Facebook friends in Karen Kendra Holmes.   I also got to see Fredrikka Maxwell again, and finally got to meet Nadia Belinda Roberts. 

Not sure if were related yet.  That's a discussion we'll have to have at some point for today.

Moments later I ran into my homegirl Samantha Master as I was standing by the check-in desk entrance so that I could see who was coming and going.  We also saw something for the first time we hadn't seen over the last two days: the sun.

PTHC Conference Coordinator Samantha Jo Dato joined me and Samantha Prime for a moment as Sammi Jo contined to do her job of making sure things ran smoothly.  She had us cracking up laughing about some of the humorous things that had occurred so far and how she was handling the challenge of making the country's largest trans confrence run smoothly while looking flawless.

This is the first year this #girllikeus has coordinated the massive undertaking the PTHC is and she and the volunteers have done a wonderful job along with the friendly staffers of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

I left to check out some of the other PTHC vendors and organizational info tables on the other side of the massive section of the Pennsylvania Convention Center housing our conference.

I stopped at the Lambda Legal one to talk the the folks manning it and Dru Levasseur stepped up.  We caught up on old business as he congratulated me for helping get the HERO passed.  I told him some of the funny things that happened during that HERO fight as I gave him the update on how the Decline to Sign campaign in defense of our hard won May 28 Houston human rightts victory was transpiring.

I chatted with Sue Fulton, and one of our topics was about the effort to get open trans military service done.   Since it was approaching noon and lunchtime, I headed back to the entrance.

I was surprised by my elegantly dressed homegirl Dr. Ayana Elliott, who advised me about an upcoming event she is planning.   I will keep you TransGriot readers in the loop about when it happens once I receive the details from her.   I ran into Sean Coleman, who came down from NYC and told me he owes me a spades butt kicking  (yeah, right)

You have my cell number, so let the games begin. 

I went to Reading Market to fulfill my mission of destroying a cheesesteak, and after consulting with my Philly peeps, settled on grabbing it from Carmen's.  And yes, it was worth it.   But because I was waiting so long to get that cheesesteak, I missed Harper Jean's keynote.

So I decided to take that time to peruse the afternoon session schedule and decide which one of them I would grace with my presence.  I ran into my homegirl Denise Norris, and that jumpstarted a nice sidebar conversation about messaging that Lourdes Hunter joined before I headed to Room 107B to check out a 2:20 PM seminar entitled 'Translatinas. Are We There Yet?' presented by Cristina Herrera and Rachel Mark.

It chronicled the issues that trans Latinas deal with in their transitions and some of the work the NY based Gender Identity Project has done to help people overcome some of those obstacles.  It was a fascinating discussion that was eventually opened up to the audience for Q&A before time ran out.

When the 4:05 PM seminar slot arrived I had a dilemma.  I wanted to see the performance of KOKOMO, Liz and Koko, but there was also a seminar called 'Transmen and Transwomen of Color Come Together' that I also wanted to be in Room 106A for.  

So after chatting with Martina Downey, I decided to exit room 103C, head to the other seminar, watch half of it, then depart to come back to the room to watch the conclusion of 'KOKUMO and Friends In Concert.'

But fate had other plans for me.   I thought my 2014 PTHC presenting days were done after yesterday's Trans Pioneers panel.   When I arrived in Room 106A it was a full house with no presenter in sight.   The volunteer in charge of monitoring the room asked me to pinch hit.  

So after waiting another five minutes for that person to arrive, I facilitated the conversation in that room that touched on issues of relationships between transmen and transwomen, visibility of transmen, the 'T-Word', race relations, and disclosure. 

I had fun doing it, and got thank you's from the participants and the grateful room monitor when it was over.   But because I was occupied with my unexpected facilitator duties, I missed the concert.

Unfortunately so did Koko.   Her car broke down enroute to Philly from her northern New Jersey home base.  She's okay, but she was upset and disappointed she missed the PTHC jam session.

There will be another day.  What's more important is that you're safe and we will meet each other soon.

The final panel of the day was a 5:40 PM Kylar Broadus moderated one sponsored by TPOCC that was focused on Intergenerational POC Work.

After an icebreaker in which the capacity room was asked what is their favorite guilty pleasure (mine Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream and giving right wingers hell), panelists BT, Milan, Lourdes and Kim answered questions from Kylar before the floor was opened to powerful testimonies from Tela Love, Precious Davis and others before we ran out of time at 7:00 PM to close Day 2 of the conference.

I headed back to the hotel after taking more photos with my girls, telling Katrina Goodlett some of my humorous airline stories (and yeah, y'all need to check out her Kitty Bella radio podcast on Tuesdays) and heading downstairs to the annual Transkids pool party Jeanette was throwing for all the transkids and parents.

I got as chance to meet more of the parents with trans kids and have conversations with them before i stepped out for a few moments to attend a SPART*A reception that started in the hotel pub area at 8:30 PM.  

At that reception I had the chance to chat with Brynn Tannehill and friends about some community issues and other news of the day before I retreated to attempt to compose some posts and check on e-mail.

But the combination of quiet, a full stomach and a day that started at 4 AM had me nodding off and surrendering to my body telling me it was time to crash and conclude Day 2 of my PTHC 2014 experience.
    

Shut Up Fool Awards- In The PTHC 2014 House Edition

As y'all already know I'm in Philadelphia for the 13th annual edition of the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and having a blast. 

We're in Day Two of it and as this SUF post pops up, right now we're scheduled to be in the middle of Harper Jean Tobin's keynote speech. 

I'll talk about it later in my PTHC 2014 update post, but I know y'all surfed over here because it's Friday and y'all want to know what fools are getting called out this week.   

So without further delay, lets find out what fool, fools or group of fools earned this week's SUF honors

And I'm going to get right to it.   This week's winner is a group award for the haters of the Southern Baptist Church.   They declared war on the trans community Tuesday when they passed the Denny Burk crafted trans hate resoultion at their just concluded Baltimore convention.


The resolution puts the SBC on the wrongheaded course of massive resistace to trans human rights issues and arrogantly dismissing the fact we exist.

And yeah, once again you chose to put yourselves on the wrong side of history.


All I have to say to you spawns of Satan is, shut the hell up, fools.

PTHC 2014-Day 2 Preview

It's Day 2 of the Philly Trans Health Conference, and in addition to more exciting seminars, we have another keynote speech today being delivered at 1 PM by Harper Jean Tobin.

Remember #TransHealth2014 is the Twitter hashtag if you wish to keep up with what's happening at PTHC.

And contrary to what my haters say, I don't bite.  Hugs cheerfully accepted except from TERF's.   If  I have time in my day and I'm not headed to a panel or seminar I'll be happy to sit down somewhere in the halls of the convention center and chat with you.  

And yeah, definitely planning to destroy a cheesesteak today.   Any recommendations Philly folks on the best place in the area to do that?

PTHC 2014 Diary-Busy First Day

The first day of the 2014 edition of the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference dawned overcast and cool,  but it didn't dampen my excitement over this being a first time attendee of the event.

I knew I was going to see a lot of people here, but even I was surprised at just how many people showed up and are showing out in the halls of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

I walked into the massive building and less than 30 seconds into my PTHC day ran in Jazz, who pointed me in the right direction toward the registration desk with all its helpful volunteers.   Neither did it take me long to start running into the long list of friends in the community and peeps I've known for years on Facebook but were finally seeing in the flesh.  

I started seeing people like Sharron Cooks, Simaya Fogle, Katrina Goodlett, Precious Davis, Geena Rocero, Christian Axavier Lovehall, Jevon Martin, Jabriel Williamson, Martina Downey, Nika Jewell, Kristen Parker, Sirena Rivera and Maria Roman.    Ran into Dr Bambi Lobdell, who I last saw when she was my gracious host at SUNY-Onenonta.     
 
Ran in Jos Truitt, who is looking good and sporting a new blonde haircolor since the last time I saw her in DC.  We took a few moments to talk about current events community wise before I started running into other people who wanted to say hi to me.  

I started running into my Philly based activist friends like Dionne Stallworth, Sade Ali and Charlene Arcila.  

The last time I'd seen Toni-Michelle Williams as at the 2011 OUT on the Hill event when she was a student at Norfolk State.   Now my collegiate homegirl is looking fabulous and in the PTHC house.

You know a conference is a good one when you have a multitude of seminars that you can attend but can only choose one or have to split time in order to support someone.

When the 10:20 AM block started I settled on attending the one featuring Jazz and Jeanette and transteen Jessica an her mother  It was a fast paced multimedia presentation in which Jessica and Jazz discussed their very different transition experiences, discussed medical opitions, their lives and future plans. 

Jazz continues to amaze me as someone who is wise beyond her 13 years and is an icon to many trans youth.  Her mother is also looked to as a leader in the trans parenting ranks.

We had a scheduled lunch break before we moved into the highly anticipated keynote speech of Janet Mock.  After what happened to me at CC14 in which I was standing for much of Laverne's Creating Change keynote, I made sure to get my behind to the rooms where the speech was scheduled to take place because it was going to be standing room only.

I ran into Ruby Corado and her man enroute to 108A/B and I sat next to them and Lourdes Hunter for Janet's Mock's riveting speech.   One of the lines I loved from it among many of them was "We are our own saviors."  Janet quoted Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston during the speech before closing with a reading from Redefining Realness and answering a few questions from the audience.

After that concluded, I gave her a quick hug before I left her to her task of signing autographs for the long line of people eagerly waiting for her to sign their copies of her book and me Ruby and her boyfreind grabbing lunch at Reading Market across the street.  .  .

As I exited the room ran into L'lerret Ailith and some of the trans sisters to take a few photos, converse with Geena and Bianca who I met at the hotel yesterday.  

After lunch ran into Elizabeth Clair, who arrived from Denver after enduring the cross country bus trip from Hades.  I was seeing for the first time since 2008 and she is part of an music event featuring herself, KOKUMO and Koko Jones.

I continued to run into Facebook friends, people and fans of the blog as the clocked ticked down to my panel discussion which I discovered after perusing the scheduling grid was Thursday evening and NOT today.

The Trans Pioneers of Color one at 5:40 PM led to me finally meeting my longtime friend BT, who was part of the panel with myself, Christine, Dionne, Janis, and Kim Watson moderated by Leo Watts.

The panel in room 104B was to an overflow crowd.  It also ran over due to all of us having a lot to say about what it was like back in the day for us trans elders on a range of subjects from lack of trans POC visibility to race and class differences in a transition.  We asnwered questions from the audience before ending it

That also closed out Day One of the Thursday seminars.

After going back to the hotel, chilled out with roomie Jennifer and Liz, grabbed some dinner and happily destroyed another Slurpee.  Cheesesteak is on the agenda for today.

I found myself on the patio having a long conversation until 2 AM with Lourdes and several transwomen of color in which we talked about a wide variety of issues.  Some of them fall under the Trans Revolution Will Not Be Televised territory, while others ranged from talking about our personal lives to discussing trans politics.   The t-word controversy came up and had us discussing the latest white transwoman gay males have trotted out to justify their continued use of a word we've told them and the world is offensive in Candis Cayne.

You know I'm going to comment on that later, but the bed is calling me right now.

Don't need bags under my eyes for all the photos I'll be taking in a few hours .

PTHC 2014-Day 1 Preview

It's the first day of the 13th annual Philadelphia Trans Health Conference.   It's my first ever one, and I'm excited and feeling blessed to be here after so many failed attempts to be here for this conference  day of school

Megathanks to my roomie for this event, my fellow Texan Jennifer Michelle Gellar

The action at the Pennsylvania Convention Center kicks off at 10:20 AM EDT with the first day of seminars and programming that will include Janet Mock's opening keynote address at 12:45 PM.

And who will I run into today?   Well, if I don't get too busy, will tell y'all about it later.

To  check out what's happening during the conference, the Twitter hashtag is #TransHealth2014

PTHC 2014 Diary-Oh, The People You Will Meet

One of the wonderful things about events like the Philly Trans Health Conference is that for one of the few times in our lives, trans people and our allies are in relatively safe spaces in which we are the majority, and we meet others like ourselves.

And yes, as I mentioned in a previous post, there are people in this community I'm just as anxious and exited to meet as they are to meet me.

That fun started for me even before I walked into my Center City area hotel that will be my PTHC home base through Sunday.

When I arrived at the airport, I was mentally prepared to catch the SEPTA train as I usually do to downtown Philly.  While I was on the sky bridge to the train station Leo Watts called and let me know he was there to pick up some other peeps who had arrived.

Took me a few minutes to get scooped up because I ended back up on the departure side of the ring road, but that started a fun filled van ride to the hotel.

That ride from the airport got me to the hotel faster, but it also meant that I'd be burning time in the lobby area waiting for Jennifer to get here from DFW, and her flight, like everyone's flying into PHL yesterday suffered ATC delays.

So I amused myself by checking my Facebook page, prepping some blog posts and trying to whittle down what fool or fools get tomorrow's Shut Up Fool Award.

While I was doing that, thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw Jazz and her sister Ari walk by and head downstairs to the pool area.    Turned out it was not a mirage because I saw their mother Jeanettte five minutes later. 

As I've mentioned before, just as there are people who are majorly excited to meet legendary me, there are people in this community I fangirl over as well.   Jazz is one of those people,

So the mutual lovefest between me and Jeanette started.   She comes in the category of people I've gotten to know and have talked to for years on Facebook but hadn't officially met until yesterday.   I got to meet her parents, and since Jeanette is also one of the leaders in the trans parent and trans youth community, I began to meet some of the mothers of trans kids as Jeanette talked up my blog.

I also began to meet trans fathers.   I got to meet Wayne and his daughter Nicole, and it wasn't long before Wayne and I were having substantive conversations about much of the advocacy work he was doing and other issues.   I also began to learn that dads of trans kids are also beginning to get vocal and organized just like the trans moms have had to do for their trans younglings for years

And yes, the highlight of that day was beginning to meet the trans kid themselves and get those hugs from them.  Because the bottom line of my advocacy has always been to leave a better world for them. It's nice to see firsthand the fruits of that longtime advocacy as you watch them network and bond with each other.

And as I said before I arrived, hugs are always appreciated.

2014 FIFA World Cup Starts Today

I'll have to set aside some time to do so while I'm in Philly, but the 2014 FIFA World Cup finally starts group stage play later this afternoon.

The host Brazilians will be kicking things off (pun intended) in Sao Paulo against Croatia 

The rest of the matches start tomorrow, and Team USA doesn't get to start Group G play until the 16th.   Team USA will face off in Natal against Ghana, who eliminated us in the knockout rounds of the last two World Cups in 2006 and 2010. 

As to how Team USA will fare in a 'Group of Death' that features the FIFA number 2 ranked Germans, FIFA number 3 ranked Portugal and all everythang Cristian Ronaldo and FIFA number 38 ranked USA killer Ghana remains to be seen for our Jurgen Klinsmann coached FIFA number 14 ranked squad. 

It'll be a miracle if we even get out of the group stage.   But if Team USA wants to be taken seriously instead of sneered at as a soccer nation, this is the perfect opportunity for them to prove they can handle their soccer business while the whole world is watching.

I've Finally Arrived In Philly!

After traveling through the ATL to get here from Houston and ducking a few storm clouds on both flights, the Air Marshal has finally made it to my hotel and I'm in Philadelphia for my first ever Philly Trans Health Conference. 

Looking forward to seeing all my trans fam I didn't get to see at Creating Change and getting reunited with the people I did in H-town.   I'm also excited to be able to finally get the opportunity to meet some people for the first time like Jazz, Geena Rocero, L'lerret Ailith, and Koko Jones just to name a few.


As I mentioned in a previous post, this is my first ever Philadelphia Trans Health Conference and I'm excited to be here.   So excited I didn't get much sleep despite taking my behind to bed earlier than normal.   

Loving the fact my hotel is literally right across the street from the Philadelphia Convention Center where all the PTHC fun will be taking place. 

So yes, I will be in reporter mode fo this event in addition to handling my seminar business on Friday.

And remember #TransHealth 2014 is the Twitter hashtag to keep up with everything being tweeted and talked about during the next three days.

Canadian Senate Stonewalling Trans Rights Bill Passage

My Canadian trans cousins were justifiably celebrating along with the rest of the world when on its fourth attempt, C-279, the Trans Rights Bill passed the Canadian House of Commons back March 20, 2013 and moved to the Canadian Senate.

C-279 simply amends the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canadian Criminal Code to add gender identity as a protected class. It was cruising toward passage last summer and Royal Assent until the Conservatives in the Senate started playing games with it after it cleared committee and was at the Third Reading stage. 

The result was the Canadian Senate departed for their summer break without passing the C-279.  To make matters worse, when Parliament was prorogued that summer by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it got legislatively reset in the process after being reinstated by the Senate to the First Reading stage because it was a private member's bill.

Translation: C-279 had to start over in the Canadian Senate legislative process.

C-279 is now at the Second Reading stage as another summer break looms for the Canadian Senate on June 27.   If it's not passed by then, trans Canadians will have to wait until October 1 before the Senate returns to session.

Canadian Senate, and especially Conservative Party Canadian senators, justice delayed is justice denied. 

But then again, just like your fellow conservatives all over the world, you continually show through your actions why conservatism as a political philosophy is despised by marginalized people across the globe.

It's fairly obvious what the Conservative dominated Senate is doing, and it's time to start calling their behinds out on it.  There is a long list of organizations and unions starting to do so, but it think it's past time for trans Canadians to raise their voices.  It's past time to start calling out the Senate and pushing them to pass C-279 because it is the right thing human rights wise to do.

And the world is watching.   

If they continue this reprehensible legislative tactic, I hope you Canadian peeps, and especially my trans Canadian cousins punish the Conservative Party at the polls when your federal election happens in 2015 

       

Leaving On A Jet Plane- Back To Philly Again

It's been 14 months since I last took a flight which had Philadelphia as its final destination, but once again I'm piling up the frequent flyer miles as I head to the City of Brotherly Love for the 13th annual Philadelphia Trans Health Conference.

It's my first ever one, and I'm deliriously happy to finally be attending one after so many near misses and last minute obstacles that canceled previous planned PTHC sojourns.

I'll be on Delta this time flying through the ATL up and back, and this time instead of those cursed regional jets the last time I flew on DL from Hobby to the ATL, this time I'll be on a Boeing 717 on the HOU-ATL legs of the flight.

Thank you Our Lady of Blessed Airplane Legroom.

Assuming things stay on schedule, I'm scheduled to arrive in Philly at 4 PM EDT and might be able to attend the PTHC  pre-conference event. 

If you wish to keep up with everything that happening at PTHC on Twitter, check out the hashtag #TransHealth2014

See y'all in a few hours.
 
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SBC Officially Hates The Trans Community

Count the Southern Baptists along with the Roman Catholic Church as a religious denomination that officially has an anti-transgender policy.  

Yesterday the faith based Southern Baptist bigots at their conference in Baltimore continued their nearly decade long history of ramping up hatred of transpeople by overwhelmingly passed the Denny Burk proposed resolution that condemns trans people.

Why am I not surprised the 5000 messengers (convention delegates) went there?  The Southern Baptists already have a long negative history of being on the wrong side of all the human rights movements of the 19th and 20th century.   By hating on transpeople, they keep their reprehensible streak of misguided white privileged hatred for people not like them going into the 21st century. 

And naw, you SBC peeps electing Ronnie Floyd as your president with the same homophobic baggage isn't going to distract us.  Neither will it change the fact this was faith-based transphobia at a scale not seen since the Catholic Church unleashed their anti-trans doctrine in 2003.

That Catholic anti-trans doctrine is a contributing factor to the off the charts anti-trans violence my Latina trans sisters experience in Latin America and my eastern European trans sisters deal with.  

SBC, you were on the wrong side of history in terms of supporting slavery, Jim Crow segregation, opposing women's suffrage, the African-American Civil Rights Movement, interracial marriage, and marriage equality.

Now you can add hatred of trans people to that list.   And the mind blowing thing about this passed resolution is that you arrogantly put yourselves on the opposite side of the words of Jesus himself in pushing this hate on trans people policy. 

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. 
Matthew 19:12

As a matter of fact, here's some more words from the Good Book that point out just how off the rails y'all are before I even begin to drop the avalanche of scientific research done on and about transpeople you faith based fools obviously are ignoring. 

Your hatred of trans people is not going reverse the two decade old trend of declining membership at SBC affiliated churches.  Neither will it make your denomination attractive to young people and other fair minded folks who count transpeople among their friends and relatives.

But thanks SBC for doing the trans community and our allies a favor and letting us know exactly where we stand with you.  You Satan's helpers are officially an enemy to our community just like the trans exterminationalist radical feminists (TERF's) and will be treated as such from this day forward. 

Transphobic bigotry wrapped in scripture is still transphobic bigotry, and that salient fact isn't going to change no matter what y'all told yourselves after that vote.

And the only way you'll see trans people darkening the doors of your church sanctuaries is protesting outside of them.
 

Down Goes Cantor! Down Goes Cantor!

As you longtime TransGriot readers know I can't stand conservafools, and never liked Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) the House Majority Leader. 

That dislike of Cantor goes back to August 2009 when Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) referred to him (and McCarthy and Ryan) as 'Great White Hope leaders' in the wake of their loss of the White House to then Senator Barack Obama.

So you know I was doing the happy dance when the breaking news came onscreen as I was watching MSNBC about Cantor losing his House primary race to Teapublican challenger Dave Brat.   

And it wasn't a narrow loss either.  Cantor got spanked by 12 percentage points and lost to a guy he outspent by a 25-1 margin.   Hey, as the POTUS proved in 2012, Koch Brothers money can't buy everything and in many cases, it IS about the candidate. 

Cantor made some history with this political earthquake of a loss.   He is the first sitting House majority leader to not even survive his party's primary. 

In case you're wondering, there is a Democratic candidate in the Virginia 7th Congressional District race in college professor Jack Trammell, who ironically works at the same college as Brat.

Now we need to send some cash to Trammel and help him win that seat. 

Bye bye, Eric.   Not sorry to see you go.