UN Human Rights Council Passes LGBT Resolution

The good TBLG rights news just keeps on coming internationally

The United Nations Human Rights Council after an hour of debate, has passed by a 25-14 margin with seven abstentions an LGBT human rights resolution that condemns discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation

The resolution was proposed a month ago by Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay.   There were seven amendments proposed by nations opposed to the LGBT resolution designed to strip mentioning gender identity and sexual orientation that were soundly defeated.

The nations voting for passage of the resolution were Argentina, Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Montenegro, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Macedonia, the U.K., the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam.

The nations opposed were Algeria, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The nations abstaining were Burkina Faso, China, Congo, India, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Sierra Leone.

The passage of the amendment was applauded by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

"The Human Rights Council has taken a fundamental step forward by reaffirming one of the United Nations’ key principles — that everyone is equal in dignity and rights.” said Jessica Stern, the executive director of IGLHRC. “This resolution puts the UN on a trajectory to address the discrimination and violence LGBT persons suffer daily across the world.”

"The council is confirming that LGBT people have universal human rights,” Stern said. “We know, of course, that the struggle is long, and that we will need the Council to focus on the violations we suffer for many years to come. But for now, we celebrate that the majority of States stood with us to declare, unequivocally, that human rights are for everyone, everywhere.”

Trans and LGB rights issues are international human rights issues, and this vote by the UN Human Rights Council is more evidence this is not only a statement of fact, but our opponents are on the wrong side of human rights history once again.

- See more at: http://www.sdgln.com/news/2014/09/26/breaking-un-human-rights-council-votes-support-lgbt-rights#sthash.M2wVjq9n.dp

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Shut Up Fool Awards-Voting Is Sexy And Important Edition

Time flies, especially as you get older.   Summer has turned into fall on my side of the planet, which promises relief from the hot, steamy weather typical of my beloved hometown this time of year. 

But one thing never changes.  As Mr T so eloquently stated, fools are everywhere, and no time is that more true than during the runup to a major election.

Hope you peeps are registered and planning to handle you electoral business and vote November 4. 

And yes, from now until that date, I plan on hounding you so you don't forget how important this upcoming election is and how vital it is for you to participate in it.

And only your electoral participation can prevent right wing jerks from getting elected to public office.

And yes, since today is Friday, time for me to do my weekly duty and call out the fool, fools and groups of fools that have so richly earned this week's awards.

So lets get to it shall we?

Honorable mention number one is Tamikka Brents.    After she bumped her gums spreading transphobic shade about Fallon Fox and how she couldn't wait to fight her, after Fallon beat that azz back on September 13 in a 2:17 TKO, she whined about the butt kicking and claimed fighting  transfeminine fighters 'isn't fair'.

Must be the concussion talking.   My suggestion to you Tamikka is to stop flapping your gums and get into the gym and do more training so you don't sustain more beatdowns like the one you took from someone you claim couldn't fight.

Honorable mention number two is Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R)  who claims HB 2 would have saved Joan Rivers life.  

Um naw homes, don't even try it.    Joan Rivers was not having an abortion, she was at an ambulatory surgery center having plastic surgery under the care of a doctor with admittance privileges to Mt Sinai Hospital. 

And every Stevie Wonder can see that your HB 2 law is not about saving lives but closing abortion clinics.

Honorable mention number three is Kevin Sorbo, who bizarrely claimed on FOX Noise that the NFL won't fire anyone over the domestic abuse scandal roiling the league because of get this, Benghazi.

Last time I checked, there were no NFL franchises in Libya.

Honorable mention number four is a group award for the National Center for Transgender Equality.  NCTE recently put out a call asking trans persons of color for their discrimination stories that they will videotape and use to solicit funds for their organization.  And what will they compensate the New York transpeeps they ask to share their stories with?   Subway fare.

Typical of NCTE and other Gay Inc orgs.   They want our POC faces in their photos and videos, want to use our stories to fundraise off of, but won't hire transpeople of color to work in their predominately white organizations. 

Honorable mention number five is for Vinny Minchillo, a GOP operative who is spearheading a campaign to remind everyone that Republicans Have Feelings Too.

Really?  Republicans have feelings? Can't tell by their current actions, policies and hateful rhetoric buttressing them.   Those reprehensible multiyear actions confirm to me and 'errbody' else that isn't white, male, rich and right wing 'christian' that the GOP is nothing more than the political arm of white supremacy.And Vinny, you have a serious problem as a party if you have to cut ads to remind people you are human after all the racist, hateful crap your party has said, done and proposed in your legislative policies.

Honorable mention number six is New York Times writer Alessandra Stanley, for writing that jacked up Shonda Rhimes article that not only called her  an 'angry Black woman', but called Viola Davis 'less classically beautiful'.

Black Twitter calls her azz out in 5...4...3...2...1

Honorable mention number seven is Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who continues to live up to the dumb blonde stereotype ever since she migrated over from The View to become a FOX fembot.

Liz parted her lips on Fox and Friends earlier in the week to state that all people should pass a citizenship test before they are allowed to vote.   Guess she was asleep in history class when they discussed Jim Crow segregation and the use of literacy tests to disenfranchise African-American voters. 


This week's Shut Up Fool winner is Pastor John Hagee.

A video recently surfaced in which the San Antonio based christopimp is quoted based on a misinterpretation of 2 Thessalonians currently in vogue with conservafools.   This verse is used in conservaworld  to justify the income inequality that blossomed on their watch. 

Hagee was quoted as saying that 'nasty welfare recipients don't deserve to eat live




Hypocritical azzholes like you don't deserve to be called Christians.

Pastor John Hagee, shut up fool!

Atherton HS Gender Identity Inclusive Nondiscrimination Policy Still Stands

Back in May Atherton High School's site Based Decision Making Committee added gender identity to the school's non discrimination policy.

Because the policy allows trans students to use the restroom based on their gender identity and presentation, predictably the local haters in Da Ville went to work trying to overturn it.

After failing at the Atherton SBDM Committee level to do so it went to a JCPS  appeal board hearing.

The SBDM Appeal Board was comprised of four teachers selected by the union, two parents selected by the PTSA and one principal selected by the Administrators Association.

There's good news to report.  By a 6-1 vote the appeal to rescind Atherton's addition of gender identity to their non-discrimination policy was defeated!  

As for the breakdown on the vote, the four teachers and the two parents voted to deny the appeal with the principal from Central High School voting for it.

So happy to hear that.   It's a big win not only for the gender variant students that attend Atherton but all students on the campus..

Okay JCPS School Board, now it's time for you to handle the business you should have handled back in 2007 and pass a district wide addition to your non-discrimination policy that includes gender identity

Debunking The Top 5 Myths About TBLG Rights Laws

We heard all those lies during our recent contentious battle to pass the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, and Media Matters For America now has produced this video that debunks the Top 5 lies.

So file this video away for future reference and use when your locale decides to pass an LGBT rights ordinance or you build the critical political mass to push for passage of one.

Because we know that as soon as your local governmental entity decides to do the right thing and protect their LGBT citizens, the conservahaters will deploy these lies in a desperate attempt to derail it.

And what are those conservalies?

1. LGBTQ folks aren't actually discriminated against anymore.
2. Non-discrimination laws create special rights for LGBTQ folks.
3. Non-discrimination laws infringe on the religious rights of Christians.
4. Non-discrimination laws will trigger a wave of frivolous law suits.
5. Non-discrimination laws let sexual predators sneak in women's bathrooms.

Here's the video.

 

Scarlett Lehn Crowned Homecoming Queen In Colorado

Scarlet Lehn has only been officially out as a transfeminine student at Sand Creek High School in Colorado Springs, CO since the start of this school year, but the 16 year old mas made a little history in the wake of doing so.

Lehn was chosen by her classmates to be their homecoming queen on September 12, the same weekend as transmasculine student Mel Gonzalez was chosen as the homecoming king at Austin High in Fort Bend County. 

It's also delicious to me that Sand Creek High School is located in the backyard of the odiously transphobic and homophobic Focus on The Family.  FOTF is headquartered there. 

While she's gotten some predictable flak from right wingers and the usual haters, the homecoming win was a surprise to her.  “I didn’t think I’d be nominated, but now it really matters to me,” Lehn said in a recent interview. “This is something I’ve wanted to do since my freshman year. I want people to be themselves and not feel uncomfortable in their own body and mind.”

And it's wonderful that your coming out was accepted by your classmates so quickly that they voted for you to be honored as their homecoming queen.

Congratulations Scarlett!   Looking forward to this happening in my home state soon.

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Week 4

I rebounded from that subpar 7-9 Week 2 to have a great Week 3.  While my 11-5 record was outstanding, unfortunately Eli matched me and Mike's 13-3 was even better. 

So my initial advantage I grabbed with that outstanding Week 1 has shrunk to a one game lead.  But this contest is never a sprint, it's a marathon with the strategy of having more good weeks than bad ones so you come out on top at the end of the season

Speaking of coming out on top, that's not what happened for the Texans in New Jersey last weekend as Bad Ryan Fitzpatrick showed up at the worst time with Arian Foster on the bench nursing a sore hamstring. in their 30-17 loss 

And I have  another piece of advice for coach O'Brien.  Throw  Deandre Hopkins the ball more often.

Buffalo comes to NRG Stadium to play, and it is imperative the Texans get whatever ailed them in last week's game fixed fast.   We Texans fans still remember them getting off to a 2-0 start and subsequently losing their next 14 games, so they better handle their business this week and especially next week at Jerryworld.

So let's get to the Week 4 NFL Picks.     We have teams starting to go on their bye weeks, so only 13 games to pick.   The Cardinals, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Rams and Seahawks get to watch 'errbody' else play this week while the Raiders and Dolphins game will be played at Wembley Stadium in London.  

My picks are in underlined bold print.   Eli and Mike's picks will be here.

Week 3 Results

TransGriot   11-5
Eli                11-5
Mike.           13-3

 2014 NFL Season Record

TransGriot    29-19
Eli                 28-20
Mike             28-20  

Thursday Night Game
NY Giants over Washington

Sunday Early Games
Houston over Buffalo
Green Bay over Chicago
Indianapolis over Tennessee
Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay
Baltimore over Carolina

Miami over Oakland (London)
Detroit over NY Jets

Sunday Afternoon Games
Atlanta over Minnesota
Philadelphia over San Francisco
San Diego over Jacksonville

Sunday Night Game
New Orleans over Dallas

Monday Night Game
New England over Kansas City

The 2014-2015 Trans School Year Is Off To A Great Start

'I expect this school year won't be any different.  But as this 2014-15 school year transpires, there will probably be trans history made in some locales before the academic year has come to a close.' 
TransGriot, August 25, 2014  Have A Wonderful 2014-15 School Year

Can I call it or what?  

September hasn't even ended and we've already seen the crowning of a transmasculine homecoming king and transfeminine homecoming queen in Texas and Colorado.   Hopefully this is just the beginning of more positive news coming from the members of the Class of 2015.

As I stated last month, I expect some drama to happen before this school year draws to a close   Drama like transphobic school districts reluctant to let trans students run for homecoming king or queen, run for prom king or queen, prom dress code kerfluffles, potty wars, cap and gown graduation battles, or just simply getting ID to match who they are now. 

But know Class of 2015, you do have help to turn to in case these fools step to you like Lambda Legal, GLSEN and the ACLU ready to pounce on those who would mess with your human rights

And I'm looking forward to hearing about more of your groundbreaking accomplishments and you achieving the goal of graduating.

But we have a few months until May gets here before that happens.

TransJustice Fellowship Applications Due October 1

For those of you in the New York area, got word of a fellowship opportunity that is accepting applications.

If you're interested, you'll have to get that completed application in for the fellowship by October 1.

TransJustice Political Education and Campaign Fellowship

Who We Are:

TransJustice is a political organizing group created and led by Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color in New York City. We work to educate organize and mobilize our communities and allies on the pressing political issues we face. We are a multi-racial, multi-gender, multi-class, and all ages group.

TransJustice is an organizing program of the Audre Lorde Project. The Audre Lorde Project is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming People of Color center for community organizing, focusing on the New York City area. Through mobilization, education and capacity-building, we work for community wellness and progressive social and economic justice. Committed to struggling across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent and serve our various communities.

About the Fellowship:
-- Are you interested in community organizing and developing leadership in yourself and others?
-- Want to develop skills in facilitating workshops, building curricula, and political education?
-- Interested in learning more about campaign and coalition work?

The TransJustice Fellowship is a pilot project to support and develop the leadership of Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color. Fellows will receive supervision and work closely with the TransJustice Coordinator to meet the following goals:
-- Build skills and capacity in Community Organizing work, including coalition work, political education, and facilitation
-- Support the coordinator with logistics, planning, and implementation of programming
-- Support with administrative work and documentation

Requirements;
-- Can commit to ten months (November 2014 through September 2014), 10 hours per week
-- Can be on site at the Manhattan offices of the Audre Lorde Project during fellowship hours
-- Identifies as Trans and/or Gender Non-Conforming and a Person of Color
-- Can demonstrate experience using Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and Gmail.
-- Is invested in building community/movement and struggling across difference from a loving place
-- Wants to grow in their skills and support others in growing their skills as an organizer and facilitator
-- Willing to be supervised, and willing to give and receive feedback in open and communicative ways
-- Works well in collaboration and teams

Responsibilities Include:
-- Participating in coalition meetings with the program coordinator and core members, and creating new and exciting ways to share information from meetings back to the membership base
-- Supporting with logistics and facilitation for TransJustice Community School, our 9 week Political Education and Leadership Development Program.
-- Supporting with logistics, planning and facilitation of our 3 monthly meetings
-- Data Entry and Administrative support
-- Supporting members in outreach for meetings and events
-- Preparation and planning for all TransJustice Related events (Trans Day of Remembrance, Trans Day of Action, TransJustice Community Schools, and Open Political Education Workshops)

How to Apply!
Please send a cover letter stating why you are interested in the fellowship and a resume to efukui@alp.org.
This is a paid fellowship. TransJustice Community School Graduates and Daring to Be Powerful
 Graduates are strongly encouraged to apply!

The Audre Lorde Project is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color community organizing center focusing on the New York City area.

147 West 24th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10011
Tel: 212-463-0342
Fax: 212-463-0344
www.alp.org

You Claim You Aren't Scared Of Me, But Tragically You Are

TransGriot Note:  My fave WMMA fighter talks about the reasons why many of the so-called tough WMMA women fear her.   And after Tamikka Brents microwaved beatdown, don't think too many more will be stupid enough to transphobically bash Fallon Fox and claim in the same breath they can beat her.

I've been waiting a little over a year to say this.

Remember a little while back there was this MMA fighter who found out that she was locked in a tournament with a few other Caucasian women, a couple of black women, and one transgender woman. She took a look at the field of competitors in the tournament after the first bracket and saw one of these women knocking another woman out in 39 seconds. And at 6' 1" while professing to be a legitimate professional MMA fighter, she got scared.

@peggymorganmma @KatalinaMMA @notsosweetmma @heatherbassett @shanknapp @ufc @InvictaFights

Then, an opportunity to get that woman out of the tournament and out of her way arose. It came out that one of the women in the tournament happened to be a transgender woman. That was great news for our tall friend for sure! Because at that time not that many people were aware of the intricacies of this category of woman, and were not aware that transgender women had been legitimately competing in sports YEARS before that day. It was a prime opportunity to muddy the water and exit the tournament. Peggy Morgan's fear and lack of skill had her doing an about face accompanied by a swift double time towards the metaphorical exit sign. She even went as far as to sit down in front of a camera with her trainer also wanted that 39 second knockout potential out of the way. So, she sat smugly staring into the lens while her trainer did all of the talking. The man said, "Fallon Fox is not Rosa Parks", "He lied on his Florida State Application and as a result HE assaulted an unknown woman in the cage", "We are not afraid of Fallon Fox...", and "He will be famous for about 10 minutes for being a man who had a sex change and now wants to fight women. Peggy on the other hand will be a household name for being one of the top female fighters on the planet".

( You can read all about this and watch the video here: )

http://www.outsports.com/2013/3/24/4141668/fallon-fox-john-fain-peggy-morgan-mma-transgender

Funny what can happen in little over a year huh? It can wash away that false baseless "Lied to the Florida commission" claim. It can destroy that "10 minutes of fame" nonsense. And most importantly, it can show that Peggy Morgan will certainly not be known as "One of the top female fighters on the planet". As a matter of fact, she's racked up two losses since that time, and I've racked up two wins. Her record is 2-2-0 and she's on a losing streak. (Mine is now 5-1-0 and I'm on a win streak.) She lost every single fight after she decided to go on camera and have her trainer proclaim to the world how tough she was. Some female MMA fighters just don't have what it takes. They fear too much and have very little heart. Normally they don't get too far in MMA.

Peggy Morgan was similar to Charmaine Tweet of Canada. Who recently stated that transgender women should be segregated from women's MMA. They are both over 6' tall with ridiculous reach advantages who are scared of lil' ol' me. Perhaps they fear me because both they and their trainers realize they are lacking in real skill and heart, and that the only reason why they made it as far as they've made it is because of the added factor of how big they are.

But, you know, there's also shorter competitors who sometimes do the same thing. Like Katalina Malungahu who recently took to twitter in her stupidity called me a man (even when commissions, the government, and medical community says otherwise) to express how scared she is of fighting me. Guess what her record is? It's 2-2-0, she's on a downward tailspin of loss right now and itching to get whatever potential threat out of her way. She's not the real deal either...

But, you know who at least had heart? Ashley Evans Smith, Tamikka Brents, and Allana Jones. One of those three defeated me in my only loss, and Allanna Jones made it to the 3rd round with me.

Oh, there's one that has more heart than them all. You've probably never heard of her though. - Heather Basset - she fought me and was able to do a lot better than most suspected in the first round even though she was tapped out in the second. She stands out as the one with the most heart to me because after it was all over, she simply said, "I lost". She didn't say any wild untrue assertions in order to save face for her loss. She just went back to her gym to get better and hopefully win the next one. NOW THAT is the heart of a warrior. How is it that Heather Basset, the smallest of these women stands taller than all of them? It's pathetic if you really think about it.

Anyhoo. Was just dying to say that. Now, back into the gym to prepare for whatever fight comes next.

Transmasculine Homecoming King Crowned In Texas!

I keep telling you people who like to bash Texas at every opportunity that my home state and hometown has progressive tendencies built into its DNA.   The kids that are growing to adulthood will ensure that no matter how hard the GOP tries to prevent it from happening, Texas will eventually go back to its blue and purple roots.

Was happy to hear that on September 12, a little Texas history was made as the first out  trans masculine  homecoming king in the Lone Star State was crowned in my H-town backyard.  

17 year old Mel Gonzalez, a senior at Stephen F. Austin High School in Fort Bend County, had a goal of proving a transmasculine student could be elected homecoming king.  He was simply aiming to get into the Top 5.     

Well, he did much better than that.   He discovered after he stepped onto the field at Mercer Stadium his classmates at this suburban high school just southwest of Houston selected him as their homecoming king.

He told Project Q that his win, combined with the win of transfeminine homecoming queen Scarlett Lenh in Sand Creek, CO proves that the country is moving towards acceptance for not just those who are not heterosexual, but those who also identify outside of the gender binary.

And yes folks, even in Texas, despite transphobic resistance at times, it's happening.

Congrats Mel on your historic win.   Looking forward to seeing a trans feminine homecoming queen soon in my birth state.

5th Annual NBJC OUT On the Hill Starts Today

Personal issues are going to prevent me from attending this year's event (and I'm pissed about it), but the 5th Annual OUT on the Hill Black  LGBT Leadership Summit will kick off today and run through the 27th.

Y'all know I have much love for NBJC and this event and I'm upset I'll be missing it for the second year in a row, but have to sort out some things on the home front so I can be there in full effect next year.

For those of you who do head to, are enroute or are in Washington DC for it, you are in for a wonderful and memorable experience courtesy of our NBJC family.   It's chock full of stimulating panel discussions and seminars, a White House briefing, lobbying, and charting the course of our Black LGBT movement.

And there's nothing better than being around your fellow Black LGBT peeps for a few days and discussing a wide variety of issues and topics.

You can also follow the happenings online at #OOTH 2014 or #NBJContheMove

Hope you have another megasuccessful event, may everyone in attendance leave it better informed and energized to help advance the human rights of our community, and y'all have fun while doing so.

Hasselbeck Forgot About Literacy Tests

I'm not shocked when one of the FOX Noise Fembots opens their mouths and something stupid, racist, bigoted (or all of the above) comes out of it.

Today's latest example of them reinforcing the dumb blonde stereotype is Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

She parted her lips to state during a Monday Fox and Friends conversation on civics education that all voters should have to pass a 'citizenship test' before they were allowed to vote.

Yeah Liz, guess you ignored that chapter in your history books about literacy tests.   They were supposed to be administered to all voters, but were exclusively used to disenfranchise African-American voters back during the bad old Jim Crow days from thw 1880s to the 1960s before they were banned by the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

She sounds even more hypocritical because she in her past utterings has been railing against Common Core and standardized testing.



I sincerely doubt that Liz, her Fembots and most conservafools could even pass a standardized citizenship test, seeing that their understanding of American history is so distorted, and they only care about the Second and Tenth Amendments of the Constitution.

And you conservafools wanna know why I and other no-white Americans consider conservatism and conservatives racist.   You never fail on a daily basis to do or say something that verities and validates our perception that conservatism is the political arm of white supremacy.

Thanks Peeps For Your Support

As some of you may or may not be aware of, been dealing with unexpected major drama over the last week

It got ugly, and while the situation is being mediated, because it got nasty and nitpickingly petty, that instigated drama and moi defending myself from that toro poo poo is going to result in me having to find a new place to live in H-town shortly.

While I'm on the lookout for a new place to call home inside Beltway 8, do want to take a moment to thank all the peeps who have called to check up on me and see how I'm doing, or left notes either at my e-mail address or on my Facebook page.

It's times like there when you're going through unnecessary drama or trouble that you really find out who your friends are, because quality people who love you and care about your well being will rise to the occasion.

And yes, will do my best, even without internet access at my current residence to ensure that you readers continue to see fresh content on TransGriot.

Texas Fall College Democrats Convention At UH This Weekend

Since I'm right down the street from the UH campus (for now)  and the price is right (FREE), will probably go get into reporter mode and check out the  Fall conference of the Texas College Democrats which is being hosted on the UH campus 

Will be nice to be around all that youthful energy and see the future Democrats of our state who will be working hard to get Wendy, Leticia and all our Texas Democratic candidates across the ballot get elected November 4.

And just a reminder, if you aren't registered to vote in the Lone Star State, you have until October 3 to do so.   If you are, early voting in Texas starts October 20

Convention will run from 11:00 AM-3 PM, so if you wish to see and hang around our younglings who will play a major role in turning our state back to its progressive roots, might wish to swing by the UH campus and check it out.

Texas Governor's Debate

For those of y'all who don't live in the Lone Star State, the first debate between Texas state Senator Wendy Davis and Attorney General Greg Abbott happened Friday night in Edinburg, TX down in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Both were going after the Valley's Latino voters, and Davis was on the offensive from the opening bell.

But I don't need to tell you that.  here's the video so you can check it out and see for yourself who won.

Shut Up Fool Awards-Scotland's Staying Put Edition

While we were sleeping last night, across The Pond Scotland was counting votes for a referendum that if it had passed, resulted in Scotland leaving the United Kingdom and becoming an independent nation.

The votes have been counted, and by a 55%-45% margin Scottish voters decided to stay in the UK for now.

But the nervous pols in London along with financiers in Edinburgh and London are breathing a sigh of relief.

But there is no relief from our usual Friday activity of calling out our favorite fool, fools, or group of fools, and lately, business has been booming.   

So let's get started.

Honorable mention number one goes to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R).   He's trying to do everything partisanly possible and failing to keep a withdrawn Democratic Senate candidate Chad Taylor on the ballot so that endangered conservafool  Senator Pat Roberts (definitely no relation) can hold on to his seat.

With the Dem in the race, Roberts narrowly wins.  Without him, he loses to surging independent candidate Greg Orman and screws the GOP's changes of taking the Senate.  

After telling the Kansas Supreme Court they needed to make a decision yesterday on thi case so ballots could be printed to send to the troops, when the decision, didn't go his way, suddenly that deadline wasn't so rigid.  

He also demanded that the Kansas Democratic Party replace the withdrawn Dem senate candidate.  You know what the Kansas Dems are going to tell hs teabagginbg behind. 

Honorable mention number two goes to the US Congress, for going into recess for the next seven weeks to campaign as we have serious issues facing this country to deal with.

This week's winner is a group award for the NFL, who had another player get busted on domestic violence issues along with the still inconsistent levels of punishment meted out to other accused or convicted of domestic violence charges as the calls for NFL: commissioner Roger Goodell's resignation grow louder and sponsors start to drop out.  

NFL, shut up fools

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Week 3

After getting off to a great 11-5 start in Week 1, the upset bug and a few close games that didn't go my way ravaged my Week 2 selections.   But I still had a better week than NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

He had to (and still is) dealing with the fallout from the NFL PR week from Hades in the wake of the Ray Rice and other domestic abuse scandals involving NFL players.

More pleasant news to moi is my fave NFL team for the fifth straight season has started with a 2-0 record.   Yeah, yeah I'm well aware of what happened to the Texans last year. that's why we have a new coach and defensive coordinator

So let's get to NFL Week 3.  It's another sixteen games, and my picks to win  are in underlined bold print

Week 2 Results

TransGriot   7-9
Eli                9-7
Mike.           7-9

2014 NFL Season Record

TransGriot    18-14
Eli                 17-15
Mike             15-17  


Thursday Night Game
Atlanta over Tampa Bay

Sunday Early Games 

San Diego over Buffalo
Cincinnati over  Tennessee
Baltimore over Cleveland
Dallas over St Louis
Green Bay over Detroit
Houston over NY Giants
Indianapolis over Jacksonville
New Orleans over Minnesota
New England  over Oakland
Philadelphia over Washington

Sunday Afternoon Games
San Francisco over Arizona
Seattle over Denver
Miami over Kansas City

Sunday Night Game
Carolina over Pittsburgh

Monday Night Game
Chicago over NY Jets

TTNS Accepting Hosting Proposals For 2015 Event

The sixth annual Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit is history, and the event for the first time was hosted outside the Houston area on the Texas State campus in San Marcos.

Been advised that the TTNS is now accepting hosting proposals for the summer 2015 event. 

The minimum requirements to host the TTNS are:  A campus liaison, a room at no charge to TTNS capable of accommodating 100 people, and at no charge to TTNS three rooms capable of holding 35 people for seminars.








If your Texas based college campus is interested in submitting a hosting proposal, please email Josephine@txtns.org with it or for further information

2014 FIBA World Cup Watch-Back To Back FIBA Champions!

Team USA started this basketball business trip at the end of August with a few goals in mind.  They wanted to become only the third nation to win back to back FIBA titles.  They wanted to keep  their winning streak going, and most importantly, qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic basketball tournament.|

But to accomplish all of those goals, they would first nento get to the title game and win it.

That road to the title game started with a what was anticipated to be a tough semifinal matchup with Lithuania.   The USA is 5-1 against Lithuania since 2000, but the loss was in pool play during the 2004 Olympics, and they have been single digit margin wins.

And this semifinal game stayed true to the pattern they had established in this tournament.  They got off to a slow start, an led Lithuania by only seven points at halftime.

\

Then came the third quarter and the 10-0 USA run that broke the game wide open.  They finished with a 33-14 quartet that turned what was a close game into a comfortable 96-68 romp to the FIBA final in Madrid.

With host nation Spain now out of the tournament due to their upset loss to France, they came into Sunday's title game as heavy favorites to walk away with the James Naismith Trophy.

Their opponent was Serbia, who knocked off France in the other semifinal.

Serbia jumped out to a 15-7 first quarter lead before Kyrie Irving shattered and splattered their upset title dreams by personally igniting a 15-0  USA run in which he lit up the Serbians with 15 first quarter points on 6 of 7 shooting and trigger the 9 of 12 three point shoot barrage that blew the game wide open and sent Team USA romping to a 129-92 win.

In addition to completing their tournament run and shutting up the international skeptics with a spotless 9-0 record, they (and the Brazilians as the host nation) get to chill while everyone else in the FIBA Americas Zone tries to qualify for Rio.

They also became the first men's squad to win four straight international B-ball tournaments (2008 and 2012 Olympics, 2010 and 2014 

And what's scary for the rest of the FIBA basketball world to contemplate, we won this title without LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul . 

The 2016 Rio Games should be fun to watch.

NBJC's 5th Annual OUT on the Hill Rapidly Appoaching

The September 24-27 dates for the 5th Annual OUT on the Hill Black LGBT leadership summit are rapidly approaching, and there's still time for you to get registered and head to Washington DC for an amazing four days of seminars, panel discussions, policy briefings, movement agenda setting, and conversation about where we are as a community.

Black LGBT leaders and allies from around the country will be there to take part in what has become a highly anticipated event, and the National Black Justice Coalition would love to have you there.

The added bonus for attending OUT on the Hill in addition to interacting with some amazing community leaders is that you are in town and have an opportunity to also participate in the Congressional Black Caucus weekend and own your power at hat event as well..

I've had the pleasure of attending the 2011 and 2012 events, and if you are wishing to make connections with other Black LGBT leaders, this is the conference for you

If you need further information concerning OUT on the hill you can contact NBJC Operations Manager Venton C, Jones, Jr for further assistance..

For further assistance, please contact:

Venton C. Jones Jr.

Events and Operations Manager

National Black Justice Coalition

events@nbjc.org

202-319-1552, ext 101