'He Wanted To Erase Her Existence'

Mayang Prasetyo, another one of our transsisters was murdered in Australia.

Along with the media in Brisbane misgendering and sensationalizing the whole thing also came a Guardian post by Amy Gray that took the opposite angle. 

Gray's post asserted that it was masculine entitlement that led to Prasetyo's death.

That Guardian article generated some commentary on my FB page when  I posted it, and the most thought provoking one of all so far was from Troy, whose trans attracted man videos you see pop up on TransGriot from time to time.

In his comment on the article Troy remarked, "Think of the last few trans women that have been murdered, thrown on the streets, dumped in the garbage. It seems their killers wanted to erase them from existence."

"That's why I'm so adamant about language. When you dehumanize someone it's easier to justify killing them."

Exactly, Troy.  Ever since I transitioned 20 years ago and became aware of the horrific levels of anti-trans violence aimed at us, there have been times when I have been stunned by the extreme level of violence that was aimed at transfeminine murder victims. 

Yaz'min Shancez's killer shot her, then burned her body. Shellie Hilliard's body in Detroit was dismembered and burned by her convicted killer.  I remember reading about other trans murders on the Remembering Our Dead list in which extreme violence was part of it.

One of my suspicions as to why that happens is because of the virulent level anti-trans hate can reach at times with cisgender males, as Joanna Cifredo noted while recounting an incident that happened to her in her blog post Passing To Survive.

That night will forever be ingrained in my memory. It was the night that I looked straight into the eyes of transphobia. I don’t think “phobia” is even the right word, he wasn’t scared of me, just the opposite, I was scared of him, instead I came face to face with pure, undiluted, hatred. As I rode home I began to think about the paralyzing fear that engulfed every pore of my being, and I began to sob uncontrollably. I started to think of all of my sisters who came face to face with hatred and weren’t as lucky as I was to have someone there defending them and were met with their mortality

Joanna is describing an instance in which she came face to face with someone who literally wanted to erase her existence from the face of this Earth because of her trans feminine status.  That person probably would have eagerly done so if it hadn't been for the fact there was a door and another cis male keeping that from happening in the incident she describes in the post

It's the sudden nature in which a transwoman can go from having a pleasant day to fearing for her life that keeps us on edge as we navigate our lives. 

My transsisters, this is just one of the things that estrogen based lifeforms unfortunately have to deal with   It is dangerous at times to walk this planet in a feminine body.

It gets even more problematic when that feminine body is a trans feminine one.  You have cisgender males who mistakenly feel they have the right to violently harm or kill a trans woman simply because the transwoman's presence in their space at that given moment for whatever specious reason offends them.

And I suspect this unfortunately happened to our sis Mayang.   For whatever reason, the man who professed to love her, killed and dismembered her before killing himself. 

How much transphobia played a role in this domestic violence situation we will probably never know, but the bottom line is still the same.  

Our sis is dead at the hands of a man who appears to have wanted to erase her existence

Janet's Interview With Tracee Ellis Ross

Janet Mock was guest hosting for Larry King recently on his Larry King Now show, and got the opportunity to interview the fabulous Tracee Ellis Ross.

She gets to chat with Tracee about her new ABC show Black-ish, her mom Diana Ross and other issues, and here's the video of it.

The SCOTUS Starts Its 2014-15 Session Today

Hide the Constitution, because the SCOTUS is in session starting today through June 2015

And yeah, have no love for the four conservafool politicians in black robes and their kneegrow sycophant who is a disgrace to the memory and distinguished legal career of Thurgood Marshall

As to what cases they will accept  for argument, while they are ducking same sex marrige for now, they are taking on a potentially important race-discrimination case to its 2014-15 docket.

It's a case that could have major implications for would-be borrowers, banks, and businesses.

As of yet don't see any voting rights cases on the docket or any others that impact LGBT rights, but you know I'll be paying close attention and will post any news of what happens there if one pops up between now and June 2015.

Today Is The Texas Registration Deadline To Vote In The 2014 Election

If you are planning to vote in this year's critical election starting on October 20, you need to be registered by today

October 6 is the deadline to be registered, and if you are planning to mail your registration in, it must be postmarked before midnight.

If you aren't liking the direction the GOP is taking this state, your only remedy for changing that is taking your soul to the election polls.

And make it a party by taking a few friends with you.

Election Day is November 4, and early voting starts on October 20.  So handle your electoral business if you haven't done so already

2014 FIBA Women's World Championship Watch-Title Number 9!

The 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women title game was held this afternoon my time in Istanbul, and the FIBA world number one ranked Team USA was facing off against Spain for the title and the automatic bid to the Rio Olympic Games that went with it.

Both teams were unbeaten, had won their respective groups and breezed through the tournament until the semifinals. 

Both teams also survived tough semifinal matchups the day before to get to the title game, with Spain knocking off the host Turks and Team USA dispatching their Australian rivals once again.

Team USA wanted to get off to a quick start and seize control of this title game from the outset, and with tournament MVP Maya Moore reeling off eight quick points to get the basketball party started, Spain quickly found themselves looking at a 15-5 double digit deficit.

Moore finished with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal as she made the All-Star Five Team along with Brittney Griner. Australia's Penny Taylor, and Spain's Sancho Lyttle and Alba Torrens.



It didn't get any better for the EuroBasket champs as they headed to the halftime locker room trailing 48-29 and 67-48 at the end of the third quarter as Team USA kept up the defensive pressure and showcased the depth of their predominately veteran roster they brought to Turkey.  

Spain did close with a late rally and held the USA to just 10 points in the quarter to make the final score 77-64.   Spain with the runner up silver medal finish had achieved their best finish ever in FIBA tournament play, and the Australians hammered host Turkey 77-44 to earn the bronze medal.

For my Canadian readers, you finished fifth after knocking off China 61-53.  I think the Canadians might have had a shot at the podium had Natalie Achonwa been able to play.

Team USA with the win repeated as FIBA world champs, captured their ninth overall world championship and most importantly, locked down the automatic bid for the 2016 Games.  

USA Head Coach Geno Auriemma said while reflecting on it, "It is very difficult to win the Championship.  There are some great teams and they are getting better all the time."

"Although just because we are expected to win, doesn't make it any easier."



One thing that definitely won't be easy is selecting 12 players from the vast talent pool Team USA has to choose from for the 2016 women's Olympic b-ball squad.

But we'll see how that plays out two years from now.

Congrats to Team USA for the FIBA repeat.
 
 

Dwight DeLee Case Hearing October 15

I was majorly pissed off along with many trans people in New York state and across the country when the conviction of Dwight DeLee in the murder of Lateisha Green was overturned on a technicality. 

DeLee was subsequently released from prison, and the case in now back in the NY Court of Appeals after the Onandaga County District Attorney asked the appeals court to review the case.  

After the conviction was overturned, the Onondaga County District Attorney asked the court of appeals to review the case. - See more at: http://centralny.twcnews.com/content/news/central_new_york/708214/dwight-delee-s-overturned-case-to-be-reviewed/#sthash.BPfsSg8V.dpuf

On October 15, the NY Court of Appeals will hold a hearing to decide if the conviction in this case will be reinstated and DeLee can go back to serving that 25 year sentence he got for killing Green back in 2008.

Should have been longer, but it is what it is..

While we're waiting along with Lateisha's family for justice to be served again, here's a petition for you to sign if you wish calling for the reinstatement of DeLee's conviction.

The message needs to be sent that killing a trans woman comes with a cost to the perpetrtors of these heinous acts and that our lives are valuable.

2014 FIBA Women's World Championship Watch-On To The Finals!

It was Semifinal Saturday in Istanbul earlier today as the four surviving teams in the 2014 FIBA World Championship For Women tournament faced each other for a spot in tomorrow's finals.

Spain was taking on the host Turks, while the unbeaten Team USA was tangling with their longtime Australian rivals who were also unbeaten despite not having Lauren Jackson on the Opals squad.

In the early semifinal game the European champions broke the hearts of the Turkish faithful dreaming of an appearance in the FIBA final by knocking them off 66-56.

Team USA handled their basketball business against Australia in the other semifinal, sending the Opals to the third place game to face off against Turkey after beating them 82-70.




Tina Charles did the damage this time with 18 points and 9 rebounds to put the USA one win away from repeating as FIBA world champs and qualifying for the Olympic basketball tournament in Rio two years from now. 

Justice For Brittany Kidd-Stergis!

There is good news to report in terms of another one of our fallen transsisters receiving justice.

In my last update on this case back in June,  Delshawn Carroll was arrested and charged with the aggravated  the murder of Stergis while in the Cuyahoga County Jail on drug trafficking charges.

On Friday Carroll was convicted of the December 6, 2013 murder of Stergis as
she sat in her car in a Cleveland westside public housing project.   Carroll tried to deny that he and Stergis had a past association with each other, but that lie was blown up by evidence frond by investigators that placed him inside Stergis' car.

Carroll was also convicted of the drug trafficking charge.  It carries an 18 month sentence that he will serve concurrently with the life sentence he will get for killing Brittany Kidd-Stergis 

Justice has been served and another murderer of our sisters will be rotting in jail for doing so

RIP Aniya Parker

We now know the name of our fallen transsister in Los Angeles.    She is 47 year old Aniya Parker., whose friends knew her as Asia. 

 LAPD may not want to call it a hate crime, but when somebody throws a punch at the victim before they shoot them, and leaves the purse behind, it doesn't take a Cal Tech degree to suspect this is a hate crime

She is the eight transperson to die this year in the United States and the second in the Los Angeles area since June.  And  fitting the pattern of all the previous trans murders in the United States in 2014, she is a trans woman of color.

A candlelight vigil was held last night at the Melrose and N. Kenmore Ave corner where she was fatally shot.

The LAPD are still looking for the 2-4 Latino men suspected of being perpetrators of this crime. If you have any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of these wastes of DNA, you can call them at 1-877-527-3247.

To all the folks  who knew and loved Ariya, we are just as upset and outraged about the untimely  loss of another one of our sisters, and hope justice happens expeditiously in this unfolding case.

And if you have a photo of her, please send it to me.

2014 FIBA Women's World Championship Watch-On To The Semis

The quarterfinal action took place in the 2014 FIBA World Championship For Women yesterday with Spain taking on a China team that upset Belarus 72-67 and the host Turks taking on Serbia in the upper half of the bracket. 

In the lower half of it Australia took on Canada while the defending FIBA champion USA got a 2012 Olympic finals rematch with France.

France came into this game with a semblance of confidence after handing Team USA their first loss in an international basketball game since 2011.   France beat Team USA 76-72 in a September 21 prep game before the tournament started.

Spain beat China 71-55 to punch their ticket to today's semifinals and they will face Turkey after their narrow 62-61 win over Serbia. 

Turkey had to overcome a 10 point fourth quarter deficit in order to send the home country fans home happy as they punched their ticket  to the semifinals.

Australia beat Canada 63-52 to remain unbeaten in this FIBA World Championship tourney.  Their reward is facing their longtime b-ball rivals Team USA, who got payback for the friendly game loss pinned on them by France.  




France upset them in Paris back on September 21 as Team USA was sorting out the final spots on their FIBA championship squad and was missing Brittney Griner. 

This time Team USA shattered and splattered France's pipe dream of a semifinal matchup.  Team USA raced to a 29-14 first quarter lead they never relinquished thanks to 92% shooting, and sprinted to a 20 point halftime lead.   The 94-72 win secured their spot in the semis against the Opals. 
Brittney Griner led all USA scorers with 17 points

Once again we have a clash between unbeaten USA and Australia squads for the right to move on to the title game.  Should be fun to watch.
  

HERO Updates, Notes and News-October 3

Was using the computers at the Houston Public Library location downtown when I received another reminder of why the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance needs to implemented without further delay.

I was just one spot away from two other people using some HPL computers when a  twentysomething Black man made a comment to the gentleman sitting next to him after he was visited by some openly gay people that 'he hated gays' and 'you need to keep your f****t azz away from me'.

Of  course the Black gay man was offended , and asked the homophobe if he wanted to take it outside and find out just how much of a man he was.

After listening to this for about five minutes, I finally shifted to Maya Wilkes mode and was moved to speak when he made the crack that 'Black people shouldn't be homosexuals' .

Interestingly enough I'm wearing my purple Task Force Houston Host Committee t-shirt today, and I called his azz out after he said, 'God didn't create gay people' and "I don't understand why people are homosexuals'

I said to him, 'God did create gay people, and I'm sick and tired of hearing that bigotry wrapped in prayer.'

He then shot back, 'What makes you think I'm a Christian?' to which I replied, "Too many people that call themselves Christian are spouting that right wing anti-gay hate speech, and I'm tired of it."

I then ended my soliloquy with "I don't understand why people are homophobes' and shut his behind down before I went back to handling my writing business.   

The gay Black man eventually took his problem with the homophobe in question to security . 

The sistah security guard warned the homophobe that if she had one more complaint about him, out the library he was going.

After she left, he mutters some more anti- gay remarks and 'effing f*****s before he gets up from the computer and storms off.

Note to you HERO haters: A library is a public accommodation.  Since we have far too many people in the Houston area like you wanting to do more than just vocally express your anti-LGBT attitudes and discriminate against folks, that's why gender identity and sexual orientation are included in the 15 protected classes in the HERO that awaits the rapidly approaching January 19 court hearing.

And yes, as today proved, it's an ordinance that is sorely needed,
  
 

Shut Up Fool Awards-Countdown To Election Day Edition

It's the first Friday in October, and that means the clock is rapidly ticking toward October 20 and the opening day of early voting in Texas for this critical election 

I'm damned sure planning to be there bright and early to handle my civic business, and hope you are planning to do the same thing

Speaking of handling business, time to get to handling our usual Friday business of calling out all the fool, fools or group of fools who so richly deserve it.

It's this Friday's edition of the Shut Up Fool Awards.

Honorable mention number one is the NFL.  Once again they stumbled into another PR issue when a Muslim NFL player was flagged for 'excessive celebration'  when he bowed in prayer after a pick six  interception return in Monday's 41-14 demolition of the New England Patriots by Kansas City.  

After having to watch an endless parade of Tim Tebow celebrations and his and other Christian NFL players ad nauseum proselytizing, why y'all have a problem with a Muslim player doing what y'all have done for a decade or more?   15 yard flag on the play for hypocrisy

Honorable mention number two goes to the Minnesota Star Tribune for printing a full page transbaiting ad from a fearmongering anti-trans org in the run up to a decision that would approve a trans human rights policy for Minnesota students.  .

Honorable mention number three is Bruce Braley, whose comment slamming Chuck Grassley may flip the Iowa senate race and possibly imperil the Dems chances of holding the US Senate 

Video has surfaced of Braley calling Grassley (R) at a fundraiser a few months ago “a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school.”   Not a smart thing to say when your state's major business is farming and many of the voters there are survey says, farmers..

Honorable mention number four is the New York Post for its disgusting heading heralding the birth of Chelsea Clinton's first child as 'another liberal crybaby'

When will you media conservafools grow up?  Or are you in a perpetual state of cognitively impaired adolescence?    But then again, what else is new for a Rupert Murdoch owned newspaper?

Honorable mention number five to Jessica Duggar for blaming the Holocaust on the theory of evolution.   Maybe you need to dye your hair blonde and audition to become a Fox Noise fembot.
You've definitely demonstrated through your recent actions and statements you're intellectually challenged enough to be one.

id you not learned your lesson when you openThis week's Shut Up Fool honoree is former Rep Barney Frank. 

In a recent GAVoice interview, the Purple One  slammed HRC Prez Chad Griffin for his SCC apology to the trans community, then tried to pinkwash his being a trans oppressor by lying saying 'trans people don't have rights because we 'refused to lobby' and 'the votes weren't there' to pass a trans inclusive ENDA.

Interesting that the votes were there in the Senate to pass a trans inclusive ENDA last year.

You need to come clean about that transphobia Barney.   And oh yeah, Shut up fool!

What's The Latest News About Canada's C-279?

Like my Canadian trans cousins, I've been keeping track of what is happening with C-279, the trans human rights bill that passed the Canadian House of Commons last year but has been stonewalled in the Conservative controlled Senate.

And the Conservative Party needs to be called out on it.

When I last checked the Senate website, it passed Second Reading on June 6 and was referred to committee before the Senate went on their summer break.

It is now awaiting action in the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, which is no longer chaired by Liberal Sen. Mobina Jaffer, but Conservative Sen. Bob Runciman.

We'll see if the bill gets the fair hearing it did when Sen. Jaffer chaired the committee, much less gets out of committee and back to the Senate floor for third reading, passage and royal assent to become Canadian law

The world is watching Canadian senate.  Do the right thing, not the right wing thing.

We've Lost Another Transsister

This time in Los Angeles.

Reports are coming from the area that a fortysomething trans woman was fatally shot in the head early this morning after an attempted robbery in East Hollywood.  

She was discovered about 2:30 AM PDT by LAPD officers responding to a report of shots fired in the 600 block of North Kenmore Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The woman was taken to the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 5 AM PDT, an LAPD police spokesperson said.

The unknown for now trans woman will unfortunately become the eighth transperson murdered this year in the United States.  She will also become the second transwoman in the LA metro area murdered since Zoraida Reyes was found dead back in June. 

I'm trying to get more information about our lost trans sister from local and other sources, and as soon as I have it, I'll post further updates to this story. 

But we'll have to recite another name at next month's TDOR, and this month';s just getting started. 

TransGriot Update: LAPD has finally released the name of our gone too soon sister, and she is 47 year old Aniya Parker

Thanks OutSmart Readers For The Dual Wins!

As I've said more than a few times on the blog, in numerous panel discussions and speeches, I don't do the activism I do for awards.   But it sure is nice when the work you put into advancing the human rights of yourself and others gets recognized by the people you are fighting for.

OutSmart Magazine is a monthly LGBT themed publication here in Houston.  It does an annual Readers Choice Award, and in the 2014 edition I was shocked to discover that I was nominated in three categories.  

Even better, I won in two of them.

Considering the lousy, unnecessary drama filled second half of September I've had, it was much needed positive news.

I was nominated along with Kristen Capps and winner Christina Gorczynski in the Most Prominent LGBT Female Activist category.   I was also nominated for the Favorite Blogger female and Favorite Tweeter female categories which I won.

I'm humbled by the support of my local community, and thank you OutSmart readers and everyone who voted for me for the dual wins.   It's deeply appreciated. 

Congratulations also goes out to all the nominees and winners in this year's 2014 Gayest and Greatest poll.

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Week 5

Aww yeah, had a great Week 4 picking games and for a minute it was looking possible I was finally going to get my elusive perfect week.

Then the NFL afternoon and evening games, Tampa Bay's upset of the Steelers and the Chiefs hammering the Patriots Monday night happened.

I still ended up with a respectable 8-5 record to win the week while Eli and Mike had a rough Week 3.

Now comes the week that every Texans fan has waited for since they announced the 2014 schedule back in April.  It's a regular season match up at Jerryworld with the hated Dallas Cowboys.

One of the highlights of the Texans inaugural season in 2002 was that 19-10 opening win at Reliant over the hated Cowchips.   Unfortunately the last two matchups in 2006 and 2010 went their way.

But this time the Cowchips will have to deal with Justin James Watt and the Texans defense.   Hopefully Good Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Texans rushing attack atones for their sorry performance against the Bills this Sunday.  

We will find out who emerges victorious in the Governor's Cup Battle on Sunday, but time to get to the Week 5 NFL picks.  There are only 15 games to pick this week because Miami and Oakland went across The Pond to play and are getting their bye week.

Dennis Allen is spending it cleaning out his office and looking for a new job after the Raiders fired him yesterday.

As usual, my picks will be in underlined bold print.  Mike and Eli's will be here.

Week 4 Results

TransGriot    8-5
Eli                 6-7
Mike             7-6

2014 NFL Season Record

TransGriot     37-24
Eli                  34-27
Mike              35-26



NFL Week 5 Picks

Thursday Night Game
Green Bay over Minnesota

Sunday Early Games
Detroit over Buffalo
Indianapolis over Baltimore
Cleveland over Tennessee
Chicago over Carolina
Houston over Dallas
Pittsburgh over Jacksonville
New Orleans over Tampa Bay
NY Giants over Atlanta
Philadelphia over St. Louis

Sunday Afternoon Games
Denver over Arizona
San Francisco over Kansas City
San Diego over NY Jets

Sunday Night Game
New England over Cincinnati

Monday Night Game
Seattle over Washington

GenderProud ID Video

Identification documents that matches who we are as people is vital to us navigating the world with as little drama as possible.

ID that matches our gender presentations is a human right and transpeople shouldn't have to go through bureaucratic hoops and surgical or medical intervention to get it.   ID that matches our gender presentation is also needed so that we can avoid being outed and greasing the skids for anti-trans attitudes and discrimination.

This GenderProud video makes some valid points as to why ID that matches our outward presentation of our deeply held internal gender identities is a human rights issue.

Trans and Gay Panic Legal Defenses Banned In California

The good human rights news just keeps on coming. 

The California Assembly passed on a 50-10 vote in August the AB 2501 bill authored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla that bans the use of trans and gay panic defenses in California criminal courts.  

Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed the bill into law, and it makes California the first state to ban the odious trans and gay panic defenses.

There is absolutely no justification for the use of ‘panic defenses,’" Assemblywoman Bonilla said in a statement. "Clearly this tactic has been utilized by defendants, unjustly targeting members of the LGBT community, based on damaging stereotypes. With AB 2501, we are moving forward to ensure equality in our courts and making it very clear that discrimination against the LGBT community is intolerable and unacceptable.”

Here's hoping that other states follow California's lead and pass similar legislation.

Texas Governor's Debate: Round Two

This second debate between Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott last night in Dallas got a little more contentious than the first debate in the Valley.  

Many statewide media pundits in the post debate aftermath consider Wendy to have won this one, and I concur with that assessment. 

To be honest, They really needed to do one in a town hall format, but Abbott didn't want that for obvious reasons.

For those of you who didn't get to see it live last night or who didn't see the livestream of it, as a TransGriot public service, your favorite blogger will make it easy for you to check it out.

NFL Flags Muslim Player For Prayer

The NFL used to be the most PR savvy professional sports league in the country.  

But lately it has been buffeted by multiple scandals and kerfluffles, while seeming to be hellbent on liking up to the sarcastic nickname of the 'No Fun League'  

I enjoyed watching the New England Patriots get their butts kicked by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.  I enjoyed watching this 39 yard pick six by Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah that helped propel the Chiefs to their 41-14 win over the Patriots. 

What has people pissed off is that after the pick six, Abdullah prayed in the end zone for a moment and was flagged for a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct for 'excessive celebration'.

Okay, I have a problem with that after having to watch Tim Tebow multiple times and a long line of Christian NFL athletes proselytize their faith after scoring TD's. 

Abdullah is a devout Muslim who skipped the 2012 season so that he could take part in the Hajj to Mecca with his brother Hamza Abdullah, who played in the NFL for several seasons.   Both wanted to take part in the Hajj while they had the means to do so.   Hamza Abdullah has yet to be picked up by an NFL team since making that journey, while Husain is now in his second season with the Chiefs after playing for the Minnesota Vikings from 2008-11.  

Abdullah also practices the traditional fast that happens during Ramadan even though it falls during training camp.

The problematic penalty flag also drew the attention of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.  The organization issued a statement early Tuesday asking that the NFL take steps in response to the growing backlash citing the problematic nature of the penalty.

"To prevent the appearance of a double standard, we urge league officials to clarify the policy on prayer and recognize that the official made a mistake in this case," said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.

The NFL to their credit, acknowledged that Abdullah and the Chiefs shouldn't have been penalized   Even Abdullah noted that it was probably the end zone slide before the prayer that drew the flag. 

"I'm pretty sure he understands who I am, what my faith is," he said in a ESPN interview. "And again, I think the prostration is all right. It's the slide. Come to a full stop, get down, make the prostration, get up and get out."