Thai Modeling Agency Starts Trans Division

The long stylish line of trans models gets an assist in extending its legacy for another generation from Thailand.

With an ever increasing list of trans models coming out like Andreja Pejic, Ines Rau and Geena Rocero,  others are getting steady work including our sis Isis King,

LeaT brpke new ground by signing a deal to become the face of the global beauty brand Redken, while Rau became the first trans woman since 1991 to pose for Playboy.

The Bangkok based  Apple Modeling Agency, one of the leading and largest agencies in Thailand, announced on November 11 they were launching a transgender model division that already has 18 girls on its books.

Director of the Apple Agency Siwaporn Hotarapawanond stated the agency has three physical types of trans models.  "First is the transgender model who is all natural.   Second, the transgender model who has had breast surgery only.   Third, the transgender who had complete surgery." 

Here's an interview drag queen Pangina Heals conducted with ten of the Apple trans division models as they participated in a photo shoot for Thai based Lips Magazine.

This seems to be the tipping point moment when trans feminine women in photo shoots or ripping the runways is not seen as a exotic element, but a fact of life in the fashion world. 

'We have three physical types of transgender models,' said Siwaporn Hotarapawanond, director of the agency.
'First, the transgender woman who is all natural. Second, the transgender who had breast surgery only. Third, the transgender who underwent the complete surgery.'
Transgender models are fast becoming a
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/thailand-launches-worlds-first-transgender-modeling-agency141114#sthash.dB5swmax.dpuf

Chic Is About To Get Susan Luccied Again

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland has put out an online fan ballot of its 2015 nominees that you can vote on. 

Top 5 from the fan ballot will be added to the ballot of electors that will determine who makes it into the 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Class.

Once again one of my fave bands Chic is one of the nominees, along with Bill Withers, the Marvelettes, NWA, the Spinners, War,  Sting, Kraftwerk, Green Day, Lou Reed, Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

But despite being nominated in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and now 2014. it looks like Chic is on their way to getting Susan Luccied again.  

In the fan voting Bill Withers and War are just out of the Top 5 in 6th and 7th place with Chic down in 11th place out of the 14 nominees on the fan ballot.  

We'll see if that changes in the next few weeks or the Hall of Fame electors finally wake up and give Chic their long deserved spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And Now There Are Eleven- RIP GIzzy Fowler

And with  the November 20 TDOR date looming, it is my sad duty to inform you that  we've lost another transsister to anti-trans violence.

This time we go to Nashville, TN and its north side Bordeaux neighborhood for the latest sister we will be memorializing on November 20.   Her name was Gizzy Fowler, and the 24 year was found shot to death in a private driveway at 3904 Lunn Drive.

Fowler's body was lying next to the open door of her car, a white 2006 Buick LaCrosse on November 12.  Neighbors reported to Nashville PD hearing a gunshot around 4 or 5 AM CST, and were prompted to call the police because the homeowner had recently passed away due to natural causes..

Fowler is now the  eleventh trans woman of color since June to be murdered in the US, with the most recent one being Ashley Sherman in Indianapolis.    And as you probably guessed, the Nashville media did a piss poor job in initially covering the story.

Anyone with information concerning this killing has been asked to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME, or through an electronic tip by texting the word “CASH” along with the message to 274637 (CRIMES) or online at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com

Rest in Peace Gizzy!   Know that your trans brothers and trans sisters, and all who loved you will not rest until the person who committed this crime is captured and swiftly brought to justice.

Trans*H4CK Boston Happening Now!

While some of us are gathered in Dallas for the Facing Race Conference, at this moment there are teams of people in Boston busily working at the Harvard Innovation Lab attempting to create apps and programs to solve real world trans social justice problems.

It's Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler's latest edition of Trans*H4CK, his innovate melding of technology and social justice into an hacking event.

I had the pleasure of witnessing the first wildly successful one in Oakland, and there was another one held in conjunction the the Trans 100 unveiling in Chicago earlier this year.    Now Dr. Z has brought it to Beantown and the Harvard Innovation Lab, and you can follow what's happening at the #Transh4ck  hashtag.

My sisters Angelica Ross,  Lourdes Hunter and Allyson Robinson are also in the Trans*H4CK Boston house as well.

You can bet that today's tech panel discussion will be an informative and enlightening one, and it will be  interesting to see what apps come out of this edition of the tech social justice event.

And can't wait to find out what locale Trans*H4CK hits next.

Back Home Again From Dallas And The Facing Race 14 Conference

Wish I had been able to stay for the final day of seminars for the Facing Race Conference, but had to fly back home from Dallas last night.

During the a little over 24 hours I was in the Hilton Anatole Hotel for this event I got to have fun being one of the emcees for the opening plenary with Jeff Chang. 

And you know if I was missing Scandal to have my face in the place for this opening plenary session, I felt it was important for me to be there repping H-town and my trans community

I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Rinku Sen, Rosana Cruz, Paris Hatcher and some of the wonderful people keeping this conference running smoothly.

I got to see old friends like Nephew AKA Jaison Gardner, Key Jackson, Bishop Tonyia Rawls, Holiday Simmons, Samantha Master, Carla Wallace, Dru Levasseur and Parker T. Hurley. 

I got a chance to step away from the hotel for a moment and have lunch with Rafael McDonnell as we got caught up on developments on our respective ends of I-45.

I got to meet people in the flesh I've known for a while online like Isa Noyola and Sister Outsider and have substantive conversations with them.

I especially enjoyed meeting our young people and having those intergenerational conversations that are not only important to passing on the history and knowledge, but keeping a movement vibrant and alive.

It was also nice to see my trans fam that were involved in this event handling their panels business.  They expressed they were just as happy to see me on the opening plenary stage Thursday night.

And yes, it was my pleasure to have those conversations with every person that stopped me in the hallways of that cavernous hotel   I enjoyed talking with you, taking photos and sometimes being the one holding the camera taking photos of you. 

Thank you for expressing how much you loved my blog and my first time ever stint at a major conference as a master of ceremonies.  I suspect it won't be my last time doing so either.

What I would have loved to be able to do is to have been able to stay for today's seminars. 

There were some great ones and panels on the schedule at the Hilton Anatole with some renowned people in the progressive movement I would have loved to have had my fangirl moments with today like Van Jones and Victoria Rowell.

Oh well, it'll have to wait until the next time I either attend this conference or I bump into them while I'm attending another one somewhere around the country.   

Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to see a future Facing Race Conference come back to Texas, but on my end of I-45 in Houston 

Shut Up Fool Awards- Moni's In Dallas Again Edition

I was last here in Dallas for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference that happened the weekend of my birthday, and now I'm back in Dallas County for the Facing Race Conference that started last night and kicked off the seminar portion of it  today and tomorrow. 

You can check out the tweets at ‪#‎FacingRace14‬ Race Forward
or the Facing Race Livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/racialjustice

I enjoyed the plenary, and I got to do two things on this trip to Dallas I'd never done before.  One was fly into Love Field, and the other was emcee a conference event.

I had a blast co-hosting with Jeff Chang last night, and I've enjoyed the seminars I have been able to attend so far before I have to head back to my end of I-45 later tonight..

But this Friday, and y'all know what happens today.    I get to call out all the assorted fool, fools and groups of fools who are competing for this week's Shut Up Fool Award.  


Honorable Mention number one goes to PRIDE Houston. They were warned back in October by Black LGBT Houstonians and our allies about a problematic scheduling conflict.with the 2015 parade being held on Juneteenth and asked to quietly move it.   They blew it off and found themselves in the middle of a PR nightmare they were warned would happen if they didn't change the date back to the traditional last weekend in June. 

At last night's PRIDE community meeting they changed it back to June 27, but only after getting called out at another contentious PRIDE community meeting and enduring a lot of negative publicity while doing so.

Honorable mention number two is Deion Sanders.  While discussing Michael Sam he recently recited the tired line that Sam 'chose to be gay' and added 'God Don't make mistakes' to it.

So Deion, tell me the exact date you 'chose to be a straight womanizer?'  As for thesecond part of your statement, you're absolutely right Deion. God didn't make mistakes. That's why trans, bi and SGL people exist.    Some of them are damned good football players. too

Honorable mention number three is a group award for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, MN for the jacked up #pointergate story.

Honorable mention number four goes to the Kentucky Baptist Assn for kicking out Louisville's LGBT friendly Crescent Hill Baptist Church for doing what our faith commands and loving everyone that enters their sanctuary doors.

What next? Is the Kentucky Baptist Assn. going to kick out churches that feed the hungry, visit the sick and shut in and perform interracial marriages, too?

Honorary mention number five goes to Robert R Jennings, the president of HBCU Lincoln Univ, in Pennsylvania who in a recent convocation managed the dual feat of slut shaming and victim blaming the female students in attendance.

This week's Shut Up Fool Award winner is Texas State Senator Donna Campbell (R) , who filed a bill earlier this week that seeks to enshrine the 'right to discriminate into our Texas constitution

Why?   Didn't you learn when this same bill failed in the 2013 session and from what happened in Arizona? 

Don't you realize that it will be a job and convention business killer, and the right to discriminate can be turned back around on people like you?

Sen Donna Campbell, shut up fool..

Moni's In The Facing Race 14 House!

After handling my emcee hosting duties and having a late night trying to decide what fool gets the blog's Shut Up Fool award, it's time to get into the Facing Race conference and see some of the seminars before I have to leave for a slightly warmer Houston.

Yep, when I arrived in Dallas yesterday at Love Field it was a sunny33 degrees.

The sun is taking a vacation today.  Figures it would do that the first time this event is hosted in Texas.

And yep, this is my first one, so I definitely want to see  and hear what peeps are talking about at a conference dedicated to one of my favorite subjects in terms of eradicating racism from this planet for future generations.

You also gotta love a conference that renamed the ballroom at the Hilton Anatole Hotel the 'Anti-Imperial Ballroom. 

And I'm still getting kudos from last night's emcee performance.   Believe it or not that was the first time I've ever been asked to do it for a major conference, even though I've been hosting or emceeing events since I was 10. 

You can follow the #FacingRace14  hashtag to check out what people are talking about, texting and tweeting to each other and the world.   There's also a YouTube channel that they will be livecasting various events on like last night's plenary.and today's 3:30 PM CST.keynote speech from Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon and her daughters Toshi and Tashawn

They are three generations of artists and activists who have an interesting intergenerational story to tell

Okay, enough writing.   Time for me to get my learn on before I have to go...

PRIDE Houston Moves Date Back To June 27

PRIDE Houston after a contentious public meeting at the Montrose Center last night corrected their mistake and moved the 2015 Pride Parade back to its traditional last weekend in June date.

Now was that so hard?   It wouldn't have been if you'd listened to the Black LGBT community and our allies when we first told you about the problematic date conflict to begin with. instead of blowing us off. 

You could have saved yourselves the negative publicity, another contentious public PRIDE meeting, and unnecessary drama.  

But thank you for FINALLY doing the right thing and moving the parade date back to the last weekend in June where it belongs.    They also announced the formation of a Cultural Committee.

Great first steps to undo the unnecessary drama started by the initial decision, but satisfying to many people including those of us who warned about the Juneteenth scheduling conflict in the first place..

We'll be watching to make sure PRIDE Houston follows through on what you told that packed meeting room you'd do.

Deeds will be far more important than words from now on.

PRIDE Houston Juneteenth Parade Conflict Update 3

Even though I'm in Dallas for the Facing Race Conference, the fight continues on my end of I-45 to get the PRIDE Houston board to see the error of their ways and change the date of the parade back to June 27.

Looks like since the heat has been turned up on them by other peeps with clout.  Seems they are less obstinate and dismissive about things than they previously were and are now willing to discuss the issue.  

Well, that what we presumed we were doing back on October 22.   But actions speak louder than your weasel words.

In our latest update on this hot mess, the original post I wrote sounding the alarm about the jacked up decision not only has gone viral, it's now picking up national LGBT blog attention.

It also got the attention of KCOH-AM, one of the local African-American radio stations this morning and their talk show hosts. As we feared, the verdict from my community about this parade conflict has been 'this was deliberate' along with other conspiracy theories.

Sunday sermons from the hate ministers claiming 'the gays are trying to hijack Juneteenth' in 5...4..3..2...1.

A Change.org petition has been created asking PRIDE Houston to once again, do the right thing and move the parade from June 20 to the tradition last Saturday in June date closest to the Stonewall rebellion date of June 28, 1969.   Here's the link to it if you wish to add your John and Jane Hancocks to it.

The PRIDE community meeting is also taking place tonight at the Montrose Center starting at 7 PM.   So come on down to 401 Branard St and let your voices be heard on this issue.

Will keep y;'all posted.

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks Week 11

I rebounded rather nicely in Week 10 with my NFL picks after that disastrous sub-.500 week we'll see if it costs me my chance at  the 2014 NFL Prognostication Title. 

I went a stellar 10-3 to tie for weekly honors.  Unfortunately so did Mike, so I failed to make a dent in his now six game lead on me.   But I did pick up a game on Eli, who went 9-4.


Mike wants a solo title after being denied by me and Eli for the last two years despite going on monster down the stretch finishing kicks.   Mike is going to have to choke down the stretch for me and Eli to have a chance to catch him/

Speaking of rebounds, that's what my fave NFL team is seeking to do after finally benching Ryan Fitzpatrick and giving the starting job to Ryan Mallett after falling to 4-5 after starting the season 3-1..


I and many other peeps in H-town think Case Keenum should still be here, or the Texans should have drafted Teddy Bridgewater,  but that's another point of contention for all of us armchair general managers to debate later.

Is Mallett the answer at QB for the Texans despite only throwing four regular season passes as he backed up Tom Brady in New England, or are the Texans right back where they started at quarterback when they said goodbye to Matt Schaub?

Starting this Sunday, we Texans fans will find out the answer to that question. 

But time to handle my NFL prognostication business for Week 11.  We have 14 games to pick with the Ravens, Cowboys, Jaguars and NY Jets on their bye week after consecutive weeks with only 13 games on the schedule.

Week 10 Results

TransGriot  10-3
Eli                 9-4
Mike           10-3

2014 NFL Season Record

TransGriot     93-53-1
Eli                  94-52-1
Mike              99-47-1



NFL Week 11

Thursday Night Game
Miami over Buffalo

Sunday Early Games
Chicago over Minnesota
Cleveland over Houston
Carolina over Atlanta
New Orleans over Cincinnati
Washington over Tampa Bay
Denver over St Louis
San Francisco over NY Giants
Seattle over Kansas City

Sunday Afternoon Games
San Diego over Oakland
Arizona over Detroit
Green Bay over Philadelphia

Sunday Night Game
New England over Indianapolis

Monday Night Game
Pittsburgh over Tennessee

Leaving On A Jet Plane-To Dallas

With all the drama swirling around the logic defying PRIDE Houston board decision not to move their parade back to the traditional last week in June, it figures this would break just as I have to go to Dallas for the Facing Race conference that starts today and runs through the 15th.

It's the first time it is happening in Texas, and I'm happy to be representing my hometown as I wing my way up there for the short fight up and back to Love Field.  

It's also ironic this is the first time I will ever fly into Love Field, where my late grandfather Leo worked until he was transferred to Houston.   I've flown into DFW,  and driven by Love Field in my numerous visits to Dallas, but until today haven't flown into the airport.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the folks attending that conference, and you can follow the action at the hashtag #FacingRace14

TDOR 2014- Who We're Remembering

As noted from time to time as you've perused these electronic pages, I have also covered the deaths of our fallen sisters as they have happened.  

The date is rapidly approaching in which we pause to remember all the trans women around the world we have lost to anti-trans violence from November 21, 2013 to November 20 of this year. 

Let us continue to work for and pray for a  time in which trans human rights will be an unchallenged reality and a time in which the Transgender Day of Remembrance events are no longer necessary.   But until that day comes, let us remember our sisters who were killed because someone hated them enough to do so. 

May the people who committed these heinous crimes be swiftly captured and brought to justice. May the grieving families and loved ones of the departed see justice happen sooner and not later.

And now, the 2014 TDOR memorial list.

PRIDE Houston Juneteenth Parade Conflict Update 2

This screenshotted comment from PRIDE Houston board member Jason Gallegos is a sterling example of the cluelessness, arrogance and vanillascented privileged hubris we are trying to reason with in terms of getting them to see the error of their ways and change the 2015 Houston Pride Parade date back to the traditional last weekend in June.

PRIDE Houston, just in case you didn't get the memo, African American LBGT people exist. ‪#‎WeExist‬

The question that is on many people's minds in LGBT Houston and beyond is that Stonewall is on June 28. Why move the pride parade date, which celebrates that event from the last weekend in June?

You claim you didn't want a conflict with the 4th of July weekend, but have no problem causing a conflict with another holiday in Juneteenth.   Unless your intent was to stick the middle finger to the Houston African-American community in retaliation for all the vitriol aimed at the Houston LGBT community from some misguided kneegrow pastors.

But it's a stunt that puts the African-American SGL, trans and bi community in the middle of drama we didn't ask for, but will unfortunately have to clean up.

I've been asked who were the community members that tried to get the PRIDE Houston board to see the big picture ramification of this move at that October 22 meeting.   The LGBT community members and allies in that meeting were Ashton Woods, Synthia Walton, Marshella Abrams, Michael Webb Jr, Christina Gorczynski, Melanie Espinosa Pang, Fran Watson, Kim Watson and Ryan Leach.

So much for Frankie Quijano's' lie he's been  pimping.that the people requesting the change were 'unaffiliated with any group'.

You assumed they were unaffiliated with any group, and you know what they say about when you assume.

I've also been asked about the letter that Quijano sent to the community reps trying to get PRIDE Houston to see they had a problem that needed decisive action to solve.  Here it is:

***

November 11, 2014

Re: Request to move the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration

To Whom It May Concern:
The Board of Directors for Pride Houston® have discussed in length the recent request to move the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration® from Saturday, June 20, 2015 to the following week on Saturday, June 27, 2015 by a group of local individuals that are unassociated with any one (1) local group.

With a 6-2 vote the Board of Directors have decided to continue with the current date of Saturday, June 20, 2015 for the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration.

There have been previous instances where the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration has fallen on the third weekend in June around the 20th of the month and similar requests were not made during those instances. Furthermore, a substantial amount has already been invested into the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration for its current date that would un-recoupable which can be crucial for any non-profit organization.

As was recently confirmed by the Mayor’s office of Special events, currently on June 20, 2015 the only parade listed is set to begin at 10:00 AM CST and end around 11:00 AM CST. With the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration beginning its parade beginning at 8:30 PM CST it would show minimal impact on that parade. Pride Houston is willing to work with any organization that could be producing a parade on the same date so that both can be equally marketed and supported by the Houston community.

Pride Houston also hosts public production meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month where our volunteers discuss logistics, its events and of course the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration. This has been an ongoing tradition for over 15 years and would be an excellent opportunity for those not associated with the organization to observe, provide external insight, brainstorm new ideas and even volunteer for the organization. For more information on these meetings please email volunteer@pridehouston.org.

Sincerely,
Frankie Quijano President and Chief Executive Officer Pride Houston, Inc.
fquijano@pridehouston.org

***

Can you say, dissed and dismissed?   Thought you could.  Because that was the way this tone deaf letter was received.   It also turned out Quijano was mistaken when he claimed thee were other occasions that the Pride parade was held on Juneteenth weekend, and reviewing the history of past Pride parades going back to 1994 shows ZERO dates that the parade was Held on June 18, 19, 20, or 21.

One thing we predicted that has sadly come true is that this was going to cause drama if they didn't make the right decision, and unfortunately only two people on that eight member board had the vision enough to vote to do the right thing

Later tonight at the Montrose Center the PRIDE Houston perspective meeting will take place at 7 PM   Let the board members who aren't 'scurred' to show up know that it isn't okay to dismiss folks when they bring you information you may not want to hear but it will save you drama if you heed it.

And if you think the Houston Black SGL, trans and bi community and our allies are upset about the disrespecting of Juneteenth, wait until the rest of the African-American progressive coalition and those sellout ministers start talking.

PRIDE Houston Juneteenth Parade Conflict Update

Just an update to the boneheaded vanillacentric privileged PRIDE Houston decision to not move it from conflicting with the Juneteenth parade on the same June 20, 2015 day.  

This is after having it pointed put to them by Houston Black LGBT leaders and our allies that the date is problematic and could put the HERO in jeopardy if they don't wake up and see the big political picture aspects of this.

It has also put the Houston African-American SGL, trans and bi community once again in the uncomfortable position of having to not only choose between the events, but choose which community they intersect and interact with to support.

And on this one, we're going to choose our people.

First up, PRIDE Houston President and CEO Frankie Quijano misspoke lied about the pride parade being held on Juneteenth (June 19) in the past.   Here are the June dates of past Houston pride parades going back to 1994:

2014: 28
2013: 29
2012: 23
2011: 25
2010: 26
2009: 27
2008: 28
2007: 23
2006: 24
2005: 25
2004: 26
2003: 28
2002: 29
2001: 24
2000: 24
1999: 26
1998: 28
1997: 28
1996: 23
1995: 25, a Sunday
1994: 12, a Sunday, held on that date to not conflict with NYC's Stonewall 25 anniversary at the suggestion of legendary Houston gay activist Ray Hill.

So as you can see, the Houston Pride Parade has since 1994 NOT been held anywhere close to the June 19 date of Juneteenth.    Why now?   Is it simply cultural incompetence?   Or was it a deep seated need from the predominately white PRIDE Houston board to get back at the Black community for all the drama and animus stirred up in the HERO battle?

The news is spreading fast since I posted it at midnight.  Edward Pollard, the president of the Houston Black Area Democrats (HBAD) penned this letter to Frankie Quijano:

***
Mr. Quijano,
My name is Edward Pollard and I am the President of the Houston Black American Democrats. I am also an attorney and member of the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church downtown (oldest black church in Houston built by the newly freed slaves in 1866).I am writing you because I have received news that PRIDE Houston has decided to change the date and location of the PRIDE Parade to Juneteenth weekend downtown. I am not sure if you are aware of the significance of Juneteenth Holiday/Weekend in Houston but it is arguably the most highly recognized and celebrated weekend for Blacks, especially in Houston.
Juneteenth is the weekend Texans remember and celebrate the abolishment and emancipation of black slaves in our state. The holiday is celebrated because although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln in 1862 and went into effect on January 1, 1863, slaves in Texas did not get news of their freedom until June of 1865.
Leaders in Houston have fought for Juneteenth to be a recognized and celebrated holiday in Texas and our community deserves for that celebration not to have to compete with the attention and coverage of the PRIDE Parade.
The black community understands more than any community what it feels like to be discriminated against. We understand what it means to fight for equality. That is one common bond we share with the LGBT community. Many efforts, sacrifices, and lost lives of our ancestors have afforded the civil rights that you and I have today.
It is my hope that you will not move the PRIDE parade to our historic Juneteenth celebration and respect that it is a weekend we want all people around Texas to reflect on our past and celebrate our present.
I would not be opposed to speaking with you further on this topic in person and I look forward to your response.

***.

I received a call at 1 PM from former Houston City Councilmember Jolanda Jones, who was alerted to the clueless decision of PRIDE Houston.  She is working to ensure that progressive African-American community leaders impress upon Mr. Quijano and his friends what they just set off could imperil the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance if it goes to a repeal vote during next year's city elections.

This is not a simple dispute about a parade date.   This is about cultural respect that sadly, the PRIDE Houston board has demonstrated it lacks.

So let them hear your thoughts at tomorrow's PRIDE Perspective meeting  at the Montrose Center 401 Branard St.    It starts at 7 PM, so let them know your thoughts on this issue.

#CHANGEtheDATE #RESPECTus #RespectJuneteenth

TSU Town Hall Discussion Tomorrow

Tomorrow night the panel jointly sponsored by Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity Inc, Legacy Community Health Services, TSU OUTLaw, and the House of Capri entitled The Misfits: Being Gay And Transgender In The Black Community will happen. 

It will take place starting at 6:30 PM CST at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Moot Court Room #105 and features Rep. Sylvester Turner as a guest speaker followed by a panel discussion of community leaders 

The panel will be a much needed discussion on transphobia and homophobia in the Black community in the wake of HERO passage.   It will also send the much needed message in Houston that trans, bi and SGL people exist and are part of the kente cloth fabric of our community..campus

Address of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law is on the TSU campus, 3100 Cleburne St.   Hope that you will attend this event, learn that #WeExist and   and get your learn on about our community.

PRIDE Houston, What Were You Thinking?

Last month I attended a meeting in which we tried to resolve an issue not of our own making that once again has the Houston Black LGBT community stuck uncomfortably in the middle.

A few weeks ago the Houston pride parade was controversially moved from its longtime location in the Montrose gayborhood to downtown. 

It was controversial because while the now 37 year old  nighttime parade has probably outgrown Montrose's ability to handle the crowds that attend it, the disagreement has been between folks who want to keep that piece of Houston LGBT history there versus the folks who thinks it is past time our diverse city have it downtown.

The PRIDE committee's move of the parade to downtown  without community input pissed a lot of people off in the Houston LGBT community. 

The tone deaf responses of several PRIDE Houston committee members at a contentious October 4 town hall meeting conducted after the move only added to the community pissivity over the move.

One of the other things that was done by PRIDE Houston was the parade date was moved from the traditional last weekend in June that coincides with the historic June 28, 1969 date of the Stonewall Riots, to the third weekend ostensibly so it wouldn't be so close to the 4th of July weekend.

Well, the problem with that date is that it conflicts with Juneteenth, which is a sacred holiday to Black Texans. 

Frankly I'm stunned that white LGBT Texans would NOT know about Juneteenth, the history of it, or the fact that the efforts to make it a state holiday originated here in Houston with former state Rep. Al Edwards spearheading them.  

But then again I shouldn't be surprised anymore about the stunning depths of vanillacentric rainbow flag waving cluelessness to anything that doesn't revolve around them.

A group of Houston Black LGBT leaders and allies with multiple ties to mainstream African American community organizations, sensing the potential political and PR problem with this parade date conflict, asked for a meeting with the PRIDE Houston board.   A meeting was arranged with three PRIDE Houston representatives that took place at the Houston Urban League's downtown headquarters on October 22 in an attempt to reason with them and get them to see why this June 20 date was a terrible idea..  

The Black LGBT leaders and allies compiled the following statement at our Strategic Working Group meeting on October 15 articulating on behalf of the Houston Black LGBT community and our allies why this was a bad idea.

***

As Black LGBT and allied leaders and activists, we strongly and collectively oppose the June 20, 2015 date  of the Houston  LGBT Pride Celebration.  We urge Pride Houston to move the celebration to June 27, 2015.  

Holding the Pride celebration on June 20 is a mistake for several reasons, but the top two reasons are 1) it directly interferes with Juneteenth, the oldest known nationally recognized celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the US and 2) it undermines the meaning of the Pride celebration, which at its core commemorates the Stonewall riots, the catalyst for the LGBT movement we know today. The effect of not moving the June 20th date will be disastrous, as it will erode the relationship built among the LGBT community and communities of color, specifically the Black community.

The erosion of these relationships will be detrimental to the Houston LGBT community with respect to the fight to keep the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Opponents of the ordinance have vilified it since its inception stating in hateful terms that the ordinance is an underhanded means to grant more rights to LGBT persons while denying others. Because leaders from the mainstream black community feel they were not consulted, they were inclined to believe this false rhetoric of the HERO opposition. It took many long nights from LGBT and allied leaders to correct that misinformation. By holding the Pride celebration the same weekend of the Juneteenth celebration, communities of color will likely be inclined again to believe the misinformation, thereby unraveling community trust and HERO support.

Politics aside, maintaining the June 20 date excludes the Black LGBT community.   At the very least, Black LGBT persons are put in a situation where they have to choose whether to celebrate Pride or Juneteenth with the corresponding communities. Far too often, people who live an intersected life must choose which part of their identity fits the occasion. During the Pride celebration, people, including those who live at those intersections, are able to bring their whole selves to the celebration. Why? Because the LGBT community contains all races, abilities, and identities. Moving the date to June 27the maintains the tradition of inclusiveness, something the LGBT community is continuously striving to attain.

Practically speaking, moving the date now will not cause any confusion and doing so quietly will prevent community uprisings.  At this time, the June 27th date is free, which means the process to change it should be simple.. However, not changing the date will definitely cause more problems than necessary.

So again, we urge you to move the Pride celebration back to the last Saturday of June, specifically June 27, 2015.

***

And what was the response of the predominately white PRIDE Houston board?  After the October 22 meeting, their representatives said they wanted to present this to the full PRIDE Houston board, and then we didn't hear anything but radio silence from them for two weeks.

We found out via an e-mail dated yesterday from Frankie Quijano, the President and CEO of PRIDE Houston, the board voted 6-2 to keep the June 20, 2015 parade date.

The Houston Black trans, bi and SGL community and our allies are not happy because we know the traditional last Saturday in June parade date (June 27) is available.  

While Quijano stated in his tone deaf November 11 email that the pride parade was held on other occasions on that date with no request to move it at that time, neither did we have at the time as we do right now the heightened negativity in the Houston African-American community toward the Houston LGBT community in the wake of a passed human rights law stirred up by anti-gay ministers and conservative activists.

They will see this as another slap in the face to the Houston Black community and I predict it will be spun by the haters as an attempt by the gay community to 'hijack Juneteenth'.

With this boneheaded decision, which is a sadly predictable one from an organizational board that is predominately monoracial and insular in its thinking, PRIDE Houston has just unnecessarily set off some drama that will only inflame the homophobic animus elements of the Houston Black community have for the LGBT community.

It is an animus that Dave Welch, the sellout pastors of the Baptist Ministers Assn. of Houston and Vicinity will eagerly pour gasoline on as the Black LGBT community shakes its head and gets out of the middle of the coming public relations nightmare between these two groups.

Meanwhile the Texas Republican Party and conservative movement foot soldiers will be smiling as they observe their plan working to drive a wedge between key members of the Houston liberal progressive coalition in the African-American and LGBT communities.  .

And once we in the Black LGBT community are forced to choose sides in this no-win situation, we will stand with our people.  The reason we will do so will be simple.  You had a chance, PRIDE Houston to defuse this situation.   But instead you dismissed our concerns as fellow LGBT community members and by extension dissed the  African-American community by not listening to and heeding what we had to say as Houston Black LGBT leaders better positioned to know the pulse of our community.

And now because of your lack of vision PRIDE Houston, a hot political mess has potentially been created, in the wake of the mayoral subpoena controversy and the hate sermons at Riggleworld that will has a deleterious effect on the entire Houston LGBT community and possibly put the survival of the HERO at risk..

PRIDE Houston, what were you thinking?     Obviously you aren't.

TransGriot Update:  Received another e-mail from a TransGriot reader that calls into serious question what Quijano said about the Pride Parade being held on or near Juneteenth.   In fact the earliest date the Parade has been held since 1994 was June 12.

Happy Veterans Day 2014

It's November 11 and once again it's time to acknowledge the veterans in our country who are also members of the trans community.

One of the interesting dynamics I've noted in our trans ranks is as Kristin Beck is a concrete example of, the number of trans folks who have served in our nation's military. 

They have served  our nation proudly, but in far too many cases they have had to hide who they are to do so.   And because of DOD regulations that can be eliminated with a pen stroke, trans people are not allowed to enlist.

The veterans I have met in our community have fought in every conflict from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq.

And lets take a moment to remember our trans vets who never came home or lost their lives before they came to that gender epiphany.

Many of those vets took those leadership lessons they learned in the military and translated them to help build our trans rights movement like Phyllis Frye.   Monica Helms and Angela Brightfeather in 2003 founded TAVA, the Transgender American Veterans Assn..  

Even Christine Jorgensen, one of our iconic trans women, was a US Army vet.

And we have trans folks who served who are continuing that tradition by contributing their leadership skills to build our community like Angelica Ross,  Dawn Wilson, Autumn Sandeen, Fallon Fox and Rev. Yeshua Holiday

And if ten nations allow trans people to openly serve, what's wrong with the alleged biggest baddest military on the planet doing so?   As I said back on this date in 2012 and will repeat, 'If it's not acceptable for LGB military personnel to have to hide who they are to serve our nation's military, it damned sure isn't acceptable for transpeople to have to hide to serve in the military either. '

Let's hope that we will see a Veteran's Day happen in which our trans peeps can serve our country.

Laverne Is A 2014 Glamour Woman Of The Year!

This has been one amazing year for Laverne Cox in which she has broken ground for transkind on one level or another.  She was the first transperson to appear on the cover of Time magazine.   She was  the first out transperson to be nominated for an Emmy thanks to her groundbreaking Sophia Burset role on Orange Is The New Black.   She's produced a documentary on the unjust incarceration of CeCe McDonald for defending herself from a transphobic attack.

And now you can add one more first to an amazing list of them for Cox.   The first out trans person to be named a Glamour Woman Of The Year.

Yep, there's a girl like us along with other 2014 winners Chelsea Clinton, Robin Roberts, Lupita Nyong'o, and Mindy Kaling just to name a few of the other honorees

Megacongrats on another trailblazing first, Laverne.  

Dallas Adds TBLG Protections To City Charter!

There was actually some good news out of Texas in the wake of an abysmal night for Team Liberal Progressive.

One the ballot in the City of Dallas was  a proposed addition of a nondiscrimination proposition that would add several classes to its city charter.

Proposition 4 if passed would add in addition to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, color, age, marital status, genetic characteristics, national original, disability, and military or veteran status

Dallas already prohibited discrimination against city employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in its equal employment opportunity policy.

When all 430 precincts reported in, 77% of the city voted to pass Proposition 4.

Congrats Dallas!

Representing Trans* In Chicago And In The Friendly Skies

And to think I almost decided NOT to come while I was in the middle of my drama back in September and October.

I'm so glad I did decided to come to Representing Trans*.

I not only got to hang out with old friends like Tiq, Myles, Jen, Precious and Kristen, I got to meet new ones like Amos, Chase, Ariel and countless others during my weekend trip to the Windy City.

I accomplished my goals of getting reacquainted with Giordano's Pizza and a Slurpee in whatever flavor was available at the first 7-Eleven I encountered.

And I finally got to meet and have conversations with the legendary Kate Bornstein and Vivian Namaste.

Kate and I at one point talked about what is like to go for being the neophyte activists barely mentioned as leaders in the community to respected elder statespersons.

Speaking of conversations, finally got to meet the awesome Fallon Fox and Christina Kahrl.  We spent a wonderful couple of hours at a local restaurant plotting the next phase of the trans revolution that will not be televised along with getting to know each other.We had so much fun doing that  we lost track of time enough to where I missed my non-stop flight back home to Houston despite me doing the Chicago Midway 5K run to gate A19 from the TSA security checkpoint and ended up having to take another one 30 minutes later that went through Birmingham.  

And it was beginning its boarding process in 10 minutes at gate B-20.  

As in Concourse B.   Arrgh.  

On the Birmingham-Hobby leg I even had a nice conversation with a woman on that homeward bound flight.  After revealed to Rita I'd been in Chicago for a trans conference, that sparked a wide ranging conversation between us that lasted all the way back to Hobby 

Despite getting back home a little later than I'd planned, it was a wonderful weekend.   For those of you I didn't catch up with in Chicago this time, you can be assured it won't take me five years to make my next trip there.

And if you want to assure you get quality time with me, do what Ruby Corado-Walker does when I go to DC.   She just grabs me as soon as I step off the plane at DCA.

Yep, even when I'm traveling, there are times as I did with Rita, when I unexpectedly get to shift into trans ambassador mode and do some 'ejumacation' about our lives.

And it's a reminder that we are representing trans not just at conferences,, conventions and symposiums, but just by living our everyday lives to the best of our ability.