CC15-Day 3

It's Day 3 of Creating Change Denver style, and after last night's excitement at the opening plenary, going to be fun to see what happens next.

Today is the first full day of panel discussions and workshops.  I have the Trans Women of Color: The Sisterhood one at 3 PM.   It will be moderated by Cecilia Chung, and will be in Governor's Square 14 for those of you #CC15 attendees who wish to see Moni and her sisters talking about some of the issues that impact trans women of color.

But before I handle that business, I'm headed to the Muslim service at 12:30 PM led by Imam Daayiee Abdullah.  I met Imam Abdullah during the 2012 OUT on the Hill and had some interesting conversations with him about the growing movement in the liberal progressive Islamic ranks to create LGBT affirming mosques.   When I attended the service in Houston, it was beautiful to watch a young woman do the call to prayer and see men and women sitting together as Imam Abdullah  gave his sermon.

Those of us who aren't Muslim as noted by the comments in the previous paragraph are welcome.

And if you need some quiet rooms to relax and unwind from the convention hustle and bustle, grab a snack, or just chill out with some peeps you met at a workshop that you wish to get to know better, check out the #CC15 suites.

The (Hospitality) Suite Life at CC15:
Youth                                                                Plaza 793
Senior                                                               Plaza 712
Disability                                                         Tower 2209
People Of Color                                               Tower 2236
Trans* Intersex Non-binary                             Tower 2212
Bisexual/Omnisexual/Pansexual/Polysexual   Tower 2215

And yes TransGriot readers, the offer for free hugs when you stop me in the Sheraton Denver halls still stands but time is running out on it.  It expires when I leave for Denver International Airport on Sunday.

CC15 Day 2 Recap

This CC15 day started for me with the NBJC Black Institute, and ended at 2 AM cutting up in the Sheraton Denver lobby with my trans brothers and trans sisters.

After the opening remarks from NBJC executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks, we dove right into the first panel of the day

It was entitled From the Grassroots to the National Stage: Movement Building with Intersectional Justice for Black LGBTQ/SGL People.    It was a panel with Mandy Carter, Earl Fowlkes, Geneva Musgrave, Rev. Dr Kenneth Samuel and Chai Jindasurat and myself in a robust discussion of the state of Black LGBTQ?SGL America .moderated by Angela Peoples.

It was a 90 minute discussion that ended far to soon for the breakout sessions that followed later. and took us to lunch.

Black LGBTQ youth was served in the first panel after the lunch break was a Black Youth Project 100 sponsored panel entitled Get Free:Black LGBT Rights and Grassroots Organizing. 

The high energy and informative presentation by Angie Brilliance, Samantha Master and Charlene Carruthers discussed grassroots organizing, and building power in our community as seen from the eyes of the 18-35 set.

After their part of the institute concluded, we had the honor of Fallon Fox addressing us after being introduced by Kye Allums.   Fallon told us about her journey to becoming a kick butt WMMA fighter while trans.

That was the lead in to the next panel at 3:30 PM, presented by Athlete Ally.which focused on the sports world.   Black TBLGQ athletes such as Kye Allums, Fallon Fox, Brittney Griner, and Michael Sam have not only excelled on the field, but made trailblazing progress that also has bigger ramifications for our community.

The Color of Sports:Black Perspectives at the Intersection of Race, Gender and Orientation in Sports was moderated by Wendy Lewis after being introduced by Akil Patterson.

Panelists Kye Allums, Wade Davis Ashland Johnson and Nevin Caple discussed the challenges of being Black and LGBT in the sports world.

The final panel of the Black Institute was entitled Suffering in Silence:Addressing HIV, LGBT Health and The Black LGBTQ/SGL Community moderated by Venton Jones.

This was my second panel of the day, and I was joined by the  Rev Dr Jamie Washington, Kenyon Farrow, Jai Makokha, and Maria Glover-Wallace in which we not only discussed the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our community, but the need to focus on health care, wellness, and raising the profile of HIV/AIDS  to where it has the same level of  urgency that we give to combating obesity and diabetes in the Black community.

We also discussed the launch of the NBJC Black Wellness Initiative in that interactive panel discussion what we probably could have used another hour for.

After the closing remarks from Sharon, the second annual NBJC Black Institute was concluded.

After joining my Houston homies Ashton Woods and NBJC Emerging Leader Brandon Mack,  we headed to the People of Color suite to hilariously kill some time before heading to the what turned out to be a very interesting opening plenary session.

After writing up what happened at the protest, I returned to the lobby area to hang out with my trans sisters and trans brothers until nearly 2 AM

Yep, long day.  But I'm not complaining.Just need a little sleep and I'm good to go.

RIP Taja Gabrielle De Jesus

Discovered after I rushed back to my room to write the story about the protest of the opening #CC15 plenary that another trans woman has been murdered.

Her name is Taja Gabrielle De Jesus and she was 36 years old.

De Jesus was found on the steps of a building stairwell at 1400 McKinnon near Lane Street suffering from multiple stab wounds around 9 AM PST on Sunday February 1 in San Francisco's Bayview district by SFPD police officers responding to the call.

She was declared dead at the scene by paramedics, and after interviewing witnesses a suspect described as a 6 foot 1 Black male wearing a black jacked and shorts fled the scene shortly before arrival of the police.

De Jesus is now the fourth trans person killed this year, the first this month and the first trans Latina this year.

Anyone with information that will result in the capture and prosecution of the waste of DNA who killed Taja is asked to contact SFPD at (415) 575-4444.

Rest in power and peace Taja.   We will not rest until the perpetrator is caught and doing serious time for prematurely taking you away from us.

#TransLivesMatter Protest Takes Center Stage At #CC15 Opening Plenary

One of the things about a diverse conference of over 3,500 activists from around the country, especially one that is dedicated to movement building, is that sometimes the lessons that are being taught in seminars to create change in our society are put into practice.

Minutes after a moment of silence was completed for slain teen Jessie Hernandez, who was shot and killed by the Denver Police on January 26, several members of the Trans Latina Coalition along with queer POC youth rushed the stage just as MC Kate Clinton was approaching the podium shouting "Trans Lives Matter"  and "Jessie, presente!"

After Clinton graciously yielded the podium to the protestors, Bamby Salcedo read a statement and a list of demands calling for more robust support for trans people and to end the obscene levels of anti-trans and police violence negatively impacting trans women of color from the LGB community as the capacity plenary crowd cheered.

The Demands:

*Funders and organizations, especially LGBT organizations to intentionally invest in the Trans Community

*Support and acknowledge trans leadership to build and foster strength in our power.

*Meaningful equity of resources in order to eradicate the economic and  health crisis our brothers and sisters face.

*LGBT and ally organizations to hire trans people for leadership positions.  We demand for these organizations to be intentionally inclusive and truly provide leadership opportunities for the trans community.  If you serve us, you must include us.
*Investments in new and upcoming trans specific organizations and support their works in underserved areas.

*Big tent and anchor organizations to leverage their access to policy makers and funders and use their privilege to support trans-led efforts in eradicating the ongoing structural violence that our community faces.

Stay tuned to see if the protest results in an improved quality of life for trans people. I certainly hope it's successful in that regard.

It's Important To Have Those Trans Community Intergenerational Conversations

One of the things we will definitely need to do this year and beyond is have intergenerational conversations inside and outside the trans community.

While I'm here in Denver during Creating Change, I plan to practice what I'm about to preach to y'all  and when I get back to H-town.

For us trans peeps, it's past time that we have those sit downs with our elder trans statesmen and stateswomen.

The reason being is a multipronged one.  In addition to actually getting a chance to chat with your trans elders, they also get the opportunity to actively listen to what you have to say.  

Yes I've been involved in trans human rights activism for 17 years, but even I can learn some things from you younglings .  You may during a discussion drive home a point that is so profound it may cause me to think about an issue I have opinions on in a different light.

At the same time, it is also my duty as a trans elder to pass down your history to you and all who are willing to listen to what I am passing on to you.

Intergenerational conversations are important two way communications streams that build a movement and most importantly, build community.

Happy 20th Birthday Trayvon!

As I was getting prepared to leave my hotel room and get ready for the NBJC The Black Institute here at #CC15,  it hit me that today would have been the 20th birthday for Trayvon Martin if his life hadn't been cut short by that waste of DNA George Zimmerman.

So what would Trayvon be doing to celebrate his 20th birthday today?   Would he have been doing so in his college dorm room?   Would he have spent a quiet day surrounded by his parents and close friends?

We'll never know the answer to that question because a racist bully with a fetishistic attachment to guns ended his life.  

And since that racist jury set Zimmerman free, the massive mistake they made not throwing his ass in jail has become apparent to the entire world.

We do know the pain that Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin feel over their son's loss will be magnified today along with all the people who knew and loved Trayvon.

Rest in power, Trayvon.  Your people are doing everything we can to help ensure that no more mothers like yours are mourning the untimely deaths of their children.  

We're also working hard to eradicate the odious Stand Your Ground Kill A Black Person With Impunity laws and remind America that #BlackLivesMatter..

We still have a lot of work to do to get to that point, but get there we will.

CC15-Day 2

I'm getting my beauty sleep right now because Day 2 of Creating Change features the Day Long Institutes covering a wide variety of topics from Bisexual Organizing to Digital Strategy Training.

And yes, the one I'm participating in, the National Black Justice Coalition's second annual The Black Institute.

I have two panels in that NBJC sponsored event in Governor's Square.  The opening one at 9:30 AM entitled From The Grassroots To The National Stage: Movement Building With intersectional Justice For Black LGBTQ/SGL People.

My fellow panelists for this moderated by Angela Peoples discussion will be Mandy Carter, Earl Fowlkes, Dr. Kenneth Samuel, Chai Jindasurat,  and Geneva Musgrave.

You can follow the Black Institute discussion on Twitter  with the hashtag #BI15

Speaking of hashtags, the Creating Change one is #CC15

The Welcome To Denver Opening Plenary session entitled Ferguson on Our Minds will also happen tonight at 8 PM and features Rinku Sen, Rashad Robinson and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.

CC15-Day 1 Recap

The first day of the 27th Annual Creating Change jumped off in Denver with us waking up to snowfall for a few hours before the snow laden clouds moved on and the temp warmed up to melt it.

But then again I had other business on my plate this morning.  While other people were getting registered and perusing their programs to ascertain what discussions they would be taking part in during the Racial Justice Institute, I had to straighten out the residual issues left over from my arrival yesterday evening in which my hotel room disappeared in cyberspace for an hour.

But stuff eventually got sorted out by the friendly hotel staff and the Creating Change team., I have Internet access in my room and I'm a happy Denver #CC15 camper.

I was taking part in  a day long Trans Persons Of Color Coalition board meeting in which we spent several hours handling our TPOCC organizational business that confidentiality won't let me talk about here.

On my way to our meeting room started seeing more of the peeps I know in LGBT World like my Louisville fam Carla Wallace and Kathleen Campisano,.   Finally met Trudie Jackson and saw the lovely Leslie Herod, who is one of the four co chairs for Creating Change Denver style.

And yeah, got another reminder just how popular TransGriot is as I was greeted with hugs from many of my readers.   One offered a suggestion as to who I should select for this week's Shut Up Fool Award I'll pass out Friday.

People are continuing to wing their way from across the country here and hit 16th Street Mall which is literally on the hotel's doorstep.

And yes, I discovered to my gleeful happiness there's a 7 Eleven right across the street, so Slurpees are being destroyed by moi.

So now it's time for me to check out the lobby and see who else has arrived here before I shut it down for the evening.  I have two panel discussions tomorrow.

Janet's Got A Talk Show!

If you're wondering what Janet Mock has been up to lately, it's being a talk show host.

Janet's So Popular show is on the recently launched MSNBC Shift online network that was launched in December and is designed to appeal to the 16-34 demo in which television viewing has been dropping.

So Popular as you probably guessed is about popular culture, which Ms. Mock cut her teeth on as a former People.com editor.

The goal of her show as stated in the inaugural show broadcast?  

"To cover all things culture, from art and entertainment to literature and anything trending in the zeitgeist. Our goal is to discuss the things you pretend you're too smart to like, in an effort to expand the idea of what is considered political and worthy of analysis. Every Friday, we will have fun, we will be cheeky, we will mine the nuggets of truth from the cultural topics and experiences that consume our time and I will mess up the teleprompter often."

Knowing you Janet, I doubt that will happen very often, but I'll definitely be checking out So Popular and wish you much success with it.

Congrats Myles and Precious On Your Engagement!

With all the negative news that January brought to our community, so happy to report some good news with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching.

I'm pleased to let  y'all know that one of my fave community couples in Precious Davis and Myles Brady are getting married!

Precious dropped the news on her FB page that Myles put a ring on it and she was happily engaged.

And yeah, you know she had a pic of the ring to show everyone.

Hey I ain't mad at her.   If I'd been proposed to by the handsome Mr. Brady I'd be shouting that news to the world after I said yes.

And Myles was wise enough to recognize that women like Ms. Davis don't grow on trees, either.

As of yet, no date has been announced for the upcoming nuptials.  You know I'm looking forward to seeing those wedding photos when it finally does happen.

Megacongrats to the happy couple!

CC15-Day 1

Moni is in the Rocky Mountain CC15 house,

Even though I've picked up my badge and conference booklet so I can plan out what exciting panels and seminars I would like to see while I'm here in the 303, I'm going to be spending the first day of CC15 in an all day facilitated TPOCC meeting in which I'm sworn to confidentiality on.

But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing my TPOCC family and 'errbody' else who is here for Creating Change when I'm not handling my CC15 business.. 

Don't be shy, say hello.   I don't bite.  You'll get a hug if you dare to do so.

While peeps are still winging their way from across the nation , the Racial Justice Institute is kicking off with the Opening Plenary starting at 9:00 AM MST, and then breakout sessions delving into various topics

One I'm hoping  my meeting is done with so I can attend is 'Race and The Trans Experience' starting at 2:00 PM.

Should be an interesting and informative day for everyone here.

In Denver For CC15

Had a bumpy flight after takeoff from Houston and during initial descent into the Mile High City, but made it in one piece and I've finally arrived in Denver for Creating Change 2015! 

I'm chilling in my hotel room  and contemplating the fact it's the first time I've ever been able to attend back-to-back Creating Change events.

I'm looking forward to finding out who I will run into while walking the CC15 halls and seeing my TBLG family once again.

But in this one I'll probably won't be as busy because I get to simply participate in it instead of being part of the team making sure everything is running smoothly as was the case in Houston.

All the CC15 action will be taking place at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, and for the next several days the Mile High City will be the center of the United States LGBT human rights universe.

And that is an exciting thought to contemplate.

I have a facilitated meeting tomorrow, and I'm participating in two panels as part of the National Black Justice Coalition's second annual The Black Institute on February 5.   I will probably be out and about in the hotel talking to as many people as possible while I'm here for CC15.

Looking forward to meeting CeCe McDonald, who will be receiving the Paul A. Anderson Youth Award during this CC15 convening and seeing my Denver area friends..

So as usual when I'm at these conferences, I'll take some time to go back to my quiet room since I'm at the conference hotel and do a recap of the day's events for all of you who couldn't get to CC15.

Just an FYI, if you are wondering where next year's Creating Change will be if you're considering attending it, CC16 will be in Chicago..  

And the Chicago CC16 organizing team is probably praying they catch the same weather break that Denver seems to have gotten this year.

Leaving On A Jet Plane-To Denver

Chilling at Hobby Airport for the first time this year waiting for my plane that will take me to Denver and Creating Change 2015.

And looking like the wishes of the local CC15 organizing committee are going to come true because the weather in Denver for the event is going to be great for it.

It's a business trip, because I will spend much of tomorrow in a facilitated TPOCC meeting, then I will be participating in two panels during the second annual NBJC The Black Institute.

After that?   Well, unlike last year, I'm not part of the Creating Change Host Committee busting my behind to help ensure my part of it runs smoothly while juggling four panel discussion around that.

I get to see my friends in the movement,  see some seminars, and see if the Denver folks back up all that smack they let their loose lips utter during CC14.

Hopefully I'll get to see some of my friends in the Denver area, my Denver trans family and hit a  TBLG friendly local baker under attack by the faith based haters for some cupcakes before I head home.

Another Trans Woman Beaten In New York City

Back in October a trans woman was attacked by four men in Brooklyn.  She survived the assault, but may have been left with permanent brain damage.

Meanwhile, the perpetrators o the Islan Nettles assault that led to her death are still walking the streets of New York City, with a DA that has been reluctant to bring that perpetrator to justice.

And now comes word of another trans woman that has been attacked on the mean trans streets of New York City.

It happened January 18 in the Bronx's University Heights neighborhood at the corner of Davidson and W 192nd Streets.   Jocelyn Diaz was approached by a man in a group asking her for a cigarette before attacking her with a bat and using derogatory slurs about her gender.  
She ended up with a broken arm in the attack.




The streets of New York are not safe for trans New Yorkers, and especially trans New Yorkers of color.. New York State has not passed GENDA and added gender identity in the hate crimes laws, and neither have they thrown the legal book at the waste of DNA who killed Islan Nettles.   

By failing to do those simple things, you have sent the message for those who wish to do harm to us it's okay to do so.with impunity and you'll look the other way.

Ahem: #BlackTransLivesMatter

Just a reminder as I head to Denver for Creating Change 2015 in the wake of trans women being attacked by thugs, one being missing for three months and others being murdered from coast to coast.

#BlackTransLivesMatter     #StopTransMurders

Angel's STILL Missing

In addition to the now four trans people that were killed last month, January 30 marked the third month that North Carolina trans woman Angel Elisha Walker has been missing.

The 20 year old Walker disappeared October 30, while driving her 2000 Pontiac Sunfire westward from Salisbury, NC.   

Her car was found badly burned east of Salisbury on November 23, and it's suspected that foul play may be at work here.   Local media misgendering of Walker also didn't help either in terms of expeditious solving of this case.

Walker often traveled to the Durham and Camp Lejuene areas, so if you have any information that will help solve this case, please call the Rowan County Sheriff's Office at 704-216-8683.

The Case For Edwards Being A Trans Murder Victim

Shaking my head at the ongoing dispute over S Edwards and whether this person IDed as a mister or miss at the time of death.

Since BuzzFeed stuck my name in their post attempting to gayjack this situation, time for me to present the case for why I initially IDed MS Edwards as trans in my January 28 post and why I'm sticking with that.

Unlike BuzzFeed's Dominic Holden, I am a Black trans woman who has written about the issues of the off the charts murders of trans women and all the issues surrounding them for years. 

I also lived in Louisville for nine years.

One of the points of contention is the Facebook page versus Indianapolis mugshot photo that shows Edwards in femme attire at the time it was taken. 

In my two decades of lived experience as a Black trans woman, I have seen more than a few young gay males who liked doing drag, claimed it was 'a hobby', only did it for pageants or gay nightclub talent nights and swore up and down they were gay men and had no intention to transition.

But a year or two later after having that gender epiphany, those same gay males were declaring they were trans, swallowing hormones, answering to feminine names and transitioning to live full time as female.

I received a January 29 e-mail from a Louisville area trans woman who asserts she talked to the EMT who picked up Edwards at the Fern Valley motel at the time of the January 9, shooting, and said in that e-mail the EMT told her the person they picked up ' was not in what you consider standard drag' .

That EMT would know because LMFD EMT's are trained to know the difference between a trans woman and a cis male dressed in drag.

Police departments across this country have a long sorry history which has aggravated me and other trans advocates for years of misgendering trans murder victims as male, even when they have developed feminine bodies and been transitioned over a period of years.  They are still unfortunately stuck in that mentality of looking at genitalia and not gender presentation.

And yes, this is still an active LMPD investigation.

Did Edwards ID as male or female at the time of the murder?   The only person who knows the definitive answer to that question has had their voice permanently stilled by Henry Richard Gleaves.

The rest of us are left to speculate about it or how Edwards' all too brief life would have progressed if not for that fatal January DaVille encounter with Gleaves.

But one thing that isn't up for debate is that trans women of color, and especially Black trans women are under assault.  Stopping trans murders and the off the charts violence aimed at trans women of color is what all of us in LGBT world need to be focused on.

This case also points to the necessity of police departments accurately IDing trans victims of these crimes.   They need to cease and desist with their practice of IDing trans victims based on genitalia, and telling media outlets when they release that news they are men.

Moni's Take On The Bruce Jenner Situation

Been seeing increasing chatter about whether Olympian Bruce Jenner is about to transition, and I've been getting asked questions about it.

Here's my take on it.

I'm going to treat this like the Lana Wachowski situation a few years ago, which was similar to this one in terms of a public personality facing rampant unconfirmed rumors that they may be about to or have started a gender transition..

This reminds me of 2003, when there were rampant rumors coming from the West Coast that Lana was about to come out as trans.

Despite photos at various events of her en femme, reports of divorce proceedings, a Rolling Stone article, medical procedures, et cetera , it still took a few years before Lana finally announced she was part of Team Trans in 2012.

My rule has been in these situations that if a person hasn't declared they are trans, I consider them cisgender. until that declaration happens.

Until Bruce has that press conference, rumors about a Jenner transition are just that, rumors.

Houston Hate Crimes Town Hall Meeting Next Sunday

According to the latest hate crime statistics, in 2013 there were five hate crimes reported that targeted lesbian, gay and bisexual Houstonians.

And how many were there reported that targeted transgender Houstonians?   ZERO.

Those are unbelievable numbers in a city of over two million people and no non-discrimination law on the books covering us at the time and suggests that the actual number of hate crimes directed at the Houston TBLG community is being vastly under reported.

In order to learn directly from Houston's LGBT community about bias crimes in Houston, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Montrose Center will be hosting a Town Hall meeting.

2 - 3 PM
General meeting about hate crimes and anti-LGBT bias in Houston

3:15 - 4:15 PM
The transgender-specific experience

We want to hear your experience with anti-LGBT harassment and violence in Houston, or the experiences of people you know.

For example, if you experienced anti-LGBT aggression of some kind, did you report it to the police?

If you did, was it investigated properly?

If you didn't report it to the police, what kept you from reporting it?
What changes would the Houston  LGBT community need to see in order to feel fully confident that law enforcement will investigate and prosecute hate crimes?

By learning more about the actual state of anti-LGBT bias in Houston, we believe the accuracy of future hate crimes reporting will be improved, and future hate crimes will be documented and prosecuted by law enforcement. This will ultimately make Houston safer for everyone.

This is a listening session. No law enforcement personnel will be there. We are committed to provide a safe space for those in attendance.

This will take place next Sunday at the Montrose Center, 408 Branard St

If you have been the victim of a hate crime, whether or not you reported it, you can come talk to a therapist at the Montrose Center at no charge. The Montrose Center often sees people who have kept it a secret for years and years. It is never too late to get help. Call 713-529-0037 x328 to speak with their Hate Crimes Specialist.

It's Black History Month 2015

February 1 in addition to being Super Bowl Sunday is also the first day of Black History Month.

One of the missions of this blog has been to find those nuggets of Black Trans history and talk about them because it is important for you peeps to know it.

May even throw another TransGriot Black Trans History Quiz at you before this month is over.

Here's a sample question for you get to get you ready for it:

50 years ago this event took place in Philadelphia.  What was it?

It's an open Internet and TransGriot blog test and will help you get your Black trans history learn on.  And FYI, Black trans history is also being made in the 2K10's.



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