It's the last day of Creating Change Denver, and the most bittersweet one. After being the center of the LGBT world for the last few days, it's time for this 27th annual edition of Creating Change to end and for Chicago to go on the Creating Change hosting clock for 2016.
And it's time for me to go back to my life in H-town without any of Colorado's newest cash crop in my luggage.
There are some seminars happening today, with Brandon Mack's Effemophobia one I'm getting up to check out. There's also an interfaith service at 9:30 AM MST
CeCe McDonald gets her award at the closing plenary, addresses the crowd and we get to enjoy the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble before we all make the dash to Denver International Airport.
It's been a wonderful conference for me because I actually got to sit down and talk to people instead of having to make sure everything was running smoothly for all you peeps visiting me last year for #CC14.
And getting to have lunch yesterday with an old H-town friend and dinner with my activist mentor Dainna Cicotello and her daughter Laurie really made it special.
Since I'm done with my workshops and seminars, I decided to take this Saturday to catch up with some people who live here in the Denver area that I know.
One is an old friend of mine from Houston who moved here in 2001 and I haven't see her for years, but we made it happen over lunch at the Denver Hard Rock Cafe just up the 16th Street Mall from the hotel.
While I was marching up the street to the Hard Rock Cafe and my reunion, a protest was being held that started at 12:15 PM MST back at the hotel aimed at the Denver po-po's.
It was still going on by the time I returned to the hotel and commenced to running my mouth with my sis Samantha Dato. We talked about PTHC and whether I was coming for it (maybe)
My activist mentor Dainna Cicotello called me while I was talking to Samantha, and we set up a meeting for dinner at 6 PM.
I killed some time for that meeting by attending a seminar entitled The Psychology of Debunking LGBT Myths that Brynn Tannehill was an informative part of before I had to jet to meet Dainna in the lobby as we headed to a nearby restaurant. I also got the bonus of seeing her daughter Laurie, who was celebrating her birthday
After a great meal, some peanut butter cheesecake and two hours of catching up since I hadn't seen either Cicotello in the flesh since the 2000 IFGE Conference, I was back at the Sheraton hanging out in the lobby just chilling and trying to decide what to do next.
Stacey Langley (happy birthday Stacey), Latisha, and Lynette arrived and after a few minutes, we decided the check out the 50+ Dance. There was also a Masqueerade Ball happening., but after handing out at the dance for 30 minutes, headed back to my room after talking to Omar Narvaez about Texas politics in the bar to write up the days events and pack.
Needed some beauty sleep for my last day in Denver for awhile.
For those of you who thought that Moni was selling you woof tickets when she and others warned you that the Teapublicans and the conservafool movement were going to shift their money and anti-LGBT industry apparatus into attacking us and we'd better be ready for it, here's your wake up call coming from Florida.
Rep. Frank Artiles from the Miami area has introduced a draconian bill (HB 583) that attempts to pimp the long discredited bathroom predator myth and would require all transpeople, pre, non and post op to use only facilities that match their assigned sex at birth, not the ones that match their gender presentation.
What ALEC asshole came up with this this anti-trans caca?
Artiles’ HB 583 bill would hold trans people who use facilities that match their gender expression liable for civil penalties and provides an avenue for civil action against operators of public accommodations who follow trans-inclusive policies.
Even more ominous is the legislation would override non-discrimination ordinances in Florida cities that have extended public accommodations protections to transgender people.
In other words, the unjust Artiles bill would if made law, legalize anti-trans discrimination in Florida.
Okay Florida trans peeps of all flavors, damned sure time to become agents of your own liberation. This is a straight up attack on our human rights.
And it's probably time to unleash pee-in protests in cities across Florida, Tallahassee and Rep Artiles' offices.
What have I been saying for a while? The most dangerous transphobic bigot is the one with the power to write legislation.
Well, here's Exhibit A of that. And it's dehumanizing crap like this that feeds into the anti-trans animus that disproportionately results in dead Latina and Black trans women.
It's Day 4 of Creating Change 2015 and the last full day of activities before it closes tomorrow and the organizing torch gets passed to Chicago.
I'm done with my seminars unless I get drafted into being a panelist on another one. I'm basically a spectator for the rest of my time here in Denver. and will probably use much of today to catch up with people I know here.
For those of you who want to find out the latest 411 on the HERO, there's a panel discussion for that topic called How Houston Got A HERO at 9:30 AM.
There's also a 3:00 PM one by Rev Kenneth Samuel entitled Battling Bigotry In The Black Church.
The vendor and organizational table area is still up, so check with those folks and see what they have to offer in terms of goods and services. Various organizations also have information tables set up there, so this is also the time to ask them questions about the programming .
This is also the last day the suites will be open, so check those out as well.
There's also a police violence protest jumping off at 12:15 PM aimed at the Denver police for the killing of Jessica Hernandez
Today marked the first full day of workshops and seminars, but I needed a little sleep and time to do some writing before I kept my promise to Imam Daayiee Abdullah to attend the Friday prayer service at 12:30.
I was pleased to see the attendance has grown, and Imam Abdullah announced some exciting news for the LGBT Muslim before the service started about an exciting initiative.
While that service was happening, Rea Carey's State of the Movement Address was simultaneously taking place.
After talking to Imam Abdullah for a few moments after the service ended, I headed down to the vendor area to kill some time before my panel. Ran into Andy Marra, Samantha Dato, Dani Heffernan , Kimberley McLeod and Kylar Broadus before we headed to Governors Square 14 for the 3:00 PM panel.
The Trans Women of Color: The Sisterhood featured Tela La'Raine Love, La La Zannell, Bamby Salcedo, Arianna Lint and some based Texas blogger y'all know breaking down the issues that impact us as trans women of color.
Afterwards I got to finally meet a shero of mine in Kim Coco Iwamoto, talk to Trudie Jackson, Bishop Tonyia Rawls, Diego Sanchez, Johanna Saavedra, Elizabeth Clair an my fave power couple in Aisha and Danielle Moodie-Mills.
Also ran into my NFL prognostication partner Michael Watts, and that started an almost two hour conversation in which we discussed everything from what was transpiring in our lives, football and politics to the movie Blazing Saddles. Ran into Myles Brady, who thanked me for the engagement post I wrote about him and his now fiancee.
And the thing I'm really enjoying is running into all the people here at #CC15 who let me know how much they love the blog. A writer always loves to hear that what they put out there is the universe for you to peruse and ponder is not only read, it's appreciated.
And the feeling is mutual TransGriot readers.
One last Slurpee run, and then I've got to shut it down for the night.
As many of you TransGriot readers are well aware of, I'm in Denver for Creating Change 2015.
I'm having a wonderful time connecting with all my peeps in the movement while getting my learn on about stuff that will make me an even better human rights advocate when I return to the Lone Star State.
And naw, I haven't hit the dispensaries selling Colorado's newest cash crop while I been up here, but I am aware that other attendees have.
I have my own Slurpee addiction I'm satisfying to the point the clerks at the 7-Eleven across the street from the hotel know me by name.
But this is also Friday, and that means I have my usual TransGriot business of calling out the fool, fools or group o fools that have kept this staple feature of my blog going for six years and counting.
So let's get to this week's fools
Honorable mention number one is Rafael Cruz, daddy of the junior fool senator from Alberta, Daddy Cruz parted his lips to say in attacking the HERO that allowing transpeeps to use public restrooms will bring on the Apocalypse.
Um Rafael, transpeople have been using public restrooms for 54 years now, so your comment if it were on Politifact would be rated Liar Liar Pants on Fire.
Honorable mention number two is Bud Roth. He is the Franklin County VA official who seems to think his religious beliefs trump the law and have no right to get married
I guess your next step to bring back the good old days of pre Loving v Virginia and bar interracial couples from getting married, too
Honorable mention number three is Alex Jones. In another episode of white male conservafool gone off the rails, while trying to defend Sen. Rand Paul's disastrous performance on reporter Kelly Evens CNBC show when he shushed her on air, he called her a slut and a whore for simply doing her job of calling him out over his anti-vaccine pandering.
Honorable mention number four is a group award to all the conservafools who went batturd cray-cray over President Obama's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast that reminded the christobigots that Christianity also has a violent streak in terms of the Crusades
Honorable mention number five is ATLAH pastor James David Manning. In his January 30 message contaminating YouTube he asserted that Justin Bieber was a girl who cut off her breasts because the POTUS' evil spirits misled him.
Hey, I'm just reporting. You decide how idiotic it is.
Aww, you mad because you ain't Justin Bieber's type? Why don't you give Donnie McClurkin a call if you're itching to go out on a date with some masculine company?
Honorable mention number six is Dr Jack Wolfson, the anti-vaxx idiot who said in a CNN interview that he didn't care if his unvaccinated kids gave others preventable communicable diseases that made them gravely ill.
Umm Arizona, can we revoke his medical license please?
Honorable mention number seven is Utah state rep Brian Greene (R) who questioned during a Utah House debate on a bill sponsored by Rep Angela Romero (D) to make having sex with an unconscious person a crime if it was actually rape.
I'll answer that question for you Rep. Greene. If she doesn't or can't give consent, it's rape.
I'll bet if your daughter was the unconscious woman who was not in a position to consent to have sex, you'd be singing a different tune about that
This week's Shut Up fool winner is West Virginia state Delegate Brian Kurcaba. This Republifool went into Todd Akins mode and asserted that rape can be beautiful if a child come out of it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It's the last day of Creating Change Denver, and the most bittersweet one. After being the center of the LGBT world for the last few days, it's time for this 27th annual edition of Creating Change to end and for Chicago to go on the Creating Change hosting clock for 2016.
