Hawaii Passes Bill Removing Genital Surgery Requirement For Birth Certificate Changes

Identity documents that match a trans person's current lives are vital doe multiple reasons.   ID's that have correct name and gender markers are not only wonderful for that person's sense of self and psychic well-being because they are being recognized for who they are, they prevent the trans person in question from being opened up to discrimination

Six states and the District of Columbia have led the way in removing the genital surgery requirement before they would change the gender marker on a trans person's identity documents.

Colorado's attempt to join the states that do so passed the House, but was defeated in the GOP controlled Senate.

Hawaii became the seventh state to do so when the Hawaiian legislature advanced HB 631, a bill that would allow residents of the state to submit a note from a physician or mental health professional instead of undergo a genital surgery. to change birth certificate gender markers.

It passed a key committee hearing April 30, and subsequently passed in the Hawaiian House and Senate on Tuesday.   As usual, the GOP hated on it.

"We're going down a very sketchy path here and in effect doctoring the truth," said GOP Senator Sam Slom. "You're either born a man or a woman and that's the way it is."

Umm no, Sam, you are born an infant, and grow up to become an adult  male or female.  Guess you were asleep in science class that day since you and your GOP friends have such a hard time grasping that concept. 

Attorney and Equality Hawaii parent advocate Rebecca Copeland had a different take on the just passed bill. 

"It's the lack of recognition in society that really hurts people," Copeland said. "When people look at it and it doesn't reflect who they are it can really have devastating consequences."

The bill now goes to Gov. David Ige (D) for his signature.

Hillary Talks About Trans Immigrants

I've been asking the question in these TransGriot electronic pages what are Hillary Clinton's stances on trans human rights issues?   Will she not only say the word 'transgender' repeatedly in this 2016 presidential campaign cycle, but if she becomes the Democratic nominee and eventually the POTUS, will she exceed what President Obama has done for transgender Americans?

In her recent campaign stop in Nevada, Clinton was asked a question about an issue that has long been a concern of my trans Latina sisters in terms of what would she do about trans women being housed in immigration detention facilities that don't correspond with their gender presentation.

“I think we have to do more to provide safe environments for vulnerable populations,” she said in answer to that question.  “I don’t think we should, you know, put children and vulnerable people into big detention facilities because I think they are at risk. I think their physical and mental health are at risk,” Clinton said in response to a subsequent question about trans asylum seekers.

She answered she would be in favor of reviewing and changing some of those policies



We now have an indication of where Hillary stands on one issues of importance to trans people.  Where does she stand on the passage of ENDA?   Open trans military service?   A nationwide standard for changing identification without undergoing genital surgery.

'Things Trans Men Are Tired Of Hearing' Video

Since all of a sudden everyone wants to know or talk about trans people these days, time to take this conversation in a trans masculine direction.  

There are a lot of offensive and problematic things that you don't say to trans women that have been elaborated on a few times on this blog and elsewhere

And now, let me present courtesy of my thespian brother Tajir Hawkins, a video that covers some of the things you don't say to trans men if you wish to be considered a respectful ally to the transmasculine community.

The Reel Majik Productions video is entitled 'Things Trans Men Are Tired Of Hearing' .

'Game Face' Trailer

Fallon Fox  has been telling me about this upcoming documentary for a while, and now the official trailer for this Michiele Thomas film has come out.

The documentary movie is entitled Game Face, and features Fallon Fox  coming out as a trans MMA fighter and Terrence, an Oklahoma  collegiate basketball player who happens to be gay.

The film follows both athletes during their coming out process, and sheds light on the obstacles LGBT sports players deal with throughout their career..

Dee Dee's Gofundme Housing Campaign

Dee Dee Watters has been one of our community's hardworking and selfless activists. 

She has done Christmas toy drives, condom dispensing at local TBLG clubs, been the lead organizer of our Houston Black TDOR event, organized  trans themed health and wellness fair last year and even been there for folks when they have needed a ride somewhere, myself included.

Many times she has pulled money out of her own purse to make those events happen.

She was also one of the people standing by my side as we went to Houston City Hall starting with the first city council meeting in January 2014 to battle for the ultimately successful passage of HERO.

On Sunday, after coming back from an empowering BTAC 2015 conference in Dallas, she was told to vacate the home where she was staying a mere 15 minutes after completing the 4 hour drive down I-45 form the conference hotel.

Dee Dee has helped countless people, now it's time for us to stand up and help her raise the money so she can get a place of her own.     This is the link to the Gofundme campaign that has been set up to help her get the money she needs to get her own place. 

Any amount that gets us to the targeted amount is helpful and deeply appreciated.

One of the most basic needs for any human being is to have a place to call their own.  So please help one of our community sheroes in making that happen.

Happy Anniversary Tiq and Kim!

You know I had to give a TransGriot shoutout to one of my fave bi-national couples on their first wedding anniversary.   Besides, it's easy for me to remember the day they got married because it's the day after my birthday.

One year ago today Tiq and Kim Katrin Milan got married in New York.   I have much love for both of them because they are and continue to be amazing advocates for the issues they are passionate about.  

Thank both of you for doing what you do individually and collectively to make our planet better, spread knowledge and role model what Black love looks like in action.

And yeah they make one cute couple.

Happy anniversary Kim and Tiq!   May you have many more, and looking forward to the next time or event we get to spend some quality time together.

Lawdy Lawdy, Kimora's 40!

I share my May 4 birthday with more than a few famous people, and one of them is the fabulous Kimora Lee Simmons.

I love my Blasian sister for a lot of reasons as a former fashion model, actress, entrepreneur and mother of four children.

But the major ones are she is 1.83 m (six feet) tall, she's a Taurus, and she was born on this date in St. Louis in 1975.

So happy 40th birthday Kimora!   You make 40 look fabulous, not that it was ever hard for you to do so.

May you have a wonderful milestone birthday, and receive the ultimate blessing of celebrating many more of them in the years to come.

More 2015 Birthday Musings

One promise I made to several of my CAL co-workers and a few women when I had those early conversations with in the wake of my transition at IAH was that I wanted to be seen as a complement to Black women and Black womanhood and not a detriment to it.

Don't know if they were aware of it, but I admired and was watching how they effortlessly role modeled the different types of women they were, and I was taking mental notes. 

I was painfully aware in that spring of 1994 there were very few out Black transfeminine role models, and it was going to fall on me to be that person in my influence circles.

I've been told a few times since then they and the other cis women I made that promise to are very proud of me, and y'all don't know how much that means to me.

I've also heard the same commentary inside the community from Black lesbian identified women, my trans sisters and Black cis feminine allies to our community

Since it is my 53rd birthday and the 21st I've celebrated since my body finally caught up to being the person I always knew I was, it's been an amazing journey that I still marvel at.
I have this life that I've bounced across this country to discuss trans issues from an African-American perspective, and one day after I get my passport, it is my fondest wish to be able to do that in various nations around the globe.

Is there room for improvement?   Yep, because I believe that a transition is an ongoing evolutionary journey that doesn't end until you pass away from this plane of existence.

I'm also continuing to strive to be come that quality Black woman I've talked about on this blog a few times.  Still doing the work to evolve,continue to live up to that promise and exceed it, but so proud and happy there are more amazing examples of Black trans women doing some amazing things and looking fab doing it.

Happy Birthday To Moni!

Well TransGriot readers, I've made it through another 365 days on this space rock to celebrate another Cuatro De Mayo.

The lead up to today was spent with by BTAC family, and they kept me busy so I didn't go into deep brooding an introspective mode like I had a chance to do on the bus ride back down I-45 south to Houston.

I'm a Kennedy Baby celebrating another birthday, but I couldn't help thing about the trans people who won't reach my age.and it saddened me.

We've made some amazing progress as a community over the last few years, and I want to be around to see what happens 10, 15, 30 and 25 years from now.

And yes, living long and prospering despite everything the conservahaters and TERFs are trying to do is our best revenge.

Thanks to all of you who are or will be sending me birthday greetings, e-cards, cash in my blog tip jar, and everything else y'all are doing to let me know y'all love and care about me.

So as for what the heck I'm going to do for this birthday is an open question, but one thing I'll be damned sure be doing is reveling in the day that I took my first breath inside the borders of this state, and look forward to what happens 366 days from now.

Happy birthday to Moni!   Hope I'm blessed to celebrate many more of them.

BTAC 2015-Last Day

This is the saddest day of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference for me, the last one.

After spending several days up on the northern end of I-45, seeing old friends, making new ones and building community, it's time for me to go back to Houston and my life there.

But before I do that, I get to say goodbye to my trans brothers and trans sisters, their spouses, our allies and my BTAC family.

In addition to the closing ceremony that officially ends the convention, we'll have the traditional farewell brunch at Blue Mesa.

After that delicious community building exercise, Moni hits the DART Rail Red Line to catch her Megabus back to Houston and commence another 366 day wait for the fifth edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.

And y'all know to check my TransGriot pages for the dates of the 2016 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.

BTAC-Day 4

It's Saturday, and time for Family Fun Day at BTAC.

But before we head to the Austin Ranch near DFW Airport for some great food and spending some quality time with each other, first are the closed session for transmen, transwomen, ciswomen and MCC/Butch Aggressives that will start at 9:15 AM CDT and last until we roll over to the Austin Ranch from the hiotel at 12:30 PM.

Then after a day of fun and community building, it'll be time once again for the Black Diamond Ball that starts at 10 PM CDT.

The ball will be held at the 2816 Commerce Event Center in Deep Ellum, and the address of course if you wish to attend is in the name of the building, 2816 Commerce St.

Shut Up Fool Awards- Moni's At BTAC 2015 Edition

Been up here in Dallas since April 28 for
the fourth annual editionm of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.


This conference is one of my faves because it happens to fall very close to my birthday and doubles as my birthday weekend celebratory event.


Well, without further dela6y, let's get to this week's SUF Awards.


Honorable mention number one is Rush Limbaugh.   OxyContinin Man parted his lips to state that riots will happenas long as Black keep voting for Democrats.


Let's remix that comment shall we?    Riots will continue to happen as long as unarmed Black people continue to suffer death by po-po and go unpunished for it.


Honorable mentuion number is Josh Duggar, who clamed if Talabaptists aren't allowed top discriminate, then you are discriminating against 'Christians'


Really?   Dude, your white privileged ass wouldn't know discrimination if it slapped you in the face.  I'm getting sick of you people wanting to oppress people.


Honorable mention number three is Maryland State Delegate Pat McDonough (R) actually said that parents of kids who let their kids protest the death by po-po of Freddie Gray should have their food stamps taken away.


He doubled down on his racism by suggesting a study be done of the mindset of 'thug nation'


Hety Pat, your pointed hood is showing.


Honorable mention number four is US Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) who said that what is going on in Baltimore is because of too many gay marriages.

WTF?   What iis going on in Baltimore is because of systenmic racism tolerated by too many white male Republicans like you.

This week's Shut Up Fool winner is TX Governor Greg Abbott.  

Greg's sucking up to the batturd crazy wing of the Texas GOP by ordering the Texas State Militia to monitor the US military duirng to Jade Helm 15 exericses to forestall a 'miltary takeover of the Lone Star State.

You can't make this stuff uop people. 

But instead of debunking this Conservaidiocy, he's cosigning it.

Greg Abbott, shut up fool

BTAC 2015-Day 3

My third day at BTAC, and the calendar has flipped to my favorite month in May.



Tonight's big event is the Awards Gala, but before I handle my BTAC business of handing out this year's Monica Robeerts Advocacy Award, have a seminar at 9:15 AM with Espy Bronw entitled 'Sis To Cis'.


It's one in which we continue the conversation we started last year between Black cis and trans women, and should be as infornmative and fun as it was last year.


And yes the peeps keep rolling in for the homestreatch of this year's Black Trans Advocacy Conference.   You can continue to check the Twitter hashtag #BTAC2015 for all the happenings.


I'm also one day closer to Cuatro De Mayo

Congratulations To The Trans Class Of 2015

With the calendar turning another page to May thoughts turn to prom season and the graduation ceremonies that will be taking place all over the country.

Hopefully our trans grads will be able to do so as their true selves and we won't have the drama we've had the last few years at some high schools.

For those who wish to give you shade about attending prom and graduation as yourselves, Lambda Legal, GLSEN, the ACLU and other orgs are standing by with information and help so you can do so without unnecessary drama.

But I especially want to tip the graduation cap to our trans grads who have persevered to get those educations, sometimes under trying circumstances.

Congrats to Addie, L'lerret, Atlantis, Londyn, Trudie and all my other trans brothers and trans sisters getting ready to step off their collegiate campuses and step into that different off campus world.

For those of you who made it through that at times shade filled world of high school, congratulations!

Some of you made trans history while matriculating on your various high school campuses around the country, while others of you can't wait to get off of those campuses.  

For those of you leaving elementary to go to middle school, or middle school to high school, good luck and know that your trans elders love and support you as you make that jump to the next level.

For those of you taking that higher education leap forward, I hope you were successful in getting into whatever colleges you applied for.

I applaud you for taking the steps to get an education you will need to not only successfully compete in a highly technologically advanced world, but your heart moves you to advance the cause of our community's human rights at the same time.

Then again, whatever you choose to do is fine by me, as long as you're happy doing so.

Congrats Trans*  Class of 2015.    May you be megasuccessful in whatever you choose to do with your lives.

BTAC 2015-Day 2

Still in Dallas at the Doubletree Campbell Center for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference for my second full day here.



The highlights today will be the keynote speeches by Tiq Milan and Miss major Griffin Gracy.
|The Black Trans Interrnational Pageants will happen later tonight, and many of the seminaras have a health and wellness theme such as Healthcare Hallelujah Trans* Health And The Affordable Care Act  to 'Exploring HIV Health Risks Among Transmen'


I'm also having a blast getting to spend quality time with the trans brothers and the trans sisters I know and geeting acquainted with the trans brothers and trans sisters I'm just meeting for the first time


And love seeing my Dallas fam in Rafael McDonnell and Nell Gaither.
  

I still find it ironic that Diamond Stylz and I live less than 5 miles from each other in Houston, buit i have to bring my butt to BTAC or some other conference to spend quality time with her.


But she knows I love her to death.   And if you feeling down, you won't be after getting hugged by our BTAC First Lady Espy Brown.


There were some amazing conversations taking place here yesterday in our seminars, at dinner and in the hotel lobby.  


And definitely need to step away from the front desk and those sinfully delicious cookies.

Need More TBLG Cultural Competency On HBCU Campuses

Last Thursday night I got a chance to cross something else off my activist bucket list.

I got the opportunity to do a panel discussion on an HBCU campus.  The fact it was Texas Southern University, where I have extensive family ties, made it even more special.

It's the beginning of an ongoing conversation on trans and SGL issues that needed to happen.

And in the wake of the Jenner 20/20 interview, one of the things that I've was pondering on the way to Dallas for BTAC is what can we do in Black Trans World to get our people to realize we Black trans folks are part of the Black community, and our issues are Black community issues.

TSU is one of 106 HBCU campuses in the United States, and sadly only 21% of them have full time LGBTQ organizations on campus.  Only three have gender identity and expression in their non discrimination statements.   Only three (Bowie State, North Carolina Central and Fayetteville State ) have  LGBT centers on their campuses.  

HBCU's better recognize that LGBT African-Americans are not only aren't going away, when it's time for us to choose a college to matriculate at, we are going to look at attending HBCU's to further our collegiate education.  But in order to do so, HBCU campuses are going to have to become more culturally competent in order to get Black trans, bi and SGL students to consider matriculating there.

If they don't start considering doing that or refuse to do so, being a HBCU will not be enough to draw them away from other college campuses that do make their campuses safe for trans. bi and SGL students to matriculate on and proudly promote it..

It's past time for HBCU's to start having those conversations, and if it is BTMI, BTWI and TPOCC that facilitates those conversations on the HBCU campuses around the nation, then that's all good, too
 .

Happy 80th Birthday April Ashley!

Across The Pond today is the milestone birthday of one of our trans community icons.  Today April Ashley, MBE was born on this date 80 years ago in Liverpool, England.  

No wonder I love her.   She's a fellow Taurus!

She had a challenging childhood and grew up to become one of the first people in Great Britain to undergo SRS with Dr. Georges Bourou in Casablanca, Morocco in 1960.

She was a Vogue fashion model, worked at the famed LeCarrousel trans club in Paris in which she rubbed elbows with Ernest Hemingway, Jean Paul Sartre and Bob Hope, was an actress, and enjoyed the romantic attention of actor Peter O'Toole and famed painters Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

She has also worked tirelessly to advance the human rights of trans people in Great Britain and awarded her MBE in 2012.

In September 2013 the year long April Ashley: Portrait of A Lady exhibit opened at the Museum of Liverpool focused on her amazing life.

Ashley received a Lifetime Achievement honor during the 2014 European Diversity Awards.

Happy 80th birthday, April!   To me. April Ashley's life is a testament to living well being your best revenge as a trans person.  

And living long enough to celebrate eight decades on this planet definitely qualifies as living well.

BTAC 2015-Day 1

It's actually the third full day of the fourth annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference, but my first full one after my travel day from H-town.


I've always wnted to learn how to do grant writing, and one of the sessions I'll definitely be planning to attend is one entitled 'The Grant Development Process'.


There's also a social media one I'm interested in as I peruse the program offerings for today, Tiq Milan's 'Trans Advocacy Media Training', the Black Trans Community Summit and the TransManifest Open Mic to close out Wednesday's programming.


I wonder who I'll run into today?

In Dallas For BTAC 2015

I've finally made it to the other end of I-45 in Dallas for the 2015 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.


It's not only one of my fave conference because it happens to fall around my Cuatro de Mayo birthday, I'm also here on business.

I'm chilling in my 18th floor room with a beautiful view of downtown Dallas.

It's business and pleasure.  I not only get an opportunity to get my learn on, I get to present the Monica Roberts Advocacy Award to this year's winner of it on May 1 as i creep closer to my birthday.

For those of you who couldn't make it, you can check out the BTAC action  on Twiiter via the #BTAC2015 hashtag.

I did get the chance to witness the beautiful opening ceremony for BTAC which included a libation ceremony in which we honored the ancestors inside and outside the trans community

And yes, so happy te Rockets handled their NBA business back home and beat the Mavericks, so I get to gloat for a moment while I'm inside the Dallas city limints.

Time for me to get ome beauty sleep and get ready for my first full day at BTAC 2015.

Rolling Toward Dallas For BTAC 2015

After attempting another day trip to Austin to handle some lobbying business, I'm boarding a Megabus in 45 minutes for the four hour trip up I-45 to Dallas for the 2015 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.


I love this fourth annual conference for multiple reasons.   It's one that takes place in my home state and in the city where my mom grew up.  It's one in which trans men from around the country are gathered.


And the best part is that it happens around my birthday, and I get spoiled by the trans brothers.

If this bus pulls out of here on time at 1:15 PM , I'll be getting to Dallas just in time for rush hour at 5:20 PM and my train ride to the convention hotel.

See y'all in a few hours BTAC family.