Eureka Springs Votes To Keep Trans Inclusive Non Discrimination Ordinance

Last night was election night in Eureka Springs, AR  and it resulted in another loss for the Forces of Intolerance.

The Eureka Springs City Council unanimously and quickly passed Ordinance 2223 on February 9,  a non-discrimination ordinance that covers gender identity and sexual orientation in advance of the GOP controlled Arkansas Legislature passing the unjust Act 137 law that bans local jurisdictions from doing so that takes effect July 20..

Ordinance 2223 prohibits discrimination against anyone in Eureka Springs based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and provides anti-discrimination protection in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Eureka Springs wanted that ordinance in effect so they would have standing in a court challenge to Act 137.   However the local haters, including former Chamber of Commerce President Mike Bishop some clergy and AR State Rep. Bob Ballinger (R) who filed Act 137 in response to  Ordinance 2223, wanted it to die. 

So they dusted off the Conservative Noise Machine, their debunked trans predator lies and set out to repeat in Eureka Springs what they had done in Fayetteville and overturn a passed non-discrimination ordinance.   However, the fear and smear campaign in Eureka Springs ran into a huge PR problem when Rev. Acra Lee Turner,  the kneegrow spokesellout they were using to bear false witness for the repeal effort was revealed to have been convicted of sexual assault in Oklahoma.

The karmic wheel also turned on Mike Bishop, who was fired from the presidency of the local chamber of commerce for getting politically involved in encouraging the repeal of Ordinance 2223 without board approval

Yesterday the repeal referendum election happened, and by a nearly 3-1 margin, the people of Eureka Springs voted to keep their ordinance 579-231.

“This is historic, this is so exciting, historic not just for Eureka Springs but for all of Arkansas,” Mayor Butch Berry said to the Eureka Springs Independent  on receiving the tally. “We’re part of this! The feelings of joy here at campaign headquarters are contagious. It reminds me of when Bill Clinton was elected the first time.”

Lamont Richie-Roberson, the Carroll County JP who crafted the ordinance, was also happy about the positive outcome.

“We won! I’m blown away by the margin. It’s almost three-to-one.” Richie-Roberson said he thought the reason the margin was so significant was because the For 2223 camp ran a positive campaign and got people to the polls. “This validates the Eureka Springs welcome sign,” he said.

It also sends the message around the world that Eureka Springs doesn't discriminate.

What I'm Looking For In A Houston Mayoral Candidate

The wonderful thing for me about living in my hometown is that ever since I moved back home in May 2010, Annise Parker has been my mayor.    If it weren't for term limits, I'd bet you my last dollar she would easily win reelection to the mayor's chair for a fourth term if she could run again.

And this is why I hate term limits people, but that's a discussion for another day.

Since she is term limited, that has set off a mufti-candidate scramble for her soon to be vacated seat.  The declared candidates include the man Annise beat in 2013 in Ben Hall, TX State Rep. Sylvester Turner, former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Councilman Stephen Costello, Bill King, the former mayor of Kemah, TX and retired United Airlines executive Joe Ferreira.

There are others considering it, but the clock is ticking toward the date they can officially file in August for the seat and fundraise for what is sure to be an interesting campaign when it kicks off around the tradition start for Houston civic elections around Labor Day

And this is your not so gentle reminder to get registered to vote if you aren't already so that you can take part in the November 3 election.

The largest city in Texas since 1930 is continuing to grow, and will pass Chicago probably before the end of this decade to become the third largest in the United States. But with that growth comes other issues that I am concerned about as a unapologetic African-American trans Houstonian

One is affordable housing.   There are a lot of units being built with more high rises dotting our skyline.   Many of those new units are being built alongside the METRORail light rail line of which two more will be opening for revenue service on May 23.   But those units being built are unaffordable to many people in this city.   

That needs to change to where we have provisions for mixed income housing and possibly incentives for building housing for low income people.  Not all area of Houston have shared in its prosperity, so we need to come up with ways so that prosperity and development positively impact neighborhoods like South Park and 5th Ward and eliminate food deserts.

Speaking of light rail, it not only needs to be expanded and extended to Hobby and IAH, we need to add commuter rail to the mix.   We can no longer build freeways to deal with the increasing traffic loads in the Houston metro area.  

The light rail needs the east west Blue line built toward the Galleria and the Gold Line through the Galleria area is currently being done as a BRT (bus rapid transit) that can be converted to light rail when needed.

Transportation and infrastructure is also an issue in a city that covers 599.6 square miles and three counties, and I'm interested to hear what the candidates have to say about it, especially in a regional context.

And yes, HERO not only needs to continue to be implemented, I would add a category to it in terms of formerly incarcerated folks who have done their time and are trying to restart their lives.

One thing that will be a deal breaker for any Houston mayoral candidate (Ben Hall) seeking my vote is non-support of the current HERO or pledging to kill it.  TBLG Houstonians are part of this community's over 2.2 million people, and we aren't going away.  

You must respect and protect our human rights and any candidate that wants to demonize me to curry favor with the Baptist Ministers Assn of Houston and Vicinity, Ed Young, Dave Wilson or suburban haters like Steve Riggle and Dave Welch will not get my vote.

I have a few months to decide before I hit the polling place which  person deserves my vote as my hometown's  next mayor, but you can bet as the mayor's race intensifies, the commercials start appearing on TV and radio, I'll have a lot to say about it on these electronic pages.

Seattle Trans Woman Sues Blood Bank

Because I have an AB+ blood type, from time to time I would take part in blood drives when the need arose.

But after my 1994 transition, I could no longer donate blood because the US Food and Drug Administration uses a policy they implemented in 1983 that treats trans men and trans women as gay males having sex with other males (MSM's) and permanently bars us from donating blood.

While the FDA is considering new donation  guidelines for gay and bisexual men, they still haven't as yet come up with guidelines that would allow trans people to do so.

Well, a legal case percolating in Washington state may force the FDA to speed up their timetable for doing so.

Jasmine Kaiser attempted to give plasma in exchange for money at CSL Plasma, Inc in Kent, WA but was told because she was assigned male at birth she could not donate.   She was also told by CSL workers she'd be placed on a 'permanent deferral list' and they would inform other blood banks of this status.

Since Washington state has had a law on the books since 2006 prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity,.Kaiser filed suit against CSL with attorneys from Seattle women's rights group Legal Voice and the Keller Rohrback law firm arguing that CSL violated the Washington non discrimination law
CSL Plasma, Inc is also facing a similar lawsuit from another trans person in Minnesota.

They have yet to respond to the Kaiser suit, but according to the Advocate a spokesperson stated that CSL "operates its business in accordance with all applicable industry, state, federal, and international laws, regulations, guidelines, and guidance documents."

Will be interesting to see how this case transpires.

Capt. Thomas Araguz III Being Recognized At LGBT Fallen Heroes Ceremony Tomorrow

Tomorrow afternoon there will be a LGBT Fallen Heroes Memorial Service ceremony at the Women In Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

The first LGBT Fallen Heroes Memorial Service was held in DC's Dupont Circle on May 13, 2012 during National Police Week. What began as a memorial service to honor LGBT law enforcement officers has grown to encompass all uniformed public servants, EMT's and military personnel. It also inspired the subsequent creation of the LGBT Fallen Heroes Fund.

During the memorial service, the stories of our fallen heroes are read aloud by volunteers and then flags that have been flown over the Capitol building in their honor are presented to the significant other of the fallen hero.  The significant other is also presented with a commemorative portrait that serves as a reminder of their loved one’s faithful service.

Sometimes this LGBT Fallen Heroes memorial service serves as the first time those significant others are recognized for the supportive role they played in their departed loved one’s service to their communities.

Because of our country's problematic at times interpretation of marriage laws as they apply to TBLG people, at times the significant others of these fallen heroes are not given the support and respect they deserve. 

The memorial service is a way for the BTLG community and its allies to be there for the surviving significant others during their time of grieving, thank them for their loved one's service, and remind them they are not alone.

One of the people being recognized this year is Capt. Thomas Araguz III, who was killed during an egg farm fire on July 4, 2010 in Wharton, TX.   

Capt. Araguz was married to Nikki Araguz Loyd at the time, and his untimely death resulted in a now five year trans marriage legal fight percolating at the Texas Supreme Court level. 

Judge Randy Clapp (R) voided her marriage after it came to light she was a transgender female, and she has been battling to have her rights reinstated as a widow and to recognize the marriage.

This memorial service is significant for her is because she is being publicly recognized as Capt. Araguz's widow at a memorial event for the first time.

“I am honored to finally begin to be recognized as the widow of my firefighter, however, the event is bittersweet," says Araguz Loyd. 

"Not only do I remember the day he died like it was yesterday, but also the pain of being treated so horribly in those following weeks and to still have to fight for the same rights every widow of a hero deserves.   I wasn’t able to choose his headstone and I am still arguing in courts to reinstate our marriage. We loved each other and I supported him through schooling to make his dreams come true. We were husband and wife; we even met and married in the church that would later ask me to not return. We as trans people have come a long way in regards to receiving acknowledgment of our existence, however we are still lacking the basic protections and rights every person deserves.”

For those of you in the Washington DC metro area who wish to attend, the service will start at 2 PM EDT at the Women In Military Service for America Memorial.   The memorial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

Why I Write

I'm rapidly approaching 6 million hits on this nine year old blog, and it's an upcoming milestone I'm exceedingly proud of.   I'm also proud of the fact that despite some of the challenges that have occasionally popped up, I've been blessed to be able to keep writing on these unapologetically Black trans electronic pages for almost a decade.   

But the reasons I write on this blog are multilayered.   First, I love doing it.   There are times I'm up until 3 or 4 AM in the morning compiling posts because a thought crossed my mind and I can't sleep until it has been placed on electronic paper.

There are time I've arisen before the sun to start a writing day that continues for eight to ten hours.

And as many people who have been to conferences with me know, sometimes they have been frustrated in their attempts to spend quality time with me in the lobby or bar because I have retreated to my room or the hotel's cluster of computers to write for hours.

Most of the time is to inform you of what's going on in Trans World, but not exclusively.   I have thoughts about what's going on in the world around us, and have no problem sharing them with you loyal TransGriot readers.

And from time to time I have to tell y'all what's going on in my own life.

Many times I write to inspire my trans brothers and trans sisters to aim higher in their own lives and be better people than our haters.   It's vitally important in a time period in which society is attacking our very humanity and telling us we shouldn't exist, that someone is writing and saying things that not only counteract the anti-trans negativity, but motivate us to bump the haters and handle our business.

And yes, there are times when I write to help me think about and get over some issues I'm personally dealing with on my own evolutionary feminine journey so I can be that leader, role model and quality human being I strive to be.

I've had at least four people write me over the life of the blog and tell me that perusing my TransGriot blog posts kept them from committing suicide.   I've had others say my posts helped them get through difficult and trying times in their own transitions or was the nudge they needed to make it happen.

And as a writer intimately familiar with the trans community's history, it is my duty to disseminate it to you so you can pass it down to the next generation of trans people and those new to our community.

Hey, that's why the blog is named TransGriot

I've had countless others say thank you to me for doing what I do and for TransGriot's existence.   Well, you can thank my sis from another mother Jordana LeSesne for kicking me in the behind until I started it in January 2006

But the main reason I write is encapsulated in a Maya Angelou quote in which she said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

I have been blessed with the talent, ability, and a glorious opportunity to tell those stories, and I am compelled to tell them.

And that's why I write.

TransGriot Note:  Initial photo is of my Louisville homegirl, writer, and fab reporter Angie Fenton

Miss Universe Japan 2015 Is A Sistah!

I've always been a pageant junkie going back to my childhood and one of my fave pageants to watch is Miss Universe.  

I'm still waiting for the first transfeminine contestant to hit the Miss Universe stage, but until them I'm rooting for the girls of the African Diaspora, wherever they come from, to do well.

When the Miss Universe system finally names the date and location of the next pageant, I'll be glued to the TV watching it because of an unexpected sistah contestant.

When the Miss Universe Japan pageant was held in March, the winner was 21 year old Ariana Miyamoto of Nagasaki.    

She has an interesting backstory.  She was born in Japan today in 1994 (Happy birthday sister Taurus!) to an Japanese mother and an African-American father in Sasebo.   After attending elementary school in Nagasaki, Japan, her parents divorced and she emigrated to the US to attend high school in her father's hometown of Jacksonville, Arkansas before the 1.73 m (5'8") beauty returned to Japan to become a model.

She entered the Miss Universe Japan pageant after a biracial friend of hers committed suicide, and represented her hometown of Nagasaki in the pageant.   The moment she was crowned starts at the 6:00 minute mark.

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Ariana's Miss Universe Japan win has caused some controversy there because in the eyes of some of her critics, she isn't Japanese enough despite being born there, a Japanese citizen, currently residing in that nation, her mother being full blooded Japanese, having fifth degree mastery of calligraphy and she being a fluent Japanese speaker.

And I do have some memories of Jesse Jackson having to make a few trips to Japan starting in the 90's to tackle anti-Black attitudes there.

Miyamoto's win has also opened the doors to a conversation in Japan about what it means to be Japanese in a multi-racial world.  At the same time it also gives African-Americans an opportunity to understand what life is like for a Black woman living in Japan and if it has improved since those contentious 1990's.

Miyamoto is eager to use her newfound fame to facilitate that conversation.  She's hoping her selection as Miss Universe Japan will help change attitudes in her nation toward people of color.

“I want to start a revolution,” Miyamoto said with a laugh. “I can’t change things overnight, but in 100-200 years there will be very few pure Japanese left, so we have to start changing the way we think.”

Ariana is not the first, nor the last Japanese person with African-American heritage they will see in a nation that is 98.5% ethnic Japanese and is not as monoracial as it thinks it is.

And yeah, just goes to show you how beautiful Black women are, no matter what nation they reside in

Congratulations Ariana!   Hope to see you rock the Miss Universe stage in a few months as you attempt to become the first Japanese Miss Universe winner since 2007.

Judge Not, Homophobes

Love this quote by Laverne Cox, and it got me thinking about the on target point that she's making.

Indeed, how in the hell do you faith-based haters think that Conservagod (what I call your right-wing interpretation of God)  will judge SGL, bi and trans people for who they love, and that same God will not judge you for hating someone you'll never met?

Yeah, you anti-LGBT peeps that claim you're Christian sure do violate Mark 12:31 on a regular basis.

What's Mark 12:31 you ask?   Let's peruse that scripture together shall we?

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

It's been painfully obvious to everyone in LGBT World and our allies that those of you who this Laverne Cox quote applies to are basically hiding behind the Bible to unleash your inner homophobes and oppress people.

We ain't having it.   We have long since reached the point in which we are beyond sick and tired of being oppressed by you alleged 'Christians'

And you faux Christians with your anti-GLBT doctrines give real Christians a bad name.

If you don't like me calling you faith-based oppressors, haters, Bible thumping bigots, or whatever other creative sobriquet I can think of, then when when you stop acting like oppressors and start living up to the tenets of Christian faith that you claim to follow, them I'll think about giving you some respect.

Because I don't have to respect any person that wishes to roll back mine or my community's human rights.  And it's your unbridled several decade war on the humanity of LGBT people that causes us to not like your hypocritical behinds either.

So judge not, homophobes, lest ye be not judged.

FLOTUS Tuskegee Commencement Speech On Race

First Lady Michelle Obama was the commencement speaker for Tuskegee University's 2015 commencement last Saturday, and in that 30 minute speech she touched on some of the racist disrespect that she and President Obama have received that predated his election in November 2008.

Mrs. Obama recounted the racist comments she and her husband have endured during their time in the political spotlight as the eventual First Couple.  The reprehensible highlights included she and the future President being assumed to be “the help” by fellow guests at formal events and Fox News calling the First Lady her “husband’s crony of color” and “Obama’s baby mama.”

Yeah, that last one pissed me and my mother the hell off when we heard it.  We both went on a long rant discussing it one night

But the point the FLOTUS was making in this speech is that it isn't about her, but the ongoing systemic problem of racism in America.  She also urged affected communities to never give up hope for a better tomorrow as we fight the ills that negatively affect us today.

So here's the video of the Tuskegee University commencement speech

H-Town Discrimination, Your Time Has Expired

With the rapid approach of the one year anniversary on May 28 of the passage of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), I've been going down a pleasant memory lane about that struggle to pass it.

I was proud to have fulfilled one of my civil rights dreams and be part of the team that fought tooth and nail, endured long council sessions, and did the  work that got  HERO passed.

For me, it began with the first of a series of TransGriot post I wrote starting in September 2013 in which I stated that I wouldn't accept any HERO that wasn't trans inclusive.  

But I wasn't just sitting behind my computer.  I was also taking my unapologetically Black trans behind to City Council starting in January 2014 to repeat what I said on the blog. 

Then it was being present for several packed and contentious hearings in late April and May with plenty of drama, ups and downs, two coming outs and the amazing feeling of joy when the 11-6 City Council vote for passage of it happened.

O course the haters tried to gather signatures for a repeal referendum, fubared that badly, then tried to sue their way towards getting that referendum.  

Never mind the fact their lack of reading comprehension about the clearly laid out rules for collecting signatures is why their riddled with fraud petitions were rejected by the city on August 4 and they failed in court.twice.

The HERO is finally being implemented, and note to Steve Riggle, we still haven't had ANY Houston bakers being forced to bake swastika cakes.  Neither have we had epidemic levels of cross dressed predators invading Houston feminine bathrooms.

If you're looking for sexual harassers and child predators, you need to look in your own pastoral ranks.   I'm sick and tired of you children and grandchildren of pointed hood wearing segregationists hiding behind the Bible to express your deep seated need to oppress people you don't like.

The people I have major  contempt for are the cookie chomping ministers and their sheeple who opposed the passage of HERO simply because it included sexual orientation and gender identity as two of the 15 categories it covered, and sold us out to kill your conservaazzes.

It was also hurtful to see people who share my ethnic heritage regurgitate right wing talking point and collude with the same individuals in the Texas conservafool movement that oppress the entire Black community

The bottom line is contrary to the lie you, Dave Welch and your kneegrow sellouts kept trying to pimp during the HERO fight, the fraud ridden collection of signatures for a ballot initiative and the runup to the trial is that we already had an election concerning HERO, and it was in November 2013. 

Guess y'all had selective memory about the fact the then proposed ERO was an election issue not only in the mayoral race that Mayor Parker won, but at the city council level races.   The candidates who supported implementing a non-discrimination ordinance won at the ballot, and the ones like Ben Hall who opposed it (and still does) lost.

But what we do have is a local remedy to address any discrimination happening in the Houston city limits in 15 categories, and if you faith based oppressors and your kneegrow auxiliaries don't like that because it covers the Houston TBLG community, too bad.

H-town discrimination, your time has expired, and I'm glad that my hometown has a human rights ordinance that covers me and all Houstonians.

Kelly Ripa GLAAD Media Awards Speech

The New York division of the GLAAD Media Awards occurred Saturday night.

One of the awardees was Kelly Ripa, who received the Excellence In Media Award

She was introduced by CNN's Anderson Cooper, and said during her speech that we need to be vigilant about attempts to rebrand discrimination like the odious 'religious freedom' laws our right wing opponents are trying to foist upon this nation.

She also noted it was strange to her to be receiving an award for "just treating people like people", and noted we still have a long way to go toward acceptance.

GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis hailed Ripa as part of the reason for optimism in a statement.

"For over a decade, Kelly Ripa has greeted millions of viewers with messages of acceptance and inclusion," she said. "By sharing inclusive stories with her audience and loudly voicing support for her LGBT friends and fans, Kelly is helping to drive acceptance forward."

The IDAHOT Is Coming!

The IDAHOT is coming next Sunday! 

So what is the IDAHOT?   It's the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia or IDAHOT for shot.   It was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social justice movements, the media and the public to the violence and discrimination faced internationally by TBLGI people.

The IDAHOT has the goal of mobilizing and uniting millions of people in support of the recognition of human rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

It coincides with the May 17, 1990 date that the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.  It's something the international transgender community is working toward having happen in terms of depathologizing transsexuality with the upcoming edition of the ICD-11

When it was founded it was known as the International Day Against Homophobia or IDAHO.   Transphobia was added to the title in 2009 to recognize the different issues impacting sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.  This year, to acknowledge the issues faced by bisexual people, biphobia was added to the title.

IDAHOT is recognized by 130 nations, the European Parliament, and other local authorities around the globe.   Several UN agencies also recognize the IDAHOT with specific events.

And yes, it has its own hashtag #IDAHOT2015

So no May 17, let's join folks around the world in recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and seek to create greater awareness of what people need to do to eradicate it.

Another Cali Trans Teen Becomes A Prom Queen

California has led the way in crowing trans feminine prom and homecoming queens, and I'm happy to report that another trans teen has been selected by her high school as their prom queen.

Meet 17 year old Angie Esteban, who not only has persevered through a transition that has been bumpy at times, but on April 18 became Salinas High's first trans feminine prom queen.

The road to it started several months ago during homecoming when she was a volunteer on the senior class homecoming dance committee.  

She saw the homecoming court girls during a pep rally and thought, "I'd like to do that."  

Several friends got together, got her nominated, and the campaign to get her elected started earnest with the enthusiastic support of her classmates.

Angie's post graduation plans are to attend college and become a contestant on America's Next Top Model.

Happy Mother's Day 2015

Time for me to wish Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and mother figures in our community and beyond.

Raising healthy, happy and well adjusted kids is a difficult job that at times is grossly under appreciated, but necessary for society.

And I definitely want to give a shout out to all the moms who are raising trans kids, no matter what age they are..

I had the pleasure last year of meeting many trans moms at PTHC last year including Jazz's amazing mom Jeanette.  I also met some amazing moms of trans kids right here in Texas.

Also need to give a shout out on this day to all the trans moms who are raising or have raised kids and holding it down for their families.

Happy Mother's Day!  Hope you have an amazing day and celebrate many more in the years to come.


TransGriot Note: The photo is of Tracey and her amazing mom Michelle.

Fairfax Co. VA School Board Adds Gender Identity To Non Discrimination Policy

The Fairfax County School District is the largest in Virginia and the tenth largest in the nation, and Thursday night had a vote adding gender identity to their nondiscrimination policy on the agenda.

The haters had something on their agenda too, and it was busing in out of town haters to stir up anti-trans animus in a desperate attempt to derail doing the right thing for its trans and gender variant students, teachers and staff.

The contentious meeting took place in front of a room packed with opponents to the proposed policy change that were polite to the ten speakers allowed to comment pro and con on Policy 1450, but cut loose to rudely interrupt board members who spoke in favor of the change as they unleashed every lie from their anti-trans fear and smear playbook.

The transphobes were so out of control that five were removed from the meeting room, others were threatened with removal, and Board Chair Tamara Denarek Kaufax threatened to clear the room if they didn't cease and desist with the nekulturny behavior.

After a failed attempt by the two board opponents of Policy 1450 to delay the vote until October, the Fairfax School Board voted 10-1 with one abstention to pass it as the opponents shouted insults at the board and policy supporters and stormed out of the room.

Ryan McElveen, the Fairfax School Board member who introduced the update to Policy 1450, proclaimed, “Our board will be remembered not for postponing, not for delaying civil rights but for protecting all of our employees and all of our children.”

A statement from Chair Kaufax said that the policy will ensure everyone in the district is treated “with dignity and respect.”

And that's all transpeople and trans students want.  Policies that protect their human rights so they can focus on getting their education, and if they are staff or teachers, do their jobs to the best of their ability..

That's obviously something the professional trans haters forgot in their zeal to foment hatred of transpeople for their paymasters.

Shut Up Fool Awards-Mother's Day Weekend Edition

It's Mother's Day weekend, and on Sunday we get the opportunity to once again honor our mother's and the mother figures in our lives.  

I also want to say thanks to all the mothers of trans children.  We love you, appreciate what you do to fight for the rights of you children to grow up in a world that tells them they shouldn't exist, and also raise those kid to be amazing people.

It's also another Friday afternoon that we take time out to call out the fool, fools or group of fools that only a mother could love,

It's time for our usual Friday edition of the TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards.

Honorable mention number one is Sylvia Ann Driskell, who filed a handwritten spelling error filled federal lawsuit against 'all homosexuals on earth' as a self proclaimed 'ambassador for God and Jesus Christ' in Nebraska.

The suit was dismissed by Judge John Gerrard on May 6.  The United States Federal Courts were created to resolve actual cases and controversies arising under the Constitution and the laws of the United States," he wrote. "A federal court is not a forum for debate or discourse on theological matters."   

Honorable mention number two is Keith Ablow, who whined on FOX Noise that men should be able to veto abortions.   Dude, you ain't the one who is going to have to carry that fetus to term and give birth to it 9 months later.   Our bodies, our choice

Honorable mention number three is alleged 'christian'  Randall Herman, for developing that waste of bandwith Kill The F****t hate game that was available for download but eventually pulled from Greenlight that awarded points for killing gay and trans folks.  He promises that his next release will be just as offensive.

You breathing the same air on Planet Earth I breathe is offensive.

Honorable mention number four is Tony Evans.  This cookie chomping knnegrow parted his lips to recite the BS that Black families were better under slavery.

Really?   I'd need another post to talk about just how off the charts ignorant and stupid this comment is, especially coming from your allegedly Black azz.

Honorable mention number five goes to Ben Carson, who is making a strong bid for 2015 SUF of the Year.   He says presidents aren't bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court.  

Yeah right, back in the day another Republican who was POTUS said the same BS, and he had to resign from office in 1974 to avoid being impeached and removed from office.

This week's Shut Up Fool winner is Pamela Geller.

She is a racist, SPLC certified Islamophobe, and in the wake of the attack in Garland aimed at her, tried to claim she was Rosa Parks, then started crying white women's tears and tried to compare her situation to a rape victim.

Um naw boo boo kitty, when you make your rep spouting hate speech attacking Islam, you know there are violent peeps who will kill you for doing so,and you arrogantly think being a white female will protect you from their ire.
I note your azz is spouting your hate sppech inside the borders of the US, and you are banned from traveling to Great Britain.

Free speech has consequences, and she almost got herself and 200 people killed in Garland because of her vanillacentric privileged arrogance, and now she's crying white women's tears in order to avoid taking responsibility for her part in this mess.

Pamela Geller, shut up fool!

BTAC 2016 Save The Date

Didn't take long to find out the dates for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in 2016,

While the location of the fifth annual edition of this conference is yet to be determined along with the host hotel, we do know the dates.

The fifth annual edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference will take place in a city to be determined from April 25-May 1.

As of yet we don't know if it will be in Dallas or back at the Hilton Doubletree Campbell Centre, but we do know we sold out the hotel, drew over 200 people to attend it, and I was told by the hotel management and staff while I was there they want us back.

For those of you who missed this year's event, you now know when it's happening in 2016, so start planning now so you can be there for an amazing conference.

Japan's Ministry Of Education Urges Schools To Do More For Trans Students

While some school districts in the United States no thanks to conservafools are moving to oppress trans students, other nations are going in the opposite direction in their education systems.

The Japanese Ministry of Education on April 30 issued a notice to local school boards imploring them to do more for transgender students to reduce their drop out rates.

Many Japanese schools already allow trans students to dress in the uniforms that conform to their expressed gender identity and use the locker rooms and bathrooms of their choice from elementary to the high school level.

The notice not only encourages all schools to do so,but also encourages schools to take steps to accommodate gay and lesbian students.

n a 2012 document, the education ministry urged schools to care for transgender students but stopped short setting out specific measures. Moreover, no mention of sexual minorities was made.
In June 2014, the ministry revealed that schools nationwide had recognized 606 students as transgender, but noted the actual number was probably much higher as LGBTI students often have difficulty coming out.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/japan-schools-told-let-trans-students-wear-uniform-use-bathroom-choice010515#sthash.agaVSKjW.dpuf

Trans students, because of the pressure to conform in Japanese society, drop out of school,  The  Ministry of Education expressed concerns about that, and in 2012 put out a notice encouraging school districts to care for transgender students, but stopped short of recommending specific measures to do so.

In June 2014 the ministry noted that schools had recognized 606 students nationwide as transgender, but surmised that the number of trans students was probably much higher.because of the difficulty of TBLGI students to come out.

Our school districts could learn a lesson from Japan's education system and do the same thing.   They will learn, as Japan has, that if you give trans kids the opportunity to be themselves, they will stay in school, get their education, and thrive personally and academically.

Indian Trans 2015 PTHC Conference Participant's US Visa Held Up

For those of you who have been attending the upcoming Philadelphia Trans Health Conference that will happen June 4-6 for years, you are quite aware of the fact that the largest trans conference in the United States has garnered a well earned and growing international reputation.

Last year when I attended my first PTHC, I was pleased to discover there were folks from several nations walking those Pennsylvania Convention Center halls and doing panels. 

I met a trans brother from South Africa during one of the panel discussions I'd attended, and had a fascinating conversation with him after it concluded about trans issues in his nation.

Since the trans human rights movement is an international human rights movement, anything we can do as Americans to educate and inform ourselves about what is happening internationally is a bonus to what we are trying to do here.

One of those international trans people invited to participated in this year's 14th edition of PTHC is India's Amruta Soni.  She is an Advocacy Officer for the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust and is scheduled to speak at PTHC about trans people living with HIV in India on June 5, but the granting of her US visitor's visa has been held up.

The Indian government has enacted a policy that took effect in April which allows trans people in that nation to use a third gender option, denoted by a 'T' in the gender marker on their passports.   Soni has a new passport with the 'T' designation she received on April 17, but when she applied for her US visa, the forms only have binary gender options, so she chose female.

When Soni attended her May 5 visa interview at the US consulate in Kolkota, her visa was neither approved or denied, but was told her application was put on hold because they didn't have information about the 'T' designation, and could only consider the M (male) or F (female) options.

Soni said to the Times of India in an interview, "When the Indian government recognizes us as the third gender, why is the US government so indecisive about it? 

Soni is looking forward to coming to Philadelphia for the PTHC, and expeditiously approved.  Soni said, "it's a great opportunity and I hope I don't miss it out due to my sex".

I and the PTHC organizing team hope you don't miss out on it either, because it would also be a travesty if you couldn't be there to talk about your experiences in India because of a denied visa application.

TransGriot Update:  Soni's visitors visa was granted Thursday after her application was held for two days, so PTHC peeps, you will see her speak on June 5.

Anti-Trans Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Barnes & Noble

Victoria Ramirez spent six years working at two Barnes & Noble stores in Orange County, California.  When she informed her managers she was going to begin her gender transition from male to female in a company that has a seven year run of perfect scores on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, can you guess what the company's response was? 

The managers responded by prohibiting Ms Ramirez from working as a woman and then firing her when she protested. 

And once again, just as in the recent Saks Fifth Avenue trans discrimination case they settled out of court with Leyth Jamal, the company doing the transphobic discriminating has bragged about having a perfect score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index.

An Equality Index that trans people have pointed out to the Human Rights Campaign has some glaring flaws when it comes to trans people, and here's another example of trans folks falling though the cracks of it..

Ms Ramirez was subjected to harassment regarding her gender identity and expression, berated by her manager about her long hair, makeup, and nail polish, told her appearance was inappropriate for a “family store” and that she should “think of the children.”

When she came out as trans*, managers set impossible conditions for Ms. Ramirez, essentially forbidding her to transition. They told her she was not allowed to wear women’s clothing, discuss her transition with her co-workers, use female pronouns to identify herself, or use the women’s bathroom.

Overwhelmed by the pressure to hide her female gender identity at work, Ms. Ramirez began to experience on-going panic attacks and severe anxiety. When she told her manager she couldn’t hide who she was any longer, she was fired.

“I loved my job at Barnes & Noble,” said Ramirez. “I put myself through college working there. I thought this company shared my values of hard work, integrity, and respect for all people. But when I came out as transgender, they didn’t live up to those values – instead they responded by mocking me and forcing me to hide who I really am. After giving six years of my life to Barnes & Noble, I was devastated when I was fired simply for being myself. I lost my livelihood, my financial stability, and my confidence.”

Yesterday Transgender Law Center, Alexander Krakow + Glick LLP, and the Law Offices of G. Samuel Cleaver filed suit against Barnes & Noble, Inc. for its discriminatory treatment of Ms. Ramirez.

“The law is clear: no one should be targeted for humiliation and harassment at work and ultimately lose their job because of who they are,” said Kris Hayashi, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “It’s unacceptable for any employee to go through what Victoria  experienced at Barnes & Noble, and it’s particularly disturbing given the public image the company has cultivated around its support for LGBT people. Unfortunately, this case illustrates the fact that discrimination against transgender employees is still all too common, leading to sky-high rates of unemployment and poverty in our community.”

Guess those Barnes & Noble managers haven't heard (or chose to ignore the fact) that California prohibits discrimination against trans people.   They will also find out the hard way that Title VII, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in employment, has been widely interpreted in recent years by courts and federal agencies to protect transgender employees.   

Just last month the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a landmark decision in Lusardi v. McHugh, a case that was also brought by the Transgender Law Center.

Lusardi v. McHugh held that denying access to restrooms and refusing to use pronouns consistent with the employee’s gender identity constitutes unlawful discrimination.   Ms. Ramirez’s suit is brought under California law, which includes an explicit prohibition of discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression.

And this is also a prime example of why non-discrimination laws with gender identity and expression protections matter.

Sad that once again, another company is going to learn the painful lesson that  discrimination costs you money, and they are going to have the pay the trans lady for the pain and suffering they unnecessarily inflicted on her.

Unjust Florida HB 583 Is Dead!

While I was at BTAC, the Florida legislative session ended.   What that means is that is filed bills didn't pass either chamber and make it to the governor's desk to become law, they are dead for this session.

I'm doing the happy dance because the end of Florida's legislative session means the unjust HB 583 filed by transphobic GOP legislator Frank Artiles (R-Miami) is dead for 2015!

The unjust bill that sought to  criminalize trans people's lives and its senate counterpart didn't clear either chamber before the end of the Florida legislative session on April 30.   I and the trans people planning to visit Florida in the near or distant future are thankful we don't have to worry about a nouveau Jim Crow law forcing us to show our papers to pee or risk jail time to do so.

It's probably a huge relief to the just moved to Florida Southern Comfort Conference and its board, who were strangely silent as the human rights of transpeople in the Sunshine State were under attack by an unjust anti-trans bill that could have done fatal damage to SCC.

I'm happy for my trans homies and homettes living in Florida that Artiles' attempt to legislate transphobia failed. 

And yeah, Frank Artiles, you can peddle that 'this was a public safety issue' lie all you wish on FOX Noise, but let's be real, you are a vanillacentric privileged trans oppressor who gleefully filed this bill to attack and dehumanize trans Floridians because you were pissed Miami-Dade was doing the right thing for its trans citizens and protecting them from people who wish to discriminate against them like you.

And I hope the trans community and their allies punish you at the polls for being a trans oppressor.

Great job Florida trans community being agents of your own trans liberation and doing what it took to kill that unjust bill along with your allies.
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