OOTH 2015-Thursday Recap

The first full day of OUT on the Hill activity
found me battling DC traffic in order to get to HRC headquarters for the opening plenary session scheduled to kick off at 9 AM

I got there about 9:15, but because there were so many people checking in to pick up their registration packets, the start got delayed a bit.

But we did get the OUT on the Hill party started at 10 AM as NBJC ED and CEO Sharon Lettman-Hicks and Venton Jones stepped to the podium began a fast paced opening plenary that focused on the health and wellness issues facing our Black TBLGQ/SGL ranks that covered the issues and the NBJC responses to them that got us back on schedule for our first workshop sessions of the day that commenced at 10:45 AM.

Since I`d seen Brandon`s excellent effemiphobia presentation, I checked out the one entitled Somewhere Over The Rainbow:  Can We Talk About Bullying?

Noelle Adams and Margaret Conley launched into their presentation that talked about the causes, led us through an exercise demonstrating bullying, strategies for combating it, and triggered an interactive discussion by the session attendees and our facilitators.

12:15 PM came too quickly, and we reassembled for lunch and the start of the 12:30 lunchtime plenary discussion focusing on the health and wellness of Black bi and lesbian cis women of color.

That was also another informative discussion that pointed out the lack of research and data focused on bisexual and lesbian women, and also the dearth of information and research concerning masculine presenting women.

That segued into the second plenary session of the day that discussed the just introduced by Congress Equality Act moderated by Stacey Long Simmons.   The panelists discussed the proposed law, gave us a snapshot of where we are in the legislative process  (170 House co-sponsors, 40 senate co-sponsors) and how it impacts our Black SGL, trans and bi community.

We also has the pleasure of having one of the sponsors of the legislation in Rep. Ted Liu (D-CA) visit us, talk about some of the issues facing BTLGQ people, and then take questions.

And yes, your fave blogger asked one about getting trans as an identifier option on the  upcoming 2020 census.  His response?   He likes the idea, and I`m going to have some discussions with his legislative staff about it.

There was also some discussion by Sandy James about the US Trans Survey, which is closing in a few days before the floor was opened to questions from the audience before it ended at 4:30 PM.

At 5:00 PM we made our way to the 8th floor of the building for the OUT on the Hill welcoming reception HRC sponsored.   We enjoyed taking time to meet of and new friends, network and have some conversations about various subjects before it ended.

This first full day of the sixth annual OUT on the Hill is done.   So looking forward to tomorrow and my own lunchtime plenary discussion.

OUT On The Hill-Friday Preview

Day two for me at the sixth annual NBJC  OUT on the Hill in DC and I couldn't be happier to be inside 1-495 again for #OOTH2015.

What's on the #OOTH2015 agenda for today?  Going to be an interesting one in which we have the morning events at HRC headquarters, and then after the plenary I'm participating in at 12:30 PM EDT, we shift to our venue for the rest of the conference in The Beacon Hotel for the afternoon and evening events.

It'll also be moving day for me because I'll be shifting from hanging out with Joanna Cifredo to the conference hotel.   Still nice to have trans sisters all over the country to hang out with.

After today's  9 AM EDT opening plenary session , which will be a policy discussion on the topic of Reigniting the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in the Black LGBTQ/SGL Community, the second set of three concurrent workshops  takes place before  my other business of the day.

I'll be taking part in the 12:30 PM luncheon plenary session entitled The Plight of Trans Women of Color In America.   Yeah, it's a subject I know a little something-something about.

And yes loyal TransGriot readers, I'll have the Friday Shut Up Fool post going up on schedule at noon CDT.

After we move to The Beacon Hotel, two sets of concurrent workshops before the OOTH 2015 Sponsors and Partners Reception.

And once again as a reminder. you can check out the #OOTH2015 hashtag on Twitter to catch up with what people are tweeting about this sixth annual edition of the event.

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 2

The opening weekend of the 2015 NFL season is over and I had a good news-bad news start to this year's NFL prognostication contest.  

The good news was I got off to an above .500 start.   The bad news was not only did the Texans lose, I went 9-7,   Not good enough when the defending champ jumps out to an 11-5 opening week.

Mike's bid to make TransGriot prognostication history and be the first ever repeat champ has gotten off to a great start with 2013 champ Eli right on his heels at 10-6.

But I can't be too upset.  It's way early, I got past the first week, and now we move into NFL Week Two.  Another sixteen games.   Another .opportunity to take this contest one week at a time and have no sub .500 weeks.  

Week 1 Results                2015 Season Record

TransGriot    9-7               TransGriot    9-7
Mike            11-5               Mike           11-5
Eli                10-6               Eli               10-6


NFL Week 2    (Home team in CAPS)

Thursday Night
Broncos over CHIEFS

Sunday Noon
Patriots over BILLS
Titans over BROWNS
PANTHERS over Texans
Cardinals over BEARS
BENGALS over Chargers
Lions over VIKINGS
SAINTS over Buccaneers
Falcons over GIANTS
49ers over STEELERS
Rams over WASHINGTON

Sunday Afternoon
Ravens over RAIDERS
Dolphins over JAGUARS
EAGLES over Cowboys

Sunday Night
PACKERS over Seahawks

Monday Night
COLTS over Jets

OOTH 2015-Wednesday Recap

It was a long and busy day for your fave blogger that included waking up at 4:30 AM CDT so Dee Dee could get me to Hobby for a 7:25 AM nonstop flight to Washington DC so I could get there before noon Eastern time.

My Southwest bird got me, Brandon Mack and Rep. (and hopefully future Houston mayor) Sylvester Turner here early, and after picking up our bags, we headed to the WMATA subway station to catch our DC bound train from DCA.

I met my homegirl Joanna Cifredo at the L`Enfant Plaza WMATA subway station befoore we headed to her place near the Columbia Heights station to drop off my bags, grab a bite and catch up on each others lives before I departed her place for that meeting.

The meeting was a roundtable discussion on LGBT Black women's health and wellness issues that started at 3:30 PM EDT.

And that invitation only facilitated discussion at the Beacon Hotel was a mix of 21 amazing and accomplised LGBTQ/SGL women.   Some were my old friends in the struggle like Donna Payne, June Crenshaw, Valerie Spencer, Lourdes Hunter, Earline Budd,  Stacey Long-Simmons, Samantha Master and Danielle Moodie-Mills along wih the amazing women I got to meet before and after today`s needed discussion like our moderator Dr.Linda Spooner and Bishop Allyson Abrams.

It was a fascinating and much needed intergenerational three hour conversation that covered intimate partner violence,  historical anti-Black hatred, aging and elder care issues, safety, housing , building intergenerational ssterhood and what to do to get culturally competent health care that works for all Black, SGL, bi and trans women.

After that meeting concluded, it was post discussion eats and cocktails in which the enlightening discussions and conversation continued until some of us left to go check out the National Action Network reception over at HRC headquarters across the street.

After spending twenty minutes there, I headed back to Joanna`s place so I could begin to process what I have been blessed to just witness, and marvel at the conclusion of an amazing first day at #OOTH2015.

OUT On The Hill- Thursday Preview

My first full day waking up in DC and being in the NBJC OUT on the Hill house for the first time since 2012.  .Am I excited about that and seeing my NBJC family for the first time since #CC15?   Does Beyonce have curves?

Also felt good being able to get some sleep as I try to get my body adjusted to East coast time.

My plenary isn't until Friday, so I get to spend today in reporter mode.


So what's happening today?    Hmm let's check the schedule.   The opening #OOTH2015 plenary kicks off at 9 AM EDT and is entitled A Focus on the Health and Wellness of our Community.

That's followed by the first concurrent OOTH 2015 sessions starting at 10:45 AM, two general plenary sessions at 12:30 PM and 2;45 PM followed by the welcome reception starting at 5;00 PM

All of today's OOTH 2015 plenaries, panel discussions and the welcome reception will take place at the Human Rights Campaign Headquarters   I(f you're in the DC area still not too late to get a day pass and join us.

Looking forward to spending the day getting my learn on, tweeting and writing about today's events You can check out the #OOTH2015 hashtag to follow the action.