2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 13

Down goes New England!  Down goes New England!   The Patriots traveled to Denver and tumbled from the unbeaten ranks in this Sunday night clash thanks to the Broncos knocking them off in overtime 30-24.

That leaves the Carolina Panthers as the only unbeaten team left in the NFL, and they have a stranglehold for now as the top seed in the NFC playoff race..  

The Texans for the first time in this 2015 NFL season are now above .500 after winning their fourth straight game and playing their way back into the NFL playoff picture with their 24-6 win over the New Orleans Saints..  They are unfortunately still tied with the Colts and have a Week 15 showdown for the AFC South tittle in Indianapolis

Eli's streak of four straight weeks in which he has either won or tied for weekly top honors came to a screeching halt as this time his upset specials failed him.   It was Mike and I tying for Week 12 honors with 11-5 records as he maintained his two game lead on me.

So yeah, need to make up two games and running out of weeks to do it since he has led from wire to wire so far in this 2015 prognostication contest.   But do have 16 more games to pick and attempt to get that perfect week..

So let's get to it.

Week 12 Results                                          2015 Season Record.
TransGriot    11-5                                        TransGriot      111-65
Mike             11-5                                        Mike               113-63
Eli                   8-8                                        Eli                   107-69
.

NFL Week 13   (Home teams in CAPS)

Thursday Night
Packers over LIONS

Sunday Noon
Texans over BILLS
Ravens over DOLPHINS
Bengals over BROWNS
BEARS over 49ers
Jaguars over TITANS
Seahawks over VIKINGS
Jets over GIANTS
Cardinals over RAMS
BUCCANEERS over Falcons

Sunday Afternoon
Broncos over CHARGERS
Chiefs over RAIDERS
Panthers over SAINTS
PATRIOTS over Eagles

Sunday Night
STEELERS over Colts

Monday Night 
WASHINGTON over Cowboys

NY #TransLivesMatter March For Kathy Sal Tonight

As some of you may be aware of, Kathy Sal, a 35 year old trans Latina woman was savagely attacked in New York's Jackson Heights neighborhood early Sunday morning and rushed to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition.  Sal was then to the anger of many New York area trans people was disrespectfully misgendered and deadnamed by the New York media.

An anti-trans violence rally was quickly organized and held on Tuesday night, and another #TransLivesMatter anti-trans violence protest is scheduled for this afternoon at 4 PM EST on the corner of 93rd St and Roosevelt Ave in Queens.

Here's the video commentary from Brooke Cerda concerning the Sal attack




Hope you New York area trans peeps and our allies in the area will show up for the protest rally later today, and may Kathy Sal have a speedy recovery from all her injuries.

I also hope that the waste of DNA who did this to her is expeditiously arrested and justice is served.

Africa Trans* Visibility Day In South Africa

One of our pioneering trans models in Lauren Foster was born and grew up in South Africa. The Gender DynamiX trans org was founded there in 2005 by Liesl Theron, and you have had groundbreaking trans advocates in other African nations like Audrey Mbugua of Kenya and Victor Mukasa of Uganda.

But it has unfortunately taken time for people there and on the rest of the planet to realize that trans people exist on the African continent along with some amazing trans human rights advocates and give them the attention they deserve.

The Johannesburg based organization Iranti is organizing Africa Trans* Visibility Day, which will  kick off on December 5 in Johannesburg from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM local time at Constitution Hill..  



The Africa Trans* Visibility Day event has attracted attention by activists from Lesotho, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana and host nation South Africa to celebrate the upcoming International Human Rights Day on December 10 and discuss trans rights and other social justice work on the African continent.

The Africa Trans* Visibility Day will also serve as a platform and organizing opportunity for African trans people to claim their human rights and push for access to health care, legal recognition, employment and safety and security issues in their various nations.    

And I couldn't be happier as a child of the African Diaspora that this event is taking place.

I hope this serves as the catalyst for other trans events on the African continent that lead to the recognition of the humanity and human rights of trans Africans in their various nations, and I hope the event is successful.  

The Latest Ad Whacking The HERO Haters

Once again, better late than never, but another hard hitting ad attacking the HERO haters is coming out just in time for the first day of early voting which started today and runs through December 8.

The runoff election itself is December 12, and here's the official list of TransGriot endorsed candidates for this crucial runoff election.

But back to signal boosting this latest ad whacking the HERO haters and the money man behind them, Dr. Steven Hotze.

The Trans Hate Is Already Flowing For The Holidays

This post I wrote asking for a holiday season free from anti-trans hatred was barely up 72 hours when in rapid succession, my junior senator from Canada started trying to tell the quickly debunked lie that the terrorist who attacked the Colorado Springs, CO Planned Parenthood clinic was transgender, a sellout kneegrow minister started throwing the anti-trans bathroom meme shade in Jacksonville, FL I received word that trans woman Kathy Sal was viciously attacked outside her home and subsequently disrespected by the New York media, and another British trans woman locked up in a men prison was found dead in her cell in less than a month..

And as you probably guessed, the comment threads about the Sal attack are overflowing with anti-trans ignorance.

To add to that depressing quartet of holiday news, the verdict came out Tuesday in the Jennifer Laude murder trial in the Philippines, and my transpinay sisters (and yours truly) are not happy that her murderer Jonathan Pemberton parlayed the trans panic defense into a 6 to 12 year sentence,

Unfortunately it seems that once again the trans hate is flowing for the holidays along with the egg nog, and we're only two days into the month of December.

Yes peeps, it's going to get better, but because of the increased visibility, we're also going to get increased hatred from the ignorati and those folks insecure in their own gender identities and sexual orientations.  The fact we trans folks are owning our power terrifies them, and they want to stamp it out.

But we must stand taller, strut proudly, and declare in a loud and unshakable voice, "I am a trans woman (or trans man) and I will not allow you to erase my humanity during this holiday season."

And we must hold on tighter to our blood and chosen family, friends and allies that love us in these trying times.   We must also be resolute in our faith in whatever higher power you believe in that this too shall pass.

January 2016 will be here before we know it.

Sellout Out Of Town Kneegrow Pastor Cancels Plan To Do Jax Drag Protest

Jacksonville, FL has become the next human rights battleground in the wake of the HERO debate and the Jacksonville City Council set to consider their inclusive ERO next year.  As you probably guessed. the faux faith based haters are already trying to deploy the debunked bathroom predator lie.

Jacksonville, my offer to help combat the lies still stands.

Monday night my mayor Annise Parker was invited by the Duval County Democratic Party to discuss what happened in H-town to kill the HERO.  

Pastor Kenneth Adkins, whose behind doesn't even live in Jacksonville, but St. Simon's Island, GA and pastors a church in Brunswick, GA, decided to ignorantly stick his nose in Jacksonville human rights business.   Or was he paid to do so?

Yo, Kenneth. How much money did the local haters pay you to be the human shield for their hate campaign against the Jacksonville ERO?   My inquiring mind wants to know the answer to that question

He threatened to show up at the protest in drag to allegedly 'send a message to the Duval County Democratic Party' , but backed out at the last minute.

Mayor Parker did comment after her speech about Pastor Adkins transphobic ignorance.

“Anyone who would do that has no concept at all of what gender identity truly is and how hateful and hurtful that is,” Mayor Parker told WFOX-TV.




But this just goes to show you once again how the anti-human rights forces since 1993 are continuing to use sellout kneegrow (they don't deserve to be called Black) pastors to be the face of their campaigns while the predominately white professional gaybaiters do the dirty work to kill human rights laws behind the scenes.

As Rev. F.N. Williams and Rev. Max Miller found out here, once the predominately white professional oppressors don't need them any more, they will kick them to the curb and take all the credit for the win.

And as for Pastor Adkins, I pray you're not related to me.   I'm sick and tired of anti-trans ignorance like that in the Black community, and it needs to stop.

Hope you don't fall for that okey-doke Jacksonville.   And I also hope you'll get a transperson in the Jacksonville area to combat the anti-trans lies they are flinging..

 

Vietnamese Trans People Celebrate Legal Recognition Gain

Our trans cousins in Vietnam are celebrating a new law recently passed by their National Assembly that will recognize the rights of transpeople in that nation.

The Amended Civil Code is set to take effect in 2017 and will allow people who have undergone gender reassignment to change their identity documents to reflect who they are now.

Vietnamese trans people have been getting increased exposure and recognition there over the last few years like singer Cindy Thai Tai and writer Nguyen Ngoc Thach, but like everywhere else in the world, the 'T' was told to wait their turn as the L and G moved forward to gain rights coverage there.

"Registering for a new ID card with my true gender identity is no longer just a dream." said Gia Ky."I will no longer be embarrassed when applying for a job or other papers.".   

It is hoped by Vietnamese trans people that it will help mitigate much of the anti-trans discrimination they face in that nation.

It's also hope by trans people in Vietnam that this is their tipping point moment toward having their human rights recognized and respected.

Living While Black And HIV Positive

Since this is World AIDS Day, this guest post by Ashton is even more timely and significant.

"HIV does not discriminate when it attacks its host; it is the system of privilege and socialized systems of belief that makes HIV insidious. When settings like this exist, and are conducive enough for people not to front-stage or hold back about their authentic experience, the truth about how they view the care they receive versus someone of a different race or gender can emerge.

Take me for example: I am a black man who happens to be out gay and atheist. I also happen to be HIV positive with very-little-to-no income. My socioeconomic status requires me to seek services like Ryan White and ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) in order to take care of my health. In general, health care is what comes to mind, and that is the furthest from the truth. I had an experience, where I went to ask for rental assistance under HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS) and got turned away, only to see my White counterparts get much better help in the process. This is not all due to White privilege, but that particular privilege plays a major role in how folks receive various services 

You can read the rest of Ashton's post by clicking this link.

2015 TransGriot Houston Runoff Election Endorsements

For this 2015 Houston civic election, because of what was at stake in this election cycle,  for the first time in TransGriot blog history I compiled an endorsement post.

With the December 12 runoff election date fast approaching and early voting starting tomorrow, it's time for me to do my endorsement post for the 2015 runoff election

While HERO to my continuing disgust has gone down to defeat, if we are going to have a HERO 2.0 in H-town,  it is imperative as a community that we get the right candidates on city council and a mayoral candidate who is committed to bring it back up again instead of one backed by the Tea Klux Klan and endorsed by Ted Cruz who has made it clear he won't.

And now, the 2015 TransGriot Runoff Election endorsements

***

Mayor:  Sylvester Turner
Controller: Chris Brown

Houston City Council
District F:  Richard Nguyen
District H: Karla Cisneros
District J:  Mike Laster

At Large Position 1:  Georgia Provost
At Large Position 2:   David Robinson
At Large Position 4:   Amanda Edwards
At Large Position 5:    Jack Christie

HISD 
Trustee District II:  Rhonda Skillern-Jones
Trustee District III   Jose Leal

Pemberton Found Guilty In Jennifer Laude Murder

It took a while, but a verdict has finally been reached in the Jennifer Laude murder case in the Philippines.

The good news is that US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Pemberton has been found guilty of killing Laude by the Olongapo Regional Trial Court.  The bad news it was for homicide instead of first degree murder.

Looks like he parlayed the 'trans panic' defense into reduced charges and time in jail.  He was sentenced to 6-12 years in a Philippine prison for it with credit for time already served.

WTF?  Pemberton admitted during his August testimony that he choked her unconscious after finding out that she was trans feminine during a sexual encounter in a motel on October 11, 2014.   He claimed Laude was alive when he left her in the hotel room, but she was found with her head dunked in a toilet bowl.

Laude's mother Julita stated in an interview that while she is pleased the verdict detailed everything that happened that night, she was not pleased about the sentence and hoped Pemberton would be found guilty of murder.

But she said, "The important thing is he will be jailed."

Yeah, but I'm still not happy Pemberton is only getting 12 years for killing one of our sisters.

World AIDS Day 2015

Today is the 28th annual observance of World AIDS Day in which organizations and individuals around the globe take the time to reflect on the devastating impact that the pandemic has had around the world.

The 2015 theme for World AIDS Day is The Time To Act Is Now, and it's a sentiment that I agree with having lost two family members and numerous friends to it as part of the 26 million people worldwide we have lost to AIDS related illnesses since 1980.

As we in the US trans community have been painfully aware of since 2000 and the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey has put an exclamation point on, the trans community has not been immune from feeling the effects of HIV/AIDS.

The NTDS survey revealed a 2.6% overall infection rate in the trans community, and it was significantly higher in trans communities of color. The African-American trans community rate was 25% of the NTDS respondents, 11% of Latinx trans people, 7% of Native American trans people, and 3.7% of Asian American trans people.

The recently completed Positively Trans (P+) survey should give us more updated stats and a clearer picture of the policy and legal landscape faced by trans people living with HIV/AIDS once it is compiled and the initial release of survey data happens.  

And as Charlie Sheen's announcement that he has HIV has pointed out, our level of societal education about HIV/AIDS issues is lacking and needs a serious upgrade if we are going to reach the goal of eradicating it in our lifetimes.

And that education definitely needs to be ratcheted up in communities of color.

There are several World AIDS Day observances taking place here in the Houston area.   There's a World AIDS Day gathering at the Hermann Park Conservancy starting at 7:30 PM and the candlelight observance starting at 6 PM at Legacy Health Services.

There is also a film screening happening at the Montrose Center entitled How To Survive A Plague that will also kick off at 7:30 PM

Diamond Stylz- No Time 4 It

Been a while since I've had one of Diamond's videos on the blog, and this one needs a signal boost.

And now for your viewing pleasure, one of the pioneering Black trans video bloggers on YouTube y'all need to be watching on a regular basis and I need to be signal boosting her stuff more often..

How Has TransGriot's Ten Years Of Existence Affected You?

It was about this time ten years ago that I was in conversations with my sister from another mother Jordana LeSesne who was staying on my azz about me starting the blog that became TransGriot.

She pushed me into setting a hard date for starting it, which became January 1, and at 12;01 AM EST on New Year's Day 2006  my first post went live on this blog.

Now it's nearly ten years, over 9000 posts, 6.1 million hits and several awards later, and TransGriot is approaching its tenth anniversary as the longest daily continuously published blog devoted to covering and talking about trans issues from an Afrocentric perspective.

And since its 2006 start, I've branched out to write about whatever subject appeals to me while staying true to the original mission

The TransGriot blog's mission is to become the griot of our community. I will introduce you to and talk about your African descended transbrothers and transsisters across the Diaspora, reclaim and document our chocolate flavored trans history, speak truth to power, comment on the things that impact our trans community from an Afrocentric perspective and enlighten you about the general things that go on around me and in the communities that I am a member of.

I didn't get around to actually compiling the mission statement until January 2, 2011, but by that time I'd figured out what direction I wanted to take the blog.
Anyway, before I digress, let me get to the reason why I'm writing this post.   Since the TransGriot tenth anniversary is rapidly approaching, I wanted to know what impact the TransGriot blog has had on my readers?

What I'd like is statements from you by December 25 so moved to do so that express how TransGriot's existence has touched your lives.  I know that five trans people have already told me privately that reading posts on the blog dissuaded them from committing suicide, and others have told me at different times that they read it daily including members of Congress and their staffs.

I want to start posting them during the first week of January 2016.  
 

Spanish Trans Woman Competes In Miss Spain World Pageant

It may be a while before we see another out  trans Miss USA or first ever out trans Miss America contestant, but there have been trans competitors elsewhere in the world.

The Miss World pageant system has seen Jackie Brown back in 2012 attempt to become the first trans Miss England World and fall short of capturing the crown.

Now comes word out of Spain of the most recent girl like us attempting to capture her home nation's national crown in  23 year old Angela Ponce.




The 5' 10" beauty was representing the province of Cadiz in her attempt to capture the Miss Spain World crown and become the first out trans woman ever to qualify for the Miss World pageant being held in China.

 Unfortunately Ponce, despite being considered as one of the favorites to take the Miss Spain World crown, was eliminated before reaching the final ten.

Despite that disappointment, Angela believed that she was still a winner, and would continue to fight for increased visibility for Spanish trans people.  She works closely with the Daniela Foundation, an organization that seeks to raise awareness about the plight of trans people.

"I have the regional crown on my head and I will keep fighting to make us seen, to make us heard, and to demonstrate that I am already a queen with my own crown."

Yes you are, Angela.  May you have continued success in your life and your ongoing mission to encourage acceptance of trans people in Spain.

Mount Horeb, WI Rebukes Transphobes, Schedules Public Readings Of 'I Am Jazz'

After a six year old trans feminine student came out last Monday at Mount Horeb Primary Center, a reading and discussion of Jazz Jennings book I Am Jazz was scheduled as part of her coming out process to help her fellow students understand what was going on.

Unfortunately the Florida based Liberty Counsel, an SPLC certified hate group, stuck their noses in this Wisconsin business  and threatened a lawsuit if the planned reading went forward.

The school canceled the reading, but in response to the right wing bullying, the community of Mount Horeb rebuked the transphobic hatemongers and organized two public readings of I Am Jazz that will take place on Wednesday.

The Mount Horeb High School Straight and Gay Alliance (SAGA) will host one of the public readings at 7:35 AM at the MHHS flagpole.

The SAGA students, according to MHHS teacher Beth Maglio, are staging the reading to "show our support and solidarity with the transgender community, staff and students."

Maglio teaches a high school 'Social Problems' course in which students learn about advocacy and standing up for their beliefs.  When she noticed the SAGA students discussing the cancellation on Facebook, she asked them what they thought they should do about it, and doing a public reading of I Am Jazz was their response.

The second reading was organized by parent Amy Lyle, and it will take place at the Mount Horeb Library from 6:30-8 PM.   Like the reading by the Mount Horeb SAGA group, Lyle organized the library reading as a way to support the trans feminine student an her family.

"We were concerned about how the family would be feeling and we felt  a need to communicate to them that there is support in our community." Lyle said in a Wisconsin State Journal interview. "We want all LGBT youth to feel supported and feel accepted, and to know that Mount Horeb is an accepting place for all."

Thank you Mount Horeb for demonstrating that acceptance and not falling for the anti-trans fear mongering.  hope the trans community in the area will thank these groups by supporting the Wednesday readings.

Just to stick it to the Liberty Counsel, I'd take it a step further and start donating copies of I Am Jazz to local primary school and public libraries around the country.


H/T Lexie Cannes

Trans Houstonians Go To Church At Second Baptist

One of the most vocal and transphobic opponents of HERO was Rev Ed Young, the senior pastor of the Second Baptist megachurch in West Houston who preached more than a few anti-trans hate sermons during that battle and violated the Ninth Commandment about the what the ordinance actually does.

And he was hypocritically preaching anti-trans hate while one of his former youth ministers was being sentenced for child molestation.

In the wake of that loss, Melissa Murry decided to organize a protest at the west side megachurch.   Instead of the confrontational approach some folks wished to do, Murry's idea was to simply get dressed up and attend the 11:11 AM Advent service, and let the media know about it.





A dozen trans people and allies decided to attend yesterday's service including longtime advocate Ray Hill who agreed with Murry's concept for the protest.

Hill told 11News he hoped that by giving churchgoers a chance to meet him and his friends."they would be less vociferous and less apt to tell the bathroom hoax lie."

I doubt it, but since this is the Christmas season, there's always hope for a miracle.

Trans Bolivians Gain Ability To Change Gender On Identity Documents

South American nations have been international leaders  in passing trans friendly human rights laws, and Bolivia just became the latest South American nation to do so.

While Bolivia's constitution since 2009 has prohibited discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, unfortunately hearts and minds have yet to catch up with the laws.  But TBLGI activists keep fighting for their humanity and respect despite that slow pace of acceptance.

After local trans activist Raysa Torriani proposed a bill three years ago to the national assembly that would allow trans Bolivians to change their name and gender markers on official identity documents, the Ministry of Justice announced an administrative policy change that will allow trans Bolivians to do so.

Justice Minister Virginia Velasco Condori announced at a Wednesday press conference that the Ministry of Justice has issued an administrative order that changes the law and policies relating to civil registration that include the General Service Personal Identification Number and the Civil Registry Service.

Persons wishing to change name and gender markers on identity documents must apply to the Ministry of Justice and undergo a psychiatric examination before the process is approved.

It's not as good as the Argentine Gender Identity Law that is considered the gold standard of international trans identification laws, but it's a start.

Can We Please Stop Hating On Trans Women For The 2015 Holidays?

I know I've asked for this for the last several years, and I think I may have figured our why it hasn't happened and make that correction in this year's post.

I forgot to say 'please'.

The holiday season is in full swing.  Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men and all that jazz as the combat continues in the Middle East and Afghanistan and a terrorist attacks happens in Colorado.  

Something else I'm tired of that is the ongoing hatred aimed at trans women around the world.

What about the TERF's?  Those rhymes with witches are still marinating in their disco era hatred and racist desires to oppress someone and will never change.

But Christmas is a season in which we ask for the impossible to happen and hope it plays out, so I'll ask for these things to happen in the 2015 holiday season.
 
And yeah, I'll say please when I do.

Can y'all cis peeps in the 2015 holiday season please refrain for one month from killing or injuring my trans sisters or at the very least, making disparaging transphobic remarks? 

Can we trans folks please have a 2015 holiday season in which not a single transperson anywhere in the world is killed or injured? 

Can we please have a 2015 holiday season in which I or my trans fam don't have to read or hear hate speech or misgendering comments about us coming from friends, frenemies and foes.

Can we please have in the 2015 holiday season one in which we trans folks don't see anti-trans commentary from Pope Francis, anybody else in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy or from religious leaders of other denominations? 
  

Can we transpeeps please have in this 2015 holiday season for the next 30 days, not seeing a positive story about us on the Net be polluted by a comment threads with an avalanche of transphobic, hateful and ignorant comments?

And as a final 2015 holiday gift to us, can we trans women around the world please be able to live our daily lives without drama for the next thirty days?

UH Cougars Are AAC West Division Champs!

After being upset last week 20-17 by UConn with their all world quarterback Greg Ward, Jr on the sidelines for much of it, my fave college football team came into this matchup at TDECU Stadium with number 15 ranked Navy with a lot on the line.  

The chance for an undefeated season were gone, but the Coogs still had much to play for Friday afternoon. The Cougars were not only playing for the AAC West Division title and hosting the inaugural American Athletic Conference Championship Game, they were also playing to keep their hopes alive for a New Years Six bowl game.

The Coogs took the opening kickoff, marched efficiently down the field to score and take a 7-0 lead they would never relinquish against a talented Navy squad determined to make their own history with their Heisman Trophy candidate senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

Navy quickly answered, but UH took a page out of the Midshipmen playbook by executing long clock eating drives and capping them off with touchdowns, helped immensely by going 16 for 19 on third down and going 2 for 2 on fourth down to forge a 24-14 lead at halftime.

But it was the Cougar defense stepping up big once again by forcing a critical turnover on Navy's opening drive of the third quarter and converting it into a touchdown that gave them a 31-14 lead.

But Navy didn't quit.  They fought until the final whistle. but UH was just too good on offense and prevailed 52-31 to clinch the AAC West Division title, move to 11-1 on the season and ensure the AAC Championship game would be held in H-town.

They will face AAC East Division Champ Temple (10-2) on December 5, and I'm hoping I can get tickets for that game.  I'm also hoping they make more history by winning the AAC title and getting that spot in a New Year's Six bowl game.

Trans Teen Makes Vancouver 50 Most Powerful People List

I keep saying that our trans younglings are going to do some amazing things if just given the opportunity and the chance to live their lives to the best of their ability. In some cases, they are role modeling for their trans elders the courage and leadership it will take to make trans human rights laws, trans acceptance and recognition of our humanity a reality.

More evidence of that is coming from north of the border in Vancouver.

Vancouver magazine recently published their 15th annual list of the 50 most powerful people in the city. On this list that includes CEO's, politicians, labor leaders, First Nations leaders. and other movers and shakers in the city, at number 20 is 12 year old trans teen Tru Wilson

“I didn’t expect to be on posters and people recognizing me and making a difference for other kids,”says Tru. “I just wanted to be me.”

But that's exactly what happened.   Because Tru and her family refused to take no for an answer from the Catholic school  powers that be and pushed for her humanity to be recognized, the successful human rights complaint forced the Vancouver Catholic school system to develop policies for trans students like herself that the Vancouver Public Schools were already working on.

Global TV was also telling their story at the time, and since that successfully mediated BC human rights complaint Tru has continued speaking out about transgender issues with a bigger goal in mind.

What's that goal?   To have a chat with new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about getting trams people's human rights ensconced into federal law in the Great White North.

Congrats Tru!  So proud of you and looking forward to seeing if you get to have that meeting with not only Premier Christy Clark in your home province of British Columbia, but the one with PM Trudeau as well.