Trans Undocumented Immigrants Also Look Like Us

One thing we have been aware of is the face of trans undocumented immigrants being a Latina one.   We know that many trans Latinas are here in the US because of anti-trans violence directed at them in their Latin American and Central American nations.

But the Caribbean nations also have problematic levels of anti-trans hatred that drives people from those nations to move elsewhere to escape it.

New York based activist Kim Watson was born in Barbados in 1964, and left at age 23 to attend fashion school and avoid the anti-TBLG abuse she experienced from family and other people there

When her tourist expired in 1988, she stayed here in New York City and after some personal struggles, earned a degree from Pace University, began grassroots organizing for trans and HIV issues. Eight years ago she met and married her husband, and is now a wife and mother in addition to being a kick butt award winning advocate.

But she still faced the real possibility of being deported back to Barbados until she received the good news after a November 19 immigration hearing that she can stay in the United States.

Kim's story is one that comes at a time in which we need to to be paying attention to the lives of undocumented African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinos.  Their #BlackLivesMatter,too  and we need to be as unapologetically Black people who love all Black folks also standing up for their humanity and human rights as well.

Interestingly enough there is a first ever convening being organized to take place in Miami from January 15-17 called Undocumented and Black that seeks to create a safe space for conversations, own and tell their stories, create acceptance and awareness and become active in creating movement in Blacks for getting involved in the immigration issue.

Because as Kim's story tells us, some of the undocumented immigrants look like us.

Happy International Human Rights Day 2015!

‘

'All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.  They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in the spirit of brotherhood'
-Article 1, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Today is International Human Rights Day, which commemorates the 1948 day that the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It was a milestone day in that for the first time international human rights were spelled out because of the experiences of World War II and the need to explicitly define 'fundamental freedoms' in the UN Charter.

On December 10, 1950. the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 423(v) that invited the nations of the world and interested parties and organizations to celebrate the first Human Rights Day.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, were adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 16, 1966 and together with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights make up the International Bill of Human Rights.
This year's theme for International Human Rights Day is Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always. and is designed to kick off the countdown to the 50th anniversary celebration of the adoption of the two international human rights covenants.

This would also be the day to remember that trans human rights are international human rights issues, we are part of the diverse mosaic of humanity, our human rights deserve recognition, and need to be expeditiously ensconced in the laws of the various nations around the world we live in.

Happy International Human Rights Day!.  

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks-Week 14

The Carolina  Panthers had to work for it, but they stayed unbeaten at 12-0 with their  41-38 shootout win over the New Orleans Saints, clinched the NFC South and kept their grip on the number one seed in the NFC playoff bracket.

Meanwhile I won't be getting a free Texans slush from Sonic this week as their four game winning streak came to an end in Buffalo.with a 30-21 loss to the Bills.

It won't get any easier for my hometown NFL ballers as the  6-6 Texans face a pissed off Brady and Company on national TV Sunday night at NRG Stadium.  The Patriots were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles 35-28 and have suffered a string of crucial injuries that have fueled their current losing streak.  But the Patriots haven't lost three games in a row since 2002 and have won five of six against the Texans including the playoffs.

That one win however came in Houston, and the Pats are banged up while the Texans are relatively healthy.  Fortunately the Colts lost too, but the Texans missed an opportunity to take control of the AFC South lead by failing to handle their NFL business in Buffalo.

As for our 2014 prognostication contest, for the second time this season, we all tied for top honors this week with 10-6 records because of the frustrating for me and Eli result of the Dallas-Washington game.  The late game heroics for the Cowboys forced the tie between us and helped Mike maintain his lead over moi with the regular season coming to a close soon.



Another week, and another opportunity to try to catch the defending champ before the 2015 NFL regular season ends.


NFL Week 14  (Home team in CAPS)
Thursday Night
CARDINALS over Vikings

Sunday Noon
EAGLES over Bills
Seahawks over RAVENS
49ers over BROWNS
PANTHERS over Falcons
BEARS over Washington
BENGALS over Steelers
Lions over RAMS
Colts over JAGUARS
CHIEFS over Chargers
Saints over BUCCANEERS
JETS over Titans

Sunday Afternoon
BRONCOS over Raiders
PACKERS over Cowboys

Sunday Night
Patriots over TEXANS

Monday Night
Giants over DOLPHINS

TransMusePlanet's 20 Most Influential Trans People of 2015

It's the TransMusePlanet fourth annual poll of the 20 Most Influential Trans People and as a testament to the increased visibility of trans people in 2015 there were some changes on the list this year.

TransMusePlanet's fourth annual 20 Most Influential Trans People list started in 2012, and is determined by readers and Sabrina's and visitors to the TransMusePlanet Facebook group created by TMP founding editor Sabrina Samone.

These were the twenty people that her readers were talking about during this soon to be ending year and here's the link to that post.

Federal Canadian Trans Rights Bill Introduced For Third Time

Now that Canada has moved on from a Conservative majority government to a Liberal majority one under newly inaugurated prime minister Justin Trudeau, the NDP's LGBTQ Critic and MP Randall Garrison as promised will try again for the third time to introduce a federal trans rights bill.

The Trans Rights Bill, now numbered as Bill C-204, was introduced yesterday.  Bill C-204 is a private member's bill authored by Garrison that will once again attempt to if passed, give trans Canadians federal human rights coverage by amending the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canadian Criminal Code to include gender identity and gender expression.

C-279, the previous Trans Rights Bill authored by Garrison passed the House of Commons in the previous session of parliament in 2013 but was shadily stalled and bogged down short of Third Reading passage by Canadian Senate Conservatives.

The Liberal majority has promised to introduce their own bill, and we'll see how fast it happens.

But one thing our trans Canadian cousins and their allies like MP Garrison all agree on is that it is past time for their home and native land to protect the human rights of their trans citizens.

And those of us south of the border hope after some disappointments, that it happens soon.

Mount Horeb School Board Unanimously Enacts Trans Protections

This probably wasn't the result the Liberty Counsel expected when they stuck their transphobic noses in the business of a Mount Horeb trans feminine child and browbeat the Mount Horeb Primary Center into canceling a November 23 reading of I Am Jazz for the students to help them understand the trans student's transition journey.

The action ignited a controversy triggering two well attended community public readings of I Am Jazz at the high school and the public library, the Mount Horeb School Board rebuked the transphobes.

Board member Peter Strube forcefully said to cheers of the 80 people in attendance prior to the start of the board meeting,"Let the word go forth here and now that this board will stand united, we will not be intimidated and we will teach tolerance and will be accepting to everyone.

The Mount Horeb School board backed up the tough talk of Board member Strube by conducting a quick board meeting that included a public comment period in which 14 people spoke in favor of the new trans policies and 5 people spoke in opposition to.

Then by a unanimous 7-0 vote, the Mount Horeb School Board passed measures to protect trans students in the district and added 'transgender status' to their nondiscrimination policy.

After the vote the mother of the six year old trans child in question, who was watching the proceedings, felt moved to speak and thanked the board.

"This has been the most difficult thing my family has ever had to deal with,"she said.  "I am so glad we are part of this school district going through something like this...This isn't just about our child, this is about all the other children, too."

The trans policies are applied on a case by case basis by school administrators, and apply to students who has in the words of the policy, 'held the belief deeply, followed the belief over a consistent period of time, is supported by the student's parent or guardian, and has sought guidance and counseling in coming ti the decision.'  

Mount Horeb trans students will be allowed to participate in intramural athletics and physical education classes 'in a manner consistent with their gender presentation',  They will also be granted access to restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender presentations.

The passage of the policy makes Mount Horeb one of the few districts in the state of Wisconsin that have trans inclusive non discrimination policies, and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Last Chance To Vote For Houston Mayor Saturday

Been hearing some disturbing chatter that there are elements of the Houston LGBT community who are voting against their own political interests for the mayoral candidate who is NOT concerned with their human rights.

And that candidate NOT concerned about your human rights is the one who looks like you and who is endorsed by Steven Hotze and Ted Cruz.

If you wish to see HERO 2.0 happen, it would be in your best interests to head down to your local polling place Saturday and cast your vote for Sylvester Turner, not the carpetbagger who couldn't even run Kemah correctly.

There are also pro-HERO city council candidates who will need your support Saturday.

And just to make it clear where Turner stands on revisiting HERO, here's the open letter he wrote that explains his position.

Early voting ended yesterday, and this election us tight.  I don't want my hometown going 'back to basics', I want it moving forward as a city, especially on the human rights front.

My vote is already in the can since I went for early voting and has been counted.

I and your fellow progressive Houstonians need those of you who haven't done so yet to handle your electoral business on Saturday.

Every vote matters.  And I don't want to see the wrong persons getting inaugurated at the Wortham Theater on New Year's Day.

911 Call Proves Taylor Was Arrested For Existing While Trans

I've made the point more than a few times that mismatched ID's and statutory and procedural roadblocks that prevent trans folks from getting identification that matches their present day lives can lead (and far too often does) to anti-trans discrimination.

It appears based on the transcript from the 911 call in the Meagan Taylor case, that is exactly what happened.

Meagan Taylor with the help of the ACLU, has filed a civil rights complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission over an incident in which she and her trans feminine friend Shyann were both transphobically disrespected and falsely profiled back in July after checking in at a Drury Inn in West Des Moines, IA enroute to driving to a funeral in Kansas City.  The manager called the police and it resulted in Taylor spending 8 days in jail  

The 911 call emphatically backs up Taylor's story.

911 Dispatcher: Communications, this is Holly.
Hotel manager: Yeah, hi, Holly, this is Kim, the general manager over at Drury Inn & Suites. And I have somebody that is a little unusual that is checking into the hotel, and I didn’t know if there was any way to possibly run their name or information through the database. They’re dressed as a woman, but it’s a man’s driver’s license.
Dispatcher: Okay, I can send an officer, but I can’t do it over the phone. What’s your address there?
Hotel manager: It’s 5505 Mills Civic Parkway. I’d want it to be discreet though.
Dispatcher: Okay, well, um, I can’t do it on the phone, that’s the only thing. It’s against the law. So I can have someone come over. Where — are they in the lobby there, or?
Hotel manager: They went up to the room and stuff. So I guess if they just kind of discreetly park in the parking lot, instead of, you know, right out front, that would be great.
Dispatcher: Well, I’ll leave that up to them. But, what’s your number phone number, Kim?
Hotel manager: It’s (515) 457-9500.
Dispatcher: Okay, so that’s a female, with a male’s driver’s license.
Hotel manager: There’s two males, but they’re dressed as females. And they have Illinois driver’s license.
Dispatcher: And are they — what are their driver’s licenses? Male or female?
Hotel manager: Male. And I took pictures with my camera, so.
Dispatcher: Okay, so just because they’re dressed as — is it because they’re dressed as females, is that why you’re concerned?
Hotel manager: Um, It’s just, you know, it’s, I guess so. They’re dressed a little bit over the top, too. I just want to make sure they’re not hookers either.
Dispatcher: Okay, gotcha. Okay, ma’am, we’ll have them swing over there.
Hotel manager: Perfect. Thank you.
Dispatcher: Bye bye.
Hotel manager: Bye bye.

Here's hoping that justice is served in Meagan's case.

TNA Metro Glam Gala This Friday

The Houston based Transgender National Alliance is hosting its first ever Metro Glam Gala-Petite this Friday at Blue By Massa's starting at 8 PM.

It will honor TransTech founding CEO and star of the webseries Her Story Angelica Ross and is a fundraising event for TNA.  Tickets are available for $25 and enjoy a gourmet meal, entertainment, and walk the purple carpet in your metro glam attire and get your photo taken.

Blue By Massa's is located at 1160 Smith St. in downtown Houston.

You may even see the TransGriot hanging out for a few hours at this event.



   

$20 Million To Be Donated For Trans Causes

As someone who once upon a time was political director for NTAC from its founding until 2002 and died  currently sits on the boards of several trans oriented organizations, I can tell you from painful experience that one of the problems that we face as a community with many problems that cry out for help is lack of funding to tackle those challenges and sustain our organizations, or having to do so much on shoestring budgets.

And with the increased media attention we transgender people are getting, we in Trans World are also getting attacked politically by right wing organizations with far deeper pockets than we have to combat them.

That fiscal funding problem for trans organizations may mercifully be coming to an end.

I was happy to hear the announcement by two funding organizations that over the next five years starting in 2016. they plan an unprecedented increase in their funding contributions for trans organizations here in the US and around the globe to $20 million to improve the quality of life for trans people around the world.

The Arcus Foundation, which gives to social justice and human rights causes, is pledging the bulk of this increase at $15 million.  The NoVo Foundation, which focuses on girls and women's issues is pledging $1 million, with a coalition of funding organizations contributing the other $4 million.    

The money will initially go to US groups that focus on transgender issues or led by trans people, instead of established organizations that include transgender issues as part of a broader agenda.  It will then expand globally in the subsequent five year period, and target poorer and developing nations.  Much of the money will go to organizations with budgets of $100,000 or less while increasing the capacity of larger groups to ensure their long term stability.

The ground breaking news was hailed by Trans Persons of Color Coalition (TPOCC) Executive Director Kylar Broadus. "We applaud Arcus, NoVo and the othe foundations participating in this trans funding initiative for realizing the need of transgender groups to lead their own cause and own our power," said Broadus. "Funding Trans groups should help to allow Trans people to lead the work and have the resources to do the work," he added.
And in light of us now having the undivided attention of the right wing orgs and being under attack by them, it is timely, needed by the various trans organizations doing the work of uplifting our community, and necessary.

The goals for this funding boost are to increase understanding of trans people, expanding the pathways for economic sufficiency for trans people, put a dent in the off the charts levels of anti-trans violence, provide job opportunities, boost the long-term societal inclusion of trans people, and encouraging long term philanthropy for the trans human rights movement,

The funders will begin accepting applications for proposals by mid-2016 with the first disbursements of this transformational funding to happen by the end of 2016.  .

 

Tamara Adrian Elected To Venezuelan National Assembly

Since 2010, trans women in Colombia, Ecuador and Chile have attempted to run for their national legislatures and not only become the first out trans people in their various nations to do so, but the first in South America and the Western Hemisphere.

While the efforts of Shelcy Sanchez, Diana Rodriguez and Valentina Verbal fell short for various reasons to make that history, the historical breakthrough came last November when attorney Michelle Suarez Bertora was elected last year to Uruguay's senate.  

Latin America is leading the way when it comes to trans elected officials, with the most recent electoral breakthrough happening in October when trans woman Luisa Revilla Urcia was elected to local office in Peru.

Attorney, professor and trans human rights advocate Tamara Adrian became the next South American trans person to attempt to run and win public office when she announced in August she was running for Venezuela's National Assembly.

The Venezuelan national elections happened yesterday and history was made as Adrian was successful in breaking through that trans glass electoral ceiling in her nation.

The Popular Will Party announced that Adrian had been elected to the Venezuelan National Assembly and will represent Caracas, Venezuela's capital.

Adrian made history on multiple fronts because of this historic win.  She is not only the first out trans Venezuelan to be elected to their national legislature, she is the second trans person in South America, the second in the Western Hemisphere. the second in Latin American and only the fifth worldwide to accomplish the electoral feat of being elected to her national legislature.

So yes, Adrian's election to her national legislature is a Big Fracking Deal.  It's so much of a BFD that Luisa Revilla Urcia said to the Washington Blade "We are very pleased with another trans woman in power.  This is a great triumph."

So am I and all my trans brothers and sisters in the US.  It gives us hope that one day we will see one of our own elected to Congress and our various state legislatures.

Congratulations to Ms. Adrian, and hope we see more trans people follow in your footsteps and get elected to their national legislatures.


TransGriot Update:  Was advised by Andres Duque of Blabbeando about Michelle Suarez Bertora, and post corrected to reflect that new information  

Houston Runoff Election Early Voting Happening Until Tuesday

Early voting for our December 12 Houston runoff election is taking place through December 8, and I've already handled my election business.

We do have several races that still need to be settled including for mayor, city controller an HISD trustee seat and six city council seats.   The haters are backing the anti-human rights candidates, while we need to get off our behinds if we wish to have HERO 2.0 and other nice things in Houston

In case you're wondering if I compiled a TransGriot runoff election endorsement post, sure did, and I urge you to handle your H-town electoral business.

You have until Tuesday to early vote, and if you miss it, you'll have to go to your regular polling place on Saturday.

Why Texas Isn't Seceding

“[The] answer is clear. If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede.”-SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia

I know many of you folks who love to bash Texas at every opportunity have heard the repeated cries of Texas Teapublicans to secede from the United States and are loudly egging them on to do so.

And yes, another Texas Republican has called for a secession vote during their upcoming 2016 presidential primary that thankfully failed Saturday.   But let this native Texan point out why secession isn't likely to happen.

Major reason number one is while the idea is popular with the Tea Party ignorati, the national Republican Party doesn't.  75% of reality based Texans oppose it, and especially non white Texans like myself.  

I like being part of the USA.   That way I still get the Social Security benefits I paid into the system for along with  Medicare, Medicaid, and all the other things I'm eligible as an American for.

These Tea Klux Klan clowns probably haven't heard of a 1869 SCOTUS case called Texas v. White which stated the Constitution didn't permit states to unilaterally secede from the Union, and ordinances of secession were absolutely null and void.

Major reason number two and the reason sane Republicans don't like it is because Texas has 38 electoral votes, and serves as the base for Republican presidential candidate electoral vote scenarios like California's 55 electoral votes  does for the Democratic Party presidential candidates in addition to being a political ATM for both parties.

 A Texas secession happens, and the GOP immediately loses those 38 electoral votes and can kiss any chance of regaining the White House goodbye since they have a narrower electoral vote path to the presidency.  There will also be 25 less GOP House seats, 11 less Democrats and two less GOP Senators.

Then there's the other fiscal costs.  An independent Texas would now have to maintain that 3,240 miles of interstate highway that crisscross our state and come up with the funding to do so.

The Republic of Texas would have to set up embassies and consulates in the nations that recognized it, customs facilities in Texas ports and airports, border checkpoints and create a military to defend its long borders with Mexico and the USA. All those nation building tasks cost money.

Other questions that come to mind is what is the Texas share of the US national debt?  What happens with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve locations inside our state's borders?

Naw Tea Klux Klan boo boos, all that military equipment at the current military bases in this state like Ft. Bliss and Ft. Hood for example, would go back to the US or have to be bought from the feds at a steep price.

Teapublicans would also find out the hard way that Texas receives far more in federal money than it sends to the feds, and with the US federal fiscal spigot cut off, the Republic of Texas would have to make up that lost revenue somehow.  So say hello to your taxes going up, paying taxes to the federal government in Austin and not getting the level of services you get now.

Let's be real, much of this racist Texas secession talk has only cropped up because the current POTUS shares my ethnic background, our state since 2009 has had a predominately non-white majority and Latinos will become the Lone Star State's largest ethnic group starting next year.

In the USA, we persons of color at least have a Constitution with some protections of our human rights.  I'm not guaranteed of the same thing in a Teapublican run Republic of Texas.

And yeah, we already tried the independence thing and failed at it, which is why we sought to become a US state in 1845 after a decade of it from Mexico.

That's just the short list of reasons why I don't see a Texas secession happening, and I chuckle when the Texas GOP pushes that non-starter idea.



 

Trans Icon Holly Woodlawn Passes Away

Been hearing the mounting bad news that trans actress, icon and Warhol muse Holly Woodlawn was ill with cancer, and her health had been deteriorating for the last few months.

Was sad to hear of her passing today at 3:06 PM PST in Los Angeles at age 69.

Woodlawn in addition to being a girl like us, was the inspiration for the Lou Reed song Walk On The Wild Side, and her life was chronicled in the 1991 documentary A Life In High Heels.

She was born in Puerto Rico in 1946 and raised in Miami Beach, FL.  She ran away from home and hitchhiked to New York, linked up with Andy Warhol and became one of his superstars.




Woodlawn starred in the 1970's underground classic movies Trash (1970) and Women In Revolt (1972) along with performing on the New York and Los Angeles cabaret circuits..  

While Woodlawn received critical acclaim for those film roles, she struggled to turn it into mainstream success and moved back to Miami in 1979.  She did make a comeback into public consciousness starting in the 1990's with the rise of queer and independent films, and most recently had a role on the show Transparent.

Rest in power and peace, Holly Woodlawn.

Hail Cougars! 2015 AAC Champs!

Had the pleasure of watching my alma mater for the first time since 2006 win a conference title in football today.  And the best part of it was it was done in The Cage, AKA TDECU Stadium.

While the pregame talk was about our all everything junior quarterback Greg Ward, Jr (who should have gotten some Heisman love) in this inaugural American Athletic Conference title game, the UH defense are no slouches either.

But it was Ward doing much of the damage in this game with his legs, rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns as the 17th ranked Cougars raced to a 17-0 lead thanks to a Ward 47 yard TD run in the second quarter and two Temple turnovers to go up 17-3 at the half.

The Cougars pushed the lead to 24-3 on Ward's second touchdown, and then the 20th ranked AAC East Division Champs turned up their defense to help the Owls get back into the game

They closed to 24-13 with 5:11 to play before the Cougar defense stiffened and Temple failed on a 4th and 3 with 1:58 left on the UH 19 yard line.   Two first down later and the Cougars would be happily accepting the American championship trophy at midfield.

The Cougars not only moved to 12-1 on the season, as the highest ranked champion in the Group of Five conferences, they punched their ticket to a New Year's Eve bowl game which is according to chatter will be either the Peach Bowl or Fiesta Bowl.

Congrats UH Cougars for an outstanding season, and I need to pick up my championship t-shirt.

'I Am Jazz' Renewed By TLC For Second Season

I have much love for Jazz Jennings and her family, and was pleased to hear that Jazz for the second straight year was named by TIME magazine as one of its 30 Most Influential Teens.

In other news about our fave trans feminine teen, TLC has finally decided to renew the I Am Jazz reality TV series for another season.

The show will get eight more episodes, and features now 15 year old Jazz trying to balance school, her family, athletics and her activist life and also features members of her amazing family.

Earlier this week, after the SPLC certified hate group the Liberty Counsel bullied a Wisconsin school district into cancelling a reading of her children's book entitled I Am Jazz, the town of Mount Horeb, WI responded with two well attended readings in support of the trans feminine child and her family.

And in an open letter concerning the situation, she wrote:

‘My book can help, I think, but I know from my own experience that it is adults like my parents and (Principal Rachael Johnson) who can make sure that transgender children are treated fairly at school and given the same opportunities to succeed in life.‘I have been sharing my story for almost a decade because I don’t want anyone else to feel alone or scared.’

Congrats again, Jazz, and continued success for you!  Looking forward to the next time I get to spend a little quality time with you and your family.

,

African Trans* Stories

A conference is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa today for Africa Trans* Visibility Day.

It continues to point out the increasing visibility of trans people on the African continent, and my African trans cousins continuing to come out of the shadows, owning their power, and demanding recognition of their humanity.  

Continental African trans people taking their rightful place in their various nations is a much needed and welcomed sight for those of us in other parts of the African Diaspora who would like to see more continental African trans leaders get the attention in international trans human rights circles they deserve.

Speaking of conferences, back on September 28-30 there was a previous conference organized in Johannesburg that brought together activists from 12 nations put together by Gender DynamiX, Iranti-org and Global Action For Trans* Equality (GATE)

In this video, continental African trans people are telling their stories and giving you a taste of what living their trans lives is like in their various nations

Shut Up Fool Awards- Countdown To My TransGriot 10th Anniversary Edition

We are now in the moth of December, and I'm less than 30 days from the tenth anniversary of the founding of my TransGriot blog.  I will announce the winner of the 2015 Shut Up Fool of the Year on New year's Eve to kick the anniversary year off, and I'd also like to have you TransGriot readers who have been loyal readers to send me either video or written statements by December 25 letting me know in your own words how the existence of TransGriot over the last ten years has impacted your life.

But I know why you peeps surfed over here on a Friday. Y'all wanna know what fools I called out this week.  Well, never let it be said that I don't give my readers what they are clamoring for.

Let's get busy calling these fools out, shall we?


Honorable mention number one is Colorado state rep JoAnn Windholz (R) who did what the GOP does best and blamed the victims for getting killed in the Springs by a terrorist they stirred up with their anti-Planned parenthood lies.

Anything to deflect attention from the fact that you conservative white peeps are the terrorists, huh?

Honorable mention number two is Tex Gov Greg Abbott (R) with another badly timed tweet  as the San Bernadino mass shooting was happening.

Is it 2018 yet?

Honorable mention number three is FOX fembot Katie Pavlich who after her wash, set, color and  OP cranial rinse at the Stepford Salon, doesn't have a clue about white privilege.  

She also doesn't realize how stupid and bigoted she sounds to those of us who are conscious and passed Sociology 101

Honorable mention number four is Ryan T. Anderson, for even publishing this crap in the first place.   What is it about you white male conservatives?   Do you have a genetic propensity to gleefully discriminate and hate on people who don't look like you and you don't like?

Well, as my friend Polar has  said a few times, "Conservative think tank is an oxymoron."

Honorable mention number five is the Filipino judge who fell for the 'trans panic defense' okey doke and sentenced Joseph Pemberton to only 6-12 years in jail for homicide and not murder.

Honorable mention number six is Kenneth Adkins.  This kneegrow pastor has stuck his nose in Jacksonville human rights business and doesn't even live in Duval County anymore, but across the border in Georgia.

Honorable mention number six is the junior senator from Alberta in Ted Cruz, who made multiple jacked up comments this week such as trying to pass off a conservative anti-abortion 'terriss' as trans, trying to get people to ignore he was palling around with anti-abortion hate ministers,    

This week's fool is Ben Carson, who is a major contender for this year's Shut Up Fool of the Year Award.

Seems like Uncle Ben's grasp on foreign policy, as we suspected, is as suspect as the other issues he tries to discuss, and he mistook hummus, the food, for Hamas.   He also claimed the Star of David was on US currency when it isn't.

These posts just write themselves sometimes..  

All together now, Ben Carson, shut up fool!
 

Happy Birthday, Lauren!

Every now and then I find myself doing some hard solid thinking about the fact that the pioneering #girlslikeus I admired as a teen when I was struggling with my gender issues I actually get a chance to chat with as a trans human rights advocate from time to time.

And I realize at that point how fascinating my life really is at times.

I've had (and still have) some interesting and amazing conversations from time to time with one of our pioneering models who is more than 'just another girl' as she likes to describe herself.   She recently launched the Just Another Girl website that not only tells her story for a new generation, but is kid friendly and chock full of information about trans issues. .

We're only a few years apart age wise, and Lauren Foster is still all that and ten bags of chips as she celebrates another birthday today. I also find it interesting that she and Tyra Banks share the same birthday.

But this post is all about giving Ms. Foster the TransGriot birthday shout out she deserves.

Happy birthday Lauren!   May you have a celebration of the day you arrived on this planet that is as cool as you are!  Looking forward to the next time we get to chat, and may you be blessed to celebrate many more birthdays to come!  .

Mount Horeb 'I Am Jazz' Library Reading Draws Overflow Crowd

After a reading of the book I Am Jazz was canceled due to lawsuit threats by the Liberty Counsel hate group, a reading in the Mount Horeb Public Library was scheduled last night that was organized by Amy Lyle to support the trans feminine child and her family.

To the stunned and pleased surprise of the organizers, the book reading drew a crowd of 600 people in this town 25 miles southwest of Madison, WI.

"I knew that our Mount Horeb community was a loving compassionate and caring one for all kids--I knew that in my heart-but you all have just shown that to be overwhelmingly true," said organizer Amy Lyle.

The reading scheduled at Mount Horeb High School that morning drew 200 people at the school's flagpole before classes started.   The reading at the library featured Jessica Herthel, the co-author of I Am Jazz who flew in from California to support the family.

Mount Horeb HS Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) member Claire Jenkins praised the elementary school at the center of the debate and said "This is a day to show a little girl we love her."



You not only overwhelmingly did so Mount Horeb, but you also demonstrated it to the trans community and the world at a time when we trans folks of all ages really needed to hear some good news after a few days of negative events impacting us.

Thank you Mount Horeb for demonstrating what being supportive and caring trans allies looks like in practice and rebuking the transphobic Liberty Counsel hatemongers.