Raquel Willis DC Women's March Speech

Janet Mock wasn't the only trans woman speaking at the recent DC Women's March.  Raquel Willis was also on that stage to speak on that historic January 21 day, and she finally found and posted to YouTube the video from her speech.

As someone said on the YouTube comment thread, "Ms Cheryl (Courtney-Evans) is looking down and smiling."

I didn't like hearing that her mic was cut before she finished her remarks, but now I can share her Women's March speech video with you TransGriot readers

The full text of Raquel's speech entitled 'A Vision of Liberation' can be found at this link.

Black Trans People Are STILL Making Black History

"Black trans history is also vitally important to point out to Black cis people, our allies and our detractors we not only exist, we have lives that are part of the kente cloth fabric of the African American community.  

We also need to pass that history down so that it serves to inspire the next generation of trans kids who are following in our footsteps and point out that Black trans people have a legacy and possibility models they can be proud of."
-TransGriot   February 26, 2015
 
It's the first day of the 2017 edition of Black History Month, and Black trans folks are doing their part to not only uplift our community, but blaze historic trails and territory while they do so.  We're still role modelling #BlackTransExcellence in the 21st century as well, no matter what age we are..

My trans elder Tracey Norman, after making history back in the 70's and 80's by becoming a model with five ESSENCE covers to her credit and major advertising contracts like Clairol, Ultra Sheen and Avon Cosmetics before she was shadily outed during a sixth ESSENCE photo shoot, triumphantly returned to the modeling world last year.

Still waiting for y'all ESSENCE to make it right and hire my trans elder for another photo shoot.

We were represented at the National Women's March in DC by Janet Mock and Raquel Willis, who are both trailblazing women in their own rights.  Sharron Cooks not only was a speaker at the Philadelphia Women's March, but last summer became only the second African American trans woman to become a Democratic National Convention delegate and the first from Pennsylvania.

At that same DNC Philly convention, Dr Marisa Richmond (the first African-American DNC trans delegate) was the official timekeeper of the convention making sure the speakers stayed on schedule.

Angelica Ross was nominated for an Emmy Award and Her Story is still garnering positive recognition and awards nominations.   The reality TV show Strut featured models Isis King, Arisce Wanzer, Dominique Jackson and Laith Ashley,

Amiyah Scott with the debut of the FOX show Star, became the first out trans person of  any ethnic background to play a trans major character in a scripted dramatic series.

Although she missed out on that television historical note, Laverne Cox will continue to blaze trails when she debuts on the CBS legal drama Doubt on February 15 as attorney Cameron Wirth, which is a major character on that show.

Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham are both running for the Minneapolis City Council and vying to become the first Black trans people elected to public office since Althea Garrison got elected to the Massachusetts state legislature in 1992.

If they are successful, they would also make history by become the first out trans people of any ethnic background to be elected to the city council of a city larger than 250,000 in population.

Even our Black trans kids are trailblazers.  Trinity Neal told me she would be making history, and she's making good on that promise.   She was not only one of the people featured in the recent National Geographic 'Gender Revolution' issue, she was also featured in a recent ESSENCE magazine article.

Was happy to see her during #CC17, and I suspect this won't be the last time I'm writing about this trailblazing teen

And yeah, there was some blogger y'all know who was making history as well last year.   She became the first transperson of any ethnic background to receive Harvard's Phillips Brooks House Association's Robert Coles Call of Service Award.   Some of the previous winners of it?   BLM co-founder Alicia Garza, Marian Wright Edelman and Vice President Al Gore.

So yes, Black trans people are still making Black history, and we are proudly doing so in various fields   Can't wait to see what history we collectively make in 2017.

Happy Black History Month 2017

It's only 28 days every February, but as far as I'm concerned, every month is Black History Month.  It's one of the reasons as the child and godchild of historians, I named this blog TransGriot to talk about and record the history of Black trans people for future generations.

This is the first we're celebrating as the Museum of African American History in Washington DC is open and continues to draw visitors.  It's also sadly, the first one we've had with Trump as president.

Moving on from that depressing thought.

Over 750,000 people have been welcomed through the NMAAHC doors since it opened in September, and it is now sold out through May 2017.  

Hmm, will definitely have to get my passes early before Creating Change 2018 happens in DC once I find out the #CC18 dates.

Black history is not just a recitation of dates and past accomplishments of a mighty people.  Black history is also being made by Black people living in our 21st century time like POTUS 44 and countless other trailblazers..

Let's also not forget the important point that Black history is also being made by numerous Black trans, bi and SGL people here and across the African Diaspora in our 21st century time frame..

The biographical stories and narratives of our forebears are ones in which we can not only glean insight and strength from in troubled times, they can also serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of Black people.

Our history is also an enduring record of and emphatic proof that we're here, we've accomplished great things to benefit ourselves and humankind despite massive challenges, and are continuing to build on that legacy of achievement.

It's also an opportunity for those of you who don't share my ethnic background to learn about some of our heroes and sheroes that we draw inspiration from   Sadly, ome of the people who need that education to happen ASAP, about our history are in our own ranks

Happy Black History Month 2017!

Julia's 'Designing Women' Candidate Rant

I loved the show Designing Women when it was on from 1986-1993, and Dixie Carter's Julia Sugarbaker character on the show never failed to put a smile on my face when she would get to a point where she would read someone for their ignorance, stupidity or hypocritical arrogance.

This  second season 'The Candidate' episode is one of my faves from Designing Women, and it was one in which Julia was recruited to run against a right wing councilmember . She had suppressed much of her outspoken personality to run this race, and finally had enough of it during a debate with Wilson Brickett and goes off.

This video from Designing Women 'The Candidate' perfectly encapsulates my feelings about the Trump regime and its supporters.

Enjoy

TransGriot Nominated Again For A 2017 Outstanding Blog GLAAD Media Award!

Wasn't expecting it, but was surprised and pleased to find out that TransGriot has been nominated for a 2017 GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Blog category

Time to do a little popping of my collar.  It's the second time TransGriot has been nominated for ta GLAAD Outstanding Blog award, with my first nomination for it being back in 2014.

In case you're wondering, the other blogs nominated in this category besides TransGriot are Alvin McEwen's Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, I'm Still Josh, Mombian, and My Fabulous Disease

Congratulations to all the nominees in this category.  I've gotten to meet many of the nominees at various TBLGQ  community events over the years like the upcoming LGBT Media Convening in Orlando.   We bloggers are committed to doing the research and hard work to ensure that you readers have quality, informative blogs for you to peruse, enjoy, and get you to think about issues that affect our community and the world.

 During the recent Creating Change in Philadelphia, I ran into one #CC17 attendee who told me she's been reading my blog since she was 11 years old, and ran into others who have thanked me for doing what I do to keep you informed not only about my trans community, but the world at large.

The GLAAD Media Awards will be held in two separate ceremonies. One is taking place on April 1 in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton and the other in New York on May 6 at the New York Hilton Midtown

We'll see it this is the year I finally get that elusive for me Outstanding Blog award and make a little history at the same time.

NASW Texas Comes Out Against SB 6

Was happy to see that the National Association of Social Workers/ Texas Chapter has released a statement opposing the introduction of SB 6, The Texas Transgender Oppression Act.

***

NASW/TX is dismayed by the introduction of Senate Bill 6 (SB6) into the Texas State Legislature and the consistent approach by legislators supporting this bill to mislead the general public. This is continually being done by falsely portraying transgender people as a threat to personal privacy and the safety of women, children. Additionally, this bill serves to invalidate transgender identities and regulate sex and gender stereotypes in areas of public accommodation. Although supporters of this bill deny that it targets transgender people, if passed, this legislation would have harmful impacts on the mental health, physical health, and overall well-being of transgender Texans. This population of Texans is estimated to be the second largest transgender population in the United States1. The NASW/TX Chapter is committed to resisting unjust legislation such as  SB6 by working with transgender community members, experts in the field of gender affirmative care, and our allies across professions. NASW/TX is committed to inform providers, educators, legislators, and the public at large of the adverse outcomes associated with discriminatory policies that further marginalize communities of diverse gender identities and expressions.

SB6 discriminates against transgender Texans in the following ways:

- Denies transgender people equitable access to appropriate (i.e. in accordance with gender identity) bathrooms and changing facilities in government buildings, public buildings, public schools, and universities by enforcing use of facilities based on “biological sex” as “stated on a person’s birth certificate.”

- Requires school districts, local governments, and state agencies to adopt a policy in which bathrooms are designated for and used by people according to their “biological sex” and enforces civil penalties if a person is in violation of these bathroom policies.

- Nullifies and invalidates existing local ordinances guaranteeing equitable access to public accommodations for transgender persons.

- Allows residents to submit written complaints regarding perceptions of public accommodation violations, which would therefore launch an investigation by the Texas attorney general.

While there have been no instances of transgender people entering areas of public accommodation to harm others, well established empirical evidence highlights alarming rates of discrimination and violence faced by transgender people in private and public domains. According to the largest national transgender survey to date (N=27,715), 59% of transgender people avoid public restrooms at work, school and other areas due to fear of confrontation. In addition, 31% of transgender people forgo drinking or eating in efforts to avoid restroom use. Barriers to restroom access lead the majority of transgender people (54%) to experience damaging health outcomes such as dehydration, kidney infection, and urinary tract infections. Some (10%) even experience adverse educational outcomes such as absences and dropping out of school due to lack of access to public accommodations matching their gender identity. Finally, denial of access to restrooms in accordance with gender identity is known to be significantly associated with detrimental mental health outcomes such as suicidality among transgender persons.

 The NASW Code of Ethics charges social workers with responsibilities to clients, colleagues, and the broader society. This charge includes efforts to eliminate discrimination, oppression, and other forms of social injustice among groups including transgender people, who are referred to by the phrase gender identity or expression throughout the Code9. Social workers are called to focus these efforts in areas of Cultural Competence and Social Diversity, Respect, Discrimination, as well as Social and Political Action.

NASW/TX is proud to support and affirm civil rights for all and cannot support the discrimination against any group of Texans. Based on the content of SB6, empirical evidence regarding the impact of discriminatory policies on the lives of transgender people, and the directives of the NASW Code of Ethics, it is clear that SB6, if passed, would be detrimental for transgender and gender expansive Texans.

Therefore, NASW/TX opposes SB6 and urges social work practitioners and students in the state of Texas to take action to ensure this bill is not passed and transgender people are protected.

Thank you NASW Texas for standing up for our community and your fellow Texans. .

Boy Scouts To Allow Transmasculine Boys To Join

Some good news today from an unexpected source in the Boy Scouts of America.

The BSA has had a longstanding ban on transgender people joining the Cub and Boy Scouts by determining eligibility based on the gender listed on the birth certificate.  

They have announced that they will now base eligibility for joining the Cub and Boy Scouts on the gender listed on the application.

This is probably being driven by the case of transmasculine child Joe Maldonado.    He was expelled from a Cub Scout chapter in New Jersey because of his trans status, and his family is contemplating a lawsuit for violation of New Jersey's human rights law in which gender identity is a protected class.

Whatever made the BSA change their minds on their trans policy, it was overdue and necessary.

Moni's On KPFT-FM's 'Queer Voices' Tonight

Just a reminder to you TransGriot readers and H-town peeps that I will once again be a guest on Queer Voices along with Jeffry Faircloth to talk about the Kim Burrell controversy and whatever other topics we can squeeze in during the time I'm scheduled to be interviewed.

KPFT-FM is our local Pacifica radio affiliate with a colorful history.  Its transmitter was bombed twice by the Klan, and yours truly used to be one of the rotating co-hosts from 1999-2001 on the After Hours show hosted by the late Jimmy Carper.  

So coming to the Montrose area studios of KPFT-FM is like coming home, and I enjoy any time I get to spend behind the mic there.

For those of you in the Houston area, KPFT-FM is at 90.1 FM on your radio dial and at 89.5 FM in the Galveston area.  For those of you who don't live in the Houston area but would like to hear this latest Queer Voices episode, here's the link to the livestream of it.

The show will start at 8 PM CST, and hope you'll tune in.

Are You Going To Be A Human Rights Hero Or Zero?

Over my lifetime I've heard people talk about the 60's, the wide range of protests that were happening at the time from the African-American Civil Rights movement to the Vietnam War to Stonewall, and wonder what they would have done if they had been alive or old enough to act during that time period of protests.

We are now in a moment in which you will be in a real time situation to put up or shut up about where you stand in times of challenge or controversy like the 60's were.   This Trump mispresidency is one of those times, with its daily outrages and attacks on human rights.

This is a moment that will be recorded in the history books for future historians to peruse and debate, and also a moment in which your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will ask what did you do to resist the Trump regime?

In the last week I've participated in more protests than I have in the last eight years of the Obama Administration combined, and have a feeling because of this unjust fueled by racist ignorance administration there will be more of those in my future.

This is your time to decide whether you will be a human rights hero defending our constitution or be a human rights zero that silently sits on the sidelines and allows the Trumpistas to trample on the Constitution and our human rights

So I ask you again.  Are you going to be a human rights hero or human rights zero?

Choose wisely, because the fate of the United States depends on your answer.

Malala's Statement About Trump's Racist Muslim Ban

I was at Houston Intercontinental Airport last night along with 2000 people in Terminal E's international arrivals hall protesting Trump's Muslim ban.

Sad that this man has only been in office 9 days and his mispresidency is already a massive fail on many fronts.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has commented on the Trump Muslim ban that the GOP has been cricket chirping silent about, and here's what she had to say about it.

"I am heartbroken that today President Trump is closing the door on children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war. I am heartbroken that America is turning its back on a proud history of welcoming refugees and immigrants — the people who helped build your country, ready to work hard in exchange for a fair chance at a new life.

I am heartbroken that Syrian refugee children, who have suffered through six years of war by no fault of their own, are singled-out for discrimination.I am heartbroken for girls like my friend Zaynab, who fled wars in three countries — Somalia, Yemen and Egypt — before she was even 17. Two years ago she received a visa to come to the United States. She learned English, graduated high school and is now in college studying to be a human rights lawyer.

Zaynab was separated from her little sister when she fled unrest in Egypt. Today her hope of being reunited with her precious sister dims.In this time of uncertainty and unrest around the world, I ask President Trump not to turn his back on the world’s most defenseless children and families."

Yes ma'am, it's sad that after all the hard work that President Obama has done to restore America's good name around the world after it was sullied by President GW Bush, that another Republican know nothing POTUS that is disliked around the world is once again racistly hell bent on ruining it again.

If You Know A Lawyer, Hug Them

I am blessed to know more than a few lawyers and have several friends who are either judges, in law school or are studying as we speak to take the bar exams in various states.

With this unjust and racist Trump misadministration now in place, this is a time in which we have misguided people pushing unconstitutional white supremacist policies, and they need to be called out and confronted on it..

The folks who are practicing constitutional, immigration, civil and criminal law are now since 12:01 PM EST on January 20 the most important people in our country.   They are the people standing between our Constitution and the Trump administration conservafools who wish to ignore, trample on it and rip it up.

They are the domestic enemies of freedom and democracy we have been warned about since childhood, and they must be confronted and utterly defeated.

That's where dedicated lawyers come in. They use their legal acumen to do just just that.  So are the organizations like the ACLU, the Transgender Law Center, TLDEF, GLAD,  The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association and countless other legal organizations across this nation who are gearing up for what is shaping up to be a challenging four years .

They will be the people doing battle in the SCOTUS, courtrooms across the nation and even onsite at protests to ensure the human rights of people and their clients are respected and protected.

So if you know a constitutional, immigration, or criminal lawyer, hug them and give them much love and respect.   We need to appreciate them for being the human rights warriors they are and have historically been.  

If you are a student currently in law school or are a law school graduate about to take the bar exam, you are also getting much love and respect from me at this time as well.

While the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and civil rights marchers were doing the direct action protests it was attorneys like Charles Houston, Constance Baker Motley, and Thurgood Marshall who did battle in courtrooms across the nation to take down Jim Crow segregation and fight for our humanity and human rights,

Our attorneys will be vital over the next four years in defending human rights and the humanity of marginalized citizens.

So How Did You Spend Your Friday?

My Friday turned out to be a busy one.  

Dee Dee and I joined a group of our fellow Houstonians at 2 PM CST who protested Lt. Governor Dan Patrick when he was invited by Houston Crime Stoppers to their dedication and ribbon cutting for their new headquarters building named for longtime Houston TV news anchor Dave Ward.

While we were respectful to other speakers including Dave Ward, who all of us grew up watching and is a beloved media icon here, we had no such love for our oppressive lieutenant governor, and we let him have it when he stepped to the mic.

He was visibly disturbed when we booed him and yelled 'Flush SB6' and 'No hate in the Lone Star State" among the other slogans we yelled at him while he was at the podium.

We obviously got on the nerves of someone besides Dan Patrick,   A white male attendee walked over to our protest group standing on the sidewalk off the property to complain we were 'ruining the occasion'.   I said in response "The time is always right to talk about human rights" while others in our group pointed out before HPD pulled him way from us that if Crime Stoppers wanted a drama free ribbon cutting, they shouldn't have invited the polarizing lieutenant governor of this state to speak.

Once that event was over, I went a few blocks north up San Jacinto Street downtown to the Harris County civil courts building on Caroline Street to watch the investiture ceremony in the packed ceremonial courtroom on the 17th floor of my good friend Ursula Hall, who is now judge of the 165th Civil Court.

She was elected in the wave of Democratic judges we swept into power when we flipped Harris County blue on November 8.   Many of those newly elected judges were in attendance at her investiture ceremony that started at 4 PM.

The Hall family in Houston is well respected in Black Houston.   Her father Anthony Hall, Jr, was a Houston city councilmember who ran and narrowly lost a 1978 US Congressional race to succeed Barbara Jordan to Mickey Leland.  

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis were just two of the local political luminaries who spoke at her investiture ceremony.

The ceremony had me in tears at one point, and Judge Halls' speech had a line in it that I have been pondering ever since I left it and returned home.:  '

"To whom much is given, much is required."

It was a joy to watch someone I have known for years and has served as a Houston municipal judge finally get elected to a state bench and I was happy to be there to witness it.

That's how i spent my Friday.   What did you do on yours?

Why Texas' SB 6 Is An Unjust Law

You have probably heard a lot about SB 6, the so called Women's Privacy and Business Protection Act sponsored by Sen Lois Kolkhorst at the behest of Lt Governor Dan Transphobe Patrick that I call the Texas Transgender Oppression Act.

The reprehensible clone of North Carolina's HB 2 was recently introduced by Kolkhorst and Patrick to oppress Texas trans people and use them as a vehicle to strip the ability of Texas cities to write human rights laws that protect their citizens.  

I have called SB 6 an unjust law, and here ate the reasons why I am adamant about that and will continue to do so until it is dead.

We have as of this time and in this 85th Texas legislative session no out trans people who are elected representatives in the Texas House or the Texas Senate where this bill is originating  

SB 6 was specifically compiled to dehumanize, denigrate and oppress a group of Texans in transgender people that the Republicans have committed to in their party platform to oppress.

SB 6 was compiled with no input from the Texas transgender community, and they have ignored our pleas for them not to do so.

SB 6 because it punitively attacks a minority group, is a law that degrades the personalities of Texas transgender people and does not uplift their humanity, and that makes it in Kingian terms, unjust.

SB 6, by forcing trans people to use locker rooms and bathrooms that don't match their gender presentation as a way to dehumanize them and subject them to further societal abuse and possible anti-trans violence, is also unjust because it takes away an individual's or a group's freedom, causes real harm to transgender Texans and causes chaos instead of harmony 

SB 6 is unjust because frankly, would Sen Kolkhorst obey her law and go to the men's room when she presents and lives in society as a female?   If you Senator, are not willing to do what you are attempting to compel Texas transgender women to do, then your proposed law is unjust

SB 6 is an unjust law that would, as already has been proven in North Carolina, cause economic harm, negative tension, damage its tourism industry, and dehumanize transgender people

SB 6 by multiple measures is not only an unjust law, but it must die in this session and never again be brought up for consideration.

Been Nominated For 2017 Houston Pride Parade Grand Marshal!

During the unveiling event for this year's Houston Pride logo and the theme for this year's parade,they also announced the names of the people who are the finalists for the Male,, Female and Ally parade Grand Marshals.

Being named as a Grand Marshal of the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration is among one of the highest honors bestowed by the Houston’s LGBT community. Individuals and organizations nominated for Grand Marshal have made significant achievements for LGBT rights and have made considerable contributions to the LGBT community at large.

They also once they are officially voted in, get to ride in the nice cars at the start of the parade and wave to the crowds along the now downtown parade route.  Our parade is also a nighttime parade because it happens in late June and it can be rather warm here at that time of year..

Last year I marched in the Houston Pride Parade for the first time ever with the OLTT trans Latinas, and this year, I was nominated as a Female Grand Marshal finalist. for the first time.  Lou Weaver has been nominated for the second time for Male Grand Marshal finalist with the voting to start in two weeks .

Both of us have a shot at making some Houston TBLGQ community history.    If Lou wins he would become the first ever trans masculine Houston Pride Parade Grand Marshal  

In my case, if elected, I'd become the first ever Black trans feminine Grand Marshal, the third trans feminine one after Phyllis Frye (2006) and Jenifer Rene Pool, (2012) and the third Black female one after Carolyn Mobley (1993) and Fran Watson (2016)

Congrats to everyone who was nominated for Houston Pride Grand Marshal this year.   Will keep you TransGriot readers updated on whether or not I make that history and when the voting starts for it.                      

2017 Williams Watch -It's A Williams Sisters Aussie Open Final!

The 2017 Australian Open is the first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, and for the first time since 2003 ,the Williams sisters will be facing off against each other for the title.

We Black folks in the States think this is a BFD, but if you ever wondered how this news is playing out across the rest of th African Diaspora, check out what a Nigerian based TV station is saying about the looting championship match starting at the 1:13 mark.

Venus had the tougher match to get to final, facing giant killer Coco Vandeweghe, who took out defending champ Angelique Kerber

She hadn't dropped a set enroute to this semifinal match with Vandeweghe, but after the first set got away from her in the tiebreaker , she rebounded to break Vandeweghe and cruise  to a 6-2 win to even the match, and then uncorked several aces enroute to taking the third set and the match.



Venus wins it 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3 to punch her ticket to the final and shots at her first Australian Open title and eight Grand Slam title overall

Meanwhile Serena was facing off against surprise semifinalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia, and she took only 50 minutes to cruise to a 6-2, 6-1 straight set victory and set up she and Big Sis first clash in a Grand Slam final since the 2009 Wimbledon.

She hasn't dropped a set in this tournament, and  Little Sis will not only be playing for her seventh Australian Open title and her 23rd career Grand Slam title win  but if she wins will reclaim the world number one ranking.because of Kerber's early exit from this tournament.

Going to be fun to watch this one at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

'Trans Scripts, Part 1 The Women' Now Playing Until February 5

While I was at Creating Change, the opening performance of the Paul Lucas written play Trans Scripts, Part 1:  The Women debuted on January 19.

It is an original play crafted by Lucas and directed by Jo Bonney from interviews conducted with 75 diverse people from six continents around the world who identify as trans.   Those 75 trans people varied in age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, educational level  and age at transition and sheds light on our stories.

It's also wonderful to note that the American Repertory Theater is producing it.

The play also features several trans actors playing these roles that includes Eden Lane, Bianca Leigh, MJ Rodriguez, and Marlo Bernier just to name a few of the people in it.
For people who have seen the play at the Loeb Theater Center on the Harvard University Campus, , here are their reactions to it.



For of you in the Boston metro area, you still have time to see Trans Scripts and check it out before February 5

2017 Williams Watch -On To The Aussie Open Semifinals!

My fave tennis playing siblings are just one match away from meeting each other in the Australian Open Finals for the first time since 2003.  They are also the only seeded players left standing in the women's singles bracket as we reach the Australian Open women's Final Four.

The other thing we can pop our collars about as American tennis fans is that we are guaranteed of at least having one American woman in the final, since three of the four player remaining are Americans.

Two of the three Americans left are the Williams Sisters who for once are on opposite sides of the bracket.

13th seeded Venus has rolled through her side of the bracket without dropping a set, and it didn't hurt that some major seeds that were in that half of the bracket fell, including tournament number one seed and world number one (temporarily) Angelique Kerber.

Big Sis in her quarterfinal match beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to punch her ticket to the semifinals against fellow American Coco Vandeweghe, who took out another seeded player by beating 7th seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain  in straight sets 6-4, 6-0.

Meanwhile on the other side of the bracket number 2 seeded Serena handled her tennis business against number 9 seed Johanna Konta of Great Britain, who until she faced Little Sis was on an impressive Australian Open run of her own.

Konta not only hadn't dropped a set enroute to this clash with Serena, but had sent to the Aussie Open sidelines number 17 seed Caroline Wozniacki and 30th seeded Ekaterina Makarova to get to face Serena for the first time ever.

Serena dispatched her in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 despite having a subpar for her service game while breaking Konta four times at critical points in the match.

And who will Serena play next?   It will be Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who upset 5th seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to make her first Grand Slam semifinal since Wimbledon 1998.  

Serena is playing not only to win her 23rd Grand Slam title and her seventh Australian Open, but with a win in this tournament, she would regain the world number one ranking.   Venus would be should she knock off Vandeweghe, playing for her first Australian Open title.

Well, y'all know who I want to win on Thursday.   Let's hope we get to see it happen and we get treated to another Williams Sisters Grand Slam final.

Lois, Stop Lying About Your Transphobic Bill

In the latest version of #AlternativeFacts Texas Style , Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) tried to tell the lie that SB 6, or as I call it The Texas Transgender Oppression Act  is 'not about the transgender ' or aimed at us.

Bull feces.   The Texas Republican Party has made hating transgender people part of their 2016 party platform, so yeah, it IS about us.

Oh, you didn't hear about that?   Lois just to refresh your memory since you, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton and your party are busy up in Austin wasting our tax dollars and legislative time in this session oppressing trans people.

Ahem, from the 2016 Texas Republican Party Platform:

Gender Identity — We urge the enactment of legislation addressing individuals’ use of bathrooms, showers and locker rooms that correspond with their biologically determined sex. 

This anti-trans plank was in the section of the Republican Party platform entitled Educating Our Children:

Facility Utilization-We support public school facilities such as restrooms, locker rooms and showers being reserved for the use of students based on biological birth gender. 

So yes, Lois, you and your party are pushing anti-trans oppression, and you need to stop lying about it.  Transphobic discrimination is not a Texas value, and is such a bad look for you.

It may also result in loss of your Senate seat.  Ask Debbie Riddle and Gilbert Pena how well attempting to oppress Texas trans people worked for them in their respective 2016 House reelection bids.