2016-17 NFL Playoffs- Super Bowl LI

30 NFL teams started out with the goal of playing at NRG Stadium in my hometown for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and only two remain.

This is the third Super Bowl we have hosted in H-town, with the previous ones happening in 1974 and 2004.  If SB 6 unfortunately passes, it'll be the LAST one we get to host  

But back to talking about the big game on Sunday

Got one last prediction to make to close out this 201617 NFL season, and in addition to successfully repeating as the TransGriot NFL prognostication champion, I've gone 9-1 during the NFL playoffs.

So let's get to the final prediction of this season for Super Bowl LI.

We have a battle between the AFC Champion New England Trumpriots Patriots (16-2) and the NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons.(13-5)

The Falcons come into this game at NRG Stadium on a roll, having won their last six games after that December 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at the Georgia Dome.  

They secured the number 2 seed, and then  their number one offense went to work obliterating their playoff opponents the Seahawks and Packers by a 80-41 margin.  

The defense has stiffened considerably since that December 4 loss to the Chiefs.

The Patriots also come in on a roll,  They've won nine straight games, and haven't last since the Seattle Seahawks beat them 34-21 at Gillette Stadium on November 13 by stopping them on the 1 yard line on a fourth and one pass play with 14 seconds left to preserve the win.  The Patriots were also coming off their bye week at that time.

They also rolled through the AFC playoffs, outscoring the Texans and the Steelers 70-33 in their two playoff games.

As for the Super Bowl LI itself, it'll be a matchup of the number one offense vs the number one defense.

For the Falcons to pull the upset, they will have to replicate on defense what the Texans did to them in their playoff game.  Force Tom Brady out of the pocket by blitzing up the middle. Punish him with hits when they do so and come up with schemes that get their All Pro linebacker Vic Beasley loose to terrorize them. .

The Falcons NFL MVP quarterback Matt Ryan is going to have to play like he has over the last several weeks and score early and often by flinging passes to Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu for starters.

If they can overwhelm them on offense and the Falcon defense can #RiseUp, force Brady off his spot in the pocket, beat him up, get some turnovers in the process and turn them into TDs they have a shot at taking the NFL title back to the ATL.

If they don't, and the Patriots defense does to Atlanta what they consistently do by taking away what you like to do best, and by extension shut down the high flying Falcons offense attack, it's going to be a long day at NRG for the Falcons.  

Now as to who will take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy.   While my heart is with the Falcons and will be rooting for them because I hate the Trumpriots for a lot of reasons starting with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, my head and my money are on the Patriots

Patriots to win Super Bowl LI

Is This What Propaganda Barbie Meant By 'Bowling Green Massacre'?

I'm curious about the latest misstatement lie that Propaganda Barbie, AKA Kellyanne Conway told as she desperately tried to defense the indefensible Muslim ban to her conservasheeple while being interviewed by Chris matthews on the increasingly melanin free MSNBC.

She tried to claim that a terror attack happened in Bowling Green, and it is being met with derisive laughter, a viral Twitter hashtag and sarcastic posts like this one.

Maybe she go it confused and is talking about the sinkhole that developed under the National Corvette Museum floor in Bowling Green. KY in February 2014 that destroyed or damaged eight classic Corvettes.




But then again Propaganda barbie will do anything and say any lie to defend a misadministration that is reviled by a majority of the US population.

Shut Up Fool Awards -Super Bowl LI Weekend Edition

This Sunday as many of you know, Super Bowl LI kicks off at NRG Stadium in my hometown.  It'll be the last one we have for a while if SB 6 gets passed.

In the runup to Super Bowl Weekend there have been multiple events happening like the NFL Experience over at the George R. Brown Convention Center., various parties around town that are either officially thrown by the NFL or others around town

But as usual, my eye is on the fools who are everywhere..  So let's get to this week's Shut Up Fool Awards, NFL style.

First down is Dear Cheeto Leader for this week's series of outrages and taking a vacation after a mere week on the POTUS job.

Second down is Omarosa, Ben Carson and every sellout kneegrow who was sitting in that WH room for that hideous and Black History free rambling done by Twitler

Third down   Sean 'Beltway Seam' Spicer, form the Ministry of Truth, er the WH Press Secretary, who makes Baghdad Bob from the Iraq War look like a paragon of truth telling for his latest week of outright Big Lie telling.

Fourth Down  Salma Hayek, for proving once again why Black women have a serious problem with white feminism.

This week's Shut Up Fool trophy winner is Kellyanne Conway, who in addition was doing her WH Crypt Keeper act lying for Trump, she misspoke lied during an MSNBC interview in defense of the indefensible Muslim ban about a terror attack in Bowling Green, KY that never happened.

Propaganda Barbie (and that's an insult to Barbie's everywhere) is deservedly getting laughed at and called out around the world for doing so.

Kellyanne is determined to get the 2017 Shut Up Fool of the Year Award she narrowly lost out on last year  and she's off to a great start.

Kellyanne Conway, shut up Fool!

Say Hello To Texas' First Transgender Mayor

In order to move trans acceptance in red states, we have to have people who actually live in and love them as much as the right wing haters fighting them tooth and nail to do so.

It's also even more important that trans people get involved in politics so that we are helping to shape the laws that govern us, not be on the political menu.

While Texas gay and lesbian folks have been getting elected to political positions for decades from judge to the state legislature to even mayor of Houston,  it has been a steeper climb for Texas trans people to make those same political advances

Phyllis Frye after being appointed by Mayor Annise Parker in 2010 became the first transgender judge in the nation and the Lone Star State.   But we are still trying to get a trans person elected to public office in our state.

Was happy to hear that we had some unexpected Texas political history recently made.   You have seen me chronicle on these electronic pages Jenifer Rene Pool's efforts to get elected to the Houston City Council and in the last cycle in 2016 Harris Country Commissioner.   She made Texas political history along the way last spring by becoming the first out Texas trans person to win a political party primary election.

New Hope, Texas is a town of 670 residents 40 miles northeast of Dallas in the conservative bastion of Collin County,   58 year old Jess Herbst has lived in the town with her wife and two daughters since 1999 and in 2003, Herbst was elected as an alderman to the Town Council.

Herbst rose to become its road commissioner and mayor pro tem.   When New Hope Mayor Johnny Hamm passed away in May while seeking reelection for another two year term, it was too late to remove him from the ballot.   Hamm posthumously won reelection to the mayor's chair and Herbst, already serving as the mayor pro tem, was selected to fill his two year term.

Herbst subsequently came out in a letter to the residents of New Hope.  

Herbst has also been chronicling her trans journey and her life at her blog.

Congrats Mayor Herbst, Hope you can stay in that office, get elected for your own term and continue working for the people of New Hope to the best of your ability.

Laila Ireland Nominated For Military Spouse Of The Year

Was happy to find out thanks to her proud hubby Logan that my sis Laila Ireland has been nominated for Military Spouse of the Year!

From the nomination page:

Laila Ireland is a transgender advocate stationed with her husband at Peterson AFB. She medically retired from the Army in December of 2015. Earlier that year, she publicly came out as transgender to the world while being in the military when the New York Times released a short documentary called “Transgender, at War and in Love”. The documentary featured her and her husband Logan, which highlighted the struggles as a dual military transgender couple to help push for open transgender service in the military.

Her advocacy work now involves speaking to schools and businesses to help carve out safe spaces for trans youth and adults, getting accessible healthcare for trans people, and training staff and students in both work places and in schools. She currently serves as the Membership Director to SPART*A Trans - an organization established and operated by transgender military members which provides transgender military personnel with guidance to navigate the new policy and its implementation. She is also a board member for Point of Pride, a non-profit organization which works to benefit trans people all over the world in need through gender-confirming support programs that empower them to live more authentically. In May 2016, she was award the Military Spouse Leadership award by the American Military Partner Association. -- Ashley Broadway-Mack, Military-Spouse


The voting for it has now started and will end on February 9, with the winners announced on February 13.  You can support our sis by clicking on this link and clicking on the VOTE Now tab.

Good luck Laila!

This Is What An Intelligent Presidential Black History Month Statement Looks Like

I miss President Obama with every passing rotten day of this Trump mispresidency.

After making my brain and eyes hurt reading that travesty of a Black History Month message from Dear Orange Leader while seated with sellouts Omarosa and Ben carson flanking him, I'm reposting as a TransGriot public service what a real presidential Black History Message should look like.

This is last year's January 28, 2016 African American History Month proclamation from President Obama.

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America's greatness is a testament to generations of courageous individuals who, in the face of uncomfortable truths, accepted that the work of perfecting our Nation is unending and strived to expand the reach of freedom to all. For too long, our most basic liberties had been denied to African Americans, and today, we pay tribute to countless good-hearted citizens -- along the Underground Railroad, aboard a bus in Alabama, and all across our country -- who stood up and sat in to help right the wrongs of our past and extend the promise of America to all our people. During National African American History Month, we recognize these champions of justice and the sacrifices they made to bring us to this point, we honor the contributions of African Americans since our country's beginning, and we recommit to reaching for a day when no person is judged by anything but the content of their character.

From the Revolutionary War through the abolitionist movement, to marches from Selma to Montgomery and across America today, African Americans have remained devoted to the proposition that all of us are created equal, even when their own rights were denied. As we rejoice in the victories won by men and women who believed in the idea of a just and fair America, we remember that, throughout history, our success has been driven by bold individuals who were willing to speak out and change the status quo.

Refusing to accept our Nation's original sin, African Americans bound by the chains of slavery broke free and headed North, and many others who knew slavery was antithetical to our country's conception of human rights and dignity fought to bring their moral imagination to life. When Jim Crow mocked the advances made by the 13th Amendment, a new generation of men and women galvanized and organized with the same force of faith as their enslaved ancestors. Our Nation's young people still echo the call for equality, bringing attention to disparities that continue to plague our society in ways that mirror the non-violent tactics of the civil rights movement while adapting to modern times. Let us also not forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could make our voices heard by exercising our right to vote. Even in the face of legal challenges, every eligible voter should not take for granted what is our right to shape our democracy.

We have made great progress on the journey toward ensuring our ideals ring true for all people. Today, African American high school graduation and college enrollment rates are at an all-time high. The African-American unemployment rate has been halved since its Great Recession peak. More than 2 million African Americans gained health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The incarceration rates for African-American men and women fell during each year of this Administration and are at their lowest points in over two decades. Yet challenges persist and obstacles still stand in the way of becoming the country envisioned at our founding, and we would do a disservice to all who came before us if we remained blind to the way past injustices shape the present.

The United States is home to 5 percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prisoners -- a disproportionate number of whom are African American -- so we must find ways to reform our criminal justice system and ensure that it is fairer and more effective. While we've seen unemployment rates decrease, many communities, particularly those of color, continue to experience significant gaps in educational and employment opportunities, causing too many young men and women to feel like no matter how hard they try, they may never achieve their dreams.
Our responsibility as citizens is to address the inequalities and injustices that linger, and we must secure our birthright freedoms for all people. As we mark the 40th year of National African American History Month, let us reflect on the sacrifices and contributions made by generations of African Americans, and let us resolve to continue our march toward a day when every person knows the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2016 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.

California and the West Coast Ain'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 wrote two posts on this blog explaining why the Texas secession talk was just right wing fantasy chatter, and the real costs of what would happen is Texas did go down that secession road.

Now in the wake of Trump's reprehensible election we have California and the west coast of the US talking secession and possibly joining Canada.  

Some Californians are actually taking it a step further.   They are collecting signatures for a ballot question in 2018 that would repeal the part of the California Constitution that states "California is an inseparable part of the United States of America, and the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land." to be followed if successful by a 2019 independence vote.

I'm going to lay out why it isn't going to happen and why #CalExit is a just as bad idea for liberal progressive folks as the #Texit chatter was for the conservafools.

First, let's start with the fact that the 1869 Texas v White Supreme Court case exists.
The SCOTUS ruled the Constitution didn't permit states to unilaterally secede from the Union, and ordinances of secession were absolutely null and void.


Residents of far northern California, southern Arizona, eastern Colorado, and eastern Washington have bumped into when they have proposed to secede from their various existing states and form a new one Article IV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

So nope, you won't see any more scenarios like West Virginia breaking away from Virginia and forming its own state.

Now, that's the recent history with in-state secession efforts.  Back to the California dreaming of #CalExit

Assuming the ballot initiative votes are successful, it would not only require a constitutional amendment passed by both houses of Congress, but 38 of the states (2/3rds majority)  to say goodbye to California and the rest of the West Coast.

That ain't happening.  Like Texas, major critical military bases are inside the borders of the state of California like Fort Irwin, Camp Pendleton, Vandenberg, March, Travis and Edwards Air Force bases.  The US Navy's 3rd Fleet has a major facility in San Diego.

California also has inside its borders the major ports of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland.  That's before I even start talking about California's agricultural, industrial, technological and natural resources that are vital to the US economy, two international airline gateway hubs and major interstate highways such as I-5, I-8, 1-10, 1-15. and I-80.

California is also if it were an independent nation, the sixth largest economy on the planet.  As much as it would salve the egos of the right wing yahoos to let California go, they aren't for fiscal and military readiness reasons going to do that.

Lets also talk about politics.  California is the flip side of Texas, and notice you aren't hearing any chatter from Texas since November 8 about secession  

California has the largest congressional delegation with 52 seats.  38 of those seats are held by Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and of the 14 Republicans repping California, one of them is Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority Leader.

Both US senate seats are held by female Democrats in senior senator Dianne Feinstein and newly elected junior senator Kamala Harris, who just replaced the retired Barbara Boxer..  Its 54 electoral votes are also the base electoral vote number for any Democratic Party presidential run..

So just as the Republican Party quietly reminded the Texas yahoos that secession would harm their movement and their chances of getting the White House back, you can bet the national Democratic Party is not liking this news either and will quietly point out a Calexit will do the same damage for our liberal progressive chances at getting the White House and Congress back in 2020.

That's a good enough reason to stick around and use your political and economic clout to help us fight the Trump misadministration tooth and nail.

So nope, as much as some folks in California would probably love to say goodbye to the USA now that Trump is running it, remember that #Calexit is probably not going to happen and political fortunes can swiftly change in four years.

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.