Payless Filing For Bankruptcy

One of the things I inherited from my mom was a love of fashionable shoes, and while you petite divas would love to be my supermodel level height, it comes with the problem of trying to find those fashion forward shoes in a double digit shoe size.

I wear a size 12, but sometimes I'll go up one size when it's available for comfort.  Many department store shoe departments stop at size 10, or have very few shoes in sizes 11, 12 or 13 where many women are increasingly having to shop as the average women's shoe size gets larger.

Nordstroms is one of those that does carry a nice variety in sizes 11 or 12.   Some brands like Nine West  have them up to size 12, but once again, you have to order them online.   The same is true for DSW and Rack Room that only carry up to size 11, and you have to special order other styles that they carry in a size 12.   Shoe Carnival stores only carry them up to a size 10 or 11.

There are other online outlets like Zappos.com, shoes.com or Long Tall Sally for example, but it's always preferable to see and be able to try a pair of shoes first before you buy them.  Sometimes that shoe color looks great online but when you actually get it may not be exactly be the shade that you're looking for to go with an outfit and sometimes you can't return them if you bought them on sale..

And then there's the cost.   $75 and up, which is another problem when you're low income or on a budget.

Payless has long had the reputation in Trans World of being the 'Trans Woman's best friend' when it comes to finding fashionable shoes, bags and accessories at an easy on our wallet price.  

Its 4400 stores and 22,000 employees in the US and Puerto Rico have been a lifeline for many trans women trying find those nice shoes, flats, boots and pumps to go with a work or dressy outfit or simply for everyday wear.

And when it's BOGO time, I'm going to be buying those shoes I've had my eye on.  One of my current fave pair of Christian Siriano black pointed toe heels I bought during a BOGO sale for $10 and get a lot of compliments when I wear them.

Was saddened to hear that Payless filed yesterday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will be closing 400 stores immediately, with another 500 possible.

I have already lost one of my fave Payless locations in downtown Houston right on the METRORail Red Line at the Main Street Square Station when it closed in February.  I noticed that when I went to Louisville on vacation last summer, the downtown Payless on 4th Street I used to find shoes in up to size 13 when I lived there had closed.

So it will be interesting to note which Payless stores in Houston will be shuttered, and I hope they aren't the few locations where I can get my shoes in a 13.

Big Trans Rights Win In Illinois D211!

With 147 or the 147 precincts counted, and totals still unofficial, in an April 4 school board election with national implications that was closely watched by the trans community in Illinois and our allies, it looks as though the trans inclusive slate of D211 board members Anna Klimkowicz, Robert LeFevre and board member elect Edward Yung backed by the partnership of local parents and national trans rights group the Trans United Fund have defeated a candidate slate backed by a coalition of anti-trans activists and groups affiliated with the anti-trans SPLC-certified hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom.

In the D211 school board race, incumbent member Klimkowicz topped all candidates by garnering  9,951 votes to easily retain her seat.  incumbent member LeFevre got 8,706 to retain his and member elect Yung got 8,144 votes to capture the last available seat and return to the D211 board compared to the ADF affiliated 'Parents For Privacy' hate slate of Katherine Jee Young David with 7,917 votes, Ralph Bonatz with 7,318 and Jean Forrest with 7,225 votes.

"I think that what it says is the community thinks we're doing a good job," Klimkowicz said.

The voters have spoken, and it's a resounding defeat for anti-trans bigotry in D211.

The Alliance Defending Freedom sought to insert themselves in this local school board race in Palatine, IL in order to flip control of the largest school district in the state and undo the DOE/DOJ agreement reached in a discrimination case with a local trans student.

The national Washington DC based trans rights group Trans United Fund jumped into this race two weeks ago at the behest of parents concerned about the ADF affiliated opposition slate.

The Alliance Defending Freedom had been targeting D211 for months with a lawsuit designed to strip the trans protections from the district and overturn the settlement.

"A mom from Palatine, IL called us up to advise me that a slate of school board members was running (the Parents For Privacy slate) to take out school board members who had supported inclusive schools and with the goal of rolling back protections for trans youth," said Chicago based TUF national board member LaSaia Wade.

"The anti-trans candidates recruited to flip control of the school board were supported by a network of anti-LGBT activists and groups ranging from Illinois state senator Tom Morrison to ADF ally Vicki Wilson to the Illinois state chapter of Focus on the Family.  I raised the issues with the board, and they enthusiastically endorsed the idea of going all in to support these D211 moms and kids fighting back against an array of anti-trans oppressors," said Wade.  

Trans United Fund, sensing the national political implications and symbolic importance of this race to the trans rights cause, did more than just send a stand with them in solidarity message to the concerned parents and kids of D211. They launched the first trans led political independent expenditure in the history of the modern trans rights movement on behalf of those parents and kids.

In less than two weeks, despite the financial and organizational head start the anti- trans forces had, Trans United Fund helped the pro-trans slate parents, kids and allies raise funds and quickly assemble a strong political program that included phone banking, mail, digital and volunteer canvassing to get their ultimately successfully messaging out to the D211 voters.

As the Trans United Fund board foresaw, this is a major political win, one with soon to be determined political implications that will be felt across the country. One of the moms, sharing how inspired she was by the experience wrote about how it felt to have Trans United Fund have her and her child's back

“…words cannot express how grateful I am that you have taken your time your time and resources to help us fight back against a group of people who have sought to demean and discourage my daughter for being who she is throughout her high school years.  Unfortunately, because of their tactics, I have seen my strong-willed, smart and beautiful daughter's self-confidence shatter.  It has been an exhausting battle and at times we often felt alone and that the majority of people were, in fact, on the side of the hate group.  However, as more and more people step up and speak out, we realize we were wrong.  Through your courageous efforts, you have brought hope not just to my daughter, but to trans kids throughout D211 and the world.  You have told them that they are accepted, that they are cherished and that they have amazing talents to contribute to our society. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” a local mom in Palatine, IL. 

"We have been so inspired by the more than 30 moms and young people who have been at the core of the campaign to fight back against hate and fear in their school district," said Hayden Mora, co-chair of Trans United Fund. "I'm proud that Trans United Fund was able to make a decisive difference but I'm even prouder of the incredible coalition of allies we were able to build. "Tonight's victory is the result of the incredible leadership of moms and youth in D211, the amazing allyship of Brian Johnson and the Equality IL team, the savvy and commitment of LaSaia Wade and the Trans Liberation Collective and our team at Trans United Fund, " Mora added..

"Hate groups weren't just trying to roll back rights in this Chicago suburb, they were trying to build a model that they could export across the country. What they got was a model of what's possible when trans people, parents, youth and our LGBTQ allies work together. The message to parents and trans people all over the country tonight is one of hope and a story about how we can fight back against hate and fear and win. "
Yes we can!   In Palatine, IL tonight, we sent the message thanks to a committed group of people that we will fight for our kids, the allies who support them and do so successfully.

The Race And Everyone Else Enters With Me As Well

On this 23rd anniversary of the 1994 day I nervously clocked in for work one month before my birthday to begin the public coming out as moi in the middle of IAH's Terminal C, one of the quotes that has  stuck with me through this journey in this part of my life is one from sociologist, civil rights leader and educator Anna Julia Cooper.

'“Only the black woman can say 'when and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or special patronage, then and there the whole Negro race enters with me.”

That's true for me as well, but I also have a few extra groups tagging along as I get the blessings and opportunities to blaze trails on behalf of myself and the communities I represent in this six foot two inch tall intersectional body.

Everywhen and anywhere I go, the race enters with me as well.  I'm always cognizant of that as a Black trans woman.   I'm always acutely aware that my presentation must be on point, I must be knowledgeable about many subjects, and fearless about speaking my truth in a world determined to silence or shut down my voice

And it's a role that I have gleefully accepted since that day I stepped into Terminal C and haven't looked back.

Upcoming 'Our History, Our Future A Multigenerational Conference on Human Rights' In Boston

Heading back to Boston this weekend to participate in a conference that is going to happen on the Boston University campus.

The ' event will be taking place on April 8 in the George Sherman Union Ballroom on the BU campus jointly sponsored by the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground and the Boston Theological Center.

Join us on April 8 for a public conference titled entitled, "Our History, Our Future: a Multigenerational Conference on Human Rights."

The schedule includes two plenary sessions, two panel sessions and a workshop offering participants nonviolent direct action training. This is a continuing education event; CEUs will be provided upon request. Registration is free but you MUST register to attend.

Speakers include persons known for human rights activism during the 60s civil rights movement, the crisis in Ferguson and Baltimore, the movement for Black Lives, LGBTQ activism, scholars of the movement and serving as consultants to the White House under the Obama administration. They are gifted in ministry, music and the arts, shaping public policy, writing, peace negotiation and nonviolent direct action.

I'm excited because I get to see and hear the amazing Bishop Yvette Flunder speak again during the morning plenary session immediately before my panel with Ahman Green-Hayes and Karlene Griffiths-Sekou scheduled to start at 11 AM EST.

The conference is free, but you will need to register for it at this link 

 Conference Schedule

9-10am Breakfast, Welcome and Introduction10-11am Plenary One (Bishop Yvette Flunder)11-12pm Panel (Monica Roberts, Ahmad Greene-Hayes, Karlene Griffiths-Sekou)12-1pm Lunch1-2:30pm Nonviolent Direct Action Workshop (Rev. Osagyefo Sekou)2:30-3:30pm Panel (Ruby Sales, Kevin Rigby, Darnell Moore, Tef Poe)3:30-5pm Plenary Two (Rev. Michael McBride)

Address is 775 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, 02215. and I'm hoping to see some of my trans family who can attend be there.

2012 Sage Smith Case Is Now A Murder Investigation

Sage Smith of Charlottesville, VA went missing ironically on November 20, 2012, the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and still hasn't been found four years later.

The 19 year old left her home to meet Erik Tyquan McFadden at the Charlottesville train station, and hasn't been seen by her family and friends since.   McFadden has also gone missing since that time

The case after four years has now been reclassified as a homicide case, which opens it up to more law enforcement resources to be brought to bear on solving it.

With the reclassification, McFadden is now considered a person of interest in the homicide case.

Sage's grandmother Lolita Smith, like myself and others in the trans community, wondered what took so long to get to this step.

“Frankly, I don’t understand why they waited so long,” she said. “It’s been four years. I think the Charlottesville Police Department dropped the ball from day one.”

Here's hoping that the reclassification into a homicide case results in justice being served and us finally learning what happened to Sage..

My HRC Houston Gala John Walzel Equality Award Acceptance Speech

TransGriot Note: The text of the HRC Gala John Walzel Award acceptance speech I'm delivering at the Marriott Marquis for the 20th Annual Houston HRC Gala

To the HRC Houston Gala Tri Chairs, HRC Houston, Chad Griffin, Ian Barrett, our local, state and national political leaders, distinguished gala attendees, fellow award recipients, gala volunteers and my TBLGQ family in the house. 

Tonight, I stand at this podium to announce that I humbly accept the John Walzel Equality Award.

In three days I’ll celebrate the 24^th anniversary of the April 4, 1994 day I nervously walked into Houston Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal C to clock in for my first shift as the person you see standing before you.   As those who know me are already aware of, I’m not only proud of being unapologetically Black and trans, I have no problem speaking truth to power and calling crap out.

Next year will mark 20 years of activism for me.   I’m also part of a tradition of Houston trans women who have since 1972 in the late Toni Mayes, Phyllis Frye, Sarah DePalma, Nikki Araguz Loyd and Dee Dee Watters just to name a few, have fought tenaciously for our humanity and human rights as trans people and the human rights of others.

I started getting involved in trans human rights efforts in 1998 because I didn’t see people who looked like me in the leadership ranks of this community.  Black trans people exist, we are more than just ‘tragic transsexuals’ and we are definitely capable of leading in this ongoing human rights fight. 

Black trans people must be at the advocacy and policy tables because frankly, some of the legislators voting on our issues share my ethnic background.

Human rights are not a zero sum game.  I practice what I preach on TransGriot about coordinated intersectional actions and being there for other communities in their human rights struggles.  I believe that when you criticize someone or an organization for screwing up, you must praise them when they are doing things right.  I must admit that since the 2007 ENDA debacle, HRC as an organization is on a positive trend line.  

Can it be better?  Yes, and it’s going to have to be if HRC is ever going to win the trust of transgender community folks.  It is your deeds as an organization at the local, state and national levels those skeptics will be watching, and you have little room for error.

I saw local HRC members like Melissa Vivanco and Lou Weaver in the trenches when we passed HERO in May 2014 and while defending the ordinance.  I saw Ian, Lou, Melissa, Meghan Stabler, Marty Rouse and other folks from HRC at multiple lobby days in Austin last month in partnership with other organizations walking the halls of our state capitol.

I see the HRC sponsorships to trans conventions like the Black Trans Advocacy one in Dallas and the new HRC Houston office.

The progressive community needs HRC to be on its A+ human rights game because of a hostile to LGBTQ human rights Trump administration.   Texas has a regressive GOP legislature trying to pass unjust laws like the Texas Transgender Oppression Act (SB 6) while fueling the hellfire flames of anti-trans hatred and attacking trans kids to do so.   That hostile rhetoric is killing my Black trans sisters.

We have work to do to ensure there is no slippage or repeal of TBLGIQ positive human rights laws, court cases, programs and polices people and our allies have worked tirelessly for decades to achieve. 

We have the moral high ground in this fight, not our loud and wrong pseudo-faith based opposition.   And when we work together as a team, we can accomplish anything.

Why No TransGriot April Fools Prank Post This Year

Normally as part of a longstanding TransGriot April Fool's Day blog tradition, I would have taken the time to think about and unleash upon you a prank post.

And as some of you who fell for them in previous years know, I'm pretty good at writing them.

But because of that 2016 election cycle that was dominated by fake news and the real and serious costs it had for our country in addition to having an ongoing barf inducing April Fools Day joke sitting in the Oval Office, I decided not to prank y'all this year because the wounds from that election are still fresh on everyone's minds.

Maybe next April 1 I'll hit y'all with one, but I'm going to cut y'all some slack this year.  

Florida Silicone Pumper Sentenced In Nuby Case

When we last checked in on 36 year old silicone pumper Oneal Morris, she was about to do a year in jail as part of an accepted plea deal for practicing medicine without a license.

But she was still facing manslaughter charges for the pumping death of 31 year old Shatarka Nuby, when the silicone that was pumped into her posterior leaked to other parts of her body and caused fatal respiratory failure

On Monday she was sentenced by a Florida judge to ten years in prison and another five years of probation as Nuby's family and people she'd pumped watched the courtroom proceedings.


The only thing I do have a problem with is you being sentenced to serve your time in a men's jail. You need to be incarcerated in a women's facility, not subject to being assaulted and abused by male prisoners and guards

Back to the case.

Medical experts could never determine what exactly was in the pumping concoction, but what they do know is that Morris injected Nuby ten times between 2007 to 2011, with the initial procedure costing her $2000 and eventually her life.

Morris of course denied that she intentionally hurt anyone and that she was being 'convicted by the media'.

Naw boo boo kitty, don't even try it.  Your pumping actions resulted in injury to several people and the death of one, so enjoy your time in jail. .  

Sharron Cooks Makes History Again

Last summer Sharron Cooks made history by becoming the first out trans person in the state of Pennsylvania to become a DNC delegate.  She's made history once again by becoming the first out trans person to chair a city commission in Philadelphia.

 On Thursday she was elected as chair of the 23 member Mayor's Commission on LGBT  Affairs.

"As chair of the Mayor's Commission on LGBT Affairs, I am committed and dedicated to serving the needs of the City of Philadelphia's LGBTQ community.  I am committed to advocating for equality and building and maintaining positive and supportive community relationships with trust, honesty, transparency and integrity, " Cooks said in a G Philly Interview.

"This is a new role for me as a Black transgender woman.  I am open to learning and receiving respectful feedback, and I am looking forward to working with all members of our LGBTQ community and allies here in Philadelphia and abroad as well as working with other organizations and institution to help address the needs of our community."

Congrats Sharron for making history once again and being a trailblazing leader for your community.   Have no doubts you'll do a wonderful job in that chairperson's role.   

Down Goes UConn in Dallas!

This is not an April Fools Day joke.   If you weren't watching the NCAA women's Final Four semifinal game between Mississippi State and UConn from Dallas, you missed a historic game.

UConn was on a 111 game winning steak and playing for a shot at their fifth straight NCAA title against a team that they beat by 60 points last year in Mississippi State.

But this year's UConn squad lost four seniors from that title team, and Mississippi State was fueled by that embarrassing for them 60 point loss to have an amazing 2016-17 season.    

After Mississippi State knocked off Baylor to get another shot at Goliath, no one in the country expected them to win this game.

But the Bulldogs had other ideas, and they raced out to a 36-28 halftime lead before UConn clawed their way back into it. The Bulldogs had a shot at winning it in regulation, but Morgan William's attempt to hit the streak busting shot was blocked by Gabby Williams to preserve the tie and send the game to overtime.

Morgan William got another chance to hit a game winning shot and this time she didn't miss.

66-64 Bulldogs.   And fittingly the smallest player on the floor slayed the basketball Goliath that is UConn
     
 .


Oh well, I got half of this year's women's title game right.

Mississippi State has taken down might UConn to set up an all-SEC final with South Carolina.   Do they have one more upset in them?  

We'll see on Sunday

Transgender Day Of Visibility 2017

Today is the 8th annual celebration of the International Transgender Day of Visibility

It got its start in 2009 because its founder, Rachel Crandall, believed we needed a day that was the polar opposite on the TDOR that focused on the folks who are living and our community successes.

One of the points I wanted and needed to drive home on this day is that visibility matters.

It is only because we have come out of the shadows, told our stories and gotten more politically active is why we have made the societal progress that we have made and the hatemongers see us as a threat worthy of spending millions to oppress.

Trans rights are human rights.   They know it, we know it, and we have the facts and the moral high ground in this human rights struggle.

That visibility is also important for trans communities of color.   Far too often in the Black community there is this impression that being trans is a 'white thing'.  We have far too many sellout Black pastors and faux faith based haters in our ranks busy trying to use that impression to deny our existence,

No, boo boo kitties.  Black trans folks exist.   Gender variant people have been around as long as humanity has existed and live on nearly every continent ,including on the African continent where humanity started,  

We aren't going away.

Black trans folks are also leaders, and it's past time the TBLGQ movement recognized that and the undeniable fact that if they want to win this human rights fight, it will be needed and necessary to hire us and pay us for our talents and abilities. If you don't wish to do that then don't get mad or upset when we build our own leadership tables.

So stand tall, be proud and when you're comfortable to do so, be visible.

'I Am Jazz' Gets Renewed For Season 3

This is wonderful news to talk about on the Transgender Day of Visibility

It's took a while for ti to happen, but the news finally dropped that TLC has renewed I Am Jazz for a third season.

The second season received strong rating, so people were wondering why it took so long for TLC to greenlight a third season of the show chronicling the live of our fave trans teen,

In Season 3 we'll see her taking on conservative commentator Tomi Lahren (or maybe not since lahren is suspended from The Blaze) , trying to deal with all the issues of being a teen in addition to the aspects of it brought on by transition.

So starting on June 28 we'll be getting new episodes of I Am Jazz, and looking forward to seeing it this summer

You Just Proved My Point, Gays For Trump Conservafool

Little did I know when I wrote my innocent tweet that it would start a Twitter dragging in which myself, Alvin McEwen of Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters went in on this fool Peter Boykin,the head of Gays For Trump, with another gay conservafool jumping in to dig the hole even deeper for themselves.

Note the racist response to the original tweet.

As James Baldwin pointed out in a 1984 Village Voice interview,  the gay world is no more prepared to accept Black people than anywhere else in society.  We as also painfully aware of the fact that in elements of GLBTQ world, there are folks who are part of this community who can be just as racist, biphobic, transphobic, sexist, misogynist, homophobic as their cis straight counterparts.

When they combine that willful cluelessness with swimming in white privilege, they come off as even more douchebaggy.   Being part of the LGBTQ community doesn't change the fact that you by dint of your white skin have more privilege than any POC member of the community ever will.  

One of the ridiculous comments Boykin deployed early in the thread was holding up his biracial boyfriend as 'evidence' he wasn't racist, even though he'd already demonstrated it by the racist meme he aimed at me in addition to being the president of the Gays For Trump, and making the statement in favor of continued NC discrimination aimed at transgender people which is why I wrote the Twitter comment aimed at him and other like minded gay and lesbians in the first place.  

And your point in doing so?   Strom Thurmond had a Black daughter, but that still didn't stop him from being a lifelong segregationist and fighting mightily until he died to oppress her and her people.

Ann Coulter is dating Jimmie Walker.   Dating a non white person is not a get out of jail free pass to keep you from getting dragged for your casual racism .

But all your facts free ranting did was prove my point that some of you white gays and lesbians are not only bigger human rights oppressors than the GOP, you are gleefully participating in pushing unjust legislation for whatever self hating reason.

And once again, if you voted for Trump, especially if you're trans, you are a sellout to this community who voted for your own oppression.   When the GOP is done messing with trans folks, they will be coming to repeal your rights including your hard won ability to get married. .

Your pink sheets are showing, so don't get mad when the people who that unjust legislation is being aimed at call you on your crap.
 

Angela Rye Calls Out Joe Walsh On CNN

You TransGriot readers know how much i love CNN pundit and contributor Angela Rye.  She has no problem calling BS out and going toe to toe with conservafools

Enjoy watching her eviscerate Joe Walsh  for making the mistake of stepping to her with some loud and wrong BS on Twitter

TransFORM Our Hearts Event

Our Republican controlled Texas legislature is still in session, and in addition to watching the Texas Transgender Oppression Act (SB 6), we are watching other unjust bills like SB 4.

Because the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is happening tomorrow, an event is happening starting at 6 PM.

***

In light of the continued violence exacted upon our Black sisters, the atrocity that is S.B. 6 that continues to demonize trans women, and the silence about the loss of Black lives coming from Washington    In light of the interdependent systems of disadvantage that affect the Latina trans community, the atrocity that is S.B. 4, and the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from Washington.

Women and Allies and Pantsuit Republic Houston are hosting this fundraiser mixer at Dan Electros on Thursday, March 30 (on the eve of the day for trans visibility, March 31).

The purpose of this event will be continued education and awareness of the struggles of the Trans community in Houston.

It will be a great opportunity for all of us who do not know members of the Trans community to mingle and get to know more of our family in the fight against injustice.

Let's join them and other progressive organizations around town in support of a group that is continually marginalized! RSVP now! And invite all your friends!

***

The address of Dan Electro's Guitar Bar  is 1031 E. 24th Street in Houston.   Looking forward to seeing you there. 

Getting Another Award This Weekend

Well, this latest award for my nearly 20 years of trans advocacy work is coming from an unexpected direction and organization in the Human Rights Campaign.

Yep, HRC.  And yeah, many of the folks in HRC Houston know that along with my longtime readers at times I have been one of the organization's harshest critics.

I'm getting the John Walzel Equality Award at the upcoming Houston gala on Saturday April 1, and nope, this isn't a TransGriot April Fool's Day prank.

Who was John Walzel?   He was a native Houstonian, Bellaire HS grad and the owner of Walzel's Houston's oldest fine jewelry store that was founded by his father in 1944.

Walzel was also active in social justice and LGBTQ rights issues in Houston.   He was not only an active member of HRC and sat on its Board of Governors, but supported other causes like the AIDS Foundation Houston, the Center For AIDS, DIFFA, and the Houston Black Tie Dinner.

He was also politically active.  He supported Chris Bell in his unsuccessful bid to become Houston's mayor, Annise Parker when she successfully ran for city council, former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore.

Walzel died at age 50 while on vacation in New York in June 2002.  

 It's really happening, and HRC Houston was serious about wanting to honor the work I've done and will continue to do on behalf of the TBLGQ community.

This year's gala is happening at the new Marriott Marquis hotel on the other side of Discovery Green in downtown Houston, and looking forward to seeing a few people this Saturday..

Trans*H4CK TDOV Panel 'On Being Black and Trans In The US'

March 31 is the Transgender Day of Visibility, and there are many event planned to focus on trans lives throughout the country

The Oakland based Trans*H4CK will be sponsoring a TDOV discussion moderated by Dr Kortney Ziegler entitled 'On Being Black and Trans in The US'.

The panelists are A. Dionne Stallworth,  Jevon Martin, Michael David Battle, Lynx M'Chea, Deja Sparks, Preston Martin and Lourdes Ashley Hunter.

This International Trans Day of Visibility, Trans*H4CK celebrates the lives of Black Trans Americans. In this live video panel, you will hear from black trans, black gender non conforming and black non-binary folks covering topics such as: Cross gender coalition building; Black Trans mental health; grassroots activism; ways to self-sustain as a black trans person with our current administration.

RSVP and join the discussion live on The LOFT March 31st at 10:00 AM PDT. 

The discussion will start at 10 AM PDT  (11:00 AM MDT, 12;00 PM CDT and 1:00 PM EDT)  and looking forward to hearing the discussion.

Handling Our #LGBTMedia17 Business in Orlando

As you TransGriot readers were aware of, I've spent the last several days in Central Florida getting my learn on at the 8th annual LGBT Media Journalists Convening.

It's one of my fave events, and I get to spend some quality time  with my media fam in addition to get my learn on about the issues impacting our community in different parts of it.

Many of the premiere bloggers and journalists  of our community were in the Rosen Centre Hotel house including four of the five nominees for this year's GLAAD Best Blog Award.  

So yep, that meant that for the first time since the 2012 Netroots Nation me and Alvin McEwen of 'Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters' not only got to see each other, but plot and plan how we were going to piss off the haters next.   I also got to hang out once again with many of our kick butt women bloggers and journalists, but also content owners like the amazing Melanie Davis

The trans media fam was in effect with birthday girl and my suitemate Dawn Ennis, Gwen Smith, my Houston homegirl Cristan Williams, Brynn Tannehill, Meredith Talusan and Lewis Wallace.

I also got to spend quality time with and get to know people like Derrick Clifton, Jahnell La Mara Johnson, and Rosalind Bentley.with the amazing Lizz Winstead, who was our MC for the weekend, and kept the panels running on time.

Thursday night our mixer event was held at Mango's Tropical Cafe where we go to enjoy some great food and even better conversation.  It was nice hanging out with Joe Jervis and Colin Murphy and getting to talk to Andy Humm about community history.

 I also got a chance to hang out with my Orlando via Texas homegirl Melisa Gomez, meet Elixher's Associate Editor Jahnell La Mara, see old friends like new BiNet USA president Lynnette McFadzen, Trish Bendix, Ebone Bell, Fiona Dawson Zack Ford and Mary Emily O'Hara while eating some wonderful food and min lava cakes while seeing their show from a TV screen in our VP area that had a trio of Michael Jackson impersonators.

We also got to see upon our return to the Rosen Center Hotel from our excursion to Mango's the fountain in front of the hotel lit up in the rainbow flag colors in honor of our event being there.

Friday morning came way too early, and our first LGBTMedia17 day got started with breakfast and the morning talks from 9-12 noon

In addition to the extra day of informational panels and talks we were doing this year, there was also a new feature being initiated for this year's event in which we paired at a table with veteran and newbie attendees so the newbies didn't feel left out.

I was part of Trish Bendix's 'Trish's Magnificent Seven' table

The topics covered in those talks were Objectivity Is Dead by Lewis Wallace,  International News Coverage Begins At The Source by Michael Lavers,  Journalist Or Accidental Tourist: Covering International LGBTQ Issues  by Roberta Sklar, Visual Storytelling: A Guide To Showing Not Telling by Steve Johnson, When It Was Made About Me , I Learned It Had Nothing To Do About Me by Jana Shortal and we closed out the morning talks with Beyond Murder: Covering Transgender People Of Color  by Meredith Talusan.

We LGBTMedia attendees were also tweeting the proceeding via the #LGBTMedia17 hashtag, which we were proud to discover within an hour after the morning talks started, was the number one hashtag on Twitter.

We were also happy to discover during lunch that our gender neutral restroom sign was not only well received by other people sharing the hotel with us and being used, it was sparking conversations.

After lunch we had two deep dive sessions scheduled to run from 1-2:45 PM  to choose from that lasted 45 minutes with a 15 minute break to switch between session if you wished.

Steve Johnson moderated the Showing Not Telling session while Roberta Sklar moderated the Practical Considerations For International Coverage  one

After a snack break in the main meeting room from 2:45-3:15 PM  we began the Afternoon talks in which the topics covered were LGBTQ Equality and Religious Freedom: You Can Have Both  by Sally Steenland, #PopCulturePivot by Twanna Hines, Highlighting Experiences of Family Members Of Transgender People by Brynn Tannehill  and to close out the business end of LGBTMedia Day 1 Audience Engagement Is Like Dating by Joy Mayer.

After remarks from our MC Lizz Winstead, we had a break from 5:30-7 PM before we returned to Salon 3 for dinner, drinks and a speech from Atlanta mayoral candidate Cathy Woolard.

But before Cathy was brought on to speak to the LGBTMedia 17 fam by Jen Christensen, we were introduced to the owner of our amazing host venue Harris Rosen, who is also known in the Orlando area for his wonderful philanthropic work

Something I ate at breakfast that morning didn't agree with my stomach, and I left early during Cathy Woolard's speech to retire to my room and purge whatever was upsetting my stomach.  I got over it, but it kept me up most of the night as I made frequent trips to the porcelain throne room.

Yeah I know, TMI.

So after that mostly sleepless night, my phone alarm rang way too early to start Day 2 of LGBTMedia17   After breakfast, we started Day 2 at 9:30 AM by talking about one of the things that was on everyone's mind since we were here in Orlando by discussing the PULSE club mass shooting attack.

The Covering Pulse panel featured Jeff Truesdell, Billy Manes, Erik Sandoval and Meredith Talusan.

It then moved on to introducing Ricardo Negron-Almodovar, who as a survivor of the Pulse attack told his perspective on what the media, and specifically the LGBTQ media got worng about their PULSE coverage and his hope it gets corrected before the looming one year anniversary of it on June 12.

Ricardo was also given extra time to talk because our MC correctly thought it needed to happen.

Andy Humm then took to the podium for his talk entitled There Is No Substitute For Face To Face Interaction, followed by Intersectionality and Storytelling by Derrick Clifton ,

The morning sessions closed out with a Science of Storytelling one by Matt Sheehan and Ann Christiano before we broke for lunch in Salon 3 at 12:30

Intersectionality is s topic that can't be discussed in 5  minutes, and it was something that myself and several people tweeted about in terms of wishing that it was a subject for a deep dive discussion.

Well, you know the old saying about putting something out in the atmosphere with the hope , speaking it into existence and it will happen?  We did so on the intersectionality topic and were rewarded with an intersectionality deep dive discussion moderated by Derrick Clifton.  But it was starting at 1 PM, so i had to finish my lunch a little faster than I would have liked in order to get back down to the Signature 1 main room where Derrick's session was happening.

It was a needed and necessary topic added in addition to the previously scheduled #StoryScience one by Sheehan and Christiano and How To Build Audience By Watching Movies and TV by Twanna Hines.

The 2:45 snack break came way too soon to end it and set us up for the Afternoon talks

Moya Bailey talked about via video Social Media and Social Justice Ethics, and took some questions from us before we moved on to the next topic .Prophecy and Proof: How A Half Century of Medical and Media Narratives Came To Define Transgender People  by Bethany Grace Howe.
Mary Emily O'Hara then took the podium to talk about Creating and Owning A New Beat.

Fiona Dawson then took the podium to discuss Leveraging The Intersection of Advocacy and Journalism.  She laid out in her discussion how her story about Logan and Laila Ireland eventually led to ending the ban on trans military service.

The final afternoon talks of  LGBTMedia17 covered the topics of the Power of A Single Story by Rosalind Bentley and my Texas homeboy David Taffet discussing Covering A Murder When The Story Leads Back To Your Office.   

After filling out some evaluations and some down time taken either in poolside conversations or retreating back to our various rooms to get ready for out on the town forays later that evening, we gathered in the Rosen Center hotel lobby at 6:30 PM to board the buses again.

We were traveling first to the PULSE nightclub to pay our respects to the 49 predominately Latinx people who died there, and then head to dinner in downtown Orlando at Kres Chophouse.

I and my dinner companions after being seated at the chophouse began to have discussion ranging from classic Black movies to neo-soul artist to me doing an impression of Anika Noni Rose's Grace Makutsi character from the short lived HBO cable TV series The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.

News flash, I do have a sense of humor I unleash upon the world at times.

And yeah, they weren't kidding about those pork chops,.  They were thick, meaty and amazing

While some of us headed back to the hotel, others headed to The Parliament House or Southern Nights for a well deserved night on the town.   When we got back, I satisfied my Slurpee craving since there was a 7 Eleven less than a block from the hotel and paired it up with a slice of the pizza from the deli inside the Rosen Center hotel for a midnight snack.

Then I settled down to do some writing before I flipped the TV to SportsCenter to see how my NCAA men's and women's brackets were doing.  .

Sunday dawned with us gathering near the pool to have brunch and say goodbye to each other until we got the chance to see each other again either at some upcoming conference or next year's #LGBTMedia18 event.

Definitely looking forward to #LGBTMedia18, wherever it happens next year.