Kneegrow TERF's, You're Getting Called Out If You Step To Me

The TERF's have been colluding with Republican politicians and the conservafool movement to take their disco era hatred of trans women to another level.   We saw that in Texas during the SB 6 senate hearing in March when a white TERF was called as a 'expert' witness to testify in FAVOR of passing that unjust bill.  

One of the other tactics the TERF's overwhelmingly white ranks have borrowed is to get kneegrow sellouts to regurgitate the same TERF toro poo poo they have been spouting since 1972 in order to deflect from the fact the TERF ranks are overwhelmingly comprised of racist white women.

What is driving this post is that last night I was part of a discussion in which a Black female professor wanted to learn more about the trans community, and started a thread on her Facebook page to facilitate an informative conversation

.

As you probably guessed, right on cue, a TERF popped up in the middle of this thread.   She made the mistake of not checking Google before she stepped to me, and I went Wakandan on her azz.

But hear me on these salient points.  No trans feminine person, myself included is saying we are EXACTLY the same as a cis woman. We have no problem acknowledging there are some differences.

But we do have far more in common than we do differences, and that point needs to be acknowledged as well.   Trans women face sexism and misogyny. Trans women (and trans men) get sexually assaulted.  And as more trans feminine kids grow up as the girls and women they are, that commonality will become even more pronounced. 


Black trans women face the same anti-Blackness fueled attacks on our femininity as Black cis women do multiplied by anti-trans hatred.  We Black trans women have to fight tooth and nail to have healthy self esteem and pride in ourselves in a world that's hostile to just just like our cis counterparts.  

And oh yeah, have you noticed that every successful Black woman over 5'7" or who doesn't perform femininity in an approved way gets 'that's a man' gender policing shade thrown at them? 

Serena Williams ring a bell for you?  Former First Lady Michelle Obama?  

What we trans women have a serious problem with is cis women who repeatedly deny, despite all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that trans women exist, we didn't just pop up in the second half of the 20th century, and trans women are women.

Our existence, our humanity and our human rights are not up for debate or discussion by anyone, especially TERF's.

What part of that statement do you not understand or are willfully ignoring?

We have a serious problem with TERF's who eagerly work in many cases to demonize and attack us, attack trans kids and their parents, and gleefully work with Republican legislators and conservative anti-LGBTQ groups to roll back our human rights..

And yes, Black trans women have a serious problem with the overt and covert racism in TERF ranks.   
Janice Raymond was responsible back in 1981 for getting Medicare and Medicaid to stop paying for SRS, with insurance companies following suit with their trans exclusionary procedures bans three years later. How many low income trans people did that hateful action affect?

TERF's have been hating on trans women to a disco beat since 1972. Are you TERF's mad because unlike the early 70's, you can no longer just spew your anti-trans garbage without instant and immediate pushback from trans people and our allies? 

Yeah, y'all mad.
   
News flash to you TERF ignorati.  We in TransWorld are beyond sick and tired of your anti-trans hatred.

I'm damned sure not going to tolerate the same five decade old anti-trans lies told by white TERF's coming out of the mouths of misguided Black cis women.  

That will be the case whether your name is Chimamanda Adichie, Stacy Patton or some random kneegroid TERF hiding behind a pseudonym making anti-trans comments on Facebook and elsewhere on social media while speciously claiming they are her 'opinion'.
You wannabe kneegrow TERF's have been warned. Your facts free faux faith-based 'opinions' and you will get called out with the quickness.  You step to me with TERF bull feces, I will gleefully call it and your Oreo cookie flavored behind out. 

So choose wisely this day which path you will follow and who you will align yourselves with..  

Will you go down the enlightened path of building sisterhood with Black trans women so that together we can tackle and solve the issues that ail all Black women and by extension Black America?  

Or will you allow your hatred, anger and unfounded fear of trans women lead you down the dark path of TERFism and pariah status with the Black community for colluding with the same GOP racists that oppress our people?

The Black trans community and your cis sisters who get it that trans women are women are awaiting your answer.

Newark Police Looking For Men Who Attacked Trans Woman

Anti-trans hate thoughts + Anti-trans hate speech = anti-trans hate violence.

Unfortunately it is Black trans women who are living with and bearing the brunt of this Equation of Trans Oppression being played out in real time.

If people aren't trying to kill us, they are inappropriately and violently in many cases putting their hands on us, and that toro caca needs to stop.

I was sent a link to the infuriating video by Londyn De Richelieu concerning this disturbing incident that happened in Newark recently a block from Newark's city hall.  .

What it looks like in the snippet of video that I was sent, is that for whatever reason, a trans woman and a cis male were engaged in a physical altercation.  The trans woman appears to have gotten the upper hand on her tormentor, had him pinned to the ground and was kicking that butt as a crowd of bystanders watched.

Then another male in a white t-shirt, black jeans, a black wave cap  and a backpack jumped into the fight,pulling the trans woman off the pinned down male and began to violently kick her in the face, stomp her head and strike her in the face several times before it ended.

The video obviously has caused outrage in Black Trans World, especially in light of the fact we have already lost 12 Black trans women this year to anti-trans violence.

I'm happy to inform you that Newark Police are now looking for the two men involved in this incident, and if you have information on their whereabouts, you are urged to  call the NPD's Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-977-695-4867)

Your anonymous tips will be kept confidential, and could result in a reward if the perpetrators are captured and brought to justice.

So yeah, I'm all in favor of calling the cops on these fools and seeing justice served for the trans woman they attacked.

Happy 150th Birthday, Canada!

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian trans family and north of the border TransGriot readers!.

Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Canada.   On July 1, 1867 the British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were untied under the British North America Act into the Dominion of Canada.   Upon confederation the former province of Canada was divided into the current provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Since that July 1, 1867 date Canada has grown to become an internationally respected nation touching three oceans and comprised of ten provinces and three territories

This day is celebrated across the nation with fireworks, parades and other events, but since this was the 150th anniversary of the date of confederation, this particular Canada Day celebration was going to be an epic party.

For my Canadian trans family, this Canada Day will probably be a memorable one which has even more meaning for them.

The June 15 passage of the Trans Rights Bill in the Canadian Senate and its subsequent receiving of Royal Assent from the Governor General, means that on this Canada Day, the human rights of Canadian trans people are protected federally and in all the provinces and territories of Canada.

Canada acquired its independence gradually over time.  It joined the League of Nations as an independent country on January 10, 1920.  It wasn't until the 1982 passage of the Canada Act by the British Parliament that the Canadian Parliament assumed the power of making changes to the Canadian Constitution with Queen Elizabeth II still being considered the queen of Canada.

Dominion Day, as this date was previously known and celebrated as, subsequently became known as Canada Day.  

We're happy for you Canadian trans fam, and one day, your American trans cousins hope that in the near future we can celebrate the day that our human rights are recognized and protected by our federal government .

Shut Up Fool Awards- Happy 150th Birthday Canada Edition

Tomorrow is July 1 and Canada Day,  in which our neighbor to our north will be celebrating its 150th birthday.  

And as those celebrations happen across their home and native land trans Canadians will be doing ao with the knowledge that their human rights are protected in Canadian federal law and in the laws of all Canadian provinces and territories.

I can talk about that later, but have to get to this week's Friday business of calling out the fool, fools or fools that are everywhere.

Honorable mention number one is Canadian Senator Don Plett (Conservative-AB) who fought C-16 and pimped anti-trans slurs to do so.  

Honorable mention number two is a group award for the REAL Women of Canada, the transphobic kissing cousins to the TERF's and right wing Republicans.

Honorable mention number three is Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)  Olson continued the GOP War on Women by attacking the ACA mandate that requires that prenatal and maternity issues be covered. 

Honorable mention number four is Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who keeps trying to push Trumpcare on this country when millions of people and members of his own caucus are telling him they don't want it .

Honorable mention number five is deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.   The daughter of Mike Huckabee tried to claim in a recent propaganda dissemination session press conference that Donald Trump has never incited violence.

Yeah, right.  

Honorable mention number six is Kellyanne Conway.  Propaganda Barbie continues to make an azz out of herself by claiming she's happy with the way Dear Cheeto Leader treats women, questioning the media's patriotism, and other assorted gems this week.

This week's Shut Up Fool winner is Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) who is Exhibit A of what I talk about when I say the most dangerous transphobe is one that has legislative power.

Hartzler compared transgender service members to Vladimir Putin, ISIS and North Korea, and then backed up that idiotic her anti-trans rhetoric by introducing and later withdrawing an amendment that would have banned transpeople from serving in the military

We already have over 15,000 trans people in all branches of the US Armed forces proudly serving our country and more who would like to do do despite your party's  unhinged resistance to the idea.

Vicky, trans people aren't a danger to the United States.   It's ignorant transphobic people like you who are.   And you're even more dangerous to our country because you are a fool with the power tot write legislation

Rep. Vicky Hartzler, shut up fool!

Moni's Going To Comic-Con International 2017!

I was just talking to Cecilia Chung last week about how I haven't gotten the opportunity to do events on the West Coast as much as I do the East Coast, in Washington DC and the Midwest.

Every now and then I get those phone calls that brings unexpected blessings and opportunities in my life and I received one of those yesterday.

Comic-Con has been one of those bucket list things that I've wanted to someday do, but didn't expect to happen for awhile.   That changed at approximately 3 PM yesterday .

I've been asked to participate on a panel discussion that is happening during the event, and as we get closer to Comic-Con's dates and the details get hashed out, I'll  be able to talk more about the panel and what its about.

This qualifies a s BFD.   Comic-Con is not only the oldest continuously run comics and popular arts show in the US, it draws over 130,000 attendees to a sold out San Diego Convention Center along with Hollywood celebrities, movie and television directors and writers.

The best part about this upcoming trip to San Diego is that it is not only the first time I get a chance to explore the city (was in the San Diego airport for two hours a few months ago enroute to Tucson), I get to see Comic-Con in all its glory.  

I'm also hopeful I'll get to spend some quality time with one of my trans elders in Tracie Jada O'Brien while I'm in her southern Cali neck of the woods.

The July 20-23 dates of this event also gives me a mental health break before I have to deal with the Texas GOP conservafools and their Special Oppression Session in Austin

I'll find out when the panel happens when they post the full schedule of events , and I'll let you TransGriot readers who are attending the evnt know where to find me.

BTWI Statement Concerning The Barrin Murder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2017
Contact Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion D. Anderson  BTWI  Founding Executive Director
855-255-8636 Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc. is saddened that we must comment on the death of another trans woman of color in Ava Le'Ray Barrin.
 
What saddens and infuriates us as an organization that seeks to represent and empower Black trans women is that Ava was just 17 years old and hadn't even had a chance to follow her dreams yet.

And as usual, the Atlanta and Athens, GA media outlets reporting on the story once again played into the infuriating pattern of disrespectfully misgendering a Black trans woman in death.  

On Sunday June 25 Athens-Clarke County police responded to an 11:45 AM EDT call concerning an argument taking place in the Rivercrest Apartments on 1020 College Ave.   When they arrived they found Barrin lying in the parking lot of the complex suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 PM EDT.

Ava has become not only the 14th trans woman murdered in the US in 2017, she unfortunately is now the youngest one killed this year.   She is also the 12th African American trans person killed this year.

All 14 of the murdered US trans women are women of color, with two of them being Native American and Latina.    What also is distressing to us is that eleven of the 14 people we have lost this year are under age 40.

21 year old Jalen Brown is in custody in the Athens Clark County Jail without bail, and has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in this case.

A candlelight memorial service was held for Barrin Monday night, and funeral arrangements are pending at this time.  BTWI's Dee Dee Watters will be doing a Facebook Live moment of silence in Ava's honor starting at 9 PM CDT.

BTWI, our brother organization Black Transmen, Inc, the BTMI Atlanta Chapter, the Black Trans International Pageantry System, and Black Trans Advocacy joins your family and all who loved you in expressing our condolences for your far too soon death.

Rest in power and peace, Ava.

***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities  

Number 14- Rest In Power and Peace Ava Le'Ray Barrin

It's my sad duty to report that another trans sister has been lost to anti-trans violence, this time in Athens, Georgia.

The latest addition to our sadly lengthening 2017 list of trans women who are being killed is 17 year old Ava Le'Ray Barrin.  As usual, a Black trans woman was misgendered by the local media.

According to reports from the Athens Banner- Herald and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, for still unknown reasons a fight broke out in the parking lot of the Riverview apartment complex in Athens early Sunday morning between Barrin and 21 year old Jalen Breon Brown .

The two knew each other, according to Athens Clarke County PD spokesperson Epifanio Rodriguez.

When Athens-Clarke County PD responded to the 11:45 AM EDT report of the altercation, when they arrived at the apartment complex at 1020 College Ave, they found Barrin lying in the parking lot of the complex not breathing and suffering from a gunshot would to the left side of her chest.

 Ava was taken to a nearby Athens hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 PM EDT

Witnesses told the arriving officers that Barrin was shot by Brown, who was still in the complex.  Despite claims of self defense, Brown was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault, and is currently in the Athens-Clarke County jail with no bond.  .
 

A candlelight memorial service for Barrin was held in Athens at 7:00 PM EDT Monday evening,at the complex, and her funeral arrangements are still pending.

Ava LeRay Barrin is not only the 14th trans person killed this year, she is now the youngest trans woman to die in the US at age 17.   All 14 trans women murdered in the US this year have been trans women of color, with 12 of the 14 being Black   One person, Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow was Native American, and we recently lost our first Latina in Josie Berrios.

Rest in power and peace Ava.  You were just beginning to live your life as your true self, and were taken from us way too soon before you even had a chance to make your dreams become a reality.

SB 4 Federal Court Hearing Today

The first round of federal court hearing in the fight to kill the unjust and racist SB 4 law before it takes effect September 1 is happening in San Antonio.

The hearing on whether to grant a preliminary injunction preventing SB 4 from taking effect while the court case plays out starting at 9:30 AM with over 1000 people from Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and other parts of the state gathering to protest it.

The case will be heard over the next two days in Chief District Judge Orlando Garcia's court ( Clinton appointee), and the Department of (in) Justice has already filed a brief supporting the unjust law.

Elections matter people.

Now we have to wait and see how the legal arguments play out and what happens over the next few days in San Antonio.     

Loving 'Riverdale'

As you long time TransGriot readers know I'm a huge fan of the Archie comics, and have written several posts about some interesting gender related developments in that iconic cartoon universe.

I was intrigued when the CW broadcast its first season of Riverdale, based on the iconic characters back in January.   But because I was busy with a lot of community events and fighting the GOP flavored transphobic evil emanating out of Austin I didn't get to watch the initial thirteen episode run.

Riverdale hit Netflix on May 18, but I finally got a chance to binge watch it this weekend, and I can see now why it got rave reviews from television critics.

This is definitely not your parents and grandparents Archie cartoon.  It basically shook up and blew up the classic love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica and in many cases everything you know from Archie canon about the characters.

The show starts with Archie getting busy with Geraldine Grundy, the school's music teacher during the summer vacation break.  Yeah, they went there.  Archie is also seen dating Valerie Brown and escorting Cheryl Blossom to one of her family events before he eventually starts the relationship with Veronica.

Girl next door Betty is not only shown to have a dark side and dates Jughead, Veronica in this show is moving to Riverdale from New York and is trying to be less mean girl than she was.

In addition to focusing the Season One storyline on who killed Riverdale queen bee Cheryl Blossom's twin brother Jason, the show is set in a contemporary time period.

Many of the beloved Archie characters you know are part of this show like Kevin Keller, Chuck Clayton, Moose Mason, and Ethel Muggs  The characters also all have deep secrets and backstories that get revealed as the show moves through those thirteen episodes that lead to a shocking whodunit.

They also flipped the casting script on many of those beloved characters.   Veronica Lodge and her family are Latinx.   Josie and the Pussycats are not only all African American, but Josie's mother Sierra McCoy is the mayor of Riverdale played by Robin Givens.

Pops Tate, the owner of the town's 24 hour diner Pop's Chok'lit Shoppe and RHS principal Mr. Weatherbee are also African American.  Reggie Mantle and Dilton Doiley are Asian.

Geraldine Grundy also became a younger woman instead of a senior citizen

Since I mentioned Robin Givens is in it, other recognizable actors you'll see in it are Luke Perry playing Archie's father Fred Andrews, Madchen Amick playing Alice Cooper, and Molly Ringwald playing Mary Andrews.

Riverdale has already been renewed for a second season slated to start on the CW in October, and in the upcoming Season 2 we'll not only see Sabrina Spellman enter this show, but also Hiram Lodge, played by Mark Consuelos.

The show also ended with a cliffhanger that if you haven't seen it, I'll let you head to Netflix to watch and won't spoil it for you

Leiomy's Nike 'Be True' Commercial

Was happy to hear about and see the Nike commercial that vogue icon and dancer Leiomy Maldonado recently was featured in

The Bronx native is so well known in the dance world there's a signature dance move she created called the Leiomy Lolly that both Beyonce and Willow Smith have borrowed for their videos.

The 'Wonder Woman of Vogue' has stayed busy since that appearance as the leader of the Vogue Evolution team on the America's Best Dance Crew show back in 2009.

In addition to this Nike commercial, she's was also recently featured in this high energy one for Kimpton Hotels and their 'Let's Never Stop Dancing' campaign.



So I was exceedingly pleased and proud to see her in this Nike commercial to promote their Be True' line in which she was not only recognized as the legendary trailblazing talent she is, but also as an athlete.

Because lets be real, you have to be in serious shape to do the things she does on a dance floor and look good as she does doing it.

I'm also proud of seeing a trans woman of color and trans Latina featured in this Nike commercial, and I'm so looking forward to meeting this legendary woman someday.

Enough jibber jabber from me, here's the ad.

Dallas Cowboys Chances Of Hosting 2018 NFL Draft In Possible Jeopardy If TX Trans Hate Bill Passes

If the Texas GOP transphobes are successful during the upcoming Special Oppression Session in passing HB 2899, their Trans Hate Bill, one of the first casualties of that legislation may be the Dallas Cowboys chances of hosting the 2018 NFL Draft.

After 50 years of hosting the NFL Draft in New York, the NFL decided to start moving it around again to different cities.  Chicago hosted it in 2015 and 2016, and it was Philadelphia's turn to do so back in April.

There were 22 teams and cities including Canton, OH interested in hosting the 2018 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to happen April 26-28.

Sixteen of them sent representatives to observe the draft happenings in Philadelphia and get a fell for how the event is run, with several subsequently putting in bids with the league for the event/

But Dallas is considered the frontrunner when the NFL makes its decision in August.

The Cowboys made their pitch to the NFL back in April to host the draft at two sites.  AT&T Stadium for the first two days and at The Star, their new $1.5 billion corporate headquarters and practice facility currently being built in suburban Frisco, TX for the last day of it.  

But the Cowboys are now casting a nervous eye down I-35 south toward Austin as the July 18 Special Oppression Session date gets closer.  


The NFL made it clear in comments it made during the regular session a few months ago that if Texas passed the anti-trans SB 6, it would impact the state's two NFL franchises in the Cowboys and the Houston Texans ability to host future Super Bowls or other league events.

That prompted a retaliatory salvo aimed at the NFL from a pissed off Gov. Abbott (R), so as of now the NFL and the Cowboys have been silent about their thoughts as the calendar draws closer to the start date of the special session.

But we'll see in a few weeks if the Texas Republican Party is willing and stupid enough to piss off the NFL and Jerry Jones to pass HB 2899 and if they go there, what the NFL (and Jerry Jones) will do in response.

I would rather have the opportunity to check out some of the NFL Draft related activities during next year's BTAC, but whether that happens depends on what the Texas GOP majority does..