Lina Hidalgo- People's State of the County Speech

Despite Harris County going undeniably blue in the 2016 election cycle, we unfortunately have a 4-1 Republican majority on the Harris County Commissioners Court.

County Judge Ed Emmett, knowing that he is up for reelection in a few months  in a county that is increasingly Democratic and pissed off at GOP controlled Austin and Washington DC, has been trying to play the 'I'm a moderate Republican' card.  She's dhowed up at this year's Transgender Unity Banquet.

But where was his azz when we needed a Republican to speak up about the unjust SB 6?  HERO?  SB 4?   He was fundraising for the same reprehensible Texas Republicans he's now trying to riverdance away from .   

It's one of the reasons I would love to see Lina Hidalgo #FireEdEmmett and become the next Harris County Judge.

Since Emmett recently gave a state of Harris County speech, I'm giving Lina Hidalgo some time on my blog for you to hear her commentary about the county and her opponent.

Two Texas Transmen Are Running For Office!

We have had since the 80's several trans women run for office in various parts of Texas.   Jenifer Rene Pool made history in the 2016 cycle by becoming the first out Texas trans person to win a party primary in the Lone Star State.

We even have a trans woman in Jess Herbst who serves is the mayor of New Hope, TX in the DFW metro area.

With the breakthrough electoral wins of Danica Roem to the VA state legislature and Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham to the Minneapolis City Council, in light of the Republican led legislative attacks upon our community, we have had more trans people deciding to step up and run for public office.

And if yo're wondering about moi, I'm thinking about it.

The GOP majority in the Texas House is maintained in large part because many of those Republican legislators are running unopposed in their House.  In order to change that dynamic, we are going to need good people to run for office as Democrats.   

The Texas GOP War on Transpeople in the last regular and Special Oppression Session has motivated two trans men to step up in different parts of the state to run for state legislative seats during the 2018 election cycle.

And yeah, I know both of these amazing men  I wish them the best of luck in #TransformingDemocracy and our state legislature.

In the Houston metro area, Dylan Wilde Forbis has stepped up to run against incumbent Republican state rep Ed Thompson in District 29 in the Pearland area.

On the other end of I-45 Finnigan 'Finn' Jones is taking on District 94 Republican incumbent Tony Tinderholt in the Arlington area.   Tinderholt is a proud member of the far right Texas Freedom Caucus.   

With the primaries happening in March, Forbis and Jones are ramping up their campaigns to raise funds, introduce themselves to the voters in their respective districts and with enough support, win and make Texas electoral history.

If you live in their districts, they can use not only your help, be it financial, as a campaign volunteer and most importantly, your votes.   If you don't, they can always use contributions to their campaigns to fund what they need to do to emerge victorious on Election Day./

Good luck to you Dylan and Finn    Here's hoping I'm calling you Representative Forbis and Representative Jones in November. 

Upcoming 2017 International LGBTQ Leaders Conference

This is a conference I would love to attend but not looking like I'll be able to be there this year

It's the International LGBTQ Leaders Cobference sponsored by the Victory Institute.  It has been held every year since 1984 when it started with a gathering of a dozen openly gay elected officials discussing the unique challenges of serving as an elected official while openly gay.



As the number of LGBT elected officials has grown to over 1000 around the planet, so has the popularity and importance of the conference.   Last year's event in Washington DC saw over 500 participants from around the world attend, with 141 of them being TBLGQ elected officials.

40 of those TBLGQ elected officials went into a closed door session at the beginning of the 2016 conference to strategize about the unexpected election of Trump to the presidency and what their response should be to it.

The 2017 edition of the conference is back in Washington DC at the Washington Hilton from December 6-9 with the theme of 'Representation Is Power'. 

Some of the speakers for this year's event include Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) , former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Ca Senator Ricardo Lara, Long Beach, CA mayor  Robert Garcia. Guatemalan Congressmember Sandra Moran, and Peruvian Congressmember Alberto de Belaunde . 

Over the three days of the LGBTQ Leaders Conference attendees will engage in skills building, networking, plenaries and breakout sessions designed to help TBLGQ leaders harness and wield that power for the benefit of their constituents and our community.

And hopefully one day I'll get to be in the house for that event.   

Happy Milestone Birthday, Lauren!

"i'm not a fetish.  I'm not a sideshow. I'm not a trend. I'm none of those things.  I feel like I have a target on my head now   But I don't reside in my trans-ness; I don't live there.  I'm just another woman:
-Lauren Foster

Today is the milestone birthday of South African born and Miami resident, advocate, model and just another girl Lauren Foster who I have mad love and respect for.   We talk and chat from time to time and I'm looking forward to the day that we can FINALLY meet in person.

When she's not being her fabulous self, her day job is being the Director Concierge and LGBTQ Coordinator at the University of Miami Hospital where she helps folks navigate the gender confirmation surgery process with Dr. Chris Salgado.

And yeah, she is one amazing person that I hope to finally get to spend some quality time with in 2018.

Happy milestone birthday Lauren!   May you celebrate many more of them

An Anti-Roy Moore Ad From A Surprising Source

On December 12 the voters of Alabama will head to the polls to choose their next senator.

They have a choice between Democrat Doug Jones, who prosecuted the Klansmen that bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church back in 1963, or moral degenerate Ry Moore, who seems to think that the only suitable girl to date is under age 18 along with other reprehensible back to the 18th century policy positions .

An ad recently started appearing in the state entitled 'Good Christians' which sounds like every other conservabuzzword filled Republican ad you've ever heard, buy comes from a surprising source: 

The Log Cabin Republicans. 

While I've never been a fan of this group and have more than a few archived posts relentlessly mocking them and calling them out on their sellout behavior, have got to give them their props for this ad. 

Seems like they just as horrified as the rest of reality based America about Roy Moore becoming a US senator, and decided to do something about it. 

Check out this broken clock moment ad from the Log Cabin Republicans

   

The Holidays Can Be Not So Happy For Trans People

One reason that we are on heightened suicide alert when we are interacting with our trans family is because from TDOR to Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, the holidays can be one long  microaggressive pain in the rear for us as the cartoon aptly illustrates.

Between people who are being deliberately obtuse or outright shady about our transitions by refusing to use the pronouns we've told them repeatedly to us  even after years of mounting evidence that 'this isn't a phase', the holidays can be a time that is not so happy for us.

Isn't one of the tenets of the holiday season supposed to be spreading love, peace, goodwill and joy amongst humankind in a world that is sorely in need of it? 

Last time I checked, yeah, it is.    So help a trans person out during this time by acknowledging the person standing in front of you and frankly, doing better than the rest of society    It's deeply appreciated by Trans World, the trans person in particular and their supportive families and friends when you take the time to be a caring person.

If you have room at your Christmas dinner table, or your holiday parties, extend an invite to that transperson who is struggling with the prospect of being alone and disconnected from their families during this time of relentless holiday advertisements and Christmas music singing about home and family .

Trans fam, if you're feeling down , call someone, be it a trusted friend or the hotlines that are standing by and ready to assist you.

And for my Trans family, if your blood family is tripping, their loss.  Spend time making holiday memories and establishing holiday traditions with your chosen one.

Rest In Power Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee

'I have to tell you as an African-American transgender man of faith that it is crucially important that the dignity of every citizen  not only be provided for, but affirmed."
-Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee , 2014    

I first met Bishop S.F Makalani MaHee when I was tapped to deliver the keynote speech for the TransSaints Conference in Charlotte, NC in 2012.  We were connected on Facebook, and he, like myself was a contributor to the Bilerico Project.   I kept up with him as one of the amazing people speaking up for the trans community of South Florida and being a transgender man of faith .

I was shocked to hear that Bishop had suffered a heart attack on November 2 and after a valiant struggle to recover, passed away on November 20 at the age of 45.

Bishop Makalani-MaHee born in New York, and was the founder of Black Gay Pride South Florida in addition to his day job of being the Transgender Programs Coordinator for the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. 

In addition to becoming the youngest commissioned pastor at Unity Fellowship Church, he was a strong voice for the empowerment of the South Florida transgender community and a strong critic of proposed policies and unjust laws that would harm it

.

A memorial service is being held for Bishop Makalani-MaHee later today starting at 4 PM EST at the Sunshine Cathedral, located at 1480 SW Ninth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

But there is no denying the fact that we have lost one of our community's powerful soldiers for human rights, and he will be missed not only by all who loved him, but his trans family in South Florida and around the country.   

 

Shut Up Fool Awards- Trump Christmas Fail Edition

It's December 1, which means that we have 30 more days after today left in this somewhat crappy year.  This is also the first Christmas of this misadministration, and they are already failing 'bigly' in ending the 'War on Christmas'.

The White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony is usually a sought after standing room only sold out event.   Not this year.   Plenty of empty seats. 

Once again, the difference between a beloved  POTUS and a hated one. 

But enough jibber jabber.  Time to get to this week's TransGriot Shut Up Fool Award winner.

Honorable mention number one is Donald Trump for just pick an outrage.

Honorable mention number two is Angela Lansbury, who stated that women must sometime take the blame for sexual harassment.

Honorable mention number three is Tom McBroom, for making the racist Twitter comment that Diamond Reynold, the fiance of Philando Castile who recently received an $800,000 settlement, would 'blow the money on crack cocaine'

How about you and your fellow white supremacists with badges learn how to treat Black citizens with dignity and respect, and you won';t have to waste the taxpayer's money paying out huge settlements? .

Honorable mention number four  is White House Press Secretary Minister of Propaganda Sarah Huckabee Sanders. for the nauseating daily exercises in spin, outright lies and denials of reality.

Is it November 2020 yet? 

This week's Shut Up Fool Winner is Susan Sarandon, the Bernie babe who continues to make a fauxgressive azz of herself with her over the top Hillary hate by stating that the country would already be at war if Hillary Clinton were president and her administration would be just as chaotic as Trump's.

Naw boo boo kitty, don't even try it.   And you and Jill Stein need to stop taking whatever mind altering drugs you're on.

A Hillary Clinton administration wouldn't have named Betsy DeVos as her education secretary or been colluding with Russia. 

So have several seats at the Hollywood Bowl and shut the hell up, fool

'Black America' Show In Development

Now this is a show I will watch if it finally makes it to the air.

For over a year now Will Packer and Aaron McGruder have been working with Amazon on developing an alternate history show set in our present day time in which the US Civil War ended with Black Americans not only getting their freedom, but getting the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as reparations for their centuries of enslavement and the opportunity to shape their own destiny.

The three states form the nation of New Colonia, which has a contentious and at times violent relationship with its larger neighbor.   After 150 years of enduring coups, military incursions, assassinations and other assorted drama, a twenty year period of peace with the United States has resulted in New Colonia experiencing spectacular growth and poised to join the ranks of major industrialized world nations as the US is sliding into rapid decline. 

But despite their contentious history, their fates are still intertwined with each other, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out on the silver screen and thescripts that are yet to be developed.

Packer and McGruder are enlisting the help of historians to ensure the show is accurate, and are excited about the intriguing story telling prospects for Black America.

They describe series as a hourlong drama in the vein of The Man In The High Castle, another alternate history show that has found success.   Packer and McGruder also decided to announce that they were working on this show in response to the massive negativity that HBO's Confederate received.

We'll see if Black America makes it on the air and if it does

World AIDS Day 2017

Today is the 29th annual observance of World AIDS Day. 

This December 1 day has been observed since 1988, and is dedicated to not only raising awareness about the pandemic, but morning the people who have died from the disease. It's a bittersweet one for me because I have lost two cousins and numerous friends to the ravages of AIDS, and have others who are living with HIV.

It's also a concern because the 2015 US Trans Survey revealed that 6.7%  of the respondents reported they were diagnosed with HIV.

This year's World AIDS Day theme is 'Right To Health' and it's a salient on in light of the Trump misadministrations attempts to kill the Affordable Care Act and slash funding to combat HIV/AIDS.

In addition to the vigils and informational events happening in Houston and around the world on this World AIDS Day,  there have been events taking place in order to help get the information out there necessary to reach the stated goal of no new HIV infections by 2030.

And we still have much work to do to get to that point.. 

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks - Week 13

In addition to me having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend hanging out with one of my Houston area homegirls for dinner,  I also had a great NFL week 12 to pick up another game on him and get a step closer to my threepeat.

Now the 2017 NFL season moves into December and the homestretch of games that will determine division titles, seedings and home field advantage in the AFC and NFC playoffs.

Thanks to my owner's racist lack of vision, the only thing the Texans are playing for is draft position in the 2018 NFL draft in Dallas.  The one thing that makes this NFL mediocrity better to deal with it that the Arlington Cowchips are also sucking badly.

Yep, the only teams I dislike more than the Cowchips are the Tennessee Traitors and the New England Cheatriots .

Now that my Two Minute NFL Hate is over, let's get to my NFL Week 13 picks..    Mike's picks can be perused here.  Mine will be in bold print with the home team in CAPS.

So let's get busy.

Week 12 Results                                                               NFL Season Record 
TransGriot   12-4                                                               TransGriot  114-62
Mike            11-5                                                               Mike           109-67

Thursday Night Game
Washington over COWBOYS

Sunday Early Games 
TITANS over Texans
Patriots over BILLS
Chiefs over JETS
DOLPHINS over Broncos
BEARS over 49ers
Lions over RAVENS
Buccaneers over PACKERS
JAGUARS over Colts
Vikings vs Falcons

Sunday Afternoon Games
CHARGERS over Browns
Rams over CARDINALS
RAIDERS over Giants
SAINTS over Panthers

Sunday Night Game
Eagles over SEAHAWKS

Monday Night Game
Steelers over BENGALS

Trans United Fund Deserves Your Support

#GivingTuesday may have already passed, but you don't need a specific day to donate to one of the organizations who has taken on the mission of building trans political power and getting trans people elected to public office.   people

So how about giving some of those hard earned dollars to an organization that is building trans political power and doing so in a spectacular way like Trans United Fund?

They have a proven track record in terms of not only getting our people elected like Minneapolis councilmembers elect Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham, but provided the critical support that got Danica Roem through her contested Democratic primary and during her successful race to topple the self proclaimed 'Homophobe in Chief' Bob Marshall from his VA House of Delegates seat.

While Trans United Fund's focus is on trans candidates, they did provide the critical support to help three trans supportive school board candidates in Palatine, IL beat back a heavily funded right wing attempt to gain control of the D211 school board and win their races.

With the 2018 election cycle fast approaching,  Trans United Fund needs to replenish their funds so that they can be in a stronger position to help the trans candidates who request their endorsement.

Trans United Fund is seeking to raise a total of $10K  $5,000 for Trans United Fund and another $5000 for the Breakthrough Fund  PAC that helped power Andrea, Phillipe and Danica to their historic election wins.

Will you consider donating and helping Trans United Fund reach or exceed that goal?  $20, $10 and $5 donations add up.   If you can give more, that's fine, too.   But bear in mind trans fam and allies, that if we want to see more trans representation in our city councils, community courts, judicial benches, state legislatures or Congress, running a winning campaign takes money.

In 2018 we already have some trans persons who have declared they are running for public office. If they ask for the Trans United Fund endorsement, TUF wants to have the resources available o help them win.

So please consider making an investment in TransUnited Fund, since November 2018 will be here sooner than we realize. 

PM Trudeau Delivers Apology To TBLGQ Canadians

"It is with shame and sorrow and deep regret for the things we have done that I stand here today and say: We were wrong. We apologize. I am sorry. We are sorry."
-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a tearful apology to TBLGQ Canadians in a televised address on Tuesday afternoon who were in his words, 'branded criminals by the government'




This is leadership in action, and some folks on our side of the 45th parallel need to take notes

Number 23- Rest In Power Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson

Any hopes I had that we would not lose any more trans people in 2017 to anti-trans violence were dashed when I received word of the latest person to be taken away from us too soon.

This time the murder happened in Oklahoma City, OK  and it is 31 year old Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson.

She was found dead in a motel room at the Oxford Inn at 5301 N. Lincoln Blvd in northeast OKC at approximately 2:30 AM CST Monday.

As you probably guessed, the initial news reports used her deadname.

Brooklyn's family put out a statement after hearing the news of her death.

"We are heartbroken.  Brooklyn BreYanna was an amazing daughter, sister and friend with a giving and loving heart.   We pray that those who committed this heinous crime will be identified and Brooklyn will receive justice." .

Brooklyn's family has also created a GoFundMe page to help assist with raising fund to cover the cost of her burial.

The murder investigation is in its early phase, and the OKlahoma City PD has no suspects or a motive at this time.   Those persons with any information concerning this case are urged to call OKC PD's Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200 

Stevenson is the 23rd  trans person killed in 2017, the 18th African-American one and the 17th Black trans feminine one.   And more irritating to me is that she was under age 35.

Rest in Power and Peace, Brooklyn!   Will keep track of this case until justice is served and the perpetrators of it are doing time.   If there are any upcoming memorial services or community vigils for her, will pass that information along as I get it.

Deray Mckesson At UH Tomorrow

Going to be an interesting event happening at UH on Wednesday night as as part of the UH Graduate College of Social Work Social Justice Solutions series of discussions and community conversations

Social Justice Solutions invites activists, thought leaders, and the community to explore action-oriented strategies to affect social change. Through an examination of social justice issues in their current and historical contexts, the goal is to inspire first, conversation and then action in keeping with the College’s vision of achieving social, racial economic and political justice, local to global.
The latest of these conservations brings civil rights activist Deray Mckesson takes part in a moderated discussion in the Cullen Performance Hall on the UH campus starting at 6 PM    Because of overwhelming demand for this event, the venue was changed to accommodate all the people who wish to see him and hear this conversation

Actually looking forward to seeing him again, since the last time we chatted with each other was for a few minutes during the joint NABJ-NAHJ convention in Washington DC last year.

The Cullen Performance Hall is on the UH campus near the UH Student Center, and the address is 4800 Calhoun Road.

Looking forward to hearing and seeing Deray again

'No Letter Left Behind' Conversation Tonight At Obsidian Theater

One of the things I've been saying for a while is that we need to have ongoing conversations and information dissemination events in Houston concerning TBLGQ issues.

Later today the group A Conversation For Colored Girls is sponsoring this event at the Obsidian Theater that seeks to jumpstart a dialogue about the lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer/questioning , intersex and asexual+ community.

So what's A Conversation for Colored Girls?  It's a community nonprofit that meets once a month to present invigorating conversation that aims to create a safe space for all of those who identify as women, and women of color, to come together for transformative conversation.

It also asks the very valid question how can we move forward as a people if we leave so many people, and specifically people in the TBLGQIA community behind?

This month's 'No Letter Left Behind' conversation hopes to dive into the semantics behind the LQBTQIA+ community and seeks to understand the significance of every letter representing the community and the people those letters represent

I agree with A Conversation For Colored Girls in the expressed sentiment that a lack of knowledge will never be an excuse for cruelty. As we explore each letter we gain a better understanding of everyone who lies on the spectrum. Opening our minds to appreciate the distinct people within the TBLGQIA+ community while showing the respect that is so seldom given, but always deserved.

This is your chance to ask questions and gain knowledge!

A Conversation For Colored Girls provides a safe space for such conversations as these. Come, share, and learn.  The doors open for the Obsidian Theater and this AC4CG sponsored conversation start at 6:30 PM.

If you can, bring a friend.  because this is a conversation that has needed to happen since the passage of HERO in May 2014 and its repeal with the help of sellout Black pastors colluding with white fundamentalists and Republicans in November 2015.

The Obsidian Theater is located at 3522 White Oak Dr, and hope to see you there.

Prince Harry Putting A Ring On Meghan's Finger

White supremacists around the world are probably having hissy fits right now since it was announced that Prince Harry, fifth in line to the British throne, is getting married to Meghan Markle.

Here's the announcement for the spring 2018 wedding.

A sister from Cali   An actress who many of you saw on the show Suits.  And amazing thoughtful woman and public speaker. 



How you like her now British royal traditionalists and US haters? 

Prince Harry took Beyonce's advice and put a ring on this Black woman's finger.   Oh and FYI for the ignorati, Black women come in 24 different skin tones.

What's going to be interesting to watch is what transpires after the wedding.  The Daily Mail Fail and other tabloids have already been throwing racist shade at Markle including a 'Straight Outta Compton' reference to her LA roots that caused Prince Harry to publicly rebuke the British tabloid media for shadily dissing his future wife and mother in law along with the other stunts the tabloid media is known for.

Even after all the speculation on both sides of The Pond about whether this relationship was one that was going to end in marriage, looks like we have the initial answer to that question.

Prince Harry is engaged to Meghan Markle.   Deal with it.

Now what it means to British society, race and the royal family, and discussions of race in Great Britain is a question that we'll have to wait and see what happens .

Moni Needs Some Help.....

You  longtime TransGriot readers know that I don't like asking for help unless I really need it, but this qualifies as one of those times.

Because I had two speaking engagements cancel on me in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, it threw my finances into chaos for a few weeks   I managed to get everything straightened out except one bill and that on my storage unit.

I had some promised help fall through at the last minute, which is why I'm putting up this last minute appeal now.   It's a storage unit that contains a lot of trans history like my papers and awards like the Virginia Prince that if I don't get the balance on it down to zero by 11;30 AM CST tomorrow, at noon it goes up for auction.

Need to raise $750 to get the balance current, and the clock's ticking. 

I do have a link to my PayPal account on my TransGriot blog, and I do have Facebook Pay   Also don't mind making a trip to the nearest Wal-Mart for their walmart moneytransfer if you prefer to do it that way.   I just need to get it done before 11:30 AM tomorrow. 

Whatever you can spare, it's deeply appreciated..

Finding Fashionable Heels Is A Pain For Tall Girls

As many of my friends and readers know, it took me a while to get to that point, but I'm proud of being 6'2" and being on #TeamTallGirl.  Like my mother, I love shoes.   Unlike her, as a consequence of being on Team Tall Girl, bigger feet come with this body. 

And yes, tall girls don't want to wear flats all the time.  We like that sexy fashion forward pair of heels to walk in even if it puts at NBA center height to rock 3-4 inch heels. 

And you shorter girls cis and trans don't make it any easier.  Nikki Loyd teases me from time to time about her size 9 feet.  I have several petitte trans Latina friends who wear single digit shoe sizes, and one wears a size 7. 

One of my cis homegirls who was a gal pal of mine back in the late 90's is six feel tall.  Tracy rubbed it in every chance she got that she wore a size 10.   That is until she had her daugher in 2000 and gained a full shoe size. 

Karma is a you know what, huh?

Most shoe stores stop at size 10, so I don't even waste time heading into those discount shoe places.  Many department stores also stop at size 10, with a few size 11's and size 12's in their storage rooms.

Same with some of the online show outlets.   Even Zappos, which I have had some success finding shoes in the past, only carries some brands of them to size 11.  I also like Long Tall Sally's, but they start at $75 for many of their shoes.  There are also collections on Zappos that you will pay starting in the $100 range and up for them in the larger sizes, and they all go fast.
,

It's why we have the running joke in Trans World that Payless is the Trans Woman's Best Friend' (and tall girls) when it comes to finding fashion forward shoes..  When Payless announced they were heading into bankruptcy, that sent shockwaves through all us trans fashionistas who depend on them to augment our shoe closets.   Fortunately for moi, the Payless locations I faithfully hit for my shoes are still open.

But it's still torture when I'm out shopping, I see a nice shoe that I like that is in my price range, but it's not in my size.

Note to shoe manufacturers.  Fashion forward doesn't stop at size 10.   Many of us fashionistas in double digit shoe territory love heels, too.     . 

MassResistance Sets Off Gaydars With Rainbow Flag Waving Interpretive Dance

We have always said in TBLGQ World that the people who gleefully work on oppressing our community are usually self hating cowards who protest too much.

We got another gaydar triggering confirmation of this when MassResistance, an anti-TBLGQ hate group based in Massachusetts. made the curious decision to kick off an anti-gay hate conference with a rainbow flag waving interpretive dance that set gaydars off across the country.

Thought you hatemongers were more into he-man masculine activities like American flag waving.or shooting AR-15's.

Well. see for yourself