Houston Evilgelicals File Lawsuit Against Drag Queen Storytime

The same group of professional hatemongers that helped kill the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance are once again trying to force their right wing hatred upon our city.

Yesterday they filed a lawsuit against the Houston Public Library and Mayor Sylvester Turner with the goal of shutting down Drag Queen Storytime

The Drag Queen Storytime has been happening monthly at the Freed- Montrose Neighborhood Library branch  in the historic Montrose gayborhood for two years.   Local drag queens have been on their own time showing up at the library to read to the kids brought there by their parents who obviously don't have a problem with it. 

The goal of Drag Queen Storytime is to not only promote literacy, but give kids in attendance a fun event that promotes healthy self esteem in them.

The faux faith based haters have been protesting the events, with the most recent one happening last month.   Houston city councilman Michael Kubosh has also been on the side of the faith based oppressors, railing against this event back in July. 

The suit in federal court accuses the HPL and Mayor  Turner of being 'recklessly entangled in the LGBT Agenda.'  The lawsuit says the storytelling sessions advertised as appropriate for patrons of all ages at the Freed-Montrose Neighborhood branch should not be funded with taxpayer dollars since the library would not host a “man-woman marriage storytelling hour.”Naw, you clowns don't have that story hour you claim in your lawsuit isn't being hosted because you're too busy working to gleefully oppress TBLGQ people.

The plaintiffs self identify themselves as “Christ followers,” taxpayers and card-carrying library patrons, but have long histories of being opposed to marriage equality.   They also fought the HERO ordinance.  They claim in the suit the Drag Queen Storyline violates their 'freedom of religion'

One of the peeps bringing the anti-storytime lawsuit is Tex Christopher, who claims he homeschooled his children using library books.

Another plaintiff is Chris Sevier, who has filed a number of lawsuits across the country in several states, including one in Houston for the right to marry his laptop.

If men can marry men, Sevier actually has argued, why can’t he marry a computer?  The case was throw out of court in large part because it was designed to get to the SCOTUS so they could have the opportunity to overturn the 2015 Obergefell case.

The plaintiffs also include an evilgelical minister and a woman who claims she got into a custody battle with her husband after he left her for a transgender woman.

What the hell does that alleged divorce proceeding have to do with reading books to kids?
Y'all are just trying to throw anything up on the wall and hope it sticks.

Need to find out what federal judge got assigned the case, but it's probably a safe bet they shopped around for an anti-TBLGQ federal judge to file this lawsuit in.

Stay tuned to see how this case turns out.   

Houston Chronicle Endorses Beto O'Rourke!

"With eyes clear but certainly not starry, we enthusiastically endorse Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate. The West Texas congressman's command of issues that matter to this state, his unaffected eloquence and his eagerness to reach out to all Texans make him one of the most impressive candidates this editorial board has encountered in many years."-Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
This is definitely a huge shock and a win for Team Beto. 

The Houston Chronicle, which leans so conservative on its editorial board it endorsed George HW Bush, George W Bush, Mitt Romney and a certain Rafael Cruz in 2012, just flipped the US Senate endorsement script and endorsed Beto O'Rourke.

"What sets O'Rourke apart, aside from the remarkable campaign he's running, are policy positions in keeping with a candidate duly aware of the traditionally conservative Texas voter he would be representing in the U.S. Senate," the Chronicle editorial board said.

The board then goes on to conclude that O'Rourke would serve as a check to President Trump, whom it describes as a "danger to the republic."

"Cruz is unwilling to take on that responsibility." 

The Chronicle editorial board also called Rafael out for leading the 2013 government shutdown, and recited the negative comments from his Washington House and Senate GOP colleagues about him.   

It also pointed out the obvious that Cruz has shown little interest "in addressing the needs of his fellow Texans during his six years in office."

Hey, his wife Heidi is tired of 'scraping by' on that measly $174,000 a year taxpayer funded salary anyway.

Of course, Rafael was hatin' immediately after the decision, calling the Chronicle a 'left wing rag'.  Interesting to note you didn't say the same thing in 2012 when they endorsed your Canadian born azz. 

Hey, just keeping it real.   He may have a house in River Oaks and votes at the West Gray Multiservice Center, but the vast majority of Houstonians don't like him and don't claim Rafael as one of our own.

But yes, it's a huge win when the paper of record in the largest city in the state, and his home base goes with his opponent.   

Spirit Day 2018

Today is Spirit Day!

In case you're wondering how and why it's celebrated, it's has been around since 2010. 

Spirit Day was created bt then Canadian teeneger Brittany McMillan in the wake of a string of TBLGQ teen suicides to not only show support for TBLGQIA+ youth, but also draw attention to the bullying and harassment they still get aimed at them.

Bullying and harassment that unfortunately now comes with the blessing of the Trump misadministration and Secretary of Miseducation Betsy DeVos. 

GLAAD now sponsors Spirit Day, and it has become a global event since they began doing so.  TBLGQ elders, supportive family members, celebs and supportive allies are breaking out the purple clothing to signal their support to our kids. .   

With 85% of TBLGQ+ youth reporting harassment, and 57% of students declining to do so because of their justified fears that nothing will be done about it, it's vitally import that we show love and support to our kids. 

That support, no matter how small, can go a long way.

Know TBLGQ kids as your trans elder, I love and support you.  I'm doing my part along with countless others to make a better world for you than the one we grew up in. 

And we won't rest until that goal is achieved.     Happy Spirit Day! 

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks -Week 7

We're almost at the halfway point of the 2018 NFL regular season, and I have the lead in my season long prognostication contest with Mr. Watts.   

Had another great week, but didn't expand my lead on the defending champion.  Didn't lose any ground either due to us both ending NFL Week 6 with identical 10-5 records.

With the Chiefs loss to the Cheatriots Patriots, the Rams are the only unbeaten team left.  Can they stay that way or will the '72 Miami Dolphins be popping champagne per their tradition when the last NFL unbeaten squad finally loses a game?

After starting in an 0-3 hole, the Texans now have an chance to get on the plus side of .500 if they can beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.   JJ Watt is back, and has some help with Jadeveon Clowney

 As for who I'm picking in that game?   Keep reading.   

We also have another international game at London's Wembley Stadium this week on the schedule featuring the Tennessee Titans Traitors and Los Angeles Chargers 

Four teams on on their bye week in the Packers, Raiders, Steelers and Seahawks  That means we have only 13 games to pick. 

Let's do this.   My picks are in bold print with home team in CAPS.   Mike's picks are available at this link    Speaking of picks, hope you are doing the same at the voting booth for our future governmental leaders if you can early vote or on November 6.

Week 5 Results                                            2018 NFL Season Results   

TransGriot  10-5                                            TransGriot 55-36-2
Mike           10-5                                             Mike         52-39-2

Thursday Night Game
Broncos over CARDINALS

London Game
CHARGERS over Titans

Sunday Early Games
Texans over JAGUARS
Panthers over EAGLES
Vikings over JETS
Patriots over BEARS
COLTS over Bills 

BUCCANEERS over Browns 

DOLPHINS over Lions

Sunday Afternoon Games
Saints over RAVENS
COWBOYS over Washington
Rams over 49ERS

Sunday Night Game

CHIEFS over Bengals

Monday Night Game
FALCONS over Giants

TransGriot 2018 Endorsements- Local and Texas State Races

With early voting about to start in the Lone Star State on Monday, and knowing that many of you Texas TransGriot readers have been asking for it, it's time for me to post my endorsements for various Texas state and local races. 

They are a combo from the Houston GLBT Caucus, Dallas Stonewall Democrats, Houston Chronicle  and my own thoughts and observations.

If you're registered to vote, fantastic.  Take yourself, your yellow voter registration card and photo ID to your fave early voting spot and handle your political business.   Early voting runs from October 22-November 2.   Election Day is on November 6 

US Senator
Beto O'Rourke 

US Representative
TX 1- Shirley McKellar 
TX 2- Todd LittonTX 5- Dan Wood 
TX 6- Jana Lynne Sanchez 
TX 7- Lizzie Pannill Fletcher
TX 8- Mike David 
TX 9-  Al Green 
TX 10- Mike Siegel
TX 12- Vanessa AdiaTX 14- Adrienne Bell
TX 15- Vicente Gonzalez 
TX 16-Veronica Escobar 
TX 18- Sheila Jackson Lee 
TX 20- Joaquin Castro 
TX 22- Sri Preston KulkarniTX 23- Gina Ortiz Jones
TX 24- Jan McDowell
TX 26- Linsey Fagan
TX 27- Eric Holguin
TX 29- Sylvia GarciaTX 30-  Eddie Bernice Johnson
TX 32- Colin Allred 
TX 33- Marc VeaseyTX 34- Filemon Vela
TX 35- Lloyd Doggett
TX 36- Dayna Steele

Governor
Lupe Valdez

Lt Governor 
Mike Collier

Attorney General
Justin Nelson

Comptroller of Public Accounts
Joi Chevalier 

Commissioner of Agriculture
Kim Olson 

Texas Railroad Commissioner
Roman McAllen

Texas State Board of EducationDistrict 2- Ruben Cortez, Jr 
District 4- Lawrence Allen 
District 7- Elizabeth 'Eliz'  Markowitz 
District 11- Carla Morton 
District 12- Suzanne Smith 
District 13-Aicha Davis

Texas State SenatorDistrict 2- Kendall Scudder 
District 7- David Romero
District 8- Mark Phariss
District 9- Gwenn Burud 
District 10- Beverly Powell 
District 15- John Whitmire 
District 16 -Nathan JohnsonDistrict 17- Rita Lucido
District 23- Royce West 
District 25- Steven Kling 

Texas House of RepresentativesDistrict 15- Lorena Perez McGill
District 26- L. Sarah DeMerchant 
District 27- Ron Reynolds 
District 28- Meghan Scoggins
District 48- Donna Howard
District 50- Celia Israel 
District 62 -Valerie Hefner District 75 - Mary Gonzalez
District 85- Jennifer Cantu 
District 92- Steve Riddell
District 94- Finnigan Jones 
District 95- Nicole Collier 
District 100- Eric Johnson
District 102- Ana-Maria Ramos 
District 103- Rafael Anchia
 District 104-  Jessica Gonzalez
District 105- Terry Meza
District 107- Victoria Neave 
District 112- Brandy Chambers District 113- Rhetta Andrews Bowers 
District 115 - Julie JohnsonDistrict 123- Diego Bernal 
District 124- Ina Minjarez 
District 126-Natali Hurtado 
District 130- Fred Infortunio
District 131 -Alma Allen District 132- Gina Calanni
District 134- Allison SawyerDistrict 135- Jon Rosenthal
District 137- Gene Wu 
District 138-Adam MilasincicDistrict 140- Armando Walle
District 141- Senfronia ThompsonDistrict 144- Mary Ann Perez 
District 145- Carol Alvarado
District 146- Shawn Thierry
District 147- Garnet Coleman  
District 148 -Jessica Farrar 
District 149- Hubert Vo
District 150- Michael Shawn Kelly

Texas Supreme Court
Place 2- Steven Kirkland
Place 4- R.K. Sandhill
Place 6- Kathy Cheng

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 
Place 1- Maria T. Jackson 
Place 7- Ramona Franklin 

Texas Court of Appeals
Justice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 6- Sarah Beth Landau 
Justice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 7- Julie CountissJustice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 8- Richard HightowerJustice, 1st Court of Appeals- Place 9- Peter Kelly
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 3- Jerry Zimmerer
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 4- Charles Spain 
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 5- Frances Bourloit
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 6- Meagan Hassan 
Justice 14th Court of Appeals- Place 8- Margaret 'Meg' Poissant

District Judge
55th Judicial District- Latosha Lewis Payne
113th Judicial District- Rabeea Collier 
116th Judicial District- Tonya Parker
157th Judicial District- Tanya Garrison
180th Judicial District- DaSean Jones
182nd Judicial District- Danilo 'Danny' Lacayo
184th Judicial District- Abigail Anastacio 
189th Judicial District- Scott 'Dolli' Dollinger
190th Judicial District- Beau Miller
208th Judicial District- Greg Glass
209th Judicial District- Brian Warren 
230th Judicial District- Chris Morton 
232nd Judicial District-Joshua Seth Hill  
234th Judicial District- Lauren Reeder 
246th Judicial District- Angela Graves Harrington
263rd Judicial District- Amy Martin 
269th Judicial District- Cory Sepolio
270th Judicial District- Dedra Davis
281th Judicial District- Christine Weems
295th Judicial District- Donna Roth

Family District Judge 
245th Judicial District- Tristan Longino
247th Judicial District- Janice Berg
248th Judicial District- Hilary Unger
257th Judicial District- Sandra Peake
280th Judicial District- Barbara J. Stalder
308th Judicial District- Gloria Lopez 
309th Judicial District- Linda Marie Dunson
310th Judicial District- Sonya Heath 
311th Judicial District- Germaine Tanner
312th Judicial District- Clinton 'Chip' Wells
313th Judicial District- Natalia Oakes
314th Judicial District- Michelle Moore 
315th Judicial District- Leah Shapiro

County Criminal Court At LawNo 1- Alex Salgado
No 3- Erica Hughes
No 4- Shannon Baldwin
No 5- David M. FletcherNo 6- Kelley Andrews 
No 7- Andrew A. Wright
No 8- Franklin Bynum 
No 9- Tonia J. Finch 
No 11- Sedrick T. Walker, Jr
No 13- Raul Rodriguez
No 15-  Tonya Jones

County Probate Court At Law
No 1- Jerry Simoneaux
No 2- Michael Newman 
No 3- Jason Cox 
No 4- James Horwitz

County Civil Court At Law
No 1- George Barnstone 
No 2-Jim F. Kovach
No 3- LaShawn A. Williams 
No 4- William 'Bill' McLeod 

Austin City Council
District 3- Jessica Cohen  
District 9- Danielle Skidmore 

Harris County District Clerk 
Marilyn Burgess 

Harris County Clerk
Diane Trautman 

Harris County Treasurer
Dylan Osborne 

Harris County Judge 
Lina Hidalgo 

Harris County Commissioner
Precinct 2-Adrian Garcia
Precinct 4- Penny Shaw 

Harris County School Trustee
Position 3 At Large- Richard Cantu
Position 4, Pct 3- Andrea Duhon 
Position 6, Pct 1- Danyahel Norris

Harris County Justice of the Peace
Precinct 3, Place 2- Lucia Bates 

The Black Texan Free Vice News Beto-Cruz Discussion

The Black population of Texas as of the 2010 US Census was 12%.   We have one of the most exciting US Senate races going on in over 20 years, and this Vice News/HBO discussion speaks to the national interest in this election.

But do you notice the one thing missing in this discussion of 16 people who are either Beto or Cruz supporters?  Out of the 16 people in this room, NONE of them are African American Texans.

What's up with that?

It's already problematic enough that partisan Republican pollster Frank Luntz is conducting this Vice News/HBO discussion.   But the glaring absence of Black Texans makes this even more problematic.

How did Vice News NOT catch this?    Never mind, I answered my own question.

Here's the video if you think I'm kidding about this. 
 

Happy International Pronouns Day!

Today is the first ever International Pronouns Day!   While this October 17 date was chosen for the inaugural International Pronouns Day celebration, it's possible that it could move. The intent of the founders of it is to keep it in this general late September-mid October time frame.
But why is an International Pronoun Day necessary?

The reason this inaugural #PronounsDay was conceived is because respecting someone's preferred pronouns is a basic non negotiable requirement to be considered a decent human being.  Far too often cis people feel as though the pronouns of trans, non binary and gender non-conforming people are a joke, optional or it's too burdensome on them to respectfully and consistently use.

International Pronouns Day seeks to make asking, sharing, and respecting personal pronouns a commonplace thing. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns negatively affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. It can also negatively affect or delay our pursuit of justice when we lose folks to anti-trans violence. Individuals and groups will celebrate #PronounsDay by participating in grassroots activities determined by them at the local level. This #PronounsDay is a campaign I can definitely get behind. I'm also pleased to see that one of the endorsing organizations for this inaugural day that we hope will go global over time is the University of Houston Women and Gender Resource Center.

It is hoped that by participating and promoting this #PronounsDay, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.

And I hope that day happens sooner, rather than later or not at all..

Evilgelical Gets Butt Handed To Him On C-SPAN

Tony Perkins is head of the SPLC-certified evilgelical  (I refuse to call then Christians) hate group the Family Research Council.

They are unabashed supporters of Trump and his racist agenda.  They are also transphobic haters that have been orchestrating along with Mike Pence many of the Trump misadministration anti-trans policies being thankfully (for now) stymied in court. 

Perkins was on C-SPAN recently, and got his behind handed to him on live television by many of the folks who called in to that show.

One particular call came from an self identified ex-evangelical from North Carolina who shamed the conservadevil by calling him and evilgelicals out for basically becoming a cult that worships Trump.

Here's the C-SPAN video footage of that call

Trans Masculine Twin Brothers Tell Their Story

This isn't the first time I've heard of twins transitioning.   Early in this blog's history I talked about Boston's Chanelle and Gabrielle Pickett, who were featured on a Jenny Jones show episode back in 1990.

Chanelle would be tragically murdered a few years later.

I know of other twins who transitioned, but are living non disclosed lives. 

I also know of cases in which one twin transitions while the other doesn't, as was the case with Nicole Maines and her twin brother.

Meet Angel and Fabian Griffin.   They are like many twins tight like glue.   When one of the twins revealed that they were going to transition, so did the other one.

Here's their story as told to Barcroft TV

Dewey's Historical Marker Erases and Gaywashes Black Trans History

'It's always sad to me when a historic site closes,   Here's hoping that someone in the Philly LGBT community will work to have a historical marker placed at that spot where Black trans history was made once the new hotel is completed.'

-TransGriot, April 25, 2017 
One of the trans themed protests that I have talked about on this blog was the 1965 Dewey's Lunch Counter Sit In and Protest, in which gender variant African Americans led a weeklong protest starting on April 25 at the diner that led to the owners rescinding a transphobic policy.

Because Dewey's was a 24 hour eatery near the Philly gayborhood, it was a hangout for trans and gender nonconforming people.  The owners, afraid they would lose cis customer business, announced a policy that anyone who was dressed in attire at odds with their birth gender would not be served.

After getting protested for a week, they dropped that policy.

Dewey's, operating since 1978 at 219 S. 17th St, as a 24 hour restaurant called Little Pete's, permanently closed last year and was subsequently demolished to make room for a new Hyatt Hotel on the site. 

During the 2015 LGBT Media Journalists Convening, the hotel we were using for the convening was directly across the street from the restaurant.   When I was told during the opening mixer event by local Philly community folks that we were across the street from this trans historical spot,  all of the trans journalists in attendance that year quickly agreed after I told them that we would take a photo in front of Dewey's.

During a break in the convening action, we  along with NLGJA executive director Adam Pawlus went across the street to take that photo.

While I was happy someone read my blog post about the Dewey's closure last year and started the process to get a Pennsylvania historical marker placed at the former Dewey's site that I suggested in the post, what I'm not happy about, and neither is the Philadelphia Black trans community, is that the marker gaywashed and erased us out of history we made.

The marker was dedicated on October 1, and there is no mention on the historical marker that it was Black trans gender variant people who sparked, led and executed this event. 

The text of the marker states: “Activists led one of the nation’s first LGBT sit-ins here in 1965 after homosexuals were denied service at Dewey’s restaurant. Inspired by African-American lunch-counter sit-ins, this event prompted Dewey’s to stop its discriminatory policy, an early victory for LGBT rights.”

Frankly, I'm not surprised it happened.   I've had Philly based Black TBLGQ advocates candidly talk to me about the disturbing undercurrent of anti-Blackness in the Philly TBLGQ community. 

 I've been worried that because of that Philly area anti-Blackness, erasure of the involvement of Black trans people in the the text of the marker for the Dewey's sit in would happen if we weren't involved in the process while it was being created to emphatically insist that the marker reflect that. 

I also suspected it might happen because ever since I've started talking about Dewey's on this blog and on the Bilerico Project that I used to write for, I got pushback from white gays trying to whitewash the event, or assert there wasn't any African American or trans involvement in it. 

Here's hoping that the Philly activist community can get the gaywashed marker corrected so it tells the real story for future generations who read it about what happened on that spot where it stands over 60 years ago

Miss Universe Mexico Head Lupita Jones Hatin' On Trans Women

Hasn't even been a week yet and another Latin American pageant queen besides Miss Colombia opens her pretty mouth to let something ugly and transphobic come out of it.

This time it was Lupita Jones, who won the Miss Universe title in 1991 and was the first Mexican woman to do so.   She now runs the Miss Universe pageant franchise in Mexico and by her remarks, made it clear that if she had it her way, Mexican trans women wouldn't be eligible to compete for the Miss Mexico Universe or Miss Universe titles.

Jones made her transphobic remarks during a televised event celebrating the opening of the new season of Teatro en Corto in Mexico City. 

"As head of Miss Universe in Mexico, I have to bide by the rules of the organization.  But on a personal level, I disagree, because I don't think we are under equal conditions,  A woman that was born one will never be like a transgender woman.   Biologically they are not the same."

 Oh really Miss Thang?   And what 'equal conditions' are you babbling about?

Some of your Miss Universe pageant cis women are surgically enhanced.   Don't even try to push that narrative that only trans women get surgery.   Miss Universe pageant rules not only allow surgery, but allow you if you wish to not disclose the fact you did so.  Miss Brazil Universe 2001 Juliana Borges admitted she'd had 19 surgeries in the runup to that 2001 pageant, and it's been suspected that Venezuela's rise as a Miss Universe powerhouse is plastic surgery fueled

Something else you need to educate yourself about is the increasing international transgender research conducted by Dr Eric Vilain at UCLA and others that are in conflict with your facts free opinion.  Medical evidence emphatically points out that the brains of trans and cis women are similar in structure. 

And let me make this next point in your native tongue so there is no misunderstanding concerning the point I wish to get across.

Mujeres trans son mujeres.

Some of the most gorgeous trans women I have met during my time in this community come from Mexico. 

In the short history by comparison to Miss Universe of the Thailand based Miss International Queen transgender pageant, one of those Mexican born trans women, Erica Andrews, captured the 2006 crown.

Jones kept digging the hole she was in by saying the Miss Universe contest is 'not for them," but then trying to claim in the same breath that she supported the trans  human rights struggle.

Your comments suggest you don't, and it's why you're getting dragged across the Net for it.

As you pointed out before you went on your transphobic rant, the competition rules for Miss Universe say otherwise.  Since Ximena Navarrete was in 2010 the last Mexican woman to win Miss Universe, you may wish to consider sending one of Mexico's trans women to rep y'all on the Miss Universe stage.

Lupita, miss me with that transphobic BS. 

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks -Week 6

I had a doubleplusgood Week 5.    I not only got to see my NFL ballers beat the hated Cowboys and earn bragging rights over them for the next four years, I regained the lead in the season long prognostication contest with a stellar 11-4 week.

It's time to build on that success and not fritter it away like I did after I seized an initial three game lead.

Only 15 games to pick since the Lions and Saints are on their bye week.  It's a well earned one for the Saints after Drew Brees became the all time NFL passing yardage leader when they beat down Washington in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

As usual, my picks will be in bold print with the home team in CAPS.   Mike's picks will be at this link.

Week 5 Results                                                    2018 NFL Season Results 
TransGriot  11-4                                                   TransGriot  45-31-2
Mike             8-7                                                   Mike           42-34-2

Thursday Night Game
Eagles over GIANTS

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over Bills
Buccaneers over FALCONS
Panthers over WASHINGTON
Seahawks over RAIDERS
Colts over JETS
VIKINGS over Cardinals
Steelers over BENGALS
Chargers over BROWNS
Bears over DOLPHINS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Rams over BRONCOS
Ravens over TITANS
Jaguars over COWBOYS

Sunday Night Game
PATRIOTS over Chiefs

Monday Night Game
PACKERS over 49ers

Happy National Coming Out Day 2018!

Happy National Coming Out Day!     This is the day set aside in which people in the TBLGQ community that are ready to do so come out publicly,  or tell their coming out stories.

Let me emphasize that previous point about coming out when you are ready to do so.   You don't have to do it today.  Only you will know when you are ready to do so.   My personal coming out didn't happen until April 4, 1994 even though it was decades in the making

So yes, be proud of who you are.   Don't let the hoopla of this day push you into making a decision that if you aren't ready for it, will have serious consequences.   You've got to be mentally ready to handle your post October 11 life which will have peaks and valleys in it.

But if you get through it, the rewards of coming out are a life BETTER than the one you were experiencing beforehand.

 As a trans person coming out, you will  gain an international family of trans folks who are some kick butt people in their own right.  You may even have moments as a trans person in which you get to do seemingly ordinary things that eventually put you in the history books.

So am I happy I did so?  Sure am.   Do I have any regrets about it?   No.  My life it more interesting and wonderful now than it was before April 4, 1994. The only regret I have is I didn't get to do it sooner. 

The one thing that didn't improve was my dating life.   It still sucks.

But in the nearly 25 years I have been publicly out, I've enjoyed every minute of it.   My family expanded, not contracted in the wake of it.   The people who have known me before transition have told me they've noticed I'm a happier, more gregarious person since that day. 

 I've gotten to do some things I never thought I'd do like go to the White House five times.   I've gotten to meet some amazing people along the way, and even better call many of them my friends.

I have some cis girlfriends that push me to be a better person than I was the day before, and I'm blessed to have them in my life.  Same is true for my trans girlfriends as well

Most important to me, I get called Aunt Monica by all you trans younglings.  I recognize that you are our next generation of trans folks, and I'm never too busy to drop what I'm going and have a conversation with you when you feel that you need it.   I enjoy those chats as much as y'all do.

I also get to meet, talk to and hang out with the Mama and Papa Bears who are raising that next generation of trans people to be the kick butt adults we know beyond a shadow of a doubt they will become.

I get to do what I love in terms of writing, talking to peeps about our trans lives and fighting to advance our human rights.    At times I even get paid for it 

And the best is yet to come.   My life is still in a positive evolutionary state, and I'm still not done yet in terms of doing what I can to make this community better than when I encountered it.

But this amazing life wouldn't have happened if I hadn't taken that first step of clocking in at work on that fateful April 4, 1994 day

Will There Be A Second Trans Miss Universe Contestant?

Trans women have been eligible to compete for the Miss Universe crown since 2013, but it took until this year for one of our sisters to snatch a crown and qualify for the big show in Spain's Angela Ponce.

There's the possibility she might be joined by another trans Miss Universe contestant from Mongolia

The first ever Miss Mongolia Universe pageant is taking place this year, and one of the fourteen contestants vying for the inaugural crown is 25 year old Solongo Batsukh.



She competed earlier this year for the Miss International Queen title in Pattaya. Wouldn't it be nice if she got to go back to Thailand as the reigning and first ever Miss Universe Mongolia? 

We won;t find out until October 17 if that happens for her, and I hope it does.   I'm sure Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce wouldn't mind having another trans woman on that Miss Universe stage with her.

TransGriot Update:  It didn't happen for her.  27 year old Dolgion Delgerjav was crowned as the first ever Miss Mongolia Universe.   Since Solongo is only 25, she still has two years to make it happen.  

Must See Trans TV- Nicole Maines on Supergirl

I had the pleasure of meeting Nicole Maines and her amazing family during my 2012 trip to the Philly Trans Health Conference.   I was thrilled to see her on that guest episode of Royal Pains,

I now get to see her on Supergirl in a groundbreaking role as Nia Nal, television first trans superhero.

Nia Nal is a new reporter at CatCo World Media, and Kara Danvers (AKA Supergirl) takes her under her wing as a mentor because the younger Nia reminds her of herself when she first arrived at CatCo, and they also have being aliens in common.

Turns out Kara will be mentoring her on more than just reporting.   Nia is a descendant of Nura Nal, the 30th Century superhero Dream Girl.   She will become Dreamer, a superhero that can foresee the future. 

It is so cool that a real life community shero gets to play a superhero on television and become that for an entire generation of trans kids.

This fourth season of Supergirl will return back to National City as an anti-alien and anti-superhero campaign led by the charismatic leader Agent Liberty is ramping up.  With all the anti-immigrant sentiment being whipped up by Agent Orange and his minions, this season will spark some timely and vitally needed discussions about immigration and acceptance of people 

Looking forward to watching on the CW the first Season 4 episode of Supergirl this Sunday and watching as the Nia Nal character progresses.

Also looking forward to seeing what Nia's superhero costume looks like.

This Is Why Liberals Think You Trumpettes Are Stupid

This is from a Facebook friend's page.   I wish I'd come up with this.   But then again I tossed the Trumpettes off my page eons ago and purged them from my life.

Not going to have someone in my life that supports a government that wants to oppress me.

The person was asked by a Trump supporting friend why we liberal progressive peeps thought they were stupid for supporting  Dolt 45, and that person's answer is not only mic drop worthy, it is a must read and must share with the world.

And yes, this post gets the TransGriot seal of approval

***

Stolen from a friend... but another must read; Taken from a friend's wall...

This came across in my feed, thought some people here might enjoy it more than some others in my life:

An anguished question from a Trump supporter: "Why do liberals think Trump supporters are stupid?"

The serious answer: Here’s what we really think about Trump supporters - the rich, the poor, the malignant and the innocently well-meaning, the ones who think and the ones who don't.

That when you saw a man who had owned a fraudulent University, intent on scamming poor people, you thought "Fine."

That when you saw a man who had made it his business practice to stiff his creditors, you said, "Okay."

That when you heard him proudly brag about his own history of sexual abuse, you said, "No problem."

That when he made up stories about seeing muslim-Americans in the thousands cheering the destruction of the World Trade Center, you said, "Not an issue."

That when you saw him brag that he could shoot a man on Fifth Avenue and you wouldn't care, you chirped, "He sure knows me."

That when you heard him illustrate his own character by telling that cute story about the elderly guest bleeding on the floor at his country club, the story about how he turned his back and how it was all an imposition on him, you said, "That's cool!"

That when you saw him mock the disabled, you thought it was the funniest thing you ever saw.

That when you heard him brag that he doesn't read books, you said, "Well, who has time?"

That when the Central Park Five were compensated as innocent men convicted of a crime they didn't commit, and he angrily said that they should still be in prison, you said, "That makes sense."

That when you heard him tell his supporters to beat up protesters and that he would hire attorneys, you thought, "Yes!"

That when you heard him tell one rally to confiscate a man's coat before throwing him out into the freezing cold, you said, "What a great guy!"

That you have watched the parade of neo-Nazis and white supremacists with whom he curries favor, while refusing to condemn outright Nazis, and you have said, "Thumbs up!"

That you hear him unable to talk to foreign dignitaries without insulting their countries and demanding that they praise his electoral win, you said, "That's the way I want my President to be."

That you have watched him remove expertise from all layers of government in favor of people who make money off of eliminating protections in the industries they're supposed to be regulating and you have said, "What a genius!"

That you have heard him continue to profit from his businesses, in part by leveraging his position as President, to the point of overcharging the Secret Service for space in the properties he owns, and you have said, "That's smart!"

That you have heard him say that it was difficult to help Puerto Rico because it was the middle of water and you have said, "That makes sense."

That you have seen him start fights with every country from Canada to New Zealand while praising Russia and quote, "falling in love" with the dictator of North Korea, and you have said, "That's statesmanship!"

That Trump separated children from their families and put them in cages, managed to lose track of 1500 kids. has opened a tent city incarceration camp in the desert in Texas - he explains that they’re just “animals” - and you say, “well, ok then.”

That you have witnessed all the thousand and one other manifestations of corruption and low moral character and outright animalistic rudeness and contempt for you, the working American voter, and you still show up grinning and wearing your MAGA hats and threatening to beat up anybody who says otherwise.

What you don't get, Trump supporters in 2018, is that succumbing to frustration and thinking of you as stupid may be wrong and unhelpful, but it's also...hear me...charitable.

Because if you're NOT stupid, we must turn to other explanations, and most of them are *less* flattering.

***

Other explanations for example, like  you are a mean spirited fascist.

Afro Brazilian Trans Woman Gets Elected In Brazil!

There were over 50 trans candidates running in Brazil for various seats at all levels of the Brazilian government when their election took place on October 7. So far only one has broken through to make Brazilian electoral history.

She is Erica Malunguinho, an Afro-Brazilian community leader and activist who just became the first trans person to win elective office in a state congress in Sao Paulo.

She is the founder of Aparela Luzio, a space since its 2016 opening that has become important to Brazil's Black population.   Now this groundbreaking win.

Malunguinho was motivated to run after the March 13 assassination of queer Afro Brazilian politician Marielle Franco.    Franco was murdered a few days after she spoke out against police brutality   

Malunguinho was also part of the 'Seeds of Marielle' collective of 231 Black female candidates running for office in the country in memory of the slain advocate, and was deeply affected by Franco's murder.

“I cried a lot when I heard about Marielle’s murder,” she told Afropunk. “Her political project was just wiped out. It was a message to us that we should not be there fighting over our bodies and resisting genocide and racism. I had so much hate in me. At the same time, I knew I needed to take this hate and do something positive with it.”

That you did.   This is a groundbreaking win for Brazilian transkind and the Afro Brazilian community.   May you represent those communities well and to the best of your ability.        

Tokyo Passes Law Banning TBLGQ Discrimination

For those of you who reflexively hate on the Olympics and fixate on the infrastructure costs associated with hosting an Olympic Games, here's a compelling argument in favor of having them in your city.

In the wake of what happened in Sochi, with the Russian government ramping up discrimination aimed at TBLGQ people by passing an anti-gay propaganda law on the eve of the 2014 Winter Games too late for them to be moved elsewhere,  the IOC as part of Olympic Agenda 2020 requires all future host cities to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In order to meet that Olympics hosting requirement standard, on October 5 the Tokyo Metropolitan Government passed a TBLGQ rights law that states:

“The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, citizens, and enterprises may not unduly discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation” and includes a government pledge to “conduct measures needed to make sure human rights values are rooted in all corners of the city and diversity is respected in the city.”

The new law also commits the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to do public education campaigns in the city about TBLGQ rights issues.

Tokyo, along with Tokyo prefecture which it merged with in 1943, and the Tokyo metropolitan area is home to 25% of Japan's population.

Japan doesn't have a national law yet legalizing same sex marriage, and Japanese transgender people are required to have gender confirmation surgery before they can obtain federal ID that matches their gender identity.

But Japan has been making positive strides on the TBLGQ rights front in the last several years. Well known trans women like 2009 Miss International Queen winner Ai Haruna live and work there.

According to Human Rights Watch, in 2016 Japan's Minister of Education released a teacher's guidebook that covered the topic of how to treat TBLGQ students.  That same year Japan, along with the Netherlands and the United States, led a UNESCO conference on TBLGQ bullying, and followed that up in March 2017 by the Ministry of Education modifying the national bullying policy to include TBLGQ students.

Since 2003, Aya Kamikawa has been serving on the council for the largest of the 23 wards that make up the historic city of Tokyo, Setagaya.

She was the first and only elected trans official in Japan until March 2017, when 26 year old Tomoya Hosoda became the first trans masculine person elected to public office in the Land of the Rising Sun by winning a seat on the Iruma City city council, located in the Saitama prefecture in the Greater Tokyo metro area.

He called his win at the time 'a marker for transgender rights' in his nation, and in the wake of it has worked to increase acceptance for all forms of diversity in Japan.