Happy 111th Anniversary AKA!

Couldn't let today pass without showing some love to all the women in my life who are the pretty girls that wear 20 pearls and proudly wear the salmon pink and apple green color of Alpha kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

Those women include my mother and sister.  There were more than a few times I had to drive her to her sorority meetings and read her Ivy Leaf magazines when she was done with them.

As the first sorority created by and for African American women back on the Howard University campus on January 15, 1908, they have grown from that campus to become a worldwide organization of over 200,000 college educated women.

AKA women have and continue to blaze trails in a variety of professional fields from business, medicine, science, education, sports, the media and politics as they role model their 'Service to All Mankind' sorority motto.

Happy Founders' Day Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.!     

A Houston Municipal Election Is Happening In 2019

It's a new year, and one of the things we have happening in the 713 in 2019 beside the county turning deep blue is our Houston civic elections.

Thanks to Proposition B passing back in 2015 in large part because the fake faith-based haters were fixated on killing HERO, we now have city elections every four years. 

The terms for mayor, city council and the controller were expanded to four years as well, and our term limits were adjusted . That means you are now limited to just two four year terms instead of the three 2 year terms we had under the old system.

Mayor Turner is going for his second and final term, and as of today no significant challenger has filed to run yet.  Right now it's attorney Tony Buzbee, Kendall Baker, Demetria Smith and 2015 mayoral election loser Bill King who have either declared or are thinking about it.   Wrestler Booker T had also declared last year that he was running, but he hasn't been heard from lately. 

Five council members are term limited.   CM Jack Christie in At Large #5,  CM Brenda Stardig in District A,  CM Jerry Davis in District B, CM Ellen Cohen in District C and CM Mike Laster in District J.

As you probably guessed the races with term limited council members are drawing a crowd of contenders filing for them.

Tarsha Jackson and Renee Jefferson Smith are the announced candidates so far running for the District B seat being vacated by CM Davis. 

In District C, the district that contains the Montrose gayborhood, the list of candidates is growing, with Shelley Kennedy and Nick Hellyar being just two of the people running for the seat being vacated by CM and Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen.

In District D, the southeast Houston district I grew up in, Jerome Provost, the son of longtime Houston photographer Georgia Provost, is taking on incumbent CM Dwight Boykins.

The aforementioned 'Miss P' is taking on CM Mike Knox again for the At Large #1 seat.   Raj Salhotra is also running in the At Large #1 race.

District E, the Kingwood-Clear Lake seat, is held by CM Dave Martin.  District F is currently held by Steve Le,  District G by CM Greg Travis, District H by CM Karla Cisneros, District I by CM Robert Gallegos,  and District K by CM Martha Castex Tatum.

Tatum won a special election last year after the tragic death of CM Larry Green, and is running for her first full term.

Advocate Shere Dore has announced she's running for the At Large Position #2 seat currently held by CM David Robinson.

So far haven't heard if anyone is challenging CM Michael 'God put me on City Council to oppose the HERO' Kubosh  for the At Large #3 seat.   The suburban evilgelicals made an assumption I'm jumping into that race against that Drag Queen Story time hater.

CM Amanda Edwards holds the At Large #4 seat , but hasn't drawn a challenger as of this writing.

Laurie Robinson is running for the soon to be vacated At Large #5 seat

A lot can change between now and August 19, which is the last day to file for a place on the 2019 ballot.   People who are thinking about running for municipal office have until then to put up or shut up. 

And yeah,since I'm being asked.  I'm seriously thinking about it.  As for which seat I might be running for. we'll see.   Trying to decide between an at large or district race.

First day to file is on July 20, 2019.   Filing fee is $1250 for mayor, $750 for the city controllers office or $500 for a city council seat. 

You can also in lieu of cash collect petition signatures to place your name on the ballot.   However, we still don't know the exact number of signatures you need to collect to get on the ballot that way, and won't find out from the City Secretary's office until at least June.

Note to anyone running for office and seeking my support for your municipal political run. 

If you are a Republican evilgelical, anti-trans, anti-gay, openly opposed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance in 2014, or supported its GOP sponsored repeal,  don't even think about asking for my support in this election cycle.

See y'all at the polls on November 5.

Introducing The Texas Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

While many people inside and outside the state of Texas were upset that our bid to fire Ted Cruz came agonizingly short, it was a bigger win in other areas in terms of ending the Republican rule in Texas.   

We flipped several populous Texas counties to Democratic control, including my home county of Harris County.  We flipped several Texas state court of appeals districts.   And most importantly, we flipped twelve seats in the Texas House to put in striking distance of flipping that chamber in 2020

With the 2019 session of the Texas Legislature now going into its second week, we had another moment of history happen with the founding of the first officially recognized Texas LGBTQ Caucus!

Rep Mary Gonzalez's office released an announcement  heralding the founding of the new caucus.

"Nearly one million Texans identify as part of the LGBTQ spectrum, signaling a drastic need for representation at all levels of elected office," the press release said.

The founding members of it all identity as members of our community, and they are  Rep. Mary González (D- Clint)  Rep. Celia Israel (D- Austin) , Rep. Jessica González (D- Dallas) Rep. Erin Zweiner (D - Austin) and Rep. Julie Johnson (D - Dallas).

The caucus is open to any member regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.  The goal of the Texas LGBTQ Caucus is to according to Rep Mary Gonzalez is "to advocate for proactive legislation that creates greater equity in Texas.". 

Congratulations on the founding of this new caucus.  May it grow beyond these initial members, and may you be successful in pushing for legislation that does create a better Texas for all of us.


TransGriot note: Photo of caucus by Casey Chapman-Ross

TransGriot 2018-19 NFL Playoff Predictions- Divisional Round

No thanks to the Texans forgetting they had a playoff game to play, a partially blocked game winning field goal, and the road teams winning three of the four wild card round playoff games, I laid an 0-4 egg in my wildcard weekend playoff predictions.

Let get busy getting back to .500

Saturday Playoff Games

#6 Indianapolis Colts (11-6) at #1 Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) at 3:35 PM on NBC

The Colts (boo hiss) ended the Texans season in large part to them rushing for 200 yards and being nearly perfect on third down.   But they face a another challenge in playing in a snowy Arrowhead Stadium against the presumptive NFL MVP in Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes will be in his first playoff game, Luck his eighth.   What will also in the back of KC's minds are being sick and tired of hearing about what happened the last time they faced the Colts in the playoffs. 

The Chiefs built a huge 28 point lead in that January 4, 2014 game lead, only to fall to Indy 45-44 after Luck and crew executed the second largest comeback from a playoff deficit in NFL history.

With the weather condition I don't think you'll see 99 points scored in this game.

The Colts are on a roll, the Chiefs have been one of the best teams in the AFC all season.  They are  well rested and ready to defend their snowy turf.

The Chiefs to end Indy's season and advance to the AFC title game

#4 Dallas Cowboys (11-6) at #2 Los Angeles Rams (13-3)at 7:15 PM CST on FOX

The Saturday night game is an NFL classic matchup between two teams that have frequently bumped heads in the playoffs .

The Cowboys won their first playoff game in four years when they eliminated the Seahawks at Jerry World, but now they have to head to the Left Coast to play the Rams in this divisional round game in
LaLa Land. 

While the Rams and Cowboys, this is the first time they have done so in Los Angeles since 1985 when I gleefully watched Eric Dickerson run over around and through them for 248 yards in a Rams blowout divisional round win.  In fact, the last time the Cowboys won a road playoff game was in 1993 up I-5 in San Francisco.

While the Cowboys have shown a propensity for shutting down high powered offenses this season, they have also had a problem scoring in the red zone.

That will bite them in the behind today..  Rams to advance to the NFC championship.

Sunday Playoff Games

#4 Los Angeles Chargers(13-4) at  #2 New England Patriots (11-5) at 12:05 PM CST on CBS

The Chargers had to sweat out a late fourth quarter run by the Ravens before they secured the win, and now they step into Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots.

It'll be a clash between future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Phillip Rivers, and the Chargers have been one of the best teams in the league all season.   New England hasn't been their usual dominant self , but it may finally catch up to them in this game.

It's hard to pick against Brady and Belichick in Gillette Stadium, and the fact that Philip Rivers has never bested Brady in the playoffs.   That streak has to end sometime, and I'm listening to my instincts like I failed to do last weekend and going for the upset. 

The Chargers to move on to the AFC title game

#6 Philadelphia Eagles (10-7) vs #1 New Orleans Saints (13-3) at 3:40 PM CST on FOX

It's the only one of the four divisional round games that is a regular season rematch and being played indoors

The defending champion Eagles are only back here in the Mercedes Benz Superdome because of  Treyvon Hester's partial block of a game winning field goal that bounced off the upright and crossbar at Soldier Field and agonizingly for Bears fans ended their season.

The Saints spanked that behind 48-7 back in Week 11, and  the Eagles since then have been in desperation playoff mode for several weeks now.  They have had to scratch and claw and get lucky breaks at times just to get into the playoffs and have the opportunity to defend their crown.

But once again, they are playing the Saints in NOLA, where they are even more dominant than they are outside of it.   This is also Drew Brees' best shot at returning to a Super Bowl , and he's motivated after falling short last year. 

Nick Foles' playoff magic gets a voodoo curse placed on it called the Saints defense

The Saints go marching into the NFC Championship game after winning what won't be a blowout.

Open Letter To Trinity About Relationships

Dear Trini,
I understand from your mom that you are concerned that because you are a young Black trans girl blossoming into an awesome woman, that you will not find love because you are Black and trans.

Little Sis, I definitely feel you and understand why you're concerned about this subject.  While it hasn't been easy for me and some of your Black trans feminine elders when it comes to us finding that forever love., know that being Black and trans is not an impediment or insurmountable barrier for eventually finding the right person to love, be they cisgender or transgender. 

I know Black trans women that have not only managed to date successfully, they have found their life partners in the process.

And as someone who has been single for a while, I'm deliriously happy that they are.

Who are they, you're probably asking?   Let me pull out the receipts and show you who some of your Black trans elders who have found love are. 

I'll start with Precious Brady Davis.   She not only has been happily married to her husband Myles,  we call then in Black Trans World the Trans Obamas.

In addition, Precious' search for the perfect wedding gown was broadcast on the show Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta

Need more proof?   Janet Mock.     She has been happily married to her man Aaron for several years now.  She got married back in November 2015.

As for Black trans women who are in relationships, my homegirl Jessica Zyrie has been in a relationship for several months with her boyfriend Alexander Lane Miller.   

Myself and everyone observing them can see they are both in love with each other.

All of us who love Alexander and Jessica are rooting for them to also jump the broom should their relationship develop to that level.

Laverne Cox has recently revealed that she is dating her boyfriend Kyle and has been doing so for a year.   She has been upfront about her dating struggles, and it's nice to know that someone finally has noted the quality woman she is and stepped to her. 

That's before I even mention some of my Black trans girlfriends who are non disclosed, and either were or still are married.   The other point I want to make is that those people I'm shouting out  were (or still are) married for a decade or longer.

I also have to mention some of our trailblazing Black trans feminine transcestors.   Lucy Hicks Anderson got married twice in her fascinating life.

Same with Georgia Black.   She got married twice in her life in large part because she outlived both her husbands.

Every year that I go to BTAC in Dallas, I see romance blooming at that unapologetically Black trans conference.   Some of the relationships that started there have eventually led to marriage, while other relationships went on and then fizzled out for a wide variety of reasons. 

That's life.  Some people are in your relationship life to teach you specific lessons or show you what you DON'T want in a relationship or life partner.   That happens so that when your soulmate does come into your life, you'll know it. 

So Trini, the best advice I can give you is to focus on being the best Trini you can be.  The relationship will come. 

And whoever that wise person is that eventually hooks up with you in a relationship will be extremely blessed to have you.

Love you,
Aunt Monica

Let Arqueze Girdy Compete!

As y'all know I'm am a huge proponent of letting trans people compete in whatever sporting events they have the talent and drive to win in.

Growing up in Texas and getting the opportunity to see the Houston Rodeo, I have watched people compete in barrel racing.   It's a sport in which a competitor riding a horse tries to navigate three widely spaced barrels in the fastest time on a triangular course.

You also must do so while directing the horse to go in a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels without knocking them down,  you falling off the horse, or the horse falling during the run and failing to cross the start-finish line.  If any of or a combination of those events happen, you receive a NO TIME for the run. 

Barrel racing is one of the few rodeo events in that macho rodeo sporting world that women are the predominate participants in.  We also have smaller rodeo competitions that happen here in the Houston area and across the state.

Since Black cowboys like Bill Pickett are credited with inventing the sport, many of these smaller rodeos are Black owned and run. .

It's time to introduce you readers to barrel racer Arqueze Girdy



Arqueze is a 5th generation rodeo competitor in her family who is trying to make it to the WPRA (Women's Professional Rodeo Association) professional ranks in her sport.

She also happens to be trans feminine.    That shouldn't be a problem, but it looks like somebody at the MLK Scholarship and Rodeo taking place at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds tomorrow has a problem with Girdy being there.

She's dealing with transphobia on the amateur rodeo circuit as she pursues her quest n to get to the professional ranks and one day compete in the WPRA events like the Houston Rodeo at NRG Stadium.

'They never come out and say it's because I'm transgender.  They say I'm not qualified", Girdy said in an interview with Houston's ABC13.   "I want to make history and open doors and help people. There are other people in my situation," she said.

Girdy texted her entry form and paid her fee to compete in the rodeo slated to happen at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, but still hasn't heard from them. 

After not returning requests for comment from ABC13, the promoters for tomorrow's event finally put out a statement on Thursday evening.

"The promoters of the 1st Annual MLK Scholarship Rodeo and Trail ride are pleased to hold its inaugural event on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 9 a.m. at The Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. 

The goal of the event is to raise scholarship funds for deserving students in the Houston and surrounding areas. The rodeo and trail ride are open to ALL to attend and participate. 

Prospective participants should recognize that although this is an amateur event, which claims no professional affiliation whatsoever, all rodeo events and participants will be governed by rules and standards similar to those set forth by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (WPRCA). 

As for Ms. Girdy's concern regarding her ability to compete in this inaugural event, she first should make sure she has been in contact with official event promoters and affiliates, as we have only taken pre-registration up to this point and have yet to collect any funds from any participants; all registration will be completed at the fairgrounds. Secondly, if she has pre-registered, she should be aware of what is required at the time of entry. 

We are looking forward to Saturday's event and welcome everyone out to support our scholarship fund and enjoy a day of rodeo fun and entertainment."

Yeah, right.   Looks like y'all were planning to not let her compete until this made the news.

We'll see if the organizers of this event actually let Ms. Girdy compete, or are just selling woof tickets so they don't look transphobic to the world.

Hmm, looks like I may need to make a trip down I-69 to Fort Bend County to see what's happening with my barrel racing trans sibling.

The bottom line though, is that Black trans people exist, and you need to let her compete.

TransGriot Update (12 January):  Hearing disturbing chatter from peeps who attended the event that Arqueze was NOT allowed to compete.    Formulating next steps now

TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards- First Week Of 2019 Edition

Since New Year's Eve fell on a Tuesday, that made this  week starting on Sunday the 6th the first full week of 2019.

Lord, did we have a lot of things going on and fools letting the world know their WTF levels of ignorance, bigotry, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny and stupidity.

The Texas Lege started its 2019 session.  More shenanigans from Dolt 45.  Sarah Suckabee Sanders lying on air along with the Crypt keeper, er Kellyanne Conway. TERF's being their reprehensible selves, and the Texas Republican Party having a vote on where to unseat a Tarrant County party chair because he's a Muslim.

And wonder of wonders, FOX Noise having a rare moment of journalism breaking out before they went back to being Trump TV. 

While we had far too many contenders for this week's prize, I can only pick one winner this week, and nope, it ain't the racist orange waste of DNA desecrating the Oval Office. 


This weeks TransGriot Shut Up Fool Award goes to Rep Steve King (R-KKK)   

King opened his mouth and let something racist come out of it when he asked during a New York Times interview  when did the terms 'white nationalist', 'white supremacy' and 'Western civilization' became offensive.

Really fool?   I don't have time to 'edjumacate' your pointed hood wearing azz when those terms became offense.   Go have a section of seat at Kinnick Stadium, read a frakking history book, or turn it to a news channel besides FOX Noise to learn the answer.

But here's the short version.  It was white nationalists who killed heather Heyer in Charlottesville who was there to peacefully protest their reprehensible tiki torch carrying behinds.

It was white supremacists in the name of Western civilization who violently colonized the planet, killed millions of indigenous peoples in doing so, brought my African ancestors who survived the unwanted free boat rides of the Middle Passage to do the work they were too lazy to do, and are the major source of domestic terrorism in the US.

King forgot that Raul Ryan and his party are no longer running thangs in the US House, so he FINALLY faces censure for opening that racist mouth.
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I could go on all day about King's reprehensible history, but let's conclude this TransGriot business right now.

Steve King, shut up fool!

Sarah Thomas Making NFL History Again

It's often said in sports circles that the best officials are ones whose names don't get in the headlines or don't make ESPN Sports Center for making bad calls. 

Sarah Thomas' name is in the headlines again because she is a trailblazer, and that's always a good thing.

The Mississippi native and mother of three kids is in her fourth season as a NFL official, and is STILL making history.  She is the first woman to not only officiate in an NFL preseason and regular season game, she is also the first to officiate in a regular season college game, a college bowl game, and the first to do so in a Big Ten Conference stadium.

The other interesting note for me is that Thomas' first NFL game was right here in Houston.  She was part of  referee Pete Morelli's officiating crew working the September 13, 2015 game at NRG Stadium between the Kansas City Chiefs and my Texans.

When the playoff game between the Los Angeles Changers and New England Cheatriots Patriots kicks off this weekend at Gillette Stadium, Thomas will become the first woman to officiate an NFL playoff game.

If you're wondering how NFL referees get assigned to the high stakes playoff games, it is based on a merit system.    Officials are individually graded by the league office for their work on every play during regular season games.

The system takes into account calls the make or don't make.   There are also subjective elements that play a part in the evaluations such as communication, decisiveness, game management, rules knowledge and positioning on the field.

The scores are tabulated, and the officials are placed in three tiers.  Tier I officials are eligible to work in the Super Bowl or the AFC and NFL conference championship games.   Tier II officials are assigned to the wild card or divisional round playoff games 

If you're in Tier III, you not only don't work any playoff games, you are probably looking at being placed on probation.   Two consecutive years in Tier III leads to your dismissal from the NFL's officiating ranks. 

We now know based on her assignment to this divisional round playoff game, that Sarah Thomas was in the Tier II group of officials for the 2018 NFL season.   Hopefully one day we will see her make more history officiating a conference championship game or a Super Bowl.

It's a safe bet that will probably happen for her sooner rather than later. 

Moni's Investiture Speech For Judge Bill McLeod

The text of the speech speech I'm delivering for Judge Bill McLeod's investiture today.

To Judge McLeod, distinguished judges, friends and guests in attendance.  

Happy Blue Year to all of you!  

It is a sincere honor and pleasure to have been asked to say a few words at this investiture ceremony today,  While I have attended a few of these investiture ceremonies in the past and will be attending quite a few more during the rest of this month and into February, this is the first time I have gotten to participate  in one of these beyond just being in supportive attendance of the judge being sworn in.

One of our local sheroes in Barbara Jordan once said,“What the people want is simple.  They want an America as good as its promise.

Substitute the words ‘Harris County’ for America, and you have the reason why we are sitting in this ceremonial courtroom today.  

We are sitting here because of the historic change that Harris County voters enabled on November 6 with their votes.   We are sitting here because Harris County voters wanted a county as go as its promise, and wanted its leadership to reflect the beautiful diversity of all 5 million of us who are please to call this part of southeast Texas home.  .

As part of the yearning to have leadership that reflected the diversity of this community, it’s why on November 6  we elected a diverse slate of talented servant leaders with decades of experience practicing law to serve on our Harris County judicial benches.

The Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr said that, "Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress."

Judges play an important role in our system of government because they are the umpires who call the legal balls and strikes and ensure that justice is impartially served regardless of race, creed, color, gender identity or economic status.  

And having known Judge McLeod personally for several years, I he is a caring, compassionate and loving person.  He is a wonderful community leader with a keen legal mind. I have no doubts that he will bring his full self into the task of ensuring justice is  served and fairly administered for all who appear before him.
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Congratulations, your Honor.  May you have a long and successful term serving the citizens of Harris County on the County Court at Law Number 4 bench.   

Number One Of 2019- Rest In Power and Peace Dana Martin

I was wondering as the noise faded in my neighborhood from the fireworks illegally being set off and the idiots firing their guns in the air how long it would take for us to lose the first trans person of the year to anti-trans violence in the US?

I got my answer to the question I posed to myself on New Year's Day.  Six days.

We go to Montgomery, Alabama for our first trans murder of 2019.

I was advised by Daroneshia Duncan Boyd that 31 year old Dana  Martin of Hope Hull, AL was found at 11:30 PM CST after people reported a car crashed into a ditch in the 3900 block of Brewer Road off Selma Highway. 

When Montgomery police arrived at the scene, they discovered Martin dead at the scene from a gunshot would to the head.

And as usual, the local media and MPD initially misgendered her.

Rant moment:  I am beyond sick and tired of the media and local police departments being transphobic azzholes and deliberately misgendering and deadnaming trans people.   They then want to get salty when the trans community calls them on their BS.

MPD put out a statement trying to justify their transphobia and the misgendering of Martin.

“Please note that MPD publicly identified the victim as male as determined by legal documents and forensic evaluation,” said MPD Captain Regina Duckett. “For MPD, how a homicide victim identifies is a personal matter that becomes relevant to our investigation only if it is determined to be a reason the victim was killed.”

Naw Captain Duckett, not today.   It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if you have a person that is dead that has a penis in her panties, the odds are probably 100% you're dealing with a trans feminine person.

it also doesn't detract from your investigation to announce that a trans person has been murdered.  By respecting the person instead of disrespecting them , you increase the chances of solving the crime.

Rant over, back to the business end of this post.

MPD detectives investigating this case believe that Martin was shot in the general vicinity near where the car was found.   They are asking that if you have any info that will lead to the capture and prosecution of the perpetrators of this crime, to call CrimeStopers at 334-215-STOP  (7867), Secret Witness at 334-625-4000 or MPD at 334-625-2831

Rest in power and peace Dana.  You trans family and our accomplices in Alabama and beyond will not rest until justice is served to the satisfaction of everyone who loved you.

Speaking At Judge McLeod's Investiture Ceremony Today

Another day in Houston, another investiture ceremony.   Because of the Democratic judicial sweep that cleaned all 59 benches in the Harris County court system of every sitting Republican judge, we've had the pleasure of gleefully watching or attending a investiture every day.

Today, it's Judge William McLeod's turn, and this time I'll be an active participant in one instead of a guest sitting in the audience watching it. 

I've been given the honor by Judge William McLeod to be one of the two speakers at his investiture in the ceremonial courtroom on the 17th floor of the Harris County Civil Courts building. 

Looking forward to doing that starting at 2 PM CST, and if you can make it, hope you'll join me there to honor him. 

Why Was This Pic Considered Spam By Facebook?

I have much love for my sis Jessica Zyrie.   She's now in a several months long relationship with her boyfriend Alexander, and I couldn't be happier for both of them.

Alexander Lane Miller posted this picture recently on his Facebook page that was limited only to his Facebook feed.  It was not set to public view, and this photo wasn't made public until I published it with their permission in this blog post. 

Hey, I ain't mad at either him or Jessica.  They are an amazing couple, they are obviously to anyone observing them in love with each other,  and I want nothing but the best for both of them. 

They are also both unapologetically trans, and I hope and pray their relationship keeps growing into one that leads to marriage.

But as you probably guessed, somebody lurking in that comment thread on Alexander's page was hating.   Alexander shockingly received this message from Facebook claiming that someone had reported the pic he posted of himself and his girlfriend as spam and that it went against Facebook's nebulous 'community standards'.   

Really?   A pic of an attractive couple is spam?   Since when?   I guess it's spam or 'against community standards' when it's shining a positive light on Black trans peeps.

FYI Facebook.  The leader of an SPLC certified hate group in Tony Perkins is not the person you need to be taking advice from as to what is or isn't offensive on The Net..

One of the things that pisses me off about Facebook is that it is far too easy for haters to report a post as spam or offensive, and they knee jerk respond to that complaint as if it's valid.

Because they do that, your post gets blocked or taken down as a result.  Once you discover this has happened, and you try to get a real live human there to plead your case or get someone at Facebook to to explain why they came to that decision, it can take days for that conversation to happen.|

Meanwhile the hater is rejoicing because they have succeeded in getting your positive post pulled

This crap also happens far too often on Facebook to Black people and members of the trans community

Alexander has finally gotten in contact with a human being at Facebook in order to protest the unjust initial decision, and his request to reverse this obviously wrong decision is pending.

And Facebook need to expeditiously right this wrong.

TransGriot Update (12 January)  Was advised by Alexander that Facebook has reversed their decision and the pic is now back up on his feed.

First Meeting Of The New Harris County Commissioners Court Today

We have been having a wonderful first week of the New Year because we flipped Harris County to dark blue in the 2018 midterms. 

There has practically been an investiture ceremony for our new diverse group of Democratic judges every day at the county courthouse, and I'm speaking at one of them on Thursday for Judge Bill McLeod.

At 10 AM CST this morning we'll get to gleefully watch another historic Harris County political moment as we have our first Harris County Commissioners Court meeting of 2019 with our Democratic majority in place. 

It will also be the first one in which our new County Judge Lina Hidalgo will be presiding over. 

I'm a native Houstonian, but I have never gone downtown to attend a Harris County Commissioner's Court meeting because in large part of it being a Republican controlled body and a waste of my time to do so.

Now with a diverse Democratic majority on it for the first time since I was in high school, this governing body for the third largest county by population in the United States (Harris County has 5 million residents)  has gotten my undivided attention.

Elections matter people, and because of the blue tsunami that swept through Harris County and swept GOP officeholders out with it, it's a brand new day here politically.

We have already seen evidence of that at the county courthouse, where the new judges elected in the Democratic sweep of all 59 judicial benches filed a motion yesterday to withdraw from the appeal of the bail bonds system lawsuit.   The county bail bond system was declared unconstitutional

The suit alleges the county unfairly jails those charged with misdemeanors who cannot afford bail. A federal district judge ordered Harris County to remedy the situation, but the suit has been held up in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.   All the Republican criminal court judges named in the lawsuit were swept out of office

Partisan political hack Stan Stanart was fired as county clerk by Harris County voters and replaced by Dr. Diane Trautman.   One immediate change was the ability to register to vote online on the county clerk website.   Discussions have started to implement countywide voting centers in which you are able, just as you can during the early voting period, to do so at any location on Election Day. 

One of the items on the agenda for the Harris County commissioner's court meeting is a $15 minimum wage for all county employees.

Looking forward to attending my first ever Commissioner's Court meeting.