Tellin' Our Stories

One of the things that is desperately needed in the wake of the repeated attempts by the HRC-Frank neo-Mattachine cabal to cut transpeople out of ENDA is African-American transpeople willing to tell our stories to not only our community, but our legislative representatives as well.

Thanks to the Democrats regaining control of congress in the 2006 midterm elections and the addition of members, the Congressional Black caucus is not only larger than its ever been in its history, it is now wielding historic levels of power with several members chairing committees, Rep. Clyburn being majority whip and a certain senator from Illinois running for president.

That fact hasn't been lost on our white fundamentalist enemies in the Traditional Values Coalition and the Religious Reich. They have sent their faith-based flunkies in the Hi Impact Leadership Coalition to do their browbeating for them. They know from historical trends that any progressive legislation doesn't pass the House without the support of 'The Conscience of the Congress'.

While I don't mind telling our stories to our congressmembers, I can't be the only one. Our enemies are damnded sure firing up the buses full of faith-based sheeple to spread lies about us and rolling them to Washington. The Lo Impact 'ministers' are using their TVC provided talking points to convince them NOT to include us. But all their talking points with their carefully selected negative scriptures can't compare to a transgender constituent telling their story of how a lack of employment protections led to them losing a job.

Yes, now is not the time to burrow deeper into the closet, but to take bold, decisive action like our brothers and sisters did back in 1965. If you want an inclusive ENDA and Hhte crimes law passed and signed next year, then we're gonna have to fight tooth and nail for it.

Hey, we come from people who are used to fighting against long odds with the deck and the power structure stacked against them and prevailing. This battle is nothing different. The HRC-Frank 'incremental progress' cabal that opposes our inclusion or hollers 'wait your turn' is similar to Rev J.H. Jackson and his supporters.

We have the moral high ground on our side. For all the bluster coming from the sacreligious right, they are the ideological and spiritual heirs of the same anti-progressive forces of Intolerance that Dr. King an his contemporaries faced 40 years ago.

But we can't sit idly by and twiddle our thumbs, then gripe that our concerns aren't being addressed. We have to speak truth to power, talk to our legislators and tell them our stories.

Happy 75th Birthday James Brown

Today would have been the 75th birthday for the 'Godfather of Soul'. He unfortunately left us on Christmas Day 2006, but he's left behind a groundbreaking and colorful legacy of music and show stopping performances that will never be forgotten.

Soul Brother Number One on Soul Train singing my fave James Brown song Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud)




James at the Apollo in 1968 singing It's A Man's World medley



Get Up Offa That Thing




I Feel Good

Three More Superdelegates For Obama

To paraphrase my fellow Texan H. Ross Perot's famous line, that 'giant sucking sound' you hear is Hillary Clinton's superdelegate lead wasting away.

Many Dems like myself have been increasingly concerned about the nasty tone this race is taking while John McCain gets a free ride from the MSM and aren't happy about Hillary's nattering negative attacks of Sen. Obama. She's also been pissing people off in the party left, right and center and her once large lead in superdelegates has dwindled to just 18 with these key endorsements.

Rep. Baron Hill, who represents Indiana's 9th Congressional District across the river from me (and includes Bloomington and Indiana University) announced his support yesterday in advance of the May 6 primary. He joins Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis, the grandson of the late Rep. Julia Carson in endorsing Sen Obama.

"We cannot continue to pursue the same politics of personal destruction we have engaged in for a generation," Hill said. "I believe Senator Obama has the capability to change the tone and tenor of politics in Washington. I believe that he can and will work with both parties and elevate the level of public discourse."

On my side of the Ohio River, Rep. Ben Chandler, who represents Kentucky's 6th District (Lexington and the area around it) also announced his support for Sen. Obama at a press conference here in Da Ville. My congressman, 3rd District Rep. John Yarmuth has already announced he's supporting Sen. Obama and introduced Rep Chandler at the press conference.

"I've listened to the man. I have met with him and, like many of you, I am excited by his message of change for the future."

Rep. Chandler did catch some flak from some constituents for committing before the May 20 primary here in the Bluegrass state. He's the grandson of former Kentucky governor, US senator and baseball commissioner A.B.'Happy' Chandler and ran for governor himself in 2003.

He praised Obama as "a man of great integrity and intellect" and of "quiet strength."

In another blow to Hillary, Joe Andrew, who led the Democratic Party during the Clinton administration from 1999-2001 has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to "heal the rift in our party" and unite behind the Illinois senator.

He's planning a news conference later today in Indianapolis to urge other Hoosiers to support Obama in Tuesday's May 6 primary and has written a lengthy letter explaining his decision that he plans to send to other superdelegates.