Creating Change Conference 2011

Next to IFGE and the Southern Comfort Conference in the ATL,  the Creating Change one gets the Moni Two Snaps Up Seal of Approval.

It's known as the National Conference on LGBT Equality, but in the TBLG community it's known by the moniker Creating Change.    It's the event the Task Force puts on, and if you're a budding GLBT activist or a veteran, this is the conference that you want to come to and learn how to be a better one.

I attended my first Creating Change when they held it in Oakland in 1999.   I had the pleasure of seeing then Oakland mayor Jerry Brown do a welcoming speech at the initial plenary session and meet many of the TBLG people fighting for Kentucky that a few years later I'd be working with on various projects..  Since then either my work schedule or cash flow have been a barrier to me attending it, but eventually I will get to do another one.

One of the things I haven't liked is that they changed the date of the event from late fall to February, which means that if they have it in a cold weather city, the weather will be at its winter worst and you run the risk of it getting snowed out.

This year's host city is Minneapolis and it's running from today through February 6.   And right on cue the Midwest is dealing with a nasty snowstorm that is impacting air travel and ground transportation for the folks trying to get there.

But that's the weather breaks.    Hopefully it'll clear and the folks who are traveling to the Twin Cities to participate in it can do so.

To my TransGriot readers who are headed to Creating Change or who are already there, stay warm, get your learn on and have a wonderful time.    Hope to see y'all at the 2012 event

The Covenant House Texas TBLG Housing Issue Links

I've written a few posts about the ongoing situation with the Houston based Covenant House Texas and their less than respectful treatment of TBLG kids.

To catch you up on the backstory about what's transpiring here and what had the Houston rainbow community upset with Covenant House Texas,  thought it was time to compile those links into one handy dandy post for your websurfing convenience and for you to peruse..

There's word that another meeting was held today that may finally resolve this situation to everyone's satisfaction.    We'll see. 


Covenant House Texas-Not A Home For Trans and Intersex Youth

Covenant House Texas-Response From Board Member

Covenant House Texas-Meeting Today

Covenant House Texas Sellin' Woof Tickets Again 

Covenant House Texas Update-Cristan's Thoughts Abut The CH Secret Shopper Investigation

What's Between A Transwoman's Ears Is More Important Than What's Between Her Legs

One of the things that upsets me at times is that society and transpeople sometimes place far too much importance and attention on what genitalia is between our legs when the focus should be what's between our ears.

In this second decade of the 21st century we have more transwomen who have come out earlier in their lives than ever before and they are stunningly beautiful.  

But some of my sisters are more concerned with using their looks to get men and party and are not focusing on the inevitable day and the reality that the Coke bottle shape will eventually go away and your beauty fades.

That's why what is between your ears is far more important than what is between your legs.    Developing your mind should have just as much primacy for a Phenomenal Transwoman as being the life of the party.  

I've noted that quality in many of the cis and trans women I've chosen to pattern myself after and that lead successful lives.   I also find that the transwomen I get along with best have strong characters and are beautiful inside and out because they have taken the time and effort to borrow writer Sharon Davis' words, become finer specimens of womanhood.

While everyone's trans feminine journeys are primarily individual ones impacted by a multitude of factors including class, the decade we transition in, race, and where we live on the planet, at the same time we transwomen of color have the additional burden of representing our ethnic groups.

We don't have visible representations beyond the stereotypes attributed to transwomen of African, Latina, native American and Asian descent and we must be mindful of that.  It's why I have high expectations for myself and I am constantly aware of the fact I represent my African American trans community as a role model.   I'm proud that I have the reputation of being an intellectual and don't shy away from it.

When I have the honor and privilege of mentoring young transwomen of color I push them to be the best they can be and exceed the low expectations society has for us.    I want them to enjoy their youth, date and have fun, but at the same time I want them thinking about how they are not just in it for themselves, they represent an entire marginalized community to a trans hostile world.. 
 
The only way we are going to get society to stop focusing on the authenticity of our womanhood and what genitalia we have concealed in our panties is get them to focus on the content of our character and what is between our ears.

Once we are successful in doing that, we will begin to see real progress towards transpeople not only having civil rights coverage, but becoming integral parts and valued citizens of the various nations that we live in.