Check out Prince's New Song ‘Baltimore’ A Tribute To Ongoing Protests for Freddie Gray

Wolf Blitzer gets owned by Deray McKesson about violence in Baltimore

On My way to Baltimore

I'm traveling again for work. I have a long flight to Baltimore.

I hope I survive the experience.

In Maryland: More Black Pastors are supporting Marriage Equality

Rev. Jamie Washington

Are times changing in Maryland? I hope so, especially with this news here. There is an increasing number of Black pastors supporting gay marriage.

The Baltimore Sun states:

Since marriage equality became a hot-button issue, a growing number of African-American ministers, both straight and openly gay, have weighed in with support for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and elevate the message that we are all children of the creator. Where there is love, there is God.

Leaders such as Rev. Dennis Wiley, a Maryland resident and pastor of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C., have spoken out publicly and unapologetically about their support for all loving and committed couples. Advocates like Rev. Dorothy Harris, pastor of Unity Fellowship Church of Columbia, and Pastor Larry Brumfield with Westminster's Church of the Brethren are standing firmly in solidarity.

Jamie Washington is a pastor of the Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore, and a person I have met on many occasions, had this to say:

Our LGBT brothers and sisters want the same things as everyone else. They want what is at the core of marriage equality — to make a lifelong promise in front of family, friends and God to commit to each other and take care of one another.

I'm hoping their work will break through the old prejudices held by the many in the Black community.

In Baltimore: Teen Pleads Guilty for Attacking a Transgender woman in McDonald's

Last week, the teenager involved in the beating of Chrissy Lee Polis, transgender woman, pleaded guilty.

Baltimore Sun states:

Teonna Monae Brown, 19, pleaded guilty in Baltimore County Circuit Court to one count of first-degree assault and one hate crime count in the April attack on Chrissy Lee Polis, 22, which became a rallying point for transgender-rights advocates across the state and nationwide.

Prosecutors will seek a prison sentence for Brown of 10 years with five years suspended, said Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger. The combined maximum sentence for the crimes is 35 years.

Sad it had to go down like that

WATCH: Chrissy Lee Polis speaks out the McDonald's Assault

Chrissy is the Transgender woman who was beaten at McDonald's. She talks about the incident and more.

 

VIDEO: The Vigil for Tyra Trent

A few weeks ago the body of a young Transgendered woman, Tyra Trent, was found in a basement. On Friday, the LGBT community held a vigil for her.

Baltimore Sun reports:

A crowd of about 50 gathered at the corner of North Avenue and Charles Street, braving chilly winds to remember Tyra Trent. Speaking over the din of rush-hour traffic, Webb said: "Our struggle goes on. Let's keep the good fight going."

The vigil was organized by Sandy Rawls, director of Trans-United, which provides help to members of the transgender community.

"We all have our struggles," Rawls said. But, she added, resources are scarce for transgender individuals.

Rawls said she had been working with Trent to formally change her name and obtain her GED.

"Being transgender takes a strong mind, not just to fight society but your own insecurities — a lot want to give up," said Stacy Williams, 35, who knew Trent since she was 15, before she made the "transition," which he said took Trent two or three years.

He said it was a "major step" for Trent to work toward a high school equivalency degree after struggling with drugs — "but she got her life on track," he said.

Williams was among several of Trent's friends who attended the gathering.

"It feels good to see everyone here supporting the same cause," he said.

Two people led songs, but most people remained quiet, clutching small white candles inside Dixie cups.

Trent's mother spoke briefly to the crowd, thanking everyone and asking them to "keep us all in your prayers."

Please watch the video

A hat tip and wink to Rod 2.0

A Trangender Woman found Dead in a Vacant Home

Tyra Trent was found dead in a vacant home last weekend. She strangled and left in the basement.

On Saturday, someone wandered into a vacant city-owned home in the 3300 block of Virginia Ave. in Northwest Baltimore and found Trent's body in the basement. She had no identification and no cell phone, but an autopsy revealed that she had been asphyxiated. City homicide detectives are investigating the case.

It took two days to confirm Trent's identity and notify family. Trent had been reported missing two weeks earlier, after leaving home late at night on a Sunday and never returning. Trent had been known to leave for a few days at a time, but always kept in touch with her mother, Sundra. Not this time.

"Sundra felt it. After two days she said, 'Something happened to my baby,' " said Pamela Holden, a family friend.

Relatives were gathered at the Trent family home Tuesday night, where they remembered Trent as a vibrant person who liked to dance, loved animals and loved to style hair. She worked with people with disabilities, they said.

"He was a good person, and he made friends," said aunt Evelina "Noni" Trent, 41.

The reason for Tyra's murder is unknown. I hope the LGBT will come together and reach out to the Transgendered community in Baltimore.

source

Is Mary Washington the Next Black Lesbian State Legislator?

Well, I hope so.

Mary won in her Baltimore district Tuesday night.

Here's more info about Mary:

In 2006, she came close to winning in this district, finishing fourth in a race where the top three finishers are elected. That performance impressed local politicos, and Mary’s determined to raise the money necessary to run even more strongly this time.

Since earning her Ph.D. in 1997, Mary has used her skills to lead programs that hold public officials accountable and help city residents get the resources they need. She works as an associate director of one of the nation’s largest urban environmental groups and serves on the Baltimore Sustainability Commission, the Baltimore Green Jobs Coalition and the Democratic State Central Committee. She has also served as the first director of Baltimore’s HousingStat program and as president of her community association and she continues to play a leading role in a number of important civic projects.

Her record of achievement and her progressive ideas for the state’s future have won Mary’s campaign the support of leading civil rights, labor and environmental groups across the state including Equality Maryland, the Metropolitan Baltimore Council of the AFL-CIO, the SEIU, the Maryland State Education Association, Progressive Maryland, NARAL Pro-choice Maryland, the Democratic Women’s PAC of Maryland, The Sierra Club and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

If she wins, Mary will be the 2nd Black lesbian in the House of Delegates.

a wink to Rod 2.0

Jason Mattison's Murderer Indicted

The murderer of Jason Mattison has been incited for his crime.

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy has announced that the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted 35 year old Dante Parrish of the 2400 block of E. Preston Street for first-degree murder, deadly weapon and first-degree sexual offense.

The indictment was filed December 3, 2009.

Court documents allege that on November 10, 2008 Dante Parrish was responsible for a stabbing in the 2400 block of Llewelyn Avenue. 15 year old Jason Mattison, Jr was discovered by a family member inside a second floor bedroom closet. Madison had suffered multiple stab wounds to the head and throat.

An investigation revealed Parrish and Mattison were allegedly in the second floor bedroom when Parrish sexually assaulted Madison and then killed him. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Parrish is being held at the Baltimore City Detention Center without bail.

Hopefully, Parrish will answer some questions that still remains unclear.

source

Another Gay Teen Murdered

Sorry to post this, but the word needs to get out.

Jason Mattison Jr. was found raped, gagged, stabbed and hidden in the closet of his aunt's house.

The suspect, Dante Parrish, 35 was a family friend and convicted murderer. He was caught a few days later and admitted to the murder.

Here's more about Jason:

About his skin-tight jeans and funky sweaters. About his boisterous voice that seemed to run nonstop. About his exuberance in recounting the most mundane of events. About his flamboyant mannerisms.

He was 15, a sophomore in high school, and he was gay.

When someone harassed him in the halls of West Baltimore's Vivian T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, he had a sharp, witty comeback at the ready, and he walked away smiling.

"Even if it hurt him, he gave the other person the impression he was stronger," recalled his English teacher, Ryan C. Jones. But while Jason appeared strong and confident in the safe confines of his school on North Calhoun Street, unafraid to embrace his sexual orientation as part of his personality, the world outside did not offer those same protections.

My heart goes out to Jason's family and I hope this, Dante, pays for his crimes.