Trans Activist Monica Roberts speaks out about HERO

Long time Trans activist, Monica Roberts posted a great piece about the failure of HERO in Houston.

Here's a piece of her post:

The Black LGBT community and our allies have been warning for months that action was needed in our community IMMEDIATELY or else HERO was going down to defeat. We pleaded for canvassing in our neighborhoods, pro-HERO ads on Houston Black radio stations and hard hitting attacks to destroy the only card our haters had to play in the bathroom meme.

We also needed trans people of color front and center attacking the meme instead of being almost invisible for this entire campaign, But once again the Houston Black LGBT community was ignored, and this time the whole city will pay for Houston Unites lack of vision and the milquetoast campaign that was run..

I was so pissed off tonight that I left the Sylvester Turner event at the GRB early. Couldn't stand hearing the words 'all Houstonians are appreciated' when some of those peeps in that large room may have voted not only for Rep. Turner to be our next mayor, but voted to kill the HERO based on lies the opposition and the kneegrow auxiliaries told about trans people like me.

So naw Houston, far from feeling loved and appreciated, I felt like I got kicked in the teeth.

Basically, it was a Prop 8 redux. This shouldn't have happened.

HERO is repealed in Houston

This is sad to see. HERO was repealed in Houston. Haters voted to keep Houston in the dark.

There's a lot of disappointed voices. Here is a message from Rev. Rodney McKenzie, Jr., Director of the Academy for Leadership and Action, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

Preliminary election results show that a majority of voters in Houston have repealed the city’s ordinance that extends non-discrimination protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people–among 13 other protected classes including race, religion, sex, color, age, ethnicity, disability, national origin, marital status, military status, genetic information, pregnancy, and family status. In May 2014, the city council approved Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), but enforcement of that law was placed on hold pending the outcome of today’s vote. The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund worked to prevent the ordinances from being repealed by joining the Houston Unites campaign and providing on the ground support as well as technical assistance.

“As a proud Texan, Reverend, and black gay man, I am deeply disappointed with the outcome of today’s election—yet we are not defeated. Leading up to the election, we were joined by a strong and broad coalition of business owners, faith leaders, civil rights leaders, and elected officials, who worked hard to ensure that all Houstonians are protected against discrimination. We spoke with hundreds of voters who believe that everyone—regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation—deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. While the road to justice is long, we will redouble our efforts to secure full freedom, justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people.”

Save HERO, Houston!

Get out there and vote, people!

Pat Robertson Rails Against Trans Community, HERO Measure

In Houston: NAACP fully supports HERO!

The NAACP came out in support of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). Using Twitter and radio ads, the organization is in stealth mode to get the message out.

Here's more from their site

As Houstonians head to the polls to cast their early votes on Proposition 1, the NAACP and Houston Urban League—the city’s most prominent African-American organizations—are urging a YES vote to protect Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance.In addition to the radio ads, the organizations have purchased ads in print publications across the city, including images harkening back tot he 1960’s Civil Rights Movement with the tagline, “We were about equality then. We are about equality NOW.”

There’s no denying that discrimination is a real issue in Houston. In the last year, more than 60% of discrimination claims filed under Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance were on the basis of race. Without an equal rights ordinance, Houstonians would be forced to literally make a federal case out of it—and bear the burden of a costly, drawn-out legal battle. 

We’re proud to stand alongside allies like the NAACP and Houston Urban League in supporting an ordinance that ensures all Houstonians are treated fairly and equally under the law.

Listen to the radio ad after the jump

In Houston: Judge blocks same-sex city benefits

Really, Haters?

This fight against equality is disgusting.

A state district judge ordered the city of Houston to stop offering health and life insurance benefits to the married gay employees. The city attorneys will appeal this mess, since it was done before and they won!

These hate leaders are relentless! They are fighting this with everything they got and it's so ridic! And to make matters worse, there are 3 lawsuits against HERO... Mostly over the policy violating the gay marriage ban.

Don't they realize that DOMA is unconstitutional? That trying to hold on these bigoted views are... I can't with this folks.

Go here for the full story

In Texas: Mayor Parker Drops Subpoenas against Anti-Gay Pastors

In an interesting turn of events, Mayor Annise Parker will withdraw its controversial subpoenas of five pastors tied to a lawsuit over the city's equal rights ordinance (HERO).

Days ago, I posted the press conference from the religious leaders, claiming they would rather go to jail than support HERO. After a meeting with these 'leaders', Mayor Parker decided to let it go.

Here's more:

The announcement came amid a national firestorm about the subpoenas, which have prompted outrage among Christian conservatives. Parker said two meetings yesterday, one with local pastors and another with national clergy, persuaded her to pull the subpoenas altogether.

"The goal of the subpoenas is to defend against the lawsuit and not to provoke a public debate," Parker said.

She is ordering the subpoenas removed for the sake of Houston, not because the request were in any way illegal or intended to intrude on religious liberties, Parker said.

"I didn't do this to satisfy them," Parker said of critics. "I did it because it was not serving Houston."

Here is a video that catch you up on the drama after the jump (autoplay)

Family Research Council release a Promo for their Hate Fest, I Stand Sunday

In Houston: Haters failed in their attempt to repeal HERO

Ha Ha!

So, I told y'all about these anti-gay freaks trying to repeal Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) yesterday. Well, THEY FAILED!

The petition needed about 17,269 valid signatures from registered Houston voters, right? They didn't get that and they also didn't get the rule that the signatures needed to be VALID!

It's so funny because they bragged and boasted that they had over 30,000 valid signatures. Turns out, they only had 16,500 valid signatures. These cretins lied and cheated to put HERO up for a vote.

Too bad it didn't work... NOT

source

In Houston: Haters may not have enough Signatures to Repeal HERO

Today, the Houston officials will announce if the petition to force a vote on the city's new nondiscrimination ordinance (HERO) will actually happen.

Haters claimed to have gathered enough valid signatures (31K) to repeal the measure in November.

However, it looks like a good chunk of them are not valid.

City Attorney David Feldman spilt the tea, saying that more than 5,000 pages fell short of legal requirements. In fact, many of the signatures were not qualified or registered Houston voters. See how these so-called Christians act? Anywho, we will know tomorrow if this foolishness goes any further.

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Hate Leaders deliver signatures seeking repeal Houston's Non-Discrimination Ordinance

After Houston passed the non-discrimination ordinance, religious leaders vowed to force the issue on a November vote. Well, they claim to have more than enough signatures to it.

A group of bigots turned in more than 50,000 signatures within the 30-day window of the ordinance's passing. They have to have 30,000 registered Houston voters for it to move forward.

Here's more:

"It has been shown and demonstrated that the people of the city do not want this ordinance," said pastor Max Miller, of the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity. "We simply say: Allow the people to vote on this ordinance."

Staff in the city secretary's office will have 30 days to verify the petitions, said Mayor Annise Parker, who pledged to fight the effort to overturn the ordinance should it make the November ballot.

"This was not a narrowly focused, special-interest ordinance," said Parker, the first openly lesbian mayor of a major American city. "This is something that the business and civic community of Houston was firmly behind and we fully expect if there is a campaign that it will be a spirited campaign, but we'll have the same outcome in November as we had around the council table."

This is silly. These so-called leaders are nothing but bigots in disguise.

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Perry Moore's "Hero" television adaptation is still in the Works

In Comic Con 2009, I was fortunate to hear Perry Moore talk about his gay superhero novel, Hero becoming a movie. But after his recent death, I wasn't sure if was still in the works.

However, MTV's Splash Page confirms it's still in development.

"It's still in development," a spokesperson for Starz told MTV News of the project's status in the wake of Moore's death. 



A rep for Starz could not confirm the current involvement of POW Entertainment in the project, and requests for comment/confirmation from POW did not receive a response at press time. Starz listed the current "Hero" producers as Moore, his creative partner Hunter Hill, and "300" producer Mark Canton.

"I have always been enthralled with comic books and superheroes, and I've always believed there should be a gay superhero. Not as a joke, not as a supporting character, not as a victim, not as a token, but as a real front-and-center hero," Moore wrote of the impetus for "Hero" on his website. "I've always been surprised by how few gay heroes there are in comic books, and I decided I would write the definitive coming-of-age story of the world's first gay teen superhero."

"I was very surprised by the low number of gay characters in comic books," he continued. "Every other barrier has been broken in comics: race, gender, class, physical challenges. But gay characters remain few and far between."

I'm glad to see that Perry's work will possibly live on.

MSNBC talks to Daniel Hernandez, the Gay Intern who helped Rep. Giffords

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Still pondering over Dan Choi's Arrest

Call me crazy, but I'm STILL analyzing Dan Choi's actions last week. I've been caught up on Health Care stuff, I haven't completely processed this.

So here is my madness.

What he did was brave and heroic, but the reasoning was kind of lost on me. He wanted to take the DADT drama to the White House and he did, by chaining himself to the gates. And while that sent a message, it also sent him to jail. Now, he has a trial date and could possibly lose his job. And that's the interesting piece, all this fighting to keep his job and he can lose over something that's not related to DADT. It's almost ironic.

But many folks are calling him the new leader of the LGBT movement. To be real, I disagree with the 'new leader' bit. I feel that a leader is brave, but very wise and a good strategist. There could've been a more effective way to push the message through; something that may not jeopardize his job.

However, I do see Dan's actions creating a gateway to truly discuss DADT. He may have inspired others to fight for their rights in and out of the military. But that remains to be seen. I just not sure if it was the right way or time to send a message to the White House. Within a day of his arrest, Health Care reform took over, followed by the teabagger's mess and Stupak's turnaround. I felt like Dan's message got lost and somewhat forgotten in the media.

So, now I wonder... Was his arrest worth it?

Those are just my thoughts. I'm clearly trying to make sense of this. Please enlighten me if I'm totally missing the point. Would love to hear your views.

Impact Maker of 2008

Muntader al-Zaidi achieved an American dream.
I salute you, man.

Boys Need a Hero

I love Gawker, I read it several times a day and sometimes get some of my best material from them. Lately, they have been talking about this Tucker Max. He's a guy they really hate, judging from the articles they post about him. He's also a blogger and writer of the book, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.

I never heard of him until I read Gawker, however I was curious to see what the big deal was. So I checked on his blog and read several pages from his book. Basically, he's jerk, in fact he calls himself an asshole. But what was the interesting thing about him is his legion of fans. He's a fraking hero to straight white boys everywhere.

But then it hit me, if he's considered a hero, then who would be a villain? After reading more about him, I thought, Who is this guy? He sleeps with mediocre and sometimes drunk girls with little self esteem, he's proud of being an ass, he's very myopic, and he's not really cute. But for some reason, guys love him. Why, I'm trying to figure that out. Is it because he's a guy's guy, or is he the living id, or he's the caveman guys really want to be.

Who knows, but whatever he is, it's spreading among the boys and freaking out the girls. With guys like him as heroes, I'm so glad to be gay. My heroes are smart, powerful, and mostly make-believe (Lamar, Ororo, Diana) but still, they are full of heart, humility, and a great costumes.

Lynda plays a Hero

Straight from the news (CNN.com)
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The actress who played Wonder Woman on TV in the 1970s says she didn't do anything extraordinary when she discovered a body this week on the Potomac River in Washington.

Lynda Carter tells The Washington Post she was alone in a boat when she saw the body Wednesday. She says she didn't have a cell phone with her, so she yelled to some fishermen and asked them to call police. Carter waited until rescuers arrived and directed them to the body.

District of Columbia police say the body of 47-year-old Helen Johnstone of Washington was found floating on the river Wednesday. The medical examiner's office has not declared an official cause of death.

Carter says she "did what anybody would have done."
***********************************************************************************

Good job, Lynda!!