HRC + LCR = GOP, Not GLBT

“I don't know about the rest of you, but I am absolutely furious about this. Not only is this inequitable, it's fuckin dismissive and disrespectful.” — Steven Driscoll, National Stonewall Democrats Board Co-Chair

Can anybody tell me why the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) had such prominence with the Obama Campaign once Hillary was officially out of the race? They even proffered their own handpicked trans person, a relative unknown to the trans community itself that they brought onto the business council, to be the campaign’s transgender steering committee member. And this for what support they’ve shown?

As Andrew Sullivan noted at the time Hillary dropped out, HRC’s own board of directors had given to the following presidential candidates’ campaigns:

Hillary Clinton: $4,300
Chris Dodd: $3,000
John Edwards: $ 750
Bill Richardson: $ 500
Barack Obama: $ 0
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/06/hrc-busted.html

That’s right, zero to Barack Obama’s campaign by the time Hillary Clinton had suspended her campaign. How surprised was I that my miniscule donations out-contributed the entire board of directors of the relatively more financially powerful HRC? Immediately after, Obama graciously allowed HRC’s current and former executive director, and one of their board doing the speaking on a campaign conference call to the LGBT community (including, though rarely mentioning, the plethora of trans leaders who long worked the campaign). HRC even played petulant, suggesting it would take time for their ranks to come around and pleading for “patience” from the campaign until they decided to engage.

In the past couple weeks (as I’d first heard while at the Stonewall Democrats Convention from board member Melissa Sklarz), it was noted that HRC donated zero to the Stonewall Democrats Convention this year. All ten thousand dollars budgeted when to the Log Cabin Republicans for their convention instead. Reason given: HRC was miffed that Stonewall Dems became part of United ENDA and criticized HRC’s elitist incrementalism on employment protections.

So there we were, going into the Democratic National Convention with (per their own self-promotional advertising) the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organization in the country not supporting the GLBT Democratic organization. Instead they chose the GLB Republicans. Say it ain’t so, JoeSo. (It is.)

Add to that the more recent news that McCain’s own campaign head, Steven Schmidt, took time to “pay his respects” to the gay and lesbian Republican group – the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) – in St. Paul during RNC week. He’s Turdblossom Rove’s suckling, learning at the teet of the great pig. It’s tantamount to having them paid visit by Rove himself!

And why? Because, in Log Cabin Republicans’ estimation, John McCain and his running-mate Sarah Palin are eminently supportive of their views on gay and lesbian equality.

Yes, the same John McCain we’ve always had. The John McCain who has never supported gays in the military. The John McCain who voted for DOMA. And the John McCain who may not have supported a constitutional amendment against all same-sex marriage in America but is very uncomfortable with it nonetheless and has now fully reversed his course on a number of stances (such as Bush’s tax cuts, alternative energy, immigration reform, etc) and could unsurprisingly end up doing a 180 on supporting a constitutional amendment if his RNC brethren twist his arm enough.

Also the same Sarah Palin who opposed any same-sex partner benefits to the point that she pushed to remove all spouse and family benefits of Alaska state employees just to deny gays and lesbians. The same Sarah Palin who applauds her daughter’s “decision” and makes no secret of wanting to undo anyone else’s right to a decision about their pregnancy. The same Sarah Palin who attends a church that believes “homosexuality” can be “cured.” The same Sarah Palin who inferred the troops in Iraq were being sent “out on a task that is from God.” (Basically God, in his decision to wage war on terrorism, declared a holy war against Iraq – not George W. Bush).

So do you think the ‘Logs,’ supported now in spirit by HRC, would buy any of McCain / Palin’s Bush-shit after falling for it eight years earlier? No chance, eh?

Yes, last week, they did just that. The Log Cabin Republicans endorsed McCain for President. “Sen. McCain is an inclusive Republican who is focusing the GOP on unifying core principles that appeal to independent voters. Sen. McCain showed courage by bucking his own party’s leadership and the president,” Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon said in a statement. “He paid a political price for his vote.”

Yeah, I suppose … if you count abandoning many of his previous principles and being nominated as presidential candidate “paying a political price.”

“Our members also support him because he’s a maverick; a trait most recently on display with his decision to select Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. In recent years, too many Republican politicians have used divisive social issues in an effort to win elections.” LCR’s Sammon must not have watched Palin’s speech, especially the part ridiculing those who are “too cosmopolitan” and don’t come from “small towns” (apparently all Logs come from small towns and not big cosmo-cities.) That doesn’t even touch upon the derision heaped on community organizers (nor the racial implications therein).

So here we are with HRC, the largest GLBT organization purporting to represent all of us in Queerlandia, throwing their full support behind the LCR. And the same Logs throw their full endorsement upon John McCain and the presumably other GOPers. “After all, who loves ya more than GOP-folk, baby? Certainly not that Obama fella!”

And no doubt that HRC expects to have prominence and credibility within the GLBT population even if their friends’ endorsement ends up victorious and tolls what could be a death knell to all GLBT rights in the near future. And of course they’re still going to want to be coddled and cooed over by the Obama campaign while they coyly play the pouting child, waiting – expecting – to be favored. For the vast GLBT base firmly in the democrats’ side, the personification of gay and lesbian America – mighty HRC itself – is doing jack dick.

So in the heat of the race, as they dither while it’s crunch time with so much at stake, why are we deferring to HRC just because of professional experience, prominence and inferred wisdom?!?

I still recall in 2002 when Mara Keisling made the pronouncement that we had to “work with HRC” because they were the “700 lb. gorilla in the room… we had to deal with them.” Regardless of their size, money and self-promotional proficiency, where is their wisdom borne of years of experience? Have they forgotten 2004 or 2000?

Or have they not suffered along with us these past eight years? Have they no clue what the majority of their own community are living through? This really begs the question of HRC’s relevance in the GLBT (most especially T) community.

As I responded in 2002, I’ll ask again: Why must HRC have this much prominence?

“Indeed, the central purpose of the LCRs should be to deliver a detailed and honest analysis on where a candidate – especially for the top job in the world – stands on LGBT issues. They have failed miserably in this case.” — Elizabeth Birch, former Exec. Dir of Human Rights Campaign

“I didn't come to Washington to be loved and I haven't been disappointed.” — ex-Boll-Weevil Democrat turned Republican, Sen. Phil Gramm

Abstinence-Only For Non-Conservative Youth Only

“Poor is the man
Whose pleasures depend
On the permission of another.” — Justify My Love, Madonna

The chattering hubbub has somewhat died down on Bristol Palin’s pregnancy out of wedlock. Ironically, it appears that both Republican and Democrats’ campaigns were happy to see this subside. As a blogger, I didn’t really have any issue with Bristol Palin as it’s unfortunate, but still a natural occurrence. I actually felt sorry for both her and her unwitting husband-to-be.

What was saddest was seeing how the oh-so-sanctimonious-and-now-embarrassed Republican National Committee operatives did everything they could to obfuscate. They paraded her out (gotta have those family values), but had baby Trig attached to her as if umbilically, complete with baby blanket plastered strategically over her body to hide the baby-bulge. It wasn’t really overt of a bulge, but the RNC and McCain campaign’s paranoia was such that even the slightest breath of pregnancy out of wedlock was enough to induce palpitations.

Once the news became obvious (how they thought they were powerful enough to shut off all private conversation, I’m at a loss!), they discovered it didn’t matter so much to their evangelical moralist base. Evangelicals rallied round, regardless of the values dichotomy. Now that Bristol was allowed to be a real teenager, sans blanket, and without permanent babysitting penance of mom’s progeny, she actually looked happier. She was just another of the Palin kids, enjoying the moment.

Evangelicals were fine because Bristol’s mom, Sarah Palin, would do their bidding regardless of how it contraindicated her own reality. Better yet, Bristol’s situation was the perfect opportunity for them to “rally round family” and blow back Democrats who might consider bringing up the issue. Who cares if it doesn’t square with their traditional values? It didn’t mean RNC had to change their values to reality – just pretend afterwards that it never happened! Meanwhile they can exploit if for all they can squeeze out of it.

Besides, Sarah Palin showed she can deliver the red meat. Red meat lovers love red meat, and Sarah would be a good servant and serve it up for them on steamy platters.

I don’t have issue with Bristol Palin at all. There is some issue with Sarah Palin and her easy acquiescence just to “move up the political career ladder.” As for the Republican party and their evangelical pals, there’s major issue. As Jesus would call them, they’re “hypocrites.”

All these past eight years, we’ve had the GOP’s own godson, George W. Bush, pushing forth the evangelical and red-meat GOPer menu of “abstinence only,” faith-based sex education and family planning. They’ve taken every slight opportunity to crow about this seemingly “overwhelming” success. Witness the GOP’s own red-meat vice president’s family. Bristol Palin was raised in what should be the right environment, and undoubtedly with the same “abstinence only” education on how to prevent unmarried pregnancy, as well as STD and HIV. She grew up in “small town” America with “small town values” that have been trumpeted all week since the RNC speeches.

“You put this in me. So now what, so now what?” — Justify My Love, Madonna

So what happened?

You’d presume in small town, rather remote Alaska, you wouldn’t have such “big city, cosmopolitan issues” filtering in there like inner-city thugs riding the public transportation into the suburbs. There was her mom’s example. There were plenty of churches. There were plenty of conservative idealist residents and city leaders there to counsel and pray with if needed.

So what happened?

Bristol Palin isn’t a victim of inner-city, “cosmopolitan” soul pollution and morals violation. They were over forty miles from the nearest urban decay and big city blight of megalopolis Anchorage and its cesspool of gangs, drugs, prostitution, dangerously trendy music with its hidden messaging and of course, the ever-present threat of community organizers!

What happened?

Bottom line: Bristol Palin was a rather typical teen. Many of these teens’ conservative parents grew up in the psychedelic 60’s, the rock-and-disco 70’s, and the punky, hip-hop 80’s. Truth be told, they know what these kids feel now – and they felt (and if they’re truthful, experienced) it then. The problem is these parents are wanting to live their pursuit of personal perfection vicariously through their children. They want them to be the Godly perfect souls they wish they had been – but never were. So they impose moralistic rules on their kids and others via political means which they would never have been able to live up to themselves.

George W. Bush, the blindly obedient purveyor of this “new, Godly, abstinent lifestlye” would have never stood for something like that! Even well into his later adult years, he was renown for being the party boy, the wild child, and anything but the image of wholesomeness the evangelicals mandate. It’s not just Bush-baby, though. Anyone with an RNC brand on their ass must capitulate to whatever the Dobson / Robertson / Reed (nee Falwell) dictates.

If they don’t behave and get muley, they get the cattle prod put to their maverick asses: Do it our way, or we stay home and you lose the election.

But something new has happened: these evangelicals will mutate even their own morals a bit. Just a few tweaks here and there, as long as you get elected and move back to the hard-line, zero tolerance stance afterwards. They’ll forgive Bristol Palin and her mom, “Pit Bull with Lipstick” Palin. After that, the ladder comes back up and everyone else faces “compassionate conservatism” aka: tough love.

The Religiopolitical Dictum: For all you offspring of non-conservatives, it’s abstinence only! No birth control! No “decisions” about whether to have your kids! No sex education or family planning! This goes doubly for all you big-city, “cosmopolitan,” amoral urban dwellers who are virtually the scum of the earth! Triply so if you’re one of those swarthy, minority inner-city types!

We may be lulled into thinking this is a new dawn of understanding from Evangelical / RNC America. If you’re believing this, look no further than both Sarah Palin’s and John McCain’s own stances on women’s right to choice or sex education or family planning. As soon as Bristol has her child, you can bet this issue will disappear from sight, and religiopolitical intolerance will be back in force once again.

“You always taught me right from wrong
I need your help, daddy please be strong
I may be young at heart but I know what I'm saying
The one you warned me all about
The one you said I could do without
We're in an awful mess, and I don't mean maybe” — Papa Don’t Preach, Madonna

“Explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.” — Gov. Sarah Palin

Transgender Delegate Blog: Convention Day 4 – The Grand Finale videos

It's pretty self explanatory ... surplus videos of the grand finale after the Democratic National Convention speech at Invesco Field by Sen. Barack Obama.

Brace Yourself America, It’s Going To Be A Bumpy Ride!

As I’d blogged before about a month ago, the GOP strategy this campaign will be one of the ugliest on record. They have discovered that racism can be their friend when it comes to scaring off white voters. And if that’s what it takes to have their nominee in the White House to choose the next Supreme Court Justices and to rid themselves of liberal influence in legislation and law, and throw it into neo-conservative sway for the indefinite future, then stirring up race wars are AOK with them.

Well make no bones about it, they are beginning the process now.

As such, I’m coming out and calling them on the carpet: Republicans are xenophobic racists and will rip this country apart simply for a cheap (cheat) victory.

Last night’s speech by Gov. Sarah Palin was veiled, but it was coding nevertheless. Note her sneering, jeering ridicule of “community organizers” in referencing Sen. Barack Obama. It was an open-faced slap at all who serve the disadvantaged in this country. In case it needs explaining, the disadvantaged in America are disproportionately (though not exclusively) people of color! They are all economically disparate with oftentimes little to none of the opportunities shown to such “put upon” types like John McCain or Sarah Palin or virtually all of the GOP rank and file!

As if this isn’t blatant enough to get a rise out of Black America, then as chef Emeril would say, “let’s kick it up a notch!”

This afternoon, The Hill (the publication whose readership is all Congress Critters and interested parties on Capitol Hill) published a quote from Georgia GOPer, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland. When asked for his opinion on Sarah Palin’s speech compared to Michelle and Barack Obama, he said the following:

“Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity.” When asked to confirm he’d used the word, Westmoreland replied, “Uppity, yeah.”

Uppity? Yeah?

Perhaps someone up north or in Alaska or the northwest may be unfamiliar with the charged terminology. But Westmoreland is from Georgia, born and raised there while Jim Crow was still in effect. How is it he expects us to believe him if he attempts to say he’s unaware of the racially negative connotations with that term? He’s not only aware, he’s blatantly flaunting it – daring a confrontation! Either that, or this waste of human skin is a brain dead moron undeserving of being in any office of any responsibility!

Even Gov. Palin’s speech, after referencing her “servant’s heart” (biblical coding), then belittles the efforts those such as the Obamas for doing community organizing for those most in need.

Would that the Obamas were more patriotic and instead served the common good by creating and leading a law firm that helps assist corporations in need of finding ways to lessen or avoid their tax burdens, or to help (once they’ve offshored their jobs) to maneuver foreign laws in Asian, African, European or South American countries in order to protect their intellectual property and maximize their profit. Only those who help American companies remain ever-competitive and victorious can be truly heroic citizens and leaders to admire.

Meanwhile, Republicans seek to dismantle government programs and turn responsibility to helping the disadvantaged over to private citizens – private citizens like community and faith-based organizations. Private citizens who aren’t true leaders, and live despicable lives per Gov. Palin in their service for the common good on behalf of those without opportunity. Private citizens who strangely eschew corporate mega-profit and true leadership for a life serving the poor, mostly dark-skinned people who even the government doesn’t want to serve.

Why would someone not want to devote their life to serving the corporations, and overtly climbing the ladder to corporate leadership?

Maybe it’s the “servant’s heart”? I’m reminded of someone else who had a “servant’s heart”, who lived the most humble of lives, and had the most far-reaching influence of anyone in the Christian world in the last two thousand plus years. There was nothing in it from a leadership standpoint, no real profit motivation, no new business empire built and led. Why else would somebody involve themselves in community organizing in what was a impoverished area in South Chicago?

To Gov. Palin, what do you consider a “servant’s heart”? Belittling those who help others bereft of the American Dream you take for granted, most of whom are dark-skinned and don’t look like you? Those community organizers in New Orleans, should we also snidely dismiss them as well? I could draw a correlation between this low view of community organizers and why New Orleans was allowed to flounder, but I won’t.

However I will say your veiled dismissal of those who work for poor, swarthy people, and the more blunt offensiveness spat out by your Republican colleague, Rep. Westmoreland are unmistakably distinct attempts at race baiting. It’s wrong, you both should apologize, and it must be stopped.

This divisive hatefulness needs to be shone in the harshest, hottest light possible. Sadly the mainstream media will do everything they can to avert their eyes. It’s up to the second-tier and blogosphere to act as that unofficial “fourth branch” of government: the checks-and-balances that a free and open media used to provide.

I’m officially standing in opposition to these racists now!

“In my opinion, it will not cease until a crises shall have been reached and passed. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.” — Pres. Abraham Lincoln

“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” — Jesus Christ, Matthew 23:11-12

Unmarried Pregnancy And Stunning Hypocrisy: It's Gotta Be GOP!

Rumors were flying on the blogs recently about Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's five-month old son actually belonged to her unmarried teenaged daughter. To quell the rumors that her son, Trig was indeed hers, she made public the announcement that her 17-year old daughter Bristol was indeed pregnant.

However, her quote and the response of the Republican pundits and evangelical supporters expose a glaring dual standard.

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Sarah and her husband Todd Palin were quoted in the released statement. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080901/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_daughter)

Note the use of "proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby"? That phrase begs the question: was there ever a decision? If so, why? Gov. Sarah Palin is proud to proclaim her right to life and elimination of choice. If there's no choice, what is there to decide in the Palin family?

This smacks of Newt Gingrich and his pro-life harangues, all the while covering up the fact he'd previously taken his extramarital girlfriend to have an abortion. Would the Palins have even allowed any decision by Bristol to terminate the pregnancy?

If she's not playing the same hypocrisy as other GOPers, then clearly Gov. Palin would've noted there was no decision to make whatsoever. If elected, and if she and Sen. John McCain have their way with stuffing the courts, top-to-bottom, with Opus Dei no-choice neo-conservatives, there will be no "decision" by either Bristol Palin or any other American parent's daughter other than have the child, or go to prison for life after being convicted of murder.

"We all make mistakes," added Steven Staver dean of Liberty University School of Law. "Certainly, the ideal is not to get pregnant out of wedlock. But she made the right decision after her mistake," he said.

From the dean of the most conservative law school in the nation, again compliments over the "decision." If anyone would, Dean Staver should know: they wish to make women who decide to terminate pregnancies complicit in murder. How often do we praise others for not conspiring to murder? Sure, it's a decision. But how many everyday Americans mull over conspiracy to murder, decide not to, and then receive praise for not being murderers from their governor parents or deans of conservative law schools?

Why would Gov. Palin suggest her daughter even mulled over such a decision: become a teen mother or (if Gov. Palin's desired morals end up as law) become a convicted murderer? That baffles me.

Even more precious was Focus on the Family's James Dobson obsession with tossing his two cents in. Dobson issued a statement commending the Palins "for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances." Amazingly he avoids noting anything about sexual activity before marriage - typically a major sin in Dobson's eyes. Only Republican children can be forgiven not adhering to abstinence before matrimony.

I believe Jesus had a word for folks like James Dobson: hyprocrites.

Dobson added: "Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord." ... If you're a Republican ... and behave in a manner that James Dobson approves. He either forgot, or the media conveniently omitted that last key qualifying part.

"Senator McCain's view is this is a private family matter. As parents, (the Palins) love their daughter unconditionally and are going to support their daughter," said McCain spokesman Steve Schmidt. "If people try to politicize this, the American people will be appalled."

All I can say is welcome to Rove-style politics, Mr. Schmidt! Be appalled, because even if the campaign avoids it, the "people" will not. In this environment, anything is "fair game." All the "people" have learned a lot from the Turdblossom over the past eight years.

Even Sen. McCain is familiar with it: his own adopted daughter from Bangladesh was used as "McCain's out-of-wedlock daughter during an interracial affair" in South Carolina's primary by the folks supporting the George W. Bush 2000 Presidential Campaign, thanks to good old Karl Rove.

But then again, being a protégée of ol' Turdblossom, Mr. Steve Schmidt and the Republicans should be fully familiar with this environment. They created it.

Transgender Delegate Blog: Convention Day 4 – The Big Show

“Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work. That's the promise of America….” — Sen. Barack Obama

The air was electric as it was time for the Big Show. While there was a surprise appearance by Barack Obama immediately after Joe Biden’s speech the night before, it was a teaser of what was to come! Everyone was anticipating Sen. Obama’s time on stage.

Again I got a late start, preferring to debrief with my roomie Sally at home base. We exchanged our take on the speeches at the DNC Women’s Caucus and other news hitting the airwaves. As I’d been immersed in politics and the party (both types), I had to rely on Sally for what I’d missed coming from the unbalanced mainstream media. Additionally, she mentioned her next-door neighbor (a black man) who’d mentioned he was worried some crackpot would assassinate Obama.

It’s something that was on the back of my mind as well, most especially when they moved everything to an outdoor venue. While I admired the magnanimity of allowing more in to the hottest ticket in town if not the nation, it worried me from a JFK-type standpoint. It also isn’t just me and Sally’s neighbor: my neighbor across the street, one of my co-workers and another delegate from a different state all worried aloud about the same thing. We live in a country where there are still a few hateful racists, bitter and just waiting to relinquish their frustrations on. Additionally, as we’ve seen over the years, neo-conservatives also take vindictiveness to hyper extremes. It wouldn’t surprise me to see one of them be so Bush blatant.

Nevertheless, I did my best to put those fears (baseless, so far) to rest. It also explained the overabundant coterie of metro area police departments and secret service during the week. The message needed to be clear.

Other than some quick drop-ins on some caucuses downtown, I decided to head to Invesco / Mile High Stadium early. With the new arrangement, our seating was first-come, first-served.

Catching one of the shuttles from downtown, we took a meandering back way into the stadium. We disembarked and immediately noticed the procedural logistics wasn’t well-planned. We walk in toward the stadium, back out to the edge of the parking lot, then back in again, then up a long incline (which began wiping out the elderly and physically challenged in the dry heat). After a circuitous trek through numerous zig-zags, we finally made our way to the security tent line to find the scanners had all gone down simultaneously!

After about ten minutes of waiting in line, they began letting the delegates with the green “floor” badges in one line – without the scan. That didn’t seem completely foolproof to me. Then I looked around and noticed … there was none of the major show of force by law enforcement as in all the previous days. Maybe it was just me, but I was getting a sense of unease from these two coincidences.

After rushing into the stadium, I noticed the floor was already close to half full – and Texas was mostly filled (figures!) Thankfully, my new pal Victor Castillo called to let me know he’d saved me a seat. And Texas had great seats for a change! We were in the front half of the Texas section, right in front to the mid-left of the stage! Additionally, our seats were in the middle of the aisle, but on the last row – easy in, easy out! We lucked out!


A lot of Texas’ political heavy hitters sat on the front row of the back half, right in back of us! Cong. Eddie Bernice Johnson was in back of me, and I attempted to introduce her to a friend, Marisa Richmond of TN, but was never able to find her and make the connections. I even got a chance to briefly catch up with Cong. Lloyd Doggett a couple rows ahead of me!

While I was there early, it was time to wander. A good friend, and transgender community photo-chronicler Mariette Pathy Allen was up in the lower stands not far from me with another old friend, Michelle Miles. Both were seemingly on cloud nine at being in the stadium for the big event!

After getting a quick photo, I rounded up as many others in the transgender delegation that I could find: Marisa, Marti Abernathey, Amanda Simpson, Laura Calvo and Melissa Sklarz. Surprisingly I caught another trans man, Shannon Minter, in the inner ring / special guests seats of the floor – but he wasn’t leaving his seat! When you’ve got that kind of seats, I guess not. Hopefully he remembered to take pictures!

The early speeches and performances were good. Cong. Jan Schakowsky gave a strong speech to the crowd who seemed to ignore it. Hopefully Jan works on the only problem with the speaking – turning her head to address the entire crowd on the sides, as did Speaker Nancy Pelosi (who also gave a much stronger speech than Monday’s entry) and got more of the crowd’s attention.

Afterwards, I located Jan in the Illinois delegation and chatted for a bit with her – she’s such a sweetie!

After wandering a bit more, I ran into Cong. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL) and had a quick chat and attempted to get a photo (my impromptu photog apparently didn’t hit the right button)! Later I waved down another old acquaintance, Cong. Jose Serrano (NY) and eventually wandered over for a photo with him as well. He’s always been a nice gentleman. If I could trade my rep, Al Green for Serrano, I’d do it in a New York minute!

One bad part about being on the floor: you had a longer trip to the restroom. Couple that with the fact I hadn’t eaten more than half a power bar, and they wouldn’t allow food or water into the stadium, and it required a trip up to the concession stands. Before I left, my friend Carol Alvarado (formerly Houston’s mayor-Pro Tem and a State Rep candidate) asked me to grab her some popcorn while I was out. My trip off of the floor turned out to be a major headache! As I left, I was missing the last half of a Gov. Bill Richardson speech that was on fire! As it turned out, I was about to miss a lot more!

After my pit stop, I made my way to a stand that had Italian Sausage on a bun. I waited in line for nearly 15 minutes, only to have them tell us they’d sold out! Disgusted, I walked over to grab popcorn for Carol and waited nearly another 30 minutes. Worse still, after only bringing a $10 and leaving my purse in my bag under my seat, I realized I wouldn’t have enough money left to find another Italian Sausage sandwich! So I took the popcorn and walked to the crowd forming at the entrance.

Shock! They refused to let us in. There was a fire code violation of too many people on the floor, and they were not allowing delegates back in! I was sent down one direction to the very end – no entry – then back up to a few other entrances all the way to the opposite end – no entry. Then I was directed to a utility ramp to the floor (which was unmarked, and led my searching in circles before I found it). No entry!

So I ended up with Carol’s now-cold popcorn, wandering the inside hall, then later wandering the walkway in the lower stands until I finally made it back in nearly an hour later and with nothing but a migraine to show for it! Unfortunately I missed a number of folks like Stevie Wonder, Susan Eisenhower and a large portion of Joe Biden’s speech (though I did catch the line: “We need a president who’s more concerned with Barney Smith than with Smith-Barney.”)

Then the moment we’d waited for: Sen. Barack Obama. His speech was riveting. His points on the broken America was a full-circle indictment of the very architects of this nation’s place in the world and troubles at home.

“This country is more generous than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment he's worked on for twenty years and watch it shipped off to China, then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.

“We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty; that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.”

Obama really put the issue in succinct clarity: “Next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight…. Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.”

Repeated messaging was “Ours is the promise,” and “Now is the time.” Then Sen. Obama said something never heard before in any presidential convention speech:

“We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country.” This is the first time any candidate from any party has seriously spoke about anything other than the two polar opposite positions on the subject. It’s doubtful you will ever see anyone who’s owned by the RNC even budging off of intransigence. They’re too rigid.

Then a huge mention: “I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.” This was phenomenal that it mentioned. Six years ago, this was not even on anyone’s radar screen, much less pushed as law. Now a major political candidate has mentioned it. On that, kudos to the gay and lesbian community for a laser-quick rise from nothing to prominence on their major issue.

That said, it also troubles me as a trans person. Nothing was mentioned about egalitarian employment. It’s not a big gay issue any more, and trans people are evidently not worthy enough to merit mention.

Never again will I ever sit still and listen to folks like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) attempt to tell us to “wait our turn” and “that it takes time.” They’ve taken the number one “ick” issue for non-GLBT America and gotten it on a presidential speech in less than six years. For trans folks, the employment fight has gone on for well over a decade and a half. Still zero. Worse, we don’t even rate highly enough to be employed by gay and lesbian firms or organizations, much less what one would presume to be more difficult, straight American companies. Bottom line: they can marry sooner than we can even find jobs to survive.

And they want us to believe we’re equals? They want us to listen to their lead, abide by their timeline and agenda and follow their leadership?!? Bullshit! The next time I hear the HRC line, they damn sure better expect major shoveback!

Times are tight, people are in tough times, and HRC and the like are looking like big, fat, juicy targets to attack! Indeed, after elections, I’m keeping my ears pinned back and looking for the next behemoths to take down! The Godfathers said it best: “Listen to me, understand: a hungry man’s an angry man!” Amen to that!

The speech was overall as historic as the nomination itself. We were indeed participants in setting history, and I can say I was there on the right side of history! Even the heavily-moneyed, power-playing HRC can’t say that! What happened next, I wish I would’ve had warning on.

As I raised my camera to catch a photo of Sen. Obama after the speech was completed, walking to backstage to meet his family a huge boom came right from our left! It scared the shit out of me so badly that I nearly fell backwards off of my chair! I managed to catch what I originally thought was a bomb, but turns out was a “rocket red glare” firework, one of a series. After so many people’s worries for his safety, the LAST thing I needed was a huge blast going off just 30 yards from where I was sitting!

After I settled my nerves down, the fireworks were quite the spectacle, and combined with confetti and streamers, a show like no other. But dammit, don’t shock us like that! Great way to give someone a heart attack, campaign planners! Smooth! Next time, let us know something beforehand, hmm?

Following the convention’s end, it was hanging around and watching the media wrap ups. I even caught up with a friend from San Diego, Craig Roberts, and we both got tabbed by CBS News for a post-convention interview! Afterwards, I even got to meet a personal hero: Francine Busby of San Diego’s North County area. She ran against both Randy “Duke” Cunningham and lobbyist Brian Bilbray in two successive elections, and ran her own campaign, staffed it and did her own phone-banking. She also ran surprisingly competitive races even though the state GOP poured major money into her opponent’s campaign in the most recent election! She’s such a sweetie, and a very supportive legislator!

After yet more mass confusion and poor logistical planning waiting for buses back into downtown, I finally made my way to Texas State Sen. Leticia VanDePutte’s party way above downtown Denver. We partied into the wee hours and danced our butts off! A couple I’d met my first day, a former GOP mom and her 20-year old delegate daughter from Texas A & M (the Bushiest of universities) came over to compliment me on how “fabulous” I looked in my simple little black dress and knee boots! I guess after three days of seeing me in my Not Equal T-Shirts and button-festooned vest, everyone presumed I was a one trick pony. This old gal can clean up well when I have to, though! Even a couple of the guys who’d ignored me all week were now talkative and intrigued by my “new look.”


Finally as the party wrapped up, I got a chance to see and visit with Leticia again. We chatted a bit about the upcoming session, and then turned the conversation to her aunt, Christie Lee Littleton. She encouraged me to try to pull her out of her funk after losing her husband this past year. It’ll give me a reason to visit them both and make a trip to San Antonio – hopefully once gas gets cheaper (if that ever happens!)

It sounds trite, but this convention was truly one for the ages. We set history simply with the nomination itself – but we are not done! Now it’s time to shatter that barrier once and for all, set the country back on the right track for all Americans – and not just the well-connected elite! We must do this. We can’t take the status quo any longer!

“Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land - enough! This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.” — Sen. Barack Obama

Transgender Delegate Blog: Day 2 – An Interview With The Under-Employed

This was something spontaneous that I video blogged from Day Two of my trip to Denver. After the Stonewall Democrats Convention had finished, I hung out with a couple of my local trans friends here in Denver. We ended up at an Indian restaurant in the Cherry Creek area and our busboy chatted with us after overhearing our politics-related conversation.


His own story was interesting enough for me to do a brief impromptu interview with him. While I think I made him a little nervous putting him on camera suddenly, Mark Archuleta, a gay hispanic man who was a strong Hillary Clinton supporter, was gracious enough to sit and chat.

Transgender Delegate Blog: Convention Day 3 – Power!

“Power responds to strength. Power does not respond to weakness.” — Ken Harper, attorney from Cherokee Oklahoma Nation.

Day Three began slowly as I was still recovering. Sally (who I’m rooming in with) said it was “altitude sickness.” Apparently my running full blast in this thin air, coupled with my dehydration was what caused it. Sure enough, after drinking what seemed gallons of water and loading up on vitamins, I began to regain my energy as the morning wore on.

Making my way downtown, there were rumors that Sen. Barack Obama was in town a day before his Invesco Field convention headliner. Sure enough, at one point that morning I saw a brusque speed-through with police and what appeared to be secret service SUV’s making an improbably fast run through downtown Denver. Obama, maybe?

I managed to catch the last half of the DNC First Nations (Native American) caucus before heading to the DNC Stonewall (LGBT) Caucus. One thing that always amazes (and even irks me a little) is how many natives continue using “Indian.” Sure, everyone knows the term. But it seems to just perpetuate the same inaccuracies and validate the laziness of those who thought they were “discovering” us here in “India.” We aren’t from India. If Euro-Americans get to be Americans, why can’t we? We’re native here.

The Stonewall Caucus was a chance for catching up with LGBT friends and even getting in an interview with the third largest magazine in the world – from Brazil! They wanted to know the distinctions between the gay and lesbian community’s priority (marriage) as opposed to the transgender community’s priority (employment and hate crimes protections). They were surprised that the gay and lesbian community led the fight on both communities’ priorities, while we led none (which I noted wasn’t by our design.) I presume things are different in other countries, but America’s not there yet.

My primary reason for attending the Stonewall Caucus was the presentation of the second Jane Fee Award to the most heroic individual in the gay and lesbian community who advocates on behalf of transgender equality within the GLBT community. As it turned out, our presentation was the wrap up of the caucus – but we did at least present it onstage this year (as opposed to in a stairwell in 2004!). Rick Stafford of Stonewall Minnesota was this year’s winner, and a very worthy one indeed.

Due to the timing of the presentation, we didn’t have the entire transgender delegation to present it. Nevertheless, Rick was very gracious and kind in noting the inopportune time slot for us (once most attending had left) and recognizing trans efforts in the fight for equality! Maybe if more trans folk become involved, we’ll attain more influence over scheduling things like the Jane Fee Award. Currently we’re powerless.

Power seemed to be the theme again at the Native Nations Reception at the Art Museum. Our rep on the platform committee took time to highlight what is surely the most native-inclusive platform the Democrats have ever proffered. This effort truly had Barack Obama’s fingerprints all over it and was quite welcomed! Other speakers on the panel, Wizipan Gariott and attorney, Ken Harper demonstrated other examples of how the native communities are becoming empowered in the campaign and elsewhere.
Harper noted that our lack of being empowered before was pretty much our own community’s fault. We needed to be a part of that power, and utilize it like other segments of society, and only then would we see the same progress.

Afterwards, it was the final night of convention at Pepsi Center. After hearing of increasing protests the last couple days, I noted a much heavier police presence. The riot squads were out in full force – some conspicuously open, others more subtly located around corners awaiting a call for reinforcement. It left no doubt at all, Denver Police Dept. was not going to mess around. It was an intimidating sight.

Of course the counter-protesters were out too. Much of the downtown mall was clogged with both neo-conservative evangelicals and the liberal shouters fighting back. There were the ubiquitous photoshopped signs of what appear to be aborted babies (sometime ago debunked as being projects contracted to college students at Colorado University paid by some small-time evangelical empire wannabes).

One man drove his truck through with “Leviticus 26:22” painted in bold on a signboard the front. Ironically, it was the wrong verse – the quote he scrawled was actually from Lev. 26:17: “Those who hate you will rule over you.” His verse would’ve been, “I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.” Honest evangelical mistake, I suppose.

What really flabbergasted me was when the truck drove off with its speakers blaring. On the back signboard, there was a photoshopped picture of Sen. Barack Obama giving Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter a French kiss. Nice. Certainly an accurate photo too, I’m sure … or so they’d have us believe. It amazes me how many evangelicals seem to avoid reading the one commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” Nine commandments must be okay to them, as long as you break the other doing God’s work by stopping Democrats from being elected.

Once in the convention, everything had a more electric feel. The speeches were collectively much sharper as well. Both Texas Rep. Chet Edwards and Tammy Duckworth gave evocative speeches. Tammy’s walk offstage after speaking was a stark reminder of what Republican America has done to its veterans, but not necessarily what it’s done for its veterans.

Then came the “warm up” for the Veep. Pres. Bill Clinton. While I worried about his speech, and I’m sure he fretted over how he’d be received, he was given the largest standing ovation I’ve seen in a Democratic convention. In fact, it was so effusive he could barely get the crowd to tire and shut up! Once he spoke, though, he showed exactly why he was a master politician in Democrat-land, breaking the Republican monopoly these last twenty-eight years. “Our nation is in trouble on two fronts: The American dream is under siege at home, and America's leadership in the world has been weakened.”

Thus began a red-meat speech for the blue-state crowd, with white-bread populism in full regalia.

“Middle-class and low-income Americans are hurting, with incomes declining; job losses, poverty and inequality rising; mortgage foreclosures and credit card debt increasing; health care coverage disappearing; and a big spike in the cost of food, utilities, and gasoline….

“Our position in the world has been weakened by too much unilateralism and too little cooperation; a perilous dependence on imported oil; a refusal to lead on global warming; a growing indebtedness and a dependence on foreign lenders; a severely burdened military; a backsliding on global nonproliferation and arms control agreements; and a failure to consistently use the power of diplomacy….

“Look at the example the Republicans have set: American workers have given us consistently rising productivity. They've worked harder and produced more. What did they get in return? Declining wages, less than one-quarter as many new jobs as in the previous eight years, smaller health care and pension benefits, rising poverty and the biggest increase in income inequality since the 1920s. American families by the millions are struggling with soaring health care costs and declining coverage.

“They took us from record surpluses to an exploding national debt; from over 22 million new jobs down to 5 million; from an increase in working family incomes of $7,500 to a decline of more than $2,000; from almost 8 million Americans moving out of poverty to more than 5 1/2 million falling into poverty — and millions more losing their health insurance.”

It covered everything thoroughly, and yet was tight, concise knockout punches with every swing. Clinton proved why he was the master.

The only downside for me was near the end, when Pres. Clinton began describing Barack Obama:

“His life is a 21st century incarnation of the American dream…. The values of freedom and equal opportunity which have given him his historic chance will drive him as president to give all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability, their chance to build a decent life, and to show our humanity, as well as our strength, to the world.”

It was music to the ears of everyone attending the convention, save for the eight of us who happen to be transgendered. We’re still not part of those “values” of that “American Dream.” Thanks Human Rights Campaign.

Sen. Joe Biden, our Veep-to-be, really didn’t need a warm up though. As always, he showed why he’s an astute campaigner: “To all those people in government who are honoring their pledge to uphold the law and respect our Constitution, no longer will the eight most dreaded words in the English language be, “The vice president's office is on the phone.””

Biden easily moved from soundbite to soundbite, from “That’s not change, that’s more of the same,” to “That’s the change we need,” to “John McCain was wrong, Barack Obama was right.” Biden fleshed it all out with a litany of examples of all of the miscues and missteps of both the Bush Administration and of the support John McCain has given to those policies. He ended his speech with a powerful wrap of how he is ready, and how we’re all ready for change. It’s his time, it’s Obama’s time, it’s our time and it’s America’s time.

After hearing a speech like that, I’m even believing it’s the Transgender community’s time as well!

“People around the world are always more impressed by the power of our example, than by our example of power.” — Former Pres. Bill Clinton, Pepsi Center DNC 2008

Transgender Delegate Blog: Convention Day 2 – Running On Fumes

“We need leaders once again who can tap into that special blend of American confidence and optimism that has enabled generations before us to meet our toughest challenges. Leaders who can help us show ourselves and the world that with our ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit, there are no limits to what is possible in America.” — Sen. Hillary Clinton at Pepsi Center, DNC 2008

Even though we didn’t have any rousing speeches on day one, and I stayed up way too late at the Willie Nelson concert / CH2M Alternative Fuels party the night before (Willie’s performance was on fire!), I still managed to get myself up at the crack of dawn and make it to the hotel on time for credentials.

But day two saw me hitting the ground running without missing a beat. The DNC Women’s Caucus was great, with rousing speeches from all – even a few stars like hometown girl Eva Longoria. Donna Brazile’s speech was electrifying, and I wish I had her energy after her arduous schedule!

While wearing one of my “We’re Not Equal, Never Have Been” T-Shirts again, I got a lot of supporters from Hillary supporters that were non-lesbian! One even gave me a vigorous thumbs up and, “That’s RIGHT sister! Tell them the truth!” Even one of the female guards who would search my bag before entering Pepsi Center that night asked where she could get one of my tee-shirts! Maybe I’ve accidentally stumbled upon a new movement: The movement of the disparate and disenfranchised! None of them apparently knew the original significance of the symbol.

At noon, it was our GLBT Delegates Luncheon sponsored by Victory Fund, the Stonewall Democrats and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Even though HRC was a co-sponsor, I made no bones about wearing, nor any attempt to hide my “Not Equal” T-Shirt to the event and parking myself near the front, left center. There the significance of the symbol on my shirt was obvious and to some, obtrusive. To the disapprovers’ credit, they held their tongue as did I (my plan was to react, not instigate). If anything, I even got a few compliments! Victor Castillo of Houston’s Stonewall Democrats came over to say “I like your shirt!” We have supporters!

Our surprise guest at the Victory Fund Luncheon was Michelle Obama who spoke to the crowd. Again, as on Monday night, I was very impressed with her speech. It must also be noted that whenever she mentioned anything relating to rights, she was very conscious of saying “LBGT” each time. She even mangled JoeSo’s last name a little – poetic justice!

As Ms. Obama spoke, I noted that when she turned to address our side of the room, she appeared to look directly at me … sitting facing her with my “Not Equal” shirt clearly in view! Hopefully she asked questions, although I know she won’t get the truth until she hears it from us who live through this.

Reps. Tammy Baldwin, and of course Barney Frank spoke to the gathering, and they even let trans-man Diego Sanchez address the crowd at the end of the luncheon. I could’ve lived without the one muttered comment a table over, though: “do we really need to hear this?” Progress rolls forward … and there are those who will help roll it back too.

Even more delicious, Victor Castillo called me when lunch was breaking up to go up to grab a Houston delegation group photo with Barney himself! Yes, me with my “Not Equal” shirt was implored to hop up on the stage for the group memento! Plane ticket to Denver, $214. Lost week at work, $592. Photo with my “Not Equal” Shirt standing on stage with a not-too-happy Barney Frank, priceless!


After leaving the Victory Fund luncheon and walking around downtown, I suddenly hit the wall. I’d been parched all week long and my thirst seemed unquenchable. My energy dropped so low, I was afraid I was getting sick and did not make the afternoon event with the National Women’s Political Caucus I’d paid to attend! It was tough trying to bring myself back up to the Pepsi Center, and then I had to wait in line for over an hour and a half!

By the time I got into the convention, I was wiped out. The ice-box conditions inside the Pepsi Center only exacerbated it, and I felt feverish before night's end. Basically I stayed in my seat the entire evening.

At one point during the evening, Mara Keisling of National Center for Transgender Equality was seen making the scene on the convention floor. As I was sitting doing my people watching, I caught her walking up the aisle between Texas and Tennessee with her green floor delegate badge. Doubtless she was happy to borrow it for a time and get some convention floor time.

The speeches were mostly unremarkable, again! Sen. Harry Reid was so quiet, most people in the crowd simply ignored and talked over him. Even his ending seemed bizarrely without anything indicating it was over – he simply stood at the podium for a second or two, then walked away almost without anyone noticing. Sen. Mark Warner was nearly as inconspicuous – odd for someone tapped to be a keynote. The only two standouts were Gov. Brian Schweitzer from Montana who was notable more for his speaking style than the speech itself, and of course, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The speeches were mostly unremarkable. Sen. Harry Reid was so quiet, most people in the crowd simply ignored and talked over him. Even his ending seemed bizarrely without anything indicating it was over – he simply stood at the podium for a second or two, then walked away almost without anyone noticing. Sen. Mark Warner was nearly as inconspicuous – odd for someone tapped to be a keynote. The only two standouts were Gov. Brian Schweitzer from Montana who was notable more for his speaking style than the speech itself, and of course, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Far and away, Hillary was the star of the night – and I wasn’t a Hillary supporter. It wasn’t even her best speech, but she was able to pull off the headline without much effort. At one point she asked if her supporters were in it simply for her, or “were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?” Being one of those “invisible” people, it struck a nerve with me.

“We don't need four more years of the last eight years! More economic stagnation and less affordable health care! More high gas prices and less alternative energy! More jobs getting shipped overseas and fewer jobs created here! More skyrocketing debt, home foreclosures and mounting bills that are crushing our middle class families! More war and less diplomacy! More of a government where the privileged come first and everyone else comes last!”

It was all a great speech for most. Unfortunately for me, it was tempered with what she said near the beginning of her speech: “To fight for an America defined by deep and meaningful equality, from civil rights to gay rights….” And after that dispiriting point, I remembered why I didn’t support her. We transgenders are still the “invisible.”

I agree with all the points she made in her speech – it was wonderful, and I support those rights for all those she included. But Hillary Clinton still could not bring herself to mouthing the words, or including us.

Thankfully Michelle Obama mouthed the words, remembered us and included us. Sometimes it’s those little overlooked details that come back to haunt you.

After leaving the convention, I did drag my carcass to a party I’d invited local friends to as my guests. However, the way I felt, all I could stomach was one drink before a long bus ride back to home base.

“Even in the darkest of moments, ordinary Americans have found the faith to keep going.” — Sen. Hillary Clinton at Pepsi Center, DNC 2008

Transgender Delegate Blog: Convention Day 1 – A New Direction

“Each of us also comes here tonight by way of our own improbable journey.” — Michelle Obama, Pepsi Center DNC 2008

After Sunday night’s affair at the Convention Center, I worried I wasn’t going to wake up on time.

It was a gorgeous, sunny and dry day in Denver! A perfect start to the convention week! While I got up early enough, I ended up becoming ensconced in discussion with my hostess at my personal DNC home base, Sally. Obviously on my budget, staying at the hotel at $189 per night plus whatever sundry taxes would’ve been too much. Thankfully, being transgendered is like being in the Rotary Club: you know someone, somewhere to stay with in virtually every city of any size in the U.S. While being trans has never seemed like much of an advantage to anyone, this may be the one part where it is. Most of our delegation knows no one at all in Denver, I know at least three. For the record, I did the same thing in Boston in 2004. Tranny advantage?

Back to the convention stuff, I arrived at the hotel too late for breakfast. No worries, though – one thing about conventions is there are few occasions where you don’t get a party or delegation function that doesn’t have free food (and most often, an open bar!)

So I went immediately to grab my credentials and … major problem! I signed in and the credentials person searched but was unable to find my envelope! One thing I know is that once credentials are lost, they’re lost. They don’t reprint or reproduce them. Minor panic for me, major panic for the credentials folks. They searched like crazy for about ten minutes and I could tell they were stressing. Meanwhile, I walked over to our State Rep. Garnet Coleman and stood near him – both for a chat, and secondly to have them walk over (if needed) and inform me in his earshot that I had no credentials as an elected delegate. It wouldn’t go easily.

In time, the problem disappeared and I made a new friend. As it turned out, my envelope stuck to the back of Michael Flowers, the delegate immediately before me! Thankfully he’s an honest man and brought the extra envelope with my delegate badge back.

My biggest memory of the first day at convention had nothing to do with the convention itself. Texas had a brunch honoring “Good Time” Charlie Wilson of the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War.” No, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts weren’t there. But it seemed like that kind of buzz at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Denver, with the former congressman from Lufkin holding court in a VIP room away from the rest of us.

As fate had it, my old friend Benton Musselwhite who grew up in Lufkin knew Charlie personally, and when he stepped out, we actually managed a few photos with him! Who needs to be a VIP?

After grabbing our photos, Benton, Tom Blackwell of our state’s platform committee and I headed to another meeting at the Colorado Museum of Natural History. We missed my pal, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, but did see Barney Frank’s speech (which he did a good job on, I might add).

Wrapping up was Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington, who I got a chance to go thank. His speech was picture perfect for what I was going through, detailing middle-aged and fifty-somethings who are working most of their lives with no pension, losing healthcare, losing careers late in life. This populism will not, nor should not be stifled. Republicans have made their money off of us and are living well. We paid for their “economic recovery.” We need a cathartic change!


Union Pacific Railroad utilized some of their passenger trains for the party venue sponsored our Texas delegation party that afternoon. Special thanks goes out to our former Railroad Commissioner and politico extraordinaire, John Sharp, for setting this up. Roger Harris (another of my Senate District’s delegates) and I actually had a nice opportunity to sit and chat at length with Mr. Sharp (hopefully he’ll consider getting back in the political game – we need folks of his caliber in office!)


The party was quite a posh affair, but criminally under-attended! Originally I’d invited a guest, then uninvited her when I’d heard it was delegates only. Once I arrived and noticed only a couple dozen of us, plus the news that guests were allowed, I was miffed at the miscommunications. The party, though, was great. Open bar, excellent food and a truly unique space to have a party in! It was my first time on a passenger train, and I was duly impressed. With airlines struggling and the cost of fuel skyrocketing, I really wonder why we ended up doing away with rail traffic. With some updates to high-speed and a variant fuel other than petroleum-based, this really would fill a niche. At the very least, there is a romanticism with rail travel, even if it’s no more than a luxury mode.

The first evening was pretty non-descript with the line up of speakers. I spent most of my time wandering and getting signatures on a petition. While the petition idea fizzled due to over-attendance and security logistics, the first night was like 2004 in the sense I could move fairly freely.

At one point, I visited with Autumn Sandeen and Pam of Pam’s House Blend in “Talk Row.” While visiting, I collected a few more signatures until an interesting incident happened. A couple obviously gay young men, one a man of color, stopped by to say “Hi” to Pam. So I asked if they would sign the petition. The POC man who I handed it to gave it a once over and refused to sign it!

When I asked why he couldn’t support it (a petition urging Congress to support a fully inclusive ENDA and fully inclusive Hate Crimes Bill in the next session), he replied he “couldn’t support anything from an organization that opposes the people who sign his paycheck.” It turns out he works for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Obviously I expressed incredulity that he couldn’t support such a thing, and he replied that “that whole thing didn’t play out the way everyone said. I work in the Policy Department. We were really supportive of the inclusive version, but people didn’t hear that.”

Immediately I seized upon that: I notified him that I routinely go in back of them and get reports of what’s said in lobbying from my contacts on Capitol Hill (something I’ve done since the advent of Mara). Then I asked “do you wish to say that again?!?”

He replied, “No.” Then he beat a hasty exit. They can fool the neophytes in our community all they want. They’ll have one hell of a tough time trying to pull that crap on me.

During my meandering in the hallway I did manage to grab a quick chat and photo with an old acquaintance, NJ Rep. Donald Payne. Even though it’d been nine years, he remembered me by face. He even noted being visited recently by “another transgender person,” (Babs Casbar). I take it Babs or someone with her must’ve really bent his ear. Rep. Payne’s a really good man, though. He was very patient with Monica Roberts and I and took a lot of time that morning to truly listen and learn. Sadly, that’s more exception than the rule on trans issues in Congress.

Back on the floor, I wandered a bit and caught the CNN crew sitting and looking bored during the speeches on night one. Eventually I made my way around to Indiana’s delegation and visited with Marti Abernathey. Then Michelle Obama came on to speak and I just grabbed the empty seat behind her in New Mexico’s section. It was a great spot! And Michelle Obama was phenomenal on stage!


I’d known Michelle Obama was a good speaker. But there was something onstage at the convention: raw emotion! She was very heartfelt and so emotive at times that I thought she was going to break down in tears! She’d been waiting for the chance to express her side of her story to counter the media slams she’d received. She’d been trashed by the Fox News types of the media, called “angry” and had her love for country called into question and even dispossessed by “news” reports.

After being called Obama’s “Baby Mama” (how many first ladies have had that?) and even inferred to be a possible revolutionary, maybe even a terrorist due to her “terrorist fist jab” – also long-known as knuckle bust in Texas – Michelle Obama had need for her equal air time. She made the most of it.

“All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

“That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope. That is why I love this country.”

It was a fitting riposte for Michelle to her tabloidesque critics in the news media.

After the convention ended, I had a hell of a time getting out and finding my delegation for the evening party. It turns out the directions stating “the north side of Pepsi Center” were much more simplistic than the reality. Every person I asked gave me different directions. It occurred to me quickly, whether cops, security or facility staff, nobody knew which direction anything was in!

After wandering around, zig-zagging the parking lot, I got frustrated and just asked them to point me “out.” I walked to Mile High Stadium/Invesco, thinking the party was there. As fate turns out, we were at Mile High Station – a nightclub somewhere a few blocks away in the opposite direction.

Instead, I attended the CH2M Alternative Fuels party which featured a concert by none other than Willie Nelson! Willie and the band put on one hell of a show! The food was also the best of all of the week’s events. While I missed my Texas delegation, I didn’t miss the party!

Sometime after midnight, I finally began finding my way back to home base. Straggling in at this late hour was certainly going to take its toll on the first night.

“You work hard for what you want in life … your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do. You treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.” — Michelle Obama, Pepsi Center DNC 2008