Rather late in the game, we got wind of the first ever Katy Pride Festival, in Katy, Texas. We quickly reached out to the organizers and asked if they had a spot for us. The quickly and generously offered space for Trans Truth to set up our remote recording studio.

In this special episode, we interview Amanda Rose, the president of Katy Pride, and Heather Tolleson, Senior Pastor of Katy's First Christian Church. You'll hear about how the festival came to be, and about First Christian Church, Katy, has been bringing their message of hope, love, and inclusion to this Houston suburb for the last ten years.

The event is free. There is also an after party, "Wicked With the Queens". Tickets are $25 and $40 (VIP), with proceeds going to the church's "TransParent Closet"

We all know about artists like Boy George, Dee Snider, etc. but the history and influence of the transgender community goes back much further.

Join Jeri Ann and Kelly as they dig through "the record library" (that's an old radio term for the room where the kept all the vinyl) to learn about all that history.

News:

• https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/09/22/politicians-trans-health-care-policies-minors/?fbclid=IwAR0QHK3WCR-B_U-kM2r12_qR8PdHBi9tM4avwqgow1EtLLwb2o-SKgLbn0U
• Appeals court takes up transgender health coverage case likely headed to Supreme Court - ABC News (go.com)
• https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/nebraska-imposing-7-day-wait-trans-youth-start-103641732

Contemporary Trans Artists:

The Cliks

Ryan Cassata

Anohni

Teddy Geiger

Peppermint

Skylar Kergill

Against Me

Ethel Cain

Iceis Rain

Dalice Malice (Not to be confused with Dallas Alice, last seen on the highway outside of Tucumcari ;) )

In part 2 of our series on trans influences, characters, and themes in various forms of entertainment, we're looking at television. Again, this is a very selective look at those things, but we found some gems that we just had to share.

We're taking a break from the serious stuff. We've decided to do a few episodes about transgender subjects in entertainment media; moves, television, and music.

First up - the movies, because I am a big ol' film buff and Jeri Ann is a real live movies star!.

Like we were saying in Part 1, much has changed about transphobia, how the vanilla population understands (or more accurately, does not understand transgender people.

In Part 2, we're focusing on the "moral" objections often made about trans people, and we'll dig into the root of those objections. Here's a hint... it almost always boils down to religion, or more precisely, to the religious right's predilection for (as Jeri Ann puts it) "bellying up to the scripture buffet", to cherry pick the passages they believe will substantiate their judgement. You guessed it... we will not let that stand.

News Links:

• https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/25/texas-transgender-kids-health-care-lawsuit/

• https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/senator-appears-suggest-bipartisan-bill-will-censor-transgender-conten-rcna103479

• https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/katy-isd-transgender-policy-administrator-18342816.php

• https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/spotlight-documentary-on-trans-regret-stirs-heated-debate/news-story/e0d78c822273b28acc80ceaefa9020db

Content Links:

As you've probably heard, Trans Truth will be on-site at the 5th Annual Woodlands Pride Festival. One of the board members was kind enough to sit down with us for an interview about the festival, it's history, and even a little bit about her role in that history.

Little did I know, the interview was going to involve a little bit of serendipity. You'll have to listen to the interview for the whole story, but it turns out that The Woodlands Pride Festival is not the only time Rachael and my paths have crossed.

Anyway, this festival is one you don't want to miss. It's something special.

News Links:

• https://arkansasadvocate.com/2023/09/07/arkansas-ag-griffin-asks-full-appeals-court-to-reverse-ruling-on-transgender-care-for-minors/

• https://ktla.com/news/local-news/controversial-transgender-policy-up-for-vote-in-orange-unified-school-district/

• https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/zooey-zephyr-montanas-1st-trans-legislator-became-national-celebrity-rcna97315

Much has changed since we first discussed transphobia on Trans Truth, and frankly not much of it has been for the better. As we have documented regularly, the Republican Party and other right-wing hate groups have been waging a concerted national campaign of propaganda against trans people. This has led to laws being passed, in at least 21 states, which restrict or eliminate the rights of transgender people. It has also led to a measurable increase in the number of people who disapprove of transgender folk.

So join us for part one of Transphobia Revisited, as we dig into what's been happening and why.

News Links:

• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/lauri-carleton-anti-lgbtq-shooting-b2396348.html

• https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/17/annette-bening-tribute-trans-son-stephen-inspiration/

• https://www.jurist.org/news/2023/08/texas-judge-temporarily-blocks-law-banning-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2023/michigan-sex-educator-culture-wars/

Content Links:

• https://www.splcenter.org/captain/defining-pseudoscience-network

• https://www.nbc4i.com/news/investigates/nbc4-investigates-fact-checking-a-widely-run-controversial-ad-on-issue-1/

• https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/07/30/the-connection-between-political-lies-and-conspiracy-theories-00108378

• https://cdispatch.com/opinions/2023-08-04/armstrong-williams-transgender-women-are-not-women/

• https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/08/11/frank-laroses-very-bad-day-sec-of-state-dodged-press-issued-angry-statement-as-issue-1-failed/

• https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/06/28/americans-complex-views-on-gender-identity-and-transgender-issues/

Copyright 2023, Trans Truth

Another in our series entitled, simply, "Our Stories". In this episode we ask the same questions, and as we're learning, we get some of the same answers and a lot of stuff that's different. That's what we love about this series. We get all get the affirmation of learning that we're not alone in what our journey has been, but we also get some very different, and very personal insights into the unique experiences we all have.

News Links:

• https://thedailyrecord.com/2023/08/03/federal-appeals-court-upholds-ruling-giving-transgender-students-key-bathroom-access/

• https://www.npr.org/2023/08/03/1191792917/a-family-caught-up-in-missouris-fight-over-transgender-issues-moves-out-of-state

• https://nypost.com/2023/08/07/transgender-woman-orders-ex-to-return-her-testicles/

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/beach-boys-poke-fun-at-woke-bud-light-make-them-laughingstock-at-concert/ar-AA1fdoPf

• https://news.yahoo.com/ne-yo-takes-back-apology-220111986.html

• https://youtu.be/9eMBuatxLZo