Upcoming 2011 Houston Unity Banquet

I won't be there because of other family commitments and haven't attended one since 2001, but one of the Houston trans community's signature events will be taking place at the Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel on April 30.

It's the Houston Unity Banquet, and the proceeds from this event go to support the Peggy Rudd Transgender Scholarship Fund. 

The banquet is a production of the Houston Transgender Unity Committee, an amalgamation of all the Houston area trans specific organizations.and tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door 

The keynote speaker this year is DRED AKA MilDRED Gerestaint, who I had the pleasure of meeting a a recent performance event she was part of at the University of Houston.

It should be an interesting event, and maybe I'll have the opportunity to attend it next year.

Alexandra Billings In Concert

If you peeps in the Los Angeles Area are looking for something to do over the next several Fridays this month, you may want to roll over to The M Bar and check out Alexandra Billings.

In addition to being a wonderful actress, she's an award winning cabaret singer.    You get the opportunity to come and have dinner, drink, laugh and listen to Broadway show tunes sung well..

The shows will happen on Friday April 8, 15, 22 and start at 8:00 PM PDT.  If you wish to just catch Alexandra's show, it's $20.   If you want to get your grub on and catch the show it's $30.

Reservations are suggested, and you can call  (323) 856-0036  or surf over to  www.mbaronline.com

Oh yeah, most important part, the M Bar's location.   It is located at 1253 Vine Street in Los Angeles, CA 90038

I know Alexandra would love to see you folks there, and you get the opportunity to see one talented lady.

Performance Of 'The Faggot Who Could Fly' Play Thursday

For you folks in the Chicago area, if you are looking for something cultural to do with your day, you may want to head over to the Chicago State University campus on April 7 to check out a play called 'The Faggot Who Could Fly' 

It's a one act one women play written by and performed by a transwoman of color that talks about her experiences from growing up as an abused child to a resilient woman

It's sponsored by the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Culture on the CSU campus and is scheduled to run from 12:30-2:00 PM CDT. 

If you're seeking further information about this event, you can call the Gwendolyn Brooks Center at 773-995-4440 or hit up their e-mail at gbrookscenter@gmail.com 

One Woman Performance By MilDRED At UH Tonight

TransGriot Note:  Pleasant surprise to discover that MilDRED is living in Houston now.  Always wanted to meet her and finally have the opportunity to do so tonight.   MilDRED Photo by Rita G

The University of Houston Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program in collaboration with the UH Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, UH Womens Resource Center and UH LGBT Resource Center present:

I AM THE ONE I ALWAYS WANTED TO MARRY: A One-Woman Performance by MilDRED Gerestant. (http://www.dredlove.com/)

This thought-provoking performance questions the naturalized binaries of gender and sexuality, while highlighting...the performativity of these categories. Using poetry, music, comedy, and movement, MilDRED expresses the way in which discovering her male persona, DRED, has refashioned the gendered notions of her sexual and spiritual self.

Haitian-American and internationally-known MilDRED is an actress, lecturer, and workshop presenter best known for her mystical one-woman shows.

LOCATION: University of Houston, Dudley Recital Hall, Room 132
ADMISSION: Free

Endorsed by: DiverseWorks, Houston Gendermyn, UH Department of Anthropology, UH Global.

For information contact Sima Shakhsari: sshakhsari@uh.edu

Recharging The Creative Batteries Again

Needed to recharge the creative batteries again, so I'm going to kick back and take a Me Day today.   Pick up a fiction book or two and read it, write a few chapter in the novel I need to finish, east some Blue Bell Homemade vanilla ice cream, and just veg out. 

If something inspires me to write something and post it for your reading pleasure, you know I will.  

Call for Submissions: Transgender Literary Fiction Anthology

TransGriot Note:  Hmm.  may have to contribute something to this one.   More info about it here.   

Topside Press seeks short literary fiction for its debut title, to be published in late 2011. The collection will feature work by transgender authors and/or work featuring transgender protagonists. While there is no strict theme, the goal of this collection is to showcase fiction by and about transgender people and culture. The book hopes to reflect the diversity of trans experience; all people are encouraged to participate.

Deadline August 31, 2011