On April 14^th, 2007, The Houston Transgender Unity Committee, HTUC, hosted the 15^th Annual Unity Banquet. Attendance at the Unity Banquet was the largest it had ever been. And the banquet had the largest number of sponsors in its history. The annual event continues to grow every year with attendees coming from the LGBTIQ community, monogender and straight communities.

The Unity Banquet began as a way for the different Trans Groups to find a cohesive place to unify and to rid the community of divisiveness. Two people Peggy Rudd of Tau Chi (TriEss) and Rene Fenner of Gulf Coast Transgender Community (GCTC), and members from those groups began the unification with a dinner at a local restaurant.

The HTUC took over the banquet event about 8 years ago and has been running it ever since. As the ideal of Unity became a real thing, the HTUC was able to expand it’s initial purpose beyond those of just the dinner. Now the HTUC gives a scholarship to a TG person to help with their education in a college or university.

To open the Banquet Anise Parker, City Comptroller, presented the HTUC with a Comptroller Proclamation making April 14^th, 2007, “The Transgender Banquet Day”. What a way to start the festivities.

The Banquet’s main speakers was Ray Hill who spoke on standing up and being seen. You can listen to this speech on this web site. Just click on the link. The other Trans Groups leaders also had  a chance to speak about their purpose. Tai Chi, Texas Association of Transsexual Support (TATS), The Diamond Girls, Some Transgenders Are Guys (STAG), Houston Transgender Anonymous (HTGA), HTLC were all represented. It was good to see the wide diversity and how needs that are being addressed by these local groups.

Awards are given annual at the banquet. And this years winners are always a clear representation of the great people and organizations in our community. The Champion Award went to Houston Area Community Services (HACS) which provides the facilitators for two of the trans groups, a TG medical clinic, and a TG center. The TG Center  provides for meetings spaces, educational classes and social events.

 The People’s Choice Award went to Rose Wall. Rose is a long term member of the trans community. She has served on the GCTC, TATS and the HTUC committees in various positions. Rose was also an election judge this last year in the recent elections and is an active member in the Resurrection MCC Church.

The Dee McKellar Award went to Josephine Tittsworth. Josephine has served with Tai Chi, HTUC and is currently working on her degree in counseling to help server the Trans Community. She is currently working on establishing a process so that Trans Children’s needs are addressed so that they don’t fall through the cracks of the Foster Care system. She has also worked tirelessly to help push through transgender recognition reform at the University of Houston and also at San Jacinto College.

The Brenda Thomas Award (formerly the Apogee Award) went to Carolyn Bosma. Carolyn is a facilitator for the HTGA and HTLC groups. She also works with HACS with the HIV/Aids Clinic that addresses the growing problem among TG’s. And with her bilingual abilities, she touches many people in our community who too often go unnoticed. Carolyn has also served on the TATS board.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Jenifer Rene’ Pool. Jenifer Rene is currently the GLBT Political Caucus President. And she is the first TG to hold that position. She has been active in the community for many years. She is also on the HRC Board and works with the Diversity Community as well as the HTUC. And besides being an actress, running her own business, she is also a regular DJ on Queer Voices on Pacifica Radio on Monday nights here in Houston.

After the delicious dinner, speeches and awards, and sponsor gifts, the HTUC presented the Peggy Rudd Scholarship to Colt Meier.  Colt will be going to the University of Houston and working on his PhD in Psychology. His goals are to aid the Trans Community.

And to top off the Unity Banquet, a dance was held. All the attendees in their finest dresses, suits and tuxes danced the night away. It was great to see so many of us getting to be ourselves and dancing with our partners, wives, husbands, SO’s and friends.

Of course, one thing that makes the Unity Banquet continue to grow every year is the support that our sponsors provide. Without them the Unity Banquet could not do the out reach that it does. Our Platinum Sponsors were Shell Oil, Human Rights Campaign, Houston Area Community Services, Nechman, Simoneaux and Frye, Dr. Pierre Brassard, Houston Equal Rights Alliance, Finest Edition, Resurrection MCC, and Hair Removal of Houston. Our Gold Sponsors were Dignity Cruises, Marci Bowers, and The Rainbow Pages, Our Silver Sponsors were The Princess Company, The Zukowski Center, Sara Rook, The Alley Theater, Denise O’Doherty,  The Houston Symphony, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Dr. Suporn Clinic, Tim Brookover and Albert Mata, The Crossings in Austin, The Karpel Group, OutSmart Magazine, Dr. Peter Raphael, and Lambda Legal. Supportive Friends were Bruce Kieler, John Steven Kellett Foundation and Hubbard Financial Services. The Brenda Thomas Educational Fund Sponsor was Sidney Clark. And a special thanks to Charles Armstrong Investments for supporting the Unity Banquet one of its annual Twelve Days of Christmas program.

And finally, thanks to the the HTUC committee members who give their time, hearts and money to make all the events that they sponsor or host. The HTUC is Sara Rook, Lilly Roddy, Julia Oliver, Melanie Rudd, Brandi Williams, Wendy Russell, Cristan Williams, Josephine Tittsworth, Rose Wall, Jenifer Rene Pool, Rose Bowen, Tim Brookover, and Tamara Frankowski.