A gay person was assaulted with a knife late last week in reasonably close proximity to the venue in which one of our support groups meets. I hear people say any crime is a hate crime.
However, when a hate crime is thus categorized, the opportunity exists to break the cycle of ignorance breeding fear, which breeds hatred, which breeds violence.
This was a gay person. He was still a person. It could as easily have been a trans person.....or any person. We've talked in our group this week about watching out for each other. There already are enough people to be honored on the days set aside.
I'm invited to the board meeting this Saturday of Equality, North Carolina. As I told the people I have spoken with, I'm more a survivor than a leader. In any case, hopefully we can each contribute something to the cause of this organization. Their work is valuable beyond anything we can now realize.
I was talking with friends the other day about possible alternate career paths. One thought is to work with a non profit organization in which diversity is honored. I am also considering laser technician training and training to sit for licensing as a certified nail technician. All these ideas have merit.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
I often wonder how many people actually read this blog. In any case, I've spoken a few times recently concerning the ever widening chasm between the LGBT community and what is perceived as 'the church'.
So many people are cut off from the very resources that should be there to help them. Fortunately, an increasing number of churches have made the decision to become all inclusive.
As I read posts on many online groups, the chasm seems to be widening. My friend, Roberta and I have considered an online group for transgender Christians. We realized to be only trans inclusive would be to ostracize the rest of our community.
To that end, we have created Carolina TLGB Christians. The only requirement for joining is to be respectful and have a genuine desire to either listen to the dialogue, or share your own stories and concerns as you feel led. We used 'Carolina', but the inclusivity extends beyond our own borders.
Last Sunday was our church's week to participate in Room In The Inn. This is a time when eight neighbors are invited from the Charlotte Urban Ministry. Each city has such an outreach. There is no greater cause. Wherever you are, your center is deserving of support.
So many people are cut off from the very resources that should be there to help them. Fortunately, an increasing number of churches have made the decision to become all inclusive.
As I read posts on many online groups, the chasm seems to be widening. My friend, Roberta and I have considered an online group for transgender Christians. We realized to be only trans inclusive would be to ostracize the rest of our community.
To that end, we have created Carolina TLGB Christians. The only requirement for joining is to be respectful and have a genuine desire to either listen to the dialogue, or share your own stories and concerns as you feel led. We used 'Carolina', but the inclusivity extends beyond our own borders.
Last Sunday was our church's week to participate in Room In The Inn. This is a time when eight neighbors are invited from the Charlotte Urban Ministry. Each city has such an outreach. There is no greater cause. Wherever you are, your center is deserving of support.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Being who you are
I've talked a lot recently about addressing the perceived rift between the transgender community and the LGB segment. I've talked a lot about addressing the very real rift between the LGBT community and the church.
As the murders continue and bullying is a fact of life for so many in our world, we must realize we have more commonalities than we do disparity. So many wake up each morning wondering if this is the day they will be judged as unacceptable. The murder of Lawrence King in California last month was one more name added to an evergrowing list of people for us to honor.
Let's be honest; transgender people do have commonalities with the LGB community. The fundamental issue is survival. Ellen addressed the Lawrence King murder on a recent program. Please view this segment here.
What she says is very important. Essentially, it is okay to be who you are, no matter who you are. Why that salient fact is not understood, I will never know. Until it is understood, those of us who are able are charged with continuing the education which a number of people in high places think is still necessary.
As the murders continue and bullying is a fact of life for so many in our world, we must realize we have more commonalities than we do disparity. So many wake up each morning wondering if this is the day they will be judged as unacceptable. The murder of Lawrence King in California last month was one more name added to an evergrowing list of people for us to honor.
Let's be honest; transgender people do have commonalities with the LGB community. The fundamental issue is survival. Ellen addressed the Lawrence King murder on a recent program. Please view this segment here.
What she says is very important. Essentially, it is okay to be who you are, no matter who you are. Why that salient fact is not understood, I will never know. Until it is understood, those of us who are able are charged with continuing the education which a number of people in high places think is still necessary.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Ellen DeGeneres response to Sally Kern
Several days ago, Okahoma State Representative Sally Kern expressed her views regarding the so called 'gay agenda'.
I, and others have written reams about the fact gay people in the LGBT community generally do not 'get' transgender people. Barney Frank says 'people of transgender' need to do more education. Thousands of people I honor are doing exactly that.
I believe our pressing need is to address the chasm that exists not only between the Transgender community and the rest of the world (including the church - another issue I will begin addressing soon), but within the LGBT community.
Most of my friends, the finest people I have known in a lifetime, are gay. Ms. Kern is telling us my friends are more dangerous than terrorists
Ellen DeGeneres responded yesterday. Listen to her segment here.
Does anyone think it was easy for Ellen DeGeneres to come out? This woman risked everything to be able to look at herself in the mirror each morning.
One of my closest friends on earth has done more outreach to the elderly and homeless than one could imagine. For her to be addressed as more dangerous than a terrorists brings a simultaneous anger and sadness I cannot even put into words.
Nope, as I said last night, compromise must be forever and absolutely unacceptable.
I, and others have written reams about the fact gay people in the LGBT community generally do not 'get' transgender people. Barney Frank says 'people of transgender' need to do more education. Thousands of people I honor are doing exactly that.
I believe our pressing need is to address the chasm that exists not only between the Transgender community and the rest of the world (including the church - another issue I will begin addressing soon), but within the LGBT community.
Most of my friends, the finest people I have known in a lifetime, are gay. Ms. Kern is telling us my friends are more dangerous than terrorists
Ellen DeGeneres responded yesterday. Listen to her segment here.
Does anyone think it was easy for Ellen DeGeneres to come out? This woman risked everything to be able to look at herself in the mirror each morning.
One of my closest friends on earth has done more outreach to the elderly and homeless than one could imagine. For her to be addressed as more dangerous than a terrorists brings a simultaneous anger and sadness I cannot even put into words.
Nope, as I said last night, compromise must be forever and absolutely unacceptable.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Charlotte - Mecklenburg School System
This past Tuesday, the Charlotte - Mecklenburg Co. Board of Education approved anti bullying legislation. Read the new policy here.
Do you see anything in this so called new rule about special rights for LGBT students? I see inclusivity. I see it expressed that people have the right to be who they are, no matter who they are. How can they not understand it is about simply being included?
It is incredible some of the speakers that evening equate human dignity with indoctrination. It is sad when a special meeting must be held to provide that which is a fundamental human right.......the right to BE.
We have grown accustomed to hatred and prejudice being a continued reality as we move forward into the 21st century. The lessons of history continue to be abundantly clear. People fear that which they do not understand. People also fear that which they fear becoming.
You may read The Charlotte Observer article here.
Ignorance breeds fear........ which breeds hatred. This is the sole purpose behind every Educational Initiative and any other form of outreach. The cycle of hatred must be broken and that can only begin with each of us.
There have been too many funerals recently for people murdered for simply 'being'. The National Day of Silence next month and The Transgender Day of Remembrance in November should not be necessary.
As long as these days are necessary, compromise is unacceptable.
Do you see anything in this so called new rule about special rights for LGBT students? I see inclusivity. I see it expressed that people have the right to be who they are, no matter who they are. How can they not understand it is about simply being included?
It is incredible some of the speakers that evening equate human dignity with indoctrination. It is sad when a special meeting must be held to provide that which is a fundamental human right.......the right to BE.
We have grown accustomed to hatred and prejudice being a continued reality as we move forward into the 21st century. The lessons of history continue to be abundantly clear. People fear that which they do not understand. People also fear that which they fear becoming.
You may read The Charlotte Observer article here.
Ignorance breeds fear........ which breeds hatred. This is the sole purpose behind every Educational Initiative and any other form of outreach. The cycle of hatred must be broken and that can only begin with each of us.
There have been too many funerals recently for people murdered for simply 'being'. The National Day of Silence next month and The Transgender Day of Remembrance in November should not be necessary.
As long as these days are necessary, compromise is unacceptable.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
March 11, 2008
There's not a lot left to say about the HRC/ENDA controversy. The HRC dinner was held in Charlotte Feb. 16. My activist friends Angela Brightfeather and Monica Helms held an Educational Initiative the day of the dinner. We spoke to Campus Pride Saturday morning. After the dinner, we handed out leafelets to the guests as they left. I hear it was a lovely event. This photo was made after we spoke to the Campus Pride group.
This weekend I will attend a laser workshop sponsored by Candela Corporation. I attended a similar event last year and earned a certificate of completion. I am looking at this as one possible answer to the career change I am seeking.
This past Saturday, I was invited to speak to the PFLAG Salisbury/Rowan Co, NC chapter. The good people were nice enough to listen to me for an hour without falling asleep. You can visit their website here. I was very taken with their devotion to the cause of human dignity. I plan to join and become a regular attendee.
Next Sunday our church participates in Room In The Inn. This is an outreach sponsored by Urban Ministry of Charlotte. Eight neighbors are invited to the church for an evening. Melanie and I will prepare an entree and help serve Sunday evening. There is no place I would rather be.
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