Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is already over and Christmas season is here. This is positively my favorite time of the year.

I had Thanksgiving dinner with Melanie and her family, as we usually do. She always has a turkey and a ham, plus all the other side dishes. I wrote about her knee surgeries earlier this year. All the work getting ready for dinner didn't help her. She is in a lot of pain this evening.

I always liked going to the parade in Charlotte, which was sort of a mini version of Macy's. I watched on TV this year and it was actually well done. There was a lot of diversity which reflects the climate of our city. I thought of the diversity in our community and some things we could do in the way of future education and outreach, but that's another story.

Anyway, there was a Mariachi band in the line up. You know how they have a prearranged stop in front of the cameras. I swear, the trumpet player took a phone call during their prime time stop. It was one of those moments where you feel sorry for them missing their opportunity, but still comical in it's way.

After The Day of Remembrance ceremonies last week coming so close to the holidays, I've thought a lot about people in our community who are isolated. Especially in these economic times, there are people close by who have lost everything. I made a post elsewhere this week that, if you find yourself in crisis, do not hesitate to call someone. This is what the emergency people are trained to do and there is no shame in seeking help.

The names we read last week were the tip of the iceberg in terms of wrecked lives and suicide. The tragedy would be for one more life to not be all it could be. I just encourage anyone who needs help, don't be afraid to seek it. Do whatever it takes to survive, but above all else, survive.

It is not logical for a human being to be rejected only because of who they are, but it remains the reality for all too many. The murders this year were often due to someone's fear of anyone different from their version of normal.

In a sense, the same principle applies when LGBT people are rejected by family and coworkers. Why people find it hard to accept that which is different from them, I will never understand. I still maintain the answer lies in pride in who we are and the ultimate removal of the mask many of us are forced to wear. The thing about wearing a mask, people may not be able to see into the real you, but it prevents the real you from seeing out.

November 23, 2008

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is always emotional for me, but this year it was overwhelming. One of our members had a cake made with the names of the victims thus far in 2008, with special tribute to Sean Kennedy. I found myself thinking all day of people I knew years ago who are no longer with us.

After the speeches, including Elke Kennedy, we had an outdoor candlelight vigil followed by a reading of the names, accompanied by a chime after each name was read. Emotional does not describe it.

Special thanks go to the leaders at The Lesbian & Gay Community Center. Their cooperation was amazing and will not be forgotten. As I said Thursday evening, as far as I'm concerned, we're family.

Saturday was a women's business bazaar at the center. I met some nice people and got an idea or two about something I want to do in the future.

Two months ago, Elke had asked if I would serve on the board of directors of Sean's Last Wish. Naturally I told her I would be honored. There is so much important outreach to be accomplished and I can think of no one whom I would be more honored to stand beside.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance

The observance in Charlotte will be this evening at 7:30. I invite anyone who feels so led to watch the following videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s05LdQTUk6k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUhZzvBiv4Y&feature=related

May there come a day when there will be no new names to be read.

November 16, 2008

Yesterday was an all day meeting of the S.C. Progressive network in Columbia. This is an organization comprised of 59 other activist groups. There were all day speakers on topics ranging from the environment, legal issues and LGBT rights.
Elke was presented the Thunder & Lightning award Saturday evening, which was well deserved.

At 1 PM, a number of us drove to the SC State Capitol for the demonstration against Prop 8. It's always good to feed off the energy from these events and this was no exception. There was a similar demonstration in Charlotte, but I've not figured how to be in two places at once yet.

Something occurred to me that has been discussed within the transgender community by a number of people I respect and admire. We are proud to stand with our gay friends in the cause for equal rights. As we approach The Transgender Day of Remembrance, the reality is that people in all segments of the LGBT community are being murdered out there.

There was a vigil in Memphis, TN today for Duanna Johnson, the most recent transgendered human being who was murdered. Read about it here. Her funeral was this past Friday.

Issues as basic as the right to exist, or the right to employment are on a par with equal marriage legislation. We are getting total support from the Gay & Lesbian Community Center in Charlotte. I personally view this as one of the more positive signs I've seen, perhaps ever. They are doing an email blast tomorrow to get the word out about our ceremony Thursday evening. Pretty awesome!

Until each of us comes to the realization that we have more commonalities than disparities, we will never reach our full potential either as individuals, or as a community.

Some say trans people don't 'get' gay people and vice versa. The needs are so great, we would do well to learn to 'get' each other. The answer is within us; it is we who chose our destiny and no one else.

Anyhow, I got home a little before midnight, in time to bake a casserole for a potluck lunch after church service this morning.

November 12, 2008

The Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremonies in Charlotte have been finalized. You can click on the flyer to enlarge.

Elke Kennedy will speak during the event. We are fortunate and honored to have her.

We will have another name to read that evening, Duanna Johnson of Memphis, TN was found murdered this past Sunday evening. She is the transgender woman who was victim of police brutality this past July. The video is not fun to watch. You can read about the murder here. The list of names was already far too long to even contemplate.

This past Saturday evening was the Fall Soiree of PFLAG Salisbury. Proceeds from the event went to their scholarship fund. This chapter has come to mean a lot to me and I'm a proud member. Elke, Jim and their friend Leslie came to Salisbury after their training. Elke was invited to speak and of course was as powerful as always.

Stop The Hate - Nov 7, 2008

This evening was the Matthew Shephard Stop The Hate concert at UNCC. Elke and Jim are in Charlotte several days for the training session. We had dinner last night; the concert was this evening.

The concert was to commemorate last month's tenth anniversary of Matthew Shephard's murder. Elke and Jim were recognized during the evening for their work in Sean's Last Wish. Even during the concert, people come up to Elke just to share a word or a hug. There is no way to calculate the number of lives she and Jim have touched in the last year and a half.

The purpose of the training sessions is to train the trainers as activists on college campuses and elsewhere. In 20-2o hindsight, I wish I had signed up for the training.

I'm just like anyone else, I get caught up in living my own life along with the accompanying daily drama, and my life has had it's share this year. I even find myself concerned about the drama in support groups, something that has absolutely no useful purpose I can think of.

Then I enjoy an evening at the Matthew Shephard concert, spend time networking with other like minded people and realize this and the people in the LGBT community who are persecuted only because of 'being' is all that really matters. My batteries must not have been too low because they are fully charged early on a Saturday morning.

November 5, 2008

Last night was our class at the university. We've been having a panel discussion with a human sexuality class for quite a number of years. It's been my pleasure to be coordinator the last several years. It's always good to bring people who are doing this the first time. No one has ever been sorry they came. This visit, one of our gentleman members attended. I was proud of Leigh for doing this. He, and everyone did a great job as always.

Weekend before last, I was invited to a wedding reception for Connie, one of the girls I worked with. It was good seeing her and Regina again. I've put up a photo we took. You can click to enlarge.

Charlotte Gender Alliance is planning our event for The Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20th. Details to follow, but this event should be well attended. The community center in Charlotte is working with us in a major way to promote this. I believe this will be a time of relationship building with them. I can easily envision our organization meeting there in the near future.

We are quickly outgrowing our current meeting place. The conference table was full this past Saturday evening, with people taking seats behind the table. We never expected this kind of growth, but it is of no surprise. As with anything worthwhile, you find a need and then fill it.