As some of you may know I have been selected by Baltimore Pride as the “Activist of the Year” for 2014. I want to thank the hundreds, yes that many, who have contacted me providing well wishes and positive affirmations of this recognition. As always no one person accomplishes much in this world without the help of others and I am no exception. A heartfelt thank you to so many that I could not name them here for fear of omitting any one of you. As a relative outsider to the LGBTQ movement prior to my own transition I can […]
The “T” word
There continues to be a dust up over “RuPaul” Andre Charles, of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and his continued use of the word “Tranny” to describe any and all Trans persons. Let’s be clear on a few things. RuPaul is a gay man who is also a drag queen. Period. By the broad overarching “umbrella” defined by the term “Transgender”, which encompasses any variety of gender non-conformity, his person and those like him are included under that parasol. He does not speak for Trans persons. The problem here is that the term “Transgender” covers too much ground; it is too broad […]
Law and Order
My hope is that as you read this on, or after, May 16, 2014 I will be celebrating in the heady air of having seen Governor O’Malley sign SB212 into law on May 15th. Yes, Trans folk in Maryland will have the same rights secured for them that our LGB peers have enjoyed since 2001. At least by October 1, 2014 they will. But I suspect it is going to take more than just a law on the books to change the outcomes for many Trans folk as the die was cast some time ago. Put another way, the law […]
Making a POINT
About a year ago I was contacted by Joanne Herman with respect to an opportunity to get involved with the Point Foundation. My exposure to the Point Foundation prior to this was limited and so began a series of discussions and meetings that eventually led to my joining the Board of Directors in October 2013. In that process I was delighted to discover my dear friend Rev. Jamie Washington is also involved with Point as a mentor to a Point Scholar. I was indeed joining a community of friends and peers, and I was honored to be asked to serve.
Female Privilege
I am likely to be bashed by certain feminists for this post but bear with me as I have a perspective and experience that is different from cisgender (not transgender) women. Female privilege. We do not hear much about that. There is a great deal written and said regarding male privilege and white cisgender straight-male privilege (WCSMP) in particular. But this is not going to be a rant about that other than to acknowledge that WCSMP is real, and those of us who do not fit that bucket know it is real based on the daily world we live in.
In Thanks – Maryland SB212
As many of you know, SB212, The Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014, enacting comprehensive Gender Identity anti-discrimination protections, passed the Maryland house with an 82-57 vote and now heads to the Governor, who has stated his support, for signature. The law will be in effect as of October 1, 2014. I anxiously look forward to the signing ceremony. This success is the result of many persons and cannot, and should not, be claimed by any one person or organization but I will be happy to report that it is my belief that Gender Rights Maryland (GRMD) played a […]
In Thanks – Maryland SB212
As many of you know, SB212, The Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014, enacting comprehensive Gender Identity anti-discrimination protections, passed the Maryland house with an 82-57 vote and now heads to the Governor, who has stated his support, for signature. The law will be in effect as of October 1, 2014. I anxiously look forward to the signing ceremony. This success is the result of many persons and cannot, and should not, be claimed by any one person or organization but I will be happy to report that it is my belief that Gender Rights Maryland (GRMD) played a […]