Written: 1/20/2013

Lana Wachowski, of Matrix fame, received the HRC Visibility Award, recognizing her brave and public transition.  She’s very private and very nervous, but her speech is amazing and engaging, if you have some time, watch it:

A lot of times, I have trouble remembering pronouns, of anybody.  But I certainly try to make sure I get it right for anyone transgendered, transexual or any other kind of gender identity that I’m forgetting (and not out of malice or hate).  And the rule of thumb, is to use the pronoun that the person prefers, although I think that is just basic decency.

I’ve mentioned it before, but the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell still doesn’t allow transgendered individuals to serve in the armed forces.  On one hand, they can sometimes more easily blend into society (but not always, aside from the gender expression, they may also fall anywhere on the sexuality spectrum), but on many others they can’t hide.

I’m still working to better understand those in my own community, but it’s wonderful to see visibility grow and such an eloquent woman tell her story.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

One of the other causes I’ve become interested in, even though I can’t give blood (I’ll tell you the story sometime, it’s funny, and my arm turned purple and everything!).  Here’s a good video summing up the situation (and even I learned that bisexual men can’t give blood, I never realized that):

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

Ryan Anderson is an Eagle Scout.  His local Board of Review approved his application.  That’s how the process works.

After years of work, leadership and a massive service project, one final Scoutmaster conference (usually a very unique one at that), a Scout sits on a Board of Review from the local district.  And they decide whether to approve the application (usually those turned down have something else to complete to satisfaction, it’s not a closed door forever).

Yes, National processes the applications and keeps copies of everything, but I’ve never heard of National rejecting the work of a local Board of Review.

National hides behind technicalities about the date, and has forced the local employees in a position where they must fight the local volunteers, which is a shitty place for anyone to be in, and very cowardly if you ask me.  GLAAD and Scouts for Equality have slammed the organization, but sadly, I don’t foresee National changing their mind.

But Ryan Anderson is an Eagle Scout.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

A father in Brooklyn is starting a Scouting troop open to women and gays.

There are actually a bunch of these organizations that spring up, I’ll have to write about them sooner or later.

And, fun fact, the BSA will allow girls to join if there is not a Girl Scout Troop nearby.  Also, Venturing is co-ed, and it starts at age 14, focused mainly on high adventure (but units can specialize in other interests if they wish), and there is also Exploring (for now) and Learning for Life, a school program.

I’m a bit mixed on the women issue.  Venturing was pretty much created because GSA was doing a terrible job of retaining older girls and giving them what they actually wanted to do, so the BSA stepped in.  That, by the way, is reality, not at all what anyone official will tell you.

But of course, I support opening the program to gay, bisexual and transgendered youth, they need to know they matter, they have value and they are not broken.

Will this new group change anything?  Not on the national scene, but for those kids, it will mean the world.

And that means the world.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

DADT is no more.  Although, as I’ve mentioned before, there is still work to be done.  The repeal still does not offer transgendered individuals the right to serve in the armed forces.  And now, we have taken another step forward and another step back.

The ACLU has won it’s case, allowing those discharged under DADT to receive full separation pay.  It goes back to 2004, and I hope that the branches of the military will also make sure all those thrown out under DADT are changed to receive honorable discharges.

But sadly, in the new defense bill, a clause was inserted, allowing chaplains to harass gay servicemen and servicewomen, without any penalty.  Obama signed it with objections to that specific clause, but sadly, had to sign it.

Still work to be done, sadly.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

Surprise!  More of your taxes are being used to defend DOMA, even though it is discriminatory and a majority of the country opposes it.

Secretly, speaker Boehner increased the funding to $3 million, from the original budget of half a million.

The case goes before the Supreme Court this spring with a ruling expected in June.  President Obama has refused to defend the law, hence the GOP deciding to do it instead.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

Pennsylvania saw the election of our first, out gay lawmaker, Brian Sims.

Now, before he was sworn in, a Republican member who was reelected came out, so now we have two gay members in Harrisburg.

Progress, slow, but steady progress.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

And sadly, no, this is not an Eddie Izzard sketch.

Britain is set to legalize marriage equality, but in a strange twist of fate, they will prohibit the Church of England from performing gay marriages.  Which opens a strange discussion about the separation of church and state, but then again, it’s not the United States.

The Church of England will allow gay bishops, even partnered gay bishops, but only if they are celibate.  So barring the fact that they can’t get married, at least in a church setting, they have a strange set of requirements, only brought upon themselves.

So, the odd thing, is now Muslims are mad that they are being treated differently.  It’s strange, for only the CoE to be treated one way, but being the state religion, I guess they can do that.

Still, it’s all very confusing, at least to a damn Yankee across the pond.

All my best,

Mike