Month: June 2020

Stand Up and Speak Out

‘You look like a female!’: Transgender teen verbally assaulted, mocked by couple in Marin County

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate inclusiveness of the LGBTQ community. But verbal assault toward a transgender teen in Fairfax caught on camera is shedding light on discrimination in our own backyards.

Seventeen-year-old Jasper Lauter walks us through the grassy area of Bolinas and Elsie where he was placing rainbow colored flags, celebrating Pride on Saturday evening, pointing out where he was verbally attacked.

“The most important thing is we need to realize that and ask ourselves what can we do to be better. I need somebody to stand up. If you don’t stand up when that’s happening it’s just going to continue,” he said.

Bill to establish Pulse Nightclub as a national memorial passes U.S. House

The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed a resolution that would designate the Pulse Nightclub as a National Memorial Site.

H.R. 3094 grants a federal designation honoring the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016, as well as the survivors, first responders, and the entire Central Florida community.

“Four years ago, we saw the atrocious and destructive nature of hatred plague our Orlando community when 49 lives were taken and 53 others were injured. As we continue to honor the memory of those lost, I am proud to lead the fight with Congresswomen Val Demings and Stephanie Murphy to designate the National Pulse Memorial,” said Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, who introduced the legislation last year.

June’s rallies for black transgender lives can change attitudes and policies. Here’s how.

My research finds that calling for “intersectional solidarity” does awaken and mobilize allies.

On June 14 , more than 15,000 people protested in support of black transgender lives at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City. Similar protests took place in Los Angeles and Chicago. Variously called Brooklyn Liberation or All Black Lives Matter, these protests are different from the often predominantly white LGBTQ Pride events that generally take place in June — and different as well from the weeks of record-breaking Black Lives Matter protests prompted by George Floyd’s killing.

06/23/20

I’m at a point I never expected to be again. From as far back as I can remember I would have moments of clarity where I knew exactly who and what I was, but soon the sharpness would begin to dull and soon my heart would become filled with doubt until the memories would fade back into the misty recesses of my mind.

I suppose it would be bad enough, my true self slowly being siphoned away until only the pain, sorrow, doubt, and fear remain like oily stains. Unfortunately this is only one small part. Beyond this I also begin to seal my emotions and memories away. Even though I tend to be emotionally distant even at the best of times, it becomes exponentially worse.

Of course none of this really matters to anyone other than me except for hoping someone else will read it and understand simply transitioning will never be a cure for these, or indeed, any mental health issues I or they may be dealing with. In fact, there are countless small things which will continue to poke and prod regardless of how you live your life. In the end clothes are just clothes and what’s inside your head will be there regardless.

At this point I’m not sure where I am going or why, I only know I’ll never have true peace until I can come to terms with all of my underling issues.

~Kira