Gifts of affirmation… from mothers to children

Three days ago on Mother’s Day, I posted thoughts on what a person loses when the mothers in their lives… uh, leave this mortal coil.  Yeah, I admit it was a downer of a post on a day set aside for children of all ages to put their mothers and mother figures on pedestals.

But what about the other way around?  No, not the depressing thoughts, but parents putting their kids on the pedestals.  If you haven’t noticed by now (and, really you should have by now), short-sighted state legislators, in their yearning to get in the good graces of those who voted for him — are proposing, enacting, or signing into law measures that are direct attacks on the LGBT+ community.  These include preventing schools from teaching LGBT curricula; barring trans kids from obtaining necessary affirming medical care; and, under the guise of upholding cis-gender women’s dignity, preventing trans athletes from competing in sporting events or on teams associated with the gender they identify as.

A few items from Allison’s Mom’s kitchen

^{[*1950s housewife voice*] “Watch, kids, as I will prepare this egregiously gigantic bird for Sunday dinner, in my assiduous effort to help America defeat the evil scourge of communism.” (Photo credit: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images via The Takeout)}

Okay, I admit that last post was not the pick-me-up we all need during this still-very-concerning time.  But at least I did find something humorous that seems to perfectly dovetail with this Mother’s Day.  I came across the above photo of that creepily clean-cut family manhandling “Birdzilla” on The Takeout website (“Food is delicious.”), where it accompanied this feature in which some of the site’s staffers were asked this question:  “What foods spring to mind when you think of your mother?”

Random post-TDOV 2021 thoughts

The International Transgender Day of Visibility took place this week, and if you read my previous post, you know that there is a bit of distressing news affecting trans people at a time when the trans community is celebrating being visible and gaining respect, or at least acceptance.  And while news of states barring trans kids from, at the very least, competing in athletic events is a serious concern, any bit of positive recognition directed at our community’s way is so uplifting.  Case in point:  This week’s presidential proclamation issued by Joe Biden, the first formal recognition by a U.S. President of TDOV.

SNL says “it gets better.” Well, some things at least.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the It Gets Better Project.  They are a nonprofit organization, established in 2010, that utilizes video and other forms of messaging to convey an empowering, important message to LGBT+ youth:  That you should not be bullied, discriminated, and ostracized because of your confirmed or perceived sexual or gender identity; that your life is worth living and protecting; and with the support and example of peers and allies, your life will take a positive turn over time.

Thoughts on finally seeing rainbows at Christmas

Before the year runs out, let’s share some thoughts about items related to both the holiday season and the LGBT+ community.  First off, hats off (finally) to Hallmark Channel.  They have long been synonymous with such ooey-gooey, feel-good, holiday movies as Married in Time for Christmas, A Snow-Covered Countryside Christmas, and Get Your Lazy Butt Off the Couch and Put Up the Tree Because It’s Christmas!  Okay, I made up all those titles (that last one especially), but you get an idea of how the holiday season — and seemingly only one holiday in particular — have become Hallmark’s stock in trade.

And there were also these…

It’s been over a week since Election Day here in the United States, and exactly one week since we finally learned that we’ll be getting much better leadership in our fair land come January 20.  But lest we forget, President of the United States wasn’t the only race on the ballot.  In this post, I celebrated Sarah McBride’s victory in a Delaware State Senate race.  Sarah will become the highest-ranking openly trans elected official anywhere in America.

More Pride colors

It’s still June, and it’s still Pride Month.  And while, for understandable reasons, many extravagantly-constructed Pride celebrations have been few and far between this month, it’s not as if the LGBT community’s biggest month hasn’t gone unrecognized.  I mean, earlier this month in at least Madison and Los Angeles, relatively last-minute rallies have taken place to celebrate Black LGBT+ peoples.

Still, it’s likely that due to the virus that’s going around, lots of Pride festivities have either been postponed or cancelled.  For sure, Milwaukee’s PrideFest was scrubbed from last weekend’s calendar.  And here in Madison, Magic Pride Festival would’ve taken place in the flesh this August, but instead will be a virtual event.  (Bummer.)

So in lieu of anything big or impromptu or delayed, we must make due with the smaller commemorations of Pride Month.  Like the semi-bathing of Overture Centerthe semi-bathing of Overture Center in rainbow lights earlier this month, the picture of which is still fresh in my mind but leaves me thinking… meh.

Or…

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Happy #PrideMonth 🌈 Your true colors are beautiful. The Wisconsin Union family welcomes you today and every day as you are

A post shared by Wisconsin Union (@wisconsinunion) on Jun 12, 2020 at 2:13pm PDT

Back on June 12, a couple of days after Overture Center did the all-rainbow thing, the UW—Madison’s Memorial Union (they of the famous sunburst terrace chairs) bathed their building in solid colors in recognition of Pride Month.  At that point, Memorial Union was closed as an anti-virus precaution (they’ll begin a phased opening tomorrow).  But just as with Overture’s well-intentioned display, the Union wanted to do theirs before June was out, and theirs was… well, not underwhelming.  I hate to play favorites on this, but the Union’s display ran circles around Overture’s.

Regardless of the simplicity or quality, however, these displays can’t go unappreciated.  And right now, even though the broad LGBT+ community has made so many advancements, there’s a still a need for those to say, in one form or another, “We see how beautiful you are.”

Some post-Juneteenth thoughts

Let’s revisit a topic of continuing contemporary importance:  Respect.  This past Friday was the (soon-to-be-nationally-recognized?) Juneteenth holiday, an occasion that’s gained importance due to recent events in our country.  Since the beginning of June, people at my soon-to-be-former place of work have stepped up and fostered conversations about empathy toward and justice for Black and minority communities.

Juneteenth 2020

I want to recognize the significance of this particular day, June 19, especially during this time of passion in the African-American community.  This day is Juneteenth.  Perhaps you’ve heard of this unofficial American holiday and its significance, which I’ll touch on in a moment.

Perhaps you’ve become hep to Juneteenth only recently.  Perhaps it’s because, unfortunately, You Know Who would have held a campaign rally on this date (and in a city that was home to a tragic, and under-taught, race-related massacre).  Unfortunately, it may also be because You Know Who has taken “credit” (note the air quotes) for popularizing a holiday that’s been around for 155 years (and has been acknowledged by federal administrations, including his own, for years).  And unfortunately, perhaps the reason you’re now aware of at least this Juneteenth is because it’s coming on the heels of recent tragedies where African Americans lost their lives at the hands of police and the resulting protests.

Random Stuff (6/18/2020 edition)

Yes, we are indeed in the middle of June, and the middle of the traditional “Pride Month.”  This, of course, is the month where the LGBT+ community usually hits the streets, march in parades, throw celebrations, waive rainbow flags, and take pride in being the real people they are, no matter how they identify (gay, lesbian, bi, trans, etc.).

Of course, June 2020 has not been a normal Pride Month.  Our plans to march underneath rainbows has been hampered, and not only because of the dangerous virus pandemic.  Many in our community have ceded the spotlight to the Black Lives Matter movement and their urgent, oh-so-timely need to show that the health, dignity, and well being of Black people of all stripes… well, matter.