A Watershed Moment

Last week, the House of Representatives voted on and passed HR 3685. The final vote was 235 to 184. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act or ENDA was introduced by Barney Frank in September of this year and excluded gender identity. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is a bill that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill was originally introduced in 1974 under a different name - the Gay Rights Bill, HR 14752. Currently, there are 13 states that prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.


Frank's argument for excluding gender identity was that the bill would not garner the votes necessary for passage which has created a firestorm in the gay, lesbian and transgender communities. The crux of the argument is that we should not exclude transgender folks from the bill simply to win legislation because they will be forever forgotten. On the other side are those, including myself, that believe that after all these years, we'll take the bill without gender expression. Some see this as unfair to the transgender community but others, whom I agree with, see it as an incredible win for gays and lesbians. One such group is United ENDA which includes gay, lesbian and transgender groups. One of my favorite writers says it best here.

I have always argued that the T is not a part of the gay and lesbian community and I'm very happy to see that I'm not alone. Of course once you make such a statement you are automatically labeled a transphobe but as a black lesbian Republican I've heard worse. This is what the Washington Post had to say about the vote. The key lines there are: "Transgender people must channel the activism this action sparked into a long-term effort to educate the public and lawmakers about the discrimination they face." After all, gays and lesbians have been doing just that for years.

More Oppression

I attended a forum last evening on cancer and I'm not sure if I'm annoyed or simply disappointed. The forum was sponsored by the Lesbian Cancer Initiative which provides information and referral; short-term counseling; support groups for survivors and caregivers/partners; and community educational and social event. I had not heard about the group before but agreed to attend when my partner asked me to. I went with the thought in mind that it was more for her than for me because she really needs support. While cancer has left me on empty it has left my partner less joyful. And to make matters worse her mom was recently diagnosed with cancer so I knew that this was important. This would be one selfless act that I could perform for someone else than myself.

The title of the keynote speech was, "Whose Life Is It Anyway?: Navigating the Cancer Journey On Our Own Terms." From this title I made the assumption that we would be given information on "navigating" our way around the health care system, securing treatment that was me centered, etc. Well, I'm not sure if the keynote speaker read the title but my expectations were shot to hell. I knew that it was not going to be a good presentation when her introductory slide stated something like this, Overcoming Oppression based on sexual orientation, gender and race. This is not the exact title but you get the drift. From the first to last slide Dr. Gelo launched into a dissertation on how sexual orientation, gender, race etc., influences the kind of treatment you receive and how important it is to talk up. She also included discussion on the Tuskegee experiment to bolster her argument that race was as prevalent a roadblock as any other factor.

As I was squirming in my seat I tried to remember why I was there, my partner needed to be there to connect with a support group. This helped me to keep sitting through this nonsense and to be quiet at the end when Dr. Gelo asked for questions. I sat through this anthropological thesis and wondered if it would ever end. I sat through it when she kept beating up on Western culture and medicine. I kept listening when she reminded us that we were subjects of the white patriarchy. I kept listening even when I realized that assumed that her audience would be in lock step with her presentation. I couldn't be more disappointed. The really sad thing about this was that it reinforced the oppression theory of gays and lesbians. This is truly unfortunate because some if not many in the audience bought into this theory especially coming from a "professional." Dr. Florence Gelo has her D.Min which is a doctor of ministry. She is not a health care provider but a behavioral science coordinator for the Family Medicine residency program at Drexel University. She is also a pastoral psychotherapist in private practice specializing in grief and loss and chronic illness. Based on her background, Dr. Gelo was probably well suited for her talk last evening but not for the assumed goal of the program. On a positive note, my partner made the connections she needed for a support group.

My apologies to my faithful readers but I have been sick for the past three weeks. My cancer is still putting up a fight and wont let go so I must do the same. However, there are days when I feel as though I'm down for the count. I'll keep blogging as my health permits so don't go anywhere. I intend to be at the finish line.

The Bachelor Episode 4

I promise I won't cry as I write this, I promise. Here is another great example of what's wrong with our culture. I hate to tell these women this but they are behaving like high priced whores. The number one reason for these women going on this show is that the guy is a millionare but I guess for some people that spells LOVE.

It Starts at Home

Here is a very interesting article on parents setting limits on television watching. I could not agree with it more. The fact that more parents are taking their responsibility of raising kids seriously sends a strong and positive message to me and hopefully to others.

Word of the Day

Curmudgeon
a cantankerous person

I LOVE NEW YORK - the manstack

In the next several postings I'm hoping to show evidence as to what's wrong with our society today. This is just one example of many as to what's wrong with television in 2007 and probably for awhile to come. There are very few decent shows on the air these days and more and more "reality shows." Call me a curmudgeon and a prude but something has got to give. Of course you can say to me, turn the channel, but that's not a legitimate response. These shows are telling us something about our society and I don't know about you but it's an awful commentary.

Do You Speak English?

Illegal is defined as contrary to existing statues, regulations, etc., unauthorized, unlawful, illegitimate, illicit, unlicensed. I'm gonna bet a dollar that many people would know the meaning of this word even if they didn't posses a dictionary. But in 2007 it seems that many, especially so-called leaders, have forgotten its meaning. In this article, Lawrence Downes is somehow suggesting that if we just take the word out then we can have a sensible debate. Well Mr. Downes I don't agree with you. This is one of the many obtuse comments he makes, "Used as an irreducible modifier for a large and largely decent group of people, it is badly damaging. And as a code word for racial and ethnic hatred it is detestable.' Give me a break. There are several things wrong with this comment. First, by calling someone illegal because that's what they are, is not necessarily denying that they maybe "decent." Decent people do stupid things all the time. Second, to lower this discussion to race baiting is exactly what he is arguing against - stopping the conversation.

He goes on to state, "But at least 'undocumented' - and an even better word, 'unauthorized' - contain the possibility of reparation and atonement, and allow for a sensible reaction proportional to the offense." Ok, so lets just change the name and everything will be alright. Lets simply refer to folks who broke into our country as decent people and call it a day. And while we are at it lets just give them the keys to the front door so they don't tear down our back doors. If we are not going to use the word then we are not going to do what's necessary to fix this problem. And calling people who simply want servers, computer techs and anyone else answering the phone to speak English xenophobes is ridiculous name calling and that too doesn't help the discussion.

What's Really Behind the Polls

I have to admit that I have not been keeping up with politics or anything else for that matter because I have been sick but this article caught my eye. Rich makes a very interesting case for Giuliani's high poll numbers. Several of his comments are reflective of what many believe is the defining moment in the Republican Party. It would almost seem as if he is saying, "Wake up or die." The Republican Party, to say the least, has had a very hard road to hoe and it probably started with the Terry Schiavo story. If you think about it, if Republicans, yes I am one, really believe in smaller government they would have kept their damn mouths shut when Terry Schiavo's story hit the airwaves. But from then on they have been stepping into the proverbial pile of you know what.

It is obvious from reading the article that Rich is saying that regardless of the huffing and puffing by the so-called morality squad, i.e. James Dobson, Gary Bauer etc., Giuliani's "moderate" views must be connecting with someone. If what Rich says is right and the polls are accurate then ridding ourselves of the Dobson types, at least for the influence they wield, will be a victory for sensible people.

Life with a Mediport

I was suppose to have a Pet Scan and a CT Scan this week but my insurance company hasn't approved the procedures as of yet. Waiting is always a pain in the arse but wait I must. In the meantime I thought I would share with you what my mediport looks like. For those of you who don't know what a mediport is here is a quick and dirty. A port is comprised of two components, a self-sealing injection port and a catheter that enters the vein. The port and catherter are placed entirely under the skin using a small incision. There will be a bump on the chest wall where the injection port is located. This is the site where the access needle is placed.

The needle is used to access my port each and every time I go for chemotherapy and is also used to draw blood. I have had three of these bad boys and the third so far is a charm. When I got the first one I was afraid of moving much less take a shower. I feared that "anything" I did wold rip it from my chest. But that hasn't happened yet and I doubt it will. Other than the small scar where the port is located and the bump you wouldn't be able to tell I had something in my chest. And the first time it broke I had severe pain in my left arm. That's how we knew something was wrong. But it has become like another part of my body.

I hope to get this bad boy out as soon as I get the "all clear" sign from my oncologist, which I'm hoping is soon. Although they recommend keeping it in for a year or so after you have been told you are in remission. So these tests are damn important and I hope my insurance company ponies up in the next day or so. So, wish me luck.

Mot du jur or Word of the Day

Censorious
tending to reprimand or censure; very critical

The Clock is Ticking

For some weeks now there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the impending passage of the Employment Non-discrimination Act or ENDA. The controversy, and reason for a second bill, is over the inclusion of gender identity. The inclusion of gender identity would protect members of the transgender community. The main bill, H.R. 2015 was introduced in April of this year and is very close to a vote in the House. The bill in its current form was first introduced in 1996 and under another name in 1974. The bill, if passed, would protect gays and lesbians from being fired from their jobs simply because they are gay and lesbian. Currently, there are 31 states in which gays can be terminated based on their sexual orientation. The bill's main sponsors are Representatives Barney Frank, Chris Shays and Tammy Baldwin.

The controversy started when Representative Frank declared that the bill has a better chance of passage if it did not include gender identity. This faux pau, the opinion of many LGBT organizations, is one that they will not tolerate and according to many the LGBT community is in an uproar. Two weeks ago there were 113 groups who signed a pledge opposing the bill if it did not include gender identity. One of the most vocal has been the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Matt Foreman and of course members of the transgender community. The Human Rights Campaign, forever playing it safe so that they can keep the donations coming said they would not oppose the bill but they wouldn't support it either. What else could they say when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was the recipient of HRC's National Equality Award.

So here is the problem as I see it. Many have said and will say that if we move ahead with H.R. 2015 without gender identity we are essentially kicking transgendered folks off the bus. Now, that would be true if: 1) trans folks were on the bus to begin with and 2) gender identity were analogous to sexual orientation. Neither of these two things are true. Gender identity is as different from sexual orientation as night is from day. Gays and lesbians still consider themselves men and women who love the same sex. And for the last 30 years gays and lesbians have been doing to work to get ENDA passed. So, from a pragmatic point of view why not support the bill in its current form and do the education to include and pass another bill in the future? Of course the 113 groups and others feel that we are abandoning our trans family. Well I got news for those people, they don't consider themselves one of us. In reading the literature, a very high percentage of transgendered folks consider themselves straight. And the number that consider themselves gay and lesbian are very, very small. Am I transphobic? I guess to a lot of people I am but life goes on.

We cannot and should not stop passage of this important bill because a few people are upset. Dale Carpenter says it best when he says in this article, "Passage of ENDA is possible only because gay people have organized politically to educate Americans about homosexuality and to elect sympathetic representatives." This is the true issue surrounding this controversy. The work has been done and to simply throw it away because some feel we are dissing the transgender community is at best, stupid.

Masculinity versus Fatherhood

I have always thought that it was a good thing when fathers paid attention to their children and that getting involved with their kids made them better fathers. What I didn't know was that it made them less manly. Oh my goodness, what are we to do? According to sociologists, "Fathers who stop being men of the old mold have better-adjusted children, better marriages and better work lives. Basically, masculinity is bad for you." So, in other words, men who decide to accept their fatherly responsibilities are less manly than their counterparts who do not have such responsibilities. Ok, so my question is, which is more important, sharing responsibilities with your partner in raising your kids or keeping your manly persona in tact? It seems that we are not quite sure and why sociologists are busy studying this new phenomena. In this article several sociologists tell us about the problem.

But, of course, I'm not sure why this is a phenomena and why it should be studied. Do we not want men to carry out their responsibilities? Why do we have to make a big to do of men taking care of their children? And most of all, why is it considered less than manly to take care of your kids? When was the last time a woman was praised for raising her kids? Buck up guys, women do it everyday.

Word of the Day

Imprimatur
official approval or license to print or publish

Word of the Day

Precocious
characterized by unusually early development or maturity, esp. in mental aptitude. blossoming before the leaves sprout.

Word of the Day

Miasma
a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlikeinfluence.

My Grandfather's Son - An American Story

My very first comment about this book is that I will not discuss the confirmation hearings. Justice Thomas does talk about it in his book but I am not going to comment nor will I opine as to who was right and who was wrong. I'll leave it to others to opine on that part of the book.

I picked up this book last Wednesday night and could not put it down until I was done. It is very well written and gives us the inside track to Clarence Thomas. I don't often use the word excellent but I will here - the book was excellent. Over the years we have heard many things about Justice Thomas some of which have not been favorable. Probably the most annoying is that he is mediocre and stands in the shadow of Antonin Scalia. Well in reading this book, and I plan to read some of his decisions, I'm convinced that he is more than mediocre. The first thing you find out in this book is that Thomas grew from abject poverty to become a United States Supreme Court justice. If that is not an American dream I don't know what is.

We first meet Thomas as he describes meeting his biological father who promises he and his brother watches that they waited for but never received. We learn,"The house in which I was born was a shanty with no bathroom and no electricity except for a single light in the living room." We also learn that in the wintertime they had to plug up the holes with newspapers. Considering this, it is amazing that Thomas made it through adulthood. But the reason he did was because he was his Grandfather's Son. After moving with his mother and brother from the shanty they eventually go to live with his grandfather and grandmother. It is during these years that Justice Thomas adopts the kind of values that has taken him to the Supreme Court.

From Pinpoint to a more sedate area of Savannah Georgia, Thomas and his brother Myers moved into their grandparents' home. Thomas writes:

"Even then I understood that he had rescued me from difficult

circumstances, but it was not until long afterword that I grasped

how profoundly Daddy, Aunt Tina, and the nuns of St. Benedict's

had changed my life. Sometimes their strict rules chafed, but they

also gave me a feeling of security, and above all they opened doors

of opportunity leading to a path that took me far from the cramped

world into which I had been born. In Pinpoint I was a little Negro

boy growing up among hardworking but uneducated people. From

there I moved to the confusion and squalor of a run-down tenement

in Savannah, where I led a life of being cold and not knowing when I

would feel warmth again, of constant, gnawing hunger and not knowing

when I would eat again, a life in which knowledge trickled in by the

thimbleful when I yearned for floods of truth. To stay there would have

doomed me to a dismal life of ignorance, perhaps even crime-a life lost

before it started."

Justice Thomas leads us through a life filled with dread, like when he was made fun of for being darkskinned; a life filled with hate by those who told him he would never amount to anything because he was black; a life filled with opportunities like when he got into Harvard, University of Pennsylvania and Yale Law Schools. And his journey from radical liberal to Republican. From his disappointment in learning that he was accepted into Yale under affirmative action to his first job with John Danforth who became a lifelong friend. But most of all we learn about Thomas' deep and unbridled love for this country and his questioning of the world around him and his role in it with values that seemed different. His search for self was heart warming. His humanity shone through this book.

There are several reasons why I enjoyed this book: 1) This is a true American story; 2) This was an educational experience for me; 3) Our early political awakenings were somewhat similar; 4) I have found a new respect for Justice Thomas; and 5) He is a man of conviction. This shouted out to me: "I'd already noticed that it was the liberals, not conservatives, who were more likely to condescend to blacks." The book has been blasted by some and praised by others. Some of the vitriol, not surprising, have been coming from other blacks. I've read some of it and had commented on another blog where hating Justice Thomas is an everyday thing. From claiming that Thomas hates himself and other blacks to him claiming victimhood these other blacks are just that, other. The book is a very good read and everyone regardless of political or social ideology should read it. After all, that's how we learn right?

Word of the Day

Mendacity
a lie; falsehood.
(one of my favorite words)

A Yawner

YAWWWNNNNN!

I think I'll skip the remaing debates and just keep track of the candidates via the news, web sites etc.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

When I was a college student I use to hang out with a group of guys who were very political and I learned a lot from them. These guys added to my political science studies by their heart felt and passionate stand on various political ideologies. Years later, I find that a lot of college students are quite apathetic. I have not seen much evidence of their concern for issues local or national. Their concern runs as deep as their need for another drink at the local pub. I remember a student telling me that he checked off "Independent" on the voter registration card so he wouldn't have to vote. To say I was alarmed is an understatement. Some students, however, are very involved and actually know what's going on in the world around them. I appreciate their comments albeit charged with liberal bias. But I recently read this article and it gave me hope, imagine that, as to what college students are really thinking and doing. In the article, the author, Nicholas Handler gave me food for thought, a chuckle and a need to follow college students around to listen in on their conversations.

"We live our lives in masks and speak our minds in a dead language - the language of a society that expects us to agitate because that's what young people do. But how do we rebel against a generation that is expecting, anticipating, nostalgic for revolution? How do we rebel against parents who sometimes seem to want revolution more than we do? We don't." He goes on to say that their rebelling is done on the Internet on such sites as MoveOn.org. I say this article gives me hope because it sets me straight as to whether or not kids care about what's going on around them. I was happy to find out that they are "agitating" and are "putting it in their own words." So, at the end of the day it doesn't have to be my revolution it just has to be a revolution.