Pride is great, but queer folk need legal protections, too.

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker endeared himself to me yet again, this time by “sign(ing) an executive order on Sunday that aims to help strengthen protections for transgender students in the state’s schools.”

When I came out to my family, almost thirty years ago, my hope was that my parents, brothers and sisters would look at queer people with new eyes. With an openly gay member of the family, I assumed they would confront the bias and homophobia that was on full display when I was growing up. It would have been easier to lie and stay in the closet, but I’ve never been very good at deceit and – besides – I figured that there was bound to be another queer kid in the next generation. I told myself that by coming out, I would guarantee that the next queer kid wouldn’t be taught to hate themselves for being something other than heterosexual.

Hoo boy, was I wrong. The first of my siblings’ kids to come out as transgender met an even worse response than I did. Family members openly discussed finding a judge who would commit the young adult in question to a mental facility, purely on the basis of identifying as transgender. When my partner and I announced we’d be joining the family Christmas gathering to support our freshly-out kin, I was told by my own mother that we were not welcome at the family gathering, or even the state in which the gathering was being held.

One of the lessons I’ve taken away from my personal nightmare is that as queer folk we cannot rely upon unwritten promises or vague assurances from people who identify as allies. If we want equality, we need that equality to be enshrined in the law.

4-20 Impressions

I’ve been cleaning out my phone, prepping for a switch to a new model. Moving images, contacts, and all that stuff should be easy, but over the years I also created over 250 text memos, some fanciful (see the previous post) and some more sober. This particular snippet captures my impressions of the celebration of 4-20 in Chicago this year.

A crowd of more than a hundred people. Ages, gender, apparent socio-economic status, all diverse. Maybe the most diverse event I’ve ever attended in Chicago.

Let us give thanks the day is warm.

Activists are active. A man has stood rock still beside a concrete flower bed for half an hour. His shoes are nice. Now he tilts his head forward. Now back. Now, he puts his hands in the planter. He could have my chair, but he doesn’t want a chair. He wants to hunch over the planter, fingers in the dirt, repotting himself on 4-20.

Based on the rate of customers processed during my wait so far, I’m guessing that inside customers are treated to a slide show and oral history of weed throughout the ages before being allowed to purchase product.

Smoking weed is strictly forbidden at the street festival. A wasted man sits opposite me, basking in the sun and warmth of the edibles consumed (he whispers to those of us in the vicinity) an hour ago.

What a strange new holiday this is.

Here we are now

We’ve reached the point in American history when an elected leader sides with a lunatic Korean dictator who murders his enemies in brutal fashion… over a Democrat who has spent much of his life in public service.

If you voted for the guy in the White House, you’re responsible for what he does. Is this the America in which you want to live?

Liars, damned liars.

My late father raised me to respect conservative thought. He insisted that despite ideological differences, Republicans remained just as committed to fair play and the rule of law as the opposition.

Today’s behavior by William Barr – which even Fox News found to be unseemly, and unworthy of the Attorney General’s office – convinces me that there are, in fact, no more honorable people under the Republican banner. Just liars, damned liars, and apologists for wretched, unethical behavior.

And I’m pretty sure, after today, even my late father would agree with me.