Note: I must have been drinking wine when I scheduled this as it was supposed to be posted next Monday – not Wednesday! Oh, well, I will leave it up. Cheers!
Note: I must have been drinking wine when I scheduled this as it was supposed to be posted next Monday – not Wednesday! Oh, well, I will leave it up. Cheers!
May love and tolerance prevail over hate and fear.
We have all been touched by Pulse.
May love bring peace to those who have lost family and friends.
We will not live in fear or in the shadows.
For anyone wanting to donate, here is a link to Pulse Tragedy Community Fund.
Men/Women
Boys/Girls
Cowboys/Cowgirls
Lads/Lassies
Roosters/Hens
Dudes/Chicks
Guys/Gals
Gents/Ladies
As humans we share the need to relieve ourselves and must resort to seeking out public facilities when away from home. What is a normal function has become controversial. One state, North Carolina, has passed HB2 requiring people to use the restroom (in certain public entities)that corresponds with the sex on their birth certificate. Conservative Republicans and activists in Texas are urging the Texas legislature to pass something similar in the next session nine months from now. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick agrees and has declared that it will be a priority; Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has promised his support. It seems some cisgenders are afraid to share these bio breaks with transgenders. Why?
One argument is that men should not be allowed in a women’s restroom because they might attack/rape women and girls. There is no evidence of dangerous predators pretending to be transgender in American bathrooms What about their safety? Dressed as a female, are they expected to enter a men’s restroom and feel safe? Are the cisgender males who are pushing the issue the ones who are afraid but cover up by claiming they are only protecting women and girls? Women can and do stand up for themselves.
Things have been working fine so far without government restroom rules, and transgenders have been using the facility of their choice without any fuss. Transgenders are ordinary people with careers in business, government, broadcasting, fashion and movies; they are students and volunteers; for those in the military, policies are changing too. Some transition young and some later in life. Passing unnecessary legislation simply stigmatizes them, makes them feel that they do not belong and harms the entire LGBT community.
While I don’t fully understand gender dysphoria, it is real and important to those who experience it. I also believe that ignorance, fear, bigotry and even hatred drives some of these attitudes against transgenders. Perhaps some are pushing this for their own political and personal ambitions while fueling prejudice, fear and suspicion.
Chuck Smith, executive director of Equality in Texas expressed his feelings this way, “These proposed gender-police laws are a solution in search of a problem, and actually it’s pandering and it’s dangerous.” I AGREE!
Husband and I are silhouetted in the James Turrell tunnel, “The Light Inside,” at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas.
The tunnel connects two buildings of the museum and seems a fairly normal route for pedestrian traffic at first. Then we were enveloped in a light that challenged reality and space as darkness beckoned from either side while the black-clad museum guard urged us to stay on the black walkway. I had visions of the River Styx and was grateful to find that the other side merely led to more museum exhibits with normal lighting.
Learn more about American artist James Turrell’s obsession with light and space here.
DO YOU HAVE A CAPTION TO SUGGEST?
Suggested so far via comments:
“Loving life!” – Eric Tonningsen
“Elegantly simply sleeping platforms. I do adore them. The waterbeds were fine, but darling they were so ‘last year.'” – Belocchio
“Just for once, I would like to see you get the gazelle in the morning.”– John W. Howell
“Why does SHE always get the top bunk?” – crowingcrone
“Can you keep it down to a dull roar please, we’re TRYING to sleep…” – clinock
“Wake me when its over!” – oilpastelsbymary
“She always gets the best spot!” – Andrea Stephenson
“Sweet dreams!” – Virginia Views
“Superbowl and Marti Gras in the same week is just too much!” – philosophermouseofthehedge”
“You just HAD to complain about the thread count on the sheets at the hotel, didn’t you?” – WriterinSoul
“Wake not a sleeping lion – which apparently means (Don’t ask for trouble. It’s safer to leave things as they are) – Chez Shea
I THINK MINE IS GOING TO BE AN ADVENTURE!
The “Happy Holidays” seem to stretch from Halloween until New Year’s Day. Here is one of my favorite songs for the madness of the season.
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu
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