Decidedly Obscure Human Complaints.

I worked for the company that I was laid off from for approximately 3 years doing front-end web development. I was hired on to a little team of tolerant, diverse people by a wacky feller with funny glasses who cared that a.) we were all tolerant and got along and b.) could do our jobs. Done and done. All was well in the land of employment. Then the wacky boss with funny glasses left. His position was filled by someone else who happens to be much more conservative and also LDS. I learned about his more conservative perspectives after a co-worker introduced me to his blog, which consisted of many posts complaining about the country taking a nose dive into socialism now that Obama's President, about the LGBQT community persecuting the victim Mormons over Proposition 8, etc.). Incrementally the team members I initially worked with dropped off and new team members popped up. One in particular instantly became my boss's favorite. ♥Derek♥. LDS. 6 kids. Brigham Young Univer...

Update! Some news and whatnot has come out this morning in regards to last night's debate: KSL.com: University hosts heated debate over gay rights The University of Utah hosted a spirited debate Thursday night between Equality Utah and the Sutherland Institute. The two groups have very differing opinions on the issue at hand: gay rights and the Common Ground Initiative. Deseret News: Groups debate Common Ground he debate between the Sutherland Institute and Equality Utah, two of the biggest players in the battle over gay rights in Utah, was scheduled and the topic selected weeks before the event took place Thursday night. The question: Should the Utah Legislature pass the Common Ground Initiative? Salt Lake Tribune: Gay-rights advocates, foes face off Gay-rights bills have been snuffed out for the 2009 legislative session, but the discussion burns on. dav.d photography: Equality Utah vs. Sutherland Institute Debate Her!  In red! What in the heck was her name? Sheri som...

A bit of forewarning! These next couple of posts are going to be a bit broody. See, lately I've been feeling like the little engine that couldn't . putt putt putt... Despite being surrounded by people who love and support me, some times it gets to me - the feeling that a lot of influential people in the state I've always called my home have a lot of fear and hate towards those of us who don't quite fit in the binary or heterosexual folds of life, which some of us experience in hyperdrive from a little red state bubble called Utah. Yesterday the last two bills of the Common Ground Initiative were defeated and grody, hate-filled dust has been kicked up all over the place. For example, Utah representative Chris Buttars was recently quoted as saying " Homosexuality will always be a sexual perversion. And you say that around here now, and everybody goes nuts. But I don't care. " Then, referring to LGBQT activists, " They're mean. They want to ...

The political trananigans I've discovered in Utah are vast and abundant. Just the other night, for example, I attended a trans-specific lobbyist training that was presented by Equality Utah and we had another transtacular activist meeting. Go red state go! I decided to go to this training since, well, the prospect of lobbying has always been an intimidating one to me. Not just because it sounds very foreign and daunting, but, on another level, I’ve worried that my presence would do more damage to a cause I care about than aid it just due to being gender variant and having a more non-LDS-looking appearance. Even if I spruced up, I’d worried that an LDS (Latter-day Saints/Mormon) representative, for example, wouldn’t be able to relate to me in any way, shape, or form and could even be afraid of me. I feared that it would be an entirely ineffective – even potentially damaging – experience. I’ve been feeling differently about this lately, though. On one level, being out has boos...

Yesterday I was on a public mens restroom ROLL. It's interesting to me that, despite the anxiety I've experienced in regards to the prospect of using mens restrooms (in regards to mostly being concerned about a potentially violent or embarrassing encounter if I don't "pass"), it's been much more comfortable than using public womens restrooms has ever been. I'd just adjusted. It felt normal to constantly anticipate that there would be a scene, that someone may gasp or scream, that security might be called; that someone would walk in, walk out to double-check the sign, and walk in again and tell me I'm in the wrong bathroom. On and on. The fact that going into male-only spaces that are potentially physically dangerous is LESS anxiety-inducing than using womens restrooms has been is just, astounding to me. And this is throughout my teenage and adult life, even prior to coming out as a trans person. Frequently I felt the urge to do something to fem...

Earlier today I attended a very rainy rally in support of the Common Ground Initiative (which are a series of 6 bills - more info here !) that stem from statements the LDS Church made during and after California’s Proposition 8 campaign like " we’re not anti-gay " and " the Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples. " Oh, and also, Elder L. Whitney Clayton even explicitly stated the LDS Church does not oppose " civil unions or domestic partnerships. " Meaning, marriage is not the issue in this case, basic civil rights are; like housing & workplace protection (in Utah it's legal to fire someone if they're even perceived as being LGBT), death benefits, expanded health care for partners, etc., which everyone - including members of the LDS Church - can entirely agree with. In fact, something really inspirational is that three statewide polls have been released in the past week, including one by the SL Tribune and Equality Utah showi...

I was successful at doing my own injection last night ! That whole hand shaking fiasco didn't kick in, fortunately, and I was able to perforate myself and slowly slide that evil, long needle in; felt it go through various layers of thigh meat. I have evolved from my diapers of shaking and whimpering to my underroo's of self-injection. It probably isn't as big of a feat as I'm making it out to be, but stabbing one's self is a bit against the grain of my intuitive human nature! I can't help but to feel proud. And mighty. My friend came over to be on standby in the event that hand shaking nonsense kicked up again. She had the most supportive, calming attitude. " Mel, you're not shaking one bit, you're doing just fine. Just stick it in, it's no biggie... ", and then, once it was in, " Ooo, good job! Now remember to slide it back, see if there's any blood... " She was great. The process turned out to be tremendously easy and s...