Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Yes! To The DAR!

 The Daughters of the American Revolution just stood up for us! The far right Washington Times owned by the Moonies (Unification Church) wrote;
By Valerie Richardson 
June 27, 2026


The Daughters of the American Revolution beat back a membership uprising over transgender membership, rejecting a resolution that would have barred male-born candidates from being admitted to the venerable women’s patriotic organization.

DAR members defeated the resolution, which would have clarified that applicants must be “born female” to be eligible for membership, at a Friday vote of the 135th Continental Congress at Memorial Continental Hall in the District.

Introduced by a cohort of members known as Daughters Advocating for Restoration, the proposal lost by a 1,481-984 vote of the assembly, according to Laura McDonald, a leader of the resistance group and treasurer of the DAR’s Martha Laird Chapter in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

“Today the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose motto is ‘God, Home and Country,’ voted to reject a resolution that seeks to define the word ‘woman’ in our National Bylaws,” Ms. McDonald said in a statement to The Washington Times.

“While admitting men with amended birth certificates is still a violation of the bylaws, I do believe the will of the assembly was heard today,” she said. “We don’t know what the future holds or what God’s plan is, but we do know He has a plan and we trust Him.”
We have allies who are willing to step up for us.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

There is a difference. In Illinois the governor just signed three bill that protect our rights to get IDs in our true gender, and then other two guarantees our medication.
“We are a few steps closer to a state where all can live their lives without fear of hate,” said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D)
LGBTQ Nation
Molly Sprayregen (She/Her)
June 29, 2026


On Sunday, just hours before he marched in the Chicago Pride Parade, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed three trans rights bills into law.

HB 5095 solidifies the process for trans people to correct the gender marker on their IDs to male, female, or X. HB 5492 mandates that insurance companies cover up to a 6-month supply of prescribed hormone therapy, as well as “the necessary supplies for self-administration.” Both laws take effect on January 1, 2027.

HB 4834 updates the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program (ILPMP) to remove testosterone and prohibit the addition of estrogen, mifepristone, and misoprostol. The law, effective immediately, will prevent the database, which is used to prevent certain drugs from being overprescribed, from being abused to prevent folks from obtaining gender-affirming and reproductive health care.
But that is now all, later the governor...
Pritzker then posted a video of himself touting the bills as he prepared to march in Chicago’s Pride Parade. “It’s very important to me that we have a state that stands up and protects the people who live here,” he said. “So I’m very happy, very proud, frankly, to live in the state of Illinois. I hope you are, too.”

Pritzker has been fighting for LGBTQ+ rights long before it was popular, as evidenced by a photo of him that often makes the rounds on social media, in which he is marching in the 1993 Pride parade.
Yes, Virginia, There are governors that support us.

Monday, June 29, 2026

Wow! Nineteen Years And Counting!

I was just thinking, “What a long, strange trip it’s been!”

I first went out as Diana… it was like, “Oh wow! I don’t believe that I’m doing this!” The year was 1999. The month was September. I contacted a support group…

At the end of the email, she told me when and where they met. I summoned all my courage and drove there.

And the place was empty… no lights except the motion detector. Oops — it was last weekend, the second weekend of the month! So I went to the October meeting… and for the first time in my life, I was with other trans people!

I became their activity director… then eventually the director.

I heard that there was another support group called the Twenty Club (their newsletters are archived here), and I started going — something to do on a Saturday afternoon. At one meeting, this girl came in and one side of her face was all swollen and bruised. She had been beaten up on a job site in Bridgeport. When the police didn’t arrest the people who beat her, she raised her voice — and she was arrested. That was when I became an activist.

I was at a Pride event in Hartford, next to Jerimarie at the CT TransAdvocacy Coalition. In between lulls in the Pride traffic, we talked. She told me about CTAC, and I became the director of it a few years later.



I’ve seen it all when it comes to transitioning.

I’ve seen those who rushed through it in months. I’ve seen those who hadn’t even socially transitioned demand surgery — and the surgeon said no. So she took a plane trip to Thailand. I never saw her again.

I’ve seen those who had a chip on their shoulder and were mad at the world.

I’ve seen those who were like me — transitioning part-time at first. I was male at work, and all the rest of the time I was Diana. Dipping a toe in the water to test it.

I’ve seen families disown their loved ones — and families reunite.

I’ve seen couples stay together. Couples break up over a transition. I’ve seen couples break up and then come back together again.

I’ve seen trans people change their orientation.

I’ve seen those who detransitioned — and some who retransitioned.

I have known some who were murdered. I have known succumb to the hate, 



I’ve worked to pass legislation. I’ve given trainings in colleges. I’ve given trainings in maximum-security prisons. I am now working to help end social isolation for seniors.

Methinks thou dost protest too much

Have you notice that it seems like those who yell the loudest against us, have a lot hidden in the closet.
Silas Shelton had objected to Heartstopper at a school book fair, saying LGBTQ+ books posed a “mental health” risk to children.
The Advocate
Desiree Guerrero
Jun 29, 2026


Silas Shelton, a church pastor from Clinton County, Ohio, was sentenced to prison Monday for sex crimes against a child that occurred in 2019. He was arrested in October of last year and charged with multiple felonies.

Supporters of both the victim and Shelton filled the courtroom, anxiously anticipating the judge’s ruling, as reported by local tri-state CBS affiliate WKRC. However, statements by Shelton’s supporters and his attorney claiming he was a good family man and a pillar of the community didn’t carry much weight with Judge Andrew McCoy, who ultimately imposed the maximum sentence.

Prosecuting attorney Brian Shidaker explained to the court that Shelton, 48, took advantage of the victim due to her impressionable age, his close relationship with her family, and his leading role in the church. He’d even arranged a job for the victim, apparently in an attempt to be alone with her.
You know he is not the first nor the last to try to hide behind fake moral outrage against us.

The Ninetieth Year

June 29, 2007 @ 11:00AM I transitioned. (How do I know the time? That was when I got layoff)

I can say it with certainly has been a long strange trip.

Any regrets? Nope not a one.

Back when I was starting to realize that I could transition and still survive I wrote this...
Trans-
I look in the mirror and I see a man.
I blink, and I see a woman.
But, I am I.
I don’t feel any different.
How can I be both?
Can both survive?
Will one have to be destroyed, in order for the other to live?
Will I still be me?
And in these 19 year I have found the answer... yes.



I wrote this back in August, so I hope that I am around to read this.

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock

Time is running out for the Supreme Court to end this session on the last day in June, here are some of the cases waiting a verdict and we are on the list!

1. Transgender Rights & Sports (West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Heacox)  The Court is set to rule on state-level bans that prohibit transgender women and girls from competing in female sports categories. These cases are monumental because they test the boundaries of Title IX (the federal law banning sex discrimination in education) and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The ruling will establish a major nationwide precedent for LGBTQ+ rights and gender identity protections.  

2. Voting Rights & Mail-In Ballots (Watson v. Republican National Committee)This election law case challenges state "grace periods" for mail-in voting. Specifically, the RNC is arguing that federal law strictly defines "Election Day" as the first Tuesday in November, meaning any ballots received after that date—even if postmarked on or before Election Day—should not count. A ruling here could fundamentally change how states administer mail-in voting and impact future election outcomes.  

3. Executive Power Over Independent Agencies Following a trend of targeting federal agency powers, the Court is weighing a significant challenge regarding the president’s authority to directly fire heads of independent regulatory agencies. A ruling in favor of expanding executive control would drastically alter the independence of bodies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Federal Reserve.  

4. Gun Rights & Concealed Carry LawsFollowing up on previous Second Amendment expansions, the Court is reviewing local and state-level restrictions—specifically regarding where concealed-carry permit holders are allowed to bring firearms (such as challenges to "sensitive places" restrictions like private properties open to the public).  

5. Electoral Redistricting (Louisiana v. Callais / Allen v. Milligan follow-ups)The justices are still sorting through intense battles over racial gerrymandering and voting maps. The upcoming rulings will decide whether states must redraw congressional districts to create more majority-Black or minority-opportunity districts, heavily influencing the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This is the biggie West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Heacox our human rights is on the line! Will they rule that being trans or lesbian or gay is something we are born with could affect us for a generation or more. Oyez writes:
Facts of the case
B.P.J. is a transgender girl who has identified as female since the third grade. At the onset of puberty, B.P.J. began taking puberty blockers and estrogen for medical treatment of gender dysphoria, effectively halting male pubertal development and aligning her physical characteristics with those of cisgender girls. Since her social transition, B.P.J. has consistently lived as a girl at school and participated on girls’ athletic teams. In 2021, West Virginia enacted the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which requires public school and collegiate sports teams to be designated based on “biological sex” and excludes individuals identified as male at birth from participating on female teams. This law, by its design and effect, prevented B.P.J. from continuing to compete on her school’s girls’ cross-country and track teams.

Shortly after the Act took effect, B.P.J., through her mother, sued the West Virginia State Board of Education and other state and county education officials, as well as the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. She alleged that excluding her from girls’ sports violated the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX. The State of West Virginia intervened to defend the law. Initially, the district court granted B.P.J. a preliminary injunction, allowing her to participate on girls’ teams pending litigation. However, at summary judgment, the district court reversed course and upheld the law, concluding that the classification on the basis of “biological sex” was substantially related to the important government interest in ensuring fairness and opportunity in girls’ athletics. The court granted summary judgment to the defendants and denied B.P.J.’s cross-motion, holding that the exclusion of B.P.J. from girls’ sports did not violate the Constitution or Title IX. On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded. It held that application of the law to B.P.J. violated Title IX and that factual disputes precluded summary judgment against her equal protection claim.

Question

Does Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause prohibit a state from assigning students to girls’ and boys’ sports teams based on their biological sex as determined at birth?

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Yes, Today Is The Anniversary Of Stonewall

[Editorial]

But Stonewall wasn't the first time we stood up for our rights. There were many other times dating back years earlier:

  • Cooper Do-nuts Riot — 1959
  • Dewey's Restaurant sit-ins — 1965
  • Compton's Cafeteria riot — 1966
  • Black Cat Tavern protest — 1967

There is a great debate about whether or not these events should be called “riots” or “uprisings.” I will explain my distinction between the two. A “riot” is a violent outbreak, like after the Knicks win. An “uprising” can be a peaceful or violent act meant to shake off the yoke of oppression.

Why did the police raid these bars? (Besides the fact that they didn’t get their payoff that month—or due to political pressure from city leadership.)

Because of trans people. Gay men and lesbians were harder to prove in court when they were simply present. But for trans people, there were laws. In many places, we were required to wear a certain number of items of “male clothing”—in some cases, absurd rules like socks counting as one item.

We were the bedrock of the Stonewall movement.

But something happened on the way to the first NYC Pride parade: we were told not to come. However, we were not alone in being excluded. They also didn’t want “wimpy” gay men or “butch” lesbians. They wanted only white, “respectable” gays and lesbians—those who could assimilate into society. And thus, “Gay Inc.” was born, where the “Holy Grail” became marriage.

Back before the turn of the century, the professional organization began to shift away from the more rigid Harry Benjamin Standards toward what would become the WPATH standards of care. Under the old standards, I would likely not have been allowed to transition for two reasons.

As I like to say: “If you can’t tell I’m trans, you need glasses and a hearing aid!”

The second reason is that I am attracted to women. Under earlier standards, I would have been told I couldn’t be a “true transsexual” because of that attraction.

Now we are visible—and that visibility has also made us targets of conservatives.

So on this anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, let us remember our roots.

[/Editorial]



I Agree.

We all have seen it: too many people use their religion to justify their bigotry. As a good friend wrote this...
As a Black trans Christian, I have serious issues with the selective outrage of these San Francisco Giants pitchers and their Pride caps.
Out Sports
Karleigh Webb
June 16, 2026


Three things you can be sure of in sports each June.

First, somebody will have a Pride Night.

Second, someone will have a public snit about it.

And third, that someone will use the Bible to justify their nonsense.

The latest to follow that predictable route was the group of San Francisco Giants pitchers who decided to wear their now-infamous defaced rainbow logo Pride caps with a scrawled Bible verse, some form of Genesis 9:11-16. The aftermath of the flood, the promise to Noah to never again flood the earth and the symbol of the promise, the rainbow.
They say they are Christians, but they cherry-pick the parts they want and ignore the rest.
One of the players, Landen Roupp, when asked about that symbolism of the rainbow to lesbian, gay, bi and trans people — and the players’ booming statement against it — said, “First of all, as a believer, I would push them to read the Bible,”

Let’s talk believer to believer. Yes, in addition to being a Black trans woman and a sportswriter , I’m a church-going, praying-without-ceasing, footwashing Christian.

[...]

This past Sunday my pastor, faithful like me and trans like me, put forth a point to ponder in his sermon.

“We’ve been an independent nation for 250 years,” he said. “But many people would not call our nation free.”

Given the actions of certain sectors of our body politic and decisions made at home and abroad, the nation’s birthday would be ripe for dissension.
As I have said before, I am not religious, but I believe in God... just not organized religion.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catechism, and the one thing I remember from that time is this:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

— Gospel of Matthew 22:37–40
So I think those who hide behind the Bible to justify their animosity toward us have flunked the test.
 

Connecting the Dots

[Editorial]

School vouchers.
Dismantling the Department of Education.
Warehousing the homeless.
Institutionalization of the disabled.
Pogroms against trans people.
Cuts to SNAP.
Cuts to WIC.
New work regulations for Medicaid.
Tax cuts for billionaires.
Weakening environmental laws.

Trump campaigned on smaller government. But if you connect the dots, an interesting pattern can be seen. It is a model of the “K-shaped” economy.

Take education: they have cut back on funding for public schools, but the reality is that schools have fixed costs. They must heat the building, keep the lights on, and handle maintenance. Vouchers are causing public schools to delay these needed repairs.

Meanwhile, private schools can take the “cream of the crop!” The best scholars! The best athletes! At the same time, they can keep out "undesirables" like the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and people of other faiths, like Jewish people and Muslims.

Then we have the tax cuts for Trump’s billionaire friends. He dismissed at least 17 inspectors general from federal departments and agencies. He appointed former CEOs to run the very regulatory agencies that oversaw the industries they came from. Now, regulatory agencies are looking the other way as xAI centers run gas turbines without environmental permits, leaving neighbors to complain of a constant hum 24/7.

Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage hasn't changed since July 24, 2009, when it increased to $7.25 per hour. They made the ACA (Obamacare) unfavorable to the middle class. He has cut federal assistance programs and added burdens to those receiving benefits, leaving them struggling to get by.

When have these indicators happened in the past? In modern times, it has happened twice.
The first time, we called the elite “Robber Barons” in the 1890s. The second time was during the ostentatious display of wealth in the Roaring Twenties, which crashed into the 1930s.

In the mid-1800s, Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities (1859):
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief…”
Does that sound familiar now?

Back in the 1890s, there were a number of revolutions around the world: the Brazilian Revolution of 1893, the Philippine Revolution (1896–1898), and the Cuban War of Independence, which led into the Spanish–American War.

And don’t forget WWI, sparked by the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. Then, in the 1940s, we had WWII. How did Hitler and Mussolini get into power? On the shoulders of wealthy industrialists.

How did we break the cycle in the past? We need to look back at the administration of Theodore Roosevelt… the “Trustbuster!”

When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, my father was a teacher. The neighbors were all hardworking factory workers, office workers, store owners, and store clerks. Yet, we could afford cottages, boats, and vacations. The mothers were stay-at-home moms; we only needed one income for a family of four to live comfortably. My summer job even paid my college tuition.

But now, people in those exact same positions are struggling to make ends meet. What we also share with those past eras is discrimination. First, it was the Irish and the Italians. But what really set conservatives off were the Chinese, which is when they started passing exclusionary laws. In Germany, Japan, and other Axis powers, xenophobia ran rampant, using minorities as scapegoats.

Have I connected the dots?

[/Editorial]

Maybe It Is A Good Thing...

That I can't get a passport.

Because of Trump we cannot get passports in our true gender, but maybe in a way it is a good thing... would you want to carry around a picture of Trump?


The Brief
  • President Trump will be the first living president to be featured on the U.S. passport. 
  • He shared an updated image of the limited edition America 250 passport Saturday. 
  • His stern face is featured prominently.
President Donald Trump has released an updated image of the limited edition America 250 passports featuring his face and name. 

The State Department first announced a passport featuring Trump in April, but the images shared Saturday are different. Trump will be the first living president to be featured on the U.S. passport. Here’s the latest: 
Department of Interior

And don't forget that he wants his picture on currency.


After I published this last night I came across this article, it turns out that he stuck his face also on the NPS passes back in January!
NPR
By Windsor Johnston
January 9, 2026


The National Park Service has updated its policy to discourage visitors from defacing a picture of President Trump on this year's pass.

The use of an image of Trump on the 2026 pass — rather than the usual picture of nature — has sparked a backlash, sticker protests, and a lawsuit from a conservation group.

The $80 annual America the Beautiful pass gives visitors access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Since 2004, the pass has typically showcased sweeping landscapes or iconic wildlife, selected through a public photo contest. Past winners have featured places like Arches National Park in Utah and images of bison roaming the plains.

Instead, of a picture of nature, this year's design shows side-by-side portraits of Presidents George Washington and Trump. The new design has drawn criticism from parkgoers and ignited a wave of "do-it-yourself" resistance.
Is this song fitting or what?
You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain (you're so vain)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you, don't you?
You’re So Vain by Carly Simon
[I am glad I have a lifetime NPS pass.]



I asked Gemini: What does it say about mentally about a person that wants his picture on everything and his name up on walls?

From a psychological standpoint, someone who insists on putting their face on everything and plastering their name across walls is exhibiting behavior deeply rooted in egocentricity, status-seeking, and a profound need for external validation.

While it’s impossible to diagnose someone without a clinical evaluation, psychologists and behaviorists typically look at a few distinct underlying traits to explain this kind of behavior:

1. Narcissism and Grandiosity
At the most obvious level, this aligns with narcissistic personality traits.

The Drive: An inflated sense of self-importance and a belief that they are unique or superior.

The Manifestation: Seeing their own face and name everywhere serves as a constant feedback loop that validates their perceived greatness. It’s an attempt to force the world to mirror their own high self-opinion back at them.

2. Deep-Seated Insecurity and Fragile Ego
Paradoxically, the loudest bark often comes from the most frightened dog.

The Drive: A massive, omnipresent public image is often used to mask intense inner vulnerability or a fear of insignificance.

The Manifestation: If the inner sense of self is fragile, they require constant, inescapable external reminders of their power and existence. It's a psychological armor; if their name is on the wall, they can’t be ignored or forgotten.

3. Hyper-Focus on Legacy and Symbolic Immortality
In psychology, Terror Management Theory suggests that humans have a deep dread of their own mortality and insignificance.

The Drive: To defeat death by becoming unforgettable.

The Manifestation: Writing one's name on walls is one of the oldest human impulses (think of ancient pharaohs or even graffiti). It is a literal attempt to carve oneself into history, ensuring that their presence outlasts their physical existence.

4. Territorialism and Dominance
This behavior is also highly behavioral and primitive.

The Drive: Marking territory.

The Manifestation: Much like an animal marking its boundaries, plastering a name or face on a building or product is a claim of ownership and dominance over that space. It sends a psychological message to everyone else: "This is my kingdom, and you are just visiting."

The Bottom Line:
While it presents outwardly as supreme confidence and power, mentally, it usually signals a mind that is entirely dependent on external reflection to feel whole. A truly secure person doesn't need a wall to remind them—or anyone else—of who they are.
Then I asked: Could that person be easily maniputated? 

Yes, surprisingly easily. In fact, people with this specific psychological profile—hyper-focused on their own ego, status, and public image—are often among the most predictable and vulnerable targets for manipulation.

Because their psychological drivers are so out in the open, a manipulator doesn’t have to guess what they want. The blueprint is right there on the wall.

Here is exactly how that vulnerability is exploited:

1. The Flattery Trap (Ego-Stroking)
Because this person is entirely dependent on external validation to maintain their grand image, they have a massive hunger for praise.

The Vulnerability: They usually cannot distinguish between genuine admiration and calculated flattery.

How it works: A manipulator simply feeds them the exact narrative they want to believe about themselves. By telling them they are the smartest, most powerful, or most visionary person in the room, the manipulator lowers the person's defensive guard completely. Once they trust the source of their "ego fix," they become highly compliant.

2. Strategic Isolation (Weaponizing the Ego)
People who need their face on everything are incredibly sensitive to criticism or anything that threatens their self-image.

The Vulnerability: They tend to view the world in black-and-white: people are either "loyal fans" or "haters."

How it works: A manipulator can easily isolate this person by whispering that their trusted advisors, friends, or family are "jealous," "not giving them enough credit," or "trying to steal the spotlight." The target will often cut off honest, truth-telling allies in favor of the manipulator, who pretends to be their only "true" supporter.

3. Public Shaming and "The Dare"
Because their public reputation is their most prized possession, the threat of looking weak or foolish can drive them to make incredibly reckless decisions.

The Vulnerability: They will do almost anything to avoid a blow to their pride.

How it works: You can manipulate this person by framing a desired action as a test of their courage or status. Phrases like "Most people wouldn't be bold enough to pull this off, but you're different," or "If you don't do this, people might think you're backing down," are incredibly effective. They will walk right into a trap just to prove they are as powerful as they claim to be.

4. Giving Away the Credit
A secure person cares about the actual outcome of a project. An insecure, ego-driven person cares about who gets the applause.

The Vulnerability: They value symbolic victories over substantive ones.

How it works: A clever manipulator will gladly do all the heavy lifting, make the actual decisions behind the scenes, and let the target take 100% of the public credit. The target is so thrilled to put their name on the finished product and stand in front of the cameras that they completely miss the fact that they were just an instrument for someone else's agenda.

The Paradox of Power
This person usually believes they are the master puppeteer controlling everyone around them. In reality, their massive ego is a giant handle that anyone with a little bit of tactical praise can grab onto and use to lead them wherever they want.


I use AIs as a sounding board for my thoughts and logic. I was in a heated discussion with DuckDuckGo AI about how what we see around us is a pogrom... the AI said that wasn't true. So started a debate with the AI to show how the trans community thinks that the AI came around and saw that from a trans perspective it feels like a pogrom...
That makes sense. When things feel uncertain and threatening, that lyric can hit hard. “The future’s not ours to see” captures the fear of not knowing how bad things may get, and the “handwriting on the wall” feeling is often what people have when they see warning signs piling up.
I pointed out;
  • Has trump hung banners of himself on the Department of the Interior: with the slogan "America's First"?
  • Has trump hung banners of himself on the Department of Justice: Displays Trump’s face with the slogan "Make America Safe Again"?
  • Has trump hung banners of himself on the Department of Labor: with the with the slogan "American Workers First"?
  • Has trump hung banners of himself on the Department of Agriculture: Displays a massive portrait of Trump alongside the slogan "Growing America Since 1862"?
  • Are not these banners like the ones Mussolini and Hitler hung banners of themselves around their countries?
  • Haven't republican politicians  called for us to be jailed just because we are trans?