Empower Yourself Today

I just signed the pledge to #SupportTransYouth during Freedom for All Americans’ Transgender Youth Week of Action, happening from March 29 through April 2.

Why are we standing up for transgender youth this week? Right now state legislatures are considering 78 bills attacking transgender kids and young people. In Mississippi, one of those bills—a sports ban—just became the first anti-transgender bill signed into law this year.

Thousands of us speaking out can stop these attacks, by keeping the pressure on elected officials to reject these damaging anti-transgender bills. Will you join me in speaking out? Say you #SupportTransYouth during this Transgender Youth Week of Action.

Just sign the pledge here:

https://freedomforallamericans.org/transyouth/

Thanks!

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2021/03/11/new-bill-would-to-ban-michigan-transgender-student-athletes-teams-aligned-with-gender-identity/

Gift the gift of queer books to a Genders and Sexualities Alliances (GSA) or similar LGBTQ+ affinity club at a school near you! With your donation, we will send a set of five or more books to the group of your choosing (while supplies last).
The set will include a random selection of LGBTQ+ books donated by generous publishers at Hachette Book Group, Harper Collins, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster.
Once you place your order, you will receive an email with a form to fill out to get the books to the right group.
Books pictured might be included in box depending on availability.
100% of proceeds support the mission of the It Gets Better Project to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe!
Limited to shipping within the United States.
It Gets Better 10th Anniversary

https://lnkd.in/eHBMv9s

Subject: Send a letter: Tell Congress LGBT Elders Have Waited Long Enough

Body:

Friend,

As someone who believes that all LGBT people deserve to feel safe and protected from discrimination under the law, I joined SAGE’s campaign and wrote a letter to my representatives asking them to support civil rights legislation.

LGBT elders shouldn’t be forced to endure discrimination while seeking housing, long-term care, and healthcare, especially during a global pandemic. By sending a letter to my representatives, I am making it known that I – and LGBT elder pioneers – refuse to be invisible, and that we need nationwide civil rights protections. Join me in sending a letter today and explain to your representatives why LGBT people, across the nation, especially LGBT older people, deserve non-discrimination protections. Sharing our stories with elected officials is one of the most effective ways to make change, so join me in making our voices heard. Click here to write a letter: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/lgbt-elders-have-waited-long-enough?source=email&

A 3-Year Statewide Training Project for Teams ofSelf-Advocates and Professionals to Become Sexuality Educators and Lead Classes for People with I/DD

Did you know that October 21 marks the third annual International Pronouns Day? The event seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns a daily practice.

My pronouns are He, Him, and Them. I knew growing up I was different then other guys. While my attraction can be labeled as Gay. My love for 80’s music and sissy things for the longest time had no word until someone asked me for my pronouns. The masculine cisgender ones didn’t seem to fit me. As I type this feel more secure and happier. My mom last year asked me if I like to dress in feminine assigned clothes and I told her I like to wear what fits and feels comfortable.

But back to the power of “Them” I think it started with the peanut crowd throwing who is putting up these things. A gender nonbinary entity putting up fliers. Sorta like the wonderful short film “Transgender is happiness.” It’s powerful, I am the one that it meant for, and love of myself is much more stronger then attitudes and beliefs of this backwards town.

I used scribd to listen to Rachel Hollis “Girl, Stop apologizing”

Following their advice here is my list:

Dreams:

Help development people in the LDO Program.
Help with the Sexuality and Disability Movement
Be the likeable Uncle
Keep learning
Be a little more independent and socialize
Blog more
Develop writing skills
Continue on the Autism Board
Get better with the SAM Board Public Relations team
Take a trip with Allen

GOALS:

Grow up a little more.
Be a little more out spoken.
Be not afraid
Less worried about what others do and more on me.
Stop 24 open for business routine and relax.
Do not be a push over with siblings
Exercise for 10 minutes a day
Eat healthier
Stop trying to be perfect

ACTION: GROW AND LEARN

When you walk the straight and narrow. Always scared to take the wrong turn. Have an opportunity to do something unexpected but one chooses not to. Can I go with being honestly afraid of path? Forbidden to travel on the outside lines. Watching every step. Whom will tell me it’s okay to turn back. It’s alright to quit. Never questioning is it time to feel good about my choices. Left to my own nowhere. Right off the road. Only foreseeing walking alone.

The ‘Don’t Block LGBTQ Act of 2020’ would amend the Communications Act of 1934 which allows for the censorship of LGBT information in schools that receive discount rates for telecommunications services under the universal service support program.

On June 30, 2020, Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and 11 co-sponsors, the LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute, and 61 issue-aligned organizations introduced the “Don’t Block LGBTQ Act of 2020” to ensure that schools which receive federal funding eliminate any and all barriers to potentially lifesaving information.

https://action.everylibrary.org/dont_block_lgbt_petition?utm_campaign=lgbtq_discrimation_bill_et&utm_medium=email&utm_source=votelibraries

As a small child I was the unlikeable one.

Very few kids liked me.

They often thought I was weird and stayed far away.

Puberty hit and I was not the cup of tea for many.

They didn’t realize I had a disability.

Often in hiding, scared to be not perfect, I hid from the world my trueself.

My honorable teacher’s perhaps to get out of working seemed to dismiss me.

Sometimes A+ meant I didn’t get extra help or accommodations.

No extra help sometimes left alone. Then my reality of jumping out of expectations.

As a young adult I ran away from myself, or from a friend, or from my family.

I seemed so confused and then finally a diagnosis.

So here’s my request don’t try to change us, try to accept us.

Try to understand my puzzle piece is just a larger picture out of frame.

Out of context we need to be heard, we need to be seen, we need to make mistakes to find the answers we seek.