Transgender Day of Rememberance
This post is in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDR) which is a day for all of us to remember all the transgendered individuals who killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Today marks the 10th annual TDR. This isn’t about if you “believe in” gender identity. It’s not about your religious, political beliefs, your morals or ethics this is about fact that every year people die because of who they are. I recently read an article called “50 under 30″ the article list 50 individuals who were under 30 years of age that were killed because of these prejudice. The full article can be found here http://iambecauseweare.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/50u30.pdf0. I encourage all of you to browse the site and just think about those who are no longer with us.
For those of you wondering, “What the heck does transgendered mean?” Wikipedia defines the term as “Transgender is the state of one’s ‘gender identity’ (self-identification as woman, man, or neither) not matching one’s ‘assigned sex’ (identification by others as male or female based on physical/genetic sex). ‘Transgender’ does not imply any specific form of sexual orientation”
If you can I would encourage you to join an event in your area. First, look for an event here http://www.transgenderdor.org/ if that fails then try Google just type in” Transgender Day of Remembrance [your city].” Good luck and happy TDR!
EDIT 11/28/2008
Washington State recognizes TDR: http://blogout.justout.com/?p=4251
Google Recognizes TDR:http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/transgender-remembrance-day.html
Take Action
Well as I’m sure some of you know today is Blog Action Day. Blog Action day is a day where bloggers around the world can come together and blog about a social cause, need, or event(s). This year’s theme is Poverty. A little over a year ago I wrote a blog on causes I support titled “support the cause”. Well those are all still great causes I support but I would like to challenge you a bit further.
This October The Hope Project will be launching the Christmas Initiative. The idea behind this is to get over 1,100 people to each give $35. This is a project that I am very close to and I think it would be great to see this accomplished. The project focuses on provide food, schooling and medical aid to children in need. Why 1,100 people? Why $35? The project currently has 92 unsponsored children in East Africa, Tanzania to be exact. It cost $35 to sponsor a child for a month. This means if 1,100 people all get together and give $35 all the children will be sponsored through 2009!
This doesn’t tickle your fancy? Another organization I’m in support of is Invisible Children. The Invisible Children have the goal of ending war in Uganda. They focus on the children who seem to be invisible to the world. Many who spend hours each day walking to and from displacement camps so they can sleep safely without getting swept up by the rebel forces.
Oh you don’t want to support that either? I’ll bring the problems a little closer to home (pun intended) Habitat for Humanity is an origination with the goal of building homes for people in need. They have built thousands of homes for families. One thing I like about this organization is that they allow individuals to volunteer and help build homes as well as accepting donations.
Well back to the global cause. Charity Water is an organization building wells around the word so individuals can have clean drinking water nearby. They have currently dug 223 wells. This year on September 7th they dug a well live in Ethiopia. It’s pretty amazing to watch.
Wow, there are a lot of causes that are worthy to support.My challenge to you, pick one, pick all 4 but don’t just sit there and do nothing. All of these organizations will benefit from any amount. Even $5 will help make a difference. Please join me as part of Blog action day and TAKE ACTION!
Case of the Lazes
I’ll admit it, I’m guilty. I’ve been struck with a case of the lazes when it comes to updating my blog. I try yet I fail. I do feel better to know that I’m not the only one who has the problem though. My friends TJ and Jon seam to have the same problem. I’m sure many of my other friends/other bloggers out there have the same problem.
Maybe it’s the questions that go threw my head, “What should i write about?”, “Will anyone read it?”, “I hope I’m not mocked”, these and a slew of other questions run threw my head each time I write a post. Yet, in the end my feelings remain the same. It doesn’t really matter if you read it, if you mock me, or if I write about something no one seams to care about. I am who I am. I am human.
I hope this is the end of my case of the lazes but let’s be real, it’s probably not.
The World Goes On
I saw this comic in this Sundays paper it made me think about the blogsphere and how for many blogging becomes a major part of their lives.
Enjoy!
How Are You?
In our society it is very common to be greeted with a “how are you?” This has to be one of my biggest pet-peeves. I think it has to do with the fact that 95.7% of the time when people ask me how I am that’s all they are doing is just asking, hoping I’ll respond with a “I’m good, thanks” I can’t help to think to myself though. Why do we say we are good, fine, great, or dandy instead why don’t we tell the truth. Now, maybe the truth is you are fine but i suppose maybe it’s my want for more information that makes me wonder WHY are you fine, WHAT makes you good. I often try to refrain from using the phrase how are you for this very reason.
So How are you?