Just $1 to Support CeCe

I know that ten or twenty or fifty dollars may be more money than you can afford to donate to support Chrishaun (CeCe) McDonald. But what about one dollar? A single dollar — enough to buy a candy bar, or a small bag of chips, or a quarter of a gallon of gas. If we all gave just one dollar to support CeCe and spread the word, getting even more people to give a dollar and spread the word — there’s power in numbers. Just because we can’t afford to give large amounts of money doesn’t mean we can’t raise it. 

Support CeCe!

Reposted from Support CeCe McDonald!

Community Rallies Around Chrishaun Mcdonald to Find Solutions to Violence Against Trans Women of Color

Jun 29                  Posted by Support CeCe!

Court hearing is continued to July 11

Minneapolis, MN – Over fifty community members, friends, and family gathered in solidarity with Chrishaun Mcdonald, whose hearing in Hennepin County District Court was set for June 28^th but was continued to July 11^th.  After packing the District courtroom, advocates called for a fair trial for Ms. Mcdonald at a press conference held outside the Government Center. Reporters were present from Kare 11 News, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News, The Star Tribune, The Minnesota Independent, City Pages, Colu.mn, and Lavender Magazine.

Ms. Mcdonald is an African American transgender woman who was attacked by a group of white adults while walking by the Schooner Tavern on Lake Street in South Minneapolis, early on the morning of June 5^th.  Patrons of the bar attacked Ms. Mcdonald and her friends with transphobic and racist slurs and bashed Ms. Mcdonald’s face with a glass beer mug.  Despite the fact that Ms. Mcdonald was the victim of the hate crime and multiple people were involved in the altercation that led to the death of one of her attackers, only Ms. Mcdonald was charged.  She is currently being held in solitary confinement for her “protection,” despite her requests to be moved to general population.

Nail Polish isn’t just for women, but Alphanail is NOT what I had in mind

I think nail polish is fabulous. Seriously, I love it. Black, bright colors, jewel tones — I think it’s great. I’ve posted before arguing that nail polish should be socially acceptable for everyone, not just for (feminine cis) women. However, when I say that nail polish is for everyone, I don’t mean Alphanail. Alphanail rather horrifies me, actually. Bitch Media posted a good response to it here.

Vulnerability and Being Forgettable

I was watching The Glee Project today; the contestants wore signs on which they wrote the thing that made them feel the most vulnerable — gay, fat, anorexic, rejected, fake, used. It was intense, and they got very emotional, and it made me think about what makes me vulnerable. What would I put on my sign? It feels like I could fill a notebook, not just a sign. But the one that makes me feel the most vulnerable?

Re: Please Don’t Call My Drink “Girly”

It’s amazing how much can change in little more than one year. When I first wrote “Please Don’t Call My Drink ‘Girly,’” thirteen or fourteen months ago, I was in a very different mental place in terms of security in my own gender presentation and my preferences in alcoholic drinks. I am now definitely more comfortable with my drink preferences and more sure in the knowledge that what I drink doesn’t change who I am.

Please Don’t Call My Drink “Girly”

EXPLORING TRANS – TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2010, 1:33 AM

Today was the boat cruise. Every year, after all papers and exams are done, the seniors at my college have a tradition on going on a dinner cruise on the river with some of the favorite faculty and staff. This was it, and overall, it was awesome.

Parts of it were less awesome. My friend looked at our drinks (she had a Sex On The Beach; another friend and I both had Cosmopolitans) and said, “We’re so girly!” Awesome. Great. Thanks. So not what I want to hear. The next drink I ordered was a vodka tonic.

Something I’ve Never Told Anyone

Write about one thing you’ve never told anyone and explain why

This sounds odd, but I’m not actually certain what I’ve told people. There are, of course, a number of things I’ve kept under wraps, so to speak, but I’ve not really kept track of my secrets. I email certain people and just sort of unload everything in my mind at the time . . . pretty much without a filter. And then I don’t necessarily remember every single word of the tens or hundreds of thousands. But I’ve shared most of my secrets, whether they be related to gender, queerness, my worries, insecurities, fears of being forgotten. It’s difficult to think of something I’m certain I’ve never told anyone. And then if I can, it’s not necessarily something about which I want to blog — really, if I haven’t told the people I trust most, why would I tell the internet? Still, there’s one thing I’m willing to share that I’m pretty sure I’ve not yet told to anyone. 

The New Jim Crow: The #1 Book I Recommend

Go buy Michelle Alexander‘s The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Or check it out from the library, or borrow it from a friend — I don’t really care how you obtain it, but you absolutely should read it. I know I recommend a lot of books, but of all the books I own — of all the books I’ve ever read — if I could only suggest one book, it would be The New Jim Crow. 

It Will Always Be Camp Snoopy To Me

Oh, amusement park at the Mall of America, you'll always be Camp Snoopy to me.

While I was at the Mall of America the other day, I was rudely reminded that Camp Snoopy no longer exists — or at least, not as I knew and loved it. For several years, when I was little, my parents would take several of my friends and me to Camp Snoopy for my birthday. We’d get wristbands and run around the park all day, riding all the rides. It was glorious. Camp Snoopy has a very special place in my heart. And now, that timeless, lovable Camp Snoopy has been replaced by Nickelodeon Universe.

Fed Up With Swimsuit Season

My friend recently wrote a blog post about swimsuits. While I am not a femmebutchdyke queer like her, it started me thinking about swimsuits. Namely, that I am not a fan of wearing them. And this whole trans thing makes summer/beach season an issue. I like beaches and sun and sand. The problem is, it doesn’t like me.