May 1, 2009

Hi Poppets! Once again, your intrepid columnist (that’s me) has so many things she could write about. There’s a lot going on right now. I’m keeping an eye on the fact that the Washington legislature has sent a bill that would include transgendered peoples in the hate crime laws to Gov. Gregoire to be signed (don’t betray my vote, Governor, please!) The fact that Alberta, Canada is looking at delisting gender reassignment surgery (for those of you who don’t know – and I had to look it up so don’t feel bad – it means the cost of the surgery would no longer be covered by the state). Plus, I’m listening to/reading/aware of a brouhaha that’s, well, brewing online and in the blogosphere right now about what it means to be an ally, who gets to define an ally, and what is expected when a person chooses to stand with a group or community. Not to mention the major rally that’s taking place in Philadelphia at the beginning of this month and all the other events that will be occurring as summer moves on. Seriously, what’s a girl to do?

In this case, I’m running home to Mama. See, when I was originally invited to write for the Pages, I was asked to write about what was going on back east. To talk about some of the things that aren’t just in the Bellingham/Vancouver B.C./Seattle area. Then I went and moved to the area which kind of screwed the pooch there. However! This month, it’s a return to writing about some things that aren’t necessarily happening in our backyard. In fact, they aren’t happening in anyone’s backyard. Cyberspace, anyone?

As a reader and an activist, I like to keep up with what’s going on in the world and have found the best place to do that is online. That’s where I can get a reality check about what people are really feeling and thinking. As a writer, supporting other writers is important to me, especially ones who aren’t linked into larger parent companies but are just out there, on their own, plugging away. Let me introduce you to three of my favorite writers, currently telling it like it is in cyberspace:

• Neo-Prodigy at http://neo-prodigy.livejournal.com/ He is a gay black man living in the American south. He speaks with honesty, humor, and no small amount determination. No one gets a pass. Everyone gets a chance. Feel free to disagree with him but bring your A-game if you do. Mudslinging and blind agreement are both discouraged here but good faith dialogue is welcome. And you’ll want to engage. He’ll make you think; he’ll challenge you; he’ll make you feel; he’ll make you laugh. Seriously, what more could you ask for from a blogger?
  
• Monica Roberts at http://transgriot.blogspot.com/ A black woman who transitioned in 1994, she addresses the hypocrisies and successes of both the straight and the LGBT communities, politics, women’s issues, gender politics, and anything else she wants to, with a clear-sightedness most of us only hope to achieve. She’s also got one of the most comprehensive blogrolls for the transgendered community I’ve ever seen. Well spoken and thoughtful, she’s a must read for anyone who cares about…well, anything. While she’s not exactly alone out there, and is the best known of these bloggers, too many people still don’t know about her. So, here she is.
  
• Then there’s D over at http://gaysoldiershusband.blogspot.com/ His blog title says it best and is pretty self-explanatory, don’t you think? Remember my comments a couple months ago about how same-sex marriage isn’t the only issue facing the LGBT community and shouldn’t be the only one we rally around? Well, here’s a person to put with another one of those issues: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. This isn’t always a happy blog but you know what? It shouldn’t be.

So there you are, Poppets. Three of my favorite bloggers. Not my favorite LGBT bloggers; just three of my favorite bloggers. Who happen to be LGBT bloggers. I hope you enjoy them as well. Please, no trolling. No blazing. Disagree if you do, but don’t disrespect. Represent Betty Pages readers well. I have faith in you. And don’t be surprised if you hear more about the issues I mentioned earlier. Somehow, I don’t think you will be.

Until next month, Poppets, take care of you.