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Water in the Desert

By |2020-07-08T11:03:13-04:00July 8th, 2020|Opinions, Viewpoints|

Netflix has recently released "Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen," a documentary created by Sam Feder, Amy Scholder and Laverne Cox. In it, a cast of transgender and nonbinary people examine the history of trans images [...]

Together We Can Make Historic Change

By |2020-06-26T12:37:43-04:00June 26th, 2020|Opinions, Viewpoints|

I was honored to recently join Affirmations, OutFront Kalamazoo, Equality Michigan and several other hardworking organizations and activists across the state for a virtual celebration of the historic ruling made by the Supreme Court to [...]

Civil Unrest Now and Then

By |2020-06-15T14:06:18-04:00June 15th, 2020|Opinion, Opinions, Viewpoints|

As someone who participated in the Stonewall riots back in June 1969, many people have been asking me the similarities between that event and the events, civil unrest and demonstrations following the murder of George [...]

A Message to BTL Readers and the Greater Michigan LGBTQ Community

By |2020-03-19T23:28:38-04:00March 19th, 2020|Opinions, Viewpoints|

The message could not be clearer: respond to the COVID-19 crisis by staying home whenever you can, wash your hands frequently and do whatever you can to not spread the virus. But there is also a much larger message to spread: take care of each other, reach out to people who are isolated and fearful, and let's open our hearts to each other – even if we can’t physically open our arms.

Reading About Love

By |2020-01-22T16:21:37-05:00January 22nd, 2020|Opinions, Viewpoints|

The romance genre is a billion dollar plus industry and it’s finally starting to look like there’s a little something for everyone. That includes new adult — post high school/early college protagonists — more mature adults and second chance love stories, LGBTQIA relationships and protagonists who are people of color.

Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Silent Shame

By |2020-01-22T16:18:14-05:00January 22nd, 2020|Opinions, Viewpoints|

This past year in my practice, I began to see both male and female clients who presented with a past history of child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, the statistics prove that someone misusing alcohol or other drugs most likely has some form of child abuse in their past as well. Add that this person identifies with the LGBTQ community, and the numbers change dramatically.

How the Trump ‘Medical Conscience’ Rule is Harming LGBTQ Liberty

By |2020-01-07T16:22:36-05:00January 7th, 2020|Opinions, Viewpoints|

In November a federal district judge in New York found that the Trump Administration lied. The Court also held that the Administration had overstepped its authority. Let me explain. In May 2019 the Administration issued its “Medical Conscience” rule. We’ve had medical conscience rules in the past that have protected health care employees who refuse to participate in performing abortions, sterilizations and assisted suicides, based on their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The Trans Body

By |2019-12-11T14:29:06-05:00December 11th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

Transphobia, like homophobia, isn't generally using the suffix "-phobia" to mean "fear," but to mean "aversion." It's the same notion as hydrophobic surfaces refer to their ability to repel water. That said, I feel there [...]

We Must Not Betray Their Sacrifices

By |2019-11-27T15:41:20-05:00November 27th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

The New York Stock Exchange. St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The National Institutes of Health. All three locations are icons in America not just because of their status in the broader culture but because of their seminal roles in bringing the urgency of our community in addressing the HIV crisis.

One Day After

By |2019-11-20T15:15:20-05:00November 20th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

On Nov. 20, transgender and non-binary people — and our allies — across the world come together to honor those murdered due to anti-trans violence. This year marks the 20th since a group of people [...]

Revealing, But Not What You Think

By |2019-11-06T16:05:38-05:00November 6th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

In 2008, a woman named Jenna Karvunidis sliced open a cake, revealing pink frosting within the layers. With her, the "gender reveal party" entered the popular lexicon. A decade or so later, the gender reveal has gone a long way from those humble beginnings becoming something far different from that cake.

On Being Trans at Halloween

By |2019-10-23T16:08:58-04:00October 23rd, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

Halloween is a time of magic and mystery. Traditionally, it once served as the end of the year, where autumn — and the abundance of the harvest — gave way to the dark and dim days of winter. In that liminal space between the seasons, one could get a moment to pierce the veil between other states, even between life and death itself.

A Transgender Woman’s Take on Aimee Stephens’ Supreme Court Case

By |2019-10-16T16:20:28-04:00October 16th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

Last week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in three cases that will determine if people can discriminate against LGBTQ people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The future of our community's rights is at stake here in the U.S. The three cases that are before the Supreme court are Bostock v. Clayton County, GA, Altitude Express v. Zarda, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home v. EEOC. The first two cases involve plaintiffs who were fired for being gay. The Harris Funeral Home case involves plaintiff Aimee Stephens, who was fired for being transgender.

The Time for Trans Pitches is Now

By |2019-10-02T15:13:35-04:00October 2nd, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

Every week, in my email, I receive dozens of story pitches. Some are quite good, connecting me with engaging people and interesting stories that I might otherwise have missed. Most, however, are pretty useless to me in the overall scheme of things. A lot only tangentially veer into any topic I write about, or are blatant product pitches or just an overall bad fit.

Rapid Onset

By |2019-09-18T15:03:54-04:00September 18th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

I have always been intrigued by history. I love to look at how things came together over time, and how advances in knowledge, technology and society — for both good and ill — helped to [...]

Positive Thoughts: Three Cheers of Victory for Ol’ U=U!

By |2019-09-11T14:34:19-04:00September 11th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

For about the past decade, activists and advocates have been working hard to educate the world on a very important scientific fact about living with HIV: that undetectable equals untransmittable (U=U). U=U is a now globally accepted scientific consensus that simply means when a person living with HIV reaches an undetectable viral load (also sometimes called virally suppressed) for six months or longer, they are virtually unable to transmit the virus to a sexual partner — even without the use of condoms.

A Battle Won, but the War Rages On

By |2019-08-21T13:23:58-04:00August 21st, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

Gavin Grimm, at long last, has won his case. When Grimm was a sophomore at Gloucester County High School in Virginia, he came out as a transgender boy. As soon as he opted to use the boys' restroom, the Gloucester County School Board decided to require that all changing rooms and bathrooms, "shall be limited to the corresponding biological genders, and students with gender identity issues shall be provided an alternative appropriate private facility."

Transmissions: Emerging victorious

By |2019-08-07T15:35:16-04:00August 7th, 2019|Opinions, Viewpoints|

At long last, North Carolina's House Bill 2 is dead. For those few who are reading who may not know the significance, I'll explain: The Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, otherwise known as HB2, was a bill passed in North Carolina in 2016.

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