A Break
I’m taking a one day break from regular blogging as I’m experiencing overwhelming feelings and need to just sit with them.
Of course I’m joyous that most of the nation voted to keep their democratic officials/oust the Republicans, but I’m also horrified that 45% of Oregonians still voted for a gubernatorial candidate who ran on a Trump adjacent platform. Is it because our incumbent governor is an unapologetic lesbian? Is it because rural Oregonians believe that Portland is a cesspool of liberal crime because they believe Fox TV’s misinformation campaign?
Yes and yes. Plus other stuff. Infuriating stuff.
I’m also horrified that Washington state seems to have voted in a bill that will require trans children to prove they’re assigned female at birth in order to participate in sports. What?!!!!! Washington?! I am grief stricken with this.
Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I think it will be a long time before our country recovers from the abuses of this administration, but I am just glad that there was a blue wave, bigger than expected. I was pretty much out of hope.
Oh Katy.
It’s good to take a breather. Take as long as you need.
I am the only Dem in a sea of Magas. The only brother who shared the same ideology died of non small cell lung cancer in 2021 at 60 years of age. Never smoked. Of my 4 brothers and 2 sisters, he was my favorite.
Scott was gay. He was accepted by everyone, family and friends, and was never shunned. That’s why it’s so hard for me to understand the bias my family has against trans people. “Males just transition so they can beat females in sports, since they can’t win against a male”. Blah, blah, blah. “Males are built different and therefore have a physical edge against females.” Blah, blah, blah. WTF. And don’t even get me started about using the same bathrooms!
When Scott came out in his 30’s, he told me, it was like sitting on a fence, not sure which way to go. “What will everyone think if I come out?” That was a big concern. Our mom passed away suddenly a few years before Scott came out but he was pretty sure mom knew his struggle. Moms just know.
I don’t know much about trans people. Not a large community here. I live in a small town in NY, outside of Rochester, and I actually only know Michelle, she’s a server at the local casino. She’s also autistic and incredibly brilliant. (Savant syndrome?) I don’t know her well enough to ask questions and I don’t want to pry. We are friends on Facebook, and she is big into geocaching, I had to look it up. lol.
Scott told/asked me once, “do you think I want to be gay? Do you think I want to open myself up to ridicule, etc.?” He said “I was born this way.” He’s right.
Just like people are/were unwilling to accept gay people initially, the same thing is happening in the trans community. People don’t like something when they don’t know anything about it. We all need to educate ourselves and realize some things are not of our own choosing, and above all, we all need to be more empathetic.
I am so happy about the blue tsunami and I’m proud that we Americans stuck together. See, we know how to “toss tea in the harbor”.