PSA

only a few of you know my good friend dglenn, who was beaten early yesterday morning for wearing a skirt, only yards from his own house. he's not seriously injured (for which i am deeply grateful), but he did have to go to the emergency room to get checked out. because he's significantly disabled by fibromyalgia, he has little income and no health insurance. an emergency room bill will be catastrophic.

today he said:

[...] please look at doing anything to make life safer for others as doing something to help me. I'm thinking "transgendered people" when I say "others", but widen that to all GBLT folks, or to any other populations at increased risk of violence if you like. Speak out. Complain about stereotypes and ugly speech. Contribute to visibility campaigns. Lobby for better police awareness in cities I don't go to as well as ones I do. Offer your support to a transgendered cousin or niece or nephew. Vote. If retelling my story helps because it personalizes things, feel free to do so. There's little to no chance that the guys who beat me up will be caught, but if my wonderful friends, and their cool friends, are motivated to activism on behalf of people like me, then some good will have come out of this horrible act. And you will have helped me even if I can't figure out how to ask for help personally.

i'm asking you to consider what he's said, and if you can, do something. not necessarily something for dglenn himself (although he will accept donations via paypal at dglenn@radix.net), but something for people like him. like some of you. like so many others who risk violence and death every day simply by being who they are.

dglenn is a beautiful soul. i've known him since... um... 1981? and he has always been one of the kindest, most sensitive, gentle people i've ever known. i am so incredibly angry that this happened to him. i'm frustrated that i can't be there for him. and i hope that some good can come of this, in the form of greater awareness of the risks GLBT people face every day and maybe even positive action to support the GLBT community.

i don't know what else to say. i'm still too busy trying to calm down.

the hideous irony of horoscopes

today:

Cleaning and organizing still has you completely captivated. You can't think of anything you'd rather do than alphabetize your CDs. Once everything is exactly where you want it to be, though, you might want to at least try to turn your attention toward one other activity, just briefly. Isn't there someone out there who's been trying for days now to entice you into spending a few minutes alone with them? You've got a wonderfully clean nest to show off. Invite them over.

[pause]

[hysterical laughter]

oh my god

they're so cute together i can't stand it:



and yes, as a matter of fact, he's sitting in her lap.