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| (Image by Paul Whiting) |
There isn't really a standardized initialism for LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer or Questioning, plus more), since there are as many variations to these initialisms as letters in the alphabet![1] For example, there is the initialism LGBTTQQIP2SAA, which represents the following: Lesbian (L), Gay (G), Bisexual (B), Transgender (T), Transsexual (T), Queer (Q), Questioning (Q), Intersex (I), Pansexual (P), Two-Spirit (2S), Androgynous (A) and Asexual (A). Additionally, there is the initialism LGBTQIA+, which is "an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more."[2] These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Thus, the above-mentioned initialisms are only some of the ways that the 'Pride Community' self-identifies... And, obviously, the "+" [plus sign] means 'those in addition to the aforementioned,' which is why you usually only see just the first few initials LGBTQ with a "+" [plus sign]. (Whew!)
Happy LGBTQIA+ Pride!
(Or, "The Pride Within All Of Us")
April 21st, 2023 Update—Continued (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, April 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "ANNOUNCEMENT: Historic ballot measure campaign", which stated the following:
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, April 21st, 2023, from the ACLU of Oregon with the subject line, "Thank you for your support!", which stated the following:
So, I selected the "Twitter" option (by the way, I only have a Twitter account so I can read tweets which are included in some online articles that I read) in order for me to provide you, my readers, with the text and hyperlink below:
Then, after I sent the letter above to the Oregon State Governor, as well as my State Senator and my State Representatives, via the ACLU of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for the "Equal Rights for All ballot measure" (SJR 33), because "this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government." –Paul Whiting (written April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 23rd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised February 21st, 2024)
This post is a work in progress.
You see, creative writing takes a lot of time and energy—and I am currently editing blog posts, so I will write this post as soon as I can.
Thus, I will be completing this blog post as soon as I am able to do so!
And while you're waiting for me to complete this blog post, I hope that you will read my current "Online Activism," with regard to LGBTQIA+ topics, from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the post):
So, please consider reading my current "Online Activism," with regard to LGBTQIA+ topics, which can be found below "My Writing Notes."
-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"
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[1] If you are interested, here is a Parade.com article titled, "What Does LGBTQ+ Mean? Every Letter Is Important to the Community." An introduction to the article can be found below:
"What Does LGBTQ+ Mean? Every Letter Is Important to the Community" from Parade Media GroupLGBTQ+'s meaning is significant, with each letter having its own history.Alani Vargas | June 1, 2023While Pride Month is a great time to celebrate the queer community, it’s also a great time to learn about LGBTQ+ history. And in doing so, it’s probably a good idea to get familiar with what LGBTQ+ means in the first place.As with everything throughout history, there is a rich progression when it comes to terms used for the LGBTQ+ community. Right now, it’s pretty inclusive, but that wasn’t always the case. Just like the greater society at large has to learn and accept all gay people, the queer community has also had to grow to include every facet of our queer population. With that said, here’s the history of the acronym LGBTQ+ and what LGBTQ+ stands for. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
[2] If you are interested, here is a GayCenter.org webpage titled, "WHAT IS LGBTQIA+?" An introduction to the webpage can be found below:
"WHAT IS LGBTQIA+?" from Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, Inc.LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. These terms are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. See below for a more detailed definition of each term, from GLAAD’s LGBTQ Media Reference Guide. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:
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My Writing Notes:
The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement:
This post is a work in progress. You see, creative writing takes a lot of time and energy—and I am currently editing blog posts, so I will write this post as soon as I can. Thus, I will be completing this blog post as soon as I am able to do so!
And while you're waiting for me to complete this blog post, I hope that you will read my current "Online Activism," with regard to LGBTQIA+ topics, from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the post):
So, please consider reading my current "Online Activism," with regard to LGBTQIA+ topics, which can be found below "My Writing Notes."
And this poem was only published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog.
This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.
-Paulee
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My Current "Online Activism" With Regard To LGBTQIA+ Topics From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Can Be Found On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog (Please See The Hyperlink Below For The Post):
September 12th, 2022 Update: I received an email from ACLU People Power today, September 12th, 2022, with the subject line, "Action Alert: Pass the Respect for Marriage Act!", which stated the following:
Paul,Any day now, the Senate could vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would safeguard protections that marriage equality has brought to hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples and their families across the country from an increasingly radical Supreme Court.In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, it is more important than ever that we enshrine our court-protected civil liberties into law.The Respect for Marriage Act passed the House in July with a large, bipartisan vote of 267-157, making it the most pro-LGBTQ vote in Congressional history. Now, the Respect for Marriage Act is in the hands of our senators — and they need to hear from us, Paul.It’s time for the Senate to get the job done and pass this bill to safeguard the protections of marriage equality, ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under federal law. Will you send a message to your senators now and urge them to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act?Send a message »***The Respect for Marriage Act would safeguard some of the protections of marriage equality even if the Supreme Court overturns crucial cases like Obergefell v. Hodges. Specifically, this critical bill would:[✓] Guarantee federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples[✓] Completely repeal the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act,” which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage[✓] Ensure that lawful out-of-state marriages are respected even as couples cross state linesThis bill has strong bipartisan support and undeniable momentum — but we need your help to get it across the finish line.Send a message to your senators today urging them to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to safeguard the protections of marriage equality.Thanks for using your voice!— ACLU People Power
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
Any day now, the Senate could vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would safeguard protections that marriage equality has brought to hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples and their families across the country from an increasingly radical Supreme Court.It’s time for the Senate to get the job done and pass this bill to safeguard the protections of marriage equality, ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under federal law.Send a message to your senators now and urge them to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act.The Respect for Marriage Act would safeguard some of the protections of marriage equality even if the Supreme Court overturns crucial cases like Obergefell v. Hodges. Specifically, the Respect for Marriage Act would:[✓] Guarantee federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples[✓] Completely repeal the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act,” which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage[✓] Ensure that lawful out-of-state marriages are respected even as couples cross state linesThis bill passed the House in July with a large, bipartisan vote of 267-157, making it the most pro-LGBTQ vote in Congressional history. Now, the Respect for Marriage Act is in the hands of our senators — and they need to hear from us.Send a message to your senators today urging them to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to safeguard the protections of marriage equality.
So, I sent letters to my Senators, which can be seen below:
Dear Senator [Name],As your constituent, I’m urging you to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act to safeguard the protections that marriage has brought to hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples and their families across the country.When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, I became alarmed by the likelihood that other rights could soon come under attack— like marriage equality.In July, your colleagues in the House of Representatives passed this crucial bill with a bipartisan vote of 267-157, making it the most pro-LGBTQ vote in Congressional history. Now, the Senate must do the same.The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples, fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and protect a couple’s lawful marriage regardless of state lines. This bill is critical to ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under the law.I urge you to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act without delay.Thank you.Sincerely,Paul Whiting
And, after I sent letters to my Senators in Congress, as mentioned above, I also made a donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for passing the Respect for Marriage Act and to do my part to help "protect and respect" same-sex marriages in the United States of America.
–Paul Whiting (written September 12th, 2022, revised September 13th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2023)
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March 20th, 2023 Update—Continued (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, March 20th, 2023, with the subject line, "The first bill attacking trans kids is in Congress.", which stated the following:
Paul –A bill that would ban trans girls from school sports nationwide could get a vote in the House very soon. It is the very first bill out of Congress attacking transgender youth at the federal level, and we must take action.To be clear, this bill would make it illegal for any school that receives federal funding to allow trans girls to play on girls' teams. It's discriminatory, it's unconstitutional, and it does nothing to address actual barriers in women's sports, like lack of funding, unequal pay, or harassment and abuse.And while some representatives are trying to push this harmful bill through – there are many other Members of Congress who are fighting back. They need to hear from you in this crucial window of time: Tell your Representative to vote "NO" on all bills that attack transgender people.SEND YOUR MESSAGE***Paul, when kids have the freedom to play, they build stronger bonds with their friends, schools, and communities. And we also know too well this attack is not just about sports – this is one of many attacks on the freedom of transgender people right now.Some in Congress also want to take away the right of young people and their families to get the healthcare they need and to force schools to out LGBTQ students. Meanwhile, in the state legislatures across the country, public officials are targeting our trans communities through a sweeping number of harmful and unconstitutional bills.The civil liberties these politicians are coming after are in no small way lifesaving for so many trans young people. And we at the ACLU will not allow peoples' rights and safety to be put at risk for anyone's political agenda like this – especially when it comes to the rights and safety of kids.That's why every action in this fight – every moment we speak out and let our leaders know we, the people, will not accept attempts to erase trans people from public life – makes a difference. So please, contact your member of Congress now, Paul – and know the ACLU will continue to fight back at every level.Thank you for being with us at this critical moment.For the freedom to be ourselves,[Name redacted]Pronouns: He, him, his[Title redacted], ACLU
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
Tell Congress: Protect Our Kids’ FreedomThe fight for trans rights is now federal. Congress has introduced the very first bill attacking transgender youth. Some Representatives are trying to ban trans kids from sports – and more bills pushing trans people out of public life are on the way.Members of Congress are fighting back – and they need to hear from you. Tell your Representative to vote “NO” on all bills that attack transgender Americans.Some members of Congress are trying to ban youth from school sports just because they’re transgender. But it’s not just about sports - this is the first of many attacks on the freedom of transgender people to be who they are. Politicians are pushing another bill taking away the right of young people and their families to get the healthcare they need. We must tell Congress that our government should not interfere with the care we receive, the curriculum our schools teach, or the freedom to be ourselves.When kids have the freedom to play, they build stronger bonds with their friends, their schools, and their communities. Title IX requires schools to adopt inclusive policies to provide these opportunities for all students regardless of gender – including transgender students.Send a message to your member of Congress now and call on them to protect trans rights by opposing H.R. 734.SEND A LETTERDear Representative,I’m writing today to strongly urge you to protect our children’s freedom to play by voting against H.R. 734, the so-called “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”This legislation would make it illegal for schools receiving federal funding to allow transgender girls and women to play on sports teams for girls and women. This is both discriminatory and unconstitutional, and I urge you to oppose it and all bills that attack transgender people.Transgender girls and women participate in sports for the same reasons as their peers who are not transgender: to be part of a team, learn sportsmanship, and challenge themselves. It is because of this that leading advocates for women’s sports, including Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King, and the Women’s Sports Foundation strongly support including transgender girls and women in women’s sports.If Congress was serious about addressing actual barriers facing female student athletes, it would be working to eliminate continued funding inequities, address pay disparities among coaches and staff, and ending harassment and abuse.H.R. 734 does nothing to address these barriers. Instead, it targets a small, already vulnerable group of people for further discrimination. This legislation is both mean-spirited and cruel. I urge you to protect our childrens’ freedom to play by voting against H.R. 734 and all bills that target and discriminate against transgender people.Thank you.Sincerely,Prefix: Mr.First name: PaulLast name: WhitingEmail address: [redacted]Street address: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]ZIP Code: [redacted]Mobile phone: [redacted]
Then, after I sent the letter above to my U.S. House Representative in Congress, via the ACLU People Power website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to do my part to say 'NO' "on all bills that attack transgender Americans," to say 'NO' on the "many attacks on the freedom of transgender people to be who they are," and to say 'NO' to "H.R. 734 and all bills that target and discriminate against transgender people." –Paul Whiting (written March 20th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)
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March 23rd, 2023 Update, Written On March 24th, 2023: It is with a somber tone and utmost humility that I wish to commemorate the passing of Darcelle XV (a.k.a. Walter W. Cole, Sr.) of Portland, Oregon, who was named the "World's Oldest Drag Queen" on August 15th, 2016, by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Darcelle was so well known, in fact, that her passing commanded an article in the Associated Press (AP) News. An introduction to the article can be found below:"Darcelle, world’s oldest working drag queen, dies at 92" from the AP NewsBy CLAIRE RUSH | March 24, 2023PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Walter Cole, better known as the iconic drag queen who performed for decades as Darcelle XV and a fearless advocate for Portland’s LGBTQ+ community, has died of natural causes in Portland, Oregon. He was 92.Darcelle, who died Thursday, was crowned the world’s oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records and was regaling audiences until the very end. As a performer, Darcelle was known for hosting the longest-running drag show on the U.S. West Coast. Off stage, Cole, an Army veteran, championed LGBTQ+ rights and charitable work in Portland. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
Quite a few years ago (which was in the early 2000s, to the best of my recollection), I went with friends to see the drag show at "Darcelle XV Showplace" in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. And it was a delightful performance! In fact, later on we went to enjoy Darcelle's extravagant, funny and entertaining drag show—yet again!
Now, although I haven't been back to see the drag show at Darcelle XV Showplace since that time, just this month I walked close to Darcelle's (I am pretty sure that it was on March 12th, 2023, but it was definitely sometime during the month of March 2023), because I was traveling through the Old Town neighborhood.
Then, I happened to notice three homeless folks sitting right out in front of Darcelle's, so I made sure to walk past them in order to give them "help out money," which is a one dollar bill that I usually offer to homeless folks, if I go by them, as I am traveling around by walking to various destinations...
...And the poignant thing is that one of the homeless folks was wearing a Carnival of Venice-style mask—which was a simple design in a dark color with rhinestones accentuating the perimeter—so I wondered to myself (at that time) if that was, in fact, Darcelle helping out homeless folks, who are asking for "spare change" (or 'spanging,' as it is informally called) in front of her nightclub!
Anyway, I thought that I should say a little something about Darcelle (a.k.a. Walter Cole), who left this earth on Thursday, March 23rd, 2023, and undoubtedly went to that great big wonderful drag show in the sky:
"Oh man, what a woman!"
By the way, while I was doing some online searches regarding writing this 'update,' I noticed that the above-mentioned AP News article was even carried by Time Magazine: what a legendary drag queen. We are all going to miss you, Darcelle! –Paul Whiting (written March 24th, 2023, revised March 25th, 2023, revised March 29th, 2023, revised April 2nd, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 24th, 2023 and revised April 25th, 2023)
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April 21st, 2023 Update—Continued (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, April 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "ANNOUNCEMENT: Historic ballot measure campaign", which stated the following:
Paul –
You're invited!
Earlier this week, alongside our partners Basic Rights Oregon and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, we announced the Equal Rights for All campaign. The goal of this campaign is for Oregon voters to pass a ballot measure in November 2024, which would amend our state constitution to make it clear that:
[✓] Oregonians have the freedom to make our own healthcare decisions and the right to access the essential care we need, including contraceptives and abortion care.
[✓] Oregonians can marry who we love, removing Oregon's ban on same-gender marriage, which was inserted into our constitution nearly two decades ago.
[✓] Every Oregonian is afforded the same protections to live a life free of government actions that discriminate – from housing and employment to public accommodations to state services – regardless of our sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
This ballot measure is an opportunity for Oregonians to speak our values of equality and freedom into action through our state constitution. Oregonians deserve to be heard.
On Wednesday, we took a big first step. The proposed constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 33, was introduced in the Oregon Senate and sponsored by all of our Democratic senators. Oregon lawmakers will decide before the end of the 2023 legislative session whether to refer the amendment to Oregon voters. If passed, Oregonians will be given the opportunity to vote on the measure in the November 2024 general election.
Please fill out our action alert to urge your legislators to support SJR 33!
TAKE ACTION***
Oregon has led the country with laws that promote democracy and protect our rights and freedoms. We can continue to lead – and be a beacon of hope across our country – by enshrining abortion and reproductive healthcare rights, transgender rights, and marriage equality in the Oregon Constitution via the Equal Rights for All ballot measure.
Read more about the campaign and our vision for an Oregon in which everyone has the freedom to be who we are, marry who we love, and pursue our dreams in our full press release.
We look forward to sharing more about this work and how you can get involved soon. We cannot take our fundamental rights for granted, and it's time to fight for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities, together.
ACLU of Oregon Team
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
YES ON SJR 33 FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!
Act Now
In Oregon, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to be who we are, marry who we love, and pursue our dreams. As a state, we've worked for decades to protect our rights and freedoms so that each of us can make deeply personal decisions about our bodies, lives, and futures.
But the reality is that we're facing a moment when extremists across the country are moving aggressively to insert themselves into the most personal decisions we can make. At a time when we can no longer count on the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold our long-held federal constitutional protections, we are seeing relentless attacks on our fundamental rights and freedoms – including our ability to choose and access essential healthcare and marry who we love. These coordinated attacks are happening in Oregon and nationwide.
With this constitutional amendment, Oregonians have the opportunity to vote our values into our state constitution and protect decades of hard-won rights and freedoms. Simply put, this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government.
Message Recipients:
Your [Oregon] Governor
Your [Oregon] State Senator
Your [Oregon] State Representatives
YOUR MESSAGE
Message Subject:
Vote Yes on SJR 33 for Equal Rights for All
I am an ACLU of Oregon supporter writing to urge you to support the Equal Rights for All ballot measure referral.
Oregon has led the country with laws that promote democracy and protect our rights and freedoms. We can be a beacon of hope across our country. We can continue to lead by enshrining our rights and freedoms to abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage equality into the Oregon Constitution via the Equal Rights for All ballot measure.
This is also an opportunity for Oregon to update our constitution to reflect our values - that we have the right and freedom to marry who we love by - removing Oregon's ban on same-gender marriage that was inserted into our constitution nearly two decades ago.
This ballot measure also provides Oregon the opportunity to double down on our core value of equality in our constitution. There is no place in our state for government actions that discriminate due to our sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation - whether in employment, housing, state services, or health care.
With this constitutional amendment, Oregonians have the opportunity to vote our values into our state constitution and protect decades of hard-won rights and freedoms. Simply put, this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government.
Oregonians overwhelmingly support our fundamental rights and freedoms to control our own bodies, lives, and futures without undue political interference and discriminatory government actions. And the polling is clear: Oregon voters understand that our rights are under relentless assault and support these constitutional safeguards that will protect us and the people we love from further attacks. Please vote Yes on SJR 33 for Equal Rights for All. Oregon voters deserve to have our voices heard.
Sincerely,
[First Name] [Last Name]
YOUR INFORMATION
Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]
And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, April 21st, 2023, from the ACLU of Oregon with the subject line, "Thank you for your support!", which stated the following:
Dear Paul,
Thank you for taking action to protect civil liberties in ACLU of Oregon. This is an important issue and your lawmakers need to hear from you.
Take the next step and share this action with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
And keep an eye on our social media accounts and emails for more information on how to support and get involved in the Equal Rights for All Campaign!
Thank you for your support!
ACLU of Oregon
So, I selected the "Twitter" option (by the way, I only have a Twitter account so I can read tweets which are included in some online articles that I read) in order for me to provide you, my readers, with the text and hyperlink below:
Let's enshrine our core values in the Oregon Constitution to ensure that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own decisions in deeply personal areas such as abortion, contraception, gender identity and related health care, and same-gender marriage - free from political interference and discriminatory government actions.
https://action.aclu.org/send-message/or-era?initms_aff=or
Then, after I sent the letter above to the Oregon State Governor, as well as my State Senator and my State Representatives, via the ACLU of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for the "Equal Rights for All ballot measure" (SJR 33), because "this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government." –Paul Whiting (written April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 23rd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised February 21st, 2024)
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April 22nd, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On April 24th, 2023 [My Writing About The Passing Away Of An Internationally Renowned Star, Dame Edna Everage (a.k.a. Barry Humphries) (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog)]:
It is with gracious decorum and pageantry that I wish to commemorate the passing of Dame Edna Everage (a.k.a. Barry Humphries), who was the "Housewife Gigastar."
Years ago, I watched The Dame Edna Experience television show (I think that it was in syndication), but I don't recall precisely where I watched it (I think it was in Salt Lake City, Utah), or precisely when I watched it (I think that it was in the 1990s after the show had originally aired, from September, 12th, 1987 to December 22nd, 1989) which, as Dame Edna would say is, "Spooky!"
By the way, I read the entire Wikipedia webpage about Barry Humphries, which can be found below, while I was searching for the name of the Dame Edna television show that I watched back in the 1990s. So, for all you Dame Edna fans out there, it's a very interesting read regarding Mr. Humphries long, and often times sordid, career...
...That is, at least according to the critics!
"Barry Humphries" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):
Plus, I did a search on YouTube for "Dame Edna," because I was planning to select a video that summed her up, but there were so many videos from which to choose that it was overwhelming...
...The same way Dame Edna was overwhelming!
And that's why I decided to simply provide the hyperlink below to the above-mentioned YouTube search, so that you can see for yourself the spectacular spectacle of the sparkling, shining, shimmering, satiny and sequined star:
–Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023 and revised April 25th, 2023)
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June 1st, 2023 Update: Happy Pride Month, everyone! I received an email from the ACLU today, June 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "Take action on the first day of Pride Month", which stated the following:
Paul: It's the first day of Pride Month – and while this should be a month of celebration and being in community, LGBTQ people are under attack.Across the states, politicians are going after the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming people – including blocking access to potentially lifesaving health care, banning kids from school sports, and restricting the First Amendment rights of drag performers. And on Capitol Hill, extremist members of Congress are trying to criminalize and strip trans people of the care they need to live.We will never let that happen, Paul. The ACLU is fighting back in every way we can, and we need you to join us today. To kick off Pride Month, please send a message to Congress, and tell them to reject any attacks on access to health care for trans people.PROTECT TRANS LIVES***We all deserve the right to make decisions about our own bodies, our own futures, and our own lives – but that's not a reality for trans people across the country.While the ACLU is fighting back at the state level – taking states to court over health care bans and sports bans – we also know this anti-trans movement is far from over.A new bill was introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress – led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene – that would criminalize the lifesaving health care trans people need. And another bill prohibiting trans girls from being able to play team sports has already passed in the House. This is not the end of these attacks at the federal level.That's why it's so critical that people like you speak up for trans rights every chance they get – on the first day of Pride Month and every day that follows. Please, send a message to Congress today calling on your elected officials to protect trans people from discrimination.Thank you in advance for speaking out,[Name redacted]Pronouns: He, him, his[Title redacted], ACLU
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
PROTECT TRANS CARE NOWThe attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.YOUR MESSAGESubject: Protect Trans People from DiscriminationRecently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.Thank you. I look forward to your response.[First Name] [Last Name]YOUR INFORMATIONSalutation (required by some officials): Mr.First name: PaulLast name: WhitingE-mail address: [redacted]Address: [redacted]Address Line 2: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]Zip Code: [redacted]Phone: [redacted]
And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, June 1st, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:
Hi Paul,Thank you for taking action to protect trans people.Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link:Thttps://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-trans-care-nowThank you,The ACLU Team----Hi friend,Recently, we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy.In fact, a new bill was introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. And any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating.We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. That's why I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to Congress urging them to protect trans people now.Will you join me?Thanks.
Then, after I sent the letter above to Congress, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU because "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get – on the first day of Pride Month and every day that follows," by sending "a message to Congress today calling on [my] elected officials to protect trans people from discrimination." –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 7th, 2023 and revised July 24th, 2023)
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June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued [May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further (Follow-Up, Written On June 1st, 2023) (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog)]:
This update is a follow-up to my 'May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further,' where I explained, in part, that I signed up to be reminded to watch the livestream "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality."
Therefore, I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, June 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "Digital Program Now Available | Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality", which stated the following:
Now, to clarify, I decided to wait until after the event had livestreamed to watch it, since I only have a cellular data plan through my cell phone company (so, I don't have access to Wi-Fi on my smartphone). Plus, this program started livestreaming at 6:30 AM PDT! Additionally, whenever I watch these livestreamed programs as a recording, I can go back to parts of the program that I wish to repeat in order to watch them over again.
Besides that, I also decided to watch the video on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Channel on YouTube. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):
In addition to that, I decided to make a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, shortly before I started to watch the video, in order to show my support for the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality." –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised August 22nd, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)
P.S.: I started watching the video of the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality" at 10:07 PM PDT. And I finished watching the video thirty one minutes later. So, my take on the program was that I found it to be a really powerful history of the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nazi Germany, which highlighted endearing stories of Margot Holzmann Liu and Marta Halusa, as well as Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang, who were two lesbian couples that found lifelong loves in unbearable conditions.
This update is a follow-up to my 'May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further,' where I explained, in part, that I signed up to be reminded to watch the livestream "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality."
Therefore, I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, June 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "Digital Program Now Available | Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality", which stated the following:
Digital Program Now Available
Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality
Thank you for your interest in today’s discussion. The recording is now available on demand, and we encourage you to share it with friends.
WATCH NOW:
https://m.facebook.com/holocaustmuseum
About This Program
Berlin was known as the gay capital of the world until Nazis began terrorizing LGBTQ+ people and shut down the Eldorado Club in 1933.
But love persisted in spite of Nazi persecution. Repeated arrests and beatings couldn’t crush the bond between Jewish dancer Margot Holzmann Liu and her partner, Marta Halusa. The inhumane conditions at the Ravensbrück concentration camp didn’t prevent prisoners Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang from beginning their lifelong romance.
Watch this special program and join Museum experts in commemorating Pride Month by recognizing these legacies of resilience and rebellion during Nazi rule.
This virtual program and previous episodes are available on demand on the Museum’s Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/watch/34362997676/2572591559664662/) and YouTube (https://youtu.be/jr6Gn5DFDPo) pages.
Now, to clarify, I decided to wait until after the event had livestreamed to watch it, since I only have a cellular data plan through my cell phone company (so, I don't have access to Wi-Fi on my smartphone). Plus, this program started livestreaming at 6:30 AM PDT! Additionally, whenever I watch these livestreamed programs as a recording, I can go back to parts of the program that I wish to repeat in order to watch them over again.
Besides that, I also decided to watch the video on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Channel on YouTube. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):
Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality
Berlin was known as the gay capital of the world until Nazis began terrorizing LGBTQ+ people and shut down the Eldorado Club in 1933.
But love persisted in spite of Nazi persecution. Repeated arrests and beatings couldn’t crush the bond between Jewish dancer Margot Holzmann Liu and her partner, Marta Halusa. The inhumane conditions at the Ravensbrück concentration camp didn’t prevent prisoners Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang from beginning their lifelong romance. Join us as we commemorate Pride Month with their legacies of resilience and rebellion during Nazi rule.
https://youtu.be/jr6Gn5DFDPo
In addition to that, I decided to make a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, shortly before I started to watch the video, in order to show my support for the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality." –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised August 22nd, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)
P.S.: I started watching the video of the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality" at 10:07 PM PDT. And I finished watching the video thirty one minutes later. So, my take on the program was that I found it to be a really powerful history of the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nazi Germany, which highlighted endearing stories of Margot Holzmann Liu and Marta Halusa, as well as Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang, who were two lesbian couples that found lifelong loves in unbearable conditions.
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June 6th, 2023 Update—Continued (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, June 6th, 2023, when I noticed an article on APNews.com titled, "LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning." An introduction to the article can be found below:
"LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning" from AP (Associated Press) NewsBy Hannah Schoenbaum | June 6, 2023The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and released a guidebook pointing to laws it deems discriminatory in each state, along with “know your rights” information and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.*Sounding the alarm about the current political climate, the nation’s largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said travel advisories aren’t enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.“We need champions right now,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in an interview with The Associated Press. President Joe Biden and other LGBTQ+ rights supporters with decision-making authorities, she said, need to be more than just allies.The declaration is a call to action for “people in power at every level” of government and the business community, she said, urging them to fight for LGBTQ+ rights with the same fervor as they’ve fought for abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.“When Dobbs fell, you saw a federal response to deal with the abortion crisis that we’re in,” Robinson said. “We are in a crisis of even greater scale to the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, and we need that same sort of response.”Just a few days into Pride Month, the campaign said it’s taking action in response to an “unprecedented and dangerous” spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping state houses this year, with more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023 — more than double last year’s number.A recent Associated Press analysis found that many bills seeking to ban or restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, who have been the primary targets of state legislation this year, sprang not from grassroots or constituent demand, but from the pens of a few powerful conservative interest groups.The HRC guidebook, meanwhile, provides information about filing complaints for civil rights violations and points to resources for financing moves and finding employment, particularly in the 17 states with a trifecta of Democratic leadership in both legislative chambers and the governor’s office.“The amount of calls I get every day from parents asking how they can move to another state because they’d rather mourn their home than their child is real,” Robinson said. “This is a different level of urgency and demanded a different level of response.”The emergency declaration is the first in the 43-year history of the HRC, which encompasses a foundation focusing on research, advocacy and education, national and state lobbying campaigns and a political action committee that supports and opposes candidates for office. It comes as Republican-dominated legislatures around the country have restricted various aspects of transgender existence, from pronoun usage and bathroom access to medical care and more. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
*Plus, I also read that article on HRC.org titled, "For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers", which was referenced in the "LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning" article above. An introduction to the article can be found below:
"For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers" from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)By HRC Staff | June 6, 2023HRC’s First-Ever Emergency Declaration Comes After More Than 75 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Signed Into Law This Year (More Than Double The Number From Last Year), Creating an Imminent Threat to the Health and Safety of LGBTQ+ People and Families NationwideWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year. A new report released by HRC today — LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack — details more than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number, which was previously the worst year on record.The sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws that have created increasingly hostile and dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ people, prompting HRC today to also issue a national warning (https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/national-state-of-emergency-for-lgbtq-americans) and downloadable guidebook (https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/LGBTQ-Guidebook-for-Action.pdf) for the LGBTQ+ community — including health and safety resources, a summary of state-by-state laws, “know your rights” information, and resources designed to support LGBTQ+ travelers as well as those already living in hostile states. This guidebook will arm LGBTQ+ people with resources and information to help ensure safety in all 50 states. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
And I decided to highlight this AP News article—as well as this Human Rights Campaign article—for you, my readers, to consider reading too!
Besides that, I made an yearly (annual) donation to show my support for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), since the HRC "officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year [2023]," because "the sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws that have created increasingly hostile and dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ people, prompting HRC today [June 6th, 2023] to also issue a national warning and downloadable guidebook for the LGBTQ+ community." –Paul Whiting (written June 6th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)
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June 7th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 7th, 2023, with the subject line, "Pride is joy, resistance – and action. Let's go.", which stated the following:
Paul – Pride began as a protest, and we're channeling that same spirit of resistance this month as LGBTQ people face escalating attacks.So far this year, state lawmakers have introduced more than 490 anti-LGBTQ bills, most of which target transgender and non-binary people. The ACLU has been fighting back by working in state legislatures, taking unconstitutional policies to court, and mobilizing supporters to protect trans rights. This Pride month, and every day, the ACLU is defending our right to be ourselves – fully, freely, and with joy.PRIDE IS JOYCommunity StoriesIn the midst of attacks on trans people's safety and dignity, we're celebrating stories of trans joy. Because when forces larger than us try to break our spirit, we can respond as forcefully and effectively with joy as we can with anger, defiance, and protest. One of our clients explained that after they started using new pronouns for their trans daughter, "It was as if a cloud lifted and Brooke's smile came back. We had a happy, bright-eyed child again." Another trans client explained that "having access to care means I'm able to be myself, and be healthier and more confident – physically and mentally." We're fighting for a society where every trans person has the opportunity to attain that joy, where everyone can live safely and freely as themselves.PRIDE IS RESISTANCEUpdates On Our WorkThe ACLU has been fighting for LGBTQ freedom for decades. And as an organization at the intersection of every civil liberty issue in this country, we know full well that nothing exists in isolation: Our fight to stop attacks on LGBTQ people's First Amendment rights of self-expression, for instance, is a fight to stop attacks on all our First Amendment rights:[✓] We just filed a lawsuit against a school district that barred a trans student from wearing a dress to her graduation.[✓] And, we're working to defend Connecticut's trans-inclusive sports policies that support a student's right to be themselves and be part of a team.[✓] Plus, we recently filed a lawsuit against a city that censored drag performers. Because an attack on one of our rights is an attack on all of our rights.PRIDE IS ACTIONTake Action With UsPride began as a protest – a movement led by Black and brown trans women. And as we continue the fight for LGBTQ freedom today, we need you to take action. Not only are states passing anti-LGBTQ censorship laws, they are also passing bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene even recently introduced a federal ban in the House. That's why we're asking during Pride Month: Please, send a message to your member of Congress urging them to protect trans care.*Thank you for reading this Pride month's update. We'll be sharing rundowns of this work every week this month, so please stay tuned and thank you in advance for taking action to protect trans rights.Happy Pride,The ACLU Team
*By the way, I already sent the above-mentioned "message to [my] member of Congress urging them to protect trans care" on June 1st, 2023, a copy of which can be found below, as quoted from my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above:
"...PROTECT TRANS CARE NOWThe attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.YOUR MESSAGESubject: Protect Trans People from DiscriminationRecently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.Thank you. I look forward to your response.[First Name] [Last Name]YOUR INFORMATIONSalutation (required by some officials): Mr.First name: PaulLast name: WhitingE-mail address: [redacted]Address: [redacted]Address Line 2: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]Zip Code: [redacted]Phone: [redacted]..."
And so, for very much the same reason that I donated on June 1st, 2023, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU today, June 7th, 2023, since "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get," because "PRIDE IS JOY," "PRIDE IS RESISTANCE" and "PRIDE IS ACTION!" –Paul Whiting (written June 7th, 2023, revised June 21st, 2023 and revised June 28th, 2023)
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June 9th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, June 9th, 2023, with the subject line, "Our movements are inseparable", which stated the following:
Dear Paul,It's Pride Month, and listen: We love a parade. We love to come together as a joyful, vibrant, diverse, proud community. We love to celebrate. We love love.But that is only part of Pride.Pride is also about solidarity, supporting one another, and building power within the LGBTQ+ community. It's about defiance — of laws and lawmakers who would dare to tell us how we can live, who we can love, and what we are worth. It's about building a future of liberation and equality.It's in that spirit of showing up and speaking out, of solidarity and defiance — and, yes, of love — that Planned Parenthood is supporting partner organizations rooted in the LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month.Click here to make a donation that will be shared among these partners:[✓] Gender Justice
[✓] Marsha P. Johnson Institute
[✓] SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!DONATE***As a wave of abortion bans has swept through state after state, so have bans on gender-affirming care and other legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people. Each one of these is a direct attack on the right to control our own bodies and lives.Our movements are deeply intertwined, and our causes are inseparable. When courageous lawmakers stood up to filibuster anti-trans legislation in Nebraska, bill sponsors added an abortion ban to the bill to help force it through.They showed us who they are in that moment, and demonstrated once again that these bills — abortion bans, gender-affirming care bans, and so much more — are about power and control. The only way to stand against them is to stand together.Make your special Pride Month gift right now and support grassroots organizations powering this movement.Thank you for your commitment, your solidarity, and your defiance. And thank you also for the joy, celebration, love, and pride you bring. We need all of it, together, now and for the work ahead.— Planned Parenthood
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
Thus, I made one-time donations to Gender Justice, Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!, on Plan Parenthood's donation portal via ActBlue.com, because Pride is about coming "together as a joyful, vibrant, diverse, proud community," however "Pride is also about solidarity, supporting one another, and building power within the LGBTQ+ community. It's about defiance — of laws and lawmakers who would dare to tell us how we can live, who we can love, and what we are worth. It's about building a future of liberation and equality." –Paul Whiting (written June 9th, 2023 and revised June 2nd, 2024)
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June 12th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today, June 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "Honor the victims and survivors of Pulse with action: Send your message," which stated the following:
Paul—The same week we're remembering the tragedy at Pulse nightclub—one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history—extremist Republicans in the House are proposing to gut our gun laws.They want to make it EASIER for potential mass shooters to get the kind of extremely dangerous assault weapons used in multiple shootings, including at Club Q in Colorado Springs and at The Covenant School in Nashville. President Biden took action to regulate this type of weapon under existing law, but extremists now want to roll it back.Paul, you've already taken action on this important issue—but if we're going to stop extremist lawmakers from gutting our gun laws, we need to keep the pressure up.The House is voting THIS WEEK to make it easier to get a type of extremely dangerous assault weapon that is highly regulated. Honor the victims and survivors of the shooting at Pulse with action: Send another message to [your representative in Congress] demanding they vote NO!SEND MY MESSAGE***Seven years ago, Orlando, Florida and the LGBTQ+ community were changed forever. A gunman opened fire at the LGBTQ+ nightclub Pulse, killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 others, many of whom were Latinx or Black.We've worked to honor their lives with action, but we cannot ignore how much work we have left to do.Loss continues to echo throughout and beyond the Latinx, Black, and queer communities. Mass shootings and daily gun violence continue to happen. And to make matters worse, extremist lawmakers in Florida—as well as several other states—are working to make their communities less welcoming, particularly for trans and queer youth.Being out and openly queer, as many of the victims of the shooting at Pulse were, requires not just an immense degree of courage to be oneself, but also profound belief that a world in which we are able to experience joy and thrive as ourselves is possible.It is with that intense amount of joy and hope that we, as a movement, must approach ending this deadly crisis. Together, we can turn our dream of a country free from gun violence into a reality—but only if we make it so.This Pride Month, and on the seven-year-mark of the Pulse tragedy, we are answering the challenges we face with hope and resolve. We will fight to make our country safe for all—regardless of who we are, and who we love.Honor the victims and survivors of the shooting at Pulse with action: Send a message to [your representative in Congress] now.Thank you for being a part of this movement.[Name redacted]She/Her/Hers[Title redacted]Moms Demand Action
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
Tell Your U.S. Representative: Oppose Gutting Our Gun Laws And Support Gun Safety LegislationGun lobby allies in Congress continue to attack the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)—the federal agency tasked with enforcing our gun laws, solving gun crimes, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.Just weeks after a school shooting in Nashville where the shooter used an assault weapon equipped with an arm brace, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation that would make it easier for dangerous individuals to get their hands on these modified guns.Enough is enough. Common-sense gun policies on background checks, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and assault weapons can help prevent shootings and keep our families safe. Inaction is not an option, and these extreme attempts to gut our gun laws are shameful.Demand the U.S. House prioritize gun safety. Our U.S. representatives must reject this extreme attempt at undermining the ATF, and take action on common-sense gun legislation like expanding background checks to all gun sales, passing a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban.Dear Representative,I am writing to you as a constituent filled with grief, fear, and anger. I am fed up. As countless acts of preventable gun violence continue to threaten the safety of communities across the country day after day, I am urging you to oppose the extreme attempts to attack the ATF, including efforts to repeal the ATF's arm brace rule, and, instead, support action on gun safety. I ask you to support common-sense legislation that would expand background checks to all gun sales, create a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban. This common-sense legislation can help prevent tragic mass shootings, as well as the 120 gun deaths that happen every day.Please, I'm urging you to prioritize public safety. Take action and save lives.Complete the form to send your message now:First name: PaulLast name: WhitingPrefix: Mr.Email address: [redacted]Street address: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]ZIP Code: [redacted]Mobile phone: [redacted]
And, after I sent the letter above to my representative in Congress, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (via the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund) in order to do my part to "honor the victims and survivors of Pulse [nightclub] with action by send[ing]...another message to [my representative in Congress] demanding they vote NO...to stop extremist lawmakers from gutting our gun laws." –Paul Whiting (written June 12th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023, revised July 5th, 2023 and revised September 7th, 2023)
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June 14th, 2023 Update—Continued (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 14th, 2023, with the subject line, "New podcast: Trans kids speak out!", which stated the following:
New Podcast EpisodeLet Trans Kids Speak for Themselves"I really hope for those of you that are younger and you find yourself caught in the hurricane that is the 'trans debate,' that you can find the eye of that hurricane and just learn to be yourself … no matter how far you sink, there will always be someone willing to lift you back up."– [Name redacted], 15 years oldLISTEN NOW:
Then, after I listened to the podcast, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU because, as the podcast host says in her opening statement:
"As legislatures across the country enact anti-LGBTQ bills, one group has taken center stage in our national conversation: trans youth. Of the 491 anti-LGBTQ bills that we are tracking in this legislative session, 118 are bills seeking to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for trans kids. In the midst of all of this we are losing sight of the big picture. Trans kids are simply kids. And they’d like everyone else to let them be that. They don’t want to have to grow up fast, or be thrust into the spotlight. They want to manage their cheer team, build robots in their bedrooms, and go to homecoming with their friends.So today, we’re passing them the mic, because well, the adults are talking too much and need to sit down and listen."
–Paul Whiting (June 14th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023 and revised April 28th, 2024)
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June 16th, 2023 Update, Written On June 17th, 2023: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) yesterday, June 16th, 2023, with the subject line, "The intersection of racism and queer hate.", which stated the following:
Paul – all Pride month long, we're uplifting the joy, resistance, and action of our communities, especially in the face of escalating attacks against LGBTQ people's rights and safety. Particularly for trans people.While state lawmakers continue to introduce discriminatory laws (nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills so far this year), the ACLU is working to defend the right to live fully and authentically as ourselves. One crucial piece in all this is the intersection between racism and queer hate that so many Black and brown LGBTQ people are forced to navigate – especially trans people of color. That's why this week, for Pride and in the lead-up to Juneteenth, we want to uplift the stories and work within this fight as we all work towards a liberated future free of harm and full of life.PRIDE IS JOYCommunity StoriesIn the midst of attacks on trans people's safety and dignity, we're celebrating stories of trans joy (https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/were-here-to-stay-black-trans-futures). In Alabama, for instance, as anti-trans state bills unfolded, the national press focused solely on the tragedy of being trans in the state, while interviews presented (mostly) white parents of trans youth in Alabama. This gap in storytelling brought about Black Trans Futures (https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/were-here-to-stay-black-trans-futures), a storytelling project by the ACLU of Alabama and the Knights & Orchids Society. As one young Alabamian named Ro shared, "I love my journey. I'm not a man, I'm a trans man and that holds so much power ... There's only one Ro and that Ro is special."PRIDE IS RESISTANCEUpdates On Our WorkThe ACLU has been fighting for LGBTQ freedom for decades. And as an organization at the intersection of every civil liberty issue in this country, we know full well that nothing exists in isolation: Our fight to stop attacks on LGBTQ people's right to exist in public life, includes defending access to protections like fair housing, healthcare, and beyond. Here's just a highlight of some of our work in these areas:[✓] Systemic racism, widespread poverty, and the criminalization of sex work continues to fuel housing discrimination for marginalized groups within the queer community, especially for trans people. We at the ACLU are educating and fighting for equal access to housing rights: Get informed on the history behind this work and how housing segregation shaped America's 'Gayborhoods.' (https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/how-housing-segregation-shaped-americas-gayborhoods)[✓] We also recently sued Idaho (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/families-sue-to-block-idahos-ban-on-health-care-for-trans-youth) for their unconstitutional law that criminalizes gender-affirming care for trans youth – a challenge that represents our seventh lawsuit defending trans youth's right to health care this year alone.[✓] Through advocacy, litigation, and lobbying, we're working alongside our partners to push back against ALL attacks on LGBTQ rights across the states, which you can track alongside our team right now (https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights).PRIDE IS ACTIONTake Action With UsPride began as a protest – a movement led by Black and brown trans women. And as we continue the fight for LGBTQ freedom today, we need you to take action. While anti-trans politicians in state legislatures continue to attack young people by passing bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently introduced a federal ban in the House. That's why, we're asking during Pride Month: Please, send a message to your member of Congress urging them to protect trans care.*Paul, this month and every month – we won't stop fighting for our communities. Thank you for reading this Pride month's update, and remember to watch your inbox all June for more updates as we fight to protect LGBTQ rights and all people's civil liberties.Happy Pride,The ACLU Team
*By the way, I already sent the above-mentioned "message to [my] member of Congress urging them to protect trans care" on June 1st, 2023, a copy of which can be found below, as quoted from my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above:
"...PROTECT TRANS CARE NOWThe attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.YOUR MESSAGESubject: Protect Trans People from DiscriminationRecently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.Thank you. I look forward to your response.[First Name] [Last Name]YOUR INFORMATIONSalutation (required by some officials): Mr.First name: PaulLast name: WhitingE-mail address: [redacted]Address: [redacted]Address Line 2: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]Zip Code: [redacted]Phone: [redacted]..."
And so, for very much the same reason that I donated on June 1st, 2023, and on June 7th, 2023, as well as on June 14th, 2023, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU today, June 17th, 2023, since "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get," because "PRIDE IS JOY," "PRIDE IS RESISTANCE" and "PRIDE IS ACTION!" –Paul Whiting (written June 17th, 2023, revised June 21st, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)
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June 21st, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "Abortion care, trans care, and bodily autonomy for ALL.", which stated the following:
Paul – all Pride month, we have been updating you in our fight for LGBTQ rights, particularly as trans people nationwide remain targeted. More than anything, we want to make clear that an attack on any community's rights and freedoms is an attack on all our rights and freedoms. That's why we at the ACLU are here.Given this Pride week also marks the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, that intersectional fight for civil liberties is more evident than ever. Because the very same lawmakers who are banning abortion are also banning lifesaving care for trans people. It's a coordinated attack on our bodily autonomy. But we won't let that happen without a fight. You are the rightful owner of your life story Paul, and together, we will make that clear through Pride and beyond.PRIDE IS JOYCommunity StoriesIn the midst of attacks on trans people's safety and dignity, we're celebrating stories from trans people's own experiences. Because when forces larger than us try to break our spirit, we can respond as forcefully and effectively with joy as we can with anger, defiance, and protest. And one area that we know uplifting the voices of trans people is so needed in the movement is in the fight for reproductive freedom. As Cazembe Jackson put it in an interview with ACLU and our partners at We Testify, "As a Black trans man, my abortion experience was not easy, but it saved my life... If I'd heard any other Black trans voices when I got an abortion, I believe it would have been a lot easier." Read his full story (https://www.aclu.org/abortion-stories/cazembe-murphy-jackson).PRIDE IS RESISTANCEUpdates On Our WorkThe ACLU has been fighting for LGBTQ freedom for decades. And as an organization at the intersection of every civil liberty issue in this country, we know full well that nothing exists in isolation: That's why we defend trans people's right to access gender-affirming health care and all people's right to access abortion care. Full stop. Here are just a few of our most recent updates on this work:[✓] Just yesterday a federal district court judge struck down an Arkansas law (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-judge-overturns-arkansas-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-transgender-youth) that aimed to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The win by the ACLU of Arkansas and our partners makes it clear: science, medicine, and law are clear: gender-affirming care is necessary to ensure these young Arkansans can thrive and be healthy.[✓] We recently filed a lawsuit in Nebraska (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/new-lawsuit-argues-combined-restrictions-on-health-care-for-trans-youth-and-abortion-violated-state-constitution) over their law that bans abortion after 12 weeks and restricts access to gender-affirming care for young people.[✓] Last Friday, a federal judge blocked a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth in Indiana from going into effect. This win came out of the ACLU and ACLU of Indiana's challenge against the state (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-blocks-indiana-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-trans-youth) and is a testament to the trans youth of Indiana, their families, and their allies, who never gave up the fight.PRIDE IS ACTIONTake Action With UsPride began as a protest – a movement led by Black and brown trans women. And as we continue the fight for LGBTQ freedom today, we need you to take action. During Pride Month, as we fight to protect bodily autonomy and access to life-affirming care for all of us: Please, send a message to your member of Congress urging them to protect trans care.*Paul, this month and every month – we won't stop fighting for our communities. Thank you for reading this Pride month's update, and remember to watch your inbox all June for more updates as we fight to protect LGBTQ rights and all people's civil liberties.Happy Pride,The ACLU Team
*By the way, I already sent the above-mentioned "message to [my] member of Congress urging them to protect trans care" on June 1st, 2023, a copy of which can be found below, as quoted from my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above:
"...PROTECT TRANS CARE NOWThe attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.YOUR MESSAGESubject: Protect Trans People from DiscriminationRecently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.Thank you. I look forward to your response.[First Name] [Last Name]YOUR INFORMATIONSalutation (required by some officials): Mr.First name: PaulLast name: WhitingE-mail address: [redacted]Address: [redacted]Address Line 2: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]Zip Code: [redacted]Phone: [redacted]..."
And so, for very much the same reason that I donated on June 1st, 2023, and on June 7th, 2023, and on June 14th, 2023, as well as on June 17th, 2023, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU today, June 21st, 2023, since "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get," because "PRIDE IS JOY," "PRIDE IS RESISTANCE" and "PRIDE IS ACTION!" –Paul Whiting (written June 21st, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)
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June 22nd, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, June 22nd, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Pride, Against All Odds." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:
"Pride, Against All Odds" from Time MagazineBy Joey Lautrup and Solcyre Burga | June 22, 2023In America, the month of June is Pride Month, a celebratory period for the queer community whose origins are tied to the 1969 Stonewall rebellion. It is normally commemorated with parades, drag shows, and rallies—all in an effort to uplift the LGBTQ+ community. But this year, pride has been clouded by legislative attacks against the queer community.Violence against LGBTQ+ people has been at a high, prompting President Joe Biden to announce a new LGBTQI+ Community Safety Partnership that aims to better protect the queer community. Companies have been targeted—and in some cases experienced bomb threats—for their partnerships with transgender activists, causing some businesses to scale back their pride merchandise or messaging.In the past six months alone, the ACLU’s legislative tracker found that more than 490 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across state legislatures, targeting trans youth’s access to health care, the right to perform drag and banning discussions about gender identity or sexuality.And while there has been some successful push back against such policies, causing federal courts to strike down Arkansas’ gender-affirming-care ban on Tuesday and block other healthcare bans in states like Indiana, LGBTQ+ residents still say they feel anxious by the ongoing attacks on the queer community.“I’m not gonna lie [the Tennessee drag ban] kind of made me very, very nervous,” said Kirkland Pinkerton, a Tennessee drag queen. “The political climate and how fast it changed at the beginning of the year was a slap in the face and I was more nervous to go out in public.”TIME spoke to Americans in four states—Florida, Missouri, Montana, and Tennessee—that are seeking to limit LGBTQ+ rights. Here’s what they told us: ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
And I decided to highlight this Time Magazine article for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 22nd, 2023 and revised August 12th, 2023)
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July 2nd, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, July 2nd, 2023, when I noticed two Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)
The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "The Supreme Court Just Made Same-Sex Marriage More Vulnerable to a Challenge." An introduction to the article can be found below:
"The Supreme Court Just Made Same-Sex Marriage More Vulnerable to a Challenge" from Time MagazineBy Philip Elliott | June 30, 2023On the surface, the details of the case seemed plenty narrow: a Colorado web designer who is cool making wedding websites for “Mike and Mary” but not “Mike and Mark” thinks Colorado’s anti-discrimination law could force her to someday do coding that runs counter to her Evangelical Christian faith. She isn’t yet in the business of making such pages, no confirmed couples had approached her, and the plaintiff here was a civil rights panel. It was a sketchy case built on a dodgy—and maybe fabricated—premise, but it still wound up on the docket. Yet in the designer’s view, Colorado and the 29 other states with similar protections for LGBTQ individuals impede her First Amendment rights to preemptively advertise that she wants none of their nuptials’ joy.But, look beyond the sepia-toned pages asking a distant cousin the age-old question of beef, fish, or vegetarian entree? Nothing less than the rights of every LGBTQ American to marry their same-sex partner hangs in the balance of a case nominally about hyperscript, links to registries, and social-media links. After all, these things often start narrow and then snowball.The Supreme Court on Friday decided Lorie Smith’s fears were grounded in some version of a paranoid reality. In a 70-page ruling that is a blow for LGBTQ rights—and perhaps a harbinger of even more chipping away to come—the justices decided the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had primacy over any state-level non-discrimination laws. The case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, was named for Smith’s firm and the chair of the state civil rights panel, Aubrey Elenis.“The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands,” the 6-3 majority wrote in a ruling that was as expected as it was foreboding.Put plainly: states can try to pass local anti-bigotry laws, but national religious liberties still supercede them. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "The Intersex Community Is Fighting for Every Body." An introduction to the article can be found below:
"The Intersex Community Is Fighting for Every Body" from Time MagazineBy Alicia Roth Weigel | June 30, 2023When I first moved to Texas in 2016, I never expected it’d be here that I’d come out as intersex. I certainly never thought that would’ve happened in a Senate hearing, divulging details about my body and medical history most of my family didn’t even know to a bunch of conservative legislators. I told them that I was born with physical traits—external sex anatomy, internal reproductive organs, hormones, and chromosomes—that didn’t fit neatly into the binary “male” or “female” options on a birth certificate. And I shared that very personal fact with a government chamber full of total strangers because the “bathroom bill” they were pushing not only discriminated against the trans community, but also completely ignored the existence of intersex folks like me.The day that bill died in June 2017, something new was born within me: The confidence to share my truth with the world and the conviction that the whole world needed to hear my story—our story. Since then, I haven’t stopped showing up (at the State Capitol and on stages across the globe) to raise awareness of the inequity we face. Similarly to what the trans community has experienced, though, increased visibility can be a double-edged sword. At first, only the wrong people listened to me—or the right ones listened, those tasked with serving their constituents, but they intentionally received and parroted the wrong message.As I shouted about the involuntary surgery that sterilized me, an operation to remove the internal testes that didn’t “match” my external “female” genitalia, Gov. Greg Abbott and the former Texas Attorney General heard me loud and clear. They then translated the alarm bell I was sounding for intersex kids into a battle cry against trans youth; they used arguments of forced sterilizations and the neglect of gender-nonconforming children not to help me and others like me, but rather to hurt people I also care about. Despite hearing my desperate calls for a life raft—one of affirmative consent, so that all human beings might decide for themselves the form their body might take—they instead unleashed a deluge of misinformation that has since swept the nation.The same bills that seek to block gender affirming care for transgender Americans, cropping up in state legislatures across the country, contain loopholes that allow the same surgeries and hormones to be forced onto intersex children without our having any say in the matter. As journalist Carter Sherman wrote in their piece for VICE, “Republicans have compared gender-affirming health care to child abuse and Nazi war crimes. But they’re more than happy to let doctors perform surgeries on intersex children.”This all proves that the authors of these bills seek not to shield children from harm but rather to eradicate those that don’t fit their cis-heteropatriarchal paradigm. Texas Republicans took my plea for protection and warped it into propaganda—and it’s time to set the record straight. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
And I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written July 2nd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)
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July 24th, 2023 Update: I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, July 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Sign the petition: "Sign the petition: Stand against corporate donations to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians", which stated the following:
Dear Fellow Progressive,The LGTBQ+ community is under attack. A recent Supreme Court decision allows businesses to refuse to serve LGTBQ+ customers. Don’t say “gay” laws. Attacks on gender affirming care. According to Human Rights Campaign, over 520 anti-LGTBQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures already in 2023.[1] And, every June, big corporations slap rainbows on their logos and talk about supporting the LGTBQ+ community. Then, many of these corporations turn around and donate to politicians who actively work against LGTBQ+ rights.We need your help today.Sign this petition to tell corporations to stop funding LGTBQ+ hate.It is the height of cynical hypocrisy to make a few dollars off the LGTBQ+ community in June, and then donate to the very politicians working to oppress that community the rest of the year. AT&T, UPS, Comcast and Home Depot are just a few of the companies who donate to politicians hostile to the LGTBQ+ community. It's time for these corporations to put their money where their mouths are and truly support the LGBTQ+ community.Click here to sign the petition to tell corporations to stop donating to anti-LGTBQ+ politicians.Sign the Petition***Thank you for speaking out. Please share with like-minded friends.-The team at CREDO MobileP.S. CREDO Mobile supports the LGTBQ+ community all year round. Since 1985, CREDO has donated more than $15 million to progressive nonprofits fighting for equality and civil rights – groups like the Transgender Law Center, SAGE, Family Equality and the National LGTBQ Task Force. Learn more here.Footnotes:1. Cullen Peele, "Roundup of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation Advancing In States Across the Country," Human Rights Campaign, May 23, 2023.
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
Sign the petition: Stand against corporate donations to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians[Petition Text:]Everyone, irrespective of one's sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves an equal chance to thrive. This year, Republican extremist state legislatures have passed a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislations. These actions represent a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community, and it's time we stood up. We cannot support elected officials who directly attack our right to exist.AT&T, UPS, Comcast, Home Depot, and General Electric have now joined the ranks of the many corporations that donate millions to politicians who actively work against LGBTQ+ rights. Although we have made significant strides towards acceptance and equality, such progress is threatened when corporations fund politicians who seek to roll back these hard-won rights.The LGBTQ+ community has a purchasing power of $3.7 trillion, and allies are 82% more likely to purchase goods and services from companies that openly support LGBTQ+ equality. These corporations need to understand that funding anti-LGBTQ+ politicians alienates a significant portion of their customer base.We must hold these corporations accountable. They cannot wave the rainbow flag during Pride month and then fund politicians who actively work against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. It's time for these corporations to put their money where their mouth is and truly support the LGBTQ+ community.Sign the petition: Funding anti-LGBTQ+ politicians is unacceptable. We must demand that corporations stop funding hate and start investing in love and acceptance.Participating Organizations:✓ Blue Amp Action✓ Daily Kos Liberation League✓ Futures PAC✓ OD Action✓ Able Dems✓ Cedar Key Progress✓ CREDO Mobile✓ Democracy for America Advocacy Fund✓ Democratic Values✓ Forward Blue✓ HollywoodDemocrats.com✓ National Campaign for Justice✓ TakeItBack.orgADD YOUR NAME:First Name: WhitingLast Name: PaulEmail: [redacted]Zip/Postal Code: [redacted]
Thus, I signed the petition to corporations in order to ask that they "stop donating to anti-LGTBQ+ politicians." –Paul Whiting (July 24th, 2023)
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July 24th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, July 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Urgent Action Alert: Tell Congress to protect trans care and all LGBTQ rights this week", which stated the following:
Paul –Opponents of LGBTQ equality in Congress have been pushing extremely concerning provisions in critical government funding bills over the past few weeks against peoples' civil liberties – particularly when it comes to the safety and rights of trans people.These attacks are only continuing and have now expanded to target everyone in our LGBTQ community.Here's what to know and what action to take immediately:What's going on?[✓] Several government funding bills are moving in the House that come after federal funding for gender-affirming health care for trans people, Pride Flags, marriage equality, and more. BUT members of the House of Representatives are also expected to vote on amendments that would remove these damaging and discriminatory provisions from these bills.What action can you take?[✓] Paul, these anti-LGBTQ provisions are a dangerous assault. Defunding transgender people's health care especially will pose an immediate risk to their lives and well-being.[✓] We can and must let our leaders in Congress know that we, the people, do NOT support these hateful efforts: Send a message to your representative today.TAKE ACTION***Paul, make no mistake: This is a dangerous effort to hijack the federal budget in order to deny health care that many trans people need to live, while stripping away several other protections for all our communities.We at the ACLU will not allow this unconscionable attack against our LGBTQ community to go down without a fight.Please join us in action at this urgent time. And know whatever attacks they may throw at us, we at the ACLU are here now and always to protect peoples' rights. Count on it.Thank you for your activism,The ACLU Team
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:
PROTECT TRANS CARE NOWThe attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families continue to escalate, with one-third of the country that has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is here, and it affects everyone — even in states that haven’t seen any anti-trans attacks.Legislation has already been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won’t be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.YOUR MESSAGESubject: Protect Trans People from DiscriminationRecently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy. I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must fight against this.Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice to publicly show support for the transgender community. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for trans youth and adults alike.Thank you. I look forward to your response.[First Name] [Last Name]YOUR INFORMATIONSalutation (required by some officials): Mr.First name: PaulLast name: WhitingE-mail address: [redacted]Address: [redacted]Address Line 2: [redacted]City: [redacted]State: [redacted]Zip Code: [redacted]Phone: [redacted][By the way, I already sent letters to "tell [my] Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination" on June 1st, 2023. (Please see my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above.) And I sent letters again on July 13th, 2023 to reflect "that certain members of Congress are attacking access to life-saving gender-affirming care for transgender people, including using the National Defense Authorization Act to block lifesaving access for people who serve in the military while also attempting to undermine access to abortion for service members." (Please see my 'July 11th, 2023 Update, Written On July 13th, 2023, Which Also Discusses July 13th, 2023,' which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog: https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html.) However, the letter above has been updated to reflect that "several government funding bills are moving in the House that come after federal funding for gender-affirming health care for trans people, Pride Flags, marriage equality, and more. BUT members of the House of Representatives are also expected to vote on amendments that would remove these damaging and discriminatory provisions from these bills." Thus, I sent this letter again.]
And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, July 24th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:
Hi Paul,Thank you for taking action to protect trans people.Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/transcareThank you,The ACLU Team----Hi friend,Recently, we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy.In fact, legislation has already been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress that would criminalize the health care trans people need.We must fight back and stop any effort to criminalize trans people and their families and communities. That's why I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to Congress urging them to protect trans people now, including by voting against all anti-civil liberties amendments in the defense bill.Will you join me?Thanks.
Then, after I sent the letter above to Congress, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU due to the fact that "several government funding bills are moving in the House that come after federal funding for gender-affirming health care for trans people, Pride Flags, marriage equality, and more. BUT members of the House of Representatives are also expected to vote on amendments that would remove these damaging and discriminatory provisions from these bills." And that is why I wrote to "tell [my] Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination." –Paul Whiting (written July 24th, 2023 and revised March 4th, 2024)
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July 25th, 2023 Update—Continued Further (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, July 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "It’s time to talk about gender-affirming care", which stated the following:
Paul,Have you noticed a similarity in how anti-abortion and anti-trans politicians and activists justify their dangerous policies? They love to cite "health" and "safety" as the motivation behind their bans. But I promise you, health and safety have nothing to do with it.It's hot health care summer, and we’re bringing you the facts about gender-affirming care and why it matters right now.What is gender-affirming care?The short answer is: It's different for everyone! Gender-affirming care can include anything from hormone treatment to voice therapy, surgery to social support. And not all transgender and nonbinary people need or want the same care.Why is gender-affirming care essential health care?Gender-affirming care literally saves lives. Studies have shown that transgender and nonbinary people who have access to gender-affirming care experience significantly lower rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.What barriers to care are trans and nonbinary people facing?Many states and organizations are actively working to prevent transgender and nonbinary people from getting the gender-affirming care they need. While some states are still working to increase access to gender-affirming care, it's not enough to meet the needs of transgender and nonbinary people right now.In 2023 alone, politicians in 36 states have introduced anti-transgender health care legislation.What is Planned Parenthood doing to support transgender and nonbinary people?All Planned Parenthood health centers proudly serve people of all genders and gender expressions. They also provide STD testing and treatment, birth control, wellness exams, and other sexual and reproductive health services. Nearly 70% of health centers also offer gender-affirming hormone treatment. To learn more about the services available in your area, contact your nearest Planned Parenthood health center.Paul, trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people deserve access to safe, inclusive health care always. Your support for Planned Parenthood helps make gender-affirming care happen. Thank you.Sincerely,[Name redacted], [Title redacted]Planned Parenthood Federation of AmericaDONATE NOW »
And so, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, because "Planned Parenthood health centers proudly serve people of all genders and gender expressions. They also provide STD testing and treatment, birth control, wellness exams, and other sexual and reproductive health services. Nearly 70% of health centers also offer gender-affirming hormone treatment." –Paul Whiting (written July 25th, 2023 and revised July 26th, 2023)
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August 25th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, August 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "This ban goes after trans youth and physicians. We're in court fighting back.", which stated the following:
Paul –
This morning, we're in state court in Texas challenging an unconstitutional health care ban targeting transgender youth, called S.B. 14.
For the last 18 months, thousands of families across Texas have been threatened by Governor Greg Abbott with the removal of their transgender children from their custody. Under the threat of S.B. 14, these same families have been forced to move out of state – one of our clients even separated her family to move her trans teen out of state and retain access to their health care.
If the court doesn't intervene, the ban will take effect on September 1. That's why we'll be arguing in court for the next two days on behalf of hundreds of families and health professionals impacted by S.B. 14.
This challenge was filed by the ACLU, alongside the ACLU of Texas, Lambda Legal, Transgender Law Center, and the law firms [name redacted] and [name redacted].
We'll keep you as updated as possible on these critical hearings as they unfold – and know we are so grateful to have you with us in the fight for trans justice in Texas and across the country.
Thank you,
The ACLU Team
If you’d like to immediately support the essential work we are doing for trans people’s rights and all civil liberties, please know any donation amount you can give will go a long way.
DONATE NOW
So, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to "immediately support the essential work [that the ACLU is] doing for trans people’s rights and all civil liberties." –Paul Whiting (August 25th, 2023)
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October 11th, 2023 Update, Which Also Discusses October 8th, 2023: National Coming Out Day is today, October 11th, 2023, since National Coming Out Day is yearly (annually) on October 11th.
And I received an email from National Today yesterday, October 8th, 2023, with the subject line, "Celebrating Indigenous Peoples, Hugging Drummers, No Bras. The Week Ahead", which stated, in part, the following:
And I received an email from National Today yesterday, October 8th, 2023, with the subject line, "Celebrating Indigenous Peoples, Hugging Drummers, No Bras. The Week Ahead", which stated, in part, the following:
THIS WEEK ON NATIONAL TODAY ...
... Wednesday 11 October
National Coming Out Day
Homophobia thrives in silence, so today, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ “come out.”
Read more:
https://nationaltoday.com/national-coming-out-day
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can, in part, be found below:
NATIONAL TODAY
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY – OCTOBER 11, 2023
[Observed in the] U.S.
On this October 11, National Coming Out Day will continue to raise awareness for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, and champion the idea that homophobia thrives in silence. On this day, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ will “come out” (a term stemming from the phrase “come out of the closet”) to friends or family about their sexuality, which is a very big moment! Beyond this, the history of the LGBTQ+ movement is a beacon of light — its champions are honored, and it underlines the personal being political. It’s also a chance to celebrate the liberation spirit — many do this by waving flags associated with LGBTQ+ groups or donning pins.
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WHEN IS NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY 2023?
National Coming Out Day is celebrated on October 11 each year. The first observation was in 1988 and by 1990 it was being celebrated in all 50 states.
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HISTORY OF NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
National Coming Out Day was inspired by a single march. 500,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 11, 1987, generating momentum to last for 4 months after the march had ended. During this period, over a hundred LGBTQ+ identifying individuals gathered outside Washington, DC, and decided on creating a national day to celebrate coming out – this began on the 1st anniversary of their historic march.
It was Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary who first proposed the idea of NCOD. Eichberg founded a person growth workshop, The Experience, and at the time, O’Leary was the head of National Gay Rights Advocates. Eichberg, who would later die in 1995 of complications from AIDS, had said the strongest tool in the human rights movement was to illustrate that most people already know and respect someone in the LGBTQ+ community, and NCOD helps these people come to light.
Over the last 15 years, the Human Rights Campaign has chosen a theme for every National Coming Out Day — 2014 and 2013 were both themed “Coming Out Still Matters,” and the earliest theme (1999) was “Come Out To Congress.” There have also been different spokespeople for each NCOD. Some notable names include “Frasier” actor Dan Butler and Candace Gingrich, half-sister of Newt Gingrich, in the 1990s.
NCOD gains popularity and participants every year. Since its inception, countless public figures and celebrities have openly identified themselves as LGBTQ+, and yearly share messages of support and hope for those still in the closet. Notable celebrities who tweeted in support of NCOD in 2019 include Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and actress and advocate Sara Ramirez. The event plans to continue its efforts to eradicate hate and homophobia with friends and family coming out to dispel stereotypes.
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NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY TIMELINE
1924
The First Documented Gay Rights Organization:
The Society for Human Rights was founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago.
June 28, 1969
Stonewall Riot:
The riot against police at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan triggered the beginning of the LGBTQ+ movement.
October 11, 1987
National March on Washington:
This impactful event is honored by National Coming Out Day being on the same day.
October 11, 2002
The Beat of Their Own Drum:
On National Coming Out Day in 2002, a benefit CD was released featuring donated songs by artists who were either in the LGBTQ+ community or were allies — it included Cyndi Lauper and Queen.
May 17, 2004
The First Same-Sex Marriage:
The first legal same sex marriage takes place in Massachusetts.
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NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY FAQS
Where else is National Coming Out Day celebrated?
National Coming Out Day is also recognized in Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK.
What are some LGBTQ+ organizations I can support?
Some of the most prominent LGBTQ+ supporting organizations include the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, The National Center for Transgender Equality, and the It Gets Better Project — as well as many more!
Where can resources for those considering coming out be found?
The Human Rights Campaign has created a comprehensive Resource Guide to Coming Out, which discusses how the conversation might go, how those involved might feel, and what benefits might be gained from coming out.
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HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
1. Contribute to the Human Rights Campaign
This organization not only sponsors NCOD, but also dedicates itself to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality in many ways. It’s a worthy cause to support!
2. Support someone coming out
No way around it - coming out can be a difficult experience. Be an ally by accepting those that choose to share this part of their lives with you. If you yourself are on the fence about whether or not to share that important bit of your identity, consider taking advantage of the extra love today and make the leap, if the time is right for you.
3. Don a Pride symbol to raise awareness
The symbolic representations of the different groups encompassed in the acronym ‘LGBTQ+’ can be a very welcome sight to see for some who feel discriminated against or alone. Raise awareness of the movements by donning a pin or waving a flag, or post your support on a social media platform that you feel comfortable with!
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5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
1. National Coming Out Day includes more than gay or lesbian
LGBTQ+ has grown to encompass bisexual, transgender, and many more sexual identities - so more and more people are able to participate in NCOD!
2. It has grown in National support
On the first National Coming Out Day, only 18 states participated — this number skyrocketed with media attention and sent the event worldwide.
3. It used to be much more dangerous
In this decade and in Western culture, it is statistically less dangerous to come out as gay or lesbian - many who are part of the community instead celebrate their identity and wear pride-supporting accessories!
4. Knowledge drives out hate
One study shows that those who know a loved one is in the LGBTQ+ community are less likely to maintain oppressive and homophobic views.
5. It was once headquartered in West Hollywood
When NCOD first began, the headquarters of National Gay Rights Advocates was in West Hollywood, California, but has since moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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WHY NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY IS IMPORTANT
A. It’s a celebration of diversity
When different people come together, we are all stronger. Hate and homophobia thrive in silence, according to the Human Rights Council, and this day serves to bring into light and accept the differences we have.
B. It shines a light on an important movement in history
A recent poll shows that 5% of Americans identify with the LGBTQ+ community - and that’s not even counting all the allies and supporters! The movements that stand behind NCOD is working to give all these people freedom, voice, and choice in how they live their lives.
C. It can be life-changing
The decision to live your life out of the closet — truly genuine, and not hiding any aspects of your identity — is a huge step for many people around the world. NCOD can represent this new beginning, and be one of the most important days in a person’s life.
Please see the hyperlink below for the post:
https://nationaltoday.com/national-coming-out-day
–Paul Whiting (October 11th, 2023)
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October 17th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, October 17th, 2023, with the subject line, "Paul, I need you in the fight for trans justice.", which stated the following:
Make a gift to help us defend LGBTQ rights
DONATE NOW***
Paul, I'm [name redacted]. An ACLU communications strategist focusing on transgender justice.
I'm reaching out because it's LGBTQ History Month, and politicians are still coming after the rights and safety of transgender people: States across the country have banned youth from accessing lifesaving medical care, playing sports with their friends, and using their names and pronouns in class. It's all part of a cruel movement to use trans people, especially kids, as a political punching bag.
The ACLU is working to protect the rights of transgender people – to defend our ability to make decisions about our own futures, express ourselves freely, and thrive. To continue our work, we need to hit our $100,000 goal before our deadline on October 20 at midnight.
Will you donate now to help the ACLU defend LGBTQ rights nationwide? The best way to commemorate LGBTQ History Month is by fighting for a better future for our community.
DONATE NOW***
While we've made excellent progress recently in the fight for LGBTQ rights, we've also got a long way to go. The ACLU is currently working to defend the rights of trans and gender-nonconforming people by:
[✓] Protecting gender-affirming care: After successfully blocking trans health care bans in Arkansas, Indiana, and Montana, the ACLU is working in many more states across the country to overturn similar bans
[✓] Defending the rights of trans youth in school: The ACLU has pending cases in three states that would overturn cruel sports bans that prevent kids from playing with their peers, and they just successfully blocked a ban in Idaho
[✓] Defending drag performance: Several months ago, the ACLU successfully got a court to overturn a city's drag ban in Utah, and the ACLU of Texas just successfully struck down a law that would have censored drag performances across the state. With new bans popping up every day, it's incredibly important that the ACLU remains fully funded and ready to fight back.
Please, if you're able to contribute, will you donate now to help the ACLU continue to fight for transgender justice?
With supporters like you by our side, I remain hopeful that the just world we all deserve is not only possible – it's well within our reach.
Thank you,
[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted]
Women's Rights Project and LGBTQ & HIV Project, ACLU
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And so, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU, because "it's LGBTQ History Month, and politicians are still coming after the rights and safety of transgender people: States across the country have banned youth from accessing lifesaving medical care, playing sports with their friends, and using their names and pronouns in class." –Paul Whiting (written October 17th, 2023 and revised October 19th, 2023)
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October 24th, 2023 Update No. 7 (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog):
I have changed the way I label the blog post 'updates' that I write because I oftentimes write more than one 'update' per day!
And in the past, I have labeled the second, third, fourth and fifth 'update' with the following extensions—on the days that I write more than 'update'—to differentiate any additional 'updates' from the first one, as follows:
[1st] Month Day, Year Update
[2nd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued
[3rd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further
[4th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More
[5th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before
However today, October 24th, 2023, I actually had more than five 'updates' to write, so I decided to change how I differentiate any additional 'updates,' from the first 'update,' by using a simple numbering system, which actually starts with the first 'update' that I write, as follows:
Month Day, Year Update No. 1
Month Day, Year Update No. 2
Month Day, Year Update No. 3
Month Day, Year Update No. 4
Month Day, Year Update No. 5
Month Day, Year Update No. 6
Month Day, Year Update No. 7
Therefore, that is why this 'update' is the seventh one for today! –Paul Whiting (written October 24th, 2023 and revised October 28th, 2023)
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November 13th, 2023 Update No. 6, Written On November 14th, 2023 (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America yesterday, November 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "It's Transgender Awareness Week", which stated the following:
Paul,
It's Transgender Awareness Week! At Planned Parenthood, we celebrate our trans and nonbinary family and friends every day. Everyone deserves to feel worthy and to exist in the world as their most authentic selves. And we know the gender‑affirming health services, which are provided by many Planned Parenthood health centers, are essential, lifesaving care.
We also know that educating ourselves is an important step toward understanding and inclusion.
Here are four things you should know about gender identity and health care, as well as some helpful resources for you or a loved one who might have questions.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity
What is gender identity?
Gender identity describes how a person experiences their own gender — whether they feel like a man, woman, genderqueer, agender, nonbinary, or another identity. Remember: There's no right or wrong way to express gender identity — no single way to look or act like a woman, man, or nonbinary person. Learn more about transgender and non‑binary identities »
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity/transgender
What is gender‑affirming care?
The short answer is: It's different for everyone. Gender‑affirming care is patient-centered and individual as a way to align outward, physical traits with someone's gender identity. It can include anything from hormone treatment to voice therapy, surgery to social support. And not all trans and nonbinary people need or want the same care. More information about transitioning can be found here »
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity/transgender/what-do-i-need-know-about-trans-health-care
Why is gender‑affirming care essential health care?
All major medical associations agree that age-appropriate, gender affirming care for transgender and nonbinary people is evidence‑based and medically necessary. Studies have shown that trans and nonbinary people who have access to gender‑affirming care experience significantly lower rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Learn more about trans and non‑binary health care »
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity/transgender/what-do-i-need-know-about-trans-health-care
Why is it hard for trans and nonbinary people to get care?
Some lawmakers want to control the lives and decisions of LGBTQ+ people; like abortion, many states and organizations are actively working to ban transgender and nonbinary people from getting the gender‑affirming care they need. While some states are trying to expand access to gender‑affirming care, it's not enough to meet the needs of trans and nonbinary people right now.
So far in 2023 alone, politicians in nearly 40 states have introduced anti-trans health care legislation.
What is Planned Parenthood doing to support trans and nonbinary people?
All Planned Parenthood health centers proudly serve people of all genders and gender expressions. They also provide STI testing and treatment, birth control, wellness exams, and other sexual and reproductive health services. Nearly 70% of Planned Parenthood health centers also offer gender‑affirming hormone treatment. Planned Parenthood is here to help and support you on your journey. Find your nearest Planned Parenthood health center »
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center
More questions? Here are some additional resources:
[✓] What are the differences between sex, gender, and gender identity?
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity
[✓] How can you support a loved one who is trans?
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/parents/identity
[✓] Does birth control affect HRT [hormone replacement therapy] treatment?
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/im-trans-does-birth-control-affect-hrt-treatment
Trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people deserve access to safe, inclusive health care, always.
Planned Parenthood is working each day to be a place where people of all genders can receive the care and education they deserve: high‑quality, compassionate, and affirming. Trans and nonbinary people are Planned Parenthood patients, staff, and supporters, and we are proud to be here — providing care and education, and showing up for our trans and nonbinary family and friends.
Your support for Planned Parenthood helps make gender‑affirming care happen. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
So, I wanted to share this email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America in celebration of Transgender Awareness Week! –Paul Whiting (written November 14th, 2023, revised November 17th, 2023, revised January 9th, 2024 and revised March 4th, 2024)
P.S.: Just so you know, I used to make one-time donations to the organization that is the subject of these 'updates' each time that I took an action as requested by that organization; however, "I have changed the way that I make donations to political, progressive and charitable organizations each month ... due to the fact that I have been spending a considerable percentage of my monthly income on all of these donations." (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.) Therefore, "I am greatly reducing the number of times that I donate for the same organization per month down to once—or as determined by me on a case-by-case basis." (Please see my 'August 19th, 2023 Update,' which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog: https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html.) Thus, because I have already donated to Planned Parenthood Federation of America on November 4th, 2023 (please see my 'November 4th, 2023 Update No. 1,' which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog: https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html) that is the one-time donation which I made to Planned Parenthood Federation of America for November 2023.
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January 23rd, 2024 Update No. 4 (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon (PPAO) today, January 23rd, 2024, with the subject line, "Announcing the Equal Rights for All campaign", which stated the following:
Paul,
Fifty-one years ago, history was made as the US Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling legalized abortion throughout the country. This was a milestone in the movement for medical privacy and bodily autonomy, and a catalyst for wide-reaching progress for gender equality and LGBTQ2SIA+ rights.
But you know what happened to Roe: In 2022, SCOTUS overturned it. The Dobbs ruling made it crystal clear we can’t count on the federal government’s protections for reproductive freedom, transgender rights, marriage equality or any other rights our communities hold dear.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is proud to announce that along with our key partners ACLU of Oregon and Basic Rights Oregon, we are launching a campaign to cement these rights at the state level. We’re planning a ballot measure for 2026 that will enshrine abortion rights, trans anti-discrimination rights, and marriage equality in the Oregon State Constitution, and we’re going to need your help.
SUPPORT THIS WORK NOW***
Abortion rights & trans rights have always been two sides of the same coin. When our Equal Rights for All measure passes, we won’t have to worry that the whims of electoral politics will threaten abortion or gender-affirming care. Trans Oregonians can be confident they have legal protections against discrimination in the workplace, at school and at their doctor’s offices—and those protections can’t be easily repealed. And even if the ultra-conservative Supreme Court succeeds in overturning marriage equality, queer couples in Oregon will retain our rights.
LEARN MORE***
We’re going to need the support of everyone in our communities to pull off this win. Former [title and name redacted], a champion for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ2SIA+ rights, is already on-board! [Title and name redacted] is supporting the launch of our campaign with a $20,000 matching donation. Can you join her today by donating to help us raise our first $40,000?
We know this campaign is going to be a lot of work, even with the support of every pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ2SIA+ Oregonian. But our movements have never been afraid of hard work, because we know we have justice, truth and love on our side. We’re doing this for our friend whose abortion was life-changing; for our trans neighbor who deserves to live with safety and dignity; for ourselves and our own futures.
PPAO is proud to fight alongside you for these Oregon values. Welcome to the Equal Rights for All Campaign.
Sincerely,
Team PPAO [Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon]
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:
Donate to Equal Rights For All
Help us stop politicians from holding our bodies, lives, and futures hostage.
Oregon’s Republican senators walked off the job for almost six weeks to obstruct progress on things we all deeply care about: protecting abortion access, transgender health care, and same-gender marriage equality. In the process, they also spent weeks preventing our state’s leaders from passing policies to help fix the housing and homelessness crisis, access to mental health care, emergency drought assistance, wildfire preparation and other critical needs.
This walkout killed SJR 33. This bill would have sent a measure to the 2024 general election ballot asking voters to create constitutional protections for abortion, birth control, marriage equality and gender affirming care. This episode has proved that right-wing politicians will stop at nothing to roll back abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights. We need to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms from the relentless attacks of the ultra-conservative politicians who are tyrannizing everyday people in states like Texas, Florida, Idaho, and have their eyes set on Oregon. That’s why our communities will be back, stronger than ever, to ensure that all Oregonians can make our own decisions about health care, bodily autonomy, and who we marry.
It’s time to mobilize for the next fight. We need your help. Will you join us by making a donation today?
And so, I made a one-time donation to Equal Rights for All, via the ActBlue website, in order to show my support for the Equal Rights for All campaign! –Paul Whiting (January 23rd, 2024)
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June 1st, 2024 Update No. 2, Written On June 2nd, 2024: (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): This 'update' is a follow-up to my 'June 6th, 2023 Update—Continued,' where I explained, in part, that I made a recurring yearly donation to the Human Rights Campaign on June 6th, 2023. A copy of said 'update' can be found below:
June 6th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, June 6th, 2023, when I noticed an article on APNews.com titled, "LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning." An introduction to the article can be found below:"LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning" from AP (Associated Press) News
By Hannah Schoenbaum | June 6, 2023
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and released a guidebook pointing to laws it deems discriminatory in each state, along with “know your rights” information and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.*
Sounding the alarm about the current political climate, the nation’s largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said travel advisories aren’t enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.
“We need champions right now,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in an interview with The Associated Press. President Joe Biden and other LGBTQ+ rights supporters with decision-making authorities, she said, need to be more than just allies.
The declaration is a call to action for “people in power at every level” of government and the business community, she said, urging them to fight for LGBTQ+ rights with the same fervor as they’ve fought for abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.
“When Dobbs fell, you saw a federal response to deal with the abortion crisis that we’re in,” Robinson said. “We are in a crisis of even greater scale to the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, and we need that same sort of response.”
Just a few days into Pride Month, the campaign said it’s taking action in response to an “unprecedented and dangerous” spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping state houses this year, with more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023 — more than double last year’s number.
A recent Associated Press analysis found that many bills seeking to ban or restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, who have been the primary targets of state legislation this year, sprang not from grassroots or constituent demand, but from the pens of a few powerful conservative interest groups.
The HRC guidebook, meanwhile, provides information about filing complaints for civil rights violations and points to resources for financing moves and finding employment, particularly in the 17 states with a trifecta of Democratic leadership in both legislative chambers and the governor’s office.
“The amount of calls I get every day from parents asking how they can move to another state because they’d rather mourn their home than their child is real,” Robinson said. “This is a different level of urgency and demanded a different level of response.”
The emergency declaration is the first in the 43-year history of the HRC, which encompasses a foundation focusing on research, advocacy and education, national and state lobbying campaigns and a political action committee that supports and opposes candidates for office. It comes as Republican-dominated legislatures around the country have restricted various aspects of transgender existence, from pronoun usage and bathroom access to medical care and more. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-emergency-human-rights-campaign-guidebook-5a1195f8a6759bdfd37cd7f5a6c5ee34
*Plus, I also read that article on HRC.org titled, "For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers", which was referenced in the "LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning" article above. An introduction to the article can be found below:"For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers" from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
By HRC Staff | June 6, 2023
HRC’s First-Ever Emergency Declaration Comes After More Than 75 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Signed Into Law This Year (More Than Double The Number From Last Year), Creating an Imminent Threat to the Health and Safety of LGBTQ+ People and Families Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year. A new report released by HRC today — LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack — details more than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number, which was previously the worst year on record.
The sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws that have created increasingly hostile and dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ people, prompting HRC today to also issue a national warning (https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/national-state-of-emergency-for-lgbtq-americans) and downloadable guidebook (https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/LGBTQ-Guidebook-for-Action.pdf) for the LGBTQ+ community — including health and safety resources, a summary of state-by-state laws, “know your rights” information, and resources designed to support LGBTQ+ travelers as well as those already living in hostile states. This guidebook will arm LGBTQ+ people with resources and information to help ensure safety in all 50 states. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the article:
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/for-the-first-time-ever-human-rights-campaign-officially-declares-state-of-emergency-for-lgbtq-americans-issues-national-warning-and-guidebook-to-ensure-safety-for-lgbtq-residents-and-travelers
And I decided to highlight this AP News article—as well as this Human Rights Campaign article—for you, my readers, to consider reading too!
Besides that, I made an yearly (annual) donation to show my support for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), since the HRC "officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year [2023]," because "the sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws that have created increasingly hostile and dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ people, prompting HRC today [June 6th, 2023] to also issue a national warning and downloadable guidebook for the LGBTQ+ community." –Paul Whiting (written June 6th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)
Thus, the above-mentioned recurring yearly donation started yesterday, June 1st, 2024! –Paul Whiting (June 2nd, 2024)
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June 2nd, 2024 Update No. 2 (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, June 2nd, 2024, with the subject line, "Ready for Pride Month?", which stated the following:
Paul —
It's P R I D E and we. are. fired. up.
Fired up to celebrate. Fired up to join parties and parades and rallies. Fired up to keep fighting for the equal, inclusive, and joyful future we all deserve.
The only way to build that future is with a diverse and united movement. We are proud to partner with organizations led by and serving queer people of color this Pride Month.
These organizations provide direct services to LGBTQ+ people, advocate for change, and show the kind of courage we need in this moment.
Click here to make a donation that will be shared among these partners:
[✓] SPARK Reproductive Justice Now
[✓] National Black Justice Collective Institute
[✓] Waves Ahead
[✓] Trans Empowerment Project
DONATE***
For so many LGBTQ+ people, their local Planned Parenthood health center was the first place they could count on for sexual and reproductive health care, without judgment or stigma. From sex education to birth control to gender-affirming care to STI testing and treatment — Planned Parenthood is proud to be a trusted and welcoming resource.
We also know that health care is just one area where LGBTQ+ people — and especially LGBTQ+ people of color — face discrimination. Our movement needs a vision bold enough, and a heart big enough, to fight for equality in every aspect of our lives.
Make your special Pride Month gift right now and support grassroots organizations that are powering this movement.
We hope you're fired up for a joyful and engaged Pride Month. Thank you for supporting Planned Parenthood and our partners in this work.
— Planned Parenthood
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
Thus, I made one-time donations to SPARK Reproductive Justice Now, National Black Justice Collective Institute, Waves Ahead and Trans Empowerment Project, on Plan Parenthood's donation portal via ActBlue.com, because "our movement needs a vision bold enough, and a heart big enough, to fight for equality in every aspect of our lives." That is why I decided to "make [my] special Pride Month gift right now and support grassroots organizations that are powering this movement." –Paul Whiting (June 2nd, 2024)
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June 20th, 2024 Update No. 3 (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 20th, 2024, with the subject line, "We can't slow down – not during Pride month, not ever", which stated the following:
Paul,
With so much on the line in 2024, we can't afford to slow down now – not during Pride Month, not ever. Especially not when trans youth are under attack nationwide.
Here's what trans kids are facing today:
• Restrictive laws preventing access to gender-affirming care
• Bathroom bans forcing trans kids to use bathrooms they don't feel safe or comfortable in
• Discriminatory legislation stopping trans students from participating in school activities like sports
• Censorship of in-school discussions of LGBTQ people and issues
That's why we're launching a special campaign to raise $30,000 to help fund the ACLU's work defending LGBTQ rights and all our civil liberties – and a generous donor is matching every gift up until our deadline at midnight tomorrow.
Can we count on you to amplify your impact right now by making a monthly donation to the ACLU? Your first monthly gift will be doubled to protect trans youth and LGBTQ people across the nation.
DONATE MONTHLY***
Paul, these discriminatory policies keep trans students from having an inclusive and safe learning environment – and disproportionately harm Black youth and youth of color. One parent in Virginia put it best:
"The school board and their policies provide a real barrier for our child to be included at school. Our child wasn't allowed to use the appropriate restroom. It's been difficult to get him referred to by the appropriate name… There's lots of other things to attend to to make a trans kid's day at school as dignified as possible – names, pronouns, activities, gendered activities, gendered instruction, even dress codes that are gendered. All of that stuff impacts trans kids."
Yet despite facing these endless attacks on their identities and their very personhood, trans people continue to lead the charge so they – and all of us – can live fully as themselves. We cannot and will not let them fight alone, Paul.
Through advocacy, litigation, and lobbying, we're ready to fight alongside LGBTQ leaders and take on all of these challenges and win – from local school boards to statehouses and beyond. The ACLU has been a leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights for decades – and we're not stopping now.
But we need your support to ensure we can keep doing what we do best without having to scale back our efforts.
So please, don't wait to make this 2X impact when it's needed most: Will you rush a matched monthly donation now to help us hit our $30,000 goal to protect LGBTQ people and all our rights before our deadline tomorrow?
Thank you for your commitment to fighting for trans kids and all LGBTQ people,
The ACLU Team
DONATE MONTHLY***
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And—rather than making a monthly donation—I made a one-time donation to the ACLU, since "[the ACLU] can't slow down – not during Pride month, not ever," because "through advocacy, litigation, and lobbying, [they're] ready to fight alongside LGBTQ leaders and take on all of these challenges and win – from local school boards to statehouses and beyond." That is why "the ACLU has been a leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights for decades – and [they're] not stopping now." –Paul Whiting (written June 20th, 2024 and revised June 21st, 2024)
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July 19th, 2024 Update No. 1, Written On July 20th, 2024, Which Also Discusses July 17th, 2024: I received an email from ACLU People Power yesterday, July 19th, 2024, with the subject line, "Urgent Action Alert: Tell Congress to stop attacks on LGBTQ rights!", which stated the following:
Hi Paul,
Extreme opponents of LGBTQ equality in Congress have been using bills that fund the federal government to sneak through poison pills that threaten peoples’ civil liberties -- they single out trans people by banning access to life-saving care and attack the rights and dignity of all LGBTQ people.
We can and must let our leaders in Congress know that we, the people, do NOT support these hateful efforts. Urge your member of Congress to oppose any government funding bill that includes poison pills that attack the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people, including banning access to life-saving care for trans people. Send a message to your representative today.
Take Action***
Make no mistake: This is a dangerous effort to hijack bills funding critical government services in order to attack the rights, health, and dignity of LGBTQ people. For example, extremists have proposed stripping away healthcare access from transgender servicemembers and their families, prohibiting pride flags and drag shows, and dismantling essential diversity, equity and inclusion programs and training across the federal government.
We at the ACLU will not allow these unconscionable attacks against our LGBTQ community to go unanswered.
Please join us in action at this urgent time. And know whatever attacks they may throw at us, we at the ACLU are here now and always to protect peoples’ rights. Count on it.
Thank you for your activism,
[Name redacted]
he/him/his
ACLU People Power
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:
Stop Attacks on LGBTQ People In Congress
CONTACT INFORMATION
Prefix: Mr.
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Street Address: [redacted]
Postal Code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State/Province: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone: [redacted]
Subject: Protect LGBTQ People from Extremist Attacks in Congress
Dear [elected official],
Recently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures, in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip LGBTQ people of their rights and dignity, including banning access to life-saving care for trans people. I am writing — during a genuine moment of crisis — to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of LGBTQ people. Will you do so?
We call upon our elected representatives to stand up against any and all government funding bills that attack the rights, health, and dignity of LGBTQ people. Attempts to restrict access to lifesaving healthcare, prevent enforcement of nondiscrimination policies, ban pride displays, and attack diversity, equity and inclusion efforts must be rejected. LGBTQ people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfiling lives a as as everyone else. Having the freedor freedom to seek the healthcare we need, be treated with dignity and respect, and be our true and authentic selves is essential right for all people.
I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Please use your voice to publicly show support for the rights of our community.
Thank you. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
[Your information here]
And so, I sent the letter above to my Representative in Congress, via the ACLU website, in order to "urge [my] member of Congress to oppose any government funding bill that includes poison pills that attack the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people, including banning access to life-saving care for trans people."
In addition to that, I also received an email from ACLU People Power three days ago on July 17th, 2024, with the subject line, "Shape the Future of Our Work Together!", which stated the following:
Hi Paul,
The ACLU People Power team knows that none of our work to protect and expand civil liberties would be possible without our volunteers and supporters like you. Our People Power volunteers have been at the forefront of the movement, and your work doesn’t go unnoticed. That’s why we want to hear what your priorities are for this upcoming year of work. Can you take 2 minutes to fill out the 2024 People Power survey and let us know what issues are at the top of your list?
Take the Survey***
No matter the results of this year’s elections, the ACLU’s commitment to defending civil rights and liberties is unwavering. Instead of focusing on party lines, we defend everyone from attacks on their rights. In the past year, our People Power Program mobilized to work on an array of issues, from our call team members who worked toward a big win for abortion rights in Ohio to achieving progress towards systemic equality by lobbying lawmakers to implement baby bond programs in three states. The People Power program has hosted over twelve thousand events that mobilized volunteers around all kinds of issues. You make our work possible.
That’s why we want to hear from you as we plan ahead. Your input through this survey will ensure that your priorities are reflected in our work. So, let us know what work you want to be involved in next, and fill out the 2024 People Power survey. Thank you for taking action!
Here’s to another year of achieving progress together,
The ACLU People Power Team
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the relevant text of which can be found below:
People Power Survey
SURVEY
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Email Address: [redacted]
Mobile Phone: [redacted]
What 5 issues are your top priorities for 2024? Chose your top 5. (Optional)
[✓] Criminal Justice Reform
Critical Race Theory
Death Penalty
Disability Rights
Free Speech
Immigrants' Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Policing
Privacy and Technology
[✓] Racial Justice
[✓] Repro [Reproductive Rights]
State Abortion Bans
Trans Justice
[✓] Voting Rights
[✓] Women's Rights
What other issues do you want the People Power team to focus on? (Optional):
[✓] Do you want to be part of the People Power team working to get out the vote in the 2024 election?
SUBMIT
And so, after I read the email above, I completed the 2024 People Power survey, via the ACLU website, on July 18th, 2024, in order to share "what [my] priorities are for this upcoming year of work," including "what issues are at the top of [my] list." –Paul Whiting (July 20th, 2024)
P.S.: Just so you know, I used to make one-time donations to the organization that is the subject of these 'updates' each time that I took an action as requested by that organization; however, "I have changed the way that I make donations to political, progressive and charitable organizations each month ... due to the fact that I have been spending a considerable percentage of my monthly income on all of these donations." (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.) Therefore, "I am greatly reducing the number of times that I donate for the same organization per month down to once—or as determined by me on a case-by-case basis." (Please see my 'August 19th, 2023 Update,' which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog post titled, 'I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was.') Thus, because I have already donated to the ACLU on July 2nd, 2024 (please see my 'July 2nd, 2024 Update No. 1,' which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog post titled, 'I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was') that is the one-time donation which I made to the ACLU for July 2024.
https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html
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August 22nd, 2024 Update No. 1: I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, August 22nd, 2024, with the subject line, "ACLU of Oregon Summer Newsletter", which stated the following:
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, regarding the ACLU of Oregon's Summer 2024 Newsletter, the relevant text of which can be found below:
Plus, after I read the newsletter above, I also clicked on the hyperlink to a referenced webpage, regarding taking action to Stop Project 2025, the relevant text of which can be found below:
And, after I signed the petition above, I received a confirmation email today, August 22nd, 2024, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:
Besides that, after I read the email above, I also clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, regarding the Equal Rights for All campaign, the relevant text of which can be found below:
And, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for the "Summer 2024 Newsletter!" –Paul Whiting (August 22nd, 2024)
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October 11th, 2024 Update No. 1: National Coming Out Day is today, October 11th, 2024, since National Coming Out Day is yearly (annually) on October 11th.
And I first heard about National Coming Out Day last year (2023) from a daily calendar website that I previously used to reference in my 'updates' regarding holidays and special occasions (please see my 'October 11th, 2023 Update, Which Also Discusses October 8th, 2023' that can be found above).
This is National Day Calendar's webpage regarding "NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY." An introduction to the webpage can be found below:
Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-coming-out-day-october-11
Plus, here is the Human Rights Campaign webpage regarding "National Coming Out Day." An introduction to the webpage can be found below:
Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:
https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/national-coming-out-day
–Paul Whiting (October 11th, 2024)
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November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form]: Due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in any way, shape or form, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, and no longer sending letters to my Representative and Senators in Congress, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop! –Paul Whiting (written November 6th, 2024 and revised November 7th, 2024)
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For a complete list of my current "Online Activism"—that includes all of my donation updates, as well as highlights of current news articles that I have been reading—please see my above-mentioned blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog.
ACLU of Oregon
Summer Newsletter
Paul –
Happy summer, Oregon!
If you attended a Pride event across the state, you may have seen our team members, partners, and volunteers trying to keep cool while collecting the first round of signatures for the Equal Rights for All campaign, which we launched earlier this summer! This ballot measure campaign will affirm the right to abortion, contraception and IVF, transgender healthcare, and same-gender marriage in the Oregon Constitution. We are now one step closer to making it onto the November 2026 ballot!
Read our summer newsletter to learn more about what we've been up to!
READ NOW:
https://www.aclu-or.org/en/publications/clone-spring-2024-newsletter
Relatedly, we took a stand against LGBTQ+ discrimination this summer. We took a company, [business name redacted], to court for banning gay and bisexual men from donating plasma at their Oregon centers. [Business name redacted] enforced this blanket ban even though our legal client had a negative blood test for sexually transmitted infections, had no history of such infections, and the center tests donated plasma for diseases.
Our legal team also filed a lawsuit just this week, suing the Medford Police Department for routinely spying and keeping records on social justice activists. Illegal surveillance practices like this have chilling impacts on free speech and have been prohibited in Oregon law for decades.
We also have an important update about the work we started three years ago. In 2021, we demanded an investigation into Oregon's public defense agency – the Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) – after receiving multiple reports of gender-based retaliation and discrimination against women public defense attorneys. After repeatedly asking for the investigation report, we finally received it this August. The investigator hired by the state found that the facts substantiated several women attorneys' concerns about retaliation by [name redacted], [title redacted] for OPDC. We are seeking answers from the State of Oregon as to why [name redacted] continues to be [title redacted] at OPDC.
Keep exploring this newsletter and discover more about our new Development Director and Litigation Manager, our work this summer, and how the ACLU is preparing for the fall. No matter the results of the November elections or who is on the U.S. Supreme Court, the ACLU of Oregon team will continue doing the hard work to create a more just, equitable, and caring democracy in our state.
In gratitude,
[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU of Oregon
DONATE NOW***
***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]
And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, regarding the ACLU of Oregon's Summer 2024 Newsletter, the relevant text of which can be found below:
ACLU of Oregon
Summer 2024 Newsletter
August 22, 2024
In this volume of the newsletter, we discuss our recently filed legal cases fighting against LGBTQ+ discrimination and unlawful police surveillance, updates to our Equal Rights For All campaign, and developments in the investigation into Oregon's Public Defense Commission that we demanded in 2021. You can also say hello to [name redacted], our new [title redacted], and [name redacted], our new [title redacted]!
For the best viewing experience, we invite you to explore our newsletter on Issuu.
You can also read the newsletter in the PDF viewer below. ...
[Blogger's Note: I read the ACLU of Oregon's webpage titled, "Summer 2024 Newsletter," including said summer newsletter.]
https://www.aclu-or.org/en/publications/clone-spring-2024-newsletter
Plus, after I read the newsletter above, I also clicked on the hyperlink to a referenced webpage, regarding taking action to Stop Project 2025, the relevant text of which can be found below:
TAKE ACTION
Stop Project 2025
Project 2025 threatens our rights, and is rife with proposals that would harm real people. Add your name to join our fight to stop it in its tracks.
---------------------------------------------
ACLU
STOP PROJECT 2025
Project 2025 threatens our rights, and is rife with proposals that would harm real people. Add your name to join our fight to stop it in its tracks. Project 2025 is a plan to let politicians and bureaucrats control our lives. It lays out a vision of America built on breaking up immigrant families with mass deportations, denying trans people needed medical care, stripping away our right to an abortion and right to medical privacy, punishing dissent and political opposition, and so much more.
We can't wait until after the election to stop Project 2025. That's why our experts have already built out a detailed roadmap to fight back — point-by-point, issue-by-issue. We're working now in state legislatures and courts nationwide to block this harmful agenda from ever becoming a reality.
If you would like a role in our plan of action against Project 2025, then add your name to our growing movement to fight back. And from intel to advocacy, we'll send you what you need in the weeks and days to come.
ADD YOUR NAME
Project 2025 is 900 pages of proposals to strip away the civil rights and liberties that we hold dear. It doesn't represent what true democracy is and would inflict direct harm on families across our country. That's why I am adding my name to the chorus of ACLU community members who are firmly against it and showing up in the plan to fight back — with concrete policy solutions, court strategies, and state legislative goals — to defeat Project 2025 and protect our rights for good.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]
ACT NOW
And, after I signed the petition above, I received a confirmation email today, August 22nd, 2024, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:
ACLU
Hi Paul,
Thank you for joining us in the fight against Project 2025. The fight for our rights is going to take every one of us – and we're glad to count you on our team.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be in touch with action steps, information, and ways you can plug in to the campaign to stop Project 2025. And right now, you can take the first step by checking out our video catching you up on everything you need to know about Project 2025 and how we're showing up to fight back (https://youtu.be/kgqk2006vsI?si=a-VcN5teJ1Bg0kGO).
(Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, youtube.com.)
Then, once you're done, help us build our power: Share the pledge to stop Project 2025 by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/stop2025
Thank you for being with us,
The ACLU Team
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Hi friend,
Project 2025 threatens our most fundamental rights. You may have heard their plans on the news – cruel policy proposals that would directly harm everyday people like you, me, and our families. From mass deportations of immigrant families to nationwide abortion bans and classroom censorship, these policies would set our country back decades in the fight for equality.
That’s why I’m joining the ACLU’s campaign to fight back against Project 2025 – and I hope you will too. Will you show up with me to protect our rights against these dangerous policies?
https://action.aclu.org/petition/stop-project-2025-tyranny
Thanks.
Besides that, after I read the email above, I also clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, regarding the Equal Rights for All campaign, the relevant text of which can be found below:
ACLU of Oregon
Equal Rights for All
Abortion, contraception, and IVF. Transgender rights. Marriage equality. We’ve experienced the attacks on these basic freedoms throughout the country from extremist politicians and judges. Now it is time for Oregonians to take action and protect our loves ones, our communities, and ourselves for generations to come.
The Equal Rights for All campaign is a ballot initiative for the November 2026 election, asking voters to update Oregon’s constitution to clarify that everyone has equal rights to make private and personal decisions about health care and marriage, regardless of one’s ability to become pregnant, gender identity, or sexual orientation. By protecting Oregonians’ ability to make our own, private healthcare decisions and marry who we love, we can stop politicians who want to turn back the clock on our rights and freedoms.
Join us and sign up to volunteer!
Oregonians want a future where we can continue to make our own healthcare decisions with the help of our doctors, love who we love, and live safely and authentically. We can all agree that politicians have no place in our deeply personal decisions.
We need your generous support to set a solid and successful foundation. Your early contributions and commitments to this fight will go a long way toward setting our campaign up for victory in 2026.
Please click on the link below to go to the Equal Rights for All campaign donation page; please note, the Equal Rights for All campaign is a separate legal organization from the ACLU of Oregon.
GIVE NOW
[Blogger's Note: I read the ACLU of Oregon's webpage titled, "Equal Rights for All." By the way, I already donated to support the Equal Rights for All campaign on January 23rd, 2024 (please see my 'January 23rd, 2024 Update No. 4,' which can be found above).]
https://www.aclu-or.org/en/campaigns/equal-rights-all
And, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for the "Summer 2024 Newsletter!" –Paul Whiting (August 22nd, 2024)
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October 11th, 2024 Update No. 1: National Coming Out Day is today, October 11th, 2024, since National Coming Out Day is yearly (annually) on October 11th.
And I first heard about National Coming Out Day last year (2023) from a daily calendar website that I previously used to reference in my 'updates' regarding holidays and special occasions (please see my 'October 11th, 2023 Update, Which Also Discusses October 8th, 2023' that can be found above).
This is National Day Calendar's webpage regarding "NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY." An introduction to the webpage can be found below:
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY | October 11
National Day Calendar®
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
Each year on October 11, National Coming Out Day encourages civil awareness recognizing and supporting those in the LGBTQ community.
#NationalComingOutDay
The day celebrates individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender – coming out regarding their sexual orientation and/or gender identity being akin to a cultural rite of passage for LGBT people.
One in two Americans knows someone who is gay or lesbian. The ratio applied to transgender Americans is one in ten.
The day is dedicated to raises awareness of the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. Through education and support, and sharing their stories, it is hoped they may be more able to live openly and safely.
As more of the LGBTQ community come out, those who know them are more likely to become more educated. They also become more supportive and understanding, too. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:
https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-coming-out-day-october-11
Plus, here is the Human Rights Campaign webpage regarding "National Coming Out Day." An introduction to the webpage can be found below:
National Coming Out Day
Be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality this National Coming Out Day!
Sharing our authentic selves with others is not always safe or easy, and it is not a one-day event — but when possible, it can be an extraordinarily powerful key to breaking down the barriers we face as LGBTQ+ people. ...
Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:
https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/national-coming-out-day
–Paul Whiting (October 11th, 2024)
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November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form]: Due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in any way, shape or form, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, and no longer sending letters to my Representative and Senators in Congress, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop! –Paul Whiting (written November 6th, 2024 and revised November 7th, 2024)
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For a complete list of my current "Online Activism"—that includes all of my donation updates, as well as highlights of current news articles that I have been reading—please see my above-mentioned blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog.
Please see the hyperlink below for the post:
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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 264 was edited on November 7th, 2024.
"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]
