My Employer At Pride

 For the last three years, I've seen a booth from my employer go up at PRIDE, and coworkers of mine interact with the crowd. Coming after working for more than 9 years for a serious bigot, I still find the idea of an employer that actually supports LGBTQIA+ employees to be strange. They even marched in the parade!

It makes me feel good. That, and the policy that says people can use the restroom of the gender that most closely aligns with who they are. And the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group. And the Diversity Advisory Committee. Add to that us being permitted to put our pronouns on our e-mail signature block, and it's a pretty friendly place to work.

It's pretty cool to work for an organization that values people regardless of their social pedigree, their racial group, their marital status, gender, gender identity, or sex. 

Veteran's Day

 It's Veterans Day here in the United States. I'm retired from the United States Army, and I'm proud of my 28 years of service. I went a lot of places, did a lot of things, and deployed a few times. 

As a transgender person, I wish trans people were welcome in our military. Not welcoming trans people is an unconscionable waste of amazing talent, the inclusion of which would greatly enhance our military, and our country. I had no idea when I joined the Army that many trans people become police officers, or firefighters, or join the military. Percentage-wise, trans people are massively more likely to serve than cis people. 

Not for the first time, I wish I had a female dress blue uniform. It shouldn't matter, but it does. When Veterans Day comes, and veterans post photos in uniform, it bothers me that I don't have any of me that I can use. Yet, I am very proud of my contribution. 

This Veterans Day, I'm thankful for the 16 million veterans, and especially for the roughly 134,000 transgender veterans currently living in the United States. Men, women, and others who stood tall and said "Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch." 

Thank you for your service!

Have a blessed Veterans Day.

Pronouns at Church

 The church I attend does something cool, which is that whenever anyone gets up front, they identify themselves by giving their name and pronouns. If you've read a lot of y posts, you know that pronouns are important, and giving pronouns when you get up to talk is a great way to tell trans and non-binary people that they are valued. It's something I wish more organizations did.

Sometimes, though, someone makes a mistake. We're all human, right? There is one man who routinely gets my pronouns wrong, but every time he does, it bothers him and he apologizes sincerely. He intends to get it right. Honestly, my voice doesn't help. I have a pretty low-pitched voice. But I appreciate him, because his heart is in the right place, and I know that, and the fact that he really is trying means a lot to me. 

There is another man who also gets my pronouns wrong. He never apologizes, and the way he speaks to me tells me that he doesn't see me as me. I've tried to ignore it, because it honestly comes across as intentional. It bothers me. I don't know what his intent is. It's getting more common, and I'm thinking I'm going to have to talk with him, though I'd rather not have to. I'll keep you posted.