"Show"
You can't tell us that we're wrong
For trying to speak our minds
You're contradicting your own Act
And leaving all of us Behind
You don't really understand
To a point, neither do we
But we're not blind; we comprehend
Your eyes are open but don't see
Personally, it makes me sad
That you think we'd try to hurt
Someone you don't really know,
But that I've known since I wore skirts
You think that we're so stupid
You think we haven't grown
But we have heart and witnessed
More than you could ever know
You've got to have more faith in us
We have to make you "get"
That we are going to do great things --
You don't know the half of it yet
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
#23 (aka: And this is the icing on the cake)
Using today's wonderful happenings as inspiration, I WROTE THE DAMN BALLAD!!!. Here! Read!
#22 (aka: Creating change)
Something amazing happened today in my English class.
We had a "discussion" (read: lecture) with the faculty about an incident that happened with an autistic student at our school. The vice principal is always saying how what our teachers and advisors are here to do is prepare us for the world outside of pioneer, and they say all the time that we're adults, but they treat us like we're in third grade, and that just isn't working anymore. Anyway... in my English class, we were supposed to watch some film about 9/11, but it didn't happen because we ended up talking about all the injustices that the administration were committing on us. And since they had a meeting where they were the only ones talking, we decided it's our turn to make them listen. so we're going to speak with our class representatives and then go to our own class supervisors/advisors (whatever they are) and plan a meeting where we tell our side to the people who haven't listened to us.
Since I started to be an activist on behalf of Trans people, I was under the impression that because no one in my school seemed to care, they didn't know (and could never know) what it's like to fight for something that you believe in with all your heart. And they might not see what happened today as monumental, but I do. Everybody always saw our class as the slackers, but we're going to change their minds. This is an incredible day.
We had a "discussion" (read: lecture) with the faculty about an incident that happened with an autistic student at our school. The vice principal is always saying how what our teachers and advisors are here to do is prepare us for the world outside of pioneer, and they say all the time that we're adults, but they treat us like we're in third grade, and that just isn't working anymore. Anyway... in my English class, we were supposed to watch some film about 9/11, but it didn't happen because we ended up talking about all the injustices that the administration were committing on us. And since they had a meeting where they were the only ones talking, we decided it's our turn to make them listen. so we're going to speak with our class representatives and then go to our own class supervisors/advisors (whatever they are) and plan a meeting where we tell our side to the people who haven't listened to us.
Since I started to be an activist on behalf of Trans people, I was under the impression that because no one in my school seemed to care, they didn't know (and could never know) what it's like to fight for something that you believe in with all your heart. And they might not see what happened today as monumental, but I do. Everybody always saw our class as the slackers, but we're going to change their minds. This is an incredible day.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
#21 (aka: The ballad of my poetic slump)
I was given a very interesting homework assignment in my AP Writing for Self-Expression (aka: Creative Writing) course today. Well, first let me explain about the assignment from the night before: our teacher asked us to find a song that we liked that was a "ballad", and she said it didn't have to be all lovey-dovey/mooshy-gooshy/heartwrenching, but it had to meet the "requirements" of being a ballad (like the last word of the second and fourth lines of each verse rhyming).
So, today, she told us to go home and write our own ballad. And this is where the problem comes up. See, I've written plenty of songs before, of the "ballad" type. So I shouldn't have a problem with this assignment, right? WRONG. I can't seem to write a ballad now that I know what it is and what the requirements are for it! It would appear that this teacher is committing creative sabotage on me, and I just don't appreciate it. Not one bit.
So, today, she told us to go home and write our own ballad. And this is where the problem comes up. See, I've written plenty of songs before, of the "ballad" type. So I shouldn't have a problem with this assignment, right? WRONG. I can't seem to write a ballad now that I know what it is and what the requirements are for it! It would appear that this teacher is committing creative sabotage on me, and I just don't appreciate it. Not one bit.
#20 (aka: I need permission to chill out)
I feel way too overwhelmed to be as young and new to activism as I am. I'm very proud to be "out" as a Trans youth at 17 -- I know that my feeling comfortable and strong enough to reveal this part of myself to me and those around me says a lot about my character and the people I prefer to be around. And I feel very fortunate to be able to do activism on behalf of this community. But everything is becoming so overpowering, that with graduation approaching, and even before that, the True Colors Conference. Don't get me wrong -- I'm really excited about all this stuff that will be happening in the next few months. But I feel so drained.
What I'd like to know is how people like Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein (as well as any activists on here) are able to have such stamina in their activism and everything else they do and not go insane. Because, right now, with everything that I'm doing, I don't know how all you grown-ups don't land in the nut house with all the responsibility that comes with adulthood. If I'm feeling so... freaked out... right now, how am I ever going to make it when I'm living on my own?!
What I'd like to know is how people like Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein (as well as any activists on here) are able to have such stamina in their activism and everything else they do and not go insane. Because, right now, with everything that I'm doing, I don't know how all you grown-ups don't land in the nut house with all the responsibility that comes with adulthood. If I'm feeling so... freaked out... right now, how am I ever going to make it when I'm living on my own?!
Sunday, February 4, 2007
#19 (aka: Ah, Mr. Mathers, you've hit the nail on the head)
Something weird has happened to my musical tastes lately: I have become a fan of Eminem. At this time last year, I would have thought, whatever. I don't really connect to the guy (and I still don't listen to artists whose lyrics I don't connect to). But I saw his movie "8 Mile" on VH1 one night a few weeks ago, and I realized through the struggle of the main character Rabbit (played by Eminem) that my own struggle isn't all that different from his. I think that "8 Mile" was rather autobiographical of Eminem's own life. Long story short, I have a lot of respect for him now.
My stepbrother has Eminem's album of hits called "Curtain Call". On it, there are two songs that really touch me. One is called "Like Toy Soldiers", which is about the importance of close friends and loyalty (in this case, I connected it to the brotherhood I feel with my Transdude friends). The other is called "When I'm Gone", and it is one of the two songs that he wrote on this album for his daughter (the other is "Mockingbird"). This song is special to me because it's about how much you need to value the people who you love and who you'd give your life for because you never know when they might be gone. If you have a chance, I suggest listening to these songs if you have any opportunity to. And if you want to, here are some links to the lyrics of "Like Toy Soldiers" and "When I'm Gone" so that you can read what I think is so profound about those songs:
"Like Toy Soldiers" -- http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/liketoysoldiers.html
"When I'm Gone" -- http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/whenimgone.html
And here's a link about "8 Mile", if you've got extra online time on your hands:
"8 Mile" -- http://www.8-mile.com/
My stepbrother has Eminem's album of hits called "Curtain Call". On it, there are two songs that really touch me. One is called "Like Toy Soldiers", which is about the importance of close friends and loyalty (in this case, I connected it to the brotherhood I feel with my Transdude friends). The other is called "When I'm Gone", and it is one of the two songs that he wrote on this album for his daughter (the other is "Mockingbird"). This song is special to me because it's about how much you need to value the people who you love and who you'd give your life for because you never know when they might be gone. If you have a chance, I suggest listening to these songs if you have any opportunity to. And if you want to, here are some links to the lyrics of "Like Toy Soldiers" and "When I'm Gone" so that you can read what I think is so profound about those songs:
"Like Toy Soldiers" -- http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/liketoysoldiers.html
"When I'm Gone" -- http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/whenimgone.html
And here's a link about "8 Mile", if you've got extra online time on your hands:
"8 Mile" -- http://www.8-mile.com/
Saturday, February 3, 2007
#18 (aka: Busy E)
I am going to be one busy Transguy this next week. Today, at 11:30, I am meeting with a student from Yale University School of Nursing to have an interview with her about Transgender Health Care (or, lack thereof). And I'm getting paid for it... that's always a plus. ;-D
Moving right along, there's church tomorrow and then school, and next Friday a few of my fellow Chorus members and I are singing an arrangement of the Beatles song "Golden Slumbers" at our instructor's birthday party in a church at Smith College in Northampton. The next day, the 10th, I'm going to be back in Northampton to a) meet up with my new Transdude friend Bet and b) to attend what is being called a Transgender Town Hall Meeting, where we'll be discussing the new anti-discrimination law for people of gender-variance in Massachusetts, which our brilliant (and Democratic and liberal) new governor Deval Patrick has stated he wants to pass. There are supposedly going to be some representatives from the legislature there to answer our questions and such, and those of us who want to will be able to speak on behalf of ourselves and our Trans friends, who really want this act to be signed into law, as well. It's time for us Transgender folk to make change not only in our individual communities, but all throughout the state. And I feel privileged to be alive to see this change happening.
But, all the hustle and bustle does not stop at the end of this week. On the weekend of February 23, there's a small chance that I may be performing with Athens Boys Choir. ABC (in case you forgot, or haven't seen my post about him on Little Bits) is a spoken word poet out of Georgia whom I met over the summer, and who helped me out when I sent him some interview questions for my senior project. In short, he's a pretty cool Trannyboy.
In the second week of March (if my school's principal doesn't give me a hard time about it) a couple of my Transbrothers (and one of their girlfriends) are going to come speak with me in a presentation for my senior project in English class. The three of them are going to be staying for 2 or 3 days at my mom's house, so that should be fun. I don't get to see them a lot (well, they do live in Georgia, after all), and "a lot" is an understatement because I haven't seen either of them in almost a year (since the True Colors Conference last year), and I've never met the girlfriend, but I've heard wonderful things about her.
And speaking of True Colors... the week after my T-bros come from Georgia to speak with me, TCC 2007 happens. Which reminds me, I need to figure out exactly what I'm going to say. (Peterson, we really do need to talk about this. Your man Elliot here needs some serious mentoring on the subject).
So, if I'm not able to post long entries like this for a while, I'm sorry. But at least you'll know why!
Moving right along, there's church tomorrow and then school, and next Friday a few of my fellow Chorus members and I are singing an arrangement of the Beatles song "Golden Slumbers" at our instructor's birthday party in a church at Smith College in Northampton. The next day, the 10th, I'm going to be back in Northampton to a) meet up with my new Transdude friend Bet and b) to attend what is being called a Transgender Town Hall Meeting, where we'll be discussing the new anti-discrimination law for people of gender-variance in Massachusetts, which our brilliant (and Democratic and liberal) new governor Deval Patrick has stated he wants to pass. There are supposedly going to be some representatives from the legislature there to answer our questions and such, and those of us who want to will be able to speak on behalf of ourselves and our Trans friends, who really want this act to be signed into law, as well. It's time for us Transgender folk to make change not only in our individual communities, but all throughout the state. And I feel privileged to be alive to see this change happening.
But, all the hustle and bustle does not stop at the end of this week. On the weekend of February 23, there's a small chance that I may be performing with Athens Boys Choir. ABC (in case you forgot, or haven't seen my post about him on Little Bits) is a spoken word poet out of Georgia whom I met over the summer, and who helped me out when I sent him some interview questions for my senior project. In short, he's a pretty cool Trannyboy.
In the second week of March (if my school's principal doesn't give me a hard time about it) a couple of my Transbrothers (and one of their girlfriends) are going to come speak with me in a presentation for my senior project in English class. The three of them are going to be staying for 2 or 3 days at my mom's house, so that should be fun. I don't get to see them a lot (well, they do live in Georgia, after all), and "a lot" is an understatement because I haven't seen either of them in almost a year (since the True Colors Conference last year), and I've never met the girlfriend, but I've heard wonderful things about her.
And speaking of True Colors... the week after my T-bros come from Georgia to speak with me, TCC 2007 happens. Which reminds me, I need to figure out exactly what I'm going to say. (Peterson, we really do need to talk about this. Your man Elliot here needs some serious mentoring on the subject).
So, if I'm not able to post long entries like this for a while, I'm sorry. But at least you'll know why!
Friday, February 2, 2007
#17 (aka: Friday good grades gladness)
Oh, I’m a happy Transdude this afternoon. I just found out that I made high honors second quarter! Many woots! Here are the results of my report card that led to that wonderful conclusion being proclaimed:
Eng 12A – B
Math Workshop – A
Contemporary Issues – A
Digital Art – A-
HS Chorus – A
First Aid – A
Phys. Ed. 11/12 – A
Again, many woots! :-D
Eng 12A – B
Math Workshop – A
Contemporary Issues – A
Digital Art – A-
HS Chorus – A
First Aid – A
Phys. Ed. 11/12 – A
Again, many woots! :-D
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