GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Thanksgiving is a time when the world gets to see how blessed and how workable the Christian system is. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thanking and expressing that appreciation to God and to one another.  

~John Clayton, Clergyman (1709-1773)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

THE WORK CONTINUES

Another Transgender Day of Remembrance has come and gone. The work continues. Many trans and non-conforming people are killed every day just because of who they are. There have been many positives, one of them being more visibility. A negative has been the increased attack on trans and non-conforming folks from numerous quarters. Would like more discussion about suicide in the trans community. 

I pray that people were encouraged and challenged. Continue the fight for our rights. I certainly will. We have every right to life, liberty, and happiness.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

I completed a two-year term on the advisory council at SAGE, my senior center. I served as part of the meal committee. I've never before served on any committee as such. I learned much in the time I was on the council. I was educated on the purpose of bylaws and procedures needed to run an effective council. I will continue to be active on the meal committee. 

The main point is that if people want to see and affect change, they need to become involved. whining and complaining don't do anything. Meetings on your particular concern are a great place to voice opinions and come up with solutions. When enough people voice their concerns, change can happen. Many folks have said that the meals have improved since I've been on the council. I'm pleased that they feel that way. It was them that helped affect the improvement. 

I hope to run again next year. This is from a person one could say is a reluctant activist.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. 


~Henri Nouwen, Clergyman (1932-1996)  

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE-HONORING DECEASED AND LIVING

I attended Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremonies yesterday at the senior center I go to. Celebrated were the lives of 'transcestors' such as Marsha P. Johnson, Storme DeLaverie, Leslie Feinberg,  Christine Jorgensen, and Sylvia Rivera. Also noted were trans activists who are living such as Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (79 years young), Renee Richards, Janet Mock, Jamison Green, M J Rodriquez, Kate Bornstein, and many others.

My names of the 22 known trans women who were murdered this year were read. One of them, Bailey Reeves, was just 17 years old.  The oldest person was 40 years old. The real number of trans people murdered is much higher. Many cases go unreported or the person is often misgendered. Today is the actual date of TDOR. 

Days like today will trigger strong emotions in some folks which I do understand. Take care of yourself first. I pray that someday we won't have to have Trans Day of Remembrance but a day of celebration. 

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

I will be participating in Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremonies tomorrow night at the SAGE center. I will be reciting a poem of which I'm fine-tuning. 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Goodness is about character-integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is how we treat other people.


~Dennis Prager

NIKKI ARAGUZ-LOYD

I was saddened by the passing last week of Nikki Araguz-Loyd in Texas. A transgender activist who fought successfully for her late husband's benefits, she opened the door for other trans spouses to receive benefits from a deceased partner. Araguz-Loyd was very active in the trans community. She was 44 years old.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Do not give back to his master a servant who has gone in flight from his master and come to you: let him go on living among you in whatever place is most pleasing to him.


~Moses

CALIFORNIA

My heart goes out to the folks in California. I have watched the news reports of all the devastation by those fires. So much loss of property and people's lives disrupted. I pray that they will receive the aid desperately needed. Is California sustainable? That's a question that will need to be answered.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. 


~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Poet (1803-1882)