Because I'm Proud- One Mom's Journey to Become the Best Damn Ally She Can Be

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labels labels labels

labels labels labels

So I"m thinking today about labels, and realizing that I don't much care for them when they are applied to me. I have never really enjoyed being put in a box and treated like I was like everyone else in that box. Even when the label seemed harmless, like "graduate student", it still came with implications about how I was to act or what I "should" do. 
January 17, 2023
woman dancing en pointe outside

Dancing Beyond Gender Norms

Can you imagine, though,  what it would mean to young people who identify outside gender norms to see themselves represented on stage? Or the validation a non-binary individual might feel to be included in a company no matter their gender at birth? 

When I think about it, isn't this what needs to happen everywhere? Don't we need to burst our imaginary bubbles of what is traditional and "appropriate" regarding gender roles so that anyone of any gender can achieve their goals and live their dreams?

November 08, 2022
Longing for Belonging

Longing for Belonging

What I'm really thinking about today is belonging, family, and community. At Pride, for every person who came into our booth with a supportive family, there were others who looked at our pins and buttons wishing for parents or siblings or a community who would really see them and accept them for who they are. The longing for belonging was palpable and heartbreaking.
October 20, 2022
In Which we Consider Beyond the Pronouns and The Pride Flags

In Which we Consider Beyond the Pronouns and The Pride Flags

"Here's what I'm wondering. If you are filling out a form for whatever reason and you have the opportunity, do you indicate your gender identity or sexual orientation? I'm assuming (dangerous, I know) that if an organization includes these questions on a form that they genuinely want to know and are trying to be inclusive. Is that enough though?"
August 01, 2022
Would You Wear Your Pronouns?

Would You Wear Your Pronouns?

I’m probably making another assumption. It goes like this, “if your pronouns are not the mainstream she/her or he/him, you will want to wear them in the form of a button or necklace or some such thing so everyone will know the proper pronoun to use for you.” But would you?
May 05, 2022
The One About Assumptions

The One About Assumptions

Do you ever think about the assumptions that you make? I don’t think assumptions are always bad, but recently I’ve been thinking I need to take a closer look at mine because of a recent conversation.
April 18, 2022
That Rainbow Pride Flag Feeling- Assumptions of an Ally Searching for Truth

That Rainbow Pride Flag Feeling- Assumptions of an Ally Searching for Truth

You know how one thing leads to another and suddenly you’ve gone down a completely related yet unrelated rabbit hole? Here’s what happened recently when Hannah and I looked for Pride festivals to attend this summer 
March 15, 2022
The Wedding Journey Continues- A Search for Gender Neutral Shopping Experiences

The Wedding Journey Continues- A Search for Gender Neutral Shopping Experiences

Today, after continuing the search for wedding attire, I’m thinking about fitting rooms. (this will make sense in a minute, I promise.) For those of us who fit into standardized gender roles, trying on clothes is fairly straight forward. Find an outfit, go to the dressing room. Didn’t fit? Return to the area within close proximity to the dressing room or at least on the same floor to find something else. So what about our friends who don’t fit the standardized gender roles?
March 09, 2022
What About Gender Pronouns

What About Gender Pronouns

I’m going to sound old now, but it’s true that when I was growing up we had a limited number of pronouns and he/him/his was used for boys/men, and she/her/hers was used for girls/women. They/them was used for a group of people- or- used if we didn’t know which sex we were referring to.


 

February 22, 2022

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