Posts by Debi
Speech to the NEA GLBT Caucus about creating supportive schools
I’m in Washington, D. C. today after having delivered the keynote address at the NEA GLBT Caucus dinner, an impressively large event that takes place during the NEA’s national conference each year. It began with 10 teachers a couple of decades ago, and last night more than 940 education professional attended! Several people introduced themselves to me last night by saying, “I’ve never taken notes during a speech at a dinner before until tonight.” Other’s said they couldn’t write things down quickly enough and asked if I could put the speech online for easy reference. I’m glad it had such a profound impact on the audience....
Read MoreTrans-Parenting Podcast Episode 6: Interview with NCLR Attorney Asaf Orr
https://traffic.libsyn.com/transparenting/TransParenting_Podcast_E6.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I sit down with Asaf Orr, Esq., Transgender Youth Project Staff Attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) to talk about the most common legal questions parents of trans youth have, including: how to file for name and gender marker changes, medical insurance, dealing with schools when your child transitions, when to file a legal case on your child’s behalf (and when not to), handling bullies, updating wills, abuse allegations, and custody disputes. Plus, we have a...
Read MoreEvery Victim in Orlando Was Someone’s Child
We just experienced the largest mass shooting of children in US history. Every victim in #Orlando, every person who was dancing the night away in #Pulse, was someone’s child. I am hurt. I am angry. I am scared. I am hurt for the families and friends of each person — each human being — who was killed. I am hurt for their moms who will never have a chance to hug their child again and say “I love you.” I’m overwhelmingly hurt for those who may have died feeling as if their moms didn’t love them. The sad truth is that many of the people who lost their lives may have also lost their families long before Sunday morning. Too many LGBTQ...
Read MoreTaking Care of (Bathroom) Business
Right now we have an epidemic of Transgender Bathroom Panic sweeping the US. Conservative politicians are using a debate over where trans people pee as one of their main campaigning points this election season. From “religious freedom” laws that would allow discrimination against LGBT people based on deeply held (evangelical Christian) beliefs to laws taking direct aim at transgender people and/or students by defining bathroom policy based on sex assigned at birth or non-existent chromosome testing, governments across the nation are suddenly obsessed with genitals. Public corporations are trying to take a stand on their own. Most of those have been in favor...
Read MoreA Story: Transgender Day of Visibility
Today is Transgender Day of Visibility and I won’t be sharing about Avery. She has enough visibility. Instead, I want to tell you about someone who doesn’t. Last fall, the Kansas City Royals were in the World Series, so my friend Christina from ESPN came to town. We went out to eat at one of the many BBQ restaurants around here, and near the end of our meal, a young trans woman came in to talk with one of the employees. She looked to be in her early 20s. It was obvious she was trans. She had a bad and rather raggedy wig on and a 5 o’clock shadow showing under her perfectly applied makeup. She was wearing a red jacket and red heals. She looked fierce!...
Read More