President Obama:
- Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
- Increased federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
- Earmarked new federal funding for science and research labs
Month: October 2010
T – 2 (Go Science)
Posted by – October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween!
Posted by – October 31, 2010
Ah, the only internationally recognized holiday of the crossdressing world is upon us again, & I had an interesting experience shopping for Halloween costumes & party decorations with Betty.
We were looking around at the mass-produced costumes, me mostly cursing about the oversexed women’s and girl’s costumes (the girls’ costumes show more skin than the ones for adult men, for crying out loud) and Betty thought maybe she’d figure out a costume around an interesting wig. But: I found myself getting uncomfortable when she started trying them on. It was just too much of the past, & started messing with my sense of her gender. It was a Big Deal when she finally got to grow her hair long enough, and have it styled unisex/feminine, that the wigs brought me right back to when she couldn’t do that and had to have men’s cuts (since she was a leading man onstage) and so had to wear wigs in order to go out “en femme.”
So no wigs for us, but we did use spray-on black hair dye (so she could be Wednesday Addams & I could be Frida Kahlo, unibrow & all).
Halloween is still far & above our favorite holiday, but it’s definitely taken on new meanings in this post-trans life of ours. My feminism is more tweaked when she wants to wear short skirts & fetishy shoes because I expect her to say no to all this bullshit objectification of women — and that’s in addition to the absolute bullshit of this culture agreeing that it’s okay for women to be sexual once a year (& once a year only).
So what about you? Has Halloween changed for you in the context of your trans identity/journey? I’d love to hear.
Education, Education, Education
Posted by – October 30, 2010
Democrats actually fund education in myriad ways:
- Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
- New funds for school construction
- Increased student loans
- Increased opportunities in AmeriCorps program (which helps people earn money for college)
- Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
Four!
Posted by – October 29, 2010
Maybe it’s not huge, but this is the kind of stuff Republicans are always claiming to have done (when they haven’t, a la That Palin Woman)
- Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
- Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
5 Days Until Election Day
Posted by – October 28, 2010
Until you get out & vote for the Dems who:
- Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
- Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
- Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
- Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
6 Soldiers Suffering
Posted by – October 27, 2010
Republican voters aren’t ready for the truth, because Democrats:
- Increased pay and benefits for military personnel
- Improved housing for military personnel
- Initiated a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
- Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
White House Anti-Bullying Campaign
Posted by – October 26, 2010
Did you need another reason to support Dems this Election Day? How about this cool news?
The Obama administration is launching a campaign to prevent anti-gay bullying and other harassment at school, advising educators that federal law protects students from many forms of discrimination.
and:
In another example, the advisory discussed a school in which students are subjected to anti-Semitic comments while a swastika is scrawled on a bathroom wall. Administrators might find and punish the perpetrators, the advisory said, but the school would still be responsible for determining whether Jewish or other students feel intimidated by incidents that add up to a pattern of misconduct. In that case, further action would be required.
“Discipline alone was likely insufficient,” Ali wrote. Other possible steps, she said: counseling the perpetrators, publicly labeling incidents as anti-Semitic and publicizing how students can report harassment.
Two Tune Tuesday: Bauhaus
Posted by – October 26, 2010
Hey, it’s Halloween week: a grrrl’s got to let her goth out sometimes.
7 Days Is All She Wrote
Posted by – October 26, 2010
Obamacare:
- Lowered drug costs for seniors
- Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
In 8 Days…
Posted by – October 25, 2010
… you can get out & vote Democrat and keep the US Government busy doing cool stuff like this:
- Closed offshore tax safe havens
- Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
- Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
- Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices
9!
Posted by – October 24, 2010
More stuff Obama needs a Democratic Congress to keep doing:
- Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
- Expanded vaccination programs
Princess Boys
Posted by – October 23, 2010
I love the term ‘princess boy’ – it’s really nice to see another name for them that’s a little more affirming.
Planes Trains and Automobiles: 10 Days
Posted by – October 23, 2010
Obama also:
- Permitted states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
- Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect (including increasing security)
Why Dems?
Posted by – October 22, 2010
Wow. A US President who is actually speaking out about LGBT youth, against discrimination, & who makes a point of saying that your difference will be a point of pride later in life.
Now try to picture Dubya having made that video, please. Nope, it wouldn’t have happened. So please no criticisms of the Dems for the next two weeks. We don’t have a goddamn chance if any of these wingnut Republicans end up in office, and I *know* I’m not the only one who remembers the Stone Age of the Bush years, where undoing DADT, passing ENDA, or getting Hate Crimes passed was a goddamn pipe dream.
(and yes, I am trying to ignore that it was her husband who got us into this DADT mess.)
“It Goes to 11!”
Posted by – October 22, 2010
Dems have a commitment to energy efficiency and renewability:
- Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
- Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
- Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
12 Days (on the 21st)
Posted by – October 21, 2010
And then, President Obama:
- The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
- Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
- Put limits on lobbyists access to the White House
- Put limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
Wear Purple
Posted by – October 20, 2010
Today, people all over the country are wearing purple to show support for the end of anti-LGBTQ bullying.
I think Gogol Bordello’s got it covered:
& Here, if you can stand it, is the story of Chloe Lacey, the trans teenager who is being left off most of the lists of the students who committed suicide in the past months, & whose memories are being honored today.
Lucky 13
Posted by – October 20, 2010
Obama:
- Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
- Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier’s family
Two Weeks Until You Vote
Posted by – October 19, 2010
Obama implemented:
- attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
- cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
- Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
