Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey joined lawmakers and members of the LGBTQ community Wednesday to mark Pride Month. Healey, America’s first lesbian governor, oversaw the raising of the Pride flag on the Statehouse lawn. The ceremony also marked the 20th anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, the first state to allow the unions.  https://apnews.com/article/boston-pride-maura-healey-samesex-marriage-5c92c5e215849f83b12cf98ad5716e21

It's about representation, plain and simple. And it is important. There is power in representation. People with voices not often heard also bring new things to the table, which is also super important. America is not old, white, and male, but that's historically what our government has been.

I've had 2 siblings die of ALS.  I still consider this an option.

The stock market seems a little weird to me too.  I actually have some stock that I kinda inherited, and a small 401K. I've done my best to stay out of debt, and that has paid off.  I may live "poor" but I own this shack, and my only "debts" are my monthly bills.  It is very freeing.

I don't know what to say. I'm not jewish, but I have jewish family members. I guess people can always find somebody to hate on.

Yes, exactly Heather. It took help from therapists, my Buddhist community, and also the LGBT+ community to have the right attitude and get better. Hugs back. —Davie

More than 40% of transgender adults in the US have attempted suicide. Most gun deaths are suicides.

Well, my life is changing over here and it feels like I'm waiting to be assigned to a new duty station.  As an older person who is quite accomplished, I'm just happy about standing my ground on what I'm doing professionally.   Tomorrow is my last day of wired internet.  I wired up the whole house with CAT6.  I have multiple buildings on the property.  The wires were just so fabulous!  I loved them and I have gotten quite good at terminating the wires with normal ends.  Once the internet goes down, I'll use my prepaid Verizon phone that I pay $31.65/month for with 5GB of data a month to connect my desktop computer to the internet mostly so that I can interact on this forum.  Well, I read some wikipedia information too, check my email and such.  I've never been a fan of video, but I think pictures and the cameras in these phones are fabulous.  Every time I've taken a picture lately I just think back to how it was in the 90's and I'm simply amazed.  My phone battery still lasts over a week because I don't use any apps on it and that keeps me from using the screen much.   Not sure how long the electricity will last here either.  I've got a decent stash of beans, lentils and rice here, so I'm sure I could last a couple months without electricity.  I can always fill my one gallon propane tank for cooking fuel.  I just walk it down to the gas station.  It costs a little under $4 to fill and I filled it twice last year.  I think I've already filled it twice this year though.  I've been using it more with the wok burner.  Love that thing, but I'm questioning how good the metal of the wok is for my health.  I see more sense in the 8 quart stock pots with lids that I cook curries in.  That curry process is amazingly efficient on fuel and water.   Well, I literally do not even have $4 right now, so filling the tank my be a problem.  It went empty the other day.  It's become a lesson in learning how to not worry about the insecurity of it all.  I've got everything I need to have a good day today.  I have good theoretical NET worth because I have done a decent job at working over the years and built up equity in my house.  I read a lot of financial blogs and I strongly disapprove of the stock market and trying to make money off of interest.  To me, that is just a total scam, although I do see the nature of the problem of people needing some kind of retirement and personally do not like the idea of my children taking care of me even though I do not have any children or essentially any living relatives at all.  It just makes much more sense to me to own my home in retirement and do what I can to pay the utilities and buy food.  You know, a mixture of social security and some light work in society or something.   Anyway.  I feel much better posting stuff like this here than on those financial sites.  I like it when the financial people start talking about frugal things, but then hate it when they talk about investments.  I'm certainly taking a gamble with my retirement here by selling my house, but it'll all work out for the best.  People tend to think it's insanity but I see it as an investment in myself and that has always worked well for me.  As long as I'm using my money to keep doing engaging work, whether it pays or not, I should be OK in the future and have enough to survive on.     hehe, quoting myself.  I'm kind of introverted!!  The idea here is that I don't see it totally as a scam.  This interest thing forces people to work and if that is what we need, that is a way to do it.   Sorry, everything tends to get a political angle on it.   Have a nice day.... Hugs, Lydia

Absolutely the centre would have the right to enact policy to prevent harassment. Just like the school has a right to enforce a dress code upon the premises without "targeting" one single individual. We had policies like that in school when I was a child. Certain printed shirts were found offensive to some, so the dress code was adapted to reflect, "no printed shirts allowed." 

It's swim season... new coverup in one of my favorite colours 💋  

Perhaps like these notes I always find under my door?   Found this one this morning, these are very common.    Still falls under freedom of speech.    Perhaps since I have grown up in this environment that these "opinions" mean nothing to me. I don't let them bother me. 

That is awesome. Looking forward to reading how it went. 

I would love to see a nonpartisan trans candidate. Someone who can take the plusses of both sides and put them to use. For instance, anti-gun laws I don't understand. All you are going to do is make the black market that much stronger. Plus those who are mass casualty shooters don't abide by the law period! All you are is accomplishing by taking guns from law abiding citizens and that is if they want to continue following the law. Ghost guns aren't going to magically disappear. 

Occupational therapist came over last night to go over procedures for getting sorted in the mornings.    She walked over to my closet and was admiring my bra collection when she remarked, "I didn't know they made a "strapless" in a bra this big!"   We went over procedures to minimise falls whilst dressing. 

@Adrianna Danielle that's awesome you got to meet her wife. Hopefully read more how things are going.

Firstly, welcome!   Secondly, it is completely OK to feel when it comes to changes in relationships. Your mother, or however they wish to be addressed, is going through changes in their reality and is likely swimming in emotion too. What Mirra said is important: communicate. Understand their reality through open dialogue, learn what language to use with them, and be open to changes to the status quo.

Hi J,   This is the best site for people like us. We are also minor friendly too so please keep it in mind while posting. Looking forward to reading more about yourself if you want to share that is. 

It need not be violent, either. We are well aware of the policy at your day center. There is a level of harassment that comes along with your participation there. That is a private business. What if the situation was a guy that is constantly verbally harassing you, but also liked to sit next to you wearing shirts specifically as an affront to you? The shirt is just a part of the harassment, but it is demonstrable harassment. The center would have the right to ask that person to refrain from harassing you, in both verbal and non-verbal forms. The harasser’s right to free speech does not grant them the right to infringe on your right to be free from harassment.   In the case of the t-shirt, is this a “slippery slope case”? Maybe. If anyone has read the full trial summary and verdict, let us know if it reads like it was frivolous.

Well, it would be a big deal to me.  I'm not from her state of course, but it could show that trans people are perfectly capable of filling rolls in society. If she is elected, I suspect that the disrespect from the other side of the isle will be epic. As for her party, I'm not quite convinced that their goal is the collapse of society.

@MaeBe I hope everything goes as smoothly as possible for you and your family. Looking forward to seeing the safety made it post.