News & Views
Volume 2, Issue 14 March 2018
Insights LGBT-QiA B o b’s Bl u r b s and Endocrinology
Anecdotes and Opinions
By Calvin Jorden PFLAG Beaumont Treasurer
I had an unexpected, pleasant experience at a Compass Bank this afternoon. While standing at the teller’s window, I noticed a little stand-up brochure behind her titled, “Behaviors That Promote Inclusiveness”. I asked the teller to hand it to me, and I paged through it as she completed her work. It contained four sections, “Welcomed, Heard, Validated, Respected” with brief examples of behaviors and attitudes that the bank expects their employees to demonstrate in the workplace, to customers and coworkers alike, regardless of age, gender, race or religion. I gave the brochure back and told the teller I really appreciated the bank making those policies. She said “Yes, they’re all about equality and inclusiveness here.” I explained that I have family members who are gay and lesbian, and good friends who are bi and trans, so it means a lot to me. She responded that she has a stepbrother who is gay, so she likes the policies too. I walked away thinking, “Wow, we might really change the world, after all!” We should always make it a point to thank and congratulate businesses that choose to promote inclusiveness and equality these days. Change is going to come from the bottom up, one locality at a time. It is not going to come down from Washington D.C. — those days are gone, at least for a while.
By Bob Meier PFLAG Beaumont Hospitality Chair
When what we thought was our “tomboy-daughter” came out to us at age 22 as lesbian and then at 23 as transgender, I was perplexed. I wondered, “How did this happen? What did we do wrong as parents?
Did he play too many sports? What is the cause of this? Are there scientific explanations?” Later, I discovered that our child did not change, as he had always known he was a boy, and had been verbalizing that he was a boy since age two. When he was little, his Cont. Inside as Blurbs
Monthly Movie Pick: ‘The Carmilla Movie’ By Kaelyn Smith Pride Fest Street Team Chair It is on the very rare occasion that a queer movie can simultaneously impress me and make my heart swell with emotion at the same time. “The Carmilla Movie” does just that, and more. This film does an excellent job of avoiding negative lesbian tropes portrayed in today's entertainment, including but not limited to, student-teacher relationships, women cheating on their husbands with girls they've met at church, and the big one: Random Unexplained Lesbian DEATH™. Furthermore, with the inclusion of the character LaFontaine, or Laf, being non-binary and queer opens up conversations that are an essential part of moving forward in our society. The actor who
plays Laf, identifies as non-binary and queer as well. This representation aids in helping non-binary or genderqueer kids feel not so alone, while educating cisgender people in and in and out of the LGBTQiA+ community. All of the above, partnered with the magic of ghosts, vampires, vengeful exes, and beautiful imagery earns this film an A+ and two thumbs up. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who is into vampires if Twilight did nothing for them,or is looking to expand their queer movie collection.