May Leslie Feinberg's memory be a blessing

I learned today that Leslie Feinberg passed on this past Saturday (the day of the Montgomery County MD Transgender Day of Remembrance 2014). Where to begin? I think I first became aware of her/hir as a high school senior -- her book "Stone Butch Blues" was published the year I formally came out as trans. And several years later I met hir, when she/zie came to speak at Arlington Street Church where I was on staff. May hir memory be a blessing (as we say in Judaism, and Leslie's Jewish identity is part of what zie means to me).  Here is her obituary in the Advocate, written by her wife Minnie Bruce Pratt.  This graphic is the Advocate's, from Facebook.

And at MoCo MD TDOR, we shared Leslie's words for the Chalice Lighting: "Why are we different? Why have we refused to walk one of two narrow paths, but instead demanded the right to blaze our own? The question is not why were we unwilling to conform even when being beaten to the ground by ridicule and brutality.The real burning question is: How did we ever find the courage? From what underground spring did we draw our pride? How did each of us make our way in life, without a single familiar star in the night sky to guide us, to this room where we have at last found others like ourselves? And after so much of ourselves has been injured, or left behind as expendable ballast, many of us worry 'What do we have left to give each other? Upon what basis will we build something lasting between us?' We have the whole world to give back to each other."

Bead Society of Greater Washington’s Bead Bazaar

One of the good things about going to the Indian Health Service Powwow yesterday is that we realized that the Bead Society of Greater Washington’s Bead Bazaar was in the adjacent gym yesterday and today; I went the next, and purchased the pictured.

A mustard seed pendant in glass and gold-toned metal from Artistic Investments; fat goddess beads in light purple Czech glass with an iridescent finish from Spirit Inc. – who made and is holding the flabulous sign; and a glass bone bead that is actually much more milk-and-honey from Biz.e.beads; $3 each.  And I actually have no plans for the goddess beads yet -- so get your orders in now.  

I’ve wanted mustard seed jewelry for many years, and have missed my chance a few times – and this was actually the first time the seller had put her only one out for sale; I especially like the faith-based meanings, and am enjoying Plochman’s page about mustard in seven traditions

Reformation Project -- Regional Conference

I didn’t get to the rest of The Reformation Project’s Regional Conference (which also has a Facebook Community) here in DC this past Thursday through Saturday (November 6th through 8th), as perhaps I should have, but I’m glad I schlepped in to the Trans Caucus on Friday night.

We had more than a dozen people, trans and allied (and more in spirit who were double-booked), and spent four hours together -- at National City Christian Church and the nearby original Thai Tanic restaurant (I know!! Turns out Thai restaurants with punny names are a thing here) -- facilitated by TransFaith's executive director Chris Paige.

‪#‎TRPinDC‬

Indian Health Service Powwow in Gaithersburg MD

November is also ‘American Indian & Alaskan Native Heritage Month’! 

And we were privileged to attend the 3rd annual Indian Health Service Employee Association Powwow right here in our town today, organized by the IHS' EA with Gaithersburg's Multicultural Affairs Committee.  Here is the city's October 21st press release.  

We had ‘Indian Tacos’ with everything, and meant to have wajopi for dessert; and I got these earrings from Native Spirit Jewelry (also on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram).  They're opal / turquoise / bronze, bears are 13 x 10mm; and they're even prettier in person. And the seller included a note: “The Bear is one of the most powerful and frequently appearing characters in Native American stories. The Bear is associated with the POWER to HEAL and STRENGTH in the face of adversity. www.enativespirit.com”. (And I wanted to get a few of their small stud earrings – one or more semi-precious stones in silver or gold settings.)

Election Day 2014

We were Election Judges for the second time today -- as on primary day in June, I was at Asbury Methodist Village (a retirement "campus" so large, at a few thousand residents, that it is its own precinct) and Julia was at Gaithersburg High School (her alma mater -- although like mine, Newton North, the building has been recently replaced).  And this time I also worked two days of the early voting week at the Germantown Rec Center. 

(I never heard anything about working for the BOE back in MA -- it seemed like it was just automagically handled by the police and senior citizens.)

And again one of the highlights was that one my bosses was a gay man with a trans nephew who used to be very active in the Episcopal Church.  Also, I saw some people from our primary church (Episcopal Church of the Ascension) and my temp gig at the Census' 2014 Site Test this summer and early fall. 

My voting while trans went well, here in my new home state of MD (old one is MA) -- largely due to my geographical and other privileges. Though as an Election Judge, I did have a lot of contestants for Guess My Gender and the other game shows I host. Alas, I don't think that the great majority guessed right, but that's probably because they had the wrong version of the rules, where there are only two possible guesses.

Recommended reading?  The MATrans Political Coaltion's (MTPC) voting guide and the National Center forTrans Equality's (NCTE) Voting While Trans.

GLAAD's Spirit Day

It’s GLAAD's Spirit Day – use purple to support LGBT youth, and see Equality Maryland's purple plan at #SpiritDay 2014: Take a Stand Against LGBT Bullying.

There are some faith-based versions of this graphic as well, and they’ve been taking suggestions for more – I suggested “I’m interfaith and against bullying” (and I am). And the Religious Institute is doing a ‪#‎FaithfulPurple‬ campaign. ‪

I'm also for anti-bullying work becoming intersectional with fat justice -- contrary to popular and governmental belief, neither LGBTQ et al youth nor anyone else should have to be, try to be, or want to be thin to deserve not to be bullied.

And I'm for talking more about how “bullying” is abuse and oppression – and how abuse and oppression are each other. And I say this as a survivor myself.  #SpiritDay

Fairness For All Marylanders Act officially effective today!

TODAY the Fairness For All Marylanders Act officially goes into effect! It updates MD’s anti-discrimination laws to include transgender people. And you can celebrate with Equality Maryland at the next Fairness for All Marylanders Act Celebration next Wednesday the 8th. We’ll be out of town, but we went to the celebration in Frederick and enjoyed. And we are proud that we could play a small role in the passage of this legislation -- and look forward to our role in its implementation. ‪

Learn more about what the law means for transgender Marylanders in this "Know Your Rights" guide from Equality Maryland and FreeState Legal Project.

One of the best parts of my day was that a fellow Marylander came out to me as trans -- and I was able to tell them that they would still have statewide civil rights if they decided to come out further.

#‎FAMA14‬ ‪ #‎StandForFairness

Shana tova 5775!!!

Shana tova 5775!!! 

May this be your sweetest year yet -- and may you make the world sweeter for all living things, including those not yet born.

For the beginning of our first high holiydays living together, we visited the Interfaith Families Project (IFFP) for the first time, attending their Erev Rosh Hashanah service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring (MD), and we intend to return to them tomorrow morning. And while I was at work, my sweetie shopped for sweets for us at Dawson's Market (Rockville MD), and after I got out, we had a New Year’s Eve dinner date at Jewel Of India (also of Silver Spring; don’t be fooled by the exterior – they aren’t kidding about the "jewel", in any sense). 

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Happy 5775!! 

Here we are in some of our Rosh Hashtylishness (tallit from Boomerangs, pendant by Artemisia Studio / Emanda Johnson of Etsy, earrings by me with beads from Arya’s Trinkets of Etsy).

We did indeed return to Interfaith Families Project for their RH morning services (at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring) -- where we got to connect with their Rev. Julia Jarvis, who is also part of the Montgomery County Transgender Day of Remembrance planning process -- then returned home to lunch on matzo ball soup and challah from Dawson's Market (and made by them in-house). Then on to Clopper Lake at Seneca Creek State Park for our own Tashlich for two -- we didn’t bring Ursula, the Pugston Terrier because she is still in therapy about our feeding bread to a duck instead of her a year ago (despite my repeated explanations that however valid her anger may be, it is not what is meant by “gluten intolerance”). And then my oh so shiksappealing one made kugel for the first time (I never have either, but my late shiksa mother did) and it was amazingly yummy. And we do have apples and honey and more.

I do miss Congregation Am Tikva -- the people, our machzorim and melodies, our shofar blowers in all the corners of the room and their competition to hold the last note longest, the superb sweet breads made by our prez’s mother, Tashlich at the Charles River… -- but I look forward to hearing about their hi hols.

Open Door Metropolitan Community Church's Cabaret & Open Mic

We very much enjoyed spending our havadalah at Open Door Metropolitan Community Church's Cabaret & Open Mic tonight (Boyds MD).

We've been to Open Door before -- for an Equality Maryland training for the Fairness For All Marylanders Act (#FAMA, the statewide trans equal rights bill, which has since passed into law and goes into effect on October 1st), some services, and the Maryland Trans*Unity picnic.  And we've been otherwise connecting with their Rev. Miller Hoffman, including serving with him on the Montgomery County Transgender Day of Remembrance event planning committee.  That's him in the graphic, actually, taken from a photo.  
 
And we won our table's centerpiece in the raffle.

Dim sum with the DMV Fat-Friendly Community

Had a great time today at Dim Sum Saturday! at the Hollywood East Cafe (Wheaton MD) with the DMV Fat-Friendly Community -- as in DC / MD / VA -- which my Julia founded.  My first time doing something in person with the DMV FFC, as well as my first visit to the Café. There were 9 of us around the table, and more than 60 others in the Facebook Group. There have been and will be other field trips, and some of us are planning on doing some intersectional fat activism together as well. So if you’re fat-friendly and in the DMV, or know someone who is, why not say hello? And special thanks to the member who really made today's yum happen

Flamingo Rampant's Book Club -- LGBTQ+-themed kids' books

Shabbat shalom!!

Through this coming Monday August 11th, Flamingo Rampant is Kickstarting a new project -- a Book Club of 6 new "empowering, celebratory LGBTQ2S-themed kids' picture books for 4-8 year olds, delivered right to your home or school every other month"-- for which they are seeking subscriptions.

FR apologizes that they couldn't get the above video properly subtitled -- click here for a subtitled version.

And when I commented “Wow. And mazel tov. Is this fat-positive / body-diverse / fat-justicey...?” on the Club's Facebook event page, S. Bear Bergman's rare and beautiful reply was “@Mycroft, the books will definitely, absolutely be body-diverse in terms of illustrations - fat people, people who use mobility and adaptive technology, and we'll see at least one person using sign language as well. Also, these people will be wearing cute clothes and doing fun things with their partners and families, not just stuck in a corner in a muumuu. There's not currently a specific body justice storyline planned for the first season, however, which I mention to be sure that no one has expectations we can't support.”

Also, Keshet interviewed Bear about the project.

We really need to teach our dogter Ursula to read!

My new business cards have arrived!

I made myself new biz cards, and they arrived today!  And are as they should be, yay.  I stuck with VistaPrint, and took advantage of their semi-annual sale -- though they are pretty much always having a good sale.  Here is the winning design and the other 10 finalists, chosen from VP’s 4700+ designs (!) -- which are all still so tempting that I rather wish I could do an assortment.  Although too, I could and maybe should have used my own design, including a photo.

ATFA / MARTI / Rumi Forum Friendship Dinner in Ramadan

Ramadan Mubarek!

Tonight we joined the Episcopal Church of the Ascension field trip to the local chapters of ATFA (American Turkish Friendship Association, formerly MARTI, Maryland Turkish American Inhabitants) and Rumi Forum for a Friendship Dinner.  Teşekkür ederim!! 

We were early and so ended up at the Christ Episcopal Church of Rockville table with their priest and members – we haven’t visited them yet, but we did visit their thrift shop The Bargain Box for the first time last week and two of our dinner companions volunteer there. The Ascension table had our priest and members we haven’t met yet because they attend service at different times than we do.

Here is the invite:

“Friendship Dinner with Ascension in Ramadan
Wednesday, July 23rd, at 8:15 p.m. by ATFA MD (MARTI) and RUMI Forum MD.
I am delighted to invite you to share the joy of a Friendship Dinner during Ramadan. We will celebrate these dinners every night from June 28th to July 27th. You may attend at our Rockville location: 230 N. Washington St on Wednesday, July 23.

The Friendship Dinner Program starts with introductions at 8:15 p.m., followed by a dinner of excellent Turkish cuisine at sunset, and a short presentation about Turkish Culture, Rumi Forum & Atfa MD. The evening concludes with traditional Turkish tea and dessert to accompany continued conversations, and it ends at approximately 9:45 p.m. Please let Randy know if you are coming.

—Murat Ozbas, President ATFA MD (MARTI)”

Mycroft Masada ~ MasadArts ~ my artwork

It’s Chrismahanukwansolsticetc-In-July here at MasadArts!  At least in the art department.  Yes, I’ve finally updated my artwork portfolio.  Now with 46 photos.  Enjoy, Like / +1, comment, share, shop, etc.  

This is just some of my artwork -- and so far just stationery, but photos of my jewelry and more are coming soon.  It's all mostly handmade, and mostly made of vintage / recycled / found / thrifted / gifted / reclaimed etc. materials. 

I have many supplies and ideas, and access to many more -- and I do personalizations, customizations, commissions etc.

Here is a slideshow -- but be sure to click through to Picasa Web Albums for the best view.

Transgender Lobby Day 2014

Best wishes to everyone gathering here in DC for Transgender Lobby Day -- and everyone who wishes they were!

TLD begins today with an optional reception and continues through Tuesday, and is a project of National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans People of Color Coalition, Translatin@ Coalition, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, PFLAG National, Black Transmen, Inc., and Black Transwomen, Inc.

“Q: I cannot attend this lobby day. How else can I help?

A: We recognize that there are many people who are excited to make an impact but can't take the time away from home or work to attend our Lobby Day. The most important thing is that your members of Congress know that transgender people urgently need strong and clear job protections at the federal level. We urge you to set up a meeting with your members of Congress while they are back home during recess between Monday, August 4th and Friday, September 5th. Use our "Make Your Voice Heard" resource to learn more about how to schedule and prepare for your meeting.”

Shira Glassman's "Climbing The Date Palm” includes a fat main character

Yasher koach to my friend and fellow fat-appreciative writer Shira Glassman, who was asked to write about why the romantic lead in her novel “Climbing The Date Palm” is fat, and did so, for Mama Kitty Reviews.

"Ultimately, the most important reason Farzin is fat is because fat people deserve love. There are millions of people out there who are not a size small and it can’t possibly be fun to read book after book and watch movie after movie in which only skinny people ever find true love, and fat people are either villains, sassy sidekicks, or the butt of jokes."

"Climbing The Date Palm" is the second book in Shira's 'Mangoverse' fantasy fiction series, which centers Judaism, queerness, feminism, and dragons; the first is "The Second Mango".  "Mango" is available from Prizm Books (e-book) and Amazon (Kindle and paperback); "Date Palm" is available from Prizm and Amazon as an e-book, and will be available in paperback by the end of the month -- and the paperback can now be pre-ordered from Wild Iris Books (which also still has hard copies of "TSM", including autographed ones).  Book three is "A Harvest Of Ripe Figs", which will be published by Prizm on January 21st.

And all three books include other fat / bellied / not-thin / ... characters.      

Shira can be found on Facebook, Wordpress, and Tumblr.

Here are two pieces of Kaveh / Farzin art by Becca Schauer (the second is so squeeworthy that I can't even):

Fat Activism Conference : Tools For The Revolution

Friday August 22nd through Sunday August 24th is Fat Activism Conference : Tools For The Revolution! 

Virtual – access live or recorded by phone or computer; some workshops will be more interactive and/or have handouts. Only $39 or pay what you can.  

The website is http://fatactivismconference.com/.  There is also an Open-Invite Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/534062743387931/.

Election Judgement Day

Today Julia and I were Election Judges for the first time, for the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

I had an very unusually interesting and cushy assignment at Asbury Methodist Village – it’s an unbelievably big and amenitied retirement campus, but only the residents were voting there, and even they had particularly low turnout this election (though still relatively high); too, I was a Line Manager, and there was no line. I had a good and distinctive experience. For example, how often do you get to chat with someone who gave a lecture at their retirement community because they worked on the Nuremburg trials? Also, one of my bosses was a gay person with a trans relative who used to be very active in the Episcopal Church, including the LGBT-inclusion process.

Poor J had a much longer and harder gig at a school, but she did really well and also enjoyed herself.

Solstice, havdalah, and other seasons and separations

Summer solstice, havdalah (separation), and the end of A Season of Service and Celebration in honor of Bishop Shaw.

My bishop, the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE (Society of Saint John the Evangelist), of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, is retiring this year. An openly gay man, he has been a truly powerful ally for transgender social justice, including supporting MA’s passed Trans Equal Rights Law and current Trans Equal Access Bill, and hosting the Boston Trans Day of Remembrance at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul.

I also pray for Bishop Tom's healing -- he has been undergoing treatment for brain cancer since his diagnosis last May.

Queering Fat Embodiment #QFE

TODAY at 4:00 EST -- the global book launch of Queering Fat Embodiment, edited by Cat Pausé, Jackie Wykes, and Sam Murray; part of Ashgate Publishing's Queer Interventions series.  #QFE

Facebook event text:

"Cat Pausé, Jackie Wykes, and Sam Murray are excited to announce the publication of our edited book, Queering Fat Embodiment, as part of Ashgate’s Queer Interventions series.

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A global book launch will be held on Google Hangouts at the following local times:

Friday 20 June, 2014:
Singapore 4 am
Melbourne 6 am
Auckland 8 am

Thursday 19 June, 2014:
San Francisco 1 pm
Dallas 3 pm
Toronto 4 pm
New York 4 pm
London 9 pm

The link for the event is: https://plus.google.com/events/chu9oefslau61mb8id2uanrmtl4

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Shedding light on the ways in which fat embodiment is lived, experienced, regulated and (re)produced across a range of cultural sites and contexts, Queering Fat Embodiment destabilises established ideas about fat bodies, making explicit the intersectionality of fat identities. It represents a paradigm shift within fat studies, challenging the field of study which has primarily reproduced a white, able-bodied, heteronormative subjectivity in its analyses.

Contributing authors include Katie LeBesco, Robyn Longhurst, Jenny Lee, Margitte Kristjansson, Stefanie Jones, Kimberly Dark, Zoë Meleo-Erwin, James Burford, Sam Orchard, and Scott Beattie. This text is a must have for anyone interested in fat studies, fat politics, queer theory, and embodiment.

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The editors will be conducting a social media book tour.
If you would like a guest post, excerpt, interview, live reading, or something else, please let
us know by completing this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6WB3B2S

Please use the tag #QFE when referencing the book on social media.

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Queering Fat Embodiment is available in hard cover and e-book formats and can be purchased directly from Ashgate (http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409465430 – online orders automatically receive a 10% discount), as well as Amazon, Book Depository, and other outlets.

Journalists and academics may request a review copy from the publisher via Debbie Fattore (dfattore@ashgatepublishing.com)."