This is the last column of the summer, and I’ve done something that I do every so often — asked my Facebook friends what they’d like me to tackle in this space. So here are some of the suggestions, and my answers in no particular order.
Jenice Armstrong: “Write about your being the subject of a story instead of the other way around the way it usually is. Wrap that Inquirer feature into something about this having been a summer of milestones for you. You got married. You realized it’s so much more than just being a piece of paper, etc. Wax on about that. Good luck!”
Several people seconded Jenice’s suggestion and it’s a good point, since the recent Inquirer profile on me and my husband, Jason, was my first interview as a husband. And I must admit that it was a completely different experience. Since I’m a very private person when at home, it was like an invasion of our privacy, but the writer seemed to understand my apprehension. What most don’t know is that Sally has been after that interview for a year and, for a year, I’ve turned it down. But to get her off my back, we agreed. I can’t ignore a good reporter after a story. As to marriage … It still amazes me each day. It is more than what I expected but I must caution, please only marry for love, not as a political statement or simply because it’s the “in” thing to do. By the way, if you want to read the article, it’s at http://articles.philly.com/2014-08-23/entertainment/53116982_1_mark-segal-south-philadelphia-pgn.
David R. Applebaum: “A column about LGBT experiences with the abuses of police power … that combines empathy and sympathy for racial social justice might be of great value. It certainly fits with the sessions planned at [American Friends Service Committee] this week.”
That’s been the mission of the staff of PGN, and something that brings all of us pride in our efforts. We’ve just spent a summer of indexing PGN’s archives, from 1976-2003, and were surprised to see the enormity of our articles on race, social justice and trans issues going back to the very first issue. And you know of our continued fight for the truth behind the death of Nizah Morris. We hope that our reporting here brings not only light to the issues, but also encourages community activism.
Marla McCulloch: “How hard it is to live in the ‘new reality’ sometimes. Society is rapidly changing (mostly for the better), but I am still terrified for my trans-kid.”
Change is happening on a faster scale than ever, mostly thanks to the Internet. Those changes have led to more equality, but passing legislation is not an answer in and of itself. You need look no further than the issue of race to see that legislation alone has not ended racism. We have much work to do.
Annie Carl and Jordan Gwendolyn Davis suggested I comment on the govenor’s race … Ah, did you think I’d be shy? That will be a pleasure. Expect that soon.