blog

Welcome to my blog, inside the outsider. It is a mixture of personal things about me, my family and friends; my art, and also the issues I am interested in and articles I recommend reading.

  • Keeping the Focus on Secular Protests
    This is a response to mostly social media things I’ve been reading for quite some time. Keep the focus on the acts of the Israeli government, not on Jewish people. I believe that supporting Palestine (the country) in protests should focus on Israel and its embassies and consulates — NOT on synagogues. I understand that …

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  • Team Rosie Joy — A Letter from Our Son Noel Clayton
    Hello! For several years now, our family has participated in the Puget Sound Buddy Walk, an event created to promote acceptance, inclusion, and respect of individuals with Down syndrome. This year the Buddy Walk will be held on October 11 at Woodland Park Zoo, and I want to ask some of the other people who know and …

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  • My Public Comment Regarding President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Which Has Released a Draft Report Claiming to Defend Religious Liberty
    I recieved this email from Interfaith Alliance this morning: Take Action: Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Takes Aim at Church-State Separation Dear Gabi, President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission released a draft report that claims to protect religious liberty. It does the opposite. The Commission’s report promotes one narrow version of faith, ignores the harm done by …

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  • Lurk No More
    I came across this on my computer and it brings back lots of memories. From: Gabi ClaytonDate: Sun, 8 Sep 1996To: pflag-talkSubject: Lurk No More Well, I joined the list at the end of August, and I guess it is about time to say hello and introduce myself and “lurk” no more. My name is …

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  • Monsters. Yes, I believe in monsters. Human ones.
    “Monsters. Yes, I believe in monsters. Human ones.”I wrote that 28 years ago, and it [and the essay it is in] are still relevant today. Please read, “Too Many Kids Like My Bill” by Gabi Clayton; January 18, 1997; by Gabi Clayton. https://gabiclayton.com/BillsStory/TooManyKidsLikeMyBill.html Added note: I’ve tried to stay away from calling people evil and …

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  • Curiosity. Playing with ChatGPT
    I was curious about what ChatGPT would write about me and then Alec, so I asked. Note: at the bottom of the ChatGPT page it says: “ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.” True, there are some errors but this is unedited and not corrected. We may at some point after I post this comment …

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  • House of Un-American Activities and RESIST by Gabi Clayton, 06-01-2025
    I first created “House of Un-American Activities on 02-06-2017” (see below) – less than three weeks into the first presidential term of Donald Trump. I updated it yesterday, June 1, 2025, for the ‘No Kings’ protest on June 14, 2025 and beyond. It is now on my Redbubble shop on t-shirts, coffee cups, and more …

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  • In Memory of Our Son Bill on the 30th Anniversary of His Suicide
    Today is the 30th anniversary of the day our younger son Bill committed suicide when he was 17 after he was the victim of a hate crime assault based on his sexual orientation. Thirty years! I wrote and published his story on my website a year later in hope that sharing it would help end …

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  • Ally? Says Who? by Wombat Cascadia
    I found the zine: SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ALLY! A zine on anti-oppression, allyship, and being a less shitty person – online around 2013, and I think it is excellent. Below is the part that has been posted in my quotes collection under its author Wombat Cascadia here for many years because reading it gave …

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  • Stating the obvious?
    The United States doesn’t need to be the greatest country in the world. Being ‘the greatest’ means a constant power struggle, one up and one down, unless the other doesn’t care, has no hope. The greatest means everybody loses because being in competition may be fine for things like baseball but is not healthy in …

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  • If This, Then We Are Most Likely Screwed
    Yesterday I shared a post on Facebook that simply said, Today, 73 million Americans depend on Social Security every month. I am one. Right now there are 85 responses, 23 comments and 8 shares. A friend’s comment included a reference to “people who worked all their lives.” and that got me thinking. I replied: Alec and …

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  • Looking Toward Tomorrow and the Future of America
    Rising for me today: On January 18, 1997, one year, eight months, and ten days after our younger son Bill committed suicide after a bashing based on his sexual orientation, I published an essay “Too Many Kids Like My Bill” which is in part included here: There is so much grief with the death of …

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  • About Viewing ‘Original’ Art
    When I shared this image on Facebook on November 16, 2024: Alec commented: I responded: Regarding the ‘original,’ my art is created digitally [mostly via an iPad and the Procreate app]. Every screen/monitor has its own settings of hue and saturation and contrast and value. So the original image that was created on my iPad …

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  • We Can Do Better
    I’ve already voted thanks to the Washington state mail-in ballot. I feel good about who I voted for, a straight blue ticket including Kamala Harris. I have family members and friends who are Republicans (a few), Green Party and independents (some), and mostly probably Democrats including progressive friends who don’t agree with me on voting …

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  • I Didn’t Lose My Temper
    A friend posted an image on social media with the words: Someone I don’t know commented with some awful homophobic/transphobic stuff (that I won’t share here) while claiming to be a very polite person with ‘them’ and not at all a hater. You’ll just have to take my word for what he wrote and use …

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  • Complexity — violence in and between Gaza Strip/West Bank and Israel
    I’ve been thinking a lot about the violence happening in and between Gaza Strip/West Bank and Israel now [Hamas and the Israeli government], and how because this is so complex and there is so much history predating October 7th it has seemed impossible for me to make a statement of what I believe. So I …

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  • Well, that was a hell of a way to end 2023 and start 2024
    I spent Sunday evening through about five p.m. Tuesday at the Neurotrauma ICU at Providence Saint Peter’s Hospital after having a major seizure which I don’t remember. I’m hearing that word has been getting out (which is fine, this isn’t a secret), so I want to share what is happening to me. I actually don’t …

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  • An Old Article About Our Son Bill, Recovered
    In October 2001 an article titled “Bill Clayton” by Olivier Björksäter-Bleylock was published in DNA, a national gay magazine in Australia. An interview with me was done through email, and was the best one I had ever experienced — and the most intense. Olivier asked about some things that were not in Bill’s story on …

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  • Join Us for the Claytons’ Art and Book Sale – December 16 and 17, 2023
    We’re having a studio art and book sale at our home/office/studio in Olympia, Washington on the weekend of December 16 and 17.  We hope you will join us! We’ve recently been hit hard with home repairs—everything hitting all at once— a new roof, new gutters, replacing a furnace and electrical panel, cleaning ductwork, adding insulation, …

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  • Alec Clayton is being treated for cancer in his nose
    Alec is being treated for cancer in his nose, and the way it was diagnosed is interesting. If you already know this part, you can skip the rest of this paragraph. He has been having nosebleeds for months. Not every day, but often. Usually small ones but sometimes it has taken longer to stop them. …

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  • Regarding Veteran’s Day
    This was originally written on Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2022) as a day we set to honor America’s veterans for their commitment, service and sacrifice. On this day each year, I also always want to remember, thank, and honor THOSE WHO DID NOT SERVE – when this country had a draft/conscription – because of HAVING …

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  • Alec’s Heart Journal, starting in 2002
    NOTE: Read from the bottom of the page for chronological order – (i.e. the most recent post is at the top of this page). Friday, October 28, 2022 WOW, twenty years! Today is the 20th anniversary of the day Alec Clayton had open heart surgery. Alec is doing great. Getting older (aren’t we all?!) but he’s happily …

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  • Is There a Pacifist Response to Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine?
    I’m really looking at this right now as someone who is a Quaker and pacifist. On February 28, 2022 I shared a 2019 post on Facebook with photos of 19-year-old Ukrainian soldiers who have been killed and words, “It hurts… It’s not when your son doesn’t want to do his homework, but when he gives …

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  • My Words, OlyFriends Writing Group, June 20, 2021
    Prompt: If your brain were a physical place, what would it be like? My brain (or my mind) would be a sponge. Not square or rectangular. Not round or oval or spherelike. Amorphous – yeah, that’s the word (I just ‘googled’ it), without a clearly defined shape, etc., etc., and ever bending and twisting and …

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  • Today is (or would have been) Bill Clayton’s 43rd birthday
    Bill was born on January 23, 1978 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. And he died by his own hand in Olympia, Washington at 17 years old on May 8, 1995. Not completely by his own hand. His story is far more complicated than that – wonderful and impish early on and then a nightmare storm at the …

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  • Twenty-five years, and my Mount Saint Helens Letter
    May 8, 2020 was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the day our son Bill committed suicide after and in response to being assaulted in a bashing based on his sexual orientation. I knew it was coming but when I woke up that morning it hadn’t struck me yet when our son Noel sent me a text …

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  • Our Upcoming Art Sale, and “My wife, Gabi Clayton, makes art.”
    My husband, Alec Clayton, wrote this on February 12, 2020, and it makes me very happy and proud to know he feels this way about my art: My wife, Gabi Clayton, makes art. For all the thirty some odd years that I was painting and exhibiting my paintings in galleries, hardly anybody even knew she was …

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  • Young People In Action, Now and Past
    I am so proud of the young people who marched yesterday. I had to work but listened on the radio there. And remembered Bill. This was written on 01/16/91 when he was just under 13 years old: “I have not yet written about what is happening in this world, in this country, and in my …

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  • A Day of Grief and Resolve
    On this anniversary of 9-11 I am sharing some stuff that was on my old website that I think is worth saving, starting with this, the first public statement I made soon after September 11, 2001: I want to recognize that this is a time when we all are aware of the vulnerability of our …

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  • Old Multiples Gallery
  • In an Empty Green Room
    In an Empty Green Room – by Gabi Clayton there are times now when I recognize that I have forgotten you spaces now where you are absent even in the everyday minutiae until my finger brushes against the tag from the crematorium kept in the same glass tray I keep earrings in and I recognize once again that you will always be seventeen you …

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  • Other People’s Words (mostly)
    I’ve got a huge collection of quotes. Use the menu above to see them or start here: Quotes. Over time I’ll add more I’ve collected, and I will continue to do that as I find interesting stuff. I hope you enjoy them.
  • reclaiming my voice
    My last blog post was in 2013. Yow! Partly that’s because I’ve been busy posting on Facebook and elsewhere, partly it is I have been quite busy, and partly it is that I just plain forgot that I had a blog. Oops. I’m redesigning my website (finally) which will among other things be a showplace …

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  • Wa are having a Giant Home Studio Art Sale this weekend!
    Please join us this weekend for the Claytons’  Giant Home Studio Art Sale! More than 150 paintings and drawings! Crazy low prices! We have been severely impacted by the financial meltdown and have both lost work we depend on to meet our basic living expenses. So … we’re having a two-day art sale at our …

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  • My Savory Oatmeal
    Breakfast this morning was savory oatmeal. Yum! I used leftover rolled oats with a spoonful of peanut butter (chunky), soy milk (vanilla flavored), red chili flakes, Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning (which is sea salt, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika and chili peppers) and Jamaican (spicy) curry powder from Buck’s Fifth Avenue – …

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  • The Last Letter: A Message to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney From a Dying Veteran
    March 18, 2013 The Last LetterA Message to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney From a Dying Veteran To: George W. Bush and Dick CheneyFrom: Tomas Young “I write this letter on the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War on behalf of my fellow Iraq War veterans. I write this letter on behalf of the …

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  • Great theater! The Big Voice: God or Merman?
    I’ve been meaning to share this, so here it is! You get to watch ALL of the New York Off-Broadway production of The Big Voice: God or Merman?– written and performed by Jim Brochu & Steve Schalchlin. Enjoy! The Big Voice: God or Merman? Act One The Big Voice: God or Merman? Act Two  “Think …

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  • Alec Clayton’s got big stuff happening and you’re invited!
    A Six Person Art Exhibit! AZUL CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS IN PRIMARY BLUE MOOD Join us for the Artist Reception Thursday Jan. 17, 5-9 p.m. B2 Gallery 711 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, WA www.b2finearts.com The show runs through March 2nd. __________________________ Dramatic readings from his newest novel Return to Freedom Readings at bookstores in Olympia and Tacoma …

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  • A little bit of history: The Salvation Army Kettle “Dollars” Protest
    I am still hearing about folks using Salvation Army kettle “dollars” to let the Salvation Army know of their disapproval regarding the organization’s homophobic/transphobic policies. The first Salvation Army kettle protest “dollars” that I know of were created in November 2001 by Mary Scholl, then President of the PFLAG Genesee County, MI chapter. The graphic …

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  • Dodging Puddles – by Noel Clayton
      Our son Noel Clayton wrote and posted this on Facebook on October 31, 2012. I have his permission to share it, and I added the photos of Noel and Bill…————————————————————–I missed it. Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a milestone came and went without comment. Many runners will tell you of …

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  • A local public television station and a PFLAG-Olympia screening of the documentary “Two Spirits” – Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez
    The documentary “Two Spirits” explores the life and death of a boy who was also a girl and the essentially spiritual nature of gender. Fred Martinez was nádleehí, a male-bodied boy with a feminine nature, a special gift according to his Navajo culture. Martinez was brutally murdered at 16 in Cortez, Colorado in 2001. “Two …

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  • Exciting event! A Reading of Alec’s Screenplay.
    The staged reading of Alec’s screenplay “The Backside of Nowhere” based on the book by the same title is Wednesday, June 15, 2011 7:30pm – 9:30pm. Lakewood Playhouse5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd.Lakewood, Washington It is a one night only free event. The screenplay is for a full length feature film. It is being directed by …

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  • Mother’s Day 2011. Bittersweet.
    Today is a bittersweet Mothers’ Day.Bitter because THIS is the year I found out some of how much my Mother lied before her death in 1990. They were big lies. Giant lies. Its complicated and I am still learning and sorting it out and probably will be for a long time. Complicated too because as …

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  • Bullying: Breaking The Cycle – a documentary Alec and I were in – is now online
    Alec and I were in a KIRO 7 (Seattle) Family Connection Special Presentation documentary, Bullying: Breaking The Cycle, which aired on March 17 and March 26, 2011. It can now be watched online in four segments: Segment 1, Segment 2, Segment 3, and Segment 4. Those segments are all linked from this page: http://www.kirotv.com/bullying/if you …

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  • My testimony today at the hearing regarding House Bill 1163 at the Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K12 Education
    This is what I said in my 2 minute (approximately) testimony today at the hearing regarding House Bill 1163 at the Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K12 Education: My name is Gabi Clayton, and I live here in Olympia. Our son Bill was assaulted on the grounds of Olympia High School during …

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  • Mourning the death and celebrating the life of Carolyn Wagner
    Carolyn Wagner died on January 18th. Wow, its been two months tomorrow. Carolyn co-founded Families United Against Hate with me, and she was an amazing woman and a wonderful friend. We have a memorial set up on the FUAH website and it says much more than I can here, so I invite you to read …

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  • Reading of Alec’s new novel this Thursday at Orca Books!
    Hi everyone, Wow, it has been way too long since my last post. Orca Books is presenting a dramatic reading from Alec Clayton’s latest novel, Reunion at the Wetside, with the author and a cast of accomplished actors playing the parts of leading characters. I was at the rehearsal and its going to be lots …

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  • Living In The Bonus Round: “William’s Song” to be performed on the radio.
    Living In The Bonus Round: “William’s Song” to be performed on the radio.: “Taking A Stand Through Song: The Power of Protest SongsKALW 91.7 FM RADIO or www.kalw.org FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 10 PM (PST)Vocal music has long been used as a powerful vehicle of solidarity and dissent. Here on VoiceBox, we’ll be taking a stand …

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  • Asher Brown, Billy Lucas and Seth Walsh
    September 30, 2010 I’m angry. I’m reeling from the news that on September 23rd 13 year old Asher Brown of Cypress near Houston, Texas shot himself, lost to hopelessness and fear because those who had the power to save him – the adults in his school – did nothing, leaving young Asher alone with the …

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  • How would you reply?
    I woke up this morning to this email: Subject: about BillDate: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 09:28:47 +0000From: alex smith (email address deleted by Gabi)To: gabi@gabiclayton.com I hope you now see that you’re rebellion against God’s laws led to your son’s death. If you really loved your son, you would not have led him on a …

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  • Ty’s black bean veggie chili
    Our friend Ty brought this dish to a potluck Alec and I were at and it was sooo great we asked for the recipe. Its become one of our favorites — especially when fall is ending along with the warmer weather. One can of black beans One can of diced tomatoes 1 tablespoon of tomato …

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  • An anniversary and a thank you
    The beginning of Bill’s Story was a single page with photo of Bill and a simple statement about him committing suicide after a gay bashing. I had a request to people to help end the hate, and I mentioned being a member of PFLAG. A man in Los Angeles was searching for information about that …

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  • First post in ages! Alec and Rhabdomyolysis
    Wow, hi everyone. I haven’t posted on my blog since November 15th. I have been really busy with a lot going on and the blog just slipped away but its time to start again. Alec just got out of the hospital Thursday after a scary bout of Rhabdomyolysis which we had never heard of before. …

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  • Thinking of the approaching holiday and my teacher friends
    For an Indian, who is also a school teacher, Thanksgiving was never an easy holiday for me to deal with in class. I sometimes have felt like I learned too much about “the Pilgrims and the Indians.” Every year I have been faced with the professional and moral dilemma of just how to be honest …

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  • At the White House
    Rather than write my own version, I am posting a link here of what Alec wrote about our trip this week to the other Washington. Here is his: At the White House. A huge thank you to Liz Latham, the Seattle based filmmaker and wonderful friend who made this happen. Liz has been working on …

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  • Neurology update…
    I went to see my neurologist Dr. Bell this morning and had the scheduled tests. It helped (a bit) that I had these tests on my feet/legs/knees before. So I knew what was going to happen. I knew enough to seriously consider canceling the appointment. My sister said I was a wus. Maybe I should …

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  • Jay Smooth: No Accounting for Taste
    Here is another brilliant video blog post by Jay! In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a fan. 🙂 ill Doctrine is a hip-hop video blog hosted by Jay Smooth, creator of the hip hop music blog and founder of New York’s longest running hip-hop radio show, WBAI’s Underground Railroad.
  • Barbara Ehrenreich: The Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America
    Positive thinking is different, she says, from being cheerful or good-natured — it’s believing that the world is shaped by our wants and desires and that by focusing on the good, the bad ceases to exist. Read: Barbara Ehrenreich: The Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America | | AlterNet By Emily Wilson, AlterNet. …

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  • Matthew Shepard’s legacy – looking back and ahead on this anniversary.
    Matthew Shepard was murdered eleven years ago today. “… despite the passage of time and increased cultural visibility, the realities faced by LGBTQs today are ‘no different than when Matthew Shepard was murdered.”~ Charles Robbins (Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. Please read this excellent article: Matthew Shepard’s legacy :: The fight continuesby …

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  • Fifty-seven years and counting
    Today is my fifty-seventh birthday. I remember when I turned 29. That was a hard birthday. I was stuck thinking oh my I’m almost thirty and what have I done with my life??! I got through the day and back to living and doing and by the time I was about to turn 30 I …

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  • some thoughts on Referendum 71 so far
    I haven’t written anything here for almost a month. Among other things that kept us busy, Alec and I observed the signature verification process of Referendum 71 along with a group of great volunteers. It was a longer than expected and grueling process. We were only able to do some two hour shifts because we …

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  • Jay Smooth: Michael Jackson – Dance You Into The Sunlight
    I haven’t posted in a while. Been really busy with work and various and sundry things. I haven’t said anything here about the death and life of Michael Jackson. I’ve had a lot of thoughts and a lot of frustrations about the media hype. Then today I finally had a chance to listen to Jay …

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  • Jay Smooth on ‘All Things Considered’
    I’ve posted here before about Jay Smooth and his great video blog (aka vlog) ill Doctrine. I was delighted to find out that he was interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered on June 29th. I missed hearing it on the broadcast but Jay has a link to it on his site Jay Smooth: On Hip-Hop, …

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  • Various and sundry
    It’s been a while since I posted. I have been busy (as usual) with a few extra things thrown into the mix. Summer with this city woman actually doing some gardening or having other folks do it – some for pay and some by amazing friends helping us out. The yard looks better and is …

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  • Father’s Day & Pride
    We are off to do the PFLAG table at Capital City Pride (here in Olympia) for the day. Check out Alec’s blog post: Surprised by a story on the web
  • Besen: Obama’s empty words
    In “Obama’s empty words” Wayne Besen wrote: For what seemed like forever, Democrats told us that when the big bad Republicans went away, our lives would improve. Well, the Republican nightmare is over, so why do I still feel like I’m in the middle of a political Friday the 13th movie? Read: Obama’s empty wordsby …

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  • Forty Years from Flashpoint Stonewall
    In her blog Trans Political Vanessa Edwards Foster writes: As the LGBT community been enrapt in Pride celebrations in numerous cities across the globe this month, there’s been plenty of news that’s hit the wires. Most all of it in America has centered around Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (a campaign promise by President Barack Obama …

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  • Cleve Jones Speaking at Utah Pride 2009
    Wow this speech by Cleve Jones is amazing.
  • Video: How I Got To Play John Lennon’s IMAGINE Piano.
    Steve Schalchlin describes “how a simple Internet posting of a friend’s son’s death (Bill Clayton) turned into the opportunity of a lifetime, thanks to pop star George Michael and Kenny Goss, a chance to play the piano upon which John Lennon wrote the song “Imagine.” The interview is by our friend Tracey Thornton.
  • A special production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Olympia
    Alec and I hope to see this show and I wanted to help spread the word. Theater Artists Olympia is pleased to present ‘Romeo and Juliet’ done with a fresh, intriguing perspective: the title roles are played by two young men.The director, Chris Cantrell, has emphasized that this is not a “drag show,” but a …

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  • Howard Zinn: Changing Obama’s Military Mindset
    I love Howard Zinn. He is one of my heroes. In Changing Obama’s Military Mindset he writes: Some people might say, “Well, what do you expect?” And the answer is that we expect a lot. People say, “What, are you a dreamer?” And the answer is, yes, we’re dreamers. We want it all. We want …

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  • Steve Schalchlin: Live Online May 22
    Were you at the Olympia concert and want more?Did you miss the Olympia concert?There is going to be a Steve Schalchlin webcast! Steve Schalchlin: Live Online from Kulak’s Woodshed.May 22 – 8 pm Pacific time. More information: here.
  • Jay Smooth: Asher Roth and the Racial Crossroads
    Jay Smooth of Ill Doctrine wrote: A commentary that was supposed to be about Asher Roth but turned into an extended tangent about race in America. Watch and listen to “Asher Roth and the Racial Crossroads“by Jay Smooth, May 8, 2009 Excellent again Jay. Thank you.
  • Steve Schalchlin: The Big Voice in Olympia
    I just posted this on the PFLAG-Olympia blog but I want to put it here too: Earlier today in his blog – South Sound Arts etc. – PFLAG-Olympia chapter president (and local theater reviewer) Alec Clayton wrote a review of our very special Mothers Day benefit concert:The Big Voice in Olympia Steve Schalchlin posted Alec’s …

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  • The Safe Schools Coalition Blog: Open Letter to Oprah
    Read this great post below by Beth Reis – [retired now] Public Health Educator and Co-Chair of the Safe Schools Coalition on May 11, 2009: The Safe Schools Coalition Blog: Open Letter to Oprah – which is not maintained now.  Thanks, Beth! Monday, May 11, 2009 Open Letter to Oprah Dear Oprah, First, thank you so …

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  • Like to read novels? Good news!
    A message from Alec: My first novel, UNTIL THE DAWN, is now being serialized on the new website The Daily Novel. A chapter a day will be posted on the site, and you don’t have to buy the book to read it. That’s right, it’s free. If you’ve already read it, tell your friends. The …

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  • Schalchlin – back from the brink!
    Its Schalchlin’s fourth time singing in Olympia!Read about it in Alec’s blog…The big voice back from the brink and alive in Olympiaand please get your tickets before they sell out!
  • Pilobolus “Symbiosis” – A performance merging dance and biology
    Get past the very short commercial for TED at the start – the rest of this is amazing! Two Pilobolus dancers perform “Symbiosis.” Does it trace the birth of a relationship? Or the co-evolution of symbiotic species? Music: “God Music,” George Crumb; “Fratres,” Arvo Part; “Morango…Almost a Tango,” Thomas Oboe Lee. — This collaborative dance …

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  • Wow! A Republican Vet Destroys Limbaugh, Hannity, etc. on Torture
    This is amazing. Check out what Steve posted on his blog Living In The Bonus Round:Living In The Bonus Round: Wow! A Republican Vet Destroys Limbaugh, Hannity, etc. on Torture
  • Steve Schalchlin is coming to Olympia in May!
    Steve Schalchlin is coming to Olympia to do a very special Mother’s Day concert for PFLAG-Olympia! WooHoo! Can you tell I’m really happy about this?! In his Friday, April 03, 2009 blogging: Personal Appearances. Steve wrote: This whole new wave of personal appearances, culminating in the creation and design of a new live solo concert, …

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  • A celebrity marriage ‘apology’
    In this article: Portia De Rossi “Apologizes” For Marrying Ellen (VIDEO)Huffington Post | Alex Leo | March 21, 2009 Portia De Rossi appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and talked about being a teenage model and her new show “Better Off Ted.” She also brought with her a new PSA she made about gay …

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  • We need more advertisements like this one!
    This is a bank ad from Banco Provincia in Argentina which I am very glad to share with you. Spot with transgender woman. Thank you to Jackie at THINGS according to me and Joe. My. God for sharing it.
  • Extreme poverty is not beautiful
    Jayne Cravens wrote: I was in a convoy heading to the Pansjir Valley in Afghanistan once upon a time, when a non-Afghan man in the back seat started talking to his non-Afghan colleague about how beautiful and simply the people lived in Afghanistan, how idillic it was, how it was a shame to bring them …

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  • A Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage
    In 1993 Dr. Maria P.P. Root wrote the Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage. Watch this to hear what Dr Root wrote:Mixed Minute: Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage
  • ‘By Omission’ – “losing ground in silence”
    Safe Schools Coalition and our son Bill were mentioned in this report: On Friday, in a hearing before the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee, Senators Nicole LeFavour (D-Boise) and Charles Coiner (R-Twin Falls) introduced legislation prohibiting employment, housing and education discrimination based on an individual’s real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill …

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  • Steve Schalchlin: Gabi’s Song (New Video)
    Steve posted a video of the song beautifully performed by Stephen Camarota of/with The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Thank you to Steve, Stephen and The Chorus!
  • Thanks for “Milk” 2009 Oscars
    Writer Dustin Lance Black‘s Acceptance Speech for Best Screenplay “Milk” Actor Sean Penn‘s Acceptance Speech for Best Actor in “Milk” In Sean Penn wins best-actor Oscar for `Milk’ Christy LeMire wrote: In wrapping up his own speech, Penn mentioned the protesters who lined the streets of Hollywood near the Oscar festivities, holding anti-gay signs: “We’ve …

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  • For those who have nothing in Seattle now and NYC in the 70s
    Tim Harris, founder and executive director of Real Change wrote: The Boston years were about getting my butt kicked and organizing without a roadmap.” By the time Harris left for Seattle in 1994, he understood that homeless people couldn’t win without allies, and that street newspapers could bring people together. and … How does one …

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  • Not Believing in God
    Here are two good recent articles about atheism. 10 myths—and 10 Truths—About Atheism by Sam Harris, The Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2006 and10 Myths and Truths About Atheists – old link, doesn’t work nowby Greta Christina, AlterNet. Posted February 11, 2009.
  • Apesma’s Lament: The Seattle Crime of Standing While Black
    Tim Harris writes in his blog, Apesma’s Lament: Donald is one of those people who, not to put too fine a point on it, was f***ed from birth. Raised Black, male, and poor in the projects of New York, he took his best shot at success by joining the Army just in time for the …

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  • Some Help Needed in Olympia
    Mickey Smith was a DJ on the show “Sister Sound” on KAOS Radio at The Evergreen State College.She wrote: Jeanice and I need some help. I am just about out of savings and my UI runs out in March. I am unemployed and have been for sometime. Please read and help us if you can. …

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  • Living InThe Bonus Round: Singing Gabi’s Song in New World Waking.
    Wow, I want to share this which Steve Schalchlin just posted on his blog this morning:Living InThe Bonus Round: Singing Gabi’s Song in New World Waking. Thank you Steve, Stephen and everyone. Being there for that concert was amazing and such a powerful experience for us.
  • For no particular reason … remembering Bill
    Yesterday Alec and I were talking to a friend about living with children who are at the young toddler age, and we remembered Bill when we were living in the upstairs of the big blue house in Hattiesburg Mississippi. I think Noel was about two and a half or so and Bill was a little …

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  • Am I having flashbacks or what? Adam Smith and ENDA inclusion
    After signing the petition in support of Gender Identity Inclusive ENDA through Equal Rights Washington on January 6th with this message: Representative Adam SmithU.S. House of Representatives2402 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515-0001 Dear Representative Smith, I join with the hundreds of thousands of people who make up the membership of the organizations of United …

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  • “This Land is Your Land” – The Obama Inaugural Celebration Concert
    Listen to an watch this performance of Woody Guthrie’s ” great song, “This Land is Your Land” It is sung by Tao Rodríguez, his grandfather Pete Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen Tim Harris wrote: Watch Pete’s eyes gleam when he does the private property verse. A moment worth watching again and again. Looking at that gorgeous …

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  • The inauguration of Barack Obama
    Hi everyone. I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been really busy and also dealing with some health things. (No seizures thank goodness.) I wanted to post something for this amazing day, and I watched this video and thought Jay Smooth. Here it is – be sure to watch it to the end! Why I’m …

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  • The ‘war’ that was always illegal is now illegal.
    Bruce Ackerman and Oona Hathaway wrote today in The Iraq War Is Now Illegal Ongoing combat in Iraq is illegal under US law. As of January 1, Congress’ authorization of the war expired. As some of the comments to the article point out, this occupation of Iraq war was never legal. I haven’t updated it …

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  • Daniel Cartier “Auld Lang Syne”
    I really enjoyed Daniel Cartier’s version of this old song: Auld Lang Syne Daniel wrote: My fiancé Joe and I filmed this video on Cape Cod. It’s one of my favorite songs of all time; a bittersweet song of hope. May the upcoming New Year be filled with joy and love for everyone.God Bless!Daniel Learn …

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  • Apesma’s Lament: Real Change Rock Rock On
    In his blog “Apesma’s Lament” Tim Harris, one of my favorite Seattle people (not yet met in ‘real time’) wrote: Today, a close friend called to say their family was sending Real Change $1,000. It’s been a tough year for them, but they’re doing it anyway. I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. It’s inspiring. …

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  • Sharing some thoughts on the upcoming inauguration
    I wanted to share this, which was written by Lance Helms who is the Gulf Regional Director for PFLAG: Subject: another view of the Inauguration plans As a native Atlantan, I’m somewhat sorry to see the choice of Rev. Warren overshadow the choice of Rev. Joseph Lowery, who will give the benediction — which is …

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