Jazz's Girl

gaywrites:

Laura Jane Grace, the singer-guitarist from Against Me! who was formerly known as Tom Gabel, made her debut in her first performance since coming out as transgender. 

Grace and the band performed in San Diego and played six new songs, including one titled “Transgender Dysphoria Blues.” She earned wild applause during a particular line of another song that goes, “If I could have chosen / I would have been born a woman.”

Though Grace says she’s open to having a dialogue about her transition with fans, she kept stage banter to a minimum and never brought up her coming out or new name in between songs. Since many of the concertgoers were Cult fans who weren’t familiar with Against Me!, the show wasn’t exactly ideal for a punk-rock heart-to-heart.

For his part, longtime fan Jimmy Gomez, 23, doesn’t think Grace needs to explain anything.

“She did it for herself, not for anybody else. This is about her,” he said. “She’s doing something she really loves now and she’s really happy – that’s really awesome.”

Good for her. It takes some serious strength to get up there and take center stage like that. Call me corny, but she really is a rock star. 

gaywrites:

Legislators in Illinois have rejected a bill that would strengthen anti-bullying measures because, as Sen. Kyle McCarter said, some of the provisions “have an agenda of being pro-homosexual.” 

The bill would have held school administrators more accountable for responding to bullying incidents and taking measures to prevent harassment in schools. It fell one vote short of passing in the Senate yesterday. More details from Advocate.com:

The Illinois Family Institute, working off of complaints by some conservatives that the legislation would be too pro-gay, asked for an “opt-out” provision, which would have allowed teachers or students to skip any bullying lessons that may have infringed upon their religious beliefs.

However Sen. Heather Steans said an opt-out provision would make no sense, and that lessons would not be concentrated on only LGBT students. Steans said she is optimistic that the bill could pass in the future, after 12 senators voted “present,” the same number that voted “no.” 

Wait. I’m sorry. No. You do not deny children the right to safe and accepting schools because you perceive those rights as “pro-homosexual.” Politicians, school administrators and other people who represent us are responsible for being pro-safety and pro-kids. If a bill protects the safety of students who happen to be gay, it is your responsibility to ensure that bill passes. 

This is infuriating. How dare he. How dare they.