Sunday, March 30, 2025

Trans Day of Visibility Rally

An up and down kind of day--I guess that's the way it is when your opportunities for community and solidarity are hemmed in by the big events and policies beyond your control that makes them necessary.

Off to the Trans Day of Visibility Rally at the Capitol today with L and Nu. There were such great signs at the rally today and people were happy to be photographed with with them when I asked (I'm documenting for L's newsletter). But one parent said that their kid was nervous about being photographed, and while I completely understand, it made me quite sad.

Today's rally was designed to be celebratory and joyful, which is why I invited Nu... but I think it still felt a bit overwhelming and they needed some time over the evening to go off by themselves to decompress. They were telling me later how they had such great hopes for the country in 2020, but feel defeated now. It's a bit depressing outright miserable to hear a 17-year-old think and talk like that. At got there just as we three were leaving the capitol and met up with us later at the house for dinner. 

I'd originally planned to have a great, big gathering at our house, like we used to after the Women's Marches.  But I scaled things back as I didn't know if my scratched eye would be healed (It's 90% healed, BTW!). We ended up with a tableful of guests and just after we said goodbye to the second carful, the emergency sirens began going off for tornadoes+thunderstorms. I went out again to call our guests back to shelter in the basement (as we were about to) but only got taillights. I was glad to get the texts about where people were sheltering a few minutes later. 

Pic: I've never seen "Cistem" before, and I love it. 

18 comments:

Nicole said...

Tornado? Was there a tornado (it's early, I may have missed something)

Gillian said...

Take care.

Life of a Doctor's Wife said...

Oh, it hurts my heart to hear Nu's take. I hope, looking back, the day was overall a positive experience.

Love "cistem."

Nance said...

I was thinking about you when we saw the severe weather forecasts.

Oh, Nu! I'm sorry. But you're not alone.

Jeanie said...

That is sad, having those feelings at this young age. Your impromptu gathering sounds nice. Yes, we were in the basement too. After the Webberville tornado and the one up north, I take those warnings seriously!

StephLove said...

We're doing this today (maybe, there are supposed to be thunderstorms).

Lisa's Yarns said...

It's sad to hear about how Nu is feeling about the state of the world but at the same time, I understand why they feel that way. I feel that way, too. I do have hope that things will change during the midterms but that feels far off and a lot of damage can be done in 2 years...

That Cistem sign is so clever!

While you were having extreme weather, we got snow!!! Paul was excited about it but he was the only excited one in our house.

NGS said...

I've never seen cistem before, either. Hilarious!

I have another friend who was at the same rally talking about the impact that (shakes hands around) this has had on her daughter. I'm glad it was a joyful time and I hope Nu has more joy than defeats in their future.

Bibliomama said...

I like 'cistem' too! How frightening and enraging and sad it must be to have a trans child right now, although thank goodness for the opportunities for community and joy.
You have actual tornado sirens? All we have are stupid phone notifications which we don't even get half the time, which is why we ended up at the bookstore during a tornado warning once.

maya said...

It is early! It came with a bonus thunderstorm!

maya said...

Thank you.

maya said...

It was for me, Suzanne. I think the young ones feel a bit more tender...

maya said...

I will pass this on, Nance--this is so kind of you (as always!!)

maya said...

Jeanie--that Webberville one was a wowza. I still marvel at the destruction on either side of the highway...

maya said...

Loved your photos from today, Steph!

maya said...

I'm excited about Paul's excitement :). Isn't childhood so magic <3

maya said...

I'm so glad other people found it celebratory, Engie! The organizers went to a lot of trouble to not have it be a gloom-and-doom thing.

maya said...

They test the sirens every first Saturday of the month, too... a nice taste of the apocalypse is what I always say :)!

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