It’s exciting to participate in a rally for LGBT equality. There is a sense of solidarity. What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now! The shouting, the cheering, the handmade signs, even jeering at the counter-protesters. It’s a roller coaster of emotion.

It’s exciting to participate in a rally for LGBT equality. There is a sense of solidarity. What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now! The shouting, the cheering, the handmade signs, even jeering at the counter-protesters. It’s a roller coaster of emotion.

I’ve noticed over the past week that the level of hateful, delusional and willful ignorance (what I call “the Crazy”) has taken a sharp uptick. Not only is the news full of politicians and pundits spouting the Crazy (death panels, birth certificates, shouting in Congress during a presidential address), even a few of the people I’ve considered personal friends have become infected with the Crazy. Progressive people. LGBT people. It has me a bit concerned.

One person I know went on a rant about how poor people are dirty, irresponsible criminals (not just some, but “ALL of them”). She put frosting on that cake when she said that homeless people choose to live that way. This was a person that professes a progressive spirituality and teaches yoga. What would Buddha say? Not that!

I’ve noticed over the past week that the level of hateful, delusional and willful ignorance (what I call “the Crazy”) has taken a sharp uptick. Not only is the news full of politicians and pundits spouting the Crazy (death panels, birth certificates, shouting in Congress during a presidential address), even a few of the people I’ve considered personal friends have become infected with the Crazy. Progressive people. LGBT people. It has me a bit concerned.

One person I know went on a rant about how poor people are dirty, irresponsible criminals (not just some, but “ALL of them”). She put frosting on that cake when she said that homeless people choose to live that way. This was a person that professes a progressive spirituality and teaches yoga. What would Buddha say? Not that!

Caster Semenya is an 18-year-old track athlete from South Africa. Recently, she won gold in the 800m event at the World Athletics Championship in Berlin. The problem is her masculine appearance and record-breaking speed has led some to question whether she is “100% female.”

This is not the first time the issue of gender identity has been raised in women’s sports. Renée Richards faced similar scrutiny when she competed in the U.S. Open. So did competitive mountain biker Michelle Dumaresq when she started winning race after race. In the cases of Ms. Richards and Ms. Dumaresq, both were post-transition trans women and were considered female by their respective governing boards for the purposes of competition.

Caster Semenya is an 18-year-old track athlete from South Africa. Recently, she won gold in the 800m event at the World Athletics Championship in Berlin. The problem is her masculine appearance and record-breaking speed has led some to question whether she is “100% female.”

This is not the first time the issue of gender identity has been raised in women’s sports. Renée Richards faced similar scrutiny when she competed in the U.S. Open. So did competitive mountain biker Michelle Dumaresq when she started winning race after race. In the cases of Ms. Richards and Ms. Dumaresq, both were post-transition trans women and were considered female by their respective governing boards for the purposes of competition.

Fiction writers know that villains don’t see themselves as bad. From their point-of-view, villains are the heroes of their own story. Darth Vader was the heroic protector of the Empire. Voldemort was the hero to those who sought a world of strictly pure-blooded wizards. Butch and Sundance were presented as the heroes of their story, although legally they were just a couple of bank robbers.

Reality isn’t much different. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney saw themselves as heroes of national security and American freedom, even if they had to resort to torture, extraordinary rendition, illegal wiretapping and starting a war under false pretenses.

If you’re a sci-fi geek like me, then you’ve probably heard the phrase “The self-destruct sequence has been activated.” It’s been in a few Star Trek shows, a few of the Aliens movies and probably hundreds of other space operas.

Recently, a genderqueer blog that I respect posted a photo that I strongly objected to. It was a photo of a woman dressed up like Tupac Shakur, with her shirt pulled up to reveal a “Thug Life” tattoo on her belly.

I have nothing against Tupac or rap music and certainly not tattoos (considering I have four of my own). What I found strongly objectionable was the tattoo, which in my opinion was promoting the violent thug/gangsta lifestyle, the very lifestyle that cost Tupac his life.