New blog up!

Hey everyone! Check out my new Tumblr blog on the transgender experience:

Izzy's Trans Diaries
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/izzystransdiaries

This blog is meant to document my emotional and physical transition while connecting with others like me. Being transgender should never be a source of shame- it's something to celebrate.

-Izzy

Winter Break

In August my Mom crossed the Atlantic to work at U.S. Embassy Amman. After a grueling finals period at Yale my twin and I hopped on a small commuter to plane to JFK and then set foot on a majestic Boeing Dreamliner operated by Royal Jordanian for an 11-hour direct flight to Queen Alia airport in Amman. Royal Jordanian rocks. Although we flew in economy, we couldn't help but admire the oak panel floors of business class and lounge bar. All of the flight attendants calm your nerves and are excessively generous. They also serve quality beer. I'm terrified of airplanes, but that flight was pretty sweet. 

Here, in bullet points, are the highlights of my trip so far. But first I want to say one thing- 90% of Jodanians are really nice. Like really, really nice. On the flight to Amman I sat next to a Jordanian college student from UC San Diego. He noted that Jordanians know the difference between the American government and American people. In other words, they might be opposed to some facets of U.S. foreign policy, but they sure as hell aren't opposed to welcoming Westerners into their country. In fact, a few days ago I met up with the guy from the plane and his brother. They showed us around downtown Amman- we bought this delicious juice made out of Indian figs and ate salted melon seeds. Jordanian hospitality is second to none.

In any event, here are some highlights of our trip so far:

• Mt. Nebo and the Baptismal Site: Mt. Nebo is an elevated ridge in Jordan where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land. It's beautiful. You can spot Israel in the distance and marvel at the rolling hills and peaks dotting the landscape. The Baptismal Site, as the name suggests, is where John baptized Jesus Christ. It's fascinating. We walked down to the Jordanian river- literally toeing the line between Jordan and Israel. About 20 meters away stood Israeli soldiers and an Israeli couple dipping into the river to be sanctified by holy water. 

A view of Mt. Nebo. You can spot Israel and Palestine in the distance.

• Call to Prayer: The various call to prayers have been an unexpected surprise. I totally forgot about how beautiful and distinctly Middle Eastern the call to prayer is. The last time I heard it was in Islamabad about 15 years ago. Since arriving in Jordan, I've set my alarm to 5 am to hear it being played out on a speaker 10 minutes later. I believe there are 6 call to prayers each day and a Muezzin administers it in a certain section of each city. The call to prayer, or Adhan, varies by Muslim sect. In Jerusalem we stayed at the beautiful American Colony Hotel; our room was perched right next to an emerald green minaret. A man and woman would take turns reciting verses of the Quran in song. 

A sign with the six call to prayer times perched on a wall inside the Dome of the Rock. Before entering any mosque women must cover their hair and everyone must take off their shoes. 

• Jerusalem: Jerusalem was all that we expected and more. We spent three days there and dedicated all of our time to touring the Old City, which is made up of four quarters: Armenian, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish. The cobblestone streets, ancient walls, and infinite number of holy sites throw you back to the crusades. My family was fortunate to tour the Dome of the Rock, and even step inside it. We talked to the religious leader of the Muslim quarter and stood right under the spot where the Prophet Muhammed supposedly ascended to heaven. At the end of our 3-day trip, I woke up at 4:00am due to jet lag. Little did I know that David Brooks, my favorite NYTimes columnist, was sitting right next to me in the lobby. A few hours later I managed to grab his autograph! 

Dome of the Rock! The scarf around my neck was used to cover hair inside the mosques we toured.

• Bethlehem (Palestine): On our second day in Jerusalem our driver announced that we'd be driving to Bethlehem to tour two holy sites. I'm ignorant when it comes to religion, but I still could associate this place with a Christmas song and Jesus' birth (correct me if I'm wrong). I thought it'd take a long haul car drive to get there. I found out that Bethlehem was actually 15 minutes away from Jerusalem in a mysterious place called the "PA". Turns out the "PA" is an acronym for the Palestinian Authority. Yes, we entered Palestine. Like, the "Palestine" that is all across the news and is a critical agent in a more peaceful Middle East. Once again, I'm an ignorant American, so when we crossed into the PA a slew of ignorant questions ensued: "Is this dangerous?" "Where's the West Bank?" "The Gaza Strip?" (Don't get me started on the years I spent thinking Syria was a country in North Africa...) In any event, we toured the Church of the Nativity and visited a souvenir shop. Turns out the PA is safer than Jerusalem- according to our drivers, you could leave your car unlocked without consequence over there. I don't have any pictures of Palestine, but it was still amazing and surreal- like Jerusalem, I felt totally immersed in history (both present and past). 

• Hookah/Shisha/Argileh: Whatever you want to call it, "hubbly bubbly" is a staple of Middle Eastern culture. My beginner's Arabic textbook, Alif Baa, even dedicates a whole page to shisha/hookah (it's called "argileh" in Jordan). The first time I smoked it was with my family in Egypt, next to the Sinai peninsula. I think I was 12 at the time...Fast forward to last night, New Year's Eve, when my family (read: my sisters and I) was inhaling hookah again. It's quickly becoming an Amend (sister) tradition. In the Middle East, or Jordan at least, "hubbly bubbly" is relatively cheap- it should cost no more than 5JD for one hour, which is approximately 7USD. Stateside it's around 20 USD. My favorite favorite flavors are mint, lemon, and grape. 

"Hubbly bubbly" on New Year's Eve. The family celebrated at a Bedouin camp in the desert just 20 minutes away from Petra. 

• Middle Eastern Food: Where do I begin...since boarding a Royal Jordanian jet we've had delicious food. Mansaf is Jordanian's national platter- it's made of rice, some kind of meat (usually beef), and dotted with pine nuts. About 50% of our meals have been "mezza", meaning a collection of different platters that the family shares around one table. This style of eating is much more communal (downside: having to share food heightens tensions among siblings). If you come to Jordan, get ready for a lot of dates, eggplants, kabob, and pita/hummus. It's delicious. 

Our first authentic meal in Jordan was in downtown Amman at a restaurant called "Hashem's" that is a favorite among the locals. Above is a typical workman's meal. After being seated we were served falafel, baba ganoush, hummus, pita bread, fries, and assorted vegetables within 5 minutes. And copious amounts of tea, of course. 

• Jerache: Jerache was a surprise. My mom woke me up in the middle of a jet-lag induced nap and forced me into a 45 minute car ride outside of Amman. We arrived to a beautiful countryside landscape with a site full of Roman ruins. I felt like I was back at the Colosseum. Amman has similar Roman ruins (amphiteatre, citadel) but Jerache upstages Amman both in quantity and quality.  

The Roman ruins at Jerache. We saw a bunch of internationals- Japanese, Russians, as well as local families on a weekend excursion. 

• Amman: I would be committing a major offense by omitting Amman from this post. Home to 3 million people, Amman is Jordan's capital and most populated city. It has a booming infrastructure but at some point in its development a bunch of city planners must have underestimated the sheer quantity of humans that would use cars since traffic is a ubiquitous nightmare. Besides that, Amman has a lot to offer. It's built on 7 hilltops which makes for some spectacular views. The embassy is located in Abdoun, which is a wealthy neighborhood home to rich Iraqi immigrants and Westerners. The embassy itself looks like a medium security prison from the outside (and for good reason) but its interior is more aesthetically pleasing. Abdoun is in West Amman- the more wealthy and modernized section of the city. East Amman is the authentic side. It's where you can see real life pass by. I have yet to step into this section of the city but look forward to the day I do. 

The ritziest Starbucks in all of Jordan located in West Amman, just a 2 minute drive from the embassy. Amman is a relatively modern and progressive city with heterogenous population of Christians, Palestinians, expats, and others. 

• Petra/Wadi Rum: Petra is stunning. This was my second time to this Wonder of the World and I loved it just as much as the first time I set foot in the ancient city engraved out of rock. What was great about this trip is that we didn't adhere to a stereotypical touristy route that would take us straight to the famous treasury through a well trodden siq. Instead, we circumvented the most popular visitor's area through a back way that involved walking into thorny bushes and ascending tall rocky cliffs. The most memorable hike of our Petra stay came on the second day, where we hiked for 5 hours to an intricately carved monastery. It still blows my mind how the Nabataeans built such sturdy and beautiful structures in rock. After Petra, we drove about an hour south to Wadi Rum (wadi means "valley" in Arabic), which essentially is a sand desert with ginormous rock formations protruding out of the ground. It's widely acknowledged that Wadi Rum is one of the few places in the world where total silence can still occur. There are not enough plants to stir any sound, no airplanes overhead, no animals, and no people. Spending a night there under the stars wrapped in a sleeping bag is definitely on my bucket list. 

The famous treasury at Petra from a nearby cliff. Hiking a lesser known trail was grueling but definitely worth the sweat! 

Winter Break, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Transphobia

Good morning from Petra and Happy New Year's! I want to write (after taking a super long hiatus) a new post in three somewhat unrelated installments.

The first installment will discuss my recent travels to the Middle East. I'll gush about my winter break in Amman and surrounding places (Jerusalem, Mt. Nebo, etc...). I apologize in advance for perhaps sounding like a serial bragger or spoiled brat. In my defense, I'm fascinated by the MENA region and the Arabic language, which I've started studying at Yale. 

Clouds over the Mediterranean. Helen (my twin) and I took a direct flight from JFK to Queen Alia airport in Amman. We boarded a Boeing Dreamliner (787-800) operated by Royal Jordanian. I'm fascinated by airplanes, so flying in a Dreamliner for the first time was an amazing experience- it can seat up to 335 passengers and reduces emissions by 20% because it's significantly lighter, which makes take off relatively peaceful experience. 

Second, I'll talk about Jordan from a more intellectual standpoint. I've spent the better half of two weeks roaming around and trailing behind my Mom who works at the U.S. Embassy here. The country is an exciting place, to say the least. I'll write about its politics, economy, social environment, and entrepreneurial ecosystem from information gathered on the web and from Jordanian professionals I've met around town (diplomats, academics, businessmen...).

King Abdullah II is the current ruler of Jordan. He spent his high school years at Deerfield in the US and then went to military school in England. Abdullah is by and large a modern monarch. He's married to Queen Rania, who is really beautiful and smart. It's hard not to like this royal couple. 

Third, I want to talk about a more serious issue, which is the recent suicide of a transgender (MTF) teenager in Ohio. In previous posts I've written about transgender rights, which I believe are a hallmark of 21st century social change. No one should ever feel inferior and unworthy of love because they don't subscribe to a gender binary or norm. Battling transphobia requires a lot of effort on behalf of LGBTQ activists- an effort that is arguably being wasted by focusing on the more trivial issue of marriage equality. 

Leelah committed suicide after her parents put her in a state of miserable isolation for months on end. Her parents were homophobes and propagated transphobic messages within their household. They tried changing Leelah through conversion therapy. When she took her life, they told friends that their sweet "son" had died in a car accident. 

Vote for Hope!

It's been a while since I last wrote about Patrick Hope's run for congress. My first blog post detailed my transition to his campaign and reasons for choosing him as the 8th district's next congressman. Now, after several weeks of campaigning, I can offer you a more comprehensive argument as to why you should vote for Patrick. Allow me to break my argument down into four parts: experience, personality, audacity, and organization. The latter two were not mentioned in my first post about Patrick. Here we go:

1. Experience- 

(a) Patrick has been a health care attorney for over a decade, which means that he has extensive work under his belt advocating for Medicaid and other important health programs. In fact, legislators down in Richmond regard Patrick as the "expert on Obamacare".

(b) (quoting from hopeforcongress.com) Before being elected to the House of Delegates, Patrick served as chair of the Arlington Community Service Board, which serves those in our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those in need of mental health services.

(c) Patrick also founded the reorganized Buckingham Community Civic Association, co-chaired the Arlington Implementation Task Force to End Homelessness, and served on the Arlington County Commission on Aging. 

(d) Patrick has sponsored 31 bills in the House of Delegates. Let me provide you with some more specifics-  Firstly, he fought hard to end the practice of shackling pregnant women when in labor and worked to lower the number of inmates in solitary confinement in Virginia prisons, reducing it by more than 70%. Secondly, Patrick has introduced a bill to ban gay "conversion therapy" for minors in Virginia. Thirdly, Patrick passed a bill that enhances mental health resources across Virginia state universities. These are just three examples of his legislative capacity in Richmond.

2. Personality- 

I talked a lot about Patrick's personality in my previous blog post. In short, Patrick is very attentive and treats you like an equal. He's always open to listening and does not advocate his stance in an overly aggressive manner. Please read my previous blog post on why Patrick's personality trumps the often disingenuous nature of politicians!

3. Audacity-

I personally think that Patrick's audacity towards political issues is what makes him stand out among all of the 8th district's candidates. At first glance you'd think that a radio personality like Mark Levine who calls himself the "aggressive progressive" would be the most audacious. Levine has certainly proved that he has a loud voice and a strong will to bring about change. But what have Levine and other candidates done to stand up for values they believe in, even when it means going against a conventional Democratic narrative? Patrick is the only candidate who has publicly denounced policies even if it meant going against traditional Democratic thought. For example, Patrick denounced Governor Terry McAuliffe's support for a Richmond Democratic Committee president-elect. The candidate opposes same-sex marriage. Patrick was the first contestant in the 8th congressional district race to voice his concerns over this issue.

(Side note- I have nothing against Mark Levine, I met him today and he seems like a great person.)

4. Organization- 

Patrick's team is phonebanking 4 days a week, canvassing on weekends and weeknights, and sporting bright yellow teeshirts to campaign meetings and events. I don't see any other campaign matching our apparatus. Granted, substance trumps style, but I can't help but notice how our yellow and blue colors are taking over the 8th district.

Conclusion: Patrick's campaign efforts and legislative capability have resulted in his team winning 6 out of 7 straw polls (correct me if I'm wrong- I'm going off of memory here) and receiving endorsements from nationwide political organizations such as Blue America. So please, vote for Hope! 

An Atrocity in Uganda

Two hours ago, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill that criminalizes homosexuality. The new piece of legislation takes draconian measures to discriminate against LGBT citizens. Below I'll simplify the news through elaborating on a brief overview of the bill, international aid to Uganda, homosexuality in Africa, and international backlash. My explanations are long so if you want some more subjective writing you can skip to my opinion down below.

President Yoweri Museveni

Brief overview of the bill:

• A Ugandan lawmaker first introduced the bill in 2009 with a death penalty clause for some homosexual acts. It was briefly shelved when Britain and other European nations threatened to withdraw aid to Uganda, which relies on millions of dollars from the international community. 
• The nation's parliament passed the bill in December, replacing the death penalty provision.
• The bill that passed divides homosexual behavior into two categories
• The first is called "aggravated homosexuality" in which an offender would receive life in prison. "Aggravated homosexuality" includes homosexual acts committed by a person who is HIV-positive, is a parent or authority figure, or who administers intoxicating substances, homosexual acts committed on minors or people with disabilities, and repeat offenders
• The second category is called "the offense of homosexuality" and includes same-sex sexual acts, involvement in a same-sex marriage, or an attempt to commit aggravated homosexuality. First time offenders in this category would automatically receive 14 years in prison. second time offenders would face more time. 
• Moreover, the bill requires anyone who is aware of an offense or an offender, including companies, media organizations, or NGOS who support LGBT rights, to report the offender within 24 hours. If an individual does not do so they are also considered an offender and face 250 "currency points" or imprisonment for up to three years. 
• President Museveni fluctuated between retracting the bill and signing it. He indicated he needed to know "whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual", in which case it would be wrong to punish them; he would not sign the bill until that matter had been clarified. Museveni rapidly retracted that statement and publicly signed it into law on February 24. Museveni's decision was purportedly based on a report by "medical experts" who say "homosexuality is not genetic but a social behavior." 

International aid to Uganda (courtesy of Global Humanitarian Assistance, 2011):

• Total assistance= US $1.6 billion
• Humanitarian assistance = US $56 million
• Cost of multilateral peacekeeping operations= US $7 million
• Government revenues= US $3.9 billion
• Uganda received the equivalent of 9.9% of its gross national income as aid in 2011
• Uganda has experienced active conflict in each of the ten years between 2002 and 2011
• Classified as a fragile state, 2012
• Vulnerability index score, 2012-2013: High

Homosexuality in Africa:

• Homosexuality is illegal in 38 African countries where most sodomy laws were introduced during colonialism
• In Uganda homosexual acts were punishable by 14 years to life in prison even before the controversial bill was signed into law
• Since 2011 some first world countries have been considering or implementing laws that limit or prohibit general budget support to countries that restrict the rights of homosexuals
• In spite of this many African countries are continuing to breach international human rights laws
• Many African leaders feel that gay rights are against their cultural and religious value systems and believe they have a sovereign right to reject what they see as an imposition by mainly Western nations, which attempts to affect national sentiment via aid
• Gay and lesbian organizations in Africa fear the ripple effect from the anti-gay bill could spread beyond Uganda to other parts of a continent where conservative societies tend to view homosexuality as unnatural 

International backlash:

• "It's a gloomy day not just for the gay community in Uganda but for all Ugandans who care about human rights because this law will affect everybody," said Julian Peppe Onziema, a gay rights campaigner in Uganda
• Amnesty International said the law was "wildly discriminatory" and amounted to a grave assault on human rights
• The law comes a week after U.S. President Barack Obama said the legislation would be "a step backward for all Ugandans" and warned it would complicate relations
• A senior Obama administration official had said the U.S. would review relations with Uganda if the law was enacted. Washington is one of Uganda's largest donors, sending more than $400 million a year
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu has condemned the law, saying there is no scientific or moral basis ever for prejudice and discrimination- and accusing the Ugandan president of breaking a promise not to enact the law. 

After stating all of these relevant facts, I hope that anyone who reads this post agrees that this anti-gay bill is simply disgusting and atrocious. President Museveni is clearly standing on the wrong side of history. But condemning the piece of legislation is only the first step in a long process to try to overcome and fight LGBT discrimination in Uganda and Africa. The next step is to figure out why President Museveni enacted the legislation. Then, collective action must be taken immediately to counter these draconian measures. The more countries collaborate together, the better. 

So, first and foremost, it is highly likely that President Museveni passed this anti-gay bill due to Ugandan presidential elections in 2016. The veteran leader's signature will please many voters opposed to homosexuality in the staunchly conservative east African country. Museveni, however, risks alienating Western aid donors, which is a perfect segway into my next point. 

Collective action must be taken immediately to punish the Ugandan government for passing the bill. In 2011 a host of Western nations demonstrated their desire to withdraw aid to Uganda in response to anti-gay legislation introduced in the Ugandan parliament. This can happen again. The U.S. currently gives $400 million on an annual basis in foreign aid to Uganda. There's only one caveat: Uganda is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic extremism in Somalia. Ugandan troops have formed the backbone of the African Union peacekeeping force battling al Qaeda-aligned militants. Still, the U.S. can appropriate the necessary money for Ugandan peacekeeping while withdrawing money in other sectors of life. Furthermore, other European countries can cut down their foreign aid to Uganda. The U.S. does not have to drastically lower our aid, rather, collectively each country can skim from their money pools to produce an effective counterattack to the anti-gay legislation. 

I hope that this post has adequately covered this horrible event. We must evaluate how frequently the law will be carried out and counter its execution with sanctions of our own. 

Patrick Hope for Congress

A few weeks ago I joined Delegate Patrick Hope's campaign for Congress. He is seeking to win the seat that Representative Jim Moran, of the 8th district, is retiring from.

In all honesty I first volunteered for his campaign out of pure boredom. I had this 4 hour time chunk in the middle of my day that needed to be filled. Plus, someone I know from high school is working as his political director, so connecting to his campaign was a piece of cake. I didn't do it out of a love for Patrick, I just did it to fill time.

So for the past few weeks I've been updating data bases, meeting with campaign staff, and helping at events. It's been a mix of some mundane tasks (read: data bases) along with more exciting stuff (meeting Patrick and caucusing). About two weeks ago I helped Patrick caucus at a nearby middle school; campaign staff spent all day (from 11am to 7pm) getting people to sign an election ballot petition and spreading the word about his credentials. I also got the chance to meet Patrick for the first time- he's a soft spoken, mild mannered, intelligent guy. He does not have a flaring hot temper; he has a gentle and kind nature. This was my first impression of Patrick and it hasn't changed.

In order to caucus for a candidate you need to know something about him. I learned that Patrick is a health care attorney, leader of the Progressive Caucus in Richmond, and a legislator that has put many important bills to vote. He deals with housing, disabilities, health care reform, and mental health. The latter issue speaks to my heart; I fervently believe that federal and state governments need a paradigm shift in the way they approach mental illnesses.

Yesterday I was at the Arlington Commissioner of Revenue's house to prepare for Patrick's campaign kickoff today. We spoke about what makes politicians electable- especially at the state and local level. She emphasized personality attributes- in other words, how you treat people and talk to them stands out above all other components of your campaign. I couldn't help but look back on Patrick's demeanor at the Arlington County caucus. I can't imagine Patrick yelling at anyone or developing a temper over trivial things. I think this personality attribute would stand out on Capitol Hill, where legislators across the aisle fight incessantly over petty issues instead of calmly reaching agreement on necessary political measures. This does not mean that Patrick lacks passion, rather, he seemed fired up about hot issues at the campaign kickoff.

That's my personal take on Patrick's campaign. I started working for him out of boredom; now I'm becoming more passionate about electing him by the day. Other people have different views, but here's what I think differentiates Patrick from others in his field. In other words, this is why I think you should elect Patrick Hope to office:

1. Personality: as I said before, Patrick has a gentle approach to dealing with people. He engages you in conversation and seems to care about what you say. He seems like a compromiser; this will play out on Capitol Hill. He won't get into heated battles over small things. He won't approach issues angrily. He'll approach them with integrity. 
2. Legislative Experience: some candidates run on a few legislative wins. Patrick runs on many victories- even right now, he's successfully winning over a mental health bill that will require colleges to emphasize mental health resources and provide guidance on how to spot signs of depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior 
3. Youth: Patrick's political director emphasize this point with me. Basically, Patrick is a young politician, so if he enters office as a congressman he'll have plenty of time to develop seniority, which is important considering committee assignments. Other candidates such as Don Beyer are much older; they won't be able to reach Patrick's potential seniority status. 

If you want to volunteer for Patrick, or help out in any other way (financial contributions, etc..), you can send an email to info@hopeforcongress.com, or visit his webpage at hopeforcongress.com. I highly recommend helping this talented politician win the 8th district. It's well worth your time and effort. Go Patrick! 

Virginia is (for all) Lovers

Finally! Virginia's ridiculous constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage was declared void by a federal judge on the eve of Valentine's Day. Virginia is the first southern state to take this step towards legalization of same sex marriage. Here's a brief overview of the history of LGBT rights in my home state:

• in 2006 the Virginia General Assembly ratified a constitutional amendment that banned same sex marriage
• in mid-2013 two lawsuits were filed in federal court challenging Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage
• in January 2014 newly elected Attorney General Mark Herring filed a brief stating the state's reversal in the lawsuit in Norfolk: "The Attorney General has concluded that Virginia's laws denying the right to marry to same-sex couples violate the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution." 
• Governor Terry McAuliffe, also a recently elected Democrat, backed Herring's refusal to defend the ban
• a federal court decision in Bostic v. Rainey on February 13, 2014, found Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, but stayed enforcement of that decision pending appeal

And here's some more info on Bostic v. Rainey:

• The plaintiffs in the case are Tim Bostic and Tony London who live in Norfolk and have been together for 24 years
• They are joined by Carol Schall and Mary Townley from Richmond. The two women have been together for 28 years and have a 16-year old daughter. They married legally in California in 2008, but Virginia refused to recognize that status. 
• Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen presided over the case 

I think there's no need for me to reiterate my opinion on same-sex marriage. I'm a firm supporter of LGBT rights worldwide, and I'm proud of Virginia for taking this big step towards marriage equality. Combined with (US Attorney General) Eric Holder's recent decision to expand legal benefits to gay couples nationwide, this court case is revolutionizing our country's definition of freedom. 

So many talented and inspiring individuals have come out of the closet recently. Michael Sam, a defensive end for Missouri State, will likely play in the NFL and pave the way for more players to be open about their sexuality. Furthermore, Ellen Page bravely announced that she is gay at an HRC event this morning. Here's her speech:

That's about all I have to say. Here are some pictures to pay tribute to some of the amazing individuals I talked about above:

Terry McAuliffe

Michael Sam

Eric Holder

Mark Herring

Mental Health

The issue of mental health has appeared in many unexpected aspects of life recently. Let me give you an example from last week. On Thursday morning, I attended my Intro to State and Local Politics class. We talked about how Creigh Deeds' son took his life and how the state managed mental health resources. Then, on Friday, I was at a story meeting for the newspaper that I work at (the Connection) and we talked about articles that had to do with mental health. On Saturday I caucused for delegate Patrick Hope's congressional campaign. Patrick counts mental health, along with disabilities and housing, as one of his top legislative priorities.

In fact, a friend of mine at UVA is part of a group called Legislators of Tomorrow that brings together college-aged Republicans and Democrats to craft bipartisan legislation. The piece of legislation that they crafted requires state institutions of higher education to dedicate one webpage on their website to mental health resources that the school provides. Furthermore, the bill requires the governing board of each school to educate its faculty and students on how to spot signs of depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior. I wrote an article about it in the Arlington Connection that you can find right here.

A grassroots movement to educate citizens on the importance of mental health started when Kevin Breel gave an amazing TedTalk on his battle with depression. Since then he has spoken at numerous schools across the country and partnered with organizations such as To Write Love on Her Arms. In my opinion, every high school and private college as well should dedicate time and resources to educating its students on the importance of mental health. Breel wisely pointed out that we openly treat and express remorse for people with physical impairments, such as a broken arm, while we stigmatize and keep silent mental impairments, such as an anxiety disorder. Perhaps putting the issue of mental health in the classroom will help reduce this stigma.

When we discussed the political component of mental health in my State and Local Politics class I only heard positive feedback. People criticized how Virginia is doing a poor job of advancing this cause. For example, the Virginia mental health apparatus could not find an available bed for Creigh Deed's son. This led to his tragic and violent outbreak. How can the government improve their performance and execution on this issue? Is it better to leave the issue of mental health to the private sector and NGOs? Can private universities adopt the same policies that Legislators of Tomorrow proposed? How do other countries deal with this issue? These are all questions that need to be asked.

In the meantime I'll keep trying to find article ideas for mental health, discuss it in the classroom, and work for Patrick's campaign. I hope that everyone can find an outlet to promote this important issue.

Iran's Surprising Stance on Transsexualism

I came to my college campus a bit early so I explored its library and picked up a book titled "Please Select Your Gender" by Patricia Gherovici. Then I flipped to a random page and was mind blown by a passage that described Ayatollah Khomeini's (Iran's supreme leader's) stance on transsexualism. Here it is:

"Is the current conspicuousness of gender modification a sign of freedom in a robust democracy, or is the trivialization of sex change a way to push it as a normalizing and prophylactic cure for gender deviance? A very puzzling situation is presented by Iran, a country in which homosexuality carries the death penalty and where women have very limited rights, but in which the government fully supports sex change operations. In a progressive move more than 40 years ago,  the Ayatollah Khomenei wrote in support of transsexuality and ruled that sex change operations were allowed, a position that has been reconfirmed by Iran's current spiritual leader. Khomenei argued that 'if somebody wants to undergo a sex change because he feels trapped in the wrong body, he has the right to get rid of his body and transform into the other sex, and he is also entitled to new identification documents, in order to put an end to his plight.' Since the 1990s, the number of sex change surgeries performed in Iran has surpassed the number performed in Europe (the estimation is that the number of transgender operations performed in Iran is over seven times the number of such operations in Europe.) According to Dr. Mirjalali, Iran's leading sex change surgeon , a European surgeon performs an average of 40 sex reassignment surgeries in a decade; he performed over 300 between 1993 and 2005." 

So what explains this awesome phenomenon? Did the Ayatollah have personal ties with a transgender person? Does Iranian history support gender variance but not sexual variance? Who knows. I am mind blown.

Gender Dysphoria

I want to take some time to step back from politics and go off on a tangent. I've written a few recent posts on transgender issues and think they're really important. I'm also really interested in mental health issues surrounding transsexualism. So, I'm gonna halt my political rhetoric and take some time to talk about gender identity disorder (GID) and gender dysphoria. GID and gender dysphoria are practically the same thing: GID is a conflict between a person's physical gender and the gender he or she identifies as; gender dysphoria is the term used to describe that specific conflict.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition), also known as the DSM-5, serves as a universal authority for psychiatric diagnosis. It controversially classifies GID/gender dysphoria as a mental disorder. It specifically notes that the GID must continue for at least six months in a patient. It lists various direct characteristics of GID: cross dressing, playing with toys traditionally used by the other sex, etc. However, it fails to list indirect characteristics of GID. I found a really cool blog post that complements the DSM-5's controversial classification very well. I highly recommend reading it.

Anyways, that's all for today. Just wanted to make some personal commentary on transgender issues and direct you to a great article. Until next time!

Hillary Swank plays a female-to-male transgender in a 90's production called "Boys Don't Cry".

Peruvian Politics: Homosexuality

On New Year's Eve I was talking to a good friend of mine about his travels abroad in Uganda, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Soon, he'll be living in Buenos Aires and come late July he'll fly to Lima, Peru to hike the Inca Trail. That's when we decided that it'd be an awesome idea if I came along. Now I'm finding myself scratching together a diverse itinerary that includes Incan ruins, the famed trek to Machu Picchu, a beautiful monastery, the celebrated Andean Explorer train ride, and Lake Titicaca. Should be good. But after piecing together plane rides and hostel prices in a haze of ecstasy I experienced a mini heart attack over the state of LGBT politics in Peru. A few months ago I planned on going to Jamaica to coach track and field for a few weeks, but the country turns out to be a cauldron of LGBT hatred. So I quickly Wikipediaed Peruvian politics and was satisfied with what I found. Peru is relatiely progressive when it comes to LGBT rights in Latin America. The key word is relatively. Here are some bullet points that summarize my findings:

• same-sex sexual activity among adults is legal
• in 2009 the Supreme Court of Peru ruled that homosexuality was no impediment to joining the armed forces (way ahead of America) 
• homosexuality can be used as grounds for separation or divorce
• however, society's attitudes towards homosexuals are generally hostile and influenced by the Catholic Church (our current Pope is more progressive though.. should be interesting) 
• in 2010 a bill was introduced to the Peruvian parliament that would recognize same-sex unions
• in 2011 the bill died in Judiciary Committee because some members believed it would have to change the Constitution in order to be law
• the winner of the 2011 general election says he opposes same-sex unions
• in August 2010 a poll showed that 23.1% of Peruvians approve of same-sex unions, with a majority coming from Lima, the capital, or from the youth population
• little to almost no research has been done with the state of transgender politics in Peru

Overall, the findings produce a mixed bag of thoughts. On the one hand, same sex activity is legal, but on the other, gays still face many impediments that non-gays do not. The 2002 Pride Parade in Lima resulted in demonstrators being taunted and attacked and I think it'll still be a while before the government legally recognizes homosexuality. However, it's promising to know that 23% of the population approves of homosexuality. It seems like a small number but the fact that a majority of that 23% comes from a big urban area means that education probably has a lot to do with Peru's stance on LGBT rights. People in Lima are more educated than those in rural populations. It's time to start spreading the word to countryfolk. 

Legalize Transgender Part 2

I was so taken aback by the reception on my previous post that I thought it'd be a good idea to do another follow up post. One major component of transgender politics that I missed was the Employment Non Descrimination Act (ENDA). Basically, the act prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual or gender identity with businesses larger than 15 people. The Senate passed ENDA on November 17, 2013, which is a pretty big deal considering the fact that ENDA has been on the legislative table since the Stonewall Riots in 1974. It was also a pretty big deal since it received significant bipartisan support with a whopping 10 Republican Senators voting in jts favor. This historic act will be consummated with majority approval in the House of Representatives. Hopefully we won't see any right wing morons find a way to block its passage. This probably won't happen considering the direction that our country is going with LGBT politics- after all, the Supreme Court and state legislatures are standing on the right side of history.

I also forgot to reiterate my opinion in my last post and put some perspective on why I wrote it. Obviously, it should be clear based on the title "Legalize Transgender" that I fully support equal rights for transgender citizens. I firmly believe that no one should be discriminated against on grounds of race, age, gender, or sexual orientation- you name it. During my gap year I've immersed myself in the LGBT community and have realized that transgenderism is akin to the big elephant in the room- most LGBT groups deal with sexual orientation, not gender orientation. Surprisingly, some LGBT groups/areas even discriminate against or treat transgenderism differently. For example, the lesbian bar Phase One in Washington D.C. welcomes gay women but subtly looks down on transgenders. Moreover, the Human Rights Campaign barely fights for the transgender community, and when it does, it's at a glacial pace. Some anecdotal evidence shockingly demonstrates the HRC's unwillingness to embrace transgender rights at marriage equality rallies. As a result, the transgender community has had to consolidate its forces in independent groups such as the National Center for Transgender Equality. I visited their headquarters in Northwest DC and was surprised at how sparse and tiny their space was. Just a few blocks away, HRC headquarters was undergoing a glamorous renovation that will turn their office building into a post modern glorification of gay rights.

On the other hand, I don't want to sound too pessimistic. Many safe spaces exist in DC for the trans community. The DC LGBT Center hosts weekly trans discussion groups. Town Danceboutique is full of female to males and male to females. Being transgender at this awesome night club feels like a mainstream identity. The DC trans masculine group has game nights and monthly coffee/happy hour meet ups. Progress is being made.

I think the 21st century holds great promise for American minority groups facing inhumane and simply disgusting forms of discrimination. I think that American society is embracing homosexuality like never before, and I think in 20 years coming out of the closet won't even exist. However, coming out of the closet as a transgender will certainly be a thing. The fight to accept transgenderism will be the hallmark social revolution from 2020 onwards. And, like most social revolutions, the fight will ultimately witness tremendous success.

Legalize Transgender

Over the past few decades gay populations worldwide have witnessed increased support and civil protections. For example, just this past year, the Supreme Court Struck down DOMA and Californians overturned Proposition 8. This trend will most likely continue as more and more U.S. states legalize same sex marriage. Some countries, such as Russia and Nigeria, are standing on the wrong side of history via bans on gay propaganda and the criminalization of homosexual activity, but they are definitely the exception to the rule.

I only mention "gay populations" because another fight is taking place that isn't garnering as much attention. This kind of fight differs from sexual liberation, rather, it deals with liberation along a gender spectrum. LGBTQ stands for "Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer". Many argue that the "T" should be separated due to the fact that it has nothing to do with sexuality. The specific definition of transgender is "denoting or relating to a person whose self identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender." Transgenders face a constant uphill battle to be accepted by society and accepted in the workplace. Studies have shown that transgender people face disproportionate amounts of discrimination in all areas of life, especially in employment and healthcare. The economic well being of transgender people is being challenged today like never before.

Moreover, current federal government policies hinder transgender people from pursuing federal government jobs. A transgender person can be passed over for hire or can be fired solely based on the fact that he or she is transgender. It is also tremendously difficult for transgenders to update their employment records, identification badges, or get coverage for medically necessary health care. On other fronts, the number one medial issue facing transgenders is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Transgender youth are disproportionately bullied and consequently have high rates of suicide. Young,  low-income transgender women of color are confronted with the highest levels of unconscionable hate crime.

So what can be done to fix this epidemic of hate? Government policies aren't a quick fix to societal discrimination, but they surely give the transgender population more opportunities to live healthier an d easier lives. Here are some bullet points I put together (courtesy of the National Center for Transgender Equality):

• Comprehensive Civil Rights.  Congress should pass a comprehensive civil rights bill that protects people from discrimination based on gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation in regards to public accommodations, housing, credit, education, and federally-funded programs.
• Government-wide Job Protection. The President should issue an Executive Order to clarify that discrimination against federal civilian employees on the basis of gender identity or expression is prohibited, similar to Executive Order 11478, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• Need for Census Data. The U.S Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census should include in its data collection standards information counting and including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The Bureau should investigate how to study transgender people in various government surveys, including the 2020 decennial census.
• National AIDS Strategy.  The federal government should create and implement a comprehensive and coordinated national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes provisions that address the impact of HIV/AIDS on transgender populations.
• Aid for Homeless Youth. The Department of Housing and Urban Development should recognize unaccompanied homeless youth as a distinct special needs population, including LGBT homeless youth, and should create a long-term Youth Housing Strategy that is inclusive of the distinct circumstances of LGBT homeless youth.
• Safe Schools Improvement Act. Congress should pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act to include bullying and harassment prevention programs. These programs should include specific information about bullying and harassment that targets students because of their gender identity or expression.
• Federal Hate Crimes Prevention. Congress should pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA).

Best Political Moments of 2013

As a political wonk I love dissecting issues such as Snowden's NSA fiasco or Ryan's budget plan, but  I rarely have time to step back and evaluate the big picture, unless I'm lauding the many achievements that female politicians have made in the past few months. This blog is dedicated to a macroscopic outlook on American politics in 2013. I've pulled information from a few blogs that evaluate 2013 politics in different ways: what's whacky, what went right for women, etc. So here you go:

10 of the Best Political Moments for Women in 2013 (paraphrased, courtesy of Lane Florsheim):

1. Hillary Clinton endorsed marriage equality, got a twitter account, and announced that she'll declare her presidential decision sometitme in 2014.

2. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) became the first openly LGBT person to take office in the US Senate

3. Rep. Krysten Sine,a (D-AR) took office as an openly bisexual congressperson 

4. New Hampshire elected a female governor- Maggie Hassan

5. The Supreme Court struck down DOMA and Prop 8 was rejected

6. Texas state Senator Wendy Davis (D) succeeded in epically filibustering an anti-abortion law. Athough her efforts were ultimately struck down by Governor Rick Perry, the event garnered national news coverage and plenty of attention nationwide.

7. The long standing ban on women in combat was lifted in January. #FemaleNavySeals2016

8. The Violence Against Women Act passed Congress.

9 President Obama appointed Susan Rice to be National Security Adviser and had Samantha Power (literal girl power....and Yale alumn!) replace Rie.

10. It refrained from paraphrasing this one: And, obviously, who could forget the awesome Golden Globes moment when Amy Poehler got onstage after Bill Clinton introducedLincoln and said, in complete awe, “Wow, what an exciting special guest. That was Hillary Clinton’s husband!”? 

NBC's 10 Oddest Political Momenys of 2013 (summed up in quotes):

1. ‘I knew that by putting something out as a tweet that I deleted that the press would see it, and if they could read something into what was an innocent tweet about how hot Cyndi Lauper was as a performer, that it would get the press’s attention, and it did in a monster way.’ – Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., April 12.

2. ‘I will eat them anywhere. I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam I Am!’  - Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Sept. 24. (During a filibuster)

3. ‘Spread your legs — you're gonna be frisked!’ Vice President Joe Biden, Jan. 3.
(During a senatorial ceremony) 

4. ‘The president did not communicate with Jay-Z over this trip’ – White House press secretary Jay Carney, April 11. (After Jay-Z boasted "White House clearance to Cuba in one of his songs) 

5. The most shocking part of the story was learning that there is a vegan strip club in Portland.’ – Cory Booker spokesman Kevin Griffis, Sept. 25. (After Booker initiated Grated contact with a stripper in Portland) 

6. We started arguing about who won the Cold War, etc. And so we decided to settle it like men do when they’ve had too much to drink in the pub. And so we got down to these arm wrestling matches. And I ended up being paired up off with Putin.’ – Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.,  Sept. 12 ( this quote speaks for itself)

7. We’re glad Poland Spring was close at hand for Sen. Rubio last night at his moment of need for refreshment.’– Poland Spring statement, Feb. 13. (Rubio had a poorly timed lunge for bottles water during his State of the Union response) 

8. I know that this has been some of the conventional wisdom that’s been floating around Washington that somehow, even though most people agree that I’m being reasonable, that most people agree I’m presenting a fair deal, the fact that they don’t take it means that I should somehow, you know, do a Jedi mind meld with these folks and convince them to do what’s right.’ – President Barack Obama, March 1. (Obama got his sci fi facts wrong) 

9. ‘It's hard to take you seriously’ – NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, to a British reporter, Aug. 8. (Back at you, Wiener)

10. For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds — and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.” Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, July 18. (Bizarre to say the least)

11. There could be Kool-Aid in the red cups, but there’s probably beer in the red cups.”  Maryland Democratic Attorney General Doug Gansler, Oct. 24. (After being photographed at a high school legged with his son) 

ABC's Political Highs and Lows in Social Media:

1. Hillary Clinton's twitter biography

2. George W Bush's new Instagram

3. The White House tries to make fetch happen

4. Senator Cory Booker tweeting about Beyonce 

5. Colbert convinced Bill Clinton to hop on the Twitter bandwagon

6. Selfless across the board: Hillary and Chelsea, Michelle and Barrack, John McCain and daughter

7. A White House National Security official was fired for creating an anonymous twitter account that took jabs at politicians

8. The RNC created the hash tag #RacismEndedWhen

Hillary Mania

In a recent interview with Barbara Walters, Hillary Clinton declared that she'll publicly announce her run for President or lack thereof in 2014 (she was also named Walters' most fascinating person of the year). Exciting news for Hillary fanatics like myself. So when will she specifically announce her decision in 2014? Where will she announce it? Who will be her campaign manager? What will her slogan be? Which states will she attack? Who else will compete? These are all questions that beg attention (notice how I'm already assuming she'll say yes).

Looking back on 2008, it becomes clear that many mistakes were made that significantly shifted her chances of making it into the Oval Office. So how can she make a better run for it this time? Here are some ideas (follow up explanations to come):

1. Pick the right team.

2. Don't be too confident. 

3. Make Iowa your best friend. 

4. Technology, technology, technology.

5. Don't underestimate the caucus states.

Putin has a Heart?

According to recent developments (shoutout to journalist Steven Lee Myers in the linked NYTimes article) that surfaced today, Vladimir Putin may have a heart. The 61-year old Russian President issued a decree Friday morning that pardoned Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former chief executive of Yukos Oil who has been imprisoned for a total of 10 years. The antagonistic relationship between Putin and Khodorkovsky may be the most infamous story in Russia's recent history. Here are some facts:

• Khodorkovsky is a notable Russian businessman and philanthropist who secured a net worth of 15 billion dollars in dubious ways (he was once Russia's richest man). 
• Khodorvkosky was known as an "oligarch"- a term applied to men who seized unrivaled amounts of money and power after the fall of the communist regime
• Khodorkovsky opened up a cafe during Gorbachev's rule, which soon turned into a trading company and then a bank
• In 1995 Khodorkovsky acquired the oil company Yukos, and expanded the company to unimaginable heights using some transactions that were widely seen as corrupt
• Khodorkovsky's political ambitions soon clashed with Putin's. Yukos sponsored youth programs that advocated student government and quasi-democratic ideals. Khodorkovsky was always critical of Putin's "managed democracy", in which authoritarian power checked individual liberties and an open, transparent political process
• In 2003 Khodorkovsky was arrested on dubious charges of fraud and tax evasion. 
• In 2005 he was sentenced to a medium security prison for 9 years. As Khodorkovsky made his transition to imprisonment several third/independent parties as well as Western governments showed support for the former oligarch. 
• As his second trial closed in 2010, Khodorkovsky famously declared his final words:

I am ashamed for my country.

Your honour, I think we all perfectly understand the significance of our trial extends far beyond the fates of Platon [Lebedev] and myself. And even beyond the fates of all those who have innocently suffered in the course of the reprisals against YUKOS that have taken place on such a huge scale, those I found myself unable to protect, but about whom I have not forgotten. I remember every day.

Let's ask ourselves, what does the entrepreneur, the top class organizer of production, or simply an educated, creative individual, think today looking at our trial and knowing that the result is absolutely predictable?

The obvious conclusion a thinking person would come to is chilling in its simplicity: the bureaucratic and law enforcement machine can do whatever it wants. There is no right of private property. No person who conflicts with the "system" has any rights whatsoever.

Even when enshrined in law, rights are not protected by the courts. Because the courts are either also afraid, or are part of the "system". Does it come as a surprise that thinking people do not strive to realize themselves here in Russia?

He continued:

I am far from being an ideal person, but I am a person with ideals. For me, as for anybody, it is hard to live in prison, and I do not want to die here.

But if I have to, I will have no hesitation. What I believe in is worth dying for. I think I have shown this.

Now here are some possible explanations for why Putin is going to release Khodorkovsky in the near future:

1. As Russia gears up for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Putin wants to ease Russia's repression of human rights and show that the country gives its citizens ample civil liberties.

2. At his 4-hour press conference this morning, Putin showed surprising buoyancy and confidence in his words. In previous press conferences he grudgingly answered questions from news agencies with great hesitance. In this specific conference, however, he shined and confidently talked back to the press. This might be another move in Putin's campaign to show off Russia's strength towards the West. In other words, by releasing Khodorvsky, he's sending a message that no third parties or famous foes can bring his administration down. 

3. Behind-the-scene deals. In my opinion this explanation for Khodorkovsky's release is highly unlikely, but perhaps Putin cut a deal with Khodorkovsky or the West for release. Perhaps the deal involved money, stakes in his oil firm, or could it be related to Edward Snowden? Anything's possible! 

NSA Part 3

In my two previous posts on the NSA I reiterated the notion that an independent review commission was desperately needed to check the power associated with the agency's overbearing practices such as phone and email metadata collection. Then I stumbled across an article in the New York Times that mentioned how a panel had already been set up. Here are the facts:

• The panel has 5 members, each picked by the President: 
• Richard Clarke : former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism 
• Michael Morell : former deputy director of the CIA
• Geoffrey Stone : University of Chicago Law Professor
• Cass Sunstein : Harvard Law School scholar
• Peter Swire : expert in privacy law at the Georgia Institute of Technology
• The President called for the creation of this panel on August 27, 2013
• The panel issued a report, titled "Liberty and Security in a Changing World", with 46 key recommendations
• Despite the broad scope of the panel's expertise in intelligence, communications, and counterterrorism, the report reflected a solid consensus among its members (a good sign)
• The most significant recommendation was to keep data in the hands of telecommunications companies or a private consortium, with necessary court orders required to access the information
• This recommendation defers from the status quo because the NSA currently has full access to all data from communication companies 

In my opinion, here are some PROs and CONs of the panel and their report:

PROs:

• the panel is obviously experienced and diversified, with some sitting in academia and others being long time members of the national security apparatus
• the report calls for an objective third party (a private consortium) to check government power
• the panel strongly advises separating private sector data from public sector usage- a very balanced approach
• separation of private sector data from public usage can set a strong precedent for future cases/situations 

CONs:

• Are a meager 5 panelists adequate enough to complete this job? 
• We're not sure if any personal bias on Obama's behalf was involved in the process- after all, two of the professors come from the University of Chicago and Harvard- two schools that Obama attended 
• I'm not sure if the 5 panelists have more liberal standings, which would significantly affect their view between privacy and national security
• There is still no check on the judicial part of the process, in other words, a search warrant authorizing the NSA to see private data still relies on the judgment of one person

Questions:

• What process did Obama use to pick these panelists?
• Would the process have been more impartial if Congress had picked the panelists? 
• How much impact will this report have? How will it sway all three government branches? 
• If Obama does agree that a separation between private data and public usage of such data is needed, how will he go about implementing this idea? Will it be via executive order or congressional lawmaking? 
• Who will be in the "private consortium"?
• Could the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court use three judges instead of one to authorize search warrants? (majority rules- only 2/3 would need to concur)