(Note: I'm blogging today instead of tomorrow because tomorrow I'll be in DC to lobby against the Stupak amendment. Want to get involved? Check out ChoiceUSA to see what's happening in YOUR communities!)

After we lost Question 1 here in Maine I was pretty upset. But, more than being upset, I was kind of at a loss for what to do. I had just thrown myself so entirely into something that I cared about, yes, but that also gave me a real, political community outside of my school. My school is fabulous, and progressive, and a lot of other things, but sometimes we're not very political.

This campaign showed me that, a mere 28 minutes away, there was a community. Sure, they were all a little older than me, and it wasn't like they routinely met or anything. But they were there, and they were accepting, and I'd just spent 18 hours a day for a few weeks with them. I didn't want to lose that.

So I went to church.

Jorge Steven López Mercado was the victim of a hate crime. He was murdered because he was gay. Below is a video of his mother, Myriam Mercado, talking about what she is thankful for: her gay son, the time she had with him, and the support she has received. She also has a wish: that people realize love conquers hate.

Remember, there are always things to be thankful for.

I live in Maine.

Yesterday I was at a bar in Bangor with organizers from all over "northern" Maine as we debriefed and then watched the results come in. First we were optimistic - the numbers were in our favor. We watched as our lead shrunk, and then we fell behind.

I don't think I will ever understand how this can happen, much less how this could have happened 34 times at this point. I'm 22 and I have been fighting for equality since I was 12. Obviously I'm not going to stop fighting, but I just don't understand.

I cried long and hard last night as we drove back from Bangor to Ellsworth, and then as I drove myself back to Bar Harbor. And I know that, had we won, there wouldn't have been heartbroken people on our opposition's side crying. Their campaign was about fear and homophobia and lies. Ours was about love. I just don't understand, and I don't know I ever will.

I am so grateful for the amazing people I met during this campaign. Beth, Fran, Mkayla, Vince and Jeana are all amazing people and I feel so lucky to have them on my side. And I know we will win this. But, again, it hurts.

Even if you don't believe in marriage because it's a patriarchal institution, or it's not something you want for yourself or you don't believe that people should have to be coupled to get tax breaks or whatever you reasons - please be kind to your LGBT friends who do believe that marriage equality is important. I walked into the cafeteria today and a friend of mine took one look at me and just gave me a hug, and then her boyfriend did the same. It means so much to have supportive friends - let's all be kind for awhile here, and not play the blame game, yes?

I spent the weekend in Los Angeles with the other members of The Trevor Project's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) at our Leadership Training and I had a fantastic time! I think about 2/3 of the YAC was able to come, so it was a pretty good group of people.

We had a wonderful time. It was really beneficial to get to know each other and we all got along really well despite the fact that we came from every region of the United States. We had an insanely packed weekend filled with workshops on fundraising, advocacy, social networking, running workshops in schools, and how to not order a cheese pizza in Los Angeles.

If you haven't already, I suggest that EVERYBODY go check out Trevor Space, The Trevor Projects own social networking site for LGBTQ Youth and their Allies.

Keep your eyes out for the awesome things that the YAC has planned in the future!

We're on day 3 of RA training here. Because I know everyone else on the RA team pretty well (my school is teeny - we only have 12 RAs) and we are all generally pretty good people there was no awkwardness with starting this year. I guess the only thing I should really work on is really correcting people about pronouns; it is starting to get more awkward for me when people use the "wrong" ones. But even on that front most everyone is pretty good about it.

Today the dean of student life took me aside to ask how I was doing, and we talked about what I was going to say to my residents - whether or not I wanted to tell them I was trans, and how I'd like that to go down. She basically wanted to make sure that we were on the same page with everything. It was a good conversation, and definitely reminded me that I go to a school that I really love.

I'm never quite sure when to say things to people. I feel like if I actually interject whenever anybody makes a comment or says something that could be offensive (not just about gender/gender identity/gender expression, but about anything) then people will find me more annoying than they already do. But there's a lot of things that make me go "wait, no, that's not ok." I'm definitely more social justice minded than a lot of other folks my age. That's not good or bad, but it is different and does give me a way different perspective on a lot of things that people say.

Lastly in this disjointed blog post - I have all females in my house. That's not by concious intent - all houses on our campus are coed. It's just how housing worked out (please keep in mind that my house has 7 people in total - I'm only in charge of 6 residents). But I feel like that might get awkward somehow, though I'm not sure what my actual worries are.

I'm sure this will all abate once I actually meet my residents.

I start my final year of my BA program this fall. I start my second year attending school as a (very out) trans person. I start my first year of being a resident advisor.

I was really excited to get the RA position; I think it will be a lot of fun and kind of a way to give back to, and expand, a community that has really supported me more than I can say over the past two years. Seriously - I have thrown everything at my school administration, from late payments to jumping through hoops for financial aid to coming out as trans last fall, and they have responded with nothing but support and kindness.

Logically I know that it's unlikely I will have residents who have a big problem with who I am - my school tends to attract people who are pretty far left in their political ideologies and generally very accepting of differences in others. But there's always the "what if's" to consider. What if somebody does have a big problem with it? What if my residents don't see past the one thing they'll probably notice first (Female-bodied person introducing theirself as Andrew and most of the rest of the student and faculty using he/him/his to refer to this person) to the other facets of who I am (Total geek! Bookworm! Feminist! Lover of cupcakes!).

Yesterday was the hearing on H.1728/S.1687, An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes, here in Massachusetts. Last year this bill never made it out of study, and we're hoping for a better outcome this year. The hearing was set to start at 2:30, and members of our organization met at 9:30 to put the finishing touches on our testimony and plans, and then headed over to the state house.

Representative Barney Frank is reintroducing ENDA; the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. For quite awhile there have been two versions of ENDA being discussed - one that protects for gender identity and expression along with sexual orientation and one that only protects for sexual orientation. Representative Frank is introducing a transgender-inclusive version of ENDA.

ENDA has been introduced and reintroduced for a number of years and it's exciting to hope that with our new administration that we may get this passed and that all LGBT people may enjoy being able to work without hiding who they are.

Here is the release from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coaliton (MTPC):

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Commends Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank and Federal Lawmakers for Introduction of Inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) applauded lawmakers today for introducing an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees from workplace discrimination. The bill, which enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws.

“Transgender people continue to face employment discrimination even in states like Massachusetts and the effect of this type of discrimination not only impacts the transgender individual, but also their family for whom they are trying to provide for” said MTPC’s Executive Director Gunner Scott.

Today New Hampshire became the 6th state with same sex marriage. Congrats, New Hampshire!

Here's an excerpt from the Boston Globe:
Traditionally conservative New Hampshire today became the sixth state in the nation to legalize gay marriage, after a bill was enacted by both the state House and Senate and then signed by Governor John Lynch.

"Today, we're standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear they will receive the same rights, responsibilities, and respect under New Hampshire law," Lynch said before signing the bill at about 5:20 p.m.

Lynch said it was a New Hampshire tradition "to come down on the side of individual liberties and protections, and that tradition continues today."

Gay marriage is now legal in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts -- all of the new England states, except for Rhode Island. Gay marriage is also legal in Iowa.

The rest of the article can be read by clicking here.

A radio show based n Sacramento, the Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show, recently discussed trans youth and adults on their show. To make a long story short, they were awful. The promoted child abuse if a child acted outside of gender normative behaviors and were just generally awful. You can listen to the half hour segment of the show here.

GLAAD, Pam's House Blend, and Trans Youth Family Allies all have more information up. Please listen to the show and respectfully respond at the links provided by GLAAD and TYFA.