A quick word on my audience for Seasonal Velocities and every other gollydarned thing I write.

It is absurd to assume lessons learned from being trans, female, queer, or a person of color should only be useful to trans, female, queer people of color. If we hope our words can make this world a wiser and more compassionate place, then we must send our words with blessings to reach everyone in this world. If we say our stories are just as indispensably human as anyone else’s, then they must thrive as other stories do—in new and novel readings by readers who live far beyond whatever curvature our own horizons follow.

Order Seasonal Velocities from Trans-Genre Press! :)

Cal Poly Pomona Commencement Address and Thoughts for Lavender Grads Everywhere.

On May 31, I had the honor of addressing Cal Poly Pomona's Lavender Graduation. This is my message to all LGBTIQQ graduates: Embrace the strengths and skills that living queer has given you and use them--employ them not just to survive, nor even to succeed--but to redefine what success can be.

To Queer the American Dream

Thank you for allowing me to be part of this day. Congratulations! I am honored to be speaking in front of you, the Cal Poly Pomona’s Lavender Graduating Class of 2012. I’d like to thank Cal Poly Pomona’s Division of Student Affairs. I’d like to thank the Pride Center. But most of all, I want to thank you, for all your hard work and achievement. You did it! Look at you!

So, I look at all of you, ready to take the next step outward—and wow—we have a world to look forward to—don't we? Hey any of you expecting to get a nice job, protected by your union, with a good health plan, and some overtime? Think you’re gonna work hard at the office in order to raise a family, send them off to college, travel a little in your retirement?

Yeah?  A couple days ago NPR started a whole series called “American Dreams,” which no doubt is timed to come out near graduation. Their first two titles? “American Dream Faces Harsh New Reality” and “More Americans Putting The 'Dream' On Hold.” Way to get a generation going, don't you think? To be fair, the data looks grim.  Let’s see… The banking system has collapsed. 11 million people owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth. Detroit is in danger of turning off half its lights because it can't pay the electric bill.  In the meantime, Afghanistan is costing us three hundred million dollars. A day.

I have students who are going out into the world, and they’re terrified about not having the things their parents had. They worry that the same opportunity—for a good job a career, a comfy salary, a house—won't be there. And, judging from what the mainstream news (and even NPR) says, they won’t. To be honest, I’m a little worried for them. I mean, I hear even pharmacy school grads are having problems finding jobs. 

But you. I’m not worried. Not one bit! See—'cuz you weren’t mainstream, anyway.