that once and future thing
Folks, I am not dead!
A lot has happened over the last few years.
I stepped back from writing online for a while, for a lot of reasons. One reason is that I was seeing more and more people use my work for profit--by reading it at events, teaching it in classes, putting it on mirrored websites--without any of that coming back to me, often without even seeing citations or credit. I put this work here and elsewhere online for free because I believe in giving what I have to serve my community, and because I want there to be more resources for us, not fewer. Some of this was done at considerable risk--the writing I've done here and elsewhere, at places like Feministe and Questioning Transphobia, brought me deluges of hate mail, death threats, and harassment from transphobic feminists, Men's Rights activists, racists, old stalkers and abusers, all sorts of people. To take that punishment in order to offer this work to others, only to see people lift my work and make money off of it while I had trouble paying my rent or budgeting for groceries, cut deeply. I started thinking about ways to do this work, to continue to give to the community, that didn't make me quite so vulnerable and weren't quite so open to exploitation. It seemed like it was time to step beyond Taking Steps.
In the time since my last post here, I've been able to do work I'm proud of. I've done a lot of live readings and performances, including co-running an amazing five-years-running show with the National Queer Arts Festival about queer women's community and healing the rifts between cis and trans women, called "Girl Talk." I've performed with incredible groups like Mangos With Chili and the Queer Rebels of the Harlem Renaissance. I've been privileged to travel the country doing workshops, educational offerings, and conference keynotes including the Queer Students of Color Conference and the Power of One Conference for queer and trans youth. I helped found a roundtable for trans religious leaders with the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at Pacific School of Religion and organize for trans liberation on an inter-religious level, meeting with teachers, clergy, and theologians to change how they understand and support trans lives in their communities.
I've been in a social-justice-focused seminary program for the last couple of years, working toward a Master's degree that will give me the resources to keep working and fighting for my people, even though it's been taxing. Woven through all of that has been a roller coaster of personal events, life changes, cross-state moves, and more.
And now, all of you who are still checking this site every day, you ought to know I think it's time I came back. I've got some amazing writing opportunities coming down the pike--as a regular columnist at sites I really respect, and, finally, for a book. I'm going to be appearing at Seattle Trans Pride this summer and I'll be back at the Allied Media Conference for the first time in five years. I'm working steadily toward my ordination and I am more committed all the time to this fight for justice. I'm here making new life happen.
And in the meantime, with all these irons in the fire: money is tight and my health is poor. I've been through a lot, lost a lot, called in a lot of favors. I walk with a cane now, and I'm still learning to manage my post-traumatic stress. I've gone into a ridiculous amount of debt to pursue my education. I want to hit the road and see all of you. I want to make all this happen, take the time to craft new work, and at last get that book on shelves. Do you have a college, church, community center, that would benefit from a workshop or presentation from me--on decolonization, on trans liberation, on justice-focused theology? Do you have an anthology that needs this sweet-talking monster to tell some stories in it? Tell me about it. I'm in.
Beyond that--I know we're all strapped--if you're feeling flush, and you remember me and my work and felt it did you some good, if you feel it was worth dropping something in my tip jar, I would welcome any donations, big or small, toward helping me get all my ducks in a row. This comeback is a long time coming, and I appreciate any help I can get.
You can reach me, as always, at takingsteps at gmail dot com. I'll be seeing you soon, troublemakers.
Elena Rose, "little light"
A lot has happened over the last few years.
I stepped back from writing online for a while, for a lot of reasons. One reason is that I was seeing more and more people use my work for profit--by reading it at events, teaching it in classes, putting it on mirrored websites--without any of that coming back to me, often without even seeing citations or credit. I put this work here and elsewhere online for free because I believe in giving what I have to serve my community, and because I want there to be more resources for us, not fewer. Some of this was done at considerable risk--the writing I've done here and elsewhere, at places like Feministe and Questioning Transphobia, brought me deluges of hate mail, death threats, and harassment from transphobic feminists, Men's Rights activists, racists, old stalkers and abusers, all sorts of people. To take that punishment in order to offer this work to others, only to see people lift my work and make money off of it while I had trouble paying my rent or budgeting for groceries, cut deeply. I started thinking about ways to do this work, to continue to give to the community, that didn't make me quite so vulnerable and weren't quite so open to exploitation. It seemed like it was time to step beyond Taking Steps.
In the time since my last post here, I've been able to do work I'm proud of. I've done a lot of live readings and performances, including co-running an amazing five-years-running show with the National Queer Arts Festival about queer women's community and healing the rifts between cis and trans women, called "Girl Talk." I've performed with incredible groups like Mangos With Chili and the Queer Rebels of the Harlem Renaissance. I've been privileged to travel the country doing workshops, educational offerings, and conference keynotes including the Queer Students of Color Conference and the Power of One Conference for queer and trans youth. I helped found a roundtable for trans religious leaders with the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at Pacific School of Religion and organize for trans liberation on an inter-religious level, meeting with teachers, clergy, and theologians to change how they understand and support trans lives in their communities.
I've been in a social-justice-focused seminary program for the last couple of years, working toward a Master's degree that will give me the resources to keep working and fighting for my people, even though it's been taxing. Woven through all of that has been a roller coaster of personal events, life changes, cross-state moves, and more.
And now, all of you who are still checking this site every day, you ought to know I think it's time I came back. I've got some amazing writing opportunities coming down the pike--as a regular columnist at sites I really respect, and, finally, for a book. I'm going to be appearing at Seattle Trans Pride this summer and I'll be back at the Allied Media Conference for the first time in five years. I'm working steadily toward my ordination and I am more committed all the time to this fight for justice. I'm here making new life happen.
And in the meantime, with all these irons in the fire: money is tight and my health is poor. I've been through a lot, lost a lot, called in a lot of favors. I walk with a cane now, and I'm still learning to manage my post-traumatic stress. I've gone into a ridiculous amount of debt to pursue my education. I want to hit the road and see all of you. I want to make all this happen, take the time to craft new work, and at last get that book on shelves. Do you have a college, church, community center, that would benefit from a workshop or presentation from me--on decolonization, on trans liberation, on justice-focused theology? Do you have an anthology that needs this sweet-talking monster to tell some stories in it? Tell me about it. I'm in.
Beyond that--I know we're all strapped--if you're feeling flush, and you remember me and my work and felt it did you some good, if you feel it was worth dropping something in my tip jar, I would welcome any donations, big or small, toward helping me get all my ducks in a row. This comeback is a long time coming, and I appreciate any help I can get.
You can reach me, as always, at takingsteps at gmail dot com. I'll be seeing you soon, troublemakers.
Elena Rose, "little light"
posted by little light | 1:39 AM
1 Comments:
How nice to see you again! I'm sorry life has been so challenging, but congratulations on the master's program! Take care of you. :)
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