Babylon 5: Faith and Mental Health

 

It was the dawn of the third age of mankind .... The Babylon Project was a dream given form. Its goal: to prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out their differences peacefully. It's a port of call, home away from home for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanderers.... all alone in the night. It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last best hope for peace. This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5. (Selections from the opening for  Season 1)

I grew up watching the show Babylon 5 (B5) and I have been thinking about its impact because a friend is watching the show for the first time. It was a major part of my creative daydreaming at the time (and I have to highlight "creative", I doubt too many others were having B5/Cadfael/Pretender crossovers in their heads).

Part 1:

"The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make this station and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are star-stuff. We are the Universe, made manifest, trying to figure itself out. And, as we have both learned, sometimes the Universe needs a change of perspective."
From the epasoide: A Distant Star

B5 also had a large impact on my views of faith and religion. I took to heart that we are bits of the universe trying to figure itself out and developed my faith around this idea. I did not grow up with deep roots in any one faith tradition (outside a  few Jewish and Christian holiday traditions) so this made sense. For a long time (and sometimes still today) I talk about "The Universe" in a way similar to how others speak about God or Gods. "The universe" was my opening to faith and is still the language I am most comfortable with even as I learn to appreciate the many other names used by faith traditions. Looking back I am grateful for B5 for laying a faith foundation I have slowly built upon. (I could go into more detail about certain characters and plot arcs but want to keep this spoiler free for my friend)

Part 2:

For the first season, Michael O'Hare played Commander Jeffrey Sinclair. Sinclair was a very interesting character and whose character was taken in interesting directions later in the show. Somewhere back at my parent's house I have his autograph that my dad got for me when he went to a con, (I don't remember which one). 

It was not until much much much later that we learned about the mental health struggles he faced while on the show. Here is J. Michael Straczynski discussing Michael O'Hare's battle with mental illness. (The clip contains a few spoilers for the show and his character. If you choose not to watch his struggles were similar to the struggles portrayed in the film A Beautiful Mind) 

For me, the take away is you never know what others are going through. You never know what others are struggling with. And in the end, we can never talk about mental health issues enough.

3rd Anniversary of Pulse ... A Reflection

Today June 12 is the 3rd Anniversary of Pulse

Today I listened to their names once again

Today I Re-Read Love is Love

Today I donated and remembered what I wrote right after Pulse Occurred

Orlando Sunday

I would have written

Different words

On a Different Topic

But today 

Tragedy came

And not to speak of it

Would be another form of tragedy

We morn for Orlando

We morn for all those who were killed

We morn all those who were injured

In a time a place

When we have become numb

To the Tragedies all around us

This hits home

In a hard to explain way

That brings tears

To my eyes at random moments ever since 

We morn for Orlando

We morn for all those who were killed

We morn all those who were injured

Where being bold and big and beautiful

Leads others to hate

Where the sanctuary and safety of clubs and dancing

Is destroyed in a moment

When today's tragedy echos back through time

Reverberations of Stonewall

Reverberations of The UpStairs Lounge Fire

Reverberations of Today's all too frequent killing of Queer Trans Women of Color

We morn for Orlando

We morn for all those who were killed

We morn all those who were injured

We will morn

For what has been

For what still is

And we will face our fears

Knowing our safety

Knowing our community

Are ever fragile things.

We morn for Orlando

We morn for all those who were killed

We morn all those who were injured

We will grab the hands of history

And stand hand in hand

With each other

With all those struggling

To let their amazingness shine through

We shall not be moved

We Shall Not Be Moved

We morn for Orlando

We morn for all those who were killed

We morn all those who were injured

Someday we will truly be free

Someday the arch of justice will finally reach the ground

Someday this will become History

Not History repeated

Today was a great Tragedy

But tonight I light a candle and stand in hope

In the wise words of Lin-Manuel Miranda

Love is Love is Love is Love is Love is Love is Love

Privilege, Passing, Pride

There have been so many tragedies over the years

Which could not be escaped

But this one hit close to home

I have been searching my soul

And wrestling with the privilege I have

As a HeteroRomantic Ace

The privilege of others lack of imagination

Which lets my identity fly under the radar unnoticed, unhated

The privilege of safe places and safe communities

Of a recent History where it felt like, we all who are people of the LGBTQ rainbow, had only found victories and celebrations and steps forward.

The privilege of “Passing”

Of not having to worry about each held hand or each stolen kiss

Like so many of my brothers and sisters do

Pride in my identity as Ace

But knowing I will always have privileges that others do not

And always feeling like I am trespassing on LGBTQ Holy ground

I have no answers

Only Questions

I Have Privilege

I am Passing

I am full of Pride

But as I keep being reminded

I will never truly feel

What so many of my brothers and sisters feel everyday

The Fear

The Sorrow

The Uncertainty

I mourn for my community

I mourn for my community

I mourn for my community

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And tonight on this 3rd anniversary 

I shall have a dance party in their honor 

Because as my T-shirt today says

Pentecost, Pride, Protest*

This year is the 50th anniversary year of Stonewall and many have used this history as a call for protest in this day and age where there are so many things and ideas and people who need to be protested.  There has been a refocus on the queer people of color who started the riots and who started the modern day LGBTQ+ rights movements. The same queer people of color who face the greatest hardships still today.

Now I will start by saying others have said that words are not enough, that action is needed too. I completely agree with this but I still think there can be power in a very sharp pen. So here are my reflections on my church and the power of justice movements.

Recent situations in Boystown (one of the predominantly LGBTQ+ areas here in Chicago) have refocused individuals and groups attention to issues of racism which are still present. In too many establishments parts of individuals identities are welcomed but other parts are not. Individuals have to choose if they want to be welcome because of the LGBTQ+ identities or their identities as people of color but rarely are welcomed for both.

In response to the situation, Lighthouse Church of Chicago (My Church which is a predominately African American LGBT inclusive community) has taken to the forefront and has already created a broad coalition. Within a week we have had a protest with 75-100 people attending, a community meeting with 75 people attending, and a meeting after church making sure we have a consensus around moving forward. As our Pastor Jamie Frazier (Pastor J) said we are uniquely placed to be on the more radical edge of this movement because we are not beholden to government money or other such limitations.

As keeps being restated this is not the beginning of a movement this is simply the most recent chapter or volume of the movement. Now we are in the first few weeks where everything seems shiny and possible but sitting in on the various meetings so far I feel a real sense of both energy to do something and a real sense of hope. A sense that we stand on the shoulders of others and that we are not alone in the fight and that we have many allies who will support our efforts. A sense that we are empowered (by the Holy Spirit or God or the Universe or whatever you want to imagine).

I have a sense we really have a good idea of what we can accomplish. As Pastor J says "We can do everything, but only one thing at a time". We stand on earlier chapters of this battle and it shows. Our organizing feels very mature? (not sure the best word), very thoughtful, very energized, very in it for the long hall, and so very possible.

For me a white ace ally, I feel like how I imagine it must have felt like during the early civil rights movement. I am grateful for my church and all its community and denominational allies. There are so many people who want to make a difference and I feel like we have a chance to make that difference. I hope that my skills and talents can be used by others.

Pride started with a protest, this is one protest I am involved with. What protests are you involved with? How can you be an ally to others fighting? What are you going to do this month of pride and going forward? There "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to keep us from justice.

* The title of this weeks post comes from Pastor Jamie Frazier's sermon this morning at Lighthouse Church of Chicago

Pride: A Rainbow Filled History

This is the beginning of Pride which can be a wonderful celebration but also tends to be a time when LGBTQA+ history gets whitewashed. This month I am sharing info on a different LGBTQA+ POC each day on my facebook page. Do you know the name of the first openly gay Indian prince? or one of the first all-female rock bands to be signed to a major label? These and many others are included. Some will be very familiar and others you will never have heard of. You can use the below list as a launching off point for your own Pride Month celebration. **

** I compiled this list from many sources so some may be in new roles today

 
1. Marsha P. Johnson: One of the trans-women of color who helped start the Stonewall riots.
2. Sylvia Ray Rivera: A Latina American gay liberation and transgender rights activist.
3. Manvendra Singh Gohil: The first openly gay Indian prince.

4. Paula Gunn Allen: A poet, professor, literary critic, and activist of Laguna, Sioux, Scottish, and Lebanese descent.

5. Claire Kann*: Author of Let’s Talk About Love *I do not know what Claire Kann identifies as but her first books was amazing and featured an asexual woman of color so I am including her on this list

6. Bayard Rustin: Played a role in the Black Civil Rights movement as an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr

7. Frida Kahlo de Rivera: A Mexican artist who painted many portraits, self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico.

8. Cecilia Chung: A trans-Chinese-woman nationally recognized as an advocate for human rights, social justice, health equity, and LGBTQ equality.

9. Max Wolf Valerio, a transgender male Blackfoot American Indian / Latino, who is a Sephardic Jewish poet and is also known for his careers in performing and writing.

10.  Lauren Jankowski: An indie aro-ace artist that is very vocal and supportive of the aro-ace community and its self-publishers

11. Frank Ocean: A song-writer and hip hop artist, who is noted as being one of the first big-named African American artists to declare same-gender love.

12. Amelio Robles was a transgender man of Afro-Mexican who fought in the Mexican revolution and was the first transgender person to be officially recognized by the Mexican government.

13. George Takei: An actor, comedian, personality, and activist.

14. Susan Allen: One of the first openly lesbian Native Americans to be elected to the state legislature

15. Marvia Malik: She became the first openly transgender newsreader to appear on Pakistani television when she made her debut in 2018.

16. Barbara Smith: A black feminist, lesbian, activist, author, publisher and elected official who has been working in feminist and anti-racism movements since the 1970s.

17. Ramon Novarro: Born in Mexico and is often considered to be one of the first Latino leading men in Hollywood.

18. Jenny Shimizu: A Japanese American supermodel and actress.

19. Felipe Rose: A musician, activist, and performer, most famous for being an original member of the Village People

20. Ricky Martin: Singer

21. Laverne Cox: An American actress and LGBTQ+ advocate.

22. John Rechy (born John Francisco Rechy Perez) is a Mexican-American author. In 1963, Rechy published City of Night– featuring a gay Mexican-American protagonist. Rechy gave isolated gay men living in small towns their first taste of the possibilities of community and sexual and personal freedom that existed in big cities and influenced later generations of queer writers. 

23. June Millington: A musician, most famous for her participation in the band, Fanny which was one of the first all-female rock bands to be signed to a major label.

24. Cheyenne Jackson: An openly gay actor and entertainer known for his performances on Broadway and on various television shows.

25. Tituss Burgess: Actor (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

26. Simone Bell:  Has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2009 and is the first openly lesbian African American to serve on a state legislature.

27. Holly Woodlawn was a transgender woman born in Puerto Rico. She was present at the Stonewall Riots in 1969- where she helped fight against the police.

28. Esera Tuaolo: An openly gay former professional football player.

29. Jack Jackson, Jr.: An attorney and registered Democrat serving in the Arizona Senate.

30. Robin Roberts: Newscaster

Memorials for Memorial Day

Monday is Memorial Day. A day to remember those who we have lost to injustice. A day to remember those that others would like us to forget. Here are a few individuals to remember and memorialize on this Memorial Day.

Mental Health Warriors:

All those who are currently mental health warriors and all those who have been lost to mental health-related causes. We remember you.

Transgender Women of Color:

All those Transgender women of color who have been killed by individuals and by unjust systems. Including the following from this year. We remember you.

• Dana Martin, 31, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 6. Reports stated that she was found in a roadside ditch in her vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd, an Alabama-based trans advocate, said that “she was a person that was loved by many.”

• Ashanti Carmon, 27, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Prince George's County, Maryland, on March 30. Few details are yet known about the crime, and the investigation is ongoing. “Until I leave this Earth, I’m going to continue on loving her in my heart, body, and soul,” said Philip Williams, Carmon’s fiancé. “She did not deserve to leave this Earth so early, especially in the way that she went out.

• Claire Legato, 21, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Cleveland on April 15. Local media reports that Legato was shot in the head after an argument broke out between her mother and the suspect. She was taken to a nearby hospital and died from her injuries on May 14. Friends and family took to social media to mourn Legato’s death, remembering her as someone who was “full of life.”

• Muhlaysia Booker, 23, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Dallas on May 18. Local media reported that Booker was found dead, lying face down with a gunshot wound near a golf course in east Dallas. In April, Booker was viciously attacked in what Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings described as “mob violence.” Officers say that there is no indication as of this point that the April attack is linked to Booker’s killing.

• Michelle "Tamika" Washington, 40, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19. Police responded to reports of shots fired in North Philadelphia’s Franklinville neighborhood, according to the Philadelphia Gay News. Washington, who was also known by the name Tameka, was found with several gunshot wounds and transported to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She is remembered by friends and loved ones as a beloved sister and “gay mother.”

Children who have been killed in US detention facilities

Too many children are dying in US custody at the border. We remember you.

• 10-year-old girl from El Salvador (Last Year)

• 16-year-old Carlos Gregorio Hernández Vásquez from Guatemala 

• 2-year-old Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez from Guatemala

• 16-year-old Juan de León Gutiérrez from Guatemala

• 8-year-old Felipe Alónzo-Gomez from Guatemala

• 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin from Guatemala.

Individuals who have been shot and killed by police

So far in 2019 363 have been shot and killed by police, In 2018 992 were shot and killed by police. We remember you

On this Memorial Day remember all those who have been killed by injustice and unjust systems. As Summer begins how are you going to take a moment to help prevent deaths such as these from happening in the future? Who are you going to write? Who are you going to talk too? What groups are you going to support? How are you going to make a difference?

Courage ....

So after a few days of "Riding the night elephant"* I realized one of many causes was the recent criminalization of being a woman. And that is what the laws which have been passed in several southern states amount to "The Criminalization of being a woman".

We as a nation have a tendency to Criminalize being human:

Criminalize Skin Tones,
Criminalize Identities,
Criminalize Orientations
Criminalize Places of Birth
Criminalize Running for your lives

And now once again The Criminalization of being a woman

Being a woman is NOT A CRIME! Being human is NOT A CRIME!

There are so many memes going around which put the bills in context and show the horrors of them and I am not going to go there right now. Each and every person has the right to make their own choices about their reproduction or lack of reproduction. I really don't know what else to say right now.

So I will take a deep breath, and put on my sword and shield, and continue to fight the good fight. As Lin-Manuel says we are not alone. We are over half the population. You can push us down and criminalize us but we will survive. We are women, We will roar. Have courage.

*Right now for me "Riding the night elephant" fits better than "Black Dog". Elephants are very large and very unintentionally destructive because of their size. The word Night is less racist than using the word Black. And "Rode the night elephant" helps make anyone dealing with mental health issues into warriors. 

DePaul: A celebration of Disney

This weekend was the 7th annual DePaul Pop Culture Conference and like each of the past years, it was a great time. For me, it was a little different because for the first time I was on the other side of the table as a presenter.

The panel I was on "Disney and Feminism" went well and we had a good blend of topics. At one point I was a little worried because someone else had a similar sounding topic using a more academic lens but we each took different angles and did well.

A longer version of my talk "Moana and the Importance of Female Support Networks" is presented in this years "A Celebration of Disney DePaul Pop Culture Conference 2019" book. I have been told soon it will be available on Amazon.  Check it out.

Other Panels

I went to the Panel Women in Animation which gave a history of women animators from the beginning when they were not allowed to be involved in the creative process* (see the picture below), to the indie women animators of today.

The Academic Keynote was by Dr Rebecca Williams on The Haunted Mansion. It was interesting to learn how fans gave this ride a lot of outside meaning/storyline. It is also interesting like how some details are still being debated today between the creators of the ride and the marketers of the ride. 

The Profesional Keynote was by Philo Barnhart who was an animator on The Little Mermaid among other projects. Most of the panel became him showing how quickly we recognize these characters (often with a sketch of only a few shapes and a line or two and we were able to identify the character) and then went into how to draw these characters. 

I enjoyed the panel on Fandom and the Disney Industry which covered everything from how Disney has been using copyright to shrink the public domain and how they are legally stealing our common heritage of stories to how Disney movies are translated overseas. Sometimes details like what food a character does not like to eat (from broccoli to green pepper) and sometimes changing the language in such a way it accidentally references language used by Hitler yuck. I ended with 2 interesting panels one on Disney Brand Extensions and one on seeing the other in Disney.

So once again DePaul Pop Culture Conference had a hit. Hope to see you all next year.