Want to know what gave birth to the Republican cesspool that exists today?  “The Boogie Man”,  a documentary about Lee Atwater, I believe, will help you understand.  Atwater has been described as the charming, Machiavellian godfather of modern take-no-prisoners Republican political campaigns; as the strategist who increased Republican support by appealing to racism against African Americans; as a mastermind and a rogue, a genius and a charlatan, a visionary and a liar.  Watching the story of his rise to power as the Republican Party Chairman will be eye-opening, to say the least.

My research online turned up several sources for streaming this movie.  Check out Internet Archive (archive.org )  My personal opinion is that I would pay a fee to watch it had I not been given a copy as a gift several years ago.  I have watched it several times.  It reminds me not to falter in my resolve to help elect as many Democrats, particularly women, as I can.  That battle never ends.  Now that battle is compounded by Republican attacks on voter rights in state after state.  The excuse they make could have come right out of Atwater's playbook.

During PRIDE month, I’ve taken several opportunities to post on my social media about God’s love for the LBGTQIA+ community. I’ve spoken about his unconditional love for us all and the need for affirming churches where gay Christians can freely worship.

Several Christians grew angry at my posts and have privately and publicly derided me for my “pro-gay” stances, which they believe are anti-God. One of my beloved relatives even went so far as to tell me that my own late mother would be ashamed of me for my so-called “anti-God” actions.

That hit hard and was meant to, but it strengthened my resolve to do one of the things I KNOW God has me on this earth to do: to remind LBGTQIA+ people that HE made them, HE loves them and that OTHERS cannot and will not EVER be able to stand in judgment of them or anyone else.

Apparently, loving people for who they are and accepting them for who they love continues ro bother certain Christians - even the ones who literally have their own sordid histories of adultery, fornication, sexual assault, porn addictions, drug dealing, gambling, child molestations, drug and alcohol abuse, and deserting their families and children. (And I’m just talking about the PASTORS and PREACHERS who came for me)!

Seriously!

Since they’re already mad, I’m gonna wear this shirt on this beautiful Sunday morning and give them something else to talk about: My love for and sincere desire to protect and cover trans youth, which are near and dear to my heart.

According to the Trevor Project, family rejection on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity can have extreme effects on LGBTQ youth.

In one study, lesbian, gay and bisexual youth who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs and 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse, compared to peers from families that reported no levels of family rejection.

As a result of family rejection, discrimination, criminalization and a host of other factors, LGBTQ youth represent as much as 40% of the homeless youth population. Of that population, studies indicate that as many as 60% are likely to attempt suicide.

If the “Saints” are mad today, well then, so be it. Peace, love and let’s ALL protect trans kiddos!

Editors Note: It takes great courage of convictions to speak truth to power and to stand up against those who profess to love you.  It could change the world if more of us showed this kind of courage and the love for all people that Jeannine demonstrates.

When I took a look at my calendar to determine what days/weeks we would commemorate in the month of May, I noted for the first time it was Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.  I tried to recall the names of women whose lives I might write about for HerStory.  At that moment I could think of only one.  Then I began to search through the wealth of books, pamphlets and articles I have accumulated over the years to find the bios of Asian/Pacific American women.  I found only four.

The major reason for the existence of HerStory  is to help fill the void in the recording of women’s accomplishments..  I thought I understood, better than most, the broad gender bias.  Yet, here I was, surprised at my own lack of knowledge.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised.  After all, if white women are devalued in history, women from marginalized communities are most certainly going to be devalued.  Therefore, it behooves all of us, myself included, to do what we can to  change the scenario.  We cannot depend on others (males) to do it for us.

I have started my own enlightenment by researching the lives of Asian/Pacific American women all over the worldwide web.  I will be sharing with you what I have learned.  There is much well worth sharing.

After many years of fighting for a major shift in military law, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has new support for removing commanders from prosecuting assault cases. More of her colleagues and a Pentagon panel agree it should be done. If passed, independent military lawyers would report to a special victims prosecutor who would decide whether to court-martial anyone accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment or domestic violence.  Among the Senate supporters is Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) who has pushed for additions to the bill that would address prevention of sexual assault.

Women veterans experiencing sexual assault is horrendous in and of itself. But, as outlined by the report below, it is a major factor leading to homelessness of women veterans.  Please read what follows.  It isn't pleasant reading.  It's sad and should make you angry on behalf of women veterans.   We need to do whatever we can to help erase this problem.  We can start by contacting our Senators asking them to support this bill.

REPORT ON HOMELESS FEMALE VETERANS from the NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

Read the full report at:  Homeless Female Veterans

Homelessness among women veterans is expected to rise as increasing numbers of women in the military reintegrate into their communities as veterans. Women currently make up 8% of the total veteran population and 14.6% of the active duty military, increasing to an estimated 16% by 2035. The number of homeless women veterans has doubled from 1,380 in FY 2006 to 3,328 in FY 2010. While data systems for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) do not collect data on the risk factors contributing to female veteran homelessness, women veterans face unique challenges that increase their susceptibility to homelessness

 PTSD and MST

Within the homeless population, the frequency of mental illness is three to four times higher than the general population, with the rate of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnoses almost doubled. Nearly 80% of homeless veterans suffer from mental health disorders, drug and/or alcohol abuse, or co-occurring disorders. PTSD is one of the largest mental health challenges facing returning veterans. From 2004-2008 the number of veterans seeking help for PTSD in the VA system increased from 274,000 to 442,000. PTSD and other mental health disorders lead to difficulties maintaining productive employment, among other difficulties, greatly increasing the risk of homelessness. A study done by Kelly et. al found that women who experience Military Sexual Trauma (MST) were nine times more at risk for PTSD. Cases of MST continue to grow, with one in five women reporting having experienced MST. While only constituting 14.6% of the military, women account for 95% of reported sex crime victims. According to a recent Pentagon report, the rate of violent sexual crimes within the military has increased by 64% since 2006. Fear of reprisal and being ostracized from coworkers prevents many women from reporting the abuse. Defense Secretary Panetta stated that the Department of Defense is aware that this is a “very under-reported crime,” with actual incidents of military sexual assault (MSA) being six times higher than reported. With 3,191 reported MSAs in 2011, the actual number of MSA incidences is predicted to be nearly 19,000. Because those who experience personal violence, including rape, are 6.5 times more likely to experience homelessness, women veterans who have experienced MST are at a greater risk for experiencing homelessness, especially when compounded by PTSD.

HOUSING, CHILDCARE and EMPLOYMENT

According to the Department of Defense, in 2010 more than 30,000 single mothers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and as of 2006 more than 40% of active duty women have children. For any veteran with dependent children, being identified as homeless creates a threat and fear of youth protective services assessing the situation as dangerous and removing the children from their parent. A recent study done by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that more than 60% of organizations with Grant and Per Diem programs (GPD) did not have sufficient resources to provide housing for the children of veterans. Of the 52 that did provide housing, 70% had major restrictions, including the number of children per veteran and age limits. Organizations with GPD programs are reimbursed for the daily cost of housing a homeless veteran; the cost of housing a homeless veteran’s child is not reimbursable, creating a cost burden on the program. GPD has proven to be a vital program in transitioning homeless veterans into independent living. Without another funding source, organizations offering transitional housing services will likely face increased financial burdens as the number of low income women veterans with children continues to grow.

Homeless women veterans also face substantial barriers to employment. In FY 2010, according to the VA, 77% of homeless female veterans were unemployed. One of the key factors for this larger percentage could be the lack of accessible and affordable child care. In fact, according to the recent FY 2010 CHALENG report, the VA and community providers ranked child care as the highest unmet need of homeless veterans from FY 2008- 2010. Additionally, many of the skills that women veterans learn during their military service may not translate back to the civilian workforce or may be skills for a predominately male field.

PRIVACY and SAFETY CONCERNS

After returning from deployment, women veterans in need of assistance often isolate themselves, decreasing their access to critical interventions to prevent homelessness. Some women may not selfidentify as veterans or may feel uncomfortable seeking services through the VA Medical Center, decreasing the services accessed by women who are at risk of homelessness. According to a study done by the GAO in 2010, space constraints and lack of access to proper equipment complicate the ability of VA Medical Centers to provide private, gender-specific care to female veterans, with many VA Medical Centers referring women to community-based outpatient clinics outside of the VA for their specialized care needs.

Homeless women veterans have traditionally had difficulty accessing housing services due to safety and security concerns. The 2010 study done by the GAO found that over 25% of existing GPD programs providing transitional housing to homeless women veterans cited safety concerns as a barrier to service delivery. Without gender-specific safety and security standards for GPD programs, nearly one in 16 programs surveyed by the GAO reported incidents of sexual harassment or assault on women residents in the last five years. An audit released in 2012 by the VA Office of Inspector General found that 1 in 3 programs did not specify the gender of homeless veteran populations they intended to serve on their GPD application for funding. Without defining the population intended to be served, safety and security standards cannot be adequately determined.

In 2010 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted its’ first National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.  Now an on-going survey, it collects the most current and comprehensive national and state data on intimate partner violence, sexual violence and stalking victimization.  The information gathered helps the CDC understand the problem and prevent it before it begins.  Sexual assault is a significant problem in the United States.  By definition, it is any sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not given freely.  Sexual violence can occur in person, online, or through technology, such as posting or sharing sexual pictures of someone without their consent, or nonconsensual sexting.  Sexual violence impacts every community and affects people of all genders, sexual orientations, and ages.  While anyone can be a victim, the person responsible for the violence is typically male and the victim is typically female.

Researchers know the data they collect underestimates the problem because many cases are unreported.  Victims may be ashamed, embarrassed or afraid to tell anyone because they have been threatened with further harm to themselves or someone they love.  Data does show that sexual violence starts early and is very costly.  For example, rape victims experienced it for the first time between ages 11 and 17.  As many as 25%- 33%, across all demographics, reported it occurred before age 10.  Recent estimates assess the cost per rape victim at almost $123,000, which includes medical costs, lost productivity, criminal justice activities, and other costs.

According to the CDC, different types of violence are connected and often share root causes.  Sexual violence is linked to other forms of violence through shared risks and protective factors.  Addressing and preventing one form of violence may have impact on preventing other forms of violence.  The  graphic below, provided by the CDC, shows how a multifaceted approach to preventing sexual violence can also help to prevent other forms of violence.  The CDC also has a resource with the best available evidence for communities to use in preventing violence.  STOP SV: A Technical Package to Prevent Sexual Violence.  You can get it on the CDC website.

Make your observance of National Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month meaningful by reading the information and then determining how you can make a difference in your community.  You  can start by sharing your newfound information and knowledge with friends and family.   

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