When LGBT+ pioneers are discussed, a number of famous faces probably spring to mind. However, one person you may not immediately think of is Caroline Cossey – also known as Tula – a Bond girl, dancer and top model who took the British government to the European Court of Human Rights in the ’90s in a bid to change discriminatory UK laws.
This quote really brought back memories of my very early days when I was entering out into a terrifying yet exciting feminine world.
It seemed everytime I tried something would go wrong. An example would be when my heel snagged a crack in floor at a mall I was walking in. I went from from proudly walking along to almost falling on my face. Overtime, I fell on my face quite a bit but I learned.
Overtime, I learned practice did make perfect and I learned to live as a transgender woman full time. Probably what really happened was I finally arrived at a point where I was comfortable in my own skin and didn't need an imagined acceptance from the world to live an authentic life.
This quote comes close to saying it all:
I was shocked recently to learn of the unexpected passing of Jerry Mallicoat. I know most of you have probably never heard of him and up until fairly recently I hadn't either.
It wasn't so long ago though he reached out to me to work on the Elderly Alliance LGBT Board of Greater Dayton, Ohio. He was also instrumental in me receiving the LGBT Veterans award.
Jerry was happily married to John and they lived together in Dayton.
I was fortunate to have been able to participate in several of Jerry's seminars on LGBT aging. I was pleasantly surprised how well he was able to explain the differences between transgender seniors in relation to lesbian, gay or even drag queen individuals. Jerry went out of his way to explain why RuPaul was in no way ever a woman.
This short blip comes from NBC News a year or so ago:
"Jerry Mallicoat, 58, fought for LGBTQ rights in Ohio his entire adult life. Now, he’s helping LGBTQ elders lead active and fulfilled lives.
Mallicoat co-founded Rainbow Elder Care of Greater Dayton, which provides advocacy, educational resources, support and referral services to the elder lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community."
It seems too little to say but Jerry's very sudden passing proves life is too short and you should do your best to make a difference like he did.
Rest in power Jerry, you did a great job in life.
JJ Hart. (right) Mother's Day last night. Liz on left. Another Mother's Day is here and as always, it presents me with many compl...
