All about True Colors.

The amazing thing about True Colors (hereafter called TC, for shortness's sake) is how accepting it is. I think that TC is the ONLY place where 3,000 people can get together in one place and have it feel like a big family reunion. There were people that I've known for three years, people who I vaguely recall from a workshop or two, and those that I've never seen before.

Since I went with my moms and sister, (as opposed to a school group or GSA*) I got to pretty much just go off on my own. Since J.A. was there, I spent quite a bit of time with his GSA, eating lunch with them, taking workshops, and sitting with them at the closing ceremonies. By the end of the conference, I felt like I was adopted by his GSA. A really nice feeling, since (as an unschooler**) I don't have a GSA of my own.

The workshops overall were great, I took six different ones over the time I spent there.
"Queer Activism and Storytelling", "Crossing The Middle Ground" and "Latin Dancing" the first day, and "Heather Has Two Mommies", "Breaking Binaries", and "Gender Neutral Pronoun Lesson***" on the second day. All were fun, and I met some awesome people at them.

The mini-mall was great, all these vendors with pamphlets on LGBT issues, fun rainbow things, visibility buttons****, t-shirts, ribbons, and all sorts of other stuff, including a scarf that I LOVE. It's rainbow, many different yarns and sooooooo pretty! $10. Cheap, cheap, cheap...

I wish that the whole world was as accepting as TC is. What really stinks is having to come back from such an affirming place and go back to the real world where not everyone is bedecked in rainbows and happy being who they are.

The opening and closing ceremonies for the conference were amazing, and the keynote speakers were inspiring and enlightening.
Among others, we had Scott Turner Schofield, Rich Kiamko, the Infamous Squad, an abridged performance of Zanna Don't, a few musicians, and a drag show. (Spelling is iffy on names, by the way.)

At the end of the second day we had the dance. What an amazing time. You don't even know the difference between a prom for home(and un-)schoolers and one for LGBT kids until you've been to both of those. I have been to both of those.
At the Spring Fling (prom for homeschoolers) you have the kids doing one of a few dances, the macarana, jumping up and down in one place, a conga line, cotton eyed joe, or this swaying-type of dance in which one places ones hands on the partner's shoulders and stands about 2 feet apart and just rocks about in a circle. The last one is our version of a slow dance...to be used only when one has been dating their opposite-gendered partner.
At the LGBT youth dance, you have all sorts of people dancing their hearts out to all sorts of music. Joy radiates from every one of the people there. The kids are outgoing, exited, and so much more free than the kids at the spring fling.
Boys, girls and everyone in between dance with each other in a giddy whirlwind of color. Those people know how to Dance.***** (with a capital D.)
Keeping in mind the fact that most of the kids at the spring fling, I have known for at least a couple of years, and most of the kids at the TC dance I have known for a couple of...hours? It's shocking how much better of a time I had there than at the spring fling.

This is not to say that I did/do not have fun at, enjoy, or look forward to the spring fling. I do, but the difference is astounding.

What the hardest part is, (I think) is adjusting to a world that is NOT TC after being immersed in one that is so open, loving and affirming. The rest of the world seems so drab.

But TC does have events throughout the year that are not conferences, and I made some new friends who I am in touch with through the internet, so all is well.

J.A.'s moms and my moms hit it off, so mayhaps we shall see each other more than once a year...who knows?

Floating on a cloud of rainbows,
Whimsy

Looking for clarification?

* GSA - Gay-Straight Alliance. Usually found in high schools and collages.

** Unschooler - One who unschools, life-learner, like homeschooling, but no curriculum, child-lead education.

***Gender Neutral Pronouns - pronouns that are gender non-specific, often used by genderqueer/gender non-conforming people. Yes, the pronouns do exist. 'Tis true.

**** Visibility buttons - Buttons/pins that have rainbows, or labels (trans, bi, gay, ally, lesbian, queer, etc.) on them.

***** I was given "how to grind it" lessons by J.A. Yeah. I didn't "grind it". XD

I can't wait! (True Colors, ect.)

Tomorrow I will hurl myself into a maelstrom of rainbows.

Yes indeedy, True Colors is here at last.

Even though I'm not much of a girly-girl, I have spent the past 2 days picking out clothing, painting my nails shimmery-gitter-purple, rainbowizing my jeans, fluffing my fedora, and generally being concerned about my appearance in a way that I'm not usually.

Plans for the conference include, but are not limited to:

* Workshops on swing dancing, queer lit for young children, going beyond binaries, creating online safe spaces, and possibly gender neutral pronouns.

* Hanging about with my friend J.A, who I have not seen since LAST True Colors conference.

* Getting up stupidly early to see aforementioned friend.

* Acquiring more rainbow necklaces, mayhaps scarves and various sundry articles of clothing.

* Seeing theater, live music, a drag show and other amazingness.

* Keynote speakers on all sorts of sweet stuff.

I'm not certain if I have made myself clear in previous posts, but I identify as bisexual, but prefer the term queer.
"Bi" implies only two genders, and cuts out any/all genderqueer people.
Besides, I feel way more "queer" than I do "bi". In the words of David Levithan (talking through Kyle), "...Why do we have to find a word for it? Can't it just be what it is?"

I'm out to anyone who asks, meaning that I'm sure as hell not going to lie, or hide, but I don't feel the need to wear a shirt that says "GUESS WHAT WORLD? I'M QUEER!!!" emblazoned across the front. That shirt would be quite obnoxious, in truth.
I've told my mums (they are awesome, and so open...) my dad (we don't get along to well), a few friends, and my sister (she rocks). I'm also quite out online, but haven't put on my facebook "men and women" in the "interested in" section.

Why haven't I? That's a good question. Maybe it's because I don't feel the need for facebook to tell the world who I might like as a potential partner. Maybe it's because I haven't answered my religon (pagan), political views (left-wing), "looking for" (friendship), town of residence (not putting THAT out there), or relationship status(single). Maybe it's because even though I have identified as bisexual for over a year, I still feel like I might change someday (sexuality is fluid). Maybe it's because I simply don't feel like answering questions.

I'm not even sure that not putting down "interested in men and women" is that big a deal. Plenty of people don't say what/who they are interested in.
Then again, on the other hand, visibility for LGBT people is extremely important.

Must fly off to bed for rest for tomorrow!

Thrilled,
Whimsy

True Colors, Guitar Playing, and Rainbows.

Life, love, laughter.
Rainbows.
Every year around this time, I get thrilled-to-the-point-of-bursting.
You see, True Colors is coming up. (FRIDAY!)
I'm rainbowizing a scarf with sharpies, while making certain that I have enough arm-warmers in bright colors to last through the two day event.
True Colors is a wonderful conference for LGBTQQIAA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and allies) youth.
I count myself both proud and lucky to be a veteran attendee, (this year will be my third one going), and I highly suggest to any and all of you that may read my blog to go.
http://ourtruecolors.org/
It's held in CT, on a collage campus.

This year, I am going to be attending with some of my queer friends (a new experience for me, since I'm used to just going with my moms and sister and pretty much doing my own thing.) Hanging out with them will be fun, since I don't get to see them that much throughout the year.

What an amazing maelstrom of rainbow clothing, joyous teens, enlightening workshops, great entertainment...I only wish it was year-round.

I will write about TC after I go, talking about my time at the conference this year.

Only four more days! :D
I can not wait.

Full of rainbows,
Whimsy

P.S. Video of me playing Rainbow Connection on my guitar. :)

Dress Rehearsal, Excuses, a Rather Quick Blog

So, after weeks upon weeks of stress and whatnot, tonight is dress rehearsal.
I am quite nervous. I always get nervous about shows.
I have a good reason this time: I'm sick. I have been feeling under-the-weather for the past week.
The fact that I am sick has the quite unfortunate side effect of the fact that I cannot film myself singing and playing guitar. *sadface*
I really want to, but since I sound like a baritone with my nose plogged with seven cotton balls, and I'm coughing every three seconds, that shall not happen.

In other news, I'm portraying Pocahantas on Saturday, shows on Thursday through Sunday, and I have auditions for another show on Monday (hooray), and hope to record myself playing over the weekend.

Onward, upward, and ohmygod, show opens TOMORROW!

Off to drink more tea and eat plenty of cough drops,
Whimsy