You are receiving Ellie Krug's Monthly Newsletter, The Ripple
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ellie krug
writer, lawyer, human
Human Inspiration Works, LLC
The Ripple
Vol 9 No.6 June 2024
Inspired by the words and deeds of Robert F. Kennedy
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June 2024--Pride Month!
Dear Friends:
It’s June, which means that it’s Pride Month and time for many LGBTQ+-focused events across the country, like the big Pride event on the last weekend of the month in Minneapolis where 400K people will be at Loring Park. (BTW, I recently learned that here in Minnesota, outside the Twin Cities—that is, in greater MN—most Pride events occur in months other than June.)
This year, however, I'm saddened by the number of businesses that have pulled back from celebrating Pride. My local Target, for example, has very few Pride-themed items, which no doubt is due to the organized backlash Target experienced over last year’s Pride. I’m certain that if the 2024 elections go a certain way, politicians will ensure that Pride is diminished even more. Could it even be legislatively outlawed like how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI ) departments have already been made illegal in 22 state university systems? Ugh. (See Pain below for more on that.)
On a more positive note, my work has actually picked up—some businesses and government entities are still seeking DEI-related workshops. And too, this month, I was lucky enough to speak at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, to a national law firm, and to the legal department of an international food/item delivery company. The talks were well received, giving me hope.
It was also quite nice to be in Chicago for a couple days to do two of those talks. Let’s just say that I ate well…
Other good things: I’ll be visiting my best friend Thap and his family in Steamboat Springs CO this week. When Being Ellen comes out next June, you’ll see that Thap and those in his family have played a huge role in the next chapter of my life.
In late July, I’ll also get to spend several days at a lake house in western MN along with my sister and several gay boyfriends. In other words, I’m going to relax! Ya Hoo!
As has been my practice, there will be no July edition of The Ripple and you’ll hear from me again in August. Until then, take care, enjoy the summer, and wear your sunscreen!
Remember, I care about you!
ellie
p.s. We continue to plan the first-ever county wide Carver County Pride event in Waconia on August 31. Any financial donations would be a big help. Click here for information on how to donate. Thanks!
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I have two stories about compassion this month, one about seeing other humans, the other about saving them.
The seeing story is about twenty-seven-year-old Jesus Morales, a Tik Tok influencer with 5 million followers and 160 million likes. Since become so successful, he’s made a habit of handing out money to immigrant vendors and setting up GoFundMe campaigns to help them set up their businesses or retire. More recently, he’s been taking day laborers to Disneyland—and paying them for the day. His goal: to treat those laborers with respect and dignity.
For some, it’s the first day off they’ve had in months.
As Morales relates, "I know my intentions, and my intentions are pure. If nobody knew my name, or my username, I could care less, to be honest.” He added, “And in the most respectful way, I just want to keep doing things like this. Social media has allowed me to be able to do things like this. And who knows what other amazing things we can do.”
The saving story began last February when Kayleigh Foley was headed to dinner in Englewood, Florida with her two daughters, three-year-old Ariel and six-month-old Lola, who were in car seats in the back. As she got to an intersection, a motorcyclist travelling more than 100 miles per hour broadsided Kayleigh’s vehicle mid-section on the driver’s side. The force of the impact crumpled the vehicle exactly where Lola had been riding and threw the motorcyclist into the car.
Luckily, Sgt. David Musgrove, a 20-year veteran of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Department, had just been passed by the motorcycle. He saw the collision occur and was on the scene immediately. Upon reaching Kayleigh’s vehicle, he went to Ariel’s side of the vehicle and got her out. He then found a bystander and handed her off.
Returning to the vehicle, it took Sgt. Musgrove some effort to get Lola extricated; once that was done, he found that she was not breathing, and he immediately commenced CPR. After a tense couple minutes where Kayleigh feared her daughter was dead, Sgt. Musgrove got her breathing.
Lola suffered skull fractures and a broken arm. After several weeks of hospitalization, including a week-long medically induced coma, she was released home with a plan for intense physical therapy.
This tragedy was made even worse by the fact that Kayleigh’s fiancé and Lola’s father had died just a few days before Lola was born.
I also want to point out the compassion of the passerby who had stopped and readily held Ariel when Sgt. Musgrove asked for help.
One last element of compassion; a GoFundMe set up for the family has raised more than $80,000 because other humans have good hearts, too.
Sgt. Musgrove has stayed in touch with Kayleigh and her girls; they now call him “Uncle Dave.”
Here is the full story of the accident by People Magazine, and here is a CNN story that includes dash cam/chest cam video—it’s incredible.
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Inclusivity Tip of the Month
Why is it OK to Say "Queer" Now?
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I want to take you back to 1969, fifty-five years ago.
It was a time when there were no laws protecting LGBTQ+ people. In fact, that alphabet hadn’t even been invented and way different words—hateful slurs— were used to refer to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people. Same-sex attraction folks and transgender persons could lose their job or place to live or healthcare or just about anything else if their true identity became known.
One of those slurs was the word, “queer.” I remember it being used to describe my junior high school counselor, Mr. Greene, who was almost killed by a same-sex partner. He lost his job as a result.
But then the Stonewall riot occurred in June 1969 and changed everything.
Before Stonewall, the word, “queer” was a weapon used against people who identified as LGBTQ+. For many Boomers—people of my generation—it’s a painful word and one that they don’t want used in their presence.
However, beginning with the gay rights movement that Stonewall ushered in, particularly during the AIDS crisis, “queer” became a rallying cry. ACT UP, which engaged in protests and acts of civil disobedience to jolt political leaders into funding AIDS research, reclaimed “queer” as a proud identity and word of resistance.
Today, young people use the phrase to proudly show that they aren’t mainstream and to create group unity. Frankly, I love the word since it perfectly describes me—a bisexual, Buddhist, transgender woman who loves both straight and gay people.
Here is one resource, and another on the transformation of "queer."
In closing, I’ve witnessed an amazing revolution in my short life. We’ve gone from socialized, accepted hate of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people to familial love and acceptance. There are so many queer people in America—and more are coming. (A recent Pew poll found that nearly 30% of Gen Z humans identify as queer.) I’m so grateful for those brave humans who reclaimed “queer.”
Happy Pride everyone!
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Just in case you’ve not gotten enough compassion and kindness, here’s a story about a Blue Springs MO 5th grader who raised $7300 to pay off school lunch debt at his school and some at the high school (if you can believe it, the high school wouldn’t let students walk for graduation unless their debt was paid…ugh). See also this lovely story about a bus driver rescuing a lost pup. Nice! And there’s this story about a high school class president who wrote personal notes to each of his 180 classmates. | | |
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As I’ve reported before, I’m a big fan of universal basic income—a guaranteed base income for every human. See this report about how a UBI program in Denver reduced homelessness and food insecurity. Also—BIG RESOURCE—see this website, which is a clearing house for all the cases that are attacking DEI programs in the country. There's also some good news out of FL with a federal judge blocking that state’s transgender health care ban. Click here. One last thing--it's Pride Month, so why not buy my book to read or gift to someone? Thanks | | |
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The pain begins with this Erin Reed report about Donald Trump threatening to defund any school that affirms transgender students; he also threatened to ban adult trans people—like yours truly—from accessing gender affirming care. I can’t even….See also this story about a Monarch FL high school attempt to fire a school employee—mother of a transgender girl who was outed at school; the offense? The trans girl had played on the volleyball team in violation of FL law (which bans all trans students from sports). Then there’s this report about 131 college scholarships—all for minority students—put on hold because of Texas’s ban on DEI. On that same note, here’s a good summary of the 22(!!) states which have banned DEI in their university systems. Finally, there’s LA and the state now demanding that every school post the 10 Commandments in classrooms. Is it 1924 and not 2024? | | |
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Okay, this video of a dog walker trying to get a golden retriever into her car after a walk has to be one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time—I dare you not to LOL! See also this video of a bear encountering a lawn sprinkler. Finally, a woman makes a surprising discovery about her husband and his dog walking. Click here. | | |
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My friend Adam Gerdhardstein has written a memoir chronicling his journey of being bipolar. Please consider picking up I Hope I Get Well. See this piece about the last regrets of hospice patients; No. 1 is the wish that the dying person had lived a more authentic life. (Good to know that I nailed that one…) Ripple super-reader Michelle Cohen passed along this incredibly insightful commencement address of documentarian Ken Burns at Brandeis University, and it’s well worth the 20 minutes to view it in its entirety. Finally, see this CNN story about a lawsuit to collect damages and reputation repair for a black 16 year old wrongfully convicted and executed in 1931 for a murder he did not commit.
Lastly, several of you have recently donated to Human Ripple Works, Inc., the nonprofit which makes it possible for me to do more work for organizations that lack budgets for training (like talking to Gender and Sexuality Alliances at various schools across the country). Thank you for that! If you’d like to support this work, please click here on the HRW website. Thanks!
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Finally....
The Ripple is a work in progress, so please, I welcome your suggestions and comments! Please share this newsletter with others, too!
Please consider reading my book, Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change; if possible, order it through your local bookstore. And, if your book club reads my book, I'm happy to come for the discussion via Zoom!
Thank you for helping to make the world a better place! I'm at your side, cheering you on, I promise! Please have compassion for yourself and for others.
ellie
Encouraging Open Hearts and Thriving Human Spirits
Human Inspiration Works, LLC: We make "inclusion" an action word
elliejkrug@gmail.com
www.elliekrug.com
www.humaninspirationworks.com
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Ellen (Ellie) Krug
319-360-1692
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