Baltimore OUTloud - Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trangender - LGBT - Equality - News - Arts - Culture - Baltimore OUTloud - An Independant Voice for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community

A renewed and bi-partisan push to eliminate the state ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment began on May 9 with the introduction of Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 15 by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and the companion bill, House Joint Resolution (HJR) 43 by Congressman Rob Andrews.

By profession I am an engineer. I look at complex systems and analyze them and figure out ways to make them better or solve a problem. Contrary to what some may think, I am not a “professional” activist. I’ve never earned a dime doing the work that I do trying to move trans rights forward. I never looked at it that way. The notion that you could make money while doing such a thing seems a bit foreign to me. But that’s not the case with many others.

One of the blessings of writing a regular column for Baltimore OUTloudover the past ten years has been the opportunity to witness and report on the myriad events – good and bad – that shaped the continuing progress of LGBT rights. It has been an eye-opening ride, and I am happy to have chronicled the movement over the years, having missed only three issues during that time.

Broken Bones- Part I

Towering over me and yelling at the top of his lungs, Antonio, my 6 foot 4, 280-pound muscled life partner, had me pinned against the wall, his huge, clammy left hand now grasping my neck. I couldn’t move!

All the while, the following thoughts flashed in my head: “This can’t be happening! How can the man who’s repeatedly professed his undying love be doing this to me? How can he hurt me this way? How??”

And then, Antonio…