By: MaryKhon
Queeridos!!!
We made it! We made it through the many holiday celebrations. And if you are Latinx, which I presume you are, you know that our holiday season doesn’t really end in December but continues for several days into the month of January. So, if you’re reading this, congratulations queerido, you made it! Perhaps not intact but you made it.
Now we find ourselves in the middle of winter. Yes, I know, it doesn’t feel like it for us here in California but February is in fact the middle of the winter season, and with this winter season, the pandemic continues to thrive all over, which is not a good thing. But, here we are and despite the pandemic and the winter, these words are all about things that are positive in our community. And I hope you don’t need a reason. We simply need to look at the good things in life, especially right now.
Let’s start with one of my favorite positive things that happened in recent weeks, a Golden Globe win for the first Trans person: MJ Rodriguez. She won her Golden Globe for her dramatic role in the series POSE as Blanca Evangelista. She dedicated her win to the LGBTQIA Black, Latina, Asian and many multi beautiful colors of the rainbow around the freakin’ world.”
MJ Rodriguez is also the first EMMY nominated Trans actress in a dramatic role for the same series and the first trans actress to take the role of Audrey in the stage musical Little Shop of Horrors. There is a lot of first for Ms. Rodriguez and that is something very positive to celebrate about.
The Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first NFL player to participate in the Wild Card Playoff Games. He’s the first professional football player in a playoffs after coming out, and the first out player on an active NFL playoff game roster. I must confess, queeridos, I don’t know much about American football but the fact that a professional player has come out and still in the field and making the mark as the “the first on this and that” is yet another positive matter to celebrate.
And here’s another positive matter to celebrate about. The Biden administration has officially recognized trans and non-binary military genders. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced that gender selections on paperwork will now include the options of transgender female, transgender male, non-binary, and other. This new inclusion is thanks to the efforts of VA Secretary Denis McDonough who has had a strong focus on making the VA more LGBTQ inclusive.
Now, while same sex marriage is legal in the United States, and couples can file their taxes jointly, this doesn’t mean same sex marriage is recognized at state level. Many states, like Texas and Kentucky for example, do not recognized same sex marriage, so while people living in those state can do federal taxes as a couple, they still have to do state taxes as single people. Yeah, I know. Don’t get me started. Slowly, states are changing their views on this matter such in the case of New Jersey who officially signed and recognized same sex marriage on January 10. This means that same-sex couples can now get married in New Jersey under the blessing and approval of the state government. Yet another reason to celebrate something positive since, as I said before, this is not the same in every state.
Do you know who Amy Schneider is? No? Well, she recently became the fifth millionaire in the Jeopardy TV show, the first woman to win 28 consecutive games during the regular season, and, ready for this?, the first trans woman to do so. She continues to be undefeated and she’s trying her best to beat all records. This is, without a doubt, another positive matter one should be happy and celebrate about.
I’m sure there is more positive matters to be happy and celebrate about but I just want to stop right here and say a few positive words. Queeridos, life is short and we must live it to the fullest, after all, “you only live once,” right? But see, while trying to live life to the fullest we also have to be smart about how we live such life. In other words, we need to be wise about the decisions we make and the things we do while trying to live life to the fullest.
Being positive is one of the best things we can do, but being positive doesn’t mean being careless. So, I ask you to live life to the fullest while being wise about it. Take care of yourself, take care of the ones you love, your friends, your family, your co-workers. Because while you may be living life to the fullest, they may not be doing so. And while you may be living life to the fullest, you may forget that your attitude and your behavior will affect others around, especially during this pandemic. Don’t be afraid of taking risks, but be wise about how such risk will affect, not only you but the ones around you, especially right now during this pandemic. Have a positive outlook towards life, but also be responsible, kind, and overall, selfless.
This drama queen has spoken!