San Diego & 1st Protections For Trans People!

The family vacation to San Diego was oodles of much-needed fun. Sunshine n' humidity n' ocean n' beaches n' fresh air bikinis + cruiser bicycles galore!

I think the last time my family and I went on vacation together was about 10 years ago. The time had definitely come to take a refresher break from Utah.

A couple of things that immediately stuck out to me, aside from everything mentioned above: The homeless. They were everywhere, in clear sight; sleeping along sidewalks or in little established camps. Even alongside their property (one guy had a rascal, another had an air mattress) and the police didn't seem to punish or bother them - and people (who presumably have homes) didn't harass them, either. And, most clear, they weren't hidden or pushed out or shipped off.

In Utah, it's another story altogether. Everything and anything is done to keep the homeless out of sight. For example, at the shelter right next door to apartments I used to live in the city literally built a fenced-in area - a cage, essentially - in an area that was popular for the homeless to setup camp when there wasn't enough room in the shelter. But once consumer foot traffic increased from the outdoor mall that popped up across the street, suddenly the area is fenced off from everyone else and then a "closing time of 6pm" was enacted. Where they go after 6pm? Out of sight, out of mind. Police constantly stroll the area, constantly using their megaphones and strobe lights.

It's just rampant and constant how the homeless are treated here, even in one-on-one situations. Like this time not too long ago I was walking along main street and a bicycle cop peddles up to a homeless guy (who was just walking down the street, not acting out or bothering anybody), snatched his drink from him, opens it, smells it, then hands it back to the homeless guy and peddles off. Wtf?

So yes, not seeing that kind of crap going on in San Diego was refreshing. Another thing I immediately noticed: more unisex bathrooms! Even at the museums in Balboa Park there was always at least one section with two unisex bathrooms side-by-side. I loved it.

On a side note, I have to give a late kudos to our awesome President Obama for signing into law the very first protections for transgender people in US history: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Thank you, Obama, and everyone who's worked so hard to finally make this phenomenal precedent happen!



p.s. Our family pup, Ganymede, just graduated from the Canine Good Citizen Program. He's an adorable pitbull but, due to being a misunderstood little block-headed guy, he gets a lot of crap, especially from my parent's housing management. So hopefully being a certified Canine Good Citizen with his little medallion will give him a pittie leg up!