I've said before, on numerous occasions, that I am not particularly religious. But I belong to a community which does not experience wide-ranging acceptance. We are excluded more often than not.

So it should not be a surprise when I highlight any call for us to be welcomed into any community.

Bishop Gene Robinson, who is now a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, has written and published Transgender Welcome: A Bishop Makes the Case for Affirmation. According to the CAP reuse policy, I may publish Bishop Robinson's document in its entirety if I follow a few rules.

Thisdocument was published by the Center for American Progress

This document is a love letter to the transgender community, both a “thank you” and a “welcome” to transgender people. It comes out of my experience of learning so much—about sexuality, gender, and myself—from transgender people. It springs from my belief that God is enriching the lives of us all by bringing transgender people and their insights into our experience and understandings. This resource is an attempt to recognize transgender people as the gift they are to our understanding of God and God’s love.

God is up to something, as God often is! And this time, it’s personal.

Hey! Good Evening!

This evening's music features "The Poet of the Blues," Percy Mayfield. Enjoy!

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Thursday January 20, 1916
From The Outlook: Speculations on Causes of Youngstown Strike & Riot

From The Outlook of January 19th:

YOUNGSTOWN: THE STRIKE
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Ohio National Guard on duty in ruins of East Youngstown.
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If it is true, and we have not seen it contradicted, that the battle in Youngstown, Ohio, in which several men were shot dead and many others wounded was one between detectives hired by employers, and strikers, and was on the public street, then that fight and those deaths were a disgrace to town, county, and State. Private detectives, hired by one party to a quarrel, are not the guardians of public order; they correspond rather to the paid bravos of mediaeval private war.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/01/20/1472177/-More-of-the-same-from-...

We get a break from the high school crowd chanting "Omigod Sanders criticized Planned Parenthood!" A lot of people in the comments section reflecting upon their crap experiences with NGOs.

The rise of Sanders and Trump (i.e. political outsiders) has coincided with the rise of self-described "independents".

Occasionally there are reminders of days long past...days that have receded into the fog of my past. A name might pop up here or there...reminding me that we corresponded with each other once upon a long time ago...that one or both of us might have been exploring a new life...or at least the possibility of one. Our names might even have been different then.

Hey! Good Evening!

This evening's music features early blues guitarist and singer Crying Sam Collins. Enjoy!

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Wednesday January 19, 1916
Chicago, Illinois - Report by George P West Exposes Conditions at Youngstown

From The Day Book of January 18th: