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 7 No.6 June 2022
Inspired by the words and deeds of Robert F. Kennedy
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1868: A New Measuring Stick?
Dear Friends:
I had drafted an introduction for this month’s Ripple and then on Friday the Supreme Court announced Dobbs v. Jackson. With that, the intro went out the window and I had to write what follows. As a rule, I try to stay apolitical, but sometimes I just need to weigh in, particularly when it's against injustice.
I am appalled that the Supreme Court has literally taken away a right—something that was the law of the land for nearly 50 years. I’m also gravely concerned with the way the Court did it by referencing the rules that existed in America in 1868 when the 14th Amendment was ratified. Is that—the mores and laws of the late 1860’s—now the absolute measuring stick for what’s allowable in the 2020’s? It sure seems like it.
Even worse, I fear what is coming. Justice Thomas signaled as much when he invited reconsideration of fundamental privacy rights around contraception, intimate sexual relations, and marriage equality.
Where is America headed? From my vantage point, it’s quickly moving to a place where a small group of people with immense power will dictate how the majority of Americans can live, even to the point of making intimate bedroom practices illegal. How horrible!
Dobbs, and particularly Justice Thomas’ concurring opinion, has made me even more determined to make a difference in the world. As I write this, some things are brewing in my life—things that I’ll share when you hear from me next. Stay tuned! (As a writer, I just gave you a teaser…Ha.)
Remember, I take July off to recharge, so the next Ripple will show up in mid-August. In the meantime, be well. I care about you!
ellie
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A Virtual Dad Helps Millions | |
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In this month of Father’s Day comes this story of Summer Clayton, a twenty-six-year-old fitness trainer from Mississippi who has created “Proud Dad” videos that nearly three million TikTok followers cherish.
Summer began doing virtual chat videos during the pandemic—he often begins by sitting down with two plates of dinner, one for himself and the other for the viewer, his virtual kid. He begins, “All right, how was your day?” From there, he has a conversation where he asks about the successes and challenges that his viewers experienced that day.
Summer has done other videos, such as on how to shave. And on the day of the horrible Uvalde shooting, he was somber and sat without dinner plates. He said, “Hey, you know, today is kinda a sad day for a lot of people. A lot of people are waking up without a family member there,” he said. “It’s OK to feel sad…I love you all, OK?”
Although the concept of a one-sided conversation might sound unusual, it works—even to the point that Summer receives thousands of direct messages in his inbox asking for advice on a myriad of things. While Summer tries to respond to as many of the messages as possible, he just can’t get to them all.
Of course, this points to the fact that humans crave having someone in their life who cares—even if that person is virtual.
I’m in awe of Summer Clayton and the unbelievable degree of compassion he has for the world at large. He’s proof that using your imagination in combination with technology can be incredibly impactful! Hooray for him and for those he touches!
Here’s a link to Summer’s TikTok videos. Wow. Enjoy!
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Inclusivity Tip of the Month
The Fundamental Meaning of the
Pride Rainbow
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If you’ve attended my Allyship 101 training, you will recall that I cover the various forms of allyship—speaking up, the creation of policies, and the use of symbols.
As it relates to symbols, we talk about the fundamental meaning of the Pride Rainbow. I usually ask attendees to tell me why the rainbow is significant to LGBTQ+ people; often the responses are “pride,” “inclusion,” “belonging,” and “identity.”
I share that yes, while the rainbow means all those things for the LGBTQ+ community, in the most basic, fundamental sense the rainbow connotes safety. As in, “this is a safe place” for anyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or another other identity.
And it’s true—placing a rainbow somewhere (whether on an office door, a waiting room wall, outside a church, or on a flag pole attached to your house) signals that LGBTQ+ humans needn’t worry about being marginalized in that space. Having a rainbow present is assurance that you or the organization understands the need to allow humans to show up in whatever form makes them feel whole.
As America continues to become polarized around “culture issues” (I so hate that phrase—it’s really about humans finally being able to live without marginalization), allyship is incredibly important. Displaying a rainbow is both an act of courage and a form of compassion.
Please consider putting a Pride Rainbow in a space that you inhabit; LGBTQ+ people and their
allies will appreciate it! Moreover, please keep the rainbow visible year-round and not just in June, Pride Month—after all, I’m transgender all twelve months of the year…
In case you’re interested, here’s a link to order Pride Rainbow stickers. Thanks for considering this!
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You may recall a story featured in the April issue of The Ripple about a group of Minneapolis neighbors who were working to help “Ms. Linda” buy her home after her landlord threatened eviction in order to sell the house. Well, the group succeeded in raising more than $250K, and earlier this month Ms. Linda closed on the house! Click here for the details. Also, CNN contributor (and someone who was kind enough to once be on my radio show) John Blake wrote this wonderful story about a white state trooper who prayed with a black man fighting cancer. Then there’s this story of a young man in Chicago who jumped onto train tracks to save someone who fell; his compassion prompted someone else to another act of kindness. Lastly, check out this video of what a young boy does for a friend—time and again, we are reminded that almost all of us, regardless of age, has a good heart! | | |
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June has had me speaking at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska MN—and now I’ve been asked back to “preach” in August when Pastor Dean will be on vacation. How cool is that? I’ve also still been talking to LGBTQ+ kids (one young woman so touched me with a story of being unable to come out as her true self while in our local high school; her tears ripped at my heart). And, along those lines, here’s my June Lavender Magazine piece, “Fading to Black.” | | |
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 | Apart from the Dobbs decision, where else to begin with the pain, especially in this month of Pride? Perhaps it’s this story of how the governing sports body for the Olympics, FINA, has banned all transgender women from swimming competitions. Since then, women’s rugby has jumped on the ban-transwomen bandwagon, and it won’t be long before this ban applies to other Olympic sports…There’s also this story about Tampa Bay Rays players removing the LGBTQ+ rainbow from their uniforms. And too, two weeks ago, the Texas GOP adopted a platform that described LGBTQ+ people as “abnormal” and which stated its opposition to any effort to validate transgender humans. Here’s also a story about a black pastor being arrested for watering his neighbor’s flowers. Finally, see this incredibly depressing story about how half of all Americans predict the U.S. will cease being a democracy and this Atlantic piece about how we’re already two nations—Red and Blue. Gee, if I think about all of this too much my head will explode… | | |
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For this month’s relief, we begin with bears, like these cubs trying to climb onto a hammock, or these pandas having a birthday party. See also this Louisiana bobcat jump a massive gap without any problem. Then there are three goldens and a cat—a must click here! Finally, Ripple reader Jane Birkholz sent me this great video of high school choir students and their tradition of singing the national anthem in a hotel foyer. Beautiful! | | |
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See this story about an ingenious gay Florida curly-haired valedictorian whose school had forbade him from using the word, “gay.” And Megan Rapinoe wasn’t having it about banning transwomen from sports—her words of support are rock star!
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.
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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!
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
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Ellen (Ellie) Krug
319-360-1692
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