Susie Webster-Toleno

Concern over trans people competing in chess is misplaced

Thank you to Kira Storm for taking the time to share her perspective. I had heard passing reference to the policy change of FIDE (the International Chess Federation), but knowing nothing about that world, I didn't have any context.

I especially appreciate her raising the double standard in the decision around trans women versus trans men - stripping prizes won by trans men when they were living as girls or women does seem punitive indeed (just cruelty for its own sake, I guess).

I don't have any lived experience as a person transitioning, but my gut tells me that anytime we worry that people will change their gender identity in hopes of winning some competition or another, that's a misplaced fear.

Being trans in this world is so heavily penalized as to be dangerous. I genuinely doubt that anyone would enter into the danger and hate which transfolk face to win a coveted trophy.

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I am angry

People who theoretically share my faith path use God’s name to shame people who have already been traumatized and that they put forth a narrative of a judgmental God

On May 3, I attended an impromptu rally/protest focusing on reproductive rights. I was wearing my clergy collar - not by chance. I was interviewed briefly by the Brattleboro Reformer, I suspect because the photographer had just been covering the other gathering across the street from Planned Parenthood. A...

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I am angry

People who theoretically share my faith path use God’s name to shame people who have already been traumatized and that they put forth a narrative of a judgmental God

On May 3, I attended an impromptu rally/protest focusing on reproductive rights. I was wearing my clergy collar - not by chance. I was interviewed briefly by the Brattleboro Reformer, I suspect because the photographer had just been covering the other gathering across the street from Planned Parenthood. A...

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Scorn, everywhere

I recently had the opportunity to counsel a young couple who are considering getting married. I was tickled to be asked for feedback, as so often brides and grooms are more focused on the wedding celebration than on contemplating what it's like to be in a day-in/day-out, committed relationship that they hope will last for many decades. Like the relationship of a couple who were both nearing end of life in their 90s, having been married at a very young...

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Our kids, in the comments cesspool

In the wake of the recent well-publicized walkouts at schools around the country, I made the mistake of reading comments on the social-media links to stories covering the events. Not surprisingly, this was not the path to personal internal peace. I read comments about how disrespectful and uninformed “kids today” are. Ironically, most of those comments were made in incredibly inflammatory language, with dismissive tones, and with a real lack of actual information about the viewpoints and knowledge bases of...

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Why is this guy so angry?

My friend Stephanie recently took a photo of the truck in front of her. Its rear window decals included “Trump,” “Brothers in Arms,” a graphic of an AR-15 rifle, and the message “White, Straight, Armed, and Pissed.” That was her view during her commute as she listened to radio coverage with interviews of students who survived the latest mass school shooting in our fair land, and stories of those who didn't. My first reaction to seeing her Facebook post was...

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What good is it to pray?

It might well be that I spend too much energy and care on interactions with people - some actual friends, some who are nearly strangers to me - whom I encounter on social media (mostly Facebook). These online connections run the gamut politically and culturally, and in terms of their spiritual lives, too. Most of the time, I'm grateful for, or at least tolerant of, those differences. Diversity really is a source of richness, of course. But it's events like...

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When should a church take a stand?

On July 23, our United Church of Christ congregation in Westminster West received our “Black Lives Matter” lawn sign and placed it in a visible spot on our land. On July 26, I interrupted a man as he was taking it away. I had just participated in a memorial service for two of this man's relatives (whom I've since been assured would have been supportive of the sign and appalled at his behavior). I was shocked that he would do...

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