Up Schitt's Creek

It's been a long time since I've had this level of obsession for a show/movie/book etc. It used to happen to me all the time. I think it tapered off about 10 years ago, but I've found something new.

I'd been told to watch Schitt's Creek a couple time over the past few years it's been out. I've seen/heard it mentioned on Facebook on occasion. I looked at the premise and didn't think it sounded super interesting. I knew who Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara were, but *shrug*.

And then I started watching and it took exactly two episodes before I was hooked. Lots of shows take much longer than that. Sometimes when I recommend shows, I tell people to skip the whole first season. Not so with this one. It's delightfully funny! Not generally raunchy, and not cheap laughs. Very witty and quick dialogue. There are definitely some (purposefully) cringey moments of situational humor that just makes you want to crawl out of your skin in embarrassment for the character - but they are not the main fare.

The show starts off setting the stage, a family of former billionaires, now penniless living in a rundown rural motel. We get to laugh at them as they try to find their place in the town. So many other shows and movies show the dynamic flipped. We usually see the country folk coming to the big city and bumbling their way around. This change is refreshing.

All of the characters are likable. Even the annoying mayor grows on you over time. It's made very clear from the start that though the Rose's are spoiled and generally selfish, they are not bad people. It wasn't their fault they lost their wealth. The focus becomes the family dynamic and growing their relationships with each other.

Dan Levy, one of the stars and also the show-runner and writer, producer etc, also made a point to normalize queer relationships. His character is originally thought to be gay. Early on, this assumption is challenged and he is revealed to be pansexual. The town is incredibly accepting of his queerness and the creators made a deliberate choice not to allow homophobia to exist in the show. It's really a beautiful thing, especially later in the series.

I think this is the main reason I am so enthralled with the show. It's a basic sitcom. It's hysterical. The characters are compelling. And everything feels real and authentic and beautiful. And being queer is so okay, that it's barely even discussed.

My boyfriend is like a 12 year old when it comes to romance on TV and in movies. He groans and mutters and complains about romantic tension and kissing etc. He did not react that way to this show. To the queer relationships portrayed within. He was giddy with excitement. It's a great thing for us to share. It's lovely and important.

Nearly every other piece of media portraying LGBTQIA+ love is either tragic or a coming out story. I think both have a place, and have some importance, but I think we need to move past that. This show helps in such a huge way.

As I said, it's been a long time since I've had such a deep obsession for a piece of media. I think the last one was Firefly back in college. I was on message boards and I read and wrote heaps of fanfiction about it. Schitt's Creek is like that again, but more personal. I have what feels like a crush on the show itself if not at least one character within it. It's a strange feeling. It makes me want to write again, though I'm afraid to, as I've historically been bad at dialogue and comedy and that's the whole show.

Anyhow, I've kept this as spoiler-free as possible, to hopefully entice anyone who may ready my blog to go watch it immediately and then come talk to me about it because I'm dying to discuss it at length with anyone and everyone.

Some Sad Day Thoughts

I am just sad.

It's not a usual emotion for me. I am generally quite optimistic, if apathetic. But not today.

The inevitability of Trump's nomination was something I was preparing myself for, but I wasn't ready. And it really just scares me. I refuse to think about what will happen come November. Regardless of whether or not he wins, his followers remain.

Besides that, I daftly decided to read the blog of one of my favorite authors -- Orson Scott Card. Now, I've known for some time that, though I adore (most of) his books, I don't agree with him politically. Basically, I should have stayed away. He is Mormon and lives in North Carolina. He doesn't actually agree with the bill, but he is none too friendly toward liberals and those in the LGBT community. It just makes me sad.

And then I read an article about my alma mater, Colorado Christian University. A law was passed some years ago requiring universities to accommodate transgender people according to their preference. CCU has requested to be exempt. And I get it. It's a Christian school. But it does receive some government funding. And it is the name on my diploma. Some students (trans, gay, atheist etc) don't have the option of not attending CCU. Sometimes it's not up to them. Parents often make the decision, hoping perhaps to sway the student, or because they are oblivious. I was one of those. Or became one after a couple years in school. Now, I do not hate CCU, or resent my time there. I met many of my current good friends during those four years. I had great professors and a good education (if a bit lacking in some areas.) It's just that rules like this are what make the suicide rates among young trans (and other queer) people rise. It is this sort of misunderstanding. This sort of "morality". This sort of dehumanization. Because that is what it is: dehumanizing. For a group of people (Christians) claiming to be full of love and forgiveness, they seem to often fall short of recognizing that other people exist.

I do exist. I attended CCU before I came out to even myself as anything other than a straight female. Yet I exclusively wore clothing purchased from the men's section. I kept my hair short. I was into adventure and video games and some other "male" things instead of "female" things. (Those are in quotes because I don't believe that interests are gendered.) However, according to the lifestyle expectations at CCU, "members of the CCU community are expected to refrain from engaging in, advocating, teaching, supporting, encouraging, defending, or excusing homosexuality, transvestitism, transvestite behavior, transgenderism and transgender behavior. (The link is for employees, but I assure you there is a similar covenant for students.) Technically, I fell under that, and have for at least 20 years of my life. But transmasculine people are often overlooked. I was not a guy in a dress, so I guess it was fine.

I am considering writing a letter to CCU as an alumnus (not alumna!), telling them a bit about myself. I doubt it would get anywhere, but perhaps it would make me feel better. I think I'll start by requesting my name be changed on my transcripts.

So today I feel the effects of oppression, though not first hand. I have never felt threatened or in any way unsafe due to my gender or sexuality. I have felt bad about myself, unsure at times, but I have never seriously contemplated suicide or serious self-harm. But I am rare among my peers (trans people have around a 50% rate of suicide attempts.) For that I am thankful, but I am one among many. And we are people. When this bill was enacted in North Carolina, the suicide hotlines blew up. People are despairing.

When I was first coming out it was difficult to find resources. It was difficult to be recognized. I was off the radar. Now trans people are in the media. And representation is fantastic, but it's drawing a lot of hate toward us. First we didn't exist, now we are actively hated. It hurts.

I am human. Please see that. We are human. We deserve at least a modicum of respect. We deserve access to healthcare, public restrooms, public spaces in general, religious universities, secular universities, jobs, houses, on and on and on.

Just like everyone else.

Win some, Lose some.

While I am happy that DOMA is now defunct, I must say that marriage is not and has never been my schtick. It's nice to see some equality happen, but it's only the bare minimum.

The same day that the Supreme Court ruled on DOMA they also struck down part of the voting rights law. This is the one that came about through the civil right movement. You know, the one that allowed people of color equal voting rights. The changes don't make it legal to discriminate or limit anyone from voting, but some of the protections are now gone.

Okay, that's a bit of a sidetrack, but still important. What I really want to say is while marriage is not my fight, trans issues are. Not in a militant way, but they are simply more important to me and should not be left out of equality discussions. 

On his show, Colbert brought up that with all of this recent coverage of LGBT rights etc, people are starting to wonder what the last two letters mean. Specifically the T. Sure, people know what it stands for, but not what it means. Even LGB people often don't think the T should be a part of the movement. 

I don't like to play the victim card, because I don't see myself as a victim. However, I do know that many- if not most- trans people are victims. Victims of hate, physical violence, sexual violence, self-hate and all forms of discrimination. And yet there are very few actual laws protecting trans people. In fact, in the UK it's a criminal offense to be a trans person and have sex without disclosing one's status. This is horrendous and unsafe. There are numerous cases of physical violence going unpunished because of the "gay defense." Basically, turning homophobia and transphobia into self-defense. And the opposite. A trans woman defended herself from physical racial and transphobic violence and ended up in prison for murder. A male prison I might add.

These are things that not everyone hears about. These are inhumanities happening right under out noses. And while I'm not generally outspoken about all of this, I think I need to be; more people need to be.

So while I celebrate a bit of a victory for the LGBT community regarding federally recognized marriages, my heart still aches for those who are fired, beaten, killed, homeless, hungry, unemployed and suicidal due to their gender identities.

(If you want sources for any of the things I've mentioned, just ask.