She didn’t set out to be a hero

A few years ago Aimee Stephens told her employer she was transitioning from male to female. She was fired. I’ve heard a lot about this case because her employer is a funeral home less than five miles from my house. The local gay newspaper Between the Lines covered every step of the case. Stephens’ case has been heard by the Supreme Court. A ruling is expected by the end of June.

Alas, Stephens won’t see it. She died today. She was 59. We honor her as a trailblazer. She didn’t set out to be a hero. She just wanted it known that what happened to her was wrong.



Jenn Budd tweeted a thread about what she, as a woman, went through when she applied to serve in the Border Patrol. It was a hellish experience. I won’t repeat here all she had to go through. She is now an immigrant rights activist.

I mention it as a way to show the Border Patrol is a supremacist organization. They act supremacist against women, inflicting harsh oppression. So they act supremacist against immigrants, inflict harsh oppression. They are likely attracted to the job so they could inflict that oppression.

I’m aware this was the case well before the nasty guy was their boss, though he is encouraging it through his example.



Every so often someone on Twitter comes up with a game. I’ve reported on some of these. The one for today was proposed by Alexandra Erin and is simple: “Add ‘Except at Waffle House.’ to the opening of a book.”

The one I immediately thought of and a couple people offered: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Except at Waffle House.”

A couple more…

Michael F: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Except at Waffle House.”

The Hero of Tomorrow: “Call me Ishmael. Except at Waffle House.”

ValarMorDollars:

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Execpt at Waffle House.