Blaine Stum

Since the first clinic arson incident in 1976 in Eugene, Ore., Planned Parenthood has been under attack.

At the time, I consumed only 1,300-1,400 calories a day while I worked a full time, labor intensive job and had a full class schedule. I didn't see a problem with my habits, but now I realize why I restricted my caloric intake so heavily: I was becoming more and more acquainted with gay male culture, and it's toxic ideal of beauty.

We were hearing a sermon at the Church of White Privilege; and the followers in the Chase Gallery were ready to worship.

For someone without a car, or in my case someone who has difficulty driving more than short distances, having alternative means of transportation is not a nicety, its a necessity.

In Spokane, that translates to roughly 40,000 employees in the civilian workforce who don't have access to paid sick, safe or family leave. These employees are more likely to be poor and people of color, living in communities that lack the same resources as middle class suburbs.

To many, these seem like "isolated incidents" from fringe groups that don't warrant our attention, but to the communities being targeted, they are another reminder that hate lurks everywhere, and violence is only a neighbor away.

pokane is home to a vibrant, resilient trans community. Every single one of them deserves the same dignity, respect and safety that we ask for ourselves.