@ Jim's Whim

A Texan transplant recently relocated from NYC to St. Louis, MO, simply trying to make the world a better place...'cause I'm a superhero like that.

[socialnetworkhell]

Women: I would prefer to be with a man who doesn’t abuse me, isn’t an addict, doesn’t cheat, bathes Journalist: WHAT A BRUTAL LIST OF DEMANDS

[buzzfeedlgbt]

👏PARENTS 👏 AT 👏 PRIDE (x)

[jims-whim]

Just had to.

[laughingsquid]

A Visual Size Comparison of a Star Wars Super Star Destroyer and Manhattan

[pumpkin-space-traveler]

How’d they get it there??

[butchflirt]

Flew

[jims-whim]

So, what you’re saying is: parking is going to be a bitch?

[wnq-anonymous]

You don’t realize how lonely you are until it’s the end of the day and you have a bunch of things to talk about, but no one to tell them to.

Anonymous (via wnq-anonymous)

[jims-whim]

Imagine dozens & dozens of postcards like this arriving in the White House mail! That’s just what’s will happen when you donate to the Pride through Education, Networks, & Civic Engagement (PENCE) Campaign from Missouri Courage Scholarship. Every dollar raised will fund scholarships for #LGBTQ students and allies creating change in their schools and communities through education, outreach, and community organizing. Donate today! https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/mcs-pence-campaign?source=direct_link&

[jims-whim]

Missouri Courage Scholarship (MCS) is proud to announce the Pride through Education, Networks & Civic Engagement (PENCE) Campaign to fund awards for #LGBTQ students and allies who create change in their schools and communities. For each donation, MCS will send a postcard to the White House with a simple message: “I support LGBTQ students and their rights. So should you.” Donate here: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/mcs-pence-campaign?source=direct_link&

[jims-whim]

Visit Original Link

I’ve had some folks asking to hear this, so...here you go. Yep, that’s me.

[jims-whim]

I've noticed a lot of questioning today about why we marched in the Women’s March, so I'd like to outline my own reasons. I hope they might resonate with you on some level:

1: Protest -- I wholeheartedly agree with civil rights icon, John Lewis, in that we have an illegitimate President. There is far too much evidence of outside influence in this man's election and I feel it is being overlooked and dismissed.

2: Solidarity -- I needed to feel part of something bigger. I needed the acknowledgment that I am not alone, even in a very red state. To be amongst a crowd of 20K+ was empowering, similar to what I felt in DC during the Equality March in 2009. To paraphrase my dear friend, Ge ... Today's March was about, "...free speech. I celebrate the rights women and minorities have fought for and gained in this country while stating incontrovertibly that we will not see those rights eroded under this administration."

And 3: I marched for the future. I marched for the young women who have yet to gain their voice in our society. For Fiona, and Lauren, and Amelia, and Maegan, and Rachel, and Bailey, and Jessica, and Alia, and Maya, and all of the other little, future women who will one day soon rule our country.

[jims-whim]

Not for nothin’, but Caroline and I could be BFFs.  Of this, I have no doubt.

[jims-whim]

As I celebrate forty*#@& years on this planet today, I have to say: I'm pretty damn glad to be here.

I have lost my youthful optimism, but...I've gained incredible knowledge and valuable insight from every experience, both good & bad, through all of those years.

I don't look as good as I used to, but...I have earned every last one of my wrinkles, scars, and extra pounds through years of blood, sweat, laughter, tears, and uncontrollable giggles.

I'm not quite as passionate about things as I was in my youth, but...my empathy has increased a thousandfold and I care deeper and harder for others than I ever could have back then.

I try not to dwell in the past, and I've learned (the hard way) to never put much faith in the future. So, this is me...now.

And I'm pretty damn glad to be here.

[jims-whim]

This is just...absolutely breathtaking. Leave it to Matt Alber to break my heart into a thousand little pieces...again. #NowPlaying Soon Ah Will Be Done / I Wanna Die Easy

[jims-whim]

Happy Mother’s Day

From 2011...

If you follow my posts here at all, you know I’ve been going through a lot of stuff with my family--my brother and his wife mostly.  I’m trying to work through a lot of stuff and get past some pain that goes far back in my life.  It’s a process and can’t be rushed, unfortunately.  Bearing that in mind, I’m sure you can appreciate how meaningful this message from my Mother is to me:

Son, I want you to know the biggest mistake I have made in my life has to do with not supporting you when you ”came out” to me.   I regret that more than you can know, but I want you to know.  I am not proud of how I handled it at the time and continued to handle it with not telling the family, [your stepfather] in particular.  I know we talked about why I didn’t want [him] to know but in hindsight that was a useless denial.  At the time I thought I was helping you but in hindsight it did not support you in a way that you “really” needed.  I fear that my mistake has led to a lot of feelings about yourself and your life that have been detrimental to you.  I am SO SORRY about that error in judgment on my part.  I know the words “I’m sorry” do not take away the hurt or harm that have been done to you.  I ask you to forgive me but I don’t know that I will ever forgive myself.  My worse fear, I think, has come about that my actions have caused you to make a huge error in judgment that has led to your contracting HIV.  You have to live with this and I can do nothing about it, which is a constant frustration on my part.

I have told you how proud I am of you, and that you are the strongest person I know, and I am glad to have you as my son. Something I have not told you is […] how I think about you and have asked myself why some guy has not snatched you up.  You are handsome, strong, and loyal in your relationships, show great courage in dealing with life, have a great sense of humor, and are a “GREAT” cook.  Who could ask for more?  I have shared with you before that I would like nothing more than to see you in a relationship with someone that cares about you and whom you care about.

I also want you to know if you need to “lash out” at me I’m okay with that. You may be thinking you shouldn’t have these feelings toward your mother but they are warranted.  If it helps you to release some of the anger that I hear from you, then please direct it at me.  I didn’t do right by you and I will be forever sorry. I hope you know you will always have my love and support. I love you and I am glad you are my son.  I can only hope to be as good a mother.

So...why do I share such a personal exchange from my mother?

I want anyone who’s struggling with coming out, or family relationships, or gaining the support they need from parents & loved ones, to know that there is hope.  Even if things don’t seem so, and they don’t go as you’d like, they can (and usually will) change.  It’s worth it to try.  If nothing else, please believe me when I tell you this is true…

It Gets Better

[jims-whim]

Dear President McCormick,

My name is Jim Swimm. I’m a 39-year old man living in the Inwood community here in New York, NY, the area where Tyler Clementi’s body was found on Sept. 29th. I was the first person to see Tyler’s life-less body floating along the banks of the Harlem River. It was a…

[jims-whim]

My first post from 4 years ago today. Life has taken A LOT of wild turns since then.

[jims-whim]

"Believing that homosexuality is a sin doesn't make you a bigot. Thinking we don't deserve equal rights because of this belief does."

[jims-whim]

[jims-whim]

OK, I get the message, Tumblr.

I think I've deleted all of my music posts.

[jims-whim]

The costumes, the hair, the choreography... I just can't.