My friends and I went on the MOST AMAZING road trip to some national parks in the U.S. (Badlands, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton, Redwoods, Crater Lake and Theodore Roosevelt) We also drove the 101 along the Oregon Coast, making a stop at Secret Beach. It is so difficult to post ALL of the amazing photos we captured but I created this gallery post to share the beautiful places we had the opportunity to see and the EPIC experiences I had with my best friends!
The photos are scrambled and not in any particular order so if you have any questions about locations, feel free to reach out to me 🙂 A vlog of my videos will follow soon!
If you happened to stumble across this website and wondered where I’ve been…same.
The last time I published a blog post was 2020, which somehow feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. Since then, life has been busy in all the ways life tends to be. I’ve changed jobs, traveled more, read more books than I can count, and recently decided it was finally time to dust off this little corner of the internet.
So welcome to the new home of my blog: daishaolmeda.com.
I could pretend I’ve spent months carefully planning my return to blogging, but the truth is much less glamorous. I missed writing, and I wanted a place to share things I enjoy.
Sometimes done really is better than perfect.
I haven’t completely disappeared. I still post on YouTube about once a month (give or take), but you’ll usually find me hanging out on Instagram and TikTok. That’s where I share more of my day-to-day life, book recommendations, random thoughts, and whatever I’m currently obsessed with.
I’ll also be updating my LikeToKnowIt again, although these days I’m shopping my own closet more than anything. So while you’ll still find the occasional outfit, don’t be surprised if it slowly turns into a place for my favorite books instead. Honestly, that feels pretty on-brand for me.
Lately, life has been pretty good. I recently returned from an incredible trip to Greece, where I ate amazing food, wandered beautiful islands, and collected enough memories to fuel several future posts.
When I’m not traveling, you’ll probably find me reading. Right now I’m making my way through the Windy City series, and if BookTok has convinced you to pick it up too, we’ll probably get along just fine.
I’m also fully invested in Love Island USA. No shame. It’s summer, it’s entertaining, and yes, I have opinions.
Professionally, I’ve spent the last several years working in process improvement and innovation. It might not sound as exciting as reality TV, but I genuinely love helping organizations work smarter, and I imagine some of those lessons will find their way here too.
Life has changed in other ways as well. I’m in a new chapter, learning to appreciate where I am instead of constantly worrying about where I thought I’d be. It isn’t always what I planned, but it’s been a good reminder that new beginnings don’t have to be dramatic—they can simply start with pressing “Publish.”
So what can you expect here?
Honestly, a little bit of everything.
Books. Travel. Reality TV recaps. Maaaaybe getting back to working out. The occasional donut recommendation (my favorite food, without question). Maybe a few stories from everyday life. Whatever I’m excited about at the moment.
More than anything, I’m hoping this becomes a place where I consistently create instead of waiting until everything feels perfect.
Thanks for stopping by. Here’s to fresh starts, good books, great trips, and finally blogging again.
Does anyone need a GRE study book because… I DON’T NEED MINE ANYMORE! I was officially accepted into the Master of Public Administration program at Cleveland State University (CSU).
Some of you may know that I was taking graduate school classes last year. I was advised to take a few courses as a non-degree seeking student to see if I liked the program and also to see how I’d perform. I did two non-degree semesters, two classes each, and I LOVED them! I managed to end with a 3.75 GPA, which confirmed that I should definitely apply for degree seeking status.
To be extremely candid with you all, my undergraduate GPA was T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E! I did just enough to graduate. Which, unless you plan on going to graduate school or entering a program like Teach for America, is completely acceptable. This was a roadblock for me, though, because nine years after undergrad, I wanted to go to graduate school. This meant that I absolutely needed to score well on my GRE if I wanted to get in.
The GRE has three sections, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. This test is hard to study for, to be quite honest. I used the GRE study book to teach me tactics and vocabulary. It showed me exactly what to look for when reading a passage and answering the multiple choice questions. I listened to vocabulary podcasts to and from work, which is a debatable use of effective study time because I do not believe I saw any of the words on the actual test, but you never know what you’ll get. One thing I knew for sure is that I would still struggle taking this exam regardless what I did to prepare.
Now, I’m not very good at math so I knew that the Quantitative Reasoning portion of the GRE would be my lowest score. I took the advice of one of the staff at CSU. She said to take my statistics (stats) classes first, during non-degree, because students sometimes prolong graduation because they save the stats classes for last and cannot move forward. I took both of the stats courses that I needed prior to taking the GRE and aced them! I think this helped to balance my GRE score, allowing me to be admitted in the end. For anyone looking to apply to graduate school and may in the same boat as I was, I highly suggest going this route and getting the more difficult classes out of the way. I can be a procrastinator at times but in this case, I’m glad I fought the urge to wait on it.
As I was driving to the GRE test, I had a talk with myself. I literally said out loud, “Daisha, you will not know all of the answers so, do not freak out when you have to guess.” This actually helped to ease my mind during the test because I already had it set in my mind that my score will not be perfect and I will just have to pick an answer regardless if I knew it or not. You get your scores before you leave, with the exception of the Analytical Writing section since someone has to actually read it before it’s graded. I was semi-pleased with my scores but that did not stop me from stalking the CSU website for my acceptance or rejection for the next two weeks.
CSU is so amazing because they actually called me when a decision was made. I was so excited to get the call that I was accepted and I really appreciated the personal touch of hearing it over the phone. A couple of days later, I received my official acceptance letter. It felt so good to see it in writing!
I start classes next month and I am SO EXCITED! I actually look forward to hanging out at the coffee shop all day, doing research and writing papers, sitting in class with my new peers, having discussions and just overall using my brain a lot more than usual. What I am most looking forward to is walking across the stage in my cap and gown, showing my son how important higher education is.
I will definitely write more blogs about my graduate school experience and post vlogs on my YouTube channel. However, if any of you are thinking about graduate school or even undergrad, please reach out, I would love to connect with you all on any questions you may have. ❤
A lot of us look at the new year as a new beginning, but fresh starts can happen at any given moment. I’ve always viewed January 1st as just another day because I’d wake up in the same bed, with the same job I had the day before and still using the same excuse of why I didn’t hit the gym! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The changes I make in my life are typically spontaneous.
Now, I’m not a New Year’s Grinch. I love to celebrate the holiday, and I’m still excited for 2018! Next year, I will finally be even closer to starting the Master of Public Administration program, and my shows come back from winter break! Woo Hoo! I’ve just never been eager for a year to end for some reason. My outlook is, you don’t need a new year to debut the new you! Here’s how to adopt this mindset:
Start fresh on a Monday!
Hell, start fresh on a Thursday! If you’ve fallen off the gym wagon, have been eating terribly or just feeling like you need to reorganize your life, start at that moment. Postponing change for the start of a year is just a waste of time and could lead to even more procrastination.
Leave the toxic people in your past now!
I often see posts on social media about leaving certain people in, *insert current year here*. No, leave them now! Toxic friendships and relationships need to end immediately for your well-being and the sake of personal growth.
New Year’s resolutions are for the birds!
Reflect on your personal goals as they come and plan out how you will achieve them at that moment. No new year required! Also, you won’t feel like you’ve failed your resolution if it’s something you’re continuously working on. Revisit your goals frequently, make a list of possible solutions and decide what works and what doesn’t. There’s nothing wrong with being a work in progress.
Don’t use the year to victimize yourself!
A year cannot impact you at all. A year is a calendar of days and the number of times it takes for the Earth to make one revolution of the sun. It is in no way related to your struggles. Yes, it’s possible to have a rough year but get to the root of your issues and find realistic solutions. No need to year-shame. What did 2017 ever do to you? 🙄
I’m all about looking for ways to stay motivated and if the “New Year, New Me,” strategy works for you, who am I to tell you any different? I just want to make sure we’re all seizing the day and making the most out of each moment we’re here. You may not have a tomorrow, next month or next year. Act now, Loves!
P.S. Although I’m not a “New Year, New Me,” partaker, I am still entirely against active gym goers who complain about full gyms at the top of the year. Get over yourself! Don’t hate on people trying to make a change. So what if you have to wait for a treadmill or park far away. They may or may not keep their resolution, but your rudeness is not necessary. Instead, offer encouragement to keep going!
The holiday season is my FAVORITE time of year! I’m just in an overall amazing mood. There’s decorations everywhere, Christmas music is always playing and the best Starbucks holidays drinks are out. Yum! I also love cozy winter gear. What I love most, though, are the HALLMARK CHANNEL CHRISTMAS MOVIES!
I may be outing myself as a huge loser BUT I can’t even count the amount of hours I spend watching these romantic Christmas movies starring the best C-list celebs! I know not everyone has cable so I have put together a list of Netflix movies that are similar to the ones you can catch on Hallmark:
12 Dates of Christmas
Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar
This is another Groundhog’s Day/Christmas Everyday type movie and while this theme is a bit overdone, I still LOVED it! Also, Zach Morris is in it! That makes this an instant classic!
Merry Kissmas
Karissa Lee Staples and Brant Daugherty
Do you miss the extremely attractive Noel Khan from Pretty Little Liars? You can reunite with him for about 90 mins without all of the evil plots and decapitation. (Gross, I know but that’s how he exited PLL.) I promise he survives in this one!
A Christmas Kiss
Elisabeth Röhm and Brendan Fehr
A stranger kisses you under a mistletoe located in an elevator you just walked in. Hmm, sounds creepy but they somehow made it look enticing.
Christmas Belle
Haylie Duff and Nicholas Gonzalez
Listen, Haylie’s acting is not the best but who doesn’t love a corny movie starring one of the gorgeous Duff sisters?
A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale
Jonathan Bennett andLexi Giovagnoli
Grool…Drool, whatevs! It’s not October 3rd but, you can catch Jonathan Bennett in with some furry friends and romance. The best combo!
A Christmas Prince
Rose McIver andBen Lamb
Royalty is all the rage right now with the newly engaged Meghan Markle and Prince Harry plastering the covers of every mag. Continue that theme with this adorable flick!
A Christmas Kiss II
Elisabeth Harnois and Adam Mayfield
If you loved A Christmas Kiss, watch the (completely unrelated) sequel! That mistletoe in the elevator is making more love connections than eHarmony. Jonathan Bennett also plays the super cool best friend in this one. Looks like he’s found himself a life after Mean Girls!
My Santa
Samaire Armstrong andMatthew Lawrence
An O.C. alum AND a Lawrence brother? Psh, my inner teenage girl is melting! I’m sold on this one already!
These are super cheesy and way too predictable but that’s just the way I like them! Now, get started ASAP! January will be here before you know it!
My husband has been telling me amazing things about Brewnuts, a Cleveland donut company started by married couple, Shelley and John Pippen. They have only done pop-up shops for the past few years but they now have their own trendy and cute donut bar on the corner of 65th and Detroit in the up and coming neighborhood of Cleveland’s Gordon Square.Brewnuts has only been open a couple of weeks and my husband has already paid them three or four visits. I finally tagged a long with him last Friday. Donuts are my favorite food so I knew I was going to love this place but it exceeded my expectations.
Because of their growing popularity, they can sell out pretty fast before they’re able to replenish. Cleveland was, clearly, more than ready for them to open up shop. I suggest following them on Instagram so you can track their stock before going. They are really good about reporting when they sell out and what time they’ll have more. It was late in the evening when we went so chocolate frosted (with sprinkles), strawberry frosted (with sprinkles) and Fruity Pebbles were all we had to choose from. I went with Fruity Pebbles, of course, and I was NOT disappointed. It was addicting. If I had not eaten dinner right before we arrived, I could have easily eaten two or three of them! Don’t judge me! Like I said, donuts are my favorite food.
YAAAAAASSSSSS!
Brewnuts is also a bar, giving us the option to order beer or coffee along with their delicious donuts. I am really into the fall season so I also ordered a Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy, although, I was really tempted to order coffee because they brew Phoenix Coffee there. Phoenix is another Cleveland business and it also happens to be my favorite coffee ever!
This is what Heaven looks like
The space itself is so cute! I’ve been eyeing their awesome, neon pink signs since before they opened. I have got to get more photos there! The inside is fun with cool seating. There are tall and short tables and a comfy couch. It reminds me of a vintage soda shop with a modern spin.They also have some artwork by Glen Infante, owner of Ilthy, yet another Cleveland based business. (Cleveland sounds awesome now that I think about it.) A lot of his pieces include a combination of pop culture and pink frosted donuts so, it’s definitely perfect for Brewnuts.
Even their bathroom is cute! So much pink!
I loved it so much that my husband and I woke up bright and early Sunday morning so we could arrive right at 8:00am when they opened. Since we got there so early, we had more of a variety to choose from. I got that coffee I wanted and scored a pumpkin cheesecake filled donut. My husband ordered his favorite, chocolate frosted. SO GOOD!
I highly recommend hitting up Brewnuts as soon as possible. The service is wonderful, the beer is cold, the coffee is hot and the donuts are to die for! I will say that they are more expensive than your average donut shop but they’re just simply NOT you’re average donut shop. You get what you pay for in this case, I promise you!
Here’s a mini look into our experience Friday night.
Starting a new career is so exciting. We apply to countless job postings in effort to move forward, we finally land an interview which could lead to second or even third interviews and then, if we’re lucky, get the call that we have been selected! Awesome, right? While it is a truly awesome thing, it can be very scary to move on.
Shake up your style at your new gig
For me, I had been working at my first Public Relations job for a little over four years. This company was the first in the industry to give me a chance. I am grateful for them. The perks were superb; my co-workers were awesome, I was close to my manager, I got free garage parking in downtown Cleveland, the culture was great, we got free soda, I had nearly 30 days in PTO and the holiday parties were raging! I could probably go on and on about what I left behind but I had learned all I could from the position and capped out at a senior title. I also wanted to go into the nonprofit sector and have a career with more purpose. It was time to go. I luckily landed a Donor Relations position at a local nonprofit that helps people in the community get access to physical and mental healthcare, career coaching and much more. This is the direction I wanted my career to go.
With all that being said, transitioning is hard and I want to give a few tips, speaking from experience, on starting a new job:
Your last paycheck at your previous job will be mailed
This is severely inconvenient but it is standard. Your last paycheck is mailed and could take up to seven days to arrive. This means that you will receive your pay later than usual and will need to either save up money to cover any bills due within that time or just to have money in your pocket. Also keep in mind that there may be a delay in your paycheck at your new job, depending on what point in the pay period you were hired. Having a little cushion in this time will be crucial to your financial well-being.
“In case of doubt, overdress…” until you learn the dress code
My previous job sent me information with my offer letter about the dress code so I was well informed. My current job sent over a handbook and I searched the large document for the dress code policy and found nothing. I dressed business casual on my first day based on what I observed at my interview, to be safe. I learned that day, in orientation, that there wasn’t an official dress code. We were to dress according to department. My department never wears jeans but they don’t wear suits either so, my observation was correct. Pay attention to the people around you and always remember to dress for the position you want. Clothes aren’t everything but they do represent you. You may look a little overdressed at times but that’s not a bad thing. “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”- Oscar Wilde
Come prepared
Bring pens, notebooks, highlighters, a coffee mug, eating utensils and a water cup. Unless told, you don’t know what supplies are available for you. My current job has disposable coffee cups and actually provided us with a company logo water tumbler but I was at least prepared. I also don’t want to be wasteful by using the disposable cups. Having your own mug is eco friendly, y’all! You’ll definitely need to take notes so always have a notebook and pen. I’m a highlighter junkie so I always make sure I have those as well. Being prepared takes away a lot of the first day jitters. Trust me, you’ll feel much more organized.
Arrive ready to learn
Whether you’re entering a new career, like myself, or staying in the same realm, there’s always something to learn. Don’t cut corners on the note taking and take in as much as possible without overwhelming yourself. Remember that it’s okay to ask questions.
Get a lot of rest
With all that learning, you’re going to need your rest. At least for the first couple weeks, turn in early. Tell your friends you have to skip happy hour because you need sleep and can’t afford the hangover! You may become overwhelmed and will need this rest to recharge. Celebrate your first couple weeks at your new job in a couple of Fridays once you have your duties down packed!
Bring your lunch or research restaurants nearby in advance
I like to pack my lunch. If you go this route, pack your lunch in a bag with an ice pack. You don’t know the refrigerator situation until you get there. If this is a new area you’re working in and want to go out for lunch, google some lunch spots in advance so you’re not wasting your lunch hour hunting for something you like.
Observe and/or ask about the rules
If you’re sent a handbook by Human Resources, read it and learn it. Most of your questions about pay periods, rules, regulations and standard operating procedures will be in there. This will avoid you asking the questions and looking like you didn’t read what they gave you. Ask your co-workers or observe what they’re doing when it comes to having your cellphone out, eating at your desk, internet browsing and all of those other little things I’m sure you’re all wondering that may not be listed in the handbook. I’m always afraid to ask those questions so I tend to observe and follow the veterans’ lead on these things.
Look at this as a fresh start
Remember when a new semester would start and we’d say to ourselves, “I’m going to be awesome this semester?” We’d make promises to ourselves, no procrastinating, all A’s, Dean’s List, no partying,” and then we’d eventually fall off the wagon? Go into your new job with this exact attitude and actually execute! This isn’t school, it’s your well-being. It’s how you’ll continue your career, make a name for yourself in the industry and how you’ll take care of your household. Do everything to the best of your ability and use this to accelerate your career.
This isn’t about social media etiquette because I’m an advocate of free speech and support individuals expressing themselves in ways they see fit. This is about more effective ways to feel whole again and seek validation within.
Photo via We Heart ItLikes and follows do not define your self-worth. Instagram is one of my favorite social media platforms as I love to express myself with visuals and enjoy seeing others do the same. In a world of Instagram models and accounts with paid followers and likes, I can see how one would feel the need to measure up. In the grand scheme of things, unless you’re utilizing social media to promote your craft or business, your likes and follows have no real impact on your life, achievements, success, education or happiness. It may feel important at the time but Instagram is one very small fraction of your entire, amazing life. If you like it, that’s all that matters 🙂
Below is a video by Filmmaker Shea Glover posted by HuffPost in December 2015. It’s a two minute message about Shea’s #BreatheBeautiful campaign. Check it out!
Airing your dirty laundry will not resolve issues. In our generation, it can be hard to fight the urge to overshare the details of negative situations in our lives. In the moment, it may feel like venting will make things better but in the end, it could actually make things worse. Remember that not everyone you’re connected to on social media is your friend. There are, sadly, people rooting for you to fail, people who will gossip about you and people who just enjoy seeing others not doing so well. Don’t invite these bad vibes into your life. Take other avenues to improve your situation and mood. Which leads me to my next point.
Cries for help should be directed to someone close to you or a therapist. “Subtweeting” a friend, significant other or ex rarely results in the reaction you are seeking. You can be ignored or create even more conflict. Furthermore, if you’re legitimately crying, having an anxiety attack or going through a rough patch, rather than announcing this to your followers, reach out to a friend, family member or therapist and have a private conversation. They will offer the support you need to talk yourself down. What you might get is attention, which is not the same as support. You may also want to confront that individual head on. Speak to them directly about what’s been bothering you. This method has a better chance of producing good results and you get opportunity to get things off your chest.
The realization that this isn’t the route to go will come with age. I was discussing this subject with a group of my college friends and one of them stated, “When you’re younger, you’re thinking about the one person want to read it. When you’re older, you’re thinking of thousands you don’t.” This statement definitely rang true for me as I just told my husband that my subliminal messages on social media are the past times I wish I could take back from my twenties. #Embarrassed
Attention is a drug. Like most drugs, being under the influence of it feels great at the time but this high will not last. If you’re feeling down or feeling badly about yourself or a certain situation, getting your ego stroked by your followers is a temporary fix. Responses flooding your notifications in reply to a sad status you put up won’t solve the issue, it will only distract you for a brief moment.
This also applies to sharing provocative or nude photos on social media and using the attention to somehow validate yourself. If your body is your art to share with the world, do it! It’s more about motive. Your body and sexuality is sacred and you’ll want to share them with a healthy mindset. If your intention is purely to receive attention because you’re feeling down and want a confidence boost from the social media world, refrain. It can make you feel worse or you may end up regretting it.
Your posts can follow you around forever. We all post things we regret but be mindful that it’s tough to run away from something that’s on the internet. Ask any public figure. Someone can dig this all up. Your photos and posts can be seen by hiring managers when applying for jobs, family members or even the admissions offices when applying for college. You don’t have to be a saint on social media but keep in mind that even if your pages aren’t public, it’s the internet and can be seen regardless. I actually personally know someone who was fired from their job due to Instagram posts.
Social media just doesn’t give you the support you deserve. When seeking validation, you’ll want to work on this within yourself and with people close to you who genuinely want to help you achieve this. Face-to-face communication, social media detoxes and refraining from comparing yourself to others through social media will be the keys to living a more comfortable, happy and confident life. ❤
The Bold Type is Freeform’s new summer show and I am addicted! I was under the assumption that this was going to be your typical young adult drama about privileged, attractive people in the fashion magazine world. I thought the editor-in-cheif, Jacqueline Carlyle, played by Melora Hardin, would be the Miranda Priestly type. I was thinking, “We’ve seen this all before.” I was immediately proven wrong and happy that I gave it a chance. I actually should have known I’d love it because Freeform never fails me; i.e. Pretty Little Liars and Famous in Love. What was I even thinking?
Now, I won’t give any spoilers but let’s meet the cast and their characters!
Jane Sloan, played by Katie Stevens
Andie Anderson, is that you? 😮
You may recognize Katie from MTV’s Faking It! I loved her in that series and I love her even more in TBT. Jane was recently promoted to a writing position at Scarlet Magazine. We follow her journey in getting used to the new, exciting role, proving to Jacqueline that she made the right choice in promoting her and making a name for herself in the writing world. The series is only four episodes in and she’s already grown as a writer, met a new boy toy and has really “come” into her own. (You’ll see why I used quotation marks once you watch the show. That word just has a couple different meanings.) Jane is a great friend, a hard worker and this character can certainly serve as motivation and inspiration to young women in all fields.
Kat Edison, played by Aisha Dee
Looks like Freeform, the artist formally know as ABC Family, loves Aisha because she co-starred in another one of their shows, Chasing Life. Her character, Kat, is the Social Media Director at Scarlet Magazine. What an awesome role! Jealous! Kat is extremely passionate and emotional, in a good way of course. After getting close to someone Scarlet Magazine did a story on, she starts to realize something about herself. She’s tough and stands up for what she believes in. The latest episode featured a scene of her completely kicking ass, literally. This character is definitely the type of friend you’d want in your corner.
Sutton Brady, played by Meghann Fahy
Meghann is best know for her Broadway role in Next to Normal and a reoccurring role in the soap opera, One Live to Live. Her character, Sutton, actually has a background in Finance and is trying to break into the fashion world without having a fashion degree. She’s currently an assistant looking for a promotion, hoping her passion will get her there. She has a pretty steamy office romance with Richard Hunter, played by the extremely hot, Sam Page. This affair is kept under wraps as he is a member of the Board of Directors. Jane and Kat aren’t even in on the secret and her and Jane are roommates. Scandalous!
Jacqueline Carlyle, played by Melora Hardin
I know Melora from The Office but she has had many roles in her career. As I mentioned before, Jacqueline is the Editor-in-Chief at Scarlet and is such a great leader. She’s tough and pushes people but she’s still respectful and actually believes in her staff. Her character is based on the real-life, former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan, Joanna Coles, who also happens to be the Executive Producer of the show. You’ll start to see the similarities of Scarlet and Cosmo the more you watch. Jacqueline wants the magazine to empower young women and inform them of not only fashion but politics, relationships, sex and career. Again, sounds a lot like Cosmo! Her character is inspiring and empowering.
The Bold Type is fun, sexy and you may even learn a little something. You’ll wish you were a part of their crew. I know I do!
Watch the trailer below and binge on Hulu before next week’s new episode!
President Donald Trump dropped a hell of bombshell on Twitter this morning. He announced his decision, made alongside generals and military experts, that the U.S. Government will be banning Transgender individuals from joining the armed forces.
Naturally, I was immediately mortified. Why are we moving backwards? It takes a great deal of bravery and strength to risk one’s life and dedicate oneself to the military. Soldiers are patriots as they love their country so much that they are willing to die for it. Regardless what gender they identify as, the United States of America, the land of the free, should allow them to do so, if they meet all other requirements. I also despise his use of the “burdened”! Trans people are NOT a burden, Mr. President!
I was not alone in these feelings as many people, including celebrities, members of congress, veterans, civilians and Americans currently serving in the military, spoke out immediately against this decision.
Dems took to twitter:
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Joe Biden, Former VP of the United States
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Organizations chimed in:
Vote Vets, organized as a progressive political action committee and non-profit
Women’s March, a women-led movement providing intersectional education on a diverse range of issues and creating entry points for new grassroots activists & organizers to engage in their local communities through trainings, outreach programs and events.
Celebrities also made statements:
Gina Rodriquez, Jane Virgin
Heather Marter, MTV’s The Real World: Las Vegas
Janel Parrish, Pretty Little Liars
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Tessa Thompson, Westworld
Even Republicans spoke out:
“Any American who meets current medical and readiness standards should be allowed to continue serving. There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train, and deploy to leave the military — regardless of their gender identity. We should all be guided by the principle that any American who wants to serve our country and is able to meet the standards should have the opportunity to do so — and should be treated as the patriots they are.”
-Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
““Americans who are qualified and can meet the standards to serve in the military should be afforded that opportunity.”
-Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
“I don’t think we should be discriminating against anyone. Transgender people are people, and deserve the best we can do for them.”
-Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
One of my friends posted the below statement on Facebook:
And my co-worker read me this Facebook post from a friend of hers who currently serves in the military:
And let us not forget Kristen Beck, the Navy SEAL who was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for her time in the service. While she did not disclose at the time she served that she identified as female, she is transgender and she did what she was supposed to do and she did it well. She bravely said to Business Insider today, “Let’s meet face to face and you tell me I’m not worthy. Transgender doesn’t matter. Do your service.”
We’ve made it too far as a nation to start backtracking and how dare he tweet such nonsense.
Daisha Olmeda 