Since mid March my TDCJ Clients have been waiting for visitation to reopen. During this window of uncertainty and the chaos of a pandemic, I have heard over and over “Covid-19 isn’t real” from people who aren’t medically trained. People have plenty of opinions in the midst of a crisis but as is usually the case little or no solutions.
I’ve never been shy about voicing my beliefs and a few days ago while commenting on one of my friends and a former clients post was attacked by someone who thought he knew me based on my skin color.
Traditionally, I would allow such a shallow minded comment to go unobserved. However since we are now not only in the midst of a pandemic but also a worldwide upset and this idiot “assumed I didn’t care about black lives,” I chose to respond.
After all, who was this guy? What led him to believe that he could or should judge me when my friend and I were discussing the possibility of visitation being reinstated?
An angry person misdirecting his anger at me who ironically had no idea that I’m an advocate for not only prison reform but also bail reform AND I believe in the power of peaceful protest.
For the record, I marched in Fort Worth twice and would have attended other marches but couldn’t due to my schedule.
Unlike many marchers who are more interested in filming their presence at these peaceful protest marches, I chose not to check in or film.
Going live on FB effectively “misses” the entire point of the peaceful protest by focusing on their phone rather than the moment, I chose not to post to social media.
Posting or live feeding at an historic event is in my opinion rude. Not everyone wants their photo or video posted to social media.
People videotaping aren’t asking for permission to publish video or photos. Why? They don’t care. Children have been present at “Fort Worth Friendly Black Lives Matter Protests.” Do parents want their children’s photos all over the internet? Likely the answer is no.
Although Fort Worth is the one major city that has remained peaceful in support of Black Lives Matter, why everyone feels the need to video every aspect of the march rather than focusing on why the match exists and what it’s actually about continues to be evident everywhere we turn from social media to news outlets with teens and young adults videoing everything whether it’s peaceful or far from peaceful.
It’s alarming to me that people and opinions seem to always clash while one side judges the other. I didn’t see any clashing or anger in Fort Worth.
Instead I saw mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers, sons and daughters at Fort Worth marches.
I saw Unity within the Community. I saw people from all walks of life.
So for anyone like the person judging me in FB comments that doesn’t know me and assumed that he did by running over to my public FB Page without bothering to get to know me, my beliefs, my background or my passion for all people, I educated him. I enlightened him.
I let him know that the next time he stereotypes someone that he should ask himself why it’s so easy for him to judge others and reevaluate the need or desire to do so. He finally stopped commenting.
I was willing to go on and on. Why? Because I’m educated enough to debate with people who think they know everything who don’t that’s why.
I’m frequently contacted through DM by people trolling to find a target. These keyboard warriors sitting in their parents basements are bullies.
They love to find someone to attack and of upset. I love to respond to them publicly on my FB Page Prison Weddings With Wendy Wortham.
Nearly all of my keyboard warrior DM trolls message me through my prison page after midnight.
I’m rarely DM’d by trollers on my other main FB Page, Texas Twins Events/The Pawning Planners but occasionally it happens.
Why? Because the person contacting me “doesn’t believe inmates should have the right to marry.”
Or “I don’t believe in LBGT Marriage. I’m strongly opposed.” WHO CARES?! I don’t care. My clients don’t care. Grow up and get a life buddy.
Stop looking for something to be upset about. Stop seeking someone to unload on. I’m busy. Keep your opinions. They are YOUR luggage and YOUR trip.
Still other people want to advise me of “their stand regarding bail or prison reform” through DM’s. Hmm. You can’t silence me buddy. No one can.
There are people sitting in jail who haven’t been convicted of a crime.
These people are incarcerated SOLELY because they are too poor to post a bond. Is that justice? Is that fair? Should poverty define freedom?
If you believe being poor should factor into being just or fair then you have more issues than common sense can remedy.
Time is one thing we can’t ever regain. Time is a priceless commodity. Life is precious.
As we continue to wait for visitation to be reinstated within all of my service area states, I want to once again state for the record I believe in the power of peaceful protests. I believe in speaking for those whose voices cannot be heard.
Social injustice affects everyone. I should also add that I believe there are good police. I’m also aware that there are bad police. I don’t judge any group of people on the actions of one. I never have.
I judge people based on how they treat me. How their actions affect others.
I was sent a photo posted of an officiant who was racist a few days ago. An officiant who backtracked by posting an apology. Yes, I’ve been it. Everyone can stop sending it to me as I was well aware prior to her post of her dim views and position.
I’m also well aware of other officiants who continue to point out that I’m “LBGT Friendly.”
Guess what? If you are on ANY Wendy Wortham website and don’t recognize or realize that I’m VERY public regarding my beliefs and position, you are either blind or illiterate. I can’t solve stupidity. No one can.
What I can do is be who I am. Take it or leave it.
Don’t pretend to be who you aren’t. Your racist rant was well publicized. You know what bothers me the most is when people like you get caught with your pants down and then backtrack with some half ass apology for your own behavior. You posted something that offended everyone. In the midst of a pandemic. In the midst of social injustice. In the midst of people being unemployed for two months with job loss or wage cuts. Keep your insignificant and phony apology.
As for anyone else running around screaming “Wendy Wortham performs gay marriages” you should know ALL of my websites publicly reflect my affiliation with the LBGT community. The word gay is a slur. Stop using it. Grow up and stop gossiping.
Maybe if you’d spend more time on cultivating your business and catering to your clients rather than running around condemning others you might actually have clients. Boom.
I’m well aware that there are racist bigots running around and I’m well aware that there are trolls trying to stir the chili.
What you need to know and understand though is that someone somewhere is always going to be on the other side.
I have a number of clients waiting on paperwork or dates across Texas.
Due to the visitation ban, when we are able to move forward, there is a very strong possibility that I will have stacked clients at numerous Units.
A stacked day means I have 2-8 clients at the same unit on the same day. Please arrive 15 minutes early on wedding day.
Remember to bring your state issued ID and marriage license.
Handwritten vows should be handed to me prior to shakedown. I will hand them back after clearing.
I look forward to seeing all of you very soon at your prison weddings.
As for the bail bondsmen who continue to wish I wouldn’t post accurate truths about the nature of their industry though they can get over themselves…