Jan 15, 2019
Joshua Tree has long been known
as a place that accepts all comers. Seekers, hippies and the
generally eccentric are welcome to come and be... well, themselves.
It is a community of people, particularly the artistic community,
who will accept you as you are.
A late transitioning
transwoman, Jenelle Weisskopf has found acceptance here - and
reasonable rent. A former member of the Air Force, Jenelle is
a software engineer mainly working from home. Jenelle first came to
the desert presenting as a man and lived in Yucca Valley - her life
was very different then.
Work and life took her away
from the desert to San Diego where, in the last few years, housing
was becoming more and more expensive and some unpleasant incidents
surrounding her gender identity were happening. Two years ago,
after a conversation with a desert friend, Jenelle left San Diego,
returning to the desert.
In this
episode Jenelle talks about how overhearing a conversation
while standing in line at a local convenience store, she found a
local group playing Dungeons and Dragons, inspiring her to create
her own similar game, using Joshua Tree as it's
backdrop.
Jenelle also is finding time to return to
playing the guitar and has many other varied interests, including
home-brewing beer and has fun creating costumes for attending the
annual Gaslight Steampunk Expo in San Diego, reuniting with friends
she has met there in previous years.
We
also talk about the distinct differences she has experienced,
particularly on the job, having presented as both a man and a
woman.
Jenelle ended our podcast conversation with a
beautiful statement, bringing us both to tears.
If we
are here to do anything, it is to love one another and help each
other become the absolute best people we can be.
If
you're a local interested in joining the local D&D game or
Jenelle's game, find her on Instagram @mistressofcheese.
Below
are a few links I mention at the end of this episode.
Thanks
again for your support and here's to another year of stories from
the fantastic women making this desert their home.
To suggest Desert Lady Diaries to
Buzzfeed as
a podcast people should listen to in 2019 - do it by January 18,
2019:
1. Click HERE to go to their site and
mention Desert Lady Diaries in the comment and WHY you recommend it
OR
2. Email: scott.bryan@buzzfeed.com
,put PODCAST in the 'Subject' and tell him why you recommend
it. EVER GRATEFUL!