KATHERINE WALTER dot COM

A MidWestern transgender woman trying to survive in the real life.

What Project 2025 Could Mean for Me

Thinking about the future can feel overwhelming these days, especially as an openly transgender woman preparing to teach high school students. Project 2025—a policy plan from conservative think tanks, including the Heritage Foundation—aims to reshape the federal government in ways that could drastically impact education, public policies, and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. As someone who plans to teach in public schools and who cares deeply about creating safe, inclusive spaces, I can’t help but reflect on what this project might mean for me and for others like me.

At its core, Project 2025 is a conservative “wish list” designed to realign the federal government with what its authors call “traditional” values. Its goals include reducing regulations, diminishing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and limiting certain topics in education. By targeting social policies that they see as overly progressive, the project seeks to roll back recent advancements in LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in areas like healthcare, workplace protections, and public education. The impact of these changes, however, wouldn’t stop at the federal level—they would likely encourage similar initiatives at state and local levels, leading to an even more divided and polarized society. If Project 2025 were to come to fruition, it could make life harder and less safe for transgender individuals, impacting not only my personal life but my professional future as an educator.

One of my greatest concerns is how this project could affect transgender people’s access to healthcare. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), protections were established to ensure that transgender individuals could not be discriminated against in accessing healthcare. However, Project 2025 proposes a major reduction of federal involvement in healthcare, which could make it easier to limit or outright remove these protections. During the Trump administration, attempts were made to roll back these same ACA protections for transgender people, and it’s likely that Project 2025 would pursue similar changes. For transgender people like me, these protections are more than just legal victories—they are crucial for accessing gender-affirming care and basic healthcare without fear of discrimination or refusal of service. Removing them would deepen an already significant barrier, complicating and threatening our ability to receive compassionate care.

Job protections are another concern. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that employment discrimination based on gender identity was prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This decision was a hard-won victory for LGBTQ+ rights, but Project 2025’s agenda could challenge its enforcement. The plan could weaken the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) stance on these protections, creating a situation where LGBTQ+ employees face higher risks of discrimination with fewer resources to turn to. As a transgender woman who is preparing to work in a public high school, the idea that I might lose protections from workplace discrimination or harassment is deeply concerning. Working without a sense of job security or safety because of who I am isn’t just intimidating—it’s destabilizing.

Public visibility and safety for transgender people could also be under threat if Project 2025 becomes reality. Already, certain states are pushing policies that restrict transgender rights, such as banning gender-affirming healthcare for minors, limiting restroom access, and curtailing the use of preferred names and pronouns in schools. Project 2025 could make such state-level restrictions more widespread, creating an increasingly hostile environment for transgender people across the country. The everyday hostility transgender people navigate could become an even greater burden under a government that actively endorses policies to restrict our rights and visibility in public spaces.

In my role as a future teacher, I’m particularly worried about how Project 2025’s education policies could impact schools. In its emphasis on restoring “traditional” values, the project targets what it sees as overly progressive curricula. For many educators, especially LGBTQ+ teachers, this could mean a dramatic shift in what we’re able to say, teach, or discuss with our students. Conservative educational policies have already placed restrictions on discussing topics of gender identity and sexual orientation, and Project 2025 could take this further, curbing the very conversations that help foster empathy and understanding in diverse classrooms. For an openly transgender teacher, this kind of restrictive environment could mean walking a tightrope, avoiding essential discussions on identity and inclusion to avoid professional risk or penalties.

Beyond content restrictions, Project 2025 could also impact teachers’ freedom to express support for LGBTQ+ rights openly. Some recent state-level policies prevent teachers from using a student’s chosen name or pronouns, even if doing so would support a student’s mental health and identity. If a Project 2025-influenced administration encourages such restrictions at the federal level, it would push teachers into a troubling situation. We could face the choice of following rigid policies or being there for our students in ways we know are vital to their well-being. I can imagine the conflict that might arise from trying to be an inclusive, compassionate teacher while navigating policies that could treat such support as unprofessional or even punishable.

A government agenda like Project 2025 could also leave transgender teachers professionally vulnerable. If this project’s policies limit support for LGBTQ+ rights in public education, teachers who openly identify as transgender or who vocally support LGBTQ+ students may find themselves targeted, scrutinized, or penalized. This kind of professional risk could discourage talented, caring teachers from entering or remaining in the field, ultimately harming students who benefit from seeing themselves represented among the adults who guide them.

Despite all the anxieties and uncertainties, Project 2025’s rise has also reminded me of the power of community and resilience. People from all walks of life support diversity and inclusion, and we’re not alone in standing up for an education system that welcomes everyone. There are many of us who are ready to push back against policies that seek to diminish our visibility and rights, and we’re prepared to continue advocating for inclusive schools. The possibility of Project 2025 becoming reality doesn’t just challenge us—it motivates us to strengthen our support networks, raise our voices, and remind others that the values of inclusion and respect are worth fighting for.

While Project 2025 looms as a potentially drastic shift in the government’s approach to transgender rights and public education, I still find hope. Across the country, students, parents, allies, and educators believe in the importance of diversity and inclusion, and together, we can push back against policies that fail to protect our rights. As a future teacher, I am committed to fostering a classroom where all my students feel seen, heard, and valued. Despite the challenges that may come, I am confident that with resilience and community, we can hold on to the progress we’ve made—and keep pushing forward for even more.

Starting to Stream on Twitch

A couple of weeks ago was Spring Break for the district that I am substitute teaching for. I was going to use that time to write, but I ended up streaming on the platform Twitch. I’ve been a viewer for a very long time, maybe seven or eight years. I always thought that I would never stream, but something sparked my interest to start doing it.

I got a new graphics card for my computer since my old one was not being recognized. (It turns out it was not the graphics card, but the motherboard. I had to get that replaced.) The new graphics card had four HDMI outputs. I was thinking of getting a second monitor, but I didn’t know what I would do with it. My thoughts went to streaming. Maybe I could have one monitor to play a game and the other monitor to have my streaming software displayed. I also thought it would be fun to stream some Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO), since I play it almost everyday. I also thought it would be found to have my own emotes when I actually make affiliate with Twitch.

I tried to stream LOTRO, but I didn’t have enough memory to smoothly run the game and stream it at the same time. My computer only has 16G of RAM. I could stream and play the game, but periodically the game would freeze on me. At first I thought it was just normal server lag, but after looking into my memory usage I noticed that was the issue.

I didn’t decide to give up streaming. Rather, I switched games and started to stream Stream Raiders and Marbles on Stream. I wasn’t getting enough viewers for Marbles, so I stuck to just streaming Stream Raiders. I don’t get many viewers, if any at all. I’m still learning how to work with OBS and the Twitch channel in general. It has been fun and exciting so far. I just need to save up money to upgrade my memory so that I can stream the games that I really want to.

ChatGPT: The Last Conclave of the Damned

I asked ChatGPT to write a story if Hitler fled to South America instead of committing suicide. This is what it came up with. 

Chapter 1: The Fugitive

In the depths of the Amazon rainforest, where the dense canopy muffled even the whispers of the wind, Adolf Hitler, the once-feared dictator of Germany, now cowered in solitude. His once-proud mustache now drooped with defeat, and the fire that had once burned in his eyes was now but a smoldering ember. Beside him stood Eva Braun, his loyal companion through thick and thin, her once-vibrant spirit now dulled by the weight of their shared exile.

“Mein Führer,” Eva whispered, her voice barely audible above the chirping of crickets. “How long must we hide like this? How long until we can return to the world and reclaim what is rightfully ours?”

Hitler turned to her, his gaze hollow and haunted. “We must bide our time, Eva. The world may have forgotten us, but we will not be forgotten. We will rise again, like a phoenix from the ashes, and reclaim our rightful place as rulers of the world.”

But even as he spoke the words, Hitler knew that the world had moved on without him. His dreams of conquest and domination lay shattered at his feet, and he was left with nothing but his delusions of grandeur and the bitter taste of defeat.

Chapter 2: The Delusions of the Damned

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, but still Hitler refused to accept the reality of his situation. He spent his days poring over maps and schematics, plotting his triumphant return to power, while Eva watched helplessly from the sidelines, her heart heavy with despair.

One night, as they sat by the flickering light of a campfire, Hitler turned to Eva with a gleam in his eye. “Eva, my dear,” he said, his voice tinged with madness. “Do you know what I have realized? The true secret to our power lies not in armies or weapons, but in the purity of our bloodline. We are the chosen ones, Eva, destined to rule over the lesser races and usher in a new era of prosperity and greatness.”

Eva recoiled in horror at his words, but Hitler pressed on, his voice rising in fervor. “We must seek out others like us, Eva. Others who share our vision of a pure and undefiled world. Together, we will build an army to rival the gods themselves, and nothing will stand in our way.”

But Eva knew that Hitler’s dreams were nothing but the ravings of a madman, and she feared what would become of them if they continued down this dark path.

Chapter 3: The Conclave of the Damned

As the years passed and Hitler’s grip on reality grew ever more tenuous, rumors began to spread throughout the rainforest of a shadowy figure who dwelled deep within its depths. Some whispered that he was a sorcerer, capable of bending the very fabric of reality to his will, while others claimed that he was a god, worshipped by the indigenous tribes as a bringer of death and destruction.

Intrigued by these tales, Hitler set out to find this mysterious figure, convinced that he held the key to unlocking his true potential. And so, accompanied by Eva and a small band of loyal followers, he journeyed deep into the heart of the rainforest, his mind ablaze with visions of power and glory.

Finally, after days of arduous travel, they arrived at their destination: a vast, crumbling temple hidden amidst the tangled undergrowth. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sight of a figure cloaked in shadows, his features obscured by darkness.

“Welcome, Adolf Hitler,” the figure intoned, his voice echoing through the chamber like the tolling of a funeral bell. “I have been expecting you.”

Hitler stepped forward, his eyes blazing with a mixture of fear and excitement. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice trembling with anticipation.

The figure stepped forward into the light, revealing himself to be an ancient shaman, his skin weathered and wrinkled like the bark of an old tree. “I am the guardian of this temple,” he said, his voice heavy with age. “And I have seen the darkness that lurks within your soul, Adolf Hitler. It is a darkness that threatens to consume you, body and soul.”

Hitler scoffed at his words, his arrogance undiminished by the shaman’s warnings. “What do you know of darkness, old man?” he spat. “I have seen the depths of human depravity, and I have embraced it with open arms. I am the master of my own destiny, and nothing you say can change that.”

But the shaman merely shook his head, his expression grave. “You are mistaken, Adolf Hitler. The darkness that you embrace is not your own, but that of a far greater power. It is a power that seeks only to destroy, to consume everything in its path until there is nothing left but ash and dust.”

Hitler laughed, a hollow, mirthless sound that echoed through the chamber like the wail of a lost soul. “And what would you have me do, old man? Renounce my ambitions and cower in fear like a frightened child? No, I will not be swayed by your feeble warnings. I will forge my own destiny, no matter the cost.”

With that, Hitler turned and strode from the chamber, his followers trailing behind him like obedient dogs. But as they disappeared into the darkness of the jungle, the shaman could only watch in sorrow, knowing that he had failed to save them from the darkness that lay ahead.

Chapter 4: The Fall of the Damned

As the years passed, Hitler’s grip on reality grew ever more tenuous, his mind consumed by delusions of grandeur and visions of power. He became increasingly isolated from the world around him, his only companions the ghosts of his past and the whispers of his own madness.

But even as his empire crumbled around him, Hitler refused to accept defeat. He clung to his beliefs with a desperate fervor, convinced that he alone held the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe and ushering in a new era of greatness.

But in the end, it was not the world that brought about Hitler’s downfall, but the darkness that lurked within his own soul. Consumed by his own madness, he descended into a downward spiral of despair and self-destruction, until there was nothing left but a broken shell of the man he had once been.

And so, in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, Adolf Hitler met his end, alone and forgotten by the world he had sought to conquer. But even in death, his legacy lived on, a grim reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the folly of those who seek to play god.

For as long as there are men like Adolf Hitler, there will always be darkness in the world. And it is up to each of us to stand against it, lest we too be consumed by its unforgiving embrace.

Chapter 5: The Discovery

Years passed, and the memory of Adolf Hitler faded into obscurity, buried beneath the sands of time. But for one intrepid anthropologist from England, the legend of the lost dictator remained an irresistible mystery waiting to be unraveled.

Dr. Edward Hastings had spent decades scouring the jungles of South America in search of ancient civilizations and forgotten ruins, but it was not until he stumbled upon a series of cryptic writings hidden deep within the heart of the Amazon that he realized he had stumbled upon something truly extraordinary.

Drawn by an inexplicable sense of curiosity, Dr. Hastings followed the trail of clues left behind by the mysterious author, each one leading him deeper into the heart of the rainforest. And then, one fateful day, he stumbled upon it: the hidden sanctuary of Adolf Hitler.

As he stepped inside the crumbling ruins of the temple, Dr. Hastings could hardly believe his eyes. Everywhere he looked, he saw signs of a once-great civilization brought to ruin by the passage of time. And at the center of it all lay the body of Adolf Hitler, preserved for eternity in a state of eternal repose.

Chapter 6: The Revelations

But it was not just Hitler’s body that Dr. Hastings discovered that day. Hidden amidst the ruins were a series of writings, penned by the dictator himself in the final days of his life. As Dr. Hastings pored over the pages, he found himself drawn into the mind of a madman, consumed by his own delusions of grandeur and visions of power.

But amidst the madness, there were moments of clarity, glimpses of the man behind the monster. And it was here, in these fleeting moments of lucidity, that Dr. Hastings found the true heart of Hitler’s darkness.

But perhaps the most shocking revelation of all came not from Hitler’s writings, but from the lips of Eva Braun herself. For as Dr. Hastings sat by her bedside, listening to her tale of woe, he realized that there was far more to this story than met the eye.

Chapter 7: The Legacy

As Eva Braun’s life ebbed away, she confessed to Dr. Hastings the truth of what had become of Adolf Hitler in the final days of his life. She spoke of his descent into madness, his desperate attempts to cling to power even as the world crumbled around him.

But she also spoke of his humanity, of the man she had once loved and the dreams they had shared together. And as she passed into the great beyond, Dr. Hastings realized that Hitler’s legacy was far more complex than he had ever imagined.

For even in death, Hitler’s shadow loomed large over the world, a grim reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the folly of those who seek to play god. But amidst the darkness, there were moments of light, glimpses of hope that shone through the cracks in the facade.

And it was here, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, that Dr. Edward Hastings came to understand the true meaning of Adolf Hitler’s legacy. For while the man himself may have been lost to the annals of history, his story would live on forever as a cautionary tale of the perils of power and the price of ambition.

First Term at National-Louis University

I just completed my final course for the summer quarter at National Louis University (NLU). I took two classes this quarter and got an “A” in both classes. I’m working on getting my Master at Teaching in Secondary Schools with a concentration in social sciences. I mentioned I was going to start this with a post that I made on May 19, 2023. I never did a post when I started. I’m really terrible at trying to keep up on this blog.

The coursework so far is easier then the graduate study I did at Northern Illinois University (NIU). The textbooks that NLU is assigning us to read is more geared towards an undergraduate student than a graduate student, in my opinion. When I was getting my Master of Arts in Anthropology at NIU we use to read articles from scholarly journals. The textbooks for NLU are not research or anything that in depth. It just glosses over the subject and is written in more layman’s terms.

This was also my first time doing online courses. It seemed odd not to sit in on a lecture in a classroom environment. We didn’t even have video conference calls at all. It was all done a web-based application where you would upload assignments and post in an open forum. It was hard for me to get use to. I still don’t know how I feel about it.

The fall quarter doesn’t start for me until late September, so I have some time to do other things. I’m substitute teaching secondary schools within my district. I think I might be able to substitute teach and take courses at the same time. From what I understand from other people that just recently graduated from the program, it is doable.

ChatGPT: Transgender Politican

I’ve been playing around with ChatGPT. I told it to write a detailed short story about a transgender woman who becomes a very powerful political figure in the near future but is assassinated by a right wing idealist lone gun man. This is what it came up with.

In the near future, amidst a society still grappling with acceptance and understanding, there lived a courageous transgender woman named Amelia Morgan. Her journey was one of resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in the power of change. Amelia’s transformation was not just personal; it was also a testament to the evolving world around her.

As a young child, Amelia had always felt a disconnect between her true self and the expectations society placed upon her. The pain and confusion she experienced only grew as she entered adulthood. Yet, in the face of adversity, Amelia found her voice and discovered an inner strength she never knew she possessed.

With time, Amelia realized that her struggles were not hers alone. She recognized the plight of countless others facing similar battles. Inspired by the possibility of making a difference, she decided to step into the political arena and fight for a world that valued equality, inclusivity, and acceptance.

Amelia’s journey was not easy, as she faced opposition and prejudice at every turn. However, her charisma, intelligence, and unwavering dedication won over hearts and minds. Her authenticity resonated with people from all walks of life, transcending gender and social barriers.

As Amelia rose through the ranks of politics, her influence grew exponentially. She spearheaded groundbreaking legislation that protected the rights of transgender individuals, championed education programs promoting acceptance, and fought tirelessly for equal opportunities in every sector. Amelia’s vision of a fair and compassionate society began to take shape, giving hope to those who had felt marginalized for far too long.

However, her rise to power also caught the attention of those who opposed her progressive ideals. A right-wing idealist, consumed by fear and intolerance, hatched a sinister plan to silence Amelia’s voice forever. This lone gunman believed that by eliminating her, he could quell the growing tide of change and revert society to its previous state of ignorance.

Tragically, on a fateful day when Amelia was addressing a rally of supporters, the lone gunman struck. Chaos ensued as bullets pierced the air, ripping through the fabric of hope that Amelia had so painstakingly woven. The assassination attempt cut short the life of a woman who had become an icon of progress, leaving a void in the hearts of millions.

Amelia’s death sparked a tidal wave of grief and outrage across the nation. People from all walks of life, united by her message of equality, rallied together, determined to carry on her legacy. The tragedy served as a stark reminder that progress often comes at a price, but it also ignited an even stronger resolve to fight for a better future.

Amelia Morgan’s legacy lives on, not only as a transgender pioneer and a powerful political figure but as a symbol of hope and resilience. Her untimely death strengthened the movement for equality, inspiring a new generation of activists to continue her work. And in the hearts of those she touched, Amelia’s spirit remained, a guiding light illuminating the path toward a more inclusive and compassionate world.

It doesn’t have any real substance to it. It is bland and reads like an old textbook. Yet, it still is impressive for an AI to come up with this.

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