Wilma Checkleare was born
out of the humor and ownership of my financial situation, while and showing laughter and positivity. I believe poking fun at yourself is truly ones sword and your shield through life. By taking this veil, I complete the Gay Trinity of Beauty and Equality... Dale is a Chubby Bear and Pup enthusiast, Pandora St. James is a Drag Queen, and Wilma is a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence..... together, my form a force of love, humor, and fabulosity that the world is just not ready for yet...
My main objective I hope to achieve by adopting the mantle of Wilma is to continue a mission that governs me, to help create a place and a community where everyone is welcome at the table. In college, I was the president of the gay/straight student organization known as ACE League... We strove to create a social environment where everyone felt welcomed and celebrated. Our student group grew to be over 60 strong with a core of about 30 that were actively involved in and around campus and a lot of great events were born out of that.
Out of the three organizations I am now involved in, it's the Sisters that have the most direct impact in the community. We all raise money, the ICK does some outreach and some of the members have formed outside gatherings that do community services... but it's the Sisters that are IN the community and showing the youth that they are beautiful, showing them that life gets better and is a reason to celebrate yourself and be proud of your uniqueness... It is the Sisters that engage and attract people by distracting them from the terrible things happening around them while forcing them to acknowledge those same things at the same time but in a more beautiful environment.
It's this direct interaction and opportunity for so many powerful things to happen that makes me proud to be a postulate member in the hen house and makes me excited to see how I fit and flourish within the fold. I have witnessed just how powerful these interactions can be (foreshadowing muy observation project) and I have seen how life changing they can be.
As Wilma, I hope to be a face that is welcoming, ears that truly listen, arms that will protect and comfort, and a heart that is healing to others. I want to make a pup who has had a bad day laugh, encourage a trans kid to live their truth, comfort the grieving partner who just lost their love and fight any power who says we are anything less than fucking fierce individuals who all deserve a life lived in the light (should we choose to) without fear or hesitation.
As a sister, I am continuing my own journey of my fully realized self, with every event and activity, I am reformed and transformed into a higher being. I do falter from time to time, but it's the community that rushes in to rebuild and I owe nothing less that my best in return. The court brought me to Lexington, the Bears kept me safe here, and I believe that it’s the Sisters that will help me thrive here.
Submitted for approval of the midnight society, I call this tale....