Published in the May 2025 Edition
By Karen Kendra Holmes
Welcome readers to “Sounding OFF with Karen” and my pronouns are She Her Hers. I will be your writer and advocate for the column. I am very happy to be writing for Maryland OUTLoud Magazine.
About three weeks ago I was placed on Administration Leave due to DOGE coming into my agency. I have worked in DC, now for 23 years and 11 months. I am so tired of the ups and downs of what this Administration has done and not thinking of what some Federal Agencies have and are doing with programs to help people in need. Coming to peace with what is happening, I am happier now and my soul is at peace and my plan to retire this year. Getting paperwork filled out and calling the bank to set up accounts to roll over funds. I had no idea my plans would change a year-half earlier. God reminded me today while I was at Staples, “For I Know the Plans I Have For You” (Jeremiah 23:11).
Now to get to my really pissed off issue to sound off about. Why the hell is President Trump so fixed on the Transgender Community. I am so tired of it. All I hear every other day is FOX News on Transgender Women in Cis-Gender Women sports or Transgender People in the Military. I wonder what Caitlyn Jenner thinks about #47 and his attacks on our community. We have awesome people who are Transgender military, police, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, politicians, etc. I am sure #47 hasn’t really talked with a Transgender person to know who we are. We are not killing or raping women or children at any time, and reports shows that. Transgender people just want to live a happy life. Please leave the transgender people alone we are not hurting YOU!!! To #47 keep doing what you do getting rid of MS13 and other gang members who are hurting, raping, shooting, and killing people. The people who have come into this country illegally. So, #47 only wants to say there is only two genders Male and Female, well Mr. #47 I am Female, fully transition and there is nothing you can do about it. I know some of you cannot afford SRS because of health or medical reasons. Know who you are in your mind, heart, and soul, you are female. Remember to yourself that You are Loved. You Know Your Worth. You can Make a Difference. So, learn from your Challenges, and You will Succeed and Most of All Believe in Yourself!
Now to the military issue, which is only a problem with #47 and Pete Hegseth who don’t want Transgender people in the military. As for #47 he has never served and has no idea what it takes to serve and put his life on the line for others in this country. We joined to serve our country and protect the rights of others. I remember attending at the University of Maryland and being a part of ROTC Airforce. I left and transferred schools leaving ROTC then, which then changed the course and path of my life. Again, being reminded “For I Know the Plans I Have For You” (Jeremiah 23:11), doing what I do today serving other in my community. Being in the military we learn all types of skills to be the best soldier the country has. #47, we have those soldiers in all branches who can do the things you could never do to protect this country. Taking away our rights to serve is not and will not stop us from being our True Selves. We all are like a story book, just because the cover has changed, we are still the same story inside.
Now to end my Sounding Off this article issue is #47 taking a 400M luxury Qatar Jet Plane as gift is unbelievable, did he not take OGC training class on what he can accept as a gift as a Federal Employee. I really can’t believe the White House will allow something like this that NO Oher Federal Employee can do as a federal employee cannot accept anything over $20.00. Hummm it looks like that value will go up if #47 gets and keeps the plane after his term. Every federal employee should be going nuts of what we are held to. I am sure a lot of Federal Employee would say, “I would be stupid to turn a gift down, when #47 does not”.
Until next time stay safe out there and again my email address is: karen@marylandoutloud.com. You can also catch me on my podcast on Fridays “The Fireplace Chat” at 3pm E.S.T. on Facebook live under Karen Kendra Holmes. Until next time Sound OFF with Karen.