JamieDee.Celebrant

🍂🍁Autumn is just around the corner 🍁🍂
I'm offering special ceremony packages throughout the Lehigh Valley and Pocono region!
Weekends book fast, so call now to reserve your date!
Mid-week specials and personalized elopements available!
484.935.3138 office or 703.727.0181 cell

I'm in historic Occoquan waiting on a friend for coffee before the wedding I'm performing today right up the road from here. I'm flooded with emotions and missing my soul sister Shawn... she used to live very close to here and this was a favorite place for us to just hang out.
🥺🥰

If you think an answer is as simple as either A or B, black or white, male or female, good or bad, you couldn't be more wrong. Most of life are shared of grey.
Here is just one example...

On biological s*x: Open Ocean Exploration
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS!

Rebecca is a biologist and an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Asheville USA.

She writes,

“Friendly neighborhood biologist here. I see a lot of people are talking about biological s*xes and gender right now. Lots of folks make biological s*x s*x seem really simple. Well, since it’s so simple, let’s find the biological roots, shall we? Let’s talk about s*x...[a thread]

If you know a bit about biology you will probably say that biological s*x is caused by chromosomes, XX and you’re female, XY and you’re male. This is “chromosomal s*x” but is it “biological s*x”? Well...

Turns out there is only ONE GENE on the Y chromosome that really matters to s*x. It’s called the SRY gene. During human embryonic development the SRY protein turns on male-associated genes. Having an SRY gene makes you “genetically male”. But is this “biological s*x”?

Sometimes that SRY gene pops off the Y chromosome and over to an X chromosome. Surprise! So now you’ve got an X with an SRY and a Y without an SRY. What does this mean?

A Y with no SRY means physically you’re female, chromosomally you’re male (XY) and genetically you’re female (no SRY). An X with an SRY means you’re physically male, chromsomally female (XX) and genetically male (SRY). But biological s*x is simple! There must be another answer...

Sex-related genes ultimately turn on hormones in specifics areas on the body, and reception of those hormones by cells throughout the body. Is this the root of “biological s*x”??

“Hormonal male” means you produce ‘normal’ levels of male-associated hormones. Except some percentage of females will have higher levels of ‘male’ hormones than some percentage of males. Ditto ditto ‘female’ hormones. And...
..if you’re developing, your body may not produce enough hormones for your genetic s*x. Leading you to be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally non-binary, and physically non-binary. Well, except cells have something to say about this...

Maybe cells are the answer to “biological s*x”?? Right?? Cells have receptors that “hear” the signal from s*x hormones. But sometimes those receptors don’t work. Like a mobile phone that’s on “do not disturb’. Call and cell, they will not answer.

What does this all mean?

It means you may be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally male/female/non-binary, with cells that may or may not hear the male/female/non-binary call, and all this leading to a body that can be male/non-binary/female.

Try out some combinations for yourself. Notice how confusing it gets? Can you point to what the absolute cause of biological s*x is? Is it fair to judge people by it?

Of course you could try appealing to the numbers. “Most people are either male or female” you say. Except that as a biologist professor I will tell you...

The reason I don’t have my students look at their own chromosome in class is because people could learn that their chromosomal s*x doesn’t match their physical s*x, and learning that in the middle of a 10-point assignment is JUST NOT THE TIME.

Biological s*x is complicated. Before you discriminate against someone on the basis of “biological s*x” & identity, ask yourself: have you seen YOUR chromosomes? Do you know the genes of the people you love? The hormones of the people you work with? The state of their cells?

Since the answer will obviously be no, please be kind, respect people’s right to tell you who they are, and remember that you don’t have all the answers. Again: biology is complicated. Kindness and respect don’t have to be.'

Note: Biological classifications exist. XX, XY, XXY XXYY and all manner of variation which is why s*x isn't classified as binary. You can't have a binary classification system with more than two configurations even if two of those configurations are more common than others.

Biology is a sh*tshow.

Be kind to people.

Hottest trends for weddings in 2024.. what's #1 you ask? Celebrant led custom ceremonies!

Hitched Wedding Trends Report: 11 Key Trends for 2024 Wondering what the biggest wedding trends will be for 2024 and beyond? We've got the biggest wedding trends for the year ahead right here

Donna Forsythe, our Fearless leader of Celebrant Academy and our Celebrant Retreat, hired personal chef, Lee Beale to create a delightful culinary experience for our final evening together. As someone who knows more than a little something about catering and personal chefs through my previous line of work, I was utterly delighted and impressed by not only the beautiful presentations, but the incredibly delectable courses we were served.
First course: freshly foraged chanterelles sauteed in garlic & butter on top of homemade crostinis🤤, served with a side salad of local greens & veggies
2nd course: caramelized onion soup 🤤
Main Course: seared sea bass with carrots, green beans, and potato dauphinois over a green pea sauce 🤤
Dessert: A treacle-ginger cake (similar to a sticky pudding) with caramel sauce
*homemade Tablets followed

What a fabulously connective and educational journey this was! I especially loved learning from & with our Humanist Society Scotland colleagues!

Celebrant Retreats is a post-graduate program available to our Masters Certificate holders. Traveling together adds a new, chosen-chapter to their education. It is just one LIFE-CHANGING benefit of joining our community!
www.celebrantacademy.org/celebrant-retreats

I had the distinct pleasure of performing a ceremony for an amazing couple today at Woodsgate @ Stroudsmoor Country Inn. Angel & Peadar, your vows could not have been more touching and personal... a true testament to your love. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your love story ❤️

Jay & Shawn, may the sun shine upon you, may the moon move the tides of your emotions with grace and magic; may your hearts sing, may your hearth always be warm, and may your days be filled with endless joy. It is with great joy and by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I officially pronounce you happily married husbands!
❤🧡💛💚💙💜


What a great way to start my day! 🥰

Karolina & Derek, your wedding at Bally Spring Inn last night was like walking into a fairytale... the setting was just magical and the two of you are so obviously in love that it was an absolute honor to perform your ceremony. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness.

The setting for this morning's elopement was my apartment! My couple is very private and didn't want photos with them in it, so you'll just have to imagine two people, very much in love, staring into each other's eyes as I performed an intimate ceremony for just the two of them with my kitties as their witnesses ❤️