Queering news since 2010

bencrowther:

““I believe since we’ve all been given free will, let’s use our will to let others be free,” says the Preciousstar and talk show host. “Gay and lesbian couples, they believe in commitment, family and love. If you don’t believe me, did you happen to notice that all that’s being asked for is the right to be married, which ironically promotes commitment, family and love? Join me and support marriage equality. It’s the right thing to do.””

gqid:

transcending-anatomy:

Transcending Anatomy started as a project for my SExCo class at Oberlin College in spring 2011. As a trans person who has primarily had sex with other trans people, I was frustrated that the few available resources about sexuality for partners of trans people mainly talked about hormones and surgery. They didn’t represent me or my partners, and I wanted something different.

Transcending Anatomy is an alternative resource that acknowledges the diversity of trans people’s bodies, identities, and sexualities, while giving trans people and our partners an opportunity to speak for ourselves. On this Tumblr you can read the zine (or download a copy!) and read continuing submissions. Let’s start a conversation!

Read more

Highly recommended! This is a newly launched Tumblr and the zine is a great resource that is super-body positive and contains a lot of dialogue involving confronting assumptions about trans* bodies.

By Carlos Maza

It’s no secret that Fox News has a habit of injecting its anti-LGBT bias into its supposedly straight news coverage. Whether it’s criticizing same-sex parents, fear mongering about marriage equality, or making crass jokes about transgender people, Fox makes its anti-LGBT viewpoint known whenever possible.

Fox’s bias, however, is also evidenced by what stories the network chooses not to cover.

Previous reports have found that Fox consistently ignores news stories that don’t fit into its anti-LGBT narrative. The network largely underreported the beginning of same-sex weddings in New York, as well as the certification of the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. When it was discovered that Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-MN) husband was involved with “ex-gay” therapy, Fox barely made a peep.

Now, a new Equality Matters analysis has found that Fox virtually ignored the recent suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, a gay teenager who took his own life last month after experiencing intense bullying from his peers. In the two weeks following Rodemeyer’s death, Fox mentioned the story just once, while discussing proposed new anti-bullying legislation in New York. During the same period, CNN and MSNBC extensively covered both Rodemeyer’s death and the ongoing problem of anti-LGBT bullying in America.

Fox’s failure to acknowledge Rodemeyer’s death is symptomatic of the network’s broader conservative agenda when it comes to covering anti-LGBT bullying.

For months, Fox has been criticizing and condemning efforts to reduce anti-LGBT bullying, depicting them as radical and unnecessary. In May, Fox devoted three separate segments in two days to attacking a gender diversity lesson being taught in a California public school. Over the past several months, the network has spent segment after segment misinforming about California’s FAIR Education Act, which would require public schools to teach students about the historical contributions of LGBT Americans. And in the weeks leading up to Rodemeyer’s death, Fox ran five segments attacking New Jersey’s new anti-bullying law for allegedly being too expansive.

At the same time that it’s been fighting against anti-bullying efforts and ignoring a gay teen’s suicide, Fox has been promoting news stories that depict anti-gay groups and individuals as victims. In September and October, Fox has run at
least nine segments lamenting Vanderbilt University’s non-discrimination policy, which prohibits religious groups from excluding LGBT students from leadership positions. The network has also conducted softball interviews with Rosie Marie Belforti, a town clerk in New York state who refuses to sign same-sex marriage licenses, and a Texas student who was temporarily suspended after voicing his opposition to homosexuality in class.

There’s a legitimate debate to be had about the risks of over-sensationalizing stories about bullying-related suicide in the media. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Fox’s approach – ignoring real bullying stories while attacking anti-bullying efforts – is aimed at making the problem of anti-LGBT bullying seem exaggerated and trivial.

This kind of one-sided reporting plays directly into the hands of anti-gay groups, which work tirelessly to stand in the way of creating safe environments for LGBT students. As a report from People for the American Way recently noted:

Ignoring the clear signs of bullying directed towards gay and gay-perceived students does more than perpetuate the problem and lend undeserved credibility to Religious Right attacks on LGBT people and their allies. It undermines the creation of safe and welcoming schools, and puts the well-being and the very lives of American students at risk. [emphasis added]

Once again, Fox has demonstrated its willingness to abandon its “fair and balanced” slogan in order to toe the far-right line. This time, it’s some of the most vulnerable people who will likely suffer as a result.

pflagmom:

I often get asked about resources and information suggestions and I have this listed on my main page. I thought I’d post it all here so readers will be aware of exactly what I have available. Hope you find some things that are helpful for your situations.

Education and Advocacy

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG National Office, located in Washington, D.C., the national Board of Directors and 13 Regional Directors.

While PFLAG provides support, education, and advocacy for the whole LGBT community, PFLAG’s Transgender Network – or TNET – specifically focuses on support for transgender people and their parents, families, and friends. It provides education on some issues unique to the transgender community, and focuses on issue advocacy to ensure equal rights for the transgender community at local and national levels.

PFLAG group in Greensboro, NC. They have a lot of great information on their site.

Trans Youth Family Allies, educating families of transgender children and their schools, about safe supportive environments for these children.

Children’s National Medical Center (Gender Variance Issues Research)

The Family Acceptance Project™ is the only community research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to decrease major health and related risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, such as suicide, substance abuse, HIV and homelessness – in the context of their families. We use a research-based, culturally grounded approach to help ethnically, socially and religiously diverse families decrease rejection and increase support for their LGBT children.  

Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) this organization works to end bullying and support GLBTQ and ally youth in school settings

Safe Schools Coalition is another group that works to prevent bullying and create a safe environment for all of our children.

School Bullying: to report it in Missouri - School Violence Hotline

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a wonderful resource for legal problems you may encounter. They help people with safe schools, anti-bullying, and generally can give advice on your rights in various situations.

HeartStrong (HeartStrong is a truly unique organization. You will not find another place solely for students from religious educational institutions who are struggling with feeling that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT).)

National Center for Transgender Equality (The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people)

The Trevor Project 866-488-7386 (866 4-U-TREVOR) Suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth

TransHealth article from UCSF 4/11

The Art of Transliness: Advice on Life for the Modern Transman (two transmen sharing a large variety of information- my son Zak is a co-moderator)

Transboys (two transmen share their personal stories)

PROMO (Missouri’s statewide organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality through legislative action, electoral politics, grassroots organizing, and community education)

All Mixed Up: Madeline H. Wyndzen, Ph. D., a transgender professor of psychology, discusses her personal experiences with gender dysphoria and critiques the mental illness model of “gender identity disorder”.

EX-GAY, reparative therapy- the truth about it, the dangerous truth. RESOURCES

lgbtqyouthspace:

Gotta spread the word about free book stuffs. 

anarchafeminist:

sexandjender:

jessicavalenti:

Prove them different. Comment at the article, tweet at the reporter, or write a letter to the editor. Don’t let the tired “feminism is dead” bullshit fly!

Honestly I’m really not surprised. It’s not like in schools there is a “FYI FEMINISM” course. Even in history, we don’t learn about it. In most community colleges there aren’t even intro to women’s/gender studies courses. Plus most women in the United States think we have achieved the big time.

FEMINISM ISN’T DEAD!!!

oscaranonymous:

Men have deeper voices than women do, usually, but they also speak in different patterns.

Remembering these tips will help when trying to have a more male speaking voice and presentation. Even though my voice is probably in the range of normal male speech, I am super self conscious about sounding…