(via feminishblog)
*sigh*
Trans* rights in the United States. See a problem here?
(via iwriteaboutfeminism)
Teen medical ban could threaten gay youth, say advocates
RALEIGH, N.C. — A bill restricting teenagers’ access to medical and mental health care will be voted on in the North Carolina House of Representatives on Wednesday.OH MY. THEY ARE NOT LYING. Here is the bill! It is literally requiring all medical services, especially in the sexual health AND mental health sides, to be first approved by parents!
This bill is loaded with lots of unfortunate implications for sexually active teenagers of all stripes. One of many problematic aspects for LGBTQ youth especially is here:
“My biggest fear is for youth who have estranged relationships with their parents,” said James Miller, executive director of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. “I’m concerned with the youth who come to us and who say, ‘I cannot talk to my parents, I cannot talk to a trusted adult, I don’t have a trusted adult in my life.’ This bill really does put a hinderance on youth who need to access mental health or sexual health services.”
Rodney Tucker, executive director of theCharlotte-based Time Out Youth, said his organization’s services will definitely be affected. One of his staff currently has a provisional license for professional counseling and will be required to follow the proposed legislation’s restrictions once the organization is able to offer therapeutic services this fall. At that time, he said, youth under the age of 18 will need parental consent for Time Out Youth’s counseling.
“We have big concerns on delaying of treatment, increase risk of spreading disease, how this could impact depression/suicide,” Tucker said in a statement via email. “Our youth have very few safe places, this law would change the patient client relationship with their medical provider.”
Swag Geek: I must discover what this is!
(via yeomso)
Some interesting info: This is very reminiscent of the Baby X experiments, in which it was discovered that people reacted differently to a baby’s behavior depending on whether or not they believed the baby to be male or female. People were asked to watch a video of a baby reacting to a startling image (a Jack-in-the-box popping up), and describe the baby’s emotional state. When people believed the baby to be female, they described the baby as being scared and upset; when they thought the baby was male, they perceived the baby to be angry. This was very telling, as it showed that literally identical behavior could be construed differently based on the perceived gender of the subject.
(via yeomso)
Here it is! I’m not 100% sure if I like how it came out… it almost seems a bit too cutesy for the subject. Maybe I just like drawing cute clothes and bright colours too much!
This is for a contest with the Canadian Human Rights Agencies for their conference in May. All the Advanced Illustration students and Design students had to enter as part of their final. Kinda pissed that they required us to print it off at 24 x 36…. which I think is way too big and expensive ($50!!) for most students and their budget. We don’t even get to keep the posters. And the top prize is only $200. I feel kinda ripped off. :/
EDIT: A couple of people have sent me notes saying that “Transgendered” is incorrect terminology. I apologize, I kind of added the text last minute, and should have known better. I’ve uploaded a fixed version. :)
This poster is a good reminder that pronouns aren’t “preferred”. They’re NECESSARY.
(via feminishblog)
Two young men tied the knot in a rare South African gay wedding in KwaDukuza (Stanger) on Saturday.
In what was described as the town’s first gay marriage, Tshepo Modisane and Thoba Sithole, both 27, walked down the aisle in front of 200 guests at the Stanger Siva Sungam community hall.
The wedding was a jubilant, exciting affair, attracting even uninvited members of the local community.
Thoba, a Joburg-based IT specialist, is from Shakaville, KwaDukuza and Tshepo an audit manager at PwC. They have known each other for years and dated on and off, before stabilising their relationship.
Now that they are wedded, they will take on the double-barrelled surname of Sithole-Modisane. The couple appeared to enjoy the support from the community, family and friends.
“Thoba is a really nice guy, very fun and outgoing,” said Loyiso Xaba, a family friend.
Another wedding guest, Bongani Sibisi, said: “They are an inspiration and step in the right direction.”
“This is my first wedding of this kind,” said Pastor Tankiso Mokwena, who married the couple.
In an interview on gay lifestyle website mambaonline.com, Thoba said about the relationship: “Since we are both men we have decided that neither of us will pay lobolo. The most we will do is to buy gifts for our parents as a sign of appreciation for raising us.”
The couple are reportedly planning to have children through a surrogate.
“Family is important to us and that is the number one reason why we want to have children,” said Thoba.
“We also want our children to grow up in an environment where they are loved greatly by both parents who appreciate them.”
Tshepo said one of the reasons they chose to be so open was that they “hope to inspire people out there who are still struggling to come to terms with their sexuality”.
“We see no reason to hide in darkness as if there is something to be ashamed about.
“Our marriage is largely symbolic and a sign that black gay men can commit and build a family through a happy and loving marriage,” he said.
Reblogging the original story also because this is just too sweet and awesome to pass up
(via feminishblog)
Can we just repeat that a few more times,
“The comments on any article about feminism justify feminism.”
“The comments on any article about feminism justify feminism.”
(via all-about-male-privilege)