I do find it funny that lesbians are perceived as man-hating but gay men are not perceived as woman-hating, and in fact are often illogically shielded from accusations of misogyny simply by being gay
LGBTQ* Events and People You (Should) Pause and Remember
Harvey Milk (May 22, 1930 – November 27, 1978)
After Harvey Milk became one of the first out gay people elected in 1977, he put up a sign in his store window that just said, “Thank You.” It would take another thirty-five years for the first out lesbian, Tammy Baldwin, to be elected to the US Senate.
“And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us’es, the us’es will give up. And if you help elect to the central committee and other offices, more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.
So if there is a message I have to give, it is that I’ve found one overriding thing about my personal election, it’s the fact that if a gay person can be elected, it’s a green light. And you and you and you, you have to give people hope. Thank you very much.”
— Harvey Milk
Remembering Harvey Milk, killed on this day in 1978.
We love you. We miss you. We thank YOU.
For more on Harvey Milk, watch the documentary THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (which can be found on Netflix and sometimes Hulu).
Coming out as bisexual.
I’m new to tumblr, or this tumblr so not many people may see this. Also I was planning on doing this as a vlog for ‘Those pesky dames’ on youtube but I suck at vlogging. I am however confident as a writer so I thought I would do it like this.
I am twenty eight years old. I love Harry Potter, caffeine, chocolate, cake and the colour green. I have one older brother. I am left handed. I have a wonderful boyfriend. I love Christmas. I have recently lost 5 stone. I am bisexual. If you know me, it is hugely likely that the last thing I mentioned on that list will come as a surprise to you. This is not something I have made known to a lot of people. This is something I have struggled with massively over the years. I felt it was time to stop hiding something about myself that I have no reason to be ashamed of. I have known that I’m bisexual since I was about twelve years old and had a massive crush on Ginger Spice. I was TERRIFIED of these feelings. I knew I liked boys, but also liked girls. I didn’t know anyone else who felt this way and was convinced there was something wrong with me. When I was seveteen I was diagnosed with clinical depression, something I still recieve treatment for. I found day to day life incredibly hard, and buried any questions over my sexuality whilst I dealt with what felt like a dark cloud over my head. When I was 19 I made the decision to tell a few friends and family about my feelings about my sexuality. I was laughed at by a few people and told it was a phase by a few others. The most supportive were the school friends that I drunkenly told in the cubicle of a gay nightclub. Unfortunately I woke up the next day paralysed with fear of people knowing- I wasn’t ready for this to be a part of my identity. So I phoned the friends and said I was drunk and had been joking. To those friends now- I’m sorry I lied. Since then, I have struggled with these feelings a lot, ranging for complete acceptance to complete denial. But in the last year, things have changed for me. I am no longer obese and finally happy in my own skin and body. I have a very supportive boyfriend who loves me for who I am, something I never thought I would find with any partner. And I finally seem to be accepting my mental health issues and am making new strides to being a healthy person. So I felt now was the time to tell people about this part of myself. It doesn’t change who I am- my likes or dislikes. It doesn’t change my relationship- I am happy and committed and with someone who accepts me for who I am. It doesn’t change me as a daughter, sister, cousin, niece or friend. I hope it doesn’t change the way people feel about me, but for those it does, that is something I accept. I have seen so many people being courageous about their sexuality and identity and I have hidden in the background. No longer- it’s time to stand up and be counted. I won’t be afraid to be myself any more.
Love Jen.
Em’s LGBT catchup video!
Sunday catch-up video from Emily discussing her frustrations with LGBT/Queer activism and feminism.
More videos on LGBT/Queer activism and feminism: http://bit.ly/PZZ6BM
Something you’d like to talk about? Want to guest vlog for Those Pesky Dames? Click to find out how: http://thosepeskydames.tumblr.com/guest-videos
[TRIGGER WARNING: transphobia/cissexism at 8:17 mins in]
Being Queer Does Not Make You Radical
Very timely and thought provoking video. More reasons why I identify as Tab….
This is every one of the things. Every single one. Would also love to discuss the last points with folks.
No video from me again this week sorry Dames! Will try to do a bumper batch of catch-up vids at the weekend if I can.
In the meantime here’s an interesting video on male and masculine privilege within queer communities that ties into last week’s topic.
I almost didn’t post the vid because of the last section but I thought the rest of the video made some really valid points, and an open discussion about the passing privileges masculine presenting women, cis or trans*, may possess could be worthwhile: http://youtu.be/ofS-fKHL5H4
- Becca x
A graphic I’m working on for tomorrow’s Vlogbrothers video. It’s a topic I’ve wanted to discuss for a long time, but have been somewhat afraid of making people angry. Let me know if there’s anything I got wrong.
Hank I’m so glad you’re planning on making this video, I think it could be really important to a lot of people in the Nerdfighter community.
Honestly though, however you try to draw a graphic like this you’re going to end up missing people out. As you yourself have previously noted people just don’t fit clearly into distinctive little boxes, no matter how many boxes you divide us up into, nature defies simplicity.
However, in the spirit of your video here are some suggested amendments:
Gender Identity: Transgender isn’t a separate gender identity to male/female. The distinction you’re looking for is Trans*/Cis:
- Trans* covering anyone who doesn’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth and raised/socialised as, i.e. anyone who is transgender or whose gender is otherwise varies from the Western socialised concept of a gender binary.
- Cis covering anyone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth, based on how their genitals looked, and raised/socialised as. Cis is basically the gender identity version of straight.
A person’s actual identified gender can then be male, female, genderqueer, gender neutral, agender, bigender, pangender, undefinded, or otherwise defined (I’ve probably missed some established gender identities off here for which I apologise to my followers!)
Gender Role: Should include androgenous/genderf*ck as well as masculine/feminine - some people don’t present or perform in line with the gender binary, just as some people don’t identify with the gender binary.
Sexual Orientation/Sexual Behaviour: I like that you’ve distinguished between behaviour and orientation, as this is something a lot of people miss. I would argue you should additionally distinguish between Sexual Orientation and Romantic Orientation, and Sexual Behaviour and Romantic Behaviour.
As an example; someone may identify as homoromantic, but asexual, so they’re interested in romantic relationships with people of the same gender, but not sexual relationships.
Another example; someone may identify as bi/panromantic but hetero/homosexual, so they’re interested in romantic relationships with anyone, but are only interested in sexual relationship with people of the same/binary opposite gender.
It may also be worth adding in androsexual, gynosexual and ambisexual, those being sexual attraction based on presentation/behaviour rather than gender identity, respectively masculinity, femininity, and both/either.
Followers - please add additional corrections to the graphic above and to my amendments if I’ve gotten anything wrong.
Let’s spread some GSM/queer knowledge people!
Well after today’s flurry of videos it’s time for a quick TOPIC ANNOUNCEMENT!
THIS WEEK: LGBT/Queer Feminism - One of the top voted topics from our recent Facebook poll!
NEXT WEEK: Racism and Feminism - There’s been a bit of a storm recently after popular feminist Caitlin Moran Tweeted that she “couldn’t give a shit” about the lack of racially diverse representation in Lena Dunham’s TV show “Girls”, so we thought we’d talk about just that.
THE WEEK AFTER: Sexism in Halloween costumes. - It’s nearly Halloween, there’s a lot of awful sexism surrounding fancy dress costumes, so that’s that really.
As ever if you’d like to make a guest video on these or any other topic then click here for more info how and please let us know! - Becca x
[See under the cut for image descriptions]
Reblooping for those who may have missed it last night.
Well after today’s flurry of videos it’s time for a quick TOPIC ANNOUNCEMENT!
THIS WEEK: LGBT/Queer Feminism - One of the top voted topics from our recent Facebook poll!
NEXT WEEK: Racism and Feminism - There’s been a bit of a storm recently after popular feminist Caitlin Moran Tweeted that she “couldn’t give a shit” about the lack of racially diverse representation in Lena Dunham’s TV show “Girls”, so we thought we’d talk about just that.
THE WEEK AFTER: Sexism in Halloween costumes. - It’s nearly Halloween, there’s a lot of awful sexism surrounding fancy dress costumes, so that’s that really.
As ever if you’d like to make a guest video on these or any other topic then click here for more info how and please let us know! - Becca x
[See under the cut for image descriptions]
If yes then please take a minute to fill out the linked questionnaire.
My friend is considering setting up an online platform for UK LGBT campaigns, and want to know if there’s an appetite for it.
It feels like something that’s needed, but it’d cost money to do, and they need to work out if it’s something people actually want.
Please help by filling out this quick survey and signal boosting with a reblog.
Cheers queers!
Reuters reports that California’s state Assembly, by a 51–21 vote, has approved a bill to prohibit children and teenagers from undergoing therapy that claims to reverse homosexuality.
The Aug 28 vote means California has taken another step towards becoming the first US state to adopt such a ban, according to the report, which notes the Senate in May “passed its version of the bill by a vote of 23-13.” Differences in the two measures need to be sorted out by Aug 31 before a final bill is sent to the state’s Democratic Governor, Jerry Brown. But it remains unclear whether Brown supports it.
A number of gay rights groups are urging Brown to back the measure.
In a letter to Brown, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin says its “time to safeguard the most vulnerable among us by ending the abusive practice of subjecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth to damaging attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender expression. Research has shown that far from being beneficial or even neutral, these efforts have harmful effects on the participants.”
The HRC statement continues: “The majority of national organizations with expertise in mental health either opposes or warns about the negative effects of efforts to change sexual orientation, including: the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Pan American Health Organization.”
AllOut.org has embarked on a petition campaign to put pressure on Brown to sign the bill when it reaches his desk. Just under 19,000 people have so far indicated their support for that campaign.Equality California is also asking people to write letters to the governor, asking him to sign Senate Bill 1172.
The bill’s sponsor, state Senator Ted Lieu, noted that retired psychiatrist, Dr Robert Spitzer, retracted claims in a controversial 2001 study he conducted that claimed “highly motivated” gays and lesbians could change their sexual orientation.
“In retrospect, I have to admit I think the critiques are largely correct,” said Spitzer, who apologized to the gay and lesbian community.
Exodus International head Alan Chambers has also been repeatedly distancing himself from his organization’s “change is possible” mantra, much to the intense chagrin of those still devoted to the idea that all gay people need to rid themselves of homosexuality is a good dose of prayer and therapy. Chambers even apologized at a Gay Christian Network (GCN) conference in January for Exodus’s use of that phrase.
In a July 6 New York Times story, Chambers reiterates that there is no cure for homosexuality and says reparative therapy is an exercise in false hope for gays and might even be harmful. According to The Times, accusations of heresy have now been levelled against Chambers, causing a rift in the ex-gay movement.
