Stand Together

Woman Sues Cops For Forcing Her To Listen To Rush Limbaugh

cassket:

Bridgett Nickerson Boyd claims in a lawsuit filed last week that last year in Texas, sheriff’s deputy Mark Goad arrested her for driving on the shoulder when she pulled off the highway because her engine was steaming. Then her heart started racing, so Goad followed her to the hospital, and arrested her after she had been treated. That still wasn’t the worst of it: Boyd claims that while Goad was driving her to jail, he cranked up Rush Limbaugh, who was making, “derogatory comments about black people.” The charges against her were almost immediately dismissed, and now Boyd is suing for defamation, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Perhaps she should look into class-action status for anyone who’s been unwillingly subjected to Rush’s blathering.

(via djkjfjglgk-deactivated20120430)

Girl from Friday video launches anti-bullying campaign

gaywrites:

Remember that girl in pink who danced awkwardly in Rebecca Black’s infamous Friday video? She hopes you do.

Her name is Benni Cinkle, and after she was bullied online for her dancing in Friday, she started efforts to help others who experience bullying and depression. She’s put together a guide to “surviving the Internet” and her foundation/web site, thatgirlinpink.org, lists resources for kids who need help. Her single “Can You See Me Now?” addresses these issues too, especially in the hard-hitting video (laden with trigger warnings for self-harm, eating disorders, abuse and bullying, so watch at your own risk). 

The Advocate.com article linked above gives you more information about her budding pop career, plus information about up-and-coming singer Holly Elle, another younger artist hoping to raise awareness of LGBT issues like bullying.

And they say something’s wrong with our generation. 

I’m kind of in shock. our generation gives me hope sometimes. stuff like this keeps me from being totally cynical.

Second school in the nation offers LGBT major

gaywrites:

San Diego State University has just become the second four-year college in the country to offer students a major in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies. It will start accepting students in the spring of 2012. 

SDSU has offered a minor in LGBT studies since 2009. “We had about 30 students minoring in LGBT studies every year,” said Esther Rothblum, professor of women’s studies and the LGBT studies academic adviser. “We had so many courses on LGBT issues in so many departments, a group of us got together to put together a major.”

The only other university to offer an LGBT studies major is Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., which has had a major option for over a decade.

This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. Anyone go to this school? Check out the program and let us know how it is! 

Dear Johnny Depp: No, photoshoots aren’t like rape

cassket:

TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE CULTURE

“Well, you just feel like you’re being raped somehow. Raped…It feels like a kind of weird — just weird, man.” — Johnny Depp tells Vanity Fair how much he hates photoshoots.

Dear Johnny,

Big fan over here. Your incredible acting skills and magnetic sex appeal made me fall in love with every single one of your characters–even that lovable, dirty scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow. So kudos to you!

But, no. Being photographed is not like being raped. At all. I have not been professionally photographed or raped before, but I feel pretty sure about this one. As a general rule, you should just steer clear of rape metaphors. Comparing things that are not rape–such as taxes or health care reformor, um, being photographed–to rape trivializes a crime that is too-often ignored and is just pretty insensitive to the many people who have experienced the unique awfulness of actual rape.

Besides the obvious fact that being photographed is not, actually, a violent crime against your body, this is not even an accurate rape metaphor. Rape is about the lack of consent. If you don’t want to be in a photoshoot, you don’t have to. You’re thehighest-paid actor in Hollywood these days, Johnny! You could forgo the millions of dollars you get paid to do them and just stick to the quick snaps with adoring fans. Yes, many of those fans, like me, will miss the chance to pour over your sexy spreads, but we don’t want you to do something that feels so intrusive to you! Truly.

See, what I think you mean is that being photographed feels like you’re being objectified. Which, of course, you are. And I can see how that might feel “kind of weird” for you, because men aren’t objectified in our culture all that much–at least not to the extent that women are. Except for beautiful, famous movie stars, such as yourself. So I get it. I’ve heard that you’re a very private guy, so it must be totally strange to know that millions of people think you are the sexiest man alive.

I’m not famous, so I have no idea what it’s like to be objectified by millions of strangers. But being objectified by strangers? Definitely. I don’t think I know a woman who hasn’t experienced that–it kinda just comes with the territory. (In this way, it is rather similar to the fear of being raped actually.) The difference is that I don’t make millions off of my objectification; I just continue on with my day. That’s not to say that your feelings aren’t valid. They are! And I would love to discuss the differences and similarities between the ways we’ve both felt objectified over coffee sometime. That sounds like an interesting convo.

But let’s get this straight first: being objectified is not the same as being raped. So let’s just stick to that. Cool?

kthxbai!
Maya

Update: Johnny has issued a very nice apology

: “I am truly sorry for offending anyone in any way. I never meant to. It was a poor choice of words on my part in an effort to explain a feeling. I understand there is no comparison and I am very regretful. In an effort to correct my lack of judgment, please accept my heartfelt apology.”

(via djkjfjglgk-deactivated20120430)

Person to watch: Kathryn Lehman, GOP lobbyist against DOMA

gaywrites:

[image description: photo of an older blonde woman in a beige suit]

Kathryn Lehman is an unusual pick for a lobbyist to help repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. A Republican lobbyist, she helped write the controversial law 15 years ago.

Now, Lehman has essentially switched sides on the issue and is working with other lobbyists to repeal DOMA. She’s holding on to her GOP affiliation, but she’s realized how important it is for DOMA to disappear - she came out to herself and to the world some time after the law was put in place.

“I’m not an activist personality. I’ve been a staffer my whole career,” Lehman explained of her new involvement in lobbying for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA. “It’s not a secret that I’m gay, it’s not a secret that [Lehman’s partner] Julie [Conway] and I have been together for seven years. … But I really felt like it was time to step up, to step out. And I’ve recognized the work of people who I don’t really agree with politically in the gay and lesbian community, but who have done a lot of work to make my life better.”

The Advocate.com profile of Lehman, linked above, has more information about her lobbying career and what it means to have a Republican fighting against DOMA. All in all, this is pretty impressive. Better late than never. 

Meet Lily, Sesame Street’s New ‘Food Insecure’ Muppet

cassket:

This Sunday, Sesame Street will introduce a new muppet during the premiere of their new special called “Growing Hope Against Hunger.” Lily, a 7-year-old “food insecure” Muppet, is a realistic-yet-empathetic character that the show hopes will help personify the voice of the the 17 million Americans who often times cannot afford to eat. Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president for outreach and educational practices, Jeanette Betancourt, spoke to the New York Times about the careful consideration put into Lily’s mannerisms:

“We felt it was best to have this new Muppet take this on in a positive way and a healthy way. She wants to talk about this topic because she knows it will help many other families and children, but it isn’t an easy topic to talk about in the first place.”

For now, Lily is only scheduled to appear in this Sunday’s broadcast, when she encounters Elmo, Bert, Grover, and other Sesame Street regulars (as well as Brad Paisley!) in the community garden.

(via djkjfjglgk-deactivated20120430)

NY TIMES: "Thousands of sexual assaults that occur in the United States every year are not reflected in the federal government’s yearly crime report because the report uses an archaic definition of rape that is far narrower than the definitions used by most police departments. Many law enforcement officials and advocates for women say that this underreporting misleads the public about the prevalence of rape and results in fewer federal, state and local resources being devoted to catching rapists and helping rape victims."

inothernews:

Ugh.

(via harrrymonster)

My name escapes their minds: Propaganda Techniques Used by Fox News

abaldwin360:

Panic Mongering

This goes one step beyond simple fear mongering. With panic mongering, there is never a break from the fear. The idea is to terrify and terrorize the audience during every waking moment. From Muslims to swine flu to recession to homosexuals to immigrants to the…

(Source: foxnewsboycott.com, via bohemianarthouse)

Gay binational couple denied deportation reprieve

gaywrites:

A gay Indonesian man was denied a deportation reprieve that could have allowed him to stay in the United States with his American husband, the Advocate reports.

He’ll make another appearance at a customs office in January, but without interference from the Department of Homeland Security or the Justice Department, there’s a good chance he’ll be sent back to Indonesia.

This is the latest in a slew of news about the state of gay immigration and the effects of DOMA on immigration policy. Obama recently promised that same-sex couples would be considered “low priority” deportation cases, meaning it would be unlikely their cases would be examined for deportation, but this decision seems to contradict that promise. 

“The Obama administration made a commitment to stop deportations that would tear apart families, including same-sex couples, and yet in its decision the ICE Office in Philadelphia is failing to make good on that commitment,” Soloway said. “The administration must take immediate action to ensure that the new deportation policy is being implemented fairly and consistently by ICE deportation officers in local offices, or this policy announcement is meaningless.”

The Advocate’s got more details at the article linked above. This is not good, you guys. 

Minnesota Republicans band together for gay marriage

gaywrites:

A group of prominent Minnesota Republicans have formally organized to fight an amendment that would ban gay marriage in the state. 

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports on the announcement Thursday that five Republican leaders would join Minnesotans United for All Families, the group fighting the amendment. They are Dale Carpenter, who teaches at the University of Minnesota Law School; former gubernatorial candidate Wheelock Whitney; Rep. John Kriesel of Cottage Grove, one of four House Republicans to oppose the amendment; former Bush White House counsel Richard Painter; and former St. Paul deputy mayor Susan Kimberly.

This is what we need to see more of. Equality is not a partisan issue; the more support we get from both sides, the better. Major props to these individuals. 

I thought I’d never say this…yay minnesota!

House GOP seeks to cut funds for Pell Grants, NPR, Planned Parenthood

downlo:

The House Appropriations Committee today called for eliminating more than 30 education programs, including President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top” initiative. The panel proposed slashing the Department of Labor’s budget by one-fifth, slicing funds for the National Labor Relations Board by 17 percent and barring funds to implement Obama’s health-care overhaul. It would also withhold funding for Planned Parenthood unless it says it will stop providing abortions.

The provisions are included in a $153.4 billion measure needed to fund the departments of Health and Human Services, Education and Labor for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The Republicans’ plan would amount to $4 billion cut or about 2.5 percent less than this year

Plus, these very same clowns have recently tripled funds for legal fees to defend the Defense of Marriage Act.

PRIORITIES!

(via bohemianarthouse)

Jurors believe Larry King's killer deserves reduced charges (TW: discussions of homophobic violence, severe injustice)

gaywrites:

Last month, jurors were deadlocked over how to punish Brandon McInerney, who allegedly murdered his classmate Larry King because of Larry’s sexuality.

Now, the LA Times reports, they’ve announced they don’t think Brandon killed Larry because he was gay. They want to drop the allegation that Brandon’s action was homophobic and also try him in Juvenile Court rather than as an adult. 

Worse: their argument is that Larry was actually at fault because his “aggressive flirtations” towards Brandon could be considered bullying. The jury teamed up to wear bracelets that say “Free Brandon.”

One juror, identified only as Lisa S. because she did not want her whole name used, said many jurors came to believe that King was bullying McInerney by making unwanted sexual advances.

“This wasn’t about him being gay,” she said. “This was about bullying. There was a ton of evidence that Larry was acting inappropriately with other kids at school, and they didn’t do anything to stop him.”

As for the new case, she added: “It was overcharged and an abuse of power, and I don’t think a new jury will see it any different.”

I feel sick. Is this really happening? Is our system really this effed up?