The How-To Issue: How to Be Alone
The How-To Issue was born out of frustration with The New York Times Book Review’s 2012 How-To Issue. We’re here to post or reblog any sort of how-to pieces (reviews, comics, drawings, lists…) by women writers, genderqueer writers, and writers who do not identify with a binary gender.
- Have many imaginary friends. Give them nicknames and complicated pasts and favorite foods. Understand that you are lucky to share each other’s company.
- When people call you weird, do not try to become un-weird (otherwise known as “normal.”) The time might come when…
Source: the-how-to
If you cannot come out today because of whatever reason — because you’re not ready, because you’re just too terrified, because you’re not sure what you’d even come out as, because you’re hanging on in a place that would become unsafe, or even deadly if you did — and you feel shame over this, then you mustn’t. You really mustn’t.
I can’t tell you what to feel, and I can’t make you feel any differently from how you do, but please believe me there is no shame in that. I am thinking of you with love and affection. Yes, it takes lots of courage to come out, but staying closeted has nothing to do with cowardice. Please, do what is right to take care of yourself, and if you need a friend, I’m here, as are others.
In defense of Chick-Fil-A's rights to freedom of speech
UPDATE: [Based on my discussion of this position with a colleague on Facebook, I’ve changed my support of it. In his words: “If Dan Cathy had made racist or anti-Semitic comments and his corporate foundation had funded racist and anti-Semitic agendas, there would understandably be little objection to public officials saying, Don’t come here.” This is a very good point and I now think that communities should have the ability to stop Chick-Fil-A from opening stores.]
Dan Cathy, the president of the fast-food franchise Chick-fil-A, doesn’t like same-sex marriage. He believes that ”we’re inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.” The company has put its money where its mouth is, lavishing anti-gay rights groups withmillions of dollars in donations.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that a Chicago Alderman named Joe Moreno has pledged to block construction of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in his ward over Cathy’s anti-gay views. Boston Democratic Mayor Thomas Menino is also trying to block construction of a Chick-fil-A restaurant over its president’s anti-gay views.
Chick-fil-A should not be prevented from opening businesses because of the views of its leaders, or his donations to anti-gay causes. But gays and lesbians in Illinois and Massachusetts have the right to be free from discrimination in employment based on who they are. They also have a right to protest, boycott, and make Chick-fil-A’s customers aware that their purchases fund anti-gay activism. If Chick-fil-A discriminates in hiring or refuses to serve customers on the basis of sexual orientation, the local authorities can and should hold him accountable.
The Green State: Hate groups and Chick-Fil-A's profit
Which hate groups does chik-fil-a give to?
Meg at Cognitive Dissonance:
This article discusses it in detail very well, with facts and figures. Many of these groups, like Family Resource Council, are listed in the Southern Poverty Law…
Source: cognitivedissonance
watching “Bear City” right now and realizing this would probably be my culture, were I gay…
Gay Couple Discriminated Against in Hospital
Target: Director, Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center
Sponsored by: Paul Zilber
Recently, while visiting my partner, Christian, in New Jersey’s Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center, we both experienced the heartbreaking and embarrassing experience of being openly discriminated against by members of the nursing staff because we are in a gay relationship.
As Christian’s grandparents hugged and kissed him goodbye for the evening, I started to do the same, when suddenly two nurses yelled: “No contact, that is inappropriate!” When I questioned the fairness of their orders, I was promptly removed from Christian’s visitors list and was unable to have any communication with him until he was released.
Not only was this a cruel and inhumane action, but it clearly goes against President Obama’s 2010 mandate toThe Department of Health and Human Servicesprohibiting discrimination against gay couples hospital visitation rights.
Saint Barnabas is the largest hospital system in New Jersey, this gives them opportunity to openly discriminate against countless other gay couples. Please demand theyadjust their policies to adhere to the President’s mandate and stop discriminating against gay couple’s rights!
