Not Your Average Feminist: October 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

MY FIRST RADIO INTERVIEW...

I know it's super long, but you should definitely check it out when you have time!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

I just wanted to let you all know about a really cool campaign that students from the Office of LGBT Student Services at NYU (where I am the new graduate assistant!) are launching. In response to the recent (recent only in the sense that the media finally gave the issue attention) queer-related suicides as well as the incredibly disturbing amount of queer-related violence, students at NYU decided it was time for real, tangible action. I started a very similar project during my undergrad at Ramapo College, but given the current climate for not only LGBTQ individuals, but all people in search of safe and affirming communities, now is the perfect time to truly unite! We love the "It Gets Better" project, but we want to take the responsibility of making change into our own hands. Even if you don't go to NYU, you can take this list and make it your own. Make it your profile picture and tag all of your friends! As you begin to accomplish all the different tasks, visit our blog page at NYUnited4Love.tumblr.com and send us pictures and reflections. Let us know if you made a difference in your community!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

MAKE IT BETTER!!!!!

I'm sure by now that most of you have heard about the "It Gets Better" campaign as a response to the string of queer-related suicides, and I love the idea!!! However, I've been wondering if the celebrity-based message is going to ring true or realistic to everyone out there who really needs help. So here are a few facebook initiatives that I think will make a very visible impact, and hopefully spread word about actual resources out there!

Try changing your profile picture to this:

This only helps if you add the following caption:

Please change your profile picture in memory of Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase, Billy Lucas as well as all of those we have lost. Help us to stop the suffering and prevent the loss of more beautiful young people by pledging to speak out against bullying and remind everyone that: You are LOVED!

More information/resources:

http://chalkmessages.org/ & Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386

MAKE SURE YOU ADD THIS CAPTION!!!!!

And then tag all of your friends!

In addition to this, you can also participate by wearing purple on October 20th, which has been deemed Spirit Day. There are several event pages that have been made on facebook which combined have garnered over 150,000 participants. Hopefully your efforts will strike up a dialogue that will shed light on issues of bullying and bigotry.

Click here, here, and here for the event pages!

And yes I realize that not everyone is on facebook, but I think it's currently the best way to spread a message to a vast amount of youth. So spread the word, participate, and remember to speak up when you see bullying going on!!!!