I'm not racist but...

MY NEW OBSESSION!!!

Check out this amazing blog that collects facebook writings that contain some form of "I'm not racist but..."

Here are some of the worst ones so far, click to enlarge (TRIGGER WARNING)

I definitely encountered a person or two (or several) in my college days that spouted some similar garbage. I always find it interesting that the people who use this type of language will try to distance themselves from "real racism." As though they are just saying what everyone is thinking. Racism is racism, regardless of whether or not you put a disclaimer on it. If you have facebook friends worthy of this site, submit a status or two!

"Marriage matters"...so does racism...Trust People of Color!

Check out this video from a New York based "family research" organization.

Did you notice anything interesting? Perhaps how the speakers were entirely white men, yet the van was full of faces/families of color. One might say that the van is purposefully targeting religious people of color as pawns for their own political agenda? I don't know. Maybe I'm ready too much into this.

But you have to admit that with the recent anti-choice billboards funded by white men and aimed towards communities of color seem awfully similar. It feels like white politicians and zealots dictating what communities of color should really fear: abortions and gay people.

Well I have one message to all those who use these political tactics:

TRUST PEOPLE OF COLOR

We don't need you posting billboards or driving vans up into our communities pretending you care for our well being. As a matter of fact, trust all marginalized and oppressed communities to make their own decisions. Maybe you should be looking at the distribution of wealth in this country instead? That's the real threat to our well being.

No Homo

An interesting look at just how ridiculous "No Homo" is...



Thoughts? Reactions?

I Will Attend NYC Pride

Dan Savage is wrong for his transphobia and racism, 100% wrong, the LGBT Community cannot allow such a visible and public figure to make such disturbingly bigoted statements. Leaders in the LGBT Community should publicly question his remarks.

But not going to NYC Pride because of Dan Savage? No, I will attend the event. It is one of the largest and most visible LGBT events in the world, and only gets bigger each year. It is still a most effective way to spread a general message to the non-LGBT society of uncompromising tolerance. All things considered, I still believe the amount of good that comes out of NYC Pride far outweighs any shortcoming (so far). This should not be the criterion for everything, but for a major event such rationale is valid.

What about the other Grand Marshal? No, not Terry Miller, I mean Rev. Pat Bumgardner (pictured). She is the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church. She has dedicated her life to combating racism and transphobia and in many ways her actions speak much louder than Dan Savage's words. She is being honored for her work, and is just as much a Grand Marshal as Dan Savage. Totally boycotting the NYC Pride on account of Dan Savage's past comments would be to allow his divisive remarks to overshadow this woman's good works.

Why I won't be attending NYC Pride this year...

Two words: Dan Savage.

Dan Savage will be one of the Grand Marshalls for this year's Pride parade.

I know that the "It Gets Better" campaign has been widely criticized for its limited message and lack of understanding of privilege. I understand/agree with that critique, but I also recognize that the campaign has done a lot of good for a lot of people. This personal boycott of NYC Pride is not because of "It Gets Better," it's about Dan Savage. TRIGGER WARNING!

Massachusetts Bullying Case

15-year old Phoebe Prince took her own life after being continuously ridiculed by fellow school mates. She was physically attacked, verbally abused and emotionally unstable due to the careless acts committed by friends of a former boyfriend of hers. the case has been surrounded around 6 students allegedly involved in the bullying. The most amazing part of this story is the amount of time and investigation Massachusetts has put in to reveal the truth about this child's suicide. She was a young, innovative girl who made one decision that turned into misery, not by choice but by antagonizing peers.

The day she took her life she was followed from the library all the way home, being bullied and verbally abused by student s who found they acts harmless. There is nothing harmless about any abuse or injury to anyone's emotions or state of mind. To bully is too attack the feelings and to devour the soul in ways unexplainable. This teenage girl had been repeatedly faced with the effects of jealousy and hate and yet no one has received jail time. Even with people admitting to have taken part in the bullying there is no sentencing, but a lot of probation. However,those who are eligible to have time in jail will be readmitted to the court house once of age to decide what shall be done. I am saddened to once again see that the lives of amazing children in the world are be taken by the acts of careless individuals who do not care to watch how they treat people or consider for a moment what their actions may cause.

TRi find out more about this case visit : http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/05/05/massachusetts.bullying.trial/index.html

Hip Hop: Beyond the Beats & Rhymes

If you have never seen this film by Byron Hurt, PLEASE WATCH! Seriously. Instead of listening to Ashley Judd's misguided dismissal of most Hip Hop, educate yourself:

A very fun/effective alternative to youth fat shaming...

Brought to you by our amazing First Lady, Michelle Obama!

Fat Shaming the Youth

I get it. I get that childhood obesity is an exponentially growing issue. But is this the solution:

Where are the solutions in these ads? There are no proactive steps to help curve obesity, simply a depiction of how miserable all "overweight" people are. Parents are also being shamed for making their children "fat," but I wonder how many households have access/can afford organic fresh foods, or have safe/plentiful open spaces to run around in.

And what are the real messages behind these ads:
"Be skinny, or people will make fun of you." Shouldn't we be sending out messages to the folks making fun of others to not bully? I understand that it is a wonderful thing for folks to be healthy, but skinny does not always equal healthy, nor does a higher BMI always equal unhealthy.

Your thoughts? Have these Georgia ads gone too far?