IT'S TIME FOR ACTION!

My last post was a bit of a rant because...well...I was angry. And I still am. However, anger is not enough nor does it result in solutions. So here's what WE can do RIGHT NOW!

Change your Facebook profile to this!



And then add this caption:

For NJ: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=NJ

For NY: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=NY

Here is a script I wrote:

"Hello Senator _______. My name is _____ and I am one of your constituents. I am contacting you today because my reproductive rights are under attack as we speak. By voting to eliminate federal funds to Planned Parenthood, you are seriously jeopardizing the ability of thousands of people to access basic services like STI testing and treatment, prenatal care, HIV/AIDS testing, and safer sex supplies. There are hundreds of people in my community that need affordable access to these vital services. As someone who may potentially support you in the next election, I urge you to stand up for what's right and vote to keep Planned Parenthood funded and in operation. Choice is not enough! We need to be able to afford choice...so make the right decision and choose to support reproductive justice for all. Thank you."

And if you're in the NYC area, come to Foley Square on Saturday at 2!

Click HERE to RSVP

Lived Experiences are Rare and Powerful...

I've sort of avoided talking about the trio of initiatives aimed against reproductive rights because I've been too busy praying that they will just go away. How could anyone support these heinous pieces of legislation? Well folks, the nightmare is coming to fruition, and I'm extremely tense about the outcome.

1) The Pence Bill would take away all federal funding from Planned Parenthood. Essentially, this would shut many Planned Parenthoods down and take away not only accessible abortions, but STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, safer sex supplies, and other services many folks can't afford. Here is a woman's voice on the issue:

2) H.R. 3: This bill is attempting to redefine rape in an effort to restrict what kinds of rape are acceptable excuses for abortions. This would mostly affect survivors of statutory rape and date-rape where alcohol or drugs were involved. Here is a woman's voice on the issue:

The Daily Show - Rape Victim Abortion Funding
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

3) H.R. 358: This bill would also allow individual doctors with moral conflict to refuse abortions in situations where the mother's life was at risk. The doctor would not even be required to refer the patient to another doctor who would perform the abortion. This is a pro-choice debate in a completely different sense. The mother has to choose between her life and her child's. Here is a woman's voice on the issue:



THIS IS WHY FEMINISM IS STILL RELEVANT.....

There is an attack on women in this country happening RIGHT NOW. Did you know that all of this was going on? Or that there was another bill in South Dakota that would have allowed the murdering of women who seek abortions and the doctors that perform them under a "justifiable homicide" clause? Luckily that bill has been shelved (for now), but The Pence Bill especially is gaining momentum. And as you can imagine, it's being supported overwhelmingly by white upper-middle class men who will never experience childbirth or abortion or miscarriage. Listen to those powerful, brave women who are sacrificing revealing their private lives so that you all could have some real education about what it's like to actually go through what you're voting on.

OUR BODIES...OUR CHOICE! FUCKING DEAL WITH IT!

Higher Ed and Social Justice: Violence Awareness

I was able to attend a kick-ass Higher Education conference this Monday at NYU. One session in particular that really stood out for me was a presentation on the hidden victims of Intimate Partner Violence with Linda Mills. Much of what was said was generally familiar, seeing as how my previous job in student affairs was at a Women's Center. Linda Mills brought up some really startling statistics around the perpetrators and victims of sexual violence including that women were almost just as likely to commit acts of violence against their partners as men. And that while often times the physical acts done by men are more severe and damaging, in most violent relationships both parties have committed some form of violence.

At the Women's Center, I worked with the Assault Contact Team, was expected to help folks struggling with different personal issues around trauma and identity, and helped to plan Violence Awareness Week. In terms of the training I received for those roles, very rarely was sexual violence against men discussed. Perhaps this is because the job was housed in a Women's Center, but as one of the only visible resources for victims of sexual violence, I can't imagine it would be easy to come in and use our services. Add the fact that much of the education on sexual violence deals mainly with women, it seems nearly impossible. Of course, this dialogue almost completely leaves out the queer experience and same-sex intimate partner violence, which occurs at the same rates as heterosexual couples. If anything, men were recruited into Violence Awareness through ally building.

Take Back the Night marches, sexual assault speak out events, across the country have only recently begun allowing men to participate, and that’s only if they allow men to participate at all. But I wonder what violence awareness campaigns and support services would look like if they were a bit more inclusive. Personally, it makes sense to me that there would be some women-only spaces. It can be really hard to talk about violence, and even the slightest triggers can make the experience all that more intense. However, there is a real gap in support for male survivors of sexual violence on college campuses, and hopefully through more work like that of Mills this issue will receive more attention.

What are your thoughts?

Seen But Not Heard: Women and Children Edition

Okay, so as soon as I saw this I HAD to reblog it, and figured what better way to start posting at NYAF than to jump right in!

DON'T BE A DRAG -JUST BE A QUEEN

I've listened to 'Born This Way' a few times now and I think it's really good in more ways then one. First, I have to say that I'm pretty sure that this is the first massively popular lead single to prominently mention a gay affirmative message in plain English.

But to me the real reason why this song is hugely valuable to the overall progressive movement is the spiritual undertone of the lyrics.

As everyone knows by now, the main message of the song is acceptance (as well as self-acceptance) of everybody as individuals. The song justifies this acceptance by stating that if God has made each person, and that God makes no mistakes, then society must open up to all of what makes people unique.

Such an affirming message by a popstar wouldn't ordinarily be that important, but the spiritually-based claim makes 'Born This Way' fly in the face of the Religious Right. Quite overtly, the song takes on the claims of Traditional Christians and other religious groups that it is not okay to embrace LGBT people and other marginalized groups because it is not 'part of God's Plan.'

The time is ripe within the mainstream public discourse for groups espousing tolerance and acceptance to systematically attack the main motivation and argument of the Religious Right, 'God's Plan' or 'God's Will.'

That is not to say that liberals should attack people's public religious expression, but rather attack the tendency of those individuals to imply that their religious beliefs are the end all and be all at the expense of other beliefs. The way to do this is to simply take away their arguments and use it against them, like what the song does.

Imagine watching a debate on a popular news show with one conservative claiming that God did not make people to live a gay lifestyle, and a liberal talking head countering just as forcefully with the claim that God made people to live that way?

It would definitely make for a confusing and loud program. Yet if both sides claimed that God was on their side, then the public would effectively see that they both can't be right.

Basically, the song affirms much of what the Religious Right considers to be 'disordered' and it is already widely heard by many all over the country. Yet it uses God as a justification, effectively stripping the Religious Right of their main point.

I'd say that's a victory for the progressive movement. And distributing this message didn't cost progressive groups a dime.

Rihanna Brining Kink to the Mainstream?

Rihanna's newest video "S&M" is full of chains, collars, full figured dommes, and oh so much more. I don't know about you, but I think this is a seriously risqué/freaking cool topic to set a music video around. Aside from allegations that she stole a lot of this imagery from the photographer Dave LaChapelle, I've got to admit, Rihanna has chutzpah! So sit back and enjoy "S&M"



What are your reactions?

What messages are children receiving about homelessness

Now ask yourself...are these reactions all that different than adults you know?

Higher Ed and Social Justice: Creating a National Safe Zone Script

Many great things came out of this past week at the Creating Change Conference. As stated before, I promised to feature a few new series. Welcome to "Higher Ed and Social Justice!" As an activist and future higher education and student affairs professional, it's about time I was a little more deliberate in bridging the two on the blog!

Many different institutions have a Safe Zone training program. The basic purpose of Safe Zone programs, is to create a better campus climate for LGBTQ individuals. After having a few conversations with a bunch of higher ed folks this weekend, I've realized that this is not accomplished uniformly. Some folks have LGBTQ professionals that hold annual or bi-annual trainings for faculty, staff, peer educators, resident assistants, and student leaders. Some schools give out stickers to identify a Safe Zone office, i.e. folks that have gone through the training.

But what about students with multiple identities. Some Safe Zones adequately prepare people to help with LGBTQ issues, but I wonder how often issues of class, ethnicity, ability, age, etc...are discussed. If folks are coming in with all of these components, an office can only be a Safe Zone if all of these issues and experiences are dissected in the trainings.

Because different campuses have different cultures, histories, and protocols, it would be nearly impossible to have identical Safe Zone programs at every institution that participates. However, I wonder if they could be a little more consistent. Would a national Safe Zone Script work? What are your thoughts...?

Too much learning to live blog

So I realized I said I would be live blogging, but let me tell you...this conference is AMAZING and INSIGHTFUL. So much so, that I've been unable to pause and live blog. But don't worry I will totally be back with some new series when this is all over! oh, by the way. Coolest thing ever! I was in a session with Miriam Perez from Feministing! I'll be back!

Live Blogging from Creating Change!

Exciting news! My job at NYU is super cool and paid for me to go to Minnesota for five days to attend the Creating Change Conference. I have decided to live blog for each session I'll be attending which will include all day intensive institutes and shorter workshops! Because I am here partially for professional development in Student Affairs but the conference is heavily based in grass-root organizing, I'll be able to attend a good mix of both higher education related sessions and good ol' fashion social justice/activist-based sessions.

Tomorrow I'll be live blogging from "Building Bridges Across Out Communities: People of Color Organizing Institute for Intermediate Activists."

Are you jazzed? Because I sure am!!! See you all tomorrow!