This past Wednesday, MTV had presented another touching episode of The Real World D.C. where Mike’s story of his newfound openness of his sexuality was continued. On this episode his partner came to visit and there Mike truly proved his embracing with being intimate with a member of the same sex. They held hands on the street and when approached by bystanders, Mike retorted with “What’s the big deal if we hold hands?!”
Inspired by this change in Mike’s view of sexuality, his partner Tanner returned home from D.C. and came out to his parents about he and Mike’s relationship. Unfortunately, Tanner’s parents reacted negatively to this news and threatened to take away his vehicle and his home.
While Mike tried to be strong for Tanner a couple hundred miles away, there was little he could do but give words of encouragement. He promised in three weeks time when he returns to their Colorado roots that he will take care of the situation.
What Tanner has experienced is the harsh reality of many young queer individuals. In fact, a large population of the homeless community identify with queer lifestyles. I have never understood how a parent cannot love their child unconditionally. I was personally touched by Mike’s plea with the parents in the audience. He demanded that parents love their child unconditionally, regardless of sexual orientation.
Mike is proving time and time again for being a great advocate for the queer community on a network that is watched by a wide-range of youths, both queer and non-queer.
Would you abandon your child because of who they choose to love? Could you?
- Shane
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Healthcare Reform as I Understand It
With everyone so eager to share their opinion on the historic healthcare bill that just passed, I figured I’d throw my two cents into the ring. Rather than provide you with an opinion on how I think this is going to play out, I’m simply going to lay out the provisions of this bill (as best as I understand them from a survey of articles that range from The New York Times to Fox News to Feministing.) I couldn’t resist throwing in a little opinion though… which is why the provisions are categorized into Good, Bad, and Questionable. I hope this helps make this whole debate just a little bit more comprehensible.
- The Good:
Most awesomely, this bill will expand insurance coverage to thirty-two million uninsured Americans. This will be accomplished, in part, through insurance exchanges. These exchanges would allow small business owners, and uninsured individuals to buy insurance through state-based exchanges that include subsidies for people who make from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
This bill will also expand Medicaid so that people who make up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level will be covered, and close the Medicare “donut hole” which is a costly gap that vastly pumps up the price of prescription drug coverage for senior citizens.
The bill also puts strict regulations in place that will (hopefully) ban insurance companies from charging higher premiums or even denying coverage of people with preexisting conditions, as well as ban companies from charging higher premiums for women. It would also require insurance companies to provide maternity care.
The bill will allow parent’s insurance to cover their children through the age of twenty-six.
- The Questionable:
With a few exceptions, this bill would require all U.S. citizens to purchase insurance or pay a $695 annual fine, and require businesses with fifty plus employees to provide them with insurance or pay a two-thousand dollar fine per employee every year if any employee receives federal subsidies for purchasing insurance. (However, the employer mandate has been removed by the Senate.)
- The Bad:
Essentially, women’s health was thrown under the bus in order to pass this bill. Obama’s executive order that all abortion funds must be kept separate from any federal funds used in supplying health insurance will essentially cause all insurance companies to drop abortion coverage altogether; the alternative for the companies (maintaining records that separate out special ‘abortion funds’ from money that the policy-holder pays directly without government aid) is a record-keeping logistical nightmare.
This article by Jon Walker says it best:
“The system of exchanges and affordability tax credits could easily be modified to ensure federal funds are not used to pay for abortions, while still not taking away the ability of women and small businesses to buy insurance packages that cover abortion. Having an individual mandate that forces women to buy insurance, but also a law that prevents them from getting insurance that covers a legal medical procedure, is a disgusting abuse of women’s rights.”
The other major fail in this bill concerns immigration. This bill as it stands would not allow undocumented immigrants to buy insurance on soon to be established exchanges, even if they are willing to pay the full cost out of pocket, with no government aid. Not only is this policy cruel, it also makes no sense fiscally. Walker explains it well:
“The more undocumented immigrants that pay for their own health care, the more taxpayers save by not being forced to pick up the cost of undocumented immigrants’ uncompensated care when they use the emergency rooms.”
What Comes Next? Recognizing that, for the most part, this was a big step in the right direction is integral; but that’s all it is, a step. Now its time to bring the focus squarely onto reproductive rights (including access to safe, legal abortions for people of all income levels) and push to get some pro-choice legislature through as soon as possible. Another push to make it so illegal immigrants can purchase insurance will hopefully happen as well, since denying them coverage, even when they can afford it, is detrimental to both the health of our country and the health of the people we are refusing to cover.
- The Good:
Most awesomely, this bill will expand insurance coverage to thirty-two million uninsured Americans. This will be accomplished, in part, through insurance exchanges. These exchanges would allow small business owners, and uninsured individuals to buy insurance through state-based exchanges that include subsidies for people who make from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
This bill will also expand Medicaid so that people who make up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level will be covered, and close the Medicare “donut hole” which is a costly gap that vastly pumps up the price of prescription drug coverage for senior citizens.
The bill also puts strict regulations in place that will (hopefully) ban insurance companies from charging higher premiums or even denying coverage of people with preexisting conditions, as well as ban companies from charging higher premiums for women. It would also require insurance companies to provide maternity care.
The bill will allow parent’s insurance to cover their children through the age of twenty-six.
- The Questionable:
With a few exceptions, this bill would require all U.S. citizens to purchase insurance or pay a $695 annual fine, and require businesses with fifty plus employees to provide them with insurance or pay a two-thousand dollar fine per employee every year if any employee receives federal subsidies for purchasing insurance. (However, the employer mandate has been removed by the Senate.)
- The Bad:
Essentially, women’s health was thrown under the bus in order to pass this bill. Obama’s executive order that all abortion funds must be kept separate from any federal funds used in supplying health insurance will essentially cause all insurance companies to drop abortion coverage altogether; the alternative for the companies (maintaining records that separate out special ‘abortion funds’ from money that the policy-holder pays directly without government aid) is a record-keeping logistical nightmare.
This article by Jon Walker says it best:
“The system of exchanges and affordability tax credits could easily be modified to ensure federal funds are not used to pay for abortions, while still not taking away the ability of women and small businesses to buy insurance packages that cover abortion. Having an individual mandate that forces women to buy insurance, but also a law that prevents them from getting insurance that covers a legal medical procedure, is a disgusting abuse of women’s rights.”
The other major fail in this bill concerns immigration. This bill as it stands would not allow undocumented immigrants to buy insurance on soon to be established exchanges, even if they are willing to pay the full cost out of pocket, with no government aid. Not only is this policy cruel, it also makes no sense fiscally. Walker explains it well:
“The more undocumented immigrants that pay for their own health care, the more taxpayers save by not being forced to pick up the cost of undocumented immigrants’ uncompensated care when they use the emergency rooms.”
What Comes Next? Recognizing that, for the most part, this was a big step in the right direction is integral; but that’s all it is, a step. Now its time to bring the focus squarely onto reproductive rights (including access to safe, legal abortions for people of all income levels) and push to get some pro-choice legislature through as soon as possible. Another push to make it so illegal immigrants can purchase insurance will hopefully happen as well, since denying them coverage, even when they can afford it, is detrimental to both the health of our country and the health of the people we are refusing to cover.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Alice is Totes a Feminist
Over the break, I went to see “Alice in Wonderland” with my mother. Having just done a production of it here at Ramapo, I was excited to simply see the characters that I had performed or experienced throughout the last month and a half. However, I ended up being surprisingly pleased by the messages sent in this new film.
The movie begins with Alice being proposed to by Lord Hamish Ascot, a member of a wealthy and powerful aristocratic English family. Various individuals in her life encourage her to marry Hamish for the security that comes with it. However, she spots the White Rabbit and runs after him before giving Hamish an answer, and thus her adventure in Wonderland begins.
From an outside perspective, the rest of the film revolves around Alice finding a way to slay the Jabberwocky (from the famous nonsense poem written by Carroll). However, if you look at the movie from a feminist perspective, you’ll find that there is much more substance to “Alice in Wonderland”. From my perspective, the movie is truly about marriage, and whether forced marriage or personal independence is better. This is seen when Alice is speaking to the Caterpillar who claims that she is “not Alice” followed with the Hatter saying “You used to be much more… ‘muchier.’ You’ve lost your muchness,” meaning that she isn’t acting for herself, and thus a part of her is missing.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Free Speech...it works both ways!
I'm writing this post because of the recent events that occurred at University California San Diego. Follow this link to read about the off-campus "Compton Cookout" a group of fraternity students planned. The idea of the cookout was to dress "ghetto."
Here is an appalling excerpt from the event description and the dress code:
For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks -- Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes -- they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red.
...The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day.
Disgusting, I know. The reclaiming of degrading epithets may for some help take the power away from them, but throwing words around like ghetto, bitch, nigga, or countless others keeps these words in daily use and sends the message out that they are ok to say at all. And it gets even worse. Because this event was visible to the public via facebook, there was a large student reaction on campus. After this reaction, even more racially charged instances of hatred occurred:
Days after the cookout, the editor of the Koala, a campus publication known for mocking Muslims, Latinos and Asians, appeared on the university's student-run TV station to defend the event. While on the air, he referred to offended black classmates as "ungrateful niggers." The following day, a sign with the words "Compton Lynching" was found at the TV station. And on Thursday, a noose was hung in the Geisel Library.
Follow this link for the full article.
Hundred of students held a peace march across campus demanding the administration step in and take disciplinary action against the fraternity and the publication editor. The campus atmosphere has grown thick with tension as the issue of "free speech" comes to the forefront of the debate.
Now, I am not lawyer, so I really have no idea if the incidents have crossed the legal lines of free speech. I am a student on a college campus however. And sometimes I see these types of behaviors, slurs, and epithets practiced in my campus community. While the administration can reiterate the college's ideals and hold as many diversity workshops as they wish, cultural change must come from the students themselves. Yes there are hateful, ignorant people in all spaces, but there will always be those people.
OUR VOICES NEED TO BE LOUDER THAN THEIRS!!!
I am so proud of the students and faculty at UCSD for using their voice to send the right message:
The age of Obama is not some fantasy post-racial America. If anything, having a president of color has intensified race tensions as fears of reverse-racism arise. The racial elephants in the room reveal themselves as soon as racist individuals feel that the people around them will have similar views. This is not about black versus white, this is about people committed to human equality and the ending of all oppression versus people who would rather perpetuate hate and ignorance. Allies can and should be found across all lines of diversity.
And yes there are those in the middle, the ambivalent. In fact, the ambivalent are probably the majority of students on campus. They are those who may or may not have an opinion either way but don't feel motivated to do anything about it. Those are the students these protests need to be aimed towards! Hate can be a powerful force, but love and dedication will prevail every time. "Your silence will not protect you," so don't ever be afraid to use your voice!
~WE NEED A FUCKING REVOLUTION~
cross-posted at nyaf.blogspot.com
Here is an appalling excerpt from the event description and the dress code:
For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks -- Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes -- they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red.
...The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day.
Disgusting, I know. The reclaiming of degrading epithets may for some help take the power away from them, but throwing words around like ghetto, bitch, nigga, or countless others keeps these words in daily use and sends the message out that they are ok to say at all. And it gets even worse. Because this event was visible to the public via facebook, there was a large student reaction on campus. After this reaction, even more racially charged instances of hatred occurred:
Days after the cookout, the editor of the Koala, a campus publication known for mocking Muslims, Latinos and Asians, appeared on the university's student-run TV station to defend the event. While on the air, he referred to offended black classmates as "ungrateful niggers." The following day, a sign with the words "Compton Lynching" was found at the TV station. And on Thursday, a noose was hung in the Geisel Library.
Follow this link for the full article.
Hundred of students held a peace march across campus demanding the administration step in and take disciplinary action against the fraternity and the publication editor. The campus atmosphere has grown thick with tension as the issue of "free speech" comes to the forefront of the debate.
Now, I am not lawyer, so I really have no idea if the incidents have crossed the legal lines of free speech. I am a student on a college campus however. And sometimes I see these types of behaviors, slurs, and epithets practiced in my campus community. While the administration can reiterate the college's ideals and hold as many diversity workshops as they wish, cultural change must come from the students themselves. Yes there are hateful, ignorant people in all spaces, but there will always be those people.
OUR VOICES NEED TO BE LOUDER THAN THEIRS!!!
I am so proud of the students and faculty at UCSD for using their voice to send the right message:
The age of Obama is not some fantasy post-racial America. If anything, having a president of color has intensified race tensions as fears of reverse-racism arise. The racial elephants in the room reveal themselves as soon as racist individuals feel that the people around them will have similar views. This is not about black versus white, this is about people committed to human equality and the ending of all oppression versus people who would rather perpetuate hate and ignorance. Allies can and should be found across all lines of diversity.
And yes there are those in the middle, the ambivalent. In fact, the ambivalent are probably the majority of students on campus. They are those who may or may not have an opinion either way but don't feel motivated to do anything about it. Those are the students these protests need to be aimed towards! Hate can be a powerful force, but love and dedication will prevail every time. "Your silence will not protect you," so don't ever be afraid to use your voice!
~WE NEED A FUCKING REVOLUTION~
cross-posted at nyaf.blogspot.com
Mark of Freedom
History was made in
“This is the mark of freedom,” said Judith Vazquez, one of the new happy couples.
And truly it is. While deliberating the passing of the same-sex marriage legislature,
It’s great to see that other countries, despite countless protests from religious organizations and anti-gay groups, are beginning to allow equality for all their citizens. I hope that in the near future the
- Shane
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Blogging for International Women's Day
It’s a day late but I’ve still decided to participate in yesterday’s International Women’s Day blog prompt from Gender Across Borders which asks, what does equality mean to me?
Equality, for me, simply means every person being given an equal opportunity to prove themselves in any situation, based on their skills and personality. This may be a simple concept, but it would take a lot of changes, worldwide, to implement.
In this blog post, however, I am going to focus on education to go along with the college environment that is allowing me to write this blog post!
Let’s start with the utopian dream: education would be free, from primary school straight through to a PH.D (if you wanted to go that far) because everyone who wants to learn deserves a chance to, and should not have to worry about whether or not they can afford to learn. More than that, however, education would not just be free it would be of equal caliber for everyone; regardless of an area’s income levels they would have the supplies and well-trained teachers needed to optimize each student’s chance at success. Wealthier countries would help less-well off ones build up their schooling and make it accessible to all students, regardless of gender or class, because we’d acknowledge that one of the best ways to help a country rise out of poverty is through education.
This is, obviously, never going to happen. However, we can get pretty damn close!
Here’s a few ideas as to ways in which you can help make education more equally accessible for everyone, not just those privileged to live in areas with good K-12 schools and then money to attend the college of their choice.
Equality, for me, simply means every person being given an equal opportunity to prove themselves in any situation, based on their skills and personality. This may be a simple concept, but it would take a lot of changes, worldwide, to implement.
In this blog post, however, I am going to focus on education to go along with the college environment that is allowing me to write this blog post!
Let’s start with the utopian dream: education would be free, from primary school straight through to a PH.D (if you wanted to go that far) because everyone who wants to learn deserves a chance to, and should not have to worry about whether or not they can afford to learn. More than that, however, education would not just be free it would be of equal caliber for everyone; regardless of an area’s income levels they would have the supplies and well-trained teachers needed to optimize each student’s chance at success. Wealthier countries would help less-well off ones build up their schooling and make it accessible to all students, regardless of gender or class, because we’d acknowledge that one of the best ways to help a country rise out of poverty is through education.
This is, obviously, never going to happen. However, we can get pretty damn close!
Here’s a few ideas as to ways in which you can help make education more equally accessible for everyone, not just those privileged to live in areas with good K-12 schools and then money to attend the college of their choice.
- If you’re an education major or have an interest in teaching consider applying for a program like Teach for America which takes college graduates and trains them to teach over the summer, before placing them in an area that really needs good teachers.
- Donate to a school supply drive. Various Ramapo organizations hold them through out the year, but you could also donate independently to an organization like Develop Africa. (http://www.developafrica.org/collect_school_supplies)
- Protest the funding cuts to higher education that Governor Christie is proposing in NJ. Contact Ramapo SGA for information about petitions you can sign, or do some research on your own and write a letter or organize a protest… just do something.
- Make a difference in your area by taking a class like Student Literacy Corps (EDUC 221) which you can take even if you’re not in the Education program. This class allows you learn, “methods and techniques of teaching reading to elementary, middle, and high school students” and then apply them in your community through the fieldwork component.
- Donate to a an organization like DonorsChoose.com which allows you to choose a classroom project to help fund. (http://www.donorschoose.org/)
- Come up with your own plan, and implement it… whatever it is! You get to learn something about yourself in the process, and you also get to help work towards a more equitable world, where all people have opportunities to learn and grow.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Prom Prejudice
As Pride Prom at Ramapo rapidly approaches I have been reflecting on my own personal prom experience. I was only “out” to my two closest friends on campus and while I deeply wanted to attend prom with a boy, I knew it would never be accepted or possible. So instead I went with my best female friend, which was fine. Looking back I wouldn’t have it any other way. But still, deep inside there is a feeling that the prom experience I had heard so fondly of was taken from me just because I am attracted to members of the same sex.
It was four years ago that I attended prom and still today LGBT high school students are facing the same issues I did. In
The
Enlighten me.
- Shane
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Valentine’s Day Review
I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day. I know, I sound like the stereotypical feminist, and I know it’s going to sound cliché, but I don’t understand why you need to set aside one day to tell/show someone you love him/her. Businesses have come to utilize the holiday for their commercialism.
However, my mom and I wanted to have a “Girls Day Out” when I went home this weekend, so we saw the movie Valentine’s Day. To my surprise, I liked it! The only storyline I could have done without was Taylor Swift’s character.
The movie follows a few different characters and how they spend their Valentine’s Day. What I have to give props for is the variety of love-lives, especially in age and sexual orientation.
There are a few storylines involving couples in their 20s or 30s, a plot with a young boy, a few teenage lovers, and an older couple.
Of course, there was a scene with a group of women that were alone holding an “anti-Valentine’s Day party” but it was quite entertaining with the beating of the piñata. It demonstrated a great support system among friends.
While society stereotypes that women are either the more romantic type obsessed with Valentine’s Day, or despise it and remain depressed, some storylines go against that. Ashton Kutcher’s character is the extremely romantic type that loves Valentine’s Day and owns a flower shop, and Jamie Foxx’s character dislikes the holiday.
Taylor Swift’s character is quite annoying. It’s the typical teenager who says she’s in love, but doesn’t know what love is. Her boyfriend, played by real life boyfriend Taylor Lautner buys her a gigantic life, size teddy bear that she carries around with her all day. –A bit much.
I thought it was really cute that a little boy wanted to tell “the most beautiful girl in the world” that he loves her by sending her flowers and a card. He’s so thoughtful and sweet…and so young! Wow, he’ll make someone very happy one day.
Lastly, the boy’s grandparents are the older couple included in the storylines. They have been happily married for many years. While they address an issue that is brought up in the movie, and does make the two upset, the message the writer conveys is that when you love someone you take the good with the bad.
While I think this is cheesy and once again a cliché, I guess it’s true, and I respect people that believe it and live by it.
~Laura
However, my mom and I wanted to have a “Girls Day Out” when I went home this weekend, so we saw the movie Valentine’s Day. To my surprise, I liked it! The only storyline I could have done without was Taylor Swift’s character.
The movie follows a few different characters and how they spend their Valentine’s Day. What I have to give props for is the variety of love-lives, especially in age and sexual orientation.
There are a few storylines involving couples in their 20s or 30s, a plot with a young boy, a few teenage lovers, and an older couple.
Of course, there was a scene with a group of women that were alone holding an “anti-Valentine’s Day party” but it was quite entertaining with the beating of the piñata. It demonstrated a great support system among friends.
While society stereotypes that women are either the more romantic type obsessed with Valentine’s Day, or despise it and remain depressed, some storylines go against that. Ashton Kutcher’s character is the extremely romantic type that loves Valentine’s Day and owns a flower shop, and Jamie Foxx’s character dislikes the holiday.
Taylor Swift’s character is quite annoying. It’s the typical teenager who says she’s in love, but doesn’t know what love is. Her boyfriend, played by real life boyfriend Taylor Lautner buys her a gigantic life, size teddy bear that she carries around with her all day. –A bit much.
I thought it was really cute that a little boy wanted to tell “the most beautiful girl in the world” that he loves her by sending her flowers and a card. He’s so thoughtful and sweet…and so young! Wow, he’ll make someone very happy one day.
Lastly, the boy’s grandparents are the older couple included in the storylines. They have been happily married for many years. While they address an issue that is brought up in the movie, and does make the two upset, the message the writer conveys is that when you love someone you take the good with the bad.
While I think this is cheesy and once again a cliché, I guess it’s true, and I respect people that believe it and live by it.
~Laura
Monday, March 1, 2010
Manic Onion Monday!
Manic Onion Monday!
Well the Onion really hit the nail on the head with this satire of homophobic legislation. The Onion, a satirical news organization, publishes articles spoofing modern articles and headlines. This particular “radio newscast” had one of the Onion’s reporters cover high court’s banning same-sex friendships. The reporter goes into detail about how “unnatural” same-sex friendships, comradery, and even physical affection like hugging is and how it was apparently newly illegal in Colorado.
I love this particular spoof because it succeeds in highlighting the ridiculous homophobic beliefs that people buy into. My favorite aspect of it is that same-sex CONVERSATIONS were now illegal and seen as “an abomination before the Lord”. Putting anti-queer beliefs into another perspective, and in another context aids in shedding light on the community as a whole. When anti-queer oppression is put into an extreme form it becomes clear how unjust the realistic oppression is. I think that if more ads like this were put into mainstream television and radio, individuals who don’t quite understand the issues surrounding the queer community might have an easier time learning and understanding it.
Think about it.
Corey
Well the Onion really hit the nail on the head with this satire of homophobic legislation. The Onion, a satirical news organization, publishes articles spoofing modern articles and headlines. This particular “radio newscast” had one of the Onion’s reporters cover high court’s banning same-sex friendships. The reporter goes into detail about how “unnatural” same-sex friendships, comradery, and even physical affection like hugging is and how it was apparently newly illegal in Colorado.
I love this particular spoof because it succeeds in highlighting the ridiculous homophobic beliefs that people buy into. My favorite aspect of it is that same-sex CONVERSATIONS were now illegal and seen as “an abomination before the Lord”. Putting anti-queer beliefs into another perspective, and in another context aids in shedding light on the community as a whole. When anti-queer oppression is put into an extreme form it becomes clear how unjust the realistic oppression is. I think that if more ads like this were put into mainstream television and radio, individuals who don’t quite understand the issues surrounding the queer community might have an easier time learning and understanding it.
Think about it.
Corey
March is Women's History Month!
Please join us to kick off Herstory Month tomorrow at
For a taste of Chin's bold and unique poetry, check out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQOmyebFVV8
Our Herstory programming will also feature a student written and directed play entitled “Bare Confessions: The Body Image Monologues” which will tell the stories of real Ramapo students struggles and triumphs with body image. You can also celebrate Herstory by joining us to see the internationally renowned African-American women’s ensemble “Sweet Honey in the Rock” (listen at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXy_TW-THCs) or test your Herstory knowledge at “I Survived a Feminist Game Show”. We are excited to collaborate this month with the Women and Gender Studies convening group to host a 3 part Feminist Film Festival with a viewing and discussion of The Way Home, If These Walls Could Talk, and The People Speak.
For a full list of events, please see the attached flyer! Thank you for your support and have a happy Herstory!
Quick Hit: How to Green Up Your Sex Life
I just read this quick little summary of tips for greening your sex life and wanted to share.
http://www.newser.com/story/81446/how-to-have-greener-sex.html
Enjoy!
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