Images! Wow!

     As I was searching for images for my final paper, I came across these interesting pictures. I though that you guys might enjoy looking at them. I was observing them and they just really made me ponder on the emotions these images portray. There is a mixture of anti and pro images but they all have a deep emotional meaning. I had heard a lot of these comments before, like the image below that states "Homosexuals are possessed by demons," but actually seeing the signs being held by these people just proves how the anti-gay community is driven by hatred. They don't realize that this is inhuman, discriminatory and sickening. On the other hand, the gay community does not disrespect heterosexuals in any way. They just want to be given their rights and equality for all citizens. I hope you get something important out of these images.

WOW! Look at their facial expressions. How could they 

be smiling while holding up these signs?!

Iranian Executions

(Homosexuals in Iran are being executed) 

For the full article click here.

Gendered Colors

This past weekend I was volunteering at a community event for children. The students we work with are from elementary schools from the nearby area. One of the activities we had them do was make a cape for the quidditch game they were going to play. We had two colors for the fabric; pink and blue. When I saw that the only options were these two colors I thought to myself that this was not right. When the children lined up to get their fabric, they were all confused. Some girls wanted blue and some boys wanted pink, but that was not possible because these colors were already designated. Boys had the blue and girls had the pink. The children looked very disappointed and that made me angry. Now I understand that maybe this was not done intentionally but it did cause harm. This incident made me realize that even before children are born, we have designated colors for them. The pink always represents a girl, the blue a boy and the yellow represents a neutral color. This is ridiculous. If a boy is seen with pink, he is automatically judged as being gay and feminine. But when a girl is seen using the color blue, there is not much criticism. Society sets gendered colors even before the baby is born, which makes the children grow up with this idea that if you use any other color than what is linked with your gender, it is wrong. This incident made me recapitulate about my life and how the colors have been represented throughout it. I say no to gendered colors! Do you?!

Here are some images I would like to share with you.

http://www.wisegeek.com/have-pink-and-blue-always-been-considered-gender-specific-colors.htm

Walt Whitman Private High School

The first LGBT school, Walt Whitman Private High School, opened in Dallas, Texas. This school was opened by two teachers that were fed up with the discrimination against the LGBT community in the private school where they were previously working. This school was the first in the country for gay and lesbian students dealing with issues in other institutions. One of the teachers, Becky Thompson, a lesbian, joined forces with Pamala Stone, a straight, who were fed up with the way gay students were treated. They both wanted something different.

They started talking about the idea of opening a school were students can feel safe about expressing their homosexuality without being attacked. They began in May and by July they announced that classes would start in the fall. Although they did this in an effort to aid students immediately, they later understood that this was not a good idea because they were not able to get all the funds they needed.

"If I had that to do over again, I'd do that very differently," Thompson said. She and Stone could have spent the summer looking for grants and other funding, Thompson said.

There was a major issue, they were charging a tuition of $7,000 per semester, and although they knew some parents could not afford that, they knew some parents could, and those who didn't could find outside sources to help them. 

"I don't think we assumed this was an easy thing, but I don't think we went into this as business people," Thompson said.

The number of students increased as time passed and by the end of the first semester the student count reached fourteen. But not all the students pay full tuition, many students did not even have the support of their parents. But other sources donated money, books, and other school materials. Cathedral of Hope, the largest gay and lesbian church in the world, provides the center to the school everyday for free. Because of the donations and the free rent the school is surviving. There are only two other schools in the country, one in Los Angeles and the other in New York- publicly funded also. 

Carl Paladino

    Carl Paladino is a Republican from New York, a member of the Tea Party, and also a candidate for Governor. He made an appearance on the today show after he made comments during a meeting with Brooklyn Hasadic Jewish Leaders. His comments were, “ Children are being brainwashed into accepting homosexuality as valid”.  He went on to say that he was merely trying to distinguish himself from his democratic counterpart. He also stated that there is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual. From these thoughts most people would think he is unfit for governor of New York due to his lack of basic equality.

 Here is a link where you can read about Carl Paladino:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101011/el_yblog_upshot/new-york-candidate-carl-paladino-defends-remarks-about-gays

First Draft of Final Paper

Click Here(:

Racist Banned Commercial

As I was writing my reflection paper on the depiction of racial minorities in the media, I thought I would look for videos where this is evident. I found so many racist videos, it was unbelievable. What is more distressing is the comments that people post on the videos. Many people think this is funny but they do not see the real issue in society; RACISM. This video is a little confusing because toothpaste is usually good for your teeth, so this makes the African American man a good person yet the Asian mother is scared of him because of his race. But why would someone use the African American race to prove this point. This video is completely racist for me, and I am happy that it was banned. I couldn't believe that this was actually a commercial!

Alejandro Parody (You're a Homo) By Sherry Vine & Francis Legge

A few days ago, I was discussing some thoughts about the course with my roommates and she thought that I would be interested in watching this video. As I was watching it I thought how ridiculous and absurd it was. I was disturbed by the video. I didn't quite like the comments of "you are a homo", but when I finished watching it, I understood that this video is trying to prove a point; being a homosexual is nothing to be ashamed of! The images and certain symbols she uses are very controversial. Her comments about preists and God seeing homosexuals as sinners are very disputations. Watch this video and comment your thoughts and feelings! Thank you!

Suicides in LGBT Community!

As I was researching the recent incidents happening with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, I found out that they are "up to four times more likely to commit suicide" than the rest of the heterosexual community. This was truly frightening to me, but it makes sense because of the struggles that they face each and everyday.Struggles that they should not face! I was also trying to find ways to prevent suicides. I know there are many things we can do to help a friend and I want to share the links with you. I have many friends that could be in this situation; at risk of committing suicide. I know many of you are also in the same position. I want to help before it is too late!

 Remember to wear purple on Wednesday October 20th in honor of the gay suicides that have occurred. Rest In Peace!

http://gaylife.about.com/od/informationresources/tp/teensuicide.htm

http://gaylife.about.com/od/gaymentalhealth/a/mendepression.htm

http://gaylife.about.com/od/gayorganizations/p/trevorproject.htm

The Trevor Project, a National LGBT Help Line!

An Important Message from Ellen About Bullying

Please, watch this video and listen to Ellen Degeneres' wise words. Lets join forces with Ellen Degeneres and Oxy to support the awareness for gay bullying! We need to make a change and one person can start by make a huge difference; this is what I am tryign to do. The LGBT community and any other person in general should not be bullied or pushed to commit suicide. If you know anyone that is in need of help, give them a hand before it is too late. Everyone should be able to express their identities without feeling afraid of what other people might think or do against them. This is enough! OXY supporting the LGBTQ community! & remember if you have a white board, write something that shows your support! Thank you!

Thinking Gender 2010: Plenary Session: Intersectionality Acts from the M...

I found this video while searching for intersectionality on YouTube. I found it really interesting because it brings up points that we have discussed in class before. This video is based on rap/hip-hip culture and how it is controversial. It talks about sex, pornography, race, femenism, gender roles, and society in the African American communities. On Monday we brought up the the dichotomy of whore vs. virgin. This speaker talks about how men expect women to be sexy and seductive but also be virginial. The artisit Lil' Kim, is being used as an example. Her infamous lyrics and public image are criticized widely especially by men. She is seen as a whore and a disgrace to African women because of her attitude and carefree persona. This video gives a clear explanation of the rap culture and how it is criticized by using Lil' Kim's life, image, and music. It is very interesting, gives many facts and important details about these social issues.

GOOGLE Images.



When I saw this picture of google searches, I was astonished by the search suggestions that google gives in this picture. When I clicked on the picture to view it, the site from which it is taken from came up with the title, "Is Google Making Us Dumber"? I thoroughly thought about this title and considered that google might be making us dumber. Google is part of media, which is part of society and society is the social structure of our communities. It is an ongoing chain that evolves around us.

I was searching through google images and I found this picture. I though it was interesting how the illustrator portrayed a hermaphrodite. This illustration makes hermaphrodites seem awkward and excluded, the same way society views them.

One, two, three, four, FIVE Sexes? . . .

As I was reading the article on "The Five Sexes" by Anne Faustic-Sterling, I kept pausing and reading certain parts in the text that struck me to my roommates. Their reaction was the same as mine. There were many facts in this article that I did not know about, for example, .

"Adam began life as a hermaphrodite and later divided into two people-a male and a female-after falling from grace. According to Plato there once were three sexes-male, female, and hermaphrodite- but the third sex was lost."

 This is interesting because the "third" sex has not died, it has just been left out by society. It is exactly what Wideman stated in his article, "Free Papers",

"How what we leave out is so much more crippling that what we leave in."

What is spoken about publicly is not as chaotic as we we stay quite about because of the reaction of our communities. Our society has not accepted hermaphrodites, because an individual has to be either male or female. Our society structure has classified us into two categories and whoever is not under these two categories is judged and discriminated against. People do not really understand what a hermaphrodite is. Ignorance makes society act in a cruel manner. Being a hermaphrodite is a biological problem and should not be made into a social issue where they are seen as awkward creatures. In this introduction of a research paper, the role of hermaphrodites in society is briefly described
http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=26477