UN calls for protecting gay rights worldwide

This article that I found in the paper 24h is about the rights that LGBT people deserve and in an official report the UN called on various governments to protect LGBT people. I think for me personally that this article is great because it provides people with some understanding and what i got out of it was that LGBT people are just like everyone else and shouldn't be persecuted with violence of various forms because of who they are or what their sexual orientation is.

http://eedition.toronto.24hrs.ca/epaper/viewer.aspx

New Laws Protect Women from Abuse in Pakistan

By MUNIR AHMED and SEBASTIAN ABBOT Associated Press

ISLAMABAD December 13, 2011 (AP)

Azim Mai's husband allegedly threw acid in her face last year after she refused to sell their two boys to a man in Dubai to use as camel racers. The 35-year-old mother of five can no longer find work as a maid because her deeply scarred face scares potential employers.

Acid burnings are among the most horrific crimes against women in Pakistan that are now criminalized in a landmark set of laws passed by the parliament. They stand to protect millions of women from common forms of abuse in a conservative, Muslim country with a terrible history of gender inequality.

Rights activists praised the laws Tuesday while stressing their passage was just the first step, and likely not the hardest one. It could be even more difficult to get Pakistan's corrupt and inefficient legal system to protect women's rights that many men in this patriarchal society likely oppose.

"This is a big achievement for the women of Pakistan, civil society and the organizations that have been working for more than 30 years to get women friendly bills passed," said Nayyar Shabana Kiyani, who has lobbied for the legislation as part of The Aurat Foundation, a women's rights group.

"We can't really get good results until the laws are implemented at the grassroots level," she added.

AP

Pakistani acid attack survivor, Azim Mai, 35,... View Full Caption

The two bills containing the new laws, which received final approval from the Senate on Monday, stiffened the punishment for acid attacks and criminalized practices such as marrying off young girls to settle tribal disputes and preventing women from inheriting property.

Mistreatment of women is widespread in Pakistan, a nation of some 175 million where most people are poor, only half the adults can read and extremist ideologies, including the Taliban's, are gaining traction.

In 2010, at least 8,000 acid attacks, forced marriages and other forms of violence against women were reported, according to The Aurat Foundation. Because the group relied mostly on media reports, the figure is likely an undercount.

Women are discriminated against in other ways as well. Pakistan ranked third to last in 2011 in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, only beating Chad and Yemen. The report captures the magnitude of gender-based disparities in things like health and education.

The new laws explicitly criminalized acid attacks and mandated that convicted attackers would serve a minimum sentence of 14 years that could extend to life, and pay a minimum fine of about $11,200.

Other new laws mandate a minimum prison sentence of three years for forcing a woman to marry, including to settle tribal disputes; five years for preventing a woman from inheriting property; and three years for a practice known as "marriage to the Holy Quran."

Feudal families in rural areas of Pakistan engage in this practice so that women won't receive marriage proposals and their share of the inheritance will stay in the family, said Farzana Bari, head of the gender studies department at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.

"This legislation addresses the patriarchal traditions that have been used against women to violate their rights," said Bari. "People have been doing these kinds of things for so long that they don't even think it's unjust.

Foster kids over-medicated

This is a video about how foster children are over medicated and their real issues (abuse, anger) are never addressed. I picked this article because it reminded of how women and our bodies have been overmedicated instead of our internal issues being dealt with.
It is very interesting to see how marginalized groups are being treated with medication as a solution to all our problems because no one (the doctors) want to address the sytems of oppression that are getting us anxious, and upset.

This however, is somewhat of a hopeful video in that once these children were adopted many of them were slowly weaned off of their medications.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf9U3ZcugSI

Montreal massacre

CBC has a really great section on the Montreal Massacre which happened on December 6th, 1989. I am sure many of us know that a man by the name of Lepine walked into that school and killed 14 women because he blamed them for his not getting into the engineering program, and called them all feminists.
I chose this because many times when the story is covered what is failed to be addressed is that it was not just a trajedy but an act of violence against women (patriarch and its influence in the media).
It is really important to note this becasue many times the media tends to neglect many things as has been seen with the dissappearance of Aboriginal prostitutes by the pig farmer. The media, as a patriarchal system, neglects to focus on how women were impacted by this incident rather focusing on everyone at the School when the incident happened to women. Similarly the Aboriginal women's dissappearances were neglected because of racism (they are Aboriginal), colonization (we take their land and ignore when they are dissappearing), and finally because they are women.
http://archives.cbc.ca/society/crime_justice/topics/398/

Anti-bullying bill a front for ‘sex ed’ agenda, groups say

Today while i was looking over a Church write up on Bill 13 i was horrified to find out that Catholic groups are accusing it of being a cover up to include classes that acknowledge homosexuality.
Being bullied because of their sexual orientation is a part of the problem for the Church to dismiss this is an eexample of why it is such an oppressive and patriarchal system--run by middle aged white men that support only things like anti-abortions Bills which take away the rights of women to their bodies as we discussed in the modules of women and their right to decide what should be done with their body as well as the Module on Aboriginal women and forced abortions.
The media and schools tend to focus on bullying as being related to how one looks (fat, skinny, short, too tall) and other physical factors yet they neglect to talk abou things like race and now sexuality as well.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1097682--anti-bullying-bill-a-front-for-sex-ed-agenda-groups-say

Woman buried in Quebec poised to become 'first' aboriginal saint

This article is really interesting because, they are talking about the first aboriginal saint. This article is not because of my religious affiliations buts because we have discussed Aboriginal women a lot in this Program and the troubles they have faced.
What is interesting when reading her story (which you can access of Wikipedia) is that she was refused to practice her choice religion by her uncle (patriarchy) and this was likely because she was a woman she was expected to go with the dominant group religion. As well, the anger of her people is not examined in that colonization, imposed Christianity on Aboriginal peoples which could explain their treatment of her (which was still wrong). Anyhow, now they are Sainting her for practicing the colonizers relgion otherwise would an Aboriginal woman or she, have been considered for Saint Hood? http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/woman-buried-in-quebec-poised-to-become-first-aboriginal-saint-135886243.html

NDP accuses Ottawa of 'punishing' Attawapiskat

This is a really interesting story about a community that has long been neglected and peoples that have also been neglected. It demonstrates racism, and colonization.

Racism because, this community of Aboriginals who thanks to colonization have been placed in reserves and now the government offers them free education that they cannot access and instead of offering concrete help, "o It's interesting to see that the prime minster realizes that there are needs there, but he thinks there are accounting needs, instead of the human tragedy that we are seeing there." (Nycole Turmel).

In essence, it is important to consider whether the government is offering the right kind of help?

Read the full article here: http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111201/attawapiskat-funding-spending-government-audit-111201/20111201/?hub=EdmontonHome

Rick Womick: Tennessee Lawmaker Calls Allah A 'False God,' Warns Of Muslim Immigrant 'Population Jihad'

Rick Womic is a lawmaker in Tennessee who has openly said that Allah is a false God, who's name is used in order to kill Americans. I am not Muslim but many of my family members are and when i read this i took personal offense:

WOMICK: Now you explain to me the more radical point. We have a whole culture who outright comes out and says, ‘we are authorized, we are commanded by a God, a false God, to kill everyone who won’t convert'...

This is a demonstration of how racism exists within politics and just the government in general. The goverment (a patriarchal system of opression) is made up of one, mostly men, and two, mostly Christians.

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/11/15/369187/womick-false-god-islam-population-jihad/

Report tracks explosion of religious lobbying in Washington

I wanted to post this article because we have been talking about systems of oppression and how they interacti with eachother. Many people are under the faulty impression that the state and church are separate but as many of us know, this is very untrue as it continues to support many of the Christian causes as well as value their concerns above other groups:

More than 200 groups are doing faith-related lobbying and advocacy in the nation’s capital [Washington], compared to fewer than 40 in 1970, according to the report. Put together, the groups employ at least 1,000 people.

The above are just some findings that demonstrate how this realtionship between the Church and other oppressive systems are still occuring! While this article is based on the U.S. it is suffice to say that the same is occuring in Canada think in terms of same-sex marriage.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/22/report-tracks-explosion-of-religious-lobbying-in-washington/

Lowe's pulls ads from Muslim show, sparks protest

The reason i am posting this is because i just heard about this on the news and of course it goes back to first Patriarchy in terms of who the owners of Lowes are and who they choose to back (i.e. Christian views).

I was really dissapointed to hear that Lowes, would pull out from backing a Muslim show claiming that they were not trying to isolate different group yet they play Christmas ads, a season that is NOT celebrated by all.

All this is the result of Christian Conservative groups that wrote in expressing obvious racism toward this group. These groups "...accused the show of being "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.""

Do you think Lowes was being fair as they claim they were?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goH-JhIrFLcWnFz5C2vaJqcL16uQ?docId=f1d2d631d4c94e9d98029a6b9d9580cb

GQ Makes Shockingly Homophobic Remark About Adam Lambert On Twitter

Click on this link for futher information
http://thegloss.com/culture/gg-adam-lambert-homophobic-tweet-291/

Andrej Pejic Lands A Lingerie Campaign… Modeling Push-Up Bras

This article is about an androgynous 20 year old who promotes the discount store's new "Mega Push-Up-Bra"

http://thegloss.com/beauty/andrej-pejic-lingerie-push-up-bra-942/

Four Ways Obama’s Birth Control Fail Hurts Young Women of Color

In response to the Plan B post i wanted to post a link a friend sent me about it! It reminded me about earlier modules and discussions on how decisions about our bodies are being made for us by men and other individuals when we should be the ones to govern whether or not we want to have children. This is extremely patriarchal and the controlling of our access to such resources is very frustrating!

"U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius voided the FDA’s decision to allow girls under 17 to buy emergency contraception (EC) without a prescription. That Obama-backed overrule came in spite of ample evidence that the single dose of the hormone levonorgestrel, sold under the brand name Plan B One-Step, reduces pregnancy risk by up to 90 percent when taken within 72 hours of a busted condom, missed pill or any other contraceptive fail. "

http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/12/four_ways_obamas_birth_control_fail_hurts_young_women_of_color.html

I?

Nobel Peace Prize awarded in Oslo to THREE women!

This article caught my eye and i wanted to share it with the women in the class because, it is a great reminder of the power we as women have and a reminder that our efforst are never in vain! Africa has been through much over time including colonization and being an extremely patriarchal society that subordinates women--and where women's bodies have been abused through violence, as well as Yemen (particularly with patriarchy). These three women, "Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia, Leymah Gbowee, the Liberian peace activist, and Yemeni pro-democracy campaigner Tawakkol Karman" were awarded for "non-violent struggle" for women's safety and for women's rights to participate in peace-building work".

In regardsto these women the were honoresdas they represent, "...one of the most important motive forces for change in today's world, the struggle for human rights in general and the struggle of women for equality and peace in particular".

How does it feel to see women in third world countries make gains (particularly a woman as PRESIDENT) that have not been made in Canada yet?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16124697

Libyan women battle for empowerment

This is a really interesting article in light of Gadhafi's death. When i read it it reminded me of the article we read about how women in Nigeria where they were willing to take it all off for the sake of their community. This article is about how women are now comming together to fight for their rights!! This article brings to light how these women tired of being raped with no consequences for the perpatrators and their worries for the future of their home.

Here is a quote from the article which you can follow the link below to read fully: Libya is a deeply conservative, male-dominated society where wedding parties and public gatherings are often segregated, and men traditionally take the political decisions.

What do you think, of their worries of becoming muslim extremist: do you think this fear is valid or that it is at all influenced by 9-11?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16160671

The Red Tent

So this book was a really great read for me and not because of my religious beliefs. In the Bible (a very patriarchal book) it talks about how Dinah was raped but we know nothing beyond this about her. Anita Diamant takes a really interesting take on this by giving her a story beyond her being known as a 'victim' of rape in the Bible.

This book also made me think about how once a woman become 'victims' many times who they are is forgotten in the media and this label is continually used. They are essentailly raped of their identity and just a lot of the content of this book is really great-i read it for Women Studies and suprisingly liked it! We talked a lot about the right to our bodies and making decisions but i don't think we touched upon the erasure of a woman's identity once she is a vicitm. Although, the Feinberg article on labels is a good place to look at the fact that these labels limit us.

I am curious how women feel about a book that extends the life of a character from of all places the Bible?

Jezebel.com

This piece about attitudes about women and rape may be disturbing to you....Although I have to say that I have a lot of young men in my life these days because the boys I helped to raise are now growing up, and I don't find this to be reflective of their peer group.

Anyway, it's worth checking out jezebel.com in general.

Maggie's Zine Launch on Saturday

Maggie's is hosting a launch of it's new zine 17 Reasons: Sex Workers, Resilience and Resistance on Saturday December 17 from 4-6.

Details are at Maggie's website. I thought that you might be interested, especially those of you who got to meet with our colleagues from Maggie's who presented in one of your classes. I plan to be there and am really excited to see the zine.

Saudi Arabia: Woman Convicted Of 'Sorcery' Executed

I wanted to share this with women in the class because it took me back to all the discussions we have had on women and violence. To me personally this is one of the most frustrating and horrible acts and the fact that this kind of violence against women still exist shocked me! This article was published in the Huffington Post on December 12th.

I also was in a lecture that talked about how this was act of patriarchy that aimed to silence women by doing these sorts of things to cause them to be afraid to speak out.

"RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi authorities have executed a woman convicted of practicing magic and sorcery.



The Saudi Interior Ministry says in a statement the execution took place Monday, but gave no details on the woman's crime.



The London-based al-Hayat daily, however, quoted Abdullah al-Mohsen, chief of the religious police who arrested the woman, as saying she had tricked people into thinking she could treat illnesses, charging them $800 per session.


The paper said a female investigator followed up, and the woman was arrested in April, 2009, and later convicted in a Saudi court.

It did not give the woman's name, but said she was in her 60s.



The execution brings the total to 76 this year in Saudi Arabia, according to an Associated Press count. At least three have been women.



Amnesty International issued a statement expressing shock at the incident, noting that the woman was beheaded. Amnesty's interim Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, Philip Luther, condemned the execution:



"The charges of 'witchcraft and sorcery' are not defined as crimes in Saudi Arabia and to use them to subject someone to the cruel and extreme penalty of execution is truly appalling."

ARE YOU SURPRISED THESE KINDS OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE STILL EXIST?

Intersex People

Hey all!

I don't know if you heard, but Australia recently elected the world's first openly intersex person.

He ran as an independent Councillor and on a campaign to represent the community.

He speaks openly about his struggle with his identity as he was raised female.

I think this is a huge win for intersex people. Hopefully by having someone in the public eye, it will help "normalize" it and rid some of the stigmas, and taboos surrounding being intersex.

Check out the link for more information:

http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/7737/Melbourne-elects-Australias-first-intersex-Mayor.htm

Children who simply knew

This article is about two twin who were both born biologically as boys. However, at a young age one recognized that he was actually a girl, while the other maintained his biologically assigned gender as a boy.


http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/12/11/led-child-who-simply-knew/SsH1U9Pn9JKArTiumZdxaL/story.html?s_campaign=sm_fb%3Fs_campaign%3Dsm_fb

Day of Silence –April 20th 2012

The Day of Silence is a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.

http://www.dayofsilence.org/

Noble prize winner distinguish the struggle for women rights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1H7HGA8t1A

Eight year old transgender girl

Danann an eight year old girl, who was born a boy, tells Anderson Cooper that she is “who she wants to be” and has parents who are supporting her decision 100%.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062296/When-kids-said-I-boy-sad-Transgender-child-says-shes-happier-living-girl-born-male.html

Enrollment form with transgender​r option

Click on the link to see an Enrollment Form for a school in India. It has a gender box for Transgender. It's nice to see that other countries are starting a new change!!

http://uidnumber.org/aadhaar/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Aadhaar_number_Application_Form.pdf

The Grameen Bank

A couple of years ago, I heard a lecture about women and how they are usually a disproportionate amount of the poor in may countries as they are very oppressed in these patriarchal countries.

I remember hearing the story of an Indian woman that was being beaten by her husband who, was frustrated because he was not making enough money to support his family and so he took it out on his wife.

Once he lost his job she decided to take control and applied to start her own business. The Grameen Bank gave her a loan (which she later paidd back) and with that she started her own business making enough money to support her whole family and her husband even stopped beating her.

I chose to share this becuase, it just shows how women are underestimated in society and once given the chance, they can really make a difference in their own lives and that of their families! She was even able to hire other women to help her successful business (http://www.oprah.com/world/Microcredit-The-Financial-Revolution). Check out this link for more on her story.

The Grameen Bank essentially gives out microloans which once these business takes off, is repaid. They are dedicated to helping empower women by giving them the opportunity to start their own business' and support themselves.

This also brought me back to globalization and how women have greatly been impacted by it working at jobs where they are treated poorly and they have to tolerate these conditions or, live in complete poverty.

After reviewing this, my question is, how do women feel about these microcredit?

SISSIES

I don't know how many of you saw this article in the National Post.

Christie Blatchford (I believe the same one who wrote about Jack Layton's letter - correct me if I'm wrong) writes about how the boys/men in Toronto are too feminized.

I was disgusted as I read this article. I was appalled by the fact that anyone would denounce the use of hugs among boys. She suggests that men should be "manly" and all that that entails (she suggests like the Ford brothers). She goes on to state that we know that men have feelings and that is all we need to know. Hugging I suppose is a way they show their feelings - how dare they! How offensive!

I cannot get over need people have for boys and girls or men and women to fall into gender stereotypes.

Check our the article for yourself: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/12/10/christie-blatchford-toronto-city-of-sissies/

Friends with Benefits / F*ck Buddies / Booty Calls etc.

I recently had a conversation with a friend regarding casual sexual relationships, more specifically the ones 'we' have with our friends. Personally, I think this type of relationship is amazing if you and your 'friend' have a concrete understanding of what your relationship consists of, and what the boundaries are.

I recently was hanging out with friend, and we were make-out buddies. It was nothing serious and I had made myself perfectly clear that I didn't want anything serious. He seemed to understand that. It was becoming clear after a couple of weeks, that he was developing feelings for me, however we kept playing under this facade that this was a no strings attached relationship. That is until I brought someone else home with me in front of him. To say he was upset is an understatement. His pride was definitely hurt, however he made a lot of assumptions about me leaving with someone else that made the situation far worse than it was.

Since this all unfolded, he has attempted to save face and tell me that he didn't really have feelings for me. He wants to continue this no-strings attached relationship, which is great, except that I don't. I don't want to lead someone on that this casual relationship will ever become more serious when I know that something is missing for that to ever happen.

When he asks me why I have tried to explain to him why.
Firstly, we are friends. I am friends with his friends. I am new to Toronto and I like this group of friends and they have been friends for years. I am the newbie to the group. If/when this friends with benefits thing falls apart, I will be the one who loses this group of friends.

I am the only girl in this group of boys. I love it. However, when it comes down to it, I know that they will side with him. I know that I don't want something more with him. I am certain I will be blamed when things don't work out. When I decided I want to spend time with someone else besides him, I know that I will be called a "slut" or a "whore" or whatever because I want to keep my options open. I HATE that if he did the same (hooking up with other women), it'd be okay.

The Purity Myth

Amazing feminist blogger Jessica Valenti (who authored "Full Frontal Feminism") has finally released the trailer for her documentary "The Purity Myth". The film seeks to explore the detrimental effects of using sexuality as a determinant of a girl's entire self-worth.

Check out the trailer - looks like a really amazing and necessary film...

Plan B!

"FDA poised to put emergency contraception on drugstore shelves"

Wednesday; FDA is going to announce whether they approve making Plan B available for purchase from drugstore shelves!

Check out the link for more details...

I think it's important to appreciate how amazing this advancement is. Apparently, reproductive justice advocates are predicting an approval - this would be a really amazing progression.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Tomorrow is December 6th, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

It has been 22 years since 14 women were murdered at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. These women were killed (and some 10 other shot and injured) simply because they were female. The gunman, Marc Lepine, claimed he was "fighting feminism" before firing his Mini-14 semi-automatic.

The Status of Women Canada states, " As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls."

It is so important to remember on this day, and everyday for that matter, the violence that women have endured and continue to endure. Violence against women is a real problem and we must acknowledge it and work together to try and come up with support and solutions.

For some December 6th events in Toronto and the GTA, please check out the sites below:

Toronto

Hamilton

Oshawa

Public Transit

Lately I have been doing a lot of reading about rape, and how people question why women don't make more of a fuss. Last night I saw a perfect example of this!

As I rode the TTC down Eglington, a young woman (early twenties) got on the bus and sat near my friend and I at the back of the bus. There was a man sitting near us as well, who was clearly intoxicated. This man went on to hit on his woman, who clearly showed very little interest in him and was clearly uncomfortable. I was unable to hear all of their conversation, but she faked a smile and acknowledged him when he spoke to her, but never really engaged in the conversation.

I heard her drop the "I have a boyfriend" card, I assume for the same reason I do, it's a polite way to avoid unwanted advancements, to not bruise his ego. I have a fake boyfriend named Bradley that I met at McMaster for these exact situations.

At one point he grabbed her wrist as he spoke to her, she had to tug her wrist a couple of times before he let go. She never said anything and neither did I.

I kept thinking to myself this situation isn't right, I should say something, but I couldn't figure out what to say. As her stop came up she stood up and so did the man who spent the trip from Eglington Stn to Eglington West Stn chatting to her. I told my friend that is this guy got off at the same stop as her, we would get off as well and walk her home. I was not in a rush and I had a bad feeling in my gut about it.

She got off and the man was about too but his friend stopped him. He then went on to start to undo his pants to expose himself, luckily another man stopped him.

As I reflected on this, I kept thinking to myself, she was being polite by engaging in conversation and smiling, even though she felt uncomfortable. I would have done the same. I would have told him about my fake boyfriend and I would have text a friend to have them call me so I could avoid the situation. So I didn't have to say what I was really thinking, "I am not interested, you are giving me the creeps and I am very uncomfortable."

The thing is I worry, as imagine this girl was. I worry if I am honest that his bruise ego will put my safety in further danger. I worry that when I get off the bus / streetcar / subway that he will get off as well. I worry he will follow me home, and I worry that I won't be able to defend myself, that no one will see/hear, or no one will intervene.

I wish I had of said something to this man. But the truth is, late at night, when it's dark, it's hard too. I would have walked this girl home, and I am sure that would have meant a lot. But by not saying something, this man will go on thinking that his is acceptable behaviour, and that is not okay!

Shameless Magazine:

Allow me to introduce Shameless Magazine to those of you who don't already know about it. Their home page is here and their blog is at http://www.shamelessmag.com/.

Shameless is a Toronto-based, feminist magazine for young women. It's a great example of indie, alternative, grass-roots feminism. I admit I'm a little biased because their Director, Sheila Sampath is a pal and she designed the buttons and banners for our Intro to Feminism course; also Kate Christine Miller, who you'll see is on their staff, is an AWCCA graduate.

My nieces both got Shameless subscriptions when they turned 16 and they continue to be fans. I hope you check it out, and I especially hope that some of you will consider contributing to their blog and possible writing for them. Sheila and Kate are both eager to publish material from our students; I hope to get them in to actually recruit sometime next term!

Sex Worker Slain in Toronto

"But I just don't want anybody to lose the the sight of [the fact] that she was murdered." -Maureen Freeman, aunt to victim Leanne Freeman.

It's stories like this that make organizations like Maggie's so important. Sex workers often work in extremely unsafe conditions, and crimes against them are largely unreported or ignored.

Photo and quote taken from CBC article. Click here to read more.

Gay-Straight Alliances vs Equality Clubs

I just read an article in the Globe and Mail today about Catholic schools not allowing gay-straight alliance clubs, that they want equality clubs - to fight inequality of all kinds.

Don't get me wrong, fighting all types of inequality is great! However with bullying, especially gay-bullying is being highly publicized, I think it's important that kids have a safe space. I also think it's important that kids who identify as gay, or who are struggling with their identity, or who have same sex-parents have a place where they feel connected to other people who share similar experiences to them. Furthermore, it's important to know that there are hetero people out there that will be and are their allies!

The article also mentions as a teen, they are too young to know there sexual preference. This really bugs me! I knew I would love boys/men until the day I died when I was 10 years old, fourteen years later, nothing has changed! Why can't someone know they prefer the same sex as themselves? Foolish people.


You can read the article at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/catholic-schools-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy-bad-for-gay-students/article2255606/