this journal is now friends only. leave a comment if you want to be added.

i have two filters that people can choose to opt in on, if they are interested. if you aren't, no hard feelings at all. that's why they are filters :)

the first is sex - thats pretty self-explanatory, i hope.

the second is religion/spirituality - some of more...interesting gifts of mine, as well as religious discussion and thoughts.

let me know if you would like to be on either or both.

Just checkin my LJ feed today to see what was new and I came across the following incredibly racist ad. I assure you it is a serious, actual ad actually placed in actual magazines.

Nivea is on my permanent do not buy list for this shit.

I doubt anyone will ask what the big deal is because this is about as blatant as it gets and I try not to keep insensitive, willfully ignorant prats on my f-list for long, but if you do get the urge to ask don't be surprised if my answer consists of "Google white privilege" or "Google uncivilized as a racist slur" and little else.

Originally posted by poetic_pixie_13 at Help East Africa post

As part of his Hollowstone virtual book tour the great neo_prodigy, Dennis R Upkins, has written a guest post for my blog. Enjoy!

Another Reason Why Media Representation Matters


I must admit that I didn't know much about Alexis Arquette. I knew she came from a famous acting family and I believe I had seen more of her brother David's work than any of the other Arquettes. So my first real introduction to Alexis was when she starred in a season of the VH-1 reality series the Surreal Life.

Alexis proved to be quite the spitfire and a force in her own right. But what was really enlightening and sobering was to witness the casual transphobia and misogyny she faced in her day to day on the show. Too many episodes featured her being teased and mocked by passerby idiots while simply doing her thing and minding her own business.

In one episode she scored and danced with a really cute nerdy guy (my favorite kind) at a restaurant only to catch jeers, insults and taunts from obnoxious a crowd of assholes.

More than pissed off (and rightfully so), Alexis flipped her shit (as well as tables and chairs) and made it clear that she was more than ready to beat the hell out of some transphobic ass.

I won't lie. I was worried for her. Not because Alexis wasn't entitled to bring the rage (because she was well within her rights to do so) but I was worried that she might be physically attacked or worse yet, get arrested. Even though she was being harassed, she would be the one facing legal troubles. And given the police's track record with trans people...it doesn't take much to understand why I had my concerns.

While visiting Vancouver last year, I had a chance to catch a VH-1 segment where Alexis was interviewed about the altercations. She explained that she was aware the cameras were rolling and she was broadcasting a message to the rest of the world. Knowing that trans people are often perceived as weak, defenseless, and easy prey, she was putting the world on notice and warning them not to fuck with trans people because they will not only fight back but will fuck you up something fierce.

With a huge grin on my face, I simply replied, "Nicely played."

So what does representation in the media matter?

Alexis's rage probably saved a trans person's life. Because by showing that she wasn't afraid to fight back and kick someone's ass, a basher might have second thoughts about targeting a a trans person.

It matters because Alexis's treatment is a sad reminder to the rest of us the everyday bigotry that trans people face. Said treatment should remind us all that trans people are entitled to the same human dignity, compassion and respect that the rest of us should have.

Ugh. I am going to start posting here again. I have a lot going on right now that I just need to get out of my head. There are currently about five things that I need to make separate posts about. The one closest in my mind right now is the issue of power, privilege and bigotry.

I am very sad to report that I am no longer going to be a part of prop8trialtracker.com. P8TT started as a great place to come together to follow the Prop 8 Trial going on in California, and discuss LGBT issues. It was a safe space to talk about experiences without too many clueless straight people trying to straight-talk about how we are doing it wrong. At least, it seemed that way to me. It may be that I've learned more since I started reading it and so see the fail more.

At any rate, it has turned into an exercise in placating privilege, where the Tone Argument is Rule 1. I didn't link to specific comments up there because that whole page is full of Tone Argument and other fails. And other posts are just as bad or worse. Anyone who calls out the straight privilege gets told to be nice, play nice, and beg the straight-talking fools pardon. Yea, not going to do it.

I am going to write an essay explaining in small words why the tone argument is such fail called "It's Not About You: Clueless White People and the Tone Argument" in the next few days. Until then, the links here and the awesome blog of the hot n sexy neo_prodigy are great places to learn about privilege, social justice, and related issues.

Also watch this space for an upcoming guest post by neo_prodigy about his new and sure-to-be-awesome book Hollowstone! :) Here is his official website, where you can read about the author and an excerpt from the text! If you like it, put a web-ring on it. Spread the word through your journal or FB or Twitter!

i am watching Olberman, and he showed an incredibly funny and clever video: Prop 8: The Musical starring Jack Hlack as Jesus.


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so....i was just linked to this news entry. it has nothing of content whatsoever. some people tried to get LJs attention by mentioning the recent fan-art witch hunts. i skimmed those threads and nowhere did i see an LJ rep say one thing. at all.

yep, time to move.

from now on, i am at Greatest Journal (nothing there yet) . i will be slowly moving all my archives there as well.

i will keep this account to read my friends LJs, and some communities until i can find comparable on GJ. sucks to be leaving, but its not the same LJ i signed up with so its time to move on.

EDIT: i've started to update the journal.

i need the "lj i just can't quit you" brokeback icon. it makes no sense to have my main journal at GJ and still post and comment to communities here. i will have a mirror journal still at GJ, just in case, but will be posting here. i will transfer the half-dozen or so entries to here in the next few minutes/hours/days so watch this space!