Charissa Cotrill's Blog, page 48
August 5, 2013
"The perpetuation of the mythology that trans women deserve violence because we “deceive”..."
"The perpetuation of the mythology that trans women deserve violence because we “deceive" straight..."
August 4, 2013
I am thisclose to investigating this whole Night Vale thing. It seems intriguing, but … hnrgh....
weeaboowarehouse:
kitsunecoffee:
macpye:
gaytransguys:
lalond...
RUSSIA’S president, Vladimir V. Putin, has declared war on homosexuals. So far, the world has mostly been silent.
On July 3, Mr. Putin signed a law banning the adoption of Russian-born children not only to gay couples but also to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists in any form.
A few days earlier, just six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed a lawallowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. Contrary to what the International Olympic Committee says, the law could mean that any Olympic athlete, trainer, reporter, family member or fan who is gay — or suspected of being gay, or just accused of being gay — can go to jail.
Earlier in June, Mr. Putin signed yet another antigay bill, classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography. The law is broad and vague, so that any teacher who tells students that homosexuality is not evil, any parents who tell their child that homosexuality is normal, or anyone who makes pro-gay statements deemed accessible to someone underage is now subject to arrest and fines. Even a judge, lawyer or lawmaker cannot publicly argue for tolerance without the threat of punishment.
Finally, it is rumored that Mr. Putin is about to sign an edict that would remove children from their own families if the parents are either gay or lesbian or suspected of being gay or lesbian. The police would have the authority to remove children from adoptive homes as well as from their own biological parents.
Not surprisingly, some gay and lesbian families are already beginning to plan their escapes from Russia.
Why is Mr. Putin so determined to criminalize homosexuality? He has defended his actions by saying that the Russian birthrate is diminishing and that Russian families as a whole are in danger of decline. That may be. But if that is truly his concern, he should be embracing gay and lesbian couples who, in my world, are breeding like proverbial bunnies. These days I rarely meet a gay couple who aren’t raising children.
And if Mr. Putin thinks he is protecting heterosexual marriage by denying us the same unions, he hasn’t kept up with the research. Studies from San Diego State University compared homosexual civil unions and heterosexual marriages in Vermont and found that the same-sex relationships demonstrate higher levels of satisfaction, sexual fulfillment and happiness. (Vermont legalized same-sex marriages in 2009, after the study was completed.)
Mr. Putin also says that his adoption ban was enacted to protect children from pedophiles. Once again the research does not support the homophobic rhetoric. About 90 percent of pedophiles are heterosexual men.
Mr. Putin’s true motives lie elsewhere. Historically this kind of scapegoating is used by politicians to solidify their bases and draw attention away from their failing policies, and no doubt this is what’s happening in Russia. Counting on the natural backlash against the success of marriage equality around the world and recruiting support from conservative religious organizations, Mr. Putin has sallied forth into this battle, figuring that the only opposition he will face will come from the left, his favorite boogeyman.
Mr. Putin’s campaign against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is one of distraction, a strategy of demonizing a minority for political gain taken straight from the Nazi playbook. Can we allow this war against human rights to go unanswered? Although Mr. Putin may think he can control his creation, history proves he cannot: his condemnations are permission to commit violence against gays and lesbians. In May a young gay man was murdered in the city of Volgograd. He was beaten, his body violated with beer bottles, his clothing set on fire, his head crushed with a rock. This is most likely just the beginning.
Nevertheless, the rest of the world remains almost completely ignorant of Mr. Putin’s agenda. His adoption restrictions have received some attention, but it has been largely limited to people involved in international adoptions.
This must change. With Russia about to hold the Winter Games in Sochi, the country is open to pressure. American and world leaders must speak out against Mr. Putin’s attacks and the violence they foster. The Olympic Committee must demand the retraction of these laws under threat of boycott.
In 1936 the world attended the Olympics in Germany. Few participants said a word about Hitler’s campaign against the Jews. Supporters of that decision point proudly to the triumph of Jesse Owens, while I point with dread to the Holocaust and world war. There is a price for tolerating intolerance.
Harvey Fierstein, for the New York Times
To any followers in Russia, I am so sorry you are being subjected to this.
To my followers elsewhere, sounds like Russia is NOT the place to visit for a while - be safe and avoid it if possible.
If Russia continues to behave this way, we’ll never be able to join the Federation.
If you are currently in Russia and would like to escape the country, please make the necessary arrangements and travel to the embassy of the country you would like to reside in and apply for asylum. Although many countries only allow asylum applications within their own country there are many that allow applications within their embassies or provide travel documents that will enable you to leave the country.
Also be sure to research the laws and attitudes towards LGBTQ communities for each country before applying.
If you are interested in traveling to the US, please read THIS INFO about applying for asylum, bringing your family over, as well as green card applications. There are also links for minors who wish to apply for asylum.
To all of the tumblr users in Russia. Please stay safe. And stay on your guard.
if you feel as though you are in danger and would like to leave the country immediately, get your passport, book a plane ticket now, and travel to these countries as soon as possible and apply for asylum at a point-of-entry/immigration services in the airport (Immigration officers should be able to assist you):
USA
Canada
Netherlands
England
Scotland
Germany
Finland
Switzerland
Iceland
Austria
Japan
Australia
New ZealandIf anyone else is interested in updating this post with the proper asylum procedures for their own country, please add the necessary links so we can help as many people as possible in Russia who might be in immediate danger.
On a similar note
It would also make an impact if every single one of us took the time to write each of these companies a physical letter or email addressing the situation. (Physical letters make a huge impact!)
PLEASE BE COURTEOUS WHEN SENDING LETTERS!!!
DO NOT swear or accuse. They will dismiss you. Writing a respectful, thoughtful letter about your concerns is the best way to get these companies to listen.
And be sure to SPELL CHECK.
Coca Cola Email
The Coca-Cola Company
P.O. Box 1734
Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
Panasonic Corporation of North America
Customer Experience Department
661 Independence Pkwy
Chesapeake, VA 23320
((They claim to respond to all letters within 48 hours))
Visa Inc.
P.O. Box 8999
San Francisco, CA 94128-8999
Consumer Electronices
85 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
1 Procter & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Have at it!
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surfcontra:
gentlemanbones:
orbitaltaco:
doodleyman:
collabab...
Category One Kaiju
suddenly imagining them still sending out a jaeger and everything
Mark 1 Jaeger
Guys we’re eventually going to have to stop fastening knives to household objects
But that day is not today. Today we face the monsters that are at our door. Today we are canceling the apocalypse!
Bad thing about a writer's mind
1am: You're...
August 3, 2013
shinga-tumblr:
whowasntthere:
deducecanoe:
ughsocialjustice:
...
*rubs face*
Alright, this has been bugging me for a really long time.
Let’s talk about tumblr’s perception of ableism.
This right here, this is an insult to people who actually have to deal with ableism. Starring out words like d*mb and st*pid is, well, frankly dumb and stupid. These words are not hurtful to people who are disabled unless you are directly referring to them. Ableism is not using the words stupid or dumb, because stupidity is not commonly associated with people who are disabled, mentally or physically.
Stupid =/= low intelligence, stupid = knowingly doing things that are considered by modern society to be unwise/ridiculous. We don’t call people with mental disabilities stupid, because they’re not stupid. Bear in mind that people with mental disabilities are not always of low intelligence, as well.
We call people like Justin Bieber stupid, because he attacked paparazzi and spit on his fans. We call people like Johnny Knoxville (or however you spell it) stupid, because they pull dumb stunts and risk their lives at times just for a thrill and ratings.
And as for the ‘slur’ part of that ask, that really bothers me. The n-word is a slur. Fag is a slur. Cripple can be considered a slur, also, and that would fit in with this discussion. The word ‘dumb’ is not a slur. I have never in my life come across anyone who has called a disabled person ‘dumb’ for something they can’t help. I call people dumb when they act ridiculous, or do foolish things.
This is one of those posts where, I’m sure, there is a perfectly able-bodied (yet guilt-ridden due to tumblr SJ) person on the other side of that anon message, thinking they’re being a ‘good ally’ and patting themselves on the back for fighting ableism.
When in reality, you’re just removing a letter and making everyone look foolish.
-the brown one
Hmm. Things to think about. I don’t have an opinion about this at this point. Just… thinking about it.
I honestly thought this was a joke. Now I’m just offended.
If you bleep out the words “dumb" and “stupid" because you think you’re insulting the disabled, I will personally block you for your dumb and stupid ways. That’s incredibly insulting to actual people with disabilities. Are you equating someone like me with a mental illness to the words dumb and stupid? Because, if so, I will be the first to tell you to read a fucking psychiatric article about the intelligence of the mentally ill, unless you’re too dumb or stupid to bother to get to know the people you’re claiming to defend.
You know what’s ableist? Trying to “protect" and then label me with your idiocy.
No. This is a big joke, I’m sure of it. Because if it isn’t, I’d have to be really angry today.
THANK.
YOU.
ALL.
I will not pretend here, I won’t. “Dumb"? USED to be used in a very negative way. It’s not anymore. Words evolve, and trust me… any asshole these days who would EVER use it to mean “disabled"… is a terrible fucking human being, and NOT THE NORM ANYMORE.
/okay drunk shutting up now
August 2, 2013
beeishappy:
TCR | 2013.08.01 Grab-Ask 5800: Stephen devises a...
TCR | 2013.08.01 Grab-Ask 5800: Stephen devises a system to help navigate the sexual rules of a modern workplace.
