Tag Archive for "LGBTQ issues"

Posts Tagged LGBTQ issues

Quick Hit: What’s next for the gay rights movement?

According to the brilliant E.J. Graff, the next battle is over gender–and it’s one we should all be fighting.

In a great Newsweek cover story that explores the way our cultural ideas of “queerness” have changed, E.J. argues that, thanks to the tireless efforts of a generation of gay rights activists, the battle over the right to desire–and even marry–whoever you want is close to being won. But on issues of gender identity and expression, we’ve still got a ways to go. An excerpt:

It may be OK, soon, for a woman to marry a woman and a man to marry a man everywhere in the United States. But it’s not even close to being OK for a boy to like ...

According to the brilliant E.J. Graff, the next battle is over gender–and it’s one we should all be fighting.

In a great Newsweek cover story that explores the way our cultural ideas of “queerness” have changed, E.J. argues that, ...

By Syreeta McFadden • 10 years ago

Unchristian-like Christian university expels lesbian student and demands she pay back her financial aid

It’s a particular kind of petty vindictiveness to demand that the student you expelled pay back federal student aid for the crime of failing to complete the semester.

In 2011, Grace University, a Christian university, expelled Danielle Powell, only months before graduating, after discovering that she was in a relationship with another woman. The university is now demanding she pay $6,000 of federal student financial aid she received for her studies since she did not finish the semester.

Grace University’s position is, dare I say, kinda unchristian-like..

The devil lives in the details. Grace’s claim to Powell are not federal rules, and according to the Department of Education, they have no claim over repayment of these funds and has stated the dispute is ...

It’s a particular kind of petty vindictiveness to demand that the student you expelled pay back federal student aid for the crime of failing to complete the semester.

In 2011, Grace University, a Christian university, expelled Danielle Powell, ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Marriage equality, you betcha!

Image via.

I’m very proud that my home state of Minnesota is set to become the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage and the first Midwestern state to do so without a court order. Yesterday the senate passed the bill, and Gov. Dayton is set to sign into law today. This victory comes right on the heels of marriage equality victories in Rhode Island and Delaware earlier this month. Let’s hope the momentum continues.

Unfortunately, despite early (satirical) reports that raised hopes among many Minnesotans, there is no indication thus far that this development will drive Michele Bachmann out of the state. But my fingers remain crossed.

Here is a lovely photo that Minneapolis Mayor ...

Image via.

I’m very proud that my home state of Minnesota is set to become the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage and the first Midwestern state to do so without ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Quote of the Day: “Motherhood and fatherhood are not binaries”

I really love this piece by Jennifer Finney Boylan, who has spent six years parenting her children as a dad, followed by 12 years as a mom after her transition. I was especially moved by this section:

I understand the reluctance many people have to play down the importance of gender, or for that matter, biology, in parenting; a world in which male and female are not fixed poles but points in a spectrum is a world that feels unstable, unreal. And yet to accept the wondrous scope of gender is to affirm the potential of life, in all its messy beauty. Motherhood and fatherhood are not binaries. And that, I’d argue, is a good thing.

Only a small percentage ...

By Syreeta McFadden • 10 years ago

Here are some female pro athletes who came out years before Jason Collins

While the sports world acknowledges the reality that prominent gay professional athletes like Jason Collins exist, our friends at Buzzfeed remind us that the ladies have been breaking barriers as self-identified lesbians for decades.

Of course, it can’t be overstated how powerful Jason Collins’ coming out is–what the impact will be for other male athletes in football, soccer, baseball, or the profound signal it sends to the African American community. As Garance Franke-Ruta explains, “Female professional athletes are already gender non-conforming. Male ones are still worshiped as exemplars of traditional masculinity.” A high-profile male athlete like Collins coming out can help spark a shift towards embracing wider definitions of masculinity.

But let’s not forget the trailblazing women. As ...

Of ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

The draft immigration reform bill is a mixed bag for women and LGBTQ folks

Ed. note: This is a guest post from Verónica Bayetti Flores. Verónica is the Assistant Director of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy program (CLPP) at Hampshire College. She has worked to increase access to contraception and abortion, fought for paid sick leave, demanded access to safe public space for queer youth of color, and helped to lead social justice efforts in Wisconsin, New York City, and Texas.

In the wee hours of the morning yesterday, after much anticipation, we finally got a first draft of the immigration reform bill the Senate has been working on for the last few weeks. At 844 pages, this bill is trying to do the most, but it falls very short of the vision of justice ...

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

Quick hit: Nathaniel Frank on the AP’s misguided ‘homophobia’ ban

Yesterday the Associated Press announced that it will drop the term “homophobia” along with “Islamophobia” and “ethnic cleansing” from its Style Book. Politico reports that the reasoning behind dropping the term is largely semantic, citing AP Deputy Standards Editor Dave Minthorn’s rationale that a phobia, or “an irrational, uncontrollable fear, often a form of mental illness” should not be used “in political or social contexts,” including “homophobia” and “Islamophobia.” It also calls “ethnic cleansing” a “euphemism,” and says the AP “does not use ‘ethnic cleansing’ on its own. It must be enclosed in quotes, attributed and explained.”

This is a big deal because the AP Style Book is very influential and could impact journalistic standards across the field.

While I ...

By Anna • 11 years ago

The Feministing Five: Mary González

This past May, Mary González won the Democratic primary in El Paso, Texas. Without a Republican challenger, this makes her her district’s next state representative. This is pivotal not just because she is a young, woman of color, a progressive candidate and doesn’t come from established money or politics. It’s historic because she is the first out pansexual legislator in the U.S.

In today’s political climate where one of the main political parties still touts the line that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman, this is pretty damn revolutionary. I got the chance to talk with Mary to discuss her plans for El Paso, her fears about coming out, and more.

And now, without further ado, the ...