The title pretty much sums it up; these are the random musings of a free-spirited, modified, Gemini cub guy.
Background Illustrations provided by: http://edison.rutgers.edu/
Posted 2, August, 2012

I managed to get myself into a really bad place…

I typically handle dissenting and differing opinons of others really well.  After all, if we all felt the same way on every issue, the world would be a really boring place.  But I guess there’s only so much I can take.  The whole Chick-fil-A thing yesterday on Facebook went pretty well, everything I saw was pretty civil, even if it was fairly disheartening to see that many people flocking to one place united in their opinion that LGBT people don’t deserve full rights and are therefore second-class citizens.  

But today there was nothing but a string of posts about how “I love everyone, but I believe in ‘traditional marriage,’ too.”  All from people I grew up with and have known since I was practically a baby.  I just don’t get how these people, most of them minorities themselves, can rationalize discrimination!  I understand that LGBT civil rights isn’t exactly the same as racial civil rights.  After all, LGBT people can sometimes hide or mask who we are.  Not that we should have to, but it’s a possibility, whereas you can’t hide your skin color.  But it’s not that far removed.  

It was just so depressing to see how many people that I thought were friends say and “Like” posts about how Chick-fil-A had it right. Now, I do think that these people are welcome to their opinion and I would be the first in line to support their right to say that marriage equality is wrong or what have you, but the fact that it means that my rights are infringed upon is where I have to draw the line.  I don’t understand how the court system even has to think about the fact that this is pure discrimination.  Racial discrimination is against the law, but that doesn’t stop racists from existing! It’s the same thing!  

I know that change doesn’t happen overnight, but I’m just so tired of fighting.  It’s exhausting and, as much change and progress has been made, there’s so much further to go that I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever see the finish line. 

1 note
Posted 15, February, 2012

Body Modification is a Choice

I was scrolling through the “body modification” tag here on Tumblr and came across this: “INCLUDE BODY MODIFICATION IN EUQL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT.”  I didn’t even have to think about it.  No. No no no. 

I’m sure the kid that thought this up has great intentions, but no.  Get as many signatures as you want, it’s never going to happen.  The reason?  Body modification is a choice.  And this comes form a visibly modified person.  

Equal opportunity employment is meant to protect those innate characteristics that one has no control over such as sex, race, ethnicity, etc.  The one exception here would obviously be religion.  But, overall, the things protected aren’t choices.  That’s one reason the LGBT community has fought so hard for sexual orientation and gender identity to be added to the list of protections.  For many, many years, these things were thought of by the general public as choices; we’re now realizing that they’re not.  But body modification clearly is. 

Do I feel more like me and feel more comfortable as I modify my body?  Yes, I most certainly do, but I do so knowing that these things can potentially have an impact on my future and that’s something I’ve accepted and keep in mind.  I also fully believe that I’ve never had any major impacts on my livelihood because of the way I conduct myself.  

But kids should keep that in mind when deciding if they truly what to modify their body or if they are doing it for attention.  One day, that attention may not be what you want.   Body modification is beautiful, but it’s permanent; don’t take it lightly. 

Reblogged from lezbeinlove  103,960 notes
Posted 13, February, 2012
bebopscomputer: clusteredpancakes: shelfofawesome: b-ound: So I was in line at the grocery store earlier, and there was an older lady in line behind me. She saw that I was wearing a bracelet with rainbow on it. She then asked me if I was gay, which I replied no. She then told me to take the bracelet off because it’s for “faggots.” To that I say, “Well I happen to like ‘faggots’.” Then the cashier heard the conversation and told the woman that that particular register was for faggots only, and asked her to leave. The woman said that she wanted to speak to the manager. The manager came and guess what, he was gay. Lets just say the woman left without her groceries. Damn fucking right. I approve of this most definitely. SORRY THIS LINE IS FAGGOTS ONLY

bebopscomputer:

clusteredpancakes:

shelfofawesome:

b-ound:

So I was in line at the grocery store earlier, and there was an older lady in line behind me. She saw that I was wearing a bracelet with rainbow on it. She then asked me if I was gay, which I replied no. She then told me to take the bracelet off because it’s for “faggots.” To that I say, “Well I happen to like ‘faggots’.” Then the cashier heard the conversation and told the woman that that particular register was for faggots only, and asked her to leave. The woman said that she wanted to speak to the manager. The manager came and guess what, he was gay.

Lets just say the woman left without her groceries.

Damn fucking right. I approve of this most definitely.

SORRY THIS LINE IS FAGGOTS ONLY

Reblogged from christinabaker  10,216 notes
Posted 8, February, 2012
edoro:adiosblowreador:motherfuckinradicalapologist:mjolkk: :| SEVEN MILLION CALIFORNIANS HAD THEIR RIGHT TO HATE GAY PEOPLE STRIPPED AWAY BY FILTHY NON-HOMOPHOBES. Dear Mr. Santorum, let me explain something that you and all of the millions of people like you seem to be misunderstanding on a very fundamental level. You have lost no rights. You still have EVERY RIGHT to be as hateful, racist, homophobic, sexist, and awful as you want. You have the right to say hateful, racist, homophobic, and sexist things in most public places. You have the right to run for President on a platform of bigotry. What’s happening is that people who actually HAVE been denied rights are having them returned. They are being granted the exact same rights as every other human being in this country.  Giving other people rights doesn’t take yours away. There isn’t a limited amount of ‘rights’ to go around, so that one group has to hoard them all in order to receive any justice or fair treatment. Being federally mandated to give every person in this country no less than their constitutional rights does not take away your right to be hateful, Santorum.  You don’t have the right to take rights from other people. You have never had that right. That right has never been part of our constitution. When people are stripped of the basic right to be treated like people and afforded basic civil liberties that every other person is afforded, that is nothing less than a blatant violation of every principle our country is founded on. In conclusion, fuck you, fuck those seven million people, and fuck everyone who thinks it’s oppression to be told to stop denying people rights.

edoro:adiosblowreador:motherfuckinradicalapologist:mjolkk:

:|

SEVEN

MILLION

CALIFORNIANS

HAD THEIR RIGHT TO HATE GAY PEOPLE STRIPPED AWAY BY FILTHY NON-HOMOPHOBES.

Dear Mr. Santorum, let me explain something that you and all of the millions of people like you seem to be misunderstanding on a very fundamental level.

You have lost no rights. You still have EVERY RIGHT to be as hateful, racist, homophobic, sexist, and awful as you want. You have the right to say hateful, racist, homophobic, and sexist things in most public places. You have the right to run for President on a platform of bigotry.

What’s happening is that people who actually HAVE been denied rights are having them returned. They are being granted the exact same rights as every other human being in this country. 

Giving other people rights doesn’t take yours away. There isn’t a limited amount of ‘rights’ to go around, so that one group has to hoard them all in order to receive any justice or fair treatment. Being federally mandated to give every person in this country no less than their constitutional rights does not take away your right to be hateful, Santorum. 

You don’t have the right to take rights from other people. You have never had that right. That right has never been part of our constitution. When people are stripped of the basic right to be treated like people and afforded basic civil liberties that every other person is afforded, that is nothing less than a blatant violation of every principle our country is founded on.

In conclusion, fuck you, fuck those seven million people, and fuck everyone who thinks it’s oppression to be told to stop denying people rights.

Reblogged from fuckyeahgaycouples  194 notes
Posted 3, February, 2012

fuckyeahgaycouples:

submitted by http://fallforrmee.tumblr.com/

_________________

Laura’s Note: 

I highly suggest you watch this incredibly emotional collection of clips that briefly explore homosexuality as it has existed and been perceived in the 20th century and onward. 

This is actually a campaign to raise money for a documentary by Ryan James Yezak that comments on the idea of the second class citizen.

from his kickstarter page:

A second class citizen is defined as: a person whose rights and opportunities are treated as less important than those of other people in the same society. There are many areas in which gays, lesbians, & bisexuals do not have the same rights & opportunities as others in society. We must change this now.

I want to make a documentary that encompasses all areas in which we are discriminated against. The general population is not aware that discrimination against the gay community goes beyond marriage & bullying. There is far too much hate directed towards our community and I want to capture that hate on camera. In addition, I want to explore where this hate comes from, why it continues to exist, and what we must do to get rid of it. A better solution is needed because the solution we have right now isn’t working fast enough.

I am not a second class citizen. You are not a second class citizen. Right now, the laws in place (and lack thereof) say that we are. Let’s change that.

WHY I WANT TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENTARY:

The idea for this documentary was born when I first learned that California’s Proposition 8 had passed, defining marriage only between a man & woman in that state. I was angry & I wanted to do something about it. As time went by, I learned more & more about the inequalities that exist for gays, lesbians, & bisexuals in this country. I made a friend on YouTube who revealed to me that he would be expelled from his school if they found out he was gay. I did not believe him - in what kind of reality could something like that be true? It is true. Shortly after that, a string of natural disasters occurred & my boss asked me if I wanted to donate blood with her. I immediately got up to go with her & then stopped abruptly realizing that I couldn’t donate blood. She did not believe me, nor did she understand why. I felt like a different species. I did not feel one with the human race in that moment. That was the moment it had a direct effect on me & my rights - that is when I decided to make this documentary.

If you were touched at all by this idea, PLEASE PLEASE donate to back this project. I just pitched in $25 dollars, but they accept any donations. 

I truly believe this documentary has the potential to do a lot of good. If you agree, go here and donate.

the project’s facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/2ndClassCitizens

the kickstarter link:  http://kck.st/zUspXy

also- if you donate, let us know. 

we’ll figure out something fun as a thank you :3

Seriously, this gave me goosebumps. 

7 notes
Posted 30, January, 2012

DirecTV, a company I’ve never actually had a problem with before, has recently put out an ad that I think is just offensive and ridiculous.  I really thought at first that I was just being overly sensitive, but the more I think about it, the more I don’t think I am.

As a modified person, being referred to as an “undesirable” is incredibly offensive.  It continues the myth that all modified people are useless, reckless, and a menace to society.  And it’s all based on appearance.  The people shown wear a lot of black, have nose rings, and a few tattoos.  I’m a college student and emergency room veterinary technician.  Do my tattoos and piercings make me undesirable or a non-contributing member of society?  It’s like this ad is out of the ’50s.  You’d think in 2012 that we’d somewhat moved past dismissing people based solely on their appearance, but apparently I was mistaken.   

Reblogged from fyeahqueervintage  184 notes
Posted 2, December, 2011

fyeahqueervintage:

[tw: heterosexism]

valsira:

While the McCarthy Era is remembered as the time of the Red Scare, the headline-grabbing hunt for Communists in the United States, it was the Lavender Scare, a vicious and vehement purge of homosexuals, which lasted longer and ruined many more lives.

Before it was over, more than 10,000 Federal employees lost their jobs. Based on the award-winning book by historian David K. Johnson, The Lavender Scare shines a light on a chapter of American history that has never received the attention it deserves.

It examines the tactics used by the government to identify homosexuals, and takes audiences inside interrogation rooms where gay men and women were subjected to grueling questioning. These stories are told through the first-hand accounts of the people who experienced them.

The Lavender Scare shows how the government’s actions ignited an anti-gay frenzy that spread throughout the country, in an era in which The New York Times used the words “homosexual” and “pervert” interchangeably, and public service films warned that homosexuality was a dangerous, contagious disease.

While the story is at times infuriating and heartbreaking, its underlying message is uplifting and inspiring. Instead of destroying American homosexuals, the actions of the government had the opposite effect: they stirred a sense of outrage and activism that helped ignite the gay rights movement.

via http://www.autostraddle.com/the-lavender-scare-documentary-115359/

Reblogged from juniorjaycub  5,079 notes
Posted 2, December, 2011

I think I’m gonna watch this every day!

Reblogged from golden-zephyr  89 notes
Posted 1, November, 2011

Transgender Woman Expelled from Riverside University After Appearing on MTV's 'True Life'

golden-zephyr:

blackenedbutterfly:

amydentata:

After appearing on MTV’s Reality Show “True Life,” Domaine Javier - a transgender woman - was expelled from her nursing program at California Baptist University (CBU) in Riverside. The 24-year-old student revealed on the show that she is biologically male, inciting a major roadblock in her career path.

The private university claims that Javier was expelled for “committing or attempting to engage in fraud, or concealing identity” and for presenting false or misleading information in university judicial processes, reports The Press-Enterprise. Javier, who has identified herself as a female since she was a toddler, did so on her CBU application form.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Javier. “They said, ‘On your application form you put ‘female.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s how I see myself.’”

The expulsion became effective on August 30, just one week before Javier was slated to begin the nursing program. She had recently transferred to CBU from Riverside City College (RCC). “Devastated” by her expulsion, Javier returned to RCC but cannot enter the nursing program until next fall. “This totally ruined my career path,” she said. “I’ve been trying to finish as soon as possible.” Her graduation will be delayed by at least one year.

Mark Wood, an attorney with San Francisco-based Transgender Law Center, says that, although California law prohibits employment, housing, government, insurance and other types of discrimination based upon gender identity, private universities are generally not covered by the discrimination law.

…

Fraud my ass. Essentialist binary sex is the fraud.

So let’s find all the people in charge of this motion and throw them into a spiked pit where they will lose all of their lives

Ridiculous. Male students can rape female students and are allowed to stay in classes with only minor disciplinary actions taken (google it, there’s more than one case)… but this? THIS is RIDICULOUS. 

Reblogged from golden-zephyr  403 notes
Posted 1, November, 2011

danceswithfaeriesunderthemoon:

angrybrownbaby:

darkjez:

goddamazon:

This is the first video I’ve ever made regarding anything aside from dance. And since my text doesn’t seem to be getting through to some of you, perhaps me talking to you will. I know no one’s reblogging this, but the video took so damn long to upload, man…

Some of you will vehemently disagree with the anger of this post, but quite frankly…I don’t know how else to explain it because diplomacy has failed on so many levels. I was pissed when I made this, hence my Nigerian accent coming out thick, so if you can’t understand some things that’s okay.

AND MY FUCKIN’ EYEBROWS ARE FIERCE YO.

“Good afternoon, my name is Aisha. You know me on Tumblr as Goddamazon. Don’t ask me what the name means O; I put it in the sidebar—do not ask—let’s not waste time.

Recently on the site there has been this talk of cultural appropriation, where people of another race—particularly white people—take pieces of another race’s culture and traditions and incorporate it into their daily life. Sometimes as a Halloween costume, sometimes as just fashion or anything. And recently, POC—not just Blacks and Africans—Natives, Mexicans, Latinos—basically everyone who is brown, have complained that they’re tired of seeing this.

You go to any costume shop you’ll see “Sexy Indian Princess” or “Sexy This” or “Sexy That” or “Sexy Belly Dancer” or “Sexy Arab Princess”—I don’t care. You’ll see all of these things in the store, and the problem with white people throughout history is that they have this mentality that the world is theirs for the taking. That includes people’s cultures, people’s traditions, people’s everything. And it’s so ingrained in your psyche that you don’t even realize that it’s offensive to those of us who have been oppressed in the past, and are still being oppressed today.

When I go and see Fashion Week and I see some skinny white girl walking down the runway with Ghanaian or Nigerian symbols all over her dress and her hair is wild and free and she’s wearing chunky necklaces and ivory bangles on her arm and they call it ‘going tribal’, how do you think that makes me feel? I’m from Nigeria O! I don’t dress like that! And she doesn’t even know what those symbols might mean! They might be a curse or something and you don’t even know, and you’re wearing them and calling it ‘fashion’.

So, when you see somebody like these little hipster kids who drink their shitty beer and sit in coffee shops making fun of people with ironic jokes—usually racist ironic jokes—wearing feather headdress talking about they’re Native American and they have one drop of Native American blood and they think that it gives them a pass to wear headdress and paint their face wild and act like they have been part of this tribe since Creation. Just because you have one drop of Native blood does not give you a pass to do these things. If they say they’re offended, then they’re offended, O! It’s as simple as that. You don’t offend somebody and they tell you that they’re offended and you continue to do the thing that offends them! You don’t do that, that’s disrespectful, and that’s the whole point of this argument. You’re disrespecting these people and they are telling you you’re disrespecting them, but you’re continuing to disrespect them because this is America and everybody is free to take what they want. Hey! I have news for you O! The bank has taken they want! They have taken your money, and you’re now fighting with the bank to get your money, but the bank is saying it’s a free country and they can take what they want. Same difference, O!

So, you have POC who are trying to tell you something that is bothering them, and has been bothering them, but because this has gone on so long and has become normal to everyone who is white, you suddenly think that it is okay to yell at us because we are offended. No! We’ve always been offended, we just finally decided to say ‘Let us tell them we are offended, now!’

I don’t like to see people dressed in a loincloth and carrying a spear thinking that I live life in Nigeria like it’s ‘Coming to America’. I’m not the Princess of Zamunda, now, there is no Zamunda in Africa [laughs]. I don’t ‘speak African’, alright? I’m from Okpella. And I don’t care that you don’t care. I’m telling you that we’re all offended and you continue to ignore us. But then when everything backlashes then you act like we are some kind of savage animal that has suddenly attacked you, and then you cry your ‘white woman tears’ and you cry your ‘white man’s burden’ and all of these things like you are so oppressed. You know nothing of oppression, O. Your race has been oppressing since the Vikings sailed from Scandinavia to come here. The Native people were here first; they still live on the reservations that your ancestors put them on, O! They have not reclaimed any of their lands—by rights this whole continent belongs to them.

So I don’t appreciate when somebody tries to justify something we all find offensive. If somebody tells you they’re offended, you have no right to say anything else. What you have done is offending them. That’s the end of the argument. I have nothing to say to you. We’ve said everything we want to say and can say, but you’re not hearing us O. You don’t hear our words. But when the backlash comes you will cry your ‘white woman’s tears’ and act like someone is oppressing you. Nobody is oppressing you. We’re just telling you how we feel about what is going on.

You can appreciate our culture; you can respect it. But don’t take bits and pieces and fasten it together and call it fashion—that is not respect, and that is not honoring our culture. Respect it as a whole; respect the people who have brought this culture and these traditions into your life. But do not tell us that we cannot be offended. Do not wear my culture as a Halloween costume for one night because you decided to ‘go tribal’. I don’t care, O. I will knock your head if I see you in the street.

That’s all I have to say because it seems my text is not getting through to you so I decided to make this video.”

I THINK I’M IN LOVE

In other news, this is an excellent smack down of cultural appropriation.

I think this video is on the forever reblog list.

Love.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I love you.

I agree with 98% of this.  If someone says you offended them, you offended them.  There’s no arguing with that.  But, not that this is the case here, some people legitimately do need to grow a thicker skin.  If I took it to heart every time someone called me a faggot or something, I would never make it through life.

I can totally see how dressing as another culture for Halloween or a costume party could be offensive.  I’m gonna qualify that and apply it only to existing cultures.  Toga party ≠ offensive to Greeks, IMO, etc.  Granted, I guess they were white.  Anywhoo…the other thing I slightly disagree with is the fashion stuff.  Dressing in a “modern dashiki” and calling it “Gonne Tribal” is most definitely offensive.  I totally see that and agree.  But I think one of the most beautiful things in this global culture that we are forming together is that we do pull from other cultures.  Modern dance is often influenced by damn near ancient African and Asian dance.  I don’t think this is cultural appropriation.  If the influence is acknowledged, I don’t see the issue.  When an artist cites other artsits as inspiration and we don’t consider that plagiarism and I think this is the same issue.  

I recently saw a video, I believe posted by golden-zephyr, of a traditional northwestern Native American spirit dance set to dub step or some form of electronica.  It was beautiful.  It was a blending of cultures but, not that we should ever forget our roots, that is what we are moving toward as the world becomes more and more connected.