stfuconservatives:

I recently left a job where I worked all three shifts. We would get a raise once a year for 35 cents if we were LUCKY. Our regional manager would force the store managers to fire anyone who called out w/o a doctor’s note. I had a nervous breakdown, partly b/c a customer was threatening to…

gaywrites:

When we talk about the recent victories in Delaware and Rhode Island or the hopefully impending repeal of DOMA and Prop 8, are we talking about “gay marriage” or “marriage equality”? Or both?

LGBT activists have taken lately to using the latter term over the former, myself included. The standard argument is that all marriages should be treated equally, so there’s no sense in distinguishing “gay” ones from straight ones. But HuffPo columnist Murray Lipp doesn’t agree, arguing that there is value in specifying which marriages are between couples of the same sex.

His primary argument in defense of the phrase “gay marriage” is that it brings visibility to same-sex unions, upending the assumption that marriages are inherently heterosexual. Plus, the term is well-known and easily recognizable. Here’s why he wants us to use both “gay marriage” and “marriage equality”:

“Gay marriage” refers to the actual phenomenon of same-sex marriage, the legal union between two people of the same sex. It’s something which is legal or not in any given part of the world. “Marriage equality,” on the other hand, refers to the equal allocation of rights and benefits to all married couples, regardless of whether those couples are opposite-sex or same-sex. It does not describe a type of marriage. It describes an outcome, an achievement or goal, that being the attainment of equality.

When a same sex couple marries, yes it’s a “marriage,” but it can also be described as a “gay marriage” — the adjective “gay” adds further descriptive value which may have significant communicative utility depending on the context. Using the word “gay” helps specify difference but it does not imply “better than” or “less than.” Furthermore, when a same-sex couple marries that marriage is not called “marriage equality” — the term does not describe a type of marriage.

The attainment of “marriage equality” is impossible without “gay marriage” first being legalized. When a given state or country legalizes same-sex marriage and additionally provides equal rights and benefits to all married couples irrespective of whether a couple is same-sex or opposite-sex, then it can be said that “marriage equality” has been achieved in that region. While “gay marriage” is now legal in various states of the USA, “marriage equality” has not yet been achieved in the USA nationally as the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages.

I’m not certain I totally agree with this, mostly due to the portion I bolded above. I am hesitant to focus too explicitly on the difference between a “gay marriage” and a “straight marriage,” particularly because the premise of the fight for marriage equality is that all marriages are the same, gay or straight. Or is pointing out the existence of these “different” marriages key in eventually having them treated equally?

Clearly I need to better organize my thoughts, but only because there’s a lot to say about this. What’s your take on this topic?

(via upworthy)

stfuconservatives:

I’m tired of people shitting on liberal arts degree types. This includes President Obama. Math, science, and engineering aren’t the only degrees of value. I’m tired of people saying a degree is only useful for teaching. That idea demeans the field AND teaching. Don’t pretend history, literature,…

Why Time’s Millennials Cover Story Says More About Joel Stein Than It Does About Millennials

(via jumblejo)

(via fauxmosexualtranstrender)

natcat5:

norsegays:

astrolope:

People being angry about ~dem gays~ on Target’s Facebook.

I just want to give my two cents on this and tell you a story.

A couple weeks ago, I was hired at Target. I have a job at Target. Not a big deal right?

It is a big deal because i’m a transman. 

It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s hard for me, my brothers, and sisters to get a job. There are legal restraints regarding the job and if you don’t pass, it’s hard to be taken seriously at a job interview.

Right on the application, it asks what your preferred name is. It also asks if there is anything that target should know. I put the fact that I am a transman, expecting not to get a call because usually when you put that down, people will throw out the application. I got TWO interviews.

At the interview, they asked me about it. I told them I am on hormones and they told me that they didn’t care. Not in the sense that they don’t emotionally care, but that it didn’t matter. I was male and that’s all that mattered. They also told me that they give sex same couples benefits in states that do not recognize them as a married couple.

At my job orientation, I was not misgendered once. Even my supervisors who weren’t sure of my gender avoided pronoun use, which I found only happens when you’ve had pronoun training. They gave me a name tag with my preferred name and didn’t ask questions. I felt safe and respected, which is huge for a trans* person.

TLDR: Target is amazing not just for the LGB, but also the T. Shop there for the rest of your life.

I’m not sure if Canadian Target has all the same policies, but if they do, I’ll make it a point to stop there more often. 

(via particlescollide)

Tomorrow is May 2nd, the day the battle of Hogwarts 15 years ago. The day that Harry, Ron and Hermione snuck back into Hogwarts and destroyed the Horcruxes. The day that Harry finally defeated Voldemort. We remember everyone who fought in the war and all those who died. Fred Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Colin Creevey, Severus Snape and more. May we raise our wands to those who fought and died. Remember, remember May 2nd 1998.

(via theawesomesauce93)

breewriteswords:

Hi, white feminists. This is why people hate us.

rapewhistled:

the weak links holding back our species from evolving

You’ve done it again, Faux News.

(via genuphobia)

(via thesexuneducated)

queersecrets:

[Background: Gray girl crying in the rain; Text: “At first I thought I was straight, as many people do… Then I thought I was asexual because being with a boy seemed disgusting… Then I discovered I wanted to be with other girls… So I identified as lesbian… And then I got a crush on a boy… But I still liked girls… So I came out to my best friend as bisexual… But I don’t want to be bi… because my father thinks bisexuals are greedy and will never settle down… So I want to be straight again…  But how can I be something I never was?”]