5 Ways To Maintain Your Queer Identity in a Relationship People Read as Straight October 26, 2019 by Miri Mogilevsky Leave a Comment This article originally appeared in EverydayFeminism.com and is reprinted by permission. In a way, there is a safety that comes with being out in public holding a boy’s hand. I’m seen as straight, feminine, the “right” sort of woman. Nobody harasses me, leering and telling me to kiss him so they can watch. Nobody calls me the d-word or threatens to “turn” me straight. As far as … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Love Yourself When You’re Undocumented in the US August 28, 2019 by Ella Mendoza Leave a Comment From one immigrant to another, I know many people will say you could've done "it" differently. We are judged, demonized, and under constant attack. The broken US immigration system, meanwhile, tries to intimidate us into believing we have no choices left, that we must accept whatever fate a judge decides for us. But remember that your migration to this country meant choosing … [Read more...]
“Normal” Bodies Don’t Exist: Celebrating Your Body in the Face of Fatphobia August 22, 2019 by Gillian Brown Leave a Comment I remember once when I was thirteen years old in the middle of PE class. A teacher came along and told us that we would soon be having swimming lessons over at a nearby private school’s swimming facilities. At first, I was excited. I like swimming, I had a swimming pool at home, and my standard swimming costume of a one-piece, a rash shirt, and board shorts was something I … [Read more...]
My Queer Sex-Positive Life: Unlearning the Gendered Sexual Shame That Kept Me Disempowered May 8, 2019 by Jamila Reddy Leave a Comment This article was originally published by Jamila Reddy under its original title "Sex-Positivity Means Unlearning Shame" and is republished with permission. When I was five years old, my parents gave my sister and me a book called Where Did I Come From. Published in 1973, the book featured illustrations and explanations of how babies are made. On the front and back covers … [Read more...]
4 Terrible Bisexuality Tropes on TV — And 4 Portrayals That Defy Them September 26, 2018 by Gillian Brown 1 Comment LGBTQIA+ representation in television has been going up in recent years. According to GLAAD’s 2016-2017 Annual Report on LGBTQ Representation, we are seeing a higher percentage of LGBTQIA+ main or regular characters on broadcast TV than ever before. The report also mentions that there are record numbers of LGBTQIA+ characters of colour, LGBTQIA+ characters with disabilities, … [Read more...]
Demanding Our Stories Be Told: We Are Ready for Authentic Representations of Fat Folks’ Stories September 13, 2018 by Gillian Brown Leave a Comment I have always been an avid consumer of books, TV shows, movies, video games, and, more recently, webcomics and podcasts. I take great delight in engaging with communities of people who like the same media I do, and I spend a lot of my time thinking about the worlds created by the creators of those media. Now that I am an adult and an activist, my interest in my favourite … [Read more...]
Why Disability Representation Matters (And Not Just in the Media) August 28, 2018 by Gabe Moses Leave a Comment I just finished reading a horrible book. I did finish it, though. It was horrible because it was a book in which the disabled, teenage protagonist waxed on for paragraphs about all of her fantasies of being able-bodied, her hatred for her wheelchair despite it being customized to her specific needs and painted her favorite color, and the sainthood of her parents and teachers … [Read more...]
Queer Eye: Inviting Social Change, One Makeover at a Time July 5, 2018 by Gillian Brown Leave a Comment When I first saw an ad for the new Queer Eye television show, my primary reaction was one of bemusement. I remembered the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and I liked it a lot at the time. I liked how the show would delve into the lives and backgrounds of the weekly "straight guys" more than other makeover shows. I also cannot deny the original show’s importance in … [Read more...]
“Casual” Fat Shaming: An Open Letter Demanding More From Our Media January 26, 2016 by Matthew Mercer Leave a Comment I watched the pilot of the Hulu show, “Casual,” on my own. I liked the rougish male lead, even though he felt a common trope, with his rugged handsomeness, cockiness, and a savant-like perception of things that others didn’t perceive. I recognized the female lead from another show that my wife and I had enjoyed. I watched all the available episodes, even though the show seemed … [Read more...]
