Gay? Shame On You.

Gay bashing, bullying, and belittling is not something new but in the last few months the suicide and attempted suicide rates of young children has gone up drastically because of this phenomena. In the past year we can look here, here, and here for just a few examples of young men committing suicide after vicious taunting at school. This tragedy has not gone unnoticed, though, Dan Savage has started the "It Gets Better" champaign on youtube as a way to tell teens and young adults struggling with their sexuality or sexual identity that it does, in fact, get better.

Dan and His husband did one (above) that is very moving.

For some extra credit reading take a look at what Focus on the Family's stand against anti-bullying policies is.

I'll clue you in: anti-bullying programs are part of the gay agenda and they step on the rights of Christian families who do not want anything to do with the gay community. In addition GLSEN is an evil organization that must be taken down. I may have done some paraphrasing. Though, speaking of Focus on the Family, if you want to have a little fun check out their long list of music reviews. I'm especially fond of their Indigo Girls review.

The F Word

As a women and gender studies major, I know things just get more shocking, I find it (almost) outrageous when young women in my classes don't take on the term feminist. While, yes, I understand that when people think of feminism they think of bra-burning, man hating, bull dykes it is important to remember that it is not 1973 anymore. That wave of feminism has passed and unless your big summer plans are to attend the Michigan Wymn's Festival then that's not the type of feminism you're going to be involved in.

Feminism is solely about the fight for equal rights for all in America and moreover the world. I cannot imagine my life if it weren't for Feminism and quite frankly don't want to most of the time. Feminism has changed the way I see inequalities in everyday life and, no, being an outspoken feminist has not made me any friends but it has given me a sense of direction in my life and a sense of importance.

Sadly, though, not all women feel this way; in a class I'm taking this semester (previously called sex and public policy, but now called gender and public policy) I have been regularly belittled and made fun of (yes, this is a class at a public university) for my stance on women's rights, don't ask don't tell, and the ERA. Not by the men in the class but by the young women in the class; why are women still doing this to one another? Why are you angry that someone wants to take a stand for your rights? I cannot understand this blind hatred of feminism that women take on.

Anyway, that is not important what is important is Take Back the Night. For those of you who don't know what TBtN is this is a great place to start. Most, sadly I cannot say all, college campuses do activities that are in accordance with take back the night annually. The time is coming soon (the week of Oct. 11) for anyone who wants to get involved or put together a march, rally, or informational table on your college campus! Take back the night hasn't even started yet and I have already had some very moving and important experiences, and I hope that you will get involved too.

More shit about farm animals

Today is the day we talk about the one thing I've stuck to longer than anything else in my life, ever; VEGETARIANISM. Yes, everyone, that is right. I am not only a dyke but a vegetarian. Think of the humiliation my family must suffer when we go out to eat and I order a grilled cheese, or when I politely decline the steaks at family get-togethers (every get-together for the last six years). The agony they must feel.

At least they make it seem that way; I know that I have not eaten a meal with my father's family once since I became a vegetarian that didn't have a plea to eat meat or a threat resulting in forced meat consumption somewhere in it. Now really, family? They literally took my coming out of the closet better than they took the news that I was becoming a vegetarian; which in hindsight is amazing but also ridiculous -- they are so concerned with me eating meat that they're willing to look past the fact that I'm fucking a girl? Alright, whatever, I'm alright with that.

Just a few things that have been said to me within the last few weeks:

"I'll give you thirty dollars if you eat this chicken." What? You don't have a job.

"YOU HAVE TO EAT MEAT OR ELSE I'LL PUT IT IN YOUR FOOD AND YOU WON'T KNOW IT." Alright. Cool.

"It's not going to kill you." Au contraire, haven't you ever heard of mad cow disease?

Really any mixture of those things often with some guilt thrown in and maybe a little yelling if everyone's feeling exceptionally saucy that day.

First and Foremost

I'm hoping this will be the blog I keep up with. It's not really about anything aside from the trials of my life as an out lesbian. I'm young, in college, and not experimenting. I live in the smallest town in the shittiest midwestern state and being a proud dyke is not something people around here take very kindly to. But mostly it's just about how ridiculous my family is and how many ridiculous things I see on a daily basis.

Like today when I was on the interstate and saw a piglet crossing the road. This is not a joke. A piglet crossing the interstate. Welcome to my life.

I went to high school at a small school but a pretty liberal school. Most of the gay community at my school was out by 15 or 16 and while I was a vehement ally I was not out, or even aware of my sexual orientation, and wouldn't be until I had my first significant other/partner/girlfriend in college. Also, as a women's studies major (yes, I'm that kind of dyke) I am aware that 'girlfriend' is not particularly the proper vernacular but that's what I'm going to use from now on.

Anyway, today's post is about this theory I have about myself called "poor girl, rich girl." I have never dated someone of my own socioeconomic class (lower-middle) I have always dated people of a higher socioeconomic class than me, and for no reason whatsoever it's just what has always happened. I don't expect to be paid for, in fact, I hate it so it's not like I'm money hungry. So my theory is this -- as an intelligent lower-class person I am an asset to the more well to do for a couple of reasons; I am, as I said, intelligent (I'm by no means a genius) so it's easy for people to accept that fact that I am poor because I make up for it by being of a slightly higher intelligence than people 'expect' from my social class. I also have 'indie' interests meaning that I am willing to look into things people do not expect people from my social class to research or be interested in. Finally, I am no competition for things like money or nicest house or nicest car because I have none of those things!

I am aware that this may sound terrible, but if you only knew my exes you would agree with me. If you don't already.