( receives OBE from the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace as his proud husband, mother and brother look on )

Current Location: Buckingham Palace
Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: "Flower of Scotland" by The Corries

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This is a news program discussing the difference between natural childbirth, characterized by midwives and less doctoral intervention; and what is considered normal in the united states. What do you think? I should note that in another community, I was linked to this: there have been studies on waterbirths that have concluded so far that it doesn't really reduced pain and may put the baby at risk

This isn't even a joke it's a tre newspaper article, my friend found it. Don't doubt it's authenticty it's LEGIT. This will make you cringe. It's awful but so funny to laugh at the stupidity. TEATIME



My lesbian dating blog

***Trigger warning for fat-phobia, racism, ablism and general mind boggling fail**

I've just walked away from this enormous steaming pile of fail at nonwiccanwitch (I have now left the community). I'm sitting here feeling, just, what the hell I don't even. I actually feel quite dirty (and rather upset) for even getting into it. I reported him to the mods, but he's started slinging accusations of me being racist towards him (for people who haven't read the thread, he's white, so am I).

Is there any way, any way at all of engaging meaningfully with people like that? I hate the feeling that I suspect he thinks he's won.

ETA: I should have given a summary for people who don't want to follow the link. It started with an already rather failtastic post about why there is "so much obesity in Pagan circles". I call the OP out for fat-phobia and ablism, and try and explain that it's really not as simple as 'eat less crap, do more exercise'. Captain Ranty, as he will hereforth be known, who was not the OP, responds with 'I'm not fat-phobic, I'm not afraid of fat people! Also, it is totes that simple and they are disgusting.' only not quite as politely (throw in some ad hominem attacks against me and some verbal abuse). I explain calmly, again, why factors like poverty and disability meant that no, it really isn't that simple, and anyway even if it were simple that's no excuse to shame and bully people of size. I tell him he needs to check his privilege, and hand him some links to checklists. "I HAVE NO PRIVILEGE IN BEING WHITE AND MALE HOW DARE YOU STEREOTYPE ME YOU RACIST", quoth he (ok, I'm paraphrasing here, but it's not a lot more coherent), clearly having not looked at said checklists. It devolves into me trying to stay calm and keep on topic, and him basically screaming personal abuse at me, telling me to 'get a spine', 'grow some', routinely assuming I'm male. I report it to the mods, they give him a (rather soft, imho) warning, he starts crying about me bullying him. I walk.

The OP, incidentally, took the point and acknowledged zie had made a lot of unjust assumptions.

(x-posted to my personal journal)

Current Mood: distressed

How sadly ironic that at least one thing GLBTQI people and people of faith (which, of course, also includes GLBTQI people) share in common is that we're both hated equally?

My girlfriend Tess and I are busy planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest next summer. I am originally from the US, specifically NJ and since I spent a summer there when I was ten part of me has always dreamed of moving to the region. And now that I am busy researching the area again, the desire to do so is becoming again very real. Portland sounds like it would be a perfect match for me, for us, on so many levels.

But I really need to stop myself before I get too excited, because right now it is impossible and the chance of the laws changing to make it possible - in the short term - are slim.

The problem, Tess is Dutch and it doesn't matter how many states recognize same sex marriage, until the laws are changed on a national level, foreign same-sex partners will not be recognized and thus do not qualify for visa's and greencards.

In my research I've come across some useful information. Apparently last February there was a bill presented to the House of Representatives to change this situation. For a new bill, it seemed to do well, but if I look at the website and the blog there, it's going to be a long process.

I think that part of the problem is that hardly anyone is aware that bi-national couples gain no rights with the new marriage and domestic partnership laws on state level. And strictly speaking, this is an immigration law issue. It is an issue that affects only a small minority within a minority population.

In some ways I also don't feel like I have a right to complain. I mean, I am presently in a country (the Netherlands) that does recognize my relationship. Tess and I are together, and it's not like I needed to move here to achieve that; I was here already. I shouldn't complain. I should be happy that our situation as it is not as dire as some. But that sort of resignation does not really appeal to me. These laws are wrong and flawed and need to be changed. I need to start paying attention to them and doing what I can to change them and speed up the process. I would like to encourage you to do the same.

Some useful links:

The situation as it is is explained well here:

http://www.immigrationequality.org/template.php?pageid=2

and in more detail here:

http://www.immigrationequality.org/template.php?pageid=27

Organizations that are working on this issue, and their suggestions as to how to help:

http://www.loveexiles.org/UAFA_2009.htm

http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/homepage.html

http://www.immigrationequality.org/template3.php?pageid=1154


(I posted this in my own journal first but then thought it might be helpful / useful to share this with others who are maybe in a position to affect change.)

(right click > view image to see bigger!)

A social justice final project of mine, which I organized with a group of
Rutgers students is happening in two weeks!!!! Come help us make a statement in NJ!

RSVP HERE or HERE

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Hey all -- I've posted on this community some time before with great success, so I wanted to extend a quick invitation to any aspiring writers, pundits, vloggers, and other bloggerforms:

I co-manage Below the Belt, a forum for commentary about gender, sexuality, identity, and beyond. We're looking for a couple new contributors, so if you think the site might be a good fit...please be in touch!

Best,
-ts

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Current Mood: busy