Nevada: State Health Insurers Cannot Discriminate Against Trans People
The Silver State becomes the 10th nationwide to knock down certain barriers to transition-related coverage, though not all trans citizens can rejoice just yet.
Mitch Kellaway
Monthly Archives: June 2015
What Happens When A Black Man And A White Woman Speak For Each Other
What Happens When A Black Man And A White Woman Speak For Each Other
Darius Simpson and Scout Bostley begin to speak into their individual microphones — but then they stop, switch mics and start talking again.
In the video below from the 2015 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, the two Eastern Michigan University students perform their spoken word poem “Lost Voices” and discuss white privilege, reproductive rights, male privilege and dating while black.
But instead of telling stories from their own lives, Bostley and Simpson tell one another’s experiences. The result is a powerful commentary on white privilege and male privilege, respectively.
When the two trade their respective privileges they’re allowed to say things they normally wouldn’t be able to. Bostley says things that Simpson cannot because he is black, while Simpson says things Bostley cannot because she’s a woman. Each story holds more weight with this added (normally absent) weight.
Bostley shares Simpson’s experience as a young black man, while Simpson mouths the words. “The first day I realized I was black it was 2000,” she says. “We had just learned about blacks for the first time in second grade, at recess all the white kids chased me into the woods chanting ‘slave.’”
Then Simpson takes over to speak for Bostley. “As a woman, having a boyfriend is a battle,” he says. “If 70 percent of us are abused in a lifetime what is the number of men doing it? The answer is not one man running faster than light to complete a mission and that is what leaves me sick.”
They each go on to tell one another’s story:
“As a woman I’ve learned to answer to everything except my name,” Simpson says, while Bostley mouths his words. “‘Little Lady’ is not said to mean equal, but to make sure I remember my place. I battle between wanting to own my body and accepting there is a one in four chance a man will lay claim to my skin.”
“Do you know what it feels like to be black? To pop-lock your way in and out of hugs — it is not a problem you want to sympathize,” Bostley says, speaking for Simpson. “But to tell me you know my pain is to stab yourself in the leg because you saw me get shot. We have two different wounds, and looking at yours does nothing to heal mine.”
Finally the two switch back and speak for themselves. “I fight so my voice can be heard,” Bostley says. “I fight for the voices you silence all in the name of what is right.” Simpson continues, telling the crowd, “I am black and bold and beautiful by nature. Ain’t no income that can change that.”
Watch the full video above to hear the rest of Bostley and Simpson’s riveting spoken word.
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News: Marvel, Ben Carson, SCOTUS, Stonehenge, NASA
News: Marvel, Ben Carson, SCOTUS, Stonehenge, NASA
Jurassic World stomping its way to $1 billion faster than any film in history.
Caitlyn Jenner posts Father’s Day photo with her kids. “Great day yesterday for Father’s Day. We had so much fun off-roading. So much love and support! Love my family!”
With great power and responsibility, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan jokingly inserts Spider-Man references into her Kimble v. Marvel Entertainment opinion.
NASA’s New Horizons captures the first color “movies” of Pluto and Charon.
Ben Carson calls out other 2016 GOP contenders for not calling Dylann Roof mass shooting an act of racism. “Not everything is about race in this country. But when it is about race, then it just is. So when a guy who has been depicted wearing a jacket featuring an apartheid-era Rhodesian flag allegedly walks into a historic black church and guns down nine African-American worshipers at a Bible study meeting, common sense leads one to believe his motivations are based in racism. When the sole adult survivor of the ordeal reports that the killer shouted before opening fire, “You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go” — well, that sounds to me a lot like racial hatred.”
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) to undergo prostate cancer surgery.
Thousands flock to Stonehenge to celebrate summer solstice.
Single gay dad marks his first Father’s Day by sharing his inspiring personal story of adopting an older child. “Sometimes people ask me if I missed the early years with Paul, but I guess I don’t know what I don’t know. Despite our challenges, I’m blessed with an awesome child, and I wish more people would give kids like Paul a chance. It’s never too late to give someone a happy childhood.”
Check out these new trippy photos made by Google’s artificial neural network (ANN).
The New York Times looks at the roots of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s gay rights support. “Those who know him well cite a mix of factors in explaining his thinking: his views on privacy and liberty, his belief in marriage as a stabilizing force, his concern for the children of same-sex couples and his custom — in the words of one good friend, Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit — of “stepping into the skin” of those his decisions affect.”
Beyonce reportedly in talks for role in a future Marvel’s Avengers film.
Jake Lloyd (aka little Anakin Skywalker) arrested and charged with recklessly driving his podracer (car) in Charleston, South Carolina.
Anti-gay legislation in Kyrgyzstan prompts fears of Russian influence. “Two and a half decades after gaining independence, many post-Soviet states are grappling with issues of identity as they navigate their way through an intimidating complex of strong currents: the disappointing fruits of democratic and capitalist reforms, a resurgent Russia, the emergence of an Internet-borne global culture and the reemergence of pre-Soviet forms of religion and traditional values. All of these have come together with particular strength in the battle over Kyrgyzstan’s values.”
Male model Monday: Chris Folz.
The 10 most promising video games of E3 2015.
Calvin Harris is super proud of Taylor Swift for “changing the entire music industry” by taking on Apple’s artist royalties policy.
Obama says N-word while discussing racism in America. “And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say n****r in public. That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It’s not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don’t, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior.”
Ava DuVernay to direct Marvel’s Black Panther film.
Supreme Court adds this Thursday and Friday to decision release days.
The post News: Marvel, Ben Carson, SCOTUS, Stonehenge, NASA appeared first on Towleroad.
Kyler Geoffroy
I Wish The World Could Know
WATCH: To Mike Huckabee, Marriage Equality Is Like Dred Scott
WATCH: To Mike Huckabee, Marriage Equality Is Like Dred Scott
‘If we’re not going to follow our Constitution, maybe we should loan it to some developing country,’ suggested the presidential hopeful.
Sunnivie Brydum
The Daily Struggles Only People Who Overthink Everything Will Understand
The Daily Struggles Only People Who Overthink Everything Will Understand
What day is it? Am I forgetting something I have to do? Should I dress casual? What if I run into an ex and they think I’ve given up on life?
If you’re a classic over-thinker, then you will totally identify with this video from BuzzFeed. The daily struggles of the over-thinker are part of a very private battle that goes largely unknown to the outside world.
It’s time for the world to know your struggle.
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This Guy Turned Ride-Sharing Into A Real Drag
This Guy Turned Ride-Sharing Into A Real Drag
The days of drag queens having to rely on performing in the nightclubs to make their coins are long gone. The modern queen has plenty of avenues to walk down to put her moneymaking talents to the test. In the case of Erika Simone, she doesn’t even have to walk at all. She is making money from inside her car.
Erika is the alter ego of Erik Koral who is the founder of Driving Is a DRAG, the first and only ride-sharing experience that has a drag queen as the driver. As Erika, Koral works in Los Angeles for both Uber and Lyft driving around in a Toyota Prius that has also received a drag makeover complete with signage, pink boas and teddy bears in its interior. When Erika is out on the road, she alternates between three different looks — sexy taxi driver, speed racer and classy limo chauffeur.
Erika Simone’s career as a driver came about shortly after Koral completed a stint in rehab in 2014. In search of a low-stress job that could pay the bills, he began driving for Lyft and shortly after, decided to incorporate his love for cross-dressing into the ride-sharing experience. The response has been overwhelmingly positive from customers and almost one-year later Erika is a busy gal.
Koral has 15 years of marketing expertise in the music industry that he has applied to Driving Is a Drag. When he is not providing passengers with the ultimate road trip kiki as Erika, he is working on developing a reality TV show about it. He also hopes to launch a franchise of drag queen limo and party bus drivers in major cities throughout the country next year.
Erika was recently profiled in Uber Lives: L.A., a series of online short documentaries featuring Los Angeles-based Uber drivers. The interview touches on the fear Koral initially felt when he began driving as Erika Simone, along with the reaction he receives from customers. Koral, who is bisexual, also reveals the unique way in which he began to explore the world of female impersonation. He goes on to state that his addiction was the direct result of not being comfortable in his own skin and that drag has helped him.
“I’m really blessed that I’ve discovered dressing in drag as a way to express myself and it’s a great outlet that’s non-harmful.”
Jeremy Kinser
Mike Huckabee Pledges to Fight ‘Dred Scott’ Gay Marriage Ruling With Civil Disobedience: VIDEO
Mike Huckabee Pledges to Fight ‘Dred Scott’ Gay Marriage Ruling With Civil Disobedience: VIDEO
Mike Huckabee, speaking with Fox News pundit and fellow sack of mud Todd Starnes last week, once again hinted that civil disobedience may be the appropriate response to a pro-equality Supreme Court ruling on marriage.
Said the 2016 contender on Fox Nation’s The Dispatch:
“The question comes do we have civil disobedience or do we have biblical disobedience? And for many of us civil disobedience, when we believe civil government is acting outside nature and nature’s god, outside of the bounds of the law, outside of the bounds of the Constitution, we believe it’s the right and moral thing to do. Now yes I understand that’s a very controversial thing to say. But Todd, what if no one had acted in disobedience to the Dred Scott decision of 1857? What if the entire country had capitulated to judicial tyranny and we just said that because the Supreme Court said in 1857 said that a black person wasn’t fully human? Suppose we had accepted that, suppose Abraham Lincoln, our president, had accepted that, would that have been the right course of action?”
The post Mike Huckabee Pledges to Fight ‘Dred Scott’ Gay Marriage Ruling With Civil Disobedience: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Kyler Geoffroy
Mike Huckabee Pledges to Fight ‘Dred Scott’ Gay Marriage Ruling With Civil Disobedience: VIDEO
Sing Out Bristol: Around the World with 80 Gays!
Esurance Backs Gay Marriage With 'Equal Dreams' Commercial And Social Campaign
Esurance Backs Gay Marriage With 'Equal Dreams' Commercial And Social Campaign
Esurance is kicking off LGBT Pride Week with an all-inclusive commercial and social media campaign.
The auto insurance provider is releasing a video, #EqualDreams, in which children and gay teen guests at a June 13 same-sex wedding are asked to describe their own dream weddings. The responses are both inspiring and adorable.
“At my wedding day, all my friends and family and my doggies and my friends’ and family’s doggies and my cousin’s doggies…will be there, and it’s gonna be the best day of my life,” one tot proclaims. Another adds: “If my husband doesn’t like the cake, he will buy his own cake.”
The clip, which is being released ahead of what officials hope is a victory for same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court this month, takes a more bittersweet turn when one of the two brides getting hitched that day speaks about her own experience growing up.
Esurance Chief Marketing Officer Alan Gellman told The Huffington Post in an email that his company, which has supported LGBT Pride events since 2005, created the clip “to show, in an emotionally compelling way, our belief that all dreams should be equal.”
He added, “It’s not just a belief. As a modern company, we act on that belief through our products and insurance offerings.”
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
