Facebook Clashes With Drag Performers Over 'Real Name' Policy
The social media platform requires users to use a legal name, which has generated controversy among those who identify by drag or performer names.
Daniel Reynolds
"I Woke Up Like Dis": Why My Disability Is the Sexiest Thing About Me
"I Woke Up Like Dis": Why My Disability Is the Sexiest Thing About Me
So, there you are in the Starbucks line waiting for your frappe cappa-mocha choka latte which will somehow cost you $12, and standing in front of you is one of those people who exudes sexiness out of their pores as if it were nothing. You know who I am talking about; those people who look like they not only walked out of GQ magazine, but also like they were dressed by those little tiny mice from Cinderella. I secretly love and loathe those individuals all at once. Cut to me: I was dressed by those mice and bluebirds too, except the fantastic outfit that they have chosen for me is encased in a 300 lb. wheelchair comprised of chrome, metal and steel. Le sigh.
When you have a disability that requires the use of a wheelchair or other mobility devices (all of which are painfully cumbersome), it can be difficult to view yourself as sexy. Truth: every single time someone tells me that I am sexy I am dumbfounded by this preposterous notion, I turn beet red and will refute it until the cows come home (apparently, I also talk like an 1850s cattle rancher). As I have entered into my “Drewliciously Dirty Thirties” I have begun to realize that I can be sexy, not in spite of my disability, but because of my disability. I wanted to review some tips so that you can be the most confident and cool cripple out there.
1. ‘Create Your Own Identity’: By having very few visible role models to emulate, crips can feel like it is ‘them against the world.’ First, who isn’t attracted to a lone wolf? I’m pretty sure that every superhero movie ever is based on this premise. Hotness. Second, and more important, having a lack of representation of PwD in popular media is in fact an opportunity. Rather than simply rehashing other trends, you can create your own. (If you read that last bit, and immediately felt the cringe-worthy “after school special” narrative, apologies.) What I mean by this is that no one knows how to categorize us anyhow, thus allowing us to create our own idea of crippledness. There is nothing sexier than someone with the ability to create the identity without any guidelines or any outside inspiration; your disability is your canvas.
2. Crip Confidence: If ever you’ve had Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy as a youth (which I loathed with a passion, and would find every excuse not to participate in), you most likely remember someone telling you this: “You know your body best.” At the time, my 7-year-old self was all: “Please go away, and stop drawing attention to the fact that I am disabled. I just want to play blocks and make friends.” But, somehow 23 years later I think I understand the meaning behind this. You can be confident in the fact that you know how to navigate your crippled better than anyone else in the room. You are an expert in this. Only you know how to turn that drink-throwing spasm into an awesome dance move (that’s how the nickname “Spastic Andy” came to pass) that no one else can replicate. Sexy indeed.
3. You Better Werk, Crip: I think one of the sexiest things about my disability is, in fact, my chair. A friend of mine brought this to my attention the other day, and suggested that the wheelchair could in fact be the greatest sex toy ever. I laughed at the thought, but the more I think about it the more I love this idea! You could be “encased in your chair” or you could be at the “helm of a love machine” (did anyone else hear Barry White there?). Think about it: it’s padded, there’s a horn, it tilts back (a whole lot simpler than making out in the backseat, no?). What could be sexier?
I think for all of us, it is hard to think of ourselves as sexy, whether we are disabled or not. While we could think of the lived experience of disability as an obstacle to our desirability, I would suggest the following: The next time you’re in that line at Starbucks and you start inevitably comparing yourself to the model-esque customer in front of you, remember that they may not be able to see all your curves and cons, but they can see your ‘crip’, and that is a pretty sexylicious asset to show off. And, in that magical moment where the model buys you a coffee, won’t you be glad that, in the immortal words of Queen Bey, “you woke up like Dis?”
Thanks for reading! If you want to find out more about my work as a Disability Awareness Consultant, and book me for speaking and writing opportunities, please check out www.andrewmorrisongurza.com where you can see how I can make disability accessible to you!
Trending Video Re-Opens Germany’s Football Homophobia Debate
One Direction's Niall Horan 'Cracks Up' Over Gay Rumors After 'Kissing' Vine Surfaces: VIDEO
One Direction's Niall Horan 'Cracks Up' Over Gay Rumors After 'Kissing' Vine Surfaces: VIDEO
One Direction’s Niall Horan spurred rumors on the internet today after a Vine allegedly showing the singer kissing a male companion gained popularity on social media. Niall himself responded to the speculation on Twitter, saying: “all these rumours huh? you guys Crack me up”.
all these rumours huh? you guys Crack me up
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) September 16, 2014
From what we can tell, the blurry video seems open to interpretation and most likely just shows Niall trying to talk to a friend in a loud club. Still, the Vine will no doubt keep the hopes of many a fanboy and girl alive and well.
Watch the video in question and decide for yourself, AFTER THE JUMP…
Sean Mandell
Ramię w ramię po równość – LGBT i przyjaciele: Debata
Ramię w ramię po równość – LGBT i przyjaciele: Debata
Debata "Ramię w ramię po równość – LGBT i przyjaciele” poświęcona roli sojuszników i osób publicznych w walce o prawa osób LGBT. Celem debaty było pokazanie jak silna i liczna…
LGBT Groups, Conservatives Outraged As Straight Mates Marry for Rugby Tickets
NYU Student Lucy Parks Writes Heartbreaking Letter About Dropping Out Of College
NYU Student Lucy Parks Writes Heartbreaking Letter About Dropping Out Of College
A New York University has published the letter she personally wrote to school president John Sexton explaining her anger that she must drop out of college due to financial concerns, seeing it as the only way to avoid a life in education debt.
Lucy Parks said she faced violence as a gay teen in rural Virginia, and wanted to go somewhere like NYU in New York City — located blocks away from what some consider the birthplace of gay rights activism — that’s considered LGBT friendly. She further explained she came from modest means, with a middle school librarian as her mother and a father who made instruments and cabinets before passing away due to cancer.
Parks, who would’ve graduated in 2016, said she told the financial aid office in fall 2013 she needed at least another $10,000 or she’d have to leave, but was only offered an increase of $2,000:
After my college fund had been entirely depleted by the two years that I spent here, I faced the difficult choice of leaving without a degree or taking on an extra $60,000 to $80,000 of debt on top of the $15,000 I already owe. For fear that I would have to dedicate the best years of my life to paying that off, I decided to leave. I remain confident in my choice, but deeply saddened and angered by the fact that my only options were either to leave or devote years of my life post-graduation to paying off my debts.
(Read the entire letter embedded below.)
NYU has faced considerable criticism in recent years over generous loans for college administrators’ second homes, apartments for professors who don’t work for the university, while having one of the most indebted student bodies in the country.
Parks explains in the letter, posted on Sept. 10, although the university was her “dream school,” she concluded “students are not valued at NYU, but profit is”:
I am writing you because I am angry. President Sexton, you make nearly $1.5 million a year and as one of your students I often had to go hungry – and I am not the only one. I am angry that the new president-to-be of our Board of Trustees used to make millions off of student loan debt incurred by people like me. I am angry that people like him get far more say in the decisions of this University than teachers or students. I am angry that kickbacks and swanky vacation home packages have been given to favored professors and administrators, but students are still living in Bobst because they can’t afford housing. I am angry because NYU is continuing with the 2031 plan for expansion despite the fact that students, professors, and community members all stand firmly against it. And while so much of our money is being spent on those things, students like me have to leave because we aren’t given enough financial aid.
NYU did not immediately return request for comment.
Prior to her submission of the letter, she posted about dropping out on Twitter.
Just turned in my form to drop out of #NYU! I am now officially no longer a student. #EducationIsARight #StudentDebt pic.twitter.com/3RXEfayxHQ
— Lucy Parks (@ParksLucifer) September 2, 2014
NYU Student & Labor Action Movement, a campus activist group, is citing her letter as one reason they are organizing to demonstration against the growing student debt crisis.
Letter to John Sexton on my dropping out of NYU by Lucy Parks
Return of Rosie O'Donnell and two new co-hosts gives The View highest ratings in eight years
Return of Rosie O'Donnell and two new co-hosts gives The View highest ratings in eight years
O’Donnell, Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace join Whoopi Goldberg and draw 3.9 million viewers
gregh
HRC’s National Dinner Lexus Raffle Winner: One Year Later
HRC’s National Dinner Lexus Raffle Winner: One Year Later
Last year, Brian B. was shocked when he won a Lexus from the raffle at HRC’s Annual National Dinner.
HRC.org
Boy Scouts Leader Accused Of Coercing Teens Into Late Night, Boozed-Fueled Threesome
Boy Scouts Leader Accused Of Coercing Teens Into Late Night, Boozed-Fueled Threesome
Three men gave graphic testimony in a Morristown, New Jersey Court on Monday, alleging they were sexually abused by former Morris County Boy Scout leader, Stephen Corcoran (pictured), when they were teenagers.
The first alleged victim testified that his abuse began in the 1990s when he was just 10. One day, Corcoran invited him over to his house. When he got there, the Scout leader offered him a beer then showed him pornography on his computer.
“This is what kids do in Europe,” Corcoran allegedly said. “It’s okay.”
The alleged victim told the court that the abuse continued for seven more years, often late at night during overnight camping trips. Corcoran would lead him to dark, secluded locations — including the woods along the banks of the Delaware River, on top of a boat at West Point, and in a hotel room whilst on a ski trip to Vermont — then offer him alcohol and engage in sex acts with the boy.
A second alleged victim testified that his abuse began when he was 13. He was invited over to Corcoran’s house to work on a merit badge. While there, the Scout leader showed him pornography. The first time, the man said, Corcoran didn’t touch him. But the second time, he performed oral sex on him. The man testified that he never told anybody about the abuse because he was afraid “They’d think I was gay or stupid for masturbating with a Scout leader.”
A third alleged victim told the court his sexual activities with Corcoran began in 1999 when he was 17. One day he asked Corcoran to help fix his computer. Corcoran noticed that he had gay porn stored on it.
“Nobody knew I was gay yet,” the man testified. “He reassured me it was okay. He said ‘it’s okay if you’re bisexual. I’m bisexual too.’ ”
Then, he said, Corcoran unzipped his pants and began pleasuring himself.
A few months later, Corcoran invited him over to his house for “a few drinks” and a threesome with another boy.
“That freaked me out,” he said.
The man described the experience as “frightening,” and “very naughty,” but admitted that he also kind of enjoyed it.
After he turned 18, the alleged victim testified, he continued having sex with Corcoran and even invited him to several of his birthday parties until well into his late 20s. He said he agreed to testify against him because he believes this sort of things happens much more often than is reported within the Boy Scouts of America organization.
“It’s clear that this is a widespread thing that’s happening,” the man said.
Corcoran now faces four counts of aggravated sexual assault and five counts of sexual assault, along with 11 counts of child endangerment.
Related stories:
Boy Scouts Plan To Kick Out Gay Teen On His Birthday, But Keep His Straight Twin
Teacher Convicted Of Hooking Up With 14-Year-Old Schoolboy
Boy Scouts Vote To Lift Ban On Gay Scouts
Graham Gremore
