Have a story? Please share!

I am currently working on a book that will feature stories from people regarding their experiences with gender issues.  If you have an interesting story you would like to share, I would love to read it!  The book will be an anthology of sorts and will feature stories from many authors about how gender roles/expression have impacted their relationships. 

I am looking for submissions featuring all types of relationships, like sibling-sibling, mother-son, father-son, partner-partner and so forth.  Any submissions which focus on both race and gender are greatly encouraged.

Thanks for your time and let me know if you are interested!

The Bible says I can’t eat shrimp either?

Ok, so I tried to avoid the idea of weighing in on the whole Miss California not supporting gay marriage thing, but I found this and I hope this response gets as much press as the current Miss California did.  Here’s a quick quote from the article and the link:

“Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant! “

- Rev. Nicole Lamarche, former Miss California

The New Media Circus

I had to weigh in on this, albeit briefly…

Here’s a quote from Chris Brown’s alleged cousin, “Chris was not brought up to beat on a woman. He might feel down right now because his fans are looking down on him, like he’s done something wrong. Of course, yes, he’s done something wrong because he puts his hands on her, but like I said, you don’t know what happened.”

“We don’t know what happened,” huh?  This is true to some extent.  Just give me one reasonable explanation as to why Rihanna looks like this?

http://prometheustherebel.wordpress.com

Now, had Rihanna or Chris Brown had been less talented or less attractive OR not perceived as young Hollywood royalty then I don’t think this “incident” would have gotten so much press.  Nonetheless, this is serious and the responsible party/parties should be held accountable by the law.  WHY IS THIS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN?

Sex, Sexuality and Ted Haggard

“I’m a heterosexual with issues,” he says on Oprah.  Ted Haggard speaks rather candidly about his sexuality and does make some good sense about the US’ (and other places too) dichotomous thinking about sexuality.  My question is what the hell does “with issues” mean?  Ted, are you saying that your affinities for same sex relationships are “issues” to be dealt with?  Another major criticism I have of him is that he is continually saying that he is and was satisfied with his relationship with his wife and THIS is where he has hit the proverbial wall.  Let me ask you this, if you’re happy and satisfied with your relationship, do you seek out to have an affair or affairs?  Not a chance! 

Also, Haggard and his wife seem to cite the fact that the continually had sex as a reason why he isn’t gay (they’re not even waving the flag of bisexuality either!)  which further proves the point that who you have sex with can’t be the only factor in determining ones sexual identity.  With “our” current conceptualization of sexuality, Ted would be bisexual simply because he has sex with men and women but then I ask you is Angelina Jolie any less ”bisexual” because she only has sex with Brad Pitt now?  N-O-P-E.  We sometimes forget that Jolie has also given up sex with other men simply constituting a monogamous relationship.  Let me ALSO note that I have never seen a quote of Jolie referring to herself as bisexual.  Rather, all I’ve read are statements by her that she also adores and loves being in relationships with women. 

Me, oh my, the reason why we are still having this discussion on sexuality is because we want to hold on to those labels so strongly.  Why?  Because if I know who or what you are, then I can be safe in distinguishing myself as different from you.  It truly is sad, that in the development of our lives our identies are commonly developed and defined in opposition to those around us.  Even Haggard’s current identity of “heterosexual  wit issues” is defined by his therapist (I personally think he needs a new one).  Also, does anyone else find it bothersome that the church is now coming in defense of Haggard since he’s gone on to deal with his “compulsions.” In Haggard’s case, let’s just call it for what it is…he has disgraced his church, his religion, his family and himself because he lives in a world which he feels doesn’t accept him.  We are all part of that world. 

Meanwhile, there are some very provocative comments on Anderson Cooper’s blog here.

Word of the Day = Patriarchy

Patriarchy -  n., 1 a form of social organization in which the father is head of the family, descent being traced through the male line  2 rule or domination by men

If you were ever uncertain whether we lived in a patriarchal society then read this article from CNN.com.  I believe this woman also appeared on an episode of Tyra Banks.

ALSO, as we’re (or I am at least) celebrating the 36 anniversary of freedom of choice, read this uber-popular WordPress blog.  How to Stump an Anti-Abortionist with One Question.  I find great issue with the term “anti-abortionist” because I don’t believe anyone is really for its alleged antithesis, pro-abortion, but more often are in favor of the right to choose.  Nonetheless, it’s quite a provocative and enlightening read, no matter what side of the issue you stand.

Obama’s Letter

This is really special. 

A porn bail out!?

My jaw hit the floor when I read this!  Granted the US govt. set the precedence, but honestly Larry Flynt and Joe Francis are advocating for a PORN BAIL OUT!?  “People are too depressed to be sexually active,” Flynt said in the statement. “This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex.” 

Oh, and there’s also this gem…

“With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind. It’s time for congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America. The only way they can do this is by supporting the adult industry and doing it quickly.”

Judging from our advertisements and the amount of internet porn traffic (which Flynt and Francis acknowledge), I find it extremely hard to believe that America has lost it’s sexual appetite.   I’m all for the responsible use of porn (if that is even possible), after all to each his/her own, but this plea is way too much.  Read the CNN article here.

Coulter Strikes!

I think most reasonable people can recognize that this sort of rhetoric and behavior is not helpful towards either the “Conservative” or “Liberal” agendas.  People ask me, “do you think Ann Coulter is serious about what she’s saying or is she really that smart to pimp out her ideas in extreme ways to garner attention?”  I will state for the record, I believe Ann Coulter to be behaving like a complete IDIOT.  I could manage to muster up some respect for her ideas if she chose to present herself in rational manner.  She is right, to elect a man with the middle name Hussein in our current political stance is ironic, yet she won’t own up to the idea that referring to him as such is strategic in order to garner support among racists who hide under the cloak of conservatism (which I do respect, by the way…not racism but conservatives).  Watch this clip from the today show with Matt Lauer.

And here’s a response from Keith Olbermann about the most recent mess concerning Ann Coulter.

“how many positions are there?”

Paul Cézanne’s “Orgy," 1880.

 

Bristol Palin, Jamie Lynn Spears…as of recent times I have heard that teenage pregnancy seems to be on the rise again.  Due to pure laziness, I have not checked out the actual statistics for myself, however I can certainly say that judging from the US pop culture phenom, Hollywood has turned into a regular Babies ‘R Us. 

I don’t believe that any people in developed nations really like the idea of teenage pregnancy too much and this surge in babies having babieshas made pregnancy a political issue once again (not like it ever really went away).  This always takes me back to my sex ed class and how limited it really was.  Yes, we learned what penises and vaginas were but the tension in the room was SERIOUS and I think that is often the case when you teach abstinence only sex ed when a sizable percentage of your population has already engaged in some form of sex.  I have always been a big advocate for comprehensive sex ed program in our school systems, but even more importantly in our social and political scenes.  Sex is dark and nasty to us, and you are too if you desire to have it it and if you’re even thinking about “playing for the other team” you better watch it.  NOT COOL. 

Indulge me and read this article from Times Online about the Dutch sex ed program.  It covers everything from porn, the emotional aspect of sex and homosexuality and many of the quotes come directly from the mouths of children.  Granted, I was quite shocked at some of the specific examples, however this really could be attributed to my conditioning as a member of US culture EVEN though I disagree with our current system.  Will it ever change?  Here’s that link (and notice that it’s included on the women’s section of the site as if to imply that men don’t care about the topic…curious). 

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5208865.ece

How sad…

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/23/saudi.arabia.child.marriage/index.html