Advocacy

Craig Puranen Wilson
I am updating this to include it in the Vocal Home Town Heroes Challenge. and the Represnted Challenge. Craig was an amazing person who brought so many people together, encouraged and helped people who need it, and is the subject of and upcoming film aimed at promoting a positive, caring image of Newcastle. I have been interviewed for the film, and will possibly be performing a song I wrote unspired by Craig / Sheena when we lost him/her. The challenge is sponsored by The Mentor Group.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 4 years ago in Pride
Joe Budden Joins LGBTQ+ With Latest Announcement
Social engineer, hip hop icon, mixtape legend, reality TV star, podcast host, and all-around alternative thinker Joseph Anthony Budden II known to the world as Joe Budden has said that he is bisexual.
By Skyler Saunders4 years ago in Pride
Benefit Eligibility Change for LGBTQ Service Members
On September 21, 2021, former LGBT service members got a wake-up call. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs declared that the LGBT members that were discharged under the former Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell measure may be eligible for full military benefits. The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell rule was created in 1993 by then President Bill Clinton. It directed LGBT service members to “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue, and don’t harass” (Encyclopedia Britannica).
By Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue4 years ago in Pride
No Voice in a Modern Age
It all started way before any of us were born. Civil Rights, Political Rights, and Social Equality Rights are all items that I believe most individuals would strive for if those said rights were not available. Yet this particular group of individuals, live in the shadows attempting to be normal individuals, and yet they can never be what most would define as normal. Before we get too in-depth into this article. Let us understand that this group has nothing to do with Criminal, Political, Racial, Religious, or LGBTQ+ Affiliations.
By Igsfire4 years ago in Pride
A Love Letter to the Trans Community. Top Story - August 2021.
Is it appropriate to begin a love letter with an apology? You see, as recently as just a few years ago, I was somewhat resistant to the idea that people could identify as a gender other than what was assigned them at birth. I was a bad, privileged gay: I was born male, I fit nicely into my male skin, and so I believed everyone else should be proud to identify as their birth gender.
By Justin4 years ago in Pride
Stephen King vs J.K. Rowling
Much like what I’ve said about hot button issues with well-known people, everything I have to say here is my own personal opinion based on information available online. I don’t know any of the parties mentioned, nor do I have any first-hand knowledge about this situation.
By Chloe Medeiros4 years ago in Pride
In Which the Mother of a Queer Person Continues to Fail at Irony
My mom’s homophobic, even if she doesn’t realize it. But not…like…a Homophobe, you know what I mean? She’s a “love the sinner, hate the sin” homophobe. A “marriage is between man and a woman, but if they want a civil union, that’s okay” homophobe. A “I use my one lesbian friend as a rhetorical shield for my weird takes on queerness” homophobe. Someone who I genuinely don’t think harbors active malice toward the LGBTQIA+ community, but genuinely struggles, intellectually, with how gay people fit into the “order” of her universe. And while this obviously isn’t good, it’s at least fixable long term. There’s a chance for some reprogramming. Of the various, increasingly cumbersome conversations we rehash regarding progressive issues, there’s one that we always drift back to. I call it the “I liked it until it was gay, but I won’t admit it” conversation.
By Ashe Thurman4 years ago in Pride
The Start of it All
Recently I've been starting the arduous task of self repair. Over the last year, the amount of trauma and growth I've made would cause anyone to double over in a depressive gut punch. Not to toot my own horn (not that anyone would ever want to deal with this shit), but I've experience a pandemic, leaving and abusive asshole husband, became a single mom, left a cult, came out of the closet, and managed to not do the unalive thing. Yeah you read all of that right. That was my 2020-2021 in one over run sentence.
By Candace Burningham4 years ago in Pride
The First Time My Transgender Son Used the Men’s Bathroom
My child, Z, told me they wanted to be a boy when they were only eight years old. I thought it was like them telling me they wanted to be a firefighter or an astronaut. I dismissed the entire conversation as unimportant. This was the first of many mistakes I’ve made regarding my son’s transition. I still regret not taking Z’s words more seriously.
By Zada Kent4 years ago in Pride
Karen, Your Opinion on Parenting My Transgender Kid is Not Valid
We’ve all seen one of those ‘Karen’ videos of a woman who feels obliged to share her unrequested judgment exposing her ignorance. Her lifetime of unhappiness is directed to whoever she deems is different enough from her. Then without prompt, she is compelled to intervene on the behalf of all those other Karens like her. A few of the videos are funny, many are ridiculous, and most are displays of ignorant contention.
By Zada Kent4 years ago in Pride
Kathy Griffin
I finally came across a couple of news items I can justify typing about; somewhat. Neither of them interest me a whole lot. Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand appears to be the less newsworthy of the two; she is a transgender power lifter, if I understand correctly. I don't think you'd mistake her for being exceptionally photogenic; moreover she is not doing a great deal as an Olympian. Maybe were she non binary things would be slightly different. Still, give credit where it is due; she is perhaps breaking ground. A prevailing opinion seems to be that in non contact sports this type of athlete cannot risk injuring anyone but herself and ought to be allowed to compete.
By P. B. Friedman4 years ago in Pride
Does Feminism Belong in Modern Society?
Asking if feminism has a place in our society is like asking a Star Wars fan if they liked the original trilogy better than the prequels. Of course (on both accounts).
By Rachel Lynn4 years ago in Pride