Culture

Feminism, For Her, And Him, And Them: VENUS VALLEY Gets Intersectional
I’m still here, my queerly beloveds; the finale section of this LGBTQIA+-philosophy-book-in-progress is now in its third chapter! And it’s a bit of a reading recommendation list, among other things; which, if you’ve been here since we started, you’ll know is where we started. If you’re coming in late, all you need to know is that you can debate, discuss, question, contribute, to each chapter of this book, as I release it in blog form, to your head’s and heart’s content; and your insights and inputs will be my edits, as this blog becomes a book; so the final finished book will be us, not just me. This chapter of things I’ve found while I’ve been working on this project, and will probably slot into place through the finished book, actually (hopefully) works as a taster of what it will be, if you’re new here. Welcome, just in time before we nearly finish, to Venus Valley: Queer Philosophers’ Forum.
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride
Navigating Double Standards in Relationships
In the complicated world of romantic relationships, we often stress the significance of equality, respect, and comprehension. Nevertheless, as we navigate the complexities of modern love, it is essential to acknowledge and confront the existence of double standards that can silently affect the dynamics between partners.
By Deborah Rivera Valentin2 years ago in Pride
Always Say Gay
When the whole world is connected and you're supposed to be able to be your true and honest self, what do you do when you can't? In 2024 it's no longer taboo to be a member of the LGBT community, laws have passed allowing for same sex marriage, strides are being made for gender affirming care for gender nonconforming youths. So then why are gay suicide and trans murders happening at such an alarming rate across the county?
By Ava Karns2 years ago in Pride
The Story of Masculinity and Femininity
When you walk into the store for shaving equipment, you’ll see something that has become so ubiquitous that it’s easy to ignore your natural curiosity and simply buy what you’re told will work. If you’re a man, you buy the blue, orange, black, and gray colored packaging. If you’re a woman, you buy the pastel, pink, and white colored packaging. You’ll take your new razors home, they’ll cut your hair perfectly fine, and you’ll move on to more important parts of your life.
By Rivahn P2 years ago in Pride
Magnificence of Jasmine Flower
Legends, cultural relevance, and historical anecdotes from all across the world are interwoven with the tale of the jasmine flower. Although there are many variations, the following story summarizes the story of the jasmine flower:
By Vijay Kumar2 years ago in Pride
Celebration of Cultural Heritage: The Ram Lallas Temple and Scottish Indian Diaspora
In a profound display of cultural pride and religious devotion, the Indian community in Scotland is celebrating the construction of the Ram Lallas Temple in Ayodhya, a project that resonates with Hindus around the globe. Mr Neil Lal, the Chairman and President of the Indian Council of Scotland and the United Kingdom, has expressed immense joy over this development, which marks a significant moment in preserving Hindu traditions and strengthening the Indian identity abroad.
By John Samantha Brown2 years ago in Pride
Feminist Or Fallacy? VENUS VALLEY Critiques The “Gender Critics”
I'll start wrapping up these first draft chapters, with a debate chapter! If you’re a newcomer, this will be a great catch-up as I peek back at old points I’ve made, and point out what’s right or wrong about their opposites. This is a chapter-by-chapter release of my LGBTQIA+ centred philosophy book, so you queerly beloveds can debate, discuss, question, contribute, making your inputs and insights my edits, until the finished book has your voices and views in it alongside mine. This one’s full of views and voices against mine and my answers back to theirs - never let it be said there’s no listening or learning done by VENUS VALLEY: Queer Philosophers’ Forum!
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride
Return to Water
Water heals. This persisting belief was a gift from my young mind. Perhaps an innate understanding of a truth that many accepted as fact long before peer-reviewed articles declared the same. Water heals. I believed this as I swam the lengths of my hometown's iconic Z-shaped community pool. I believed because of the ineffable calm that overpowered my senses as I submerged my body. Faith in my restoration kept me afloat, not my particular matter and biology or the stringent lessons of my swim instructors. Even as I swam to the depths, I felt no panic as my body depleted itself of oxygen. The pressure felt like part of the healing process. I would push my lungs to the point of blackened vision until I reached some arbitrary milestone: a wall’s edge, a friend’s leg, or the bottom of the pool. The first gasp of air as you breach the water’s surface floods the system, and suddenly, you’re alive again.
By kp2 years ago in Pride
Pongal: Harvesting Joy, Celebrating Abundance
In the heartlands of India, where vast fields sway in the gentle breeze and the sun casts its golden glow over the fertile plains, Pongal heralds a celebration of harvest, gratitude, and abundance. This South Indian festival, deeply rooted in agrarian traditions, is a time when communities come together to express their thanks to nature for a bountiful yield. Pongal, often referred to as the "harvest festival of Tamil Nadu," is not merely a cultural event but a spiritual journey that binds the people to the land that sustains them.
By Varsha2 years ago in Pride
From Playboy To Scientology: VENUS VALLEY’s Feminist Finale(ish)
Happy new year, gentles and lady-men! If you’ve just arrived at this series, you’re a little late, but don’t worry - there’s plenty of rewriting and re-releasing of other chapters coming, and almost as many epilogues as The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King! You my dear queer reader have arrived almost at the end of my chapter-by-chapter release of my LGBTQIA+ centric philosophy chat book, in which queer life experience is the perfect example to introduce you to pretty much any and every facet of philosophy you can think of; in which you, my rainbow flag waving reader, are invited to debate discuss, question, contribute, so your inputs and insights can become my edits, until your views and voices are in its pages right alongside mine. Welcome, for almost the last time, queerly beloveds - in which I finally get around to talking about THE BIG BAD “F” - to VENUS VALLEY: Queer Philosophers’ Forum.
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride
Welcoming a Happy New Year with Hope and Resilience"
As the clock strikes midnight and the echoes of "Auld Lang Syne" fill the air, the world collectively turns the page, bidding farewell to one chapter and eagerly anticipating the unwritten pages of a Happy New Year. In this kaleidoscope of time, we embark on a journey of reflection, renewal, and the boundless possibilities that come with the dawn of a fresh year.
By Camila2 years ago in Pride
You’re a Wizard, Neo: Queer Culture in Fantasy Fiction (a VENUS VALLEY chapter)
A fun fact & fantasy filled chapter is here, queerly beloveds - if you’ve just found me and just thought “a fun fact and fantasy filled chapter of what?”, let me tell you where you are: I’m releasing my LGBTQIA+ centric philosophy book chapter by chapter, so my rainbow flag flying readers can debate, discuss, question, contribute, giving me insights & inputs which become my edits, so the finished book includes all our views and voices. Welcome to Venus Valley: Queer Philosophers’ Forum.
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride