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Lu Yang’s work explores how we live in the digital realm: how the internet is transforming our bodies, identities and beliefs. In collaboration with a team of scientists, 3D animators and technicians, the artist has created a non-binary ‘digital post-human’ avatar called Doku, based on Yang’s own body, which has since appeared in a number of the artist’s works: in 2020, in collaboration with Acute Art, Yang created the augmented reality work Gigant DOKU, in which the avatar becomes a giant dancing superhero. Other works by Yang, whose first exhibition (at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art) came only a year after the artist graduated from the China Academy of Art in 2010, incorporate performance, 3D-animated films, video-game installations, holograms, neon, VR and software manipulation. Yang has staged performances and solo exhibitions at the Garage Museum, M Woods and MOCA Cleveland, among other institutions.
See more 40 Under 40 Art & Tech Artists | {
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"We See You"
How the Hudson Valley Trans Forum Aims To Empower the Community
by Clare Trapasso
The annual Hudson Valley Trans Forum, which aims to empower and serve the local transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities, will kick off this Friday on a reflective note. The two-day event will begin on the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The day honors those whose lives were tragically cut short due to violence.
The focus of the free forum is to build a safe and inclusive space that inspires pride and recognizes the needs of local transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary community members. The event will go virtual for the first time due to the pandemic.
“It can feel a bit like the world is against you when you’re part of the trans community,” said Shepard Verbas, assistant director of programs and services at The LOFT: LGBTQ+ Center. “It’s so important to know that you’re not alone, to know that you’re not making it up, to know that you don’t need to prove yourself to anybody to be who you are.”
“We see you,” said Verbas.
Participants can score makeup tips at an online MAC session, get legal updates affecting the community, receive pointers on how to come out to their families plus much more. The forum is open to teenagers as well as adults and service providers.
The first day will focus on educating allies about the struggles facing the trans community and how to provide more services for its members. Friday’s speakers will talk about how to build more inclusive spaces in schools, addressing health care needs and the barriers to receiving mental health services.
“The trans community is marginalized, disproportionally discriminated against, and in general access to services, like medical care, education, and employment advancement, is limited,” said Verbas. “There needs to be space where people who are not part of the community learn how to step up as allies.”
Friday’s forum will be followed by a Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony.
"There's something powerful in having a full day centered around celebrating diverse gender identity on Transgender Day of Remembrance," said Verbas. "It grounds us in our fight and motivates us to stand up for each other."
Saturday will be all about empowering the trans community.
“It’s almost like Trans Pride,” said Verbas. “You have the power and strength inside of you to navigate a world that can be challenging.”
The final event of the weekend will be the Night of Resilience on Saturday evening. The second annual fundraiser will include music, dancing, and a special performance from award-winning drag king Maxxx Pleasure.
“It’s ending on a high note [even] knowing all that is out there and you are not alone,” said Verbas. “While there’s so much hate in the world, there’s also so much beauty and power in being trans and that’s a really important thing for people to know about themselves.”
Attendees can attend as many sessions as they like, although certain workshops may not be appropriate for those under 18. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link to the event.
For more information about The Hudson Valley Trans Forum, Day of Remembrance, or Night of Resilience, click here. | {
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Filmmakers Owl and Fox Fisher have launched a new campaign celebrating the bodies of trans and non-binary people.
The body-positive initiative is part of the couple’s ongoing film project My Genderation, which has been running since 2012, and invites trans people to share selfies using the hashtag #MyTransBody on social media.
The campaign seeks to proudly showcase trans and non-binary people’s bodies against an environment where they are often made to feel ashamed for the way they look because they are not cisgender.
Speaking to PinkNews, Owl said: ” #MyTransBody is a campaign we created at My Genderation to celebrate trans bodies. Trans people are often taught to feel a lot of shame about their bodies, and we are held up to impossible standards of looks and expression.
“The narrative is always that if you ‘look trans’ then that’s a bad thing and we should all strive to look like cis people. It’s time we celebrate what makes us trans, in all our diversity, shapes and sizes.”
Those wanting to get involved in the campaign can create their own #MyTransBody photos using an image generator: http://mygenderation.com/image-genderator/.
Fox told PinkNews: “We wanted trans people to celebrate themselves—regardless of what journey they take, whether that means taking no hormones, no surgeries, having hormones, having surgeries, or whatever fits their identity and expression.
“There is no wrong or right way to be trans, or to be a person in general. Our bodies are beautiful, regardless of cultural norms and trans people should be shown love and respect for their journey, and be allowed to feel good about themselves and their bodies.”
My Genderation has also posted a video on YouTube about the campaign.
Watch the video below:
Fisher added: “Having #MyTransBody trend on Twitter and to see so many contributions from people globally makes all the hard work worthwhile and goes to show that together the trans community can come together and celebrate each other in all their diversity.”
Twitter users have already joined in on the initiative.
Jake Edwards, a musician, posted on Twitter: “#MyTransBody I’m making my body the home it’s meant to be, and decorating the walls to make myself happy. I don’t want your approval, I don’t need your opinion, I know I’m beautiful and that’s more than enough.”
Edwards’ tweet has been “liked” by more than 1,000 people.
Twitter user Spooky Ashley, a non-binary trans woman, wrote: “#MyTransBody is beautiful. I wasn’t born in the wrong body. I refuse to hate my body in order to fit cisnormative norms. I don’t need bottom surgery to be a woman. I love my genitals. I don’t have a male body. My body is female and nonbinary because I AM a nonbinary trans woman.”
Squish, a genderqueer trans girl, wrote on Twitter: “#MyTransBody is valid even if I haven’t started HRT yet. I may not be binary but I’m trans as all hell.”
Singer-songwriter Ryan Cassata tweeted: “#MyTransBody is valid in a suit or half naked. I’m man enough. I’m trans enough regardless of the process of my medical transition, or my androgyny.
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“We specialize in providing legal information online through vetted lawyers and paralegals across the globe. Pays every other week, after article submission. Buys all rights. No reprints. Responds 1-3 business days. “Each writer will have a guidelines document and each topic we’re looking to write about has a proposed structure/summary/useful links.”
MORE: Stanford law students who protested apparently don’t know the law; Twitter Troll being prosecuted; Jack Daniels upset about dog toy that could actually help sell their booze sales; The battle against mass copying books continues; More book banning news; and Samantha Markle’s lawyer was dumb to take on her defamation lawsuit
MORE: “Disinformation is simply a dog whistle for “censorship”; R.L. Stine says he did NOT give his publisher permission to re-edit his books; More adult books being found in children’s school libraries; CBS News contributor and author accused of plagiarism in new book; More colleges are banning ChatGPT; and Lawmakers furious when journalists refuse to give up their sources.
ChatGPT pulls information from the Internet and other sources. Things YOU did not write.
From the judge telling the defense attorney to “Sit Down!”, to statements Alex mistakenly blurted on the stand, to Alex Murdaugh HIDING THE DETAILS OF HIS WIFE’S WILL FROM THE JURY…and everything in between!
MORE: Romance novelist fails to escape from the law; Schools dropping honors classes for “equity,” South Park might get sued for poking fun at royals; Roald Dahl children’s books are being rewritten; Bernie Sanders in the hot seat over book tour; WWII love letters found beyond wall in NY home; and School district pays $100K in legal fees for attempting to silence parents over p*rnographic book available to kids in middle school.
Don’t miss page 4 of the complaint! Wow!!
Many people assume that a deceased author’s work is up for grabs once they die. Nothing could be further from the truth.
MORE: Golfer sues CNN reporters for defamation; So now saying “Aloha” is culturally insensitive?; Saudi prosecutors seek death penalty for academic over social media use; U.S. lawmaker wants to make it a crime to criticize; Man wearing “Jesus Saves” t-shirt ordered to leave Mall of America; News site realizes disaster after using AI for articles; Ex-Prosecutor’s book draws warning from Manhattan District Attorney; North Dakota weighs ban of ‘sexually explicit’ library books; and Facebook to allow pictures of naked breasts for trans and non-binary people but not for cis-gender women.
MORE: NYC schools ban AI chatbot that writes essays, Bookbinder “artist” removes famous author’s name from books; Former ESPN employees suing; NYT columnist commits suicide; and WSJ reporter handcuffed outside bank | {
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Monash Health Gender Clinic treats Victoria’s trans, gender diverse and non-binary people.
The adult service started in 1976 with 47 referrals and has expanded to 250 each year.
Jill Starks from SMH revealed that: “Three former patients of Australia’s controversial sex-change clinic say misdiagnosis and wrongful surgery destroyed their lives.”
One misdiagnosed patient tried to halt the surgery saying: “I think I’m doing the wrong thing, it’s not right, I think we’ve got to stop it.” Reports Jill Starks. But the surgeon went ahead with the surgery regardless.
“It’s true that Andrew thought he was a transsexual. However, the broken childhood that preceded his referral to the clinic is a recurring theme among those who feel they were misdiagnosed. Born to teenage parents, his earliest memories are of being hit and spat on by his father.”
“Andrew describes his experience as like “being on a conveyor belt” — prescribed hormones on the first visit and getting breast implants and a nose job within months. He says he consented to the procedures, and the sex-change surgery, because he believed it was his only option.”
According to The Age, the clinic was temporarily closed in 2009 amongst claims that patients with psychiatric problems had been wrongly diagnosed as transsexuals.
“The 2004 review, led by Victoria’s chief psychiatrist, was never made public, but a copy obtained by The Sunday Age shows the review found that countless patients were given sex changes without proper mental health checks before or after surgery.”
But, as if Transgender Specialists had learnt nothing, in 2016 there were calls to fast-track access to hormones by giving GPs authority to carry out their own psychological assessments.
The ABC reported: “Transgender specialist Dr Pauline Cundill said… “The last few years in particular, we’ve seen exponential increases in the number of trans and gender-diverse clients accessing medical care, and as a result the public clinics have become overwhelmed.”
She said part of the reason for the long delays was a requirement for general practitioners to seek psychological approval before prescribing sex-change hormones.”
“Where we ask ourselves, do all clients require a mental health review prior to initiating hormone therapy? The answer is no, not all clients do,” she said.”
The Herald Sun reports that The Victorian Government gave the clinic $6.4million in 2016.
Trans health service model workshop 2016 reported a dramatic increase from 1 new patient undergoing multidisciplinary assessment each week to 5 new patients weekly.
In the report Jaco Erasmus – Psychiatrist and head of the Gender Dysphoria Clinic at Monash Health (‘Monash Clinic’) claims: “persistent gender dysphoria as a phenomenon is sufficient for people to access medical care in the Monash Clinic, and a psychiatric diagnosis is not required.” (page 7)
Patients like Andrew would strongly disagree.
The same issues are facing the beleaguered Tavistock Clinic in the UK. In just five years, the number of children referred to The Tavistock Centre has risen from 468 to 2,519 a year, That’s over 400%
Marcus Evans, former governor of The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust told the Daily Mail: “There is pressure from the child who is in a distressed state, there is pressure from the family and the peer group and from the pro-trans lobbies — and all of this puts pressure on the clinician, who may want to help the individual to resolve their distressed state by going along with a quick solution.
“There is a great deal at stake here, as these decisions have long-term consequences.
“I first witnessed some of these consequences 30 years ago, when running a parasuicide clinic in London. This was for adults who had attempted suicide without the intention of actually killing themselves: it was sometimes a cry for help.
“People ended up there for a variety of reasons, but a number of patients had taken an overdose because they had undergone gender reassignment surgery and regretted it.
“This is ultimately the issue being raised with The Tavistock: the concern being that children in its care aren’t been given enough time with clinical professionals to explore their difficulties and reasons for what’s driving them to believe they inhabit the wrong body. And the fear is they might end up like the patients I saw all those years ago.”
Tavistock hired lawyers in an attempt to stop the release of a book detailing the clinic’s treatment of gender dysphoric children.
“The Mail on Sunday exclusively previewed the book in July, highlighting how it challenges what it claims are transgender ‘myths’ told to children.
“The book includes interviews with whistleblowers from GIDS, the only NHS gender clinic for under-18s, warning that doctors are failing to tell young people they are ‘sacrificing’ their chance to have children by taking powerful sex-change drugs.
“It also warns that psychologists will not question if a child is transgender or not for fear of accusations of transphobia, and claims clinicians are failing to acknowledge other reasons for youngsters wanting to change sex, such as autism.”
One mother is taking Tavistock to court for over diagnosing her autistic daughter and giving her experimental hormones without informed consent.
Sue Evans left Tavistock amidst her own concerns. Watch an interview with Sue here:
And you can watch an interview with Charlie Evans who has joined the growing number of young people who have de-transitioned here: | {
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WNBA star Brittney Griner, back in the United States after being imprisoned in Russia, is now standing for the national anthem, something she previously refused to do. It's another example of how we don't appreciate the freedoms that our country offers until we're forced to see things from the "other side."
I'm personally glad she saw the light, albeit belatedly, because it creates the hope that others will vicariously experience what caused her transformation.
Howard Nielson, West Chester Township
Defaulting on our commitments isn't what's best for America
U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup has signed on to House Resolution 1096, a bipartisan bill celebrating the history of the Marine Corp. This is timely and well deserved as Memorial Day approaches. Those who have given their time, energies and even their lives deserve our respect and appreciation.
At the same time, his party is working toward the first-ever default on our national debt, which will have disastrous consequences for our troops in uniform and veterans. I urge Rep. Wenstrup and his colleagues to put partisanship aside and consider what is best for our country. Defaulting on our commitments isn't what's best for America. Congress can use the budget process to better match income to expenses, but crashing our economy over an artificial debt limit is an attack on the American people.
Certainly, the past few years dealing with the pandemic has necessitated unusual spending to protect public safety. At the same time, the last administration passed a huge tax cut. It seems that this put us on the path to a "perfect storm" that now must be reckoned with. There is room for negotiation by both sides in dealing with government spending. Members on both sides of the aisle must work to resolve this impasse before default on the debt becomes a reality.
Peg Fisher, Milford
Lapham deserves spot in Bengals Ring of Honor
The Cincinnati Bengals have recently announced the nominees for the Ring of Honor. The 13 nominees are all worthy of this award. However, there is one nominee that has dedicated more of his professional life to the Bengals than all other players being considered.
Dave Lapham played for 10 years for the Bengals and has been the team’s biggest and most consistent fan for over 30 years in the broadcast booth. His induction into the Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor would recognize his contributions to the franchise and the Cincinnati community.
Chris MacConnell, Indian Hill
Compromise is imperative to avoid default on federal deficit
Our democracy faces many important issues such as AI, cyber security, and immigration. However, only one is truly imminent … defaulting on the federal deficit. Unless you want our country to fail for political or personal gain, it is imperative that the default is avoided.
In today’s political environment, compromise is an ugly word, whereas in the past, it has often been a key strength of our government. I’m sure books have been written on the art of compromise. To me, it simply means give and take, partially win and partially lose.
The deficit and budget are a prime example where compromise could prevent a looming crisis. I don’t know which areas are best for compromise, but all sides need to be able to claim some degree of success for their constituents. Maintaining intransigent positions are not the answer. I appreciate this is a very difficult uphill battle.
We need a home run. Compromise and put the potential crisis behind us.
Tom H. Ohren, Amberley Village
Senate Bill 83 overrides tradition of peer review of colleges
I have serious concerns regarding Ohio Senate Bill 83. One of those concerns: accreditation. Regional accreditation bodies are established to provide peer reviews of colleges and universities in the United States. These accreditation associations are general accreditation bodies, as distinct from program accreditation, and determine whether a school has a stated mission, and represents to the public through its public statements that it has the faculty and resources necessary to fulfill its mission.
No two schools are the same. They have different missions, different resources. Therefore, there are no specific policies that apply to all schools. One size doesn’t fit all. And prospective students have an array of choices. So what if a school is determined to be "noncompliant" with norms and best practices? It can be placed on probation, or lose its accreditation and close. Students are the biggest losers.
Question: If SB 83 proposes to set government standards for what is acceptable in our colleges and universities, overriding a long tradition of peer review, is the Ohio Legislature prepared to sanction schools that are found to be "noncompliant" with the government’s polices? The implications are vast and not at all pretty.
Robert Zimmerman, North College Hill
Social Security, Medicare always threatened during debt crisis
Regarding, "Debt crisis, government running out of money," (May 22): All I know is it looks like the government's checking account is going dry. It seems odd that every time this happens, it's the programs the working people pay into − Social Security, Medicare and so on − that are in trouble?
The give-away freebees never seem to be in jeopardy. Can anyone explain that to me? Our government never seems to have a layoff? We have plenty of money and aid for other countries, except our own? We pay people, even in Congress, who won't or can't do the job elected to do, but there is no shortage of money for them. I'm confused.
Thomas Fester, Bridgetown
Don't act tough now on debt ceiling
Looks like the United States won't have a debt ceiling problem. Our current administration is sending Ukraine another $375 million so we should be OK. Of course, the government produces no income so I guess the money to Ukraine will be paid by U.S. citizens. It's only money but nice to know Congress should have a deal working. No sense in the Mitch McConnell do-nothings to act tough now, just do what you always do: Print more money; act like you are watching spending; and vote yourself a raise. Just don't cut off the poor in the name of your phony baloney jobs.
Lee Eyerman, Amelia
Cut back on spending outside of enumerated powers of government
Help me to understand what I'm missing here. I keep hearing about the potential default on debt payments. That would be unconstitutional. Has anybody in the federal government considered cutting back on spending that is outside of the enumerated powers of the government? (With few exceptions, that means that spending is unconstitutional.)
Using fiscal year 2022 (Oct 1, 2021 – Sept. 30, 2022) as an example, I found that the deficit was nearly $1.4 trillion. Well, what about eliminating the Department of Education for $615 billion? The Department of Health and Human Services is $2.5 trillion. Where is the constitutional authority for any of that? And if you say the general welfare clause, then what was the purpose of the enumerated powers per Articles 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution?
John Becker, Eastgate
Take the bus, if you have hours to spare
How about taking a MetroNow ride for $2 each way? Oh, sure. Take the bus if you have hours to spare. And where's mention of MetroNow service for O'Bryonville, Hyde Park, Oakley, and Mt. Lookout?
Stu Mahlin, Hyde Park
America is like a squabbling, dysfunctional family
America today seems like a large, squabbling, dysfunctional family. It has its aunts and uncles who want to do things "the old way" and its rowdy, disdainful nieces and nephews who would rather change it all. We have our grandpas who worry about the dangerous family down the street and our grandmas who think we don’t go to church enough. There are "black sheep," long-lost cousins, and apathetic teenagers galore.
Things are messy and in constant motion in our family. The next crisis is always just a moment away. There is frequently a lot of noise even when not much of real substance is getting done. Thinking about our family dynamics, the literary families of Oedipus, Hamlet, and Agamemnon come to mind.
There is still a faint hope, however, that the youngsters will graduate, the parents will find adequate employment, and the grandparents will live a happy retirement.
Tom Geier, Loveland
Ohio becoming the Florida of the North
After reading the article about Ohio Representative Don Jones introducing house bill 103, I cannot help but think that the Republicans are turning us into Nazi Germany. They are doing away with the state school board to replace them with partisan conspiracy theorists, who want to tell us what we can read and think. They want to base social studies on the American Birthright Model taking in Donald Trump’s 1776 report. I wonder if they will completely whitewash how America was taken from Native Americans and how we enslaved African Americans. We can’t leave the education of Ohio’s future leaders to people like Don Jones and Donald Trump, who couldn’t pass an American history exam if their lives depended on it. Unfortunately, Gov. Mike DeWine is turning us into the Florida of the North. I hope businesses relocating to Ohio take notice of this.
Gregory Reece, Pleasant Ridge
Republicans seek to criminalize being transgender
House Bill 183 would require Ohioans to use bathrooms matching their biological sex rather than their gender identity. As a non-binary individual, I stand against this blatant discrimination. Rather than the GOP making life better for all, they decided to make it worse for transgender individuals.
Among transgender individuals who undergo hormone replacement therapy and other forms of gender-affirming care, only 1% express regret over receiving treatment, opposed to nearly 30% of spinal surgery patients. The GOP seeks to criminalize trans people's very existence. I urge my elected officials to kill HB 183.
Ben August Klapper, College Hill
Pay lifeguards at city pools $25 an hour
Here we go again. It's always the same problem. Our kids from lower-income families, who do not have access to private swim clubs, desperately need access to this summer form of recreation, and especially swim lessons, which are the difference between life and death for so many children.
Kings Island pays lifeguards $25. The city of Cincinnati never seems to get how difficult a job this is. My goodness, who among us could imagine taking this on? Lifeguards are at a public pool that is open to all kids, including teenagers, without other adult accountability and supervision, in a situation where falls and drowning are constant risks.
Come on, City Council. Please offer the $25 an hour salary that is commensurate with this level of serious responsibility. I have written this same letter every year. Please "go for broke." Raise the hourly wage to $25 so those who can handle this level of responsibility are moved to apply for and take these jobs so that all of our children can have safe access to all the city pools.
Julie M. Murray, Clifton Heights
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Griner now standing for national anthem after losing freedom | Letters | {
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October 10 - January 13, 2020
Port Authority Bus Terminal’s “Project Find”
9th Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets
We are pleased to announce the presentation of Matthew Morrocco's ORCHID.Seasons in conjunction with The Port Authority Bus Terminal and Chashama, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Olympia Project, The Port Authority Bus Terminal, and Chashama are pleased to present Orchid.Seasons, a selection of photographs by Matthew Morrocco at the Port Authority Bus Terminal’s “Project Find” space on 9th Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, with grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The work will be on view from the evening of October 10 and will run through November 9.
ORCHID.Seasons is a series of photographs by Matthew Morrocco that show a faceless queer subject navigating seasonal landscapes. The photographs attempt to give voice to an ever-present paradoxical problem of queerness: visibility is necessary for survival and yet it is this same visibility that robs us of the security we were seeking in the first place. Trans and non-binary people are coming out in greater numbers, being cast and highlighted across the internet in mainstream series such as Euphoria, Transparent, Pose, and Orange Is the New Black. It may seem that queer people are finally able to be themselves. Yet still, the risks for this selfhood remain. Even with, or perhaps because of, this visibility, queer people are scrutinized, fired from their jobs, picked on, more likely to commit suicide and murdered at alarming rates. The Supreme Court is right now hearing a case to determine whether or not queer and transgender people have equal rights under the law, as if that should be a question.
The photographs are a nod to Ellsworth Kelly whose abstract color fields maintain a quiet homage to queer identity. The figure is encased in chroma key suit normally used for greenscreen work in movies to make a figure disappear into a background. In these images, however, the suit does not disguise the figure but causes the figure to stand out. While it is necessary for those who cannot understand and do not know queer people to see them with regularity, clarity, and quality, there is still a toll that visibility without equality takes on the community which is too often unexpressed and unknown. Morrocco’s work attempts to confront these issues through the lens of queerness, art, chroma-key technology, and color theory.
Public art is the ultimate test of our social contract, the tacit agreement to treat each other and our belongings and creations with respect. This installation engages the viewer with a physical embodiment of distance, visibility, and assimilation. The photographs, so often separated from viewers by glass and space, are mounted on the exterior windows of the space, immediately confronting the viewer. Not only does the installation change how the viewer sees the work, individually and collectively, but also acts as a reminder and test of our social contract. How viewers and passersby experience and interact with the work is, in itself, a core part of the exhibition.
With Thanks to Our Supporters
Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit http://www.panynj.gov
Chashama, founded in 1995, is one of the region’s leading supporters of artists who work with agencies like the Port Authority Bus Terminal to provide artists with opportunities to create and present their work. The organization has successfully revitalized over 80 properties, provided free and lost-cost space to over 15,000 artists, presented over 2,500 public events, and engaged an estimated 2 million viewers. For more information, please visit www.chashama.org | {
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Dr Christina Richards BSc (Hons), MSc, DCPsych, CPsychol, EuroPsy, AFBPsS is an HCPC Registered Doctor of Applied Psychology and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) where she is Chair Elect of the Division of Counselling Psychology.
Dr Richards was selected by the executive board of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) to be Lead Chapter Author for Adult Assessment in the Standards of Care Version 8 (SoC v8) revision. She also represents the East Midlands to NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group (CRG) on Gender Identity Services; and is one of the few psychologists recognised by HM Courts and Tribunals Service as a Specialist in the field of Gender Dysphoria, thus allowing her to prepare medical reports for the Gender Recognition Panel.
Dr Richards is Senior Specialist Psychology Associate at the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Gender Clinic. She works in this capacity as a psychologist conducting assessment and follow-up for hormones and surgeries; as well as psychotherapy; as part of a multidisciplinary team. She also conducts research, supervision, and service improvement plans. She lectures and publishes on trans, sexualities, and critical mental health – both within academia and to third sector and statutory bodies;
Dr Richards is the Editor of the journal of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Counselling Psychology: Counselling Psychology Review. Her own publications consist of various papers, reports, and book chapters. She is the co-author of the BPS Guidelines and Literature Review for Counselling Sexual and Gender Minority Clients and Chair of the revision committee; First author of a clinical guidebook on sexuality and gender published by Sage – Richards, C., & Barker. M. (2013). Sexuality and gender for mental health professionals: A practical guide. London: Sage; First editor of the Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender; First editor of a multidisciplinary book about people who identify outside of the gender binary of male or female – Richards, C., Bouman, W. P., & Barker, M. J. (2018). Genderqueer and non-binary genders. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan; And sole author of the monograph: Richards, C. (2017). [Monograph]. Trans and sexuality – An existentially-informed ethical enquiry with implications for counselling psychology. London: Routledge;
Pronouns: She Her, Hers (Pretty much…).
Books out now:
Should you wish to you can buy Sexuality and Gender for Mental health professionals: A practical guide. | {
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Unfortunately, we have had to take the very difficult decision to suspend referrals to the following services:
- Edinburgh Adult Service that offers support for adult survivors across the City
- Outreach service in Midlothian and East Lothian
- STAR service for young people
With the ongoing coronavirus/COVID-19 situation and because of our limited staff capacity, we cannot provide support to new referrals to these services in a timely way.
We appreciate that waiting for our referral list to reopen can be difficult. Please see this link for alternative sources of support: List of alternative counselling services.
If you have experienced sexual assault in the past 7 days, please contact us on [email protected].
You can also get support from the National Rape Crisis Helpline, open every night from 6pm to midnight: 08088 01 03 02, or the textline: 07537 410 027.
Survivors already receiving support will continue to be supported by phone/email/text where this is possible and appropriate. You should have heard from your ERCC support worker about your ongoing support sessions.
There may be further disruption to our services in the coming weeks, including the cancellation of appointments, restriction of opening hours and limiting of service provision. We will keep this page updated accordingly.
WHAT WE DO
We offer free and confidential emotional and practical support, information and advocacy to women, all members of the trans community, non-binary people and young people aged 12-18 in Edinburgh, East and Midlothian, who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. This includes, rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, childhood sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation.
We work to change attitudes about gender based violence and improve services for survivors. Our prevention project offers free sexual violence prevention education to 11–25 year olds in schools and other youth settings in Edinburgh City, East, Mid and West Lothian.
We've put together a new online resources section on processing trauma, ways of coping and recovery. These have been selected by our workers, for survivors of sexual violence who are…
We're delighted to announce that we have achieved the LGBT Youth Scotland LGBT Charter GOLD award. Their review panel noted multiple exemplary practices including: >> The visibility of our LGBT-inclusive… | {
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Artist + Crew Development
Initiatives that support the artistic and professional development of women + non-binary artists and production crew in Aotearoa.
If you are aware of initiatives that support BIPOC talent development, please contact us.
Women About Sound
Women About Sound is a project focused on women’s participation in the music scene. We are welcoming to all cis and trans women and non binary. We will do this by providing mentorship and support to musicians through the process of composing and recording original music.
The Sensonauts run electronic music performance & production workshops specifically for women & femmes.
NZ Music Commission Industry Internship Programme
The NZMC Industry Internship Programme has a great track record on broadening the access to careers in the music industry.
To The Front
To The Front (Formerly Girls Rock Camp) is a week-long incubator programme for women, and/or intersex, transgender and gender non-conforming youth where music is the medium to build confidence, empowerment and foster social change.
Music Managers Forum Aotearoa
The Music Managers Forum Aotearoa offers mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities with festival bookers (among other things). MMF also provided professional development opportunities for artist managers and self-managed artists. | {
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Hen is Bex Day’s latest series of photographs, a striking celebration of the UK’s transgender community, to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility on 31 March. Exhibited at Herrick Gallery from April 1 to April 7, Hen addresses the lack of representation of transgender people in contemporary culture and aims to challenge social conventions regarding gender stereotypes.
Hen is a Swedish word, which equals to the neutral personal pronoun ‘they’ in English. Hen displays trans people over the age of 40, all from different ages and backgrounds. The result is an empathetic and sensitive body of work, which takes the viewer on a journey of loss and discovery, and reveals how gender stereotypes and societal restrictions have had a huge impact on the transgender community.
Hen is a sensitive and challenging project, could you tell us a bit more about how you first became interested in this topic?
I noticed there was far more youth focused news stories about transgender individuals and a lack of older transgender people in the media and I wanted to give them a voice and a legacy. Hen is the Swedish gender neutral personal pronoun which is the equivalent of ‘they’ in English, (it irritated me that there is no dedicated gender neutral word in the English language).I focused on those identifying as transgender and non-binary within the series who are all over 40.
I come from a journalistic background and my first port of call for Hen was language. I was first interested in phallogocentric language, which is essentially male dominated language, for example mankind rather than humankind, and how this impacts women in general. This led me to researching gender through the likes of Berlant, Butler, Freud, Foucault, Gill, Hall, Penny, Jacques, De Beauvoir, Young, Browne to name a few and attended various anthropology and gender lectures at UCL and Goldsmiths.
Binary language, and gender binarism really intrigued me as it seemed so archaic and generally unrelatable to this time. For example, in terms of heterosexual relationships, they are becoming far more egalitarian, in the sense that both parties are becoming more interested in working, and men want to be more involved with childcare and housework—additionally this has been proved to make both men and women happier and healthier which in turn affects children in a positive way as they grow up to be happier and healthier. Plus they have more sex.
I grew up with few gender stereotypes in my childhood, often people thought I was a boy and my brother a girl; I was never really interested in Barbie’s or the colour pink. I questioned why a woman should not have some masculine traits and vice versa? Of course this is very different to identifying as transgender but it was the starting point for my interest in the transgender community. This black and white thinking that dominates so much of society as a whole forces narrow mindedness upon many individuals and is something I really wanted to eliminate through this project.
How did you select the subjects of your photographs? Were you familiar with any of them or were they strangers you met in your journeys? Could you tell a bit more about the process of photographing each subject?
They were all strangers yeah, I found people initially online through forums and specific transgender websites, and then through word of mouth, I also visited some transgender events to cast people face to face, it’s always better to meet in person as it’s so much more human. Once people trusted me it was much easier to get more people involved, at first it was tricky as I was simply a stranger posting on forums on the Internet.
We would meet for a coffee beforehand and then we would take the photos at their house or at a place that was meaningful to them. I would then check they were happy with the imagery – I wanted it to be as collaborative as possible.
Were the models willing to be a part of Hen?
A lot of people could not participate in the project due to them hiding their identity in some form. Others said no as they were uncomfortable about being in front of the camera due to being older and not so confident. However some people used this as an opportunity to come out to their family and friends and push themselves to become more comfortable in their own skin which makes me really happy as I feel I definitely grew in my own identity throughout the 3 years the project went on for and I’ve come full circle, so it’s nice to see that reflected in the participants’ too.
Your aim is to challenge society’s stereotypes and bring awareness to the older transgender community. How successful do you feel Hen has been in achieving this?
I think it has been very successful as it is shedding light to people that have not been given the spotlight really ever before. I wanted to create imagery that is both genuine to the individual and thought-provoking—genuine in the respect that I can draw out the personality traits individual to that person. I was not keen to brush over the fact that each person has had a difficult time. I wanted to merge this with a more positive message that things can change. I wanted the images to express this in a manner that isn’t negative but challenges understanding and hopefully facilitates a deeper understanding of this concept. Because life can be shit sometimes but that doesn’t necessarily detract from the way in which it can make you grow. By taking people outside of their homes and contrasting some images of people at home it creates this sense of stepping out of your comfort zone paired with intimacy. What I was trying to say through the nature imagery is that we are all one, we are like nature in the respect that we will continue to grow and flourish, and there is hope for everyone.
Do you think Hen is a finished project or do you plan on expanding on this subject matter?
I am interested in making a photobook and expanding the series.
Each photograph presents a different story, I find Irene, Sameer, Dan and Annabelle particularly interesting. How each person’s experience differ from the other? And what message were you trying to convey through each image?
I wanted each image to be completely unique, as humans we are all totally different and I wanted that sense of individuality to resonate within the images. It was nearly always decided by the location of where each person lived. It was also really fortunate to be able to access areas all over the UK as there is so much beautiful natural scenery that is so photogenic as well. We would drive around their area and it would be a mixture of me watching out for scenes that I thought could work well for the photograph and the person I was photographing that day showing me their favourite or most meaningful spots.There were instances of course when we would not be able to shoot in their home or nearby, so then we would decide on a location in between both of us, or a setting that I thought resonated with their particular characteristics which I worked out prior to meeting them.
Alex for example, who I photographed in Soho, in the evening said: “I think it’s quite apt that your photos of me were taken in shadow and at night. Quite a reflection on the fact that I don’t want my ‘trans-ness’ to become an issue with those around me (as it is just one aspect of my character) and I know that this is something that my wife is concerned about too, even more than I am. So there is a very strong sense of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and consequently this side of my character has to pretty much exist in the shadows. My wife is a very supportive and loving person, but this is something she really wishes wasn’t a part of me and really doesn’t want it to become the predominant way that I am perceived. If I needed to transition I would have a clear set of choices to make. Difficult and painful choices maybe, but at least with a clearly defined aim in sight. But I don’t feel that need and my relationships with my wife and children are the most important aspects of my life and I need to be able to accept other concerns and wishes and to find some way of accommodating them. Ignoring them would be selfish, destructive and arrogant and would unnecessarily upset a lot of people I have no reason or wish to upset. It’s not an ideal situation but it is as it is and far better than many others.”
A biography of each person is included next to the person photographed written by themselves and this is an extract from hers.
The people involved in Hen are presenting their true identity, i.e. the gender they have been unable to be in the past therefore presenting information about gender that is completely unique to each individual. Due to social conditioning from gender binaries, means they are bringing about a new way of seeing how gender looks for them, thus challenging what are considered ‘gender stereotypes’.
I was drawn to Butler’s belief that gender is a social construction and that it is performative. I do not agree with certain feminist groups such as Robin Morgan. I believe this is completely backwards and unfair; people should be free to choose how they identify; I do not feel you should ‘earn’ the right to be a woman, the point of feminism is gender equality surely. However, individuals such as Butler, who believes that the transgender community challenges repressive gender norms and that transgender politics are fully compatible with feminism, makes sense to me. I think gender inequality in itself creates more emphasis on gender binaries; once equality comes then I believe gender will have far less weight.
There is no specific formula to live as an ‘individual’ whether you are transgender, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, we are all the same. If we accept that, as people and as a society, we are equal, we will certainly improve our tolerance and accept others and ourselves.
The term ‘intersectionality’ coined by Kimberle Kenshaw is something that intrigued me. She stated that “identity isn’t simply a self-contained unit, it is a relationship between people and history, people in communities and people in institutions.” Therefore when people are impacted by multiple forces and then abandoned they need to be rescued. For example, transphobia combined with homophobia creates even more harm than transphobia alone. We need to continue to enhance our understanding of social dynamics coming together to create these unique social challenges. Action and transformation is key, and hopefully Hen helps to encourage this.
The older transgender community has been largely affected by lack of legislation and public opinion. Have any subjects of your photographs been affected by this? And if so in what way?
Of course, each person has had their own struggles, and that’s also what I wanted to show in the exhibition. I wanted to create imagery that is both genuine to the individual and thought-provoking—genuine in the respect that I can draw out the personality traits individual to that person. I was not keen to brush over the fact that each person has had a difficult time. I wanted to merge this with a more positive message that things can change. I wanted the images to express this in a manner that isn’t negative but in a way that challenges understanding and hopefully facilitates a deeper understanding of this concept. Because life can be shit sometimes but that doesn’t necessarily detract from the way in which it can make you grow. By taking people outside of their homes and contrasting some images of people at home it creates this sense of stepping out of your comfort zone paired with intimacy. What I was trying to say through the nature imagery is that we are all one, we are like nature in the respect that we will continue to grow and flourish, and there is hope for everyone.
Nowadays a lot of progress has been made in terms of gender recognition and raising awareness to transgender rights. Your exhibition will open in London – an incredibly resourceful and open-minded city compared to other places in the world. Do you plan on showing your work elsewhere in the UK or even outside?
I would love to tour this around the UK or in another country depending on whether we can get funding.
You have also worked on a film with Luke Sullivan and partnered with Stonewell Housing to conduct workshops to raise more awareness about Hen and the subject matter. Could you tell a bit more these two projects?
The film is co-directed by myself and Luke Sullivan and will be screened at the exhibition throughout the week. By directing the film, I was able to add another dimension to the project; it allowed me to give a voice to some of the participants involved and show their talents and create a deeper sense of intimacy and understanding about the participants’ identity through interviews and the possibility of filming their homes. We wanted to look past the motion of focusing on the gender of the individual and rather show each person as the unique, beautiful people they are.
There is nowhere near enough recognition of their stories and past, which in turn, I think, will help to benefit the younger transgender community and hopefully provide a safe space for them to interact. I’ve heard from a great deal of participants from Hen that they rarely interact with younger transgender individuals, and it’s a real shame because I think that is important in terms of expansion of knowledge of the transgender community and enhancing education in terms of intergenerational feedback.
We are hosting 3 workshops throughout the week in collaboration with Stonewall Housing (a charity we have partnered with for Hen), which you can book tickets to on the links below. One is an intergenerational workshop, one focuses on transgender wellbeing and the last is about creating a safe space for transgender people; these are hosted by Octavian Starr from Stonewall Housing. | {
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Reviews of short films ‘David’ and ‘Liza Anonymous’ from Dorianne Emmerton (@headonist) at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival!
Who Goes There? was shortlisted for a Student BAFTA Award this year, and its precise execution is a good reason why.
Projects like Alexandra Serio’s Tingle Monsters are a reason why Final Girls and other festivals that specifically give women and non-binary filmmakers a platform are so important.
For a short film, ‘Blood Oak’ from BCS Films brings the wintry horror, being a worthy entry into the small genre of upstate New York horror.
Filmmaker Izzy Lee continues to dazzle and provoke discussion with her politically-charged short film, ‘Re-Home,’ showing at this year’s Fantasia Fest.
The 7th annual Breakthroughs Film Festival is set to take place in Toronto at the Royal Cinema on June 15th and 16th, highlighting emerging female filmmakers from around the world.
Izzy Lee’s latest short film My Monster is just one more example of the filmmaker’s mastery of diverse types of storytelling.
There’s a short film called Gacha Gacha that deserves your attention and your money. Why should you care? I’ll tell you. | {
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This Pride Month, American Heritage Girls is pushing back against the cultural promotion of LGBTQ lifestyles with "A Raising Godly Girls Guide to Gender and Identity," Breitbart News reports.
The Christian alternative to the "woke" Girl Scouts of the USA, American Heritage Girls told the news outlet it is working to thwart efforts to "indoctrinate" young people with ideology that runs counter to Christian teachings and natural law.
"For centuries, the beauty of God-given femininity has been under attack, its definition debated, its behavior contested," Patti Garibay, AHG founder and executive director, said in a statement. "Secular humanism has attempted to destroy the beautiful model of femininity and transform it into an equal model of masculinity."
"Today, it has gone one step further to claim an embrace of non-binary sexual identity," she added.
Garibay went on to say that the debate over the "confusion in our society" has made its way down to children.
"God-given femininity requires no debate," she said. "It is a gift that, when freely accepted, will bless a woman throughout her life whether she wears heels and loves shopping or whether she serves the hungry in her jeans and comfy t-shirt."
"Scripture is clear: There is a difference between male and female, and it is worth celebrating," Garibay continued. "Scripture defines the true nature of a woman: relational, nurturing, vulnerable, with a love for beauty and a desire to respond."
According to the AHG's Raising Godly Girls Blog, the guide provides "the knowledge, tools, and Scripture-based advice to speak truth on gender and identity and, in turn, raise up a Godly girl."
Available as a free e-book download, the guide features a glossary of gender terms that were sourced from Merriam-Webster dictionary and a list of open-ended questions meant to help spark conversation between parents and daughters about gender.
It also directs parents toward other "like-minded, Biblically sound and Christ-centered ministry alliances" for further guidance, and helps parents answer the question of when to bring in outside help.
"Children struggling to recognize the truth in their Godly design often are also often burdened with mental illness including anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of self-harm or suicide," the guide explains. "If you notice common behaviors of anxiety or depression, like becoming withdrawn or socially distant, neglecting themselves, low self-esteem, ruminating thoughts, giving away possessions, or even chronic maladies (like constant headaches/stomachaches), this could be a sign that your daughter is struggling. Seek the professional clinical and spiritual care of a Christian counselor and together you can find healing for your girl."
Founded by a group of parents wanting a faith-based, scout-type character development program for their daughters, AHG has troops in all 50 states and in 15 countries around the world, according to the organization.
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Jeff & Will welcome married couple and collaborators Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore for a conversation that was recorded live at Sacramento’s Capital Books for the launch of the YA fantasy Venom & Vow. They discuss how the book went from something Anna-Marie was working on solo to a co-writing project, and they share great stories about all aspects of their creative process. We also get to hear their first ever joint reading, and Jeff slips in a question about Anna-Marie’s Great Gatsby remix from last year, Self-Made Boys.
Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at frolic.media/podcasts!
Here are the things we talk about in this episode. Please note, these links include affiliate links for which we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase. These links are current at the time the episode premieres, however links are subject to change.
- Anna-Marie & Elliott McLemore Interview
- Anna-Marie McLemore website | Twitter
- Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore & Elliott McLemore
- Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore
- Goblin Secrets by William Alexander
- Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore
- The Great Gatsby (1974 film) on Amazon Prime Video
- Passing by Nella Larsen
- Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore
- A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee
- In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
- Big Gay Fiction Podcast Links
This transcript was made possible by our community on Patreon. You can get information on how to join them at patreon.com/biggayfictionpodcast.
Will: Coming up on this episode, we welcome Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore to discuss their first collaboration, the book “Venom and Vow.”
Jeff: Welcome to episode 423 of the “Big Gay Fiction Podcast,” the show for avid readers and passionate fans of queer romance fiction. I’m Jeff, and with me as always, is my co-host and husband, Will.
Will: Hello, Rainbow Romance Reader. It is so great to have you back with us for another super summer bonus episode.
Jeff: We’re gonna get right into this interview that was recorded live on May 16th at Capital Books right here in our hometown of Sacramento. Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore had their launch party for the YA Fantasy “Venom and Vow” there, and we thank them and Capital Books for letting us be part of the celebration.
It was such a blast talking to these two and finding out about this incredible book. You’ll hear about how this went from a book Anna-Marie was plotting to one they ended up writing with Elliott. There are some delightful stories about how they worked out the setting and the scenes and what it was like for this married couple to become creative collaborators. Plus, they read the first two chapters, and I even sneak a fanboy moment in before we’re done.
Anna-Marie & Elliott McLemore Interview
Jeff: So, I am thrilled to get to interview Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore. I have been a fan of Anna-Marie’s for quite some time. I have read “Venom and Vow.” It is absolutely amazing. For those who don’t know, Anna-Marie has written so many books, and picked up so many award nominations. There’s a Williams C. Morris Debut Award finalist, there’s a “Time Magazine” 100 Best Fantasy Novels, there’s Stonewall Honor Book, there’s National Book Awards. Anna-Marie knows how to write a book. Elliott, this is his first fiction. Congratulations.
Elliott: Thank you.
Jeff: I love your bio, because it says, you came from the mountains and loved trees and you romped in dresses, fought with plastic swords, and dreamed up your first stories, and then you went on to academic and professional writing and research. So it’s wonderful to have you back on the fiction side. To kick us off, let’s start with the most basic question. What is “Venom and Vow” about?
Anna-Marie: Okay. I’m gonna see if I can remember the pitch from the announcement, because it has excited me ever since. Let’s see if I can do the elevator pitch or if I’m gonna have to take the stairs. Okay, so, “Venom and Vow” is about a transgender prince who is doubling for his brother, a bi-gender lady-in-waiting/boy assassin. And the two of them, because of their dual identities, don’t realize that they are falling for each other while simultaneously trying to destroy each other. Yes.
Jeff: Well done.
Anna-Marie: Thank you. I did it. That’s gonna be the hardest question of the night.
Jeff: We’ll try to keep it that way. So, now that we know that little bit, I’d love for you to read a little bit for us, so we can get a little flavor of what we’re gonna talk about.
Anna-Marie: I believe this is our first reading from this book.
Elliott: It is.
Anna-Marie: Chapter 1, Valencia.
Of all the things my father taught me, this is the one most likely to keep me alive tonight: “Your hair, mija, can always hold more knives than you think.”
I give my hair another twist and shove in two more of the tiny blades I’ve spent half my life learning to throw. Tonight, I’ll be getting close enough to Adare’s borders to taste the salt in the air. Whenever you get close to Adare, you can never have too many knives.
I learned that the hard way.
My father told me not to go out there that night. Just like he’d probably tell me to stay at el palacio right now.
But my father had to know I’d follow him. He had to know that the best way to get me to do something was to forbid me to do it. And besides, he needed me. I’ve always been my father’s mano derecha, his right-hand boy or girl, or whoever I am at the moment. Whoever I need to be to sneak around somewhere unnoticed, or slip into a room I’m not supposed to be in. I can’t count how many times I’ve showed up in disguise before he even knew he needed me to go get a look at some dignitary’s correspondence or a visiting prince’s books.
And that night, I dressed the part. I put on the most spectacular outfit I had. A deep-green gown refined enough to make me look older. A velvet cape stitched with so many leaves of gold, red, and amber fabric, that I looked like I was wearing autumn. My best cane, ahuehuete wood set with fire opals, hair pinned back exactly like the most elegant ladies. All the best to impersonate someone important enough to be at a negotiation between two enemy kingdoms.
The moment I got to the edge of the woods, I saw the Adare boy—boy? Man? I still don’t know. He didn’t see me, but I watched him. I watch everyone.
There was nothing all that notable about him. Dark hair, gray coat, brown trousers. He had a staff with him—a nice one; even from that distance, I could see the heft and the metalwork—and I could tell from the way he was holding it that he used it to help his walking, similar to how I use my own baston.
There was something about the way he was looking around. Not like he was looking for something, or someone. More like he was checking. Which instantly made me think he was supposed to be an inconspicuous guard. Someone I’d need to avoid as I went deeper in, where half our court and half of Adare’s had gathered.
I should have already had a knife out. I know that now. But I didn’t. I was looking into the trees to plan my route, how best I could casually swan into the proceedings, like a fashionably late duquesa.
So I didn’t see him do it. But when that light came, flashing hard as sun off water, and blue as moonlight through ice, I looked back at him, and I saw.
He was holding that staff with both hands, driving it into the ground. As if he was putting all his weight and strength into keeping it there. He stared into the light like he was calling it by name. And I knew. I could tell he was the one doing this.
I reached to pull out a knife. Whatever he was doing, I knew that if I got a blade in his arm, I could probably throw his concentration enough to stop him.
But I hadn’t woven them into my hair that night. I’d rushed out with them tucked into my boots, but hadn’t taken the time to slip them into my braid.
If I had, I might have been fast enough.
The force following that light came hard as thunder after lightning. It went through me and knocked me to the ground. The leaves of cloth on my cape blew into a whirl. The force of that light was as hard as a current. Even with the help of my cane, I couldn’t get up, not until everything had settled and gone quiet.
By then, he was gone.
What that boy did to the woods that night took our king and queen. It took my father. And every night since then I’ve known what we all should have known: There’s no negotiating with Adare. All we can do is win.
I don’t blame the boy for everything. It’s almost certain that he was acting under orders.
Still, if I ever see him again, he’s dead.
I slip one more knife into my hair.
The mistake I made that night, I’ll never make it again.”
Elliott: Chapter 2, Cade.
I just couldn’t stay away from the edges that night. I hardly ever can.
“Know where your lines are. See the maps in your mind, laid out over the castle, over the battlefield, over the land. Always. If you lose track of those lines, they’ll be in control, and not you.”
My mother’s voice, my queen’s voice, as I’ve heard it my whole life, pulled me to the borders of our land. That night, it pulled me to her, to my father, to the Elianan ruling family and their advisors. Another negotiation. This time with its venue in the most disputed zone of the forest between Adare and Eliana.
I tried to spot one of our guards in the dark, or one of our horses. I have even settled for some of the Elianan contingent. Their bright colors made them stand out in the moonlight. At first, all I could see were trees and some vague movement between them.
A loud crack thundered under my feet and a burst of light brighter and bluer than sheet lightning blasted out from the forest, nearly knocking me down. I had to hold Faolan with both hands to keep steady. I felt him gripping the ground for me, keeping me upright like he does when I’m on the battlefield and about to lose my balance.
“Whatever you do, don’t let them take you to the ground.”
My mother, again, teaching me to be a warrior like her. I searched for her in the burst of light, trying to spot her or anyone close to her. But it was far too bright and pushed at me with far too much force.
As I squinted against the light, I saw a swirl of movement in red and orange, waving like the flames of a bonfire.
I focused my gaze as closely as I could. I made out the form of a person crouching, holding a staff far more delicate and ornate than Faolan. The top of the staff glinted with what looked like small flames, and I was certain that what I thought was a bonfire was actually their cloak.
I’d seen enchanters at work before, but nothing like this. One hand extended to keep their balance. The other held the staff, driving it into the ground, making the flames at the top pulse even brighter.
I knew better than to trifle with enchanters and their staffs. The staff my mother carried had been passed down from queen to queen for generations. Its power was unpredictable even to its wielder. It had surprised my mother more than once.
The light intensified again, like the roots of all the trees nearby were sending veins of lightning out under our feet.
The enchanter lifted their head, dark eyes wide and fixed on the center of the light. I could see her deep red lips and long tendrils of thick black hair escaping from a twist I recognized as one popular in the Elianan court.
I memorized her face that night. And I’ve been looking for it ever since.
Jeff: Absolutely wonderful. I think we saw…
[Applause from the audience]
We learned so much about Cade and Valencia right there in those first, like, five pages and two simple chapters. Where did Cade and Valencia…like, what were their inspirations? Where did they come from for you as you developed the book?
Anna-Marie: You wanna get right into the theater nerdness?
Elliott: Yes. Okay.
Anna-Marie: We knew this was gonna happen.
Jeff: Excellent. I love that there’s theater nerds here.
Elliott: Yes, there is bound to be theater nerdness when there is us. So, yeah, for people familiar with musicals, they tend to identify an A couple and a B couple. And the A couple is, you know, the one that most of the story revolves around, but there’s usually like a secondary romantic pairing. We wanted to focus on what would normally be the B couple, right? So, these folks are not the main prince and princess people. They’re the other ones. And we wanted them to be the center of the story instead. So, that was part of the inspiration, was to have that couple be the central characters.
Anna-Marie: And, like, they’re often the ones that are the comic relief. They’re often the ones that are arguing with each other. So, that whole A couple, B couple thing, which I didn’t really realize until Elliott mentioned it partway through the process, I thought, “That’s exactly what we’re doing.” It ended up being important from an identity standpoint, because you have the B couple that’s not usually the center of the story, and you also have these identities that aren’t usually the center of the story. You have these characters who are both trans. One is a trans guy, one is non-binary, bi-gender. You have one character who’s Latine, you have two characters who have disabilities, who use canes. So, the kind of, like, musical theater nerd part of it that we were connecting with also had this connection to what we wanted to do with identity. Like, these characters that share our identities and that we wanted to be at the center of the story.
Jeff: I’m glad you kind of listed everything that is a part of them. They’re trans, they both have different gender identities, they’re both disabled, in some similar ways even. What made all of that part of it? And then, I’m fascinated by how you made this all so cohesive, because they’re very similar in some ways, and yet they’re very opposite too, like…and the push and pull that develops between them, even as they’re figuring out those similarities, it’s fascinating to me how you must have gone through to kind of plot this out to determine what to reveal when, and how that would impact them.
Anna-Marie: Well, their reveals were definitely helped by his favorite word.
Anna-Marie: Yeah, spreadsheet. One of his favorite words.
Jeff: I love that.
Anna-Marie: I have to mention this. We have the lovely lady that we dedicated the book to, Dayna Bryant, who keeps spreadsheets for her video games as she’s playing them. So, as you can tell, we have, like, kindred spirits of spreadsheets around us. But he was really, really just meticulous about keeping…like, keeping the spreadsheets while I was sort of like, “Oh, we’ll figure it out as we go,” and he’s like, “No, we can’t. We can’t figure it out as we go. They actually need to…we need to know what they know, or we’re gonna be on draft seven and be fixing this.” So, this kind of combination of like the mathematical side of it and the artistic side of it was something that was…that, I think, is a big part of fantasy, especially with the kind of sprawling worlds and casts like this.
Jeff: And it’s not just these characters who are complicated. You’ve given them alter egos too, like the alternate identities that they have and the identities that they carry. It’s very Shakespearean in some ways, like the deception and the miscommunication, and the, “I’m not who you think I am.” So I’m glad to hear you used a spreadsheet, because otherwise you might go a little insane to keep it all, you know, in the right spot.
How much of this ended up in like first drafts, and how did it develop over time? How fully-formed were they? Because they are so complex. I wish the folks who are listening could see them, because they’re both just making these great grinning faces at each other as I ask these questions.
Elliott: We redrafted a lot. We changed many things, because we’d keep having these great ideas and, like, be very apologetic about it, right? Like, one of us would go to the other one and be like, “So, I have this great idea, but everything we just wrote, we’re gonna have to rewrite it all.” So we did that a few times.
Anna-Marie: And the thing is, like, it would be…the wonderful thing is that it would be worth it. It would be like, “Oh, yeah, that is better. We should do that. Darn it.” So we would be doing these, like, normal…normal, like, household things, normal life things, and the other one would sort of burst in and be like, “I know what needs to happen in this chapter. I’m so sorry because we’re gonna have to…” “No, I know what you’re gonna say. We have to change everything before it. Yeah, okay.” But that’s part of the magic, I think, of finding the story. Because when you get there, when you get to where it’s supposed to be, it’s, “Of course, how did we think it was gonna be anything else?” And I feel that way as a reader too, reading books, and then hearing about how authors do draft after draft, and I think, like, “Of course. This was how the story is supposed to be.”
Jeff: How many drafts were there?
Elliott: I don’t know.
Anna-Marie: I know. Do we…
Elliott: I definitely lost count.
Anna-Marie: Do we count in decimals? Because there were those ones where we would sort of backtrack and think, like, “Okay, what do we need to change to get to this point?” So, officially, there were probably like five of them… but then you have a lot of like partial drafts in between.
Jeff: For the scope of what happens in this book, that’s not bad, actually. Putting my writer hat on for a moment. What came first here? These amazing characters, or the amazing adventure? Because there is this kind of enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, but yet similarities attract story, set against this, “We need to fix the kingdom,” kind of aspect as well. Where did it start?
Anna-Marie: I think it started…well, it started a little bit with the concept of it. This started as a very, very, very loose “Sleeping Beauty” re-imagining. And these characters in mind, and the way that Elliott came onto this novel is…I hate when I say this because I sound like such a diva when I say this, but it sounds like I prefer to work alone, but I don’t. This is my second co-written novel. My first one was with Tehlor Kay Mejia, “Miss Meteor,” in 2020. I don’t co-write a novel unless we’re doing something that neither of us could do alone. So, I had this idea for these characters, and I thought, “I can’t write Cade the way he needs to be written. Do you know who I think could?” So, after a fair bit of convincing, I thought I kind of was telling him, like, “This is who I think this character was.” And when I knew that I had him, when he started to like run with Cade and be like, “No, I think this is what it is. I think this is in his character history. I think this is his relationship with his mother.” I’m like, “I have you. You’re gonna write this guy. You don’t know it yet, but you’re going to.”
Jeff: So that was what pulled you in there. Were you trepidatious at all to undertake…I mean, this is your…not just first collaboration for you, but your first published fiction work too.
Jeff: …from, you know, creating whatever stories you’d done, you know, before, and you got brought into this. What went through your head when it’s like, “Am I really doing this?”
Elliott: Oh, I was very terrified. Yeah, and surprised that, you know, the feedback early on from our mutual editor now was, you know, encouraging and was, you know, “This part is actually working.” I was surprised and pleased. And, you know, from that point on, I got more excited about it and got more into it. But, yeah, I mean, it’s a little intimidating to work on a first project with someone who is so experienced and talented, and with whom I have lived for so long. You know?
Anna-Marie: I’m flattered that you think that, considering you saw my early drafts of things.
Elliott: I thought they were still pretty good, the early ones.
Jeff: Did you provide some early feedback on those, or was it just like reading to go, “Uh-huh, that works?” Or were you actually providing, you know, feedback on what was there?
Elliott: I feel like, earlier on with some earlier things, I feel like I was a bit more involved in doing feedback. There came a point where everything was going so quickly that I sort of couldn’t keep up anymore. It was all just like, I don’t know, on the bullet train to wherever awesomeness. So, yeah. But early on, I got to read some things, and I got to read some things that became other things later. So that was really exciting.
Anna-Marie: Things that became other things. The story of drafting and revising.
Jeff: From the perspective of this book then, it sounds like you wrote Valencia and you wrote Cade. Was it a constant, just, back and forth in the chapters?
Elliott: Pretty much. I mean, I don’t know how…I marvel at authors who share points of view or have one point of view between more than one author. I can’t imagine, because we had these two rather distinct characters and points of view and voices. So, you know, we didn’t really have to worry about trying to like match each other. I can’t imagine attempting to do that. But yeah, this, I think it really worked. We did go back and forth a lot, and we had to kind of keep pace with each other. It was difficult to get like too far ahead or fall too far behind because we had to kind of keep comparing notes as we went.
Anna-Marie: Yeah, you can sort of have the rough idea of what happens in each chapter, and then look at what each other has done and say like, “Oh, okay. I took this longer than I had to. I didn’t need to go this far,” or, “Wait, we have a little bit of a time gap here.” So, smoothing those kinds of things out and editing each other. And, like Elliott said, I know authors who do the work of like doing one voice together, and it’s this art form that I marvel at. Because with both collaborations, I’ve done both co-authoring, it’s been, you’re writing one voice, I’m writing another voice, we edit each other.
Jeff: Yeah. The authors who tell me, when I interview them, that they could write and stop midway in a chapter, and the other author come in and just pick up and go, not even switching voices, I’m like, “How? How does that make a cohesive book? And good for you for making it that way.”
When it came to the plot, were you plotting together, or was…all the spreadsheet in the characters, was there a spreadsheet of like the plot too? Because this is very complicated. Like, I can’t…it would be impressive to me if it was like, “Oh, yeah, we just made that up as we went, and it all turned out so well.”
Elliott: No, we used the thing…the thing. Wow, that was specific. There’s like a chart you can use to plot stuff.
Anna-Marie: Yeah, there was a lot of chart. We’ve used a couple of ’em.
Elliott: Yeah. And you put sticky notes on it, and then you move ’em around for, like, when you change when stuff happens. But, yeah, it was very handy to have like the big old chart with the sticky notes on it. It was great.
Anna-Marie: Sorry, I’m laughing because we did that on the wall with like paper, and then we put sticky notes on it, and the other thing we did on the wall was a big piece of paper. So, there’s this beautiful map that our publisher has put into this book, which I’m so excited about because I’ve never had a map in a book. I love this thing. I want to like make a huger version of it and put it on our wall.
So, speaking of walls, we had the piece of paper up, and like, precious debut author that he is, because our publisher is saying, “If you could sort of start to like plot out where things are, draw things, like it’ll give us an idea when we give it to the artist.” So, wonderful debut author that he is, he’s carefully doing like the monastery, and the castle, and everything, and I’m over here like losing it a little bit as we all are during the pandemic. And I’m drawing like, Pusheen and like, Molang, and like, a bird over here. So, I eventually got with the program, and I was like, “Okay, this is where everything is.”
But his side was just this work of art, and mine was just this collection of like cartoon animals in like period attire. So, thank you for keeping me grounded and on task.
Elliott: You are welcome, although to be fair…
Jeff: Are there Easter eggs of cartoon cats in attire somewhere in that map?
Anna-Marie: There are very opinionated quetzals that are not happy if you do not listen to them.
Elliott: Oh, yes.
Jeff: Oh, my goodness. I love that. I love collaborating stories, because you find out so, so much. How was it to move from being a couple to being a creative couple? Easy transition? Weird, bumpy transition? Because it adds a whole different vibe. Living in the same house, and, you know, potentially never getting away from the work, because like you said, you could just bust in in the middle of something and go, “I have an idea. We’re gonna rewrite stuff now.”
Anna-Marie: That was exactly what happened. Like, “Gee, I sure hope when you say you have an idea, it’s what to make for dinner and not another rewrite.” But the fun part is that you…because you had some previous experience in theater choreography, right?
Anna-Marie: So, we choreographed a lot of these fight scenes in like quarter time, of course, but that was a lot of where we started, is like, we have these two characters who use canes. We have our own disabilities that don’t exactly match these characters, but they have a lot in common with these characters. So, like, a lot of the collaboration process was partly plotting and partly like, “Okay, we know these fight scenes are gonna take us a while to do.” So, like, blocking these out, that would be like our…like, our weekend afternoon would be on this old mattress with our canes figuring out how to do this.
Jeff: I’m so glad you took the safety precaution of a mat, like a mattress, to do that.
Elliott: Yes. We did still get hurt.
Anna-Marie: I know. I did.
Elliott: Not too badly.
Anna-Marie: Yeah. I mildly bruised a rib during this process…
Jeff: Oh, my gosh.
Anna-Marie: …and it was…he told me, “Don’t do it. Don’t do it.” And I’m like, “He’s the theater choreographer, I should listen to him.” I’m like, “I’ve done theater choreography too.” Yeah, it was Irish dance. That was the theater choreography I did. So I should have listened to him, and I was trying to do one of the moves that Val does. I should not have done it. But, yeah, there were mattresses underneath. He was the one who was constantly slowing us down and being like, “When you choreograph, you go slower than you wanna go. Like, we need to go like painfully slowly to figure out how this actually works before you build it up.”
Elliott: Yep, yep.
Jeff: Was it just the canes, or maneuvering the knives as well? Because Val does amazing things. Slipping knives out of her hair, out of her cloaks, from here, there, and…
Anna-Marie: Oh, those were letter openers. Safety first.
Elliott: Yes. No real knives were harmed in the plotting of this novel.
Jeff: Most authors I talk to use action figures, so I love the fact that you were committed enough to do, like, live choreography.
Elliott: I mean, I would say we had to, we didn’t have to. But it really did help to, you know, have done all of that. And I still found, as I was writing stuff, I would try to like act things out so that I could know what to write. Yeah, it was very helpful. We also used stuffed animals when there weren’t enough of us. We were like, “Okay, we got this thing and that thing. Yep. Okay.” Yes. Yes. Good times.
Anna-Marie: And so, like, the stuffed animals, I just got really attached to them, so they were there unnecessarily sometimes during the plotting process. Like when we weren’t doing a fight scene, we would just be doing an interpersonal scene, I would have like this little rabbit puppet who would act surprised when like he confesses something. So, you find the fun in it, especially with stuff that like…there are…with a novel, it talks so much about identity, and so much about people’s hearts. Like, finding the fun in the process helps you build in the comedic moments in the novel itself. Because I think, like, you need some comedy on the page, especially when you have fight scenes, when you have people who are just like going deep into their hearts to figure out who they are.
Jeff: The identity scenes, the fight scenes, the…we need to fix our kingdom. I mean, there’s a heavy need here that has to get taken care of apart from all the other stuff going on. So, I very much appreciated the humor when it cropped up, and I ended up just laughing out loud occasionally, like…and I have to admit, I don’t read a lot of fantasy, because world building kind of can bog me down and it’s like I’m finding out too much, and then…so I appreciated how you kind of parched that out, giving me what I needed when I needed it.
But on top of it all were these amazing characters, and I come back again to those first couple chapters. Like, how can I not read these two people? And then you keep finding out as they reveal more and more of themselves, either through their internal monologue or what they do actually tell the world. And I have to say, the internal monologue in this book blew my mind, because both of these characters are constantly like heavy-thinking about what they’re doing, should they be doing it?
Should they be interacting with this other person? What’s the fate of the kingdom? Again, I come back to the balance of it all, which is pretty amazing. But, where are the actual questions going? The identity here, I feel like anybody who picks up this book, no matter who they are, they’re gonna find a sliver of themselves on the page, because these characters carry so much. Was that the intention all along, or was it more, as you initially described, just characters that also mirrored yourselves?
Anna-Marie: I know. Yeah, that’s a chin-scratching question.
Jeff: I hope in a good way.
Anna-Marie: In a good way, yes, because a lot of this book is about intersectional identity, and how do the different pieces of you come together? Because, like, well, all of us have identities that intersect. Like, different parts of ourselves come up against each other. Different parts of our worlds come up against each other. And these characters’ identities, I think of them as so part of who they are, that everything else sort of came from that. It may not be like on their mind all the time.
Like, I don’t go around thinking about how gay I am. Like, some days, but not all days. And it’s just where your heart is sort of based and what is coming together. I’m thinking of things coming together also because one of the people that we worked with was National Book Award winner, William Alexander, who was consulting about disability. And Val’s disability has to do with the spine. And Will was saying, like, “You know, this is the point that…like, this point in your lower spine is the place that all…it’s the hinge that all movement in your body goes through.”
So, this idea of, like, Val is dealing with this one hinge that everything goes through, that’s not really cooperating some of the time. It’s a little bit also what happens with, like, all of your identities like coming together in this central point of intersection. Sometimes it’s going to be wonderful, and sometimes it’s gonna be like, “Okay, how do I exist today? Like, how do I go forward?” And I’d love to hear how that was for you with Cade, especially, because, like, the responsibilities of…and what that related to with his identity.
Elliott: Yeah. I mean, I think with Cade, there’s a big issue of stealthiness, which is, you know, kind of necessary, given what’s going on, but it also wasn’t entirely his decision. So, you know, he’s dealing with the impacts of that on his current life when it was kind of done for him in a lot of ways. So, you know, figuring all of that out. And in terms of, I guess, intersectional identity and trying to make that relatable, I mean, that’s super important, because I feel like one of the criticisms that comes up a lot is that characters who have too much in terms of identity are not relatable. So, you know, some extra effort definitely went into that, and I’m hoping that that, you know, makes it so that even if you don’t have much in common with these characters, you can still connect with them. I would say that was part of the goal. Yeah.
Jeff: Absolutely, because I couldn’t help but feel like…I guess I’ll go with the word impressed, with the level of grit and effort each of them would put through to get to their goal. Even as their body is rebelling against them, it’s like, “The thing that I’m trying to do is that important that I can’t just stop.”
But I’ll say the other thing too, and hopefully this isn’t too much of a spoiler, and you tell me if it is, then I’ll take it out of the podcast, the care they end up showing to each other, because there are times when they’re in distinct adversarial modes, but they know enough about each other to, “I see how he’s leaning on the cane. I see how this person’s leaning this way or guarding this part of them,” and then not taking advantage of it, which is just a beautiful part of the love story to me between these two. So, I really love how you took care of that part too, because I’m just like…I don’t know whether I’m like going, “Oh, please be careful,” or, “Oh, that is so sweet that you’re feeling that way about them as all this other stuff Is happening.” It was a big ball of emotions for me, and how you balanced all that I thought was just amazing.
Anna-Marie: Oh, thank you.
Elliott: Thank you.
Anna-Marie: There’s definitely a code between these characters. There’s a sense that like, “I know enough about what your experience is to not wanna take advantage of it. And also, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna win against you anyway, so I don’t need to take advantage of it. Like, I’ll figure it out.”
Elliott: Yep, yep, yep.
Jeff: And I have to say, I am butchering pronouns, and I apologize for that, as I’m navigating between Valencia and Cade. I should just be using their names, because I try to be respectful of those pronouns and in the moment I think I’m messing those up.
Anna-Marie: I actually struggle a little bit talking about Val, but Cade is he all the time. Val sort of goes between he and she, probably would at least at times like the pronouns they and them, but this is not a world that yet commonly uses those pronouns. So this is something I’ve thought about too in talking about Val.
Jeff: Okay. I feel less bad that I’m at least kind of navigating the same things that you are and you created them. I’m curious for you, Elliott, because this is a first, many firsts. Was fiction on your radar as something you wanted to maybe pursue as a publishing kind of pursuit?
Elliott: I did not think I could write a whole book, or any portion of like a book thing. Most of my fiction-related experience was playwriting and, you know, that theatrical side of things, which I tremendously enjoyed and had a great time doing, but did not think was going to be anything resembling a career. And I was surprised when I was writing, that I could write that much. I was like, “Oh, hey, words. Great.” Yeah. Yeah. It was a positive surprise that, you know, that could happen. And I do think the pandemic had something to do with it, because that happened like partway through…we had already started, but, you know, we did, I would say the bulk of this, during the pandemic. So there was kind of more time to do that. Time that otherwise would’ve been occupied by, I don’t know, going to grocery stores and stuff. So, you know, that was certainly helpful. Definitely, you know, gave some space and time to the writing, which I appreciated.
Anna-Marie: Yeah, we were definitely both…pre-pandemic, were wanderers in stores. Like, you’ll never find me in a Target. Like, once I go in, I’m never gonna come out. And then he’s right. Like, we would just go in really fast and come out really fast. And he would go to work, I would do my work, and then the rest of the time, we were involved in this world. Yeah.
Jeff: Sounds like a lovely pandemic distraction, to be involved in this world instead of what we were doing here.
Anna-Marie: It was an interesting way to sort of like transmute, because the feelings aren’t going away. Like, the fear, the grief, it’s not going away. So, to sort of have a place where some of that exists, but there’s also…it’s also a completely different world. I think there was something like heartening about that.
Jeff: And moving from playwriting into this kind of fiction, was there anything about that transition that, like, surprised you or was like, “Oh, wow, that?”
Elliott: I mean, descriptions, in a nutshell, because I didn’t really need to do any of that. So, you know, that took some practice. AM is the master of description. So, you know, I learned a thing or two from your editing of my initial efforts. There were definitely some points where you were like, “This is too much, and this is not enough.” You know, I had to find a balance there. But, yeah, I think it took some practice and it got somewhere, eventually, but it was fun. It was a fun journey of learning how to describe things.
Jeff: Nice. Yeah, there’s a big difference, I guess, between that and stage direction.
Elliott: Italics. Things move this way. Done.
Jeff: So, one of my favorite questions to ask, and tonight there’s two different ways I can ask it, depending on how you want to answer it, I wanna know about favorite scenes. And it could either be favorite scene that you wrote individually, or favorite scene that the other wrote.
Elliott: Okay. So, I think this might…because I think it crosses point of view. So, I think it’s kind of both. We have a part where there’s dancing, which I love dancing. So, yeah, that transitions because Cade and Valencia recognize each other and sort of place each other as, you know, playing these multiple roles, and it dawns on them as they are dancing with one another. So then, of course, they take it outside and start fighting, which…
Jeff: As one does.
Elliott: As one does, and it’s great. So, yeah, that’s probably my favorite. I’m cheating slightly. I think it’s technically two scenes, so yeah, yeah. There you go.
Anna-Marie: I love that one too. Also, I love a lot of our fight scenes that are way up there for me. But since I’ve already talked a lot about our fight scenes, I have one other one that’s coming to mind. I love the scenes that are at the monastery that Cade grew up in. This is a monastery full of trans and non-binary guys. So, there’s a scene that I think is from Val’s point of view, but that basically all of the dialogue except Val’s was him. Like, this happens sometimes, where we’re writing our own points of view, but like the other person is contributing the dialogue of a lot of different characters. So, he’s basically being an entire monastery and I’m being one character. So, there’s this point where, like, Val is dressed as a guy and Val does not yet realize what exactly goes on at this monastery. And one of the monks is saying, like, “You know, you could improve that outfit.” And Val is like, “What? Screw you, I didn’t ask you. But if I had asked you, what would you do?”
So, this idea of trans and non-binary guys, of trans people, of queer people, like, helping each other, and this sense of community, like, “I recognize you. I know you. We have this in common. We are family even though we just met.” That’s something that means a lot to me, that idea of found family coming in there.
Jeff: What do you hope people take away from this book?
Elliott: Well, I mean, and I think one of the big things that this hopefully conveys is that, you know, regardless of your various complicated things that you come from and who you are, and regardless of your ability, you can still be a total bad-ass. So, yeah, there’s that.
Anna-Marie: So, actually, I kind of related to that, the squishier side of that. This is what he does. He’s very concise, and then I’m like, “Add more feeling. Whoever you are, there are people like you and there are people who get you.” And the people who get you, some of them are gonna be like you, some of them are not. But you can find family. Like, you can make family, you can make community. There are people who are gonna love you, and that’s something that I really want readers to take away from this book.
Jeff: Fantastic. And I think they’ll take away both, because it’s just that good. I have to have my own fanboy moment now and talk about “Self-Made Boys” for just a brief moment. This was Anna-Marie’s book from last year, that is a Great Gatsby retelling, and, for me, greatly improved on the source material. And apparently I’m not alone with that. Just one question, because I’ll make you encapsulate the entire book with just one answer. How did you do that? I mean, really to take the bones of that book and recast it the way you did, just was mind-blowing to me. It’s like, I wish I could have read that in high school instead of the original, because it just spoke so much more to me, and I feel like really cast the story in such an amazing way, while also kind of keeping at least true to the bones.
Anna-Marie: So, a couple of things that come to mind about this. One, I did wanna keep the sort of basic framework of “The Great Gatsby” with a happier ending. I don’t mind saying that spoiler. It needed a different ending. But when Emily Settle at Feiwel & Friends came to me and said, “We’re doing this remix classic series. We want you to do “The Great Gatsby.” I was at a point very early on in my trans non-binary, like, journey. But Emily like says this and I’m like, “Yes, I’m the man for this job. Girl. I mean, girl. I’m the girl for this job.”
So, immediately, I knew what I wanted to do. I knew that, oh, well, one, Gatsby and Nick, it’s there. Like, he talks about how beautiful Gatsby is. And also, if you watch some of the film adaptations of like 1970 version with Robert Redford and Sam Waterston, watch very carefully, they’re building it right in. Robert Redford is staring at Sam Waterston’s ass at some point in that movie. It was obvious to me, and it was obvious to a lot of other readers, that was part of the fun of writing this book.
I also wanted to write Gatsby as trans, and I wanted to write Nick as trans, as this idea of like self-made boys, which is true in some sense. Like, they are making themselves, but also not true in another sense because you need other people to help you. Like, to help you become who you are in the same way in “Venom and Vow” at the monastery. So, I wanted to write Nick as this Latino boy from the Midwest coming from this family who supports him as a trans boy. And he was like, “Yes, we get you. Wait. Now you wanna go to a city that none of us have ever been to? Like, you’ve established your identity here and now you wanna do what?” So, I wanted to write Nick as this math genius who has this chance to be this analyst on Wall Street before quant is a word that’s used on Wall Street. And who goes there partially from the convincing of his cousin Daisy, who I wrote as like a lesbian Latina socialite who’s passing as white.
One of my favorite books in the world is “Passing” by Nella Larsen. Please read it if you have it. I want it in every curriculum. Like, why did I read “Passing” once? Why was I only assigned “Passing” once and I was assigned Huck Finn three times? Why? I want everyone to read “Passing.” It is an absolutely spectacular book, and whenever I thought about writing 1920s, I thought I need to do some kind of tribute to “Passing” in there, just because of what this book did for me and what it meant to me to read “Passing” alongside “The Great Gatsby.” Because there’s a lot of racism in the original, and having that book alongside, it was just…I needed it. Like, my reading experience would not have been the same. I’m very grateful to the teacher who assigned it. So, having Daisy as this like Latina girl who’s passing as white, and who doesn’t really realize how much she’s stepping on her cousin who she’s kind of disowned, to do this, how she doesn’t…
Like, in that way, she’s kind of like Daisy in the original “Great Gatsby,” where she’s just kind of like frothing about, not realizing that she’s like breaking things everywhere. So, Gatsby to me was also always gonna be a trans guy. And the thing that surprised me was how many other people had seen that. How many other readers had seen that coding in there, of like how hard he’s working to be who he is. All of that effort that’s in there. So, I wanted to write a story that was in the same time period, that had a lot of the same bones, but that the why was gonna be different. The why these characters do what they do. The lives that they have that are off the page. And to actually like use Nick’s cluelessness in a way that was a little bit endearing. Like, I am not totally understanding what’s going on, even as he’s a very sharp observer. So, like, that’s my very long answer of like, “The Great Gatsby” was always gay and it was always trans. So, it meant so much to me to be able to do this and to be able to kind of, like, make it as blatantly queer as I always thought it was.
Jeff: Yeah, just, ugh, so good. Did you write…because of course, books come out at various times, did you go from writing “Self-Made” into “Venom and Vow?”
Anna-Marie: I think it was sort of alternating because of how the process went. So, I think the earlier drafting process was first, and then I was sort of going into the research process for “Self-Made Boys.” So, they were very, very different, which I think was good because it’s not like you’re mixing up characters or anything. Like, the textures were very different, the feels of the worlds, but they’re also…they’re, like, historical and historical-ish in the case of “Venom and Vow.” So, they were different enough that it didn’t mess up my brain too much, which I really appreciated. So, I didn’t end up with like quetzals flying through Gatsby’s mansion or anything like that.
Jeff: I would love to read that bonus chapter.
Any questions from the audience that we can have these two answer?
The first question is for Anna-Marie. A lot of your characters in this book and other books that you’ve written have Latinx background, and you yourself have a Latinx background. How much of yourself and your background go into these characters?
Anna-Marie: So, for me, a lot of it is about, like, writing the characters as they come to me, and I think I more naturally gravitate toward, like, writing characters who are like me, writing characters who come from the kinds of communities I come from. It looks a little bit different in every book. It’s obviously a lot more fantasy-based in “Venom and Vow.” So, that was something that, once I did that, once I thought…once I didn’t keep giving myself the, “Okay, I have to justify why this character is Latin,” it really opened up, like, my writing brain a lot more. Because earlier on, in my first couple of novels, like, it was almost like I had to get my…like I had to get the Latina identity greenlit in my brain. Like, I had to make a case for it because I thought, “Okay, is there something about this that I’m not allowed to, like, put on the page?” Because I didn’t see many stories like this growing up. And that was a lot. That was a lot. In my head, I had very supportive people around me, so it was more getting to the point of like, “It’s okay.”
It’s like my first instinct is to make a character from like a Latin background. Like, that is the background I come from. That is the reference point that I come from.
Jeff: And the next question is, are you working on another book together?
Anna-Marie: It’s simmering.
Elliott: Yes. Yes. There might be some writing of some words, that might or might not make sense, being done by me.
Anna-Marie: I know what I’m…he’s writing out of order. I’ve gotten to him.
Elliott: Yep, yep, yep. Fun times.
Jeff: Oh. That’s a skill. I can’t do that at all.
Anna-Marie: We didn’t do that on this. We didn’t do that on this book. I don’t think.
Elliott: I did.
Anna-Marie: You did?
Anna-Marie: Okay. The secrets I’m discovering.
Elliott: Not like a lot, just a little.
Anna-Marie: So, it’s simmering. It’s a many-spreadsheet book, I think.
Elliott: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Elliott: It’s complicated. Probably too complicated at this point. So, yeah, yeah. Simplification needed.
Jeff: Do you anticipate anything that you would write solo?
Elliott: Maybe. I might have an idea, maybe, possibly. Hmm. We shall see.
Jeff: And Anna-Marie, what’s coming up next for you? Anything we should be on the lookout for?
Anna-Marie: So, in spring of 2024, I have a YA novel coming out. I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell the title yet, so I’ll just tell you it’s sparkly horror.
Jeff: Ooh, okay.
Anna-Marie: Very, very sparkly horror. I went a little bit into, like, horror in “Dark and Deepest Red” in 2020, which was about the 1518 Strasgbourg dancing plague. I’m excited to go deeper into it and do something that has some horror tropes, but that’s also very, very queer, very Latin. So, I’m excited about working on that. In fall 2024, my first adult book is coming out, called “The Influencers,” which I can best describe as “Knives Out” on Instagram.
Jeff: Wow. That sounds like fun. Can I pre-order it now?
Any other questions, because I kind of jumped back in there with a couple? This question’s for Anna-Marie. Magical realism was a feature of your early work. Are you moving away from that, or just exploring more things, or also still weaving that in?
Anna-Marie: I think it’s always gonna be, like, part of my literary heart. I think, something that I’m excited to do right now is just sort of do things that are really different. Obviously, like, I haven’t…I’ve done some fantasy. I haven’t done really, like, high fantasy like this. I’m excited to go deeper into horror. “The Influencers” is like…it’s like all social media and murder mystery, and I’ve, like, never had like a cell phone in any of my novels. So this is…I’m just doing like a bunch of different things that I wanna do, and I probably will come back to magical realism at some point. It’s still in the short stories that I write for fantasies a lot. So it’s sort of like the natural point that I come to. I’m just excited to do, like, just kind of as different things as I can do right now.
Jeff: The next question is, what are you reading right now?
Elliott: Oh, hooray.
Anna-Marie: He took my copy of “A Clash of Steel.”
Elliott: I did.
Anna-Marie: I see you tearing through it.
Elliott: I am. “A Clash of Steel” is part of the Remixed Classics series, which is also what “Self-Made Boys” is part of. So that whole adventure was basically asking super cool people to rewrite stories that are traditional classics. So, this one’s “Treasure Island,” and it’s awesome. I love it.
Anna-Marie: Yeah, by C.B. Lee. It’s great.
Jeff: So good.
Elliott: Yeah, yeah. So, I’m having a great time with that. I’m, like, about halfway through, I think. So, yes, that is my fun thing I’m reading, in addition to small piles of nonfiction, which are less fun. Still fun, but less fun. So.
Anna-Marie: I’m reading TJ Klune’s latest release, “In the Lives of Puppets,” in the front window. And it just is like heart-grabbing and also hilarious, as you would expect. And TJ was telling me about people, like, bringing their Roombas to be signed at book events. I’m like, “That’s a great idea, because like, this poor little Roomba who just wants to be loved in this book.”
Jeff: This question’s for Elliott. You said you had a background in musical theater and playwriting. What was transitioning to this type of writing like? What was the biggest challenge, and what was the easiest thing to transfer?
Elliott: I mean, to answer the easier one first, the easiest part was probably dialogue. Yeah. I think we also had some fun times doing, like, practice dialogue for other stuff that you eventually wrote just to kind of, you know, get things in the brain. So, yes, dialogue, tons of fun. That was good practice. And I think probably making things a bit more cohesive, rather than, like, in the world of playwriting, you can do some pretty crazy transitions and just like drop things and be like, “Ah, whatever,” and move on to something else, something more interesting to see on a stage. But having some sense of cohesion from scene to scene was…yeah, that was a bit tricky to kind of, you know, have that. Have a logical flow of some kind. Yes. Yes.
Jeff: And the last question is, what were the easiest things about writing this book, and what were the hardest?
Anna-Marie: I think some of the…what immediately came to mind about the hardest parts is, I think, like, whatever you’re working on, like whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, whether it’s fantasy or an academic paper, whether it’s like a tricky email, there’s always one point where like, everything else is coming together and it’s this one thing. I remember that we had a couple of those plot points where it’s like, “This is such a small thing. Why is this the one that’s hard to solve?” But just like slotting those things together, and just like not giving your brain a break and thinking like, “I just need to walk away from this and just come back to it.” That’s what came to mind in terms of hardest. Like, is there…and I think you’re echoing that. What was easiest? Am I giving you the easier question, the harder question?
Elliott: I mean, one of the things that also came to mind as difficult is, I rewrote the ending, like, I don’t know, 12 times. Ah, and it was so hard. Yeah. I’m not quite sure why, but it was really, really tough to get the ending right. Because, you know, I would do it and I would be like, “Yeah, it’s okay. Hmm.” And then I’d have to do it again. So, yeah, that was tough. I think some of the, like, fight choreography and actiony sequences, those were certainly more fun, and therefore I think felt easier and went faster, because, you know, you got people doing stuff and limbs everywhere and it’s great. So, yeah, there’s plenty going on. So, yeah. That probably felt easiest.
Anna-Marie: I think, for me, one of the easiest parts, I was just thinking of this because he said he rewrote the ending 12 times. I’m like, “Oh, yeah, you did, didn’t you?” Now, having some things in a novel be someone else’s problem was really nice. It was just like, “You know what? I’m sure you’ll figure it out and it’s gonna be great.”
Jeff: Anna-Marie and Elliott, thank you so much for a great conversation.
Elliott: Thank you.
Anna-Marie: Thank you, and thank you, everyone, for being here.
[Applause from the audience]
Will: This episode’s transcript has been brought to you by our community on Patreon. If you’d like to read the conversation for yourself, head on over to the show notes page for this episode at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. We’ve got links to absolutely everything that we have talked about in this episode.
And as a quick reminder, if you want to get book recommendations delivered to your inbox every single Friday, you can sign up for the Rainbow Romance Reader Report, this podcast’s official newsletter. We feature new releases and upcoming books to help keep your TBR healthy and up to date. You can sign up at BigGayFictionPodcast.com/report.
Jeff: That was such a wonderful evening. Thanks again to Anna-Marie, Elliott, and Capital Books. I have to say, I loved hearing about the fight choreography that they did with mattresses for padding and stuffed animals for extras. As they were telling that story, I kind of imagined us trying to do that thing and it just not ending well cause we are not the most graceful people to be doing fight choreography. Anyway, and I’m glad we got just a little bit of time in on “Self-Made Boys” too, with how Anna-Marie made their decisions on that “Gatsby” remix. It was so good.
Will: All right. I think that’ll do it for now. Coming up next Monday, we welcome another married couple as we kick off Pride Month with husbands and authors, Steven Rowley and Byron Lane.
Jeff: Yes. Steven, who you all may recall, wrote one of our favorite books of 2021, “The Guncle,” has a new book out called “The Celebrants.” And Byron also has a new book, very aptly titled for this show, “Big Gay Wedding.” We’ll talk to them about those books and about their life as a creative couple.
Will: Thank you so much for listening. We hope that you’ll join us again soon. Until then, keep turning those pages and keep reading.
Big Gay Fiction Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more shows you’ll love at frolic.media/podcasts. Original theme music by Daryl Banner.
NOTE: The excerpt from Venom & Vow is copyright 2023 by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore and is used here with their permission. | {
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In partnership with I.C.E Parramatta, All Girl Electronic is a FREE electronic music production workshop program for young women, trans and non-binary youth from Western Sydney.
No experience is necessary – just an interest in learning how to produce electronic music. The program is an answer to the call for gender and cultural diversity within the areas of electronic music production and programming.
Production Workshops (8 weeks)
12 June – 4 August
Over 8 weeks you’ll be trained and mentored by some of Sydney’s best producers, delving into Ableton Live and learning how to produce your own tracks. Together you will learn how to compose with Ableton, an introduction to synths and production processes. | {
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Heba Al-Shakarchi is counsel in our Financial Services group in Toronto. Her practice is focused on lending and secured financing transactions, with an emphasis on the project finance, power and infrastructure sectors. She regularly represents Canadian and foreign sponsors, borrowers, project companies, commercial banks and non-bank lenders on a range of domestic and international financing transactions.
Heba’s recent experience includes:
- acting for the lenders in connection with the approximately C$120 million refinancing of non-recourse credit facilities in respect of four Ontario wind power projects
- acting for the lender syndicate in connection with a C$500 million credit facility for the financing of a leading Ontario power producer’s Colombian regulated distribution utility
- acting for the bondholders on a C$1.08 billion private placement offering in respect of the acquisition of an interest in three hydro-electric facilities in northern British Columbia
- acting for an international syndicate of lenders on the refinancing of non-recourse credit facilities in respect of two Ontario ground-mount solar farm projects
- acting for the bondholders on an approximately C$260 million private placement offering in respect of three wind power projects in New Brunswick
- acting for a leading Canadian bank in providing net asset value based credit facilities to Canadian and Luxembourg based private equity funds
- acting for a leading US-based technology manufacturer in the establishment of corporate credit facilities for its Canadian subsidiary
Heba is a frequent panelist and presenter on lending and market trends of interest to major lenders and financial institutions. She is a board member of Banking Together, a Toronto-based industry group dedicated to promoting leadership and cooperation among lawyers and professionals identifying as women or non-binary in the banking and financial services space. Heba also sits on the steering committee of McCarthy Tétrault’s Toronto Parenthood Group.
Heba received a Masters of Laws from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) from University College London. She qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2012, and was called to the Ontario bar in 2017.
Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, Heba worked as an associate in the UK and Middle East offices of a leading international law firm where, among other matters, she advised both sponsor and lender-side parties on a number of record-breaking international project financings.
She is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association. | {
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It is a well known fact that the art world has predominantly been governed by men, although it is fair to say that in recent years us girls have been working hard to try and change that. Power in numbers is key, and the way to get things done around here is to group together and take a stand; a prime example being the radical Guerrilla Girls, who started a girl-power revolution in the mid 80s, gaining attention to the cause via protest billboards and posters. In today’s society of iPhones and Tumblr, however, it is easier than ever to search for like-minded individuals and collaborate artistically to get a point across and to deliver the message to a wider audience. With hundreds of female-only art groups to choose from, here is a list of five sisterly groups from around the world that we feel are really doing it for themselves.
Frustrated with the “boys-club” mentality of the art-world and the lack of outlets to promote her photography, Sleek favourite Petra Collins founded all-female collective “The Ardorous” in her final year of high school. Showcasing the work of over 40 artists from all over the world, Collins’ aim for this project is “to question the current ideology of femininity and recast women in positive/dominant roles”. Collins herself handpicks the talented bunch of girl-power professing artists, who aim to produce work by girls for girls in order to reclaim the female gaze and promote an unbiased view of the female gender, as well as reaffirming the often-overlooked talent of women artists. A broad mix of fashion, commercial and fine art photography can be found within those in the collective, involving themes focusing on anything from the internet to gender issues, and from relationships to self-appreciation.
Art Baby Gallery is described as a “digital exhibition space”, and aims to add an accessibility factor to the scary “feminist” word. Utilising the internet, the collective promotes work by underrepresented digitally focused artists in the form of monthly exhibitions on their site, and has recently progressed on to IRL exhibitions to also highlight the importance of physical art. With a strong stance on the importance and power of female artists, the groups founder Grace Miceli believes in strength in numbers, and opened this platform for women to encourage and support each other collectively. While the work varies in medium – ranging from screen grabs to photography to embroidery – the overall message carried by and for young girls is clear within all projects: “Your appearance can be important and empowering but there can be just as much significance placed on what you think or do or create”.
This recently formed art collective from South Africa is exclusive to black female artists. Feeling overlooked by the commercial galleries in their hometowns they hope to overthrow the idea of art as a man’s game. This group of hard-headed females are demanding the attention of the art-world by physically integrating themselves into it and are contesting the marginalisation by firmly asserting their presence. Naming their collective after the cloth African women use to cover their heads when carrying water vessels as “a signifier of both the strength and burden with the daily realities we face as young black women”, the group work across all disciplines; from video to printmaking, photography and sculpture. While all members work on their individual projects, they also come together for group performance pieces. Investigating themes of womanhood, strength and protest and highlighting the expectations of women within their community, iQhiya is protesting the system with a hope to pave the way for more gender equality in the art market.
In an era where internet art and GIFS are at their prime, The Coven’s ambition is to expose the work of a range of multidisciplinary artists that, through the nature of their work, generate less online exposure than some of the other collectives listed here. Since 2012, founder and curator, Luna e los Santos has promoted those working within the realms of more traditional art practices like painting and sculpture via the collective’s online platform. The feminist collective, which also places an emphasis on artwork by non-binary artists, is certainly fulfilling it’s aim of “making their voices heard” with an impressive résumé of group shows spanning from the UK to Canada and on to the US.
When founder Anouska Beckwith created World Wide Women, her intention was to stress the importance of celebrating female artists without promoting the negative idea that pro-women means anti-men. As the collectives name suggests, WWW (not to be confused with the Beyonce single) does not concentrate on artists from one part of the world; it actively involves females from around the globe to incorporate as much variety as possible. Although the women might hail from different backgrounds, the group comes together under the label of a sisterhood with the creator stating that it is “built on the shared vision of effecting positive change in the world through the creation and expression of art by joining forces to empower one another”. Through every medium of art imaginable, World Wide Women aims to promote the spirit and perspective of the woman in the art world today while also showcasing the diversity of art in general. | {
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Additional authors include: Felipe Vilcachagua and MaR León
Social inclusion and access to quality healthcare continue to be challenges in a middle-income country like Peru, especially in vulnerable populations such as those affected by TB, living with HIV, and LGTBI+, who not only face stigma and discrimination, but also an exclusive social environment. This reality was more noticeable with the arrival of COVID-19. Below is the opinion of the community leaders, belonging to the Impacta Community Advisory Committee:
For people affected by Tuberculosis
César Alva, coordinator of the National Network of Organizations of People Affected by Tuberculosis, reflects: “there was no direct supervision by public service health personnel for people with tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many dropouts to treatment were generated, there was no support. Now the consequences of these abandonments are being seen”.
Mercedes, General Director of the Association of People Affected by Tuberculosis (ASAT), complements what César said, indicating: “tuberculosis is linked to poverty, inequality, overcrowding. In recent years, a biomedical approach has predominated. Addressing it including social factors is still pending”.
Along the same lines, Mercedes highlights the need to have mental health services, and adds: "there is a lack of a comprehensive approach that includes mental health, which includes continuous, higher-quality psychological therapies."
Mercedes also comments on the need for health personnel in public establishments to show willingness and warmth when doing their work. Recalling his experience, he recounts: “the same day my diagnosis was revealed, they explained everything to me. I remember the nurse talking, her hands moving and her mouth saying something. But I don't remember anything he said. All the information was given immediately. I didn't catch anything due to shock. I was completely ignorant when I started the treatment, until I contacted a tuberculosis organization, where I was able to learn”.
For People Living with HIV/AIDS
People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) experienced difficulties in continuing their treatment in the midst of the pandemic. Maria Luz Quispe, a member of the Network of Women Living with HIV, recounts “people had great difficulties collecting their treatments, supplementing their diet without the support of the State, traveling to their hospital appointments, etc. The same community had to enter into dialogue with the HIV/AIDS Program and create a contingency to care for PLWHA in other hospitals, ones that are closer to their homes. The State did nothing to combat this problem, it was us as a community and in alliance with NGOs that had an impact”.
Maria Luz adds that a great difficulty in Peru is access to free health insurance that guarantees adequate care for all people. In the case of the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS) provided by the Peruvian State, the following barriers are presented: “If you had a refrigerator at home, it was impossible to access the SIS, considering that the person had financial resources. It was not analyzed that as a result of complex diseases such as HIV or Tuberculosis and even COVID, the family group could end up in poverty as a result of this disease”, Quispe comments, “the PLHIV community has had to hold many meetings, dialogues with the Ministry of Health and the SIS. Now, thanks to these efforts, if you are a person diagnosed with HIV or Tuberculosis, you have direct access to the SIS”.
On the other hand, Maria Luz also demands greater participation of cisgender women in clinical trials of HIV treatment in Latin America: “All the studies are based on how men react, with a few exceptions. There should be studies dedicated to drug reaction in cisgender women.”
For LGBT+ Communities
In another social aspect, there is still a pending issue, the approval of equal marriage, the mainstreaming of the gender approach, the visibility of trans communities, among others.
Regarding discrimination against the LGBT+ population, Sascha Reinstein, a young man from a non-binary community, believes that LGBT+ communities "face violence and discrimination both in the media and on a daily basis." However, she notes that not everyone suffers in the same way, due to racism. “The discrimination that a gay, white man who has achieved professionalization and lives in the capital city experiences is not the same as that experienced by a trans- racialized woman who engages in sex work,” concludes Reinstein.
Erika Trejo, a trans woman and President of the Impacta Community Advisory Committee, adds “there is a prejudice among health personnel in public establishments, as well as in Peruvian society in general, regarding trans people. That we are not 'correct' people, that we have made a mistake” comments Trejo, “sometimes the health personnel refuse to call us by the name that represents us, they call us by the name that appears on our identity document. It's intentional, in the form of mockery."
This situation worsened with the arrival of the pandemic, as reflected by Maria Luz: “they [trans women] could not go out to work, they had no food, no access to work, and even less to health services. A lot of work had to be done, with organizations and NGOs , so that the compañeras had minimal relief during the years of the COVID pandemic”.
Finally, regarding health research, Erika believes that greater participation of the trans population should be promoted: “trans women are the most vulnerable to HIV/STIs in the country, it is important to promote their participation”.
Felipe Vilcachagua and Cesar Bayona are Community Educators at the Barranco CRS, part of the IMPACT CTU, and MaR León is the Head of Community Involvement in the IMPACTA CTU in Lima, Peru. | {
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Mon, 27 Apr 2015
Next-level eclecticism from Donato Dozzy and Nuel.
Fri, 02 Mar 2012
Hypnotic techno's leading light talks about the cities and parties that have shaped his career.
Mon, 02 Jun 2008
This week's podcast is an hour of deep techno from Italian maestro Donato Dozzy.
This small festival in Northern Italy, which attracts artists like Donato Dozzy and Suzanne Ciani, is a feast of music and art. Ryan Keeling tells its story.
Thu, 07 May 2020
Post a comment
Listen to 'Singing Bowl (Ascension),' out now via Domino.
Thu, 09 Apr 2020
The four-track release is out June 5th via Lucy's label.
Wed, 08 Apr 2020
All profits from the charity release, which includes music by Donato Dozzy, DJ Nobu and Caterina Barbieri, will go to the Red Cross.
Wed, 19 Feb 2020
Terre Thaemlitz will play two sets, one as herself and another as DJ Sprinkles, at the sustainable Italian festival this June.
Tue, 11 Feb 2020
Ahead of the weekender, which starts June 5th, Polifonic will host W*LAB, a series of free workshops for women and non-binary people.
Thu, 16 Jan 2020
The second edition of krankbrother's experimental, city-wide event begins April 2nd with the likes of rRoxymore, Bambounou and Lotic.
Tue, 07 Jan 2020
Their debut joint LP is out on January 31st via The Bunker New York.
Sat, 28 Dec 2019
The first release on Donato Dozzy and Neel's label in 2020 is out in January.
A sprawling benefit compilation on Neel's label captures techno's reaction to this surreal moment in history.
Slick synth pop from Donato Dozzy and retina.it.
Donato Dozzy turns to drum & bass—and nails it.
Originally a 12-hour installation for a bridge, 12H contains some of Dozzy's gentlest music. That's not always a good thing.
Dramatic techno from an Italian maestro.
Deep, functional techno.
Expertly executed acid tools from a techno master. | {
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BY SIERRA LEWANDOWSKI
On Jan. 20, 2018, the second annual Women’s March attracted millions of participants in over 250 different rallies worldwide. Just one year after President Trump’s inauguration, which drew crowds of an estimated 4 million protesters, individuals met again to advocate for a wide variety of issues including equal pay, access to healthcare, immigration policy reform, racial equity and the environment. Despite the success of bringing together people from a range of backgrounds, identities and political motivations, the Women’s March has received flak from attendees and observers alike for a general dearth of inclusion and a failure to address the continuous efforts necessary to dismantle intact systems of oppression. While political fervor can be both electrifying and inspiring, the Women’s March of 2018 highlighted the extensive work that remains in the pursuit of equality and inclusivity, in order to one day lead to the liberation of all women in this country, and around the globe.
One of the greatest criticisms of the Women’s March was its lack of intersectionality. Take the symbol of the “pink pussyhat,” a magenta knit hat adorned with triangular cat ears designed in response to Trump’s infamous “Grab ‘em by the pussy” statement, first worn in the Women’s March of 2017. This symbol fails to acknowledge that not all pussies are, in fact, pink. Placing a pussyhat atop a memorial statue of Harriet Tubman in Harlem New York, for example, demonstrated a lack of respect for the work Harriet Tubman did as an enslaved and disabled woman for the liberation of people of color, and attempts to equate the modern-day “feminist” plight with those of enslaved Africans. The feminism that is promoted by this symbol is exclusive to a single type – that which is white, cisgender, and heterosexual. One poster pushed this idea even further, quoting, “I’ll see you nice white ladies at the next #BlackLivesMatter march, right?”
The symbolism of the Women’s March implied not only that all pussies are pink, but that all women have pussies. Trans women, non-binary individuals and gender non-conforming femmes were particularly excluded from the 2018 Women’s March and, in some extreme cases, targeted by TERFs (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) with signs suggesting that being a “woman is a biological reality.” Some trans-exclusionary feminism can be misinformed, or even unintentional. However, likening a “woman” to the possession of a certain genitalia through posters with slogans such as “Viva La Vulva” or “The Pussy Grabs Back” invalidates the experience of femme-identifying people. If the true goal of the Women’s March is equality for all women, we must strive to become aware of the impacts and implications of our words. Perhaps we as a society should be focused on moving towards the eradication of our constructed societal binary of gender, rather than trying to reinforce it.
The Women’s March of 2018 had a targeted focus on the election of Donald Trump. One poster in particular announced, “if Hillary was president we’d be at brunch right now.” While the election of a woman to serve as the leader of the ‘Free World’ would have been an unprecedented moment in our political history, the election of Hillary Clinton would not have solved, stopped or even mitigated the historic and institutional subjugation of women. To insinuate that the only reason the Women’s March is necessary is because Hillary Clinton did not win is to suggest that the oppression of women began in 2017 with the presidency of Donald Trump. While President Trump remains, perhaps, the quintessential white, capitalist, cisgender, heterosexual, racist, misogynistic man with repulsive aggregates of money and power, he did not single-handedly invent the patriarchal despotism of men over women, even if he benefits from it. In fact, while the anti-Trump rhetoric rang through a large portion of the liberal protesters, a stark reminder remained: “don’t forget, white women voted for Trump.” This poster gained viral attention back in 2017, reminding the world that while 94 percent of black women voted for Hillary Clinton, 53 percent of white women voted for Trump. The Women’s March is about so much more than the current political moment or Jan. 20, it is about the revolution in the days, weeks, months and years to follow.
The energy and passion emanating from individuals all over the world is galvanizing. The momentum should not be belittled. And yet, rather than celebrating your one day of civic engagement, you can actively work to register yourself, your family, and those in your community to vote. You can become informed on national and state issues and find out which politicians are facing re-election in November. You can encourage yourself and those around you to become more educated on the history of the women’s movement, and the experiences of women that may not look like you. You can read books! Run for political office or encourage those you know to do so. Show up for other protests and events advocating civil rights issues. Donate or volunteer for women’s groups or organizations like Planned Parenthood. You can boycott movies by Woody Allen, or shows that feature Harvey Weinstein, Louis CK, Kevin Spacey, Casey Affleck, or other figures known to perpetuate sexual harassment and rape culture. You can work to support fellow women who are able to call out politicians, comedians, news reporters, bosses, and artists, and embrace those that cannot.
It is undeniable that the current political climate is scary and can make individuals feel powerless. In a time where waking up to the news can be unbearable, movements like the Women’s March are successful in bringing together engaged, angry and impassioned individuals with the hope of inciting change. After you go home, take off your magenta cap, and post the photo of you and your catchy poster to Instagram, the real work can begin. Protests are important – they bring national attention to an issue, and provide a platform for resistance and the vocalization of grievances – but they represent just one small step in the greater revolution. Not all women have the privilege to be a feminist only when it’s convenient. “None of us are free, until all of us are free.” You have the power to be an advocate every single day. Walking down a city street once a year will just not cut it. | {
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On September 3rd, about 35 people, including researchers, policy-makers, civil society organisations and practitioners, got together to talk about Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The meeting How to ensure that strategies for achieving Universal Health Coverage are inclusive and implemented?’ ,kicked off with a keynote speech by Denise Namburete, Executive Director of N’weti Health Communication. She shared some personal experiences and elaborated on the challenges she encounters with her lobby and advocacy work in the Mozambican context.
“27 things you need to do about UHC’s most important challenges”
During the second part of the meeting, participants shared their thoughts, suggestions and policy recommendations during two rounds of discussions in a so-called World Café setting. There were six tables on the following topics: Health workforce, health finance, Quality of Care, Gender Equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Accountability and the role of communities. The outcome of the meeting is a list of recommendations for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives in the United Nations High-Level Meeting on UHC in September. You can read the recommendations called “27 things you need to do about UHC’s most important challenges”, below.
- Name it. Speak explicitly of the disproportionate burden that women and girls shoulder around the world. Gender should be at the forefront and be an integral part of all UHC accessibility, quality and affordability discussions. Currently the word ‘gender’ is mentioned in merely one paragraph on page 69 of the declaration. Collect, analyze and report gender disaggregated data to underscore urgency. Prioritize.
- Be inclusive. Gender is often associated with women but we should make a deliberate effort to also include the needs of trans-, non-binary and male people. Emphasize that gender is one important axis of inequality which often cannot be seen separate from other factors such as ability/disability, socio-economic class, race, age/widowhood, sexual orientation, etc. Make it intersectional and contextual.
- Hear their voice. Invest in the training and mentoring of female young leaders in different fields (politics, health, advocacy). Fund grassroots women’s organizations, and strive for meaningful representation at all levels.
- Redress the workforce imbalance. There is little participation of women at higher levels of the healthcare workforce, while professions that are “feminized” are underpaid – such as nurses and community health workers. Redress. Invest in enabling work-family combinations. Recognize and value unpaid care work and the role it plays in health.
- Share success stories. We need more champions to advocate for the importance of taking into account gender in UHC – female, male as well as from the LGBT+ community; sharing success stories, and creating linkages with others sectors (for example soccer, with USA player Megan Rapinoe).
- Improve planning and efficiency. Many governments – especially at subnational levels, face challenges in financial spending and planning. This leads to suboptimal allocation of resources, a failure to reach those populations in greatest need, and substantial amounts of health funding remaining unspent. Strengthen the financial planning capacity in LMICs, enhance budgetary transparency and make funding/spending horizons more flexible and longer-term.
- A large share of external funding is vertical, not aligned to national health plans, not coordinated and not harmonized with national systems. Horizontalize vertical funds and provide global funding for basic care.
- Political will is key. Keep on calling for increased allocation to health in order to reach the minimum targets of 5% of GDP for public spending or an absolute level of 100 USD per person per year. UHC success stories (including Costa Rica, Thailand, Rwanda, Mexico, Chile) were brought about by high-level political will in combination with evidence-based policy-making.
- Power to the people. Support bottom-up, decentralized and community-based solutions. Increase the status of lower-level cadres that play a crucial role in public health, such as general practitioners and community nurses. Inform citizens of their rights so that they can demand what they are entitled to.
- Go local and improve transparency. Encourage local business models that enhance transparency. Consider digital solutions such as mobile technologies and mobile money to increase efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility and quality of care.
- Put your money where your mouth is. Donors are often quick to withdraw their development assistance in cases of abuse and corruption, but less willing to accept responsibility when it comes to illicit financial flows, tax evasion, tax avoidance and trade. Make real changes in international economic relations and refrain from trade relations with corrupt regimes.
Accountability and the role of communities
- Invest in accountability mechanisms. Accountability is an essential element of Universal Health Coverage. This accountability should address and include representatives from all other stakeholder categories, such as civil society organizations, women’s groups, youth groups, service providers, policy makers, private sector parties and many others. The diversity within (and beyond) these categories should be recognized and addressed.
- Support the media. For citizens and communities to stand up for their right to health, the role of local and national media can be pivotal, for example to raise awareness or share relevant information. Support for their function towards an open and democratic society is therefore essential.
- Use digital technology as a powerful driver of increased accountability. With so many mobile applications available to the public, the possibilities for sharing data and information, for making use of the ‘wisdom of the crowds’, and for mobilizing people and organizations, are almost endless. Smart and targeted use of such applications can greatly contribute to better accountability mechanisms.
- Put more emphasis on disease prevention. The burden on a country’s health system (and thus: on its health workers) can be alleviated by investing more in primary prevention: vaccination, safe drinking water, sanitation, hygienic behavior, adequate housing, education and health literacy, quality nutrition, lifestyle changes.
- Address health workforce shortages with context-specific solutions. Not all countries lack students, or training facilities, or jobs – but some do. (Further) task shifting is not in every context a sound solution when the end goal is quality care for all. Health worker mobility is not always a problem, and does not always have the same drivers. A thorough labor market analysis is needed to formulate realistic and context-specific solutions for actual problems.
- Explore digital solutions but take care that no one is left behind. There is great scope for the implementation of digital solutions for self-management and telemedicine. Mobile technology and applications have enormous potential to support communication between patients and health workers in remote, inaccessible and underserved areas. However, experience shows that such innovations tend to mainly benefit the better educated and more well-to-do sectors of society, thus increasing health inequities.
- Pool donor funding. The health sector needs more resources, specifically for health worker salaries. Donors have a tendency to provide extensive and repeated in-service training for their own programmatic (shorter-term) purposes, and/or pay for staff salaries only for the duration of their programs. This does not contribute to sustainability. Longer-term financial commitments are needed to train, deploy and retain health workers. This can only be achieved through pooling of funds and investments in a joint & context-specific health workforce development plan.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Build alliances. As various donors focus on different goals within the SRHR agenda, programs overlap or gaps will emerge. Moreover, financially this will result in inconsistent and fluctuating funding streams. Alliances are therefore essential to streamline efforts and build sustainable services and civil society networks.
- Take into account the local context. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights sometimes tends to be a donor driven agenda from a global north perspective, whereby local uses and cultures are overlooked. Using the local context, stakeholders, actors and bottom up approaches might accelerate progress, instead of resistance.
- Bring fields together. A silo’ed approach may lead to some areas of SRHR being well covered, especially reproductive health and some being neglected or missed out on, such as sexual health and rights, thereby risking incomplete service coverage. Within SRHR, national governments ‘cherry-pick’ issues that are comfortable for them to work with and avoid the more contentious areas.
- Build on existing knowledge of integrating programs, such as HIV and Aids and TB to strengthen the linkage between SRHR and UHC. Some elements of the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health agenda will be linked more easily to UHC than others.
- Safeguard that Universal Health Coverage is really about inclusiveness & equity. Ensure that really no one is left behind and those furthest left behind are reached first. Governments may focus on low hanging fruit and easy to reach targets, thereby leaving behind vulnerable groups that are denied access to services, such as young people and the LGBT+ community
Quality of Care
- Support initiatives to hold health services to account in terms of quality of care. This accountability has two gradients: quality of care in the perception of the community, in order to ensure that services are responsive; and quality of care from a clinical perspective, in order to achieve that patients are treated correctly and according to the latest guidelines. Accountability should have consequences (incentives and sanctions) linked to their findings.
- Invest in “social accountability” to improve quality of care. This includes, but is not limited to, patient satisfaction surveys and community participation (voice and vote!) in defining criteria for good quality services, and in formulating consequences of delivering poor quality health care.
- Increase investments for long-term impact. More resources are needed for the structural and systemic elements of quality of care. This includes long-term financial commitments to create and sustain the minimal conditions for the delivery of quality care: suitable facilities with the necessary utilities, availability and maintenance of appropriate medical equipment, reliable and continued supply of commodities, steady presence of fit-for-purpose and motivated health workers with the necessary skills and accreditations.
- Involve the private sector and be clear about their expected contributions. The private sector (for profit and not for profit) can contribute substantially to a strong health sector. Their activities should complement the public sector and fit within a national UHC program with contracted services that meet the same standards for quality of care and for the required health (services) information. Not doing so will increase the risk of fragmentation and undesirable differences in quality of care. | {
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When I started considering dating again, I wasn't actually brought to the men who were contacting me from the online dating site. Like every girl (if I may be so presumptuous to speak for us all), a good-looking man with slightly robust features, a strong chin, and also the body of Adonis is the thing that sets my nether regions a'tingling. You know - the type of man that graces the cover of Men's Fitness! The men who were interested in me were more like the sort that would be featured on the cover of Geekologie Today, Old People Digest, or Good Ol' Boy Monthly. Cheap prostitutes nearest New South Wales, Australia.
Ninety percent of the women in my online dating survey selected the latter option, but each admitted she'd come up with some feeble reason as a way to hedge the truth. Not surprisingly the other 10% were women under the age of 35 (most in their twenties). Obviously, they hadn't born enough disappointment yet to realize that charity and sex don't mix. Cheap prostitutes near me Ashcroft NSW. The older women, however, were all in the camp of, Oh, hell no." As one 40-something woman succinctly put it, I am done driving VW Beetles. From here on out I'm riding shotgun in nothing less than a muscle car." And just to show how serious she was her online dating user ID was Trans Am Ready."
After being enlightened by my new online dating lady friends, I got to thinking (which is almost always a dangerous thing). Cheap prostitutes near me Ashcroft New South Wales. In the name of full disclosure, what is wrong with letting a guy show you his jumblies on the first date? Actually, I believe it ought to be a requirement within the very first few minutes of assembly. Cheap prostitutes in Ashcroft. Because if he is planning on over-sharing three hours into the date anyhow, why waste time? Instead, make it part of the deal right up front, and that means you know full well what you are getting. I know that sounds a bit shocking, but stick with me through my sense before you push me off that chastity bridge our mothers built in an attempt to keep us fully clothed until marriage.
I have never done online dating, and truthfully I am not ready to jump into the fray. But even if I were, it only appears a little too weird to be lining up dates as portion of my occupation. Yeah, yeah, I know Gloria Steinem went undercover as a Playboy Bunny back in the day, and then wrote about it. But personally I don't need to waste time meeting men who ...enjoy taking long walks on the beach...or to the liquor store..." all for the benefit of a joke. I find lots of comedy in regular life without going to extremes, thank you very much.
"When I was browsing OkCupid, I'd come across profiles with an asterisk or a disclaimer at the top, saying they're not bisexual, they are queer, or letting folks know that they're transgender, and wanting those alternatives were on the site," Sleidi says of her experience using online dating to find men and women a few years ago. "It is the right of everyone to identify yourself correctly. "On every other dating website, you have to settle for a restricted group of options, like saying bisexual instead of queer. Bisexual is a little more stiff than queer. Queer means you are available to dating a spectrum of sexualities and genders, dating trans men or trans women, or someone who doesn't identify with a sex."
"On Tinder, you can go out on a date every night for the next two to three years, but that does not make for a great experience," Snyder says. Cheap Prostitutes near me Ashcroft. What is most prominent in regards to the Mesh versus Tinder comparisons, though, is the latter's recent troubles Tinder's former executive Whitney Wolfe filed suit in June alleging sexual harassment and discrimination from its creators, bringing focus to sexism occurring within the start-up culture. On the reverse side, one of Mesh's cofounders is Yeni Sleidi, a queer woman who brings an LGBTQ perspective to the website as its community manager.
Mesh Labs Inc. , a new Brooklyn-based start up, is a free dating site that weeds out the creeps, the mass messages, and the grammatically challenged for you. The site established in pre-beta mode in June for New York City-area users, and up to now, has brought more than a thousand daters. (Next week, Net is moving out of its own invitation-only pre-beta stage and is working on a mobile app to be published in September.) It's also the only mainstream dating site which allows users to choose transgender or non-binary gender-identity choices. There is even the option for polyamorous folk to say they are in an open relationship.
Scientists were onto this in the '90s. Cheap Prostitutes nearest Ashcroft, New South Wales. Cheap Prostitutes closest to Ashcroft New South Wales, Australia. A 1995 study in the American Sociological Review discovered: The danger of divorce/separation is highest when either wives or husbands strike an abundance of spousal alternatives." A 2007 study in the Journal of Human Resources found that people are prone to divorce when they work in co ed environments. Despite all the interest in gathering data in internet dating, there are not yet any sound numbers on the divorce rates of those who meet online compared to off line.
Generally speaking, Slater argues, the increased relationship market is good for individuals who find it difficult to date, for whatever reason. Ashcroft, NSW Cheap Prostitutes. One chapter in his book tells the wrenching story of Laura Brashier, a young ovarian cancer survivor who is unable to have sex, since radiation turned much of her vagina into scar tissue. In 2011, Brashier started 2 Date 4 Love, a dating website that allows people who cannot engage in sexual intercourse to meet and experience love." Dating websites serve a similar purpose for minority groups whose members are committed to marrying internally, but might be geographically dispersed.
Mark is tall and lean with cropped dark hair; he has married and divorced twice, and has a handful of kids. Last summer, he joined JDate , a dating website for Jewish singles. Of course there was hesitation," he grants. You do not understand your marketability. You worry that only failures go on-line." He took a laissez-faire approach, and allow the women come bunching. Mark's tally: eight or nine first dates, four second dates and one five-month relationship. Last month, in search of a fresh market, Mark switched from JDate to He says the sites are pretty similar, though he is not mad about the e-mails that Match sends him with info on women he might enjoy. In one recent e-mail, Mark was shown the profile of his ex wife.
This is Econ 101 material: larger markets are more efficient, so a larger dating pool gives better-quality matches---which frequently entails compatibility in areas like education. That does not mean that every pairing is a excellent one, warns Adshade. But it does mean that people are slower to settle." On an aggregate amount, this really is critical. There is less diversity," Adshade continues. Gone are the days when the knowledgeable physician marries someone with merely a high school degree. That is mainly because of online dating."
The industry worked hard for those numbers as it evolved in three periods. The very first phase, which commenced with , was putting personal ads online---and enabling users to browse. The next period arrived in 2000 with the beginning of eHarmony and its particular algorithms." This new class of dating sites touted algorithm-based matching" and science-based" compatibility spotting. Cheap prostitutes nearby Ashcroft NSW. These sites rely on personality profiling rather than user-managed window shopping. The newest phase began in 2008 with the launching of the App Store, taking the finest of Phase 2 and adding Bluetooth technology, making it mobile and societal. Dating is now algorithm-guided and Facebook-integrated. And it's done on the run.
The problem is the fact that the scientific jury is still out on whether likeness is, in fact, good for long-term commitment. And there is no robust evidence that computers can predict compatibility through quantifiable psychological variables. In 2012, a meta-evaluation of online dating research by five U.S.-based psychologists concluded just the opposite: The manners online dating sites usually implement their services don't always enhance amorous results; indeed, they sometimes undermine such results."
A lot of the largest on-line sites are marketing themselves not merely as places to get a date, but as a place to locate a lifelong friend. The dating site eHarmony maintains an average of 542 members marry every day in The Us. As online dating becomes the dominant path to relationships, it shifts the manner these unions are assembled. The question, projecting forward, is how that will change the very institution that lots of daters seek---union. In the business, the dominant view is that espoused by U.K.-based online dating executive Dan Winchester, who calls, The future will see better relationships, but more divorce."
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Do you all remember when anything about sexuality had the Christian right up in arms? I miss those days. Now it’s the feminist left who hates everything that men do with their dongs and their sexual needs, to the point of outright claiming that men’s sexual needs don’t exist. Meanwhile, they will canonize female sexuality to the point that a man has to ask his partner if he can continue thrusting every ten seconds or else it’s rape.
And there is more and more push-back against this. From the app where both parties would confirm their consent for sex beforehand, so men would have an airtight piece of evidence if they stuck their dick in crazy and get called a rapist after completely consensual sex. Naturally the feminists were outraged. Men finding ways to fight back against their insanity is always a bad thing, no matter how justified their reaction, after all. That’s the “patriarchy” for ya. And now we have a new contender to the throne of feminists outrage over bullshit – sex robots. That’s right a robot that you have purely for sex that does not have sentience is a feminist issue. Because of course it is. I swear, one day the existence of men at all will be a feminists issue. If women like the Femitheist are to be believed, it’s one that should be rectified with castration. Here’s a link to this retarded article, now let’s talk about it. And for the record, I am not a MGTOW. Had some SJW call me that recently because I find modern feminism ridiculous.
Sex robots epitomize patriarchy and offer men a solution to the threat of female independence
Hey, ladies, I’m gonna let you in on a little something – THE ROBOTS AREN’T REAL WOMEN! Retards! Oh, let’s get through this.
People love to pretend as though everything from prostitution to pornography to sex dolls are a solution to not only men’s supposed loneliness and unmet sexual “needs,” but to their violent, perverse desires.
Wow. I love this. Because men don’t really have loneliness issues or sexual frustration. Not at all. Because no man is ever without sex. Since we live in some mythical patriarchy, I can just go outside and grab a woman and start banging her. That’s totally how this works, right? The condescension of these people blows my fucking mind.
Similarly, men have claimed sex robots are the perfect solution to their apparent inability to stop raping and abusing women, as well as their inability to socialize with women as though they are actual human beings.
Citation, please. What man, anywhere, has EVER said this? Yes, because I have a massive urge to rape all women all the time. This is so fucking insulting to men. I have NEVER felt the urge and could NEVER bring myself to ever force myself onto another person, male or female. The idea of sexually assaulting someone makes me sick. I like it rough, but I go into that with people who understand safe words and I am very good about aftercare for those I have a kinky scene with. I actually know how to be good with my partner in rough sex. But I have never felt the urge to force myself on any woman. Sure, I am currently going through some loneliness and sexual frustration issues, but there isn’t a single part of me that wants to force myself onto another person. Fuck this stuck-up cunt. I don’t use that word lightly. This is such a disgusting generalization of men, and the fact that this woman believes it makes her the lowest form of scum imaginable.
In other words, Harmony is a dream woman — the perfect date. Men can pretend they value human interaction, while remaining completely dominant and enjoying an entirely one-way relationship.
What environment fosters this level of sexist bigotry? I am dying to know. Listen here, bitch, I would like nothing more than a two-way relationship. Because I love to cook and talk to people, having a partner that I can make delicious food for while chatting about our views on life, politics, video games, movies, or whatever sounds wonderful. Your beliefs about my gender is so disgusting, that it honestly makes me think – no wonder men are choosing to go to sex robots. If I had the choice between a robot and someone as heartless as you, I’d go with the robot. At least she wouldn’t treat me like shit for the genitals I have. I’m assuming you’re a lesbian. Hopefully women see you for the harpy that you are too.
Feminism has insisted, over decades, that women are human, that we don’t exist for men, and even that we don’t need men.
But remember, feminism is about helping BOTH genders! Really! *cough*Bullshit!*cough*
The misogynerds at Abyss Creations say they are “inventing the future of sex,” but what they’ve actually succeeded in creating is the epitome of male domination.
Oh, so these people who created Harmony are also misogynists too. And your evidence is…what, exactly? You continually make broad generalizations about men and it just bugs me. Plus, it’s so obvious how fucking butthurt you are that people are finally making robots because real women are now more concerned about you respecting their identity as a poly-kin non-binary wolf with Hitler as a headmate than about a relationship with you. In a world where men and male sexuality is demonized and it’s now trendy to hate men because of their sexuality, how on Earth is the creation of a sex robot even a little surprising? My girly-mate who is staying with me right now genuinely doesn’t believe that this kind of mindset is going to find cultural ground at large, but the truth is that it already has, and reactions like this bitch’s are proof of it. A product made for lonely men is created by misogynists because all men want to rape women. At least if this medusa is to be believed.
They don’t bleed, cry, vomit, or feel pain, which even porn stars can’t avoid doing when abused, as they so often are on film.
I’m gonna send this to Mercedes Carrera and see if she agrees with it. As a woman who is very proud of her identity as a pornstar, I’m sure that her opinion on this issue would carry a lot of weight.
The robots, when they go on sale, will start at $15,000 each. The company also sells a more affordable option — for only $100 you can buy the bottom half of a woman’s face, to stick your penis into at will.
Hey ladies, for $20 you can buy a dismembered penis to stick into your vagina at will. Oh, right, never mind. Female sexuality is canonized. It’s only sexist when men do it. That’s the feminist mantra in a nutshell.
When he asks Harmony if she wants to walk, she responds, “I don’t want anything but you.” On the rare occasions she is allowed to communicate an opinion, it is immediately followed by insecurity: “What do you think about that?” Harmony asks McMullen timdly, after stating she would like to have sex with “both genders.”
I guess the writer of this article is unaware that Harmony isn’t self-aware. It isn’t a fully-realized AI. It has pre-programmed responses that it learns based on user input. All responses are part of its code. See, if Harmony was self-aware and had real emotions and real thoughts on things, saying that people using her only for sex and not caring about what she thinks might have some weight. But she isn’t self-aware. To put in Mass Effect terms – while she may be able to feign real feelings or sentience, she is just a VI. Hell, it might even be convincing, I haven’t seen any videos of Harmony, but in the end, she still isn’t aware of what she is or where she is. Just going off the code she is given.
These sex robots strike me as an MRA/gamer’s dream come true.
Hey, women who game, you are an MRA and all gamers want sex robots because none of us can handle real women. I fucking hate this person so much. It’s blatantly obvious that her butthurt is just overflowing here and she can’t help herself when she does nothing but make insults about the people who could use this product and generalizes men as much as she can. Now she’s going after gamers too. I bet she has a view in her head of gamers as the men in that episode of South Park playing WoW. What is wrong with this woman?
Kleeman writes of a computer engineer named Douglas Hines who initially created robots to mimic friends and loved ones who had passed on or to communicate with, say, family members who could no longer speak, due to age or disability, but moved into the sex robot industry because he (rightly) figured it would be more profitable.
Not seeing the problem here. A market for robots that can mimic dead loved ones is an interesting idea, but clearly wouldn’t be very profitable. It makes sense to make a product that you want to sell to a demographic who you can see interested in it.
Similarly, McMullen says Harmony and her sister robots exist “for people who can’t interact with other people.” It’s not at all coincidental that this argument is the exact same one used in defense of prostitution. Women’s objectification and exploitation is always defended of the basis of some imagined defenseless, sad, disabled, lonely man who is confined to his house either due to mental or physical conditions or some kind of crippling shyness, and is completely harmless — a victim more than anything else. Prostitution, like sex robots, is claimed to be just about “making someone happy,” as McMullen puts it, and nothing more.
God, bitch, what is wrong with you?! “I’m gonna make fun of this imagined lonely man who is so desperate for company that they will shell out money for a VI robot! Because fuck that loser!” That’s what I hear when I read this. It REEKS of the most crude gendered insults imaginable, going after groups of men that it’s trendy to hate. What a complete sociopath this hag is. I fucking hate her so much. That would be like me making fun of a lonely woman who has body issues for getting a dildo, which is something I would never do. What kind of upbringing creates someone this devoid of empathy? I’m just dying to know. I would never encourage violence on anyone, but if this chick just happened to stumble down a well, I’m not shedding tears for her. It’s pretty obvious she wouldn’t be for me. Or any man, for that matter.
I hear feminists say over and over “what if you have a mother or a sister?!” Well, I guess this bitch doesn’t have a father or brothers, because all the vitriol she throws at men make it clear that she hates this gender and wishes nothing but illness upon it.
The dream girl is, as always, not human.
No sugartits. She just isn’t you. Or anyone like you. She’s someone with empathy who I can talk to and who likes my cooking. But you have no empathy, so you don’t fall into that category. Fuck your article, and fuck you.
Until next time, a quote,
“You are threatened by sex dolls and sex bots because you know you have absolutely nothing to offer another human being. Prove me wrong!” – ShoeOnHead | {
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We talk a lot about survival tips for the music industry, but rarely does that get into the personal. So the moment is right for Discwoman’s Frankie Decaiza Hutchinson to tackle music’s greatest obstacle: ourselves.
Frankie is the co-founder of Discwoman, with Emma Burgess-Olson (aka techno producer UMFANG) and Christine McCharen-Tran, as well as the booker for Bossa Nova Civic Club. Each of those projects has become influential, as Bossa has become a fulcrum for the new Brooklyn scene and a highlight of post-Bloomberg/Giuliani New York, and Discwoman a template for building a collective and booking business around women and non-binary artists.
Frankie is not a DJ or producer (“thank God,” she tells me), but I think it’s then even more relevant that she’s taken on a new role for Crack Magazine – advice columnist. (She’s taken on the role “Agony Aunt.”)
For instance, in the latest installment, she answers a Berlin (huh) writer who worries about comparisons and self-doubt. (Frankie even concedes she can struggle: “It’s completely irrational and I often feel like I’m falling apart but there’s very little space for me to fall apart as there are so many people dependent on my work so it’s a lot of pressure,” she responds.)
This is the thing we often don’t do in the music world – talk honestly about ourselves. The cost of that lack of honesty can be depression – and worse. So just as Discwoman’s motto, is “amplify each other,” emblazoned in enormous letters across their merch and even website, I think it’s high time music makers and the people working with music makers talk about things like – gulp – self sabotage. That can be devastating for people who seek music as a hobby or as a profession.
Frankie was kind enough to take time from her busy schedule at Bossa to answer some questions about that and building Discwoman.
You spoke to Crack a bit about handling social life and partying – then there’s the matter in this business of handling work and communication. I know these cycles can become really intense. And especially in a city like Berlin or NYC, it seems it can be really easy to get lost. How have you coped with that?
I fail at it all the time. I think that’s important to always say when you give an advice, I’m not just giving advice to the person asking me; I’m also giving advice to myself. I used to drink pretty much every single day; I’d often find myself at bars at closing time and making questionable decisions as a result. For me, everything shifted when I started becoming more interested in my work, i.e., Discwoman, and then there was more responsibility. I only really had one option: to not drink everyday and or go out everyday. It’s literally impossible for me to work if I’m hungover – and, in addition, my anxiety is horrendous. I quit weed recently, and that helped me dramatically. But I have routine relapses every now again, which fuck up my days.
It strikes me you’ve really built an extraordinary business around Discwoman. Has that really been about focusing on this existing roster? Or do you see diversifying important – is it important to have merch, for instance, for awareness or even for revenue?
Merch is important for both awareness and revenue; that’s literally how survive. My favorite part is definitely running our booking agency – I’m just so proud of it, honestly. It’s not perfect, but we built something from scratch that we felt was lacking: an agency that represents women/nonbinary talent. Our big vision is to keep on building the agency and perfect a home for even more talent.
You touch a bit on self doubt. I think from the outside, we’ve gotten to see Discwoman’s rise, its successes. I’m sure we don’t always see some of the challenges. Where we cases where you had to learn or adjust what you were doing?
At the beginning the language we used “female-identified” was not sufficient – and the term “female” is [itself] archaic and problematic. So we adjusted our language to be more inclusive and expansive. Now, we tend to use “women” and “non-binary.” But, again, being open to changing your language is part of the process of being inclusive, so no term is ever set in stone.
We’ve learned as we go. When we started the agency, none of us had any real experience; we just kind of made it up and learned on the job. [We were] taking contract templates and rider templates from the internet. There’s no one to really teach you those things, so we had to teach ourselves.
You’re managing a lot of social media for yourself and Discwoman, right? Do you ever find that can feed this sense of comparing yourself to others, or to some idealized sense of what you want to be? How do you manage that – especially since I would imagine in your role, isn’t it hard to unplug from all this media and communication? How do you hang onto yourself in those situations?
Absolutely; I feel jealous or shit about myself all the time, and social media compounds those feelings. But I rarely act on those feelings, and I try my best not to speak hatefully on my accounts, as honestly, it just gives me more anxiety. Like recently, I tweeted that I felt more non-black folks in the scene should have supported the black history event we did at Bossa, and I just felt really shit after tweeting it. Not because it’s not true, but because it mentally makes me spiral and become paranoid which is unnecessary, because the event was a great success. But sometimes I cant keep my mouth shut, ha!
I’m also definitely projecting a narrative into the world. I use my Twitter and Instagram as a storytelling device. For me, that’s fun and creative. I know people are critical of these mediums for being inauthentic, but that’s honestly not something I care about that much. People love to hate famous women on these apps for projecting a false representation of themselves; I personally find this critique extremely boring and short-sighted, which ends up targeting these women as scapegoats for a much bigger problem. Like the way Jameela Jamil’s popularized feminism really bothers me.
If you want to check out Frankie’s advice:
Dear Frankie: Tips on self-sabotage and finessing the life-club balance (latest episode, or check out the debut) [Crack Magazine]
Fader in 2017: We Need Discwoman
Let’s get some music here. Just as a sampling of who Discwoman have on their roster (apologies for my own Berlin bias)…
I’ve gotten to know Munich-born mobilegirl based on her great work for Staycore and unique take on production and DJing, including a dynamic high-powered set she played at the bottom of a well (really) when we were all part of Nusasonic Fesival in Indonesia:
Warsaw-to-Berlin artist VTSS has been doing some great mixes between industrial and acid, so I was already jamming out to this Newtype podcast this week:
Actually, you know what, let’s throw in another Akua mix.
For another collective that comes from a background that’s more leftfield (and that’s based in Poland rather than New York, which makes for a different landscape), we’ve also talked to Oramics: | {
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The Vermont Women’s Fund Announces $331,000 in its 2021 Annual Grant Round
The Vermont Women’s Fund has awarded $331,000 in grants to 29 nonprofit organizations that further the Fund’s mission to support the advancement, self-sufficiency, and economic and social equality of Vermont’s women and girls. A component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, the Women’s Fund began fulfilling its philanthropic mission in 1994.
“The decisions made this year by the Vermont Women’s Fund Council reflect a new consciousness centered on creating a more equitable system to better serve women and girls,” says Meg Smith, director of the Vermont Women’s Fund. “The Women’s Fund is excited to help build the movement to support women and their communities as we move beyond the economic fallout of the pandemic.”
In 2021, the Vermont Women’s Fund Council based grantmaking decisions on a handful of priorities, including:
- Making pathways to economic well-being more visible, accessible, and affordable for all women and girls
- Investing in the economic security and career prospects of unemployed women and those earning less than a living wage
- Committing to working with women and girls who are disproportionately impacted by systemic racism and sexism (BIPOC individuals, trans women and non-binary people, women living with disabilities, and older women)
- Using Change The Story data to identify and support funding opportunities. Change The Story is the partnership between the Women’s Fund, Vermont Commission on Women, and Vermont Works for Women that provides data-driven solutions for fast-tracking women’s economic well-being in the state.
Smith adds, “Supporting the essential needs of women that lead to economic self-sufficiency remains front and center in our funding, but the heart of our work is to change the systems that lead to inequity in the first place. The vision and depth of this grant round is thanks to the work of the Vermont Women’s Fund Council members, our strong partnerships with sister organizations, and to our donors who are stepping up to give to women in Vermont more than ever before."
The following is the list of recipients of funding from the Vermont Women’s Fund for 2021. In response to the pandemic, the fund offered general operating grants in addition to programmatic support:
- Black Lives Matter Vermont received $10,000 to support a virtual summer mentoring reading group for Black and Brown girls, as well as offer extended mentorship by professional Black women in private and public service careers.
- Capstone Community Action received $10,000 for its program that provides young women an educational foundation, exposure to viable careers, and financial literacy coaching.
- Center for Women & Enterprise received $10,000 to research the impact of COVID-19 on Vermont’s women-owned businesses and establish programming in Brattleboro to support women-owned businesses with a focus on BIPOC individuals.
- Change the Story received $125,000 for its final year of the multi-year partnership to fast-track gender equity in Vermont.
- Clemmons Family Farm received $10,000 to support its work to use the power of people, place, history, and the arts to preserve a rare Black-owned land and cultural heritage asset in Vermont, empower Vermont’s Black artists to thrive, and foster a loving, supportive, and healthy multicultural community.
- City of Winooski received $9,000 to foster greater participation by women and girls in its Working Communities Challenge initiative, which involves ensuring that the people who make community decisions accurately reflect the demographics of Winooski.
- CVOEO received $10,000 to teach financial skills to victims of domestic and/or sexual violence in Franklin and Grand Isle counties.
- Dismas of Vermont received $7,000 to support its work to reconcile former prisoners with society and society with former prisoners by helping with housing and financial stability.
- Easterseals Vermont received $3,000 to support young women transitioning from foster care to adult-living in the community.
- Governor’s Institute of Vermont received $5,000 to support a scholarship for female-identified students.
- Janet S. Munt Family Room received $7,000 for its Healthy Families from the Start program, which provides prenatal and postpartum doula support outside of the traditional social service system for new parents in Chittenden County.
- Jenna’s Promise received $5,000 to provide women in its programs access to laptops for workforce development, online recovery services, and education.
- Let’s Grow Kids received $7,000 to support its work on early education workforce development, which focuses on activities to recruit, strengthen, and empower individuals working in childcare.
- Lund Family Center received $7,000 for its New Horizons Education Program, which provides year-round secondary education instruction and services to pregnant and/or parenting females.
- Mercy Connections received $7,000 for The Rally Project, which is a statewide initiative providing critical start-up and long-term support for small businesses impacted by the pandemic, focusing on women and BIPOC business owners.
- NewStory Center received $7,000 for its Turning the Page: Opportunities for Economic Independence program, which will provide survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence training and experience at local businesses to create pathways to viable careers.
- Northeast Kingdom Collaborative received $5,000 for its NEK Womxn Lead Network, which facilitates career mentorship and region-wide connections through rich, honest dialogue among diverse women leaders in the Northeast Kingdom who want to help each other thrive and drive change.
- Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC) received $2,500 to offer young women in northern Vermont the opportunity to experience job shadowing and training in the healthcare field.
- ReSOURCE received $5,000 for its Remote Work Readiness Training program, which creates opportunities to go from unemployed, or marginally employed in low-wage jobs, to careers with long-term stability and a livable wage.
- Rights & Democracy Education Fund received $10,000 for its Catalyst Leadership program, which supports a new generation of womxn, BIPOC, and other individuals from Vermont’s most impacted communities to thrive in public leadership and policymaking roles.
- Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC) received $2,500 to offer young women in southern Vermont the opportunity to experience job shadowing and training in the healthcare field.
- Step Out received $7,000 for its Lifelong Information for Entrepreneurs course for incarcerated women, which focuses on business plans, transitional strategies, and wellness skills to aid the development of healthy post-incarceration lives.
- Sunrise Family Resource Center received $6,000 to support its work in Bennington County to deliver vital services that connect families with community resources, provide educational experiences, and build relationships that promote independence and resilience.
- SUSU commUNITY Farm received $10,000 to support its work to offer educational programming, access to free food, and opportunities for healing and building community in Vermont.
- The Family Place received $7,000 for its Families Learning Together Program, which is an intensive academic, pre-vocational, interpersonal, and parenting program for young parents and pregnant women living in poverty.
- The Umbrella of St. Johnsbury received $10,000 to support its mission of cultivating a Northeast Kingdom where all people thrive, free from abuse and oppression.
- Vermont Technical College received $7,000 to offer scholarships to women for its Butchering Basics and Game of Logging trainings, two sustainable careers in traditionally male-dominated fields.
- Vermont Works for Women received $10,000 to support its work to help women and girls recognize their potential and explore, pursue, and excel in work that leads to economic independence.
- Vermont Youth Conservation Corps received $10,000 to offer identity-based crews, including a Womxn Crew and Queer Crew, which will allow members to connect with and learn alongside others who share key aspects of their identity. | {
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The author is a 16-year-old public high school student in SE Wisconsin. She wants to warn parents of how the LGBTQIA+ agenda is targeting youths. Her name withheld for her protection.
Before I begin, I’d like to say that I’m not homophobic or whatever names the full-grown, basement-dwelling leftists like to hurl at 16-year-old girls in desperation of virtue signaling their ‘wokeness.’ However, I understand that those people need to release that bottled-up self-hatred and anger somehow, and, fortunately, I don’t let their mudslide of words oppress my First Amendment right like they wish it would.
Okay, let’s begin.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, this past June has been pride month. Looking past all the pretty rainbows and sparkly confetti they like to campaign with, the LGBTQIA+ agenda (yes there are more letters than that- I like to call it the alphabet soup) is more complex and ridiculous than most adults know.
It’s recently occurred to me that while parents are out working their jobs and being successful, functioning members of society, their kids are being exposed to drag queens, sex education, and gender dysmorphia by trusted entertainment providers like Nickelodeon. The education system has begun to make kids decide their gender/pronouns before they can read a book cover-to-cover, and social media is a breeding ground for sexual predators masqueraded with pretty rainbows.
So, you might ask, how is the LGBTQIA+ agenda targeting America’s youth? What has this agenda turned into? I’ll do my best to give a rundown. LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual, and Asexual (or Alli). Some other sexual orientations include Autosexual (the attraction to oneself), Demisexual (only having sexual attraction if there is an emotional bond – because having morals is a sexual orientation now), Pansexual (sexual attraction is limited to no gender or orientation) and many, many more, of which I have linked here.
Now on with the identification sector. Gone are the days when there were only two possible ways you could address someone; he/him/his and she/her/hers. Now, being gender fluid and non-binary is a new norm. Gender fluid means that a person, at any one time, can change the gender that they want to identify as. It’s popular to wear colored bracelets and change them based on how one feels, pink if they’re feeling like a girl, blue for a boy, and green (or a variation of colors) for non-binary. Non-binary is when a person feels that they don’t belong to either gender, so they identify as they/them.
It doesn’t stop there, though, because there are living, breathing people out there who want to identify as numerous animals and inanimate objects using ‘neopronouns.’ They go about this by identifying as something like ‘kitten self.” All of this, while being absolutely ridiculous and almost comical, is also being normalized and encouraged by the left.
Beginning in early June, Nickelodeon broadcast a music video featuring drag queen Nina West, “The Meaning Of Pride.” The video spotlights Nina West dressed in a colorful costume dress, informing the viewer of what the pride flag colors meant, explaining the transgender flag, as well as broadcasting the POC flag (which has now been included onto the pride flag).
Another sing-along music video was featured in the kids’ show Blues Clues, a show I used to watch religiously as a child. The video features a cartoon of drag queen Nina West (once again) as he sings a parody to the children’s song “The Ants Go Marching.” The video starts out with cartoon animal families who have ‘two mommies” and “two daddies” who “love each other so proudly.” The video then progresses to broadcast non-binary dolphins, transgender beavers, bisexual sheep, asexual turtles, and a pansexual bird. Yes, let’s introduce these young, immature, bendable minds and allow them to decide incredibly permanent decisions about their bodies before they can cross a street by themselves.
Children and Sex Transitioning
Elle Palmer is now a 21-year-old female who transitioned from female to male when she was 16 after a traumatic incident with an older man online. Elle states that after seeing a therapist from the LGBTQIA+ community who was “excited” to start Elle on her transition, Elle began taking testosterone supplements. Three years after her transition, Elle began to regret her transition and realized that she did not want to be a man.
Elle is just one example of many, many kids who thought they knew what they wanted, but it ended up deeply affecting their life negatively. Elle will now have to live with the bodily effects that testosterone supplements had on her young, underdeveloped body for the rest of her life. She was only 15 when first exposed to the idea of transitioning. The media are exposing kids 10 years younger than her to these ideas.
The LGBTQIA+ Agenda
To any parents, like mine, who first underestimated the impact on the day-to-day lives this movement has on their children, download the TikTok app. Check your child’s school’s budget and what the money is spent on because my school found it necessary to install an “all-inclusive, family bathroom” instead of buying math textbooks. TikTok is an enormous platform for this movement with many, parts of the LGBTQIA+ represented on it.
Don’t get me wrong, most of the LGBTQIA+ creators are absolutely lovely people who create fabulous content, but with that comes a breeding ground for predators. James Charles, one of the most well-known and successful creators, has overwhelming evidence against him for allegedly grooming and even pressuring straight men into sexual activity, as well as allegedly defending men who groomed and sexualized underaged boys. Jessica Yaniv, a transgender woman, has been caught allegedly blatantly grooming young children online, young girls specifically.
The Catholic Church
Even in Catholic churches, sex abuse is prevalent. The church of England received more than 900 complaints of over 3,000 instances of child sex abuse with over 900 victims in the years between 1970 and 2015. One victim made an estimate that from the ages 11 to 15, a priest sexually assaulted him hundreds of times, with the boys’ compliance used as blackmail against his sister going into a convent. You can read more about this disgusting scandal, which was hidden from the public for years, here.
The Seattle Pride Parade
This year, Seattle Pride Parade held a $50 admission fee for white people to pay for ‘reparations,’ while all other races got in free. Racism against white people? That’s preposterous. Clearly charging (in an attempt to punish) people who never owned slaves and gifting money (that absolutely was not earned) to people who never were slaves makes lots of sense and will solve the civil war on the horizon (please note my sarcasm). Pride parades also banned gay police officers from celebrating their pride until at least June 2025, because as we all know, “all-inclusive” doesn’t mean including those who don’t fit the agenda. NYC Pride used this tactic as a way for law enforcement to “acknowledge their harm and to correct course moving forward.”
Alok Vaid-Menon is a thirty-year-old “trans and non-binary” activist, as well as the author of the whopping 64-page book, titled “Beyond The Gender Binary.”
Vaid-Menon identifies as ‘non-binary,’ meaning he wants to be addressed as “they/them.” However, he lost all respect after the sexualizing and victim-blaming of little girls.
The post below was posted on a poetry page run by Vaid-Menon called “Darkmatter”. This was posted years ago, when the debate of trans people being allowed into their transitioning genders’ public bathrooms was the biggest internet controversy but had been oppressed and hidden by Twitter, by banning accounts and removing posts involving Vaid-Menon’s post.
Vaid-Menon describes little girls as ‘kinky’, among other disgusting, bizarre adjectives. I’m going to point out the obvious here and say that describing little girls as ‘kinky’, therefore sexualizing small children, is quite literally in the definition of “pedophilia.”
I’d also like to point out Vaid-Menon’s line that reads “But we also need to seriously overhaul the idea that there is a perfect victim anywhere,” as well as “the supposed purity of the ‘victims’ remained quite stagnant.”
Vaid-Menon used actual quotation marks when referring to the little girls who had been assaulted by evil, disgusting “transgender” men. So I’d like to try to understand this:
The left pushes the narrative that any minority who lives in the United States is automatically and systemically a victim despite living in the most privileged country in the world. However, innocent little children who were brutally and mercilessly assaulted by grown men are not victims.
But it doesn’t stop there. According to Vaid-Menon (who is clearly qualified to speak on behalf of little girls because he, of course, has been a “cute little girl”, despite being born a biological male), these innocent little girls were asking for it. “No one is a perfect pure flower that can be corrupted”, writes Vaid-Menon, the self-proclaimed feminist. But don’t fear, for Big Tech partnered up with the LGBTQ community to sweep this pedophilic and predatorial incident under the rug.
The purpose of this opinion piece wasn’t to attempt to bring down or give any LGBTQIA+ members a bad name, it was just to bring to light the realness and darkness that can be hidden behind the rainbows and ‘love’ that is abruptly shoved in our faces. The fact of the matter is that the left loves to feed and support the illusion of oppression to brainwash groups of people into getting under their wing.
The left is pushing their rainbows full of corruption and manipulation onto the general public, then ambushes those who question their agenda with homophobia, transphobia, cancel culture, and the threat of their entire career. The left is like Death Valley: a huge barren desert that desperately and unsparingly sucks up anything they can get with yet again nothing to show for it, while also posing a fatal threat to any living thing that hasn’t conformed to its agenda. | {
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Things to do this week is sponsored by Opera Holland Park.
LONDON CLOWN FESTIVAL: Not sure about clowns in a Mini, but this week is a chance to see how many clowns will fit inside Soho Theatre Upstairs, as the London Clown Festival is in town. There's more to it than red noses and oversized shows though — the festival celebrates physical comedy and contemporary clowning, with shows featuring cabaret, narrative storytelling, and "professionally researched nonsense". 12-17 June
ADAM RICHES: "Last night, disaster struck the Beakington Town Hall Christmas Fundraiser. Ten Tortoises were massacred in a tombola-related prank gone wrong..." thus begins the premise of infamously capricious comedian Adam Riches' show The Beakington Town Hall Murders, which descends on Soho Theatre this week. 12-17 June
LAST WORD FESTIVAL: This year's Last Word Festival at Camden Roundhouse wraps up this week. Final events include a celebration of Black British poetry with editor Kayo Chingonyi, Desert Island Dubplates — a take on the radio series which reflects the diaspora of youth culture in Great Britain today, and Nuclear Children, a dark comedy about mental health and submarine accident. Until 18 June
A PINCH OF VAULT: You may have heard: VAULT Festival is running a spin-off festival, A Pinch Of Vault, and this is its final week. Highlights include Cult Classic(k), a character comedy show about the wellness industry, and Next Door, a work-in-progress show about suspicious deaths and city living. Money from the festival goes towards finding VAULT a new home, after it announced that it's being kicked out of its Waterloo venue. Until 18 June
WANDSWORTH ARTS FRINGE: There's heaps going on for the Wandsworth Arts Fringe this week. Choose from a live painting session, a scratch night featuring six performers, an art and architecture walk, a film festival curated by people with learning disabilities, and plenty more. Until 25 June
CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS' MELTDOWN: One of London's most-anticipated music events, Meltdown festival returns to the Southbank Centre, this year curated by French musical powerhouse Christine and the Queens. The lineup is as eclectic as ever, with acts including Django Django, KOKOROKO, Bat For Lashes and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, plus club nights hosted by Pxssy Palace and The Chateau. 9-18 June. (Sponsor)
LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE: Going on throughout the month, London Festival of Architecture is a celebration of the city's buildings and spaces, through events including talks, debates, exhibitions and tours. Highlights this week include an architecture photography walk and talk, a photography workshop at the Royal College of Physicians, a suburban safari through Golders Green, a walk through Brixton focusing on women mural artists, and SO much more, in addition to ongoing installation such as the Urban Playground in Fen Court. Until 30 June
DRINK OF THE WEEK: Swift Soho has launched a fresh (and particularly epic) cocktail menu — Postcards from Swift — featuring 20 new concoctions crafted by the team to conjure up their own fond memories. From the sweetshop-inspired Humbug, to the brassy rye and cassis-laced Broadway, there's something for every spirit drinker here. Londonist attended with an invite. Until 2024
EAT OF THE WEEK: Well, the sun's finally showed its face. Time, then, we reckon for an ice cream. And you deserve better than sticking your arm into the deep freeze of your local corner shop — try one of the delicious ices being peddled by the best purveyors of the frozen treat in London.
UNUSUAL EAT OF THE WEEK: Fancy a bite from an old cabmen's shelter? The one on Chelsea Embankment has just opened as a public cafe, offering a range of hot and cold food and drinks and a Thames-side terrace. Called Café Pier, this is the only one of the 13 surviving shelters serving full meals to the public (the rest are for cabbies only).
DAY TRIP OF THE WEEK: Craving some greenery, a bit of fresh air, and a top-notch tea room? Allow us to point you in the direction of Great Comp Garden, a "rummagey around little place" on a 7-acre plot surrounding a 17th-century manor house. It's full of colourful flowers, woodland walks and charming follies between the towns of Sevenoaks and Maidstone in Kent. Find other day trip and weekend break ideas in our Beyond London section.
Monday 12 June
LINE DANCING: Anyone aged 50+ is invited to join a social line dancing session every Monday at Poplar Union. The steps and styles are taught, so no experience is necessary, and the session also includes time for tea and biscuits. 1pm-3pm
WOMEN IN TECH: Only a quarter of the STEM workforce in the UK are women — but why is that? Computer scientist Anne-Marie Imafidon is at the Royal Institution to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in tech. 7pm-8.30pm
WINDMILLS AND WATERMILLS: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith offers a virtual tour of London's windmills and watermills, which were used to supply the capital with food in the past. Find out which ones still exist today and have been restored, and find out where others used to be — some of which live on in local street names and the like. 8pm-9pm
THE LOL WORD: Queer women, trans and non-binary comedy collective The LOL Word is back at Soho Theatre for a mixed bill show, with special guests TBC. Age 16+. 9.15pm
MONDAYS IN LONDON: Looking for other things to do today or any other Monday in London? Take a look at our guide to things to do in London on a Monday, spanning comedy, live music, walking tours and more, proving that there's plenty to keep you entertained at the start of the week in the capital.
Tuesday 13 June
ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION: A highlight of the London art calendar every year, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition brings together established and rising artists to display their work. Prints, painting, film, photography, architectural works and sculpture all feature, and the theme this year is Only Connect, from the famous quote in Howards End by E.M. Forster. 13 June-20 August
FUTURE OF GEOGRAPHY: Bestselling author and international diplomacy expert Tim Marshall is at the Royal Institution to discuss the future of geography — in space. As Russia, China and the United States make more significant discoveries and progress in space, find out how they will affect global political landscape in the next 50 years, and ultimately shape human history. Watch in person or online. 7pm-8.30pm
TOP GUN: MAVERICK: Head to Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf for a free screening of Top Gun: Maverick at the open-air cinema. Take your own picnic blanket and snacks, and arrive in plenty of time to bag yourself a good spot to watch Tom Cruise reviving his role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Find other outdoor cinemas in London this summer. FREE, 7pm
CHRISTINA HART: Swiss Popster Christina Hart is at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington tonight, playing her catchy, anthemic brand of guitar pop with songs like Too Young to Die and Never Be Her. 7pm
STAND UP COMEDY: You can watch not one but two WIP stand up shows at 2Northdown tonight: Stuart Goldsmith tackles climate change in his show Spoilers, and one man TilTok sketch sensation Christopher Hall follows. 7pm-8pm and 8.45pm-9.45pm
Be enchanted by this open-air fairy tale opera — for 35% less!
Holland Park is famously home to London’s tamest peacocks. But did you know that right now you can also find The Sandman, The Dew Fairy, and The Ginger Bread Witch amid its exquisite formal gardens and wilded woodlands? These are some of the colourful characters you’ll encounter at Hansel and Gretel, part of Opera Holland Park’s summer season.
From now until 24 June, this crowd-pleasing production brings fairy tale magic to Opera Holland Park’s open air auditorium. Based on the Brothers Grimm classic, Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1893 opera is feast of German folk song and sweeping orchestration that all ages can enjoy. So whether you’re on the hunt for family fun or an evening out with a twist, you won’t regret following Hansel and Gretel’s trail of breadcrumbs into the forest.
Know what makes it extra tempting? Right now, our readers can save 35% on tickets*! Just use the code LONDONIST at checkout to take advantage of this sweet deal. Or, and if you’re aged 30 or below and can wait till next week for your opera fix, book for 21 June. This is Under 30s night, with £20 tickets and a free H!P Oat milk chocolate available using the code H!P. But whenever you visit, rest assured that you’ll be well fed and watered, with refreshments by local businesses available to purchase at Opera Holland Park’s well-stocked bars.
*Excluding 16 and 18 June
Wednesday 14 June
TASTE OF LONDON: Foodies will want to head to Regent's Park from today for Taste of London, the huge, food-based festival which brings dozens of London's best-known restaurants together to feed the hungry visitors. It's also a chance to discover up-and-coming London chefs and food businesses, take part in tastings and watch masterclasses. 14-18 June
KENNEL CLUB TOURS: As The Kennel Club celebrates its 150th anniversary, it's offering special public tours of its building in Mayfair. Expert curators lead the tour around the Kennel Club Art Gallery and Library — which Londonist visited previously — and there's the option to book yourself in for a special lunch after the tour. From 10.30am
HARD ROCK BIRTHDAY: London's original Hard Rock Cafe celebrates its 52nd birthday by offering its Country Burger for just 71p for one day only — a nod to the 1971 opening date. The celebrations also include live music, a Harley Davidson drive-by, a cake ceremony, and more. 11.30am-10pm
ON THE SPECTRUM: Conway Hall hosts a panel of people with autism and ADHD – and those that love them – to discuss life and love on the spectrum and what the world could do to accommodate them. Find out what a diagnosis can mean for work, relationships and other aspects of life in a neurotypical world. 6.30pm
PRIDE STORYSLAM: Regular open-mic storytelling event The London Moth StorySLAM is back at Rich Mix in Shoreditch for an evening on the theme of Pride. Get up on stage and tell your tale of owning your talents, embracing your identity or, perhaps, flying too close to the sun — or kick back and watch as others share their stories. 7.15pm
Thursday 15 June
CINDERELLA: The Royal Albert Hall hosts the English National Ballet for the first time since 2019, performing a production of Cinderella in-the-round. Watch 90 dancers and a live orchestra bring the fairytale to life. 15-25 June
DIVAS LONDON: New 'party show' Divas London launches at The Prince of Wales Cabaret Venue in Drury Lane tonight. It's a musical show featuring the music of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer , Diana Ross, Madonna, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Cher, Adele and more, with singing and dancing by West End performers. 15 June-2 July
CITY OF LONDON WOMEN: Camden Wanderings and the City of London Women Project join forces to offer a walking tour celebrating the lives and achievements of the extraordinary women and non-binary people (past and present). Start at UCL's Petrie Museum and wander through Somers Town, King's Cross and Camden. FREE, 11am-1.30pm (repeated Saturday)
TWILIGHT RELAXED OPENING: Forest Hill's Horniman Museum stays open late to offer a Twilight Relaxed Opening, exclusively for neurodivergent families or those requiring a quieter atmosphere in which to enjoy the museum. The under the sea-themed soft play area and current Brick Dinos exhibition will be open to explore. FREE, 6pm-7pm
SUPPER CLUB: NAFAS is a Palestinian-themed supper club, with dishes made using low-carbon British produce. It's the work of chef and author Sami Tamini, who serves up a sharing-style menu at Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert's Centre in Earls Court. If you can't make tonight, it's repeated in two weeks. 7pm
QUEER JAZZ: Vocalist and songwriter Eliza Oakes, and improv three-piece Faker Villain kick off Woolwich Works' three-part Queer Jazz Series tonight (parts two and three are in July and August). 7pm
Friday 16 June
RICHMOND ARTS FESTIVAL: A photo festival, a rock and royal themed tour, and a circus-style performance are among the events on the opening day of this year's Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival, which runs for two weeks celebrating all forms of creativity at venues across the area. 16 June-2 July
LONDON'S FEMALE STATUES: Artist Amanda Cotton gives a free talk about statues of women in London, asking why there are more sculptures of animals than there are of women across the capital. She offers a journey through London’s female sculptures and discusses how she’s been empowered to do her bit to change London’s landscape through her continued artistry Takes place at Shoe Lane Library in the City. FREE, 1pm-2pm
WINDRUSH DOCUMENTS: The National Archives offers an online event, telling the story of the Empire Windrush in ten documents. They include the passenger list, showing who arrived in Britain from the Caribbean in June 1948, and Prime Minister Clement Attlee's letter about the migrants. 2pm
ZOO NIGHTS: London Zoo keeps its gates open late for an adults-only after-hours event, Zoo Nights. Visit the animals at a time when the public don't usually get to see them, take part in special tours and games, and get your dinner from the street food market. 6pm-10pm
ADAM BUXTON: Comedian Adam Buxton headlines a Live at the Empire comedy night at Hackney Empire, with support from Sindhu Vee, Spencer Jones and Chloe Petts. 7.30pm
BJORN AGAIN: At time of writing, there are still a few tickets left to catch ABBA tribute show Björn Again performing in the grounds at Hampton Court, part of this year's Hampton Court Palace Festival. It wraps up tomorrow with a headline show by Rick Astley. 9pm
Saturday 17 June
LEE VALLEY ICE CENTRE: After being announced four years ago, the brand new Lee Valley Ice Centre opens today. It's a whopper, with two Olympic-sized ice rinks, a cafe, gym and other facilities. Plus, they're offering skating for £1 on opening day. From 17 June
GREAT EXHIBITION ROAD FESTIVAL: South Kensington institutions including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial College, Royal Geographical Society and V&A come together for the Great Exhibition Road Festival, a weekend celebrating science and the arts. FREE, 17-18 June
WEST END LIVE: Musical theatre fans should head to Trafalgar Square for West End Live, a free, two-day festival starring the cast of all manner of West End shows. In the past, cast members from the likes of Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Tina The Musical have strutted their stuff on the stage. FREE, 17-18 June
WATERPOINT TOUR: A rare chance to take a guided tour of The Waterpoint, which was constructed in 1872 to supply water to the rapidly growing steam railway network at St Pancras, and designed by the office of Sir George Gilbert Scott. The Grade II listed water tower offers views of the gasholder at King's Cross, and the area around St Pancras station. 10am-4pm
BRITISH ACADEMY SUMMER SHOWCASE: The Windrush legacy, the importance of green space in cities, little-known women who shaped the world, the necessity of refugee camps, and aerial archaeology are just some of the topics covered in the wide-reaching and free British Academy Summer Showcase. It offers the public a chance to hear from researchers in the social sciences and humanities, through workshops, talks and panel debates. FREE, 11am-5pm
BITCHIN' BRUNCH: Sharp-witted comedy queens and fierce lip-syncing acts keep you entertained at Savage Garden's Bitchin' Brunch, while you get stuck into prosecco, bellinis or mocktails plus a two-course meal. If any brunch is going to wake you up, it's this one.
WAR TO WINDRUSH: The Imperial War Museum hosts an afternoon of talks and performances to mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush docking in Tilbury. Hear from historians, actors, broadcasters and poets about Caribbean contributions to the second world war, and how the Windrush generation has shaped Britain as a modern multicultural society. 2pm-8pm
BAWDY DRURY LANE: It's your last chance of the year to catch the theatrical walking tour that is Minimum Labyrinth's Drury Lane. It's part guided walk, part street theatre, and "explores the rich cultural history of one of London’s most colourful, creative and dangerous quarters". 2pm-6pm
Sunday 18 June
THEATRELAND WALK: Join a guided tour of the West End's theatre district, with a focus on little-known Black performers and productions which have graced the stage throughout history. Hear about the 'Beyonce of the 1950s', connections to the US Civil Rights Movement, and how racist tropes and stereotypes were overcome. 10am-12pm
SECOND-HAND SUNDAYS: Alongside its regular Sunday market, Horniman Museum introduces Second-Hand Sundays, an occasional event with a focus on repurposing, reusing and recycling. Browse and buy second-hand clothes, games, toys, books, unwanted gifts and more. 10am-3pm
VINTAGE FASHION FAIR: More than 100 dealers from across the UK descend on Kensington Town Hall for the Frock Me Vintage Fashion Fair. Browse and buy rare vintage and antique clothing, jewellery, textiles and more dating from the Victorian period onwards. 11am-5.30pm
SARFRAZ MANSOOR: Author, broadcaster and screenwriter Sarfraz Manzoor is at OSO Arts Centre in Barnes this afternoon, talking about, among other things, his childhood in 1980s Luton as a working-class British Pakistani, and how it was transformed by a certain Mr Bruce Springsteen. 4pm
FRINGE PREVIEWS: Collywobblers Comedy has a double bill of Edinburgh previews, at the Railway in Streatham Common tonight — both Darren Harriott and Abandoman get up on the stage, to try out their new shows before taking them north of the border. 7pm
MUSICAL THEATRE RAVE: A night out for West End fans, the Musical Theatre Rave is exactly that — a party night featuring tunes from the biggest stage musicals, with DJ sets, live performances and lip sync battles. Expect to hear an eclectic mix of tunes from the likes of Hamilton, Mamma Mia!, Grease, Frozen, and plenty more. 9pm
Museum treasure of the week
The Great Exhibition Road Festival (see Saturday) is an opportunity to reconnect with South Kensington's three big museums as well as other cultural centres in the area. One treasure that probably won't be going out onto the street is this precious sample of Moon rock from the Natural History Museum. Moon rocks are, of course, rare on Earth, but beneath it is something even rarer: a Union Jack that went to the Moon. Apollo 17, the final Moon mission, took with it flags of the nations, which were then presented back to each country. This one is ours.
Good cause of the week
Charity runs and walks come along every week, but here's one that promises to be a lot of fun as well as helping a good cause. The WWF Great Wild Walk takes place on Saturday 24 June, winding its way through Epping Forest. Take part in either a 6 mile or 10 mile walk around the woods to help raise money for forest conservation. Find more information and sign up here. | {
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Harmony pregnant with her and Tahia's second child. The sims lesbian. Any sim can be with any sim! Remember Me Forgot Password. A male vampire flirting with a male Sim from the teaser for The Sims 4: Add your answer 5 Answers. This widget could not be displayed. Registration allows you to keep track of all your content and comments, save bookmarks, and post in all our forums. It was not the best situation for the poor dude and I would obviously not advocate for this IRLbut it worked for my ladysims who are pixels and therefore have no moral compass!
Ad-blocker plugin detected We have detected that you are using an Ad-blocker plugin. They're all programmed to be pansexual. Beautiful naked lesbian women. Besides, the OP wanted to know if same sex sims could have "relations" which in sim land is Woohoo.
Often guys feel flirty around my male Sim. Yeah, life is hard. Categories Discussions Activity Best Of Throw in the exploitative lesbian characters in superficial games like Playboy: In Sims 4, there is no way to actually set sexual orientation, everyone is just kind of pansexual. Log in to TSR Login failed! In The Sims 3all young adult, adult, and elder Sims who have not lost a child to the Social Worker can adopt by using the "Call for Services" option on a telephone.
Or sign in with one of these services Sign in with Facebook. So yes, straight, gay, lesbian, bi, it's all the same thing to sims.
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Retrieved 28 August — via Twitter. Erin gray nude pics. Do any of you have the Sims 4 for PC yet? They had a long, beautiful life together. San Andreas Lego Harry Potter: At a later point, his Shadow Self manifests as an overly masculine and flamboyant gay caricature that rants about how he hates girls and likes boys and teases him about being gay. Cortez's personal storyline revolves around moving past the relatively recent loss of his husband.
The Tower of the Swallow. Later in the game, there is an unmissable scene where Athena is interrupted by a call from Janey, once again referring to her as her girlfriend.
Let me live vicariously through you. In beginning of the Squabbling Siblings chapter of the Sibling Rivalry story one of the sims mentions their mom and dad. We will only use this address to email the confirmation for this answer.
Youtube — via YouTube. The player character can be transgender, as there is an option when creating the character to have a "binder bod". They can date and have sex with other students according to their orientations. It never happened to me. Samoan girls nude. The sims lesbian. A downloadable content released in added Wallace as a playable character in the main game, with some moves that highlight his sexuality such as a punch move which creates a rainbow.
Vice City Grand Theft Auto: Click here to comment on this answer. I finally had her invite them inside and give them something to eat.
The Sims Studio Maxis. Sign In or Register to comment. Can you make them gay or lesbian? From toseveral Buffy the Vampire Slayer games were made. In this game, the players are given the option to flirt with Jesus as Javier in the 5th episode of Season 3, implying that Javier is bisexual. Retrieved April 9, I had no option to plead for her life. The main character, Raidou, confronts two Japanese disaster gods known as Binbogami and Yakbyougami who are both portrayed as effeminate and fiercely masochistic.
Electronic Gaming Monthly The player is either a straight man or a lesbian woman and Violet is his or her girlfriend.
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Zachariah, the player character, can choose to romance Andrew, one of the male companions available in the game. Ares is the player character. The sims lesbian. Exhibitionist nude video. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.
Fenrich is heavily implied to be deeply in love with the main character, Valvatorez. This game features a gay bar. Do you have your own queer sim stories? This widget could not be displayed. This is a mystery game with several possible randomly selected plotlines. I must be able to feel why they fall in love with each other and I just can't imagine falling in love with a woman.
Everyone loves everyone XD. The player, regardless of his or her gender, can romance Sky a male character and Silk Fox a female character. The prostitute Serendipity, though intended by writer Mary Kirby to be a male crossdresser and not a transgender woman, was read by many players as the latter.
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Age: Young Adult
Notes: child abuse, trauma, parental abuse
Thank you to Entangled for an ARC of this book!
Things I Loved
good side characters
Hello my gorgeous beautiful sapphic dragon loving friends. This book was adorable to the extreme. I enjoyed every minute of it. Hollis has a great and engaging writing style, and the whole book flowed very well. All aspects of queerness were integrated very well, we had a non-binary character, our main characters were sapphic, but it was done so naturally. It wasn’t the focal point of the book, it was just apart of it, which I loved. I need more queer books where things are just natural, and this hit all the points for me.
This was definitely a different take on dragons, ones I hadn’t seen before, and I liked that. (Okay, I am obsessed with how the dragons were presented in this book — I want to know more about them tbh. No, I need a side story spinoff in which they go talk to dragons all the time.)
Lotte is an excellent main character — her character arc was fabulous. Even the side characters were nicely developed. One of the things about the plot was obvious, however, it didn’t detract from the overall story, because while there was an action based plot, much of this book was character driven and about the choices they do and don’t make. Absolutely loved the cute little romance in this book. Made my heart happy!
There was a tiny bit of gore in this book, but not too much. There were also quite a few parts that deal with parental trauma and childhood trauma. Having not experienced those things, I can’t say as to the accuracy, but they do play a part in the story of our characters.
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Actors Theatre of Little Rock holds season/general auditions twice a year, typically in December and May. Other auditions may be held throughout the year if needed. Auditions are announced here on our website as well as in local newspapers, and on our social media channels.
There are currently no scheduled upcoming auditions.
If you are a current or former resident of Arkansas, have access to local housing, or have some other connection to our community, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected], so that we may keep your materials on file and notify you directly of any upcoming auditions.
If you are a playwright with a play you think we might be interested in producing, please submit your play to [email protected]. We are also actively checking in with the New Play Exchange for new works. We are striving toward racial equity by producing seasons featuring at least 50% BIPOC writers. We are also striving toward gender equity by producing seasons featuring at least 50% women, trans, non-binary writers. When you email your submission, please highlight the reasons why your show would suit our mission.
Actors Theatre of Little Rock currently only hires local (within 50 miles to Little Rock) directors for our productions. Directors are chosen 1-2 years in advance of production dates. If you are interested in being considered for future projects, please submit your resume, portfolio, proposal, and any other materials you’d like considered to [email protected].
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Film critic Ciara Moloney finds a lot to like in Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione’s ‘Circle,’ a sci-fi thriller with serious bite.
Film critic J.D. Gravatte explores the (not-so) supernatural twists and turns of Rafal Zielinski’s 2003 film ‘Hangman’s Curse.’
Joshua Anderson explores the links between redneck zombies and evangelical Christians in Steven Goldmann’s ‘Trailer Park of Terror.’
Film critic Wren Crain explains how Don Mancini’s ‘Seed of Chucky’ opened new doors for non-binary representation in horror.
Film critic Nguyen Le explores what makes the American remake of ‘Dark Water’ a fascinating reflection of Western culture.
Film critic Jerry J. Sampson unpacks the complicated web of sex and religion in ‘Thirst,’ Park Chan-wook’s seminal vampire film. | {
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Dear Dr. Laura,
I have been with my boyfriend for about a year, and we thought about trying new things in the bedroom. He made a strange suggestion about having sex on my period. At first I thought he was joking, but once I realized he was serious, I was a little horrified and grossed out about it. He claims that having sex on my period can relieve my cramps. Not only am I scared about the bloody mess (literally), but I’m scared it might cause a STIs. Is this possible? Does it really help with cramps? Are there any risks of having sex while on your period?
Dear Period Pondering,
Ah, period sex, one of the most contested and polarizing types of sex you can have. No matter what you are counting as “sex” (see last month’s column), sex with menstruation continues to be a major taboo. We grow up with such negative attitudes about both our periods and sex, it’s no wonder that combining the two would leave people feeling shocked and shamed. One of the first things people learn about periods is that they must be hidden—we discretely hide menstrual products, rarely talk about them positively, and go to great lengths to make sure no one knows it’s that time of the month. No wonder we get freaked out about our lovers getting all up in our business when our business is bloody and sensitive!
Now first things first: just a reminder not all people who have periods are women (such as trans men and non-binary people) and not all women have periods (such as trans women or persons who have had certain medical interventions). For those who do have periods, many feel especially horny and ready to get down with their sexy selves during that time but stop because of many of the fears you are expressing, so let’s break this down like the lining of a uterus.
Let’s start with cramps. The uterus is a muscle; in fact, it is a smooth muscle like the kind your heart is made out of. When you get your period, the lining of the uterus, called endometrium, breaks down and falls out. The blood is just the tissue becoming watery and liquid-like, and any clots or lumps you see are less liquefied uterine lining. In order to get this lining out, your uterus contracts like any good muscle would (shout out to all those muscles out there working hard, the struggle is real). When you have sex and reach orgasm, your uterus also contracts, but in a relaxed, pleasurable way. Additionally, when you climax, your body floods with a lovely cocktail of hormones that decrease your ability to feel pain. So, having pleasurable sex during your period can relax the uterus and relieve some of your cramps! Yay!
Now, the mess. Oh messy, messy, lovely sex. If I could give the world one thing, it would not be a Coke, it would be a freedom from fear around sex and our bodies. Sex is messy. I know it’s shocking, but no matter how much you shave, wash, primp, or preen, sex is messy business. Between vaginal fluid, penile ejaculate, saliva, sweat, lubricants, urine, menstrual fluid, fecal matter, etc., there is a lot of stuff going on. But that’s not a bad thing—it’s completely natural. The more comfortable we are with all these elements, the more we can relax and enjoy the sex and intimacy we are having. So for mess, simply put down a towel, wash it in cold water after, and remember that one body fluid is not better or worse than any other. As far as STDs, yes, period fluids do have a higher concentration of whatever is in our body, including viruses and bacteria. So my one suggestion is to not get into period sex if you are not “fluid bonded” with someone. That means if you have both been tested, are clear on who else you do or do not have sex with, and decide to share your bodily fluids and accepted the trust that must be present for that, then you are good to go. Try to relax and enjoy what may become your new favorite time of the month to have sex!
In Sex Positivity,
Tanfer, K., & Aral, S. O. (1996). Sexual Intercourse During Menstruation and Self‐Reported Sexually Transmitted Disease History Among Women.Sexually transmitted diseases, 23(5), 395-401.
Breanne, F. A. H. S. (2011). Sex during menstruation: Race, sexual identity, and women’s accounts of pleasure and disgust. Feminism & Psychology, 0959353510396674.
Johnston-Robledo, I., & Chrisler, J. C. (2013). The menstrual mark: Menstruation as social stigma. Sex Roles, 68(1-2), 9-18.
Dear Dr. Laura,
For a few years I have shaved my pubic hair. I’ve been told that it keeps the vagina healthier. Lately, I’ve been tired of taking the time to shave it. Are there any benefits to having pubic hair? Is it really healthier to have shaved genitals?
Dear Sassy Shaver,
Hair, we love it, we hate it, we once had a musical named after it. We spend thousands of dollars trying to get more of it on our head and ripping it out everywhere else. Our poor bodies! They get such mixed signals from us. We come into the world with everything as it should be and then wham!, shame comes and hits us upside our head with the giant arm of cultural norms. Ouch!
Tons and tons of people think that hair is dirty and thus shaving/waxing, etc., makes them cleaner. Sometimes this comes from our families, our religion, or worse of all, those who we want to be intimate with. They might tell us our hair is gross, that they won’t do certain sex acts if we are so furry, and that makes us feel sad and ugly. But please remember that whole script is pretty darn new to our world and our culture.
Shaving our bodies to this extreme is pretty recent in human history. Yes there is some historical evidence that people were shaving and plucking hair, mostly on their faces, in ancient Rome and Egypt. But this idea of going hairless and removing pubic hair only became popular in the 1920s and mainly in the western world. Even today many cultures never shave their legs, underarms, or pubic hair and, for almost all of human history, no one did. So somehow in all that fuzz, people were still attracted to, turned on by, and had sex with each other! It’s a hairy miracle!
Let’s look at the research on pubic hair removal (see citations). There is some rather confounding evidence that removing pubic hair has a pretty bad effect on our health. It rather largely increases the risk of transmitting STDs and opening up our bodies to infection. The reason is that no matter how you remove the hair—shaving, waxing, or creams, you are creating teeny tiny tears in your very sensitive pubic skin. You can’t even see most of these tiny cuts, but they are there and ya know who can see them? Bacteria and viruses! Oh my! Keeping your pubic hair actually protects you from many of these bad guys—believe it or not, your pubes have a purpose!
Now maybe you are thinking, “Well that’s nice, but I hate the look of hair on my body.” That’s fine, too! Preference is a very complex thing and, sometimes, we just don’t like how something looks or feels. At the end of the day, it’s your body and you can alter it or preserve it exactly as you see fit. But just remember, you are perfect the way you are—there is no medically necessary reason to remove your hair, and a lot of good reasons to keep it as is.
In Sex Positivity,
Desruelles F, Cunningham SA and Dubois D. Pubic hair removal: a risk factor for ‘minor’ STI such as molluscum contagiosum? Sex Transm Infect 2013; 89: 216.
Dendle C, Mulvey S, Pyrlis F, et al. Severe complications of a ‘Brazilian’ bikini wax. Clin Infect Dis 2007; 45: e29–e31. 6.
Castronovo C, Lebas E, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, et al. Viral infections of the pubis. Int J STD AIDS 2012; 23: 48–50. 7.
Villa L, Varela JA, Otero L, et al. Molluscum contagiosum: a 20-year study in a sexually transmitted infections unit. Sex Transm Dis 2010; 37: 423–424. | {
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“I like doing sick tats.” Artist Maxwell Blackmar’s grin radiates across a tattoo bed covered in portfolios of carefully preserved flash (pre-designed) tattoos that go back over 70 years.
Blackmar is the accidental, unofficial historian of Rhode Island tattoo history. In 2017, the 32-year-old self-described history nerd unexpectedly landed at the helm of Ronnie’s Tattoo Studio on Eddy Street, the oldest tattoo studio in Providence.
Artist Ronnie Daigle opened the shop in 1959 after an apprenticeship with Sailor West, the nom de plume for Rhode Island tattoo artist Anthony D’Ambra, a nearly forgotten legend in the business. The history is murky, but West reportedly learned the trade from Charlie Wagner, a famous artist who opened a tattoo shop in NYC’s rough-and-tumble Bowery neighborhood in 1899. West tattooed in traveling circuses and carnivals before setting up storefronts in Providence and Los Angeles, where he partnered with fellow artist Ernie Sutton.
A young Daigle became besotted by a piece of flash (of a pin-up girl) in the window of West’s Federal Hill storefront. With his interest sparked, he learned the trade from West before striking out on his own.
Back then, you couldn’t just open a shop because the mob owned the town. This kept the competition at bay, leaving Daigle with just two competitors in the city. But it was Ronnie’s – with its chain-link fence protected building and colorful cast of characters – that stood the test of time. It became more than a Providence legend, but an integral part of tattoo culture. Celebrity tattoo artist Mark Mahoney, whose clients include Adele and Rihanna, brought a camera crew to the South Providence storefront to film a documentary.
When Daigle opened, tattoos were far from mainstream: visible ones adorned the arms of sailors and outlaws. The rough and rowdy South Providence neighborhood only added to the mystique. There was an artist who went by the moniker Dead Eye Pete; the Ronnie’s crew nicknamed a regular client “Uncle Scary” – “But not to his face,” Blackmar’s quick to add.
Indeed, Ronnie’s was a home for misfits, renegades, and rehabilitating hooligans. Daigle took young talent under his wing and taught them how to ink on a flesh canvas. One of those misfits was Victor Morales, Daigle’s last apprentice. Morales, about to become a teen father, was seeking a steady career to provide for his new family. Daigle saw promise in the fledgling artist and brought him into the fold.
When Daigle passed away in 2013, Morales took the helm of the storied tattoo shop. Blackmar, already a licensed tattoo artist, was a regular fixture there, even though he inked elsewhere. So Morales invited him to take a chair and help run the shop.
When Morales died in a motorcycle accident in 2017, a grieving Blackmar found himself alone at the helm. The Ronnie’s crew rallied around the young artist. Blackmar’s friend and fellow artist A.J. Williams took a chair, just like Blackmar did with Morales four years prior.
Grief shades Blackmar’s face as he recalls explaining to Morales’ clients that he had passed. Because Blackmar knew his friend’s style so well — both were self-taught artists, and the pair worked on many collaborative projects — clients with tattoos in progress turned to Blackmar to finish the work, providing an unexpected source of comfort. “It was great,” says Blackmar. “Now I’m working with my buddy again.”
Ronnie’s made it through race riots, outlaw biker gangs, the mob, and COVID. But it couldn’t survive the building inspector. Last year, the city condemned the building, shutting down a tattoo institution and closing a long chapter in the industry’s storied history.
“Artists on the West Coast, in Chicago, they were doing different stuff in the early ‘90s, not as old school,” says Donald Lussier, who opened Art Freek Tattoo on Steeple Street, now on Wickenden, in 1994.
Lussier, part of the then-flourishing music scene in Providence, had fortuitous timing. A Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) trial weakened the mob’s stranglehold on the city, which meant Lussier could hang out a shingle without a hitch.
“At first, there was no one to tattoo but the skinheads,” Lussier says with a chuckle. But once Art Freek became a Providence fixture, “we’d be open all night, tattooing anyone for $10.” He’d meet people at music venues like Club Babyhead and Lupo’s and invite them to get inked after the show. Because of his presence in the music scene, bands began coming in for tattoos. He rolls up his pants to show off a wonky-looking hot dog on his calf, the location he lets non-artists try their hand with the tattoo gun, inked by J.D. Pinkus from the Butthole Surfers.
“Our tattoos were so much different from the other styles,” Lussier continues. Tattoo inks began getting better, with manufacturers carrying more than just primary colors. “Then the tattoo magazines hit, and they were really focused on the artwork,” he says. When the ‘90s counterculture movement exploded, tattoos became part of that narrative.
Lussier and his crew captured the aesthetic on T-shirts with slogans like “your mom’s gonna kill us” and “creating tomorrow’s unemployed today.” Anyone coming of age in the ‘90s remembers the teeth gnashing around young adults – especially women – with visible tattoos entering the workforce.
That’s no longer the case. According to a recent poll from market research company Ipsos, 30 percent of Americans have a tattoo, up from 21 percent in 2012. Unsurprisingly, body art is popular among younger generations, with 76 percent of tattoos adorning the bodies of GenX or younger.
Hannah Medeiros and Tina Lugo opened Black Cherry Tattoo, a spa-like private studio in Olneyville, in 2021. Natural light pours in from the windows and green plant tendrils snake down the exposed brick walls. This serene space is worlds away from the chaotic storefront scene. Both are trained artists — native Rhode Islander Medeiros attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and New York City transplant Lugo has a degree from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.
“I was always fascinated by tattoos,” says Medeiros, calling them the “forbidden fruit.” When they finished art school, the former oil painting major began a two-year apprenticeship at Brilliance Tattoo in Boston (Massachusetts legalized tattooing in 2000).
For Lugo, tattooing was a happy accident. After graduation, they did illustration and streetwear work and showed in some galleries. “I knew a lot of tattooers, I had friends who were tattooers, I got tattooed a lot,” she says. While they were living in Portland, Oregon, their tattoo artist suggested they apprentice with him. “I lucked out that it was the right place at the right time,” they continued, explaining that apprenticeships can be scarce.
Lugo and Medeiros met in New York City when they both worked at Black Iris in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood. When COVID hit, Medeiros returned home to Rhody. Lugo, who noticed an exodus of NYC artists to New England in search of more affordable cities, joined so the pair could open a private studio.
Private studios operate more like speakeasies than storefronts. Black Cherry has no website. They work mostly through referrals, although both artists maintain a healthy presence on Instagram, where they reach a wider audience, including clients willing to travel to PVD to get inked. Both require an intake process, and even then, there is no guarantee they will agree to do the job. If it’s not their aesthetic, they will refer interested clients to better suited artists.
“There’s no signage. We are not on Google, we’re not on Yelp,” says Medeiros. “We don’t share our address unless you have an appointment.” This allows them to create a very catered experience for their clients, the bulk of whom are professional women and men.
“We wanted to create an environment that kind of felt like home,” Medeiros continues. “A lot of younger folks feel more comfortable in the studio setting. There’s less stuff going on, less people coming in and out. It’s just a more private, intimate experience.”
“It’s really nice to bring them into a space that’s pretty chill. It eases them into the appointment, especially if it’s their first time,” says Lugo. “Even if we’re both here, it’s still manageable, and it’s not so overwhelming.”
The private experience is crucial to people who are seeking tattoos to cover over scars, which can be from mastectomies, top surgery, or self-harm. Lugo is one of the rare artists that takes on scar work.
“It’s so personal, so intimate,” Lugo explains, noting that the act of covering over these scars can be trauma inducing. “They can come to a gentle place. There’s not a bunch of people staring at them or asking them what they’re getting tattooed. It’s just a calm setting to have that one-on-one experience.”
The pair says tattoos often mark certain milestones or significant changes in their clients’ lives, making their private studio a space for reflection and healing. Medeiros mentions a client going through a really bad divorce. “He came in every week for two months,” she says. “The emotional pain was so intense, the tattoos were an outlet. It’s cathartic.”
“I love traditional tattoos so much,” says Littany “Big Lit” Blais, the last apprentice to come out of Ronnie’s. Old-school tattoos, with their thick lines and riot of primary colors, “hold well and look good,” she continues. “Plus, it comes with all that history.”
A self-taught artist, Blais bought a stick-and-poke kit (a non-electronic method of tattooing) out of curiosity. She began inking herself and willing friends, posting the results on Reddit. Her work gained a following, and she soon operated a small business out of her home. She met Blackmar on the internet, where a teasing back and forth between the two — stick and poke vs. machine — turned into an apprenticeship offer.
Blais relished her time at Ronnie’s, with its fun-loving, anarchic atmosphere. “I feel lucky I got to work there. To be part of that history is something so special,” she says. “But after Vic died, it was getting more difficult. It took its toll on the boys.”
Blais left Ronnie’s and opened the private studio Angels Collective, an inclusive tattoo studio featuring queer and non-binary artists, with Jessa Cabral. However, her heart remained with the traditional style, and that clientele is easier to reach through the storefront shops. So, she left the collective and joined Wild Card Tattoo on Gano Street. With its two levels, it’s a perfect blend of the two. “I like working in a space with more people,” she says, explaining that interacting with a multitude of artists sparks her creativity.
“Max and A.J. were like family,” she says of her time at Ronnie’s. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”
The feeling is mutual, with pages of “Big Lit” art beside work from Daigle, Morales, and West on the flash wall at Classic Tattoo RI, Blackmar and Williams’ just-opened storefront on Plainfield Street in Cranston.
While firmly grounded in the 21st century, their new shop pays homage to the rebellious spirit of Ronnie’s. The antique flash that Blackmar lovingly maintains may seem primitive compared to some of the rich colors and detailed work of contemporary tattoo artists, but as Blackmar astutely points out, old-school ink is a form of folk art.
People like Sailor West and Ronnie Daigle, “laid a foundation for artists today,” he says. “They paved the way for us.”
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here | {
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Inferring duplications, losses, transfers and incomplete lineage sorting with nonbinary species trees.
Date of Original Version
Abstract or Description
MOTIVATION: Gene duplication (D), transfer (T), loss (L) and incomplete lineage sorting (I) are crucial to the evolution of gene families and the emergence of novel functions. The history of these events can be inferred via comparison of gene and species trees, a process called reconciliation, yet current reconciliation algorithms model only a subset of these evolutionary processes.
RESULTS: We present an algorithm to reconcile a binary gene tree with a nonbinary species tree under a DTLI parsimony criterion. This is the first reconciliation algorithm to capture all four evolutionary processes driving tree incongruence and the first to reconcile non-binary species trees with a transfer model. Our algorithm infers all optimal solutions and reports complete, temporally feasible event histories, giving the gene and species lineages in which each event occurred. It is fixed-parameter tractable, with polytime complexity when the maximum species outdegree is fixed. Application of our algorithms to prokaryotic and eukaryotic data show that use of an incomplete event model has substantial impact on the events inferred and resulting biological conclusions.
AVAILABILITY: Our algorithms have been implemented in Notung, a freely available phylogenetic reconciliation software package, available at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~durand/Notung.
Bioinformatics, 28, 18, 409-409. | {
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May 9, 2023
Everyday, we choose what we want to show or cover up based on our level of comfort and safety. For neurodivergent people, “masking” is a way to imitate in order to accommodate others. There’s other words that get thrown out to describe this behavior, but whether it’s called “code switching” or “covering” or “assimilating” it’s just people trying to navigate a world that’s not always safe or comfortable. To those who feel they have to hide their true selves, it can be exhausting.
What is Code Switching?
Code switching by definition is: “The use of one dialect, register, accent, or language variety over another, depending on cultural context, to project a specific identity.”
Maybe a more pertinent definition for this article comes from Harvard Business Review: “Code Switching is adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression in ways that will optimize the comfort of others in exchange for fair treatment, quality service, and employment opportunities.”
There’s been a lot of talk about this lately, so you might be thinking “I don’t know if I agree with all this” but you can let down your guard. This blog is just to show that code switching exists, explain why it can affect performance, and to give you some ideas to encourage people that may feel out of the conversation to join in.
At the Olympics in 2016, Barack Obama went viral for giving a standard handshake to an assistant coach and then immediately giving a full embrace to Kevin Durant, after USA Basketball won the gold medal.
Why did Barack Obama change the way he greeted Kevin Durant from handshake to “man-hug”? It’s obvious that his level of comfort was different with KD. He allowed himself to share a more genuine moment because he felt secure that both parties were okay with it.
This is all normal and not always negative. I speak to my nephew differently than my father. Who’s getting the REAL me? Am I being fake? No. Neither is getting every facet of my personality at once (and honestly, who would want that?). We all navigate the world, trying to adjust for perceived differences. Communicating our thoughts through these differences allows us to understand and empathize with each other. We do this mostly subconsciously, just as members of an orchestra are acutely aware of each other’s tempo, volume, pitch, etc. At the same time, we mute out things that are discordant, things we don’t think will be understood or accepted by the listener.
Why do we do it?
It’s easy to be comfortable when you’re surrounded by your inner circle. Whether you share the same experiences (friends, coworkers) or a shared background (the same hometown, the same university, the same profession, the same ethnicity), some commonalities instill trust.
Contrast that with how it feels to be a “visitor”. You could be in another city, state or country. You have the feeling that no one is looking out for you or rooting for your success. You’re more dependent on people to find your way around. If something bad happens, you can’t be confident you’ll get the benefit of the doubt.
For example, you’ve been invited to Thanksgiving Dinner for the first time by a family you don’t know very well. Would you tell them an off-color joke? Would you root against their team during the football game? Of course you wouldn’t. You just try to fit in. You show a vanilla version of yourself. Being a vanilla version of yourself is better than giving strangers the wrong impression.
Similarly, when confronted with a room full of people, we all examine the situation carefully before we decide who we’re going to talk to or what we might say to them. Sometimes it takes another person to make us feel more welcome.
Last year, a few coworkers and I went on a tour of a partner DMO to meet with clients. One of the days we were there, we scheduled a meeting at a yacht club. I entered that room with trepidation since I’d never been within a mile of a yacht club. The closest thing I could imagine was a scene from the movie Caddyshack—rich guys in captain’s caps eating caviar and talking about vacationing in The Hamptons.
As soon as the conference room door was opened, I immediately felt uncomfortable. For some reason, I thought it’d be appropriate to wear a Hawaiian shirt. Of course, when we got there everyone else was in a jacket and tie. Sticking out like a sore thumb, I hid in a corner and was counting the seconds before we could leave. As I waited there, a guy I had never seen before immediately started walking toward me from the opposite side of the room. When he got to me, he extended his hand and said:
I immediately felt more at ease…
He told me his name was Walter. I found out later that he’s the chief of police in his town. Even though, on the surface, we had very little in common, at that moment, he felt like he had more in common with me than any of the other people in that room.
I thought to myself:
He’s Black, I’m Asian.
He’s Texan, I’m not.
He’s dressed appropriately, I’m not.
He knows everyone there, I know no one.
But, despite these differences, just by seeing each other, we felt a little more like it was okay to be there and to be ourselves. I thought it’s crazy that one of the highest ranking officers in the city felt strongly enough to single me out because, he thought, by being a minority, I was the closest person to him in a room full of people. Either that, or he saw I was stressed out and knew he could help. Either way, it worked!
Code switching at work
You might be able to pass as a simpler version of yourself most of the time, the problem is feeling like you have to be a vanilla version of yourself at work. For most people, to excel at work, it takes everything you have. Trying to perform while maintaining a facade can make this impossible. Code switching at work manifests itself in a lot of different ways and some are hard to recognize.
Here are some examples:
- Women changing their tone or cracking lewd jokes to be part of a “boys club.”
- People of color changing their natural hairstyles to “look more corporate” or comply with white-centered dress codes.
- Foreign language speakers trying to reduce their accent or not feeling comfortable speaking to one another in public.
- Non-binary individuals wearing traditional-gendered clothing in the office.
Personally, when I feel out of place, I find myself:
- Walking around smiling no matter how I feel.
- Being silent when I have STRONG OPINIONS.
- Giving deference when I actually don’t agree (being a “yes person”).
Code switching promotes the attitude of “I’m just lucky to be here.” In other words, you’re here at someone else’s expense or by some mistake. Instead of being confident you can take the next step or contribute a surprising idea or expose a flaw in an existing process, you stay silent.
“Covering” is closely related to code switching. Covering is hiding some aspect of yourself because you’re afraid it will affect how others feel about you. Deloitte conducted a survey of over 3000 diverse employees.
- 61% of participants admit to “covering” a part of who they are at the workplace.
- (79% of black people, 67% of women of color, 66% of women, 63% of LatinX) regularly hide some aspect of their identity at work.
- 53% believe it was EXPECTED BY LEADERSHIP to cover up their identity.
As a schoolteacher, Jane Elliott became known for her “Blue eyes vs. Brown eyes” exercise, which she first conducted with her third-grade class on April 5, 1968 (the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.). She did this to show how unfair and arbitrary racial prejudice is.
When explaining the benefits of showing our whole selves, she said, “We don’t need a melting pot…we need a salad bowl. In a salad bowl you put in different things. You want them to maintain their identity. You appreciate the differences.”
A lot of people ask, “Why can’t everyone just learn to be “professional?”. We are taught that we should strive to be a society or a workplace where everyone is the same. I would counter that by asking, “What do we lose when we tell people if you can’t be the same as everyone else you aren’t good enough?”.
Of course, this doesn’t mean there are NO rules to communicating at work. Obviously, there are things that you might be comfortable saying to your closest friends that aren’t suitable for work. But a good idea is a good idea no matter how it’s expressed. We’d have more participation if we prioritize IDEAS over differences in style or vocabulary.
What can you do to encourage people to contribute?
Think about ways to make EVERYONE feel respected and safe. This will be different in different situations, but it means to:
- Aim for inclusion: Listen for signals that someone is uncomfortable speaking up. Sometimes you can sense frustration if you are aware of the problem. Sometimes the person might WANT advice on how to speak at work (or speaking up in general), other times you might have to reach out to them (ask them their opinion until they feel it’s ok). Give people “room” to contribute (don’t talk over them) and ENCOURAGE people to speak up.
- Be an example: Exemplify vulnerability and participation. Show that asking questions and being vocal is a strength. Feel free to speak in a way that’s natural to YOU. Be conscious that “business speak” is dynamic and doesn’t have to be the same for everyone.
- Reach out: Create safe places where we openly talk about tough topics for underrepresented people. This is something we’re doing at Madden Media with our Employee Resource Groups.
When we share more of ourselves, we benefit from everyone’s unique experiences. Here are some details about me:
- I’m the youngest of 7 kids.
- I was in choir all four years of high school.
- I love gardening, and The Golden Girls.
- Now that I’m 50, my favorite exercise is riding my bike around town.
Hearing details about someone’s life can surprise you, but it shouldn’t. Everyone’s life is a tangle of beliefs, burdens, trauma, and dreams that came about from a hundred different experiences, influences, and circumstances.
So, imagine how things would change if everyone felt secure to contribute from their own experiences, fighting for their own ideas, knowing they are respected for their unique contributions, knowing their opinions are taken seriously, being encouraged to admit when they need help.
If more people felt free to contribute EVERY ASPECT of their personal experience, not only would that benefit the company, EVERYONE would feel a part of that success. | {
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Curated by Éclat Crew. Directed by Ray Wassef for Shenanz TV. Supported by Musicboard Berlin.
Ray is behind the camera as Éclat Crew presents a live stream series featuring female* / trans / non-binary electronic music producers. Each episode of ‘Éclat Isolation Sessions’ features a live performance, directed, captured and streamed by Ray. Watch the full playlist here:
Under the guise of his electronic music project Ori Moto, Ray began Shenanz TV during lockdown as a channel to present his and his fellow Berlin electronic music makers’ producer-DJ sets (watch now on Ray Mann TV).
Now, Shenanz TV teams up with Éclat Crew, a music-making collective for female*, trans and non-binary electronic music producers, and Musicboard Berlin to present this live stream series of performances. | {
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A Florida parent has been harshly criticized for raising their children as gender neutral.
Ari Dennis is a 30-year-old who identifies as non-binary. They have two children, Hazel, eight, and Sparrow, one.
Appearing on TV programme Good Morning Britain today (6 March), Dennis explained their decision to raise their children as non-binary and using they/them pronouns.
Forcing gender on children is toxic
The guest also revealed they live in a multi-adult household and raise their children with two other adults, both transgender. Dennis is married to one and is in a relationship with the other.
Journalist Piers Morgan struggled to understand the reasoning behind Dennis’s choice to raise Hazel and Sparrow as theybies. He repeatedly pressed Dennis to explain their decision.
Morgan said: ‘I’m sorry to be a stick in the mud here.’
‘A two-year-old child hasn’t got a Scooby Doo about any of this stuff. The idea that you as a parent would even countenance the idea that a two-year-old child has any ability to form a serious conception of gender is ridiculous and actually damaging to that child.’
Dennis replied deeming ‘toxic’ to raise children with a gender.
‘Well, then, in that case, if a two-year-old child has no ability to conceptualize what gender is, isn’t it toxic that at two you’re telling someone you’re a boy because of their anatomy,’ they said.
‘If a two-year-old as a boy has no conception of what that is, doesn’t it make more sense that if a two-year-old doesn’t have any ability to process what it is, don’t process what gender is, let them be what they are which is a toddler. Which is really more toxic?’
They then went on to accuse Morgan of childism.
‘The idea you as a parent would even countenance the idea that a two-year-old could make their own decision,’ Piers continued.
‘I think frankly, I put it to you respectfully, is utterly ridiculous.’
‘Isn’t it toxic and bizarre that at two we conceptualize what a child’s gender is?’
‘I feel like what you’re expressing is a bit of childism,’ Dennis also told Morgan.
‘You’re against children making their own decisions,’ co-host Susanna Reid clarified.
Twitter had mixed reactions
The conversation continued on social media, where some are criticizing Dennis for their choice.
Never seen quite such a load of nonsense. The woman Ari Dennis is clearly not of sound mind and is a great attention seeker! Why give air time to these people?
— Diana Dabrera (@didabrera) March 6, 2019
Is this Ari Dennis a real thing or a parody?? Like seriously?? This is a joke right? 😅 #GMB
— Vin Nee (@Vinlad84) March 6, 2019
While others are praising them for staying calm despite Morgan’s questions.
Ari Dennis was great. Very calm and articulate. There's plenty of psychology studies to show how gender is "forced" on a baby. Ari has set themselves up for a tough job and I quite admire that.
— JayneSmith (@JayneSmith) March 6, 2019
@GMB well done Ari Dennis for presenting a dignified response all through that interview.
— Carol Metcalfe (@CarolMetcalfe18) March 6, 2019
Well done Ari Dennis for putting up with some small minded TV presenters representing an undereducated British public. Was quite obvious you weren’t going to be able to open their minds at all #gmb #gender
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(LOS ANGELES) — Justin Timberlake’s new movie Palmer debuts on Apple TV+ today. Justin stars as Eddie Palmer, a high school football star-turned-ex-con, who returns to his home town and begins mentoring a non-binary young boy abandoned by his mother. Director Fisher Stevens wasn’t entirely convinced that Justin Timberlake was the right guy for the movie, but the pop star soon changed his mind.
“I have to say, the minute I met him and the intelligence he had discussing the script…he discussed the script better than most actors I’ve ever met or worked with,” Stevens tells ABC Audio. “Like, he is an actor. He just…happens to be an actor who makes a living as a pop star. But he’s just as much an actor…in his intelligence and his approach to the role.”
It was Leonardo DiCaprio‘s manager who recommended that Stevens cast Justin in the movie. And while Justin was interested, Stevens said he waited eight months to actually commit to the part. But when he did, Stevens said, the singer impressed him.
“He just got into it, man, he just started losing himself,” Stevens recalls. “He just started talking to people who were in prison, and he started lifting weights…he’s a chameleon.”
In fact, Stevens notes, “One of the comments I’ve been hearing quite a bit about the movie is like, ‘Oh, my God, I forgot it was Justin Timberlake within like two minutes of the film."”
But what really impressed Stevens was going to one of JT’s concerts.
“I was like, ‘Woah!"” he laughs. “I mean, Jesus! The power…the guy held 22,000 people [in the palm of his hand]. I mean, that’s a skill. That’s a beautiful thing for my movie too: Someone who has that kind of charisma.”
By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. | {
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Originally posted by Helen Saxby at Not The News in Briefs
I was born a female baby. I was not ‘assigned female at birth’, I was born female and this fact was noted: an F rather than an M went on my notes. The word ‘female’ in humans means the same as it does in other animals, that is: the sex which has the capacity to carry young and give birth. When people insist on using the phrase ‘assigned female at birth’ they are suggesting there is a choice being made, and that choice is dependant on belief systems, but actually, except in the rare cases of people born intersex, there is no choice involved at all. Your sex simply is. The fact that it is ‘written down’ does not mean it has been ‘assigned’.
Now that’s been cleared up, let’s move on to gender. Gender is not sex: it is a set of characteristics commonly *associated* with your sex. Unlike sex, the meaning of gender is open to interpretation and its meaning can change, because it is a social construct rather than a biological fact, and social constructs are open to discussion and opinion. However, even if you mean gender and not sex when you are talking about being ‘assigned at birth’, this is still inaccurate. I was not ‘assigned a female gender’ at birth, I was simply born female, this was noted, and then I had gendered things thrown at me accordingly.
Originally posted by Rebecca Reilly-Cooper at More radical with age
An oft-repeated mantra among proponents of the notion of gender identity is that “gender is not a binary, it’s a spectrum”. The basic idea is that what makes gender oppressive is not, as the radical feminist analysis would have it, that it is an externally imposed set of norms prescribing and proscribing behaviour to individuals in accordance with morally arbitrary biological characteristics, and coercively placing them in one of two positions in a hierarchy. Rather, the problem is that we recognise only two possible genders. Thus humans of both sexes could be liberated if we recognised that while gender is indeed an internal, essential facet of our identity, there are more genders than just “man” or “woman” to choose from. And the next step on the path towards liberation is the recognition of a range of new gender identities, so we now have people referring to themselves as “genderqueer” or “non-binary” or “pangender” or “agender” or “demiboy” or “demigirl” or “aliagender” or “genderfuck” or “trigender” or “neutrois” or “aporagender” or “ectogender” or “veloxigender”…I could go on.
Originally posted at Feminists Unknowns
- How do I know if an individual is non-binary?
A common mistake is to think it’s okay simply to ask. Please don’t do this; it’s rude and individuals could find it triggering. Fortunately there are easy ways to tell. Is this individual a human being? If the answer is yes, then this person is inherently non-binary (NB one can be human regardless of whether one is male or female).
Gender is, after all, a hierarchical system of oppression arising from sex difference. People express and identify themselves in ways which overlap with presumed manifestations of sex-based oppression and/or dominance. Why they do so depends on many factors: social conditioning, class, fear of violence, caring responsibilities, economic advantage, innate personality traits. They ought to have every right to do so, but no one can claim to be more “non-binary” than the next. No one naturally identifies with being oppressed and no one is simply born to be considered inferior.
- Hang on, I thought only me, my mates and a few famous arty types, most of whom are male, were allowed to be non-binary?
Then I am guessing you are young-ish, quite possibly a student or a writer, certainly not a post-menopausal woman (urgh! cis!), and your beliefs are based partly on a very sensible critique of gender and partly on a fuckload of privilege. | {
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Finalist 2020 Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction
$18.95 CDN / $17.95 US | Trade Paperback
Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams is the story of B, a young non-binary woman coming of age in the Montreal music scene. As she witnesses her friends struggling with mental illness and drug addiction, she also must deal with her own craft, the nepotism of the industry, and maintaining her transient lifestyle. Lucid, subconscious, introverted, and taking B from Montreal to Los Angeles, Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams is an intimate perspective on the life of making music. | {
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Sareta Fontaine is a writer, award-winning creative and founder of #WWR Digital Magazine.
Sareta Fontaine launched her career in 2005 as a professional freelance make-up artist, making global waves in the fashion and music industries. She quickly established her personal brand, ‘Sareta Gabriel, Make-Up Is My Art!’ by showcasing her work and portfolio online and becoming a content creator and digital marketing leader.
With her expertise in the beauty industry, Sareta has worked with renowned names in the fashion and music industries. From Richard Shoyemi, International Fashion Stylist, to RANKIN, a British Photographer; Azealia Banks, Ms Dynamite and Shystie to Booty Luv – the British dance group duo of Cherise Roberts & Nadia Shepherd – Sareta’s portfolio includes published editorials and covers in esteemed publications such as RWD and Oyster Magazine.
Sareta Fontaine found love in the form of Danny Fontaine, a talented musician and creative, and changed her name to reflect their union.
Sareta developed her own online video series, Sareta TV, collaborating with Akua Gyamfi, the founder of The British Blacklist. Through this project, they provided viewers with an in-depth look into the world of professional make-up artistry and other related media professions. On-screen, Sareta demonstrated her expertise in make-up artistry by shooting tutorials with fashion models. Behind the scenes, she also captured Akua’s interviews with music artists.
The mini-series reached a high point when it featured Sabrina Washington, the iconic British singer who first gained recognition as the lead vocalist of Mis-Teeq, a garage/R&B girl group. Sareta TV had exclusive access to shoot behind-the-scenes footage of Sabrina’s music video, OMG (Gosh), and conducted interviews with the artist and creative team.
Fueled by her passion for fashion, photography and writing, Sareta launched her career in creative media. With a portfolio of stunning imagery and an award-winning blog, she quickly gained recognition for her artistry and entrepreneurial spirit.
Having honed her skills in make-up artistry, styling, photography, video production and content creation, Sareta established Dirt & Glitter as a successful business venture. Her products were featured in ICON Magazine, and she went on to create Kiki Blah-Blah – a lifestyle blog that won three prestigious awards: ‘The Next Big Thing’ 2017 – UK Thirty Plus Awards; Business Social Influencer 2018; and Business Lifestyle 2018 – UK Blog Awards.
Sareta Fontaine achieved her first writing credit with the comedy short “Insta Mum”, which was inspired by her own experiences as a “mummy blogger”. Her work was primarily visual, yet she had an undeniable passion for writing which was quickly recognised by Davinia Andrew-Lynch, who subsequently became her literary agent.
Sareta’s innovative approach to visual art and storytelling saw her quickly gain recognition, resulting in an online audience of over 14K followers across social media platforms. She collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Google, Most Wanted Wines, Care Bears, Disney and more. In 2019 she was shortlisted for the ‘Best Story Pin’ award by Pinterest UK.
Her business acumen and creative prowess have been instrumental in forming her brand, and she is now firmly focused on her career.
Sareta’s online shop is a one-stop destination for unique and exclusive greetings cards and postcards featuring her stunning photography and cutting-edge graphic design. With plans to expand her store by adding more amazing brands and products, Sareta is sure to make it a go-to destination for all your gifting needs.
Fast-forward to 2021, Sareta added ‘podcaster’ to her extensive list of creative skills. She produced the acclaimed shows ‘Come Wine With Me’ and ‘Women Who Rebrand‘, which later developed into a digital magazine, #WWR. This career journey allowed Sareta to explore her creativity, acquire new abilities, work on international projects, and collaborate with notable names and Brands in media. Drawing upon all that she had learned over the years, Sareta founded a platform for female and non-binary writers to share their unique perspectives and expertise through her digital magazine.
At #WWR, they create content that inspires and motivates women & non-binary people to express themselves through their unique perspectives and experiences. The UK-based lifestyle platform provides a safe space for their community to share stories, advice and expertise on topics such as careers, relationships and health & well-being. They strive to empower their readers by amplifying the voices of those who are often unheard or underrepresented in mainstream media. By doing so, they hope to foster meaningful conversations that will lead to positive change in the lives of women & non-binary people everywhere.
The digital magazine is a beacon of guidance, motivation and empowerment for its readers, helping them explore key topics, recognise life’s challenges and encourage growth. It is home to the ‘Women Who Rebrand’ podcast – a series of inspiring conversations with hosts and guests discussing topical categories from the magazine. The series is available on all great podcast platforms and, in 2022, was featured as a recommended podcast on Podbible.com.
Sareta aims to enrich its community’s journey of self-discovery through this fantastic digital magazine.
“We were privileged to have Sareta on one of our panels. She brought so much cool and relatability, which really resonated with our guests. Sareta is such a delight, glamorous, funny, authentic and did we say funny? The dopest mum out there!”
– Yvadney & Nikki, Mums That Rave
Mums That Rave 2019 – Guest Panelist PHOTO: JXMMXN
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S3 E22 Candlework & Colours
S3 E21 Exorcisms
All things empath, spiritual, witchy, unexplained and spooky! The official Podcast of the Goddess Temple, Twickenham.
Sareta Fontaine joins the podcast as a special guest to discuss spooky topics… View
10 Black British lifestyle influencers to follow
You’ve heard about the A-List
We have something even better: The B List! Like our Brilliance in Blogging Awards, our B List — the official name is The BritMums List — celebrates noteworthy Influencers. With the B List, we name, highlight and celebrate an increasing number of Influencers with a diverse group of skills and talents… View
POINTS OF VIEW BBC
The show that lets you air your views on the BBC’s television programmes.
Sareta & Danny Fontaine appeared on the long-running series, allowing them to share their opinions about ‘Together‘, a comedy-drama shown on BBC One.
This would be Sareta’s and Danny’s third appearance together on reality TV.
THE WANDERING MOTHER
Beauty Review: Lola’s Lashes Amethyst Magnetic Lash + Liner Kit
Lola’s Lashes is a UK brand is a hot topic on everyone’s lips and is all the rage over Instagram. I’ve seen it advertised for a while now but never thought to give it a try until an amazing blogger/influencer I once met and followed on IG, @HeySareta, reviewed it… View
EASTERN DAILY PRESS
Celebrating the warts and all parents who tell it like it really is
We still do have the yummy mummy brigade who look like models, live lives of the rich and famous, and always look (at least) like everything is brilliant; we do have some absolutely fab influencers, bloggers and celebrities who have embraced the slummy mummy ‘sharenting’ just as much as the golden hours… View
BABES ABOUT TOWN
BLACK JOY MATTERS: A CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR ALL AGES
Sareta is an influencer known for creating hilarious and quirky content on Instagram, and as half of the duo (Cee and Sareta) behind the fab YouTube series Come Wine With Me. Her online shop features cards, postcards and other stationery that reflect her fun-loving personality and pop culture references… View
‘SNL’: Megan Thee Stallion Applauded for ‘Protect Black Women’ Declaration During ‘Savage’ Performance
Megan Thee Stallion was the musical guest on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live this weekend, and her powerful “protect Black women” message is still making waves on social media. The rapper started with a performance of her hit song “Savage,” and in between verses, she gave new meaning to the title with a speech about systemic racism. This display included stylized set-pieces reading: “Protect Black Women”… View
Being an Ally – Black Lives Matters
It is times like these are a reminder that those of us with a platform – a voice, who are not people of colour, should be using that platform to educate ourselves and to support black voices, black movements, and black causes rather than witter on about how guilty we feel for unintentionally perpetuating racism. Feel Fit believes that every colour, size, shape, and age matters, and we want to use our platform to help… View
UK Black Influencers – a directory
I recently shared two lists on my original blog, Circus Mums, highlighting some of my favourite Black bloggers in the UK and UK-based Black travel bloggers. Although these lists have been extremely popular, they are now outdated. To ensure that I’m providing the most up-to-date information, I reached out on Instagram a few weeks ago for suggestions of UK-based Black influencers to add to my list… View
Video Shows Man Calling Police on Black Men Using Shared Office Gym
Tom Austin lost his office lease after the incident at a shared office space went viral, the Star Tribune reports. Stuart Ackerberg, CEO of Ackerberg Group, which owns the building, spoke to Austin and told him that he could’ve handled the encounter differently. “I shared with him that I did not think it was handled well, and there are other ways to go about this,” Ackerberg said… View
YOUR AUNTIES NEVER COULD PODCAST
‘AUNTY SARETA’, PODCAST GUEST CO-HOST
Ever wondered what it sounds like when your favourite aunties get together to right the world’s wrongs? Wonder no more! With old-school wisdom, while keeping it real, The Aunties – Aunty Ak, Aunty Farrah, Aunty Nana, Aunty Sade and Aunty Nana discuss the latest news and celebrity gossip… View
Vegetarian food company’s new ad condemned for suggesting being queer is a ‘lifestyle choice
The ad from Gosh! Food begins with the boy’s sister telling the camera: “This is it, he’s going to tell them.” The boy nervously approaches his parents, who exchange bewildered looks as he says: “There’s something you need to know… View
COUNTING TO TEN
THE MUM OF 3 BLOGGERS YOU WILL WANT TO FOLLOW
If you are about to have your 3rd child and you want to find out more about what it’s like or you already have 3 children and you are looking for some families like you here is a list of some of my favourite bloggers and Instagram mums with 3 children… View
SCUMMY MUMMIES PODCAST
EPISODE 167: SARETA FONTAINE ON BLOGGING, SCREENTIME AND ONLINE SAFETY
Our guest for this episode is the legendary award-winning blogger Sareta Fontaine! We discuss a range of topics from what it means to be an influencer to keeping your kids safer online, and how to manage screentime… View
MUMS THAT RAVE
The first Mums That Rave Xmas party at The Curtain Club, London. All the sequins, all the moves and all the tunes, starting with a panel discussion with Sareta Fontaine and Julie Hawksworth, with glitter lips and brows by Lipcote and M&S giveaways… View
PINTEREST AWARDS 2019
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST STORY PIN
Pinners nominated their favourite UK inspiration, products and tips. Best Story Pin — our latest most immersive Pin format… View
POWER 95.1 FM
DISCOVER GRENADA: PRESS TRIP
Discover Grenada – Welcome to the official destination account of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.The Spice of the Caribbean….” While on a press trip to Grenada, Sareta, along with guests that were invited to Power 95.1 to discuss what they had been up to… View
MUMSNET | 02
HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY SHOULD CHILDREN USE?
How much technology should children have access to? When should they get their first phone? Does screen time affect kids?… View
MUMS THAT SLAY
HUSTLE & SLAY: AN EVENING OF MAMA STYLE, SELF LOVE AND SUCCESS
Mums That Slay presents ‘Hustle and Slay’, an evening of career success, self-love and style for mothers. Join us for a no-messing panel discussion to motivate and inspire you to live your best lives… View
DISNEY JUNIOR UK
Join TV star, and mum to two boys, Helen Skelton as she talks to Matt Farquharson (@Papa_Pukka) and Sareta Fontaine (@HeySareta) about their best ‘Parenting Hacks’ to make life that little bit easier… View
MUMSNET | LIDL
6 LUNCH BOX HACKS AND TRICKS
In a rut with lunch boxes? Sareta from the blog Kiki Blah-Blah shares six of her favourite hacks for school lunch boxes that will get the kids excited and eating up. Less waste more fun! … View
DISNEY UK: HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE 5 YEAR OLDS!
Ziggy and Zachary met up with a few other fab kids to discuss how to make friends, featuring a very special lil’ lady, Vampirina!… View
GROUP B STREP SUPPORT
GUEST BLOG: MY BIRTH STORY
“I’m a mother of three boys, and each one of their births was different. My eldest contracted Group B Strep infection, and he seems to have been suffering ever since… Read more.
UK BLOG AWARDS
WINNER: UK BLOG AWARDS
UK, London, 20 April 2018 – Kiki Blah-Blah announced today that it had won the categories for best Business Lifestyle 2018 and Business Social Influencer 2018 in the 5th annual UK BLOG AWARDS… View
ASOS PRAISED FOR FEATURING PLUS-SIZE MODEL VIVIAN EYO-EPHRAIM #REPRESENTATIONMATTERS
It’s a great feeling seeing people and characters who embodies us in every way. British online fashion and beauty store ASOS continues to demonstrate the importance of representation in media. In its latest 2018 swimwear, the site featured pictures of plus-size model Vivian Eyo-Ephraim looking breathtaking in a yellow bikini. Fashionistas and fans immediately took to Twitter to praise the brand for body diversity and representation. See the reactions… View
HOW TO TRANSITION TO NATURAL HAIR BY WOMEN WHO’VE BEEN THERE
Not ready to reach for the scissors? “I didn’t go for the big chop,” says Sareta. “I waited – I needed hair! Instead, I just put in braids for the first six months to give it a break and let it grow and do its own thing… View
ZIP IT UP!
‘I’m really anti-hoarding so I keep things neat and tidy in jazzy wallets. With three boys always leaving toys/artwork/ books around, it’s nice that the living room is free of kiddie clutter. My keepsake wallets have fun memories stored away nicely, fitting in with our quirky, modern-meets-retro space.’ Sareta, mum to Dylan, 11, Zachary, 8 and Ziggy, 3; @heysareta
THIRTY PLUS AWARDS
The bloggersphere is full to the brim (and ever expanding,) showcasing the talent and uniqueness that men and women have to offer. However, many talents go unnoticed and unrecognised –, especially in the 30+ category.
In order to celebrate as many blogs as possible, the ‘Thirty Plus Blog Awards’ aims to put the control back into the hands of the bloggersphere and celebrate the array of talent that currently exists. This is more than just ‘another blog award’ – this is a celebration in every sense of the word, which illustrates the dedication and passion that goes into running a blog. THE NEXT BIG THING: Winner: Kiki Blah-Blah (Sareta Fontaine)… View
Britain’s health service uses long Twitter thread to explain why it needs more black people to donate blood
The NHS, Britain’s national health service, has launched into a long Twitter thread to explain why it’s calling for more black people to donate blood.
The thread was praised by many people on Twitter…
HASHTAG INSTA MUM!
In January this year, we were approached by Katy Poulter who is an actress, scriptwriter and producer, who along with her business partner Francesca Marie Claire are part of a film and TV production company called Masked Pony Productions.
I chuckled as I watched as this is so like Sareta’s Insta life and true to real life!…
CAMP BESTIVAL 2017: MUD AND RAIN FAIL TO DAMPEN THE SPIRITS OF FESTIVAL-GOERS
The weather has led to a small number of issues, but most revellers are still enjoying themselves.
The south-west has been subject to a proper downpour this weekend, with more rain expected as we go into August.
But that hasn’t stopped people enjoying themselves at Camp Bestival in Dorset, in spite of the rain turning parts of the site into mud…
LIFE WITH MY LITTLE DUCK
ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK
Karma, Breastfeeding and being Dairy free.
So for today, I have a great post from a lovely lady that I am afraid to say I stalk on a regular basis; I am a true fan of her insta story duets with the hubby and how to raise 3 boys, a mini dog and cat ( I actually have no idea how she makes it look so darn stylish). Sareta, like me, has a little one with dairy-free needs and she has kindly shared her story of how having a little one with dietary issues can have many hard times and can often be a long journey of worries and stresses… View
MUMS THAT SLAY
THE NEW YEAR MAMA SLAY LIST – PART 2
“It feels as if the last few years have been a struggle. I’ve somehow lost myself in the notion of what a good mother means. Recently a lightbulb came on and…”- Sareta Fontaine
THE FMLY STORE
MAMA STARS “BOYFRIEND’ SWEATSHIRT GIOVANNA FLETCHER X SELFISH MOTHER
Our philosophy is that style should not only look good but do good, too. 50%* from the sale of this #GoodTees design goes to MOTHER2MOTHERS, who employ, train and empower mothers living with HIV, called Mentor Mothers, to end paediatric AIDS… View | {
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Android dating app
Links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. You sating people, talk to them, and maybe start dating if enough sparks fly. There are some dating apps out there that can help this process along. However, based on our research, dating apps in general still need major improvements.
Home » Dating » Apps » Android. We have compiled a list of the best dating app for Android and, spoiler alert, the best dating apps on the market are totally available in your app store. Android propaganda fool you, it https://magnanova-festival.de/magazines/how-to-make-a-conversation-on-tinder.php easy to find love no matter what android dating app of mobile phone you own! The creator of eHarmony focuses on matching singles based on a super complex russian dating assessment in https://magnanova-festival.de/communication/peer-dating-site.php with relationship goals and basic standards of attraction. In short, you are definitely going to find singles you find interesting, attractive, and compatible. Their platform is consistently updated to make it simple to use on Android, which dting one of the most important aspects of online dating. This lack of limitations makes eHarmony one of the best dating apps for Android.
6 Best Dating Apps for Android - () Top Picks
There are many well-known dating apps for Android, including free Android dating datinb. In this guide, we take a look at apps that offer you the most for what you pay to help you choose the best apps for you. Read on to take a look at the best dating apps for Android. Table of contents [ Age of Hide ]. Dating is different for everybody, and there are various apps to choose from based on your lifestyle and relationship expectations. Below you can find custom recommendations for the best dating apps datng Android for different dating communities. These are some of the leading dating apps in the match-making market.
Those that do cost money most of them are fairly expensive. Here are the best dating apps for Android. Additionally, the prices for dating apps changes a lot with little notice several times per year. Prices are approximate. We still recommend the usual methods of dating, including friend introductions, public places, Facebook, and the other usual suspects. One more thing. That removes a significant percentage of dating apps from Google Play.
Hit the link for more details. Almost all dating apps have a few features in common. That includes location-based results, profiles, and some method of communication.
All ten of the dating apps on this list have those features. The first feature, location, makes recommendations from us to you a little difficult. Most big cities have a decent supply of potential matches for most types of people.
However, your success in any given dating app is ultimately reliant on how popular that app is in your area. This is why Tinder is so popular. Tinder is popular basically everywhere, so there is a healthy selection of matches in the most well-populated areas. Something a little more niche, like Happn or Bumble, may not have a huge user base in your area and, thus, matches be rarer than you would like.
Before we get started, our blanket recommendation for everyone is to find the apps with a larger user base in your area. That helps ensure you get plenty of matches, and by extension, a higher chance of finding someone actually compatible with you.
Additionally, all dating apps have some sort of pay-wall for actually meeting people and that makes the entire segment a little bit seedy. The best way to meet people is still social gatherings and events for the most part. However, some people get lucky with these sorts of apps so we still made a list for it. Bumble is one of those dating apps that tries to shake things up. However, women get to initiate chats first. In homosexual matches, either one can go first.
Many have touted this as a way to weed out creepy people. The app does, in fact, show you possible matches and it gives you the opportunity to talk to new people. We do like it for non-straight people, though, since they do get the classic dating experience without any bottlenecks.
Clover is an up-and-coming dating app. It offers the ability to set up dates, join mixers, find events, and a lot more. Unlike most, this one boasts a free chat. You can also set your profile to just look for friends instead of dating. That makes it somewhat decent for platonic relationships as well.
Signing up for Grindr is easy and the app is easy to use. After you create your profile, you can start chatting with other users and filter profiles by location. OkCupid is easy-to-use and has a lot to offer. You choose your criteria, and their algorithm presents you with matches that might interest you. Her is an app geared toward bisexual and queer women as well as non-binary women from the LGBTQ community.
Her is more than a dating app: it is a social network with a newsfeed and shareable content. You can like, match, and message other members for free. Below are some Android apps that are popular for singles over OurTime has a complete set of features:. Plenty of Fish is one of the best dating apps for Android for a broad audience. The app has extensive filtering options that let you browse the profiles of singles aged 50 and above.
POF is highly rated by its users. Here are some of the best dating apps for Android if you want to meet international singles. Qpid Network is an app available on Google Play that lets users access several dating sites intended for meeting singles from around the world.
These include:. Here are some answers to common questions that users have about the best dating apps for Android. Zoosk offers users an enhanced identity verification system that ensures their personal information is safe. Additionally, Zoosk has great safe dating tips available on the Android app. The apps we have covered all offer a variety of features and functions that may help you start dating.
You can try them all out before committing to a specific app. JDate brings marriage-focused singles from around the world right to your fingertips.
The app even has some of the best moderation and security to give you some peach of mind. Online dating with Android is easy and safe as long as you follow a few basic tips.
Take a look at this guide to prepare yourself for a successful online dating experience. We have shown you a lot of options for online dating on Android. While we believe each app is a great choice for singles, you should try the app that best suits your needs. If you have a strong religious background, you might have better luck on one of the niche religious app options. As with any online dating app, the best dating apps for Android need to be approached with an eye for safety.
There are a lot of singles on these apps, which means you and your matches will be given a lot of choices. Remember that your perfect match is out there, you just need to find them. Brandi Brown is a daytime copywriter and nighttime novelist. Her projects range from marketing content and commercial scripts all the way to narrative poetry and short fiction. Her debut novel, Bleached, is set to release in So, if you are ready to find love, give one of these fantastic dating apps a try. | {
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House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee inquiry into Freedom of Expression Online
Question: Is freedom of expression under threat online? If so, how does this impact individuals differently, and why?
Talking about the two sexes can lead to loss of social media accounts
“You may not promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”
are routinely used by activists to report women talking about the material reality of sex in order to silence them.
○ @Ellierestless “you are one unpleasant bloke”
○ @helensaxby “in the last decade in the UK a male transgender person was more likely to murder someone than be murdered”
○ @beajaspert “We need to talk about male violence. Males kill trans women. Males kill women. Males kill men. Most killers are male - vastly, disproportionately. Very, very few killers are female. Lets take action together to #stopmale violence.
○ @angels_ackiz “All rapists are men. In UK law, rape is a crime only committed by a person with a penis. Twitter ban
○ @havkom “Men are not women. Women don't have penises. Lesbians are female homosexuals.”
○ @renee_jg “Believe what you want dude”.
Talking about the material reality of sex online can lead to people being targeted at work
● Dr Eva Poen of the University of Exeter was accused of “abhorrent bigotry” after she posted on social media that only women can have periods. In response to a post on Twitter calling for a fitness app to change its wording from “female health” to “menstrual health”, she said: “Only female people menstruate. Only female people go through menopause. ‘Female health’ is exactly what this is about.” A student complained to the university, claiming that her comments were making transgender people “live in fear” and demanding that she “stop spreading vitriol”.
● Selina Todd, a professor of modern history at Oxford, has been accused by students of being “transphobic” on the basis of her tweets and speeches. The students claimed that: “The power dynamics of providing a platform to Selina Todd in the name of ‘academic free speech’ means putting trans and non-binary members of our community into the position of having to defend their right to exist. Her views refuse to acknowledge that trans women ARE women, that trans women’s rights ARE women’s rights.”
● Allison Bailey, a criminal defence barrister; feminist; lesbian; lifelong campaigner for racial equality, lesbian, gay and bisexual rights; and survivor of child sexual abuse, opened a crowdfunder to finance the legal costs in a discrimination case that she is pursuing against her chambers and Stonewall. After receiving complaints, the platform she was using to raise funds to support her case, CrowdJustice, closed her crowdfunder, saying that her background information breached its policy against “discriminatory or hateful content”, with “gratuitously violent language and accusations regarding trans people”. In fact, it consisted of careful, factual statements citing government statistics and an account of her own experience of sexual abuse as a child.
● Maya Forstater, a researcher, lost her job at the Centre for Global Development after colleagues expressed concern about her writing and tweeting about gender identity and sex. She is pursuing a belief discrimination case in the employment tribunal. An appeal on the question of whether her belief is a protected belief is due to be heard in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in April.
Saying something mildly offensive can lead to criminal investigation
● Harry Miller posted a number of tweets between November 2018 and January 2019 about transgender issues as part of the debate about reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004. In one tweet Mr Miller wrote: “I was assigned mammal at birth, but my orientation is fish. Don't mis-species me.” This tweet was among several reported to Humberside Police as “transphobic” by a Mrs B. Humberside Police told Mr Miller that although the tweets were not criminal, “they were upsetting many members of the transgender community who were upset enough to report them to the police”. It later turned out that this was not true. There was only one report. “
● Sarah Phillimore is a barrister and a campaigner on sex and gender issues. She was contacted by an account on Twitter informing her that she had a “record for life” of “hate”, as her tweets had been reported and recorded by the police under “Hate Crimes Operational Guidance”. She requested information from the police and received 12 pages of tweets they had recorded as a transphobic and religiously aggravated “non-crime hate incident”. Phillimore says: “The tweets I posted contained nothing that any reasonable person could describe as 'hatred' - for example one is discussing that my dog likes to eat cheese!”
● Miranda Yardley, a transsexual, was prosecuted for a transgender hate crime after a complainant, who worked on behalf of the charity Mermaids, alleged harassment. Helen Islan frequently campaigns on transgender issues via social media on the basis that she is the mother of a transgender child. Yardley had posted a tweet linking Islan’s full name to her Twitter handle and stating that the “self-interest of Helen Islan is in justifying to herself her decisions to trans her daughter”. The information was contained in a screenshot of a Google search which had also brought up an image of Helen Islan and her children. The CPS unsuccessfully applied for reporting restrictions to prevent Islan’s full name being published (on the basis that this was necessary to send a message to future victims of “transgender hate crime” that the courts would protect them by granting anonymity). The judge stated that there was no evidence of harassment, that issues of freedom of speech, as enshrined in Article 10 of the ECHR, were clearly engaged and that it was a case that the CPS should never have brought.
● Caroline Farrow was reported to police after she referred in a tweet to the child of Mermaid’s CEO Susie Green, who was taken to Thailand at the age of 16 to have sex reassignment surgery. Farrow wrote: “Susie Green is in breach of Samaritans policy about how suicide should be discussed and broached in the media. What she did to her own son is illegal. She mutilated him by having him castrated and rendered sterile while still a child”. Farrow said she was told by police that the complaint was about misgendering. Susie Green later withdrew the complaint and Mermaids issued a statement: “The tweets are a lot more serious than about misgendering. They were allegations of serious misconduct and vile and spiteful personal attacks.” Sex reassignment surgery on under-18s was already illegal in the UK, and was subsequently made illegal in Thailand.
● Linda Bellos OBE, a leading feminist and campaigner for racial equality, was prosecuted for an offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour contrary to section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. The alleged offence arose out of a public event where Bellos stated that “if any one of those bastards comes anywhere near me I will take my glasses off and clock ’em”. She has said she was referring to the attack on Maria MacLachlan at Speakers’ Corner. The event was live-streamed on Facebook by Venice Allan. Giuliana Kendal, a trans woman who had watched the live-streaming of the debate, complained to South Yorkshire Police that she found the remarks threatening as a trans woman. South Yorkshire Police launched a full investigation, including interviewing Bellos under caution. In May 2018 the CPS decided there was no realistic prospect of conviction, taking into account the context in which the words were uttered and the fact that Bellos would have a defence of freedom of speech under Article 10 of the ECHR. Kendal then embarked on a private prosecution of both Bellos (under section 5 Public Order Act) and Allen (under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.) Eventually, in November 2018, the case was dropped after the CPS exercised its statutory powers to take over the prosecution and then discontinued it. Bellos and Allen had to instruct criminal defence lawyers and attend court on three occasions.
● Kate Scottow was prosecuted under s.127 Communications Act 2003 and was found guilty of using a public communications network to “cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety”. Her crime was to write some tweets referring to a person called Stephanie Hayden. In court it was revealed that Hayden, under previous names, had been before criminal courts on 11 occasions for 21 offences and had spent six months in prison for obtaining property by deception. Hayden had obtained an interim injunction, prohibiting Ms Scottow from publishing “any personal information relating to” Ms Hayden “on any social media platform” in either male or female identity. Ms Scottow’s tweets included describing Hayden as “a pig in a wig” and referring to Hayden as “he” or “him”. In court the judge told Scottow that “we teach our children to be kind”. As Kim Thomas wrote in The Spectator:
“Scottow’s tweets were, admittedly, uncivil. But nothing she wrote was worse than what can be seen every day on Twitter and other social media platforms, where thousands of cruel insults and threats are regularly posted without any comeback at all. Hayden herself has referred to people as ‘nutters’ on Twitter. She has also referred to social media site Mumsnet as ‘Nuttersnet’... In 2018, Hayden launched civil proceedings against ‘Father Ted’ writer Graham Linehan for harassment after he allegedly published tweets with her previous male name. The case was later dropped. Scottow was not so lucky. She was arrested and held in a cell for seven hours, and her computer and phone were impounded as evidence for months.”
Hayden admitted during the trial to being a serial litigant in the civil courts. “I am litigious, I put my hands up. I use the law if I feel I have to use the law,” Hayden told the court. Scottow’s conviction was overturned on appeal almost two years after her arrest.
15 January 2020
For example sex matters in areas of life, including in relation to single sex services, healthcare, relationships, sexual orientation, religion, sexual consent, data and statistics and the protection of human rights and non-discrimination.
Stock, K (2021) The sinister attempts to silence gender critical academics, 13 January 2021, The Spectator
Gallus Mag (2018) WordPress censors GenderTrender; Gallus Mag responds, December 6 2018. https://4thwavenow.com/2018/11/17/wordpress-dumps-gendertrender-gallus-mag-responds/
Shepherd, L and Kay, J (2019)
Yaniv’s Other Racket: How a Single Gender Troll Managed to Get ‘Hundreds’ of Women Thrown Off Twitter, August 31, 2019, Quillette. https://quillette.com/2019/08/31/yanivs-other-racket-how-a-single-gender-troll-managed-to-get-hundreds-of-women-thrown-off-twitter/
Karon Monaghan (2020) The Forstater Employment Tribunal judgment: a critical appraisal in light of Miller, UK Labour Law Blog https://uklabourlawblog.com/2020/02/19/the-forstater-employment-tribunal-judgment-a-critical-appraisal-in-light-of-miller-by-karon-monaghan/
Academics and others at British universities targeted for questioning transgender orthodoxy http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sfos0060/GCtargets.shtml
Are academics freely able to criticise the idea of ‘gender identity’ in UK Universities? https://medium.com/@kathleenstock/are-academics-freely-able-to-criticise-the-idea-of-gender-identity-in-uk-universities-67b97c6e04be
Gender Dissidents https://gender-dissidents.net/tag/work/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7978797/amp/Mother-two-called-transgender-woman-man-racist-series-offensive-tweets.html https://www.2harecourt.com/2018/11/30/gudrun-young-successfully-defends-leading-feminist-anti-racist-campaigner-linda-bellos-obe/
Thomas, Kim (2020) I stand with Kate Scottow https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/i-stand-with-kate-scottow | {
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Updated: Jan 16, 2021
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are powerful healing modalities for anyone seeking a holistic approach to their health and well-being. This is true for individuals who identify with their original gender as well as those who identify with a non-binary gender.
Chinese medicine, under which acupuncture is one modality, looks at the unique accumulation of symptoms an individual experiences to better understand what may be at the root of those symptoms. The analogy of a tree is often used in reference to Chinese medicine. Likening a body to a tree, we as practitioners want to address any dis-ease or symptoms in the branches of the tree, as well as what may be originating in the root system of the tree. Typically, we will work with an individual to ease symptoms in the branches before addressing the well-being of the roots in the hopes of providing more immediate relief or resolution of symptoms. Sometimes we opt to use an approach that addresses both the branches and the root.
In Chinese medicine, what is true for individual A is not necessarily true for individual B. There may be similarities, but there are also differences. Chinese medicine takes into account these differences, curtailing each treatment to the current presentation of an individual, while taking into account their unique life experience and health history.
As practitioners, we want to understand your symptom and how it is affecting your life. We want to know how you perceive, feel, and relate to your physical body as well as how you perceive or relate to your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. What does this look like? We want to know whether you feel at home in your body, whether you experience any pain or discomfort in your body. We want to know if your digestion has changed, how sleep may be affected. We want to hear about past trauma, or surgeries. We want to know if you are on any medications or supplements, taking vitamins or hormones. We want to know the stress level you experience and whether symptoms tend to get worse with increased stress. We are curious about your work and living situation and how this impacts your health and well-being.
We often inquire about your predominant emotion and how your mood or emotions may have changed. We want to know whether you feel connected with other people and how you experience yourself in the world. These are all typical questions which inform how we diagnose and treat.
As an East Asian Medicine Practitioner (our official title in Washington state) with extensive experience within the international LGBT community, I find Chinese medicine a ‘natural’ fit for supporting trans health. The ability for Chinese medicine to address the unique symptoms of an individual and to take into account the whole picture lends itself beautifully to supporting individual authenticity and well-being.
At GoodMedizen Acupuncture & Herbs, we strive to offer an environment that welcomes and supports individuals of all genders and those who do not identify with any gender. If you are in Seattle, you can schedule a complimentary consultation to find out how Chinese medicine may benefit your health and well-being at this time. | {
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A newly-discovered ant is the 1st dog types are granted a logical term end with ‘they’, in a tribute to non-binary everyone.
The miniature capture jaws ant from the evergreen exotic woodland of Ecuador has been because of https://www.datingmentor.org/cs/dating-for-seniors-recenze/ the unconventional Latin brand Strumigenys ayersthey.
The ‘they’ suffix after the name’s in determining all non-binary group and a celebration of gender variety.
‘Non-binary’ is definitely a phrase always describe people that never identify as either masculine or feminine.
Non-binary visitors, with Brit pop music celebrity Sam Brown, consequently love to be called ‘they’ and ‘them’ than ‘he’ and ‘him’, or ‘she’ and ‘her’.
a side-view of Strumigenys ayersthey – called the only coinage worldwide for a biological title making use of the suffix -they
NON-BINARY: A PRIMER
‘Non-binary’ is definitely an expression always summarize people who usually do not decide as either masculine or girly.
The notion that there are only two men and women is typically called a ‘gender binary’, because digital would mean ‘having two section’ (men and women).
Consequently, ‘non-binary’ is only one term men and women used to illustrate sexes that dont get into one of them two groups, male or female.
‘Moving forward the “these people” can and really should be utilized for a suffix to newer types for those that would like to be identified beyond the gender binary,’ analysis writer Dr Douglas Booher of Yale institution instructed MailOnline.
Once naming a whole new type, the very first associated with the name in this situation Strumigenys recognizes the genus to which the types belongs, although the second character ayersthey identifies the types within your genus.
‘Ayersthey’ in addition will pay gratitude to Athens, Georgia-based specialist and activist Jeremy Ayers, who died in 2016.
While he wasn’t non-binary, Ayers was a gay dude and an activist for personal legal rights, most notably marginalised neighborhoods and non-binary everyone.
‘inside the character of Jeremy (who does’ve shied outside of themselves getting honored) you can expect a unique suffix choosing kinds labels when working with particular labels,’ Dr Booher claimed.
Unique kind will often be named after someone, like for example experts in some discipline, but common exercise best distinguishes between men and women particular names the finish -ae for someone or -i for one.
The international team of professionals, with detail by detail the type in a conventional report, undertaken to restore this making use of the very first really ‘-they’ suffix.
‘”the two’ recognises non-binary gender identifiers if you wish to reflect current progress in french pronoun usage ‘they, them, her’ and handle an even more comprehensive and expansive comprehension of sex detection,’ the team claim.
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a sight of the top of Strumigenys ayersthey with its notable mandibles – appendages nearby the termite’s jaws
Individuals explain by themselves as non-binary as a result of how they feeling concerning his or her gender personality definition commercially the variety by itself can not discover as non-binary.
Dr Booher stated there had beenn’t any such thing regarding the kind’ actual personality that gained it the non-binary label, nevertheless it symbolizes the spirit of variety just the same.
‘All ant personnel are female and non-reproductive in most instances, generally there was not nothing particular regarding ant’s physical intercourse per se,’ he or she explained MailOnline.
‘It is just a very stunning and differing ant kind that endured in a genus in excess of 850 coinage.
‘as it was this type of an excellent discover, i desired to enjoy this ant with a name that celebrates all biological assortment, which include assortment among people, sex incorporated.
A micro-CT read of Strumigenys ayersthey. Specialists said it was a ‘really spectacular and various different ant varieties that endured up’
Curiously, Michael Stipe, homosexual symbol and previous artist for United states solution rock group R.E.M, helped in creating the etymology section of the newer report, released in the diary ZooKeys.
Stipe a Georgia-native and buddy of Ayers helps you to explain the beginning with the species term.
‘I can not consider some other person who had been considerably intrigued with character and words than Jeremy, and this honor is a great complement his or her storage and legacy,’ Stipe said.
The insect was initially discovered by Philipp Hoenle of this Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany inside the Reserva Rio Canande, Ecuador, in 2018.
Hoenle attained out over Booher, a taxonomic knowledgeable, exactly who explained the type would be unlike any belonging to their genus (Strumigenys).
The Strumigenys genus is comprised of greater than 850 variety, such as Strumigenys ananeotes, noted in 2019.
This newer types offers notable mandibles appendages near their mouth and ‘smooth and sparkling cuticle exterior sculpturing’.
‘Strumigenys the most diverse ant genera on the planet and possibly essentially the most morphologically varied, exhibiting a phenomenal selection of mandible shape and function,’ the group claim.
SUPERSTAR LIZARD: DINOSAUR ALONGSIDE BONY FRILLS NAMED IN HONOR OF DAVID BOWIE
an exuberant dinosaur with a parrot-like beak, bony frills, a massive horn on their nostrils and a ‘star-like’ head ended up being known as in honor of Brit stone performer David Bowie.
you palaeontologists provided the dinosaur genus the name Stellasaurus, implies ‘star lizard’, based on a fossilised skull found in Montana.
During their life across the barren United states terrain 75 million yrs ago, Stellasaurus ancellae may have used the beautiful horns to draw in friends much like the indiscriminate Bowie’s noisy getup during their glam phase.
Stellasaurus was as big as a train, attaining a lot more than 20 ft longer and evaluating significantly more than two lots.
The genus term Stellasaurus, or ‘star lizard’, hails from ‘stella’, and that is Latin for star, and ‘saurus’, that is certainly Greek for lizard.
The expression is a regard to the general ‘star-like aesthetics’ with the head.
‘Star’ would be a reoccurring phrase in Bowie’s profession they made the alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, which contributed to his own large popularity from inside the seventies, and called his own last album ‘Blackstar’, that had been released a couple of days before their demise in 2016. | {
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Having long abandoned the requirement for the girl leading the candlelit procession on St. Lucy Day to be blonde, Sweden is ready to take inclusivity one step further by accepting men and non-binaries to this traditionally female role, the daily newspaper Sydsvenskan reported.
"We have simply decided that we do not want to limit ourselves to just women," project manager Viveca Byhr Lindén, responsible for arranging the St. Lucy procession in Malmö, said, stressing that the person sought-after needs to convey a sense of calm and serenity.
Previously, only girls and women could qualify for the honor to represent the medieval saint, Lucy or Lucia in Swedish tradition. This year, the requirements have been changed.
"Malmö is not chosen based on appearance or vocal capacity, but it should be a person who, over the past year, actively exemplified themselves as a good model and showed great commitment to the city and to fellow human beings," they read.
This year's Lucia, whether it will be a woman, a man or a non-binary person, won't need a singing voice either, as the musical part will be taken care of by students from the Malmö Latin School. Lindén said she was "proud that it is not a beauty pageant," but at the same time admitted that controversy may arise if a male Lucia gets to visit "elderly homes and hospitals," as is common the Swedish tradition.
The Malmö City Council admitted that its decision to embrace a male Lucia triggered strong reactions from the public, far from all being positive.
"I have received some emails; some conversations have also been made. Nevertheless, I think it's positive that people react and are engaged," Viveca Byhr Lindén said.
On social media, Malmö's efforts to promote inclusivity were met with skepticism. Swedes clamored that the spirit of equity was being reduced ad absurdum, whereas national traditions were being scoffed at. One user inquired sarcastically whether singing in Arabic was required, taking a jab at Malmö's image as Sweden's most multicultural city, where around half of the population have foreign background.
User PK_Grävlis reacted with a searing cartoon.
Text: "Don't sit so man-normatively, Åke. They will be ashamed of you."
Others, though, expressed themselves in a supportive way, claiming that what Lucia had "between her legs" didn't matter.
Despite being an Italian Catholic martyr, Saint Lucy's day is particularly heralded in Scandinavia, where she is traditionally portrayed as having a stereotypical Nordic appearance and long blonde hair. In recent years, though, Swedish media have acknowledged a waning interest in the celebration. | {
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By Jane Fae
At the start of 'Airplane' – one of Hollywood's all time greatest comedies – flight controller Steve McCloskey opines that he "picked a bad week to give up smoking". As events turn from bad to worse, the list of things he gives up giving up on grows longer, encompassing smoking, glue sniffing and amphetamines, before he finally throws himself out of the control tower.
The last thing suggested here is that writer and columnist Suzanne Moore has any such bad habits. However, reading through the car crash that was her last week on Twitter (for now), I couldn't help but think: she picked a bad week to take on the trans community.
Let's start with the narrow focus – the stuff everyone has been writing about over the past 24 hours. A while back (though actually a little more than a week) Moore wrote a perfectly OK piece about the power of women's anger. Ok, that is, apart from one small reference to Brazilian transsexuals which was not so much offensive as indelicate.
Some members of the twittersphere – not, in fact trans ones at all, initially - took exception to it and instead of apologising, Moore defended. Then she took to the Guardian to be ever so slightly rude about the trans community, which in turn got ruder back and possibly (it depends on your point of view) ruder still until Friday, when Moore walked. From Twitter, that is, claiming she had been bullied off.
There was a temporary respite until Sunday morning's Observer, when friend and columnist Julie Burchill escalated the alert level from DefCon Three to DefCon One with a piece that oozed venom toward the trans community from its every pore. The trans community retaliated and, if we conclude the metaphor, the entire matter was now nuclear, with both sides MAD as hell.
Which takes us back to the start and why Moore really did choose the wrong week to take on the trans community.
Like many minorities, the trans one has put up with a lot of stick over the years. Go back ten years and the idea of 'trannies' as simply men in dresses practising some weird kind of sexual deviation was still widespread. Then, in rapid succession, there came European court rulings that established a few basic rights and ruled against discrimination, the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010.
Things have undoubtedly got better. No more is a trans person required to divorce as a precondition of medical treatment. Gone, almost, are the bad old days when trans women particularly had to choose between using the little boy's room, and risking violence or even rape – or going with their gender identity, thereby risking arrest and a ban.
Still, not everything is rosy. There is no recognition in law of intersex individuals: little acknowledgment of the non-binary in medical treatment. The trans community continues to suffer appalling levels of on-street violence as well as discrimination in jobs, housing and the provision of healthcare. In the press, too, the trans minority, along with a number of other out-groups, is seen as an easy and regular target for sensationalism.
That changed a little with Leveson, when Trans Media Watch spoke up on behalf of both the trans community and other minorities picked on in this way. For a while, the nastiness abated. But it never quite went away.
Now, as Leveson fades and the press spin meisters lobby hard, we are starting to see a return to that nastiness, this time with a spiteful edge. That, mostly, was how the community felt about a piece in the Guardian a week or so back, exposing alleged malpractice by one of the UK's most popular trans medics – and utterly ignoring the literally hundreds of complaints of bad practice, as serious or worse, from the trans community as a whole.
This time, the community decided it had had enough. It rose to the occasion, creating, in a couple of days, a massive documentation of medical poor practice. It swung mightily behind the latest target of press prurience. Everywhere, it seemed, there was a sense of: Enough! No more!
Of course, that may not last – though watch this space: my own sense is that trans awareness and trans empowerment will prove very difficult to put back in the box.
But still, that is the context against which Moore’s "offence" was committed. Ironically, it was her off reference in a piece that was, in its way, celebrating the power of women's anger that evoked its counterpart: trans anger.
Today, this week, the community seems in reflective mood. The sense is one of near surprise, as if to say, looking around in bemusement, a young adult finally aware of its own strength: we did THAT? Barring further shocks – and of course, in politics, a week is always a very long time and the unexpected lurks ever round the next corner – we are in for a period of calm.
But alongside the calm, I predict far more unity of purpose: far harder bargaining, less tolerance of compromise. Because, since 2012, certainly since the beginning of 2013, the trans community is starting to feel like it has arrived. Just where it has arrived to remains to be seen.
The opinions in politics.co.uk's Comment and Analysis section are those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the website or its owners. | {
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Only a few hours before Rakel (vocals), Alice (guitar) and Bella (bass)- otherwise known as Dream Wife- took to the stage for their sold out Nottingham show at Rescue Rooms, I joined them upstairs in the Red Room along with a few other fans, their brilliant support Queen Zee, and Alice’s grandma for what was officially called their ‘pre show panel discussion’. What followed was less of a conference and more like a sleepover with your mates; sitting cross legged on rugs on the floor, local support Anatomy’s rather loud sound check didn’t stop us chatting about ourselves, music, and the problems with the patriarchy. Well, maybe not exactly like your typical childhood sleepovers.
The Wives kicked off the proceedings by asking us all to introduce ourselves and say a bit about our connection to music to give them, in Alice’s words, “a sense of the community of music in Nottingham and what we can learn from that”. One person there who knows the emerging music scene in Notts probably better than most was Maddy- she’s in charge of booking gigs just down the road at The Bodega, and pointed out that although there’s no discrimination regarding who gets booked, there currently seems to be an unfortunate lack of local female or non-binary bands (with the notable exception of Babe Punch, who come highly recommended).
As something which is not necessarily exclusive to Notts, Dream Wife are doing their best to uncover new talent throughout the country; prior to this UK tour, they held an open call via their social media asking for local female or non-binary fronted bands to support them on that leg of the tour. Given the overwhelming response (433 submissions in 1 week) it’s like Alice says: “It’s not as if these bands don’t exist. There’s just a disconnect between the people booking the shows and the people making music.”. Both Dream Wife and Queen Zee agreed that one of the things they didn’t realise starting out was the importance of gig promoters, which was especially a bit of a culture shock for Rakel since there’s not really the concept of a middle man between the band and the venue in her native Reykjavik, Iceland. The best advice they could give to new artists trying to negotiate the music business is simply having the confidence to put themselves out there- essentially, emulate that ‘fake it till you make it’ attitude.
As the discussion continued we turned to Alice’s grandma (aka Mamar) for an insight into how music has changed over generations, both in terms of how it’s produced and how we consume it. For her growing up, the concept of artists travelling round the country touring would have seemed far-fetched, as would that of regularly going to gigs. Only a couple of generations ago, live music was generally reserved for huge venues such as theatres, entirely lacking in intimacy, whereas now it’s the very opposite- thanks to technology and the wonders of Instagram, we can “utilise the world’s over-connection to make real moments [such as this meeting] still happen.”.
All too soon we had to wrap the conversation up as Anatomy were ready to kick things off downstairs, but I was able to chat a little longer with Rakel before heading down to watch. Life on tour seems to be treating them well- they’ve just come back from the US leg and are off to Europe next, and the trio are on a mission to ensure their gigs are safe spaces wherever they go; when I mentioned the work done to prevent groping at gigs by Girls Against, Rakel’s eyes lit up as she enthusiastically responded that they’re already working together. The genuine interest the girls show in chatting to and bringing together like-minded people in music made this experience far more than your standard meet-and-greet; Dream Wife have started the conversation through their own empowering message, and it’s clear that by hosting these talks and building these communities, that conversation will only get louder.
Photo credit: @slb_photo | {
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Struggling to find the resources you need? We’ve put together a list of startup and entrepreneurial resources available in the Central Ohio Region to help you at every stage.
Founder Institute: The Founder Institute provides early-stage entrepreneurs with the structure, training, mentor support, and global network needed to start an enduring company. This paid, 3-month program helps individuals transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more.
SEA Change: This 14-week accelerator program takes place here in Columbus and leverages an online curriculum to help entrepreneurs with a social mission go further, faster. SEA Change links individuals to mentors and subject matter experts, as well as provides coaching, capital, and other resources. Culminating in a Pitch Day, entrepreneurs leave the program equipped with direct actionable steps to continue moving forward.
Women’s Small Business Accelerator: Formed to help women business owners achieve their business ownership dreams, the WSBA provides support, educational programming, and mentoring to increase the success rate of women’s microbusinesses.
400 West Rich: Located in East Franklinton, 400 West Rich is a manufacturing warehouse turned multi-functional arts complex and co-working space and has grown to house 140 Columbus based artists, craftsman, designers, performers, local startups, and non-profits.
Hamilton Mill: Southwestern Ohio’s small business incubator for green, clean, water, digital and advanced manufacturing technologies. Conveniently located between Cincinnati and Dayton in the original pioneer town of Hamilton, OH. Additionally, Hamilton Mill has an Ohio Small Business Development Center located in their facility.
Brick House Blue: Brick House Blue is proud to be the first vibrant co-working community in the heart of Dublin. Offering meeting spaces, room rentals, and co-working space, enjoy a workday filled with stunning views of the Scioto River and historic Dublin, and all the need-to-have amenities like blazing fast internet and printing.
C|Suites Executive Office Space: C|Suites Offices, located in Gahanna, Ohio, are office spaces with the entrepreneur and small business owner in mind. These spaces can be tailored to fit the requirements of the company and the client at an affordable cost and at a convenient location.
COhatch Worthington: This new space is designed to meet all of your business needs while located within the community that you call home. COhatch offers spaces for co-working, meetings, private offices, events, and more.
Columbus Idea Foundry: The Columbus Idea Foundry serves as a community workshop, learning center, and creative space to entrepreneurs, inventors, designers, and more. Their resources include training and access to technologies, both conventional and high-tech, and an expansive list of shop resource tools.
Cultivate Grove City: Cultivate Grove City provides companies with coaching, mentoring, networking events, co-working space, and more. This organization is structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and serves the community by providing dozens of companies with the startup and small business support and resources needed to achieve success.
Dublin Entrepreneurial Center (DEC): The Dublin Entrepreneurial Center is a vibrant and energetic community of businesses working together to advance ideas and technologies of startups in Dublin, Ohio and the surrounding areas. They provide access to industry-specific experts, opportunities for shared-services and cost sharing, and numerous community partnerships to promote an environment that increases deal flow and development.
E.V. Bishoff Co.: Located in downtown Columbus, the E.V. Bishoff Co. offices come in a variety of traditional and non-traditional spaces and are provided elegantly and affordably. These spaces include executive suites, team spaces, studios, and more.
Haven Collective: Located on Riverside Drive, Haven Collective has co-working, private desks, private offices, and corporate spaces available. A space for focus, creativity, and collaboration, they offer all of the amenities that you need including drop-in child care.
Industrious: Industrious is a modern office space located in the Short North Arts District providing community and convenience to entrepreneurs and small businesses with co-working space, private offices, meeting space, and many additional resources available.
Innovate New Albany: Innovate New Albany serves as the city’s incubator for technology startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Located in the New Albany Business Park, this incubator occupies 16,000 square feet and offers spaces for co-working, private offices, entrepreneurial activities and events. With their convenient location, extensive networking opportunities, and access to venture capital, Innovate New Albany is a hub for local startups, ideas, and interconnectivity.
Intelligent Office: Located at Columbus Commons Park Downtown, Intelligent Office offers a wide variety of virtual offices and staffing solutions for micro-businesses – locally-based virtual assistants, phone answering, appointment setting, lead capture and other call center services, co-working space, private offices, conference rooms, and mailboxes.
Marysville Entrepreneurial Center (MEC): The Marysville Entrepreneurial Center was created in 2008 and is focused on fostering grassroots economic development in Union County. Accessible office space, parking, and office resources make it a convenient and sensible option for entrepreneurs in any stage.
Office Evolution: Office Evolution has designed their services around understanding the modern day needs, flexibility, and unique challenges of being an entrepreneur. You can gain access to their four office locations or take advantage of virtual resources with amenities ranging from a private mailbox, to meeting space, to phone answering services.
Serendipity Labs: Located in the heart of downtown, Serendipity Labs is an upscale and hospitality driven workspace providing private offices, co-working, team rooms, work lounges and meeting spaces. Pairing an airy and inspiring ambiance with a secure cloud based infrastructure, Serendipity Labs delivers enterprise level security capable of meeting any compliance standards, regardless of industry.
The Horton Building: The Horton Building is located on the campus of the Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center in Heath, Ohio. The 45,000+ square foot, LEED-certified space is environmentally controlled and provides access to Boeing capabilities including 3D prototyping and a virtual manufacturing lab.
The Hub on Kenny: The Hub is a community workspace and dynamic community of all industries and skillets. Ideal for individuals and small businesses looking for a flexible, comfortable and productive work environment, they offer all the benefits of co-working without the hassles of the traditional office infrastructure, maintenance and overhead.
The Merchant: Opening in fall 2019 in Olde Towne East, The Merchant will provide a warm and welcoming, creative environment for professionals to share ideas, socialize, interact, work, and be productive.
The Perch: The Perch is a locally owned, high quality, collaborative shared office space for small businesses, startups, and freelancers located in the Short North Arts District.
The Salt Mines: The Salt Mines serve as a co-working space and community for the Columbus region. Their ample space, device lab, events, and more make it a great place for any independent professional or team.
Qwirk Co-working & Collaboration: Qwirk serves as a place for entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, and more to work, meet others, and grow their businesses. Their casual, yet professional setting meets the needs of every remote worker.
Versa: Versa has two locations, one located on a lake in Grandview and the other in Arena District on the corner of Neil and Nationwide. Both boast natural light, outdoor spaces, lots of parking and a wide array of business industries. Versa has co-working, dedicated desks and private offices ranging from 1 person to 25 people. With 10 reservable conference rooms, they can handle small team huddles and 70-person events.
Zora’s House: As the only co-working and community space in Central Ohio catering specifically to women of color, their mission is to equip women of color with the clarity, confidence, and community they need to live their best lives and do their best work – all within a curated environment of sisterhood and support.
University Programs and Resources
Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship (APTE): Held at The Ohio State University, this annual event draws students, community members, and social entrepreneurs from around the globe to explore sustainable solutions to poverty.
Big Data Analytics Association (BDAA): The only undergraduate student organization of its kind at The Ohio State University. They aim to inspire students to think analytically, empower them through hands on training, and connect them to potential employers. Winner of the 2017 Outstanding Overall Organization Award and the Partnership in Industry Award, BDAA is truly Ohio State’s central hub for involvement in data analytics.
Tech License Express: The gateway to copyrighted materials, exclusive patents, research tools and software created at The Ohio State University. The Tech License Express is a global marketplace for the vast amount of intellectual property at The Ohio State University that is created, but untapped.
Business Builders Club: The Ohio State University’s Business Builders Club consists of a group of passionate students. In this organization, students collaborate with the Columbus Community as well as global organizations in the efforts to foster entrepreneurship.
CCAD MindMarket: Columbus College of Art & Design’s Mind Market, located in downtown Columbus, is an open collaborative workspace and incubator. Here, tenants are provided mentorship, business coaching, and access to many professional services, specifically those needed for art- and design-based ventures.
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Housed at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, this center facilitates entrepreneurial and innovation-based learning, helps to develop new companies, and assists in the development of new products and services within existing businesses.
Design Develop Deploy, An Entrepreneurial Startup Club: D3 is an application-based organization which consists of select individuals put into groups of 3-4 people. Each group is pushed to create a prototype of a product by the end of the semester. At the end of each semester, all groups will present their products/prototypes at Demo Night.
Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic: The Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic (EBLC) serves startup and emerging businesses that need transactional legal assistance. EBLC students assist early-stage companies by providing legal advice and service on business formation and governance, regulation of Internet commerce, employment contracts, and more under the supervision of licensed faculty.
HackOHI/O: Over 750 undergraduate and graduate students will design, build, and demonstrate projects to a live audience of students, faculty, and representatives from tech companies. HackOHI/O is put on by OHI/O, a student-led organization that aims to build and foster the tech community at Ohio State University.
Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Scholars Program: The Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Scholars Program is a multi-disciplinary program designed to harness passion for innovation and creativity. The program will provide students with resources and support to explore their entrepreneurial ventures while connecting them with like-minded students and the global community.
Ohio Innovation Fund: Leveraging his Silicon Valley experience, founder Bill Baumel joined with founding partners The Ohio State University and Ohio University, along with additional anchor partner Kent State University, among other investors, to create the next generation of companies and industries in Ohio. The vision was collaborative in nature, promoting growth and impact across the region.
REACH for Commercialization: Inspiring female entrepreneurs, REACH helps to develop the entrepreneurial capacity of women faculty at Ohio State and beyond. This program was designed to help women faculty and post-doctoral scholars explore commercialization as a means of expanding the impact of their research.
Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College (SBDC): Part of America’s SBDC national network, this SBDC supports 9 counties in the Central Ohio Region and provides entrepreneurs with advising, training, specialty services, and more. They host a program called B.A.S.E., which stands for the Basis of a Successful Enterprise. B.A.S.E. will help you discover what it will take for you to build a business around your dreams and passion. Not just any business, but a business that will allow you to live, thrive and become a successful entrepreneur.
The Point at Otterbein: Partnered with leading organizations in central Ohio, Otterbein’s STEAM Innovation Center combines academics with business and manufacturing needs of the community.
The Ohio State University Accelerator Awards: This program provides funding to help further develop, validate, and commercialize promising technologies over a 3-6 month timeline. Awards are given to multiple applicants each cycle with a maximum amount of $50K per award.
The Ohio State University Technology Commercialization Office (TCO): TCO works to turn the inventions, concepts, and technologies of faculty, researchers, students, and clinicians into business opportunities and products impacting the local and global marketplace.
Venture Development and Startup Funding
Community Capital Development Corporation (CCDC): Certified by the Small Business Administration, CCDC helps small businesses obtain financing for growth and expansion by helping link small businesses to the best lending resources. Helping provide a competitive advantage to these small businesses, the CCDC is committed to providing low down payments, competitive interest rates, long-term financing, and economic development opportunities.
Drive Capital: Drive Capital is a Venture Capitalist firm based in Columbus, Ohio, investing mainly in innovative technology, healthcare, and consumer companies in the Midwest.
Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI): ECDI’s loans range from $500 to $350,000 and shows a large variety in their clients and the uses for the loans. Equipment-based loans are currently very popular, but others use the funds for entrepreneurial ventures and other operating costs. The organization supports loans for new and established businesses. Many of their other services can help develop a new business into a loan-ready client.
Kiva: An international nonprofit founded in 2005, Kiva started as a pioneer in crowdfunding and is constantly innovating to meet people’s diverse lending needs. Whether it’s reinventing microfinance with more flexible terms, supporting community-wide projects or lowering costs to borrowers, they are always testing and learning. After undergoing an application, underwriting and approval process, loans are posted to Kiva to be crowdfunded by lenders in increments of $25 or more; this provides the structure for Kiva’s loan fundraising model.
Ikove Capital Partners: Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Ikove Capital Partners is a venture capital company that focuses on making early-stage investments in technology companies. With an unusually large reach, Ikove has directors, partners, and advisors in numerous countries around the world.
Innovation Ohio Loan Fund (IOLF): The IOLF helps to provide funding to those who have limited access to capital due to the risks associated with developing new products or services. Focusing on existing companies, the IOLF supports the growth capital needs of existing young companies.
Jane VC: Jane VC is an early stage venture capital fund that invests in high-growth female led startups. They invest globally in visionary founders.
JobsOhio: JobsOhio is a private non-profit corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion efforts.
JumpStart Focus Fund: JumpStart’s Focus Fund invests seed capital in tech-based companies led by female entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color throughout Ohio – as well as those willing to move to the state. Focus Fund investments typically start at $250,000 for early stage companies who can leverage capital and IP/technology to achieve transformational growth in one of eight technology sectors.
LOUD Capital: Based in Central Ohio, LOUD Capital is an entrepreneurial collective that provides promising young startups with early stage capital, talent, and professional connections.
NCT Ventures: Founded by entrepreneurs, this VC firm passionately supports other entrepreneurs financially as well as by providing hands-on operational support.
Ohio Tech Angel Funds (OTAF): Ranked as one of the top angel investor networks in the country, OTAF engages and invests in early-stage companies with high-growth potential. Market sectors invested in include, but are not limited to, life sciences, information technology, and physical sciences.
Pipeline Angels: This network of seasoned women investors is creating capital for women and non-binary femme social entrepreneurs. Along with funding, Pipeline Angels also holds a boot camp for new investors and a pitch summit for entrepreneurs who are seeking investments.
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB): SVB provides a full range of financial services to companies of all stages and sizes to enable growth and innovation. This high-tech commercial bank has helped fund more than 30,000 startups.
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR): The SBIR program works to encourage domestic small businesses with the potential for commercialization to engage with Federal Research/Research and Development. They do so by providing funding for technological innovation, encouraging entrepreneurs, and enabling socially and economically disadvantaged persons.
Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA provides loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling services, and more to small businesses with the goal to help Americans start, build, and grow businesses. Their guide to small business financing covers more than just SBA loans including details surrounding and a comparison of different types of financing available as well as a collated list of tools, resources.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR): STTR expands funding opportunities for federal innovation research and development. They focus on expanding the public/private sectors partnerships to include joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions.
Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF): The TVSF’s goal is to create economic growth for technologies that are commercialized by Ohio-based companies that were spun out from higher education institutions or Ohio not-for-profit research institutions.
Economic Development Resources
Columbus 2020: This is a team made up of 20 economic development professionals and a group of allied organizations tasked with moving the regional growth strategy forward. Columbus 2020 focuses on job creation, capital investments, and increased personal per capita income within the Columbus Region.
Columbus Chamber of Commerce: Impacting Columbus for over 120 years, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce provides resources for local businesses including business connections, market research, and more.
Delaware Means Business: City of Delaware Economic Development and Entrepreneur Center helps you realize your dream every step of the way. They have a team of resource providers for pretty much anything you can think of in terms of starting your business.
Dublin Chamber of Commerce: The Dublin Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice to the business and professional community and to organizations of all sizes and industry. Membership with the chamber provides individuals with networking events, leadership development, and more.
The Fairfield 33 Development Alliance: Established in 2007, The Fairfield 33 Development Alliance is made up of a committed group of public and private entities within the Fairfield 33 Corridor. Collectively, the Alliance serves as a liaison between businesses interested in the Corridor and the many resources available to assist with business development in the area. Their goal is simple, to get companies to their first day of profit after through connecting companies to the right agencies and resources to help establish and grow their businesses.
Grove City Chamber of Commerce: The Grove City Chamber of Commerce works to help define, develop, and implement programs and services to enhance economic opportunity and create a positive environment for the development and success of businesses. Resources available through the chamber include small business advisory, data resources, and the community network.
New Albany Chamber of Commerce: The New Albany Chamber of Commerce promotes the progress, growth, and improvement of New Albany, Ohio businesses, and the professional and civic communities. The Chamber provides resources such as mentorship, leadership training, access to an extensive network, and more.
Ohio Business Gateway- 1st Stop Business Connection: This resource provides free state-level information needed to start, develop, and/or grow your business in Ohio.
Ohio Third Frontier: Ohio Third Frontier works to transform the state’s economy through the accelerated growth of diverse startups as well as early stage technology companies by providing business expertise, mentorship, capital, and talent.
Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD): WELD provides educational courses and networking connections to women to further their individual economic status. With chapters across the United States and one located in Columbus, Ohio, their efforts help to strengthen women’s leadership skills, strengthening the economic prosperity of their communities that they serve.
Associations/Other Startup Resources
Cintrifuse: Created by Cincinnati’s business community, Cintrifuse is more than just a startup accelerator or venture capital fund. They are a startup catalyst, a public/private partnership that exists to build a sustainable tech-based economy for the Greater Cincinnati region. Their purpose is to advocate for entrepreneurs leading high-growth tech startups – attracting, inspiring, and supporting them on their journey.
1400 Food Lab: Located in Columbus, Ohio, 1400 Food Lab is a commercial test kitchen and food experience center. With four hot-line kitchen stations, prep stations, storage space, business support and more, makers can find anything that they may need while starting their own food business.
Bunker Labs Columbus: Bunker Labs is a national non-profit created by military veterans for veterans to start and grow businesses. Their Columbus location, one of their many local chapters found across the U.S., provides educational programming, access to resources, and a thriving local network to help military veterans and their spouses start and grow businesses.
Big Kitty Labs: With their iterative prototype framework, Big Kitty Labs helps build startup concepts and prototypes quickly and affordably. Acting as a development partner, they work with web, mobile, enterprise, and more.
BioOhio: This member-guided service has nearly 400 members that combined employ over 100,000 Ohioans. This broad network works to connect and support Ohio’s bioscience community through networking, advocacy, events, talent, information, and cost savings.
CapCity Biohackers: This new community is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and community members with biohacking, indie science, and science education in Columbus, Ohio. CapCity Biohackers are part of the world-wide DIYBio movement and the first established DIYBio group in Ohio.
Central Ohio Food Truck Association (COFTA): COFTA is an industry association for advocating food trucks owners and operators providing a platform for advocacy, communication, and education for the members and those serving central Ohio.
Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC): Hosted by the Columbus Urban League, the Columbus MBAC has a mission to advance business opportunities for minority and small disadvantaged business enterprises, and provide market access that leads to sustainable business relationships.
Columbus Business First Portal: Working in conjunction with ECDI, this portal provides their clients with access to the most recent issues, special publications, and Book of Lists online.
Columbus Collaboratory: The Columbus Collaboratory is a unique innovation ecosystem where IT and technological innovation are worked on collaboratively, expanding and upskilling Columbus, Ohio’s IT workforce.
Columbus Metropolitan Library: The Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Research Database acts as a great resource for small businesses and startups alike. Access is available to their many subscriptions to high quality research and consumer tools on a variety of topics as well as numerous research tools and databases through their website.
First Search: Launched by First Round, First Search is a free resource where you can find thousands of vetted and organized articles providing the knowledge you need, when you need it. These articles are sources from across the internet, pooling the best startup advice, written by the top minds in the industry, all in one place.
GiveBackHack: Acting as a launchpad for social impact, GiveBackHack brings the community together to confront social issues, work towards innovative solutions, establish new businesses, and more.
i.c. stars: This program provides a rigorous technology-based workforce development and leadership training program for inner-city young adults and low-income adults. By enhancing the skill set and economic standing of their participants, i.c. stars is able to positively impact the communities on a personal and economic level.
Launch Labs: This small team of engineers, designers, and strategists works with entrepreneurs to develop consumer products and launch them onto the market. With their three-phase process, Launch Labs works to minimize risk and maximize learning.
Meetups in Columbus: Meetup offers numerous groups surrounding industries of interest in the startup realm. Whatever interest you may have, join or start a meetup to bring people together to do, explore, teach, and learn about your area of interest. Specifically, in the tech space, TechLife Columbus aggregates many of the various meetups available.
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): NAWBO Columbus, the largest Chapter of NAWBO in the country, is central Ohio’s premier organization for women business owners. Their members, ranging from one-person start-ups to multi-million dollar corporations, contribute more than $250 million to Ohio’s annual economy and have been in business an average of 12 years. NAWBO Columbus is the trusted leader for strategic business connections, advocacy and mentorship. They envision women business owners equally supported, recognized and celebrated for their growth, revenue generation, and leadership.
Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations: The Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations (OANO) is the only statewide membership association that reflects the full diversity of the nonprofit sector in Ohio. OANO’s mission is to provide leadership, education, and advocacy to enhance the ability of Ohio’s nonprofit organizations to serve their communities.
Ohio Supercomputer Center: This center is fully-scalable with mid-range machines to help accelerate research, enhance computational science expertise, and provide a competitive advantage for small businesses and startups.
SCORE: SCORE is made up of experienced volunteer business professionals that provide free and confidential advice and mentorship to entrepreneurs on starting, managing, and growing a business.
Startup Grind Columbus: Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community actively educating, inspiring, and connecting entrepreneurs in over 250 cities to date. Hosting monthly events, Startup Grind Columbus features successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies.
Startup Week: Over five days, entrepreneurs, local leaders, and community members are brought together to build momentum and opportunity around the local entrepreneurial environment. Startup Week’s goal is to celebrate the achievements of the entrepreneurial communities around the globe and develop and support thriving communities.
Startup Weekend: This 54-hour experience exposes participants to the trials and tribulations as well as the fun and excitement of being an entrepreneur and launching a startup. Startup Weekend provides mentors, investors, and educational resources through the process to enhance the experience as well as expose the company to individuals that can help to enable continued momentum after the weekend is over.
Startups.co: Startups.co is a startup platform located in central Ohio. This company helps startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses with raising funding, marketing, and professional assistance.
SunDown RunDown: SunDown RunDown works to help entrepreneurs make connections, expand their businesses, and learn though providing pitch events, educational offerings, and other services to help make startups happen.
Tech Elevator: Tech Elevator is a 14 week coding boot camp that can jump start a career as a junior developer. Additional to their rapid development program, Tech Elevator supports their participants’ career goals through their hiring network and Pathway Program.
TechLife Columbus: TechLife Columbus is a Meetup group focused on enhancing the connectivity and collaboration amongst entrepreneurs and tech minded individuals in town.
Venture Ohio: Venture Ohio helps to ensure adequate capital for startups and foster a collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem within the state of Ohio.
Women Educating Women (WEW): WEW works to break down barriers for women entrepreneurs by providing educational resources, events, and more, enabling economic viability of women owned micro-businesses.
Women’s Business Center (ECDI): With the mission of empowering women entrepreneurs with resources and tools to create strong sustainable businesses, the WBC is the only SBA-funded Women’s Business Center in the state. They provide their clients with mentoring, training and workshops, access to networks and more for a low annual membership fee.
Women in Digital: Through their Ask & Give Exchange nearly 2K members nationwide are sharing favors, knowledge and their sisterhood.
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!): This groundbreaking program transforms students in grades 6-12 into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout this year long program, students work through the challenges of building a business including everything from generating an idea and writing a business plan, to launching a real company.
ZoCo Design: Working with brands that seek change, ZoCo Design connects strategy and creativity to create informed, lasting design that delivers business value. Founded in 2013, ZoCo has proudly worked with local Columbus startups, Fortune 500, and international clients. This nimble studio’s expertise extends from branding to user experience, and print to digital design.
Additional Ohio Startup Resources
Aviatra Accelerators: This educational and micro-finance nonprofit supports female entrepreneurs by providing business education, mentors and coaches, and access to debt capital.
BioEnterprise: This not-for-profit business accelerator helps bioscience startups grow. They provide access to bioscience venture capital, a network of experts, services, and equipment, strategic marketing guidance, and more.
BLK Hack: BLK hack is a social enterprise network that is engaged in the latest business, technology news and curator of black digital culture. The company helps African American entrepreneurs and people of color grow, nurture, and scale their businesses by providing access to an engaged and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. BLK hack is committed to innovating the solutions for creating more inclusion and diversity globally for startups, minority entrepreneurs, innovators, and technology enthusiasts.
CincyTech: CincyTech provides advice and capital to entrepreneurs, helps in the commercialization of technologies from research institutions, and catalyzes investment from individuals and institutions into regional companies. Focusing on life science and digital companies, CincyTech acts as a trusted partner for high potential technology companies in Southwest Ohio.
Bounce Innovation Hub: Bounce Innovation Hub was founded in January 2018 and is the region’s first open innovation hub serving northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial and innovation community. Located in downtown Akron in the former B.F. Goodrich plant, the building comprises more than 300,000 square feet of office, lab and light manufacturing space. With more than 50 organizations in the building, Bounce accounts for more than 200 people working and creating.
Flashstarts: The Flashstarts mission is to recruit, develop, and fund early stage startups in becoming successful seed stage businesses. They do this through a unique system of resources, formal programming, events, and collaboration.
Hillman Accelerator: Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Hillman Accelerator was built specifically to attract and accelerate tech companies founded by women and minorities. This 12-week program provides entrepreneurs with seed investments, mentoring, business strategy cultivation, and more.
I-Corps@Ohio: The I-Corps@Ohio program provides Ohio faculty with hands-on training to help accelerate the commercialization of Ohio’s University-based technologies. Some of the resources provided include education, exposure to experienced professionals, and market validation research.
NextTech: NextTech Ohio’s mission is to identify and assist entrepreneurs as they maneuver the paths to successful commercialization of their technologically-based concepts. NextTech is the regional provider of the Ohio Third Frontier’s Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) Program.
The Entrepreneurs Center: Dayton is a growing technology and startup hub and TEC can accelerate your growth and our community’s potential by investing in your development as a technology entrepreneur. TEC brings together regional partners, mentors, and funding opportunities, including Ohio Third Frontier, to work with you and your business in their tailored process.
JumpStart, Inc.: This Cleveland-based non-profit accelerator works to foster entrepreneurs, build ecosystems, and impact economies. Through their program, they are able to provide high-impact assistance to diverse entrepreneurs and small business owners on a personal level.
North Coast Angel Fund: North Coast Angel Fund works to accelerate technology startup success and improve the state of early-stage funding in Ohio. By creating a more effective and accessible investing community, entrepreneurs can reach capital and achieve growth.
Ocean: Ocean is an independent business accelerator located in Cincinnati, Ohio that is uniquely faith backed, focused on building into the founder. Each startup receives a $50,000 seed investment, mentorship, and 20 weeks of curriculum focused on spring boarding their company into the marketplace.
Queen City Angels (QCA): This group of experienced entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors are committed to helping grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of the services that QCA provides startups include mentoring, coaching, and funding.
River Cities Capital Funds: River Cities Capital Funds provides high-potential healthcare and IT companies with growth equity and business acumen. Being one of the most active and experienced growth equity funds in healthcare and IT, they currently have nearly $500M under management and more than 100 investments made.
TechGrowth Ohio: TechGrowth Ohio works with startups in Athens, Ohio and the surrounding areas to help validate opportunities and prepare companies for investment. Their access to experts, alignment of resources to accelerate commercialization, and more help them create an ecosystem for growth.
The Brandery: The Brandery is an accelerator focusing on digitally native, full stack products, including Consumer Packaged Goods providing mentorship, partnership opportunities and introductions in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beyond these services, The Brandery also provides small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups $50K in funding.
UpTech: This nationally ranked tech accelerator program focuses on data-driven startups that are developing tech-enabled solutions. UpTech selects up to 10 startups annually to go through the 6-month accelerator program driven by intensive entrepreneurship education, one-on-one mentoring, up to a $50,000 seed investment, and extensive community involvement.
If you notice that we missed something that should be added to the list, send the suggestion to us. | {
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Adam Williams is a recognized dating and relationship expert. Working in the field of online dating and having a degree in Psychology, Adam was always interested in helping people with their relationships. He loves seeing happy couples and felling that he was the one to help them build their happiness. Adam is always happy to share his experience and running a blog on our website.
What Is Polyamory? What Does It Mean To Be Polyamorous?
- What Is Polyamory? What Does It Mean To Be Polyamorous
- What Is The Difference Between Polyamory And Polygamy?
- Types Of Polyamorous Relationships
- What Are The Challenges Of Polyamory?
- How Does A Polyamorous Relationship Work?
- How To Know It’s Right For You
- Establish Ground Rules And Boundaries To Consider
- Which Celebrities Have Been In Polyamorous Relationships?
The polyamory definition that most people are used to is rather simple: it is when a person is engaged in more than one romantic relationship or sexual relationship at a time. However, when asking, looking to discover what polyamory is, it’s important to examine all the basic principles of this concept. Being polyamorous might seem straight-forward, but it’s a topic that requires a full understanding so as not to dismiss this kind of attraction. After all, polyamorous relationships are not entirely familiar, but the people that enter them are driven by more than sexual attraction, something many people don’t care to recognize.
What Is The Difference Between Polyamory And Polygamy?
There are several notable differences between Polyamory and polygamy. Polyamory vs polygamy is one of the most significant aspects that people research when considering these relationships, so it is important to consider the gender, religion, history, region, and social integration of both relative to one another.
1 - Gender: the gender aspect of a poly relationship is probably the easiest distinction to make between the two sorts. In a polygamy situation, the relationship is almost always heterosexual, and it is usually one male and several females as wives. However, a polyamorous relationship can feature people of any gender and sexual orientation that are involved with one another in many different ways. It’s even possible for an asexual individual to be involved in a poly relationship.
2 - Religion: this is another simple distinction to make with regards to polygamy vs Polyamory. Most notably, as the relationships pertain to religion, it’s most often that someone will find a polygamy practitioner in a religion-oriented relationship instead of an open one. Poly couples that are polyamorous will not typically be involved in a religious group due to the potential for homosexual behavior and non-binary gender roles being involved, something that religions tend to disagree with.
3 - History And Region: it is hard to say when Polyamory or polygamy first started in history. However, there are some indicators of when this behavior first started to appear in written records. Some historical records date back to Mesopotamia show people were in multi-partner relationships. The same happened in Ancient Egypt, Ionia, and more. Polygamy even appeared in the Torah, the Old Testament of The Holy Bible. To say this is a common practice that is mired in historical difficulties would be an understatement. However, the major distinction that emerged over time between polygamy and Polyamory is that the latter may be practiced outside the confines of marriage, and it is more widely accepted in the present as a result.
4 - Social Integration: The social integration of Polyamory only started after it was discussed widely in the late 1990s following a tumultuous introduction in the 1960s in the western countries. Socially, polygamy is frowned upon in many western nations, but it is still practiced in them and other areas of the world. Notably, the Middle East and parts of the United States practice it. While it is illegal in the latter, there are some stats. According to research, roughly one percent of families in Utah belong to a polygamist relationship. On the other hand, the statistics on polyamorous relationships suggest that approximately four or five percent of people in the U.S. are involved in Polyamory.
Types Of Polyamorous Relationships
While most people believe that Polyamory is the entire depth of the discussion regarding these relationships, polyamorous couples come in a wide selection that we will review more thoroughly. These are the polyamorous relationship types that most people come into contact with regularly.
1 - Triad: as the name suggests, this form of poly relationship happens when three people are involved in a relationship with each other. This can form when three people take an interest in each other or when a couple goes on dating sites for Polyamory and find a partner that is right for the two of them.
2 - Quad: the quad happens when four people get involved with each other. Instead of two couples swinging for a one-time hookup, this is an ongoing poly relationship that has four people involved.
3 - Polycule: the polycule is the series of relationships in which a person finds themselves relative to a poly relationship. A person can be in one group’s triad and another group’s quad, and all those people are in that individual’s polycule.
4 - Parallel Polyamory: the concept of parallel Polyamory is related to the polycule. Similar polyamory relationships are when a person is in two relationships simultaneously, and those two relationships don’t coincide in any way.
5 - Solo Polyamory: this is a simple concept: it’s when a person goes to have a solo, open, and nonexclusive relationship with many people.
6 - Kitchen Table Polyamory: this sort of Polyamory is when you can get everyone in your polycule together at a metaphorical kitchen table for discussions, playdates, and more. You don’t have to be dating, but you should be willing to discuss your ongoing relationships.
What Are The Challenges Of Polyamory?
There are numerous challenges with Polyamory as a relationship. We’re going to answer the questions that people ask about non-monogamy most often.
Is it the same thing as cheating? No, this is not the same as cheating. This is ethical non-monogamy, which is when a person tells their partner, who agrees with them, that they’re going to be interacting with others.
How do you handle jealousy? Being jealous can be tough whether you’re married & dating or just with multiple people. Adult conversations and good boundaries help with the jealousy.
How do you bring it up to a current partner? Thinking about Polyamory is difficult in an established, monogamous relationship. You have to consider whether you want group sex or a serious relationship with other people. Bringing it up will require a careful and honest conversation, after which you can’t back out. So, make sure you’re certain about the conversation if you think the outcome could be negative.
Maintaining a Sense of Independence: The hardest part about being in a poly relationship is maintaining a sense of independence and self. Some people don’t get into a relationship with poly people in the same way that they would with others with combined housing and bank accounts, for example. The level of independence varies from person to person, though.
How Does A Polyamorous Relationship Work?
Polyamorous relationships work in a variety of different ways. While some poly people might insist that they’re never going to get married, other people are involved in a polyamorous marriage and want to meet new partners all the time. They go to polyamorous dating sites to meet interesting partners that are not their married partner. The only thing that remains the same between these different relationships is that one or more people participate in a relationship with another person. To define poly relationships in any other way is a pointless exercise because they are so different from one another.
How To Know It’s Right For You
How do you get ready for a poly relationship? How do you know that it is the right choice for you? Well, the answer to the second question can only truly be provided by you. You’re the only one that will know it’s the right thing because you will have a sense of love for more than one person, and you want to share that love with them. Yet, you have to consider the feelings of your partner. That is why the first step to setting up your relationship is sitting down to have a frank discussion with your current romantic partner. They may or may not consent to be in a relationship, or they might have certain ground rules. They might ask, what does poly mean sexually? Your married partner or long-term partner may not want to share you sexually with another individual. That could be for reasons such as fear of disease or mere jealousy. Either way, it is something that you have to discuss when you first start having these kinds of romantic interactions. Then, you have to consider what types of polyamorous relationships you want to be a part of. You might want to be in a triad, work solo, or be a part of a kitchen table polyamorous relationship. There are many specific elements to this kind of dating that you must consider when you’re getting started in this area of romance.
Establish Ground Rules And Boundaries To Consider
When considering getting started in poly relationships, you must consider the ground rules, expectations, and boundaries that you have for yourself and your partners. These are critical rules that can make or break a relationship. We’ll go over several of them that you can consider when you’re starting out in this area yourself.
For starters, you have to decide what you want to share with your partner. Is this going to be a real relationship where you live together, or is this going to be something where you have a physical and emotional relationship without romance?
Another thing that you should do is make sure that you set aside time for all of your partners. Whether you have one, two, or five different partners, it’s up to you to maintain that relationship. Otherwise, it’s just a hookup. While there’s no shame in that, you should still give them the benefit of spending quality time with you since that is mostly what they want.
One other rule to consider is that you have to set boundaries for each partner and determine whether or not they have a negative interaction with each other. Some partners don’t want to spend time with you around others, while some partners might not want a sexual relationship if you’ve been with someone else. Discover the interactions between their ground rules and determine if you can make it work. While you’re at it, determine your own ground rules and make sure that all of your partners understand that these are non-negotiable to you. You can’t be expected to compromise on some things, but you have the right to be inflexible if that is what you need to make the relationship work.
Being in a poly relationship can be hard. However, there are plenty of ways to make it a great experience if you put in the work.
Which Celebrities Have Been In Polyamorous Relationships?
There are a lot of celebrities that have delved into the world of polyamory relationships. While it’s unknown if they skulked around Polyamory dating sites or just found people by virtue of their profession, there are many famous names to consider. For example, Jake Paul and Mongeau have Polyamory married and dating relationships where they may or may not have dates with other people. It seems to be more familiar with people that still want to experience different kinds of love in their lives. Shailene Woodley is another actress who has been a part of an open relationship, though she didn’t get into any more detail than that. Former A-lister Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green had an open relationship, but the rules were complex. Brian couldn’t date anyone, but Megan was able to have a fling whenever she wanted. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have also come into the news recently for the latter’s affair with another man, something she called an entanglement. Lastly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin had a poly relationship, but only he was the one that was having other relationships. It’s completely normal for people that are interested in sharing love with many people to have these sorts of relationships, and it’s even easier to do when you have the money, resources, and looks of a celebrity.
Polyamorous relationships are complex and most unique, depending on the people having them. However, with a little more information about them, most people can understand what they’re all about and see why people are so interested in having them! The vast history and present applications of this kind of romance show that love doesn’t have to have so many boundaries! | {
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ARE YOU READY FOR A DISTINCT & FRESH APPROACH TO GROWTH?
Diversity 101. For companies starting their learning journey about the benefits and positive impact of creating an inclusive workplace culture. Learn more about why diversity matters and assess your organization’s readiness to evolve and grow. Early Stage Companies; recommended for HR Leaders and C-Suite executives
DEIB Reimagined: Dignity, Belonging, & Safety
All humans have a fundamental need to feel seen, heard, and valued. This is dignity. They also have a need to belong and do so when they experience psychological and emotional safety. When we discover this commonality among all of us, we begin to build the foundation of shared connection and trust required for becoming a truly inclusive workplace culture. Early and Growth Stage Companies; recommended for all employees
Inclusion & Belonging
What is the role of the company to foster inclusion and belonging in the workplace? What is the role of the individual to develop personally so that they can belong professionally where they are? This interactive workshop for HR leaders and C-Suite teams explores the intersection of the two: organizational and personal responsibility, development, and accountability. Early, Growth, and Regenerative Stage Companies; recommended for HR Leaders and C-Suite executives
Workshop participants learn about Intent vs. Impact, Allyship, and the difference between Performative and Conscious Allyship. Individuals make a plan for personal growth and a commitment to becoming a conscious ally. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
We cannot change what we do not know. Unconscious bias impacts what we say, do, and behave, even if our intentions are good. Uncovering our biases help create space for more equitable ways to relate to one another. Holding deeper awareness and understanding paired with our intentions and goals will positively impact culture in your workplace. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
In the United States, there is the assumption that we are all on the same playing field and that opportunities are available to each person with equal measure. “Hard work and dedication is the recipe for success.” Yet we know this is not true. Privilege divides those with easier access, fuller representation, and richer opportunities with those who have less access to these benefits. Participants leave with a deeper understanding of how they hold privilege that is not their fault, and how systemic change comes through choosing to use privilege as a tool for conscious allyship. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
Equity does not mean that everyone is treated the same. Rather, it means that everyone is treated equally in terms of rights, benefits, and opportunities. Gender equity affects everyone in the workplace, at home, as it is a systemic issue. Participants will understand the positive impact of addressing inequalities in the workplace so that you can align towards gender equity within your company. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
What does cis-gendered mean? What does non-binary mean? How does this relate to work? Gaining comfort through understanding how biology, gender expression, and identity work together to form a person’s sense of self can create more space for diversity, compassion, and belonging at work. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
Identity Safety & Performance
Based on University of California researcher and professor Dr. Claude Steele’s work on identity safety, we will explore how code-switching, psychological and emotional safety, and bias affect how a person performs. Learn how to be a conscious ally by minimizing stereotype threat which increases engagement, belonging, and achievement. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
Long taught in schools and used for social change, non-violent communication is practice based on four principles: observing, feeling, acknowledging needs our own and others’ and making requests. Power up your team interactions, reduce team and interpersonal conflict, and learn how to navigate disagreements between people. Growth and Regenerative Companies; suitable for all employees
Companies want to know what the guardrails are for their DEIB efforts. When and how do you take a public stand for Black Lives Matter? How do you address racial activism among your employees? Move from fear to frozen to fully-engaged in this workshop series, building on foundational conceptual understanding of terms, frameworks, and practices that bring diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging alive within your organization. Regenerative Companies; customized to your Strategic DEIB Plan.
We believe that DEIB is the foundation of innovation that helps build a successful, sustainable business.
WHAT CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE?
IT’S TIME TO FIND OUT | {
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I was spending money that I didn’t have on things that were not that important to me and was telling myself that next month would be better, next month my business would “break through.”
This went on for months. I was in school, I’d quit my stable non-profit job and was focusing on growing my business. My numbers – both income and expenses – weren’t good and so I avoided looking at them.
I lived in some wishful thinking reality where next month everything would turn around and I’d be fine. But it didn’t.
One day I realized if I kept going at that rate I was going, I’d run out of room on my line of credit. And that scared me. I started to wake up. I started to look at things more carefully.
I told my therapist the truth about my finances and got her support. She also gave me a reality check. And I started to make some big changes to get myself back on track financially.
I’d never been good at organization. I’d never liked spreadsheets and meticulous tracking. I’d always thought that budgeting was boring, restrictive and suffocating.
But slowly and surely I changed. I started taking better care of my finances. I started to look at my numbers more carefully and now it actually brings me a sense of peace.
And that’s even in the months where I spent more than I earned. Because I’ve been there… And it’s not fun! But being able to see those numbers clearly brings me back into reality and lets me make the best possible decisions for myself going forward.
So if you’re scared about your finances right now because of everything that’s happening, a great place to start is to look clearly at your numbers.
It’s not the most sexy or hip thing to do but it’s medicine. It’s cleansing. It’s like drinking a truth serum.
And if you feel nervous just reading this, I want to support you. I want to hold your hand through this challenging time (figuratively of course! I’m all for physical distancing!) and I want to help you to make the best decisions possible for yourself and your business right now.
So tomorrow, I’m running the Steering Your Biz Through Crisis workshop from 1:30 – 3:00 pm EST.
This is a sacred circle to process any feelings that are coming up around your finances right now so that afterwards you can tune into your intuition and make any changes you need to make from a grounded place.
You’ll be with other female-identfied and non-binary entrepreneurs and receive the healing of being seen in your process and getting support. And you’ll experience others who are going through similar (and sometimes different!) challenges during this time.
Because of the financial situation of many entrepreneurs right now, I’m offering this at a pay-what-you-can rate.
And if you want to go even deeper into your relationship with money and power you can join Richard Kwan and I for the Money and Power Mini-Series.
- Look clearly at your numbers, pre and post pandemic
- Explore your relationship with money and learn how to connect to your core power in times of crisis
- Learn about your coping mechanisms and defense strategies that get triggered in times of fear
You’ll bring awareness to your mental and emotional blocks that keep you from manifesting the life that you want and redirect your attention to what really matters to you.
And you’ll have a safe space to bring all your feelings around the struggles you’re having during this intense time.
Monday, April 6th & 13th 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Location: Zoom (ONLINE)
And this workshop is open to all!
Sending you so much supportive energy to look clearly at your numbers during this difficult time and to take care of yourself as best you can.
Lots of love, | {
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For many decades, sex workers have been facing global abuse as well as discrimination. The majority lives and works outside the law due to the criminalization of sex work. That gives rise to countless problems in terms of human rights violations. Moreover, for sex workers, daily life can be incredibly challenging due to sexual exploitation as well as health and housing issues.
So what is the world doing to combat these problems and protect sex workers? Has fighting for sex workers’ equal rights been effective? What are some examples of sex worker advocates and initiatives that have managed to make some progress? Find out in this article!
The Problems That Sex Workers Face
Firstly, sex workers are primarily those who work in prostitution. However, the term is much broader. It can often include all types of sex workers, including adult industry performers, webcam models, exotic dancers, phone operators, and others.
Generally, a sex worker is anyone who offers sex-related services in exchange for money. When it comes to sex workers’ rights, it’s a complicated and sensitive subject that has been debated for years. The issues are often linked to women’s rights. However, male as well as non-binary workers also face many problems while providing their services.
In 2001, prostitutes from across the globe took a stand for their rights. They organized a collective protest in Venice, Italy, with red umbrellas as their symbol. The umbrellas became the universal symbol of the sex workers’ rights movement. It was a pivotal event as it raised awareness of an important topic that was avoided globally for decades. However, nearly two decades after the march, sex workers’ liberties are still facing an uncertain future. It’s a subject that involves local and international law, human rights, the economy, ethics, and more.
Even in countries that have legalized prostitution and similar, the workers still face many problems. Across the board, they are marginalized and condemned. Discrimination can even prevent these workers from seeking legal help. All the while, they are always put at risk while on duty. Refused payments, as well as abuse by clients or employees, are significant issues.
Since the law doesn’t protect most of the workers, they are left to their own devices. The lack of safety can result in dangerous issues. Commonly, this includes physical violence (rape or beatings), human trafficking, and even underage prostitution. Those are just some issues that sex workers face daily. And countless other things can put sex workers in danger.
How Much Do Sex Workers Earn on Average?
The answer to this question depends on several variables. These include location, types of services, time, pre-expenses, gender, and more. Most often, the cost increases depending on the type of sex (i.e., anal, BDSM domination, luxury escorts, etc.).
In places where this type of work is legal, for example, Nevada, the earnings are quite high. On average, elite prostitutes can make six-figure earnings in Nevada. That primarily applies to luxury escorting services that can bring in up to $10,000 on a daily basis.
However, for mid-range sexual services, the figures can be much lower. Across the United States, illegal workers could charge amounts of around $100 or $400 and more for an intimate encounter. If that is the case, those types of workers could average $50,000 to approximately $70,000 annually. Conversely, in the U.K., the average income is around $30,000 per year, while the majority earns much less. Some estimates claim that the annual figures are about $20,000.
In terms of an annual total, people across the globe spend more than $180 billion on prostitution and sexual encounters. Plus, there are nearly 14 million prostitutes on the planet. Additionally, the biggest prostitution hotspots are China and India. Both contain over 1.3 billion workers.
Overall, prostitution is cheapest in the Philippines, Thailand, South Africa, India, Germany, as well as South Korea. In these countries, the rates range between $1 and $100 per session. The lower prices also cause a rise in discrimination and human rights violations. It also enables sex trafficking. Finally, the earnings will also vary depending on the type of service (prostitution, webcam sex, stripping, etc.).
Health Risk of Sex Workers
For day and night shifts, prostitutes will usually service around 10–20 clients. That causes various health concerns and means that sex workers always have to be on alert. It’s necessary to invest part of their average earnings into proper health care and regular checkups. However, even with regular testing, sex workers face constant health risks.
The Main Issues
Overall, the most common risks are STIs and HIV. While many female workers always use condoms during their encounters, their clients could refuse to use protection. That applies to unprotected penetration as well as oral sex. In extreme cases, some could become violent. Even with safe sex practices, thousands of workers are jeopardized. Many become victims of drug abuse as a way of coping during sex exchange. Quite often, they might even spend all their funds on drugs.
In most cases, STIs can result in infertility or cervix cancer. In the case of herpes or chlamydia, the problems could intensify. Then, the workers could risk serious HIV infections. What’s more, younger women or underage prostitutes are at higher risk. Their underdeveloped genitals and bodies are more susceptible to damage.
What’s more, sex workers are often victims of health concerns simply because they cannot find proper care. Services and information may not always be available due to prejudice. For instance, an escort could get treated badly at a public health clinic because of their work. Medical staff could outright refuse to help them. And to further complicate this problem, many illegal sex workers do not have the option of health care. Additionally, they tend to avoid police officers and help from the authorities.
Different Organizations That Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights
There are several local and international organizations that are focused on providing aid for sex workers.
The NSWP, aka Global Network of Sex Work Projects, has been operating for over 30 years, and sex workers created it. In general, the NWSP conducts policies that support their rights. It also strives to help the workers’ communities. Overall, this organization is perhaps the most distinguished when it comes to spreading awareness globally. It is responsible for the recognition of sex workers’ liberties.
Others like WHO, Amnesty International, the United Nations, and ILO have also attempted to enforce policies. Some are trying to protect the health and well-being of employees. Others are on a mission to decriminalize sex work.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of initiatives by similar organizations worldwide. Nevertheless, this topic is still controversial. The workers still come across inhumane treatment, health problems, and discrimination every day.
Sex workers’ rights are a severe and controversial issue. Hopefully, with time and effort, these workers will gain the rights and benefits that they deserve. If you are looking for a way to help in your local community or are a sex worker in need, simply look up “human rights organizations for sex workers near me” or similar terms online. You could find an initiative that may be able to help! | {
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The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) will spend the month of November administering a highly intrusive survey which reaches far beyond simple demographics of its student population to ask students questions about their sexuality, their knowledge of transgender issues and more.
The composition of the questions demonstrate all the more that the TDSB has descended into this kind of woke social science experiment that is focused on victimhood, critical race theory and gender ideology.
It is so far removed from the mission of school boards to teach students to write, read, add, subtract, divide, multiply and to think critically it is hard to look at it without despair.
The existence of the census came to light a few days after the trustee elections — suggesting that education director Colleen Russell- Rawlins and her administrators may have held it knowing it would be controversial.
A research document released last week claims the census was one year in the making and was peer reviewed by 12 academics, most of them social justice warriors. Wayne Martino, who lists his teaching interests as queer, gender and transgender studies in education, was one of them. As was Ann Lopez, from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, whose teaching focus is decolonizing education.
The research document makes it very clear that the census framework is rooted in “anti-racist (and critical race theory) anti-oppressive, anti-colonial and community-based” research methods.
The latter is described as a process where power is collectively shared between researchers and community members, whatever that means. These people speak in tongues.
Nevertheless, these principles come out loud and clear in the line of questioning.
The census for Grades 4-6 students is 15 pages with 65 questions.
Kids as young as nine years old are asked not just if they identify as Indigenous and learn about Treaty Lands but whether they are Indigiqueer.
Under racial groups, there are four different characterizations of Black from which to pick while white is relegated to nearly the last pick before six different characterizations of Indigenous.
On pg. 8 of the survey, Grades 4-6 students are asked to describe their “current gender identity” in their own words and then pick from from several categories that include non-binary and trans – as if most would know at that age.
Question 55 asks students to determine whether they feel unsafe or afraid in 14 different spaces including all-gender washrooms.
One of the last questions asks whether students felt comfortable, confused, happy, heard/seen, uncomfortable or upset/sad answering the survey.
I’d be curious to know how many kids would be “confused” by or “uncomfortable” with some of these highly sophisticated and sexualized concepts.
The Grade 7-8 census is 26 pages with 97 questions, as if students failing math and literacy have nothing better to do.
The census hones in on mental health, identity and ethnic groups in the same way but compared to the one for the younger grades, takes a far more sexualized focus.
When the survey gets to the question on gender identity, students can select more possibilities including Genderfluid, Genderqueer and Indigiqueer.
They are also asked whether they identify as LGBTQ2QSIA+ and specifically whether they are bisexual, transgender, queer/gender-expansive, intersex, asexual or pansexual.
For heaven’s sake, these kids are probably just discovering their sexuality let alone being pansexual or gender-expansive.
This downright freakish portion of the survey also asks students whether they’ve learned about non-gendered menstrual products (presumably for trans men), binding (their breasts), packing, tucking or padding options.
It outrages me as a lesbian to read how the TDSB would endeavour to ram such concepts down the throats of vulnerable students.
The questions are intrusive, highly personal and what I believe to be beyond the mission of educators.
Schools are not a social science experiment. Kids are there to learn academics, not to have highly sexualized and in many ways, fringe, concepts shoved at them.
Parents should be outraged. The one saving grace is that the census is voluntary.
It would serve Russell-Rawlins and her administrators right if no one answered it.
Are you a Toronto parent who has concerns with this survey? Are these agendas being pushed in your kids’ school or classroom? Email us at [email protected] | {
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Natalie Tsui (they/them) is a non-binary artist primarily working in film, video, and performance.
Pauline Bastard is a French artist born in 1982. Her practice includes film, video, video installation and sculpture. Through videos and objects she explores the poetic potential of established order of things and image uses.
She graduted from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, and La Sorbonne where she also taught. She has been showing her works in a variety of galleries and group shows for the last few years, including a duo show with Roman Signer at Blank art space an a solo show at Eva Hober Gallery in Paris. She participate to different residencies in France (Mains d’oeuvres), Germany (Pact), Colombia (UN) and the United States (NYU).
“I like the way image transports things and transforms them, the way it reduces them in a manner but exists as object independently of the reality that it represents, I like thinking how much scales confront through it, for instance:
On the beans cans which I buy in my supermarket there is a drawing of a small red farmhouse, someone told me that it is Vermont. Also, to express the notion of the time which passes, so difficult to encircle, my computer makes appear a clockwise spinning pie in color of the rainbow, and I understand it.
I see in our relationship with image an immense poetic and philosophic breeding ground, we admit a heap of representations without looking at them, as well as we contemplate a heap of clichés without thinking even of their origin, nevertheless that seems to me important and interesting.
Our faculty to understand the image intrigues me, I imagine that it may have the same impact on our way of thinking as the language has, we learn the images as we learn to speak, and my work is as the philosophic exercise which consists in realizing the strangeness of the language by repeating constantly a word until its abstraction, I try to make the strangeness of the images appear and by extention, the poetry to live with them, I thus try to show these innumerable filtres, layers, residues produced around the image and its use, which we know so much that it is invisible, this by using its own strategies and of course the raw material, the image, existing, rescued, available, within reach of my hands everywhere. My gesture is simple, it is described as an estrangement of the usual function of the images and the use of representation to give them a kind of autonomy. It is little as a mutiny towards function, it is little as to choose to be an artist. At the same time, I am only going in the sense of exsistant images, I just push the process one step further, the small rainbow pie already spin, the farm of the Vermont is already on the box, I just find role for these representation in my videos or in my installations, there they participate in a new representation, and it is what is the most poetic: As the word that we repeat in the exercise, we put in danger something fundamental, the language, and it creates an incredible dizziness, we repeat it and after a while we realize that it is insane this appelation, so we atteind a kind of vertiginous border which questions untill our relationship to the world, nevertheless we return in normal, we reuse the word, we have to… I look for something similar, I destructure the image, I show its stratagems, in “Beautiful landscapes” for instance, I accumulate photos of beautiful torn landscapes, a landscape is worth the other one and the images are disemboweled, and nevertheless, in spite of this insult, the paper visible, the poor material shown and the emphasis put on the commonness of the centring, the landscape becomes again photogenic, the tears become the crests of new mountains, and we start again contemplating. It is this crazy choice, to take refuge with the image, even by knowing, this decision begun with full knowledge of the facts to dive into the illusion, it is there that I want to take people, it is for this choice which seems to me crazy, poetic and brave that I make my work!” | {
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Considerably from Ipsa James
Becoming a non-binary person allocated feminine at birth, and a gynophile (having interest towards females) – I know, it is a mouthful – makes you a really unpopular fish during the internet dating pond. But, talking from personal experience, it’s not at all something that you need to provide lower. Before I let you know my personal facts, allow me to clarify my character to you first, in order to making life much easier (or more stressful? We’ll discover).
I define ‘non-binary’ as someone who does not value sex, which is generally viewed as something renders everyone’s lives hell! You ask how, and I also will address that at the same time. We find our selves in an exceptionally binary society – made from sole man or man, and woman or lady. Today, for trans people too, numerous also contribute to gender norms which have been created for the binary – sure, transgender identities are usually built on cisgender identities (notice: ‘cisgender’ or ‘cis’ for quick methods your recognize with all the sex you used to be allocated at birth).
Everyone (better, pretty much all) know-how the digital really works. You happen to be designated a gender using the genitalia you used to be born with and then you were caught undertaking the abilities it asks of you. In case you are a person or a boy, you’re breadwinner, and an unemotional robot having to handle a household ‘financially’, among other things. And if you’re a woman or a female, you are the one who does your family tasks, was handled as a baby generating maker (baby-boy making maker, most of the time), in addition to overly psychological one that cries. Standard, stereotypical information.
Now happens a non-binary or genderqueer individual who does not worry exactly what these stereotypical sex roles is, and just would like to live her lives to your maximum. Nobody wants to learn “You is a girl, your can’t go out at night”, or “You is a boy, your can’t cry”. Exactly how can it be that my personal gender (which, courtesy culture, i did son’t also http://besthookupwebsites.org/escort/hartford will pick) sets a lot of limits on myself?
Half committed, whether in real life or in virtual spaces, folks are confused when they view me personally. One-night, while traveling room, we met this little boy for the practice. Toddlers (like some grownups) would not have a social filter, thus he requested their grandfather rather loudly easily got a boy or a female. With shame, the father looked at me to find out if I got overheard the discussion, and seeking their method. For one hour, both grandfather and boy were unable to decide on a remedy. However we talked, in addition to puzzle was actually gone when it comes down to daddy, although not the kid.
Absolutely nothing provides me personally even more delight than that evident doubt that folks need regarding my sex identification, and how to deal with me personally. Because i really do maybe not hunt ‘feminine’, i’m “bhaiya” or “sir” to 90per cent of those whom read myself. Numerous cab and automobile motorists posses asked myself what my personal sex personality are. I usually reply with a “How does it make a difference to you?”, which entirely captures each other off guard. But this pushed these to consider their understanding of sex and the prejudices. And I also get to covertly break sex stereotypes and smash the patriarchy! YAY!
I think the standard thing that somebody can create whenever fulfilling people, not merely non-binary individuals, is always to ask their unique pronouns (they won’t eliminate you). During my distinct jobs, We ask my personal customers their pronouns and a lot of of that time period they’ve no idea what I have always been discussing. When we happened to be to creating this a practice, rather than speculating people’s gender, it could certainly assist create a safe area for folks who aren’t around the binary. I understand not most people are alert to non-binary identities (like genderfluid, pangender, agender, or transfeminine among others) but there’s always time and energy to see and be extra comprehensive to individuals that are various.
Even though someone online don’t ‘get’ they, this has been extreme fun because lots of people on Tinder swipe right on my personal visibility merely to understand what my gender identification is all about. Personally I think like i’m providing gender studies tuition!
Fortunately, that is not truly the only results. I involved see some incredible non-binary anyone after coming out. Discover thus few of all of us immediately that it can be exceptionally isolating. But there are a few safer places online where individuals can sign-up and talk to other individuals who diagnose as non-binary.
Coming out, again, alone, is rather an event as I performedn’t previously see other non-binary folks or people who utilized a phrase like “gynophile” to spot by themselves. But with the support of my friends and companion, it had been a very liberating experiences.
I’ve came across some beautiful everyone on Tinder who grasped my personal character, and made me feel recognized, especially in this incredibly digital community. Of course, it cann’t hold on there! As soon as you mix the sex with you sex – now that’s a complete various ball game entirely. As someone with a ‘non-normative’ identity, it will become very difficult to browse your own love-life within a heteronormative program. Before, while I regularly character as a Sapphic lady, lives ended up being much simpler. Now that we decide as a non-binary gynophile, half committed adding myself to another individual results in this is: “So you’re a lesbian, generally. Exactly why performedn’t you say-so?” I didn’t because I’m not. And then sample discussing their character to individuals on Tinder.
Fundamentally, I came across my personal mate, who recognizes as a cis-woman. That has been a switching aim for my situation because we performedn’t know what kind of pair we were. Commercially it’s two AFABs internet dating which leads individuals genuinely believe that we had been a lesbian couple which caused countless disagreement for me. But, after creating a long discussion with my companion, we realised that that label gotn’t ours; we understand that individuals are what is commonly known as a ‘mixed’ couple. Labeling can be very perplexing and at the same time frame liberating. And realising that I found myself maybe not cisgender also helped us to in fact comprehend the fluidity from it all. Used to don’t worry a lot concerning the tag, I became with some one I like and therefore was just about it. It can take an immense stress off their shoulders whenever you are only happy with who you really are. And that I wish people achieves that comfort, due to the fact tags don’t determine you, you establish yourself. | {
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Sexually active transgender youth have pregnancy rates similar to their non-transgender peers—dispelling the notion that trans youth are less at risk for pregnancy, according to new UBC research.
In the first study of its kind, researchers used data from the 2014 Canadian Transgender Youth Health Survey, focusing on a subset of 540 youth aged 14-25 who had previously had sex. They found that five per cent (26) had been involved in a pregnancy at least once – comparable to B.C.’s pregnancy rate of about five per cent among sexually active young people.
“It’s often assumed that trans youth don’t get pregnant or get someone pregnant, perhaps because they’re receiving hormones that tend to reduce fertility, or because people assume they aren’t sexually active. This study shows otherwise,” said lead author Jaimie Veale, who conducted the research as part of her postdoctoral fellowship at UBC.
“There were no differences in hormone use and living in their felt gender between youth who had experienced pregnancy and those who hadn’t,” added Veale, currently a lecturer at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. “In other words, there is no evidence to support assumptions that pregnancy only occurs in those who are yet to transition.”
The finding highlights the need for more supportive sex education and sexual health care for transgender youth, said Elizabeth Saewyc, a UBC nursing professor and the study’s senior author.
“Clinicians should ask trans or non-binary youth about their sexual health and behaviours,” said Saewyc. “They should ensure this group know how to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.”
The study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, was recently published online in the International Journal of Transgenderism. Contact [email protected] to request a copy or to arrange interviews with Elizabeth Saewyc. To book an interview with Jaimie Veale, contact Alison Robertson at [email protected]. | {
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What role does vinyl play in the current digital landscape? Is vinyl really making a comeback?
We’re hosting an event in collaboration with Ryerson RTA all about vinyl, happening March 6th (tomorrow!). Topics include record production and researching vinyl’s technological advances. The event is in The Catalyst space on the second floor of the Rogers Communication Centre from 6-8pm. We hope to see you there! 🎉
To celebrate International Women's Day we're excited to present For the Record with @solidarityinsound
! We are inviting creative minds for a day-long session to brainstorm an answer to this question: How can we recreate the artist discovery experience to champion gender diversity?
The day will include valuable experiences like personalized networking, interactive activation rooms, gift bags, and more!
Participants will pitch their ideas to @daltonhiggins5
, and @tao_owl
, with the winning team walking away with gift cards and prizes valued at $500.
This event is open to all genders. The Ryerson space is wheelchair accessible. Tickets are first-come-first-served and are reserved for 40 guests. If you are unable to attend this event due to financial constraints, please contact SIS at [email protected]
Purchase your tickets at the link in our bio! 🎉
Applications are still open for our @universalmusicgroup
Link in bio for more.
We welcome companies working in any of the following areas:
- User Generated Content
- Talent Discovery and Analysis
- Voice Activation
- Music consumer Services
- Artist Music Marketing Promotion
Applications end Nov 30th.
wants to hear from women & non-binary folks in the music industry. Head to their link in bio for a quick survey!
Applications are now open for our @universalmusicgroup
Accelerator Stream at the Music Den!
Gain access to industry leading mentors, workspace in downtown Toronto, and a chance to work directly with UMG in California!
Click our link in bio for more info. 🔥
Are you an emerging artist or manager? @cmincubator
offers core professional development for your career in music. 2019 online registrations are now open. Check out their page to apply and learn more!
The Music Den incubator has just partnered with @universalmusicgroup
‘s Accelerator Network to develop the next generation of music-focused startups! Interested in applying? Click the link in bio for more. 🔥
We sat down with the @redpineofficial
to discuss how their platform brings artists, venues and fans closer together 🏝. Red Pine will be presenting at @imstafesta
Toronto on Oct 13th at RTA Ryerson School of Media.
gives artists the tools to manage their live music career, all in one easy to use website. We caught up with the Red Pine team to learn more. Stay tuned ☀️
With almost 400,000 online followers, @6ixbuzztv
is the go to place for hip hop entertainment in Toronto. Now, they’re looking for passionate volunteers to help create, produce and manage their view content! 🔥📺🔥 Read more about the roles available and apply today via the link in our bio!
Happy Friday! Here’s a recap of the Parados party we hosted last week ❤️🔥🌴 Thank you all for coming!
Music: Color Blind by @diplo | {
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Diverse Identities in Sport Conference (2016)
The Diverse Identities in Sport conference focused on the issue of inclusion of transgender, intersex, non-binary, gender queer, asexual and other diverse identities related to gender and sexuality in their intersections with other identities within a sport context, and looked at practice and strategy for inclusion. It looked at a range of pathways but primarily focused on access level, grassroots and recreational sport.
The conference was organised in partner with sportscotland, Scottish Transgender Alliance, Centre for Gender and Feminism Studies at the University of Stirling, Glasgow Human Rights Network at the University of Glasgow and Pride Sports UK.
Team Scotland athlete and LEAP Sports patron
Martin is a former international swimmer from Dunblane. He has competed in the 400m, 800m, 1500m freestyle and 5 & 10K open water events. Amongst his many impressive achievements, Martin was a Scottish Champion in 1500m Freestyle, was British Universities champion in 1500m Freestyle, & 400m & 1500m (Short Course) champion. Martin has also represented Team GB and Team Scotland at many events and cup tournaments around the world.
Pat Griffin is Professor Emerita in Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where her research and writing interests are LGBT issues in education and athletics. She has been an advocate for LGBT equality in sport for over 30 years. She is founding director for Changing the Game: The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Sports Project. She is the former director of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s It Takes A Team project, an LGBT education project.
She regularly consults with the NCAA and college and high school athletic departments on LGBT issues in sports. She is the co-leader of the LGBT Sports Coalition, a national network of LGBT sports advocates. She is the author of Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sports, co-editor of Teaching For Diversity and Social Justice, and co-author of On The Team: Equal Opportunities for Transgender Student-Athletes, the NCAA Guide for the Inclusion of Transgender Athletes and Champions of Respect: NCAA Guide for the Inclusion of LGBTQ Student-Athletes
Jamie Hepburn is a Scottish politician who is the Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health and has been a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 2007, representing Cumbernauld and Kilsyth since 2007. At that stage, he was the second youngest elected member of the Parliament, and took up office as Minister for Sport and Health Improvement in 2014.
Dr. Matthew Waites is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Glasgow. He has authored and edited publications on LGBTI and queer politics in the UK and internationally, including as co-editor with Corinne Lennox of the free online volume Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Commonwealth: Struggles for Decriminalisation and Change (London: School of Advanced Study; available at: http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/publications/house-publications/lgbt-rights-commonwealth).
He has co-edited three volumes on the sociology of human rights including a special issue of the British Sociological Association journal Sociology in October 2012, titled The Sociology of Human Rights.
Jennifer Birch-Jones has worked in Canadian sport for many years through her professional and volunteer work. She is the volunteer lead for the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity ’s (CAAWS) Addressing LGBTphobia in Sport initiative and has delivered workshops to make sport more welcoming to those who are LGBTQ throughout the Canadian sport system. Jennifer was the lead in creating Commonwealth Games Canada’s first ever Positive Space for LGBTQ team members for the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia and was on the Organizing Committee for the inaugural Pride House at the Vancouver – Whistler 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She remains active in the Pride House movement and attended the 2015 Sport Inclusion Summit hosted by Toronto’s 519 Community Space at the 2015 PRIDE House TO during the Pan Am Games.
Jennifer is the author of CAAWS’ recently published Leading the Way; Working with LGBT Athletes and Coaches, a resource which reflects the voices of Canadian athletes and coaches. She is currently assisting the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport with developing policy guidance on trans inclusion in sport.
Mary Louise Adams
Mary Louise Adams is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Canada, where she teaches courses on sport and culture, the sociology of physical activity and the body, and contemporary issues in sexuality. She is the author of Artistic Impressions: Figure Skating, Masculinity and the Limits of Sport and The Trouble with Normal: Postwar Youth and the Making of Heterosexuality. Her current research looks at the relationship between women’s sport and feminism. She is on the programming committee of Reelout Queer Film and Video Festival, and is a longtime board member of HIV/AIDS Regional Services. She is also active in community organizing around the politics of municipal recreation.
James Morton is the Scottish Transgender Alliance Manager within the Equality Network. Since 2007 his national post has been funded by the Scottish Government to provide training and policy development guidance on transgender equality and human rights. He has worked collaboratively with a wide range of academics, service providers and sports governing bodies in Scotland and the UK to evidence current inequalities and improve transgender rights and inclusion.
Lou is a leading LGBT sports development and equality specialist, having worked in this field for over 13 years. Lou has co-led a range of research based projects, undertaken by Pride Sports over the past five years. Lou also leads on the advice, guidance and support given by Pride Sports to national governing bodies of sport and has worked extensively with RFL and FA on a range LGBT inclusion initiatives. She is often approached to speak about a range of LGBT inclusion issues in sport and regularly lectures on the topic at UK universities.
Lou is also an experienced event manager, developing and managing not only a range of LGBT sports initiatives, but also Wythenshawe Games, an annual sports festival delivered in one of Manchester’s most disadvantaged communities, which sees more than 9,000 local people take part every year. Lou is a former board member and Co-President of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation and currently sits on the board of Manchester Community Games.
Boris Vrdoljak is a coordinator of sport activities in qSPORT Zagreb, a sports society for LGBTIQ athletes and recreation enthusiasts, where he directs regular swimming and ballroom dancing activities, the annual QueerSport Weekend event and qSPORT members’ competition travels. In 2015, he organised a panel discussion “Trans* and inter persons in sport” in Zagreb.
Boris is also a qSPORT delegate and representative in national LGBTIQ campaigns and an organizer of activities in Rainbow Families Croatia.
Sylvia has been researching transgender social practices and identities in Scotland for the past six years. This may result in a PhD in Sociology at the University of Glasgow in 2016. She was raised in South Africa, where she taught in township schools during the final years of the SA Anti-Apartheid struggle, then post liberation she taught English Literature at Vista University. For much of her life it has felt necessary to be a human rights and LGBT activist.
She has degrees in Sociology, English Literature and Education from Universities of Cape Town, Witwatersrand and Pretoria respectively, and has always worked full time while studying. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 1999 to the Institute for Learning Technologies at Columbia University NYC, which culminated in an M.Ed in Information Technology in 2001. She also acquired an M.Phil in Scottish Studies from Glasgow University in 2010, out of which ensued the publication of her book: The Crisis of Capitalism in Interwar Glasgow in 2012.
Ex-RAF, motorbike racer, newspaper editor, rock photographer, self harm and suicide survivor and the first transgender woman to work in the Premier League. Sophie Cook speaks regularly about the fears that controlled her life and how she overcame them to be true to and, finally, start loving herself.
From her childhood memories of being transgender to post traumatic stress after an incident when serving in the Royal Air Force and a lifetime of pain and fear before finally coming out as transgender in the masculine world of Premier League football. Sophie is a Patron of Just A Ball Game and the LGB&T Dorset Equality Network, a Healthwatch Dorset Champion, and a member of the Pan-Dorset LGBT Health Advisory Group.
Sonja Erikainen is a doctoral researcher in sociology at the University of Leeds, focusing on the sociology of science, knowledge production and gender. Her research examines the history and contemporary practices of gender verification of female athletes in elite sport, with emphasis on the ways which definitions of ‘female’ in sport are produced through the exclusion of intersex and trans* bodies.
Louise has over 25 years’ experience in local authority sports development with three local authorities and with two national governing bodies of sport. A skilled trainer and facilitator, her key specialisms include supporting many public sector sports organisations to be the best they can be by improving their practices relating to equality, inclusion and tackling discrimination as well as strategic planning, business development and corporate governance. Louise is currently supporting a number of organisations to develop their equality work, including all of the SGB’s across Scotland, the Football League and Premier League Clubs in England, the NGB’s across Wales and several UK wide NGB’s. As part of this work she is delighted to have authored several guidance documents, many of which are available for SGB’s and other bodies to use today.
Project Officer (Communications)
Helen is Coordinator of SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) and co-founded Lock Up Your Daughters Filmmaking. She has previously worked as a film critic writing about cinema and queer politics.
Before becoming Executive Director, Hugh was Chair of LEAP Sports Scotland’s Board and led its development for 3 years. He was Youth Work Director of LGBT Youth Scotland for 7 years and previously a social worker and manager for disability services. Hugh has over 16 years experience working with young people and people with disabilities in sports initiatives and has been a member and leader of many community sports groups. Hugh currently enjoys hillwalking on dry land after many years of kayaking, coastal rowing, and sculling
Claudia Krobitzsch is Programmes Co-ordinator at the Fare Network, an international umbrella organisation tackling discrimination and promoting social inclusion in and through football. She works closely with the members of the network in over 40 countries, coordinates Fare’s annual programme and manages the Football People action weeks, with over 2000 events the largest intervention for social change in football in Europe. Claudia has been an anti-racist campaigner with Roter Stern Leipzig, a grassroots club in Germany, for more than 10 years.
Sophia is a life coach in Berlin, who works with body-based therapy and personal fitness training to help people make changes in their lives. She has been part of DF since 2015, and plays football along with Pia in DFC (DISCOVER FOOTBALL Club), a self-organised women*‘s football club founded by DF, which also uses football to challenge sexism and homophobia.
Pia works as a social worker in Berlin, supporting trans*, inter* and queer people. She has played football since she could walk and has her own experience of how women*‘s football can be used to challenge gender stereotypes. Since 2011, Pia has worked on a voluntary basis with DISCOVER FOOTBALL (DF), an organisation that uses women*‘s football as a tool for working against discrimination, especially sexism and homophobia, and also for promoting women*‘s rights. DF works on an international basis, creating a network of like-minded individuals and organisations.
Maja is a queer, non-binary community worker with experience in community building and organising both in Glasgow and Berlin, where they first came into contact with feminist self-defence practice five years ago. Since then Maja has trained in Thai boxing with varying intensity, with the odd excursion into boxing and krav maga. Maja is interested in setting up an autonomous peer-led combat sports group for women, trans and intersex folk in Glasgow.
Dr Charlotte McCarroll is a research associate in cardiovascular physiology at the University of Glasgow. In her spare time she enjoys many active pursuits including hillwalking, cycling, snowboarding and in particular swimming. She is a transgender woman who in early transition found it very hard to be able to go swimming through fear of transphobia in changing rooms and gender dysphoria diminishing her body confidence.
Charlotte co-founded the group Seahorses Swimming in Glasgow with Kate Adair for trans and non-binary identifying people to be able to swim in a safe space. Charlotte has taken part in the film ‘Let Me Be Brave’ to be shown at the Diverse Identities in Sports Conference.
Sadie is a retired police officer with a long time passion for sport, a former tenpin-bowling coach and has been active for more than twenty years a player of lawn bowls. Sadie used to live in Germany, and has represented that country on the bowling green and in the short-mat game. Sadie speaks, reads and write German, however is a native speaker of English.
Sadie is transgender, and currently enjoying the journey life is presenting them with. | {
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The Freya Project is a fundraising reading series that unifies and uplifts women and non-binary people.
Founded in the wake of the 2016 election, The Freya Project strives to create an environment where women and non-binary people can support each other as empowered citizens of the United States.
We reach out to help organizations dedicated to preserving a safe space for the marginalized, frightened, and endangered among us — in every corner of our nation.
First and foremost, our goal is to build a better world for women and non-binary people, to create spaces — even if they are only temporary — where loneliness, anxiety, and shame do not exist.
We do this by directly raising funds to support small nonprofit organizations who are fighting for women's rights across the country.
We believe in the transformative power of storytelling and the voices of women and non-binary people. By supporting them and the work they do in their communities, we can make real, substantive change in the years ahead.
“I cannot adequately express how surprised and deeply moved I was ... It's easy to feel all alone in the middle of the country, in the buckle of the bible belt. Your support means so much. We certainly have supporters in Arkansas, but we are in the minority.”
— Ali Taylor, founder, arkansas abortion support network
Support Our Work
Your donation to the Freya Project has immediate, meaningful impact. Every dollar raised goes directly to the organization we support that month. You can help us amplify the power of women's & non-binary people’s voices, and join us in raising money for the valuable work small, non-profit organizations are already doing across the country. | {
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Festival - Free admission
- A Non-French-speaking friendly
A snapshot of new contemporary art aesthetics, a platform for risk-taking without the limits of genre, theme or artistic current : Les Urbaines is back. This year, the festival — a laboratory for emerging artists and a hotbed of entirely free discoveries — will be showcasing more than forty projects in a renewed configuration (Arsenic, Théâtre Sévelin 36, Espace Arlaud, Bourg, Romandie as well as new venues).
LES PANTHÈRES NÉBULEUSES (FR)
ALEX BACZYNSKI-JENKINS (UK/PL)
Durational Performance 21:00-24:00
In a minimalist environment, Alex Baczynski-Jenkins stages a constellation of performers on rollerblades who loop for hours, reciting and reformulating fragments of poetry relating to desire. The different extracts are picked up polyphonically by the skaters, thus circulating in the space, tirelessly modified by the direction of the performers’ movements and affects. A gentle current that establishes a languorous dialogue between attraction and repetition.
TYPHONIAN HIGHLIFE (US)
Typhonian Highlife is one of the many aliases of the musician Spencer Clark. Under the guise of this moniker, he crafts a disconcerting ecosystem of fantasised mythology and romantic anticipation, creating a style inspired by heroic fantasy which he names “Demon Classical Aquatic Fusion”. Armed with his two synthesisers and a madcap, humorous and virtuosic stage presence, he performs the perfect soundtrack to immerse oneself in a long psychedelic voyage; a sort of magic ritual invoking Cthulhu, while evoking erotic visions worthy of a HR Giger painting.
JEREMY NEDD (CH/US)
Inspired by experiences of mourning, celebration and protest—three situations that give rise to gatherings—the Swiss-American performer and choreographer Jeremy Nedd invites us to a collective experience with an oxymoronic name: Communal Solo. Invoking a backdrop of images that refer to the recurrent violence against the African-American community in the United States, Nedd counterbalances the seriousness of the theme with his warm and relaxed presence, accompanied by a festive atmosphere and a toe-tapping playlist. An open and constructive act which is essential in this day and age.
The best piece of this season
House lights, no set, one person on stage (at once author, ac tor and himself): Johannes Dullin has given himself one night to write the best piece of the season. In a gleeful back and forth between the moment of composition and the “here and now” of the performance, Dullin leads us through both sides of the theatrical creative process with a forceful grip. A theatrical success — necessarily unparalleled — that takes us to the outer reaches of the cosmos.
MARC PHILIPP GABRIEL & MAIJA KARHUNEN (DE/FI)
Marc Philipp Gabriel and Maija Karhunen studied choreography together in Berlin. The character they have created for AJIMA — a performance that spans a wellness tutorial, a cosmic freakshow and the art of divination — plays on our projections based on physical appearance and a supposed identity. A fascinating and unsettling collective ritual.
POUSSY DRAAMA (FR)
Conversation en cercle autour du selfhelp avec Poussy DRAAMA
In 2015, the artist-performer Poussy DRAAMA created the colourful character of DocteurE Duchesne: an itinerant alter gynecologist who officiates in an old fire truck, the “Trans Utérus Cruising Agency”. Realising the extent of questions relating to gynecology and the sexual health of women, trans and non-binary individuals, she turned towards an artistic practice that is now closer to selfhelp than performance. Whether it’s a lecture or a workshop, this is an open occasion for all subjectivities to learn and share, without judgment or discrimination.
GEO WYETH (US)
In Juice CrosxxxSing, the multidisciplinary artist Geo Wyeth, whose work spans mediums including music, performance, installation and video, embodies two enigmatic characters: the Lost Tourist and the Crossing Guard who move across hurdles, merging in bass. Children’s voices permeate a black box. Dutch weather requires raingear. A target becomes a stop sign.
- A Non-French-speaking friendly | {
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F96 is a feminist collective based in Zürich. They demand a
diverse cultural life and strive to actively shape it. They
motivate and support themselves and others in thinking
and implementing ideas, and in sharing and expanding
knowledge, such as through dj workshops.
F96 grows and shrinks continuously and dynamically: women,
intersex, non-binary or trans persons who want to shape
the collective are always welcome to join.
Workshop 01.07.2022 – 15:00-18:00
If you’d like to join the workshop, write us!
>> f96 website | {
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By Tanya Solorzano
Bell Gardens, CA
Princeton student Arlene Gamio had to worry about more than just passing classes and getting homesick: As someone with a non-binary gender identity, Gamio had to grapple with living in a dormitory restricted to a gender with which they did not identify.
That arrangement made the already-difficult task of coming to terms with gender identity even more difficult, they (Gamio’s preferred pronoun) said.
This upcoming school year, university officials say students will encounter a different system: Princeton will launch a gender-inclusive housing policy, joining a host of colleges across the country. Students will have the option to identify themselves as one of several gender options on housing documents and will be allowed to choose roommates regardless of their gender.
Gamio believes the policy will make life easier for other non-binary students. “It’s a human right,” they said.
Princeton officials agree. Vice President for Campus Life Rochelle Calhoun said the policy change is meant to strengthen students’ sense of community within their school. It is definitely progress, she said, but she believes there is still a lot of work to be done to fully support the LGBT community at Princeton.
Dean of the College Jill Dolan says she is “very proud” of this new policy and, like Calhoun, believes that it was a long time coming.
Students will still be able to live in single-gender rooms if they prefer; therefore, Calhoun and Gamio believe, the new policy is not altogether groundbreaking.
Calhoun said there has been little official pushback, except for an email from someone telling her that she would probably go to hell for her support of the policy. She said, laughing, “I might be, but not for this!” | {
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Phase III trials of long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP, currently underway, have great potential for expanding the menu of HIV prevention options. Imagining a future in which multiple PrEP modalities are available to potential users of biomedical HIV prevention, we investigated which factors might help direct a patient-physician shared-decision making process to optimize the choice of biomedical HIV prevention method.
Participants (n = 105; ages 19–63; 46.7% men of color) were former participants in a PrEP demonstration project and had taken daily oral PrEP for ≥ 12 months. Participants were given information about LAI PrEP and asked whether they would be interested in switching from oral to LAI PrEP. Participants were also asked about specific pros/cons of LAI PrEP, PrEP attitudes and experiences, and personality factors.
Two-thirds (66.7%) of current oral PrEP users would switch to LAI PrEP. Intention to switch was associated with product-level and psychosocial factors. Attitudes towards logistical factors (i.e. getting to regular clinic visits for recurring shots) featured more prominently than factors related to the physical experience of PrEP modality (i.e., concerns about injection pain) as motivators for switching. In a multivariate regression model, psychosocial factors including the emotional burden of daily pill taking, deriving a sense of responsibility from PrEP use, and self-identifying as an early adopter, were the strongest predictors of switching.
These data underscore the importance of attending not only to product-level factors, but also to the logistical and psychological experience of prevention methods for users. Findings have significant implications for the development of patient education materials and patient-provider shared decision aids.
Citation: Meyers K, Wu Y, Brill A, Sandfort T, Golub SA (2018) To switch or not to switch: Intentions to switch to injectable PrEP among gay and bisexual men with at least twelve months oral PrEP experience. PLoS ONE 13(7): e0200296. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200296
Editor: J. Gerardo García-Lerma, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNITED STATES
Received: February 9, 2018; Accepted: June 22, 2018; Published: July 19, 2018
Copyright: © 2018 Meyers et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: The City University of New York Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) places restrictions on data sharing, because participants of this study did not originally provide consent to deposit their data into public repositories. Data Request Forms and Data Use Agreements can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. To make a data sharing request, please contact Mr. Michael Adams, Administrative Director of Research, Hunter HIV/AIDS Research Team at ([email protected]).
Funding: READY is funded by National Institute of Health (Grant number: R01MH106380; Golub, PI; URL: https://www.nih.gov/) and funded the contributions of Drs. Golub and Meyers and Ms. Wu and Ms. Brill. Dr. Sandfort’s contribution to this manuscript was supported by National Institute of Mental Health center grant P30-MH43520 (P.I.: Robert Remien, PhD; URL: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml) to the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Tenofovir-based oral PrEP is the only biomedical approach currently approved to prevent HIV. Other ARV-based prevention modalities—including vaginal rings, microbicides, alternate oral agents, injectables—are currently in clinical development, with the long-acting integrase inhibitor Cabotegravir Long-Acting (Cab-LA) furthest along. With the prevention efficacy of Cab-LA under investigation in a global study of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women who have sex with MSM , a series of sociobehavioral studies have begun assessing attitudes towards long-acting injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP) among gay men in the US and other settings [1–9]. These studies show variable enthusiasm for an injectable PrEP product, with positive attitudes towards LAI PrEP (as measured by acceptability, preference or willingness to use) ranging from 25.2% to 80.0% . This variability is likely due to heterogeneity in study design, wording of survey questions, different explanation of LAI-PrEP, and/or real differences between populations. However, taken together, these studies do suggest that the addition of a second PrEP modality would likely attract PrEP-naïve users for whom the daily oral pill was not acceptable and consequently increase overall PrEP use . While useful in establishing acceptability of attributes of a particular product-type at the most basic level, clinical trials are limited in the depth with which they can collect data on the acceptability of a specific biomedical prevention technology among potential users.
For this new biomedical prevention strategy to be effective, it is important to understand not only interest in Cab-LA during clinical development, but also its likelihood of being adopted by real users and the factors that might underlie decisions about uptake. People who are already on oral PrEP present a particularly informative population in which to study this question, as these individuals have experienced the physical and psychosocial benefits and challenges of daily oral PrEP use first-hand. For example, they may have experienced a decrease in anxiety around sex [10, 11], an increase in intimacy with partners [10, 12], an increase in sexual satisfaction [10, 13], worry about missing doses [14, 15], changes in frequency of condomless sex [10, 16, 17], infection with an STI , or increases in stigma related to sexual practices and choices in HIV prevention methods [13, 19]. In addition, current oral PrEP users understand the logistics of taking PrEP, including regular clinic visits , timely pharmacy refills , storing of pills [22, 23], and integrating the medication into their routines and lifestyles [22, 23]. The experience of integrating oral PrEP into their daily lives allows them to provide answers to questions about a hypothetical new injectable formulation of PrEP, informed by real world practice. Some of these experiences may continue to exist with the use of an injectable product, some may be overcome by its development, and some distinct new experiences are likely to arise as well.
The goal of this study was to investigate specific factors that might help direct a patient-provider shared decision-making process to optimize the choice of biomedical HIV prevention method. Such tools have been utilized in the contraceptive field [24–27] and our objective was to generate preliminary data that could usefully differentiate between current oral PrEP users who would or would not switch to LAI-PrEP. Specifically, the study focused on product-related and psychosocial factors that may impact implementation of LAI-PrEP. We tested measures that we hypothesized would help us understand who would be a good candidate for an intra-muscularly-injected versus an orally-administered PrEP product. Hypothesized domains included: 1) product-related factors, such as the physical experience of the PrEP modality and logistical features of administration; and 2) psychosocial factors, like agency and control, psychosocial aspects of adherence, and self-identification as an early-adopter or risk taker.
Materials and methods
Study population and procedures
Participants were recruited from among former participants of a PrEP demonstration project in New York City (NIH RO1: MH106380). Eligible participants were assigned male sex at birth, over age 18, had been prescribed PrEP in the context of the SPARK PrEP Demonstration Project, and reported having taken PrEP for at least 12-months. All eligible participants of the original study who had indicated interest in being contacted for future research participation were contacted by research staff (n = 237). Of these, 72 (27%) never responded to our contact, 27 (11%) declined to participate, 32 (12%) scheduled a study visit but did not attend, and 106 (40%) completed a study visit. Those who completed study visits did not differ significantly from those in the other three groups on age, race/ethnicity, education, income, or insurance status. One participant left the majority of his survey blank, and was excluded from further analysis, leaving a final analytic sample of 105.
Participants completed a Qualtrics-programmed survey on a computer during an in-person visit at Hunter College and received $40 compensation upon completion. All participants completed an informed consent process with study staff and signed a written consent form. The study was reviewed and approved by the Human Research Protections Program at the City University of New York (IRB file number 2015–0455).
Survey design and measurement
Participants were given the following written description of the “PrEP shot”:
“an anti-HIV medication that is made into an injection (shot) that can remain in the blood for a long period of time. You take one month of daily pills to make sure you don’t have a reaction to the medication. Then come to a clinic every three months to get two shots in the buttocks by a medical provider.”
Following this description, participants completed self-report survey items. The survey instrument included a series of close-ended and open-ended questions developed specifically for this study, based on the research team’s experience investigating the use of daily oral PrEP and injectable PrEP among users [28, 29] and clinical trial participants . Because these measures were developed for this project, and because few (if any) acceptability measures exist specific to LAI PrEP, we have provided our complete list of measures in Table 1. We used four types of items and response choice sets to measure participant attitudes, including: a) pro/con judgements, in which participants read characteristics and were asked to rate the extent to which each was a “pro” or a “con” of the shot compared to the PrEP pill; b) Polar or “A versus B” items, in which participants are presented with two opposite statement and were asked to rate themselves between them; c) Likert-type scale items, in which participants responded to statements about injections and pills on a seven-point scale ranging from “very challenging” to “very easy”; and d) classic Likert-scale items, in which participants responded to statements on a seven-point scale ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”. As demonstrated in Table 1, measures were divided into “product-level” factors, including physical experience and logistics/convenience and “psychosocial factors’, which included feelings of control, psychosocial attitudes/preferences, and feelings about adherence.
Willingness to switch.
After completing these survey measures, participants were asked: “If the PrEP shot were FDA approved and available for the same cost as the daily PrEP pill, how likely would you be to switch to the PrEP shot?” on a 5-point scale from 1, definitely switch to 5, definitely not switch with mid-point “unsure”. Those who would definitely or probably switch were categorized as “switchers”, those who were unsure, or would probably or definitely not switch were categorized as “non-switchers”.
As part of the survey, participants were asked to report their age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, employment, and income. Additional items collected information on living situation and partnership characteristics.
We also asked three open-ended questions to elicit more details on participants’ perspectives on the relative pros and cons of the PrEP shot as compared to daily oral PrEP: (1) What do you think is the biggest benefit or “pro” of the PrEP shot compared to the PrEP pill?; (2) What do you think is the biggest drawback or “con” of the PrEP shot compared to the PrEP pill?; (3) Please tell us a little bit about why you would or wouldn’t switch.
We included open-ended questions for several reasons. First, given the preliminary nature of the constructs and measures we developed to capture them, we wanted participants to be able to raise issues that we may not have previously considered and provide more depth to their survey responses [31, 32]. Second, we anticipated that some items might lack variability in responses due to the potential homogeneity in a cohort of early oral PrEP adopters. Such a lack of variability may impact on the quantitative analysis and significance of findings; therefore, we included open-ended fields that would allow us to pick up common themes.
Across the three open questions, 97.5% of respondents provided answers. Text entered by participants in response to the three open-ended questions was organized thematically around the motivators and barriers to switching identified in the statistical analysis. One researcher coded and categorized the data. Two other researchers reviewed the coding and final coding was based on group discussion. Excerpts were chosen to provide a more detailed explanation of the respondents’ answers to the survey items.
We first examined bivariate associations between the outcome (i.e., intention to switch) and each of the predictor variables. Variables that were significant in bivariate testing (p < .10) were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. We report both bivariate and adjusted odds ratios. All continuous measures were z-scored for ease of comparison across measures with different scales; increases in odds are associated with standard deviation increases in any given measure. Analysis was performed in SPSS 24.0.
Intention to switch from oral to LAI-PrEP
The sample was largely gay (89.5%), ethnically diverse (46.7% non-white), and fairly well distributed in terms of education, income, and insurance status (Table 2). Almost 92% of the sample (n = 96) were still taking PrEP. Two-thirds of the sample reported that they would definitely (36.2%) or probably (30.5%) switch from daily oral PrEP to LAI-PrEP. About one fifth (21.0%) were unsure whether or not they would switch, a tenth (9.5%) would probably not switch, and 3 out of 106 respondents (2.9%) would definitely not switch.
Factors associated with intention to switch
Intention to switch to LAI from oral PrEP was not associated with age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, insurance status, factors related to partnership type, or whether or not the participant was a current PrEP user. However, income was associated with intention to switch; specifically those with moderate income ($30,000-$50,000) were more likely to consider switching, compared to those who reported highest income (Table 3). Income was included in the final model.
In bivariate analysis, intention to switch to LAI-PrEP was positively associated (p < .10) with four product-level factors and five psychosocial factors (Table 3). Analysis of the qualitative data allowed us to include illustrative quotes for the bivariate factors.
Product-level motivators and barriers to switching
Physical experience of product use.
Among six items measuring aspects of the physical experience of product use, four items did not show any association with the outcome: worries about pain during the shots, general tolerance for pain or discomfort, worries about visible marks on butt following the shot, and attitudes towards swallowing pills. In bivariate analysis, respondents who self-identified as having high injection tolerance (i.e., not being bothered by shots) had higher odds of switching (OR = 1.64), whereas those who were more concerned about post-injection pain had lower odds of switching (OR = 0.57).
Among non-switchers, a negative “gut reaction” to needles was a common theme in the qualitative responses, as captured in the following statements relating to needles and injection pain: “Although I think it’s a nice option to choose between one or the other, I personally hate needles!” (Hispanic, 25 years old, unsure). A 24-year-old Black participant reasoned that “the fact that it’s likely a large needle that causes pain in pretty much a majority of patients that lasts a fair bit of time…” made him unsure whether or not he would switch.
Logistics of product use.
Items related to logistics of daily pill taking, like returning to the clinic for checkups and refilling prescriptions at pharmacies were not associated with switching intentions. The two significant items in bivariate analysis were around the logistics of the injections. Participants who felt more strongly that the injection interval (i.e., “I would have to get two shots in the butt every 8–12 weeks”) was a disadvantage of the shot had lower odds of intending to switch (OR = 0.30). The more challenging that someone rated the shot schedule (i.e., returning to the clinic every eight to twelve weeks), the lower their odds of switching (OR = 0.37). For example, in the words of one respondent, “Biggest drawback is that it’s a shot and that I have to actually visit a healthcare provider to receive the dosage” (Black, 29 years old, probably not switch).
In contrast, the following quote from the open-ended responses, illustrative of several similar quotes by definite switchers, elaborates on the idea that oral PrEP requires regular clinic visits anyway, so that regular visits for injections were not an additional burden: “Part of the routine of PrEP is blood work every 3 months, so a PrEP shot would fit nicely into this routine anyway, plus alleviate any need to refill and take daily pills each month” (White, 32 year-old, definitely switch). Others noted: “I don’t like to carry pills with me daily—its easy to forget, especially when you lead an incredibly busy schedule” (Hispanic, 26 years old, definitely switch). “(The shot) would make life so much easier not having to deal with pharmacies and refills” (White, 26 years old, definitely switch).
Psychosocial motivators and barriers to switching
Psychological experience of adherence.
Five out of six items that sought to measure the psychological aspects of adhering to a daily oral pill or returning for regular clinic visits did not show any association with intention to switch. However, despite the fact that items that queried anxiety around missed doses did not show any associations, this theme was common in the open-ended responses. As a 39-year-old multiracial definite switcher expressed: “I’d prefer [the shot] to having to take a pill everyday and worrying about missing a dose. It would be less stressful.”
Stronger agreement with the statement “taking PrEP pills every day feels like an emotional burden” was associated with intention to switch (OR = 1.54). One illustrative quote captures this notion of pill-taking as burdensome, particular when frequency of sex is inconsistent across time:
I would probably switch. My sexual activity is sporadic, I am more focused and diligent with taking my PrEP pills when I am sexually active regardless of if the behavior is protected or unprotected. Sometimes I go for months without having sex or what I believe is risky sexual exposure. PrEP seems to be a burden in the months I am not active. To take the injection and not worry about it for months would be an ideal scenario for me, provided I am truly confident the shot works. (Black, 53 years old, probably switch)
Agency and control.
Assigning a higher score to the statement “Taking PrEP pills every day makes me feel responsible” (OR = 1.87) was associated with higher odds of switching. This was elaborated on in the following excerpts from responses to open-ended questions: “[PrEP] gives you a little more confidence because mistakes happen and you have sex with someone that you ask afterwards what their status is and knowing you aren’t just relying on them and are taking responsibility is a good thing,” (White, 26 years old, definitely switch).
Higher scores on the statement “Not taking a pill every day would make me feel less in control of my HIV prevention” were associated with lower odds of switching (OR = 0.55). The qualitative data elaborates on this sentiment in the following excerpt: “I also like actively taking a pill everyday as it makes me feel more in control. I feel like I am affirming my desire to remain HIV-free on a daily basis. Taking a shot and then forgetting about it feels sort of passive,” (Hispanic, gay, 49 years old, probably not switch). A second respondent, noted with regards to the shot: there is a “loss of control. With the pill I know I’m actively doing something every day to protect my health. There’s much less control with a shot administered by a doctor,” (White, 36 years old, definitely not switch).
The item that queried participants’ concern about waning protection across the injection interval was not significant. The concern came through in several participants’ responses to the open-ended questions. One participant articulated this with the following set of questions: “How do we know that the 3-month injection won’t be processed out of my body at a faster rate than the average person, thereby leaving me more vulnerable to seroconversion? What happens to the concentration of the medication in my body as time progresses? Do I have the same level of protection against HIV on day 90 as I do on day 1 after the shot?” (Black, 32 years old, unsure). Another noted: “I’m concerned [what] if the medicine levels will drop without notice, leaving me unprotected,” (Hispanic, 25 years old, unsure). A separate measure asking about concern of not having control over starting and stopping the medication specifically due to the long duration of protection was significant (OR = 0.56).
Early versus not early adopters.
Those who rated themselves as “the kind of person who is always first to try new something new” had higher odds of switching, compared to people who considered themselves “slow to try new things” (OR = 2.88). “I would not want to be one of the first people to take it. I’d want to know others who have been on it for a while. The lack of long-term data is especially concerning,” (Hispanic, gay, 49 years old, probably not switch). As expressed by one 26-year-old White participant (probably not switch), “I would switch only after the long-term side effects were known. I don’t want to turn 60 and find out that I have some rare disease because of a shot I was taking to make myself healthier years ago.”
Multivariable logistic regression model
In multivariable analysis, five predictors of intentions to switch were retained (Table 3). Two negatively predicted switch intentions: negative ratings of product-level factors (injection interval (aOR = 0.37) and shot schedule (aOR = 0.31)). Three psychosocial level factors positively predicted switch intentions: identifying daily pill-taking as emotionally burdensome (aOR = 13.71), believing that PrEP signifies personal responsibility (aOR = 4.72), and self-identifying as an early adopter (aOR = 3.77).
This is the first study to directly ask current oral PrEP users whether they would switch to an LAI-PrEP product, were it to become available, and probe the product-level and psychosocial aspects of their switch intentions. As such, these experienced PrEP users offer a unique perspective from which to assess the pros and cons of LAI-PrEP compared to daily oral PrEP. These men were among the earliest adopters of daily oral PrEP—enrolling into a PrEP demonstration within the first 24 months after FDA approval of daily oral Truvada. This makes the beliefs and attitudes of this group of men particularly relevant to the evaluation of the pros and cons of a new PrEP-modality, offering perspectives that are informed by the physical and psychological experience of oral PrEP use.
We developed twenty-four measures in five domains that we hypothesized would allow us to differentiate current oral PrEP users who would be motivated to switch to injectable PrEP from those who were likely to continue using daily oral PrEP. Measures in all five domains showed bivariate associations and four domains retained significance in the multivariable analysis.
Of the two product-level domains, physical experience was not, surprisingly, associated with switching intentions. Attitudes towards pain, injections, or pill swallowing did not differentiate those who had higher odds of intending to switch from those who were satisfied with oral PrEP in the multivariable model. However, this may be because none of our quantitative measures queried attitudes towards needles specifically, using instead, language of “shots” and “injections.” The literature on aversion to injections and needle phobia distinguishes between psychological concerns (fear of fainting, disgust), vasovagal concerns (fainting, loss of consciousness), and needle-phobia (avoidance, distress, fear) [33, 34]. This study appears to bear out this distinction as items eliciting reactions to injections were not associated with the outcome, whereas many non-switchers mentioned needles as a barrier to LAI-PrEP in their open-ended responses. Future research could use standardized scales to measure aversion to injections as compared to needles to assess whether scores on such scales could be useful in identifying someone as a candidate for injectable PrEP. These data suggest that while such concerns may not determine patient preferences, they should be discussed by providers as a critical component of a patient’s decision-making process.
Logistical concerns mattered for participants; concerns about the frequency of injections and clinic visits were both negatively associated with intentions to switch, whereas individuals who were not bothered by these return visits were more likely to report wanting to switch. Prior experiences during clinic visits for daily oral PrEP or other interactions with the health system may predispose individuals positively or negatively towards more frequent visits for an injectable agent. When working with patients around decision-making, providers should keep in mind that such logistical concerns may have farther-reaching influences on patients’ daily lives, and therefore may be more important than product-specific product factors such as concerns about injections. Deepening our understanding of what is difficult about clinic visits for injections—the frequency of visits, the lack of weekend and night-time hours at clinics, or the intimacy of such injections—would help planning for future implementation of LAI-PrEP as well as clinical development of future biomedical HIV prevention products.
Psychosocial-level factors also appeared to be quite important in people’s attitudes towards LAI-PrEP. The “pro” of not needing to take a daily oral pill (i.e., adherence) has been noted as an advantage of an LAI-PrEP modality [3, 6, 7]. However, in our data, endorsement of the statement “not having to take a pill every day” was not significantly associated with intention to switch, while the item “taking PrEP pills every day feels like an emotional burden” was. The latter item captures the psychological aspect underlying the “adherence” theme—that taking a pill every day, while doable, does take an emotional toll that seems to be operating in two ways: for some, the act of pill-taking appears to be a reminder of the risk of HIV; for others, it highlights the absence of sex. While the psychological burden of pill-taking has not been previously reported in the PrEP literature, it has been measured in the context of ARV and ARV adherence [35–37]. LAI-PrEP offers an alternative that avoids the daily psychological burden of PrEP use. Providers working with patients on decision-making may want to acknowledge the emotional burden of pill-taking as a factor in evaluation of prevention options.
Under the theme of agency, or control, the idea that taking PrEP made users “feel responsible” was most strongly associated with switching in the multivariable model. Factors related to a loss of control when switching from pill-taking to injectable PrEP were associated at the bivariate level only. Mental health benefits arising from an enhanced sense of self-efficacy and agency among oral PrEP users have been reported elsewhere [38–44], and is conceptually related to this finding. It is possible that patients who felt most affirmed by their oral PrEP use were also those who were most open to trying a new approach. Focusing on taking responsibility and being in control of HIV prevention may be an important motivating factor for providers to discuss with their patients regardless of the specific modality chosen for PrEP. It is also interesting to contrast this focus on agency with the above findings around the emotional burden of pill-taking. It may be that the ways in which individuals understand and make meaning from their PrEP behavior will be the most important factor in PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence across modalities.
This study was conducted among early adopters of daily oral PrEP, which limits the generalizability of these findings to oral PrEP-experienced users. Those without experience with PrEP may respond differently. The sample was limited to cisgender men, and more data are sorely needed about experiences of PrEP use and PrEP preferences among cisgender women, and transgender and non-binary individuals. It is important to note that we asked participants to assume that insurance and financial costs of injectable PrEP would be equivalent to those they were currently facing with daily oral PrEP; however, this may not be the case during implementation. Financial constraints may be a critical factor in determining choices among PrEP modalities, and these should be considered in future implementation studies. In this sample, moderate income was most strongly associated with intentions to switch; this may be a random artifact of this particular sample, as early adoption of novel health care products and treatment is usually associated with higher income [45–46]. Another limitation is the nature of the qualitative data, which was derived not through interviews in which themes could be elaborated through a skilled interviewer, but written responses to open-ended questions. Finally, the wide confidence intervals around significant predictors signals the need for additional studies to replicate these results and assess how meaningful these factors are across different populations.
Psychosocial factors appear to motivate intentions to switch to injectable PrEP among experienced PrEP users. In anticipation of the availability of a LAI-PrEP product, there is a need for rigorous behavioral and social science research to inform the development of tools to support decision-making around PrEP modalities that take into account the psychosocial factors identified in this study. Such factors—especially issues around the meaning of pill-taking for patients as an emotional burden versus a symbol of agency and control—will be critical to the development of patient education materials and shared decision-making processes with providers.
READY is funded by NIH (R01MH106380; Golub, PI) and funded the contributions of Drs. Golub and Meyers and Ms. Wu and Ms. Brill. Dr. Sandfort’s contribution to this manuscript was supported by NIMH center grant P30-MH43520 (P.I.: Robert Remien, PhD) to the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies. We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of Dr. Asa Radix, Stephanie Peña, and Anthony Surace, who all contributed to the success of this project. We also appreciate the contributions of two anonymous reviewers, whose critique and comments enhanced the quality of the final manuscript. Finally, we are grateful to the participants who gave their time and energy to READY.
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2021-22 Departmental Plan: Public Health Agency of Canada
Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada
Table of Contents
- From the Minister
- Plans at a glance
- Core responsibilities: planned results and resources
- Internal Services: planned results
- Spending and human resources
- Budgetary planning summary for core responsibilities and Internal Services (dollars)
- 2021–22 Budgetary planned gross spending summary (dollars)
- Corporate information
- Supporting information on the program inventory
- Supplementary information tables
- Federal tax expenditures
- Organizational contact information
- Appendix definitions
From the Minister
I am pleased to present the 2021-22 Departmental Plan for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). It comes at a critical time for Canadians, who have made great sacrifices to minimize the harmful effects of COVID-19 on our communities. As Minister of Health, I have relied on the Agency’s professionals to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, and partners as we rollout vaccines to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and move towards a safe and sustainable economic recovery. In 2021-22, PHAC will use many tools to promote vaccine uptake, leverage public opinion research to address evolving issues relating to vaccine hesitancy, and continue to work hard to protect Canadians by ensuring vaccine safety. PHAC will also continue to provide Canadians with useful, timely, and evidence-based information to protect themselves, their families, their communities, and their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PHAC’s priority for 2021-22 will be to provide Canadians with access to safe and effective vaccines to protect against COVID-19 and will implement strong immunization surveillance systems to monitor the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. PHAC’s Vaccine Rollout Task Force will work with provinces and territories to prioritize the vaccination of high-risk populations and those in living or working conditions with an elevated risk for infection or disproportionate consequences. The establishment of a pan-Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Program further demonstrates PHAC’s confidence in vaccine safety and our drive to decrease vaccine hesitancy. PHAC will also increase COVID-19 surveillance and research to enhance the evidence-base and improve our ability to combat the disease. On behalf of the Government of Canada, PHAC will continue to lead the procurement of testing supplies for use across Canada, and provide federal testing support services for federal testing needs such as in northern, remote, and Indigenous communities.
Core to the Agency’s mandate is health promotion and the prevention of diseases. Recognizing that COVID-19 has brought new barriers to program delivery, PHAC is pivoting to online models and resources to facilitate the broadest access possible for Canadians. Some of the programs and initiatives I am proud to highlight for 2021-22 include: Early Learning and Childcare, Support for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention Services, and advancing a National Autism Strategy to better support individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families and caregivers. The need for PHAC’s continued efforts to reduce the stigma and barriers faced by people who use substances is greater than ever, as we are witnessing how COVID-19 has amplified the opioid crises and other problematic substance use. In the context of alcohol use disorder and the ongoing opioid crises in Canada, PHAC will continue monitoring opioid-related overdose deaths and problematic alcohol consumption to increase knowledge and understanding of how COVID-19 has contributed to increasing substance use in Canada. This will help identify changes in substance use behaviour before and during the pandemic.
As the pandemic evolves, the Agency’s level of preparedness for and capacity to respond to public health threats will continue to play an essential role. Domestic response efforts will continue to be a priority for the coming year, as well as strengthening PHAC’s capacity to mobilize resources and respond to provinces and territories’ requests for personal protective equipment and medical equipment. Building on lessons learned, PHAC will continue to strengthen capacity to prepare for and respond to future public health threats and emergencies.
While this Plan is ambitious, I have full confidence in PHAC's employees and our capability to work collaboratively with our federal government partners, provinces, territories, and public health stakeholders to meet these priorities for Canadians.
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
Plans at a glance
Even before the first case of COVID-19 was identified on Canadian soil, PHAC had begun mobilizing human resources from across the government to prepare itself to respond to the public health threat. This threat became a reality in early 2020 when the first case of COVID-19 in Canada was reported. Since then, COVID-19 infections have reached all parts of Canada with serious and too often devastating consequences. PHAC is dedicated to continuing to support Canada and Canadians in reducing the further spread of COVID-19 in 2021-22, and in this document has organized its plan for investments, programs, initiatives, and activities according to its Departmental Results Framework.
Under Core Responsibility (CR) 3, Health Security, PHAC is implementing Orders in Council and taking vital preventative measures under the authority of the Quarantine Act. Experience has demonstrated that the most effective line of defence to reduce the importation of new infections and variants are mandatory quarantine and self-isolation periods. PHAC will also continue to expand the Border and Travel Health Program to provide up-to-date guidance, situational awareness, and public information regarding the risks and requirements of international travel. More detail on these and other crucial activities related to preparedness and response are found under CR 3.
CR 2, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, is where information on vaccine research, development, allocation, and deployment is located. Safe and effective vaccines are a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19, and require the collaboration between the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders, municipal governments, public health and logistical experts, manufacturers, and Canadians to facilitate the rollout. Working in partnership with Health Canada, PHAC will strive to build vaccine confidence and support the work of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF).
PHAC’s contribution to strengthening diverse components of Canada’s health systems capacity are found throughout each CR. Weaved throughout this document are examples of new and re-invigorated investments and support in areas such as: improving public health intelligence capacity (CR 3); procuring and distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where and when needed (CR 3); enhancing laboratory capacity and genome sequencing (CR 2); providing safe, voluntary isolation spaces (CR 2); expanding COVID-19 surveillance and guidance (CR 2); and creating new knowledge, through research and publications relating to the effects of COVID-19 on chronic disease (CR 1 – Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention). These are just a sampling of the contributions PHAC will make in 2021-22.
In addition to the physical effects of COVID-19 and measures put in place to prevent its spread, PHAC is witnessing serious negative effects on Canadians’ mental health and wellbeing and the deepening of health inequalities. More information on programs and strategies to combat these negative outcomes can be found under CR 1.
PHAC is continuing to operationalize improvements and new investments in Internal Services to hire the best and brightest talent, build a healthy, diverse, and inclusive workforce, and equip employees with modern tools and resources to deliver excellence for Canadians in the current remote workplace. This is also where the strategic policy and communications work is captured, as PHAC works tirelessly to continue to provide timely, trusted, and evidence-based information to Cabinet and to Canadians.
And yet while the above is already a heavy lift, responding to COVID is simply PHAC's number one priority. In 2021-22 PHAC will continue to dedicate resources to advancing long-standing priorities in public health and implement programs and strategies in support of the Minister of Health's Mandate Letter. Information regarding actions to reduce anti-microbial resistance, early childhood development, and many more are outlined in their respective core responsibility.
Below are the plans at a glance for PHAC’s 2021-22 Departmental Plan:
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention
- Further the understanding of the wider consequences of COVID-19, by partnering with other federal, provincial, and territorial government departments to advance the assessment and surveillance of the impacts of the pandemic beyond infection and transmission to include trends in health equity, key pregnancy-related indicators, and the physical and mental health of Canadians;
- Increase knowledge and understanding of how COVID-19 has contributed to increasing substance use in Canada, with the ongoing opioid overdose crisis and alcohol use disorder. PHAC will continue monitoring opioid-related overdose deaths and problematic alcohol consumption to identify changes in substance-use behaviour before and during the pandemic. PHAC will also continue to prevent substance-related harms by focusing on public health education and by providing support to communities to address risk and protective factors, particularly among Canada’s youth;
- Continue to invest in the implementation and sustainability of a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service to provide Canadians with access to 24/7/365 bilingual crisis support from trained responders;
- Provide support to distress centers in Canada, including the Kids Help Phone, to bolster mental health and crisis support services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Create a national autism strategy in collaboration with provinces, territories, families, individuals with autism, and stakeholders, while continuing to invest in innovative projects to better support Canadians affected by autism spectrum disorder; and,
- Support Canadians that face health inequities and are at greater risk of chronic disease by funding projects that improve health behaviours and create environments that enable healthier choices through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, formerly known as the Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention – Multi-sectoral Partnerships program.
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
- Respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes increasing vaccine confidence uptake and understanding, expanding research and surveillance capacity to increase understanding of this infectious disease, and continuing to provide timely and relevant guidance materials. This response will incorporate actions such as:
- Strategically securing sufficient domestic supply of efficacious COVID-19 vaccines as required and at earliest availability, with the goal of minimizing serious illness and overall deaths while minimizing societal disruption as a result of COVID-19, including bilateral agreements with vaccine suppliers and enabling domestic biomanufacturing;
- Facilitating the development and implementation of consistent and cohesive national strategies to plan and prepare for distribution of approved COVID-19 vaccines;
- Developing a clear and transparent process for the allocation of vaccines across jurisdictions and working closely with federal partners, provinces, and territories to manage the distribution, monitoring, administration and reporting of COVID-19 vaccines, including doses administered and vaccine coverage for Canadians and priority populations;
- Building vaccine confidence through the provision of information and training to key partners and stakeholders, as well as the implementation of an overarching public education plan;
- Supporting the digital management and oversight of COVID-19 vaccine administration across Canada through the development and implementation of the National Vaccine Management Information Technology Platform (NVMIP);
- Supporting international mechanisms to procure and redistribute vaccines to facilitate equitable global access and reduce global spread;
- Providing necessary support measures and capacity for jurisdictional immunization programs (ancillary supplies, training, and manufacturer guidance);
- Supporting Indigenous Service Canada in their work with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit leaders, and provinces and territories to build regional plans for community-led approaches so that Indigenous groups have access to efficacious and culturally safe immunization programs; and,
- Continuing support for the work of the CITF that is mobilizing a comprehensive suite of studies to measure the level of potential underlying immunity to COVID-19 in the population by administering the investments required, based on the recommendations of the CITF.
- Reduce the health impacts of re-emerging diseases, including Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI), by developing resources to eliminate stigma and other barriers to care, and working with Indigenous partners, community-based organizations, and people with lived experience to inform funding priorities;
- Support Canadian and global efforts on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the launch of the Pan-Canadian AMR Action Plan and continued monitoring of AMR rates to inform targets for action and measure success of interventions; and,
- Increase knowledge and understanding of the health risks associated with climate-driven infectious diseases.
- Maintain and strengthen the capabilities of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to prepare for other potential public health emergencies or events;
- Strengthen enhanced emergency management operations for a sustained COVID-19 response;
- Strengthen border measures to fight against the entry and spread of COVID-19 in Canada and to keep Canadians safe; and,
- Strengthen regulatory oversight by ramping-up risk-based inspections of Canadian laboratories and monitor pathogen imports through border surveillance.
For more information on PHAC’s plans, priorities and planned results, see the “Core responsibilities: planned results and resources” section of this report.
Core responsibilities: planned results and resources
This section contains detailed information on the department's planned results and resources for each of its core responsibilities.
1. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention
Promote the health and well-being of Canadians of all ages by conducting surveillance and public health research and supporting community-based projects which address the root causes of health inequities and the common risk and protective factors that are important to promoting better health and preventing chronic disease.
Under this Core Responsibility PHAC is focused on advancing the following Departmental Results:
- Canadians have improved physical and mental health;
- Canadians have improved health behaviours; and,
- Chronic diseases are prevented.
Improving health equity: an Agency-wide responsibility
As highlighted in the Chief Public Health Officer's 2020 Annual Report, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, and in many cases amplified, existing health and social inequities in Canada. It has also highlighted the interconnections between our public health, social, and economic systems, and underscored the importance of good health for all as a prerequisite for societal resilience and prosperity. At the same time, the federal whole-of-government response to COVID-19 has demonstrated the value of increased coordination across departments when designing and implementing new policies and programs to improve outcomes for Canadians. This collaborative response is consistent with growing global momentum on 'health in all policies' approaches and positioning 'improved well-being' as the central aim of government decision-making.
While research is ongoing regarding the relationship between COVID-19 and chronic disease, preliminary data suggests that chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease may increase the risk of more severe COVID-19 symptoms. Moreover, some population groups experience significant and persistent health inequities in terms of the rates of chronic diseases and their risk factors. These health inequities are linked to inequities in the social determinants of health (such as income, employment conditions, and housing), and may in turn contribute to a disproportionately higher risk of COVID-19 exposure, illness, and mortality among existing vulnerable populations.
Reducing health inequities is a core function of public health and a cross-cutting component of PHAC's mission and mandate. To advance this objective, in 2021-22, PHAC will continue to: strengthen the development and uptake of health equity data and evidence in decision-making; systematically integrate health equity considerations into its policies and programs; and champion and support collaborative efforts with other federal departments and across sectors to address the social determinants of health that are at the root of ill health and health inequities.
To make progress towards achieving our expected results, PHAC will focus its 2021-22 efforts on initiatives and activities that foster the development of more resilient communities and support Canadians that face health inequities in achieving optimal health. PHAC will concentrate on funding programs that help populations at increased risk of gender-based violence, poor mental health, drug-related harms, and chronic diseases. These populations include women, youth, the LGBTQI2S+ community, Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, and other minority groups or racialized people.
Result 1.1 Canadians have improved physical and mental health
Support the mental health of children, youth and their caregivers
Through its Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund, PHAC will continue to support interventions that build protective factors and reduce risk factors to improve mental health outcomes during the early years and for children, youth, young adults, and other key populations, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
In 2021-22, the fund will continue to support 20 projects to complete their first phase of funding, to test and deliver promising approaches to achieve positive mental health. This includes testing the effectiveness of newly developed approaches and adaptations to deliver interventions in a pandemic context.
In 2021-22, projects funded by PHAC's Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund will be invited to apply for Phase 2 funding. Phase 2 will provide an additional 4 years of funding to enable successful projects to expand, fully evaluate, and adapt promising interventions for new communities.
Examples of these promising approaches include:
- The use of innovative technology and distance delivery to provide access to low-intensity positive parenting skills and to help parents and caregivers build pre-schoolers' social and emotional strengths; and,
- The development of virtual tools to equip youth and front-line school workers with resources to promote mental well-being and to manage tensions and stressful events in daily life in a healthy way.
Support the mental health and well-being of Black Canadians
In 2021-22, as part of the Government of Canada's commitment to address the challenges faced by Black Canadian communities, PHAC will:
- Continue to invest in positive community-based mental health projects under the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, aiming to address the root causes of mental health challenges among Black Canadians, such as anti-Black racism and experiences of stigma and discrimination;
- Focus on understanding the needs and supports for Black LGBTQI+Footnote 1 populations in Canada, regarding mental health, and its determinants; and,
- Establish a national Knowledge Mobilization Network to facilitate sharing knowledge and building capacity across all projects, in partnership with the broader community of Black Canadian mental health practitioners, researchers, organizations, and people they serve.
National Autism Strategy
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)Footnote 2 is a life-long condition that affects not only the person with autism, but also their families, caregivers, and communities. In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Continue to invest in community-based projects and innovative program models through the ASD Strategic Fund to increase knowledge, help reduce stigma, develop resources and build lifelong skills among people with autism, their families, caregivers, and communities;
- Fund broad and inclusive consultations that will inform the development of the National Autism Strategy; and,
- Continue to support ASD surveillance capacity-building at the provincial and territorial level and examine the possibility of expanding surveillance to other ASD populations (e.g., children less than five years of age and adult populations).
Violence prevention and supporting the health of survivors
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified both the risk and the impacts of family violence, as families face increased stress and isolation, and reduced access to services and supports. Through the Supporting the Health of Survivors of Family Violence Program, PHAC will help determine "what works" to prevent and mitigate the impacts of family violence, including child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. In 2021-22, PHAC will support up to 30 new projects to deliver and test health promotion interventions aimed at preventing family violence and supporting the health of survivors. New projects will help address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and response efforts by testing adaptions and new approaches to reach priority populations.
Develop and implement a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service
In continuing to advance the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention, PHAC will work with key partners on suicide prevention efforts by: promoting responsible ways to communicate about suicide; developing a research agenda on suicide prevention; and facilitating coordination and collaboration on a national suicide prevention action plan. PHAC will also provide needed support to distress centers in Canada, including the Kids Help Phone, to bolster mental health and crisis support services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to advance the Budget 2019 commitment to develop and implement a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service through its funding agreement with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health working in partnership with Crisis Services Canada and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Once fully implemented in March 2023, the service will provide people in Canada with access to bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate crisis support from trained responders via voice, text, and chat modalities.
Implement the Federal Framework on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
In support of the Federal Framework on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), PHAC will work with key partners and stakeholders to collect and analyze data on the rates of PTSD. Between March and May 2021, PHAC and Statistics Canada will launch the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events (SMHSE). Canadians having experienced stressful life events, symptoms of, or have been diagnosed with PTSD are encouraged to respond anonymously. Information collected includes stressful events and their impact, PTSD, symptoms of other mental illness (anxiety and depression), alcohol and cannabis use, social support, and healthy behaviours. It will also examine access to and the use of mental health services. The data will be used by PHAC to enhance surveillance of PTSD and inform the delivery of services and support to Canadians.
Lead and coordinate efforts to improve healthy aging
As the federal lead on healthy aging, PHAC will support projects that promote older adults living safely, enjoying good health, and staying involved. In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Lead and coordinate efforts across the federal government to support the United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), including efforts that address ageism and facilitate supportive communities and responsive care for older adults;
- Promote the uptake and implementation of age-friendly communities, and provide expertise, knowledge, and tools to help communities implement and evaluate Age-Friendly Community initiatives; and,
- Monitor progress and performance of the New Brunswick Healthy Seniors Pilot Project, which aims to foster healthy aging, increase independence, and promote a better quality of life, while ensuring seniors can live safely and securely in their homes with appropriate supports and care.
Efforts to prevent dementia and improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their caregivers
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue its role in advancing Canada's first national dementia strategy— A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire —by funding several new community-based projects through the Dementia Community Investment (DCI), as well as awareness initiatives and improved access to dementia guidance through the Dementia Strategic Fund. PHAC will focus on:
- Optimizing the well-being of people living with dementia, family/friends, and caregivers, including addressing the impacts of COVID-19;
- Investing in activities to raise awareness about dementia and its risk and protective factors, with a focus on prevention, stigma reduction, and dementia-inclusive communities;
- Developing new opportunities to improve access to and use of dementia guidance, including guidelines and best practices; and,
- Supporting the creation of a virtual knowledge hub to support projects funded by the DCI, as well as sharing lessons learned from funded projects with the broader dementia community.
To support the surveillance and data pillar of the strategy, PHAC will continue to work with five provinces to build on the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System. Under the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Program, projects supported by PHAC will explore new approaches to collect data on topics such as: undiagnosed dementia, the co-occurrence of dementia and other conditions or diseases (i.e., when an individual living with dementia also has one or more other chronic conditions), and dementia caregivers. PHAC will coordinate these activities in close collaboration with its partners to generate new data, improve the understanding of dementia, and support policy and program development, furthering health care planning and delivery.
Result 1.2 Canadians have improved health behaviours
Support Canada's response to the opioid crisis and emerging drug threats
Between April and June 2020, there were 1,628 people who died of apparent opioid toxicity—a 58% increase from the previous quarter reported and the highest number of opioid toxicity deaths in a single quarter since national surveillance began in 2016. Hospitalizations and emergency service responses due to overdose also increased during this period and updated projections suggest numbers will remain high in 2021-22.
A number of factors that have likely contributed to a worsening of the overdose crisis this year were related the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to: some Canadians feeling an increased sense of isolation, stress and anxiety; the closure of borders, resulting in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply; and limited availability or accessibility of services for people who use drugs. In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to update the system of dynamic modelling of opioid related death and quarterly data on opioid and stimulant related toxicity harms during the pandemic to help inform public health actions.
PHAC will also continue to support projects that will reduce barriers, enhance pathways to care, and reduce stigma for people who use drugs, while expanding the reach and uptake of existing substance-related stigma resources for health professionals. The Agency will champion stigma reduction efforts in school-based communities, and develop and mobilize knowledge about best practices for the prevention of substance-related harms in youth, including the adaptations and supports needed to implement these types of models in the Canadian context.
Improve the understanding of substance use
The use of cannabis among Canadian youth is among the highest in the world. PHAC will be using COMPASS, a school-based longitudinal survey of high school students, to identify individual and contextual factors (e.g., norms and regulations) that contribute to the problematic use of cannabis among Canadian youth. The impact of the pandemic's mitigation measures on initiation to cannabis and problematic use is also a research priority for 2021-22.
PHAC will continue to focus on understanding the impacts of various policy measures on alcohol consumption in Canada, especially during the current pandemic where isolation and stress can exacerbate the problematic use of alcohol. Several research activities are underway, including:
- Documenting and comparing alcohol consumption across different provincial policy environments;
- Estimating the differential impact of alcohol taxation on the health of vulnerable groups; and,
- Documenting the changes in alcohol consumption during the course of the pandemic.
Support tobacco cessation and prevention for Canadians
PHAC will continue to work with Health Canada to implement commitments under Canada's Tobacco Strategy. In 2021-22, PHAC will support projects that focus on tobacco cessation and prevention, with a particular focus on populations that face health inequities and are at higher risk of tobacco use. For example:
- The University of Toronto's All Together Now! project will continue to develop and disseminate targeted messaging to address the specific issues underlying LGBTQI2S+ young adults' smoking behaviours, and promote tobacco cessation services and resources tailored to their specific needs; and,
- The Canadian Cancer Society's Build Smoke Free project offers a tobacco cessation intervention tailored for workers at EllisDon construction sites in Ontario and Alberta, including: customized cessation support from trained staff; on-site/online tobacco cessation services and resources; nicotine replacement therapy; and, a contest to incentivize quitting.
Support positive early development and stronger beginnings for Canadians
As a parent, there are many important decisions to make during the lifetime of a child, including how you feed your baby. In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to assist health care professionals and support mothers, parents, and families of infants by providing evidence-based information to allow them to make informed decisions about safely feeding their babies, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Building on progress made in recent years, PHAC will work to further improve rates of breastfeeding and the health of vulnerable pregnant women and their infant(s) by:
- Continuing to invest in the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program;
- Supporting the implementation of a grant to the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada to expand the Baby-Friendly Initiative, to ensure that mothers receive the information and support they need to give their babies the best start in life; and,
- Funding the Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes initiative, to gain a better understanding of COVID-19 in pregnancy and inform recommendations for pregnant women and their care providers.
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to prioritize investments in maternal and child health for vulnerable populations facing health inequities including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, and others facing health inequities stemming from factors such as low income, limited education, living in remote and isolated conditions, and being newcomers to Canada. Moreover, PHAC will continue to support positive early development and stronger beginnings for all Canadians through a variety of resources, programming and other support services, including:
- Early intervention programs that promote the health and social development of vulnerable children (aged 0-6) and their families through the Community Action Program for Children;
- Health and social programming to promote healthy pregnancies for vulnerable pregnant women and improve infant health outcomes through the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program; and,
- Culturally-appropriate and play-based early learning experiences, centred on the child while involving the parents as the child's first and most influential teacher through the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program.
Offering these resources has the goal of promoting positive life-long healthy behaviours to prevent the later onset of health concerns such as obesity, chronic disease, substance abuse, poor mental health, and illness. Programming will be tailored and determined at the local level by the project recipient in response to the priority needs of the at-risk population.
Building on the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework, PHAC will sustain enhanced investments to advance the progress made in early learning and child care in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners. This work advances access by Indigenous children and families to high quality, inclusive, and culturally appropriate early learning and child care.
Support a pan-Canadian Concussion Strategy
In support of the Minister's shared mandate commitment with the Minister of Canadian Heritage to implement a pan-Canadian Concussion Strategy, PHAC will focus on advancing concussion surveillance in 2021-22. Information on traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, will increase the knowledge on incidence, prevalence, and sports and recreation activities where injuries occur most often and why. In 2021-22, PHAC, with Statistics Canada, will release data from a rapid response survey on head injuries and concussions, national estimates from Canadians over the age of 12 that have had a concussion or head injury in 2019. PHAC will also continue to participate in the federal, provincial, and territorial mechanism for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation to advance a harmonized approach to concussions.
Encourage healthy living and physical activity
PHAC's Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund (HCCF), formerly known as the Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention – Multi-sectoral Partnerships program, invests to improve health behaviours (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating, and decreased tobacco use) and reduce health inequalities among populations at greater risk of the main chronic diseases of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of ParticipACTION, an enhanced Community Better Challenge for 2021 is being planned and new features are being added to the free ParticipACTION app.
The renewed HCCF program is informed by a recent audit and evaluation process, and encourages all sectors of society to participate in supporting healthy living, leveraging funding from other partners to achieve better health outcomes for Canadians. Many HCCF projects align with A Common Vision for Increasing Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Living in Canada: Let's Get Moving (2018). This is a guiding policy document, developed on behalf of federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers responsible for sport, physical activity, and recreation. It is intended to support all communities and Canadians to move more and sit less, more often.
Funded projects will continue to pivot to online methods of delivering resources in response to COVID-19 public health measures. A key focus of the HCCF for 2021-22 will be reducing barriers to participation.
Promote healthy built environments
Built environments can influence the ability of individuals to engage in healthy living. PHAC is testing and evaluating interventions aimed at creating built environments that enable and support healthy living behaviours. For example, through the HCCF, PHAC will invest $4.4 million over five years (2018-2023) in support of the University of Alberta's Housing for Health project.
This project promotes physical activity, healthy eating, and community engagement to seniors living in Alberta. It does this by bringing together academics, health care providers, housing developers, and multiple community and government partners to plan, integrate, and evaluate evidence-based active design features (e.g., green spaces, paths, community gardens, better food access) in and around two housing developments.
In 2021-22, PHAC will also continue its partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) on CIHR's Healthy Cities Research Initiative; particularly to enable robust intervention evaluations to be undertaken that will help fill evidence gaps in the area of healthy built environments.
Result 1.3 Chronic diseases are prevented
COVID-19 and chronic disease
PHAC will conduct surveillance activities to explore the impact of COVID-19 on people with chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. With provincial and territorial partners, PHAC will build from existing initiatives looking at the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations to develop recommendations to enhance the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System to be more adaptive to explore the chronic disease status of individuals with COVID-19. PHAC will also conduct a rapid review on the associations between chronic diseases and complications from COVID-19 to inform future surveillance activities for these conditions.
Support healthy living and chronic disease prevention in priority populations
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to support projects that prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer while addressing health inequalities in priority populations at greater risk.
The Market Greens project with Community Food Centres Canada will work to increase access to, and consumption of, fruits and vegetables among low-income community members across Canada, including newcomers, Indigenous people, single parent households, households with young children, and socially excluded people. This will be achieved through the establishment of affordable markets and the provision of voucher subsidies and fruit and vegetable prescriptions from healthcare practitioners.
In 1921, the discovery of insulin revolutionized the therapy and prognosis of diabetes. In 2021, PHAC will work with many stakeholders, including the Department of Canadian Heritage, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick G. Banting at the University of Toronto.
The LMC Prevention Inc. Canadian Diabetes Prevention Program is a 12-month intensive and structured lifestyle modification program, which consists of individual and group workshops focused on healthy eating and physical activity. The project started in November 2018 and will continue to operate until October 2022, and is targeting 2,000 Canadians at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin is an important opportunity for the Government of Canada to shine a light on the federal role in chronic disease prevention, and communicate to Canadians the importance of healthy living and how they can reduce their exposure to risk factors associated with diabetes and other chronic diseases, including unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.
Sex and gender-based analysis plus
PHAC will continue to prioritize gender equality, diversity, inclusiveness and commitments to health equity through application of Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+), a government of Canada priority. SGBA+ is a tool and analytical approach to systematically integrate considerations of the social determinants of health into research, policy development, programs, and surveillance for more equitable outcomes. The “plus” acknowledges the social determinants of health beyond sex and gender such as race, age, disability status, income, education, religion, sexual orientation and geography. The intersections of these diversity factors shape social position and can cause differential access to health supporting and promoting resources.
In 2021-22, PHAC will focus on further enhancing organizational capacity through the development of tools, targeted training, and integrating SGBA+ more systematically into surveillance activities, science, policy, and programs. PHAC will also continue to integrate SGBA+ considerations into COVID-19 guidance documents and throughout the pandemic response. PHAC will also continue to implement the Policy Direction to Modernize the Government of Canada’s Sex and Gender Information Practices, to ensure that PHAC’s data collection practices are accurate and inclusive, and to respect Canadians’ human rights.
Family and gender-based violence programming aims at promoting health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes among population groups in Canada. Recognizing that some families and communities are disproportionately affected by family violence, PHAC will ensure that funded projects apply a health equity lens by applying the principles of SGBA+.
While PHAC’s early years programming aims to support mothers and children, support for the whole family unit is also prioritized. This includes diverse and non-traditional families with the intention of effectively supporting positive health behaviours and health outcomes for all. Funded projects aim to be stigma-free, culturally-safe, and inclusive environments for all, including but not limited to, Indigenous peoples, new immigrants, racialized people, LGBTQI2S+ groups, and people with disabilities.
Projects funded through the ASD initiative address a wide range of issues including mental health, employment, and healthy sexuality, while developing activities that take into consideration diversity, gender, abilities, and other identity factors such as age, geography, and culture.
PHAC will also initiate and provide training on integrating gender, diversity and inclusion considerations within SGBA+ to recipients through programs funded by the HCCF, formerly known as the Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention – Multi-sectoral Partnerships program. The HCCF requires the application of a SGBA+ framework in funded projects to ensure health equity is considered among sub-populations in a target population project.
United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
PHAC’s planned activities under its Core Responsibilities support Canada’s efforts to meet the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contribute towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “Good Health and Well-Being.” Through initiatives under Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, PHAC supports global targets related to chronic disease prevention, including tobacco use, physical activity and healthy eating in order to prevent chronic disease including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. PHAC also contributes to targets on maternal and child health, suicide mortality, and problematic substance use by funding community-based healthy living projects, supporting the federal response to the opioid crisis, and advancing national mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
PHAC’s children’s programs provide funding to community groups to promote the healthy development of young children facing challenges that may be more likely to put their health at risk. The success of these programs is attributed to addressing health inequities as early as possible, through upstream interventions. For vulnerable populations in particular, this programming can help to bridge the health disparities gap by providing important resources and supports for pregnancy and postnatal care, and by helping individuals and families establish vital connections that last a lifetime.
This Core Responsibility also contributes towards SDG 10: “Reduce inequality within and among countries”. PHAC aims to foster culturally informed approaches to improving mental health for people in Canada including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit; newcomers (including refugees); and LGBTQI2S+ by focusing on addressing key underlying factors such as stigma, discrimination, and cultural safety through a systems change approach. Additionally, the Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative and Data Tool informs the development and redesign of programs and policies through the provision of disaggregated data on differences in health status between groups in society, including but not limited to: Indigenous identity, immigrant status, cultural/racial background, age, sex, and other identity factors.
Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention – approaches to encourage experimentation in the delivery of transfer payments
The HCCF will continue to experiment and learn from new approaches, including outcomes-based funding, to build a portfolio of innovative projects to support Canadians in leading healthier lives.
For example, PHAC is supporting Western University’s Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) 12 week weight loss and healthy lifestyle change project targeting an estimated 1,280 overweight and obese men between the ages of 35-65 years in 32 communities across Canada. On top of covering the project’s operating expenses, PHAC will provide premium payments to Western University based on predetermined measureable changes demonstrated in 3 areas: weight loss, systolic blood pressure and fitness. This is part of an Incentive-based funding mechanism to promote evidence-based decision making and generating better value for money.
Exploring the potential of artificial intelligence
PHAC continues to experiment with the application of artificial intelligence to estimate the prevalence of discussions of suicide-related behaviours on publicly available social media channels. Separating hyperbole from real discussions on suicide has proven to be a significant challenge. PHAC will continue to experiment with automated coding using narratives from injury reports in emergency departments.
|Departmental resultFootnote 1||Departmental result indicator||Target||Date to achieve target||2017-18 actual result||2018-19 actual result||2019-20 actual result|
|Canadians have improved physical and mental health||% of low-income children in very good or excellent health||At least 80%||Mar. 31, 2025||84.1% (CHSCY 2019)||84.1% (CHSCY 2019||84.1% (CHSCY 2019)|
|% of population who have high psychological well-beingFootnote d||At least 75%||Mar. 31, 2025||75%
|75% (CCHS 2015)||75% (CCHS 2019)|
|Canadians have improved health behaviours||% increase in average minutes/day of physical activity among adultsFootnote e||At least 20% (30 min/day)||Mar. 31, 2025|| -4%Footnote *
24 min/day (CHMS 2014-15)
| -4%Footnote *
24 min/day (CHMS 2014-15)
|+4% 26 min/day (CHMS 2016-2017) (Baseline: 25 min/day, CHMS 2012-2013)|
|% increase in average minutes/day of physical activity among children/youthFootnote e||At least 10% (64 min/day)||Mar. 31, 2025|| -2%Footnote *
57 min/day (CHMS 2014-15)
63 min/day (CHMS 2016-2017)
|+9% 63 min/day (CHMS 2016-2017) (Baseline: 58 min/day, CHMS 2012-2013)|
|Chronic diseases are prevented Canadians have improved physical and mental health||% increase in years lived in good health by seniorsFootnote f||At least 4% (HALE at age 65 = 17.0 years)||Mar. 31, 2022|| 1%Footnote *
16.5 years (CCDSS 2011–12 to 2013–14)
| 1%Footnote *
16.6 years (CCDSS 2012–13 to 2014–15)
|1% 15 years (Statistics Canada, 2010 – 2012 to 2015 – 2017)Footnote g|
|Rate of new diabetes cases among CanadiansFootnote h||At most 6.2 cases per 1,000 age 1 and older||Mar. 31, 2025||6.1 cases per 1,000 age 1 and older (CCDSS 2013-14)||6.1 cases per 1,000age 1 and older (CCDSS 2014-15)||6.2 cases per 1,000 age 1 and older* (CCDSS 2016-17)|
|% of adults who are obeseFootnote i||At most 28%||Mar. 31, 2025||28% (CHMS 2014-15)||27% (CHMS 2016-17)||24% (CHMS 2018-2019)|
|% of children and youth who are obeseFootnote i||At most 13%||Mar. 31, 2025||13% (CHMS 2014-15)||11% (CHMS 2016-17)||10% (CHMS 2018-19)|
Legend: CCDSS – Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System; CCHS – Canadian Community Health Survey - Annual Component; CHMS – Canadian Health Measures Survey; CHSCY – Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth; HALE – Health Adjusted Life Expectancy.
| 2021–22 budgetary spending
(as indicated in Main Estimates)
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
Financial, human resources, and performance information for PHAC's Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.
2. Infectious Disease Prevention and ControlDescription
Protect Canadians from infectious diseases by predicting, detecting, assessing, and responding to outbreaks and new threats; and contribute to the prevention, control, and reduction of the spread of infectious disease among Canadians.Planning Highlights
Under this Core Responsibility, PHAC will focus on advancing the following Departmental Results:
- Infectious diseases are prevented and controlled; and,
- Infectious disease outbreaks and threats are prepared for and responded to effectively.
To progress toward achieving these results, PHAC will focus its 2021-22 efforts on key initiatives and activities that provide Canadians and public health stakeholders with the science, research, guidance, and resources for infectious disease prevention, and increase awareness, while reducing harms.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, PHAC will continue to provide national leadership by convening provinces, territories, and key stakeholders with respect to reporting, testing, surveillance and the development of guidance to inform and support public health measures in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
In order to better respond to the COVID-19 risk, PHAC will continue to expand its capacity to enhance tracking and surveillance, conduct research, provide access to testing, and develop guidance to improve our understanding of this infectious disease and ensure that Canadians are well informed and protected during this ongoing situation.
PHAC has been working diligently to increase access for Canadians to COVID-19 vaccines while continuing to work on improving Canadians’ confidence in vaccinations. Efforts aimed at ensuring that Canadians are protected from serious vaccine-preventable diseases remains a high priority for PHAC in the face of global concerns regarding the impact of vaccine confidence on the uptake of vaccination programs.
PHAC’s continued collaboration with domestic and international partners will contribute to advancing public health solutions to pressing and complex threats such as Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and climate change. Increasing rates of STBBI and Lyme disease are additional public health concerns, requiring the mobilization of a range of public health approaches for the prevention, detection, and treatment.
Whether addressing ongoing infectious disease priorities or responding to immediate outbreaks, PHAC will continue to focus on providing Canadians and health care professionals with guidance based on the latest evidence, surveillance, and scientific information.
Result 2.1 Infectious diseases are prevented and controlled
Expand COVID-19 surveillance and guidance
PHAC will continue to lead the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic by scaling up surveillance capacity and ensuring the timely provision of guidance.
In 2021-22, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PHAC will:
- Continue to facilitate outbreak investigations and modelling of COVID-19 transmission to inform the development of guidance and evidence-based public health practices;
- Continue to provide expertise to develop and communicate public health advice/guidance on agriculture-related COVID-19 activities, provide surveillance information and support for food safety policy and regulation and to inform trade discussions, and provide expert advice specific to the agri-food sector. (e.g., food processing, temporary farm workers);
- Expand existing hospital-based surveillance to include patients admitted with COVID-19, in order to identify common risk factors and patient outcomes;
- Continue to cooperate with provinces and territories to establish additional COVID-19 surveillance and research activities to identify, gather, and analyze data on COVID-19 infections, vaccine administration, coverage, and adverse events, including surveillance of unintended consequences of COVID-19 as well as establishing COVID-19 outbreak response management, surveillance, guidance, and tools;
- Enhance research infrastructure to support vaccine effectiveness studies and the assessment of approved COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness;
- Work with hospitals to gather data and monitor the impact of COVID-19 on antimicrobial use (AMU) prescribing patterns;
- Work with networks to understand how prescribing habits have changed in the context of an increasing amount of remote care being delivered; and
- Develop a program to support surveillance of COVID-19, communicable diseases, AMR, and AMU in wastewater.
In partnership with affected communities, PHAC will report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians' access to STBBI services.
Continue COVID-19 research and testing support
PHAC will continue to play a central role in Canada's response to the pandemic by conducting research and providing COVID-19 testing support. In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to:
- Procure testing supplies on behalf of the Government of Canada to meet federal testing needs in northern, remote, and Indigenous communities; and,
- Coordinate national surveillance and research studies across Canada through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force's (CITF) Sero-Surveillance and Research Program, to gain knowledge and understanding on COVID-19's impact on Canadians and vulnerable populations.
Scientific results from CITF studies will help to determine the spread of COVID-19 in Canada, provide reliable estimates of potential immunity and vulnerabilities, and offer additional insights on the virus itself.
Increase vaccination rates
Vaccine hesitancy among Canadians risks creating a barrier to getting the COVID-19 pandemic under control. As the spread of misinformation about the safety of vaccines continues to be amplified by digital social platforms, PHAC aspires to generate confidence among Canadians in the safety of Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines. Informed by the work of the Vaccine Confidence Task Group, PHAC has developed a strategy to increase vaccine confidence and uptake designed to educate, engage, and empower Canadians and build capacity across the general population, amongst health care providers, and with specific communities. The strategy leverages public opinion research to inform Government of Canada messaging and communication products to address evolving issues related to vaccine hesitancy.
Efforts to ensure Canadians are protected from serious vaccine-preventable diseases remain a high priority in the face of global concerns regarding the uptake of vaccination programs. To this end, PHAC is developing information products targeted to healthcare providers to support them in vaccine discussions with patients. PHAC is also developing products for the public, which provide information on vaccine safety, the regulatory process, and COVID-19 vaccines.
As COVID-19 is expected to continue to circulate in 2021, PHAC is committed to securing contracts for all eligible long-term care residents to receive the influenza vaccine during the 2021 flu seasons.
PHAC will also procure additional doses of the standard influenza vaccine to support provinces and territories in their routine immunization programs and in reducing the chances of Canadians having to enter hospitals due to influenza.
PHAC continues to support decision-making by provinces and territories on vaccination programs through the expert guidance of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
In 2021-22, NACI will continue to apply its Economics FrameworkFootnote 3 and Ethics, Equity, Feasibility and Acceptability (EEFA) FrameworkFootnote 4 in making recommendations. By considering economic and EEFA factors, along with its methodology for assessing burden of disease and vaccine characteristics. NACI will continue to provide recommendations that are based on the full spectrum of public health science (i.e., not only clinical factors) in a timely and transparent manner. This broader range of evidence and analysis from NACI will empower provinces and territories to make informed decisions about optimal publicly funded immunization programs suited to their populations. The EEFA framework will also be used to guide the development of recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines and to address vaccination program questions as they arise, including the prioritization of COVID-19 vaccine doses in the context of limited supply.
Vaccine Injury Support Program
In 2021-22, PHAC will establish, in collaboration with provinces and territories, a Pan-Canadian no-fault Vaccine Injury Support Program for all Health Canada-approved vaccines.
This program will ensure that Canadians have fair access to vaccine injury support in the rare event that they experience an adverse reaction to a Health Canada-approved vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccine allocation
Strong immunization surveillance systems are essential to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. Existing vaccine surveillance and research structures will enable vaccine monitoring, assess vaccine effectiveness, and understand and address adverse events.
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to:
- Collect data from partners in Canada and abroad in order to inform decision-making for governments and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities;
- Manage vaccine delivery through its Vaccine National Operations Centre (NOC) for COVID-19 and collaborate with provinces and territories for distribution. Supported by a multidisciplinary team of experts, the NOC has been designed to support partners involved in Canada's immunization rollout and lead the tracking of vaccine delivery and distribution.
- Work with partners to prepare COVID-19 sites across Canada to:
- Allocate, distribute, and administer vaccines as efficiently, equitably, and effectively as possible;
- Provide safe and effective vaccines;
- Monitor the safety, coverage, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Evolve the National Vaccine Management Information Technology Platform (NVMIP) to support effective oversight of COVID-19 distribution, administration, and tracking.
Surveillance of adverse events following immunization
Health Canada and PHAC have a well-established system to monitor post-market vaccine safety and respond in collaboration with provincial and territorial public health authorities such as the Canadian Adverse Event Following Immunization Surveillance System (CAEFISS) and the Vaccine Vigilance Working Group (VVWG). In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Expand the active surveillance system (Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS) to gather data on common and less serious adverse events associated with the use of vaccines;
- Establish a new Expert Committee on Causality Assessment to provide a rapid review of adverse events to support PHAC's understanding on the relationship between an adverse event and a vaccine;
- Develop an interactive dashboard to report at a national-level, all influenza vaccine Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI); and,
- Use data from the frontlines, vaccine suppliers, and regulators, in Canada and abroad, to monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety, efficacy, and coverage. Publicly-available data on AEFIs will help to build public trust in government transparency around vaccine safety. Data on COVID-19 vaccine safety, coverage, and effectiveness will be invaluable for informed decision-making by governments and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Public health measures
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, PHAC will continue to focus on developing guidance to keep Canadians informed and protected. In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to:
- Monitor and analyze new and existing evidence to ensure guidance on public health measures for COVID-19 remain effective and relevant;
- Provide advice to support pandemic recovery efforts; and,
- Review and update guidance on pandemic preparedness to reflect the reality of novel respiratory viruses and their potential to cause a pandemic.
Reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance
AMR is an urgent global public health threat that, if left unchecked, has the potential to have very serious health and socio-economic impacts on Canadians.
In 2018, 5,400 Canadians died as a result of infections that were resistant to antimicrobials, and AMR resulted in approximately $1.4 billion in healthcare costs. If AMR in Canada continues to grow at its current rates, by 2050 it will cause an estimated 13,700 deaths a year and will add approximately $7.6 billion annually to healthcare costs.Footnote 5
In support of both the Federal Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and Use in Canada and the Pan-Canadian Framework for Action on Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use, PHAC will continue to take action by working with partners to advance priority initiatives aimed at reducing the emergence and spread of AMR. For example, in 2021-22 PHAC will:
- Monitor AMR rates and AMU trends in Canadian hospitals to identify areas for action and the success of interventions;
- Promote better prescribing practices for antimicrobials by supporting creative solutions to improve appropriate prescribing of antimicrobials among primary health care providers;
- Deliver the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) to monitor AMR rates and AMU trends in human, animal, and food sources across Canada, and to examine the relationship between antimicrobials used and the associated health impacts;
- Contribute Canadian expertise to develop and strengthen collaboration with international networks of AMR and food safety authorities to address AMR, AMU, and foodborne illnesses;
- Collaborate with international partners in strengthening surveillance, guidance, and awareness through the Transatlantic Taskforce on AMR, the Global Health Security Agenda, and by participating in global efforts to strengthen research and development through the G20 Global Research and Development Hub, currently co-chaired by Canada; and,
- Provide outreach (education and training) to internal and external public health professionals and practitioners to reduce the emergence and spread of AMR (e.g., in support of the implementation of whole genomic sequencing).
Increase public knowledge and awareness of climate-driven infectious diseases
PHAC's Infectious Disease and Climate Change (IDCC) programFootnote 6 continues to support the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Continue its efforts to provide strategic advice, analysis, and direction to support the advancement of a climate change adaptation policy and activities in Canada, working closely with health partners and other governmental organizations;
- Enhance systems and tools to support health professionals and the public in understanding the health risks associated with climate-driven infectious diseases and the importance of taking preventative action;
- Support surveillance and monitoring of infectious diseases, risk assessments, modelling, and laboratory diagnostics, as well as health professional education and public awareness activities;
- Build on investments as part of the IDCC program, and continue to invest in a number of projects that support surveillance and monitoring, health professional education, and public awareness activities that relate to the awareness of climate-driven infectious diseases in Canada. For example, program officials will continue to engage with representatives and governing members of the Métis National Council and work with the Métis Nation to address the health effects of climate change; and,
- Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to implement Canada's new federal climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, which includes developing Canada's first National Adaptation Strategy, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Reduce the health impacts of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
In Canada, the rates of sexually transmitted infections, particularly syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, have risen dramatically in the past decade. Accelerating our response: Government of Canada five-year action plan on sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, released in 2019, identifies the priorities of the federal government. In 2021-22, to carry on the advancement of the Action Plan's seven commitment areas, PHAC will continue to:
- Monitor and report on the national rates of infection and treatment of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other STBBI, including syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea;
- Reach the undiagnosed and increase testing in remote communities, in partnership with communities and provincial laboratories;
- Update STBBI guidance for health professionals to encourage the reduction of stigma and discrimination and promote testing, appropriate treatment, and ongoing care and support;
- Respond to the current syphilis outbreak by working with provinces and territories to provide technical support and health professional guidance, as well as timely release of enhanced national surveillance data to inform policy and programs;
- Engage Indigenous partners, community-based organizations, and people with lived and living experience to support community investments and culturally-responsive interventions, through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund and Harm Reduction Fund; and,
- Collaborate with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and people with lived and living experience to propose indicators and targets to measure progress against the Pan-Canadian STBBI Framework for Action.
Prevent Lyme disease
PHAC plays a role in preventing and detecting vector-borne diseases and coordinating national responses to inform Canadians about risks and protective measures. As part of this role, PHAC will continue to support its education and awareness campaign launched in 2020, which will help improve Canadians' awareness of Lyme disease, allowing them to take preventative actions and reduce their health risks. This campaign includes:
- Social media posts and a digital advertising campaign targeting caregivers of children aged 5-14 years (e.g., Facebook, YouTube, search engine marketing, web banners); and,
- A suite of educational and awareness products, such as: a "How to properly remove a tick" wallet card; a "Top 10 Tick Hiding Spots on Your Body" poster; an Indigenous adaptation of printed and online products; and a series of videos on: "How to properly remove a tick," "How to reduce ticks around your home," and "How to do a tick check."
In addition, PHAC will:
- Work to develop Lyme disease prevention and awareness tools, including a Lyme and other Tick-borne diseases email subscription list to keep Canadians, stakeholders, and partners up-to-date and informed about Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, initiatives and activities, and serve as a platform to promote opportunities for engagement;
- Continue to engage with domestic and international stakeholders to share best practices and lessons learned while ensuring that all stakeholders are provided a variety of opportunities to share their expertise, input, and experience; and,
- Work to expand Lyme disease surveillance to include other tick-borne diseases (The Canadian Tick-Borne Diseases Surveillance System).
Result 2.2: Infectious disease outbreaks and threats are prepared for and responded to effectively
COVID-19 Immunity Task Force
The COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) was established in April 2020 with the mandate to mobilize a comprehensive suite of studies to measure the level of potential underlying immunity to COVID-19 in the population. Its studies confirm that the majority of Canadians remain susceptible to infection and reinforce the importance of maintaining public health measures during the rollout of immunization programs to prevent transmission of infection.
In 2021-22, CITF studies are moving into vulnerable populations and occupational groups to measure potential immunity in population subgroups. PHAC will continue its support for this work by administering the investments required, based on the recommendations of the CITF.
COVID-19 Vaccine rollout
Assuming sufficient doses are available from manufacturers, it is expected that any Canadian recommended for vaccination and who wishes to be vaccinated will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September, 2021.
At all phases of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, PHAC is committed to working with federal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous representatives, and other stakeholders to encourage actions and strategies that promote the collective wellbeing of all Canadians. With the collaboration of all stakeholders, PHAC will work to:
- Develop and refine a clear and transparent process for the allocation of vaccines across jurisdictions. Vaccine sequencing will consider high-risk populations first, before expanding vaccination access to the entire population as vaccine supply increases;
- Advance a coordinated and comprehensive distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines;
- Manage the national logistics of COVID-19 vaccine delivery, including the transport of vaccines from manufacturers to delivery sites; and,
- Provide training, equipment, and guidelines to those responsible for vaccine storage, handling, and administration to enable them to effectively undertake their activities.
Throughout the rollout of vaccination programs, federal, provincial and territorial governments will continue to work closely with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership to support system readiness to receive and administer the vaccines, including procuring necessary ancillary supplies and equipment.
COVID-19 vaccine management and oversight
In order to support the evolving management of COVID-19 vaccine logistics and rollout, PHAC is implementing a technology solution referred to as the National Vaccine Management Information Technology Platform (NVMIP). The NVMIP will provide core functionality and support national visibility and evidence-based decision making at a federal level, accelerating collection of immunization data from provinces and territories to enhance coverage and surveillance reporting through advanced analytics and web-based dashboards, while also supporting the administration of the vaccines if/where that capability is needed. The NVMIP will contribute to Canadians’ confidence in vaccinations by providing direct assistance to ensure rapid and successful management of the COVID-19 vaccine administration program across the nation and provide high availability of timely and critical data to inform decision-making at all levels and jurisdictions in Canada.
Enhance laboratory capacity and laboratory modernization
PHAC's internationally recognized National Microbiology Lab (NML) is Canada's preeminent public health laboratory. In providing critical scientific leadership for Canada's response to COVID-19, the NML supports diagnostic testing across Canada, conducts research on COVID-19, manages data gathering, and creates models to help guide public health planning and predict the course of the outbreak.
PHAC will continue to optimize national laboratory capacity to identify new pathogens of national and international concern. In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Improve Medical Counter Measure (MCM) capacity in Canada in order to foster development of made in Canada vaccines and therapeutics, that will in turn increase national access to infectious disease treatments;
- Continue to increase access to diagnostic testing for areas of greatest need, such as remote communities;
- Enhance laboratory management of new innovations and collaborations with partners to advance research and development from a national perspective; and,
- Enhance coronavirus laboratory activities to meet new needs highlighted by COVID-19.
Safe, voluntary isolation space
PHAC recognizes the need to provide safe isolation spaces for individuals who are at high-risk of transmitting COVID-19. Offered as part of the Government of Canada's rapid response tools, PHAC will support the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites Program, a time-limited, targeted program in response to the continued evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program aims to decrease community transmission by helping individuals who can't safely self-isolate at home due to crowded housing. Funding will be provided to municipalities and regions to establish centralized locations where eligible individuals can safely self-isolate for the period required by local health officials.
Reduce impact of foodborne illness outbreaks
Approximately 1 in 8 people get sick each year from contaminated food. PHAC leads the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks and conducts analysis of foodborne illness trends aimed at improving food safety.
PHAC will continue to maintain timely detection and response to foodborne illness outbreaks based on laboratory testing results, data, and analyses. PHAC will continue to provide evidence-based information to Canadians so that they can make informed decisions to protect themselves from foodborne illness. In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Generate and use surveillance data/outputs as evidence to inform/support food safety policy development/implementation and foodborne illness cluster detection/assessment and outbreak response; and,
- Support investigations and provide technical expertise on foodborne disease issues and illness outbreaks.
Reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in Canada
Tuberculosis remains a public health challenge in Canada, particularly within at-risk Indigenous and foreign-born populations. To better address the health inequities vulnerable populations face, PHAC will continue to work with federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to strengthen and enhance data collection, analyses, and reporting in support of meeting Canada's tuberculosis elimination goals.
Sex and gender-based analysis plus
PHAC will continue its efforts to advance the implementation of Canada’s SGBA+ within the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (IDPC) branch. SGBA+ metrics are considered where possible, but availability can be limited by data metrics provided by the provincial and territorial data collection and surveys.
The IDPC branch is working to incorporate SGBA+ into research and surveillance areas where infectious agents may affect sexes differently and/or where sex/gender could influence the risk of infection. New approaches are being explored to ensure equitable access to testing across geographic regions, cultures, and other factors (i.e., including but not limited to sex and gender).
Additionally, several initiatives are focused on priority populations, remote communities, and areas where a particular population is disproportionately affected by an infectious disease. The analysis of sex, age, and other identifying factors are used to inform program responses.
Different approaches to reach target groups are used for interventions that address the needs of diverse populations. Intervention design distinguishes between sex and gender and it addresses issues of variable risk factors among women, men, and gender-diverse people (e.g., to provide equitable access to the program or service).
Since 2017, vaccination coverage estimates, obtained through surveys, have been broken down by gender to identify inequalities in vaccination uptake, and may help to provide information on the most appropriate target groups for vaccine promotion efforts.
United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
PHAC’s planned activities under this Core Responsibility supports Canada’s efforts to address the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contribute towards global targets under SDG 3: “Good Health and Well-Being.” PHAC supports this goal through initiatives aimed at increasing vaccination rates, reducing health impacts of STTBI, and enhancing laboratory capacity through modernization. These initiatives support global targets related to reducing the rates/occurrences of tuberculosis and hepatitis, the management of national and global health risks, as well as vaccine research and development.
As part of Canada’s efforts to take urgent action to address SDG 13: “Climate Action,” PHAC continues to support the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, as part of Canada’s plan to meet its Paris Agreement commitments, stimulate Canada’s economy, and build climate resilience across the country, specifically as it relates to the priorities to protect and improve human health and well-being. PHAC will also support government-wide efforts to implement Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, to create jobs and support people, communities, and the planet.
The IDCC program addresses the impacts of climate change on human health by building and increasing access to infectious diseases evidence-base and developing and disseminating education and awareness resources. The IDCC program and fund will increase the knowledge base of the health risks associated with climate-driven infectious diseases, particularly within the health sector, communities, and vulnerable populations, and enhance systems and/or tools to support decision-making and knowledge translation.
In 2021-22, PHAC will undertake the following experimentation activities:
Wastewater viral pathogen measuring
PHAC’s NML will partner with other federal, provincial, territorial, and academia partners to test a new method of surveillance for infectious diseases, including COVID-19, through measuring viral pathogens in public wastewater sites.
The Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network
The NML will partner with provincial public health laboratories on a new initiative called the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network, which applies new genome sequencing technologies and practices to COVID-19 pathogen samples. The information gathered will provide details on the DNA makeup of COVID-19, informing future public health intervention strategies and products, including: vaccines, therapeutics, and national testing plans.
Interactive vaccination portal for the Canadian Immunization Guide
Through Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada’s Innovative Solutions Canada program, PHAC will continue to implement the Canada Immunization Guide, an interactive portal developed for those with an interest in immunization. This tool will provide health care providers and Canadians with immediate access to relevant and trustworthy public health information about new vaccines, including key immunization information, vaccine safety, and vaccination of specific populations, active vaccines, and passive immunizing agents.
|Departmental result||Departmental result indicator||Target||Date to achieve target||2017-18 actual result||2018-19 actual result||2019-20 actual result|
|Infectious diseases are prevented and controlled||% of 2 year old children who have received all recommended vaccinations||At least 95%||Dec. 31, 2025||68%||Data not collectedFootnote a||68%|
|Proportion of national vaccination coverage goals met for children by 2 years of age||Exactly 7Footnote b||Dec. 31, 2025||0/12 (2017)||Data not collectedFootnote c|| 1/12
|Rate per 100,000 of new diagnosed cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Footnote d||0.6 Cases per 100,000 population||Dec. 31, 2030|| 6.5 Cases per 100,000 (2017)
||6.9 Cases per 100,000 (2018)||Collection delayed due to COVID-19|
|Rate of a key antimicrobial resistant infection identified among people in hospitals||At most 0.7 cases per 1,000 patient admissionsFootnote eFootnote f||June 30, 2025|| 0.61 Cases per 1,000
|0.77 Cases per 1,000 (2018)||Collection delayed due to COVID-19|
|Infectious disease outbreaks and threats are prepared for and responded to effectively||% of foodborne illness outbreaks responded to within 24 hours of notification||At least 90%Footnote g|| Mar. 31,
|% of new pathogens of international concern that Canada has the capacity to accurately test for||At least 90%||Mar. 31, 2022|| 100%
|100% (2018)|| 100%
| 2021–22 budgetary spending
(as indicated in Main Estimates)
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
Financial, human resources, and performance information for PHAC's Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.
3. Health Security
Prepare for and respond to public health events and emergencies (e.g., floods, forest fires, and outbreaks such as COVID-19); address health and safety risks associated with the use of pathogens and toxins; and, address travel-related public health risks.Planning Highlights
Under this Core Responsibility PHAC is focused on advancing the following Departmental Results:
- Public health events and emergencies are prepared for and responded to effectively;
- Public health risks associated with the use of pathogens and toxins are reduced; and,
- Public health risks associated with travel are reduced.
To make progress towards achieving these results, PHAC will focus its 2021-22 efforts on initiatives and activities that support Canada's preparedness in the face of significant events/emergencies with health consequences, such as COVID-19. Providing domestic and international health security leadership will remain key areas of action for PHAC in continuing our collaborative work with public health partners. Sharing and implementing regulatory best-practices, such as risk-based compliance and enforcement, remains a priority for PHAC in both its biosecurity and border and travel health programs.
Result 3.1: Public Health events and emergencies are prepared for and responded to effectively
Ensuring that Canada is ready to respond to natural, accidental, and intentional emergencies and events with health consequences, such as COVID-19, is core to PHAC's mandate. Working collaboratively with the Government of Canada, provinces, territories, Indigenous, international, and other domestic partners, PHAC undertakes a range of initiatives with a focus on mitigating the impact of public health events and emergencies on Canadians.
Strengthen PHAC's surge support role
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to maintain and strengthen the capabilities of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile (NESS) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for other potential public health emergencies or events. PHAC will:
- Maintain a robust supply of key PPE, medical equipment, medical countermeasures, and other supplies to support response efforts through periods of COVID-19 resurgence;
- Continue its surge support role in providing medical equipment, medical and social service supplies, and medical countermeasures, in response to requests for assistance from provinces and territories to support their COVID-19 response efforts and other emergencies;
- Advance efforts to modernize the NESS warehouse facilities and systems; and,
- Build on lessons learned from COVID-19, to identify key opportunities to increase the ability of the NESS to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies and events through improved collaboration with provinces, territories, and industry.
Strengthen enhanced emergency management operations for a sustained COVID-19 response
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to play an essential role in ensuring a nimble and coordinated response to COVID-19 and will:
- Continue to work with federal, provincial, and territorial partners to respond to COVID-19 resurgence;
- Conduct research and assessment to develop and update, as necessary, various types of guidance for stakeholders to support response efforts; and,
- Provide emergency management governance support and operational communications.
PHAC will continue to invest in its emergency management operations and in the development of sustainable support structures to enable a scalable, timely, and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future emergency events with health consequences. This will include:
- Strengthening the Health Portfolio Operations Centre surge capacity to mobilize resources for emergency response efforts; and,
- Developing a robust mechanism to capture lessons learned and implement corrective actions to address areas requiring improvement.
Improve public health intelligence capacity
An effective early warning system is critical for timely response to public health threats. PHAC will conduct an independent review of the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN), an open source event-based surveillance system, to improve Canada's capacity to use public health intelligence to better identify, assess, and respond to health threats.
Provide onsite expert advice and support to public health partners to combat disease outbreaks and emergencies
In line with its mandate, PHAC will continue to provide expert advice and support public health partners by:
- Supporting the development and delivery of applied public health and emergency management training;
- Placing Public Health Officers in jurisdictions across Canada in support of the Government of Canada, provinces, and territories' public health priorities; and,
- Deploying field epidemiologists to the field during disease outbreaks and emergencies in response to requests for assistance.
Result 3.2: Public health risks associated with the use of pathogens and toxins are reduced
Pathogens and toxins pose a risk to human health, animal health, and public safety. PHAC promotes, monitors, and enforces compliance with legislation and regulations designed to minimize risks associated with their use.
Modernize regulatory oversight
PHAC will continue to ramp-up its risk-based inspections of Canadian laboratories and monitor pathogen imports through border surveillance. PHAC will also introduce the use of digital solutions/tools during laboratory inspections to streamline operations and assess the feasibility of a virtual or offsite inspection model.
Promote compliance and increase openness and transparency
PHAC will continue to promote compliance and enable regulated parties to meet regulatory requirements by remaining engaged, transparent, and accountable, and by providing current and comprehensive resources and tools. In 2021-22 PHAC will:
- Develop and disseminate the necessary scientific, technical and regulatory information and guidance to support safe and secure research, disease diagnosis, and the development of life saving vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19;
- Undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Human Pathogens and Toxins regulatory framework;
- Publically consult on and publish the Canadian Biosafety Standard (CBS) 3rd Edition; and,
- Publish high-level inspection summaries of inspections of regulated parties to garner public confidence in the regulatory system.
Advance global health priorities in biosafety and biosecurity
Through active leadership, partnerships, and global knowledge sharing, PHAC supports the advancement of global health priorities and international capacity in biosafety and biosecurity, protecting Canadians from pathogen and toxin related risks emerging outside Canada. In 2021-22, PHAC will:
- Continue to support global efforts to effectively contain poliovirus by finalizing Canada's national inventory of poliovirus potentially infectious material (PIM) and advancing the destruction or transfer of all unneeded materials to a designated containment facility;
- Continue to deliver against its World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre Action Plan, including through the sharing of technical expertise and best practices; and,
- Serve as the secretariat to the International Experts Group of Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulators (IEGBBR) and co-chair of the steering committee, and support the publication of an IEGBBR report on the regulatory oversight of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic.
Result 3.3: Public health risks associated with travel are reduced
Core to its mandate, and consistent with the International Health Regulations, PHAC protects Canadians from travel-related public health risks through rapid detection and prompt assessment and response. PHAC also communicates with travellers about existing and emerging health risks, and precautions individuals should take in order to reduce these risks while travelling to, and returning from, other countries. Based on the lessons learned from the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PHAC, in collaboration with partners at Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), will continue to reinforce border health measures aimed at safeguarding the health of Canadians in 2021-22.
Identify and mitigate public health risks related to travel
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to strengthen border measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined below.
In support of the legislated mandate under the Quarantine Act, PHAC will:
- Maintain a physical presence at 36 Ports of Entry (PoE) to carry out enhanced COVID-19 screening measures to mitigate importation risk;
- Maintain a scaled up Central Notification System (CNS), which provides 24/7 telephone access to quarantine officers as surge support to on-site delivery of quarantine services;
- Continue to develop and enforce PHAC's Emergency Orders in Council to prohibit entry into Canada, as well as reduce the risk of COVID-19 importation and spread;
- Monitor and modulate PHAC's capacity to safely lodge and monitor those returning to Canada from abroad without a suitable location to complete their quarantine at Designated Quarantine Facilities, to reduce travel-related introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Canada;
- Continue to adapt PHAC's compliance and enforcement model to effectively promote, verify, and enforce traveller compliance with federal requirements related to quarantine and other border measures; and,
- Continue to improve the new Quarantine Case Management System to strengthen PHAC's capacity to manage traveller data in relation to quarantine and other border measures.
Improve the knowledge of Canadians about travel-related public health risks
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to leverage social media and a dedicated Coronavirus website in over 24 languages to proactively inform Canadians of the risks associated with COVID-19 and how to protect themselves. PHAC will also continue to adapt existing and develop new communication products to support the border measures. The Agency's dedicated call line (1-833-784-4397) will remain active in 2021-22 to answer Canadians' questions about COVID-19.
PHAC will also continue to notify Canadians of other travel-related public health risks through a range of communications products and approaches, and strive for continuous improvement of public outreach through use of social media and engagement with health care professionals.
Manage travel-related public health risks on passenger conveyances and ancillary services
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to conduct potable water, food, and sanitation inspections of public conveyances and their ancillary services, focusing efforts on areas of greatest risk to public health, for example flight kitchens that could become the source of disease spread if safety and sanitary protocols are not followed. The Agency will also modernize the Travelling Public Program to better utilize regional resources to respond to COVID-19 and environmental transmission of communicable diseases.
Sex and gender-based analysis plus
Activities undertaken by PHAC under this core responsibility support Canada's Gender Results Framework as they relate to health and wellbeing. Beneficiaries of these activities are anticipated to reflect the characteristics of the Canadian population and be relatively gender-balanced overall.
Preventing the importation of COVID-19 through PHAC’s Border and Travel Health program as well as Regional Operations will support efforts to control community spread, which will in turn benefit the healthcare system and front-line workers, the majority of whom are women. Measurement of these activities or any analysis of information collected about travellers and their isolation or quarantine plans will align with the Health Portfolio’s Sex and Gender-based Analysis Policy and the Government of Canada’s Sex and Gender Information Practices (otherwise known as Gender Inclusive Services).
PHAC reviews surveillance and monitoring data with a SGBA+ lens during outbreak investigations to help identify sources of outbreak knowing that risk factors can vary by gender. PHAC also identifies sex-specific health risks and communicates these risks to Canadian travellers through travel health notices.
In the development of the Emergency Orders in Council under the Quarantine Act to prohibit entry into Canada and require mandatory isolation, PHAC continues to examine differential impact from both a SGBA+ and Canadian Charter lens with the aim of being inclusive and not disproportionally affecting certain groups or individuals.
PHAC uses SGBA+ and inclusive and diversity-focused approaches for recruiting and placing Public Health Officers across Canada. The work of Public Health Officers contributes to supporting public health efforts that impact Indigenous communities and vulnerable populations.
The NESS, when procuring PPE, medical devices and supplies for the healthcare sector, purchases a wide range of products in various sizes that will fit the majority of healthcare workers regardless of gender. Additionally, medical countermeasures (i.e., vaccines and therapeutic) consider the SGBA+ impact on end recipients (e.g., pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions, etc.).
PHAC's Biosecurity program considers the specific health risks to particular populations (e.g., sex, gender, children, immunocompromised, elderly, same-sex partners, etc.) in the development of Pathogen Risk Assessment and Pathogen Safety Data Sheets.
PHAC incorporates gender and diversity inclusive options for outward facing material where possible. For instance, the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act security clearance application form includes a non-binary gender specification (X, or unspecified) in the gender information data collection section. For Pathogen and Toxins Licence applications and the Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity e-Learning portal, the salutation preference field is optional, and includes a blank entry option.
United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Health Security initiatives contribute to SDG 3: “Good Health and Well-Being” and advance global targets, in particular indicator 3.D, related to strengthening the capacity of all countries for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks. For example:
- Border-related COVID-19 activities undertaken by PHAC strengthen Canada's ability to detect and mitigate the importation of COVID-19, keeping Canadians safe;
- PHAC's Biosecurity program provides other countries with technical assistance and tools to help them meet commitments under the International Health Regulations by enhancing their national biosafety and biosecurity oversight frameworks;
- The Health Portfolio Operations Centre (HPOC) provides countries with technical assistance and tools to meet commitments under the International Health Regulations; and,
- The National Emergency Strategic Stockpile’s (NESS) lifecycle management of its assets is mindful of waste reduction and recycling, where possible. The NESS will work with provinces and territories on an approach to transfer assets for use in the healthcare system, prior to expiry, where applicable. This contributes to advancing SDG 12: “Responsible Consumption and Production” by protecting it from degradation through sustainable consumption and production. Any disposal would continue to respect federal, provincial, and territorial environmental guidelines.
PHAC continuously looks for experimentation opportunities within its programs. The following are some of the examples within Health Security programming:
- The Quarantine Case Management System (QCMS) is one of the tools in PHAC’s toolbox to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Successful development and implementation of the QCMS has resulted in a shift from paper-based data collection to electronic data collection and management of health data collected as part of border and quarantine initiatives. This new electronic data management system facilitates data collection and analysis, and informs evidence-based decision-making. Continuous improvements are made to QCMS on a regular basis in order to respond to an evolving public health landscape; and,
- The applied public health and emergency management training is being offered to PHAC employees and stakeholders in response to an increased need/capacity as a result of COVID-19. This training uses a variety of methods (e.g., synchronous virtual classrooms and webinar events, self-directed e-learning modules, blended learning, mentoring, and coaching) and is provided by PHAC employees to allow for a more cost-effective and flexible development of Rapid Online Training, accessible by various target audiences. Recruitment of new employees is planned to increase PHAC’s e-learning capacity.
Lastly, PHAC actively supports and leverages provincial and territorial pilots (e.g., COVID-19 testing) to inform border measures and quarantine requirements.
|Departmental result||Departmental result indicator||Target||Date to achieve target||2017-18 actual result||2018-19 actual result||2019-20 actual result|
|Public health events and emergencies are prepared for and responded to effectively||Canada's readiness to respond to public health events and emergencies as assessed independently by the World Health Organization||4 (Rating out of 5)||Jun. 31, 2023||Not availableFootnote a||4.5||4.5|
|% of provincial and territorial requests for assistance responded to within negotiated timelines||Exactly 100%||Mar.31, 2022||100%||100%||100%|
|Public health risks associated with the use of pathogens and toxins are reduced||% compliance issues in Canadian laboratories successfully responded to within established timelines||At least 85%||Mar. 31, 2022||82%||88%||98%|
|Public health risks associated with travel are reduced||Canada's capacityFootnote b for effective public health response at designated points of entry into Canada||4 (Rating out of 5)||Mar. 31, 2023||Not availableFootnote c||5||5Footnote d|
|% of inspected passenger transportation operators that meet public health requirements||95%||Mar. 31, 2022||97%||94%Footnote e||96%|
| 2021–22 budgetary spending
(as indicated in Main Estimates)
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
Financial, human resources, and performance information for PHAC's Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.
Internal Services: planned results
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of Programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct services that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. These services are:
- Management and Oversight Services
- Communications Services
- Legal Services
- Human Resources Management Services
- Financial Management Services
- Information Management Services
- Information Technology Services
- Real Property Management Services
- Materiel Management Services
- Acquisition Management Services
Build a healthy, diverse and inclusive workforce
The Agency's ability to build a healthy, diverse, and inclusive workforce is imperative to ensuring it is high performing and able to provide the best and most effective programs, policies, and services to Canadians.
PHAC is committed to ensuring that all employees feel safe and are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness in the workplace, including instilling positive values and tackling racial bias, harassment and discrimination. In addition, PHAC is committed to eliminating barriers to success and career progression through the use of more inclusive recruitment practices.
In 2021-22, PHAC is committed to:
- Recruiting and retaining a healthy, diverse, and inclusive workforce;
- Ensuring the implementation of PHAC's Multi-Year Diversity and Employment Equity Plan;
- Reviewing internal policies, procedures, and practices to streamline and clarify the hiring process;
- Developing an Accessibility Plan that meets the requirements of the Accessible Canada Act and the Public Service Accessibility Strategy;
- Continuing to implement Mental Health and Wellness strategies to support employees;
- Ensuring all employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program which provides a range of support services, including counselling, coaching, and resources;
- Ensuring compliance with Bill C-65 by creating a healthy, safe, harassment free, and violence free work environment for all employees;
- Building on efforts to implement the PHAC Official Languages Action Plan to further enhance the Agency's capacity to provide services of equal quality in both official languages;
- Implement a Corporate Management capacity, in response to a significant projected workforce growth within the Agency in support of the COVID-19 response, and ensure a coordinated and planned approach to building a healthy, diverse, and inclusive workforce; and,
- Leverage significant projected workforce growth within the Agency to link with the Diversity and Employment Equity Plan and opportunities to further enhance workforce diversity.
Support the COVID-19 response
In order to support the Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19, PHAC will streamline and expedite processes across all Internal Services, including staffing, classification, security, and IT. PHAC has bolstered its resourcing and reallocated resources in all areas in an effort to meet the needs and requirements of the Agency’s growth across all disciplines. This includes:
- A newly created Strategic Human Resources Executive Support lead and a dedicated HR team to meet both Executive and Non-Executive hiring needs;
- Supporting a significant workforce growth at PHAC via the implementation of a Corporate Management function. This function will enable coordination, planning, and prioritization of staffing requirements, and will implement an Agency-wide coordinated staffing strategy to sustain the growth that is necessary to manage the current pandemic;
- Adding new functions to sustain COVID-19 response, resulting in the implementation of new teams and branches, supported by the Corporate Management function and various internal services; and,
- Further exploration of the need for various developmental programs for enhancing the organizational capacity to respond to COVID-19 and promote professional development opportunities for the employees.
PHAC's internal communications will continue to engage with employees and seek feedback to evaluate and adjust communications and engagement strategies, helping to ensure that they are accessible and relevant. In 2021-22 PHAC will continue to encourage employees to use virtual engagements to connect and stay apprised on how the pandemic impacts their work and work-life balance. PHAC will continue to share information and resources with employees during the COVID-19 pandemic to support them in protecting their mental and physical health, balance workload, and contribute to productivity improvements through a variety of tools and platforms, including new web-based digital channels.
To support Canadians and respond to COVID-19, PHAC has established a dedicated a Human Resource (HR) Team to support and sustain the Agency's pandemic operations. This HR team will continue to provide staffing and classification support, in addition to supporting a number of organizational reviews, to identify gaps and new resource requirements.
Modernize the workplace to enable a safe and productive workforce with access to modern tools and facilities
PHAC's mission to promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation, and action in public health, is dependent on having modern approaches, tools and technologies. This aligns with the Government-wide move to digital modernization and is consistent with expectations of Canadians, partners, and stakeholders.
PHAC will ensure that the workforce, workplace, and work are all supported in order to allow the Agency to continue to deliver on its mandate, whether employees are working remotely or on-site. For example, PHAC will:
- Continue to explore and enhance tools supporting the prolonged remote work for employees, in response to employee feedback through various surveys; and,
- Undertake various initiatives to lean and modernize various tools, systems, and processes that will enhance operational efficiencies across the Agency.
In order to be a leader in the delivery of modern, digitally enabled programs and services, PHAC will continue to enhance Information Management/Information Technology (IT) security awareness, while working to mitigate and manage risks to program delivery by addressing aging IT. For example, the Agency has implemented Microsoft Teams in a secure environment as an employee collaboration tool and will continue to work with Shared Services Canada to address emerging technological needs. Concurrently, PHAC is working to review and assess its portfolio of IT assets and identify a multi-year plan that will seek to ensure availability of modern tools and facilities that are accessible and secure.
In 2021-22, PHAC will continue to provide Canadians with timely and relevant information to take action on their personal and collective health and safety. Information on how Canadians can improve their health, and wellbeing, and protect themselves from disease will be disseminated through an array of digital and mainstream communication methods such as the web, social media, marketing and outreach, and Ministerial announcements. In 2021-22, the Agency will continue to provide communications efforts related to the Government of Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while also communicating on other important issues such as measures that promote healthy living and the prevention and control of chronic and infectious disease. Areas of focus include AMR, foodborne illness, mental health, diabetes, controlled substance use, and the implementation of a pan-Canadian health data strategy.
PHAC will continue to proactively release valuable COVID-19-related data and information as part of its Open Government efforts to empower stakeholders and citizens to make informed decisions and better understand particular issues. The Agency is also constantly working to increase access for Canadians to timely and relevant information by continuing to publish online at Canada.ca and through social media campaigns.
Providing timely, trusted, and evidence-based information
In 2021-22, PHAC will leverage a range of online and traditional communications tools and channels to provide Canadians with useful, timely, and evidence-based information to protect themselves, their families, their communities, and their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the central information hub at Canada.ca/coronavirus, as well as digital applications such as ArriveCAN, COVIDTrends, and a visual data gallery. As of December 2020, ArriveCAN continues to be the #2 downloaded app in the Travel Category in the App Store.
Recognizing that some Canadians may live in rural or remote communities or not have access to the internet, PHAC and Health Canada will continue to provide information on COVID-19 through regular media briefings and other outreach activities, using radio, print, television advertising, traditional print mailouts, and by operating a toll-free telephone service providing information in multiple languages, 7 days a week. The Agency will also continue to update Canadians on public health measures, including information related to an approved COVID-19 vaccines, and border/travel measures, designed to help Canadians protect their health and the health of their families and communities.
| 2021–22 budgetary spending
(as indicated in Main Estimates)
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
Spending and human resources
This section provides an overview of the department's planned spending and human resources for the next three consecutive fiscal years and compares planned spending for the upcoming year with the current and previous years' actual spending.
Departmental spending 2018–19 to 2023–24
The following graph presents planned (voted and statutory) spending over time.
In 2019-20, PHAC received new funding in response to COVID-19 for the following measures: the acquisition of PPE and medical equipment; border and travel health and isolation sites; funding to repatriate and protect Canadians from 2019 novel coronavirus; communications; NESS; laboratory testing; and surveillance. The new COVID-19 funding represented an increase of $237.5M million in 2019-20 compared to 2018-19. There was also new funding received to support other initiatives such as the pan-Canadian suicide prevention service and DCI, which were offset by the following sunsetted initiatives: healthy seniors pilot project; and, medical countermeasures for smallpox and anthrax preparedness.
The substantial increase in planned spending for 2020-21 is due to funding received in response to COVID-19, notably for the following initiatives: the acquisition of PPE and medical equipment; medical research and vaccine developments; border and travel health and isolation sites; surge capacity for the Agency; vaccine countermeasures, sero-surveillance consortium; lab facilities; and, Kids Help Phone. Together, this new funding represented a $14.9B increase in planned spending compared to 2019-20. An additional $5B was initially received for medical research and vaccine developments; this funding has since been reallocated to 2021-22 and is reflected as such in the table above.
Planned spending in 2021-22 consists of several ongoing COVID-19 related measures such as: medical research and vaccine developments; the establishment of a capacity for domestic production of PPE; sero-surveillance consortium; the national medical research strategy; the acquisition of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, including pandemic influenza; filling gaps in Canada’s research and manufacturing capabilities to support the COVID-19 response related to enhancing public health data modelling and ensuring a secure supply chain of N95 respirators; government advertising programs; medical countermeasures - bio-manufacturing capacity and vaccine deployment; border and travel health and isolation sites; and, surge capacity for the Agency. Together, this funding represents $8.1B.
Planned spending decreases in 2022-23 and 2023-24 as funding for COVID-19 continues to sunset over time. The Agency is still planning to receive funding for the following COVID-19 initiatives: the establishment of a capacity for domestic production of PPE; sero-surveillance consortium; the national medical research strategy; the acquisition of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, including pandemic influenza; filling gaps in Canada’s research and manufacturing capabilities to support the COVID-19 response related to enhancing public health data modelling and ensuring a secure supply chain of N95 respirators; government advertising programs; medical countermeasures bio-manufacturing capacity and vaccine deployment; border and travel health for isolation sites; innovative technology; and, surge capacity for the Agency.
Budgetary planning summary for core responsibilities and Internal Services (dollars)
The following table shows actual, forecast and planned spending for each of PHAC's core responsibilities and Internal Services for the years relevant to the current planning year.
|Core responsibilities and Internal Services|| 2018-19
|2021-22 budgetary spending (as indicated in Main Estimates)|| 2021-22
|Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention||318,391,163||273,405,686||417,815,847||340,398,576||340,398,576||272,594,458||262,715,415|
|Infectious Disease Prevention and Control||199,658,422||257,498,145||7,916,145,453||6,027,645,406||6,027,645,406||272,038,876||211,240,557|
In 2020-21, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention is forecasting an increase of $135.3M in spending due to new funding in response to COVID-19 including: border and travel health and isolation sites; surge capacity for the Agency; funding to support a safe restart in Indigenous communities; and funding to bolster distress centres across Canada.
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control is forecasting an increase of $7.7B in expenditures due to new funding in response to COVID-19 including: the acquisition of PPE and medical equipment; medical research and vaccine developments; border and travel health and isolation sites; innovative technology; the acquisition of rapid testing machines; safe restart agreement for federal investments in testing, contact tracing and data management; sero-surveillance consortium; medical counter measures; and, funding for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
Health Security is forecasting an increase of $6.9B in spending for 2020-21 as a result of funding for: the acquisition of PPE and medical equipment; medical research and vaccine developments; domestic production of PPE; border and travel health and isolation sites; safe restart agreement for federal investments in testing, contact tracing and data management; Canada’s enhances Federal response to address the COVID-19 pandemic; medical counter measures; and, surge capacity for the Agency.
Internal Services forecasted spending in 2020-21 exceeds the 2019-20 planned spending by $139M due to the response to COVID-19, specifically related to initial and enhanced response regarding communication, public education, and surge capacity of the Agency.
Planned human resources
The following table shows actual, forecast and planned full-time equivalents for each core responsibility in PHAC's departmental results framework and Internal Services for the years relevant to the current planning year.
|Core Responsibilities and Internal Services|| 2018–19
actual full-time equivalents
actual full-time equivalents
forecast full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
planned full-time equivalents
|Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention||476||524||586||581||533||536|
|Infectious Disease Prevention and Control||982||1,054||1,725||2,134||1,262||1,050|
In 2020-21, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention is forecasting an increase in full-time equivalents (FTEs) primarily due to the introduction of new COVID-19 related initiatives, including: Canada’s initial federal response to address the COVID-19 pandemic; funding to support a safe restart in Indigenous communities; and, surge capacity for the Agency.
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control is forecasting an increase in FTEs primarily due to the introduction of new COVID-19 related initiatives, including: Canada’s initial Federal response to address the COVID-19 pandemic; safe restart agreement for federal investments in testing; contact tracing and data management; medical countermeasures; and, surge capacity for the Agency.
Health Security is forecasting an increase in FTEs primarily due to the introduction of new COVID-19 related initiatives, including: Canada’s initial Federal response to address the COVID-19 pandemic; the acquisition of PPE and medical equipment; medical countermeasures; border and travel health and, isolation sites; and, surge capacity for the Agency.
The increase reflected above for Internal Services in 2020-21 and onward is primarily due to the FTEs for surge capacity for the Agency, and the Health Portfolio Shared Services Partnership Agreement between PHAC and Health Canada, where planned FTEs are reported by PHAC, but actual FTEs are expended and reported by Health Canada.
Trending beyond 2021-22 to 2023-24, the Agency is forecasting reductions in FTEs primarily due to the sunsetting of various COVID-19 initiatives and others such as: Ebola research and development initiatives; the chemical management plan; and, funding to improve immunization coverage rates in Canada.
Estimates by vote
Information on PHAC's organizational appropriations is available in the 2021–22 Main Estimates.
Future-oriented condensed statement of operations
The future-oriented condensed statement of operations provides an overview of PHAC's operations for 2021–22 to 2022–23.
The amounts for forecast and planned results in this statement of operations were prepared on an accrual basis. The amounts for forecast and planned spending presented in other sections of the Departmental Plan were prepared on an expenditure basis. Amounts may therefore differ.
A more detailed future-oriented statement of operations and associated notes, including a reconciliation of the net cost of operations to the requested authorities, are available on PHAC's website.
(2021–22 Planned Results
2020–21 Forecast Results)
|Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers||13,014,916,313||10,536,537,396||(2,478,378,917)|
PHAC is projecting a net cost of operations in 2021-22 of $10,536.5M, a decrease of $2,478.4M from the forecasted results of $13,014.9M for 2020-21. This decrease is attributable to a reduction in authorities available in 2021-22 related to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, notably for the acquisition of PPE and medical equipment; the safe restart agreement for federal investments in testing, contact tracing, and data management; Canada’s initial and enhanced response to COVID-19; and, sero-surveillance consortium. This is offset by increases in authorities for medical research and vaccine developments; and surge capacity for the Agency. In addition, PHAC is expecting decreases in prepaid expenses and inventory holdings balances in 2021-22.
Appropriate minister(s): The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Institutional head: Iain Stewart, President
Ministerial portfolio: Health
Enabling instrument(s): Public Health Agency of Canada Act, Department of Health Act, Emergency Management Act, Quarantine Act, Human Pathogens and Toxins Act, Health of Animals Act, Federal Framework on Lyme Disease Act, and, the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act.
Year of incorporation/commencement: 2004
Other: In June 2012, the Deputy Heads of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada signed a Shared Services Partnership Framework Agreement. Under this agreement, each organization retains responsibility for a different set of internal services and corporate functions. These include: human resources; real property; information management/information technology; security; internal financial services; communications; emergency management; international affairs; internal audit services; and, evaluation services.
Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
"Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do" is available on PHAC's website.
For more information on the department’s organizational mandate letter commitments, see the “Minister of Health Mandate letter”.
Information on the operating context is available on PHAC's website.
|Core Responsibility 1: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention||Core Responsibility 2: Infectious Disease Prevention and Control||Core Responsibility 3: Health Security|
|Departmental Results Framework||Result 1.1 Canadians have improved physical and mental health.||Indicator: % of low-income children in very good or excellent health||Result 2.1 Infectious diseases are prevented and controlled.||Indicator: % of 2 year old children who have received all recommended vaccinations||Result 3.1 Public health events and emergencies are prepared for and responded to effectively.||Indicator: Canada's readiness to respond to public health events and emergencies as assessed independently by the World Health Organization||Internal Services|
|Indicator: % of population who have high psychological well-being||Indicator: Proportion of national vaccination coverage goals met for children by 2 years of age|
|Result 1.2 Canadians have improved health behaviours.||Indicator: % increase in average minutes/day of physical activity among adults||Indicator: Rate per 100,000 of new diagnosed cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)||Indicator: % of provincial and territorial requests for assistance responded to within negotiated timelines|
|Indicator: % increase in average minutes/day of physical activity among children/youth||Indicator: Rate of a key antimicrobial resistant infection identified among people in hospitals||Result 3.2 Public health risks associated with the use of pathogens and toxins are reduced.||Indicator: % of compliance issues in Canadian laboratories successfully responded to within established timelines|
|Result 1.3 Chronic diseases are prevented.||Indicator: % increase in years lived in good health by seniors||Result 2.2 Infectious disease outbreaks and threats are prepared for and responded to effectively.||Indicator: % of foodborne illness outbreaks responded to within 24 hours of notification||Result 3.3 Public health risks associated with travel are reduced.||Indicator: Canada's capacity for effective public health response at designated points of entry into Canada|
|Indicator: Rate of new diabetes cases among Canadians||Indicator: % of new pathogens of international concern that Canada has the capacity to accurately test for|
|Indicator: % of adults who are obese||Indicator: % of inspected passenger transportation operators that meet public health requirements|
|Indicator: % of children and youth who are obese|
|Program Inventory||Program: Health Promotion||Program: Laboratory Science Leadership and Services||Program: Emergency Preparedness and Response|
|Program: Chronic Disease Prevention||Program: Communicable Disease and Infection Control||Program: Biosecurity|
|Program: Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention||Program: Vaccination||Program: Border and Travel Health|
|Program: Foodborne and Zoonotic Diseases|
Supporting information on the program inventory
Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to PHAC’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.
Supplementary information tables
The following supplementary information tables are available on PHAC's website:
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- Details on transfer payment programs
- Gender-based analysis plus
- Up-front multi-year funding
Federal tax expenditures
PHAC's Departmental Plan does not include information on tax expenditures that relate to its planned results for 2021–22.
Tax expenditures are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance, and the Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for governmentwide tax expenditures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report provides detailed information on tax expenditures, including objectives, historical background and references to related federal spending programs, as well as evaluations, research papers and gender-based analysis. The tax measures presented in this report are solely the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.
Organizational contact information
Vice President, Strategic Policy and Planning Branch
Public Health Agency of Canada
130 Colonnade Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Website: Public Health Agency of Canada
- appropriation (crédit)
- Any authority of Parliament to pay money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
- budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)
- Operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.
- core responsibility (responsabilité essentielle)
- An enduring function or role performed by a department. The intentions of the department with respect to a core responsibility are reflected in one or more related departmental results that the department seeks to contribute to or influence.
- Departmental Plan (plan ministériel)
- A report on the plans and expected performance of a department over a 3-year period. Departmental Plans are tabled in Parliament each spring.
- departmental priority (priorité ministérielle)
- A plan or project that a department has chosen to focus and report on during the planning period. Departmental priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the desired departmental results.
- departmental result (résultat ministériel)
- A consequence or outcome that a department seeks to achieve. A departmental result is often outside departments’ immediate control, but it should be influenced by program-level outcomes.
- departmental result indicator (indicateur de résultat ministériel)
- A factor or variable that provides a valid and reliable means to measure or describe progress on a departmental result.
- departmental results framework (cadre ministériel des résultats)
- A framework that consists of the department’s core responsibilities, departmental results and departmental result indicators.
- Departmental Results Report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)
- A report on a department’s actual accomplishments against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in the corresponding Departmental Plan.
- experimentation (expérimentation)
- The conducting of activities that seek to first explore, then test and compare, the effects and impacts of policies and interventions in order to inform evidence-based decision-making, and improve outcomes for Canadians, by learning what works and what doesn’t. Experimentation is related to, but distinct form innovation (the trying of new things), because it involves a rigorous comparison of results. For example, using a new website to communicate with Canadians can be an innovation; systematically testing the new website against existing outreach tools or an old website to see which one leads to more engagement, is experimentation.
- full-time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)
- A measure of the extent to which an employee represents a full person-year charge against a departmental budget. Full‑time equivalents are calculated as a ratio of assigned hours of work to scheduled hours of work. Scheduled hours of work are set out in collective agreements.
- gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [ACS+])
- An analytical process used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people experience policies, programs and services based on multiple factors including race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability.
- government-wide priorities (priorités pangouvernementales)
- For the purpose of the 2021–22 Departmental Plan, government-wide priorities refers to those high-level themes outlining the government’s agenda in the 2020 Speech from the Throne, namely: Protecting Canadians from COVID-19; Helping Canadians through the pandemic; Building back better – a resiliency agenda for the middle class; The Canada we’re fighting for.
- horizontal initiative (initiative horizontale)
- An initiative in which two or more federal organizations are given funding to pursue a shared outcome, often linked to a government priority.
- non-budgetary expenditures (dépenses non budgétaires)
- Net outlays and receipts related to loans, investments and advances, which change the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.
- performance (rendement)
- What an organization did with its resources to achieve its results, how well those results compare to what the organization intended to achieve, and how well lessons learned have been identified.
- performance indicator (indicateur de rendement)
- A qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an output or outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of an organization, program, policy or initiative respecting expected results.
- performance reporting (production de rapports sur le rendement)
- The process of communicating evidence-based performance information. Performance reporting supports decision-making, accountability and transparency.
- plan (plan)
- The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how an organization intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead up to the expected result.
- planned spending (dépenses prévues)
- For Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, planned spending refers to those amounts presented in the Main Estimates. A department is expected to be aware of the authorities that it has sought and received. The determination of planned spending is a departmental responsibility, and departments must be able to defend the expenditure and accrual numbers presented in their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.
- program (programme)
- Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together within the department and focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.
- program inventory (répertoire des programmes)
- Identifies all of the department’s programs and describes how resources are organized to contribute to the department’s core responsibilities and results.
- result (résultat)
- An external consequence attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead they are within the area of the organization’s influence.
- statutory expenditures (dépenses législatives)
- Expenditures that Parliament has approved through legislation other than appropriation acts. The legislation sets out the purpose of the expenditures and the terms and conditions under which they may be made.
- strategic outcome (résultat stratégique)
- A long-term and enduring benefit to Canadians that is linked to the organization’s mandate, vision and core functions.
- target (cible)
- A measurable performance or success level that an organization, program or initiative plans to achieve within a specified time period. Targets can be either quantitative or qualitative.
- voted expenditures (dépenses votées)
- Expenditures that Parliament approves annually through an Appropriation Act. The vote wording becomes the governing conditions under which these expenditures may be made.
- Footnote 1
The term “Black LGBTQI+” is used to refer to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, intersex or other sexual and/or gender identities in African, Caribbean, or Black Canadian communities and was selected in consultations with the Mental Health of Black Canadians Working Group. While this terminology is used here, it is recognized that other sexual and gender identities and sexual orientations exist beyond those included in this acronym, and that people’s identities and terms used are specific to their cultures and context.
- Footnote 2
ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can include impairments in language, communication skills, and social interactions combined with restrictive and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities. Each person with ASD is unique, and the term spectrum refers to the wide variation of challenges and strengths reflected in each person with ASD.
- Footnote 3
The Economics Framework provides standardized, credible, and relevant evidence related to cost-effectiveness to improve NACI’s recommendations and subsequent decision-making by the provinces and territories. Evidence on cost-effectiveness allows decision-makers to understand how to optimally use and allocate limited resources in the health care and public health systems. Ultimately, this will improve vaccine access for all Canadians.
- Footnote 4
The EEFA Framework systematically assesses four programmatic elements (ethics, equity, feasibility and acceptability), helping to identify potential issues that may impact Provincial/Territorial decision-making and implementation of NACI recommendations.
- Footnote 5
As reported in When Antibiotics Fail.
- Footnote 6
Established in 2016, the IDCC program focuses on preparing for and protecting Canadians from climate-driven infectious diseases that are zoonotic (diseases that can be transmitted from animals and insects to humans), food-borne, or water-borne.
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Get connected with event organizers interested in engaging women and gender non-binary speakers in design and tech.
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Know a great speaker? Let us know so we can invite them to be part of our directory and amplify their voice. | {
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Canadian province told by court to allow people to remove gender from birth certificates
A Canadian province will now allow birth certificates without a gender marker following a court judgment.
In a ruling issued on Friday, the government of the Saskatchewan province of Canada responded to two complaints made in court to allow people to remove the gender marker on their birth certificates.
In 2014, Fran Forsberg filed a human rights complaint on behalf of her daughter Renn to have the gender on her birth certificate changed from an ‘M’ to an ‘F.’
As well as asking for the gender to be changed, Forsberg then took the case one step further and asked for the gender to be removed from the document altogether.
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission took the complaints to court, but prior to a hearing, the provincial government of Saskatchewan agreed to the change to birth certificates which was confirmed by a judge.
Greeting the decision, Forsberg told HuffPost: “I’m just so glad it’s over and I am so happy for other children, as well as other non-binary people.
“Hopefully this will start the ball rolling for people educating and opening their minds and hearts for the rest of the world.
“There’s no reason to have gender on government ID or birth certificates. No reason at all.”
As well as Forsberg, the complaint was made by non-binary teen Jordyn Dyck, who joined the complaint last year.
The teen had been bullied for their gender identity by classmates after coming out as agender or non-binary in 2015.
Dyck now hopes that having their gender officially recognised will prevent this. Their father Dustin said that the teen was overjoyed by the decision.
More from PinkNews
The decision now may set a legal precedent for other Canadian provinces, as well as potentially removing the gender marker on other forms of government identification such as driving licences.
In 2017, the federal Canadian government introduced gender-neutral passports, allowing travellers to use an ‘X’ in place of the usual ‘M’ or ‘F.’
Canada also recognises gender-neutral passports from other countries, and has allowed travellers on binary passports to identify themselves as non-binary on border documents since 2016.
In May, the province of Ontario issued its first gender-neutral birth certificate following a similar legal case last year.
Ontario also allows for people to remove the gender marker from their birth certificate entirely.
However, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission stated that Saskatchewan is the first province to be told by a court to permit the removal of gender on the certificates. | {
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10 Female Poets That Inspire Us In 2022
Inspiring Women Poets To Read
“May I write words more naked than flesh, stronger than bone, more resilient than sinew, sensitive than nerve.”
– Sappho ( c. 630 – c. 570 BC)
Poetry, like so many art forms, has a way of expressing the inexpressible and exposing human nature through musical rhythms, vivid imagery, and powerful metaphors. Throughout history, female poets have used their voices to be catalysts for social and political change, and their words are just as important today as they ever have been.
There are countless volumes of poetry written by women and non-binary people who deserve our praise and adoration, but we took some time to select some of the ones most inspiring us at this moment in time. These impactful poets range from the late 1800s all the way to the modern digital age, each with a different message that will inspire you to take action in your own life, to ignite social and political change, to reach out to a friend, or to take a stand for the environment we all share.
If you’re new to poetry and want a little guidance, you can find our guide to reading poetry here. Or if you’re inspired and ready to pick up a pen, here’s everything you need to know about how to write poetry as a self-care practice!
Maya Angelou is essential reading: her political activism shines brightly through her words and inspires action. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama for her political and literary work.
For the nature lovers, Mary Oliver’s powerfully feminine poetry inspires quiet moments of reflections based on everyday occurrences. Her poems begin grounded in the real, natural world and turn simple moments into impactful and beautiful life lessons.
Audre Lorde was a passionate poet, dedicated to confronting the social injustices of racism, sexism, and homophobia through her work. Her poetry is powerfully rooted in her experiences as a black woman, a lesbian, a mother, and a lifelong warrior for equality.
Rupi Kaur is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author who you’ve most likely stumbled across on Instagram. She’s a celebrated poet and stunning illustrator, and her concise, impactful words on womanhood and relationships will cut straight to your deepest emotions.
Joshua Jennifer Espinoza
One of Joshua Jennifer Espinoza’s poems is called “Things Haunt,” which is the perfect way to describe her poetry: haunting, beautiful, powerful. She explores gender and the experience of being born in a human body—and reminds us all how connected our personal histories are to history as a whole.
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Despite being the oldest poet on this list, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s work carries a wit and strength with it, making it timeless and accessible still today. Her work doesn’t shy away from issues of female expression, sexuality, or political progressivism.
As a feminist and a devotee of protecting our environment, Marge Piercy’s work is not subtle about the changes she wants to see in the world. Her work is grounded in nature and empowering in it’s calls to political and environmental action.
Adrienne Rich’s powerful work spanned seven decades, and grew throughout her career into an influential feminist statement in free verse. Her poems range from straightforward to experimental, and she is a prominent figure in anti-war and pro-feminist movements thanks to her poetic political critique.
Rita Dove is a Pulitzer prize-winning poet whose work pulls from her personal history and other art forms to weave enchanting stories and create wildly vivid images. At just forty years old, she was named US Poet Laureate in 1993, the youngest to date.
Known for being able to say a lot within a concise poem, Lucille Clifton is a powerful poet to have on hand when you only have a few moments to read (and re-read) a poem. Her celebrated and award-winning poetry boldly celebrates women and explores African American family life and experience.
Emily Torres is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. Born and raised in Indiana, she studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits, or gaming. | {
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⭐ Best Sex Chat Sites
Sharing sexually explicit photographs or conversations with a minor is a crime in practically each U.S. state. No marvel most of the registration sites give you the option to deactivate your account until your, uh, inspiration returns. Flirt.com is more of a conventional singles relationship site, in that it combines texting with video and images and a user profile for icebreakers. You can also flick thru local user-profiles and filter out the wrong sort of matches according to demographic data.
Since they have a lot range, you’ll discover every thing from slutty nerds to porn stars. By far, one of the best of their options are the instruments to remain anonymous whereas chatting online. Everyone, together with non-registered friends, can allow 3D mask overlays which observe your face. If you like avoiding an onslaught of naked dudes, then the low price is price it. Apart from the VIP filters, you’re signing up for a free webcam chat roulette site. Beneath webcams, broadcasters write descriptions of themselves to assist viewers. Choose any of the gay-oriented tags to personalize your expertise. | {
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Clare Johnson is a Seattle-based (and Seattle native!) visual artist and writer. Her writing has appeared in Poetry Northwest, Shake the Tree, and Raven Chronicles. And, of course, we feature selections from her long-term auttobiographical Post-It Note Project each week on our Instagram (there's always lots more to see on her Instagram). She has a few posters of the project available — contact her through her website for details.
What are you reading now?
Answering this publicly brings up some real insecurity, a quick gulp of seriously, what AM I reading??? Seeing other writers’ answers is always a little intimidating; before agreeing to the column I had to do some mental checks about whether I could answer truthfully and still maintain any semblance of dignity. Upon consulting my conscience, I decided to be bold and disclose I’m currently reading Waterlog, by Roger Deakin. A close friend sent it as a surprise random February gift, recognizing it as a weirdly perfect fit....an observation so astute that my ex-wife had also given it to me over a decade ago, back when we were together in England and I was longing for places to swim outdoors. My reading habits are fickle and slow, confusing to even myself, so despite agreeing that this book seemed written exactly for me, I also had still never gotten around to reading it. The sweetness of my friend’s gesture made it newly urgent and special, so I started the newer copy. Big surprise, if you are me, this book about swimming in the British Isles is ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY DELIGHTFUL. The author travels all around the UK, and just, you know, goes swimming everywhere. And talks about it A LOT. Being immersed in his nerdy enjoyment of each swim’s specifics is the perfect antidote to living in the season where I can’t swim outside every day. It’s dense with water-centric British vocabulary, validating the now-invisible part of me that became an adult there, with Deakin wandering in a strangely natural way into fascinating quirks of history, place, politics, community and lost landscapes, even mystery (what happened to all the baths in Bath...?). I cannot get enough of this.
What did you read last?
A mixture of books, but not in a glamorous “I’m such a good reader” way—more in a haphazard, “I don’t have a good reading routine set up in my normal life” way. Despite loving reading, I’m pretty slow to finish books. Reading at bedtime is hard on my insomnia, and I’m still working on treating reading during the day as a valid part of my work, rather than a crazy indulgence. I am also DEEPLY COMPELLED to re-read everything, further slowing my progress on new stuff; I recently re-read Alys, Always, the first novel by (my former student!) Harriet Lane. I can’t get over how real her prose feels—descriptions of characters, feelings, and especially the North London setting are all shockingly spot-on, like her words found a silent part of me, perceptive and concise in that clever “yes! exactly!” way, yet sneakily unlabored-feeling. She also pulls off a masterfully subtle character twist that floors me every time. Mixed in there I also read Instruments of the True Measure by Laura Da’, a little late (I bought it at her BREATHTAKING book launch last November) but uncharacteristically fast—collected, her poems make arresting page-turners. Like a series of perfectly executed moments opening clear-eyed cracks in the brutal vastness of erased histories, delicately, determinedly, isolated but also gathering unspeakable heft. I already want to re-read it back-to-back with her first book, Tributaries. I also just finished The Best Bad Things by Katrina Carrasco; my parents gave it to me for Christmas with a tag saying “Can’t remember what this is exactly, maybe you asked for it or know why we’re giving it to you?” I had no prior knowledge of this book, but guys, my parents know me well. Inspecting its jacket, their reasoning was instantly clear to everyone. This novel is like Deadwood meets 1880s Port Townsend....but starring an unstoppable queer biracial gender non-binary Pinkerton Agency Women’s Bureau former detective!!!! ALSO SUCH RUTHLESS WOMEN. Not a feel-good read exactly, and definitely not for the faint of heart—every chapter could be titled More Injuries For The Main Character. That said, someone please make a movie of this ASAP.
What are you reading next?
Well apparently I need to figure that out. Sublime Subliminal by Rena Priest has been waiting patiently in my stack of please-pay-attention-to-me-NOW books on my bedroom floor. Reading with her at Lit Crawl was such an honor—her poetry feels uniquely friendly and fierce, cunningly playful and also urgently serious. In a confusing juxtaposition, Nick Hornby’s Juliet, Naked is also in that stack, and may win because I impulsively borrowed it from someone who probably didn’t realize how long it takes me to get my act together, reading-wise. I was staring at their bookshelf all through a game night, noting a serious Nick Hornby section—including two copies of this (maybe I’m embarking on a project of only reading books people own two copies of?). I got curious to see how I feel about Hornby as a grown-up. It sounded fun—I have memories of laughing out loud reading About a Boy in my freshman dorm room — but now I also recall an itchy sadness — and just overhearing the movie version of High Fidelity a few months ago made me unspeakably grouchy. Now I’m nervous the generous book owner could be reading; don’t worry, I do always return everything! At the same time, lately I’ve caught myself longing to re-read (for the 5th time?) The Monkey’s Mask by Dorothy Porter. It’s billed as “an erotic murder mystery” but key to know is the hard-boiled ex-cop-turned-private-eye is a dyke, and the whole thing is Written. In. Verse. Some of my favorite poetry ever. It’s also past time for another Easy Rawlins mystery by Walter Mosley; life is better when I read at least two a year, and Bad Boy Brawly Brown is up next. If you haven’t read this series STOP EVERYTHING AND GO DO IT. Flawless plotting and atmosphere, jaw-dropping sentences, a joy to read and yet also leanly un-frivolous, interweaving the worthy ugly questions of our flawed country into every piece. I mean, but this is all just my opinion. It’s ok if you don’t like what I like. | {
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Inclusive beauty also concerns men make-up
Male make-up from South Korea
The cosmetics industry is paying close attention to a surge in interest in male make-up – being driven by generation Z. Asia has been leading this emerging market. For instance, South Korean manufacturer and retailer AmorePacific has just launched its first male makeup brand, BeReady, and Aekyung Industrial, which is currently focusing on expanding its beauty range, launched the Sneaky brand in March. According to a survey by the Consumer Trend Center at Seoul National University, three out of 10 men in generation Z reported using face makeup more than twice a week. Furthermore, more than half experimented with colored makeup in middle school. Sunscreen and lip balm are currently the most popular products at the online store.
A long evolution to specific beauty care
Make-up for men is nothing new. As far back as ancient Egypt, kings and pharaohs blackened their eyes with kohl (sort of the OG eyeliner) to ward off evil spirits, a practice that eventually reached Native American tribes who used body paint to psychologically prepare for war. Male beautification remained prevalent even up until the 1600s when it was common for Englishmen to sport powdered faces as well as rouged cheeks and lips. In more recent decades, subcultures like goths and new romantics disobeyed the gender norms of their day.
Make-up for men has come a long way since you surreptitiously borrowed your sister’s concealer to cover a spot. Today, you can get cosmetics designed for male teenagers because brands are now aware that boys and men have skin issues too. And dark circles because of partying, or creases in the skin after working a 50-hour week…
The big difference in men’s cosmetics from women’s is that this make-up is designed to be invisible. Let’s call it grooming 2.0, a subtle evolutionary step from the daily moisturiser that offer an « Instagram filter » on your face, in real life.
There is a real debate about masculinity and the role of men in our societies. Though it is not a revolution, it’s just an option, a fine-tuning of the appearance.
Who is the male typology of make-up users?
A survey for grooming brand Wahl says one in five men of men said they now use make-up. Millennials aged 25-34 are the age group who tend to use it most, with 39 per cent saying they use make-up – that’s more than a third of blokes on the street.
Unsurprisingly, cosmetic brands have been quick to jump on the growing trend for men’s make-up. Boy de Chanel and Tom Ford for Men are two recent designer launches that are big success stories, and budget options are increasingly available too.
“More and more products are being launched with men as their specific target,” says make-up artist Kenneth Soh who has groomed the faces of Richard Madden, Hugh Laurie and Martin Freeman. “Brands are now doing skincare and light cosmetic products that are branded and packaged for men and take away the stigma of guys wanting to use products on themselves.”
The needs that have to be met
The best makeup products for guys starting out are the ones that achieve a "no makeup-makeup" look. Ideally, it is to use products that provide the appearance of a smooth complexion and evenly-toned skin. So what products should a guy keep in his bathroom or office desk? Here are the five key products they are interested in : foundation, concealer, brow Filler, bronzer and lip balm. Moreover, they need to know tricks. Daniel Kaluuya, who set the internet alight when it was revealed he wore Rihanna’s Fenty beauty brand to the 2018 Oscars, spurring the business to create a series of online make-up tutorials specifically for men.
Men's makeup brands are discreet — and all over Instagram
The brands that are present on Instagram are attempting to change the narrative around men's makeup and open up that corner of untapped market that men represent. More than queer men and gay communities, they try to reach new kind of men. You can find male beauty gurus on YouTube, like James Charles and Jeffree Star. “The boys in beauty aren't blurring gender—they're expanding it,” writes Koa Beck in Marie Claire. $
Is 2019 The Year Men's Make-Up Goes Mainstream?
While mainstream media is no stranger to putting makeup on men (David Beckham was recently on the cover of Love magazine wearing green eyeshadow), it’s still a tough sell to the average straight men who are still quite hesitant to wear makeup. There’s an untapped market out there in the way of men’s beauty. Towards the end of 2018, luxury brands including Chanel, Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs launched cosmetic lines specifically for men (plus online beauty tutorials to match). Forbes called Chanel’s first line of makeup for men "revolutionary" and after GQ's style and grooming director tried it, he urged readers to "Wear more make-up." Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty have displayed videos demonstrating their products on men so they could benefit from some beauty hacks.
Men have had a long and complicated relationship with make-up, one that is inextricably linked with the changing face of masculinity throughout history. As society's definition of masculinity became more rigid during the last centuries, the use of make-up among men started to decline, and by the 20th Century it was widely considered transgressive. Except for David Bowie, Prince’s, Brian Eno or few others.
And now, it seems the beauty tides are turning once again. As the conversation around how we define gender roles gains ground, could 2019 be the year that male make-up becomes mainstream? The recent boom in luxury grooming and skincare products for men has paved the way for mainstream men’s make-up (moisturising foundation, bronzing gel, concealer and brow definer). The goal, it would appear, is to look well-groomed, rather than made-up. There is no Bowie-esque flamboyance from these brands and there is no colour so far, it’s subtle.
A matter of gender?
“In my view there are three strains of gender nonconformity,” says transgender make-up artist and non-binary activist Joseph Harwood. “There’s drag, there’s trans, and then there’s the male who plays with make-up in a creative way.” The latter isn’t about to tell you how to cover an errant pimple, so much as teach you how to transform yourself into one of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Cats - or Katy Perry perhaps. It is here, on social media and on YouTube, that we find a generation of men acknowledging the artifice of make-up and running with it.
It is unclear if it is boys, girls, trans, drags…, who make up these online celebrities their audiences. And that’s the point. Whether it's watching videos or actually making up, gender no longer needs to be part of the equation.
If you want to discover more about men make-up, come and visit the Cosmetic 360 show, 16-17 October 2019 in Paris.
The Cosmetic 360 team. | {
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Java Utilities for Generating and Parsing APDU Commands
This package provides utilities for generating and parsing APDU commands and responses as specified in ISO/IEC 7816. These utilities may be useful for implementers of smart card readers, smart card tracers and debuggers, or smart card emulation (such as Android's Host Card Emulation, or HCE).
We use this package with our own payment terminal and card emulation software to trace, decipher and debug EMV and NFC payment transactions for our clients.
The IFX Mode of Operation for Format-Preserving Encryption Over Non-Uniform Symbols
Format-preserving encryption (FPE) algorithms such as FFSEM or FFX and its derivatives encrypt small messages of uniform, non-binary symbols while preserving the same set of symbols in their output. FPE algorithms for uniform symbols may be used to encrypt credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or other messages where the symbols used in the message all share a common format.
IFX is an integer-based format-preserving encryption algorithm which encrypts messages of non-uniform symbols. For example, IFX could be used to encrypt vehicle license plate numbers which consist of a specific sequence of digits and letters while preserving this sequence in the ciphertext output.
Format-Preserving Encryption Library for Java
This package implements the FF1, FF3, and FFX algorithms and the A2 and A10 parameter sets for format-preserving encryption.
The FF1 and FF3 methods for format-preserving encryption are implementations of NIST Special Publication 800-38G, Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation: Methods for Format-Preserving Encryption.
The FFX algorithm and A2 and A10 parameter sets are implementations of "The FFX Mode of Operation for Format-Preserving Encryption," by Mihir Bellare, Phillip Rogaway, and Terence Spies. | {
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Countless Black women and non-binary folks have helped to advance healthcare and medical innovation in the United States.
We’re honoring nine, incomparable and inspiring women who dedicated their lives to service and bettering the lives of countless people during their lifetimes and into the future. Read about them below.
Cancer researcher who helped develop the Pap Smear
Dr. Chinn achieved many firsts throughout her distinguished career and life.
She was the first African American woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital School of Medicine (now NYU), the first African American woman to intern at Harlem Hospital, and the first woman to be an emergency first responder that traveled with ambulances. Her work with cancer focused on early detection through screenings and family history. On top of it all, she co-founded a society to support Black women seeking to attend medical school.
First African American woman in the US to get a Ph.D. in natural sciences
A pioneering bacteriologist and microbiologist, Ruth Ella Moore’s research made significant contributions to limiting the spread of tuberculosis, illuminating the prominence of certain blood types in African Americans, uncovering bacterial predispositions to dental cavities, and clarifying the relationship between antibiotics and the gut microbiome.
In addition to her many academic and scientific achievements, Moore was a highly accomplished seamstress.
First African American woman admitted to the American College of Surgeons
A legendary OB-GYN, Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens, dedicated her life and career to improving health outcomes for Black women and women living in very low-income communities.
Along with practicing medicine, Helen taught radical sexual health education for women, focusing on reducing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
First woman president of the New York Cancer Society
Oncologist Dr. Jane Cook Wright achieved extraordinary accomplishments throughout her life. She is best known for creating new methods for delivering chemotherapy to patients.
In academia, she became the first African American woman to be associate dean of a medical school as well as director of Cancer Chemotherapy Research at New York University Medical Center.
She was also a founding member of the globally recognized American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
She gave us “HeLa” cells, the first immortalized cell line used to aid the development of numerous breakthroughs in modern medicine and science
Described by many as one of, if not the most important, figures in modern medicine, Henrietta Lacks lost her life to ovarian cancer at 31.
Her cells, known today as “HeLa” cells, have been used for 60+ years to facilitate some of the most significant scientific discoveries, from studying the human genome to the behavior of cancer cells to vaccine development.
First African American woman to direct a Public Health Service Bureau
Born into poverty, Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston grew up with a personal understanding how a lack of healthcare and resources could impact one's quality of life. In turn, she committed her career to improving healthcare and outcomes for minority and low-income communities.
One of her most notable achievements is the contribution she made to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) research. Her determination to make early treatment of SCD at birth routine practice led to its policy adoption by the U.S. Public Health Service, saving countless lives.
First Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School
A multi-hyphenate and monumental figure in today’s medical community, Dr. Reede has created and implemented countless initiatives and programs focused on supporting women and minority students, faculty, scientists, researchers, and physicians within Massachusetts.
She also founded the Biomedical Science Careers Program (BSCP) which provides mentorship for underrepresented students and professionals in biomedical and health sciences.
Viral Immunologist and Infectious Disease Specialist whose research led to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine
At only 37 years old, Kizzmekia Corbett has accomplished more than many people dream of achieving in a lifetime.
While working at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Corbett led the team whose research on coronaviruses enabled the swift development of the technology used in the COVID-19 vaccines.
Specifically, she worked closely with Moderna to develop mRNA-1273 technology which has saved millions of lives.
First person to isolate Herpes Zoster (Shingles) virus
Throughout her impressive career, immunologist and microbiologist Evelyn Carmon Nicol worked on numerous diseases from polio to leukemia to HIV. Additionally, she was one of the first African American women to get a patent for molecular biology.
Outside of her many scientific accomplishments, Evelyn was an advocate for anti-discriminatory and fair hiring practices, having faced discrimination and racism in the workplace herself. | {
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Beyond Today – July 7, 2019
Tom Robinson – United Church of God
A shocking salvo in the culture war came on May 13, 2016, when the Obama administration told American schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of whatever sex they identify as. Though having no explicit legal force, there was nevertheless the threat that schools refusing to go along could lose federal funding, crippling them financially.
Many argue that such government-backed extortion will lead to non-transgendered deviants going into opposite-sex bathrooms with a mere claim of gender choice that cannot be questioned. A number of states have since filed lawsuits against the move.
This followed the passing of a North Carolina law in March against using a restroom not matching one’s biological gender. Obama’s administration promptly declared this a civil rights violation, with Attorney General Loretta Lynch absurdly and outrageously comparing bathrooms having men and women signs to racial segregation signs of decades ago! (Meanwhile, the media studiously overlooked the fact that public opposition to the North Carolina law was led by—you guessed it—a convicted homosexual sex offender.)
The transgender issue got a jolt a year ago with former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner coming out as “Caitlyn” and starring in a TV reality show titled I Am Cait chronicling Jenner’s transition from a man to a woman. That seemed a cultural turning point—and oh, how far we’ve come since!
The range of what the public will accept, known as the window of discourse or Overton window, ever more frequently shifts. And what was before unthinkable is suddenly part of the public discourse and then embraced.
And here we are—only a year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all laws banning homosexual marriage, when five unelected judges forced a major cultural change on the nation—in a place most Americans and most of the world couldn’t imagine we’d be not long ago.
What should we make of the current transgender push, and where is it leading? And what insight does the Bible offer about this issue and a society’s acceptance of it?
Reality check about a mental disorder
The media, news organizations and government push of the transgender agenda is promoted as simply a matter of human rights and fairness. But is that the real issue, or is something considerably different at work?
Dr. Paul McHugh, longtime chief psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Hospital—which pioneered sex-change surgery until experience demonstrated it wasn’t beneficial—states in a Wall Street Journal editorial that “policy makers and the media are doing no favors either to the public or the transgendered by treating their confusions as a right in need of defending rather than as a mental disorder that deserves understanding, treatment and prevention.”
Cutting through the confusion and misinformation regarding the issue, he describes those feeling themselves of the opposite sex to be suffering “a mental disorder in two respects.”
The first, he explains, “is that the idea of sex misalignment is simply mistaken— it does not correspond with physical reality.” And the second “is that it can lead to grim psychological outcomes”—including, but not limited to, a dangerously high suicide rate (“Transgender Surgery Isn’t The Solution,” June 12, 2014, emphasis added throughout).
He describes the transgendered as suffering “a disorder of ‘assumption’ like those in other disorders familiar to psychiatrists,” with the assumption being that “the individual differs from what seems given in nature—namely one’s maleness or femaleness.” He compares it to other kinds of disordered assumptions such as “anorexia and bulimia nervosa, where the assumption that departs from physical reality is the belief by the dangerously thin that they are overweight.” And we don’t encourage these to lose more weight or get liposuction!
One thing that’s horrible about the widespread acceptance of transgender surgery, and advocating it for ever-younger people, is that “when children who reported transgender feelings were tracked without medical or surgical treatment at both Vanderbilt University and London’s Portman Clinic, 70%-80% of them spontaneously lost those feelings.”
In other words, 70 to 80 percent of those who at a young age inwardly believed themselves to be of the opposite sex saw those feelings vanish as they grew older!
Further, Johns Hopkins University’s tracking of those who underwent transgender surgery found that “their subsequent psycho-social adjustments were no better than those who didn’t have the surgery,” leading the institution to cease doing such procedures.
Dr. McHugh also cites a long-term study by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute that followed 324 patients who had undergone sex-reassignment surgery over years, sometimes decades.
“The study revealed that beginning about 10 years after having the surgery, the transgendered began to experience increasing mental difficulties. Most shockingly, their suicide mortality rose almost 20-fold above the comparable non-transgender population. This disturbing result has as yet no explanation but probably reflects the growing sense of isolation reported by the aging transgendered after surgery. The high suicide rate certainly challenges the surgery prescription” (ibid.).
Keep in mind that this horrific suicide rate was in Sweden, where transgendered persons have long been accepted in Swedish culture. And a recent report by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention stated that more than 4 in 10 transgender Americans had attempted suicide. Obviously something is terribly wrong in their thinking!
Transgender advocates, so convinced of the rightness of their cause, have persuaded several liberal American states to pass laws banning psychiatrists, “even with parental permission, from striving to restore natural gender feelings to a transgender minor.” In other words, mental health professionals are forbidden by law from actually helping children afflicted with this disorder—they are only allowed to encourage them to remain in their conflicted state of mind!
This legal climate has led misguided physicians in some states to administer puberty-delaying hormones to gender-confused children to make later sex-change surgeries less traumatic.
But “given that close to 80% of such children would abandon their confusion and grow naturally into adult life if untreated,” explains Dr. McHugh, “these medical interventions come close to child abuse. A better way to help these children [is] with devoted parenting.”
“At the heart of the problem,” he concludes, “is confusion over the nature of the transgendered. ‘Sex change’ is biologically impossible. People who undergo sex-reassignment surgery do not change from men to women or vice versa. Rather, they become feminized men or masculinized women. Claiming that this is a civil-rights matter and encouraging surgical intervention is in reality to collaborate with and promote a mental disorder” (ibid.).
In fact, gender is written into our very DNA. If you have XX chromosomes, you are female. If XY, you are male. Even if anatomy is surgically altered, the fundamental genetic identify remains.
But this particular disorder has become a tool of those promoting “anything goes” when it comes to sex and sexual practices. And so it has increasingly been presented to the public as something to embrace and celebrate.
Our Creator God, however, has a distinctly different view. In Isaiah 5:20 He warns us, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
In defiance of the Creator of human sexuality
Moreover, it appears that the ultimate goal of many activists is to eliminate the concept of gender altogether (see “When the Binary Burns ”).
Of course, this goes directly against God who created mankind. His Word, the Bible, tells us right up front: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them … And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply …’” (Genesis 1:27-28).
Our Creator is the One who established human beings as being either male or female—with an important reason for doing so being that they can reproduce and multiply those who are made in His image (compare Genesis 5:1-3). Moreover, He designed human family and marriage to represent an ultimate spiritual relationship (see our free study guide Marriage and Family: The Missing Dimension to learn more).
And God wants the male-female distinction to remain. In His inspired Word, He rebukes the blurring of gender lines, declaring: “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 22:5).
An “abomination” is something utterly reprehensible to God. Some have argued that mere transvestitism wouldn’t be loathsome to God—that this must be referring to a pagan worship practice. Yet there is no hint of this here, so it’s best that we take this instruction exactly as it’s stated. Still, there is a connection to paganism.
The beginning of the corruption
Idolatrous religion and many of the false philosophies we see today can be traced back to ancient Babylon and, even before that, to the lies of the serpent in the Garden of Eden—Satan (Revelation 12:9).
Satan misled Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, telling her she wouldn’t die as God said, and then Adam partook also (Genesis 3:1-6). They then became aware of their nakedness and sewed fig leaves to cover up (Genesis 3:7). God asked, “Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:10-11).
What had happened? When and how did the shame of nakedness enter? Realize that the passage is a very condensed account and much more is going on here than meets the eye. Considering the whole of pagan religion that began with Satan’s lies, his statement that Eve wouldn’t die and would be like God, and his being behind the shame of nakedness here, we get some indication of what was going on here and the implications.
It seems likely that here began the false concept of the dual nature of man as spiritual immortal soul imprisoned in corrupt material flesh (see our free study guide What Happens After Death? to better understand the truth about this). Satan wanted Adam and Eve to believe that their existence transcended their physical bodies, and that their bodies—especially the sexual organs of physical procreation—were in fact evil and something they should be ashamed of.
Satan, a former archangel in rebellion against God, hated these human beings God created to expand the divine family. He wanted to corrupt and destroy them. Moreover, as a spirit being Satan had no sexuality and no means of reproducing himself and may have been envious of these attributes bestowed on mankind.
This may be part of why Satan set about to discredit and corrupt sexuality. Yet he also may have been aiming to hinder human reproduction, with the desire of eradicating mankind. Later he would promote sexuality as an object of lust—and sexual fertility as pagan magical power. The corruption and destruction of the human race remains his goal.
The doctrine of the immortality of the soul and the baseness of the flesh was later part of the false religion of Babylon, the fountainhead of all idolatry. A powerful strain of this ideology, which developed into various forms, was gnosticism, which sought to transcend earthly reality and the corrupt physical existence through secret knowledge. The biblical writers Paul, John and Jude confronted those who were infiltrating the Church with such ideas.
Pagan dualism and gnosticism led to two extremes promoted by Satan—celibacy to the point of avoiding marriage on one hand and lustful abandon on the other. While some sought to deny the flesh through ascetism (Colossians 2:21), others indulged the flesh in every way, arguing that their real selves were spiritual and transcending the flesh, so fleshly debasement did not matter. It became “a license for immorality” (Jude 4, New International Version).
Babylonian worship even included gender bending as part of transcending fleshly limitations (see “Gender Blurring in Pagan Worship ”).
Where to now?
Think about all this in the context of the culture war being waged in the present time. Satan still has his unwitting worshippers today—those who would follow him in his quest to debase and destroy mankind through the elimination of heterosexual marriage, family roles and the concept of gender altogether.
The lie in Eden and Babylon is still with us today—in merely another form. There are even those who deny their fleshly reality to be something else. And there are others who want to live entirely in an unreal world of gender fluidity or as neither male nor female.
Our society tells people to be true to themselves and everything will be okay. But true compassion for individuals who feel like their body is the wrong sex is not to alter every cultural norm and offer them harmful and permanent body mutilations to affirm their psychological condition. True compassion would be to help them overcome their disorder.
Healing and relief are what they need most. Our Creator God understands that we each have struggles, human failings, and hardships to overcome. We are born into a world that does not reflect His compassionate love, but instead Satan’s twisted and destructive hatred. God sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), and His promise of help for those who accept His calling extends to everybody.
Those who follow God are to be lights to those in need of that healing force. Our response to those who are transgender should be an extended hand of compassion and a heartfelt prayer for healing. Jesus explained to the self-righteous Pharisees, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Luke 5:31, New International Version 1984).
If you’ve supported this lie, God calls on you to repent. And He forgives. If you are one who actually struggles with gender identity, seek Him with your whole heart for the healing of your mind—and also seek out professional help from counselors who perceive this problem correctly.
The number of transgenders is relatively tiny, estimated at somewhere between 1.4 to 7.7 per 100,000 according to a U.S. Census Bureau study. But the number of those embracing and condoning this problem is increasing by leaps and bounds, as the culture pushes headlong away from God.
Where will the window of what’s acceptable shift to next? Things still unspeakable today may be the headlines of years soon ahead. Riki Wilchins, the transsexual activist quoted in the sidebar “When the Binary Burns,” sees the work of transgender advocates as important to the goal of eradicating the male-female structure of society, noting that they have “finally and perhaps unwittingly opened the gender Pandora’s Box, and over the next few years all sorts of unexpected non-binary things … are about to come popping out.”
May God through Jesus Christ “deliver us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4)—soon!
Tom is an elder in the United Church of God who works from his home near St. Louis, Missouri, as a senior writer and editor for the Beyond Today magazine and church booklets. He is also the editor of the UCG Bible Commentary. He also served as a copy editor for Vertical Thought and managing editor for World News and Prophecy | {
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From the same source as the Australian all-male burlesque, circus and drag extravaganza that is Briefs comes Hot Brown Honey. Flipping genders, this show encompasses many of Brief’s art forms (with some new ones thrown in) with a mission to raise the profiles of issues around gender and race close to the hearts of the performers. We talked to Hot Brown Honey’s director, designer, and choreographer Lisa Fa’alafi about the show’s political mission and she didn’t pull her punches when it comes to discussing why she feels this show is so vital.
HBH looks at many aspects of society from the perspective of colour, gender and nationality. Where did the inspiration to create such a political show come from?
The initial inspiration came from frustration with the lack of representation, opportunity and diversity within our industry. As artists, we often use our chosen art forms to reflect back how we see the world so, for us, it inspires us to create work that has the capacity to provoke change in the world.
Every day we step out into the world, our presence is political, living in structures that are not made by or for us, so by default telling our stories is a political act even though we are just reflecting back our everyday lives.
Violence against women is an epidemic and has to be addressed in every way possible.
Given how provocative the show is, have you had any notable adverse audience reaction either during or after the show or online?
The reactions have been overwhelming positive. We understand that creating a piece like Crystal Stacey’s phone routine that looks directly at violence against women is emotional especially when audience members have been through it. According to statistics, one in three women in Australia experience this in their lifetime. In the UK it is one in four.
We are not just statistics. This is a real, it’s an epidemic and has to be addressed in every way possible. Most audiences agree that shining a light on some of the darker issues faced by women in the world is extremely important.
Occasionally we get someone who is offended or moved to nasty words. But for us it is about stirring all the feels, sometimes unpacking sticky topics can be uncomfortable especially if you are asked to examine your own position in the world. Good, bad, praise or trolls they all create conversation that after all is the most important part of what we do.
What’s your take on the current political situation in Australia especially in terms of human rights? From the outside, the current situation doesn’t look promising but are there any signs of hope?
Australia has a long way to go. It’s a colonising cluster fuck. Until we as a nation can offer the due respect for the First Nations People whose land we reside on I’m not sure what hope we have for compassion and empathy towards the human rights of refugees.
Don’t think the British Empire is off the hook here either. Our dark history continues today and even with the world’s eyes on us, most choose to stay buried in the sands of self righteousness laced with racism and discrimination. Hope we have to hang onto hope. We must stand in solidarity with Indigenous brothers and sisters and push for change.
There are feminist entertainers who claim burlesque goes against their values. What’s your take?
As far as we are concerned a woman can express herself however she wants. We like to say these are our stories, our bodies, our voices. So slay ladies, femmes and non-binary beauties – in whatever you do!
Don’t think the British Empire is off the hook here either.
Have you already started planning your next show? What can you tell us about it?
We have only just scraped the surface with HBH. We plan to tour the existing show that grows everyday and is influenced by all that is current and worth making noise about. It takes time to craft an award-winning show so we plan on showing it to as many people as possible.
At the end of the year we are really excited to be heading to Home in Manchester as well as first trip to Canada next year and those of us who love a warm climate have our fingers crossed for somewhere like Hawaii. In the bigger picture of HBH we have our eyes set of putting together a mammoth cast with a revolving hive, so West End and Broadway watch out for the Honeys!
Catch the Hot Brown Honeys at the Edinburgh Fringe at Assembly Roxy on August 11-13, 15-20, 22-27. All shows start ay 9pm. More information. | {
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The Masculine Archetype Deck gives you a tangible way to explore your psyche and break free from unhealthy patterns.
You don’t need to be a wizard, sage, or psychologist to read these cards. This deck can be used as an oracle deck, or a learning guide.
This immersive 47-card deck is for:
- Men seeking to find strength and balance in their Masculinity
- Women exploring Masculine energy
- Non-Binary people embracing the complexity of gender expression
This deck can help anyone connect with the Masculine Archetypes – regardless of biology, gender identity, or sexual orientation. How you come to this, can be as rich and complex as Masculinity itself.
The deck utilizes Archetypes, which are recurring patterns of human behavior that can be used as lenses to see different facets of who you are.
The deck has immense depth with added Sub-Archetypes, Shadow Aspects, and a 12-card set of the Hero’s Journey. It also includes a comprehensive guidebook to aid you in exploring your Masculinity.
- Traditional Tarot card size – 2.75″ x 4.75″
- 35 Archetypes and Sub Archetypes
- 12 Hero’s Journey Cards
- 330 GSM premium black core cardstock
- Durable Semi-gloss Lamination
- Premium Full Color Tuck Box
- Matte Lamination
- Magnetic Flip Top Box
- Medium-sized 4.13 x 5.83 inch book for easy reading
- 88 pages of card descriptions and spreads
- Matte laminated cover
|Dimensions||5 × 6.5 × 1.5 cm|
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. | {
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Women in Irish pop: Why aren't they topping the bill?
Local music seems be an all-male affair, but some female musicians are pushing back
Soulé: despite international pop successes like Ariana Grande, Beyoncé and Billie Eilish, it’s incredible that artists like Soulé and Laoise are still struggling to be heard
Last April, close to 70,000 people streamed into Dublin’s 3Arena across five nights. They weren’t there to see a Drake, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift (or Garth Brooks) residency. Instead, devotees of Athy band Picture This gathered for a stadium tour of epochal proportions, a coronation. This moment, which surprised those whose listening habits don’t extend to daytime radio, was in fact entirely unsurprising given the nature of Irish pop today.
Collectively, groups like Picture This and Kodaline, coupled with troubadours such as Gavin James and Dermot Kennedy, hold what amounts to a monopoly on visibility and commercial success in Irish pop. All, plainly, are men. This is especially jarring considering Ireland’s enviable tradition of popular women in music, from Enya to Sinead O’Connor, Samantha Mumba to Dolores O’Riordan. In or around this welcoming world of soft guitar plinks and soulful crooning, of modest storytelling and folksy campfireisms – a world indebted to TV talent show factories and superstars like Ed Sheeran – there appears little space for female artists to be given seats at the top tables.
Scanning an Irish festival line-up for homegrown female acts needn’t be so laborious, and tokenistic gestures are common. For every Niall Horan, there’s a Stephanie Rainey; for every Gavin James, there’s an Áine Cahill; for every Hozier, there’s a Lyra; for every band like The Academic there’s a Wyvern Lingo. Precisely nothing should be taken away from male acts – to do so would only denigrate years of unheralded toiling – but there is, blatantly, a system that favours and trumpets maleness at the top end of Irish music. The optics, simply put, are bad.
“It’s difficult to ignore the concentration of male acts around the upper echelons of Irish music, and the wealth of incredibly talented female musicians who don’t seem to break through the small-venue scene,” says singer-songwriter Eve Belle.
Sheeran’s unspectacular boyishness has emboldened many young adherents and copycats: typically genuine, rugged, occasionally blokey men who are disproportionately white. Musically, the results are a combination of soul-searching balladry and earthy stadium rockism, washed down with light EDM or electronica. Sorely unheard until they independently break through, an artist like Soulé is one of several new voices in a persistently white male milieu pushing Irish pop in new directions.
Pop music is a massive marketing game, and the majority of the time, the machines are directing the marketing at women
Karen Cowley, lead singer of Wyvern Lingo, responsible for sparkling R&B-inspired guitar music, finds the skewed nature of Irish pop frustrating.
“The tradition of the bard with a guitar, or rock band, is more immediately palpable in male form. Pop music is a massive marketing game, and the majority of the time, the machines are directing the marketing at women,” says Cowley.
What’s new, though, is how these young male singers have managed to pull in large numbers of male listeners. The songs, and how they are marketed, no longer rely exclusively on tugging at female heartstrings, treading the line delicately between unabashed romantic gestures and ungendered, everyday relatability. The appealing ordinariness of these balladeers, visually and lyrically, lends itself to a wider marketability.
It’s obvious from the charts that Ireland is far from hostile to uncompromisingly glittery pop made by women such as Ariana Grande, Pink, Mabel and Billie Eilish. It begs the question: where are the homespun incarnations of this modern pop reflected in our charts? Soulé is an obvious stand-in, Laoise another. But worryingly, no female act or group with a female member found themselves in 2018’s highest-selling Irish albums or singles list, Irish Recorded Music Association (Irma) figures show.
Áine Cahill, who records neatly polished, electronica-embellished pop songs not too dissimilar from the likes of Picture This, believes that there is an inherent industry bias towards guitar-slinging male singer-songwriters. She commends various radio stations for supporting her, but, as Cahill sees it, “there needs to be more of an effort to take risks and support the artists who don’t necessarily fit the current mould.”
Irish radio, even in the age of disruptive streaming services and instantaneous viral fame, still wields great power. Artists are made or broken by those who oversee playlisting as much, if not more than, DJs themselves. According to singer-songwriter Ruth-Anne, who has co-written hit songs for pop stars like Britney Spears and One Direction, supportive DJs not having full autonomy over the music played is a problem.
“Women may seem to be struggling and that is because they are; they aren’t told from a young age that they can be rock’n’roll stars, or how they can pursue a career in music,” explains Kate Brennan Harding, a radio producer for two music-based shows at Today FM who acknowledges the disparity at the top of Irish music.
Elsewhere at Ireland’s state broadcaster, Alan Swan, head of music at RTÉ 2FM, a channel arguably responsible for steering the pop conversation, rejects any suggestion that the fact men fill most roles similar to his across the country has any effect on the promotion of non-male acts. Simply being prolific, he offers, leads to more airplay. At 2FM, you’ll find one of Irish radio’s most well-known voices, Tracy Clifford, who plays a variety of cross-genre pop during her weekday slot. Clifford does not think that the Irish industry skews favourably toward male acts, arguing that those perched on Irish music’s top tier are there because of their consistency, their industriousness and, invariably, due to music’s subjectivity. “It’s all about work. There’s no gender bias,” she says. “If more women put themselves out there, more women would be in the music industry.”
It’s quite difficult for women, who diverge by nature from the rugged-white-man tradition, to access the same levels of success
Taste is something personally held and subjective, the ancient truism tells us. But it is too simplistic an explanation, argues sociologist and music industry expert Dr Michael Murphy, to explain away current pop trends. “I never blame the audience. They go to see acts that they have heard about via friends or the media. And if an act gets lots of airplay and promotion then, inevitably, they’ll find an audience.”
Murphy, a lecturer at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dún Laoghaire who has studied the Irish music industry for over a decade, says he is convinced that, globally, Ireland’s current female and non-binary acts could sell in large quantities.
Female artists may, tangentially, be pop in global terms, but because they don’t carry a guitar or fit into a certain orthodoxy, they can be pigeonholed and seen at home as genre artists, “quirky” or “weird”.
“Styles that diverge from this norm are automatically considered alternative or a little more challenging, thus it’s quite difficult for women, who diverge by nature from the rugged-white-man tradition, to access the same levels of success,” Belle says.
Irish women do, of course, receive support and encouragement from their male counterparts and industry figures. Even so, Belle notices women abandoning their careers having been disheartened by a lack of representation.
“It’s a vicious cycle: female artists don’t play festivals, people don’t see female artists, the female artists aren’t as popular. It’s difficult to watch as a musician.”
Finding a solution is far from straightforward. It would require an admission of an unequal system both from those within the industry and from the Government, many of the artists I’ve spoken to agree. Merely asking probing questions about the status quo often provokes knee-jerk reactions from those with vested interests. “It’s a lot easier to say ‘it is what it is’ rather than seek out any underlying causes or place any blame,” says Belle.
Murphy, who has a forthcoming book about Irish pop, distrusts quotas and is sceptical of their ability to guarantee quality. He is insistent, however, that the Irish music industry has reached a crisis point, failing to deliver a respectable proportion of Irish acts – women in particular – to the charts. Some meaningful solutions, such as a voluntary tax on the industry until a gender balance in both executives and artists is achieved, would be resisted, he says. Karen Cowley, meanwhile, believes the Irish Government should do more to support women in music – or, for that matter, modern Irish music in any form.
The Irish music industry, an umbrella term for various mini-industries, is ailing, spiritually and creatively. More upbeat than most is Michaela Hayes, music co-ordinator and daytime DJ at iRadio, who contends that the gender imbalance is becoming “less and less evident” in Irish pop, saying 2019 may be seen as the year things truly progressed for Irish women in pop. She may well be right but, in order to address gender issues, it is clear that platitudes are not enough; more women and non-binary people must be encouraged to become record label staff and producers and engineers. This idea of change from within is beginning to gain traction through groups such as Girls Rock Dublin and Shesaid.so, globally connected organisations emerging to tackle the overt maleness of the music industry.
Ailbhe Reddy, an artist who writes folksy pop that in another dimension might chart, proudly volunteers with Girls Rock.
“I definitely think that things like that can help get women involved in music,” says Reddy, rhapsodising about the groundwork the group does, which includes encouraging girls and non-binary teens to get involved in music by providing spaces and equipment. “This will improve intersectional representation over time, combined with conversations about why everyone can be a part of music.” | {
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RC Woodmass (they/them), a trained classical soprano, is a non-binary lesbian now working in tech. For the last two years they have immersed themself in the tech sector, co-leading the Montreal chapter of Lesbians Who Tech (& Allies) to be one of the most active chapters in their global network. They founded Queerit, a social good web design and development enterprise by and for queers (and those who love us). RC is also working as a Product Designer, applying their talents in speaking, writing, and design as a founding employee of Diversity & Inclusion startup Crescendo. They have been called a “rising star in the queer/feminist movement” and works tirelessly for the visibility of queer and trans folks in the tech sector, as well as in society at large. They love cycling, writing poetry, gardening, and their cat, Didi. | {
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Has the government banned the term 'pregnant woman'?
20th Nov 2017
“Foreign Office blasted for trying to ban Brits from saying ‘pregnant woman’ — as it may offend transgender parents”
The Sun, 22 October 2017
The term ‘pregnant woman’ is not being banned by the government. It’s not even being discouraged.
Downing Street went out of its way to emphasise that “of course pregnant women is an acceptable term” after newspapers claimed it wasn’t.
So how did we end up with headlines claiming that the term was being banned?
This seems to have two roots. The first was some guidelines the British Medical Association gave to its staff on inclusive language in 2016. The second, the government side of all this, is a single comment the Foreign Office made about some international treaty language in 2017.
What has the Foreign Office said about pregnant people?
The Foreign Office has suggested that the term “pregnant woman” might not be legally precise enough in a single UN Human Rights Committee comment about interpreting the right to life in one particular treaty.
The UN has been revising its interpretation of the “right to life” in Article 6 of its International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
This process, called General Comments, is legally significant. Human Rights are quite general, and so occasionally the UN invites experts to draft Comments which update and clarify their interpretation in a modern context.
Although the revisions are not legally binding, they are considered highly authoritative as international law says that continuous contextual interpretation of treaties is necessary.
The drafted General Comments run to 22 pages. One paragraph was about how, although states have the right to set their own abortion laws, these laws “must not result in violation of the right to life of a pregnant woman”. So abortion should never be denied if a pregnant woman’s life is at stake.
Once these Comments are drafted, states are invited to provide their own comments on the draft. The UK submitted six pages of comments on 6 October 2017.
One of these comments related to the abortion point. While the UK generally approved, it noted that “in using the term “pregnant woman” the Committee may be inadvertently restricting the application of this paragraph to exclude transgender people who have given birth”.
There have, the UK noted, been two recent cases of transgender people giving birth in the UK, and so its comment aims to ensure they are also covered by the UN Covenant.
A Foreign Office spokesperson commented: “We strongly support the right to life of pregnant women, and we have requested that the Human Rights Committee does not exclude pregnant transgender people from that right to life.”
The Times reported that “The government has said the term “pregnant woman” should not be used in a UN treaty”.
This is not strictly true – the government’s suggestion aimed to add legal clarity in one specific General Comment on a UN treaty, which will not appear in the main treaty itself. It does not affect the use of “pregnant woman” in any other part of the treaty, or dictate when the term can be used in general.
The Foreign Office told us it has never used the term “pregnant people”.
What has the British Medical Association said about pregnant people?
The British Medical Association is a trade union for doctors and medical students. It’s not a regulator and it doesn’t have the power to tell doctors what standards they must live up to.
The 2006 guidance on non-discriminatory language that the BMA promotes to doctors makes no mention of pregnancy.
In 2016, the BMA produced guidelines for its staff on “effective communication” by using “inclusive language in the workplace”.
Those guidelines say: “A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. We can include intersex men and transmen who may get pregnant by saying ‘pregnant people’ instead of ‘expectant mothers’.”
Intersex refers to people whose biological attributes do not match what’s commonly thought of as male or female. Transmen means people who were identified as female at birth but who identify as male.
Despite inaccurate reports in the Mirror, the Mail, and The Sun of doctors being banned from or warned against talking about expectant mothers, these guidelines were not written for doctors and they are not binding on anyone unless they happen to work for the BMA.
What’s better ‘pregnant women’ or ‘pregnant people’?
It’s up to you what language you choose but even among activist organisations that support transgender people we haven’t found anyone arguing for a ban on talking about ‘pregnant women’.
TransMediaWatch told us –
“We would hope that medical professionals and others working directly with individuals who are pregnant would respect their gender identity and call them pregnant women, pregnant men or pregnant people as appropriate. It’s really just a matter of respect and good manners.
“It’s ludicrous to suggest, as some newspapers have, that anybody wants to ban the term ‘pregnant women’. The vast majority of people who become pregnant are women — nobody is disputing that. The needs of women and the needs of trans men and non-binary people are not at odds, and most people can see that.”
Bernard Reed, Trustee of the Gender Identity Research & Education Society, told us that the most important thing is to “listen” to the trans community. If they find the term “pregnant woman” offensive, he says we should consider changing it. | {
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International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. At Impact, we strive for a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
We are proud of our fabulous ladies and are taking the opportunity to share a Q&A with a few of them.
- Carly is a Principal Consultant across HR & Talent and has been recruiting within the media and creative industries for over 12 years.
- Ellen is Temporary Support Consultant hiring across our media, creative and entertainment landscape and kick-started her career when she joined Impact 3.5 years ago.
- Sarah is Associate Consultant on Temporary Support and with her past acting career shares her unique insight.
- Erica is Associate Consultant on Support and draws on her earlier events and career experience as well whilst shaping her thoughts.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Carly: It’s a great recognition of women across the world and to celebrate women in general!
Ellen: To me, it means celebrating the amazing women in my life who have helped shape the person I am today. My beautiful mum and sister are all the good things in the world – I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. I’m also lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the strongest, smartest and funniest women I know every day in the office.
Sarah: IWD to me means celebrating the woman around you – supporting them and empowering them to continue to be the boss’ that we all are!
Erica: It is an opportunity to acknowledge the strength and perseverance of our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers in succeeding to get us to this point of equality in the workplace that we may take for granted. Although as a society we are very far from perfect, conversations with key women in my life have shown me the struggles they faced, which we may not even consider now.
As a career woman yourself, do you feel you have had to fight harder to get where you are today?
Carly: Absolutely! Working with a lot of CEOs/Hiring Managers that are male, I have often felt like I have to work twice as hard to gain respect and impress.
Ellen: As I am still early (ish) in my career, I luckily started my career at Impact – where I genuinely feel all opportunities are equal when it comes to gender equality. Not many people can say this, so I feel very lucky!
Sarah: Not fight harder… but fight differently for sure. I come from an acting background, so my gender has always been a big part of my career, that’s just what happens when your own body is your business – I have met so many people who have struggled to see me as more than “just a woman”. Navigating that has been exhausting at times, but it’s made me stronger and I am confident and secure in my ability because of it.
Erica: I have felt that I have had to fight harder. Previously, I have been treated differently & sexualised, I’ve not been listened to for ideas and not been included in projects for them being a bit of a ‘boys club’. I am fortunate that at Impact I feel confident to put forward my ideas and I am treated as an equal. Now, I am on a bit of a mission to make sure that all of our candidates are treated this way too.
How do you feel the media and creative industry treat women?
Carly: 12 years ago, working in the Business Support sector within creative & media it felt very much like an old boy’s club, where support staff were hired for all the wrong reasons. Now working with senior HR professionals and driving the discussion around diversity and inclusivity, I’m proud to be part of the huge shift in the world for the better, where the industry feels much more inclusive.
Ellen: I think it can be particularly difficult for women in the creative industry. Take advertising for example, from a recent study only 29% of the creative directors were female. With such a male dominant industry, this can be particularly daunting for women entering the industry and not seeing female representation in leadership roles. Saying this; the figure was 3% not long ago. Although we have a long way to go, we need to keep pushing!
Sarah: We still have a long way to go to make it perfect, but people are starting to wake up and take notice, so I have faith in the society we are building for future generations.
Erica: I feel that the Media & Entertainment industry has come a long way and we are progressively seeing diversity and inclusion at the height of everyone’s agenda. I think the most important step now is to make sure that our attention is towards intersectional representation and having female representation at every level, bring on more female CEOs!
What would you like to see companies do to give more gender parity?
Carly: Be more transparent and inclusive in their approach and recognise women’s value at the leadership level, despite potential career gaps to raise families.
Ellen: I think leadership needs to own it- it has to come from the top! Having leaders with the right intentions and a clear view of gender parity will flow down naturally.
Sarah: I think introducing more gender neutrality in their everyday practices is one of the best ways forward. By that, I mean gender-neutral toilets, gender-neutral terminology in communication. Not only is it more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, but it encourages people to not make automatic assumptions of who a person is, and will help break down barriers both personally and professionally.
Erica: I would like to see companies open up the conversation around gender and work to support all gender identities, and that we are not forgetting the difficulties that our trans & non-binary communities face in the workplace. Creating an office culture where everyone feels they can show their true self is crucial and that’s when the best ideas and work can come to play.
What advice would you give to women ambitious for a great career?
Carly: Know your worth and work hard – it’s a strong combination!
Ellen: Be yourself and use your voice. It’s just as important as anyone else’s in the room.
Sarah: Don’t be afraid to challenge and don’t be afraid to be proud of who you are. Stop enabling old-fashioned ways of thinking and operating, have a fierce approach to life, and – most importantly – stay kind.
Erica: Don’t underestimate yourself! If you play yourself down so will other people. Always upsell your skillset and believe in yourself. You’re not being blunt or bossy, you’re doing your job and you’re not there solely to make others comfortable. Be you, and if they don’t love it someone else will! | {
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Written and spoken by SJ Muratori at the 2018 Interfaith Pride Service at the West Brattleboro Congregational Church
"Good morning everyone. Thank you so much for having me here. I was honored to receive the invitation from HB to speak with you today. I’m here at the Interfaith Pride Celebration to help tick off a few boxes, I think. 1) I am a queer lady. Bisexual or pansexual are also words I use to describe myself. 2) While I am cisgender, I have a genderqueer heart and have wondered if I was trans at various points in my life. 3) I am a person of multiple faiths and practices, kind of a catholic Zen witch. 4) I even have a Master of Divinity degree and have worked as a minister!
My goal this morning is two-part. One is to help straight religious people open their hearts and minds even more to open and affirming practices. Two is to help any queer folks in the congregation today feel a little less squirmy in religious spaces. I aim do this by telling a bit of my own story of being a queer person with religious proclivities. I grew up in a post-Vatican 2 Roman Catholic church in a working class suburb of Cleveland. I learned a lot of awesome stuff about what it meant to be religious. I learned about social justice and lefty Jesuits in South America. I wanted to be a priest. So did my dad. But he left seminary when he realized he also wanted to have sex and be a dad. I left the Catholic church when I realized my female body was not welcome in a leadership role at the altar. I also realized my unexpressed bisexuality was not welcome—heck let’s be real—my sexuality itself wasn’t really welcome unless it was used in the service of procreation.
I share a bit of my own story because, as queer feminist theologian Marcella Althaus-Reid tells us in her book Indecent Theology, “The everyday lives of people always provide us with a starting point for a process of doing a contextual theology without exclusions, in this case without the exclusion of sexuality struggling in the midst of misery.”
So to the straight religious folks: I invite you to think about how your particular groups practice inclusivity on a regular basis, and how you can deepen that practice so queer, gender-nonconforming, and trans folks know we are welcome every day, and not just during Pride month.
To the queer and trans folk: I invite you to think about how we can love ourselves and each other more deeply, and continue to shed any of the shame we may have received from religious bodies, so that, when we want to, we can feel confident and even excited to partake in religious activities alone or in community.
In case you space out, need to run to the bathroom, or just can’t handle being in a church right now, here is my message: Sexuality isn’t necessarily sex. Sex isn’t bad. Gender and sex are different. Not everybody is either male or female. Some people are many genders at many times in their lives. That’s exciting and awesome. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and all the other non-straight, non-heteronormative, non-binary expressions of sexuality and gender are beautiful. We are not bad. We are not sinners. We are not wrong. Our bodies are our bodies and they are made of love. We are allowed to love who we want, how we want, using our chosen names and pronouns for our beautiful bodies and their exquisite parts. I believe that what most folks call “god” in the Abrahamic traditions is Love—a force of love flowing through us and calling us to love, love, and more love—and this force loves us! And when we touch each other, when we touch ourselves, when we love each other; love ourselves; we touch the god force; we love the god force; and it is good.
As you may imagine, as a weirdo queer lady from a working class suburb of Cleveland raised in a Roman Catholic household, I did not always believe this. I thought my body was gross and bad and smelly and full of sin, and that when I wanted to kiss girls or dress like a boy or delight in looking androgynous or touch my body or wonder if I was born in the wrong body, I felt so much shame. I felt abnormal and bad. I thought God was watching me and would punish me.
How did I get to this god is Love and We Are All Love business? Well, with a lot of therapy, 21 years of hard work in recovery where I was introduced to the concept of “God as I understand God,” a massive support system of queer folks and allies, and an amazing theological re/education at Union Theological Seminary in NYC. There I shed a lot of ideas of what people told me god was, and learned expansive and liberating conceptions of just what god could be!
Backing up a bit, at 16 I left church to worship god in the woods. At 19 I moved out west and did rituals at the edges of canyons. I never stopped believing in something, and it never stopped believing in me, but I sure did struggle with that shame and punishment theme. I have many scary stories of near-death, of me not knowing how to value my body because I had learned it wasn’t valuable, of me using substances to numb out the pain I felt. But something always lured me to Love, to Life, to Community. I wish I could say I found a queer community who loved me unconditionally, or an open and affirming hetero ally club, but I didn’t. My lesbian crew scoffed at my bisexuality and called me a fence-hopper. Well-intentioned straight people told me the reason I thought I was bi was because I was harmed as a child and I confused love with sex. In recovery I sat in meeting after meeting listening to people describe their concept of god or spirit or higher power in vastly different and inspired ways. Those experiences sparked a beautiful and difficult journey for me that led me to seminary where I learned about apophatic or negative theology—kind of a process of elimination where we start describing our god concept in terms of what it is NOT. E.g. not a white male with a beard in the sky who will punish me for my thoughts about Katie. Not a puppet-master with a Divine Plan. You get the picture.
I don’t feel like I need the bible to tell me I’m ok, but as someone with a mostly-Christian identity living in the U.S., it sure can help. It can especially help when there are so-called Christians espousing hatred and using “clobber passages” from the bible to denigrate the humanity of LGBTQ people. In the words of fellow Union grad, transgender pastor Shay Kearns, “Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that ‘by their fruits you will recognize’ whether a religious teaching is true or not.The fruits of anti-LGBTQ theology reveal its falseness: depression, despair, suicide, fractured families, loss of faith, bullying, harassment. The fruits of affirming theology testify to its rightness: a return to faith, a healing of relationships, and a vibrance and resurgence in church life.” While I don’t necessarily believe a resurgence in church life is a needed outcome in affirming theology, I want any of us queers, weirdos, and trans folks who feel called to attend a religious service of our choosing to feel not just safe, but WANTED by the community. I want us to feel ALLOWED to take aspects of traditions that move us and practice them without shame. I want us to find resources that can actively undo harm of exclusion theology so we can shed shame and truly feel PRIDE. While alone or in community, I want queer folks to never EVER associate god and religion and spirituality with shame or exclusion or oppression.
So how do we get there? There are tons of resources online and in libraries that can help religious organizations make their spaces safer and more attractive for us, from multi-gender bathrooms, to altering pronouns for god, to describing and illustrating families with two moms, ad infinitum. While many of us individuals may be psyched sometimes to answer questions about how to make your place good for us, please be careful to avoid tokenizing that “one gay guy in the choir” and do some research. Local groups like Green Mountain Crossroads have killer websites with lots of resources that can answer questions and point you in the right direction. Many churches have publications with explicit instructions on how to create open and affirming spaces that encompass intersectional identity groups. This work is ongoing. It’s personal, it’s political, it’s often painful, and it’s so very worth it. We should feel pride as spiritual people in creating safe and affirming spaces, and we should feel pride as queer and trans people who are loved and lovable." | {
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Indie-pop singer, Phoebe Ryan, has returned with a brand new single that will take you back to the 2000’s girl pop music that we all grew up on. Think Avril Lavigne, Hilary Duff, Vanessa Carlton, and others.
‘ICIMY’ has also been described as something that belongs in Taylor Swift’s 1989-era with its bubblegum pop sound that masks over heartbreaking lyrics.
‘ICIMY’ stands for ‘In Case I Miss You’ and the lyrics are all about losing someone that was once very important to you. The music video features non-binary trans actor and musician, Joey Rose, whom Ryan met while filming the indie movie Dakota last year. Emotional and beautiful, you can watch the music video below.
Born in Texas, but raised on the Jersey Shore, Ryan studied at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. After graduating in 2013, she moved to LA where she went on to write songs for other artists; her biggest being ‘Man On The Moon’ for Britney Spears. For a brief period of time, Ryan was signed with Columbia Records where she released her first two EPs – Mine and James.
Since then, Ryan felt she needed to do things her own way and amicably split with Columbia Records. In the past year, she released two other singles prior to ‘ICIMY’ – ‘A Thousand Ways’ and ‘Build Me Up’. She also supported pop singer, Carly Rae Jepsen, on tour before dropping her current single with the announcement of her highly anticipated album, How It Used to Feel, releasing in 2020.
We chatted with Phoebe about ‘ICIMY’, touring, and her career so far!
Your new single ‘ICIMY’ has a 2000’s girl pop sound to it. Was that intentional, or did it just happen organically?
I wasn’t aiming for that, but I do really love 2000’s pop. I think my voice just has that sound on certain songs. The music of that decade is definitely a big influence on the way I sing whether I like it or not!
What was the inspiration behind the song?
I was a few months out of a relationship and still having such a hard time dealing with life without them. I experienced frantic feelings of being alone, and I tried to express that in the energy and immediacy of the song.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album?
I’ve never been more proud of anything in my life. I have songs that touch on so many different things. Self-love, sobriety, toxic relationships, when to let go… there’s a lot of songs about love, but none are really love songs. Maybe next album.
You just wrapped up a tour opening for Carly Rae Jepsen. How was that experience, and are you excited for the tour with Eric Nam this coming February?
Touring is my favorite part of what I do, and it’s especially wonderful when you get to tour with artists you like. I was obsessed with Carly’s Dedicated album so getting to hear it come to life every night was really exciting for me as a fan and as someone who looks up to her professionally. She’s a lovely person to be around. And I can’t wait for February! I’ve recently got into Eric’s music and it’s really good.
Artistically, how do you think your music has developed between 2015 and now?
I think the music has taken on many different shapes and colors, but at the end of the day, it’s still me. I’m growing up. I have a better relationship with myself. I trust my instincts more. I feel free to do exactly what I want.
Are there any artists now that are inspiring your work?
I can’t stop listening to Willie Nelson’s SiriusXM channel, Willie’s Roadhouse.
Listen to Phoebe Ryan’s ‘ICIMY’ below. | {
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Meet Jill Schweber
Jill Schewber is an editorial and documentary photographer. A Jewish Mexican Canadian who speaks 3.5 languages (English, Hebrew, Spanish, and a little bit of French) currently she’s in Oakland, who knows where she will go next?. When I met Jill in 2010 she was living In Vancouver. Since then she’s lived in Tel Aviv, New York, Montreal, and Mexico, her family’s home country. She’s worldly, and I know It’s cliche to say that photographers see the world differently. But this is the case, and it’s most evident in Jill’s photography. Maybe I’m biased, as Jill was the first photographer who took my photo and made me see myself a little differently, ultimately shaping my perspective of how I saw myself in the world. I was naked in the photo if that gives you any insight.
But that’s the importance of photography, and Jill’s work. With Jill, you know you can trust her photos because there’s a genuine approach to each photo she takes. Whether it be a larger-than-life musician, or your favorite author or designer, a mariachi band, or vacationers on the beaches of Italy, there’s an intimacy to the way she captures her subjects and the world around her.
Favorite Photo you’ve taken:
A photo of my Dad in Mexico, with a tropical flower behind his ear.
Favourite Camera to shoot on:
Currently the Pentax 67
Do you remember the first roll of film you got developed?
Not exactly but I used to go to summer camp every year. I would take one or two disposable cameras with me and I would die with excitement to get them developed on the first day back in the city. I would look at those photos all year and remember every moment until the summer came again and I’d go back to camp.
What attracted you to the world of photography?
My mom always took photos and I always liked looking at them as a child. Then I went to high school and I took a photography class. My teacher showed us The National Geographic VHS following these photographers who would go to the most incredible places on the planet. I wanted to be just like them traveling and photographing people that were different than me.
You shoot both editorial and documentary style. Which one are you drawn to more?
I’m more drawn to documentary but I love both.
Each photographer has different reasons for why they entered the world of photography. What are yours?
I’ve always felt like I’m bad at expressing myself with words so I love that I can express myself with my camera, as corny as that sounds. I use it as a form of communication and I like that it brings attention and expression to my subject through my images when I feel I don’t necessarily have the words to. There are so many smart, talented, amazing, interesting, people and cultures out there! I want to meet them all and hear them speak, listen to them and have everyone else see and hear them as well. It’s an important tool that can bring awareness to so many topics, politics, art, the environment, etc. While I shoot both editorial and documentary, I’m more drawn to documentary and being able to share those types of stories that have a little more realness. The power of photography is the ability to draw a viewer in with images, and it allows them to learn.
Have the cultural experiences you’ve gained through travel informed and influenced your photography style and the visual stories you tell?
Yes, for one I get so inspired when I go to a new place and meet new people. I can’t stop shooting and documenting. I also have learned that it’s important to listen first and let people tell their stories to you before throwing a camera in their face right off the bat.
There’s an intimacy to the way you capture the people you photograph. How do you form that relationship and trust when shooting?
I usually have a small team. I also ask the subject constantly about what they are comfortable with. I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable, getting your photo taken is hard enough. I like to let people guide me and we work together to create that trust. I’m shy too, so I understand.
We’re all responsible for the lack of diversity in media. Photographers have the power to be an agent of change. How do you hold yourself accountable as a photographer to make those changes?
It’s important to bring diversity to the set and not tokenize anyone, both behind and in front of the camera. I want to photograph other cultures and bring light to QTBIPOC and other marginalized people, while also not taking the place of a photographer from those communities. It’s important to be aware and consider if you should be passing on a job and recommending or giving that job and opportunity to someone who is within that community.
You’re working in a heavily male-dominated industry and one that adheres to the male gaze. How do you deal with the gatekeeping in the photography world and the way the industry functions? Any advice?
I’ve experienced a lot of discrimination in this industry and it’s hard! I think more and more women, femmes, and non-binary photographers are getting hired which is great to see but there is still a lot of work to do. I always try to request a team of non cisgendered male people to work with. Moving forward, there needs to be a shift, and opportunitiesfor more BIPOC, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming individuals to be in charge of shoots.
Freelance photography comes with real struggles. Do you ever have those feelings of “I QUIT! IM DONE! THAT’S IT! I’M SELLING ALL MY CAMERAS ON EBAY!!’?
ALL THE TIME! Hahaahahaha there are a lot of ups and downs. A lot of rejection. I get overwhelmed with social media. I also think we should have more transparency in rates, clients, equipment etc. Creating less competition in photography and supporting one another. It’s a hard industry, and it’s important to help each other! If someone wants me to shoot a job that I feel someone else would be better suited or more qualified for, I pass it on and vice versa.
When you’re feeling discouraged like that how do you sweet-talk yourself out of those feelings?
I look at all the amazing opportunities I’ve had and all the people I have met who have helped me and guided me. It reminds me how lucky I am to do what I do and that people trust me enough to give me these opportunities.
What makes a legendary photographer?
With how much content there is out there today it’s hard to stand out. I respect photographers who have such unique styles and aesthetics. It’s amazing to see. A legendary photographer is also someone who isn’t just selling products but giving people a voice to share their stories, their struggles, their success! Highlight the people doing all the good work!
What advice do you have for artists that are starting out right now?
It’s a really exciting and interesting time. Young people have so much access to information and can reach out to other people in a way we couldn’t before. Use that. I would say to keep pushing and trying. Know there will be ups and downs. Know that there is a lot of competition right now. But stand out! Develop your own aesthetic. Be kind to everyone and stand up for yourself. Don’t do things you aren’t comfortable with.
Interview by Brigid Rae
“Through their instagram, Erika Hart has compiled a list of Black Femmes you can use Venmo or Paypal to redistribute your wealth: click HERE“
Photography by Jill Schweber
If you can please donate 🙂 and if you can’t donate then please check them out or share them with friends and family. | {
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Submit to the Subbed In
he Subbed In Chapbook Prize is open for submissions! After the success of last year’s publications, we’re casting our manuscript callout Australia-wide.
MARGINALISED VOICES TO THE FRONT
We wish to amplify the voices of those most underrepresented. We strongly encourage trans people, people of colour, non-binary people, women, people with a disability, queer people, First Nations People, sex workers, survivors, working class people, and anyone who finds themselves on the margins of the supremely white, cis, heteronormative, capitalist, colonial, ableist, patriarchal hellscape to submit their manuscripts.WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
The Subbed In Chapbook Prize is as much a development opportunity as it is a publishing project. As such, we’d love to support and work with emerging writers and/or writers who have not previously published a book.
In terms of form, we’re interested in poetry, collections of micro fiction/nonfiction, or a blend of these mediums.
In terms of spirit, we’re interested in publishing writing that quietly(/loudly) shatters universes(/hellscapes), robs us of breath (also known as 'breath burgulars'), sets hearts chortling, devastates and destroys and rebuilds, stuff that’s weird but not experimental, stuff that’s experimental but not avant garde. Writing against the times. Work from the upside down. Writing that comes straight from the heart to land in between.
Novels. We are currently not interested in novels. Please don’t send us novels or novellas.SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submissions will be open from 25 January 2018 - 1 July 2018 (closing midnight AEST).
Submissions must be submitted via Submittable. Manuscripts submitted via email or other means will not be read or considered.
There is no reading fee and it is free to submit. As we are a small operation, we currently don’t have the resources to offer complimentary personalised feedback on manuscripts. However, for a small fee, we are offering an optional feedback service when you submit your manuscript. Feedback includes a constructive and structural assessment of your work. It does not include edits. If you wish, select this option when you submit your work. Otherwise it is free to submit.
Authors must be based in Australia.
Simultaneous submissions are a-okay with us (we’re not monsters) but please inform us if your work is accepted elsewhere.
We recommend potential submitters to read the books currently in Subbed In’s catalogue to gauge an idea of what we are looking for.
Manuscripts can include works that have been previously published. Please include an acknowledgments page for work previously published in your manuscript.
It is expected that you will be willing to engage in promotional opportunities for your book. This includes being involved in readings organised by Subbed In and other organisations.
Anyone who submits work to Subbed In will be automatically subscribed to our emailing list. We assume you are submitting to Subbed In because you interested in our work and the goings-on of Subbed In. You can expect emails from us about one to four times per month and it’s super easy to unsubscribe.WHAT TO EXPECT IF YOUR MANUSCRIPT IS ACCEPTED
- Your work will be enshrined in a beautifully and professionally designed, printed and published book.
- You will work with a professional editor to further develop your manuscript. If you aren’t prepared to engage in the editorial process then sorry this prize is not for you!
- A first print run of 80 copies of your book with sights set on a second print run. Last year’s prize winners sold out and entered a second print run.
- Your book will be published in both print and digital formats with an option to publish an audiobook version.
- A generous royalty rate for print, digital, and audio copies of your book.
- A super dooper book launch.
- Collaboration with Subbed In on a marketing and publicity plan for your book.
- Subbed In will distribute your book and sell it online as well as at events and festivals.
- A publishing contract.
- You can expect to retain all permanent rights to your work.
What is a chapbook?
We like to think of ‘chapbook’ as a fancy word for a book that is heaps shorter than Infinite Jest. Heaps, heaps shorter. Generally speaking though, it is a book that is approximately 30-70 pages in length. For poetry, this might mean 25-50 poems. For prose, this might be about 12,000-20,000 words. As a guide (and a good read!), we urge writers to check out the chapbooks Subbed In has previously published. If you have any further questions, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]
Does my manuscript need to be finished when I submit it?
In short: mostly, yes. We encourage emerging writers and writers who have not published a book previously. This means that if your manuscript is very nearly finished at the time of submission, and it is really good, we are happy to develop your work further via collaboration with an editor. We're keen for manuscripts with potential.
What does ‘emerging writer’ mean?
Good question! We take the term to mean any writer who either hasn't won the Miles Franklin Award or published a book via a major publisher. Tim Winton and Richard Flanagan need not apply.
How long is a ‘micro fiction’?
In the Subbed In world a micro fiction is up to 1000 words.
Thank you for considering Subbed In. We look forward to reading your work. 💕 | {
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In the beginning there was a confession made by a young black man named Nick Yeast in the state of Kentucky. The Yeast family was known as a legendary football family. Nick, named after his father, lived in the home where it was expected for him to pass the torch, and continued on the name with something great.
Nick confessed to his family that he was gay, and in response his family gave full support. In our interview together Nick noted how all the sad, rejection stories made the news. In his case, there was no worries. In response to Nick coming out, his father had one thing to say, "Always be yourself." Nick would continue on the Yeast dynasty, but he would do so his way.
"Fragrances should be genderless. Period".
The creation of the fragrances began with the Orlando Nightclub shooting.
"I realized life was too short." Nick said. He quit his job in Chicago, and took a trip to South Korea. It was there that he took a fragrance making class.
"When I came back people kept complimenting me."
Nick discovered that there was really a desire for products that were non-binary, but the multi-billion dollar industry did not fill it. Nick talked about social conditions saying, "Fragrances should be genderless. Period. It's based on how you feel. So I'm trying to break those conditions."
Nick noted that perfume was for women and cologne was for men, but there was a need for those who were gender fluid. He began to make products he generalizes as "fragrances".
When I asked how he made his fragrances non-binary he gave very specific answers. If you visit the Nick Ricardo Collection website or social media pages you would see his models. The models come in every shape, size and color in order to reflect the belief that Nick Ricardo is for all.
The fragrances themselves were named after experiences and interests of business owner Nick Yeast himself. ONYX, MENTIONED, DESIRE, and TURBULENT are the fragrances at the moment. Nick Yeast took some experience behind the name and scents of the fragrances. For instance, "Mentioned" is a concept that Nick noted all people wanted to feel.
"We want to be mentioned, we want to be talked about."
That is something that every gender and even the genderless could relate to. As a black, queer male it was impossible not to ask what the journey was like to become an entrepreneur. Nick explained that the hard part was not getting the loans. It was marketing to groups. I asked him if he had learned anything as a business owner with the LGBTQIA community.
"The support is a tight knit group,” said Nick. Nick wanted to market to the LGBTQIA community, but the Nick Ricardo Collection is for everyone. When wanting to expand Nick spoke of how he was very clear that the business was black and queer. Although the fragrances were non-binary it was also for everyone. So Nick Yeast looked too expand his market. Some businesses took on the idea of non-binary with great enthusiasm, others would simply smile at Nick.
"I sometimes see the look,” he said. And he knew at that point it was over.
What I loved most about this brand is the activism behind it. Nick Yeast did not make this fragrance for just the non-binary, he made it for a statement. He had found a need, but he had also wanted to send a message.
Nick and I talked about how in the LGBT community the L, G, B and only now recently the T but, "Everyone forgets the other letters." But Nick didn't. In order to draw attention to other queers and other colors of the rainbows, he kept the support of his business in the LGBTQIA family.
When I asked him how he moves forward with connecting the LGBTQIA community and his business he said, "I'm picky. I'm looking for people who have the same values of the brand. Everything from models, to photographers to managing my books."
In an effort to give those a voice Nick has created a product that focuses not on who you are, but how you want to be. The Nick Ricardo Collection is a new and transformative way to break down social barriers and expectations while setting free the desires and persona we choose to give ourselves that day.
Fragrances may be part of a multi-billion dollar industry, but the feel of knowing what you’re wearing speaks with you and for you? Priceless.
There are many who ask for products that provide representation and cater to them. To keep those businesses around there has to be more that just well wishes. The Nick Ricardo Collection's fragrances would be a great gift, date night accessory or simply a way to support all colors of the rainbow.
If you would like to support the Nick Ricardo Collection, you can purchase the various fragrances, or sample set, you can go to nickricardocollection.com. You can see more about what Nick is doing with upcoming fragrances releases, pop-up brunches, etc at his Instagram @nickricardocollection. | {
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Dascha Polanco is starting a new season of her Brown Love podcast with a new look. The In the Heights actress showed off her platinum blonde bob style for her recent episode of season two with drag superstar and actor Valentina. Not only does she look fierce with her blonde wig but also exotic. In the episode, the Dominican actress explores the meaning of gender, culture and embracing femininity. “Valentina was throwing out 💎GEMS💎 honey, she told some stories and I could listen to her for days!” Dascha wrote on Instagram.
As Brown Love kicks off a new season, the 37-year-old actress delves into different topics including Valentina’s career, La Casa de las Flores, spirituality, fajas, quarantine and more. The main topic focuses on raising awareness about non-binary gender and what it means to embrace femininity in today’s zeitgeist. “Thanks for being an amazing and talented Latina in the industry and inviting me to share this moment with you. Also thanks to @contodonetflix for creating a show that highlights the work of fellow Latinx people in the industry we appreciate this 👏🏽,” shared Valentina on her video post.
View this post on Instagram
@allaboutvalentina was throwing out 💎GEMS💎 honey, she told some stories & I could listen to her for days! #BrownLove🤎 is back with season 2 and we have some amazing episodes starting with this one available NOW! Click 🔗 in my bio and the drop ⬇️ is every Tuesday! @contodonetflix #selflovery #sheisdash
Besides bringing together the Latinx community and getting real on multicultural topics, Dascha is all about spreading self-love messages and demystifying the meaning of Afro-Latinidad, gender roles and multicultural experiences.
Every Tuesday, the actress will release a new episode where she joins the conversation with Latino creators. The mom-of-two is also keeping her time at-home busy with yoga with her new exercise tool called FeetUp trainer, practicing dance challenges on TikTok and preparing homemade meals such as pasta carbonara. Dascha is definitely upping up the ante with her social media and giving us a sneak peek into her daily routine. | {
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With eggnog being spotted on grocery store shelves as early as the first week of October, we've been tempted by this creamy and nutmeg-y concoction for almost two months now. Though, there is only really one version of the famous holiday drink that I look forward to sipping and that is the housemade version at one of Calgary's most iconic watering holes, The Ship and Anchor.
The top secret recipe for this eggnog was first developed by staff in the late 1990s and over the years, the drink has developed a cult following by hundreds of Calgarians (myself included) and benefitted charity where $5 of the cost of the drink is donated to a variety of local initiatives.
Last year, almost 7,500 signature "Ship 'Nogs" where sold between November 30 and December 31, helping raise approximately $37,000 for four local charities. The Ship and Anchor's manager, Nicola Trolez, says that they hope to raise even more funds this year for their 2019 featured charities: Calgary Scope Society and the Calgary Drop In and Rehab Centre.
The staff at the Ship and Anchor are currently preparing batches of Ship 'Nog to be available starting this Saturday, November 30, 2019. Their 2019 "preview" day will serve as a one-day fundraiser for Girls Rock Camp Calgary, a local charity that offers musical programs to young girls and non-binary youth aged 12-17.
The remainder of the month's 'nog sales will go to the three aforementioned charities aside from another one-day fundraiser for the Calgary Alpha House DOAP Team on December 21.
So, if you like eggnog, there is honestly no better place to be enjoying it over the holiday season than at this Calgray institution on the corner of 17th Avenue and 5th Street. And hey, if we manage to hit a chinook any time soon, you might even be able to enjoy it on its all-season patio. | {
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This is a Scala programming event. Some programming knowledge expected, but you don't yet know Scala.
This workshop is intended to reach out to women and non-binary people who are interested in learning Scala! We are emphatically queer & trans inclusive!
In this workshop, we'll take you through the basics of functional programming in Scala, a powerful language that has uses in everything from web applications to data science to large-scale distributed systems. By the end of the day, you'll have built several doodles, have a basic understanding of functional programming, and a grasp of Scala fundamentals.
8:30-9:30am: Check-in, breakfast (please arrive by 9am at the latest)
9:30am: Opening talk, student sorting
4:30pm: Closing talk, announcements & retrospectives
5-7pm: Afterparty (optional)
Meetup's HQ entrance is located between Bleecker and Houston on Broadway (entrance is between a Duane Reade and a Petco). The BDFM (Broadway/Lafayette station) 6 (Bleecker St. station) stops on the same block as Meetup, and the RN (Prince St.) is just a few minutes walk away from the office. Meetup is located on the 9th floor. When you arrive, please let security know you will be heading to Meetup, they will let you access the elevators to the office. Wi-Fi will be available.
Dinner will be provided at the installfest. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on the day of the workshop.
Everyone's invited to have a drink together after the workshop. Location will be within a short walk from the workshop location.
Thanks to Meetup for providing the venue, Driver for sponsoring catering, and Bridgewater for sponsoring the afterparty and covering other costs.
Meetup brings people together in thousands of cities to do more of what they want to do in life. It is organized around one simple idea: when we get together and do the things that matter to us, we’re at our best. And that’s what Meetup does. It brings people together to do, explore, teach and learn the things that help them come alive.
For example, people run marathons, thanks to running Meetups. They write, thanks to writing Meetups. They change their careers, thanks to career Meetups. Because at Meetups, people welcome each other. They talk, help, mentor, and support each other – all in pursuit of moving their lives forward.
Driver is a consumer technology company building a treatment access platform for cancer patients. Far too often, patients are powerless when it comes to finding new treatments. Our platform empowers patients with access to the treatment breakthroughs that exist today.
Bridgewater Associates is focused on understanding how the world works. By having the deepest possible understanding of the global economy and financial markets, and translating that understanding into great portfolios and strategic partnerships with institutional clients, we've built a distinct track record of success. We've done this for more than 40 years by having great people operate in a culture of radical truth and radical transparency. Today, we manage about $160 billion for approximately 350 of the largest and most sophisticated global institutional clients including public and corporate pension funds, university endowments, charitable foundations, supranational agencies, sovereign wealth funds, and central banks. | {
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RESOLVED, That this 145th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark affirm the actions of the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church regarding transgender rights, as adopted in resolutions C022 and C054, by the following:
That the Episcopal Diocese of Newark reaffirms its support for the enactment of laws at the local, state and federal level that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or the expression of one’s gender identity;
That the Episcopal Diocese of Newark supports legislative, educational, pastoral, liturgical, and broader communal efforts that seek to end the pattern of violence against transgender people in general and transgender women in particular, calling attention especially to the rising violence against transgender women of color and gender non-conforming people;
That the Episcopal Diocese of Newark opposes all legislation that restricts public restroom, locker room and shower access for transgender and gender non-conforming people, recognizing that such bills disproportionately impact and contribute to a pattern of violence against transgender women and non-binary identified people;
That the Episcopal Diocese of Newark urges parishes to remove barriers to full participation in congregational life by making their gender-specific facilities and activities fully accessible to all, regardless of gender identity and expression;
That the Episcopal Diocese of Newark advocates for passage of legislation that protects transgender and gender non-conforming persons from discrimination; and
That the Episcopal Diocese of Newark affirms the following guiding principles for the inclusion of transgender and non-binary people in their parishes, missions, schools and camps:
Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender and Non-Binary People in Dioceses, Parishes, Missions, Schools and Camps:
We believe that all people are created in the image of God and that all people are beloved children of God. Because this is true,
- We will protect the rights and respect the dignity of transgender and non-binary persons, refusing to reject, judge, abuse, belittle or in any way dehumanize them.
- We will engage the complex realities for transgender and non-binary persons in our churches, schools, and camps, and not yield to the temptation to ignore those realities.
- We will recognize and accept our responsibility to protect the privacy of transgender and non-binary persons.
- We will make decisions about how to support transgender and non-binary minors in our schools and camps in sensitive and appropriate communication with their parents.
- We will provide a safe environment for transgender and non-binary persons, for those who support them, and for those who do not understand our commitment to these principles.
- We will stay flexible in response to the complex and changing ramifications of this work by being open to relevant stories, to emerging information, and to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
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Whether or not you’re a scholar at Georgia Tech, one of many country’s top CEOs, or a center faculty scholar with an curiosity in pc science, GT Computing has a spot for you. In response, many prime colleges are making efforts to recruit female computer science college students, making it a great time for girls to pursue laptop science levels. Their fees may range relying on the services and facilities they provide to their customers.
Laptop engineering education also supplies info on pc network, Internet, distributed and internet computing. Since downtime rarely occurs in cloud computing, corporations don’t have to spend money and time to repair any points that could be related to downtime. The observe of renting computing infrastructure over the web, which is a key section of cloud computing, is thriving as a result of it is propelled by a number of favourable forces.
As a result of people who might do that work had been an absolute necessity, the government and major British corporations hired her and her growing staff of girls programmers to do mission-crucial laptop programming for tasks ranging from payroll and accounting to slicing-edge initiatives like programming the black field†flight recorder for the first industrial supersonic jet on this planet: the Concorde.
MIT Know-how Review
Web is represented as the ‘cloud’ and computing denotes software. In 2006, Amazon launched Amazon Net Companies (AWS), providing such providers as computing and storage within the cloud. The CNCF collaborates with greater than 540 members, together with the entire world’s largest cloud computing and software program companies, in addition to over 200 modern startups.
Lucherini’s research epitomizes CITP’s mission: to dig into the sophisticated questions of how technology and computing have an effect on society, both positively and negatively. Most of them are making a big funding to create purposes and expertise-based mostly business fashions or working with collaborative communities.
Bachelor’s Programme Technical Computer Science
Over the duration of 24 hours, women and non-binary people are immersed in tech tradition and inspired to train their creativeness to create fascinating and innovative hacks.
Over the past decade, computer expertise has revolutionized almost every aspect of life. Cloud computing is a computing paradigm shift where computing is moved away from personal computers or a person software server to a cloud†of computer systems. With SaaS, cloud suppliers host and manage the software program application and underlying infrastructure, and deal with any upkeep, like software upgrades and security patching.
New capability and processing in edge computing, excessive efficiency computing and AI are relieving pressure on networks, decreasing data costs and cloud security risks while facilitating far higher operational efficiency throughout upstream, processing and downstream oil and gasoline tasks.
The consumer doesn’t handle or management the underlying cloud infrastructure together with community, servers, working methods, storage, or even individual utility capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-particular application configuration settings.
Latest articles , for instance, have shown that Google is starting to shift its IT efforts away from pure analytics to concentrate on what folks call deep learning.†The flexibility of computer systems to select up on deep patterns extant inside numerous totally different techniques, including human conduct.
Nowadays, the computer expertise trade is rapidly growing and changing. The potential this new computing power offers in terms of sustainable automation, with decreased operational prices, faster deployment of recent services and value-effective scalability make low margin, low volume wells and new exploration more possible and price effective.
AI, the technology claiming to rival electricity in importance and implementation, is the ideal candidate for quantum computing attributable to it usually requiring advanced software program too challenging for present techniques. Allow college students to make use of the technology tools that help them be taught greatest, no matter platform or quality of Web connection.
Offering on-line computation or storage as a metered business service, often known as utility computing, computing on demand, or cloud computing. In different words, software is a set of packages, procedures, algorithms and its documentation concerned with the operation of an information processing system.
Examples of Cloud providers embrace iCloud, Google Cloud and Dropbox. Finally and most significantly, create a finances for the upkeep of your small business technology. Users can entry company information by way of smartphones and different cellular devices, enabling distant employees to stay updated with coworkers and customers.
Computer expertise is used extensively in trendy data-processing methods to quickly and precisely determine the coordinates of ships, submarines, plane, objects in house, and so on. A particular space of utility of laptop expertise is information retrieval methods, which mechanize library and bibliographical work and facilitate the elimination of monumental reference card files. | {
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Surprise witch, I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me…
*Spoiler warning, the following post features spoilers for The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Read at your own risk*
Late last week we were blessed with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix. The show is a reboot of everybody’s favourite 90s teenage witch with a dark, and dare I say, satanic twist. I’ve loved Sabrina Spellman since I was a small child in the 1990s. I have also become extremely fascinated with witchcraft in the past few years, so you can imagine how excited I was when this specific reboot was announced. CAOS comes to us from the same creators as Riverdale, but don’t let that discourage you from watching Sabrina.
In fact, the only thing The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has in common with Riverdale, is one small cameo from a secondary character, and a few mentions of the town itself. The new Sabrina is much darker from its nostalgic original, comparing closer to American Horror Story: Coven, than the original 90s sitcom. Though they kept a lot of characters from the original series, the new Sabrina is actually based off comics from the Archie universe dating back to the 1960s, and most of the show takes its material directly from those comics. Being obsessed with all things witchy and Halloween, I binged the whole season in less than 48 hours, so that obviously makes me an expert on the life of Sabrina Spellman. I wanted to unpack some of my feelings on the show’s key players, and how they are both alike, and different from the 90s version that I loved so much as a kid.
Salem the talking animatronic black cat was a big part of what made the original 90s Sabrina so iconic and memorable. In The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Salem does appear, though he doesn’t talk. The 2018 version sees Salem as Sabrina’s familiar. Familiars are animals, or insects that aid their witch companions in return for protection. Familiars are an important element to real life witchcraft or Wicca, so 2018 Salem does add a bit of credibility to CAOS. If you miss Salem’s sassy, and quick-witted humour, don’t worry. That role is now fulfilled by Sabrina’s cousin Ambrose, who happens to be on house arrest, attached to the Spellman house much like 90s Salem.
Zelda and Hilda
Where would Sabrina be without her wise, and cunning aunts guiding her through both young adulthood AND the spirit realm? The Zelda and Hilda from the 90s sitcom maintained a loving bond through the show’s run. The 90’s Zelda who was a scientist, is replaced by 2018 Zelda the devoted Satan worshipper, who is always making sure the Spellman name is free of scandal. Hilda, the fun loving, silly aunt, is replaced by Hilda, the free-spirit. The dynamic between the sisters in the new Sabrina are way more intense, and twisted. Though both sets do live in killer Victorian mansions, the 2018 aunts run a funeral business, because why wouldn’t they?
90s Harvey Kinkle was a dreamboat, and if you disagree with me you’re wrong. The 90s Harvey was by Sabrina’s side, but not really an important part of the original series. 2018 Harvey is a lot different than his predecessor. The new Harvey comes from a long line of witch hunters, which should make for an interesting dynamic between the two later on in the series. 2018 Harvey and Sabrina are pretty intense for a couple of teens, way more so than the are they or aren’t they couple from the 90s.
Sabrina’s friends in the new series are one of the best parts of the show. Though they’re mortals, they also have special powers. I’m pretty sure Rosalind is clairvoyant (she has psychic visions), and Susie can talk to one of her dead relatives. Susie is also non-binary, a subject that is addressed within the first two episodes, and throughout the rest of the series with sensitivity. Both serve some much-needed diversity to the cast, and keep the mortal half of the show interesting. Within the first two episodes Sabrina and co. create a safe space group for young women, and non-binary students called W.I.C.C.A (Women’s Intersectional Cultural and Creative Association) also(I see what you did there). Both Sabrina, and her friends are incredibly progressive, and a true reflection of what American teens are like in the year 2018.
The Weird Sisters
We first meet the Weird sisters while they are putting a hex on Sabrina in the middle of the woods. Upon first meeting them we are to believe they are her rivals. They immediately aren’t likeable, but then they kind of grow on us. One of their names is Dorcus, and for some reason it’s amazing. The main Weird sister’s is Prudence, and we quickly learn that her favourite thing to do is torment mortal boys, so she’s kind of a queen, and we kind of love her.
In the 90s Sabrina, we often see her transporting to the spirit realm via her upstairs linen closet. In CAOS, Sabrina is told that to practice her witchcraft, she must study at a special school for wizard and witches. Her coven, The Church of Night runs the witch school Sabrina, and the Weird sisters all attend. All sorts of spooky classes, and sacrifices go down there, including some really extreme witch hazing. It’s Harry Potter meets American Horror Story: Coven and we’re here for all of it.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina feature darker subjects than it’s light and fluffy original, featuring everything from signing your soul over to Satan on your sweet 16, to witch sacrifices. After I finished the 10-episode season I suddenly found myself wanting to be a teenage witch again. Sure, Sabrina gets into a lot of understandably twisted, and sticky situations, but her life also seems so full of mystery. Where are her parents? Why does one of her aunt have a British Accent while the other doesn’t? Will Salem the cat ever talk? In a whole show filled with witches and warlocks, the story can go in 100 different directions, and I’ve been put under a spell, and sucked right in to Sabrina’s wild world.
So no, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is not Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and quite honestly, nothing will ever touch that level of nostalgia. But CAOS delivers something totally fresh and new, and I’m totally fine with it. The show’s dark themes, and sinister characters are broken up by Sabrina’s infectious optimism. Sure, you may have screwed up a spell resulting in some pretty terrible stuff, but you can totally fix it! Even when Sabrina knows she’s royally messed up, risking the reputation of the Spellman family once again, she always finds a way to calmly fix the situation, and that is truly the feminist hero we need right now. Being a half-witch wouldn’t suck that much either. Happy Halloween Witches! | {
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“Four Corners” is an innovative project that will produce unique and essential data for transgender health
(Chicago, IL, February 4, 2019) – Today, Howard Brown Health announced its participation in an innovative community-led research advisory network that will support the development of patient-centered research projects focused on addressing the health needs of transgender and gender non- conforming people (TGNC).
Entitled Four Corners: TGNC Health Research Advisory Network, (Four Corners) includes Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles LGBT Center; and Houston-based Legacy Community Health. Currently, the four organizations serve over 10,000 TGNC-identified patients. Led by Howard Brown Health, Four Corners will unite community members, researchers, and clinicians from across the U.S. to facilitate equitable participation of all members to contribute to a patient-led expansion of TGNC health research.
“Four Corners will establish a new standard in transgender research by including community voices from the start,” said Andie Baker, Vice President of Howard Brown Health’s Center for Education, Research, and Advocacy. “The ground-breaking partnership will ensure new research addresses what TGNC people need to make healthcare more relevant to their lived experience. This is urgently needed, as the TGNC community experiences disproportionate health disparities. ”
“I’m thrilled to be part of this new research project that will help my community. I’m excited to help Four Corners provide more information about what trans people actually need to help them achieve better health. I’m looking forward to the work that can be accomplished to better the community,” said Angelina Nordstrom, a member of Howard Brown’s community advisory board and Four Corners project liaison.
Transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming individuals are people who identify with a gender that differs from the identity associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. According to a 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey on transgender health disparities, nearly 1 in 4 of the respondents reported they did not seek the healthcare due to their fears of being mistreated as a trans person; one-third of them did not seek a healthcare provider when needed because they could not afford it; and 40% of them had attempted suicide in their lifetime—nearly nine times the attempted suicide rate in the U.S. population.
“With the goal of improving health and wellness outcomes for all who identify on the gender spectrum, this research collaboration will establish foundational standards for methods, recruitment and protocols when conducting transgender and non-binary-focused health studies. We are excited by the opportunity for our patients to develop research priorities as we work to better understand the health needs of transgender and non-binary communities,” said Dr. Deborah Goldstein, Director of Clinical Research and Evaluation at Whitman-Walker Health.
“This first-of-its kind research initiative will help U.S. health care providers understand the disparities in care for the transgender/gender non-conforming community – and how to bridge the gaps,” said Dr. Ann Barnes, chief medical officer at Legacy Community Health. “Hearing from TGNC patients themselves will be critical in this work. We’re excited to be part of this project alongside other leading community health centers across the country.”
“The Los Angeles LGBT Center is proud to be a partner in creating Four Corners,” said Dr. Ward Carpenter, co-director of the Center’s Health Services. “This groundbreaking project will bring together researchers, clinicians, and—most importantly—community members to develop a patient-led TGNC research agenda. We applaud the Network’s vision and its commitment to ensuring that this vulnerable and marginalized population has a direct voice in guiding research to reduce the dramatic health disparities suffered by TGNC individuals.”
Howard Brown Health envisions a future where the health and wellness of LGBTQ people is affirmed with healthcare as a human right; where progressive social policy and enlightened societal norms uplift the lives of LGBTQ people and their families; and where affordable, accessible, and culturally competent care from non-judgmental healthcare professionals is available and provided to all who seek it. Howard Brown is the largest LGBTQ organization in the Midwest, providing primary and specialty healthcare, social services, and infectious disease screenings to more than 35,000 people each year and over 5,665 TGNC-identified patients annually.
Erik Roldan, Director of Marketing and Communications, Howard Brown Health
Gil Diaz, Media & Public Relations Director, Los Angeles LGBT Center,
Kevin Nix, Sr. Director of Communications, Legacy Community Health,
[email protected], (832) 548 5136
Jewel Addy, Director of Communications, Whitman-Walker Health, | {
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Turns out Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling might not be as progressive as she thought. Recently, the fantasy writer angered radical LGBTQ folks on social media for tweeting a defense of a person fired for believing that there are only two genders. The author has since been called a “transphobe,” or more specifically a “TERF” (trans exclusive radical feminist.)
For a woman who was once so woke that she officially altered the sexuality of one of her series main characters to appease lefty fans, this is a bit jarring.
On Thursday morning (U.S. time of course, it was probably afternoon tea for the British writer) Rowling tweeted the politically incorrect blunder. “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill."
The first four points? Bravo, that’s some good contemporary feminism.The last point? So unwoke that the noise it generated on Twitter had the author trending at number one for some time — even just after Donald Trump's impeachment.
The author’s last line constituted her support of one researcher's stance on gender being a real, unchangeable thing — which of course for modern libs, is heresy. Maya Forstater, a researcher for the U.K.s Centre of Global Development was let go earlier this year for her “belief that there are two biological sexes which cannot be changed.” Forstater challenged her former company in court but as Metro.co reported, “employment Judge Tayler ruled that Forstater’s view ‘is incompatible with human dignity and fundamental rights of others."
According to the court’s decision, Forstater was called a “sexual absolutist” and it was ruled that her beliefs on gender were not “protected by the Equality Act 2010.”
Absolute insanity. But such is the scourge of social justice. The ruling was so disgusting that even the woman who retroactively turned Dumbledore gay to appease her LGBTQ fans found limits in her PC code of ethics. And the internet let her have it.
Infamous trans women cycler, Rachel McKinnon, or more accurately, the biological male who won a woman’s cycling championship in 2018 (yeah, cuckoo) blasted Rowling almost immediately. The enraged trans person (who goes by “Dr. Veronica Ivy” on Twitter) took a photo of Rowling’s tweet and condemned it saying, “Just so it's clear, Maya Forstater lost her court case: transphobic hate speech is not protected speech. J.K. Rowling is standing for transphobia. Is she a 'transphobe'? That's for you to decide.I will state the obvious, though: Rowling engaged in transphobic behavior.”
This opened a deluge of rebukes from Twitter progressives angry at Rowling’s insensitivity. One mocked her with her book titles: “Harry potter and the transphobe’s stone” and “Harry potter and the chamber of transphobes.” LGBTQ advocate and “trans-inclusive feminist” Amanda Jette Knox brought her daughter into it, tweeting, “My daughter, who is trans, is a big fan of yours. It breaks my heart to see you post something indicating that discrimination against her is perfectly fine behaviour for an employee.”
Knox added, “the world’s most credible medical orgs affirm trans people. Please catch up.” Far left social justice non-profit Human Rights Campaign also publicly condemned Rowling, while displaying profound ignorance at the same time. It tweeted, “Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. CC: JK Rowling.”
Yes, the left has completely sold out to this lunacy and the fact that someone as previously woke as Rowling is getting heat for this speaks volumes. She can now join the former progressive club that tennis legend Martina Navratilova and comedian Ricky Gervais have been thrown in. | {
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The Chinatown International District (CID) Annual Block Party returns for its third year on Saturday, August 20.
The parking lot underneath the I-5 bridge in the Chinatown District will be transformed into an event space with vendors, luxury cars, food, a beer garden, flash tattoos, and a mainstage with performances running all day long. The organizers of the event hope that hosting the block party in this space will inspire Seattle locals to see the potential to make it a regular community gathering space. It is sure to be an immersive celebration of Asian American music, arts, food, and culture!
The founders of the CID Block Party are Tuyen Than and Ryan Catabay, who also own the creative studio Drag & Drop Creative based in Chinatown-ID.
The CID Block Party organization is comprised of a “coalition of young, progressive Asian and Pacific American members who have a goal of building and changing the community through art, history, business, and social justice, using music as a common ground to build connections,” according to the event site. They organize multiple events per year, highlighting businesses and active members within the Seattle Chinatown International District.
There are several other events that will be going on simultaneously with the CID Block Party on August 20. Event organizers intentionally want attendees to be able to flow between all of these events as they please throughout the day. These events include Celebrate Little Saigon, Hai! Japantown, and the CID Food Walk. And the activities continue well past when the sun sets: The Seattle Asian American Film Festival will be featuring short films celebrating Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage.
View this post on Instagram
This year’s lineup is featuring a stacked lineup of women-identified and non-binary DJs hailing from all over the West Coast. Look for an upcoming feature by DMNW where we interview the headliner, CHYL, an up-and-coming West Coast DJ and music producer.
Check out the set times and artist social media accounts below:
3-4 pm: @djsharadawn sʜᴇ/ʜᴇʀ【 sᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ 】
4-6 pm: @thycups sʜᴇ/ᴛʜᴇʏ【 sᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ/ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ 】
5-6 pm: @ivyt sʜᴇ/ʜᴇʀ【 ʙᴀʏ ᴀʀᴇᴀ 】
6-7 pm @novel_natura ᴛʜᴇʏ/ᴛʜᴇᴍ 【 sᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ 】
7-8 pm: @dj_accia sʜᴇ/ʜᴇʀ【 sᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ 】
8-9 pm: @itschyl sʜᴇ/ʜᴇʀ【 ʟᴏs ᴀɴɢᴇʟᴇs】
The event is scheduled from 3-9 pm, for all ages, and is free. The main stage address is 900 S. King St., Seattle, WA.
Are you attending the CID Block Party? What are you most excited about? Drop a comment below to let us know!
Important things happen in Pacific Northwest nightlife, and DMNW will send you alerts! | {
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29 September 2016
Senator Austin Phillips
The Illinois College campus currently has traditional binary restroom options. As a result, students who do not identify within the constraints of the traditional gender binary are excluded from the status quo of “men” and “women” restroom options on the Illinois College campus.
If any member of the campus community is uncomfortable in their current situation, the promises set forth by the Illinois College Vision Statement are no longer justifiable:
Illinois College will build an international reputation for inspiring achievement and empowering students to make a difference in the world.
If steps towards creating a more inclusive campus are not upheld, Illinois College will not be striving to achieve the fullest extent of “achievement” and “empower[ment]” for which the institution wants to be internationally known.
Current all-gender restrooms on the Illinois College campus are not adequate to provide for the needs of the non-binary community on campus. As a result, students are forced to use gendered restrooms with which they do not identify. The addition of all-gender restrooms, therefore, would be a great convenience to students and an overall benefit to the campus.
The addition of all-gender restrooms will contribute to the promotion of gender equality at Illinois College, and help to educate the campus community about diversity and inclusion even outside the classroom.
The presence of more all-gender restrooms on campus will serve as a valuable educational opportunity. As modern culture evolves, the complexities of sex, gender, and the gender binary are becoming more and more prevalent through social and political discourse, the media, and everyday life. Educating students on these complexities will effectively prepare them for the inevitable, important conversations they will be a part of in their post-graduate lives. It is the responsibility of Illinois College to adequately prepare its students for the “real world,” and it is evident that the “real world” will be full of gender-based discussion. All-gender restrooms provide students with opportunities to learn firsthand about subjects such as bodies, gender and sexual politics, and the harmful restrictions of the patriarchal gender binary – regardless of whether or not those students choose to actively use the all-gender facilities.
In accordance with this resolution, Senators James Hills and Austin Phillips have met with major advocates, involving those in the College’s faculty, staff, and administration that support and endorse this resolution. This includes employees in facilities and the Vice-President of Enrollment Management and College Marketing to acquire an accurate description of past projects to increase the number of all-gender restrooms and how much the cost would be for this resolution.
In addition, students have reached out to individual Student Senators to express their concerns regarding the status quo of the restroom situation on the Illinois College campus.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
Both the ‘men’ and ‘women’ Restrooms on the middle floor, the 100 level, of Kirby will be transitioned to All-Gender restrooms by implementing All-Gender Restroom signs. The amount of $300 was put aside for the purchasing of the signs. From that amount, the (2) signs will be purchased.
The All-Gender Restroom Committee will be tasked with following the resolution in its entirety through any procedural actions taken by the administration of Illinois College. As a result, the resolution will be submitted by President Wadkins to the Illinois College President for review and implementation. | {
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Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles made bold predictions for a post-2012 world of enlightenment and liberation. How close are we to realizing Morrison’s vision?
It’s been over 15 years since the last issue of comic writer and chaos magician Grant Morrison’s magnum opus The Invisibles was released by Vertigo Comics. The Invisibles is the story of how Dane McGowan, a Liverpool hooligan, falls in with a misfit group of freedom fighters in a kitchen sink world of government conspiracies, psychedelics and magick… and soon becomes an anarchist messiah. The comic itself is a bizarre and mind-altering experience, but then, that’s the point—according to Grant Morrison, The Invisibles was meant to be a hypersigil, a living spell made of art that would alter the world to his liking.
The characters and the narrative move around in time, but the furthest the story goes is 2012, once thought to be the date of an apocalypse predicted by the Mayan long-count calendar. While the world didn’t end four years ago (either in a species-wide love fest or enslavement by the nightmarish extra-dimensional cyborgs from the Outer Church), it’s certainly changed. But did Grant Morrison’s predictions and intentions come to pass?
Here’s five areas in which the reality of The Invisibles has come closer to our own.
1. Chaos Magick Becomes a Major Trend
One of the goals of The Invisibles, according to Grant Morrison, was to create more Invisibles, and spread his ideas and interests. Recently, a group of forecasters at New York trend agency K-Hole may have taken this in a direction even Grant Morrison may not have anticipated. K-Hole had originally coined the term Normcore to describe the trend of becoming aggressively boring in order to fit in—an Outer Church philosophy if ever there was one—only to later proclaim that the smorgasbord spirituality of Chaos Magick would be the next thing on the horizon to inform our lives, as well as our fashion choices. The fashion industry (and even K-Hole itself) is incredibly cynical about this notion… however, that it is even a topic of discussion in those spheres at all might make one more inclined to whip up a quick sigil…
2. The Far-Future Technology of The Invisibles is Closer to Reality
A lot of the technology predicted in the series has arrived later than predicted or in a different form, if at all. One of the series leads, Ragged Robin, had an implant that “augmented psychic power,” stating that such things had become common. We aren’t quite there yet, and the few transhumanist pioneers that have experimented with implants are occasionally met with suspicion at best… outright hostility and violence at worst. Nanotech, smart drinks, virtual reality/isolation tank hybrid environments and especially the nanobots that begin to consume the world at one point during the last issue are far from being commercialized, let alone in an advanced enough state to be practical.
While we wait, we do have several things that once required special effects: bionic eyes, tablet PCs, 3D printers. This only scratches the surface of what humanity has achieved in spite of a great deal of our efforts being aimed towards warfare. If our full effort as a species was towards the eradication of social ills, the possibilities would be endless.
3. Genderfluidity Enters Mainstream Awareness
As of his last appearance, the Marquis de Sade was actively trying to create a 3rd gender that would shatter stereotypical roles and perceptions with his fledgling “Non” subculture, that had become mainstream by 2012 in The Invisibles. Like most things about the future in The Invisibles, this falls under “close, but not quite.”
Here in the real 2016, the controversy over gender identity has exploded into the mainstream ever since Caitlyn Jenner came out as a transwoman. Jaden Smith’s genderfluid fashion sense has been the subject of both praise and derision in the media and in comments sections. Yet 2015 saw a record number of transpeople assaulted and killed, proving that we have a long way to go as a species in welcoming and integrating our non-binary gendered brothers and sisters into modern society.
4. Every Man and Every Woman is a (Reality) Star
Grant Morrison posited in the final issue of The Invisibles that the surveillance state would be total, but that the proliferation of cameras would encourage people to act as if they were on a movie set, turning government surveillance into an opportunity for performance art. What wasn’t anticipated by anyone was the rise of YouTubers and Viners. With webcams and smartphones everywhere, it’s never been easier to become famous (or infamous), with or without a police state. Vlogging, Let’s Plays, and other forms of fledgling media have flourished in this new environment. Platforms like YouTube, Twitch.tv and Amazon have democratized the entertainment industry, making it easier than ever to build a following and shine as bright as any celebrity star—and if you get lucky and work it right, a living.
5. Conspiracy Becomes Fact
The Invisibles often suggested that in addition to the sci-fi villainy of the Outer Church, more mundane threats lay just beneath the surface of life on Earth. One especially standout moment occurred in the aftermath of the first Black Science story arc in the comic’s second volume. Lord Fanny recalls the story of how a pharmacist told her that the industry he works in is basically a multi-billion dollar scam. The medicines were designed to keep people sick so that the pharmaceutical companies could make more money. The actions of CEO Martin Shkreli have taken this idea from tinfoil hat territory to the realm of plausibility. Shkreli’s company Turing Pharmaceuticals became notorious last year for hiking up the price of a drug way more than necessary in order to secure more profits for itself. Not long after, similar stories came to light, and now the entire pharmaceutical industry is under the microscope for price gouging.
The Turing scandal is only the latest in an ongoing series of revelations of the abuse of power by the powerful—environmental disasters like the currently ongoing Flint water crisis, Edward Snowden revealing the extent of the American government’s spying, Chelsea Manning exposing of war crimes… the list of examples for trusted institutions being exposed as corrupt worldwide could easily go on. What remains to be seen is if these revelations will make any difference in the face of rampant complacency. There are signs of hope, however, as wave after wave of newly inspired activists continue to resist in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and government transparency.
So… Was Grant Morrison Accurate?
Having looked back, the reality of post 2012 isn’t even close to the reality of the comic’s, aesthetically or technologically. If anything, it looks to be business as usual, with the Outer Church running the show (depending on how cynical you are). However, it would be disingenuous to say that there haven’t been positive changes in the world.
Technology improves in various fields every day, and some of the best parts of science fiction are now a part of our daily lives at a consumer level. Social equality and civil rights have improved, although only by inches instead of the miles we can and should go to. More and more people are being made aware of the abuses of power that keep us in a cycle of planetary and human exploitation because of the internet. It’s always better than you think.
The next time you feel like everything is hopeless, look around you, and remember: This is a rescue mission.
Let’s do our best.
(You can buy the entirety of The Invisibles by Grant Morrison and a giant crew of artists in one giant hardback here.)
All images © Grant Morrison / Time-Warner, Inc. Used for review purposes. | {
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I’ve been co-hosting a speaking group about polyamory in Paris for the past few years, in which we used to organize the debate by writing down speech requests on a piece of paper, and distributing them in order. The groups were between 60 and 100 people in average.
However, you have probably noticed that there’s a tiny pandemic going on. Those meetups had thus to stop without notice, leaving a big void in our social activities. Quickly enough, some of the co-hosts migrated online, on a videoconferencing system that I will not name but which starts with a Z… I don’t know if you have ever attended a videocall with 50 people, but with the latency and the background noises it’s impossible to just have an informal chat. So we tried to recreate the structure we had in our goups, since it worked well for us: speech requests, written down on a list, distributed in order.
We soon had to face a few issues: asking for a turn in this piece of software is not as easy at it sounds. At first we had to watch everybody’s thumbnails to check if somebody was raising their hand, but on large videocalls there can be several pages of thumbnails. Then we told attendees that they could ask for a turn in the text chat, and it just added one more place to look at for us 😉 Then the feature to « raise hand » by clicking a button was added, which works well when you can find it, so not everybody uses it. Once the request has been noticed, we write it down on a Google doc shared between hosts, then we announce the turn and remove the line from the doc. And on top of that, we checked our speaking time counter to avoid monologues.
It works, but it’s quite a bit of work, it requires many pairs of eyes looking at screens and the text chat, etc.
Making life simpler
I thought there was an opportunity to simplify all that with software. The goal would be to allow participants to request a speaking turn, that would automatically be added to a list that hosts could see and reorder. And it would be removed when the turn is over. Oh, and also manage the issue of speech duration, so that we don’t have to handle the counter on the side. And since our counter produces statistics relative to gender, we want to keep that feature in the new app.
Alright, we know what we need to do, we just have to do it. I started writing at the end of year 2020, and after a failed start I’m happy to say that we’ve been using it for 3 meetings, and that it works rather well 🙂
The app is at https://speakinglist.net. You can go create an event, and to simulate participants you can for example open a private browser window or test with other co-hosts. There’s also a how-to page that you can look at.
The admin interface that you’ll end up on when creating an event has been designed to be displayed on a computer, while the participant interface has been designed to be used on a phone. This way the participants can have the videocall on their computer, and in hand a button to request speaking turns. It is also possible to display the participant interface on the computer of course, it’ll work identically.
The fact that participants declare their social categories (gender and race for now, optional and selectable by organizers) allows for the generation of interesting statistics on the distribution of speech between sides of the power structure. It also lets organizers reorder the waiting list to make sure it’s not always the same group of people who speak (hello white males, we see you). By objectively measuring the speaking time, we can realize there’s an issue, which is the first step to solving it. For example, in our groups we have found that even though there are less men present, they usually speak more often and longer than women and non-binary folks in proportion to their number. I have also noticed that when we tell them at the beginning of the event that we measure it and that we’d like them to make an effort, there is less difference. As we say in engineering, « you can’t optimize what you can’t measure ».
It’s Geeky time
For me, writing a program for a non-profit organization is always an opportunity to learn new tech and software libraries that I don’t know yet. Here, the main challenge is real-time. When we give a turn to someone, it has to be instantly reflected in their interface. For that we prefer a push method to a poll method, heavier in resources but more importantly much slower.
In the world of the web, this means websocket, that I never got to play with yet. Yay! 🙂 I took this opportunity to learn a backend framework that natively handles asynchronous operations. I started with FastAPI, that I’ve been wanting to test for a while, and we’ll see later why I didn’t keep it.
I don’t have so many opportunities to test new tech, so I try to cram as many interesting things as I can in them. I’ve also tried GraphQL as the API protocol and I must say I’m very happy with it. On top of it, GraphQL already contains a push mechanism, called subscriptions, which is a very good fit for me. However, FastAPI uses a version of Starlette that does not handle GraphQL’s subscriptions, so I dropped FastAPI to use Starlette directly.
Async is beautiful when it works, but not everything is ready for native async just yet in the Python world. I wanted to use the SQLAlchemy ORM, because the database library that Starlette offers does not do ORM and I do like it. Unfortunately, SQLAlchemy does not handle async yet (it should arrive in the next version, 1.4). So I used it in normal blocking mode, thinking that database connections are pretty fast since they are on the same server. It should all work fiiiiine.
It didn’t. Well, it did until there were more than 5 simultaneous connections, at which point we exhausted SQLAlchemy’s connection pool, which thus blocked the request until connections were freed. And this, in an async mode, never happens: when it’s blocked it’s blocked 🙂 To sum it up, on the first real-world use, the program fell over like a big sea lion drunk on bavarian beer. Should I have stress tested the app? Absolutely.
I more or less worked around it by raising the connection pool to 50 and crossing my fingers hoping there there is never more than 50 simultaneous database requests. I stress-tested it, it works fine with several hundreds of simultaneous users. If we ever do meetups that big, I think we’ll have other problems first. But yeah, I’d be happier when SQLAlchemy handles async natively. Until 1.4 is released, it’ll have to do.
On the frontend side, it’s only classics. React with Customize-CRA, Material-UI and Apollo for GraphQL, all written in Typescript. I must say that I am very pleasantly surprised with Apollo, it allowed me to entirely avoid Redux!
The app is obviously under a Free Software license, the AGPL. The documentation isn’t very detailed but it’s basically composed of an SQL server, the Python web app server Uvicorn (for async), Nginx in front of it all, and Redis in the backend to handle message queuing. The source code is here, and I provide a few configuration examples for deployment.
It now works rather well. Everybody does not use the app during events, but we can manually add reluctant participants and handle their requests like the others on the waiting list. The group seems happy about it, I’m happy about it, I think it’s mature enough to be used by others.
Feel free to tell me what you think of it, here in the comments or by email. If you want to help, I think that the app could use a graphic designer’s skills for a new logo, colors, fonts, etc. It’s currently translated into French and English, but I’m sure the English translation could really be improved. You can also add other languages if you feel like it. I accept contributions in the form of code too, of course, if you can make sense of mine 😉
I am looking for feedback, please tell me if you use it, with which group sizes, and what you think of it. I wish you good videocalls! | {
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Last 27 January I went to two Holocaust Memorial Day events. No I am not Jewish, nor were all the victims of Hitler’s Endlösung “Final Solution”, Mengele’s experiments, and the Nazi Aryan utopian dream – which was a dystopian nightmare for everyone else.
I did however study and teach Hebrew and aspects of Judaism in my past. I also visited the concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen, when I was 15. Today marks the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviets and Holocaust Memorial Day.
One internee at Belsen was Josef Čapek from Czechoslovakia a Cubist painter, cartoonist, writer and playwright. He wrote the utopian play “Land of Many Names” and is credited by his brother as being the first to invent and use the word “robot”. He was critical of Hitler and Nazism and was arrested in 1939. Whilst interned he managed to write “Poems from a Concentration Camp” but died in 1945, shortly before liberation.
Joe Stirling, A Jewish teenage escapee from Nazi Germany, whose parents died in Sobibór concentration camp, lives in Norwich and continues to tell his survival story. Recently published as “Escaping Hitler“, it is a reminder to people of the Nazi Holocaust and the triumph of the human spirit. Joe has led an interesting and fulfilling life since arriving in England and is part of the Human Library project where he regularly regales people of all ages with his wit and wisdom.
Genocide of the different and ‘deviant’
As an LGBTI person and outspoken human rights activist, I could well have ended up in a concentration camp alongside Jews, Slavs, Roma, disabled people and many more. Sexuality, mental health, religious non-comformism, criticism of the state, ethnic origin were all factors that could have had one sent to a concentration camp and/or exterminated by bullet or Zyklon B gas – as hauntingly revisited in Philip K. Dick’s novel and now Amazon series, ‘The Man in the High Castle‘. Yes, Hitler singled out the Jewish race for a very particular and poisonous genocide, but others suffered too.
Many people don’t realise that Romany gypsies, those with mental and physical disabilities, abortionists, Jehovah Witnesses, non-conformist pastors and clergy, certain intellectual opponents, communists, and tens of thousands of homosexuals were sent to concentration camps by the Nazis, of which there over 1000, possibly many times that number spread across occupied countries, at least a dozen of which were extermination camps – to remove Lebensunwertes Leben “life unworthy of life”, especially the Jews.
Hundreds if not thousands of people were experimented on by Mengele, with castration, forced sex change interventions, growth hormones. Those born different, disabled, intersex or twins, were especially targeted for his torturous experiments.
Labelled vice, degenerate, a plague, gay and bisexual men, many of whom were also Jewish, ended up incarcerated, experimented on, castrated, or killed.
“We must exterminate these people (homosexuals) root and branch… We can’t permit such danger to the country; the homosexual must be entirely eliminated.” – Heinrich Himmler
Furthermore, in 1945, they were not released but transferred to civil prisons as their sexuality remained illegal until 1968/9. Paragraph 175 outlawing homosexuality had rarely been enforced until Hitler took power in 1933. Germany only apologised in 2002 to the homosexual community for what happened to them before, during and after the Second World War.
Labeled as Different, less deserving
Pink triangles, like the yellow star of David patch for Jews made by two yellow triangles, were sewn on to the camp clothes of homosexuals, but the same symbol also marked out rapists, paedophiles and other “sexual deviants”.
Black triangles were used for Roma, mentally ill, pacifists, anarchists and more. Later Roma badges were brown. Numerous other groups of people were classified, badged, and interned, or killed.
Fear of difference drives prejudice. This week Trevor Phillips, former EHRC chair, has said that we should accept that British Muslims are “different” from the rest of society, and respect that, others have responded that we should not have to accept their difference.
A memorial, to Jews shot and dumped in the Danube in Budapest, 1945, is a poignant image that is also beginning to symbolise the plight of migrants and refugees from current wars and genocides. “Shoes on the Danube Bank” was created by Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer and shows just the left-behind shoes of the Jewish victims. Empty shoes have come to symbolise both silent protest at the Paris climate conference, and the positive response of communities to asylum seekers by offering shoes, including in Budapest.
Ethnic Cleansing not uniquely Nazi
Sadly, history and Hegel teach us that men and nations learn little and we do end up repeating the mistakes of the past. That is why the Holocaust and other genocides should be remembered. It’s easy to complain about human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing when it’s happening but wisdom is spotting the signs that it is about to happen. That means highlighting the laws and language that begin to scapegoat and marginalise, to discriminate and criminalise based upon sex, gender, faith, health, colour, race and ethnicity.
We can already see it in the political invective against “a bunch of migrants” (David Cameron in PMQs today), Donald Trump and Sarah Palin’s calls for American Muslim expulsion, and in the extremist cleansing by Islamic State of Yazidis, Christians, gays and non-Sharia Muslims. Meanwhile Syria continues its own purge, Turkey, Saudi Arabia subtly try to target Kurds and Shia, Israel treats Arab Israelis and Palestinians as second class.
Remembrance may avoid Repetition
As Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Sadly, most often, history teaches us that we do forget, repeat, and only learn from it after exhausting all other possibilities, as Aldous Huxley, Hegel, George Bernard Shaw and Abba Eban, all said in various ways.
“The most effective way we can combat this intolerance and honour those who survived and those who perished is to call on each other to do what the survivors have already done, to remember and to never forget.” – Steven Spielberg
We need to remember the Nazi Holocaust, Stalin’s similarly large-scale ethnic expulsions in Russia, state eugenics policies, Polpot’s purge in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, or the ethno-religious cleansing policies of ISIS or Boko Haram, and many more genocides and democides besides. It has happened more than once before and could, if not, is, happening again. That is why we remember Holocaust Memorial Day, so as not to repeat.
“First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.” – Pastor Martin Niemoller
With the furore over trans prisoners such as Tara Hudson, a trans woman, being sent to a male prison and her eventual transfer to a female one, another – Vicky Thompson, who took her own life because she was sent to an overcrowded high-suicide risk men’s prison, and another Joanne Latham, two weeks later, it is time to re-address questions of sex/gender policing and segregation in prison. Hudson was sent to prison for violence against a man but presented and identified as female, Latham for two attempted murders and had clear psychiatric issues, as many, especially in women’s prisons do. I did diversity work in HMPs for 5-6 years and was regularly asked what to do with trans prisoners and whether what they were already doing was okay. One HMP had two trans women on the women’s wing, one pre-op one post-op. So they can be flexible. And the 20-30 in UK HMPs is a massive underestimate. I know of dozens and statistically there are probably hundreds.
Prison is an area of mandatory sex/gender segregation based upon the presumption of two sexes and a majority heterosexual population. Separation based upon sex is presumed to aid management, deny sexual privilege, improve safety and risk of sexual and physical violence. All on the basis that men are more likely to harm, harass, or worse, women more than other men. If that is based on size and strength, or merely sex, we should be housing people according to height, weight, and sexuality as well! Where is the protection for gay, lesbian and bisexual, inmates? Trans prisoners, as some intersex prisoners would also, present a binary dilemma.
Inmate violence in US prisons is actually more common between women than between men, up to three times higher for sexual victimisation. What are the facts and myths of gender-based violence and does prison distort them? For instance men are more likely to attempt suicide outside of prison but inside it is women that are more at risk where a higher proportion have mental health issues and concerns.
Where is a safe place to send trans prisoners? In the US they are 50% likely to be raped in prison. Italy has a dedicated trans jail. HMP estimates around 20-30 trans people are in UK prisons but that is likely an underestimate as I’m aware of 10-15 in my local counties.
It is, however, the argument of Germaine Greer and others that women’s spaces need to be kept safe from “men masquerading as women”. The verbal vitriol is almost violent of her anti-trans rhetoric and is something that has led several universities to no-platform her in the name of creating safe trans-inclusive female spaces for students.
What risks are acceptable in the name of free expression (that may contain verbal violence), gender identity, legal sex definition, and how should we balance them with creating safe spaces in universities, DASV/rape crisis support centres, society at large and during incarceration – for all people?
Trans Detention Experience in the USA
“According to a study by University of California Irvine professor Valerie Jenness, more than half of all transgender inmates experience rape. Prison culture also creates an atmosphere where transgender inmates may submit to sexual assault for protection from physical violence – all under the callous indifference of prison authorities.”– The Guardian
“Transgender prisoners are unfathomably at risk for sexual abuse,” Chris Daley, Deputy Executive Director at Just Detention International, an advocacy group that works to end sexual abuse in detention, told VICE News. “It’s a crisis”
“A recent US study said transgender women in male prisons are 13 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than in the general population, with 59 per cent reporting sexual assaults.” – The Independent
“When we are talking about trans people, we are talking about a population who are among the most vulnerable in our prisons,” Rebecca Earlbeck, lawyer representing Sandy Brown.
“Among former state prisoners (US), the rate of inmate-on inmate sexual victimization was at least three times higher for females (13.7%) than males (4.2%)… Following their release from prison, 72% of victims of inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization indicated they felt shame or humiliation, and 56% said they felt guilt.”
Many transgender inmates are placed in “involuntary administrative segregation, which keeps them separated and safe from other inmates.”
“I was forced with no options to be in protective custody, locked down for 23 hours a day,” said Christopher D’Angelo, a transgender male who spent six months in MCSO [Arizona] custody. He likened his detention to solitary confinement. “It just added to my isolation,” D’Angelo said.
Earlier this year, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was looking to relocate around 25 of the nearly 70 transgender women (there are also a half-dozen or so trans men) that it houses on a nightly basis somewhere more permanent and together, incorporating the 2015 revised trans policies that it has been trying to improve since 2009 and 2011. Barely two-thirds of US facilities are even following the 2011 guidelines.
“The transgender detainees will likely be housed in their own area of the women’s facility, but may be allowed to “mingle” with other female detainees, according to ICE officials.”
Whilst the declared trans women detainees may make up just 0.22% of the 34,000 held, they account for 20% of the sexual abuse cases in detention, and that’s the confirmed reported ones – many are not.
“[US] Immigration officials say they have a model facility in Southern California that only houses gay and bisexual men and transgender women. While some 75 transgender detainees are housed across the country every night, the California facility only houses an average of 44 gay, bisexual and transgender individuals at a time.”
A 24-year-old trans woman in Israel is being reasonably housed at the Neveh Tirtzah women’s prison but kept in isolation at night “due to safety concerns.” She was born into an ultra-Orthodox household as male and began transition as a teen but is serving a third prison term for prostitution, theft and assault. She has complained and filed a petition due to her isolation to which the Israeli Prison Service responded:
“In any case in which a prisoner whose identity is not unambiguous, detention is required in isolation and that is out of concern regarding harm to them or prisoners in the vicinity.”
Trans Detention Facilities in Italy
It is thought that Italy has a total of some 60 transgender prisoners but a specialist centre in Tuscany was planned to house about 30 people. The BBC’s Duncan Kennedy, in Rome, said that until now transgender prisoners have been located in women’s prisons where they are often segregated for their own safety. Guards were to undertake special training in how to treat transgender prisoners before the prison block was to open near Empoli, in Tuscany, in March 2010.
“It’s a great idea. It will not be a ghetto but a way to avoid the experience of isolation in ordinary prisons,”said Regina Satariano, the head of the Italian Movement for Transgender Identity.
“…different scenarios share the same conceptual roots: normative binarism and the resulting impossibility of engaging in a political discussion concerning the condition of transgender inmates. Therefore, the second consideration lying at the heart of our study and defining its theoretical and practical framework consists in the necessity of interpreting the complex relations between law and gender, and prison and gender… The condition of transgender inmates globally is evidence of the failure of essentialist policies, grounded on normative binary categories, and the reduction of the social world to the male/female opposition. Employing theory, i.e. critically rethinking the categories of our social space, seems the most logical solution, but logic is not the strong suite of the law (nor of politics). As a result, while legislators envision solely male and female prisoners (and the corollary male and female issues), many correctional institutions are confronted with troublesome ‘specters’ who fail to conform to the legislator’s rational, biopolitical plan…
…Sollicciano is one of the few Italian prisons in which a
tertium genus of incarceration, not provided for by law, has been informally established. The second consideration is the high percentage of non-EU inmates housed in Section D, and the predominance, within this group, of Latin-American inmates, with a significant majority of Brazilians. The last consideration, which lies at the heart of our study and defines its theoretical and practical framework, is the necessity of interpreting the complex relationship between law and gender, and prison and gender. This ‘critical triangle’ defines the object of our study: the theoretical and practical interrelation of law, gender, and rights.”
Trans Detention Experience in the UK
Government estimates of numbers are vastly under-reported. 20-30 is just the tip of the iceberg when there are around 10 in one county alone, to my knowledge, and often 2 or more in each prison, and there are 136 prisons, 82,000 male inmates and 4,000 female inmates. Based upon typical trans statistics that would indicate a few hundred trans inmates, at least. Self-inflicted deaths in custody this year number 43, at least 2 of which were trans, 5% of the total from a population of perhaps 0.5% of inmates (less than 1 in 2000 according to the Government, 0.05%), so at least 10-100x more likely to take one’s life when imprisoned in facilities not matching their gender identity.
Trans and prison reform activists petitioned the Government for over a decade before the PSI 07/2011 Care and Management of Transsexual Prisoners guidance (March 2011) was brought in. I met with prison officers in the few years leading up to that and found that some were taking common sense into their own hands already and in one instance allowing trans women, both pre and post-op, to be moved to the female estate. That, it is not being followed fully 4 years on is a scandal that has led to several high profile deaths in custody.
“Law enforcement officials have a long history of targeting, punishing and criminalising people who do not conform to gender norms. As feminist criminologists have shown, for example, women who fail to conform to femininity norms are often policed and punished more harshly in the criminal justice system than those who adhere more closely to societal gender expectations (Carlen, 1983, 1985; Heidensohn, 1996). Likewise, traditional norms around masculinity and femininity still operate as key modes of discipline, power and regulation within carceral settings (Sim, 1994; Carrabine and Longhurst, 1998; Crewe, 2006). Although the role of gender norms within the penal system is widely recognised, little attention has been paid to their specific impact on transgender people.”
A transgender prisoner was discovered dead in her cell at an all-male prison, the BBC reports. Joanne Latham, 38, serving life for three attempted murders, was found hanging by a prison officer at HMP Woodhill (category A) in Milton Keynes in the early hours of Friday 27 November. That she was a patient at the secure Rampton Hospital in 2011 and in the prison’s Close Supervision Centre (CSC) evidences her mental health issues. She had apparently only publicly identified as female this year.
Transgender woman Tara Hudson was moved from a men’s to women’s prison after protests. She was imprisoned for assaulting a bar manager. She had been living full-time for 6 years as a woman since the age of 20. She was released this week.
Jackie Brooklyn, Tara’s mother said on her release:
“Hopefully she will heal in time, but it will have a lasting effect. There needs to be a change in the law and the way prisons deal with transgender inmates in general. We had a letter from Tara’s doctor confirming that she has lived her whole adult life as a woman, but it was completely ignored. Relying on what a passport says is a silly way to decide where people belong.”
A petition that called for Tara Hudson to serve her sentence in a women’s prison attracted 159,000 signatures. At the same time another petition by Cardiff University SU Women’s Officer, Rachael Melhuish, wanted to no-platform Germaine Greer from speaking due to her transmisogynistic views.
Greer’s view has been labelled as radical by those feminists who embrace intersectionality, but Hudson’s treatment at the hands of the Prison Service shows the opposite. If anything, Greer’s disdain is indicative of how we view transgender people as a society. By denying Hudson the right to serve her time in a female prison, our legal system is entirely aligned with statements from Greer such as “Just because you lop off your penis… it doesn’t make you a woman.” – Ella Griffiths inThe Independent
Prison reform is what is needed as society moves forward to accepting people outside the binary. HMP/MoJ would have the same problems with non-binary people, some intersex people, as well as trans people at varying points in transition. Italy tried to solve the problem with a specialist trans prison unit. America is considering the same. Rather than 23hrs solitary which is cruel and inhuman, care and planning needs to go into how to house people who do not confirm for their safety. Prisoners still have human rights even if some civil rights are suspended. Trans people also need to be able to have the conversation with some feminists that also argue a pre-op trans may present a risk to a female prison population, or even if no risk, still present an issue. Indeed, the trans person may still be at risk there. | {
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