(Source: bellamort-in-wonderland, via adubonearth)

lacigreen:

ZOMGGUISESOCOOL!  Check out this gender neutral toy store that recently opened in London!  

Instead of separating the store into “stuff designed for girls” and “stuff designed for boys”, Harrods Toy Kingdom focuses on “stuff for children”.  Little Riley would be proud.

(via magicfran)

diarrheaworldstarhiphop:

barrier-trio:

whyamiwearingpants:

vastderp:

In which the President of Ireland shows the world how to handle a Tea Partier.

I closed my eyes and just sort of smiled at the utter devastation he left in his wake. Dissed and dismissed.

“the idea of there being a social floor, below which people wouldn’t fall, that’s the future!”

dude i love this

FUCKING DESTROYED

(via thatmogarguy)

ariaonthefloor:

pitted-cherries:

The pictures above are from Project Unbreakable. Project Unbreakable was created in October of 2011 by an amazing woman named Grace Brown. In her own words, Grace “works with survivors of sexual assault, photographing them holding a poster with a quote from their attacker. Grace has photographed over a hundred people, and received over eight hundred submissions.” She has a really wonderful, short video about why she does the work that she does that I encourage you all to watch.

I was so incredibly moved by this project; the first time I stumbled upon it I instantly started crying. I selected a handful of really powerful photos that deeply resonated with me, and that I hope will resonate with others, too.

After some thought, I’ve decided that I want to become a part of this movement and help to shed light on the issue of sexual violence. Particularly, highlighting the fact that most rapes are committed by someone who is at least an acquaintance of the survivor, and I feel that these photos and perpetrator quotes communicate that message very effectively. So, with that said, here is my Project Unbreakable submission:

I’m not in a place yet where I feel comfortable showing my face, and I have to keep reminding myself that there is no shame in that. When I’m ready, I’m ready. And this still feels like a big step for me. I really appreciate Grace and Project Unbreakable for inspiring me to take this risk.

-Sarah

(via 01000110010101010100001101001011)

Hugo Schwyzer says white male privilege is partly to blame for both the location and the scale of the recent Aurora, Colorado movie theater murders.

teachingliteracy:

reginasworld:

Recently The Gordon Parks Foundation discovered over 70 unpublished photographs by Parks at the bottom of an old storage box wrapped in paper and marked as “Segregation Series.” These never before series of images not only give us a glimpse into the everyday life of African Americans during the 50′s but are also in full color, something that is uncommon for photographs from that era.

(via titancia)

thedailywhat:

Mitt Gets Worse Campaign of the Day: Today marks the launch of a new campaign — “Mitt Gets Worse,” a play on the “It Gets Better” project — that accuses GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney of pushing an “extreme anti-LGBT agenda.”

From the Boston Globe:

Launched Wednesday by the Courage Campaign Super PAC and American Bridge 21st Century, [the campaign] is a compilation of video testimonies from people who describe Romney as insensitive and willing to put his political ambitions ahead of equality. The campaign’s website also features video of Romney discussing LGBT rights as far back as 1994, when he ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate.

If elected president, the Super PACs suggest, Romney would roll back protections for LGBT citizens — perhaps pushing for a federal ban on gay marriage, which he supports; defending the Defense of Marriage Act in court, which the Justice Department has ceased to do under Obama; and undermining the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

[towleroad]

(Source: thedailywhat)

Those of us who have worked in the service industry are very familiar with the 10-5 rule. This favorite of overzealous managers, inserted into every training session and employee handbook states that at 10 feet you make eye contact with a guest or customer, and at 5 feet you acknowledge them.

(Source: cartoonpolitics, via iwriteaboutfeminism)

As the name of this blog suggests, I try to be as conscious of my actions as I can possibly be. That said, it has been a while since I took complete stock of my shopping habits in order to gauge the impact I make on the social politics that affect my surroundings.

I began by looking up how certain clothing retailers fair on the Human Rights Campaign’s radar. You can do this too by looking up your favorite brands on this site:

http://www.hrc.org/apps/buyersguide/ranking.php?category=1219

While researching the brands I shopped, I discovered that I’m doing pretty good although I need to reconsider shopping at certain places. My most frequented shops seem to really put Human Rights at the forefront, so I was pretty pleased with my findings. These shops included:

• Gap
• Nike
• Macy’s
• Target

All the above brands score an 85% or higher (and in Nike’s case is even partnered with the HRC). On the other hand, the following stores scored poorly, and I’m glad I don’t shop there often but I really need not to shopping there at all. They include:

• H&M
• American Apparel
• VF brand- which owns Vans
• Urban Outfitters

I was ridiculously disappointed in the VF brand, as I am a loyal Vans shoe buyer who now has to look at alternatives. As for American Apparel and H&M, both offer protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation but offer no benefits to domestic partners or transgender individuals. Now Urban Outfitters is another story. No self respecting minority should be shopping at this overpriced retailer as they actively donate money and support campaigns that aim to take away basic human rights from minorities. Plus you can find their items for much less at any recyclable fashion retailer.

As far as food and beverage goes, it was pretty much A+ throughout the board. My favorite brands support equality and include:

• Diageo- which owns Jack Daniels (:D), Smirnoff and Bailey’s.
• Starbucks- which owns my soul and tastebuds
• Safeway
• MillerCoors- which owns Blue Moon

I did find one brand I frequented quite a bit before actually caring about my health. It turns out Hostess does not have Human Rights on their mind. Guess it makes sense for a company who created the Twinkie, and thereby the “Twinkie Defense,” which Harvey Milk’s killer used to have his sentenced lightened.

As for all the other companies that have a hold on my wallet, I was delighted to find they have their philosophies in the right place.

• Barnes & Noble
• Limited Brands- Which owns Bath & Body works
• ebay (!!!)
• Gamestop

I was a bit upset and surprised to find two of my favorite companies on the negative side of the spectrum.

• Trader Joe’s
• Michael’s

Considering the customer for these two companies is most likely a creative and socially aware person, it caught me off guard that they don’t prioritize equality in their bylaws. Guess I won’t be having as much tomato-less salsa or paying way too much for crafting supplies anymore.

With election season within reach, we must seriously contemplate on how our money is used against us and make the right decisions when making purchases. So before you reach for that $20 Urban Outfitters tank top, ask yourself, “Are my rights really worth this purchase?”

How does your consumer dollar affect society. Drop something in my box letting me know how you feel and where you stand.

-Dignifiedroadkill

tyleroakley:

folkinz:

“So, like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, “What about the strain on our resources?” Well, it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. ‘cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. I was, like, totally buggin.’ I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion, may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.” - Cher Horowitz

If you don’t have this memorized, your priorities are messed up.

blackfeminismlives:

Yet another reason that I love Aretha Franklin.

Source: Jet Magazine (Dec 3, 1970)

(Source: vintageblack2, via sister-bell)

Had an argument with my boss today about white privilege. She really didn’t understand the concept and was set on believing that being a woman countered being white and hence had no real privilege. I was too tired to continue the conversation, plus I figure I have a whole lot of time to educate her on being socially conscious.

(via stopracismandhomophobiaongrindr)

Basically sums up my thoughts when anyone mentions that someone else can pass for straight or mentions anything about or related to the term “straight acting.” That mindset is ridiculous.

(Source: endracismandhomophobia, via adubonearth)

blackgirldangerous:

by Mia McKenzie

(Read: Resistance Is the Secret of Queer Joy)

I have been thinking and talking a lot lately about the politics of desirability. In particular, the way that some white queer allies move through QPOC spaces, dating every brown queer they can get their hands on, almost always…