he was injured. he was injured bad.
“Feminism is not, and never has been, about putting in place “a prescriptive matriarchy that discounts the idea of individual choice”, and Levenson’s rhetoric reinforces rather than debunks that tired myth. But more importantly, Levenson has entirely misunderstood what is meant by ‘patriarchy’. Patriarchy is not a society “run by men to the detriment of women”. Patriarchy is a society run by patriarchs - generally older, rich, almost exclusively white people who are almost always men - to the detriment of absolutely everyone else. Fighting patriarchy is not the same as fighting men: in fact, men have just as much reason to oppose patriarchy as women. Feminists believe that overthrowing patriarchy is achievable, at least in part, because it will involve the emancipation of all citizens from social and gender norms, and every tiny act of self-liberation we achieve hurts patriarchy where it is powerful. This basic misunderstanding warps the premise of Levenson’s entire book, and does a disservice to generations of pioneering feminists, including her own.”
Dae’von Bailey, a 6-year-old black child, died July 23. His injuries suggested blows or other trauma over an extended period of time, said Lt. Vincent Neglia of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Abused Child Section. Police are searching for the boy’s stepfather, Marcas Fisher, 36, as a “person of interest” in the case. Dae’von’s death appears to fit a pattern in which children have been killed after their cases had come to the attention of county child welfare officials. (latimes)
Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services said Thursday that it would increase administrative oversight of child abuse investigations, review hundreds of past cases and provide more training to social workers and managers as officials deal with public outrage over the beating death of a 6-year-old boy last week. (latimes)
Sacramento, CA - Child welfare programs in counties across California are losing $80 million in state funding as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger used his line-item veto power to balance the state budget. The county-run Child Welfare Services programs respond to reports of abuse and neglect. “Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today sent a clear message to the abused and neglected children of California: Please take a number,” said Frank Mecca, executive director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California. (ABCsacramento)
so if there’s not enough resources at child welfare services, kids get beaten over an extended period of time and end up dead. and this was happening even before schwarzenegger’s latest cuts. maybe we should put this photo in his office.
ChadI still can’t believe Angelina said that this role was the only time she’s found him unattractive. I don’t know how, I thought Chad would be great to snuggle.
This is my absolute favorite Pitt role.
Harvey Milk to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama plans to award America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Harvey Milk, one of the country’s first openly gay elected officials. The award will be accepted at a White House ceremony August 12 by Stuart Milk, the nephew of the late San Francisco Supervisor and civil rights activist.
…
American tennis great Billy Jean King, who is openly lesbian, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, who has championed LGBT equality throughout his political career, also will receive the Presidential Medal of Honor at the August 12 ceremony.(via rendit: via notthatkindagay)
I heard this news this morning, and throughout the day it’s been sinking in for me just how much this matters and how much it affects me. Also on the list of those to receive such an award this year is Desmond Tutu. (Whom I LOVE!) So that’s the type of list we’re talking about here.
This is no small thing. And yes, President Obama still needs to take leadership on many policy issues, and yes, this is, in part, a symbolic gesture, but by no means an insignificant one. LGBT people may not yet be equal citizens in the eyes of the law, but a brave, hysterical, honest, opera-loving, very human man, who knew he was risking his life, has had his story turned into an award winning movie that educated the nation about his work, and is now being honored with the highest award the President of the United States can give.
I have sat often, quite recently, in the office where this man was murdered. A lesbian now inhabits the office (a woman mentored by one of the men Harvey mentored and who played a large role in my politicization and understanding of my role as a lesbian with political responsibility), and we have our present day long conversations about this or that political implication or work we are doing and choices we make about our lives. (Note to self: OMG there’s so a play waiting to be written about our conversations in that office and the presence of Harvey’s ghost listening to all that we talk about and weighing in with his unique thoughts and humor! If only I had the time to get on that right now! Further note to self: Write that play in fifteen years or so.)
The chain and the process continues over all these years, through the work Harvey started. But back, not too many years ago, Harvey was just a gay man with a lot of chutzpah, who went to work every day on the streets and inside San Francisco’s City Hall. He died penniless, and not well known outside of San Francisco, and now he continues to be written into the highest levels of historical recognition and appreciation. I would say Harvey has done a damn more impressive job of “giving us hope” than he ever could have imagined he would.
Africa by Perpetuum Jazzile
originally by Toto
(posted by bunkercomplex)
(With an a capella rainstorm intro)
Politico has the scoop on tonight’s event: “It was splashy affair, held under the chandelier glint of the Grand Foyer, replete with champagne and the music of the Marine String Ensemble. Musicians performed a handful of light jazz songs including Shadow of Your Smile and Come Back to Sorrento.” (via Mrs.O)
Just absolutely gorgeous…
30 second video to brighten your day/night.
866-4-U-TREVOR
Know an LGBTQ youth who is at risk for suicide?
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. If you or a friend are feeling lost or alone, call The Trevor Helpline. There is hope, there is help.
Are you all signed up to get the daily, always awesome (although, actually, not always daily) emails from the fab new blog The Awl? Well, you should be. Particularly on days like today, when such an email (entitled: ‘Oh my God, nothing works anywhere’) starts with: “Oh hello, friend! Happy Wednesday. Things just aren’t going well for me. Something is in retrograde somewhere.”
Because, true! And I don’t know what’s in retrograde where, but something somewhere seriously is, and it needs to stop.
And so, above is a new video of some of my favorite musician peoples, the Ghost Gamblers, who have a new EP coming out soon. The main singer mujer of fabulousness and fro is one of my standby peoples in life to turn to when stuff gets retrograde-y feeling. (Love you, K!) So I figured I’d share her with you all in virtual and musicial form, so you too can benefit from her magic retrograde righting powers. Oh, this week!
An EP from the Ghost Gamblers?! What’s the release date so I can count the days!
