Lost Grrrls

Congressman Maintains It Should Be Legal To Fire Someone For Being Gay

Sun, 27 May 2012 16:56:00 -0600

Congressman Maintains It Should Be Legal To Fire Someone For Being Gay:

The crux of his argument is that being gay is a choice - and something a person can change - and that therefore that person should not be protected from workplace discrimination.

Now, despite the fact that “being gay is a choice” is a ridiculously stupid and untrue statement, I’m going to go with that point for argument’s sake and ask the logical follow-ups to that question:

Congressman, why do you think it should be legal to discriminate or fire someone from their workplace for what they choose to do in their private sex life? Should employers be able to discriminate or fire someone for engaging in premarital sex? What about for non-engagement, aka chastity? How far should an employer go to gather evidence for these accusations of personal sexual activity?

The non-argument of the choice of personal sexuality aside, why do you think it’s a viable argument that your employer should be able to have any say or control of your personal life outside of the workplace? Does this extend to all aspects of someone’s relationship? Can you be fired because your boss thinks your dating the wrong person? Or dating a black guy? What about religion - that’s a choice too. Can you be fired for being - oh, I don’t know - Christian?

If anything, I think you’re making an even dumber and less sensical argument to try and cover up your own biases.

I’m serious though; I’d like answers to the above, because they’re the only logical extensions of his argument, and if he’s actually being honest here, it’s perhaps even more disturbing than him just being a homophobic jackass.

Photo

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:55:37 -0600

Let's have a chat, kiddos

Sat, 26 May 2012 16:56:56 -0600

rabbleprochoice:

There is not a single popular thing that isn’t problematic. You would be hard pressed to find a celebrity, television show, piece of music, or book that doesn’t have some kind of problem with it.

Harry Potter is a great book series that teaches kids about friendship, love, sacrifice and courage and I could talk about how awesome it is and how big of a fan I am of it for weeks. But there is some serious slut-shaming in that book and the treatment of the characters of color is something that deserves the critique it gets.

But you are allowed to like things that are problematic.

If you weren’t, none of us would be allowed to like or enjoy anything and having the joy slowly sucked out of life is not the way to do social justice.

The key is to recognize when the problematic things occur and to reject them rather than defend them.

A lot of people like Glee but it’s recent missteps with a trans character introduced to the show regarding pronouns and the constant Asian stereotypes being applied to Mike and Tina are some serious issues that deserve to be looked at and subsequently rejected by fans. Glee is actually very problematic in many ways.

I can like Dane Cook for his bit about how using rape to describe winning at a video game is not okay and also recognize that he has said a lot of problematic shit and probably also plagiarized jokes. I can do two things at once. I am capable of that and so are all of you.

The fact that I enjoy that Dane Cook is talking about how rape shouldn’t be used to describe doing well at something shouldn’t be used to assume that I like everything he’s ever said and I’m confused as to why anyone would feel comfortable assuming such a thing.

Now, if I defended George Carlin’s bit about how rape is funny, then you can judge my moral character all you want because that’s obviously problematic, but I didn’t because I don’t agree with him about that and I find that bit to be quite disgusting (which is why I didn’t quote it). But bringing that up also wasn’t relevant to the quote I was talking about.

Assuming that someone likes or agrees with everything someone has ever said, ever (or even that they like the person, show, etc. that it originated from), is a really all-or-nothing way to look at things, I think. For one, someone might not even be aware that a celebrity they like has said something problematic 15 years ago if they just started liking them a few months ago and I think it’s presumptive to assume they are aware of it but I guess that could just be my tendency to give people the benefit of the doubt.

People can appreciate things from sources that they don’t like; it doesn’t have to mean they like said source or think they/it is awesome, they merely like whatever it is they liked from it.

Just because I like the color purple doesn’t mean I have to like every single thing that has ever been purple, ever.

George Carlin has appeared on this blog before, but it’s always been a quote from that bit, specifically. And there’s a reason why it’s only always been that bit: probably because that’s the only thing we liked from George Carlin…

Love,

Rabble

I’m dying for more nuanced understanding of the world from people who stand for social justice and, for the most part, share my values. I don’t know if it’s that people are just lazy and don’t want to think about complex ideas (someone prove me wrong here, but I’m beginning to worry that’s it), but it’s always nice to come across posts that understand that any and all of these issues are complicated and need to be approached as such.

Kickstarter: National Debt

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:59:17 -0600

meganamram:

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Hi you guys! Joe Biden and the rest of the gang here! :) We’re looking for some awesome people to help us Kickstart our dream project of having a functioning federal government! That’s where you come in: all we’re asking for is a little help. And twenty trillion dollars.

As you may know, we (the United States government) are a little strapped for cash. Salvage a first-world government’s economy? In this economy?! As the kids say, “LOL!” (Laugh On Line!) We may be the ones responsible for “this economy” in the first place but still. Uncle Sam may have gotten us into this mess, but WE WANT YOU…to GET US OUT!

There is little if any funding available for small-to-midsize debt-based projects such as this. Through Kickstarter, with your support, the country that you live in can remain a free sovereign nation instead of having to sell Ohio to China, cause then Ohio would probably start speaking Chinese, and that’s FUCKED UP.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

For those of you who don’t know, the USA is the best! Originally from England, the United States government has been a major world power since it was founded in 1776. The U.S. has brought you such great things such as sugar, mistresses, and obesity. Proud home to milk and Ashton Kutcher. Really into righteous wars!

For those of you into civil rights: no slavery! For those of you into slavery: we used to have slavery!

Imagine that famous picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated of Terri Schiavo holding an American flag. That’s our flag! On second thought, I think that was a painting I did in 2004 after doing grass for one of the first times. Still, she looks great in a tankini. As the kids say, “LOL!” (LOL A Lot!)

THE PROJECT:

We’d like the United States to be fiscally autonomous. It’s been in the works for many years now, and we think it could be great. Thanks to Kickstarter, we have a chance to reach individuals who will personally bail us out of this mess. How great, for us!

I know it’s a crazy dream, but hey – this is a country of dreamers. Dreamers, and Christians.

HELP US, BACKERS, YOU’RE OUR ONLY HOPE!:

Just a little Star Wards humor for ya!

“LOL!”:

Live A Little! Give A Lot (“GOL”)!

PLEASE PLEDGE!:

We’ve tried pretty much everything else at this point: war, selling some cars, literally making more money (you’d think that would work!!), blaming people, blaming gay “people,” war, and debt. None of that has touched the debt. Except debt, which has made the debt worse. Also, war!

If we’re able to meet our Kickstarter goal, you will have literally been part of a miracle. A miracle in the great Judeo-Christian tradition of this fair country. Of dreamers!

*

BACK THIS PROJECT

PLEDGE $10 OR MORE

For your fairly useless donation to help the United States of America not founder under the multi-trillion dollar debt that we have amassed over decades of misspending and unnecessary wars that some may argue constitute war crimes, you get a tote.

PLEDGE $20 OR MORE

If you donate $20, we will list you as an associate producer of the Government by carving your name into the Vietnam War Memorial. You can tell all your friends you’re a ghost because you died in the Vietnam War! You know – the righteous one!

PLEDGE $25 OR MORE

I didn’t want to say this to the $20 people, but those guys are assholes. What kind of an asshole only donates $20 to a multitrillion dollar debt that is growing by 4 billion every day and has no sign of slowing? $25, now that’s the MONEY-money! If you donate $25, you get a tote (large).

PLEDGE $50 OR MORE

You’ve finally taken the responsibility of the country into your own hands! I will make you a tie-dye t-shirt and cook you and five of your friends a hot dog BBQ at my gf’s place. I date her for her BBQ pit.* She’s like a 4. But she’s got a sweet pit. *I call her vagina her “BBQ Pit.”

PLEDGE $100 OR MORE

If you pledge $100, which so far only my mom has done and Barack’s mother-in-law has done (let’s get on this, people), you will not only receive Special Thanks in the State of the Union as well as on the back of all nickels minted this year at the Denver mint, but Stephanie, our videographer, will take you to a Foster the People (“FOPOL”) cover band (“Foster!”) concert on October 28th, and yes, you can tell people it’s a date. This concert’s going to be great! They’re going to play “Pumped Up Kicks” 14 times and then, maybe if you clap enough, they’ll do an encore and it will be “Pumped Up Kicks”!!!

PLEDGE $100,000 OR MORE

Well HEY there, Mr. Hollywood producer!! A pledge of one hundred thousand dollars or more will get you a walk-on role in the next meeting of Congress. Your vote for bills and propositions will be legally binding, so have fun! Don’t name any public parks after racial slurs!

PLEDGE $1,000,000 OR MORE

Here’s Louisiana.

PLEDGE $1,000,000,000 OR MORE

We will change the American Flag!! We will replace each star with your face. Unless you’re black, since the stars are white and it really makes sense for them to be as close to white as possible. Though, if you’re giving a billion dollars, we’ll assume you’re white or maybe a Dubaian light brown!!!!!!!

PLEDGE $1,000,000,050 OR MORE

Everything from the $1,000,000,000 level, plus a tote.

PLEDGE $1,000,000,000,000 OR MORE

Start whatever war you want!! You want a new Civil War where Asians have to fight their brown Asian brothers???? You got it, bucko!!!! Hate crime Pollacks? A PLUS+++. You want to take over Ireland? Those Pollacks haven’t done anything in years. JUST want to kill Disney Channel kid stars?!? THAT’S PRACTICALLY LEGAL ALREADY! Kill a girl. Kill a kid. You got it.

PLEDGE $20,000,000,000,000 OR MORE

Kill so many kids. (KOL!)

I heard about this a while ago, but I didn’t bother to look into it… As ridiculous(ly awesome) as I imagined.

thedailywhat: Weekend Read: Comic book writer and novelist Greg...

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:14:12 -0600

thedailywhat:

Weekend Read: Comic book writer and novelist Greg Rucka (Stumptown, Queen and Country) answers a frequently asked question in an incisive essay for io9 entitled “Why I Write ‘Strong Female Characters’”.

The entire piece is well worth a read, but here’s the key passage:

Writers don’t write Men or Women or Dogs or Salmon. Writers write characters, and at our best, if we do it well and with care and with thought, we invest in those characters a spark of life, a realism and nuance that makes them believable and relatable.

Rucka also questions why journalists don’t tend to ask female writers how they write “strong female characters,” and why more male writers don’t do the research about their female characters, the way they would with any other character whose experience differs from their own.

[io9]

Can’t say I’m familiar with his work but the last sentence… Oh my god.

"We’ll probably never know how many women inventors there were. That’s because in the early years of..."

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:25 -0600

“

We’ll probably never know how many women inventors there were. That’s because in the early years of the United States, a woman could not get a patent in her own name. A patent is considered a kind of property, and until the late 1800s laws forbade women in most states from owning property or entering into legal agreements in their own names. Instead, a woman’s property would be in the name of her father or husband.

For example, many people believe that Sybilla Masters was the first American woman inventor. In 1712 she developed a new corn mill, but was denied a patent because she was a woman. Three years later the patent was filed successfully in her husband’s name.

”

- FactMonster.com (via stfuconservatives)

This is why we dismantle systematically.

(via meganwest)

rabbleprochoice: face-down-asgard-up: michelle-my-belle: kysst...

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:56:24 -0600

rabbleprochoice:

face-down-asgard-up:

michelle-my-belle:

kyssthis16:

ambelle:

youonlyliveonce92:

fothermucker:

thelilnan:

expertcosmotips:

actual idea from cosmopolitan magazine

….. wut?

Cosmo take several seats.

…

Why are you tryna ruin delicious foods, Cosmo? Why are you tryna hurt me!?!??!

dicks and donuts are quite good on their own. no need to combine the two.

omg why would you ever fucking do this

Cosmo, step into my office.

Sugar + genitals = BAD.

STOP RECOMMENDING PEOPLE HAVE SUGARY THINGS COME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THEIR GENITALS. JUST STOP.

Kthnx.

Love,

Rabble

Again, Cosmo?

Please, just stop.

"We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re..."

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:01:07 -0600

“We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re in control of her body? If I teach her that I’m in charge of whether or not she can touch her hair, she’s going to replace me with some other man when she goes out in the world. She can’t cut my hair but that’s her hair. She has got to have command of her body. So when she goes out into the world, she’s going out with a command that it is hers. She is used to making those decisions herself. We try to keep giving them those decisions until they can hold the full weight of their lives.””

- (On why he let Willow cut all of her hair off)

Read more: Will Smith On Allowing Willow To Cut Her Hair: ‘She Has Got To Have Command Of Her Body’ | Necole Bitchie.com

- He raises a really great point. What would it mean to believe very early that my body was mine. That it’s not for anyone or for any particular purpose other than to be mine until I decide otherwise.

(via larepublicadedet)

I was damned near 30 before I could believe my body belonged to me & me alone. Dear people who take an issue with this,

Let the Smiths do right by their babies & shut the fuck up about how you think they should parent.

(via karnythia)

This is awesome.

I am feeling the urge, however, to make a snarky comment asking whether or not they’re raising her to follow scientology. Shhh.

(via viviopsis)

So I JUST got my hair cut a few hours ago and was talking with my stylist about how excited I am to be seeing Men In Black 3 tonight, and we were both shocked he doesn’t look like he’s aged at all since the first movie 15 years ago. So then, of course, I had to joke that it’s thanks to scientology.

Seriously though, respect for his attitude about letting his daughter have autonomy.

That moment when you think, "No way this is real. It has to be an Onion article." And you find out it's both (as in it's from the AV Club, their non-satire half).

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:01:00 -0600

That moment when you think, "No way this is real. It has to be an Onion article." And you find out it's both (as in it's from the AV Club, their non-satire half).:

This is pathetic…

Both Buzzfeed and Jezebel are on the story, which involves [Brad] Fischetti [of LFO] spending hours upon hours praying, taking photos, and yelling at patients outside the Orlando Women’s Center. He posts names of patients and staff, and tweets about how many people go in and out of the center on a given day, including about when patients are sitting in their car, or as he calls it, are “in the valley of decision.”

Man, I’d love to write something vindictive here (our paths crossed in some ways in my old life) but I just have no words.

Seriously.

Pathetic.

rabbleprochoice: occupyallstreets: Pharmacists And Doctors In...

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:01:37 -0600

rabbleprochoice:

occupyallstreets:

Pharmacists And Doctors In Kansas Can Now Deny Women Access To Birth Control And Chemotherapy

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed a bill yesterday that will allow pharmacists in the state to refuse to fill a prescription they think could be used to induce abortion. But since the “conscience” measure says they cannot be required to provide a drug or devise that they think “may result in the termination of a pregnancy” — but does not define which drug in particular — the law’s opponents say it could allow a pharmacist to interfere with a woman’s health care by refusing to distribute birth control or emergency contraception.

Women who already have difficulty obtaining contraception may face additional hurdles, according to Julie Burkhart, founder of an abortion-rights group in Wichita, Kansas:

Burkhart said the law could create a hardship for women in small towns with a sole pharmacist who may refuse to fill certain prescriptions. In larger cities, women will have to make sure they go to a cooperative pharmacist, she added.

“Women should not have to go armed with a lot of research when looking for a physician or pharmacist in the community,” Burkhart said.

No pharmacist could be fired for refusing to fill such prescriptions, and doctors can refuse to refer patients to pharmacists who would fill a birth control prescription.

Additionally, the Associated Press had reported that the law could “allow a doctor to refuse to provide chemotherapy to a pregnant cancer patient because it might end her pregnancy.”

Brownback’s office justified his signing by saying the bill “gives more legal protection to Kansas health care providers who refuse to participate in abortions” based on their conscience. Kansas already had a law that allowed medical professionals to refuse to assist in abortion procedures.

While Kansas lawmakers failed to pass a sweeping anti-abortion bill that would have required doctors to give false information to their patients, the expanded “conscience” law is just one of several laws recently approved in the state that undermine women’s health and well being.

Source

Another day. Another roll back on reproductive rights.

Love,

Rabble

Livid.

roadsidelions: katydidnot: dear internet, let me tell you some...

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:01:03 -0600

roadsidelions:

katydidnot:

dear internet, let me tell you some things about my public-school-in-georgia sex education.

pictured above is my abstinence til marriage card, given to me in my eighth grade health class. as you can see, i did not sign it, so it is non-binding. they were “optional” but the teacher placed the basket at the front of the class and stared us down. my 13-year-old self had a very brief dilemma between 1. making a stand and not getting one or 2. getting one because it’s fucking hilarious. i am very glad i chose the latter, because as i predicted, this is now something hilarious to show everyone.

that year in health we also learned “how to spot the identifying features of a crack baby” which is literally nothing but lies. we had a system of anonymous questions, and once someone asked “how do i know if i’m a lesbian?” our teacher looked disgusted and she replied “how would i know? i’m not a lesbian!”

EDIT i forgot to mention when she gave these to us she suggested we “cut up our cards together with our husbands on our wedding day” and i remember thinking, fuck if i marry someone from my middle school

the next time i had sex ed in high school it was taught by a dude gym coach who spent the whole time talking about his daughters. the book we were learning from listed “low self-esteem” “stunted social growth” and “depression,” among others, as consequences of premarital sex. at one point, it asked us to fill in the disadvantages of having an abortion. our teacher went, “well, i’m personally against abortion, so we’re just going to skip this section,” which confused me, because it was explicitly asking for an argument against abortion.

the last time i had sex ed it was pretty good and there were free condoms and we got little bottles of lube every time we answered questions, but i don’t think that counts cause it was in an intro to women’s studies class.

Oh my god. In my 8th grade Australian public school sex ed class, every boy and girl was given a banana and a condom and we had to practice putting it on correctly.

Rachel Maddow: Obama declaration ‘icing on the cake’...

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:02:07 -0600

Rachel Maddow: Obama declaration ‘icing on the cake’ of legacy advancing gay rights

jerfrey: FDA panel recommends approving home HIV test Consumers...

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:23:22 -0600

jerfrey:

FDA panel recommends approving home HIV test

Consumers may soon be able to test themselves for HIV and quickly learn the results in the privacy of their own homes following a unanimous approval recommendation from a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Tuesday.

The panel said the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test should be made available over-the-counter (OTC) saying the test is safe and effective and that the benefits far outweigh the potential risks.

If approved by the FDA, the test will be the first OTC test to be marketed for HIV or any infectious disease. FDA advisory committee recommendations are not binding, but they are generally followed.

An estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. One in five of those are unaware of their HIV status. And about 50,000 new cases of HIV are reported each year.

As awesome as the anonymity aspect is, the lack of counseling could potentially create serious problems when someone gets a positive…

sexreeducated: About TheyFit: Custom Fit...

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:01:09 -0600

sexreeducated:

About TheyFit: Custom Fit Condoms

Revolutionising the condom industry. Our company has developed 95 different sizes of custom fit condom - because a better fit means better sex.

It has taken more than 15 years of research and development to perfect our range of sizes but the results speak for themselves - 93% of customers rate TheyFit as better than other condoms they have used and 98% would recommend TheyFit to a friend.

TheyFit condoms are pre-lubricated, colourless and odourless. Our condoms meet the strict safety requirements of the CE mark and our state of the art manufacturing facility produces over one billion high quality condoms every year.

For discretion and privacy, TheyFit custom fit condoms have randomised, removable size codes and all TheyFit orders are dispatched under plain cover.There are no markings to indicate that your package contains condoms, or that the sender is TheyFit.

All TheyFit custom fit condoms come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely happy with your purchase just let us know and we will refund you in full.

Take a look just how custom our fit is here.

When you’re ready, download a FitKit, measure up and buy your custom fit condoms today!

(Disclaimer: The above image features 5 of the 55 condoms available at condomania. However, TheyFit has 95 sizes available via their website)

I read something a while ago about a Japanese company that’s been doing this for years, but it blows my mind that we have such a rudimentary approach to condoms in the states. Everyone’s more concerned with “ribs” and “studs” (which, can I just say? actually hurt) and less with fit which makes it not only more pleasurable, but also more effective.

mellorstrummer: Ted: Hey, are you a freshwoman? I never use the...

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:01:27 -0600

mellorstrummer:

Ted: Hey, are you a freshwoman? I never use the word ‘freshman’. Sexist.

jumpstart-therevolution: How you can use your white...

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:22:49 -0600

jumpstart-therevolution:

How you can use your white privilege.

Nothing Nice To Say

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:26:47 -0600

Nothing Nice To Say

quixotess: blackamazon: nudiemuse: searchingforknowledge: inv...

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:22:58 -0600

quixotess:

blackamazon:

nudiemuse:

searchingforknowledge:

invisibleblackunicorn:

zoezoloft:

If I was that girl, I woulda smacked the ginger off that little boy. She said no!

She is letting him know she aint gonna take any of that patriarchal men-are-entitled-to-unlimited-access-to-women’s-bodies mess.

what the fuck? BOY BACK OFF HER

I am STILL that kind of little girl.

Can I say I love this little girl for standing strong

But I kind of wanna punch all the adults who watched like this hsit is cute.

She said no.

He needs to learn to respect that

Agreed…if adults were present, watching this and laughing, that’s exactly how the boy is going to learn that it’s cute, and it’s how the girl is going to learn that nobody’s going to back her up when a boy is grabbing her. It’s the adult reactions that really gender this situation.

And people wonder why we have a problem with creepy people who ignore signals and “no”s, and rape culture? This is social conditioning on display, right here, from a very young age.

"Slut” is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “yes”. “Friendzone” is how we vilify..."

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:01:13 -0600

““Slut” is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “yes”. “Friendzone” is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “no”.”

- (via buildingmosaicsoutoflife)

Browsing your blog, I've seen the word "cissexist" several times, and I'm not entirely sure what that means. ^^; Do you care to explain?

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:08:00 -0600

Absolutely.

Basically, it’s just privileging cis people (ie, people who were born in bodies that align with their genders) over trans people (whose bodies don’t align with their genders).

Similar to the term “transphobic,” but meant to get more at the hatred involved there, where as “phobic” tends to imply some irrational fear of trans people, as a phobia is a legitimate psychological condition, and irrational hatred toward any group of people should not qualify as such. (The same logic applies when people use “heterosexist” instead of “homophobic.”) In my opinion, it also describes people who don’t necessarily hate people who are transgender, but who still do or say really problematic things that don’t take trans folks’ lives and experiences into account.

Hope that helped… if not, go ahead and send me another ask and I can try to elaborate more. :)

Lost Grrrls

Congressman Maintains It Should Be Legal To Fire Someone For Being Gay

Photo

Let's have a chat, kiddos

Kickstarter: National Debt

thedailywhat: Weekend Read: Comic book writer and novelist Greg...

"We’ll probably never know how many women inventors there were. That’s because in the early years of..."

rabbleprochoice: face-down-asgard-up: michelle-my-belle: kysst...

"We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re..."

That moment when you think, "No way this is real. It has to be an Onion article." And you find out it's both (as in it's from the AV Club, their non-satire half).

rabbleprochoice: occupyallstreets: Pharmacists And Doctors In...

roadsidelions: katydidnot: dear internet, let me tell you some...

Rachel Maddow: Obama declaration ‘icing on the cake’...

jerfrey: FDA panel recommends approving home HIV test Consumers...

sexreeducated: About TheyFit: Custom Fit...

About TheyFit: Custom Fit Condoms

mellorstrummer: Ted: Hey, are you a freshwoman? I never use the...

jumpstart-therevolution: How you can use your white...

Nothing Nice To Say

quixotess: blackamazon: nudiemuse: searchingforknowledge: inv...

"Slut” is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “yes”. “Friendzone” is how we vilify..."

Browsing your blog, I've seen the word "cissexist" several times, and I'm not entirely sure what that means. ^^; Do you care to explain?