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aroworlds · 2 years ago

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Fiction: The Lies Lovers Tell

For a hundred years, I am bound to a witch’s servitude. I'm not free to be in love. Will you accept this?

Thorn Bloodvine passes hir days trapped in a tower. Well, ze does if "trapped" encompasses "climbing out the window and down the beanstalk whenever the whim takes hir". Magical wards and a wall of brambles surround hir prison, but neither prevents hir from tending hir garden ... or the local youths from raiding hir strawberries. A fearsome witch does dwell within said tower, but hir magic is best suited to creating oversized vegetables. Quirks aside, Thorn laid hir truth at hir lover's feet before they took to bed: ze cannot become Fortitude's partner.

But when Fortitude speaks one simple word, Thorn's carefully-ordered world falls apart. For it isn't just a fairy story that prevents hir from becoming a woman's happily-ever-after.

Contains: A non-binary, allo-aro autistic with a knack for growing strawberries; an aro-ace witch who dons an ill-fitting costume for the sake of her friend; neuroatypical ponderings on love and lovelessness; and a Rapunzel riff that sits uneasily with its lack of happily-ever-after.

Content Advisory: This story references a background culture of cisnormativity, heteronormativity, amatonormativity and allonormativity, including the presumption of one's possessing a binary gender, experiencing sexual and romantic attraction, and marrying or having long-term partnerships with someone of the other binary gender. It also includes an abundance of love mentions, examination of the expectation to love, and reflection upon the sex negativity concerning the word "lover" as an euphemism for "sexual partner".

Please expect depictions of kissing, embracing and physical intimacy, along with non-explicit sex mentions and references to sexual interest.

Length: 3, 759 words.

Thorn Bloodvine drops the last potato into hir basket, brushing clods of damp earth from hir fingers. Only the omnipresent thrum of insects—bees, attracted by pots of pungent basil—reaches hir ears, but ze again cranes hir head to look above. The squat tower wears a crown of lichen-splotched slate and a robe of beanstalks, the leaves so thick that only slivers of granite peek through their green lushness. Coiling tendrils obscure most of the third-floor balcony from below, but the tortoiseshell cat perched upon the crumbling wall suggests hir lover yet slumbers: Dog only allows Thorn the grace of revealing his existence.

“Good,” ze whispers, turning to yank a dewy tuft of grass from hir bed of beets. The sun isn’t yet high enough that ze expects Fortitude to awaken, but caution is never unwarranted. While curious folks soon realise that ze tends the garden’s neat rows of lush crops and brown loam, amongst other chores concerning the tower and its grounds, Thorn doesn’t care to explain everything about hir life or hir abilities.

Like the vine coiled around hir ankles, throwing out bright yellow flowers that bloom for mere breaths before swelling into green-striped fruits—one pumpkin already as large as Thorn’s fist.

“Let go, you!” Ze grabs at the vine, flooding power into the tendrils weaving themselves about hir knee. “She mustn’t see this, so behave yourself!”

The vine withers and browns; Thorn pulls hirself free in a mess of crumbling leaves. Bloody pumpkins! Ze snatches up the basket, shaking hir head, and runs for the garden gate lest ze be caught again. Given the opportunity, any plant will feed upon hir magic, flourishing in hir presence as though ze is bright sunshine following great rain. Squashes, however, run amok given the slightest contact. As for beans … well, ze didn’t mean to live in a tower supporting a score of gargantuan beanstalks!

Better to pretend it a demonstration of a witch’s fearsome powers, even if only Thorn risks entanglement via enthusiastic vegetables.

Not that such magical displays keep out the villagers. Even the wall of blackberry brambles surrounding tower and garden—as thick as ze is tall, albeit not very—serves more as enticement than barrier, ending hir dream of keeping meat on Dog's plate by marketing berries. Unlike birds and insects, eager youths resist the usual discouragements of chimes, scarecrows, companion herbs, dusting and netting. Some even bypass hir warding spells wrought of coloured threads and painted stakes!

Sure, ze shares the spoils from voracious growers like zucchini, a plant requiring only moderate weather and general apathy to feed an army. But hir tomatoes? The strawberries ze lets feed upon hir magic out-of-season, so their sweet, red flesh blesses hir tongue year-round? Gods below, can’t they cut some overgrown spinach instead of ravaging hir late-season sugar peas?

I was caught stealing from the witch’s garden, ze says when asked the reason for hir bondage, hoping the chance of a similar fate discourages the pea thieves.

So far, ze reckons this no more effective than the netting.

A short stretch of gravelled path divides garden from tower. A heavy door breaks the northern wall, but Thorn heads for the thickest beanstalk, growing in a bed edged by clumps of onions and chives. White flowers bloom as ze closes hir hand about the central stalk and, more hindered than helped by its coils, steps onto the iron staple hammered into the tower wall. Slender green spears thicken into ripe pods as ze climbs past the shuttered first floor window, moving from staple to vine and vine to staple. Hir power thrums through hir skin, permitting the leaves’ touch but delivering withering spikes to any offshoot snagging hir limbs or hair. After a year of such climbing, feeding and pruning, stalks of unnatural thickness and longevity twist their way up the wall, anchored by staples, brickwork and instinct.

A crumbling stone lip, mostly cloaked by leaves, surrounds the narrow balcony. Thorn heaves hirself and the basket over the stonework, startling hir wide-eyed cat. Pots and a wooden chair occupy the rest of the space—enough for a few strawberry plants, a turned-over tub for bathing and an early-morning cup of tea, sipped while ze watches dawn’s mist retreat over the fields.

“Sorry,” ze murmurs, scrambling to hir feet.

A rag rug hangs in the doorway between interior and balcony. Inside lies hir room, its rounded walls housing riotous clutter. Objects ordinary, like a four-poster bed with a clothes chest at its foot, and objects extraordinary, like a shelf of narrow boxes holding cotton skeins in hundreds of shades. Bundles of herbs dangle above the table where ze prepares hir meals; bolts of linen, wrapped in paper against dust, lean against the sideboard. Another metal tub, the inside stained red-purple after a dye experiment ventured in unexpected—and unrepeatable—directions, sits beside an armchair holding an empty scroll frame and a pillow in a polka-dot slip. A standing frame, positioned in the centre of the room beside a stool holding hir workbasket, displays hir tapestry in progress: short-and-long-stitches worked in variegated browns, soon to become tree trunks. Despite Thorn’s lavender-scented soaps and hir liking for mint tea, everything smells annoyingly of onion.

Ze knows ze dwells in a chaos of chipped mugs and worn furnishings. It is, however, hirs. A sanctuary from a world dangerous and unpredictable, where most days possess a rhythm around chores and work as regular as the sunrise. If ze knows where to find hir needles and passes most evenings with a cat-warmed lap, Thorn can claim security.

Even happiness, these last months.

Ze sets the basket on hir table, blinking as hir eyes adjust to dimness from sunlight, before crossing to the washbasin to scrub clean hir hands. If Fortitude agrees, they may have just enough time for another go in bed…

“You rise early, lover.”

Thorn startles, knocking hir bar of soap into the water.

“And you jump!” Fortitude raises her head, grinning. Sprawled naked across rucked sheets, the blacksmith is all strength and muscle: broad shoulders, wide hips, powerful thighs. Forearm calluses and scars, rough and raised, signal adventures with hammers, pincers and blades. Copper hair, seldom let down, falls into loose ropes over the small of Fortitude's back and Thorn's white sheets. Dark eyes dance above dimpled cheeks and cream skin quick to redness, but never has ze seen shyness touch those rosy lips.

Thorn yields to those craft-clever hands as readily as does glowing metal, all ordinary dignities abandoned along with hir undergarments.

“Didn’t I please you into deep sleep?” Fortitude sits, stretching her arms above her head before twisting her hair into a loose knot. “Crime! Were you too polite to mention my failure? Come, I'll try again!”

Dog's demand that ze fill his knocked-over water bowl—by batting at Thorn’s feet—seems too mundane an explanation for return utterance. “Yes—no, I mean, yes, of course you weren’t—ah, yes…? Yes!”

“You know I tease!” Fortitude, laughing, walks around the bathtub and past two crates—a bowed board placed between—holding papers and pencils. Her brown eyes rest upon Thorn’s face, her lips curved upwards. “But even if you don’t, I adore you. Although I hope you’ll forgo your more, ah, creative furnishings after we free you from this tower. Will you, my love? For me?”

She drapes her arm over Thorn’s shoulder, belly brushing rib, hand cupping breast, lip touching lip. Ze shivers, hir body stirring, before leaning into the kiss—the comforting, exciting, easing goodness of another’s touch. How simple will it be to melt into a woman’s embrace, to surrender to her closeness—a love outside the world’s expectations, yes, but scarce different in feeling from that concerning men and women? What if ze submits in pursuit of affection’s bewildering wonderment, passion’s joys told in story and song, a road to happily-ever-after? Contentment lurks in the salt taste of Fortitude’s lips, two new-spoken words and the stalk of a red geranium she now tucks behind Thorn's ear, gifted by a blacksmith after she climbed magic-twisted beanstalks for a night spent in glorious nudity.

For a hundred years, ze said, back when Thorn only imagined how Fortitude’s skin must feel beneath hir fingertips, I am bound to this tower, bound to a witch’s servitude.

Love promises a lifetime's indulgence, if ze only entwines hir vines about the staples of Fortitude’s world—their lives’ merging marked by a marriage band, a cottage, a bed with space enough for two. Why not, when here stands the marvel of a woman who even understands that ze isn’t one, expressing her desires in a way that doesn’t leave hir playacting at hir own genderlessness?

Why not … and Thorn’s stomach surges towards hir throat.

The northern window, facing pastures of tan cattle, reveals a black-clad figure striding along the hedgerow.

“She comes! Across the cow fields. The witch!”

Fortitude bolts for the bed as if fleeing a gaggle of sour-tongued sisters armed with normality's judgemental scorn. No married lord caught in his stablemaster’s bed ever snatched up his floor-abandoned tunic and trousers with such freneticism! Nervousness makes Thorn drop hir stockings and weep over buttons, but Fortitude’s hands never quiver as she tucks underthings into her belt pouch and laces into her boots. By the time Thorn, hir heart a moth beating at its cage of bone, palms the now-rooting stem and reaches the hanging rug-door, even discriminating matrons may reckon Fortitude dressed tolerably for out-of-doors.

“Am I safe to go out this side?”

Dry-mouthed, Thorn nods. “Yes. If you wait by the shutters, she won’t see you as she enters. Then you can take the gate. Lock it after!”

Fortitude, her lips crooked into a half-smile, sweeps a bow. “Of course. I must leave, but I’ll return tomorrow.” She leans forwards, grasping Thorn’s smaller hands in her larger ones. Her hoarse voice softens. “I’ll free you. I’ll find a way. We’ll take a home somewhere far from here. Together. I’ll make you all the needles you’ll ever want and a door that always opens. You’ll be free and we can love. I promise.”

What does one say to such a valiant, heartfelt declaration?

“I know,” ze croaks. Fortitude’s slow kiss, her soft lips brushing Thorn’s earth-scented knuckles, brings tears to hir eyes. “Please go!” Ze gathers the rug with hir free hand, sunlight’s bright shaft leading the way outside. “She must be at the door—go, go!”

With agonising slowness, Fortitude raises her head, blows Thorn another kiss and darts onto the balcony. Dog hides behind two pots, only the tip of his twitching tail visible; Fortitude takes a running stride and leaps onto the tower wall. Leaves rustle and beans scatter as she descends, hand over hand down the beanstalk, to land with a thud atop an unlucky patch of purple-flowering chives.

Below, the click of a turning key precedes a second set of feet pattering up stone stairs.

Thorn lets the rug fall closed, hir fingers trembling about the geranium’s stem. Now what? Ze can’t let Fortitude embark upon a doomed quest for hir freedom, but that leaves one other solution—the sort of conversation that shatters relationships upon hate’s rocky reef. Why, oh gods, why? Ze sucks in a shuddering breath, unable to do anything more than fight hir tears and wait for the door set into hir tower room floor—a creaking hatch of studded wood and rusty hinges—to admit the witch.

“Did she make it out safely? With all the rushing and climbing, I worry she’ll turn an ankle. I would, although I don’t know why I’d be fleeing someone else’s bed…”

A lanky, cherry-haired woman in clunky boots, wide skirts and a faded-to-dark-grey cloak places a large basket on the floor before untying said cloak and hanging it from a hook Thorn more often uses for hanks of undyed cotton. A black-and-white rat sits upon her shoulder, its nose twitching as its beady eyes survey the room.

Ze slumps to the floor, a torrent pouring down hir cheeks as the moth inside hir ribs expands to a body-cramping, breath-stealing monster.

“Oh, no. Did she…?” Ember hurries over, her brow furrowed. Tall and delicate, with long eyelashes and high cheekbones of the sort Thorn’s sisters tried to emulate with cosmetics, to hir eye she never quite manages fearsome. Her velvet bodice, bone pendant and phial-adorned belt look more fanciful than threatening. Even boots burdened with an array of chains and buckles beneath a skull-embroidered cloak fail to reinforce illusion, for beneath the costume a middle-aged woman with crinkly umber skin and a halo of cloud-soft hair possesses readily-smiling lips. A woman, more comfortable in a patchwork apron and knitted shawl, who forever smells like cloves and favours pastry over potions. “She didn’t say she…?”

In other circumstances, the truth needs no embellishing: Ember Fireheart owns power enough to horrify those who don’t quail at bones and chains.

Magic is a poor tool for anything short of enforcing dominion.

Alas, lies seldom work better.

“L—loves?” Thorn nods, hir throat too tight for easy speech.

Ember sinks into a pool of black linen and clinking chains, leaning her head against Thorn’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she says, tugging a handkerchief from her bodice and pressing the scalloped cloth into hir hand. “I’m so sorry. I hoped, this time, this way, it would work out. I hoped…”

So did Thorn.

“She … she looked at me. Like she was building her world around me, her future, her everything…” Ze raises the handkerchief to catch an unfortunate glob of snot, shuddering. So simple a phrase! A look, ineffable and indefinable—yet capable of stripping Thorn of hir very self, leaving hir with naught to do but ghost someone else’s story or shatter the contentment ze thought they had wrought. “That’s worse than the words! I told her at the beginning that we can't court, live together, wed … but no, no. All this didn’t keep her from falling in love! She’s making promises to someone trapped by a witch!”

For a hundred years, ze said to Fortitude in the wake of too many bed-venturing friendships shattering beneath the weight of caught feelings and blooming anticipations. I’ll risk a lover, but having a wife, sharing my life with you, is impossible. I’m not free to be in love. I can’t love you. Will you accept this?

Only after Fortitude’s agreement did Thorn give her the key to the blackberry gate.

Parts of hir tale aren’t falsehoods as much as the careful twisting of words. Ember, truly a witch, is first a friend willing to masquerade as villainess upon her visits. Thorn considers hirself beholden to a witch’s bidding—hirs—even if hir trips to local villages to buy thread and meet people don’t merit the word “escape”. Nor can ze become the partner Fortitude desires! The rest, though? Lies mimicking tales of dangerous women in the hope such threats prove a wall too steep for love to climb.

Few people accept hir word when ze says that ze cannot live beneath a shared roof.

Romance. Naught to Thorn but fanciful stories told to children so they learn to want the well-travelled path—a narrative at odds with the ways that people demanded hir relationships bow to communal and familial expectations, romance’s trappings becoming nothing more than surface pleasantries. Love feels no different: an ill-defined word used to pressure and obligate, one shoehorned into any circumstance but honoured above all despite—or because of—its vagueness. Together, they threaten any chance at intimacy, because ze needs a lover with a life and space remaining their own—a necessary sanctuary, at least for Thorn, from a loud world where other people’s needs are reckoned more vital than hirs.

Oh, ze knows hirself selfish! But no matter hir honest explanations, Thorn’s lovers come to expect something hir barren heart can’t feel and hir straightforward mind can’t mimic … and now even tales of a formidable witch garbed in black and wearing bone don’t dissuade them otherwise.

Mayhap hir relationships wouldn’t require deceit if ze knew a polite word for someone’s connecting with another for a sexual friendship, a word that—unlike “lover”—isn’t clad in romantic assumptions. A word making hir desires normal and ordinary. Can ze rightly condemn Fortitude for falling in love, two words used to mean the hope for a lifetime’s happy togetherness, when lover renders their sex less shameful? Coin seems to dirty such pursuits, to the point of offering insult, justifying scorn or devaluing labour, but isn’t the simplicity of a transactional approach cleaner than this tangle of invention?

Love.

A hundred tower-trapped years, betimes, seems a kinder curse.

“I wish,” Ember murmurs, squeezing Thorn’s hand, “that I could be that kind of woman for you. Someone who wants and doesn’t want.”

Thorn, struggling to halt hir sobs, shakes hir head. It’s kind of Ember to say as such, albeit in that absurd double-talk people do where voicing a wish for the impossible serves as polite commiseration, but ze knows it untrue. “No. You don’t have to lie. You don’t wish to be anyone’s bed-partner. You don’t look upon people that way—don’t even want to want to. You shouldn’t have to.”

Ember sighs, her face stiffening. “It would be less awful, I think, than to watch someone I love hurt. Wouldn’t it have to be?” She swallows. “I—this is all pointless, words chasing words and leading nowhere. I just wish I knew of some way to help. Something better than to say, again, that I’m sorry. Because it feels so useless.”

Thorn looks down at hir damp-kneed trousers, hating the terror provoked by that one powerful word. Ze knows Ember doesn’t love hir in any way suggestive of romance or partnership! Ze knows love encompasses a wealth of feelings that don’t always promise a life subordinate to its expectations! Fear grips hir muscles nonetheless, for even non-romantic love oft demands reciprocation. Love? How can Thorn parse the mystery of what ze feels or why if applying a word possessed of countless contexts? One may as well say that they like colour—which? Bright or dark? In what combinations? How does ze use a term cursed with myriad interpretations when ze too often misinterprets others? Or witnesses it used to paper over cruelties, rendering them justifiable in the name of that which purifies indecency?

This discomfort makes hir heartless or unkind—even cruel—to those who love and believe themselves owed love. While hir lips speak untruths about witches, towers and bondage without more than internal unease, that incomprehensible word dissolves into stuttering syllables whenever forced to hir tongue.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“I’m grateful,” Thorn says slowly, “for your many kindnesses to me, and I’m glad that you’re my friend and let me be yours. And I feel … happy-sad...? That someone cares about my being happy … and I don’t want you as my lover. Your being you, someone with whom I can be honest, is more important. So much more.” Ze blows hir nose, afraid to meet Ember’s eyes. “And I … I thank the gods below that you like to bake pies, because I have so many pumpkins…”

Ember laughs and shifts her arm, tugging Thorn into a gingerbread-scented embrace.

“Is that enough? Even though it isn’t…?”

“You don’t have to feel as I do,” Ember says, her voice unaccountably solemn. “And I like that you’re precise in how you name your feelings. I know where I stand with you.” She laughs again. “Do you have pumpkins? I brought you coin from your sales, yesterday’s bread and my last pie, so I’ll take anything you have—and on the subject, will you send for me when the blackberries ripen? Everyone wants my berry tarts!”

Why can’t this be enough? A home of hir own, a friend who ferries Thorn’s tapestries to city vendors so ze needn't be plagued by noise, more vegetables than any one person can eat, space enough to organise hir threads, a view over the valley? Here, ze possesses privacy, connection, understanding and peace. Ember even shares the pain of the world’s pressure to partner and wed, romantic love the shape granted highest value—and the strangeness bestowed upon them by others from their inability or unwillingness to oblige.

It isn’t, though, because Thorn’s fantasies of contentment include one thing more.

A lover who, knowing a romantic partnership outside of possibility, won’t delude herself that time turns green love’s fallow field. A lover who, like Thorn, doesn’t love or wish to be loved, but wants companionship in bed—even a bed-friendship, as long as they needn’t entwine their lives wholly about the other. A lover of a kind for whom Thorn has no simple word, a phantasm existent only in hir dreams.

Why must ze fixate on the vanishingly rare? Easier to be a princess in a tower, grateful for a suitor’s valiant rescue; easier to deem the wonders ze owns enough to reckon hir ending a happy one. Easier, as Ember said, to want hirself to desire outside hir nature than to sit with the helplessness of a problem without solution—but Thorn can’t make hirself keep house with Fortitude any more than Ember can make herself become anyone’s lover.

They possess only cruel honesty … and a life waiting to be lived after ze picks hirself up off the floor, washes hir face and puts the kettle on the hob.

What then?

Thorn looks down at the geranium flower, half a dozen white roots protruding from its stem. Fortitude sees two people stitching their lives together until their tapestry cannot be unpicked without cut threads and hole-riddled fabric, once-intact materials rent through separation. Perhaps Thorn can pretend away Fortitude’s hopes, but will ze overlook the disregard for hir claim that ze won't be her partner? Can ze ignore Fortitude’s pretending away of Thorn’s clear wishes as unimportant?

Another dreadful conversation, then.

Another lover lost.

So be it.

Ze draws a shuddering breath, sets the flower on the floor and blows hir nose on the sodden handkerchief. “I picked you a basket this morning, but I’ll go down and get you pumpkins—and the barrow to take them home.” While Thorn owns no great skill in reading the meaning behind expressions, ze sees nothing in Ember’s crinkly eyes but kindness. “Thank you, always. Have you tried making a pie with beans? Or anything with beans…?”

This isn’t enough.

It is, though, all Thorn has … that and hope’s comforting lies.

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juleskelleybooks · 2 years ago

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I posted 207 times in 2022

That's 80 more posts than 2021!

58 posts created (28%)

149 posts reblogged (72%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@juleskelleybooks

@thebibliosphere

@eidetictelekinetic

@thesylverlining

@kjscottwrites

I tagged 78 of my posts in 2022

#self promo - 5 posts

#authors on tumblr - 4 posts

#novel: peaches for persephone - 3 posts

#story inspo - 2 posts

#jules kelley - 2 posts

#inspo - 2 posts

#welcome to the show - 2 posts

#👀 - 2 posts

#peaches for persephone - 2 posts

#writeblr - 2 posts

Longest Tag: 109 characters

#and got a comment on it from a reader gushing about how brilliant and intertwined all the symbolism in it was

My Top Posts in 2022:

Edge of the Woods ebook is on sale for 99 cents from the usual suspects!

https://books2read.com/u/mZQeey

The sale is good from June 20 - June 26, 2022.

About:

Edge of the Woods is about a young woman who has just taken over the alpha position of her local, rural-Montana werewolf pack from her mother, a responsibility she isn't sure she's ready for--especially not when their longtime law enforcement liaison retires, and a handsome new human is hired who doesn't (and can't) know of the existence of werewolves. Especially when that human arrives in town with an injured teenage boy in tow--a boy sporting a fresh werewolf bite and no memory of how he got it.

Stats: ~100k words, third-person POV (three, alternating), tone treats werewolves more like cryptids and less like supernatural beings.

Content Advisory: Open-door sexy bits, references to parental alcoholism and abuse, a character in a law enforcement position with PTSD, genre-typical violence and body horror.

51 notes - Posted June 20, 2022

If Adam had been gorgeous by himself, the two of them were stunning together—Adam warm and golden like summer sunshine on beach sand, Keith dark and somehow sparkling, like fireworks at night. They made such a pretty picture that Sebastian forgot what he was doing, just staring at them with his shirt still in his hands.

“Welcome to California, Sebastian,” Adam said with a sly, sexy smirk, and Sebastian was seconds away from walking directly into the pool, clothes and all, just to taste it.

-- WELCOME TO THE SHOW, Jules Kelley

Buy Link x GoodReads

Content Advisory (some spoilers): Explicit sex, references to drug and alcohol use, fleeting references to negative parental relationships, "Daddy" roleplay, mild D/s elements, one instance of a character not hearing/understanding when their sexual partner asks to stop (toward the end), main character with undiagnosed/untreated mental illness.

124 notes - Posted January 14, 2022

just dragging myself on twitter as usual

133 notes - Posted July 31, 2022

Pssst, guess what's in paperback now! :D

It was supposed to be one-night only, a limited engagement. It changed the course of three lives entirely. Rockstar Keith and actor Adam have the kind of relationship that keeps tabloids in business: Passionate and dramatic. They’ve mostly managed to keep their taste for threesomes a secret, though…until they meet Sebastian, a budding journalist who fits perfectly between them. Being together shows each of them new, wonderful parts of themselves, but navigating their careers and a long-term threeway relationship in the public eye of 2012 is playing with fire—and if the paparazzi doesn’t destroy them, their inner demons just might. Note: This high-heat romance title was previously released as LoveGames by M Jules Aedin in 2012. This edition has been rewritten with mostly new content, including a brand new ending. This novel contains themes of mental health, polyamory, roleplay, and communication/consent. For a full list of themes (content advisory) see author's website. Not suitable for children under 18.

[Author's Website]

[Order Paperback: 7.99]

[Order Ebook: 3.99]

165 notes - Posted March 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

New Storefront!

I have exciting news! I finally got around to setting up my Payhip storefront!

I got VERY lucky with my timing and managed to cancel the KDP enrollment on Amazon for my self-published titles, so as soon as their enrollment is up (immediately for Shiver, over the weekend for Swelter and Welcome to the Show), I'll have them up. Swelter and Shiver are going full free/pay-what-you-want and Welcome to the Show will stay at the current Amazon ebook price of $2.99.

Nothing is available for purchase yet because I'm getting things set, but Shiver should be up later tonight (July 7) and the others should be up as soon as the clock runs out on their AMZ enrollment.

Anyway! https://payhip.com/JulesKelleyBooks there's the link if anybody wants to bookmark it. :)

(Note that the Moonrise werewolf/vampire series won't be on my payhip because it's not self-published! But there are a lot of non-Zon options for buying those.)

183 notes - Posted July 7, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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its-suanneschafer-author · 4 months ago

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Continuing my review and summarization of Project 2025, Chapter 14 covers the Dept of Health and Human Services.

1) Dedicate HSS to serve “all Americans from conception to natural death” and proudly state that “that men and women are biological realities that are crucial to the advancement of life sciences and medical care and that married men and women are the ideal, natural family structure because all children have a right to be raised by the men and women who conceived them”

2) Protect the fundamental right to life, protect conscience rights, and uphold bodily integrity rooted in biological realities, not ideology.

3) Health care reform should be patient-centered and market-based and should empower individuals to control their health care–related dollars and decisions. NB: The GOP routinely tries to get rid of Obama-care; refuses to fix prices of medications at reasonable levels; always chooses big Pharma and big healthcare systems over people’s needs

4) Promote stable and flourishing married families

5) No more mandates for lockdowns, vaccines, or masking in the event of pandemics

6) Keep experts like Anthony Fauci from speaking out on health guidelines

7) Shut and lock the revolving door between government and Big Pharma. NB: the GOP-controlled House routinely refuses to fix prices of medications at reasonable levels and chooses big Pharma and big healthcare systems over people’s needs

8) CDC should eliminate programs that do not respect human life or that undermine family formation; should not promote abortion as health care; should fund studies into the risks and complications of abortion and ensure that it does not promote misinformation regarding the comparative health and psychological benefits of childbirth versus the health and psychological risks of intentionally taking a human life through abortion.

9) Prohibit use of aborted fetal cells lines to develop and test vaccines

10) HHS should ensure that “abortion tourism states” report exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, what method of abortion was used, the gestational ages of the fetuses, the mother’s state of residence as a condition of receiving federal aid

11) Support the development of generic drugs. NB: The GOP-controlled House routinely refuses to fix prices of medications at reasonable levels and chooses big Pharma and big healthcare systems over people’s needs.

12) Reverse the FDA approval of chemical abortion drugs and the week-after-pill, ulipristal acetate.

13) require the development of drugs and biologics that are free from moral taint and switch to cell lines that are not derived from aborted fetal cell lines or aborted baby body parts.

14) Create and promote a research agenda that supports pro-life policies and explores the harms, both mental and physical, that abortion has wrought on women and girls. NB: there is no mandate to create a research agency that explores the harms, both mental and physical, that carrying a child of rape, a severely-deformed child, a child incapable of living outside the uterus, raising an unwanted child, or being forced to remain in a violent or unhappy marriage to raise a child

15) Fund studies into the short-term and long-term negative effects of cross- sex interventions, including “affirmation,” puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries

16) Add work requirements for Medicaid benefits

17) Child support in the United States should strengthen marriage as the norm, restore broken homes, and encourage unmarried couples to commit to marriage.

18) Limit HMRE (Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program) funds to children raised in homes aside from a heterosexual, intact marriage

19) Eliminate Head Start

20) Establish an advisory committee committed to women’s preventative programs and anti-abortion ideologues, including fertility-awareness contraceptive methods. NB: These are the rhythm or standard days methods which require a strong commitment to consistent use as well as the use of condoms or diaphragms during the fertile periods.

21) Withdraw funds used to pay for cross-sex transition support

22) Deny physicians and nurses training to perform abortions

23) Remove all guidance issued under the Biden Administration concerning sexual orientation and gender identity

#Project2025 #SayNOtoProject2025 #GOP #Republicans #HumanRights #IndividualRights #WomensRights #TransRights #LGBTQI+Rights #USConstitution #MAGAisNotAllThatGreat #AntiAbortion #AntiFamilyPlanning #AntiBirthControl #FreedomOfSpeech #CensorshipOfScienceExperts #CensorshipOfMedicalExperts

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xneontragedyx · 8 months ago

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15 Tips On How to Turn Around a Rollercoaster Relationship

Marriage.com Editorial Team

By Marriage.com Editorial Team

7.3k ReadsUpdated: 9 Feb, 2023

Couple having fun on the couch

In This Article

What is a roller coaster relationship?

What causes an emotional roller coaster?

15 tips on how to turn around a roller-coaster relationship

10 ways to cope with a roller coaster relationship

FAQs

Takeaway

A roller coaster relationship involves unsteady emotions and frequent heartbreaks that drain you. How do you get out of a roller coaster relationship? Keep reading to find out.

The joy we get out of life is often derived from our relationships with people. Whether with a relative, friends, or lovers, life can only be meaningful with how we are treated. A romantic relationship is one where many people find fulfillment. It involves individuals who are committed, compatible, and ready to be together.

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Indeed, it’s supposed to bring partners closer and strengthen their connection. However, if you have uncertain feelings or sad and happy moments, you may be experiencing an emotional roller coaster relationship.

This relationship guide will show you the meaning of a roller coaster relationship, the psychology behind roller coasters, and how to turn around a roller coaster relationship.

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2. Overthinking

Overthinking is the act of thinking about or analyzing something repeatedly in a more harmful than helpful way. Someone who overthinks also worries a lot about imagined ideas rather than actual events.

Consequently, this anxiety that something might not go their way affects their mood and makes them react. Accepting that relational life is a roller coaster is the best way to avoid overthinking.

3. Intense emotions

Extreme emotions can occur from hours to days. It fluctuates rapidly, showing a progression from overthinking, depression, hopelessness, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, aggression, and self-harm to suicidal thoughts.

Related Reading:

14 Tips on How to Control Your Emotions in a Relationship

4. Feeling of emptiness

Another reason for an emotional roller coaster is the uneasy feeling of loneliness and boredom. Also, people with unstable emotions may feel like they don’t belong or lack a sense of purpose.

5. Lack of a sense of purpose

People with emotional roller coasters often have no sense of direction. Also, their goals, principles, and values may appear unstable or shift over time.

For example, you might see them switch careers quickly or go from one relationship to another. In addition, an emotionally unstable person lacks self-confidence and self-esteem.

6. Unstable relationship with loved ones

Family members and friends often shield one another from life issues. It will affect your subsequent relationship if you have no connection or a shaky one with your loved ones. Anger, aggression, and devaluation will dominate your dealings with other people.

Related Reading:

How Being Emotionally Unstable Is Damaging Your Relationship

15 tips on how to turn around a roller-coaster relationship

Here are some most useful tips on how to turn around a roller coaster relationship that you can try.

1. Be patient

A way to deal with the roller coasters of emotions ideally is to take a deep breath and be patient. Accepting that relational life is a roller coaster full of good and bad moments will help you understand things better.

Besides, understand that you and your partner have different backgrounds, experiences, and upbringings. As such, you will react to issues differently, which doesn’t make anyone feel less valid.

Related Reading:

15 Ways to Have More Patience in a Relationship

2. Stay open-minded

When issues arise, it’s easy to close your mind to your partner and ignore them. However, there are better solutions than this. Instead, be mindful and check with yourself about the source of your feelings. Where is it coming from, and why?

Also, you can take a walk when conflicts come up to cool off, then meet your partner to explain your perspective. Remember, you are both different and see things differently. The goal is to allow your partner to understand your feelings and point of view.

Related Reading:

20 Pros and Cons of an Open Relationship

3. Practice mindfulness

Constantly dealing with issues of life can take a toll on your emotions. Thankfully, a way out is mindfulness. Mindfulness helps you stay conscious of your emotions and feelings. You become more aware and pay attention to the present.

This state describes observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. You accept them as they come without labeling them as good or bad. When you know why you feel the way you think, you are better off combating them as quickly as they come.

Check out the importance of mindfulness in this video:

4. Think before you act

Whenever you are compelled to act in the heat of an argument or dispute, pause, anger from the feeling of hurt can make you throw caution in the air and act irrationally. Instead, take a deep breath and calm down. It might help if you walk away to calm down before meeting your partner.

This break might help you see things from an indifferent perspective and give you time to reassess your decision. Hasty decisions often don’t end well. When you realize the damage, it might be too late to rectify the situation.

5. Don’t compare your relationship with others

We have all pictured a perfect relationship with no qualms. However, a wrong move you can take concerning your relationship is to use others’ partnership as a metric to measure yours. Each relationship is unique in its ups and downs.

No matter how flawless it looks to you, another person’s relationship has its problems as well. You are not alone! You can never know what others deal with in their partnership. Therefore, avoiding judging or comparing your reality to theirs is better.

6. Identify the causes of your emotional roller coaster relationship

Now, it’s time to have a one-to-one discussion with yourself. It might help if you ask yourself the following questions:

Why do you feel this way?

When did these unstable emotions start?

Have you always been this way? If no.

When did things change around?

Who was about during the time you changed?

Is there something in my background that caused this emotional roller coaster?

These questions might help you see things clearly and get to the root of the matter. An emotional roller coaster often results from adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Other causes include anger, stress, and anxiety.

Therefore, you should dig deeper into your upbringing and background. In addition, you may need to talk to your partner to hear their side as well.

7. Talk to your partner

Besides discussing with your partner the possible cause of the roller coaster of emotions in your relationship, you should have a one-to-one conversation. This time around, let it be an intentional communication done in an unhealthy way. Love is like a roller coaster, but most relationships don’t start this way.

The beginning is often exciting and full of happy moments. So, what changed in your situation? Why do you have a recurrence of cases? When did it start? This conversation will help you analyze the problem and map a plausible solution together.

Related Reading:

10 Relationship Conversations You Can Have With Your Partner

8. Learn to accept your feelings

The psychology behind roller coasters is that you can feel them; they are right there. So, there is little you can do to run away from them. However, you can mitigate the situation by accepting them.

Feel everything that comes to you, even if you don’t like them. Then, take them without judging them as good or bad. Remember, you are a human to have this feeling. And it doesn’t mean you are overreacting.

9. Express your feelings clearly

Again, the psychology behind roller coasters is that feelings come at you very fast. You think about many things simultaneously, and focusing on one becomes challenging. Therefore, your best option in this situation is to communicate better.

Focus on one emotion at a time and describe it clearly to your partner. When you are alone, imagine your partner is in front of you and talking to them. Then, when you see them in real life, do the same without mincing words.

Related Reading:

20 Ways Men Express Their Feelings Without Words

10. Forgive

The easiest reaction in a tense situation is to flare up and act rashly. Anger can be so overwhelming that it prevents you from seeing the good in things. However, it is best to forgive your partner.

Forgiveness in a relationship is an important skill every person should learn. It helps you reconnect with your partner and gives you the strength to develop the relationship. Besides, it makes you an emotionally mature person who isn’t clouded or controlled by situations. It also helps you move on as quickly as possible.

Young couple in sportswear

11. Align your relationship with your goals

During your discussion with your partner, you might have realized that you and your partner are different. While this is okay, a wide gap might indicate that you will have more significant issues in the future.

Most successful relationships involve partners who want the same thing. If your and your partner’s goals differ, you might have problems later. As a result, it might lead to resentment, anger, and frustration.

12. Don’t have too many expectations

You aren’t perfect, and the same goes for your partner. Regardless of the experience in the past, it is best to avoid placing your partner on some unrealistic metrics and expect them to act accordingly.

Life can become unpleasant when you think you can control things. Instead, be open to possibilities and change and give room for the unexpected. In turn, it limits the feeling of disappointment or dissatisfaction.

13. Create a healthy relationship

After highlighting your goals for your relationship, it’s time to focus on having a healthy partnership. A healthy relationship is emotionally stable and open to constant and intentional communication. It has issues, but the individuals concerned usually find a way around them.

14. Take care of yourself

Self-care is the best way to improve your self-esteem and self-confidence. Paying attention to yourself has been proven to boost one’s mood. Go for an outing and enjoy yourself. Take yourself out shopping with the little you have. Indulge in some cravings and go somewhere new. It helps you see things better and clear your mind.

15. Consider relationship counseling

Seeking help isn’t an act of cowardice. Instead, it shows strength. When it seems you have tried everything to make it work, but it proves abortive, it’s best to go for relationship counseling. A therapist or marriage counselor can help you highlight and analyze the issues in your relationship. They also proffer suitable and proven solutions to them.

10 ways to cope with a roller coaster relationship

If you find more reasons to stay in a roller coaster relationship than leave, it is best to consider ways to cope. This step will help you deal with the situation better without compromising your feelings for your partner. Here they are:

1. Highlight the good things in your relationship

Sometimes it’s easy to focus on the bad experiences while neglecting the good ones. However, this leaves you empty and sad. Instead, highlight all the ways that your relationship has made you happy.

Remember how you both started and the activities You did. This will lift your mood and even help you make an informed decision.

Related Reading:

10 Most Important Things in a Relationship

2. Focus on your partner’s good side

Think about all the times your partner has made you happy. The truth is that person is still there. All you need is to harness a way to wake that part up.

3. Make your partner happy

Understanding an emotional roller coaster’s meaning will help you see that sometimes your partner wants to be happy. So, please do something to elevate their mood for a change. You may encourage them to try a new activity, plan a dimmer date or join them in an activity they enjoy.

4. Work on yourself

Self-evaluation is the best mirror you need when you have constant conflicts in your relationship. Is your partner just ranting, or are there elements of truth in what they say? See if you are doing something correctly before you label your partner. After all, no one is perfect.

5. Understand their perspective

Switch up your approach to issues by putting yourself in your partner’s shoes. See things from their perspective. If they complain that you neglect things, ask yourself why they feel this way.

6. Accept that things happen

Accepting that relational life is a roller coaster will help you understand that things in your relationship are no different from others. You will always disagree with your partner since you are different. The best way to accept them and seek solutions together.

Couple having fun

7. Focus on solutions

Dwelling on problems is time-wasting. Instead, focus on seeking solutions to the issue at hand.

8. Don’t attack your partner

No matter how heated the situation is, do not attack your partner emotionally or physically. Hurtful words scar your mind, while physical injury can be hard to forget. It is also unhealthy.

Related Reading:

15 Phrases That Will Diffuse Arguments With Your Partner

9. Go out often

If you have a roller coaster of emotions constantly, going out often might help. Attending events or visiting friends can lighten your mood and help you focus on other things. It also brings a breath of fresh air and new thinking.

10. Love yourself

While you focus on loving your partner, don’t neglect yourself. Loving yourself helps you make better decisions. You will only have yourself to deal with when things don’t go your way.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to turn around a roller coaster relationship.

Is a roller coaster relationship good?

A roller coaster relationship has non-stop high emotions full of connection, intimacy, disconnection, low moments, and heartbreaks. Therefore, it’s mentally unhealthy.

Is love an emotional roller coaster?

Sometimes, love is like a roller coaster. It is full of good and bad moments, but the partner learns to cope.

Takeaway

A roller coaster relationship is full of swirling emotions and unstable feelings and thoughts. It’s draining and exhausting. However, there are ways to turn around an emotional roller coaster.

By following the tips in this relationship guide, you will better understand your feelings. If you need more roller coaster relationship advice, consider going for relationship counseling.

References

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The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts Read more

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denimbex1986 · 1 year ago

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'Theatrical cinema in July enjoyed its highest revenues since pre-pandemic times, with global box office hitting $4.54 billion during the month.

“This is the single highest-grossing month since before the pandemic began. The result sees July 2023 track 17% ahead of the July average of the last three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019),” said research and advisory firm Gower Street Analytics.

“July 2023 also marked the first month since the pandemic began in 2020 that all three key component markets that make up the global picture — North America, China and international (excluding China) — tracked ahead of their pre-pandemic averages.”

The July box office in North America stacked up to $1.36 billion, 11% better than the 2017-2019 three-year average; $1.98 billion in international (excluding China), 7% ahead of the same three-year average; and $1.2 billion in China, some 53% better than its three-year average.

The July surge has most notably been propelled by the “Barbenheimer” duo of “Barbie” (with a $423 million international cumulative and $351 million in North America, of Sunday) and “Oppenheimer” ($226 million international cumulative and $174 million in North America), and “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1” ($309 million in international territories and $139 million in North America), plus the June-released “Elemental” ($250 million international, $145 million in North America). But it has also been lifted by a string of July-released mainland Chinese blockbusters.

These include “Lost in the Stars” ($503 million after 28 days), “Never Say Never” ($310 million after 28 days), “Chang An” ($233 million after 26 days) and “Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms” ($197 million after 14 days).

The hot streak propelled giant screen specialist Imax to its best July of all time. “Last month was the highest-grossing month of July ever for Imax worldwide, in North America and in China,” the company said in a filing this week. “[In China] Maoyan’s ‘Creation of the Gods I’ has earned $20.1 million to date for the company. The film debuted July 20 to an $8.6 million opening weekend in Imax — an Imax-record 16.6% of the debut for a local release and Imax’s biggest ever summer opening weekend for a Chinese film.”

“Oppenheimer,” which was made with Imax-certified cameras, is being given an additional week through Aug. 17 in many territories, and there are plans in some to continue playing the film through late summer and fall.

“Oppenheimer” is set to debut in China on Aug. 30 on conventional and Imax screens, though a potential flashpoint exists if Universal and the film’s famously protective director Christopher Nolan do not agree to cuts expected to be required by China’s censors. In addition to the sex scene that has been blacked out in some territories, communism is a recurring negative theme throughout the movie.

Even without major help from “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” (which opened weakly, but has now rallied to a $30 million running total) the China box office rebound is remarkable. July further accelerated the recovery trend.

Consultancy firm Artisan Gateway says that July (worth $1.28 billion, or RMB8.7 billion, by its calculation) was the second biggest month this year in the Middle Kingdom. Only January, which benefitted from “Avatar 2” and a slew of Chinese New Year tentpoles, was bigger at $1.4 billion (or RMB10.1 billion).

The strong July lifts China’s gross year-to-date box office to $4.9 billion (RMB35 billion). That figure represents a 69% improvement when compared with a heavily disrupted 2022 and sees the running total only 6% behind the January-July total in pre-pandemic 2019...

Nor was China the only international market where July was a box office scorcher. Gower Street data shows several other major markets beat their three-year averages for that month. The U.K. and Ireland market was 18% ahead, France was 14% ahead, Germany was 35% ahead, Spain was 14%, Italy almost double at 98% ahead, Australia was 13% ahead and Brazil was 5% improved. Another big territory, Mexico, was on par with its pre-pandemic July average...'

#Barbenheimer #Barbie #Oppenheimer #Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One #Lost in the Stars

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hellomynameisbisexual · 3 years ago

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Tackling Biphobia

This page provides information for criminal justice and other safety services, including police, councils, charities and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on addressing biphobic hate crime. Bisexual people can face prejudice and hate crime, which service providers have a duty to tackle. The information below aims to assist services understanding and serving the needs of bisexual people who experience hate crime.

Recognise Biphobia

Biphobia is a prejudicial attitude toward bisexual people based on negative stereotypes. It can include believing that bisexual people are:

• Deceitful, dangerous or perverse

• Greedy, promiscuous or exotic

• Confused, indecisive or ‘going through a phase’

• Spreaders of disease or damage lesbian and gay rights

Recognise the gap

Services are increasingly familiar with hate crime against lesbian and gay people, but bisexual people have their own distinct needs, which can be overlooked or underplayed. Build your knowledge, policies and systems to tackle this important issue.

Biphobia exists

When asked how many biphobic hate crimes they have come across, most police officers would say zero. However, many officers will have dealt with one without realising. This is partly because bisexual people themselves sometimes struggle to label experiences as hate crime, do not disclose their identity, or are assumed to be another sexuality. Additionally biphobia is often not well understood or recorded by services. Instead of assuming biphobia does not exist, acknowledge that it happens but that under-reporting makes it difficult to see.

What is Biphobic hate crime?

Any offence should be treated as a biphobic hate crime if the person who experienced it or anyone else feels it was an expression of biphobia. Biphobic hate crime can include verbal abuse and violence from neighbours or strangers. Because people’s bisexual identity is not always visible to strangers, biphobic abuse can often be concentrated in settings where the targeted person and perpetrator know each other. That can include verbal abuse or unwanted sexual touching from acquaintances and biphobic domestic abuse from family or partners. These crimes are less easy to recognise but it is equally important to record and address them in a manner that addresses their motivation of hostility. To qualify to be recorded as a hate incident, a report needn’t include biphobic language. It is enough for a reporting person to perceive that it was motivated by anti-bisexual prejudice.

Record Biphobic incidents

Below the level of criminal offences, people can face prejudicial comments about their identity. Police forces, councils and charities can record these as non-criminal hate incidents. It is especially important to utilise this to record biphobic hate incidents because prejudicial and offensive but non-criminal abuse makes up the bulk of some bisexual peoples negative experiences.

Tackle biphobia within LGBT communities

Bisexual people can face prejudice from lesbian and gay people, such as being refused entry to LGBT spaces or inappropriate treatment by LGBT services. Lesbians and gay men working as service providers can also sometimes oppose bisexual inclusion. This means bisexual people sometimes feel pressured to pass as gay or lesbian to avoid biphobia when accessing an LGBT related service. Those who do come out can face inappropriate assumptions, questions, stereotyping. It is therefore important for LGBT services to do specific work toward understanding and welcoming this large section of their community.

Bisexual people face homophobia

Homophobia is not an intolerance of gay and lesbian people, but of people attracted to people of the same gender. Therefore many bisexual people can regularly face it in addition to biphobia. That means someone reporting homophobic abuse is equally likely to be bisexual as gay or lesbian. Someone could also identify as heterosexual but receive homophobic or biphobic hostility. Sometimes there can be uncertainty over whether an apparently homophobic word or action was being used in an anti-bisexual way. Determining how it should be recorded should be done together with the service user.

Make a positive impact

For every biphobic incident or crime someone tells you about there will be many more unreported. Help people feel that telling you was worthwhile. An important but under-utilised way of doing that is by referral to bisexual and LGBT support, advice, advocacy and social groups. Though some people are able to get criminal justice outcomes, many do not. Enable people to consider a range of options including help from police, discrimination law, restorative justice, emotional support, or assistance complaining about biphobic attitudes from a provider of goods or services.

Bisexual people are diverse

Many people face hostility that they feel had multiple types of motivation, for instance both biphobic and racist. They are entitled to ask police and other safety services to record it under several hate incident categories. Ask open questions about motivation and support service users in determining their own account of events. Also, bear in mind that a crime or incident may have more than one hate motivation.

Be led by perception

It is the right of anyone reporting hostility to ask safety services to record something as biphobic. That is because police guidance states that any crime or non-criminal incident should be recorded as motivated by sexual orientation hatred (including biphobia and homophobia) if the person reporting it feels it was motivated that way. Though courts need evidence to record a hate crime, police and other services do not need proof to record an incident or crime as biphobic and/or other hostility.

Create a safe environment

Many bisexual people feel pressured to pass as straight or gay when talking to services. Some people believe that bisexual people who are not in open same sex relationships are lucky being able to pass as straight, but feeling pressured to keep your identity secret is stressful. It also prevents people from disclosing important information about incidents. Make efforts to enable service users to feel safe disclosing issues related to their identity.

Speak out

Demonstrate that you take biphobia seriously by speaking out against it. Explicitly name biphobia in promotional material. Leave bisexual inclusive literature and posters in public spaces. Invite a speaker from a local group to a team meeting. Send bisexual inclusion resources to colleagues. Challenge biphobic attitudes where you see them. Mark Bi Visibility Day on 23rd September. Include bisexual people in case studies. Invite bisexual speakers when organising events.

Change recording systems

Criminal law recognises hate crime motivated by sexual orientation, which includes biphobia and homophobia. However, most organisations only have one recording category to record both, which they normally label as ‘homophobic hate crime’. Ideally, recording systems should have a separate category for each, but failing that, ensure any biphobic motivation is specifically named on the narrative incident record.

Recognise bisexual diversity

People’s sexual identity does not always fit into a neat box. Under the bisexual umbrella you find people who feel a strong tie to bisexual communities and others who do not. Some people are polyamorous (have relationships with multiple consenting people), while others are in monogamous relationships. You also find pansexual people (gender doesn’t determine who they are attracted to) and people have a fluid attitude toward gender. Whatever terms someone uses about themselves, try to be flexible in understanding it.

Avoid assumptions

Ask open questions about service users identity and the gender of partners. Ask open questions about whether they felt there was any kind of prejudice motivating an incident. Do not presume that everyone who reports homophobia is gay or that everyone in a mixed sex relationship is straight. Be open to the possibility of an incident being biphobic, even if a service user has not identified themselves as bisexual.

Mind your language

Avoid slipping into language that can exclude people. Do not use the word ‘gay’ to refer to all LGBT people and issues. Refer to same sex relationships instead of gay relationships. Talk about mixed sex relationships instead of straight relationships. It is fine to talk about homophobia in specific cases, but when talking about LGBT communities as a whole, mention biphobia alongside homophobia and transphobia.

Reach out

Find out about local, regional or national bisexual groups and events. Start dialogue with bisexual communities to find out about their experiences and needs, while acknowledging that they are underresourced and have little capacity. Consult them on changes to your service. Ask for their expertise and support their work in exchange. Promote opportunities to get involved in your structures, such as independent advisory groups and management committees.

Create change internally

Aim to make bisexual people feel welcomed and accepted. Acknowledge that they have different needs to gay, lesbian and heterosexual people. Look into finding a way to officially record biphobic hate crimes and incidents. Get specific training on bisexual issues and needs. Ask questions about how your and other organisations are meeting their equality and human rights duties for bisexual people. Ask inclusive questions on forms. Ask a bisexual community group for their opinion about the accessibility of your service.

Be a good employer

Being a bisexual-positive employer is a legal duty, but also sends a message that you are serious about building inclusive services. Start by acknowledging that lack of inclusion of bisexual staff may be an issue. Work toward creating an environment where people can feel safe being out. Explicitly cover biphobic attitudes and behaviour within policies. Encourage LGBT staff and service user networks to provide a safe space for bisexual people.

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jaehyunspeachparty · 4 years ago

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1.11

warnings: This story contains content that could be problematic for one or the other. Among other things, the story may contain content about sex, late pregnancy, relationship with a large age difference, and others. Just because it's in the warnings doesn't mean these topics will appear, but they will definitely be covered in the story. The content of the story is fixed and doesn’t change. If you don't feel comfortable with these topics, then it's okay if you don't read the story. I just write down my ideas here and I just enjoy writing about life. The fact that some things in life are not rational or weird for some people is also part of it.

Miga was only able to meet Jaemin a few days later. Both had a full schedule and they had to find a place where no one could see them. Ultimately, they decided that Miga would just go to Jaemin's apartment. At first, he didn't want this, but they had no choice. When she got there she was surprised that there were so many boxes in the room. "Are you clearing out?" She asked as she put her shoes down next to one of the boxes. "No, I bought a house, I need more space if I adopt a child." Jaemin smiled full of happiness, apparently everything is now moving forward with the adoption. "Are you looking forward to it?" Miga asks gently and took a step closer. "Yes, I can hardly wait ..." Jaemin's voice also became calm. His fingers found suddenly hers and he brushed them against her palms. He was like in a world of his own when he was around her. He clawed his fingers between hers and he looked down at her. He knew he felt so much. Her eyes were so gentle and beautiful, her lips so red... When Miga looked up to Jaemin, her knees went weak too. She knew it always would be Jaemin. He should become her great love, he is her dream prince, he can give her everything and she can give him this too. And when she stood in front of him, her skin almost touched and Miga closed her eyes to finally feel his lips again but then Jaemin stopped. "I just can't. That's why I wanted to talk to you." He broke away from her as fast as he could and left Miga behind who looked at him shocked and hurt. "What do you want to tell me?" She looked at him confused. "That it was a mistake last time," said Jaemin then. "You need a conversation for that? You told me that last time." Slowly Miga got angry because she didn't like the game he was playing with her. "I just want to make it clear that it won't happen again." He turned away and tried not to look at Miga anymore, after all he was struggling with his own feelings. He expected a lot, but somehow not that Miga would now stand in the room and start crying. Her heart ached and she couldn't believe why Jaemin dumped her like that. "I thought you like me?" She was sobbing and Jaemin could barely look at her. She was so small and vulnerable and he would love to hug her. "But I like you..." "I wasn't wrong, or? You're interested in me ... I mean in a romantic way." She tries to understand the whole thing because there were so many signs. "No, you were right ... I like you ... more than just a friend," he finally admitted his feelings towards her. "Then what's the problem?", She then asked further and she got louder and louder. She didn't understand what the problem was. Yes, they had an age difference, but she liked him and he liked her. "You are so young, our age difference and then there would be your father ..." "My father? He just wants me to be happy." Several tears continued to roll down Miga's cheeks. "I don't think he'll ever agree if we date." "If we like each other, what's my father's business. I'm an adult, I can decide for myself what makes me happy." Miga was getting angrier now, she hated it when she was treated like a child. "No Miga! YOU CANNOT DECIDE THAT", Jaemin got louder without meaning it. But it was enough for Miga. She looked at him startled and turned around. "Wait Miga, I ..." But in those moments she was already out of the apartment.

"There are women in your organization who are mostly married, but often accompanied by violence. Statistically, such women often don’t come a second time to search for help. How does your organization approach that?" The interviewer leaned back in the chair and looked at you. A few years ago you founded an organization with Eunbi that is supposed to help women, regardless of their situation. Your focus is particularly on families who are confronted with a lot of violence and druguse. Your practice had expanded quite a bit by now. You manage everything, Eunbi takes over the legal affairs and you also had a psychologist, gynocologist and social worker in the team. "We focus on the children. We make sure that they feel particularly comfortable and that they ultimately beg their mother to come back. Our waiting area is almost exclusively geared towards children and they can often get toys to take them home." You stay serious and pay close attention to what you say because this interview was important for future donations. "In your advisory role you are often confronted with the evil side of men. How does that affect your home? You have three sons of your own and you are married. How do you handle this?" You didn't like it when journalists want to draw attention to Jaehyun or your children. You strictly separate your work and your organization shouldn't be about idols or pop culture. "I don't believe in evil. But I think the most important thing is to talk openly with the next generation about everything and to clear up outdated cultural values and stereotypes that affect women negatively." In the meantime you had already learned to answer neutrally to private questions. "You have been married to Jaehyun Jung for almost 20 years, to what extent did he influence you to found this here." The journalists did not want to deviate from the private topic. You paused briefly and think about how you can give a neutral answer again. But at this moment Eunbi suddenly came in. "I'm sorry Y/N for bothering you, but we have an emergency." Eunbi looked really worried and you get up immediately. "No problem, we're already done, aren't we?" You look at the journalist, who then nodded. Eunbi and you immediately run out of the room. "What's going on?" You ask immediately. "Pregnant woman, it looks like she is on drugs, who thinks she was held by her husband and beaten several times," explained Eunbi. "Have you contacted Dr. Oh yet?" Dr. Oh was the gynocology that worked in your organization. "Yes, she is on the way, but is stuck in traffic." Eunbi opened the door and you see a young woman standing in panic in front of the window. Her lips were all white and dried out. You could see abdomen and puncture marks on her arms. "Hey, I'm Y/ N Jung", you walk slowly towards her but she immediately jumped away. She was totally intimidating and trembling. "HE WILL FIND ME," she yells. "What's your name?" You ask ahead and take a few steps back. "There ... Dahae," said herself cautiously, but her body language was still scared. "Dahae. You are pregnant, do you know if you will have a boy or a girl?" You smile softly and you could see how she slowly lowered her shoulders. She just shook her head in response and you carefully take a step forward. "Do you know when your baby is coming?" You ask in advance. "I did the math ..." she said suddenly and at that moment she seemed clearer. "The time will come...in 3 or 4 months." She suddenly put her hands on her stomach and stared at it. She didn't look sober, she was probably high and that made the thing worse. "Would you like to see your baby once?" You ask and smile. Dahae suddenly seemed very small, almost childlike, so that you wonder how old she was.

Somehow you got her to have her checked out by a gynocologist and a doctor. Dahae trusted you more and more and so you made some progress. She was taken to a women's shelter, which was focused on women with addiction problems. "Hey Y/N, can I talk to you?" Dr. Oh the gynecologist came into your office. You nod and look at her expectantly. "Eunbi couldn't find Dahae anywhere. She has several signs of severe abuse. I fear that it started in childhood." That sounded like a serious case that rarely happened. "How old do you think she is?" You ask. "I think she'll be around 16-19". You always had a hard time meeting girls as old as your daughter. "Okay, she's just safe. How about the baby?" You ask. "It's alive, I can't say more yet." "At least good news." You sigh and turn off the light on your desk.

When you were at home you tried to switch off your thoughts, but it was difficult for you. Sunoh, Kiwoo and Jaehyun were boxing, Geon was with Jasper and Miga wasn't there either. You found it hard to be home alone after such a day. You had to think a lot about Dahae, you just couldn't get her out of your head. That's why you were happy when you heard someone come home. You could see through the window that it was Miga. But she didn't look happy. "Hey, are you okay?" You turn to your daughter who lay down on the sofa next to you. "Mummy." She lay in your arms and started crying. "What happened?" You stroke her dark hair and suddenly she was your little girl again. "Why can't I even be lucky in love?" She sobbed into your shoulder and it hurt to see her hurt. "At some point you will find someone who loves you as you love him." You keep stroking her head and Miga kept crying. She was so heartbroken and you wonder which boy gave her so much grief. Jaehyun shouldn’t know this because he would look for the guy immediately. "But everyone is in love and has relationships. I want that too." Several tears continued to roll down her cheeks and you try to calm her down further. "You will have this in the future, but it's okay to take your time. You should have someone who is good to you, respects you and both of you can move forward in life. Finding something like that takes time, but that's okay." You smile and look down at her. "That's a typical mum answer." And now Miga had to laugh a little too. "Hopefully you know that mothers can sometimes speak wise words." You stroke her forehead and feel how warm she was. Her whole body was heated up because she was so angry. "I also want to have a relationship like you and Daddy. The parents of so many friends of mine are either separated or hate each other. But you're still so in love." She looks up at you with her dark eyes and you smile gently. "We took our time too and we were older too. You are only 19 years old. You can still have so many experiences. I just want you to make good choices. Search for someone who respects you and values you. You are incredible great, beautiful, intelligent ... " "Mum ... you're already talking like Daddy." She rolled her eyes but laughed again. You kiss her forehead and continue to stroke her head. "Your Dad and I say that only because it's the truth."

"And now she's sleeping with the other guy too, because she thinks she loves both of them." Yuna and Miga were walking through the town and Yuna told the latest tea about other schoolmates. "Hmm ... can you love two people at the same time?" Miga then asked implausibly, but Yuna shrugged her shoulders. "I guess ..." "I don't know, and when you do, I think you love a person more." She also thought that she couldn't fall in love until she was with her feelings for Jaemin over. But was that even possible? "Don't be so pessimistic." Yuna poked her a little with her elbow and looked at her best friend. "Love is just stupid," said Miga, but Yuna immediately knew what was wrong with her. "Is it still about the mysterious older guy?" She knew this was what was bothering Miga. "I just mean ..." Miga's heart was still aching and Yuna at first didn't know how to cheer her friend up, but then she saw something. "Come over." She grabbed her hand and dragged it into a store. "What is that?", Miga asked when she was inside and Yuna finally let go of her hand. "We let predict your future." Yuna believed in all possible forms of horoscopes and fortune tellers, Miga has a different opinion to this topic. "Wha? No!" She shook her head but an elderly lady came along. "How can I help you two girls?", She asked gently, looking very empathetic and friendly. "My friend needs help in love," Yuna said then and pushed her friend out. The fortune teller looked at her and smiled. "Yes, I see a lot of pain. Come on, sit down my sweetie." Miga had no choice but to follow the woman. When Miga was seated, the woman took her hand and placed a few cards. She stared alternately at her and then back at the table and Miga doesn't quite know what to say or do. "I see ..." said the older woman after a few minutes of silence. "What do you see?", Yuna asked excitedly. "Love. It is there and very very strong," said the fortune teller then. "That must be the mysterious older guy she kissed." Yuna was very excited, but the fortune teller stopped. "No, I don't see an older man. I only see young love, but I also see a lot of blindness." She turned over another card and smiled. "The blindness will soon be resolved." The fortune teller ended her session and Miga understood even less.

When they went out of the store, Yuna was excited, but Miga not. "A young love. Did you hear that?" "Yes, but who should that be?" Miga rolled her eyes, because at the moment she couldn't think of who would be in love with her around her. "You have a lot of admirers, don't be so humble." Yuna rolled her eyes and Miga wanted to give up right away, but the phone rang for both of them. "School?" Asked Miga and Yuna nodded. "The math grades are there." Yuna opens the mail and Miga leaned over to look at the display. Miga's heart suddenly beat much faster and together they went through the list. "I have 70 out of 100 points. I'm relieved," said Yuna and grinned happily. "Why am I nowhere?", Miga asked more to herself, but Yuna continued scrolling and then it suddenly shows her result. "MIGA! 95 out of 100 points. How did you do that?" Yuna hugged her friend, but Miga couldn't believe it. She was in the top 20 of her year. She had never been so good at maths. "I'll call mum right away and tell her that we passed it." Yuna turned to the side and started talking to her mother on the phone. Miga actually wanted to do the same, but she wanted to call someone else first ... namely Hyunjin. "Hello?" Hyunjin sounded relatively sleepy and Miga immediately felt bad. "Sorry, did I wake you up?" "No, it's all good. You know, as a rookie and later as an idol, you don't have a good sleep schedule." "I just wanted to say thank you. I got 95 out of 100 points on the math test." "Wow. That's amazing." "I only managed that with your help." "No, you did it, you already knew so much, I was just helping you on your way." Hyunjin chuckled and everyone could hear his joy. "Am I still invited to your birthday party?", Miga then asked carefully and blushed slightly. "Yes! Of course," said Hyunjin immediately. "Well, don't forget, I'll bring the cake."

"Forget it, she's already half an hour late, she won't come," said Wonsik, looking at his band member. "Girls like Miga don't hang out with us rookies. Hyunjin, sorry," said Dabin and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Miga is not like other girls," said Hyunjin then, looking desperately at his phone. He had already given up the idea that Miga would come. But somehow the thought that she was interested in him was too good. "Still, you should be careful. You won't be the only one who finds her attractive." Wonsik wasn't really encouraging because this were thoughts that Hyunjin already had in his head anyway. "Hey, you didn't see them. Miga seemed to really like Hyunjin," Kiha defended his friend. But Hyunjin doesn't know what to do next. He stroked his hair and took a deep breath. "It's okay. Wonsik is right, I'm not in her league." Hyunjin bowed his head and stood up. He was about to get a beer in the fridge when suddenly someone rings the doorbell. "We haven't ordered yet, can it be?" Kiha started to grin. Hyunjin slammed the refrigerator door and immediately went to the door. And there she was ... she really come to his birthday. "Miga! You are here." He grinned and his cheeks flushed. "I'm so sorry. I pre-ordered your cake and then they swapped my order and then I couldn't find a parking space and ..." Miga could barely breathe and Hyunjin could only stare at her, so Kiha intervened. "We were just about to order something to eat, so you've come to the right time." He took the box with the cake from her and let Miga into the apartment. Wonsik and Dabin couldn't believe their eyes. Beomsoo now came into the kitchen too and smiled when he saw Miga. He was sure she would come, too, but the rest were perplexed. Everyone in the group knew for a long time that Hyunjin adored Miga. But they didn't think he had a lot of chances because she was very popular and many guys adores her. "Wow, your apartment is big. Does the whole group live here?" Miga asks and the boys immediately made a place available for her. "No, there are others living a few floors above us, but we are the cool dorm," Beomsoo grinned and the other boys nodded convinced. "A really?" Miga laughed and immediately felt at home in the group of friends. "Do you like a beer?", Hyunjin asked and became shy at the same moment. "No, but water would be great. I have to drive home today." Miga smiled gently and Hyunjin almost froze. "Wait, I'll bring it to you. It's Hyunjin's birthday today. You'd better take my seat." Kiha got up and made Hyunjin sit down next to Miga. "Do you already know your group name?", She asked carefully and looked around. "We kind of hoped that maybe you could tell us more about that." Wonsik grabbed his shoulders uncertainly and laughed. "No sorry, Daddy doesn't talk about work at home that much." Miga looked at the boys sadly, she would like to tell them more. "Ahhh your father is a strict teacher," Beomsoo said then. "Really?" Miga found this somehow surprising. "He's especially after Hyunjin." Dabin looked cheekily at his colleague, who glared at him. "Is that so?", Miga asked with wide eyes and turned to the boy next to her. "He just wants that I learn from his experience." Hyunjin looked down ashamed and couldn't look Miga in the eye for a moment, but Kiha tried to intervene again. "I think we should finally order something to eat."

After dinner everyone sat together and drank, but gradually Hyunjin and Miga fell into their own conversation as if they were in their own world. "I think you would get along well with my brother Sunoh," said Miga and looked into Hyunjin's eyes. "Oh, why?" He asked with a smile. But Miga just shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, you guys have the same vibe." Kiha, who has meanwhile already become the wingman, saw that the two were completely absent from the group and thought it would be good if the two were alone. "We still have your cake, Miga. What if we sit down in the living room and you two cut it?" The other guys got up immediately and took the hint. Only Miga didn't quite understand what was happening and Hyunjin was also clueless. But the two followed blindly and the two went into the kitchen. "I hope you like it. It's from the best pastry chef in Seoul." Miga grinned proudly while Hyunjin looked at the cake. "It looks really great. Is it chocolate?", He asked with a grin and Miga nodded. "Yes, do you like it?" She asked carefully. "I love chocolate." Hyun grinned and looked down at the girl. The two looked at each other briefly and Hyunjin lost himself in her eyes. But Miga also noticed that her heart was suddenly beating faster and she was a bit confused. "Let's cut the cake," she said and broke the silence. Hyunjin immediately nodded and took a knife. He put it on carefully and made the first cut. Miga meanwhile cleared the plates, whereupon Hyunjin put the cake pieces on top. "The cream looks really good," said Hyunjin and smiled at Miga. Slowly he loosened up and he felt more and more comfortable. "It looks a bit like a face cream, doesn't it?" Miga laughed and looked up. "Do you think so?", Hyunjin asked and she nodded. Then she took her finger, took a little cream and smeared it on his cheek. She giggled and Hyunjin's heart beat faster. "Then you need something too." He also took some cream and smeared it on the tip of her nose. Miga giggled and Hyunjin thinks she is so incredibly beautiful. "What is it?" She asked cheekily and grinned up at him. She noticed that he was staring at her and that he suddenly became calmer. "You are so cute," he said then, putting his hands on her cheeks. Her dark eyes looked up at him and she didn't know what was happening, but she somehow trusted him. The next moment his lips touched hers. His upper lip slips between hers and when she returned the kiss he became more passionate and showed it with his tongue. His heart was pounding wildly. An adrenaline rush flows through his body and he couldn't believe that he had dared to do this. But Miga was also surprised, she hadn't expected it. Although she liked Hyunjin, she was so focused on Jaemin that she had overlooked the signs. But she was glad the kiss happened because she enjoyed the presence of Hyunjin. After a long and intense kiss, the two separated slowly and Hyunjin became shy again. "I'm sorry that was too fast, right?" But Miga smiled and shook her head. "No, it was really wonderful," she said softly and put her hand on his chest. She felt his pulse and suddenly it made so much sense. That's why he hadn't slept and was at the company earlier every day ... he just wanted to be close to her. "I didn't know you liked me this way." She carefully brushed a strand of hair aside and suddenly she was shy too. "I'm sorry. Is that bad?" Miga still had her hand on him and she noticed how his breathing got faster and faster. But she shook her head and looked up at him again. "No, absolutely not at all." She then smiled and now she kissed him. She never thought that the evening would end like this. But Hyunjin never thought his dream would come true either. "You're my best birthday present," he then whispered and stroked her cheek again. Miga couldn't believe it, everything was like a dream. "I know it's difficult, but I'd like to take you out." He looks at her gently and Miga was still in a world of her own. "Yeah sure," she said quietly and Hyunjin knew that this was his best birthday he had ever had.

When Miga drove home she was still excited. She kept smiling and she liked her newfound feelings. Everything was exciting and new. She was so glad that Hyunjin had shown his feelings so openly. As Miga parked her car, she noticed that a familiar car was parked in the driveway. If she wasn't mistaken, it was Jaemin's. Her heart immediately started beating extreme fast and she just didn't know what was happening here. What was Jaemin doing here? Carefully she went into the house and saw how her father and Jaemin sat at the table and happily drank Soju. "Miga! Here you are." Jaehyun saw her and immediately waved her over to him and Jaemin. It was difficult for the girl to look her crush in the eye, everything was very confusing. "Is there something to celebrate?" Asks Miga cautiously, looking back and forth between the men. "Yes, there is," says Jaemin and looked deep into Miga's eyes, so that she briefly lost herself in them. Her heart beat faster and her knees got weak. "Jaemin, you and I are going to play in a drama together," Jaehyun said and poured his daughter a glass as well. "What?" Asks Miga, shocked. She doesn't quite know how to find it all. Jaehyun put the glass in her hand and put an arm around his daughter. "We must celebrate that."

providentia masterlist

daddy jaehyun masterlist

#jaehyun #daddy jaehyun #jaehyun scenarios #jaehyun imagines #jaehyun jung #nct #nct 127 #nct u #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct 127 imagines #nct 127 scenarios #nct dream #nct dream imagines #nct dream angst

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bedlamsbard · 4 years ago

Note

absolutely begging for a basic summary on the "warning is derogatory" debate

oh jeez. please don’t reblog this around, as I don’t recall it very well and can’t find the exact references on FanLore, though I’m sure it’s there somewhere.

um, this was more than a decade ago (I think?) and I don’t have a really good grasp on it anymore; I was never actually involved in the controversy, but it overtook LJ/DW for a while. (I think this was right around the point where there was still a lot of cross-posting going on as the slow DW migration happened, but I could be wrong by a few years in either direction, which would change which platform it happened on. I think AO3 was either not around yet or was just starting out.) I think it came up as collateral to a few other things going on in fandom at the time (there was a big flare-up of the warnings debate in, as it happens, 2009, which makes that Tumblr post especially ironic). AS I RECALL, at this point warnings in fic headers were starting to become a much more common thing than they had been in years previous.

I should note that regardless of Tumblr commentary on fannish history, the debate about warnings has been a major thing for a long time now.

Back in the late ‘00s (and earlier in the ‘00s and ‘90s, for that matter) it was very common to warn for specific things -- there’s long been a debate about whether to warn for slash/femmeslash, for example, which is something that no one would do nowadays. But also specific kinks or acts (public sex, BDSM, breathplay, etc.). As warnings got more common and commonly accepted, there was some pushback about how labeling certain things as necessary of being warned for stigmatized them (and not just sex acts or tropes; interracial relationships was one, and obvs the old standards like character death and rape) -- did the word “warning” itself imply a negative connotation? That got debated around for a while and there was a push away from “warning” towards phrasing like “content note” or “content advisory,” but ultimately most of fandom settled back down to “warning.”

I do think it’s worth poking around that warnings page on FanLore and their timeline of warnings meta -- fandom was not the wild wild west in the late ‘00s, much as some of us oldtimers would like you to think it, and it’s interesting to see the debate evolve. (I got into fandom in the very early ‘00s, but am only really familiar with big fandom debates from the mid ‘00s forwards.)

#do not reblog #yorksbooty #bedlam answers

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badpanda143 · 4 years ago

Photo

Track 1

Hip Hop Element: Graffiti

A classmate and I artistically collaborated in achieving this Graffiti piece. The layout of this piece is set as Salt’N Pepa’s album cover labeled “Hot, Cool, Vicious” (1986) (on the next page for reference) This album is influential as it was one of the first albums to be released by an all-female MC group and the first album by an all-female group that to become platinum. Because of this album, Salt’N Pepa became cultural legacies and provided a loud and influential voice for Black women in a largely male-dominated space, with multifaceted lyrical content and themes throughout their music. I pay homage to these icons by using the album that gave them a voice, following the visual look, and apply their style and words (cool, hot, vicious) to the other women on this poster, using graffiti techniques. No doubt, Salt’N Pepa was an influence on Missy Elliot, but likely on Lauryn Hill and Lil Kim as well. Each of these Black women made room for themselves in a country that systematically pushes Black women to the side. Using the elements of graffiti, this piece connects to the readings and pays homage to the influence these Black women have had on Hip Hop and society as a whole.

The Parental Advisory Feminine content was placed on the left of the art piece. This content warning sign is placed to symbolize how just by being Black women in the spotlight, they are a threat to white supremacy and patriarchal order- and therefore is often perceived as foul and inappropriate. However, when men in Hip-Hop create outrageous rhymes about exploiting women it oftentimes society doesn't consider them as explicit or shocking because unfortunately, in violent patriarchy, we are desensitized to hearing violent language towards women. The title ”Rap Females” was written with “Rap” first and “females” second, which is typically opposite to how women are seen in this career path. More than likely we hear the term “female rappers”, signifying that she’s a female first, and a rapper second. Which can be interpreted as needing to prove herself as a “respectable woman”, before she can be taken seriously as an MC. I decided to switch the words around, to question why we feel the need to explicitly state the gender of MCs only when they are women. Although each of these icons that we sprayed on (Missy, Lauryn, and Lil’Kim) can simultaneously switch between being positioned in the sections of hot, cool, or vicious. I placed these women in particular spots based on the reading and influence on society. Each of these MCs navigated their way through a male-dominated space using different paths. Within the transcript, I will further explain the chosen colors, symbols, and themes, as they correspond directly to the reading.

Transcript

Missy Elliot is painted in blue, with the word “cool” written on her section of the piece. The blue signifies the word cool and cool and fly are synonyms. In Chapter 21 of That’s the Joint, Missy Elliot is put into the category of “Fly Girl”. “Fly describes someone in chic clothing and fashionable hairstyles, jewelry, and cosmetics, a style that grew out of the blaxploitation films of the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. The fly persona in these films influenced a wave of Black contemporary youth who, in turn, resurrected flyness and its continuum in hip-hop culture.” (286) Missy Elliot is unique in this role because as a full-figured fly woman, she breaks new ground by being in a space that typically favors slender women. Missy Elliot had a style that consisted of baggy and vibrant Adidas tracksuits. Although at times she was categorized as being “desexualized” using a patriarchal white supremacist framework of thinking-to me and many women who look up to Missy, she actually actively reclaims her sexuality, fights misogyny, and makes us want to dance- simultaneously. “With her single “She’s a Bitch” from her sophomore LP Da Real World (1999), Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott appends another image to her fly girl posture. Her usage of bitch makes a self-statement about being a mover and shaker, on- and offstage, in rap’s male-dominated arena.” (Keyes, 287) In the Hip Hop industry, women tend to have to prove themselves not only with their MCing skills but also with their “look”. Missy Elliot was able to navigate this system by staying true to her lyrics while executing a fly girl demeanor.

Lauryn Hill is spray painted in purple and is wearing a crown to signify her royal status in Hip-Hop Industry. It’s impossible to fit Lauryn Hill into a single category. She is such an inspiring artist, songwriter, and human. In her music, she steals the show with her deep, lyrical content. Her lyrics and songs are diverse, but I placed her in the category of vicious for her unwavering voice and dedication in her music about Black liberation, critiquing the system of white supremacy on which America was built on. She has an “attitude” because demands respect for her own autonomy. The readings categorized her as “Sista with Attitude” but I also believe she has elements as “Queen Mother”, hence the crown. “In general, “Sista with Attitude” comprises female MCs who value attitude as a means of empowerment and present themselves accordingly. Many of these “sistas” (sisters) have reclaimed the word bitch, viewing it as positive rather than negative and using the term to entertain or provide cathartic release. Other sistas in the interpretive community are troubled by that view. These women, such as Lauryn Hill, have “refused to be labeled a ‘bitch’ because such appellations merely mar the images of young African American females” (Keyes, 289). Lauryn Hill is vicious in her inability to accept the standards that have been inflicted on Black Women in America. She is a true political leader, feminist, and one-of-a-kind MC.

Lil Kim is painted in silver and red. The red color and the 3 X’s signify Lil Kim’s mindset regarding her freedom of sexuality, which can be exhibited through her style, lyrical content, and overall demeanor. She brought to the Hip Hop industry another element different from the other MCs in this painting. In the Book, she’s categorized as a “Mack Diva”.“By the mid- to late 1990s, the “Sista with Attitude” category was augmented with rappers Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, who conflate fly and hardcore attitudes in erotic lyrics and video performances, bordering both “Fly Girl” and “Sista with Attitude” categories. In doing so, they are designated by some as the “mack divas, or “bad girls of hip-hop” The bad girl image also parallels the “badman” character to the African American oral narrative. The feminist rendering of “the badman” includes those sistas who brag about partying and smoking “blunts” with their men; seducing, repressing, and sexually emasculating male characters;10 or “dissin’ ” (verbally downplaying) their would-be female or male competitors—all through figurative speech.” (Keyes, 289). Because Lil Kim falls into this role, she is not highly respected for her creative skills, but rather vilified, dehumanized, and viewed as misusing sex. I argue that Lil Kim was defining her own sexuality, and in doing so- has helped many women find the value in their “erotic power”. Lil’ Kim still is under-credited for her influence on sex-positive feminism and making space for other Mack Divas who followed in her footsteps.

In conclusion, the final sentences of this reading sum up this piece entirely “Female rappers have attained a sense of distinction through revising and reclaiming Black women’s history and perceived destiny. They use their performances as platforms to refute, deconstruct, and reconstruct alternative visions of their identity. With this platform, rap music becomes a vehicle by which Black female rappers seek empowerment, make choices, and create spaces for themselves and other sistas” (Keyes, 290). These women had to navigate through dominant notions of femininity, black female sexuality, and misogynoir. Each of these variables creates different pathways and themes to navigate the system. With the help of Salt’N Pepa, Missy Elliot, Lauryn Hill, and Lil’ Kim, Black women are continuing to make strides in the Hip Hop industry.

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peruditemae · 4 years ago

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Ebola Virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) which is caused by Filoviruses.4 According Mbonye et al., the Ebola virus is contagious through direct contact 4– there was a physical contact between an infected and a susceptible person.1 The Ebola virus received its name from it’s origin, the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.3 This goes for the other subspecies of the Ebola virus. For example, in Mbonye et al.’s 2012 report on the Ebola case in Uganda, they discovered the Ebola virus contained four subspecies of viruses that came from Sudan, Zaire, Bundibugyo, and Ivory Coast. This deadly virus was discovered in 1976, as it swept through African cities,2 infecting and killing hundreds of people. A major Ebola epidemic occurred in 2014, affecting several countries in West Africa.2

It takes 2 to 21 days for symptoms of the Ebola virus to occur.9 Some symptoms of the Ebola virus include “high fever, headache, muscle ache, abdominal pain, tiredness, and diarrhea.8” These symptoms occur within a few days after the disease affected the person. Some people have also reported to experience bloody diarrhea and vomit blood. Recovery is possible at this stage.8 However, for most infected persons, the “disease progresses within days to produce copious internal bleeding, shock, and death.8” Unfortunately, there is no definite cure for the Ebola virus,8 however there are proper prevention techniques that health ministries promote and follow to control epidemics such as this.

The Ebola virus can be transmitted sexually, however, there is a much more need in surveillance data and research for this particular topic, specifically on “the prevalence of viable and transmissible virus in semen over time.9” WHO recommended that male survivors of the Ebola virus should use condoms during sexual intercourse “until their semen has been twice tested negative” for the virus.9 The testing should be offered over a course of two months after onset of disease. If the results were tested positive, testing should be after every month until results are tested twice as negative.9 According to the WHO Advisory Group on the Ebola Virus Disease Response and ongoing research, male survivors should not only practice safe sex for “12 months from onset of their symptoms or until their semen tests negative twice for Ebola virus,9” but to also implement safe hygienic practices into their everyday routines.9 This includes good hand and personal hygiene– immediately and thoroughly washing hands with soap and water when come into contact with semen, including after masturbation.9 Additionally, handling and disposing condoms in a safe matter can help prevent transmission of the virus.9

There are other prevention and control techniques for the Ebola virus. These prevention techniques include early diagnosis to prevent the transmission of the disease, isolating and caring for patients that have the disease, “infection control”, practising safe burial procedures, meticulous contact tracing, and targeted vaccination.7 Another prevention and control techniques include limiting human contact with wildlife. Since fruit bats and monkeys/apes are considered to be the primary source of the Ebola virus,3 precautionary measures should take place such as wearing appropriate protective gear (i.e. gloves), when handling animals, or cooking animal products thoroughly prior to consumption.9 As stated, the Ebola virus is contagious through direct contact with infected people, particularly their bodily fluids.9 Therefore, wearing appropriate protective accessories are required when caring for infected patients, along with practicing personal hygiene.9

There has been a recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On 8th May, 2018, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo reported an Ebola outbreak that has occured in Équateur Province.7 It was reported that this Ebola virus case contains five subspecies– Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan, Reston, and Taï Forest.7 Out of all of these subspecies, the Zaire stream is considered to be the most fatal, accounting for 69% to 88% of fatalities.7 This isn’t the first case of the Ebola virus that has occurred in the DRC; in 1976, the government recorded eight cases of the Ebola virus; in May, 2017, there were eight cases with four deaths. Most of these outbreaks occurred in remote rural areas.7 When an Ebola virus occurs in remote rural areas, the virus is reported to rapidly spread among susceptible persons.6 These remote rural areas include Bikoro and Iboko which are closely located to the Congo River.6 According to Nkengasong and Onyebujoh, this river “serves the two neighbouring countries of the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo…6” Due to the river’s relevance among these two countries, the virus can easily spread to susceptible persons as it is a gateway for the disease to travel to other countries. This then contributes to the Ebola virus epidemic.

In 2018, the first four Ebola virus cases have occured in the capital city of the Équateur province. The city has an estimated populations of 1-2 million residents,6 making it a breeding ground for the virus. If not controlled, the virus will put others at risk. There have been 11,310 deaths reported during the 2014-16 Ebola virus outbreak in west Africa.6 This demonstrates how rapid the transmission of the Ebola virus can take place within neighbouring countries. This is the first time that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and health ministries have approached this issue in an urban city.6 The DRC government and its partners have been developing and establishing special procedures to control this outbreak.

At the end of April, 2018, the Provincial Health Division of the Équateur Province reported and informed national authorities of “21 cases of potential haemorrhagic fever, including 17 deaths in the Ikoko-Impenge health area.5” On 5 May, diseases experts identified five possible cases: “A blood sample was taken from each individual, two who were hospitalized in Bikoro and three at the health centre of Iboko.5” It was reported that two of the samples were positive of the Ebola virus.5 Because of these results, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and its partners took on procedures that were stated earlier.

To reiterate, the prevention and control procedure of the Ebola virus includes the following: early diagnosis, isolating and caring for patients, infection prevention, safe burials, contact tracing, and vaccination 5. As vaccination is highlighted as one of the prevention and control procedures for the Ebola virus, in 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that vaccination is effective and safe for prevention for a Zaire ebola virus outbreak 5. As stated, the Zaire ebola virus is the most fatal stream,7 hence the need for vaccination for this particular virus. This vaccine has proved itself during the fall of the Zaire Ebola Virus Outbreak (EBOV) epidemic in Guinea in 2015 and the rise of the disease in rural Guinea in 2016.5 This vaccination is called rVSV-ZEBOV, which was part of an experiment with 11,841 associates during 2015.9 The experiment was directed by WHO, along with Guinea’s Ministry of Health, Médecins sans Frontieres and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, accompanied by other partners world-wide. For 10 days or more, they documented 5837 people who received the vaccine in which no Ebola cases were found.9 They compared these results with those who were not vaccinated. The results showed that “there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination…9”

With the alliance of the World Health Organization (WHO), The Democratic Republic of Congo has set up a vaccination ring programme to control the Ebola virus.6 The programme is using a Merck-produced vaccine, to which it will be the first time a vaccine has been used outside of West Africa in 2014-2016.6 This vaccine is being utilized as an international approach for active relief of an outbreak, however, there are controversies relating to redistributing this vaccine, which includes ethical, equitable, and accessible considerations.6

Although many prevention and control techniques have been employed for this outbreak, many gaps still remain when establishing an extensive response to this crisis: the DRC’s long history of conflict, particularly in their economy and politics, has resulted in a feeble health system.6 This all can be fixed if effective leadership can take place within the Government of the DRC.6 Regarding this, international financial, human, and material assistance to the DRC are essential for an effective response.6 Without proper leadership, there is no end to this outbreak. Furthermore, there has been logistical challenges when transporting health supplies and workers to designated areas. These challenges include non-commercial flights and inaccessible roads to affected areas.6 Although the World Health Assembly has proclaimed financial and material support for the DRC, it is not yet evident that the DRC has fully received these commitments.6

References

1. Michelle Letchumanan. Public health in the context of infectious disease. 2018.

2. Schneider M. Introduction to public health. 5th ed. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC; 2016.

3. Seven important facts about ebola virus and ebola disease: Every person should know [homepage on the Internet]. . 2015 6 January. Available from: https://microbeonline.com/seven-important-facts-ebola-virus-ebola-disease-every-person-know/.

4. Mbonye A, Wamala J, Winyi-Kaboyo, Tugumizemo V, Aceng J, Makumbi I. Repeated outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers in uganda. Afr Health Sci. 2012 December 01; 12(4): 579-583. PMCID: PMC3598306.

5. Mbala Kingebeni P, Villabona-Arenas C, Vidal N, Likofata J. Rapid confirmation of the zaire ebola virus in the outbreak of the equateur province in the democratic republic of congo: Implications for public health interventions. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2018.

6. Nkengasong JN, Onyebujoh P. Response to the ebola virus disease outbreak in the democratic republic of the congo. The Lancet. 2018; 391(10138): 2395-2398.

7. Barry A, Ahuka-Mundeke S, Ali Ahmed Y, Allarangar Y, Anoko J, Archer BN, Aruna Abedi A, Bagaria J, Belizaire MRD, Bhatia S, Bokenge T, Bruni E, Cori A, Dabire E, Diallo AM, Diallo B, Donnelly CA, Dorigatti I, Dorji TC, Escobar Corado Waeber, Aura Rocio, Fall IS, Ferguson NM, FitzJohn RG, Folefack Tengomo GL, Formenty PBH, Forna A, Fortin A, Garske T, Gaythorpe KA, Gurry C, Hamblion E, Harouna Djingarey M, Haskew C, Hugonnet SAL, Imai N, Impouma B, Kabongo G, Kalenga OI, Kibangou E, Lee TM, Lukoya CO, Ly O, Makiala-Mandanda S, Mamba A, Mbala-Kingebeni P, Mboussou FFR, Mlanda T, Mondonge Makuma V, Morgan O, Mujinga Mulumba A, Mukadi Kakoni P, Mukadi-Bamuleka D, Muyembe J, Bathé NT, Ndumbi Ngamala P, Ngom R, Ngoy G, Nouvellet P, Nsio J, Ousman KB, Peron E, Polonsky JA, Ryan MJ, Touré A, Towner R, Tshapenda G, Van De Weerdt R, Van Kerkhove M, Wendland A, Yao NKM, Yoti Z, Yuma E, Kalambayi Kabamba G, Lukwesa Mwati, Jean de Dieu, Mbuy G, Lubula L, Mutombo A, Mavila O, Lay Y, Kitenge E. Outbreak of ebola virus disease in the democratic republic of the congo, April–May, 2018: An epidemiological study. The Lancet. 2018.

8. Hoyle B. Ebola virus. In: Lerner KL, Lerner BW, editors. The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. 5th ed. ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale; 2014.

9. Ebola virus disease [homepage on the Internet]. . 2018 12 February. Available from: http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-virus-disease.

#epidemiology #research essay

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contextualstudieslorena · 4 years ago

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IS BEING A PART OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY A TREND?

+Throughout the years’ many people are seen coming out as queer. And nowadays it is even more common to see queer characters in media as something that is becoming normalised. For example, in this early graph made by Gallup, (an American analytics and advisory company based in Washington, D.C.) we can see that the amount of people ‘coming out ‘ and identifying as a part of the LGBT community grows every year. Yet, it is seen to be more common in people who are born from 2002 to 1997, that being generation Z. After that, being Millenials, who are followed by generation X. Besides that, it can be seen that few traditionalists identify as LGBT, for a reason that I will be talking about in this essay.

We can also see in the graft that those numbers rise throughout the years. And why does this happen? Is it because Millennials and Gen Z started a new trend of being queer? Or is it because they feel more comfortable talking about issues that used to be hidden before.

Queer representation has indeed been growing a lot, if not in movies or magazines, Kids nowadays can spot a drag queen only looking through social media, or even Netflix, a Movie platform that has been seen adding a lot of queer characters to their movies and shows. If Netflix is doing a good job at bringing awareness and representation that is another conversation but compared to 10 years ago, it is noticeable that every day queer representation grows more and more.

Yet, the only place we can see this is in media, as there is not much of it in the regular history classes we have at school.

It is also important to note that kids can be very moldable. They spend more than 11 years of their life copying exactly everything they see, that being something positive or not. And that happens so often, that a boy died in Indonesia after trying to copy the fictional superhero Spider-Man. ‘Police are investigating if a five-year-old boy in Jakarta was trying to mimic Spider-Man after he jumped out a window to his death after being told he couldn’t watch the latest movie in the franchise.’. And as surprising as this can be, it shows kids and teenagers can be influenced by something so much, they will try to mimic it, which might be happening to all the Gen Z adults who grew up with media shoving down LGBT content down their throats. As well as that, they can also be following their friend’s choices to come out and can be even lying to their own selves for attention.

I could spend an enormous amount of time writing about how social media can affect peoples sexuality and gender but I’d rather do something more educating and look at the past. Where humans started coming together as tribes and living in a society, having to deal with the presence of each other and create romantic and social relationships.

When talking about same-gender relationships the queer community mentions how normal gay relationships are in nature. Petter Boeckman, Norweigan Zoologist would say that more than 1500 species of animals have been seen having some type of homosexual interaction, those not only being mammals but as Boeckman stated "We're talking about everything from mammals to crabs and worms. The actual number is of course much higher. Among some animals homosexual behaviour is rare, some having sex with the same gender only a part of their life, while other animals, such as the dwarf chimpanzee, homosexuality is practised throughout their lives." as well as that, he then compares chimpanzees to humans who identify as homosexual "If a female has sex with a male one time, but thousands of times with another female, is she bisexual or homosexual? This is the same way to have children is not unknown among homosexual people.". However, Petter wasn’t the only one who found homosexual interactions between animals, Kurt Kotrschal, a known biologist for researching these types of behaviours has confirmed that these ty pes of relationships are beneficial for the species.

I am mentioning animals not only to show that homosexuality is natural to other species but because they can be even more related to indigenous people.

Indigenous people are the ones who can be seen the most in contact with nature. They have decades of history of not having any contact with other human beings than the ones that were located in the same tribe as them, and as much as they would fight with other tribes and move around they still had their tribes, where they would create relationships in and settle their tents. They didn’t have any contact with books and science before the colonizers came in 1500 and even after that many tribes weren’t discovered by them in the middle of the Amazon forest, so many of them didn’t even get to be influenced by the Europeans and their racism and misogynistic views and homophobic religion.

The point I want to make is that indigenous people are the ones who are the closest to animals, and if they saw an animal do a homosexual interaction, they would probably see it as something that is intended to happen and not weird, as animals don’t have a perception of that is morally wrong or not. They are a part of nature, different from the Europeans who colonized them who were already influenced by the church and their extremist ideas. And as much as it would be wonderful to have indigenous people be so open-minded as they were, Colonization happened, and with that, so did a period where Europeans found the need to force their catholic beliefs on them, as well as bringing many diseases and suffering. Cieza de Leon, a chronicler of the conquest in Peru once said, and I quote ‘ Within a somewhat different framework. During the colonial years, indigenous morality changed, partly as a result of contact with the Europeans.’She also believes and argues that indigenous people had a spiritual justification for doing anal sex with their partners ( which is now seen as something Queer people are more familiar with), that being in a same-sex or straight relationship. This spiritual justification had to do with their religious beliefs. While Colonial Latin American societies would see anal sex within their own beliefs, Iberian societies would see sodomy as a way of showing male dominance.

There are not that many pieces of evidence of Queer indigenous people in history, as the colonizers would murder them and force them to stop being who they truly were. However, there’s an engraving that shows a little bit more about their experience as trans indigenous people in colonial times. In this engraving made by Theodor de Bry in 1594 as part of his Les Grands Voyages, we can see how this homophobia is well represented. In the art piece, 8 men are shown wearing noble clothes, and between them was Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a man known for being a Spanish nobleman who conquered Panama. But what is atrocious about this art piece is what is in front of them, 3 men being eaten alive by dogs after being demanded to do so by the nobleman, after being seen dressed as women. However, what is most ironic about this engraving is the way it’s presented, which plays when seeing the men standing above them. Who present themselves in a feminine way earring clothes that could nowadays be considered quite puffy and girly. This engraving is only the beginning of what queer indigenous people had to go through, of course not mentioning the amount of evidence of homophobia that was probably erased through the time. To summarize Brazil’s colonization process, the European view on lust, nudity, polygamy, cannibalism, sodomy and homosexuality which was normal to indigenous people, was considered to be against nature and gods will, and their job was to basically baptise as many natives as they wanted and shove catholic ideas down their throat.

Yves d’Evreux, a french capuchin priest delivered a highly dramatic letter, that presented his reaction on how he encountered an indigenous that could be considered a trans man. His trip to Northern Brasil (1613-1614) surprised him , as he reacted in a negative way towards them. As he wrote ‘There is, in Juniparan, in the Island, a hermaphrodite, in the exterior more man than a woman, since he has the face and the voice of woman, with fine, flexible and long hair, however [he] was married and had children (...). (d’Evreux, 1874, p. 90) he then mentions this man again, as he ran after him with the French to ‘purify his soul’ and kill him, he was then captured and chained under the fort of Sao Luis and was obliged to say the following ‘You will die for your crimes, we approve your death and I myself want to light the fuse for the Frenchmen to know and to see that we hate your evil deeds [...]: when Tupan sends someone to take your body, if you want to have in the Heaven the long hair and the body of a woman instead of that of a man, ask Tupan to give you the woman’s body and to be resurrected woman, and you will be in Heaven on the side of women and not of men. (d’Evreux, 1874, p. 232). This however is just a glimpse of what transgender people had to go through during colonial times and still to this day. The queer community is a community that is supposed to help everyone, but that doesn’t focus much on the history of indigenous people and how much they suffered.

In conclusion, as much as nowadays, people can be highly influenced by others, the LGBTQ community has been around for a rather long time and it is not something that the newest generation has made up. From the colonization times till nowadays, queer people have felt oppressed and the necessity to ‘stay in the closet’ and not be their true selves while being afraid of getting judged or even murdered by random people or even close ones. However, nowadays people have been talking more about important issues such as homophobia, sexism and racism, which is making queer people feel more comfortable Even though, they are still fighting for their rights, and they’re still in the long run, protesting for all the people who have died since Europeans somehow decided that god found their sexual choices to be unnatural and demoniac. Now, what is left for us to do is to create a healthy environment and show more representation in media every single day, so more queer people feel comfortable without having to spend their entire lives fighting and running away from who they are. Being queer is not a trend, but queer people have been being hidden from us our entire lives. They were always there, and they are always going to be there.

Bibliography:

Partal, Y., 2021. Are there gay animals in nature? Homosexuality in the animal world. [online] Zoo Portraits. Available at: <https://www.zooportraits.com/animal-homosexuality/> [Accessed 5 April 2021].

Sigal, P., 2003. Infamous desire. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, p.2.

Fernandes, E. and Arisi, B., 2017. Gay Indians in Brazil. 1st ed. Springer.

News-Medical.net. 2021. 1,500 animal species practice homosexuality. [online] Available at: <https://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/1500-animal-species-practice-homosexuality.aspx> [Accessed 9 April 2021].

New York Post. 2021. 5-year-old boy dies ‘trying to be Spider-Man’. [online] Available at: <https://nypost.com/2014/05/04/5-year-old-boy-dies-trying-to-be-spider-man/> [Accessed 9 April 2021].

Jackson, A., Thomas, M. and Steffen, A., 2021. Homosexuality Is Natural. [online] Exposing The Truth. Available at: <https://www.exposingtruth.com/homosexuality-is-natural/> [Accessed 9 April 2021].

Buchholz, K., 2021. Infographic: 5.6 Percent of U.S. Adults Identify as LGBT. [online] Statista Infographics. Available at: <https://www.statista.com/chart/18228/share-of-americans-identifying-as-lgbt/> [Accessed 9 April 2021].

Pictures:

1475. Spanish Explorer Ordering Native Indians To Be Torn Pieces By Dogs Copper Engraving 16Th Century. [image] Available at: <http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/debry-atrocities.htm> [Accessed 9 April 2021].

n.d. Two indigenous women kissing at an LGBTQ+ pride parade. [image] Available at: <http://@indigenasLGBTQ> [Accessed 9 April 2021].

n.d. Trans (We’wha (Zuni) circa 1849-1896 Mexican Indigenous woman. [image].

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aroworlds · 3 years ago

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Whenever I react to posts about representation that throw me under the bus as a sex-favourable, non-partnering allo-aro, I'm always asked the same question: do you have resources for writing allo-aro characters?

But there aren't many resources that focus on writing allo-aro characters (as opposed to our being included in general resources for aromantic characters). As a believer in the truth that almost any type of character can be written in stories with a sufficient amount of different allo-aro characters, most resources don't fit my philosophy as both an allo-aro and a storyteller. I've also long felt that, when it comes to allies writing allo-aro characters, the "ally" aspect is far more important--and less often discussed--than the "character" aspect.

So, for Aro Week, I'm posting a two-part series about how I think allies to allo-aros should go about the process of writing allo-aro characters.

I want to stress that these posts are not for or directed at own voices creators. (I'm not comfortable with the idea of telling other allo-aros how to go about their work!) It's also likely that other allo-aros disagree with me on some or many points when it comes to how our allies write allo-aro characters, and that’s fine: just like in anything else, we have no monolithic viewpoint on representation. Only though having lots of different conversations, and all the missteps such conversations inevitably entail, can we muddle our way towards (something close to) a conclusion.

Link banner image description under keep reading:

[image description: link banner features handdrawn illustration of a yellow pasture against a background of hills and sporadic trees. Scene is overlaid with the dark green/light green/white/yellow/gold stripes of the allo-aro pride flag. The text Aro Worlds Discussion Post sits across the image in a black, antique handdrawn type, separated by two ornate Victorian-style black dividers.]

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juleskelleybooks · 3 years ago

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“Welcome to California, Sebastian,” Adam said with a sly, sexy smirk, and Sebastian was seconds away from walking directly into the pool, clothes and all, just to taste it.

-- WELCOME TO THE SHOW, Jules Kelley

Buy Link x GoodReads

#polyamory #self promo #lgbtq romance #authors on tumblr #indie authors

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msclaritea · 4 years ago

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“There have been prosecutors that refused to seat Black jurors, refused to prosecute lynching, disproportionately condemned young Black men to death row and looked the other way in the face of police brutality,” Politico reported.

“It matters who is in those rooms. I knew I had to be in those rooms. We have to be in those rooms even when there aren’t many like us there.” Kamala Harris makes history

What Kamala Harris Did In Those Rooms: Or 50 Criminal Justice Reforms & Accomplishments (link includes corresponding articles)

1. Deputy DA- Kamala Harris Opposed Prop 21 (passed with 62%) which increased criminal penalties for crimes committed by youth and incorporated many youth offenders into the adult criminal justice system.

2. Deputy DA- Kamala Harris co-founded the Coalition to End the Exploitation of Kids, to provide legal and health services to sexually exploited children, including teenage “prostitutes”

3. As member of the board of trustees of SF MOMA, Kamala Harris created the 1st of its kind in the US “Matches” program, which pairs at-risk youth with mentors to expose them to art and broaden their horizons.

4.DA- Kamala Harris created Back on Track program to help drug offenders re-enter society. Provided vocational training, counseling, parenting services, etc. Substantially reduced recidivism for participants

5.DA- Kamala Harris refused to seek the death penalty even when pressured by members of her own party due to racial disparities in how it is applied 6.DA- Created LGBT Hate Crime Unit

7.DA- Kamala Harris worked to get the first safe house in San Francisco for girls who wanted out of the sex trade 8.DA- Changed underage women/men from being treated as prostitutes to being treated as victims

9.DA/AG- Kamala Harris helped found the Center for Youth Wellness which works to improve the health of children exposed to childhood trauma

10.AG- Kamala Harris created the Bureau of Children’s Justice (BCJ) to streamline enforcement of laws that uphold children’s rights & pursue policies that improve the lives of children Unroll available on Thread Reader

11.AG- BCJ partnered w/USC to link data from the DOJ & Social Services’ case mgmt systems to enable researchers for the 1st time to better determine the overlap b/w CA’s child welfare &juvenile justice populations

12.AG- Kamala Harris’ BCJ worked to diagnose challenges in California’s juvenile justice data systems, in partnership with the Governance Lab at New York University

13.AG- BCJ worked to deliver previously unavailable juvenile justice data (from the Juvenile Court Probation Statistical Sys) to researchers at the Public Policy Institute of CA, Harvard U of Chicago,& UC Berkeley 14.AG-BCJ collaborate with the Judicial Council to develop dashboards for judges to make better decisions about adjudicated juveniles. 15.AG-Awarded Second Chance Grant to expand Back on Track to LA as AG

16.AG- As Attorney General CREATED the Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry (DR3) to reduce the number of repeat offenders

17.AG- DR3 partnered on the Court of College (C2C). The program is designed to divert young offenders from future criminal behavior through cognitive behavioral intervention & exposure to higher education

18.AG- Kamala Harris’ DR3 partnered on the Career Pathways program. It’s an out-of-custody, recidivism-reduction program that provides resources to a probation-supervised population.

19.AG- Kamala Harris’ CA DOJ was accepted into the natl Defending Childhood State Policy Initiative; a cross-sector team of state leaders to develop shared priorities to prevent/address children’s exposure to violence.

20.AG- Created the Truancy Intervention Panel to implement best practices for truancy prevention.

21.AG- BCJ in partnership w/the Ad Council & CA Endowment, conducted a study/designed a public education toolkit to help educators/community leaders communicate w/parents on the importance of kids being in school

22.AG- Created SmartJustice, a new database and analytical tool to track repeat offenders and offense trends to provide counties with more effective options in developing anti-recidivism initiatives.

23.AG- Kamala Harris issued guidance to CA law enforcement agencies outlining new responsibilities to track/report citizen complaints against peace officers, including complaints alleging racial/identity profiling

24.AG- Supported AB71 (which became law) requiring all CA law enforcement agencies to collect data on shootings & use of force by a civilian/police against the other that result in serious bodily injury or death.

25.AG- Created the first Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (“POST”) certified law enforcement training on both procedural justice and implicit bias, the first of its kind in the country.

26.AG- Instituted a body camera policy for all DOJ special agent personnel conducting field operations.

27.AG- Convened community members, incl. roundtables w/HS students from South/East LA. The topics were experiences with police and ideas on how to improve the relationship between youth & law enforcement.

28.AG-Created the 21st Century Policing Working Group to foster discussion regarding implicit bias and building community trust.

29.AG- Kamala Harris created OpenJustice, a 1st of-its-kind criminal justice open data initiative providing unprecedented data. Provides key criminal justice indicators and transparency Unroll available on Thread Reader

30.AG- Kamala Harris opened a civil pattern or practice investigations into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office 31.AG-Kamala Harris opened a civil pattern or practice investigations into Bakersfield Police Department

32.AG-Kamala Harris Created the Racial Profiling Advisory Board Unroll available on Thread Reader

33.AG- Kamala Harris issued guidance outlining the law enforcement agencies responsibilities to assist immigrant crime victims in applying for U-visas.

34.AG- Kamala Harris enlisted major law firms to provide pro-bono legal services to for unaccompanied children entering the US. She supported legislation to provide $3M to qualified CA nonprofits to provide legal aid.

35.AG-Kamala Harris sponsored Bill that allows human trafficking victims to petition court to set aside a conviction of solicitation/prostitution.

36.AG- Kamala Harris eliminated longstanding rape kit backlog of over 1,300 untested kits and significantly reduced processing times. Received the US DOJ’s Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services

37.AG- Kamala Harris sponsored AB1644 to establish 4yr pilot to assist elementary schools in providing mental health services to students, prioritizing schools in communities with high levels of childhood trauma/ adversity

50 Times #Kamala Accomplished/Advocated for #CriminalJusticeReform 38.AG- #KamalaHarris supported Senate Bill 1143 to significantly limit the practice of isolating juveniles in room confinement. The bill was signed into law and took effect in 2018.

39.AG- Kamala Harris supported AB 1840 to require that state agencies give preference to homeless youth and formerly incarcerated youth when hiring interns and student assistants

40.AG- Kamala Harris supported AB2390 to provide a legislative fix to 2010 legislation that inadvertently removed a mechanism for juvenile offenders with good records on supervised probation to obtain honorable discharge status

41.AG- Kamala Harris supported AB1843 to ensure that juvenile records are protected from unfair and undue inquiry during employer background checks.

42.SEN- Kamala Harris reintroduced (along with colleagues) the National Criminal Justice Commission Act. Creates a National Criminal Justice Commission to review & propose reforms to address the most pressing issues facing the Criminal Justice system.

43.SEN- Kamala Harris sponsored bill that would legalize marijuana; expunge prior convictions, require re-sentencing hearings for those still under supervision;& invest money in communities adversely impacted by the War on Drugs

44.SEN- Kamala Harris sponsored the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017 — to encourage states to reform or replace the practice of money bail.

45.SEN- Kamala Harris sponsored legislation to increase funding for public defenders, reduce their workload, and provide pay parity between prosecutors and public defenders

46.SEN- Kamala Harris introduced legislation to limit the use of solitary confinement. Also pressed Bureau of Prisons to take measures to address the significant increase in the use of restricted housing.

47.SEN- Kamala Harris sponsored legislation to end discrimination in public housing for offenders released from prison

48.SEN- Kamala Harris sponsored legislation to reform the treatment of incarcerated women in order to reduce the negative impact incarceration has on the family of women behind bars, especially their children

49.SEN-Kamala Harris sponsored legislation to establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men & Boys. The Commission will investigate/provide recommendations to improve the disparities Black men experience.

50.SEN- Kamala Harris worked with civil rights groups (like the NAACP LDF) to strengthen the First Step.

MY QUESTION TO HER CRITICS: CAN YOU DO BETTER?

#Kamala Harris #Accomplishments #Those Rooms=The Lion's Den #LGBTQ Rights #Black Lives Matter #California #Georgia #nevada #Arizona #Black Men #Black Women #Recidivism #Civil Rights #Financial Rights

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evisa-mart · 4 years ago

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ADVISORY: TRAVEL AND VISA RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO COVID-19

Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for movement on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights

1. To contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Government had found a way to abridge the internal/outward development of global travelers (the two outsiders and Indians) in an aligned manner. Further worldwide air travel of travelers (aside from MHA) has been denied compelled identified with Lockdown/Unlock rules. For bringing back Indian Nationals abandoned abroad, the Government of India has dispatched ' Vande Bharat' mission. Also, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) has gone into the 'Air Transport Bubbles' game plans with scarcely any nations to permit restricted business traveler administrations on a similar premise, when daily worldwide flights are suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. To encourage the development of people on these restricted international non-planned business flights, the accompanying SoP is therefore set down:

A. In-bound flights:

I. The classification of people, who will be qualified to go on these flights, will be as allowed by MHA every once in a while.

ii. People envious to make a trip to India on Vande Bharat flights will enroll themselves with the Indian Missions in the nation where they are abandoned/dwelling, alongside vital subtleties as recommended by MEA. Such enrollment may not be needed on flights working under Air Transport Bubbles plans.

iii. They will go to India by non-booked business trips as permitted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA); and ships as approved by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA)/Ministry of Shipping (MOS). Just those group and staff, who are tried COVID-19 negative, will be permitted to work these flights/ships.

iv. SOP for these flights/boats' tasks will be as given by MOCA/DMA or MOS occasionally.

V. Need will be given to convincing instances of in trouble, including traveler laborers/workers who have been laid off, transient visa holders confronted with the expiry of visas, people with health-related crisis/pregnant ladies/older people or those needed to re-visitation of India because of death of a relative, and understudies.

The expense of movement, as indicated by the transporter, will be borne by such voyagers.

In light of the enlistments got for Vande Bharat flights, MEA will get ready flight/transport shrewd information base of every single such explorer, including subtleties, for example, name, age, sex, cell phone number, the spot of habitation, area of definite objective; and data on RT-PCR test taken and its outcome. This information base will be shared by MEA with the particular State/UT ahead of time.

Viii. If there should arise an occurrence of flights working under air transport bubbles, traveler show containing similar subtleties as given above for Vande Bharat flights or in a reconsidered design as might be finished by MEA with the nation concerned will be put together by the carriers to the Indian Mission in the country concerned before the activity of each trip with a duplicate to the State/UT Government of the objective air terminal in India

ix. MEA/MOCA will assign State/UT astute nodal officials, who will organize with the nodal officials posted for this reason by the individual State/UT, both for the Vande Bharat trips just as for the flights worked under air transport bubbles.

x. MEA and MOCA will show two days' notification within any event, the timetable (day, spot, and season of appearance) Of the approaching flight/transport, on their advanced online stage.

xi. All voyagers will likewise be needed to endeavor to make the excursion at their danger.

xii. While onboard the flight, required safeguards, for example, wearing covers, environmental cleanliness, respiratory cleanliness, hand cleanliness, and so on, are to be seen via carrier staff, team, and all travelers.

xiii. Travelers showing up through the land fringes will likewise need to go through a similar convention as above.

xiv. The Guidelines on wellbeing conventions and isolate for worldwide appearances, as given by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), now and again, will be watched

B. Out-bound flights:

I. The class of people, who will be qualified to go on these flights, will be as allowed by MHA now and then.

ii. MOCA will show on its site the class of people qualified to go out of India

iii. Such people will apply to MOCA or an organization/offices assigned by MOCA for this reason, alongside vital subtleties, including the spots of flight and appearance

iv. The movement from India will be on the non-booked business flights, as are permitted by MOCA.

V. Indian sailors/team looking to acknowledge agreements to serve on vessels abroad can go on the non-planned business trips as permitted by MOCA or the flights masterminded by their bosses subject to leeway given by the Ministry of Shipping.

vi. Before the tickets of such people are affirmed, the aircraft concerned will guarantee that the objective nation permits such people with substantial visa in that nation. The conditions, assuming any, forced by the accurate country, should be satisfied by the particular meaning to travel.

vii. The expense of movement, as indicated by the transporter, will be borne by such voyagers as endorsed.

viii. At the hour of getting onto the flight, MOCA will guarantee that all voyagers go through warm screening according to wellbeing convention. Just asymptomatic voyagers would be permitted to get onto the plane.

ix. While onboard the flight, required safeguards, such as wearing covers, natural cleanliness, respiratory cleanliness, hand cleanliness, and so forth, are to be seen via carrier staff, team, and all travelers.

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