“When Rio de Janeiro mayor Marcelo Crivella set out to censor Marvel’s Avengers: The Children’s Crusade for its inclusion of a same-sex kiss between two superheroes, he certainly didn’t intend to make it one of the most well-known scenes, comics, and collections to ever hit Brazilian news.
The unexpected development in the world of Brazilian comic book sales has taken international media by surprise, shedding light on anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments in some of the country’s highest offices–and the work being done to protect the rights of that community, at the same time. Crivella, an evangelical bishop before taking office as Mayor of Rio, wanted to send a message by censoring copies of the Marvel Comics kiss for its “inappropriate” content for children and families. But the city’s justice system, and now the front page of the country’s biggest newspaper have made the Young Avengers romance historic for a whole new reason.
Crivella made his announcement via Twitter on Thursday, September 5th, claiming that he had encountered copies of the Marvel trade paperback including the kiss between same-sex superheroes Wiccan and Hulkling, while visiting A Bienal Internacional do Livro Rio, or “The International Book Biennial Rio” (via O Globo). Ironically, his claim that the content is “inappropriate” to children led to retailers selling out of the copies which remained on shelves. On Friday, municipal inspectors arrived to conduct random searches for materials “with inappropriate scenes for children and adolescents,” claiming they would not comply with the requirements of Article 78 of the Statute of Child and Adolescent, and should be sold in sealed, black packaging, with a warning. The event’s leaders interceded, and without any judicial body supporting the search, the inspectors departed. (According to the Statute, depictions of a same-sex kiss do not qualify as inappropriate).”
This is revolutionary y’all. I remember being 13 and refused to go do any ceremony because my parents tried to force me to go through a bar mitzvah. By virtue of the masculine name alone I just couldn’t do it. After that, I felt very alienated from the Jewish community. Having this option is so important for us to repair these binary aspects of our culture (link)
“NFL free agent Ryan Russell is ready to play, but he’s also ready to live his truth. In an essay published Thursday on ESPN.com, the former Dallas Cowboys player came out as a “talented football player, a damn good writer, a loving son, an overbearing brother, a caring friend, a loyal lover, and a bisexual man.”
“Today, I have two goals: returning to the NFL, and living my life openly,” he wrote. “I want to live my dream of playing the game I’ve worked my whole life to play, and being open about the person I’ve always been.”
In finding a new home for the 2019 season, Russell said that he hopes to end the stigma around LGBTQ+ athletes, noting that there “isn’t a single openly LGBTQ player in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball or the NHL.”
“I want to change that,” he said. “For me, for other athletes who share these common goals, and for the generations of [LGBTQ+] athletes who will come next.”
The Best Bad Thing by Karina Carrasco The Whale by Mark Beauregard Frog Music by Emma Donoghue Bittersweet by Nevada Barr Patience & Sarah by Isabel Miller
Are you a space fan looking for the ultimate low-key pride pins? Then look no further: since these pins are just a blend of colors instead of the actual “stripes” of the flag, it’s a lot harder to recognize them as “pride” merch! Not only that, but the focus is the little planet instead of the colored background! Especially since a lot of the flags have grey/white/black! Trust me, those of us who are used to looking at pride flags on the daily pick up on these a lot more than other people do.
Let multiisexual men like women, let multisexual men TALK ABOUT liking women even in LGBT+ spaces, it doesn’t make them any less bisexual or any less LGBT+
At Planned Parenthood, we believe that everyone deserves to feel loved, supported, and valued. That’s why we’re proud to join PFLAG and CenterLink to bring you Q Chat Space — a digital online community where LGBTQ+ teens ages 13 to 19 can chat with like-minded peers going through similar experiences in real time.
We know that not everyone has an LGBTQ+ student group or community center easily available to them. Q Chat Space is a way for LGBTQ+ teens to connect with each other through live-chat group sessions — no matter where they are. The conversations on Q Chat Space are digital, and are run by experienced staff who work at LGBTQ+ centers around the country.
Q Chat Space aims to create an environment of learning and acceptance, where LGBTQ+ teens can make friends and build community in a safe space. Group agreements like respecting people’s identities and pronouns, keeping conversations confidential, welcoming new ideas and different perspectives, and owning up to and forgiving mistakes help make everyone’s experience welcoming and positive.
Upcoming sessions include discussions around gender identity, diversity, being out at school, trans issues, and healthy relationships.
For those bi folks who sometimes get overwhelmed by all the beautiful people in the world (aka me watching The Force Awakens… they’re all so pretty???)
(Image description: “too bi to function” in lavender and purple stamp-style font, with a row of lavender hearts at the top)
We bisexuals don’t get enough rep in mainstream media and I feel like this contributes to the feeling that we don’t have a distinct culture. But! We do! Bis let’s get together and make some bi culture happen. Here’s my start of what bi culture is…
Cuffed jeans
Tucked in shirts
Bisexual flag!
Finger guns
Double thumbs up
Awkward standing
Not being able to sit straight/ putting our feet up on anything and everything
Leather jackets
Striped shirts
Overalls
Bonus: bi people are always the coolest people in the room. Always.
“The University of Michigan research found that 79 percent of young people aged 14 to 24 believe that bathroom use should not be restricted according to a person’s trans status.
This majority, who supported trans people using the bathroom they felt most comfortable in, said that their decision was based on four key factors.
These were that bathroom use is private and should be a personal decision; that bathroom choice is a matter of freedom and human rights; that trans people are not sexual perpetrators; and that forcing trans people to use specific bathrooms puts them at risk.”
