Amplify Sex In The Culture Diaries

Trust Women Week: Bianca's story

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:14:00 -0500

EDITOR'S NOTE: Trust Women Week overlaps with the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and reasserts our firm commitment to reclaiming the future of reproductive decision-making in 2012. Throughout the week, Amplify will be honoring women's experiences and voices by featuring a different story from The 1 in 3 Campaign January 21-27.

1in3Campaign - Bianca from biancalaureano on Vimeo.

Virginity in the Media

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:38:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

There’s always talk about virginity, at least it seems that way. The idea of virginity and who is a virgin has been discussed for generations. It probably will continue for more generations after today. Earlier last week Samantha wrote about virginity in the article “Myths About Virginity in Glee’s ‘First Time’” and highlights 4 myths about virginity connected to the show. One of my homegirls, Ellen, also wrote about virginity focused primarily among queer youth and answered questions such as “how does a gay or lesbian person ‘lose’ their virginity?” and also discusses Kurt “losing” his virginity on Glee.

I greatly appreciate all of these posts because I stopped watching Glee seasons ago. This was around the time they were just not getting a lot of things right for me as a viewer. Like many folks, I decided to spend my time not working on shows that are actually entertaining and not enraging. Nonetheless, I still find these examples important to know about and to possibly use as opportunities to start conversations.

So this post is also about virginity. It’s about virginity because I went to see an advanced screening of the film Immortals (in 3D) which was the highest grossing film this weekend bringing an estimated $68 million worldwide. Now, I admit that I would not have seen this film had I had to pay for it, you can read my full review here, but there were very interesting conversations around virginity represented that got me thinking for today’s post.

The narrative of virginity in the film were connected to the gift of seeing the future that the Oracle had (played by Freida Pinto) who is protected by three High Priestesses of various ethnic backgrounds throughout the film. The High Priestesses are there to deter those who wish to harm the Oracle and confuse them to which woman is the actual Oracle. Now, we are expected to believe the reason she has this gift is because she is touched by the gods and that it is only hers until she no longer is a virgin.

Yes, we’ve heard this story before. Lots of pressure on a woman and her virginity. What I did not expect was the Oracle to decide to give up her gift (seeing the future) and thus have sex. She decided that the pressure of seeing the world through other people’s eyes was too much. She wanted to see the world through her own eyes. As a result she decided to have penetrative vaginal intercourse, or so we are lead to believe.

What strikes me as interesting was this connection of responsibility and pressure connected to virginity. Isn’t that the truth?! There are so many ways that young women, especially young women of Color’s, virginity is connected to their being honorable, pure, good, and eventually being gifted with a relationship (often with someone of another gender), support, and everlasting love. It’s very much a constructed message directed mainly at young women. There are also many ways we and society, judge youth who engage in sexual activities and assume they are not aware of what they are doing. Sometimes they are often asked “why” they would want to engage in such activities. I’m not sure many folks would be ready to hear all the answers. Often, I find, we say “I don’t know” because it’s the closest thing we have to understanding what self-determination feels and sounds like.

So what if we looked at virginity from a different lens. From the lens of getting rid of pressure to be pure and honorable, desiring to have control over one’s life versus doing what others tell people to do. I’m basically talking about agency and self-determination here. If we looked at virginity and the choices some young people make in no longer maintaining/claiming/holding onto their virginity as a form of self-determination how may the messaging and work we do change and shift? What new challenges may we encounter? Who will be excluded from this approach (i.e. people who do not have a choice to maintain/claim/hold onto their virginity because of sexual abuse, rape, child marriage, etc.)?

I’ve thought about this topic for a very long time. How virginity is connected to a sense of morality and decency. My personal conclusion is that a lot of our understanding and ideas about virginity are connected to conquest and colonization. Some books that have helped me think more about this topic include Dr. Eileen Suarez-Findaly’s Imposing Decency: The Politics of Imposing Sexuality and Race in Puerto Rico 1870-1920, and Hanne Blank’s Virgin: The Untouched History. When I think about how complex virginity is, that is when I begin to understand we cannot just have one definition, one response, one reaction, and one right way.

What If Justin Bieber Has a Baby?

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:30:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

If you are into popular culture in any way, or watch the news, you probably know who Justin Bieber is and that a young woman alleges 17 year old singer is the the progenitor* of her child. Reports claim that Bieber will take a paternity test, that 20 year old Mariah Yeater requests financial assistance for her child, and that young girls all over the world are pissed off at the young woman and are bullying her and making rationalizations to act out violently! Yeater claims she had sex with Bieber after a show he gave in Los Angeles, CA in a bathroom and that he stated specifically he did not want to use a condom because it was his first time and he wanted to “feel everything.”

I’m not on Team Bieber nor am I on Team Mariah Yeater. I’m not on any team besides Team Media Justice (yes that’s code for Team Bi). I created my team and I encourage readers to do the same. Figure out what all of the information is, and then think about how this information impacts our communities and work. That is what this post is about. What is going on regarding this child, the conversations around children of young parents, how are they supported, targeted, ignored, threatened, and what will we do to change that (if anything!?). An element of this hysteria among young people and Bieber is not that he’s no longer “available” (as he’s been openly dating Selena Gomez for the past several months). Rather, what do we lose if he is the progenitor of this child?

One of the things I do appreciate about Justin Bieber is that he not only demonstrates with his life how media can change one’s entire reality as he was “found” on YouTube (for the most part), but also that he’s been open about practicing abstinence and speaks on it freely and openly. I think it’s important for youth, especially young girls who identify right now as heterosexual, to have a image of a young person who is standing by the choice to be abstinent at this time. I think it’s useful to have this dialogue go on in popular culture that many pre-teens do consume especially at a time when comprehensive sexuality education is not offered for all youth in the U.S.
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Make-Up as Media Making

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:52:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

Yes! You read correctly. In this piece I will make an argument that using and applying make-up can be a form of media for many folks. Now, this is not to say that folks who use make-up are always choosing or aware they are making media, but I think many of them are aware they are engaging in a form of art. Now, I know there are lots of folks who may disagree with this for several reasons, and I’d like to respond to some of those. Last week was the first time in a long time that I had been complimented on my make-up. A friend and colleague had said to me in the elevator “your make-up is flawless” and I felt good!

I don’t know too many folks who don’t like to be complimented. I felt proud to know that there was someone who recognized the care, skill, and time it took to get my make-up the way I had wanted it to look. This was one of the things that sparked my desire to write this post. Before I get into the specific points I’d like to make, let me share a story with you.

When I went back to school to focus on gender I remember having many comments made towards me about my gender expression. As my bio above mentions, I identify as a “femme” and have always had a gender expression that many read as stereotypical to Western ideas of how women are to look and ideas of femininity. I did not feel welcomed in that space. I questioned if my purple backpack was “gender neutral” enough. I resorted to wearing jeans and t-shirts more often than I cared for. My creative spirit had been broken and I became depressed.
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Flashback to Revolutionary TV: The Golden Girls

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:28:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

Part of me has wanted to feature some revolutionary television shows that have inspired me in so many ways. These are shows that we don’t often have accessible on basic television (not including cable) but that were available when I was growing up on basic national networks. This may be a series depending on the response I receive from readers, or this may be a one-shot deal. Either way, I’m too excited to write about The Golden Girls!

Earlier last week I saw an image shared on a social media site of The Golden Girls and it inspired this post. I remember watching The Golden Girls on television growing up and I would not be surprised that watching this show encouraged me to go into the field of reproductive justice. Growing up with this type of media really impacted me and still does today and I knew I had to share, even if just a bit, with readers.

Many of you reading may have a background with The Golden Girls as the one surviving cast member of the show is Betty White who is experiencing what some may call a “come back” (but it’s not like she went anywhere to begin with). With White being at the center of a hugely successful social media campaign to get her to host Saturday Night Live and now with a “rap” song released called “I’m Still Hot,” she’s making it clear she’s not going anywhere. Her song also makes references to The Golden Girls either by name or by referencing cheese cake.

For those not knowledgeable of the show, it takes place in Miami, Florida and features four women: Rose performed by Betty White, Blanche performed by Rue McClanahan, Dorothy performed Bea Arthur and Sofia, Dorothy’s mother, performed by . We follow the four women who are all over 55 years old in their everyday lives as single women. Estelle Getty. All of the women are widows except for Dorothy who is divorced and her husband Stan has a returning storyline. They are all parents and some even grandparents. We follow them as they age, find work, date, and remarry.

The Golden Girls discussed and represented so many aspects of our lived realities. How is it that I connected so much to a show that featured older white women living in Florida? I do believe it is because of how the characters are created and the topics they discuss. This was also one of the first times I saw a representation of a Caribbean gay man in a television series who was normalized and not targeted or harassed. Each episode had an amazing script written and the performances were stellar! Some of the topics they discussed, and that I remember to this day, include: HIV, condom usage, dating, sexism, homophobia, single parenting, marriage, divorce, healthcare, aging, disability, race, and of course friendship.

They were, and still are, on the vanguard of television.

Homophobia

In the pilot episode of The Golden Girls where we are introduced to all of the characters, Blanche, who owns the home all the ladies rent a room from, is seeking roommates. We are also introduced to her cook named Coco who is a gay Latino man. Throughout the series homophobia was challenged by normalizing lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.

For example, check out the conversation Dorothy, Sophia and Blanche have about one of Dorothy’s childhood friends who identifies as a lesbian.

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Media Justice Mash-Up: Latino Heritage Month Edition

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:23:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

I’ve been struggling with what to write for this weeks article. I’ve fluctuated from writing about the protests and movements going on currently in NYC and all over the U.S. Then I’ve thought about writing about different topics that have come up for Latino Heritage Month (September-October). I also considered writing a longer piece about class and how that’s connected to so many ideas but our social realities of class and access are different. I’d still like to write about that topic sometime soon, but before I could write about that topic I had to get this out of my system: triflin’ and offensive advertisements.

It all seems to come together, those topics I wanted to discuss. The movements against corporate greed and wealth, class issues in this commercial for Verizon. There’s no transcript, but you can imagine just from the image what is going on or being sold.

In this advertisement Verizon has chosen to sell their latest cellular telephone using symbols that are appropriations of the Hindu religion. This occurring so close to when folks are dressing up for Halloween. I want to be clear with readers who are not familiar with this value and belief system: this is not okay. This is problematic on numerous levels! This advertisement is in no way praising or respecting any aspect of Hinduism. It is actually mocking the belief system and attempting to sell aspects of the religion to consumers.

And this is why this column exists. For media such as these. For us to be thoughtful and aware consumers and media makers. This is one of the reasons why when Latino Heritage Month comes around I try to focus attention on folks who are doing work that impacts reproductive justice movements. Often organizations and spaces celebrating this month often forget or consciously exclude topics of sexuality and reproductive justice. Instead of taking advantage of normalizing HIV testing (October 15 is the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day), or discussing how to combat transmisogny within our communities and prepare for Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), I’ve often experienced conversations that are about watching groups perform, having authors discuss their work and watching films. I see these forms of celebrations useful in a very general sense, yet there needs to be more of a challenge among us and from within our communities.
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Revisiting Abstinence In Media

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:35:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

As I prepare for a new season of some of my favorite shows (can’t wait to check out the Sons of Anarchy (which I’ve discussed here before) I’ve been indulging in watching some of my favorite shows that I own on DVD. One of the shows that I’m constantly in awe of is Pushing Daises.

Pushing Daises is one of those rare shows that is not only entertaining with a strong, funny and intelligent script, but also mixes magical realism into the plot. One additional element to this show that I really adore is the representation of abstinence as well as the create ways characters find to express their love and attraction to one another. I find this type of narrative often omitted from stories of courtship or experiences in dating and forming relationships. Check out the trailer below:

I find this series extremely useful when discussing abstinence. Not only does this show center abstinence since this is a reality for the main characters, but it also offers a look into how we can be and get creative in our expressions of love and attraction to others that is safe in many ways. The premise of the show is that Ned (Lee Pace) is a pie maker who works with Olive (Kristin Chenoweth) but also has a secret power, which is where the magical realism comes in, in that he can “awaken the dead” for one minute, but if he leaves them alive something/one else must die in its place. He may touch them again and they are dead for good. Ned is using his power to help solve crimes of people who are murdered with private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride). When his childhood sweetheart Chuck (Anna Friel) is murdered he awakens her but is so caught up in his love for her he does not touch her again. Their entire courtship and relationship centers around Chuck and Ned not touching one another’s skin, which of course limits their ability to show love and affection. But they find ways to do so.

This show is one of the few that has only had two seasons but has been so influential, at least for me as an educator. Using this in a classroom setting for a sexuality class is how I envision this piece of media being a good guide into conversations on affection, attraction, abstinence, limiting transmission of STIs, and safety. For example, take Ned and Chuck’s experiences kissing one another. This is something that if done without any barrier methods for Ned and Chuck, can result in Chuck’s death. As a result, they get creative. Check it out below:

Chuck and Ned use plastic wrap as a barrier method to protect themselves from coming into skin-to-skin contact with one another. This may not be a perfect example of reality, but it is a good example of how using plastic wrap can be used as a barrier method. For example, it’s not rare to hear that plastic wrap (as long as it is not microwavable) can be used in place of a dental dam to limit exposure to bodily fluids when engaging in oral sex. They also do similar things when holding hands as they wear gloves. Early in the show they did not hold one another’s hands, instead they made eye contact and held it and held onto their own hands. http://youtu.be/0raikOcfgi4 It’s a great example of showing affection towards someone by holding hands, but it’s also a great example of a safe activity that may limit STIs. The use of a glove for this safety speaks also to the use of latex gloves as barriers for various types of sexual activities.

Ned also finds his co-worker Olive is infatuated with him and desiring him as well. Their experiences are ones that are honest, hopeful, charming, and realistic for many folks. Being able to talk to someone we are attracted to, have a crush on, or want to get to know better takes courage. Olive is all of these things and so much more! Take a look at the witty and fun exchange Olive and Ned often have here.

Ned and Olive’s relationship is one that evolves in ways that I find realistic and supportive. At the end of season one Olive goes to a convent and there discovers that Chuck’s birth mother is also her Aunt Lilly. Here we have a narrative of young mothers being sent away to birth their children. This was not uncommon in many communities at particular times in the US, but today we don’t really have young mothers being sent away for fear of embarrassment (of themselves or their families) as we did years ago. Here’s a great clip of how Ned discovers the secret Olive has discovered.

I also appreciate how Ned and Chuck discuss their relationship with one another. Sometimes these conversations are scary and difficult to have, but Ned is very much the type to “spit it out” to get the conversation going and the statement out! This is a characteristic I enjoy about Ned, but also one that I can relate to because often when you think about something so much you become anxious, often some folks may just blurt out what is on their mind to find piece of mind. Here is the exchange Ned and Chuck have about being in a relationship with one another. Chuck wants to be realistic and acknowledges that Ned may want and need different types of affection that she cannot give and share with him because of their situation. Ned’s response to Chuck’s statement is that “just because we want things doesn’t mean we need them to be happy” and reminds Chuck that he wants to be with her even if they cannot be together in certain ways.

I find this interaction between Chuck and Ned one that speaks to how relationships may work even if/when one sexual encounters are not at the center. In our society we usually assume that a partnered, monogamous couple, especially one that is married and/or in love are engaging in sexual activity. Rarely do we imagine that their relationship works for them in ways that bring them both joy but does not include sexual activities. It really does challenge our way of thinking about relationships.

This is such a great show and I miss it dearly! Not just because it’s great content and stories, but it’s also useful in the classroom and entertaining. I’ve yet to find another show that embraces all of these conversations in such a unique and complete way. What are some forms of media that you all enjoy that discuss and represents abstinence that is accessible?

Media Justice Mash-Up

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:48:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

The past 5 weeks of sharing notes from my Human Sexuality course (read all 5 parts here) meant I wasn’t writing about what was going on in our communities for a bit. A media mash-up seemed like a good place to start as there is so much going on and being discussed! But more importantly, there is a lot of action around things that folks believe are connected to injustice.

Gun Hill Road in Theaters
The film Gun Hill Road was released in NYC (and soon LA) a few weeks ago and there has been a ton of media attention for the film, as there should be. Not only is the film one of the first independent movies to get such acclaim and notice in theaters, it also shares the story of a young transgender Latina from the Bronx and has cast a young transgender Latina from the Bronx to portray this character! The film introduces Harmony Santana who plays Vanessa (who is also called Michael in the film). Harmony has been interviewed numerous times since her role and speaks about her experiences preparing for the film, her experiences with her family, and what she is planning to do today.

Check out the trailer below

Here’s an interview with Harmony at the Sundance Film Festival this year (sorry, no transcript).

It took me a few weeks to watch Gun Hill Road in the theater, but when I did, I was glad I did. You may read my review here, where I share some questions that still remain for me about this film and include some areas that were deeply uncomfortable and triggering. If you’ve seen the film I’d love to hear your thoughts. To see the next cities Gun Hill Road will be at visit the official website.
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Online Course: Sociology of Human Sexuality - Part 4

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:24:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

This is a series of posts from the sexuality course I am teaching this summer. Check out the first, second and third weeks. If you are interested in receiving some of the readings, syllabus, and workbook assignments please leave a comment with a way to contact you.

The last week of class has a series of guest speakers discussing topics that range from sex work, HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and our final class will be an evaluation of the course, turning in of the final projects (information below of those) and a conversation with author and artists Ivan Velez, Jr. regarding his book Tales of the Closet.

There are two options for the final project: either a traditional research paper on the topic of the student’s choice or rewriting a form of media to represent inclusivity, responsibility, and accountability regarding sexual health, sexuality, and reproductive justice from the student’s perspective which is accompanied by an analysis. The final post will be about our conversation with Ivan Velez, Jr., what questions folks had for him and how he responded to them and I’ll share some of the topics students chose to (re)write about. Because we spend a good amount of time discussing the final project this week’s discussion and notes are not as long as the previous ones but still include good information and highlights of our conversations!

Day 9
Sex Work
This class discussion required students to do some reading in their textbook as well as a chapter from the book Sun, Sex and Gold: Tourism and Sex Work in the Caribbean, an anthology by Kamala Kempadoo. This anthology was one of the first by Caribbean scholars discussing and addressing gender, race, class, ethnicity, im/migration, citizenship, and how it intersects with sex work in the Caribbean. They read Joan Phillips article “The Case of the Beach Boy and White Female Tourist” which focuses on a historical analysis of sex work in Barbados from colonization to present. Her article turns the stereotype that primarily women engage in sex work and men as their clients by sharing her qualitative data of Bajan men who court and partner with racially White women (mostly from Europe) who are on vacation in exchange for profit. The profit in this case may be food, shelter, alcohol, access to places only tourists and their company may enter, clothing, and sometimes money.

Students were also asked to watch the first 15 minutes of the documentary “Rent A Rasta” which discusses the same exchange Phillips discusses, however the sex tourism occurs in Jamaica. The second part of the documentary focuses on Rastafarian religion and connections to exploiting the identity of being a Rasta based on stereotypes people living abroad may have. The film is also narrated in a way that is, in my opinion, misogynistic and sexist. It is one thing to state how this is a social issue and how it is impacted and influenced by colonization, racism, classism and religious inequality versus identifying the women in the film in degrading ways. The film is a useful example for folks who “don’t believe” the Philips article is true or relevant today and a useful tool in deconstructing and being a critical media consumer.

RENT A RASTA from cinepobre.com on Vimeo.

At the beginning of this lecture I write the following terms on the board: “Sex Worker,” “Prostitute,” and “Trafficking.” I begin by asking students how they would define the term “prostitute.” I start with this term because it is the terms that out of the three, folks have a working understanding or knowledge of. Because this is an upper level course, students have very inclusive definitions for “prostitute.” Students came up with the definition of “exchanging sex/ual services for profit/shelter/food/security/clothing/etc.” Students did not come to an agreement as to if this term was only applicable to street prostitution or “high end escorts” (similar to whom government officials/politicians have been connected to). From this conversation I was able to discuss a hierarchy that exists not just in our society and community, but also within the sex work field. It is not uncommon to hear that street prostitution is the “lowest” form of sex work, being connected to ideas of class, access, race, ethnicity, documentation status, ability, gender, and age.
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Online Course: Sociology of Human Sexuality - Part 3

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:40:00 -0500

This is a series of posts from the sexuality course I am teaching this summer. Check out the first week and second week of notes. If you are interested in receiving some of the readings, syllabus, and workbook assignments please leave a comment with a way to contact you!

Day 6
Abortion, Adoption & Female Sexual Dysfunction

The first part of this class we discussed abortion. In this lecture I explained the legal and political history of abortion in the US, what is included in the procedure, and debunking myths regarding the procedure and people who experience this option. Reading's for this part of the course included What Did The Doula Do?, where I share my experiences as a doula and working with people who are having an abortion procedure. Another reading was Abortion Doesn't Increase Mental Health Risk but Having A Baby Does, which discusses research conducted by people who are parenting and people who have terminated a pregnancy.

Before beginning this lecture I made it clear to students that no part of this lecture is to attempt to convince them or change their own personal belief and value system about abortion. Instead, this segment is set up to provide information on how our society has come to legalize abortion, what that means, includes, how some states have specific regulations that impact accessibility, and what the procedure includes.

First, I asked the group what three options people who are pregnant have and these include: parenting, adoption, and termination. I began with the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade 1973 which legalized abortion in the US. Since this decision, which falls under our right to privacy in the Constitution. This is one reason why they may hear people say that "abortion is our Constitutional right" because it protected by the 14th Amendment. From here, we discussed how individual states have created requirements around accessing abortions by people who need them. We discussed waiting periods, parental consent and/or notification, judicial bypass, and limitations on when terminations can occur.

Waiting periods are not in all states, they are not in NY, but in other states they are and this includes a person who makes a decision to terminate a pregnancy must first wait 24 hours before having the procedure. The rationale for a waiting period is to allow the person the opportunity to consider all of their options regarding their pregnancy. Some folks who do not support the waiting periods argue that they are condescending and assume a person who chooses termination has not considered all of the options, as if choosing termination is an easy decision.

Depending on the individual state and space that provides the procedure a few things may occur to fulfill the waiting period law. A person may have to physically come into the location and receive written information about all of their options (parenting, adoption, and abortion). Another way to receive this information may be watching a film about all three options, or listening to information over the telephone. After being given this information the person may choose to read/listen/view or not, but they will then have to come to the location again the following day if they choose to continue with their termination. I noted how for some folks this is a challenge. One challenge may be taking off work and having to go to the location twice which may mean not getting paid, and potentially losing a job. Another challenge with waiting periods may be transportation and that some folks may need to find (or pay for) transportation that could be a challenge and an additional cost.

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Online Course: Sociology of Human Sexuality Part 2

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:45:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

This is a series of posts from the sexuality course I am teaching this summer. Check out the first week of notes here. If you are interested in receiving some of the readings, syllabus, and workbook assignments please leave a comment with a way to contact you!

Day 3
Gender & Sexual Orientation

For this class there were some fairly long readings that I had scheduled. The two main readings for our topic on gender were the third chapter in Anne Fausto-Sterling’s book Sexing The Body called “Of Gender & Genitals: The Use & Abuse Of The Modern Intersexual” which will totally challenge everything I taught them the first two days! The other reading is the introduction and first chapter of Julia Serano’s book Whipping Girl which discusses trans people and how our societies have constructed ideas around identity, sex, experience, and ways we may begin to challenge and unlearn. The final reading for the gender section is called Words That Are Transphobic And Why.

The second part of the class will focus on sexual orientation as folks usually confuse gender and sexual orientation, especially when it comes to gender expression and exaggerations! The readings for sexual orientation include a discussion of asexuality based on Dan Savage’s exclusion of this as a sexual orientation, Queertionary 2.0, and the Media Maker’s Salon: Espie Hernandez.

Before I started class for these themes I forgot to lecture on one topic that is important to discussions of sexuality. These are the Circles of Sexuality. We discussed each circle (5 in total) which include reproductive health, sensuality, intimacy, sexual identity, and sexualization. Each circle intersects with the other and we are at the center of that intersection. Reproductive health focuses on managing health care and understanding the postive and negative consequences of sexuality and sexual activities. Sensuality has to do with our sense (touch, vision, hearing, taste, smell) and awareness of our bodies and what we enjoy as well as others ability to enjoy their bodies and experience pleasure. Intimacy is about emotions and being able to create relationships with others (or animals). Sexual identity includes sexual orientation and gender. Sexualization includes using sex as a form of power and coercion to influence and manipulate others. This may include assault, rape, violence, but also things many of us do like flirting and seduction.

I then asked the class what they thought was missing?
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Allied Media Conference Part 2

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:32:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

This is part two of a two part series about my experiences at the Allied Media Conference AMC). In this part I will discuss the sessions and workshops I attended. Read part one here.

After arriving and settling in the first track on Friday morning was the most difficult time to choose a session to attend. There were so many good ones, such as “Editing As An Act of Love,” and “Video Blogging to Expand Your Message,”but I decided on “Stories that Feed Our Bodies & Communities: Media Tools for Healing.” The AMC encouraged participates to a communal note taking system called PiratePad, so folks who could not attend the session could still see what notes were taken during the session. Here is the PiratePad link for this session.

The session I selected is part of the track “Health is Dignity. Dignity is Resistance.” It was the track and meeting two of the presenters that led me to this track. I’ve wanted to meet blogger bfp (brownfemipower) in 3D for a very long time and hear Alexis Pauline Gumbs speak live! As you can read on the PiratePad, we spoke about how we first heard about health, how it was connected to media, and how we define media. It was good to see folks in person, and the most important part for me was the resources that folks shared. I quickly realized that other folks used the space in a different way than I did and this is because I wanted to be challenged in a particular way versus completely participate in a communal discussion of healing and trauma.

Following this session was a screening of the film Black Girl Project, which was a part of the INCITE! track. Director Aiesha Turman, who was interviewed for the Media Maker’s Salon a while back, was present to screen the film and provide a discussion after the film. As a board member of the Black Girl Project, I attended this session to support the film, program, and hear feedback from others.

The feedback Aiesha received was very supportive. There were questions about extending the definition of “girl” to include genderqueer and trans women. Aiesha shared that she is very much open to interviewing folks who challenge and expand what “girl” means just as she has done the same with “Black.” She also shared how she went about capturing the interviews, as she didn’t use a huge video camera, but her cell phone and digital camera’s video feature.
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One Millennials Take on New Research on Young People, LGBT Rights, and Abortion

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:01:00 -0500

The Public Religion Research Institute has released new research on the attitudes of millennial youth (18-29) toward abortion and a number of other social issues including gay marriage.

It's important to note at the outset, that millennial youth favor abortion access in their local communities by a significantly higher percentage than any other age group in the population — 68% for millennial youth compared to 58% for the general public. It’s also important to note that millennial youth are generally more supportive of abortion across all the other categories measured in the poll compared to other age cohorts.

The headline here is that the majority of young people, just like the majority of older people, are pro-choice, but lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality — most notably the right to equal marriage — resonates much more strongly with youth than does the abortion rights movement.

The question is, why?

As a millennial who has been active in both the abortion rights and LGBT movements, I have my take.

The LGBT movement has grown in size and in political power as more and more people, including young people, have come out. In the lives of millions of Americans, the movement has a personal face — one that we know, recognize, and respect. It’s the face of our friends, family members, fellow students, and work colleagues. The thought that these people should somehow be denied the same rights and privileges that straight members of our society often take for granted is a moral outrage. I think I am like the majority of my generation in that I don’t arrive at this position via ideology or politics: I arrive at this position from my personal experience with the people around me and the core assumptions of empathy, equality, and social justice that are the hallmarks of my generation.

Those opposed to LGBT equality have won many political battles, but at what cost? They have prevailed in every state referendum on marriage equality, but they have lost the hearts and minds of an entire generation in the process. Inevitably, their current political victories will be washed away over time as my generation matures and passes on the lessons of respect, acceptance, and empathy that guide our values. It’s much easier to demonize and stereotype people that you don’t know personally than those you do.

So, why is there such a difference in millennials attitudes toward abortion? First off, let’s be clear that young people are just as pro-choice as the American public as a whole. And, like the general public, the views of my generation on abortion are mixed. As the Brookings website puts it: “Millennials have a unique, nuanced approach to the issue of abortion, combining strong support for the availability of abortion services and access to birth control with moral reservations.”
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Why I Dont Like Bridesmaids

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:29:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

***SPOILERS***

At first I wasn’t going to dish out any money for any movie that wasn’t 100% on my “to see” list, and Bridesmaids wasn’t! Then I had dinner with two great friends last week and one shared how amazing she thought Bridesmaids was. Then I remember reading this post on RH Reality Check on why so many folks enjoyed the film.

Then this same homegirl gifted me two free movie tickets and I told her I’d used them to watch Bridesmaids. And I did. I dragged my partner in crime with me to an almost sold out screening on Memorial Day Monday at 8pm. We were seated in the third row from the screen and I was prepared to laugh. Prior to going to the film, I had called my sister who had shared that she wanted to see it. She too echoed my friend’s enjoyment of the film.

Ten minutes into watching preview trailers and I already realize that I may have made the wrong decision to see the film. The only film trailers for upcoming films that had any people of Color is The Help, a story about Black maids in the US South. It stars an amazing cast of Black female actors, but the narrative still revolves around a racially White woman sharing their stories. I was so tired by the time that preview was over, I threw popcorn at the screen!

Let me be clear what my main issues are with this film: Casting, character development, stereotypes, and issues of class that are represented.

So I don’t really mind who was cast in this film, but how the casting was decided. This film falls into that space that Sex In The City does: being centered in a metropolitan area (in this case Maya Rudolph’s character, Lillian, aka the bride, lives in Chicago) but there are only three people of Color with speaking roles. Lillian’s father is played by SNL legend Franklyn Ajaye (yeah I called him a living legend!), a Black man and is partnered with a racially White woman to demonstrate Lillian’s multiracial identity (and Rudolph’s background). Her father speaks, but only says the same thing: mention the cost of the wedding and how his budget is not very large. Her mother doesn’t speak. Terry Crews is also in the film during a cameo with a speaking role where he yells at the main characters for not paying $12 to join his exercise program in the park and instead do his workout from behind a tree.

So Lillian has no friends of Color. The only people in the film of Color we are lead to believe are her father’s family members and they are sprinkled throughout the film in non-speaking roles. To be fair, I knew that this would be an issue; my friend had mentioned it to me. However, after watching the trailer for The Help, and then sitting through 2 hours of this ish, I about had it with the triflin’ casting!
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Media Makers Salon: Carmen B. Mendoza Miss Kings County 2011

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:42:00 -0500

by Bianca Laureano

This is the fourth interview in a series of interviews with various media makers who have agreed to share with us their motivations, process and hopes for the media they create. (Read past interviews with Aiesha, Nezua, Nuala, and Espie.

I met Carmen B. Mendoza, Miss Kings County 2011 who is representing the borough of Brooklyn, last year at an event for The Black Girl Project that focused on HIV and AIDS in communities of Color. My homegirl Tamara Walker had wanted to introduce us for some time because Carmen’s platform is de-stigmatizing getting tested for HIV. This is the first time I have ever heard of a pageant contestant focusing their efforts of a specific reproductive and sexual health topic. My (stereotypical) ideas of pageantry are much like what some of you reading may be: a focus on issues that are so large, vast and tied to colonization that a focus on them may become comical (i.e. “world peace”), or topics that are to promote a particular organizational mission or that has become the usual rhetoric for “feminisms” (i.e. empowering girls).

To be honest, I have rarely been interested in pageantry, its politics and protocols beyond the film Miss Congeniality (which I actually really do enjoy as a form of media). Part of my disinterest has been the media representations and the narratives and critiques I’ve heard and read about through “feminist” lenses, ideas about certain standards of beauty being represented, how race plays a role, and the all too familiar objectification perspective. However, when I met Carmen and heard about her goals and plans for the work she desires to do and the work she has already done I was kind of already on Team Carmen. It was through Carmen’s activism and organizing that I was able to be present for the screening of Let’s Talk About Sex and on the panel with film director James Houston.

Usually when we hear a pageant contestant connected to topics of reproductive and sexual health they are usually attached to scandal and ideas of “morality” and what is considered “appropriate.” Carmen is changing that. She is using a space that has historically been hostile to women of Color, creating and promoting a message that affects us ALL, and doing it in a community and space that I know of no one else reaching. This is what makes her a media maker. This is what makes Carmen an important presence and voice today.
For this reason I ask that readers think about the communities that are not being reached in the work we do. How are we missing some folks and what does it mean when we choose not to go to places that are in need of specific messages around reproductive and sexual health? Before we critique folks who are doing important work because of the way they are reaching communities we are not, let’s remember we need people doing good work in every part of our society. I know I don’t want to do the work Carmen is doing, so I’m glad she is here and willing to do it. I’m proud Carmen and I are on the same team because we care about our communities and we want to make sure we live in communities where people are healthy and know how to access resources when they need them.

What identities/social location do you embody? (race, class, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, primary language, ability, age, belief system, etc.)

I identify as a multi-layered woman but some identifiers are: Latina, proud first generation American, sexual health advocate, salsera and agent of change.

What are some reasons you went into pageantry? Do you have a history of participation? What drew you to Miss Kings County pageant?

When thinking back on my childhood, watching the Miss Universe pageant was kind of an event in my household. I don't even think it was done intentionally but growing up in a bilingual home where we watched a lot of Telemundo and Univision, the Miss Universe Pageant was just as big of a deal as the World Cup on a Latin American network - or at least that's what it felt like in my young impressionable mind. We were always really proud that the Latin American countries did so well and days after we would still be talking about who our favorite was and who we thought should have won. Although I never vocalized it, I always had the thought of "I could do that" in the back of my mind.

It came full circle last August when I watched the Miss Universe pageant via Hulu. Although I watched it alone and from my laptop this time around, my parents and I spoke about it the next day and shared our excitement for Miss Guatemala (one of the top contestants representing their country of origin).

This was the catalyst that brought me back to that thought I had as a young girl of "I could do that" and turned it into "I CAN DO THAT". After doing my research on pageantry and what the different pageant organizations represent, I chose to compete in the Miss Brooklyn/Miss County Queen Scholarship Competition, an official local preliminary pageant for Miss New York & Miss America. It was a little less than 2 months away but I put myself through my own rigorous "pageant boot camp" and won with the title of Miss Kings County 2011.
How did you come to choose the platform you have?

I began my advocacy work in the field of HIV/AIDS in high school volunteering at an AIDS clinic in the predominately Latino neighborhood of Humboldt Park in Chicago, IL. It was through my peer outreach efforts and working directly with HIV positive people that I learned firsthand the devastating effects HIV/AIDS has on under-served and minority communities. I continued to grow as an advocate in sexual health during my undergraduate career at the University of Wisconsin, Madison hosting forums and workshops on how HIV/AIDS and HPV particularly affect women of color.

When it came time to choose my platform I knew it would be to advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention but given New York's specific needs and my own life experience, my platform organically grew to be "De-stigmatizing Getting Tested for HIV". Out of the urgency to get New Yorkers screened for HIV the state passed legislation making it law to offer an HIV test to all patients between the ages of 13-64. Progress in legislation was the first step but I felt that through my platform I could initiate the next step. Opening the dialog on getting tested and addressing the social barriers that prevent people from knowing their status is crucial in making routine screening a reality. Through my platform and title, I knew that I could reach the community directly with this message but most importantly, have it reach young girls and women like myself.
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