(Hey folks, it's been quite a while since I last blogged here on Amplify, but I'm glad to be  back...)

Well, 'tis the season, for merriment, for joy, for kinship, and, apparently, if you're a teenager and want to fit in, for drinking.

Every time I log into facebook (which, these days, is quite frequent), I'm bombarded with new albums from of my fellow high schoolers getting absolutely wasted.  The only thing more frightening then the amount of pictures are the comments littering them with phrases such as: "lol I don't even remember this" or "When did this happen??? Haha".

I get social drinking. I get how a few drinks among friends (even while underage) can be relaxing and enjoyable. But what sickens and terrifies me is the seemingly endless number of my high school friends drinking to the point where they lose all control, where they don't even remember what they were doing the night before...

Over the next few blogs (which will go up periodically throughout the week, I hope.), I hope to, along with you all, examine the  topic of teen drinking. I'll give you my side of the story, examine possible causes, and bring it all home with a discussion on the possible effects of lowering the drinking age.

Until those go up, tell me, what was (or is) your experience with alcohol in high school?

Even though Barack Obama's win yesterday was an amazing feat, we still have a long way to go go towards true "change" in this country. Especially with LGBT rights.

Yesterday, there were 4 major local ballot measures concerning LGBT rights; 3 dealing with marriage equality and one dealing with adoption.

In California, perhaps the most famous proposition of this year, Prop 8, seems to have passed with 98% of the precincts in. The referendum's passing overrides a decision from earlier this year that legalized same sex marriage, thus make marriage equality no more in California. (though it should be noted that the measure still hasn't been declared as passed, there still remains some dim hope that it will fail)

Simliar measures passed in both Florida and Arizona, with 62% and 56% of the vote, respectively.

In Arkansas, a measure was passed that institutes a ban on samesex couples adopting children. It passed comfortably with 57% of the vote.

So, while people  have been sparkling with excitement over Barack Obama's election, it is clear we still have a long way to go before we can all have hope for humanity. These measures and their passage are an insult to humanity, and I can't say I'm too proud to live in a country that allows their passage.

(As a side note, I am very happy to see that 3 measures that would have limited reproductive rights failed, pretty drastically.)

Not to bash PCs in any way, but this article has won more of my affections for Macs.  I also find it funny that google also donated, considering the G1 phone was designed to knock Apple down a peg. The balls in your corner, Yahoo and Microsoft!

Last week, my mother and I were coming home from play rehearsel and decided to swing by the neighborhood McDonalds for a quick bite (at the late hour we had decided unhealthyness was more favorable than the dreaded alternative of actually cooking). My mother, adorned in her normal campaign attire, instantly attracted the young cashiers attention. After a brief conversation about the candidate between us three, the issue of voting came up.

"Are you registered?" My mother inquired. The cashier, a young man of no more than 20, was not. He did not seem aware that the cut off date for registering was imminent (Maryland's deadline was October 14th), and was immediately impatient to register. I was able to provide him with a URL that he could register at. We got our food and were on our way.

Tonight, in celebration of a Redskins victory, we went out for a shake. We were astonished to find that not only did the same cashier remember us, but that he had rushed home that night to register!

I never thought something so easy could feel so rewarding. By remembering a simple web addressed, I was able to help somebody become a first time  voter: giving them a say in their government, making them instantataneously a greater part of the process....
Voting deadlines are pretty much all past; so this blog is a little late. But with the election being just days away, it's still not too late to urge my registered friends to GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!

I'm going to make this quick:

NOBODY IS PRO-ABORTION.

Pro-life activists, especially during politically charged times like today, are quick to call those who support choice as "pro-abortion". Nobody likes abortion.  But some of us believe that abortion may be the only viable option for a mother. Not to mention we believe in a woman's right to reproductive rights.


So, politicians and activists; fix your rhetoric.
PRO-CHOICE IS NOT PRO-ABORTION

Sorry I've been missing for the past week or so, I've been spending countless hours trying to apply to college and tell Tina Fey and Sarah Palin apart.

My friend sent me this article today, and it got me excited! Though public service announcements have become (or possibly always have been) a joke, it's the principle of the matter. It's great to see celebrities using their status for something productive.

I also think it's about time that GLBTQ discrimination was brought to the same forefront that "don't drink, don't do drugs, talk to your kids about drinking and drugs" have been at for years. I can't tell you how many federally funded posters I've seen in school that are talking down alcohol and marijuana... meanwhile the only posters talking about ending GLBTQ discrimination were ones I hung up and colored myself.

And producing these PSAs pro bono? gotta love it.

I could not be happier for one of my favorite vocalists of the past decade- Clay Aiken for finally having the comfort and confidence to come out as a gay man. As an out member of the GLBT community, I understand the difficulties that come with coming out in my own community; I can only imagine the pressures involved with coming out to all of America!

My favorite thing about Clay (besides his lush, velvety voice) is  that he never quite let the media out him. With today's invasive reporters, it is hard to keep your personal information from the public; but Clay never let them force his sexuality out of him. He was able to come out on his own terms.

So yay for Clay! I couldn't be happier for you!

A tremendously happy birthday to Amplify's own Will Neville. Without him, I wouldn't be writing this blog on Amplify- and you wouldn't be reading with it. He is, in more ways than one, the father of this project, and I wish him the best!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!!!

..Is the same problem I had with the old facebook: complete ignorance of differing gender identities.

When creating your facebook profile, you are given 3 options under "sex"; Male, Female, or not listing your sex; the latter of which facebook has a warning or two agaisnt.

Now; some terminology clarification: to many, sex is a biological term whereas gender is one's own sense of identity. So in pure techinical terms, one may interpret that Mark Zuckerberg and his facebook cronies have wronged nobody...

But I still feel as though facebook fails to recognize many facets of ones gender identity, including the many whose gender identity is different from their sex, or those who don't identify with either of the 2 options presented. You'd think with several groups on facebook as well as a really groovy application that is also popular, facebook would have taken a hint while developing it's new layout. But apparently, those thoughts fell on dead ears.

My biggest problem with this whole debacle is that the reasoning for it seemingly lies in advertising. Though I have no documentation of this; it is clear that advertising for male identifying facebookers is different from that of female identifying users (just as those who are single have different ads than those in a relationship). If people don't list their gender identity or sex on their profiles, it is harder than to develop specific advertising. The best part of it all? While it would seem that this is all for advertising, facebook plays it off as "confusing for feed grammar" (not a direct quote, but an accurate paraphrase).

So, if you go to my facebook profile, you'll find that I have no sex listed. While I identify as male, I removed my sex in order to be an ally as part of the greater social justice movement (and also because I just like "sticking it" to authority..). I'd encourage you to do the same.

And while your at it, I'd suggest adding the SGO application- which is a great temporary fix until facebook comes to it's senses..

Apologies: I'm afraid I'm somewhat ignorant myself when it comes to gender identity issues. I'm about 90% sure my terminology here is correct, but if it isn't, my most sincere apologies. If you notice any mistakes, just mention it and I'll be happy to edit. I'm always happy to learn..

So, I realize I may be backpedaling a bit, with this being my 3rd post and all...but I realized I never actually introduced myself to the Amplify community- a community which for now contains may people I know from Advocates for Youth, but will hopefully grow beyond that, thus needing this intro =).

My name is Ben. I am a Senior in High School in Bowie, MD. I am entering  my second year with Advocates for Youth's High School Organizing program, and ridiculously excited about that. I'm a member of the Unitarian Universalist faith, and will be happy to delve into how that impacts my activist career in another post (someday....for now, google it?) I enjoy long walks on the beach, a good milkshake, an even better laugh, and advocating social justice (especially comprehensive sexual education funding!)

So,  fresh out of this years Urban Retreat, I'm trying to develop some goals for what I plan on doing this year. So far, I've developed the following (though I may very well add at a later date:

HSO Goals for the Year:

-Getting condoms in my school! -just because we're in high school doesn't mean we're not sexually active. I'm sick of controversy keeping my peers from contraception

-Vlogging- Blogging is a great outlet, and a great way to keep in touch and vent and explore the intricacies of my own/my readers' minds, but I'd love to be Amplify's first active vlogger. I think it's an entertaining way to express my views. Once I figured out this new-fangled technology, I'm hoping to get a "once a week" vlog schedule. Accompanied by some more frequent blogs, of course.

-Stopping my capitalization of "comprehensive sexuality education"- pretty obvious. Though it's definitely important, I've got to start remembering that it doesn't grammatically warrant it's own capitalization

-Planning a lobby day...of some sort...- with this Congress coming to an end, I'm not exactly sure if a federal lobby day (like was attempted last year to no avail..) would be the most successful. I've recently discovered some of the policies in Maryland could use some legislative correction, and it'd be lovely if Governor O'Malley would reject Title V funding..This could also be tied in with my responsibilites as the Social Action Coordinator for my District Youth Steering Committee.

-Letter/Email Campaign- On the same sorts of issues as mentioned above, but made 23423241252 times easier by Amplify!

Helping recruit an incredible HSO team for next year!- It's hard to believe that in a little less than a year, I'll be starting college! Though my future with Advocates is unknown, I want to insure that the prorgram that has given me so much will continue to have successful organizers. I already know that Keelei and Cristina will be great organizers should the continue once I'm gone (which I certainly hope they will..Keelei, you've gotta go for 4 years!), but I hope to help find terrific colleagues for them. I especially hope to find some  male identifying HSOs- I've been the only one for the past 2 years!

It's gonna be a great year, and I can't wait to keep you, the Amplify community, updated on my success!

Let me start off by saying wow Advocates.....another awesome Urban Retreat. I met SO many wonderful new people this weekend, and got to know some wonderful old friends a little better. Special shout out to Karina, Cristina, Juniper,  Alex and Nikki, Keelei, and Amelia- my fellow High School Organizers. I love you guys, and look foward to working with all of you. And a super special thanks to Sarah, for being the greatest organizers of organizers I could ever ask for. You're amazing. absolutley amazing.

So for those of you who don't know, today was the Advocates for Youth Urban Retreat Comprehensinve Sexual Education Lobby Day (...I'm hoping Will and the AFY staff had a more creative name for it than that..). And although the day had amazing highs (a fantastic lobby group, getting my tie* signed by Rep. Chris Van Hollen!!) There was one disturbingly aggravating low. So aggravating it inspired a blog!

My lobby group entered the office of our last meeting for the day, and waited for our staffer patiently. Once the meeting began, it started off like normal, Nicole opening up the introductions, me laying out the "Ab-Only is BAD " stats, Scott's personal story-it was going smoothly. But then, for what must have been because she was tired, our staffer basically told us that the office was a cosponsor of a comprehensive sex ed bill, and that they were supporters, and that our time may be better spent "talking to our peers"

WHAT?

I completely understand talking to my peers as a way to mobilize them on the issue, and I appreciate that the Representative is a cosponsor, but come on. We were fully aware of the fact that the office was a cosponsor, which gave us all the more reason to visit looking for more support in cutting ab-only funding and supporting Comp. Sex Ed. Just because an office cosponsors a bill doesn't mean they're strong-willed supporters of a cause. If they were really supporters, they'd rally their fellow Senators and Congressman around the issue, they'd gather as many cosponsors for the bill as possible and get it out for a vote, they'd draft other legislation to bolster a solution to the issue.  Just because their name is on a bill doesn't mean they're doing enough.

Don't get me wrong. I understand Congress is busy. But think about it, if Congressman devoted themselves to issues instead of just cosponsoring a bill; if they all took passionate strives at solving issues and championing solutions...we'd be able to knock out some of this countries biggest problems in a short matter of time, especially issues that have clear solutions like Comprehensive Sexual Education and the ab-only funding crisis. 

So what can we do? What can we do to make our Congressmen and Senators take a stand on an issue? What can we do to have each and every one of our our Congressional allies become loud and proud  advocates of comprehensive sexuality education programs?


*So while I was at the Urban Retreat, I bought a tie for everyone to sign, and I wore it on the lobby day. While waiting for his staffer on the , my lobby group ran in to Congressman Chris Van Hollen himself. He was VERY nice, and pleasant, and open to what we had to say, though he had limited time. Never being a shy or "normal" person, I quickly seized the moment and asked him to sign my tie....AND HE DID! Isn't that AWESOME?

Sitting through Will's presentation on Amplify today had me literally shaking with excitement (as many fellow High School Organizers here at AFY will testify). I am RIDICULOUSLY overwhelmed to have such a great tool at my disposure. Just after the presentation and some clicking around, it's evident that Amplify is like nothing I've ever seen before...

I can't wait to utilize this terrific platform back home. You'll surely be hearing lots from me =)

Yay Amplify!