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Ernesto Dominguez got it right when he wrote:
We may not understand the impact of our words, but it is clear that these words push folk away…
He goes on to write that when we use hate speech to degrade those who are HIV positive, we add to the social stigma that comes along with having HIV. And as a result? People don’t get tested. They think that going to get tested means that they “sleep around”, or that they’re “slutty”.
I haven't blogged on Amplify in a while (way too long!) but I'm proud to say I am BACK and with an AWESOME story for you all!
I recently came back from San Antonio where I and several other of my colleagues, plus Sarah (shout out to Advocates for Youth!) conducted a workshop called "Let's Talk About Sex". The turnout was simply great: there were over 60 (I almost want to say perhaps over 70) participants. The number of people who showed up is important for a few reasons: it provided us with an understanding of how many youth are interested in sexual health, and it rejected the myth that young people are apathetic to the issues.
We discussed the statistics about how Latin@ youth are disporportionately affected by pregnancy and STDs. We discussed healthy relationships and how to detect whether or not you're in an unhealthy relationship. But perhaps more importantly, we gave the participants an opportunity to ask questions. And they did. They were interested in our presentation and I'm confident that they left the workshop armed with knowledge that they will *hopefully* always remember
A recent study that included over 400 guys ages 18 to 67 found that many men refuse to wear condoms because they don't fit right. Some men claim the condom often breaks, so they opt not to wear one at all. Others claim the condom is too big, and their egos wont allow them to buy a "small" or a "medium" at their nearest pharmacy.
Well, that's a problem. And here's why:
1) The fact that the condom might break shouldn't deter men from wearing one and protecting themselves. "The condom will break anyway -- so I just wont wear one." That isn't even logical. Wearing a condom shouldn't have to be a chore. You should want to protect yourself, and your partner. Proponents of abstinence only education preach that condoms are ineffective -- but you shouldn't buy into that. Use your noggins and wear a condom.
2) A man's ego is fragile -- we get that. We're even sensitive to the issue (ie, nobody talks about how our boyfriend John is balding, and we rarely talk about faking an orgasm because George couldn't get us going). But putting yourself, and your partner, at risk for an unintended pregnancy or an STI just because you refuse to wear a condom that fits is beyond stupid. Clearly you lack the mental capacity to make good decisions when it comes to your sexual health. This definitely warrants some ego busting, boys.
3) Sex is fun. HIV is not. Condoms are typically effective in protecting people from HIV. According to Advocates for Youth,
So, what did we learn today? Protect yourselves. No matter how big, or small, you are. When it comes to our sexual health, we can't afford to screw around. No pun intended.In a two-year study of sero-discordant couples (in which one partner was HIV-positive and one was HIV-negative), no uninfected partner became infected among couples using condoms correctly and consistently at every act of vaginal or anal sex versus 10 percent of those using condoms inconsistently
“Marriage eludes high achieving black women"
What does that headline say to you? Before I delve into the article itself, let's explore the implications this headline has to offer: either marriage discriminates, or high achieving black women aren't getting married.
I'll go with the latter.
Even when I asked my boyfriend what he thought the headline meant, he said "[The headline implies that] marriage is hard for successful black women." So, before I even read the article, I had this preconceived notion that this was going to be based on the stereotype that all women are supposed to get married. But I was wrong.
According to the article on msnbc.com, the "fact" that most successful black women are choosing not to get married defeats the purpose of affirmative action. Now, I've heard the arguments that single women are statistically less happy than married women, or that women who do not bear children are contributing to a population decrease detrimental to society, or that married women live longer than single women. But never have I heard that single (and successful) black women are defeating the very purpose of affirmative action. It's an original (and ridiculous) argument.
"This defeats the goal of affirmative action...The idea behind assuring that blacks had access to higher education and graduate school was that after a generation or so, African-Americans would reach a kind of achievement parity after generations of suffering educational and career restriction. But if black women, who comprise 71 percent of black graduate students, do not have children, the rate of achievement reaches a kind of familial dead end."
Well that's a nice way to put it: a familial dead end.
Their body language led me to feel unwanted in my community, since my town is a very quiet suburban area. This sort of racist and sexist situation happens every day, and it's beginning to creep into the White House.
Where can the line be drawn between simple dislike for President Obama and racist hatred for him? Is there even a bright line separating the two feelings? For years now conservatives have been coming out with negative commentary on “the left” and even moderate liberals; their negative commentary somehow evolved into something deeper than a few attack ads on the TV… it’s spreading to the Free Republic blog and it’s attacking the children—the young girls—of President Barack Obama.
An article by the Vancouver Sun says it all.
“A typical street whore.""A bunch of ghetto thugs.""Ghetto street trash.""Wonder when she will get her first abortion."
- HPV is a virus that can affect both men and women.
- HPV usually has no signs or symptoms, so many people don't know they have it or that they could pass it on to others.
- About 80% of women will have had HPV by the time they are 50 years old.*
- For most women exposed to HPV, the virus will clear on its own, but for some, cervical cancer and other diseases—like genital warts—can develop.
- Most of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer were exposed to HPV in their teens and 20s.
- Regular Pap tests and wellness visits are the best ways to help protect against HPV and cervical cancer.
Tiller, 67, was shot just after 10 a.m. in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation. Witnesses, a city official and a police source confirmed Tiller was the victim.
"We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down," anti-abortion group Operation Rescue said in a statement on its Web site. "Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ."
The child’s case recently came to light when her parents met with a leader of the Omaha Catholic Archdiocese to talk about transitioning the student into third grade at her school, St. Wenceslaus.The family wanted the child to use a new female name, be able to wear a girl’s uniform and be included in girls' activities.
Taphorn [the Reverend] said having the child attend the school for three years as a boy, and then presenting as a girl would not be a good learning environment for the child or other students. He said school has to be a peaceful, positive environment for everyone.
Wayne Anthony Ross, the most controversial, divisive, polarizing man possible to have been selected to be Alaska’s attorney general had a few interesting things to say this week. He always seems to have interesting things to say, and each time the gaffes just pile up. It's interesting....
Take for example the "Lima Beans" story.
Representative Lindsey Holmes asked Ross how he would view cases involving homosexuality, you know…him thinking they’re “degenerates” and all, and writing it in the Alaska Bar Newsletter. Ross responded:
“Let me give you an analogy. I hate lima beans. I’ve never liked lima beans. But if I was hired to represent the United Vegetable Growers would you ask me if I liked lima beans? No. If I disliked lima beans? No. Because my job is to represent the United Vegetable Growers.”Now, we love a good analogy here at Amplify. In fact it’s one of our favorite literary devices. So, if gays are lima beans, and the United Vegetable Growers are the state of Alaska, then what does it sound like when we replace those words in our little analogy? “I hate gays. I’ve never liked gays. But, if I was hired to represent the State of Alaska, would you ask me if I liked gays? No. If I disliked gays? No. Because my job is to represent the State of Alaska.”
Ah, now we see. So do we feel better now? No.
According to the woman in the article:
When Greg walked in the door that evening, late again, I bit my tongue and avoided any mention of ice, trays, or irresponsible husbands. And the evening turned out to be much more pleasant than it would have been otherwise.
Still however, I was bothered that all the specimens were male, with the exception of the reproductive exhibit, where there was one female display. There were many different rooms with many different bodies, and they were all male. I felt that they were portraying the male body as the normative, and the female body as something else....something "un-normal."
Even at the low point in 2005, the United States had the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, birth and abortion of any industrialized country. Because teenage births carry higher risks of medical problems and poverty for mother and child, state health agencies, schools and private groups have mounted educational campaigns to deter teenage pregnancy.
That was only part of the article. The rest of the article discusses birth control. The women in the above story got pregnant because she was off her birth control, assuming she wouldn’t be having sex with anyone until she’s in a stable relationship again. According to the article, here are some suggestions with birth control:
Possession of marijuana. That's a pretty plausible reason to get apprehended for, eh? Now...what about "possession of contraception"? Yeah....arrest me for having condoms.
Last friday, about 12 people got arrested for having weed in their lockers. Now, my first reaction to hearing this was "ahahhahahaha ROFL lol LMAO." While that may have not been the most mature reaction, it came naturally. The school administration then felt it would make perfect sense to raid everyone's locker, to ensure there are no illegal substances/weapons in there. I have many many condoms in my locker because a lot of my friends are sexually active. I'm the "go-to" person when people want condoms. I don't feel offended by this at all. I simply open my locker, give them the condoms, wish them luck, and walk away.
My little independent not-for-profit business was shut down last Friday when the school officials found nearly 50 condoms in my locker. Now, I get why that would look weird. But isn't it smart? I mean, for all they know, I could be having sex day and night. Why wouldn't I keep condoms? Doesn't that make sense?
But no. They pulled me out of class. When 12 students get pulled out of class for possession of marijuana, everyone immediately suspects that anyone else who gets pulled out of class is also getting in trouble for having weed. Do I smoke weed? No. Does my school think I'm a pothead now? Yes. Do I care? Nope.
Anyway, after a half hour of yelling at me for my irresponsibility, they said "We will not be contacting your parents but we will demand you come after school for a two hour detention."
Wait...does that mean....you won't tell my parent's that I'm encouraging people (who are already sexually active) to practice SAFE sex? Geez louise, Mr Principal! Thanks a lot :)
They can kiss my butt. Anyway, I still have those condoms. And I'm still passing them out. Do I care? Nope. I gotta do what I gotta do, right?
During school my friend and I got into a very heated discussion about abortion. My friend, whom I did not know was a fervent social conservative, got relatively angry. Whoops! The conversation went somewhat like this:
Me: Ultimately, the fight to rearticulate reproductive justice will rest with us liberals. After all, conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Jerome Corsi are far too busy promoting hateful rhetoric and referring to us as “baby killers.” Indeed, for a group that cares a great deal about the sanctity of life, anti-choicers have repeatedly opposed comprehensive sex education and other measures to decrease abortions.
Her: NUH-UH!!!
Okay, so maybe I'm being a little biased as to how the conversation went, but you get my point. Anyway, later that day on Facebook I received a message from her. It was the URL to a youtube video. This video was submitted to NBC and CNN to air during the superbowl. Fortunately, it was rejected. Lo and behold....
Hey y'all.
This is more of a news post rather than a blog. I got an email from the Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom. It reads as follows:
I'll be doing it and I hope you will too!We're announcing a very special project to let the world (or maybe just a few key decision makers) know that young people of faith support comprehensive sex education.
To participate in our little online jaunt, do the following:
1. Take a picture of yourself holding a sign that says "I AM [INSERT FAITH TRADITION or the word SPIRITUAL or AGNOSTIC] AND I SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION."
2. Ask a few friends to participate, also! Help them make their signs and take photos.
3. Create a profile on the SYRF online community if you're not a member yet.
4. Upload your photo to the "photos" section of your profile.
Your photo will then be used in a short video SYRF is creating to showcase youth and young adults speaking out about sex education. We will then post the video on our website, Facebook, Flickr, and You Tube (read: if you send us a photo, you will then become famous) and send it to your elected officials in an effort to spread the word to decision makers. To learn more about comprehensive sex education, click here.
If you thought that was fun, consider also signing our petition to support comprehensive sexuality education.
We really want to include people from specific target states in our project. Please share this with friends in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Idaho.
Peace out,
Cristina
