I recently found this video through my network on Facebook, made by students at Wesleyan University utilizing their voice for issues that they find important



With budget cuts coming at every level it is SO important that you speak out to the issues that are important to you and access to sexuality education is extremely important. I have sex. My friends have sex. My sisters and my friends plan to have sex. I have been tested. I, just like every other person deserves a place to ask questions and get truthful answers about my body.

Planned Parenthood educates communities through public outreach and sexual education in schools. They provide a space for people to attain resources and services regardless of age, race, orientation, gender identity, sex, class. They give access to STD and pregnancy tests. They also can be someone to listen and give advice with your health and your sexual relationship.

Especially in honor of International Women’s Day we should be appreciative on how birth control as changed our roles as women in today’s society. How regardless of your personal choices or believes that it is important option for women and girls today. I have a right to access information about my body and have the resources to make safe decisions about what I do with my body.

Just food for thought.   

This past week there have been several examples of how people can make a difference - not just organizations or government people. Along side the large examples of the many protests around the world in Egypt, Libya or even Wisconsin a few other things have come through as well.



Colbert is highlighting Dan Savage's website Santorum which was created to combat Rick Stanorum 8 years ago. We can argue how effective it was at the time but the fact is that this site is still haunting Sen. Stanorum as he debates running for president. Simple tactic done by one person who spread the idea throughout the internet with long lasting affects.



Lady Gaga is also in the news for her recent deal with Target. Lady Gaga's new single "Born this Way" will be sold exclusively at Target once Target agreed to help fund pro-gay groups. Gaga said "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they’ve made in the past … our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they’ve made supporting those [antigay] groups."

Granted Target will only be paying a small fraction of their community support funds, it is a start.

It is just good to see what people can do to make differences in this world. Each step counts and moves everyone one-step closer to equality.

I am happy to report back after attending Creating Change 2011 the largest LGBT activist conference in the country put on by The Gay and Lesbian Task Force each year. Thousands of LGBTQI folk and their Allies come together to talk about the movement, make connections, broaden resources and share ideas. Rea Carey the Director of The Task Force makes a speech addressing the 'State of the Movement' where she outlines the past year and pinpoints issues to focus in on in the year to come. This years speech I felt was particularly moving and powerful. Though there were still some issues with language (the Task Force could be better around language and more sensitive to trans issues), there was a large focus on diversity and immigration for 2011.

All LGBTQI folks, if they have an hour to spend, should watch her address. The internet allows Creating Change to come to your home so that you to can be part of the energy and the growth that happens once a year.



This is also a great way to start a more general conversation about any of the issues presented in the address so I encourage you to listen to even just part of it and comment!

The American Institute of Bisexuality created a unique video for the "It gets better Campaign". Not only is it adding to the vast community of people speaking out against suicides in the LGBTQ community, it also plays into the Institute’s year of visibility trying to make a space for those of us who like more than one gender. Take a look:



Whenever people or organizations use any of the acronyms representing the larger Queer community it is important to do so consciously. Often the 'B" for bisexual and the "T" for transgender are listed out of habit or for sake of recognition - not with specific purpose. There IS much internalized biphobia in our own queer spaces AND in straight spaces. So make sure that when we speak to the larger queer community that we always include everyone.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or considering suicide make sure to call Trevor Project at 1-866-4-U-TREVOR 1-866-4-8-87386.

A friend let me in on this new campaign, "Check It Out Men," that encourages Trans Men to get regular pap smears and to continue to see a gynecologist. Trans folk often get ignored in society and especially in areas involving health. This campaign  is trying to send out the information to this community to continue healthy living.

Check it out and spread the word!
www.checkitoutguys.ca

Ok, so my sister was showing me the new Miley Cyrus video "Who Owns my Heart?" which has made a wave in the celbertry gossip pages. Many are saying that she is too sexy, bad role model for her Hannah Montanna fans, media whore etc.



However, why my sister was showing me the video I caught something else. Not only is Miley dipected dancing closely with both men and women and coming close to kissing both men and women - but the last lines of the song I hear " Who owns my Heart? She owns my Heart. Who owns my Heart?" Now please correct me if I am wrong. But with some poorly done gossip websites have been debating over weather Miley is bisexual or not. Kissing girls on stage and changing lyrics of songs when performing songs in a gay club. But maybe this song is telling us another message about her sexuality? Maybe another media stunt? Or maybe I am just hearing things because lyric websites across the web have no listed these as the lyrics. So I turn to you people of youthresource.

Am I crazy? Is Miley coming out? Is Miley joining the ranks of celbs who are turning bi for attention?

FenceSitter Films along with American Institue of Bisexuality (AIB) and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) are producing several PSA videos aimed at the Gay and Lesbian Community about Bisexual acceptance. 

Anyone in the Southern California area that would like to participate... please email Kyle Schickner at fencesitterfilms@aol.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FenceSitter-Films/120417158540

Bisexuals/Pansexuals/Omnisexuals etc are often forgotten or ignored in our own Queer Spaces. Even on youthresource we have passed over Bisexuality Day on Sept 23 (unfortunitly I was on a plane to urban retreat and did not have a chance to blog) but alas it happens. Bisexuals are in a lot of ways invisible in both the straight and queer communities and have struggled to find their place in either. 

This year there is a very large campaign to create visibility of the bi/pan/omni communities. One event that is coming up in the Boston area is Learn your ABCs: Aids, Bisexuality and Community put on by the Bisexual Resource Center on Oct 13 630-8 at Harvard.

Check our more details about the event and the bisexual community at:
www.biresource.net

Greetings from your (favorite) Peer Educator!

I wanted to share about an upcoming adventure I will be taking in a few weeks. I have joined up with Soulforce for the 2010 Equality Ride (www.soulforce.org/equalityride), where I will join with 24 other LGBT activists to create dialogue with religious college and universities throughout the country. We travel to schools that specifically have policies against homosexuality and try to engage students and administrators in conversation about what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality. 

I will be blogging here throughout my journey so you can see what I have been up to and what I am planning on doing for the next two months. Right now I'm calling on all of you to help me out with the ride. There are two key things that you can do:

1. Visit my rider page to support me! www.soulforce.org/lindsay_vanclief

2. If you know anyone at any of the schools we are visiting or people who live in the area and want to help out LET ME KNOW! This ride is a joint effort of supporters, riders, students and community members. The more support we have the more sucsess we can have with the schools.

March 5th Valley Forge Christian College Phoenixville, PA
March 9th Houghton College Houghton, NY
March 11th Knoxville, TN for affirming community visit
March 15th Oakwood University Huntsville, AL
March 17th Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC
March 18th Campbell University Lillington, NC
March 22nd Bethune Cookman University Daytona Beach, FL
March 25th Morehouse College Atlanta, GA
March 29th Belhaven University Jackson, MS
March 31st Mississippi College Clinton, MS
April 6th Baylor University Waco, TX
April 8th Hardin Simmons University Abilene, TX
April 9th Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX
April 14th Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO
April 16th Bethel College Mishawaka, IN
April 21st Union College Lincoln, NE
April 23rd Malone University Canton, OH

In the past, the Equality Ride has changed college policies, started Queer Straight Alliances, connected LGBT students with affirming communities and shown people that you can be religious and queer they do not have to be separate things. Nor do they need to conflict in anyones life.  

Thanks for being awesome and feel free to email me with any thoughts/questions/concerns or supportive information you may have!

Putting your money where your mouth is- or at least one step closer.

www.credomobile.com/lpgenerated/choice.aspx

This all started with personal political turmoil that I generally have all the time. I'm generally political and an active activist but feel like I cannot even attain a life that I agree with. Everytime I eat fast food, or go to the mall or play video games I am (directly and indirectly) supporting child labor, sweat shops, civil wars in Africa, and all sorts of other controlling powers that probably do not support women of LGBT people. Though to some extent its just part of life in America.

It is also too easy to forget where your money is going when you go shopping and what that might mean down the line. It is kinda like processed meat they don't want you to really know how it got from cow to beef and what the environmental costs are. Its good business in their view


However when something that comes along that really tries to be mindful, I appreciate it and share the word. So, during this time of materialistic holidays think where your money is going, and where it could go. Doesn't mean this phone has the answers, but its promoting a message I can stand behind.