Ya know, children are our future, and it is best that tolerance is taught early. I remember when I was at home for Christmas, my 11-year old cousin came to my parents house unexpectedly, and had not been previously briefed on my gender transition. She handled it just fine, which of course, gives me hope for the younger generation.

Of course, it makes me sad that some girl in California has decided to let bigotry stand in the way.

TRIGGER ALERT FOR FOLLOWING VIDEO:

Apparently, one girl scout, angry that the Girl Scouts decided to let in seven year old Bobby Montoya, a transgender child (note that we do not yet have a preferred name for Bobby, she is male assigned at birth who is transitioning to female), decides that she should go on a campaign to boycott girl scout cookies, simply because all girls are allowed.

Now, it is true that the Girl Scouts are a all-girls organization. However, Bobby Montoya and other transfeminine children ARE NOT BOYS!!! We are not talking about allowing boys in, indeed, if Bobby was a boy, identified as a boy, presented as a boy, and was proud to be a boy, Bobby would not have been allowed in, and rightfully so. But Bobby is a GIRL, and thus, she needs to be in the GIRL SCOUTS. Now, everyone thinks that allowing transfeminine children into the girl scouts will create problems, however, as stated before, children are an adaptable bunch, and my 11 and 13 year old cousins have been able to accept me as a girl.

Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is bullying. This hateful screed may not necessarily be overt bullying, harassment, or intimidation, but almost a third of all trans youth have attempted suicide at one point in their lives. This girl from California is just stoking the fires, and if Bobby or any other trans* child killed themselves just because one person cannot stand the concept of gender self-determination, she would have blood on her hands she could never wash off.

But of course, around the same time as this video, a website went up called "Honest Girl Scouts", which is basically trying to turn the Girl Scouts Into The Boy Scouts. Among other things, they:

-Rip people who are considered role models to the Girl Scouts, such as Houston mayor Annise Parker, singer Sara Bareilles, and TV anchor Katie Couric, all because they are pro-choice and pro-queer. But lets forget about their politics for a moment and remember, these are all powerful women who have made something of themselves. Hell, there are major cities in America that have never even had a female mayor (my home, Philadelphia, is one of them), and when the Today Show, which launched Katie Couric's career began, it was a total boy's club (including the monkey). In fact, I am mature enough to say that Susan B. Anthony, an anti-choice woman who gave us the right to vote, is an empowering woman, even if I'm not a fan of her views on reproductive health.
-In an image of a broken girl scout cookie, HGS claims that Girl Scouts "Support United Nations Anti-Population Goals". Because apparently, this group thinks that world overpopulation is a good thing, and that women should remain barefooted breeders.
-Repeatedly claiming throughout the site that Girl Scouts are connected with Planned Parenthood, a meme that has been circulating throughout the internet:

It was hard to find any article linking the two that was not from some pro-life, "pro-family", mouthpiece, but on page two of my search results, I find this article by Amanda Marcotte from Slate.com

The realities behind the Girl Scouts-U.N.-Planned Parenthood myth perfectly illustrate the moderately feminist approach the organization takes toward scouting. Almost the moment the myth began to spread last year, the Girl Scouts' national organization circulated a statement debunking it. According to this statement, in March 2010, the Girl Scouts held a meeting at the 54th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, gathering 30 to 35 teenage girls and encouraging them to "take action on global issues concerning women and girls." The International Planned Parenthood Federation brochure that the right-wing blogosphere accused the Girl Scouts of having passed around ("Healthy, Happy and Hot: A young person's guide to their rights, sexuality, and living with HIV") was not distributed at the meeting. None of the girls in attendance or their chaperones ever saw the brochure until after it started circulating on the Internet, according to a Girl Scouts of the USA press spokesperson.

The article also contrasts the Boy Scouts focus on traditionalist viewpoints, with no change for the times, with the Girl Scouts, who have addressed many current issues, from body image to bullying, and sexual health, in which sex before maturity is discouraged. This is just another example of the double standards that exist in society, where women (of all stripes) calling for their empowerment is looked upon as unholy and somehow something to be shamed.

And even if there is more of a connection between the two groups, please remember that Planned Parenthood does a lot more than just abortions. They deal with a lot of women's health issues, including breast cancer screenings (a special concern for women, and yes, that includes transwomen) and, *gasp*, even men's health too. Believe me, the male opponents of reproductive choice could benefit heavily from regular testicular cancer screenings.

Oh, and as a bonus, here's another interesting faux outrage concerning the Girl Scouts, which was picked up by religiously conservative media:

The incident involved Renise Rodriguez, a 21-year-old Girl Experience Associate for the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona in Tuscon. She was wearing a “Pray to End Abortion” shirt when she went into the office during off-duty hours to prepare materials for a meeting. It was there that she was told twice by a supervisor to turn her shirt inside out if she planned to stay in the office or attend a troop meeting, according to Priests for Life

But then, they manage to cover this part of the story:

The leaders had decided that all employees, volunteers and troop members should be in professional business attire, Girl Scout attire or plain shirts without any social, political or commercial messages when present in the council offices.

So, if she was wearing a pro-choice t-shirt, she would have been told to change also, and I doubt that somebody who was in that position would be unreasonable enough to say "boo" over it, nor would Planned Parenthood be calling for an inquisition.

The moral of this story is, while the Girl Scouts, as well as the pro-choice, pro-queer movement handles their points of view in a mostly mature manner and back up their assertions with facts, the anti-choice movement continues to run with simple lies, straw person arguments, and scare tactics.

In conclusion, I would like to say to Bobby Montoya and all transfeminine children who wish to join the Girl Scouts: You go girl, don't ever let anyone get in the way of your dreams. You were always a girl, and nobody can ever take that away from you.

-Jordan Gwendolyn Davis

Our Youth Activist Network Manager Julia just sent out this call-to-action. Will you take a minute and join our virtual march for women's right and lives?

Dear Advocate-

From January 20 to 27, Advocates for Youth is joining the first-ever Trust Women Week, an online mass mobilization for women's lives and rights. This unique collaborative campaign is working with MoveOn.org and more than 50 organizations across the nation, including coordinating partner, the Trust Women/Silver Ribbon Campaign, to let legislators know that reproductive health, reproductive justice, and reproductive rights are at the top of our agenda and should be at the top of theirs, too. In this collaborative national action, messages from "virtual marchers," as the online participants are known, will be packaged and delivered directly to members of Congress, governors, and state legislators to underscore that Americans trust women to make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives.

Your Voice Counts! CLICK HERE to join the TRUST WOMEN WEEK Virtual March for Women's Lives and Rights.

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. For the next seven days, we will be honoring women's experiences and voices by featuring a different story from the 1 in 3 Campaign. As you may know, the 1 in 3 Campaign is a grassroots movement to start a new conversation about abortion — telling our stories, on our own terms. Together, we can end the stigma women face each and every day and assure access to the full range of basic health care, including abortion.

Please join us in this collaborative week of action by sharing stories from the 1 in 3 Campaign on Facebook and Twitter — and by joining people from across the country for the Trust Women Week online march. One million participants are expected to join in this virtual freedom march, and a real-time online map will show the location of the virtual marchers.

Join the march TODAY! Add your voice to the TRUST WOMEN WEEK Virtual March.

I just joined the march! Will you?
Julia

(Photo Credit http://www.gardasil.com/hpv)

This blog was originally posted on CHATpdx.org as a program of CHATpdx For more information check out: www.facebook.com/chatpdx

In the US, it’s estimated that a majority (75%-80%) of men and women will be infected with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). With about 6 million new cases of genital HPV every year (there are over 30 genital HPV types) and a majority of these (about 74%) of them occurring in 15-24 year olds, the need for effective prevention programs directed to youth is crucial. The new HPV vaccines protect against the two types of HPV that cause a majority of cervical cancer and genital warts cases. These vaccines, however, are only effective if they are taken BEFORE someone is infected with HPV. HPV often has no signs or symptoms and partners engaging in sex (or any other kind of genital contact) may be transmitting HPV without even knowing they have it. Recently the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended HPV vaccination for girls 11-26 and have stated that Gardasil can also be given to boys ages 9-26. In women HPV can cause serious health problems including genital warts, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer. These cancers can cause death or infertility in women. Men on the other hand usually only develop genital warts. While this is a small percentage of men that could develop HPV-related cancer of the anus or penis, it is much less common.

Subsequently, I believe that men have a pretty important role to play in the prevention of HPV. Likelihood of developing cervical cancer is greatly reduced if the vaccine is used. Unfortunately, it is too common for women (particularly women of color) to have barriers to screening services or accessing this vaccine because of the stigma around accessing sexual health services. This reality makes it even more important for men to seek the vaccine and to encourage the women in their lives (particularly the ones they are having sex with) to also receive the vaccine. I have encouraged many of the women in my life to get the vaccine whether or not they have been sexually active or think they are at risk. Men have the same responsibility to help prevent HPV even if they do not suffer the same consequences as women. As allies, men can play an important role in helping to reduce HPV transmission. It’s time that men stand in solidarity with our friends, sisters and mothers by encouraging them to seek pap smears as part of a well-women’s annual checkup as well as the HPV vaccine.


(Photo Credit http://www.gardasil.com/hpv)

Speaking of mothers, my own mama had such a hard time talking about her own health growing up. I remember her waiting for us to leave for school before she would call our neighbor to talk about a yeast infection she once had. This kind of taboo, to not even want to say the word “Vagina” like it was some sort of dirty word only reinforced my ideas as a kid that we weren’t supposed to talk about our bits and pieces. I was lucky to even get a pack of condoms on my nightstand when she thought I was having sex with a note that said “no seas guey” (don’t be dumb). Growing up in an undocumented Latino family we never dreamed of going to the hospital unless our arm had actually fallen off, yet alone to receive preventative care. Our fear of getting deported was much worse than the fear of cervical cancer. Growing up I’ve had to learn to talk about sex and sexual health in a way that resonates with my mother and with my siblings. At times it can be hard, but for the women in my family, I knew it would be the only way I could convince them to talk to a doctor and get the care they needed. They may roll their eyes or not want to talk about it, but I care about the health of the vaginas in my family, just like all men should care about the vaginas in theirs.

What do you see as the role of men and boys? How can you advocate for the health of women in your life?

-Ernesto
edominguez@cascadeaids.org

The rationale behind why the Administration of the Milton Hershey School banned a 13-year-old boy who is positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is dumb founded. I had to pause, comprehend what I just read and do a re-read when I first stumbled across the article.

The school said today that its residential setting and the risk of sexual activity made the teen too much of a "threat."

(source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/hiv-positive-student-discusses-denial-admission-hershey-school/story?id=15074075#.Tv-oJSNWoc8)

In the United States we have laws that protect people from discrimination, and yet discrimination is still a big problem. I know that laws do not protect everyone and that people still break laws. It just sucks that this kid is denied an opportunity because of a medical condition.

I am an eternal optimist! This can be a great learning opportunity for this school. The Administration claims to be concerned because the students live at the school that sexual activity is feasible and because of the boy’s HIV status he can spread HIV to other students.

If this is really a concern of the Administration than they have the opportunity to give their students the tools to make informed decisions about their sexual health. The Milton Hershey School can provide their students with comprehensive sexual health education and resources such as condoms to help them make informed decisions about their sexual health.

Research has shown when young people have the resources and knowledge to make informed decision most young people choose abstinence until they feel they are ready to handle being sexually active.

However, I doubt that their primary concern is the possible sexual behaviors of their students.

TAKE ACTION: Join Lawrence Stallworth II, a 20-year-old who learned he was HIV-positive while a senior in high school, by taking a stand against discrimination, stigma and fear. Demand that the Milton Hershey School publicly apologize for discriminating against a 13-year-old HIV-positive student.

Here is the link to the petition: TAKE ACTION

(source: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/blogs-main/advocates-blog/1943-ten-ways-to-support-adolescent-health-a-rights)

TAKE ACTION, sign the petition!

807,615 voter signatures are required to repeal Proposition 8 (Prop 8) and there is so little time to collect them. Advocates and supporters of equal marriage rights for same gendered couples in California only have until May 14 to gather the required signatures for the initiative to appear on the November 2012 ballot.

Hopefully the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns Prop 8 declaring that it impedes on the civil rights of Gay and Lesbian Californians. If the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals does not overturn Prop 8, Californians will take it back to the ballot.

This is an exciting time for California. Hopefully this time; we can win back our rights to marry. With May around the corner, there is no time to lose. If you live is California, think about getting involved. Getting involved can mean gathering signatures among your family and friends and sending them into an organization gathering signatures.

Love Honor Cherish (lovehonorcherish.org) is spearheading the initiative on gathering signatures. They have a really detailed instruction manual and have all the forms you need to gather signatures. This is a great way to empower individuals to get involved and gather support within their own communities.

The Fraternity I’m involved in, Alpha Delta Chapter of Delta Lambda Phi, will be gathering signatures in the San Diego Area to help out and get involved in a cause that hits home for all of us. Hopefully by the end of 2012 marriage will be a protected right for all California Citizens.

Below is the language in the initiative proposed by Love Honor Cherish:

The Proposition

This amendment would amend an existing section of the California Constitution. Existing language proposed to be deleted is printed in strikeout type. Language proposed to be added is printed in underlined type.

Section 1. To protect religious freedom> no court shall interpret this measure to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person authorized to perform marriages by any religious denomination, church, or other non-profit religious institution to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs. The refusal to perform a marriage under this provision shall not be the basis for lawsuit or liability, and shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any religious denomination, church or other religious institution.

Section2. To provide for fairness in the government’s issuance of marriage licenses, Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
(source: http://lovehonorcherish.org)

So, Congress introduced its appropriations bill late last night to fund the federal government through the end of the 2012 fiscal year. There's good news and bad news.

GOOD: Your calls to Congress made a difference! Even though new abstinence-only-until-marriage funding was reintroduced, they will only receive $5 million. That's a step in the right direction.

BAD: We've seen this before. The Community Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) fund was launched with only $20 million, but its annual funding was scaled up to more than $110 million in just a few years. $5 million is just the beginning.

By now we all know that the majority of Americans oppose an abstinence-only approach to sex education. What makes this worse is that Congress has been raging for months about slashing unnecessary spending and cutting the deficit. $5 million for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs is like taking a match to taxpayers' money and simply lighting it on fire. (Actually, it's even worse than that. Research has shown that these programs have no impact on teen behavior – and they also forbid students from learning about contraception and condoms.)

Our elected officials are fond of saying that "the people" know how to spend their own tax dollars better than politicians in Washington do, and for once we couldn't agree more. So let's turn it over to you.

TELL US: WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH $5 MILLION?

Click here to join the conversation on Facebook.

"Like" us on Facebook, and post comments, photos, or videos on the Amplify Facebook Page explaining how you'd help people with $5 million — rather than fund failed abstinence-only programs. Download a template HERE!

Click here to join the conversation on Twitter.

Let us know by tweeting @AmplifyTweets and using the #InsteadOfAbOnly and #5mil hashtags.

I can't wait to see all of your amazing ideas – and don't worry, we'll make sure to pass them along leaders on Capitol Hill!

In these economic times when all we hear from Congress is budget woes, we have received word that Congress is trying to bring back dedicated funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that Congress' own studies show just don’t work. We need to take action NOW to ensure that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs do not receive dedicated federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget.

Please take a couple of minutes to CALL the White House and the House and Senate Leadership:

Senate Majority Leader Reid - 202-224-3542

House Minority Leader Pelosi – 202-225-0100

President Obama - 202-456-1111

Script you can use for calls:

“My name is _______ and I’m from ______, __ (city, state). I’m calling to make sure there is no dedicated funding for abstinence-only programs in the final Labor-HHS bill. These ineffective programs have no place in a bill that should focus our limited dollars on evidence-based and cost-effective programs. Please do not provide any dedicated funding to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in the Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations negotiations. Thank you.”

Once you've made these calls, please also click here to sign our petition. We don’t have a lot of time on this, so please act now!

We have worked hard to eliminate two-thirds of federal abstinence-only funding. We have to fight hard to keep from backsliding. Over $1.5 billion dollars have already been wasted on these ineffective programs. Young people deserve better.

In solidarity,

Sarah Audelo
Senior Domestic Policy Manager
Advocates for Youth

P.S. Please call now – share this with your friends. We absolutely need President Obama and the Senate and House Leadership to hear from you that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are a waste of taxpayer dollars and have no place in the appropriations bill.

This idea is often what the “GLBTQAAIP ect. queer community” has pondered over and believed in for years. But to my surprize, I didn't know there was actual scientific proof for this phenomenon.

The study cited in this article is about how men, homophobic and none homophobic, react to homosexual stimuli. The study found that the group of homophobic individuals had an increased penile circumference then the none homophobic group to these photos. Thus, the proof is in the pudding! (I am not the best with American expressions ;) Homophobic men, according to this study, are attracted to homosexual stimuli.

The author stated that this was not old news; it just had not been public enough for us to see.

The author then goes into politics and how right wingers are preaching the homophobia more than ever. Throughout the years, some of political homophobias strongest supporters have been caught in the act tarnishing their straight image.

My funny take on this is that the Republicans need to ALL come out of the closet ;). I’m kidding, but they do need to lay off. They need to admit they are wasting time and money trying to ban same-sex marriage and start worrying about things that matter. Not that the Democrats don’t have issues too, I think our system is in a big mess right now. Politicians need not waste time picking a battle with the “queer community” and finally open the door to a more queer friendly union. Maybe then can we start groundwork on ENDA and anti-LGBT bullying legislation.

Anywho, moral of the story is that those bullies in school may be hiding the same thing they are making fun of. Not to say teasing is ever okay, but, maybe they need our help? Can they be helped? Is there room to educate them? These are the questions that may help us overcome the homophobia we see in schools. These are the answers that will help any of us comes to terms with possible teasing and name calling we have faced ourselves. Maybe if we learn to forgive, we can not only help ourselves grow, but help your enemy grow as well. Each of us needs to gather our courage to take the first steps to local, national, or even global change.

-Shaily of Youth Resource

Source:
http://www.politicususa.com/en/proof-that-homophobia-is-associated-with-homosexual-arousal

Hey Everyone!

Exciting news! Applications to become a Great American Condom Campaign Spring Semester SafeSite are now open!

The Great American Condom Campaign is a youth-led grassroots movement to reduce unintended pregnancies and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections by normalizing condom use on college and university campuses. Students from across the country apply to become SafeSites, individual condom distribution points, and upon selection receive a box of 500 Trojan condoms to distribute to their peers. SafeSites are also tasked with educating their peers about safer sex and advocating on campus and within their community for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people.

During the fall of 2011, 1,000 SafeSites distributed more than 500,000 condoms to students on 782 campuses. SafeSites were established in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Condoms were distributed:

Sound like fun? Apply for the GACC NOW!

We receive more applications than we can accept, so make sure your application stands out! Be clear about how you will distribute condoms and why you want to be part of the GACC. To learn more about the GACC and the awesome work of previous SafeSites, visit the GACC Facebook Page.

Applications to be a Spring Semester SafeSite are open through January 6th, 2012. It only takes 10 minutes to fill out an application, so start now!

Do it for your country!

***If you were a SafeSite last semester (Fall 2011), don't forget to complete the Fall 2011 SafeSite survey that was emailed to you last week.

Each year, December 1 marks World AIDS Day, when activists around the world come together to raise awareness of the global HIV epidemic, fight stigma and discrimination, and advocate for increased efforts to support comprehensive HIV education and prevention.

This year's theme "Getting to Zero" supports UNAIDS' multi-year Getting to Zero strategy that puts forward three core visions: Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS Related Deaths, and Zero Discrimination. The theme underscores the importance of continuing to focus on preventing new infections, ensuring access to treatment, and ending stigma and discrimination of marginalized communities, such as young people who are living with HIV/AIDS, LGBT, sex workers, and injecting drug users, among others. Thirty years into the epidemic, while there have been important declines in HIV prevalence among young people in some of the most affected countries, 41 percent of all new HIV infections are still among youth age 15-24.

It's easy to get involved on World AIDS Day:

1) Join Advocates' World AIDS Day Blogathon

From December 1 to 8, Advocates will be hosting its annual World AIDS Day blogathon on Amplify as a part of the global movement of young people fighting to end HIV/AIDS. Share your stories about how HIV/AIDS has affected you, post your perspective on HIV policies and programs in your country, reflect on your successes and lessons, or upload pictures or video to share your ideas about where we are today — 30 years into the epidemic.

All new posts will be featured on the blogathon page — and many will be spotlighted on the Amplify home page as well.

2) Sign our petition urging President Obama to stand up and fight for young people this World AIDS Day and every day leading up to and after the International AIDS Conference next July.

In July, the International AIDS Conference will be held in Washington, DC, bringing more than 20,000 delegates from around the world together to discuss scientific research, share best practices, and shape the future policy and program direction of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care efforts. Key players in the global response to AIDS will be in attendance, including Heads of State and foreign dignitaries, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ministers of Health, Parliamentarians and Members of Congress.

We cannot let this opportunity pass by without demanding that the head of the host country, U.S. President Barack Obama, stand up and fight for young people affected by HIV and AIDS.

Click here to learn more about other ways that you get can get involved!