activistashley

[activistashley]

Came across this and immediately thought of the last episode of station 19. Thoughts?

[activistashley]

Today is the Trans Day of Visibility! Transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary people are and have always been a beautiful, irreplaceable part of our movement, community, and history. I see you, I honor you, I love you. 

[activistashley]

We’re the Flash.

[activistashley]

Season 6, all Olicity kisses… Choose your fav if you can. To me they are all special.

[activistashley]

katy perry kissed a 19 year old american idol contestant without his consent during an audition. he was uncomfortable and had been saving his first kiss for somebody special. please don’t let this be ignored just because the victim is male.

[activistashley]

Near Dallas, Texas, an elementary school teacher has been placed on administrative leave after asking her school’s officials to consider adding LGBTQ-inclusive language to school nondiscrimination policies.

Stacy Bailey, a teacher at Mansfield Independent School District’s Charlotte Anderson Elementary School, was recently named Teacher of the Year. Now, she’s on leave for months and has been instructed not to contact students, parents or staff. The school refuses to acknowledge why she was removed.

In August, Bailey emailed district officials in the hopes of discussing adding “sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression” in the district’s anti-discrimination policy, the Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.

“I think it is important that MISD starts movement towards progress now,” Bailey’s email, obtained by the Dallas Morning News, read. “We have many LGBTQ teachers, students, and families in this district. We deserve the right to feel protected by our district.” […]

Dozens of students and parents attended a school board meeting last week to express their support for Bailey, who one parent said “brings diversity to this classroom.”

“She accepts my child for who she is and she loves her for it,” the parent said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “I’m perplexed how this person who everyone seems to adore can be kept from our children.“

What the actual fuck. Can we please stop taking amazing teachers away from kids just because they dared to include everyone? 

[activistashley]

This is what the school walkouts looked like 

CNN | March 14, 2018

Across the United States, many students walked out of school Wednesday to say enough is enough with regards to gun violence.

The national school walkout started at 10 a.m. in each time zone and was scheduled to last for at least 17 minutes — one minute for each person killed in a school shooting that happened exactly one month ago in Parkland, Florida.

More than 2,500 walkouts were planned across the country, according to Empower, the youth branch of the Women’s March that has been organizing the event.

Participants called for stricter gun laws as they also remembered the people who lost their lives in Parkland.

Many schools accommodated the demonstration. Others didn’t allow it, encouraging students to express themselves in ways other than walking out.

[activistashley]

 So the Florida High School shooting has been weighing on me since last week, and I have really struggled in light of it. I can’t avoid the news about it due to working in the news industry, but I have so many opinions in light of it. Unfortunately it isn’t something I feel like I can talk about it. I’ve said it before but I have really lost my fight, as far as fighting for what I believe in.

I have reverted back to being quiet as in my childhood (I know my family will say I was a chatterbox, but really not when it mattered). I didn’t really find my voice to fight for myself, my beliefs and what mattered until I was a senior in high school. I remember why I had so many issues in band senior year because I was standing up for what I thought was right, though I’m sure some people would disagree with that. I remember one high school teacher who I had freshman year and again senior year asking me what happened to the sweet student she had in 9th grade and me responding “she grew up.” I’ll never forget the look on her face, or the face of my band teacher when I got to take all of my frustrations out by pie-ing her in the face. But really that was just the start of me coming out of my shell and not taking shit anymore. A friend of mine put it best in our first year of college saying that I really came out of my shell. The whole experience helped me grow in that I felt good about coming out – though no I rarely talk about issues relevant to the LGBTQ community (not because I don’t think I’ll have support but just in general because I’ve become more quiet). I remember standing up to a religious group, who were harassing people, by counter-protesting them; I remember that same group telling me I was going to hell for my lifestyle “choice” of which they didn’t even know. And I also remember standing strong when one of the punks from that group approached me on the day I learned my great-grandmother passed away and trying to tell me how wrong I was for being gay and attending pride.

I can’t say for 100% what led to me becoming quiet again but I can say what some of the factors are – for instance a family member cutting communication with me and keeping me from some of the most important people in my life, because she disagreed with a decision I made (we’ve since made our peace and while I understand her choice, it did not lessen the immense pain it caused me – also no I will not rehash this). Another family member threatened to do the same thing when I disagreed with his opinion on a topic very closely related to the Florida High School Shooting (and just the thought of that angered me, and hurt me to my core – again we’ve gotten over this and I don’t want to rehash it). My job has also made me quieter because I don’t feel I can give my opinion without feeling like my job is at risk or that I’m going to be judged because of my job (as if it is shaping my opinions). I love my family dearly and though we have had our ups and downs and sometimes I wish they wouldn’t push certain things – I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I do wish though that certain things were different so I could feel like I can truly be me and post and say what I want without fearing that I’m going to lose them or destroy the family. (Fam don’t even bother to say this won’t happen, as show above I’ve already experienced a break).

This is not meant as an attack on anyone, but just something I had to get off my chest since I had shed more tears than I’d honestly like to admit by holding it all in, or how much sleep I’ve lost due to stressing about what I want to say and what I can’t say. That is not just about the Florida Shooting but also other big issues that have affected our country. I wish I could find the strength to say fuck it and fuck them and not care so much about whether I’m going to piss someone off but like I said I love my family dearly and can’t imagine losing them at my own hand so to speak.

[activistashley]

[activistashley]

Survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting announce the ‘March For Our Lives’ on March 24 in support of gun control

‘‘… Not one more. We cannot allow one more child to be shot at school. We cannot allow one more teacher to make a choice to jump in front of a firing assault rifle to save the lives of students. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or text that never comes. Our schools are unsafe. Our children and teachers are dying. We must make it our top priority to save these lives…’’

[activistashley]

trump’s 1 year anniversary of being president is starting off with the government shutting down that’s the perfect representation of how american politics has been going for the past year

[activistashley]

Artist Daniel Rarela creates “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” memes to stop people from whitewashing MLK

follow @the-movemnt

[activistashley]

“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories. Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story. But it’s not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It’s one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they’re in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They’re part of the world of tech and politics and business. They’re our athletes in the Olympics and they’re our soldiers in the military.” - Oprah Winfrey, the first black woman to accept the Cecil B. de Mille award at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards

[activistashley]

THROUGH A RAPIST’S EYES” (PLS TAKE TIME TO READ THIS. It may save a life, It may save your life.)

An Article from Neena Susan Thomas

“Through a rapist’s eyes. A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interview…ed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1] The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun! , braid, or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2] The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who’s clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around to cut clothing.

3] They also look for women using their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4] The number one place women are abducted from / attacked at is grocery store parking lots.

5] Number two is office parking lots/garages.

6] Number three is public restrooms.

7] The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second location where they don’t have to worry about getting caught.

8] If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9] These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas,or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.

10] Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.

POINTS THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER:

1] If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: can’t believe it is so cold out here, we’re in for a bad winter. Now that you’ve seen their faces and could identify them in a line- up, you lose appeal as a target.

2] If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell Stop or Stay back! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

3] If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yelling I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

4] If someone grabs you, you can’t beat them with strength but you can do it by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh – HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it really hurts.

5] After the initial hit, always go for the groin. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy’s parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you’ll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause him a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he’s out of there.

6] When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

7] Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don’t dismiss it, go with your instincts. You may feel little silly at the time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

FINALLY, PLEASE REMEMBER THESE AS WELL ….

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do it.

2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans : if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you…. chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping,eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side,put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE the DOORS , LEAVE.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be hiding at the passenger side , peek into your car, inside the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. ( DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB) .

b. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

c. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it’s better safe than sorry.

If u have compassion reblog this post. ‘Helping hands are better than Praying Lips’ – give us your helping hand.

REBLOG THIS AND LET EVERY GIRL KNOW AT LEAST PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD. So please reblog this….Your one reblog can Help to spread this information.

THIS COULD ACTUALLY SAVE A LIFE.”

[activistashley]

Starting yesterday, Illinois has become the second state in the country to ban the “gay panic defense,” in which murderers can justify violence by citing their shock at learning a victim was LGBTQ.

The tactic is often used by those who hurt their gay or transgender partners or love interests, or by those who lash out violently against a person who expresses interest in them. According to the AP, “There are variations, but it generally goes like this: A person doesn’t realize someone is gay or transgender and engages in a flirtation, then discovers that person’s sexual orientation [or gender identity] and that discovery triggers a passionate involuntary response such as murder.”

Activists for LGBTQ rights often point to the 1998 case of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old college student who was beaten to death by two men, one of whom claimed the victim had made sexual advances toward him.

The activists say they hope the law, which was approved by Illinois lawmakers in May and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in August, will provide momentum toward passing similar measures in other states.

“This new law ensures LGBTQ people are not blamed for the violence perpetrated against them simply because of who they are,” Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, said in a statement shortly after Rauner signed the law.

California is the only other state where this is illegal, and the American Bar Association called for it to be banned several years ago. Here’s hoping Illinois sparks a movement of similar laws around the country. 

[activistashley]

[activistashley]

did you know that in 1953 eisenhower issued an executive order which banned gay people from being employed in government