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Politics and Activism

In Honor Of "Coming Out Day"

Why you and the groups you identify as are valid.

Corby Smith

Oct 18, 2016

Delaware College of Art and Design

Wikipedia

National Coming Out Day was this past Tuesday, so I thought I'd share some thoughts.

First off, I'm so proud of anyone who came out this past week because of Coming Out Day, or anyone that is celebrating a coming-out-anniversary. You are brave and amazing and you deserve to love or not love whoever you want. You deserve to be in the body and the assigned gender that feels right for you. You deserve to be able to say no, and if you haven't come out yet, know that it's okay. There will be a time when you feel safe and secure enough to do so. There will be someone or a group of someones that will come along and make you feel good about yourself and will support your choices and will ultimately help you to live your best life.

I'm so happy that I'm apart of a community (school, work, and family/friends) that will support me no matter what, but I know this is not always the case. If you don't have a support system or a group in which you feel safe to be you, just know that there are so many people out there who are struggling in similar ways. In this day and age, I like to think we are moving forward, however slowly, to be more positive and ethical and understanding of the human condition. But I know that's not entirely true, so here is my tip to you: anyone who is vicious or mean and refuses to even try to understand another's point of view is not worth your time. If you think you can help them become less ignorant, then great! If not, don't waste your time or energy because it will just put you down

Asexual, bisexual, pansexual, heterosexual, homosexual, transsexual, male, female — you get the idea — and everything in between: you matter and you deserve the best things out of life. I don't care how cheesy this sounds because we are not told this enough. It is okay and encouraged to be your authentic self. You deserve to identify as whatever you damn well please because anything less than that is not okay.

In the words of Aibileen Clark from The Help:

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

And don't you ever forget it!

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Politics and Activism

7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

Making the world safer through language.

University of Pittsburgh

2994

7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

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transgender

Entertainment

What It’s Like To Be A Strong Woman, As Told By Blair Waldorf

Queen B sums it up for us.

Rutgers University

1022

Stop Hollywood

For those of you who have watched "Gossip Girl" before (and maybe more than just once), you know how important of a character Blair Waldorf is. Without Blair, the show doesn’t have any substance, scheme, or drama. Although the beginning of the show started off with Blair’s best friend Serena returning from boarding school, there just simply is no plot without Blair. With that being said, Blair’s presence in the show in much more complex than that. Her independent and go-getter ways have set an example for "Gossip Girl" fans since the show started and has not ended even years after the show ended. Blair never needed another person to define who she was and she certainly didn’t need a man to do that for her. When she envisioned a goal, she sought after it, and took it. This is why Blair’s demeanor encompasses strong women like her.

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In Honor Of "Coming Out Day"

Why you and the groups you identify as are valid.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

It's Been a Long Winter Break

Making the world safer through language.

1. Use singular they for people whose pronouns you don't know, people who use those pronouns, and stop using him/her.

2. Stop using the words "opposite sex" or "both sexes" or "opposite gender" or "both genders".

3. Ask people's pronouns when you meet them.

4. Use the word cisgender.

5. Stop saying "born a boy/girl" about a transgender or non-binary person.

6. Stop using the term 'preferred pronouns'.

7. Stop using a transgender or non-binary person's dead name.

Queen B sums it up for us.

Sometimes, we just can't help the feelings we have

1. Wow. My voice sounds amazing with this song.

2. Okay, if you can't sing, don't do it.

3. But wait, I don't think I can be friends with someone who isn't going to jam out in the car with me.

4. Dance part in the car! Even when I'm alone. Because every song is my favorite.

5. Stop light. Act calm. Be cool.

6. Yes! Green light! Back at it!

7. I don't know this song, but I'm going to sing along anyway.

8. Why am I not famous yet?

9. Being next to someone who can't sing so you feel good about yourself because you rock!

10. OK, I'm so good. I need to sing louder so I can help these people out.

11. My voice doesn't reach some of those notes, maybe I should sit this one out.

12. Randomly bursting out in song and getting weird looks because of it.

13. God, thank you so much for giving me a good voice.

14. Man, I feel bad for people who can't sing.

15. Was I just humming? Did they hear me?

16. Having dance moves to go along with most songs.

17. Not being able to stop yourself at correcting people when they mess up.

18. Maybe I should post myself singing.

19. Nah, can't do it. Dumb idea.

20. Having my own personal concert in the shower. Every single time.

Normal people wouldn't understand

1. Having time to nap between classes or at all.

2. Waking up 10 minutes before your class starts and making it there in time.

3. Making it to class in general

4. Only having to hit the snooze button three times.

5. When you didn't do the homework and the teacher decides not to collect it for that day.

6. Getting that "I'm sorry, but class is cancelled" email.

7. Finding a quiet seat in the library.

8. Actually enjoying a class and understanding all of the material.

9. Having a friend to eat lunch with.

10. Finishing an assignment before the due date.

11. When there is free food on campus.

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