Featured This Week: Blair and Leo :D

Hey y'all!

Here's a double whammy: Two Featured Friends This Week!

First, 

I met this person last summer and I really got to know her. 

She's got a gorgeous singing voice, is all about body positivity, and knows how to make me feel better when I'm not feeling better when I'm not feeling good. 

This is Blair!

(All of this info she gave me word for word)

Name: Blair

Pronouns: She/her/hers

School: Bridgewater State University 

Likes: Music, Movies, Latin/roman/greek culture and language,Food of all cultures,Sailing,

Water,Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii, Megalodon, Flowers, Italian subs with everything on it

Dislikes: Racism, Nasty food, Ignorant people, Snow, Spiders, Peanut butter out of the jar

About me: I graduated last year from BLA. I am studying music at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater,MA. I'm Kyle's older sister and I love him sooooooooooo fucking much. I worked at True Colors and met beautiful people and I became educated about how to properly become an ally to the LGBTQA community. I come from a Bible Belt family who is very unsupportive of the LGBTQA community. And I was sheilded all my life from them, and I went on my own to learn about the LGBTQA community and there I found no judgement, understanding, and amazing people. And I continue to seek out more information and offer support to my friends.

P.s. HI MRS. B!!!

Next is a friend that, even though I don't get to see him all that much, when I do, we have a great time.

He was my roommate at the Gender and Sexuality Alliance state summit last year, 

I really lucked out with him, because he's fucking awesome. 

We stayed up late talking. 

He's super adorable, funny, and sassy.

I present to you, Leo!!!

(All of this info he gave me word for word)

Name: Leo Jean Palmer

Pronouns: male (he, him, his)

School: Weston high school

Likes: anime, cartoons, nature, peace

Dislikes: ignorance, hate, fish

About me: hello all my name is Leo Jean Palmer. I identify as a queer transman of color. Transitioning has made me feel tons better than before and I hope everyone who wants to gets to. Other than that I just like going to queer friendly places and being apart of the community.

LGBTQ+ Black History Month Day 16: Langston Hughes

Day 16, Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

Born February 1, 1902- May 22, 1967

Poet, Social Activist, Novelist, Playwright, and Columnist

"James Mercer Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was a young child, and his father moved to Mexico. He was raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen, when he moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband, before the family eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in Lincoln that Hughes began writing poetry. After graduating from high school, he spent a year in Mexico followed by a year at Columbia University in New York City. During this time, he held odd jobs such as assistant cook, launderer, and busboy. He also travelled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman. In November 1924, he moved to Washington, D. C. Hughes’s first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, (Knopf, 1926) was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania three years later. In 1930 his first novel, Not Without Laughter, (Knopf, 1930) won the Harmon gold medal for literature.

Hughes, who claimed Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman as his primary influences, is particularly known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. He wrote novels, short stories and plays, as well as poetry, and is also known for his engagement with the world of jazz and the influence it had on his writing, as in his book-length poemMontage of a Dream Deferred (Holt, 1951). His life and work were enormously important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Unlike other notable black poets of the period—Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, and Countee Cullen—Hughes refused to differentiate between his personal experience and the common experience of black America. He wanted to tell the stories of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, including both their suffering and their love of music, laughter, and language itself.

The critic Donald B. Gibson noted in the introduction to Modern Black Poets: A Collection of Critical Essays (Prentice Hall, 1973) that Hughes “differed from most of his predecessors among black poets . . . in that he addressed his poetry to the people, specifically to black people. During the twenties when most American poets were turning inward, writing obscure and esoteric poetry to an ever decreasing audience of readers, Hughes was turning outward, using language and themes, attitudes and ideas familiar to anyone who had the ability simply to read . . . Until the time of his death, he spread his message humorously—though always seriously—to audiences throughout the country, having read his poetry to more people (possibly) than any other American poet.”

Langston Hughes died of complications from prostate cancer in May 22, 1967, in New York City. In his memory, his residence at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem has been given landmark status by the New York City Preservation Commission, and East 127th Street has been renamed “Langston Hughes Place.”

In addition to leaving us a large body of poetic work, Hughes wrote eleven plays and countless works of prose, including the well-known “Simple” books: Simple Speaks His Mind, (Simon & Schuster, 1950); Simple Stakes a Claim, (Rinehart, 1957); Simple Takes a Wife, (Simon & Schuster, 1953); andSimple’s Uncle Sam (Hill and Wang, 1965). He edited the anthologies The Poetry of the Negro and The Book of Negro Folklore, wrote an acclaimed autobiography, The Big Sea(Knopf, 1940), and cowrote the play Mule Bone (HarperCollins, 1991) with Zora Neale Hurston."

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."

-Langston Hughes

Info from: poets.org

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

So, yesterday was Valentine's Day, but I couldn't get internet access, so I'm doing the post today because its super cute and y'all need to see it:

Deaest Babes, Today is Valentine's Day!

Today is a day to celebrate love!

I ask you all, even if you don't have a Boo or you aren't interested in having a Boo to, 

SPREAD THE LOVE!

Show how much you care!

About your friends, family, yourself!

Sing a song to your lover, 

Color with your younger sibling, 

Give out change, clothes, or food to homeless people on the street.

Open your hands, eyes, ears, and hearts.

You can do all this, but remember Little Muffins, 

TREAT YO SELF!

I know its hard to appreciate the amazing being you are, but please try for me.

Validate yourself Babies!

Write yourself cute notes telling you how fierce you are, or something you're good at!

Take a warm bubble bath, buy yourself something nice!

You are wonderful and deserve it!

Okay okay, so I channeled my inner Piper (Orange Is The New Black) and I asked couple of my friends:

What is Love?

What does Love mean to you?

What does Love look like?

What do you love most about yourself?

And this is what they said!!! :

Ollie

They, Them, Theirs

Taunton High

Nicole

She, Her, Hers

Boston Latin Academy

Kimberley

She, Her, Hers

Snowden High

LGBTQ+ Black History Month Day 15: Josephine Baker

Day 15, Josephine Baker

Josephine "Black Venus" Baker

Born June 3, 1906- April 12, 1975

Singer, Dancer, Civil Rights Activist

"Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, she later took the name Baker from her second husband, Willie Baker, whom she married at age 15.

Surviving the 1917 riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, where the family was living, Josephine Baker ran away a few years later at age thirteen and began dancing in vaudeville and on Broadway. In 1925, Josephine Baker went to Paris where, after the jazz revue La Revue Nègre failed, her comic ability and jazz dancing drew attention of the director of the Folies Bergère.

After the war, Josephine Baker adopted, with her second husband, twelve children from around the world, making her home a World Village, a "showplace for brotherhood." She returned to the stage in the 1950s to finance this project.Virtually an instant hit, Josephine Baker became one of the best-known entertainers in both France and much of Europe. Her exotic, sensual act reinforced the creative images coming out of the Harlem Renaissance in America.

During World War II Josephine Baker worked with the Red Cross, gathered intelligence for the French Resistance and entertained troops in Africa and the Middle East.

In 1951 in the United States, Josephine Baker was refused service at the famous Stork Club in New York City. Yelling at columnist Walter Winchell, another patron of the club, for not coming to her assistance, she was accused by Winchell of communist and fascist sympathies. Never as popular in the US as in Europe, she found herself fighting the rumors begun by Winchell as well.

Josephine Baker responded by crusading for racial equality, refusing to entertain in any club or theater that was not integrated, and thereby breaking the color bar at many establishments. In 1963, she spoke at the March on Washington at the side of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1975, Josephine Baker's Carnegie Hall comeback performance was a success, as was her subsequent Paris performance. But two days after her last Paris performance, she died of a stroke.Josephine Baker's World Village fell apart in the 1950s and in 1969 she was evicted from her chateau which was then auctioned off to pay debts. Princess Grace of Monaco gave her a villa. In 1973 Baker married an American, Robert Brady, and began her stage comeback."

"Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul, when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood."

-Josephine Baker

Info from: womenshistory.about.com

LGBTQ+ Black History Month Day 14: Angel Haze

I'm sorry it took me forever to find a Non Binary and or Gender Variant* Black icon, 

The erasure* struggle is real, 

If y'all know of any other non binary Black Icons, please let me know!

Day 14, Angel Haze

Angel Haze

Born July 10, 1991

Rapper and Singer

"Born in July 1991, Angel is a newcomer to the hip hop scene. Yet in two short years they've been able to turn a childhood hobby of writing poems into a full fledged career. Angel has made been making waves in hip hop since 2009 and their biggest splash came most recently when they were signed to Universal Music Group, becoming their newest artist to date.

They've been featured on several music blogs and websites, such as: Pitchfork, Complex.com, XXL.com, DJBooth.net, MTVIggy.com, TheSource.com, Hot97, UrbanSteez.com Unsigned Hype, HotNewHipHop.com, Pound Magazine, and a feature for TheFader.com. In a short period of time, they've already have thousands of fans following their career and continues to build their buzz online. Their songs have presently surpassed the 100,000 mark in downloads, and have over 1,000,000 views on YouTube. 

Angel Haze is as confident as they are shy, and as proud as they are humble. Like many, their music provides a breath of fresh air for those who have an appreciation for music with genuine substance."

“I want to make people feel connected. I want to tell a story – everybody’s story”

-Angel Haze

**Non Binary (Binary referring to the gender binary society creates, saying that you can only be a man or a woman): Catch-all category for gender identities other than man and woman, thus outside of the gender binary and cisnormativity. You can be a boy and girl, neither, fluctuate, identify as three genders, and more!

Gender Variant : When your gender/gender identity/gender expression change and/or shift. 
(Gender Variant definition brought to you by my home skillet Ollie)
You don't have to identify as either of these if you feel they don't fit you, there's so many options, you can create your own too!

*Erasure: The removal of all traces of something; obliteration.

Ps. Listen to Angel's song, Battle Cry, the acoustic version, its righteous!

Info from: republicrecords.com

LGBTQ+ Black History Month Day 13: Laverne Cox

Day 13, Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox

Born May 29, 1984

Actress, Entrepreneur, Advocate

"Laverne Cox is a critically acclaimed actress who currently appears in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black, playing the groundbreaking role of “Sophia Burset,” an incarcerated African American transgender woman. Laverne is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show. Time Magazine named Sophia Burset the 4th most influential fictional character of 2013.

Laverne is also a recipient of the Dorian rising star award for her work in “Orange is the New Black.” A renowned speaker, Laverne has taken her empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically all over the country. Her insights have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NPR, HLN, VH1, FOX NEWS LATINO, among other national TV and radio networks.

In 2013 Laverne won Best Supporting Actress at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival for her work in the praised film Musical Chairs, directed by Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan). Laverne’s other acting credits include Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, HBO’s Bored to Death, and the independent films Carla and The Exhibitionists. She also has roles in the forthcoming films 36 Saints and Grand Street.

Laverne is the first trans woman of color to produce and star in her own television show, VH1’s TRANSForm Me, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Laverne is also the first trans woman of color to appear on an American reality television program, VH1’s I Wanna Work for Diddy, for which she accepted the GLAAD Award for Outstanding Reality Program. Laverne was named one of Out magazine’s “Out 100,” one of the country’s top 50 trans icons by The Huffington Post, and one of Metro Source magazine’s “55 People We Love.” Laverne’s critical writings have appeared in The Advocate and The Huffington Post. A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, Laverne holds a degree in Fine Arts."

 “If we want to keep kids safe we should stop being gender police.”

-Laverne Cox

Info from: lavernecox.com

LGBTQ+ Black History Month Day 12: Audre Lorde

I am so sorry for these late posts y'all, my internet hasn't been on for days, 

The following posts have been brought to you by Panera Bread, their wifi is on fleek!!!

Day 12, Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde

Born Feb. 18, 1934 - Nov. 17, 1992

Author and Activist

"The Black feminist, lesbian, poet, mother, warrior Audre Lorde (1934-1992) was a native New Yorker and daughter of immigrants. Both her activism and her published work speak to the importance of struggle for liberation among oppressed peoples and of organizing in coalition across differences of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, age and ability. An internationally recognized activist and artist, Audre Lorde was the recipient of many honors and awards, including the Walt Whitman Citation of Merit, which conferred the mantle of New York State poet for 1991-93. In designating her New York State’s Poet Laureate, Governor Mario Cuomo observed: “Her imagination is charged by a sharp sense of racial injustice and cruelty, of sexual prejudice…She cries out against it as the voice of indignant humanity. Audre Lorde is the voice of the eloquent outsider who speaks in a language that can reach and touch people everywhere.”

Her works include:

• A Burst Of Light
• The Black Unicorn
• Between Ourselves
• Cables To Rage
• The Cancer Journals
• The First Cities
• From A Land Where Other People Live
• I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities
• Lesbian Party: An Anthology
• Need: A Chorale For Black Women Voices
• The New York Head Shop And Museum
• Our Dead Behind Us: Poems
• Sister Outsider: Essays And Speeches
• The Marvelous Arithmetics Of Distance: Poems
• Undersong: Chosen Poems Old And New
• Uses Of The Erotic: The Erotic As Power
• Woman Poet—The East
• Zami: A New Spelling of My Name"

"Caring for myself is not self indulgence, it is self preservation and that is an act of political warfare."

- Audre Lorde




Info from: http://alp.org/about/audre