In Favor of Angry Feminists

I sometimes wonder whether it's worth it to be as outspoken as I am (especially on the internet). Is it worth it to make enemies because I feel the need to discuss my life, my feminism, my stance on abortion?

But nights like tonight make things crystal clear.

Here's what went down:

There’s this bill that they are trying to pass in Texas that would make it illegal to get any abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and would make it very difficult for abortion centers [even general health centers that happen to offer abortion-related services] to continue doing what they do. Governor Rick Perry has already said that if the bill makes it to his desk, he will sign it. And Wendy Davis said fuck no that is not happening.

So she’s filibustering it. That means she asked to talk on the subject at 11:18 this morning, and if she can continue talking about abortion until 11:59 tonight, the bill won’t reach Governor Perry, and they would have to start all over with the bill next time they meet- 2 years from now.

But Wendy has to keep talking. She can’t pause for even a minute, not for food or a sip of water or to go to the bathroom or sit down. She can’t even lean up against anything, or she’s out [source].

Senator Davis had to speak for hours on end about a woman's right to bodily autonomy, following the rules to a 'T'-- until the Republicans decided to vote at the last minute. After midnight. Illegally.

They claim they began voting before the stroke of 12, but the 170,000+ people watching know that's not true.

And then protestors were arrested. Forcefully.

So following the rules only applies if you're not a white, straight, cis-gender, Republican man? Interesting.

This is about more than abortion. It's about more than Texas. It's about more than America. 

This is about women's rights. This is about human rights. 

I can't stay silent. I won't stay silent.

Senator Davis, you are a superhero. My fellow angry feminists on tumblr (with whom I've been speaking all night), I love you.

Texas Hospital Bans Fat Employees

Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, TX is banning workers whose BMI is over 35.

Hospital chief David Brown explains: “The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance".

So if the majority of their patients at Citizens Medical Center demanded only brunette nurses or doctors wearing purple lipstick and clown suits, would that be acceptable?

Further, the issue is not employees who do not adequately do their jobs, nor employees looking or acting unprofessionally. Therefore, despite no laws being in place against this, it is discrimination.

Peggy Howell of NAAFA agrees. “This is discrimination plain and simple. A hospital should know that lots of medical conditions lead to obesity or weight gain... So the field of medicine is no longer an option for people of larger body size? What a waste of talent.”

Perhaps most importantly, BMI is not an indicator of health, ability to do a job, or attractiveness.

Shape up, Citizens.

Quote sources: Buzzfeed and the Texas Tribune

Small Improvements on TTC Buses

Torontonians love to hate the TTC, and it's often easy to see why. But this list of improvements calls for a small celebration.

As of 25 March, these service changes will be in effect.

Like someone on LiveJournal said, though, this could be further improved with free candy.

Image Source.

Chris Brown Rewarded For Suffocating Girlfriend

Thanks to "that time" he beat up his girlfriend, Chris Brown is more famous than ever.

And lots of girls think he's hot:

"I don't know why Rihanna complained. Chris Brown could beat me anytime [sic] he wanted to". [Via]

Brown's fans, of course, conveniently forget the fact that Rihanna couldn't complain; Brown's brutality escalated until he was "choking and threatening to kill [Rihanna] before she lost consciousness". At that point a neighbour called 911. [Source]. Imagine if she hadn't?!

"But that's all right", Brown's fans say. "He's hot. And he performed at the Grammy's, and it was, like, totally awesome.

"And OMG he has such a way with words: just look at this recent tweet, where he totes slams his haters".

Because his "haters" are completely out of line, being revolted by a (so-called) man who inflicted severe injuries on an innocent person?

At least if Brown had been remorseful, proven his behaviour that night was completely out of character, that he was truly sorry and would never do it again, maybe he would deserve some acceptance from society and continued record sales.

But how can people call themselves fans of a man like that? They should be ashamed. Almost as ashamed as Brown should be of himself.

Farewell, Orange Vinyl Seats

Oh, those orange vinyl seats...


I have so many memories of the TTC's old H4 subway trains... Hours spent en route to concerts at the ACC, to doctors' appointments uptown, riding for the fun of it (and for a comfy place to sit and write) as a teenager.

But as of this morning, the old H4s are out of service.

For most, the subway is a day-to-day fixture, not worth noticing. But I see a subway and smile, because I'm a sentimental Torontonian in love with her hometown.

Edward Keenan of The Grid seems to get it. Just read this loving prose.

Do you miss the H4? Love the new trains? Or are you ambivalent about public transit?

All photos by Rebecca Esther.

Starve yourself, then you'll be pretty (?!)

Victoria's Secret "Angel" Adriana Lima is all over the news this week, in celebration of malnutrition and conforming to society's absurd body ideals.

The model is preparing for the Victoria's Secret fashion show with an insane regimen: she "drinks a gallon of water a day. For nine days before the show, she will drink only protein shakes - "no solids". The concoctions include powdered egg. Two days before the show, she will abstain from the daily gallon of water, and "just drink normally". Then, 12 hours before the show, she will stop drinking entirely" (source).

The worst part of the extensive media coverage surrounding her is the exultation of starving oneself to achieve a 'perfect' body, one worth showing off in expensive lingerie. A woman who isn't dehydrated and malnourished is not worthy of praise and admiration?!

Victoria's Secret already has had their say in what body sizes are acceptable-- the ones their stores cater to, from extra small to large (or, on occasion, (a very small) extra large). The diet Angels are forced to adhere to just drives the point home, ten-fold. Not only are very thin women the only beautiful women, but they must be constantly starving, parched + exercising.

I used to excitedly watch the fashion show every year, drooling over the dainty lingerie and angel wings, but the glitz isn't enough for me this year. I'm boycotting Victoria's Secret until they wise up and feature models of all sizes (or, at the very least, naturally slender women who don't have to stave themselves to be considered pretty). Please join me.

Jack Layton, RIP

Source: Chris Wattie/Reuters, via The Toronto Star

I am shocked + deeply saddened by the news of Jack Layton's death.

“If I’ve tried to bring anything to federal politics, it’s the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart. We can look after each other better than we do today,” he proclaimed.

Layton will be sorely missed, both as an NDP leader and as a man who will continue to inspire generations of Canadians.

NYC Says He's a She

New York law states that transpeople must undergo genital surgery to change the gender status on their birth certificates.  Canada's similar laws are not as intrusive and unconstitutional, but nonetheless make things more difficult than they should be.

Gender is not always connected to sex and government is meant to protect its country's people, not check what's in their pants (or under their skirts) and define them with an M or F.

Says Sam Berkley, an NYC (trans)man, "I don't feel comfortable with the government deciding whether I'm a man or not".

Governments (especially that of the United States) are obsessed with controlling citizens' gender identities and sexual preferences. When poverty, violence and prejudice are running rampant and taking lives, aren't there more important things for politicians to do than regulate birth certificates and ban marriages?

Sex Education: "Another Attack On Religious Freedom"?!

An individual bent on controlling the entire world cares about 'religious freedom' all of a sudden.

"I cannot remain silent about another attack on religious freedom [by] sexual education," the Pope announced in his annual address to foreign diplomats.

He complained that sex ed courses "reflect an anthropology opposed to faith and to right reason".

Catholicism is not inherently bad. However, the concept of "(Catholic) faith and all that is right" going hand-in-hand encapsulates everything that is wrong with Catholicism.   A person can have faith without subscribing to the pope's ideals. A person can be decent, compassionate and good without being Catholic. And a person, Catholic or not, has the right to contraception and the responsibility to know how his or her body functions.

Furthermore, the Pope's understanding of "religious freedom" is completely off the mark. He wants all people to be free to observe their religion... if that religion is Catholocism. The Pope also implies that all people should have freedom (it's in the phrase "religious freedom", afterall)... but that freedom is incredibly limited.

What to take away from this: Everything we learn from both religion and formal schooling must be taken with a grain of salt, then used to formulate our own philosophy. We must have the freedom to do so.

Can Women and Men Be 'Just Friends'?

It's an age-old question, isn't it? "Can women and men be 'just friends'?".

This debate has been brought to light once more (or did it ever leave?) with the overly discussed divorce of Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds.  According to this article, multiple reports attest that "Ryan has been secretly dating friend and former co-star Sandra Bullock".

Could the fact that the two are of different genders have anything to do with these reports?

Tabloid articles don't bother me--I'm aware that they exist purely for entertainment value--it's the endless argument that women and men cannot be trusted to remain platonic.

Sex and romantic relationships are integral parts of most adults' lives; this cannot be denied. However, not all relationships are sexual or romantic in nature.

Leave Ryan and Sandra alone & go rent The Proposal on DVD!!