Peace and Contemplation.

Teen actress Amandla Stenberg speaks out against cultural appropriation.

Dr. Robin DiAngelo explains why white people implode when talking about race.

“If we are against racism and unaware of committing racist acts, we can’t be racist; racism and being a good person have become mutually exclusive. But this definition does little to explain how racial hierarchies are consistently reproduced.” 

When Sharon Chang tells her son that he is Asian and mixed-race, she's trying to help him understand what it means to be multiracial and a person of color in America.

We all face a deficit for growing up LGBT in a straight world. Admitting it is the first step in making sure the next generation gets a better deal.

I ran across this today: "Glorifying victimhood is rarely helpful, but denying it exists is ignorant and dangerous."

It is through recognizing this pole of the LGBTQIA experience that I have seen the person I am emerge: I may not want what everyone else has, and that's okay. I have to listen to what's inside, not on the outside; I really believe in systemic and social equality, I do, but it's not about a system for me, in which I participate. It is about honoring the values of the intention behind the social experiment: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While the broadest of those definitions can be frightening and infringe upon the rights of others, there is space for people to have those things through legislated, equitable decisions.

At this point in history, that is not true for all citizens of the US as it is certainly not true for all people of the world. Does it really get better? Or do those of us who believe it simply learn how to live in the midst of the noise? Tune out and drop in because, otherwise, we'd have to admit the insanity of everyday life--the sharp disconnect between our perspective and reality.

It isn't a shock to know that I'm damaged and I know I'm not the only one and I'm not damaged in every way possible. What is shocking is the oft complete disregard from individuals and systems because somewhere, somehow, they have been convinced that they are arbiters of what should and should not be.

You wouldn't market to Prince Charles and Ozzy Osbourne the same way, right?

Though the employment of this goes against the core of queer theory, it is an interesting look at how systems are attempting to reconcile diverse behaviors through actual recognition. Segmentation can be dangerous because it relies on softer data than sheer numbers but is a necessity in "trending."

Personally, I struggle with the assignation of values according to manifestations on this plane; intentions are hard to quantify and are a difficult in a commodities market. These theories seem to be part of the reason Sam Smith faces some of the ridicule and judgment many people are subjected to when they fall short of the idealized paradigm--something marketing and media has told us should be prized and sought.

In all honesty, I think of the same thing; on some level I grapple with where I fall short of these internalized social values: am I thin enough? Can I be more attractive? Do I need to wear glasses? I should have contacts. I need to work out more. I have to diet.

We’ve published a lot about it.

My mom was a drug addict and so was this Cirque du Soleil star, but like most Americans they — and many LGBT addicts — don't fit our idea of what an "addict" is