#includeeveryone

If you are an asexual who is dating/wants to marry someone of the same sex, and are struggling for equality, you are just as acephobic as the rest of the lot if you exclude cis aces from the LGBT community

The LGBT community is open for all,

And the LGBTQIA includes Asexuals, it doesn’t specify which kind

So stop being an ass and making a rightful community member feel like they don’t belong, we all deserve to belong to the community, because god knows we get enough hate from non aces as is

While working as director of the LGBTQ Studies Certificate Program at the university of Wisconsin and a professor of both history and women and gender studies A. Finn Enke is able to capture a range of concept in which he his familiar with. In his article about “Transfeminist Terms and Concepts”, A. Finn Enke selects some, out of a multitude, of transgender concepts and terms in which are known to be correct. He states that you should be cautious in which the way the terms can be used, in different cultures or different times in history. It is important for everyone to know the importance of gender inclusive language, in which hasn’t always been as widespread today and has gone from accepting women inclusive language, to excepting all gender language. The author does agree that the English language is very challenging to work against when trying to open a wider range or gender-inclusive nouns and it definitely isn't easy to let go of bits and pieces of a language that some have been instilled with since they we’re born. But in the end, it is important for everyone in our world to be more open-minded and to learn concepts that will include everyone around us; Transliteracy surrounds this idea exactly. Lastly, A. Finn Enke writes that we should not rid of all gender-imposed language but to create a wider range.  

Here are some of the terms that A. Finn Enke describes in the article:  

Gender Inclusive Pronouns: Gender-inclusive pronouns are not associated with a specific gender thereby do not ascribe gender (A.Finn Enke, 2012).  

Trans and Trans People: currently, “trans” is an inclusive and respectful term available for use by people outside trans communities as well as by those who identify with or as trans; as a general term (A. Finn Enke, 2012).

Gender Expression: How people express, wear, enact, and perform gender trough behavior, mannerism, clothing, speech, physicality, and selective body modification (A. Finn Enke, 2012).

Transsexual: Medical and popular term describing persons with significant cross-gender identity. Due to varying life circumstances, transsexuals may or may not live in their gender identity some of or all the time (A. Finn Enke, 2012).

Cisgender, Cissexual: From the Latin prefix “cis”, meaning on the same side or staying with the same orientation, “cisgender” and “cissexual” name the characteristics of staying with or being perceived to stay with the gender and/or sex one was assigned at birth (A. Finn Enke, 2012).

Cis-privilege: The privilege and power accorded to people who are perceived to follow the norms associated with the sex they are perceived to be and assumed to have been assigned at birth (A. Finn Enke, 2012)

Thoughts: Although this short clip does not have any words, I was able to clearly understand the emotions of the main character, whom I will call “Red Friend,” based off of the actions of each character and the music that plays in the background. As I watched this film unravel, I felt sad for “Red Friend” and empathized with her because she just wanted to belong, fit in, and play with the others. When she finally finds a friend at the end who seems similar to her, and welcomes her with a friendly wave back, I personally felt lighter and happier. In under 4 minutes, and without any dialogue, so much was said. I believe every student, no matter how old, has felt this way at least once; thus, allowing them to be able to relate to “Red Friend” and empathize with her.

Hoberman, M. A., & Hawkes, K. (Illus.). (1999). And to Think That We Thought That We’d Never Be Friends. New York, NY: Crown Publishers. Once two siblings come to realize friendship is better than fighting, after arguing over various things, they begin to spread their message all over the world. Picture Book, JMM.

Thoughts: Hawkes’ decorative illustrations that span across the two-page layout enhance Hoberman’s rhythmic words, perfectly portraying the lightheartedness and fun that music brings into people’s lives. I really appreciated how this story indicates that music brings out a commonality amongst people worldwide, of all religions, races, and genders. Through this unity, people from various backgrounds can come together to form unique friendships. I strongly believe that starting a school year off with a book such as this will help children feel as if they belong in their new classroom, with their new teacher and hopefully new friends.