Dear President Obama

Today Obama signed a pitiful “concession” to the queer community, extending partial benefits to same-sex partners of government employees. It’s a pittance, and it was meant to lure our community back in after many an egregious slight.
The Family Equality Council is encouraging folks to speak out to the president, so I wrote a little note. [...]

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Sharing

The obligatory sharing of beloved princess book with a new (boy) friend.

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New Look!

We’ve got a new, easier-to-read look (I think) here at labels are for jars.
Hope you enjoy this newish start for the new year.
Let me know your thoughts!

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Considering Human Rights…Considering Boys and Girls

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins, “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…”
Just pause for a moment to consider this. The recognition of everyone’s dignity. Everyone has equal rights. And [...]

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We now pause for…a small pat on the back

For this blog was #86 on WordPress growing blogs this week. Yowzers!
Keep growing, baby blog, keep growing.
(it’s good to celebrate the small things, I say)

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Tempered Joy

Today I’ve been thinking a lot about labels. Folks around the newsmedia have been speculating whether the election of Obama (wahoo!) means that we are now in a “post-racial America.” I definitely do not think that even the election of an African-American man for president can rectify the racial inequities in our country. From differences [...]

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Stepping out for a moment

I’m stepping out of the direct focus of this blog for a moment, though what I have to say is related. Either directly or indirectly, depending on your perspective.
Have a look here. I think that LD is perhaps the most eloquent on the issue of Proposition 8 in California. The short story is that it’s [...]

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An interview with Q

M: Can you tell me why you like to break stereotypes?
Q: It’s just really fun and….it’s just really fun.
M: What kinds of stereotypes do you like to break?
Q: I like to break stereotypes that people make, like boys can’t wear dresses and girls can’t wear pants.
M: Anything else?
Q: That’s mostly it.
M: What is a stereotype?
Q: [...]

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A few questions

Based on things I’ve overhead or read recently:

Why do we assume that all boys like bugs? Or that only boys like bugs?
Why do we all know what someone means if they say they want something in “a boy color?”
Why do kids as young as four “know” that fairies are for girls (only)?
Why do we discourage [...]

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A clarification

Just a note to follow up on my last post (and yes, we’ve been away again, hence the dry spell in posting). I appreciate everyone’s thoughtful comments — I think that you see the tension that I feel sometimes between the need or want to educate, open minds, etc, and the desire sometimes to just [...]

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