Because female victims of rape and sexual assault are still receiving blame for unwanted, unasked, and unsolicited sexual advances BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WEAR.
Reasons Feminism Isn’t Dead #5
Reply
Monthly Archives: June 2011
The Richmond Fed: Virginia is for Lovers
The Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond made a bold statement in support of LGBT Pride Month. On Friday, June 3rd, the Bank proudly flew the pride flag in a show of support for the LGBT Community. Fed First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sally Green explained the decision was as “an example of our commitment to the values of acceptance and inclusion.”
Pride, acceptance, and inclusion outside of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank
Bravo, Federal Reserve Bank! Bravo!
Because isn’t that what this nation is all about? Uniting various lifestyles, races, religions, thoughts, and opinions all in the name of freedom?
Remember Virginia Senator Bob Marshall ? He has big problems with the Federal Reserve Bank’s show of support. In his letter to Fed President Jeffrey M. Lacker, Marshall writes that the Fed’s decision to show open support to the LGBT community “undermines the American economy”.
First of all, I’m not even sure how flying a flag can possibly undermine the entire American economy. I feel like there are many more questionable bank practices and colossal money-wasters that undermine our economy. I also don’t see how publicly declaring support for an entire community of individuals who are paying taxes to the federal government, despite being allowed the same rights as heterosexuals, undermines the economy either. Just sayin’.
Marshall’s letter then went on to say that “homosexual behavior is a Class 6 Felony” in Virginia.
Of course, the homosexual behavior Marshall is referring to is consensual anal sex. We’re taking this stance right now: Homosexuality is no more about anal intercourse as heterosexuality is no more about vaginal intercourse. Being gay, or transgendered, or bisexual is about acceptance, lifestyle, and love. So is being heterosexual.
I don’t understand why homosexuality is immediately equated to sex acts. I don’t look at two straight people and demand to know (and subsequently judge them) if they’re doing it missionary or reverse cowgirl. I don’t wonder because it’s not my business. And it’s not Marshall’s either.
We all have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are guaranteed protection and equal rights regardless of who we love, who we worship, and the color of our skin.
And btw – that whole Class 6 Felony issue should be null in light of Lawrence v. Texas, ruled over by the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest decision-makers in the good US of A. So, Senator, get with the times, please.
This awesome photo credit: Richmond Times-Dispatch. Great article on this topic, too!
Hugh Hefner: Pro-Feminist
My best man-friend and I were having casual dinner conversation the other night about reality TV celebrities (please know that I use that term loosely), which led, in a roundabout way, to strippers, which strayed into a discussion of Playboy when he said to me “yeah, but you know Hugh Hefner did a lot for women”.
And they say you objectify women, Hef. Hah! What are they talk-oh...wait...are those bunny costumes?
“WHAT?!?!” I exclaimed, “Please be joking”.
“No, I’m serious” he countered. “He raised a lot of money for pro-choice efforts and helped, you know, like, empower women to be sexy”.
“WHAT?!” I exclaimed again, my eyes, wide as Playmate boob jobs, searching my dear friend’s face for the slightest hint of I’m-totally-just-kidding-right-now expression.
Unfortunately, he was not kidding. My mind scrambled to organize my thoughts before a jumble of words came out. Because I don’t hate Hugh Hefner. His business model is straightforward and every model knows what she’s getting into when she strips in front of the camera; you’ve got consenting adults making and selling porn. But what can’t be ignored is the flimsy “Women should be allowed to be sexy and my magazine gives them that outlet” excuse for an ideal that Hef wears more than his smoking jackets.
“Friend,” I began “you must know that Hugh Hefner, while he did raise many funds for pro-choice causes, is no great champion of women”. I continued, slowly and deliberately, so he could know the care I was taking in choosing my words, “when a man displays women, scantily clad if at all, across glossy magazine paper in the name of sleaze journalism, or pins rabbit tails to the bottoms of black and pink leotards he is not on a mission of empowerment. The decoration and straight up objectification of women for male pleasure voids the fundamental pillars of pro-feminism.”
We sat quietly for a minute and I continued “It’s just that lobbying for women’s freedoms while simultaneously profiting off of their sexuality is like giving feminism a slap across the ass.”
Photo courtesy of: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-29/hugh-hefner-and-playboys-future/