Civil Rights - Tumblr Posts
Knowing that trans women of color started the movement in the united states and were literally immediately erased and excluded from what they started is the most deeply jading knowledge.
It is the original sin of the so-called queer community and it damns it from the cradle.
Marriage Equality & Empathy
Nobuko Yoshiya, a Japanese author, was one of the countries first to publish lesbian fiction, her first work starting serialization in 1916. She was a lesbian, and found love in a mathematics teacher in an all girls school in the early 20s. At the time, as you can probably guess, Japan did not (and still does not) have marriage equality. Luxuries such as sharing property, tax relief or even medical decisions for each other were not offered to gay couples at the time. The couple did obtain these benefits though: Nobuko adopted her lover of 30 years. What is marriage, after all, if not becoming family? This solved their issues, but I’m sure readers may pick up on another one it created.
Becoming family through marriage is one thing, but adoption would put them in the realm of incest, even if it’s by a technicality. Fortunately, incest is legal in Japan, and in many other countries. The couple encountered no issues with legally being mother-daughter, and recouped some benefits otherwise denied to them due to marriage inequality.
I’m sure all but the most stubborn of people could accept their odd arrangement: after all, they were in an established relationship beforehand, and it’s not like they are actually related. No one would call this relationship incestuous.
If they were to have the same or a similar arrangement in America, they would potentially face anywhere from 2 years to a lifetime in prison. Two adults, in a loving relationship, going to prison for years or decades. Now, obviously they would not have to enter such an arrangement in America since we have Marriage Equality right?
Many people will remember the Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) push and subsequent win for gay marriage in 2015. I certainly do, I was driving at the time and had to pull off to the highway shoulders so I could recover properly. It was an amazing win, and certainly a moment I will never forget. But I think calling it Marriage Equality is dishonest. It isn’t equal unless all consenting relationships can marry, and related couples can not marry. This includes cases like Nobuko and her “daughter”, it includes cases of people who meet later in life and discover they are full or half-blooded siblings. It includes cases of people who meet as adults due to a parent remarrying, and feel a spark of attraction.
What are these laws protecting against? Do these couples not deserve their love recognized? The ability to make medical decisions for each other if the worst were to happen? To share ownership of their dream home?
The common response is “it’s to prevent birth defects or weakening the gene pool.” This response is the most concerning to me, because it implies a direct connection between marriage and having children. Marriage is not about building a family together for everyone, and it is entirely possible to start a family outside of marriage (as many people choose to do, or are forced to do.) It highlights the assumption that the purpose of marriage is children, which, speaking as a gay person, is an uncomfortable assumption to make.
There are of course other responses about the sanctity of marriage (divorce does away with that quite well), it’s disgusting (this should sound familiar for anyone who was gay in the 90s), it’s unnatural (again, feels very familiar), etc.
People can not see themselves having this sort of relationship, so they can’t empathize with the situation. They think it is an uncommon occurrence. It is something that doesn’t need discussed because it just is “always wrong.”
In 2015, when I pulled off to cry at hearing that gay marriage was now federally legalized, I didn’t cry because I was in a gay relationship, hoping to be married. At the time, I was in a straight relationship actually. I wouldn’t figure out I was gay for another year, largely in part due to the ruling. I cried because I saw a struggle of people who deserved the same rights I had, and while I couldn’t completely understand their feelings, I believed them to be genuine.
Years from now, I hope I get to pull off another highway, or excuse myself from a conversation, and cry again because of another victory for marriage equality. I hope that the couples out there who desperately wish to marry get their chance. I don’t condemn anyone for feelings I may not understand, just like what was afforded us in the years leading up to the 2015 ruling.
Did you know that roughly 30% percent of people don't think sibling incest is immoral?
*using "gross" vs "immoral" as a baseline - "gross" here meaning an innate yuck factor, something that naturally makes you feel disgust; and "immoral" meaning something that you are ethically opposed to.
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We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.
anti-incest bigotry is honestly the wildest type of paramisia to still be part of the status quo among leftists because it’s literally based entirely on eugenics and enforcing the sanctity of the nuclear family lol
There’s no reason to be ashamed for sharing romance, play, affection, love, sex, or eroticism with others who consent, or wanting to.
This is true regardless of genders, ethnicities, relation, or the number of people involved.
The LGBTQ community has seen controversy regarding acceptance of different groups (bisexual and transgender individuals have sometimes been marginalized by the larger community), but the term LGBT has been a positive symbol of inclusion and reflects the embrace of different identities and that we’re stronger together and need each other. While there are differences, we all face many of the same challenges from broader society.
In the 1960′s, in wider society the meaning of the word gay transitioned from ‘happy’ or ‘carefree’ to predominantly mean ‘homosexual’ and was an umbrella term that meant anyone who wasn’t cisgender or heterosexual. The community embraced the word ‘gay’ as a mark of pride.
The modern fight for queer rights is considered to have begun with The Stonewall Riots in 1969 and was called the Gay Liberation Movement and the Gay Rights Movement.
The acronym GLB surfaced around this time to also include Lesbian and Bisexual people who felt “gay” wasn’t inclusive of their identities.
Early in the gay rights movement, gay men were largely the ones running the show and there was a focus on men’s issues. Lesbians were unhappy that gay men dominated the leadership and ignored their needs and the feminist fight. As a result, lesbians tended to focus their attention on the Women’s Rights Movement which was happening at the same time. This dominance by gay men was seen as yet one more example of patriarchy and sexism.
In the 1970′s, sexism and homophobia existed in more virulent forms and those biases against lesbians also made it hard for them to find their voices within women’s liberation movements. Betty Friedman, the founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW), commented that lesbians were a “lavender menace” that threatened the political efficacy of the organization and of feminism and many women felt including lesbians was a detriment.
In the 80s and 90s, a huge portion of gay men were suffering from AIDS while the lesbian community was largely unaffected. Lesbians helped gay men with medical care and were a massive part of the activism surrounding the gay community and AIDS. This willingness to support gay men in their time of need sparked a closer, more supportive relationship between both groups, and the gay community became more receptive to feminist ideals and goals.
Approaching the 1990′s it was clear that GLB referred to sexual identity and wasn’t inclusive of gender identity and T should be added, especially since trans activist have long been at the forefront of the community’s fight for rights and acceptance, from Stonewall onward. Some argued that T should not be added, but many gay, lesbian and bisexual people pointed out that they also transgress established gender norms and therefore the GLB acronym should include gender identities and they pushed to include T in the acronym.
GLBT became LGBT as a way to honor the tremendous work the lesbian community did during the AIDS crisis.
Towards the end of the 1990s and into the 2000s, movements took place to add additional letters to the acronym to recognize Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic, Agender, and others. As the acronym grew to LGBTIQ, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIAA, many complained this was becoming unwieldy and started using a ‘+’ to show LGBT aren’t the only identities in the community and this became more common, whether as LGBT+ or LGBTQ+.
In the 2010′s, the process of reclaiming the word “queer” that began in the 1980′s was largely accomplished. In the 2020′s the LGBTQ+ acronym is used less often as Queer is becoming the more common term to represent the community.
Women's Not So Distant History
This #WomensHistoryMonth, let's not forget how many of our rights were only won in recent decades, and weren’t acquired by asking nicely and waiting. We need to fight for our rights. Here's are a few examples:
📍 Before 1974's Fair Credit Opportunity Act made it illegal for financial institutions to discriminate against applicants' gender, banks could refuse women a credit card. Women won the right to open a bank account in the 1960s, but many banks still refused without a husband’s signature. This allowed men to continue to have control over women’s bank accounts. Unmarried women were often refused service by financial institutions entirely.
📍 Before 1977, sexual harassment was not considered a legal offense. That changed when a woman brought her boss to court after she refused his sexual advances and was fired. The court stated that her termination violated the 1974 Civil Rights Act, which made employment discrimination illegal.⚖️
📍 In 1969, California became the first state to pass legislation to allow no-fault divorce. Before then, divorce could only be obtained if a woman could prove that her husband had committed serious faults such as adultery. 💍By 1977, nine states had adopted no-fault divorce laws, and by late 1983, every state had but two. The last, New York, adopted a law in 2010.
📍In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, entered the Boston Marathon under the name "K.V. Switzer." At the time, the Amateur Athletics Union didn't allow women. Once discovered, staff tried to remove Switzer from the race, but she finished. AAU did not formally accept women until fall 1971.
📍 In 1972, Lillian Garland, a receptionist at a California bank, went on unpaid leave to have a baby and when she returned, her position was filled. Her lawsuit led to 1978's Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which found that discriminating against pregnant people is unlawful
📍 It wasn’t until 2016 that gay marriage was legal in all 50 states. Previously, laws varied by state, and while many states allowed for civil unions for same-sex couples, it created a separate but equal standard. In 2008, California was the first state to achieve marriage equality, only to reverse that right following a ballot initiative later that year.
📍In 2018, Utah and Idaho were the last two states that lacked clear legislation protecting chest or breast feeding parents from obscenity laws. At the time, an Idaho congressman complained women would, "whip it out and do it anywhere,"
📍 In 1973, the Supreme Court affirmed the right to safe legal abortion in Roe v. Wade. At the time of the decision, nearly all states outlawed abortion with few exceptions. In 1965, illegal abortions made up one-sixth of all pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths. Unfortunately after years of abortion restrictions and bans, the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022. Since then, 14 states have fully banned care, and another 7 severely restrict it – leaving most of the south and midwest without access.
📍 Before 1973, women were not able to serve on a jury in all 50 states. However, this varied by state: Utah was the first state to allow women to serve jury duty in 1898. Though, by 1927, only 19 states allowed women to serve jury duty. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 gave women the right to serve on federal juries, though it wasn't until 1973 that all 50 states passed similar legislation
📍 Before 1988, women were unable to get a business loan on their own. The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 allowed women to get loans without a male co-signer and removed other barriers to women in business. The number of women-owned businesses increased by 31 times in the last four decades.
Free download
📍 Before 1965, married women had no right to birth control. In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the Supreme Court ruled that banning the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy.
📍 Before 1967, interracial couples didn’t have the right to marry. In Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court found that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional. In 2000, Alabama was the last State to remove its anti-miscegenation laws from the books.
📍 Before 1972, unmarried women didn’t have the right to birth control. While married couples gained the right in 1967, it wasn’t until Eisenstadt v. Baird seven years later, that the Supreme Court affirmed the right to contraception for unmarried people.
📍 In 1974, the last “Ugly Laws” were repealed in Chicago. “Ugly Laws” allowed the police to arrest and jail people with visible disabilities for being seen in public. People charged with ugly laws were either charged a fine or held in jail. ‘Ugly Laws’ were a part of the late 19th century Victorian Era poor laws.
📍 In 1976, Hawaii was the last state to lift requirements that a woman take her husband’s last name. If a woman didn’t take her husband’s last name, employers could refuse to issue her payroll and she could be barred from voting.
📍 It wasn’t until 1993 that marital assault became a crime in all 50 states. Historically, intercourse within marriage was regarded as a “right” of spouses. Before 1974, in all fifty U.S. states, men had legal immunity for assaults their wives. Oklahoma and North Carolina were the last to change the law in 1993.
📍 In 1990, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) – most comprehensive disability rights legislation in U.S. history – was passed. The ADA protected disabled people from employment discrimination. Previously, an employer could refuse to hire someone just because of their disability.
📍 Before 1993, women weren’t allowed to wear pants on the Senate floor. That changed when Sen. Moseley Braun (D-IL), & Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) wore trousers - shocking the male-dominated Senate. Their fashion statement ultimately led to the dress code being clarified to allow women to wear pants.
📍 Emergency contraception (Plan B) wasn't approved by the FDA until 1998. While many can get emergency contraception at their local drugstore, back then it required a prescription. In 2013, the FDA removed age limits & allowed retailers to stock it directly on the shelf (although many don’t).
📍 In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that anti-cohabitation laws were unconstitutional. Sometimes referred to as the ‘'Living in Sin' statute, anti-cohabitation laws criminalize living with a partner if the couple is unmarried. Today, Mississippi still has laws on its books against cohabitation.
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The Olympics have already ended but this message is too important not to be shared.
BOYCOTT THE 2024 OLYMPICS
this shit is to DISTRACT you from what's going on in the world right now: i cannot believe that i'm watching people on this website of all websites celebrate the olympics this year. israeli soldiers are participating in the games this year while Arab athletes are struggling to be allowed to participate, all while their families are dying by the hundreds. if you are not aware this year's games are completely fueled by Zionism:
there is nothing to celebrate at ALL here. my favorite band did the opening ceremony and i STILL don't give a fuck about this and i'm disgusted they opted to participate. i can't listen to them again after this. there's NO reason to be celebrating ANY of this. the olympics were designed to bring people together but it's more clear than ever that this is just for money and prestige. the rights of the Arab athletes and palestinians everywhere are being directly threatened by this and allowing israeli soldiers to participate is a direct slap in the face to every palestinian who has died in this conflict, and everyone else running for their lives.
also wherever the olympics host their events, they bring financial and economical ruin. these grand spectacles come with an extremely expensive cost, mostly in the form of destroying and taking land from indigenous people, and kicking homeless people out of the cities where the games are taking place: please read these articles:
FUCK THE 2024 OLYMPICS, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF GAZA. RESIST. PALESTINE WILL BE FREE.
“Honestly there’s no point in voting”
Buddy, Pal, Amigo-
Like it or not we are all on a bus headed to go right off a cliff, and voting is the only way to avoid careening off the edge, by either stopping the bus, or slowing it down long enough to find a solution.
Some people will knowingly vote to drive off the cliff. :/
If you, and every other person with your mindset, think it’s ok to abstain from voting it’s the same as voting to go off the cliff and die , because like it or not, the people wanting to drive off the cliff will vote to do so.
Don’t let other people tell you voting doesn’t work or change things, it. does.
We have been so conditioned by false media and propaganda to normalize cynicism in politics that we have come to believe that our choices don’t matter, that our voices shouldn’t be heard, that we should be ok with all the wrong things in our society, and anything or anyone saying otherwise is villainized and stigmatized
And maybe you might have a point in your cynicism, it might really all just be that bad….
but the fact is- would you rather at least TRY and stop the bad things from happening by voting, for your future, for the future of your family and friends, for the sake of being able to say “I Tried.”
Or would you rather just sit back and let the bad things happen because “there’s no point?”
(Don’t forget the big election isn’t the only one that counts, the small elections matter too)
Indiana Senator Mike Braun says “interracial marriage should be left up to the states.”
Braun is currently running for Governor of Indiana.
In case anyone wants to make a donation to his Democratic opponent Jennifer McCormick (mccormick for gov dot com)
Early voting in Indiana starts today. The voter registration deadline was yesterday.
The Democratic senator running for Braun’s seat is Dr Valerie McCray (valeriemccray dot org) A black woman with a PhD in psychology who has spent decades working with veterans, prisoners and youth experiencing mental health issues as a result of violence. (She’s also a dog mom to a German shepherd and a husky.)
#Vote #Educate #Donate #Indiana
I have been screaming about this in other places where I speak more about politics.
Interracial marriage is on their list. It's not hyperbole, it's fact.
All the people who said they'd never touch Roe v Wade are saying they won't touch this.
Fuck that shit.
Vote. Fucking vote blue, and don't let these racist, misogynistic, lying assholes run this country.
I think a lot of people need to realize how intentionally orchestrated recent events are. The US judges didnt do this when Trump was president. They waited for Biden’s presidency. They waited for a chance to make his supporters blame him. They waited to do it right before the midterm elections, with enough time to drive people apart but not enough time to distribute voting resources and pull them back together.
They could’ve done this a lot sooner. This was planned and intentional in order to drive their opposition apart, and if you spend your time ranting about how this is Democrats’ fault or that voting blue is useless you are falling perfectly into their plan.
@aclu @reign-factors @newarkpolicedeparment ca
Fyi it went as far up as to the police chiefs office but was unfairly dismissed by a 3 second phone call. Which immediately after I went live on social media. To discuss what happens and the outcome so far. Badge 109 followed me about a week later taunting me while disrespecting while on my vehicle as she was in her police cruiser late at night from her outside speaker .
Dear ACLU,
I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to seek guidance and assistance regarding an incident that I recently experienced involving an illegal search conducted by an officer of the wrong sex.
To provide some background, after going to court and meeting all requirements from judge and victim to get restraining order changed to No ham order, I was subjected to a search during a civil standby(I called for assistance) by a law enforcement officer of the opposite sex. After being searched by one of same sex 5mins before. And requesting the same treatment was denied. This search not only violated my right to privacy but also raised concerns about the potential for gender-based discrimination and misconduct within the police force. Since on body cam there is the removal of medical labels from prescription bottles by police before transport. So denying my life saving health care from the month of September 2020 labor day at St rose. It is all captured on body cam. Which they the Newark Police Department I believe are fake.
I firmly believe that this search was conducted without just cause and was in direct violation of my constitutional rights. It is deeply troubling to me that such actions are taking place, as they not only undermine trust in law enforcement but also disregard the fundamental principles of privacy and personal dignity as well as orders from honorable presiding Judges.
I understand that the ACLU is dedicated to protecting civil liberties and fighting against injustices, so I am reaching out to you for guidance on how to proceed with addressing this situation. I am seeking your support in holding the responsible parties accountable for their actions and ensuring that this type of violation does not happen to others in the future.
I would greatly appreciate any advice or assistance you can offer in navigating the legal process and advocating for my rights. Please let me know how I can provide further details or documentation to support my case, as well as any specific steps I should take moving forward.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I have complete trust in the ACLU's commitment to justice, and I am grateful for your support in pursuing this issue and working towards a resolution.
Sincerely,
MR JR
Civil rights protest against police treatment of voter rights demonstrators in Montgomery, Declan Haun, March 17, 1965
ive been to a lot of protests in my life and a thing that a lot of people dont understand is that a protest is a threat. its a large group of people saying “we are being nice now, but you must understand that if we stop being nice we have the power to cause you Problems”.
so everyone saying that protests have to be more polite or follow accepted rules is missing the entire point. the point of a protest is not to say “we disagree with you”, they already know that. the point of a protest is to make it clear that if they continue to do things you disagree with, you will burn down their house.
now this wont stop them because theyre stupid and arrogant and believe themselves to be beyond consequence. so here’s the really important thing and that’s that after they do it anyway, you have to burn down their house
FYI: In the US, if you've been kicked from registration even though you're eligible to vote, you can report it to the DOJ:
In fact, if anyone tries to bar or intimidate you from voting, you can report it, because that shit's a federal offence. 🗳️
