The Descending Heel of Fascism: Drag Bans and the Assault on Trans Bodies
On December 23rd, Tennessee’s House of Representatives passed House Bill 09, one of numerous laws being proposed around the nation criminalizing crossdressing that have come to be known as “drag bans.” The bill was signed by the governor on March 2, going into effect on July 1. While Tennessee is the first to sign a bill like this into law they are not alone in their targeting of drag; bills have been proposed in at least 14 states, including Texas, West Virginia, and Missouri.
How to: Ramadan Respect
5:30 A.M. groaning as your siblings, mom, or alarm wake you up WAY earlier than you are supposed to. You throw the blankets off of yourself, stumbling into the kitchen. Deciding what to eat for breakfast while still bleary-eyed, almost burning yourself with the stove because you have to eat eggs and turkey bacon for […]
Uncanny Vernacularity: Connection Through Collection
Postage stamps, bottle caps, teeth, fast food toys, stuffed creatures, hair, medical oddities, coins, trading cards, clothing, and barbed wire; it’s no secret that humans are collective creatures.
To Be Young, Nerdy, and Black
I lived out my early years in the retro arcades of Trinidad, and the video rental stores where my older siblings and I got our anime DVDs; some were probably pirated, but we were just happy to have them. That began my exposure to all things nerdy, and in the eclectic island of multiple cultures, I formed a persona as a being who was unashamed of their interests, geeky as they may be.
Find Your Peace and the Birds Will Come
The death of a loved one does not mean the death of a relationship. The nature of love is plastic and, like literal plastic, may never disappear completely. We can adopt new practices to fill the gaps left by a loss to allow the connection to live on.
Behind the Curtain
Hannah Nara, also known as @misshannahharlow to her followers, is a VCU Arts student with a passion for vintage. As a one-woman-show, she creates retro content on multiple platforms, transporting her followers back in time.
The Lesbian Apocalypse: Have Lesbians Been Cursed?
As the day of love passes us by, the hearts of those who mourn a two month escapade twinge with envy. A summer romance, a rose-colored love; my sapphic heart can’t help but be corny. For most Lesbians, there’s this thrill of loving and being loved that we can’t help but chase. We find someone that feels safe, someone whom we feel we’ve known our whole lives despite meeting them two weeks ago on Bumble.
Sweet Talk
Our team wanted to know what love looks and feels like, as it’s never the same for one person. So, we sought your voices and listened to your stories of romance, friendship, family, and the inner self. It has all come together in a ballad we call “Sweet Talk.”
Vulnerable Hearts, Vulnerable Bodies: Sexual Health and STI Stigma
In the era of sex positivity and hookup culture, stigma around casual sex has gone down, yet stigma around STIs has continued to permeate. While our culture has gotten more and more comfortable discussing sex, there still remains an air of discomfort surrounding open, honest discussions about sexual health and STIs, which I believe harms this generation. In this piece, I’d explore the stigma surrounding this topic, feeding it through the lens of my own experiences, and the wider issues that this stigma creates.
The Year of the Rabbit
Come late January, my mother furiously stuffs chocolate coins and dollar bills into red paper packets. My siblings and I receive letters stuffed with cash from various relatives, awkwardly bowing and repeating “恭喜發財,紅包拿來!”
This Year, Let’s Honor Love
Valentine’s Day. Is it a Hallmark holiday? Yes. Is it a strategic bump to the economy after the holidays to keep up the momentum of capitalism? Also yes. But is it also an excuse to do things you may not normally feel you have a “reason” to do for a partner (or partners)?
Jennette McCurdy Isn’t Holding Back Anymore
Jennette McCurdy is a known actress for her roles in “iCarly” and “Sam and Cat.” Both were popular shows on Nickelodeon in the early 2000s, but the characters McCurdy plays do not show the true person she is off-set.