The I’m Tired Project

A Link Roundup of Body Politics, Image and Body Justice News

 

End the Violence

• Kourtney Yochum, a 32-year-old transgender woman was shot and killed by her partner in downtown Los Angeles,  March 23rd. She is thought to be the 7th Trans person to be murdered in the U.S. this year. “The alleged homicide follows that of several other reported murders of transgender people in the U.S. this year, including Jasmine Sierra in Bakersfield, Calif., 30-year-old Louisiana trans man Demarkis Stansberry, Texas trans woman Monica Loera, 24-year-old Arizona trans man Kayden Clarke, and 25-year-old Philadelphia trans woman Maya Young. “

 

• “Jian Ghomeshi, former host of the popular Canadian radio show “Q,” was acquitted Thursday on four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking. Ghomeshi was charged in 2014 after at least 10 alleged victims” Ms. Magazine reports that the judge superceded the jury and ruled that there was reasonable doubt. “Despite the verdict, there’s been an outpouring of support for the women, with many tweeting messages of solidarity using the hashtag #IBelieveSurvivors. Supporters also demonstrated outside the courthouse today, carrying signs that read, “Rape is rape” and “Stop victim blaming.”

 

• The book, We Believe You, Colouring Book For Survivors & Supporters by the Office of Sexual Violence and Support Ryerson University is a great self-care tool for today. Download, print and share with loved ones. It is full of reminders and affirmations for all of us who know people who lived through sexual violence must be seen, heard and believed.

 

Body Politics

• North Carolina has become state to succeed in passing anti Transgender legislation. “North Carolina legislators, in a whirlwind special session on Wednesday, passed a wide-ranging bill barring transgender people from bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match the gender on their birth certificates. … The session, which was abruptly convened by Republican lawmakers on Tuesday, came in response to an antidiscrimination ordinance approved by the state’s largest city, Charlotte, last month. That ordinance provided protections based on sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity, including letting transgender people use the public bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. – New York Times

 

• The Advocate breaks down the horrifying reality of lawmakers attempts to both crimianalize Transgender people and wipe them legally out of existance. “This week, Tennessee residents are facing two bills in the state legislature that are equally dangerous on was narrowly defeated, the other is still pending in the legislature (Senate Bill 2275 and House Bill 2600). ” The bill that did not pass requires transgender folx to use the bathroom according to the gender assigned to them on their “original” birth certificate even if they have legally had a their gender changed and have a reissued birth certificate. The bill that remains pending specifies defining husband and wife as male and female and requires again gender to be determined by the “original” birth certificate as well.  “The real goal of these bills is to make it nearly impossible to identify as transgender, whether as a young person or as an adult, or — if someone is able to defy the odds and to come out as trans — these bills will make simply identifying as transgender a crime.” Similar bills have been introduced in Kanas.

 

• #Cripthevote is a social media campaign to engage and empower in the current presidential election by and for disabled voters. “Candidates don’t realize that disability issues are embedded in all of the major issues they’re currently talking about,” said disability rights activist Alice Wong. “They don’t realize that employment, health care, gun control, entitlements, impact people with disabilities in unique ways.” …Wong and other advocates say the only pointed focus on disabilities during this election cycle has been negative, seen in candidates blaming mental illness for gun violence and mocking disabled election reporters.” The Disability Visibility Project shares a call to action by #Cripthevote in collaboration with the HuffingtonpPost in NYC.

 

Body Image

•  Two former students put together a project to counteract sterotypes, assumptions and the microaggressions used  daily against marginalized groups.  What started out with a small group of friends  “The I’m Tired photography project is beautiful in its simplicity. Bare backs are used as canvases, daubed in thick black or white lettering, and captured in monochrome. Each statement written on a back begins with the words ‘I’m tired” “I’m tired of Masc4Masc.” “I’m tired of people using the word crazy.” “I’m tired of feeling like I have to justify my bisexuality.” What are you tired of?

 

• Robin Tran shares 4 Reasons Why Penis Size Shaming Is Anti-Feminist.  Toxic masculinity, transphobia, reductionist arguments and a limited view of sexual pleasure are elements of some of the points made in this piece for Everyday Feminism.

Identity

• “Sesenta y Ocho Voces, Sesenta y Ocho Corazones (also known as 68 voces), is a new initiative from Mexico’s government Fund for The Culture and Arts (FONCA) that seeks to elevate Mexico’s 68 indigenous languages by preserving their myths, legends, poems, and stories in the form of beautifully animated short films. Their goal is to foment pride amongst speakers of these languages, and respect among those who don’t, under premise that “nadie puede amar lo que no conoce” (no one can love what they don’t know.)”  Check out someof the the truly beautiful animated short films celebrating some of Mexico’s indigenous languages here on Remezcla.