A Weekly Link Roundup of Body Politics and Body Justice News

 

• LOURDES ASHLEY HUNTER is the chief operations officer at Casa Ruby LGBT Center and the National Director for Trans Women of Color Collective. She recently wrote a Commentary piece addressed to the  Black Trans Community for Black Future Month in the Advocate. “The black trans community can no longer accept broken promises from LGBT/social justice gatekeepers. We are building our own community centers, shelters, programming, and delivering vital services, thus creating the change we seek. Casa Ruby is a direct response to the state-sanctioned violence our communities face every day in Washington, D.C. We work to create affirming environments that embrace homeless LGBT youth impacted by HIV who are navigating harsh realities. We are showing the world that there is a place where we belong, that our community members have a home, that we are loved by our chosen family and that our lives have tremendous purpose. We believe that everyone deserves to exist in a world where they are celebrated in their truth!”

 

• “In a landslide victory, the leader of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen won the country’s presidential election, becoming the first woman in Taiwan’s history to hold the position,” Ms. magazine reports. “For now, Tsai has pledged to not only work to establish Taiwan’s unique identity independent of mainland China, but also to address Taiwan’s flagging economy, low wages and deepening income inequality once she is inaugurated in May. “The results today tell me the people want to see a government that is willing to listen to people, that is more transparent and accountable,” Tsai told reporters following her declaration of victory, “and a government that is more capable of leading us past our current challenges and taking care of those in need.”

 

• “Creed director Ryan Coogler and his Blackout for Human Rights activist collective announced a benefit fundraiser #JUSTICEFORFLINT, to raise funds and awareness for those suffering from the water crisis. Hannibal Buress has signed on to host and other Hollywood luminaries, including Ava DuVernay and Jessie Williams will be a part of the event, in addition to Janelle Monae. The fundraisers takes place [the same time as the Oscars], this Sunday, February 28, at 5:30 p.m. ET, #JUSTICEFORFLINT will live stream exclusively on REVOLT’s website, www.revolt.tv.”

 

• Europe’s first professional orchestra consisting entirely of black and minority ethnic musicians will make its debut this weekend at the Southbank Centre in London. The Chineke orchestra has been created to promote diversity in a musical world that is predominantly white.

 

• “In a moment that unfortunately is probably shocking to almost no one, Amber Rose found herself having to explain the very simple concept of consent to Tyrese Gibson and Rev Run this week on their new show It’s Not You, It’s Men…  the hosts suggested the groping and harassment she received was due Rose’s own choices. It was her “sexual energy” (Tyrese’s hesitant and sensitive take) that was causing the problem and she should “dress the way you want to be addressed”, according to Rev Run. The segment is painful to watch not just because it reminds us in 2016 that rape culture continues to be maintained by misogynist attitudes towards women and their sexual agency, but also that it continues a terrifying tradition of passing down archaic sexual beliefs and attitudes.” The challenge tp build a consent culture continues.

 

• “Toronto’s Pride organizers say Justin Trudeau will become the first prime minister to participate in the festivities. Trudeau is expected to march in the parade on July 3. Black Lives Matter has [also] been invited to lead the Pride parade. ‘We look forward to standing beside and honoring the extremely important and significant work of Black Lives Matter – Toronto, who are leading a timely movement in our city both boldly and fiercely,’ said Alica Hall, of Pride Toronto, in a news release.”

 

• The Independent reported on “A photograph of the lips of Ugandan-born model Aamito Lagum, who won the first series of Africa’s Next Top Model, [that] was posted by MAC Cosmetics four days ago showcasing the model’s lipstick for a New York Fashion Week show. Unfortunately, the picture became subject to many hateful [racist] comments from internet trolls.” Lagum told the New York Times, “when I started to read the comments, it was quite unsettling. Horrible things were being written, and I was not very surprised, which is itself very disheartening.” The commentary points out how black features are fetishised when on white women and still devalued when on represented on Black women. MAC cosmetics posted a sign on their Instagram hours after the backlash simply stating All races, All Ages, All Sexes. They also altered their bio to include the same words as well as they started reporting and deleting the ugly comments. Aamito Lagum reposted a digital representation of her big beautiful lips posted by a graphic designer in South Africa, urging followers to share pictures of their lips with the hashtag #PrettyLipsPeriod.

 

• Today marks the end of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The National Eating Disorder Association has partnered with Reasons Eating Disorder Center to create the Marginalized Voices Campaign. “Eating disorders affect people of all ages, sizes, backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexualities. Unfortunately, that diversity is rarely reflected in the way eating disorders are discussed and treated. [T]he Marginalized Voices campaign is confronting the prevailing myths about who struggles with eating disorders.”  Organizations like T-Ffed: Trans Folx Fighting Easting Disorders and Nalgona Positivity Pride appear in the campaign and have been leading the charge to elevate the voices of marginalized folx. Watch the video and share the video talking about the issues, and starting a conversation about “the many faces of eating.”