Getting Cruised In the Heights
Got my hair cut. Short. Shaved sides. Even got my eyebrows did.
Ghurl, my shit is looking correct.
I scraped my pennies together and indulged in some self-care. Hit up mi hombre, Hermán, at the barber shop in the Heights near my girl’s crib, and got a cut.
Ever since my best homegirl passed away, getting a haircut has been this saving grace, one I dive into whenever my reservoir of sanity is…
VIDEO: Autostraddle’s Own Mey is a Superstar On HLN, Talks About Coming Out
Our very own Trans Editor, Mey Rude was featured on HLN last Friday to talk about her amazing coming out story.
The Speakeasy Reacts to “Dear White People”
The Speakeasy has quickly become a place where Autostraddle readers that identify as People of Color can go to vent about microaggressions that they encounter on a daily basis in their communities. Microaggressions are defined as “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative…
Rebel Girls: The Totally Badass Suffrage Exploits of Yore That Gave Us Today’s Voting Rights
Header by Rory Midhani
It’s almost Election Day! I’ve been up to my ears in election mania because of my entire life, but you don’t have to be in the trenches of activism to make a difference and be heard at the polls. And if you’re thinking of not voting, you might wanna think again. Someone — many someones — worked damn hard for you to have that ballot, y’know. Here’s some stories from way back…
Original Illustrations by Lauren Walker
“Your head is like obsidian,” she says to you, her hand passing North and South and East and West smooth across the surface, erasing away smudges, blood stains (but not scars, no, not scars, never scars) and the exoskeletons of memories bashed against a windshield.
You recall all you learned from geology classes as she continues to stroke your head. The…
Injustice in the Justice System: Two Lawsuits Expose Struggle for Incarcerated LGBTs
Two new lawsuits brought by LGBT inmates call out different arms of the criminal justice system on their brutal and inhumane treatment of people incarcerated with and without charges. The people bringing the cases have been singled out for their gender expression and sexuality in violation of their constitutional rights. These cases could create major shifts for the experiences of incarcerated…
Brittani’s Team Pick: Watch the Mo’ne Davis Documentary, “Throw Like a Girl”
Brittani’s Team Pick: Following an appearance in the Little League World Series, 13-year-old Mo'ne Davis and her 70 mph fastball remain in the spotlight as baseball’s latest phenomenon.
The Speakeasy Book Club #1: Let’s Talk About “Sister Outsider”
And we’re back!
As previously announced, the Speakeasy now has a book club reading QTPOC-relevant books. Over the past month, we’ve been talking/laughing/loving/breathing/fighting/fucking/crying/reading Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. We hope you have been too, because today’s the day we’re gonna talk about it!
First up, here are some Speakeasy members with their thoughts.
Alycea having her…
Gloria Casarez, Organizer, Activist and Total Badass, Dies at 42
Gloria Casarez passed away on Sunday, October 19th, after living with cancer for five years. She was 42, a Philadelphia native, and a longtime activist and organizer in Philly’s LGBT and Latin@ communities. Casarez fought tirelessly for her communities, acting as a mentor, galvanizer and leader.
Casarez rallies the 2012 Dyke March.
Casarez wore many “hats” in her life as an organizer: Director of…
Top 10 Black Sitcoms From the ’90s: Remember When There Were More Than Two
The other day I was thinking about all of the black comedies that were on television when I was growing up. To some extent, The WB was built on the backs of these shows. The only line-ups that could contend with NBC’s Must See TV was over on FOX with Living Single, Martin, and New York Undercover. Even TGIF’s block had a black show (Hanging with Mr. Cooper) sidled up to Full House and Step by Step
There May Be Justice For Jennifer Laude, Trans Filipina Murdered by US Marine
The story of a trans woman of color being murdered is, disturbingly, an all too common one. In fact, since the beginning of October, at least three trans women of color have been murdered and two more have been the victims of high profile violent crimes. One victim is Jennifer Laude, a trans Filipina who was apparently murdered by an American Marine, who was in the Philippines as a part of a…
“Jane The Virgin” Is Cute, Features a Queer Latina and Feminist Elements
Jane the Virgin, a telenovela-inspired new dramedy on the CW, premiered on Monday garnering plenty of positive reviews. It centers on 23-year-old virgin, Jane, who promises her abuela she won’t have sex till marriage, and how she ends up accidentally artificially inseminated when she goes in for a routine pap smear. I admit I was skeptical of the plot and was afraid it was going to rely on tired…
Don’t Miss Laverne Cox’s Important New Documentary Featuring Trans Youth
Tomorrow, on both MTV and Logo, people of all genders, ethnicities, sexualities and beliefs will be able to watch a new hour-long documentary produced and hosted by Laverne Cox focusing on the lives of seven young trans people and on the experiences of trans people across America. Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, hopes to not only educate viewers on issues that affect trans people’s lives, but…
Feature image via mexicanbrat.tumblr.com
I listen to a lot of indie, alternative, electronic-y music to power through the workday. Most of the artists I listen to are white and mostly dudes: Haim, Phantogram, The XX, Geographer, Silversun Pickups, Grouplove, Phoenix, M83, Purity Ring, Tegan and Sara — just to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy their music but sometimes I get fed up…
by rory midhani
So, I’ve been talking a lot about everyone’s favorite Gotham City-Based lesbian Latina cop recently, what with her being featured somewhat regularly in the new show Gotham and her winning the Queer Women Character Hall of Fame Award at the first annual Autostraddle Comic and Sequential Art Awards. But I realized, maybe there are a lot of you who only know about her from what…
