Homophobia | Jotup

Totally Wired by Paul Gorman is a deft potted history of the music press – but it doesn't tell the whole story

Retrieved on:

화요일, 8월 22, 2023

Totally Wired is a vivid oral history of music journalists in the UK and US.

Key Points:

Totally Wired is a vivid oral history of music journalists in the UK and US.
Paul Gorman began collecting these interviews over 20 years ago, publishing them as In Their Own Write: Adventures in the Music Press (2001).
Press and prejudice
Gorman also explores misogyny within the music press, which noted jazz critic Val Wilmer called “a bastion of male chauvinism” in 1989.
Though the printed music press continues to dwindle, Totally Wired reminds us that the relationship between music and words remains as intoxicating as ever.

Hip-hop at 50: 7 essential listens to celebrate rap's widespread influence

Retrieved on:

금요일, 8월 11, 2023

Armed with two record players and a mixer, he created an extended percussive break while others rhymed over the beats.

Key Points:

Armed with two record players and a mixer, he created an extended percussive break while others rhymed over the beats.
Well, that’s the origin story, although pinpointing the birth of a genre is never going to be an exact science.
Below is a selection of the resulting articles, introduced by a key track featured in their writing.

1. ‘Rapper’s Delight’ – The Sugarhill Gang

No history of hip-hop would be complete without this 1979 track by The Sugarhill Gang.
But along with being an old-school classic, it also kick-started hip-hop’s global expansion.
Read more:
After 'Rapper's Delight,' hip-hop went global – its impact has been massive; so too efforts to keep it real

2. ‘Planet Rock’ – Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force

Despite building on samples and influences from the past, hip-hop as a genre has always pointed forward – as this 1981 track from Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force exemplifies.
Read more:
Through space and rhyme: How hip-hop uses Afrofuturism to take listeners on journeys of empowerment

3. ‘Stan’ – Eminem, featuring Elton John

But it was a pivotal moment in rap history: Eminem dueting with pop royalty Elton John underscored how hip-hop by the beginning of the 21st century had been accepted by the mainstream music industry.
Moreover, it came at a time when Eminem was deemed deeply controversial because of his use of anti-gay slurs in his tracks.
He noted that rappers are now having discussions over LGBTQ+ issues and apologizing for hateful speech in their earlier lyrics.

4. ‘You Came Up’ – Big Pun

While hip-hop’s origins lie in Black American communities, Latino culture is also deeply woven into its story: from pioneers like Kid Frost and Big Pun to Bad Bunny, one of the most-streamed artists making music today.
The genre was “my first love,” wrote Alejandro Nava, a religious studies professor at the University of Arizona.

5. ‘That’s what the Black woman is like’ – Arianna Puello

Those social messages connected with Black and immigrant youths throughout Europe who themselves were searching for identity in countries where discrimination remains entrenched.
Throughout her career, for example, Puello has used her music to confront the racism that she has faced as a Black female migrant in Spain.

6. ‘Move the Crowd’ – Eric B. and Rakim

She argued that it became “hip-hop’s consciousness, emphasizing an awareness of injustice and the imperative to address it through both personal and social transformation.” One of the first rappers to use the phrase in lyrics was Rakim, who mentioned it in his 1987 song “Move the Crowd.” The song is a track on the “Paid in Full” album, which Rolling Stone once listed as No.
61 on its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

7. ‘LOUD’ – Wawa’s World

Film camera departments operate on a system of who you know, so what happens when you're not a member of the in-group?

Retrieved on:

수요일, 8월 9, 2023

Well-intentioned policymakers have made many attempts to intervene over the past 50 years or so, focusing primarily on addressing gender imbalances using a “just add women and stir” approach.

Key Points:

Well-intentioned policymakers have made many attempts to intervene over the past 50 years or so, focusing primarily on addressing gender imbalances using a “just add women and stir” approach.
Instead, we need to take a detailed view of who works in the Australian film industry, and understand the specific challenges they face.

Building a camera department

Our recently published research finds inequitable power dynamics behind the camera on Australian film sets are pernicious and persistent.
The camera department is headed by a director of photography (DOP or cinematographer), and is made up of a variety of positions including camera operators, camera assistants, gaffers and grips.
This percentage lifts slightly to the 4% observed in other industry data when we account for women who worked across multiple camera department roles including director of photography.
This discrepancy reveals how women DOPs are more likely than men to work across other (less prestigious) camera department roles.

What does a cinematographer look like?

Not surprisingly, the dominant and most successful in-group was Anglo-Celtic heterosexual men (37% of the total sample).
Another cohort, sharing some of the same features, is made up of heterosexual men from non-Anglo-Celtic ethnicities (34.5%).
(A small percentage of people were not able to be assigned to any of these groupings because of missing information.)

Workplace power

Experiences of discrimination and harassment tend to be found in the two “out-groups” and, to a lesser extent, among men from underrepresented ethnicities.
We found 88% of heterosexual women reported experiencing sexism, and 39% of respondents from the sexuality and gender minorities group reported experiencing homophobia.
Read more:
‘The number one barrier has probably been stigma’: the challenges facing disabled workers in the Australian screen industry

Rethinking the industry

Typical policies focus on the idea that individuals from under-represented groups can succeed if they get more training or personal skills development.
This means rethinking how the agencies and guilds that endorse the industry define its values, how the business and operational layers of the film industry work to reinforce discrimination, and how such inequitable production teams are brought together.
On the set and in the boardrooms where decisions are made, screen industry workplaces need to be regulated to ensure zero tolerance for toxic behaviours and structural discrimination.
He is a member of the Media, Arts and Entertainment Alliance, a union that represents workers in the screen industries.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be at the centre, not the margins, of LGBTQIA+ plans and policies

Retrieved on:

수요일, 7월 26, 2023

Yet there is insufficient data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people and mental health.

Key Points:

Yet there is insufficient data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people and mental health.
These are Aboriginal English terms used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander transgender women and men.
Research suggests Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people are at much higher risk of suicide and suicide-related behaviours.

What did our report find?

Both Indigenous people and LGBTQIA+ people experience poorer health outcomes and higher rates of health-impacting behaviours.
The report also found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+-led research, policy, and services are urgently needed to improve mental health and health outcomes for this group.

There is very limited data on Indigenous LGBTQIASB+ people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are primarily categorised as “male” and “female” in health research, rather than in terms of their gender.
Even when data is collected on these groups, non-binary sex and gender is often excluded or overlooked due to small sample sizes.
Data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people and suicide-related behaviour is also limited.
Read more:
New research shows how Indigenous LGBTIQ+ people don't feel fully accepted by either community

The impact of racism and discrimination

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people commonly report experiencing racism and discrimination not only in the wider community, but also within LGBTQIA+ communities.
Our research also demonstrates poor health outcomes and increased vulnerability to suicide are outcomes of racism, discrimination, marginalisation, homophobia and transphobia.
Colonialism is the root cause of discrimination and violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ communities at the forefront

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASB+ people need to be able to design and steer research and policy making at every level.
Governments should invest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations to improve capacity to service our communities.

Muslims protesting against LGBTQ+ pride are ignoring Islam's tradition of inclusion

Retrieved on:

화요일, 7월 25, 2023

Given the recent backlash against LGBTQ+ communities in Canada and elsewhere, Pride is more important than ever to promote visibility and challenge discrimination.

Key Points:

Given the recent backlash against LGBTQ+ communities in Canada and elsewhere, Pride is more important than ever to promote visibility and challenge discrimination.
In recent months, some Muslim communities in Canada and the United States have protested against LGBTQ+ inclusion.
In Michigan, a Muslim majority city council banned Pride flags from being flown on city property.

Pride and protest

This year the Christian anti-abortion group Campaign Life Coalition, organized a National Pride Flag Walk-Out Day on June 1 designed to target Pride month celebrations in public schools.
The walk-out protests were also supported by a series of “pray-ins” held at Catholic school boards and dioceses across Canada.
These tactics are not new but harken back to the days of gay rights opponents like Anita Bryant.

Building new coalitions

Seeking to build new coalitions of support, far-right evangelicals have been courting conservative Muslims to jump on their homophobic bandwagon against LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.
Sadly, some conservative Muslim leaders are now fanning the flames of hatred against sexual and gender minorities.

Muslim accommodation of gender diversity

Muslim societies have historically accepted gender diversity.
In South Asia, multiple gender identities such as the zenana, chava, kothi and so on exist.
There is also Islamic scholarship on the accommodation of gender and sexual minorities in Islam.
Muslim jurists derived laws of inheritance, funeral and prayer for the khuntha mushkil (indeterminate gender) individuals.

Avoiding the anti-LGBTQ+ bandwagon

Nonetheless, when Muslim groups in Western democracies jump on the anti-LGBTQ+ bandwagon, they act against the longstanding accommodation of sexual and gender diversity in their own tradition.
Our main worry is for LGBTQ+ Muslim youth who may be isolated without support from their families and communities.
Thankfully, there are Muslim community groups providing important sexual health education which embraces Islamic laws and traditions.

Mounties in crisis: The systemic failure to address sexual abuse within the RCMP

Retrieved on:

목요일, 7월 13, 2023

The RCMP has a problem when it comes to sexual abuse within the ranks — and it apparently lacks the ability to deal with it.

Key Points:

The RCMP has a problem when it comes to sexual abuse within the ranks — and it apparently lacks the ability to deal with it.
Only 325 cases have been resolved, indicating serious process issues within the ICHR.

Complainants await justice

Plagued with delays and questionable decisions, the ICHR has left many complainants in limbo, creating uncertainty and a further loss of confidence.
Mountie Nicole Patapoff has sought a federal court judicial review challenging the ICHR’s denial of her harassment complaint.
The ICHR later told Patapoff that the person who investigated her complaint was removed from the list of approved investigators.

Culture of silence

The RCMP’s culture has been marked by a reluctance to acknowledge and address these issues, resulting in fear and silence among the rank and file.
This culture of silence negatively impacts the mental health and well-being of its members — not to mention public trust.
Read more:
The 'blue wall' of silence allows bullying, sexual abuse and violence to infect police forces
The RCMP is not alone.

Inability to handle misconduct

The RCMP’s ICHR, despite its claim that it’s a “centralized, independent unit,” lacks a real arms-length distance, authority and oversight to make meaningful change.
In addition to perpetuating systemic abuse, this flawed system of oversight further tarnishes the RCMP’s reputation.
Urgent, meaningful action is required, including delegating investigative and discipline authority far removed from the RCMP’s chain of command.

Reform urgently required

This could help avoid tragic outcomes and help ensure truly independent — and timely — investigations of misconduct complaints.
As Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam is mandated with addressing public health-related issues impacting Canadians.
The RCMP’s ongoing issues with systemic misconduct and harassment and its inability to police itself necessitate immediate, bold and systemic measures.

University of Waterloo stabbings: We all need to teach 'gender issues' to protect our communities from hate

Retrieved on:

토요일, 7월 1, 2023

It’s also my attempt to be clear that institutions that make their money and reputation from the work of gender scholars are responsible for our safety.

Key Points:

It’s also my attempt to be clear that institutions that make their money and reputation from the work of gender scholars are responsible for our safety.
We need the burden to be shared — by our institutions, by our colleagues and by you, dear reader.
Collectively, as a society, we failed University of Waterloo philosophy professor Katy Fulfer and two of her students on June 28.
It is part of a campaign of escalating incidents on university and college campuses, outside public schools, inside and outside school board meetings.

Broad responses needed

Our society’s and universities’ response to this needs to be similarly broad.
Fulfer and her students need to be at the centre of that care.
Also needing care are others across Canada who do similar work, who teach similar material, who study in similar classes.

Creating safe work, learning environments

Next, recognizing that this is not an isolated single incident, we need to think about both how we create safe work and learning environments and how we de-escalate movements of misogyny, homophobia and transphobia.
Creating safety takes many forms.
Most powerfully, if you are an educator and you are not already teaching intersectional feminist, 2SLGBTQIA+ content in your courses, start doing so now.

Address misogyny, homophobia, transphobia

Within or beyond universities, when we encounter misogyny, homophobia and transphobia we need to address it, and address it with everyone who was impacted.
We need our institutions to be public in their support.
Yes, this means public letters, policy statements, flying rainbow flags and painting trans Pride crosswalks.

More public conversations

We need individual conversations with the people around us, and public conversations in our media, places of worship, businesses and organizations.
We need to make celebration of gender diversity, honouring of women and 2SLGBTQIA+ people the culture.
McLachlin wrote:
“Exposure to some cognitive dissonance is arguably necessary if children are to be taught what tolerance itself involves.
… Children cannot learn this unless they are exposed to views that differ from those they are taught at home.”

OK if it feels uncomfortable

It’s OK if this work is new to you.
It’s OK if it feels uncomfortable at first.
As a colleague of mine wrote after reading about the attack, it is OK to be “both afraid and bravely continuing to speak up.” Universities need to ensure everyone affected is engaged in responses.

During NAIDOC Week, many Indigenous women are assigned unpaid work. New research shows how prevalent this is in the workplace

Retrieved on:

수요일, 6월 28, 2023

Events like NAIDOC Week see employers across the country leaning on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

Key Points:

Events like NAIDOC Week see employers across the country leaning on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
They are expected to plan and organise cultural events and experiences, which is rarely reflected in their job description or pay packet.
The Make us Count report, which we co-authored, found this is not just limited to NAIDOC Week.

Aboriginal unpaid labour is nothing new

Bidjara and Birri Gubba Juru author and academic Dr Jackie Huggins, has written about unpaid domestic service provided by Aboriginal women and girls.
Huggins goes on to say the report reveals little has changed and Aboriginal women are still expected to perform unpaid labour.

It’s not ‘cultural load’

Ngadjuri and Bundjalung academic Kelly Menzel has argued workplaces often misuse the term “cultural load”.
This term is often used to describe the additional unpaid work expected of people because they are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – like organising NAIDOC week events or educating non-Indigenous staff.
Overburdening Aboriginal women with unreasonable workloads not part of their job description is not reflective of cultural responsibilities or cultural load.

What the ‘Make us Count’ research found

One participant stated, in terms of recruitment and promotion opportunities, that “Aboriginal women are the bottom of the pecking order”.
The Make Us Count research found managers in the Victorian public sector failed to act on reports of bullying, harassment and racism.
Aboriginal transgender women and gender diverse people, as well as Aboriginal queer women, were invited to participate in this research.
Madi Day received funding from the Commission for Gender Equity in the Public Sector's Research Grants Round 2022- Victoria State Government.
Bronwyn Carlson received funding from the Commission for Gender Equity in the Public Sector's Research Grants Round 2022- Victoria State Government.

Stephen Lawrence murder: what new suspect adds to our understanding of this landmark case

Retrieved on:

수요일, 6월 28, 2023

More than 30 years after the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, London’s Metropolitan Police have named a new suspect.

Key Points:

More than 30 years after the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, London’s Metropolitan Police have named a new suspect.
As Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward remarked, the police made numerous mistakes in their initial investigation of the attack.
Lawrence and his friend Duwayne Brooks were targeted in an unprovoked racist attack by a gang of white youths.

Arrests and acquittals

But it was two weeks before they made any arrests.
During this time, police twice observed the suspects removing large rubbish bags from their homes, potentially destroying incriminating evidence.
This too resulted in acquittals, due to similar conclusions of a lack of evidence.

Macpherson inquiry

Sir William Macpherson, a retired high court judge, was tasked with examining the circumstances of Lawrence’s murder and the police’s ineffectual investigation.
The Macpherson report concluded that senior Met officials failed in their leadership, and outlined numerous examples of professional incompetence.
As one activist declared: “We taught Macpherson and Macpherson taught the world.”

Impact felt today

Two decades later, Macpherson’s damning declaration of the Met as institutionally racist has had limited impact.
More recent studies have found little actual evidence of changes in police culture.
The 2023 Baroness Casey review found that the force is still institutionally racist, as well as institutionally misogynistic and homophobic.

Many people think it's impossible to be LGBTQ+ and religious – this 'homosecularism' is dangerous for asylum seekers

Retrieved on:

화요일, 6월 27, 2023

For LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum in the UK, it remains a frightening prospect.

Key Points:

For LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum in the UK, it remains a frightening prospect.
Expressing a particular faith in an asylum application is not an automatic barrier to an LGBTQ+ person’s claims being accepted.
Read more:
Asylum claim rejections show the UK government has little understanding of what people are fleeing – and it's costing lives

Caught between identities

Another activist told me:
Many gay Muslims are pretending to not be religious because of the fear of having their applications rejected.
Many gay Muslims are pretending to not be religious because of the fear of having their applications rejected.
Research by Rainbow Migration found that asylum refusal letters have explicitly referenced applicants’ religious affiliations.
He went through some very, very hard mental health issues, depression and anxiety, where it got to a point that he committed suicide.

Faith empowering LGBTQ+ people

At the same time, many LGBTQ+ rights movements have secular roots, and have challenged conservative religious institutions to advance their cause.
However, many LGBTQ+ people maintain strong religious faith and convictions, and navigate complex relationships between these identities.
From the world’s largest Muslim population in Indonesia to the Metropolitan Community Church of North London, queer people engage with their spirituality and find it empowering.
As the UK’s asylum policies become stricter, immigration officials must be better trained to recognise the diverse experiences of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
The biases of homosecularism should not be the reason to dismiss valid asylum claims and return vulnerable people to danger.