How do I know what color my gender is?

If you don't read my Facebook, then you may have missed the sea of pink story I linked to yesterday. It's activism at its purest and it's inspiring to see people really understanding the meaning of community organizing.  And it's kind of wild to see the strong reaction the color pink elicits.

My current Mother Jones has an article about the evolution of pink in American culture and the gender coding of boys and girls. You won't be surprised that in our money motivated society, profit is a large reason for the insistence on dressing boys and girls in distinct colors when they are quite young. Before the early part of the last century, boys and girls wore the same clothes (often dresses) until they were 5 or 6. (I have some yellowing photos of my grandfather in an adorable white and lacy dress when he was around 5 years old.) Once clothing manufacturers realized they could sell families with different gendered children separate wardrobes, there was no turning back. Of course, initially pink was considered the better choice as it was a "more decided and strong colour" while blue was considered "delicate and dainty" and therefore more appropriate for the girl.

So I think my gender color is ... rainbow. What's yours?

The right to what?

It's funny because my passion for my work is about equality and fairness, so in a lot of ways that is what I am fighting for. Queer rights. Equal rights. And yet ... love isn't a right. It's rarely equal. And it's almost never fair. We don't have the right to love someone or be loved. We have (hopefully) the opportunity. My partner and I went and saw 500 Days of Summer. My friend is a movie reviewer and he rarely gives movies an "A" so I felt compelled. The story is a familiar one, what happens when you are more into someone than they are into you? It happens in love, in friendship, in business ... and it almost always stinks. But we keep trying and reaching, even when it doesn't quite work out the way we hoped. Primarily because fair is over-rated when it means we will miss out on something amazing.

I truly believe love is a gift we give ourselves (I know, sappy). The chance to become something more by reaching out beyond the confines of our own reality and experiences. The motivation to care more about other people's experiences and needs than our own. So I am fighting for our right to be equally involved in loving relationships --- whether they are equal or fair -- and have our gifts honored, whatever the gender of the person with whom we share them.

Volunteer for Boulder Pride's Block Party!

One man's view of Health Insurance.

David Sedaris - Bend Over and Say "Ah"


Found at: http://www.americablog.com/2009/08/bend-over-and-say-ah.html

Sometimes you are just balancing things best you can!

Got health?

Yesterday marked the official beginning of our Healthy Living Initiative with our first Day of Wellness. Put together by our fabulous Program Director, Ta'Shia Asanti, it was a gathering of community to share gifts of health and bring community awareness to the importance of health in our lives.

Upcoming events include Adventures in Wilderness, local community hikes, with the next one scheduled for August 25th and a Gatekeeper Sweat Lodge on October 17. For more information on our wellness programs, email Ta'Shia.