tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624428157834041212024-03-12T21:06:01.474-07:00Pride DiariesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-22751452035517264942011-07-14T20:31:00.000-07:002011-07-14T20:40:24.510-07:00Importance of Pride<p>We had our first official Pride Week and Parade here in Fredericton last year. The week was amazing, with a proclamation being read by the Mayor and the Pride Flag being flown at City Hall. The Parade was even joined by a kayak on the beautiful St. John River along side of the ground marchers. The Rainbow Family group even marched with us. This year however the Fredericton Pride Week is being held together so far with duct tape and hopes and dreams. The budget is shot to hell, no proclamation sent into city hall, and a separate group trying to take it over. </p><p>This has gotten me thinking about what would happen to this city, which has the largest LGBTQ population per capita according to stats, if Pride week never happened this year. Would the LGBTQ population have a chance to celebrate their true colors? Would the heterosexual population have a chance to overcome their qualms about sharing a city with us? Would we have one more step to equality in this city? Our only gay bar is becoming more and more alternative, leaning more towards straight, and the battle for GSAs is becoming a losing one. However Pride week is the week for everyone to overcome the diversity and realize that we are all the same despite who love and how we identify ourselves. </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-80081263387752150832011-04-28T20:11:00.001-07:002011-04-28T20:11:39.319-07:00GSAsCurrently in New Brunswick there are under 20 Gay Straight Alliances. This number is shocking given the number of schools in the Provence. The GSAs are important because these groups allow for both LGBT students and straight students to educate themselves and others on LGBT issues. <br /><br />The prime years for these groups are in middle and high schools because it is in these age groups where students are most vulnerable and impressionable. I have seen first hand the impact that GSAs can have on students and I feel that we need more of them in the province.<br /><br />Educate yourself and petition to have<br />a group at your local schools.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-66149362515116960312011-03-26T14:40:00.001-07:002011-03-26T14:40:15.184-07:00NB Florist under scrutinyA florist in Riverview NB is under scrutiny for refusing to provide flowers for a lesbian couple's wedding. The florist cited her religious views as reasoning for her actions. <br /><br />LGBT groups from both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick held a protest in response to these actions. <br /><br />What do you people think? Is this an appropriate response to these actions? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-69279571189349230922011-02-23T14:46:00.001-08:002011-02-23T14:53:21.313-08:00Been a long timeI haven't posted in a long time, but I've been busy. <br /><br />Earlier this month, February.12, I helped coordinate an event to end homophobia in schools. This event included Reverend Brent Hawkes, who preformed the first gay marriage back in the early 2000s. This event was attended by over 50 people. <br /><br />Also the past couple of months have been busy for headlines about the don't ask don't tell policy and the C 38 bill. Both of these headlines have sparked controversy, but also gained lots of supporters. it's through headlines and rallies, that change can be made. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-4320656979365071412010-12-25T20:54:00.000-08:002010-12-25T20:55:17.660-08:00Merry Christmas!Hi Everyone,<div><br /></div><div>Just wishing everyone a merry Christmas! Its been quiet the past couple of days, but prepare for more frequent updates, including pictures. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nikki</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-47927310720549975022010-12-22T20:07:00.001-08:002010-12-22T20:07:43.966-08:00<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI5MzA3NzIxNzgwNSZwdD*xMjkzMDc3MjYyMjEyJnA9Mzg2MzYxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmbz*3ZGI2MWRlZTViYjA*/M2Q2OThlMTVjODMxNTQxMzVkMSZvZj*w.gif" /><div style="width:480px;text-align:right;"><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx373%2FNikki_Macfarlane%2FPride%2520Pics%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" > </embed><a href="http://photobucket.com/redirect/album?showShareLB=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.pbsrc.com/share/icons/embed/btn_geturs.gif" style="border:none;" /></a><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x373/Nikki_Macfarlane/Pride%20Pics/" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.pbsrc.com/share/icons/embed/btn_viewall.gif" style="border:none;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-81095023986369683412010-12-22T18:48:00.000-08:002010-12-22T19:02:01.553-08:00Big ChangesIts looking like there is changes underway in Fredericton. Recently Anti Bullying Day was celebrated by thousands on December.17, and there is a new Bill C-389 is under votes to become an actual bill. C-389 is a bill that will protect transgendered individuals from harassment. The founder of Bullying Canada is fighting for anti-homophobic bullying to be ended, along with other types of bullying to be ended. These are just two examples of positive actions in Fredericton. <div><br /></div><div>However, there is still along ways to go. The fact that we are in the 21st century and there is no protection for transgendered individuals is actually a shock. Transgendered youth have some of the highest rates of suicide and transgendered individuals are more likely to be discriminated against. I recall in high school a group of fellow students poking fun at a neighbor because their neighbor had undergone a sex change. </div><div><br /></div><div>These new changes are highly promising though. These changes mean that LGBT might not be discriminated against. In the words of a fellow Frederictonian gender queer are "more likely to be given less opportunities, weaker jobs, and are more likely to be poor". These words are true, but they are also true for gays and Lesbians. With Anti Bullying day rights of LGBT and gender Queer are shown to people of a younger age, which will eventually lead to less harassment. Does this mean that people are more likely to accept us? I hope so, I truly do. </div><div><br /></div><div>My vision for the future means a future where my future children will not be harassed for having two moms like I was. My future vision is future where my friends will not be bullied for using a washroom. My future will involve a world where LGBT are not executed or deported. My future will mean that the prime time Television shows will include shows like the L Word. Is this future possible? Yes it is. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-52251322664423877772010-12-05T21:46:00.000-08:002010-12-05T21:51:34.884-08:00Rainy NightHave you ever had the feeling that something great is around the corner, but it's going to take a lot of people to make it happen? I have that feeling right now, even with the rain just pouring here. Whatever is going to happen is going to be amazing, but I don't know what that is, or even when that is going to happen. <div><br /></div><div>In sleepy old Fredericton there are several things happening. Number one is the amazing Pride committee that is working around the clock already to see that the next Pride week is going to be a blast. They are also working on several equality issues in Fredericton, such as the incident up at STU with <a href="http://frederictonqueery.wordpress.com/">Mitch</a> getting punched in the women's bathroom. Amazing story of what has happened since then.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also have <a href="http://frederictonqueery.wordpress.com/">FQ</a>, which is an all Fredericton news press, similar to Wayves. This city is just bursting at the seems with queer pride, but we live in a conservative town, so its going to be a long uphill battle. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was just a check in post to see what all was happening in your world.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-39748340441851988252010-12-04T07:06:00.000-08:002010-12-04T07:29:18.546-08:00EqualitiyReading the news lately there have been a lot of stories about equality. Imagine a word where there were no labels for LGBT and there were no laws against LGBT in any country around the world. This world would be peaceful and everyone would feel welcome. Reading Foucoult a person gets a sense of how this would work, and it sounds amazing. <div><br /></div><div>Recently I heard tell of a 15 year old girl in Alberta who attempted suicide because her friends didn't accept who she was after she came out. This girl is a sister of a friend of mine and last night I had to listen to him say all he wants for Christmas is for his sister to get better. This world needs to know how to accept each other equally before more beautiful lives are taken. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://uruknet.info/?p=m72304&fb=1">Pari and Dilsa </a> are two women who are about to be sent back to Iraq from Sweden and they are sure to be executed. Why is this allowed to happen? Dilsa's brother was executed for sending her a passport, and this is sure indication that both of these women will be executed as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is there any way that this world can learn equality?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662442815783404121.post-67160668622915160102010-11-24T15:27:00.000-08:002010-11-24T15:33:16.306-08:00The Beginning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have been thinking and thinking for a long time about starting up a blog. I finally got the motivation to do so when closely examining the media and society. Lately there has been a lot in the news about LGBT teen suicide, Don't Ask Don't Tell, and other related issues. Just up the road from where I go to school at there was an incident involving a transgender student. I don't quite know how to think about society lately. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That is another story. This blog is for laughs, encouragement, and a place to rant. There is a lot that can be done to improve society's views about the LGBT community and the only way to start is through education. As Thoreau said </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(32, 32, 32); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">'Things do not change; we change' This is the beginning of this process. </span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522034136643382880noreply@blogger.com0