The New Jersey State Civil Union Review Commission has decided that the rights granted to same-sex couples in civil unions are not equal to the rights granted to heterosexual couples in marriage. Everyone please join me in a resounding...




In response, the New Jersey governor stated, "it's clear that this issue of civil rights must be addressed sooner rather than later. I encourage the Legislature to seriously review the commission's report and, as I have said before, I will sign marriage-equality legislation when it reaches my desk."

Hm. Could good ol' NJ be the next to legalize?

I've decided to start sending out a weekly newsletter to anyone who's interested in signing up! The newsletter will include: a recap of everything I've blogged about that week, additional stories and events that didn't make it into the blog, a weekly quote, a spotlight on a blog/website/organization, a "hall of shame" nominee, a weekly "call to action," and more. If you're interested, the signup form has a permanent spot on the right side of the blog - just scroll down a bit. Thanks to all who subscribe!

Black Canary Barbie, so tastefully dressed in an outfit that looks as if she's headed to a biker bar or an S&M party, is causing quite the stir. Parents are furious that their children are being exposed to the fishnet-covered pouty-lipped dominatrix-esque doll, but in actuality, Black Canary Barbie is supposed to be based off of a DC Comics heroine.


Not that this fact makes the doll any more excusable, since the original Black Canary was still a highly sexualized female figure. It just amazes me that parents are now in an uproar, when for decades, the original white, tall, skinny, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Barbie doll has been promoting impossible beauty standards that have been harming the self-esteem of children everywhere. In a 2007 report, the American Psychology Association argued, "the proliferation of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harmful to girls' self-image and healthy development." But toy-makers hardly take that to heart.

In the end, I see the original Barbie as far more of a cause for an uproar. Are young women more likely to become S&M sex workers or develop eating disorders in hopes of shaping their bodies to emulate their role models?

On a trial basis that will run for two years, two sites in London will be distributing oral contraceptives to women over 16, without any need for a prescription. This trial is intended to determine whether or not this change will lower the number of unintended pregnancies. I'm gonna go with a thumbs up on this change, and props to London for being open-minded enough to try this out. Right now, England has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in Western Europe, so clearly something needs to change. Come on, America, where's our trial run?

Scary.

The wonderful Feministing.com posted a holiday gift guide today with several feminist-friendly products, and I had the urge to offer my own take on a happy feminist holiday. Enjoy!

For the activist:

• "Smash Patriarchy" tote bag.
• "Equality in Marriage" gear.
• Sticker Sisters offers tons of girl-friendly goodies, including the "This Insults Women" sticker, to be put on anything that is sexist and offensive.
• "Smash Racism" stickers.
• Get a silk-screened Obama dress or sweatshirt.

For the empowered:

• NOW's 2009 "Love Your Body" calendar.
• "I Am a Powerful Woman" t-shirt.

For the sex-lover:

• "Eco Delight" kit at Babeland, featuring tons of green sex toys.
• Babeland's "Come for a Cause" kit.
• Adorable vibrating rubber duckie.

For the proud owner/lover of a vagina:

• Cunt Coloring Book.
• Check out VulvaLoveLovely's shop at Etsy.com. It includes fun products, like the plush "happy uterus."
• The famous "I Love Female Orgasm" t-shirt.

For the cartoon buff:

• The Lisa Simpson book of wisdom.
• "Girl Power" Wonder Woman t-shirt.

For the feminist baby:

• "Feminist in Training" onesie.
• "Two Mommies are Better than One!" onesie.
• "I Have Two Papa Bears" onesie.
• Radical coloring books at GirlsNotChicks.com.

For the bookworm:

• Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
• Woman on the Edge of Time
• The Handmaid's Tale
• Deciding the Next Decider: the 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme

For the movie-lover:

• "Exes and Ohs" - complete first season (hilarious show about lesbian relationships).
• Documentary "The Bible Tells Me So," about the co-existence of religion and homosexuality.
• The movie "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" - doesn't everyone want a feminist gang like this?
• "Wall-E": Pixar's best movie, and some argue that the main characters are genderless.
• "Commander in Chief" - season 1. What if we actually had a female president?

For the charitable:
Make a donation in someone else's name to any one of these charities...

• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• Women for Women International
• RAINN
• National LGBT Cancer Network
• The Girl Effect
• End Human Trafficking
• The Queen's Company (New York City's all-female theatre company)

Tomorrow, be sure to CALL IN GAY! Day Without a Gay is a national movement to show everyone how important GLBTQ people are to society. This day-long protest was sparked by the passing of Prop 8 - since, you know, it's just a tad ridiculous that tax-paying citizens who contribute to society and help the economy are given second-class rights.

Even if you don't identify as GLBTQ, you can still participate! I'm sure allies are more than welcome to join. Don't go to work, don't buy any products, and instead, the organizers of the protest are urging everyone to perform volunteer work. Of course, students are not traitors if they go to class or take final exams. Involve your friends and family so Day Without a Gay really makes an impact. Yahoo! News already covered the protest, so it's already getting great attention.



There are plenty of places to volunteer near you. I'm spending a few hours at a soup kitchen, and they were thrilled when I called and asked to help. Check out VolunteerMatch.org for some nearby listings.

...According to the very reliable Fox News. Studies are "proving" that certain chemicals in the air are "feminizing" male animals by affecting their penis size, lowering their testosterone levels, and increasing estrogen levels. So now the monumental question remains: are male humans in danger of becoming the weaker sex?!?!?!?!

Because, you know, a decrease in testosterone and an increase in estrogen most definitely is the worst thing that could ever happen to the male gender. We don't want our men turning into a bunch of sissies. Watch this video and count how many sexist jokes the Fox News anchors make.

Polls are showing that support for same-sex marriage has been growing sufficiently in just a few years. The main poll that shows this is one conducted by Newsweek. Newsweek.com posted an article, detailing the results:

Fifty-five percent of respondents favored legally sanctioned unions or partnerships, while only 39 percent supported marriage rights. Both figures are notably higher than in 2004, when 40 percent backed the former and 33 percent approved of the latter. When it comes to according legal rights in specific areas to gays, the public is even more supportive. Seventy-four percent back inheritance rights for gay domestic partners (compared to 60 percent in 2004), 73 percent approve of extending health insurance and other employee benefits to them (compared to 60 percent in 2004), 67 percent favor granting them Social Security benefits (compared to 55 percent in 2004) and 86 percent support hospital visitation rights (a question that wasn't asked four years ago). In other areas, too, respondents appeared increasingly tolerant. Fifty-three percent favor gay adoption rights (8 points more than in 2004), and 66 percent believe gays should be able to serve openly in the military (6 points more than in 2004).

You have to wonder - if there's so much support for it, why is it only legal in two states?