Gay couples on Facebook!

Dear all,

After watching The Social Network, my Facebook experience has changed completely. The Social Network makes Facebook seem so much more intense and way more fun to be a part of. If you haven’t seen the movie yet I would recommend a family or friends movie night during this upcoming so-soon recess.

I just read an article on The Huffington Post that makes me even more proud of Facebook and its initiative to recognize so many faces around the world. Facebook, in an attempt to represent and include people of all walks of life, just included the options “in a domestic partnership” and “in a civil union” as relationship statuses to an already long list. A network of activist groups including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Human Rights Campaign, the Trevor Project, GLSEN and PFLAG came together as the Network of Support and pressed Facebook to make these necessary changes.

Facebook is Gay friendly.

This is wonderful because people of the LGBTQ community can now openly express their relationships on Facebook the way heterosexual couples had been allowed since Facebook began recognizing relationships. With this initiative, Facebook has come out as an ally of the Queer community. LGBTQ youth have used Facebook as a medium to come out, to be Gay rights activists, and to feel included in a larger network. Now, the adults in the community can find validation and honest portrayal of their relationships also.

Starting today, the U.S., Canada, France, the U.K. and Australia will incorporate these new statuses on Facebook. I hope that this will soon become a global reality as Facebook is meant to be.

Love always,
Afzal

PS: Have a safe and sweet break!

TRISK this week!

Triskelion (LGBTQA Alliance Group) is alive and back this semester with many exciting plans for Brandeisians. Last week, on Thursday, Trisk hosted Fruits for Fruits (and allies!) that allowed all in our community to reunite and give out countless warm totally trisk-type hugs. It was exciting to see so many midyears show up and get to know our LGBTQA community.

This week we are having Claire Naughton, a Bay State Stonewall Democrat come speak to us about Gay Rights Activism and how to be effective leaders with voices. Bay State Stonewall Democrats (BSSD) advocates within the Democratic Party on behalf of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) community. They promote the ideals and programs of the Democratic Party to the GLBT communities throughout Massachusetts. The meeting will be held in the ICC Lounge at 8 pm tomorrow (February 3rd). I hope to see many of you there!

Sex and Sexuality Symposium (SASS) is also having a meeting tomorrow about “Wearing Gender”. They will be talking about how our clothes define gender and make us behave differently. The meeting will be held at 3 pm in the ICC back lounge.

The QRC is also open now and I encourage you all to take advantage of this opportunity. The QRC is an amazing resource for our students and the counselors are all uniquely sweet and welcoming. QRC office is in the Trisk Lounge. Their hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday, 1-5 and Tuessday and Wednesday 1-8. Please, find them if you need to talk with someone about any issues you are having.

Harvard Kennedy School is hosting LGBTQ Human Rights in Palestine: A forum and discussion on Tuesday, February 8th at 6:30 pm. Abeer Monsour, a feminist, Palestinian, queer activist who is dedicated to promoting the inclusion of Palestinian queer women in Palestinian society, and Haneen Maikey, a 32-year-old Palestinian queer activist, lives and works in Jerusalem will be there to speak about Queer issues in Palestine. The forum will be in the Starr Auditorium on the 4th floor, in Belfing Building.

Lastly, MIT is hosting a LGBT[Q] Intercollegiate Dance Party Friday, February 11th 10 pm – 2 am. It will take place in MIT Student Center (Lobdell 2nd floor, room W20-208). It is open and free to all LGBT[Q] college students and allies. Let’s party with queer folks in Cambridge for Valentines! ?

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126843997373231

If you have any questions about any of these events please email Lenny Schnier at lschnier@brandeis.edu

Have a very colorful weekend but be safe!

Love,

Afzal 😀