The Ovary Office

Ovary Office

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  Tweet TweetNew Year’s resolutions, I have never been good at them. I mean, as a kid 40-day lent was about the breaking point for giving up chocolate or something just as trivial. I think for some it is a great motivator, but for others it’s just a way to convince yourself that starting fresh is just as easy as waking up on January 1st. In recent years, I have realized that these “deadlines” for gluttony one way or another is just [...]
• My Indigo Girls Concert Experience
  Tweet TweetHere it comes, the rant that has been boiling up inside of me since last Wednesday… The Indigo Girls concert left me experiencing the many stages of grief that I can only accredit to the strange ambiance of the overly stubborn crowd. First came the denial, are there really CHAIRS covering the floor of the Vic? The floor that is meant for raving, dancing, serenading, or whatever feels good when you hear those first melodic notes that instantly bring you back [...]
• Equality Illinois hosts its annual Fall Women’s Social
  Tweet TweetI would consider myself an equal opportunity activist. However, while I have very strong opinions, I am also very particular in choosing the organizations and causes to which I donate my time, money and energy. When I meet someone who is active in a cause, ANY cause, I immediately have an increased amount of respect for them, whether or not I agree with said issue/organization. Like many others, I too have vocally opposed certain organizations, even those with similar causes [...]
• Congrats You’re Gay Too
  Tweet TweetSo here’s the deal, in spirit of National Coming out Month and in reaction to many recent teen suicides, there seems to have been an influx in celebrities announcing their gayness. In the last couple of months, media has had a wonderful time publicizing their outings, interviewing the new members of the club and of course asking how it gets better.  In fact, I recently read an article about how Howard Bragman, Coming Out Public Relations guru, has held many [...]
• Can’t Rain On My Parade
  Tweet TweetAs I mentioned in one of my past articles: what’s with all the hate? The events that took place during and after the 2011 Pride Parade not only left the city wondering what went wrong, but may have changed the pride parade that we have known for decades. From drunken debauchery to assault to vandalism, a parade that is meant to celebrate and embrace our culture turned into an embarrassing example of what happens when we forget the meaning behind [...]
• What’s the difference between bullying and a crime of hate
  Tweet TweetOn Monday, our community took yet another blow. 14 year old Jamey Rodemeyer, a teen from Buffalo New York who is known for his touching “It Gets Better” video, killed himself after years of being bullied for his sexual orientation. From the day he posted his video thanking Lady Gaga for her support, Rodemeyer received praise for his courage at such a young age. But with the positive encouragement also came hateful comments urging him to kill himself, and through [...]
• Christina’s Dream and Lessons We Have Learned
  Tweet TweetLast Saturday, on the eve of the 10th Anniversary of a day that 10 years ago united the entire country, women and men from Chicago came together to celebrate the life of a woman who made it her life to unite her own community. The memorial to celebrate the life of Christina Santiago packed the auditorium of the Chicago History Center with people from all walks of life. As I took a seat and looked around, I saw the hundreds [...]
• What’s with all the hate?
  Tweet TweetMany of us are lucky enough to live in a world where we have been waking up daily to hear exciting news of progressive civil rights legislation, following queer characters in mainstream media and even to some extent having the ability to live freely and openly about our sexuality. In June, known internationally as gay pride month, we have witnessed some very important history take place. Civil Unions became official in the state of Illinois, Gay Marriage was passed in [...]
• The Big Q
  Tweet TweetQueer. Either you love it or hate it, but it’s a word that has existed for generations and is beginning to take the early stages of reclamation in the LGBT community. Or is it? A few years ago, I decided to use the big Q as a way to identify myself, my community and the movement, and had no idea what kind of reactions I would provoke. From the surprising acceptance of some to the disappointingly closed minds of others, [...]
• The Ovary Office – An Introduction
  Tweet TweetI am just going to come right out and say it: I am not here to push politics down your throat, guilt you into activism, or judge you for your beliefs. Easy enough, right? I sat for hours thinking about how I could share all of my passion for social justice within our community without sounding preachy, pushy, or passive aggressive. The fact of the matter is, and this will be increasingly obvious as time goes on, I am not like [...]