Queer Stuff
Hop Against Homophobia #HAHAT #IDAHO
Welcome to the hop! Firstly the admin stuff for those new to this. The main purpose of the hop is to generate publicity for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) on May 17th. As readers and writers of queer romance to boot, it is also a chance for us to stand together as a community and fight discrimination against our work. Only in its second year, already the hop is garnering a lot of interest and participation and I for one am proud to be a part of it. I’ve got a series of blogs planned to run over the course of the hop, addressing everything from current events to personal experience and literary theory. There’s also some prizes on offer so be sure to read on!
Random
Don’t Blame the Culprit!
An article on the ACLU blog this morning caught my attention, reporting that in Norristown, PA., the state has introduced legislation to force landlords to evict tenants if the police are summoned to their address. Such ‘nuisance ordinances’ might seem reasonable if your neighbour’s a drug dealer constantly getting raided – but what if your neighbour’s a victim of domestic violence?
Random
Spring Has Sprung!
It’s official. We’ve had two or three days of gorgeous, balmy weather and this morning I saw the year’s first butterfly in my garden (a beautiful pale green Brimstone). Which got me wondering again about this creature, that I spotted in my garden at the end of September last year. Any ideas what it is?? (more…)
Queer Stuff
Response: A Civil Discussion About Gay Marriage
One of my facebook friends shared a link on her feed today from the website United Church of God, offering a ‘respectful discussion’ (read: rejection) of the gay marriage debate, written by their contributor Heather Disher.
Heather, allow me to respectfully disagree with every single word you wrote.
Queer Stuff
Lying to get Laid
An interesting case came up for sentencing today in Scotland. Chris Wilson was sentenced to three years’ probation and 240 hours community service for the crime of “obtaining sexual intimacy by fraud”. His fraud? Not telling his girlfriend that he was trans. (more…)
Books
The Magic Bullet; or, Why Don’t My Books Sell?
It’s question every author wants to know the answer to – Why aren’t my books selling?
Some people struggle to get any traction, some struggle to get recognition, and whatever we’re selling, we all want to sell more. I have spent two years now lurking and participating in the places where authors (indie or not) congregate and discuss sales and marketing. It’s a refrain I hear over and over.
(more…)
Queer Stuff
Feminising the Male
Someone (who shall remain nameless…) started me on Supernatural. Yes I know I’m about eight seasons too late but in the last couple of weeks I have rectified that and am halfway though season six already. It has become something of an obsession and I am just about in love with Cas…but I digress. (more…)
Queer Stuff
SCOTUS Hearing Prop 8 and DOMA Cases
Yes, it’s finally here. The US Supreme Court is hearing two major cases this week – first on California’s Proposition 8 (that particularly nasty piece of legislation which took marriage equality away from people to whom it had already been granted) and tomorrow DOMA itself.
Queer Stuff
The Real Point of Marriage Equality
I’ve banged on rather a lot about equal marriage. About the importance of having the right to use that word, of having the right to stand up before your friends and family – and God, if you believe – and affirm your love to Mr or Mrs Right, whoever you are. But it’s about more than that. This is the real story of why equal marriage matters.