moominmuppet

So, I finished Smearing the Queer: Medical Bias in the Health Care of Gay Men on my way to B'more. It's excellent, and I highly recommend it, even though it's older than I first thought; published in 1999.

The section that really blew me away was the section about the female condom, the original intents to market it to all genders for both anal and vaginal sex, the benefits it seems to provide for anal sex when used properly, and the underground popularity it has gained in sections of the gay and bi community despite its heavily feminized marketing.

Crap. Meeting-time, gotta run. Maybe I'll finish this up later if there's time. Anyone else know much about this? I'm very curious.

Edit: Here's some more info about it, under the description Bottom condom

So I finally decide to post something, and LJ goes down? How unfair! OK, back now.

Anyway, quick movie recommendation. For the Bible Tells Me So is really quite well-done, and is tailored specifically for GLBT folks trying to open communication with their (religious) families. It also presents a wide range of christian views on GLBT issues, which could be very helpful for those whose families have only heard the most conservative and negative. It's worth noting that although it mentions bi and trans folk, they're generally not directly addressed in the movie, nor are the particular complexities that they/we present in terms of coming out discussions. Still, it's an engaging piece of work, and I can see definitely helping in its stated goals (in the special features) of helping GLBT folks talk with their friends and families when christian religious issues are a central problem. Additionally, the parents, regardless of where they are in coming to terms with their child's orientation, are presented fairly and compassionately, too.

Be aware that there are a few very disturbing images in the movie of people who've been gaybashed, and one of the daughter of an interviewee, who committed suicide. It's not a large portion of the movie, but they were obviously trying to drive home the point.

From one of my mailing lists
Please X Post


The Rhode Island Health Center Association (RICHA) has received funding to
conduct two trainings to increase the capacity of Rhode Island Community
Health Center providers and nurses to provide appropriate and affirming care
to transgender and gender variant patients.



RICHA is seeking competent trainer(s) to design and deliver trainings to
meet the learning objectives identified below. Learning objectives were
determined by community health center providers based on a comprehensive
needs assessment of the RICHA provider population in 2006. *The appropriate
trainer(s) will approach the care of transgender and gender variant patients
from a patient centered, affirmative, and progressive perspective. *



The trainer(s) must be available to travel to Providence, RI at RICHA's
expense to deliver the training on at least one of the dates associated with
the trainings that they are contracted to deliver (dates listed
below). Training
provider(s) must be willing to allow their training to be videotaped with a
copy provided to each community health center in RI and to be put up on the
website of a local organization for access by RICHA members.
( Read more... )

I'm still close to a month behind on LJ, except for sporadic drop-ins to look at a post here or there, but I wanted to note a couple of things before I head out for my doctor's appt (my actual real gyn exam, as opposed to the six I've already taught this week *chuckle* -- I love my doc, so I'm looking forward to chatting with her; I just wish it weren't such a hassle to get to Independence on RTA).

Ohio's Forests are Expanding (link from bec76)

New Tracey Ullman Show! (link from bec76)

Study on Bi Women Discredits Stereotypes -- it's only a small study, but it's interesting in its refutation of "it's just a phase", and "bi people can't be monogamous".

Flaring again this weekend, so it was a repeat of last weekend's sleep-a-thon. Did some laundry, watched some movies.

In no particular order:

Aquamarine -- this is a really cute pre-teen mermaid movie. Although I love kids' entertainment, an awful lot of it leaves me yelling at the screen at some point or another, and this one really didn't. It was good for its intended age range, it has morals I actually agree with, and if I'd seen this as a tween myself, I probably would've fallen head over heels for it.

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What the hell is wrong with my brain today? Everything I write feels like it's coming out absolutely absurdly stilted and awkward. Bad brain. No cookie. OK, we return you to your irregularly scheduled and absurdly brief movie reviews:
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Kim Cattrall: Sexual Intelligence (full disclosure -- I can't stand Sex in the City)

I'm interested in sexuality studies, and I'm especially interested in how they're being presented to the world in general, so I tend to watch a lot of "sex documentaries" on the various channels, usually with unfortunate "throwing things at the TV" results. I've given up on TLC entirely, due to the unsupported gender essentialism that seems ingrained in every single gender and sexuality program they put out. HBO can be decent at times, and some of the talking heads on this program had interesting things to say (they got Betty Dodson, which is always nice, and they had a lot of queer representation, including bi representation, amongst their general interview subjects), but nothing could save it from the soft-focus obnoxiously coy intros and outros with Kim Cattrall. Good grief. Painful. Also, no cookie for inaccurately stating that humans are the only species that orgasm; there's good evidence that counters that. Not recommended.

Dead and Breakfast. The winner of the weekend, hands down. Apparently all I need to be happy in life is some line-dancing zombies and a few expository musical interludes. The second commentary track is hysterical -- makes it very clear just _how_ low-budget this was. I intend to own this movie, oh yes I do. I love it when the zombies have a plan.

All Aboard Rosie's Family Cruise. Does what it says on the tin. It's a mildly heartwarming tale of queer families on a cruise. Nothing special, really, and not something I'd list here except as a chance to bring up something it got me thinking about in terms of identity politics. Those of you who've known me for a while probably already know that I think identity politics have their place, but I'm especially interested in the edges where the boundaries between identity groups fall apart, and I think ultimately we need a "what we have in common is that we're all different" expansionism rather than a "what we have in common is that we're all the same" assimilationist approach (which generally comes along with its own version of the identity police). What got me thinking was the kids on the cruise. Some are simply being raised by GLBT parents, but some are really growing up within the queer community as one of their central subcultures. As yet one more argument against identity policing, does anyone really think these kids, when they grow up, should be even a smidgen less welcome in our community just because they happen to be straight (if they are)?

Phat Girlz -- when I decided to give this a try, I really wasn't expecting it to last (what our household refers to as "the ten-minute test"). I was pleasantly surprised, and although it unfortunately gives Coming to America a run for its money in regards to African realism, the movie in general was cute and amusing. The plot is... basic, to be generous, but it was nice to see the weight issue being handled this way, rather than with the backhanded "compliments" of crap like Shallow Hal (if we were better people, we'd look past all your gross nasty fat, oh yes we would) that's been so popular recently. Then again, the fact that no one in the movie was in a fat suit (don't get me started) gave it a huge leg up there. I wouldn't bother renting it, but if you're bored and it's on TV, it's not bad, although it does at times fall into the unpleasant habit of being nasty about skinniness in ways that suck just as much as similar attitudes about fat.

Reeker -- Merely ok. Interchangeable with any other middling quality late-night gorefest. Mildly interesting twist. Don't go out of your way for it. See also House of 9.

In the amusingly bad category, we've got Spacejacked. Honestly, I don't recall enough of it to say much coherent about it, but I was giggling for most of it, so I guess that's something. Cheesy. Very.

Sweet Charity. Ya know, I'd heard Shirley Maclaine was famous for something other than her past lives... Now I know. It felt a bit jumpy, but it was fun and bouncy and colorful and endearing, and I enjoyed it a good deal.

Citizen Verdict. Oh. My. They make an honest attempt to fit in some interesting and important concepts where they can squeeze them past Jerry Springer's unbelievably bad acting. Extremely uneven, but there are bits of a worthwhile faux documentary in there. I like documentaries and mockumentaries, and I tend to enjoy movies that play with that kind of approach, too, so I was probably easier on this one than most would be. I still don't think most people will be interested in sitting through it, so don't take this as a recommendation.

Brunner: Ohio's vote vulnerable

I can't express how happy I am to have Brunner instead of Blackwell dealing with this, but it doesn't mean I've stopped worrying.

Life good. Work busy. More later.

My previous post triggered my fat rant enough that I figured I'd bring the rest of my book and show notes over here.

I finally got a chance to read Alan Moore's long-awaited Lost Girls while I was in California. I have mixed feelings. Gorgeous art; there are several panels I'd love to have as prints for my walls (especially a few from the opium/island scenes). Incredibly creative reimagining of the stories of Alice, Dorothy, and Wendy, with a lot to say about sexuality's place in our lives and psyches. It was as erotica that it slipped for me. Although Moore makes some very good points throughout about the difference between fantasy and reality, and it's obvious he hit the topics in large part to make those points, it doesn't change the fact that incest and pedophilia are both squicks for me. As a result, it was quite a rollercoaster ride, and not in an entirely pleasant way. As Bec and I were discussing, it was sort of an Oooooh! Ew! Ooooh! Ew! kind of thing. Many parts were powerfully erotic. Many were powerfully squicky, and they were often in such close conjunction it was hard to ride the erotic energy in an enjoyable way, which was incredibly frustrating, because there was so much wonderful, hothothot stuff there. Highly recommended as an incredible artistic accomplishment, but with the caveat that it may be squicky to the point of triggery for some people.

History of the World in Six Glasses was a quick, fun, fascinating look at the place of beer, wine, distilled spirits, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Actually, it really made me want to reread Tastes of Paradise: A Social History of Spices, Stimulants, and Intoxicants, which my psychopharmacology professor had us read back in college. Anyway, History of the World was fun, but at times more superficial than I'd like. The fact that the section on Coca-Cola talked extensively about how image-conscious Coke was, and how this has had all these positive effects, etc, etc, and yet failed to even mention the historic Coca-Cola boycott relating to South African Apartheid really surprised and disappointed me. There's a lot of fun stuff in the book, and some interesting history, but it felt like the author really lost his objectivity once he got to American soil.

Amazing Screw-On Head was apparently a pilot for the Sci-Fi network. They were absolute morons not to pick it up (given their usual fare, this is sadly unsurprising). Fabulous, twisted, bizarre, hysterical. Rent it. Rent it now. Unfortunately, it's just the one pilot, at 22 minutes, but it's still totally and entirely worth seeing. Oh, yes. Armed monkeys and undead love interests and Abraham Lincoln. nappalmmk9, I'm especially talking to you, if you haven't seen it yet. I couldn't see the monkey in a scene without thinking of you.

Pushing Daisies may well be my new favorite show of the season. Morbidly Seussian is the best way I can think to describe it. Especially recommended for fans of the late great Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me. Visually fantastic, wonderfully funny.

I'm currently watching one of the old Hartnell Doctor Who eps, and reading The Knights Next Door, which I'm enjoying immensely, but which will likely be its own post once I finish it, since it's gotten me thinking about one of the minor mysteries of my life -- why, despite having so many friends in the SCA since my teens, and despite seeming to be exactly the right demographic, I've never gotten involved -- it's never quite caught me. I think it has a lot to do with where my deepest personal fantasies lie, and where they go in very different directions from those that are shared (or at least somewhat overlapping) for most of the SCAdians and other recreational medievalists I know. That's a whole big post of its own, though, and we're about to head out to Bec's bellydance performance, so it'll have to wait.

I'm putting this here mostly for my own reference so I can find it and try some of these at some point. I haven't tried any of them, I'm not specifically endorsing anything, but most of them just seem sensible and worth trying, so I'm not bothering to mark it private, in case anyone else is interested.

( practical household hints )

I'm absolutely awed by these (link ganked from yendi)

(oh, and grf, it was Wim Delvoye's work I was talking about in regards to the stained glass and x-rays)