Wait. We thought they had their whole political situation situated? But apparently, the people of Egypt are no more able to express their disapproval of the government then they were before kicking out that shady Mubarak character. Egypt’s military sought to isolate pro-democracy activists protesting against their rule, depicting them as conspirators and vandals, as troops and protesters clashed for a third straight day, pelting each other with stones near parliament in the heart of the capital. At least 10 protesters have been killed and 441 others wounded in the three days of violence, according to the Health Ministry. Activists say most of the 10 fatalities died of gunshot wounds. The fighting, sparked when troops sought to break up a sit-in outside the Cabinet headquarters, has seen a particularly heavy hand by the military. Military police have been shown in video footage dragging women by the hair, even stripping the shirt off one veiled woman, and ferociously beating, kicking and stomping on protesters cowering on the ground. Still, the protesters’ numbers have remained smaller than earlier rallies — suggesting even anger over the disturbing images was not drawing the broader Egyptian public into a confrontation with the military, which activists behind the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak’s autocratic regime 10 months ago accuse of mismanaging the transition period and committing human rights abuses. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the ruling military council on Sunday called the clashes part of a “conspiracy” against Egypt. It said its forces had the right to defend the “property of the great people of Egypt.” Seeking to depict the protesters as hooligans — and apparently to counter the widely published images of protesters being beaten — it also posted on the page footage of young men throwing rocks at a basement window of the parliament building and of at least one man trying to set the place ablaze. The ruling generals have taken advantage of the growing frustration of many Egyptians over worsening economic hardships and tenuous security, blaming demonstrations, strikes and sit-ins for their predicament. The tactic, coupled with the military’s efforts to stain the reputation of the youth groups behind Mubarak’s ouster, appears to have worked. The military has been using the state media and loyal private TV stations to project an image of itself as the protector of the nation and filling its public statements with patriotism and grave warnings of a dire future if political turmoil persisted. Protest leaders increasingly complain that they feel isolated in a society that has grown more concerned with making ends meet than political rights. Hunger does seem to be the strongest motivator of them all. Do you think this would ever happen here in the US? Source
There is one thing better than leggings on a bitch and that’s see through leggings…you know all stretched out cuz she thinks she’s an X-Small since leggings let even the fattest ass be an X-Small… There is one thing better than leggings on a mom in her 40s, you know that’s dressed like she raided her 15 year old daughter’s closet, almost pathetic to see her holding onto her youth as hard as she cand….and that’s when those leggings are see through… I think you get where I’m going with this… To See the Rest of the Pics FOLLOW THIS LINK
Beverly Bond brings Black Girls Rock back to BET for it’s second airing, a night filled with beautiful women with honorable achievements. This year’s Black Girl’s Rock 2011 honorees included many familiar faces and new ones also. To help keep track, we’ve complied a list of who received an honor and what it was for continue reading to learn more! 1. Taraji Henson : Star Power Taraji won an award for her ‘star power’ and brought the room to tears during her acceptance speech. She touched on being a single mother in Hollywood and leaving a legacy as a black actress. Taraji grew up in Washington, DC and worked a part-time job to put herself through college and in 1995 she graduated Howard University. After acting in moving films such as “Baby Boy,” “Hustle and Flow,” “The Karate Kid,” “A Family That Preys,” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” throughout her roles she is able to connect viewers to screen easily, making her more than perfect fit for this years award. 2. Laurel J. Richie : Shot Caller As a graduate of Dartmouth College, Laurel J. Richie, is the face of female basketball, as the president of the WNBA and currently resides in NYC. Richie was selected as president because of her undeniable skill to create award-winning campaigns that transform brands and drive business while maintaining the day to day tasks of operations. Before winning the courts Laurel was the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Girl Scouts of the America where she was in charge of the brand, marketing, publishing and the overall revitalization of the brand. Not only has she been honored by Black Girls Rock , Laurel was named as one of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business by the Network Journal, is a YMCA “Black Achievers Award” recipient, a Ebony Magazine’s “Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications” recipient. 3. Tatyana Ali : Young, Gifted And Black Tatyana, who was born in Brooklyn in 1979, was honored for her talents as a young actress turned scholar/education activist and showcased her killer new haircut during her acceptance speech. It was after her time on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” that Tatyana applied to college and was accepted into Harvard University where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and African-American Studies. Since finishing college, Tatyana has gone on to advocate for our youth speaking at many schools encouraging education and leadership for the past 15 years. Her passion for acting still burns as you can catch her in the third season of TV One’s “Love That Girl” which airs Monday’s at 8pm. 4. Imani Walker & Malika Saada Saar : Trailblazer Imani Walker and Malika Saada Saar are co-founders of “The Rebecca Project.” “The Rebecca Project for Human Rights” is a national policy and legal organization that fights for public policy reform and justice for unfortunate families. They work on many areas of reform on a state and national level, they work towards addressing the prison system on women who give birth incarcerated. This dynamic duo believes that families should have the right to raise their children with dignity and work nationally and locally to accomplish this among many other issues for our community. 5. Pastor Shirley Caesar : The Living Legend Award Pastor Shirley Caesar, birth name Shirley Ann Caesar, has served as a minister for over six decades and boasts a voice that is distinct and powerful. She is a native of Durham, North Carolina, and began her career touring with the female group, the Caravans.While singing lead in the group on hits like “I Won’t Be Back” and “Holy Boldness” she then found her own group, Casear Sings and occasionally performs with former members of Caravan and Reveland Cleveland over the years. In 1982 Shirley was inducted in the Gospel Hall of Fame and was the first woman to sing Gospel at Harvard University. Shirley has won 11 Grammy’s, 18 Dove Awards and 14 Stellar Awards in addition to the Living Legend Award from Black Girls Rock to name a few honors. Paster Casear is a Delta Sigma Theta and married to her husband since 1963 and currently pastors Mount Calvary Holy Church Word in Raleigh, NC. Beauties, how can you rock any harder than this!? Black Women Shine At Black Girls Rock! Ceremony [PHOTOS] 6. Angela Davis : Icon Angela Yvonne Davis, activist, author, and lecturer, born in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama and is a respected civil and human rights activists and was a member of the Black Panther Party and Communist Parties in the 1960s and 1970s. During her time with the Black Panthers, she was once placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list for kidnapping and murder and had to live as a fugitive before being captured and serving a number of months in jail, she was found “not guilty” in 1972 by the jury during her trial. Angela is also the founder of “Critical Resistance” which fights to abolish the “prison-industrial complex” a speech in that was given in 1997 and recorded as an audiobook which was the premise to her book with the same title. The prison-industrial complex seeks to address the abuse of companies use to private prisons as remedy to job employment among other issues it serves. She also believes in social justice and now teaches at the University of California Santa Cruz as the Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness; an interdisciplinary Ph.D program, and Professor of Feminist Studies. Angela’s legacy and fight for justice expands beyond this and we highly recommend reading her books to learn more about the revolutionary; “Angela Davis–an autobiography,” “Are prisons obsolete?,” and “Abolition democracy: Beyond empire, Prisons, and Torture.” This revolutionary rocks! M.A.D (“Making A Difference”) Girls are young ladies who are using their youth as a prime time to affect their communities and the communities of others. Check out the M.A.D Honorees: 1. Leanna Archer Leanna, Haitian-American, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and motivational speaker all at the age of 15 while living in Islip Long Island, NY! When you see Leanna, you instantly want to ask what products are used for her shining and long tresses; in response you will find that she’ll direct you to Leanna’s Inc, her line of her natural hair products. It all began when her great-grandmother made a special pomade for her hair at 9 years young and after getting an overwhelming response on how tamed her curls where she began to sell the pomade independently. To this day, Leanna still shipment from Haiti for the natural ingredients (oils and essences of avocado, sweet almond, rosemary and hibiscus) because after she once she tried ordering from Hawaii and her customers immediately knew the difference. In 2010, she was able to have sales over 100,000 dollars and took her profits to launch a foundation that feeds over 120 kids in Haiti daily. With the growth of her business her father quiet his job to help her make seminars and meeting and the business benefits from the help of family and friends whenever they can. Thanks for being a black beauty who rocks! 25 Women To Know: Beverly Bond 2. Dyci Manns An Atlanta native, Dyci Manns, did more than just study and complete example while attending University of Georgia, she began a non-profit, MODEL26 and organization “Book Bags With the Basics.” Her organization “Book Bags with The Basics” came from her study abroad experience in Belize where she witness children reusing composition books because they could not afford to buy another. Dyci was ready to help change the fate of underprivileged kids by reaching out to family and friends for school supplies and after six months, the Dyci was able to collect book bags with school supplies for over than 1,000 students in Nicaragua, Uganda and the U.S. Wait, Dyci didn’t stop there, she created MODEL26 (Making Opportunities by Developing Emerging Leaders.) The number 26 stands for Article 26 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states everyone has the right to education. MODEL26 a program that helps gives college students financial assistance, counseling and access to volunteer programs abroad and is now in Louisiana State University, Clark Atlanta University, the University of Maryland, the University of Florida, Hope College, Purdue University and the University of Central Florida. This is why Dyci Manns is a M.A.D girl who rocks! 3. Mari Malek Born in Wau, South Sudan Mari, twenty-four, is the co-founder the “Southern Sudan Initiatives” which was created to help the lost boys and girls who had to flee Sudan country during the civil war. The issues in Sudan became popular to many after the film, “Lost Boys of Sudan,” was released in 2003 which showcased Sudanese boys who walked for weeks to Ethiopia to refugee camps which were eventually attacked and fled again to Kenya bfore they were able to come into the US. “Southern Sudan Initiatives” provides clean water, access to health care and educational assistance which are essential for a wholesome way of living. Mari is living in NYC today working as a fashion model and club DJ.The this is how she is rebuilding the Southern Sudan, thanks for sharing your talents and being a beauty that ROCKS! 4. Eden Sanaa Eden Sanaa Duncan-Smith, who you can find on YouTube singing songs by Etta James or “Perfect” by P!nk , is only 11 years old but that hasn’t stopped her from Making a Difference. She’s an actress/singer who played as Nala in the Lion King and played Raynell Maxon in Fences on Broadway alongside Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. But, it was after she unfortunately lost Shannon “Skye” Tavarez, her Lion King co-star, to leukemia that she decided to develop a project in memory of her dear friend. Eden created a network called “Angel in the S.K.Y.E” to raise money for leukemia research and is a “pay it forward” is a philanthropic program that honors those who have done acts of kindness for their community, family or friends, by doing unexpected acts of kindness for them in return. Additionally, she developed a program to purchase Broadway tickets for kids who can’t afford to see live shows. This little Broadway star ROCKS!
This is so sad: A 3-year-old girl comforted herself with her favorite toy and ate cheese , leftover lasagna and milk for two days after her mother died unexpectedly in their New Zealand home. The girl’s uncle, Pete Silbery, told The Associated Press on Friday that Shylah Silbery managed to open the fridge and comfort herself with a teddy bear named “Possum” after Lauren Silbery, 28, died. The family last spoke to Lauren Silbery on Oct. 19, he said. Two days later, they were worried enough to call a friend who lived near her Wellington home. The friend could see the girl inside the home, but not the mother, prompting the family to call police, Pete Silbery said. Police coaxed Shylah to drag a coffee table to the door so she could reach the lock and unlock the door, before she told them, “Mummy won’t wake up,” Silbery said. “I can only imagine her in there for that long, trying to wake Mum up as well,” he said. Shylah spent several days in a hospital recovering from dehydration and diaper rash. “She’s doing OK now. She’s still bubbly,” he said. “When we lowered the coffin into the grave at the cemetery, though, she pointed at it and said ‘Mummy’s in there.’ It was pretty heartbreaking.” According to the Taranaki Daily News, the girl’s grandmother said she knew Lauren Silbery was dead as soon as she walked into the house with the authorities. Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy but don’t believe Lauren Silbery’s death was suspicious, Wellington police spokesman Victoria Davis said. The New Zealand Herald reported that Silbery was found face down near her bed, which indicates she may have died from a stroke or a heart attack and fell out of bed. Shylah Silbery was in the care of Child, Youth and Family, but her family was hoping to get custody, the Herald said. Awwww, we hope the best for this little girl! Source
Horror-movie icon ushered in the modern era of slasher films — but is he the best cinematic killer of all time? By Kevin P. Sullivan Michael Myers in “Halloween” Photo: Dimension Films We’re just about halfway through MTV’s Killer Halloween , and the competition is just heating up in the battle to find out which movie murderer tops them all. So far, we’ve profiled Freddy , Jason , Leatherface , Chucky and Ghostface , but now we look at the man who ushered in the modern era of slashers. Which horror-movie baddie has the best personality? Make your pick in our MTV Movies Blog poll! Michael Myers Occupation : Homicidal boy, homicidal adult Weapons : Knife, inability to ever freaking die Archenemy : His family, his psychiatrist, anyone who gets in the way of him killing his family and his psychiatrist Profile : Michael Myers was a bit of a prodigy in the ways of serial killing, changing the game even as a young boy. Pre-teen Michael may have been the first to don a mask — a creepy clown one for his first murder — and go after the babysitter, his sister Judith. He spent the remainder of his youth in an institution for the mentally disturbed under the close observation of Dr. Sam Loomis. After Michael escaped, stealing a mask, jumpsuit and knife from a hardware store, movie serials have never been the same. The target of most of Michael’s deadly attention has been his surviving sister, Laurie, the lead played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the first two films and “Halloween: H20” and Scout Taylor-Compton in the Rob Zombie remakes. The early films simply focused on Michael’s obsession with finding his long-lost baby sister, but later in the series, the true origin of Michael as an embodiment of pure evil added a supernatural element to the villain. There has never been too much to Michael Myers’ tactics. He stalks. He walks. He kills. His style of murder will be remembered for a number of reasons. His mask, an old William Shatner “Star Trek” mask painted white, has become a horror icon. His slow gait and silent disposition directly inspired dozens of imitators — Jason Voorhees, most famously. Modern slasher films owe a debt to Michael Myers and his creator John Carpenter, whose work has affected the genre for generations. Where do you think Michael Myers falls in the scope of horror-movie psychopaths? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we’ve got on “Scream.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Hide Ya Kids! Especially if you live in Texas… According to a study out of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: 1. Almost one in 10 Texas 6th graders have had sex. 2. The percentage of Texas7th and 8th graders who have had sex is 22 and 29 percent respectively. 3. Of high school-aged kids, 32 percent of 9th graders, 41 percent of 10th graders, 53 percent of 11th graders and 62 percent of 12th graders have had sex. 4. Just over one third of the entire public middle and high school population are sexually experienced. 5. Texas students are more likely to report having had sex with four or more partners and are less likely to have used birth control or condoms. 6. Texas students are also significantly less likely to receive education about HIV or AIDS in school. 7. Males are significantly more likely than their counterparts to report having sex for the first time before age 13, having more than four partners and using drugs or alcohol before having sex. The results come from an analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the CDC’s Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the University of Texas Prevention Research Center’s All About Youth study. Guess that explains why Rick Perry wanted all the kids to get the HPV vaccine before 6th grade… But seriously, where are these kids’ parents? Source
Lil Wayne released a 28 min “PSA” where he talks about Steve Jobs passing, his drinking habits, tattoos, why he plays guitar, skateboarding, and more. At the 3:00 minute mark in the video he begins the rant about his infamous syrup-filled styrofoam cup : “Everybody got the cup now. I started drinking [syrup] because I’m from the south. People been drinking syrup for years. That’s where it was made popular. I’m human…I respected it because it was a culture. I didn’t do it because it was cool. When I picked it up ya’ll didn’t know what it was…what I wanna say is…I can’t blame the kids. I blame you adults. It’s ok for a kid to see something and want to be like it. It’s only right. But for an adult to fabricate something for some dumb reason it messes up our youth and messes up the future. So I ask you what is your reason, why are you drinking syrup?…I started drinking it because I was sick…but this is tea in my cup right now..” Umm..yeah… At the 8:22 mark he goes off about the trend of rappers having tattoos allover their bodies: “I have no problem with people getting a billion tattoos, but why are you doing it?” Then at 11:20 he talks about the “1.8 Million of my hard earned money” he spent on his Bugatti. Weezy says the folks at the Bugatti dealership called him the “Barack Obama” of Bugatti for being the first African-American rapper to own the million-dollar auto. At 13:28 he defends his playing of a guitar and putting out a rock album. “My reason for picking up that guitar is that I wanted to be able to pick up a guitar and sing to a woman. Why are you doing it?” Who needs “MTV Cribs” when you have live from Weezy’s? Watch the full clip and let us know your thoughts. WEEZY F BABY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT from DERICK G on Vimeo . RELATED POSTS: Lil Wayne Wasted On Lean? Uncle Luke Calls Out Lil Wayne & Diddy For Disrespecting Miami Karrine Steffans Got Married But Not To Lil Wayne… 50 Cent Goes In On Lil Wayne & Game! [NEW MUSIC]
Dear Bossip , I am seeking impartial advice because I have been wrecking my mind for the past few months contemplating what to do about my situation. I started dating this guy back in 2008 after we met at a wedding and were introduced by my cousin who happened to be his good friend. (It was a long distance relationship by the way). At the time we were both 18. I fell in love so soon and while he reciprocated most of my feelings for him, he was still coming to terms of getting into a serious relationship at his age. I was advised by another cousin not to date him because she knew him quite well and she even told me he was a big flirt. He pursued me and came across as a really charming guy who could do no wrong. I agreed to be his girlfriend and we set it off. After a few months of dating, he cheated on me with a girl I knew and although he claims he never slept with her, he says they just used their hands to pleasure each other. I went ‘”mad black woman”’ on him and dumped him, but he begged me and promised he would never do it again and cut off all ties with that other girl immediately. I really loved this guy with all of my heart and I guess that was my main problem in the relationship, I was more in love than he was at the time. I became really vulnerable and my trust for him was shaken and he became emotionally & verbally abusive. Over the months we argued and bickered non-stop, and constantly hanging up the phone on each other. I then broke it off. He called me after a week and kept begging me to take him back and that he would change, etc. However, I had begun to move on before things got too worse. He traveled to where I lived to see me so we could talk properly and because he had shown some effort I agreed to meet him. The meeting didn’t go as he had planned and he lashed out and left. After a few weeks we agreed to meet up again and we reconnected and I forgave him. I moved further away after that so I decided to break it off for good but he kept coming back incessantly. He would blow up my phone constantly and I agreed to his request just to stop him being so passive aggressive, although deep down I obviously still loved him a lot. A month later, I went to my friend’s house and she knew how abusive he had been to me and resented him for it. Every time he would call my phone, she would answer it for me and say I was busy or sleeping. I regret letting that happen but at the time I felt he deserved it for the way he had treated me. He called me up one day while I was still at my friend’s and said he had moved on and found a new girl and I just acted like didn’t care to save face. He went for a really young girl (statutory rape young) and I let him go. Although he was with her he still kept thinking of me and he kept calling and texting etc. I ended up moving on too, a few months after he had, with a really nice guy too. He came back again and promised he would never cheat on or lie to me and after a month of resisting I took him back for the simple fact that I loved him. Things were cool between us and I began to regain my trust for him as well as my love. We were good up until he suggested we take a break because we were headed towards the argue/bicker phase again however during that “break” he slept with 3 girls including that young girl. He confessed so I went back to my ex too. All the while he let that young girl disrespect me and all claiming he is hers, and I told her simply the facts. Then I also told her to go ahead and have his trifling ass but he kept coming back to me. I hate the fact that each time me and him argue he goes and starts flirting on his phone with other girls but because we live far apart how do I know he’s not actually physically being with other girls even though he claims it ends on the phone? He also never had a job. Every time I went to visit him I paid for dates, food, and cleaned his place up for him, he was lazy and spent all his free time playing games and getting sidetracked by friends. He never listened to my advice but when it came from other people it made sense. He let other people disrespect me (i.e. his ex and friends) never stood up for me, and sometimes acted as though he didn’t want to show me affection or be seen with me in public. He changed completely and all those words he said about wanting me and making it work faded into thin air. Like I said before my story is long but just a month ago, he got back in touch, claims he has changed and that he was just a teenage boy and immature and now he is grown and he understands, misses and cherishes what we had (2 years) and he knows I’m the girl for him and he really wants to make it work and even marry me and move in together and start our life together. But, I refused over and over because I feel like we will go on another rollercoaster again. How do I get over him and have I made the right decision? Your advice will be much appreciated. – Leave Him Or Keep Him Dear Ms. Leave Him Or Keep Him , Sigh! Young minds convoluted with pure stupidity. I tell you I don’t know who is raising the youth of today, but something’s got to be done. Young girls are running and getting into relationships with young boys who don’t have a job, a life, or anything other than some sex. These young girls allow themselves to be abused emotionally, mentally, and physically because they are ‘Looking for daddy,’ and ‘somebody to love them.’ And as soon as someone tells them they love them they are jumping on their backs and spreading their legs for every John, Dick, and Gary. SMDH! Why are you not talking about being in someone’s school or pursuing something positive in your life? How about you put all that energy you are wasting on some cornball who ain’t got –ish, and won’t be –ish and invest that energy into yourself and get some self-esteem. Go get a library card and go learn something. Check out the museums and other cultural institutions in your city. Here’s a novel idea; how about you and your girlfriends start a book club and read some empowering and inspiring books that encourage and uplift you, and stop running after these little boys whose minds are not fully developed. Chile, you kids today are truly the reason we won’t have a future intelligent and economically empowered society or community. You’re stuck on stupid and stuck on d**k. I wish I could just shake the –ish out of you and wake up those dead brain cells lying dormant in your head. Girl, the boy lives in whole other state and you’re worried about what he’s doing and who he’s doing. HERE’S A NEWS FLASH: The boy has shown you time and time again who he is. He is a cheater, liar, abuser, and worthless piece of –ish. He’s no more interested in a relationship with you than you are an education for yourself. The doors are wide and open of the ALL GIRL ACADEMY FOR WOMEN WHO THINK HAVING A MAN WILL MAKE THEM HAPPY, BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE THEMSELVES. Tell me this: What has he brought to the table to empower you? What has he brought to the table to uplift or motivate you? And, don’t tell me, “I don’t know but I just love him. We connect on a whole other level. And, the sex is the bomb.” Sweetie, getting d**k is not a reason to be in love with someone. Stop equating sex with love. They are not equally mutually the same. Sex is sex. Love is love. By the way, do you know how many smart, intelligent, working, loving, powerful, and spiritual real men are out there who can bring good conversation, a wealth of experience, infinite knowledge, maturity, monogamy, and good d**k to the table? Let me ask you this: Why do you want to be in a relationship with someone who you constantly bicker and fight with? Why do you want to be in a relationship with someone who allows their friends and exes to disrespect you? Why do you want to be in a relationship with someone who cheats, disrespects, lies, and abuses you? I’ll wait while you think of answers to those questions. I know it will take you some time since you’re working with limited intelligence. And, for the record, yes, I’m mad at you because you have allowed yourself to become this revolving door by allowing this low-class low-life bum to enter and re-enter any and every damn time he pleases. Stop the damn repetitive cycle and keep the damn door closed. HE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. HE’S WORTHLESS. And, if someone is worthless then they will treat you just as worthless. A piece of sh*t attracts a piece of sh*t. Are you a piece of sh*t? You know how you said you went Mad Black Woman on him. Well, how about you become Smart Black Woman from now on! Respect yourself. Respect your body: It’s your temple, your power, your source of love. Don’t let someone who has no self-regard disrespect and destroy you. Build a solid foundation of happiness, self-love, joy, peace, and dignity. If he is not adding to you, then he is destroying you. And, you, my dear, clearly sound wounded and destroyed. Your spirit is weak. Rebuild yourself. Become proud and defiant. Demand the best for yourself and of yourself. Now, get off your exes DUMB-BUM rollercoaster. – Terrance Dean Hey Bossip Fam, what do you think? Share your opinions and thoughts below! Also, e-mail all your questions Terrance Dean : loveandrelationships@bossip.com Follow Terrance Dean on Twitter: @terrancedean “LIKE” Terrance Dean on Facebook, click HERE! Make sure to get your copy of my new book , Mogul: A Novel (Atria Books – June 2011; $15). It is available in bookstores everywhere, and on Amazon, click HERE!
Too early for this guy to “choose” what gender he will be?? The lesbian parents of an 11-year-old boy who is undergoing the process of becoming a girl last night defended the decision, claiming it was better for a child to have a sex change when young. Thomas Lobel, who now calls himself Tammy, is undergoing controversial hormone blocking treatment in Berkeley, California to stop him going through puberty as a boy. But Pauline Moreno and Debra Lobel warn that children with gender identity disorder forced to postpone transitioning could face a higher risk of suicide. The mothers say that one of the first things Thomas told them when he learned sign language aged three – because of a speech impediment – was, ‘I am a girl’. At age seven, after threatening genital mutilation on himself, psychiatrists diagnosed Thomas with gender identity disorder. By the age of eight, he began transitioning. This summer, he started taking hormone-blocking drugs, which will stop him from experiencing puberty. The hormone-suppressant, implanted in his upper left arm, will postpone the 11-year-old developing broad shoulders, deep voice and facial hair. The couple faced intense criticism from friends and family as a result, Ms Moreno told MailOnline. ‘Everybody was angry with us. “How could you be doing this? You might be ruining his whole life!” Citing a statistic from the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Ms Moreno noted over 50 per cent of transgender youth will have had at least one suicide attempt by their 20th birthday. It was odd to us,’ she said. ‘Even though she has lesbians as parents, this is all new to us in every possible way. We know what it’s like to feel different – we’ve got that one. But to feel like you’re not in the right body was just something we could not put our heads around.’ Fortunately, the family has a vast support system. The couple credits Tammy’s teachers and officials at Children’s Learning Center in Alameda, California, and their religious community, for being open-minded about their son’s decision. ‘We live in the Bay area where lots of alternative lifestyles are in place… and we belong to a religious community that was incredibly supportive. They make it a point when we’re in synagogue to come over and tell Tammy, “Oh, you look so pretty today,’ Ms Moreno said, adding, ‘There’s never going to be enough gratitude for them.’ His parents say the hormone treatment will give him time to figure out if he wants to fully transition to being female or go through puberty as a boy. Thoughts on this one? Source
What is the recipe to a GREAT future for Atlanta? Dedicated and caring staff mixed with fun and enriching after-school programming reaching young people who need them most. On November 10th,Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta will be hosting the 2011 Youth of the Year Gala to honor young leaders who benefited from this recipe for success and are now well on their way to achieving a GREAT future. Join us in supporting the youth destined to make Atlanta great. www.atlyouthoftheyear.org Sponsored by Radio One! About the Event BGCMA’s 2011 Youth of the Year Gala will celebrate 2011 Youth of the Year candidates from each of our Clubs. Each candidate represents their Club because they excel in academics, character, and service to community and their Club. You will have the chance to meet all candidates, watch them compete, hear personal stories of perseverance and be there as metro Atlanta’s Face of the Future is named. The event will be emceed by WSB-Tv’s Fred Blankenship and Erin Coleman. When & Where Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street Northwest Atlanta, GA 30313 5:00pm: Chairman’s Reception/Silent Auction 7:00pm: Dinner & Awards Presentation What is Youth of the Year? Youth of the Year, a year-round development program, honors Boys & Girls Club members as outstanding citizens and leaders. A panel of staff, community leaders and board members evaluate applicants for leadership qualities and activities through family, community, school and Club involvement. Additional criteria include demonstrated ability to overcome obstacles, essay writing, poise and public speaking.
