Growing Up Hayden

 

We’ve named our blog, Growing Up Hayden because we feel it’s a testament to what it is to live in the now, in a world where the LGBT community is fighting for acceptance and equality.  Our content is focused on all aspects of what it is to live, love and thrive in what’s still a very judgmental world.  Growing Up Hayden is a live narrative that we hope will continue to illustrate positive changes and a more and more loving, open and welcoming world.

Who is Miss Fa’afafine?

Who is Miss Fa’afafine?

Fa’afafine is a term that is unique to Samoan culture. It refers to biological males who are raised and identify as females. Velda Collins describes herself as “A woman trapped in a man’s body. We are unique from the lesbian and gay community around the world, we have our own identity.”

About 1-5% of the Somoan population identifies as fa’afafine and for the last 10 years Somoa has hosted the annual Miss Fa’afafine pageant. This year’s pageant will see nine contestants from various countries and across all ages as they compete for the title. Run by The Samoa Fa’afafine Association (SFA), the pageant generates funds which the SFA uses to raise awareness of human rights issues, especially the Samoan law banning homosexuality. This years pageant has added pressure to raise awareness of fa’afafine as a gender due to their feelings of attack from religious conservatives in Somoa.

Congratulations to Miss Health Fa’afafine who crowned on September 2 as the reigning beauty for 2016 – 2017 and Congratulations to the SFA for raising awareness for this community.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37227803

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Express Yourself?

If you knew the person next to you could be carrying a gun, would you be willing to express yourself? This is the question facing college students in Texas as they headed back to school.

On August 1, Senate Bill 11, known as the campus carry law, went into effect in Texas. This law allows students at state universities who have licenses to carry concealed handguns to bring those guns anywhere on campus, with the exception of “exclusion zones.”

What is an “exclusion zone”? The majority of dorms are “exclusion zones” but not some research centers, some classrooms, religious centers, day care centers, health centers, veteran center and the LGBTQ Resource Center. “Wow, I just assumed it was, out of common sense,” was University of Houston student Robyn Foley’s reaction when Foley learned that the center was not an “exclusion zone.”

University of Houston faculty member Elizabeth Gregory states that many faculty members are concerned about the law and how it will affect class discussions especially with controversial subjects. “The whole point of being at university is being able to speak your mind,” she said. “This dampens that because people never know what the person next to them might be thinking about what they are saying.”

How would this law affect your college experience? Would you be willing to express yourself, if you knew the person next to you was concealing a weapon? On the flip side, do you feel any safer knowing your fellow classmates are concealing, or more scared? Leave a comment and let HL know what you think.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/emaoconnor/texas-lgbt-students-say-they-dont-feel-safe-now-that-people?utm_term=.ha4ZvoZknZ#.gfaWLkWZxW

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Worst Colleges for the LGBTQ Student

School is back in session and high school seniors are beginning the search for the perfect college. For LGBTQ students it is important to find a campus that is accepting. Hayden’s List has many colleges reviewed but Campus Pride has released the 2016 Shame List, a list of the 95 worst colleges for a LGBTQ student to attend.

Campus Pride said in a press release that the Shame List comprises campuses that “openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth in policies, programs and practices.” The Shame List includes many private, religious-based institutions. Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride’s Executive Director stated “Religion-based bigotry is careless and life-threatening. Families and young people deserve to know that this list of schools are the worst for LGBTQ youth. They are not loving, welcoming, safe spaces to live, learn and grow ― and nobody wants to go to a college that openly discriminates against anyone.”

So, who made their Shame List? Check it out here.

How LGBT friendly is your campus? Review them on Hayden’s List!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016-college-shame-list_us_57c45ccee4b09cd22d919071

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Thank You for Being a Friend!

Did you know that 40% of the homeless youth population are members of the LGBTQ community? The Ali Forney Center in New York City specializes in helping homeless LGBTQ youth. Actress Bea Arthur commented before she died that “These kids at the Ali Forney Center are literally dumped by their families because of the fact that they are lesbian, gay or transgender…this organization really is saving lives.”

In her will, Arthur left the center $300,000 and in February 2017 a new 18 bed shelter will open. Arthur was a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ community and continues to be after her death. Bea – thank you for being a friend!

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/08/golden-girl-bea-arthurs-shelter-homeless-lgbt-youth-will-open-2017/

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Harvey Milk Honored by the US Navy

In August, the US Navy officially commemorated the new USNS Harvey Milk, the first navy ship to be named after a member of the LGBTQ community.

The Harvey Milk Foundation began campaigning for the ship naming in 2011 when President Obama repealed the “don’t ask, don’t tell”, which allowed gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to serve openly in the military. “It is important to note that the Navy is not only celebrating someone who was openly gay but also now celebrating someone whom they themselves once did anything but celebrate: a person who they forced to resign simply because of who he was,” said Stuart Milk, Harvey’s nephew and leader of the Harvey Milk Foundation. Harvey Milk served in the US Navy from 1951 – 1955.

Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, said “It’s important to remember and honor naval heroes—sailors and marines who have sacrificed so much for America, but it’s also important to recognize and honor those who have fought in a different way and sacrificed, those who have fought for the ideals that we cherish as a nation: justice, equality, and freedom.”

Hayden’s List’s own Eric Wolf was very moved by the naming and said “Never in my life would I have thought that the USA would name a vessel after a LGBTQ person. It speaks to the love of him by straight allies.”

The USNS Harvey Milk will travel to many different ports. “It’s important to recognize that the ship named after Harvey will enter both civilian ports and military ports where it’s still illegal to be LGBT. We live in a global society. If any of us are not free, none of us are free.” Stuart Milk said.

Here at Hayden’s List, we give the US Navy a 10 out of 10.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/20/how-the-us-navy-named-a-ship-after-harvey-milk-to-show-its-lgbt-pride.html

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One Less Worry for Pulse Victims

We hear about so many negative and sad LGBT stories, it’s always wonderful when we can spread some good news. Here’s a story that is sure to put a smile on your face.

The hospitals that treated the Pulse shooting victims, Orlando Health and Florida Hospital, will not bill the victims or their families. The hospitals will be writing off approximately $5.5 million in services.

Orlando Health’s main hospital, Orlando Regional Medical Center, treated the majority of the victims. Nine patients died after arriving. Orlando Health will bill insurance companies for those who had coverage, but the remaining balance will be written off by the hospital.

Florida Hospital, which treated a dozen of the victims, said they would not even bill insurance companies, nor will they bill for follow-up surgeries the survivors may need.

“During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward.” said Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong.

Daryl Tol, Florida Hospital’s President and CEO said, “We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando.”

And, smile.

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One Slur Over Another

Paul LePage, Governor of Maine, chose to prove he is homophobic while trying to disprove he is racist.  Recently, Governor LePage made comments that “men with names like ‘D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty’ were dealing drugs in Maine and impregnating white women. The Governor has also said that he keeps a binder full of drug traffickers arrested in Maine and that more than ninety percent of them were black or Hispanic.

Governor LePage received word that state representative Drew Gattine accused him of being racist, so the governor called Rep. Gattine and had this to say:

Mr. Gattine, this is Governor Paul Richard LePage. I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you cocksucker. I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I’m a racist. I’ve spent my life helping black people and you little son-of-a-bitch, socialist cocksucker. You, I need you to, just freakin’, I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you.

Rep. Gattine denies that he accused Governor LePage of being a racist.  Now we have a choice, Governor: racist, homophobe or both.

Sited: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-lepage-voicemail_us_57c046d6e4b04193420eb84d

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