Graphic by Nick Griffin Senate Bill 179, signed by Governor Jerry Brown on October 15th, allows California residents to identify as “non-binary” on state IDs, driver licenses, and birth certificates. While most bills recently signed by Gov. Brown will go…
The Australian Same-Sex Marriage Debacle
As an Australian living in California, there are plenty of things about the American way of life that confuse me. Inches and miles? Baffling. Using Fahrenheit to measure temperature? Ridiculous. Overconsumption of foods with names like “The Heart Attack Burger”?…
A Reflection on National Coming Out Day
Keith Haring. National Coming Out Day sticker, n.d. HRC Records. Friday, October 13, 2017 National Coming Out Day takes place on October 11th, the anniversary of the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The day was founded in…
Project 1 Hosts Fundraiser for Russian LGBTQ+ Refugees
In order to raise solidarity, funds, and action against the LGBT concentration camps in Chechnya, Russia, the UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center hosted a fundraiser on Thursday, May 11, 2017. Organized by first-year political science major and French minor Gina…
University of Chicago Condemns “Trigger Warnings,” and Safe Spaces; Misunderstands What It’s Condemning
The prestigious University of Chicago issued a letter to its incoming freshmen stating that they will no longer condone the use of “intellectual safe spaces” or “‘trigger warnings.’” This letter, penned by Dean John “Jay” Ellison, is UChicago’s effort to fully…
To Live Proudly: Reflections on 2016 Pride in the Wake of the Orlando Massacre
Language warning: I use “queer” as a reflection of my own identity — this is a personal piece and not designed to force the term onto anyone in the LGBT community not comfortable with using it for themselves. A few…
Asian American “Apathy”
Photograph taken from tcdailyplanet.net. With the intensification of the Black Lives Matter movement across the U.S., I often find conflicting views of where exactly Asian Americans fit into conversations about social justice. Those outside of our community often criticize us…
An Open Letter to Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest
Dear Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest, While usually I would applaud the efforts of people who seek to counter discrimination and safeguard the rights of regularly marginalized groups, I would draw the line where such efforts enter the realm of insulting,…
The Gender Conundrum: An Introduction
Does anyone remember when “gender” and “sex” used to be synonyms? Language constantly evolves, especially during times of social change. As America grows more and more PC nowadays, it can seem overwhelming to keep up with all the new words…
By Any Other Name: What UCLA’s Preferred Name Policy Means for You
The cold sweat. The pit of dread in your gut. The gnawing sense of unrest as the professor moves down the list, calling out student names in alphabetical order. And then they reach you, call out a name you no…