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Preface: This blog is written by a white woman with three white children. It is intended to help support other parents who want to raise their hand to foster a more inclusive future for all of our children. 🙋🏽‍♀️ Hey there, fellow Progressive Parents! Explaining privilege and racial inequity is a tough (but very necessary) topic to approach with children. Today, we're going to embark on an exciting journey to learn about Juneteenth, a significant holiday in American history that marks a major milestone on our ongoing path to racial equity. This blog will equip you with some knowledge and tips to inform your children, show respect for the holiday, support your friends who celebrate it, and discover creative ways to celebrate as privileged white folks. Below is intended for you to read directly to or with your kids. The links can even be explored together. The "Additional Parental Notes" can be read on your own and used as you see fit. Juneteenth: A Kids Version...✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 Juneteenth Roots Imagine this: On January 1, 1863, President Abe Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to end enslavement. The new law basically made a promise to all enslaved people in this country that they would no longer be treated like property and would begin having some of the freedoms that others in the United States already had. People are the ones that enforce laws, and some people decided to break that promise. As a result, it took over TWO YEARS for the law to come into effect in all the states. Texas was one of the last places to comply with the law (that means to do what the law says). Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved Black Folks in Galveston, Texas. It’s a major milestone in our country’s history and a great time to celebrate the resilience of an entire community and think about ways we can further racial equity! And yet, it is just a stepping stone on our path to racial equity. Why Was it Just a Stepping Stone? ⛰ After the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and in full effect, there was still a thing called segregation. Sometimes you will hear segregation referred to as “Jim Crow Laws.” These were crazy laws that meant black people and white people couldn’t utilize the same spaces or have the same privileges. This meant black folks had to use different (and not as nice, clean, functional, or accessible) bathrooms, water fountains, restaurants, transportation, schools and more. This went on for another 100 years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed to end segregation. But just like with the other law, not everyone followed it. Many people had to fight for freedom through peaceful protest (see the image above), the law, and more. Some of those people and groups that you can do further research and googling on are: Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks (pictured below), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Freedom Riders, The Black Panthers, The Greensboro Four, and countless others. There were also white allies that fought for racial equity such as Virginia Foster Durr, J. Waties Waring, David Dogged, Viola Liuzzo, Anne McCarty Braden, Herbert R. Kohl, and other everyday people like YOU. That’s right, YOU can be an Ally too! Even today, we are still fighting racial inequity. The Black Lives Matter movement is bringing to light some of the many injustices within our law enforcement and justice systems. Together, we can work to create more equity in the world. Sometimes that looks like something as simple as speaking up for a friend who is being interrupted repeatedly or bullied, or treated differently because of the color of their skin, the way that they talk, or the way they look. And this is something YOU can do to be an Advocate or an Ally. Additional Parental Notes... Digging a Little Deeper into our History 📚 Kids are naturally curious, so let's channel their inner detectives and enlighten them about Juneteenth. Storytime, anyone? Gather the little ones around and share the stories of brave abolitionists (check out some on Epic that you can read RIGHT NOW!), resilient leaders, and the journey toward freedom. You can even include interactive activities like crafts to make learning fun and engaging. Emphasize Respect and Empathy 😌 Respect is key, and Juneteenth is no exception. Engage your children in discussions about racial equality, the importance of empathy, and the ongoing fight against discrimination. Encourage them to listen and learn from diverse perspectives, cultivating a sense of understanding and compassion. Ask them how it feels to have a promise broken and how they think we could work to repair some of the damage caused by years of enslavement against an entire group of peoples. Ask Your Kids About Their Feelings 🙁😁😡 Ask your kids about their feelings and how they think others may feel. Ask them what they think about Juneteenth and how it makes them feel that we’ve made the progress we have. Ask them how they feel about how far we still have to go. Validate their feelings and then guide when necessary (Sometimes that looks like “I can completely see how you would feel that way. Sometimes I feel that way and I also consider…). Let them know that it’s ok to have mixed feelings. We can be happy for the progress our nation has made and still be sad, frustrated, or angry that we still have major inequity in our country. Humans are complex individuals, and we can have many different feelings at once. Support Friends Who Celebrate and Encourage Others to Celebrate 🙌🏾🙌🏽 Reach out to friends who celebrate Juneteenth and wish them a Happy Juneteenth. This doesn’t just mean reaching out to our black friends. It’s a day for all to celebrate some of the progress we have made as a nation in the last 150+ years so wish EVERYONE a Happy Juneteenth! And it’s not something we can just celebrate on one day. We should be celebrating throughout the year with our actions. Volunteering with organizations dedicated to racial justice are great ways to show support. Plus, it's a chance to make new friends and build bridges across communities while teaching our kids the importance of standing together as humans for a better tomorrow. Doing More to Honor Juneteenth 🙏🏽 As white individuals, we must acknowledge our privilege while honoring Juneteenth. Let's make it a day of reflection and commitment to dismantling systemic racism. Donate to organizations fighting for racial equality or educate ourselves on the history of racial injustice. We can also support Black-owned businesses or amplify Black voices by sharing their stories on social media. You can even engage in peaceful protests to amplify the voices of marginalized peoples. Wear the message! Wear messages of support and amplification of marginalized peoples. Don't stand for acts of racism and bigotry when you come across them. Let people know that We Are Better Than This! Today is a great day to set a date today to go with your kids to the nearest Civil Rights Museum. We have Roots 101 in Louisville, KY. We have also been to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, GA. And once again, these are things we should be doing ALL YEAR LONG! YOU Can Celebrate Too! 🎉 Who said learning and celebration can't be a blast? Get ready for some fun ideas! Organize a backyard cookout or picnic with friends. Explore books, movies, or music by Black artists and hold a family discussion. Creating art or crafts that highlight the significance of Juneteenth and the many ways Black Culture IS American culture can also be a fantastic way to celebrate while fostering creativity. You're now armed with a little more knowledge, respect, and exciting ways to celebrate Juneteenth with your children. Remember, Juneteenth is a time to understand the past, celebrate progress, and commit to a future of equity. Let's support our friends, listen to diverse voices, and show love, not just on Juneteenth but every day. Together, we can build a more inclusive and vibrant world! So, grab your kiddos, embrace the spirit of Juneteenth, and let the celebration begin! Happy Juneteenth, everyone! *Disclaimer: This blog aims to provide guidance with respect and fun, but it's important to approach these topics with sensitivity and continued learning. Also. I am human. If you feel I’ve misspoken or could improve this blog in any way, I accept constructive criticism very well. I do NOT accept bigotry and hate very well, so please keep that to yourself. :) #juneteenth #progressiveparent #juneteenthforkids #antiracistkids #antiracisitparents #inclusivity #racialequity #blacklivesmatter

Trigger Warnings: Spoilers from Love, Victor, Schitt’s Creek, and Genera+ion and mention of homophobic slurs. When growing up, we are presented with the idea that we can be anything that we want to be. Of course, as long as that thing is nothing different from being heterosexual. When thinking of coming out, how could you ever have these thoughts if the society you live in does not allow you to be anything different? Instead, the real question should be: “Can you come out?” As a Venezuelan, I understand how unrealistic it can be. In a study conducted in South Florida to try to understand the trend of coming out among the Hispanic community, some statements resonated with me. When LGBTQ+ scholars at the University of Miami asked twenty Latinx people about coming out, many just knew it would never be possible to do so given their families' attitudes. For example, one of the participants mentioned how his dad “used the word ‘faggot’ all the time when he was talking to his friends,” while another one addressed his family’s “religious” background. Dangers of Being Out Though cultural transgenerational microaggressions may just seem like jokes, these subtle verbal attacks build up in several cultures and communities. What we think is funny is turning its back on the truth. As reported by the Human Rights Campaign in 2019, “43% of transgender youth ha[d] been bullied on school property” and “21% of gay and lesbian youth and 22% of bisexual youth ha[d] attempted suicide.” Even though it is easy to advertise coming out, you cannot ignore the effect that negative responses can have on individuals who are just navigating their identities. Besides conservative households, academic environments can be cruel towards those who are different from the norm. Coming Out Stories in the Media When it is not that common to see an underrepresented community on TV, it is easy to be content with any type of representation. I have experienced this with almost every queer show I have watched. Part of the issue is that many are just coming-out stories with, mostly, white characters. Though you’re seeing a part of your identity on the screen, not seeing yourself fully represented is harmful. Thus, it is so important that Hulu released the series Love, Victor to fill a cultural gap. In the show, young Victor tries to understand what his sexual orientation is. As opposed to other queer protagonists, Victor’s background is half Puerto Rican and half Colombian, which stands out especially when we hear the vague reaction of Victor’s mom to his coming out: “I think, um, that we should get some rest. And we can talk about it tomorrow.” Not only that, but Victor’s mom stops talking to him because she cannot understand how his papi could ever be gay. I was able to empathize with Victor much more than with any other character because I have lived the struggle. It is true that Love, Victor is also a coming-out story. However, it adds a Hispanic lens to the conversation. Liberation from Labels in Media Besides making a big announcement, not having a label and/or not coming out is also completely valid. While one can thank the media for attempting to normalize being publicly LGBTQ+, it is key to look closely at the recent shows that have highlighted characters without labels. The iconic David Rose, in the American comedy series, Schitt’s Creek, is the perfect example. In the “Honeymoon” episode in the first season, Stevie subtly confronts David about his sexual orientation. David’s response is one that we will never forget: “I like the wine and not the label.” Since acceptance reigns in the fictional universe of Schitt’s Creek, it would have not made a difference if David had never clarified his fluid sexual orientation. However, addressing it is powerful because it sheds light on the possibility of living for yourself without fitting into a mold designated by society. Self-Discovery In addition to coming-out stories and joy-filled queer stories, narratives of self-discovery are important within the community as well. The HBO Max show Genera+tion portrays this kind of queer story through Greta’s uncertainty regarding her type of sexual attraction. In the series, she develops a connection with another girl, Riley. When it comes to getting intimate, however, Greta freaks out. Throughout the show, we follow Greta’s storyline as she tries to discover what she wants. It is not until the first season’s finale that she manages a response to Riley…and to herself: “There’s something I’ve been noticing about myself. I – I can like someone. Like, really like them. But when it comes to kissing or making out or whatever, I don’t want that.” Instead of simply labeling Greta as asexual, it is relevant for her to go through an introspective journey to end up still not finding a label. Society ingrains in us the idea that everyone must have a label. However, there are cases where some do not feel the need to share with others. Other times, you might not find one label that fits you. Sometimes, embracing the uncertain process of finding ourselves is the only thing that can bring us peace. Finding a Balance Considering it was World Mental Health Day just yesterday, let’s celebrate National Coming Out Day by putting our mental health first and start loving ourselves through the journey towards self-acceptance. Some LGBTQ+ Friendly Mental Health Resources Mental Health Resources in the LGBTQ Community Nicole Viloria is a Venezuelan and queer writer. She is a second-year student at Miami Dade College’s The Honors College, where she is majoring in English Literature. As a lover of languages, writing, and reading, she wishes to translate and write novels of her own. She has been published at Padrón Campus’ Digital Commons, Urbana Literary & Arts Magazine, and O’Miami. She is also the current president of Gamma Eta, the chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta English Honor Society and co-editor-in-chief of Urbana Literary & Arts magazine.

The reality of federal mandates on American bodies, and no federal mandate on sexual education in United States classrooms TW: mentions the topic of sexual assault For 8 years, I have been honored to work for youth 6 - 18 years old, in multiple roles, for nationally renowned youth organizations. During my time as a youth development professional, I have become hyperaware of the harms that stem from having no federal mandate on sexual education in the United States. With the recent supreme court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 49-year standing court decision that federally protected bodily autonomy and access to abortion, I fear there will soon be a further dissolvement of the already limited sex ed access provided to American youth. Sex Education 15 Years Ago The bulk of what I learned about sex as a curious pre-teen came from the internet, my peers, and my friends. The internet is the primary place that I learned about topics that were bigger than my 900 people, no stop-light town such as simple coding from the OG Myspace! Unfortunately, the internet was also my primary access to self-education on sex topics; the place where I learned more about my body, others’ bodies, sexual identity, sex, porn, and what I thought was “everything”... When I entered the 7th grade, we were provided sex ed by our homeroom teacher who utilized a curriculum called The Game Plan which enforced the idea of abstinence or not engaging in sex before marriage. I, as a now 26-year-old, took this course in 2009. In 2009 the percentage of married Black adults was only 32%, with even lower figures where I lived as an Illinois youth (28%). Until 2016, gay marriage was illegal in the United States. These two factors signify that sexual education solely teaching abstinence was likely less effective to be viewed as realistic for both Black and LGBTQ youth who were taught to “save ourselves until marriage.” If my peers and I were provided realistic, comprehensive plus sex ed that was rooted in protecting kids, I likely wouldn’t have experienced some things that I have. This “game plan” left me a victim of grooming by a K-12 teacher from 6th grade – my freshman year of college, not knowing how to advocate for myself nor having a safe space to discuss my thoughts on my sexual orientation, before being outed as a 12-year-old, having to illegally obtain emergency contraceptive medication as a 14-year-old due to, now lifted, age restrictions on Plan B, contracting Chlamydia, misdiagnosed as a UTI numerous times, at an early age; and ultimately being out of touch with my body while allowing others access to it because I thought “that’s what people who want love do”. Sex Education Now Although 15 years have passed, not much has changed for American youth when it comes to where they receive sexual education, partially due to the lack of federal mandate, and quality assurance within the sexual education curriculum. Within the 50 United States, 39 states, and the District of Columbia require sexual education, though the type of education, and whether the information within this instruction must align with scientific data, differs. Of the states that do require sexual education, the laws vary from state to state, as well as throughout each state, and can even vary from school to school within the same school district. The two primary types of sexual education that are offered in America are abstinence-forward sexual education and comprehensive sexual education, neither of which teach sexual consent. Why is this relevant now more than ever? Lack of fact-based, realistic, and comprehensive plus sexual education while especially harmful for American youth, is simultaneously harmful to the adults that were likely given the same sexual education. “You don’t know what you don’t know” is true, but harmful when it comes to the reality that there is youth currently being sexually assaulted and molested by family members, leaders in their communities and classrooms, friends, and other individuals whom they love and trust. Kids are being assaulted by people that they don’t realize are harming them and are oftentimes too young to understand what is happening to them is not okay. Some kids know what is happening is not okay and are scared to tell somebody /don’t want to be perceived as “bad” or as though they “did something wrong.” Some kids may even enjoy the attention of someone else, not realizing that what is happening to them is still not okay. The current legislation surrounding sexual education allows some of our most marginalized citizens – children– left susceptible to harm from educational negligence and left even more susceptible should they have consensual sex that results in an accidental pregnancy, or even worse be impregnated as a victim of assault, within a state that does not protect their body from having to bear children whilst being a child. At a time when it is most critical to understand the need to protect what rights we have left to our bodies, we must ensure that we protect young people by empowering and educating them to better understand their bodies and bodily autonomy. Young people are going to learn about their bodies, learn about sex, and learn about dating. It is vital that we, as the adults in this nation protect our kids by advocating for them to receive quality, comprehensive plus sexual education. Education that is inclusive, engaging, and data-backed that covers human anatomy, bodily autonomy, consent, self-care, verbal and nonverbal communication, sexually transmitted infections, sex, identity, healthy relationships, grooming, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other topics that need to be delivered by realistic and forward-thinking educators, with the safety of our youth as the #1 priority, and not centered around adult’s feelings. Alexis ‘Lex’ Williams-Cavanaugh (she/her) is a professional resume writer passionate about helping clients with their job search. Lex is simultaneously passionate about connecting through written word with self and others as a poet, storyteller, song writer, copywriter, and blogger. She plans to utilize her writing and advocacy for The People to one day write policy rooted in quality of life improvement for marginalized folks. When Lex isn’t writing she is exploring St. Louis, taking photos, managing social media, binge-watching shows and movies, swiping on Tinder, spending time with family, and educating others on the lived realities of marginalized people. Find her on social media @lexshedlight or visit www.lexget2work.com to connect!

Black History Month - All Year Long How could we share just one measly image of the Obama family? Similarly, how could we highlight Barack and not Michelle? For the month of September, our ''Black History Month - All Year Long'' spotlight is on the Obama powerhouse COUPLE. If you’ve been living under a political boulder, you may not know that in 2008 Obama ran for President against Senator John McCain and became the first Black President of the United States. Making Michelle Obama the first woman where she quickly took over headlines for her relatability, fashionable looks, and political opinions. On the campaign trail in Chicago 2008, Former President Barack Obama, a Senator at the time, gave a Super Tuesday speech where he said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Upon choosing the Obama couple for our September 2022 spotlight, this phrase stood out and rang true. We are the ones, we can not afford to wait for anyone else. During his Presidency Barack Obama passed the Affordable Healthcare Act, often referred to as Obamacare. This legislation helped millions of Americans gain access to insurance, increase consumer protections, emphasize prevention and wellness, improve quality and system performance, expand the health workforce, and curb rising health care costs. Since leaving the White House, Michelle has published a book, Becoming. The Memoir talks about her upbringing, finding her voice, her time in the White House, her public health campaign, and being a mother. Like most presidents after leaving office, Obama released his own memoir titled A Promised Land, the first in a planned two volume series. The book covers his boyhood, his early political career, and moments from his first term as President. It’s rumored that he wrote the book himself, in longhand on legal pads. Something Obama also did for a number of his presidential speeches and his first book, Dreams from My Father. New projects include a multi-year deal between their production company, Higher Ground, and powerhouse Netflix. Producing scripted, unscripted, docu-series, documentaries, and features, Obama said they will “[touch] on issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights and much more, we believe each of these productions won’t just entertain, but will educate, connect and inspire us all”. Find the statement here. Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, inclusiveWe will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. These commissions help support our small business in paying our amazing and hard working team members, funding community outreach events, and our bigger mission of forming a nonprofit that teaches inclusivity to K-12.

By now you may have heard from your parent or designated mom friend about HBO Max™ dissolving. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels announced the impending merger between Discovery+ and Warner Studios happening later this year and the combination of streaming services HBO Max™ and Discovery+. This leaves many a queer to question: “Well what’s going to happen to The Secret Lives of College Girls?” Long story short, 70 employees are getting sacked, HBO and HBO Max™ comedy departments will combine, and new non-fiction content renewals will be determined by viewing success. This leaves the fates of HBO Max™ fictional scripted content up to the GAYGODS™ whether hit shows like Pretty Little Liars, And Just Like That, and RapShit will get that sweet sweet renewal. (Oh, the tension!) But while fates are yet to be sealed - let’s get into this list henny. 1. Tuca and Bertie TW: Sexual Violence, Alcoholism, Violence, Profanity Tuca (Tiffany Haddiish) and Bertie (Ali Wong) are two thirty-something birds navigating everyday problems like manipulative queer partners, maintaining friendships, finding the right therapist, hating their jobs, getting into stupid shenanigans, chasing their dreams, and living with their chosen family. This series screams gay foolery! Grab your chosen fam and binge every episode over some takeout. 2. Legendary TW: Profanity Legendary is a vogue dance competition show where eight to ten vogue houses compete for $100,000 and the recognition from LEGENDARY judges such as Meg Thee Stallion, Icon Leiomy Maldonado, Law Roach, KeKe Palmer, Bob the Drag Queen, Jamilla Jamil, and even Kelly Rowland. Each house competes in nine balls while highlighting the elements of vogue: performance, catwalk, duckwalk, floor, and dips. After just one season you are guaranteed to scream: MAJOR!!! 3. And Just Like That TW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Death, and Mental Health Issues The long awaited reboot of Sex and the City hit HBO Max™ in 2021 and took twitter by storm. Whether you loved it or you hated it, AJLT cemented itself as an iconic reboot with memorable recurring characters like Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) while introducing new drama through characters like Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) and Seema (Sarita Choundry). The girls go through breakup, sexual orientation changes, having trans kids, and being alone. All topics that go better with your own gossip to spill in between episodes. 4. Harley Quinn TW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence This animated series is definitely not made for children as it follows the adventures of Harley Quinn fresh from the break up with her notable boytoy The Joker. She conspires to join the Legion of Doom and cement her villainous street cred but needs the help of some of her DC villain friends like Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), King Shark (Ron Funches), and Sy Borgman (Jason Alexander). Harley finds new queer love, a chosen family, and her path to redemption! All DC fans must watch this series, gay or not. 5. The Sex Lives of College Girls TW: Explicit Sex Scenes, Profanity The show follows four first-years who room together for freshman year as they navigate dating, family life, school, and financial issues. Bela (Amrit Kaur), Leighton (Reneé Rapp), Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) each do a fantastic job of being equal parts hilarious and relatable as they tackle nude parties on campus, being in love triangles, and being closeted gay students. Whether you went to college or not this show is bound to have you in tears from laughing or crying (or both). 6. Search Party TW: Crude Humor, Murder, Profanity, Sex Scenes, Cult Images Search Party is a dark comedy that follows a group of friends living in New York who self-involve themselves in the disappearance of their (sort of) mutual friend from college: Chantal Witherbottom (Clare McNulty).The show centers around Dory Sief (Alia Shawka) who acts as the overly curious main detective in this investigation turned cult leader who has several near death experiences while on her search. Her friends Drew (John Reynolds), Elliot (John Early), and Portia (Merediith Hagner) add chaos to the madness through enabling Dory’s fantasies and ideas with their own side adventures and tragedies. 7. Sort Of TW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence Sort Of encapsulates all things trans, millennial, chosen family, and biological family. It stars Sabi Mehboob (Bilal Baig), a gender fluid non binary person juggling their various hidden and salient identities. It really hits home for ethnic queer kids with complex relationships to their biological families and offers new perspectives of being to viewers. Whether they are the sexy booktender at an queer aligned bookstore plus bar or the youngest child in a large Pakistani family Sabi shows authentic queer life for many navigating themsleves and the world in the new millenia. Unfortunately shows like Genera+ion, Little Ellen, and Sesame Street have already had their shows pulled from the platform in efforts to declutter and pivot to Warner Bros business ideals. In times like this it becomes more and more important to directly support queer artists. Large companies will continue to treat your favorite queer and non queer centered shows as disposable however you can choose to give your money directly to queer creators and make their work accessible to all. Taylor Waits (she/they) is an award winning writer and researcher currently completing a PhD in English at the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing can be read on annuity.com, #changerapeculture.org, numerous blogs, and her own works. Her forthcoming book, A Real Keeper, illustrated by Trenita Finney (@trenita.finney) is a mini love story about two Black lesbians who met over Zoom. Taylor is ready to help you with any of your writing needs in a fun, understandable, and efficient manner. No matter your background we can create a plan towards a new future!

Are you a Louisville native or a first time visitor to Louisville, Kentucky interested in finding and supporting black owned businesses. Well, we compiled a list of some of our personal favs that we think you should check out today, tomorrow, and everyday. This list by no means encompasses all of the epic, black owned businesses we have here locally though, so definitely check these out, & do your own research while you're here too. Ask around. We don't bite unless you're rude or racist, sexist, ableist, or homophobic. :) If this list isn't comprehensive enough for you. Check out a few lists we found online as well. Here is LEO Weekly & Do502's list of black owned restaurants. Black Owned Louisville features a huge directory as well. If you click the names listed below you'll find their location, operational hours, menus, and more. Start Your Day with Coffee/Tea Sis Got Tea - Black owned, woman owned, LGBTQ owned. She truly has the tea. Find out for yourself West Lou Coffee - You can find West Lou's coffee in several stores around Louisville, so we make it obvious how much we love them. V-Grits, Rainbow Blossom, and Forage all feature this delicious coffee. Get you a bag before you leave town! Brew & Sip Coffee - Full service coffee bar that also serves breakfast and lunch. Chicken & sweet tea waffles and coffee to go!!! Get Fed at These Restaurants Eden & Kissi - A fusion of Afro-Caribbean food with a French touch. We HIGHLY recommend trying their ginger lemon juice, or you will possibly have immense regrets FOREVER. They've got oxtail, jerk chicken, potato salad that will sell out FAST because it is that good, and vegan options too. Run there, don't walk. Super Chefs - Southern style breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Located in the heart of the highlands, this restaurant cannot be missed visually. Cinnamon Toast Crunch encrusted waffles, wings and waffles, and banana pudding granola encrusted French toast... shall we say more? Veg options available as well. Ada's Kitchen & Catering - "Your first choice in homestyle cooking". They are not lying when they say first choice. If you're looking for something to warm your bones and your heart, you need to get you some Ada's immediately. Fried chicken, corn pudding, potato salad... we could go on and on. PEACH COBBLER. GO! Go now. Funmi's Cafe - African/Nigerian food made with quality ingredients and health conscious. Funmi's cafe has tons of vegan options for you and ample healthy options as well. Adalu, a dish made with African brown beans and sweet corn in a tomato sauce, is one of our personal favs. It's light and delicious, and we absolutely will not leave without ordering puff-puffs. Seafood Lady - Signature seafood platters. Seafood Lady was featured on the Food Network Channel, so yes, you've probably seen her before. If deep fried oysters, cajun alfredo pasta, and fried shrimp po-boys make your mouth water then we highly suggest you make your way to either the Nulu location or Fern Valley location. Also These Food Trucks Boss Hogg's BBQ and Food Truck- Food Truck and Catering Company. You do, in fact, want to be on the lookout for Boss Hogg's when you're in Louisville. If you're looking for something quick, southern, and savory go get you some. They've got ribs, nachos, wings, hot links, and chili dogs for the soul. 502 Cafe- A traveling BBQ experience brought to you by Four Pegs (also check them out). Do not miss out on the baked beans, truffle Mac, and slaw alone with your smoked brisket sandwich or baby back ribs. Prepare to leave this BBQ experience STUFFED, smiling, and ready for a nap. Satisfy Your SWEETS Cravings Here Louisville Cream - C'mon, you know you want ice cream. We most certainly do. Banana pudding ice cream! Dairy free options too! Kizito Cookies - Everyone in Louisville knows about Kizito Cookies. Located in the heart of the Highlands and waiting to make your day with their delicious baked goods. Sugar Diva Bakery - Coffee, cupcakes, pastries, wedding cake. You name it. They do it. Creatives Fly Girl Candles - First Love Yourself candles, so emphasis on the ~FLY~. These candles will have you melting into your bubble bath in the best way. Vegan, biodegradable, and made with love because the owner is an absolute angel, and we all love to see her out and about in Louisville.This company is cute, aesthetic, and all about self love. Aesha's African Baskets - Mame Ndao, Founder & CEO, of Aesha's African Baskets brings the basket weaving traditions that she grew up around in Senegal straight to Louisville, KY, and are we grateful. These are not only the most ornamental and beautifully made creations, but they will also have your house smelling sweet grass FRESH, which is literally one of the best smells ever. From jewelry to decorative bins to laundry storage, we highly recommend you purchase something from them! Need Film/ Photos/ Media Production? Media Pros Productions - Multi-media power house quite frankly all of your media production and marketing needs. Jon P. Cherry - If you haven't heard of photojournalist, Jon P. Cherry, you can find his work in The New York Times, Sierra, TIME Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Guardian, New York Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine. Cre8ur Studios - Cre8ur Studios is an epic, studio space and workspace for those in need of a fully equipped production studio for all of your content creation needs. They also produce their own media content: Cre8ur Magazine and Quarantine Kickback so check it all out.

Heck yes! We love to read books and listen to books. We love to learn more about ourselves and our innermost workings, and we love to learn how we can advocate for a world that holds equitable space for all. At Inclusive We, we think that the road towards inclusivity, understanding it, and advocating for it is a necessary journey for all and should absolutely begin at a young age. So here's some of our current favorite reads that discuss inclusivity, diversity, and belonging. Ages 1-6 + everyone else 1. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Illustrator Suzanne Kaufman Follow along with a group of children as they make their way through a school day where everyone is treated equally as well as welcomed and embraced for their unique qualities and various life backgrounds. This text explores & celebrates inclusivity, diversity, and belonging in a school setting that emulates a beautiful example of what safe space should look like for all people. 2. Antiracist Baby by Ibram X Kendi & Illustrator Ashley Lukashevsky An epic introduction via a beautifully illustrated picture book for ages 1-6, and honestly all age groups, to the concept, understanding, and implementation of antiracism. Follow the Antiracist Baby's nine easy steps for empowering communities to uproot racism and build a world with equity for all. We must begin the journey towards inclusivity at a young age, so this is the perfect read to introduce these concepts at a young age with heart warming imagery. 3. The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad & Illustrator Hatem Aly Follow Faith and Asiya on a journey through their first day of school AND Asiya's first day of hijab. This incredibly illustrated book sheds light on the perspective and experience of wearing one's hijab and the criticism and exclusivity faced due to a lack of acceptance. The love between these siblings and the strength displayed amongst them will absolutely warm the soul whilst magnifying the immense need for and importance of representation and inclusion for all and absolutely what NOT to do when we interact with people from all walks of life. This book is a sweet reminder to teach your teens at a young age to choose inclusivity and understanding over judgment and criticism. Teens 4. And She Was by Jessica Verdi A riveting portrayal of teen Dara's relationship with her mom and journey to discovering herself upon finding out that her mother is transgender. This is a coming-of-age story that is as much about Dara’s mother as it is about Dara. 5. Sparrow by Sarah Moon A front row view into the life and mental health of Sparrow, a gifted African American girl, that explores the complexities of trauma, adolescence, belonging, and inclusion. Follow Sparrow as she reveals her innermost thought cycles and feelings and discovers news ways in which to approach and express those. 6. Same But Different by Holly Robinson Peete, RJ Peete, & Ryan Elizabeth Peete In this powerful book, teenagers Ryan Elizabeth Peete and her twin brother, Rodney, who has autism, share their up-close-and-personal experiences on what it means to be a teen living with autism. This text highlights the challenges and benefits of having autism, and how these teens navigate school life, family life, and friendship while simultaneously providing representation and understanding for those exploring these hardships and triumphs personally; as well as, ways in which to advocate for folks with disabilities. Adults 7. How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi “The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.”—The New York Times Yet another educational and insightful read by Ibram X Kendi. This is a nonfiction text that combines social commentary and memoir and discusses antiracism from the most basic concepts of how to acknowledge racism to the visionary possibilities within what it takes to actively oppose racism within all facets of our system and communities. Acknowledging one's part in systemic oppression is a monumental first step in a system that wants to keep us blinded. This is a MUST read for those looking to further educate themselves on how to spot racism, unlearn it, and advocate for true justice. 8. Feminism Is For Everybody by Bell Hooks We love us some Bell Hooks, and we certainly believe that feminism is for everybody. If you want to know how and why, check it out here. In this text, Hooks introduces us to feminism and encourages us to see how it can change all lives. Feminism is, in fact, for everybody as it is stands to eliminate injustice, oppression, and sexism which is of benefit to us all. 9. On Intersectionality by Kimberlé Crenshaw A series of essays and articles written by the most brilliant, groundbreaking scholar who coined the term "intersectionality". This work defines and explores the concept of intersectionality, "a term she coined to speak to the multiple social forces, social identities, and ideological instruments through which power and disadvantage are expressed and legitimized." If you're interested in feminism or identify as feminist and don't understand intersectionality and it's importance, we highly recommend checking out Crenshaw's work as there can be no true justice without understanding and accepting the role of intersectionality in advocation work. 10. Life Isn't Binary by Alex Iantaffi & Barker This is a wonderful piece that encourages deep self reflection on how we understand the world around us as well as ourselves, and how that influences our day to day life. Iantaffi and Barker insightfully challenge the concept of binary by using bisexual and non-binary gender experiences to illuminate and address the key issues with thinking in a binary way regarding relationships, emotion, bodies, mental health, and identity. They also offer tools in which to help us experience life in a more non-binary way. So there you have it. A wee look at our current top inclusivity based reads. We hope this was helpful when considering your next book to snuggle up to or read/play to your children before bed. We understand that having access to purchase or acquire these texts is a privilege, but if you are currently looking to purchase any of the books listed above you can simply click on the titles in bold, and that should take you straight to where you can purchase. All of these texts are also available on Audible if reading isn't accessible! Happy Reading. Happy Learning. Happy Healing. WEAR THE MESSAGE. FUND THE CHANGE. Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, inclusiveWe will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. These commissions help support our small business in paying our amazing and hard working team members, funding community outreach events, and our bigger mission of forming a nonprofit that teaches inclusivity to K-12.

Black History Month - All Year Long Dr. Ibram X Kendi is one of America’s foremost historians and leading antiracist scholars. He is a National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults and four books for children, along with the founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. Ibram’s relentless and passionate research puts into question the notion of a post-racial society and opens readers’ and audiences’ eyes to the reality of racism in America today. Our latest “Black History Month - All Year Long'' design is inspired by Dr. Kendi’s quote, from his book How to Be An Antiracist where he states that “racist ideas love believers, not thinkers.” 20% of all proceeds from this collection goes to Dr. Kendi's Center for Antiracist Research. A center focused around building an antiracist society that ensures racial equity and social justice. Click here to watch Dr. Kendi’s response to Senator Ted Cruz’s utilization of his children’s book Antiracist Baby in Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Other popular books by Dr. Kendi include How to Be an Antiracist, where the reader will explore an approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society—and in ourselves. Upcoming books include: Magnolia Flower, a picture book illustrated by Loveis Wise, coming September 6, 2022. Adapted from a short story by Zora Neale Hurston, this follows a young Afro-Indigenous girl who longs for freedom. How to Be a (Young) Antiracist will be released on January 31, 2023. Co-authored with Nic Stone, this is a young adult remix of How to Be an Antiracist. Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, inclusiveWe will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. These commissions help support our small business in paying our amazing and hard working team members, funding community outreach events, and our bigger mission of forming a nonprofit that teaches inclusivity to K-12.

Una Holland is a queer & trans writer, editor, and bookseller. They have a degree in creative writing and women, gender, & sexuality studies and love nothing more than writing and reading about queer rights, sexual health, and bodily autonomy. His work is currently published in odyssey, Unwritten, Sanctuary, Headwaters, ode to Queer, and The YEW Journal. As a young transgender person, I have felt left out of almost every conversation about the recent historic overturn of Roe v. Wade. If you open up your social media, you’ll likely see all sorts of easy-to-share posts, covered in feminine Venus symbols, with quotes like: “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” “Hands Off Women’s Bodies” “Abortion Is A Woman’s Right” While there isn’t anything inherently wrong about these statements, it’s useful to think twice about the wording here. Roe v Wade isn't just a women's issue and treating it as such is an injustice. It’s isolating and invalidating to those also affected who are transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming. Not just cisgender women. I understand that I do have a uterus, an ‘F’ on my license, and I used to take birth control to prevent pregnancy. However, I am not a woman and thus, I do not have a woman’s body. It’s 2022, and it’s about time we stop equating everyone to the simple ‘M’ and ‘F’ boxes. We have compression tops in Target and companies that will mail you your hormones. So why am I, and other folks like me, being left out of the conversation? In a country where JK Rowling and her racist, transphobic rhetoric is still supported en masse, where LGBTQ+ folks are unable to talk about their identities, and where dozens of anti-lgbtq bills are attempting to restrict our rights further, I suppose I shouldn’t have expected better. I grew up in North Carolina. I was only 15 when the infamous House Bill 2 forced transgender folks to use public restrooms according to their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender. I saw friends struggle with bullies, was met with transphobia from my school guidance counselors, and was too terrified to come out as trans (to even myself) for years following. Transgender folks are not safe and not supported enough in this country. More trans people are being murdered every year. Then there’s the performative activism of it all. You’ll have someone post resources and educational graphics all over their instagram stories about trans rights, yet you’d be quick to notice that they have little-to-no trans friends, and much less would never be romantic or intimate with a trans person. We are dehumanized and de-sexualized in the media, bringing us to the crucial intersection of reproductive rights and gender affirming care. We are sick of the mistreatment. For cisgender women, deciding whether or not to get an abortion is already a stigmatized and difficult choice to make. However, transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming folks are more heavily judged and questioned for making the same choice. As Courtney Roark, a nonbinary Alabama policy director for the group Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equality (URGE), said, “if you’re trans or nonbinary, you could be having to interact with not only transphobic antiabortionists, but also trans-exclusionary radical feminists. Your world of support gets smaller.” Every day, trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming folks have to live with this mistreatment, as it further risks not receiving the healthcare they need if they try to correct or argue with their healthcare provider on their identity. In a study aimed to collect data about transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive folks assigned female or intersex at birth, responders frequently mentioned the need for better gender-inclusive language around abortions, within clinics and intake forms. Clinics are crucial for care, not just abortions but for gender affirmating care as well. As the study says, we are an understudied and underserved population, and we need help and support now more than ever. While I may not have had an abortion before, I have had my own share of pregnancy scares. The chance for me to one day need an abortion is there, especially because my current body weight restricts the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications like Plan B. Roe v. Wade affects me, because I have had to deal with medical mistreatment due to my transness. I have gone to pharmacies for my testosterone prescription, or to my doctor’s office for a check up, and I am repeatedly misgendered, deadnamed, and prodded with invasive questions about my gender identity and bodily changes. At this point, it’s more frustrating having to correct people, because more often than not I end up arguing about my privacy with a stranger. My right to exist as I am is constantly on the line. This fight is only just beginning. Roe v. Wade is not the only court case to have given people more rights over their bodies. We need to keep in mind that the Supreme Court will be going after others like Lawrence v. Texas, which decriminalized the act of sodomy, and Obergefell v. Hodge, which established same-sex couples the right to marry. This fight is only just beginning. I can only hope that the rest of the country will recognize that this is not just about women, but about all of us and our bodily autonomy. If you want to be an ally and support everyone who is affected by these events, take an extra minute to educate those around you. We are all in this together for reproductive rights, changing our diction is the least we can do to be more inclusive and lead to a better tomorrow. Join us in fighting back against the attack on uterus owner's bodies and human rights! Check out our Pro Roe collection here. With each purchase you make, 20% of our profits will go directly to Emily's List, an organization creating change by electing more Democratic pro-choice humans to national, state, and local offices.

BRADY ALEXANDER is a writer with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a contributing editor of Miracle Monocle, a fiction editor at the tiny journal, and an intern at Exposition Review. Their work is published in The White Squirrel, Miracle Monocle, and ThinkIR, and they’re looking for an agent for their novel/novella, Þ. Below is Brady's speech given on May 25th at the Love-In Rally at Christian Academy of Louisville, in response to this middle school project. Click here to watch the speech on Instagram. My name is Brady Alexander. I’m a Christian, and I’m queer. I grew up going to a Southern Baptist church. I was taught that LGBT people live in sin, and that homosexuals will not enter the kingdom of God. I believed that. Despite going to public school, I was living in ignorance. I told my gay friends, as I thought I was supposed to, that they lived in sin. That they were on a crash course with destruction. Through therapy, I realize now that I was just a kid. Through self-compassion, I’ve forgiven myself. And later, I came to realize that I’m queer. I know a lot of us here today are queer Christians, and feel not only alienated from our communities, but also by our very sacred text. And while it’s hardly explicit, I want to share two beautiful, loving, queer Bible stories with you. If one is looking for a long-term, committed, same-sex relationship the Bible celebrates, we can look to Ruth and Naomi. After her husband dies, Naomi tells Ruth, her daughter-in-law, to leave her behind and find herself a husband. But Ruth never gave up on her. She didn’t ever leave Naomi’s side. The Bible says, instead, Ruth “clung” to Naomi: “Do not press me to leave you, or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God” (Ruth 1:16, NRSV). If those words sound familiar, it’s because we use them in our marriage vows. They’re some of the most gorgeous lines the Bible has to say. Not only that, but the word for “clung” is the past-tense version of the Hebrew word for “cling,” the same in Hebrew as it is in English, a very interesting word used in the book of Genesis as well. There, it describes the relationship of Adam and Eve, like in this passage: “And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.’ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:22-24, NRSV). This passage is describing the creation of a new family. Ruth and Naomi do the same. They cling to one another, and in doing so, in feeling love for one another, they create a new family. And they are family, in part, through their physical intimacy: remember, Genesis describes each couple specifically becoming “one flesh.” That one flesh is dearly loved by God. And, Ruth and Naomi’s love isn’t the only homosexual relationship depicted with compassion. I turn our attention to the books of Samuel, to the love between David and Jonathan. Jonathan was King Saul’s son, the prince of Israel and heir to a paranoid and violent father. David, Jesse’s son, would go on to be the king of Israel and Judah, a beloved figure in Judaism and, like Ruth, an ancestor of Jesus. Their love is among the most passionate and immediate within the Bible. When Jonathan dies, David laments, “your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women” (1 Samuel 1:26, NRSV). Of course, it’s possible that David and Jonathan love each other as friends. And this is the more standard Christian reading, after all. But that to me, just reeks of Achilles and Patroclus. Let’s read more of the Bible to decide. First Samuel 1 through 5: “When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David and his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved” (NRSV). Theologian and Methodist minister Ted Jennings has this to say on the matter: “As we have noticed, the attraction of Jonathan to David begins almost immediately as Saul is delighted in his new companion. This attraction is given extravagant expression. In the first place it appears to be love at first sight. We are told: ‘When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David’ (1 Sam 18:1). Is it something David has said? Not likely. For what David has said to Saul is merely ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite’ (17:58). It is not something David has said. Instead, the reader's gaze has twice been directed to David's extraordinary beauty” (Jacob's Wound: Homoerotic narrative in the literature of ancient Israel, p. 25, 2005). That certainly reads queer to me. And the wonderful thing is, they all approved. All the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. How wonderful is that. Only one person in the story doesn’t: and that’s Saul. Saul, jealous of David’s popularity, later tries to kill him. He tries to gore him with his spear, and plots against him all throughout the books of Samuel. When Jonathan stands up to Saul on David’s behalf, Saul attacks his son through shaming him. The Bible says: “Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, “You son of a rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?!” —grave insults for the culture at the time (1 Samuel 20:30, NRSV). As a queer Christian, it’s impossible for me to read this without thinking of the elders at that church I went to as a kid. Controlling, and afraid. Fathers oppressing their sons. Mothers oppressing their daughters. These aren’t, of course, unbiased readings of the Bible. I read them very queerly, after all. I read them backwards, with Christ’s messages of love and peace baked in from minute one. I read them knowing that my readings will affect others, and that creating new, more healthy readings gives people the option to accept themselves within the Bible’s leaves. Reading the Bible tells us more about ourselves and what we want from our own culture than it does about the cultures who wrote these words. And what I care about, as a Christian, is whether or not we’re walking with Christ’s teachings. Are we loving our neighbor as ourselves, as Jonathan loved David? Are we loving God with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls, with all our strengths, as Ruth and Naomi did? Are we emulating Christ, or are we emulating the oppressors of the Bible? Saul, Nebuchadnezzar, Caesar, Pilate. Treating some people as second class citizens with stripped-back rights at best, and as defects who are better to be tortured than accepted as they are at worst, are incompatible with Christ’s unending love and liberation. If you preach love the sinner, hate the sin about my queerness, then you’re living in sin, not me. My love is not my sin, and you do not love me if you hate something this core to who and what I am. I am Brady Alexander. I am Christian. I am queer. And nothing anyone can do will stop God from loving me and blessing all the love I emanate. It will continue. If you are a queer Christian, and your church doesn’t accept you, know that you, emphatically, deserve better. There are many churches who will love you just the way you are. All of us, continue to speak out against oppression and intolerance. It is not okay, not in secular societies, and not in Christian ones. And finally, I want us to forgive these people who continue to oppress us. Never to allow them power, and never to allow them to corrupt our children's hearts with hatred, but to still, after everything they’ve done to us and to our neighbors, forgive them as Jesus forgives us. Especially if they’re still young. I used to walk the path of ignorance, including many terrible, violent ideas like homophobia. And it was love that helped me grow beyond that ignorance. And it was love that helped me realize that I’m queer. And it was love that helps me to forgive myself when I look back upon those days at the old Southern Baptist church in shame. And love will win, so long as we will fight for it. Amen. Help us celebrate PRIDE MONTH! 🌈 With every purchase of our PRIDE 2022 collection, 50% of proceeds go to The Trevor Project and the Human Rights Campaign! ✨🌈✨ As always, join us in wearing the message and funding some beautiful change.

Recent events in our nation have led me to question what more I can be doing as a human and as a parent growing humans. I’m working to balance processing it all myself and helping my kids process it at age appropriate levels along the way. For me, it’s been less of a rollercoaster of emotions and more like the spiny thing at carnivals that makes you nauseous for about 8 times longer than the actual ride was. That’s been fun. The division in our nation has caused each perceived wave of progress to feel as if it’s been pulled back by a permanently low tide. Two steps forward and one step back? More like two steps forward and then you fall on your ass. It can only get better, right? So here I am, working for a company that promotes inclusivity, rolling through some seriously volatile emotions following the Roe v Wade politicking and the white supremacist terrorist attack in Buffalo* when we finally get some uplifting news. We are going to have a booth at the upcoming Pride Festival on June 18th! 🌈🎉 It will be a welcomed break from the consistent mental and emotional mulling of recent events. What Would Jesus Actually Do? Then bam. Hit with another🧱, and this one is closer to home. My sister sends me a news article addressing the JP Davis Tweet that exposed an exercise used to shame LGBTQ+ students at Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL). If you’re not familiar with the events above, start clicking some links, and come back to me or read this quick rundown: [CAL teacher assigns middle school students to write a letter to a peer that is “struggling with homosexuality” to persuade them that “God’s design for them is good,” that “homosexuality will not bring them satisfaction,” and that “you love them even though you don’t approve of their lifestyle.”] Now we have CAL parents taking to social media calling for other “Christians” to “back up” this teacher in this shaming exercise. But I’ve got questions. 🤔 Your bracelets used to ask it. (I don’t see them much anymore so maybe you aren’t concerned with the answer now?) **WWJD?** I’m going out on a limb to say Jesus would NOT promote shaming a child for being the way they - as “God’s child” - were designed. Teaching children to humiliate and manipulate their peers at a young age leads to bullying and turmoil for these young individuals at a time in their lives when they need the very most support, understanding, and acceptance. I’m not sure this is what Jesus had in mind in John 13:34. Do We Value Mental Health for Our Children? Oh, but you say the students were instructed to use love and compassion when degrading and demeaning their hypothetical “friend”? This is what we call Trauma Bonding, and it is a primary component of Toxic Theology and can lead to Religious Trauma Syndrome. Spoiler Alert: This is NOT Mentally Healthy for ANYONE. This “assignment” is nothing more than a calculated attempt to utilize Conversion Therapy tactics in a Middle School. Make no mistake, assignments like this WILL contribute to suicide for some young people struggling with understanding their natural sexuality or gender identity.** That is NOT what the Jesus I grew up with would do. One of the CAL moms even proudly proclaimed that she “won’t apologize for being Christian.” You need not carry that cross, sister; there is no need to apologize for being Christian. There is, however, a need to apologize for using Jesus as a shield and sword to advance a religious agenda based in fear, a lack of awareness/understanding, and exclusion when this was the antithesis of what Jesus taught through his actions. That apology is long overdue at this point. Walk the Walk. Don't Just Talk the Talk. Here is the deal. If you want more people to follow in the footsteps of Christ, walk in them yourself. Be approachable. Be loving. Be kind. Be accepting. Love your child the way they are. And if you don’t get it, don’t fight who they are, fight to understand who they are. Wear your Ally badge as proudly as you wear that cross because nothing says “Jesus” more than “Ally.” So, to all the CAL parents who are afraid and unwilling to work at understanding their children in Christ, I’m praying for you. I’m also praying for all of the young people affected by inappropriate and detrimental teachings/assignments like this -- because they really need it right now. 🙏🏽 *This is a whole separate topic that I will write more about soon when I’ve been able to process it with my kids. **The Trevor Project survey found that LGBTQ youth who experienced anti-LGBTQ victimization, including physical threats or harm, discrimination, or conversion therapy, reported more than twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year. WEAR THE MESSAGE. FUND THE CHANGE. To find out more about how you can advocate for the rights of ALL humans, head here.

The Leaked Draft: On Monday, May 2, 2022 a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked stating that it would overturn the Roe v Wade ruling, thus destroying what has been a federally protected right for almost 50 years. The decision to allow or criminalize abortions would be left in the hands of the states, 13 of which have "trigger laws" which would ban abortions within weeks, with other restrictions and bans across the country to follow quickly. The fight for abortion rights in the United States has been long and arduous, beginning roughly in the mid 19th century with the creation of the American Medical Association (AMA), a male-domintated group of physicians who-among other things-all but disposed of the fields of midwifery and obstetrics while at the same time deciding the members of their organization alone were the arbiters of abortion access. This led to the criminalization of abortions and by the early 20th century every state had laws to regulate and control abortion, severally restricting who was eligible (Planned Parenthood Historical Abortion Law Timeline ). The unsettling rise in deaths due to unsafe, illegal abortion combined with increasing access to the media meant that the issue of limited abortion rights gained national attention in the 1950s and by the late 1960s and early 1970s there were a number of victories for abortion rights activists including the creation of NARAL, the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. As a result a number of states repealed its ban on abortion. This increasing attention and awareness led to the 1973 landmark case Roe v Wade in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution protects the right to an abortion. This groundbreaking decision allowed for safer and more widespread access the country for women to obtain an abortion. The Threat to Our Constitutional Liberties: So what happens when the Supreme Court starts to take away our Constitutional rights? Though the Roe v Wade ruling continues to stand, its legacy has been challenged for decades in and out of the courts (Planned Parenthood v Casey, 1992, Gonzalez v Planned Parenthood, 2007 among others). While Alito’s draft is only that-a draft-the significance of overturning the Roe ruling is dangerous and immeasurable. Abortion rights are protected by the 14th amendment which states under the due process (fair procedures) clause that “that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” The Court decided that the Due Process Clause protects implied rights-ones that aren’t specifically listed in the Constitution. In Roe v. Wade, “the Court ruled that this right to privacy included a woman's decision to have an abortion…”(PBS-Due Process Clause). Liberty not only refers to freedom in itself but also to the ability to access those freedoms. If this comes to pass low income households and those in Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities will struggle more to find safe abortion access than those who are in higher socio-economic stations. It will be difficult and often feel impossible to take off work, pay for childcare, and find reliable transportation to travel out-of-state to an abortion clinic. Senior Vice President for Social Policy & Politics, Lenae Erickson stated succinctly that “The Supreme Court is about to say we don’t have liberty or bodily autonomy…{and} that is astounding.” Bodily autonomy means more than the reproductive choices we make. It can refer to who we marry, who we choose to sleep with, or even our use of birth control. When the Supreme Court starts to take away our constitutional liberties we face the threat of the collapse of our democracy. The loss of one unenumerated right means that others are in grave danger. Call to Action: There are many ways to fight what feels like the failings of American democracy. 6 in 10 U.S. adults say that abortions should be legal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. This means that as abortion rights advocates we are part of a thriving community despite what the media may portray. Publicly show support for abortion rights and abortion access. Educate others on why this is important and make sure people understand that abortions still are legal. Support organizations such as NARAL, Planned Parenthood, The Center for Reproductive Rights or find a local abortion fund to donate to. Voting matters. State and local elections are incredibly important and frequently overlooked, but those elected to your state legislature will be the ones deciding to limit or expand our rights beyond abortion access if Roe v Wade is overturned. Midterm elections are upon us; with this very real threat to our liberty nothing is more crucial than educating ourselves on the candidates running, getting out to vote, and encouraging others to show up at the polls. Onward The motivation behind this opinion and those like it is not necessarily about morality, religion, or even life and death. It is about a feeble patriarchy grasping to maintain its control over women. It is about the fear of losing its weakening power in a nation it had always dominated. In a recent interview longtime writer and political activist Gloria Steinem offers this: “[This will have] a huge impact…on women…we have to be able to make decisions about our own physical selves…this will always be a fight while we live in a patriarchy…And we can just refuse to be intimidated by the protestations of a losing minority.” So we fight on. Click here to WEAR THE MESSAGE. FUND THE CHANGE.