Things that are new, things that I like..

So you have probably noticed already that things look different on the blog. We got a makeover and are moving forward! I used to limit what I wrote about to one subject (LGBTQ issues), and now I want to write about that, and much much more!

I wrote a book, so I am most excited to talk about that. I love everything to do with books. I'm an avid reader, and writer. So I want to talk about that.

I spent some time this year volunteering and working with refugees, teaching English to newcomers from Syria. This has been very powerful for me. Taking care of refugees and people in war torn countries has become really important to me. I care about equality and protection, and I challenge racism. I work to see my own privilege and unconscious bias. I think it is important.

I care about Politics. I am dumbfounded by US politics right now. I am fearful for so many people in the US and around the world under Trump. I can't even list every demographic he has targeted in his words and in his policies.

I love being a mother and a step-mom. I might write about my experience with that now and then.

I care about visibility and rights for folks in the LGBTQ community. I care about visibility in media. I think it's important to create characters that reflect diversity in gender and sexual orientation. I'll probably write about that.

I might try and make you laugh. Or I might post pictures of things I like. My book covers some dark topics (suicide, drug addiction, homelessness) and still reads as uplifting. So I might post some things about that.

I'll probably have a lot of questions for all of you. And I hope you take the time to comment and let me know you are still out there. I feel at this point like I am speaking into the abyss.

So, let's talk. Where are you from? What do you think of the new theme? I'm really glad you're here and I'm thankful that you are still along for this ride. Which of these issues above is most important to you?

If you can't comment here, join us on Facebook, and we can chat over there.

Facebook - KRMunro Writes

2012 and the LGBT Community

2012 was a really big year for the LGBT community. We're seeing more and more coverage and support for equal rights and LGBT issues throughout the United States and in Canada.

The USA came a long way. Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington now recognize equal marriage, totaling 8 states that now recognize full marriage equality for the gay and lesbian community, while another 10 states recognize some form of civil unions.  

President Barack Obama has said he supports full marriage equality across all 50 states. 


Gay rights have become a mainstream social issue, with giant corporations taking sides. Chick-Fil-A took sides against gay marriage, and then announced "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day" which was met with  resistance from the LGBT community and their supporters. Eventually Chick-Fil-A did some back pedaling when Joe Moreno (Alderman of Chicago’s 1st Ward) disallowed the franchise to enter Chicago based on their discriminatory policies. 

JC Penny hired lesbian Ellen DeGeneres to be their spokesperson, and a handful of a few thousand women calling themselves "One Million Moms" campaigned for a widespread boycott against JC Penny as a result. JC Penny reiterated their support for Ellen, saying that Ellen shares the same values that JC Penny was founded on 110 years ago, which is to "treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself, fair and square".  According to their website, One Million Moms has recently "moved on". 

We've seen a pretty steep increase in gay people on TV throughout 2012. Glee, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family, The New Normal all just some of the mainstream programming to feature gay and/or lesbian characters, as well as discussing issues relevant to the gay and lesbian community.

2012 has seen the "It Gets Better" project, which was started in response to a number of gay youth who took their own lives.  Thousands of celebrities, educational institutions, political parties and organizations have created videos and messages directed towards gay youth, spreading the message that life gets better, please stay alive to see it. 

In North America and worldwide, the mainstream is shifting focus in favor of marriage equality and is now seeing discrimination against the gay and lesbian community as civil and human rights issues.  

2012 was not all good news for members of the LGBT community. Uganda has set to pass a new anti-gay law, which originally set the death penalty against individuals found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality". They have unofficially struck the death penalty from the bill, however jail time and severe penalties will still remain. 

We are still fighting for gay rights and equality locally and worldwide. LGBT individuals are still fighting hard under the discrimination of religious groups, state laws and unkind individuals in the community. Homophobia is all around us. And yet, I see hope. I see a shift in awareness and acceptance. I believe that 2012 was an incredible for those fighting for LGBT rights and equality. I also believe that 2013 and 2014 will be equally as important. So stay tuned, and do what you can to keep the fight moving in the right direction in your community and worldwide.

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