Hello, beautiful galentines: Maybe you’re still slogging away at the office, or you’ve already begun your Friday night. Either way, here’s a recap of this week’s top feminist news stories that you might have missed while you were out being the Leslie Knope of whatever you do.
Seven Sisters Women’s College Opens Up to Transwomen
Earlier this week, Bryn Mwar College opened their admissions to transgender women. There have been some questions, however, about the allowance for any students who are currently attending the school but transition into being male or question their gender. Bryn Mwar continues to change their applicant standards and has decided to stand by its progressive decision as backed by President Kim Cassidy, and we’re so glad that its being recognized that women are women no matter what.
Lavern Cox Makes History Once Again!
Lavern Cox has landed a role that is pushing her farther up on the Badass Ladies of History list. She will be the first transgendered woman to appear on CBS with a leading roll in the new show Doubt. She plays Cameron Wirth, an ivy-educated attorney who utilizes her life experiences to sympathize with her clients. On top of her leading roll, Lavern is direction two upcoming documentaries, Trans Teen and Free CeCe. And of course she is also being an LGBT activist, as per always. Multi taking to the extreme? Yes, but we’re so excited to see this new break through hit mainstream television. We can’t wait to see the day when Cox gets cast as the (boss) lady that she is.
13 Photographs that Show Love of All Kinds
Here at BUST we are supportive of all love, all the time, especially self-love. That’s why when we found out about Substantia Jones’s incredible photo series we had to tell you about her. Tired of watching the women and men around her deal with body shaming, Substantia created the Adipositivity Project. She focuses on photographing couples that deal with fat shaming to prove that weight has nothing to do with your worthiness to be loved. Not only do we have pictures to show you, but we also have an interview with Substantia. She summed up the message behind the project as this: “part fat, part feminism, part “fuck you.”
West Virginia Lawmaker Says Rape Is … Beautiful?
Remember that one time on the subway when you overheard two people expressing (a bit too loudly) their white privilege and you just could not even handle it? That’s how we felt after we heard this statement: “Of course rape is awful…what’s beautiful is the child that could come from this.” The owner of this disgusting statement is one West Virginia delegate, Brian Kurbaca. Kurbaca and his fellow delegates at the West Virginia House tried to pass a law that would forbid abortion after 20 weeks with claims that the fetus can feel pain. By the way, that is not even the tiniest bit scientifically accurate. This gives us flashbacks to Richard Mourdock’s belief that pregnancies from rape “are a gift from God.” Dear, GOP please keep your hands off of our uteruses.
Alabama Legalizes Gay Marriage!
It’s official; Alabama has become the 37th state in the U.S. to legally acknowledge same sex marriage. Obviously we wanted to cover our office in confetti, drink some champagne, and celebrate, but we had to resort to fist pumping. Even though we didn’t get to celebrate in style, it’s enough just to see pictures of the couples that have recently gotten married thanks to this new historical moment. The law is being met with opposition, but based on the amount of couples rushing to be recognized by the state we don’t think anyone gives a fuck. For right now there are a lot of happy newly weds honey-mooning it up and that’s kind of all that counts.
