Sunday, May 18, 2014

How Can You Fight Homophobia and Transphobia?


How can you fight homophobia and transphobia? 




That’s what this blog hop is all about! The lovely group of writers: Erica Pike, K-lee Klein, NJ Nielsen, Cherie Noel, Embry Carlysle, Zathyn Priest and Sasha L Miller want us to come together as a group to promote equality.

Pretties:

In honor of May 17th (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) I wanted to share with you an experience I had at my PFLAG group. A mother came to our meeting last month completely overwhelmed. “Yesterday my daughter told me she’s transgender. What does that mean?”

I spoke with her a little after the meeting to let her know I thought she was great for reaching out to find answers. When we parted company, she was still mourning the loss of her daughter but she knew people had her back. She left the meeting with more questions than answers but said she’d try to return.

At our next meeting, she joined us with her teenaged child. She no longer lamented the loss of her daughter but was beginning to celebrate her son.

Her son was stunned when Eden Winters told him about the romances we have in our PFLAG library. (I want to take the opportunity to give a huge HUG and thank you to all the writers and publishers who were generous enough to donate books). The kid was shocked. “There are books about people like ME?”

More than once I’ve sung your praises my Pretty ones. I brag to everyone about the amazing community of readers, writers, reviewers and publishers of LGBTQIA romances.  People who believe love is love and advocate for everyone to have a happily ever after. I wax poetic about all the incredible individuals who promote equality through writing, reading and publishing LGBTQIA romances. People who teach children to love and accept instead of hate. Your words and actions influence and change the world around you. You fight, vote and march for equality.

So how can you fight homophobia and transphobia?

*Continue doing what you’re doing (& do more of the same)

*Vote for candidates who support LGBTQIA issues

*Vote with your dollars for LGBTQIA friendly businesses

*Speak up if someone says something offensive to the LGBTQIA community
*Stay aware of the news it affects all of us

*Educate through your own actions, words and social media

*Wear a supportive LGBTQIA items (rainbow bracelet, T-shirt, etc.)

*Join a PFLAG or Rainbow Support group

* Be there for someone who is confused & reassure him or her

Your turn Pretties! How can we fight homophobia and transphobia? What are your suggestions? Leave a comment and I will put your name in to win an e-book copy of Made in China: The Great Wall or Club Zombie 2: Zombies Suck.  Together we are changing the world one page at a time.

Hugs, Z. Allora

Here's a link to the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia check it out  after you leave your suggestions:    https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fhopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com%2F&h=zAQEXIYSf
 





28 comments:

  1. Brilliant post Z. You are an inspiration, full of ideas and compassion. You really are an amazing person *hugs*

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    1. Pot calling the kettle black... You hunt down new writers, encourage them and send their words into the world... You've been there time and time again for so many people (including me). Thank you for the inspiration you give us.
      Hugs, Z.

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  2. I'll continue my support by writing M/M ^.^ I believe that the books help in the cause to acceptance. We're getting more and more readers every day.

    Thanks for taking part!

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  3. Thank you for gathering the troops with this blog hop. You're another one whom this community turns to and you never let us down.
    Pretties: If you haven't read our Icelandic Princess... holy hell do so!!!!!
    Hugs, Z.

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  4. I believe the best way is to educate people, make them realize that we are all same and so we should stop discriminating. Until and unless things come from inside no one will change.

    ladyunwritten[AT]gmail[DOT]com

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    1. Absolutely, Ray!!!!!
      I agree. We need to help people stop seeing LGBTQIA people as different and just see them as another person with similar struggles. Hard to discriminate against yourself!!!
      Hugs, Z.

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  5. Wonderful Post! I will try to make other people see that there are more to a human being than their sexual orientation, but that's a tough question. Hugs <3

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    1. Good for you Angela! All we can do is try and not give up. Psst, btw we're soooooo gonna win.... just saying... Hugs, Z.

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  6. What we can do is just let people know that sexual identity is the complete person and that everyone is worthy of being loved and accepted. rojoroaors@yahoo.com

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  7. We can't all do big things but everyone has a voice and I think speaking up is one of the positive things I can do. I really enjoyed your post(and this fabulous hop). Thanks for the giveaway.

    MHupp20032003(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Thank you for participating. I agree it isn't always the big things sometimes the smaller things matter big. Hugs, Z.

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  8. Hi Z! I recently bought a shirt with the Transgender colors on it. I can't wait to wear it.

    lena.grey.iam@gmail.com

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    1. Awesome Lena! I bet people in the know will feel supported by it. Hugs, Z.

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  9. Thanks so much for your post! I will continue to read MM books, I have loads of different rainbow bracelets and I just asked my daughter to make me a NOH8 shirt! I do what I can with what I have...every little bit helps.
    raynman1979(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Rissa,
      I totally agree. Awesome on the rainbow equality gear. Thanks for commenting.
      Hugs, Z.

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  10. I love that story, Z. And I love your cover art. :)

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    1. Thank you Andy. The story now has 30,000 more words and will have Angel's POV. Hugs, Z.

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  11. Thank you so much for posting! I will continue to post and share as much as possible to make more people aware of the problem, and of course I will continue reading M/M books and flaunting all my rainbow and NOH8 things :-)

    wendynjason04@gmail.com

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    1. Keep on 'flaunting' your rainbow Wendy. Even if no one says anything (watch carefully... I've had waiters sit down and chat with me, kids smile at me & mother's striking up conversations that evolve into LGBTQIA conversations. Hugs, Z.

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  12. Will continue to learn and spread equality for all.
    cvsimpkins@msn.com

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    1. Rock on Cornella!!!! It's all we can do is put it out there... the more we do it the more impact.
      Hugs, Z.

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  13. I'll do my part by supporting GLBT writers and writing my own GLBT stories.

    Thanks for participating :)

    penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. Penumbra, that's awesome. I really believe our words change minds. Hugs, Z.

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  15. Those are all great suggestions to make a difference right now! Thanks for sharing, Z. *hugs*

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    1. Thank you for joining us Rainbow Gold Reviews. Hugs, Z.

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  16. I argue with my friends and family about the freedom to marry who you want. Lots of people I know are very against gay marriage and piss me off so bad.
    sstrode at scrtc dot com

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    1. Sherry:
      Stay strong and be loud. We are winning this fight... Look at all the amazing progress! Hugs, Z.

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