KY’s new “couples” lubricant Yours+Mine makes some pretty sweeping assumptions about how people have sex and with whom. Two lubricants: “Mine” for her and “Yours” for him. Electric blue for boys and pink—well, okay, purple—for girls.

I’m all for fun sex products, but I’m not so into how branded hetero this product is without a vague awareness that it is. Maybe it’s because it’s the first couples lubricant I’ve ever seen, but I’m really struck by how “sex is for a boy and a girl” it seems while most other products are “personal.” (I also don’t like that the woman’s lube is “mine” because she’s the one buying it in the birth control aisle of her local Shopper’s Drug Mart. While you could argue it’s cool that they’re implying that a woman can be involved in her own pleasure, I’m inclined to think it’s connected to a “women are responsible for birth control” stereotype I’m not a fan of.)

Regardless of what you think of the product, I think it’s really important for us to recognize and critique how often heteronormativity creeps into our daily media.

Harmless on it’s own? Maybe. Part of a larger problem? Sure. Pissing me off? Yup.

First Person Queer, edited by Richard Labonte and Lawrence Schimel (and yes, the shameless part, featuring an essay by me) won a prestigious Lambda Literary Award for best LGBT anthology last night at the 20th annual awards in West Hollywood.

I wanted to take a moment to congratulate and thank all of the truly amazing contributors to the anthology, and of course Richard and Lawrence for all their amazing work and dedication. Also, many congrats to the fantastic (Canadian!) press Arsenal Pulp that put out this book, and for continuing to support queer and independent culture through publishing.

More about the (award-winning!) book after the jump.
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Ever thought your parents were evil? Ever feel like you were raised by super villains?

Playing on suspicions we all might’ve had about our families at some point, the kids in Runaways discover that their parents are part of an association of the most powerful super villains in LA. They band together against their parents (and other bad guys) and run away to make up for the destruction their parents have caused.

Runaways is a monthly series (one issue comes out each month, they’re later collected into books), put out by Marvel comics. It’s a mainstream comics series, but it has some of the most inclusive representations and stories of any comic series.

For example, Runaways features some of the best female characters in comics. There’s Nico, who learns her parents’ magic, becomes a wizard and eventully becomes the leader of the team. Karolina, who realizes she’s both an alien and queer. Gert, smart and sardonic, who would probably read Shameless, and has a psychic connection with a razor-toothed dinosaur. The youngest member of the team, Molly, is also the strongest. She’s a mutant and can beat up just about anyone.

The Runaways kids are diverse in gender, race, sexuality and even body types. Writer Brian K. Vaughn does an amazing job of having diverse representations without having any token characters. The kids talk about race, and sexuality (it’s part of who they are) but it’s only one part of their complex characters.

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Good news from Ontario health minister George Smitherman yesterday. Looks like OHIP could be changing to cover sex reassignment surgery. This from Xtra:

Helma Seidl is a counsellor who helps people prepare for their transitions.

“There are lots of people who are very happy once they transition, who don’t want this surgery,” says Seidl. “But there are lots of people who waited because they don’t have the money — $16,000 per surgery or more. If we have it paid by they government, that will open up the opportunity to a lot of people.”

There are some details that need to be worked out before the coverage is a reality, but all and all a step in the right direction. Read the details here.

Torontoist’s Johnnie Walker has a great piece on the Canadian Club campaign and its obvious homophobic overtones:

It’s also hard not to view the campaign as somewhat homophobic. The “YOUR DAD WAS NOT A METROSEXUAL” ad seems to basically say, “your Dad wasn’t a gay, but you probably are if you don’t buy Canadian Club.” Guess what, Canadian Club? Most of our Dads aren’t gay. This is not news. One would hope that our Dads’ likely heterosexuality is not the most interesting thing about them.

The comments section is packed with your usual “calm down” and “relax, it’s only an ad” offerings, but also some fantastic spoofs, like this one.

For Shameless discussions on Canadian Club, click here and here.

Thoughts?

Julia Serano has some great ones. Via Feministing.

Hello out there all you Shameless people! I am excited to be blogging on this brazen space and giving it to you straight up.

I am writing in the Vancouver airport on my way back to Toronto from being part of ’Nał’namwiyut: We Are All One, Transforming Understanding Into Action. It was the First National Aboriginal Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgendered, Queer, Questioning, and Two-Spirited Summit!

It was a phenomenal opportunity to get together in solidarity with folks from around the country to discuss, strategize, and action plan what we need to do for some of our most marginalized brothers and sisters. It was hosted by the BC Assembly of First Nations, the Urban Native Youth Association and a committee of incredible, passionate community partners. I strongly encourage all of you to check them out and support the amazing work that is going on.

WE NEED ALLIES!

I saw so much power in the strength of family and community united for acceptance and acknowledgement these past three days, with the beautiful profusion of tradition and culture. Sometimes we get too wrapped up in the mindset of the place we live in and miss out on the chance to look across the country and see how we can really connect and make great things happen!

So this is how I’m going to be dishing it out; notes from the field, rants on racialized issues, notions of Indigenous feminism, recognition of the incredible youth out there, and operations of anti-oppressive activism. I encourage you to think outside the box with me and challenge what you think you already know.

I want to hear your voices and I look forward to rocking each other’s worlds!

Me and the beautiful new generation of activists!

The Lesbians on Ecstasy want you to dance. Not only that, they want you to dance to classic lezzie tunes revamped into club hits - discerning ears can pick out references to Melissa Etheridge, Tracy Chapman, the Indigo Girls, and other members of the queer canon in their songs. Nevertheless, they are 100% original, and one of my favorite bands to shake it to (and also interview). This video is very much in the spirit of 1970s lesbian feminist activism, but it’s not satirical or ironic - a reminder that feminism isn’t/wasn’t (only) about wearing ponchos and brandishing the lady-symbol but also about “yo, look around you, it’s awesome we’ve found each other.”

In celebration of spring (fingers crossed), enjoy this video. Who knows, it may inspire you to go for a walk in the forest and check out some tree vulvas too.

Thomas Beatie, a 34 year-old Trans Man from Oregon who is carrying a child for his wife Nancy and himself, will be on Oprah today. I’m very interested to see how this story will be handled in the mainstream media. I hate to be a cynic, but my prediction is that it won’t be handled well (if the trailer is any indication,) but here’s to hopin’.

If you’re unfamiliar with Beatie’s story, The Advocate features a touching first person account here.

Our situation sparks legal, political, and social unknowns. We have only begun experiencing opposition from people who are upset by our situation. Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender.

I sadly will have to miss the show (but I’m going to get my Mom to tape it for me.) If anyone catches it, please post your reaction in the comments section.

Via Feministing.