Posts by Allison Martell

• In the Blog

  AIDS 2006

  August 13th, 2006     by Allison Martell     Comments

  I just watched the end of the AIDS 2006 opening ceremonies on TV. A lot of optimistic noises, but I have a couple things to point out. AIDS activism in Toronto (and elsewhere) started in the queer community. I know that there is continuity in terms of people - some of the activists who fought the epidemic then are still involved. But there is almost no mention of that history at the big events and in … READ MORE

• In the Blog

  14th Annual Scream Literary Festival

  July 3rd, 2006     by Allison Martell     Comments

  The biggest event on my literary calendar is coming up. The Scream Literary Festival kicks off tomorrow night at the Gladstone. Readings and other events continue for a full week. My favourite event outside the mainstage is Scream at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore on Thursday, featuring Sou Thammavongsa, Jemeni and Tamai Kobayashi. The festival wraps up next Monday, July 10th with the Scream In High Park, a big reading at the outdoor stage usually used for the … READ MORE

• In the Blog

  Nalo Hopkinson

  July 3rd, 2006     by Allison Martell     Comments

  One of my favourite blogs is by Nalo Hopkinson, a Toronto writer. Her work is amazing - my favourite is The Salt Roads, but I’m currently reading Midnight Robber, and I might change my mind. She calls it speculative fiction, but I think it does enough genre-crossing to defy description. Hopkinson’s blog is a window into the life of a successful writer, complete with Shameless-friendly political content. … READ MORE

• In the Blog

  Youth Fight for Queer Rights in Georgia

  June 22nd, 2006     by Allison Martell     Comments

  The New Standard (one of my favourite independent media organizations) has an articleup about students at a Georgia high school fighting to start and maintain a gay-straight alliance. The administration at White County High School have resorted to banning all “non-curricular” student group meetings on campus, asking for a “list of prospective members” and sending an assistant principal to sit in on every meeting. According to the article, some staff at the school “slammed PRIDE … READ MORE

• In the Blog

  Hillary Clinton As Fashion Feature

  June 12th, 2006     by Allison Martell     Comments

  The Sunday New York Times had an article (free registration required) about women and the American presidency. Like most long-ish Times articles, it hits a lot of points you’ve probably heard before but executes them better than the rest of the mainstream media. There’s a good bit about the way the American political system makes it difficult to get women elected. But it’s shoved into the “Sunday Styles” section (which I may love, but only … READ MORE

• In the Blog

  CAW Fights for Daycare

  May 27th, 2006     by Allison Martell     Comments

  My name is Allison, and this is also my first post - look for bios of all of us coming soon. For me, the greatest tragedy in Harper’s election was the end of the daycare plan, a federally-funded childcare system that was literally years in negotiation. Clicking around Rabble today, I found a banner for this project… seems the Canadian Auto Workers is running a “Childcare 2006” campaign. Check out the website to write letters, download … READ MORE