White House releases “Progress For The LGBT Community” infographic
The White House just published an inforgraphic that overviews the progress of LGBT Americans. @BarackObama tweeted: “From safer schools to ending #DADT, take a look at three years of progress for LGBT Americans.”
From their post:“Three years ago, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the law of the land, and the words “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender” appeared nowhere in the federal register.
Today, gay and lesbian men and women can serve their country without hiding who they are. The Obama administration has declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, and the President is working to make our schools safer for LGBT youth.
As we celebrate three years of progress for LGBT Americans under President Obama — and work toward another four — here’s a look at how far we’ve come since the President took office.”
When I was really young (up until about 9), I was super outgoing. I loved to dance, perform and I was pretty secure with who I was.
When I got to middle school, a lot changed. I moved from Florida to Pittsburgh, PA and I didn’t have any friends. I started off 6th grade with little confidence. All of the sudden, I had become this introverted young girl who didn’t know how to make friends. The extreme change in climate wasn’t helping either. It was always cold and I was always getting sick.
Eventually, I became a part of a group of 3 girls and we were friends. I was a pushover though, and I wasn’t confident with myself. One of my “best” friends was pretty blunt. She would also get mad at me for no reason, and I would feel horrible about it. Looking back, I know that I was just being myself and I had no reason to feel bad because I wasn’t doing anything wrong. This is where my impatience for drama started.
On top of that, I was a skinny little stick, my two front teeth had a gap and boys didn’t like me (and if they did, I sure didn’t know). It seems so unfortunate now because I had no reason to not like myself. Whenever someone would bully me, I would never fight back. I would just obsess over their comments and drive myself crazy.
I’m not sure what has happened to me in the past 3-4 years, but I have decided that I couldn’t care less what people say about me. The fact that boys didn’t like me in middle school doesn’t matter anymore. All of those things that my supposed “best friend” said to me when I was younger have no place in my life. I like myself. I like the person that I’ve become. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I didn’t want to keep going through life disliking myself. It’s impossible for everyone to like me, and I know that now (I used to be a BIG people pleaser). You have to look at the good things about yourself and focus on that. I don’t even know you, but I am 100% sure that you have a lot of great qualities. You just have to appreciate them.
-Mikaela Schipani (http://lamb-onthe-lam.tumblr.com)
This is one of my sisters and I. We both are obviously completely different body wise. She wants to lose weight and be skinny and I want to gain weight and be thick and beautiful!
It took us a long time to love our bodies. From family members telling us we didn’t look right, to being bullied at school about our weight, to just not feeling beautiful in general, we’ve made it really far mentally, emotionally, and physically.
My sister has lost almost 40 pounds and I no longer weigh less than 100 pounds. I don’t cry anymore when people tell me I’m too skinny or I look like a starving stick, even though people don’t know I’m skinny because of genetics and the fact I have a lot of health problems. My sister has learned to embrace her curves and her scars that tell a deep story that makes her who she is. We look at ourselves and we compliment our assets that we like most. I’ve even made it a point to accentuate my body, by covering it in tattoos to show it really is a work of art.
We tell each other we’re beautiful and anyone who doesn’t see that, is just blind to what beauty really is.
left: subtleb0nes.tumblr.com
right: lust-a-primavista.tumblr.com
One of my favorite stories! You are both such beautiful girls :)
Feelin’ fall roll in!
Here is how I am transitioning! :D
dress, cardigan, and booties: ModCloth
<3 How are you pulling your summer dresses into fall looks???
Life is too short for us not to know each other.