Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Armenia: Young minority leader preserves Yezidi identity and language

Boris Murazi-Tamoyan, 24 years old, is an active community leader representing the Yezidi minority of Armenia. Boris was born in Armenia; has graduated from the Academy of Television and Radio, as well as served for 2 years at the national military. He speaks Armenian and Russian languages...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/armenia-young-minority-leader-preserves-yezidi-identity-and-language/

Brooke Adams: Actress Brooke Adams On Her Post-Election Blues

How to react. The election was such a surprise to all the people I know, all the Blue People. I am having a real problem adjusting. Everyone is bombarding me with articles. In bed the other night I received two sent by different friends dealing with the same issue but coming to the opposite...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/brooke-adams-actress-brooke-adams-on-her-post-election-blues/

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Outspeak: LA Anti-Trump Protest, A Look From the Inside

After Donald Trump’s big win on November 9th, thousands of grieving liberals and activists took to the streets across North America (yes, in Canada too) to protest the impending presidency of a man they felt did not represent their beliefs. Despite Trump saying he would not accept...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-la-anti-trump-protest-a-look-from-the-inside/

Betty White Says She's Single And Ready To Mingle At 94

Betty White has revealed quite an interesting hobby ― the opposite sex. The 94-year-old sat down on Thanksgiving with Al Roker on the “Today” show to talk about everything from fame and success to relationships and her current love life.
“Nobody asks me!” she said. “Who’s gonna want to ask ou...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/betty-white-says-shes-single-and-ready-to-mingle-at-94/

Monday, November 28, 2016

Jon Chattman: CeeLo Green Weighs in on New Track, Gnarls Barkley Reunion, and Social Media

Sometimes we do stupid things. Sometimes we write stupid things on social media. Almost always we regret the latter, and have a trail of comments to make sure we never forget. It’s a way of life, and has been ever since Tom from MySpace uploaded his thumbnail or you yourself signed...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/jon-chattman-ceelo-green-weighs-in-on-new-track-gnarls-barkley-reunion-and-social-media/

When One Adult Child Needs More Help Than Another

As a parent, you may want to provide financial assistance to your adult children when they need it. But what if one faces more money woes than another?
Should you provide extra, periodic cash infusions or leave him or her more in your will? And if so, should you let the other sibling or...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/when-one-adult-child-needs-more-help-than-another/

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Letters To California Mosques Praise Donald Trump, Promise Genocide

Religious leaders in California are calling for a police investigation after identical letters were sent to local mosques hailing President-elect Donald Trump and calling for death to Muslims.
The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/letters-to-california-mosques-praise-donald-trump-promise-genocide/

Dwight Brown: Black Films and Artists Triumph at 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

For 41 years the Toronto International Film Festival has attracted the world’s best films and built a faithful audience. This year at the 2016 festival, 480,000 film lovers filled seats, screened movies and experienced the festivities.


Credit TIFF’s Artistic Director Cameron...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/dwight-brown-black-films-and-artists-triumph-at-2016-toronto-international-film-festival/

Michelle Obama On Motherhood: "I Am Just Hoping That I Don"t Mess Them Up"

Mothers everywhere have their share of critics, ready to cast stones at the first sight of a pacifier, a TV, or McDonald’s Happy Meal. Now imagine putting your parenting skills center stage as First Lady of the United States. FLOTUS has kept her cool despite the critics, but still has...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/michelle-obama-on-motherhood-i-am-just-hoping-that-i-dont-mess-them-up/

Want To Boycott Trump's Businesses? Now There's An App For That

Are you trying to avoid giving your money to businesses who either support President-elect Donald Trump or were complicit in his election to the White House? A new app is here to help.
Boycott Trump is a free app from Democratic Coalition Against Trump available on iPhones, iPads and...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/want-to-boycott-trumps-businesses-now-theres-an-app-for-that/

Trump Tower Gets Renamed 'Dump Tower' On Google Maps

Donald Trump had an unusual place to call home Saturday.
Trump Tower, the president-elect’s New York City residence, was briefly renamed “Dump Tower” on Google Maps, to the amusement of eagle-eyed Internet users.



Google Maps showing Trump Tower as Dump Tower.
Because they can and because ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/trump-tower-gets-renamed-dump-tower-on-google-maps/

Cross-Cultural Menu Ideas For A Code Switch Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner. So much room for hope. So much room for disappointment.

Eric Pancer/Flickr Creative Commons

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Eric...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/cross-cultural-menu-ideas-for-a-code-switch-thanksgiving/

Debora Diniz: Women"s Strikes Are Erupting Across Argentina After The Brutal Rape Of A Teenage Girl

They walked out on the street, dressed in black. Silence engulfed the crowd in a collective mourning ceremony. This is how Polish women resisted the government’s abortion ban proposal.


This is also how the people of the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, will march on the streets on...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/debora-diniz-womens-strikes-are-erupting-across-argentina-after-the-brutal-rape-of-a-teenage-girl/

Mitch Price: Should LGBT-Exclusive Environments Exist?

A recent dispute speculating in the media is about LGBT-exclusive places provided in the UK. A recently rejected proposal for an LGBT-only school in Manchester generated debate about whether it’s appropriate for lesbian, gay, bi and trans students to be offered separate schools....

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/mitch-price-should-lgbt-exclusive-environments-exist/

Jaymee Heaton: Cerebral Palsy Is Leo"s Superpower... What"s Yours?

Imagine spending hours in labour and then giving birth to your first child. Watching your child grow and adjusting your life as a mum when in all honesty you have just reached adulthood and haven’t a clue. Now imagine thinking that something isn’t right?


My sister Jo...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/jaymee-heaton-cerebral-palsy-is-leos-superpower-whats-yours/

Chiara Mio: Fairness In Fashion Starts In Factories

Benetton Group, which for more than fifty years has been a global leader in the fashion industry, is proud of its commitment to social issues which is why we have pledged to do what we can to tackle this problem at source. I deeply believe you have to start somewhere to build a better...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/chiara-mio-fairness-in-fashion-starts-in-factories/

Jon Chattman: A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Let Cash Cash and Jacquie Lee "Take You Home"

Bill Murray’s cameo in Zombieland. The endless appeal of “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus. The out-of-left-field release of 10 Cloverfield Lane. Me hearing “The Bad Touch” by the Bloodhound Gang this morning. Some things can be wonderfully unexpected. Take Cash...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/jon-chattman-a-sides-with-jon-chattman-let-cash-cash-and-jacquie-lee-take-you-home/

Adalah demands establishment of health clinic in Kohleh and Makhool villages in the Naqab

Due to lack of clinics, village residents from Kohleh and Makhool villages in the Naqab have to travel to the town of Al Kseifeh, 9 kilometres away, to receive medical treatment.
On 31 December 2014, Adalah sent a letter to the Israeli Deputy Health Minister and to the Clalit ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/adalah-demands-establishment-of-health-clinic-in-kohleh-and-makhool-villages-in-the-naqab/

Ukraine: Report on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

During the last 12 years my research studies were devoted to the problems of indigenous peoples residing in Ukraine. In modern conditions of the Russian agression and occupation of the Crimea, those problems become urgently actual for Crimean Tatars and other indigenous people...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/ukraine-report-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples/

Bolivia: Traditional healers and climate change

As elsewhere in the indigenous Americas, there is a very significant distrust of formal mainstream medicine among Bolivia’s largely indigenous population and a particularly strong preference for traditional medicine. National surveys by the Ministry of Health indicate that 60 per cent of B...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/bolivia-traditional-healers-and-climate-change/

Cambodia: Lao minority fight to retain their language

Um Simeng is the only person in her family who doesn’t speak the Khmer language.
“When I need to run an official errand I have to take a translator with me,” says the 55-year-old ethnic Lao woman, resting in the shade beneath a small wooden hut in Kok Lao village, Ratanakiri province. “Usua...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/cambodia-lao-minority-fight-to-retain-their-language/

SWM 2014: The experience of Central Asian migrants in Moscow, Russia

Case study by Anastasia Denisova
This research is the result of an extended participatory research study between March and April 2014, undertaken by the Civic Assistance Committee and funded by MRG with support from CAFOD.
Trapped in the margins – the challenges of being a migrant in R...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-the-experience-of-central-asian-migrants-in-moscow-russia/

Syria: Assyrian villages in Khabour, Syria under ISIS attack

Assyrian Christian villages along the Khabour river in the Hassake region are under heavy attacks of ISIS. Hundred of people left the region and number of women and children have been kidnapped by ISIS. Clashes continue between MFS, YPG against ISIS.
On Monday around 5am ISIS carried out an...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/syria-assyrian-villages-in-khabour-syria-under-isis-attack/

Sikhs In New Jersey Feed Thousands Because It"s The Sikh Thing To Do

A Sikh community in New Jersey came together this weekend in an attempt to feed more than 13,000 people in need of a free meal.
Over 500 volunteers from Jersey City’s Nanak Naam Jahaj Gurudwara cooked and delivered vegetarian meals to approximately 80 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, N...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/sikhs-in-new-jersey-feed-thousands-because-its-the-sikh-thing-to-do/

Outspeak: News Roundup for November 24, 2016

Here’s the Outspeak roundup of the top five news stories so you can appear informed and worldly even if your fly is undone.


1. Jill Stein has raised over3 million in order to fund recounts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Who thought Jill Stein would be the one to swoop in...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-news-roundup-for-november-24-2016/

WWII Vet Reunited With Stolen Chihuahua He Calls "Love Of His Life"

A California WWII veteran shed tears of joy as he was reunited with “the love of his life.” Roger LeClair says his 12-year-old pet Chihuahua was taken from his yard on Nov. 9, leaving him heartbroken, FOX 11 reports. 
The 93-year-old posted signs all over his neighborhood and even offered a r...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/wwii-vet-reunited-with-stolen-chihuahua-he-calls-love-of-his-life/

Saturday, November 26, 2016

World Leaders React To Fidel Castro’s Death

Heads of state from around the world are reacting to Fidel Castro’s death.
Allies praised the global impact and legacy of Cuba’s former president, who died aged 90 on Friday. His opponents remembered him for heading a communist regime with a poor human rights record.
President Barack Obama ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/world-leaders-react-to-fidel-castros-death/

Anita Dolce Vita: Here Are Queer Women Of Color-Owned Publications To Read After "AfterEllen"

It has been just over two weeks now since Trish Bendix, former editor-in-chief of the 14-year-old queer women’s website AfterEllen, announced that senior executives at Evolve Media, which acquired AfterEllen from Viacom in 2014, terminated her and planned to shut down the site. After s...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/anita-dolce-vita-here-are-queer-women-of-color-owned-publications-to-read-after-afterellen/

Lamar Tyler: Making a Dad: Two Parts Old School, Two Parts New

Recently, I had an amazing opportunity to speak at the Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit. One of the events I attended was a dinner tribute to grandfathers. It was a very moving ceremony that really made me want to be held in the same high regard as those granddads someday. As I thought about...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/lamar-tyler-making-a-dad-two-parts-old-school-two-parts-new/

Gloria Estefan Pens A Powerful Response To Fidel Castro's Death

The “Conga” singer wrote a lengthy message in English and Spanish below a photo of what appears to be unidentified Cuban exiles in a makeshift raft. Read her powerful post below:

Although the death of a human being is rarely cause for celebration, it is the symbolic death of the destructive ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/gloria-estefan-pens-a-powerful-response-to-fidel-castros-death/

Madonna Celebrates Thanksgiving With Homeless LGBTQ Youth

Madonna took some time to celebrate with the clients of a New York City youth center for homeless LGBTQ people this Thanksgiving holiday. 
The Queen of Pop undoubtedly made a few dreams come true when she dropped in at the Ali Forney Center’s Brooklyn housing site Thursday with her son David ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/madonna-celebrates-thanksgiving-with-homeless-lgbtq-youth/

Misty Copeland Teams Up With Charity To Bring Dance To Rwandan Kids

Copeland looked back on her experience with the Rwandan children in a HuffPost Live conversation on Monday.
“There’s really no way to really understand the state that a lot of children are in and living on the street — literally not having homes, illiterate, dying. I feel...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/misty-copeland-teams-up-with-charity-to-bring-dance-to-rwandan-kids/

Jan Rebuschat: It"s No Coincidence That The Creepy-Clown Craze Erupted Right Before The U.S. Election

“Everybody is a clown, but only a few have the courage to show it,” said the famous Spanish artist Charlie Rivel.


Clowns are currently scaring people across the world. I talked to Josh Zeman, a filmmaker and expert on urban legends, about this phenomenon.


Josh, there is a...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/jan-rebuschat-its-no-coincidence-that-the-creepy-clown-craze-erupted-right-before-the-u-s-election/

Gay MP Sparks Furious "Homophobia" Row For Controversial Comedy Sketch

Two of Scotland’s most senior politicians have been embroiled in a row over a contentious comedy sketch that was branded “homophobic”.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry sparked criticism for her comments on the performance at a pro-independence event, which saw the Scottish Tories leader mocked for her s...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/gay-mp-sparks-furious-homophobia-row-for-controversial-comedy-sketch/

Mimi Bekhechi: How It Became Fashionable NOT To Wear Fur

In October, a group of leading young fashion designers, including Hannah Weiland of Shrimps, Molly Goddard, and Faustine Steinmetz, wrote to students at Central Saint Martins urging them not to use fur in their collections. “Fortunately, in order to be a success in the fashion world,...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/mimi-bekhechi-how-it-became-fashionable-not-to-wear-fur/

David S. Simon: What a Writer Hears

Right now I am sitting in my favorite cafe singing “Yellow Submarine” as LOUDLY as I can and no one can hear me because the song is being performed from the inner sanctum of my head which is where, as a writer, my primary residence is.


The beauty of doing this for a living is...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/david-s-simon-what-a-writer-hears/

Outspeak: News Roundup for November 25, 2016

Here’s the Outspeak roundup of the top five news stories you can use to impress your colleagues (with Steven Seagal facts) at happy hour.


1. Vladimir Putin gives Steven Seagal a Russian passport to help Russian-American relations. This is how international relations are solved, with...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-news-roundup-for-november-25-2016/

Ahwazi mass demonstration in front of the European Parliament in Brussels

The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Al-Ahwaz has organized a mass demonstration, under the title “We will never forget our Ahwazi people” in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, the Belgian Capital.
The Demonstration took place on Friday 6th of March to condemn the pol...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/ahwazi-mass-demonstration-in-front-of-the-european-parliament-in-brussels/

DRC: Les Populations Autochtones Pygmees Faces Au Processus Electoral En RD Congo

Tout citoyen a droit de participer pleinement à la vie politique de son Pays. Ceci est l’un des baromètres pour apprécier la démocratie dans un Etat.
Les Pygmées de la RD Congo, singulièrement ceux de la Province du Nord-Kivu lance un cri d’alarme face au risque qu’ils courts, celui de n’est...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/drc-les-populations-autochtones-pygmees-faces-au-processus-electoral-en-rd-congo/

Argentina: MRG report on health launched at UNICEF event

MRG’s annual flagship report State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2013, which this year focuses on health, was launched in Argentina this week on the Day of the Children of the Mountains 2013. The cacique of the Amaicha del Valle community, Dr Eduardo Nieva, spoke ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/argentina-mrg-report-on-health-launched-at-unicef-event/

The Manu Project: Building a 21st century queer totem for Auckland Pride

The Manu Project has been conceived by London-based friends and collaborators Lyall Hakaraia and Emma Eastwood.
Lyall Hakaraia is a creative director and curator of Māori descent, who has produced publicly engaging work at art power houses such as the ICA and The Barbican and in the fields ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/the-manu-project-building-a-21st-century-queer-totem-for-auckland-pride/

SWM 2014: The unequal application of hate crime legislation in Hungary

Case study by Eszter Jovánovics
While the conviction, almost five years on, of four people in 2013 for the serial killing of six Roma in 2008 and 2009 is a welcome step in the fight against Hungary’s endemic hate crime, the community is still poorly protected against a rising wave of ta...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-the-unequal-application-of-hate-crime-legislation-in-hungary/

EU/Iraq/Syria: Breakthrough EU resolution supporting Nineveh Plain Safe Haven

In a unprecedented move European Parliament adopted a resolution regarding Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian (CSA people) in Middle East supporting safe haven in the Nineveh Plain and Syriac Military Council, MFS and further condemning acts of ISIS.
Strasbourg, EU – European Parliament, EP adopted h...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/euiraqsyria-breakthrough-eu-resolution-supporting-nineveh-plain-safe-haven/

Kathy Ko Chin: Trump Presidency Risks Health Of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians And Pacific Islanders

By Kathy Ko Chin, Ben D’Avanzo


While the details of President-elect Donald Trump’s policy plans have been vague, he campaigned that “repealing and replacing” the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be one of his top priorities. This campaign pledge echoed legislative...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/kathy-ko-chin-trump-presidency-risks-health-of-asian-americans-native-hawaiians-and-pacific-islanders/

Zac Thompson: Social Media Is Making Us All Awful and Self Absorbed

It’s no secret that social media has made us more comfortable with the idea of self absorption. Yet, in the wake of the recent election results in the United States many of us have been left to question how we interact online and the nature of our seemingly declining morals in...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/zac-thompson-social-media-is-making-us-all-awful-and-self-absorbed/

The AGEIST 2016 Person Of The Year

“I thought that was a really bad idea,” she says now. “Because, A: I’m not well known and nobody knows me in the cosmetics industry; B: Will older women really be looking at YouTube for makeup videos? I don’t think so.”
Then the views started coming in: first in a trickle, t...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/the-ageist-2016-person-of-the-year/

LIVE Q&A: Ask The Man Who Live-Tweeted The Bin Laden Raid Anything

05/04/2011 2:38 PM EDT
All done
I am done for the day. It is almost midnight here. If there are any more questions that the HP readers have, they can tweet them with a #q2rv and I will try to answer them on my blog when I get the time.


05/04/2011 2:37 PM EDT
Have you tasted Ilyasi...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/live-qa-ask-the-man-who-live-tweeted-the-bin-laden-raid-anything/

Friday, November 25, 2016

Dylann Roof Mentally Competent To Stand Trial, Judge Rules

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – Accused white supremacist Dylann Roof is mentally competent to stand trial for the shooting deaths of nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church last year, a federal judge ruled on Friday.
Roof’s competency was the subject of a 16-hour hearing held b...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/dylann-roof-mentally-competent-to-stand-trial-judge-rules/

Pamela A. Lewis: It Is Time To Say "No" To The N-Word

In 1980, when the late comedian Richard Pryor, back from a trip to Kenya, was asked by Ebony magazine why he would no longer use the N-word in his humor, he replied, “While I was there, something inside of me said, “Look around you, Richard. What do you see? I saw people....

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/pamela-a-lewis-it-is-time-to-say-no-to-the-n-word/

A.Z. Herron: My Baby is Resilient. What About Me?

The day before3:30 p.m.Scattered thoughtsWill I have the same energy, drive and interest in my work? Will I sit at my desk and cry each time I glance at her 4×6 photo pinned to my cubicle wall? Will my boss provide more flexibility? Is my baby going to miss me? Will the sitter mess up...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/a-z-herron-my-baby-is-resilient-what-about-me/

Mass Rapes To Mass Protests: Violence Against Women In 2016

From historic convictions to impunity for gang rapes, 2016 has been a year of highs and lows when it comes to efforts to stem violence against women.


November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It’s a day to reflect on the pain and...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/mass-rapes-to-mass-protests-violence-against-women-in-2016/

A 'Safe Space' For White People, Otherwise Known As 'The Two-State Solution,' or 'Disunion As Solution'

It’s time, America. It’s either a two-state divorce, or “Heil, Trump” will be coming to your neighborhood as it has already come to mine.


We are in a civil war. Not very hot — yet — but in which tension is building daily. Neo-Nazis party in my...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/a-safe-space-for-white-people-otherwise-known-as-the-two-state-solution-or-disunion-as-solution/

An HIV Nurse Shares Her Patients" Stories Through Art

Tuesday is World AIDS Day, and a nurse who treated HIV patients in the Central African Republic wants the world to learn more about the virus and its patients — through art.
In October 2014, 26-year-old Doctors Without Borders nurse Diana Johnson went to Zemio, a rural town in the...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/an-hiv-nurse-shares-her-patients-stories-through-art/

Corinne Imbert: If French Politicians Continue To Make Short-Sighted Decisions, There Will Be Another Calais

The President of the French Republic promised that the dismantling of the eerily-named “jungle” of Calais would happen. And so, on Monday morning, the evacuation began. Even if we can rejoice in the fact that for once, the president delivered on his word, the fact remains that...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/corinne-imbert-if-french-politicians-continue-to-make-short-sighted-decisions-there-will-be-another-calais/

Gay Olympian Gives Incredible Account Of Why He Tackled "Homophobic" Grindr Article

A gay Olympian has spoken of the “crushing wave of sadness” that spurred him into taking action against a website he claimed “endangered lives” by exposing athletes using Grindr.
Amini Fonua revealed he debated whether to say anything after being plunged into loneliness when news website the ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/gay-olympian-gives-incredible-account-of-why-he-tackled-homophobic-grindr-article/

Oli Reed: Get Outside: Beat The Winter Blues

I’ve always hated the winter. Dark nights and bad weather aren’t my idea of fun, but being stuck indoors is even worse! Fortunately for me, Sonny doesn’t seem remotely bothered by the cold, so we’re all set for a winter of adventure…


The night the clocks...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/oli-reed-get-outside-beat-the-winter-blues/

Brooke Roberts-Islam: London College Of Fashion And Kering - Fashion Sustainability And Education In Focus

Professor Frances Corner, Head of London College of Fashion opened the 3rd annual Kering Talk with the comment that when LCF moves to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2020, all the faculties and facilities will be under one roof, giving the students and teaching staff “literally...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/brooke-roberts-islam-london-college-of-fashion-and-kering-fashion-sustainability-and-education-in-focus/

Whitney Houston"s Estate Says "Voice" Hologram Not Right Or OK

On Thursday, footage of Christina Aguilera performing alongside a hologram of the late Whitney Houston on “The Voice” surfaced online. For all those asking why, how and WTF were they thinking: We’re so right there with you. 
Apparently, the executor of Houston’s es...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/whitney-houstons-estate-says-voice-hologram-not-right-or-ok/

LJ Quirk: Was It Okay For A White Man To Say The N-word On CNN?

Brooke Baldwin, host of CNN’s Newsroom, broke down on Tuesday, November 22 after Charles Kaiser said, “If you don’t want to support the alt-right, don’t choose, as a White House counsellor, a man who uses the word ‘nigger’.”


This happened during a...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/lj-quirk-was-it-okay-for-a-white-man-to-say-the-n-word-on-cnn/

Jordan: Bedouins, a lifestyle in disappearance

Improvements in the economy and technology have prevented Jordanian Bedouins from keeping a truly nomadic existence, and their way of life is slowly disappearing.
Currently, around only 15 families permanently live in tents in the protected area of Wadi Rum (South-West Jordan),...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/jordan-bedouins-a-lifestyle-in-disappearance/

Global: African History Month 365 Days Concepts

Click on the link below to read an article that praises Dr. Carters G. Woodson Negro History Week that he created in 1926.
The African History Month365-Days Concepts present a case to enhance his legacy, including all the descendants of slavery from Christopher Columbus’s...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/global-african-history-month-365-days-concepts/

Guatemala: Edgar PĂ©rez - Genocide and justice

In March this year former Guatemalan dictator José Efraín Ríos Montt made international headlines when he was convicted on genocide charges. Sadly, the conviction was swiftly overturned by Guatemala’s Constitution Court. A new trial is set to begin in January 2015, but many fear that t...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/guatemala-edgar-perez-genocide-and-justice/

SWM 2015: China - Urbanizing the Trung – one of China’s smallest officially recognized minorities

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Ross Perlin
This research is a result of several years of field work in the north-west corner of Yunnan province, one of the most multicultural and multilingual areas in China. The most recent observations and interviews are from November...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-china-urbanizing-the-trung-one-of-chinas-smallest-officially-recognized-minorities/

SWM 2014: Rising hostility against Bulgaria’s refugee population

Case study by Yuliana Metodieva
Minority groups in Bulgaria, such as Roma and ethnic Turks, have long suffered discrimination and marginalization – and this has also translated into hate speech and bias motivated violence. However, the arrival of thousands of refugees displaced by the c...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-rising-hostility-against-bulgarias-refugee-population/

Iran/EU: Massive Ahwazi demonstration in Brussels commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Iranian occupation of Al-Ahwaz

On Friday 17-04-2015, a massive demonstration was held in front of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels to commemorate both the 10th anniversary of the Ahwazi popular uprising of April 2005 and the 90th anniversary of the Iranian occupation of Al-Ahwaz (subsequently renamed...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/iraneu-massive-ahwazi-demonstration-in-brussels-commemorates-the-90th-anniversary-of-the-iranian-occupation-of-al-ahwaz/

A Sandwich Tutorial For All You Sexists Out There

Making a sandwich isn’t a hard task, which is why comedian Lilly Singh is always confused why so many of her haters tell her to go to the kitchen and make one.
The Canadian YouTuber, also known as Superwoman, recently uploaded a hilarious sandwich tutorial aimed at all those...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/a-sandwich-tutorial-for-all-you-sexists-out-there/

Orphaned Kittens Bring Immeasurable Joy To Dementia Patients

Countless orphaned kittens are finding the love they need in an unlikely place ― the arms of dementia patients who need a little comfort of their own. 
Last year, those at the Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona say they took in over 2,100 kittens that were either orphaned, abandoned ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/orphaned-kittens-bring-immeasurable-joy-to-dementia-patients/

Ali A. Rizvi: A Message to My Fellow Pakistanis in the Post-Osama World

“Only 3000 Americans died in that 9/11 drama. But they have killed many more in response.”


Fair enough. The young, educated English-speaking Pakistani man who sent me these words may have thought 9/11 was a “drama,” but at least he got his numbers right —...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/ali-a-rizvi-a-message-to-my-fellow-pakistanis-in-the-post-osama-world/

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Usain Bolt Runs Rings Around James Corden In Olympic Rap Battle

Don’t even try to compete with Usain Bolt on the track ― or in a rap battle.
The Olympic sprint legend took on “The Late Late Show” host James Corden in a lyrical war of words for Wednesday night’s broadcast. 
And the insults got real funny, real fast.
Corden began brightly by busting out som...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/usain-bolt-runs-rings-around-james-corden-in-olympic-rap-battle/

Alan Singer: NAACP Board of Directors Affirms Call for Charter School Moratorium

On Saturday, the Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) ratified a resolution adopted by delegates at its 2016 National Convention calling for a moratorium on charter school expansion and for increased oversight over existing charter...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/alan-singer-naacp-board-of-directors-affirms-call-for-charter-school-moratorium/

Nia Long"s Pregnancy Woes (Plus Other Hot Moms Over 40)

The wow factor that Nia Long evoked on the November cover of EBONY magazine followed the actress’ own surprise, learning that she was pregnant after a visit to the doctor left her with little hope that she could have more children, according to her interview with the...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/nia-longs-pregnancy-woes-plus-other-hot-moms-over-40/

Wolf Blitzer Nails Exactly What's Wrong With Donald Trump's 'Hamilton' Outrage

Wolf Blitzer has perfectly summed up the problem with Donald Trump’s  seemingly selective outrage.
The CNN host noted Wednesday the stark difference between the president-elect’s responses to white nationalists celebrating his win and his comments on vice president-elect Mike Pence getting si...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/wolf-blitzer-nails-exactly-whats-wrong-with-donald-trumps-hamilton-outrage/

My Transgender Life: On Hallowed Ground

I was honored to be asked to speak on the Lexington Battle Green as the First Parish Church, with no transgender members decided to honor the Transgender Day of Remembrance . The Battle Green is known for the shot heard round the world where the American revolution began. It is hallowed,...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/my-transgender-life-on-hallowed-ground/

Meet Siza Mzimela, The First Black Woman To Start An Airline

Siza Mzimela made history this year by becoming the first black woman to start an airline.
Mzimela, a South African entrepreneur, launched Fly Blue Crane in September. The airline services cities in South Africa including Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Kimberly and Nelspruit. It has two 50-seat...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/meet-siza-mzimela-the-first-black-woman-to-start-an-airline/

This Mexican Artist Is Challenging Sexuality And Gender Norms With Bold Illustrations

Jovan Israel, a 25-year-old Mexican artist, is making it his mission to create artwork that represents the experiences of the LGBTQ community in Mexico.
The Mexican government is trying to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, and lawmakers have recently passed a series of a...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/this-mexican-artist-is-challenging-sexuality-and-gender-norms-with-bold-illustrations/

Rebecca Fox: Get Ready! Parliament Debates Transgender Equality

On Thursday 1st December there is a Back Bench Debate in the Houses of Parliament on transgender equality. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a representation from Maria Miller, Ruth Cadbury and Angela Crawley.


OK, so you’re not an MP but you do...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/rebecca-fox-get-ready-parliament-debates-transgender-equality/

Stressed-Out Mum Welled Up When Stranger Paid Nearly £150 For Her Shopping

A mum who was struggling with the pressures of parenthood, was overwhelmed when a stranger paid for her whole food shop.
Danielle Vinson, from the US, explained she’d had a day of dealing with her boys who “love me, but so just don’t get it” and needed a break.
She took her youngest son (”the...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/stressed-out-mum-welled-up-when-stranger-paid-nearly-150-for-her-shopping/

Dorte Lange: A Mindful Gift Guide For Christmas

Photography Johanna Ruebel, Model Rosalie@IZAIO ManagementWords Dorte Lange via LISSOME


Christmas is coming closer and so is the end of 2016. I enjoy this time of the year as a moment of introspection, of stillness, of looking back to and reflecting upon the months that have passed. It is...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/dorte-lange-a-mindful-gift-guide-for-christmas/

And The Winner Of "The Voice" Is ...

After weeks of blind auditions, battles and live performances, “The Voice” has crowned its Season 10 winner. 
Former child star Alisan Porter, who starred as the titular character in 1991’s “Curly Sue,” was named “The Voice” on Tuesday night, giving ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/and-the-winner-of-the-voice-is/

Outspeak: News Roundup for November 23, 2016

Here’s the Outspeak roundup of the top five (actually true and totally fact-checked) news stories to unhump your Wednesday.


1. Standing Rock protesters, mostly Native American, are being teargassed by police. Rather fitting for Thanksgiving week. More here.


2. Stanford...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-news-roundup-for-november-23-2016/

SWM 2015: Libya - Hopes and fears in cities after the fall of Gaddafi

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Sarah El-Ashmawy
Of all the North African countries undergoing political change in the wake of the Arab spring, Libya has perhaps experienced the most uncertain and difficult transition. Since the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi from power...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-libya-hopes-and-fears-in-cities-after-the-fall-of-gaddafi/

SWM 2015: Kenya - Urban migration and the loss of traditional culture among Endorois youth

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Rebecca Marlin
Indigenous Endorois had inhabited Lake Bogoria for centuries when, in the 1970s, the Kenyan government forcibly removed them from their ancestral land. Their eviction brought to an end a unique way of life rich with culture and...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-kenya-urban-migration-and-the-loss-of-traditional-culture-among-endorois-youth/

Belize: US Capital Energy and Government of Belize Taunt Supreme Court SATIIM file for Injunction

Punta Gorda March 18th, 2014: On October 23rd, 2013, arguments ended in the case between SATIIM and the indigenous communities, and the Government of Belize. Justice Arana reserved judgment.

 
One would expect that a law-abiding and socially responsible company would suspend its ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/belize-us-capital-energy-and-government-of-belize-taunt-supreme-court-satiim-file-for-injunction/

Nepal: UN rights experts apprised of violation of rights of indigenous Pradhan Newars for construction of a mega business complex

Kathmandu, 9 Feb
Two non-governmental organizations have submitted an urgent communication to UN rights experts alleging that a Nepali private company has unlawfully acquired the communal trust lands of indigenous Pradhan Newar community of Kathmandu to construct a mega business complex. As...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/nepal-un-rights-experts-apprised-of-violation-of-rights-of-indigenous-pradhan-newars-for-construction-of-a-mega-business-complex/

SWM 2014: Tackling Islamophobia in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, extremist organizations such as the English Defence League have launched vocal attacks against the Muslim minority. However, while these groups remain at the fringe politically, their activities comprise only a small fraction of the true extent of Islamophobic hate...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-tackling-islamophobia-in-the-united-kingdom/

Iran: The oppression of Ahwazi Arab people in Al-Ahwaz

While Iran’s role in the wars in the Middle East is receiving a great deal of international attention, the situation in its south and south-western provinces of Khuzestan, Hormozgan and Bushehr, which are known to its Arab inhabitants as Al-Ahwaz region, is largely ignored.
Iran has imposed ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/iran-the-oppression-of-ahwazi-arab-people-in-al-ahwaz/

Mannequin Challenge Shows All The Offensive S**t Asians Put Up With This Year

Between the presidential campaign’s mudslinging and the current resurgence of bigotry and white nationalism, it’s easy to forget just how awkward it was for Asian-Americans in 2016.
But one group wants to remind you of a sector of racism that has gone largely overlooked ― and its lesson comes...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/mannequin-challenge-shows-all-the-offensive-st-asians-put-up-with-this-year/

Lonnie Nadler: Tiffany Trump, Before She Was Famous

Considering the stature of her last name, Tiffany Trump largely lived a life outside the spotlight until her father’s Presidential campaign this year. Prior to The Donald’s nomination she was just your average privileged white girl about to graduate from an Ivy League college....

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/lonnie-nadler-tiffany-trump-before-she-was-famous/

5 Tips For Keeping Your Fitness Plan On Track During The Holidays

Ready or not, the holidays are here. With all the feasting and shopping and party-going and year-end budgeting, it can be tough to keep up a regular exercise routine.
But research shows that taking just a week or two off from exercise can erase months of favorable metabolic gains, and...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/5-tips-for-keeping-your-fitness-plan-on-track-during-the-holidays/

Imran Khan: Deceptive Desperation

Hawks are an integral part of any political jungle, and Pakistan is no exception. But in relative terms the Pakistani variety does appear a “bit” more hawkish than the rest, “hawks on steroids” if you may. This lot usually hates compromises, for instance; grass seems...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/imran-khan-deceptive-desperation/

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Nails Why It's OK To Care About Fashion And Beauty After The Election

For many people, the weeks since Donald Trump was elected president have been a time of mourning, organizing and figuring out how to make sense of it all.
The question on the minds of many people who write and/or care about beauty and fashion was how to keep pushing on in these fields when...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-nails-why-its-ok-to-care-about-fashion-and-beauty-after-the-election/

The Well: How Studying Abroad In Ghana Changed My Racial Consciousness

This post is by Akintunde Ahmad and originally appeared on The Well, Jopwell’s editorial hub.
For my entire life, I have viewed the world through the lens of an African-American man. Every action, every thought and every situation, I analyze not only as a person, but as a Black man in Ame...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/the-well-how-studying-abroad-in-ghana-changed-my-racial-consciousness/

Too Cute: Harajuku Mini for Target (PHOTOS)

Attention mini fashionistas and fashionistos! Our favorite mass market retailer, Target, is launching Harajuku Mini by Gwen Stefani on November 13–just in time for the holiday season.


We can’t help but imagine Baby Bey-Z (aka Beyonce and Jay-Z’s offspring) wearing these...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/too-cute-harajuku-mini-for-target-photos/

Ana Navarro To Trump: Stop Fighting Broadway, Start Fighting White Supremacists

A recent viral video of white nationalists yelling “Hail Trump!” in Washington D.C. has sparked debate on whether President-elect Donald Trump has done enough to denounce dangerous neo-Nazi elements of the so-called “alt-right.” 
CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 addressed the topic in a segment Tues...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/ana-navarro-to-trump-stop-fighting-broadway-start-fighting-white-supremacists/

Not Another Transgender Tragedy

This is not another story of a transgender tragedy. No, this is a story of success! This is the sort of story that our LGBT community needs to hear more of, a story that educates and inspires.


This is the story of Andri Tremonte and his journey from past, to present and exciting future....

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/not-another-transgender-tragedy/

One Woman Shares Her Difficult Experiences Of Traveling While Black

Traveling the world is meant to open people to new experiences, but sometimes it can be hard for black people to fully enjoy those experiences.
Travel blogger Jo Franco sheds light on the difficulties of traveling while black in the video above. From unwarranted stares to offensive comments, ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/one-woman-shares-her-difficult-experiences-of-traveling-while-black/

Deborah Dirani: What This Princess Did After She Lost The Use Of Her Legs Inspired Obama To Meet Her

Once upon a time, there was a princess. She was blonde and feisty and, like many other children around the world, she was blessed with everything she needed for a healthy life: Two sparkling eyes, a healthy heart, a lovely head (filled with the will to fight), two hands, two arms, two legs...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/deborah-dirani-what-this-princess-did-after-she-lost-the-use-of-her-legs-inspired-obama-to-meet-her/

LJ Ferris: Microaggressions - Not Micro But Definitely Aggresive

The term “microaggression” was used by Columbia professor Derald Sue to refer to “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioural, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/lj-ferris-microaggressions-not-micro-but-definitely-aggresive/

Joanne Martin: Miscarriage - It Happened To Me

“I’m sorry, there’s no heartbeat”


The words ring in your ears. Everything around you slows down and blurs. The words feel heavy on your skin as they sink in. You can feel your heart beating fast and loud and your chest begins to hurt. Your eyes swim with tears. You...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/joanne-martin-miscarriage-it-happened-to-me/

Carry Somers: Power Is Control Of The Story - We Want Our Clothes To Tell A Different Story

There is nothing more important than performance, and fashion brands have to perform because of this greed – not a percent or two per year, but at least 10 percent quarterly, even when we’re talking about billion-dollar businesses. There is no end to the greed, so the brands...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/carry-somers-power-is-control-of-the-story-we-want-our-clothes-to-tell-a-different-story/

"The Voice" Winner Alisan Porter Gets Her "Fairytale Ending’ After Facing Alcoholism

Alisan Porter never thought “The Voice” host Carson Daly would call her name, but he did. 
“It never is the fairytale ending,” the Season 10 winner told People magazine in an exclusive interview. “It’s always like, ‘Oh, I wish."”
Porter’s ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/the-voice-winner-alisan-porter-gets-her-fairytale-ending-after-facing-alcoholism/

Outspeak: News Roundup for November 22, 2016

Here’s the Outspeak roundup of the top five news stories so you can look more informed than that smart-ass, Greg, at the watercooler.


1. Kanye West has been hospitalized. We guess he wanted to get in on Obamacare before Trump got his tiny hands on it. More here.


2. The Trump...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-news-roundup-for-november-22-2016/

Voice To Voice: Writer Whitney Joiner And ACLU"s Chris Hampton Discuss LGBT Bullying

Earlier this year Gay Voices launched its Voice To Voice conversation series with a collection of interviews between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) authors discussing queer topics and issues related to writing.


If February, in honor of Black History Month, we asked...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/voice-to-voice-writer-whitney-joiner-and-aclus-chris-hampton-discuss-lgbt-bullying/

Namibia: The San in southern Africa – adjusting to urbanization as a first people

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Inga Thiemann
Southern African countries have urbanized rapidly in the last few decades, with significant impacts on San indigenous populations in the entire region. Urbanization has not only threatened access to land among rural communities...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/namibia-the-san-in-southern-africa-adjusting-to-urbanization-as-a-first-people/

SWM 2015: Mali - Cultural heritage as a vehicle for peace in Timbuktu

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Joana Dabaj
The fabled ‘city of 333 Saints’, Timbuktu, is located in the republic of Mali at the edge of the Sahara desert and near the Niger River. Founded in the 5th century, it was long regarded as a centre for the diffusion of Islam thr...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-mali-cultural-heritage-as-a-vehicle-for-peace-in-timbuktu/

UN: Appointment of Special Rapporteur reflects important place of minority rights in UN system, MRG

On 27 March, the Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a resolution proposed by Austria, renewing the mandate of the United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues, and converting it into a Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.
‘MRG welcomes this change of name, which amounts to a...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/un-appointment-of-special-rapporteur-reflects-important-place-of-minority-rights-in-un-system-mrg/

Cambodia: Indigenous groups recall painful past

Nok Yik was seven years old when the Khmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia, plunging the country into darkness and terror. She was confined to a forced labour camp in north-eastern Ratanakiri province, where she served food and water to a troupe of workers for 12 hours a day.
Her grandmother...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/cambodia-indigenous-groups-recall-painful-past/

SWM 2014: Ukraine fails to address hate crime against migrants and other groups

Case study by Irene Fedorovych
The Ukrainian state has been slow to recognize the reality of hate crime in the country. Even now, there continues to be a clear gap between the small number of cases officially reported each year and the much larger number of incidents recorded by NGOs and...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-ukraine-fails-to-address-hate-crime-against-migrants-and-other-groups/

Middle East: Rifugio, a new book about Christians of the Middle East

The birthplace of Christianity lies on the Iranian slopes from Mount Ararat to Mount Lebanon. Since those ancient times, the rugged valleys and gorges have served as a refuge for monastic communities and those in search of solitude. Nowadays, 12 million Christians are assumed to...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/middle-east-rifugio-a-new-book-about-christians-of-the-middle-east/

"Quantico" Star Did What Anyone Would Do After Cuddling Rescue Puppies

Priyanka Chopra is a model, singer, former Miss World and Bollywood superstar who has made a big splash on American television as the star of the ABC drama “Quantico.” 
But at the end of the day, she gets just as weak as the rest of the us at the sight of a sweet, cuddly puppy.
Chopra was sur...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/quantico-star-did-what-anyone-would-do-after-cuddling-rescue-puppies/

Zac Thompson: Confronting Racism in the Gay Community

The gay community has an expected level of empathy based purely on a shared sense of discrimination. The vast majority of young gay Americans, however, deal with struggle and survival on a daily basis, from both outside and within the LGBTQ community. Whether it’s an archaic blood ban...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/zac-thompson-confronting-racism-in-the-gay-community/

Wow Your Family With These 15 Fun Thanksgiving Facts

Though the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, it didn’t become a U.S. holiday until 1864; President Abraham Lincoln announced it after the Union army won a battle at Gettysburg. Thanksgiving was set as the fourth Thursday in November, and has been since, except for a brief period towards t...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/wow-your-family-with-these-15-fun-thanksgiving-facts/

CeCe McDonald Reflects On Life And Activism Since Her Release From Prison

This is the first feature in a series that aims to elevate some of the transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals who have played a significant role in the ongoing fight for trans and queer liberation.
In a time when conversations surrounding transgender identity are taking shape at a...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/cece-mcdonald-reflects-on-life-and-activism-since-her-release-from-prison/

Sobia Ali: Voices of Pakistan: Why do Pakistanis Have Such Mixed Opinions About America?

I belong to the minority of people who actually know the correct pronunciation of “Abbottabad,”unlike President Obama, or JonStewart because I grew up there. While I have always taken interest in socio-politicalissues in Pakistan, this time it was a little surreal.


Walk into...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/sobia-ali-voices-of-pakistan-why-do-pakistanis-have-such-mixed-opinions-about-america/

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

BET Founder Bob Johnson: Let's Give Trump 'A Shot'

Bob Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, has a message for black people after a recent private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump: give him a chance. 
The television exec, who retired as head of the network in 2006, reportedly met with Trump on Sunday to discuss how he ...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/bet-founder-bob-johnson-lets-give-trump-a-shot/

Dwight Brown: Moonlight

In just his second feature film, writer/director Barry Jenkins tells a compelling story about sexual repression and ambiguity through the eyes of a vulnerable and confused little boy, who grows up to question his sexual identity as a teen and then finds a thin measure of serenity as a young...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/dwight-brown-moonlight/

Second Act: Toddlewood Creator, Tricia Messeroux, Turns Tots Into Hollywood Royalty

HuffPost BlackVoices’ “Second Act” series explores the impact of the nation’s financial turmoil on the lives and career choices of African-American entrepreneurs. We’ve asked them to share how they’ve made the leap from a dead-end job or unemployment to...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/second-act-toddlewood-creator-tricia-messeroux-turns-tots-into-hollywood-royalty/

21 Brilliant Black Voices We're Thankful For This Year

Let’s be honest: 2016 was one of the worst years ever. For black people, it was especially trying thanks the the racism that Donald Trump’s presidential campaign (and eventual election) incited amongst white nationalists. Then there was, of course, the numerous unjust shooting deaths of bla...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/21-brilliant-black-voices-were-thankful-for-this-year/

Renaming World AIDS Day As World HIV Day

The first response of governments and institutions to the HIV epidemic lagged behind the passionate work of dedicated individuals who cared for those infected, fought against discrimination and bigotry, disseminated news on treatment and prevention, and finally won resources to combat...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/renaming-world-aids-day-as-world-hiv-day/

Beverly Bond Is Launching Black Girls Rock! Africa

Beverly Bond made history when she founded Black Girls Rock! in 2006 with the intention of empowering and mentoring black women and girls across the United States. Now, she’s spreading that initiative across the Atlantic and into Africa.
Bond made the announcement during a BET...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/beverly-bond-is-launching-black-girls-rock-africa/

Norma Bastidas: How I Survived Sexual Violence To Become An Ultra Athlete

This year I will have the honor of speaking at the 2016 Women’s Forum Global Meeting in Deauville, France. CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Hong Kong Su-Mei Thompson will interview me and present me as an “Amazing Woman.” When I heard the news that I had been...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/norma-bastidas-how-i-survived-sexual-violence-to-become-an-ultra-athlete/

Ruth Hunt: The Forced Fall Of The Turing Bill Is Offensive and Hurtful

Thousands of gay and bi men throughout the 20th century were prosecuted under unjust and discriminatory sexual offence laws. Of this fact, there is no disagreement. However, last week, at a debate in the House of Commons, a Bill that has come to be known as the Turing Bill, was filibustered...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/ruth-hunt-the-forced-fall-of-the-turing-bill-is-offensive-and-hurtful/

Annette Demetriou: Fove Reasons Why Having A September-Born Four Year Old Rocks

For years everyone has crooned about how lucky we were to have a September-born child. Statistics supposedly show that a September-born is more likely to succeed and be top of the class in school. Yay I thought, until this year.


You see, the very same people who thought this was ace are...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/annette-demetriou-fove-reasons-why-having-a-september-born-four-year-old-rocks/

Loulou Storey: Ten Secrets To Eliminating That I Have Nothing To Wear Feeling

A lot of us wish that we dressed with more character, style and passaz and blame our clothes and lack of time as the trouble makers for our uninspired appearance.I am here to help you perk up your style and help you realise that there is a lot more excitement in your wardrobe than you give...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/loulou-storey-ten-secrets-to-eliminating-that-i-have-nothing-to-wear-feeling/

Celebrities Mourn "Voice" Alum Christina Grimmie After Shocking Death

Celebrities remembered former “Voice” contestant Christina Grimmie as an incredible talent taken too soon, as they rushed to pay tribute to the singer on social media early Saturday morning.
Grimmie, 22, was fatally shot after a Florida concert where she was opening for the pop ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/celebrities-mourn-voice-alum-christina-grimmie-after-shocking-death/

Outspeak: News Roundup for November 21, 2016

Here’s the Outspeak roundup of the top five news stories you need to know for your Starbucks break. Or whatever.


1. Pope Francis imbues Catholic priests with the power to forgive women who have had abortions. The confessionals will be packed full of “baby murderers”,...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-news-roundup-for-november-21-2016/

Voice To Voice: Jason Cianciotto And Sean Cahill Discuss Combating LGBT Bullying

This week we bring you another Voice to Voice, this time from Jason Cianciotto and Sean Cahill, authors of the new book “LGBT Youth in America’s Schools.”


Jason Cianciotto, MPA, has been advocating for the health, safety, and well-being of LGBT people for over a decade. He has served at th...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/voice-to-voice-jason-cianciotto-and-sean-cahill-discuss-combating-lgbt-bullying/

SWM 2015: Somalia - Minorities on the margins of Mogadishu

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Michelle Minc
Mogadishu, one of the oldest cities in Sub-Saharan Africa, has undergone tremendous population growth over the last century. This has been accompanied by the development of informal settlements, or obbosibo, which have sprung up...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-somalia-minorities-on-the-margins-of-mogadishu/

Nouveau documentaire MRG/Mauritanie: Esclaves et discriminee: l'Ă©mancipation des femmes Haratines

Réalisé par Mamoudou Lamine Kane, commandé et produit par Minority Rights Group International et NEXUS PROD
Durée: 27:35 mn
Langue: Arabe (sous-titrage en français)
Dans une série d’entretiens, des femmes Haratine parlent des réalités quotidiennes de l’esclavage et de la lib...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/nouveau-documentaire-mrgmauritanie-esclaves-et-discriminee-lemancipation-des-femmes-haratines/

SWM 2014: Countering racism in South American football

Case study by Antonio Cicioni and Natalia Torres
It is well known how enthusiastic South Americans are when it comes to football. However, while the region has attracted positive attention for the passion and commitment it invests in the game, this image has also been tarnished by incidents...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-countering-racism-in-south-american-football/

Minority Voices Podcast - April 2015

Alternative content


MRG’s April 2015 Minority Voices Podcast features a report back from the jungles of Thailand, where indigenous communities are being displaced in the name of conservation, and folk music from the war-torn Nuba Mountains in Sudan.
Photo: Mue Naw, wife of a...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/minority-voices-podcast-april-2015/

State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2014: Case studies

Hate crime towards minorities and indigenous peoples is a daily reality in many countries across the globe, says Minority Rights Group International (MRG) in its annual report, but is often ignored by authorities.
The international organisation’s flagship report, State of the W...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/state-of-the-worlds-minorities-and-indigenous-peoples-2014-case-studies/

SWM 2015: Lebanon - The disappearance of Wadi Abu Jmil, Beirut’s Jewish district

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Rania El Rajji
Lebanon’s wars have had a lasting impact on the country’s urban fabric. The infamous ‘green line’ which divided Beirut into East and West between 1975 and 1990 forced various religious groups – primarily Muslims and Christians, ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-lebanon-the-disappearance-of-wadi-abu-jmil-beiruts-jewish-district/

American-Born Panda Twins Have Trouble Adjusting To Life In China

Three-year-old giant panda twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan, who were born at Zoo Atlanta in 2013, seem to be very homesick for the USA.
The two pandas, which were the first surviving giant panda twins ever born in the United States, were relocated to their new home at the Chengdu Research Base of ...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/american-born-panda-twins-have-trouble-adjusting-to-life-in-china/

Outspeak: Now"s The Time To Protect Women"s Rights

As we’re sure you already know, women’s rights are in danger under President-elect Donald Trump. The new Presidential administration is already making strides so that a woman knows her “place.”


Vice President-elect Mike Pence tried to institute extreme...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/outspeak-nows-the-time-to-protect-womens-rights/

Aaron Paul"s Tribute To "Beautiful" Grandma Will Make You Melt

“Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul routinely professes his love for his “angelic goddess” wife on Instagram, but yesterday it was another “beautiful” woman he had on his mind: his 94-year-old grandmother.
“It’s amazing what your heart does when it is jolted,” Paul began the heartfelt post, showin...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/aaron-pauls-tribute-to-beautiful-grandma-will-make-you-melt/

Kate Bornstein Discusses Trans Identity And The Future Of The Queer Movement

This is the second feature in a series that aims to elevate some of the transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals who have played a significant role in the ongoing fight for trans and queer liberation. Head here to read the first feature with CeCe McDonald.
Kate Bornstein is a...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/kate-bornstein-discusses-trans-identity-and-the-future-of-the-queer-movement/

Tell Us Your Questions About Pakistan

In our Voices of Pakistan series, the Huffington Post is writing a series of articles exploring the views of the Pakistani people. Sobia Ali, a Huff Post tech team member who is from Abbottabad, Pakistan, started the series with an article examining the mixed opinions that Pakistanis have...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/tell-us-your-questions-about-pakistan/

Monday, November 21, 2016

Toni Morrison: Fear Of Losing White Privilege Led To Trump's Election

Toni Morrison has written a powerful essay in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election as president of the United States, and it gets right to the heart of why Trump won.
In a piece titled “Mourning For Whiteness” from the November 21 print issue of the New Yorker (published online Monday), t...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/toni-morrison-fear-of-losing-white-privilege-led-to-trumps-election/

Robert Scheer: Kali Nicole Gross: Dissecting A Startling Crime

In this week’s episode of Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer speaks with Kali Nicole Gross, Wesleyan University professor of African-American Studies and author of the recent book Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Dismembered Torso. The two discuss tensions between African-Americans and...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/robert-scheer-kali-nicole-gross-dissecting-a-startling-crime/

Atim Oton: Reaching African Children Through Fables and Animation

When the Lion King came to Broadway in 1997, I was happy for Africa. The Lion King is a 1994 American animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Ok, I agree it is not a realistic picture of Africa but I will take it as opposed to the Tarzan and Jane one. Finally, we...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/atim-oton-reaching-african-children-through-fables-and-animation/

'SNL' Sketch For Liberal Wonderland 'The Bubble' Is ... Necessarily Honest

Progressives got a bit of a wake-up call on Nov. 8. While we all thought Hillary Clinton’s victory was a shoo-in, Democratic turnout was down significantly. Some of us were indeed living in a bubble.

“SNL” addressed that this weekend by introducing a new city-state solution known as “The Bubb...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/snl-sketch-for-liberal-wonderland-the-bubble-is-necessarily-honest/

Two Trans Women From The Bronx Open Up About Their Lives And Communities

Last week, VICELAND aired a compelling look into the lives of two transgender women of color living in the Bronx and navigating the realities of life as trans people in 2016.
The episode is part of a new weekly television docuseries from VICELAND called “Balls Deep” that takes a nuanced look ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/two-trans-women-from-the-bronx-open-up-about-their-lives-and-communities/

Lisa Tracy Michalik: The Everyday Racism I Face As A Black Woman In Germany

Read on
The Huffington Post Deutschland


Christmas marks many people’s favorite time of year. Students pack their bags and leave campus to celebrate the holiday at home with family. If you didn’t grow up in a big city, it’s inevitable that you’ll meet up with half...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/lisa-tracy-michalik-the-everyday-racism-i-face-as-a-black-woman-in-germany/

These Aerial Photos Of The U.S.-Mexico Border Show Just How Difficult It Would Be To Build A Wall

Mexican photographer Pablo López Luz started taking aerial photographs of the U.S.-Mexico border in 2014 ― long before President-elect Donald Trump made the construction of a border wall the central promise of his campaign.
Luz’s idea was “to show that the landscape does not change much on ei...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/these-aerial-photos-of-the-u-s-mexico-border-show-just-how-difficult-it-would-be-to-build-a-wall/

David Cameron Being Named Gay "Ally Of The Year" Prompts Fierce Backlash

The announcement that David Cameron has been named “ally of the year” by a gay publication has sparked a fierce backlash from members of the LGBTQ community.
Cameron’s receipt of the PinkNews award was welcomed by many at a ceremony in London on Wednesday, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn ev...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/david-cameron-being-named-gay-ally-of-the-year-prompts-fierce-backlash/

Donna Mills: A Letter To Santa

I have played with my little sister loads, sharing my toys with her once I’ve finished with them and deciding of my own accord (like a big girl) that it’s time to swap, before facilitating the change over swiftly and effectively.
Read more: Letter, Santa, Letter to Santa,...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/donna-mills-a-letter-to-santa/

Fi Anderson: Pippa Small"s Stories Through Jewellery

“They’re just so cooool. It’s slightly breath-taking when you see them coming into the city with this kind of independent swagger and everyone is looking, half scandalised and half in awe.” Pippa Small is a natural born storyteller. She describes the proud nomadic...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/fi-anderson-pippa-smalls-stories-through-jewellery/

Adam Levine Offers To Pay For Christina Grimmie Funeral

Adam Levine is offering to pay for funeral expenses for “Voice” contestant Christina Grimmie, who was tragically killed by a gunman during an autograph signing Friday. 
Levine, who was Grimmie’s coach when she competed on the sixth season of “The Voice,” pe...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/adam-levine-offers-to-pay-for-christina-grimmie-funeral/

Zac Thompson: President Donald Trump"s Acceptance Speech Was Surprisingly Coherent

The 2016 Presidential Election certainly didn’t go down the way we were expecting at the Outspeak office. With Hillary Clinton refusing to make a public concession speech and Donald Trump becoming the 45th President of the United States, we’re left reeling in disbelief. We...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/zac-thompson-president-donald-trumps-acceptance-speech-was-surprisingly-coherent/

Voice To Voice: Discussing The History, Importance And Radical Possibility Of The Dyke March

Since launching our Voice to Voice conversation series in January, we’ve tackled lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender literature, Black History Month, bullying and more.


In honor of Pride Month, today’s conversation between writers and activists Kelly Cogswell and Gabrielle...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/voice-to-voice-discussing-the-history-importance-and-radical-possibility-of-the-dyke-march/

SWM 2015: Rwanda - Promoting peace through sustainable urban development in Kigali

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Paige Wilhite Jennings
April 2014 saw the 20th anniversary of the genocide in which an estimated 800,000 people – three-quarters of the Rwanda’s Tutsi minority, as well as moderates from the Hutu majority – were killed in 100 days. While this ...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-rwanda-promoting-peace-through-sustainable-urban-development-in-kigali/

DRC: MRG's Head of Law visits Batwa communities

The Batwa of South Kivu, DRC, have lived in an area now called Kahuzi-Biega National Park (PNKB) since time immemorial. In 1937, a law was passed creating a nature reserve in the area, but the Batwa were allowed to remain in the forest. However, in 1970, a further law was passed...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/drc-mrgs-head-of-law-visits-batwa-communities/

SWM 2014: Drawing the line between hate speech and freedom of expression in Canada

Case study by Phyllis Gerstenfeld
Like the United States, Canada is a diverse, multi-ethnic society with a history of violence against and oppression of indigenous people, but its hate crime laws are still relatively new and evolving. One important difference between the United States and...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2014-drawing-the-line-between-hate-speech-and-freedom-of-expression-in-canada/

New MRG documentary/Pakistan: Shaheedo Tum Kahan Ho - a film about Pakistan's Hazara

Shaheedo Tum Kahan Ho gives an account of the targeted killings of members of the Shi’a Hazara community in Pakistan, highlighting how they face discrimination in their everyday lives, while security concerns and death threats make routine activities like going to school or the m...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/new-mrg-documentarypakistan-shaheedo-tum-kahan-ho-a-film-about-pakistans-hazara/

Georgia: More voices against intolerance needed

Author wants to thank for their contribution to Tamta Mikeladze (Human Rights Monitoring and Education Center, Georgia and Andrew Smith, Legal officer at Article 19, UK).
Violent incidents against religious minorities have been persistent within the last two years in Georgia. In...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/georgia-more-voices-against-intolerance-needed/

SWM 2015: Dubai - Everywhere but invisible – the continued marginalization of migrant construction workers

Embargo: 2 July 2015 00.01 (GMT+1)
Case study by Derek Verbakel
Dubai’s construction boom has tranformed this desert city into a dense urban landscape of skyscrapers, shopping malls, roads and swimming pools. This extraordinary development has been made possible by the labour of many h...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/swm-2015-dubai-everywhere-but-invisible-the-continued-marginalization-of-migrant-construction-workers/

George Takei Blasts Muslim Registry As "Prelude To Internment"

This post has been updated to include a statement from Donald Trump’s transition team.
Not in this universe.
“Star Trek” veteran George Takei blasted a Donald Trump surrogate’s contention that the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II set a precedent for a national Muslim regis...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/george-takei-blasts-muslim-registry-as-prelude-to-internment/

Zac Thompson: Here"s A List Of Places Where You Enact Postive Change After Yesterday"s Election Results

As incredible as it may seem, Donald Trump has become the next President of the United States. It may feel like we can’t trust our government to look out for us, but with remarkably low voter turnout, it looks like we can trust Americans to look out for each other. Despite your...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/zac-thompson-heres-a-list-of-places-where-you-enact-postive-change-after-yesterdays-election-results/

Tim O"Shea: Dreamed I saw Tom Hayden last night; alive as you or me

Cycles go ’round. Events and patterns persist, until sufficiently disruptive conditions call for something different, something else, something of deeper truthI am mulling over the words of Aaron Sorkin to his daughter: “(in the results of this election)…Hate was given...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/tim-oshea-dreamed-i-saw-tom-hayden-last-night-alive-as-you-or-me/

Against Me! Rocker Laura Jane Grace Opens Up About Trans Identity in 2015

This is the third feature in a series that aims to elevate some of the transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals who have played a significant role in the ongoing fight for trans and queer liberation. Head here to read the first feature with CeCe McDonald or here for the second with...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/against-me-rocker-laura-jane-grace-opens-up-about-trans-identity-in-2015/

Raza Habib Raja: Understanding Pakistani Mistrust of the United States

Over the years, U.S. bashing has become a national pastime in Pakistan. This trend is dominant almost everywhere, ranging from drawing room discussions to media talk shows, and in recent months has assumed alarming proportions due to host of events such as Afia Siddique verdict, Raymond...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/raza-habib-raja-understanding-pakistani-mistrust-of-the-united-states/

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Meet The Texas Lawmaker Fighting For Queer Youth (And Everyone Else)

It’s a watershed year fraught with turmoil for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Across the American South, queer, trans and gender-nonconforming people are facing wave after wave of legislation that threatens our safety, well-being and very existence.
From “...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/meet-the-texas-lawmaker-fighting-for-queer-youth-and-everyone-else/

Ciarra: A Note To The Christian Friends I Lost In This Election

There is a kind of pain that not everyone experiences. The kind of pain that comes from communal abandonment. The kind of pain that maybe you would feel if one day you came to school and your whole friend group decided to embrace the kid who bullies you in class. And not only did they...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/ciarra-a-note-to-the-christian-friends-i-lost-in-this-election/

Biko Baker: League of Young Voters Education Fund Teams Up With Hip-Hop Producer Hi-Tek to Spark Social Change

The first time I traveled to Cincinnati, I thought it was the most effed up city I had ever seen.


In 2005, my friend, Gavin Leonard, invited me and my colleagues at the League to conduct a civic engagement training at a fledgling youth arts center that he co-founded in Cincinnati’s...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/biko-baker-league-of-young-voters-education-fund-teams-up-with-hip-hop-producer-hi-tek-to-spark-social-change/

Deadly Police Helicopter Crash In Rio After Day Of Intense Firefights

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 19 (Reuters) – A police helicopter in Rio de Janeiro crashed Saturday evening, killing four officers after a day of intense firefights between law enforcement and suspected criminals in the slum known as City of God.
It was not clear whether the helicopter had been...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/deadly-police-helicopter-crash-in-rio-after-day-of-intense-firefights/

Logo Is Presenting 'Mrs. Doubtfire' As You've Never Seen It Before

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Logo’s “Cocktails & Classics” is offering a very special screening of the beloved film “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Join host Michael Urie, “Mrs. Doubfire” star Mara Wilson, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” favorite Jujubee, comedian and actor Drew Droege and The Huffington Post’...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/logo-is-presenting-mrs-doubtfire-as-youve-never-seen-it-before/

Why Is Central Africa Missing From So Many Maps?

You’ve probably had the following experience: You are reading along when a map, shaded in a procession of pastels, interrupts the story. Your eyes travel first to your home country, then to the country where you spent a summer abroad, and then, finally, sweep around the map looking for the b...

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http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/why-is-central-africa-missing-from-so-many-maps/

Markus Berktold: This Is How Our Small German Village Helped Refugees Integrate

Markus Berktold is the mayor of Seeg. The 3000-person village is one of Bavaria’s most beautiful. In Seeg, the 42 year-old Berktold has done what other places have failed to do: He gave all the refugees in the town jobs, and ensured that all of them are well-integrated. In the post...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/markus-berktold-this-is-how-our-small-german-village-helped-refugees-integrate/

PinkNews Hits Back At Criticism Over David Cameron "LGBT Ally" Award

A gay publication has hit back at criticism over its decision to name David Cameron “ally of the year”.
PinkNews chief executive Benjamin Cohen told The Huffington Post UK that the former prime minister had been given the award because of his contribution to the introduction of same-sex mar...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/pinknews-hits-back-at-criticism-over-david-cameron-lgbt-ally-award/

Two Strangers Made This Mum"s Nightmare Flight So Much Better

A mum who was having a nightmare of a time trying to get on a flight with her toddler thanked two strangers who made the experience so much better.
Alyson Hershelman, from the US, explained she had needlessly queued for 45 minutes at the airport, causing her and her family to be...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/two-strangers-made-this-mums-nightmare-flight-so-much-better/

Eleanor O"Neill: Alpaca: The Ultimate Sustainable Luxury?

A country steeped in skill and craftsmanship


Alpaca fibre, often touted as the new luxury, has been on my radar a while, but as a fibre with such foreign roots, it has had to remain a distant thought. A few weeks ago however, I was fortunate enough to be invited to Arequipa, Peru to...

Read full post here:
http://skpsoft.com/view/outspeak+news/eleanor-oneill-alpaca-the-ultimate-sustainable-luxury/