Oregon Food Bank’s Post

Wayne C. Dees nails it with this story of a father and son—Dr. Joseph Ferretti and Alex—who are worlds apart in more ways than one. Their journey tackles everything from clashing ideologies to struggles for acceptance, all while giving us a front-row seat to the love and frustration that comes with family. It’s a timely reminder of how the things tearing us apart as a society are often the same issues driving wedges into our personal lives. The book doesn’t shy away from the big stuff—politics, social justice, economic fears—you name it, it’s all here. But what makes it stand out is how it blends these heavy themes with the very real, emotional journey of Alex, who’s not just dealing with his father’s disapproval but also his own path as a young LGBTQ+ man searching for connection. What’s even cooler is how the novel expands beyond just one family. Wayne takes on global issues like the rise of populism and cultural clashes, while keeping the story grounded in the heartache and hope that keep us turning the pages. It’s a perfect mix of love story, social critique, and a deep dive into how we can heal—both within ourselves and as a society. "Altered Perceptions" doesn’t just make you think; it makes you feel. It's a wake-up call to look at our own relationships and question whether we're letting our differences push us apart. If you’re looking for a read that’s as powerful as it is personal, this one’s for you.

At Mx. Kelley Queer Education, we’re highlighting lesser-known LGBTQIA+ history that still impacts us today: * Lavender Scare (1950s-1960s): A Cold War campaign that led to the mass firing of LGBTQIA+ people from U.S. government jobs due to baseless security fears. * Pathologization of Homosexuality (Late 19th Century - 1973): Homosexuality was wrongly classified as a mental illness until 1973, fueling decades of stigma. * Colonial Legacies (19th - 20th Century): Anti-LGBTQIA+ laws from European colonial powers still impact many countries today. * Negative Media Portrayals (20th Century): LGBTQIA+ individuals were often portrayed negatively, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Understanding these histories helps us break down barriers and create more inclusive workplaces. Let’s educate ourselves, advocate for change, and support initiatives highlighting these stories. 🌍💜 #LGBTQHistory #InclusiveWorkplace #MxKelleyQueerEducation #TakeAction

This holiday season, your spending can make a meaningful impact. Here are five reasons to support queer-owned businesses — during the holidays and throughout the year. 1️⃣ You want your spending to reflect your values. 2️⃣ You care about keeping queer people in business. 3️⃣ You're looking for inclusive and affirming products and services. 4️⃣ You believe in building a more equitable future. 5️⃣ You believe marginalized communities deserve more representation. Every purchase helps uplift queer businesses and strengthens our community. 🌈 💬 Who are your favorite queer-owned businesses? Tag them below so we can support them together! #LGBTQBusinessOwner #LGBTBusinessOwners #QueerOwned #QueerOwnedBusiness #LGBTQOwned #QueerOwnedBusinesses #LGBTQBusiness #LGBTQBusinesses #ShopQueer

Last week was #BannedBooksWeek, and PEN America released new numbers showing a tripling of book bans in the past year. According to their data “37% of the banned books had characters of color or themes of race and racism. 36% had LGBTQ+ characters or themes.” A startling trend they’ve identified is the censorship of books involving “romance, books about women’s sexual experiences, and books about rape or sexual abuse.” Book banners are using trumped-up concerns about sexual or so-called divisive content to remove the perspectives of women, people of color, and queer people from school and public libraries. These books are tools for kids to make sense of their experience. School should be a place where every kid feels safe and celebrated as their full self. And another thing! Book banners often say that “a book isn’t banned if you can buy it at the bookstore.” Let me translate that for you: families who can afford to spend $30 on a picture book and a biscotti deserve access to the whole world, while kids who rely on the library should only hear one perspective. tldr: book bans are racist, classist, exclusionary, and ON THE RISE!

Reminder to all organisations: you can still have conversations around gender, sexuality, inclusivity and all things DE&I after June too! If anything, these conversations must go beyond June and beyond tokenism. As a topic that is still inherently considered ‘taboo’, most organisations choose to talk about it in June and the interest fizzles out for the rest of the year. Our DE&I goals must go beyond a few events and talks. It needs to be a change in the system and how we view our team and employees. For that, - Lead with curiosity and compassion. - Educate yourself before you ask a queer person a question. They are not always obligated to help you understand. It is our duty to educate ourselves. - Stand up for your queer colleagues and co-workers. - Make sure their concerns don’t go unheard or unnoticed by upper management/supervisors. - Create a safe space and open door policy for queer people to come up and talk about any unique challenges they could be facing. - Make space for conversations around PRIDE throughout the year rather than just in the month of June. - Include queer people’s families (chosen) or otherwise in events at the workplace to foster a sense of community.

Thank you 🙏 Magda 🌈 Stega 🏳️⚧️ for giving us such a heartfelt and simple perspective of what it means to be trans* 🏳️⚧️ at the workplace! Here is a summary of what we talked about Link to the AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Instagram Live: https://lnkd.in/d6wHq79f 1) QUEER ROLE MODELS: of course coming out is hard. But if not your family, or allies on social media, look out for queer role models that you can relate to! 2) ASK QUESTIONS, WITH EMPATHY: always reflect, would I ask a cis-person the same question? And it is really that simple to be sensitive! 3) COMPANIES - FOLLOW A HOLISTIC APPROACH! Sensitise HR and managers about basic LGBTQIA+ terminology; encourage everyone to use pronouns; host townhalls with queer role models; ensure anti-discrimination policies and gender-neutral washrooms; look for health insurance policies that cover Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) - all just as starting points! And don’t forget to just HUG, ACKNOWLEDGE and BE THERE for your trans*, non-binary and gender non-conforming friends, colleagues and family members! ❤️  - #trans #workplace #inclusion #dei #diversity #equity #inclusion #europe #discrimination

Today, on Trans Day of Visibility, we celebrate the resilience, strength, and beauty of our transgender community. Your existence is a testament to courage and authenticity. Visibility isn't easy in a cruel world. Everyone should have the freedom to feel safe to be visible. We stand in solidarity with those who may be facing discrimination, prejudice, or danger simply for being their true selves. Your journey is valid, and your safety is paramount, and for those we lost along the way, we won't forget you and will continue to fight in your honor. Visibility should be a choice, not an expectation. Whether you're out and proud or navigating your identity privately, your worth and dignity remain unchanged. As an org that prides itself on our social justice framework, we promise to continue standing in solidarity and fighting for a safer world for trans and gender-diverse people here and everywhere. Together, we can strive for a world where visibility is celebrated, and everyone can live authentically. 🌟 #TransDayOfVisibility #VisibilityMatters

Today, on Trans Day of Visibility, we celebrate the resilience, strength, and beauty of our transgender community. Your existence is a testament to courage and authenticity. Visibility isn't easy in a cruel world. Everyone should have the freedom to feel safe to be visible. We stand in solidarity with those who may be facing discrimination, prejudice, or danger simply for being their true selves. Your journey is valid, and your safety is paramount, and for those we lost along the way, we won't forget you and will continue to fight in your honor. Visibility should be a choice, not an expectation. Whether you're out and proud or navigating your identity privately, your worth and dignity remain unchanged. As an org that prides itself on our social justice framework, we promise to continue standing in solidarity and fighting for a safer world for trans and gender-diverse people here and everywhere. Together, we can strive for a world where visibility is celebrated, and everyone can live authentically. 🌟 #TransDayOfVisibility #VisibilityMatters

Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the lives lost to hate, violence, suicide, and oppression. This day serves as a reminder of the resilience and courage of the transgender community, while also urging us to reflect on how we can be better allies and advocates for inclusion and safety. Let’s work together to create a world where every person, regardless of their gender identity, is met with kindness, respect, and acceptance. Here are three ways you can support a trans person in your life: 1️⃣ Listen without judgment – Create a safe space for them to share their thoughts and experiences. 2️⃣ Speak up against discrimination – Challenge harmful language and actions when you see them. 3️⃣ Educate yourself – Learn about the challenges the trans community faces and ways to advocate for equality. Let’s honor their memories by taking steps toward a kinder, more inclusive world. #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance

—— 10,000 !!! 😳 —— This week, the U.S observes Banned Books Week, a time to celebrate the freedom to read and, sadly, also to reflect on the increasing challenges to that freedom. According to recent research by PEN America, over 10,000 (again TEN THOUSAND!!! 😫) book bans were recorded during the 2023–2024 school year alone—more than double the previous year’s total! Shockingly (or not!), nearly 8,000 of these bans occurred in just two states: Florida and Iowa. Most of the banned books focus on themes related to LGBTQ+ identities, race and racism, explicit sexual content, profanity, violence, or politically controversial ideas. Young adult literature that deals with sensitive topics like mental health or substance abuse is also frequently targeted. So much for freedom of speech and the press! Soooo…….if you're on the lookout for your next read, maybe check the top 10 most challenged books of 2023, compiled by American Library Association. Happy reading! https://lnkd.in/ebN5rHPB