Hey followers. I’ve been off the Tumblr-waves for a while, and in the meantime, have done a lot of soulsearching and such, and reading and writing, and I think Tumblr is going to become the place where I post my words, more than anything, as simply a place to get them down. Feedback is always appreciated.

That said, anything I post is the sole property of me, Emily Kate Kothe. I go by Ginger Bangalore on the internet because it’s my performer name. No one has the right to use my words without permission.

This is something I wrote as I work on a body of personal essays, which may someday be carefully grafted together into a memoir.

 

“I can sift through all the most cruel, exhaustingly horrific stories I’ve ever heard or read like they are clothes on hangers in my closet. Slide them over one by one, do a quick perusal. I never forget them: the young boy tied upside down, a punching bag for his father; the rat sewn inside the woman’s vagina, a way to torture and kill her; the baby girl raped; the woman stoned to death by an entire village of men, including her sons; the shit-covered prisoners in Ireland, beaten so severely they cannot control their bowels. So they hang there, squashed next to each other, each as vivid as the next, collecting dust and wrinkles until I pull something off the rack and shake it out and decide—though that’s a loose way to describe it—if I’m going to wear it that day. I don’t mean to collect them. I don’t. I don’t mean to let them be things I put on, images slashed across my chest constricting my throat, making my arms hurt. These ill-fitting non-memories of horror and pain and lovelessness. But I do, and when I wear them I feel small. Less like me. I don’t trust. I remember how big it is out there. How easily big ugly things cut people in half, in half again, over and over, until a person’s love and truth is the size of a half-chewed fingernail instead of something so big it glows out of their skin.

On my heavy days, when I don’t want to think anymore about me, that’s what I do, I wear these stories like clothes. And one of my big ugly truths is is this: these terrible stories I have memorized in the dark places in my heart—when I put them on I am comforted: these stories keep me warm and alive, these stories keep my blood moving, filled with anger, sometimes bitterness, sometimes resolve to do better, be something that doesn’t create black hurtedness in others, the kind of hurtedness that bleeds over and over again onto others. These stories, these cloaks filled with daggers pointed inward, fill my cheeks with hot blooded shame when I feel glad they are not one of my own.

They remind me of my will to keep going, to not give in to ending.”

riley-ferretboy-konor:

what are your opinions on queer assimilation?

Anonymous

I am against queer assimilation. (For those who are not aware: Queer assimilation involves folks in queer communities feeling the need to conform - or assimilate - to socially constructed norms in order to be recognised…

(Source: amazon.com, via quentinandrew-deactivated201303)

(via symphony-of-a-survivor)

She responds to insults with humor. Tucker Carlson, co-host of CNN’s “Crossfire,” claimed that he would eat his “shoes [and] tie” if “Living History” sold one million copies. According to the New York Times, Clinton dropped by the “Crossfire” set with a giant brown shoe made of chocolate cake and a signed copy of her memoir for Carlson after the book sold over a million copies in its first month. Pure class.

— and 64 other reasons why Hills is a badass

(Source: bbc03isstillhere, via thenewwomensmovement)

(via predestroyed)

In 1968, Christianity Today published a special issue on contraception and abortion, encapsulating the consensus among evangelical thinkers at the time. In the leading article, professor Bruce Waltke, of the famously conservative Dallas Theological Seminary, explained the Bible plainly teaches that life begins at birth:

“God does not regard the fetus as a soul, no matter how far gestation has progressed. The Law plainly exacts: ‘If a man kills any human life he will be put to death’ (Lev. 24:17). But according to Exodus 21:22–24, the destruction of the fetus is not a capital offense… Clearly, then, in contrast to the mother, the fetus is not reckoned as a soul.”

The magazine Christian Life agreed, insisting, “The Bible definitely pinpoints a difference in the value of a fetus and an adult.” And the Southern Baptist Convention passed a 1971 resolution affirming abortion should be legal not only to protect the life of the mother, but to protect her emotional health as well.

(Source: sarahlee310, via megidophilia)

prettyplussize:

Ginger Snap

(via thelingerieaddict)

whataboutthemenses:

the-life-of-louise:

sweet-healthy-bliss:

fabulousfit:

heydontworrybehappy:

anto1404:

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what you get when you stand up to a man who beats his young girlfriend in public. Not the black eye, not the broken nose, but the sense of being a fucking great human being.

Earlier today while I was waiting for the bus I witnessed a man walk up to his girlfriend, who couldn’t have been older than 18, kick her handbag, spit on her and scream in her face that she was a cunt. He walked back into the bus shelter after telling her she was worthless and pathetic and kicking her in the gut then as she tried to follow he turned around to grab her. I got in between them and told him that he should never EVER spit on a woman, hit her or talk to her in that way. He laughed in my face and said he would “fuck me up”. I looked him square in the eye and told him that I was not afraid of him. He proceeded to scream obscenities at her as I took her away from him, then he shouted to me that he could walk round the corner to get people to kill me. Feeling defiant, I said “go on, I dare you, there’re plenty of people around to witness it.” The prick then walked right up to me and head butted me in the nose. I am now sporting a swollen face and the beginnings of a black eye but the police took swabs from my nose to get his DNA and they know exactly who he is. Cunt’s going down for assault. Motherfuckers don’t treat women like that and get away with it. I feel heroic.

That’s right bitches. Women deserve respect. 

AMAZING!!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!

MAJOR props to you! I’m glad that there are people out there who are willing to standup to bullies like that.

❤

reminder to people that running away is also a totally valid option. Standing up is great but it’s fucking scary and it can get you hurt a lot worse than this, so keep that in mind.

(Source: paper-snow-a-ghost)

Angel Haze - Cleaning Out my Closet (by TheRealAngelHaze)

Check out this article!

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/10/how-rap-can-help-end-rape-culture/264258/ 

(Source: lindseytoomuch)

queer self portrait that I took on National Coming Out Day (Oct 11th)

Hello friends and followers!  I met Dylan when he began working at Shameless Grounds Cafe in St. Louis, and was immediately smitten.  He soon told me his story, which is an incredible journey of self-awareness, pain, and redemption. Now, after several months of hormone therapy and the happiness of a legal name change, he is launching a fundraiser to get top surgery. 

Read about his incredible story at the IndieGoGo page. 

PLEASE, please, please: reblog this, spread the word, donate a dollar, five dollars, fifty dollars, and send your positive thoughts and encouragements along. 

mmmajestic:

SUPER NSFW FISTING 101 feat. Jessica Luxury & Majestic Legay

SUBTITLED VERSION HERE

In this video Jessica and I get caught in the middle of one of our favorite activities, fisting! We answer all of the hot burning questions people have about fisting safety, how to and basics. Then we show you it all goes down in a sexy and informative demonstration.

Happy international fisting day!

- Majesstica (tangledupininnerfatgirl)

(via heavymuffintop)