Empowerment

Feminism, For Her, And Him, And Them: VENUS VALLEY Gets Intersectional
I’m still here, my queerly beloveds; the finale section of this LGBTQIA+-philosophy-book-in-progress is now in its third chapter! And it’s a bit of a reading recommendation list, among other things; which, if you’ve been here since we started, you’ll know is where we started. If you’re coming in late, all you need to know is that you can debate, discuss, question, contribute, to each chapter of this book, as I release it in blog form, to your head’s and heart’s content; and your insights and inputs will be my edits, as this blog becomes a book; so the final finished book will be us, not just me. This chapter of things I’ve found while I’ve been working on this project, and will probably slot into place through the finished book, actually (hopefully) works as a taster of what it will be, if you’re new here. Welcome, just in time before we nearly finish, to Venus Valley: Queer Philosophers’ Forum.
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride
Jack's dilemma
In 1945, a scientist embarked on a journey to the Trinity Site, a desolate desert in New Mexico. The scientist was no ordinary academic. He had created a secret city in the sky, where over 6,000 people worked on a military scientific project. Just days before the Trinity Site visit, he had received essential plutonium for his bomb, a testament to the labor of countless unwitting workers across the US. As he lay on the canyon floor, waiting for detonation, he realized the weight of his nation, the lives of millions, and the fate of the world rested in his hands.
By Abdulmalik Habib2 years ago in Pride
Always Say Gay
When the whole world is connected and you're supposed to be able to be your true and honest self, what do you do when you can't? In 2024 it's no longer taboo to be a member of the LGBT community, laws have passed allowing for same sex marriage, strides are being made for gender affirming care for gender nonconforming youths. So then why are gay suicide and trans murders happening at such an alarming rate across the county?
By Ava Karns2 years ago in Pride
A Queer Rebirth Has Come to Vocal. Top Story - January 2024.
The past few months have really been about rebirth for me. There have been many firsts which hasn’t been easy, and it has been more than I would have expected for someone in their late twenties. But along with these first, I’ve been rediscovering and reclaiming my identity. And along with that, I’ve also been given opportunities to advocate and empower others. From my job as a teacher, to my own inner child work, there have been so many grateful opportunities for queer voices and stories to emerge.
By Oneg In The Arctic2 years ago in Pride
The Story of Masculinity and Femininity
When you walk into the store for shaving equipment, you’ll see something that has become so ubiquitous that it’s easy to ignore your natural curiosity and simply buy what you’re told will work. If you’re a man, you buy the blue, orange, black, and gray colored packaging. If you’re a woman, you buy the pastel, pink, and white colored packaging. You’ll take your new razors home, they’ll cut your hair perfectly fine, and you’ll move on to more important parts of your life.
By Rivahn P2 years ago in Pride
Feminist Or Fallacy? VENUS VALLEY Critiques The “Gender Critics”
I'll start wrapping up these first draft chapters, with a debate chapter! If you’re a newcomer, this will be a great catch-up as I peek back at old points I’ve made, and point out what’s right or wrong about their opposites. This is a chapter-by-chapter release of my LGBTQIA+ centred philosophy book, so you queerly beloveds can debate, discuss, question, contribute, making your inputs and insights my edits, until the finished book has your voices and views in it alongside mine. This one’s full of views and voices against mine and my answers back to theirs - never let it be said there’s no listening or learning done by VENUS VALLEY: Queer Philosophers’ Forum!
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride
Super policeman
It appears that you enjoy reading about super hero cops! Even while "super policeman" may not be the name of a specific character in popular fiction, we can definitely come up with some inventive and thrilling stories based on the idea. I'll give you a little anecdote now:
By Vijay Kumar2 years ago in Pride
Return to Water
Water heals. This persisting belief was a gift from my young mind. Perhaps an innate understanding of a truth that many accepted as fact long before peer-reviewed articles declared the same. Water heals. I believed this as I swam the lengths of my hometown's iconic Z-shaped community pool. I believed because of the ineffable calm that overpowered my senses as I submerged my body. Faith in my restoration kept me afloat, not my particular matter and biology or the stringent lessons of my swim instructors. Even as I swam to the depths, I felt no panic as my body depleted itself of oxygen. The pressure felt like part of the healing process. I would push my lungs to the point of blackened vision until I reached some arbitrary milestone: a wall’s edge, a friend’s leg, or the bottom of the pool. The first gasp of air as you breach the water’s surface floods the system, and suddenly, you’re alive again.
By kp2 years ago in Pride
Pongal: Harvesting Joy, Celebrating Abundance
In the heartlands of India, where vast fields sway in the gentle breeze and the sun casts its golden glow over the fertile plains, Pongal heralds a celebration of harvest, gratitude, and abundance. This South Indian festival, deeply rooted in agrarian traditions, is a time when communities come together to express their thanks to nature for a bountiful yield. Pongal, often referred to as the "harvest festival of Tamil Nadu," is not merely a cultural event but a spiritual journey that binds the people to the land that sustains them.
By Varsha2 years ago in Pride
Breakup heartbreak
This last year was to say the least a tough one. There was so much emotions I experienced love we one I thought anyway but heartbreak like no other. I had been talking to this guy for over a year prior and we had spent time together in the Las Vegas area. We met at a pool party and really always had a spark. Last year he decided to move to Colorado with me I was not out to anyone not even my family. He had confided in me that he would be there for me no matter what even when the time came to come out to my family. I loved him we traveled together lived together cooked together all things that seemed stable and loving. That is what I thought anyways until I seen that he could not stop hiding his phone and would not answer who he was taking to. I let that go and thought well that’s ok I trust him and love him. As time went on I knew something was not right. My best friend text me hey this is your boyfriend right . I looked at the text realizing it was my boyfriend he was messaging him asking him to hookup with him. I never felt so sad and hurt I asked him about it and he’s said no way I just have been hacked or something I said no way that’s how it works. Among all of this he had been drinking more and more and he would drink 4 bottles or more of wine each night. When he would drink he would get mean and the truth would come out. He would say your fat your not smart your not honest on and on about things to try and bring me down. Also another friend found out he had many social media pages that was let’s just say shocking. He promised he wanted to be monogamous but that was not the fact he was messaging well over a 1,000 guys a day and now that really hurt. I decided it was time for him to move out and he disagreed of course. At this time my mom and dad found out I was gay as he told them they quit talking to me as did all of my aunts uncles cousins, because in there eyes I was living life wrong. From not having his love to having lost my family’s love was the hardest struggle of my life. He finally asked me to help him move back to Vegas and I did so help with that. After all of this happens I realized one thing I’m wonderful and beautiful made , his words and actions can not change me for I am stronger. I can overcome this time and one day I know the right man will come along and truly love me . I hope this story helps someone know you are courageous and can overcome anything. I also have learned that by embracing who I really am is beautiful. For so many years I knew I was gay and that now it feels so good to just be me. If those who do not accept me for that then I do not need them to be there for my support. Loving yourself is one of the greatest feelings out there even after a heartbreak like I have experienced I can only grow from this day forward. Writing this also is wonderful to be able to share this experience with others in my community full of love and support for one another.
By D+J 2 years ago in Pride
From Playboy To Scientology: VENUS VALLEY’s Feminist Finale(ish)
Happy new year, gentles and lady-men! If you’ve just arrived at this series, you’re a little late, but don’t worry - there’s plenty of rewriting and re-releasing of other chapters coming, and almost as many epilogues as The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King! You my dear queer reader have arrived almost at the end of my chapter-by-chapter release of my LGBTQIA+ centric philosophy chat book, in which queer life experience is the perfect example to introduce you to pretty much any and every facet of philosophy you can think of; in which you, my rainbow flag waving reader, are invited to debate discuss, question, contribute, so your inputs and insights can become my edits, until your views and voices are in its pages right alongside mine. Welcome, for almost the last time, queerly beloveds - in which I finally get around to talking about THE BIG BAD “F” - to VENUS VALLEY: Queer Philosophers’ Forum.
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride
TREKS & GENDER: Sexual Identity in the Final Frontier (a VENUS VALLEY chapter)
Yes, before anyone wonders, I have noticed these chapters are longer when I’m indulging my fandoms, like Shakespeare and The Matrix! (If you haven’t, you can see me do that by clicking HERE & HERE). So welcome, queerly beloveds, to the geeky Trekkie chapter of my book-in-progress - in which, as always, your inputs and insights become my edits as you debate, discuss, question, contribute, so your voices and viewpoints become part of the finished published product:VENUS VALLEY, Queer Philosophers’ Forum.
By Steph Cole2 years ago in Pride