Category Archives: Education

Are Gender-Neutral Pronouns Actually Doomed?

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Are Gender-Neutral Pronouns Actually Doomed?.

Dennis Baron calls it the word that failed.

Baron, a professor of linguistics at the University of Illinois, has been monitoring the development of epicene—that is, gender-neutral, third-person singular pronouns—since the 1986 publication of his book Grammar and Gender.

I don’t know why I find this so interesting, but I do. I guess it’s along the lines of my longstanding consternation with the inherent gender bias with “husband” and “wife.” Michelangelo Signorile wrote about this recently, and I feel much of the same consternation that he does. And there’s even more eye-rolling with epicene pronouns.

Most of that, I assume, is because English is a language filled with nuance. Someday I’ll become comfortable calling my husband my husband, but I doubt I’ll ever feel comfortable using the alleged pronoun “e.”

Gay Science Kid Saves the World — How Cool is That?

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Jack-the-Maker

Jack Andraka in the lab. He began working on his experiments when he was 13 years old. |Image: LGBTQ Nation

Awesome story about an awesome kid.

Meet Jack Andraka, a 16-year-old inventor, scientist, and cancer researcher who, in 2012, was awarded the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair’s prestigious “Gordon E. Moore Award” for his invention that detects an increase of a protein that indicates the presence of pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancer during early stages when there is a higher likelihood of a cure.

… Jack is also openly gay, and says that his family and a few close friends had known for about three years, and are very accepting.

 He says he used to worry that there were few gay role models in the science field, or that he would be perceived as “that weird gay kid.” But now he hopes he can help inspire other LGBT youth to get involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Meet Jack: Scientist, inventor, kayaking enthusiast, ‘Glee’ fan, likes boys, … and is only 16 – LGBTQ Nation.

Fun History of the Ampersand

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I’m an admitted grammar geek, you know, and — or rather & —  I’m really getting a kick out of these quick little videos from leftside-rightside.com. This one contains a whole bunch of facts that I had no idea about! I love it when you can learn something cool when you’re not even trying!

AP Clarifies ‘Husband’ And ‘Wife’ Can Be Used for Gay Married Couples

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ap-logoAssociated Press Stylebook Clarifies ‘Husband’ And ‘Wife’ Can Be Used To Address Gay Married Couples.

Make up your damn mind, AP, so I know whether or not to throw out my Stylebook and throw in with, you know, University of Chicago or Reuters or something. PREVIOUS

New AP Gay Style: No Husband or Wife for Same-Sex Couples

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The foremost authority on journalistic style and standards has released a memo that appears to set different standards for gay and heterosexual couples.

via Associated Press Style Bans Calling Married Gay Couples ‘Husband’ Or ‘Wife,’ Except In Specific Circumstances.|Huffington Post.

Seriously AP?

I’m an AP disciple, but this is even more ridiculous than not being able to decide whether it was “Web site” or “website.”

Grow up and get with the program, please.

Indiana Teacher Fighting For ‘Traditional’ Prom That Would Ban Gays

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Sullivan High School Students, Teacher Fighting For ‘Traditional’ Prom That Would Ban Gays. Huffington Post

“There’s no way to stop the haters at Sullivan High School from holding an independent prom for the special bigoted kids. But here’s what we can do: we can make a noise so loud enough that all the queer kids at Sullivan High School hear it. Those kids need to know that there are people — a lot of people — who think this sh*t is wrong.”

—Dan Savage, sounding off on this latest atrocity

This is one of those day that I abhor living in Indiana.

Do You Mispronounce These Words?

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11 words you’re probably mispronouncing – The Week.

Hmmm, interesting. I have to say, the first word SHOCKED me. In fact, I’m sure it will shock just about everyone that reads the list. The rest, well, happy to say I pronounced my way to 10 out of 10!

Truth in Advertising: I was a talking-on-the-radio-and-tv major in college. I done learned t’talk good.