Pickering Pearce’s Post

International Transgender Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating the joy and resilience of trans people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. In recognition of this day, we’re spotlighting the UNAIDS "Unbox Me" campaign, which advocates for transgender children's rights. In India, where over 70% of transgender individuals are rejected by their homes by age 15, "Unbox Me" aims to increase their visibility in a disapproving society that asks them to fit into outdated and unrepresentative gender norms. This powerful initiative calls for inclusion and acceptance and is intended to promote visibility worldwide by challenging stereotypes. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gZwTb2G8 #TransDayOfVisibility #TransRightsAreHumanRights

One of my favorite art instructors at IU was part of Barbie Liberation Organization (BLO), a culture-jamming group of artists and activists in the early '90s. The group swapped the voice boxes of about 300–500 talking Barbies and G.I. Joes across the country (after purchasing them first) and put them back on the shelves, prompting unsuspecting kids to think deeper about gender stereotypes. The altered Teen Talk Barbie dolls reportedly said phrases such as "Vengeance is mine", and Talking Duke G.I. Joe proclaimed, "The beach is the place for summer." https://lnkd.in/gmCrwHHe The BLO was very strategic at utilizing the media to further their cause while also providing a critique of '90s-era television news media. They cleverly placed stickers on the altered doll boxes encouraging recipients to "call the local TV news," resulting in widespread awareness of the project. https://lnkd.in/ggNpNYQv The group also created a video explaining their mission (included below), which interspersed real news footage with fake news clips created by the BLO. Additionally, the BLO recruited a couple of kids to showcase the altered dolls to the media and planted dolls at locations where news stations were covering the story for journalists to find. Thanks to BLO's skilled manipulation of the media, no one can say for sure how many altered dolls were actually ever on the market. Most say there were between 300–500, but some speculate there were as few as 12 or as many as 3,000. In other words, the Barbie Liberation Organization went viral before going viral was a thing. https://lnkd.in/gYhsR_Wb #barbie #art #activism #performanceart #genderstereotypes #genderroles #culturewars #viralnews #viralmarketing #critique #newsmedia

LeVar Burton Stands Against Book Bans: Join the Cause In our diverse and ever-evolving world, it's crucial that everyone sees their lives and experiences reflected in the stories they read. The power of literature lies in its ability to educate, inspire, and foster empathy by introducing us to an array of perspectives. LeVar Burton, an esteemed actor, director, and literacy advocate, has been a beacon of this belief for decades. From inspiring generations to travel through books via "Reading Rainbow" to his recent partnership with MoveOn, Burton continues to champion the importance of reading and the freedom to do so. Artists Against Book Bans Burton is now rallying us to challenge the increasing trend of book bans that aim to erase or undermine the stories of marginalized communities, namely people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. He's joined forces with nearly 200 artists as part of the initiative "Artists Against Book Bans", an initiative organized by MoveOn. Book banning is an act of censorship that infringes upon our basic right to knowledge and the freedom to explore various viewpoints. It stifles the collective growth of our society and prevents us from understanding and appreciating the experiences of all communities. Support the Cause with "LeVar Burton Says Read Banned Books" T-Shirt As a part of this initiative, MoveOn is offering a limited-edition "LeVar Burton Says Read Banned Books" T-shirt. It's not just about wearing a shirt; it's about making a statement. It's about standing up against censorship and advocating for the freedom to read. The funds raised from the sale of these T-shirts will help MoveOn continue their work against book bans and support their mission to build a world where every individual can see themselves in the pages of a book. Stand Up Against Censorship Let's join LeVar Burton and MoveOn in this critical fight against book bans. Wear the "LeVar Burton Says Read Banned Books" T-shirt proudly, start conversations, and play a part in spreading the word. By standing together, we can ensure that the freedom to read, learn, and grow is preserved for all, irrespective of who they are or where they come from. It's our shared responsibility to protect and celebrate diversity, and this cause is a powerful step in that direction. Get your T-shirt now and join the fight against book bans. Stand up for freedom, diversity, and the power of literature.

Knowledge is power!

💡 Within our initiative we are actively promoting Diversity and Inclusion in education particularly in the ESTEAM (Entrepreneurship, Science, Engineering, Art and Maths) field. 🎉 This video is a clear example when without inclusion (acknowledging and encouraging), diversity (inviting) on it's own isn't effective. Hats off to Man City's Jack Grealish actually acknowledging an invited blind girl when nobody else did. It also proves that Inclusion does not need to be a complex thing to master. An action of simple compassion in this case is what it took. #diversity #inclusion #youthtechfest #compassion

Sometimes an important message finds you when you need it the most https://lnkd.in/ezq6nXi4

As we eagerly approach the start of the impactful 16 Days of Activism campaign, we are ready to participate in this Campaign by making our Voices Heard for the sake of the widows. We are ready to speak about the often-unseen struggles faced by widows. We are ready to join in this Campaign as we imagine a journey towards justice that begins with acknowledging and addressing the silent violence that deny widows their Basic Rights such as Land and Property Inheritance Rights. In these upcoming 16 days, we stand united, dedicated to dismantling these barriers that unfairly strip widows of their dignity and rightful place in society. Join our mission to break barriers and amplify the voices of widows during these 16 days of change. It's a rallying call to end the shadows of inequality and ensure that widows everywhere can step into the light of their rightful place in society. Let's make these days count for the rights of widows—Land, Property and Dignity included. #16DaysOfActivism #WidowsRights #BreakTheSilenceAgainstDomesticViolence

Whether one is living with a disability or not, the concept of the "dignity of risk" is universally applicable and profoundly important. This principle asserts that every individual has the right to take risks when making choices about their lives. It is a fundamental part of human dignity and personal freedom. In supporting the dignity of risk, we empower individuals, promote autonomy, and respect everyone's right to make choices about their lives. #Inclusion #Empowerment #DisabilityAwareness #HumanRights #DignityOfRisk #ItsMyLife

Symbols and logos can be powerful, but only tell part of the story. They mean different things to different people. We encourage ambassadors and allies to show respect in whatever symbol you choose to use. 🧡♾️🧩What do you think? #AutismAcceptance #MakeItPersonal #AutismNJAmbassador #AutismAcceptanceMonth #AutismNJ https://lnkd.in/eiqgJfYU

Art has the facility and power to present and help deconstruct realities that are increasingly common but still unknown to many people. This series presents different perspectives on autism (and other A's words) and the challenges faced by the different parties, which change over time. It is very important that we are increasingly aware of the diversity of realities that exist, so that we can better understand them and promote true inclusion for all.