'Skin Deep' in Tangled Hair Politics

It's me again! Yeah!!!!!! JK. Sorry, I'm in a wierd mood.

Anyways....I saw this article and wanted to pass it along for your reading enjoyment. It seems we just can't get enough of the natural hair issue and people love talking about it. Heck, it's why you come here, right?!

If you like reading The New York Times, check out this article. In parts it kind of feels like someone is beating a dead horse-we know the hair industry is widely supported by black female patrons, etc etc.

"Anyone who thought such preconceptions were outdated would have been reminded otherwise by some negative reactions to the president’s 11-year-old daughter, Malia Obama, who wore her hair in twists while in Rome this summer. Commenters on the conservative blog Free Republic attacked her as unfit to represent America for stepping out unstraightened."

Of course we know it's still an issue but it irks me when people talk about kids.
So check it out and let me know what you think!

Tiziano e Kelly

One of my favorite Italian singers, Tiziano Ferro, has a new song with Kelly Rowland. The Italian version does not feature her but there is an English version on which she sings. As I mentioned in my post on her newest song, When Love Takes Over, I really like when she ventures out and does something atypical as opposed to sticking strictly to R&B.

The Italian version of the song is called Indietro or Behind in English. The English version is called Breath Gentle. I the Italian version but I like that she sings on the English one, and they do sing a little in Italian at the end. So here is the duet version.

Knowledge from The Haven

A question I have often wondered but never actually investigated was so conveniently answered on The Natural Haven, one of my very favorite natural hair blogs. You can expect answers that are more than just opinion because Jc does her research and uses her scientific background to look at a question from all angles. So here it is:

Should you really leave conditioner on your hair????

Click the question to find out the answer...

A Natural Hair Documentary

Cruzing You Tube as usual and I came across this video. I thought you might enjoy.

So click HERE to see it!

Essence on Good Hair

Looks like Essence.com is running a survey to asses public opinion on hair, specifically natural hair. Interesting....
If you wanna take it, click here.
Come back and let me know what you think.

Fresh-Squeezed Fotki Juice: Mrssmif

I have been stalkin Mrssmif's fabulous fotki on the regular and was so glad she agreed to be a part of this series. I love her styles and I'm sure you will too.

NL: What motivated you to go natural?

In 2004, I felt led to start eating better and taking better care of my temple. As I began eating better, and working out more often, I ran into a problem. Working out made me sweat. Sweat made my hair frizz. I didn't want my hair to frizz, so I wouldn't work out. The cycle would continue. Then one day, when praying for good health, and weight loss, God revealed to me that my hair was making me fat! LOL What kinda sense did that make, not working out just to have straight hair?! Besides, I was so worried about being organic, and not putting toxic things IN my body, yet, I was constantly putting them ON my body. I was always known for my long straight, sleek, styles. But I knew what it took to maintain those styles, and it just wasn't worth the health sacrifice anymore. But I was very concerned about what others thought, and my hair was very much a part of my identity (where was India Arie when you needed her,lol), so it was quite a struggle for me. So, against all odds, I let go (of the perm and the pounds about 40 =) thank God)...

NL: Your twists and braids look amazing! How do you create your styles?

It's so weird to hear people say,lol, because I never touched my hair until going natural! I'm not a creative/hands on person, so if I can do a style ANYONE can learn to do it!

I always start w/deep conditioned hair. and then braid/twist semi-damp/almost dry, stretched hair, using either homemade shealoe, or coconut oil, and seal w/castor oil. I use the grab and twist/braid method with all styles except the micro braids (with my own hair) that I'm wearing now. My two reasons for doing this is 1) I really stink at parting, lol and 2) I don't want spaces in my hair for twistout/braidouts. After twisting/braiding, I usually air dry, wearing a hat or scarf if I need to go out, and then untwist/braid for a nice wavy braidout. Or wear them as is, if small and done neatly as a protective style.

NL: What is your typical hair (wash and style)/product regimen?

To shampoo, I use liquid castile soap (Trader Joes carries it pretty cheap like $2), and once in a while if I feel any buildup, I'll add a small bit (like 1tsp-1tblspn) of baking soda to the castile to help remove it. To condition, I use mayo (either store bought, or homemade), or other egg & oil based mixture (homemade) and allow to sit with a shower cap for anywhere from 15 min -2 hours, depending on how much time I have/how lazy I'm being, lol. I then rinse, using lukewarm water (very important when using products w/egg, hot water scrambles the egg in your hair,lol). I then do a acv rinse using 1/4cup acv to 3 3/4cup softened/distilled water. I do this once or twice/week in the winter, 2-3x's /month in summer. In summer I mostly co-wash using only a conditioner that meets my above requirements, and just detangle in the shower (with/conditioner in hair), rinse and go. When/if I feel buildup, I refer back to the shampoo routine above.

For moisturizing in between /immediately after washes, I use homemade leave-in and homemade shealoe for twisting/braiding, in the winter (heavier moisture). In the summer I use a homemade curly pudding for wash and go hair (lighter moisture).

NL: What is one thing you know now about being natural that you wish you knew beforehand?

That my hair would flourish w/o chemicals! I often look back now and wish I'd done it sooner. I worried so much about how short my hair would look, and if "natural hair would look right on me", as so many other people do. Now I just realize that this is what my hair wanted all along, I was just putting up a fight.


NL: Is there anything else that you want NL readers to know?

That it was 95% mental (at least for me!). Once I just got enough guts and did it, it was so liberating! Don't be concerned about what others will think, or worried that it doesn't look like you want it to right away. Have patience with your hair, and the rewards will pay off in the end. Like I said, I didn't know the first thing about hair, having paid others for years to style it for me (I never even washed my own hair!), but now I enjoy trying new things (some work, many don't) and taking good care of my temple in every way. Experiment with new styles ONLY when you have time, and don't have anywhere important to be, this will take much of the frustration out of time spent doing your hair. And give you time to perfect the style before presenting yourself to the world. I learned this the hard way, lol.. Try not to worry about what others think. You never know who may be watching your confidence and follow suit. I was so concerned about what my friends and family would say, yet they are my biggest supporters now (my mom and 2 out of 3 of my sisters have gone natural!). My youngest sis makes even the most relaxed sistahs wanna go natural, simply because of the confidence level that she exudes (that I wish I had), and she has the thickest texture of us all! And last but not least, don't tell yourself that natural hair "does not look right" on you. God makes no mistakes, He gave you the perfect hair...for you.

Braid-out

Two-strand twist bantu knot-out

Individual Mini Braids (this is what really got me!)

Thanks to Mrssmif for sharing with all of us!

Sunday Cuteness: BeautifulBrwnBabyDol Pin-Up Tutorial

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I LOVE Beautiful Brown (well that's what my mom and I call her on the low!).
So, I would like to dedicate this Sunday's Cuteness to one of her latest videos where she is giving us the 411 on one of her hair styles- the Natural Hair Side French braid. This is a braided two-strand twist pin-up tutorial that could work for daytime or night, work, school, or a date.

If you've got the skills give it a try. Unfortunately, I generally suck and cornrowing my own hair so I might sub in flat twists for the braids. Enjoy and happy Sunday! :)

What's Your Opinion?:Natural Relaxers

Hey everybody! I really like to know what you all think about things so I decided to do a "What's Your Opinion" post every now and again when something comes up and I want to hear what you all think about it. The purpose is not to stir controversy for controversy's sake, only to see what types of though processes are out there on certain natural hair issues. I hope you will take a little time to give your comment and please do so respectfully.

So, I just saw this vid from Curlychronicles a few minutes ago and it felt like something I wanted to hear your opinions about. I have never tried a "relaxer" of any kind since going natural 10 years ago, but I have heard of different methods used to lengthen, silken, elongate, or loosen kinks and coils. If you don't know what these natural relaxers are all about, here are some links I found:
Treasured Locks, safehairrelaxer.com, and you tube vids here(part1) and here (part2).

Some people feel this is wrong and means you are no longer really natural while others feel like it's just hair, doesn't matter, and should not be taken so seriously.

So what do you all think? Do you agree with what she's saying in terms of the "natural relaxers" being a backdoor way of changing the texture without having to feel like you're using a chemical to change your texture? Or, do you think it just enhances manageability and style options?

Nothing to get all huffy about, just thought it was interesting. Would love to hear your thoughts... ~NL

Reader Question: 2010 Natural Hair Show

Hey guys and gals! Just got a reader question from NaturallyME that I thought you all might want to know the answer to. So here it is!

Where can I get information for the 2010 show? Do you know where it will be held?

I enjoyed it so much last year that I am sure I'll probably go back. Here's what I found:

Spring 2010 TBA Americas mart buidling One 240 Peachtree Stree NW Atlanta, GA

This is an all natural hair show for braiding, coils, locs, color clipper cuts, and more.

Want more hair shows??? Click here to find one near you.

Fresh off the Chopping Block... It's Joi!

This is my friend Joi who recently just BC'd. Isn't it totally cute?! I asked her a few questions about her journey and here's what she had to say....

NL: I had no idea you were considering the natural thing. What made you decide to go natural?

I was natural in college but it was short-lived due to my lack of research in caring for natural hair. I did not realize how much goes into caring for natural hair.

But this time I have a great support system. All of my closest family and friends are on the same journey.

This time I decided to go natural because of many things. The cost of relaxing every 4-6 weeks, the chemicals within relaxers (one website said the same ingredients are in Drano) and mostly I just wanted to be me.

Just the way God made me, natural and all!

NL: I know you just got married last year and you had a lot of hair! Now that you bc'd, how did your hubby respond to the change?

Originally, he was not too happy about the change. He is not a fan of short hair. He was afraid of how I would look after the cut.

Now, he is okay with it but she is looking forward to seeing it longer. He is not a fan of short hair but could care less if it is natural or not.

NL: What have you learned about your hair that you did not expect?

Everything on YouTube does not work for you! I have super thick 4b hair so I was expecting after I use this or that product my hair would have waves like the videos I watched.

My hair is 4b and will never look like 3b. Products work different on different types of hair, period. I would recommend that you try things you see on the web but do not be too disappointed if it does not work for you.

Also, I have learned it is so easy to turn into a product junkie.

NL: What is your regimen and fave products?

Morning: Spray hair with Glycerin mixture (2/3 water; rest glycerin and a few drops of rose oil; sometimes I add olive oil) and spray with miracle 8 oil spray for shine if needed.

Evening: I have really thick hair so I use about a nickel worth of “The Super” (which was featured on this website, THANK YOU Naturally Leslie), then I stray lightly with miracle oil

I rarely use shampoo but if I do I use Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo. I use Olive Oil conditioner for daily conditioning and I deep condition with the following:

2 tbl of coconut oil

1 ½ tbl of coconut cream

12 oz of nonfat plain yogurt

Next time, I may add a lime because I heard it helps to release your curl pattern more. I am still trying to find a product that will help me to define my curl pattern.

Thanks Joi and much luck as you continue on your natural journey!

Little Miss Sunshine!

Hello guys and girls! This post is dedicated to Sunshine of the blogs Sunshine Loves Peace and Natural Hair...Natural Products: Beauty Made Simple by: Sunshine.

Her blog Natural Hair...Natural Products is devoted to her current venture into natural hair products which she sells called Peace Love and Sunshine on Etsy.com:

"It is a natural hair blog that focuses on natural products and natural hair (duh) with an emphasis on self esteem as it relates to ones hair. I like to talk about accepting our uniqueness, and also about inner beauty being more important than physical beauty."

Pic of her Raw Shea Butter (isn't the pkg cute!)

So go on over to her blogs and check out her products for yourself. I myself have personally never tried them so I cannot make any suggestions. However, it is really cool to see young women becoming entrepreneurs and creating more options for those who do not want to buy from Beauty Supply Stores.

Sunshine and I will be following each other on blogger so we can swap info and natural hair inspiration. You can see her link to the right under the Natural Hair Hot Spots section.
Check her out!

Fresh-Squeezed Fotki Juice: Stephelise

Our FSFJ series is back with the lovely Stephelise! I chose her album because she is transitioning to natural and has great pics and tips to share. So enjoy her story and when you're done, check her out on fotki.

NL: How long have you been transitioning and what led to your decision to go natural?

I have been transitioning for 5 months now. My last relaxer was March 5, 2009. I decided that I was tired of my limp flat thin hair. I had color put in that really broke my hair in the crown and my last relaxer left me with a small chemical burn on the nape. I finally took a look in the mirror and knew it was time for me to make a change but not sure what exactly. While watching a youtube video, I came across a young lady who spoke about her natural hair. It was then that things clicked and I knew this is what I NEEDED to do for myself.

NL: How have family, friends, coworkers reacted to your decision to the transition?

My family is very supportive, especially my husband. My mom supports me, but is also in a “wait and see mode”. She wants to observe my transition to see if it is something that she would want to do as well. Some of my friends were very surprised of my decision, but they supported me none the less. Others thought that I wouldn’t be able to go through with it. My coworkers consist primarily of men, and they know what I’m doing after I broke it down for them. They don’t really care one way or the other though.

My husband actually was the first to suggest I go natural at a time when I was not even trying to hear it. A few of my friends think I’m brave and one thinks that it’s going to get on my nerves. Of course I hear a few of them say they can’t have short hair or that their hair is too thick or too course to go natural. To that I say it’s all in how you take care of it.

NL: What products do you use to meet the needs of your relaxed and natural hair textures?

While transitioning I use Aphogee Moisture Shampoo,2 minute reconstructor,
Apohgee Leave in Conditioner, Infusium 23,Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructurizer, Roots of Nature Shea Butter green tea Strengthening Oil Moisturizer, a Shea butter mixture with natural and essential oils. I also use Cantu Shea butter. When needed I use an Aphogee 2 step protein treatment, I deep condition at least twice a month and shampoo about once a week depending on product buildup, otherwise I just cowash instead.

NL: Describe how you achieve some of your favorite transition styles.

As my hair grows out, my favorite style is not looking quite the same as it used to. But I still love bantu knot outs. After performing my hair regimen, I lightly diffuse my hair on low setting to get it mostly dry. Then I bantu knot my hair in no more than 5 bantu knots for fullness. I also apply a little Cantu Shea butter on my hair before knotting. I sleep on it, take it down the next day, and separate the curls. Comes out full and curly.

NL: What are you most looking forward to about being completely natural?

Being able to learn about my true texture without chemicals added. And of course, not having to run from the rain anymore or steer clear of water rides because I don’t want to mess my hair up.:)

NL: Is there anything you wish you had known before beginning the transition to natural?

I wish I had known not to get over zealous in purchasing products. It would have been nice to have known exactly what I needed to buy and what I could have waited on buying. I’m trying really hard not to turn into a PJ (product junkie). I have resisted in purchasing a lot of hair products for now.

NL: Is there anything else you would like Naturally Leslie readers to know?

Before anyone decides to transition to natural, make sure you do your homework first. When you transition, you’re not only transforming your hair, but you’re transforming your mind. Your whole image of beauty is evolved from thinking straight hair is better more manageable hair. Also, don’t go natural thinking that your hair is going to be a certain texture. Just make sure that you’re in a mindset to accept what you are born with and love it to the fullest. Love yourself Naturally the way God intended it to be!

Thanks again to Stephelise for sharing her transition experiences with us!

Reader Question!!! My Two-Strand Twist Updo

One Naturally Leslie reader emailed me this question after seeing my post on The Pangaea's Garden Project:

In today's post I would like to know how did you pin your hair like that with the twist. I absolutely think it is fab and would love to do it myself. Can you feature it on your blog or email it to me please?

So here's the updo in question, with pics once again from the talented Mr. Christie of TPGP...


Side view
Back view
I wish I could say that this style was executed with some great technique but the truth is, it was rainy and humid that day, I had just done these twists the night before, and I did not want to waste all that effort on a twist-out that would surely swell and poof out of position by noon.

This style is both functional and protective and super easy to accomplish. So here's what I did:

~After washing, conditioning, detangling, and moisturizing I simply did small/medium two-strand twists all over my head.
~I pinned each of the sides (by my ears) toward the middle of my head, overlapping the twists hanging back/down from the front, using black bobby pins.
~ Then I took the ones from the bottom and pinned them up, overlapping them so no ends were sticking out.

I don't know if that explained it well, it is really hard to talk through, but it is really simple to achieve and there is no wrong way to do it. The object is simply to get the twists pinned up and leave no ends sticking out. Each time I do an updo, it looks totally different!
_____________________________________________________

Now, while we're on the subject, I wanted to share my style for today.

Last night I did my normal wash routine. And btw, if you have been sleeping on Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner like I have, you gotta get you some ASAP (once you've finished your current condish of course, not trying to enable pj-ism lol) I used it as a leave-in under my CocoShea mix and my hair feels incredibly soft, moist, and overall amazing!

Anywhoo, so I two-strand twisted my whole head in small-medium twists, sealed the ends with my CocoShea mix, then set them, three at a time, on different sized perm rods. My mom used to get her hair styled similar to this for like $80 at a natural hair place in Durham, can you believe that!

I sat under my hooded dryer for 20 mins, went to bed with a satin cap, then took down the rollers today. I did not unravel the coils or the twists, and I wore them to work today. Here are some pics of what I did:

All rolled up!

After taking one roller out:

Rolled twists left in spirals. Front, back and side views...

.

As the week goes on I plan to unravel, untwist, and finger style a bit to see where that leads me. I will try to post pics of that soon! In the meantime, I will sleep with a satin scarf at night to protect the style.

Naturally Leslie in the Garden

I am pleased to share that my good friend Vincent Christie of The Pangaea's Garden Project decided to feature yours truly in response to my recent Sunday Cuteness posts. He seems to think they have been a little testosterone heavy as of late and decided to try and balance them out with some feminine energy! So click here to see my first ever TPGP feature!

Vincent is an incredible photographer and artist and and I feel lucky to know him personally and work with him professionally on some of his upcoming ventures.

If you've never been to the Garden, here's what you've been missing:

Pangaea’s Garden is the sanctuary for striking images that pay homage to the exotic beauty of that Earth Sista that was always close to home. This is a place for the art, images and culture that capture the sensuous harmony of the earthbound soul. The works featured here can be created by anyone who has an appreciation for the aesthetic. Feel free to join us in cultivating the garden. Lets help the project to grow. ~TPG

Now, I know that some people are uncomfortable with nudity. It is understandable considering we typically see naked women in degrading or pornographic presentations. However, Vincent's desire is to showcase beautiful natural women in a way that is sensual and yet respectful. As natural women, we often talk about the lack of representation in the media and how that affected us as we grew up. I think Vincent's images are soft and powerful, and put a spotlight on all the wonderful features that are unique to the natural Black woman.

Vincent's Garden is a grown and sexy yet tasteful feast for the senses that hopefully you will enjoy as much as I do. Here is a sample of what you will see on The Pangea's Garden Project:

So head on over to TPGP and take a look around.

If You're a CD Fan...

Image from SoufulBeauty.com

"Carol's Daughter has just inked a deal with Disney to produce a bath and body line commemorating the company's first African-American princess. Princess Tiana makes her limited film debut on November 25 (a full release is scheduled for December 11) in the highly anticipated animated project. The collection comprises four items (hair detangler, conditioner, shampoo and bubble bath), each retailing for $10 a piece. While the products are suitable for all consumers, the ingredients were particularly developed for African-American hair, according to Carol's Daughter founder Lisa Price. Ingredients such as aloe, cranberry extract and sweet almond oil make the products that will be sold at department and specialty stores beginning in October a must-try.--BB" from Essence.com

Solange Rocks the Micro Coiled Look

You can't tell me that new do ain't cute! I love it!

Some AM Inspiration

Good morning lovelies! I just wanted to start my day off with something inspirational and thought I would share it with all of you. You all are naturally beautiful!

(Image from here)

Natural Beauty

My coiled crested crown
sits proudly atop my head,
caressing the smooth curves and
contours of my countenance.
A natural manifestation
of my inherent royalty,
growing upward,reaching
for the Heavens,
for the higher meaning in life.
Growing gradually
up, out, left, right;
but never down-
for down denotes regression.
Expanding consistently,
ever changing its` pattern
but never its` nature;
loving, caressing, curling
inside out, back on itself.
Beauty in its` purest form
permeating from within
the depths of my very soul:
naturally.

by Miss J. Mateen

If you want more natural hair inspiration, click here.

Sunday MmmMmmMmm-ness:Maxwell

Ok, so this Sunday Cuteness is dedicated to the one and only Maxwell. Ladies, not only his he fine but he is super talented. This past Wednesday, I was lucky enough to attend the final concert of his summer tour at the DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) in downtown Durham.

Let me just say, from the moment he stepped on stage till the last bow at after the energetic encore, Maxwell was the consummate performer. We all know he can sing like an angel, but did you know he can dance with the best of them?! I had no idea how well that man can move. And let me just say he turned the heat up in that house!

Whew, I am still catching my breath! He sang all the old favorites and a bunch of the new stuff, including Pretty Wings. His band, his moves, those pants.....omg ladies, this one was the one to see. I am so glad he's back and I have a completely new appreciation for what he can do!

Oh, and I thought I would miss the hair, but he's still absolutely beautiful without it. Here's a look at the old, the new, and the forever wonderful Maxwell!

Black Hair Doc from Realitysurfer

Realitysurfer left this comment on the Good Hair on ET post:

Please take a moment to check out my documentary film BLACK HAIR

It is free at youtube. 6 parts including an update from London, England.

It explores the Korean Take-over of the Black Beauty Supply and Hair biz..

Kinda like Madame C.J. Walker in Reverse....a tragic comedy.

I am not a hater, I am a motivator.

Plus I am a White guy who stumbled upon this, and felt it was so wrong I had to make a film about it.

Can it be taken back?

Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE

Has anybody seen this already? If you check it out, as I mentioned about the Racialicious post, make sure to read the comments under the video as some interesting convo is always brewing!

Remix-CocoShea

Hey guys! This is just a quick post about a CocoShea mix I made for my hair that I used to do the twists in this post. In the past, I wrote about a concoction I made using shea butter, coconut oil, aloe gel, rose water,glycerin, and some other stuff. While it worked great as a moisturizer for twists, braids, and other "up" styles, any attempt at an "out" style like a twist/braid-out spelled defeat as my hair attracted moisture from the air. My twist outs became puffy and frizzy within a matter of minutes in this NC humidity.

So, I decided to eliminate most of the ingredients except the first two, shea butter and coconut oil. I used a large tub of the African Shea Butter and a few tablespoons of the coconut oil. I whipped it all together with a hand mixer and let it settle. Simple!

For some, this mix might weigh too heavily on the hair. But for my 3c/mostly 4a-4b hair, the consistency and heft are wondrous!

I love the Shea/Coconut oil combo because the shea is a wonderful sealant, especially for the ends, and the coconut penetrates deep within the hair shaft. It is much easier to emulsify in my hands than plain shea and it melts into my hair like butta. Click to read my posts about Shea Butter and Coconut Oil.

How I Use the CocoShea Mix:
After washing/conditioning, moisturizing (with some kind of leave in): I take a quarter size dollop and emulsify inbetween my hands. I then apply this to a sectioned off piece of hair in a downward motion, making sure I coat the hairs from root to tip. I then two-strand twist, braid, or whatever style to set the hair.

During the Week: My hair does not really need any more moisture during the week unless it is really dry out so I only apply more of the CocoShea to the ends of my twists when I retwist at night.

Pros:
*Heaviness of the CocoShea weighs my hair down just enough so I don't get much frizz
*Using this as a sealant on my ends has cut down on some of the knotting
*Hair feels moisturized and protected all week
*Applying this to wet hair makes it feel smooth and super soft once dry
*Considerably cheap for the amount of product
*Can be used on the body as well as the hair

Cons:
*Heavy scent (but is not so noticeable after hair is dry)
*Might be a little greasy for some people
*Umm...can't think of another con just yet!

So in the end, I like the old mix for moisturizing twists or braids but for a style I want to wear out, this CocoShea mix is where it's at!

The Joke is on Obama?

I just saw this on Racialicious, one of my favorite sites. Go over, check it out, then come back and tell me what you think. Oh, and don't forget to read the comments, sometimes they are the best part about a controversial post. I have not read the article yet, but the pics alone made me shudder a bit...

***UPDATE***

To get more about this strange and provocative image popping up in CA and ATL, click here, here, and here. Did it start HERE?

Good. Hair.

Just a quick vid to inspire you. You (all) got that good hair girrrrrrls! LOL

Gay in America: Philadelphia

I ended up staying awake way past my bedtime a few nights ago. I turned on the tv and Philadelphia, the 1993 film revolving around HIV/AIDS, homosexuality and homophobia, was playing, still in the first half. I knew immediately that any plans I had for sleep would be put on hold and I would be glued to the screen for the next hour and a half.

I have seen the film countless times over the years but each time I watch it, something new jumps out at me and I am moved in a different way.

It astonished me how sad the film really is. Obviously, right, there is a man who dies from AIDS and fights against the law firm which fired him for having the disease and being gay. But this time around, it really struck me how horribly people are treated who are not heterosexual in this country.

Much like racism, heterosexism is less blatant as it used to be but continues to permeate our society. Some of the things that were said to Tom Hank's character, in a court of law no less, were astounding. It literally brought tears to my eyes.

In these times, where young boys are hanging themselves in closets because of taunting at school regarding their sexuality, it makes me say STOP! This is crazy! I personally have no issues with homosexuality and I wish we lived in a world where people let other people live. It is one thing to disagree with what someone else does, or not wish to participate in something yourself. But it is entirely another thing to have the audacity to think only certain people deserve civil rights and equal treatment under the law.

Watching Tom Hanks as he portrayed a man dying with AIDS made my heart ache. They way people hurled insults and basically said he deserved what he got for being gay made me sick. There is a woman in the film who also has AIDS but because she is straight and contracted the disease from a blood transfusion, she was to be pitied as opposed to despised. She didn't "deserve" AIDS according to some, as if anybody deserves AIDS, as if AIDS is God's punishment to those some consider to be sexually deviant and perverse.

Denzel Washington's portrayal of a lawyer defending his gay client was also very moving. You saw his own struggle with understanding gender and homosexuality as he tried to defend someone who he knew had been illegally terminated from his job. He disagreed with what he saw to be an alterative lifestyle while also feeling completely adament that the law had been broken and descrimination had occurred. He eventually came to see that his client was not a gay man with AIDS, but just a man like himself who had a love, a career, and a family.

In the end, I hope we continue to evolve as a society in our understanding of people who do not fit the White, male, straight, Christian mold. I hope all people are able to marry under the law and receive equal civil rights as a result. No matter what you believe in, all of us live in this one society and we all deserve to be treated with fairness, justice, and respect. We all have the right to feel safe and protected by the law.

I know this is a touchy subject for some people but I would love to hear what you all think about Gay rights, this movie, or whatever you would like to add. I would only ask that you be respectful in your comments and understand that even if you don't agree with each other, you can still express your opinion in a respectful way.

This is a clip from the film where Tom Hank's character is talking about his love for a particular opera. Instead of prepping for his trial, he takes this moment to explain the story behind the music with his lawyer. This is the same night that he and his partner hosted a gay party and Denzel's character had attended. Here, he's begun to see that Tom Hank's character is a real person with desires, values, feelings, likes, and emotion. It is pretty moving.