"Everyone’s pain is different… I don’t like when people compare. I don’t like when people marginalize their feelings because they think they’re not allowed to have them. Someone will always have a tougher go than you. Does that mean you’re not allowed to feel hurt? To be sad?"
Officials in Denmark have announced that the nation will no longer classify being transgender as a mental illness, the first country in the world to do so.
Trans issues are more visible than ever before, and yet the World Health Organization still classifies being trans as a disorder (though the WHO is reportedly working to revise that definition). Denmark, on the other hand, will formally separate itself from that classification, effective January 1, 2017.
“At the moment, transgender is listed as a mental illness or behavioural problem,” Social Democrat health spokesman Flemming Moller Mortensen told Danish news agency Ritzau. “That is incredibly stigmatising and in no way reflects how we see transgender people in Denmark. It should be a neutral diagnosis.”
He added: “The WHO is currently working on a new system for registering diagnoses. It has been working on it for a very, very long time. Now we’ve run out of patience, and want to send out a signal saying that if the system is not changed by October, then we in Denmark will go it alone.”
HELL YES, Denmark. Set a precedent and demand that the rest of the world follows your lead. Yes yes yes.
A step in the right direction for the rest of the world
That cat became an icon THIS MONTH AND IS STILL ONE.
that’s Jo-Pawveski, a stray who wandered onto the ice and past the nashville predators bench during round 2 of playoffs. They eventually picked her up and sent her to the humane society.
Here she is.
The SAN JOSE SHARKS won that game and attributed it to her, naming her after the Sharks captain: Joe Pavelski. When they found out she was a girl, they changed her name to Jo instead of Joe.
She became an instant good luck charm after that as the Sharks won every game at home that series and moved onto round three.
Since then, every game, they stack pucks and stick a idol to Jo for luck.
This little cat has had merchendise made out of her. She’s literally almost replaced SJ sharkie as maschot of the team.
I mean. I’m not making this up. I HAVE A RALLY TOWEL OF HER THEY GAVE OUT FOR GAME 1 OF THE 3RD ROUND. I OWN THIS FUCKING THING:
FURRIES HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP DRESS AS HER.
She had her own livestream to check in on her.
SHE’S IN THE PREGAME OPENING ANIMATION
And so I know what you’re gonna say here.
Well… what happened to Jo, though.
Good news, This week, as Sharks made their first Stanley Cup, Jo and another Kitty were adopted.
And that kids, is the story of JO PAWVELSKI.
The stray black cat of the San Jose Sharks.
I’m beaming with shark pride and I ain’t even that big into hockey
“Getting out of an abusive relationship isn’t easy—but actually packing up and moving out is even more daunting.
These owners of a California moving company have volunteered to complete the move for them, free of charge.
When they first started their business, Meathead Movers in 1997, the high school athletes were simply looking for a way to earn some extra cash.
As their business grew, the Steeds started getting occasional, frantic phone calls from women with little or no money who wanted to quickly move out before their abusers returned home.
The sympathetic movers always declined any compensation and rushed to the address to load their belongings.
One day, in 2000, a situation turned volatile when the abuser came home in the middle of the move. It was then that the company decided it had to ensure that the women and the moving crew were both safe, so they partnered with a local women’s shelter.
“What was good about that is, they could be vetting the requests for help, supporting the women with counseling, and making sure when we went in, the proper restraining orders were in place, or police were on hand if necessary,” Meathead’s CEO Aaron Steed told Good News Network.
Since those days in 2000, the company has expanded into Santa Barabara, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties. Whenever they open a new office, within the first week, they head to a local women’s shelter and knock on their doors.
“It’s the special service we like to offer,” Aaron said on a phone call. “These moves became very personal to us, made all the employees so proud, and became part of our mission statement.” He also said the same services are offered to any victim of domestic violence–male or female.
Yesterday, the company launched a new campaign that asks other businesses to “get creative” and help victims of domestic violence. Called #MoveToEndDV, the Meathead Movers hope to inspire others to rethink how they can work with shelters, or help women as they try to rebuild their lives and move into their first home or apartment.
“Some of our ideas are for businesses to offer free security systems, a dog kennel service, or for an auto-mechanic to provide oil changes,” Aaron said. “All those little things would help defer costs of starting over.”
“We’re so excited about it,” said Aaron. “It brings so much more purpose and passion to our lives and if we can be an example for others, that is so much better.”
Read the full piece here and California folks please share, this is an amazing resource!
"Try and understand what part you have to play in the world in which you live. There’s more to life than you know and it’s all happening out there. Discover what part you can play and then go for it."