Getting Continually Blocked on Facebook

As I’ve written in the past I’ve been having some trouble with Facebook lately.  I’ve had an account deleted around the time of the whole Real Name debate.  I’ve had my account shackled without explanation, being unable to use half the features of the site such as having a ‘like’ button or being able to make comments.

Fortunately for me this ban on my account was lifted on the 4th of November, letting me use my Facebook account fully again.  Then today, not two days after getting my account back I’ve been locked out of all the features again.  Once again with no real explanation as to why.

I’ve messaged Facebook asking them for an explanation, and to unlock my account but so far have received no response from them.  If their total ignorance during the last incident is anything to go by then I doubt I will hear anything from them this time either.

I use Facebook a lot, I use it to promote my blog and my column at Planet Transgender.  The simple fact of the matter is that using Facebook gets my web presence out there.  It gets me more hits.

Without the use of Facebook I’m not doing as well.  An article of mine received over 8,000 hits in just one week, Facebook Name Debate and Having my Account Deleted, since then I’ve been struggling to get 1,000 in a month.  I know that sounds selfish but that’s one of the reasons why I want to be using Facebook.

Perhaps it was the article that got me so many hits from Facebook that was the issue?  Has calling them out on their frankly disgusting policy made me something of a target to them?

Maybe, maybe not.  To be honest I doubt that I’m that special to warrant that kind of attention from them.  Whatever the reason for all of these blocks and bans it’s getting to the point where I’m getting ridiculously bored by it all.  I think it might be about time that I leave Facebook for good.

Amy.
xx

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Belfast Bakery to Face Legal Action For LGBT Discrimination

It looks like Oregon bakery ‘Sweet Cakes’ who have been in the news the past year for refusing to create a wedding cake for a gay couple and their subsequent court hearing are not warning enough to other companies about refusing to do business with people based on ‘religious beliefs’, or homophobic views as they should be called.

A Belfast bakery has also refused to create a pro-marriage cake, once again citing ‘religious grounds’, will be facing court over allegations of discrimination.  An LGBT rights activist, Gareth Lee, ordered a cake from ‘Ashers Baking Company’ earlier in the year for the International National Day Against Homophobia party held by QueerSpace Belfast.

Shop staff originally took an order for the cake, depicting the Seasame Street characters Bert and Ernie embracing with the slogan ‘support gay marriage’.  The owners of the business later contacted Mr Lee and informed him that they would not be producing the cake as they felt it went against their religious beliefs.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland found ‘Ashers’ to be breaking anti-discrimination laws, demanding that the company apologise for their actions and pay Mr Lee compensation.

Instead of doing so, however, ‘Ashers’ have chosen to take a stand and have refused, stating that: 'We’re continuing to hold to the stand that we took originally because we believe it’s biblical, we believe it’s what God would want us to do, and we also think that if we do cave in to the Equality Commission at this point it’ll put pressure on other citizens who are defending their view of traditional marriage.'

The Commission has warned the bakery that if they do not change their standpoint and make an official apology soon then they will be facing legal action.

Amy.

xx

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An Old Foe Returns in a New Form

Tonight saw the amazing return of iconic Doctor Who villain, and my personal all-time favourite, The Master.  However, a lot of people found this reappearance surprising, and in some cases disturbing, as he is now a she.

It would appear that during The Masters last regeneration he transformed into a woman, now calling herself The Mistress, or Missy for short.  Played by the brilliant Michelle Gomez, Missy has been making appearances during the series since Peter Capaldi’s first episode ‘Deep Breath’.  Many quick minded fans, myself included, put together the connection from her name and went into the episode hoping eagerly for the reveal we were given.

The series has toyed with the idea that Galliferyans (remember guys, Time Lord/Lady is a title not the name of the race) can also change gender when they regenerate, even stating very clearly in the 2011 episode ‘The Doctors Wife’ that it is a possibility.  This episode, however, makes the first time in the series that we have actually seen it in the flesh.

There were many reactions to the reveal on the internet, particularly Twitter, some very pleased with the revelation, some a little less so.

A huge range of reactions from the fans.  I even chuckled a little at the Brian Blessed one.

For all those people who are complaining that The Master is now a woman and are quitting the series.  Good.  The rest of us don’t want you.  If a character that belongs to a species that changes their bodies when they’re dying becoming female disturbs you then there’s something wrong with you.  One value this show fosters is that no matter what species people are, what their outward appearance is they're still people with decent personalities and people you can care about, a message that we should all adopt in the real world.  What if it was a black Master, or Asian?  Would that be terrible then too?  What happens eventually when the Doctor changes gender?

One of the best moments of the show in years.

Oh, we all know that that day is coming.  Fans have been clamouring for it for a long time now.  And that’s probably what this is about.  Yes, it’s some brilliant storytelling and one of the best things they’ve done to the character in decades, but it’s very clearly a test run to see how people react.  A female Doctor is coming one day, though hopefully not for a while because Capaldi is brilliant.

At the end of the day who cares if the Master is a man or a woman?  As long as she’s good in the role, and so far she’s been absolutely brilliant and I want loads more of her, it shouldn’t matter at all.

Amy.

xx

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Elle Fanning to Play Transgender Character in New Drama

A new drama show currently in early stages of production called ‘Three Generations’ has cast the actress Elle Fanning to play a transgender character.  Set in New York, the show will follow Fanning as Ray, a young transgender male who reaches the decision to transition.  The show will also feature his mother, played by Naomi Watts, as she struggles to come to terms with her only daughter becoming her son and his lesbian grandmother, played by Susan Sarandon.

Whilst some films and television shows have received criticism for casting Cis actors in trans roles, such as Jeffery Tambor in ‘Transparent’ and Jared Leto in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, the fact that the show will be focusing on someone who is in the very early stages of transition.  Some people might find this casting decision to be a misstep, but I’m hopeful that this will be a good show regardless of that and will accurately portray the process of transition and the effect that it has not only on the individual going through it but their whole family as well.

Amy.
xx

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Terminating The Franchise?

I’ve been a fan of the Terminator films for as long as I can remember, Terminator 2 was one of my core movies as a kid, alongside Aliens, Predator and Labyrinth.  I love the first film, I think it’s a fantastic sci-fi horror, the second is a kick arse action film that makes Linda Hamilton one of the best action heroines around, the third…..well let’s not talk about the third one, and Salvation was a great film that made the machines scary again.

So other than one bad apple a pretty good series of films.  With that in mind when they announced a fifth film that would not only star Game of Thrones Emila Clarke but also return Arnie to the series in a role that’s not just a cameo I was excited.  Now though, less so.

The film has a terrible name; Genisys.  Genisys?  That’s not even a real word.

The film will re-write the whole Terminator timeline and erase the other films.

And finally, these pictures that have just been released.

Emila Clarke as Sarah Connor.

Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese.

Jason Clarke as John Connor.

Matt Smith as a yet unnamed character.

I know that these are just promo images, but they instantly put me off the film.  It looks too shiny and clean and Hollywood for a Terminator movie.  

As I said earlier the film will also be going against established Terminator lore.  In this new film, apparently, Sarah Connors parents were killed when she was just a little girl and she’s been raised by Arnies T-800 who she calls ‘pops’.

I don’t know what it is with films anymore.  It seems that certain franchises can get away with anything because they’re trying to appeal to masses of fans by casting certain stars rather than making good content.  Arnie back?  Yep, they’ll love that.  Game of Thrones babe?  Yep, they’ll love that.  A former Doctor in a time travel film, oh the Whovians will adore that. 

It kind of feels the same as Peter Dinklage in Destiny.  People are being cast in films and games and TV purely for the wow factor or to draw people in.  Just based on what I’ve seen in recent images and heard of the plot this film is going to be even worse than Terminator 3.  Something I didn’t think was actually possible.  

Amy.

xx

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