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~ sapphic summer reading list ~
Growing up in the Bible Belt in the early 2000s, I had very little, if any, positive representation of LGBTQ+ folks. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I encountered stories of queer young adults discovering and owning their identities, and it was nothing short of life-changing. I finally saw and understood my authentic self…
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The Second Time I Kissed a Woman
I often get overwhelmed when someone asks me to share about my life, my background, and my struggles. There’s no easy place to begin, and often things feel too heavy, too nuanced, and too raw to pour out on the unsuspecting masses. My goal for this post, and any future posts, is that it is…
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Itchy Sweater
Life has been a bit hazy, unclear and has had very few concretes. I’ve been struggling hard to find those constant, concrete pillars to build my life around for a few years now. For a long time (i.e. my whole life), my idea of God and Jesus filled that spot. It kept me centered and…
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It’s Valentine’s Day. Do you know where your flowers come from?
Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year for the commercial flower industry. Most people grab a bouquet from their local supermarket and don’t think twice about it. But do you know what it took for those flowers to get to you? The US imports nearly 80% of it’s flowers, and the majority come…
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Depression
A poem by Alex Ike I wonderam I the only one?who finds more comfort under the weight of her blanketthan in the sun that is peaking through my windowasking me to come bask in it?how do I tell the sunthat it is more of a teasethan a joythat I think she is wonderfulI have always…
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A BLM Guide
If this is your first time working through antiracism, this could be a hard moment to navigate. It’s been a month since George Floyd’s murder and Black Lives Matter hit the mainstream, and things seem to be slowing down. If you feel like taking a step back to enjoy your summer, please remember that black…
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The Creative Practice of Keeping an Art Journal
What is an art journal? An art journal is simply a creative space to use however you wish. It can include sketches, poetry, collages, tiny paintings, photography, mementos, scattered thoughts, dried flowers… Truly, the options are endless. It’s a place to store inspiration and try out new ideas or mediums. It can be silly or…
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What Dating on Love is Blind taught Danielle Drouin about Love
Danielle Drouin is up for anything. Throughout the years she’s worked just about every gig you can think of – from Fashion Week runway model and barista to baker and yoga instructor. She’s done a bit of everything, and that includes Reality TV dating. The first time Danielle participated in a show was three years…
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Coronavirus Thoughts From An Autistic Woman
This collection of my thoughts is really not for the millions of people who have lost work or been displaced by COVID-19 and its aftermath. This is not for the medical workers fighting the disease on the front lines, nor the grocery store employees, delivery people, charity workers, and government employees who allow our society…
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The 2019 Feminist Holiday Gift Guide
Happy Holidays everyone! I hope your holiday season is one filled with peace and light and no last minute scrambling to buy the perfect presents for your loved ones. Mine is more the latter. And when you’re a last minute shopper like me, it is even harder to buy gifts that are unique and support…
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Growing Older and Embracing Change
Where did the time go? I remember myself as this young woman in my twenties and thirties. When I reached my forties I said, “girl, you’re getting older.” I felt unappreciative of where my life was going because I didn’t follow the traditional path of marriage and parenthood. Growing older meant that I would spend moments…
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Paris is Always a Good Idea
Lydia Benitez, a close friend of Release the Women, took a solo trip to France a couple of months ago, thoroughly documenting on Instagram as she went. She was completely vulnerable from the start, sharing the real anxiety and loneliness that overwhelmed her first night. We were captivated by every extremely raw and genuine post…
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What an Autism Diagnosis Taught me about Being Human
On January 2, 2019, I was diagnosed with the branch of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) formerly known as Apsergers Syndrome. And it was one of the happiest days of my life. Prior to the three-month diagnostic process that led to this moment, all I knew about Autism was what most people know: Rain Man, The…
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Dear Alex, You Have Really Done It: Interview with Alex Ike
I first met Alex Ike about 20 years ago while her family was on furlough in Georgia. We became fast friends and spent countless hours running around our church building, getting poison ivy in the woods and laughing at everything. Alex is one of those people who makes you feel more like yourself when you’re…
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Strength in Gentility: Interview with Shakia Hollis
“When I first wore heels in my adult life, a guy told me, ‘You shouldn’t wear those. You’re too tall.’ So then I just went and bought like six more.” Shakia Hollis told us this story as she laced up her 4 inch high heels after riding her longboard around Monday Night Brewing Garage. Shakia…
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