Author Archives: kendylbrower

By Rachel Ulrey  Walking down the halls at Westmont, you may have noticed a new mural depicting the LGBTQ+ flag. Designed by Lauren Lochner, this mural is intended to convey how Westmont—in particular the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)—supports and welcomes all members of the LGBTQ+ community. In efforts to foster a more inclusive and amicableContinue reading “Westmont’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) “

By Lily Matt  Initially a pagan holiday which can be tied to the Celtic “Samhain,” or fire harvest festival, Halloween has become entrenched into American culture. But the origins of this holiday are a lot more queer than one might think. The Celts have little to no records of their own so many historians relyContinue reading “The Queer History of Halloween “

By Rachel Ulrey  Just be yourself—a common maxim, advice most kids are given growing up, whether when scared about making new friends or wondering how to act a certain way in elementary school. However, in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis argued encouraging children in kindergarten that the phrase, “they can be whatever they want to be”Continue reading “Consequences Lawmakers Won’t Say of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill“

By Lily Matt   Netflix has done it again! Based on a graphic novel of the same name, Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper is a rare treat. The show follows Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, two teenage boys navigating high school, friendships, and sexuality. Set in the UK, the show has vibes reminiscent of Netflix’s Sex Education withContinue reading “The Show That Made Our Hearts Stop!”

By Julia Kemp Movies, books, TV shows—these influential media forms have been overwhelmingly white and straight since the beginning of the entertainment era. In most popular stories, characters and romances have been catered to straight people, with fairy tales and rom coms perpetuating the perfect, normal idea of a straight relationship. However, in recent years,Continue reading “The Importance of Representation“

By Alessandra Kelly Asexuality—the lack or absence of sexual attraction to others—often confuses the general public as a concept. Firstly, asexuality refers to sexual attraction, not romantic attraction. Romantic attraction falls under the spectrum of aromanticism; however, the two spectrums may coincide if an individual shares a difference in both romantic and sexual attraction. Fortunately,Continue reading “Sex? Ew.”

By Madeleine Stiffler Throughout history, women in science have made incredible innovations. Barbara McClintok, an American scientist and cytogeneticist transformed medicine as she challenged existing concepts of what genes were capable of when she discovered that some genes could be mobile. Her studies of chromosome breakage in maize led her to discover a chromosome-breaking locusContinue reading “Women in Science“

By Nupur Kudapkar  As most of us know, being a woman is not easy, From gender pay gaps to being harassed and catcalled simply for fashion choices, sometimes it simply sucks. However, being a woman today is far easier than, say, 100 years ago. During women’s history month, we have to appreciate and commend allContinue reading “Amazing Women: Past and Present  “

By Laila Barboza  Women all struggle with self-love at one point or another, some more than others. However, finding inner peace with yourself and making yourself your best friend is more challenging than you think. According to PRNewswire, “more than 1 in 2 women struggle with self-love and self-doubt.”  A poem from a movie thatContinue reading “Self Love “

By Larena Tannert On May 29, 1851 at a Woman’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth delivered her most famous speech, “Ain’t I A Woman?” Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and women’s rights activist, tackling issues of slavery and gender discrimination publicly and passionately. Originally born a slave, Sojourner Truth escaped in 1826; incidentally,Continue reading ““Ain’t I A Woman?”“