This day in Herstory: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, born February 2, 1977, known mononymously as Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Shakira has been referred to as the "Queen of Latin Music" and is noted for her versatility in music. She made her recording debut under Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13. Following the commercial failure of her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), she rose to prominence in Hispanic countries with her next albums, Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album, Laundry Service (2001), which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Buoyed by the international number-one singles "Whenever, Wherever" and "Underneath Your Clothes", the album propelled her reputation as a leading crossover artist. Broadcast Music, Inc., the largest music rights organization in the United States, described Shakira as a pioneer who extended the global reach of Latino singers.
Her success was further solidified with the Spanish albums Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005), Sale el Sol (2010), and El Dorado (2017), all of which topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and were certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. Meanwhile, her English albums Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005), She Wolf (2009) and Shakira (2014) were all certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum in various countries worldwide. Some of her songs have charted at number one in multiple countries, including "La Tortura", "Hips Don't Lie", "Beautiful Liar", "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", "Loca", and "Chantaje". Shakira served as a coach on two seasons of the American singing competition television series The Voice (2013–2014).
With a catalog of 145 songs, Shakira has sold over 80 million records which have made her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Forbes reported that as of 2018, Shakira has become the female Latin artist who has sold the most albums in history. Shakira has received numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards, twelve Latin Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, thirty-nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, six Guinness World Records and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was named the Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade by Billboard twice (2000s and 2010s). For her philanthropic work with her Barefoot Foundation and her contributions to music she received the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year and Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year awards in 2011. She was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in the US in 2011, and Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2012. (more)
Pedophile Abused Girl, 8, While Living With Her Non-Binary Polyamorous Family
From Reduxx (USA)
By Genevieve Gluck
February 2, 2022
Disturbing details are circulating regarding a trans-identified male who was charged with sexually abusing an 8 year old girl in Boise, Idaho while living with her polyamorous, non-binary family unit.
‘Alyssa’ Celusta, 35, whose arrest records list his name as Odinn Valur John Celusta, fled to Crescent, Oregon after abusing the girl, where he was arrested on August 18, 2021 after coming out on his Facebook profile as a pedophile.
In a series of Facebook posts, Celusta declared that in addition to being transgender, he was sexually attracted to children, and decried the oppression of what he portrayed as an innocent sexual identity.
“I am a pedophile. I have felt attraction to the very young for as long as I’ve been aware of what those kinds of feelings were,” Celusta wrote. “I do not believe there’s anything shameful in my feelings. I don’t want to learn how to hide and repress and pretend I’m ‘cured’. This is part of my sexuality, as real a facet of me as any other.”
Celusta went on to claim that social stigma against pedophilia is what's placing children in danger of sexual abuse, a talking point gaining popularity amongst sympathetic academics and pro-pedophile activist organizations like Prostasia. Celusta wrote: “A society that shrinks back in terror and shame from the topic of child sexuality actually makes children at more risk of abuse.” … read full article
World Hijab Day Ignores the Enforcement of Veiling
Some women can't choose NOT to wear a hijab.
From 4W (USA)
By Tamata
February 2, 2022
Taking off in 2013, February 1st was declared World Hijab Day. The founder, Nazma Khan, gave a speech explaining the inspiration behind and mission of World Hijab Day. Speaking of her personal history with anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States, she shared heartbreaking experiences of being discriminated against on the basis of her hijab.
“Being a hijabi was a direct sign saying, ‘she’s a Muslim,’” Nazma explained. She spoke of being bullied by her classmates in school and university as well as hearing stories from other hijabi women of “being rejected at job interviews just because of their hijab.”
“How can I help these women?” Nazma pondered, “how can I help myself?” And so the idea struck her: World Hijab Day, an invitation to women across the globe, from all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, to share hijab: an encouragement to walk in the shoes of a hijabi woman in order to increase religious tolerance.
The event was a success. Women from different faiths and cultures around the world enthusiastically accepted her invitation, many sharing their experiences of trying on the hijab for one day. News outlets report the event year after year, cheering for this inclusive celebration in solidarity with women who have gone through so much pain due to discrimination. Hijabi women celebrate the day, too, expressing their feelings of liberation and empowerment from wearing hijab in what they describe as the reclamation of their sexuality.
Despite the sunny face of World Hijab Day, it has an underbelly that conceals harsh realities of the enforcement of hijab:
It is the mandatory hijab laws in Iran and Saudi Arabia,
It is the Muslim families all around the world who make their small daughters wear hijab, stripping anything resembling “choice” away from them,
It is the honor crimes that are committed against women by their husbands, brothers, and fathers as a result of them not adhering to religious dress codes,
It is the direct insult to womankind, reducing her value to her body which is considered to be an object of a man’s possession (her father’s at birth and her husband’s after marriage). … read full article
EHRC skewers the UK Government’s Conversion Therapy proposals, by Bev Jackson from LGB Alliance
From Lesbian and Gay News (UK)
By Bev Jackson
February 2, 2022
In what could be a pivotal moment in the debates about gender and sex, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued a stunning response to the Government’s proposals to ban “conversion therapy” (https://t.co/1djOSIrOfN). It zeroed in on the key problems and despite the polite language essentially told the government to get its act together. The EHRC pointed out that since the Government has not defined either “conversion therapy” or “transgender”, it is hard to comprehend what “transgender conversion therapy” would involve. It also notes that while there is ample evidence detailing the harmful effects of gay conversion therapy, evidence in relation to gender identity (on which any definition of “transgender” is bound to rely) is virtually non-existent. You can’t legislate without definitions or evidence. And why should anyone want to try?
By now most readers are probably familiar with what has become known as the “Dentons Report” which advises activists how they can get gender identity legislation passed without public debate, media coverage or parliamentary scrutiny (https://www.iglyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IGLYO_v3-1.pdf). Several passages are particularly applicable to the attempts to glue “transgender” to “sexual orientation” in the conversion therapy ban proposals, as if it was all the same sort of thing. … read full article
Association Ruleset Bans Trans Athletes And Athletes Taking “Any Hormone” From Tested Divisions
As of Jan. 1, 2022, the United States Powerlifting Association will not allow any athlete who is prescribed hormones to compete in Tested divisions, "regardless of medical necessity."
From BarBend (USA)
By Alex Polish
February 2, 2022
Angel Flores — a 22-year-old USA Powerlifting (USAPL) gold-medalist in the MX division — was excited to compete in the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Violet Crown Classic at her home gym, Liberation Barbell Club in Austin, TX. However, that same day, Flores posted a video on her Instagram, revealing that on Jan. 4, 2022, the USPA “disallowed” her from competing in the drug-tested meet because she is trans.
The USPA’s decision to block Flores from participating in the Jan. 29 meet is in line with their rulebook, updated on Jan. 1, 2022. It states that transgender athletes and people “using any hormone” cannot compete in tested divisions.
Flores’ entanglement with the USPA’s new ruleset highlights the ongoing changes to rules regarding the participation of transgender athletes. Some organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), have adopted pathways for trans people to compete in their events, while more restrictive policies within other organizations have prompted legal action. … read full article
Transgender barrister is shortlisted for women’s prize
From The Times (UK)
By Catherine Baksi and Jonathan Ames
February 2, 2022
A transgender barrister has sparked a row after being shortlisted for a prominent legal profession award that highlights the achievements of female lawyers.
Robin Moria White has been nominated in the “leader of the year” category of the Women Influence and Power in Law UK Awards, which is organised by one of the most prominent legal publishers in the United States.
The 58-year-old barrister was born male and transitioned 11 years ago. Her inclusion on the shortlist has reignited arguments over whether awards designed to recognise female achievement should potentially go to transwomen who have not had the same career experiences as natal women.
Her nomination triggered criticism from gender critical campaigners and a flurry of social media abuse.
Maya Forstater, a tax expert who won a landmark legal claim after being sacked from a think tank for posting gender critical comments on social media, said that “women’s prizes, awards and leadership schemes exist to celebrate female achievement in professions that have been male-dominated”. … read full article
City Council takes steps to mandate gender-inclusive language in future laws
From Long Beach Post (USA)
By Anthony Pignataro
February 2, 2022
The Long Beach City Council approved a resolution Tuesday to only use gender-inclusive language in its future ordinances and resolutions. The council also took the first steps toward adopting an ordinance that will amend the municipal code to reflect the new policy.
This means the city will no longer use gender-specific words in laws, resolutions and policies. City officials hope this will help “eliminate stigma and discrimination across all facets of society by embracing people of all gender identities and/or expressions for who they are,” according to a Feb. 1 letter to the council from City Attorney Charles Parkin. … read full article