C.J., age 8, on his first Pride parade: “I liked the vibe. I liked all the colors. But, most of all, I liked all of the people. Nobody judges anybody. You can just be who you want to be. There should be Pride every week, because it’s so much fun,” he explained.

After her partner gave birth to their daughter, blogger and scholar Lucy Allen reflects on a complicated delivery, made more so by hospital staff making her feel unequal and unacknowledged as a parent.

“Teen Vogue, unlike Time or Newsweek, is drawing explicitly from a rich tradition of aggressive, opinionated, adversarial coverage of sexist white men.”

Carolyn Cocca on women superheroes and contemporary femininity: “But diversity, authenticity, and complexity in storytelling and characterization engender tolerance and empathy by showing us that anybody can be a hero.”

“[D]on’t do it without a plan. Because the very last thing a tense situation needs is someone full of good intentions but with no knowledge of de-escalation tactics or self-defense.” Ideas for moving beyond symbolism to activism in the wake of the US presidential election.

In the wake of the leaked audio of Donald Trump bragging about sexual assault, Transparent creator Jill Soloway discusses how men turn women into Others, and other men into accomplices.

Melissa Hillman on the struggle for real diversity in academia, theater, and beyond: “The problem with diversity without equity is that diversity can be accomplished in ways that entirely preserve the white male power structure.”

Social and political activist Rebecca Griffin recommends her favorite podcasts by women of color, like Represent and 2 Dope Queens, covering topics from feminism and race to work and equality.

Joanna Di Mattia celebrates Ghostbusters with “reverse nostalgia”: “How great it would be to be a young girl right now, with the chance to see a big, bombastic film like this, with four funny, smart females at the helm.”

Playwright Abbey Fenbert writes a sharp, thought-provoking manifesto against the stubborn gender inequality in American theater repertories.

“Each gesture is a glyph in an elaborate alphabet of steps and angles, slaps and smacks.” At Open Space, Maxe Crandall reflects on how choreography, identity, and politics come together in Jackson’s iconic music videos.

“I am declaring a 72-hour moratorium on women having to worry about men’s delicate feelings. I’ve waited 60 years. America has waited 240.” At hecatedemeter, a Hillary Clinton supporter refuses to tone down her joy.

“I want you to enjoy every moment of your life and sometimes just toss that hair in a quick messy bun and run out the door on your way to another adventure.” Writer Larinna Chandler wishes for her daughter to blaze her own path.

Dipsika Thakur writes about makeup, the myth of “empowerment,” and tradition: “The daily ritual of Lacto Calamine, Pond’s powder, and sindoor was my introduction to makeup—makeup as obeisance, as conjugal duty, and as habit.”