Now You Know

image source: jcomp With the new decree regarding the wearing of masks put into place, that means not wearing a mask could have one facing a fine and/or jailtime , there seems to be little room in South Africa for the mask scepticism that took hold across the Atlantic in the United States of America. However, the covid-19 vaccine scepticism is another story entirely, as it seems to be a topic of debate and contention- should we be nervous about the vaccine? Perhaps. But should we be downright opposed to it as many citizens seem to be? Exactly how dangerous is vaccine scepticism in general, and more specifically in South Africa's ongoing battle with the pandemic? Opposition to vaccination, or as it is now called, being 'anti-vaxx' has been around for hundreds of years, even before vaccines really existed. The "new wave" of the anti-vaccine movement appears to have begun with the publishing of an article in the Lancet by Andrew Wakefield . Those who were mere scepti...

I am a bisexual 18 year old. The first time I came out, I was 15 years old. I say first time, because coming out is a continual process. Everytime I meet someone new I have to go through the coming out process again. But for me, and many LGBT people, coming out to your parents is the most memorable and often the most nerve wracking coming out of them all. As parents you have seen your child naked, wiped their snotty nose and dealt with their bodily functions. You've done all of this, and somehow still love your kid unconditionally. Coming out, however, makes your child feel as vulnerable as that little baby they were. Your LGBT child is sharing with you something deeply personal, that is a part of who they are. So, your child has decided to share with you that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise not cisgender* or heterosexual *. Congratulations! You are clearly very important to them and they trust you. This is a sign you've done something right in t...