Toemageddon 2011

April 23, 2011 by Sarah

Yesterday 7,718 people painted their toenails pink to commend Jenna Lyons and J. Crew for celebrating pink boys (and to protest the brouhaha over their brave choice). How cool is that?

And today I was walking down the main street in our neighborhood and came across a guy with a cast on his leg–in hot pink. I told him I was going to write a blog post about Paint Your Nails Pink Day and Toemageddon 2011 (as Jon Stewart so fabulously called the brouhaha), and he said that the pink cast was his tribute to The Day. That? Is super cool. (Plus, he let me photograph him, which makes him Cool Supreme.)

If you didn’t paint your nails in time for yesterday, paint ’em today. If you break your arm? My condolences…and get a pink cast. Smashed your car door? Paint the new one pink. And tell the world why you’re painting things pink: because you can. Because girls can wear blue jeans, and boys can wear pink tutus, and casts don’t have to be white. And because standing up for the right for everyone to be their own interesting selves is the coolest thing of all.

Comments

Patti says

April 24, 2011 at 9:12 am

Mine were red until I changed polish to pink! Hooray to everyone taking part! =)

“Working with Sarah and Ian Hoffman was a blessing. They were organized and collaborative in every detail. Once they began sharing, the crowd was rapt with curiosity and empathy. With warmth, humor, and disarming honesty they invited us to explore gender diversity and inclusion in ways that rang with authenticity, hope, and practicality. People left feeling both challenged and resolute for the work ahead—with new language for addressing complex topics and renewed joy. If you are considering inviting Sarah and Ian, expect a generous partnership and a revelatory Q&A.”

—Rev. Victor H. Floyd
Calvary Presbyterian Church

“Sarah & Ian’s visits to our class help us to cultivate an environment where students feel safe to express themselves, explore their identities, and appreciate and support others.”

—Anjali Ramisetti
First Grade Teacher
Katherine Delmar Burke School

“Sarah and Ian were so thoughtful in providing just-right content for our kindergarteners all the way up to our older students. Their loving and honest stories, easy back-and-forth with one another, and humorous delivery of a delicate topic made this sensitive, yet oh-so-critical topic digestible and relatable. This is a conversation that I hope students, teachers, and parents will continue to have with more ease thanks to the Hoffmans. I’m so grateful to them for sharing their gift of their family’s journey, and their beautiful storytelling, with our entire school community.”

—Kristine Keane
School Social Worker
George Peabody School

“The first time I heard Sarah & Ian tell their story, I was in awe of them. Their loving, unconditional acceptance of their child is a model every parent should see. What a lucky child Sam is to get to grow up with Sarah & Ian as his parents!”

—Susan Rahman, MA
Faculty, Sociology, Psychology, and Behavioral Science, College of Marin

“Sarah & Ian have a unique ability to capture the joys and challenges of raising a gender-nonconforming child. Their natural ability as storytellers, combined with their insightful reflections on their own journey as parents, make them compelling speakers for a diverse range of audiences. Balancing humorous anecdotes with poignant realism, they build awareness, understanding, and acceptance of families and children navigating this challenging terrain.”

—Joel Baum
Gender Spectrum Education and Training

“Sarah & Ian’s willingness to share the story of their family with my students has opened up new dialogue and understanding of children with diverse expressions of gender. The research they have completed with other families with children who cross gender “boxes” has been invaluable in helping teachers understand the perspectives of parents and caregivers and how we can support them as educators. We always appreciate their openness and willingness to share time with us!”

—Tracy Burt
Faculty, Child Development and Family Studies Department, City College of San Francisco