Each month, the blog will bring you a monthly roundup of the highlights in national and local news relevant to social justice topics. Our goal is to hit major news, but also include a few pieces that you may have missed.
“If you can listen, you can hear it. It’s what we call the Anytown spirit!” These words rang out all week long at Anytown Alabama, the YWCA Central Alabama’s social justice camp supported by the National Conference for Community Justice (NCCJ). The camp is designed to empower high school students to help nurture acceptance and inclusivity in their communities. If you missed any of our story about Anytown, click here.
Recently, Birmingham AIDS Outreach opened the Magic City Acceptance Center, a safe space for Birmingham-area LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer or questioning) youth. The center is being funded by a generous $50,000 grant from the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Magic City Acceptance Center is made to support and empower LGBTQ youths into college age.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has cancelled the trademark registration of the Washington Redskins, ruling the NFL team’s name is “disparaging to Native Americans,” according to the Washington Post. This marks the second time such a case was filed to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board on behalf of a group of Native Americans. The decision was made after reviewing dictionary definitions, movie clips, scholarly articles and more which ultimately lead the Board to decide “Redskins” is an ethnic slur. During the recent NBA finals, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation ran an ad which possibly served as a catalyst for this decision. 
 
Inspired or offended? Write us a post about it! For more information about writing a blog post for the YW, please email Travis Swinford at tswinford@ywcabham.org.