the olympics

This has been a week, and now it's Friday, so turn on your television and let's get these Summer Games crackin'!

• Did you hear? The Olympics start today! Oh, and Caster Semenya gets to carry the South African flag in the opening ceremony! Who's excited? We are! [Colorlines]
• Yes! Sasheer Zamata's video about meeting her flasher is pure gold–super spot-on social commentary, plus, she's just hilarious. [Punch!]
• A model with Down Syndrome is being featured in a children's swim catalogue. Is this a "progressive" ploy or geniune want for and real step towards diversity in ability amongst models? [xoJane]
• This week in sexism and the Olypics: Leisel Jones is no stranger to the summer games—she has some world records, a bunch of medals, and basically, she's awesome, but all people can talk about is her weight. Seriously? Step off. [Feministing]
• Take a look at this super informative, and deeply saddening inforgraphic about women and HIV/AIDS. [Ms. Blog]
• Check out this fascinating interview with Keelin Godsey, the first out American trans person to to be a serious Olympic contender. Unfortunately, it did not work out this year, but maybe 2016? We can hope. [Feministe]
• The panelists for The Queerness of Hip-Hop/The Hip-Hop of Queerness symposium at Harvard University were just announced! [QOOH]
• Is it Girl Scout season yet? I could go for a box or five of some Thin Mints. Learn about the history of the cookies you love so much! [Collectors Weekly]
• The Miss Zee Coloring Book is being created to empower underrepresented girls of color, but it can't happen without your help! This is important! [Kickstarter]
• Viola Davis on what to expect from the Barbara Jordan biopic, plus, what critics of black actors don't understand. [IndieWire]
• Help Autostraddle build a better Autostraddle! Really, donate or buy some merch, any little bit counts! [Autostraddle]
• The Visibility Project, a national portrait and video project seeking to bring presence and representation to the queer Asian and Pacific Islander communities, who we've featured on the blog, are looking for more folks to participate in New York until August 7th! They'll also be in Portland on August 11th! [The Visibility Project]
• Portland update: The 12th annual Portland Zine Symposium is in two weeks! Come support local artists and all sorts of DIY awesomeness!