Not Your Mother's Meatloaf

Where we're AT!

2011-11-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

We've recently expanded our availability to the following BOOKSTORES and ZINE LIBRARIES in the Bay Area and NYC.

Check us out in the Zines/Comics/Self Published sections at the following locations:
Modern Times, San Francisco
Dog Eared Books, San Francisco
Needles and Pens, San Francisco
Oakland Public Library Teen Zone, Oakland
St. Mark's Books, New York City
Bluestockings, New York City

NYMM at Queer Rock Camp!

2011-09-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

We recently participated in the first ever Queer Rock Camp in Olympia, Washington.

Check it out here: Queer Rock Camp or HERE for photos, etc.

An amazing group of queer youth and volunteers came together for one week and formed bands, attended workshops, supported and inspired one another.

Not Your Mother's Meatloaf editor Saiya presented a workshop on queer comics, and copies of Issues 1 through 5(*new issue*), as well as our youth workbook, are now available in the Stonewall Youth library.

Thank you so much to QRC and everyone who participated in this incredible program.

AGE ISSUE

2011-07-28T02:57:00.000-07:00

The fifth issue is OUT!
Download it here: files.me.com/lizabley/af7kxr
Or click the link to the right, where you can find free PDF downloads of all NYMM issues.
Email us suggestions for the theme of our next issue (number 6!): notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com
Stay tuned for more updates soon.

JULY 20 deadline for Issue #5: AGE

2011-06-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Just wanted to let you all know that our DEADLINE (for real) for the 5th issue of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf is JULY 20.

This will be when Liza and Saiya can be together for a week again at last, in Oakland, and therefore we will be able to compile the 5th issue! But we need your comic by then, or else the chance will be lost!

Please send inquiries and comics to notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com
If you need to submit a comic via snail mail, let us know and we will provide you with a mailing address.

Remember, the theme is AGE and the comic should be on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, in black ink.

thank you!
Saiya and Liza
NYMM editors

NYMM at Comics & Medicine Conference

2011-05-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Not Your Mother's Meatloaf was recently interviewed by Susan M. Squier, a professor at Penn State University, (University Park PA) who will be presenting a talk at the Comics & Medicine Conference taking place on June 9-11 in Chicago. We are thrilled to be involved with a conference whose purpose is so closely aligned with our mission...an event that aims to "explore the past, present, and possible future of comics in the context of the healthcare experience."

check it out: http://graphicmedicine.org/

We would like to thank Susan M. Squier for approaching us with an interest in the NYMM project.

Take a look at the interview:

Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf; Sex Education Comic Book Project
Interview with Susan M Squier, Acting director, Science, Technology, and Society Program, 2010-2011, Brill Professor of Women's Studies, English, and STS, Penn State

1. What do you think comics as a medium--ie the combination of words and images in sequence--offer for sex education?

We use the comic or graphic novel form to educate youth about sexuality from a broader perspective than they may receive in a standard health or sex ed class. The practice of drawing a comic gives an opportunity to tell a personal narrative, an opportunity rarely given in classrooms or curriculum. Personal narratives humanize and offer a different kind of access to our questions on sex and sexuality than the sterilized, clinical speak of most sex ed. curriculum. The absence of straightforward, open discussion around personal issues in sex ed class reaffirms misconceptions and feelings of invalidity, shame, and frustration around sex, sexuality and gender identity. Comic format also catalyzes a different way of accessing and sharing information. Having a variety of resources, and presenting information in different formats, helps youth envision alternatives, sparks discussions, and acts as a template for storytelling.

2. What led you to the title of this series?

For us, the expression “Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf,” refers to something that deviates from typical mainstream advice. It’s a kind of playful way to suggest that we are serving up something radically different from other models of sex education, trying out a new format for sparking dialogues about sex, gender, health, and sexual orientation.

3. How do you get your submissions?

We advertise everywhere that we can, try to tell all of our friends, and occasionally lead workshops for youth and adults alike. We also outreach through events held at high schools, universities, summer camps, and after-school programs, and community health clinics and community centers. Recently, we have been getting NYMM into zine libraries in independent bookstores and public libraries. Many bookstores agree to sell NYMM on consignment, and this helps to spread the word. What is so inspiring about the comics we receive, and what struck us the most, was their honesty. The comic book format somehow makes it more possible for people to open up and talk about often embarrassing or sometimes even painful experience in a way that could even be funny. We couldn't believe how eager people were to tell and illustrate their personal stories. Also, even though the comics are different from one another (from their content and perspective to their artistic style), collectively they work as one piece, because of the strong first person narrative present in each story.

4. Do you have criteria for the art? For the narrative? Why or why not?

We simply require the comics to be on 8½” x 11” paper and in black ink. We also provide a theme for each issue, to help people generate ideas and respond to a broad theme in their own specific way. We feel this gives enough creative freedom to experiment with different approaches to storytelling and narrative practice in comic making. We like to see people take risks, do something different. Our other criteria has to do more with our mission and goals of the project, to be further discussed below.

5. Do you have competitive selection of the submissions? If so, do you select for literary or artistic skill, for category of sexual experience, for potential as a sex-ed 'teachable moment'? Or for all 3?

It is always so exciting to see the variety of submissions that come in, each uniquely insightful, funny, and well executed. The submissions are like little presents, the intimate revelations of both friends and strangers are a constant surprise. Some of our favorite submissions are from people who think they can’t draw, or, even better, think they have no experience in their life that would qualify for a comic. On the other hand, we also love getting submissions from folks who consider themselves comic artists and apply a great deal of experienced artistry to their submissions. It’s important to us to display a variety of styles and approaches to comic-making.

We think that any life experience, in this case having to do with sex and sexuality, has potential to be great comic. There are also so many “teachable moments” that each of us experience in our lifetime. This is what makes the experience-based model so effective, because it is not always easy to provide a single “textbook” answer to questions surrounding sex and sexuality. Certain things are easily explained, like how to use a condom or how reproductive systems functions. Other questions, though, are not as easily answered, but desperately need to be discussed. Often there are multiple issues and dynamics occurring in these situations, which can be difficult to process, often confusing, and alienating. It helps to read someone else’s story and consider their experience. It helps people feel that they aren’t alone. For this reason, on the back cover of each Issue, we write “Experiences, Not Answers.”

We have yet to outright refuse to publish a comic. However, we have a specific mission statement that we feel very strongly about.
We describe ourselves as “a collaborative comic book project that attempts to challenge the underlying sexism, heteronormativity, and gender normative practices in mainstream sexuality education, presenting information about different aspects of sexual health from more honest, experience-based, LGBTQ friendly positions.”
As editors, we are opposed to including perspectives that are sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ageist. Those perspectives are dominant and privileged in our current culture, and we are providing an outlet for voices that resist them.

We once received a comic that we felt was misogynist and that did not address the lesson that could have been learned from the story. However, we started up a dialogue with the author of the comic, and ended up working with him to change the approach he took to his story. The final draft of the comic ended up being included in NYMM because we felt he had reconsidered his point of view and sufficiently edited the comic. This was ultimately a very positive experience for us because we witnessed an attitude change occur in someone who was looking for answers, with the help of a comic.

Sometimes people ask us if we would define Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf as feminist activism, to which we respond, YES! We are trying to create space for different types of tools that can be used to discuss health. We are also trying to integrate mental, emotional, and spiritual health into discussions of sex, where the body becomes the central focus. Not Your Mother's Meatloaf can be easily situated within a history of attempts made by feminists to gain control of their own bodies, health care, and sexual choices. It is important to feminism to reclaim these terms and transform their meaning. For example, the release of Our Bodies, Ourselves in 1970 by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective was a similar attempt at the time to collaborate on an alternate body of knowledge surrounding women’s health. We would also like to stress that we center our focus not only from a feminist perspective but from an anti-racist and queer perspective as well. Of course these categories overlap and intersect in many ways.

6. Are there any anecdotes or stories about compiling the first issue that you would like to share with me?

In the first issue we really tried to cover certain topics and make sure that certain perspectives were represented. We personally entered some submissions into the comic that covered things like anatomy, or alternative menstrual products. But we found that this sucked the life out of the information, unlike the vivid personal accounts we received. Plus, we decided that we shouldn't try to be the authoritative voice on sexual health; many other publications have done this better than we could. Rather, we can offer a different kind of tool that has the ability to communicate something lacking between the pages of anatomical books and STD brochures. So, in the second issue, we didn't try to direct the submissions toward certain topics, rather, we let people tell their own stories. The lessons within those stories come out naturally.

When we began compiling the second issue of NYMM in 2009, Issue #1 was already being distributed on a national level. Bookstores were ordering the comic through Microcosm Publishing, people were downloading it off our blog ( sexedcomicproject.blogspot.com ) and others were picking it up at events in New York such as “The Big She-Bang” hosted by For the Birds Collective. We began receiving more and more positive feedback, and we were inspired and motivated by the response. The tough questions we faced during the making of the first issue had been answered and we had a model to work from. We knew what we wanted NYMM to look like and contributors also had an easier time understanding what a sex education comic book might look like. Having themes for each issue was also something we started after the first one. Our theme for the second issue, "Firsts", was fun because it was our first theme for NYMM and it worked as a prompt for contributors to start from. Having a theme is something we have continued ever since; the third issue’s theme is “Bodies” and the fourth issue’s theme is “Health.” The upcoming fifth issue is accepting submissions with the theme of “Age.” We always try to use themes that are broad enough so that everyone will feel able to contribute, but specific enough to spark ideas for submissions.

7. Do you think comics have a particular cultural position that makes them helpful for working against heteronormativity? Or normativity in general?

As a project struggling with how to define ourselves, we often dance the line between being defined as a comic or as a zine. Zines are inherently positioned in an underground, alternative body of knowledge, because they are not officially published, or are “published” independently. Although the form of the graphic novel has been greatly expanded upon in the literary mainstream in recent years, comics have always occupied their own cult space, vaguely separate from other forms of art and writing.
The act itself of creating these underground bodies of knowledge and culture helps to work against any version of cultural normativity, because it provides an outlet for voices that are usually silenced by dominant or privileged culture. Additionally, the task of collaborating to create alternative resources helps build strong alliances in order to resist normativity.

preliminary question:
Just to start, I'm very interested in learning about what response to your comics you have experienced from the health care professions. Have they been adopted for use? Where? What kinds of clinics or health care professionals have used them? What comments have they made or what experiences have they had with them?

We've had many great responses from friends and family, but also from some students, and other sex educators and health professionals. To list a few: A college professor who was interested in using the comic in her Education Studies course contacted us for permission to use it in her classroom. Many independent infoshops, zine libraries, and bookstores have told us that the comic is getting very popular (hooray!). A friend who works with a non-profit called SPARK! Reproductive Justice distributes the comic to youth who they work with in their offices. And a friend who presented it at a Social Justice Conference on Star Island received ample interest. I personally gave a copy to my gynecologist and she was supportive of its goals. The comic has also appeared in clinics such as Lyon-Martin in San Francisco, which specializes in providing “excellent health care to women and transgender people in a safe and compassionate environment with sensitivity to sexual and gender identity; services are provided regardless of ability to pay.”
One of our ongoing goals is to brainstorm about how to better integrate the comic into the healthcare profession realm, as well as the high school classroom. We are working on a lesson plan that utilizes past issues of NYMM.

Age Theme

2011-04-25T18:09:00.001-07:00

What? Contribute to our fifth issue! DUH. Details to the right.

Maximum Rock&Roll Review!

2011-02-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

Here's the REVIEW of Not Your Mothers Meatloaf that appeared in MRR:

thank you Emily!

NOT YOUR MOTHERS MEATLOAF: A SEX EDUCATION COMIC BOOK #1 #2 #3/$3
8.5x11-copied-44 pages
N.Y.M.M. is a contribution based sex education comic zine. I found it wonderfully diverse with perspectives on such sensitive issues as: menstruation, packing a dick, STI’s and the ever lovin’ topic of gender roles. With around 15 contributors per issue it’s hard to get bored with one drawing/writing style and remains true to it’s slogan emblazed on the back of ever issue “EXPERIENCES NOT ANSWERS.” .The 2nd and 3rd issues are themed “Firsts” and “Bodies” respectively while the introductory issue remains free of such content bondage. (EC)
notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com
sexedcomicproject.blogspot.com

Check it out! Issue #4 is here

2011-01-19T17:12:00.000-08:00

Its finally HERE!

Issue #4: "Health"

You can download it for FREE, by scrolling down and clicking on the link on the righthand side.

To order in bulk, go to Microcosm Publishing at microcosmpublishing.org

We received a ton of amazing contributions for this issue of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf.

Thank you for contributing comics!

-Saiya and Liza

NYMM editors

New Review!

2011-01-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

Check out this review in TERROR PEOPLE, a new online journal of radical arts, culture and politics.

REVIEW of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf in "Fiction and Comics" section of Terror People

THANK YOU J. Darling and Terror People

We would LOVE to hear from you....

2010-09-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hey you!

Its that time again, when we ask you to get out your pens n' paper and get to drawin some comics.
Please submit a sex ed comic to the 4th Issue of Not Your Mothers' Meatloaf!

The theme of this issue is:
Health
**NEW** Deadline: November 1st
Guidelines: 8 1/2 x 11, black ink, 1-4 pages
We try to provide themes that will help get you started. But, it is are just a suggestion and we encourage you to write about anything you feel inspired to share. And please interpret our new theme broadly; sexual health can range from mental to physical to emotional, from prescription drugs to homeopathic or herbal remedies, from the hospital or the doctor's office to the bathroom and bedroom.
Remember: Our primary focus is educating youth and each other about important issues surrounding sexuality, safer sex, consent, gender, etc.
Also: Submissions are anonymous unless you put your name on the comic itself.
Email scanned copies to: notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com
Let us know if you need to snail mail hard copies and we will provide you with an address.

Thanks so much! We can't do it without your incredible stories.
-Saiya and Liza
NYMM editors

Workshop at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls

2010-09-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

For those who haven't heard of Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, its a summer camp devoted to empowerment for young women through the sheer power of ROCK.
check them out at: http://www.williemaerockcamp.org/

We are thrilled to be involved with Willie Mae, and presented a workshop about Not Your Mother's Meatloaf at camp this summer. The workshop engaged teens in discussions on comic making, self expression, and issues of sexual health and sexuality.

We'd like to say THANK YOU to Willie Mae Rock Camp and to all those who participated in this workshop!

Issue Three, Drop it like it's Hot

2010-05-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

We have finished compiling our third issue! Click the link on the right to download a PDF copy of the comic. We're proud of the issue and the amazing contributions we received.

But wait, there's more! We are currently accepting submissions for our FOURTH issue, "Health." Check out the side bar for more details. Can't wait to see your comics!

Queer Comics Series

2010-05-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Whoa! Pictures from Queer Comics series. It was a blast.

Thanks to everyone who came out.

2010-04-12T19:20:00.001-07:00

NYMM at Queer Comics Series

2010-04-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

We have been invited to participate on a panel during NYU's Queer Comics Series.The Queer Comics Series highlights the representation of Queer people in graphic novels and comics and the experience of Queer comic artists and graphic novelists. Here is the official blurb:

"MAKE ZINES. Zine and indie comics making workshop.
An Extended Quench: Queer + lunch = QUENCH

Thursday, April 15th 12:30-2:30pm
602 Kimmel Center
This event is free and open to the public.

Come learn skills in zine making, indie comics creation, and
self-publishing! This event will feature a panel of NYC-based zine and
comic authors who will discuss their work, and teach you hands-on
comic making and publishing skills!"

This is a very exciting opportunity for us. We hope we will see some familiar faces!

-Liza and Saiya

PS. Don't let the MAY 1st deadline for the third issue sneak up on you. The theme is "Bodies." We hope to get your submission soon, thnx.

Extended Deadline

2010-03-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

Want to submit to the third issue of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf??? You still can! We have extended the deadline to May 1st. The theme is still "Bodies," please interpret creatively.
If you have any questions, remember, you can always email us at notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Liza & Saiya
Can't wait to see your submissions!

A Friend Zine

2010-03-29T14:52:00.001-07:00

Our friend is putting together a new zine. Please submit and spread the word!

Bluestockings Workshop... and new THEME!

2010-02-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

We'd like to thank everyone who attended the Not Your Mothers Meatloaf comic workshop at Bluestockings last Friday.
The event was a great success! We had about 20 participants and got some wonderful feedback as well as new ideas for how to make the comic even better in the future.
Participants were also able to start their own comics (assisted by our fabulous customized NYMM pink pencils) and brainstorm with us to decide a theme for the next issue.
Each theme that was suggested was wonderful, and we had a hard time deciding which to do next.
But, after some deliberation, the new theme is.....drumroll...

BODIES
We'd like you to interpret the bodies theme any way you'd like, while remembering that our primary focus is educating youth and each other about important issues surrounding sexuality, safer sex, consent, etc.

Our deadline is March 31st as of now. We know it sounds soon but we'd like to have the third issue out sometime in the late Spring of 2010.
So get to drawin!

Event at Bluestockings

2010-02-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

We have been invited to host an event at Bluestockings! Bluestockings is a bookstore, fair trade cafe, and activist center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Our event is scheduled for Friday, February 19th at 7pm. Bluestockings is located at 172 Allen st.
Bluestockings website

At the event we will talk about the origins of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf and how the project continues to develop. Past contributors will share their experiences being involved with NYMM. Also, at this event, we will be deciding the theme for the next issue. We ask everyone to participate in deciding the third issue's topic, so start brainstorming now! At the end of the event we hope to have time for audience members to begin comics of their own.
Hopefully Bluestockings will have both issues of NYMM available for purchase at the time of the event. Of course, you can also download the comics for free on our blog. Look for the link on the right.

Hope to see you there!

Issue #2 Release Party PHOTOS

2010-02-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

The release party was a bunch of fun. Thanks to everyone who showed up and everyone who donated.
Here are some pictures. If you took any that night, we would love to see them!

Not Your Mother's Benefit

2009-12-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

You're invited!

The Second Issue of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf, our Brooklyn-based Sex Education Comic Book, is finally ready to be released!We have been working hard on compiling the submissions we received and are very excited about the final comic.

Thank you for all your wonderful contributions to this project.

Come party with us this Friday Dec/ 18th at 1087 Broadway, Brooklyn NY, at the loft above Goodbye Blue Monday.

$5 donation that goes towards future printing and postage costs.

There will be:

-Bands:

Scantron

Baybee Teeth

Eartheater

more TBA

-Free Copies of the Comic

-genderbendin gingerbread queerpeople cookies, baked by david

-A Sex Toy 101 workshop with Carolanne of Babeland

-A DJ to follow up with a dance party!

Updates!

2009-11-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Lots of exciting things are happening!!!

-We have received so many amazing submissions for the second issue. Thank you all for your hard work and honest, hilarious, interesting, lovely comics. We are working on compiling and formatting the second issue right now, and hope to have it out in December.

-We are planning to have a RELEASE PARTY sometime in December, in Brooklyn, for issue #2! With bands, baked goods, booty dancing.... stay tuned for more info.

-We've been contacted by independent educators who are interested in using Not Your Mother's Meatloaf in their classrooms. We are very excited about the comic being integrated into curriculum and would love any suggestions you might have about reaching more youth with the comic.

2009-11-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

Check out this article about us in The Faster Times!

Written by Tusha Yakovleva, a fellow student at our former school, Eugene Lang College.

http://thefastertimes.com/localfame/2009/11/06/ny-locals-pen-sex-ed-comic-book/

Not Your Mother's Meatloaf sleeps around

2009-10-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

This summer, NYMM traveled across the country and visited a few incredible places along the way. The comic is now featured in the libraries of inspiring projects such as...
-Ida
http://www.planetida.com/ida.html
NYMM visited for this year's Idapalooza Fruit Jam, Ida's annual queer music festival
-Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture
http://www.bbcrc.org/
A non-profit organization located near Mt. Shasta in Northern California.
-Chicago Underground Library
http://www.underground-library.org
-Chicago Comics
chicagocomics.com
-Quimby's Bookstore
Chigago, IL
www.quimbs.com
-Black Rose
Portland, OR
blackrose.revolt.org/
-Modern Times Bookstore
San Francisco, California
www.moderntimesbookstore.com
-SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!
Atlanta, GA
http://sparkrj.org/content/
-Zine Library
Anchorage, Alaska

If you would like to feature NYMM in a library near you, or if you're starting a zine library, please feel free to order the comic off of Microcosm

New Deadline! November 1st

2009-10-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

We have moved our deadline back to November 1st. We are hoping this will be a final deadline, so please send us your comics as soon as you can! This way, we can have the second issue ready to snuggle up with by the wintertime.

Remember, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have. We look forward to reading your submissions!

thanks!
-Saiya and Liza
NYMM editors

Fall Issue

2009-09-13T10:11:00.001-07:00

We still don't have enough submissions. We really need help. Please get us your submissions and tell you friends to submit too.
thanks,
liza

We were blogged about

2009-07-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

Library journal blog about NYMM, by Anna Katterjohn

deadline

2009-07-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

We've pushed back the deadline for the second issue till September 1st. Hope people are working on submissions!
Ideas we've heard so far include, first lesbian relationship, first time buying/using diva cup, first time experiencing and understanding sexual assault, first phone sex experience, first time having sex with a girl, first time trying to not feel feelings...etc.
We hope to have No 2. put together by fall. October perhaps?

Let us know if we can help you with anything.
-Liza of NYMM
notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com

NEW ISSUE!

2009-06-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Saiya and I have been working on all sorts of new elements for Not Your Mother's Meatloaf. We created a new email account: notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com Email us if you would like to be on the mailing list!

Microcosm has officially picked up the first issue of NYMM! It's being sold for $3, check it out: http://microcosmpublishing.com
For the Birds is still distributing it as well: http://www.forthebirdscollective.org

If anyone out there wants to join Saiya and I and get involved with the planning and logistic garbage behind NYMM, you can! We don't have a weekly scheduled meeting yet, but we plan to meet regularly this summer. Just let us know (by emailing us at the above address).

Okay, here's the good stuff.
The second issue of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf is underway. Our theme this time is "FIRSTS." First experiences in all realms of sexual health. This can include anything from first sexual experiences to first experiences with abuse to your first time standing up to street harassment to your first break-up or any (and many) other ways you could interpret "FIRSTS." Saiya and I are both interested in challenging the prevalent ideas of linear sexual patterns. For example first you kiss, then you touch, then you have intercourse, then you get married and have kids and like a dog or something... wha???

Guidlines: black ink, 8.5x11, 1-4pages, email submissions to notyourmothersmeatloaf@gmail.com or email us for our snail mail address.
Check out the first issue for an idea of what we're looking for!

The deadline is August 1st, so start getting creative.

We have a lot of plans for the future of this project, including youth workshops and funding through grants. Hopefully you all will stay involved.
Please encourage everyone you know to submit!

Thank you,
Liza

Review

2009-04-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Oh and we got reviewed in Slug Magazine:

http://www.slugmag.com/article.php?id=1452

newz

2009-04-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

It's been about a year since we first started working on this project and I just wanted to keep everyone updated on it's progress.

First, I'm not sure if all of you have seen the finished zine, but it is being distributed by For The Birds, a feminist collective/distro. It was too much work for me to continue trying to print/distribute myself, since I can no longer print at New School. For The Birds is great and run by great people. You can check out their distro and pick up a copy of NYMM or other great items here:

http://www.myspace.com/forthebirdsnyc

or here:

http://www.forthebirdscollective.org/

Second, I was not so recently contacted by Microcosm, but because I haven't been checking this email account it got a little lost. I'm really excited that they're interested in carrying NYMM and am hoping to figure out the process of making that happen. Before I give them copies of the zine I would like to do a bit of editing to the introduction letter/recourses page. If any of you who submitted would like to edit parts of your submission now is the time to let me know. Because Microcosm reaches a much wider audience I want to provide the option to remain anonymous if you choose. Editing more than that would be hard because we're not going to reformat or add/subtract submissions, but let me know if you you're thinking something specific.

Lastly, I have been working on some new ideas for a possible Not Your Mother's Meatloaf #2. Is any one interested in submitting or getting involved on that project? I'm interested in evolving NYMM or creating an all together new project with a group of people. I'd like to step down from the leadership position I took last year and create more of a group effort. No Gods, No Masters, ya'know?

Hope everyone gets a chance to read this long email. Sorry they're so sporadic, I really lost motivation for this particular project after I graduated.

Thanks for reading,

Liza Bley

703 963 5968

I rarely check this email account, so if you would like to get in contact with me please use:

LizaBley@mac.com

SUMMER

2008-06-13T12:48:00.001-07:00

hello!
Sorry I've been MIA since I graduated. But I'm back and just in time for the Renegade Craft Fair!!! The fair is this Saturday and Sunday at the McCarren Park Pool, from 11am - 7pm. I'll be there both days, with my boss, at the Make Workshop Table. I've spent all day printing copies of the comic to give out... FOR FREE! So come by, check out the crafts and the comic, drink some lemonade and say hello.
http://www.renegadecraft.com/

In other news I tried to upload the pdf file of the comic to my "dot mac" account. There is a link to the right, but here it is again:
http://homepage.mac.com/lizabley/
There are many personal pictures uploaded to my homepage too. Sorry, but you'll have to ignore them. Just click the last link, "Not Your Mother's Meatloaf." This does not include the cover art, sorry, but the cover is a separate file.
I'm not sure if it will work right. Please let me know if you are able to download the file or not.

Also, I would like to start distributing on a larger scale. Any help would be much appreciated. This ties in with starting to plan for the next issue. If anyone is interested in compiling a second Not Your Mother's Meatloaf please get in contact with me. The first step is distributing the current comic to a wider audience and advertising a new "call for submissions." My current goal is to have a new issue by the end of September.

That's all for now. I'll try to be more on top of posting to the blog and checking the email account.

thanks!

liza bley
703 963 5968
SexEd.ComicProject@yahoo.com

Opening Day!

2008-04-16T03:29:00.000-07:00

Hello!

We've been asked to table at the Social Justice Conference, InterSEXtions, this weekend, 4/18 and 4/19. The Conference will be held at New School, 65 W 11th St, on the 5th floor (the resource center is in the cafeteria on the ground floor, tentatively open till 6pm both days, though events go till 9pm). We will have free copies of Not Your Mother's Meatloaf: A Sex Education Comic Book available, along with other awesome resources to peruse. This is just a preliminary edition of the comic. We will be asking for more submissions at the conference and through May, so keep them coming!

To register for the conference, check out the amazing workshops offered or to get date/time/location/general info details check out:

http://intersextionsconference.eventbrite.com

I hope everyone can make it. Tell your friends!

Thanks to everyone for contributing comics and/or positive energy. I hope this project is a success for everyone involved!
love,
liza

PS
In other, unrelated, news, two members of our comic team are performing/producing an outdoor puppet show this weekend called, i follow the sun. Rithika and Nikki have been working incredibly hard and have even built a boat for the occasion. I'll be attending the Friday show, but if you are free any of the nights i would recommend finding the time to go see it. All shows begin at 7:30, the perfect time for sunset shadow puppets.

Dates/locations:

Thursday April 17
La Plaza Cultural at Ave C/9th st.

Friday April 18
East River Amphitheater at Cherry st/FDR just south of the Williamsburg Bridge. (take the F train to E'Bway/Canal Street).

Saturday April 19
Tompkins Square Park

Sunday April 20
La Plaza Cultural at Ave C/9th st.

guidelines and proposed topics

2008-03-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

GUIDELINES:
8 ½ x 11 paper
black ink
new deadline: March 31st (email/talk about it with me prior)

If you’re interested in submitting something but don’t feel comfortable illustrating or you don’t know what to write, please contact me and we can figure something out together.

These are the topics and ideas people are working on:

*Ashley: A comic about her experience with the “bipolar” aspects of bisexuality, the sexual fluidity and beauty against the lack of community/space and having one’s identity questioned. Dispelling stereotypes about bisexuality (ex. all bi girls are straight, all bi guys are gay), different issues when coming out, feeling the pressure to prove your sexuality, being told you don’t know yourself (ex. the transition period.)
*Tristan: “Not Cool,” a comic about his experience with assault. It will be partnered with a page about gender stereotypes around issues of assault and rape, then followed by questions around consent.
*Nikki: “Great Sexpectations” is about her experience with exotification / race fetish and the emotional impact it had on her.
*Saiya: A piece that provides info about alternative methods of gynecology and menstral products.
*Saiya: A personal experience story about a relationship becoming abusive. (Not violent abuse but an abuse of power, emotional abuse, or verbal abuse.)
*Rithika: A piece about her experience learning to define sex beyond penis to vagina intercourse, specifically about various methods of lesbian sex. This may focus on what it means to define sex, validity etc.
*Suzy: A drawing of two people in bed with a written personal narrative about her experience in silencing relationships.
*Jessica and Nik: A comic about a negative experience at the gynecologist. Will lead into what to expect at a gynecologist appointment? Could you guys get in contact with me about your comic?
*Nyna and Chris: Threesome etiquette. Also could partner up with consent pages or sex how to.
*Liza: DIY gyno exam instructions.
*Liza: “Beyond the Finish,” personal experience about breaking down the illusion of “foreplay” and the ordering of sex.
*Liza: Buying a vibrator.

If there are any other concrete ideas coming in please let me know. This is a list of topics and ideas we would like to include that haven’t been covered yet, but of course if you have an idea or experience you want to write about that isn't here, please use that. Just in case you need some help getting started:

*Anatomy:
a. Physical pictures (photos or drawings of many peoples’ sex organs.)
b. Internal diagrams from a sex positive point of view. (Could be paired with masturbation “how to.”
*Masturbation “how to.” (I have a book about female masturbation if any one is interested in this subj.)
*Vocabulary:
a. The importance of words. Maybe a positive story about a particular experience where some one was considerate with their word choice and it made a difference.
b. A glossary. This could be done at the end, after all submissions have been turned in. If could be a collaborative piece (like the myths section, below.)
*Emphasizing the need for gender-neutral bathrooms. Breaking down misconceptions like “transgender bathroom” or the idea that people “should just pick a gender and use that restroom.”
*The crisis of being made to feel ashamed of one’s sexuality. And the flip side of steps and questions you can ask yourself so you don’t make someone else feel ashamed about their body or sexual expression.
*Myths about sex. (We could all contribute to this segment.)
*A “what to do if…” section. (Ex. If you contract an STI or if you become pregnant or if you identify with a different gender than your sex organs etc.)
*Identifying ways to communicate with your partner during sex.
*Recourse guide with books, websites, zines, clinics, safe spaces etc. This can be complied through out but it would be great if everyone contributed some good info.

Got more ideas? let us know!

Minutes 2/15

2008-02-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

Hey!
We had a great meeting on Friday. We started by talking about our own experiences with sex education (inside/outside the classroom or clinic.) From those stories we discussed different directions some submissions could take.

We talked about masturbation/orgasms, physical realities of the vagina, shame we have felt for being curious about our bodies, oral contraceptive or birth control and it’s affects on the body, clinical v. humanized sexuality education, importance of legitimizing all kinds sex in the classroom, and what to expect at the gynecologist/DIY gynecology. Also, we think it is important to include reference list of transgender/lesbian/gay/queer friendly clinics and other resources in NYC and hopefully other cities/communities in the United States.

Because so many people want to be involved, but can’t make the meeting time, we set up a formal way to take submissions. These are the important dates.
March 14: Final Submissions accepted. We will contact artists/writers to make edits if need be.
April 4: All edits made and we will have all the pieces together. The next two weeks will be spent formatting/compiling a finished piece.
April 18: We will have a hard copy of the finished Sexuality Education Comic! Now comes distribution and possible submission for publication.
Guidelines for submissions: 1-2 p, submit hard copies (not originals), black ink, any format (doesn’t have to be a comic strip) and all submissions must be open to edits. Keep in mind that this is an education tool or sorts. What will readers learn from your submission?

This coming Friday, the 22nd, we will not be having a formal meeting. Instead, if you want a time to write or draw, please come over at 2pm. (Or knit, it doesn’t HAVE to be related to this project.) Give yourself a break and relax at my apt.

Hope to see you all soon,
Liza
703 963 5968