When Elliot Page came out as transgender in December 2020, he set the internet ablaze. There was plenty of hatred, as there is whenever trans people exist in public space, but there was something else, too: celebration. He was perhaps the highest-profile person to ever come out as trans, and his announcement increased (the nearly non-existent) transmasculine representation in Hollywood.

It was only a matter of time before Page would be given an in-depth magazine profile, and his TIME cover dropped on Tuesday. Accompanied by photos shot by trans photographer Wynne Neilly, the profile marks Page’s first interview since coming out, and the first time his story has been shared in words not written by him. The piece also comes at a crucial cultural moment. Trans youth are under attack in the U.S., with over 25 states introducing bills to ban trans girls from competing in girls’ sports, to ban gender-affirming care for trans young people, or both. The profile never lets the reader forget what is at stake for the lives of trans people in this country.

“Around the globe, transgender people deal disproportionately with violence and discrimination,” the profile reads. “Anti-trans hate crimes are on the rise in the U.K. along with increasingly transphobic rhetoric in newspapers and tabloids. In the U.S., in addition to the perennial challenges trans people face with issues like poverty and homelessness, a flurry of bills in state legislatures would make it a crime to provide transition-related medical care to trans youth.” From there, the piece spends several hundred more words outlining Saturday Night Live bits, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s transphobic outburst on the House floor, and even recaps Dr. Rachel Levine’s confirmation hearing. In essence, it’s a play-by-play of Trans Issues.

With deep respect for those who came before me, gratitude for those who have supported me & great concern for the generation of trans youth we must all protect, please join me and decry anti-trans legislation, hate & discrimination in all its forms. pic.twitter.com/5yr8TYywTn

— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) March 16, 2021

In focusing so much on the magnitude of this political and cultural moment, however, the profile misses something crucial: joy. Living openly as a trans person can bring fear and discrimination, but it can also bring freedom. There should be liberation in Page telling his story, even — and perhaps especially — because of the weight of the current moment. For too long, trans people’s stories have been packaged for a cisgender audience and controlled by cis media gatekeepers. In framing trans stories for cis people, often the pain and the struggle is what’s centered.

It’s how we came to understand the most common narrative about what it means to be trans: being “born in the wrong body.” That was a storytelling device designed to allow cis people to understand the trans experience. Page’s profile gives us that, too. By opening the profile with descriptions of Page’s childhood gender dysphoria, it’s pain that is centered once again. He lays bare his suffering and trauma to be consumed by cis readers, describing how difficult it was to look at photos of himself or to wear women’s clothing on film sets, to justify his existence in the hopes that cis people will see him — and, by extension, all of us — as valid and worthy of basic human rights.

“Elliot’s profile is a necessary one for this moment considering the attacks on trans kids,” Oliver-Ash Kleine, a trans journalist and host of the Cancel Me, Daddy podcast, wrote on Twitter. “But there’s another one where he doesn’t have to recount his childhood dysphoria & lifelong pain to defend trans people’s existence. Can’t wait til we can have profiles like that.” 

Trans identity is not all pain and suffering. In fact, many trans people don’t even experience gender dysphoria, which was once considered essential to trans identity. Being trans is joyful and free, it is living openly and authentically, it is self-actualizing the life you want, it is an expression of agency, it is an act of making your body—and your life—your own. Framing transness in this way is radical and reclaims the experience from cis storytellers. There’s an adage about how finding joy in a world that marginalizes you and fails to recognize your humanity is an act of resistance. Sharing stories of trans joy at a time when the state wants to take away our ability to live and thrive is resistance.

The reception to Page’s announcement is a sign of progress. As the story notes, his agent has been bombarded by requests to work with him and he will continue playing the role of Vanya in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, which is filming its third season now. “It seems like there’s a tremendous weight off his shoulders, a feeling of comfort,” showrunner Steve Blackman said of Page’s return to The Umbrella Academy set. “There’s a lightness, a lot more smiling.” These developments could have been celebrated more in Page’s TIME interview. The writer could have speculated on what future projects for an out transmasculine star could look like, rather than focusing on how much he hated watching himself on-screen before his transition.

Trans stories are more than just “the series of traumatic events that cis people think define trans people,” as writer Niko Stratis put it on Twitter. Allowing trans people to exist beyond stories of struggle is “the difference between seeing someone for what they are and seeing them for who they are,” tweeted Gillian Branstetter, the media manager at the National Women’s Law Center. We learn so little about who Page is as a person in this profile, which centers so prominently on his transition, dysphoria, and The Issues facing the trans community.

This, of course, is not a criticism of Page, who is admirably using his platform and privilege as a successful, white transmasculine person to help others. Instead, it is a critique of the mainstream media, which is dominated by cis gatekeepers who determine which stories are valid and control how and by whom they are told. In the future, hopefully, we can lean into trans joy as much as — if not more than — we highlight trans pain.

“I’m really excited to act, now that I’m fully who I am, in this body,” Page said to TIME. “No matter the challenges and difficult moments of this, nothing amounts to getting to feel how I feel now.” The world is more than ready for fuller, more nuanced portrayals of trans people; in fact, our lives depend on it.

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Over the weekend, Jared Kushner resurfaced to write an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal titled “Opportunity Beckons in the Mideast.” In parts, he sounds as though he thinks his single term as an adviser for his father-in-law qualifies him to advise others on foreign policy. At one point, he even deigned to call the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a “real-estate dispute.” And yet somehow, this isn’t the most arrogant thing he said. That came later when he told the Biden administration that if they are “smart,” they will listen to him.

But let’s back up: This “advice” came after President Joe Biden offered to work with Europe and rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal. In short, it is an agreement reached during the Obama administration in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 — the UN Security Council’s five permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China, plus Germany — to lift sanctions in exchange for significant restrictions to Iran’s nuclear program. In 2018, former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal. Within the year, Iran began ignoring restrictions; however, last month Biden said the U.S. will return to the JCPOA provided that Iran resumes compliance with the agreed-upon terms.

In his advice column, Kushner praised (yes, praised) the Biden administration’s decision as a “smart diplomatic move.” However, naturally, the former first son-in-law believes that Biden was empowered to make this decision thanks to the groundwork laid by the Trump administration. If that seems confusing, it’s because it is. Basically, according to Kushner, Biden could never have had the opportunity to rejoin the agreement had Trump not pulled out of it? We’ll just leave that there.

“Mr. Trump has said that Iran has never won a war but never lost a negotiation,” Kushner wrote. “This negotiation is high-stakes and, thanks to his policies, America holds a strong hand.”

Kushner’s statements continued to grow bolder as he claimed that “we are witnessing the last vestiges of what has been known as the Arab-Israeli conflict.”

“One of the reasons the Arab-Israeli conflict persisted for so long was the myth that it could be solved only after Israel and the Palestinians resolved their differences,” he continued. “That was never true. The Abraham Accords exposed the conflict as nothing more than a real-estate dispute between Israelis and Palestinians that need not hold up Israel’s relations with the broader Arab world.” 

A reminder, for no reason at all, that in 2019, Jared Kushner said that in order to bring peace to the Middle East, people must simply stop “doing terrorism.”

“The table is set. If it is smart, the Biden administration will seize this historic opportunity to unleash the Middle East’s potential, keep America safe, and help the region turn the page on a generation of conflict and instability,” Kushner wrote. “It is time to begin a new chapter of partnership, prosperity, and peace.”

Take it all with a pinch — handful — of salt, though. After all, this is coming from the person who, last spring, told famed journalist Bob Woodward in an interview that “the most dangerous people around the president are overconfident idiots.” Just a reminder.

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The FBI is currently facing questions regarding their investigation into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after a senator suggested that the background check on him was possibly “fake.” In a March 11 letter to new Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse requested congressional oversight into the Kavanaugh case, writing that the investigation into allegations of sexual assault and misconduct was “politically-constrained and perhaps fake.” Whitehouse cited an overall lack of transparency and refusal to speak with certain witnesses, also arguing that the FBI gave senators restricted access to their collected materials, and that FBI Director Christopher Wray still has not answered congressional questions about whether the investigation was “consistent” with policies and protocol.

In September of 2018, Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, accused Kavanaugh of pinning her to a bed and sexually assaulting her at a party in the early 1980s. They both testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee just a month before Kavanaugh was sworn in. Kavanaugh denied the allegations.

However, Whitehouse points out that this was not an isolated incident. “The nominee disputed [Blasey Ford’s] testimony, so there were questions of fact to resolve,” Whitehouse wrote. “Furthermore, other allegations were brought against Judge Kavanaugh, requiring their own investigation.” Deborah Ramirez, a second accuser, alleged that Kavanaugh exposed his penis to her when they were both in college at Yale University. Kavanaugh has also denied this accusation. 

So, how could the FBI have neglected so much information? Although the Bureau spoke to Ramirez, they notably did not interview Kavanaugh or Blasey Ford — a decision that was criticized by Blasey Ford’s legal team and raised questions about whether Donald Trump limited the scope of the investigation. The FBI also failed to follow up with over 20 people who Ramirez said could corroborate her story, including Partnership for Public Service President Max Stier. Now, Whitehouse is saying that witnesses “tried in vain to reach the FBI on their own,” but were blocked from sharing their testimonies.

“This was unique behavior in my experience, as the Bureau is usually amenable to information and evidence,” Whitehouse said. “But in this matter, the shutters were closed.”

Whitehouse’s claims aren’t exactly surprising, though, since there has always been a lack of clarity surrounding Kavanaugh’s rushed investigation. Since he was confirmed to the Supreme Court, Democrats have questioned whether the probe was thorough and accurate; House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler has called the investigation a “whitewash” and a “sham,” and pledged to push for impeachment. But that didn’t happen, with Nadler later telling WNYC that his committee had their “hands full” with Trump’s first impeachment. Vice President Kamala Harris, then a California Senator, urged Nadler to take action, writing that it was imperative to “pursue a legitimate search for truth” regarding the accusations against Kavanaugh and the scope of the FBI’s investigation.

“I understand the House Judiciary Committee has limited resources and many other responsibilities,” Harris wrote in a letter. “However, in the past, congressional committees have dedicated resources and established structures to pursue serious cases of misconduct —  including by creating a task force and retaining outside counsel to help lead impeachment inquiries.”

As The Guardian reported, it’s uncertain whether Whitehouse’s letter could propel the FBI to reopen their investigation. However, Garland could make the Department of Justice answer questions about the breadth and legitimacy of the background check.

“If standard procedures were violated, and the Bureau conducted a fake investigation rather than a sincere, thorough and professional one, that in my view merits congressional oversight to understand how, why, and at whose behest and with whose knowledge or connivance, this was done,” Whitehouse wrote.

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While scrolling through Instagram, we accept the fact that many influencers modify their photos and present us with a polished, idealized version of their lives. A blemish, an unsightly wall outlet, or even the bringing in of a waist are all things we’ve come to expect. So how — and I cannot stress this enough — did smudgeless mirrors become the biggest influencer scandal in years?

It all started with a tell-all TikTok from model and influencer Kara Del Toro. Labeled as “part one” in a series of secrets bloggers “don’t want you to know,” Del Toro claimed that many mirror selfies we see in our feeds are actually an illusion — not because of FaceTune or some new way to pose, but because the mirror isn’t real. Yes, you read that right. There is no mirror.

“So here’s the secret: there’s no mirror,” Del Toro says on TikTok. “All you need is a second phone or spare camera.” Influencers will fake the mirror selfie look, she explained, by setting up a second camera and holding up their phone as if it were pointed at a mirror.

@karajewel

Secrets bloggers don’t want you to know part 1 #greenscreen #selfie #phototips #blogger #model

♬ original sound – Kara Del Toro

This almost immediately caused a stir online. For some, it came as a shock. For others, their questions about how influencers always find the perfect angle with their phone covering their face and glass cleaning products finally became as clear as the smudge-free “mirrors” they were taken in. “I’m always irked by how perfectly clean their ‘mirrors’ are,” wrote one Redditor. “Meanwhile, I’m over here finding a dozen spots and streaks that aren’t visible until I attempt to take a pic in the mirror.”

As the fake mirror reveal began to circulate, many began picking apart influencers’ content to identify the fake mirrors. Danielle Bernstein, the person behind WeWoreWhat, was calling out a number of photos for using fake mirror selfies technique. Ella Emhoff, the step-daughter to Vice President Kamala Harris, was also called out for her squat and pose mirror-less selfies.

We should have known that celebrities and influencers don’t just have a myriad of mirrors lying around their houses in perfectly lit spaces. Maybe some mirrors, but that many perfect mirrors? No smudges, no sinks, somehow the mirror is always large enough to never show any edges? And once you know this, it is kind of impossible to unsee. 

But then again, the fake mirror selfie is completely symbolic of social media and the whole concept of mirror selfies. It is trying to look effortless by putting in as much work as possible to look like we’re putting little to no effort into it. So, are we shocked because it’s truly that shocking, or because we didn’t think of it sooner?

That said, if you do want to up your “mirror selfie” game, Del Toro explains the entire setup in her video. It’s all about the setup — and keeping your mirrorless room a cool secret.

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If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Zendaya through her roles, red-carpet appearances, and photoshoots, it’s that she has a chameleon-like knack for transformation. We saw it most recently in the Netflix film Malcolm & Marie, where she takes on the role of Marie, the stunning yet sullen girlfriend of Malcolm (played by John David Washington). The two graced a new W Magazine spread to discuss their recent project and respective careers, and to showcase their undeniable on-screen chemistry in a new format.

For the shoot, Zendaya and her team brought to life a series of stunning looks inspired by the 1950s and Slim Aaron’s iconic image of C.Z. Guest, a wealthy socialite. The star’s longtime stylist Law Roach discussed the many pieces that went into bringing the shoot to life in extraordinary detail, from her dresses to her blonde hair. Roach told W that Zendaya’s blonde wig was a “very important” part of bringing this persona to life for the images.

According to Roach, Zendaya’s teased blonde updo, styled by Kim Kimble, was designed to directly reference traditional white-women stereotypes. “The entire outfit—the jewels, the gorgeous gown, the stilettos—they don’t make the same statement without the blonde hair,” he told the publication.

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A post shared by W Magazine (@wmag)

It isn’t unusual for Zendaya and her team to utilize beauty to create stunning looks and make statements. She recently attended the Critics Choice Awards with a half-braided updo to honor the late Cicely Tyson, and in November 2020, she donned a pearl headwrap and graphic eyeliner to channel Donyale Luna, the first Black woman to cover Vogue. Like a true artist, Zendaya embraces every opportunity to play dress-up to tell stories, and she’s creating her own history of stunning — and meaningful — beauty moments in the process. 

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It is such a treat to celebrate Easter with a little one at home. This year will be extra special since it will be the first time C will get to go on an Easter egg hunt with us. I am so excited to see her little face beaming when she sees her basket filled with all sorts of fun goodies and puts her first Easter egg in it. I have such wonderful memories of Easter celebrations growing up and look forward to creating new traditions with C. If you are looking for adorable Easter baskets and play things to to gift this spring, see my selection of ideas below.

Picnic Style Basket

This basket is perfect for egg collection on Easter morning, and for many more spring picnics after.

Bunny Doll

This adorable bunny doll will make the cutest gift to wake up to on Easter morning.

Play Dough

This 100% food-grade, non-toxic play dough will provide hours of entertainment for your little to explore their creativity.

The post Easter Basket Ideas For Littles appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.