. It started on Sep. 5, 2016, as novelist A. C. Thomas tweeted out her frustration with multiple processes – from drafting, to scripting, to casting, to publishing – that have deliberately or negligently failed to include people of diverse race, ethnicity, body type, sexuality and more.
There’s nothing wrong w/ saying we’re tired of authors being silent. Marginalized ppl have dealt with a lot of crap lately in this community
— A.C. Thomas (@acthomaswrites) September 5, 2016
So excuse us if we think it would be nice if the authors we support spoke out in support of us every now and then.
— A.C. Thomas (@acthomaswrites) September 5, 2016
Nobody’s asking people to jump through hoops. Miss me with that BS. But if my fave is on here tweeting random stuff during a garbage fire…
— A.C. Thomas (@acthomaswrites) September 5, 2016
And I know they see it happening. There is no way they miss it. But for something as awful as this, they can’t just condemn that behavior?
— A.C. Thomas (@acthomaswrites) September 5, 2016
That’s not jumping through a hoop. That’s simply taking a stand. Silence makes racists, homophobes, and ableists bolder.
— A.C. Thomas (@acthomaswrites) September 5, 2016
#IStandForDiversity because I refuse to let anyone silence me.
— A.C. Thomas (@acthomaswrites) September 5, 2016
This came in response to a video by Bre Faucheux – one of Thomas’ peers in the industry. Faucheux, a fantasy and sci-fi author, had uploaded an anti-diversity “rant” to her YouTube channel on Sep. 2. In it, she expressed her discomfort with a growing pressure on authors to make their novels more “diverse,” suggesting that it simply hinders the writing process. As a white woman, her “rant” simply came off as resistance towards addressing media’s lack of representation of certain identities. And honestly, it sounded a lot like when the MRAs claim that their lives have become difficult ever since women got rights. It also sounded a lot like a counterproductive reaction to one’s own white-guilt. All of this is possibly what ticked off Thomas in the first place, but she had no idea that hundreds would rally in her support:
Twitter users had plenty to say about the media:
#IStandForDiversity because I don't wanna read about white straight cis able bodied characters anymore. I want someone I can relate to.
— ✨ (@feminizza) September 5, 2016
#IStandForDiversity because my kids — and all kids — deserve to see themselves as the heroes of the story. pic.twitter.com/5LY0QnAodn
— Sona Charaipotra (@sona_c) September 5, 2016
#IStandForDiversity because the twelve-year-old girl I was shouldn't have waited until her twenties to have a book with a girl like her.
— Sailor Mer(Kaye)ry (@gildedspine) September 5, 2016
#IStandforDiversity because everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in media honestly and respectfully. No one should be erased.
— Tristina Wright (@TristinaWright) September 5, 2016
#IStandForDiversity bc by supporting diverse authors & writing diverse books, we create a better reality for future generations of readers.
— Claire FaLaLaLegrand (@clairelegrand) September 5, 2016
And the the argument took on other dimensions as well, such as diversity within LGBTQ spaces, that have often marginalized ‘lesser known’ queer identities:
#IStandForDiversity because I spent the first 23 years of my life thinking lack of sexual attraction meant I needed fixing
— Claudie Arseneault? (@ClH2OArs) September 5, 2016
#IStandForDiversity b/c maybe my WOC best friend wouldn’t have struggled so hard to figure out her sexuality if she’d seen positive bi rep.
— Erica Cameron (@ByEricaCameron) September 5, 2016
In fact, Thomas even tweeted a request to change the tag to #ISupportDiversity, when she realized the “stand” in the original was ableist. This further pushed the conversation to explore disability.
#IStandForDiversity because whites deserve their own nations just like every other race, and it would be a loss if we all blended together.
— Chicken Nugget Scoon (@JSBTC) September 5, 2016
#IStandForDiversity
I only EVER employ black trans women in wheelchairs.
— Mark Gogglebox (@MarkGormIey) September 5, 2016
This #IStandForDiversity hashtag is another Jedi mind trick that Black ppl need to watch out for.Because ppl use vague phrases about racism
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) September 5, 2016
The point being made here is that paying lip service is easy. In an earlier instance (though not quite related to Thomas’ hashtag), Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay insisted on favouring the principle of ‘inclusion’ over diversity,’ and clearly there is scope for this conversation to evolve further.
But as a result of all of these discussions, it is hoped that media, academics, workplaces and more will become just that – much more diverse.Bermuda is so close and the beaches are paradise, compared with cancun, st Maarten and Hawaii, by far my favorite. I highly recommend for a short few day getaway. I can't imagine shabbos there though, would be tough as I mentioned the shuttle down to the beach. Its a real shame its not hot there in the winter. Any questions feel free to ask.

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The Michael Spiers Business Project is a collaboration between the South West jewellery retailer and the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre, and is open to any students currently enrolled at the University.
First held in 2014, the participants in this year’s competition – which includes six individuals and four teams – have been asked to undertake competitor research into comparable, high-end accessory retailers who have embraced e-commerce and digital marketing.
They must produce a practical marketing strategy, detailing their findings and recommendations on issues including social media, banner advertising and affiliate marketing, by the end of April.
The top three will then be asked to present their reports to the company’s directors and media agency, with the winner being announced at a champagne reception in May.
The competition was launched during an event at the retailer’s Plymouth showroom, and participants will be hoping to emulate the success of one of last year’s winners – Emma Williams – who used her experience on the project to help secure a placement year with cosmetics giant L’Oreal.
Michael Spiers Jewellers is a family-owned, award-winning business which was founded more than 60 years ago, and has locations across the South West, with showrooms in Plymouth, Truro, Exeter and Taunton.
Having the opportunity to work with the talented team of students and staff at Plymouth University highlights another area of excellence for the city. The entrants represent our future customers and we take their opinions very seriously.
"My fellow directors and team were very impressed with the results and have implemented many of the recommendations."
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