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I'm a member of BLOBY (Bearded Lady Organization for a Better Y-Ville), so I
hope you'll understand that this article has a certain opinion.
Our club is about people not judging you by the way you look, and that having a
beard doesn't change who you are. I have been made fun of, laughed at, asked if
I was a guy or girl or a cross-dresser, and even if I like girls instead of
guys. Whyville says there's nothing wrong with any of that, but still, being
taunted is a risk you take when you join BLOBY. But people in BLOBY are trying
to make a difference.
I have gone out and talked to people all over Whyville, and I interviewed some
to show you what people who are not members think about BLOBY.
This group is trying to let people know that it doesn't matter what you look
like, but who you are on the inside -- your beauty is in your soul, not your
face.
Here is what some people think about BLOBY:
ILuvMo: What did you think when you first saw me (since I have a
beard and all)?
Pepelapue: What a freak.
Aceya734: At firstm I made fun of them, but when ILuvMo asked to
interview me, I knew it meant something, since you were using the Times.... I
have a new-found respect for bearded ladies.
Sassy213: I thought, "Why the heck does she have a beard on?"
ILuvMo: What do you think about girls in BLOBY?
Pepelapue: They are all freaks... so weird.
Aceya734: I respect them for trying to write articles and trying
to make Whyville better.
Sassy213: I think they do it for a good cause and stuff, and they
should not be made fun of.
ILuvMo: Would you like to say anything to people who make fun of
BLOBY?
Pepelapue: Yup, I'm one of them. Ha Ha.
Aceya734: I made fun of them at first, but don't make my mistake.
Read their articles -- they are trying to make Whyville better. You're not
helping when you make fun and be mean to people, now are you?
Sassy213: Shut the heck up! You don't even know what it's for!
ILuvMo: Do you think BLOBY is helping, or is it a waste of time?
Pepelapue: I really think it's a waste of time!
Aceya734: I think nothing is a waste of time if you enjoy it or
it's making a change in the world.
Sassy213: I think it's really helping!
ILuvMo: Do you understand what BLOBY is about?
Pepelapue: No.
Sassy213: Yeah.
ILuvMo: Okay, is there anything in particular you would like to
say about BLOBY?
Pepelapue: Yup.... IT'S DUMB... Ha ha ha ha....
Aceya734: I guess it wouldn't be as memorable if guys had to wear
beards.
Sassy213: If people think members of BLOBY are ugly, ask them if
they know what it's for.
Since penny305 is the founder of BLOBY, I asked her to say a few things
about how it feels to be in BLOBY.
Penny305: When I first got a beard, I was faced with never-ending
insults, hurtful comments, and people who didn't care about my feelings at the
least. Now, I am still faced with the same problem, but I have learned to accept
and ignore it. Although it's hard to keep my cool, I know it's just another one
of those things you wish you could control, but never really will be able to. I
am very happy with all the members we have in BLOBY, and it reassures me that
I'm not alone in what I believe. When you make fun of someone, you're only
showing your own insecurity and what you think of yourself. I am proud to wear a
beard, and no one can convince me otherwise. =)
Hope it's good.
-penny305 & iluvmo
Editor's Note: What I find most interesting about the bearded lady
movement is the many wonderful benefits that folks are finding in it. For BLOBY
members, they're hoping to teach others to look beyond appearances and let go of
stereotypes. For BabyPowdr -- who showed off the first bearded look in the March
20 issue of the Times -- it's most importantly about diversity, about being
unique and standing out on your own. They're all great lessons to learn, and I
hope we all work to understand that in our own ways. Great work to you all, from
the bearded to the clean-shaven. Be yourselves, and strive to understand and
accept one another. That's the best lesson you can learn in life.
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