R.L. Marsch's Blog
December 27, 2020
Love Wins, Again!
Yesterday, I posted about Matthew and Paul and how their joint Instagram account was taken down due to homophobia on the platform. Well, I am happy to announce, after 130K shares of the article linked in the last post, they are back up and running! Love wins, again! I guess Instagram will learn next time they try to mess with someone who haw an entire army of people behind them!
They were also featured in one of my favorite publications, Pink News, as well as Instinct. We are all so happy the guys got their amazing account back. Now, they can get back to posting about love, relationships and being true to yourself.
Here is what they posted on their Instagram, after it was restored!
We’re back!! One week ago, our account was disabled for violating Instagram’s terms. What was our violation? “Pretending to be someone else”. Obviously, this is untrue — but it was alarming to see how easily trolls can have an account disabled.
We work hard to bring quality content to the internet. Not just with our Instagram posts, but the podcast we produce each week. I’m not gonna lie, it’s disheartening to be targeted by hateful people. They’re not just attacking the two of us, but our entire community.
As gay men, we are often left wondering “was this an act of homophobia?” And, unfortunately, I think that’s a question gay people confront all the time.
Did that cop pull us over because of the rainbow bumpersticker? Was the laughter from that passing car preceded by a gay joke? Was that picture or video removed because it featured same-sex affection?
And in our case: Was our entire account disabled because it promotes a healthy, loving gay relationship? Are there people out there who fear positive gay role models? This week, we have learned the answer is an unequivocal “Yes”. This is not the first time we have had to deal with this, and it certainly wont be the last.
That’s because homophobia is alive and well. In fact, it’s thriving. Which really only bolsters our desire to create more positive gay content.
In the week since this happened, we have learned that thousands of LGBTQ+ creators were targeted just like we were. And, sadly, many of them don’t have the platform we have, nor the ability to contact journalists and reporters (and get a response.)
Thank you, Trolls, for reminding us why we continue to fight for the rights and visibility of LGBTQIA+ people. We are a strong and resilient community. Your light will slowly dim, and ours will burn ever-brighter. You will never outlast us.
Love. Always. Wins. -Matthew and Paul xx
Lets make sure thisi never happens again! Whether to Matthew and Paul or any other LGBTQ content creator on any platform!
December 26, 2020
Instagram Is Targeting LGBTQ Accounts...And It Needs To Stop!
At the start of this pandemic, I discovered two of the most real, sincere and amazing men. Their names are Matthew Olshefski and Paul Castle. Matthew is a classically trained violinist, who you can find on YouTube, Instagram, and on your music apps as The Shirtless Violinist. Paul is an astounding artist, who happens to have just 15% of his vision left, as a result of a rare eye condition. You can see and purchase his adorable and whimsical art on Etsy!
In April, they launched their podcast, His & His Podcast. Their podcast has reached all corners of the world and has even helped a lot of people in their own personal lives. As well as this, they have created a community of friends, who may otherwise had never met. Along with the podcast, they created a joint Instagram account, entitled Matthew And Paul. In this account, they posted their own stories, asked questions and posted fun stories during their every day lives.
Sadly, in a recent targeting of the LGBTQ community on Instagram, their account was flagged as "pretending to be someone else" and suspended. This has not just happened to them, but many other LGBTQ content creators.
These creators have spend months, and even years, creating content that reaches out to diverse audiences and has the potential to help millions of people.
Please share this post, or this article, to bring awareness to this! Instagram needs to cease targeting LGBTQ and being homophobic. This is should not be their agenda. They leave posts and accounts that are racist, homophobic, misogynist, and downright disgusting, and target those that create wholesome content.
Along with this article, here are some useful hashtags you can use, to make sure your post reaches as many people as it possibly can!
#lgbtq #gaylife #gaylove #gaycouple#gay #gayhusbands #paulcastlestudio#TheShirtlessViolinist#MatthewOlshefski #hisandhispodcast#gaystagram #lovewins#lovewinsrainbow #Instagram#matthewandpaul #stophate #lovehim#husbandandhusband #loveislove#gaystagram #husbands #queerlove#gaycouple #gayhusbands#gaylovestories #gay #instagood#gayguy #marriageequality #gaylove#gaylife
Along with this, you can reach Matthew and Paul on these social media sites:
December 22, 2020
When Your New Book Purchase Says A Lot...
You know your a social media manager/content strategist, when this is your newest book purchase.
December 18, 2020
When You Stop Learning, That Is When You Start Dying
This was a quote my friend, Rebecca, in Canada said to me, on a Facebook post I made about looking for a PhD program in Communications. That hit me. I have been like this since I was little. I was the one that always had books in her hands. But not just novels. I would buy old textbooks from garage sales, or take out books from the library on subjects that were probably considered way above my head. (I did an extra credit report on espionage in 6th grade).
I have even beeb made fun of, for my veracious appetite for learning. Even questioned, when I decided to start my Master of Science of Digital Audience Strategy at Arizona State University. I even kept it under wraps, which schools I applied to, because I didn't want to deal with negative feedback.
Which brings me to this. Through ASU, I have been able to take multiple certifications and non-certification courses, through HubSpot Academy and Google Analytics. And the best part? The certifications required for my classes, are not the only ones I am allowed to take. I plan on getting in as many as I can, before May 2021 graduation!
After 24 years, 5 colleges, and multiple people telling me that I couldn't do it, especially as I got older (there is a whole group for students my age at ASU, which is amazing!) I am finally going to graduate with a higher education degree. This may not be important to some, but to me, it is. I am a lifelong learner and I finally do not feel ashamed about it!
And starting now, I am researching schools, some in the UK, for my PhD. Thanks to a friend of mine and fellow Ian Somerhalder Foundation volunteer, who is also getting her higher education degree from a school in London, from the comfort of her home in California, for telling me about these options!
December 7, 2020
Guest Bloggers Wanted!
Beta Readers Needed!
Recently (well, ok a year ago, but this year seems like a blur!), I had a few people read my most recent WIP and received some amazing reviews! (Thank you Heather, Patrick, Julie, Veronica and others!)
So, I would love to have some other trustworthy, reliable people, read this, while I am working on it. The title is a working title and not set in stone. It has 43 pages and almost 13K words.
email me at becka@justkeepruminating.com, if you would like to be added to the list!
If you would like to be a Beta reader for this or my other 2, which I will work on again very soon, please let me know!
Also, when you finish reading what I have, if you have a BETTER title in mind, let me know! I am taking suggestions!
Guest Bloggers Wanted!
I've had a few amazing guest bloggers in the past and I would love more! If you want to bee featured on my blog, please EMAIL ME!
