#does god love the lgbtqia+ community

[beloved-not-broken]

Why isn't God intervening?

Between the public drag show ban in Tennessee and the sweeping censorship of children's books in Florida, the U.S. is becoming increasingly hostile to the LGTBQ community, especially transgender kids. As an out-and-proud trans adult living in the South, I'm starting to fear for my safety.

So of course the thought of "where's God in all this" has crossed my mind. ("Right here!" would be the instinctive Sunday school answer, but I definitely need more assurance given the circumstances.)

Hearing soundbites of politicians spew vile, angry rhetoric about people like me has already made me pessimistic about the fate of the LGBTQ community in this country; discovering that "The ACLU is tracking 399 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S." (as of writing this post) made me want to crawl into a cave and never come out again.

Which brings me back to the question I asked to begin with: why isn't God intervening? Well, there are signs that God is working behind the scenes. And as we know from Romans 8:28, God works all things for good—even in situations that were intended for evil.

Very few anti-LGBTQ bills are actually being passed.

Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign have successfully fought most of the bills that were introduced on the state level across the U.S. According to a recent press release:

"In 2022, politicians in statehouses across the country introduced 315 discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ bills and 29 passed into law. Despite this, fewer than 10% of these efforts succeeded."

Psalm 50:6 says that "[God] is a God of justice," so clearly divine intervention is happening here.

Individuals, families, and organizations are challenging these bills in court.

The Legal Defense Fund has filed a lawsuit challenging the Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees (“Stop W.O.K.E.”) Act in Florida, which was designed to limit the discussion of race, gender, and sexuality in colleges and universities.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit challenging a law in Arkansas that would prevent trans kids from receiving needed medical care, and would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to any Arkansas resident seeking gender-affirming medical care.

Plus, media outlets like Vice have come up with practical steps that we can take to fight for the rights of LGBTQ people across the U.S.

Proverbs 31:8-9 says that we should...

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Clearly, God is behind these efforts, too.

Similar laws have been passed and repealed before.

In an interview with NPR, Jules Gill-Peterson (a historian and professor at Johns Hopkins University) said that laws like the drag show ban in Tennessee have been passed before, and they were eventually repealed. Who's to say this won't happen again?

It sounds a lot like what Ecclesiastes 3:15 says about the cyclical nature of life:

"Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account."

No matter how often history repeats itself, God (the righteous judge) will always win.

What's happening across the country is terrifying, but take heart—God knows what's going on and is intervening behind the scenes. 💜

[a-queer-seminarian]

A queer look at the sacrifice of Isaac

content warning: political & religious transphobia, family rejection.

Detail from "Abrahams Opfer" by Adi Holzer Werksverzeichnis.

Genesis 22:1-14 is one of scripture’s most disturbing stories. In it, God seems to command Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. 

Abraham exhibits an unquestioning obedience, even to this most cruel command. 

If this is a test of faith, did Abraham pass?

…Or did God want Abraham to ask questions, to demand to know how such an atrocity would glorify the Divine? 

After all, this is the God whose heart will be won some generations later by Jacob the god-wrestler; who will inspire psalmists to bring all their naked, honest anger and hurt and fear into their worship-songs — as in this Sunday’s Psalm 13: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

Let’s look at God’s response once Abraham has done as commanded, taking Isaac up to the mountaintop, tying him to the altar, readying the blade — God now cries out, “STOP! Do not lay your hand on the boy! Don’t do a single thing to him!”

We find that God does not thirst for children’s blood. God does not trade human lives for blessings.

God makes it very clear here: You may not sacrifice your children on the altar of your religion.

How does this relate to the LGBTQIA+ community today?

In their sermon titled "No More Sacrifices," Kate Davoli connects Abraham's belief that God wills his son's death to the treatment of LGBT children in our own era. The rest of this post is drawn from their sermon.

Anti-LGBT preachers and politicians have been offering up our lives as sacrifice for decades now.

They convince parents that their children are doomed to hell if they turn out to be queer. The kind and holy thing to do, they say, is to try to make your child cis and straight  — in spite of study after study proving that conversion therapies and lack of acceptance kill.

In spite of a God who says, “Do not lay a hand on the boy! Don’t do a single thing to him!”

If a child persists in being anything but cis and straight, the "Christian" thing to do is disown them, kick them out — sacrifice family ties to a hateful God.

They only preach the first half of the story: God’s command to sacrifice a child — and expect unquestioning obedience from parents.

Some go even further, offering up the suffering of transgender children as a sacrifice for national security:

 “For the good of society … transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely… National decline is not inevitable…for a moral and religious people.”     — CPAC speaker Michael Knowles, March 2023

The growing wave of anti-trans bills that deny children spirit-saving medical care, attempt to wrest them from supportive parents, and lead to depression and even suicide, is an attempt at cultural purification in the name of God.

“Come,” they are saying, “Let us take your children, your precious children, whom you love — they are already doomed to hell, so we will sacrifice them on the mountain God has shown us and it will mean prosperity for the Land; it will turn the nation back around to receive all the wealth and security God promised us.”

That, friends, is blasphemy: it’s a lie about who God is and what God wants.

God makes known throughout scripture that Their will is abundant life for all, and particularly for the most vulnerable. Anything that harms children — that leaves them feeling broken and unheard, that puts their physical or mental health at risk — is not of God.

Call to action: 

What will you do to fight against the sacrifice of these little ones? 

How will you ensure that our fellow Christians who counsel “sacrifice,” and who call sinful what God has declared good, are not the only Christians speaking about “what God wants”?

How can you and your faith community show up for transgender children, and the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole?

[nerdygaymormon]

What are your thoughts on people who are asexual and/or aromantic and Christian? As an aroace Christian, I often feel very lonely and like I am left out of both the Christian community and the queer community.

Congratulations on figuring out you're both aro and ace. Recognizing the absence of something takes more thought and investigation than it does to recognize the existence of attractions and feelings.

Being aroace is a blessing!

In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, it’s very clear that the apostle Paul personally feels that sex and romance is more trouble than it’s worth and lowkey wishes more people felt the same. I think if he were alive today, he might choose the labels aromantic and asexual.

Paul is also pretty clear that in the eyes of God, it doesn’t matter whether we’re married or unmarried. It’s up to us to decide what works best for us. If you’re ace/aro, great! God has work for you. 

————————————————————

One thing about being aroace is it can be invisible. Unfortunately some queer people don't view aroace people as being part of the LGBT community because they believe that the people who are on the ace and aro spectrums don’t face the same discrimination and oppression as other queer people.

The Queer Community is all sexual and gender identities other than straight and cisgender, and that's why LGBTQIA includes the A specifically for aro and ace. We all experience marginalization. Our aroace friends definitely are part of the queer community.

In the queer communities, there's spaces for gays, lesbians, trans people, but I'm not aware of any specifically for those who are aro or ace, so I'm sure it feels lonely, as though you can come to queer spaces but your aren't seen and celebrated.

————————————————————

When Christians don't know someone is ace or aro, they adore how well you seem to be at remaining chaste and pure.

But many Christians have such strong negative feelings against the queer community, that they extend those feelings to anyone that is part of this community. It's ridiculous. You are exactly the person they loved until they learned you also describe yourself as ace and aro, nothing is changed about you.

They should accept and love you for your faith and desire to be part of the worship community.

————————————————————

Much love to you and I hope you find peace and a place where people accept and welcome you as your full authentic self

[esta-elavaris]

Okay I made 2342984 incoherent posts about it yesterday but BASICALLY what is happening is that one of the biggest publishing houses in the UK is currently running a thing aimed at writers from underprivileged/marginalised backgrounds - and I meet their requirements in terms of class status, the fact that I come from a dirt poor background, the fact that I'm ace and therefore part of the LGBTQIA community, and the fact that I have anxiety/depression. They ask for a wee paragraph explaining how you meet the quota and I explained this and was like "I was also homeless for 8 months a couple of years ago lol but I worked on this manuscript a lot during that time and it really helped lift my spirits x" because I didn't want to sound like that one fish from spongebob

In addition, they ask for a synopsis of your manuscript, and the first thousand words of it. So I did that, and submitted it all.

I won't find out if I've been longlisted until early July, but like, the smallest thing you can get out of it (if you pass the first stage) is one meeting with one of their editors to get advice. If you're shortlisted, you'll get a series of meetings to help you work on your manuscript a little bit longer-term.

The best case, insane "it's not likely and you can't expect it, but it is possible" is that they have tucked away in the T&Cs that if they really, really like your manuscript, they'll give you a fckn publishing deal.

L I K E

Can you imagine.

So I'm trying not to get too excited, but the fact that everything they might want (1k words for the first submission - done, 5k for the next if longlisted, which would be the first chapter of my novel which is fckn ready to go, and then 40k if you're shortlisted, which I can also absolutely do) are things I already have means like? I lose nothing by just sending them it.

And I mean, even if the best unrealistic amazing case scenario doesn't happen, I could still get actual advice on my actual novel from an actual editor. Along with confirmation that what I'm working on is good enough that they'd even offer me that, which is the part of this project that I struggle with the most.

And the fact that? The very things that make me eligible are the really difficult things I've been through throughout my life? God, that would just be poetic justice.

So I mean, I'm not getting too excited just in case, but it is exciting!!!!

I'm cautiously optimistic. The things I sent them are actually chapters that my uni creative writing teachers fckn loved, and they were published authors, so I know it's good shit, it's just a matter of whether it's what they're looking for, and whether it holds up against whatever else they're being sent. But they do specifically want sci-fi and fantasy and it's fantasy so like !!!

You miss all the shots you don't take, what's for you won't go by you and all that, and if it doesn't work out that's not gonna stop me, but god. Imagine if it does work out!!!!

[kanmom51]

JM ID : Chaos photo folio concept photos

Oh My God.

He took me to the stars.

Oh My God.

He showed me all the stars.

Lyrics are in female but I kind of think they are somewhat appropriate here, so I changed them.  Sue me (actually don’t, I can’t afford it).

We definitely have Artemis intertwined in JM’s concept.  Chaos too.

I still think we need to wait and see the end result.   Those masks they still do remind me the Jackalope A LOT.  I need to see how it all connects.

Until today, when the actual book cover was revealed what we got was dark and mysterious and perhaps the contrast between perceived good/pure and perceived evil/sinful with the white and black.

And then we get this:

This caught me off guard.

Where do I start?

The colours?  Where do they fit in?  How do they connect with the black and white we saw so far?  Another side to JM we’ll be getting to see? 

The pink and blueish purple.  First thing that popped into my mind was the Bisexual flag colours.  Pink blue and purple.

Or the Bigender flags/colours.

Then we have the Love and 1981 on his T shirt. The colours of the stripes are hard to identify.  The T shirt could mean nothing, but for some reason I believe that nothing JM does, in a project such as this, is meaningless.  So I was thinking: why is 1981 significant? And what does it have to do with love?  

I have my suspicions.  

HIV was first identified in 1981.  The illness that was stamped as the ‘gay epidemic’.  An epidemic that on the one hand vilified the LGBTQ+ community, but on the other hand served as a catalyst to push forward LGBTQIA+ rights and the Pride movement in many countries around the world.

 And I did go looking for other important events, including in SK happening that year.  1981 was the first year of the fifth republic in SK.  Also the year that martial law was uplifted in SK.  So, relatively important, yes, but is it connected to the Love on the T shirt? 

My gut says it’s not about that.

Could be something else.  I could be totally utterly wrong.  But it is kind of a coincidence.

And do we talk about the wings?

Is that JK’s fallen angel?

This is JM showing us himself.  Sides we haven’t seen just yet, or at least not as clearly as he is showing them to us right now.

And I can’t help but think how very brave JM is for doing that.  Opening himself up to us the way he is.

He is showing us this knowing there are very ugly sided to Army that will at the very least frown upon this or even slam him for it.  And we know there are many that will do much worse than show their displeasure ever so civilly. Let’s be honest.  We know who they are.  We know how ugly this is going to get.  And I think I can rather confidently say that JM knows too.

All that and more.

He is showing us this knowing, at this time in space, that his enlistment is approaching real fast.  At this point in time enlistment is imminent.  Exemptions are seeming less and less an option.

He is so so brave.

And I love him even more for it.

We also got the little crowns with JM’s book, to compliment JK’s moon cycle, perhaps?  Do we have some ‘You are me I am you” going on here maybe?

(cr./@FACTKM).

Do we talk about this too?

The similarity in the vibe?  Two super talented artists with two totally different concepts. And yet, the end result has so many similarities, like they fit together so easily.  More of the ‘You are me I am you’ going on here, eh?

(cr./@jikook.ismagic)

Oh, and btw, has anyone noticed this:

[nadinenc]

I'm a queer Christian.

Here comes a rant!

(This is a queer-safe space; hate comments will be deleted)

So I've been in a rollercoaster lately. I've always been comfortable with being bi, even though I've been raised Christian. I was under the assumption that my environment was ok with it too; why wouldn't they be? I've never heard something bad and I haven't hidden me being bi. My family supports me and never thought of it as bad, though nobody can vouch FOR the LGBTQIA+ community on behalf of the bible.

And I've been struggling with being associated with Christianity, for obvious reasons. Most queer people get cautious when they hear someone is Christian, and we can't blame them. Christianity has a big, I might even say the biggest, group which includes people hating on queer people, thinking they shouldn't exist and actively professing their hate. I can't be part of that. I don't want to say I'm Christian and immediately saying "BUT I don't hate queer people! I'm one myself!" which I felt the need for and which I did. I don't want to believe in the God for me and being included in a group where a big part has values against me. But I still want to believe in God.

Cause the Bible is a tricky thing, you have to read it with care, from my point of view. It has been translated and it has metaphors and it's very context base. So I've learned to read the seemingly anti-homosexuality parts as a text against cheating, in any form. How can a book about love be against people healthily loving each other?

So. Under the assumption everyone was good with me being bi. Then, I was talking to my friend of 9 years about being associated with Christianity, when she casually dropped the bomb of not supporting it. She knew I was bi. I did not know she didn't support it. That hurt. I genuinely was scared for my safety for a split second. (I was still physically safe). We talked about it a lot then, and shared our point of views. I was shocked not everyone in my direct environment who I really care about was against such a big part of me. I told her it was a surprise. She said she can love me and still not support me seeking out that part of me. Compared it to drinking alcohol excessively. I really looked up to how steadfast she is in her faith, but I started to question everything. Does my God love me but simply not support that part of me? I thought about it a lot, came to the conclusion I couldn't be part of a religion that doesn't support love, that doesn't support these people, even when I wouldn't be one of them, even when I really want to put God first. I got emotional in church two days later and sought out the pastor, who then also told me it stood in the Bible clearly that it's not okay. I made a big "eh..." gesture, thinking about reading stuff in context. I didn't agree. I think the Bible can still stand for love, and the kind of inclusive love I want to support.

Then! My friend of two years who I also look up to in faith, and who is kind of feministic and agrees on a lot of point of views with me, told me the same three hours ago. "I can love a person and still not support that part." What do you even do in a friendship like that? When they are against such a big part of you, can the friendship exist? It'll always be in the back of my mind now, whenever I meet with either of them.

Can anyone (Christian or not, queer or not, but keep it queer-friendly!) please share their point of view on any of this? I am so lost here.

Waiting on the day I can find people who can vouch for the queer community on behalf of the bible with me. The only argument I have heard is passive or against. In favour I've had to figure out myself. I still have to figure it out. But I want to get there.

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases June 13, 2023

At 30, I Realized I Had No Gender: Life Lessons From a 50-Year-Old After Two Decades of Self Discovery by Shou Arai

At age 30, Shou Arai came to a realization; they had no gender. Now they were faced with a question they'd never really considered: how to age in a society where everything is so strongly segregated between two genders? This autobiographical manga explores Japanese culture surrounding gender, transgender issues, and the day to day obstacles faced by gender minorities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community with a lighthearted, comedic attitude.

The Dragon's Betrothed vol. 2 by Meguru Hinohara

Troubled writer Chiharu Izunome is betrothed to Rin, the local water dragon god. Despite Rin’s gentle demeanor, when a supernatural intruder threatens his husband-to-be, the angry deity unleashes the full might of his beastly fury, injuring Chiharu in the process! With Rin’s destructive power so clearly laid out, fear displaces the fragile affection growing in Chiharu’s heart. Can he truly learn to love someone monstrous?

Even Though We're Adults vol. 6 by Takako Shimura

It’s finally time: Ayano tells her parents that she has left Wataru and has fallen for someone else. And that someone is a woman. When the news breaks, Wataru finally gives up on trying to make things work, which means the wall between Ayano and Akari’s love has now been knocked down. Meanwhile, Eri struggles with her feelings for a married man. Is there a way out of this labyrinth for anyone?

If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die vol. 1 by Auri Hirao

When it comes to idol group Cham Jam, Eripiyo is the oldest — and perhaps only — fan of Maina Ichii. Despite Eripiyo's enthusiastic support, Maina is the least popular member of the group, but that doesn't deter Eripiyo, even though she spends so much of her money that she only has a single outfit of her own. But her love for Maina doesn't waver, even if she knows she might never be noticed for it!

Last Gender vol. 3 by Rei Taki

Welcome to "BAR California", a place where people with different genders, propensities, and sexual orientations gather to find a certain "something".

A transgender bisexual who has been hurt by the voices of others, a pansexual looking for true love, and a person who identities as both male and female. There are as many sexualities as there are people.

FINAL VOLUME

Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan

A visit to a pancake shop leads to an unexpected May-December romance that breathes life into the monotonous routine of an older salaryman.

At 39 years old, Nozue lives a routine, if not melancholic, life of sleep and work. Togawa, his younger subordinate, finds it troubling and takes it upon himself to shake up Nozue’s routine. During a lunch outing, the two go to a pancake shop full of exuberant young ladies to “do what girls do,” and it’s just the thing to breathe life into Nozue. The two men start an unlikely friendship - and perhaps something a little sweeter!

Qualia the Purple: The Complete Manga Collection Omnibus collects volumes 1-3 by Hisamitsu Ueo and Sirou Tsunasima

Through Yukari’s uncanny purple eyes, all people look just like robots. Her talent is both a blessing and a curse–she’s an asset to the police, with her “skill” allowing her to evaluate humans at a glance, but her strange sight has cost her the friendship of her peers. Luckily, she does have one friend in her corner: Hatou “Gaku” Manabu, a girl at school who cares deeply for Yukari. But when Yukari is recruited to join a secret organization, the real trouble begins. Gaku is thrust into a realm of mystery, quantum experimentation, and alternate universes, with only her wits–and her love for Yukari–to guide her along the way.

The Summer You Were There vol. 3 by Yuama

At Kaori’s gentle urging, Shizuku reaches out to Ruri, the girl she bullied back in elementary school. All Shizuku wants is to apologize, but it soon becomes clear that even that won’t be so easy. Things take a dramatic turn when Kaori faints, and Shizuku learns that Kaori’s been keeping a big secret. Now, with everything out in the open, will things between the two girls ever be the same again?

Why I Adopted My Husband: The True Story of a gay couple seeking legal recognition in Japan by Yuta Yagi

As a gay couple living in Japan (where gay marriage is not yet legal), Yuta and Kyota have found a unique loophole in order for the government to recognize their union: Kyota adopted Yuta.

This nonfiction manga depicts how the two men met and fell in love, their life together for the last twenty years, their struggle to communicate their relationship to their families, their anxieties about the future, and their determination to live happily and carefree as any other married couple, while they strive for independence and equal rights in a changing cultural landscape.

X-Gender vol. 2 by Asuka Miyazaki

Covid-19 has hit Japan, and Asuka is struggling. Not only has the serialization of X-Gender been delayed due to the virus, the closure of Poker Face and other bars means they’ve lost access to their community. Can they find a way to stave off the loneliness, while also dealing with their fear of getting sick?

[emmedoesntdomath]

Okay Mush is down.

Hmmmm

Romeo 👀

ROMEOOOOOOOOO MY LOVE (ha)

ok, clearly, newsies takes place in 1899/1900, because that’s when the actual strike happened. for those of us who don’t know, homophobia was so rampant at this point that it was actually ILLEGAL to be gay in the united states (it was also illegal in the uk, but that’s another history lesson for another time). this obviously put a damper on the LGBTQIA+ community. also, we hadn’t really put a name yet on so many different groups of people. including the aro, ace, and other members of the community, so awareness? acceptance? basic human decency? not happening.

now. we’ve established that homophobia’s rampant, we don’t really acknowledge LGBTQIA+ people simply because it’s not safe to do so, and the awareness of the aro/ace community is nonexistent. and we know that not only does romeo flirt, but he does it publicly, going out of his way to do so, and be as blatant as possible while doing it. so. what if he did this out of a feeling of internalized arophobia AND a fear of people finding out that “something was wrong with him” (obviously, there was/is nothing wrong with him, but this is how he would think about it).

like, our introduction to his character was through him flirting with katherine. but his flirting was very obvious, very basic, very cliché. the writers were really trying to push this idea for his character, and for what? we already had jack, who flirts with anything that breathes (ie. davey, katherine, davey, sarah, oh and DAVEY). romeo didn’t need to be the flirt, and yet that’s what he was. what if he was trying to convince himself and everyone around him that this was who he truly was?

like, romeo didn’t want to find a girl and meet her in an alley or the sheepshead stables. oh, well, maybe if he tells this girl that’s she’s gorgeous, no one will know. oop, he hasn’t ever had a dream like the other boys always describe. what to do, what to do? ask someone out on the street, perhaps? oh, god, race always talks about how pretty spot’s his girl in brooklyn’s eyes are. does he have to do that? is he supposed to do that? no, this is fine, this is fine, he can just tell katherine how pretty her hair is. she’ll think he’s funny. yeah, yeah, he can do that.

also, let’s be real. if they lived in the world we do now, you KNOW he and crutchie would make an aro/ace club, with him running the aro part and crutchie manning the ace group. they would REPRESENT, baby.

[forsetti]

On Personal Identity: It's Complex And Personal

Once gay marriage was upheld by SCOTUS, the right needed a new, under-represented group to attack in order to placate their base’s lust to make themselves feel superior and punish those they deem inferior.

It took a few years for conservatives to really hone in on who to attack. Finally, their broken moral compass led them right to the transgender community. To the right, transgender individuals have the ick factor of gay people on steroids, and since there are a lot fewer of them, the pushback would be minimal. Many people know someone in their family, someone they love, a close friend, or who is gay. This isn’t true of the trans community. If you are a morally vacuous bully, the farther down you can punch, the better.

Think about this strategy for a moment. The right tried desperately to make gay people their scapegoats for all that was wrong with America, and they lost. They lost big. They got bitch-slapped by Will and Grace, Ellen, and thousands of other examples that gay Americans are as normal, if not more so, than their Bible-thumping neighbors. Instead of learning even the most basic lesson from their loss, the right decided the best thing to do was punch down even farther on the social and cultural ladder. This right here should tell you everything you need to know about modern-day conservatism. As Adam Sewer poignantly stated in The Atlantic about the right, “cruelty is the point.” When it comes to people who identify as transgender, the only question that really matters is, “So fucking what?” Here is where I want to acknowledge that I am not completely aware of the terminology when it comes to people who identify as transgender. I’m trying to learn. If I misidentify or make a mistake in verbiage, I apologize in advance.

What difference does it make to Aunt Freedom and Uncle Tight Ass if anyone, especially people they don’t know and will never encounter, identify as transgender? The answer is, “Not a God damn thing!” There are side arguments about how respecting which pronouns someone wants to be referred to by is an affront to God, the Founding Fathers, and Strunk & White, but they are 100% bullshit. The argument, “Boys/men competing against girls/women is unfair" is specious and nonsensical as “it goes against nature." Especially since almost all of these arguments come from people who haven’t given a damn about women’s sports and/or who have spent years speaking about them derisively. The only time they’ve given a single thought to women’s sports is when they can use them to prop up their bullshit worldview and punch down.

Personal identity isn’t black-and-white. It isn’t something that is defined by others. If it was, then it wouldn’t be called “personal identity."

I have no idea what it is like to identify as part of the LBBTQIA community. I do have an understanding of what it is like to not feel comfortable in your own skin and not be accepted, and this understanding alone makes my heart break for the way the LGBTQIA community is viewed and treated for either being comfortable with who they are or for trying to be. I grew up in a very small town in a very sparsely populated county in rural Idaho. Anyone on the outside looking in would assume I fit in perfectly. I was a white, Christian, straight male in a society that was 99.999% run and dominated by white, Christian, straight males. Hell, I came from an upper-middle-class family, and my father held a prominent position in the community and the local church. You couldn’t script a more perfect character to play the lead part in “Fits Right The Fuck In.” However, never, not once, did I ever feel like I fit in. Who I am, how I feel about myself, and who I know I was (not wanted to be but was) never fit the role I was “born to" and “written for me.” I wanted to fit in. I tried to fit in. I did everything I possibly could to fit in. All of this led to anger and frustration. When I was growing up, this anger and frustration were mostly directed at the community in which I lived because I blamed them for not fitting in. While they were a big part of the problem, I was just as culpable. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t.

It took a number of years for me to truly realize not only that I was part of the problem of trying to fit into something or somewhere to which I didn’t belong, but also that I needed to begin to discover who I was or am. While I was going to college at Utah State University, I got glimpses of this, but that was even closer to being realized because Logan, Utah, was only an hour away from my hometown and only slightly less regressive and repressive.

It wasn’t until I attended graduate school at Michigan State University that I really started to be me. I’m pretty sure this is why I feel such a strong bond to East Lansing, where I still live, going on year thirty-eight of a five-year plan. Even through all of this, I still don’t really feel comfortable in my own skin. I never really feel like I belong in just about any social situation. I’m not sure if these feelings are remnants of past experiences and conditioning; there are still parts of me that haven’t been realized, or something else. What I do know is that these sixty-plus years of feeling lost, not fitting in, and not being myself have not been kind to my psyche. I cannot even begin to imagine how someone in the LGBTQIA community must feel because they have all the things I’ve felt at much higher levels and so many more pressures, abuses, and ridicule to the nth degree. Whenever I’m in a group situation where they ask everybody to identify themselves and say a little bit about themselves when it is my turn, I give the boilerplate answer but finish with, “Something most people don’t know about me is that on the weekends, I dance under the name “Raven.”” I say this as a joke, but there is an underlying, not true, but possible truth to it. I’ve always leaned more toward the cultural definition of “feminine.” Almost all of my friends throughout my life have been women. I feel at home around women. I’ve always preferred to have longer hair. In a group of men, I have absolutely never felt I fit in. There is a rooster inside of me. It took me a while to understand this, but it is absolutely true.

Not being who you truly feel you are and are supposed to be is a horrible feeling. Why on earth would anyone deny this to someone else? Why would anyone go out of their way to punish and/or ridicule people, either trying to discover this for themselves or for fully realizing it? All the answers I’ve seen given to justify these behaviors are specious at best and batshit crazy at worst. Don’t give me some bullshit argument and try and substitute it for an argument against the transgender community - What if someone identifies as a serial killer or child molester? Are we supposed to be okay with that?” Sell crazy somewhere else.  The transgender community harms society. No one is being harmed by someone from the LGBTQIA community being true to how they feel about themselves. No one is being harmed by honoring which pronouns someone wants to be referred to by. NO ONE. Every single argument or example you can make that tries to say otherwise is 100% rectally extracted. The vast majority of pedophiles who are grooming children are Christian youth pastors, the clergy, and members of your local police force, not the LGBTQIA community.

Pronouns: We're having a hissy-fit over pronouns? How dumb is that? A lot of people I know don’t use their given names. My maternal grandfather went by his middle name his whole life. One of my brothers has gone by three different names over the years. How did this affect my life? I’m sure I probably referred to my brother by an outdated name once or twice, only to be corrected, and then I moved the fuck along. In other words, it didn’t affect my life one scintilla. If it did, then the only reason would have been that I was the problem. Pronouns: Part II: This isn’t about proper names. This is about “men” wanting to be referred to as “she/her/they.” This is social and linguistic chaos.” Is it? Is it, really? Do you need the world to be so black and white and so perfectly defined that any ambiguity or things that go against your preconceived norms are automatically labeled “bad” or "dangerous"? The world is a very, very, very complex place. I understand the desire to have it make sense on every single level, every time, all the time. However, that isn’t reality. That is, you want to force reality to fit your worldview. The world is always going to win that battle. You're not accepting its complexity doesn’t impact it at all. The only one who suffers in this situation is you. The world doesn’t give a fuck about your feelings, your beliefs, your preconceptions, what your mom and dad taught you, or what your preacher said last Sunday.

Attire: Does it matter what someone else wears? How does Bob, who now goes by Sarah, wearing makeup, a dress, and pumps impact your life? I'm pretty sure it doesn't, and if it does, you are the problem. Does this make you feel uncomfortable? So? I have a deep, visceral reaction to people eating cheesecake, cauliflower, and dozens of other foods. As repulsive as these things are to me, I’m not advocating for any laws against them. Their personal preference doesn’t really affect me in any meaningful way. Also, why is it so damn important to be able to perfectly identify someone by how they dress? Are men’s egos so fragile they can’t stand the thought of someone thinking they are a woman or being wrong when they hit on or catcall someone? (This is a rhetorical question because we all know the answer is a resounding "yes.") However, this isn’t the fault of the person wearing the clothes, no more than it is when a woman in a “skimpy” dress is raped. They aren’t the problem. They aren’t the cause of or responsible for the actions of others. Bathrooms: Since when do you see someone’s genitals in a bathroom unless you intentionally look at them? If a transgender woman walks into a women’s bathroom, there aren’t any urinals (because there are none). You aren’t seeing their plumbing unless you bust down a door and start poking around. If this happens, who is the “weirdo” here? I’m pretty sure it is you. I’m really not sure I understand the fear here. The Children—the go-to when all your other arguments have epically failed. “I don’t want some guy in a public restroom when my daughter is in there.” The question has to be asked again: “How do you know it is a “guy””? Do you feel up to everyone who goes into a women’s restroom whenever your daughter is in there? If you do, you should be arrested because you are a pervert. Transgender women aren’t using the ladies' room to hit on your daughters. They are using the ladies' room because, wait for it, they need to use the ladies' room. Why is it that there are no bathroom sexual assaults in countries where same-sex bathrooms are normal? I find it very odd that the people who worry the most about their daughters being molested in bathrooms by the LGBTQIA community have no worries in the world about them being around church leaders, the police, male family members, or neighbors—the people who are absolutely most likely to assault them. I’d happily have my daughter babysat by anyone I know in the LGBTQIA community over a youth pastor, scoutmaster, or self-professed Christian. The Children: Part II: How am I supposed to explain to my children about transgenders?” Easily. Be honest. Be straightforward. Answer whatever questions you can, and whenever you can’t, be honest about them too. Kids have an amazing ability to grasp complexity and be okay with ambiguity. What they can always sniff out are bullshit and hypocrisy.

Cultural conditioning is a big part of how/why we identify the way we do, but other things are at play. Genetics, experiences, and sometimes just an innate sense—you don’t belong to the group others have placed you in. I often ask myself, “What would my life be like if I felt more like Raven if that was the dominant side of who I am?” I honestly don’t know what the answer to this question will be. What I do know is the very existence of this question gives me a small understanding of the LGBTQIA community. It is quite possible that I will never really know who I am or feel comfortable in my own skin. If that is the outcome, so be it. No matter what happens, I never want someone else to feel this way, to any degree, and I will never know why anyone would not only not understand this but go out of their way to make the situation worse.

Being comfortable in your own skin isn't something an outsider can really understand or judge. Why is someone else's happiness anyone else's concern if it doesn't directly affect them? It doesn’t unless you stretch and bend the definition of 'directly' in ways that defy linguistics, logic, and ethics.

[georgierre]

this is a psa to watch drag race philippines. why, you may ask, and it's because it has all the essence and genuinity i feel rupaul's drag race has been lacking recently!!!

like idgaf anymore, rpdr is so watered down because its audiences grew outside of queer spaces and they want to commercialize drag race and make it "presentable" to everyone. they water drag (and queer ppl basically) down into unhelpful labels and it just feels so!!! capitalistic!!! and whatever rupaul doesn't get any joke dating 2010 onwards and no critique feels genuine anymore yadda yadda

BUT I DIGRESS. THE MAIN THING I WANNA SAY IS WATCH DRAG RACE PHILIPPINES. imma tell you that i was actually surprised they even produced one here. queer culture is very widespread here but its treatment in media is often reduced to comedy. even if people say they appreciate lgbtqia+ rights people tend to reduce it to sob stories or comedy. as a queer person here i feel like i'm more tolerated than accepted, WHICH IS WHY DRAG RACE PH IS SUCH A BIG MOMENT OF PROGRESS!!!!

drph highlights a lot of queer culture that does NOT stem from western queer culture. we hear of drag scenes in the philippines, queer movements in the philippines. and even if most political discussions are censored due to our oppressive government, a lot of these queens are activists outside of drag race!! not just for queer rights (since same sex marriage isn't approved and the sogie bill is just a recent development) but they're activists for sustainability and freedom of speech and the general development of the ph!!!! the show has been so informative and we're just 4 episodes in, and i'm actually learning more stuff about gay culture that i haven't learned before

++ OH THE GENUINITY FROM THE QUEENS IS SOOOO DELICIOUS. filipino culture tends to be incredibly blunt. we are very assertive, even if you're introverted, and we aren't afraid of saying what we want to say. THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE QUEENS SO MUCH. they stand firm in what they believe in and when someone chimes in they don't shake easily. AND THIS IS ALSO WHY THE JUDGING'S MUCH BETTER. obviously it's not perfect, i don't like the judging in ep 4 and i do think they go overboard sometimes, BUT IT ISN'T WASHED ANYMORE. these judges say shit from the heart. even in ep 4, which i won't spoil, they cried and cried and cried, even after the amen part, because they LOVE the queens!!

and you know what else comes from this genuinity??? DRAMAAAAAA. GIRL UNTUCKED IS LITERALLY ON FIRE. EACH EPISODE SO FAR HAS HAD A FIGHT OR INTENSE MOMENT AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD UNTUCKED DAYS. actually no, drph is MUCH more intense because like. WHO FIGHTS IMMEDIATELY AT THE 2ND DAY?????? THESE BITCHES DIDN'T COME TO PLAY. they argue and insult but make amends at the end bc it's Very filipino culture to fight over small things and blow it out of proportion. we love tsismis (gossip) and filipinos tend to be REALLY reactive so PLEASEEE if you wanna watch drag race for drama watch drph.

and you know what makes the drama better??? THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THESE QUEENS KNOW EACH OTHER BEFOREHAND. a lot of the drama here actually stems from previous drama OUTSIDE of drag race. they know each other and have fought with each other and oh my god i can make a powerpoint presentation about xilhouette, marina, and minty istg. their dynamic is so unique and interesting and i am Watching Intently

but drama aside the cast are so sweet to each other :(((( there's so much heartfelt moments because under all the bluntness and the arguing, filipinos tend to have BIG hearts. we put community first more than anything and it warms my heart to see all of them just enjoy each other's presences. even in mini challenges where they act all silly and yell and bark, those silly moments show what pinoy pride and love and community is. idk how to describe it, but when you're in a crowd of pinoys watching or rooting for the same thing, you always seamlessly join into the fun. it's just the way we work, and Ough this is my love letter to filipinos bc i love us so much

AND OKAY IK THIS IS GETTING LONG BUT ALSO U GOTTA WATCH FOR THE DRAG. watch these bitches put their asian kuripot resourcefulness into use. in the last few episodes, i can't even say the bottom 2's are even bad— all of them were pretty talented in the challenge. it rlly shows how talented and creative pinoys are!!! AND YOU GET TO SEE FILIPINO CULTURE INTEGRATED INTO IT. REMEMBER THIS IS AN ALL POC CAST!!!! they are so unapologetically pinoy with the runways, from superstitions to pearls to flowers to indigenous references to historical references etc etc LIKE PLS WATCH IT. IT IS A LOVE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPINSS

[queer-as-used-by-tolkien]

I know this poll won't be a representative demographic, because Tumblr, but I want to see how many Christians ACTUALLY abuse LGBTQIA+ people. This abuse, including verbal, is NOT good, Christian behavior, and is in fact the polar opposite of how we're supposed to behave.

I personally do use pronouns and otherwise try to show God's love, and I would provide physical or monetary assistance if I could/had any money myself/knew LGBTQIA+ people locally. (I've asked if my church does ministry/outreach but they didn't have an LGBTQIA+ specific one.)

[pridepages]

All or Nothing: Loveless

I just finished Loveless by Alice Oseman. I have some thoughts.

Here there be spoilers!

Alice Oseman is a gift to LGBTQIA+ literature. She has mastered the art of Jane Austen: writing a book that apparently has very little plot, but is actually a depiction of some of the most important facets of every day life. Her most famous contribution to the canon, Heartstopper, is light, bright, and sparkling in tone. With Loveless, Oseman adds a more nuanced piece of work to her world.

The novel centers around Georgia Warr, a rising first year student at university who is desperate to star in her own romantic love story. She’s imbibed all the intoxicating tropes of allonormative fiction: she knows every meet cute, every slow burn, every AU under the sun. She’s studied up, and she’s ready to go. The problem is that when she tries to take it from fantasy to reality, she finds that she has zero sexual or romantic chemistry with anyone. Worse still, she’s repelled by everyone she tries with. Over the course of many failed experiments, and through an introduction to a lovely friend, Georgia must come to terms with her reality: she cannot find that fabled romantic love story with one person. She’s aromantic asexual.

Asexuality, let alone aromanticism, is a rare study in contemporary fiction. By placing Georgia’s self-discovery at the heart of the novel, Alice Oseman has provided a novelty to a community that rarely finds itself directly addressed. This is a new kind of coming out, and coming to terms, story: what does life look like when your relationships fit no kind of translatable norm? 

The answer provided to us is that Georgia is able to find beautiful, true love stories with her friends. As her new roommate, pansexual Rooney Bach declares to her: “I feel at home around you in a way I have never felt in my fucking life. And maybe most people would look at us and think we're just friends, or whatever, but I know that it's just...so much more than that. You fucking saved me, I swear to God.” 

Because whether we are aromantic or alloromantic, love comes in life in so many different forms. Just because society has prioritized one expression does not mean the others are less worthy.

Just as Georgia must come to grips with how she can give and receive love, so must the others in her life. Some people have been disquieted by the fact that the title of the novel is Loveless, fearing that it represents yet another jab at people on the aroace spectrum. I would argue that the title is, quietly, more nuanced than that: the majority of the rest of the characters may be alloromantic, but that doesn’t mean that they rest easy with the knowledge they are lovable.

Georgia’s friend Pip is an out-and-proud lesbian. But multiple times in the novel, Pip declares that she’s destined to be forever alone. Having been treated as a ‘gay experiment’ in the past, Pip believes she isn’t worthy of anything else. Georgia’s second friend Jason, apparently a straight man, has endured bullying in his life. Because that bullying centered around his being undesirable and unlovable, Jason rushed into romance and dating with the wrong people because he believed that it was his only shot and he didn’t deserve to hold out to be treated well. Newly discovered pansexual Rooney has embraced free sexuality and flirtation, but for her they don’t equate to love. She believes she deserves to be punished for having fallen in love with the wrong person, causing her to have made years’ worth of bad choices and sacrificed healthier friendships.

I think what this book is all about is really that we all struggle with what it means to love. Love comes in so many forms, and those forms shouldn’t be discounted just because they don’t fit preconceived notions. Love in all its forms is so rare in this world. When it comes our way, we need to keep eyes, arms, and heart open. Don’t miss it.

To my asexual, aromantic, or even allo family who dread feeling forever alone: I implore you to stop and ask yourself where you find love in this world. I have had days where I didn’t want to live anymore, but I asked myself who would take care of my dog if I wasn’t here? So, I decided it was worth sticking around a little longer. Calmer reflection reminded me of parents who try their best. Of friends who chose me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Of mentors who pushed me forward. Of kids in my classroom who gave me unexpected hugs and told me I was their favorite teacher.

Sometimes, love feels like an all or nothing affair. Either we’re the heroes of some grand romance or we’re the also-rans. But the reality is so much different. Love can be all around us. If we don’t stop and look around once in a while, we might miss it.

[thistle-in-the-storm]

Thought Dump: Pride

Even though I have free speech, It’s still hard to stay this because I know I'll be hated for it by the group who claim to be all about love and inclusivity. Ironic, really. anyways. 

When I was growing up, pride was always called one of the deadly sins, and we were taught to not be Prideful - and rather be humble instead. I have always believed that the more pride you have, the farther you will eventually fall. Just look at most politicians. nevertheless, I struggle with staying humble, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I like recognition; that doesn’t mean it’s always good. 

However with this being June: Pride month, I have come to the realization that more and more people are finally realizing the total encompassing effect of pride and what it leads to. It’s not a real representation of love and inclusivity, because unless I agree 100% with the LGBTQIA group, then anything I say will be called bigotry and hatred. 

As a talking head on the internet, that’s fine. I really don’t care that much about how much I hurt someone’s feelings with my opinion; even so, I don’t endorse hatred, and I don’t endorse cruelty, so nothing of the sort will be tolerated. I do, however, endorse telling the truth. 

After all it was Aristotle who said, “It is the mark of the educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” 

As someone who has been on both sides of the debate, I am biased. I will own that. I’m a Christian who believes Jesus is the living God, and at the same time consider myself a semi-asexual woman. Does that change my view of the truth of the matter? No. It’s like if someone had broccoli in their teeth and no one ever told them... I'm literally just telling you about the metaphorical broccoli. whether or not you choose to stick your finger in there and make a change is up to you. 

As major companies like Budweiser and Target and the Dodgers receive backlash from their consumers for their growing endorsement of Trans creators, self proclaimed/never mind not actually satanist graphic designers, and groups that openly mock the catholic church and religion as a whole, my love for the communities I used to flock towards has fundamentally been upheaved. They are not loving. The companies want the money, so they buy into the game and promote LGBT groups for the month of june, and boom. LGBT groups get more recognition; more pride; more money. 

Meanwhile, the nation struggles to support it’s own veterans who have fought and died for the ability for LGBT groups to be able to openly and freely do anything. It’s a bit of a hypocrisy to claim yourself the victim if you never stop shouting it, even after changes are made to better the situation. 

Now. I know, people are angry already, and I understand. “But the church has hated on gays for years, why shouldn’t we take the piss on them?!” 

Growing up in church, I have never heard anything about hating the LGBT community. Ever. I have never seen them turned away at the door, and I have only ever seen them leave on their own. You want to know why? Because we told them the honest truth: the bible that Christians believe in, does not endorse the action of intercourse or romance between those of the same sex. It doesn’t say you can’t be gay, but it says that if you are gay, you can’t act on it. That’s what it says. It’s not turning you away if you aren’t straight; people leave on their own. 

Going back to the Aristotle quote: I can entertain the thought of those who are angry with me. I can see how they would be upset by my position, and call me names and say I'm being hateful. They believe in inclusion and inclusiveness. It’s self love and found families all around: we exist to better each other, and I can live my truth by being who I really am. However, as someone who has believed everything I've just said and slowly come to change my mind, I cannot accept it. There is only one truth, not mine or yours - those are perspectives. And the truth is, Pride is a deadly game to play with your psyche; the more you involve yourself with pride and allow it to settle into your heart, your heart will become hateful within itself. 

And thus we see hate groups outwardly mocking the Catholic and Christian and Jewish faiths at baseball games. We see hundreds of families worriedly pulling their children from public school as public teachers take it upon themselves without parental permission or consideration - to try and tell children who are too young to consent or understand - about same sex relations while having them forcibly celebrate pride month. We have church groups turning into shootings. We have billion dollar beer and clothing companies scrambling to balance their audience with the attempt to be “progressive” and losing on both sides. We have the symbol of the rainbow - a biblical symbol of Gods love and faithfulness - being stolen and turned into a symbol of being a proud LGBTQIA, anti-God. We have hate disguised as love, while true love and acceptance is ignored because it offends too many people. 

I know this post is long. And I know this post will make people upset. I claim free speech... and if this gets taken down, then I’ll at least know someone saw it. 

[nerdygaymormon]

Thank you thank you thank you for explaining my last ask thoroughly, and thank you random people who reblogged with more help! It really helped me understand my problem.

However, after further research, I've found nothing the church has said about demi and/or bigender and gender fluid people. I've been considering that I might be gender fluid or bigender, so I'm really curious, what are your thoughts about what the church thinks about that, or what you as an lgbtqia member thinks? Thank you again!

While I appreciate your question, I'm laughing because it is expecting a lot for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to have statements about being bigender and genderfluid as it seems to have only figured out that trans people are not the same as gay people around 2015-ish.

For a long time the church thought gay people were confused about their gender, and thus they lumped all queer people together and called us homosexuals.

Nowadays the church leaders know about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, but I've never heard them reference any other queer label, such as ace, aro, demi, bigender or genderfluid. I'm not surprised you couldn't find anything by the church about them.

My impression is the church thinks of all queer people pretty much the same way as it does LGBT people. Whatever is said about trans people also applies to all non-cisgender identities. What is taught about gay and bi people also applies to demi, ace, and other orientations. They've never referenced queer romantic identities, I think there's an ignorance in church leadership of the concept that there's different romantic orientations.

————————————————————

As for me, I think the queer community demonstrates that God loves diversity. Which shouldn't be a surprise as the rest of creation testifies of this.

If they teach that straight people's sexuality is God given, then I believe that all of our sexual orientations are God given and God approved, even the lack of sexual attraction.

If they teach romantic attraction is God given, then all of us should consider our romantic orientation is God given and approved.

If they teach that gender is God given and eternal, then all of us should consider our gender (cis, trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, etc) is God given and eternal.

I don't think God plays the game that only cisgender straight people are blessed and too bad about the rest of you. If it's a true principle, it's true for all of us. For example, they like to point to the Adam & Eve story where it says "it's not good for man to be alone." That's true not just for straight people, we all do better with meaningful relationships.

To treat queer people as a subgroup who don't get the same opportunities and blessings as non-queer people is clearly not treating us as they'd like to be treated. It's not treating all alike. It's the opposite of what God teaches.

[lgbtally4ever]

"There's nothing wrong with you. There's a lot wrong with the world you live in." — Chris Colfer

"If you're not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities — the expression of love — then life itself loses its meaning." — Harvey Fierstein

"Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start." — Jason Collins

It makes me really sad, when I can recognize the many, secretly gay, Korean actors and idols, because they can never have a truly fulfilled life.

I guess they make the choice, between their work lives and fame, or meeting the person, with whom they can find love and a private, personal life.

But, wouldn’t it be a beautiful thing if they could have BOTH?

We tell gay youths: THINGS WILL GET BETTER, but WHEN will things get better for all the people, in all those countries, where LGBTQIA RIGHTS aren’t recognized?

People need to start opening their minds & their hearts to include the LGBTQ Community, so they can live normal lives, too—lives like hetero people take for granted, as their, god-given right.

It’s not ONLY Korea, but that’s where it strikes me at my heart.

There’s only one example, I’ve found, in S Korea, of a gay couple—where a man wanted his partner covered by his health insurance—the article is attached…this was written in Feb. 2023…

Here is an excerpt from the article:

<<South Korea does not recognize same-sex partnerships, but the two men held a symbolic wedding ceremony in 2019, and one of them successfully registered the other as his spouse in February 2020, allowing him access to his employer’s health insurance plan. When the story became public months later, the NHIS swiftly reversed course and revoked his partner’s dependent status. The couple sued to have the benefits restored.

While the court ruled that it could not recognize a de facto marriage between same-sex couples, the principle of equality requires the national health insurance agency to apply equal treatment to all couples, as the NHIS law does not explicitly specify coverage of common law couples. The court found that the NHIS did not treat de facto same-sex couples equally and ruled in favor of the couple accessing health insurance coverage.

The NHIS said it will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

This case is significant for upholding the principles of equality and nondiscrimination. The government should expand protections for same-sex couples and take measures to combat widespread discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in schools, employment, housing, and other domains, which leaves them highly vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse.

In the region, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan have all extended marriage equality to same-sex partners. A recent court ruling in Japan maintained the prohibition on same-sex marriage, but acknowledged that a lack of legal protection for same-sex families violated their rights. Lawmakers in Thailand are considering options to recognize same-sex relations. >>

But, along with the rights, that everyone else has, which are denied to gays—there needs to be an understanding, a learning experience, and the acknowledgement, of the LGBTQ community, so that they can live openly and comfortably, among the other members of society, without fear of being discriminated against, or being treated differently, or having to feel they are different from everyone else.

Others have said it more simply & better than me:

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." — Audre Lorde

"You have to go the way your blood beats. If you don’t live the only life you have, you won’t live some other life, you won’t live any life at all." — James Baldwin

"Some people are blind or ignorant, and you can't be that prejudiced and hateful and go through this world and still be happy." — Dolly Parton

DON’T BE BLIND OR IGNORANT!

[pretendicanwrite]

O'knutzy week day 6

Character credit to @lumosinlove and prompt credit to @oknutzyweek !

Au/Timeskip

ENJOY!

**********

"Hi, guys! Today I have tickets to see a Gryffindor Lions hockey game, so I thought I'd finally do my highly requested blog." Leo panned the camera from his sketchbook to his face and body. He was wearing a KnuttyArts sweatshirt. "This is my 200th TikTok, and I figured it was the perfect time to show you all what my life really looks like."

The video skipped from Leo's face to the sidewalk as he walked toward the stadium. "I've lived in Gryffindor for about seven months now, and I've never been to one of their hockey games. I played goalie all the way through high school, but then I went to art school and was no longer able to play."

The next skip took the TikTok to the inside of the stadium just as the team was coming out of the tunnel. Leo had a seat in the second row from the glass. "As some of you may know, I've done a few portraits of some of the players. The rainbow-lit Captain Black seemed to be the most popular, but I've also done Logan Tremblay, James Potter, Finn O'Hara, and Remus Lupin, the man formerly known as the hot guy on the bench." The camera flipped back to Leo as he described the players, putting finger quotes around Remus' description.

Leo paused the recording on his TikTok, hoping to get further into the game before recording anything more. He was watching the players skate around on the ice when suddenly, Tremblay and O'Hara skated over in front of him and were whispering to each other. They then pointed at him, motioning him to come to the glass where they could talk.

He walked down the steps shakily as he approached his celebrity crushes, not that he would tell anyone that, and shyly waved when he reached the bottom.

"I love your TikToks!" He heard Finn shout, making a heart gesture with his hands. "My portrait looked so good!"

Leo couldn't believe that someone from the Gryffindor Lions saw their portrait. He knew that if Finn had seen his portrait, that meant that everybody on the team had probably seen them.

Leo knew that his art page was extremely popular compared to most TikToks. He had a large following, and it's only normal for someone famous to have seen works.

"Caps looked amazing! We really appreciate your support for the LGBTQIA+ community!"

Logan's yelling had attracted some more of the teammates, and soon, half of them were gathered around Leo.

He had grown up looking up to a majority of these people, and he felt so overwhelmed he thought he was going to cry.

"Thank you. You guys have been amazing in supporting us too. I'm happy for you two, Captain and Lupin."

The game was about to start, and Leo was sad that he wouldn't get to talk to the players any longer, but he must have shown it on his face because the next things he knew, he was being asked to come back to the locker room.

He watched the rest of the game, recording a few clips, but it was over quickly, the Lions winning 4-1.

Leo walked towards the closed off section, coming face to face with the one and only Marlene.

"Are you Leo Knut?" When he nodded, Marlene continued speaking. "I was told you were given permission to come into the locker room. Please follow me."

He did as told, respectfully keeping his phone in his pocket. He knew that the locker room was a private place, and the players probably wouldn't appreciate him recording their rituals and routines.

"Oh my god guys, he's here!" Was what greeted him as he walked in.

"Hi?" Leo said, standing awkwardly in front of the door.

Most of the team turned to look at him, some looking confused.

"Who's this?" Kuny asked, staring intimidatingly at Leo.

"This is the guy who draws Kuns. The guy I showed you who does pictures of some of us." Nado explained, placing a comforting hand on Kuny's shoulder.

Logan and Finn rushed over to him, both looking like excited puppies.

Finn started speaking, so fast that Leo could only catch a few words. He made out phrases like, 'I absolutely love' and 'your work is amazing.'

"Finn, my boy, you're scaring him. Calm down, and act like the normal human being I know you're capable of being." Dumo said, walking over to shake Leo's hand. "I'm Pascal Dumais. It's nice to meet you Leo."

The team all introduced themselves, each who had seen his works complimenting him on them.

Eventually, Finn and Logan came back up to him, both in their normal street clothes now, and gave him both their phone numbers with the promise to create a group chat.

If they ended up filming a show your celebrity crush, then show your current partner video on TikTok a few months later, then only people who saw it need to know.

**********

Short and sweet, because I have no clue what I'm doing.

I encourage you to leave me prompts. Know that O'knutzy week is almost over, I'm looking for more things to write.