#lgbtq dcs wave 6

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 12

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Sabran IX Berethnet-The Priory of the Orange Tree

Qualifications:

She's canonically bisexual and heavily implied to have depression.

Propaganda:

Bi queen (literal) who's struggling in all facets of life; has depression as part of her miserable family legacy. Nasty bitter personality shaped by a life she has little control over; has more than her fair share of misfortune in love and gets bullied by her loser ancestor.

Joly-Les Misérables

Qualifications:

Joly is a hypochondriac and uses a cane. He is in a poly relationship (this isn’t explicitly explicitly canon, but it’s fairly implied in a text from the 1800s)

if i remember correctly he's canonically a cane user (and while canes were often for fashion back then i'm fairly sure he needs his?) and also he's queer by virtue of a) all of les amis being queer and b) whatever's going on between him and bossuet and musichetta

Propaganda:

What’s cooler than an 1800s queer disabled character? Joly (aka Jolllly) is a hypochondriac and uses a cane, and is complimented well by his accident prone boyfriend. The two also have a relationship with them another woman. Despite his constant worrying, Joly is quite happy go lucky and fun, and he is a dedicated member of the revolution and very caring friend.

HE'S A YOUTHFUL MALADE IMAGINAIRE! the day before he's expecting to die (in the june rebellion) he is worried about a cold :( he is also a very happy guy and considering the book is called 'the sad guys' that is commendable

Submitted by @satancheeto and @mxcrowave respectively.

[dctvgen]

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Posting Guidelines & Prompts

Start of event: June 1st 

End of event: June 30th

This event is for fanworks featuring DCTV characters of any orientation or identity that fits under the umbrella of LGBTQ+. The characters can be canonically LGBTQ+ or simply headcanoned as so, either is welcomed.

A reminder that this is a gen-focused event, so while it's fine to have non-gen relationships mentioned or in the background, the majority of the fanwork should focus on content that is non-romantic and non-sexual in nature.

Posting guidelines:  

1. Tag your post appropriately - be mindful of potentially triggery content

2. Keep any NSFW content (e.g. violence or dark themes) behind a cut

3. Mention in notes if there is a background non-gen relationship

4. Credit any collaborators and betas

5. Also tag with #DCTVGenPrideMonth (must be within the first five tags)

6. Mention @dctvgen in your post so that we are notified of it

A list of shows we will be accepting fanworks for are as follows:

Arrowverse shows

Vixen

The Ray

Constantine

Black Lightning

Gotham

Doom Patrol

Titans (2018)

iZombie

Lucifer

Preacher

Smallville

all DC animated shows

…and any other tv show with DC characters in.

Once the event starts, if you haven’t seen your post reblogged here within a couple of days of posting, please let us know in case it has gotten missed.

If you are also posting your fanwork to AO3 we would love for you to submit it to our AO3 collection for the event as well – it’s DCTVGen_PrideMonth – you can use this link here to post directly to the collection.

If you would like to post to Dreamwidth for the event, you will need to join our community there – you can find the link in our header here. Posts submitted to the Dreamwidth community will be moderated and should appear on there once a moderator has had the chance to review your post. Please follow guidelines 1-4 from above for any Dreamwidth posts as well.

Any questions that aren’t answered either here or by the FAQ, don't hesitate to send us an ask here, or comment on our Dreamwidth community, or email us at the address listed at the bottom of our FAQ.

We also have some optional prompts for anyone who would like a little inspiration for the event.

Prompts:

Happy endings

Acceptance

Not just a phase

wlw / mlm solidarity

transman / transwoman / non-binary solidarity

Gender euphoria / dysphoria

What’s in a name

Firsts and lasts

No gender, no problem

The A team

Ace up your sleeve

Netflix and actually chilling

No romo

Going to Pride

Wave your flag

Queer found family

Coming out support

Blurring binaries

None of the above

Screw toxic masculinity

Fuck gender roles

Under the radar

If you're excited for the event please consider reblogging this post to help spread the word since this post may not show up in the tags due to links being included in it.  

Good luck with your creating! We look forward to seeing what you make for it. :)

[corrinalawson]

Batman #50 had Batman being jilted by Selina Kyle for his own good, supposedly. Over in Man of Steel #6, the miniseries rolled out with great fanfare because of the arrival of Brian M. Bendis to DC Comics, Lois Lane and Jon Kent leave Superman to go running around the galaxy (it seems) with his estranged father, the not-quite-sane murderous Jor-El. No Happy Superheroes! I have thoughts about each of these stories, unhappy and frustrated thoughts, and I’ll get to that but there’s also an underlying theme that’s been true in DC Comics since Dan Didio has been editor-in-chief, and that’s the idea that superheroes cannot be happy people. Let’s look at this 2013 quote from Didio, from a Comic Book Resources panel from Baltimore Comic Con. “Heroes shouldn’t have happy personal lives,” he said at the start of the DC Nation panel, according to several sources. “They are committed to being that person and committed to defending others at the sacrifice of their own personal interests. It’s wonderful that they try to establish personal lives, but it’s equally important that they set them aside. That is our mandate, that is our edict and that is our stand with our characters.” That “no happy superheroes” comment was in reaction to the then-LGBTQ backlash against letting Batwoman and her love, Maggie Sawyer, be married, even though the pair were engaged. But Didio and DC seemed committed to it as they announced Aquaman and Mera weren’t married either. (Odd because they acted married for ages, but this oddness has been a problem for the Aquaman books to this day.) But then DC seemed to give way on this edict, at least a little. After the New 52 reboot, Superman was an angsty loner whose secret identity was outed to the world by Lois Lane, of all people. But with Rebirth and some hand-wave plotting (alternate realities, etc.), Lois and Clark’s marriage was not only back on but they were parents of a son, Jon Kent, who went onto co-star in his own comic. Batman’s family came to surround him more often in stories as well, with Damian Wayne brought back from the dead, with Bruce bring Kate Kane/Batwoman into the fold in Detective Comics and putting her in charge of the Bat-Famly members as a strike team. Bruce even began dating his on-and-off love, Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Wonder Woman brought back Steve Trevor as the main romantic interest in Diana’s life, in a beautiful run by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, and Liam Sharp. Since a short and enjoyable run by Shea Fontana, Wonder Woman has been in the hands of James Robinson, who seems determined to ignore Diana as much as possible in her own book and instead spotlight her annoying worthless twin brother, Jason, a new invention for a DC event, Darkseid War, that I found tedious. When Steve is in the book, there’s no meaningful interaction between him and Diana. Something’s changed over the past year.

The Cliffs of Insanity: Why Can't DC Superheroes Be Married? - GeekMom

[pixie-skull]

# 12 Post, part 2: FINALLY Top Ten 2D Animated Women’s List

Update August 12th! Updates in bold.

So I am behind on my promise and seeing this net neutrality could happen here my top lady crushes. I try to go into detail. I have to admit number 10 going to be confusing see her movie has different animation styles, so I try find a picture of which one I like more. ON TO THE DELAYED LISTED. Reminder none of my new crushes can be made after 2016, when I graduate high school. Warning lots of breasts. Hey I am Pan, as in pansexuality, so yes I am mostly romantic, yet I want to clarify, I am not liking the characters for that. Also, I tried list movies from animated companies, or else this be Disney mostly. XD Here the RULES https://indigo-psyduck.tumblr.com/post/167091245072/post-12-part-1-rules-for-animated-crush-list

10. 2010′s Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic Beatrice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1C9WtnOr7Y  So now I  said I have two styles I really like, yes this movie has 5 or 6 styles. O.O 

So I chose this design of ALL other, maybe has a close second, yet this (due to it enhances the Souls and Demons)

 Now on to the reasons she wins number 10. Her personality, hopeful, positive, loyal,  patient (still annoyed at Dante for what he did), honest, and just an embodiment of virtues. So besides being someone who so kind to have what happened to her is heartbreaking. Plus her overall appearance was attractive too. I am not sure why women’s almost naked I feel more comfortable seeing, yet men’s and non-binary I feel my demisexual side bit more antsy. Yes middle school me was both freaked out and at the same time enjoyed the film. Helps also I was figuring out my sexuality and came out in mid high school.  Oh and she stands ups for herself and tries not to be a prize. Unlike the video game, she is not a pushover. D: XD Also I am now sure I am asexual.

9.  2000′s Titan AE, Akima. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXmcVV3WJWwEven though this movie was hard to watch(the CGI :( ), the characters and their designs are very fun to watch. Now besides being voiced by the attractive Drew Berrymore (fun fact is bi), the haircut, and those eyebrows, there more to Akima.  I like she reminds of (the stunning) Zoe from Firefly due to both pilots (in a sense) so have the voice call the shots, she can take care of herself, knows how to fight yet be not a killer, and more. I do personally headcanon her as bi. She very low on the list for I admit I saw the movie sooner than I like to admit, so she not as much a childhood crush, as a new one. Only her animated style was constant, unlike 10. Sorry, the gif changed her appearance a bit, I know in the movie she of Asian descent.

8. Now nine was tempted to put Gwen from “Total Drama Island”, first two seasons (I have a soft spot for dyed hair and punk and goth look), until I saw this movie. (I do plan do a maybe top five of TV 2D women)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVbX1NeWY9s&t=3s1992 Cool’s World Lonette.

 (I like how her hair so cute and messy here^ A sweet, short, messy, haircut. Also yes her body also quite nice XD ) I really find her kindness endearing such a negative world. Even though I like all eye colors, dark green eyes I am a sucker for. Also she was loving to Frank, makes hope for someone as affectionate as her. I know she Holli look very much in common, but Holli I felt lacked in such romance tenderness.

This smile ^ so adorable.

7. 1999′s Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost  Luna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92jw0fxXca4

(in Violet and short red hair)I could have easily put this whole band down, yet I wanted pick their second singer.  The fact she sings, plays an instrument, in an eco goth band, dyed hair, her parent helped give the band their fangs, and more, is why I like her so much. Also she drawn in this movie she more drawn with details and for that she is more attractive.https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/p__/images/8/8c/New-ghrfh-the-hex-girls-24106229-720-480.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110909113258&path-prefix=protagonist < - - -  Close up on her.

6. 1993′s The Thief and the Cobbler, Yum-Yum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZibUpH-AME&list=PL18B0CA620B61D076 and https://vimeo.com/88602144 

Shocked how few royals are on this list, especially for being a 90′s kid. So why Princess Yum-Yum, even though she a weird blend of Aladdin (I bring this up to claimed Disney and if they or if they did NOT steal from this movie) Jasmine (I also have a crush on her too) of having a voice and using her power, but sometimes seems underdeveloped in comparison. However to me that is only when compared, so she to me is still fleshed out. I am happy to see her make the band of thieves due what she says, she merciful, she helps Tack and does her fair of saving the day. Not just a pretty face, she actual does something.

5. ANY DC comics Batman adaptation of Selina Kyle also known as Catwoman.

(^ Not to stereotype, yet this “gay” haircut I love so much on her)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjQPXvQ7ZPQ

Now on to why I like her. First bonus is she cannoned as Bi as bisexuality. Now to the rest, she a character who in the grey waves of morals. She is either a villainess, anti-hero, or whatever. I enjoy also how much a tease she can be to Batman (thanks to her I can be like to my relationships too sometimes), she loves animals, she inspires me with her self defense and flexibility. Catwoman also she makes me comfortable being her dominate power force. I want to clarify I am waiting till marriage. XD I also like she kinda an example of a character, who can depicted with different racial background, body types, and more. I am aware some characters can not have such changes, yet Catwoman a positive example of done right.

4. 2003′s Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Marina. 

Shout to @animagix101and @thenamelessdoll edits of her, if from a racebend to giving her more muscles, thank you.Now why do I like this short haired ambassador? One she stands up for what she believes in, she a quick learner, she gives off vibes like she could be bi, poly, or pan, and is fearless, yet gives mercy. Her relationship is shown on screen to grow, not just boom love, yet (I do not like Sinbad by the way, I much more like Proteus). I was tempted to give this spotlight as a tie to Moses Tzipporah, yet I know ties are not fun for most people.

3. Sailor Moon (90′s version), Michiru Kaiou AKA Sailor Neptune. 

Now I know I am making this my 2D animated ladies from MOVIES, but she did make appearances in film. Sorry too the gif makes more pale (yes the characters in the anime are suppose to be Japanese). Shout out she also in the LGBTQ+ Community, cannoned as lesbian. Now on to why I like the Sailor Guardian of the planet Neptune? Besides having colorful hair (I am sorry dyed hair a bonus for me, like how accents are a bonus for other people), she has a colorful personality. XD She very artsy (I like people who can have a passion in something that is like theater, music, etc), romantic (like dang she and Sailor Uranus are soooooooooooooooo cute), funny, clever, and more.

2. Okay this rule is broken of only MOVIE ladies, yet this  a childhood crush since my elementary school years. 1996′s The Incredible Hulk animated Series and any other Hulk/Marvel product, Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MStHVaHNf_Y

XD Yes that scene beyond suggestive and yes her voice by the stunning Cree Summers. So what makes a delight, she can be funny and serious, an amazing lawyer (I believe the comic staff did this be part of the second wave of feminism [no hating for this, okay to be a feminist or have the ideas of one to want equality with men), confident in her body and mind, she has colorful hair, she so strong that I be happy be held by her, and more. XD It is kinda takes to her women of any height (she is “5'10" (in human form) 6'7" (as She-Hulk” according to http://marvel.com/characters/51/she-hulk)  because tall Titanesses need some love. Also yes sucker for either her She-Hulk green eyes or her Jennifer’s form with brown eyes and this cute haircut. So Bruce Banner or Hulk, can you give me your cousin’s number please? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2j4_C4cvSs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbVnnImJOYc

1. 1996′s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Esmeralda. 

So I like Disney a lot to choose ONE woman is not easy to do, yet I chose to one who I know for the fact I can say just has more to crush on. For starters her personality (seeing beauty from within a huge trait I love), spreading mercy, standing up her others, her sense of Faith (I am Spiritual, so her song to me a great representation of faith - - - > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEEpavnk7Uw ), her voice (both speaking and singing <3 <3) rich (I thank real life cutie Demi Moore, in Ghost her haircut is something I want to mimic on day), and more. Looks, well as long you are not a woman who is straight and a man who is gay, I find it hard to believe you can not understand how she is a jaw dropper. I personally head cannon her Pan as in Pansexuality.

So before you assume anything, yes there one more cutie after this, why, because I like to count zero. XD

Honorable Mentions: 

X-Men: 

Raven Darkholme  AKA Mystique (fun fact I believe she is cannoned as Bi, even though I heancanon as Pan)

Ororo Munroe AKA Storm  (XD the Pan flag I love it)

Disney:

2001′s Atlantis: The Lost Empire Kida

1991′s Beauty and the Beast Belle (I love her hazel eyes and dimples)

1999′s Iron Giant: Annie 

0. 1982′s The Last Unicorn, Lady Amalthea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-TioQfT-jg

Even though yes she barely seems happy, just something about her that so stunning. If her indigo eyes, silver hair (I want to maybe dye my hair like her’s one day, when my hair longer), or moment of smiling.

Okay now I looked at her physical appearance, how does Amalthea win by personality. With light spoilers (not going into detail) she starts and end the movie on a quest for herself and it is empowering to see her just do this for she wants to. Not out of love, a prophecy, nope just wanted to save more like her. She is does not give up, she goes on. Amalthea strong in her morals, she helps her friends, her arch is powerful, and so much more. PLEASE READ THE BOOK TOO! =D So I like to point out (because my sibling and I had a debate) I liked her when HUMAN and she call herself human, not sure why this confused my sibling.

*Please anyone name what traits stick out as reoccurring in my named character crushes.*

I challenge @thenamelessdoll @sailorzelda94 @myhollie1911 @cereittanyprincess15 @deanscourse ANYONE else to make their top animated women’s, men’s, non-binary, or your top animated crush list.

I want to clear up that listing women easier because men tend be less developed. So my top 10 men list be BOTH movies and TV, so I make a top 3 tv cartoon ladies.

@theghostlightison

So since I made this, I am making a top five different, details of why I like them stay the same, yet different spots

5. Maria

4. Sailor Neptune

3. Catwoman

2. Amalthea (I kinda like this “mad” gif looks more like checking someone out. XD ^*_*^ )

1. Esmeralda (I still hope to use this quote one day)

0. She-Hulk

[theconservativebrief]

Democrats are favored to win back the House on November 6 — but it’s no sure bet.

They need to pick up 24 seats to win back the House. Buoyed by the backlash against President Donald Trump and the anger of women voters, House Democrats are eyeing pickup opportunities all around the country.

The prediction of a blue wave, coupled with constant House ratings changes from election watchers, can make it hard to keep up with a dizzying number of House races. So we tried to distill it down to the most important — and interesting — races of 2018. You’ll notice they’re all open seats or endangered Republican incumbents. That’s in part because of the lopsided playing field this year to retake the House. There are just many, many more pickup opportunities for Democrats.

At the end of the day, it will come down to a handful of closely contested races. They include key districts that Democrats need to win in order to take back the House, but many of these races speak to some of the larger themes playing out between Republicans and Democrats across the country.

Here are the 15 most interesting House races of 2018.

Who is the Republican? Incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters, first elected in 2014. She voted for Obamacare repeal and the tax bill, which hurt California by eliminating the federal income tax deductions for state and local taxes.

Who is the Democrat? UC Irvine law professor Katie Porter, who is running on Medicare-for-all. Porter has the support of progressive groups and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA).

Former President Barack Obama attends a campaign rally with Democratic congressional candidates (from left) Josh Harder, T.J. Cox, Gil Cisneros, Katie Porter, Harley Rouda, and Mike Levin on September 8, 2018, in Anaheim, California. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

What’s the playing field? The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates this race a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? Porter is running an abashedly progressive campaign. Walters also voted for the Republican tax bill that’s likely going to increase taxes for lots of voters in this district. Meanwhile, the city of Irvine and other areas in Orange County making up the district have a lot of conservative DNA (they’ve never sent a Democrat to Congress), but the area is highly educated and diversifying rapidly. Porter’s candidacy is a test of whether Democrats can run on a decidedly left-wing message and win, rather than running centrist candidates in moderate districts.

What does the polling say? It’s definitely a close race, but there are some good signs for Porter. A New York Times/Siena College poll found her with a 5-point lead; another one from GBA Strategies showed her with a 1-point lead.

Who is the Republican? Carol Miller, a West Virginia state delegate and bison farmer. (Republican incumbent Rep. Evan Jenkins unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2018, losing his primary.)

Carol Miller, who is running for the Republican nomination in West Virginia’s Third Congressional District, is seen at a National Day of Prayer event in Point Pleasant on May 3, 2018. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Richard Ojeda, a state senator and Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He voted for Trump in 2016 (something he later said he regretted), and rose to prominence during the West Virginia teachers strikes as a vocal advocate for raising teacher pay.

What’s the playing field? Cook rates it as Lean Republican. But it’s also worth noting that Rep. Nick Rahall (D) held the district from 1993 to 2015.

What’s interesting about this race? This is a true test of whether Democrats can chip away at Republicans’ hold on poorer Rust Belt districts that went overwhelmingly for the president in 2016. Trump won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins in the country, but technically, there are more registered Democrats than Republicans. The state has always had a populist streak, but political winds have shifted to the conservative side of late — especially as coal jobs have left and the economy has tanked. It’s also a test of whether more leftist populist ideas have sway in the state — Ojeda is for a public option and Medicare buy-in for health care.

What does the polling say? It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Ojeda appeared to be in the lead this summer, but Miller seems to have passed him in recent months. An October Monmouth poll found her with a 3-point lead, with the NYT/Siena College September poll showing her 8 points ahead.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Kevin Yoder, in office since 2011. Yoder voted for the GOP tax cuts and Obamacare repeal.

Who is the Democrat? Sharice Davids, an attorney and former mixed martial arts fighter. She’s Native American and openly LGBTQ.

Sharice Davids, a Democrat running for Congress in Kansas, talks to supporters at a July 4 event in Prairie Village, Kansas. David Weigel/The Washington Post via Getty Images

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race as Lean Democrat. Hillary Clinton narrowly won the district in 2016.

What’s interesting about this race? Yoder is one of the more endangered House Republicans in 2018. His suburban district, which includes part of Kansas City and its suburbs, is one Democrats actually have a decent shot at flipping (the district went for Clinton by 1 point in 2016). KS-03 and the neighboring Second Congressional District are key pickups for Democrats, and Davids is a young, dynamic candidate who represents the future of the party. Republicans are taking notice; the NRCC recently canceled a $1 million ad buy for Yoder, a sign he’s in trouble.

What does the polling say? Things are looking pretty good for Davids; the NYT/Siena poll had her 8 points ahead of Yoder, and an Emerson College poll had her 6 points ahead.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Andy Barr, in office since 2013. Voted for the GOP tax bill and Obamacare repeal.

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), gives a tour of Capitol’s Rayburn Room to constituent Alpha Fayida, 6. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Amy McGrath, a Marine Corps veteran and the first woman to fly a combat mission for the Marines. She’s a political newcomer who beat the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s initial favorite for the district in the primary and has proven herself to be a fundraising powerhouse.

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race as a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? Similarly to West Virginia’s Third Congressional District, this Kentucky district is another test of whether a Democrat can win back Trump voters. There are more registered Democrats than Republicans here, and the district has a history of having representatives from both parties. But many counties in the Sixth overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2016. McGrath wants to try to win them back by appealing to voters in rural areas, in addition to Democrats in Lexington, which is also in the district.

Barr has raised $4 million, but McGrath has outpaced that, hauling in more than $6 million largely from small donors. If she wins, Democrats may be looking at her to seek higher office, including the Senate, in coming years.

What does the polling say? The polling is spare, but it shows a very close race. Barr leads McGrath by about 1 point, well within the margin of error.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Barbara Comstock, in office since 2015. She was swept into office in a 2014 Republican wave; now she might be swept out by a Democratic one.

Who is the Democrat? State Sen. Jennifer Wexton, an attorney.

Jennifer Wexton waves to the crowd in Leesburg, Virginia, as she participates in the Leesburg Independence Day Parade on July 4, 2018. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

What’s the playing field? Cook rates it as Lean Democrat.

What’s interesting about this race? Virginia’s 10th Congressional District is a suburb of Washington, DC. Clinton won it by 10 points in 2016, so it’s at the top of the districts Democrats think they can flip. Health care is sure to be a huge issue in the district, with Wexton able to run on the fact that Democrats expanded Medicaid in the state. Comstock voted against Obamacare repeal but for the individual mandate repeal in the GOP tax cut bill, which Democrats are hitting her on. The NRCC is spending on her race, but the conservative Congressional Leadership Fund PAC has been more hesitant to commit money — a sign of trouble.

What does the polling say? The polls look good for Wexton. She’s been in a comfortable lead recently; one Washington Post poll even showed her 12 points ahead Comstock. It could be closer, but Democrats have reason to be optimistic.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Dave Brat, in office since 2015. You might remember him as the former college professor who beat then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in 2014. He voted for the GOP tax bill and Obamacare repeal.

Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) talks with reporters outside a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol on December 19, 2017. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Abigail Spanberger, a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA operative.

What’s the playing field? Cook rates this race as a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? If you’re looking for an extremely conservative House Republican facing a credible Democratic challenger, Dave Brat is it. Brat is a member of the House Freedom Caucus — the super-conservative group of House Republicans that frequently challenges Republican leadership and pushes them to the right. Brat is trying to tie Spanberger to Nancy Pelosi (a name he evoked no less than 25 times in a single debate). A man who swept in during the age of the Tea Party, Brat could be toppled by a Democratic wave propelled by women. It may not help that he’s also running against a woman.

What does the polling say? A couple polls show the race as very close. The NYT/Siena poll showed Brat with a slim lead in September, but a Monmouth poll released on September 25 showed Spanberger in the lead, propelled by the district’s suburban voters.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Mike Coffman, in office since 2009. He voted for GOP tax cuts and Obamacare repeal but has been outspoken against the Trump administration.

Who is the Democrat? Attorney and Army veteran Jason Crow.

Jason Crow, the Democrat running in Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District, talks with Maria Valle on her front porch on September 15, 2018. Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images

What’s the playing field? Cook rates this race as Lean Democrat.

What’s interesting about this race? Democrats have been trying to unseat Coffman for years, but the moderate Republican has managed to hang on to his seat in this suburban Colorado district. Democrats are hitting Coffman on his votes for the tax bill and Obamacare repeal, as well as his donations from the National Rifle Association. The Sixth District is home to Aurora, the city where a gunman killed 12 people inside a movie theater in 2012. It’s also very close to Columbine High School, where the 1999 school shooting took place. Gun violence is personal in the area, and Crow has been openly running on gun control from the start of his campaign.

What does the polling say? The past few months have been good for Crow; Coffman’s last poll lead was back in the middle of summer, and recent polls show Crow with a comfortable lead. The latest NYT/Siena College poll showed Crow with a 9-point lead.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Randy Hultgren, in office since 2011. He voted for GOP tax cuts and Obamacare repeal.

Who is the Democrat? Lauren Underwood, a registered nurse and former Obama administration adviser who helped implement the Affordable Care Act.

Democratic candidate Lauren Underwood talks with supporters in Lindenhurst, Illinois, on August 12, 2018. Teresa Crawford/AP

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race as a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? Health care and the GOP bill to kill the Affordable Care Act loom large in this race. Hultgren voted for the Obamacare repeal bill after promising he wouldn’t support anything that weakened protections for preexisting conditions, and faced protests in his home district for the vote. The fact that Underwood was an adviser in President Obama’s Department Health and Human Services who helped implement the ACA makes this dynamic all the more interesting. Underwood, who is African-American and 31 years old, is attempting to unseat a white man in his 50s. The district voted for Trump by 4 points in 2016.

What does the polling say? There’s not a lot of polling, but Hultgren seems to have a small lead. The most recent NYT/Siena College poll showed him 4 points ahead of Underwood among likely voters. That narrowed to just a 1-point lead among registered voters.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Erik Paulsen, in office since 2019. Paulsen voted for the GOP tax cuts and Obamacare repeal.

Who is the Democrat? Dean Phillips, a distillery CEO and philanthropist.

Dean Phillips, the Democratic candidate for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, greets guests at a picnic in Excelsior, Minnesota, on September 15, 2018. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

What’s the district rating? Cook rates this race as Lean Democrat.

What’s interesting about this race? Paulsen is considered a moderate Republican who didn’t support Trump in 2016, writing in Marco Rubio instead (Minnesota was the only primary state Rubio won). The Third Congressional District went for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but voted Paulsen in as well.

He’s taken some tough votes since then, sticking reliably with House Republicans on health care and taxes while also trying to separate himself from Trump. Phillips, the Democrat, is running on campaign finance reform. This is a bit ironic, as Phillips made a fortune off his family’s liquor business and gelato company. He has been upfront about his wealth, and vowed to run without self-funding his campaign or accepting PAC money, though he’s still getting plenty of money from various industries.

What does the polling say? Polling is looking good for Phillips; two polls released in early/mid-September had him leading Paulsen by double digits. A SurveyUSA poll released in late September showed the race narrowing, with Phillips in a 5-point lead.

Who is the Republican? Rep. John Faso, in office since 2017. He voted for Obamacare repeal but against the GOP tax bill, citing concerns about tax hikes in places with high state and local taxes.

Who is the Democrat? Antonio Delgado, an attorney and former Rhodes scholar.

Congressional candidate Antonio Delgado talks with a potential voter while campaigning in Schodack Landing, New York, on October 13, 2018. Mary Esch/AP

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race as a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? A number of things are at play in this Hudson Valley district. The main policy battle in the race is over health care; Delgado is hammering Faso for his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Faso is trying to paint Delgado’s health care platform (advocating for a Medicare public option but not a single-payer system) as radically to the left. Race has also become a flashpoint in the campaign, as Republicans have run ads juxtaposing old videos Delgado shot as rapper “AD the Voice” with his current campaign ads, arguing the lyrics should disqualify him from representing the district. It’s pure race-baiting in an overwhelmingly white district.

What does the polling say? This race is very close. Polls in mid/late August found Faso with a 5-point advantage, but a more recent Monmouth University poll found the two candidates are essentially tied, with Delgado in a 2-point lead.

Who is the Republican? Rep. John Culberson, in office since 2001. He voted for the GOP tax cuts and Obamacare repeal.

Who is the Democrat? Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, a longtime attorney in Houston.

Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, a Democrat challenging longtime Rep. John Culberson (R) for his seat in Texas’s Seventh Congressional District, speaks during an assembly of the Bayou Blue Democratic Club in Houston on September 5, 2018. John L. Mone/AP

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race as a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? The most interesting thing about this race is simply whether dislike of Trump and Democratic energy will mean Democrats can flip a Texas district that Culberson has had locked down for decades. The district went for Clinton in 2016. Democrats have been dreaming of turning Texas purple for years, and they have a decent shot in the Seventh District, which is mostly suburbs of Houston.

In addition to health care, Pannill Fletcher is hitting Culberson on issues including disaster relief and infrastructure funding for Houston (remember that the city was badly flooded by Hurricane Harvey and has very little public transportation). She’s also talking a lot about women’s issues, including reproductive rights.

What does the polling say? Culberson and Fletcher are battling in a close race. The NYT/Siena College poll in mid-September showed Culberson up by 3 points, while a Public Policy Polling survey around the same time showed Fletcher ahead by 2 points.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Don Bacon is a freshman. Bacon voted for Obamacare repeal and the GOP tax cuts.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, alongside Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon (left), closes the door as he prepares to hold a press conference following the House Republican Conference meeting in the Capitol on March 20, 2018. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Kara Eastman, president of a local health care nonprofit and a supporter of Medicare-for-all.

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race as Lean Republican.

What’s interesting about this race? Eastman made waves earlier this year when she beat the DCCC’s preferred candidate, former Rep. Brad Ashford (Ashford was previously a Republican but most recently served as a Democrat, and Bacon beat him in 2016). Eastman was notably more progressive than Ashford, backing Medicare-for-all, and with her win, Democratic voters in the district sent a message that they wanted someone who could draw a real contrast with Bacon. National Democrats are somewhat worried that running a more liberal candidate against Bacon will result in a loss in the district, but it’s an interesting test of whether progressive ideas can prevail in a swing district in the Midwestern plains.

What does the polling say? Bacon seems to have a pretty clear advantage over Eastman. The NYT/Siena College poll found him nearly 9 points ahead of her in late September. Other polls show his advantage closer to 5 points, but Eastman hasn’t been able to capture a lead yet.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, is also a freshman. He voted for the GOP tax cuts but against Obamacare repeal.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) talks with guests during a town hall meeting in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, on August 22, 2017. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Attorney Scott Wallace, who is self-funding his campaign.

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? Pennsylvania is interesting for the sheer number of important, contested House seats it contains; the Keystone State has nine races that Cook lists as competitive. Granted, some are more competitive than others, given the state’s recent redistricting that makes Pennsylvania’s electoral map fairer for Democrats.

Flipping Fitzpatrick’s seat is an important ingredient of this strategy, given that Clinton narrowly won it in 2016. Wallace, a deep-pocketed Democrat, is running on a platform including Medicare-for-all and green jobs. Fitzpatrick could be tough to beat, though; Democrats are hitting him on his tax bill vote, but he bucked Republicans by opposing Obamacare repeal.

What does the polling say? Another close race. Fitzpatrick has been in the lead most summer and fall, but the recent NYT/Siena College poll showed Wallace with a 7-point lead.

Who is the Republican? Longtime Rep. Steve Chabot, who was in office from 1995 to 2009, briefly unseated for two years, and then reelected in 2011. He voted for Obamacare repeal and the GOP tax cuts.

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) speaks alongside President Trump at a rally in Lebanon, Ohio, on October 12, 2018. John Minchillo/AP

Who is the Democrat? Aftab Pureval, who currently serves as the Hamilton County clerk of courts.

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? Chabot has been in office for a very long time but was beaten by a Democrat in 2008 … and then won reelection two years later. Now, there’s a lot of attention on this suburban Cincinnati district because Democrats need to win it (and others like it) to take back the House. Pureval is hitting Chabot on his votes on Obamacare repeal and taxes. The Democrat is fundraising a lot but also faces questions about whether he used money from his clerk of courts campaign on his race for Congress.

What does the polling say? The polls are looking pretty solid for Chabot. Despite one September poll showing Pureval with a 2-point lead, Chabot has been ahead consistently. The most recent poll from NYT/Siena College had him up by 9 points.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Carlos Curbelo, in office since 2015. He voted for Obamacare repeal and the GOP tax bill (he helped draft the latter).

Who is the Democrat? Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who works in nonprofits.

Surrounded by family and supporters, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell announces she is running against Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), outside the West Perrine Health Center in Miami on August 2, 2017. Jose A. Iglesias/El Nuevo Herald/TNS via Getty Images

What’s the playing field? Cook rates the race a toss-up.

What’s interesting about this race? Curbelo is a moderate Republican in a very Democratic-leaning district. FL-26 went for Clinton by 16 points in 2016, and voted for Obama before that. Still, Curbelo has managed to hang on by positioning himself as a moderate Republican, especially on issues like immigration (he’s also one of the few Republicans to propose a carbon tax bill). He was one of the House GOP members who tried a last-ditch effort to force Republican leadership to take up a narrow immigration bill with the aim of finding a fix for the young unauthorized immigrants known as DREAMers, but the effort failed. Given his district is about 70 percent Hispanic, immigration is a pivotal issue for Curbelo. Mucarsel-Powell has been hitting him on his health care vote, in particular.

What does the polling say? This race looked like Curbelo’s to lose this summer, but now it’s neck and neck. Some of the recent polling has had Curbelo in a less-than-a-point lead, or just over 1 point ahead of his challenger. The NYT/Siena College poll in mid-September was slightly more generous, giving Curbelo a 3-point lead.

Original Source -> The 15 most interesting House races of 2018

via The Conservative Brief

[beautytipsfor]

Royal wedding fever hits the US: Here's how to watch in America and where to celebrate

America was always wild about Harry. The wedding of his brother seven years ago drew almost 23 million viewers in the States; given that the Prince is marrying an American, Meghan Markle, the excitement about his own wedding has only intensified. And the drama surrounding Ms Markle's family has sparked a certain surge in fascination, as cable news channels devote lengthy segments to her ailing father Thomas's "will he, won't he" attendance, and scrutinise his ill-judged decision to pose for paparazzi pictures near his home in Mexico. It all means that, come Saturday, the United States will be riding the wave of Royal mania. Of course, the story in itself is a classic fairy tale straight out of a Disney film – a handsome prince meets a glamorous actress, and whisks her off her feet. Yet their nuptials will be, in the hearts and minds of many Americans, more akin to something far more readily identifiable. A student at Meghan Markle's former Los Angeles high school wears British and American flags she takes part in a 'Here's to Meghan!' celebration Credit:  REUTERS/Mike Blake  “It’s the Super Bowl of weddings,” said Anne Chertoff, a wedding magazine and Royal expert, currently running classes on the subject in New York. “America has gone bonkers.” “It’s definitely captured the imagination here,” said Michael Howells, Britain’s consul-general in Los Angeles, Ms Markle’s hometown. “People are talking about it a lot.” The Los Angeles Times has run fashion features on British style, highlighting labels chosen by the bride-to-be such as Burberry and Jigsaw, and has already begun a live blog, with rolling coverage of the lead-up as Ms Markle’s mother left LA to travel to London and meet the Queen. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle How to watch the royal wedding in America The wedding will be broadcast live in the US - 7am ET, 4am PT. PBS PBS will also be showing the wedding live. The channel will run a five-part nightly series starting May 14, which will end with a live broadcast of the wedding on May 19. CBS CBS will start their coverage three hours before the ceremony, with live broadcasting from  4am ET from Windsor. Tina Brown will join Gayle King and Kevin Frazier live. CBSN CBS's live-streaming site will also reportedly be broadcasting coverage starting at 4am ET. MSNBC Joy Reid will anchor coverage of the royal wedding on MSNBC from New York starting at 4am ET, while Stephanie Ruhle and Katy Tur will report live from Windsor. NBC  Commentary will begin on NBC at 4:30am ET with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb reporting live from "an exclusive vantage point overlooking Windsor Castle." FOX Fox's coverage of the big day will begin at 5am ET with Ainsley Earhardt broadcasting live from Windsor. Their main coverage of the wedding will start at 6am ET, and will feature Shepard Smith and Sandra Smith along with other guests. BBC AMERICA BBC America will be streaming coverage and commentary of the event on May 19. ABC Good Morning America will be starting their coverage at 5am ET on ABC. 20/20 will also provide coverage of the royal wedding with primetime specials on Friday at 10pm ET and Saturday at 10pm ET. E! "E! Live From the Royal Wedding" with hosts Giuliana Rancic, Brad Goreski, Sarah-Jane Crawford, and royal expert Melanie Bromley will start at 5am ET on May 19. The channel will also have programming like “The Real Princess Diaries: From Diana to Meghan" scheduled in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and are airing a "Royal Wedding Rundown" on Saturday evening, to recap the historic event right after it happens. How and where to watch the royal wedding if you're in the UK Students at Meghan's old school in Los Angeles wave flags at a pre-wedding celebration in the city Credit: REUTERS/Mike Blake Los Angeles In LA, where Thomas Markle Snr lived until 2011, British pubs across the city are advertising their “slumber parties” for the 4am-local-time ceremony, with the Cat and Fiddle in Hollywood suggesting revellers come in their pyjamas and fascinators – described helpfully by the LA Times as “the precarious and ostentatious ladies' headgear constructed for such special events.” On the day of the wedding itself, Mr Howells will host around 150 people at the consulate for an afternoon tea, with guest invited from across the LA area representing some of the charities the couple are known to support – veterans’ organisations, childrens’ charities and LGBTQ concerns. It will be 11pm in Windsor when Mr Howells’ guests arrive, but at Ms Markle’s former secondary school they couldn’t wait – and had to see the ceremony live. Girls currently studying at Immaculate Heart, a private Catholic day school in Hollywood, are planning to gather in the school to watch the 4am events as they happen. Ms Markle studied at the school from 11 to 18, leaving in 1999. Shea Sprague, 17, said their classrooms were abuzz when the news of the engagement was made public. Maureen Diekmann, president of Immaculate Heart school, with students Credit: Harriet Alexander “This school raised a princess,” she told The Telegraph, to laughter from her friends. Mia Speier, 17, added: “She’s made such a difference – not just as an actress, but also as an activist, a UN ambassador – it’s really inspirational. “She’s poised and well spoken. Even if she didn’t come from royalty, she’s ready.” The girls said they knew they couldn’t miss the live ceremony – even before the timing was announced. “Even if it’s in the middle of the night,” said Miss Sprague. “We’ll be watching with a cup of tea.” Chicago On leaving high school Ms Markle attended Northwestern University in Chicago – a place the Prince’s mother visited in 1996. On the eve of the wedding the university plans a talk about the history of the royal family, exploring their evolution with an afternoon tea entitled: The British monarchy: then and now. Meghan Markle's high school yearbook photograph Credit: Harriet Alexander Washington DC The nation’s capital is celebrating at a royal wedding pop-up bar, which has opened in Washington DC for two weeks. On the day of the wedding the bar will be open from 6:30am for customers to view watch the wedding from big projectors with a full catered breakfast, and all proceeds going to Prince Harry's Invictus Games Foundation. “It’s hard not to get swept up in the romance of a royal wedding, especially when it involves a modern, real-life fairy tale,” said Angie Fetherston, CEO of Drink Company, which owns the bar. “I’ve been a superfan of the Royals since I was a kid and knew as soon as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were engaged that we had to bring a slice of their day to all of the fans who want to experience a little bit of the fantasy - fascinators and all.” Inside the bar the interior of St. George’s Chapel has been recreated, with hand-carved replicas of the wedding venue’s vaulted ceiling and columns. Patrons can sip on cocktails including the Kensington Garden Party and the Markle Sparkle, or opt for God Save the Queen - a classic martini with gin and dry vermouth, served with a souvenir crown. The British embassy in Washington is delivering handwritten notes from visitors to the bar to Kensington Palace, and have leant the bar a statue of a Beefeater, along with a Royal Mailbox. New York City In New York, too, preparations have been afoot for the big day. Last week eight corgis were bounding through Herald Square in central Manhattan, to promote a television drama portraying their courtship. The Queen in 1969 Introduced by name, Meghan the corgi was the star of the show in a white wedding dress and tiara, while Prince Harry wore his ceremonial blues. “Duchess Kate” was in a blue dress and feathered hat and her “children,” “Prince George” and “Princess Charlotte” were in a blue tie and a pink dress, respectively. “Queen Elizabeth II” was suitably regal in a bejewelled crown and cape. The show, Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance, aired on Sunday - the night after CNN show their documentary on the couple. Humans wishing to emulate the pair, meanwhile, can book the Conrad Hotel’s “Propose like a Prince” package – two nights in their Conrad suite, a helicopter tour of the city, and a private consultation with the London Jewellers, based in TriBeCa, who are offering an exact replica of Ms Markle’s engagement ring. Students at Meghan Markle's former Los Angeles high school dance as they stage a 'Here's to Meghan!' celebration ahead of her marriage Credit: REUTERS/Mike Blake “We’ve had a lot of interest in this – so much so that it’s been extended until the end of summer,” said Vildana Kurtovic, assistant marketing manager for the hotel. “I’m a huge fan of the Royal family, and we just wanted to embrace and celebrate them in a big way.” She admits, however, that despite the interest no one has actually taken the plunge – the $10,000 price tag perhaps having something to do with it. In the run up to the wedding, Mrs Chertoff, the wedding and Royal expert, has been hosting etiquette talks at the Downton Abbey exhibition in midtown Manhattan. Royal wedding PREMIUM GRID Inside the formal dining room of the Crawley family, tourists and New Yorkers are manners fit for a princess – how to curtsey, how to sit, how to approach a Royal dining table. “It’s kind of a history lesson, but also useful for modern life,” said Mrs Chertoff. “Millennials are especially interested, because they perhaps don’t have formal dining at home. “We have a nice mix of ages coming along, and I think people have a renewed fascination thanks to The Crown – I get asked a lot of questions about her tiara, and the line of succession. “There are few things that can bring a country together like a Royal wedding.”

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2k5WiWb via Beauty Tips

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[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 5

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Yuko ‘Isako’ Amasawa-Dennou Coil

Qualifications:

PTSD

Propaganda:

Isako's backstory was that she was in a car accident that left her in a coma and killed her brother. When she awoke, she was so traumatized that her doctors tried an experimental VR therapy where an AI pretending to be her brother could help her move on. This backfired badly, and when she was brought out of VR, she was convinced that her brother was still alive and trapped and she dedicated herself to freeing him. Isako was rivals with the protagonist of the series, Yuko "Yasako" Okonogi. Yasako wanted to be friends with Isako, but Isako was having none of it. In the end though, they had to work together and seemed to fall for each other. After Isako learned the truth about her past and left, one of Yasako's friends even said what created the VR monster was likely Isako's having a crush on Yasako as a child and not knowing how to deal with that.

Anything Else?:

This propaganda is spoilers for the last ~2 episodes of the anime, since Isako was an antagonist and we didn't find out her deal until the climax

Harrier ‘Harry’ du Bois-Disco Elysium

Qualifications:

Bisexual. Struggles with addiction, post-polio syndrome, multiple kinds of mental illness, and whatever else he's accrued by living in a city with no accessible healthcare.

Propaganda:

You know who he is. Vote for him.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 6

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Hunter-The Owl House

Qualifications:

He's bisexual, and also has SO MUCH autism vibes. Also trauma. Lots of trauma.

Propaganda:

He's so cool. Just like genuinely.

Yukari Kotozume / Cure Macaron-Kira Kira Precure a la Mode

Qualifications:

they are both heavily implied to have depression and are also even more heavily implied to be a lesbian

Propaganda:

Yukari's character was so good... and I mean. who doesn't want to vote for a purple lesbian catgirl with depression.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 2

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Olivia-Fear and Hunger 2: Termina

Qualifications:

She is a wheelchair user and bisexual. During the confessional scene, players can have her admit to being attracted to any of the other train passengers, although O'saa immediately clocks her for being specifically attracted to one of the women on the train. Additionally, reading her mind in the demo reveals that she finds both Marina and Levi attractive.

Propaganda:

Olivia is my personal favorite disabled representation in any horror game since she does have to get through the game differently compared to the non-wheelchair using players, it is simply another way of experiencing the game. She's also just a very fun character among the horrors. She's also super down for killing the horrors with a gun she found! Elated even!

Havelock Vetinari-Discworld

Qualifications:

Canonically disabled (bad leg and uses a cane), fanon commonly as not-straight and even in-universe no one has any clue what this mans sexuality is. Also incredible queer vibes

Propaganda:

I love this man. Guy is a trained assassin who is probably some flavour of neurodivergent and is also running the biggest city in the world. He is a benevolent tyrant who despises slavery, actively drags the city towards the future with actual helpful projects such as revolutionizing the banking system and including species other then humans in the city and generally works for the city, not personal gain. Too many of the other rich people don’t really like him, which means his biggest supporters are the beggars guild, the sex workers (Who he allowed to essentially unionise) and occasionally the city watch, whose leader severely dislikes rich people and only supports him because everyone else would be worse. Vetinari also keeps the discs equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci in his attic. To be fair, he is there voluntarily and could probably leave if he really wanted to. The inhabitants of the city he rules have no idea what exactly his sexuality is and speculate about. Him having a potential affair with the ruler of another country is speculated, but there is zero proof for that and to be honest, common fanon is that he is most definitely not straight and likely more closer to gay or asexual. As a ruler of the city there were several attempts to depose of him, including such ideas as summoning a dragon to be able crown someone as king, poisoning via arsenic-laced candles (Vetinari was able to identify the poison while halfway delirious) and on one notable occasion getting turned into a lizard. During one of these attempts he got shot, which results in him having to use a cane. Also, Vetinari really likes dogs.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 8

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Lilith Clawthorne-The Owl House

Qualifications:

She is aro-ace and has a curse that is an allegory for chronic illness/disability!

Propaganda:

Lilith Clawthorne is a woman who focuses on her friendships. She's also struggling with her newly gained curse/chronic illness. Sometimes she might turn into an owl beast. That's okay though, she's got her found family and her bio sister who is part of said found family to help her out.

Aurelio-The Sunbearer Trials

Qualifications:

He’s been confirmed as autistic by the author and is queer.

Propaganda:

You know i just realized he’s kinda similar to Zuko in that he’s got fire powers and a sister with mommy issues. Got called “lowkey an ipad baby’ by the author. He’s very neat, but also kinda a disaster.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 14

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Zhou Zishu-Word of Honor / Shan He Ling

Qualifications:

He might not count but I wanted to submit just in case. So in order to leave an assassination organization, he has to basically give himself a terminal condition that slowly destroys him over time, killing him after 3 years. So his ability/power is severely limited which is a big hindrance because he only has the strength to fight for a short while before his condition flares up. And over the course of the show he also looses some of his senses. He looses his sense of taste and smell and his ability to feel pain is significantly lost. The reason why it might not count is that they figure out how to cure him at the very end, but he spends the vast majority of the show suffering from this condition.

Propaganda:

He and his soulmate/husband are iconic. War criminal duo. They're both mass murderers who want to settle down with a nice domestic life with their adopted son. He's also got amazing gender. The show also has some interesting things to say about chronic/terminal illness

Val Palafox-Venom and Vow

Qualifications:

He is canonically bigender (uses he/she pronouns) and uses a cane due to congenital disability.

Propaganda:

Val is a bigender assassin/princess's handmaiden who's trying to defeat the guy she thinks laid a long sleeping enchantment over both their parents (among other people), so that she can reunite with her father and theoretically come out to him. So Val embarks on this harebrained scheme to outmaneuver this guy via two different identities (Val has a male persona and a female persona that he keeps separate). It's complicated but also very funny to me, given that the other guy thinks Val cast the curse, but doesn't want to hurt him out of trans solidarity. Bonus that she's perfectly good at fighting while using her cane, but has no idea how to dance with it.

Anything Else?:

This is an act of blatant defiance against your wishes for less obscure media, and I do apologize, but I have no regrets here.

Mod note: lol don’t even worry we submitted a few obscure characters ourselves.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 10

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Percy Newton-The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

Qualifications:

He's canonically gay and has epilepsy, both of which are quite important to the story.

Propaganda:

This is a wonderful, long-suffering young gay man unfortunately in mutual love with an idiot. He's also epileptic, which presents more than the usual problems for him, because he lives in the early 18th century, and due to his illness his family is planning on shipping him off and thus separating him long-term from the loser he's in love with. Deserves better, and gets it, eventually. Very sweet, lovely violin player, great at poetry, fully willing to whack people over the head if necessary.

Charles Xavier / Professor X-Marvel/X-Men

Qualifications:

He [uses] a wheelchair. And frequently shipped with Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto.

Propaganda:

Listen, I don't even like this man a lot of the time. But he is gay, and he is disabled. And I love both James McAvoys and Patrick Stewarts portrayal of the character. And as a character I really like him.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 11

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Entrapta-She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Qualifications:

She's canonically bi and autistic.

She is word of god confirmed autistic, as well as word of god saying essentially everyone in the show is queer. Most ppl hc her as bi or pan. Her mannerisms, character, and arc were developed by an autistic crew member.

Propaganda:

Bi autism creature with giant purple hair. Very powerful.

She has giant purple prehensile hair. Tech and biotech. She only eats tiny food. She perfectly encapsulates the autistic experience of having fake friends, being excluded everywhere, and only valued for your usefulness. Amazing character development of her own arc as well as realizing how others treat her badly. Beautiful disabled4disabled relationship.

Sydney October Sargent-Camp Here and There

Qualifications:

he has autism, [has] some type of psychosis, and has lots and lots of trangener (ftm) swag

gay trans man and autism and psychosis

Propaganda:

A silly trans guy (confirmed by creators) who has autism and [has] psychosis, alongside being //heavily// implied to have BPD (all unrelated to why he's silly). He can see shrimp colours, is cursed to only eat buttered bread (and similar foods, but can eat non-food items like.. the ground..) and according to his creators, he is "slowly dying of a plethora of chronic diseases". He's practically the living embodiment of "The horrors are endless, but I stay silly :3" (colon three very necessary)

hes a gay trans man with autism and psychosis

Anything Else?:

hes so pretty but im too tired to leave an imag ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 3

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Hitori Gotoh-Bocchi the Rock!

Qualifications:

Debilitating social anxiety, implied to be WLW

Propaganda:

Bocchi has debilitating social anxiety, even dissociating in bad situations. There are a lot of small scenes in both the anime and manga implying that she wanted to join a band (or other activities) to attract girls.

Simon Snow-Carry On

Qualifications:

He is unlabeled and has depression

Propaganda:

Simon is "the worst chosen one whose ever been chosen." He exists in a world of mages and has a seemingly limitless amount of power, but no natural skill at using it. He is good at killing things with a sword but not with a wand. These are pretty big spoilers for the series so sorry lol but he ends up falling for his roommate and "sworn enemy" Baz and then loses his power while defeating the antagonist in the first book. In the subsequent books, Simon feels lost. He falls into a depression because of the trauma he faced for years as the "Chosen One" and being needed by everyone to suddenly having no powers and no direction in life. He feels like he is no longer good enough for Baz or his best friend Penny and spends days on the sofa. The rest of the series leaves him trying to find a new purpose and come to terms with the way his life has changed. Oh also he has wings and a tail lol. He never labels himself as he doesn't find any of them suitable for himself.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 6, Poll 4

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Hermann Gottlieb-Pacific Rim

Qualifications / Propaganda:

He uses a cane and is commonly shipped with Newt Gieszler. One of the better parts of Pacific Rim. If drift compatible why not gay.

Kanatsune Ame-Entropic Float

Qualifications:

he’s canonically disabled and realizes it around the middle ish of the game! he uses a cane in the second game! (or he will) and he’s currently questioning his sexuality

He figured out he was disabled (I don't remember what exactly his disability was) when he was told it wasn't common to be unable to stand for long periods of time. He's queer because in the game he's from, every character is queer in some variety.

Propaganda:

he’s so silly and in ef2 he wears a three ended scarf which hurts me to think about and i love him

My friend probably went into more detail.

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1 Wave 6 Poll 15

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Eliott Demaury-SKAM France

Qualifications:

He is pansexual, bipolar, and the proud boyfriend of Lucas Lallemant.

Propaganda:

He is pansexual, bipolar, and the proud boyfriend of Lucas Lallemant. He is also an aspiring filmmaker and self-proclaimed parent of Fifi (see picture). RIP Fifi, gone but not forgotten. Eliott is now vegan.

Shi Qingxuan-Heaven Official’s Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu

Qualifications:

Has a broken arm and leg that didn’t heal properly, canonically at least has fun with gender but could be genderfluid, also many people ship them with a guy

Propaganda:

On god Shi Qingxuan’s name is so hard for me to write because in my head it’s kinda all s sounds. They’re neat, has a very fun and funky relationship with He Xuan.