#nikki tran icons

[abyssaldissonance]

They/Them Arionus 🥺

[couldtransitionsaveher]

MAX RENN from VIDEODROME

JUSTIFICATION:

"Thematically, this admittedly shallow person is targeted as an influencer among the sociopolitically undesirable by corporate puritans who think Canada is soft (within the text itself, feminine) on pornography and violence and needs to get tough (textually masculine). Max is exposed to a signal that causes her to grow (hallucinate?) an enormous vagina in her torso, which is then forcibly and violently penetrated in order to control her. Absent any choice in the matter, she is induced to kill first the enemies of corporate puritans, then inverted to kill those same puritans, again with no volition of her own.

This fits with the traumatic dehumanization of trans women, as well as the hegemonic demand that we be the agents to purify the freaks. It also fits with the degendering of undesirables who defy hegemony.

Textually, Max Renn's friends are all women, but the most notable friend is Nikki Brand (bisexual icon Debbie Harry of Blondie). She is a victim of Videodrome too, ultimately, but she draws him away from watching kinky shit into doing it. Ultimately, her image (her ghost in the machine, depending on your read) is used to convince Max to take the next step and transition from this physical body into an existence purely within the video world, a violent and traumatic transition that is presented as a death of the old self and total surrender to the seedy subculture she originally profited from without being part of.

Max is due for a transition no matter what. Choosing womanhood, following Nikki Brand across the void between what is and what could be, may have given her a chance at retaining some volition.

Plus, Max Renn was played by James Woods, who is a transphobe, and transing one of his two actually memorable characters would make him Big Mad." - Anonymous

Reminder: Submissions are always open! Submit here!

[mogai-headcanons]

icon id: 10 icons in 5 pairs. in each pair, both icons have the listed flags in order in the background and the left icon has an image of the listed character with a white outline and a black shadow. end id.

banner id: a 1500x150 teal banner with the words ‘please read my dni before interacting’ in large white text in the center. end id.

Nikki Maxwell from Dork Diaries is a girlgender deminonbinary biromantic bi lesbian!

Zoey Franklin is an intersex agender bennetian sapphic!

Chloe Garcia is a feminine cisgenderqueer bisexual sapphic lesbian!

Mackenzie Hollister is a femme lesbian and has a crush on Nikki!

Brandon Roberts is a bisexual trans guy!

dni link

[snalsupremacy]

2023 events

2022 events list

Again, these are not all of the events, just the ones i happen to come across with

- All of Sherlock Holmes is now officially public domain - Lil Nas X back at it again with... THE WIGGLES?! - Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers in Stranger Things, comes out as gay - US gov can't vote for a speaker of the house - McCarthy wins speaker of the house after 15 votes - Bolsonaro supporters storm the Congress and vandalize the whole place, are arrested on location -golden globes n stuff -JOJO LEAK JOJO LEAK ITS A BOY ITS A BOY -Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, dies at 54 -M3gan is a gay icon pass it on -AO3 down, 40 injured 15 dead -New FOB album - Velma show unsurprisingly sucks - Pink Sause on wallmart -Paramore back & new album coming soon - UK blocks scottish law that helped trans people and this might lead to their independence (pls) -TUMBRL ADDED POLLS! TUMBRL ADDED POLLS!! - #team snail worm deserved to lose the centopéia or however you say in english winning was RIGGED AND I CAN PROVE IT - Pete Wentz leaked Brendon Urie’s oncoming baby which leads him to breaking up Panic! At The Disco. Finally. - Holy fucking bingle! Trans Bi Lesbian It/She pronouns swiss hacker just leacked the US no-fly list, and plot twist, its very racist, what?! :3 - Justin Roiland is fired from Rick and Morty for being a bad person - Cecil from welcome to nightvale defeats Reigen in the Tumbrl Sexyman rematch pools! Idk who he is i just voted him bc i dont want reigen to win. -CECILSWEEP IS EVERYWHERE THE FINALS ARE SANS VS CECIL WHO WILL WIN - CECIL PALMER WITH THE STEEL CHAIR BEATS SANS TO PULP AT THE BACK OF PAPA JOHN'S!!! -The last of Us everywhere, seems to be a good game adaptation! glad to see more of those!

-Toby Fox scores the very first interview with creator of Yume Nikki, kikiyama with 9 yes or no questions and 1 "free response" question asking what they would get at a Denny's -FNAF movie officially starts filming - Marceline wins tumbrl woman - Just vote for vanilla extract and waive boys, just vote for vanila extract and wave - 7.8 earthquake hits Turkey and Syria, thausands of casualities - Spotted chinese (?) spy baloons (?) in America - Now theres a Tumbrl vanilla extract bottle, awesome - Hogwarts Legacy release discourse follows - Tear of the kingdom trailer out this is the most emotion link has shown in canon in 36 years - Youtube channel schaffrillas productions gets involved in car accident, Christopher Schaffer and Patrick Phyrillas pronounced dead on site while James Phyrillas in critical condition - Italian manwhore summer (Sanremo) - Netflix creating something thats gonna ruin password sharing people and everyone is mad - Brianna Ghey, 16 yo trans teenager, is stabbed to the death at a park -THE JOJOLANDS! AMAZING! MINDBLOWING! LIFE CHANGING! NEVER THE SAME! 10/10! -Succession will end in S4 -NEW MAGNAPINNA SQUID FOOTAGE HUNTING??

-New gen of TMNT (Mutant Mayhem)!! -Minesota lagislature makes trans health care (wait for it) LEGAL! - New mario movie trialer the babygirlification of Luigi continues -Willow project approved ‘_’ - More anti trans legislation. whats the news - Esc songs dropped the guy w the green top is already tumbrl’s top 1 jenn should have won etc etc -Gerard Way presenting in full office lady style. Tbh im just more impressed he did a show in tights. - Jojolands #2 out! Hot dog guy has a name now and Rohan canonically transcend the multiverse! - Taylor Swift eras tour congrats swifties - ICC issues arrest warrant to Vladmir Putin for war crimes -Trump to be arrested -Arab Cartoon Network hacked (Update: hacking was fake) - Tik Tok banned on government phones after spying accusations -New FOB album - The ladies from RWBY just kissed! mazal tov! - Justin Roiland case dropped - Kid in brazil attacks school teacher with knife - School shooting in US - Resident Evil 4 remake - Dobi dies in a glue trap -Trump got indicated, idk what that means but seems bad for trump which is good

-10 year anniversary of the Mishapocalypse - Ofc all your fave properties do an April fool’s special,, most notably Toby Fox’s “accidental foam pic” and Sonic The Hedgehog free murder mystery game that looks gorgeous?? they take the trophy this year -Kasane Teto gets her official voicebank for her 15th anniversary -wait... the DSMP is over..? it ended..? for real..?? WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!!1!!11!!!!!11 - Dalai Lama [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] - Harry Potter HBO series... just what we needed ‘_’ - Misha Collins reveals Warner Brothers wanted him to stay out as bisexual after that one off joke last year - Out of touch thursday on 4/20 we did it boys - We DOUBLE DID IT BOYS! Elon Musk’s rocket explodes because he forgot to build a flame diverter?? Or did he not build one on purpose? Anyway no one was inside THANKFULLY - Movie markplier is working on is revealed to be..IRON LUNG?! - Elon Musk takes out all the unpaid blue check marks expecting the celebrity accounts to pay for them, instead #blocktheblue movements started in which you block all users with blue check mark, Musk then responds to this by awarding random popular users with check marks -Tucker Carlson fired, ill b real, I have no idea who he is -Don Lemon also fired, again, idk who he is - Ray Toro and Gerard Way on fnaf movie soundtrack?!? -Disney sues Florida governor Ron Desantis, woag.. I cant believe im saying this but it’ll be easier to make the governor leave than the rat theme park

-JASON DERULO JUST FELL OFF THE STARS AT THE MET GALA! 😱😱😱 - WGA on strike! -And may Eurovision posting begin! Im rooting for finland what ab y’all - Tony Hawk and chocolate guy collab?!?!?!?! -ABSOLUTELY BULLSHIT EUROVISION RESULTS KAARIJA IS THE REAL WINNER SWEDEN BE DAMNED -FNAF trailer drop -Barbie Movie trailer drop -IDubz apologises for content cop, better late than never ig -Succession finale - I saw that execution clip from generation loss cuz it cant be thaaat fucked up right? haha.... im traumatized -Seth Everman announces he will leave the internet in 200ish days -Ted lasso ends, and so, pride month begins.... -Hank Green got cancer

-Happy pride month guys! - Jojo musical adaption of Phantom Blood confirmed - Russian occupiers in Ukraine blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station -Across the spiderverse takes the internet by storm AS IT SHOULD - Fires in canada kinda spreads the smoke like all around and its all a gray haze over there -Kaarija and Bojan concert together doing a shit job at beating ther allegations happy pride month kings -Hank Green is bisexual, likes Brennan Lee Muligan, and found that out because of wreck it ralph cosplays i can’t believe this is real -Redit blackout? 196? im very confused, but the redditors are here and tumbrl are welcoming them WAY better than we did twitter users which i find fitting lol -Adrien and Marinette from miraculous lb finally kissed omg its been like 8 years?? insane -The Idol sucks - Shit submarine w 5 people goes missing and the more we find out the more inevitable it felt       • Oceangate...gate brings awareness to migrant ships who drown and kill hundrents of migrants       • Iron Lung game sell suddenly spikes       •Submarine found, it imploded, all passengers dead - Joes Biden (US president)'s son committed tax fraud -Mark Zuch and Elon Musk are going to fight?? -Military coup in Russia (failed) -Miranda sings revolutionizing the YouTuber apology genre by apologizing for groomer allegations via ukulele - wtf is a grimace shake - Happy pride month! US overruled law prohibiting homophobic discrimination based on religion!

-Nimona is out! I haven’t watched it yet but the reception is great! (Edit: watched it, its good) -Superman finally got his long deserved sailor moon style transformation. good for him. -AO3 down, 500 dead 756 injured (Update: AO3 is down due to DDOS attack, which is when a group overwhelms the website with requests. This seems to be made by a group who claims to be doing it for homophobic reasons tho they likely have uterior reasons) -SAG-AFRA joins WGA strike - Universal prunes trees outside their building to try and prevent WAG/SAG-AFRA picket line. However, these trees are city property and "tree law" (heavy fine for destroying gov owned nature) might be called into action - Happy Barbenheimer tho all who celebrate - MITSKI ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT?! - Fnaf DLC smth smth eclipse - Elon Musk tries to change twitter to X ? - Good Omens season 2 finale so tragically good it re animated OFMD SPN and Hanibal into trending page

- Tik tok parody of every 90's euro disco song goes viral - New James Webb telesc ope picture shows a giant ? in space. poetry. - Forest fires in Hawaii destroying homes -Anti semetic hate crime against USP teacher in Amazonas - Tik tok tried to create their Goncharov (Zepotha) and it turns out to be a plot to promote a musician's new song - Planet of the bass music vide out!! - Trump might actually get arrested, mugshot and all - Who thought it was a good idea to make the actor portraying Bernstein in the new biopic wear a PROSTHETIC NOSE?? - India first country to land on south pole of the moon! - Someone tracked down spanish spn’s rogue translator, who claims he did not add that in, meaning in some version of spn destiel was canon - Riverdale ends with all of them in a polycule. Which honestly is the best possible ending - TRUMP MUGSHOT TRUMP MUGSHOT

-That mole do be interesting -Castiel 15th birthday WAIT 15?? A DECADE AND A HALF?? - Ladybug and Chatnoir are emo now. Like, literally. - WGA strike succesfully ends -The Pokemonx Miku collab is everything actually - WGA stricke officially ends wed 27/9 12:01 AM, the deal is finalized and the writer’s guild got most of what they wanted! yay uniuns!

- Israel-Palestine conflict breaks into full on war with many casualities on both sides -NOOOOOO BAKUGO IS ALIVE PUT HIM BACK IN THE GRAVE!! KILL HIM AGAIN!!

- Spock wins the AO3 polls unsuprisingly - youtuber SSSniperwolf doxxes youtuber JacksFilms -Merlin twitter account is active...why? -Mathew Perry, Friends actor and advocate for alcoholism and drug abuse issues dies at age 54

-Happy 3 anniversary to Nov 5th -THANK G-D ATTACK ON TITAN IS OVER ITS FINALLY OVER FUCKK YES FINALLY -NOOOOO LIVE ACTION ZELDA CONFIMRED WHYYYY - Actor strike is over =D - GTA 5 anounced - SHREK 5???? - Omegle shut downs for ever - Zack and Cody’s restaurant reservation is today - Dream and the voice actor of Gumball beefed and tbh it was hilarious - Russia declares LGBT groups extremists organizations - Henry Kissinger, american politician, dies at 100 - SONIC 3 DATE REVEAL YEAHHH

-Hbomber guy DESTROYS James Somerton and Internet Historian’s career with his new video on plagiarism - TODD IN THE SHADOWS COMES BACK WITH THE STEEL CHAIR IN JAMES SOMERTON!! - BG3 Game Awards Sweep including GOTY

[qnewsau]

Spinning the decks with DJ Torz

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/spinning-the-decks-with-dj-torz-2/

Spinning the decks with DJ Torz

Dykadellic founder DJ Torz speaks to QNews about the origins of one of LGBTQIA+ Sydney’s newest leading women’s events.

In the Sydney queer scene, many recognise that the nightlife scene is dominated by venues and spaces that predominantly cater towards gay men.

That is not to say the rest of the queer community isn’t made welcome, but it’s uncommon to find a venue or party that consistently has queer women as their first priority, not as an afterthought. Enter DJ Torz and Dykadellic.

Dykadellic is one of Sydney’s most prominent club events dedicated to queer women.

The club night focuses specifically on creating a space in the nightlife scene for lesbian, trans, queer and genderqueer people, plus their allies.

QNews: What led to the creation of Dykadellic?

DJ Torz: Originally, Dykadellic was created to fill a gap during the Women’s World Cup. We knew there were lesbians coming from all around the world to visit and watch the games, and they were on socials asking where the parties are.

At that time I was Social and Events Co-Ordinator for a women’s soccer club, and when a friend suggested I throw some parties in July 2023 I thought “How hard can it be?” (Turns out, hard!).

I spoke to a few venues and found the iconic Kinselas near Taylor Square with a crew of fantastically supportive staff and jumped right in, booking five Fridays in a row.

I was very fortunate that they saw my vision, and backed me. It was nerve wracking to begin with, wondering if anyone would show up.

On several occasions, during the peak of the night with the dance floor heaving and hundreds of people having a glorious night, my friend would pull me aside and say “Look. You created this.” I was so humbled many times. After those first five weeks, locals asked us to keep it going. What got you into DJing in the first place, and how would you describe your sets?

I’ve always been in awe of DJs. Over the years, I have quietly watched from the side at parties and wondered what they are doing.

It actually wasn’t even on my radar to step up to the decks myself. During one of those initial parties, two of my three DJs arrived late, which caused me such stress. There was a brief moment there where it seemed likely that a packed dancefloor was going to go silent as one DJ left and their replacement wasn’t there yet.

I felt like this was a gap in my skillset, that I needed to be able to step in. So last year I did the DJ course at Sydney DJ School with Nikki Carvell out of necessity.

Turns out, I love it. I love going through DJ pools and music libraries to find little nuggets of gold. I love listening to other DJs for inspiration. I love having my ear out as I go about my life, listening to music in shops and on the radio.

Building my set is such fun. And then, being behind the decks and watching the audience as I transition to drop a little surprise is such a thrill.

I’m still finding my style. At Dykadellic I have generally played disco house. I love curious and surprising mashups. I’m a big fan of drum and bass, dubstep, and techno.

I had a really great response to the set I played at our recently Mardi Gras party, where I snuck in a bit of Dom Dolla, Kita Alexander, Skillex, and Yaeji. I was also thrilled to play Ponymeadow’s newly released track “Over the Edge”.

I have met some wonderful people since I started Dykadellic, and DJ/producer Ponymeadow is one of them. It was such fun to see her response as she heard her own song playing through the massive sound system at Kinselas.

Some of my favourite DJ sets have been Alison Wonderland and Charlotte de Witte. Since then, having learned to DJ myself, watching Fred Again when he did his recent Australian tour is like seeing artists through a new lens.

I am going to Primavera Sound in Barcelona next month, and can’t wait to see Peggy Gou perform.

Do you think the amount of queer spaces for women vs men in Sydney is balanced?

I created Dykadellic because I felt there was a gap and there weren’t enough lesbian forward spaces. Since then, more have popped up, which is wonderful.

Birdcage, Limes, Lemons, Girlthing, Medusa and Sundaylicious have lots of offerings, some regular and some more sporadic. We try to work around each other and spread things out across the month.

But it’s nothing like what is offered to queer male forward spaces, where there would be several choices every weekend. I suppose it is really just a supply and demand kind of thing.

If you have a 1,000 capacity club open every Saturday targeted at women, lesbian, non-binary folk it just wouldn’t sell out and the promoter and club couldn’t afford to keep it open.

The answer, really, is for people to support the events that are out there. If you see a Dykadellic party advertised, and you want Dykadellic to keep going for the long term, then buy a ticket and come along. Vote with your feet and support the events you enjoy.

What makes Dykadellic unique compared to some of the other queer spaces for women in Sydney?

At Dykadellic, I wanted to create a lesbian-forward place with really great music. I am really particular when choosing the best DJs I can find, and amazingly skilled performers. I love the line-ups I’ve curated. We’ve had acrobats, fire performers, pole dancers and even a flashmob. And I’ve got some exciting things to come this year.

Some of the little touches I’ve provided at Dykadellic are free sanitary items and deodorant in the bathrooms, and mints at the bar. We had fun colourful sunglasses and lots of donuts at a recent party. I like to add fun surprises and make people smile.

My door daddy, Saxon, is someone who knows how to keep our space safe. They are a safe space for anyone who needs a break, and they are really good at deescalating issues to make sure everyone can enjoy the party.

I always ask for feedback from partygoers and I genuinely care about their response. Dykadellic has evolved over time, and I’m always learning new ways to make it the best lesbian party in Sydney. I think that’s what makes it unique, is my personal touch and the fact that I genuinely care.

What can we look forward to in the near future for Dykadellic?

The next party we have coming up is at Hermann’s Bar in Camperdown on Saturday 11 May.

I’m trying to find great spaces in the Inner West. People tell me they enjoy Saturday afternoon parties, so we’ll certainly see a few more of those.

Sexy Galexy is Australia’s longest performing Drag King pioneer, who has performed and hosted for me several times.

They will debut their DJ career for me at Hermann’s Bar, and I can’t wait. They play nu-disco funky house, and their high energy high camp style is going to slay!

-For more information follow Dykadellic on Facebook or Instagram.

[kamreadsandrecs]

Kim Kelly

None of this should have come as a surprise to anyone. The barricades, the protests, the arrests, the drab counterterrorism units bobbing in and out of the powder-blue sea of police—it was all to be expected, and could have easily been prevented weeks ago. A couple of canceled reservations, maybe some refunds, a cautiously worded public statement or two, and boom! Everyone in Philadelphia could’ve gone about their weekends in peace.

But Moms for Liberty, the far-right hate group that has pushed both book bans and their own anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric across the country while masquerading as a defender of “parental rights,” chose Philadelphia as the site of their annual “Joyful Warriors” summit this past week. And, with typical subtlety, they decided to hold their opening reception at the Museum of the American Revolution, in the heart of Old City, and booked the conference itself at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, just steps away from City Hall.

There was a certain logic behind choosing this particular city ahead of the Fourth of July holiday—we’re the birthplace of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, and all that jazz—but it was also a taunt, a challenge: This city, this country, belongs to us, not to you. So what are you going to do about it?

The museum and the hotel could have canceled the events. Both had been asked to do so, multiple times, by many voices (in the museum’s case, including their own workers and collaborators). They would have had the support of the majority of the city. Instead, the people of Philadelphia have had to show up in force to reject a flood of hate oozing its way into our city, to defend ourselves and our community from the violence being preached from chintzy pulpits, and to voice our displeasure with the hundreds of unwanted guests that we did not invite and refused to tolerate. (Oh, and we also had to foot the bill for whatever it costs to both pay cops even more money than they already get and fortify an overpriced chain hotel against the city it occupies.)

Moms for Liberty had invited Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and other assorted far-right hate-mongers to speak, ushering them into a majority-Black, heavily Democratic city that has repeatedly rejected their toxic rhetoric at the ballot box and in the streets. For some reason, though, the conference organizers appeared to assume that they would be able to live it up in Philly unchallenged, protected by police escorts and their own privilege. Maybe some of the moms had planned to do a little shopping at the Fashion District, or trundled down to gawp at the Liberty Bell from behind a barricade of its own. They thought they’d be welcomed into the City of Brotherly Love.

They were wrong.

As soon as the news of the oncoming summit became public, ACT UP Philadelphia, the local chapter of the iconic direct action group formed in 1987 to end the AIDS crisis, mobilized. Beginning on May 12, they rallied in front of the Marriott multiple times, each time calling on the hotel to cancel the event and deny hate a platform. Week after week, ACT UP members gave speeches, waved trans pride flags, and explained why it was so important to deny Moms for Liberty a space to tout their dangerously homophobic, transphobic rhetoric. The hotel seemingly ignored them, and in doing so, silently made clear where it stood on the issue.

ACT UP wasn’t alone in calling on the hotel to do the right thing. Philly’s Young Communist League played an instrumental role in organizing the weekend protests against Moms for Liberty, and other local groups spoke out and got involved in organizing against the event. Elected officials also voiced their opposition to Moms for Liberty’s incursion. In May, state Senator Nikil Saval and Representatives Mary Louise Isaacson and Ben Waxman sent the Marriott a letter saying, “Hosting an organization with a track record of promoting discriminatory practices and divisive policies goes against the principles of inclusivity and respect that should be upheld by a reputable establishment like yours.” Even Mayor Jim Kenney released a statement, writing, “We oppose this group’s policy goals, which include attempts to disregard history, ban books, and silence conversations about race, gender, and sexuality.” Celena Morrison, executive director of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs, went a step further and acknowledged the direct threat that Moms for Liberty’s convergence posed to the community itself. “We know that the presence of Moms for Liberty may stir up fear or distress for our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities,” she said. “We urge all those affected to take the appropriate measures to ensure their well-being while Moms for Liberty is visiting our city.”

Those appropriate measures started off on the morning of June 29 with a banner drop over I-95. Early birds were greeted with warnings that “Philly Protects Trans Kids” and “Bad Things Happen to Fascists in Philadelphia,” and that was only the beginning of a four-day-long protest that would bring hundreds, if not thousands, of people out into the streets. That evening, I watched as protesters encircled the Museum of the American Revolution. Armed with passionate speakers like ACT UP’s Jazmyn Henderson, a heavy-duty sound system, a fierce playlist, and hundreds of supporters, ACT UP and YCL members led the crowd in an hours-long queer dance party that doubled as an open roast of the Moms for Liberty attendees slinking in and out of the museum. “We lit out here. We not boring like these fucking people!” one speaker hollered as the sound system blared hip-hop. Another protester held up a sign reading, “Hey Moms for Liberty: if you’re scared of violent pornographic content near your kids, just wait until you read your Bible!”

The cops set up a maze of barricades to ensure that none of the protesters were able to get within a few dozen feet of the entrance, and the conference provided a fleet of charter buses to shuttle its people between the museum and the hotel. But sound carries, and they were able to hear exactly what Philly thought of them, their poisonous ideology, their hateful actions, and their terrible haircuts.

The dance party continued throughout the weekend. Protesters decamped to the Marriott for the next three days of the conference, where more barriers and an endless stream of bored-looking cops tried to insulate the attendees from the actual city. That didn’t always work, either. A delightful video began circulating on social media on Friday after a local encountered a few errant moms in Reading Terminal Market, and helpfully ushered them out with a few choice exhortations—“Racists have never been welcome here, ever! And you’re still not welcome here!” The moms in question seemed shocked that anyone would dare oppose them. That indignant air accompanied them whenever they were forced to actually interact with a Philadelphian that weekend. Perhaps simply not enough people have been telling them to their face that their hateful agenda was not welcome, so Philly was happy to oblige. While I was there on Friday afternoon, the cops forgot to barricade off an exit path between the Marriott and the parking garage across the street, forcing conference attendees to come face-to-face with the protesters. All of a sudden, panicked fascists were getting chased down the street and up into the parking garage, heckled and jeered at, and told in no uncertain terms how the city felt about them. The cops scrambled to regain control, and the dance party continued. Making fascists feel unsafe is as much a Philly specialty as a cheesesteak from John’s Roast Pork or Irish potatoes, and it felt awfully nice to indulge.

Though there were arrests on Sunday after five brave activists blocked an intersection and refused to move and another waved a trans pride flag over the Marriott barricade, there was very little police violence that weekend (besides the usual implicit violence of their presence). ACT UP Philadelphia was adamant that the dance party and associated events remain peaceful, and they did; whenever things began to heat up, organizers would grab the mic and calm everyone down. The tagline, “They can’t stop trans and queer joy!” underpinned the dance party protest, and that joyful resistance was in full bloom. The kid-centered events were especially sweet, and the protests maintained a family-friendly vibe throughout, as long as your kid could handle a few (thousand) swear words.

It was very much a big-tent effort, with the Young Communist League and a guy holding a star-spangled donkey figurine peacefully occupying the same space outside the Marriott on Friday. Rainbow dresses, assless chaps, black balaclavas, and red-white-and-blue T-shirts were all there coexisting for a common cause. Local DJs filled the air with energy. Philly Elmo and Spider-Punk showed up. There was even a gospel drag choir! It was beautiful, and it was very Philly. Elsewhere in the city, people showed up to support the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Gay News had previously reported that the library’s Pride Month events had received threats from Moms for Liberty ahead of the convention, and that staff had been cautioned to keep an eye out for disruptors. The National Parents Union held a Rally Against Moms for Liberty in Love Park; the next day, so did Grandparents for Truth and Defense of Democracy. Campaign for Our Shared Future did a banned-book giveaway next to the Marriott. An autonomous group of local activists held an “art march” that took the streets and adorned the surrounding area with pro-trans, anti-fascist stickers and graffiti. There really was something for everybody, provided you weren’t a hateful fascist bigot.

That’s generally Philly’s vibe anyway. The city’s two cardinal rules—don’t be a dick, and mind your business—are very easy to follow. We’re a fun city, a welcoming city, and definitely a weird city. It’s part of our rough-edged charm, and why so many people love to visit us. But the thing that those visitors need to keep in mind is that we are also a very queer, a very trans, a very Black, and a very anti-fascist city, and if you can’t handle that, you’re no longer welcome. We won’t be shy about letting you know that, and we definitely won’t make your time here pleasant. Moms for Liberty fucked around, and they found out what it looks like when you cross us and threaten our neighbors. That’s when the City of Brotherly Love turns into Hostile City—and you’re on your own there, bud.

[kammartinez]

Kim Kelly

None of this should have come as a surprise to anyone. The barricades, the protests, the arrests, the drab counterterrorism units bobbing in and out of the powder-blue sea of police—it was all to be expected, and could have easily been prevented weeks ago. A couple of canceled reservations, maybe some refunds, a cautiously worded public statement or two, and boom! Everyone in Philadelphia could’ve gone about their weekends in peace.

But Moms for Liberty, the far-right hate group that has pushed both book bans and their own anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric across the country while masquerading as a defender of “parental rights,” chose Philadelphia as the site of their annual “Joyful Warriors” summit this past week. And, with typical subtlety, they decided to hold their opening reception at the Museum of the American Revolution, in the heart of Old City, and booked the conference itself at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, just steps away from City Hall.

There was a certain logic behind choosing this particular city ahead of the Fourth of July holiday—we’re the birthplace of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, and all that jazz—but it was also a taunt, a challenge: This city, this country, belongs to us, not to you. So what are you going to do about it?

The museum and the hotel could have canceled the events. Both had been asked to do so, multiple times, by many voices (in the museum’s case, including their own workers and collaborators). They would have had the support of the majority of the city. Instead, the people of Philadelphia have had to show up in force to reject a flood of hate oozing its way into our city, to defend ourselves and our community from the violence being preached from chintzy pulpits, and to voice our displeasure with the hundreds of unwanted guests that we did not invite and refused to tolerate. (Oh, and we also had to foot the bill for whatever it costs to both pay cops even more money than they already get and fortify an overpriced chain hotel against the city it occupies.)

Moms for Liberty had invited Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and other assorted far-right hate-mongers to speak, ushering them into a majority-Black, heavily Democratic city that has repeatedly rejected their toxic rhetoric at the ballot box and in the streets. For some reason, though, the conference organizers appeared to assume that they would be able to live it up in Philly unchallenged, protected by police escorts and their own privilege. Maybe some of the moms had planned to do a little shopping at the Fashion District, or trundled down to gawp at the Liberty Bell from behind a barricade of its own. They thought they’d be welcomed into the City of Brotherly Love.

They were wrong.

As soon as the news of the oncoming summit became public, ACT UP Philadelphia, the local chapter of the iconic direct action group formed in 1987 to end the AIDS crisis, mobilized. Beginning on May 12, they rallied in front of the Marriott multiple times, each time calling on the hotel to cancel the event and deny hate a platform. Week after week, ACT UP members gave speeches, waved trans pride flags, and explained why it was so important to deny Moms for Liberty a space to tout their dangerously homophobic, transphobic rhetoric. The hotel seemingly ignored them, and in doing so, silently made clear where it stood on the issue.

ACT UP wasn’t alone in calling on the hotel to do the right thing. Philly’s Young Communist League played an instrumental role in organizing the weekend protests against Moms for Liberty, and other local groups spoke out and got involved in organizing against the event. Elected officials also voiced their opposition to Moms for Liberty’s incursion. In May, state Senator Nikil Saval and Representatives Mary Louise Isaacson and Ben Waxman sent the Marriott a letter saying, “Hosting an organization with a track record of promoting discriminatory practices and divisive policies goes against the principles of inclusivity and respect that should be upheld by a reputable establishment like yours.” Even Mayor Jim Kenney released a statement, writing, “We oppose this group’s policy goals, which include attempts to disregard history, ban books, and silence conversations about race, gender, and sexuality.” Celena Morrison, executive director of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs, went a step further and acknowledged the direct threat that Moms for Liberty’s convergence posed to the community itself. “We know that the presence of Moms for Liberty may stir up fear or distress for our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities,” she said. “We urge all those affected to take the appropriate measures to ensure their well-being while Moms for Liberty is visiting our city.”

Those appropriate measures started off on the morning of June 29 with a banner drop over I-95. Early birds were greeted with warnings that “Philly Protects Trans Kids” and “Bad Things Happen to Fascists in Philadelphia,” and that was only the beginning of a four-day-long protest that would bring hundreds, if not thousands, of people out into the streets. That evening, I watched as protesters encircled the Museum of the American Revolution. Armed with passionate speakers like ACT UP’s Jazmyn Henderson, a heavy-duty sound system, a fierce playlist, and hundreds of supporters, ACT UP and YCL members led the crowd in an hours-long queer dance party that doubled as an open roast of the Moms for Liberty attendees slinking in and out of the museum. “We lit out here. We not boring like these fucking people!” one speaker hollered as the sound system blared hip-hop. Another protester held up a sign reading, “Hey Moms for Liberty: if you’re scared of violent pornographic content near your kids, just wait until you read your Bible!”

The cops set up a maze of barricades to ensure that none of the protesters were able to get within a few dozen feet of the entrance, and the conference provided a fleet of charter buses to shuttle its people between the museum and the hotel. But sound carries, and they were able to hear exactly what Philly thought of them, their poisonous ideology, their hateful actions, and their terrible haircuts.

The dance party continued throughout the weekend. Protesters decamped to the Marriott for the next three days of the conference, where more barriers and an endless stream of bored-looking cops tried to insulate the attendees from the actual city. That didn’t always work, either. A delightful video began circulating on social media on Friday after a local encountered a few errant moms in Reading Terminal Market, and helpfully ushered them out with a few choice exhortations—“Racists have never been welcome here, ever! And you’re still not welcome here!” The moms in question seemed shocked that anyone would dare oppose them. That indignant air accompanied them whenever they were forced to actually interact with a Philadelphian that weekend. Perhaps simply not enough people have been telling them to their face that their hateful agenda was not welcome, so Philly was happy to oblige. While I was there on Friday afternoon, the cops forgot to barricade off an exit path between the Marriott and the parking garage across the street, forcing conference attendees to come face-to-face with the protesters. All of a sudden, panicked fascists were getting chased down the street and up into the parking garage, heckled and jeered at, and told in no uncertain terms how the city felt about them. The cops scrambled to regain control, and the dance party continued. Making fascists feel unsafe is as much a Philly specialty as a cheesesteak from John’s Roast Pork or Irish potatoes, and it felt awfully nice to indulge.

Though there were arrests on Sunday after five brave activists blocked an intersection and refused to move and another waved a trans pride flag over the Marriott barricade, there was very little police violence that weekend (besides the usual implicit violence of their presence). ACT UP Philadelphia was adamant that the dance party and associated events remain peaceful, and they did; whenever things began to heat up, organizers would grab the mic and calm everyone down. The tagline, “They can’t stop trans and queer joy!” underpinned the dance party protest, and that joyful resistance was in full bloom. The kid-centered events were especially sweet, and the protests maintained a family-friendly vibe throughout, as long as your kid could handle a few (thousand) swear words.

It was very much a big-tent effort, with the Young Communist League and a guy holding a star-spangled donkey figurine peacefully occupying the same space outside the Marriott on Friday. Rainbow dresses, assless chaps, black balaclavas, and red-white-and-blue T-shirts were all there coexisting for a common cause. Local DJs filled the air with energy. Philly Elmo and Spider-Punk showed up. There was even a gospel drag choir! It was beautiful, and it was very Philly. Elsewhere in the city, people showed up to support the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Gay News had previously reported that the library’s Pride Month events had received threats from Moms for Liberty ahead of the convention, and that staff had been cautioned to keep an eye out for disruptors. The National Parents Union held a Rally Against Moms for Liberty in Love Park; the next day, so did Grandparents for Truth and Defense of Democracy. Campaign for Our Shared Future did a banned-book giveaway next to the Marriott. An autonomous group of local activists held an “art march” that took the streets and adorned the surrounding area with pro-trans, anti-fascist stickers and graffiti. There really was something for everybody, provided you weren’t a hateful fascist bigot.

That’s generally Philly’s vibe anyway. The city’s two cardinal rules—don’t be a dick, and mind your business—are very easy to follow. We’re a fun city, a welcoming city, and definitely a weird city. It’s part of our rough-edged charm, and why so many people love to visit us. But the thing that those visitors need to keep in mind is that we are also a very queer, a very trans, a very Black, and a very anti-fascist city, and if you can’t handle that, you’re no longer welcome. We won’t be shy about letting you know that, and we definitely won’t make your time here pleasant. Moms for Liberty fucked around, and they found out what it looks like when you cross us and threaten our neighbors. That’s when the City of Brotherly Love turns into Hostile City—and you’re on your own there, bud.

[theblackvelvetcollective]

Musings from the Black Velveteen: The More You Know, the Black History Month Edition

by the Black Velveteen

Black History Month is back again, the same way it’s come back around since 1970. Wow….1970? Majority of Black folks have been celebrating Black history month for...only 51 years? Half a century is quite a bit of time for our Black History Month celebration to be so cyclic; and yet, Black folks will typically respond to that with “well Black History Month IS during the shortest month of the year”. Honestly, that bothers me to this day. What also bothers me is the way our African diasporic experience is framed. I remember every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (in January for those who may not be familiar) my predominately white all-girls private school had us read excerpts from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It wasn’t until I was in college at the University of Memphis (with a 33 percent African American student population) where I read “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” accompanied by “Souls of Black Folks” by W.E.B DuBois and various other writings from Booker T. Washington, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Phyllis Wheatly, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Nikki Giovanni, just to name a few. My world, even as a young Black kid, was opened and I began to really see how expansive my culture and people were. But even then, I was only scratching the surface.

Most Black History Month (BHM) programs discuss three people in three ways. Dr. King as the “model negro” that the white folks love to sanitize and laude as the type of Black person Black people should aspire to be. Malcolm X as Dr. King’s antithesis; the “mean negro”, if you will. And then Rosa Parks, the Black woman to satiate the “feminists.” Those Big Three are legends within the Black cultural experience, but every February, they’re reduced to a two-sentence acknowledgement, if that. I began to wonder, “Well if my people are so expansive, and our history so rich and vast (even with all of the violence and pain): Why don’t we know more?” The answer that I discovered is that our historical perspectives are focused on cisgendered, hetero-presumed men that are, by definition of their outspoken rhetoric, leaders and representative of the Black community at large. This inequitable focus has limited our understanding of our history and how truly amazing it is.

Let’s think about that for a second: Imagine if we shifted our perspective from a patriarchal viewpoint and started to look at what Black women and femmes have done for not only Black people, but the world at large. 

In 1944, a young Black woman named Recy Taylor was raped by six white men. Rosa Parks was an NAACP organizer that connected with Recy Taylor and helped organize with Mrs. Taylor to share her story and demand justice. Rosa Parks founded the Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor and gained the support of notable Black, queer activists such as Mary Church Terrell and Langston Hughes. Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Taylor organized intentionally and were able to bring international attention to Mrs. Taylor’s case. Without knowing this about Mrs. Parks, one would not know that she was a main architect of bringing such attention to the patriarchal violence Black women were experiencing in the 1940s in America.

Another great Black queer feminist icon who is consistently left out during Black History Month but absolutely should be honored is Ms. Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha is the mother of the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement as she was prominently involved in the Stonewall Riots 1969. In Greenwich Village in New York, many of the bars were run by mafia bosses. One night the police raided the Stonewall Inn and a riot ensued. At the heart of that riot was Ms. Marsha throwing rocks and hollering; this would ignite a new flame to the civil rights movement, one that was inclusive of Black trans women and Black queer folks. Marsha’s unmuted battle cries and righteous rage led to the birth of a movement that saw the founding of the first ever US trans rights organization, STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) with Ms. Sylvia Riviera, it saw a drag queen defy the gender binary (the “P” stood for “Pay It No Mind” in reference to Ms. Johnson’s response about her gender), and her legacy continues on today with many Black trans women demanding the removal of police from Pride activities and spaces.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Ms. Ida B. Wells-Barnett. We learn about the 19th Amendment and women getting the right to vote, but rarely do we hear about Ms. Ida B. Wells. Ms. Ida was a journalist and activist that had witnessed the horrors and trauma of the lynching of Black people across America. Rather than succumb to the overwhelming emotional trauma and grief lynchings were known to bring, Ms. Ida decided to write about the lynchings investigating and documenting the atrocities, something that had never been done before. Ms. Ida was not new to the “you know what: I’ll do it myself” school of thought. Ms. Ida traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the National American Woman Suffrage Association’s Parade, organized by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. She was subsequently told that the Black women suffragettes would have to march in the back. Ms. Ida was never going to participate in a segregated suffrage parade; so when the marchers passed, she boldly and intentionally stepped to the front of the parade. Ms. Ida did this because she wanted to make sure future generations would benefit from her action. These Black women are mothers of movements, icons, and leaders with their own rich history of defiance that young Black people, like me, are able to benefit from. Their bravery, radical honesty, boundless love, focus and determination more than qualify them as legends of Black History. As February comes to a close, I hope others are encouraged to look beyond the white-washed, sanitized and misleading narratives that typically invade Black History Month. Instead, shift your perspective to learn more about the mothers of movements, the Black queer history that is Black History, and the truly expansive nature of Black culture.

[aworldofpattern]

Nikkie de Jager wears a dress paying tribute to Marsha P Johnson

...at the Met Gala 2021 - 'In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion'.

The 'P' in Johnson's name stood for 'Pay It No Mind', which can be seen embroidered on the ribbon. The flower crown references the most well-known photograph of this transgender icon.

The dress was designed by Dutch designer Edwin Oudshoorn.

[eggsnatcheskneecaps]

Everyone living in the Ocean Of Memories is so gender.

[cullenedward]

🌈 twilight saga pride icons - rosalie hale (6/?)

happy pride month! if you use please reblog and like this post!

[joyfulicons-archive]

trans lesbian madotsuki from yume nikki

trans lesbian / lesbian

[yourfaveisntcishet]

Demigirl Madotsuki Icons for Anon!

Please Like, Reblog, or give credit if you use!

[lgbtpixelgaming]

Madotsuki from Yume Nikki is a demigirl and bi, and is dating Poniko, who is a trans lesbian!

 i…don’t know why the mado one looks smaller lmao,,,,,! sorry anon!

[yuckygf]

some lgbtq+ icons i made for camp camp please like/reblog if you use! credit isn’t necessary but appreciated!

[qnewsau]

Spinning the decks with DJ Torz

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/spinning-the-decks-with-dj-torz/

Spinning the decks with DJ Torz

Dykadellic founder DJ Torz speaks to QNews about the origins of one of LGBTQIA+ Sydney’s newest leading women’s events.

In the Sydney queer scene, many recognise that the nightlife scene is dominated by venues and spaces that predominantly cater towards gay men.

That is not to say the rest of the queer community isn’t made welcome, but it’s uncommon to find a venue or party that consistently has queer women as their first priority, not as an afterthought. Enter DJ Torz and Dykadellic.

Dykadellic is one of Sydney’s most prominent club events dedicated to queer women.

The club night focuses specifically on creating a space in the nightlife scene for lesbian, trans, queer and genderqueer people, plus their allies.

QNews: What led to the creation of Dykadellic?

DJ Torz: Originally, Dykadellic was created to fill a gap during the Women’s World Cup. We knew there were lesbians coming from all around the world to visit and watch the games, and they were on socials asking where the parties are.

At that time I was Social and Events Co-Ordinator for a women’s soccer club, and when a friend suggested I throw some parties in July 2023 I thought “How hard can it be?” (Turns out, hard!).

I spoke to a few venues and found the iconic Kinselas near Taylor Square with a crew of fantastically supportive staff and jumped right in, booking five Fridays in a row.

I was very fortunate that they saw my vision, and backed me. It was nerve wracking to begin with, wondering if anyone would show up.

On several occasions, during the peak of the night with the dance floor heaving and hundreds of people having a glorious night, my friend would pull me aside and say “Look. You created this.” I was so humbled many times. After those first five weeks, locals asked us to keep it going. What got you into DJing in the first place, and how would you describe your sets?

I’ve always been in awe of DJs. Over the years, I have quietly watched from the side at parties and wondered what they are doing.

It actually wasn’t even on my radar to step up to the decks myself. During one of those initial parties, two of my three DJs arrived late, which caused me such stress. There was a brief moment there where it seemed likely that a packed dancefloor was going to go silent as one DJ left and their replacement wasn’t there yet.

I felt like this was a gap in my skillset, that I needed to be able to step in. So last year I did the DJ course at Sydney DJ School with Nikki Carvell out of necessity.

Turns out, I love it. I love going through DJ pools and music libraries to find little nuggets of gold. I love listening to other DJs for inspiration. I love having my ear out as I go about my life, listening to music in shops and on the radio.

Building my set is such fun. And then, being behind the decks and watching the audience as I transition to drop a little surprise is such a thrill.

I’m still finding my style. At Dykadellic I have generally played disco house. I love curious and surprising mashups. I’m a big fan of drum and bass, dubstep, and techno.

I had a really great response to the set I played at our recently Mardi Gras party, where I snuck in a bit of Dom Dolla, Kita Alexander, Skillex, and Yaeji. I was also thrilled to play Ponymeadow’s newly released track “Over the Edge”.

I have met some wonderful people since I started Dykadellic, and DJ/producer Ponymeadow is one of them. It was such fun to see her response as she heard her own song playing through the massive sound system at Kinselas.

Some of my favourite DJ sets have been Alison Wonderland and Charlotte de Witte. Since then, having learned to DJ myself, watching Fred Again when he did his recent Australian tour is like seeing artists through a new lens.

I am going to Primavera Sound in Barcelona next month, and can’t wait to see Peggy Gou perform.

Do you think the amount of queer spaces for women vs men in Sydney is balanced?

I created Dykadellic because I felt there was a gap and there weren’t enough lesbian forward spaces. Since then, more have popped up, which is wonderful.

Birdcage, Limes, Lemons, Girlthing, Medusa and Sundaylicious have lots of offerings, some regular and some more sporadic. We try to work around each other and spread things out across the month.

But it’s nothing like what is offered to queer male forward spaces, where there would be several choices every weekend. I suppose it is really just a supply and demand kind of thing.

If you have a 1,000 capacity club open every Saturday targeted at women, lesbian, non-binary folk it just wouldn’t sell out and the promoter and club couldn’t afford to keep it open.

The answer, really, is for people to support the events that are out there. If you see a Dykadellic party advertised, and you want Dykadellic to keep going for the long term, then buy a ticket and come along. Vote with your feet and support the events you enjoy.

What makes Dykadellic unique compared to some of the other queer spaces for women in Sydney?

At Dykadellic, I wanted to create a lesbian-forward place with really great music. I am really particular when choosing the best DJs I can find, and amazingly skilled performers. I love the line-ups I’ve curated. We’ve had acrobats, fire performers, pole dancers and even a flashmob. And I’ve got some exciting things to come this year.

Some of the little touches I’ve provided at Dykadellic are free sanitary items and deodorant in the bathrooms, and mints at the bar. We had fun colourful sunglasses and lots of donuts at a recent party. I like to add fun surprises and make people smile.

My door daddy, Saxon, is someone who knows how to keep our space safe. They are a safe space for anyone who needs a break, and they are really good at deescalating issues to make sure everyone can enjoy the party.

I always ask for feedback from partygoers and I genuinely care about their response. Dykadellic has evolved over time, and I’m always learning new ways to make it the best lesbian party in Sydney. I think that’s what makes it unique, is my personal touch and the fact that I genuinely care.

What can we look forward to in the near future for Dykadellic?

The next party we have coming up is at Hermann’s Bar in Camperdown on Saturday 11 May.

I’m trying to find great spaces in the Inner West. People tell me they enjoy Saturday afternoon parties, so we’ll certainly see a few more of those.

Sexy Galexy is Australia’s longest performing Drag King pioneer, who has performed and hosted for me several times.

They will debut their DJ career for me at Hermann’s Bar, and I can’t wait. They play nu-disco funky house, and their high energy high camp style is going to slay!

-For more information follow Dykadellic on Facebook or Instagram.